Hong Kong: HK logistics promoted in Vietnam

Leading a Hong Kong Logistics Development Council delegation, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung today attended a business luncheon and met several commerce groups in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to promote Hong Kongs advantages in logistics and explore co-operation opportunities.

Addressing the luncheon, Mr Lam pointed out that Vietnam has always been one of the closest trading partners of Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Noting Vietnams rapid economic growth in recent years, he said that Hong Kongs logistics service providers can offer customised logistics solutions for Vietnamese enterprises.

Mr Lam also cited Hong Kongs status as the most open international city in the Greater Bay Area, leveraging the distinctive advantages of enjoying the Mainlands strong support and being closely connected to the world.

He therefore believed that the city could assist Vietnamese products in entering the bay area and the neighbouring regions markets, creating unlimited business opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises.

The logistics chief also noted that Hong Kong has attracted approximately 30 strategic enterprises to set up or expand their operations in the city.

Emphasising the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Governments wishes to establish closer partnerships with Vietnam, Mr Lam invited Vietnamese enterprises to visit Hong Kong to gain firsthand knowledge of its latest developments.

During their visit to Ho Chi Minh City, the delegation met representatives from the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam.

They also toured a large-scale smart logistics park in Ho Chi Minh City.

This story has been published on: 2023-10-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
US' biased stance risks undermining efforts to defuse Israel-Gaza tension

09:48, October 12, 2023 By GT staff reporters ( Global Times

Smoke billows after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 10, 2023. At least 900 Palestinians have been killed from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Tuesday. Meanwhile, at least 1,008 individuals have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country on Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Tuesday. (Photo: Xinhua)

Despite rising worries that its action may exacerbate the situation and involve additional parties in the Israel-Gaza conflict, the US is reportedly considering sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East region while more countries attempt to deescalate tensions as the war has reportedly claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides as of Wednesday.

Israel has repeatedly bombed Gaza with airstrikes as the conflict entered the fifth day. The bombardments have destroyed hundreds of targets, including homes, schools and hospitals, killing at least 950 people, according to media reports.

Amid the simmering tensions in Gaza, some media reported that the US is considering dispatching a second aircraft carrier to join the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Eastern Mediterranean as a show of solidarity for Israel and "a warning to regional players."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be arriving in Israel on Thursday to meet with senior Israeli leaders and then head to Jordan, to send "a message of solidarity and support," Reuters reported on Wednesday.

According to analysts, the US' one-sided support for Israel would neither help put an end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip or make the two sides realize that employing violence to stop violence would just prolong the vicious cycle in the area. Moreover, the feud between Palestine and Israel may intensify as a result of the ongoing conflict, and tensions between countries that back Palestine, such as Iran, Syria, and Turkey, and Israel will be more visible.

"The US is stoking the fire," Li Weijian, a research fellow with the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times, noting that Israel will be more resolute in advancing military operation with US' support, which will intensify hostility between Palestine and Israel and make future negotiations more difficult.

Israel continues to be driven by rage and retaliation and is adamantly pursuing military action in Gaza. The fight may continue until one side is completely destroyed or until Israel decides that it is sufficient to deter those who try to endanger its security, Tian Wenlin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times.

However, it might not achieve the intended security and deterrence, and as long as there is no conclusive resolution to the Palestine issue, conflict between Israel and Palestine will continue. Tian noted that as some Israeli officials had claimed to make the Gaza Strip pay a very heavy price that will change reality for generations, the result of the current conflict may be very tragic.

There is no indication that the situation is de-escalating; instead, it is growing more severe. Israeli forces and Lebanon-based Hezbollah fighters also reportedly exchanged fire. Israel's military said that shells launched from Syria landed in open areas within Israel, Al Jazeera reported.

Israel-Palestine conflict is worsened because of their asymmetrical strength, making Israel unwilling to reach a settlement. It also has assistance from the US. Also, the US' reconciliation strategy in the Middle East is unjust and unreasonable to Palestine because of its strong backing for Israel, Li said.

Many global and regional powers, including China, Russia and Arab countries are trying to help defuse tensions since more casualties and a more catastrophic humanitarian situation are not what the international community wants to see, said Li.

On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated China's stance on the current conflict, saying that to end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, implement the two-state solution and seek a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestine question through political means at an early date, so that the parties' legitimate concerns can be taken care of.

On Wednesday, Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East, had a phone call with Amal Jadou,Deputy Foreign Minister of Palestine and said that the urgent affair currently is to cease fire and protect civilians.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone talk with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday to discuss measures to ease tensions and they voiced concerns over targeting civilian settlements.

Meanwhile, the Arab League announced an emergency meeting for Wednesday. Foreign ministers from Arab League member countries were scheduled to discuss strategies aimed at de-escalating the conflict and preventing additional harm to civilians.

UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that Israel's "sieges" were illegal under international law and he also condemned "horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups" and said the militants' abduction of hostages was also forbidden under international law, Reuters reported.

While there has been trend of reconciliation in the Middle East in recent years, with some relations improving and tensions decreasing, this new round of conflict lets the world know that reconciliation without solving the Palestine issue is incomplete and fragile, said Li.

Analysts noted that the Arab world, the Middle East, and the international community should reconsider this issue and put it on the agenda. Palestine and Israel still need the mediation and help of the international community to get out of the vicious cycle of violent conflicts as soon as possible.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Theres a lot to do in the Wisconsin Dells. But what are the things you must do?

Melanie Radzicki McManus has a few things to say about that.

The Sheboygan native who now lives in Sun Prairie published 100 Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells Before You Die earlier this year.

From the Trojan Horse go-kart track at Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park to a spa day at Sundara Inn and Spa, McManus highlights activities from the Dells, Lake Delton and Baraboo area, from the well known to the obscure.

Ive been covering the Dells and its environs for more than 25 years, McManus said. I was just eager to let people know that there is so much more to the Dells.

Wineries, music venues, restaurants, bars, natural areas and specialty shops are all recommended in her book.

A lot of people focus so often on the big attractions like Noahs Ark, and theres nothing wrong with that, McManus said. Its nice to be able to shine a light on some of the lesser-known places because the Dells and surrounding area really has so many different opportunities for people.

Along with Mt. Olympus, McManus recommends the Take Flight Premier Fly Ride at Wilderness, which takes viewers on a flight through short films, along with new attractions such as the Elm Street Plaza and floating waterpark at Land of Natura.

It is an ever-changing wonder to watch the Dells, McManus said.

McManus visited the Dells a few times as a child and first went back when her children were young. Indoor waterparks at Wilderness Resort had just been opened at the time, and they and others have only grown over the years.

One of her biggest interests in Wisconsin Dells is the landscape, said McManus, who is very passionate about the nearby Ice Age Trail. In 2013, she set the then-womens record for hiking the entire 1,200-mile trail in 36 days, a journey she chronicled in another book, Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail.

The Dells book also highlights the rich Native American history of the area, as well as the work of renowned Dells photographer H.H. Bennett and the museum dedicated to him in downtown Wisconsin Dells.

He started out trying to showcase the beauty of the place and it turned into so much more than that over the decades, McManus said. There is so much history and culture that maybe the modern visitor wouldnt necessarily think about. Its really important for people to see the Dells in its entirety.

In Baraboo, McManus recommends visiting the Ochsner Park Zoo and Al. Ringling Theatre and Al. Ringling Mansion and Brewery.

100 Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells Before You Die is part of a series of books published by Reedy Press, which approached McManus with the book idea. People interested in the book can purchase it on the publishers website at reedypress.com.
Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports the following ongoing activities for the year and narrative excerpts from the week ending Oct. 7

10/4 Mary Brand, Wisconsin Dells, was traveling westbound on US Hwy. 14, town of Viroqua and struck a deer. Brand did not report any injuries. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.

10/4 A deputy located a herd of Angus cows out on County Road B, town of Jefferson. The deputy located the owners, who were searching for the cattle. The cattle were returned to the pasture.

10/4 A deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on State Hwy. 35, town of Genoa. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for ignition interlock device tampering and operating after revocation. She was booked into the Vernon County Detention Center.

10/5 Zachary Servais, Stoddard, was driving a tractor and pulling a silage cart westbound on US Hwy. 14, town of Hamburg. Servais tried to make a left turn and did not see a vehicle driven by Jennifer Snyder, Westby, passing him. The tractor struck Snyders vehicle. It should be noted Snyder was passing in a legal passing zone, and the left blinker on the trailer did not work. Neither Servais nor Snyder reported any injuries. The tractor sustained minor damage while Snyders vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.

10/5 Loren Bannister, De Soto, was traveling eastbound on Buckeye Ridge Road, town of Webster. Bannister came to the stop sign at the intersection with County Road D, where a semi-tractor trailer was parked on the shoulder of the southbound lane of the road blocking Bannisters view of northbound traffic. Bannister pulled into the intersection and was struck by a vehicle driven by Benjamin Ashley-Kappler, La Farge. Neither driver reported any injuries. Both vehicles received functional damage.

10/5 Kent Hebel, Westby, struck a deer while driving westbound on State Hwy. 56, town of Harmony. Hebel had no apparent injury. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.

10/5 The sheriffs office received a call of a domestic incident in progress on State Hwy. 82, town of Viroqua. The offender left the residence prior to the deputies arriving. The male eventually returned to the residence and was arrested for disorderly conduct, operating after revocation, resisting or obstructing an officer, and battery to law enforcement officers.

10/6 Richard Schelbe, Onalaska, was driving northbound on State Hwy. 35, town of Genoa and struck a deer. Schelbe did not report any injuries. The vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.
At least four people fired nearly 50 rounds in what Madison police are describing as an indiscriminate attack Tuesday night that killed a 15-year-old girl and wounded three other teens at a troubled Far East Side apartment complex.

The shootings happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. at the Harmony at Grandview Commons at 116 Milky Way, off the 5900 block of Milwaukee Street. Its the second fatal shooting since July at the complex that Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said has seen 136 calls to police since that time.

The victims of Tuesdays shooting have not yet been identified, but the girl killed was a sophomore at East High School, according to the Madison School District.

Watch Live

>> See the police press conference about the shooting

Surveillance videos showed a car pulled up to the apartment complex, Barnes said during a press conference Wednesday. Four people immediately get out of the car and begin indiscriminately firing round after round, not caring for who or what they may strike.

The three 14-year-olds injured in the shooting, also students in the Madison School District, include two boys who showed up at the hospital with gunshot wounds. One was treated and released, according to Barnes, and one was still at the hospital in serious but stable condition. A 14-year-girl suffered a bullet graze wound.

Barnes said no suspects have been identified in the shooting that hit multiple homes in the area, including two occupied at the time by families with children. He said all the victims either lived in the Harmony complex or nearby, but police had no information that they had been targeted in the attack or what the shooters motive might have been, including whether it was connected to any past violence at the apartment complex.

He urged members of the public with any information to contact Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or P3Tips.com, and urged any youth with information about the incident to talk to an adult they trust.

This child is dying

One resident of the apartment complex and another who has a relative living there, but who declined to provide their names, on Wednesday morning said the teens killed and injured were residents of the complex and were shot at from a vehicle that came in through one of the complexs internal driveways and then drove away.

One of them captured video of the aftermath of the shooting that showed police trying to save the life of the 15-year-old girl.

In the video the man narrates: I was outside on my porch and a car pulled up and shot a little girl and three boys, they shot at them and the little girl shes laying there dying. ... Oh my God, this child is dying.

The man said he lay down on his balcony when the shooting started, and at least 30 shots was fired. He didnt want to be identified because he was concerned about retaliation against his family.

The other resident, a woman who said she moved there in May, said the complex was quiet before the shooting. Police remained on the scene until 4 or 5 a.m. Wednesday, she said.

Barnes said the Harmony has been a priority location for police, which runs weekly programs there and holds monthly meetings with residents and city officials, among other efforts.

But the residents the Wisconsin State Journal spoke with Wednesday morning said criminal activity by adults and youth at the complex is far too common.

They steal cars, they break into peoples property, the woman said.

In the schools

Interim schools Superintendent Lisa Kvistad on Wednesday called the shooting an isolated situation, and while the district had no information about any threats of violence at its schools, We know that when violence and challenges happen in a community, the impacts carry over into our schools.

Police said they were providing extra patrols around East and La Follette high schools and Whitehorse Middle School  all on the citys East Side. In a note to parents Wednesday, La Follette principal Mat Thompson said students there were among those injured.

In an email to East High families Wednesday morning, East principal Mikki Smith said the killing impacts our entire community and stirs a range of emotions, from fear and confusion, to grief and anger.

She said support staff would be available in the schools Career Center to provide emotional support to students who need it and that it is essential that we come together to support one another and work toward breaking the cycle of violence.

Today and always, we remain committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all of our students and staff, Kvistad said in a statement. There are no words to describe the immense impact of this tragedy, however, (the school district) is a united community and we will process this together.

Past problems

A dispute between two groups of males on July 13 left a 20-year-old man dead after some 60 shots were fired in the same driveway at the complex from which witnesses said the shooters fired on Tuesday.

That earlier shooting had been targeted, Barnes said at the time, and stemmed from an interpersonal conflict. Two men have since been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm by a felon in the shooting, and one suspect remains at large.

Last month, police also responded to a shooting at the Harmony after which 17 shell casing were recovered, Barnes said Wednesday, and while our department has been consistent in what we have done in that apartment complex since 2021, police do not always get the response that we want from Royal Capital, the complexs owner.

The Harmony is managed by Madison-based Horizon property management and owned by Royal Capital of Milwaukee. A regional manager with Horizon, Terri Pearce, declined to comment on the shooting but said the company was working with police. Royal Capital did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Barnes said some meetings and programs at the Harmony have been canceled because of a lack of support from its managers. The department has also shared with them suggestions for improving lighting and video surveillance, and how to structure the parking lot to discourage crime.

There have been 1,387 calls for police service at the complex since the start of 2020, according to police data.

Troubled area

The city of Madison declared the Harmony, a 94-unit low-income housing complex, a chronic nuisance in 2020, only a year after it opened. It had been plagued by complaints about noise, disturbances and occasional violence almost since its opening in March 2019. But that declaration was vacated in 2021 after owners made changes to improve conditions there.

City officials said Wednesday they were taking steps to again force Royal Capital to make changes at the property to improve safety there.

We have had quite a bit of concern about this area for some time, said Aurielle Smith, director of policy, planning and evaluation for Public Health Madison and Dane County, which has taken a lead role in local anti-violence efforts including at the Harmony since the July homicide.

The agency is also actively working with residents at the nearby Meadowlands Apartments, 6834 Milwaukee St., which has also been named as a chronic nuisance.

Tuesdays homicide was the 10th in Madison this year, equaling the record of 10 set in 2020 and again in 2021.

State Journal reporters Jeff Richgels and Dean Mosiman contributed to this report.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Thursday he would still weigh impeaching liberal state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz depending on how she rules in a redistricting case Republicans say she has prejudged, despite opinions from two former conservative justices urging him against the effort.

But while Vos had initially threatened impeachment if Protasiewicz did not recuse herself from the redistricting case, something she refused to do last week, his comments Thursday seem to indicate efforts to impeach the liberal justice now hinge on how she rules on the matter.

If they decide to inject their own political bias inside the process and not follow the law, we have the ability to go with the U.S. Supreme Court and we also have the ability to hold her accountable to the voters of Wisconsin, Vos said.

Vos comments come after two of the three former Wisconsin Supreme Court justices he asked to explore the issue  conservative former justices David Prosser and Jon Wilcox  told the Rochester Republican that Protasiewiczs past criticisms of GOP-drawn legislative maps were not impeachable offenses. Two former liberal justices, Louis Butler and Janine Geske, also have said impeachment is unjustified.

During her campaign, Protasiewicz called the maps rigged and accepted donations from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, which Republicans say requires her to recuse herself from any legal challenge to the maps.

In a lengthy opinion last week, Protasiewicz said she has a duty to participate in the case, and the court voted 4-3 to hear the matter.

Asked Thursday if impeachment was off the table, Vos told reporters, No, definitely not.

We want to focus on what is occurring in office, Vos said. That is the reason that, even though we all agree that recusal should have happened, it would have provided a lot more confidence in the decisions of the judiciary. I think Justice Protasiewicz made a mistake in not recusing, but she has said she can be an independent jurist.

Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said in a statement Vos is now backing down from immediate impeachment and moving the goalposts.

Now hes saying he wants to see how she actually rules on maps, Wikler said. Threatening to impeach a justice in a case to which he is a party if she rules in ways that displease him is an outrageous attempt at political extortion in itself. Time will tell if its just an attempt to save face. But right now, its a climb-down.

Vos announced on radio station 1130 WISN on Sept. 13 that he had asked a panel of former members of the state Supreme Court to review and advise what the criteria are for impeachment.

While Vos had refused to name the former justices, he identified the trio as Prosser, Wilcox and former justice Patience Roggensack in court documents filed earlier this week.

Wilcox told the Wisconsin State Journal on Wednesday he did not see that there were any impeachable offenses at that time.

In a letter obtained by liberal watchdog group American Oversight, which has sued the panel arguing the group must convene in public, Prosser wrote to Vos that there should be no effort to impeach Justice Protasiewicz on anything we know now.

Impeachment is so serious, severe, and rare that it should not be considered unless the subject has committed a crime, or the subject has committed indisputable corrupt conduct while in office, Prosser continued.

Roggensack has not responded to requests for comment.

Impeachment is permitted under the Wisconsin Constitution only for corrupt conduct in office or for the commission of a crime. It takes a simple majority in the Assembly to impeach and a two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict.

Photos: Biden impeachment inquiry hearings
The Israeli military prepared for a possible ground invasion in Gaza on Thursday as it pounded the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas.

In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Suffering in Gaza, meanwhile, rose dramatically with Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine and the territorys only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. The morgue at Gazas biggest hospital overflowed Thursday as bodies came in faster than relatives could claim them.

Israel said Thursday that a complete siege would remain in place until Hamas freed 150 hostages taken during its incursion. Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday.

The war has claimed at least 2,800 lives on both sides, and displaced 423,000 people in Gaza.

Here's what's happening on Day 6 of the latest Israel-Hamas war:

NUMBER OF DISPLACED IN GAZA RISES TO 423,000

JERUSALEM  The number of people forced from their homes by the airstrikes soared 25% in a day, reaching 423,000 out of a population of 2.3 million, the United Nations said Thursday. Most crowded into U.N.-run schools.

Families were cutting down to one meal a day, said Rami Swailem, a 34-year-old lecturer at al-Azhar University, who had 32 relatives sheltering in his home. Water stopped coming to the building two days ago, and they have rationed whats left in a tank on the roof.

The death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza rose to 1,537, with 6,612 people wounded, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Thursday. Of those killed, 276 were women and 500 were under the age of 18, the ministry said.

The jump in the death toll comes as Palestinians report heavy Israeli airstrikes across the besieged Gaza Strip, with bombardment on residential buildings in densely populated city districts and refugee camps.

NEPALIS RETURN HOME FROM ISRAEL

KATHMANDU, Nepal  More than 200 Nepali nationals evacuated from Israel returned home Friday as the government worked to bring back the bodies of 10 Nepali students killed in the unprecedented attack by Hamas.

Nepals foreign minister, Narayan Prasad Saud, accompanied 254 citizens on a plane chartered by the government. The returnees were welcomed home by family and friends at Kathmandu airport.

In addition to those killed, four Nepalis were wounded and one is still missing, Saud said. One of the wounded was flown back in the evacuation flight and three others were getting treated at hospitals in Israel, Saud said.

He said 54 Nepali nationals still in Israel have been moved to safer areas and will be evacuated eventually.

Many Nepalis in Israel are students studying agriculture techniques.

HAMAS CIVILIAN MEMBERS DEFENDS GROUP'S INCURSION

JERUSALEM  A prominent civilian member of Hamas defended the groups rampage through Israeli communities in a video released by the group Thursday and decried the civilian deaths in Gaza from the six days of Israeli airstrikes that have followed.

The solemn video lacked the bravado of a recording aired by Hamas' military wing Saturday hailing the greatest battle as the massacres still played out.

Basem Naim, a physician and former Hamas government minister, said in the swift collapse of the Israeli military on Saturday, chaos prevailed and civilians found themselves in the middle of the confrontation between Israeli and Hamas combatants.

The claim is contradicted by countless videos and survivor accounts of Hamas militants deliberately targeting and killing hundreds of civilians.

Naim said the 150 hostages taken back into Gaza would be treated according to religious values and international laws. At the same time we are really worried  they might be the victims of the Israeli army bombardment, like our people, he said.

He added that Hamas would not consider freeing the captives until Israel stopped its bombardment.

IF ISRAEL DOESNT END BOMBARDMENT, WAR MAY OPEN ON OTHER FRONTS, IRAN SAYS

BEIRUT  Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that if Israels bombardment of Gaza continues, the war may open on other fronts, an apparent reference to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Amirabdollahian arrived in Beirut late Thursday evening, where he was greeted by representatives of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad along with Lebanese officials.

In light of the continued aggression, war crimes, and siege on Gaza, opening other fronts is a real possibility, Amirabdollahian said, speaking to journalists on his arrival.

Early Thursday, Amirabdollahian had visited Iraq, where he made similar statements after a meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Questions have swirled around the extent of Irans role in the unprecedented surprise attack launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on Saturday.

Hamas officials have denied that Iran was directly involved in planning the attack or green-lighted it, and to date no government worldwide has offered direct evidence that Iran orchestrated the attack. However, many have pointed to Irans long sponsorship of Hamas that has included training, funding and providing it with weapons.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL TO ISRAEL

BRUSSELS  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Israel on Friday to express support for the nation in the wake of last weekends attack by Hamas.

Von der Leyen will be accompanied by European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, the commission said in a statement late Thursday. Von der Leyen has been one of the most outspoken European Union leaders in support of Israel since the attacks and the subsequent war with Hamas.

HEZBOLLAH SENDS DRONE OVER ISRAEL, OFFICIAL WITH LEBANON GROUP SAYS

BEIRUT  The militant Hezbollah group sent a drone over Israel on Thursday, according to an official with a Lebanese group familiar with the situation along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The drone was shot down over Israel, the official said, without elaborating further. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to comment to the news media.

An Israeli military spokesman wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, Thursday afternoon that an air-defense missile was fired in northern Israel but it turned out there was no target in the air.

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed to this report.

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN GAZA BELOW 20%, ANALYST SAYS

BOSTON  Internet connectivity in Gaza City has been below 20% since Tuesday, according to analyst Doug Madory of the network monitoring firm Kentik Inc., whose data shows outages began Saturday morning.

Madory said an internet provider in Gaza told him that Israeli air strikes had cut fiber optic cables. The provider declined to speak with an Associated Press reporter but Madory relayed his message: Pray for us to stay alive and stop this war.

US AND QATAR AGREE TO NOT ACT ON ANY IRANIAN REQUEST TO ACCESS FUNDS

WASHINGTON  The U.S. and Qatar have agreed not to act on any Iranian request to access $6 billion in funds that were transferred from South Korea after a blanket waiver by President Joe Biden's administration meant to clear the way for the release of five Americans held by Iran, a U.S. official said Thursday.

The move stops short of freezing the funds. Under the terms of the agreement, the funds must be requested by Iran and can go only for humanitarian purposes. The Americans were released last month.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the agreement and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The funding has been a concern as questions mount about Irans influence or role in the Hamas attack on Israel. Iran is Hamas' principal financial and military sponsor, though the White House says it has not uncovered information that Iran was directly involved in the operation.

Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

ISRAEL TELLS CITIZENS ABROAD TO AVOID HAMAS DEMONSTRATIONS

TEL AVIV, Israel  Israels Foreign Ministry is warning Israelis abroad to avoid demonstrations said to have been called for by Hamas in cities around the world, saying they could become violent.

In a joint statement with Israels National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday that there is a concern that Israelis or Jews could be targeted during the protests. The ministry statement said protests are expected on Friday and urged Israelis to be cautious.

45 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN AIRSTRIKE ON HOUSE, GAZA MINISTRY SAYS

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The Israeli military bombarded a residential building in the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza on Thursday, killing at least 45 people and injuring dozens more, Gazas interior ministry said.

A late-afternoon airstrike hit the al-Shihab family house at the center of the Jabaliya camp, interior ministry spokesperson Eyad Bozum told The Associated Press. The al-Shihab house was packed with dozens of relatives at the time of the airstrike, Bozum said. Some family members had fled heavy bombing from other parts of the Gaza Strip and taken refuge there

Bozum said the death toll was likely to rise from that airstrike as civil defense workers were still pulling bodies from the rubble and counting the dead.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike.

TWO ISRAELI POLICE OFFICERS WOUNDED IN EAST JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM  A Palestinian armed with an improvised submachine gun opened fire toward police officers at one of the entrances to Jerusalems Old City, wounding two officers, including one seriously. Police said they chased and shot the assailant, whose condition was not immediately clear.

Tensions have been running high in Jerusalem, with most shops closed since the Hamas attack and Palestinian protests in East Jerusalem at night that have devolved into deadly clashes with police.

EGYPT CALLS FOR URGENT DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA

CAIRO  Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Thursday called for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip through the crossing with Egypt.

With Israel sealing off the Palestinian enclave, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah. While Rafah is not officially closed, airstrikes have prevented it from operating. Egypt has been trying to persuade Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through Rafah.

Egypt is ready to harness all its capabilities and efforts to mediate in coordination with all international and regional actors without restrictions or conditions, el-Sissi said during a military college graduation ceremony in Cairo.

US HAS NO PLANS TO SEND TROOPS TO ISRAEL, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

WASHINGTON  The U.S. has no plans to send troops to Israel, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.

There is no intention, no plan, and frankly, no desire by the Israelis, Kirby said.

Kirby also said there have been ongoing conversations with Israel about the continued need for continued flow of humanitarian assistance" into Gaza.

He said establishing corridors to provide safe passage out of Gaza for civilians is the right thing to do for innocent victims who are actually being held hostage as well by Hamas.

US DEFENSE SECRETARY TO VISIT ISRAEL ON FRIDAY

WASHINGTON  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit Israel on Friday, the second high-level U.S. official to visit Tel Aviv in two days, in a deliberate show of support and an effort to determine what additional military aid is needed in the war with Hamas.

Austin is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive travel details. Austins arrival comes just a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited and vowed American support for Israel in a meeting with Netanyahu.

ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT APPROVES EMERGENCY UNITY GOVERNMENT

JERUSALEM  Israels parliament approved an emergency unity government Thursday night, swearing in Benny Gantz and four other ministers to serve in a security cabinet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

DEATH TOLL OF US CITIZENS IN HAMAS ATTACK RISES TO 27

WASHINGTON  The death toll of U.S. citizens in the Hamas attack on Israel has risen to 27, and the number of missing is now at 14, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.

Kirby said that the U.S. was continuing to work with Israeli officials to try to locate those who remain unaccounted for. Kirby said he believes only a few of those missing have been taken hostage.

ERDOGAN RENEWS CALL FOR REDUCING TENSIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS

ANKARA, Turkey  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the United States to work toward reducing tensions between Israel and Palestinians, renewing his criticism of a U.S. decision to send an aircraft carrier to the region.

What is more appropriate for a country like America? To establish peace or to go there with gasoline and fuel (the fire)? Erdogan said during an address to hundreds of youth on Thursday.

We dont want the conflict and attacks to escalate further and God forbid, spread to our region. We call on all actors who have a voice and influence in the region to make efforts toward reducing tensions, he continued.
TITLE: Florence: The True Story of a Country Schoolteacher in Minnesota and North Dakota

AUTHOR: Audrey Wendland

This true story takes place in Minnesota and North Dakota. It is about life in the pre-World War I era.

Florence was Audreys mother who was a teacher in six different schools. Often the school year was only four months depending on farm work. Florence attended high school in Blair, Wisconsin, and later attended Normal school (a two-year program for teachers). Tuition was free if a promise was made to teach two years. Florence was just 17 when her teaching career began.

Women teachers had to follow very strict rules such as no loitering in ice cream shops, could not keep company with men, had to be home between 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., no travels beyond city limits, no smoking, no bright clothing, and dresses must not be shorter than two inches above the ankles. Were there strict rules for males? Normal schools in Minnesota became known as State Teachers College and then Moorehead State University after World War II.

Her top monthly salary was $100. Where was her first school? How many students did she have at one time? Why did former teachers leave after teaching only one year? How was she welcomed at the six schools she served? Would Tom, the oldest and biggest student, be a problem for this 17-year-old teacher? Four months of teaching was wonderful and yet dreadful at times. Why?

Just before Christmas break someone was throwing rocks at the schoolhouse windows. Who was it? How did she handle it? Florence enjoyed holiday time with family at her grandparents farm and attended dances that were popular during Christmas break. What were her family traditions?

As friends tried to match her with two local bachelors she had her eyes on Leonard Kvam. How did the relationships turn out? Florence went over and beyond to make school a fun experience for the students and they excelled in spelling bees and arithmetic competitions even on the state level.

Smallpox hit the community and Florence got the disease, too, which meant school was closed for two weeks.

How did teaching in Minnesota and North Dakota compare? Leonard was working in Minot and she was overwhelmed with the glitz and glamour when she visited there. Since President Wilson declared war she worried that Leonard and her brothers would enter the war. Did she have good reason to fear this? Just as war was ending, Florence contracted influenza.

Was it another epidemic? How many years did Florence teach? When was she and Leonard married? How did he get involved in the car industry? They traveled a lot and life was good as they raised their three children but suddenly life changed when Leonard got cancer that took his life at age fifty four and Florence was 93 when she passed. Both are buried in Milwaukee.
On the first day of October I was out the door at five for my early morning walk. It was 68 degrees already. My, the crisp Autumn weather was short-lived. The moon had been full two days before. There it was, almost round with a wide glow surrounding it. I blinked, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks on me. No, the waning gibbous moon was wearing a halo. Absolutely breathtaking.

The night of August 27th came to mind. I was standing near our pickup at 3:30 a.m., waiting for my driver. I had a flight out of La Crosse to catch. Dave had his boat hitched to the truck, planning to fish Lake Onalaska after leaving me at the airport and making a quick trip to Menards. The sky was perfectly clear, thousands of stars in full regalia. I stood there, head back, drinking in the beauty, wondering why I dont go out every night to see the stars.

A favorite memory of mine is my sixth-grade year at Jackson School. My teacher, Mr. Antilla, and a teacher from another school traded places for an hour or so each week to teach a special class. Where Mr. Antilla went and what he taught, I dont know. But this teacher, whose name and face I dont remember, taught our class about constellations. At one time I could have named for you nearly every constellation in the night sky above my head on that August night. Now, Orion the Hunter and The Seven Sisters we call Pleiades, were easy for me to spot and identify. My star chart tells me that among those I have long forgotten are Taurus the Bull, Pegasus the Winged Horse, and Cassiopeia the Seated Queen.

I admonished myself for not taking advantage of where I live, where the night sky is not obscured by city lights. I determined to go outside in the night more often. I also determined to study constellations again, along with the Greek and Roman myths associated with them.

Speaking of things associated with Roman culture, I got a large dose of it last month. My son Joe and his wife Alexis were the instigators and tour guides for Alexiss mother Natasha and me for a whirlwind trip to Italy (sounds a little bit like a plot for a sitcom, doesnt it?). We were primarily based in two cities, Sorrento in the south and Rome, further north. We all got along just fine, Im happy to report.

Because we were in cities, we had no opportunity to view the night sky, but that wasnt what we were there for. We were there to see the sights and experience Italian culture. On one trip we caught a train out of Rome, into the countryside. The train made its way through farm country, giving us a magnificent view of vast stretches of olive orchards, vineyards, and quaint farmhouses, on gently rising hillsides just as manicured, but so very different from our corn, soybean, and hayfields we have here.

At our stop we met our tour guide, Camilla, a tall, lanky young woman dressed in a long skirt and peasant blouse, her waist-length blonde hair tied back with a bow. She drove us in her tiny car through winding, rising roads, one hand on the steering wheel, the other waving back and forth out the window, chattering away as she navigated her tiny car to a town in Palombara Sabina.

We parked near a church which rose high above us, and met a group of five college students from Manitoba, Canada, who had made the same trek in a van. We walked together uphill, and more uphill, past rows of tall, skinny houses, all attached, every doorway a step up to get into. Camilla waved to every resident she met along the way until we found the door we were looking for. Nonna (Italian for Grandmother), short, dark, and round in stark contrast to her young interpreter, was waiting for us. We were there for her Cooking with Nonna class.

Nonna set us to work, stirring flour and eggs to make pasta dough. Camilla, interpreting for Nonna, instructed us in proper technique, interjecting little jokes and bits of Italian culture. All the while we stirred and kneaded and rolled dough, our champagne glasses were refilled on demand by Camilla, adding a festive atmosphere to our already enjoyable class. After we rolled our little piles of dough as thin as we could, Nonna took our work, one piece at a time, and ran it through a little pasta maker, making it longer and thinner. We learned how to cut little squares to shape into bowtie pasta, or when filled, ravioli. We each took a turn at cutting fettuccini from Nonnas own large, rolled out dough, cheering at each others success.

Nonna boiled each kind of pasta for us and served one at a time, topped with marinara or Alfredo sauce, accompanied with a huge pitcher of white wine, which the college students took particular interest in. The appetites of the two men from Canada were impressive. They ate all the leftovers of both food and wine, and looked like they could just keep eating! When we had wined and dined on our first attempts at pasta making, Camilla gave her required spiel about the online Cooking with Nonna classes we could sign up for, and the olive oil, aprons, and framed pictures she had for sale.

We stepped out of Nonnas kitchen into the bright sunlight of late afternoon, posed for photos, then wound our way down to our vehicles. Camilla entertained us for one last time all the way to the train stop. We hopped the train, arriving in Rome before nightfall. Evening deepened as we walked back to our Airbnb, city lights obscuring the night sky, so easily seen from my own yard.

I made a cursory check online of the night sky for both Wisconsin and Rome, to find that Ursa Major, also known as the Big Dipper or the Great Bear, hung over both you and me that night. I wasnt very far from home, after all.
This transcript appears in the October 13, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this transcript]

November 26, 2007

LaRouche to Youth

Your Mission Is To Learn To Think Like a Real Human Being

Editors Note: EIR is publishing these remarks by Mr. LaRouche for the first time.

This is an excerpted and edited transcript of remarks delivered by Lyndon LaRouche to members of his LaRouche Youth Movement in Los Angeles, California, Nov. 26, 2007. Subheads and embedded links have been added.

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EIRNS/William Salisbury

On the 25th of this past July, I announced that we had already entered the closing phase of the great collapse of the world economy.

The concession has now been essentially made in most parts of the world: The system has collapsed. Its in the death agonies. Its going to flop around on the sand a little bit and in the swamps and wherever it inhabitsbut this thing is now finished.

Various states, such as China, have responded to the event which occurred in this location, and it has shaken the world. At the same time that China was announcing the significance of the conference we had here and the address they gave, came their admission that the system is dead. We are in the final phase, the closing phase, of a world monetary system which died effectively between August 15, 1971, and 1972. The system is now dead. Its just flopping around, the way dead things sometimes do.

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EIRNS/Stuart Lewis

This means that we are entering a completely new phase of history. It also means a great psychological change in the climate of the world and in the United States. No longer are people going to be able to react the way you found them reacting in the recent period. But you dont have to be panic stricken, you dont have to be anxious, you dont have to be terrified, you dont have to be hystericalwere winning.

You dont have to jerk around. You dont have to be afraid. They may come to kill you, but you dont have to be afraid of other things! You know, just this minor thing: they might kill you; thats all. They would like to torture you, but they hate you too much to torture youthey want to get it over with, they want to kill you now!

So now everything is on our terms, and thats the way you have to handle it. Your problem is to be right. Dont make mistakes. Dont get jerky. Dont go wild. Dont scream. Be cold blooded, enthusiastic, and its yours. Take it. They have no solution for this thing. Theres no master plan theyve got thats going to get them out of this mess. They have no solution on their terms. It doesnt exist. Its either our terms or they go to hell. They may go there anyway, but.

Thats where we stand. Now you have some people who get anxious, particularly young people, because their parents are insane. They dont listen to their grandparents, so they just get panic stricken [panting] like a puppy.

But you dont have to be anxious. Were right. The battle plan is not complete, but what were doing is the only right thing there is to do. They were wrong. We are right. Now you have to be Daddy. You have to take these guys, in a sense, spiritually by the hand, and lead them to safety. These are your dumb sheep, and youve got to get them to safety. Dont worry about the kangaroos, were working on the sheep.

Thats the really significant thing. We have won. We have won a battle. As Ive declared for some time, this system, as it was put into shape in 197172the post Bretton Woods systemwas doomed. It was just a question: Would they wake up to that fact and change back? Reform in the direction of the Roosevelt conception I proposed? Or would they go to doom? They chose to go to doom. They have reached their destination. Theres no hope for their system, and we have no reason to compromise with their system.

We have to be concerned with the human race. Because if this thing goes the way its going, with no change from the current direction of policy, as is typified by the presidential campaign out there now, then the whole civilization goes into a dark age. And when you consider what will happen in a world population of over six and a half billion people when the system collapsesa dark age means a collapse of the world population down to levels of somewhere under a billion people within about a generation or so. They cant tell exactly how fast. But the general idea is clear.

So its our duty to save humanity from that scourge. What we have proposed will work. You saw a sample of this and the reaction from China on what happened here, my address here, and that has shaken up the world. It coincides with what is coming out of Europe and elsewhere, with the general admission of leading banking institutions that this system is finishedthat this is not a short-term process.

For example, you have the members of the CongressI dont know what kind of Congress it is, but its a Congress. I dont know what they do with that Congress. I wonder if they take any prophylactic preparations for the diseases they get with that kind of Congress!

But they all came back from their little vacations, their Thanksgiving vacations, where the turkeys had eaten them. They came back and the world was no longer the same. Theres special ways of avoiding what were pushing with the Homeowners and Bank Protection Act, so they tried something and it didnt work. They said: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are going to bail out the banks. We dont need to listen to you. Weve got a little solution. They came back and the announcement was: The little solution is in trouble! It doesnt exist anymore.

Now, what are they going to do? Theyre trying to stay with their system and their illusions, their dreams, their fantasies. You know how baby boomers arethey always like to seize their fantasies, and live out their fantasies. Youre trying to take our fantasy away from us. You want us to be realistic? What are you doing to us? Youre spoiling our party! (Or potty or whatever it is.)

That is, essentially, the situation. We are at a turning point in history, and you are in a position where youre part of the leadership of a bunch of frightened sheep, who just lost all their dreams and all their confidence. Its all spoiled. The important bankers and financiers, the ones who really talk in Europe and elsewhere, are saying the party is overthis system is finished. This is a long one. This is a big one. This is a deep one. And there is no solution in sight from this standpoint. The party is over. The party is ours.

Something for You and Your Age Group

Thats what Ive been working on for a long time. And so I can speak in the terms I have spoken here, because I can sit back and say, Okay, that is settled. Who is right and whos wrong? Thats just been settled in reality.

Now, that means something for you and your age group: You have to grow up. You are no longer young people going to your parents to bail you out, hmm? You are responsible for the consequences of your action, because people are going to listen to you. They may scream at you, but that means theyre listening to you. Thats why theyre screaming. You dont even have to speakthey hear you, they hear your voice inside their head: I know what youre going to say. I know what youre going to say. Dont you dare say it!

Its this sense of maturity. Youve got a highly confused and disoriented population. They dont think this can ever happen, that we can ever win. Therefore, youve got a bunch of mental cases on your hands that youve got to give some intellectual and emotional support to, because theyre inherently demoralized. Theyre planning to be failures.

Ive been trying to get you guys in particular to understand what physical economy really is, what the social process isto understand that you dont know physical science if you dont know music, as is demonstrated by the case of [Johannes] Kepler in terms of the solar system, as opposed to simple gravitation. The solar system cannot be understood the way its taught in any university. Its incompetent.

The Basement and the Gauss Project

Thats maturity. Were trying to achieve that. What we have coming out nowitll be some time because this is a very challenging thing I gave to themwe have a group in the basement thats trying to finish this Gauss project. When they started the Gauss project, I took them aside and said, heres what Im getting you into: Gauss is brilliant, and anything he claims to know is, to my knowledge, true, but he never tells you the truth about how he made the discovery, or rarely does. And therefore your job is not to try to learn how to repeat the kind of thing that Gauss published; thats not the mission. The mission is to discover what Gauss never told you, which is the method by which he actually made his discoveries.

[Carl Friedrich] Gauss was perfectly conscious of the methods by which he made his discoveries, he just didnt tell people about them. You have to figure it out. So I warned them about this, and theyve gone at the project in that way. I said: You have to take the connection between what preceded Gauss, and what followed. And that is essentially from [Gottfried] Leibniz to [Bernhard] Riemann. There are some other figures in the process, but thats essentially it.

Gauss is significant as a connection between the work of Leibniz, the century of Leibniz, and Riemann. And if you dont understand that connection, if you dont see Gauss as that connection, you havent understood it. So youve got to, with your own mind, experience what Gauss actually experienced, but didnt tell you. And you do that by living through the process of discovery.

Theyve been doing that, and it took them a good number of side roads to travel. And I think now, to my satisfaction, they either understand my statement then or nearly understand it.

It will take a little more time to do this Gauss project. But until you understand that the work of Riemann is a direct continuation of Gauss, if you think that Gauss is somehow in contradiction to Riemann, youre wrong! Most people think thattheyre wrong.

A Real Geometry Lesson

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U.S. Navy View full size

Photo: Felix Wong. Architects Gustave Eiffel, et al.

Lets take one thing personally about what the problem is of this wrongness. I was very fortunate in life in the sense that I became conscious of this problem at a certain point, on the day I entered the first Euclidean geometry course in secondary school. I walked into the room, and by the time I left that classroom after about 40 minutes, I knew I didnt believe in Euclidean geometry.

I used to be fascinated by visits to the Charleston Navy Yard, outside of Boston. This was not merely a Navy yard, but being a Navy yard, it had a lot of construction going on thererepair work, construction. I was fascinated by the construction. I was particularly fascinated by the way supporting beams were constructed. And obviously the idiot thinks thataccording to Euclidean geometryif you have solid metal, its stronger than if you have metal with holes in it. And you look at girders and you find theyve got holes in them, or they have cross pieceswhich are the same thing as holes.

Now why is that stronger than a solid piece of metal of the same material? Because your solid piece has too much mass in it. Its like the Eiffel Tower: They keep taking pieces out of it to make the thing stronger, because it has too much weight in it. So the question is: What is the ratio of weight of the supporting structure to the ability to support the structure? The point is, if you can reduce the weight without losing the strength, then you have a stronger structure.

Now you cant just take pieces outyou have to do it in a certain geometric form, a certain physical form, so that youre using the material of the structure, like a supporting beam, using it in a more efficient way. So its doing more work, but you have reduced the weight. So the ratio of the weight to supporting strength is very important. If you can lessen the weight without losing support in strength, you can support more than you could the other way.

On the basis of that experience, my thinking of geometry was related to this case of the steel girders. We have to know how to cut the holes in these beams in order to build strengthened beams, as an example. By the time I had said that, I looked around the class and I realized I didnt believe in Euclidean geometry. And therefore, my great advantage in approaching science and many other things is I never believed in Euclidean geometry, in any shape or form. I didnt waste my time and waste half my life in educational processes trying to believe in Euclidean geometry or Cartesian systems.

Most people who deal with economics or anything else, youll find that they consider themselves academics. Like an economic forecasterwhat do all these economic forecasters do? They assume that the world is Cartesian. They assume that you have balls floating in empty spacewhich is the inside of their head actuallyand that these balls are projected, and once youve set them into motion they go out through infinity on the trajectory you have set. It doesnt work that way at all. The universe is dynamic! There is no empty space, except in the minds of certain professors and similar kinds of people. There is physical-space-time, not matter, space, and time.

But why would people believe in this Cartesian system or Euclidean system? Because theyve been brainwashed by Sophists to believe that thats the way they have to think. I had the advantage in that I never believed it. Most people in societyand you can observe this all around you todaymost of the problems of society today involve people believing in unnecessary things, and they carry that baggage around their neck, and it strangles them. They cant think. Our advantage, my advantage, is I never wasted my time on that kind of garbage. I didnt believe in it.

If you look at it from that standpoint, you will see why my approach is Riemannian, because the problem was to get rid of this garbage. The assumptions about straight lines, about axioms, postulatesget that garbage out of the way. Define science without that. And then, as some of you know, if you go back to the Pythagoreans, you find that the Pythagoreans with the quadrivium already knew this. Plato already knew this before Euclid ever existed.

Euclid is the guy who ran to Egypt. (Exactly why he ran there, what crime he committed, we dont know.) He was a member of the Sophist cult. If you think about it, most European science is derived from the Sophist cult of Euclid, from the axioms and postulates of the Euclidean system, or similar system. The Cartesian system adds a factor to it but its essentially the same thing. Its even worse than Euclid. It assumes sense certainty. It assumes that sight is science, and that sight and hearing are different. It says that physical science is sight, and that music is hearing, and theyre different. Poetry is hearing, its related to musicits not scientific. Rembrandt is not scientific, Leonardo da Vinci is not really scientific because he doesnt stick to that division, the ancient Greek sculptors are not scientific, because they didnt stick to that division.

Then you get this business with Kepler, which some of you went through, on the harmonics. What determines the organization of the solar system? What defines Keplers calculation of a principle of gravitation in the solar system? Its based on ignoring sense as such, and realizing that no sense perception or thought of sense perception corresponds to reality.

The Fallacy of Sense-Certainty

The universe is not empty space extended indefinitely. The universe is finite! The size of the universe is one. The volume of the universe is one, as in the case of gravitationeverything in the universe is affected by gravitation. Therefore, gravitation encloses the universe, and theres nothing in the universe which is not under the reign of gravitation, or similar processes. The universe is finite! But its expanding in respect to itself.

All these ideas are elementary ideas. You find them in the Pythagoreans, in the quadrivium. There are no axioms, postulates, or assumptions. They dont exist, theyre not needed. You dont have to assume that more mass in the beam makes it strongerit actually makes it weaker. Therefore, you realize that the sensessense certaintyis idiocy.

The world is not what you see and hear. The real world is what your mind is able to understand, by recognizing the fallacy of sense perception as such. What you see and hear is not reality. Your senses are simply like instruments that you develop in science, experimental instruments, and the instruments dont tell you what reality is. It is the human minds ability to integrate the evidence from this instrumentalization, to combine, as Kepler did in the case of determining the planetary orbits, to define the meaning between two contradictory phenomena: sight and hearing. Theres also smell, especially when it comes to whats taught in schools today.

Sense perception is nothing but instrumentation, in the same way that we build scientific instruments to investigate the subatomic regime, where there is no sense perceptual penetration. So how do you know whats in there? People say: Well, its Cartesian space. Its not Cartesian space. Theres no such thing as Cartesian space. Theres no such thing as all these objects, nuclei, swirling aroundthats not there. The whole thing is a wave function, its a physical wave function, which we know by giving up the idea of a Cartesian space.

And so the advantage comes from getting away from the brainwashing of believing in sense certainty and the interpretation that what you think you see and feel and hear is reality. All truth in science is quite different. The same thing is true in economics. Theres no way that you can understand economy in mechanistic terms.

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EIRNS

Creativity Is a Uniquely Human Capability

Theres another factor here, which is even more important, and that is creativity. Whats the difference between man and a beast? Beasts dont have creativity. Any animal species has a fixed relative potential population density. Man does not. Mankind willfully increases the number of people that can live and the quality of their development on this planet. Theres no limit. If we were apes, as some people try to be, you wouldnt have more than a few million individuals on this planet that would be called humanjust like the great apes. Were pretty much physically like a great ape. Weaker, but the same thing. So dont monkey around with yourselfyoure not a great ape.

Whats the difference? Great apes can never think in human terms, because they dont have creativity. Theres a certain kind of creativity in the universe which allows living processes to exist, and shapes their development and determines their capacitybut they cant think creatively. Theyre almost as bad as baby boomers. They can not think creatively. They gave up on it.

Human beings are creativethe universe is creative! There is no Second Law of Thermodynamics. Its a fraud! Its concocted by a couple of corrupt idiots. The universe is expanding, the universe is developingits going to higher and higher states. We have this solitary Sun out there, all alone, spinning rapidly. When youre all alone I suppose you do spin rapidly, like a baby boomer looking for a date!

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EIRNS

The Sun, in the form of a disk, is spinning out this material, this plasma. What we know of this is that the Sun irradiates the disk, and the radiation we know to be polarized. How do we know that? Because we know the table of elementsyou could only get up to iron if the plasma were not polarized. So the solar system is generated like a fractional distillation process, where the material is distributedjust like the Keplerian planetary orbits. The elements up to uranium are generated in this way.

But then it goes through an evolution. Because this chemical table is part of a process of creationthe Sun doesnt have the chemical table, the Sun produces it. Its a process of the whole solar system which produces this chemical table.

But life is not there yet. There is potential, there are useful things for life in the Periodic Table (some elements and some isotopes are specific to life, others are not). Then you get living processes coming where there was once just the Sun. Then you get, in this process out of living elements and living processes in the solar system, you have the emergence of living human beingswho can think.

But you dont just have the solar system, by itself. You have a galaxy. The weather in that solar system is largely affected by something in that galaxy called the Crab Nebula, which is an exploded star, and it sends whats called cosmic rays. The Crab Nebula protects you (sometimes) because youre getting a lot of dangerous radiation coming out of the Sun. You have to watch out for that Sun. And sometimes the cosmic ray radiation coming directly from the Crab Nebula interferes with the solar radiation hitting Earth. And therefore, you have a somewhat safer environment because something out there in the galaxy, far away from you, is intervening to save you.

Then you have other galaxies, you have hundreds of billions of galaxies out there, and the whole thing is one big dynamic mass of interaction. These are not little separate things all by themselvestheyre interacting. The whole universe is interacting! The number of physical principles in the universe is increasing! The organization is going to a higher state constantly. The universe is anti-entropic. The law of entropy is a dirty lie. The universe is improving itself, and the job of man is to improve himself.

This is a far different conception of man, and of our life, than you find among the typical baby boomer today running around without his seeing-eye dog to guide him. And thats what we have to understand about ourselves. Thatif we are humanwe are the instruments whose nature and behavior corresponds to this universe in which we live, which is anti-entropic. A self-developing universe, a self-developing human species. The work of the individual in society, essentially, which gives the individual value, is the individuals contribution to this anti-entropic development of mankind itself, which enables, from one generation to the other, mankind to achieve higher states of existenceto support a larger population, in a better state, with more significance to face the problems of the universe.

We are like the local repairmanthe old Maytag repairman went out of business and most of us are sitting in the basement doing nothing. Were not supposed to sit in the basement and do nothing. Were supposed to get out there and do things. Were supposed to change the situation, to make mankinds role in the universe better, more powerful. And to find an immortal meaning in ones lifethat what you contribute by creativity lives on after you, efficiently, and continues to improve mankinds power, to improve the universe.

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NASA, ESA, STScI, J. Hester & A. Loll, R. Gehrz

No monkey can do that, and very few baby boomers either, because they gave it up. They gave up the essential quality of humanity: The creative powers of man, the development of creative powers. They say: We accept Euclid, we accept a fixed universe, we cant change. And then you say: Wait a minute, I smell something here. And you go back to the Prometheus trilogy of Aeschylus, and you say: Wait a minute, I just saw what theyre doing to us.

We are told we are not allowed to think in terms of creativitythat we are lower forms of life; we should never have started to use fire; we should all be environmentalists, like Al Gore, of 16 tons and the company store. Thats what he is! Hes the guy that owned it, thats what the song is about. Hes the swine who owned it and did those dirty things. And hes getting to the 16 tons himself right now if you aint noticed that! And he ate the company store!

Were not supposed to be like Al Gore, were supposed to be human. The problem with the baby boomer, especially the 68er is that they believe in environmentalism. If youre human, you believe in changing the environment to make it better, not in protecting it from change. Thats the Prometheus issue. Whats wrong with this society essentially, morally, at the bottom, is the environmentalists. Thats why the 68ers are such a menace, because theyre environmentalists. Satan is an environmentalist. Hes made in the image of Gore.

Live Your Life for a Necessary Immortal Purpose

Your problem as a generation, now that youre coming into your own as a result of the things that happened over the weekend, your destiny is not to think of yourself as like a baby boomer. Thats poison for you, that ruins your reputation, among other things. Youre supposed to think as a creative person, as a creative being, whose purpose in life is, by the time youve passed on, to contributed something which will make the universe better after you. Thats your sense of identity, that gives you the courage to do what you have to do.

Its like the soldier who dies in battle for the sake of his country. Why should he die? Does his life lose its meaning because he died in battle? Not necessarily. If his struggle and sacrifice means something for the condition of mankind afterward, his mission is immortal, and his life is justified. Baby boomers are essentially cowards for just that reason, they have no raison detre. They may have excuses for the right to live, but they have no purpose in their life. Theres nothing in them, according to their intention, that is going to make the universe better when theyre dead. They will not have contributed anything to make the universe better. They will say: We want to keep things going the way they are. We want to have more pleasure, less work. We want to have this; we want to have that. They have no sense of immortality.

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EIRNS/George Hollis

How does a baby boomer want to die? They dont want to know whats coming. They dont believe in their own children. As they get older and get weaker, they have no sense of commitment to their own children. Why? Because theyre thinking about dying. Theyre thinking about how theyve got to get their pleasure while they can, because theres nothing that comes after them, for them. They want death to come silently, without purpose, and not be able to ask themselves the question of what their life has meant. They dont like their children anymore. They may like them how they like toys, but they dont like themthey dont have a sense that their children and their grandchildren are the meaning of their life.

We contribute to coming generations to make humanity better, to protect it, against decadence for example; to enable coming generations to achieve things for humanity that the present generation have not achieved. And we think of our life not as an experience, but as a mission.

The mission is to do something, to change the world for the better, and to understand that happiness consists in doing that. This is what Leibniz meant by the pursuit of happinessto make your life meaningful, a meaningful existence for humanity afterward; to build a new society out of this mess were now living in; and not to let humanity make the kind of mistakes weve made in the past two generations since Harry Truman.

Thats what its all about. And thats why the science is essential. Thats why the music is essential. Thats why all these things are essential: To develop yourself into the kind of instrument man should be, the individual person should be. Not to behave like baby boomers who are destroying themselves, discrediting the meaning of their very lives, and who dont want to have any change in thatthey want to cling to the illusion that life and current policy is goodits not!

Whats good is the great creative exemplars, creative scientists, creative artists, who have contributed something of permanent value to humanity after them. Their life is justified, theres a good reason for them to have lived. Ask yourself! Can you say to the universe: I was needed. I had to exist. Theres a mission I performed. Theres a purpose in my lifea purpose which lives beyond me.

So dont get trapped into thinking youre replacing the previous generation. Your job is to become what man must be. Your job is to be horrified enough by what the baby boomers have become, what their generation has become, to never let this happen to mankind again.

We are in a nation which has a peculiar advantage in its history for that purpose. Because of our nation, we have the opportunity to make this kind of change. And the opportunity is now put in our hands by these events. Things are going to change. Our job is to see that they do changenot just change, but to not lose sight of what it is to be a human being, a real human being; to live for an immortal purpose for mankind in the universe; to make the universe a better place to live in; to make humanity a more useful part of the universe; to rejoice in what our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will accomplish, because we have made it possible for them to do that. Never get talked into an accommodation to baby boomer ideologythats poison, thats death.

Seek a higher mission. The mission of the poet and the scientist, the mission of beauty in that sensethe beauty of being a human being, the kind of being that is capable, as no animal can, to make the universe a better place to live in, to improve it, to change it for the better.

So thats whats put in our hands. We have now a chance, only a chance, to win. And if we win, lets not waste it. Lets see we never go back to what has happened in these recent years.

Have fun!
This article appears in the October 13, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this article]

IN MEMORIAM

Marsha Gail Freeman

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EIRNS/Stuart Lewis Marsha Gail Freeman, 1947-2023

Our colleague and dear friend Marsha Freeman, 76, passed away on September 20, 2023 while in the ICU unit of the hospital as a result of an infected bed sore. She had also tested positive for Covid. Her long-term fight with her Parkinsons was also having a deleterious effect on her eating and speaking, which was a cause of great frustration during her last few months.

Marsha had a Masters Degree in Education, but her interests took her into the area of aerospace. One of the earliest members of the LaRouche movement in the early 1970s, she wrote thousands of articles for the LaRouche-associated science magazine Fusion and its successor 21st Century Science & Technology, as well as for the weekly Executive Intelligence Review for which she was Technology Editor. Marsha also wrote three books, How We Got to the Moon: The Story of the German Space Pioneers; Challenges of Human Space Exploration, about the scientific work by Russians and Americans on the Russian Mir space station; and Krafft Ehrickes Extraterrestrial Imperative. She was also instrumental in preserving the legacy and works of space engineer Krafft Ehricke, one of the most creative and imaginative figures from the Peenemunde group of German space pioneers who had come to the United States after World War II and played a critical role in the development of the U.S. space program.

Marsha was a genuine and tough intellectual, but was at the same time a very gentle soul. Even people who knew her only briefly were impressed with her knowledge and acumen. And several who commented on her passing noted her wonderful smile and sense of humor.

On one occasion at an International Space Congress, which Marsha had participated in annually since 1992, a noted MIT professor who knew her, came up excitedly, hugged her, and wanted to know if he could possibly introduce his postdoctoral candidates, who were accompanying him at the Congress, to her. She, of course, was more than happy to meet them.

Brian Harvey, a noted space historian, dubbed Marsha the queen of space history. When she started writing about space, there were but few women working in the field. Marsha was at the first Shuttle launch in 1981 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and interviewed the pilot, Robert Crippen.

When giving tours to school children at the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., seeing the boys respond with a good deal of eagerness, the girls not so much, Marsha always told them that space was gender-neutral, and not just something for the boys. She was very happy to attend the event in the White House, where President Bill Clinton, on March 5, 1998, announced the appointment of Col. Eileen Collins as the first woman Space Shuttle Commander.

She was an active member of the International Astronautical Federations History Committee for over 20 years, editing some of their annual journals. She also presented papers at several of their congresses.

She inherited a deep love of science and a keen sense of criticism from her father, Joseph Osofsky, a World War II veteran. He only had a high school education, but took night courses at the RCA Institute, and worked on the DEW line (Distant Early Warning system). He also designed the packaging for the optical instruments that were placed in unmanned science satellites. Her father became the veritable Mr. Wizard of their neighborhood in Queens, New York, capable of resolving most of his neighbors technical and electrical problems. Many of the kids in the neighborhood went on to careers as nuclear physicists at MIT and other prestigious schools, asserting that they had their first lessons in science while gathering around Joey Osofskys workbench. And Marsha was always the apple of his eye.

She made major contributions to Lyndon LaRouches 1988 Presidential campaign video program on space, The Woman on Mars.

Her knowledge, her insights and her humor will be sorely missed by all, but she will remain in our memory forever. Not just one, but two stars in the heavens have been named in her honor, one named Marsha Freeman and the other, Marsha Gail Freeman.

Remembrances Received

A sampling of condolences received by Marshas husband, William Jones:

Also, with a heavy heart I finished reading your note about Marshas passing. What a commitment to life! And to the future! All we can do is carry on, and Im sure you will.Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut and former U.S. Senator from New Mexico.

So sorry to hear; thats so sad. I know she had not been well for some time and our communications had become less frequent as a result. She was a pleasure to meet, and I so much valued her knowledge, views, and political framework. She was fearless in her views. She was most supportive to me and what I was doing especially on Chinese and Russian space history. She did indeed have a sharp wit and a great way with words and language. She will be forever remembered in the space history community.Brian Harvey, author and space historian.

I was lucky enough to meet Marsha during her participation in the NASA and the Long Civil Rights Movement symposium back in March 2017. I really enjoyed her talk on TVA and civil rights.Brian C. Odom, NASA Chief Historian.

My thoughts are with you during this stressful period in your life, but I take joy in remembering Marsha as a dedicated, productive space historian.Rick Sturdevant, Deputy Command Historian, United States Air Force.

So sorry to hear about the passing away of Marsha. She was an outstanding contributor to space exploration and advanced the field of Astronautics. She leaves a great legacy and will be always remembered by all of us.Dr. Arnauld Nicogossian, former NASA Associate Administrator for Life and Microgravity Sciences.

I am sorry for your loss. I do recall providing several interviews for her, and always respected her knowledge of the space business and her sharp line of questioning.Michael Griffin, former NASA Administrator.

She was a wonderful person, a talented, dedicated journalist who published so many accurate, well written articles on fusion, space and other important scientific and technical programs. I have known her since the 1970s. She attended many Fusion Power Associates annual conferences over the years since then and we have missed her presence there in recent years due to her declining health. The world has lost a star.

Steve Dean, President, Fusion Power Associates.

Marsha was a wonderful friend and colleague. We exchanged calls and e-mails for many years. She had a genuine interest in Latin American space development and authored an outstanding article on the various space programs in the region. Her book on Krafft Ehricke represents a unique and valuable contribution to his work, and her unwavering courage on various subjects was truly commendable. She will be greatly missed.Dr. Pablo de Leon, Director, University of North Dakota Human Spaceflight Laboratory.



Official letter from NASA Headquarters:

Dear William,

It is with a heavy heart that many of us have learned of Marshas passing. Her contributions to the literature, [and] history of space exploration will forever be known in her writings. My first introduction to Marsha was while she was in the process of writing her book, the Challenges of Human Space Exploration. I remember her tremendous smile and the ever-so-slightest hint of a Bronx accent.

Please know that she will be dearly missed, and that we will forever value her contribution to human spaceflight and the many thousands of articles she has authored, with thousands more citations. As the Artemis program continues to rise to bring us back to the Moon, many people will want to again revisit the origins of the U.S. space program. They will undoubtedly read a large amount of her work.

Thank you for sharing her with us and please accept our deepest condolences at this time. Please know that our hearts are heavy with you.

Respectfully,

J.D. Polk, Chief Health and Medical Officer, NASA HQ.
This article appears in the October 13, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

Cultivating a Dialogue of Civilizations

Schiller Institute Youth Delegation Visits China

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From September 18 to 28, 2023 a delegation of 15 mostly young representatives of the Schiller Institute in the United States and Canada visited China. The delegation visited places in and around Beijing and Chengdu, participating in many presentations, group dialogues, and tours of various notable sights throughout the trip. The response was overwhelming, both from the delegates, as well as from their hosts who were thrilled to meet and interact with members of the Schiller Institute. On Friday, October 6, a number of the delegates gave short presentations to an event in New York City, discussing some of the highlights and personal reflections from their trip. What follows is an edited compilation of six of those presentations.

Rural Revitalization and an All-Nation Modernization

My name is Simon Miller. I was born in Longmont, Colorado, but moved to a small town in rural Missouri, called Camdenton, where I grew up from age 9. Never having left the country before, I was astonished and amazed by nearly every single moment of our trip to China, from the warm reception we received, to all of the wonderful cultural and historical sites we experienced and the dialogues we engaged in. However, likely due to my background in rural America, I was deeply moved by one particular activity during our trip, which was our tour of Siduhe Village in Huairou District, Beijing. I want to share that experience with everyone I can, so I plan to discuss three main topics; these are, namely, agriculture, modernization, and the community. Without further ado, lets begin.

On the morning of September 20, which was our third full day in China, we took the bus for over an hour outside of the city, to Huairou District, Beijing. Immediately upon arrival in Siduhe, in addition to the gorgeous nature surrounding us, we were greeted by our group of hosts, among whom were two young college students living in Siduhe as part of the project of Rural Revitalization. They led us to a lovely Airbnb where we ate a delicious lunch consisting of, among other things, Chestnut Pork. This gave us a sense for the end product of the villages main agricultural product: chestnuts! After the meal, we began our tour of the village. The agriculture surrounded us, from the chestnut trees sprawling around the entire village, to the small plots of land dedicated to cultivating other vegetables that could be found beside many of the homes in the village. Our young hosts described how they had helped innovate the agricultural process, by improving the packaging, marketing, and distribution. They informed us that modernizing the sale of chestnuts was a key mission for them.

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Speaking of modernization, I would be remiss not to mention the displays of gorgeous architecture dotting Siduhe Village. Throughout the village there stood several sleek and modern buildings with architecture akin to some of the most affluent neighborhoods in the United States. In the rural U.S., you could only find buildings such as these far from the towns or standing in a specific area in contrast to the rest of the town. Yet here, due to the project of Rural Revitalization, these buildings were becoming increasingly common in a tiny village of less than 400 people, interspersed between the older and more traditional architecture of the surrounding village. It was a powerful sight to see all of this effort in modernizing both the agricultural process and the architecture of such a tight-knit, rural community.

And community there was! At several points during our tour, we encountered ordinary people going about their daily business, and we experienced the cohesive nature of this rural community. It is a common stereotype of rural America that the communities are closer there than in the larger cities, and while that stereotype may still be accurate to some degree, we all know that these communities are being left behind in favor of the bustling city life.

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Our encounters with ordinary people included an older woman who was wheeling heavy cargo down a moderately bumpy hill, with her wheelbarrow threatening to turn over and dump her cargo onto the ground. Immediately upon seeing this, one of our young hosts approached the woman, tapped her arm, and offered to wheel the wheelbarrow to the bottom of the hill for her, which he proceeded to do with haste.

Another encounter was with an elderly man who approached our delegation as we were crossing a small bridge to the village library. He began speaking with a gigantic smile on his face, making his way to the front of our group where he exclaimed that our hosts (particularly the gentleman translating for us) were some of the most popular people in the village, and that they were loved for being so helpful and caring. He said, I am happy to see so many people here listening to what they have to say! It was an emotional moment for me to witness the level of comradery and love between these villagers and the volunteers working to improve the village. This was deeply moving.

All of this, from the improvement of agriculture, to the modernization of living spaces, down to the helping hand extended to ordinary people, was being poured into a small village on the outskirts of civilization. All of this effort was going toward the improvement of a positive and closely-tied community of normal working people. This is what impassioned me to share this experience with everyone that I can. Because so many rural towns in the U.S. were built on this sense of closeness, on love for ones neighbor, and because increasingly these communities are being left in the dustbin to wither away. But here, across the world, in an even smaller community, there were energetic people of all ages who worked each and every day to maintain and improve that community life. As sure as I am that I love my community in rural Missouri, I am equally sure that we can work together to do the same thing here in the country I love.

China, Like America, Loves Big Water Projects

My name is Michelle. Im going to talk about our visit to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. But first I want to explain something about myself, and perhaps about many other Americans.

The first large water project in the United States was designed by Alexander Hamilton and was built right across the river from here, in Paterson New Jersey, in 1789. Other substantial water infrastructure projects include the Erie Canal, built between 1817 and 1825, and the first major water project to bring water to New York Citythe Old Croton Aqueductbuilt between 1837 and 1842. So for people in the United States, where these projects are considered ancient history, its quite something to learn that the Dujiangyan Irrigation System was built in 256 B.C.! Its a big difference. And when Ive told other Americans about the Dujiangyan project being built in 256 B.C., the most common response I get is Wow!

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And this project was actually the thing that I was most interested to visit in China, because Ive seen many of the water projects in the United States.

So on our visit, first we had a wonderful presentation by an expert named Wang Guoping, who told us about the project. He told us about the outlook of the people at the time of the building, that there is a harmony between man and nature, and that the region is the origin of Taoismwhich I cant claim to know much about. He referenced Chinese poetry as well.

The project was built right at the beginning of what was to become the Chin Dynasty consolidation of the future nation of China. The engineer was Li Bing, who did some great engineering. It is located at the Min Jiang River, in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, where the river used to flood and cause damage. So, the project was to split the river into two channels, one for irrigation and one for outflow, to manage the flow of the water and stop the floods.

When you look at the site, you can see where the mountain was split to create a second channel for the water. This was before the invention of explosive powder, so the way they broke through the rocks was by heating, then quickly cooling them, which they knew made them fragile and could then be broken. In one of the pictures we took you can see the fish mouth which creates the split in the river. This was also long before concrete, so bamboo cages filled with rocks were placed into the river and refurbished each year. This allows for different flows of the river, depending on whether it is in the wet season or the dry season. Somehow, the design enables the current to flow in a way to naturally remove the silt.

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The irrigation system built here, which has been expanded very much over the years, is responsible for this whole Chengdu region being, to this day, the land of abundance. So abundant in fact, that it was a huge factor in World War II, providing food and supplies for one third of all the people for the Chinese effort against Japan. Our former Vice President Henry Wallace visited the project.

We were also able to talk with a lot of local people during the visit, which was invaluable. It was very exciting, and very beautiful.

Beijing: Case Study of a Fully Coordinated Transportation Grid

Before I begin, I just want to express my gratitude to everyone who organized the trip. This was the first time I have travelled internationally, and I will absolutely treasure this experience for the rest of my life.

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During our trip in China, we had the opportunity to visit the Beijing Traffic Operations Coordination and Command Center, or TOCC, the intelligence hub of Beijings modern comprehensive transportation center.

Beijing experiences a higher volume of traffic than any other city in the world. The duty of the TOCC is to coordinate all the traffic, including automobile, subway, bus, and bicycle traffic. The amazing thing is that this is done every 24 hours, all 365 days of the year.

At present, the TOCC has established four major monitoring sectors: road network operation, rail transit, public transportation, and comprehensive transportation, realizing dynamic monitoring of 19 transportation fields.

During major events, such as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference, and the 70th anniversary of the Chinese Victory over the Japanese during the Second World War, the TOCC has carried out special monitoring.

Here are just some of the innovative techniques that have been employed by the TOCC to reduce heavy traffic, utilizing comprehensive monitoring and coordination:

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The TOCC allows real-time traffic updates to pop up directly on your phone, navigation device, such as GPS, or even the electronic billboards you pass by. This is incredibly convenient, in a city with more than 24,000,000 people, who are constantly commuting.

Since the public has convenient access to this information, vehicles can be directed away from congested routes. The result? Journeys are 15% quicker, ensuring that people get home in time for what truly matters.The TOCC has also implemented an electronic parking map for the public, making it much easier to find a spot in the densely-populated city.

As we glimpse into Beijings future, one thing is clear: with the TOCC at the helm, China is steering a journey thats efficient, intelligent, and sustainable. Many other cities across China now utilize similar systems to manage traffic and reduce congestion. Thats definitely something to be admired, and replicated across the world. China has made tremendous progress in the field of smart technologies, and that knowledge can be given to other, less-developed countries as well.

Chengdu Railway Port: An International Logistics Platform

I would like to talk a bit about our visit to the Chengdu International Railway Port Economic Development Zone. Members of our delegation and our colleagues from the Schiller Institute understand that China today is the worlds leading role model for how to bring about shared prosperity through long-term physical economic development and global cooperation. Throughout our travels in China, I was focused on finding examples of ambitious development projects that I could share with my fellow Americans, partly to tell them about the real China and partly to inspire them to think about how we can return to the best of our own traditions.

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The economic development zone in Qingbaijiang District near Chengdu was unlike anything I had ever seen before, and is something that Americans and people around the world should know about.

Immediately as we entered the zone, it was impossible not to notice the breakneck pace of development in the form of large clusters of buildings being constructed simultaneously. We saw this kind of thing everywhere we went in China, but in Qingbaijiang District it was on an entirely different scale.

At the Chengdu-Eurasia Commodity Pavilion, we saw the incredible array of both commodities and premium products from around the world, and learned about how the incremental addition of logistics servicesexpedited customs, supply-chain financing, and cold-chain logistics, for examplewill soon make it possible to export Russian meat products to Vietnam, or Indian dairy products to Korea.

As the railway port grows to encompass a higher volume of trade flow, it will naturally become a more enticing home for manufacturers who will be able to easily source raw materials or components and deliver their value-added products to market. We saw an assembly line that was manufacturing front panels for televisions and took note of the remarkable level of automation in the process. But my biggest takeaway was a sense that the entire production system could be reconfigured to produce something entirely different in a matter of weeks or months if needed.

Chengdu is strategically located as a central hub in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and a gateway to Europe, Russia, South and Southeast Asia and the rest of China. Being on the ground in Qingbaijiang District, it was easy to perceive the critical role that the zone will play in Chinas national and global development plans. A big part of this was the development of a transportation and logistics platform capable of adapting to global market shifts as well as other factors like geopolitics. The staggering complexity of the world today means that no single railroad, maritime route, or development corridor can guarantee its successful deployment and operation, and I came away from our tour with the impression that the development of the railway port has been meticulously planned to account for this uncertainty and maintain its core value proposition.

Perhaps more than anything else, I was extremely impressed by the complex interactions between global, national, regional, and local development plans and the painstaking efforts to manage this complexity and build a community where people can thrive. We were able to view several maps of the planned development of Qingbaijiang District. Plans to build schools, residential communities, parks, and other foundations of modern life in the midst of all of the industrial activity struck me as far more ambitious than anything I had seen in the United States or elsewhere.

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After our factory tour, we took a five-minute bus ride to a nearby hotel for lunch. As we left the hotel after enjoying some excellent Sichuan cuisine, we saw a large wedding celebration in the hotel ballroom. Prior to this, I could scarcely imagine a wedding taking place in between a bunch of industrial zones, but in this context it made perfect sense and in fact barely surprised me in the moment. I felt this was a testament to the harmony that is being cultivated between the success of the local community and the national and global economic development, and it is just one more reason why I will be eagerly telling everyone I know about our visit to Qingbaijiang District.

The Most Important Friendship: China and the United States

During our time in Chengdu, we were given a tour of the Sanxingdui Museum, which contains hundreds of artifacts from the nearby Bronze Age archeological site of the same name, which has been linked to the ancient Shu Kingdom. It is my understanding that this archeological discovery showed that the Shu civilization goes back much earlier, perhaps more than 1,000 years earlier, than previously believed.

All of us were impressed by the skill and craftsmanship of this more than 3,000-year-old civilization. They had a clear mastery of metallurgy, as we saw in the wide variety of cast bronze objects and figuressome of which were incredibly large and intricate. Many of the artifacts we saw point to a civilization that had a strong connection to natureto the sky and the heavensand a strong representation of the human being, as we saw in the bronze masks and figuressome of which had very unique faces and characters. This resonated with what we learned of Chinese culture generally. It was fascinating to learn that these people had a mastery of certain long-term astronomical cycles, and also knew enough geometry to be able to divide the circumference of a circle into 5 equal parts.

The opportunity to spend an afternoon seeing the handiwork of a very ancient civilization in China was fascinating, and for me, sparked thoughts about the incredible and universal capabilities of the human mindwhich we saw a glimpse of in the artifacts of these people so far removed from us in time and space.

Otherwise, I want to just say a few things about the various dialogues in which we took part. We met with the leadership of a number of different groups and participated in dialogues at two universities, and various industries, businesses, and community centers.

For me, this was the highlight of the trip. Having the opportunity, as Americans, to speak frankly about the current state of world affairs, about the very positive initiatives and proposals under which the majority of nations are gatheringsuch as the BRI projects, the BRICS+, and othersand very importantly about the ideas of the Schiller Institute for how we can bring the whole worldincluding the West, which is the big question markinto this, was invaluable.

It put many of us, I think, into a paradoxical situation, in which we recognized the unfortunate and dangerous role our nation is currently playing on the world stage, and yet, we strove to represent and communicate the very best from Americas anti-colonial history, and the very best ideas of our nationthe notion of Hamiltonian National Banking, Franklin Roosevelts poverty alleviation programs in the New Deal, and John F. Kennedys commitment to joint research in space exploration.

We made many very valuable friends and connections on our trip, and were very much looking forward to collaborating in the near- and longer-term future to see if we can turn the tide of history now in the right direction.

The Challenge of Building a Community of a Shared Future

I must say that I was very happy when I opened up the questionnaire given to us by the All-China Youth Federation at the end of our remarkable visit. They asked us, Have you learned more about the Global Development Initiative? Global Civilization Initiative? The Belt and Road Initiative? It is clear that our hosts would like Americans to better understand these crucial contributions of China to the creation of a new era of mutual benefit among nations.

I agree with Megan Dobrodt, that the opportunities we had for dialogue, such as those we enjoyed at Tsinghua University, Chengdu University, over tea in Beijing, and also in Siduhe village over barbecue and beerthese were my favorite moments, because they allowed us to understand the culture, the people, and the ideas that make those major government initiatives possible.

During our trip, the Chinese government released its white paper on the theory behind the Global Community of Shared Future. Several of us read it within hours of its publication. We noticed the section that discusses the cultural basis for the concept, as it exists in many different cultures. Many proverbs and famous minds are quoted in order to demonstrate the universality of this idea. But we noticed that there was no reference from the United States of America. If I may, Id like to recommend that Lyndon LaRouche would be the best American to quote, because of his genuine fight over the course of his entire life for a new, just world economic order.

We spoke about this topic at Chengdu University, and were able to share the proposal of our founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche, which calls to expand the dialogue about the principles of a shared community of destiny to include students and youth at top universities from every continent. Just yesterday at the Valdai Club, President Putin contributed six principles for the new era. Helga Zepp-LaRouche has produced ten principles to add to the discussion. We hope we can collaborate to bring that dialogue to the level it needs to reach.

What we found in China was a civilization well-prepared by its culture, history, and founding philosophy to take on this role of global leadership. Here in the United States, we hope to lean on that strength, and borrow some of it, through learning, to grow the capability in the U.S.A. to work in harmony with China to create that new paradigm of mutual benefit.
This editorial appears in the October 13, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

EDITORIAL

Call Your Congressman:

Cut the Funding for the War Now!

[Print version of this editorial]

Oct. 4The entire Western system is unravelling at breath-taking speedeconomically, politically, socially, in every imaginable way. The fissures are everywhere and in plain view:

 The unprecedented removal of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post on Oct. 3.

 The refusal of Congress to approve a budget that included sending another $6 billion to Ukraine for the war.

 An urgent call by President Biden to a dozen fellow Western leaders (Germany, Italy, Japan, NATO, the EU, etc.) to assure them that somehow or other the U.S. would keep sending weapons to Ukraine.

 A panicked Financial Times editorial demanding that unending military aid to Ukraine be locked in place forever, by hook or by crook.

 A report documenting the dramatic plunge in U.S. life expectancies over the last decade.

 A former President of the United States gagged by a judge, and threatened with jail if he disobeys.

 A candidate with the most recognized last name in the Democratic Party, threatening to bolt the party and run for President as an independent.

But the cause of the growing cracks in the fabric of society is not to be found in any one of those fissures. They are only the symptoms of the systemic breakdown of the entire trans-Atlantic financial system, whose owners are hell-bent on dragging the West into a nuclear showdown with Russia and China.

In the American population, however, the tide of public opinion is rising against the Ukraine war. It is against spending additional hundreds of billions of dollars to sow devastation abroad, when people are suffering and dying at home for lack of jobs, housing, medical attention and real education. The sentiment crosses party lines: Nothing works anymore, and people are simply fed up and demanding a change.

The whole thing is breaking apart! Helga Zepp-LaRouche emphasized in her weekly dialogue webcast on October 4.

The first step in this moment of opportunity is to call your Congressman and demand that the funding of the war in Ukraine stop! Get others to join you, and work with the International Peace Coalition to demand a negotiated peace in Ukraine, along the lines of the detailed plan submitted by the four German experts.

As Helga Zepp-LaRouche stated in concluding her weekly Dialogue: We are trying to build this International Peace Coalition to be so powerful that its voice cannot be passed over. If you are a peace activist, or you should be a peace activist, contact the Schiller Institute and make the activities of the IPC known to other people. You should absolutely get active with us. This is not a moment in history to just contemplate. This is a moment when it is you, and many individuals, who can make the difference.
Oct. 11, 2023, (EIRNS)Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche held her weekly Dialogue webcast on Oct. 11, in which she discussed the rapidly worsening strategic crisis and war danger, and what to do about it. With President Biden giving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a de facto green light for extending the brutal siege and slaughter underway in Gaza (Biden said, If the United States experienced what Israel is experiencing, our response would be swift, decisive, and overwhelming); with the U.S. sending in a carrier strike group, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Eastern Mediterranean to address any and all escalation scenarios that might arise; and with the governments of China, Russia, Egypt, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and many others all urging that a ceasefire and immediate negotiations begin for a two-state solution to the Palestine problem, as provided for in numerous UN resolutions; Zepp-LaRouche addressed the strategic issues at stake.

The following are excerpts from her opening comments:

The developments in Southwest Asia since last Saturday clearly have added one full dimension to this (war) danger. What is unfolding in the so-called Middle East is a complete tragedy, and it is the developments which started 75 years ago, and ever since you have one step after the other, on top of each other; injustices have been committed....

There are many questions which are completely unanswered. There are those who say it is impossible that Israel, with its absolutely impeccable intelligence service, should not have noticed the preparation by the HamasI cannot judge that. There are so many factors which I think need to be evaluated very carefully. But it is very clearly the case that you have now an eruption of a very complicated, very complex situation, which does have the potential, alone, even without the Ukraine situation, to lead to World War III....

If it would come to an escalation that would involve all the different groupings, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Yemen, and eventually Iran, Israel would get involved in a war in which the unthinkable could happen. That would be the path to World War III, there is no question about it.

The UN Commissioner for Human Rights has said that the idea of completely making a blockade, cutting off the population in the Gaza Strip, from electricity, water, food and other life-urgent necessities, is a clear violation of international law. And it is collective punishment, which is illegal, completely, because it punishes civilians. Now, naturally, once you get into a long, long situation of injustice, cruelties happen on all sides, and the danger now is that a very bloody conflict will play out with the potential of going beyond the region, leading to world war, because if it involves Iran, I think we are off the charts. So, I can only say, its a complete tragedy. It must be stopped right away....

I can only say, that if you look at the strategic situation as a totality, and that includes whats going on inside the United States, whats going on with Ukraine, the proxy war between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine, now the new situation in Southwest Asia, the tensions in other places, like for example, the pending crisis between the United States and Global NATO, and China over Taiwan, we are sitting on such a powder keg, internationally, that I think the only reasonable approach must be that all forces that are for peace agree that we need a completely new paradigm of international relations. That within this old order, which is terrible and many things have gone wrong for decades, there is no solution.

That is why my call of, now, about a year ago to have a new international security and development architecture, which takes into account the interest of every single country on the planetand that really means every single country, and not just someand it means that there can only be peace through development. Only if you change this present system, which increases the gap between rich and poor, and replace it with a new credit system which allows for the development of every single state to overcome the terrible conditions in which many peoples of the world are living in, only then do you have a chance to have peace.

Now, I think there must be a discussion about a new security and development architecture. I think a reference point can be the Peace of Westphalia, which, indeed, developed this principle that a peace must always take into account the interest of the other....

And I think that there is some hope ... for example, reflected in the new White Paper which China just published on the 10-year anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. And Im sure this will be more prominently discussed at the Belt and Road Forum which will start next week. It will obviously discuss the tremendous potential which lies in the idea of a community of a shared future of all of mankind, based on development. So there is a framework for resolving all of this. It would require, however, that unilateralism stops, that bloc building stops, and that we accept the idea that the so-called West must cooperate with the countries of the Global South and completely change the axioms of their thinking.
Scientists say that for the first time, they have observed the effects of gravity on antimatter.

Matter includes all the things we can see around us. Antimatter is thought to mirror all forms of normal matter. But antimatter has the opposite electrical charge and magnetic properties as matter, the U.S. Department of Energy explains.

Antimatter remains a mysterious substance. Scientists believe it is as old as the universe itself. Current scientific theories suggest that about 13.8 billion years ago, the Big Bang event created an equal amount of matter and antimatter. The Big Bang is the explosion many scientists believe created the universe.

But scientists say there appears to be very little antimatter in the universe today, with almost none on Earth. "Half the universe is missing," said Jeffrey Hangst, a member of the experimental team.

The antimatter observation was carried out at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) near Geneva, Switzerland. The researchers were part of the international Antihydrogen Laser Physics Apparatus (ALPHA) project. CERN says the ALPHA group was formed to carry out experiments on antimatter.

ALPHAs work involves making, capturing and studying antihydrogen atoms. The goal of the center is to learn more about the mysterious properties of antimatter.

The researchers wanted to find out whether gravity caused antimatter to fall towards the center of the Earth in the same way as normal matter. This idea agrees with physicist Albert Einsteins General Theory of Relativity. This theory proposed that gravity is caused by a curving of space and time.

Scientists at CERN first produced antimatter in 1996 in an experiment that created antihydrogen.

To study gravity's effect on antimatter in the laboratory, the ALPHA team built a 25-centimeter-long container placed on its end, with magnets at the top and bottom. Then, scientists placed about 100 very cold hydrogen atoms into the magnetic trap.

During the experiment, researchers said the antihydrogen particles were moving around at a speed of about 100 meters a second. When the strength of the magnets was reduced, the particles were able to escape the container.

The scientists said their result demonstrates that gravity causes antimatter to fall toward the center of the Earth. The researchers carried out several experiments that they said confirmed their findings.

Hangst, who leads operations at ALPHA, spoke to the French news agency AFP. He said that the research ruled out that gravity pushes antihydrogen away from the center of the Earth. But, he added, it does not prove that antimatter behaves exactly the same way as normal matter. Hangst said his team plans to carry out more experiments to learn more about other behaviors of antimatter.

Marco Gersabeck is a physicist who works at CERN but was not involved in the ALPHA research. He told AFP he sees the findings as "a huge milestone" in antimatter studies. But he added it marks just the beginning of deeper research efforts on gravity's effect on antimatter.

Other attempts to better understand antimatter include using CERN's Large Hadron Collider to investigate unusual particles called beauty quarks. And there is an experiment on the International Space Station that seeks to catch antimatter in cosmic rays.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, CERN and Nature.

Quiz - Experiment Shows Gravity Affects Antimatter and Matter in the Same Way Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

mirror  v. to be similar to or represent something

curve  v. to form a curve: a line that bends continuously and has no straight parts

milestone  n. an important event in the development or history of something

cosmic ray  n. high-energy particles that move through space at nearly the speed of light
The fighting between Israelis and Hamas militants is the latest clash in a conflict that some people believe dates back to events described in the Bible.

Over the weekend, Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel from the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,200 people, including women and children. The group also took more than 150 people as hostages.

Israel answered with airstrikes of what it said were Hamas targets in Gaza. Officials in the Palestinian-controlled area said more than 1,000 have been killed, including some children. Thousands have also been wounded on both sides.

What started the conflict?

The modern conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is mainly a territorial dispute in Palestine, an area now known as Israel, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. Parts of the land are also considered the holiest places to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

The Roman Empire controlled the area at the time Jesus was believed to have been born in Bethlehem. Following the death of Romes ally, King Herod, the land was divided into five locally administered areas under Rome.

Later, the land then came under the Ottoman Empire's control for about 400 years until the end of World War I. After World War I, Britain controlled the area it called Palestine and expressed support for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.

In November 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution dividing the British-ruled area of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under a UN administration. On May 14, 1948, the modern State of Israel was established for Jews fleeing persecution and seeking a homeland.

Arab countries rejected the UN plan, arguing that it was unfair and violated the UN Charter. In the war that followed, some 700,000 Palestinians, half the Arab population in Palestine, fled or were driven from their homes. They ended up in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria as well as in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

Israel denied that it sought to drive Palestinians from their homes. The new country said it was attacked by five Arab states the day after its creation. Armistice agreements halted the fighting in 1949, but there was no official peace treaty.

Palestinians call the creation of Israel the Nakba in Arabic. It means a disaster, or catastrophe, that resulted in mass displacement and blocked their dreams of statehood.

Other major wars

In 1967, Israel launched the Six-Day War against Egypt and Syria. Israel has occupied the West Bank, Arab East Jerusalem, which it captured from Jordan, and Syria's Golan Heights ever since.

In 1973, Egypt and Syria attacked Israeli positions along the Suez Canal and Golan Heights, beginning the Yom Kippur War. Israel pushed both armies back within three weeks.

Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 aiming to remove Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters under Yasser Arafat. In 2006, war erupted in Lebanon again when Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers and Israel retaliated.

What is Hamas?

In 1987, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian refugee living in Gaza, during the first intifada, or uprising, founded Hamas. The name in Arabic means the Islamic Resistance Movement.

The group does not recognize Israel's right to exist. It has launched many deadly attacks, including suicide bombings against Israelis. In 1997, the U.S. State Department named Hamas a terrorist organization. So has the European Union and other Western countries.

In 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, which it had captured in 1967. Hamas won the 2006 parliamentary elections over the Palestinian Authority and took control of Gaza. The Palestinian Authority still administers the semi-autonomous, or partly self-ruling, areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel answered the Hamas takeover with a blockade on Gaza. It restricted the movement of people and goods to keep the group from developing weapons. Over the years, Hamas received support from many Arab countries. Recently, it has moved closer to Iran and its allies.

Current issues

For over 40 years, efforts have aimed to bring peace to the area.

In 1979, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chief Arafat agreed in 1993 to set up Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The following year, Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan.

In 2002, an Arab plan offered Israel normal ties with all Arab countries in return for a full withdrawal from the lands it took in the 1967 Middle East war, the creation of a Palestinian state, and a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees.

The two sides, however, are far apart on most issues.

Hamas has rejected the two-state solution. It has sworn to destroy Israel. Israel has increasingly built new Jewish settlements on occupied land over Palestinian objections.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of the Palestinian state. East Jerusalem has areas that are holy to Muslims, Jews, and Christians. But Israel has established indivisible Jerusalem as the countrys capital.

Today about 5.6 million Palestinian refugees still live in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. Palestinians have long demanded that refugees should be permitted to return home. But Israel says any resettlement of Palestinian refugees must take place outside of its borders.

Im Anna Matteo.

And I'm Dan Novak.

Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English from VOA, Associated Press, Reuters, and the United Nations sources.

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Words in This Story

armistice n. a truce; and agreement to stop fight

blockade n. when a country uses force to block trade, supplies or people from entering another country

autonomy v. the right of a country to rule itself

We want to hear from you.

Our comment policy is here.
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. But it takes a lot of plants to produce the worlds coffee supply each year. This production process is having lasting environmental effects.

Farmers seeking to expand have to cut down old trees. In addition, many old coffee farms are not producing as many beans because of warming temperatures linked to climate change.

This leads coffee bean growers to move higher up hills and mountains in search of cooler areas to plant new trees. Cutting down old trees in order to plant new crops or build homes is called deforestation. And deforestation, along with the burning of fossil fuels, is a leading cause of climate change.

The effects of coffee production on the environment have led one company to create a beanless version of the drink. The Seattle-based company is called Atomo Coffee. It has already received more than $50 million in investments.

Atomos product tastes like coffee and is prepared in the same way  by pouring water over a fine grind. But it is not made with beans. It is instead made with plant material, such as seeds from a date. Caffeine for the product comes from waste during a process used to remove caffeine from tea.

"Coffee is causing deforestation at a pretty alarming rate - almost up to 10 (New York) Central Parks a day," Andy Kleitsch recently told Reuters. Kleitsch started Atomo Coffee about five years ago. He said the worlds coffee machine never stops, it is always looking for more land, and thats what were trying to stop.

Studies show that by 2050, about half the land currently used to grow coffee could be unproductive.

Atomo hopes to do for coffee what engineered meat products such as Beyond Meat have done for meat alternatives.

The company has been testing out a kind of coffee called cold brew. It uses over 90 percent less water than regular coffee and is produced with reduced carbon pollution as well. The company is also in the process of making a hot coffee product.

Atomo hopes coffee shops will consider offering its beanless coffee to buyers who show interest in the product.

But the beanless version comes with a cost. Atomos coffee will sell for about $20 for one half kilogram. Regular coffee is usually $10 to $14 for the same amount.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by Reuters.

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Words in This Story

fossil fuel n. fuel, such as coal or gas, that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals

caffeinen. a substance found in coffee or tea that makes you feel awake

alarming adj. information that creates concern or a feeling of danger

rate n. the speed at which something happens over time

alternative adj. not usual or traditional

We want to hear from you. Do you think coffee shops where you live will want to sell this alternative coffee?
New research confirms that a fossil of human footprints found in the U.S. state of New Mexico likely represents the oldest direct evidence of humans living in the Americas.

The footprints were discovered at the edge of the remains of an ancient lake in White Sands National Park in southern New Mexico. The research, published recently in Science, suggests the fossil dates back to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago.

The estimated age of the footprints was first reported in Science in 2021. But some researchers questioned the dates. Researchers wondered whether seeds from lake plants used in the early dating may have taken in ancient carbon from the lake. If so, this could have changed the radiocarbon test result by thousands of years.

The new study presents two additional lines of evidence for the older date range. It uses two different materials found at the site, ancient tree pollen and quartz grains.

The reported age of the footprints questions the belief that humans did not reach the Americas until about 15,000 years ago. That was a few thousand years before rising sea levels covered the Bering land bridge between Asia and North America.

Thomas Urban is a scientist who studies ancient humans at Cornell University in New York. He was involved in the 2021 study but not the new one. He said it is an area  thats always been controversial Urban said such studies are important because they deal with the last part of the peopling of the world.

Thomas Stafford is an independent scientist who studies ancient humans and the Earth in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was not involved in the study. He said that while he was a bit skeptical before, he now believes it.

Stafford said it is an important finding if three completely different methods show findings from a similar time period.

The new study separated about 75,000 individual pieces of pollen from the same area in rocks where the footprints where found.

Kathleen Springer is an Earth scientist researcher at the United States Geological Survey and helped write the new paper. She said the process of dating pollen is very difficult. She added that scientists believe radiocarbon dating land plants gives more correct results than dating plants living in water. But she added there needs to be a large enough number of plants to study.

The researchers also studied damage to the structure in ancient small pieces of quartz to produce an age estimate.

Ancient footprints of any kind  left by humans or large animals  can give scientists some idea when they are from. They may record how and where people or animals walked and if their paths crossed. Animal footprints have also been found at White Sands.

Other ancient sites in the Americas point to a similar time period. These include ancient art made from animal remains in Brazil. But scientists still question whether such materials really suggest that humans were living in the Americas then.

Jennifer Raff is a scientist who studies ancient human genes at the University of Kansas. She was not involved in the study. Raff said, White Sands is unique because theres no question these footprints were left by people, its not ambiguous.

Im Andrew Smith.

Christina Larson reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted the story for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

fossil  n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks

controversial  adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument

skeptical  adj. having or expressing doubt about something (such as a claim or statement)

unique  adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else

ambiguous  adj. able to be understood in more than one way
The latest episode of Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles is in partnership with the Tulsa World to introduce the story of the Osage Reign of Terror and the upcoming film Killers of the Flower Moon. In this episode, show producer Ambre Moton is joined by two writers from the Tulsa World, Randy Krehbiel and Jimmie Tramel, to explore the history of the Osages and what led to the crimes committed against them.

Read all of the coverage of the film Killers of the Flower Moon and related stories here.

Episode transcript

Note: The following transcript was created by Slack and may contain misspellings and other inaccuracies as it was generated automatically:

Welcome to Late Edition Crime Beat Chronicles, a Lee Enterprises podcast. I'm Ambre Moton, the producer and editor of the show, filling in for Nat Cardona, who is taking some well-deserved time off.

Our next few episodes are going to take us back to the late 1800s through the 1920s to Osage County in Oklahoma. With the help of and in partnership with reporters from the Tulsa World, the daily newspaper for the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and primary paper for the northeastern and eastern parts of the state.

Before we dive into those conversations, a tiny bit of background over the next set of episodes we're going to cover the Osage reign of terror, a series of murders of members of the Osage tribe and those who supported them that took place in the 1920s. By all accounts, these crimes are committed by people attempting to gain control of the Osage as oil rights and the profits from it.

We'll cover some of the history of the tribe, the crimes themselves, the investigation by the be a lie, which later became the FBI, and later a look at the crimes place and pop culture captured in books, newspapers and the soon to be released Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon, which was filmed in the same area that the events took place.

But back to the beginning, I spoke with Randy Krehbiel of the Tulsa World, someone we'll hear from several times as we tell this story about how the Osage tribe ended up in what is now Oklahoma.

My name is Randy Krehbiel. I've been at the Tulsa World since 1979. I came here as a sportswriter, did that for about 13 years, switched over to news. And over the years, I've written a lot of things. I've written about a lot of different subjects, but I've written a lot about history and the history of this area era.

I actually published the book several years ago on the 1921 race massacre, and I've written a book on the history of the Tulsa World and the city of Tulsa. And so all of these things are really interesting to me. And and some things, you know, you kind of know about for a while and some things you don't. My main job actually is covering state and federal government.

What kind of led you to writing about the Osage tribe, the the reign of terror and everything that goes into the story of killing of the flower moon?

You know, I had actually written a little bit about it probably 15 years ago or something like that. And there's nothing in-depth like, you know, the book or the David Green book or some of the other books that have been written about it. And I got into it and, it's just like a lot of other things. It's, you know, part of our our story.

It's part of how we we got here and, you know, I think I was probably somewhat fascinated, if that's the right word, by just just how terrible some of these people were. And also, you know, the people who were victimized by them, too, you know. So it's you know, it's part of who we are. And not only, you know, in Oklahoma, but really across the country.

And it's it's part of it's part of the history that, you know, we probably don't like to think about as much It does it doesn't make us feel as good as 4th of July.

Kind of, I guess, on that topic. I think people obviously in Oklahoma, but people of a certain age, I guess I should say, because I'm not sure that it's necessarily being taught as widely as it used to be, are aware of, you know, like the Trail of Tears and the establishment of, you know, Indian territory. But like people may not be familiar with the existence of the Osage people and everything they went through.

So can you just kind of talk a little bit about how they ended up in what is now Tulsa and kind of what what went into that?

Yes, ages originally were a very large tribe and they they're they're sort of their home grounds, at least at the time of, you know, European encounter was most of the state of Missouri and and some of Arkansas and then out onto the plains in Kansas and Oklahoma and then in the 1800s and they were kind of pushed by treaty into an area in Missouri and then that and then into Kansas and in 1872, they sold their reservation in Kansas and bought 1.7 million acres from the Cherokee Nation.

And for their what became their final reservation. And because they bought their reservation, they they owned it. They they had a title to it. It gave them a little different status going forward and and it allowed them to get some concessions. Then when the state of Oklahoma was created really in 1960 to accommodate and become a state until 1907, but by that time, they had been reduced to, you know, just a few thousand people.

They all all of that moving around and man squished together. And they'd undergone a lot of illness and so forth. So they they were down by statehood. They were down to fewer than 2500 people living on the reservation.

It's my understanding that the Osage land that they had, it wasn't, I guess, the most hospitable, especially when it comes to like agriculture. So how did they initially I'm assuming they didn't buy it and then strike oil immediately?

No, actually, yeah. So the story is, is that they actually chose that land because they thought it was the least attractive to white people and they would be left alone. And the story the chief Standing bear tells and there's a tell the story, too, is that they sent out these scouting parties and they told them to throw their spear into the ground.

And if the spear stuck, they were supposed to move on because it meant the soil was too thick and too rich and there'd be white people coming for it. But if they threw their spear into the ground and it fell over because it had hit rock, that's where they wanted wanted to be. And so the story is, again, that they actually chose pretty poor agricultural land.

Now, it almost immediately didn't work out that way because it wasn't very good for farming, but it was very good for for grazing. And they had, you know, the cattlemen from Texas driving cattle up into Kansas. So they wound up, you know, making a fairly good living off leasing their their land to the cattlemen for grazing.

That's a great visual, though. The story that you said that it was cheap standing there. Right, that he said that the steers. That's a great visual. We have to take a quick break, so don't go too far. An important thing to note is that in 1887, the Dawes Act divided up communally owned reservations into privately owned allotments as a way to force Native Americans to assimilate, to make each member of the tribe an owner of 160 acres and selling the quote unquote, surplus land to non-natives.

This made tribal members, private property owners and effectively ended their communal way of living since the Osage bought their land outright. They were exempt from the allotments under the Dawes Act. Instead, Chief James Big Heart insisted on what is known as the Osage Allotment Act in 1906, where the Osage allotted all of their land to their people, giving 657 acres each to the over 2200 registered Osage.

I also spoke with Jimmie Tramel, pop culture writer at the Tulsa World.

Hey, I'm Jimmie Tramel. I'm a pop culture writer at the Tulsa World, a newspaper in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and TulsaWorld.Com. I was a sportswriter for 25 years, but for the last ten years, I've been our pop culture person.

You know, I think everybody or most people of a certain age anyway, should be familiar with the Trail of Tears, everything with how Oklahoma was formed. But they may not have, you know, all of the insight into what happened with the Osage people.

What you just said is fascinating and said you should know. I think maybe the words you use, we should have known about this. But like the Tulsa race massacre of the 1920s, the Osage reign of terror occurred in the same era. And until recently, I think many people not I mean, Oklahomans and around the world, we're not familiar with these things.

Sometimes it takes pop culture to bring awareness to these things that the history books haven't told us. Like the movie HBO's Watchmen brought the Tulsa Race massacre into the consciousness. And I think this movie, Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, is Bring is doing the same thing to bring the awareness to the Osage reign of terror.

Yes. And thank you for mentioning the film is called Killers of the Flower Moon.

Yes. Filmed in Oklahoma, we're on the same turf where the actual Osage reign of terror happened. At one point in history, the the Osage nation of It's a Tribe, one of many tribes in Oklahoma was prior to statehood. Oklahoma was known as Indian Territory because all the tribes had land here that were there. People could live, and maybe this would never be a state, but actually it became a state in 1907.

But the Osage land, I think a lot of people would say was not the best land in Oklahoma. But guess what? Oil was found under that land and the Osage people became like the wealthiest people on Earth overnight almost. And then what happens when moneys are involved is greed, betrayal, and in this case, even murder, where there were several murders of the Osage, because people wanted their oil money.

It's funny how money can motivate people to do such heinous things, right?

Yeah. I mean, brings out the worst in people and in many occasions. And and eventually you hope someone will step up and do right. But if you when you read the book Killers of the Flower Moon, you'll see that many people who should have known better were conspirators in this.

What kind of wealth? Do you know how that translates into terms to current day?

Well, this kind of wealth, when they would run out of gas in an automobile they had purchased rather than just fill up with a new tank of gas. They would be so like, here's a new car. So that kind of money.

That does incite less scrupulous people to do bad things, definitely.

And that's where we're going to leave the story for today. Thanks for listening to Late Edition Crime Beat Chronicles. Hit that subscribe button so you don't miss our next episode where we discuss the crimes that became known as the Osage Reign of Terror.
Nebraska Wesleyan University is teaming up with Lincoln Public Schools to provide more opportunities in the social studies department for teachers and students with a $1.9 million grant.

The grant awarded to NWU by the U.S. Department of Education will fund a three-year partnership program between the two institutions to provide free dual-credit and Advanced Placement courses for students, and allow current social studies teachers to apply for free college credit hours through the university.

Thousands of students across all middle and high schools at LPS will be impacted, said Jaci Kellison, K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist.

The program aligns with LPS All Means All Action Plan by not only making advanced honors courses more accessible to students, but by giving teachers a cost-free opportunity to learn, too, Kellison said.

It's going to remove barriers for them, she said. They can have access to really high-quality materials, high-quality teaching, that can continue through the opportunities that this grant is going to provide.

Starting in January, LPS middle and high school teachers who teach social studies can apply for the 60 available spots to earn 18 free hours of college credit at NWU.

Classes are set to begin next summer and will take place outside of teachers regular contract time during the school year so anyone can take advantage of the opportunity.

The classes are designed to prepare teachers to meet the needs of all students enrolled in social studies honors courses at LPS.

Those who successfully complete the program may be eligible to teach in the Wesleyan Honors Academy, a dual-credit program for students.

Kellison said she is excited to see social studies teachers from across the district come together through the program.

We already have a great community of social studies teachers in Lincoln Public Schools, Kellison said. No matter what school you teach at, no matter what grade level you teach at, you're going to have the opportunity to network and collaborate with folks from across the city.

In terms of students, the funding will provide scholars the opportunity to take college-level courses at Nebraska Wesleyan for dual credit at no cost.

The grant also covers the nearly $100 fee to take AP exams for students in United States history, human geography and American government.

LPS students will be able to attend free exam preparation sessions at NWU on Saturdays during the spring semester. There, they will have the chance to work with faculty to prepare for the tests, said Kevin Bower, professor of history at the university.

Bower, who leads the project, said the process to apply for the federal grant was strenuous. Nebraska Wesleyan and LPS began working on the application in May and didnt submit it until July, he said.

It really becomes almost a full time job for a number of people," Bower said.

Nebraska Wesleyan's was one of 25 awarded by the Education Department, and the $1.9 million it received makes it the largest competitive federal grant the university has received in a decade.

Now, Bower is just ready to get the program started.

My teaching has been enhanced, and my career has been enhanced, by working with LPS teachers for the last 17 or 18 years, he said. The chance to have all those folks in one place again, learning from one another, working together to figure out how to serve students, that generates a lot of excitement.

Photos: Inside the new Standing Bear High School in southeast Lincoln Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21
Nebraska ranked just above average compared to other states in the process used to redraw political district maps in 2021, a national group said Wednesday.

Nebraska earned a C+ in the Community Redistricting Report Card done by CHARGE, a coalition of organizations that advocate for fairness and representation in state and local government. The report issues grades ranging from A- to F based on the groups assessment of transparency, impact of public input, nonpartisanship and fairness displayed in each states redistricting process.

Gavin Geis, director of Common Cause Nebraska, said a C+ is a fair grade for Nebraska. He said he believes Nebraskas maps ended up pretty good, yet the redistricting process had issues with public access, transparency and politicization.

But State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, who chaired the Legislatures redistricting committee, criticized the report. She said it didnt accurately reflect how lawmakers went about the redistricting process.

The report does not reflect reality whatsoever, she said.

Nebraskas grade was based primarily on the Legislatures control of the states redistricting effort. Such control often suppresses the voices of minorities, the group said in its report. However, the report said, Nebraska fared better than other states that follow similar processes due to heightened advocacy.

Victories on several fronts to improve representation for communities of color are rare in states in which legislators draw districts, which is why most of them earned a D or F grade this cycle, the report states. However, Nebraska avoided that fate because of the effectiveness of fights for Black, Native American, and Latinx voting rights in several pockets of the state.

Nebraska lawmakers completed the once-a-decade redistricting process in 2021, redrawing political maps that affected the boundaries for state and local elections. While the approved maps drew broad support from Republican state senators, the maps received mixed reviews from Democrats.

Much of the criticism was rooted in Nebraskas push to preserve rural districts, even as many rural counties continue to drop in population. This led to accusations of the redistricting being overly partisan, because rural districts tend to favor Republican candidates in elections.

Geis said he understood the reasons behind preserving rural districts, but noted that current population trends make it likely that Nebraska will lose one or more rural districts when the state redraws the maps again in 2031.

The vice chairman of the redistricting committee, Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, a Democrat, defended the states process. He said it was the most transparent and public redistricting process ever in Nebraska, despite difficulties with getting information out in a timely manner.

The report disagreed, stating that lawmakers displayed the usual disinterest in public input that is standard for politician-led redistricting processes. The only victories in preserving representation for minority communities came after public outcry against some of the earlier proposed maps.

Besides three public hearings across the state on the proposed maps, Geis said, it was difficult to get committee members to engage with public input. He said lawmakers largely ignored suggested maps proposed by community organizations.

The Legislatures initial proposed maps would have split communities in Grand Island and Omaha, Geis said, and it was only because of members in those communities paying close attention that this was avoided.

Citizens work on this is why we had good maps, said Geis, who contributed to the Nebraska aspect of the CHARGE report. The national Common Cause organization is one of groups involved with the coalition.

Even though the initial reports were improved, Geis said, lawmakers did not give the public an opportunity to weigh in on those revised maps  something that was needed given the amount of changes.

Linehan had a different perspective. She said she knew the initial maps proposed at the public hearings werent going to be what the Legislature ended up approving. They were drafted that way as a negotiation strategy, she said, knowing they would be toned down over the debate.

In negotiations, you always lead with your perfect world, Linehan said.

Then, after the initial maps were revised, lawmakers were under a time crunch to pass the new maps before the end of a special session, Linehan said. If the Legislature had not acted at the time, she said, the 2022 primary elections could have been delayed.

Many of the states scoring better than Nebraska have independent groups that conduct or aid the redistricting process. Geis said the proper way to redraw political districts is to do so without elected officials, who have a clear stake in the outcome.

Redistricting power wont be something lawmakers give up willingly, Geis said, so a citizen-led ballot initiative would be the way to change Nebraskas system. Such an initiative was attempted in 2020 but didnt make it to the ballot  something Geis attributes to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new report suggests that Nebraskans should consider a ballot initiative to establish an independent redistricting process, or to reform the current process.

Linehan disagreed that an independent commission is the best way to conduct redistricting. She said lawmakers are best suited to determine political districts because they are elected to represent the voters in those areas, and noted that the members of an independent group would likely be appointed by politicians anyway.

You cant take politics out of elections, Linehan said.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023
There have been 436 investigations initiated this year against telecom and cyber fraud, a 2.8-fold increase year-over-year, a communal advisor has cited the police as saying.

The cases involved nearly MOP100 million.

The Central District Communal Advisory Committee and the Judiciary Police (PJ) organized a crime prevention briefing yesterday, and the disclosure was made therein.

The deputy convenor of the Committee, Lei Chong In, cited the PJ as describing fund revocation as very difficult, because swindled funds are usually disseminated to thousands of bank accounts once received by the first fraudsters.

The PJ added that should victims recognize they are being defrauded, they should seek help early because banks may be able to suspend the wire transfer instructions and help save the money.

The Cybersecurity Committee presided over by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, met Tuesday for this years meeting.

Ho said safeguarding cybersecurity is key in the current era. He required all organs of the government to consider cybersecurity as important as national security. He added that although Macaus cybersecurity situation had remained stable and favorable, many problems and security risks still stand out.
A Chinese Australian journalist who was convicted on murky espionage charges and detained in China for three years has returned to Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said yesterday.

Cheng Lei, 48, worked for the international department of Chinas state broadcaster CCTV. She has reunited with her two children in Melbourne, Albanese said.

Her return comes ahead of Albaneses planned visit to Beijing this year on a date yet to be announced. He will become the first Australian prime minister to visit the Chinese capital in seven years.

Albanese said Australia had traded nothing with China for Chengs release.

Her release follows the completion of judicial processes in China, he said.

Chinas Ministry of State Security said that Cheng had been approached by a foreign organization in May 2020 and provided them with state secrets she had obtained on the job in violation of a confidentiality clause signed with her employer. A police statement did not name the organization or say what the secrets were.

A court in Beijing convicted her of illegally providing state secrets abroad and she was sentenced to two years and 11 months, the statement said. She was deported yesterday after serving her sentence, presumably because she had already been detained for that long.

Her return brings an end to a very difficult few years for Ms. Cheng and her family, Albanese said. The government has been seeking this for a long period of time and her return will be warmly welcomed not just by her family and friends but by all Australians.

The FreeChengLei account on X, formerly known as Twitter, posted a photo of Cheng with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Australias ambassador to China, Graham Fletcher.

The post included a quote, apparently from Cheng, that read: Tight hugs, teary screams, holding my kids in the spring sunshine. Trees shimmy from the breeze. I can see the entirety of the sky now! Thank you Aussies.

Albaneses government has been lobbying for the release of Cheng and another Chinese Australian held in China since 2019, Yang Hengjun.

Bilateral relations have improved since Albaneses center-left Labor Party was elected after nine years of conservative rule. Beijing has lifted several official and unofficial trade barriers on Australian exports.

Albaneses reference to Chinas judicial system suggested that Cheng had recently been sentenced after she was convicted in a closed-court trial last year on national security charges.

Questioned by a reporter, Albanese said China was not acknowledging through Chengs release that she posed no threat or had been wrongfully detained.

No, China would have not have said that thats the position. China would say that the judicial processes have been completed in China, Albanese said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the Chinese judicial system tried the case in accordance with the law, fully safeguarding the rights enjoyed by the person concerned in accordance with the law.

Albanese said he spoke to Cheng in Melbourne, where her children have been living with her mother, and that they discussed a letter she had written to the Australian public in August to mark the third anniversary of her detention. The Chinese-born journalist spoke in her letter about her love for her adopted country.

In the letter, she also described her living conditions in detention in China, saying she was allowed to stand in sunlight for just 10 hours a year.

She is a very strong and resilient person  and when I spoke with her she was delighted to be back in Melbourne, Albanese said.

Albanese did not say whether Yang was also likely to be released.

We continue to advocate for Dr. Yangs interests, rights and wellbeing with the Chinese authorities at all levels, Albanese said.

Yang, a 58-year-old writer and democracy blogger, told his family in August he fears he will die in a Beijing detention center after being diagnosed with a kidney cyst, prompting supporters to demand his release for medical treatment.

Yang has been detained in China since January 2019, when he arrived in Guangzhou from New York with his wife and teenage stepdaughter.

Yang received a closed-door trial on an espionage charge in Beijing in May 2021 and is still awaiting a verdict.

Yangs friend, University of Technology Sydney academic Feng Chongyi, said yesterday a verdict had been postponed for three months 11 times and the next possible ruling was January.

He said Chengs release was good news for Yang. I do hope Yang is treated in the same way. Given Yangs poor health, his release is actually more urgent, Feng said. ROD McGUIRK, CANBERRA, MDT/AP
New Zealands immigration numbers have hit an all-time high, enabling employers to fill jobs but also putting pressure on the housing market, according to economists.

The net number of immigrants was 110,000 in the year ending August, beating the previous high of 103,000 set a month earlier, according to figures released yesterday by Statistics New Zealand. The numbers represent a big turnaround after more people left New Zealand than arrived during much of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are talking very, very big numbers for a small economy like ours, said Jarrod Kerr, chief economist at Kiwibank.

Kerr said the surge likely reflected pent-up demand that had built during the pandemic. He said it had come as a relief to employers, who last year were having great difficulty finding skilled workers to fill vacant roles.

New Zealands unemployment rate remains at a relatively low 3.6%.

But Kerr also cautioned the migrants would need a lot of resources, including tens of thousands of homes  something that remained in short supply.

The figures show the greatest number of immigrants came from India, followed by Philippines and China. The total number of immigrants reached a record 225,000 during the year while the number of New Zealanders leaving also neared record levels, at 115,000.

The figures included a net loss of nearly 43,000 New Zealand citizens, many of whom were lured to Australia with offers of better pay. Under a reciprocal arrangement, New Zealanders and Australians can live and work in either country.

Unfortunately, we lose trained, smart individuals, Kerr said. That is something that worries us.

The figures were released three days before New Zealand holds a general election, although immigration hasnt been a major campaign issue. Both main parties have focused on the soaring cost-of-living, tax cuts and crime. MDT/AP
A local man was arrested over picking up passengers and collecting payments during Typhoon Signal No. 8 Monday.

When civilian police officers intercepted him, he tried to drive away and injured a policeman, according to authorities. The police said that during the typhoon, officers found a car carrying passengers with five people inside.

The vehicle stopped at the traffic light in the afternoon. Police officers signaled the driver to open the window, but the driver refused to cooperate and tried to drive away, knocking down a police officer in his 30s, causing injuries to his hands and feet and sending him to the hospital for treatment.

Other police officers immediately stopped the driver. One of the passengers said that he paid MOP100 to take a white-plate car.

T8 was hoisted for over 17 hours, halting public transportation. With the two bridges in the city linking Taipa and the Macau peninsula closed, only the Sai Van Bridge was available for private vehicles.

Civil servants suspected of MOP600,000 theft

Two female civil servants were suspected of stealing more than MOP600,000 in cash and property from an acquaintances workplace. The police received a report from a local woman that someone had broken into her house and taken more than MOP600,000 in property, including more than HKD200,000 in cash, gold jewelry, watches, ginseng, antler and seafood. Staff Reporter
Tassos Vamvakidis, who has worked at the Port of Piraeus in Greece for over five decades, has seen the ebb and flow of this millennia-old port. Nevertheless, there are still moments that evoke strong emotions whenever he recalls.

On Nov. 11, 2019, President Xi Jinping visited Piraeus port, a flagship project of China-Greece Belt and Road cooperation, during his state visit to Greece. The project has brought the port back from the brink of bankruptcy through Chinese investment of capital and advanced technologies and equipment.

The port was bustling with excitement, just like celebrating a festival, Vamvakidis recalled. President Xis visit is of great significance for every staff member and the entire port.

Standing on a rooftop platform overlooking the port, Xi talked with the staff members.

He spoke with wisdom and foresight, Vamvakidis recalled.

Xi said the principles of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)  extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits  mean that no single country dictates the terms and all participants share the responsibilities and the gains.

Over the past decade, China has signed BRI cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and 30-plus international organizations, helping participating countries address challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, lagging industrial development, limited industrialization, insufficient capital and technology, and a shortage of skilled workers.

The Piraeus project is one of them. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, Piraeus is Greeces largest port and boasts a history of over 2,000 years.

As a pivotal gateway linking Europe with Asia and Africa, this port serves as a testament to the vicissitudes of European maritime civilization.

Yet, the prominence of Piraeus had been steadily diminishing for years until Chinese shipping company COSCO made an investment in 2008, helping it out of the clutches of the international financial crisis.

Through the Belt and Road cooperation, Piraeus has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Its container operating capacity surged from around 1.5 million TEUs in 2010 to 6.2 million TEUs, making it one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean. Xinhua editors, Xinhua
Malaysias Wildlife Department defended its use of puppies as live bait to capture black panthers spotted at a Malaysian village after animal rights groups protested the method and appealed to the government to use other means.

The department resorted to using puppies after earlier attempts to lure the panthers with a goat failed. Its standard procedure to use live animals, Wildlife Department Director General Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said in remarks published this week, noting that the puppies were not physically harmed in the process.

In this particular case, there was indication that the panther had attacked dogs (before), so we used the puppies for their barking and scent to attract the panther, he told the Free Malaysia Today online news portal.

Farmers in a village in southern Negeri Sembilan state were terrified after spotting a panther near their home in September. Villagers lodged a complaint with the Wildlife Department after a panther mauled their dog at a fruit orchard in the state on Sept. 4, according to a Facebook post by Negeri Sembilan Chief Minister Aminuddin Harun.

Aminuddin said the Wildlife Department immediately installed a trap for the big cat, which was believed to have come from a forest reserve nearby. The department managed to trap three panthers on Sept. 18, Sept. 27 and Oct. 1, he said.

The operation, however, sparked controversy after local media reported that puppies were used as live bait to lure the panthers. Malaysian Animal Welfare Association slammed the move as shocking, and said it would have been more ethical for the department to use raw cattle meat. The Animal Care Society also appealed to the government to stop using live animals in such operations.

Abdul Kadir explained that the trap  a cage with a separate compartment to hold the puppies  is able to swiftly release the canines once the panther is caught. He said the pups were unharmed and that officials adhered to operating procedures.

Abdul Kadir did not immediately respond to requests for comment by phone and email.

Wildlife officials in Negeri Sembilan told local media that the first panther caught was a female weighing about 40 kilograms (90 pounds). The department has caught a dozen panthers in the state since the start of the year, including the the three caught in September.

Aminuddin previously said the panthers have been treated and appeared healthy, though he did not say whether they were released back into the forest. He said the Wildlife Department was also conducting aerial investigations using drones to find out why the panthers had strayed into the village.

Black panthers, found in tropical forests in Asia, Africa and Central and South America, are solitary animals that hunt at night and rarely bother people.

Conservation researchers said panthers are a protected species and rarely bother people, but they face threats of habitat loss and poaching in Malaysia.

In May, an adult black panther was hit by a car and died after it strayed on to a road from a forest reserve and the driver couldnt stop in time. EILEEN NG, KUALA LUMPUR, MDT/AP
In response to the housing shortage and affordability crisis in Madison and across the country, UW-Madison's Wisconsin School of Business has added a graduate program slated to focus on housing affordability and sustainability.

The program defines housing affordability with the threshold set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  that no household should spend more than 30% of its income on living expenses, said Mark Eppli, director of UW-Madison's Graaskamp Center for Real Estate.

A prototype of the program will have a soft launch this fall.

The program defines sustainable development as the pursuit of homebuilding in areas that make sense environmentally and with products that have minimal impact on the climate, he said.

"There's a need for talent" in the realms of affordable housing and sustainable development, Eppli said, especially "at the policy-making level."

"We just don't have enough housing," he said.

A prototype of the program in UW-Madison's Department of Real Estate and Urban Land Economics will have a soft launch this fall and officially debut next year.

The two-semester program for graduate students will offer 12 credits with classes focused on housing equity, housing justice, the complexities of affordable housing finance and green development, said UW-Madison affordable housing professor Christopher Timmins.

The program will eventually include an internship requirement, which would be optional at first, Timmins said.

Eppli said that the Department of Real Estate and Urban Land Economics is in the process of making connections with local housing nonprofits and agencies for prospective internship programs.

Undergraduates may be also be allowed to take classes in the program "as space permits."

"I would assume it is going to take some time for its reputation to build up," Timmins said when asked about how popular he thinks the program could be. "There is demand within the undergrad community for more classes in this area."

Eppli said the program reflects the Wisconsin Idea "that education should influence people's lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom."
During an audience Q&A with world-famous French chef Eric Ripert, who was in Madison Tuesday to promote his new seafood book, the last question came from a woman who wanted to get his thoughts on the Wisconsin fish fry tradition of beer-battered, deep-fried fish.

I dont know, but Im going to try (a fish fry), the three-Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur said to huge applause.

Before his public appearance, Ripert described the lunch hed had that day at The Old Fashioned on Capitol Square, where he ordered a pickled pork hock, also known as a ham hock or pig knuckle, for $1.

Oh, that was really nice, he said of the bar snack. That was delicious.

He also had beef jerky, a salad and a side order of sauerkraut, Ripert said.

Because he was by himself at the bar, he asked the bartender what he recommended and was told to try the spicy burger.

It was good, said Ripert, a frequent guest judge on Bravos Top Chef program, which recently filmed in Madison.

I mean, its a burger and a salad, he said. Its simple food, but it was well executed and it was good. And the ambience was nice. It was a good vibe.

Off the press

Keeping it simple is the focus of Riperts $35 new book Seafood Simple, copies of which were given free to the first 220 attendees of his standing-room Wisconsin Book Festival event, which drew 503 people jammed into a third-floor room at Madisons Central Library.

The books were a gift from the estate of Cheryl Rosen Weston. Festival staff said they would mail copies of the book to those who requested one but arrived too late to get one.

Some people arrived an hour in advance, and all the seats were filled a half-hour before the event started.

When Ripert, 58, author of six other cookbooks and a bestselling memoir, 32 Yolks, first addressed the crowd, he said he was surprised to see people waiting in the hallway. He said he expected about 20 people.

The good-natured, witty chef, born in southern France, sat and talked with former Wisconsin Public Radio producer Judith Siers-Poisson during the hourlong event.

Ripert is co-owner of New Yorks Le Bernardin, one of the worlds most renowned restaurants. The restaurant has been receiving four-star reviews from The New York Times for 20 years, including in February from critic Pete Wells.

Le Bernardin Holds On to Its Craft (and Its Four Stars), the headline read. Eric Ripert and his team have emerged from the pandemic still carrying the flag for French technique, exquisitely handled seafood and pure pleasure.

Clear the mystique

In a conversation with the State Journal, Ripert said he started the book project four years ago in an attempt to demystify seafood.

I felt like a lot of people dont know seafood. So, I hear a lot of people saying, I dont like seafood, or I dont know how to cook seafood, or, Its so difficult. And Im like, No. So many years I have been listening to that. And I was like, Its not difficult.

The book is divided into nine chapters organized around what Ripert believes are the essential techniques to prepare almost any kind of seafood. With each technique is a collection of recipes featuring seafood best prepared using that technique. There are 85 recipes in all, including warm salmon carpaccio, which Ripert said is the most popular dish at the seafood-oriented Le Bernardin, which he joined in 1990 at age 26.

Of course, there are species of fish that are versatile and can be prepared using more than one technique, such as salmon, which can be raw (poke bowl), steamed (red wine butter), poached (a la Gilbert), slow-baked (olive oil), sauteed (strudel), broiled (carpaccio), and grilled (cedar plank), he writes in the book.

Le Bernardin, where Ripert oversees 75 chefs, has gotten more James Beard Awards than any other restaurant in New York City.

Ripert said that while a lot of famous and inspirational people come into his restaurant, he doesnt get too excited. But I think when the Dalai Lama came a couple of times, three times, I was a bit starstruck.

Success with seafood starts at the source, Ripert said.

The fish has to be fresh because if its stinky when you buy it, your house is going to be stinky and its gonna be fishy and the kids will not eat it. And everybodys going to be mad at you, and the fish will break and so on.

In the book, Ripert gives tips on how to buy seafood and how to store it at home. Then he details the preparation techniques: curing and marinating, steaming, poaching, broiling, baking, sauteing, grilling and frying.

Happy dropout

Ripert said he began eating seafood at an early age because his mother and both of his grandmothers knew how to buy and prepare it. So, I thought every child in the world was eating like me.

In high school, he would read cookbooks instead of studying math. And at age 15 he dropped out of high school and went to culinary school, where he said he was happy.

Even though he learned a lot, Ripert said, when he graduated, he was still a beginner. It takes about 10 years for a fine dining chef to be completely comfortable with the techniques and all the aspects of working in a big kitchen, he said.

In terms of owning a restaurant, he said, its dangerous for a person to enter the restaurant business because they think its fun, romantic or interesting.

Youre going to fail because its very complex, Ripert said. Its a lot of moving parts and you need to have knowledge. And also, knowledge about finance because its a business. You have to be sustainable.

Its also important to work for someone else first to get experience, he said. If you have the expertise, then you have to be kind and humble.

Restaurateurs should do the best they can and not focus on ratings, he said, adding that its analogous to those in the acting world.

For instance, if you want an Oscar and youre thinking about your Oscar all the time, every day, youre going to forget about acting, Ripert said. And the chances are you will never get an Oscar because you were not acting, you were thinking about the Oscar.
Sultan, the new high-end, no-tipping Pakistani restaurant on Williamson Street, wholly remade the former Roman Candle Pizzeria space, giving it a refined but comfortable feel.

Chef/owner Sultan Ahmed, who opened the restaurant May 23, uses the huge floor-to-ceiling windows to their greatest advantage, offering a panoramic view of Mother Fools Coffeehouse, kitty-corner.

What feels new is a menu that offers so many interesting options, with creative food similar to Indian cuisine. My companion and I avoided the unidentified brain and mushroom raviolo in favor of the murgh pulao ($16), a dish that didnt exactly scream Pakistani or Indian, but instead was deliciously understated with a tender bone-in braised chicken thigh and rice treated with chicken broth.

Better was the nihari ($18), braised beef shank with ginger and cilantro and a medium spice level. The lean beef had fallen of the bone, which was served in the center, still lending its marrow to the stew.

The tandoori salmon ($26), like all of the dishes Ive had at Sultan, was a work of art. It had cucumber curls on top and sat in a spicy tomato and onion masala with ginger lime dressing and yogurt sauce. The piece of fish was small, but had excellent flavor. It was crispy on the outside and tender inside.

I had those three dishes during a meal in late August. Theyre not on the current menu, but look for them turning up as specials. Ahmed said the nihari was popular and will be back on the upcoming winter menu along with the murgh pulao. Hes unsure about the salmon, which was a special on my more recent visit.

The brain dish was on the menu during both of my visits. It turned out to be veal brain with porcini mushrooms inside the pasta, served with a mushroom sauce and pickled red onions.

Ahmed said its not a huge seller, but he gets about five orders for it a week. He said brain is common in Pakistani cuisine and is traditionally a breakfast food. Thats our elevated take on it.

What was elevated for me was the giant garlic naan, a bargain at $2. The thick, puffy bread came out hot, about the size of a personal pizza.

It was the superstar of the meal, more doughy than most naan, ably soaking up sauces from the other dishes. It was heavy on the salt, reminding my companion of a soft ballpark pretzel. He said it was the best naan hed ever had, and the same was true for me.

Sultan had a stand at the Willy Street Fair selling potato chaat with chickpeas for $5. It was a perfectly spicy treat, so I was happy to see aloo chaat ($8) on the menu recently. It was an expanded version of the street snack and beautifully plated, the smooth potato fritter mashed and surrounded by chickpea masala, tiny cubes of mango, and onion jam.

The plate was enhanced both visually and culinarily by mint and tamarind chutneys and sweet yogurt.

The aloo bhindi ($12), aloo the word for potato, took wonderfully sauteed Yukon Gold potato chunks and added okra that had been sliced on an angle. They sat on top of a savory cauliflower puree that was fantastic, but skimpy.

The chukandar aur sabzi shahi korma ($16) was a mouthful in every sense. Warm red and golden beets showed up in huge chunks and were bathed in a generous and delicious dark gravy that made a vegetarian dish look like a meat one. Potatoes, carrots, cashews, pistachios and cilantro were also in the mix.

The Kashmiri chai ($5) with green tea, rose syrup, spices, pistachio and milk had a flavor that didnt speak to me, but my companion liked it, saying it engages all the sinuses in a pleasant way.

The cocktail list is among the most interesting Ive seen, but I had mixed feelings about the drink that leads the list, A Night on the Silk Road ($16), which is the most expensive cocktail Ive ordered anywhere, and one of the sweetest. It was novel in that it came in a cone-shaped glass that sat in a bigger, rounded glass full of caramel corn, which I ate for dessert.

The drink had gin, saffron, rosemary, lime juice, fig syrup, orange bitters and tonic. Toward the end, I poured some of my water into it and found it a lot better watered down.

On my most recent visit, I sat at the bar, which offered a great view of Ahmed, who attended culinary school at Madison Area Technical College, busily preparing food in the kitchen with two other cooks.

The jazz playing over the sound system on a slow Monday night gave the room a sophisticated feel. On my first visit, for a 1 p.m. weekend lunch, hip-hop and pop music gave off a more playful vibe.

I had the same attentive server both times. He explained that Sultan serves small plates meant for sharing and also described the no-tipping policy. Credit card receipts provide no line for a tip.

Ahmed, who pays his servers well, said one or two customers a night leave a tip because they cant help themselves.

He said the response to the policy has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from takeout customers who appreciate not having to deal with the awkwardness of whether they should tip when they pick up food.

I think people who come here love it, Ahmed said. They love the idea.

Taken as a whole, beyond the issue of tipping, from the food to the service to the ambiance, theres a lot to love.

Diner's scorecard Restaurant: Sultan Location: 1054 Williamson St. Phone: 608-285-5062 Website: sultanmadison.com Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday Prices: Small plates $8 to $56, naan $2 to $12, dessert $11 and $16 Noise level: Medium Credit cards: Yes Accessibility: Yes Outdoor dining: No, but might apply for it next year Delivery: No Online ordering: Yes Drinks: Full bar Gluten-free: Most of menu is GF, but no GF naan Vegetarian offerings: Many Kids menu: No Parking: Street parking Service: Excellent Bottom line: Sultan is one of the most interesting restaurants to open in Madison in recent years with a no-tipping policy that its owner says is working well.
Mike Dulak grew up Catholic in Southern California, but by his teen years, he began skipping Mass and driving straight to the shore to play guitar, watch the waves and enjoy the beauty of the morning on the beach, he recalled. And it felt more spiritual than any time I set foot in a church.

Nothing has changed that view in the ensuing decades.

Most religions are there to control people and get money from them, said Dulak, now 76, of Rocheport, Missouri. He also cited sex abuse scandals, harming innocent human beings, in Catholic and Southern Baptist churches. I cant buy into that, he said.

As Dulak rejects being part of a religious flock, he has plenty of company. He is a none  no, not that kind of nun. The kind that checks none when pollsters ask Whats your religion?

The decades-long rise of the nones  a diverse, hard-to-summarize group  is one of the most talked about phenomena in U.S. religion. The nones are reshaping Americas religious landscape as we know it.

In U.S. religion today, the most important story without a shadow of a doubt is the unbelievable rise in the share of Americans who are nonreligious, said the Rev. Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of The Nones, a book on the phenomenon.

The nones account for a large portion of Americans, as shown by the 30% of U.S. adults who claim no religious affiliation in a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Other major surveys say the nones have been steadily increasing for as long as three decades.

So who are they?

Theyre the atheists, the agnostics, the nothing in particular. Many are spiritual but not religious, and some are neither or both. They span class, gender, age, race and ethnicity.

While the nones diversity splinters them into myriad subgroups, most of them have this in common:

They. Really. Dont. Like. Organized. Religion.

Nor its leaders. Nor its politics and social stances. Thats according to a large majority of nones in the AP-NORC survey.

But theyre not just a statistic. Theyre real people with unique relationships to belief and nonbelief, and the meaning of life.

Theyre secular homeschoolers in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Pittsburghers working to overcome addiction. Theyre a mandolin maker in a small Missouri River town, a former evangelical disillusioned with that particular strain of American Christianity. Theyre college students who found their childhood churches unpersuasive or unwelcoming.

Church was not very good for me, said Emma Komoroski, a University of Missouri freshman who left her childhood Catholic religion in her mid-teens. Im a lesbian. So that was kind of like, oh, I didnt really fit, and people dont like me.

The nones also are people like Alric Jones, who cite bad experiences with organized religion that ranged from the intolerant churches of his hometown to the ministry that kept soliciting money from his devout late wife  even after Jones lost his job and income after an injury.

If it was such a Christian organization, and she was unable to send money, they should have come to us and said, 'Is there something we can do to help you?' said Jones, 71, of central Michigan. They kept sending us letters saying, Why arent you sending us money?

Jones does believe in God and in treating others equally. Thats my spirituality if you want to call it that.

The most important story without a shadow of a doubt is the unbelievable rise in the share of Americans who are nonreligious.  the Rev. Ryan Burge

About 1 in 6 U.S. adults, including Jones and Dulak, is a nothing in particular. There are as many of them as atheists and agnostics combined (7% each).

Many embrace a range of spiritual beliefs  from God, prayer and heaven to karma, reincarnation, astrology or energy in crystals.

They are definitely not as turned off to religion as atheists and agnostics are, Burge said. They practice their own type of spirituality, many of them.

Dulak still draws inspiration from nature, and from making mandolins in the workshop next to his home.

It feels spiritually good, Dulak said. Its not a religion.

Burge said the nones are rising as the Christian population declines, particularly the mainline or moderate to liberal Protestants.

The statistics show the nones are well-represented in every age group, but especially among young adults. About four in 10 of those under 30 are nones  nearly as many as say theyre Christians.

The trend was evident in interviews on the University of Missouri campus. Several students said they didnt identify with a religion.

Mia Vogel said she likes the foundations of a lot of religions  just love everybody, accept everybody. But she considers herself more spiritual.

Im pretty into astrology. Ive got my crystals charging up in my window right now, she said. Honestly, Ill bet half of it is a total placebo. But I just like the idea that things in life can be explained by greater forces.

One movement that exemplifies the spiritual but not religious ethos is the Twelve Step sobriety program, pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous and adopted by other recovery groups. Participants turn to a power greater than ourselves  the God of each persons own understanding  but they dont share any creed.

If you look at the religions, they have been wracked by scandals, it doesnt matter the denomination, said the Rev. Jay Geisler, an Episcopal priest who is spiritual adviser at the Pittsburgh Recovery Center, an addiction treatment site.

In contrast, theres actually a spiritual revival in the basement of many of the churches, where recovery groups often meet, he said.

Nobodys fighting in those rooms, theyre not saying, Youre wrong about God, Geisler said. The focus is on how your life is changed.

Scholars worry that, as people pull away from congregations and other social groups, they are losing sources of communal support.

But nones said in interviews they were happy to leave religion behind, particularly in toxic situations, and find community elsewhere.

Marjorie Logman, 75, of Aurora, Illinois, now finds community among other residents in her multigenerational apartment complex, and in her advocacy for nursing home residents. She doesnt miss the evangelical circles she was long active in.

The farther away I get, the freer I feel, she said.

AP journalists Linley Sanders, Emily Swanson and Jessie Wardarski contributed to this report.

***

More from this special report:

Photos from AP's special report on 'The Nones'
Beloit-based NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes is cutting 93 jobs in Beloit and Madison as it ends production of molybdenum-99, or Mo-99, which decays into an isotope used to detect cancer, heart disease and other conditions.

With a global market environment dominated by foreign-government subsidized competitors, new entrants in the wings, and steadily increasing costs for raw materials, reactor irradiation and processing, we have concluded that NorthStars Mo-99 business is no longer sustainable, CEO Frank Scholz said in a statement this month.

The company, which has about 350 employees, is eliminating 65 jobs in Beloit and 28 in Madison, according to layoff notices filed Oct. 5 with the state Department of Workforce Development.

Scholz said NorthStar will continue production of two other isotopes in short supply  Actinium-225, or Ac-225, and Copper-67, or Cu-67  and keep building a 53,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for which construction started in November.

Mo-99 decays into technetium-99m, used to detect cancer, heart disease and other conditions in many nuclear diagnostic imaging procedures. A severe shortage years ago brought to light the vulnerability of relying on a few aging nuclear reactors outside of the country. That led to federal legislation in 2012 that made money available to encourage American companies to get into the business.

NorthStars isotope processing facility in Beloit was going to join its facility in Columbia, Missouri, in producing Mo-99, company officials had said.

The shift to Ac-225 and Cu-67 will result in a stronger organization that can help more rapidly advanced the treatment of cancer and other illnesses, Scholz said.

The company still has two electron accelerators it received in 2021 from Belgium, where they were custom-made, plus an additional one received this year, said Alison Hess, chief of staff. The machines are used in producing Ac-225 and Cu-67, Hess said.

SHINE Medical Technologies, in Janesville, has also been involved in producing Mo-99. On Wednesday, the company said it had raised $70 million in additional funding to complete the commercialization and scale-up of the companys near-term applications of fusion technology, which are used in the industrial, defense and healthcare markets.

Greg Piefer, SHINE CEO, said the company is also increasing production of lutetium-177, or Lu-177, which can be paired with a cancer-seeking molecule to deliver targeted radiation to kill cancer cells while minimizing damage to nearby healthy cells.

SHINE in August opened a Lu-177 production facility, which is expected to become operational at the end of the year. Piefer said.
It's National Farm Day.

Nearly 12% of Wisconsin jobs are in the agriculture sector, so for many every day if farm day.

Here are a few interesting facts about Wisconsin farming:

1. Wisconsin produces 600 types of cheese, nearly twice that of any other state. Last year, the state produced 3.52 billion pounds of cheese.

2. The state has nearly 6,000 dairy farms and 1.28 million cows.

3. Cranberries are the state fruit, and Wisconsin farmers produced 4.84 million barrels last year.

4. Wisconsin exports more ginseng roots than any other state.

5. There are 1,200 licensed cheesemakers in the state.

6. Wisconsin ranks third in potato production.
A man was arrested after driving into a building, a pedestrian and a vehicle Wednesday night, Middleton police reported.

Middleton officers were sent to Ace Hardware, 2540 Allen Blvd., on a report of a car crashing into building and they determined that the driver intentionally rammed his vehicle into the building to force entry, then stole several items, Sgt. Mike Wood said in a statement.

When police arrived, the driver retreated to his vehicle and would not comply with police requests to get out. Instead, he drove from the scene and was located at Allen Boulevard and University Avenue, where he struck a pedestrian and a vehicle, Wood said.

The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Wood said.

The driver came to a stop a short distance away, but again refused to get out of his vehicle. Middleton police asked for assistance, including a negotiator, from Madison police and the Dane County Sheriffs Office. Officers were able to disable the vehicle and the driver was taken into custody, Wood said.

The driver, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital for evaluation, Wood said.
DETROIT  Detroit's three automakers have laid off roughly 4,800 workers at factories that are not among the plants that have been hit by the United Auto Workers strikes, which have lasted for nearly four weeks.

The companies say the strikes have nevertheless forced them to impose those layoffs. They note that the job cuts have occurred mainly at factories that make parts for assembly plants that were closed by strikes. In one case, layoffs have been imposed at a factory that uses supplies from a parts factory on strike.

The UAW rejects that argument. It contends that the layoffs are unjustified and were imposed as part of the companies' pressure campaign to persuade UAW members to accept less favorable terms in negotiations with automakers. The factories that have been affected by layoffs are in six states: Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana and New York.

Sam Fiorani, an analyst with AutoForecast Solutions, a consulting firm, said he thinks the layoffs reflect a simple reality: The automakers are losing money because of the strikes. By slowing or idling factories that are running below their capacities because of strike-related parts shortages, Fiorani said, the companies can mitigate further losses.

It doesnt make sense to keep running at 30% or 40% of capacity when it normally runs at 100%, he said. Were not looking at huge numbers of workers relative to the ones actually being struck. But there is fallout.

In a statement, Bryce Currie, vice president of Americas manufacturing at Ford, said: 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."

UAW President Shawn Fain countered in a statement that the automakers were using layoffs to pressure the union into settling the strike. With billions in profits, Fain argued, the companies dont have to lay off a single employee.

The UAW began striking against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis on Sept. 15, with one assembly plant from each company. The next week, the union expanded the strike to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Assembly plants from Ford and GM were added the week after that. Wednesday, the UAW significantly escalated its strikes when 8,700 workers walked off their jobs at Ford's Kentucky truck plant.

The surprise move about 6:30 p.m. took down the largest and most profitable Ford plant in the world. The sprawling factory makes pricey heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs.

The Kentucky strike brings to 33,700 the number of workers on strike against the three automakers.

Striking workers are receiving $500 a week from the unions strike pay fund. By contrast, anyone who is laid off would qualify for state unemployment aid, which, depending on a variety of circumstances, could be less or more than $500 a week.

Their plan wont work, Fain said. The UAW will make sure any worker laid off in the Big Threes latest attack will not go without an income.

GM said it has laid off 2,330 workers, including 1,600 at a temporarily closed assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, that makes the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and Cadillac XT4 small SUV. The plant uses metal parts produced at the GM plant in Wentzville, Missouri, which is on strike.

Other GM facilities that have been affected by layoffs are in Lockport, New York; Toledo, Ohio; Marion, Indiana; Parma, Ohio; and Lansing, Michigan.

Ford said it has laid off 1,865 workers. They include 600 auto-body and parts-stamping employees in Wayne, Michigan, who are not on strike but who have been affected by a nearby assembly plant that has been struck. Other Ford locations with layoffs include Chicago; Sterling Heights and Livonia, Michigan; and Cleveland and Lima, Ohio.

Stellantis said late Monday that it had laid off about 640 workers, including 520 at an engine factory complex in Trenton, Michigan, that supplies a Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio, that is on strike. Other locations with layoffs include a metal casting plant in Kokomo, Indiana, and a machining factory in Toledo.

Fiorani said that if the strike widens, more workers will likely be laid off at non-striking plants. Once metal stamping factories that supply multiple assembly plants have produced enough parts for non-striking facilities, the companies would likely shut them down.

Once you've filled up the stocks for the other plants you supply," he said, you have to lay off the workers and wait out the strike.

Separate companies that manufacture parts for the automakers are likely to have laid off workers but might not report them publicly, said Patrick Anderson, CEO of the Anderson Economic Group in Lansing, Michigan.

A survey of parts supply companies by a trade association called MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers found that 30% of members have laid off workers and that more than 60% expect to start layoffs in mid-October.

Fiorani said that while larger parts suppliers can likely withstand the strike, smaller companies that make parts for the bigger companies might not have enough cash or the ability to borrow to outlast the job actions. Some, he said, may have a couple dozen workers and don't have billions in value to use as collateral in loans, he said.

The Most Unionized Cities in America The Most Unionized Cities in America Union members enjoy higher wages than non union workers Union membership in the US continues to decline Pacific and Northeastern states have the highest unionization rates The most unionized small and midsize metros 15. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 14. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 13. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA 12. Fresno, CA 11. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 10. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT 9. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 8. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 7. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 6. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 4. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 1. Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
JERUSALEM  The Israeli military pulverized the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, prepared for a possible ground invasion and said Thursday its complete siege  which has left Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine  would remain in place until the Hamas militants that rule the territory freed some 150 hostages taken during a grisly weekend incursion.

A visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with shipments of U.S. weapons, were a powerful green light to Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas deadly attack on civilians and soldiers, even as international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gazas 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt.

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver should political leaders order one. A ground offensive in Gaza, where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 25 miles long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Hamas assault on Saturday killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers  a toll unseen in Israel for decades  and the ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides. Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members.

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Amid concerns that the fighting could spread in the region, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday put two Syrian international airports out of service.

The relentless barrage on Gaza  6,000 munitions dropped since the conflict began, the military said  left Palestinians running through streets with what belongings they could carry, looking for a safe place.

A strike Thursday afternoon in the the Jabaliya refugee camp collapsed a residential building on families sheltering inside, killing at least 45 people, Gaza's Interior Ministry said. At least 23 of the dead were under the age of 18, including a month-old child, according to a list of the casualties. Ministry spokesman Eyad Bozum said dozens were wounded and the death toll was likely to rise as rescue workers were still pulling bodies from the rubble.

The home, belonging to the al-Shihab family, was packed with relatives who had fled bombing in other areas. Neighbors said a second house was hit at the same time but the toll was not immediately known. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike.

The camp has seen non-stop bombardment for days. We cant flee because anywhere you go you are bombed. You need a miracle to survive here, neighbor Khalil Abu Yahia said.

Palestinians fleeing airstrikes in Gaza could be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place. The number of people forced from their homes by the airstrikes soared 25% in a day, reaching 423,000 out of a population of 2.3 million, the U.N. said Thursday. Most crowded into U.N.-run schools.

Families were cutting down to one meal a day to conserve supplies, said Rami Swailem, a 34 year old lecturer at al- Azhar University, who has 32 members of his family sheltering in his home. Water stopped coming to the building two days ago, and they were rationing whats left in the tank on the roof.

Alaa Younis Abuel-Omrain has been staying in a U.N. school after a strike on her home killed eight members of her family  her mother, aunt, a sister, a brother and his wife and their three children. She said food supplies were running out. Most bakeries stopped producing bread for lack of electricity.

Even if there is food in some areas, we cant get to it because of strikes, she said. Many children will die from hunger.

On Wednesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

Hospitals, overwhelmed by a constant stream of wounded and running out of supplies, have only a few days worth of fuel before their power cuts off, aid officials say. The cut-off has also caused dire water shortages for over 650,000 people, according to the U.N.

"Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues," said Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Newborn incubators, kidney dialysis machines, X-rays, and more, are all dependent on power, he said.

Ambulance crews carrying bodies from the rubble of demolished buildings to the morgue at Gaza's biggest hospital, Shifa, found no space left. Dozens of bodies in body bags were lined up in the hospital parking lot. Fourteen health facilities have been damaged in strikes, health officials said Thursday.

"The situation is very critical," said Shifa hospital director Mohammad Abu Selmia. "We've never seen days in Gaza like what we see now."

With Israel sealing off the territory, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah. Egypt's Foreign Ministry said it has not officially closed Rafah but airstrikes have prevented it from operating. Egypt has been trying to convince Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "crush" Hamas after the militants stormed into the country's south on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people, including killings of children in their homes and young people at a music festival. Netanyahu alleged Hamas atrocities, including beheading soldiers and raping women. His allegations could not be independently confirmed.

Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

In a video released Thursday, civilian Hamas figures defended the groups rampage and decried the civilian deaths in Gaza from six days of Israeli airstrikes. The solemn video lacked the bravado of a recording aired Saturday by Hamass military wing that hailed the greatest battle as the massacres were still taking place.

Basem Naim, a former Hamas government minister, said that in the swift collapse of the Israeli military on Saturday, chaos prevailed and civilians found themselves in the middle of the confrontation." The claim is contradicted by countless videos and survivor accounts of Hamas militants deliberately targeting and killing civilians in Israel.

Naim added that there would be no action to free the 150 captives taken back into Gaza while Israel's operation continued.

Funerals continued to be held around Israel. Struggling to speak as they sobbed, families of French-Israeli citizens missing since the attack appealed Thursday for information.

We dont know if she is dead, if she is in Gaza. We dont know anything. We havent heard anything, Doron Journo, whose 24-year-old daughter, Karin Journo, disappeared Saturday, said at a news conference in Tel Aviv.

Four previous conflicts ended with the group still firmly in control of the territory it has ruled since 2007. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities. A new war Cabinet, which includes a longtime opposition politician, is now directing the fight.

A high-ranking Hamas official, Saleh Al-Arouri, warned on Thursday that any Israeli invasion of Gaza "will turn into a disaster for its army," saying the group was prepared to respond.

Blinken's visit underscored American backing for Israel's retaliation.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to," Blinken said after meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. "We will always be there by your side."

Blinken is to meet Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority is confined to parts of the occupied West Bank, and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in a 1967 war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state, but there have been no peace talks in over a decade.

In Gaza, the Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centers used by the fighters in Saturday's attack, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons. Other airstrikes killed commanders from two smaller militant groups, according to media linked to those organizations.

"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," Hecht, the military spokesman, said of Hamas. "Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehia) Sinwar."

Israel is employing a new tactic of leveling whole neighborhoods, rather than just individual buildings. Hecht said targeting decisions were based on intelligence and civilians were warned.

Even with the warnings, Palestinians say some are unable to escape or have nowhere to go, and that entire families have been crushed under rubble.

Drone footage filmed by The Associated Press revealed extensive damage at the Shati refugee camp, in the north of Gaza, following overnight airstrikes. Residents used their bare hands to clear rubble, searching for survivors. A man who was informed his missing family members were dead collapsed in the arms of a fellow resident.

Jaber Weshah, a 73-year-old rights activist, said there was no warning when a strike leveled a multi-story building neighboring his in the Bureij refugee camp early Wednesday. At least 12 people were killed, including a bookseller, his wife and two toddler daughters and six members of another family, residents said.

"It was an inferno," Weshah said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Thursday when Israeli settlers sprayed bullets at a funeral for three people killed in a settler rampage the day before. Footage showed Jewish settlers in their cars swerving into the funeral procession and cutting off the road before stopping and opening fire.

The Health Ministry says more than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and two in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem since Saturday, most when police fired on stone-throwing protesters.

The death toll in Gaza rose to more than 1,400 killed, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 247 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

MORE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR COVERAGE

WARNING: The following photo gallery contains graphic images.

Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war
An Adams County woman who appeared in and met her husband on the set of 90 Day Fiance a dating show on the TLC television network, was arrested Thursday for allegedly making several fraudulent payments and withdrawals involving a Portage business where she worked.

Leida Margaretha, 34, of Arkdale, is accused of making fraudulent withdrawals and payments to several outside business accounts and customers using account information from Loggerhead Deco, a Portage-based manufacturing company.

Margaretha is also the co-owner of a business in Arkdale, which helped her facilitate the alleged fraud, police said.

Customers and business in Wisconsin and surrounding states have reported being victims of several thousands of dollars in unauthorized business account payments and withdraws, police said.

Margaretha is facing tentative charges of theft from a business setting, fraudulent data alteration, forgery and wire fraud against a financial institution. Police also said other potential charges may be forthcoming.
The Chippewa County Board voted unanimously Tuesday to continue its investigation into county sheriff Travis Hakes for alleged misconduct.

Going forward, the board will consider the existing investigation report, any new information that comes to light and a binder of information Hakes presented to each board member Tuesday, which he referred to as a counter-investigation.

The vote was held following a 1-hour, 45-minute closed session in which the board discussed Hakes. After reconvening in open session, county commissioners amended their resolution to continue the investigation slightly to allow for new information to be considered. No additional public discussion took place among the board members prior to the vote.

Tuesdays meeting began with public comments, in which 12 people took to the podium to speak for or against Hakes and to comment on the boards investigation. An unusually large crowd was gathered for the meeting. The county board room was filled with spectators, and two overflow rooms were set up to handle the number of people who showed up.

Hakes was then granted 10 minutes to speak, and he provided a typed copy of his statement to board members before taking to the podium to read it. He ran out of time before completing his statement. Hakes had just one page left to read, he said, but the board did not let him finish and told him he was out of time.

I will tell you this, I think it's disheartening. But there's something fitting there with this whole process, Hakes told the Herald after speaking at the podium. They had four hours to attack me behind closed doors, and I had 12 minutes in front of the public to defend myself.

Hakes defends himself

The statement Hakes gave during the meeting implied that he was relieved to be able to speak publicly in his own defense.

I stand here before you tonight, finally able to speak to you in person, 144 days after I was first made aware of an issue brought forward to (human resources) by one of my employees, he said. Tonight is a meeting I wish would have occurred 143 days ago, as it would have prevented a lot of misunderstandings on all sides.

Hakes said the investigations report was full of overreaching accusations.

The Chippewa County Board initiated its investigation into Hakes during a June meeting after a county employee alleged in May that Hakes had sexually harassed her.

Hakes said Tuesday, in regard to my text messages with the employee, my intention was to make her feel welcome and included in our office.

That investigation resulted in a report prepared by von Briesen & Roper that was made publicly available Oct. 3. The report showed the investigation into Hakes had expanded beyond allegations of sexual harassment to include a host of other concerns about alleged misconduct and policy violations.

The 87-page investigation report demonstrated 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.

Hakes claimed the investigator excluded at least one interview from her report and that she and her firm was known for taking on cases that were anti-law enforcement. He also wanted to know why the board hired a firm from Madison instead of using lawyers from the local community.

Hakes asked the board why they would believe the words of an obviously biased attorney from Madison, who financially profited from this investigation and who I will prove withheld critical information from her report to drive home false narratives, over the words of your duly elected sheriff, who the majority of your constituents voted for based on his reputation of being honest and trustworthy.

Hakes also defended his training record and said he is fully in compliance with the mandatory peace officer requirements of the state of Wisconsin.

He said he has sought out training opportunities throughout his career, including becoming a certified crisis negotiator and certified evidence technician.

It has always been my intention to take the leadership courses recommended by the county, but given the fact that our office had already exceeded its training budget, I opted to take these courses at a later time, he said.

Hakes also said he rejects the idea that there has been a conflict of interest between his businesses and his role as sheriff.

To the limited extent these businesses have continued since I've been sworn into office, I have not had a single transaction with a sheriff's office employee in either my real estate or firearms business, he said. At the suggestion of several employees, I ordered coffee mugs with the sheriff's office logo on them to improve morale and instill pride in our office. I purchased these mugs with my own money.

Closed session

The county board later moved to a closed session to discuss Hakes.

Todd Krysiak  the executive editor for River Valley Media Group, which includes The Chippewa Herald  reached out to the Chippewa County clerk before Tuesdays meeting to question why the board would meet in a closed session to discuss Hakes, asking that the conversation happen in a public session.

In the email Krysiak wrote to county clerk Jaclyn Sadler, he said he did not believe Wisconsin State Statutes on closed meetings apply to this matter. Wisconsin State Statutes Sec. 19.85(1)(f) was cited in the county board meeting agenda as the reason for the board to go into closed session during the meeting.

It states that meetings of governing bodies may occur in closed session if the subject of their discussion involves financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons  which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations.

Sadler responded to Krysiak by saying she believed he was incorrect and that she hoped he understood that the board and administration has been open as to the prompt release of the report and the sheriffs augmentation. The board is careful with the matters it is addressing in closed session with the understanding that transparency is very important.

Krysiak also pointed out that Hakes is not a county employee but an elected official, saying, it does not seem that 19.85(1)(f) would apply.

Sadler said that though the sheriff is not an employee, the investigative report includes the initial complainant and many other county employees who cooperated in this investigation and have reputational interests in this matter, who the county has sought to protect from retaliation, and who the county continues to protect.

As part of our remedial efforts to protect these employees, closed session discussion for part of this evening is appropriate, Sadler said.

Krysiak questioned how a public discussion of the allegations against Hakes could cause a substantial adverse effect upon his reputation, as the allegations have already been made public.

Krysiak said that he believed that any potential adverse effects upon Hakes reputation have already been done.

An open discussion regarding the findings of that investigation would seem appropriate, he wrote.

Sadler responded that there was an agenda item for the board members to have an open discussion regarding the findings of the investigation and to make a decision on how to move forward.

At the end of Hakes time at the podium Tuesday, before the board entered into a closed session, Hakes told the board, If you are meeting in closed session to discuss anything that involves me, I waive all my rights to privacy, and in the interest of transparency with the media and everybody here, I would encourage you to stay in open session.

The meeting proceeded as scheduled, and the board entered a closed session. It returned to an open session, in which the board said it would continue its investigation.
A Republican-authored bill that lays the framework for spending $125 million to address forever chemicals in Wisconsin waterways and groundwater took a step forward Wednesday, despite concerns that the proposal would hamstring the states ability to test and and enforce the cleanup of contaminants.

Bill co-author Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, said the proposal is intended to provide much-needed funding for water-treatment facilities and the drilling or testing of wells. It also curbs the state Department of Natural Resources authority to order landowners to pay for remediation efforts if any identified contamination was out of their control, he added.

In the end, this bill is directed at getting all people clean drinking water and helping innocent landowners, Wimberger said. It accomplishes that.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been linked to health problems including low birth weight, cancer and liver disease, and have been shown to make vaccines less effective. Theyre called forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in animal tissues and the human body.

The synthetic chemicals are used in many products, including food packaging, nonstick cookware and water-resistant fabrics. Their unique water- and fat-repellent properties also have made them a key ingredient in foam used to fight oil-based fires. Such contaminants have been identified in communities across the nation and Wisconsin, including in Marinette, Wausau, La Crosse and Madison.

Weve seen more and more sites where these contaminants have been popping up on a regular basis, and its possible there are more sites that we dont know about, said bill co-author Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay.

The bill passed the Senate committee on natural resources and energy on a party-line vote Wednesday. Its unclear if Democratic Gov. Tony Evers will sign the measure, but spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in an email the governors office has been trying to work in good faith for months to reach consensus on this proposal.

Its unfortunately not surprising Republicans still dont share our commitment to finding real, meaningful solutions to the pressing water quality issues facing our state, Cudaback said.

In a joint statement, Wimberger and Cowles said they spent hours upon hours discussing the proposal with DNR officials.

These discussions have even continued over the past 24 hours, the lawmakers said. Each discussion has been in good faith, and most discussions have resulted in concessions to the DNR. For every ten items they requested, its our belief roughly eight out of ten were addressed. If roughly 80% compromise towards the Evers Administration is not enough, then lets get real and recognize that Evers, (DNR Secretary Adam Payne), and their leadership teams only want their way or the highway.

The 2023-25 biennial budget signed earlier this year by Evers includes $125 million to remove the contaminants in the states ground and drinking water. However, details on how to spend those funds are not included in the budget.

Spending plan

Senate Bill 312 would create a municipal grant program to help communities cover the cost of testing and treating water for PFAS, as well as provide grants for landowners who own property with PFAS contamination out of their control. Another grant program would provide funds to individuals who own or rent a contaminated private well for treatment and filtration, or the construction of a new well.

Environmental groups such as Wisconsin Conservation Voters worry the bill could hamstring Wisconsins 1978 Spills Law, which requires anyone who possesses or controls a hazardous substance which is discharged or who causes the discharge of a hazardous substance to take the necessary actions to restore the affected air, land or waters. The law does not define hazardous substance.

Under the PFAS bill, the DNR would be barred from requiring a property owner to test for PFAS under the Spills Law without probable cause that the property had or currently has an amount of PFAS that is likely to exceed or result in the exceedance of any applicable state or federal standard. The agency would also not be able to publicly disclose test results without providing a 72-hour notice to the landowner.

Objections

Sen. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, said in a statement the bill has many good parts, but added she cannot support legislation that limits the authority of the DNR to combat PFAS contamination around the state.

Instead of limiting DNR authority, we should be empowering them to be able to help communities across Wisconsin who are experiencing dangerous levels of PFAS contamination in their water, Hesselbein said.

Erik Kanter, government affairs director of Clean Wisconsin, in a statement Tuesday called on lawmakers to advance the municipal grant program as standalone legislation in order to begin sending state money allocated for PFAS to the communities who need it.

They should not be forced to wait for help any longer, Kanter continued.

Asked about passing the municipal grant program as a standalone bill, Wimberger said were not going to abandon rural communities and residents.

The result of doing that would be to totally deteriorate the value of rural property, and were not going to abandon one, Wimberger added.

PFAS limits

The Environmental Protection Agencys proposed limits on PFAS in public water supplies, which were proposed earlier this year and are considerably stricter than current state rules, would regulate two common fluorinated compounds, collectively known as PFAS, at a maximum rate of 4 parts per trillion in drinking water.

Last year, the DNR approved setting a standard for those chemicals  PFOA and PFOS  that was more than 17 times higher, at 70 ppt, in line with EPA guidance put in place in 2016.

The EPA plans to issue a final rule later this year.

The bill also would require the DNR to resurvey local fire departments on their use and possession of PFAS-containing foam and contract with a third party to collect any remaining foam in the state.
The wrecking ball is coming for the former hardware store building that for nearly four decades has been home to the Wisconsin Historical Society Museum.

But even though most of the museum's artifacts will be in storage for the next three years while a much larger, $160 million replacement is constructed at State and Carroll streets, history will not be put on hold.

Instead, some of it has moved to the other side of Capitol Square, inside the glass-walled U.S. Bank building. Other pieces of history will become even more nomadic and travel across the state.

The Historical Society has opened an 800-square-foot gift shop and a 1,200-square-foot educational maker space at the corner of East Washington Avenue and South Pinckney Street. The move is designed to keep history in the forefront and to keep school groups engaged with woolly mammoth teeth, butter churns, vintage snowshoes, arrowheads and other pieces of our state's past.

An invite-only soft opening was held Wednesday and the museum store opened Thursday to the general public.

But school children have been coming to the maker space since Sept. 19. Due to the temporary location's limited size, only a fraction of the 30,000 students who had been coming each year to the old museum will be able to use the new space. But the programs over the next three years will allow museum staff to prepare themselves for when more than 60,000 students a year from around the state are expected to visit the new 100,000-square-foot Wisconsin History Center.

"It's one of the most direct things we do to communicate with people and to work directly with children and serve educators," said Laurel Miller, manager of museum education.

"We really do serve students statewide, and it is so, so important to us to be able to keep that consistency, kind of bridging the way from the old museum to the new museum."

In the interim

The History Center, scheduled to open in late 2026 or early 2027, will rise on the site of the former 40,000-square-foot museum site at 30 N. Carroll St. and adjacent properties at 20 and 22 N. Carroll St. Designed to attract more than 200,000 visitors a year, the state-of-the-art facility will feature rotated top floors to offer differing views and interpretations from various vantage points while an expansive wooden staircase will be inspired by the recent discovery and recovery of two Native American dugout canoes from Lake Mendota.

The staircase will lead to a cafe, community gallery and temporary gallery that can host national-caliber shows, along with exhibit spaces featuring interpretive, interactive and multimedia presentations. A fifth floor will include event space and a terrace overlooking the Capitol.

The temporary space that opened Thursday will also host pop-up exhibits, special events, sneak peeks to the history center's design and History Sandwiched In, a noon-time speaker series.

But history also will be hitting the road, thanks to the History Makers Tour, an initiative designed to bring history directly to communities around the state through pop-up exhibits, artifact displays, author talks and special events. Funded by a grant from Culver's co-founder Craig Culver, the Historical Society will work with local history organizations, libraries, cultural venues and other partners to create three-month-long exhibits tailor-made to each community.

"This is a really big change for us," said Nick Hoffman, the Historical Society's administrator of museums and historic sites. "It's about bringing our brand across the entire state. It's really deep in community engagement. We're bringing practices and working with communities to help share their history."

Initial stops, scheduled to begin this fall, are set for Beaver Dam, Jefferson, Monticello, New Glarus and Sun Prairie, but will include communities throughout the state before concluding in northeastern Wisconsin in early 2027.

The collection

The Historical Society, established in 1846, has one of the nation's largest collections of North American historical assets and operates 12 museums and sites that include places such as Cornish mining settlement of Pendarvis in Mineral Point, an agricultural museum at Stonefield Village in Cassville and a rural site near Benton that was home to the state's first capitol. The Historical Society's headquarters are housed in in the heart of the UW-Madison campus in a building constructed in 1900, while it also has a 188,000-square-foot State Archive Preservation Facility that opened in 2018 on Madison's East Side.

The cavernous facility is home to more than 500,000 historical artifacts, 200,000 library books and 55,000 archival boxes with millions of pages of manuscripts and documents from state agencies and officials. It's also where two ancient Ho-Chunk dugout canoes are undergoing a multi-year treatment to ready them for display at the new museum.

The Historical Society's museum on the Square is one of its most-visited sites but closed earlier this year in preparation for its demolition and the start of construction on the History Center, beginning early next year.

The temporary gift shop in the U.S. Bank building is filled with books by Wisconsin authors, locally made honey, earrings in the shape of the state, toy cows and T-shirts touting Old Fashioneds and fish fries. The maker space is filled with worktables that will allow students to handle artifacts, learn about the state's history and create their own exhibits to go on display on a wall.

"Through this activity they're getting some of the same content they would be getting in the museum," Miller said. "But instead of starting with the content and working backwards from there, they're really learning the content through building those skills. It's something we're really excited about here."

History on holiday: A guide to Wisconsin's historic sites and museums Black Point Estate, Lake Geneva Circus World, Baraboo First Capitol, Belmont H.H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells Madeline Island Historical Museum, La Pointe Wisconsin Historical Museum, Madison Old World Wisconsin, Eagle Pendarvis House, Mineral Point Reed School, Neillsville Stonefield, Cassville Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien Wade House, Greenbush
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to launch the National Halal Strategy which aims to generate P230 billion in investments, create 20,000 jobs in five years and support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in becoming part of a global halal ecosystem.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said the plan seeks to address the growing demand for halal products and services in the Philippines and from members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

The Philippines plans to expand its participation in the halal economy by being more active in this multi-trillion-dollar industry that is growing at a rapid pace. Considering the growing Muslim population of 1.9 billion people, the global halal market is estimated to reach $7.7 trillion in market value by 2025, up from $3.2 trillion in 2015, Pascual said.

The DTI will lead the inter-agency task force to create a roadmap to position the Philippines as the most halal-friendly trade and investment hub in Asia Pacific.

The task force will be composed of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Department of Agriculture (DA), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Pascual said halal development forms part of the DTIs four priorities on promoting regional development; attaining food security; upgrading, upskilling and upsizing micro, small and medium enterprises; and enabling job skills matching and skills upgrading.

It is a comprehensive plan that involves not only food and food-related products, but also Islamic finance, halal-friendly travel and tourism, modest fashion, halal pharmaceuticals and halal cosmetics.

The Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), an attached agency under the DTI, recently signed an agreement with the business community in CALABARZON for halal training.

More than 100 MSMEs in Marawi are also being prepared to be halal-certified as part of the economic rebuilding of the Maranao people.

The DTI also signed a partnership deal with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanaos (BARMM) Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT) to promote halal goods and services. The partnership will create jobs through social entrepreneurship and local tourism, train entrepreneurs and revive the countrys creative sector.

The DTI also revealed plans to upgrade local slaughterhouses as halal-certified.

The DTI will launch the Halal Convention Expo at the SMX Convention Center on Nov. 21, 2023.
The ICT subsidiary of PLDT Inc. on Thursday unveiled the countrys first sovereign cloud to protect local cyber assets from cybercriminals.

The ePLDT Pilipinas Cloud (ePPC) infrastructure will host highly sensitive government data and applications in a trusted cloud environment to help fast-track the digital transformation of the public sector, according to Epldt.

We are proud to take the lead in launching ePLDT Pilipinas Cloud, the Philippines first sovereign cloud infrastructure. This affirms our support for the governments digitalization push and our commitment to continuously power the digital future of the nation by providing the necessary infrastructure that enables inclusive economic growth, said PLDT Group president and chief executive Alfredo Panlilio.

A sovereign cloud is a cloud-based infrastructure and service that is owned and operated by a domestic organization. The infrastructure provides a secure, flexible and cost-effective platform to store and process data strictly within the host countrys borders and is subject to local data protection laws and regulations.

Sovereign cloud is being adopted in many countries so that government institutions maintain control and security over their mission-critical data in compliance with each countrys respective local regulations.

The company said ePPC is a proof that the Philippines could keep up with the rest of the world by employing the latest in cloud computing technology

With ePLDTs technical expertise and experience in delivering multi-cloud and data center solutions, backed up by our unique understanding of the Philippine governments requirements, we are confident we can ensure the seamless deployment and management of the countrys first sovereign cloud aligned with global standards, ePLDT president and chief executive Victor Genuino said.

The company said as the government intensifies its digitalization efforts, ePPC could provide a platform for agencies and LGUs to benefit from cloud technology while effectively addressing data sovereignty and cybersecurity issues.

It guarantees strict enforcement of the Philippines data protection law and regulations and ensures that all sensitive data, including classified information related to national security and confidential personal information of citizens, are stored, and processed locally in a secure and compliant manner, free from unauthorized access, risk of foreign surveillance or interception, and cyber-attacks.

It is also expected to revolutionize government processes and operations, providing unprecedented security, efficiency and greater control over their data.

The benefits of the Philippines having its first sovereign cloud will ultimately extend to ordinary Filipinos as ePPC is poised to transform the way government agencies manage their operations, resulting in enhanced service delivery, ePLDT said.
Brussels, BelgiumPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Ukraines allies to arm his country to survive the winter, on his first visit to the alliances headquarters since Russias all-out invasion.

Zelensky made a plea for air defense, long-range missiles and ammunition in the face of fears that the Hamas attack on Israel could distract key backer the United States from the conflict in his country.

How to survive during this next winter for us is big, Zelensky said as he addressed the media with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg before meeting alliance defense ministers.

We are preparing, we are ready. Now we need some support from the leaders. Thats why Im here today.

Zelensky later announced he had received assurances from Washington that military aid to Ukraine would remain constant and uninterrupted.

It was made clear that America will continue to provide Ukraine with the constant and uninterrupted support necessary for its defense, he said in his daily address.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had announced a fresh tranche of weaponry for Kyiv worth $200 million, including air defense missiles to help Ukraine stave off an expected winter onslaught by Russia.

Make no mistake, Austin said, at the start of the meeting with Ukraines international backers. The United States will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

The latest arms package from Washington is the first announced since turmoil in the US Congress cast doubt on the ability of President Joe Biden to maintain support.

The Ukrainian president has more recently expressed worries that the crisis in Israel could deflect attention from the war unleashed in his homeland by Russian President Vladimir Putin almost 600 days ago.

Who knows how it will be? I think nobody knows, Zelensky said.

But Austin insisted that the United States will remain able to project power and to direct resources to tackle crises in multiple theaters.

We will stand firmly with Israel as we continue to support Ukraine, he said.

Zelensky urged the West to rally around the Israeli people as Kyivs backers did for Ukraine after Russias invasion last year, and show them they are not alone.

Terrorists like Putin, or like Hamas, seek to hold free and democratic nations as hostages and they want power over those who seek freedom, Zelensky said.

The terrorists will not change. They just must lose.

Zelensky underscored the importance of air defence to protect Ukraines civilian infrastructure as the country gears up for a repeat of Moscows bombing campaign last winter.

Dear friends, we must win the winter battle against terror, he told Kyivs backers.

Israels defence minister was set to brief his NATO counterparts by video-link on Thursday.

The crisis in Israel comes as the White House is scrambling to find a way to keep weapon supplies flowing to Ukraine after difficulties in the US Congress.

Biden has tried to calm nerves among allies over Washingtons backing for Kyiv after new assistance was dropped from a deal in the US Congress to avoid a government shutdown this month.

The United States has given as much military support to Ukraine on its own as all European NATO members and Canada combined since Moscow launched its all-out invasion last year.

Western diplomats at NATO insist there is no danger of arms supplies to Ukraine drying up in the near future.

We must continue to step up and sustain the steady flow, of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren insisted the war in Ukraine has our attention, and Ukraine has our full support.

Ukraine is pushing to become a member of NATO in a bid to ensure its long-term security in the face of Moscows ambitions.

At a summit this summer, alliance leaders simplified Kyivs path for joining, but did not offer a clear invitation or deadline for Ukraine to become a member. AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called for negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian forces and hoped the war would not expand.

Thousands have died over the last five days after Hamas fighters launched an unprecedented assault on Israel, which responded with a massive bombardment of the Gaza Strip which Hamas rules.

It is necessary to avoid the expansion of the conflict at all cost, because if it happens it will have an impact on the international situation, Putin said.

Parties need to return to a negotiation process that should be acceptable to all sides, including to the Palestinians.

He also said it was necessary to engage in diplomacy rather than with the military side (of the conflict) to find solutions to stop the fighting.

Russia has over the years maintained friendly relations with both Palestinians and Israeli authorities  though ties with Jerusalem have been strained by Moscows offensive in Ukraine.

While the West have condemned Palestinian attacks, Russia has so far carefully denounced violence from both sides.

It has instead blamed the conflict on US foreign policy failure.

Russia could contribute to the settlement process, Putin said, while noting that any mediation effort would be difficult given the gravity of the situation.

A day earlier Putin called for the creation of an independent sovereign Palestinian state.
The IMF and World Bank are responsible for deepening the economic inequality they are meant to address, activists from developing nations said Wednesday as the institutions held their annual meetings.

At a Peoples Alternative Global Tribunal organised in the Moroccan city, activists testified about how the policies of the international financial institutions impacted their countries.

The court, organised by the activist group Fight Inequality, found the international financial institutions guilty of fuelling inequality by colluding with the financial sector and powerful multinational corporations.

It said they pursue an economic model that is entirely flawed and favours political and financial elites and called on them to stop working for the richest and start working for the rest.

The jury and audience members called the World Bank and International Monetary Fund the biggest scam of the century in the verdict read by Bhumika Muchhala, a researcher and analyst who has advised developing nations on sustainable development.

The International Monetary Fund helps governments that find themselves in tough financial situations, but requires in exchange economic policies that are often seen as controversial when local social welfare programmes are cut and currencies sink in value.

The World Bank provides development aid, but is often seen as a slow and cumbersome lender.

Both institutions, which underpin the post-WWII global financial system, are holding their first annual meeting in Africa in half a century. Reform to help better serve developing nations is on the agenda.

Zambian farmer Clare Chobela Mukupa said holding the meetings in Africa was an opportunity to promote a movement to combat inequality and promote sustainable development.

This opportunity has been missed, she told AFP.

She complained about the impossible conditions they impose on their funding and loans.

This has created deep inequality and injustices especially for the poor, she said, calling on the IMF to cancel the debts owed to it by her country.

Debt cancellation is a subject the institutions and donor nations have tried to address in recent years the Covid pandemic disrupted the global economy.

Ivory Coast Finance Minister Adama Coulibaly on Tuesday called for cancelling the debt of the poorest and most vulnerable nations.

Were warning about a debt crisis that could stifle sustainable and inclusive growth, he told a press conference.
Dozens of foreigners have been killed, injured or taken hostage during the surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Many of the missing foreigners were at an electronic music festival in the southern Israeli desert, at which scores of revellers were killed.

Here is what we know so far:

 United States: 22 dead, others missing, abducted 

At least 22 US citizens have been killed since Hamas militants launched their attack, against Israel, the US State Department said Wednesday, with a spokesperson extending our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected.

 Thailand: 20 dead, 14 hostages 

Twenty Thais have been killed, 13 wounded and 14 are thought to have been abducted, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

There are approximately 30,000 Thais in Israel, most working in the agricultural sector, according to government figures.

More than 5,000 have asked to be repatriated, according to the foreign ministry.

 France: 11 dead, 18 missing 

France is mourning the deaths of 11 of its nationals, according to an official toll late Wednesday.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne early said 18 French people were missing, including several children probably kidnapped, by Hamas militants.

 Nepal: 10 dead, one missing 

Ten citizens of were killed in Kibbutz Alumim, one of the flashpoints of the Hamas assault, the Himalayan republics embassy in Tel Aviv said on Sunday.

Four other Nepalis 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.

 Argentina: Seven dead, 15 missing 

The foreign ministry on Monday confirmed that seven of the countrys nationals had been killed and 15 others were missing.

 Russia: Four dead, six missing 

At least four Russian-Israelis have been killed, the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv said.

It had no information about any hostages, but said six Russian nationals were missing.

 UK: Four dead 

Four Britons have died, including, the Israeli embassy in London confirmed, photographer Danny Darlington, 34, and Jack Marlowe, 26, who was providing security for the rave party in the desert.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Tuesday that a significant number of British-Israeli dual nationals had been caught up in the fighting.

 Canada: three dead, three missing 

Three Canadians have been killed and three others remain missing, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.

 Chile: One dead, one missing 

The Jewish community in Chile has announced one Chilean killed in the fighting, which has not been confirmed by the authorities. A Kibbutz resident has been reported missing, according the foreign ministry.

 Ukraine: Three dead, six missing 

The foreign ministry said Wednesday that three Ukrainians had been confirmed killed, nine injured and six missing.

 Brazil: Two dead, one missing 

The foreign ministry said Tuesday two Brazilian citizens had been killed, a man and a woman. Another Brazilian remains missing.

 Peru: Two dead, three missing 

Two Peruvians were killed and three are missing, authorities said.

 Philippines: Two dead, three missing 

The Philippines embassy in Israel said on Wednesday a 33-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man had been killed in an attack on a kibbutz near Gaza. Three nationals were missing.

 Azerbaijan: one dead 

The foreign ministry said Wednesday one Azerbaijani national had been killed.

 Cambodia: One dead 

Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet said one Cambodian student had been killed.

 Germany: Several hostages 

Several dual German-Israeli nationals have been kidnapped, a German foreign ministry source said Sunday.

The mother of 22-year-old Shani Louk told news outlet Der Spiegel she had recognised her daughter in onlinr videos showing a woman in the back of a pick-up truck in Gaza filled with armed men.

Ricarda Louk told Spiegel that her daughter had been at a music festival nearby.

 Mexico: Two hostages 

Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena wrote on X, ex-Twitter, that two Mexicans, a man and a woman, had been taken hostage, without giving further details.

 Colombia: Two hostages 

Two Colombians who were at the Supernova festival were missing, Israels ambassador to Colombia said on X.

The government confirmed two Colombians were at the rave and said it was trying to help locate them.

 Austria: One dead, two missing 

Vienna on Wednesday announced that an Israeli-Austrian dual national had died. Two others remain missing.

 Italy: Two missing 

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said two Israeli-Italians were missing.

They have not been located and are not answering calls, he said.

 Paraguay: Two missing 

Two Paraguayan nationals who had been living in Israel are missing, Paraguays government said, without giving details.

 Sri Lanka: Two missing 

Sri Lankas ambassador to Israel said Tuesday that two nationals, a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman, were missing.

 Tanzania: Two missing 

Tanzanias ambassador to Israel told AFP two Tanzanian nationals were missing.

 Ireland: One missing 

An Irish-Israeli woman has been confirmed missing by the Irish government.

 Spain: one killed 

The foreign ministry said Wednesday one Spanish citizen had been killed in the attack launched by Hamas.

 Australia: one killed 

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Wednesday an Australian woman had been killed in the attacks.
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TODAYS WORD is chiaroscuro. Example: The photograph captured the beautiful chiaroscuro of the sunset, with vibrant hues blending seamlessly into deepening shadows.

TUESDAYS WORD was aole, meaning no; not at all. Example: When asked if hed ever been to Europe, he responded sadly, Aole, never.

Manners

These are some of the rules the Stroller grew up learning. Maybe youll recognize a few.

Dont call someone more than twice in a row. If they dont pick up, presume they are doing something important.

Return money you have borrowed from someone else before they remember to ask you for it.

Never order the most expensive dish on the menu when someone else is paying.

Always open the door for the person behind you. It doesnt matter if it is a guy, girl, senior, or junior.

If you tease someone and they dont seem to enjoy it, stop and never do it again.

Say thank you when someone helps.

Heroes and kids

A man sitting at a local pizza restaurant noticed an elderly veteran sitting with his wife. There he sat with his oxygen machine and his cap that identified his branch of service in a long past war, the man watching said.

In the same restaurant a middle school choir was enjoying lunch and several of them saw him and started singing the national anthem. The entire choir stood up, faced the man and joined in the singing.

This old and broken down warrior struggled to stand, placed his hand with his cap over his heart, and wept as the choir sang, said the man who was watching. The humble and noble expression on his face said everything to me. There stands a true hero, and the actions of those kids told me that there is good all around us.

Queen of Steam

The only surviving example of Norfolk & Westerns class J streamlined steam locomotive took passengers on a fall excursion this past weekend through the Shenandoah Valley, departing from Goshen in Rockbridge County. The grand passenger locomotive departs from Victoria Station in Goshen, Virginia, a two and a half hour drive from Martinsville

Rides are available on the weekends through early November. More information is available at the Virginia Scenic Railway website.

Chicken chuckles

The chicken asked the farmer for a ride and the farmer answered: I dont pick up chicks I dont know.

The chicken asked the farmer for directions and the farmer answered: The place youre looking for is straight over those hills. Of course, thats as the crow flies, not as the chicken walks.

Quote of the day

The older you get, the quieter you become. Life humbles you so deeply as you age. You realize how much nonsense youve wasted time on.  Denzel Washington

TUESDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: Robert Frost is the only poet to win four Pulitzer Prizes. Frost died in 1963 at the age of 88.

TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: What Al Pacino movie portrayed a bank robbery on Aug. 22, 1972?
The son of the Stanleytown Police Departments last chief of police is collecting information for a book on the former police departments in Henry County.

Ron Stowe grew up in Stanleytown and graduated from Bassett High School. He attended Danville Community College before he followed in the footsteps of his father, Melvin Stowe, by joining the Henry County Sheriffs Office in 1975. He stayed there until 1980, when he moved to High Point, North Carolina, where he continued working in law enforcement at the High Point Police Department.

He later retired from there as a captain.

Since his father was the chief of police at the Stanleytown Police Department, Stowe was left with all sorts of police memorabilia and information when his father passed. Since his retirement, he now has time to do something with all the information and has decided to compile a history of the three county police departments that no longer exist.

Stanely Furniture, Bassett Furniture and Fieldcrest Mills all partially funded their own local police departments for a span of about 70 years with the Stanleytown Police Department, the Bassett Police Department and the Fieldale Police Department.

Earlier this year, Stowe began organizing the information and reaching out to relatives and former employees with the intention of writing a book on the history of those departments.

A lot of people who were involved with those either werent around anymore, had passed away, Stowe said. Basically youre talking about 70 years of history that soon would be forgotten so I started looking into it.

I wanted to do something to preserve that history, he added.

All three of the police departments started in the 1920s with the growth of the furniture and textile industry in the area and the mill towns that grew around them. Each of the companies funded their individual police departments, although the county also contributed.

The employees at these police departments werent typical police officers. They were referred to as special officers, which basically meant that they were employees by the different companies but were sworn in as officers, he said.

They worked side-by-side with the Henry County Sheriffs Office and often collaborated on different calls, Stowe and an article from the Bulletin in 1980 said.

Over the three police departments and the tenure or around 70 years that they were open, Stowe has only found that they had around 50 people employed in that whole time. He estimates that around 10 or 12 are still living and wants to get as much information as possible while it is still possible.

I have talked with all but a few of the ones that are still living, he said. Anyone that has information that may pertain to his research can contact Stowe at rstowe@triad.rr.com.

The Stanleytown Police Department, the first of the three departments to close, closed in June 1980 when the business climate significantly changed, with only Stowes father and Officer Norman Jacobs employed.

Stowe had been employed there for 27 years and Jacobs for 16 years. Both men were offered positions in the Henry County Sheriffs Office but decided to stay working for Stanley Furniture, Stowe as chief of security and Jacobs as his assistant.

Bassett Police Department began to downsize in the mid- to late 1980s and eventually closed as well, Stowe said. The Fieldale Police Department kept one officer into the 1990s before it also closed.

But even though Stowe has information from what his father left him and even knew some of the officers from his fathers time as police chief  he is still looking to talk to any surviving employees or their family members, not to dig up anything sordid, he added, but to get the history written down.

Something that can be stuck in the historical center or something, he added.

I have a lot of fond memories of not just my dad but the other officers that worked with him, and when I went to work at the sheriffs department, all of these departments were still in operation, so we worked very closely, Stowe said.

I grew up looking up to a lot of these guys and then worked with some of them, he added. I feel like Im doing it for all of them and a lot of those guys helped shape me and my future.
EDITORS NOTE: Church news will print weekly in Thursdays edition. Please email announcements at least one week in advance to news@mcdowellnews.com with church announcement in the subject line or call 828-432-8939 and leave a message with the event details and a contact number.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SATURDAY, OCT. 14

Breakfast

Concord Methodist Church, 18134 U.S. 221 North, Marion, will host its all-you-can-eat breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 7:30-10 a.m. This will be the last one this year. Pancakes are included.

SATURDAY, OCT. 21

Fall Festival

Grandview Baptist Church, 303 Reservoir Road in Marion, will hold its Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 2-5 p.m. The event will include free hamburgers and hot dogs and free gift bags for children.

SUNDAY, OCT. 22

Messy Church

First United Methodist Church across from Marion Elementary School invites everyone to Messy Church on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Messy Church is for all ages and includes worship, scripture, music, crafts, service projects, games, fellowship and a free meal. Everyone is welcome.

ONGOING EVENTS

First United Methodist Church, across from Marion Elementary School, invites everyone looking for a church family to Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. The United Methodist Men continue to sell their peanuts for $5 a jar. Peanuts are available in regular, light salt, no salt and Cajun. To order, contact the church office at 652-7010. FUMC also administers an Emergency Fund on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 10-11:30 a.m. This fund assists with electricity and heating needs, water bills and rent. Clients must meet certain requirements, and funds are paid directly to providers. Clients should come to the upper parking lot and enter the door near the church van.

Redeemed Freewill Baptist Church, of 5079 U.S. 221 South, hosts a youth program called The Sprouts from 7-8 p.m. every Wednesday until further notice. A meal and a Bible lesson will be provided. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to learn about the love of Jesus.

St. Matthews Lutheran Church, of 241 W. Court St., Marion, invites the community to watch the global film phenomenon The Chosen. Experience the Bible as vividly real each Wednesday at 7 p.m. until further notice. There will be refreshments and door prizes.

Chapel Hill Baptist Church, on U.S. 221 South, Marion, will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast on the second Saturday of each month from 7:30-10 a.m. for a donation.

His Place Worship Center, 1423 U.S. 70 West in Marion, will host combined in-person and online meetings at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Additional information about the Hickory Lighthouse, including links to the Zoom and Facebook Live meetings, are available at Hickory Aglows website and Facebook page: www.aglownet.org/hickorync and www.facebook.com/hickory.aglow. Interested persons may sign up on the website to receive a monthly email newsletter. Readers may receive related Facebook notifications by liking the Facebook page.

The Sharing Food Pantry Ministry of Cross United Methodist Church needs donations of coats, sweaters and blankets for families in the community who may be in need. Donations can be dropped off at 85 W. Cross St., just past Blue Ridge Terrace Apartments in Marion. For more information, call 828-460-9257 or 828-559-4047 and leave a message.

East Marion Baptist Church, of 660 Baldwin Ave., Marion, will host The Landing, a 12-step program for teens, every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information, email thelanding@embc.church.

North Cove Church of God will have a breakfast sale on every third Saturday of the month.

Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort is offering a worship service twice a month for college-aged adults called Encounter. The service will be the first and third Thursday of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. At each meeting, a new topic will be discussed with a guest speaker; live music will be played; and refreshments will be served. For more information, check out Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort on Facebook or email jakanjamison96@gmail.com. The church is at 344 Moffitt Hill Church Road in Old Fort.

Cross Mill United Methodist Church has a sharing food pantry for the community. The tiny food pantry is outside the church fellowship building, and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The nonperishable food items are available for anyone in need. If you would like to donate items to this ministry, you may drop them off at the pantry box or call 460-9257 or 442-8098.

Greenlee Baptist Church, 5967 U.S. 70 West in Old Fort, offers Kids on a Mission each Sunday from 6-8 p.m. Newborns to seniors in high school are invited to join. The church also has a deaf ministry available. Interpreters will be provided for the worship services every Sunday at 10:55 a.m. For information, call the church office at 668-6075 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Cross Ties Cowboy Church meets every first Thursday at 2365 Bethlehem Road in Old Fort at 7 p.m. in the barn. For more information, call 828-925-2095.

Landmark Independent Baptist Church will host a meeting on alcohol and addiction awareness by Gene Sigmon the third Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The church is at 225 Huskins Branch Road in Marion. For more information, contact Sigmon at soundmind16@yahoo.com.

Peppers Creek Baptist Church will have a singing on the fourth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. from January through October.

McDowell Childrens Ministry, a ministry for children of the community interested in participating in a life-changing program, meets twice monthly. For more information, call Daniel at 659-0095 during the day or at 738-0733 in the evenings.

Cross Mill Pentecostal Holiness Church has a soaking prayer and intercession meeting every Friday at 8 p.m. For information, call the Rev. Doug Beane-Hall at 442-6216.

Vision Baptist Church, at 1841 Fairview Road, Marion, is offering Extreme Teens (Club 411) on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Victorious Couples meet on Sundays at 10 a.m. Additional childrens and adult programs are also available.

First Presbyterian Church of Marion invites everyone to come out on Sundays at 11 a.m. for worship service. All are welcome.

Apostolic Restoration Ministries is a new church to the area. If anyone is interested in attending, call Tim Eller at 828-443-2050.
The Cape Verdean Minister of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday, October 11, that the government will seek partnerships to stop accumulating, by 2024, a debt to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that already exceeds the equivalent of 28 million euros.

Were going to look for partnerships to resolve a significant part of the debt and so that we dont accumulate more arrears from 2024 onwards, he said, when questioned by journalists after receiving the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, on a visit to the country.

Our determination to integrate our country effectively into ECOWAS, in full, full time, involves resolving some issues such as the debt at the community rate, said Rui Figueiredo Soares.

A year ago, Cape Verdes Deputy Prime Minister, Olavo Correia, announced that the government was negotiating a plan to pay off the debt accumulated over several years due to budgetary constraints, he explained.

Omar Alieu Touray is visiting Cape Verde for the first time, stressing that the country is very important for the organization: Our sub-region must work together, he said. The visit by the president of the ECOWAS Commission is centred on the organizations 8th Sustainable Energy Forum, taking place until this Thursday in Praia, along with a fair dedicated to the sector with 94 exhibition stands, an area dedicated to electric cars and three meeting rooms.
King Charles III was called upon Wednesday October 11 to make a national apology for atrocities committed during the British colonial era in Kenya during his visit to the East African country scheduled for the end of the month.

Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday that Charles III and his wife Camilla will pay a State visit to Kenya from October 31 to November 3, the Kings first trip to a Commonwealth country since his coronation.

Buckingham Palace added that the Kings visit would also provide an opportunity to discuss the most painful aspects of the shared history of the United Kingdom and Kenya in the years leading up to independence. Between 1952 and 1960, more than 10,000 people were killed in Kenya as a result of the Mau Mau revolt against colonial rule, one of the bloodiest repressions of the British Empire.

After legal proceedings lasting several years, the UK agreed in 2013 to compensate more than 5,000 Kenyans for the treatment inflicted on them during the uprising, for a total of almost 20 million (23 million). His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the Kenyan people, the palace added.

We hope that he will make a national apology, retorted Evelyn Wanjugu Kimathi, daughter of resistance leader Dedan Kimathi, hoping that the visit would help to close this chapter. She added: Everything else will be fine once the British government had shown its good will on this issue.

Other Kenyans expressed the hope that the visit would usher in a new era in relations with London. The King is welcome in Nairobi, but as a person with whom we can negotiate shared development, not as a colonial master, emphasized Kamau Njoroge, 49, a teacher.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to field questions related to, among other things, women empowerment and youth unemployment when he appears in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday, October 12.

According to the Presidency, President Ramaphosa will outline the governments approach to these and other matters during the Questions for Oral Reply session in the NCOP.

The President will also outline the governments progress in institutionalizing gender mainstreaming across departments, provinces and districts for gender equality through responsive planning, budgeting and reporting. He will also address progress in advancing the economic empowerment of women, especially in townships and rural areas. On youth unemployment, the President will set out the governments initiatives and collaboration in developing a comprehensive youth employment and economic empowerment strategy, the Presidency said.

President Ramaphosa will also answer questions related to other key developments in the country. Among questions put to the President are the outcomes of the recent XV BRICS 2023 Summit and action against the construction mafia. The President will discuss the outcome of the 2023 BRICS Summit and South Africas plans to use the outcomes to advance Agenda 2063. Regarding the governments commitment to global climate change mitigation efforts, the President will elaborate on the balance between ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply, and contributing to climate goals, the Presidency said.
Angola will repatriate 17 of the 36 Angolan citizens who asked to leave Israel, the Angolan ambassador to Tel Aviv, Osvaldo Varela, said on Wednesday October 11, estimating that the repatriation will take less than a week.

Six other Angolan citizens, these with non-resident status, have already left Tel Aviv and are currently in Lisbon, before returning to Luanda.

Speaking to the media, the diplomat stressed that the embassy had contacted the 36 Angolans living in Israel, due to the insecurity following the attacks by the Islamist movement Hamas, 11 of whom were no longer in the country. There are no missing Angolans, said Osvaldo Varela.

Of the 25 Angolans in Israel, 17 have expressed an interest in being taken back and are being supported by the Angolan government in the repatriation process. There will be no special flight, we are waiting for the agencies to put them on commercial flights. I think well be able to get everyone out in less than a week, said the Angolan ambassador.

The six Angolans with non-resident status who have already left Israel have asked to stop over in Portugal, but they have Tel Aviv-Luanda tickets, he added. The Portuguese government made available the C-130 of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP), which took Portuguese, Portuguese-Israelis and citizens of other nationalities out of Israel, to transport the Angolans as well, but as they had to go to Cyprus first, these Angolan citizens ended up traveling on a commercial flight, according to Osvaldo Varela.

The Angolan foreign minister, Tete Antonio, received the Israeli ambassador, Shimon Solomon, in Luanda Wednesday to analyze the current situation in the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hamas, the movement that has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 and is classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States and Israel, launched an unprecedented land, sea and air attack on Israel on Saturday, in the biggest escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades.

The attack led Israel to declare war against the Palestinian extremist group and to respond with bombardments against the Gaza Strip. The conflict has caused more than 1,200 deaths on the Israeli side and 1,055 in Gaza since Saturday, according to figures updated Wednesday October 11 by the two sides. Nigeria has also repatriated 310 of its nationals who were in Jordan after leaving Israel by road, where they were on a Christian pilgrimage, the Lagos State government announced on Tuesday October 10.
A court in Gabon addressing corruption cases hauled October 11 the former First Lady Sylvia Bongo Ondimba into prison after she was charged in September 2023 with money laundering, concealment, forgery and use of forgery, one month after her husband, President Ali Bongo, was ousted from power on August 30 in a military coup.

Sylvia Bongo placed under house arrest since her indictment appeared Wednesday October 11 before a court located in the National School for the Judiciary, in a confrontation with Brice Laccruche Alihanga, a former Chief of staff of her husband.

Alihanga has been in prison since October 2021 following his condemnation to five years in prison by a court in the central African country.

He is also being sued for corruption related offences. The confrontation lasted for several hours, local media Gabon Review reports. Sylvia was later sent to Libreville central detention center where her son Noureddin is also being held.

Noureddin was charged and incarcerated for corruption and embezzlement of public funds, with several former young members of the presidential Cabinet and two former ministers, few days after the father was deposed.

A junta led by General Brice Oligui Nguema, head of the presidential guards, seized power on August 30 less than an hour after the countrys Independent Election Commission announced Ali Bongo winner of August 26 presidential elections.

The coup brought an end to Alis 14-year-control of the country and an end to 55 years of Bongo dynasty.
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Overview of the proposed method. The training dataset consists of real X-ray images, quantitative CT (QCT) images, and the BMD measurements of 315 patients. The bone region in QCT was extracted and aligned with the X-ray image through the 2D-3D registration method. We trained an Al model that generates a projection image of the bone-segmented QCT from an X-ray image. The bone mineral density (BMD) was calculated as the average intensity of the generated projection image. In the clinical application, the system requires only an X-ray image to predict the BMD. Credit: Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) have developed a machine learning-based method for the opportunistic screening and early diagnosis of bone conditions.

Osteoporosis is a prevalent medical condition characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), resulting in weakened and brittle bones. Individuals with osteoporosis face an elevated risk of fractures and have reduced daily functionality.

The gold standards for diagnosing osteoporosis include dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT), but these methods require specialized equipment and can be expensive. Consequently, more accessible and cost-effective modalities for osteoporosis screening are warranted. While the use of machine learning methods to estimate BMD from X-ray images has recently gained momentum, it often requires large training datasets.

Addressing this problem, researchers from Japan have now developed a novel method using a machine learning approach to create a hierarchical learning framework to estimate BMD from plain X-ray images. The research groupled by Yi Gu, Yoshito Otake, Yoshinobu Sato from NAIST and Keisuke Uemura from Osaka Universitypublished their findings in the journal Medical Image Analysis.

Otake explains, "Osteoporosis is generally diagnosed at advanced stages once its symptoms become apparent. X-ray images can be valuable for opportunistic diagnosis, but efficiently extracting BMD information from these has been a significant challenge. We hoped to solve this problem by using information derived from the computed tomography (CT) image in the training stage to develop a model for an accurate, efficient, and explainable BMD estimation solely from an X-ray image."

To create the training dataset, the virtual X-ray image of the bone region that was precisely aligned with the patient's X-ray image was first reconstructed using original quantitative CT (QCT) scans from patients. Subsequently, three training steps were performed to develop the final BMD estimation model.

In the first and second stages, X-ray images were decomposed into the virtual X-ray image of the bone region. In the third stage, the model learned the correlations between the virtual X-ray images and BMD values based on the training dataset. As a result, it could estimate BMD using a single X-ray image.

Importantly, this approach led to high performance with a couple of hundred datasets of CT and X-ray image pairs. In addition to the BMD value, i.e., the average bone density within a pre-defined region, the model produces the virtual X-ray image of the QCT of the bone region representing the distribution of the bone density, significantly enhancing the explainability of the prediction result.

To understand if this model could serve as an alternative to gold standard methods such as DXA and QCT, validation studies were performed using real clinical datasets. BMD values obtained using the proposed method showed 0.88 and 0.92 correlation with those obtained using DXA and QCT, respectively, highlighting its reliability. Further validation experiments showed that this novel method was also highly robust. It allowed for consistent BMD estimation irrespective of variations in patient poses and the level of image compression.

Altogether, the results are a testament to the immense potential this newly developed method has in routine clinical practice. Excited about its prospects, Otake comments, "Our proposed method can increase the accessibility of BMD estimation; it can be used anywhere, including centers that do not have sophisticated equipment for BMD measurement."

Indeed, the method could allow for opportunistic screening and detailed checkups in the treatment follow-up in clinical practice, enabling early diagnosis and intervention and improved quality of life for patients with osteoporosis.

More information: Yi Gu et al, Bone mineral density estimation from a plain X-ray image by learning decomposition into projections of bone-segmented computed tomography, Medical Image Analysis (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2023.102970

Provided by Nara Institute of Science and Technology
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is among the top 10 conditions contributing to Years Lived with Disabilitya measure reflecting the impact an illness has on quality of life before it resolves or leads to death. To date, no treatments are approved that slow disease progression. Treatment development has been frustrating in part because animal models of disease caused by joint trauma poorly reflect human disease which usually occurs over many years and without preceding trauma.

Researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine now suggest studying persons after they sustain knee trauma such as anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL).

"Given the repeated, expensive and discouraging past failures in the development of effective treatments for OA, a new approach is needed that focuses research into effective treatment on those with early disease," said corresponding author David T. Felson, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the School of Medicine and Boston University School of Public Health.

While most patients recover after sustaining a major joint injury like an ACL tear, a few experience persistent pain and develop OA. Felson suggests that sufficient numbers of such patients exist and could be identified in advance to form a high-risk group in which treatments to prevent disease could be tested.

Current options for treatments that reduce joint pain such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are successful in some patients but their use is limited by their toxicity. Exercise or weight loss are effective but long-term adherence is poor. Rates of total knee replacement surgeries are rising rapidly suggesting that nonsurgical treatments have not successfully alleviated patients' pain and disability.

BU and Cleveland Clinic researchers reviewed the data from the MOON (Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network) cohort, a group of 2,340 persons undergoing ACL reconstructions (ACLR) after traumatic tears. The MOON investigators reported that 26% of the ACL reconstruction patients who responded had at least moderate knee pain on daily activities, especially stair climbing and walking.

They also found that 16.6% had Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain scores of less than 80 (0-100 scale where 100 is no pain) suggesting that mild to moderate pain is not rare after ACLR.

By using the MOON risk factorsincorporating pain and structural changes in all joint tissues, especially cartilage lossto select persons at high risk of later pain, they could assemble a cohort at high risk of substantial post ACLR pain. "This approach offers the opportunity to prevent disease and is especially valuable in targeting young adults who, after a knee injury, may have significant joint pain and disability for many years before they become eligible for joint replacement," he adds.

These findings appear online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

More information: David Felson et al, New approach to testing treatments for osteoarthritis: FastOA, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224675 Journal information: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A world-first clinical trial published in JAMA could provide an easy way to save tens of thousands of units of blood every year in Canada and much more worldwide.

The trial, which involved more than 27,000 patients in 25 adult intensive care units (ICUs) across Canada, showed that taking less blood for lab tests using "small-volume" tubes reduced the need for almost one blood transfusion for every 10 patients.

Most hospitals use standard tubes that automatically draw four to six milliliters (ml) of blood, but a typical laboratory test requires less than 0.5 ml of blood, meaning the rest (more than 90%) is wasted. Commercially available small-volume tubes have a weaker vacuum inside that automatically draws up to half as much blood.

"While the amount of blood drawn per tube is relatively small, ICU patients typically require multiple blood samples taken multiple times every day. This can add up to significant blood loss that contributes to anemia, or low red blood cells. ICU patients are unable to produce more red blood cells to correct for this blood loss and often require treatment with a blood transfusion," said senior author Dr. Deborah Siegal, a scientist and hematologist at The Ottawa Hospital who led the trial, which was coordinated by the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) in Hamilton, a joint institute of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences.

"This trial showed that we can save one blood transfusion for every 10 ICU patients by simply switching to small-volume tubes for blood collection," said Dr. Siegal, who maintains appointments with McMaster University and PHRI, in addition to the University of Ottawa.

"At a time when everyone is trying to find ways to make health care more sustainable, and preserve our supply of blood products, this study provides a simple solution that can be implemented without additional cost or negative effects. The patients in our study received over 36,000 blood transfusions. With small-volume tubes we may have saved about 1,500 units of blood."

In Canada, the costs associated with blood transfusions ($450 per unit of blood, with additional costs to hospitals for testing, preparation, storage, etc.) are covered by the public health system. Blood donors are not paid, and blood conservation is a priority as shortages are common.

The study also has important implications for patients, as low red blood cells (anemia) can leave patients feeling tired and weak and is associated with can lead to other complications and longer hospital stays. While blood transfusions can usually correct anemia, there can be rare side effects, such as difficulty breathing, allergic reactions and infections.

The trial employed an innovative design that involved randomizing different ICUs to use either small-volume blood collection tubes or regular tubes for different periods of time, before switching to the other tubes. The researchers used electronic medical records to track how many blood transfusions were given to each patient, excluding patients who stayed for less than 48 hours in the ICU.

While previous observational studies have supported the use of small-volume tubes, this is the first clinical trial to rigorously test them in the hospital setting. In addition to finding that the small-volume tubes reduced anemia and the need for blood transfusions, the trial also confirmed that the smaller volume of blood did not compromise laboratory testing. When the researchers excluded results from the height of the pandemic (five months of data), the trends were the same, but did not reach statistical significance.

By the numbers

97: Percentage of patients who develop anemia after eight days in the ICU

50: Percentage of transfusions given in the ICU in the absence of active bleeding

41: Amount of blood (in ml) taken per ICU patient per day for routine blood tests (equivalent of one full blood donation every eight days)

75: Percentage of patients who receive at least one blood transfusion within seven days of ICU admission (40% of all ICU patients)

$450: Cost per unit of blood in Canada (not including indirect costs associated with testing, preparation, storage, administration, reactions)

90: Percentage of blood that is wasted in routine lab tests

10: Units of blood that could be saved per 100 patients with ICU stays of more than 48 hours if the results of this study were implemented
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Credit: JCI Insight (2023). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.170845

A research group at Lund University has studied how a molecular sensor located in the blood vessel wall, controls how the vessel compensates for high blood pressure. As we age, the sensor deteriorates, which can worsen vascular damage caused by high blood pressure and consequently lead to secondary diseases affecting the heart, brain, or other organs. In mice, the researchers demonstrate that the absence of the sensor leads to the development of aortic aneurysms. Several key findings have also been confirmed in human blood vessels.

One in five people in Sweden has high blood pressure. It is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Understanding how and why high blood pressure leads to vascular damage is therefore important from both a human and socioeconomic perspective.

The muscles in the walls of blood vessels regulate the diameter of the vessels, and thus the blood flow and blood pressure, by contracting or relaxing. As we age, the vessel walls become less flexible, often resulting in an increase in blood pressure. In worst case, high blood pressure can potentially drive development of aneurysms (aortic dilation), where the vessel wall widens and is at risk of rupturing. It is one of the most urgent conditions that can occur.

With the help of medication, many people can manage their high blood pressure. However, about 15% of all patients do not respond to blood pressure medication, and for an even larger proportion, poor lifestyle habits make it difficult to control blood pressure.

"We need to understand the mechanisms behind pressure-induced vascular damage to eventually find other ways to protect the vessel wall," says Sebastian Albinsson, senior lecturer and research group leader in Molecular Vascular Physiology.

In the study published in JCI Insight, conducted on mice, the research team examined the sensor that detects higher pressure. The sensor regulates the vessel's ability to withstand the harmful effects of pressure and consists of the proteins YAP/TAZ. When these proteins decrease or disappear entirely, the smooth muscle cells in the vessel wall transform into cartilage-forming cells, making the vessels stiff, inflamed, and scarred.

"Even at normal blood pressure, the blood vessels are damaged when the sensor is absent. It might be some kind of emergency response from the cells to be able to withstand the stress, and maintain arterial integrity. But without the proteins YAP/TAZ in the vessel wall, one cannot survive," says Karl Sward, professor of Cellular Biomechanics.

As people age, YAP/TAZ levels decrease, which can contribute to atherosclerosis and increase the risk of stroke and cognitive changes such as vascular dementia. The combination of higher blood pressure, and the reduction of the protective sensor, is a devastating combination from a cardiovascular perspective.

"The study was conducted in mice, but several key findings have been confirmed in human tissues. Among other things, we have found that YAP is greatly reduced in human aneurysm tissue, indicating that the YAP/TAZ sensor likely protects against pressure-induced vascular damage in humans as well," says Sebastian Albinsson.

Now, the researchers hope to understand why aging inhibits the sensor and how it's signaling pathways can be influenced to medically counteract the development and worsening of vascular disease. An interesting consequence of the findings is that they could explain the beneficial effect of exercise. Since the vessel wall is made up of muscles, YAP/TAZ is activated when we exercise, causing a temporary increase in blood pressure. This can prepare the vessel wall to better handle subsequent episodes of high blood pressure.

More information: Marycarmen Arevalo Martinez et al, Vascular smooth musclespecific YAP/TAZ deletion triggers aneurysm development in mouse aorta, JCI Insight (2023). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.170845 Journal information: JCI Insight
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Researchers discovered the mechanism of interaction among TUG1 (red), R-loops (green), and another protein (blue) in cancer cells, which provides a key to therapeutic applications. Credit: Yutaka Kondo, Nagoya University

A new study from Nagoya University has unraveled a crucial link between how cancer cells cope with replication stress and the role of Taurine Upregulated Gene 1 (TUG1). By targeting TUG1 with a drug, the researchers were able to control brain tumor growth in mice, suggesting a potential strategy to combat aggressive brain tumors such as glioblastomas.

"These findings have the potential to be translated into therapeutic applications, as TUG1 is highly expressed in glioblastoma," said lead researcher Professor Yutaka Suzuki. "In this study, we successfully developed a therapeutic drug named TUG1-DDS, which selectively targets TUG1.

"It significantly suppressed tumor growth and improved survival, especially when administered in combination with the standard treatment of temozolomide. Therefore, it is a potentially effective therapeutic agent for treating glioblastoma."

To understand how TUG1 could potentially treat the most dangerous forms of brain cancer, it is important to understand how cancer turns the usual processes of host cells against themselves to create an environment favorable to cancer cell growth. Even essential cell processes, such as replication, are used to the cancer's advantage.

When a cell divides, it replicates its DNA, so that both cells have a full complement of hereditary information. The double-stranded DNA is unwound and separated into two single strands that each serve as a template for creating two identical copies by combining with RNA. A DNA:RNA hybrid structure called an R-loop helps unwind the DNA and stabilizes it as it is unwound.

To improve the conditions for cancer cells, the invasive cells hinder the natural process of DNA replication. The cells induce replication stress (RS), which results in the DNA strands breaking and unpaired single strands of DNA increasing. The result is an instability in the genome that favors tumor growth.

Cancer cells have a tricky balancing act because the increased activity can potentially backfire. RS and R-loop accumulation can also cause cancer cell death. To regulate the genome, cancer cells turn to long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which allow them to repair their own DNA damage and remove unwanted R-loops.

In the new study, led by Yutaka Kondo and Miho Suzuki at Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, the investigators identified the role of the lncRNA TUG1. They found that TUG1 suppresses the potentially harmful R-loops together with two proteins, DHX9 and RPA32. Taken together, the TUG1-RPA-DHX9 interaction is an indispensable mechanism for regulating R-loops in regions that are known to be susceptible to DNA damage and mutations. Their findings are published in Nature Communications.

Kondo and Suzuki also found that TUG1 was rapidly up-regulated in response to RS. When they reduced TUG1 expression in cancer cells, they found severe DNA damage and cell death. "It was exciting to see the rapid increase in expression of TUG1 in response to replication stress," said Dr. Suzuki.

"Normally, it takes several hours or more for proteins to increase in response to stimuli, but RNA can be synthesized rapidly. That TUG1, an RNA molecule, increases immediately in response to replication stress indicates that it is necessary to respond quickly to critical situations," she said.

These findings offer hope for the development of treatment for other cancers. As Dr. Kondo explains, "TUG1 inhibitors have also been found to be effective in other types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. Therefore, our novel treatment, TUG1-DDS, could also be effective in other cancer types with expression of TUG1."

More information: Miho M. Suzuki et al, TUG1-mediated R-loop resolution at microsatellite loci as a prerequisite for cancer cell proliferation, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40243-8 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Concerns regarding human genome editing. Credit: Frontiers in Genetics (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1205067

A recent survey has identified differing opinions between the lay public and trained scientists on genome editing research using human embryos, which will help to guide future bioethical and policy discussions with the lay public.

The survey was conducted by a research team led by Professor Misao Fujita (Uehiro Research Division for iPS Cell Ethics), in collaboration with researchers from Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health and Hiroshima University. It has now been published in Frontiers in Genetics.

CRISPR/Cas9, one of the primary genome-editing methods, is touted as one of the principal technologies that will serve as a critical foundation for next-generation personalized medicine. The excitement surrounding genome editing for basic and clinical research reached its height in 2020 when Drs. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing this powerful technique.

However, the use of CRISPR/Cas9 and similar genome editing methods for human embryo research has been murky due to a multitude of ethical concerns stemming from the use of human embryos for research purposes and the genetic modifications of germ cells, as well as a blurring of the line distinguishing basic and clinical research due to its potential for immediate application.

Although previous studies have tried to discern the views on human embryo genome editing, the researchers identified several limitations preventing a clear understanding of how different stakeholder groups may have divergent opinions on these issues.

First, relatively few studies have assessed the acceptance of genome editing in human embryos for basic research, even though it is invariably linked to human genome editing for clinical applications.

Second, there has yet to be an attempt to determine how different stakeholder groups respond to the same questionnaire concerning genome editing research using human embryos to differentiate their responses.

Third, most studies to date have not ascertained the underlying reasoning for respondent answers, thus restricting their usefulness to initiate further discussion about the ethical and social acceptability of human embryo genome editing.

The study surveyed 4,424 lay people, separated into two groups: 2,235 who received explanatory materials about genome editing and 2,189 who did not. In addition, 98 scientists who were members of the Japanese Society for Genome Editing also responded to the same questionnaire. Notably, the research team found a substantial difference in expectations between the lay public and trained scientists for human genome editing.

Whereas most scientists expect genome editing to help reduce intractable diseases (91%), treat life-threatening diseases (90%), and clarify disease etiology (79%), much fewer lay people had such expectations (55%, 40%, and 54%, respectively). The surveyed scientists also had higher expectations for human genome editing to lead to advances in science compared to their lay counterparts (57% vs. 29%, respectively).

In contrast, laypeople and scientists shared similar expectations about the prevention of chronic diseases through human genome editing (46% vs. 52%, respectively) and similar concerns about designer babies (9% vs. 13%) and the use of human genome editing as enhancements (both 14%).

Another notable difference discerned by this study between laypeople and scientists is their concerns about human genome editing. Apart from the "instrumentalization of embryos," scientists were proportionately more concerned about all issues presented, such as "effects on children" and "unapproved clinical application."

However, despite expressing less concern about various issues presented in the survey, laypeople were also less receptive to human genome editing in general, regardless of research purpose (intractable diseases, chronic diseases, infertility treatment, and basic research). Because the survey also differentiated the responses between target tissues (germ cells, surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization [IVF], research embryos, and somatic cells), the research team learned that although genome editing in human somatic cells is in general more acceptable to laypeople for intractable and chronic diseases and infertility treatment, there is a substantial reduction in those who accept genome editing for basic research purposes even for somatic cells.

The researchers suggest that this may be due to the clear research objectives of treating intractable and chronic diseases and infertility compared to basic research, whose research purpose and significance may not be readily understood by the lay public. Similarly, while generally more acceptable of genome editing in germ cells, surplus IVF embryos, and research embryos, laypeople did not perceive any significant differences between the embryo types, possibly due to inadequate awareness of their differences.

Among other findings of interest revealed by this survey, the researchers noted that lay respondents who disapproved of genome editing in human embryos also expressed low expectations for advances in science and the reduction of intractable diseases by genome editing, a clear contrast to the popular opinion shared by scientists on CRISPR/Cas9 and related genomic editing methods, thus suggesting the laypeople who disapprove of human embryo genome editing may be more skeptical of modern science in general and not specifically critical of human embryo research.

While recent advances in stem cell-based human embryo models may help to address or avert some ethical issues concerning the use of human embryos in research, for genome editing and human embryo research to advance and become applicable, this study suggests scientists and policymakers clearly must engage the lay public not only to seek approval but to educate non-scientists on such sensitive yet fundamental research topics.

More information: Kyoko Akatsuka et al, Genome editing of human embryos for research purposes: Japanese lay and expert attitudes, Frontiers in Genetics (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1205067
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In two parallel projects, researchers at Karolinska Institutet have been involved in creating the most comprehensive atlases of human brain cells to date. The two studies, which are published in Science, provide clues on different brain diseases and give hope for medical advancements in the future, such as new cancer drugs.

Knowing what cells constitute the healthy brain, where different cell types are located and how the brain develops from the embryo stage is fundamental to the ability to compare and better understand how diseases arise. There are at present advanced atlases of the mouse brain, but not for the human brain. Until now.

A brain-cell census

"We've created the most detailed cell atlases of the adult human brain and of brain development during the first months of pregnancy," says Sten Linnarsson, professor of molecular system biology at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. "You could say that we've taken a kind of brain-cell census."

The first project was led by Kimberly Siletti from Linnarsson's group. It was conducted in close collaboration with Ed Lein at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, U.S., as part of the international Human Cell Atlas initiative, and based on three donated human brains from adults.

The researchers analyzed more than three million individual cell nuclei using the technique of RNA sequencing, which reveals each cell's genetic identity. All in all, the researchers studied cells from just over a hundred brain regions and found over 3,000 cell types, some 80 percent of which were neurons, the remainder being different kinds of glial cells.

"A lot of research has focused on the cerebral cortex, but the greatest diversity of neurons we found in the brainstem," says Professor Linnarsson. "We think that some of these cells control innate behaviors, such as pain reflexes, fear, aggression and sexuality."

Groundwork for medical advances

The researchers could also see that the cells' identity reflects the place in the brain where they first developed in the fetus, which links to the second project. Here, Emelie Braun and Miri Danan-Gotthold from Sten Linnarsson's group collaborated with the Swedish consortium for the Human Developmental Cell Atlas to analyze over a million individual cell nuclei from 27 embryos at different stages of development (between five and 14 weeks of fertilization). The study enabled the researchers to show how the entire brain develops and is organized over time.

Even though the results are examples of molecular biological basic research, the new knowledge generated can also lay the groundwork for medical advances. Professor Linnarsson's research group has used similar methods to examine different kinds of brain tumors, one of which was a glioblastomaa cancer with a poor prognosis.

"The tumor cells resemble immature stem cells and it looks like they're trying to form a brain, but in a totally disorganized way," he explains. "What we observed was that these cancer cells activated hundreds of genes that are specific to them, and it might be interesting to dig into whether there is any potential for finding new therapeutic targets."

The brain atlases will be freely available to researchers around the world so that they can compare the brain diseases they are researching with what a normally developed brain looks like.

More information: Kimberly Siletti et al, Transcriptomic diversity of cell types across the adult human brain, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.add7046. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add7046 Emelie Braun et al, Comprehensive cell atlas of the first-trimester developing human brain, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf1226. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf1226 Journal information: Science
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Judith Sullivan was recovering from major surgery at a Connecticut nursing home in March when she got surprising news from her Medicare Advantage plan: It would no longer pay for her care because she was well enough to go home.

At the time, she could not walk more than a few feet, even with assistancelet alone manage the stairs to her front door, she said. She still needed help using a colostomy bag following major surgery.

"How could they make a decision like that without ever coming and seeing me?" said Sullivan, 76. "I still couldn't walk without one physical therapist behind me and another next to me. Were they all coming home with me?"

UnitedHealthcarethe nation's largest health insurance company, which provides Sullivan's Medicare Advantage plandoesn't have a crystal ball. It does have naviHealth, a care management company bought by UHC's sister company, Optum, in 2020. Both are part of UnitedHealth Group. NaviHealth analyzes data to help UHC and other insurance companies make coverage decisions.

Its proprietary "nH Predict" tool sifts through millions of medical records to match patients with similar diagnoses and characteristics, including age, preexisting health conditions, and other factors. Based on these comparisons, an algorithm anticipates what kind of care a specific patient will need and for how long.

But patients, providers, and patient advocates in several states said they have noticed a suspicious coincidence: The tool often predicts a patient's date of discharge, which coincides with the date their insurer cuts off coverage, even if the patient needs further treatment that government-run Medicare would provide.

"When an algorithm does not fully consider a patient's needs, there's a glaring mismatch," said Rajeev Kumar, a physician and the president-elect of the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, which represents long-term care practitioners. "That's where human intervention comes in."

The federal government will try to even the playing field next year, when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services begins restricting how Medicare Advantage plans use predictive technology tools to make some coverage decisions.

Medicare Advantage plans, an alternative to the government-run, original Medicare program, are operated by private insurance companies. About half the people eligible for full Medicare benefits are enrolled in the private plans, attracted by their lower costs and enhanced benefits like dental care, hearing aids, and a host of non-medical extras like transportation and home-delivered meals.

Insurers receive a monthly payment from the federal government for each enrollee, regardless of how much care they need. According to the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general, this arrangement raises "the potential incentive for insurers to deny access to services and payment in an attempt to increase profits." Nursing home care has been among the most frequently denied services by the private planssomething original Medicare likely would cover, investigators found.

After UHC cut off her nursing home coverage, Sullivan's medical team agreed with her that she wasn't ready to go home and provided an additional 18 days of treatment. Her bill came to $10,406.36.

Beyond her mobility problems, "she also had a surgical wound that needed daily dressing changes" when UHC stopped paying for her nursing home care, said Debra Samorajczyk, a registered nurse and the administrator at the Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center, the facility that treated Sullivan.

Sullivan's coverage denial notice and nH Predict report did not mention wound care or her inability to climb stairs. Original Medicare would have most likely covered her continued care, said Samorajczyk.

Sullivan appealed twice but lost. Her next appeal was heard by an administrative law judge, who holds a courtroom-style hearing usually by phone or video link, in which all sides can provide testimony. UHC declined to send a representative, but the judge nonetheless sided with the company. Sullivan is considering whether to appeal to the next level, the Medicare Appeals Council, and the last step before the case can be heard in federal court.

Sullivan's experience is not unique. In February, Ken Drost's Medicare Advantage plan, provided by Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, wanted to cut his coverage at a Wisconsin nursing home after 16 days, the same number of days naviHealth predicted was necessary. But Drost, 87, who was recovering from hip surgery, needed help getting out of bed and walking. He stayed at the nursing home for an additional week, at a cost of $2,624.

After he appealed twice and lost, his hearing on his third appeal was about to begin when his insurer agreed to pay his bill, said his lawyer, Christine Huberty, supervising attorney at the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources Elder Law & Advocacy Center in Madison.

"Advantage plans routinely cut patients' stays short in nursing homes," she said, including Humana, Aetna, Security Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare. "In all cases, we see their treating medical providers disagree with the denials."

UnitedHealthcare and naviHealth declined requests for interviews and did not answer detailed questions about why Sullivan's nursing home coverage was cut short over the objections of her medical team.

Aaron Albright, a naviHealth spokesperson, said in a statement that the nH Predict algorithm is not used to make coverage decisions and instead is intended "to help the member and facility develop personalized post-acute care discharge planning." Length-of-stay predictions "are estimates only."

However, naviHealth's website boasts about saving plans money by restricting care. The company's "predictive technology and decision support platform" ensures that "patients can enjoy more days at home, and health care providers and health plans can significantly reduce costs specific to unnecessary care and readmissions."

New federal rules for Medicare Advantage plans beginning in January will rein in their use of algorithms in coverage decisions. Insurance companies using such tools will be expected to "ensure that they are making medical necessity determinations based on the circumstances of the specific individual," the requirements say, "as opposed to using an algorithm or software that doesn't account for an individual's circumstances."

The CMS-required notices nursing home residents receive now when a plan cuts short their coverage can be oddly similar while lacking details about a particular resident. Sullivan's notice from UHC contains some identical text to the one Drost received from his Wisconsin plan. Both say, for example, that the plan's medical director reviewed their cases, without providing the director's name or medical specialty. Both omit any mention of their health conditions that make managing at home difficult, if not impossible.

The tools must still follow Medicare coverage criteria and cannot deny benefits that original Medicare covers. If insurers believe the criteria are too vague, plans can base algorithms on their own criteria, as long as they disclose the medical evidence supporting the algorithms.

And before denying coverage considered not medically necessary, another change requires that a coverage denial "must be reviewed by a physician or other appropriate health care professional with expertise in the field of medicine or health care that is appropriate for the service at issue."

Jennifer Kochiss, a social worker at Bishop Wicke who helps residents file insurance appeals, said patients and providers have no say in whether the doctor reviewing a case has experience with the client's diagnosis. The new requirement will close "a big hole," she said.

The leading MA plans oppose the changes in comments submitted to CMS. Tim Noel, UHC's CEO for Medicare and retirement, said MA plans' ability to manage beneficiaries' care is necessary "to ensure access to high-quality safe care and maintain high member satisfaction while appropriately managing costs."

Restricting "utilization management tools would markedly deviate from Congress' intent in creating Medicare managed care because they substantially limit MA plans' ability to actually manage care," he said.

In a statement, UHC spokesperson Heather Soule said the company's current practices are "consistent" with the new rules. "Medical directors or other appropriate clinical personnel, not technology tools, make all final adverse medical necessity determinations" before coverage is denied or cut short. However, these medical professionals work for UHC and usually do not examine patients. Other insurance companies follow the same practice.

David Lipschutz, associate director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, is concerned about how CMS will enforce the rules since it doesn't mention specific penalties for violations.

CMS' deputy administrator and director of the Medicare program, Meena Seshamani, said that the agency will conduct audits to verify compliance with the new requirements, and "will consider issuing an enforcement action, such as a civil money penalty or an enrollment suspension, for the non-compliance."

Although Sullivan stayed at Bishop Wicke after UHC stopped paying, she said another resident went home when her MA plan wouldn't pay anymore. After two days at home, the woman fell, and an ambulance took her to the hospital, Sullivan said. "She was back in the nursing home again because they put her out before she was ready."

2023 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Worldwide, limited data exist on sperm concentration in men. A summary of sperm concentration from a selection of available studies (blue) for world regions spanning the years 1992 to 2019. Studies were selected to exclude patients with infertility or men in regions associated with toxicant exposures. Comparative interpretation with regard to worldwide fertility trends is difficult owing to a lack of available data (gray), variation in sample size and population diversity. The size of the circle represents the number of study participants from which the data are derived, and a solid versus dashed circle indicates that the average sperm concentration in that population in relation to reference limits at the time of the study. Credit: Nature Reviews Urology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00820-4

An international consortium of leading experts is calling for governments and health systems to acknowledge that male infertility is a common and serious medical condition that may be increasing worldwide, and has provided a first-time roadmap for urgent, global action.

The consortium is led by the University of Melbourne's dean of science; among its U.K. representatives is professor Allan Pacey from The University of Manchester.

The scientists from 10 countries compiled a consensus report with 10 recommendations, published in Nature Reviews Urology, which comes as the World Health Organization estimates that infertility now affects one in six couples of reproductive age, in Australia and globally. About half the time, infertility originates from the male.

The report highlights that patients have a right to meaningful diagnoses and targeted treatments, but these are currently unavailable in most cases due to inadequate funding, research gaps, and non-standard clinical practices.

The report recommendations include:

A global "biobank" of tissues and clinical data from men, and their partners and children to help researchers understand genetic and environmental causes of infertility.

Genomic sequencing and better diagnostic tests routinely offered to men to help them understand why they are having difficulties fathering a child.

Rigorous tests of the impacts on men and boys of compounds such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals in everyday consumer products, the workplace, and the general environment.

Regulations and policies to protect men and boys from disruptive compounds, and development of safe alternatives.

Better training to help health care workers promote male reproductive health across the lifespan.

Lead author Professor Moira O'Bryan, Dean of Science at the University of Melbourne, said evidence was mounting in Australia and worldwide that male reproductive health has declined over recent decades, but further research was needed.

"Urgent, worldwide action to implement our recommendations is critical," said Professor O'Bryan, who directs a multidisciplinary program of research and clinical studies in male infertility and male-based contraception.

"Decreasing semen quality and increasing frequency of testicular cancer and congenital defects in the urogenital system indicate that, globally, male reproductive health has declined over recent decades. Research is needed to understand why, and how this trend can be reversed."

Co-author Professor Allan Pacey from the University of Manchester said, "For far too long, the science and medicine which deals with male reproductive health has been in the shadows. If we are truly to understand the risks to male reproductive health, and know how to deal with them, we need a major step change in how this happens. In this paper our working group has proposed its top 10 recommendations which it hopes can help kick-start research and education in male reproductive health around the globe."

The Male Reproductive Health Initiativea working group of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryologycommissioned 26 experts from Australia, Argentina, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States to produce the evidence-based roadmap that identifies key knowledge gaps, barriers, and opportunities for researchers, governments, health care systems, and public education.

Professor O'Bryan said the report also highlights that men and their partners deserve more support.

"By the time they seek medical advice, men experiencing infertility are often in emotional distress, which is made worse when their doctor can't determine the cause nor offer any treatment," she said.

"For most infertile men, the cause of their infertility is unknown. When it is known, few targeted treatments exist. Globally, the huge economic and social burdens of male infertility are not well appreciated. The cost of treatments and the impacts of infertility on mental health, relationships, and productivity are enormous."

Men are currently designated 'infertile' based on family history, physical examination, hormone profiles and semen analyses.

"Unlike many other medical conditions, genetic screening to diagnose male infertility is extremely limited because it is not covered by public health care or insurance, and because research into genetic causes of male infertility has not been funded," said Professor O'Bryan.

"Given compelling evidence that male infertility can be a biomarker for other diseases, this seems a missed opportunity to improve men's health on multiple levels."

The paper's 26 authors are world leaders in andrology, gynecology, urology, cellular biology, endocrinology, environmental hazards, pathology, reproductive medicine, medically assisted reproduction, oncology, genetics, pediatrics, pharmacology, and therapeutics.

The 10 recommendations:

Governments, health care systems, insurance companies, and the public should understand and acknowledge that male infertility is a common, serious medical condition and patients have a right to meaningful diagnoses and targeted treatments. Establish a global network of registries and biobanks containing standardized clinical and lifestyle information, and tissue from fertile and infertile men, their partners, and children. Link it to national health care data systems. Implement protocols and incentives to standardize collection of de-identified tissue and clinical/lifestyle data. Fund more international, collaborative research to understand the interactions and impacts of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors on male fertility in diverse populations. Integrate genomic sequencing into diagnosis of male infertility. Develop additional diagnostic tests to improve diagnosis and cause of male infertility. Rigorously test the impact on male fertility of compoundsespecially endocrine-disrupting chemicalsin products, the workplace, and the environment. Implement regulations and policies and develop safe alternatives. Rigorously test strategies for medically assisted reproduction before they are integrated into clinical practice. Public education campaigns to promote discussion of male infertility and engagement in health seeking. Improved training for health care workers to promote male reproductive health across the lifespan.

More information: Sarah Kimmins et al, Frequency, morbidity and equitythe case for increased research on male fertility, Nature Reviews Urology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41585-023-00820-4 Journal information: Nature Reviews Urology
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The majority of research and public discourse on US maternal mortality focuses on pregnancy-related maternal deathsdeaths caused or accelerated by a pregnancyrather than the broader category of pregnancy-associated maternal deaths, which are deaths from any cause during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum, including those that are pregnancy-related.

As US maternal mortality continues to worsen at an alarming and inequitable rate, clinical and public health communities should expand their research to include pregnancy-associated maternal deaths to better identify the factors that contribute to this worsening epidemic, according to a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health.

Published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, the study examined deaths among Massachusetts birthing people during pregnancy or postpartum and found that severe maternal morbidity (SMM), opioid use, and prior hospital care were all linked to pregnancy-associated but not pregnancy-related deaths.

From the study period of 20022019 in the Commonwealth, there were nearly four times as many pregnancy-associated deathswhich result from incidents such as gun violence, intimate partner violence, suicide, and drug overdosethan pregnancy-related deaths, which occur from complications such as stroke, heart attacks, preeclampsia, and heavy bleeding.

Lack of access to health care services is an often-cited barrier in maternal health research, but these findings suggest that utilizing health care is not enough to prevent the majority of deaths for pregnant or postpartum people; the quality and type of maternal care that this population receives is just as important as the amount of care to prevent deaths during pregnancy or the first year of motherhood.

"There is justifiable concern with health care access problems for pregnant and postpartum people, but this study identified a high rate of hospital admission, observational stays, and emergency room visits for those who ultimately died during pregnancy through a year postpartum," says study lead and corresponding author Dr. Eugene Declercq, professor of community health sciences at BUSPH.

"There is a clear need to expand the focus of maternal mortality to the much larger group of pregnancy-associated deaths to understand the risk factors and events that lead to many of these preventable deaths."

For the study, Dr. Declercq and colleagues utilized hospital birth data, as well as data on nonbirth hospital care and deaths from a database led by BUSPH, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Among the nearly 1.3 million deliveries in Massachusetts between 2002 and 2019, 384 were linked to pregnancy-associated deaths. The researchers investigated factors connected to these pregnancy-associated deaths, and then they conducted a second analysis of pregnancy-associated deaths that excluded pregnancy-related deaths.

The results showed that birthing people with SMM (which includes hypertension, diabetes, blood clots, and infections, among other conditions), were more than nine times as likely to die of any cause during the pregnancy or postpartum period, compared to birthing people without SMM. Birthing people who used opioids during pregnancy or postpartum were six times more likely to experience a pregnancy-associated death than those who did not use opioids.

Notably, individuals with pregnancy-associated, but not pregnancy-related, deaths were nearly twice as likely to have been hospitalized before they became pregnant, and also more likely to receive frequent hospital care and spend longer times in the hospital before and during pregnancy.

Almost twice as many individuals with pregnancy-associated deaths (49%) visited an emergency department during their pregnancy compared to those who did not die (25%).

The fact that the majority of birthing people in Massachusetts receive hospital care prior to their delivery suggests there are missed opportunities for health care providers to provide comprehensive care to this population.

But the US maternal health crisis is fundamentally a "systems" issue that the health care system cannot solve on its own, says study coauthor Dr. Audra Meadows, an obstetrics-gynecologist and professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at UC San Diego Health and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.

"A system of high-quality, comprehensive, and well-coordinated care is necessary, yet insufficient," says Dr. Meadows, who is also codirector of the Perinatal Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts (PNQIN) and leads the PNQIN Maternal Equity Project. "Issues of gun violence, intimate partner violence, and overdose point to the importance of the broader 'system' of public health in collaboration with health care delivery systems to elevate public safety, community prevention, support services, and education."

The researchers also say that the strong link they identified between SMM and pregnancy-associated, but not pregnancy-related, deaths warrants further scrutiny on these deaths from Maternal Mortality Review Committees in Massachusetts and in other states to better recognize and treat these risk factors with a goal of reducing maternal deaths.

"The problem of pregnancy-associated deaths isn't just a lack of access to care, but also the inability to address the problems of high-risk individuals when they do have multiple contacts with the system," Dr. Declercq says.

More information: Eugene R. Declercq et al, Prior Hospitalization, Severe Maternal Morbidity, and Pregnancy-Associated Deaths in Massachusetts From 2002 to 2019, Obstetrics & Gynecology (2023). DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005398 Journal information: Obstetrics & Gynecology
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In a large, multi-institutional effort led by University of California San Diego, researchers have analyzed more than a million human brain cells to produce detailed maps of gene switches in brain cell types, and revealed the links between specific types of cells and various common neuropsychiatric disorders.

The team also developed artificial intelligence tools to predict the influence of individual high-risk gene variants among these cells and how they may contribute to disease.

The new work, published on October 13, 2023 in a special issue of Science, is part of the National Institute of Health's Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative, launched in 2014. The initiative aims to revolutionize understanding of the mammalian brain, in part, through the development of novel neurotechnologies for characterizing neural cell types.

Every cell in a human brain contains the same sequence of DNA, but different cell types use different genes and in different amounts. This variation produces many different types of brain cells and contributes to the complexity of neural circuits. Learning how these cell types differ on a molecular level is critical to understanding how the brain works and developing new ways to treat neuropsychiatric illnesses.

"The human brain isn't homogenous," said senior author Bing Ren, Ph.D., professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "It's made up of an enormously complex network of neurons and non-neuronal cells, with each serving different functions. Mapping out the different types of cells in the brain and understanding how they work together will ultimately help us discover new therapies that can target individual cell types relevant to specific diseases."

In the new study, the researchers analyzed more than 1.1 million brain cells across 42 distinct brain regions from three human brains. They identified 107 different subtypes of brain cells and were able to correlate aspects of their molecular biology to a wide range of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease and major depression.

The researchers then use this data to create machine learning models to predict how certain sequence variations in the DNA can influence gene regulation and contribute to disease.

While these new results offer significant insights into the human brain and its pathology, scientists are still far from done with mapping the brain.

In 2022, UC San Diego joined the Salk Institute and others in launching a Center for Multiomic Human Brain Cell Atlas, which aims to study cells from over a dozen human brains and ask questions about how the brain changes during development, over people's lifespans and with disease.

"Scaling up our work to an even greater level of detail on a larger number of brains will bring us one step closer to understanding the biology of neuropsychiatric disorders and how it can be rehabilitated," said Ren.

More information: Yang Eric Li et al, A comparative atlas of single-cell chromatin accessibility in the human brain, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf7044. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf7044 Journal information: Science
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The effects of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) create an economic burden to the U.K. totaling a staggering 5 billion, a new study titled "A cost-of-illness analysis of the economic burden of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the United Kingdom" and published in Comprehensive Psychiatry has concluded.

Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire, Costello Medical and Orchard OCD conducted an in-depth study of the cost of the illness to health care providers and societyanalyzing the economic impact on the NHS, Personal Social Services (PSS), people with OCD, caregivers and society at large.

While the cost to health care providers was calculated at 378 million a year, primarily driven by therapy costs, the societal cost is considerably higher, valued at 4.7 billion annually. This is largely due to people being absent from work because of the effects of the condition.

Researchers say this substantial economic burden, which extends well beyond the direct costs of treatment, highlights the urgent need for research into alternative, more effective treatments to remove the limitations of the condition.

Earlier this year, the University of Hertfordshire and Orchard OCD announced a successful feasibility study of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)a form of non-invasive brain stimulationas a pioneering new treatment option for people with OCD. They are also encouraging individuals with OCD to volunteer on the Orchard OCD Registry and get involved in research trials, to improve the scope and efficacy of OCD research.

Professor Naomi Fineberg, professor of psychiatry at the University of Hertfordshire and consultant psychiatrist at Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said, "Over a million people in the U.K. experience OCD at some point in their lives, and it's a widely misunderstood condition. There are a lot of assumptions about OCD, many of which don't reflect the realities of living with itwhich at the most serious end of the spectrum, can be debilitating."

The annual economic impact per person increases depending on the severity of the condition: for individuals with the most severe OCD symptoms, the annual cost to the health care provider and to society 7,526, compared to those with mild or moderate OCD (5,849 and 6,938 respectively).

These figures comprise costs directly accrued to the health care provider and to individuals with OCD, including therapy, medication and additional expenses such as increased transport costs and the purchase of cleaning items. Indirect costs, such as lost productivity due to absence from work, are also included.

Nick Sireau, co-founder and CEO of Orchard OCD, said, "Being able to quantify the impact of OCD in economic terms helps to reinforce the argument for increased research and a wider range of treatment options. If we can reduce the impact of OCD symptoms, we could not only help individuals have better clinical and psychological outcomes, but also reduce this wider economic burden."

Despite the comprehensive study, researchers admit that this is still likely to be an underestimation of the true costs. When analysis was added on the impact of "presenteeism"being present at work but with reduced productivity due to illnessand the secondary reduction in productivity among informal caregivers, the societal cost rose even more steeply to 10.7 billion. In addition, the study does not take into account the impact of comorbidities such as anxiety and depression, often seen alongside OCD, as well as the suspected prevalence of undiagnosed cases.

More information: Naman Kochar et al, A cost-of-illness analysis of the economic burden of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the United Kingdom, Comprehensive Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2023.152422
The ninth annual Montana Film Festival this week puts film lovers all in one room, looking at one screen, showing brand new work.

Festivals are made to facilitate meetings between cast and crew and the audience, said Michael Emmons, the artistic director of the festival and programming director at the Roxy Theater.

You get so much more out of a screening when the filmmaker is there, he said. "You can ask them questions, can learn more about the making of the project. Its why the festival exists in the first place."

The features for 2023 are drawn from an open call and curation, with an eye to independent features from around the U.S. along with Montana films. This year, the festival has lined out 10 features and 19 shorts, one its largest spreads ever.

The features include many shot in Montana, and a notable Montana film alum. Lily Gladstone stars in Fancy Dance by director Erica Tremblay. Gladstone started out in local theater and independent film and worked her way up to her biggest role yet, in Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, which opens at the theater on Oct. 19.

Emmons, who saw Fancy Dance earlier this year at Sundance Film Festival, said it adds another extraordinarily strong performance on top of The Unknown Country. The theater has booked it for three screenings.

Montana movies

Regardless of length, the Montana-made movies dont play into the stereotypes of a Montana movie (i.e., a traditional Western).

The states iconic landscape is now being used for different kinds of material  for not just the sort of older Western, but for crime and for horror, for all kinds of different genre work or non-genre work, Emmons said. That could mean horror, crime or contemporary drama.

Blood for Dust, directed by Rod Blackhurst, is a crime movie shot in Billings with none other than the former King in the North, Kit Harington. He plays a ne'er-do-well gun runner who gets a salesman (Scoot McNairy of Halt and Catch Fire) into trouble. Emmons said the Game of Thrones star blends right into the role, accent and scenario: Montana in the early 1990s.

The sense of place is perfect, he said.

Director Marc Marriotts Tokyo Cowboy centers on a Tokyo businessman who arrives in Montana to turn around a cattle operation and finds himself in over his head.

Double Nickel, a 16-minute short, features Michael Spears of Dances with Wolves and Skins, alongside Missoula film and theater staple Jeff Medley, and Gillian Todd, a Montana actress now based in New York. For local bonus points, director Mark Tomov shot his crime drama in the former Triple Dragon restaurant on West Broadway. Emmons said it has a Lynchian atmosphere and references to the Wendigo myth.

Leaving Yellowstone, a 23-minute short, was directed by Kayla Arend and executive-produced by Spike Lee. While the title may imply a drama, it centers on a young woman whose trip to a remote cabin with her new boyfriend goes awry.

Non-Montana features

The out-of-state features include many that have generated buzz on the festival circuit.

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, the directorial debut from poet-photographer Raven Jackson, landed on A24 and was produced by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight). The Guardian says its a sparsely worded and gorgeous experimental film.

Story Ave, by Aristotle Torres, stars Luis Guzman as an MTA conductor in the Bronx who befriends an artistically inclined teenager (Asante Blackk) after an attempted robbery.

The Royal Hotel is a strong new crime thriller set in the Australian Outback, Emmons said.

A road film, The Sweet East, drew their attention because of the creators  screenwriter Nick Pinkerton and Sean Price Williams, who shot the Safdie brothers Good Time.

Another film that takes place in the West but doesnt fall into stereotypes is Strange Way of Life, directed by Pedro Almodovar. It stars Ethan Hawke as a small-town sheriff and Pedro Pascal as a rancher, with whom he shares a past in illegal activities.

Emmons said the festival wants to present movies that relate to the West and its landscape, within limits.

We're not interested in generic work, he said. Within this film, they thought enough about the Western narrative would be askew that it would be a logical fit.

The 30-minute English-language movie will screen here with two MTFF shorts: Haystacks and Portrait of a Cowboy.

Part of the fun of the festival is complementing one of the titans of global cinema with two shorts by filmmakers at the very, very start of their career, Emmons said.

Fans of Batman, or perhaps those who want something different from the DCU, take note of The Peoples Joker. Comedian Vera Drew, who directs and stars, made the film guerrilla-style, sans permission, with a crew that includes Bob Odenkirk and Tim Heidecker. IndieWire called it an experimental trans coming of age story wrapped in a scathing critique and confident rebuke of mainstream comedy.

For film nerds, I Like Movies, is an indie about a young cinephile who gets his dream job at a video store, with a darkly comic tone, Emmons said. (For instance, he recommends that a couple on a date check out Todd Solondzs Happiness.)

Other notable events

Clint Eastwoods classic post-Western, Unforgiven, will screen in 35mm. To get more insights, look to your host, a longtime (and now retired) Los Angeles Times film critic. Kenneth Turan, who has made appearances at the Roxy in the past, is the author of Not to Be Missed: Fifty-Four Favorites from a Lifetime of Film. He counts Unforgiven among his top movies and handpicked it for his festival appearance on Oct. 12.

Richard Fifield is set to read The Flood Girls script in person. The Troy natives debut novel, The Flood Girls, published in 2016, is being adapted for a feature film. Theres a live (and already sold-out) script reading on Oct. 15.
Visit theroxytheater.org for up-to-date screen times.

Opening

9th annual Montana Film Festival

Welcome to Big Screen Country. Montana Film Festival returns for another celebration of the experience of going to the cinema with four days of feature films, shorts and special events. Visit montanafilmfestival.org for a complete lineup of films, ticketing and previews. The fest kicks off Thursday, Oct. 12.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Its been a cruel summer, fighting with Ticketmaster while trying to get into the biggest musical tour of all time. Well, shake it off. Before we get back to December, heres your chance to see Taylor Swifts generation-defining tour on the big screen in a brand new concert film. Rated PG. Directed by Kenny Ortega. Opening Friday, Oct. 13.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Thirty years ago, Disney made one of the greatest Halloween movies of all time, and then released it during the summer for some stupid reason. You cant keep a good witch down, and three decades later, this movie has become a spooky staple every October. When a teen moves to Salem, the last thing on his mind is accidentally resurrecting a trio of evil witches. Rated PG. Stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimi. Opening Monday, Oct. 16.

A Place (Sort Of)

Its the ultimate documentary about Missoula. Explore the river-deep weirdness of our beloved City of Many Shoulders through decades of found footage painstakingly collected over 10 years by the director. Not Rated. Directed by Andy Smetanka. Opening Monday, Oct. 16.

Special screenings

Fancy Dance

The 9th annual Montana Film Festival kicks off with Erica Tremblays thoughtful and urgent drama about life on a reservation. A young woman hits the road to find her missing sister in time for an upcoming powwow. Not Rated. Stars friend of the Roxy, Lily Gladstone, Isabel Deroy-Olson and Ryan Begay.

The Royal Hotel

American best friends run out of money while backpacking across Australia, and decide to get a temporary job slinging beer in a remote Outback mining town bar. As things grow more unnerving by the day, the two have to find a way to escape the nightmare they find themselves in. Rated R. Stars Julia Garner, Jessica Henwick and Hugo Weaving.

Story Ave

A visual artist from the Bronx loses his way following the death of his younger brother, only to find a second chance when the MTA conductor (played by Luis Guzman) he tries to rob offers him a free meal instead. Greendale Community College graduates are making a difference! Not Rated. Also stars Asante Blackk and Cassandra Freeman.

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt

Award-winning poet Raven Jackson makes her feature film debut in this lyrical and decades-spanning exploration of a womans life in Mississippi. Rated PG. Stars Kayelee Nicole Johnson and Chris Chalk.

Tokyo Cowboy

This made-in-Montana comedy tells the story of a Japanese businessman who arrives in the Big Sky State in an attempt to turn around a cattle ranch. Not Rated.

Strange Ways of Life: Three Cowboy Shorts

Three stunning new short films about cowboy life show the West through diverse new lenses.

Blood for Dust

A traveling salesman, desperate to make some extra money, agrees to commit cross-state drug and gun deliveries for a cartel boss. Things go about as smoothly as youd expect. Rated R. Stars Kit Harington and Scoot McNairy.

Friday the 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984)

Its appropriate that the so-called final chapter in this franchise is followed by eight more movies. Camp Horror Film Festival rises from the dead for our semi-annual screening of the slasher series that changed the world, one Friday the 13th at a time. Rated R. Stars Crispin Glover, his awesome dance moves and Corey Feldman.

I Like Movies

Its 2003, and an ambitious teenage cinephile dreams of attending film school in New York. The only way to pay for it is to work at his local video store. Not Rated. Stars Isaiah Lehtinen and Romina DUgo.

The Sweet East

While on a school trip to Washington, D.C., a young woman is separated from her class and goes on a fractured fairy tale travelogue into America. Not Rated. Stars Talia Ryder and Simon Rex.

The Peoples Joker

Youre telling me that this is a retelling of the origin story of DC Comics The Joker, but instead of being made by a huge media conglomerate, this one is a transgender coming-of-age story made DIY-style by a crew of artists who dont own the rights to the character? Sign me up. Not Rated. Features Warner Brothers intellectual property, Lynn Downey and Bob Odenkirk as Bob the Goon.

The Invisible Man

Out at the Roxy celebrates the life and legacy of James Whale, an openly gay man making horror movies in 1930s Hollywood, with a screening of his classic that made Claude Rains a household name. Not Rated. Also stars Gloria Stuart and William Harrigan.

Creepshow

Stephen King and George A. Romero, two of the undisputed masters of terror, joined forces to make this tribute to the golden age of horror comics. Rated R. Stars Stephen King (in what is indisputably his greatest acting role), Ted Danson, and 10-year-old Joe Hill, who would grow up to be a horror novelist himself.

Killers of the Flower Moon

See a preview of Martin Scorseses new film starring friend of the Roxy Lily Gladstone before it opens, Thursday, Oct. 19.
A lawsuit in federal court accuses a Kalispell doctor of giving a woman ketamine and assaulting her at his clinic while she was visiting the Flathead area on a work trip.

The complaint, filed in September, accuses Dr. David J. Durkin from Ketamine Infusion of Montana, a ketamine therapy business in Kalispell, of administering the drug and sexually assaulting the woman in the spring of 2022. The woman is the plaintiff in the civil lawsuit.

A phone call and email to Ketamine Infusion of Montana were not returned on Wednesday. Durkin manages the ketamine clinic, according to the complaint.

On May 9, 2022, the plaintiff reported she visited Kalispell as a pharmaceutical representative. Her job was teaching pharmacies how to bill and help customers get money for prescriptions.

That evening the plaintiff, who lives out of state, met and spoke with Durkin at a local bar, according to Missoula lawyer Bryan Spoon, one of the plaintiffs attorneys. Around 11:30 p.m. she requested an Uber for a ride to her hotel. The complaint states the woman was intoxicated and not capable of consent.

Anesthesiologists should be acutely aware of the dangers of administering ketamine to someone who has alcohol in their system, said Spoon.

Although Plaintiff has no memory of it, Dr. Durkin at that point put plaintiff into his pickup truck and took her to his place of business, Ketamine Infusion, the complaint alleges. It accuses Durkin of subsequently administering ketamine to the woman and sexually assaulting her.

The following morning, around 6 a.m., the plaintiff grabbed her clothes, fled the business and called 911. Durkin tried to get her into his car, the complaint alleges. Spoon said the accuser spoke with a Flathead County deputy following her 911 call. The plaintiff and Durkin had not met each other prior to the evening of May 9, according to Spoon.

Ketamine is a Schedule III non-narcotic substance. Its commonly used for short-term sedation and also is sometimes used for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological conditions.

Ketamine Infusion of Montanas website describes itself as a resource for building individual treatment plans which will best optimize your health and wellbeing. Durkins biography on the website states hes administered over 60,000 anesthetics, often involving ketamine.

It is my hope that Ketamine Infusion of Montana can offer a new direction for both patients and their neurological healthcare professionals in helping patients getting better & getting back, and restoring their health and wellbeing, his biography reads.

Spoon said there isnt anything barring Montana officials from bringing criminal charges against Durkin.

When asked if the Flathead County Attorneys Office is reviewing charges for Durkin, County Attorney Travis Ahner said generally, he is barred from either confirming or denying if an individual is the subject of an investigation. A search for a criminal charge against Durkin in Flathead County District Court, Flathead County Justice Court and Kalispell Municipal Court did not yield any results.

Ketamine Infusion had a duty to protect its ketamine supply and ensure that ketamine is only administered in a medically correct fashion, and not as a means to commit sexual assault, the lawsuit reads.

The complaint was filed in Montana U.S. District Court on Sept. 15. A hearing in the case has not been scheduled yet.

In August, a Missoula doctor settled a separate case for $85,000 in federal court alleging he illegally distributed ketamine in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
Some Missoula residents are noticing more frequent days of missed mail service while the U.S. Postal Service acknowledges it is facing staffing and hiring challenges nationwide and has multiple job openings in Missoula.

Three city residents recently separately told the Missoulian that they've noticed an uptick in days where they don't get mail or their outgoing mail isn't picked up by a carrier.

"In the last year mail delivery has gone from six days a week to highly sporadic," explained Missoula resident Lorena Hillis.

Rolf Tandberg, another Missoula resident, said the Postal Service hasn't picked up mail from his box, with the flag up, for several days.

Bill Murray, who lives in the Rattlesnake, said he's been getting his newspaper (which is delivered by the USPS) two or three days late sometimes, which indicates that all his mail is getting delayed.

"It's weird," he said. "There's no predictability."

Missoula is having an all-mail municipal election coming up on Nov. 7 that is open to all registered voters living within city limits. Because polling places won't be open, voters must either mail their ballots to the Missoula County Elections Center in time for them to be counted on Election Day or drop them off at the center.

Ballots won't be mailed out to residents in city limits until Wednesday, Oct. 18.

All ballots are due at the Elections Center at 140 N. Russell St. by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7. Remember, ballots postmarked by then do not count  it needs to be at the Elections Center by 8 p.m.

The USPS recommends mailing your ballot no later than seven days before Election Day, which is Tuesday, Oct. 31. If it is later than Oct. 31, they suggest that people hand-deliver the ballot to the Elections Center.

You may also drop off your ballot at a drop location on Election Day, but it needs to be in by 8 p.m.

County elections administrator Bradley Seaman said people should take note of how long it takes to get their ballot after the day they're mailed, which is Oct. 18. They should assume it will take at least that long to get it back to the Elections Center. He also said that the online portal, myvoterpagemt.com, has had some bugs fixed and allows people to see whether their ballot has been accepted.

The issue of mail delays may not be unique to Missoula. In an email to the Lee News State Bureau, an official with the Montana Department of Revenue hinted that there's a statewide problem of mail delays. Derek Bell, a division administrator, was referencing applications for property tax rebates that may be delayed in getting processed due to mail delays.

"In light of issues that some Montanans have experienced with the postal service, we do not (as of today) have a definitive date by which we expect to stop receiving (property tax rebate) applications," Bell said in an email.

Kim Frum, a strategic communications specialist with the Postal Service, acknowledged that they're having hiring and staffing issues.

(She also noted that Monday was a federal holiday and there was no regular mail service.)

"First and foremost, the Postal Service apologizes for any inconvenience our customers may have experienced," she said. "According to our systems all mail delivery in Missoula was current as of Saturday, Oct. 7."

But she noted that there are a handful of new carriers currently going through onboarding and training.

"With that said, its no secret the Postal Service is facing staffing and hiring challenges nationwide and the Postal Service continues to aggressively hire in many locations across the country," she explained. "With a workforce of more than 635,000, USPS is one of the nations largest employers with ongoing attrition needs."

They're competing with businesses all over the country for workers.

"Combined with the continuing nationwide challenges faced by most employers, we are hiring for the holidays and beyond," Frum said. "All of our offices, including in Missoula, have skilled management in place, overseeing the day-to-day operations and using every available resource at our disposal to overcome staffing issues."

Even with the current group of new hires, there are still job announcements for Missoula carriers listed. Each announcement is used to fill multiple positions.

The Postal Service had a job fair in Missoula at the end of September, but all job opportunities can be found online at usps.com/careers.

"Not receiving mail doesnt mean a customers mail is delayed or missing," Krum explained. "Not every address receives mail on a daily basis. We understand our customers depend on our service, and we are working hard to meet the needs of our communities across the state. The Postal Service is governed by a Universal Service Obligation to deliver to nearly 165 million addresses across the country six, sometimes seven, days a week."

Krum said while state-by-state information isn't tracked, the average time to deliver mail and packages across the country remains consistent at 2.5 days.

"To put it another way, 98% of the nations population receives their mail and packages in less than three days," Krum said. "This percentage recently improved, and USPS is working hard to correct service-related issues in the other limited areas."
The B'nai Israel Cultural Center is hosting the second annual Historic Gathering Places tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21.

The tour will include nine sites:

Mother Lode Theatre.

Masonic Temple.

St. Patrick's Church.

Immaculate Conception Church.

Elks Lodge.

Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church.

Silver Bow Club.

Carpenters' Union Hall.

Bnai Israel Synagogue.

Participants will be treated to the beautiful interiors of these structures, which are so much a part of Butte's rich cultural history.

The ticket price for all five site tours is $15 or $12 for seniors and/or veterans. Children under 12 can tour for free if accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives or online at buttearts.org or at each site on the day of the tour. Only 350 tickets will be issued. Event proceeds will be divided among the participating organizations.

Participants may start at any of the nine locations. Guides will be available at each location. Tours start on the hour at the Masonic Temple and Mother Lode Theater, and on the half hour at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church and the Carpenters Union Hall. The other sites will have volunteers available to answer questions and direct visitors to accessible areas.

The event is co-sponsored by the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, NorthWestern Energy, and the Cultural Center.

For more details, call the Archives at 406-782-3280 or the Mother Lode Theater at 406-723-3602.
Millions of people in all latitudes of the Western Hemisphere will have a chance to witness one of space's most mesmerizing spectacles: the annular solar eclipse of early fall 2023. Be aware that looking directly at the sun without proper eye gear can be harmful. To enjoy the eclipse safely, follow NASA's safety guidelines.

You may also like: History of dogs in space
These six students hauled on chest waders for class.

They toted tripods, Topcon Auto Levels, stadia rods, 100-meter measuring tapes, gravelometers and other assessment gear.

For the next few hours and days in late September and early October, they experienced a close encounter with the Clark Fork River and its troubled history.

They saw streambanks layered with saffron-colored contaminated mining and smelting tailings and clear evidence of copper. The tailings were deposited during a catastrophic flood in 1908.

More than 115 years later, the students worked to gather data to help inform the Clark Forks ongoing Superfund cleanup.

Specifically, at 16 spots along the river, the students collected key measurements of the Clark Forks parameters before remediation starts up again next fall.

The students examined width-depth ratios for the river at all 16 cross-sections. They examined stream pebble counts to assess siltation. They evaluated bank stability and vegetative cover.

Rob Thomas, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Montana Western, routinely brings environmental field studies students to the Clark Fork River for a firsthand immersion in specifics no textbook or lecture could adequately convey.

Our baseline study this year was focused on the existing stream morphology, in both cross section and along the bottom longitudinally, with the purpose of showing how it changes after the post-remediation study is conducted, Thomas said. It is a way of evaluating whether the desired results of the remediation, at least regarding stream morphology, were achieved.

According to one definition, stream morphology describes the shapes of river channels and how they change in shape and direction over time.

The same measurements will be taken after the cleanup. That means the state and federal agencies involved will have a much clearer sense of how remediation has altered the river and its environs. What about channel width? Channel depth? Bank stability? Silt?

Many observers have complained that remediation work to date on the Clark Fork has all but ravaged the upper rivers once-robust brown trout fishery by removing riparian vegetation important for shade and cover, by adding sediment and metals and eliminating undercut banks. The link between remediation and fisheries decline has not been firmly established but it seems quite possible, fisheries biologists say.

For the students, its classic science: Collect data. Later, other students or scientists will collect the same data after an intervention (remediation) and examine what has changed. Pre-test and post-test.

Alex Leone, restoration policy manager for the nonprofit Clark Fork Coalition, said the students work examining cross-sections of the river at locations in the vicinity of the Racetrack Pond upstream of Deer Lodge has great value.

The Clark Fork Coalition is ecstatic that Professor Rob and University of Montana Western have continued their assessment work on the upper Clark Fork this year, Leone said. With the fishery languishing, and decades of cleanup work remaining, its crucial that we leverage partnerships like this to improve outcomes for the river.

This stretch of river is referred to by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as Phase 7. The DEQ is in charge of the rivers cleanup, but the EPA and Natural Resource Damage Program are also involved.

The 12 journeys by Thomas and students from Dillon to the Deer Lodge Valley occurred during the colleges block system scheduling. It allows students to devote three-and-a-half weeks to a single course.

Leone said the system benefits students and river research.

University of Montana Westerns block system provides a unique opportunity to partner and complete an applied research project on the Clark Fork over a relatively short period of time, Leone said.

Its an awesome resource for those of us working on the Clark Fork and a great workforce training opportunity for the students, he said. Professor Robs students are collecting invaluable baseline data on the current state of the channel in Phase 7 prior to the scheduled cleanup work next fall.

Student Lauren Holston joined five classmates on the river during the first week of October.

I dont think I could learn this material sitting in a lecture hall, she said.

Standing nearby, Mia Thorne agreed.

For me, I feel like there is certainly no comparison, she said. And well get on a job someday already having some experience.

Thomas acknowledged that the long-running debate about how to remediate the Clark Fork River has the potential to be a distraction.

This is a complex system up here with a lot of different people involved and a lot of different agendas, he said. My job is to educate these students.

And during their field work they encounter geomorphology, hydrology, hydrogeology, sedimentology, geochemistry, geology and more. The class incorporates GPS and GIS skills, too.

And if organizations and agencies find value in the students data, all the better, Thomas said.

Other students on the river in early October were Alex Becker, Tommaso Long, Howie Viguers and Rachel Howard.
Montana officials are being forced to choose between a pair of telecom companies that were both awarded federal infrastructure money to build broadband capacity in the same area, an apparently inadvertent violation of federal and state requirements for doling out the grant funding.

The commission of lawmakers and executive-branch representatives in charge of overseeing the states program to award $309 million in broadband grant funding from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, moved Wednesday to walk back one of those awards.

I dont like the situation, but I think everybodys done as much as they could do, Sen. Jason Ellsworth, a Hamilton Republican who chairs the ARPA Communications Advisory Commission, said. And thats incumbent upon us now to make that decision.

The commission ultimately voted in favor of clawing back a chunk of the $9.1 million grant it awarded in December 2022 to Tri County Telephone Association. The recommendation, which still needs approval from Gov. Greg Gianforte, applies to an area including the town of Bridger, and would extend broadband service to 433 locations.

In an apparent oversight, the state simultaneously awarded a grant for that same service area to a competing company, Qwest Corporation. That company, which secured a total of $4.5 million from 10 ARPA broadband grants awarded by the state, had received $557,000 to extend broadband to the 433-location area.

Under the commissions recommendation Wednesday, Qwest would be the company that gets to complete the work in that area. Tri County would still have the option of moving forward with work on the remaining portions of the much-larger service area for which it was awarded federal funding.

Representatives from Tri County objected strenuously to that proposal. It was presented by the Department of Administration, which is overseeing the ConnectMT program that distributes the federal money. Representatives from both the company and the department agreed on some of the underlying reasons the service area had been mistakenly awarded to two competing companies.

Application materials provided by Tri County had not included a project boundary in the shapefile it submitted, one of the types of files used by the department to compare different project proposals and identify where they overlap. Because of that, the contractor hired by the department to help score the applications failed to identify the overlapping portions of the proposals until they had both been awarded.

The department didnt catch the error until June, about six months after the grants were awarded.

Julia Swingley, an attorney with the DOA, told the commission that the departments subsequent review of the process determined that Tri County had been aware of the duplication, but chose not to reveal the issue to the correct state officials.

The department feels that omission of information is what led us to this point, she said.

David Clark, an attorney representing Tri County, argued that while the project boundaries were not included in the shapefile submitted by the company, it provided that information in a different file format. Citing the 2021 state law that established the grant program, he said that meant Tri County's application met all the requirements to move forward.

Under questioning from Ellsworth, Tri County CEO Richard Wardell acknowledged that not including the boundaries in the shapefile, as it had in its other applications, was likely a mistake. But he maintained it shouldn't be a disqualifier, since theyd included those boundaries in other files they submitted.

Amy Nerison, a lobbyist hired by the company, told the commission that the duplication issue was a result of the states flawed process, and that Tri County shouldnt be punished as a result.

Your decision today ultimately impacts not only Tri County, but the town of Bridger as well, Nerison said, citing supportive letters submitted by the towns mayor and library. Tri County is one step away from breaking ground  It is unjust to penalize Tri County and the town of Bridger for circumstances beyond their control.

The commission voted 7-2 to recommend rescinding Tri Countys award of the Bridger service area, with all the commissions Republicans and executive-branch representatives voting in favor. Both Democrats on the commission opposed it.

Sen. Janet Ellis of Helena said her vote against the proposal was based on the fact that carving out the relatively dense, lower-cost Bridger portion of Tri Countys much larger project could prompt the company to walk away from its remaining service area. The company declined to say whether it would do so, but Republicans on the commission acknowledged state law allows it to cancel the rest of the contract. Tri County also could attempt to renegotiate the amount of public money they would need to extend service to the remaining project area.

This conversation makes me very uncomfortable because I feel like were being asked to be a judge and jury, Ellis said, following a back-and-forth in which Ellsworth questioned Tri County officials about several emails exchanged between the company and the department. Its very complicated, you have to study the timelines and the rules, and weve been handed all this material, and I just want to understand  why this commission is being asked to be a judge and jury.

Ellsworth responded that under state law, theres no other way to resolve the issue. Its the commissions job to determine eligibility for the broadband grants, he said, and then its up to the governor to make the final decision. So far, the governor hasnt deviated from any of the commissions recommendations.

Im thankful that this is actually the one hiccup, and its not 30 hiccups, Ellsworth said near the meetings end. To only have one hiccup, when you have 300-something million dollars going out, to me, Ill take a solid A-minus and then know that hopefully we get to that A-plus by the end of this conversation today.
China's hybrid rice cultivated area accumulates to 600 million hectares

Xinhua) 09:51, October 12, 2023

CHANGSHA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Over the past five decades, China's self-developed hybrid rice has been promoted in an accumulative cultivated area of 600 million hectares across the country, helping increase a total rice yield of 800 billion kg.

Rice is one of the most important staple foods for Chinese. Chinese scientist Yuan Longping, widely known as the "father of hybrid rice," and his research team successfully cultivated the world's first high-yield hybrid rice strain in 1973.

The latest hybrid rice cultivation data was released during an international seminar held in central China's Hunan Province on Wednesday, in memory of the 50th anniversary of Yuan's successful hybrid rice strain research.

China has seen its average yield per mu (about 0.067 hectares) of rice per season soar from 170 kg during the 1950s and 1960s to today's 470 kg, said Bai Lianyang, an official from the Hunan Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Currently, more than 17 million hectares of hybrid rice are planted in China each year, helping boost rice output by about 2.5 million tonnes and feed 80 million more people annually, Bai added.

So far, dozens of countries around the globe have carried out relevant research and trial planting of hybrid rice, while the overseas annual cultivated area of hybrid rice has reached nearly 8 million hectares in total.

Since the 1980s, China has trained more than 14,000 technical and management personnel for foreign countries in the fields of hybrid rice studies and planting.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
When students chant fire up at Godolkin Unversity, they take it literally.

Home to future superheroes, the school is filled with raw talent and incredibly weird behavior.

In Gen V, a spin-off from The Boys, nothing is predictable. Just when you think its going to be another college series, characters veer left and, in some cases, become even more corrupt than members of The Seven.

Now airing on Amazon Prime Video, Gen V is like the origins story of X-Men. Here, though, students arent as noble. Theyre true offspring of Vought, the company that polishes superhero images and isnt a bit afraid of controlling. It's profane...and proud of it.

At God-U, students learn how to fight crime and hide their weaknesses.

We get into the school through Marie (Jaz Sinclair), a blood bender who seems ripe for success. Shes roomies with Emma (Lizze Broadway), a student who has the ability to shrink. The secret to her success: Binging and purging.

Other disorders emerge when Marie makes her way around campus. Among the most head-turning: Golden Boy Luke Riordan (Patrick Schwarzenegger) who has a fiery temper and a penchant for walking around campus without clothes.

One by one the failings emerge.

Developed by Craig Rosenberg, Evan Goldberg and Eric Kripke, Gen V is far more adult than other teen series. Sexual experimentation is a polite way to explain what it is the students do outside the classroom. The Boys looks tame in comparison.

Four episodes into the series, Gen V has the ability to spin out into a dozen different directions. Marie may be viewers way into the school, but shes hardly its most interesting character.

Emma gets that honor (shes like Hayden Panettiere in Heroes). When she tries to help the others by getting small, we see how this could be The Sevens undoing.

Jordan Li (played by London Thor and Derek Luh) is a gender shifter. In one scene, Thor plays the character; in another, its Luh. Oddly, its not difficult to discern.

More questionable: Sam Riordan (Asa Germann), Lukes brother with superhero strength and deep-seated emotional problems.

When Tek Knight (Derek Wilson), a God-U graduate and host of a crime series, turns up on campus, its clear some of the dirty doings going on could be exposed. The first episode is packed with jaw-dropping twists and an event that galvanizes the student body.

Because it looks at the selling of a superhero (come on, theres even a class in branding), Gen V is pulling out a different rug than The Boys. Both are fairly subversive (and violent) but this one has an easier way in.

When ads, fundraisers and a kids show starring Jason Ritter part the curtain, Gen V becomes a great way to extend the narrative The Boys started. If that series hits a wall, this one can walk right through.

Consider it a superpower with legs.

Gen V is now airing on Amazon Prime Video.
More local parents have stepped forward to share their concerns regarding teachers at Muscatine High School and how these specific teachers have been treating students.

On Monday, during the Citizen Speaks portion of that months Muscatine School Board meeting, three residents took to the podium.

The first was Meagan Koehler, who voiced her concerns regarding the incident that occurred last Monday, October 2. This incident, according to Koehlers son who was present for it, saw a frustrated substitute teacher at Muscatine High School (MHS) call a German 1 class idiots and morons when they were unable to count to a certain number in German.

Beyond these insults, Koehler said that her biggest concern was the two members of MHS staff who she believed validated (the substitutes) behavior by only hearing her side and not asking the students any questions about what had transpired.

Im here because after sharing my sons experience, other parents shared with me their kids experience, Koehler said, making specific allegations about other incidents in the school.

While she acknowledged that the job of being a teacher isnt an easy one and said she understood how often students can press their teachers buttons, Koehler emphasized her belief that the bad behavior of students deserved consequences instead of name-calling and insults.

We appear to have a problem in our high school, and I am here to ask what you are going to do about it Our district needs to send a clear and unwavering message that this sort of damaging and abusive behavior will not be tolerated any longer, Koehler said.

Two other parents  Suzanne Bissell and Casey Koehler  shared similar comments that evening, with Bissell sharing that shed had to remove her autistic daughter from MHS and homeschool her due to her daughter being afraid of certain teachers at the school.

Later in the week following the school board meeting, Tony Loconsole, MCSDs Director of Communications, provided comments on these concerns. Through these comments, he noted the upcoming distribution of the districts annual Desired Experience (DDE) survey for all students, families and staff members. With this, Loconsole encouraged these groups to give their honest feedback.

As our DDE outlines, we strive to have all students feel valued, respected, and safe at school, he said. The same can be said for families and certainly for our staff members. As the DDE states for staff, the district strives to ensure that their work and development are real and relevant and that they are seen as professionals with the resources they need to do their jobs well. Once the DDE survey concludes, each building will review its data as a team and work to make changes as necessary.

In the meantime, Loconsole said the district has worked to emphasize the important of positive relationships between staff and students, using resources such as learning fellowships for paraeducators and training programs.

Joe Beckman and Curt Salter of TILL 360 spoke about the importance of relationships with students along with staff mental health, Loconsole said. This is ongoing work that the district plans to continue for several more years, made possible through grants aligned with this work.

Loconsole said all MCSD employees have access to the districts Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential advice and options ranging from mental health services, counseling, financial planning, legal referrals, and other wellness services at no cost to the employee.

Our district strives to create a healthy climate for staff that helps set them up for success while allowing them to bring concerns forward if they have them, Loconsole said.

Fueled by teacher shortages, 'Zoom-in-a-room' makes a comeback Fueled by teacher shortages, 'Zoom-in-a-room' makes a comeback Teacher vacancies and an overarching difficulty in filling those roles is a crucial factor for districts that use remote in-class teaching 'This problem isn't going away'
October 11 is National Coming Out Day, and in recognition of this occasion, Progress Muscatine announce the creation of the Muscatine County LGBTQIA+ Coalition this week.

We thought it was a great time to let the community know about our work, coalition member Alex Hesford said.

Its a really exciting time for us, Progress Muscatine President Jessica Brackett added. When Progress Muscatine reached out to other LGBT organizations in the county, folks really liked the idea, and now were really looking forward to what we can accomplish together.

According to its mission statement, the Muscatine County LGBTQIA+ Coalition was created to bring together organizations within Muscatine County in the hopes of working toward a shared vision of equality for people who identify across the spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities, thus improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ people. Currently, the group is focused on the development of educational programming.

We have created an action plan, and we will be working to complete that plan over the next several months, Brackett said. "Were looking forward to working on those plans as we help educate the community. Our main goal is to increase awareness about issues facing LGBTQIA+ people, and help create a safer and more welcoming environment.

Beyond Progress Muscatine, other current member organizations include the Faith United Church of Christ, the Pride Club at Muscatine High School, Stonewall Muscatine and the Muscatine Community College student group All Kinds of People (AKOP). Other local groups are working on the steps of gaining approval to be part of the coalition.

We look forward to having new coalition partners and building our coalition in the months to come, Brackett said.

For all individuals, organizations and businesses within Muscatine County that are interested in becoming coalition members or in learning more about the Muscatine County LGBTQIA+ Equality Coalition, they can email the group at MuscatineEqualityCoalition@gmail.com.

How many LGBT people have children in every state How many LGBT people have children in every state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia 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 West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with a top political rival Wednesday to create a wartime Cabinet overseeing the fight to avenge a weekend attack by Hamas militants. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas, Palestinian suffering mounted as Israeli bombardment demolished neighborhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

The new Cabinet establishes a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics, and as the Israeli military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza. The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

In a televised address Wednesday night, Netanyahu detailed alleged atrocities that took place during the attack. "Every Hamas member is a dead man," he said. "We will crush and destroy it."

The number of U.S. citizens confirmed to have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war rose to at least 22 with at least 17 more Americans unaccounted for, the State Department said Wednesday. That's an increase in the death toll from 14 the day before.

A handful of U.S. citizens are among the estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas militants during their weekend assault, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday.

In a further sign of U.S. support for Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for meetings with officials there. The U.S. military is moving a second aircraft carrier toward the Mediterranean Sea as part of efforts to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict.

Kirby said the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its ships would be an available asset if necessary. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navys most advanced aircraft carrier, and its strike group already arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The new Israeli Cabinet, which will focus only on issues of war, will be led by Netanyahu, Benny Gantz  a senior opposition figure and former defense minister  and current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. A former chief of staff and another government minister were named as "observer" members.

Still, Israel's political divisions remain. The country's chief opposition leader, Yair Lapid, was invited to join the Cabinet but did not immediately respond to the offer. It appeared that the rest of Netanyahu's existing government partners, a collection of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, would remain in place to handle non-war issues.

Israel's increasingly destructive airstrikes in Gaza flattened entire city blocks and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath debris. A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a tiny, coastal strip, would likely result in a surge of casualties for fighters on both sides.

Hamas launched a fresh barrage of rockets into Israel on Wednesday aimed at the southern town of Ashkelon. Hamas said it launched its attack Saturday because Palestinians' suffering became intolerable under unending Israeli military occupation and increasing settlements in the West Bank and a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza.

The UN said late Wednesday the number of people displaced by the airstrikes soared 30% within 24 hours, to 339,000, two-thirds of them crowding into U.N. schools. Others sought the shrinking number of safe neighborhoods in the strip of land only 25 miles long, wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.

After nightfall, Palestinians were plunged into pitch blackness in large parts of Gaza City and elsewhere after the territory's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down Wednesday. Only a few lights from private generators still glowed.

Israel on Sunday halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. The sole remaining crossing from Egypt was shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit nearby.

The Gaza Strip's biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, only has enough fuel to keep power on for three days, said Matthias Kannes, a Gaza-based official for Doctors Without Borders.

The group said the two hospitals it runs in Gaza were running out of surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies. "We consumed three weeks worth of emergency stock in three days," Kannes said.

Ghassan Abu Sitta, a reconstructive surgeon at al-Shifa, said he had 50 patients waiting to go to the operating room as more critical wounded are treated. "

We're already beyond the capacity of the system to cope," he said. The health system "has the rest of the week before it collapses, not just because of the diesel. All supplies are running short."

The Palestinian Red Crescent said other hospitals' generators will run out in five days. Residential buildings, unable to store as much diesel, likely will go dark sooner.

Egypt and international groups have been calling for humanitarian corridors to get aid into Gaza. Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, but were unable to enter Gaza, an Egyptian security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Medical teams and rescuers struggled to enter other areas where roads were too destroyed, including Gaza City's al-Karama district, where a "large number" were killed or wounded, according to the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. Strikes have killed at least four Red Crescent paramedics, the organization said.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP)  An Iowa man was sentenced Wednesday to two life terms for killing a 10-year-old girl who was missing for eight months before her remains were found in a pond.

Henry Earl Dinkins also will have to pay $150,000 in restitution to the mother of Breasia Terrell, The Quad City Times reports. The girl's July 2020 disappearance led to huge searches by dozens of volunteers and numerous law enforcement agencies before fishermen found her body in March 2021 in a rural area north of Davenport.

Last month Judge Henry Latham found Dinkins, 51, guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping. The life sentences he imposed are without parole.

Prosecutors charged Dinkins with Terrell's death in May 2021, alleging he kidnapped and then shot her to death. She had been staying the night with her half-brother and his father, Dinkins.

Dinkins is a registered sex offender who was convicted of third-degree sexual abuse in 1990, when he was 17.

Latham said the brother, who was just 8 when Terrell disappeared, played a crucial role in solving the case. Dinkins son later gave investigators details about accompanying his father to a Walmart to buy bleach and traveling to a site that matched the description of where Terrell's body was found months later.

The trial had been moved to Cedar Rapids when the Iowa Supreme Court granted a change of venue, but just before it began, Dinkins decided to have the case heard in front of a judge. Because of that, the trial was moved back to the Scott County Courthouse in Davenport.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Hamas militants beheaded soldiers and raped women in their attack on Israel, and he vowed that Israel would crush and destroy Hamas in response to the attack.

Netanyahu said every Hamas member was a dead man.

Netanyahu made the remarks in a late-night televised address on the war's fifth day as Israeli planes pounded Gaza. The prime ministers allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday called the Hamas attack the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, and a campaign of pure cruelty.

In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, residents are facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down Wednesday. Israel imposed what it called a complete siege on Gaza on Monday. The U.S. announced Wednesday that it is working with Egypt and Israel to open up safe corridors to get civilians out of Gaza.

The war, which has claimed more than 2,300 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with a top political rival Wednesday to create a war-time Cabinet overseeing the fight to avenge the stunning weekend attack by Hamas militants. Israel is now determined to crush the groups hold in Gaza.

Here's what's happening on Day 5 of the latest Israel-Palestinian war:

STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS US CITIZENS TO RECONSIDER TRAVEL TO ISRAEL, WEST BANK

WASHINGTON  The State Department upgraded its travel warning for Israel and the West Bank on Wednesday to Level 3, reconsider travel.

It kept its travel advisory for Gaza at the departments highest warning level, Level 4, meaning do not travel.

The State Department cited extremists continuing to plot attacks, the possibility of violence erupting without warning, and increased demonstrations.

The travel warning comes as five days of rocket fire and missile barrages between the Hamas militant group and Israel already have led many airlines to suspend commercial flights.

BIDEN SPEAKS WITH UAE PRESIDENT ABOUT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

WASHINGTON  U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed on Wednesday about ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those in need as the war between Israel and Hamas extends into a fifth day, the White House said.

The UAE was the first Gulf country to normalize relations with Israel in 2020 under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, which saw Bahrain and Morocco also establish diplomatic ties with Israel.

FAR-RIGHT PROTESTERS RIOT OUTSIDE HOSPITAL IN TEL AVIV

TEL AVIV, Israel  More than a hundred far-right protesters rioted outside one of the main hospitals in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night after hearing reports that doctors there were treating a militant from Hamas, according to Hagai Levine, Chairman of the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians.

Protesters from La Familia  a group of notoriously racist Jerusalem fans of the Beitar soccer team  blocked the main entrance to the emergency room for three hours, according to videos circulated by doctors on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The ultranationalist soccer fans clashed violently with police and disrupted the passage of emergency crews into the hospital.

At the time of the riot, Sheba hospital was not treating any militants from Hamas, Levine said. It's unclear if militants have been treated in Israels public hospitals since the Hamas rampage on Saturday.

The protest came on the heels of a letter circulated Wednesday by Israeli health minister Moshe Arbel that barred Israels public hospitals from treating militants. Arbel wrote that injured militants should be referred to the Israeli military or Israels intelligence services.

IRANIAN PRESIDENT SPEAKS TO SAUDI ARABIAN CROWN PRINCE ABOUT WAR, NEWS AGENCY SAYS

JERUSALEM  Iranian hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi has spoken by telephone to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the first time to discuss the Israel-Palestinian war, the state-run news agency reported Wednesday.

IRNA cited an online message from an adviser to Raisi acknowledging a 45-minute call between the two men on Wednesday. There was no immediate acknowledgment from the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a Chinese-mediated detente earlier this year.

BIDEN CONNECTS HAMAS ATTACK TO DECADES OF ANTISEMITISM

WASHINGTON  U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday once again condemned the weekend attack by Hamas militants on Israel, and sought to connect it directly to decades of antisemitism and violence endured by Jews around the world.

This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by a millennium of antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people, Biden said. We have to be crystal clear: There is no justification for terrorism, no excuse and the type of terrorism that was exhibited here is just beyond the pale, beyond the pale.

Biden had what was at least his fourth phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. He said that during conversations with him, he stressed that it is really important that Israel operate by the rules of war" as it strikes back against Hamas.

And there are rules of war, Biden said.

TURKEY NEGOTIATING FOR RELEASE OF HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS

ANKARA, Turkey  Turkey is holding negotiations for the release of civilian hostages held by Hamas, a Turkish official said Wednesday.

The official said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had instructed Turkish officials to hold talks with Hamas for the release of the civilians. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol, could not provide further details on the negotiations.

Turkey does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization and has frequently hosted members of the group. Turkey also recently restored full diplomatic ties with Israel after the two countries fell out following a U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

-

Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser contributed to this report.

UN ENVOY IN CAIRO WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO END WAR

UNITED NATIONS  The U.N. Mideast envoy is in Cairo working with other key regional and international partners and the Egyptian government on ending the Hamas-Israel conflict, preventing its expansion, and opening a humanitarian corridor to deliver fuel, food and water to access to Gaza which Israel has cut off, the United Nations said Wednesday.

Tor Wennesland is following up on Egypts offer to facilitate humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing and to make the El Arish airport available for critical assistance, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Meanwhile, the U.N. humanitarian office reports that 263,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, a 40% increase since Tuesday, Dujarric said. More than 1,000 housing units in Gaza have been destroyed and about 560 severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable in the past day, the U.N. said.

MOURNERS FILL EUROPE'S LARGEST SYNAGOGUE TO REMEMBER VICTIMS

BUDAPEST, Hungary  Mourners filled Europes largest synagogue in Hungarys capital on Wednesday in remembrance of the hundreds of people that were killed in unprecedented attacks against Israel over the weekend by Hamas fighters.

The rabbinic service and solidarity commemoration in Budapests Dohany Street Synagogue drew around 3,000 people, including the countrys president, its chief rabbi, the Catholic Primate of Hungary and the mayor of Budapest.

Waving Israeli flags and lighting candles following the service, those gathered listened to the names being read aloud of some of the Israelis killed so far in the war. Some wept as the names were read.

PALESTINIAN WORKERS ARRIVING IN WEST BANK FROM GAZA

RAMALLAH, West Bank  Palestinians who have been expelled from their workplaces in Israel have begun showing up in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where a temporary shelter was set up to house them.

The sudden influx of about 600 workers created an overwhelming situation that is bound to get worse as more arrive, Ramallah Governor Laila Ghannam said Wednesday.

At the shelter where men sat on mattresses, some workers said they had been abused by Israeli soldiers.

We were working and everything was fine, and suddenly they came to us and detained us, said Raed Al-Moghribi. When we told them that we are from Gaza, they started beating us.

The workers began arriving in Ramallah on Wednesday after Israeli security forces brought them to checkpoints in the West Bank.

Khader Achour, another Gaza resident who had worked in Israel, said he wanted to return home but it had been demolished and his nephew, cousin and neighbor had all been killed.

I wish to return to my family in Gaza to die among them, Achour said.

Violence in the West Bank continued to flare Wednesday, with Palestinian health officials reporting that 29 Palestinians had been killed in the Israeli-occupied territory since the start of the Hamas invasion.

THE DEATH TOLL OF US CITIZENS RISES TO 22 AFTER HAMAS ATTACK

WASHINGTON  The number of U.S. citizens who have died in the Israel-Palestinian war has risen to 22, a White House official said Wednesday.

White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby said he did not have details on where exactly the Americans were killed. He said there are at least 17 missing, and of those a handful are believed to be held hostage.

NO CLEAR SIGN THAT IRAN WAS BEHIND HAMAS ATTACK, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

WASHINGTON  White House National Security spokesman John Kirby reiterated Wednesday that there is no clear sign that Iran was behind the Hamas attack on Israel.

We havent seen anything that tells they have specifically cut checks to support this set of attacks, or that they were involved in the training," Kirby said. "And obviously, this required quite a bit of training by these terrorists.

Kirby said officials are going to continue to review the intelligence to see "if that leads us to a different conclusion.

Earlier Wednesday, a U.S. official said information collected thus far suggests that while senior Iranian government officials were likely aware that Hamas was broadly planning operations against Israel, they appeared to be caught off-guard by the exact timing and scope of the multipronged attack carried out by Hamas militants on Saturday.

The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the intelligence and spoke on condition of anonymity. - Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS US WORKING TO ALLOW SAFE PASSAGE OUT OF GAZA FOR CIVILIANS

WASHINGTON  The U.S. is in active conversations to achieve safe passage out of Gaza for civilians, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday.

Kirby noted that Israel and Egypt are the two most significant players in the efforts.

We are having active conversations about trying to allow for that safe passage, Kirby said. Its the civilians who did nothing wrong so we want to make sure they have a way out.

Kirby did not release any other details, such as whether aid groups would be able to use the safe corridors to bring in supplies.

ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE

CAIRO  Arab foreign ministers called for an immediate cease-fire Wednesday in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.

The ministers call came in a statement released after their meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, which was called by the Palestinians to discuss the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war.

The communique condemned the killing of civilians on both sides and called for the release of all detainees held either by Israel or the Palestinians.

The ministers also called for Israel to end its siege on Gaza, and to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, food and fuel to Palestinians in the enclave.

DEATH TOLL OF UN STAFFERS IN GAZA RISES TO 11

BEIRUT  The deputy director of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says 11 staffers have been killed in Gaza since Saturday.

Jenifer Austin said in a statement Wednesday that the dead include five teachers at UNRWA schools, one gynecologist, one engineer, one psychological counselor and three support staff.

She said some of the victims were killed in their homes with their families.

UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families, she said.

NETANYAHU AND OPPOSITION AGREE ON UNITY GOVERNMENT, WAR CABINET AFTER HAMAS ATTACK

JERUSALEM  A top opposition Israeli politician says he has reached an agreement to enter a wartime unity government with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Benny Gantz, a former defense minister and military chief of staff, released what he said was a joint statement with Netanyahu.

The statement said they would form a five-member war-management Cabinet. It will consist of Netanyahu, Gantz, current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and two other top officials serving as observer members.

It said the government would not pass any legislation or decisions that are not connected to the war as long as the fighting continues. It was not immediately clear what would happen to Netanyahus existing government partners, a collection of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties.

PROMINENT MOSQUE CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO WAR CRIMES BY ISRAEL

CAIRO  Al-Azhar al-Sharif, the Sunni worlds foremost seat of religious learning, on Wednesday called for an international investigation into allegations of war crimes by Israel against civilian Palestinians in Gaza.

In a strongly worded statement, the Cairo-based religious institution called for Arab and Islamic countries to take a serious and unified position against the Wests inhuman rally behind Israels attacks against innocent Palestinian civilians.

It said Israels inhuman siege, which included cutting off electricity and water, and preventing the delivery of food and humanitarian aid to the strip, is a genocide and war crimes.
A Nairobi court has acquitted Julius Korir, the former Permanent Secretary for Devolution, who had been charged with assaulting his ex-wife three years ago.

Korir allegedly committed the offence at their Karen home on September 17, 2020. The court was told that the altercation began when Korir was served a meal of Githeri and Sukuma Wiki, which displeased him.

The ex-wife explained that she had just returned from work and that was the only available food at the time. She recounted that Korir attacked her with kicks and blows while she shielded her baby.

The woman informed the court that she had endured physical violence since their marriage in 2014. The couple later separated and eventually divorced.

Korir, during his tenure as a PS in former President Uhuru Kenyattas administration, denied the charges and was released on a Sh20,000 cash bail. He said that he was supportive and always sought the best for his children.

In the court judgment, Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego quashed the charges against Korir and faulted the police for doing a shoddy job.

Magistrate Alego raised concerns about the absence of the womans purported blood-stained clothes in court. The magistrate noted that the State did not even produce the P3 form in court during the trial.

Additionally, there was no presentation of CCTV footage, with the only recording being a video captured on her mobile phone while in the hospital.

Furthermore, the court questioned the propriety of a doctor recording a patient and attempting to present the evidence in court, considering it a violation of patient confidentiality.

This court finds that the complainant did not allow the law enforcers to do their work and all prosecution witnesses seemed not to be independent, the magistrate said adding that the witnesses appeared clueless about the incident.

In view of the foregoing, this court finds that the prosecution has not proved their case to the required threshold. The accused person herein is discharged under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) unless otherwise held by law, the court ruled.
A state of panic ensued at the Nairobi headquarters of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday when a police officer shot himself in the parking area.

The junior cop, only identified as Corporal Mutunga, died inside his car from a gunshot to the head. The morning incident occurred right after the officer, employed as a driver, had reported for duty.

He shot himself with his pistol and died instantly, a colleague told the Nation.

Authorities said that they are still investigating the reasons behind the officer taking his own life.

The officers colleagues and people near the DCI headquarters were alarmed by the sound of a gunshot emanating from the Operations Section car park. They quickly responded, arriving at the scene to discover the lifeless body.

The deceaseds remains were moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has come to the defense of Kenyan teachers amid an emerging trend on social media where users mock their former Mathematics teachers.

The Mwalimu wa Maths trend gained popularity among Kenyans when a social media user criticized his former Maths teacher, alleging that the teacher had predicted his failure in life.

The phrase was swiftly embraced by Kenyans, who began sharing their own experiences with their math teachers.

Some netizens have been using the trend to show off their wealth and assets while sarcastically asking Mwalimu wa maths, hapa ni wapi?'(Maths teacher, where is this?)

YouTuber Diana Marua recently jumped on the trend, showed off her car, and gave a tour of her mansion in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

Childhood trauma is real, there is a video I am doing today na naskia nimekasirika kabisa. One of the most embarrassing moments in my life. Mwalimu wa maths nataka uniskize na ikufikie kabisa. You see this car, this is one of many cars that I have bought. Mwalimu wa maths, this is my mansion, you treated me like a nobody in school, Diana lectured.

Mwalimu wa maths you told me I will not go far. Hapa ni wapi, kuja nikuonyeshe, she went on.

When asked for his opinion on Dianas cringey video, Peter Salasya called on Kenyans to respect teachers saying they played a huge role in shaping their future.

Teachers have played a huge role in everyones life, and that is why most of them have their families blessed. Any teacher, just do research even if in their generation the children are not successful there is always one who will help the family, Salasya said in a video.

Lets not insult Maths teachers; those people are blessed. Because they brought the best out of you, he added.

Salasya said the likes of Diana Marua had taken the joke too far and that it was likely to demotivate teachers.

Teachers should be respected. Respect that person, he is your foundation, Salasya said, noting that he was once a mathematics teacher.
President William Ruto has officially trademarked the phrase Mambo ni Matatu, meaning that the expression is now legally recognized as a protected intellectual property.

President Rutos lawyer, Adrian Kamotho, indicated that the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) has allowed the trademark.

Kamotho says registration of the phrase denies other people the right to use it alongside the numeral 3 sign. Anyone seeking to use the phrase alongside the three fingers sign must seek permission from Dr Ruto.

Registration of this mark shall give no right to the exclusive use of the numeral 3 and the device of human fingers per se each separately and apart from the mark as a whole, said KIPI.

Kamotho explained: The translation into English of the Kiswahili words mambo ni matatu is things are three'(there are three options). This means that he(Ruto) now has the exclusive use of the phrase.

The President came up with the phrase last month while pledging to dismantle cartels in the sugar sub-sector.

Ruto cautioned two conflicting investors vying for control of Mumias Sugar Company to cease their activities and relocate, face legal consequences and go to jail, or go to heaven.

We cannot continue to entertain this. We need a lasting break. All thieves must stop their acts. There is no place for such people. There are only three options; Leave the country, go to jail, or go to heaven, he said.

Ruto repeated the phrase during the Climate Summit in Nairobi while addressing the challenges related to accessing substantial resources, emphasizing the need for specialized skills, and highlighting the importance of affordability in achieving fair and inclusive development.

As we say in Kenya, mambo ni matatu. Number one, speed. It takes inordinate (time) to access any meaningful resources. Number two, it requires skill because weve all agreed that enormous resources are required and number three, affordability so that we both pay the same.
The American debate over the legality of modern gun laws was again on display this week in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, where a panel of 11 judges hit pause on a decision overturning California's ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Last month, a lower federal court judge overturned that ban as unconstitutional. On Tuesday, the larger "en banc" panel stayed that decision  stopping it from taking effect  pending an appeal by the state.

The decision divided the judges along ideological lines. The court's liberal majority found that the state of California had made "strong arguments" for why the ban on ammunition magazines with more than 10 rounds in them is constitutional. Even under a new, stricter test for gun laws set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court last year, the jurists found, the state is likely to win its appeal.

The majority wrote that California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office had presented evidence that large-capacity magazines "pose significant threats to public safety," and that there would be an "influx" of such magazines without a stay. The jurists added that such a stay would have "no effect" on the public's ability to purchase a "wide range of firearms, as much ammunition as they want, and an unlimited number of magazines containing ten rounds or fewer."

The majority also wrote that "public interest tips in the favor of a stay," as "mass shootings nearly always involve large-capacity magazines."

The panel's conservative minority, dissenting, called their majority colleagues' position "laughably absurd" and part of a pattern of decisions by liberal 9th Circuit jurists that has given "a blank check for governments to restrict firearms in any way they pleased."

Circuit Judge Patrick J. Bumatay, a Trump appointee, accused the liberal majority of ignoring not only the U.S. Constitution but also the U.S. Supreme Court's clear directives on how to properly analyze restrictions on the Second Amendment in its decision last year in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association vs. Bruen.

In that case, the Supreme Court found that modern gun laws must be deeply rooted in U.S. history or tradition, or be analogous to some historical law, to be constitutional.

Many experts viewed the decision as bringing an end to the sort of considerations articulated by the liberal majority in Tuesday's order  such as whether a modern gun restriction serves the public interest by preventing things such as devastating mass shootings.

Instead, they said, courts under the Bruen ruling could only consider a modern law's constitutionality by deciding whether it is sufficiently analogous to some historical weapons law  even if the weapons in question are entirely modern inventions.

The liberal majority in their order Tuesday found that courts across the country have ruled in similar ways on preliminary matters in high-capacity magazine cases since Bruen was decided, but did not engage in any of the historical analysis suggested by Bruen.

Bumatay  joined by the panel's other conservative judges  blasted the majority for not providing a clearer explanation for their opinion that the state was likely to win its appeal under Bruen.

The majority decision provided "no serious engagement with the Second Amendment's text," Bumatay wrote. "No grappling with historical analogues. No putting California to its burden of proving the constitutionality of its law."

"The Constitution and Californians deserve better," he wrote.

Chuck Michel, president and general counsel for the California Rifle & Pistol Association, is one of the plaintiffs in the case. He said in a statement that he was disappointed with the court's "misinterpretation of the Bruen ruling" but "confident that the mandates of the Constitution and the Bruen decision will win in the end."

He said his group "will continue to defend the rights of gun owners in California all the way to the Supreme Court."

Bonta, in his own statement, said he was "relieved that the court considered the public safety of Californians" in its order.

"With the stay, California's restrictions on large capacity magazines  a key component in our efforts to fight gun violence  remain in effect," he said. "Californians should know that the purchase, manufacture or transfer of large-capacity magazines is against the law."

Bonta said the Supreme Court was clear in its decision that Bruen "does not create a regulatory straitjacket for states and that cases should be evaluated on the text of the Second Amendment and its history and tradition of regulation," and his office "will continue to fight for California's authority to keep our communities safe from weapon enhancements that cause mass casualties."

The en banc panel took the case after U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego ruled in September that the ban is unconstitutional.

"This case is about a California state law that makes it a crime to keep and bear common firearm magazines typically possessed for lawful purposes," Benitez wrote in his decision. "Based on the text, history and tradition of the 2nd Amendment, this law is clearly unconstitutional."

It was the second time Benitez had overturned the law, the first since the Bruen decision was issued. Benitez has a history of overturning gun laws in the state.

The liberal en banc majority consisted of two Obama appointees and five Clinton appointees. Joining Bumatay in dissent were two other Trump appointees and an appointee of George W. Bush.

Judge Ryan D. Nelson, a Trump appointee, also wrote his own dissent, taking issue with the procedures used by the en banc panel to take up the case.

Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor who focuses on Second Amendment law, said other post-Bruen courts  including those cited by the majority in Tuesday's order  have upheld high-capacity magazine bans.

They've done so using arguments the Supreme Court left room for, he said, including that such weapons are not commonly used for self-defense, or that they present unique concerns that never confronted past generations.

However, the majority on Tuesday "didn't seem like they made any real effort to grapple with the issues," Winkler said. "There are good arguments to be made, but the court didn't offer them."

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The three leading candidates for Californias Senate seat have presented voters with sharply contrasting styles. On substance, however, their differences have tended to be more nuance than schism.

What about their history with Israel? Are Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee united today in how Israel should proceed after the horrific Hamas attacks?

There are differences, but as usual, they can be tough to find.

On so many issues, the three top candidates are almost indistinguishable, said Sara Sadhwani, a professor of American politics at Pomona College.

But this might be one area where they really begin to divide.

Schiff, D-Burbank, has been full-throated in his support for Israel since Hamas invaded the country Saturday.

Porter, D-Irvine, has a strong record of support for Israel while also expressing concern for Palestinian victims.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, says she has always backed Israel against terrorist attacks, and has called for a ceasefire.

Like Schiff and Porter, she firmly criticized Hamas action. I unequivocally condemn the ongoing acts of brutal terrorism by Hamas. Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, Lee told The Bee.

The three, along with other candidates, are vying for the Senate seat held for 31 years by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco, who died last month at age 90 and was regarded as a reliable friend of Israel.

At their debate on Sunday, Schiff had arguably the most direct, succinct response to the Hamas invasion. He declared his unequivocal support for the security and the right for Israel to defend itself.

Porter had the same idea, but went further.

I stand with Israel at this time and I condemn the loss of lives both of Palestinians and of Israelis who are being victims of this terror, she said.

There are lost lives in Gaza, there are lost lives in Israel and its because the United States has allowed terrorism to flourish and has refused to take a strong enough stand against Iran, who is backing Hamas and Hezbollah.

Schiffs campaign said Porter was sounding like members of the Houses Squad, a group of far-left lawmakers who have been sympathetic to Palestinian interests.

There is no both sides to this attack. Hamas is a terrorist group mass-murdering hundreds of innocent Israelis and taking women and children hostage, Schiff said in a statement. The campaign noted that on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had the same view, telling reporters, There are not two sides here.

But Porters campaign said she has a long history of backing Israel.

She visited the country along with 14 other House members on a trip sponsored by J Street, a pro-Israel organization that supports a democratic Palestinian state and has been critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She met with top officials, including Netanyahu, in late February and March.

After learning of the Hamas invasion Saturday, Porter tweeted I stand with the Israeli people, condemn this violence, and reaffirm Israels right to defend itself.

She reiterated that stand Sunday, saying on X (formerly Twitter) that Israel has every right to defend itself against Hamas.

How they voted

Porter and Schiff have voted the same way on key Israel-related legislation this year. Lees record is somewhat different.

In May, Porter and Schiff supported creation of a special envoy for the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries.

The House passed the measure overwhelmingly, while Lee voted no.

Schiff voted yes in June on a measure calling for expansion of the Abraham Accords. Porter was not present but inserted language into the Congressional Record saying she would have voted yes. The bill passed easily. Lee did not vote.

In July, Lee, Porter and Schiff all voted for a resolution expressing support for Israel and condemning antisemitism after Rep. Primal Jayapal, D-Washington, called Israel a racist state. The nonbinding resolution passed 418 to 9. All nine no votes were from Democrats, though Jayapal apologized and supported the measure.

Lee, Porter and Schiff all backed a 2021 bill to provide $1 billion for Israels Iron Dome defense system. Israel reportedly used the system to destroy most of the rockets Hamas launched at that time.

In 2019, Schiff and Porter joined 396 other House members to condemn the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which promotes action against Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians. Lee was one of 17 House members to oppose the proposal.

Not every one of these Senate candidates has valued Palestinian lives, said Fatima Iqbal-Zubair, chair of the California Democrats Progressive Caucus, who has endorsed Lees campaign.

We see moderate Democrats, and some progressive Democrats, not being bold, and ignoring Palestinian lives lost, she said. Weve seen Barbara Lees records, and if you have someone whos actually for the people, and not special interests, theyre going to speak to human rights being violated no matter where they are.

At the Sunday debate, Lee explained she has always stood for Israel not having to deal with terrorist attacks and have condemned over and over and over again terrorist attacks against Israel just as I have called for a ceasefire 

Lee is the top Democrat on the House appropriations subcommittee on state and foreign operations, which has a powerful say in spending.

On Tuesday, she said she was heartbroken by the senseless loss of life, and am continuing to pray for the victims, their loved ones, and the Israeli and Palestinian civilians impacted.

She said she would be working with the Biden administration to address the hostage crisis and prevent the cycle of violence from escalating. In the coming days and weeks, we must remain committed to long-term security and a just and lasting peace in the region.
Thirty-four member countries of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council are extremely concerned about the severe humanitarian and human rights crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and the situation of the population that fled there in recent weeks, the aforementioned countries have noted in a statement.

According to the report of the UN mission in the region, practically the entire ethnic Armenian population, more than 100,000 people fled to Armenia.

Their report notes the suffering this experience must have caused.

This mass displacement of ethnic Armenians from their homes is due to the Azerbaijani military operation that began on September 19 and the nine-month blockade of the Lachin corridor, which has led to severe humanitarian conditions, the aforementioned statement emphasizes.

The next step for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is to closely monitor the human rights situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, meet with refugees and displaced persons, as well as those who remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, and report to the UN Human Rights Council, the statement added.

Therefore, 34 member countries of the UN Human Rights Council urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to invite the representatives of the OHCHR to provide them with such technical assistance as soon as possible.

Also, the aforesaid countries call on Azerbaijan to ensure the rights and safety of the remaining Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and to immediately create conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of those who want to return to their homeland, and their cultural and religious heritage must be guaranteed and be protected.

In addition, the 34 member states of the UN Human Rights Council call on Azerbaijan to comply with the interim measures adopted by the European Court of Human Rights on September 22 as well as with the provisional measures adopted by International Court of Justice on December 7, 2021 and on February 22 and July 6, 2023.

The aforementioned countries call on Armenia to continue, with the support of the international community, providing humanitarian aid to those displaced by the crisis, the statement concludes.
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Outside the old Meghri train station in southern Armenia, a rusting locomotive, emblazoned with a fading emblem of the Soviet Union, sits on the tracks, as if still waiting for the passengers who stopped coming long ago, The Washingon Post reports.

The stations overgrown courtyard and dilapidated waiting rooms were once filled with Armenians, Azerbaijanis and visitors from across the Soviet Union, traveling between Baku and Yerevan, or Moscow and Tehran. A modest cafeteria sold tea and snacks, and in summer, fruit sellers on the platform hawked persimmons and pomegranates, grown locally in the orchards that hug the valley.

Meghri sits at a strategic crossroads that regional powers, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey and Russia, are competing to access  prompting fears it could soon be at the center of a new war.

Located just north of the Aras River and the Iranian border, Meghri is hemmed in by Azerbaijani territory. To the east lies Azerbaijan proper, whose border with Armenia has been shut since 1991. Roughly six miles to the west lies Nakhchivan, a landlocked Azerbaijani exclave that Baku has long dreamed of connecting to its mainland. A sliver of Nakhchivan borders Turkey.

Azerbaijan calls Meghri, and the rest of Armenias Syunik province, the Zangezur corridor. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other officials have described opening this corridor as a top objective  one that is now in direct focus following Bakus recapture of the long-disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Zangezur corridor is a broken link in a longer, potentially highly lucrative east-west route called the Middle Corridor that would connect China and Central Asian countries to Turkey via Azerbaijan.

Yerevan pledged to open transport routes to Baku as part of a 2020 cease-fire after a brief war in Nagorno-Karabakh. But since then, Armenian officials have balked, saying that any such arrangement would effectively be the occupation of Armenian territory.

Betrayed by Moscow, which failed to prevent Azerbaijans military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia now wants full control of the route. And it no longer wants Moscows security forces, who have guarded Meghris borders since the 1970s, involved.

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is pressuring Yerevan for unfettered access to the corridor, aiming to reopen the old Soviet railroad from Baku to Nakhchivan, as well as a highway for cars. It has already begun constructing infrastructure in preparation for the route.

Aliyev has signaled that Baku would use force to seize the corridor if the 2020 deal is not upheld. We will implement the Zangezur corridor, whether Armenia wants it or not, he said in 2021.

I think the threat of a flare-up is very real, said Stefan Meister, a South Caucasus expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations. The Azerbaijanis have a maximalist approach.  If they can take it, they will do it.

Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe who specializes in the region, said there are two competing visions for the same east-west route, with Armenia backed by the West, and Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey aligned together.

It is more likely that Baku and Moscow will jointly use all their pressure points on the Armenian government to coerce them to accept their plan, de Waal said. So this is shaping up into a real contest.

Turkey and Russia, which would benefit from expanding transport links crossing Armenian territory, have backed Aliyevs plans. Russia, especially, wants this southern route to circumvent Western sanctions. Moscow has been using Azerbaijan to continue selling oil despite import bans and a price cap regime coordinated by the Group of Seven nations.

But Iran, a powerful ally of Armenia and its only friendly neighbor, has strongly opposed the project, averse to any alterations to its border with Armenia. The proposed plan would hinder, if not disconnect, free trade and traffic between the two countries. It could also reduce profits from Irans gas contracts with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijans lightning offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh last month, which prompted more than 100,000 of the regions ethnic Armenian residents to flee, has raised concerns that Baku  which has stepped up its hawkish rhetoric  may use force to get its way in the transit corridor dispute.

A crumpled old railway map lies on the floor of the main building of the abandoned Meghri train station. When active, the railway connected Meghri to Yerevan, traveling through Nakhchivan. (Anush Babajanyan/VII)

It was war between Azerbaijan and Armenia that originally shuttered the Meghri station.

At its peak during the Soviet era, the station had 70 employees. Armenian and Azerbaijani residents lived side by side. One year, even one deputy mayor of Meghri was Azerbaijani.

But in 1992, with Armenia and Azerbaijan at war over Nagorno-Karabakh, revenge attacks escalated. A group of Azerbaijanis hijacked the train running from Yerevan to Kapan as it passed through Nakhchivan and took 12 wagons full of mostly Armenian passengers hostage for a week.

As official negotiations stalled, a group of men from Meghri took matters into their own hands. Climbing the high mountain paths to a radar station, they bribed a Russian border guard to let them cross into Nakhchivan. Then, disguised as Russians, they kidnapped a local man  a relative of an Azerbaijani official  who was exchanged for the 14 remaining passenger-hostages. Baku and Yerevan later signed an accord to safeguard passenger transport.

The next year, however, a rumor spread that Azerbaijanis had abducted a busload of Armenian passengers farther north. A lynch mob of angry Armenian residents gathered at the Meghri station. Thinking that Baku had violated the accord, Arman Davtyan, the deputy station director, halted the train.

I gave the order to the duty officer to stop the incoming train, Davtyan said in a recent interview, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth, and by doing this, I very nearly risked an international crisis.

After two days of talks to ensure locals would not ambush the passengers, the train departed from the station  one of the last to ever leave Meghri. The station closed a few months later, in 1993, along with the whole line from Baku to Nakhchivan.
Armenia was warning for months that Azerbaijan was preparing for Armenian ethnic cleansing in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), and it is regrettable to report that this has become a reality. This was stated Thursday by Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Armenia's representative on international legal affairs, speaking at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the hearings of Armenia's case against Azerbaijan.

Kirakosyan reminded that on September 19, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack against Artsakh, and then cynically reopened the Lachin corridor for the first time in the nine-month siege so that Artsakh Armenians would leave the region where they lived for many centuries.

Now there are no Armenians there. And if this is not ethnic cleansing, then we don't know what ethnic cleansing is. The representative of Azerbaijan will say that he is ready for peace and so on. But he said the same thing nine months ago. Then Azerbaijan started a siege, launched a brutal attack, and expelled the Armenians from the land of their ancestors, Kirakosyan said.

Azerbaijan will say that it is ready for the return of Armenians; but they said the same thing after the war, too. No Armenians were allowed to return to the occupied territories. Azerbaijan will pledge to respect the rights and security of the Armenian population; but Azerbaijan has made similar promises in the past as well, and this did not prevent it from violating international conventions, Kirakosyan noted.

Since September 2020, Azerbaijan has taken steps toward the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh; and he did it in parallel with the discussion of the Armenian lawsuit in this court. The international community did not stop the process. Azerbaijan's accountability will be determined by the results of the discussion in this court. But now there is still time to prevent the irreversibility of the emigration of Armenians from Artsakh, Kirakosyan stated

There are still Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, and their rights must be protected. Many Armenians were abducted and illegally kept in the prisons of Azerbaijan. Baku's cynicism knows no bounds. Azerbaijan claims that Armenia's demands violate the laws, and it accuses Yerevan of allegedly being against the establishment of peace in the region and not being interested in the process of normalization of relations, Kirakosyan said.

Azerbaijan's behavior contradicts international laws. It has repeatedly shown its willingness to mislead the international community. Only the interim measures of the ICJ can stop the Armenian ethnic cleansing and the attempts to erase the Armenian traces in the region, as happened in Nakhichevan, as well as protect the former leaders of Artsakh from the illegal actions of Baku, Kirakosyan noted.

But if there is uncertainty in the ICJ's decision, Azerbaijan will inevitably take advantage of it. Armenia is appealing to the court for the third time already, Yeghishe Kirakosyan stated.

Hearings of Armenia's case against Azerbaijan have started at the International Court of Justice. Armenia's position is presented by five representatives.
Photo: The Canadian Press Noy Leyb, shown in this undated handout image, is an Israeli-Canadian member of the Israel Defense Forces reserve and has reported for duty in Israel. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Noy Leyb

Temima Silver is waiting for the call to report for duty in the Israeli military.

Born and raised in Ottawa, the 21-year-old moved to Israel in 2020 to join the Israel Defense Forces. Released from service last year, Silver said she recently responded to a call asking members of her former platoon to voluntarily return to duty after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.

Hundreds of people, including young children, were killed in the attacks, whose targets included a music festival and communal farming settlements. "What else is there to do but go out and fight?" Silver asked.

Israeli-Canadian reservists like her say they're volunteering because they believe it's the right thing to do, even though they're not looking forward to combat.

"If you don't believe that this will succeed, then you don't believe that you see a tomorrow for future generations of Israel, of Jews, of your brothers and sisters. There is no choice," she said in an interview Wednesday.

Silver decided to stay in Israel after she left the military and now lives near Tel Aviv. She said she believes success in Israel's war with Hamas will involve freeing the more than 150 hostages held by militant groups, as well as ensuring the safety of Israelis.

"War is not a pretty thing. Even though I served in the army and I served as a combat soldier, I'm not sitting here happy that we're going to war," she said. "It's a horrifying thing. It takes resources, it takes lives, it takes pain and it takes from people's hearts."

Silver said she moved to Israel as a "lone soldier"  someone from another country who doesn't have family in Israel  after seeing antisemitic incidents in her high school. Since moving to the Jewish state, she said she has felt a sense of belonging and that she doesn't have to be afraid because she is Jewish.

Josephine Buchman, who immigrated to Canada from Israel in 2012 and now lives in the Toronto area, worked in recruitment during her military service in Israel and was never a member of the reserves. She said Israelis overseas aren't required to return to service if they're called up, but many are returning all the same.

And other Israelis who live abroad are finding different ways to help, she said. Buchman said she is raising money for a paratrooper unit in Israel. With more than 600,000 reservists called up, there is a shortage of bulletproof vests, boots and tactical equipment, she said.

"I'm happy for my children that we're not there, but I'm so torn because all my family, my friends, people I grew up with, they're all there," she said Thursday. "So you feel like you can't do anything, and it's driving you crazy."

Noy Leyb, who grew up in Calgary but now lives in New York, said he got on the first flight he could to Israel after he heard about the Hamas attacks in order to return to the army, where he has served as a paratrooper. "Before my unit even contacted me I bought a plane ticket home," he said in an interview Wednesday.

Leyb left Canada in 2009, at 18, to join the Israeli army. Since finishing active service, he said he has continued to return to Israel to train as a reservist once or twice a year. He said he arrived in Israel on Sunday evening and reported for duty the next morning.

"No one's looking forward. No one wants to really be here," he said. "But we have people killing us, we have people torturing us, we have people kidnapping us and doing things that even ISIS didn't do to us. So we don't want to be here, but we have to be here."

For Leyb, victory will be the total destruction of Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since seizing power in 2007.

"For me, for many others, victory would be not taking off our uniform until every last member of Hamas is gone, every single last member, and that Gaza will become a different place, not led by terrorists, not led by people who call for the destruction of Israel," he said.

Leyb said the Israeli military takes many steps to avoid civilian casualties, and while he acknowledges civilians will die in the conflict, he blames that on Hamas, which the Canadian government lists as a terrorist organization.

"Hamas is putting their people here, they're using them as human shields .... Unfortunately, on both sides, there are civilian casualties. We're not going to let Hamas walk all over us, we're going to stand and we're going to defend and that's a part of war."

While Silver said she sees nuance in the broader conflict between Israel and Palestine, describing it as a situation that isn't black and white, she said the recent assault by Hamas was a brutal terrorist attack that took innocent lives.

"This specific attack doesn't get more black and white," she said.
Azerbaijani delegates in PACE make irredentist and aggressive statements, which is unacceptable, and the PACE presidency should not allow such a thing. Ruben Rubinyan, head of the National Assembly of Armenia delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said this at the PACE session, during the urgent procedure discussion on the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakhand responding to the address by Azerbaijani delegate Kamal Jafarov.

Everything is clear. Azerbaijan had a clear intention to carry out ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, which it did. But the level of cynicism of the Azerbaijani colleagues in this discussion is astounding. They assumed the role of defenders of their authoritarian, genocidal regime. They claim that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are citizens of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan is a multinational paradise on earth. But none of them said a single word about the fate of 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and their needs. None of them said a word of condolence about the people who died, who were separated from their families. But if taken into account that what happened was the clear intention of the regime they represent, everything becomes logical, noted Rubinyan.

But this is not all. These people are so devoid of shame that even after a few weeks of ethnic cleansing of an entire population in Nagorno-Karabakh, they come to this organization and call Armenia "Western Azerbaijan, added Rubinyan.

According to him, there is no need to be a genius to understand that Azerbaijan's latest actions show that this country has become a threat to the international legal system.

And this regime should be punished by law. And the delegation from Armenia expect the support of PACE, as a representative of the international community, in this matter because this is not only the issue of Armenia, this is an issue of the international legal system. The PACE presidency should not allow anyone to use irredentist and aggressive terms, it is unacceptable to call Armenia "Western Azerbaijan," there is probably no need to explain why, said Ruben Rubinyan.
One hundred thousand Armenians, the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh, had to leave their homes and regions. Lawrence Martin, one of the lawyers representing Armenia's lawsuit, stated this while speaking Thursday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during its consideration of Armenia's case against Azerbaijan.

According to him, these Armenians left their homes under the blows of the "iron fist" of Azerbaijan.

He called on the ICJ to examine the footage of Azerbaijanis celebrating the massacres of Armenians during the 44-day war in 2020. Although Azerbaijan promised to give Armenians the opportunity to return to the occupied territories, this did not happen. What is more, several more villages in the Lachine corridor were de-Armenianized, the latest events are the culmination of the process, and it was preceded by the aforesaid blockade, Martin said.

He reminded that Azerbaijan did not fulfill the previous order of the ICJ to allow unhindered passage through the Lachin corridor.

Azerbaijan stopped the supply of natural gas and electricity to Nagorno-Karabakh, the international community continued to condemn, but Azerbaijani soldiers continued to shoot at villagers in the border fields.

On September 18, the situation was such that there were deaths from starvation, patients died due to lack of medicine, and there were many miscarriages. On September 18, the ICRC and the Russian peacekeeping force were allowed to import humanitarian cargo through Lachin and Aghdam. The whole world welcomed it, and there was a feeling that the issue could be resolved. But on September 19, Azerbaijan started the military aggression, calling it an "antiterrorist operation, and this aggression was carefully prepared, Martin said.

More than 100,000 refugees. For Armenia, whose population is less than 3 million, this is a very difficult problem. It should also be taken into account that in the past many refugees have already become refugees due to Azerbaijan's fault, Martin noted.

According to experts, many Armenian children forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh suffer from psychological problems as a result of the incident. Azerbaijan claims that the Armenians left voluntarily. But in the case of Azerbaijan, each statement is a kind of confession. It's hard to believe that hundreds of thousands of people left their homes and left for no reason, Martin said.

No sane person would decide to stay under a regime that spreads hatred towards Armenians. In Azerbaijan, they like to refer to their president Ilham Aliyev's statements about the protection of the rights of all citizens and the absence of problems with the Armenian people. But this is the same person who called Armenians enemies, and therefore the world can afford not to believe Aliyev, Martin stated.

Armenians did the right thing by leaving Nagorno-Karabakh. The authorities of Azerbaijan have arrested eight former Karabakh officials, including three presidents, and another 300 are wanted, Martin note.

Armenian symbols are destroyed, crosses are blown up, monasteries are shelled, and Azerbaijan has already started to actively settle Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijanis, Martin stated.

However, the UN mission did not see traces of shelling of the houses. In general, it is difficult to call it a mission. It was in Nagorno-Karabakh for less than a day, and did not have a chance to find out anything. It is obvious that this is the result of creative activity of the US mission coordinator in Baku. Who and how did he choose the places to visit in the city? They themselves have admitted that they are limited in their movements, Lawrence Martin said.
Armenia demands to protect the rights of more than 100,000 Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh, the few remaining there, as well as those held by Azerbaijan. Professor Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos, one of those representing Armenia's lawsuit, stated this while speaking Thursday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during its consideration of Armenia's case against Azerbaijan.

Sicilianos recalled that the definition of ethnic cleansing includes expulsion and killing, forcing people to move by force or threats, destruction of cultural heritage, as well as creating conditions aimed at worsening living conditions.

The entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh was forced to leave the region due to damage to infrastructure, the use of force for exile, and the lack of conditions for return. Living conditions have not been created for those who have remained; and they are old and sick people. Azerbaijan, on the contrary, is intensifying its actions, noted Sicilianos.

According to him, rights violations and racial discrimination against Karabakh Armenians are obvious, Azerbaijani president Aliyev announced that ethnic Armenians in Karabakh will not have special status or privileges, the Azerbaijani practice of ethnic cleansing is widespread, and Azerbaijan arrested the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh and announced its intention to arrest another 300 people.

How can people trust the Azerbaijani authorities in the absence of monitoring, when these authorities country have tortured and extrajudicially punished Armenians for years, Sicilianos asked. He added that Azerbaijan is taking active steps to make it impossible for Armenians to return, the international convention protects cultural heritage, but despite this, Azerbaijan destroyed the Karabakh capital Stepanakert cross and is destroying Armenian cemeteries and monasteries.

Rights to social protection and medical assistance were violated. Although international conventions prohibit selective treatment on national and racial grounds, Azerbaijan does the opposite, Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos said, adding that Azerbaijan should refrain also from punitive measures against arrested Nagorno-Karabakh officials.
The scale of the forced emigration of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and the amount of damage caused are enormous, but we are here to prevent more losses. Professor Alice McDonald one of those representing Armenia's lawsuit, stated this while speaking Thursday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during its consideration of Armenia's case against Azerbaijan.

According to her, the situation is tragic, as people have left their historical homeland in just a few days. They lost everything: home, history, homeland of their ancestors. The sudden Azerbaijani military aggression against them came after months of siege, Armenia welcomed them with open arms, and the international community will help. But this is not the only issue, McDonald said.

Their chance to return to their ancestral homeland depends on Azerbaijan fulfilling the requirements of the international convention. Azerbaijan now constantly violates their rights, absorbs Nagorno-Karabakh in every sense, destroys the Armenian essence of the region in order to exclude the possibility of return of Armenians, McDonald noted.

Eight senior officials of Nagorno-Karabakh were arrested by Azerbaijan on trumped-up charges. Azerbaijani president Aliyev presents the elected representatives of the Armenian population as a "junta," they are not allowed to meet with representatives of international organizations, including the ICRC, and all this is done to erase the Armenian trace, Armenian culture in Nagorno-Karabakh, McDonald stated.

Hate spreads on the tongue. Aliyev spoke about this, saying that Armenian songs will not be played here from now on. Signs in Armenian are being actively destroyed. Promises of return and living in a multi-ethnic paradise do not inspire confidence. Aliyev personally announced that if the Armenians do not "cleanse" themselves from here, they will be driven away like dogs, McDonald recalled.

At the same time, the PACE noted issues related to human rights in Azerbaijan, and the UN court previously rejected Azerbaijan's arguments. Baku does not ensure the presence of international observers to create an opportunity for the return of Armenians, unless, of course, we talk about the theatrical visit of the UN mission. In other words, Armenians should believe their expellers, McDonald noted.

Azerbaijan has abolished all autonomies and is going to populate Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijanis, Aliyev has already announced a "big return plan" and intends to resettle 100,000 Azerbaijanis in the next three years there; that is, as many Armenians have left the region, McDonald stated.

Thus, Azerbaijan, whose president is proud of expelling Armenians like dogs, asks the International Court of Justice to believe his statements about his readiness to protect Armenians. He starved them for nine months, and now he says he is ready to protect them, McDonald stated.

If the events continue in the same spirit, the ICJs decision will be meaningless because the de-Armenianization of Nagorno-Karabakh will become a fact by then, noted Alice McDonald.
Armenia demands that Azerbaijan refrain from deporting Armenians remaining in Nagorno-Karabakh and does not prevent the return of those who left, as well as those who wish to leave. Professor Sean Murphy, one of those representing Armenia's lawsuit, stated this while speaking Thursday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during its consideration of Armenia's case against Azerbaijan.

According to him, Azerbaijan has already taken measures to deport Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. After the blockade, Azerbaijan carried out military aggression, which caused the forced displacement of more than 100,000 Armenians, including 30,000 children. At the same time, Azerbaijan has not taken any steps for returning of the Armenians, Murphy said.

Azerbaijan assures that Armenians will have all rights under its constitution and international law. But such vague assurances are not enough considering the entrenched Armenophobia in Azerbaijan. What is more, the Azerbaijani pledge of reintegration of the Armenians of Karabakh does not take into account the historical past of Nagorno-Karabakh in the form of autonomy during the USSR. But at the same time, Azerbaijani president Aliyev promised that no one will have the status of freedom and privileges, Murphy stated.

Aliyev's promises are empty considering the actions taking place on the ground. Azerbaijan should allow Armenians to return to Nagorno-Karabakh and create all conditions for this. He must withdraw all military forces from the occupied cities and villages. The ICJ should take into account that we are asking to withdraw the Azerbaijani troops from civilian targets. This circumstance contributed to the departure of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, and it prevents them from returning. If this is not done, the Armenians, who are too familiar with the previous barbaric actions of the Azerbaijani officials and military, will not return to Nagorno-Karabakh, Murphy noted.

There are reports of Azerbaijani shelling of Armenian houses and monasteries in Nagorno-Karabakh; this is done by the same armed forces that used to behead Armenians and were rewarded for it by their authorities, Murphy stated.

Azerbaijan should not interfere with the UN visits to Nagorno-Karabakh and contacts with the Armenian population, and it should not interfere with the activities of the UN in general. The only way for Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to feel safe is to have a permanent UN mission with permanent unimpeded access. It should include representatives of UNESCO, who were previously banned from entering Armenian monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh, and human rights specialists, Murphy said.

Azerbaijan should refrain from actions that hinder the ICRC's activities and actively cooperate with it. Work is needed to search for the missing Armenians, the remains of the dead, and to provide access to those arrested. However, Azerbaijan did the opposite, including abducting people who were being transported by the ICRC, Murphy noted.

Azerbaijan should be obligated to refrain from punitive actions against the former leaders and he representatives of the military command of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan should undertake to refrain from punitive measures against them because they were elected by the people and performed the functions of maintaining order, Murphy stated.

Azerbaijan should not change or destroy the monuments of the 1915 genocide of the Armenians, and their cultural and religious heritage. However, Azerbaijan has vandalized Armenian monuments in the territories under its control after the 2020 war, and will no doubt do the same now that the entire area off Nagorno-Karabakh is under its control. At the same time, Azerbaijan does not consider hundreds of Armenian monuments Nagorno-Karabakh to be Armenian, and there is no reason to believe that it will refrain from distorting them, Murphy said.

Azerbaijan should not destroy documents related to Armenians and their property in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan has announced plans for a "great return," it must ensure that this resettlement does not prevent the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh. But this will happen if the documents on Armenians' property are destroyed, or Azerbaijan cancels all previous registrations, Sean Murphy noted.
Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Armenia's representative on international legal affairs, listed, at the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) Thursday, the ten interim demands against Azerbaijan. They are as follows:

1) Azerbaijan should not take any action that would violate its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

2) Azerbaijan should refrain from actions aimed at displacing Armenians remaining in Nagorno-Karabakh, or preventing their return. Also, not to prevent those who wish to enter Nagorno-Karabakh.

3) Azerbaijan should withdraw the military from the settlements occupied on September 19-20.

4) Azerbaijan should not interfere with the work of UN representatives with ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

5) Azerbaijan should not to interfere with the activities of the ICRC and the provision of humanitarian aid to ethnic Armenians.

6) Azerbaijan is obliged to provide public services, first of all natural gas supply, and not to disrupt them in the future.

7) Azerbaijan should not to take punitive measures against former or current representatives of the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities.

8) Azerbaijan should not to destroy the monuments of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, or any other monuments of the religious or cultural heritage of Armenians.

9) Azerbaijan must recognize the civil residence acts and ownership certificates adopted by the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh.

10) Azerbaijan is obliged to report to the ICJ about the implementation of the decision after one month, and then every three months until the final decision is made.
During the discussion of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh under the urgent procedure at Thursdays session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Andreas Wiesner, UNHCR representative in Strasbourg, France, presented the response plan prepared by the UNHCR regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after the escalation of September 19.

He said that the Armenian Government informed them that between September 24 and October 4, more than 100,632 people were forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, that is, about 15,000 people arrived in Armenia every day. However, since October 1, the flow of people greatly decreased. According to him, every 30th person in Armenia with a population of 3 million is considered a refugee, including 35,000 refugees, most of whom came to Armenia during the previous war.

Andreas Wiesner noted that the refugees are mostly confused and worried about their future. "They do not know what will happen to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh, whether they will ever be able to return, or whether they will be able to solve the problem of their children's education in Armenia, among other problems. They have been able to take very little with them and are in immediate need of such items as blankets, bedding, medicine, socio-psychological support, etc. Many, including children and the elderly, are traumatized and need psychological support," he said.

According to him, although the Armenian Government is doing everything possible to take care of the needs of the displaced, there is still a need for the support of international organizations, at least for six months or more. According to Andreas Wiesner, humanitarian assistance programs should be followed by progressive integration programs.

According to Andreas Wiesner, the existing housing in RA needs to be repaired, housing conditions are insufficient to accommodate people in an emergency mode. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is also involved in monitoring the places of displaced persons.

Further, he mentioned that 40% of the children displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia were now attend schools in Armenia, but this is a rather low indicator and the reason is that not all families have been able to finally settle in a specific community, and not all schools have been able to admit new students.

Andreas Wiesner also mentioned that the Armenian Government will provide one-time and six-month financial support to the displaced persons. However, according to him, there is no need for the displaced to receive this special support for a long time, that assistance should be included in social security programs as soon as possible. In the long term, according to him, there is a need for international support in order to create appropriate conditions and infrastructures for the displaced, for example, to increase the possibilities of schools, because, according to their calculations, about 85,000 of the displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh will not leave Armenia in the near future.
Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh are victims of ethnic cleansing. Whether Azerbaijan likes it or not, it is not possible to call it otherwise. Professor Pierre d'Argent, one of those representing Armenia's lawsuit, stated this while speaking Thursday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during its consideration of Armenia's case against Azerbaijan.

According to him, Azerbaijan's fairy tales about the voluntary departure of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh are simply ridiculous, and even Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev realizes this. Today we will probably hear again a tale where the executioner blames the victim for his suffering. Azerbaijan is doing everything to worsen the situation and ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The day after the Azerbaijani military aggression in Nagorno-Karabakh, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity. At the same time, the Armenian population was leaving the region, and Aliyev soon announced the "great return" plan. This is a racist plan that involves replacing Armenians with Azerbaijanis, d'Argent said.

The professor reminded that during the collapse of the USSR, the overwhelming majority of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh were ethnic Armenians, whereas now there are only a few Armenians left there. He asked the ICJ members whether really believe that the destruction of Armenian symbols and the memory of the Armenian Genocide is a sign of bad taste, or are unique cases. The Baku regime categorically denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, the recent incidents of the destruction of a cross and the shelling of a 13th century Armenian monastery Nagorno-Karabakh, the assurances of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan that the Armenian Gandzasar Monastery is actually Caucasus Albanian are not mistakes by an intern; this is not accidental, and everything is perfectly calculated and implemented gradually by Azerbaijan, d'Argent said.

He quoted Aliyev, who had said that Azerbaijani flags are not raised in order not to scare Armenians, and asked whether this was a confession. And that, by the way, is not true; flags are raised in the occupied territory. In response to the decision of the ECtHR, the Azerbaijani authorities have changed the text of this decision, and they are simply misleading Strasbourg, as the flag of Azerbaijan now hangs on the most famous monument of Karabakh capital Stepanakert, d'Argent noted.

Azerbaijan perceives permissiveness as a green light to continue its policy; and if the ICJ makes an uncertain decision, Azerbaijan will definitely take advantage of this and complete its ethnic cleansing of Armenians, d'Argent stated.

The first reason why one cannot trust Azerbaijan is that words are not enough. Second, Baku's words and deeds are different. Azerbaijan did not say a word that it does not intend to settle Nagorno-Karabakh with Azerbaijanis, and now it has started the big migration program, d'Argent said.

In a letter dated October 2, the ICJ is informed that the Armenians who left Nagorno-Karabakh can return, and the rights of the few remaining Armenians are guaranteed. But this is not enough, and they know it very well in Azerbaijan, as the latters authorities require these Armenians to register, d'Argent noted, and asked what will happen to those who are not registered.

The authorities of Azerbaijan can announce that the Karabakh Armenians themselves renounced their property. Therefore, Armenia requires Azerbaijan to submit regular reports on the implementation of the ICJ decisions. But Azerbaijan has repeatedly bypassed these decisions, as it happened in the case of the installation of Azerbaijan checkpoints at the Lachin corridor, d'Argent said.

If the ICJ wants to guarantee the creation of conditions for the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh, respective measures must be taken; this is necessary to maintain the standing of the International Court of Justice, Pierre d'Argent stated.
Nagorno-Karabakh is perceived as part of Azerbaijan, but Azerbaijan's sovereign right to the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh can be exercised only within the framework of international law. PD Dr. Bjorn Schiffbauer, professor of public law, European and international law at the University of Rostock, Germany, noted this during the discussion of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh under the urgent procedure at Thursdays session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

In the case of the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, there is no legal justification that would allow Azerbaijan to ignore its obligations under international law. According to the law of international treaties, states must obey the decisions of international courts whose jurisdiction they have accepted. In the case of Nagorno-Karabakh, two international courts have jurisdiction and the right to make binding decisions for Azerbaijan. They are the European Court of Human Rights, and the International Court of Justice. Both have applied an intermediate measure to Azerbaijan, obliging Azerbaijan to ensure safe movement in both directions through the Lachin corridor by all means under its jurisdiction. At the same time, most of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh left the territory and entered Armenia through the Lachin corridor. However, according to the available information, Azerbaijan did not and does not provide passage of either people or perhaps supplies from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. Thus, Azerbaijan did not fulfill the requirement to ensure uninterrupted movement in at least two directions, Schiffbauer said.

He emphasized that these two decisions refer to the rights of the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, which are guaranteed by the principles of equality and self-determination of peoples' rights of international law. In addition, according to him, the framework convention of the Council of Europe on the rights of national minorities, to which Azerbaijan has also joined, defines specific rights in this context.

The right to self-determination provides certain rights of autonomy of an independent organization within the framework of the legislation of the country having jurisdiction; in this case: Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, self-determination defined by international law does not imply termination of sovereignty by the use of force, Schiffbauer said.

Furthermore, the individuals of the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh are protected by international human rights and humanitarian laws. The most adequate legal framework regarding the ethnic Armenian population is the European Convention on Human Rights: Article 2on the right to life, Article 3on the prohibition of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, Article 6on the right to a fair trial, Article 8respect for the right to private and family life, which is one of the most important in terms of the situation in the Lachin corridor, Schiffbauer added.

The blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan endangered the lives of many people and was an inhumane treatment, thus Azerbaijan violated Articles 2, 3, 6 and 8 of the European Convention. In addition to human rights, some provisions of International Criminal Law are also applicable here. At the moment, at least, it cannot be ruled out that certain war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by some individuals in Azerbaijan, Schiffbauer stated.

Reflecting on the crime of Genocide, Schiffbauer expressed the opinion that the situation in the Lachine corridor corresponds only to Article 2, Section C of the Genocide Convention; that is, to deliberately impose such conditions of life on a group of people that shall lead to the partial or complete physical destruction of that group. However, the fact that the Lachin corridor was reopened for the Armenians in one direction and they were able to escape to Armenia that way, according to the expert, contradicts the intention of physical destruction of the group.

The group of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh did not undergo physical extermination, but underwent social extermination through forced displacement. Nevertheless, the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide does not refer to ethnic cleansing. Therefore, it is unlikely that Azerbaijan wanted to destroy the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, as they were simply displaced, said Bjorn Schiffbauer.
Its not often that a body of research begun in 1985 can claim to have a future as bright as its past.

And yet, that is precisely the case for The Letters of Samuel Beckett project, the culmination of which was celebrated in high style, with humor and gratitude abounding, in the Jones Room of the Robert W. Woodruff Library on the evening of Sept. 21. For even as attendees looked back, the future beckons as well, with the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library becoming the future home of the projects materials.

Every type of contributor  former undergraduates and graduate students, a just-named alumni advisory group, librarians, emeritus faculty, staff at the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship (ECDS) and metro-area partners that include theaters as well as the consulates general of Ireland and France  took a well-deserved bow. And no one rushed it, for the community that has grown up around this project is like a small city, as evidenced by the nearly 400 students who have assisted on the project over its life.

Appropriately at the center of the celebration was Lois Overbeck, who  thoughtfully and tirelessly  has been developing the project ever since Samuel Beckett authorized Martha Dow Fehsenfeld as editor and Overbeck as associate editor to locate and transcribe his letters.

Cher ami, or writing for an audience of one

Kicking off the evening, Lisa Macklin, associate vice provost and university librarian, reflected on the dynamics of letter writing.

The writer freely gives away the letter to someone else, and a conversation starts. Some might call it a lost art, Macklin noted, but added: I know that I have family letters I cherish because they are voices of people who are no longer here with us.

Beckett knew exactly the path he wanted his letters project to take. He asked his editors to continue the conversation he had started with his correspondents. As Overbeck recounted, Beckett initiated the most important element of our work, saying: You will get round and see these people, wont you? There was no refusing. That was not a rhetorical question, and of course we would and we did, and it made the difference.

Fehsenfeld and Overbeck started by consulting archival collections all over the world, and they met with his correspondents in their homes.

Sometimes, said Overbeck, a visit meant to be a couple of hours turned into a couple of days because there was so much to share. The questions we had prepared only scratched the surface. We listened because we didnt know the whole story.

The letters begin in 1929; they end in 1989, the year of his death, and in between are some of the most important years of the 20th century, Overbeck said. Beckett knew so many people and was involved in so many ways.

Ron Schuchard  Emorys Goodrich C. White Professor of English Literature, emeritus  co-edited three volumes of letters of poet and dramatist W. B. Yeats and had key advice for Overbeck and Fehsenfeld regarding, as Overbeck phrased it, how much or little to annotate. Ron said, If you are as close as anyone has ever been or will be to what happened, put it all in. Im afraid we did, Overbeck said.

Riding the wave of digital scholarship

The Letters of Samuel Beckett was published in four volumes by Cambridge University Press between 2009 and 2016. Although more than 16,000 letters were consulted and transcribed in the editing process, the selected edition could include only about 2,500 of them.

Thus Overbeck began a productive partnership with ECDS staff, including Sara Palmer, digital text specialist, and Jay Varner, lead software engineer, both of whom attended the event. They took this digital trove and made it a highly flexible tool for scholarship, Overbeck noted in thanking them.

The result is Chercher, an interactive index whose two primary search modes are Letter Data, which includes those in public archives along with their physical state and location, and Index, the people, places and things Beckett mentions in his letters.

With a book, you are creating something linear, Overbeck observed. With a dataset, you can go anywhere and everywhere and make associations. And that is where the discovery comes in.

Overbeck mused that, The Beckett Letters project began before most of you were born. And to that group, she issued an invitation, saying: If you have a life of scholarship ahead of you, there is plenty to do. Chercher can be the starting point for research in many fields.

Part of the nights joy was watching a video featuring alumni, some of whom have gone on to be leading scholars in Beckett studies. The constant among them was acknowledging how deep and valuable their learning was on the project.

Kevin Lucas is the Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he teaches in the writing and communication program. He is also an inaugural member of the advisory board that will maintain Chercher by accessing and integrating new materials into the metadata as well as managing project outreach.

As he commented, So much of academic work was always very individual, building ideas on your own, but this project made me think about things in a different way, about collaboration, about what it is to contribute to a project bigger than you in which you play only a small role.

Congratulating all who were involved in the project, Jennifer Gunter King, director of the Rose Library, welcomed the arrival of the Beckett materials, which will join the librarys more than 2,200 other collections.

Archives dont just happen. As you heard from Lois, they are painstakingly and lovingly understood and established across generations and across time. You have set in motion a resource that, over the next many years, will ensure that Samuel Becketts thoughts, relationships and ideas are better contextualized through the collection of his letters, King said.

Saving the best for last

The nights last chapter was the perfect way to tie a bow around this sprawling endeavor, which has received worldwide praise for the quality of its scholarship. What better way to end than to see and hear from the man himself?

The audience was treated to the infamous Swedish television interview of Beckett following his receipt of the Nobel Prize in 1969. His publisher, Jerome Lindon, sent him a telegram saying, In spite of everything, they have given you the Nobel Prize  I advise you to go into hiding. Having dreaded the honor, Beckett responds to his Swedish interlocutor by staring at the camera in stony silence.

But he could be charming and funny. When his favorite director, Alan Schneider, asked who Godot was, Beckett replied, If I knew, I would have said so in the play.

As milestones in the project were celebrated at Emory through the years, luminaries such as playwright Edward Albee and author Salman Rushdie  former university distinguished professor at Emory, whose archive is in the Rose Library  read Becketts letters to audiences at events. They were so wonderful that we kept doing it, said Overbeck.

And so too on this evening, when Brenda Bynum and Robert Shaw-Smith read from the letters. For those who couldnt be there, a recording captures the many high points.

Here is a small sample of Becketts mordant wit in action. When Houghton Mifflin in Boston had Becketts manuscript Murphy under consideration, the publisher demanded extensive cuts. The road to publisher interest in his work had been rocky to that point for Beckett, who advised his literary agent, George Reavey, to respond for him.

As Shaw-Smith read in the role of Beckett, his Irish accent landing perfectly: I am anxious for the book to be published and therefore cannot afford to reply with a blank refusal to cut anything. Will you therefore communicate my extreme aversion to removing one-third of my work proceeding from my extreme inability to understand how this can be done and leave a remainder? Be astonished, firm and, up to a point, politely flexible. All at once if you can.
Turkey 'stands by' deal on Sweden joining Nato

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has yet to put the ratification of Sweden's membership before his parliament. Photo: AFP

Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that Turkey had assured allies it remains committed to a deal to ratify Sweden's membership of the military alliance.



Ankara is facing growing pressure from its Nato counterparts to approve Stockholm's bid to join after well over a year of delay.



Only Turkey and Hungary are yet to ratify Sweden's membership after Stockholm dropped its long-standing policy of non-alignment to apply in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine.



Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed at a Nato summit in Vilnius in July to put the ratification of Sweden's membership before his parliament.



But there has been no movement since Turkish lawmakers reconvened at the start of October.



"The Turkish defence minister confirmed that Turkey stands by the agreement from Vilnius to finalise Swedish accession," Stoltenberg said after a meeting of Nato defence ministers.



"I now expect that the Turkish government will submit the accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly and work with the assembly to ensure speedy ratification."



Diplomats said all other Nato members at the meeting pushed Ankara and Budapest to approve Sweden's bid to join.



They say Turkey is looking to win concessions from main Nato power the United States over the sale of modernised versions of F-16 fighter jets for its ageing air force.



While the White House supports supplying the aircraft to Ankara, the US Congress is blocking the sale.



Finland, which applied to join Nato at the same time as Sweden, was granted membership in April. (AFP)
BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 12: India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on age-old cultural, religious and economic ties between the two nations. UAE is home to Indian expatriate community of more than 3.5 million - the largest expatriate community in the UAE. The Indian community has played a major role in the economic development of the UAE. The UAE is now India's third-largest trading partner, behind only the economic giants of China and the United States. And simultaneously India is the second-largest trading partner for the UAE, worth US$ 42 billion, excluding oil. As of 2022, the United Arab Emirates was the one of the largest crude oil producers and the fourth-largest producer of petroleum liquids in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The oil and gas sector is critical to the United Arab Emirates economy, contributing significantly to the country's revenue. In November 2022, ADNOC announced an investment of USD 150 billion over the next five years to enable an "accelerated growth strategy" for oil and gas production. Thus, this creates a strong demand for high-quality mechanical seals. Habshan Trading Company (HTC) is a 100% locally-owned company which was established in 1975 by the Al-Mazrouie family. HTC is one of the major suppliers of industrial equipment to the Oil & Gas and Power sectors of the United Arab Emirates. Sealmatic & Habshan (HTC) have partnered for selling, repair and refurbishment of Sealmatic mechanical seals in Abu Dhabi to serve customers in the oil and gas, petrochemical, power, water, desalination, chemical and other process industries. Sealmatic recognizes the immense potential within this market and is eager to bring its expertise, cutting-edge and tailor-made solutions to the UAE. By partnering with Habshan (HTC), a company with a strong local presence and a deep understanding of the region's industries, Sealmatic aims to cater to the varied needs of customers in the UAE by offering its global standards of excellence. Sealmatic has tremendous global experience with great success in supplying high performance mechanical seals to the oil & gas, power generation and water sectors. The partnership between Sealmatic and Habshan (HTC) heralds a new chapter in the field of mechanical seals in the UAE region. It is a synergy of global expertise and local insight, driven by a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. As Sealmatic's presence in the UAE strengthens, so too does the bond between the UAE and India, demonstrating the enduring spirit of cooperation and growth that unites these two nations. "The next step will be to extend the benefits of the Sealmatic/Habshan (HTC) alliance to our customers in UAE," explains Umar A K Balwa, Managing Director of Sealmatic India Ltd. "Together, we are even faster and can precisely respond to our customers' needs 24/7, offering a high level of availability, 365 days a year. Classic, personal, local and global, digitally connected. "Further to the above Mrs Sada Salmanova of Habshan (HTC) added by explaining the Sealmatic/Habshan (HTC) alliance's plans for the future: "We have joined forces to offer our customers a service package that can be tailored to all applications while at the same time progressively expanding our joint global service presence." Top-quality service will be ensured through continuous training of technical personnel. Concluded Mrs Sada Salmanova "that we are here to get a significant portion of the USD 60 Million mechanical seals market in UAE." (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)
SRV Media New Delhi [India], October 12: As the academic year progresses, ICSE Class 10 students preparing for the 2024 board exams find themselves on the cusp of a critical juncture in their educational journey. The ICSE Class 10 boards are a significant milestone, and meticulous preparation is paramount. To excel in these exams, students should consider leveraging valuable resources, such as the ICSE Question Bank for Class 10. In this article, we will explore ten compelling reasons why integrating an ICSE Question Bank into your study routine is essential. The ICSE Question Bank for Class 10 is meticulously crafted to encompass the entire ICSE Class 10 syllabus. This resource serves as a one-stop shop for all your exam preparation needs, ensuring that you don't miss any crucial topics. Targeted Practice with ICSE Specimen Sample Papers for Class 10 Inside the ICSE Question Bank, you'll find a wealth of ICSE Specimen Sample Papers for Class 10. These papers are designed to simulate the actual board exams, allowing you to practice under real exam conditions and gain confidence. Enhanced Understanding of Exam Patterns By repeatedly practicing with the ICSE Question Bank, you'll become intimately familiar with the exam patterns and question types. This insight is invaluable for strategizing your exam approach. Self-Assessment and Progress Tracking The ICSE Question Bank offers a robust platform for self-assessment. Regularly attempting questions and sample papers allows you to gauge your strengths and weaknesses, helping you tailor your study plan accordingly. Time Management Skills Efficient time management is crucial during board exams. The ICSE Question Bank can assist in honing your time management skills by providing timed practice tests, ensuring you can complete the paper within the stipulated time. Recommended Links: For ICSE Specimen Sample Question Papers Class 10 | For 2024 Board Exams - Click Here For ICSE Question Banks Class 10 | For 2024 Boord Exams - Click Here For ICSE Previous Year Question Papers Class 10 | For 2024 Board Exams - Click Here For ICSE Syllabus Class 10 | For 2024 Board Exams - Click Here For ICSE Class 10 Notes | For 2024 Board Exams - Click Here For Free Online Mock Test Papers for ICSE Class 10 Board Exams 2024 - Click Here For ICSE Online Courses for Class 10 Board Exams 2024 - Click Here Get FLAT 20% OFF + Use Coupon Code "COMBO10" to Get 10 % Extra Discount on all Books Sets | Bundles of Oswaal Books Confidence Boost Success breeds confidence. By consistently performing well in practice tests from the ICSE Question Bank, you'll gain the confidence needed to approach the actual board exams with a positive mindset. Familiarity with Question Bank Format Getting accustomed to the format of questions found in the ICSE Question Bank can make a world of difference. It minimizes confusion and allows you to focus on the content of the questions rather than deciphering their structure. Reduction of Exam Anxiety Facing the board exams can be anxiety-inducing. However, by thoroughly preparing with the ICSE Question Bank, you can significantly reduce exam-related stress and anxiety. Customized Learning The ICSE Question Bank offers a personalized learning experience. You can focus on specific chapters or topics that you find challenging, tailoring your study plan to your unique needs. Higher Scores and Academic Success Ultimately, the goal of utilizing the ICSE Question Bank is to secure higher scores in the ICSE Class 10 board exams. With its comprehensive content and targeted practice materials, this resource can significantly enhance your chances of achieving academic success. The ICSE Question Bank for Class 10 is not just a resource; it's your key to unlocking success in the upcoming ICSE Class 10 board exams of 2024. By providing comprehensive syllabus coverage, targeted practice, and invaluable insights into exam patterns, this resource empowers you to achieve your academic goals. It's not just a tool; it's your partner in conquering the boards, helping you build confidence, reduce anxiety, and ultimately secure higher scores. (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)
Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, arrived at Kangra airport on Thursday morning after undergoing a medical check-up in Delhi. The spiritual leader had departed for the examination in the national capital on October 8 from Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. Visuals show devotees dressed in traditional Tibetan robes to present a warm welcome to the Tibetan leader. Speaking to ANI about the arrival of the Tibetan leader, a devotee, Samden Thundup said, "Today we are all present here to welcome his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at the airport." "He had some health issues, due to which he had gone to Delhi for a medical checkup and now that he is arriving back, we all are very happy and very eager to seek his blessings," Thundup said. Another devotee, Tenzin Dhawa told ANI, "We are here to welcome his holiness, Dalai Lama. We wish him very good health after his checkup. We are welcoming him with a Tibetan song today." Lined up in a queue, the devotees avidly awaited the Tibetan leader's arrival. Shortly after, the Tibetan leader makes his way out of the airport surrounded by monks and enters his car, on his way to the Dharamsala. Earlier, as per sources, the Dalai Lama had skipped the session for Taiwanese teachings scheduled for October 2-3 due to bad health. The Tibetan leader also postponed his planned visits to Gangtok and Salugara in view of the undergoing rescue operations in flood-hit Sikkim. "In view of the recent disaster in Sikkim caused by floods and the ongoing focus of the state machinery in relief efforts, the planned visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Gangtok and Salugara scheduled from October 16 to 22 has been postponed until further notice," said the office of the Dalai Lama in a statement. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Our prayers are with the people and state of Sikkim," it added. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction leader Sanjay Raut has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not become PM again in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a Press Conference, Raut said "The INDIA Alliance has been formed especially for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and discussions related to 2024 elections take place in the alliance meeting. I say with certainty that the BJP government will not be formed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Modi ji will not be the Prime Minister in 2024, BJP government will not remain at the centre." "Congress is a big party in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. So Congress will decide whom to take along and whom not to take," Sanjay Raut added. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Working President Supriya Sule on Wednesday stated that discussions regarding seat allocation within the INDIA alliance are in progress. "The seat-sharing talks are underway for several states and it has not stopped. Every state has its own permutations and combinations. The work is going on," Sule said while talking to reporters. Earlier, the opposition parties, united under the banner of the INDIA on August 31-September 1, concluded their third meeting in Maharashtra and adopted resolutions to collectively contest the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections while announcing that seat-sharing arrangements would be finalized as soon as possible through a spirit of give-and-take. After a two-day meeting of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance coalition four main committees were formed in which members of all the political parties were included. INDIA alliance is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress and the parties have come together to take on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by PM Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Elections will be held in the five crucial states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram between November 7 and 30, and the results will be declared on December 3. (ANI)
The Indian Army, in collaboration with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on Thursday established the first-ever BSNL base transceiver station (BTS) on the world''s highest battlefield, Siachen Glacier. "Siachen Warriors in collaboration with BSNL established first ever BSNL BTS at forward posts of the highest battlefield on October 6, to extend mobile communication for the soldiers deployed at more than 15,500 feet," posted the Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army on X. Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve thanked the Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army for their quick response in erecting a fence and clearing the area by effectively disabling more than 175 mines. "On behalf of Phobrang, Yourgo, and Lukung villagers, we thank the Fire and Fury Corps for their swift action in fencing and clearing the area by successfully destroying over 175 mines," he posted on X. A base transceiver station (BTS) is a fixed radio transceiver in any mobile network. The BTS connects mobile devices to the network. It sends and receives radio signals to mobile devices and converts them to digital signals that it passes on the network to route to other terminals in the network or to the Internet. Siachen Glacier is known as the highest-altitude battle site in the world and is situated near the Indo-Pak Line of Control. It is the largest glacier in India and the second largest in the world. It is the highest battleground on earth. (ANI)
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Dipankar Datta adjourned the hearing citing paucity of time and posted the matter to be heard on November 1.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Khalid had earlier said certain provisions of the UAPA, including provisions concerning terrorism, raising funds for terrorist acts and conspiracy did not apply in the case.

Khalid had approached the top court challenging an October 2022 Delhi High Court verdict that had denied bail to him.

Khalid, arrested by Delhi Police in September 2020, in the High Court had sought bail on grounds that he neither had any "criminal role" in the violence in the city's North-East area nor any "conspiratorial connect" with any other accused in the case. The Delhi police had opposed the bail plea of Khalid.

He had approached the High Court challenging the dismissal of his bail application by the trial court in March 2022.

He was charged with criminal conspiracy, rioting, unlawful assembly as well as several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Besides Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, activist Khalid Saifi, JNU students Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and several others were booked under the stringent law in the case.

The violence had erupted during the protests against CAA and NRC and had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. (ANI)
Ahead of the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P-20), Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday met with Australian speaker Milton Dick and discussed the strong and old parliamentary relationship between India and Australia. Taking to 'X'( formerly Twitter), Birla wrote, "Glad to meet Speaker of @AboutTheHouse ,Mr. @MiltonDickMP ahead of #P20Summit in New Delhi. Expressed gratitude to Australia for supporting our collective global vision during #G20Summit2023 & for India's initiative for inclusion of @_AfricanUnion in #G20". "Recent visits by PM of both countries have given a new dimension to bilateral relations between India and Australia. With their shared vision, mutual cooperation has further deepened with new energy. Urged that both Parliaments should widen the scope of parliamentary cooperation", he added. Australian Speaker Dick praised Lok Sabha speaker Birla's "service-oriented" work. They also held discussions over the interests of over 41 lakh Indian students studying in Australia. Meanwhile, they noted that economic cooperation and trade agreements between the two countries will give a boost to the commercial-economic relations between the two countries. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla commeded Australian Speaker Milton Dick's long "public-life". They also discussed Prime Minister's "close relations" with Australia. It is worth mentioning that he 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P-20) will be held from October 13-14 in the national capital. The two-day summit will be held at the newly constructed India International Convention and Expo Center (IICC), Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi. Earlier today, the pre-summit of the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) focussed on 'Lifestyle for Environment', bringing a parliamentary perspective to meet the challenges and solutions towards addressing the issue. The pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is also held to deliberate upon initiatives towards "a greener and sustainable future in harmony with nature." In his welcome remarks, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that climate change and environment is the common issues across the world and that is why the issue is part of the discussion in the pre-summit day of the P20 Summit. "In present scenario, climate change and environment is such a subject that is connected to the common destiny of the entire world. That is why the subject is at the centre of the P-20 conference. We are also discussing this subject in the pre-summit today," said Birla a day ahead of the formal inauguration of the P20 Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) on Friday.The summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India's G20 Presidency. In line with the theme of India's G20 Presidency, the theme of the 9th P20 Summit is "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future." The event will be attended by Speakers of Parliaments of G20 members and invitee countries. The Pan-African Parliament will take part in the P20 Summit for the first time after the African Union became a member of G20 at the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit on September 9-10 this year. The thematic sessions during this P20 Summit will focus on the following four subjects - Transformation in People's Lives through Public Digital Platforms; Women-led development; Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and Sustainable Energy Transition. Amitabh Kant, Sherpa of India's G20 Presidency, represented the introduction of the pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) while Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, showcased the presentation on LiFE by followed by a short film. Preceded by the Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Sustainable Development) on Thursday, the P20 Summit itself would have four high-level sessions.The four themes on which parliamentarians would deliberate are on Agenda 2030 for SDGs: Showcasing Achievements, Accelerating Progress; Sustainable Energy Transitions: Gateways to a Green Future; Mainstreaming Gender Equality: From Women's Empowerment to Women-Led Development; and Transformation in Peoples' Lives through Public Digital Platforms. With the theme "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future," the Summit will also provide opportunities for fostering international cooperation, cultural exchanges and strengthening diplomatic ties among nations. The deliberations will culminate with the adoption of a Joint Statement, urging the G20 Governments to deliver solutions to major global challenges in ways that seek to ensure equity, inclusiveness, and peace. (ANI)
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday stated on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will secure a resounding victory in the Rajasthan assembly elections. "The BJP will win the Rajasthan assembly polls with a huge majority. This is for sure", Meghwal said while speaking to ANI in Rajasthan's Jaipur. Additionally, Meghwal took the opportunity to criticize Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his remarks about the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I do not know what he says. It is his job. But look at Congress's history, not that they never fielded their MPs for an election. Every party has a different policy for elections state-wise. And the BJP workers are unanimous regarding this", the union minister said. "If the PM comes and inaugurates and launches projects in Rajasthan, they are beneficial to the people and they are questioning it. The CM also questioned the visits of the Vice President. People in constitutional positions should not criticise anyone who is in a constitutional position, this is what the Constitution says", he added. Earlier, Chief Minister Gehlot suggested that the BJP had already acknowledged its impending defeat in the state elections. He questioned the continued visits of Prime Minister Modi to the state, speculating on whether such visits would translate into long-term investments in institutions like colleges and infrastructure. "...PM Modi keeps visiting states again and again...after the election, will PM Modi come and open colleges here?... Will he come and make roads here? What will PM Modi do? They (BJP) can't decide a face here, they gave tickets to 9 MPs and I consider this as their biggest failure...this means they have accepted defeat", CM Gehlot said while addressing a public gathering in Rajasthan's Churu. On reports of unrest in the BJP over ticket distribution in Rajasthan, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "Our team has been formed for damage control. We will take a grip over it. We are working for it day and night". The BJP is leaving no stone unturned to emerge victorious in the five states, going to poll next month. As a part of it, it pitted MPs including Union Ministers in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. While, the BJP fielded Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Lok Sabha MP from Jaipur Rural, in Jhotwara Assembly constituency, the party fielded three central ministers -- Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of State (MoS) for Food Processing Industries Prahlad Singh Patel, and Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel Faggan Singh Kulatse--and four Lok Sabha MPs in Madhya Pradesh polls. The Election Commission on Monday 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. The 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)
As the countdown begins for the eighth edition of Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival, Northeast India's most celebrated film extravaganza, the festival invites entries of films from across India for its competitive and non-competitive categories. Filmmakers from all across India can send in their submissions latest by October 31, 2023, for the 8th Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival (BVFF), to be hosted in Guwahati this December. Hosted by Tattva Creations, BVFF has established itself as a beacon of meaningful cinema and creativity, showcasing the captivating blend of natural beauty, diverse cultures, and boundless talent in the North East of India. Over the years, BVFF has left an indelible mark, attracting nearly 200,000 film enthusiasts, with an average of 20,000 visitors per festival during its previous editions. The festival has become a cornerstone of the Indian Film Festival Circuit, garnering widespread recognition and support from industry luminaries. In its 8th edition, the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival introduces categories for film entries in the Competition section including feature film and documentary in addition to the short films section. The festival will also showcase films and cinematic works in the non-competition category. The aim of this move is to broaden the platform for budding talent and showcase some of the best works in meaningful and creative cinema. Despite recent global challenges, BVFF returns with a renewed vision to honour meaningful filmmaking, not only at the national stage but also on the international platform. The festival extends a warm invitation to film enthusiasts worldwide to participate in this cinematic extravaganza. Speaking on the upcoming edition, Tanushree Hazarika, Festival Director of Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival says, "It's been a wonderful journey to organise 7 successful editions of BVFF and we are delighted to be prepping up for the 8th edition in December 2023. We are bringing the festival back in a grander way keeping in line with our vision of being the cradle of meaningful cinema. Hosted in Guwahati, the gateway to Northeast India, BVFF aims to be a platform to bring together filmmakers and film talent across India." The festival line-up includes an array of special screenings, including premiere screenings, international showcases, and family-friendly children's film screenings. But BVFF is more than just films; it's a haven for creativity and networking. Attendees can look forward to engaging workshops, stimulating quizzes, and insightful panel discussions, creating prime opportunities to connect and network with renowned cinematic stars, both nationally and internationally recognized. Speaking about the festival earlier, actor Boman Irani had said that he wished to attend the festival again. "Such a wonderful audience, so responsive to the smallest detail. I wish I could come again and again to attend BVFF," Irani had said, commenting on the 2018 edition of the festival. Last year, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali also had praises for the festival. "The efforts that you take on to select the films and get the right filmmakers, thereby giving them a great opportunity and the platform to showcase their work. And that is why for seven years BVFF has been running successfully," the popular filmmaker had said in 2019. Other noted film persons including Farhan Akhtar (2014), Prakash Jha (2016), Rajkumar Hirani (2015), Gauri Shinde (2017), Nicholas Kharkongor (2019), Reema Kagti (2016), Shakun Batra (2018), Paoli Dam (2019), Sobhita Dhulipala (2019), Shiladitya Bora (2019), among many others, participated in the festival in the past and had shared great feedback, encouraging the organizers and everyone associated with the home-grown film festival. (ANI)
According to defence spokesperson, an extensive search of the area by the security personnel of the Assam Rifles, Border Security Force and Churachandpur Police was launched on Thursday.

"Responding to a specific intelligence regarding the presence of a cache of arms and ammunition, a joint team of Assam Rifles, Border Security Force and Churachandpur Police in the general area of Gothal-Phoulijang in Churachandpur district on 12 Oct 2023 launched a search," the official said, adding that it led to the recovery of the arms and ammunitions.

"An extensive search of the area by the troops led to the recovery of one 9mm carbine gun, one tear gas gun, one improvised mortar, ammunition and other war-like stores, under the aegis of Red Shield division of Indian Army," the officials added.

The recoveries have been handed over to Churachandpur Police Station for further investigation.

During the operation, a medical camp was also organised and essential items were distributed at Gothal-Phoulijang village as part of the civic action programme. (ANI)
The MHA has ordered the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to provide 'Z' category security cover to Amit Jogi and 'X' category security cover to the other 23 leaders.

Sources said that the security cover for these leaders in poll-bound Chhattisgarh will be provided till December end of this year.

The MHA's move is based on a fresh threat analysis report submitted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Janta Congress Chhattisgarh Party (JCC) President Amit Jogi and other 23 leaders of Chhattisgarh are learnt to have security threats from naxals considering Assembly polls in the state next month.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced that the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 7, and the remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on November 17.

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.

The 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. (ANI)
US Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier and her strike group is heading to the Mediterranean, White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said. Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday, Kirby stated that there is no operational decision taken regarding the deployment of the second US aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. However, he noted that the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier was heading in that direction. John Kirby said, "I would also note that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and her strike group will be departing on a prescheduled, long-scheduled deployment to the European Command area of responsibility. They'll start that deployment in the coming week or so. They will be going initially across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, where they will be available if needed." "No decisions have been made. I've seen some press reporting out there that we've already made some kind of final decision that a second carrier is going to be placed in the Eastern Mediterranean. No operational decisions like that have been made, but she will be heading in that direction, her ships will be with her, and she certainly will be an available asset if needed," he added. It is the second US aircraft carrier headed to the Mediterranean as the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford and her strike group have now arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean. Kirby said, "As you also know, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford and her strike group are now in the Eastern Mediterranean. They arrived yesterday. They are there for deterrence purposes to make it clear to any would-be actor, organization, group, terrorist network, nation-state, anybody who thinks that, with hostile intent towards Israel, that this is the time to widen and expand the conflict that we will take our national security interests seriously." Asked about reports regarding the USS George Washington and the HMS Prince of Wales being readied for deployment, he said, "I don't know of any plans for them to be readied. Again, I'd refer you to the Defence Department to speak to other units. Again, I want to remind. The Eisenhower is preparing for a long-scheduled deployment to the region. And I don't have any operational decisions to speak to. "I just thought it was important to put that into some context, because I saw some reporting yesterday that seemed to suggest it was a definite decision that she was going to join the Ford. That could happen, I don't know, but she will be deploying into the Mediterranean and will be an available asset, as well as her escort vessels," he added. In a press release on Wednesday, US Central Command said that the forces in the area include the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), with its 8 squadrons of attack and support aircraft, and 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). "The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation," General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander, US Central Command said in a press release. On October 11, US President Joe Biden again spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the ongoing war with Hamas. The two leaders agreed to stay in regular touch in the face of an appalling assault by Hamas terrorists. Earlier, Biden had condemned the Hamas attack on Israel. "Following a briefing with their national security team, President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel this morning to discuss ongoing US support for Israel as Israel defends itself and protects its people. The leaders agreed to stay in regular contact in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists," the White House said in a statement. According to the latest updates in the Israel counter-offensive against Hamas, The Israeli Air Force said that the Israeli Defence Forces is now launching an extensive attack on many centres of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In a post on X, the Israeli Air Force stated, "The IDF is now launching an extensive attack on many centres of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip, more details below." (ANI)
Voicing distress over the alleged beheadings of children by Hamas terrorists, which President Joe Biden condemned at a White House press briefing on Wednesday (local time), US Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday said the US was looking at "extreme acts of terrorism" that must be condemned in no uncertain terms, stressing that there was no justification for such acts of terror. "I'm completely outraged by what has taken place. We are looking at extreme acts of terrorism that must be condemned in no uncertain terms. There is absolutely no justification for terrorism," Harris said. Further, weighing in on the decades-old conflict in West Asia, Harris said she and President Biden take their commitment to Israel very seriously. "The President and I take very seriously our commitment to Israel, to support them and give Israel what it needs to defend itself," she added. https://twitter.com/VP/status/1712297138472829160?s=20 She noted further that the topmost priority at the moment was to ensure the "safety and well-being of American citizens". "One of our highest priorities is the safety and well-being of American citizens and that will continue to be one of our highest priorities" she said. The US Vice President also shared details of her and Biden's phone call with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that they assured him of their commitment to stand with Israel and the Israeli people in light of the terror attacks. "It is also critically important that we stay in constant communication and contact with our allies, Israeli partners and members of Congress... This morning I was on a call and the President with PM Netanyahu...to restate our commitment that is unwavering to stand with Israel and the Israeli people," Harris added. President Biden and Harris spoke with Netanyahu following a second briefing from their national security experts, according to a readout provided by the White House, The Times of Israel reported. "At this moment, we have to be crystal clear: There is no justification for terrorism. No excuse. The type of terrorism exhibited here is just beyond the pale," Biden said during his address at a separate White House event. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday (local time) departed for Israel. Reaffirming support for the US' all-weather ally, Blinken said he was leaving with a clear message that ''US has Israel's back." Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure, Blinken said, "We are heading, as you know, to Israel, and I'm going with a very simple and clear message on behalf of the President of the United States and on behalf of the American people, and that is that the United States has Israel's back. We have the back of the Israeli people. We have their back today. We'll have it tomorrow. We will have it every day." Blinken said he would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Issac Herzog and other senior officials in Israel. He stated that he is looking forward to meeting the US embassy team in Israel. Blinken said that the US is determined to provide everything that Israel needs to defend itself. Noting that 14 US citizens lost their lives in the Hamas terror attacks, President Biden said people in Israel suffered "pure unadulterated evil" at the "bloody hands of the terrorist organisation Hamas, a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews. This is an act of sheer evil." Israel is carrying out a counter-offensive against Hamas in response to the latter's attacks on Saturday that left over 1,200 Israelis dead. (ANI)
The pre-summit of the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) on Thursday focussed on 'Lifestyle for Environment', bringing a parliamentary perspective to meet the challenges and solutions towards addressing the issue. The pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is also held to deliberate upon initiatives towards "a greener and sustainable future in harmony with nature." In his welcome remarks, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that climate change and environment is the common issues across the world and that is why the issue is part of the discussion in the pre-summit day of the P20 Summit. "In present scenario, climate change and environment is such a subject that is connected to the common destiny of the entire world. That is why the subject is at the centre of the P-20 conference. We are also discussing this subject in the pre-summit today," said Birla a day ahead of the formal inauguration of the P20 Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) on Friday. The summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India's G20 Presidency. In line with the theme of India's G20 Presidency, the theme of the 9th P20 Summit is "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future." The event will be attended by Speakers of Parliaments of G20 members and invitee countries. The Pan-African Parliament will take part in the P20 Summit for the first time after the African Union became a member of G20 at the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit on September 9-10 this year. The thematic sessions during this P20 Summit will focus on the following four subjects - Transformation in People's Lives through Public Digital Platforms; Women-led development; Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and Sustainable Energy Transition. Amitabh Kant, Sherpa of India's G20 Presidency, represented the introduction of the pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) while Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, showcased the presentation on LiFE by followed by a short film. Preceded by the Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Sustainable Development) on Thursday, the P20 Summit itself would have four high-level sessions. The four themes on which parliamentarians would deliberate are on Agenda 2030 for SDGs: Showcasing Achievements, Accelerating Progress; Sustainable Energy Transitions: Gateways to a Green Future; Mainstreaming Gender Equality: From Women's Empowerment to Women-Led Development; and Transformation in Peoples' Lives through Public Digital Platforms. With the theme "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future," the Summit will also provide opportunities for fostering international cooperation, cultural exchanges and strengthening diplomatic ties among nations. The deliberations will culminate with the adoption of a Joint Statement, urging the G20 Governments to deliver solutions to major global challenges in ways that seek to ensure equity, inclusiveness, and peace. (ANI)
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday briefed 31 of his counterparts at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Brussels. He asserted that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will destroy Hamas and "will hunt down every last man with blood of children," The Times of Israel reported. Yoav Gallant said, "Hamas is the 'ISIS' of Gaza, a savage organization, funded and supported by Iran. Hamas is ISIS," he says. "The 'ISIS' of Gaza will not exist, on our borders. The IDF will destroy Hamas. And we will hunt down every last man, with the blood of our children, on his hands." Gallant briefed them about atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against children, women, men and the elderly, The Times of Israel reported. He also showed them an uncensored video of some of the attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers as well as foreign nationals, i24 News English reported. "We have been hit hard. Yet make no mistake - 2023 is not 1943. We are the same Jews, but we have different capabilities. The State of Israel is strong. We are united, and powerful," he said. He expressed appreciation for the global show of support for Israel after Hamas launched an attack on the former on October 7, according to The Times of Israel report. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces said that Hamas brought ISIS flags to Israel when they had infiltrated various parts of South Israel last weekend. In a post shared on X, Israeli Defence Forces stated, "Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization. Hamas is worse than ISIS." The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media reports. The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said. Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military has so far notified families of 97 hostages who were being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. Coordinator for the Captives and Missing Brigadier General (Ret.) Gal Hirsch said that forces during the fighting are making three efforts which include intelligence-operational effort, an effort to formulate an assessment of the situation regarding the captives and missing and the effort to assist the families of the people who have been kept captive or are missing. In a statement posted on X Israeli Prime Minister office said, "Coordinator for the Captives & Missing Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Gal Hirsch: "Dear families, even during the fighting, we are making three main efforts: 1. The intelligence-operational effort 2. An effort to formulate an assessment of the situation regarding the captives and missing." Israeli PM's office in the post on X stated, "Government effort to assist the families of the captives and missing. The searches in the field are continuing and the difficult work of identifying the bodies continues. Many of those who were injured are being treated in hospital and we are investigating every piece of information that could assist us in locating the missing." Brigadier-General (Ret.) Gal Hirsch said he spoke with US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and deputy Steven Gillen, who is specially travelling to Israel. Hirsch said, "I spoke with US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and today I will meet his deputy, Steven Gillen, who is specially coming to Israel. The warm ties, the heartfelt concern and American commitment to assist in every way possible is very important to us." He noted that many Israelis are contacting the military with offers to help and volunteer. He stated that he was moved by the "strong spirit" of Israelis during the fighting. Hirsch noted that he and his staff are working round the clock for the missing, captives and their families. (ANI)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called out the international community on Thursday to help secure the release of Israeli hostages held captive by the Hamas terror group following the deadly attack on October 7. He called on the people of the country to remember the stories of the victims and share their experiences with others. In an address to the nation, Herzog said, "I encourage and bless the people of Israel, we shall definitely overcome. We shall definitely be victorious...we have always done so. It shall take time, but we shall definitely overcome". President asked the international community "not to sit idly" and to do whatever possible to bring back the Israeli hostages. "I met the families of hijacked and kidnapped citizens of Israel. It was extremely tragic and extremely painful. So many people live in the reality of a nightmare...without knowing the real facts of their loved ones...Israel will do whatever it can to bring them back home as soon as possible. But it requires an immediate call from the international community, not to sit idly by and do whatever it takes to bring them back home immediately," Herzog said. He added, "As President of the state of Israel, I ask you all to tell the stories of victims, I ask you all to remember this, because there is a short-sightedness in the cycle of media and new...but the pain will remain forever". The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media reports. The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said. Earlier in the day, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant asserted that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will destroy Hamas and "will hunt down every last man with blood of children," The Times of Israel reported. "Hamas is the 'ISIS' of Gaza, a savage organization, funded and supported by Iran. Hamas is ISIS," he says. "The 'ISIS' of Gaza will not exist, on our borders. The IDF will destroy Hamas. And we will hunt down every last man, with the blood of our children, on his hands," Gallant said in an address to NATO members. He added, "We have been hit hard. Yet make no mistake - 2023 is not 1943. We are the same Jews, but we have different capabilities. The State of Israel is strong. We are united, and powerful". Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military has so far notified families of 97 hostages who were being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. Israeli PM's office in the post on X stated, "Government effort to assist the families of the captives and missing. The searches in the field are continuing and the difficult work of identifying the bodies continues. Many of those who were injured are being treated in hospital and we are investigating every piece of information that could assist us in locating the missing." (ANI)
The chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matviyenko will lead the Russian delegation to the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) to be held in New Delhi this year, said a press release on Thursday. The delegation includes First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Andrei Turchak, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev and Member of the Federation Council Committee on Agricultural and Food Policy and Environmental Management Tatyana Gigel as well as members of the State Duma. The press release stated that the programme of the Russian delegation's visit also envisages negotiations with representatives of the leadership of the Republic of India. Following the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) a joint final statement is planned to be adopted. The theme of the event is "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future". The summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India's G20 Presidency. In line with the theme of India's G20 Presidency, the theme of the 9th P20 Summit is "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future." The event will be attended by Speakers of Parliaments of G20 members and invitee countries. The Pan-African Parliament will take part in the P20 Summit for the first time after the African Union became a member of G20 at the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit on September 9-10 this year. The thematic sessions during this P20 Summit will focus on the following four subjects - Transformation in People's Lives through Public Digital Platforms; Women-led development; Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and Sustainable Energy Transition. Amitabh Kant, Sherpa of India's G20 Presidency, represented the introduction of the pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) while Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, showcased the presentation on LiFE by followed by a short film. Preceded by the Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Sustainable Development) on Thursday, the P20 Summit itself would have four high-level sessions. The four themes on which parliamentarians would deliberate are on Agenda 2030 for SDGs: Showcasing Achievements, Accelerating Progress; Sustainable Energy Transitions: Gateways to a Green Future; Mainstreaming Gender Equality: From Women's Empowerment to Women-Led Development; and Transformation in Peoples' Lives through Public Digital Platforms. With the theme "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future," the Summit will also provide opportunities for fostering international cooperation, cultural exchanges and strengthening diplomatic ties among nations. The deliberations will culminate with the adoption of a Joint Statement, urging the G20 Governments to deliver solutions to major global challenges in ways that seek to ensure equity, inclusiveness, and peace. (ANI)
UAW local 862 members strike outside of Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky. on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. The United Auto Workers union significantly escalated its walkout against Detroit's Three automakers, shutting down Ford's largest factory and threatening Jeep maker Stellantis. (Michael Clevenger/AP)

A top Ford executive says the company has reached the limit of how much money it will spend to get a contract agreement with the striking United Auto Workers union.

Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, the companys internal combustion engine business, told reporters Thursday that Ford stretched to get to the offer it now has on the table.

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His comments are starkly different from those made by UAW President Shawn Fain Wednesday when he announced an escalation of the unions strike by walking out at Fords largest and most profitable factory. The apparently widening labor rift indicates that Ford and the union may be in for a lengthy strike that could cost the company and workers billions of dollars.

UAW local 862 members strike outside of Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky. on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. The United Auto Workers union significantly escalated its walkout against Detroit's Three automakers, shutting down Ford's largest factory and threatening Jeep maker Stellantis. (Michael Clevenger/AP)

Fain said in Wednesday that Ford told UAW bargainers for nearly two weeks that it would make another counteroffer on economic issues. But at a meeting called by the union, the company didnt increase its previous offer, Fain said. Ford hasnt gotten the message to bargain for a fair contract, Fain said in announcing the walkout by 8,700 workers at the companys Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.

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Weve been very patient working with the company on this, he said in a video. They have not met expectations, theyre not even coming to the table on it.

Galhotra called Fords offer incredibly positive and said Ford never indicated to the union that it would be increased.

We have been very clear we are at the limit, he said on a conference call with reporters. We risk the ability to invest in the business and profitably grow. And profitable growth is in the best interest of everybody at Ford.

The company has a set amount of money, but is willing to move dollars around in a way that might fit the unions needs, he said, adding that he still thinks its possible to reach a deal.

The escalation of the strike came nearly four weeks after the union began its walkouts against Ford and Detroit counterparts General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis on Sept. 15, with one assembly plant from each company. The union later added 38 parts warehouses at GM and Stellantis, and then three Ford and Stellantis assembly plants, involving a total of 33,700 workers.

About 4,600 workers at Fords Chicago Assembly Plant on the citys Southeast Side joined the strike Sept. 29. Striking workers at parts facilities include 92 workers at a GM parts distribution center in Bolingbrook and a Stellantis facility with 95 employees in Naperville.

On Thursday, Fain hinted at further action against Stellantis.

Heres to hoping talks at Stellantis today are more productive than Ford yesterday, Fain wrote on X, formerly Twitter, without saying what might happen.

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A person with direct knowledge of the talks said the union met with Stellantis Thursday morning and was to return for more talks in the afternoon. The person, who didnt want to be identified because he is not authorized to discuss negotiations, said talks were active with GM and Stellantis, but he was not aware of any negotiations with Ford.

So far the union has not announced any further job actions, although Fain is set to brief the membership in a video appearance Friday morning.

Fords sprawling truck plant in Kentucky makes heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs, the companys most lucrative products. The vehicles made at the plant generate $25 billion per year in revenue, more than Southwest Airlines and Marriott, the company said.

Ford said the expanded strike puts 13 other Ford plants that supply or receive parts at risk, as well as 600 parts supply companies that would have to lay off workers. In all, the strike at Kentucky Truck affects 100,000 workers, the company said.

Last week the union said Fords general wage offer, for instance, is up to 23% over four years, after starting at 9%. GM and Stellantis were at 20%.

Anthony Spencer, who has worked at the truck plant for eight years, said the surprise walkout would get Fords attention.

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We know its going to hit them. We lose a lot of millions of dollars every day that we dont run, said Spencer, who is the local unions recording secretary and helped organize the walkout.

This is a historic moment, Spencer said on the picket line Thursday morning, adding that the local hasnt been on strike since 1976. Weve got people thats got 30, 35, 40 years  theyve never been on strike. So the morale is good.

He said there were a few sticking points with negotiations that prompted the strike, including the unionization of Fords electric vehicle workers and employee raises.

We all know if we ever go EV, were going to lose a lot of members that build engines, transmissions, and they got to have a place to go, Spencer said.

Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University who follows labor issues, said the escalation doesnt leave him optimistic for a quick end to the strikes.

I think the issues that remain on the table are quite thorny, he said, pointing to union demands that all workers get defined benefit pensions and health insurance when they retire.

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Thus far, the union has decided to target a small number of plants from each company rather than have all 146,000 UAW members at the automakers go on strike at the same time.

Last week, the union reported progress in the talks and decided not to add any more plants. This came after GM agreed to bring joint-venture electric vehicle battery factories into the national master contract, almost assuring that the plants will be unionized.

Battery plants are a major point of contention in the negotiations. The UAW wants those plants to be unionized to assure jobs and top wages for workers who will be displaced by the industrys ongoing transition to electric vehicles.

Since the start of the strike, the three Detroit automakers have laid off roughly 4,800 workers at factories that are not among the plants that have been hit by the UAW strikes.

Separate companies that manufacture parts for the automakers are likely to have laid off workers but might not report them publicly, said Patrick Anderson, CEO of the Anderson Economic Group in Lansing, Michigan.

A survey of parts supply companies by a trade association called MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers found that 30% of members have laid off workers and that more than 60% expect to start layoffs in mid-October.

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Associated Press Writer Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed.
India on Thursday said it sees the attack by Hamas on Israel as "a terrorist attack" and that it has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine that lives side by side at peace with Israel. Replying to questions during the weekly media briefing regarding the situation concerning the Israel-Hamas war, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law and the need to fight terrorism. "Designation of terrorist organisation under Indian law is a legal matter. I would refer you to relevant authorities. I think we have been very clear that we see this as a terrorist attack. On designation part (concerned) authorities are best placed to respond to it," Bagchi said answering queries about Hamas' attack on Israel. The spokesperson said India's position concerning the Palestine issue has been "longstanding and consistent". "India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. That position remains the same," he said. Responding to queries about the situation, Bagchi noted that there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law. "There is also global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its manifestations," he said. The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported. The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said. Over 1300 people have been killed and 5,000 others have been injured in Gaza after Israel launched a strong retaliation over a 'surprise attack' by Hamas, CNN reported. It said some 950 people have been killed and 5,000 others have been injured in the strikes in Gaza. India on Wednesday launched 'Operation Ajay' to bring back its citizens stuck in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. "Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X. The Embassy of India in Israel informed that it has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight on Thursday. "The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights," Indian Embassy posted on X. (ANI)
New England is home to a lot of different cities and small towns. They each bring something different to the tables.

AFAR Magazine recently came out with a list of the 11 Most Charming Small Towns in New England.

These 11 towns have streets with a history that is rooted in the countrys colonial past, with many of the buildings and streets boasting the same facades from hundreds of years ago AFAR said.

Whether youre coming for a summer getaway by the ocean or road trips dedicated to foliage in the fall, these are the 11 best small towns in New England:

Woodstock, Vermont Williamstown, Massachusetts Ogunquit, Maine Conway, New Hampshire Provincetown, Massachusetts Westerly, Rhode Island Mystic, Connecticut Stowe, Vermont Bar Harbor, Maine Chilmark, Massachusetts Manchester, Vermont

To view the full list in detail, visit the link here.

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
More than a dozen deputies with the Broward County Sheriffs Department were charged Thursday with fraudulently collecting government aid via the Paycheck Protection Program, which was intended to offset financial hardship experienced by small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP loans can only be used for business expenses, though U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe explained in a press conference Thursday that the employees allegedly collected $500,000 in total for personal use. Lapointe noted that the alleged fraud didnt seem to be an organized effort, so the 17 deputies will face separate charges. According to The South Florida Sun Sentinel, the police union representing the officers backed the deputies, with an official saying: The majority of detention deputies are hard-working, good people. People make mistakes, he said.

Read it at Sun Sentinel

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A "For Rent" sign is displayed outside a building in Philadelphia, June 22, 2022. Federal regulators fined credit-reporting agency TransUnion a total of $23 million for tenant screening and security freeze failures on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission fined TransUnion $15 million because the company did not take steps to ensure the rental background checks that landlords use to decide who gets housing were accurate. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Federal regulators fined credit-reporting agency TransUnion a total of $23 million for tenant screening and security freeze failures on Thursday.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission fined Chicago-based TransUnion $15 million because the company did not take steps to ensure the rental background checks that landlords use to decide who gets housing were accurate.

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They fined the company another $8 million for falsely telling consumers they had placed or removed security freezes and locks on their credit reports. TransUnion told tens of thousands of consumers their requests were completed when, in reality, the requests were dumped into a yearslong backlog.

Americans across the country were put at risk of wrongful housing denials because TransUnion failed to follow the law, said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. We are ordering TransUnion to cease its yearslong illegal activity, clean up its broken business practices, redress its victims, and pay penalties.

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TransUnion is one of the three national credit reporting agencies along with Equifax and Experian. It collects information on more than 200 million Americans, including information on their payment histories, debt loads, maximum credit limits, names and addresses of current creditors, and other elements of their credit relationships. In 2022, its revenue rose 25% to $3.71 billion.

TransUnion said in a statement it did not admit any wrongdoing and agreed to the settlements to resolve these matters and proceed with our work providing important services and helping consumers reach their goals.
Randy Bryant, chairman of the Milwaukee County Landmarks Committee; Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley; and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson during the dedication ceremony of Milwaukee County Landmarks Committee's site designation of the 1861 lynching of George Marshall Clark located at 220 E. Buffalo St., Milwaukee.

People walking near the corner of Water and Buffalo streets in the Third Ward may not know the tragic incident that occurred there more than 160 years ago.

In 1861, George Marshall Clark, a young aspiring Black barber, was lynched from a pile driver near the banks of the Milwaukee River. Clark was only 22 when an angry white mob dragged him from a city jail cell and lynched him near the present-day intersection.

Of the 16 documented lynchings in Wisconsin, Clarks was the only one in Milwaukees history and is mostly unknown.

Now, a bronze marker sheds light on that dark chapter in the city's history.

The Milwaukee County Landmarks Committee unveiled Wednesday a historical marker recognizing and documenting the site of Clarks unlawful lynching in 1861.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Mayor Cavalier Johnson joined in the unveiling of the marker, located at 220 E. Buffalo St., some 300 yards from where the actual incident took place.

The lynching of George Marshall Clark is a dark moment in our region's history, but one that we must acknowledge and commemorate in order to move forward, Crowley said.

The recognition, he added, is a step in achieving racial healing and advancing racial equity. In 2019, Milwaukee County declared racism a public health crisis. While strides have been made toward racial equity, Crowley noted the region has a long way to go.

But its sobering for Crowley to know that an area where such a tragedy occurred now is home to Black-owned businesses.

We cannot just choose to remember the pieces of our community's history that shines a positive light, Crowley said. It is only by recognizing the deep societal impacts of these events and remembering where we come from that we can begin to heal and honestly look to the future.

Erecting this marker is a departure for the Landmarks Committee. Usually, the committee doesn't install markers. But this was too important for it to be lost to history, committee chairman Randy Bryant said.

Its probably one of the worst lynchings, Bryant said.

The mob, he said, wanted Clark to hang there overnight. But the police came in the early morning to cut him down. Bryant said spectators took pieces of the rope and gave it away as souvenirs.

It was for that reason Bryant wanted a plaque deserving of Clark. Having it cast in bronze ensures its longevity. With the horrific death Clark suffered, Bryant said having a plaque that constantly needed maintenance or fell into disrepair would be like killing him again.

Tyrone Macklee Randle is in front of the site designation of the 1861 lynching of George Marshall Clark at 220 E. Buffalo St., Milwaukee. He led the efforts to get a headstone for the Clark's unmarked grave at Forest Home Cemetery.

I wanted it to be in perpetuity. It will be here forever, he said. Having a plaque here really allows for us not to lose sight of what took place here but we have to remember our past so we dont repeat our past.

Bryant hopes the marker becomes a beacon of hope for people to dedicate themselves to a better world where such acts are unthinkable and where people have a collective commitment to justice and equality.

Clark was imprisoned along with James Shelton on Sept. 7, 1861, after a fight the previous evening in which Shelton fatally stabbed Darby Carney, owner of a popular Third Ward saloon.

After Carney died, an angry mob stormed the county jail in the early morning hours of Sept. 8. Sheldon escaped, but the mob seized Clark, beat him savagely and dragged him through the Third Ward to the area where he was hung. Police arrested six men for their role in the attack, but none were convicted.

Police recaptured Shelton a few days later. He was tried and acquitted for acting in self-defense; then quickly hustled out of town for his safety.

The landmarks committee designated the site as a county landmark in 2018. But Bryant said it took time to raise the funds for the marker and then to secure a home for it. Businesses in the area expressed concern about the markers history and the possible negative effects it could have on businesses, he said.

People were afraid to have the marker there, Bryant said. It took us some time to find a home.

After the social reckoning following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, Bryant said some businesses understood the issue better and came around to the idea. Bryant thanked Ken Hanson from the advertising firm Hanson and Dodge for his bravery in volunteering a portion of his buildings parking lot to be the markers permanent home.

Milwaukee County Landmarks Committee's site designation of the 1861 lynching of George Marshall Clark.

It seemed so obvious that this is something that should be done, Hanson said. It is a way of giving back and acknowledging our past and a way of trying to move forward in a positive way.

The unveiling was emotional for Tyrone MackLee Randle. Randle was instrumental in securing a headstone for Clark, who was hastily buried in an unmarked grave at Forest Home Cemetery after the lynching.

Im at a loss for words, Randle said.

More: Nearly 160 years ago, George Marshall Clark became Milwaukee's only lynching victim. Now, a respectful grave marker is planned.

But he feels optimistic about the learning potential this marker brings. He said for far too long, this has been swept under the rug. The marker, Randle said, rips that rug away and uncovers what life was like for Blacks in Milwaukee.

This was a stain on our community  so it is time to bring this to light, said Randle, who does speaking engagements at schools about Clarks lynching and his effort to find his grave.

Artieste Johnson-Shelbourne happened upon Wednesdays unveiling. Johnson-Shelbourne was somewhat familiar with Clarks story. She read about it years ago in one of the citys Black newspapers. People, she said, who walk down this street and see the marker will be surprised to learn of this history:

Its just the knowledge that lynchings didnt only happen in the South.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: George Marshall Clark lynching in Milwaukee noted with bronze marker
The Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against two shipping companies Thursday, one based in Turkey and the other in the United Arab Emirates, over allegations they violated international price caps on Russian oil.

In an announcement, the departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said that a ship owned by Turkish company Ice Pearl Navigation sold Russian oil at $80 a barrel, above the $60 limit imposed by the U.S., the European Union, Australia and the Group of 7.

The second company, UAE-based Lumber Marine SA, priced Russian oil at $75, according to the OFAC. The sanctions will bar the companies, both of which used U.S. service providers in violating the price cap, from conducting business in the U.S. or accessing their properties or assets in the country.

The price cap was imposed in 2022 in retaliation for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with a goal of reducing Russian energy profits while maintaining reliable supplies to international markets. Treasury officials claim the cap has cost Russias oil industry 45 percent in tax revenue since its imposition. Under the cap, western countries are also banned from providing maritime and financial services for Russian exports above the cap.

Todays action demonstrates our continued commitment to reduce Russias resources for its war against Ukraine and to enforce the price cap, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.

We remain committed to implementing a price cap policy that has two goals: reducing the oil profits upon which Russia relies to wage its unjust war against Ukraine and keeping global energy markets stable and well-supplied despite turbulence caused by Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. We will continue to take actions to achieve these two goals.

Yasa Holding, which operates the Turkish vessel, the Golden Bosphorus, has said the ship is under a charter to ExxonMobil for between three months and five months.

ExxonMobil complies with all applicable laws and does not trade Russian oil or products. These deliveries are certified products of Canadian origin, an ExxonMobil spokesperson told The Hill.

Updated on Oct. 13 at 11:29 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 20-year-old man wounded in an early morning shooting last month near Eden Park, who died at the hospital three days later, has been identified.

The man, Daniel Juarez Jr., and a 23-year-old man were shot shortly before 2 a.m. on Sept. 23 in the 400 block of Flora Street, roughly three blocks southeast of the central Stockton park.

Both men were rushed to the hospital, and Juarez died of his injuries Sept. 26, according to Stockton police.

A San Joaquin County Medical Examiner spokesperson confirmed Juarez's identity this week. Officials have not publicly identified the other man wounded in the shooting.

Three days after Juarez's death, officers arrested the first of two suspects in his killing.

Dominique Naylor, 28, was booked Sept. 29 into the San Joaquin County Jail on multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder.

In a mugshot released by police, Naylor appears to be wearing a green garment resembling a hospital gown. Police would not disclose if Naylor was injured during the shooting, or if he was arrested at the hospital.

Five days later, a second suspect in the killing was booked at the county jail, according to the police and custody records.

Jeffery Stewart, 23, was booked on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, burglary and other charges.

It's unclear whether Stewart was arrested in Stockton or elsewhere. Custody records show a warrant for his arrest in another county.

Detectives are still investigating if Juarez and the other man were shot in the course of a burglary, Officer Omer Edhah, a police spokesman, said.

Felony charges have been filed in Superior Court against both Stewart and Naylor this year, though it was unclear Wednesday morning if they pertained to Juarez's killing as the court's system was offline for maintenance.

Under the law, district attorneys typically have 48 hours to charge a suspect or release them.

Juarez was the 36th of 38 people killed in Stockton this year.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record athttps://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Daniel Juarez Jr., 20, ID'd as Stockton homicide victim in September
The sneak attack by Hamas on Israel  the deadliest assault on the Jewish State in decades  instantly rocked the 2024 White House race, altering the conversation on the presidential campaign trail.

While the Republican presidential candidates have tried to one-up each other in placing blame with President Biden for the horrific attack and showcasing their support for Israel, the Hamas assault has also quickly become a wedge issue in the GOP nomination fight.

Hours after Hamas militants swarmed into Israel, former Vice President Mike Pence took aim at Biden, decrying what he called American's "retreat on the world stage."

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 11, 2023.

But the former vice president, on the campaign trail in Iowa, seemed to save his most scathing rebuke for three of his rivals for the nomination.

Pence pointed fingers 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."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The growing schism in the Republican Party over America's role policing the world  evident in GOP fight over continued support for Ukraine in its year and a half long war against Russian aggression  may be spreading to Israel, where Republicans have long showcased their unyielding support for Jerusalem.

MIDDLE EAST BATTLE INSTANTLY ROCKS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

It's no surprise that Pence was the first to take aim at other GOP White House hopefuls and has repeatedly criticized some of his rivals, including his former running mate, over their lack of support for Kyiv.

"This is also what happens when you have leaders in the Republican Party signaling retreat on the world stage," Pence argued. Evoking the late President Ronald Reagan, as he often does, Pence emphasized that "its time to get back to peace through strength."

Another part of the rift in the Republican presidential primary between the GOP's growing isolationist wing and more traditional conservatives pushing for a muscular U.S. role overseas, could be seen in a speech Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina delivered Tuesday afternoon at a think tank in Washington D.C., and in an ensuing interview on the Fox News Channel.

While blasting Biden for having "blood on his hands," and claiming that the president's weakness "invited the attack" by Hamas, which was supported by Iran, Scott targeted DeSantis and Ramaswamy.

"Vivek Ramaswamy has said that the definition of success is reducing Americas support for Israel," Scott argued. He accused the multi-millionaire biotech entrepreneur and first-time candidate of proposing "that we surrender Taiwan to the Chinese Communist Party as long as weve relocated some factories."

WATCH FOX NEWS LIVE COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

Scott also blasted the Florida governor, noting that "DeSantis once dismissed Russias invasion of Ukraine as just some territorial dispute."

"The last thing we need is a Joe Biden wing of the Republican Party on foreign policy," he argued.

Scott, who has been running a positive and uplifting conservative campaign, for months avoided criticizing his rivals, including Trump  the commanding front-runner for the GOP nomination as he makes this third straight White House run.

But the senator has turned up the volume against his rivals in recent weeks, as his standing in polls has flat lined.

DeSantis, campaigning in Iowa on Monday ahead of the Scott speech, pushed back at Pence.

"If Mike Pence wants to blame me for what's happening, I think that most people would just laugh at that. What a joke," DeSantis told reporters.

And on Tuesday, the Ramaswamy campaign fired back at Scott.

"We understand Tim Scott is attempting to gain some semblance of relevance in this race, but lying in the face of these barbaric atrocities isnt an effective way to do so," spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement. "Vivek has offered a clear, rational response that supports Israel while avoiding another U.S.-led disaster in the Middle East."

Ramaswamy also fired away at former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during the first two years of the Trump administration.

Haley, who knocked the 38-year-old Ramaswamy at the first Republican presidential nomination debate in August by arguing "you have no foreign policy experience, and it shows," urged earlier this week that Israel "needs to eliminate Hamas without question" during an interview on Fox News' "Hannity."

Ramaswamy on Tuesday emphasized that "I am disappointed and deeply concerned by the remarks of certain presidential candidates including Nikki Haley who have irresponsibly called the Hamas attack an attack on America and rabidly shout FINISH THEM!! repeatedly without offering a pragmatic path forward."

Doug Heye, a veteran Republican strategist and communicator, offered that blowup of warfare in the Mideast was an unexpected development on the campaign trail.

"I think that theres sort of a figuring it out as we go along part of this because clearly what happened this weekend was a surprise to everyone," Heye, who's neutral in the 2024 GOP presidential nomination race, said.

Heye noted that the "candidates can take swipes at each other, but this is an opportunity for them to demonstrate leadership as well."

"I look at this as an opportunity for candidates with foreign policy experience to shine," he said. And Heye pointed to Haley and Pence "as the two obvious examples."

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.





Original article source: 2024 Divide: Republican presidential candidates spar over Israel-Hamas conflict
Imagine youre pregnant and living in one of the 20-something states where abortion is banned or heavily restricted. You want to know if its feasible for you to get care in another state, or learn how to avoid the legal risk posed by ordering your own abortion pills. But, thanks to a bill passed with support from both Republicans and Democrats, you cant access the websites or social media accounts for abortion funds or online forums where people answer abortion questions.

A controversial, bipartisan Senate bill could create this exact scenario. It purports to protect kids from algorithms that might recommend harmful content online, but advocates warn that it could end up censoring all internet users.

Read more

Erasing abortion from the internet is a Republican fever dream. State lawmakers in South Carolina and Texas have introduced bills to censor abortion information online, though they have yet to advance. The Texas proposal seeks to ban internet providers from hosting information about abortion, and the bill text specifically names abortion pill site Aid Access, Plan C, and telehealth sites that dont serve Texas, as sites that should be censored. The South Carolina bill appeared to use The National Right to Life Committees model legislation on censoring abortion, which essentially wants to make it illegal for anyone to provide information on getting an abortion, whether over the telephone, the internet, or any other medium of communication.

KOSA could help states achieve all these goalsand with the gleam of Congressional bipartisanship. If it passed, people would try to impede it with lawsuits arguing a First Amendment violation, but platforms would likely still censor content either on their own or in response to threats from AGs, and lawsuits can take years.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who opposes the bill, told Jezebel in a statement that far-right politicians have made clear theyll attack abortion access using any tool available, and that would include KOSA if it passes. Under the guise of protecting children from harm, KOSA hands Republican state Attorneys General the power to scrub abortion information from the internet, Wyden said. Democrats who care about protecting womens access to reproductive health care shouldnt help Republicans censor essential information. He said that both The Heritage Foundation and lead Republican sponsor Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) want to use the bill to advance their culture war aimsnamely, to antagonize transgender people. Its not hyperbolic to think that abortion would also be a target.

How could KOSA lead to censorship?

Sarah Philips, a campaigner at Fight for the Future, a digital civil liberties group, says she worries that platforms like TikTok and Instagram would censor abortion posts in the face of threats from the Ken Paxtons of the world due to fears that theyd be held legally liable for this content being in front of minors. Philips previously worked as a reproductive justice organizer in Houston, Texas, and is familiar with AG Paxtons antics. Philips said she was also worried about teens having limited access to groups like Janes Due Process, which help minors get a judicial bypass instead of parental consent for an abortion.

Cody Venzke, senior policy counsel of surveillance, privacy, and technology at the ACLU, said that while the intent of the bill is laudable, lawmakers need to be concerned about the impact. As weve seen demonstrated over and over the past few years, many of the state Attorneys General are looking to score political points and to achieve political ends rather than enforce the law consistent with the Constitution, Venzke told Jezebel.

To people who say, Oh, surely the platforms will not do this, I recommend taking a look at the way platforms responded to SESTA/FOSTA

Just a threatening letter to websites or platforms could cause a chilling effect. To wit, a group of Republican AGs wrote to pharmacy chains in February warning them not to dispense the abortion drug, mifepristone, and Walgreens caved. Websites could also move to pre-emptively ban content they believe right-wing AGs would find objectionable because they dont want to deal with the cost and hassle of lawsuits. Just look at what happened when states including Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana passed laws putting age restrictions on porn: Pornhub responded by blocking traffic coming from multiple states rather than paying the cost to verify users ages. Plus, content moderation is an inexact science, Venzke said, and platforms and sites will end up taking down posts that dont actually violate the bill.

I view [KOSA] as a blank check for Attorneys General to be able to intimidate in any way that they can, Philips told Jezebel. They wouldnt even need to necessarily pass this [state] legislation if you give them this tool, she said, referring to proposals in Texas and South Carolina.

Galperin agreed that sites are likely to over-censor or comply in advance in order to avoid lawsuits. To people who say, Oh, surely the platforms will not do this, I recommend taking a look at the way that platforms have responded to SESTA/FOSTA, Galperin said. Shes referring to the 2018 bills Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) and Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA), which were ostensibly meant to fight trafficking but resulted in the censorship of sex workers.

Philips also made the comparison to SESTA/FOSTA: Sex workers in this case are calling attention to KOSA for the same reasonstheyre saying that this is going to be a tool for censorship and I believe them. We should believe them. They are proof and have been on the ground trying to call attention to how bipartisan efforts to censor the internet have affected the most marginalized people on the internet.

KOSA in some ways is more of a threat, said Venzke. Whereas SESTA/FOSTA tied much of its liability to federal criminal law, there is nothing in KOSA that so limits the legislations scope. KOSA is about mitigating harms from anxiety and depression, which is extremely broad and subjective: The portions of the duty of care are untethered to any particular legal definitions.



Why are Democrats sponsoring KOSA?

To advocates like Venzke, it does seem like lawmakers have good intentions. What I think were seeing here is frustration in Congress with the inability to really provide robust protections for people online, he said. Instead they are turning to what is politically available to them, which is kids, and doing so in language that is so broad that any policymaker can read into it what theyre hoping to regulate.

But we all know that intent to save the children isnt good enough, especially when members of Congress support bills like this amid the gross atmosphere of homophobia, book bans, and grooming allegations. She compared this push to previous censorship and surveillance laws like the Patriot Act. Its just a variation on exactly the same thing that we saw with a slew of censorship bills in the early 2000s, she said. Except all you have to do is swap save the children with protect us from terrorists.



Philips says that at this point, its willful ignorance. Were telling [Democratic lawmakers] that this is going to be a tool to further attack abortion seekers, and theyre turning a blind eye to it. She added, These are a lot of people who have expressed at least surface-level support for people who are trying to access abortion.

Is KOSA even legal?

Venzke said the ACLU believes the bill violates the First Amendment because its essentially saying that speech on certain topics is disfavored. The government would have to show that KOSAs limits on speech are very narrowly tailored to deal with the harms its trying to solve, but KOSA is laughably broad. He said the Supreme Court has been adamant that, when trying to solve an issue, Congress should regulate speech as a last measure, and KOSA seems to violate that. Venzke said he doesnt see this court re-writing First Amendment law.



In the meantime, Philips said, My organization believes that what protects children is digital privacy and the ability to look up life-saving information online. And information about abortionas well as gender-affirming care, LGBTQ communities, and birth controlall qualifies.



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25 Investigates has learned that Congress will be holding a hearing to look into the Social Security Administration demanding people pay back money they were overpaid.

25 Investigates collaborated with sister stations in seven states, and KFF Health News to discover the government is clawing back $21 billion in benefits paid out by the Social Security Administration.

In a news release from the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, it said that will hold a hearing next week to better identify improper payments before they occur and provide beneficiaries with adequate notice when they occur.

Overpayments can occur when people receiving supplemental income  for disability or survivor benefits  get a better paying job, more hours at work or a little extra money in the bank.

The extra money can flow for years before overpayments are discovered.

Sampling data contained in a prior audit suggests as many as millions of people could be impacted, but the Social Security Administration refuses to disclose how many people are impacted by the overpayments, more than a year after that data was requested.

WHERE AM I GOING TO GET IT FROM?

Most overpayments involve the Supplemental Security Income program, which helps low-income people with disabilities, who are blind, or 65 or older.

Individual Supplemental Security Income recipients are not allowed to have more than $2,000 in assets.

25 Investigates has heard from people all over New England and the Northeast who owe for overpayments including Melissa Evans from Sutton.

Evans told 25 Investigates that she and her two kids began receiving survivor benefits after her husband of 13 years died unexpectedly.

He passed away on February 4th, 2020, Evans said. So right before COVID. He died of a heart attack at home alone. And I found him.

Evans showed 25 Investigates a letter she received from Social Security in June of this year, notifying her that she earned too much money as a full time daycare administrator during the first half of 2022.

She says Social Security is now holding her payments until roughly $3,700 is paid back.

Its now a year later and theyre just now saying: Hey, you owe us, she said. With everything going up in price, electricity, food and everything, where am I going to get it from?

CALL FOR HEARINGS

In an interview, Rep. Mike Carey, Republican from Ohio on the Social Security subcommittee on the House side, called for congressional hearings.

He said his office has received numerous calls from constituents dealing with overpayments  and that every member of Congress has gotten calls on the issue.

They werent trying to game the system, they were just playing by the rules, Carey said. And its very unfortunate. And I dont want anybody to ever be in that situation again. So thats why I think we need to have a hearing. We need to come to grips with where we are right now, find out what the problems are and fix the problems.

The administration openly admits that staffing and funding constraints are impacting service.

The Social Security Administration said families are allowed to appeal overpayment bills if they think its an error or it wasnt their fault. If the amount creates too much of a hardship, recipients can also request a waiver or payment plan.

Carey said the hearing could shed light on answers that the Social Security Administration refuses to share publicly.

And if theyre not telling you, I can assure you thats a question that Im going to ask in a hearing, because I know the number has to be staggering, Carey said.

Theyre receiving government money, He added. Their government employees, and they should give the answers to the American public. I mean, if were running into this after district after district after district, we really need to know how many people are affected.

The AARP has said that trouble dealing with SSA is the number one kind of call they get from members: numbering thousands a year.

SSA employee union president Jessica LaPointe also welcomed congressional hearings into the impact of decades of underfunding.

We cant address problems if we dont face them head on, LaPointe said, adding: Were here to help the American people deal with their overpayments timely, but we do not have the resources that we need to address the problem, and that is on Congress to fix.

Its a moral imperative that we fix the situation and its on Congress right now to do that, she said. They certainly can get the information from the agency if they press them And if Congress refuses to fix it, then the constituents of lawmakers need to hold them accountable.

More Lawmakers Respond

Our stories have also gotten the attention of several other members of Congress.

Sen. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat of New Hampshire, said: These reports make clear the extreme financial hardship that some people face when required to quickly correct a social security overpayment.

And U.S. Rep. John Larson, a Democrat from Connecticut, said, There has to be some kind of fair agreement that can be reached. But this was not the individuals fault. This was governments fault.

As 25 Investigates reported last week, Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, has reintroduced legislation that would raise the asset limit for certain individual recipients from $2,000 to $10,000.

That would prevent some, but not all, overpayments from happening.

Its pretty simple, Brown said. This law hasnt been changed for 40 years. The asset level has been $2,000.

Recipients also have a duty to immediately report any changes in their finances.

But as Evans explains, thats easier said than done.

When you call them, youre on hold for hours, Evans said. And I dont have hours to just stay on hold. Then you lose the call, and no one calls you back.

Find other ways than just taking someones check, Evans said. I mean, Im not the only one.

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 Texas woman has been arrested after police say she abused her 3-month-old son, leading to his death, according to news outlets.

Margaret Cosby, 33, has been charged with injury to a child causing death, Waco police said in a Facebook post.

Her son, 3-month-old Amir Cosby, died after he was taken to a hospital with health issues and injuries, police said and news outlets reported.

The victim was suffering from multiple bone fractures, rib fractures, brain swelling, and severe malnourishment, a criminal complaint said, according to KWTX.

A relative told investigators they witnessed Margaret Cosby abuse the child, the outlet reported, citing the complaint.

Police said Child Protective Services contacted detectives in late September about an injured child.

On Sept. 21, CPS removed Amir from Cosbys care, along with another child, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported, citing CPS documents. On Sept. 23, Amir died in the hospital.

Waco Police Special Crimes Detectives are still awaiting autopsy results on the official cause of death, police said.

An arrest affidavit said Cosby gave birth to Amir and hadnt taken him to a doctor or hospital since then, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.

Police say they are investigating.

Waco is about 95 miles southwest of Dallas.

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UPDATE (Oct. 13, 2023): Karl Holmberg has been charged in connection with this shooting. What follows is a revised version of this story.



PRINCETON, Minn.  A suspect has been taken into custody hours after a shooting that injured five officers in Minnesota's Benton County Thursday morning.

According to the Benton County Sheriff's Office, all five shot are members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force. They are all expected to survive.

"This has been a difficult day. And we are grateful that the incident did not result in further injury or in loss of life," Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said. "We are also grateful for the bravery and professionalism of all the law enforcement personnel involved in this incident."

The suspect is 64-year-old Karl Holmberg, authorities said, who was formally charged Friday.

Heck says the task force members were confronted by the suspect while executing a search warrant near the intersection of 190th Avenue Northeast and Glendorado Road Northeast in Glendorado Township. The township is located just west of Princeton.

/ Credit: WCCO

The officers exchanged fire with the suspect during the initial confrontation around 7 a.m., officials said. Around 10:45 a.m., the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was injured and transported from the scene for treatment.

"We don't know at this point the extent or cause of his injuries," Heck said.

Of the five officers injured, three were from the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, one was from the Princeton Police Department and another was from the Elk River Police Department. Heck said two of the Sherburne County deputies were shot in bulletproof vests and have since been released from the hospital. The other three officers suffered gunshot wounds, but Heck did not say where they were shot. Their injuries are described as non-life threatening.

Heck said he could not identify the officers because "all were working in an undercover capacity."

Heck says deputies from his department were also at the scene during the incident, but were not injured. Multiple other agencies assisted, as well.

"We had people coming from all over," Heck said. "When there's a need in this community in law enforcement, people come."

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.

"This is still a very active scene and there is still a lot of information we don't know," Special Agent Michelle Frascone said.

Sky4 helicopter footage showed a person being loaded into an armored vehicle around 11 a.m., it has yet to be confirmed if that was the suspect.

Neighbors react

Neighbors WCCO spoke with said they are in shock that this happened so close to home.

"I woke up and there was an alert saying that there was a shooting in the area and I looked it up and it's right across the street pretty much," Kelly Moos said. "It's kind of scary. My kids were getting on the bus at the time."

Neighbors also said hearing several law enforcement officers were shot is a wake-up call for the mostly quiet township.

"It's pretty sad because we support the men and women in blue," Mike Mago said. "Prayers go out to the police officers and their families for sure. I'm hoping everything turns out well for them."

Sky4 footage key moments

At around 10:15 a.m., a person in a red robe is seen approaching law enforcement outside the property and raising their arms. They head back to the residence shortly later.

At around 10:45 p.m., what appears to be the same person without a robe is seen sitting outside the house. The person then appears to get up before being hit by a non-lethal projectile, which sprays green mist into the air.

Sky4 footage shows what appears to be a person being hit by a non-lethal projectile, which sprays green mist after contacting the individual. / Credit: WCCO

Just after 10:50 a.m., an individual was loaded into an armed vehicle and taken to a helicopter.

NEW photo of an injured individual being loaded into an armored vehicle before being whisked away to a nearby chopper for medical attention.



At least five officers have been shot in Glendorado township in rural Benton County.



Follow @wcco for the latest. pic.twitter.com/JEmDhrAqNw  Guy Still (@mplstvguy) October 12, 2023

WCCO crews noted the presence of sheriff's deputies from Benton and Sherburn counties, as well as Minnesota State Patrol squads. SWAT vehicles have also been seen at the scene, and there is at least one helicopter monitoring the area.

Glendorado Township is located about 60 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Minnesota governor calls the incident "horrific"

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz released a statement shortly after 2 p.m.:

"Today there was a horrific incident in Benton County where five officers were shot. Thankfully no one was killed and the suspect is now in custody. My thoughts are with the officers as they recover, and we're keeping in close touch with the local authorities."

MPPOA reacts to shooting of 5 officers

Following the news of five officers shot, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association released a statement.

"Today five police officers were shot & injured in Benton Co, near Princeton, MN. Please pray for the officers and their families as they undergo medical treatment. Today's injuries once again illustrate the increased and grave danger posed to law enforcement & communities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the responding officers, for answering the call in the face of danger and putting their lives on the line to help victims of crime and to keep the public safe."

Local officers killed in 2023 shootings

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there was one officer killed by gunfire in Minnesota so far in 2023. Pope County, Minnesota Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Owen was killed in a shootout in April. Another deputy and a Starbuck police officer were also shot, but survived.

There have been four officers killed by gunfire in Wisconsin this year. In February, Police Officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect in the Milwaukee metro area. In April, Hunter Scheel of Cameron and Emily Breidenbach of Chetek were killed in a shootout after serving a warrant at a traffic stop, and Deputy Kaitie Leising, 29, was responding to a call about a potential drunk driver in a ditch in May when "gunfire was exchanged" and she was killed.

Just across the border in Fargo, North Dakota, 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat, shot and killed Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin and wounded officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes as they responded to a routine traffic crash on July 14.

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FOLEY, Minn. (AP)  Five drug task force officers were shot and wounded Thursday while serving a search warrant near the Minnesota city of Princeton and a suspect was arrested, authorities said.

Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said at a news conference that the officers announced their arrival at the suspects rural home around 7 a.m. and came under fire. He said they returned fire and retreated. The suspect, identified as a 64-year-old man, was taken into custody around 10:45 a.m. after several hours of negotiations, the sheriff said. At some point he was injured and was being treated at a hospital.

The officers injuries were not life-threatening, Heck said. Three were taken to North Memorial Hospital in the Minneapolis suburb of Robbinsdale, where they remained hospitalized Thursday afternoon, while two who were struck in their bullet-resistant vests were treated and released at CentraCare Hospital in St. Cloud.

The suspect was taken to North Memorial for treatment as well. The cause and extent of his injuries were not immediately known, the sheriff said.

This has been a difficult day for us in Benton County, Heck said. We are grateful that the incident did not result in loss of life or further injury. We are also grateful for the bravery and professionalism of all those law enforcement professionals that were involved in this incident.

Law enforcement and helicopters are seen near where officers say has been a critical incident on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, near Princeton, Minn. Several law enforcement officers were shot and wounded Thursday morning in an incident near the east-central Minnesota city of Princeton, authorities said. (Anna Haecherl/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)

The shooting happened in of Glendorado Township, a few miles west of Princeton, about 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

The officers were part of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force. Three were from the Sherburne County Sheriffs Office, while one was from the Princeton Police Department and one was from the Elk River Police Department, Heck said. Benton County sheriffs deputies were present during the incident but were not injured, Heck said.

Heck said the deputies and officers were working undercover as part of the task force and their names would not be released.

The three officers who remained hospitalized were from Sherburne County and the two police departments. The two who were hit in their body armor were both from Sherburne County, Heck said. A woman who was in the home during the shooting was taken to a Princeton hospital for evaluation.

Video from KMSP-TV showed numerous law enforcement vehicles at the scene and officers in tactical gear. Video from KARE-TV showed law enforcement was converged on a rural area with homes in the trees surrounded by farm fields. An armored vehicle was seen driving on the edge of one field.

The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was called in to investigate, which it often does in cases of shootings involving law enforcement officers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The total number of people killed in Russia's attack on Hroza has risen to 59 and all of the bodies have been identified, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on Oct. 12.

According to Klymenko, all of those killed in the Oct. 5 attack were identified, although investigators had to rely on mobile DNA laboratories to identify 19 of them due to the nature of their injuries.

Nearly a week of extensive work was reportedly required to collect enough samples and match them with surviving relatives.

On Oct. 5, a Russian Iskander ballistic missile hit a grocery store and a cafe in Hroza during a memorial service for a fallen soldier who was being reburied in the village.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), two Ukrainian collaborators, locals of Kharkiv Oblast, assisted Russian forces with the attack.

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.
The procession for slain Chicago police Officer Ella French travels along West 77th Street after her funeral Mass on Aug. 19, 2021. (Vashon Jordan Jr. / Chicago Tribune)

Elizabeth French was crying when she turned and directly addressed Eric Morgan, a 25-year-old man who on Thursday admitted to his role in the shooting death of her daughter, Chicago police Officer Ella French.

My faith says I have to forgive, she told him. I cannot do that yet.

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But she said she hopes he someday understands the value of a human life and what it meant to aid in taking her daughters life.

I can hope that you come to learn and understand how very wrong it was to help take Ellas, French said.

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In front of a courtroom full of police officers at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Morgan pleaded guilty to three felony counts for his role in the August 2021 slaying of the 29-year-old officer, who was shot during a traffic stop in West Englewood. Her partner, Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., was seriously injured.

Judge Ursula Walowski sentenced Morgan to seven years in prison, per the terms of the plea agreement.

Elizabeth French delivered a statement to the court before Morgan was formally sentenced, an emotional tribute to her daughters work as a police officer and an expression of the grief she said shes lived with since she learned in the hospital that her daughter had died of her wounds.

As supporters wept in the gallery, French remembered her daughter as a baby, a teenager, a sworn officer and finally on the night she was killed. She described the silence of the small hospital room she was escorted to shortly before she was told her daughter did not survive the shooting. She told the judge about viewing her daughters body and later hugging her casket.

I want to hug and hold my daughter again. but all I can do is hug a flag-draped casket and then she disappears, she said. I miss the presence of Ella every day.

She described Ella Frenchs first call as a police officer  an abandoned litter of puppies from which she took one home  and later, in the months before she died, an emergency call of a baby who had been shot. She rushed the child to the hospital on her own.

French told the court about the last night she saw her daughter alive. They had dinner together, she said, chatting and hanging out.

I walked her to her car. I hugged her and kissed her. I told her I was proud of her, and told her I would see her soon, she said.

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Yanez was in court for the hearing, and stood to hug Frenchs mother after she addressed the court.

Morgan was charged with 11 felonies, including gun charges and a count of obstruction of justice, but he was not charged with murder or accused of firing the shots that killed French and injured her partner. His brother, Emonte Morgan, is facing charges of first-degree murder and other felonies.

Eric Morgan pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of justice. In exchange, prosecutors offered sentences of seven years, five years and three years on the three counts, to run concurrently.

There is no legal or reasonable reason for me not to go along with this, Walowski said as she accepted the agreement.

Elizabeth French said she does not believe a seven-year sentence is long enough, but said it was not because she is a vengeful person.

Every day for the rest of your life, your mother will be able to tell you how much she loves you, she said. Your actions took that.

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In a brief statement, Eric Morgan offered condolences to the family, though he concluded by saying he believes his brother is innocent.

I wish I could take back that night but you cant take back time, he said. I still believe my brother is innocent in this case.

His attorney, Roger Brown, said what happened to French and Yanez was tragic.

How do we get the guns out of the hands of young people? What makes them want to have a gun in their hands? he said. That is the question we must ask and must solve.

Elizabeth French, center, the mother of slain Chicago police Officer Ella French, and Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., right, depart the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Oct. 12, 2023, after Eric Morgan, one of the brothers charged in the 2021 shooting that killed Officer French and wounded Yanez, pleaded guilty. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Officer Carlos Yanez Jr. wears a picture of his slain partner, Chicago police Officer Ella French, as he departs the Leighton Criminal Court Building. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

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Prosecutors have alleged that Emonte Morgan fired multiple shots at the officers after French and two fellow officers stopped a gray SUV driven by Eric Morgan near West 63rd Street and South Bell Avenue on Aug. 7, 2021. Emonte Morgan was also shot during the confrontation.

French and her two fellow officers pulled over the SUV for expired plates, while Eric Morgan was driving his brother and a female passenger, prosecutors have said.

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Eric Morgan handed over the keys when asked, prosecutors said at the 2021 bail hearing, but Emonte Morgan refused to put down a drink and a cellphone he was holding, leading to a scuffle, prosecutors said.

Eric Morgan ran away, while Emonte Morgan fired shots at the officers during the scuffle, prosecutors alleged.

French and her partner fell to the ground between the car and the curb, prosecutors said, with both their guns still holstered. The third officer had been chasing Eric Morgan.

The third officer returned and was fired upon by Emonte Morgan, prosecutors said. He returned fire and hit Morgan.

mabuckley@chicagotribune.com
There is a new coffee stand in town for Amarillo that seeks to stand out from the crowd of coffee shops in the city, and its name is 7 Brew, which held its grand opening Wednesday morning.

7 Brew, which got its start in Rogers, Arkansas in 2016, opened its 143rd coffee stand and first in Amarillo, located at 2110 S. Western St., about a week ago and hopes that its motto - of cultivating kindness and joy with every drink through service, speed, quality, energy and atmosphere - will make it a daily favorite for the city. This is among the westernmost locations for the franchise, along with its Rapid City South Dakota location.

Members of 7 Brew, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and the Maverick Boys and Girls Club of Amarillo celebrate the grand opening of the Western Street location of Seven Brew Wednesday in Amarillo.

The grand opening event featured a $2,000 donation to Maverick Boys and Girls Club of Amarillo as a way of showing that 7 Brew wants to support the community that it hopes supports them in their endeavors.

Zac Cockman, who is the director of franchises for seven locations in west Texas located in San Angelo, Lubbock, Odessa and now Amarillo that feature coffee, smoothies, teas, energy drinks, sodas and more, spoke about the new Amarillo location and his donation to Maverick Boys and Girls Club.

"We are thankful to the Maverick Boys and Girls Club, the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and all the local businesses that joined us this morning to celebrate the official grand opening of 7 Brew Amarillo, Cockman said. We are proud to be a small part of the wonderful Amarillo community and look forward to serving the city one beverage at a time.

A brew crew member works on an order Wednesday at the grand opening of the Western Street location of 7 Brew in Amarillo.

Donna Soria, Amarillo Maverick Boys and Girls Club executive director, spoke about 7 Brews generous donation to her organization.

We knew that 7 Brew was opening and were planning to do a benefit for us, but I had no idea we were going to pick up a donation today, Soria said. These are such great people. They just thought of everything with their great drinks, just to celebrate their grand opening, to give back to the community.

A brew crew member works on a beverage Wednesday at the grand opening of the Western Street location of 7 Brew in Amarillo.

Soria said that her organization is so grateful that 7 Brew in their brief time in the community has made this type of commitment to aiding what they do at the Maverick in helping area kids. She said that her organization serves 650 children a day at six different locations, with 89% being in families below poverty.

Brew crew members take a customer order Wednesday at the grand opening of the Western Street location of 7 Brew in Amarillo.

This great company helping us by spotlighting our needs and donating these funds shows a great opportunity for them to get involved with us, Soria said. We are grateful because we need everybody to know what we have going on in our own backyard where we are only able to serve 3% of the children that need us."

A member of the brew crew brings out an order Wednesday at the grand opening of the Western Street location of 7 Brew in Amarillo.

7 Brew offers a variety of drinks but spotlights its seven originals, which the original owner came to based on the number being considered lucky. These seven originals include:

Blondie (Caramel & Vanilla Brew)

Smooth 7 (Irish Cream & White Chocolate Brew)

Snickerz (Hazelnut & Caramel Mocha)

White Chocolate Mocha (White & Milk Chocolate Mocha)

German Chocolate (Coconut & Caramel Mocha)

White Mac (White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Breeze) and

Triple 7 (Irish Cream & White Chocolate Breve).

Noah Lockhart, manager of the Amarillo location, spoke about what he hopes 7 Brew brings to the local community.

This company is growing very fast, and we are so proud of our success in bringing great service to communities, Lockhart said. We try to be unique by emphasizing the speed and quality of our drinks and do not have a window but a door, so that we can be right there with the customers. We want customers to feel involved and feel like regulars. We want to be like the 'Cheers' of beverages where they have a home to come to.

Noah Lockhart, manager of the new Amarillo location of 7 Brew, stands in front of his stand's menu Wednesday at the grand opening of the Western Street location in Amarillo.

Lockhart said that his staff has a culture of being excited to bring good service to customers always being the priority. He said that the new location is always looking for good employees who have a passion for excitement in service.

Future plans for Amarillo include a second location in the city. This Saturday, the new location will feature a swag day where customers who purchase a large drink will get a free 7 Brew t-shirt.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 7 Brew holds Amarillo grand opening with nonprofit donation
A Mississippi man was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the deaths of his girlfriend and her 7-year-old son, who were found shot inside a burning mobile home, the Scott County Sheriffs Office announced.

James Fulgham, 31, was taken into custody in Lauderdale County after authorities zeroed in on him as a suspect in the deaths of Zina Williams, 36, and her 7-year-old son, Zaccheus Williams, the Lauderdale County Sheriffs Office said.

Zina and Zacchesus Williams in a Facebook posting.

Zina and Zacchesus Williams in a Facebook posting.

Authorities said the bodies were found Monday night after firefighters responded to a house fire. Firefighters attempted to rescue them, then realized they were already dead and had gunshot wounds.

Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee told WLBT-TV in Jackson that investigators believe that the mother was shot once and her son was shot at least three times.

According to the NBC affiliate, neighbors told police that they heard an argument between Fulgham and Zina Williams and then heard gunshots. The couple lived together in the home near Forest, Mississippi, and both worked at a Tyson Foods plant, Lee said.

It looks like, in just the preliminary [investigation], the child may have heard the gunshot, got scared, hollered and then became a victim himself, Lee told WLBT.

According to WAPT-TV in Jackson, witnesses saw Fulgham leave the home in Williams car, which was missing from the scene. He was driving the car when he was taken into custody in nearby Lauderdale County without incident.

Zeola and Billy Williams, Zinas parents and Zaccheuss grandparents, shared their grief in an interview with WAPT and their hope for justice.

Fulgham is being held by the Scott County Sheriffs Office, but its unclear what charges he faces or if he has an attorney.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

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A seventh person was arrested Wednesday in connection to the death of a South Korean woman whose body was found decaying in the trunk of a car parked outside a popular spa in suburban Atlanta, authorities said.

Gwinnett County Police Department officers arrested and charged Mihee Lee, 54, with felony murder, false imprisonment, concealing the death of another, tampering with evidence and false statements or writings to the government. She is the mother of three of six suspects accused in the murder of 33-year-old Sehee Cho, according to police.

Cho's body was found Sept. 12 after police received a 911 report of a body in the trunk of a silver Jaguar parked outside a Korean bathhouse and spa in Duluth, Georgia. Her body was wrapped in a blanket and weighed about 70 pounds when authorities discovered it.

Investigators believe Cho moved to the United States from South Korea in July to join a self-proclaimed religious organization. Gwinnett County police said the suspects identified themselves as members of "Soldiers of Christ."

The six other suspects were identified as Eric Hyun, 26; Gawon Lee, 26; Joonho Lee, 26; Joonhyun Lee, 22; Hyunji Lee, 25; and a 15-year-old. All six are facing charges of felony murder, false imprisonment, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another in addition to multiple gang-related charges.

Police said Wednesday that Mihee Lee is the mother of Joonhyun Lee, Joonho Lee and and the 15-year-old. Five of the suspects were believed to be U.S. citizens, while Gawon Lee holds a visiting visa, Cpl. Juan Madiedo said.

Two teen girls murdered in Indiana: Is white supremacist Odinist cult behind the crime?

Woman abused, denied food in family's home

Investigators had said the suspects subjected Cho to beatings and denied food until her death. Authorities believe Cho was held against her will for weeks in the basement of the Lee family's home in Lawrenceville, about 10 miles east of where the body was found.

Mihee Lee also restricted Cho's water intake and prevented her from leaving or seeking medical care while she received "religious training," according to an arrest warrant.

At a bond hearing for Joonho Lee on Wednesday, WAGA-TV reported that Gwinnett County Assistant District Attorney Han Chung told the court Cho had been dead for nearly a month before her body was found. Last month, Madiedo said investigators believe Cho was in the back of the vehicle for "a few days."

Lawyer says Eric Hyun was also a victim: 'Over a hundred wounds'

Hyun was the driver of the vehicle that contained Cho's body and had parked it outside the spa earlier in the day on Sept. 12, according to Madiedo. After parking the vehicle, Madiedo said Hyun called a family member to take him to an Atlanta area hospital where he was treated for unrelated injuries.

When Hyun asked the family member to return to the parked car and retrieve an item, the relative discovered Cho's body in the trunk and called 911, police said.

Hyun was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail on Sept. 24 after being released from the hospital, police said Wednesday. He is now in the jail's medical wing.

David Boyle, a lawyer for Hyun, said his client was subjected to the same kind of abuse Cho experienced. Boyle said in a statement Wednesday that the Lee family had tortured Hyun and Cho in the same basement.

"He was beaten with a belt in his genitals and face until he was knocked unconscious," Boyle said. "He was stripped naked and shot with an airsoft gun all over his body, causing over a hundred wounds."

He added that Hyun's skin was sanded off his chest to "indoctrinate him into their religious extremism." The Lee family also used Hyun's credit cards to pay for clothes and restaurant meals, according to Boyle.

Boyle said Hyun had escaped from the Lee family's home and took Cho's body with him after he was pressured into wiring tens of thousands of dollars to South Korea and borrowing money to buy a house in Suwanee, another Atlanta suburb. The house was allegedly intended to be a church for the group.

"If Eric had not escaped from the Lees' house, he would have also died," Boyle said. "Eric Hyun is innocent of these charges and I am confident that he will be cleared of these charges once that investigation is complete."

Inside the Lindsay Shiver case: An alleged murder plot to kill her husband in the Bahamas

Religious-related abuse

The Gwinnett County case is the latest incident of religious or spiritual abuse. A majority of cases involving spiritual abuse involve faith leaders or other members of a religious community, the National Domestic Violence Hotline says.

"Most examples of spiritual abuse refer to a church elder or faith leader inflicting abuse on congregation members, often by creating a toxic culture within the church or group by shaming or controlling members using the power of their position," the violence hotline says.

But cases of spiritual abuse are not limited to a certain religion, denomination or individual, the hotline says: "Any person, of any belief system, is capable of perpetrating spiritual abuse, just as anyone can be the victim of it."

Most incidents that have drawn national attention and criticism include rampant sexual abuse in institutions such as churches, cults and sectarian movements, according to a study examining patterns of sexual abuse in religious settings by a University of Alberta cult expert and his former graduate student.

The study discussed how some religious institutions and leaders foster people, especially children, into harmful and illegal sexual activity.

"A number of uniquely religious characteristics facilitate this cultivation, which includes: theodicies of legitimation; power, patriarchy, obedience, protection, and reverence towards authority figures; victims' fears about spiritual punishments; and scriptural uses to justify adult-child sex," the study says.

State reports released in the past year revealed thousands of cases of child sex abuse by Catholic priests and clergy members.

In April, the Maryland Attorney General's report found a staggering pervasiveness of child sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where at least 600 children were victimized between the 1940s and 2002. And a report from the Illinois Attorney General in May found at least 1,997 children across the state were sexually abused by members of the Catholic clergy.

Contributing: Chris Kenning, USA TODAY; Andy Carrigan, Rockford Register Star; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia religious group: 7th person charged after body found in trunk
The United Auto Workers (UAW) expanded its ongoing strike against major automobile manufacturers Wednesday after a Ford truck plant in Kentucky joined the strike, the union announced.

About 8,700 workers from the companys Truck Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky  where F-250 and F-550 trucks are built, as well as some SUVs  walked off the job in a surprise strike Wednesday. The facility is Fords largest and most profitable.

The union said that Ford has refused to negotiate further bargaining demands, resulting in the expanded strike.

The striking workers are demanding increased wages and improved working conditions in protracted negotiations with the Big Three automakers  Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis. Strikes began last month and have slowly expanded, plant-by-plant, as the union hopes to increase pressure on the manufacturers to sign a union-friendly contract.

UAW President Shawn Fain said Ford hasnt gotten the message about what workers want.

If they cant understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it, he said in a statement Wednesday.

Fain said he sat down with Ford executives at the companys headquarters earlier Wednesday and demanded a new offer. The company hinted it could include battery plants in a future union contract  a union win that GM agreed to last week  but Fain said there was no progress on economic terms with Ford.

He said the meeting only lasted about 15 minutes.

In a statement to The Associated Press, Ford called the strike expansion grossly irresponsible and representative of the unions intent on industrial chaos.

Three union plants went on strike Sept. 15, one from each company. More than 30 GM and Stellantis sites joined the strike a week later, with additional Ford plants going on strike at the end of September. Nearly 34,000 UAW workers are on strike nationwide.

The strikes have received support from the public and the Biden administration. A survey last month found that a majority of Americans back the strikes.

President Biden walked the picket line with striking workers near Detroit late last month, a first for a sitting president.

Wall Street didnt build the country. The middle class built the country. Unions built the middle class, Biden said. Lets keep going. You deserve what youve earned, and you deserve a hell of a lot more than what youre getting paid now.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  Mexicos military on Wednesday destroyed more than 1,100 weapons and 23,800 rounds of ammunition seized in Northern Baja California in recent months.

Officials said 9 out of 10 weapons destroyed had come from the U.S.

Guns such as 9mm and 40mm are the most decommissioned weapons in our region, said Capt. Marino Garcia, with the Mexican Army. We also see .38 and .223 caliber guns along with many other types of weapons often kept for personal use.

The guns that were destroyed came from seizures in Mexicali, Ensenada, San Quintin and Tijuana, Marino Garcia said.

Grand jury charges alleged gunrunners

We see 90 to 95 percent of these guns came from the United States, said Fernando Sanchez Gonzalez, Tijuanas head of public safety and protection. We have a problem due to our geographical location; it puts us in a complex situation with north-to-south trafficking.

Sanchez Gonzalez told reporters a lot more needs to be done to keep guns out of Mexico.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

We need to do more work in terms of border control to check for these weapons, he said. Seven out of every 10 people killed by guns in Tijuana were murdered with weapons that came from the United States.

In Mexico, guns and ammunition can only be held legally by law enforcement, the military and those with special permits.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Youve probably seen a big truck with spiked lug nut covers on the wheels, but are they legal?

Action 9s Jason Stoogenke checked the laws pertaining to this issue in both North and South Carolina.

ALSO READ: Action 9 investigation sparks new NC real estate law

North Carolina does not have a law addressing lug nut length, but there is one concerning the width of the entire vehicle.

Apparently, no car or truck can be more than 102 inches wide.

In South Carolina, the law states that spiked lug nut covers have to be secure. When it comes to trucks, the covers cannot stick out farther than the load.

VIDEO: Action 9 investigation sparks new NC real estate law




Editors Note: A version of this story appeared in this weeks CNNs Race Deconstructed newsletter. Sign up for free here.

Anyone who hoped the US Supreme Courts recent decision on affirmative action in college and university admissions would likely stop at traditional higher education got an ominous sign this past week.

The US Naval Academy was sued October 5 over its race-conscious admissions practices by the same anti-affirmative action group whose lawsuits against Harvard and the University of North Carolina prompted the nations highest court to declare race-based admissions policies at such institutions unlawful.

The conservative group Students for Fair Admissions said in a 28-page lawsuit that the academy has no justification for using race-based admissions. SFFA argued that the academys policy of using race as a factor in admissions violated the US Constitution. The group had filed a September lawsuit against the US Military Academy at West Point, making similar arguments.

The Supreme Court ruled in June that colleges and universities could no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis for granting admissions  except for US military service academies. The lawsuits against the US Navy and West Point suggest that opponents of affirmative action are serious about eliminating any policy of diversity based on race.

Its not surprising that the US Armed Forces have drawn criticism from affirmative action foes.

The military is the most integrated institution in America. Its leaders vigorously tout diversity efforts, insisting that inclusion ensures that the US has the best fighting force possible. The most integrated cities in America have a strong military presence, researchers have found. And the Defense Department runs many of the most integrated, and highest-achieving, schools for children in the nation.

Training for Black US Army officers was integrated in the early 1940s. Military officers (from left) 2nd Lt. Henry C. Harris, Jr., 2nd Lt. Rogers H. Beardon, 2nd Lt. Frank Frederick Doughton and 2nd Lt. Elmer B. Kountze are seen following graduation at Fort Benning in Georgia, May 29, 1942. - Archive Photos/Getty Images

The military aggressively recruits people of color. The top brass knows that racial integration never just happens  it needs buy-in from leaders. But conservative activists consider this approach unlawful, described in the SFFA filings for the Harvard lawsuit as racial balancing, in which Asian American applicants are held to higher standards than Black and Latino students.

No one is suggesting diversity is a bad thing, SFFA founder and legal strategist Edward Blum told CNN, but just treating people differently because of their race and ethnicity, thats a different element in the quest for diversity.

The conservative legal movement insists that any effort to burden or benefit racial minorities that takes race into account is unconstitutional, and Blum, who is also the director of The Project on Fair Representation, has been initiating lawsuits against these policies on different fronts since the 1990s.

If the lawsuits against the military reach the Supreme Court and are successful, the changes they could unleash may be even more significant than the recent affirmative action ruling.

Meanwhile, a win for voting rights

The same conservative majority on the US Supreme Court that ended affirmative action in most higher education, however, delivered a surprising decision in June that affirmed voting rights protections for African Americans.

This past week, that decision was reaffirmed when a federal court approved a new congressional map in Alabama that boosts the Black populations chance of electing a Democrat in the state.

The decision, which could help Democrats win back control of the US House of Representatives, could also influence similar court challenges to Republican-drawn maps now pending in Florida, Louisiana and Georgia.

The case made its way to the nations highest court after voting rights activists accused Alabamas GOP-controlled legislature of drawing an earlier congressional map that diluted Black political power.

The courts decision was significant because the Voting Rights Act, the 1965 law that outlaws racially discriminatory voting practices, has been on virtual life support due to several decisions by the high court.

The most notable decision  brought on by one of a series of lawsuits devised by none other than Blum  was the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, in which a conservative majority eliminated a key enforcement mechanism of the act that had prevented states with a history of racial discrimination from targeting people of color at the ballot box.

The Shelby decision opened the floodgates for the passage of a wave of voter restriction laws in states that were previously covered by the Voting Rights Act. As the country heads into the presidential election year, more lawsuits invoking the Voting Rights Act are expected to follow.

Voting rights activists will anxiously watch those decisions to see whether the setback for conservative activists in Alabama was an aberration for the high court, or a new norm.

One more reason why a UAW victory matters

In other news: If youve been following along, you may recall that in last weeks newsletter, I took a closer look at why the United Auto Workers current strike against Detroits Big Three automakers is not just about workers versus corporate power, but also about race. This weekend, CNNs Nathaniel Meyersohn wrote a story that explored another racial dimension of the UAWs ongoing strike: the potential economic benefit of a labor victory to Black workers who have long relied on jobs at Detroit auto plants.

Many Black workers historically used auto jobs to build careers, but advancement opportunities have diminished since the early aughts. Striking UAW members are seen on the picket line outside GM's Willow Run Distribution Center, in Belleville, Michigan, September 26. - Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Meyersohn said Black people have relied on union auto jobs as a crucial route to financial stability in America. The percentage of Black workers in the auto industry today is more than double their share of the workforce overall.

But the decline in US auto jobs and the erosion of unions have hit Black workers hardest, he wrote. Many have seen auto work move from being a stable career to little more than a wage job, ever since the United Auto Workers union agreed to concessions in 2007 and 2009 as automakers were barreling toward bankruptcy and federal bailouts.

The stakes in the UAW strike are enormous for the future of the US auto industry. But Meyersohns story shows that the result of this strike could profoundly shape the lives of Black workers who used auto jobs as stepping stones to the middle class.

John Blake is the author of More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
In a slickly produced TikTok video, former President Barack Obama  or a voice eerily like his  can be heard defending himself against an explosive new conspiracy theory about the sudden death of his former chef.

While I cannot comprehend the basis of the allegations made against me, the voice says, I urge everyone to remember the importance of unity, understanding and not rushing to judgments.

In fact, the voice did not belong to the former president. It was a convincing fake, generated by artificial intelligence using sophisticated new tools that can clone real voices to create AI puppets with a few clicks of a mouse.

Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times

The technology used to create AI voices has gained traction and wide acclaim since companies such as ElevenLabs released a slate of new tools late last year. Since then, audio fakes have rapidly become a new weapon on the online misinformation battlefield, threatening to turbocharge political disinformation before the 2024 election by giving creators a way to put their conspiracy theories into the mouths of celebrities, newscasters and politicians.

The fake audio adds to the AI-generated threats from deepfake videos, humanlike writing from ChatGPT and images from services such as Midjourney.

Disinformation watchdogs have noticed the number of videos containing AI voices has increased as content producers and misinformation peddlers adopt the novel tools. Social platforms including TikTok are scrambling to flag and label such content.

The video that sounded like Obama was discovered by NewsGuard, a company that monitors online misinformation. The video was published by one of 17 TikTok accounts pushing baseless claims with fake audio that NewsGuard identified, according to a report the group released in September. The accounts mostly published videos about celebrity rumors using narration from an AI voice, but also promoted the baseless claim that Obama is gay and the conspiracy theory that Oprah Winfrey is involved in the slave trade. The channels had collectively received hundreds of millions of views and comments that suggested some viewers believed the claims.

While the channels had no obvious political agenda, NewsGuard said, the use of AI voices to share mostly salacious gossip and rumors offered a road map for bad actors wanting to manipulate public opinion and share falsehoods to mass audiences online.

Its a way for these accounts to gain a foothold, to gain a following that can draw engagement from a wide audience, said Jack Brewster, the enterprise editor at NewsGuard. Once they have the credibility of having a large following, they can dip their toe into more conspiratorial content.

TikTok requires labels disclosing realistic AI-generated content as fake, but they did not appear on the videos flagged by NewsGuard. TikTok said it had removed or stopped recommending several of the accounts and videos for violating policies around posing as news organizations and spreading harmful misinformation. It also removed the video using the AI-generated voice that mimicked Obamas for violating TikToks synthetic media policy, as it contained highly realistic content not labeled altered or fake.

TikTok is the first platform to provide a tool for creators to label AI-generated content and an inaugural member of a new code of industry best practices promoting the responsible use of synthetic media, said Jamie Favazza, a spokesperson for TikTok, referring to a recently introduced framework from the nonprofit Partnership on AI.

Although NewsGuards report focused on TikTok, which has increasingly become a source of news, similar content was found spreading on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Platforms like TikTok allow AI-generated content of public figures, including newscasters, so long as they do not spread misinformation. Parody videos showing AI-generated conversations between politicians, celebrities or business leaders  some dead  have spread widely since the tools became popular. Manipulated audio adds a new layer to deceptive videos on the platforms that have already featured fake versions of Tom Cruise, Elon Musk and newscasters like Gayle King and Norah ODonnell. TikTok and other platforms have been grappling with a spate of misleading ads lately featuring deepfakes of celebrities like Cruise and YouTube star Mr. Beast.

The power of these technologies could profoundly sway viewers. We do know audio and video are perhaps more sticky in our memories than text, said Claire Leibowicz, head of AI and media integrity at the Partnership on AI, which has worked with technology and media companies on a set of recommendations for creating, sharing and distributing AI-generated content.

TikTok said last month that it was introducing a label that users could select to show whether their videos used AI. In April, the app started requiring users to disclose manipulated media showing realistic scenes and prohibiting deepfakes of young people and private figures. David Rand, a professor of management science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology whom TikTok consulted for advice on how to word the new labels, said the labels were of limited use when it came to misinformation because the people who are trying to be deceptive are not going to put the label on their stuff.

TikTok also said last month that it was testing automated tools to detect and label AI-generated media, which Rand said would be more helpful, at least in the short term.

YouTube bans political ads from using AI and requires other advertisers to label their ads when AI is used. Meta, which owns Facebook, added a label to its fact-checking tool kit in 2020 that describes whether a video is altered. And X, formerly known as Twitter, requires misleading content to be significantly and deceptively altered, manipulated or fabricated to violate its policies. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

Obamas AI voice was created using tools from ElevenLabs, a company that burst onto the international stage late last year with its free-to-use AI text-to-speech tool capable of producing lifelike audio in seconds. The tool also allowed users to upload recordings of someones voice and produce a digital copy.

After the tool was released, users on 4chan, the right-wing message board, organized to create a fake version of actor Emma Watson reading an antisemitic screed.

ElevenLabs, a company with 27 employees with headquarters in New York City, responded to the misuse by limiting the voice-cloning feature to paid users. The company also released an AI detection tool that is capable of identifying AI content produced by its services.

Over 99% of users on our platform are creating interesting, innovative, useful content, a representative for ElevenLabs said in an emailed statement, but we recognize that there are instances of misuse, and weve been continually developing and releasing safeguards to curb them.

In tests by The New York Times, ElevenLabs detector successfully identified audio from the TikTok accounts as AI-generated. But the tool failed when music was added to the clip or when the audio was distorted, suggesting that misinformation peddlers could easily elude detection.

AI companies and academics have explored other methods to identify fake audio, with mixed results. Some companies explored adding an invisible watermark to AI audio by embedding signals that it was AI-generated. Others have pushed AI companies to limit the voices that can be cloned, potentially banning replicas of politicians like Obama  a practice already in place with some image-generation tools like Dall-E, which refuses to generate some political imagery.

Leibowicz at the Partnership on AI said synthetic audio was uniquely challenging to flag for listeners compared with visual alterations.

If we were a podcast, would you need a label every five seconds? Leibowicz said. How do you have a signal in some long piece of audio thats consistent?

Even if platforms adopt AI detectors, the technology must constantly improve to keep up with advances in AI generation.

TikTok said it was building new detection methods in-house and exploring options for outside partnerships.

Big Tech companies, multibillion-dollar or even trillion-dollar companies  they are unable to do it? Thats kind of surprising to me, said Hafiz Malik, a professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn who is developing AI audio detectors. If they intentionally dont want to do it? Thats understandable. But they cannot do it? I dont accept it.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
Air Force investigators are raising the alarm over a significant increase in laser pointers being aimed at aircraft, with more than 9,000 incidents reported last year alone.

Personal laser pointers, small beam projectors used for everything from professors during college lecture presentations to motivating your cat to exercise at home, can cause serious damage to a pilot's eyesight and result in distractions for aircraft, according to a press release from the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations this week.

According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration, there was a surge in reported laser incidents, with 2021 marking a 41% increase in aircraft laser strikes compared to 2020. In 2022, there were almost 9,500 incidents reported. And in 2023, so far, more than 7,400 incidents have been recorded with nearly three months still left in the year.

Read Next: The 5 Top Concerns of Army Families -- and What the Service Plans to Do About Them

"These are not harmless pranks. There's a risk of causing permanent visual impairment," an OSI Center official said in the press release. "From the public's standpoint, misusing lasers can severely impact a person's ability to see and function."

The small, hand-held lasers can often point a beam at an object from thousands of feet away. When a laser reaches an aircraft cabin or cockpit, it can cause temporary disorientation, blindness or even long-lasting optical damage.

There have been several incidents of lasers being aimed at military aircraft in recent years.

In 2019, The Associated press reported that Air Force officials at North Carolina's Pope Army Airfield raised concerns following two separate incidents where planes were targeted with laser pointers. That same year, someone pointed a laser at an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III when it was coming in for a landing at Charlotte International Airport in North Carolina.

While many of the cases are pranksters or citizens playing around with their hand-held pointers, the Pentagon has warned of more serious interference from other nations, too.

In 2018, the U.S. government protested to China about several incidents in which military planes were targeted with lasers while landing in Djibouti. The Pentagon reported at the time that two Air Force crew members received minor injuries during one incident. Officials requested China to investigate.

"Firing lasers at aircraft can blind aircrew members during critical moments of landing," the Pentagon said in a statement at the time. "In the incident where the minor injuries occurred, a C-130 was landing at the base when it was painted by a laser beam. The aircraft managed to land safely, and the two aircrew members are recovering."

The Federal Aviation Administration has "the authority to impose civil penalties, with fines escalating to $11,000 per violation and $30,800 for multiple incidents," the OSI said in its press release.

Individuals caught pointing lasers at civilian or military aircraft and charged criminally can also face fines of as much as $250,000 and up to five years in prison.

But locating the individuals responsible for pointing a laser at an aircraft isn't an easy task, involving witnesses and evidence, as well as communication from the pilots and crew with local law enforcement.

"The challenge is not just in reporting the incident," Air Force Office of Special Investigations officials said in the press release. "What makes it actionable is the pilot's ability to specify, with a degree of certainty, a geo-coordinate from which the laser originated."

The OSI encourages individuals who witness laser strikes to report the incident to it as well, "regardless of whether the aircraft is military or civilian."

This year and last, there have been several cases in which individuals received federal punishment for pointing a laser at an aircraft.

In April, a federal judge sentenced a Minnesota man to two years in prison for pointing a laser at a Delta Air Lines jet in 2021.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Laser Pointers Interfering with US Marine Pilots Flying in Okinawa
Dozens of LSG Sky Chefs union workers who prepare in-flight food and catering for airlines serving Miami International Airport held a protest on Wednesday, trying to rally public support for a wage boost to at least $20 an hour.

The demonstration came as the Miami metropolitan area continues to have the highest cost of living increase among big cities in the United States. Inflation in the Miami area spiked to 7.8% for the 12-month period ending in August, according to the latest Consumer Price Index report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was more than twice the latest national CPI of 3.7%.

The group of workers assembled outside Sky Chefs warehouses a few miles from Miami airport.

Sky Chefs union food catering workers gathered Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 in Miami to demand at least $20 hourly pay.

The unions negotiations for a new contract with the company have floundered. About 900 of the Miami food workers have been working without a contract since the last one expired in 2016. A mediator has been involved in bargaining between Unite Here Local 355, which represents the workers and many others in the hospitality industry in South Florida, and Sky Chefs management. The union organized the protest.

Dozens of women wore red shirts emblazoned with the slogan One job should be enough. Chants, many in Spanish, said, We want 20, meaning $20 an hour. Right now many are paid less than $16 an hour.

Food preparer Maria Sanchez, 61, a Cuba native, was one of about 100 workers demonstrating. She said her rent increased this year from $1,800 to $2,700 a month.

I came to achieve the American Dream, but have not been able to do so, said Sanchez, who starts her work shift at 5 a.m.

A report by the union earlier this year, based on a survey of Sky Chefs workers surveyed between February and April, depicted their plight. The workers median pay was $15.50 an hour.

Nine of 10 workers said they do not have employer health insurance. Nearly a quarter of the workers said they needed public assistance in the past year including food stamps, taxpayer-funded healthcare, or Section 8 housing vouchers to help with rent. Also, 92% of the workers are renters, and more than 50% of them dont earn enough money to consistently cover their rent, according to the unions report.

Sky Chefs MIami union food workers Bianca Wolf, left, and Niunka Bena, right, want better pay, so they participated in a demonstration Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

The LSG group was owned by German airline Lufthansa until April, when an agreement was reached to sell the company to the European private equity group Aurelius. The sale hasnt yet been finalized.

LSG Sky Chefs officials said in a statement they continue to negotiate with the union toward a new contract for the workers.

The company also contends its union workers dont fall under the Miami-Dade County living wage law, because their services are provided to the airlines at Miami airport and the workers dont directly serve county residents.

Sky Chefs officials said the Florida courts ruled in 2019 that local minimum wage ordinances are invalid.

We have many employers who pay a minimum of $20 per hour without a law requiring them to do so, said Wendi Walsh, secretary-treasurer of Unite Here Local 355, citing the Miami Marlins stadium workers.

Sky Chefs workers Nagalys Pina, center, and Sonia Toledo, right, chant during the protest on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 for higher wages.
Openness, protection of Jokhang Temple in heart of Lhasa shows China's freedom of religion

09:52, October 12, 2023 By Shan Jie ( Global Times

Tourists and worshipers walk along the Barkhor Bazaar in the city of Lhasa in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on October 10, 2023. Photo: Shan Jie/GT

The Jokhang Temple sitting at the heart of Lhasa, capital city of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, is always enveloped in wispy smoke and the fragrance of burning incense as devotees tirelessly circle around it as they prostrate themselves along the Barkhor Bazaar. Visitors speaking various languages and dialects, wearing Tibetan attire and striking poses in front of cameras can be seen everywhere. Inside the temple, both tourists and worshipers share this artistic sanctuary. Today, the openness and preservation of the Jokhang Temple embody freedom of religion in the region.

"Jokhang Temple represents Lhasa, and coming here means truly arriving in Lhasa. That is why so many people are coming here, as it is the final destination for the pilgrimages undertaken by many Tibetan people," Duobujie, a guide who has worked at the Jokhang Temple for over 20 years, explained to visiting media on Tuesday.

Built in the seventh century, the Jokhang Temple houses numerous historical relics and exhibits quintessential Tibetan architecture. In 2000, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the historical ensemble that makes up the Potala Palace.

Luosang, one of the administrative staff at Jokhang Temple, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the temple's operations made full use of China's policy of religious freedom.

He explained that the temple opens at 8:15 every morning to welcome worshipers, and even though it officially closes at 3 in the afternoon, it continues to operate for several more hours to accommodate both worshipers and tourists. Worshipers visiting the Jokhang Temple are not charged, and there are dedicated queues for them. To meet the needs of both worshipers and tourists, the temple rests only one day a week.

"Whether they come from Tibetan areas in China, other regions in the country, or internationally, they can all enjoy their freedom of religious belief at Jokhang Temple," Luosang said. "For the elderly, disabled, and those with limited mobility, we have set up a green channel, and our staff provides assistance."

Given its 1,300 years of history, protection and preservation of the temple are paramount. In recent years, the Jokhang Temple has also introduced technology to comprehensively safeguard its artifacts and architectural structures.

For instance, it has partnered with the Palace Museum in Beijing to conduct 3D scans of all the Buddha statues, creating digital records and a database. Luosang mentioned that their next step is to document the extensive exquisite murals within the temple.

Special religious texts, such as the Lijiang version of the Tripitaka, or Buddhist canon, have also been scanned and archived. "No matter how many years go by, we can continue to inherit and promote them," he stated.

Furthermore, the local government and relevant departments have allocated over 30 million yuan ($4.1 million) to upgrade Jokhang Temple's fire safety, electrical systems, and security.

"We have a surveillance system that monitors the artifacts around the temple, ensuring comprehensive protection," Luosang explained. "Our next focus is to implement a monitoring and early warning system for the ancient building's walls and structures."

"Currently, the most critical part of our work is fire prevention, because lost artifacts can be found, but once they are burnt, they are gone," he said, noting that the temple is already using technology such as wired smoke detectors, wireless smoke detectors, and thermal imaging for protection.

In Xizang, all religions and sects are equal, as are all believers and non-believers. There are more than 1,700 sites for Tibetan Buddhist activities with 46,000 monks and nuns, four mosques serving 12,000 native Muslims, and a Catholic church with more than 700 followers, according to a white paper published in May 2021 by China's State Council Information Office.

In order to adapt religions to a Chinese context, ensure the freedom and order of religious belief, and manage religious affairs in accordance with the law, the country has formulated the Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism in accordance with the Regulations on Religious Affairs, read the white paper.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Jim Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse following a sentencing hearing on Oct. 11, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

James Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios, was sentenced to 5  years in prison Wednesday, bringing an end to a bribery case centered on the shady world of sweepstakes gaming with elements of political corruption, a state senator turned government mole, and even alleged mob ties.

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger decried Chicagos long history of public corruption, saying cases like Weiss cause people to roll their eyes when they meet someone from Chicago.

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You know what? It is an embarrassment, Seeger said near the end of the five-hour hearing. You helped solidify the city of Chicago as the capital of corruption, Mr. Weiss.

Seeger acknowledged that the two legislators Weiss allegedly bribed, former state Rep. Luis Arroyo and state Sen. Terry Link, were no longer in office, but said there were always other elected officials out there on the take.

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There will be plenty of other pockets out there, and I worry maybe someday youll be tempted to fill one of them with dirty money, Seeger said.

Weiss, 44, who is married to Berrioss daughter, former state Rep. Toni Berrios, was convicted by a jury in June of seven counts of bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and making false statements.

The charges alleged Weiss then agreed to pay monthly $2,500 bribes to get language helping his sweepstakes gaming machine business added to state gambling legislation, first to Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, and later to Link, a Vernon Hill Democrat and chief sponsor of the gambling bill in the Senate.

Unbeknown to both Arroyo and Weiss, Link was secretly cooperating with the FBI and captured a conversation in June 2019 with Arroyo at a Highland Park Wendys where the bribe payments were first discussed, as well as a later meeting where Arroyo delivered a $2,500 check from Weiss.

In asking for a sentence of about three years, Weiss attorney, Ilia Usharovich, argued that while Weiss crimes were serious, the legislation he wanted passed would have regulated the sweepstakes gaming business and brought in additional revenue for the state.

Its one sweet seed in this pomegranate of sour seeds, Usharovich said in an argument that also contained references to Peter Pan and Batman.

Usharovich also said the bribery scheme was set up by Arroyo and Link at the Wendys outside of Weiss presence, and that Weiss just went along with the plan by cutting the check.

Mr. Weiss wasnt the one who suggested, Hey whats in it for me? Usharovich said.

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Seeger, however, noted the jury rejected that same argument at Weiss trial. He also blasted Weiss for trying to corrupt both the House and the Senate in one fell swoop.

It was bicameral corruption! the judge shouted.

Link, who is hoping for a break on his own federal tax conviction in exchange for his cooperation, testified in Weiss trial over two days about his undercover role.

Arroyo, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to bribery for his role in the scheme but did not agree to cooperate with prosecutors. Seeger sentenced Arroyo to nearly five years in prison last year, calling him a corruption superspreader.

Already filled with political intrigue, the case took another turn last week, when prosecutors revealed that Weiss brother had been caught on a federal wiretap saying Weiss was good friends with notorious mob hit man Frank The German Schweihs and once went to him for protection for his massage parlors being threatened by other gangsters.

In their filing, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine ONeill and Sean Franzblau also revealed that Weiss brother was recorded telling someone Weiss had partnered up with a known long-time mob associate, identified as Individual B, after Weiss had reportedly gone to Schweihs for help.

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Yeah, well, Jimmy and Frank were good friends, and some Russians were muscling Jimmy, but Frank was on the run, the brother, Joseph Weiss, told an unidentified person in a wiretapped call quoted in the filing. Frank was in hiding and Jimmy called Frank and ... says, hey man, these guys just busted up my (expletive store). Scared the (expletive) out of the girls, this and that, you know, I need your help, where the (expletive) are you?

At the time, Schweihs had been charged in the landmark Family Secrets mob case and was on the run. According to the brothers story, The German told Weiss, Jim, Im underground right now ... but Ill have someone call you right back.

Somebody called Jimmy and told him to go see Individual B, who straightened it all out, Joseph Weiss said, according to the transcript of the call.

Ever since then, theyre partners on everything, Joseph Weiss said. The problem is (Individual B)s like a gangster but hes an honest guy. If youre his friend, youre his friend.

Prosecutors called the description of Individual B as a gangster an apt one. In a separate undercover recording, Individual B admitted that James Weiss is with me, referencing their joint involvement with gaming machines, the filing stated.

The filing came on the heels of a new indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court against Joseph Weiss, who was charged with lying to federal investigators about his brothers reputed mob ties, including his previous contacts with Individual B.

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Joseph Weiss is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Schweihs, who according to authorities spent decades as a reputed enforcer for the mobs Grand Avenue street crew, died of cancer in 2008 while awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, records obtained by the Tribune show the same federal grand jury looking into Weiss mob connections is also interested in Robert Bobby Dominic, a reputed Outfit associate who, according to FBI and Chicago records, ran pornography and gambling interests for the Grand Avenue crew.

Weiss attorneys have denied that Weiss has any connection to Schweihs, saying he had never met him and never did business with him.

In court Wednesday, Usharovich noted Schweihs was living in Florida when he was arrested in the Family Secrets case and died 15 years ago, when Weiss would have been in his late 20s.

On his way out of the courthouse after the sentencing, Weiss walked up to a Tribune reporter and said, How the hell do you connect me to Schweihs? I was 10 years old when he went away.

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Weiss said his family has had to endure baseless insinuations that he is connected to a mass murderer.

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Asked who Individual B is, Weiss started to say He is a good friend of mine who -- before his lawyers told him to stop talking. Weiss also acknowledged that he knows Dominic, but did not elaborate.

Seeger, meanwhile, said he didnt know much about Schwiehs and that Weiss alleged mob ties were too nebulous for him to consider in fashioning the sentence.

Instead, the judge focused squarely on the damage public corruption can do to society, as citizens lose faith in their own government and just assume that everyone is on the take.

Unfortunately Chicago has a hard-earned but well-deserved reputation for public corruption, Seeger said. Public corruption is the Chicago Way.

Some of the details captured on the wiretaps in Weiss case were just gross, Seeger said, including Arroyo telling Link the bribery arrangement with Weiss was their jackpot.

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You added another star to Chicagos Walk of Shame, the sidewalk of public corruption, Seeger told Weiss. You were the financier of the corruption three-ring circus.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com
An Alabama judge found Carlee Russell guilty of two misdemeanor charges after she faked her own abduction in July.

Hoover Municipal Court Judge Thomas Brad Bishop on Wednesday found Russell guilty on charges of false reporting of an incident and false reporting to law enforcement, both misdemeanors, according to FOX affiliate WBRC.

The state recommended one year in jail, the maximum, which is six months for each charge. They also recommended a fine of $831 and restitution of $17,974.88.

According to the report, the case will be appealed to circuit court.

CARLEE RUSSELL ARRESTED, FACES CHARGES AFTER DISAPPEARANCE HOAX

Carlee Russell exits Hoover Municipal Court Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Russell was found guilty on charges realting to her faking her own abduction in July.

CARLEE RUSSELLS EX-BOYFRIEND SAYS HES DISGUSTED WITH HER FOR LYING ABOUT KIDNAPPING BY ALABAMA INTERSTATE

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Russell, 24, dialed 911 on July 13 at around 9:34 p.m. to report a toddler walking along the southbound side of Interstate 459 near Birmingham, according to the Hoover Police Department.

She returned home on July 15 at around 10:45 p.m. near where police say she was seen walking along the sidewalk beforehand.

In a statement Russell made through her attorney, Emery Anthony, to the Hoover Police Department, she admitted to never seeing a baby on Interstate 459.

Carlee Russell's attorney, Emory Anthony exits Hoover Municipal Court Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Russell was found guilty on charges realting to her faking her own abduction in July.

"My client did not have any help in this incident. This was a single act done by herself," the statement said. "My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time she was missing. My client apologizes for her actions to this community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well and to her friends and family."

During a press conference when charges were filed, Derzis said that officials still don't know Russell's whereabouts during the 49 hours she was missing.

CARLEE RUSSELL TRAVELING 6 FOOTBALL FIELDS DURING 911 CALL DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE: FORMER DETECTIVE

Hoover, Alabama police are reviewing traffic camera video from I-459 that shows Carlee Russell's car, seen driving slowly in the emergency lane with warning lights, pull over before she went missing July 13.

"We still don't know what happened in those 49 hours, where she was. Did she have any help? We have no idea," Derzis said. "We wanted the focus to be, bring her home. She got home. We're very excited about that."

"That facts that I (spoke about) last Wednesday pretty much showed that we knew it was a hoax," Derzis said.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Police earlier said that Russell took toilet paper and a bathrobe from the Woodhouse Spa Birmingham, her employer. She later picked up food for takeout and was later seen getting snacks at Target.





Original article source: Alabama judge issues ruling in Carlee Russell hoax case
American military advisers are on the ground in Israel consulting with Israeli Defense Forces leaders about rescuing Americans and other hostages being held in Gaza, where Hamas militants took captured civilians following Saturdays attacks on Israel, a senior defense official confirmed to reporters on Thursday. There is currently no plan to send in American special operations units to help, the official added.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday confirmed that Americans are among hostages taken by Hamas, though the White House has not given an estimate of the number of hostages beyond calling it less than a handful.

There are personnel on the ground as part of a larger assistance package in support of [U.S. Central Command], the Pentagon official, who was not authorized to speak on the record about the Israel situation, told reporters. And that includes military personnel advising and consulting on hostage recovery efforts.

The official did not confirm whether those advisers are from Joint Special Operations Command, the wing of U.S. Special Operations Command that deploys specialized units like the Armys Delta Force or the Navys SEAL Team 6.

Heres a look at the military firepower the US is providing to Israel

Regardless, U.S. troops will not be involved in any direct action, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed during a press conference Thursday.

The Israelis have made it very clear that they dont want foreign troops on their soil, that they want to prosecute these operations on their own, he said. The Israelis have made it clear that they would not welcome [foreign involvement] in any event.

Asked whether the U.S. might negotiate an exchange with Hamas for American hostages, Kirby said he would not comment on current efforts.

What I will tell you, just broadly speaking, is we obviously take seriously our responsibility to get Americans held overseas back with their families, he said. We have, in the past, entered into negotiations to do exactly that.

All options are still on the table, he added.

Obviously ... if their return to their families can be arrived in a peaceful way without additional risk to their lives [posed by a military operation], that is certainly something we would take very, very seriously, Kirby said.
The heart of Amsterdam is furnished with photographic backdrops at almost every turn (Getty/iStock)

Youll know when youve arrived in Amsterdam. The constant ring-ring of bicycle bells, the wonderfully oddball Dutch humour, its mighty museums filled with eclectic treasures, cute-as-a-button canals and the occasional waft of legal marijuana single it out as a special destination within Europe.

It's a brilliantly walkable city, delightful when just strolling past the gabled buildings  similar to something out of a Wes Anderson film  but also heavy with green spaces. Plump for barbecues in Rembrandtpark and open-air theatre within Vondelpark. Eating spots creatively span traditional to super-modern, whether you're after snacks or fine dining, and there's no shortage of places for drinks, from cocktails to local beers.

Amsterdam is one of Europe's most popular city break destinations, and a little extra planning goes a long way  so heres our guide to getting the most out of a visit.

What to do

Museums, galleries and exhibitions

Its rare to turn a corner in central Amsterdam without hitting what might be the main attraction in lesser cities. The most famous trio are the Heineken Experience, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, as suggested by the impossibly large queues at peak times. Niche offerings stretch to a museum dedicated to hidden attic churches with the delightful Ons Lieve Heer op Solder, and even an interactive microbe exhibition, Micropia. At the bigger attractions, including the Rijksmuseum (adjacent to Van Gogh), booking timed tickets in advance is a must.

Discover the work of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries at his namesake museum (Getty)

Read more on Netherlands travel:

Lounge around at Adam Toren

A free ferry ride away from Centraal Station is the Adam Toren, a music-themed 22-storey multi-use building in which to eat, drink, party and sleep. Its for daredevils too: the rooftop bar, which often features live DJs, features a swing that propels you off the building.

Smoke up

For those who choose to, Amsterdam is the place in Europe to imbibe cannabis legally. As the longest-running coffee shop, The Bulldog is a popular hangout, as is the Grey Area: the Amsterdam coffeeshop of choice for Snoop Dogg, Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson. Owners are accustomed to novice smokers, so seek a few words of advice before getting stuck in (and opt for a pre-rolled joint rather than attempting it yourself).

The Bulldog is the most famous coffeeshop in the city (Getty)

Hang out at NDSM

Very much the Shoreditch of the Dutch capital, NDSM is a reclaimed industrial wasteland now filled with street art, cafes, event spaces and even a beach  because hipsters need to catch the sun, too.

Explore the canals

The classic excursion for seeing the waterways is to go on a canal boat tour  again, booking in advance will help preserve your sanity  but if you prefer to feel in control, opt for hiring a pedalo instead and take yourself on a self-guided tour.

The junction of the Leidsegracht and Keizersgracht canals on Amsterdams historic canal ring (Getty/ iStock)

Where to stay

A decently priced option is The Albus, a budget design hotel thats well-located and offers great service, including a welcome drink. Rooms are functional for a short break, especially with triple-glazed windows blocking out any traffic noise.

Ecomama is a funky hostel that looks like a members club on entering. In addition to private rooms and basic but functional dorms, those used to festival life can crash in the teepee or sleep pods, just off the reception area.

These individual suites are dotted around the city (Sweets Hotel Amsterdam)

For something uniquely Amsterdam-esque, Sweets Hotel is a city-wide series of 28 transformed bridge houses, where staff once manually controlled the canals. Now, guests use a passcode to electronically enter their unique suite, with beautiful canal views and modern amenities.

Or swap the convenient location for a better price at Volkshotel. With dedicated workspaces, a raft of social goings-on and a rooftop hot tub and sauna, its one for those looking for a temporary community.

An outstanding premium option is The Dylan, in the 9 Streets area. Its a homely 40-room boutique hotel with impressive attention to detail; the inviting open-fire lounge and Michelin-starred restaurant are appealing enough to delay guests from exploring the city outside (at least temporarily).

Where to eat

Bakers & Roasters is the go-to place for breakfast. They dont take reservations, but show up, get your place in the queue, and wander around for an hour or two while checking the website to see your progress. Once inside the cramped space, dishes are generous and contemporary. Alternatively, try Dignita, which has a number of locations around the city and whose all-day menu includes their version of brunch classics.

Pancakes Amsterdam is close enough to Centraal Station to be disregarded, but its prime location on the banks of the IJ and unending range of pancakes  try the apple and cheese toppings for the traditional Dutch style  are a treat. De Kas is a former municipal greenhouse that now serves a daily fine dining set menu of divine dishes. A daytime visit highlights the airy, glass-encased space.

Need a nibble? For the sweet-toothed, Van Wonderen serves top-quality Stroopwafel, freshly caramelised while you wait, with chunky toppings like mixed nuts, Oreos and speculaas. For savoury munchies, nearby Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx offers a premium style of chips with an extra-long list of toppings.

For dinner, Harmsen is great for modern European cuisine, while the countrys colonial history means Indonesian restaurants are popular, and the rijsttafel (small bowls of curries served with rice) is a must-try while in Amsterdam. At Blue Pepper, owner and chef Sonja Pererias modern takes include excellent vegan and vegetarian options; occasionally, the kitchen moves into a canal boat for a dinner cruise  an efficient use of time for the weekend visitor.

Where to drink

On a cold day, a takeaway hot chocolate from Urban Cacao hits the spot  they use 15g of chocolate drops in each cup, and the choice of 60 per cent, 70 per cent or milk cocoa is yours. Die-hards can take a tour of the factory too. Excellent tea options are found at Ts. Its out of the way in the De Baarsjes suburb, but cant be beaten for lovingly prepared brews for supping on site, or bags of loose-leaf tea for enjoying later.

Beer aficionados will adore the In De Wildeman, which offers hundreds of Dutch, Belgian and international beers by the bottle and a good selection on draft. If you take a shine to craft beer brand Walhalla, the taproom in Amsterdam Noord offers tasting flights of four brews.

The Flying Dutchman is an always-popular diminutive drinking den that hits the holy trinity of impressive service, innovative cocktails and great atmosphere. A stylish alternative is Satchmo, a hotspot found in the depths of a former tobacco HQ dating from 1647. Forgo the restaurant upstairs in favour of drinks and bites at the cocktail bar, where their signature espresso martini  including Patron and white chocolate liqueur  is just one of the well-balanced concoctions made to order. For drinks with a view, the W Lounge is a pricier but sophisticated rooftop bar with 360-degree views of Dam Square and beyond.

Where to shop

Visitors who get a kick out of browsing supermarket shelves should make a beeline to one of the many Albert Heijns around. Otherwise, the first place to check out is the 9 Streets, an area between the central canals with a range of independent and boutique stalls that sell everything from locally made gifts to elaborate hosiery (the latter is Nic Nic).

De Hallen is another cluster of independent traders, this time under the shared roof of a former tram depot. The cafes outside catch the morning light perfectly, so enjoy a coffee before wandering through the stalls selling black garlic, handmade jewellery, funky stationery and wall art. At lunch, the Foodhallen is a mix of street food stalls circling a bar  this is the place to get burritos and bao.

Find independent shops on the 9 Streets (Getty)

Nearby, Ten Katemarkt is an outdoor street market selling foods and nick-nacks. Its less touristy than the Albert Cuyp Markt but just as captivating. On a rainy day, Magna Plaza is a decent mall in a stunning building that was Amsterdams former main post office. Browse international brands like Lacoste and Mango alongside specialist fashion and gift shops. Open until 7pm daily, or 9pm on Thursdays.

For designer shopping, don those Louboutins and take a walk along PC Hooftstraat, home of labels like Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany, Rolex and Gucci.

Architectural highlight

Unending rows of super cute canal houses  tall and narrow from the outside, steep staired from the inside, and occasionally sunken on one side  are the hallmark of Amsterdam. Find out their history and unique features at the Het Grachtenhuis Canal House Museum, open 10am-5pm.

Amsterdam is renowned for its colourful canal houses (Getty)

FAQs

What currency do I need?

Euros.

What language do they speak?

Dutch, but English is widely spoken.

Should I tip?

Service charges might already be included. If not, a 1015 per cent tip is appreciated but not necessary.

How should I get around?

Much of central Amsterdam is walkable, but if not, the tram network is easy to navigate, especially with apps like Citymapper on hand. If youre confident enough, rent a bike and travel as the locals do.

Whats the best view?

Madam is ADam Torens panoramic bar, and features information about the city, plus a great view of Centraal Station.

Read our guide to the best hotels in Amsterdam
An Anaheim woman has been convicted of torturing her 10-year-old stepdaughter and abusing three other children in what officials said was one of the worst cases of trauma and child abuse theyve ever seen.

Mayra Chavez, 33, was found guilty Wednesday of one felony count of torture, two felony counts of child abuse and endangerment, and one felony enhancement of causing great bodily injury.

A news release issued by the Orange County District Attorneys Office detailed the extreme and brutal injuries the 10-year-old suffered at the hands of her stepmother.

Chavez engaged in humiliating, painful torture of [the] young girl, including forcing [her] to kneel on soup cans while hogtied for hours, the DAs Office said. The abuse left the young girl unable to walk for nine months with a broken neck, sores that exposed bones and injuries that required weekly surgeries.

An emergency room nurse apparently told police officers it was the worst case of trauma and child abuse she had ever seen.

The young girl weighed only 50 pounds and was unresponsive when she was rushed to Childrens Hospital of Orange County in August 2022, the DAs Office said. She was taken to the hospital by her father, Domingo Junior Flores, who apparently told hospital staff that the girl harmed herself and fell down the stairs.

Flores and Chavez were arrested by the Anaheim Police Department as emergency room staff worked to revive the little girl.

When police searched their home, they recovered zip ties and obtained graphic witness testimony about the abuse the young girl endured at the hands of her stepmother. She was regularly hogtied and forced to kneel on tin cans or raw rice as a reminder to the children in the household to brush their teeth, she was plunged face-first into a bathtub full of ice water and was tortured with habanero peppers  her stepmother rubbed them into her eyes and vagina and forced her to bite into them, the DAs Office said.

In addition to the abuse she inflicted upon the girl herself, Chavez also forced the girls siblings to join in.

At trial, the jurors heard testimony from three of the other children in the home who sobbed on the witness stand as they described being forced to zip tie their sister to the bed and witnessing Chavez abuse her.

Chavez was also convicted of abusing a second step-child, as well as two of her own biological children.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer called the abuse the girl endured systematic and diabolical, saying the violence inflicted upon her bringing some of the most experienced prosecutors and hospital staff to tears.

She physically, mentally, and emotionally abused and humiliated this child for months and when that was not enough, she forced her other children to participate in the torture, forcing them to zip tie their sister to her bed frame and to ignore her cries for help, Spitzer said in a release. Child abuse cannot and will not be normalized. Horrific things happen behind closed doors and we remain more committed than ever as prosecutors and law enforcement officials to throw open those doors and shed light on the most vulnerable of victims who are suffering in silence.

Spitzer credited the staff at Childrens Hospital of Orange County for saving the girls life.

Mayra Chavez faces a maximum sentence of 7 years to life in prison, plus an additional 10 years and four months in state prison. She is due back in court to face her sentence on Nov. 3.

Flores, the girls father, is awaiting trial on similar felony child abuse charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
For Aboriginal community leader Karen Gibson, Australia's historic referendum on Saturday is an opportunity like no other.

"I never thought I would experience it in my time here," says the proud Yalanji and Nyungkul woman. "My ancestors were invisible. They're still invisible. I want to be visible."

This weekend Australians will vote Yes or No to recognising First Nations people in the constitution by establishing a Voice to Parliament - a body that would advise the government on issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The referendum was proposed as a way to try and unite the country - but it's been a difficult, and often acrid, campaign. The polls now point to a win for No on Saturday.

Some of those divisions are on display in Queensland, where Karen lives. It has one of the highest Indigenous populations in Australia, but from the start of the campaign it's been labelled as an unwinnable state. It tends to trend conservative on social issues - and opinion polls have long shown support for Yes well below 50% among its residents.

Karen's community of about 800 people - in the far north of Queensland - is surrounded by lush rainforest and bordered by the Mossman River, a popular tourist attraction. While she sees the referendum as a chance for change, she's still bracing herself for a No.

"Even though I want Yes to win, I still have this almost high expectation that might prove my point about what Australians are made of," Karen says. "If No wins then I would say 'I told you so', because of the expectation that I've been born with - that nothing will work for us."

Karen Andrews

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders make up nearly 4% of Australia's population of more than 25 million. So although polls show most First Nations Australians support a Yes vote, the reality is that the people who will actually decide this referendum - and the fate of Indigenous communities - are the majority non-Indigenous.

Fellow Queenslander Noel Pearson - one of the architects of this referendum - says this vote is crucial for righting historical wrongs.

"What we're trying to sort out here is a British legacy - the bloody, miserable legacy of colonisation," the Guugu Yimidhirr man says. "Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been pushed to the margins, living an average life expectancy in the remote communities of not much more than 50. We are trying to fix the aftermath of two centuries of colonial legacy."

Australia is no doubt going through a historical reckoning - this is a country so often touted as a multicultural success story. But its first inhabitants face gaping disparities in employment, infant mortality, and rates of suicide and incarceration.

"[The Voice] will recognise the truth of this country and that will bring us together as a nation," Australia's Indigenous Minister Linda Burney said last weekend at a music festival in the Aboriginal town of Yarrabah, just south of Cairns.

"If you think No is the answer, I will say that No means no change - it means the status quo. And if there's one thing that's got to change in this country, that's better-quality outcomes for our people."

Suzanne Andrews, the chief executive of Gurriny Yealamucka health services in Yarrabah, knows all too well the poor health outcomes in communities like hers. One of their priorities at the moment is rheumatic heart disease. It was virtually eradicated in wider Australia in the 1970s but it has returned here and in other places with concentrated Indigenous populations.

Suzanne Andrews

"When we are making decisions around health, we need to be making those decisions from us people on the ground here in communities, not in Canberra," she says.

"When you look at Aboriginal communities and the conditions they are in - there's a housing issue. When you have overcrowding in the houses, you have multiple health conditions in that house. How do we start to tackle all of that? It's not just about fixing the house, it's fixing the individual and fixing the family and then the wider community."

But it's been a bitter debate - and one that has been full of misinformation and disinformation. Some conservative voters feel the proposal is divisive, which is a central theme of the No campaign's messaging.

"If you want to have a good functioning country, you can't have divisions, you can't have separations," says Cairns resident Frank Titan who will vote No on Saturday.

"I think that is very wrong and unfair and really sad. We're not racist people here, we're fair dinkum Australians. Everyone is equal."

Frank Titan

The referendum has also exposed divisions within Indigenous communities. Many feel like they are reliving past trauma and discrimination, and some are critical of the way the referendum has been pursued.

Lidia Thorpe, the first Aboriginal senator for the state of Victoria, left the Greens earlier this year over the party's support for the Yes vote. Ms Thorpe, and the grassroots Indigenous movement she's come to represent, argue that the negotiations for legally-binding treaties with Indigenous peoples should have been prioritised ahead of the Voice. Australia is the only former British colony without such a treaty.

"The Voice is about assimilating us into the colonial constitution to make us nice, neat little Indigenous Australians that will continue to be oppressed by the coloniser," she says.

"The amount of money that is going on this referendum while our people are hungry and homeless and suicide rates are through the roof - I think [it] just shows you how wrong this country is in how they think they can fix the 'Aboriginal problem'."

This is a vote that has been decades in the making - calls for both constitutional recognition and greater Indigenous political representation have long dominated First Nations activism.

And win or lose, the outcome will likely define Australia's relationship with its first inhabitants for decades to come.

Additional reporting by Simon Atkinson.

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Brothers Chris, left, and Johnny Khalil, center, and their father Nidal share a laugh Thursday inside Nidal's Midway Market & Liquor Frazier Park in Kern County, where a Powerball ticket worth $1.765 billion was sold. The shop will be awarded $1 million for selling the winning ticket. (Alex Horvath / Los Angeles Times)

For nearly 30 years, Nidal Khalil heard countless variations of the same question from customers at his Frazier Park shop hoping to hit it big with the lottery.

"Every time they would buy a ticket, they would say, 'When is it going to happen for us? I think it's about our time.' Well, now it's our turn," Khalil said with a hearty laugh when reached by phone Thursday morning.

Hours earlier, Khalil, 54, had learned the Powerball ticket that won its buyer a jackpot of $1.765 billion in Wednesday's drawing was sold at Midway Market & Liquor, the Kern County shop he co-owns with his brother. The store will be awarded $1 million for selling the winning ticket, according to California Lottery rules.

Khalil's phone was abuzz Wednesday night with congratulations from friends and family as far as his home country of Syria.

Brothers Johnny and Chris Khalil pose with lottery checks in their father's Frazier Park store Thursday. The winning Powerball ticket worth $1.765 billion was sold at Midway Market & Liquor, earning the shop a $1-million prize. (Alex Horvath / Los Angeles Times)

"I feel blessed this morning," he said. "After 30 years of selling those tickets, we need a winner. I'm just happy for my customers."

Born in Syria, Khalil arrived in California at age 22, and for a few years he worked in a market and learned the trade. By 1994, his cousin sold Midway Market & Liquor to Khalil and his brother, Tony.

Over the years, Nidal Khalil, who also goes by Andy, has grown close to the Frazier Park community. His customers are mostly retired locals who come in for groceries, gasoline, beer, liquor and other items.

"They're all very nice people. We have a talk every morning," he said. "I don't know who won. I'm sure it's a local or someone will know them."

Read more: Meet 'Papa Joe,' the Altadena gas station owner who sold $2-billion winning Powerball ticket

The winning ticket sold at Khalil's shop marks the third billion-dollar jackpot won in Southern California in the last year and is the second-largest prize in Powerball history.

On Thursday afternoon, Khalil and his family posed in front of TV news cameras as California Lottery officials handed them an oversized check.

"First of all, I want to thank Frazier Park people for supporting a small business such as us," Khalil said while he and his sons Chris and and Johnny wore bright California Lottery T-shirts.

In November, a $2.04-billion ticket was sold at an Altadena gas station owned by Joseph Chahayed, who, like Khalil, is a Syrian immigrant and won a $1-million prize for selling the ticket. Seventy-five years old and he refuses to take a day off; hes up at like 5 a.m. every day," Danny Chahayed said at the time about his father, known to many as "Papa Joe." "No one deserves it as much as he does.

Read more: Near Skid Row, immigrant family realizes dream with little shop  then sells $1-billion Powerball ticket

And in July, a $1.08-billion ticket was sold at a corner store in downtown Los Angeles owned by a family who immigrated to California from El Salvador. Angelica Menjivar, whose mother, Maria Leticia Menjivar, opened the shop in 2017, said she told her mom that they would need to open a business to succeed. Start with just one, she said. Were immigrants, and our family has made the business a success, and we have made this our dream. We show that its possible for anyone to make it.

The July jackpot has yet to be claimed, according to the California Lottery; winners have a full calendar year to come forward.

That ticket sold in downtown L.A. was the last Powerball jackpot winner before Wednesday, a run of 36 straight drawings that marked the first time in history that two consecutive Powerball jackpots topped $1 billion.

A cashier sells tickets at Blue Bird Liquor in Hawthorne this week. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

It might seem unlikely that the last three Powerball billionaires have all come from California. (In fact, the only other billion-dollar jackpot, in 2016, was split among three winners, including one in the Golden State.) But Californians buy more lottery tickets than any other state or region, said Victor Matheson, an economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., and an expert on lotteries and gambling.

Californians are not inherently more lottery-obsessed than people in other regions, but due to the sheer size of the state, the Golden State purchases 13% of all lottery tickets. With that in mind, the odds of the last three major jackpots being sold in California are 0.2%, Matheson said.

"But that's still 650,000 times more likely than if a random ticket was to win the Powerball," Matheson said. "It's still a rare occurrence and still a bad investment."

Read more: Gas prices continue to drop across the U.S., but Californians still have to pay more

The odds of matching all five numbers plus the red Powerball to win the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

The winner of Wednesday's drawing will have the choice between a lump sum of $774.1 million or 30 annual installments totaling $1.765 billion, not including taxes.

Khalil plans to use his winnings for selling the ticket to pay for his children's college tuition. As for his cousin who sold him the business nearly 30 years ago, he also congratulated Khalil.

"He was the first one to send me a text," Khalil said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Another former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice is speaking out against pursuing an impeachment against a newly elected liberal judge on the Badger States high court.

Former Justice Jon Wilcox told The Associated Press that there was nothing to justify impeachment proceedings for Justice Janet Protasiewicz , which some Republicans called for after the state Supreme Court was asked to consider two redistricting cases over legislative maps.

Wisconsin Republicans pointed to a comment Protasiewicz made during her campaign, when she called the Republican-drawn maps rigged. They have threatened impeachment if she does not recuse herself on the cases.

I do not favor impeachment, Wilcox told AP in a telephone interview. Impeachment is something people have been throwing around all the time. But I think its for very serious things.

Those against the Republicans push have argued that removing Protasiewicz would violate the Wisconsin Constitution, which limits impeachment to those who engaged in corrupt conduct in office or committed crimes.

Wilcox, along with former justices David Prosser and Patience Roggensack, were chosen by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) to consider impeachment criteria, according to AP.

Prosser also advised against an impeachment pursuit, arguing he has not seen any evidence of corrupt conduct, a term that he claimed isnt open to a mere political grievance.

To sum up my views, there should be no efforts to impeach Justice Protasiewicz on anything we know now, Prosser said in a letter to Vos dated Friday, according to documents obtained in a records request by the left-leaning watchdog group American Oversight and first published by AP. Impeachment is so serious, severe, and rare that it should not be considered unless the subject has committed a crime, or the subject has committed indisputable corrupt conduct while in office.'

Protasiewicz did not say on the campaign trail how she would rule on the redistricting cases, though her comment raised concerns for Republicans looking to maintain their state congressional maps.

Wisconsin, like many other states, was required to redraw its district boundaries following the results of the 2020 census. The Republican-led state Legislature then created maps to help boost the GOP majority in the chambers.

The state Supreme Court last year upheld the Republican-drawn maps.

Just one day after Protasiewicz was sworn onto the bench in August, a coalition of law firms and voting rights advocacy groups filed suit with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, arguing the maps were the result of an unconstitutional gerrymander.

Vos and other state Republicans have also implicated that the justices acceptance of nearly $10 million in donations from the Democratic Wisconsin Party could excessively influence her judgement on cases, AP reported.

Wilcox and Possers opposition to a impeachment pursuit follows comments from former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Louis Butler and Janine Geske, who argued in a Wisconsin State Journal column last month that holding impeachment proceedings on Protasiewicz would not only be inappropriate, but unconstitutional.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
As the world remains transfixed on the Hamas vs. Israel war in the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip, there is a subplot almost certain to swell in significance to Americans: In addition to the now-27 confirmed U.S.-citizen deaths attributed to the shockingly barbaric Hamas raid into Israel October 7, there are multiple American hostages among the estimated 14 U.S. passportholders unaccounted for in the Palestinian-run territory.

"I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world," President Joe Biden said Tuesday. "We're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts," the president added Wednesday. "Folks, there's a lot we're doinga lot we're doing. I have not given up hope on bringing these folks home. But the idea that I'm going to stand here before you and tell you what I'm doing is bizarre."

International hostage crises have bedeviled most of the past 10 American presidencies, contributing heavily to Jimmy Carter's 1980 electoral defeat and miring the second term of Ronald Reagan in near-constant scandal. And they were part of the run-up to this story, too, from both the American and Israeli sides.

On Thursday, according to a Washington Post report that cited three House Democratic aides, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Democratic members of Congress in a private meeting that the U.S. and Qatari governments have agreed to refreeze $6 billion in oil revenue that Iran had previously been given access to spend on humanitarian concerns in exchange for the return of five Iranian-American hostages held in the Islamic Republic (in addition to the release of five Iranians who'd been serving time in America for violating U.S. sanctions). That deal, which awaits official confirmation, came amid re-intensified criticism that Biden's money-for-hostages scheme emboldened and helped indirectly finance the same Iranian government that has long been the chief backer of Hamas in Gaza, as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"When you negotiate and give $6 billion, you create a market for hostages, and the response to that has been Iran and Hamas working together without much of a question," Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.), the seventh-ranked GOP presidential primary contender and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a CBS interview Wednesday. "When there's weakness in the White House, there's blood in the streets."

There are American military advisers on the ground in Israel, as well as special forces trained in hostage extraction a short flight away, and an entire U.S. Navy carrier strike group positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean. But that overwhelming firepower is playing second fiddle to an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that has been pulverizing Hamas in Gaza from the air since Saturday, killing over 1,400, according to officials there. (An initial Israeli death count was 1,300.) "We are not contemplating U.S. boots on the ground for any sort of rescue mission," Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said on MSNBC Thursday.

A Washington Post visual-evidence analysis Thursday afternoon concluded that Hamas fighters "took at least 106 people captive during the incursion," of which 64 have since been spotted in Gaza (49 of them civilian), 26 have been seen in unknown locations, and 16 have only been seen in Israel. "The actual number of people taken hostage and soldiers taken prisoner in Gaza by Palestinian fighters is almost certainly higher," the newspaper cautioned. The prisoners are presumed to be held separately and secretly in the vast warren of tunnels underneath the coastal community.

Hamas, which has estimated its abductions in the "tens," is demanding the release of 5,200 Palestinians in Israeli detention and has warned that it will kill a hostage after every unannounced IDF bombing of a civilian target. Israel, which puts the number of hostages at around 150, says (in the words of Energy Minister Israel Katz Thursday), "Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home."

Israel has in the past made spectacularly disproportionate prisoner exchanges with Hamas, most notably the 1 for 1,027 swap in 2011 to retrieve soldier Gilad Shalit after five years of confinement. Shalit's abduction, coming as it did just nine months after Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza (uprooting 8,000 Jewish settlers in the process), was a profoundly dispiriting episode to Israelis who had hoped that an independent Gaza could live in semi-peaceful coexistence with its former occupier. The size of that ransom is unthinkable now.

The sheer scale and savagery of the deaths already incurred inside Israel, including Americans and other foreign nationals, is likely to mute fixation on the hostages somewhat in the short term. But there is little doubt that the Biden White House in the hours and days before the IDF ground invasion has been engaged in intense and ongoing conversations about U.S. civilians with Israel and with Hamas' go-to intermediaries: NATO ally Turkey, and the strong non-NATO U.S. ally of Qatar (where many senior Hamas officials reside).

As Armin Rosen pointed out in a perceptive Tablet piece Monday, "When Americans are held hostage, an entire policy infrastructure springs into actionone that includes the State Department special envoy for hostage affairs, the FBI, the military, family engagement coordinators, and the intelligence community."

"Hamas will use the hostages in two ways: as human shields and as a source of leverage over Washington," predicted Michael Doran, a former senior National Security Council director, in a quote for Tablet. "As human shields they will prevent Israel from destroying critical infrastructure. As a source of leverage, Hamas will convince Washington to compel Israel to make concessionson the terms of a cease-fire, the release of prisoners, relaxing economic restrictions on Gaza, delivering payments from abroad, etc. Hamas will parade American hostages before the cameras to beg Washington to bring a halt to Israeli military operations so that the hostages can gain their freedom."

At every stop since Saturday's massacres, Americans and Israelis have compared Hamas to the radical Islamists of ISIS. Therein lies cause for even more sobriety when it comes to hostages. The ISIS-videotaped 2014 beheadings of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff (the latter of whom was an Israeli dual national) was the single news event that most penetrated American consciousness in at least the previous five years, changing the course of both U.S. foreign policy (to escalate the war against the caliphate) and the White House's approach to freeing hostages abroad.

It is not hard at this moment to imagine the worst, which propagandists on all sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict understand all too well. But we may be on the verge of seeing U.S. citizensnot just the "handful" or more currently held hostage, but potentially some of the estimated 500 to 600 Americans residing in Gazaparaded on video under unspeakable conditions, in the middle of a hot war.

As Politico put it Thursday, "The Biden administration has convened a series of meetings across a number of agencies on the fate of the hostages, who are deemed to be in great physical perilas well as a potential political problem for a president seeking reelection."

The post Another Hostage Crisis Bedevils an American President appeared first on Reason.com.
AOC is naming Christian fundamentalism as a key driver of conflict between Israel and Palestine.

She referenced Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem during his presidency.

"The Israel of today is not the Israel of the Bible," she said.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is naming Christian fundamentalism as a key driver of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, pointing to recent US actions in the region.

Speaking on local New York radio station Hot 97/WQHT on Thursday morning, the progressive Democratic congresswoman argued that the conflict was not simply the result of Islamic fundamentalism and Israeli extremism.

"It's not just Islamic, it's not just Jewish, it is also Christian," said Ocasio-Cortez. "In the United States of America, Christian fundamentalism and nationalism  which has also been extremely anti-Semitic  has also aligned itself with some of the most right-wing and authoritarian and inflammatory powers in the region."

She pointed to the decision by former President Donald Trump to relocate the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a controversial move that previous presidents had declined to make, given that the holy city is contested between Israelis and Palestinians.

"It's not a coincidence that when Trump was in power, he moved the embassy to Jerusalem," said Ocasio-Cortez. "There is a ton of fundamentalist literature around revelations in the Bible that leads people to project  incorrectly, by the way."

While that decision was hailed by Israelis, 2017 polling by the American Jewish Committee suggested that most American Jews weren't in favor of it. Just 16% said they favored immediately moving the embassy, while another 36% supported it contingent upon further peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

But evangelical Christians, a large constituency within the Republican Party, were strongly supportive of the move. At a rally in August of 2020, Trump even remarked that the move was "for the evangelicals."

"You know, it's amazing with that  the evangelicals are more excited by that than Jewish people," Trump said at the time.

Christian Zionism is rooted in biblical prophesies, with some evangelicals believing that the return of Jews to the Holy Land will bring the second coming of Jesus Christ  essentially conflating the modern state of Israel established in 1948 with the biblical land of Israel. Some evangelicals have even made trips to the new embassy site, viewing it as part of the fulfillment of that prophecy.

"The country that is Israel today is not the Israel of the Bible," said Ocasio-Cortez. "The country that is Israel today was established in this century."

But many Jews view the Christian Zionist movement as anti-Semitic, given that this biblical view also holds that Jews will eventually either convert to Christianity or die en masse in an epic battle of good versus evil.

In the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel, Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive lawmakers have argued for restraint on the part of Israel, fearing a retaliation that's likely to kill thousands of Palestinians.

On Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont accused Israel of violating international law with its announced siege of Gaza, arguing that the US must "insist on restraint from Israeli forces attacking Gaza."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan is calling for University of Pennsylvania leaders to resign.

He says they haven't condemned antisemitism, especially in light of the attack on Israel by Hamas.

Bill Ackman also called for Harvard to name students in the groups blaming Israel for the conflict.

Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan is the latest business leader to slam an Ivy League institution for not taking a stronger stance against what he said was antisemitism.

The private-equity billionaire wrote an op-ed for the student newspaper of his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. The guest column hasn't yet been published but was viewed in full by Insider. In it, he demanded the school's president, Elizabeth Magill, and the chairman of its board of trustees, Scott Bok, both step down.

He urged his fellow alumni to "close their checkbooks" until the university's top brass resigned. "Join me and many others who love UPenn by sending UPenn $1 in place of your normal, discretionary contribution so that no one misses the point," he wrote.

Rowan's letter points to the Palestine Writes Literary Festival, which was hosted at the university last month and has been a lightning rod of controversy. The festival prompted more than 4,000 people, including Rowan, to sign an open letter to Magill, saying that "platforming of outright antisemitism without denunciation from the university is unacceptable."

At the time, the university responded, saying in a statement that "we unequivocally  and emphatically  condemn antisemitism as antithetical to our institutional values."

"As a university, we also fiercely support the free exchange of ideas as central to our educational mission," the statement continued. "This includes the expression of views that are controversial and even those that are incompatible with our institutional values."

But, in light of the attack by Hamas on Israel, Rowan said the response was not enough.

"President Magill's allowing of UPenn's imprimatur to be associated with this conference, and her failure to condemn this hate-filled call for ethnic cleansing, normalized and legitimized violence that ranged from the targeting of Jewish students and spaces here at UPenn to the horrific attacks in Israel," Rowan wrote in his op-ed this week.

Bok responded Thursday, denying Rowan's claims that following the letter regarding the Palestinian Writes Literature Festival, Penn was "working to purge all Trustees with dissenting points of view by explicitly and aggressively demanding those who signed the open letter resign."

Bok, who is the CEO of boutique investment firm Greenhill & Co, said it had been out of line for Rowan to denounce the board and university's stance on the festival.

"Once a leadership team has done appropriate consultation and reached a decision, it is extraordinarily unusual in a corporate, university or nonprofit context for a board member to publicly oppose that decision, let alone solicit others to join their dissenting view," Bok said in his statement. "We did make known to two Trustees pursuing that unusual step that they could consider voluntarily resigning, thereby freeing them from all the constraints involved in serving on a board. Those individuals chose not to resign, and they remain welcome as members of Penn's board"

Penn didn't directly respond to Rowan's letter in an emailed response to Insider, but a spokesman forwarded responses that university leaders had sent to the campus community after an antisemitic incident on campus and after Hamas's attack on Israel.

Organizers of the festival have been quoted by The Daily Pennsylvanian as denying it embraced antisemitism. The organizers didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. The Daily Pennsylvanian reported some Jewish students and groups on campus objected to some of the event's speakers, which included the Pink Floyd frontman, Roger Waters, whom the Anti-Defamation League and others have accused of being anti-Jewish.

Rowan, who chairs the Wharton School's Board of Advisors, and his wife, Carolyn, donated $50 million to Penn's business school in 2018. He is the latest Wall Street titan  and big-money donor  to condemn an alma mater for a response, or lack thereof, to the crisis in Israel.

On Tuesday, Pershing Square Capital Management CEO Bill Ackman called on Harvard to release the names of students in groups holding Israel solely responsible for Hamas' violence. Ackman said he didn't want to "inadvertently hire" students who were part of the organizations. Several CEOs voiced their agreement, including Jonathan Newman, the cofounder of the salad fast-food chain Sweetgreen, and Dovehill Capital Management CEO Jake Wurzak.

"We see sickening parallels between Harvard leadership's inaction against Harvard's antisemitism and the failure by UPenn's leadership to take a stand against hate," Rowan wrote in his letter.

Ackman has tweeted his support of Rowan's letter.

Update: October 11, 2023  This story has been updated with a response from the University of Pennsylvania.

Update: October 12, 2023 This story has been updated with a response from Scott Bok, the chairman of University of Pennsylvania's board of trustees.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Singers from Rich Township High School perform in September at the CUBE Conference at Marriott Marquis Chicago hotel. Members of the school's choir and band showcased their skills at the national conference. (Rich Township High School)

Rich Township students perform at CUBE Conference

Members of the Rich Township High School marching band performed in September at the CUBE Conference in Chicago. (Rich Township High School)

Members of the Rich Township High School District 227 choir and marching band recently performed at a conference in Chicago organized by the Council of Urban Boards of Education.

The performances earned the students standing ovations and resounding applause, according to a news release from the district, and have been a source of immense pride for the school district, reflecting the high standard of artistic education provided at Rich Township High School District 227.

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The performances at the CUBE Conference Sept. 14 and 16 at the Marriott Marquis Chicago hotel were a chance for the students to display their talents on a national stage, school officials said.

Bloom High School event lauded by governor

Area middle school students had a chance to tour area manufacturing facilities and learn about career choices during Bloom Township High School's 11th annual Manufacturing Day. (School District 206)

Bloom Township High Schools 11th annual Manufacturing Day, attracted about 500 middle school students to Chicago Heights to learn about careers in manufacturing and industries that operate in the area.

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Part of the event included a presentation of a proclamation from the governors office recognizing the schools commitment to the event, which also offered young students a chance to tour area manufacturing facilities before wrapping up with an closing event at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

Frankfort Park District wins state Best of the Best Award

The Frankfort Park District is receiving recognition from the Illinois Association of Park Districts in the form of a Best of the Best statewide award, for the Best Friend of Illinois Parks business category for its nomination of Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Spa.

The District competed against other park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies throughout the state and will be formally recognized Oct. 20 at the IAPD Best of the Best Awards Gala at the Wheeling Park Districts Chevy Chase Country Club.

Jeffry LaMorte Salon and Spa was nominated by the Frankfort Park District because of its longtime support of the districts annual Short Run on a Long Day 5K race and other events.

Sertoma Centre and New Star to merge

The Boards of Sertoma Centre, Inc. and New Star, Inc. announced the merger of the two organizations, effective Oct. 3. Combining resources will allow the groups to make a greater impact in serving individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and those living with mental illness, officials said.

The merged organization will be renamed Sertoma Star Services.

The move is expected to create more innovative programs for people with disabilities, improve the organizations position for securing grants, save administrative costs, and expand service areas across northeast Illinois and into northwest Indiana, providing services to more people, according to a news release.

Flossmoor veterans monument effort launches brick fundraiser

Flossmoor Veterans Memorial, Inc. has started a commemorative engraved brick program to raise funds to cover additional construction costs and installation of a for possible additional construction costs as well as the installation and maintenance of bricks in the Wall of Honor Donor Plaza associated with a new veterans monument in Flossmoor.

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Officials recently broke ground in a ceremony at the site of the new monument just south of the villages Metra station at Flossmoor Road, and they hope to begin construction on the monument and plaza before winter. The finished monument will honor the nearly 1,000 Flossmoor residents identified as veterans since research began in 2021.

The brick effort will allow other residents and families to memorialize their support of the project. More information is at https://flossmoorvets.square.site.

Johnson-Phelps VFW Craft & Vendor Fair is Sunday

The Johnson-Phelps VFW Auxiliary is holding its 10th Annual Fall Craft & Vendor Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 at the Johnson-Phelps VFW Post, 9514 S. 52nd Ave., Oak Lawn.

The event will offer an array of items, including handmade crafts, women and childrens fashions, home decor, and more. There also will be a raffle table and food and drinks for sale. Proceeds benefit veteran and community projects. More information is at 708-423-5220 or oaklawnvfw.com.

Trick or Treat events offered in Oak Lawn, Tinley Park

Grace Point Place in Oak Lawn will host a safe Trunk or Treat from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 25 outside the community at 5701 W. 101st St. Residents and staff will pass out treats to costumed children from the trunks of decorated cars. The event is free and open to the everyone.

In Tinley Park, the Andrew High School SAVE Club presents its 4th Annual Trick or Treat from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30 on the second floor of the high school, 9001 W 171st St. Students from surrounding elementary schools will be invited, and all participants will trick or treat at each classroom. Students who assist at the event can earn 2 hours of community service.

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Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.
Bar Pereg spent the early hours of the morning Saturday glued to her phone, tracking her sisters location as they fled from the rockets raining down on Israel.

The 37-year-old New Yorker initially thought little of the attack. With seven decades of war and conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, rockets arent uncommon in the region. But Pereg soon learned from her sisters WhatsApp messages that this time, things were different.

The two sisters decided to risk car rides to a safer location, fearing the situation would take a turn for the worse in their kibbutz near Gaza.

I asked them to share their location so I could track them, and I just sat there and watched, Pereg said, noting that they took off around 4:30 a.m. EDT. Once they reached a highway, Pereg alternated 20-minute phone calls with each sister to make sure they were safe and didnt fall asleep at the wheel.

The fact that I could hear their voices, see their location, it was the difference between a complete freakout or crippling fear but with really clear hope, Pereg said. It made all the difference.

Bar Pereg, center, and her sisters, Noy Pereg, right, and Romit Pereg, left, at a cafe in Amsterdam.

People across the United States have turned to communication channels like WhatsApp to get updates from friends and family in Israel amid the war, which has so far led to more than 900 dead in Israel, upward of 680 dead in Gaza and at least 14 dead Americans. Dozens more Israelis and an unknown number of Americans have been taken hostage and are being held in locations across Gaza.

While experts warn that social media sites can be rife with disinformation, they have also become a lifeline for Americans concerned about loved ones thousands of miles away.

Screenshots of Bar Pereg's phone as she tracked her sisters' drive away from their home in Israel.

'The darkest, darkest days of our lives'

Linda Mildwurf, 52 of Raleigh, North Carolina, has been in constant communication with her 20-year-old daughter through WhatsApp since the conflict began.

Mildwurfs daughter is a lone soldier, a designation in the Israel Defense Forces whose parents do not live in Israel. Mildwurf asked that her daughter not be named to avoid targeted attacks by Hamas militants.

When she's not checking on her daughter and sending encouraging texts, Mildwurf spends her time on WhatsApp finding solace in a lone soldiers' mothers group, where members update each other on the status of their children.

Our job is to protect them. Theyre our kids. And these are just kids, at the end of the day, Mildwurf said. And there's nothing that we can do. Literally, the only thing we have is to be able to talk to them through WhatsApp.

Text messages between Linda Mildwurf, 52 of Raleigh, N.C., and her daughter, a lone soldier in Israel.

Itzik Elyahou, 37 of California, was at a mindfulness retreat with limited internet access over the weekend and didnt learn about the war until Sunday.

When he connected his phone to Wi-Fi, he said he discovered approximately 70 WhatsApp messages from friends and family in Israel. He raced back home after learning about the war and sorted through the news after a really hard two-hour drive.

I didnt know who was dead or kidnapped. That was super challenging, he said, adding that his immediate family and close friends are safe. At the retreat, I was at this peak of the universe, feeling everything is possible. Were all one, were all together. Then you go back to reality.

Boris Meyerovich and his wife, Noa Grinderfer, and son, Ori, on their flight back to the U.S. last week.

Boris Meyerovich, a 33-year-old Israeli living in Austin, Texas, was in Israel last week to visit friends and family. He landed in Texas with his wife and son on Friday and woke up jetlagged in the middle of the night to find notifications flooding his phone from WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram.

Everywhere, it was chaos. People were asking each other are you good? Are you fine? he said.

Like 9/11 for the U.S., thats how it feels for me," he added. "Its horrible. Its the darkest, darkest days of our lives."

He keeps in contact with his mother a few times a day and gets updates from his friends in WhatsApp groups. While Meyerovich said his family has reported rockets flying about their house, they remain safe.

Debbie Secan, a 53-year-old Raleigh, North Carolina, resident who lived in Israel while in her 20s, has been communicating with friends through WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger since the attack started.

Im just grateful that I can send love, she said. "The one thing Im getting is that theyre all very scared and shocked.

Israel-Hamas war: Israel, Gaza and when your social media posts hurt more than help

Disinformation spreading on social media

While social media sites have been able to help connect families amid the crisis, they have also been flooded with misinformation.

False stories have already spread on sites like Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, with users posting old videos or video game clips and passing them off as updates from the Israel-Hamas war.

You have to be a bit more careful when you consume content, said Dina Sadek, a Middle East research fellow at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab. Right now, there's widespread misinformation and disinformation.

Social media to blame?: Online hate surges after Hamas attacks Israel. Why everyone is blaming social media.

The Israel-Hamas war isnt the first conflict where social media has been used to spread propaganda, but some experts say managing misinformation online today is harder than ever before.

Developments in artificial intelligence could influence propaganda if the Israel-Hamas war drags on, according to Claire Wardle, co-director of the Information Futures Lab at Brown University, which studies misinformation.

Wardle also noted that in just the past few months, Elon Musk's X has made it harder to recognize verified journalists and layoffs among tech companies like Google parent company Alphabet and Facebook parent company Meta have reportedly affected teams focused on internet trust and safety.

It was always going to be a difficult situation, and then you add on the world's most complex conflict, which is Israel and Palestine and Gaza. And what we're seeing is what we would expect, but it's made so much worse on Twitter, X, in particular, because of the complete breakdown of the lack of verification processes, Wardle said.

I don't think the platforms are prepared, she added.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amid Israel-Hamas war, WhatsApp helps Americans reach loved ones
Carrboro voters will elect a new mayor and at least two new Town Council members in November.

Incumbent Council member Eliazar Posada is seeking a second term in office and will compete with four newcomers  Jason Merrill, Catherine Fray, April Mills and Stephanie Wade  for three open seats in the Nov. 7 general election.

Carrboro Mayor Pro Tem Susan Romaine and Council member Sammy Slade chose not to seek another term.

The new council will also fill a vacancy on the board next year, replacing Barbara Foushee, who is unopposed in her race to be the towns next mayor. Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils decided earlier this year to step down after one term in office.

Early voting in the nonpartisan Nov. 7 election starts Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 4..

To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit co.orange.nc.us/1720/Elections or contact the Board of Elections at 919-245-2350 or vote@orangecountync.gov.

Name: April Mills

Age: 43

Occupation: Business development and sales

Education: Master of Business Administration

Political or civic experience: Graduated from Leadership North Carolina; participated in seven Inter-City Trips with the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; N.C. Economic Development Association member; service on multiple nonprofit boards, including Red Cross, Association of Corporate Growth and Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women. Four years of dedicated service on Claremont HOA, addressing stormwater and compliance issues

 Two decades of active involvement in the Triangle community.

Campaign website: aprilforcarrboro.com

What do you think the towns top three priorities should be? Choose one and describe how you will work to address it.

 Community and Infrastructure, including sustainability

 Public Transportation, including BRT, North Carrboro and Hwy. 54

 Stormwater management/flooding

Implement surety bonds on new developments, construct stormwater ponds capable of withstanding 50-year or 100-year storm events, preserve existing trees to minimize erosion. Overall, the town needs to create a master plan for all neighborhoods and perform an inventory or what is working and what is not, how other neighborhoods are impacting one another, and create a plan that works with HOAs, individuals and neighbors to address these issues.

The future of the Bolin Creek Greenway is a key issue this year. What do you see as its role in the towns future, and should it be paved?

The towns role is to listen to everyone and be thoughtful with growth and what benefits the community. The town also has a role to be a good steward of the environment and understand the cost benefit. We do not know the (construction) cost and maintenance cost for the four options. I understand that parents want safe school commuting. I do want greenways and accessibility for all abilities.

Carrboro is experiencing more infill development and housing. What would you do to guide town growth and meet current and future housing needs?

The Triangle is growing, and more infill will continue in Carrboro. We need to be thoughtful and plan for development and growth, have a master plan and work to fulfill that vision. That includes identifying land for affordable housing by offering incentives for developers to include affordable housing or implementing a linkage fee and focus on mixed-use development. We should require green space in communities and invest in infrastructure. We must work with GoTriangle and continue building bus-rapid transit (BRT) and bus stops. I dont like seeing families waiting for a bus in a ditch with a sign. I want people to feel safe riding the bus.

Do you support keeping Orange Countys rural buffer, where the lack of water and sewer limits growth? How do you see the town growing with or without the buffer?

Yes, I support keeping the rural buffer. We have opportunities to build density downtown, which should be a focus before we break an agreement with the other towns. We have opportunities to densify and be thoughtful for growth, maximizing public transportation, and building infrastructure before we create more sprawl. At some point, I am sure this will change. But for right now, we have to do better and focus.

How can the town bring people together who have different viewpoints to find workable solutions?

In Leadership North Carolina, we were taught to have three cups of coffee with a person: one time to listen, another to talk, and another to compromise. I always try to put myself in the other persons perspective to understand the impact. Building trust takes time, and it takes action. I have met and will continue to meet with people where they live, walk their neighborhoods, walk a potential site, and look at the land, water, and trees and how to align the new development. I want to continue to ask questions others are not asking and come to a solution together.

The Orange Report

Calling Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough readers. Check out The Orange Report, a free weekly digest of some of the top stories for and about Orange County published in The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. Get your newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday featuring stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Orange-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "Chapel Hill Carrboro Chat."
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  An Arkansas legislative subcommittee on Thursday approved an expedited audit of the purchase of a podium by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders  office alongside a review of confidential information.

The states Legislative Joint Auditing Executive Committee approved the request submitted by Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkana) to review the podium purchase, which has been part of the debate over the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

The committee also approved an audit of information made confidential after changes to the FOIA law at the most recent legislative session.

Arkansas Sen. Jim Hickey requests audit of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders podium purchase

This was the bipartisan committees first meeting after Hickeys request filed on Sept. 27. Included in the committee vote on the audit was that it be expedited.

The $19,029.25 podium and travel case purchase was made from Beckett Events LLC of Virginia by the governors office in June. The expense was later reimbursed by the state Republican party.

Hickey explained to the committee that the audit of the podium purchase would also clarify who owns it and if its purchase is in line with state property regulations.

New Freedom of Information Act bill advances through Arkansas legislature with bipartisan support

The records being audited are those made confidential with the passage of Act 7, which made changes to the states FOIA rules after the recent legislative special session. These are records related to security expenses.

Hickey, a former co-chair of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, told the committee the review was not to expose the governors security arrangements, but of expenses classified under the security label by the governors office. The concern was that the confidentiality of the records had become retroactive after the most recent FOIA changes.

Subcommittee passes all 3 parts of the auditing request to allow auditing of the podium purchase to begin as early as tomorrow in an expedited process and any other use of taxpayer $ dating back to June 2022 @KARK4News @FOX16News @CapitolViewAR #arpx https://t.co/0H8UVZu37k  Samantha Boyd (@samanthaboyd98) October 12, 2023

Proposed changes to FOIA rules that were supported by the governors office during the special session were met with bipartisan push-back when they were first introduced. The new law that ultimately passed included a significantly stripped-down version of the changes originally submitted.

Coalition wants to make Freedom of Information Act part of Arkansas Constitution

Sanders spokesperson Alexa Henning said on social media when Hickey filed the request that the governor welcomes the audit and encourages legislators to complete it without delay.

On Thursday, Henning said Sanders welcomed the audit and hope legislators would start the process immediately.

From @alexahenning :

The governor welcomes the audit and encourages legislators to complete it without delay. This is nothing more than a manufactured controversy by left wing activists to distract from the bold conservative reforms the legislature has passed and the governor https://t.co/bk6L3F0iWG  Samantha Boyd (@samanthaboyd98) October 12, 2023

In a message to KARK 4 News reporter Samantha Boyd, Henning called the debate over the podium nothing more than a manufactured controversy by left wing activists that the spokesperson said was an attempt to distract from the bold conservative reforms the legislature has passed and the governor has signed into law.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
In the wake of an internal audit sharply criticizing the Armys oversight of its housing inspection program, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers demanded answers from the service in a Thursday letter shared with Army Times.

The Army Audit Agency report  which first gained widespread attention after a Sept. 21 Army Times story  concluded the Army was failing to ensure that privatized on-base homes with lead-based paint or asbestos are safe for Army families. Audit officials attributed the oversight failure to a lack of proper manning and training to execute the Armys 2020 housing inspection program redesign, which also did not properly account for how the corporations running the properties would execute their purported end of the bargain.

The members who signed the letter are: Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo.; Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla.; Rep. Robert Wittman, R-Va.; Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C.; Rep. James Moylan, R-Guam; and Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga. All six are members of the House Armed Services Committee.

We need to ensure Army housing officials are being held accountable and taking action when [lead-based paint] and [asbestos-containing materials] are identified, the lawmakers said. While identifying the problem is a good first step, the Army and Department of Defense need to ensure the problem is being solved.

In recent interviews with Army Times, the services senior leaders responsible for housing policy and administration admitted the struggle to implement the inspection program and discussed their steps to address its shortcomings.

Despite struggles, Army claims progress on housing, quality of life

The Armys top quality of life policy official, G-9 Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, acknowledged that with the 2020 reforms, in some cases, probably the cart got before the horse. Vereen explained that when you look at where most of our housing partners [and] management offices were, and how they were manned, I dont think that we looked at their ability to be able to adhere to some ofthe policy changes.

Lt. Gen. Omar Jones, the head of Installation Management Command, said the organization has continued hiring more housing managers and increased its in-person training investments since the audit, including an all-hands housing officer training summit that occurred at Fort Bliss, Texas, in August.

Both leaders are optimistic that the continued efforts will net results for Army families whose homes have environmental hazards like lead-based paint, and lawmakers  including the six letter signers  have expressed their desire to help fix the problem.

And all parties involved know the stakes amid the Armys years-long recruiting crisis, which recently led the service to announce sweeping structural reforms.

Exclusive: The inside story of how the Army rethought recruiting

Vereen, who led Recruiting Command from July 2020 to September 2022, said that providing quality housing and services to soldiers and families is a fundamental part of recruiting and retaining them.

The lawmakers, in questioning the poor oversight, expressed concern that housing conditions could exacerbate the recruiting struggles.

We owe it to our service members and their families that they have adequate privatized military housing, they wrote.
The U.S. Army must move faster to deter near-term threats. Although the Army has a strategy to modernize the force by 2030, that is just seven years away and potentially four years too late if the Chinese Communist Party attempts to retake Taiwan by force by 2027, as our military commanders suggest.

To effectively deter Chinese President Xi Jinping, the U.S. Army must develop a clear and coherent strategy to fill the gap between now and 2030.

While the Army has prioritized readiness since 2019, we have yet to see meaningful results. In addition to the depletion of the Armys munitions stockpiles as a result of the war in Ukraine, we are also still seeking to understand the Armys broader changing munitions requirements.

New long-range weapons will not reach the hands of soldiers in time to make a difference in a potential crisis this decade in the Indo-Pacific region. Heavy armor, such as tanks, must be augmented and protected with loitering munitions we do not have. The service has underinvested in electronic warfare capabilities and made rosy assumptions about its ability to maintain communications in the event of a crisis.

Heres the good news: The Army and Congress can fix most of this within a few years if we take action now. In my role as chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, I have prioritized laying the groundwork the Army needs through the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2024.

First, the Army needs more munitions; we must close this gap. Until the U.S. militarys war-planning guidance for large-scale conflicts in Europe and the Indo-Pacific is updated to reflect a post-Ukraine invasion reality, Congress will struggle to send the right demand signal to the U.S. munitions-industrial base about how far they must accelerate production.

We cannot afford to repeat history by rapidly supercharging munitions procurement, only to undermine the industrial base when demand subsequently drops. To solve this problem, Congress requires updates to critical war plans from the U.S. military before the next budget cycle. The House defense authorization bill will require this update.

The Army also needs stronger munitions. We need an improved energetics enterprise  for propellants, pyrotechnics and explosives  to make our munitions more lethal and effective. The Army should work with the Defense Departments Joint Energetics Transition Office that the current House defense authorization bill creates.

Additionally, the Army needs weapons with range. The Army is just beginning to procure enough of the Navys Tomahawk cruise missiles in FY24 to field new, tailor-built units like the Mid-Range Capability with plans to ramp up investments by 2028. Every effort must be made to increase the quantity of these weapons for the Army as fast as possible so that the service can deal with the massive distances that characterize the Indo-Pacific.

Second, we must reevaluate the near future of tanks and heavy armor. We know the Army will need more tanks, but we must address how they should be protected and how to best improve their survivability. The Army must invest heavily in loitering munitions  otherwise known as exploding drones, which nosedive into targets and explode on impact  with extended ranges. This will expand protective rings around tanks on the battlefield and allow new generations of ground vehicles to act as control nodes for swarms of loitering munitions, instead of easy targets.

US Marines are developing air-launched swarming munitions for helos

Third, the Army must improve its awareness and competencies within the electromagnetic spectrum. The Army is conducting an electronic warfare portfolio review; Congress must examine the results of that analysis before the next budget cycle kicks off.

We cannot afford for the Armys communications to be jammed, for soldiers electronic signatures to be tracked or for the Armys ground-based networks to create single points of failure during conflict. We need to reinvigorate these forces as a primary military competency rather than a subordinate command to cyber forces.

With China rising and the Davidson Window looming, the Army must develop and execute a clear plan for the 2020s. This plan must include a path to closing the munitions gap, improving the survivability of tanks and strengthening the services competencies within the electromagnetic spectrum. These building blocks are affordable, effective and achievable. We no longer have the luxury of time.

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., is the chairman of the House Armed Services Committees tactical air and land forces panel.
ASHEVILLE - A man was arrested for sending a series of antisemitic emails to a local synagogue Oct. 11, according to the Asheville Police Department.

Michael Patrick Toone, 44, of Asheville, was arrested and charged with cyberstalking after an investigation of the incident, according to a news release.

Toone was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility with a $5,000 secured bond or $500 to a bondsman. After a bond hearing, the Buncombe County district court judge raised Toones bond to $10,000.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming, according to the police. Toone's first court appearance will be on Dec. 7, according to court documents.

The antisemitic emails were received amid the war that broke out over the weekend in Israel after Hamas launched a surprise attack, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and taking an estimated 150 people hostage, according to reporting by USA TODAY.

Israeli Defense Forces mounted a swift response, triggering a war between the nation and Hamas, which controls the besieged Gaza Strip.

NC SBI report: Buncombe County crime rate down 15% last year; What about Asheville?

Asheville police say if anyone has been threatened or discriminated against based on race, people, color, religion, nationality, country of origin, or gender identity, to contact them at 828-252-1110. Or send an anonymous tip using the TIP2APD smartphone application or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.

If you have knowledge of any hate crime or ethnic intimidation, you can anonymously share information by texting TIP2APD to 847411.

This story will be updated.

Citizen Times Reporter Mitch Black contributed to this article.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville man arrested after sending antisemitic emails to synagogue
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is seeking reelection, has faced criticism in recent days over her endorsement by the Democratic Socialists of America. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Three years ago, political newcomer Nithya Raman drew national attention for her come-from-behind election victory, ousting a Los Angeles City Council member and becoming the first member of the Democratic Socialists of America to hold that office.

Raman is now running for reelection in a race where she has raised the most money and scored big-name endorsements. But in the wake of the recent attack on Israel by Hamas militants, she is also facing fresh criticism over her DSA ties.

On the day Hamas launched its assault, the DSA publicly declared its "solidarity with Palestine," writing on the social media platform X that the attack was "a direct result of Israel's apartheid regime  a regime that receives billions in funding from the United States."

Prosecutor Ethan Weaver, running against Raman in the March election, assailed his opponent over that statement, saying the DSA was attempting to provide "moral justification for the slaughter of innocent civilians." He called on Raman to reject her endorsement by the DSA's Los Angeles chapter, which raised money and ran phone banks for her in 2020. DSA-LA reendorsed Raman last month.

Raman, who joined the DSA's L.A. chapter several years ago, was among the first at City Hall to condemn what she called "the horrific violence by Hamas," saying over the weekend that she could not "imagine the terror" felt by L.A.'s Jewish and Israeli American communities.

At first, Raman did not publicly address the criticism from Weaver and others. On Tuesday, however, she waded into the controversy, publicly criticizing the DSA's statement, which was first posted by the group's national arm, then reposted twice by its L.A. affiliate.

Read more: What you need to know about Hamas

The DSA statement, Raman said, "failed to reckon with the horrors committed by Hamas and was unacceptably devoid of empathy for communities in Israel and at home who are living in fear and mourning."

The focus on the DSA's messaging comes at a time of anguish and anxiety for Israelis and Palestinans living in the United States, who fear for their friends and families in the Middle East. The fate of scores of kidnapped Israelis remains uncertain, and bodies of victims of the initial attack continue to be discovered. The Israeli military has launched a fierce counterattack, launching airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that have reduced entire city blocks to rubble.

Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Greater L.A., said he believes DSA leaders took a courageous and principled stance, expressing concern for "every innocent human life"  both Israelis and Palestinians  while "seeking to address the root causes of this senseless violence."

Those attacking DSA are engaging in shameful bullying to intimidate others from daring to humanize Palestinians and call for an end to U.S. funding of that illegal occupation," Ayloush said. "I wish our political leaders had the same courage to help end the violence rather than continue to fuel it.

Meanwhile, some politicians have taken an even more aggressive stance toward the DSA. U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), announced Wednesday that he is renouncing his membership in the group over statements by a New York City chapter. U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), flatly called the group "extremists."

Raman, whose district stretches from Silver Lake to Encino, declined an interview request. In her three-page statement, she said that Weaver and his supporters have wrongly labeled her as a supporter of terrorism, creating pain for her and her family. Her allies say Weaver's campaign attacks have put her in personal danger.

Harris Mojadedi, Northern California chair of the state Democratic Party's Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus, called Weaver's criticism of Raman "deeply reminiscent of the hate against South Asians post 9/11."

Camille Zapata, a board member with California Women's List, said Weaver is employing "hateful tactics" that could stoke "violence and harassment" against the council member.

"The false accusations and horrific bullying tactics deployed by Councilmember Ramans opponent are more than an attempt to mislead voters and oversimplify international geopolitical conflicts," said Zapata, whose group has endorsed Raman. "They have real impacts and are putting a womans life and family at risk."

Weaver said the campaign has never accused Raman of supporting Hamas. "In fact, we unequivocally disavow anyone who has done so," he said.

The back-and-forth reflects the fissures that have emerged in L.A. political circles over the war in Israel and the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 2,300 on both sides since Saturday.

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

Support for Israel, and the DSA's statements on the war, has also come up as part of the reelection campaign of Dist. Atty. George Gascon. Although the DSA-LA did not formally endorse Gascon, its political committee recommended Gascon in its 2020 voter guide.

On Wednesday, a group of 130 county prosecutors sent Gascon a letter questioning why he had remained silent on the Hamas attacks, despite his habit of issuing statements on such topics as the Azerbaijani blockade affecting Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Eric Siddall, who is running against Gascon in March, called on the district attorney to disavow the DSA, arguing that the group is "on the side of terrorists."

"Continued silence from D.A. Gascon cannot go on," he said.

Gascon, in a statement to The Times, said that, at a time of "tremendous grief for millions of people around the world," he remains "unwavering" in his support for the Jewish community.

"Any suggestion otherwise is an obvious effort to politicize a horrific tragedy and is completely outrageous," he said.

The DSA, both nationally and in its local chapters, has a long history of denouncing Israel over its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza, home to more than 2 million people, many of them children, living in conditions that have been compared to an open-air prison. DSA-LA has called for the U.S. to divest from the state of Israel, including questions on that topic in its candidate questionnaires.

In a statement to The Times, a DSA-LA spokesperson said the group "unequivocally" opposes the mass murder of Palestinian and Israeli civilians, including "Hamas' brutal attacks," the ongoing occupation and "the Israeli governments asymmetric and escalating violent response in Gaza."

"DSA Los Angeles members have family in both Israel and Palestine, so it is personal when we demand lasting peace and justice in the region  which is only possible if the occupation is ended," the group said. "We remain committed to Palestinian liberation, and firmly believe you can hold all these values at once."

At City Hall, three of the council's 15 members have been elected with major support from the DSA  Raman, Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez.

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and 11 colleagues, including Raman, appeared Tuesday at a City Hall news conference billed as a show of solidarity with Israel. At the event, Blumenfield took aim at groups in L.A. that, in his description, have "seen this weekend's depravity and defended it."

Read more: X promises 'highest level' response on posts about Israel-Hamas war. Misinformation still flourishes

Blumenfield voiced particular outrage that some groups have invoked the phrase "from the river to the sea," saying the words are code for genocide and the eradication of Israel. That phrase was used in social media posts by the DSA's San Francisco chapter on Monday and by DSA-LA in 2021.

"To say that at any time is awful," Blumenfield said. "But to say that in the midst of the worst attack, the killing of more Jews than we've seen since the Holocaust, is beyond contempt."

Asked about Blumenfield's comments, the DSA-LA spokesperson referred The Times to an article in the Forward publication that said the phrase is about freedom for Palestinians "throughout their historic homeland," not the annihilation of Jewish Israelis.

The responses to the Hamas attack have spurred discussion not just among council members, but also some of the city commissioners who serve at the pleasure of Mayor Karen Bass, who has repeatedly made statements supportive of Israel.

Eric Spiegelman, who serves on the Board of Taxicab Commissioners, said he has begun emailing donors to Soto-Martinez, Hernandez and other DSA-backed candidates, telling them the DSA should be seen as a "hate group."

Neither Hernandez nor Soto-Martinez provided comment on Spiegelman's email. Soto-Martinez put out a statement Wednesday calling for the violence to be "de-escalated urgently." Hernandez separately condemned the "targeting of children and families" in Israel and Gaza in a statement issued the same day.

In recent days, Blumenfield has declined to criticize his colleagues, saying they should not be held responsible for remarks made by their political supporters.

"People are endorsed by lots of organizations," he said. "That doesn't mean that they have the beliefs of those organizations."

Raman said she is working to foster dialogue between DSA-LA and the city's "diverse Jewish communities." Weaver, on the other hand, said he still believes Raman should sever ties with the group.

"What the voters deserve is clarity, which means disavowing this endorsement," he said.

State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who has been sharply critical of the DSA in recent days, took a different view. In an interview, he said Raman showed integrity for speaking out against a group with which she is closely aligned.

Shes getting beaten up for doing it, he said. But one of the reasons I support her  whether its on Israel or on housing or on a number of other issues  is she is willing to take tough positions.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Premiere Lux cinema in Biloxi was filled Tuesday with people who knew Jeremiah Jerry OKeefe and some who had a front row seat to his lawsuit against a funeral home conglomerate, as portrayed in the new movie The Burial.

The movie stars Oscar Award winners Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones and will be streaming starting Friday on Amazon Prime Video.

The audience at the special screening munched popcorn, laughed at every bit of humor in the sometimes intense drama and enthusiastically applauded as the credits rolled.

Seeing a movie when you knew the main character is somewhat unnerving, especially seeing Jerry OKeefe without his distinguishing shock of white hair.

With popcorn and beverages at the ready, people settled into their seats at Premiere Lux cinema in Biloxi Tuesday at a special premiere showing of The Burial. The movie is based on a lawsuit brought by the late Jeremiah OKeefe, a Coast funeral director.

How would OKeefe, who died in 2016, feel about Jones portraying him on the big screen?

He would be flattered, said Coast resident Bill Holmes after watching the movie.

His son Jeffrey OKeefe said, My father really wasnt all that jazzed up about the Hollywood thing.

He signed over the rights to the story a year after the 1995 trial to Bobby Shriver, nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and brother of Maria Shriver.

Oscar contender?

Never settle, was the premise of the movie inspired by the lawsuit filed by OKeefe, the South Mississippi funeral home owner and two-term mayor of Biloxi against a Canadian company that was the largest funeral home and burial insurance provider in North America. OKeefe was facing financial troubles and trying to save his family business when he agreed to sell three of his funeral homes to Loewen, the deal never closed and OKeefe sued, originally for $6 million.

The lawsuit was filed in Hinds County and the trial was held in Jackson with an African-American judge and a largely Black jury.

OKeefe hired charismatic, smooth-talking Willie E. Gary, a Black attorney from Florida who had never represented a white man before. The opposing attorney also was Black and a determined woman.

Jurnee Smollett stars as Mame Downes and Jamie Foxx as Willie Gary in The Burial, which had a premiere in Biloxi.

Gary flies in on his private airplane Wings of Justice to save OKeefes family business. The trial proves to be more challenging than he expected, and the performance by Foxx is so passionate, the jury and the movie audience are pulling for him to win for OKeefe, the World War II ace, the small business owner, the former mayor who denied a permit by the Klu Klux Klan to parade in Biloxi, the father of 13.

I think Amazon is very hopeful this could be an Oscar Award winner, OKeefe said. and the early reviews are promising.

Review: No objections to Jamie Foxx in the entertaining courtroom drama 'The Burial' https://t.co/zvWqO0QUWN  Los Angeles Times (@latimes) October 10, 2023

Race or more

At one point in the movie the attorney is asked if the lawsuit is about race.

It is. Its also about the relationship that develops between OKeefe and Gary, big business vs. family business, OKeefes honor and principals vs. an unscrupulous operator concerned only with profits.

I thought it was great, said former Biloxi Councilman Bill Stallworth, now director of the Hope Community Development Agency in Biloxi. What is portrayed in the movie is what happened in his community for a long time, he said. He remembers as a child, people would knock on the door selling burial insurance. No matter how much families bought, he said, it was never enough.

For me it was just a part of life in the Black community, he said and Stallworth said he was glad to see the big business owner got his comeuppance in the end.

What happened?

One word  No  delivered with contempt, changed the course of the trial and the film.

The amount the jury awarded OKeefe was shocking, and even on appeal, left OKeefe and his attorneys with a fortune.

Tommy Lee Jones as Jeremiah OKeefe and Jamie Foxx as Willie Gary in The Burial. This scene never happened after the actual trial, but was a dramatic end to the movie.

The OKeefe Foundation was created and the windfall was used to provide Meals on Wheels, for Catholic Charities, children with disabilities and to address African American issues, Jeff OKeefe said. When Jerry OKeefes wife Annette died, his father made a major donation to the George Ohr organization, leading to the group ultimately renaming its planned museum, the Ohr-OKeefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, in her honor.

The family continues the Bradford-OKeefe Funeral Homes OKeefe fought to pass down to them.

To find out what happened to the Canadian firm, youll have to watch the movie.

Look for Ocean Springs actor Summer Selby, who portrays Garys mother in the film, and a cameo appearance by attorney Willie Gary at the end of the film. He remained friends with OKeefe until OKeefe died.

Fact vs. fiction

The movie is inspired by the actual event but lots of liberties were taken to make it more entertaining by director Maggie Betts, who co-wrote the screenplay with Doug Wright.

She wanted to jazz it up, OKeefe said. He told the audience before the movie began, Just know this is not a documentary.

Here are some of the things to know about the actual events vs. the movie version of OKeefes story:

 The movie was filmed in New Orleans but the lawsuit action took place on the Coast and in Jackson.

 Biloxi attorney Michael Cavanaugh, not Mike Allred, was OKeefes personal and corporate attorney for 30 years. Cavanaugh wasnt portrayed in the movie. I lived it, he said at Tuesdays screening.

 The OKeefe familys personal finances were never under duress, and ending cable service as a cost-cutting measure was something added to the movie plot.

 OKeefe did not take an additional mortgage on the family home to pay his attorneys, as depicted in the movie.

 The size of the verdict in OKeefe vs. Loewen came as a surprise to all sides, according to the website, and the Loewen Group was cited for antitrust violations in other states before and after the OKeefe trial.

 Ray Loewen never met face-to-face with OKeefe to discuss settlement and OKeefe never rejected an offer of $75 million, nor did he seek to put the Loewen Group out of business.

The scene at the end of the movie that shows Gary and OKeefe sitting on the courthouse steps was created for the movie and didnt happen after the actual trial. OKeefe was jubilant after the trial, not glum, as depicted in the movie, the webiste that provides facts vs. fiction says. But the fictional version makes for a dramatic end to the movie.
NASAs goal to reduce the costs of the powerful Space Launch System rocket for its Artemis program by 50% was called highly unrealistic and a threat to its deep space exploration plans, according to a report by NASAs Office of the Inspector General released on Thursday.

The audit says the costs to produce one SLS rocket through its proposed fixed-cost contract will still top $2.5 billion, even though NASA thinks it can shrink that through workforce reductions, manufacturing and contracting efficiencies, and expanding the SLSs user base.

Given the enormous costs of the Artemis campaign, failure to achieve substantial savings will significantly hinder the sustainability of NASAs deep space human exploration efforts, the report warns.

Already, the Biden administration is requesting its largest NASA budget ever for the next fiscal year, although a Republican-led U.S. House is likely to kneecap some of NASAs requests.

The audit looked at NASAs plans to shift from its current setup among multiple suppliers for the hardware to a sole-sourced services contract that would include the production, systems integration and launch of at least five SLS flights beginning with Artemis V currently slated for as early as 2029.

NASAs claim it could get those costs to $1.25 billion per rocket was taken to task by the audit.

NASAs aspirational goal to achieve a cost savings of 50% is highly unrealistic. Specifically, our review determined that cost saving initiatives in several SLS production contracts  were not significant, the audit reads.

It does find that rocket costs could approach $2 billion through the first 10 SLS rockets under the new contract, a reduction of 20%.

Artemis I used the SLS rocket that with 8.8 million pounds of thrust launched from Kennedy Space Center in November 2022 becoming the most powerful rocket to ever make it to orbit. It sent the Orion spacecraft on an uncrewed flight to orbit the moon.

Parts falling into place for NASAs next moon rocket for Artemis II

Artemis II will fly with four astronauts on a short trip around the moon aiming for launch as early as November 2024 while a more complicated Artemis III mission hopes to return humans including the first woman to the lunar surface as early as December 2025. Artemis IV is on NASAs calendar for 2028 and is aimed at helping construct the Gateway lunar space station to support moon landing missions.

Through 2025, the audit stated its Artemis missions will have topped $93 billion, which includes billions more than originally announced in 2012 as years of delays and cost increases plagued the leadup to Artemis I. The SLS rocket represents 26% of that cost to the tune of $23.8 billion.

Boeing is the primary contractor for the core stage working with Aerojet Rocketdyne for the core stages four RS-25 engines while Northrop Grumman provides the two solid rocket boosters. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for Orion while United Launch Alliance and the European Space Agency also have a hand in the SLS and Orion programs.

The new contract called the Exploration Production and Operations Contract (EPOC) would award the SLS contract to a joint venture of Boeing and Northrop Grumman called Deep Space Transport, LLC. The contract would include an option for an additional five launches for a total of 10. Its targeting a larger version of SLS called Block 1B that will use a new Exploration Upper Stage that will increase the rockets cargo capacity.

Before entering the new single-source contract, NASA also plans for a three-year pre-EPOC contract that the audit commended so that NASA can continue direct oversight of the new combined company while also giving time for Boeing to improve its assembly line productions.

It also warns that some aspects of future Artemis launches could fall outside the fixed-cost contract, and noted there was a $4.3 billion increase in cost-reimbursable contracts leading up to the Artemis I launch.

The audit calls out NASAs grant to its current contractors of limited rights data into the rocket design, which precludes effective competition. Basically, no one other than Boing and Northrop Grumman can build an SLS rocket, and that means NASAs hands are tied when it comes to cost increases for heavy-lift launch services.

That said, moving SLS production from separate cost-reimbursable contracts to a combined commercial services approach may potentially reduce SLS production costs in the long term if a fixed-price contract is used to codify a reduced price, the audit said.

FAA closes SpaceX Starship mishap investigation from April explosion, but not ready to let it fly

One of the pitches by NASA to reduce costs is that Deep Space Transport will be able to produce rockets for other customers leading to savings through economies of scale. But to date, no other customers have come forward, and other heavy lift rockets such as SpaceXs Starship and Super Heavy or Blue Origins New Glenn could offer NASA alternatives for its Artemis program plans.

Although the SLS is the only launch vehicle currently available that meets Artemis mission needs, in the next 3 to 5 years other human-rated commercial alternatives that are lighter, cheaper, and reusable may become available, the audit reads. Therefore, NASA may want to consider whether other commercial options should be a part of its mid- to long-term plans to support its ambitious space exploration goals.

NASAs goal for the Artemis program, set during the Obama administration, is still to land a human on Mars by 2040.

The audit put forth a litany of recommendations to help keep it approach its reduced Artemis cost goals, though. They include among other suggestions that before the fixed-cost EPOC is in place to establish achievable cost saving metrics starting with the Artemis IV SLS contracts and to transition core stage and Exploration Upper Stage contracts to a fixed price contract with a per mission price so NASA can figure out its actual costs.

It also suggests flexible contracts for future SLS acquisitions that will allow NASA to pivot to other commercial alternatives.

These commercial ventures will likely capitalize on multiple technological innovations, the audit reads. Further driving down costs is the competition between aerospace companies such as SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin, with both SpaceX and Blue Origin currently developing reusable medium- and heavy-lift launch vehicles that will compete with NASAs SLS single-use rocket.
The State Auditors Office found that six North Carolina school districts, including Charlotte-Meckleburg and Johnston County, did not comply with the states truancy law during the 2020-21 school year, when students were mostly taking online classes.

The state audit released on Thursday found that the six school districts didnt ensure that student attendance data was complete and accurate. The audit also accused the state Department of Public Instruction of not providing the information needed to determine how many students were chronically absent and how many chronically absent students were promoted or graduated.

This audit is not diminishing the crisis brought about by COVID for North Carolina school systems, the students, their families and teachers, State Auditor Beth Wood, a Democrat, said in a video released about the audit. However, COVID did have a profound effect on student attendance, which again affects a students ability to be successful in North Carolina schools.

The audit drew sharp disagreements from the six districts and from DPI, who accused the Auditors Office of not understanding the attendance data.

Instead of recommendations to get students back to school, our agency and six of our school districts have been unnecessarily reprimanded, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, a Republican, said in a news release. Much of how this report was conducted is an example of how state government time and taxpayer dollars and resources should not be used.

Concerns over missing students

From mid-March 2020 through June 2021, North Carolina public school students went through periods when only online classes were offered during the pandemic. Some students didnt return to in-person classes until the start of the 2021-22 school year.

Students who were learning remotely were generally marked as present if they participated in online class discussions, had a daily check-in with the teacher or completed that days assignments.

Test scores plummeted during the pandemic but have been recovering in the past two years. But performance remains below pre-pandemic levels.

In November 2021, state lawmakers directed Woods office to do an audit of the attendance and truancy policies used by six school districts during the 2020-21 school year. The audit came amid concerns about missing students who stopped attending classes during the pandemic.

The districts chosen for the audit were Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Henderson County, Hyde County, Johnston County, Robeson County and Winston-Salem/Forsyth.

Auditors said they were only able to get complete information for Henderson County. But they said there was enough data to make some findings on all six districts.

Auditors found that the frequency, timing, and type of truancy procedures and documentation varied widely among schools across each school district selected for this audit, according to the report. North Carolinas Truancy Law was not waived during the COVID-19 pandemic or school year 2020-2021.

Blame game over audit delay

Wood says the audit was delayed because DPI provided incomplete and inaccurate student attendance data.

Problems with the attendance data provided by DPI led to audit delays and was a significant contributing factor in the audit report being released after the legislative deadline of June 30, 2022, according to the audit. The data problems required auditors to increase audit procedures to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence, which resulted in over 1,700 additional audit hours at an estimated increased cost of $205,000.

But DPI says the delay was due to the Auditors Office making multiple changes in scope and lack of understanding of attendance policies and the wording used by districts in their student attendance policies.

OSA wasted $350,000 of COVID-19 relief funding and well over 1,000 hours of NCDPI and public school unit (PSU) staff time creating a report that did not answer the questions posed by the General Assembly, according to DPI.

Empty classroom, pandemic concept

Districts disagree with audit findings

The findings for Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the states second-largest district, mirror what was found in the other districts in the report.

Data limitations prevented auditors from performing a detailed analysis of student attendance and truancy policies and procedures during the 2020-2021 school year, according to the report.

Auditors also found CMS did not comply with the states truancy law during the 2020-21 school year because it didnt perform specific actions for students with three, six, and 10 or more unexcused absences.

Parents werent notified their student was violating truancy laws, and school counselors didnt work with families to eliminate the problem, the report found.

But Superintendent Crystal Hill, in a letter of response to Wood dated Sept. 27, wrote that the district respectfully disagrees with the findings and charged that auditors failed to adequately consider the unprecedented global pandemic that raged during the 2020-21 school year.

CMS primarily operated virtually during that school year, and the districts primary concern was providing technology, internet access and quality remote instruction, Hill says.

Students and staff and their families were critically impacted by the pandemic inside and outside of schools, Hill wrote. (CMS) dedicated significant resources to support students and staff whose families struggled with physical health, mental health, food insecurity, housing insecurity, lack of childcare, financial insecurity, language barriers, and the deaths of loved ones.

Hill added that while the district worked to adhere to attendance laws, its focus was supporting its people.

As demonstrated throughout the audit report, OSA and the audit findings do not dispute or attempt to minimize the impact and unprecedented challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic had on District staff, families, students, and student attendance during the 2020-2021 school year, Wood said in her response to CMS.

However, the audit found that required truancy actions were not performed. As a result, there was an increased risk that students would become chronically absent and experience negative outcomes.

Rise in absenteeism was unavoidable

The attendance findings for Johnston County, which is the states seventh-largest school district, mirror what was found in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

In a response signed by Superintendent Eric Bracy, Johnston County says the rise in chronic absenteeism was unavoidable during the height of the pandemic. But Bracy says the audit doesnt answer questions such as whether the absenteeism problems existed before the pandemic and if theyve continued.

The report doesnt address its purpose, which is to make recommendations to remediate student absenteeism, Bracy added.

The Report misses the opportunity to offer suggestions for addressing underlying problems that lead to student absences, such as poverty, lack of transportation, lack of technology, unemployment, lack of flexibility in scheduling, Bracy writes.

Wood accused Johnston County of trying to mislead readers of the audit. She made similar statements in her responses to DPI and the other districts.

The Districts response attempts to distract the reader from the issues identified and recommendations made in the audits findings, many of which are under direct control of District management and staff, Wood responded.

Absenteeism rates up nationally

The state audit is in line with national reports showing attendance dropped and absenteeism rose sharply statewide and nationally in schools during the pandemic.

An analysis by The Associated Press, Stanford Universitys Big Local News project and Stanford education professor Thomas Dee found an estimated 230,000 students in 21 states whose absences could not be accounted for.

North Carolina had the fifth-most missing students on the list. The state had 12,072 public school students who could not be accounted for in the AP analysis of enrollment data and Census records between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years.

Additional data compiled by Dee in partnership with The Associated Press found that more than a quarter of students nationally were chronically absent in the 2021-22 school year  a 91% increase from before the pandemic in the 2018-19 school year. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10% of the school year.

That analysis also found that more than 30% of North Carolina students are chronically absent from school during the 2021-22 school year  nearly double the rate that existed before the pandemic.
Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich speaks against efforts to dissolve the township, saying he would like to pursue efforts to recall Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike. (Michelle Mullins/Daily Southtown)

Homer Glen residents will be asked in the March primary whether the village should pursue efforts to dissolve or discontinue Homer Township government.

The advisory referendum was approved Wednesday by a 4-3 vote, with Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike breaking the tie. Members of Neitzke-Troikes slate, who were elected in April, voted in favor of the referendum, and the three trustees elected together in 2021 opposed it.

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When the village incorporated (in 2001), and was going through the incorporation effort, a lot of residents of the township questioned another layer of government, said Trustee Sue Steilen, who voted in favor of the referendum. I think the village has run efficiently, and now its time to question whether we need the extra layer of government of a township.

Steilen said Will County has 24 townships, and Illinois is known for having more government entities than other states. The villages referendum sends a message there is too much government in Illinois, she said.

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Im not sure what the township really does provide other than some senior services and managing senior housing, Steilen said.

Trustee Jennifer Consolino questioned whether dissolving the township was the mayors personal or political vendetta against township officials.

Neitzke-Troike said the issue was only about protecting the residents of Homer Glen from Homer Townships taxes, not about her professional or political relationship with Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich.

Its an advisory question, Neitzke-Troike said. What do the residents want? Do they want to get out of the township or do they want to continue to pay these taxes and get no services.

Three elected township officials, including Balich, Road Commissioner Brent Porfilio and Assessor Carmen Maurella, spoke against the proposal.

Homer Township Assessor Carmen Maurella, the former Homer Glen village manager, speaks against the villages efforts to potentially dissolve the township. (Michelle Mullins/Daily Southtown)

When the village incorporated, residents wanted local control rather than decisions made by Will County, Maurella said.

I feel like we are giving our township to another entity of government thats going to control the levies that we control with our elected officials, said Maurella, the former Homer Glen village manager. It seems like a personal vendetta. I think its wrong. I dont agree with it. I think theres better options.

Balich said in recent months there has been bad blood between village and township officials and suspects the referendum will lead to litigation. He said he wants to initiate a recall effort of the mayor.

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Village trustees opposed to the proposal said there are too many variables and unanswered questions involved with dissolving or discontinuing the township government.

Trustee Rose Reynders said while she supports smaller government, the village has much more pressing issues, including ratifying boundary agreements with nearby municipalities, negotiating a public works union contract and building a wastewater treatment plant.

Do we want to start this fight now when we have all these other items in the fire that we need to address, Reynders said.

Reynders said she was concerned about what happens to township employees and residents of unincorporated areas.

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I personally need to know the legality of this, she said. The township isnt just Homer Glen. The township is Lockport, New Lenox and Lemont.

Trustee Dan Fialko said the village implemented a policy more than a year ago that waived annexation fees for residents in unincorporated areas to annex into Homer Glen, and no one pursued it.

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He said cooperation is needed between the village and township, and the referendum is a waste of time and money.

There is no plan; Without a plan youre just walking into the wall, Fialko said.

Neitzke-Troike said the referendum is the first step to gauge public opinion.

Id like to get the village out of the township, and I have reasons; I have $1.3 million reasons to get the village out of the township, Neitzke-Troike said, referring to the townships tax levy.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
In this photo provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Chinese Australian journalist Cheng Lei, right, poses with Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, on Wednesday Oct. 11, 2023. Cheng, who was convicted on murky espionage charges and detained in China for three years has returned to Australia. (Sarah Hodges/DFAT via AP)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  A Chinese-born journalist credited the Australian government for her return to Australia in one piece after her three-year detention in China in an espionage case that strained bilateral ties.

Cheng Lei's comments broadcast on Thursday challenged Beijing's version that she was deported this week under normal judicial procedures without political considerations.

The 48-year-old former Chinese state television anchor spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese by phone from Melbourne Airport on Wednesday after her arrival from Beijing.

Hello, prime minister. It's because of you and all the team at DFAT that Im able to make it here in one piece," Cheng said in a video recording released by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed Cheng to Melbourne, where Chengs two children, 11 and 14, have been raised by their grandmother. Wong's staff handed Cheng the phone to speak with Albanese.

Wong also took credit for Cheng's freedom, saying improved bilateral relations had paid dividends since her center-left Labor Party government was elected last year after nine years of conservative rule.

Weve made clear since we were elected that we wanted to stabilize our relationship with China, we wanted to engage and I think youve seen some of the benefits of engagement, Wong said.

Albanese plans to visit Beijing this year at a date yet to be set. He would become the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years.

Albanese said he had had good, constructive meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang about Chengs case.

Cheng, who was born in China and migrated to Australia with her family at age 10, had worked for Chinas state broadcaster CCTV. She was arrested in August 2020 when bilateral relations were plumbing new depths.

Chinas Ministry of State Security said Cheng provided a foreign organization with state secrets she had obtained on the job in violation of a confidentiality clause signed with her employer. A police statement did not name the organization or say what the secrets were.

A court in Beijing convicted her of illegally providing state secrets abroad and she was sentenced to two years and 11 months, the statement said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the Chinese judicial system tried the case in accordance with the law, fully safeguarding the rights enjoyed by the person concerned in accordance with the law.

Geoff Raby, a former Australian ambassador to China and a friend of Cheng, described Chinas explanation that she had been released according to law as a face-saving solution.

Albanese and Wong deserved congratulations for stabilizing the bilateral relationship and for raising Chengs case with Chinese leaders at every opportunity, Raby said.

Persistence and constantly coming back to this issue and advocating on her behalf in private but at very senior levels ... trickles down through the Chinese system and I think the result we see thankfully ... yesterday is a product of all of that effort, Raby said.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Maj. Joe Williams speaks Wednesday at a news conference on the discovery of the body of Kameron Jenkins, the suspect who shot a Cleveland County deputy.

Authorities are saying very little about the discovery of a dead Oklahoma City man accused of shooting a Cleveland County sheriff's deputy and killing a person in a passing vehicle.

According to court documents, these events took place:

Kameron Jenkins, 25, was driving northbound on Interstate 35 on Oct. 4 when Deputy Sean Steadman attempted a traffic stop. The deputy was part of a multi-county task force.

Jenkins exited on Exit 60 and drove until Steadman conducted a tactical vehicle intervention, forcing Jenkins' car to stop. Jenkins and Steadman exchanged gunfire, and Steadman was shot in the chin.

The passenger of a dump truck traveling north on I-35, Gwaun Frierson, was struck by a stray bullet and killed. And a passenger in Jenkins' vehicle was taken into custody.

Although a news conference was held Wednesday, information was not disclosed about how Jenkins died, whose bullet fatally struck Frierson, what happened to the passenger in Jenkins vehicle, why the initial traffic stop occurred and whether Jenkins was found with a weapon near his body.

The investigation has been turned over to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee speaks at an Oklahoma Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals and OSBI press conference on the discovery of the body of Kameron Jenkins, the suspect who shot a Cleveland County deputy.

We understand that a lot of people have questions, OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee said. This is an ongoing investigation at this time. Were looking into all aspects of how this started. How this person died. As soon as we get more information on that and conclude our investigation, well let everybody know.

Manhunt that lasted for nearly a week ultimately ended with discovery of Kameron Jenkins' body

State authorities have revealed very little about the circumstances surrounding what turned out to be a manhunt that lasted nearly a week.

A search involving several local, state and federal agencies commenced after the shooting, with Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Marshals Service offering an $11,000 reward for information leading to Jenkins' arrest.

Jenkins was charged in Garvin County with felony murder, shooting with intent to kill and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. He previously pleaded guilty to other firearm charges, including assault and battery with a deadly weapon in 2016 and possession of a firearm in 2019.

Authorities found Jenkins dead Tuesday.

The discovery happened as the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted a secondary grid search of the area in which the shooting took place, near Wynnewood at Exit 60 on I-35.

An OHP cadaver dog helped lead investigators to the body, authorities said Wednesday outside the OHP training complex in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Maj. Joe Williams speaks during a news conference Wednesday at OHP headquarters.

OHP Maj. Joe Williams said it was very frustrating that authorities did not initially find Jenkins in the area where they had set up perimeters.

As time went on, intelligence-wise, there just wasn't much coming in supporting that he was still there or supporting that he had left the area, Williams said.

Investigators made one last push through the crime scene Tuesday and found Jenkins body in thick brush, Williams said.

He said investigators had operated with the belief that Jenkins may have still been a danger to the public.

Initially with the type of crime that was committed, a deputy shot in the face with a firearm, that type of search was not a thorough search of every square inch up and down of that area, Williams said. We were looking for a suspect that was armed.

John Kuhlman, of the U.S. Marshals, speaks at a news conference on the discovery of the body of Kameron Jenkins, the suspect who shot a Cleveland County deputy.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Frustrating' manhunt for Kameron Jenkins leaves more questions
The United Auto Workers union announced Wednesday that its nearly four-week strike against the Big Three automakers was expanding to Fords truck plant in Kentucky.

Roughly 8,700 union members work at the Louisville facility producing the companys Super Duty trucks as well as the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.

The walkout Wednesday marks the first time during the strike that the union has targeted the production of large pickups, a big moneymaker for Ford as well as General Motors and Stellantis, which owns the Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands.

We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message, UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement. Its time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three. If they cant understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it.

Ford called the decision to strike the Kentucky plant grossly irresponsible but unsurprising. The company said it had made an outstanding offer to the union in an effort to end the strike.

In addition to affecting approximately 9,000 direct employees at the plant, this work stoppage will generate painful aftershocks  including putting at risk approximately a dozen additional Ford operations and many more supplier operations, the company said in a statement.

The union began its work stoppage the morning of Sept. 15 after failing to reach new four-year agreements with each of the automakers. It is the first time ever that the UAW has struck all three companies simultaneously.

Rather than shut down all unionized plants at once, the union has struck only targeted plants to keep the companies on their toes and leave room to broaden the strikes impact. The union has vowed to walk out at additional facilities if the companies dont meet workers demands at the bargaining table.

Extending the strike to Fords Kentucky plant marks a major escalation in the fight since large trucks and SUVs make up the companys most profitable vehicles. Ford said the vehicles at that plant generate $25 billion in revenue each year and that shutting down production would have ripple effects throughout its supply chain.

This decision by the UAW is all the more wrongheaded given that Ford is the only automaker to add UAW jobs since the Great Recession and assemble all of its full-size trucks in America, the company said.

The UAW is looking to make major gains in its new contracts after making concessions to help stabilize the automakers following the financial crisis.

The union has been calling for big double-digit raises, the restoration of cost-of-living increases, improved profit-sharing formulas and the elimination of tiered compensation systems, among other demands. It has cited good progress with all three companies on a number of issues but says sticking points remain.

The UAW said last week that it had secured an offer from GM to put workers at the companys electric vehicle battery plants under the union contract, which it called a major victory that would raise working standards in EV production.

We expect to win at Ford and Stellantis as well, Fain said.

Related...
Robert Brown will no longer be released next month when he was due to be freed at the halfway point of his 26 year jail sentence for manslaughter - PA

Wife killer Robert Brown is to remain behind bars after the Justice Secretary blocked his early release following a campaign by Carrie Johnson .

Alex Chalk intervened on Wednesday to refer Browns case to the parole board to decide whether he should be freed or serve a longer sentence.

It means that he will no longer be released next month - when he was due to be freed at the halfway point of his 26 year jail sentence for manslaughter - and will instead have to wait nine months before the parole board reviews his case.

It followed a campaign by the family and friends of his estranged wife Joanna Simpson, backed by Mrs Johnson, the former prime ministers wife, for the Government to keep him in prison.

Carrie Johnson (left) and Joanna Simpson's mother Diana Parkes in Westminster, London, for the launch of a campaign to prevent release of Robert Brown - KIRSTY O'CONNOR/PA

Brown, a former British Airways pilot, admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility after bludgeoning Simpson with a claw hammer as their children cowered inside their home.

Her family argue that he remains a danger to the public and should have been convicted of murder after meticulously planning the killing of his wife.

He drove to her home in Ascot, Berkshire, armed with the hammer and bludgeoned her at least 14 times, before wrapping her body in plastic sheeting and burying it in a grave he had previously dug in woodland in Windsor Great Park.

He was charged with murder and prosecutors argued the killing was a premeditated attack, but Brown said he had been suffering from severe stress and abnormality of mental function which had impaired his self-control.

Announcing his decision, Mr Chalk said: Joanna Simpson was bludgeoned and buried at the hands of Robert Brown, which left two children without a mother and caused irreparable harm to her family and loved ones.

I made a commitment to Joannas family that I would give this case my closest personal attention. Having reviewed all the information available to me, I have blocked Browns automatic release and referred this case to the Parole Board using powers we introduced to protect the public from the most dangerous offenders.

Joanna Simpson was estranged from Robert Brown at the time of her death - GEOFF PUGH

Diana Parkes, Simpsons mother, said: I am delighted that Alex Chalk has blocked Robert Browns automatic release and is referring the decision to the parole board. Having to continuously relive my daughters brutal killing is emotionally exhausting.

We hope that the Parole Board will appreciate how dangerous Robert Brown is and we fear for the safety of our family, Jos friends and any female he may form a relationship with in the future. We would urge them to keep him in jail.

The power to block an automatic release halfway through a sentence was introduced in the Governments 2022 courts and sentencing bill. It was originally designed to enable ministers to lengthen the sentences of criminals who had become a threat through being radicalised into potential terrorists in jail.

Sir Robert Buckland, former Justice Secretary, said: It is a huge relief that Robert Brown will not be released this year as a result of the Justice Secretarys decision to use the powers I brought in during my time in the role.

This decision has been made in the interests of both justice and public protection and would not have happened without the tireless campaigning of my constituent, Joannas close friend Hetti Nanton, and, of course, Joannas mother Diana Parkes.

The family and media will be able to apply for Browns parole board hearing to be held in public. It is expected to take the board between six and nine months to review the case.

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When you step into the Raines Law Room at The William hotel on East 39th Street in Manhattan, you'll find a series of tastefully decorated lounges. Softly upholstered chairs, tufted leather couches, and low-light sconces create an atmosphere that's more swanky club or private living room than hotel bar. But although there's a boutique hotel with a few dozen rooms above (rates run anywhere from $275 to well over $1,000 per night), the Raines Law Room is a bar.

Like its sister location in Chelsea, the bar at The William hotel is one of New York City's finest cocktail lounges, with elaborately designed riffs on classics. There's the Led By Moonlight, a kind of Old Fashioned with aged rum, sotol, dry Curacao, muscovado, and both mole and orange bitters. Or you might prefer the Desert Bloom, a twist on the spicy margarita, with mezcal instead of tequila, plus bergamot, aji amarillo pepper, passion fruit, and lime juice.

It's a classy joint, but New York hotels bearing the Raines Law moniker weren't always that way.

In 1896, the state legislature passed a bill that would become known as the Raines Law, named for its chief backer, Republican Sen. John Raines . That law, Raines explained in an essay that year for The North American Review, was aimed at taxing and regulating the sale of alcohol in New York to generate government revenue and reduce the number of booze-selling businesses.

The previous system, Raines said, was understood to be corrupt, as it relied on discretionary licenses and a host of largely unenforced provisions. In addition to taxing saloons, the Raines Law imposed new rules about when, where, and to whom they could serve alcohol. It raised the drinking age to 18, restricted sales "in the vicinity of public institutions" such as asylums, and prohibited alcohol sales on Sundays or on any day between 1 and 5 a.m.

There was, however, an exception to the ban on Sunday sales: hotels, which could sell liquor to guests with their meals. To be classified as a hotel, a place of business had to have at least 10 rentable rooms and a few other amenities. Thus the Raines Law Hotel was born.

Saloon operators converted their back spaces into hotel rooms so they could legally sell booze on Sunday. By one 1902 count, there were just 13 hotels in Brooklyn before the law passed; a few years later, there were more than 1,000 in that borough alone. Some estimates put the total number of such establishments between 4,000 and 5,000 statewide.

***

Saloon operators incurred some costs in setting up the rooms that would qualify their businesses as hotels. To offset that expense, many became brothels and gambling dens as well as bars. Rather than a more orderly system of liquor control, the result of the Raines Law was a boom in houses that trafficked in vicemuch to the consternation of the citizenry.

In 1898, The New York Times published a letter to the editor complaining that "every man about town knows that the operation of the Raines law has done more to throw our cities and large towns 'wide open,' as the expression goes, as respects gambling and other vice, than all other influences combined." The letter writer said he'd been "told by commercial travelers that since the Raines law went into effect there is scarcely a considerable village in the whole State in which there is not a 'hotel' which is at once a gambling hell and an assignation house, where rustic beaus are fleeced and rustic belles debauched."

Two years later, another Times letter writer declared that "the so-called 'Raines law' is probably the worst measure which has ever been enacted in this State," decrying the way it made "the liquor interest directly dependent upon the political boss." The writer groused that the law "has plastered the State from one end to the other with innumerable bed houses of the vilest description; it has been the cause of more indiscriminate drinking than ever before, and it has made Sunday the best business day in the week for the saloon."

So much for cracking down on alcohol sales. Thanks to the hotel loophole, the Raines Law had been deformed by the law of unintended consequences.

There were other unplanned results as well. The requirement that booze be sold with food, for example, gave rise to a new kind of sandwichthe kind that wasn't intended to be eaten, and perhaps couldn't be.

In an 1899 Atlantic article on the low-class slums of New York, Jacob A. Riis wrote of "the day laborer, who drinks his beer in a 'Raines law hotel,' where brick sandwiches, consisting of two pieces of bread with a brick between, are set out on the counter, in derision of the state law which forbids the serving of drinks without 'meals."' Other reports described sandwiches that were reused for every patron and never meant to be consumed.

What could be done? Very little. Without reform to the law, a 1902 New York Times article lamented, "saloon keepers who call themselves hotel keepers will continue to enjoy an unfair advantage over saloon keepers who pretend to be simply what they are."

Eventually, reformers pushed back. In 1900, a group of New Yorkers formed the Committee of Fifteen, which was devoted to stopping the spread of prostitution and gambling, largely by inspecting saloons, hotels, and pool halls and then filing complaints about violations of various codes. In 1908, the group produced a book-length document, The Social Evil Book, that contained a special appendix focused on the Raines Law.

The committee's report had all the hallmarks of a moral panic. "No one who has lived in New York City can have failed to realize that there is a close connection between what is popularly known as the 'Raines Law hotel' and professional vice," it said. "This abnormal and pernicious state of affairs is easily explained by reference to the local excise laws." As is often the case with moral crusades, the report's argument invoked the poisoned innocence of youth: "Most serious of all, however, is the fact that the Raines Law hotel which stands on the line between vice and harmlessness is very frequently the place where the growing boy is introduced to the mysteries of immorality."

Most Raines Law hotels were shut down by 1911, thanks in part to the committee's investigations and lobbying. Any that remained would have been rendered illegal and either closed or forced underground by Prohibition.

Looking back, it's not hard to see lessons for today's policy makers about the inevitability of unintended consequences and the unexpected ways that tax laws shape behavior. The Raines Law sandwiches bear more than a passing resemblance to the bags of chips handed out at bars when food requirements were imposed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. And the rules about alcohol sales near public places eventually gave way to laws prescribing longer sentences for selling drugs near schools, playgrounds, churches, and the likewhich in some cities meant just about everywhere.

New York's contemporary Raines Law Room bars, where exquisite cocktails and a luxurious atmosphere prevail, offer a counterbalance to those policy errors. They may be an unintended consequence of a terrible law, but in their sophisticated comforts, they are also a welcome one.

The post The Bad Law That Made Good Bars appeared first on Reason.com.
A former Deutsche Bank executive testified at Donald Trump s civil fraud trial in New York on Wednesday that the bank had balked at extending him a line of credit to help in his unsuccessful bid to buy the Buffalo Bills, according to ABC News. Nicholas Haigh said that bank executives were unwilling to increase their credit exposure to the former president at the time, the network reported. The bank did, however, agree to help Trump by writing what the New York Attorney Generals Office called a confidence letter to back his $1-billion bid, certifying he had the financial wherewithal to buy the Bills, Haigh confirmed. The letter was penned on the condition that a Trump Organization controller vouch for the companys continuing compliance on three outstanding loans the bank had given to Trump, which the controller did. Attorney General Letitia James previously accused the former president of inflating his assets to secure favorable financing in a number of deals, including the failed Bills bid.

Read it at ABC News

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said the investigation concerning Clermont County Municipal COurt Judge Jesse Kramig has been closed.

A Batavia Local School District substitute teacher is accused of having an "inappropriate relationship" with a juvenile student after he was seen holding hands with and kissing her while at Kings Island last weekend.

Tre Allen Ogletree, 26, was booked into the Clermont County Jail on charges of sexual battery on Wednesday, according to court documents.

When Ogletree was confronted by police and the school administration, he denied initially the allegations and was sent home.

Investigators learned the student met Ogletree while he was working at Batavia High School during the 2022-2023 school year and began chatting with him over summer break via social media. The pair started hanging out in August.

Both Ogletree and the student later told police they had sex at his Union Township apartment in August, September and October, investigators said.

The relationship between Ogletree and the student first came to light after concerns were shared with a school resource officer on Wednesday, the school district said in a letter shared with parents and staff.

High school administrators launched an investigation and Ogletree is no longer teaching at the district.

"As a school community, the alleged conduct on the part of this substitute teacher is deeply troubling and upsetting, and in no way aligns with the standards and values of the school district," Batavia Local Schools said in the statement. "At this time, we are continuing to work with local law enforcement, and are supporting our staff and students, all of whom are negatively impacted by the alleged actions of this individual."

Ogletree was employed through the Center for Collaborative Solutions, a council of governments that employs over 1,500 active substitutes and provides services for over 30 school districts across Hamilton and Clermont counties, according to its website.

Matt Wendeln, program manager with the Center for Collaborative Solutions, said via email that the organization is working with Batavia Local Schools and law enforcement, adding that Ogletree has since been placed on leave.

"Prior to his employment, Ogletree was thoroughly vetted through a mandated FBI and Ohio BCI background check and received an Ohio substitute teaching license," Wendeln wrote. "The Ohio Department of Education verifies all record checks are satisfactory before issuing a teaching license or educational aide permit."

Court records did not list Ogletree's attorney as of Thursday afternoon. He's scheduled to appear in Clermont County Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 23.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Batavia substitute teacher accused of sexual battery involving student
Batteries Plus has inked a deal to develop six stores in the Charlotte market.

That will build the Wisconsin-based companys footprint in the region. Batteries Plus currently has stores in Huntersville, Pineville, Concord, Gastonia, Mooreville and Rock Hill

Husband-and-wife team Nicole and Chris Fasulka have signed on as franchisees to expand the brand here. The couple is negotiating their first lease, with a focus on north Charlotte. A second location is under consideration southwest of city center.

ALSO READ: Ford to create nearly 11K jobs with EV technology initiative

The goal is to open both by the end of the year, with additional stores coming next year.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Ford to add 10,800 jobs making electric vehicles, batteries




The embattled president of Bucks County Community College will step down at the end of the semester.

Felicia Ganther informed the college of her decision in a letter obtained by this news orgainzation Thursday afternoon.

"It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that I have decided to conclude my term as President at the end of the Fall Semester," she wrote. "The passing of three of my presidential colleagues unexpectedly in the past few weeks and other personal challenges have made me reevaluate my purpose for the work I do and my life priorities."

Ganther said she informed the Board of Trustees of her decision.

More: Bucks County Community College union to hold no-confidence vote on president

No confidence: BCCC union votes no-confidence in president, but staff show support for leadership

School President Dr. Felicia L. Ganther addresses the crowd during the Bucks County Community College's 57 Annual Commencement Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Bucks County Community College in Newtown.

Ganther made the announcement at the end of the board meeting Thursday, said BCCC Foundation Director Christina Kahmar who said the college will have an updated page on its website Friday with Ganther's letter and other information.

The trustees issued a statement Thursday night: "The board of trustees wish Dr. Ganther well as she begins the next chapter of her professional life. The board will move expeditiously with a retained search for the next president."

Ganther is in her third year of a three-year contract and has been at the forefront of changes on campus since arriving at the height of the pandemic in 2021, with the goal of bringing more college students back to school.

In May, the college faculty federation said that its union members took a no-confidence vote in her leadership. But, Ganther found public support for her work at a board meeting that same month.

At the time, federation President John Sheridan, representing the union, told college trustees that Ganther was the top choice of the faculty when she was hired in 2021 and expected a strong collaborative relationship "but it had not materialized."

Those who came to her defense said the vote only represented about one third of the faculty since it only included teachers, while other members of the union and non-union faculty members didn't vote.

The vote was largely symbolic and Ganther remained employed and under contract at the college.

In her letter Thursday, Ganther said she was proud of the collective effort over the past two years to advance student success, citing two record-breaking years of funding and securing more than $2 million in grants each of the last two years.

She also noted the community partnerships created with local nonprofits to provide free services to students, developing a partnership with all Bucks County school districts, strengthening partnerships with transfer schools and cultivating relationships with legislators and local elected officials.

More: After his tour of duty, college gave him a path. Now this vet is helping others go to college in Bucks County

"I have fallen in love with Bucks and am proud of the great strides we have made over the past two years. However, I have decided to transition to new professional opportunities where I can pursue my passion to work with students and engage them in phenomenal student experiences, bringing the community into the colleges space, and partnering to create a web of support for students who need us the most," she wrote in her letter.

Among her accomplishments, she worked with the cosmetics firm Estee Lauder to establish a supply chain management program to help several students follow this educational path and complete their bachelor's degree at Temple University, with Estee Lauder covering their tuition in return for starting their careers with the company.

More: Pretty sweet deal: Estee Lauder forms partnership with Bucks County college

She also established a program to help military veterans and Afghan refugees obtain training to acquire their commercial driver's license and obtain good-paying jobs, while also enhancing the college's outreach to veterans and formerly incarcerated persons who want to pursue a college degree.

More: Welcome to class. Here's the keys to a big rig. BCCC launches first of its kind trucker education

And while the project began before her time, she was a strong advocate for the college's Center for Advanced Technologies to help students who may not plan to attend college obtain training in advanced manufacturing technology even before they decide if they want to pursue a college degree.

Ganther worked with philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein who are providing up to 100 low-income students full scholarships, with coverage for books and supplies, to Bucks for two years. Ninety-eight students are now taking advantage of this offer.

Epstein said Ganther "was great to work with and in helping me to prepare the program so we could give the 100 scholarships to the most needy in our county...I will miss working with her and wherever she goes, they'll be lucky ot have someone who cares so much about the kids."

Ganther reached out to alumni to expand their support for the college and the college hosted a human relations forum this summer to plan working with area school districts.

The fall semester ends in December.

Ganther replaced retiring president Stephanie Shanblatt, and is the first Black woman to hold the role of president of the nearly 60-year-old college with campuses in Newtown, Bristol Township and East Rockhill.

The college's board of trustees selected Ganther, who also holds a law degree, in April 2021 after a six-month national search. At the time, she was the associate vice chancellor for student affairs at Maricopa County Community College in Tempe, Arizona, where she had worked since 2012.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: BCCC President Felicia Ganther tells college she's leaving in December
A Bear man was arrested and charged with the kidnapping of an 11-year-old from Wayne, New Jersey, after they met through online gaming, authorities said on Thursday.

The child was swiftly located in Bear after being reported missing, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office in North Jersey.

Law enforcement says the child had been lured by Darius Matylewich, who initially met her while playing an online video game. Matylewich, without the knowledge or consent of the child's parents, took her from Wayne to Bear on Sept. 10, the prosecutor's office said.

New Castle County police arrested Matylewich near Berwick Lane and Perth Street in Bear. He has since been extradited to New Jersey to face the charges.

Delaware crime

Court records detail how police ID'd Magnolia teen charged with murder, hiding body

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This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Bear man charged in Wayne, New Jersey, girl's kidnapping case
Will County Department of Transportation is studying widening County Highway 1, which goes through Homer Glen, Homer Township and New Lenox Township. (Michelle Mullins/Daily Southtown)

Homer Glen will seek to take jurisdiction of a nearly 4-mile stretch of road now maintained by the Will County Division of Transportation after area residents asked the village to intervene in the countys planned highway improvement project.

The Village Board voted Wednesday to request jurisdictional transfer of Hadley Road and portions of Parker Road and Chicago Bloomington Trail, a corridor known as County Highway 1. The route runs through Homer Glen, Homer Township and New Lenox Township.

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County officials told the village they would like to transfer the entire corridor to the village, not just the segment in Homer Glens corporate boundaries, Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said.

Homer Glen will consult with neighboring officials about updating boundary agreements to give Homer Glen control over the New Lenox Township section, or seeing if New Lenox would maintain its half-mile portion of the corridor, Neitzke-Troike said.

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Will Countys Division of Transportation wants to bring the roads up to Illinois Department of Transportation standards. County officials said the roadway has narrow pavement, little to no shoulders, drainage issues and problems with some sight distances. It was last reconstructed 42 years ago and has reached the end of its useful life, county officials said.

Residents living near the route, however, said widening the road would take their property, destroy mature trees and ruin area aesthetics. Residents said altering the winding, country road could bring more truck traffic as drivers use residential streets to bypass congestion and weigh stations on Interstate 80.

They said road widening also threatens the habitats of the Northern Long-Eared Bat, which was named an endangered species last year by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Homer Glen officials said taking jurisdictional control is the best way to preserve the rural nature of the route, which was once a Native American trail.

I think the residents deserve this, Trustee Curt Mason said. I think that we need to press forward and see where it takes us. We cant just sit idly by.

If the Will County Board votes to authorize the jurisdictional transfer, Homer Glen would be responsible for maintenance.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Homer Glen documents state the life span of the pavement is 5 to 10 years. Village officials estimate it would cost $1 million to $1.4 million to resurface the roadway. Removing and replacing it could cost about $5.5 million to $6 million, documents said.

Typically, using federal funds for road projects mandates bringing it up to IDOT standards, but there is a process to request design exceptions, village documents said.

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Trustee Jennifer Consolino cast the sole no vote, saying it wasnt fiscally responsible.

Id like to know how we plan on paying for this, Consolino said.

Trustee Sue Steilen said the village has been forced to take over jurisdiction because of the countys planned improvements.

We pay for the maintenance of the roads in front of everybodys home on this board as well as most of the village, and I dont see any reason why we cant pay for the maintenance of (these) roads, Steilen said.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Two major apartment fires that caused millions in damage took place after electricians, not subject to any independent inspection or regulation, were connecting the properties to transformers on behalf of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.

The most recent blaze, a five-alarm fire that destroyed apartments at Classen Curve, followed work done by an unlicensed electrician whose company closed soon after.

Lawsuits over the Feb. 8, 2022, Canton Apartments fire, the largest commercial fire in Oklahoma City history, and the Aug. 17, 2017, fire at the Steelyard Apartments in Bricktown both allege workers energized the wrong connections and did not use standard equipment that could have alerted them to the bad connections and prevented the fires.

After delving into the lawsuits, The Oklahoman saw a pattern of alleged negligence with each fire and asked which government entity is tasked with inspecting connections to high voltage transformers. The answer is such work is not inspected at all  and that lack of supervision is completely legal.

Attorneys for OG&E, its subcontractors, and owners and builders of the complexes all declined to comment citing ongoing litigation. But filings by those associated with the Steelyard and Canton apartments both allege OG&E and its subcontractors, operating without any independent oversight, were not following national electrical code.

OG&E held itself out to be specially qualified in the methods and standards associated with installing equipment used to supply electrical power, wrote Calvin Sharpe and Todd Goolsby, attorneys for developers of the Canton and their insurers. OG&E made a bad connection that destroyed an apartment building.

OG&E declined to answer several questions about its hiring practices, training and licensing requirements, or whether it inspects work done by subcontractors. Christi Woodsworth, vice president of marketing and communications, said the utility does not comment on litigation. The questions, however, did not mention the two fires or either lawsuit.

Woodsworth also referred to court filings by OG&E attorneys quoting fire investigators as saying the fires were accidental. Those suing the utility and its contractors allege the fires were caused by negligence but do not claim they were set intentionally.

OG&E, like other electric companies, uses contractors to supplement its personnel in order to ensure that it can meet its customers needs for power connections, related work and reliable electricity as our service area continues to grow. We have processes in place to vet qualified contractors, Woodsworth said. Beyond that, we cannot comment on anything related to pending litigation.

One development delayed, another still on pause due to damages

Both the Steelyard in Bricktown and the Canton Apartments at Classen Curve were within weeks of completion.

The Steelyard development was being built in two sections, with the first building, Building A, 90% completed and the second one, Building B, 75% complete when OG&E workers visited the job site at 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 17, 2017. Job site supervisors the next morning reported workers were being shocked and they observed smoke on the exterior of the east building and in the complex courtyard.

More: Attorneys decline to apologize, reimburse Oklahoma electrician wrongly named in $60M lawsuit

Court filings by the plaintiffs allege that when OG&E was called out to address the electrical problems, they determined the wrong switchgear was connected to the transformer and that four hot electrical conductors were improperly terminated on the ground wires.

The Steelyard Apartments, shown in this September 2017 photo, were nearing completion when an electrical fire took out building circuits, appliances and HVAC equipment.

The lawsuit reports Keeling Hawkins, a subcontractor for NE Construction, later tested the connections and found OG&E had again made improper connection, again connecting hot connectors to ground wires. A meltdown ensued, damaging the complexs electrical wiring, appliances and rooftop HVAC systems.

The Steelyard lawsuit alleges OG&E workers failed to use an OHM meter, also known as a Megger, or a continuity tester to check the connections for short circuits, ground faults or connections to the ground, which would have immediately revealed the existence of a defective condition that could have been remedied without damage to the property.

Residents were still able to move into apartments in Building A by October 2017, but developer Gary Brooks reported at the time that Building B had to be gutted and new wiring was required, delaying the buildings opening by several months. Damages being sought from OG&E in the Steelyard lawsuit total more than $10 million.

Lack of an OHM meter also was cited in the lawsuit filed against OG&E and its subcontractor, Red Dirt Construction, over the blaze that destroyed the Canton Apartments.

A packed Ellison Hotel had to be evacuated when the largest fire in Oklahoma City history devoured the Canton Apartments across the street.

The 325-unit complex was a month away from opening when Guthrie contractor Red Dirt Construction, working for OG&E, connected power lines to the complex on Feb. 8, 2022. An investigation by the Oklahoma City Fire Department concluded the fire was likely accidental.

The lawsuit against OG&E and Red Dirt Construction alleges a post-fire inspection of a transformer that supplied power to the building showed a hot conductor was connected to the buildings neutral conductors, creating an electrical fault.

The city received 911 calls reporting smoke rising from the Cantons roof starting about two hours after work was done by Red Dirt Construction. A packed, recently opened Ellison Hotel across from the fire sustained smoke damage, had to be evacuated, and took months to reopen.

The Canton lawsuit argues OG&E and Red Dirt Construction failed to hire competent employees with knowledge, training and experience, and the work done by Red Dirt Construction should have been inspected.

Failing to use an OHM meter, Megger, or continuity tester to check the connections for short circuits, ground faults, or any connections to ground, Cantons attorneys argued, would have immediately revealed the existence of a defective condition that could have been remedied without damage to the property.

OG&E representatives declined to answer a question from The Oklahoman asking if the utility requires its employees and subcontractors to use an OHM meter to check connections for short circuits and ground faults. The utility also declined to say whether its workers at the Steelyard were licensed electricians or how many employees, if any, are state licensed electricians.

More: Oklahoma City construction boom continues amid rising interest and labor costs

The higher the voltage, the less a job is scrutinized

The city of Oklahoma City employs a dozen people who in 2022 completed 24,640 electrical inspections. Mike Miller, the citys inspection services superintendent, said the reviews are done to ensure that proper listed and labeled equipment is used and properly installed according to current adopted National Electrical Code standards.

Electricians doing work inspected by the city also are required to be licensed by the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board.

Fire crews spent days extinguishing a five-alarm fire at the Canton Apartments on Feb. 8, 2022. The blaze, the largest in Oklahoma City history, took place after an OG&E electrical contractor hooked the property up to the utility's transformer.

Private electrical contractors can be asked and often are required to provide to the city inspector proof of their state-issued license, Miller said. This can also include any journeymen or apprentices working for the licensed contractor.

Such scrutiny, however, ends when OG&E and its contractors are connecting a building to transformers.

More: OG&E facing second lawsuit alleging contractor to blame for fires at apartment complexes

The utility company and their sub-contractors are exempt from licensing and inspection requirements from the city and the State Construction Industry Board, Miller said. A state Construction Industries Board inspector also has the authority to enter any job site and ask for credentials for the same. Contractors or sub-contractors working for the utility company are exempt from this requirement.

Fire crews battle a fire Feb. 8, 2022, at the Canton Apartments, 6161 N Western Ave. in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board confirmed to The Oklahoman they do not inspect work done by OG&E or its contractors involving power connections.

Electricians doing such work also are not required to be licensed.

Records with the Construction Industries Board show no licenses for Red Dirt Construction and its owners at the time of the Canton fire, Chad and Molly Cherry. Chad Cherry and attorneys for Red Dirt Construction did not respond to requests for comment.

Federal interstate trucking records show the company was registered for freight hauling, and online reviews indicate Red Dirt Construction did home repairs and renovations. Court records show Chad and Molly Cherry were divorced two days after the blaze and the split in assets included income from the sale of Red Dirt Construction.

Unlike OG&E, which provides electricity in Oklahoma City, Public Service Co. of Oklahoma in Tulsa is a utility with a union contract. Brad Perkins, business manager with the 1002 IBEW, said that contract provides Tulsans with additional assurances that electricians working on behalf of PSO are trained, experienced and capable of their assigned tasks.

The union training includes an apprenticeship of up to five years, hands-on training, book work and classes overseen by experienced linemen.

Its no different than when a person is working on becoming a doctor, Perkins said. We try to make them as well rounded as possible. By the time they are finished, whatever theyre doing, theyve done it in the past and they can do it again.

Fire crews battle a massive blaze Feb. 8, 2022, at the Canton Apartments at Classen Curve in Oklahoma City.

Perkins said Oklahoma is not alone in not licensing or inspecting work done outside of points of contact by utilities and their contractors. With the exception of Alaska, and to a lesser extent New Jersey, Perkins said, most states defer to utilities for regulating their work due to the nature of out-of-state crews responding to disasters.

Perkins said inspections and licensing checks are difficult to pull off in crisis situations when hundreds of linemen race to a disaster and there is no national standards for oversight. Perkins said his union, however, works closely with PSO on jobs outside of a propertys line of contact where the voltage can range between 600 and 345,000 volts.

The utility companies have inspectors who are full-time employees, Perkins said. They are supposed to go out and check off on it. That's the way it works with PSO.

Jim Griffy, business manager for IBEW 1141 in Oklahoma City, provides apprenticeship and training programs, but unlike the Tulsa union, that training does not involve work outside of a buildings point of contact.

OG&E is not a union company. Griffy said all of the oversight and training for the work done at Canton and the Steelyard are all an internal matter for the utility.

A five-alarm fire burns Feb. 8, 2022, at the Canton Apartments in Oklahoma City.

OG&E does have their own training, Griffy said. But when it comes to the high lines, the substations and transformers, no government is looking at any of that, nor do they understand it.

Steve Lackmeyer started at The Oklahoman in 1990. He is an award-winning reporter, columnist and author who covers downtown Oklahoma City, urban development and economics for The Oklahoman. Contact him at slackmeyer@oklahoman.com. Please support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Inquiry: OG&E hired unlicensed electrician before massive OKC fire
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 26-year-old Belton, Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally having firearms that he stashed under the deck of a residence while running from police through a residential neighborhood.

Jonathon Pentlin was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole.

Pentlin pleaded guilty in June to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Court documents say a police helicopter was following a stolen 2015 Ford Focus, which Pentlin was driving, from Belton to a Phillips 66 gas station in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 23, 2022.

Overland Park man charged in fentanyl death from 2022

Law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on Pentlin and another person as part of an ongoing investigation into a residential burglary in which multiple firearms were stolen.

Court records say a passenger got out of the Focus and into another vehicle at the gas station.

Pentlin continued driving the stolen Focus westbound on Red Bridge Road. As the helicopter followed the Focus, Pentlin began speeding. The Focus then crashed into an innocent motorist in the area of 107th Terrace and Grandview Road, causing significant damage to that motorists vehicle as well as injury to the motorist.

Pentlin got out of his vehicle and ran westbound through several residential backyards. A Kansas City police sergeant who got out of his vehicle in an attempt to apprehend Pentlin saw that Pentlin was armed with a handgun as he was running through the backyards.

Additional officers arrived and located Pentlin in the backyard of a residence on E. 107th Terrace. Officers ordered Pentlin to get on the ground, but he refused to follow their commands and continued to act erratically, according to court documents.

Court records say Pentlin balled up his fists, assumed a fighting posture, and reached for his waistband as if he still had a firearm, while stating, Im going to kill you all.

A Kansas City police officer shot Pentlin with a taser and he fell on his back. While on the ground, Pentlin continued to resist arrest and tried to kick officers. While taking Pentlin into custody, he bit an officer on the right thigh, which caused an open wound with bruising and swelling, according to court documents.

While officers waited for EMS to arrive, Pentlin continuously slammed his head into the grass and attempted to bite several officers hands and fingers.

Family files lawsuit after KCK officers unusual behavior during response

An ATF agent with a police dog searched the area and found two firearms, a loaded Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a loaded Beretta 9mm semi-automatic handgun, under the deck of a residence in a densely populated neighborhood less than a mile from an elementary school.

Officers also found two plastic baggies that contained approximately 4.03 grams of methamphetamine, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia in the stolen car Pentlin was driving.

Court documents also refer to a pending case in Cass County in which Pentlin ran from law enforcement officers at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour. Pentlin drove recklessly, entering the oncoming lane of traffic. After officers terminated the chase, Pentlin lost control of his vehicle and struck a white van. The collision caused the van to slide and roll one time down an embankment, causing injuries to the driver and two youth passengers.

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Pentlin ran from his vehicle, which also flipped, but was eventually apprehended. Police officers found a loaded firearm in Pentlins vehicle.

Pentlin has prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, possessing a controlled substance, and distributing marijuana.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Bernie Ecclestone has been spared jail, despite admitting fraudulently failing to declare assets worth 400 million, after claiming he was too old to go to prison.

Ecclestone, who turns 93 at the end of this month, previously tried to have the case against him thrown out by claiming the trial process would kill him, it can now be revealed.

The former Formula One boss agreed to pay more than 500 million to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in a civil settlement ahead of his guilty plea.

At Southwark Crown Court, Mr Justice Bryan acknowledged that the custody threshold had been crossed but made reference to the impact imprisonment would have on Ecclestones young son.

He instead gave him a 17-month sentence, suspended for two years.

Before entering his guilty plea, Ecclestone, of Knightsbridge, west London, had been due to face trial in November on the single fraud charge.

The father-of-four, who has an estimated 2.5 billion fortune, tried to have the case thrown out after a cardiologist gave evidence that the stress of the trial meant he was more likely to die than not during the trial.

However, Mr Justice Bryan dismissed the application, saying there was no real and immediate threat to the life of Mr Ecclestone by reason of the trial process.

No one above the law

The former racing driver also tried to claim the only reason he was being prosecuted was that during a television interview, he once praised Vladimir Putin and said he would take a bullet for him.

Investigators who brought the case against Ecclestone claimed the conviction showed no one was above the law.

Ecclestones lawyers tried to argue he was too frail to enter the dock for sentencing and requested he be allowed to remain in the well of the court, from where he entered his plea.

Mr Justice Bryan rejected the request, and said: When being sentenced for what is a serious offence he should be in the dock.

The judge said he had taken Ecclestones age, his various medical conditions, and the impact a custodial sentence would have on his family into account in sentencing.

Ecclestone has three daughters, Deborah, 68, Tamara, 39, and Petra, 34. He has one son, three-year-old Ace, with his third wife, Fabiana Flosi, 46.

The court heard that Ecclestone had agreed to pay a civil settlement of 652,634,836 in respect of sums covering tax, interest and civil penalties over an 18-year period from 1994 to 2012.

The settlement includes a 330 million penalty.

Mr Justice Bryan said that in light of the agreement, he would not be imposing further fines, although Ecclestone would have to pay 74,000 in prosecution costs.

The investigation started more than a decade ago when HMRC launched a civil tax investigation into him in 2012.

During that investigation, Ecclestone was offered the chance to correct any mistakes in his tax and pay what was owed ,plus a penalty through a formal civil process.

The process requires the taxpayer to make a full, open and honest disclosure or face a criminal investigation.

However, Richard Wright, prosecuting, told the court that during a meeting with investigators on July 7 2015, the billionaire failed to declare a trust in Singapore that contained around $650 million, worth about 400 million at the time.

The court heard that Ecclestone had said no when asked by HMRC officers whether he had any links to further trusts in or outside the UK.

Mr Wright said: That answer was untrue or misleading.

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Clare Montgomery, mitigating, told Mr Justice Bryan that the defendant bitterly regrets the events that led to this criminal trial.

She argued: The whole process has caused much stress to him and those who love him and the reality is he has been under investigation for over a decade, and under a criminal investigation for seven years.

Handing down the sentence, Mr Justice Bryan said: Your offending is so serious that neither a fine or a community order would be appropriate.

It is rightly acknowledged that the custody threshold has been passed.

He added: I also bear in mind, as the prosecution have made clear before me, that the prosecution are very mindful, and have kept under careful review, the public interest in bringing and continuing these proceedings given your age and health.

Following the verdict, Andrew Penhale, chief Crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, said he was pleased to bring such a complex case to a successful conclusion.

He added: All members of UK society, regardless of how wealthy or famous they are, must pay their taxes and be transparent and open with HMRC about their financial affairs.

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Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear continues to bring in heaps of money for his re-election bid against GOP challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron, with his most recent campaign finance report showing he raised $1.5 million in the last 30 days.

Cameron, meanwhile, reported about $529,000 raised in the last 30 days.

Cameron has $968,000 left on hand as of Wednesday compared to Beshears $1.9 million cash on hand.

More than 3,800 individual itemized contributions were made to Beshears campaign during that time period, according to the campaigns Kentucky Registry of Election Finance filings.

Of those contributions, 248 were either at the current maximum individual donation amount of $2,100 or the old maximum amount of $2,000. More than 3,100 of those contributions came from Kentucky, totaling around $983,000 of the campaigns $1.27 million in individual itemized donations.

Cameron received more than 1,100 individual itemized donations during the 30-day reporting period. Of those donations, 110 were maximum or near-maximum. About 920 of those donations were from Kentucky, totaling close to $401,00 in in-state money.

Beshear has raised around $18 million this entire gubernatorial cycle, including during the primary where he faced little serious competition. He first filed for re-election in late 2021. Cameron has raised a total of about $4.8 million through primary and general election cycles in the last year-plus.

Cameron won nearly 50% of the Republican primary vote in a blowout win over a crowded and well-funded field.

The remainder of Beshears campaign haul came from $184,000 in un-itemized contributions and about $40,000 in political action committee and executive committee contributions. Cameron received $14,000 in un-itemized contributions and $47,000 from PACs and executive committees.

Beshear campaign manager Eric Hyers said in a release that the numbers reflect continued enthusiasm for Beshear.

Governor Andy Beshear has consistently delivered for Kentucky, which is why he remains one of the most popular governors in the country, Hyers wrote. Once again, our fundraising report shows sky-high enthusiasm for the governor that is reflected on the ground, in polling and in the millions raised to support our campaign.

Sean Southard, a spokesperson for the Cameron campaign and the Republican Party of Kentucky, said that Cameron is well-positioned to retire the Beshear family. Beshears father, Steve, was governor of the state for two terms from 2007 to 2015.

Team Cameron has the resources to win on November 7. Andy Beshear is bankrolled by Joe Biden . We are running an aggressive campaign around the state. This fall, Kentuckians will retire the Beshear family once and for all, Southard wrote.

Southards reference to Democratic President Joe Biden bankrolling Beshear comes from a $250,000 contribution the Biden Victory Fund  a joint fundraising committee between Biden, the Democratic National Convention and all state Democratic parties  made to the Kentucky Democatic Party. The Kentucky Democratic Party is primarily focused on re-electing Beshear this year, as well as supporting other down-ballot candidates.

Recent polling done by partisan groups as well as independent pollsters show Beshear with a lead over Cameron, stretching anywhere from four percentage points to double digits, but Republicans believe that more voters will side with Cameron as election season continues to heat up. Beshears approval rating polls consistently high and has at times led all Democratic governors in the nation.

Though Beshears campaign fundraising has thus far bested Camerons, outside groups have made up some of the difference in the advertisement wars. AdImpact reported on Wednesday that pro-Beshear groups, including the official campaign, have reserved $39.8 million in advertising compared to $21.3 million for groups supporting Cameron.

PAC involvement

Several PACs are involved in the governors race, paced by Defending Bluegrass Values. That group is almost entirely funded by the Democratic Governors Association, and has reported raising $12 million since the general election began. However, the group has reserved $20.7 million in ads supporting Beshear, according to AdImpact.

The second-biggest PAC, Kentucky Values, is funded by the Republican Governors Association. The group has reported relatively little raised on its KREF filings, but has reserved a total of $10 million in ads supporting Cameron.

The down-ballot candidates

The following down-ballot candidates have reported raising decent chunks of money as of Wednesday evening. Heres how much they raised in the last 30 days and how much cash on hand they reported:

GOP nominee for attorney general Russell Coleman - $87,000 raised, $888,000 cash on hand

Democratic nominee for attorney general Pam Stevenson - $62,000 raised, $44,000 cash on hand

GOP Secretary of State Michael Adams, running for re-election - $81,000 raised, $300,000 cash on hand

Democratic candidate for secretary of state Buddy Wheatley - $42,000 raised, $140,000 cash on hand

GOP candidate for commissioner of agriculture Jonathan Shell - $55,000 raised, $227,000 cash on hand

Democratic candidate for commissioner of agriculture Sierra Enlow - $33,000 raised, $97,000 cash on hand

Democratic candidate for auditor Kim Reeder - $30,000 raised, $86,000 cash on hand

GOP Treasurer and candidate for auditor Allison Ball had not yet filed her report as of late Wednesday evening

Democratic candidate for treasurer Michael Bowman - $32,000 raised, $40,000 cash on hand

GOP candidate for treasurer Mark Metcalf - $24,000 raised, $43,000 cash on hand
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear spoke during the Fancy Farm political picnic in Graves County, Ky. on Aug. 05, 2023 as he runs for reelection.

The reelection campaign of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear stretched out its fundraising and spending advantage over Republican challenger Daniel Cameron in the past month, raising an additional $1.5 million from donors.

Wednesday was the deadline for candidates and political committees to file their second-to-last reports with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance before the Nov. 7 general election, accounting for their contributions and expenditures in the 30 days preceding last Saturday.

Beshear's campaign has now raised more than $7 million since the May primary, in addition to transferring $6.2 million left unspent from his primary account and a $3 million transfer from the Kentucky Democratic Party in September.

The campaign of the incumbent governor reported spending an additional $3.8 million over the past month, bringing its total spent through the general election to $14.5 million  six times the amount Cameron's campaign has reported spending since the primary.

While Beshear's campaign has dominated Cameron's when it comes to fundraising and spending on TV ads since the primary, the influence of outside PACs helping each candidate has narrowed that gap. Those outside PACs have purchased and reserved more than $30 million of air time for ads in Kentucky since the primary, with pro-Cameron groups having a slight numbers edge over those supporting Beshear.

Cameron's campaign reported raising an additional $528,581 and spending $960,259 over the past month, building on the $2.3 million he reported raising in the previous general election report, along with a $450,000 transfer from the Republican Party of Kentucky.

Beshear ended the reporting period with $1.9 million cash on hand left, while Cameron reported just shy of $1 million.

Touting their latest fundraising report in a press release, Beshear campaign manager Eric Hyers stated that it "shows sky-high enthusiasm for the governor that is reflected on the ground, in polling and in the millions raised to support our campaign. As we head into the final weeks, we will keep out-raising and out-working Daniel Cameron so that Kentuckians continue to have a governor who cares about them.

In a statement, Cameron campaign spokeswoman Courtney Norris said the Republican "has the resources to win on November 7."

"Andy Beshear is bankrolled by Joe Biden," Norris said in an email. "We are running an aggressive campaign around the state. This fall, Kentuckians will retire the Beshear family once and for all."

The Cameron campaign's reference to Biden is another effort to highlight the $250,000 the Kentucky Democratic Party received in August from the Biden Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between the president's campaign, the state party and the Democratic National Committee. The Kentucky Democratic Party transferred $3 million to Beshear's campaign two weeks later.

Cameron picked up a larger share of his contributions from Kentuckians than Beshear in the past month, as 85% of the $467,361 he received in individual itemized donation came from people with a Kentucky address. Of the $1.2 million Beshear received from itemized individuals, 75% where from people living in Kentucky.

The average size of Beshear's 3,862 individual itemized contributions over the past month was $328, smaller than the $418 average of Cameron's 1,118 contributions.

PACs make up most of $42 million ad spending

According to ad tracking firm Medium Buying, there has already been $42 million worth of TV and radio air time purchased or reserved by campaigns and political committees during the general election  nearly double what was spent in all of Kentucky's last gubernatorial election in 2019.

Roughly a quarter of that ad spending has come from the candidates' campaigns  and mostly from Beshear. The Democrat's campaign has already directed more than $10 million on ad time, which is more than six times that of Cameron's $1.6 million.

Cameron has been able to narrow that TV ad spending gap with the help of outside groups, as supportive PACs and party committees have kicked in $16 million on ads during the general election, just more than the $14 million spent by a PAC run by the Democratic Governors Association.

Leading the charge in support of Cameron has been the Republican Governors Association, which has completely bankrolled two PACs that have spent just shy of $9 million on ads hitting Beshear, nearly all from Kentucky Values.

Bluegrass Freedom Action  a PAC that spent $3 million in the GOP primary to help boost Cameron to his decisive victory  has purchased $1.6 million of TV ads going after Beshear in the general election, in addition to digital ads.

The PAC raised an additional $733,000 over the past month, with $530,000 of that coming from the American Policy Coalition, a dark money 501(c)4 nonprofit that is able to shield its donors. Bluegrass Freedom Action had previously received $3.75 from the Concord Fund, another conservative dark money group.

A trio of outside PACs largely bankrolled by Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass have also spent nearly $6 million on TV ads supporting Cameron, with newcomer Club for Growth Action purchasing $1.6 million of air time in the past month. Protect Freedom PAC and School Freedom Fund had also previously combined for more than $4 million of ad spending.

Yass, the owner of Philadelphia-based global investment and trading firm Susquehanna International Group, gave $3 million to Protect Freedom and $10 million to Club for Growth Action in June, while he has nearly entirely bankrolled School Freedom Fund over the past two years with $15 million of contributions.

As for outside PAC support for Beshear, that has mostly come from Defending Bluegrass Values, a PAC led and mostly funded by the DGA.

Defending Bluegrass Values reported raising another $7.9 million over the past month  now more than $12 million since the primary  with $6.7 million of that coming from the DGA. An additional $1.2 million in contributions came from various unions, including $500,000 from the National Education Association, the national teachers union that had given another $500,000 to the PAC earlier in the summer.

Unions remain one of the biggest funders of Beshear and the PACs supporting his reelection, with their most recent contributions pushing the total they have given to the DGA and other PACs supporting Beshear past $4 million  nearly half of which have come from local and national teacher unions.

Other PACs supporting Beshear and Cameron have reported raising and spending smaller amounts to help each candidate  not enough to put ads on TV, but helping with mailers, digital advertising and field organizing.

Planned Parenthood Action Kentucky reported spending $175,000 over the past month on digital advertising hitting Cameron over his abortion-related policies, with the national PAC of the organization contributing $200,000 to the state PAC in the previous reporting period.

Kentucky Family Values  also bankrolled by unions  also reported spending $350,000 in the previous reporting period on field organizing services in support of Beshear, but the PAC reported raising and spending virtually nothing in the past month.

On the Republican side, Cameron is getting extra support from Commonwealth Policy PAC, which has been mostly funded by the socially conservative Commonwealth Policy Center. The PAC has now reported spending $74,000 on mailers and door hangers supporting Cameron, with more than $100,000 left to spend in the last 30 days of the campaign.

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Beshear stretches money lead over Cameron in Kentucky governor race
The Biden Administration is weighing the possibility of refreezing the $6 billion in Iranian funds that were released last month, after Iran-backed Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, according to reports.

The money was released for humanitarian purposes, but President Biden has since been criticized that it may have played a role in the attack on Saturday.

Bloomberg reported that a U.S. official claimed intelligence agencies believe Iran knew Hamas had plans to take "some action against Israel," though there was no evidence Iran directed the surprise attack that killed at least 1,200 Israelis and wounded thousands more.

REPUBLICANS BLAST BIDEN FOR RELEASING $6B IN FROZEN IRAN FUNDS AHEAD OF HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL

President Biden

In September, the Biden administration made a deal with Iran to swap prisoners and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds.

As part of the deal, Iran released five American citizens detained in Iran and the U.S. released five Iranian citizens being held in the U.S. The deal also created a blanket waiver to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar without fear of violating U.S. sanctions.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

None of the money went directly to Iran and no U.S. taxpayer funds were reportedly used.

DEMOCRATS JOIN REPUBLICAN PUSH FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REFREEZE $6B IRANIAN ASSETS

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen , speaking Wednesday at the annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco, said the money has not been spent and could be re-frozen.

"These are funds that are sitting in Qatar that were made available purely for humanitarian purposes, the funds have not been touched," she told reporters. "I wouldnt take anything off the table in terms of future possible actions, but I certainly dont want to get ahead of where we are on that."

AT LEAST 100 DEAD AS HAMAS LAUNCHES UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL, NETANYAHU SAYS NATION IS AT WAR

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifies during the House Financial Services hearing. On Friday she warned of the negative consequences of another government shutdown.

The unfreezing of the money took place nearly a month before Hamas terrorists launched a massive, deadly attack on Israel on Saturday, and Republicans in the House and Senate are tearing into the Biden administration, calling the move "false and misleading."

Critics argue the funds can be diverted to other places. Iran is a known backer of Hamas and praised the attacks on Israel. The State Department has stated in the past that Iran provides some $100 million a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Fox News Digital's Megan Henney and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.





Original article source: Biden admin 'wouldn't take anything off the table' in terms of refreezing $6B Iranian assets
President Biden and some of his aides blasted former President Trump on Thursday for remarks a night earlier in which Trump described Hezbollah as very smart amid unfolding violence in Israel.

Trump, addressing supporters in Florida days after Hamas launched terrorist attacks against Israel, went on an extended rant about the preparedness of Israeli defenses.

At one point, he singled out the Israeli defense minister for warning Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group and designated a terrorist organization, not to attack Israel from the north.

They said, Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack from the north because thats the most vulnerable spot,' Trump said. I said wait a minute, you know, Hezbollah is very smart. Theyre all very smart. The press doesnt like when I say it  but Hezbollah theyre very smart.

And they have a national defense minister or somebody saying, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack us from the north. So the following morning they attacked, Trump added. They might not have been doing it, but if you listen to this jerk, you would attack from the north.

Biden responded to Trumps comments on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, writing: Our nations support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never.

Biden aides were also quick to highlight Trumps comments and contrast them with the current presidents own concrete support for Israel in recent days.

Sickening rhetoric. Donald Trump is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage, Kevin Munoz, a Biden campaign spokesperson, posted on X.

We dont comment on 2024. Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged. Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel, Andrew Bates, a deputy press secretar at the White House, said in a statement.

Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history, Bates added. This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil. Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

Jamie Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) called Trumps comments disgusting, depraved, and dangerous.

While Donald Trump continues to demonstrate how unhinged and unfit he is to lead, President Biden has received resounding praise for his condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism and for unequivocally standing with Israel, Harrison said in a statement. The contrast couldnt be more clear.

Biden has delivered multiple speeches on the attacks on Israel since began Saturday, condemning the violence as abhorrent.

The Biden administration has repositioned military assets in the region and sent interceptors and munitions to Israel in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel on Thursday and delivered remarks alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

More than 1,000 Israelis died in the terrorist attacks, and hundreds of Palestinians have died in ensuing fighting in Gaza. At least 25 Americans are among those who have been killed, Blinken confirmed Thursday.

Updated at 11:24 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
As Israel prepares to launch a likely ground invasion into Gaza, the Biden Administration and leading members of Congress are crafting an American aid package of roughly $2 billion in supplementary funding to support the nations war effort against Hamas, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell TIME.

The funding would go toward replenishing Israels stockpile of interceptors for its Iron Dome missile-defense system, artillery shells, and other munitions. If approved, the assistance would come at a crucial time for Israel, as it gears for a lengthy and devastating offensive against the terror group that brutally massacred more than 1,200 Israelis in Saturdays surprise attack.

Were heading into a war for many, many weeks, maybe several months, in which the objective is to dismantle Hamas, Rep. Brad Sherman , a California Democrat, told TIME shortly after attending a briefing from White House officials on the situation. It will be perhaps the highest casualty war Israel has faced since the War of Independence, he added, referring to the 1948 blitz that five Arab nations waged against Israel shortly after its establishment. But Israel didnt ask for this.

While theres strong bipartisan consensus on bolstering Israels campaign against Hamas, the White House is planning to tie that assistance to more polarizing causes: military support for Ukraine and Taiwan and increased border security funding. In a call with senators Tuesday night, administration officials said they were drawing up a supplemental defense package that would cover all four portfolios, according to a source on the call.

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Thats sure to turn the measure into a flashpoint in Washington. Many hard-right Republican lawmakers vehemently oppose sending more resources to Ukraine and have been willing to destabilize the government over it. A small band of right-wing rebels recently ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker in part because of his continued support for U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

The White House would not confirm or deny its plans. "We're in active conversations with Congress about additional funding that we know we need specifically for Israel and Ukraine, White House National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby said. I'm not prepared to detail those conversations for you right now or tell you what the parameters are going to be.

Both Sherman and a senior White House official said they expect President Joe Biden to send a formal request to Congress over supplementary Israel funding in the coming weeks. My tentative figure, along with a number of others, is that we can introduce legislation on this for $2 billion, says Sherman, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. While Biden may want to leverage GOP eagerness to help Israel swiftly in order to secure a new tranche of Ukraine aid, Sherman expects the Israeli package will ultimately pass as a stand-alone measure.

The effort to advance supplementary Israel aid comes after the country suffered a massive intelligence and military failure over the weekend, resulting in a multi-front incursion by Hamas terrorists into Israel through land, air, and sea. The militants stormed kibbutzim in southern Israel near the Gaza border, where they savagely attacked civiliansincluding acts of barbarism such as beheading babiesand took hundreds hostage. At least 14 Americans were killed in the attack and others were taken hostage. Administration officials are unsure of the exact number of U.S. hostages but said on Wednesday that 17 Americans are still missing.

Egyptian security officials warned Israel in the days ahead of a looming attack, according to multiple reports, and some in Israel have cast blame on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus security cabinet for diverting military resources away from the Gaza border to protect West Bank settlements.

Since the attack, Netanyahu has declared a war against Hamas, vowing to abandon Jerusalems strategy of containing the Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip. Every Hamas member is a dead man, the Israeli premier said. Hamas is ISIS, and we will crush and eliminate it just as the world crushed and eliminated ISIS.

The Israeli military has amassed forces along the Gaza border in what appears to be the early stages of a ground invasion. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group near the region to deter Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militant groups from joining the fight.

In remarks Tuesday, Biden said the U.S. was sending additional military assistance to the Jewish state. We stand with Israel, and we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack.

The escalating conflict stands to inflict even more destruction and suffering in the strip, where roughly 2.3 million Palestinians live. We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said this week. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed. At the White Houses congressional briefing Wednesday, several members pressed the administration on how it would ensure that Palestinian civilians in Gaza have access to food, water, and medicine in the coming months.

Both American and Israeli officials are anticipating support for Israel to waver as the war ramps up and Palestinian civilian casualties mount. Hamas is known to place its weapon depots in densely populated areas, effectively using Palestinian non-combatants as human shields. It then disseminates photos and videos of their deaths through media channels in an apparent bid to turn public opinion against Israel.

Still, officials say, the Biden Administration plans to stick with Israel over the long haul. Its been warning members of Congress of the pain and bloodshed likely to come as Israel moves to decimate an enemy that caught it off guard. Nothing is worse than underestimating your rival, says Uzi Arad, Netanyahus National Security Adviser from 2009 to 2011. We underestimated their determination or their motives or the extremes to which they were willing to go.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Biden edges out Trump in Fox News poll, loses to DeSantis or Haley

President Biden edged out former President Trump in a poll released this week, leading by just 1 point.

Bidens support is between 45 percent and 49 percent against each Republican running for the White House, including the narrow lead over Trump. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), however, has a 2-point edge over the sitting president, according to a Fox News poll.

And former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley tops Biden by 4 points, the survey shows.

Fox News also noted that the poll results, published Wednesday, mark the first time this cycle that Trump has fared worse against Biden than the other candidates vying for the GOP nomination.

Trump, the current GOP front-runner, is dealing with a civil fraud trial in New York, in which New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) has alleged Trump inflated and deflated the value of properties and companies.

But, despite a myriad of legal challenges, the poll shows Trump is still decisively leading the GOP primary field.

He received 59 percent of support among GOP primary voters, with DeSantis at 13 percent, Haley at 10 percent and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy falling to 7 percent. Former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) all received less than 5 percent, according to the survey.

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The Fox News poll was conducted Oct. 6-9 with a sample of 1,007 registered voters nationwide.

The margin of error for the full sample was plus or minus 3 percent points. For primary voters registered as Democrat or Republican, the margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

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President Joe Biden acknowledged the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard s death on Thursday and condemned the nations recent uptick in anti-LGBTQ threats and acts of violence.

Shepard, a gay college freshman at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, was abducted, robbed and beaten into a coma on Oct. 6, 1998. The two men who attacked Shepard tied him to a fence in freezing weather. He was discovered 18 hours later by a bicyclist, who initially mistook him for a scarecrow. Shepard died in a Colorado hospital on Oct. 12, 1998, surrounded by family.

Matthews tragic and senseless murder shook the conscience of the American people, Biden said in a statement. And his courageous parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, turned Matthews memory into a movement, galvanizing millions of people to combat the scourge of anti-LGBTQI+ hate and violence in America.

The two assailants, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, were sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder, but they were not charged with hate crimes. At the time, attacks motivated by a victims sexual orientation or gender identity did not qualify as hate crimes under Wyoming law. Wyoming is currently one of just two states, along with South Carolina, that does not have a law allowing additional penalties in hate-motivated crimes.

In 2009, the Obama administration enacted the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The law extended federal hate crimes laws to cover sexual orientation, gender identity and disabilities and was named after Shepard and a Texas Black man who was murdered by white supremacists the same year of Shepards killing.

Biden, who was vice president at the time, lauded the 2009 law on Thursday and vowed to continue the fight against hate, against violence, and against bigotry in all its forms.

Today, as threats and violence targeting the LGBTQI+ community continue to rise, our work is far from finished, he said. No American should face hate or violence for who they are or who they love.

Anti-LGBTQ demonstrations have spiked over the past year, in addition to several high-profile acts of violence allegedly incited by anti-LGBTQ sentiments.

In August, a teenager was arrested for stabbing a 28-year-old gay professional dancer, OShae Sibley, to death at a gas station in Brooklyn, New York, in what police later said was a hate crime. That same month, Laura Ann Carleto, a California business owner and mother of nine, was shot and killed over a Pride flag displayed in her clothing store.

From June 2022 to May, there was an average of 39 anti-LGBTQ protests per month in the U.S. compared with just three a month from January 2017 through May 2022, according to a recent report by the Crowd Counting Consortium, a research group that tracks political protests.

In his statement Thursday, Biden also again called for Congress to pass the Equality Act, legislation that would amend the 1969 Civil Rights Act to include anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The legislation passed in the then-Democratic-controlled House in 2021  with support of three Republicans  but has since stalled in the Senate.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A horrified Israel pounds the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the recent Hamas terrorist attack, and the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the tiny 25-mile stretch of land watch as their own death toll mounts.

The thing about terrorists  everyone is their victim.

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Like the people of Israel, the people of Gaza are hostages to Hamas, said Zaher Sahloul, a Chicago Ridge-based physician who is a critical care specialist at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and co-founder of MedGlobal, a south suburban, humanitarian, nongovernmental organization that provides emergency response to vulnerable populations.

Dr. Zaher Sahloul, left, and Dr. John Kahler, cofounders of south suburban based MedGlobal, a humanitarian,nongovernmental organization, enter the Gaza Strip through the Erez Crossing on a previous medical mission. (John Kahler/Daily Southtown)

The Palestinians did not choose to live under Hamas, they did not choose to live in Gaza, Sahloul said. They are not allowed to leave. And now they are being bombarded nonstop by one of the most powerful war machines in the area. They are being blamed for what Hamas in Israel.

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In a few days, Sahloul said, there will be no more fuel, no more electricity and the local markets will be depleted.

With entry to the territory blocked by both Israel and Egypt, Sahloul said, supplies will quickly run out. As of Wednesday, 14 ambulances and two hospitals were disabled by bombings.

That means doctors will  I dont know  have to return to the Middle Ages to treat people. Without dressings, without gauze, without IV fluid, without antibiotics, he said.

Sahloul mourns with the civilians of Israel, who saw 1,200 killed and more than 2,500 wounded in the widespread attack that included slaughter and hostage taking at a music festival, but he also fears for the civilians of Gaza, most of them women and children, now caught in the retaliation crossfire.

With the ground war underway, we are expecting things to get worse. I dont have words to describe what is going to happen. It is beyond catastrophe, Sahloul said.

Of course, we have to condemn violence against the Israeli civilians but we also condemn violence against Palestinian civilians, he said. As humanitarians, as physicians and as people of faith, we have to look at everyone through the same eye. All people are children of God, if you believe in God.

In 2017, Sahloul and John Kahler, a retired Palos Park pediatrician, founded MedGlobal. The organization, which sends supplies and teams made up of physicians and nurses of all faiths to help civilians, has members around the world and board members across Chicagos suburbs.

They have a presence wherever there are huge populations of civilians trapped in impoverished, hopeless communities, including Yemen, Columbia, Syria, Bangladesh, Ukraine and, since 2018, Gaza.

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We had a team ready to leave for Gaza this week but the mission had to be canceled, he said. I dont know when well be able to go back.

They had been sending resiliency missions of doctors and nurses every few months to train their Palestinian counterparts on how to manage trauma patients, use technology with limited resources, manage wounds, and treat elderly patients unable to come to hospital. They also would address chronic diseases, mental health issues and childhood malnutrition.

Like many vulnerable populations around the world, Kahler said, the Palestinian people of Gaza did not choose their living situation. They also did not choose for Hamas to come to power in 2007, he added. Inside the blockaded community of mostly women and children, 60% live below the poverty line and 70% of young adults are unemployed, he said.

Despite the harsh living conditions, Sahloul said, on every visit they were greeted by people who want to live, children who want to go to school, doctors who want to be more up to date with medical knowledge, nurses who want to practice similarly to how we do here in Chicago.

The small amount of support that we provide is embraced and seems to make a huge difference in their lives because they feel they are supported and not forgotten by the international community, Sahloul said. We have felt that the warmth of the Palestinian people and their generosity in welcoming us despite the siege thats been going on there the past 18 years.

But the world has a tendency to lump the people under terrorist rule with the despots in control, he said. We dehumanize the people we dont want to humanize especially during conflict.

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We lump the Palestinians with Hamas. The media is doing a disservice to the whole situation by focusing only on one people and ignoring the other people, he said.

Americans, he said, dont have a good sense of history or geography. We refer to this as simply another Middle East conflict. But this is occupation. This is people who have been under pressure for a long time. This is a pressure cooker that has now exploded. People need to understand why it exploded.

We can never justify what Hamas has done. But we cannot blame 2.3 million people for what a terrorist organization does either, he said.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

We hope for the best. We pray for the people of Gaza and Israel but whats going on right now, unfortunately, is going to get worse. Many innocent lives will be lost. Beating the drums of war nonstop is not the best solution for this conflict, or for stability in the region, he said.

We overreacted post 9/11, invaded two countries and spent trillions of dollars and we lost many of our young people in the process. And because of our policies, we created instability that created ISIS and whats happening right now is exactly the same, Sahloul said.

We are making the same mistake now by overreacting, he said.

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As of Wednesday, more than 800 people have been killed by Israeli bombings, and more than 6,000 injured. The hospitals are working overtime, physicians and nurses are working 24 hours with limited resources.

And, he said, it will only get worse.

Donna Vickroy is an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist who worked for the Daily Southtown for 38 years.

donnavickroy4@gmail.com
President Biden issued a cryptic warning to Iran Wednesday to "be careful" despite his administration painstakingly denying any links between the country and the brutal attacks by Hamas that butchered more than 1,200 people in Israel.

Biden made the comments while speaking to a group of Jewish leaders at the White House just one day after he avoided any mention of Iran in his speech responding to the attacks.

"You know, I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu I don't know how many times, but again this morning, and already we're surging additional military assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, including ammunition, interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome, and we've moved the U.S. carrier fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean, and we're sending more fighter jets there to that region, and made it clear  made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful," Biden said.

WHITE HOUSE ROASTS SQUAD DEMOCRATS FOR REPUGNANT COMMENTS AFTER BRUTAL HAMAS MURDERS: DISGRACEFUL

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel in the State Dining Room of the White House October 10, 2023 in Washington, DC.

National Security Counsel spokesperson John Kirby reiterated the administration's belief earlier in the day that there was no specific evidence Iran was involved in the egregious actions taken by Hamas over the weekend. However, he left open the possibility that assessment could change in the future as intelligence continues to be assessed.

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Iranian security officials approved Hamas' plan to attack Israel during a meeting in Beirut on Oct. 2. Hamas and Hezbollah leaders said Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps worked with Hamas since August on air, land and sea attack plans.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A European official who works as an adviser to the Syrian government corroborated the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders' claims, according to the report.

BIDEN SHUNS CALLS TO DE-ESCALATE, VOWS US HAS ISRAELS BACK' AS IT PREPARES FOR GROUND WAR WITH HAMAS

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks at the White House Press Briefing in Washington D.C.

During a televised speech Tuesday , Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, "We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack."

Khamenei, who was wearing a Palestinian scarf and delivering his first broadcast remarks since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Saturday, also said Tehran was not involved, according to Reuters.

Following the attack, the administration has faced increased criticism over the $6 billion of Iranian assets it recently unfroze.

Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.





Original article source: Biden issues cryptic warning to Iran after admin denies country was involved in Hamas attack: 'Be careful'
President Biden warned Thursday of increasing violence against the LGBTQ community in remarks commemorating the 25th anniversary of the killing of Matthew Shepard , a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was brutally attacked and later died of his injuries in one of the most notorious anti-gay hate crimes in U.S. history.

Matthews tragic and senseless murder shook the conscience of the American people, Biden said in a statement. And his courageous parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard , turned Matthews memory into a movement, galvanizing millions of people to combat the scourge of anti-LGBTQI+ hate and violence in America.

Shepards parents are the co-founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which seeks to amplify his story.

In 2009, then-President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victims sexual orientation or gender identity.

The law also granted federal agencies greater authority to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. It was jointly named for James Byrd Jr., a Black man who was killed in 1998 by three white men in Jasper, Texas, in a gruesome and violent hate crime.

In a video released Thursday by the Human Rights Campaign, Judy and Dennis Shepard said LGBTQ Americans, particularly the transgender community, need to stay positive in the face of rising political attacks and threats of violence.

We just want you to know that were here for you, and weve always been here for you. Just dont give up, Judy Shepard said in the video.

Biden said, Today, as threats and violence targeting the LGBTQI+ community continue to rise, our work is far from finished. No American should face hate or violence for who they are or who they love.

Twenty-five years after Shepards death, LGBTQ people still face increased risk of violence. In May, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned government and law enforcement agencies of intensifying threats of domestic violence against the community.

These issues include actions linked to drag-themed events, gender-affirming care, and LGBTQIA+ curricula in schools, the DHS said in the briefing, which was first reported by ABC News.

The warning coincides with a tidal wave of state legislation targeting LGBTQ Americans: More than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced this year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, and 84 became law. Advocates and civil rights groups say anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric have put a target on the communitys back and make it more difficult for LGBTQ people to live openly.

LGBTQ people are much more likely than their non-LGBTQ peers to be victims of violent crimes. The rate of violent victimization of gay and lesbian people was more than two times that of heterosexuals between 2017 and 2020, according to a 2022 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, the most recent federal data available.

Transgender people during the same time period were 2.5 times as likely as cisgender ones to be victims of a violent crime, the report found. An analysis of the agencys National Crime Victimization Survey last year by Everytown for Gun Safety found that homicides of transgender people in the U.S. had jumped 93 percent over four years, from 29 killings in 2017 to 56 in 2021.

Biden on Thursday called on Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would amend existing federal anti-discrimination laws to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The proposed legislation, resurrected in June by House and Senate Democrats, is essential to guaranteeing LGBTQ Americans full civil rights protections, the president said, because every American is worthy of dignity, acceptance, and respect.

Bidens reelection campaign has been endorsed by top LGBTQ rights groups including the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Transgender Rights.

In an Oct. 10 statement, Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson said the current administrations leadership is needed now more than ever, citing increased hate and violence against the community. In June, the organization declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ people in the U.S. for the first time in its 40-year history.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The White House is planning to ask lawmakers for additional funding, including money for Ukraine, Taiwan, and U.S. border security along with financial assistance for Israel, NBC News reported on Oct. 11.

Officials in the administration and in Congress told NBC that the request would also include funds to build more weapons to replenish U.S. stockpiles.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said in a White House press briefing that "we are in active discussions about additional funding," but did not provide details.

Combining the funding requests is a strategy the administration hopes will win more support in Congress, where aid to Ukraine has become a contentious issue in recent weeks.

Far-right factions in Congress have grown increasingly unwilling to provide funding to Ukrainian defense, but support for Israel is popular among conservatives, as are concerns over potential threats from China and demands for greater security along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Other strategies reportedly under consideration include the "one-and-done" funding package, a massive allotment that would cover Ukraine's security assistance needs through the next U.S. presidential election.

Officials from the Biden administrations have met with a number of lawmakers this week to brief them on defense funding needs, NBC News said.

Earlier on Oct. 11, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a new $200 million military support package for Ukraine at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group summit in Brussels.

The U.S. also sent a humanitarian aid package of $1.5 billion through the Public Expenditures of Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) program.

Read also: Western allies pledge F-16s, air defense, and ammunition as Stoltenberg closes day 1 of NATO minister meeting

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The Biden administrations long-awaited executive order on artificial intelligence is expected to leverage the federal governments vast purchasing power to shape American standards for a technology that has galloped ahead of regulators, according to three people with knowledge of the White Houses deliberations.

The White House is also expected to lean on the National Institute of Standards and Technology to tighten industry guidelines on testing and evaluating AI systems  provisions that would build on the voluntary commitments on safety, security and trust that the Biden administration extracted from 15 major tech companies this year on AI, the people said.

Bidens order is also expected to require cloud computing companies to monitor and track users who might be developing powerful AI systems, two people said. The EO is likely to contain provisions to streamline the recruitment and retention of AI talent from overseas and to boost domestic AI training and education as well, one person said.

The White House declined to comment on specific provisions in the executive order, which is still being finalized. It is expected to come out in late October.

With Congress struggling to make progress on broad AI legislation, the White House has become the driving force in the American conversation over AI rules. Biden announced in July that his office was drafting an executive order  the administrations most definitive move yet to contain the risks of AI while guarding American competitiveness in a global technology race.

The White House strategy to leverage Washingtons market influence to sway AI vendors vying for government contracts has precedent in the executive order on AI that California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in September, which state officials told POLITICO was developed in close consultation with the White House. In Congress, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) has taken a similar approach, spearheading a legislative push to regulate the governments own handling of AI.

But the U.S. is largely playing catch-up. The United Kingdom is aiming for agreements on dangerous AI at its upcoming international summit, and Europe is moving toward passing its pioneering AI Act.

Suresh Venkatasubramanian, a computer scientist who co-authored the blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights during his tenure at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said any executive order on the technology sends a signal to the public that the government is willing to act, and frankly put pressure on Congress to do the same.

The executive action will build on years of White House efforts to establish AI standards. The Trump White House issued an executive order to drive American leadership in AI in 2019. In Oct 2022, the Biden administration issued its non-binding AI Bill of Rights outlining the administrations broad stances on governing automated systems, with an emphasis on protecting civil rights.

On Wednesday a broad coalition of congressional Democrats asked the president to codify those principles in the AI executive order.

In early 2023, after OpenAIs release of ChatGPT brought national attention to the risks and power of consumer AI technology, Biden signed an executive order that required federal agencies to protect the public from algorithmic discrimination. Since then, the White House corralled 15 leading AI companies into signing voluntary commitments on AI safety, security and trustworthiness.

Details of both the content and timing of the upcoming executive order have remained vague. It'll be broad, said Arati Prabhakar, the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, at a virtual talk in late September.

A person familiar with specific provisions of the order said there would also be a classified annex to the executive order, geared at national security use-cases for AI. Independently, news outlets  including POLITICO  have reported the White House was considering reporting requirements for cloud computing providers and aimed to codify some of the voluntary commitments extracted from tech CEOs.

If the EO covers procurement and federal grantmaking, it also helps the government act as a huge market shaper and companies will have to adapt accordingly, Venkatasubramanian said.
US President Joe Biden (L) said there was 'never' a right time for Donald Trump 'to praise terrorists' (ANGELA WEISS)

US President Joe Biden condemned Donald Trump on Thursday for describing Hezbollah as "very smart" even as the Lebanese militant group exchanges fire with Israel following the Hamas attack on the US ally.

During a campaign speech in Florida, Trump also falsely accused the Biden administration of bankrolling the Hamas assault as a result of a prisoner exchange deal with Iran, which has historically funded Hamas and Hezbollah.

Biden said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that "our nation's support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never."

Trump had made his remarks to supporters in West Palm Beach as he was criticizing the White House.

"You know, Hezbollah is very smart. They're all very smart,'" Trump said.

White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said Trump's remarks were "dangerous and unhinged."

Israel also reacted angrily, with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi in a TV interview saying Trump could "obviously" not be trusted.

"It is shameful that such a person, a former president of the United States, aid propaganda and spreads comments that harm the spirit of IDF (army) fighters and the spirit of Israeli residents," Karhi said.

"We don't need to deal with him or with the nonsense he says."

Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people in Israel and took about 150 hostages in their surprise onslaught from Gaza Saturday. Israel has retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days, claiming over 1,350 lives.

Israel's defense has been complicated by clashes in the north with Hezbollah in recent days, including cross-border rockets and shelling.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running in a distant second place behind Trump in the race for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination, also took aim at his rival.

"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 terrorists as 'very smart,'" he posted on X.

In a statement Thursday evening, Trump did not address his comment on Hezbollah but said Israel had "no better friend or ally... than President Donald J. Trump."

Biden's "weakness and incompetence has empowered and emboldened our enemies all over the World, and now, many lives have been so needlessly lost," the statement said.

ft/bgs/acb/nro
President Joe Biden tells a roundtable discussion with leaders in the Jewish community Wednesday he "has not given up hope." The group met in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., four days after Hamas attacked Israel. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

Oct. 11 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden told Jewish community leaders Wednesday, in a meeting at the White House, that he "has not given up hope" on bringing American hostages home from Gaza following Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 22 U.S. citizens and more than 1,000 Israelis.

"This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but cruelty against the Jewish people. And I would argue it's the deadliest day for Jews since the holocaust," the president told the group gathered in the White House Treaty Room, calling Hamas "evil that exceeds the worst atrocities of ISIS."

Earlier Wednesday, the White House announced the death toll for Americans in the attacks had risen to 22, while 17 U.S. citizens remain unaccounted for.

"We are working on every aspect in the hostage crisis, including deploying experts to advise and assist recovery efforts," he said, adding that he has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu many times since the attacks.

"Already, we're sending additional military assistance to the Israeli Defense Force including ammunition, interceptors, and we've moved the U.S. carrier fleet to the eastern Mediterranean, and we're sending more fighter jets to the region," Biden said.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff speaks Wednesday alongside President Joe Biden during a roundtable discussion with leaders in the Jewish community in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House. The President called the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel, "a campaign of pure cruelty." Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

Beyond that, Biden refused to offer more details about what his administration is doing to "bring these folks home," saying "if I told you, I wouldn't be able to get them home."

Biden, who was accompanied by second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, also condemned anti-semitism and accused those who remain silent of complicity.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff introduces President Joe Biden during a roundtable discussion Wednesday with leaders in the Jewish community in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. The President joined the discussion following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

"I refuse to be silent and I know you refuse to be silent as well," the president said. "The past few days have been a solemn reminder that hate never goes away."

As a precaution, Biden said his administration has beefed up security around Jewish community centers and synagogues, as he promised to "combat anti-semitism at every single turn."

President Joe Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff take part in a roundtable discussion with leaders in the Jewish community at the White House on Wednesday following recent terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI

"Folks, there's a lot we're doing. I have not given up hope," Biden said. "As I said yesterday, my commitment to the security and safety of the Jewish people is unshakable. The United States has Israel's back and I have yours as well at home and abroad."

"I believe Israel is doing everything in its power to pull the country together, stay on the same page and we're going to do everything in our power to make sure Israel succeeds," the president said, "and God willing bring home those Americans who are in harm's way."

Today, @POTUS and @SecondGentleman met with Jewish community leaders to discuss this Administration's unwavering support for Israel following Hamas' terrorist attacks and commitment to combating antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/wjAeGXpyyV The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 12, 2023
The White House was forced to walk back comments made by President Joe Biden Wednesday at a roundtable with Jewish community leaders, in which he claimed to have seen confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children in Israel. A spokesperson later clarified to The Washington Post that Biden had not seen any such photosbut was basing his claims on assertions made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and news reports from the scene of a massacre at the Kfar Aza kibbutz in southern Israel. More than 1,200 Israeli citizens and soldiers were killed in a series of attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas starting Saturday morning, with more than 150 people abducted. That toll includes 22 Americans who died, the White House confirmed Wednesday.

Confirmed now by the US President.



BIDEN: "I never really thought that I would see...have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children"

pic.twitter.com/M9VoRQb02S  David Patrikarakos (@dpatrikarakos) October 11, 2023

Read it at The Washington Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
The Thurmons built their house brick by brick in the 1940s on what is now prized real estate in downtown Ocean Springs.

Like most Black residents back then, Herbert and Merlissis Thurmon earned meager wages. Merlissis Thurmon rode her bicycle roughly 16 miles a day to and from what is now Keesler Air Force Base, where she worked doing laundry. Every payday, she used some of her money to buy bricks for the house that she and her husband, who worked at a turpentine still in Ocean Springs, built on Cash Alley.

They raised 12 children and had 59 grandchildren. A family member has lived in the house since it was built. Granddaughter Esther Faye Payton was raised in the house and is an owner. Today, the Thurmons have passed on and she is fighting to keep the house in her family.

Payton, two other downtown residents, a business owner in a commercial area near Bienville Boulevard and Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church downtown are suing the city to make sure they can keep their properties.

Mayor Kenny Holloway said Thursday evening in a written statement, It is unfortunate that our residents have chosen to file a lawsuit instead of having a constructive discussion with the city. I have personally invited residents to my office to explain and answer questions. I have addressed the concerns regarding eminent domain. 

Ocean Springs has declared six areas of the city, including these properties, to be slum or blighted. The designation means the city could one day file eminent domain lawsuits to acquire the properties for redevelopment, although Holloway insists residents can opt out. The citys action was not advertised and took residents by surprise.

We are not selling, we are not moving and we are not giving in, Payton said at a news conference held Thursday at the church to announce the lawsuit.

MS law limits options for blighted properties

The residents, Macedonia church and business owner, Robert Zellner, have allies in the Institute for Justice and Ocean Springs attorney Elizabeth Feder-Hosey, who are representing them in the lawsuit. The nonprofit institute is the nations leading advocate against eminent domain abuse, said its litigation director, Dana Berliner.

Ocean Springs Mayor Kenny Holloway has offered residents what she said is a hollow promise allowing them to opt out of urban renewal areas. Opting out is not a thing, Berliner said.

State law would allow eminent domain lawsuits based on blight without giving residents the opportunity to contest the designation. The Board of Aldermen declared the areas blighted April 4 and residents had only 10 days to appeal the decision, even though they were unaware of the vote. Mississippi is one of only a handful of states with such a restrictive law, which the lawsuit also challenges.

Berliner said eminent domain lawsuits are becoming more common for cities. Older homes and residents, she said, are often targets of eminent domain, where government is allowed to take property, with compensation, for public use.

Esther Faye Payton, a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the city of Ocean Springs, speaks during a press conference announcing the lawsuit at Macedonia Baptist Church in Ocean Springs on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. The lawsuit alleges that the city took away residents property rights without due process when the city labeled their homes as blighted as part of urban renewal areas. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald

Ocean Springs faces development pressures

Development pressures, she said, can lead cities to target areas for redevelopment. The downtown area in Ocean Springs has become a draw for tourists and residents across the Coast, who enjoy the picturesque area with popular dining, shopping and nightlife.

The community downtown in Ocean Springs, we are surrounded by bars, restaurants, loud music, sometimes fights, sometimes accidents, drunkenness within that community, and its not from the citizens who reside in that community, Payton said.

While the city labeled a few individual properties in the urban renewal areas as blighted, most are not and an expert report prepared for the Institute for Justice says little evidence exists for the designation.

Paytons large family still loves the home on Cash Alley where one of her cousins now lives. They plan on holding their family reunion there in July 2024. Theyll gather for three days to enjoy seafood and barbecue, play games and attend church at Macedonia.

That is my heritage . . . that is my history and that is my legacy as a Thurmon-Brown family member, Payton said, and we shall not be moved.

We Shall Not Be Moved is also the name of a group of residents, both Black and white, who are fighting the urban renewal designations.

A sign that suggests residents sign a petition opposing an Urban Renewal Plan for the city of Ocean Springs is displayed in a residents yard on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Hannah Ruhoff/Sun Herald
After being suspended twice for his locs hairstyle, a Black high school student in Texas has been informed that he will be referred to an alternative education program. According to a Wednesday letter signed by Barbers Hill High School Principal Lance Murphy and viewed by the Associated Press, Darryl George, 18, will be sent to EPIC from October 12 to November 29 for a violation of the dress and grooming policy. Barbers Hill Independent School District bans male students from sporting hairstyles that go below their eyebrows, ears, or top of a T-shirt collar but the familys attorney has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, saying that he didnt enforce the states CROWN Act, which prevents employers and schools from punishing people because of their hairstyles, including locs. The familys spokesperson, Candice Matthews, said a statement to The Daily Beast last month that they wanted to Drop The Hammer Of Accountability In The Face Of Racism!

Read it at Associated Press

Read more at The Daily Beast.
The United States will stand firmly by Israel as the nation continues to strike back against militants in the Gaza Strip following the attack on Israeli soil over the weekend, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press conference in Israel on Thursday.

Since the Hamas militant group's surprise offensive that killed over 1,200 Israelis, Jerusalem has bombarded the Palestinian territory and cut off food, water and medical supplies in retaliation.

The message that I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to, Blinken said while standing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

Blinken emphasized that Washingtons support will be unconditional: We will always be there by your side.

"Your visit is another tangible example of America's unequivocal support for Israel," Netanyahu said.

At least 25 Americans were killed in the Hamas attack, Blinken said, a number that has steadily risen as the conflict has continued. Several Americans have also been taken hostage by the militant group, President Joe Biden said on Tuesday.

Blinkens remarks come as the Biden administration calls for leaders in Jerusalem to conduct a proportionate response to the attacks. But the White House so far hasnt said if there are any lines Jerusalem shouldnt cross.

Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said no supplies would be allowed into Gaza until the captives were released: Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, he tweeted.

That response has faced some backlash. Palestinian envoy to the U.N. Riyad Mansour wrote in a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday that Israels actions are nothing less than genocidal, citing the blocking of food shipments.

The Gaza Strip is home to some 2 million Palestinians  nearly half of whom are under 18 years old  and was already impoverished before the latest strikes. Authorities there say at least 1,354 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Associated Press, with Israel saying hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

The move was also blasted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday: The targeting of civilians is a war crime, no matter who does it. Israels blanket denial of food, water, and other necessities to Gaza is a serious violation of international law and will do nothing but harm innocent civilians, Sanders said in a statement.

With American lawmakers overwhelmingly supportive of Israel in the past week, Blinken said Jerusalem has nothing to worry about.

As Israel's defense needs evolve, we will work with Congress to make sure that they're met. I can tell you there is overwhelming, overwhelming bipartisan support, Blinken said, highlighting the military assistance the U.S. has already provided to Israel since the attack.

The conflict could last for weeks, if not longer, principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Thursday morning on CNN, as the future governance of the Gaza Strip comes under question. The Israeli military used to oversee the territory before pulling out in 2005. Two years later, Hamas ousted the Palestinian Authority from power, won an election and took control. Israel has been mostly hands-off since then, but retains control over supply shipments into the walled territory.

As for how the territory will be governed following the conflict, Finer said its another area we will be directly consulting with the Israelis on. We probably have some time. This is an operation that is likely to unfold over weeks, if not longer.

It's going to be the next challenge after this complicated military operation is completed and we are probably a long way from that, to figure out what the future of governance there looks like, he added.

Blinken and Netanyahu both called for moral clarity on the situation in the press conference. When asked whether he believes Israel has heeded the calls to distinguish between militants and Palestinian citizens in the retaliatory strikes, Finer said U.S. and Israeli officials have had discussions on the topic.

The fact that this is a subject, not just between staff on the U.S. side and the Israeli side but between the prime minister and the president, is a stark difference from how Hamas operates, Finer said.

He also underscored the harsh living conditions those in the Gaza Strip already face. The U.S. and Israel are in talks about options for civilians, such as enacting humanitarian corridors, safe zones and other options for people to leave Gaza if possible.

There are very difficult living conditions in the best of times, and this is pretty far from the best, Finer said.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer's title.
East Dundee Police Chief James Kruger has announced he will retire Dec. 1. (Village of East Dundee/HANDOUT)

East Dundee Police Chief James Kruger has announced his retirement, wrapping up a 42-year career in law enforcement.

His last day will be Dec. 1. He will be recognized for his service to the village at the Nov. 20 meeting of the East Dundee Village Board.

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Deputy Chief Joshua Fourdyce will serve as acting chief until his successor is named, a village news release said.

I want to thank President (Jeff) Lynam and the Village Board for their support and confidence over these (nearly) two years, Kruger said. I have appreciated the opportunity to return to the Dundee Township community and serve the people of East Dundee as I wrap up my law enforcement career.

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Kruger joined the East Dundee Police Department in February 2022. Previously he spent 38 years with the Carpentersville Police Department, rising through the ranks to commander, and served a police chief in Oak Brook, Winfield and Roselle.

He also developed Judson Universitys criminal justice management program and served as an instructor at the Elgin-based school.

We appreciate Chief Krugers excellent service to East Dundee Police Department and the community at large,Lynam said. The village and the police department are better than before because of his leadership.

Kruger has served as president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and DuPage County Police Chiefs Association. Additionally, he received the Police Chief of the Year award in 2022 from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday that at least 25 Americans were confirmed to be killed in the attacks on Israel by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.

Tragically, the number of innocent lives claimed by Hamass heinous attacks continues to rise, Blinken said during a press conference in Israel, standing alongside Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . Among those, we now know that at least 25 American citizens were killed.

We joined families in Israel in the United States around the world in mourning their immeasurable loss, he added.

U.S. officials have been working with Israelis to secure the release of hostages, and Blinken noted he will continue to engage in diplomacy in his meetings throughout the region.

Military support from the U.S. has already arrived in Israel, he confirmed, pledging to continue adapting it to the needs of the country.

As Israels defense needs evolve, we will work with Congress to make sure that theyre met, he told Netanyahu. And I can tell you, there is overwhelming, overwhelming bipartisan support in our Congress for Israels security.

Netanyahu reached an agreement Wednesday with opposition leader Benny Gantz to form a unity government  which Blinken said the U.S. welcomes.

Blinken also reiterated President Bidens message of unwavering support for Israel and echoed the presidents warning to neighboring nations.

We will reaffirm the crystal-clear warning the President Biden issued yesterday to any adversary, state or nonstate, thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis to attack Israel: Dont, he said. The United States has Israels back.

Blinken delivered a personal appeal, noting his background as a Jew with family that fled pogroms in Europe and survived the Holocaust.

I come before you, not only as the United States secretary of State, but also as a Jew, he said during the press conference. My grandfather, Maurice Blinken, fled pogroms in Russia. My stepfather, Samuel Pisar, survived concentration camps: Auschwitz, Dachau, Majdanek. So, prime minister, I understand, on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamass massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere.

I also come before you as a husband and father of young children. Its impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed and not think of my own children, Blinken continued. This was just one of Hamass countless acts of terror.

The secretary made the trip overseas less than a week after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, brutalizing Israelis and attacking from the sea, air, and by foot. Israel has responded with a barrage of airstrikes.

More than 1,200 Israelis and 1,350 Palestinians have been killed since Saturdays initial attack. More than 100 Israelis are also estimated to be held hostage in Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(The Hill)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday that at least 25 Americans were confirmed to be killed in the attacks on Israel by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.

Tragically, the number of innocent lives claimed by Hamass heinous attacks continues to rise, Blinken said during a press conference in Israel, standing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . Among those, we now know that at least 25 American citizens were killed.

We joined families in Israel in the United States around the world in mourning their immeasurable loss, he added.

U.S. officials have been working with Israelis to secure the release of hostages and Blinken noted he will continue to engage in diplomacy in his meetings throughout the region.

Military support from the U.S. has already arrived in Israel, he confirmed, pledging to continue adapting it to the needs of Israel.

As Israels defense needs evolve, we will work with Congress to make sure that theyre met, he told Netanyahu. And I can tell you, there is overwhelming, overwhelming bipartisan support in our Congress for Israels security.

His comments come one day after Netanyahu reached an agreement with opposition leader Benny Gantz to form a unity government  which Blinken said the U.S. welcomes.

He also reiterated President Bidens message of unwavering support for Israel and echoed the presidents warning to neighboring nations.

We will reaffirm the crystal-clear warning the President Biden issued yesterday to any adversary, state or non state, thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis to attack Israel: Dont, he said. The United States has Israels back.

Progressives face backlash over response to Israel attacks

Blinken delivered a personal appeal, noting his background as a Jew with family that fled pogroms in Europe and survived the Holocaust.

I come before you, not only as the United States Secretary of State, but also as a Jew, he said during the press conference. My grandfather, Maurice Blinken fled pogroms in Russia. My stepfather, Samuel Pisar, survived concentration camps: Auschwitz, Dachau, Majdanek. So, Prime Minister, I understand, on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamass massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere.

I also come before you as a husband and father of young children. Its impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed and not think of my own children, Blinken continued. This was just one of Hamass countless acts of terror.

The secretary made the trip overseas less than a week after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, brutalizing Israelis and attacking from the sea, air, and by foot. Israel has responded with a barrage of airstrikes.

More than 1,200 Israelis and 1,350 Palestinians have been killed since Saturdays initial attack. More than 100 Israelis are also estimated to be held hostage in Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
'UNWAVERING SUPPORT'  Blinken meets with Netanyahu after Americans killed, taken hostage by terrorists. Continue reading 

HOUSE OF CARDS  GOP nominee for speaker faces uncharted territory as rebel alliance puts up roadblocks. Continue reading 

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Original article source: Blinken meets with Netanyahu, speaker nominee's future uncertain and more top headlines
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel Thursday to pledge that the United States will never falter from its support for Israel as he condemned Hamas litany of brutality and inhumanity as evoking the worst of ISIS.

The message that I bring to Israel is this: you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to, Blinken said in remarks alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. We will always be there by your side.

The top US diplomats trip, days after Hamas deadly attacks in Israel, is another show of support as the Biden administration seeks to bolster the countrys defenses and stop the conflict from expanding or spreading. The visit also comes as the US seeks to help secure the release of hostages, including American citizens, held by Hamas and as the death toll, both as a result of Hamas attacks and Israeli strikes in Gaza, continues to grow.

Following his departure from Tel Aviv Thursday, Blinken will travel to Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

Across each of these engagements, well continue pressing countries to help prevent the conflict from spreading, and to use their leverage with Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages, Blinken said at a press conference.

The White House said Thursday that a handful of the 14 missing Americans are believed to be held hostage. At least 27 Americans have died as a result of the Hamas attacks, they said. While on the ground in Israel, the top US diplomat met with the families of Americans killed or taken hostage by Hamas, and vowed that were doing everything we can to secure the release of the hostages, working closely with our Israeli partners.

Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen, who traveled to Israel with the US delegation, will stay on the ground here to support the efforts to free their loved ones, Blinken said.

Throughout his public remarks in Israel, Blinken expressed condemnation and horror at the brutality of the Hamas attacks. The Israeli government shared graphic photos and videos, Blinken said, of the atrocities committed by the terrorist group: babies slaughtered, bodies desecrated, young people burned alive, women raped, parents executed in front of their children, children in front of their parents. Netanyahus office publicly posted three such photos on the social media site X following their meeting.

Its hard to find the right words. Its beyond what anyone would ever want to imagine, much less actually see, Blinken said at a press conference in Israel.

The US been adamant with other nations about the need to unequivocally condemn Hamas attacks, the top US diplomat said.

I understand on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere, Blinken noted, describing his own identity as both a father and Jew.

There is no excuse. There is no justification for these atrocities, he said in his remarks alongside Netanyahu. This is  this must be  a moment for moral clarity.

The top US diplomat did not explicitly speak of restraint from Israeli forces but said he discussed with Israeli officials the importance of taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.

No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again, Blinken said.

As the prime minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters, he said, reiterating that respect for civilian life is what distinguishes democracies from the likes of Hamas. Blinken also stressed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.

We also talked about possibilities for safe passage for civilians who want to leave or get out of the way in Gaza and thats a conversation, a discussion that we will pursue in the coming days including some of the countries that well be visiting, he said at the press conference.

Following his meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken met with a 24-year-old Israeli-American survivor of the music festival massacre during an unannounced visit to a donation site in Tel Aviv.

If theres any way to help, first priority, first priority are our friends and family that are now in Gaza, an emotional Lior Gelbaum told the top US diplomat.

Were thinking of them and were trying to do everything we can, he replied. Were trying to bring them home.

In remarks alongside Netanyahu, the top US diplomat echoed the the crystal clear warning the President Biden issued yesterday to any adversary  state or non-state  thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis to attack Israel: Dont.

He said some military support has already arrived in Israel and more is on the way.

As Israels defense needs evolve, we will work with Congress to make sure that theyre met. And I can tell you, there is overwhelming, overwhelming bipartisan support in our Congress for Israels security, Blinken said.

He did not explicitly speak of restraint from Israeli forces but said he discussed with the Israeli leader the importance of taking every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.

No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again, Blinken said.

As the prime minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters, he said, reiterating that respect for civilian life is what distinguishes democracies from the likes of Hamas. Blinken also stressed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said he discussed with Israeli officials how to protect civilians in Gaza from harm and efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, as Israel has launched a punishing aerial campaign in response to an unprecedented assault by the terrorist group Hamas.

During a press conference in Israel, Blinken said civilians in Gaza are not the target of Israels legitimate security operations to defend itself from terrorism and to try to ensure that this never happens again.

Hamas continues to use civilians as human shields, something thats not new, something that theyve always done, intentionally putting civilians in harms way to try to protect themselves or protect their infrastructure or protect their weapons, Blinken said. So thats one of the basic facts that Israel has to deal with.

Biden administration officials have said they expect Israel to abide by international laws of war as it conducts counterstrikes in Gaza. But concerns are mounting that the strips small size and dense population  an estimated 2 million people in an area of 140 square miles  will result in a significant civilian death toll and a humanitarian crisis for those displaced.

Israel had announced a siege of the Gaza Strip following Hamass attack, which was launched Saturday morning, with more than 1,000 believed killed. Reports have emerged of horrendous atrocities, such as people massacred at a concert, shot in their homes and on the street and mutilated bodies.

Blinken, after reviewing images of those killed, described Hamass attack as depravity, in the worst imaginable way, it almost defies comprehension.

Israel, in response, has stopped the supply of electricity, fuel, food and other commodities through Israeli crossings into Gaza as it carries out large-scale airstrikes against Hamas.

A Gaza crossing with Egypt, at Rafah, has reportedly been closed since Tuesday amid Israeli airstrikes on the strip.

Blinken said that he discussed with Israeli officials ways to address the humanitarian needs of people living in Gaza and to protect them from harm, including the possibility for the safe passage of civilians to leave Gaza.

So this is important. And this is an area for focus.

The Gaza Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas, has said that total casualties in the strip amount to 1,354 killed and 6,049 injured as of Thursday. It is warning that the health system in the strip is beginning to collapse, that intensive care unit beds are filled and the number of injured people exceeds the capacity of operation rooms.

The threat of further civilian casualties in Gaza also extends to an estimated 150 hostages that Hamas kidnapped from inside Israel, with Americans believed to be among them.

U.S. officials have said they have limited to no information on the condition of hostages, where they are being held or their locations, either grouped together or spread out across the strip. Hamas has built up a network of tunnels under the strip that it uses to move around and avoid Israeli strikes.

Blinken said he would continue conversations on the humanitarian situation for people in Gaza with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordans King Abdullah and leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Qatar.

Across each of these engagements, well continue pressing countries to help prevent the conflict from spreading, and to use their leverage with Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages, Blinken said.

Many of these governments have contacts with Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 after ousting the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority in a bloody takeover, even as it had control of the government following elections in the strip in 2006.

Previous instances of negotiations between Hamas and countries such as Egypt, Qatar and the UAE had brought about a cease-fire with Israel and periods of calm.

Yet this is unlikely to happen in the short term, as Israel has rejected calls for negotiations or a cease-fire and is making preparations for a possible ground invasion.

Lior Haiat, spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters in a briefing Thursday that Israel is not negotiating anything right now.

Israel is still at war  there are still terrorists in Israeli territory, Haiat said. They are still launching missiles  we are still fighting terrorists that are trying to enter Israel and to murder Israelis. So there is no negotiation, mediation, about that.

Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), told reporters that Israel is carrying out strikes on Gaza on military targets, according to our values, to our morals and according also to international law of armed conflict.

He spoke of the challenge of carrying out strikes, describing Hamas as embedding itself in the population by building an underground tunnel network below houses, schools, kindergartens, hospitals  because they know that we follow, again, our morals, our values, and the law of armed conflict.

He said the IDF is making efforts to warn civilians about incoming strikes, including dropping leaflets, phone calls and small armaments dropped on the roofs of buildings to signal an incoming strike.

But he said some strikes are carried out faster than warnings can be delivered.

Sadly, there are times that we cannot [deliver warnings] and yet, that is because its a time-critical targets, or for other reasons, that we need to carry out a strike without using those very high amount of efforts that are put into making sure that as least as possible civilians are hurt, injured and of course, hopefully, not killed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned Israel ahead of its planned siege of Gaza as he spoke alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Blinken spoke of the strong US support for Israel and reiterated that the country has the right to defend itself, but he added that how Israel does this matters.

The secretary of state met with Mr Netanyahu at the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv. The top US diplomat mentioned his Jewish ancestry and horror at the Hamas attacks.

I understand on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere, he said.

There is no excuse. There is no justification for these atrocities, he added. This must be a moment for moral clarity.

The brutality and inhumanity of Hamas was similar to the worst of ISIS, Mr Blinken said.

Mr Blinken said the US would supply ammunition to restock Israels air defences, adding that there would be bipartisan support for further military assistance. He then cautioned that how Israel goes about its counteroffensive matters.

Our humanity, the value we place on human life and human dignity ... is what makes us who we are, he said.

We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when its difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short, Mr Blinken said. Thats why its so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. And thats why we mourn the loss of every innocent life  civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed.

No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again, he added before going on to note that as the Prime Minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters.

This comes after President Joe Biden argued on Wednesday that Israel must follow the rules of war in its attack on Gaza.

The number of dead in Israel following the attacks on Saturday has now surpassed 1,300. A similar number of people have been killed in Gaza after retaliatory air strikes.

At the press conference with Mr Blinken, Mr Netanyahu said: Just as ISIS was crushed so will Hamas be crushed.

They should be spit out from the community of nations, he said, adding that no one should meet with them. Those that do should be sanctioned.

I come here also as a Jew ... The message that I bring to Israel is this, Mr Blinked said on Thursday. You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side.

He added that the US is supplying ammunition, interceptors to replenish Israels Iron Dome, alongside other defence material, noting that shipments of US military support has already arrived in Israel, and more is on the way.

As Israels defence needs evolve, we will work with Congress to make sure that theyre met. And I can tell you, there is overwhelming, overwhelming bipartisan support in our Congress for Israels security, the secretary said.

We continue working closely with Israel to secure the release of the men, women, children, elderly people, taken hostage by Hamas, Mr Blinken added. Were pursuing intensive diplomacy throughout the region to prevent the conflict from spreading, and Ill be doing that over the course of my trip in the coming days.

At least 150 people were taken hostage and brought into Gaza by Hamas.
Blinken says no 'direct evidence' that Iran was involved in the Hamas attack on Israel

There is no "direct evidence" that Iran was involved in Hamas' brutal assault on Israel last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday in an interview with NBC News.

"Iran has had a long relationship with Hamas. Hamas wouldnt be Hamas without the support over many, many years from Iran," he told "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt in an interview that aired Thursday. "And so, we know that. We see that. When it comes to this specific attack, in this moment, we dont have direct evidence that Iran was involved in the attack, either in planning it or carrying it out."

He said, "Theres a much longer complicity between Iran and Hamas that the world knows, and its one of the reasons that since this administration has been in office, weve sanctioned Iran, individuals companies, more than 400 times, including for support to Hamas."

Blinken arrived in Israel on Wednesday with the goal of offering support and solidarity in the wake of the brutal terrorist attack on people in Israel by Hamas on Saturday.

Asked by Holt if there were any "red lines" the U.S. might have in terms of Israel's response, Blinken said, "We're talking to them about their plans, how they propose to proceed, but I'm not going to get into any of the operational details, and again, we're determined to support them."

Asked if there were concerns about a larger regional war breaking out, Blinken said the U.S. is "determined there not be."

The Biden administration had faced scrutiny over its decision to unfreeze $6 billion in oil reserve funds as part of a prisoner exchange with Iran, which has historically funded Hamas. The White House had insisted that the money, which is held in a Qatari bank, could be used only for humanitarian purposes. Blinken also said Thursday in his interview that none of the funds had been distributed yet.

The U.S. and Qatari governments have now also agreed to block Iran from accessing any of the $6 billion, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats on Thursday, according to three sources familiar with his remarks, two of whom were in the room.

Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and was also scheduled to meet with other Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog and members of Israel's Cabinet. Blinken said he would also meet with U.S. Embassy personnel in Israel.

John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said Thursday that the number of American citizens killed in Saturday's terrorist attack had risen to 27, with 14 people also unaccounted-for. Blinken announced in joint statements with Netanyahu that the U.S. is also working closely with Israel's government to determine the whereabouts of Americans who remain unaccounted-for and whether they've been taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

"We are doing everything we can to secure the freedom of those who've been taken hostage," Blinken told Holt.

He also said the U.S. was arranging for charter flights to bring Americans who've been stuck in Israel to other countries beginning Friday.

"The airports here are open and functioning, but some carriers for the time being suspended operations," including U.S. carriers, he said, noting there are an estimated 100,000 Americans in Israel, many of whom were "just visiting."

Blinken said the situation in Israel is personal to him as a Jew and because his grandfather fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived three concentration camps during the Holocaust.

"I understand, on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that the Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews  indeed, for Jews everywhere," he said. "The message that I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to  we will always be there by your side. Thats the message that President Biden delivered to the prime minister from the moment this crisis began."

Blinken reiterated that the U.S. "has Israel's back," saying that it has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean, that it is supplying more ammunition interceptors to help replenish Israel's Iron Dome and that it is sending more U.S. military support.

Blinken told reporters at a separate news conference Thursday that he had been shown graphic photographs, including images of dead children and beheaded soldiers.

"Its hard to find the right words," he said. "Its beyond what anyone would ever want to imagine, much less actually see and, God forbid, experience. A baby, an infant riddled with bullets. Soldiers beheaded. Young people burned alive in their cars or in their hideaway rooms."

Earlier in the day, Blinken made an unscheduled stop at a donation center in Tel Aviv, where he met with a survivor of the music festival attack in southern Israel on Saturday.

Blinken is scheduled to travel Friday to Amman, Jordan, to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II. He also plans to travel to Qatar on Friday to meet with senior officials, a U.S. official confirmed Thursday.

His meetings in Doha will focus on joint Qatari-U.S. efforts to de-escalate and to secure the release of the hostages, said a source with knowledge of the visit.

At least 1,300 Israelis  including 222 soldiers  were killed in Hamas' attack Saturday, and more than 3,300 have been injured. In Gaza, at least 1,400 people have been killed and more than 6,000 injured.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The British Broadcasting Corporation

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has promised unwavering support for Israel in its fight against what he described as a Hamas "reign of terror".

Speaking with PM Benjamin Netanyahu about last weekend's deadly attack by Gaza-based militants, Mr Blinken said Israel will "never, ever" be alone.

He also urged Israel to avoid harming civilians in the conflict.

At least 1,300 Israelis were killed, and over 1,400 Palestinians have died in air strikes on Gaza.

Twenty-seven US citizens are known to have died in Israel and 14 are missing, feared abducted.

On Thursday, the State Department announced that it would begin arranging charter flights for US citizens still in Israel who hope to leave beginning on 13 October. These flights are expected to be augmented in the "coming days".

Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the US and European Union, took up to 150 people hostage when its gunmen stormed through the Gaza security barrier on Saturday in a co-ordinated land, air and sea attack. It was the deadliest assault by Palestinian militants in Israel's 75-year history.

More on Israel Gaza war

America's top diplomat met Mr Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Thursday, where he was thanked for the US support.

During a joint press conference, Mr Blinken told Israelis "you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists you will never, ever have to".

He also stressed the importance of taking "every possible precaution" to avoid harming more civilians as fighting continues.

The US mourned "the loss of every innocent life", he added.

Concerns have been mounting for Gaza's civilian population amid dwindling supplies and expectations of an Israeli ground offensive.

Mr Blinken also condemned the deaths caused by the "heinous attacks" of Hamas.

Mr Netanyahu said that Mr Blinken's visit to Israel was a "tangible example of America's unequivocal support of Israel".

"President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil," he added, referring to the unprecedented attack on the Jewish Sabbath.

Mr Blinken also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday.

On Friday he will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah in the Jordanian capital Amman.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he had made it clear to Mr Netanyahu that Israel "must operate by the rules of war" in its response to Hamas' attacks.

He has also said Israel has a duty to respond to an "act of sheer evil".

Israel has said a total blockade - including on food, fuel and other essentials - imposed on Gaza since the attacks would not be lifted until hostages are freed.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas and has launched a bombing campaign on the enclave of 2.3 million people.

Reuters quoted an unnamed US state department official as saying there were up to 600 Americans in Gaza, some of whom wanted to leave.

Aid agencies, meanwhile, have been calling for humanitarian corridors to ease the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
(Bloomberg) -- US Senator Bob Menendez conspired to act as a foreign agent of Egypt, federal prosecutors said in a revised indictment that added a new count to earlier bribery charges against the New Jersey Democrat.

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Menendez, his wife Nadine and Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana were charged with the foreign agent count on Thursday in Manhattan federal court. The charge is based on allegations in the original indictment last month that Menendez, 69, abused his authority as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to help Egypt, including giving Egyptian officials highly sensitive information about personnel at the US embassy in Cairo.

The new indictment also included the earlier corruption charges against Menendez, who was accused of accepting as bribes hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and a Mercedes convertible.

The new charge increases political pressure on Menendez, who already faces calls to resign from dozens of Democratic senators.

Menendez, who has temporarily resigned his chairmanship, has vowed to beat the case. He said Thursday hes loyal only to the US.

Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true, Menendez said in a statement. The facts havent changed, only a new charge. It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic.

A lawyer for Nadine Menendez said she denies all the charges.

Read More: Menendez, His Wife and the Alleged Plot to Help Their Friends

Menendez, his wife and Hana pleaded not guilty to the corruption charges at a Sept. 27 hearing. Two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe, also pleaded not guilty to conspiring to bribe Menendez in separate schemes. The defendants each face as many as 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges, though they would likely get far less time.

Menendez was charged Thursday under a law closely related to one hes resisted strengthening. As chair of the foreign relations committee, Menendez has had significant sway over various legislative efforts in recent years to update the 1938 foreign lobbying disclosure statute. In December 2020, Menendez spoke on the Senate floor to block an expedited vote on a measure which would have boosted compliance enforcement. He urged his colleagues to take a step back and more thoroughly examine the bill.

Read More: Menendez Case Raises Questions for US Attorney Who Resisted Him

Prosecutors say Menendez secretly wrote a letter that Egypt sent to his colleagues, urging them to lift a hold on $300 million in US aid, and had his wife tell Hana that he would approve a $99 million arms sale to the Middle Eastern nation. Menendez also allegedly pressed a US Department of Agriculture official to protect the exclusive right Egypt gave to Hanas company, EG Halal Certified Inc., to certify US food exports as compliant with halal standards.

Lawrence S. Lustberg, a lawyer for Hana, said the revised indictment had no merit.

The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot to enlist Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian government is as absurd as it is false, Lustberg said in a statement.

Not all of the original bribery case had to do with Egypt. Prosecutors allege Menendez pressured officials in the New Jersey attorney generals office to disrupt a criminal investigation of an associate of Uribe, who works in the trucking and insurance business. In exchange, Uribe gave Nadine Menendez $15,000 in cash for a down payment on a Mercedes-Benz C-300 convertible and made monthly payments for three years, the US said.

Since the original indictment, The Record of New Jersey and the New York Times reported that Nadine Menendez was driving a Mercedes in December 2018 when she fatally struck a pedestrian in Bogota, New Jersey. She was released without a summons or a sobriety test, and police determined she wasnt at fault, police records obtained by Bloomberg show. The Times has reported that the attorney general is now investigating the accident.

The accident is referred to in the indictment, which said it left her without a car. In the weeks that followed, she was in regular contact with Uribe about getting a new car. When she succeeded, prosecutors said, she messaged Menendez: Congratulations mon amour de la vie, we are the proud owners of a 2019 Mercedes, adding a heart emoji.

Menendez has faced corruption allegations before. He went to trial in 2017 on charges that he took gifts of private jet travel, a Paris vacation and campaign contributions in exchange for pushing a Florida doctors business interests within the US government. A judge declared a mistrial after the jury deadlocked.

The Justice Department says the alleged bribery conspiracy began in January 2018, around the time prosecutors dropped the previous case.

The case is US v. Menendez, 23-cr-490, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

--With assistance from Benjamin Penn.

(Updates with Menendez statement in sixth paragraph)

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US senator Robert Menendez, who is already facing corruption charges, has now been accused of acting as a foreign agent of Egypt.

The new indictment alleges Mr Menendez and his wife Nadine, provided "sensitive US government information" that helped Egypt's government.

This comes weeks after the couple were accused of bribery, which they pleaded not guilty to.

The senator called the accusations false and has denied any wrongdoing.

In September, prosecutors charged Mr Menendez and his wife Nadine with accepting bribes of cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage and a luxury vehicle from three New Jersey businessmen as part of a scheme to use the senator's influence to increase US aid and military sales to Egypt.

During a search of the senator's New Jersey home last year, investigators found $480,000 (393,000) in cash hidden throughout the residence, as well as 13 bars of gold bullion worth an estimated $155,000 (127,000), prosecutors allege.

The new indictment filed by New York federal prosecutors on Thursday alleges Mr Menendez used "his influence and power to breach his official duty in ways that benefited the Government of Egypt".

While part of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - which he has now stepped down from - he allegedly encouraged fellow senators to lift a hold on $300m (246m) in aid to Egypt and provided sensitive US government information to its government, according to prosecutors.

The indictment alleges the conspiracy occurred between January 2018 and June 2022.

It also includes new photos of Mr Menendez and his wife, Nadine, dining with Egyptian officials at a steakhouse in Washington, DC. Nadine asked: "What else can the love of my life do for you?" prosecutors alleged.

According to the indictment, "public officials, including Members of Congress, are prohibited from agreeing to be or acting as an agent of a foreign principal required to register under FARA", which is the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

In last month's indictment, the pair each face three criminal counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under colour of official right.

In a statement on Thursday, the 69-year-old lawmaker defended himself against the new charges.

"Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true," he said. "I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America," he said.

More than 30 Senate Democrats have called on him to resign, including fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.

On Thursday, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman called on the Senate to bring a resolution to expel Mr Menendez from the chamber in the wake of new charges.

"We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate," Mr Fetterman said in a statement. "This is not a close call."
Capt. Don Sherman, of the Chicago Light Artillery, Battery A, gives a final salute to Silas Nichols, at his Antioch grave site. Nichols was found to be the last living soldier in Lake County to serve in the Union army, during the Civil War. (Gregory Harutunian/Lake County News-Sun)

Historians, people in period garb and an Abraham Lincoln impersonator gathered over the weekend at Antioch Townships Hickory Union Cemetery to honor the life of Silas Nichols who, 20 years of research confirmed, was Lake Countys last surviving soldier to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War when he died in 1945.

Historians say Nichols, a Lake Villa-Waukegan resident when he died at age 96, actually met Lincoln on several occasions.

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A ceremony Saturday at his grave site, complete with artillery cannons and a color guard, paid tribute to the man along with the placement of a bronze plaque and granite marker.

The sculpture and marker honoring Lake County's Silas Nichols was unveiled and installed at a ceremony Saturday. (Gregory Harutunian/Lake County News-Sun)

The Camp 1, Department of Illinois, Sons of the Veterans of the Civil War organized the event. The group is the legally authorized heir representing members in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

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Mark Braun, a historian on Civil War veterans in the Chicago area, said it took awhile to track down details of Nichols Civil War service and life story.

The research would lead us to one individual, and then wed find out about another person, and so on, until it was uncovered, after 20 years, that Silas Nichols was actually the last one (from Lake County), he said.

Braun noted that 18 Civil War-era soldiers are buried at Hickory Union Cemetery, and more than 53,000 other soldiers are buried throughout the Chicago area.

Nichols was born in Sandusky, Ohio, and lived in Lake County for more than 56 years. Diana Dretske, the Dunn Museum of Lake Countys curator, found his community involvement was a central aspect of his life, along with the military service and memories of meeting Lincoln.

He mustered into the 145th Ohio Infantry at the age of 16, noting his age as 18  being sent to Washington, D.C., she said. (He) was among the throngs seeking to meet Mr. Lincoln, and the open door policy brought a crush of people to the White House. They camped outside and crammed into the corridors.

He recounted being at the White House with others, and asking to see the president, Dretske said. A guard went into a room and said, Its only some old soldiers. Nichols remembered hearing Lincoln reply, Never call them that! Lincoln himself came to the door and greeted them. Meeting him was an important event for Union soldiers and sailors.

Max Daniels, dressed as Abraham Lincoln, read the Gettysburg Address during the ceremony Saturday. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Lakes Region Historical Society/HANDOUT)

Dretske noted that Nichols met Lincoln on three other occasions. After mustering out, he got married and eventually moved west to Lake Villa to live the life of a farmer.

After moving to Waukegan, Nichols distinguished himself as a detective for the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway, and served as the Waukegan GARs post commander. His maintained his retired military associations, and in 1899 attended the dedication of the Civil War monument, which still stands near the current courthouse in Waukegan.

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For 17 years, Nichols read The Gettysburg Address on Memorial Day on Waukegans courthouse square, Dretske said. Having met the man who wrote (it) made this a great honor. Nichols had a special place in the community as one of the few individuals still living who had met Abraham Lincoln.

Diana Dretske, the Lake County Dunn Museum's curator, speaks at a ceremony honoring the life of Silas Nichols Saturday. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Lakes Region Historical Society/HANDOUT)

Dressed as Lincoln Saturday, Max Daniels recited the address during the graveside ceremony.

Its what Silas Nichols did at every GAR encampment, and meeting President Lincoln, said Ainsley Wonderling, the Lakes Region Historical Societys director. This is engraved on his stone.

Cannon salutes, a rendition of taps and retiring the colors closed out the event.

Dretske quoted the Waukegan Gazettes editor, as he watched men march off to fight in the Civil War: Let not those who have volunteered be forgotten.
Law enforcement officers have identified all 59 people killed in the Russian attack on the village of Hroza on 5 October.

Source: Ihor Klymenko , Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, on Telegram; Mariana Reva, Spokeswoman of the National Police of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.

Quote from Klymenko: "Police forensics identified all those killed in the missile attack on a cafe in Kharkiv Oblast. A total of 59 people were killed by the Russians by a direct hit from an Iskander [missile system] in the village of Hroza. All the victims are local residents. Seniors, doctors, farmers, teachers, businessmen. All are civilians. Whole families in several generations died".

Details: Klymenko said that 19 people were identified using mobile DNA laboratories. To do this, police forensics took samples from relatives around the clock, drew up profiles and looked for matching fragments for six days.

Klymenko specified that one of the dead, a 60-year-old man, was identified by forensic experts by 20 separate body parts.

Two more people were identified using personal items recovered from the victims' homes, as they had no direct relatives to compare DNA profiles with.

Mariana Reva, Spokeswoman of the National Police of Ukraine, said that 59 people died from the strike on Hroza, and not 56, as previously reported by the regional authorities. Reva reports that five more injured people are in hospital.

Read also: Hroza's Agony: Stories of people killed by the Russian missile in a village in Kharkiv region

Background:

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Grave robbers broke into a crypt in a mausoleum, pried open a coffin and stole body parts, Colorado sheriffs officials reported.

Its so disturbing that someone would take the steps to unearth someone who has been laid to rest and to do anything to harm the body of somebody whos gone, and how devastating these can be for families, Jacki Kelley of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office told KUSA.

The theft was discovered at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11,the sheriffs office said in a news release.

Deputies called to the cemetery spotted severe damage to a mausoleum and crypt, officials said. A casket inside the crypt had been pried open.

Parts of the body inside were stolen in the theft, which apparently took place overnight, officials said.

The mausoleum contained three crypts, but only one was tampered with, Kelley told KUSA. The body inside was not recently buried.

It is deeply disturbing that someone would desecrate a final resting place, Crown Hill Cemetery said in a statement to KUSA.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call 303-271-5612.

Jefferson County is about 6 miles northwest of Denver.

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A Boise police officer whose neck was injured when former Police Chief Ryan Lee demonstrated a neck hold on him has sued the city and Lee.

Sgt. Kirk Rush, a member of the Boise Police Departments K-9 Unit, alleged in a lawsuit that he had been at odds with Lee over planned policy changes to the K-9 unit, to which Rush was assigned. In October 2021, the officer said, Lee demonstrated a neck hold on him without his consent, which caused him injuries that later required surgery.

The lawsuit follows a tort claim over the same dispute, filed in April 2022. Tort claims in Idaho are legal filings against government agencies that precede lawsuits.

The lawsuit accuses Lee of civil battery, accuses the city of negligence, and asks for damages. Civil battery is intentional contact, including harmful or offensive contact, without permission.

Former Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee, who resigned in October 2022.

News of the Rush incident was one of multiple controversies that led to Lees ouster in September. Earlier this year, an independent law firm reviewing the departments policies determined that veteran officers had chafed at Lees reforms  which he began implementing after he was hired from the Portland Police Bureau  and pushed him out.

Lee received a severance package from the city and has not spoken publicly about this incident or his ouster. His attorney did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.

In an interview weeks after the incident, Lee told state investigators that he was surprised to hear Rush had been injured, saying he did not exhibit signs of distress during the demonstration and had not taken any subsequent time off of work.

Earlier this summer, Mayor Lauren McLean told the Statesman that she made the best decision I could in asking Lee to leave.

In an email, a spokesperson for McLean, Maria Weeg, said a workers compensation claim Rush filed over the incident has been settled.

Sgt. Rush has received the medical and other benefits to which he is entitled, and the city is willing to pay for any other medical claims associated with his injury into the future, Weeg said. We remain open to mediating any issues Sgt. Rush and his lawyers believe were unresolved.

What does the lawsuit say?

At an Oct. 12, 2021, staff meeting, Lee explained to officers that one of their members had inappropriately used a type of neck restraint known as a lateral vascular neck restraint, according to the lawsuit.

Neck restraints have received heightened scrutiny in the wake of George Floyds and others killings.

At the briefing, Lee said the vascular neck holds should only be used when deadly force is authorized, the lawsuit said.

After explaining the neck hold, he asked Rush  the acting watch commander  to join him at the front of the room. He then suddenly grabbed the back of Rushs neck and pulled him around the room.

Sgt. Rush felt humiliated to be treated this way but felt that he could not object or ask to be let go because Mr. Lee was the chief of police, the lawsuit said. Lee then asked him if he could stand up. Rush said no, and Lee released him.

Lee then asked the sergeant to face away from him, and then violently grabbed Sgt. Rushs forehead and yanked his head backward.

Three days after the meeting, Rush filed the workers compensation claim with the department. His supervisor, Lt. Josiah Ransom, later filed a human resources complaint.

In late October 2021, someone within BPD command staff requested that the Idaho State Police investigate the incident as a felony battery, according to the lawsuit.

In January 2022, Rush had surgery on his neck, which included implanting a plate, according to the lawsuit. His injuries included a cervical neck sprain and multiple bulging discs.

The state police investigation ended that same month, and E. Clayne Taylor, the Clearwater County prosecuting attorney, concluded in August 2022 that criminal charges could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, but that his was a very difficult decision and a close call.

On Oct. 3, Rush was told in a letter that the city had determined there is sufficient evidence to conclude that an officer or department employee violated law or policy.

What has Lee said?

Lee spent close to an hour talking to the Idaho State Police about the incident.

In an audio tape of the interview obtained by the Statesman, Lee expressed surprise at being told that Rush was injured.

Lee said he had been concerned since becoming chief about the frequency with which vascular neck holds were used at the department. The holds have largely been done away with at other departments and were temporarily suspended in Boise before he became chief.

Lee worked to make the suspension of the move permanent, which he found caused some consternation among the rank-and-file.

While attending the Oct. 12, 2021, briefing to introduce the new deputy chief, Tammany Brooks, Lee was questioned by officers about how else to subdue suspects. He told ISP that he asked Rush to help him demonstrate some other ways to subdue suspects, to which Rush responded, Well, youre not going to choke me out, are you?

To me it was very clear that I was asking, could you help me, and that he was agreeing to help me, Lee said, saying that what he had done was hold on to Rushs neck, and subsequently hold his head and tilt it backward.

He said he has a third-degree black belt in Judo and had worked as a defensive tactics trainer for close to two decades.

Having been a DT instructor for years, Im being mindful to make sure that its not painful or uncomfortable, he said of the Rush incident, saying it had been very light, low-pressure type stuff.

A couple of days later, Lee said he apologized to Rush because some officers had chuckled during the incident and he worried he had embarrassed him. In response, Rush told him the moves had hurt him, which Lee said he was surprised by.

He said he did not hear that a complaint had been filed until two weeks later.

I think it was totally appropriate at that time, he told investigators of the demonstration.

Disagreement over use of dogs

Rushs lawsuit notes that Lee and Rush also had disagreed over a policy change the chief was exploring.

The departments K9 policy trains dogs to bite suspects when they find them. Concerned over liability and about whether dog bites were always justified in searches for suspects who were hiding, Lee said he was considering shifting to a bark police, wherein dogs would instead first bark at suspects after locating them.

Lee said he and Rush had a cordial disagreement about that, and that no policy changes had been made.

In the lawsuit, Rush cited the K9 disagreement as a reason he was targeted.

Sgt. Rush believed that Mr. Lee accosted him at the briefing because he had disagreed with Mr. Lee about the direction of the K9 unit.
Teachers union head Randi Weingarten says that the campaign by conservatives to ban books isnt about the books at all, but part of a broader strategy to destroy public schoolsone that was supercharged by the pandemic.

You take the agita and the anxiety that people had at Covid, that fear, and you combine it with a right wing who has wanted to kill public schools for years and take that money for vouchers, and you have the scenario we have, Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, said Wednesday at The New Republics Stop Trump Summit.

Vouchers, which use public education dollars to fund private and religious school attendance, are just one pillar of the conservative campaign to undermine, destroy, and defund public schools, she said. The other two are book banning and manufactured outrage over critical race theory.

Weingarten pointed to conservative activist Chris Rufo and a comment he made at Hillsdale College, a Christian nationalist school, in which he admitted that focusing on these issues was all part of a master plan to promote universal vouchers: To get to universal school choice, you really need to operate from a premise of universal public school distrust.

In an interview with TNR after the event, Weingarten explained the extremist strategy Rufo and other conservatives have used to defund public schools. The hook was trust. If you really create as much distrust as possible in public schooling, then parents will look at privatization as an option, she said.

Thats where critical race theory comes in.

[Rufo] tried to make a term that nobody knows so toxic, so that you can weaponize it and make fear, she said. Conversations about hard subjects became weaponized as indoctrination. Which is patently ridiculous, and dangerous.

Race, as well as gender, is the subject conservatives have focused on in their campaigns to ban books in public schools and libraries.

What [Republican Governor Ron] DeSantis is doing in the so-called war on woke, is exactly part of their playbookto make people afraid of books, and afraid of what we do in school, Weingarten said. According to Pen America, Florida passed 15 educational intimidation bills in the last two and a half years.

The parents rights movement is made up of a loud minority, Weingarten said, and actively undermines what most parents want. What we see in Florida is that 60 percent of the book banning has been done by 11 people, she said.

The AFT has partnered with The New Republic in fighting back against such bans. TNRs Banned Books Tour has been delivering thousands of banned books across the country this month, most recently in Florida.
A boy was shot in Houston while helping his brother track down a stolen vehicle, Texas authorities told news outlets.

The Harris County Sheriffs Office said the shooting happened after 9 p.m. on Oct. 11, along a road on Houstons northeast side, KHOU reported.

The older brothers car had been stolen and, instead of contacting police, he decided to try to find it using a GPS monitor inside the vehicle, the sheriffs office told the station.

The brothers got into a family members pickup truck, eventually spotted the stolen car and started following it, deputies told KTRK.

The accused thief took notice and opened fire, striking the boy, investigators told the outlet. The brothers stopped the pursuit and called for help.

Deputies said the suspect was gone when they arrived and the car was later found abandoned, KPRC reported.

The boy was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, deputies told the station. No arrests have been made as of Oct. 12.

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Lake Mead officials are warning hikers planning to head to popular hot springs below Hoover Dam: Avoid any activity that involves splashing or submerging your head.

An organism widely referred to as a brain-eating amoeba  Naegleria fowleri  can be present if conditions are right, the officials said.

Naegleria fowleri has been found in hot springs, according to a statement released by Lake Mead National Recreation Area on Wednesday. This amoeba enters through the nose and can cause a deadly infection that causes a sudden and severe headache, fever, and vomiting. It is advised to avoid diving, splashing water, or submerging your head in hot spring water.

Brain-eating amoeba: Will the warming climate bring more cases?

Brain-eating amoeba was blamed for the death of a 2-year-old boy in July. Family told Nexstars KLAS he contracted the amoeba a few weeks earlier while swimming in Ash Springs, which is near the town of Alamo, about 100 miles north of Las Vegas.

Water flows down the Colorado River downriver from Hoover Dam in northwest Arizona, on Aug. 14, 2022, near the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

The amoeba  a single-celled organism that can life in warm freshwater environments  can cause a disease known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). The highest concentrations of the amoeba are found in freshwater that is 75 degrees or higher, especially for extended periods of time.

2-year-old boy dies in Las Vegas of brain-eating amoeba

The park routinely closes some trails to hot springs during extreme summer heat, but the trails reopened on Oct. 1. Some of the springs remain accessible from the Colorado River while trails are closed. Among the best-known springs:

Gold Strike Hot Spring, at the end of a strenuous hike (4.7 miles, round trip) from a trailhead off Interstate 11 on the Nevada side of the river

Arizona Hot Spring, another strenuous trail (5 miles, round trip) accessed from the Arizona side of the river off I-11

Lost Man Hot Spring, also accessed from the Arizona side

While the trails are currently open, Lake Mead officials are also reminding visitors that October weather can be inconsistent, and temperatures can fluctuate.

Please check the weather and carry plenty of water, a first aid kit, and sun protection when hiking, officials said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
FILE - Richard Branson, of Virgin Group, prepares to unfurl a banner during a naming ceremony for the Brightline train station, to be renamed as Virgin MiamiCentral in Miami on April 4, 2019. A British judge ruled in favor of Richard Branson's Virgin group on Thursday Oct. 12, 2023 in its lawsuit against a U.S. train company that terminated a licensing agreement and claimed the Virgin brand was no longer one of high repute. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LONDON (AP)  A British judge ruled in favor of Richard Branson's Virgin group on Thursday in its lawsuit against a U.S. train company that terminated a licensing agreement and claimed the Virgin brand was no longer one of high repute.

Judge Mark Pelling ruled in favor of Virgin Enterprises, which had sued Florida passenger train operator Brightline Holdings for breaching an agreement to rebrand as Virgin Trains USA. Brightline said it was disappointed with the ruling and planned to appeal.

The lawsuit was over a deal the two companies struck in 2018 and Brightline pulled out of two years later. It came shortly after the Virgin Atlantic airline filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. and Virgin lost the U.K. train franchise it had held for two decades.

Brightline argued that Virgin had ceased to constitute a brand of international high repute, largely because of matters related to the pandemic. Virgin Atlantic fought financial support from the British government after COVID-19 grounded travel.

Virgin sued at the High Court in London, calling Brightlines allegations cynical and spurious.

Issuing judgment after a hearing in July, Pelling said that Brightline had to prove that continuing to use the Virgin label would cause material damage to Brightlines reputation or the value of its business. In my judgment it has plainly failed to do so.

The judge said there was no evidence Brightline's standing with consumers was damaged by its continued association with Virgin.

The issue of damages will be settled at a later hearing. Virgin sought about 200 million pounds ($246 million) in damages in the case.

In response to the ruling, the company said in a statement that the Virgin brand has been a symbol of global innovation, exceptional customer experience and entrepreneurship for more than 50 years. Todays court judgment demonstrates the strength of our business and brand.

Brightline, owned by Fortress Investment Group, began running trains between Miami and West Palm Beach in 2018, the first private intercity passenger service to begin U.S. operations in a century. It started Miami-to-Orlando services last month.
Recent news about the possible use of the death penalty for the man convicted in the racially motivated Tops supermarket massacre in Buffalo, Peyton Gendron, was disconcerting.

Because of the federal charges Gendron faces, he can be executed under a federal statute. During President Trump's four years in office, an exorbitant 13 federal executions took place. And despite President Bidens appointment of an attorney general who is not setting execution dates, his administration has not addressed the 43 inmates currently on death row or impeded capital punishment cases already decided during his term.

Nearly 700 persons had been executed in New York state after the 1890 advent of the electric chair, which at the time was considered more humane than previous execution methods. In 1995, Gov. Pataki reissued capital punishment in New York after a 32-year hiatus. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union Feminists for Life of New York and the New York Catholic Conference fought in tandem to make capital punishment illegal under the state Constitution.

A sign with hands around each person's name who died in the mass shooting was left across from the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Ave. in Buffalo, NY with a message on May 16, 2022.

Both the left and the right often accept death as the answer to our most serious problems. Conservatives often defend the death penalty just as vehemently as liberals cheer lead for abortion. According to Gallup, 55% of the public supports capital punishment for convicted murderers. It also reports a similar percentage of the public is pro-choice on aborting human beings before birth.

Both camps legitimately express concern about the disproportionate number of Black persons killed in both abortion and capital punishment. In the United States, while approximately 13% of our population identifies as Black, Pew Research reports that 39% of all women who had abortions in 2020 were Black. The Death Penalty Information Center reports an astounding 34% of those executed were Black.

Abortion opponents, who know the unborn are innocent, should consider the 195 persons since 1973 who have been wrongly convicted and exonerated from death row.

Advocates debate: Should Peyton Gendron, perpetrator of the Buffalo racist massacre, face death penalty?

There are courageous voices breaking the binary political divide. Marietta Jaeger of Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing and Shane Claibourne of Red Letter Christians all walk in reconciliation with murdered victims families to oppose the death penalty. They are among the nearly 200 organizations and 300 leaders who are part of the Consistent Life Ethic Network taking literally the commandment "Thou shall not kill without concern for what single-issue advocacy will be offended.

Prominent pro-life evangelicals like the Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, and Joan Andrews Bell, currently convicted for an anti-abortion sit-in, believe in a radical God that both protects and forgives. Other radical opponents of the selective choice mentality are actor Martin Sheen, leading death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean, Quaker peace psychologist Rachel MacNair and civil rights legend Dorothy Cotton all make the case for protecting life whether innocent or guilty, whether born or unborn.

No message is more powerful, more effective than this straightforward consistency.

Carol Crossed is president of Feminists Choosing Life of New York.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Peyton Gendron: Death penalty possibility and our binary political divide
Salmon

We have a brief window of opportunity to save Idahos salmon from extinction.

President Biden has signed a Presidential Memorandum to prioritize the restoration of healthy and abundant wild salmon, steelhead and other native fish populations to the Columbia River Basin.

Idahos salmon come farther and higher than any salmon on earth, to a cold water refuge that gives them a chance for recovery if we act now. These iconic fish leave as small fingerlings and return to their home waters 900 miles inland, up 7,000 feet, over eight dams, bringing the Pacific ocean nutrients to the Sawtooth ecosystem. At a return rate of just 1-2%, however, they are on a rapid path to extinction.

The science is clear: Removing the four lower Snake River dams and optimal spill at the four Columbia dams could restore them to their early 1970s average. The Presidential Memorandum would be delivered upon, as would the tribes fishing and hunting rights, and Congressman Mike Simpsons salmon plan ensures mitigation of any loss of dam services.

Please call the White House at 202-456-1111 and thank the administration for their words, but tell them that NOW it is time for ACTION.

Ann Christensen, Sun Valley

Simison

In this crazy political environment, being involved and informed is so important. I supported Robert Simison four years ago and again this year. There is more to do is his battle cry. Our mayor has much to be proud of from his first four years, but there is more work to be done. We need to make continued strategic investments to address our challenges related to public safety, transportation, family wage jobs and work with our schools; every effort is needed to remain connected and thriving as a community as we grow responsibly.

Meridian has been growing, the electorate has been changing, and for the first time City Council members will be elected by districts in the 2023 election. There is an extreme group working hard to create chaos even at the local level. They claim to bring transparency but just try to find information about these candidates. They claim a lot of things, but antagonizing doesnt solve anything. Vote for problem solvers not problem makers  keep Meridian, Meridian!

Tammy De Weerd, Meridian

Meridian mayor

I am proud to endorse Robert Simison to be re-elected as the mayor of Meridian. I know Mayor Simison to be tuned in to the desires of his constituents, is a great listener and promotes deep public outreach. His opponent, Mike Hon, does not. Mike Hon promotes nothing but his own agenda. Mayor Simison promotes the values of free speech, transparency and full disclosure to the public. Mike Hon does not. While Mike Hon does his best to thwart what the vast majority of parents wish for their children in his attempts to close public libraries by an inaccurate public campaign, Mayor Simison considers a free and open library system as essential for everyone. I know from personal experience how determined Mayor Simison is to partner with other agencies such as ACHD to create a much better flow of traffic including a new overpass over I-84 at Linder Rd, currently in design. Please vote to re-elect Mayor Robert Simison.

Kent Goldthorpe, Meridian

Stead

Boise City Councilmember Meredith Stead is the experienced, dedicated public servant we need in Council District 5. Meredith Steads integrity, courage, expertise, and years of service to the City of Boise are the primary reasons I support her campaign.

Meredith Steads commitment to our community runs deep. With nearly six years of experience serving as a commissioner for Planning and Zoning, Meredith was able to hit the ground running when she was appointed to serve the remainder of former Councilmember Holli Woodings term. Merediths understanding of the municipal process will be essential, especially given the newness of the incoming council. I know that she has the courage to defend the values we share in her steadfast pursuit to create a clean, safe, sustainable city for everyone.

For all of these reasons and more, I support Meredith Stead for Boise City Council in District 5. If you live in District 5, I urge you to vote for Meredith. Your vote will matter in this important local election!

Sam Sandmire, Boise
Esin Aydingoz brings music to life.

In addition to her position as Assistant Chair of Berklee College of Music's Screen Scoring Department, Aydingoz is a composer, pianist and conductor. She will conduct the Orquesta Folclorica Nacional de Mexico in Disney Pixars Coco Live-to-Film Concert on Tour at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Peace Center.

I'm from Istanbul, Turkey, but I've been living in the U.S. ever since 2012, she said. I initially came here to attend Berklee College of Music as a student.

After graduation, Aydingoz moved to Los Angeles and began working as a composer and conductor, though this tour is her first big conducting gig. She worked with similar Disney Live in Concert productions, including Beauty and the Beast, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Little Mermaid. Her arrangement of Paint It Black on the Netflix show Wednesday was No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Charts.

Disney Pixars Coco Live-to-Film

But with Coco, Aydingoz is more than the conductor, she is also a fan.

Oh, its the most beautiful movie, she said. Coco for me is special on so many levels. When I first moved to LA, I joined this organization called Society of Composers and Lyricists, which provides a lot of screenings and educational events for the newcomer composers. And before I even knew about this organization, my friends surprised me by taking me to a private screening of Coco before it was available to the public. That's how I found out about this organization for which now I'm a board member. I love Disney music. My biggest dream is to score a big Disney Pixar movie like Coco. The composer for this, Michael Giacchino , I have always looked up to him because he also did Up and

Ratatouille and Lost, which is not Disney, but it was a huge TV series.

At the end of the Coco screening, Aydingoz met Giacchino  which turned into a funny and memorable moment.

It's very, very emotional, and people tend to cry at the end, she said. So when I ended up meeting Michael Giacchino, I was a total mess.

With Disney Pixar, the story is always the heart of the movie.

I'm from another culture, so getting to experience another culture where there's a lot of importance given to family and music  it's so beautiful to witness, Aydingoz said. I think life and death, these kinds of topics, we try not to think about them, but they present it in such a fascinating and inspiring and beautiful way, that it's almost not scary anymore. I really applaud Disney for doing this kind of storytelling.

On tour, the live score is performed by the 20-member Orquesta Folclorica Nacional de Mexico, which was founded two years ago out of the Ballet Folclorica Nacional de Mexico. Aydingoz said she is learning from them and embracing the celebration and fun they bring to the performance.

They were using a lot of musicians for their dance shows, so two years ago, they decided to also turn this into an orchestra and use those musicians to help preserve Mexican culture by preserving their music and also their instruments, Aydingoz said.

Though Aydingoz thrives on the creativity of composing, she said it can be lonely. And often, the work occurs so far in advance of when an audience can experience it, that it creates a bit of a disconnect. But her Coco experience brings a different kind of joy.

What's so beautiful about conducting is when I'm doing it, and then the music hits the movie so perfectly in a comedic moment or in an action moment, I can hear the kids like Oh! or they laugh, or they start singing along. And that's a whole other kind of energy, she said.

Disney Pixars Coco Live-to-Film

AMP presents Disney Pixars Coco Live-to-Film Concert on Tour at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Peace Center. The performance features a screening of the complete film with Oscar and Grammy-winning composer Michael Giacchinos musical score performed by the 20-member Orquesta Folclorica Nacional de Mexico, conducted by Esin Aydingoz. For tickets and details, visit peacecenter.org.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Bringing music and culture to life
One plant identification app said this plant found in a Lake County yard was a New York fern. Another said it was an ostrich fern. (Sheryl DeVore/Lake County News-Sun)

To identify plants in the wild, Ive been using Seek by iNaturalist for several years. And, because I know plants fairly well, I can tell when this app doesnt get it right.

For example, we planted a bur oak in our front yard, and Seek identified it as a different type of oak. I knew better. But Seek almost had me fooled when it identified a fern in my front yard growing beneath some Norway spruces as the New York fern, an Illinois endangered species.

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After some initial excitement, I posted a photo of that fern to a botany group and was politely scolded that this was nothing more than a common ostrich fern. I have plenty of ostrich ferns in my backyard, but these in the front were much smaller.

Another botanist reminded me that the environment in which a plant grows can make a difference in its size and appearance. To give Seek a break, I do realize that identifying ferns in the wild  even with a magnifying glass  can sometimes be difficult.

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Also, iNaturalist is a wonderful way to interact with other nature lovers and learn more about plants, insects and other critters.

But I found a better plant ID app called Picture This. It immediately recognized that the front yard plant was an ostrich fern. Picture This also identified a lady fern growing in the yard near a little homemade pond.

I also learned that what I thought was an American plum just planted this year is really a pin cherry.

The moral of this app story is that when in nature, do not expect your smartphone to get it right all the time. These apps should only be used as part of the learning process.

By talking with botanists and doing online research with sources I respect, Ive learned the ostrich fern can be mistaken for a New York fern. But Im not convinced that so-called plum is a cherry, even if Picture This says so, though its possible the nursery selling this plant misidentified it. I need to do more research.

There are also apps, including Merlin, to identify birds by both song and plumage. But beware, especially if youre a beginning birder.

An Aug. 23 article in the National Audubon Society magazine said, Merlin is magical, but it still makes mistakes. I agree. Advanced birders might immediately recognize the mistakes, but unfortunately beginning birders dont, and some have inaccurately been reporting birds based on what their app says.

One Merlin user and birder from southern Illinois said, We know Merlin isnt perfect, and the software tells you to confirm with a visual sighting, but the last couple days Merlin says there are pheasant cuckoos, rufous-breasted spinetails and pavonine cuckoos in the woods. I had to look them up. The first two live no further north than approximately Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, and the last one is almost exclusively in Brazil. Im going to be pretty surprised if I get a visual sighting of any of them.

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Other Merlin users have had great experiences. For example, one Merlin user and birder said, I picked up the sound of American pipit on my Merlin app last week, and finally had a chance to photograph a small flock in the monastery cemetery this morning. Its a new species for our campus list.

A birder from Chicagos southern suburbs was told by his Merlin app that a yellow-rumped warbler was singing in his yard. Id not seen or heard them previously, he said. But after viewing the app, he saw these little birds bouncing around the tree branches and even eating off poison ivy berries in the back part of my yard where the old pond used to be.

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They were definitely yellow-rumped warblers, and its cool he discovered them in his yard.

The technology gurus are working to improve these apps, and there are various settings to improve accuracy.

But there is a lesson to be learned from these nature app anecdotes. Technology can enhance your knowledge of nature, but it should be used in conjunction with the tried-and-true method of learning from others, or while youre in the field.

I love using Picture This, but Im not just going to run around collecting a list of plant names based on what the app is telling me.

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Nature apps are tools, and youve got to know the right way to use them. Walking in a preserve outdoors should include more time looking with your eyes, and hearing with your ears, and less time turning on a smartphone.

I hope our natural areas dont fill up with humans holding up their phones to see what may be out there, instead of exploring on their own and using their own five senses. Yes, certain plants emit an identifiable fragrance. I wonder if theres an app for that.

Sheryl DeVore has worked as a full-time and freelance reporter, editor and photographer for the Chicago Tribune and its subsidiaries. Shes the author of several books on nature and the environment. Send story ideas and thoughts to sheryldevorewriter@gmail.com.
Plans to delay judges from sending serious violent criminals to immediate custody after their conviction have dribbled out this week.

The public werent told in advance that, such is the state of our bursting prison estate, sentencers have reportedly been ordered by the senior presiding judge Lord Edis to keep rapists, murderers and other serious offenders away. Judges have already been told to hand offenders they would otherwise have sent to prison suspended sentences.

A paradox now reigns: we dont have enough space to house bad people who would probably be made worse by the experience anyway. We dont have enough capable prison staff to manage safety, we have no leadership and no accountability at the corporate centre.

This train wreck of a criminal justice strategy has been years in the making. Neither the Ministry of Justice or His Majestys Prison and Probation Service or their political boss can claim this awful juncture as a surprise.

They did the maths that predicted much of this rise in the prison population back in 2018, albeit without the benefit of the covid impact which created a backlog of trials, now adding to the burden.

The Health Secretary, speaking off the cuff on BBC R4 Today programme, tried to claim rather ludicrously that the independence of judges was a contributory factor here. When I last checked, judges werent involved in the construction of new prison space. They simply sentence guilty people to custody following broad guidelines.

Its all very well claiming that the next biggest investment to HS2 is creating 20,000 additional modern prison places when nearly 75 per cent of those new cells only exist in the heads of architects. Blaming local planning laws for foreseeable delays in projects of critical national importance to public safety is woefully inadequate from a Government that relies on a reputation for being the party of law and order.

When this expansion programme was first announced by ministers, the idea, now quietly dropped, was to use the additional capacity to close down some of our most notorious crumbling Victorian infrastructure. But whats now clear is that, even with these fetid dungeons remaining open, the system cannot cope with the numbers being sent into it.

The precursors for another system-wide disturbance sparked by Strangeways riot in 1990  prisoners locked up for 23 hours a day in teeming prisons where you would hesitate to house livestock  are now in place. The current contingency plans, known as Operation Safeguard, to earmark 400 cells in prison custody, apart from being totally unsuitable would be wiped out by a large public order incident. Then what? Send a handful of prisoners to the Baltic states?

There is a simple, yet unpalatable, solution. It is intolerable for victims in particular and justice in general to have serious offenders locked out of prison where they should belong as punishment and where, if possible, they can be rehabilitated. We must do something immediately to create that space. It will require the executive release of prisoners as a political decision who are carefully selected to be managed safely in the community to serve the rest of their sentence. A process is very likely underway, at five to midnight, to identify non-violent offenders who would fit the bill and be amenable to electronic tagging.

The Prison Reform Trusts research in 2022 said that 68 per cent of women in prison were there for a non-violent offence. Womens prisons are built to much the same specification as the male estate. My colleague, former Governor John Podmore, has suggested releasing such female prisoners on licence could free up further capacity. This ought to be explored as a matter of urgency.

To find our way out of this problem we need two things. New build prisons that arent accounting fantasies, and sufficient and suitable front line officers clearly and confidently in charge of them. Neither are available at the moment. The debate on why we imprison more people per capita that the rest of western Europe with the worst recidivism rates can be had another day. But the political and moral challenges coalesce here and now: are you softer on crime by failing to lock up rapists and murderers or unlocking space for them by the early release of the less dangerous? We have run out of road for any other viable action. Ministers must level with the public.

Ian Acheson is senior adviser at the Counter Extremism Project and a former prison governor

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The British military is sending warships, aircraft, and troops to the eastern Mediterranean.

They're set to join a US Navy carrier strike group that recently deployed to waters near Israel.

Israel's allies have stepped up support in the wake of last weekend's Hamas terror attacks.

The British military is deploying warships, surveillance aircraft, and a company of Royal Marines to the eastern Mediterranean, where they're set to join a US Navy carrier strike group sent to prevent Israel's war with Hamas from worsening and expanding into a broader conflict.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak directed military assets to the region "to support Israel, reinforce regional stability, and prevent escalation," said a government statement shared with Insider on Thursday. In doing so, the UK is the second NATO member after the US to bolster its security presence in the region in the wake of the brutal Hamas terror attacks last weekend that Israel said had killed 1,200 people.

"Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft will begin flying in the region from Friday to track threats to regional stability such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups," the UK government said. "Meanwhile, a Royal Navy task group will be moved to the eastern Mediterranean next week as a contingency measure to support humanitarian efforts."

The government said the military package would be on standby to deliver support to Israel and its partners and provide deterrence. It includes P-8 patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, surveillance assets, three helicopters, a company of Royal Marines, and two Royal Navy ships  the landing ship RFA Lyme Bay and the casualty-receiving ship RFA Argus.

RFA Lyme Bay arriving in the port of Gibraltar in September 2014. Photo credit should read MARCOS MORENO/AFP via Getty Images

Sunak also asked that military teams in Israel and in other countries in the region be "bolstered to support" contingency planning and to help neighboring countries manage any external effects that are a result of the conflict, the government statement said.

"We must be unequivocal in making sure the types of horrific scenes we have seen this week will not be repeated. Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation," Sunak said, adding that the UK's military and diplomatic teams were working to "re-establish security" and push for the distribution of humanitarian aid.

The UK assets are set to join a heavily armed US Navy carrier strike group that was dispatched by the Pentagon on Sunday and arrived in the region on Tuesday. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, an advanced, first-in-class aircraft carrier; the USS Normandy, a guided-missile cruiser; and the USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, which are guided-missile destroyers.

US Central Command said it was also working to move fighter jets into the region, including F-15s, F-16s and A-10s.

USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean in March. US Navy/MCS2 Jackson Adkins

Hamas militants on Saturday launched a series of surprise attacks against Israel from land, air, and sea, killing hundreds of Israelis  mostly civilians and some foreign nationals  and injuring more than 3,000, Israel said. It was estimated that 150 others were being held hostage by the militants in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government responded to the bloody assault by declaring war on Hamas and has bombarded Gaza relentlessly for six straight days, hitting what the Israel Defense Forces said were nearly 2,700 Hamas targets. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and Gaza's health ministry said nearly 1,400 Palestinians had been killed and another 6,000 people left injured.

Israeli officials said the aerial campaign was just the start of the offensive, which they said would likely be followed by a major ground invasion of Gaza. In the meantime, the IDF has mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops, alongside heavy firepower, near the coastal enclave.

US and UK officials have said the movement of firepower to the eastern Mediterranean is meant to send a message to Israel's other adversaries in the region, including Iran and groups backed by Tehran (which includes Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah).

The message is that these groups should not look to exploit the situation by adding to the conflict. Sporadic fighting along Israel's northern border with Lebanon has sparked fears that a second front may open up, potentially sending the war spiraling into a regional conflict.

Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday. Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Israel's international partners have continued to provide support. In Washington's case, this includes ongoing weapons shipments and the delivery of munitions and Iron Dome interceptors.

"The monstrous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas in recent days have proven why the UK must support Israel's absolute right to self-defence and deter malign external interference," UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said. "No nation should stand alone in the face of such evil and today's deployment will ensure Israel does not."

"The Royal Navy Task Group, RAF operations and our wider military support will be an undeniable display of the UK's resolve to ensure Hamas's terrorist campaign fails, whilst reminding those who seek to inflame tensions that the forces of freedom stand with the Israeli people," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CHICAGO  When Armando Flores  powerful drug-trafficking brothers decided to flip on the Sinaloa Cartel and its notorious boss, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, Flores knew he had to get out of Mexico.

He had gotten married and put down roots there after being deported in 2003, his attorney said in court Wednesday. But it was a dangerous place for family members of cooperators.

So he came back, with the federal governments assistance, while his younger brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores Jr. helped take down El Chapo for good.

And he started collecting on his brothers drug debts: millions of dollars, some of which he buried under his back porch in Texas. Years later, after the feds caught up with him, he pleaded guilty to money laundering.

As part of his deal, federal prosecutors said they would recommend he not be deported. And on Wednesday, he was sentenced to time served, walking out of U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennellys courtroom a free man, though, as Kennelly said, the threat of being sent back to Mexico will hang over him.

The immigration issue is out there, he said from the bench. I think honestly, if Mr. Flores doesnt commit more crimes, which is kind of what everybody hopes, thats likely not going to end up being a problem in the future. But thats kind of all in Mr. Flores hands.

Flores had been in custody on the case for some 19 months before he was released in January thanks to a judges order that remains under seal. Prosecutors on Wednesday requested a two-year sentence, but federal inmates generally only must serve 85 percent of their sentences. So, Kennelly noted, a two-year term on paper would only actually lock him up for a few more weeks.

I dont think theres much of a point in putting Mr. Flores in jail for five weeks, Kennelly said.

Flores, in a gray three-piece suit and shiny shoes, sniffed and cleared his throat before reading a prepared statement in court. He spoke so quietly the judge asked him to pull the microphone closer.

I am not proud of the reason I am here. I blame no one other than myself, he said. I am not the man I used to be  I enjoy simple things in life, like a quiet night watching Netflix with my wife.

The sentencing closes a major chapter in the Flores family saga. Armando Flores was charged along with the twins wives and two other relatives with conspiring to hide the twins enormous drug proceeds from the government.

All of the defendants pleaded guilty in the case. Vivianna Lopez and Valerie Gaytan, the twins wives, were both sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison. Lopezs sister, Bianca Finnigan, was sentenced to probation while their aunt, Laura Lopez, was given a one-year prison term.

After Flores was arrested and charged, he and his lawyer approached authorities about cooperating, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Erskine said in court. He cooperated broadly, and while he was never called to the witness stand, the fact that he could have done so was likely a major factor in his co-defendants guilty pleas, Erskine said.

Flores admitted to participating in a long-running scheme to disperse money to the twins wives without the knowledge of federal investigators, according to his 21-page guilty plea.

As early as 2009, Flores had another person pick up about $1.9 million in drug proceeds from one of his brothers former couriers and leave it in a car parked in a Chicago garage, where it was later retrieved by Flores and the twins wives.

The next year, Gaytan went to Flores home in Round Rock, Texas, which is near Austin, to pick up an estimated $2.3 million hidden in a U-Haul truck carrying secondhand furniture, according to the plea.

Later, Flores mailed drug proceeds in increments of about $9,000 through the U.S. mail, sometimes exchanging worn or dirty bills for clean $100 bills at a gas station currency exchange near his home, according to the plea.

He also laundered the money by purchasing lavish trips for the wives through a travel agency in Texas, according to the plea.

Flores admitted in the plea that he participated in the conspiracy in exchange for a cut of all the money he delivered.

The Flores twins were West Side drug traffickers whose decision to cooperate with federal authorities in 2008 led to arguably the biggest drug case ever brought in Chicago, with charges against El Chapo himself as well as many of his top underbosses.

The twins were sentenced in 2015 to 14 years in prison and were released late last year into witness protection.

Margarito Flores Jr. last month gave an expansive interview to the Tribune, detailing his life growing up in Little Village and his rise to the top of Chicagos drug world.

The twins were just 12 when they started being introduced into the gang life through Armando, who was in his 20s and already a kingpin in the Latin Kings.

Just like they were later forced to navigate two sides of the Mexican drug cartels, the twins in those days found themselves positioned between two realities of Little Village.

On the one hand were the street gangs, where kids their age were becoming murderers at 13 and 14 years old, he said. On the other was their brother and his friends, who commanded a certain respect and stayed largely out of the day-to-day mayhem on the streets.

Thats where I started to see where me and my (twin) brother were going to sit, like, right in the middle, Margarito Flores said.

With their dad largely absent while living in Mexico, Armando bought the home on South Homan and fixed it up, turning the ground floor into a two-bedroom apartment for the twins, who were about to become teenagers.

Like their father, Armando tried to shield the twins from the Latin Kings, even when he was regularly hosting gang meetings at the home. When the gang members would leave, Armando would tell the twins, Dont ever be like them. "

In my head I was like, I thought they were your friends, Margarito Flores said. I was like, OK so not everyone who you associate with is your friend. And thats a lesson of criminal life. You dont have a lot of choices in that life. Youre going to be associated with some people where you dont always like what they do.

_____
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  Broward Circuit Judge John J. Murphy is expected to decide soon whether top level prosecutors, including elected State Attorney Harold Pryor, can be compelled to testify about the offices handling of an explosive allegation in the murder case against Jamell YNW Melly Demons.

Defense lawyers are asking Murphy to dismiss the charges against Demons, or at least yank the Broward State Attorneys Office from the case, over allegations of a cover-up involving the lead detective on the case. Prosecutor Michelle Boutros claimed in a sworn statement and in testimony that Detective Mark Moretti expressed a willingness to lie about how he executed a search warrant on Jamie King, Demons mother, last October.

Boutros account was known to top prosecutors within days of the incident, but no one told defense lawyers in Demons murder case for nearly 10 months, after King filed an excessive force complaint that brought Boutros allegation back to the surface. Morettis official report did not contain any discredited statement, and the comment raised by Boutros was later characterized as a joke. But defense lawyers Daniel Aaronson and Jamie Benjamin said the defense team could have used the allegation to discredit Moretti when he testified at Demons first trial, which ended with a hung jury.

Prosecutors are required to turn over evidence that could call the testimony of prosecution witnesses into question, including testimony from law enforcement officers, a requirement known as Brady notification.

Aaronson and Benjamin want Pryor and two high-ranking members of his office to testify about what they did after Boutros came forward and why they never told Demons lawyers about the allegations against his chief accuser. Assistant State Attorney Steven Klinger argued that the allegation would not have required a Brady notification. If the judge agrees, there would be no legal basis to force Pryor to the stand.

Prosecutors filed a motion to quash the defense subpoenas for their testimony. If Murphy requires them to testify, theyll be called to the stand on Friday as part of the defense bid to remove them from the case or dismiss it entirely.

Demons and his friend, Cortlen Henry, are being tried separately for the murders of fellow rappers Anthony YNW Sakchaser Williams and Christopher YNW Juvy Thomas. Prosecutors say Henry was the driver of the Jeep in which the murders took place in October 2018, and Demons was the gunman.

Henry and Demons then staged the crime scene to make it look like a drive-by shooting had taken place, according to investigators.

Prosecutors have evidence that Demons was in the vehicle with the others after a late-night recording session in Fort Lauderdale, but the murders took place in Miramar nearly an hour later. Cell company records show Demons phone never left the area of the Jeep, but defense lawyers argued that Demons was not there when the victims were shot.

His retrial was scheduled to begin this week but has been postponed until the Brady controversy is resolved.

_____
Bryn Du Mansion is thrilled to announce the arrival of its third artist in residence for the year, Timothy McCool. Hailing from Austin, Texas, McCool is an accomplished artist and educator with an impressive background and much to offer the community.

Timothy McCool is the Bryn Du Commission's third artist in residences in 2023.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McCool earned his masters of fine arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, located in Boston, Massachusetts. McCool's artistic journey has been marked by numerous solo exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts, Carroll & Sons Gallery in Boston, Massachusetts, Room 68 Gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Launch F18 in New York City, New York. He has also made his mark in group exhibitions at renowned institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Boston Center for the Arts.

McCool's artistic endeavors are not limited to the United States. He has ventured internationally, having been an artist in residence at the Arteles Creative Center in Finland. Moreover, McCool is the co-founder of the DIY exhibition space Goodluckhavefun, operating out of a garage in West Austin, demonstrating his commitment to fostering creativity in unconventional spaces.

During his residency at Bryn Du Mansion, which spans September and October, Timothy McCool will generously share his artistic talents with the local community. The program promises an array of engaging events, from a colored pencil workshop to open studio sessions. Bryn Du Mansion invites art enthusiasts and the curious alike to join in and witness the magic of McCool's artistry.

McCool will be residing in the Bryn Du Mansion Artist in Residence Cottage, a renovated space behind the historic mansion. This residency program is part of Bryn Du's ongoing efforts to enhance local awareness and engagement in the arts by introducing a diverse range of artists to the Granville community throughout the year. It also serves as an inspirational setting for artists to create their works, providing them with an environment conducive to artistic exploration.

Bryn Du Mansion is excited to support artists in their creative journey and welcomes McCool with open arms. McCool's residency promises to be a remarkable addition to the vibrant artistic tapestry of Granville.

For more information about McCool's residency and Bryn Du Mansion's Artist in Residence program, please visit Bryn Du Mansion's website.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Bryn Du welcomes Timothy McCool as artist in residence
A teaching assistant at Imagine Schools in Buckeye was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually abusing a 13-year-old student, police said.

Officers were contacted by a family member of the victim who believed there had been "inappropriate contact" between the child and an instructional assistant, identified as 23-year-old Diana Pirvu, according to a news release from Buckeye police.

Police said that during the investigation, investigators with the Buckeye Police Special Victims Unit reviewed communication between Pirvu and the child and learned that multiple incidents of abuse had taken place off campus, the release stated.

Authorities later detained Pirvu at a traffic stop near her home in Buckeye and interviewed her, leading to her arrest and eventual booking into jail on child molestation charges, according to the news release.

In a statement sent to The Arizona Republic, Imagine Schools said that it was unclear if the boy involved was a student at their school, and were working with the Buckeye Police Department to obtain more information.

Imagine Schools also said that Pirvu was hired in March 2023, passed all background and security checks, and had no disciplinary record.

They had no prior knowledge of her actions or arrest, but immediately placed her on unpaid administrative leave when they found out and would decide whether to keep the leave in place after the conclusion of the investigation.

The school added that they were cooperating with police in the investigation.

This investigation remained ongoing.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Buckeye teaching assistant arrested on suspicion of child sex crimes
Hamas' advanced tactics using drones on armored vehicles must have been the result of Russian training, Ukraine's military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Ukrainska Pravada released on Oct. 12.

While it did not constitute a clear indication of Russia's direct involvement in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the tactics strongly mirrored those used in Russia's war on Ukraine, he said.

In addition, there were several other signs in the weeks leading up to the attacks that provide further evidence of increased Russian connections with Israel's foes in the region.

Budanov noted that the Russian state-run news agency Sputnik began Arabic language broadcasts in Lebanon in the days preceding the attack, using language and narratives consistent with well-known tropes of Russian propaganda.

On Sept. 22-24, a Russian delegation visited Iran and discussed an expansion of intelligence capabilities. Finally, Budanov added that a Russian reconnaissance satellite was moved to orbit over Israel one week before Hamas' attack.

There has been considerable speculation about Russia's involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which has now killed thousands of Israelis and Palestinians, but little concrete evidence.

Read also: Is Russia involved in Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel?

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Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that Russia likely has the economic and technical capacity to continue its war against Ukraine until 2025 or 2026 in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda released on Oct. 12.

He suspected that Russia's human resources may last even longer.

The ammunition needs for both Ukraine and Russia currently surpass the amount that Ukraine's allies in the West and Russia's allies Iran and North Korea can effectively replenish, he added.

Despite Ukraine's much smaller population, Budanov emphasized that it was important not to underestimate Ukraine's human resources either.

"The opportunity for diplomacy will come when the war is over," he stressed. Negotiations would only be possible when Russia "leaves, or at least begins to leave Ukraine (and return) to the 1991 borders."

Any premature negotiations that would allow for Russia to retain some of the territory it currently illegally occupies would be a "betrayal of our people," Budanov said.

Read also: Budanov responds to CNN reports about Ukrainian drone strikes in Sudan

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the HUR

Should the war in Israel continues for an extended period, there could be "certain issues" concerning military assistance to Ukraine, said Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) Head Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov.

If the conflict is limited in duration to a few weeks, there is no reason for concern. "But if the situation persists, it is quite understandable that there will be some problems, not only with supplying weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine."

Read also: Ihnat warns Russia could overwhelm Ukraines air defenses, as Hamas did in Israel

By mid-2024, Ukraine should not face any issues with military assistance from Western partners. "The future will depend on us - how effectively we can communicate, demonstrate, and explain our needs, as well as ramp up our domestic production.

The Pentagon is concerned about the potential need to increase ammunition stockpiles to simultaneously support Ukraine and Israel, CNN reported.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured him that American support for Ukraine would continue this year and the next.

Read also: Transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine remains an option as war evolves, White House says

War in Israel  What is Known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

Read also: Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel  photos and videos

As a result, over 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants may have killed approximately 260 people on Oct 7 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 festivalgoers.

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords, 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.

The Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip on Oct. 9, but Hamas militants may still be there. The Israeli army launched an offensive.

So far, seven Ukrainians have been reported dead. Six more are missing, and six have been reported injured.

Read also: Israel bolstered by first US arms delivery as operation against Hamas continues

The Israeli defense minister ordered a siege of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 9. In his address to the nation, Netanyahu said that Hamas militants would be destroyed after their "atrocities," kidnappings, and murders of children and women. Hamas and other enemies of Israel "will pay a price they will remember for decades to come," he said.

Israeli Defense Forces announced on Oct. 10 that they had fully regained control of the border with the Gaza Strip and advised its residents to leave for Egypt.

As of Oct. 10, more than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured in the Hamas attack in Israel.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Rustem Umierov and Todor Tagarev, the defence ministers of Ukraine and Bulgaria, have signed a memorandum of cooperation that includes assistance in English courses for Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots.

Source: Umierov on Twitter (X), as European Pravda reports

Quote: "Moreover, Bulgaria will help with English courses for future Ukrainian F-16 pilots."

Details: As the minister said, the memorandum expands the scope of bilateral cooperation, including cyber defence, strategic communications and military-technical support, and "provides a basis for future defence interaction and military cooperation".

Background:

Denmark and the Netherlands lead the so-called fighter coalition aimed at providing Ukraine with F-16s and training flight and engineering personnel. The day before, Belgium announced that it would transfer an unspecified number of its fighter jets to Ukraine in 2025.

In addition, Dutch F-16 fighters, on which Ukrainian pilots will be trained, will leave for a new training centre in Romania within a few weeks.

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!
Allegations that a Naperville student was videotaped burning a copy of the Quran this summer have prompted action by school district officials and condemnation from several local organizations and community leaders.

The video began circulating on social media in early October. It shows a teen burning a book and throwing it onto the ground. Viewers of the recording tied it to Naperville and say the defaced text was the Quran.

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Indian Prairie School District 204 confirmed the youth in the video is one of their students, district spokeswoman Lisa Barry said.

The district is aware of the burning book incident where the book is alleged to be the Quran, and that the incident took place during the summer off of school grounds, she said in an email Wednesday.

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When officials at the school the student attends learned of the incident, the district was notified and took appropriate measures, Barry said.

Because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the district is not able to share any other information about the incident, she said. The act generally prohibits schools from disclosing information about a student without consent from their parents.

Around the community, the reported incident has warranted shock, reproach and calls for healing.

In a statement issued last week, the Islamic Center of Naperville condemned all forms of hate, violence and disdain. The center urged a thorough investigation be conducted to determine the root cause of this deplorable act.

Other area organizations, including the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Naperville Interfaith Leaders Association (NILA), have released similar statements since the matter started gaining attention online.

Hate, in any form, has no place in Naperville; hate has no place in our society, NILA said in its response.

The group added that it hopes members of all religious traditions can come together to replace the walls of ignorance with spaces that promote dialogue, understanding and pluralism.

A handful of local elected officials also have publicly commented on the matter  including state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, DuPage County Board member Lucy Chang Evans, D-Naperville, and Naperville Councilman Benny White  and expressed solidarity with the Muslim community.

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In our community, as well as our nation, there is no room for such actions, White wrote on Facebook. These actions are detrimental, divisive and inflict harm on those who experience them. I propose that we shift our focus onto the act itself, rather the individuals involved, in an effort to unite our community.

He reiterated that Napervilles mission statement emphasizes the importance of being an inclusive community that values diversity.

Let us join together to express our disappointment, White wrote, and use this as an opportunity to ensure that every resident in our city feels a sense of belonging.

tkenny@chicagotribune.com
ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE/WKRN)  The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is seeking information after discovering a bull elk had been illegally poached in Anderson County.

The TWRA said it was notified on Sunday, Oct. 8 that a bull elk had been killed. Upon investigation, authorities found the entire carcass with what appeared to be a wound from a bolt, which is an arrow used with a crossbow.

Poaching is a serious offense in Tennessee, TWRA Officer Caleb Hardwick said. The TWRA has been working diligently since 2000 to restore the elk population to a huntable size. Poaching is not only illegal, but it threatens restoration efforts that ensure Tennesseans have the opportunity to legally hunt these animals.

Bear at Tennessee rescue dies after sudden illness; Other bears sick

According to the agency, the elk head was taken by officers as evidence while the carcass was taken in for processing to support the Hunters for the Hungry program.

A reward of $3,000 was donated by the Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter to support the investigation.

Officials said rewards are available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the poacher, such as the persons name or description, their vehicle tag number or description, or location of the offense. All information received by the TWRA is kept in strict confidence.

If you know anything about the poacher who killed the bull elk, you are asked to contact the East Tennessee Regional Poaching Hotline at 1-800-831-1174.

What to do if you see Elk in Smoky Mountains

Elk harvest is regulated by a quota permit system. The next application period for elk quota hunts is Feb 7-28, 2024. Nineteen (19) quota permits are issued in designated Elk Hunt Zones. A legal deer hunter may harvest an elk incidental to deer hunting on private and public lands open to deer hunting except in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Scott, and Morgan counties and except for Big South Fork River Recreation Area. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

For more information about legal elk hunting in the Volunteer State, including quota hunt application dates and elk hunting units, follow this link.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A new airline that promised all-business class cabins has shelved its plans just weeks after the first flight.

BermudAir, which describes itself as being created for business and premium leisure travellers, announced an industry-leading approach to air travel in August, ahead of its inaugural flight from Bermuda to the US city of Boston.

From 1 November, it had planned to configure its aircraft  two leased Embraer E175 planes that used to be part of defunct British airline Flybes fleet  so that there would have been 30 seats across 15 rows, reports One Mile at a Time.

But now there will be an economy option for passengers, with BermudAir switching to a dual-class cabin model.

Since launching in August, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to increase air capacity for Bermuda and serve the business and tourism needs of the island, the airlines chief executive Adam Scott told Flight Global.

A dual-class cabin allows us to continue to deliver on that promise, giving our guests more options to fly with BermudAir. After nearly 170 successful flights, its clear that there is strong demand for direct, short-haul and premium flights between Bermuda and the East Coast. Weve had overwhelmingly positive feedback from our guests about their experience onboard BermudAir, but guests also desire more options and flexibility.

Its unclear at this stage how the cabin will be configured between the two classes of seats, but it is expected to happen before the end of 2024.

The Independent has contacted BermudAir for further information.

Sydney-based travel writer Findlay Mead, covering the airlines change of approach for DMARGE, said: By adding an economy cabin into the mix, I worry that BermudAirs potential to be a genuinely innovative challenger carrier will effectively evaporate. While their service in both cabins may still mark them out as a cut above the rest in terms of experience, their choice to chase consistent passenger numbers and therefore consistent profits over a concept that could have genuinely shaken up the airline industry writ large is a little disappointing.

BermudAir currently operates three routes from Hamilton, Bermuda, to the US, flying to Boston, Fort Lauderdale and White Plains.
Nearly five years ago, Congress told the U.S. Air Force to convert seven surplus Coast Guard aircraft into firefighting tankers for Californias fire protection agency.

It never finished the job. Now, California just wants aircraft. Period.

We were fortunate this year to have a fire season that wasnt like weve had in previous years, said Ken Pimlott, now-retired chief of Cal Fire. But its coming back, this is only one year. We cant afford to lose any more time getting these aircraft retrofitted.

California Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Ken Calvert , R-Corona, put a bipartisan provision in a 2024 defense spending bill to send the C-130 aircraft to Cal Fire immediately  done or not. Still, its not guaranteed to make it into the final version of the bill.

The constant uncertainty and lengthy delays from the Air Force in retrofitting and transferring the seven planes to California have unnecessarily hampered our fire suppression capabilities as we face increasingly frequent and severe fire risks, Padilla said. He thanked the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein , who helped launch the effort to get the aircraft to California in 2018.

Cal Fire, known as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention, has 65 aircraft, making it the worlds largest civil firefighting fleet. That includes 23 S-2T air tankers, which can hold 1,200 gallons of fire retardant. C-130s  giant four-engine turboprops traditionally used for transport and aerial refueling  can carry up to 4,000.

An air tanker drops fire retardant south of Highway 46 near Cambria in October. The seven surplus Coast Guard aircraft sought by the state would be able to carry more retardant than Cal Fires current aircraft.

Fire retardant is used around the fire perimeter slow its spread. Its effectiveness is altered by winds, weather and terrain, but firefighters rely on it to quickly respond to and contain fires, making them easier to fight.

Strategically-placed retardant where it needs to be in much larger quantities with fewer trips is a huge advantage, Pimlott said.

Officials say all they need are the planes to add them to their fleet.

The State of California has worked closely with the Biden Administration, Senator Padilla, the late Senator Feinstein, and Representative Calvert on this proposal to accelerate timelines for getting the aircraft ready and operational for firefighting, Alex Stack, a spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom, said in a statement.

Will the measure for transferring the aircraft pass?

Before Congress can consider whether to keep the provision in the defense bill, the House of Representatives has to pick a new speaker.

Hardline Republicans and all Democrats ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, after passing a short-term spending agreement to stave off a government shutdown until at least Nov. 17.

Given the ongoing infighting among Republicans, Congress will likely have to pass another short-term plan to keep the government open while they debate the yearly spending directives, including the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which governs military funding and policies.

If the provision survives budget negotiations and is signed into law with the defense spending bill, Cal Fire expects to get the planes as early as 2024. But, the agency said in a statement, since that is only proposed language currently, we continue to work directly with our (Department of Homeland Security) and Department of Defense partners on the most expeditious route possible.

How did California get picked for wildfire aircraft?

The Air Force was charged with updating these aircraft nearly a decade ago. Under a 2014 spending mandate, the surplus Coast Guard planes were supposed to go to the U.S. Forest Service.

Years of delays and new cost estimates led the Trump administration in late 2017 to scrap the idea. In the 2019 defense spending bill, through efforts by Cal Fire under Pimlott and late Sens. Feinstein and John McCain, R-Ariz., Congress directed that the planes go to California, which had a robust firefighting fleet and worsening wildfire seasons.

The Air Force did not respond to a request for comment about the status of the planes retrofitting. The Department of Defense declined to comment because the 2024 defense spending bill has not yet passed. Its spokespeople referred The Bee to the Air Force. The Bee reached out to the Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

What kept Cal Fire from getting the aircraft?

The first planes were expected to get to California was 2021, Roll Call reported in 2018. But a fresh round of delays  caused by the pandemic and often glacial federal contracting procedures  have prolonged the wait.

We understand that there have been disruptions to the original schedule for transferring the seven C-130 air tankers to California resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about the contract, and delays in conducting depot maintenance, Feinstein and Padilla wrote in a 2021 letter to the then-acting Air Force secretary.

In the letter asking for an expedited transfer, they added, We are especially concerned with any potential design issues that could prevent the aircraft from obtaining a firefighting capability.

California wildfires could get worse

Through the defense spending law last year, Padilla and Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., with help from California lawmakers, were able to lift the cap of seven excess aircraft that the Defense Department could transfer to states and agencies.

Meanwhile, California has seen some of the largest, deadliest and most expensive wildfires in the states history. The 2021 Dixie Fire was Californias largest single fire. The 2018 Camp Fire was its deadliest. Rising global temperatures indicate wildfires could become more common and severe.

While this fire season was not as bad as years past, it could get worse going forward. Pimlott hopes that the saga of the seven C-130s comes to a close with this years defense spending bill. And that Cal Fire can get them ready fast.

Hopefully sometime during the year, Pimlott said, so that I can see some of them go into service.

McClatchyDCs Michael Wilner contributed to this story.
Progressives, thrilled with President Joe Bidens wholehearted embrace of their antitrust agenda, are now worried a freshly empowered California congressional delegation could threaten what they see as a return to the Democratic Partys trust-busting populist roots.

At the heart of these concerns is the elevation of two California Democrats, Rep. Lou Correa , a Big Tech ally who opposed a trio of landmark bipartisan antitrust bills last Congress and who was appointed to a crucial committee post on the Houses antitrust subcommittee, and Sen. Laphonza Butler , whom California Gov. Gavin Newsom selected to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Left-leaning activists and operatives are now worried that two allies of Silicon Valley-based big tech firms are in key positions to stamp out an antitrust agenda otherwise popular within the party.

Antitrust policy has arguably been the area where progressives have influenced the Biden administration the most, with reformists like Lina Khan leading the Federal Trade Commission and Jonathan Kanter running the antitrust division of the Justice Department. Meanwhile, Biden himself regularly deploys progressive rhetoric criticizing the concentration of power in the hands of just a handful of firms at the top of the economy.

California Democrats, many of whom have obvious and not-so-obvious ties to the Big Tech companies headquartered in the state, are a potential obstacle to that agenda. But until recently, theyve had limited power to stand in the way.

Correas elevation following the resignation of Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), an antitrust reform supporter, changed the calculus earlier this year, and Newsoms appointment of Butler  who once advised Uber during its campaign to keep its drivers from being considered employees  to replace a long-ailing Feinstein threatens to change it further, potentially giving Big Tech a more active ally in the Senate.

Far too many California Democrats have been far too ready to cooperate with companies like Facebook and Google.Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project

Senator Butler is going to be forced very quickly to decide between prominent corporate interest in California and the expressed political interest of her constituents in cracking down on monopoly power, said Jeff Hauser, the executive director of the Revolving Door Project, a progressive group focused on links between government officials and business interests. Far too many California Democrats have been far too ready to cooperate with companies like Facebook and Google.

Butlers office did not respond to an email requesting comment. Since coming into office, the senator has said she believes Uber drivers should have the protections of employees, and her office told The New York Timesthe new senators long work as union leader  she was the president of the SEIU California State Council for five years  should alleviate concerns.

Labor hasnt had a union leader in the Senate in 60 years  let alone a union president who spent nearly two decades leading successful campaigns to raise the minimum wage and help workers organize, Butlers acting chief of staff, Jeffrey Lerner, told the paper.

Butler, the first Black lesbian to serve in the Senate, has not decided whether to run for reelection in 2024. The existing candidates for the seat include progressive Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee. Rep. Adam Schiff, a more centrist candidate, is also running.

The more pressing problem is Correa, long an unabashed ally of Big Tech whose chief of staff, Rene Munoz, lobbied for Amazon and Apple on antitrust issues. Correas position could help him block further antitrust efforts if Democrats seize back control of the House in 2024.

In a letter last week, the Revolving Door Project pressed Correa on questions he posed to Attorney General Merrick Garland echoing tech company concerns about European Union regulations  questions the group argues were in fact indistinguishable from recent talking points of the Chamber of Commerce and other Big Tech-affiliated groups.

The letter asks Correa if Munoz helped him develop the questions he asked Garland, and if Munoz or other people in his office have communicated with Apple or Amazon since Munoz became chief of staff.

The Revolving Door Project is not the only progressive group to target Correa. P Street, which is affiliated with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, sent out mailers in Correas district last month highlighting Munozs role and labeling Correa Big Techs Best Friend in Congress, citing his votes against three major bipartisan bills aimed at cracking down on large tech firms.

Correas office did not respond to a request for comment.
A Bay Area man was found dead Tuesday after he fell from a cliff during a mountain biking trip in Sierra County, the Sheriffs Office said.

Joel Lusk, 60, of Berkeley was reported missing Monday when he didnt return home from a mountain biking and camping trip in the Sierra Nevada, north of Tahoe National Forest.

The Sierra County Sheriffs Office confirmed Lusk had taken a mountain bike shuttle from Downieville to Packer Saddle on Oct. 6. He had planned to ride the Downieville Downhill Trail and camp at the Gold Lake Basin area, the Sheriffs Office said.

When his family didnt hear from him, his wife called the shuttle company and confirmed Lusks vehicle, along with his camping gear was still parked in Downieville.

On Tuesday, search and rescue teams from Marin, Nevada and Sierra counties began looking for Lusk. The California National Guard deployed a Blackhawk helicopter to assist in the search.

Around 11:40 a.m., searchers discovered Mr. Lusks mountain bike down a steep and remote area along the trail, the Sheriffs Office said. The bicycle was located approximately 100 feet below the trail, near the top of a large cliff and a box canyon.

Rope teams rappelled down the cliffs into the Pauly Creek drainage. Due to the difficult terrain, a drone was deployed. Rescue workers found Lusks remains approximately 900 feet downstream, the Sheriffs Office said. His remains were lifted into a helicopter.

The Sierra County Sheriffs Office extends its heartfelt condolences to Mr. Lusks family and friends during this incredibly challenging and distressing time, the Sheriffs Office said.
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Allegations that Indias government was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada have barely affected the South Asian nations diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, according to High Commissioner to Australia Manpreet Vohra.

While Australia initially called for an investigation after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the accusations against India, there had been no significant reaction from Southeast Asia and beyond, Vohra said on the sidelines of an Asia Society event in Sydney on Thursday.

I dont think itll impact on any other relationship, he said in an interview with Bloomberg, adding it was up to Canada to lay out evidence to back its allegations. In the absence of that, what do we do? Other than perhaps lean more toward analysis of why Prime Minister Trudeau said what he did. And the reasons he said what he did.

Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa plunged into a deep freeze last month after Trudeau said Indias government was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who had been at the forefront of a movement calling for an independent Sikh homeland in India called Khalistan.

India has suspended visas for Canadians and the two sides are in talks about cutting diplomatic staff in the South Asian country.

Vohra said apart from the initial inquiries, Australia had not had further conversations with the Indian embassy about the allegations.

Trudeaus claims come at a time of major outreach by the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the South Asian nation widens and deepens its diplomatic and economic footprint across the world as part of the rise of what is being called the Global South.

During the Asia Society panel in Sydney, the envoy pushed for more economic integration between India and Australia, home to almost 1 million Indian migrants. Vohra said a lack of knowledge about India at the top of Australian society and businesses was hampering attempts to expand those ties.

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Sarah Jama, 23, a disability justice advocate who has cerebral palsy, poses for a portrait at her home in Hamilton, Ont., on Tuesday, March 13, 2018. Jama is happy that the new Stats Canada statistics on violence against women with disabilities due to come out later this week will give them something concrete to work with. "The numbers will validate what we have been talking about for years," she says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power (The Canadian Press)

MPP for Hamilton Centre Sarah Jama came under fire following her statement on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East with increasing calls from many Canadians demanding her to resign for her stance on the matter.

Sarah Jama, who was elected earlier this year in a byelection in Hamilton Centre, published a written statement Tuesday decrying "the generations long occupation of Palestine" and what she called apartheid and human rights violations in Gaza.

Jama voiced her support for the people of Gaza as part of her post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and the backlash followed soon after.

I'm reflecting on my role as a politician who is participating in this settler colonial system, and I ask that all politicians do the same. #FreePalastine pic.twitter.com/pYO1gyuXt4  Sarah Jama (she/her) (@SarahJama_) October 10, 2023

While Ontario NDP leader Marit Styles called on Jama to take back her statement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford went as far as to call for her resignation saying Jamas views do not represent Ontario.

As premier, Im doing what @MaritStiles wont. Im calling on Sarah Jama to resign immediately as a member of the Provincial Parliament. pic.twitter.com/q3Fw7gzJea  Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 11, 2023

On social media, Canadians and people from around the world were divided in their reactions to what Jama expressed in her press release.

Many were in complete support of her statement.

Which part is disturbing? I need someone to point it out to me.



Immediate ceasefire? Compassion for all those who are impacted ? pic.twitter.com/iqIROrSYzl  amanda (@amoh89) October 11, 2023

Sarah Jama, a Somali Ontario NDP politician, dared to call Israel what is it. She was bullied by her party and several other politicians. Then she folded not even 5mins ago to what her party wanted her to say. This is why there is no alliance with the state and electoral politics pic.twitter.com/1098MV6csL  hayat   (@hayxtt) October 11, 2023

But other Canadians are calling for her resignation.

Ontario NDP leader @MaritStiles called for Jama to retract her *egregious* & harmful statement.



It remains online. She did NOT retract it. This apology - buried in the comments - is far too little, and far too late.



Sarah Jama MUST be removed. pic.twitter.com/OqdSLDrObR  CIJA (@CIJAinfo) October 11, 2023

"Sarah Jama MUST be removed," demanded the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Canada.

Strong statement from Andrea Freedman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on the comments of Ontario NDP MPP Sarah Jama. pic.twitter.com/6g03QqNBcm  Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) October 11, 2023

A Palestinian PhD candidate said Premier Doug Ford "will be in the dustbin of history" and "Sarah will be forever respected as a trailblazer."

We knew our Premier was trash... But to accuse @SarahJama_ of "supporting the rape and murder of innocent Jewish people" is beyond fallacious & vile. Sarah will be forever respected as a fierce & principled trailblazer while Doug will be in the dustbin of history. https://t.co/jLt6DNQa3Q  Ghada Sasa |   PhD(c)  (@sasa_ghada) October 11, 2023

While Jama chose to remain silent over the hours following her post being made public, the calls for her resignation increased and many discussed if the situation was enough grounds for her to step down.

Yahoo News Canada reached out to experts at the University of Toronto to ask if what Sarah Jama said could possibly serve as the basis for her potential dismissal.

"There is no employment law protection. The party has complete authority. It's not an employment situation as the party has privilege and power. There is no firing process either, there is an election," said Director of the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Relations Professor Rafael Gomez.

"Her MPP status is not affected by what the party does to her, she'll still sit as an Independent."

Professor Gomez also weighed in on the sensitivity of the matter and how timing plays a crucial role when including opinions and messages in political statements.

"It's not what she said, it's about what she did not say. The timing is critical. If this was said a month ago, no one would have batted an eye. But when you say something like that right after what went down over the weekend in Israel, it resonates as you are not denouncing the killing of hundreds of civilians. The statement had to be contextualized and that's, perhaps, what her party members are trying to get through to her," Professor Gomez told Yahoo News Canada.

While she will have to face the consequences that the party decides. There is a time to discuss the nuance, perhaps, in this case, right after atrocities have been committed wasnt the best opportunity or at least thats what it seems from the larger public reaction. What they saw on Saturday was heinous. Period.

Professor Gomez was quick to draw a contrast between the Sarah Jama situation and another hot story at the moment that involves Air Canada and a pilot.

Air Canada took one of their Montreal-based B787 first officers out of service on Monday after discovering posts that allegedly showed the pilot at a demonstration, holding anti-Israel signs.

The issue left many Canadians divided.

But "unlike the pilot whose fate will be decided by Air Canada, Sarah Jama's position in her seat will be decided by the people of her electorate," Professor Gomez said.

After almost a complete day of silence, the MPP for Hamilton Centre apologized for her choice of words in the post and issued a follow up statement.

I heard many voices yesterday raising concerns about my post. I hear them - and above all, I understand the pain that many Jewish and Israeli Canadians, including my own constituents, must be feeling. I apologize.  Sarah Jama (she/her) (@SarahJama_) October 11, 2023

"To be clear, I unequivocally condemn terrorism by Hamas on thousands of Israeli civilians. I also believe that Israels bombardment and siege on civilians in Gaza, as was also noted by the United Nations, is wrong. As a member of the Ontario NDP caucus,"

"I stand by the position of our federal party, and believe that violence against civilians is never justified, and that there is no military solution to this conflict," Jama posted on X earlier on Wednesday.

Whether Jama will be pressured further to resign or how her electorate sees the latest development remains to be seen, but whats clear is that the Canada of 2023 remains divided on the Israel-Palestine issue.
Anthony Moore, center, is shown with his attorney Cole Bond, left, in Stark County Common Pleas Court, where Moore pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of Craig Blackshear, 45, on July 7, 2022.

CANTON  A 16-year-old Canton boy pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of a 45-year-old man last year.

Anthony Moore's plea was part of an agreement negotiated with the Stark County Prosecutor's Office that reduced a murder charge to involuntary manslaughter and dismissed a felonious assault charge and related firearm specification.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer scheduled sentencing on Nov. 9. She ordered the completion of a presentence investigation into Moore's background.

She said the sentencing range for involuntary manslaughter is three to 11 years. It also carries the possibility of a maximum $20,000 fine.

The plea deal calls for prison sentence of 10 to 13.5 years.

Megan Starrett, an assistant Stark County prosecutor, said the victim's family was comfortable with the plea and wanted the hearing to go forward Thursday. They did not attend the hearing.

Earlier this year, Moore had entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea and was court-ordered to undergo an evaluation by Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic. But the clinic's report, which was sealed, concluded that Moore was competent to stand trial and was not suffering from any severe mental disease at the time of the shooting.

Anthony Moore, center, is shown with his attorney Cole Bond, left, in Stark County Common Pleas Court, where Moore pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of Craig Blackshear, 45, on July 7, 2022.

Moore, who was 15 when charged, had been accused of shooting Craig Blackshear around 10:20 p.m. July 7, 2022, on the porch of a home in the 1800 block of Fourth Street NW, three blocks west of Water Works Park in Canton.

Moore was initially charged as a juvenile but his case was later transferred to adult court because of the seriousness of the charges.

Codefendant, Megan Coladonato, 37, of Pike Township, was accused of aiding the teen by stoking an argument between herself and the victim, leading to the teen to shoot Blackshear multiple times, according to police records.

In February, she pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstructing justice and tampering with evidence and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Moore will await sentencing at the Multi-County Juvenile Attention Center.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.

On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Teen Anthony Moore pleads guilty in shooting death of Craig Blackshear
Carlee Russell, the 26-year-old Alabama woman accused of faking her own kidnapping, has been found guilty. Russell, who pleaded not guilty after facing charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident, appeared in court on Wednesday and heard the verdict, AL.com reported. Municipal Judge Brad Bishop recommended a year in jail for Russell and $17,874 in restitution, as well as two fines of $831 each.

Russells attorneys Emory Anthony and Richard Jaffe said they are appealing the ruling.

If you can find where someone was put in jail for that, bring the file to me and Ill look at it. Generally, theyre not put in jail, Anthony told reporters. We have stipulated and appealed the case and it will start anew in the Bessemer Circuit Court.

Anthony also said the priority right now is to take care of Russells well-being.

I dont want her to have a break down. So, were handling her with kid gloves and making sure her mental state is just fine, he said. Were dealing with issues with Carlee, and we want the best for Carlee. We realize a mistake was made but we dont want to just pile on right now.

While he disagreed with jail time, Anthony said the restitution is fair. The attorney also said he doesnt know if his client will face more charges.

Russell became a national story when she disappeared on July 13. The Alabama woman stopped her car on the highway on that night, then called her family and 911, saying she saw an abandoned child on the side of the road. When police arrived at the scene, Russell was already gone. Officers also said they didnt find an abandoned child. A massive search effort followed as Russells story spread quickly and people wondered what could have happened to her.

The 26-year-old showed up at her familys house on her own two days later. Russell then told police that she escaped from a man and a woman who kidnapped her. Investigators, however, became more suspicious as Russells story didnt add up. In a statement she later released through her lawyer, the young woman admitted that she made up the story.

Numerous law enforcement agencies, both local and federal, began working tirelessly not only to bring Carlee home to her family, but locate a kidnapper that we now know never existed, Hoover Police Department Chief Nicholas Derzis said at that time according to AL. Many private citizens volunteered their time and energy into looking for a potential kidnapping victim that we now know was never in any danger.
The 26-year-old nursing student whose bogus abduction plot made national headlines earlier this year was found guilty on two misdemeanor counts by a judge during a municipal court hearing on Wednesday.

Despite having confessed to Alabama authorities in July that she had fabricated the story of her kidnapping, Carlee Russell pleaded not guilty to charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident at the hearing. Russell fidgeted nervously, while entering her plea, according to AL.com.

Judge Brad Bishop then found her guilty, recommending that she serve no more than a year behind bars and pay $17,874 in restitution. Bishop also recommended she pay just under $1,700 in fines.

The judges conviction in municipal court, where a jury trial is not guaranteed, was largely a procedural step to kickstart an appeals process, potentially sending the case to a circuit court, where Russell will have the right to face a jury.

Carlee Russell Smiles Shamelessly as Shes Charged for Bogus Abduction

A spokesperson for the Alabama Attorney Generals Office told USA Today that Bishops decision wouldnt affect any proceedings against Russell in circuit court. Should she be found guilty in the higher court, she will be subjected to a separate sentencing process, the spokesperson said.

Russells attorney, Emory Anthony, said that an appeal had been filed in her case on Wednesday afternoon, and that she remains out of jail. This was the option that we had to take because we do not agree with her serving any time in jail, he told USA Today.

He told reporters after Wednesdays hearing that Russell, a first-time offender, did not deserve to serve any jail time for misdemeanor charges. Restitution, we dont disagree with that, but to lock her up and put her in jail, we disagree, he added.

AL.com reported that Anthony declined to share more information on Russells motives for concocting the fake kidnapping scheme. Were dealing with issues with Carlee, and we want the best for Carlee, he explained. We realize a mistake was made but we dont want to just pile on right now.

Carlee Russell Finally Admits Her Abduction Was BS

It is not immediately clear if Russell would face further charges. In late July, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis acknowledged that many, himself included, were shocked and appalled that the 26-year-old was only being charged with two misdemeanors.

A sprawling search effort sparked after Russell vanished on July 13 ended when the student walked into her home two days later, claiming shed been forced into a vehicle and abducted after seeing a toddler walking alone along a highway.

Authorities soon issued an arrest warrant for Russell in the investigation, saying evidence had been uncovered that shed Googled information about AMBER alerts, one-way bus tickets, and the movie Taken.

Russell eventually turned herself in at the Hoover City Jail, and was released after posting bond.

Details on where exactly she was and what she was doing during her 49-hour disappearance remain murky. Asked by reporters on Wednesday about his clients timeline, Anthony said, I think youll have to ask the AGs office.

... They know the young lady was not off on a whim, he continued. They knew the young lady was not off with some young man. So they know that.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Alexander Bonner, center and front, plays the title role, joined by Jay Swindell, left to right in back, Tom Olsen, Louie Maldonado, Alexus Passmore, Kyrie Stratton and Auriel Felsecker, in the musical Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe Oct. 20-29 at Holdcraft Performing Arts Center in Michigan City. (Tony Thomas/HANDOUT)

Director Tony Thomas was amazed to discover the depths of dark moments associated with the life and death of Edgar Allan Poe, whose prose is forever associated with murder and suspense.

In 2018 I was up in Wisconsin with my family and we saw this musical telling of Poes life, which left me amazed, Thomas said.

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I knew one day I wanted to be the director to bring this show to Northwest Indiana audiences, and now I have that chance.

Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe written by Jonathan Christenson, along with his music and lyrics, will be performed at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Oct. 20-29 at Holdcraft Performing Arts Center in Michigan City.

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I pitched the idea for this show to two other theaters, who turned it down, Thomas said.

Thats when I went to Holdcraft Performing Arts, because they have a reputation that when other spaces say no, its all the more reason they want to say yes.

The two-hour tale is the life story of the iconic writer told through haunting music, poetic storytelling, and a clever and foreboding stage design.

Thomas said he is amazed at how much Poe accomplished during his short and troubled lifespan.

Before his death at age 40 on Oct. 4, 1849, he created such short story masterpieces as The Black Cat, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Heart and his signature poem The Raven, the latter for which he was only paid $9 for when it sold for publication in The American Review magazine in February 1845.

Today, there is still this world-wide acclaim of his creative force, but Poes life is an example of the classic depiction of the struggling writer, Thomas said.

Poe spent his life competing with fellow American writers jealous of his talent, after struggling with his unhappy youth spent mostly without parents, separated from his siblings and forced to live with a cruel foster family. His later life included surviving the early death of his beloved wife Virginia at age 24, and the challenges of earning his living as a writer.

Tony Thomas wife Jill Thomascq is the assistant director and with music direction by Anthony Holt.

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Actor Alexander Bonner of Trail Creek is cast as Poe with the rest of the cast morphing in and out of various character roles.

In addition to Bonner, the cast of 11 includes Tom Olsen, Jillian Davison and George Romero all of Valparaiso; Louie Maldonado, Kyrie Stratton, Rebecca Richmond and Jay Swindell, all of Michigan City; Alexus Passmore and Emily Gross, both of Westville; and Auriel Felsecker of Miller.

Poes desire to write and his attraction to art and culture included inspiration from his parents, both with careers as actors in the theater. His father abandoned the family a year after Edgar was born, and his mother died a year later, leaving him orphaned.

Though his foster family never formally adopted him and remained detached, Poe stayed with them until his early adulthood. His foster parents begrudgingly supported his desire for college studies, despite frequent clashes about financial obligations.

Thomas said his production of Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe devotes much of the second act to delving into the mystery surrounding the writers death.

The cause of his death has been traced to the fateful night in October 1849 as he reportedly stumbled through the streets of Baltimore. Some accounts attribute his demise to any of the following: alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis and grief.

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Thomas said when Poe was discovered during his final hours, he was wearing someone elses clothes and incoherently mumbling the name Reynolds during the final moments before he succumbed. His death certificate was removed from official files and has never been found.

This poor guy never did find happiness, but his works and his legacy live on forever, still surrounded in mystery, Thomas said.

Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

When: Oct. 20-29

Where: Holdcraft Performing Arts Center, 1200 Spring St., Michigan City

Cost: $10-$15

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Information: 219-873-2160; yptcinc.com

Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for The Post-Tribune.
By Jody Godoy and Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Jurors at Sam Bankman-Fried's trial heard a recording on Thursday of Caroline Ellison telling employees of his Alameda Research hedge fund that Bankman-Fried had approved using money that belonged to customers of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange to pay off the fund's loans.

"With crypto being down ... most of Alameda's loans got called," Ellison, Alameda's former chief executive, was heard saying in the recording of the Alameda "all hands" meeting on Nov. 9, 2022. "And in order to meet those loan recalls, we ended up borrowing a bunch of funds on FTX."

When an employee is heard pressing her in the recording on who specifically authorized the use of customer funds, she replied, "Sam ... I guess."

Prosecutors played the audio clips while questioning Christian Drappi, a former Alameda trader, about the meeting. Earlier on Thursday, Ellison, who was also Bankman-Fried's former girlfriend and confidant, finished testifying on the seventh day of the ex-mogul's trial about her role in a multibillion-dollar fraud prosecutors say was orchestrated by Bankman-Fried at FTX and Alameda. Both companies are now bankrupt.

Prosecutors say Bankman-Fried, 31, plundered billions in FTX customer funds to prop up Alameda, buy real estate and donate more than $100 million to U.S. political campaigns.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud and five counts of conspiracy, and has said that while he made mistakes running FTX, he never intended to steal funds.

Ellison, a 28-year-old Stanford University graduate who took the reins at Alameda in 2021, is one of three former members of Bankman-Fried's inner circle who have pleaded guilty to fraud charges and agreed to cooperate with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office.

Over three days on the stand, Ellison testified that the hedge fund took $10 billion in FTX customer funds to repay its debts and make investments.

During cross-examination earlier on Thursday, defense lawyer Mark Cohen asked her whether she learned before or after the "all hands" meeting whether there was an investigation into FTX. She said she did not recall learning about the probe before the meeting.

That could undermine a defense argument that she tailored her testimony to implicate her boss and eventually win leniency for herself.

In follow-up questioning, prosecutor Danielle Sassoon asked Ellison why she said the decision was "Sam's, I guess."

"The words 'I guess' were a vocal tic," Ellison said, adding she was feeling uncomfortable at the time. "I hadn't gone into the meeting intending to cast blame on anyone, but I wanted to be honest and open in answering my employees' questions."

ELLISON SAYS SHE DEFERRED TO BANKMAN-FRIED

During the cross-examination, which lasted just four hours, Cohen sought to show that Ellison ran Alameda, albeit with less appetite for risk than Bankman-Fried.

On Thursday, Ellison testified that she became more ambitious after joining Alameda and oversaw many aspects of the firm's operations, but that she ultimately deferred to Bankman-Fried's judgment.

Jurors also saw a memo in which Ellison analyzed weaknesses at Alameda, including her assessment that she and her former co-chief executive, Sam Trabucco, did not push employees hard enough.

"Trabucco and I weren't as good managers or leaders as we could be," she said on the stand.

Ellison said through tears on Wednesday that she lived in "dread" the truth would come out, and that FTX's ultimate collapse last year brought an "overwhelming feeling of relief."

Earlier in the trial, Gary Wang, FTX's former technology chief, testified that Bankman-Fried falsely tweeted that FTX was "fine" in November as the exchange faced surging demand for withdrawals. A third cooperating witness, former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh, is also expected to testify at the trial, which could last up to six weeks.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy and Luc Cohen in New YorkEditing by Noeleen Walder, Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis)
Caroline Ellison faces up to 110 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven charges, including fraud.

Twitter and Tumblr accounts thought to be linked to Ellison contain musings about race science and gender roles.

Here are some of the most striking quotes from those accounts.

Following the implosion of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, the world is scrambling to learn more about Caroline Ellison.

Ellison was the CEO of Alameda Research, a trading firm that borrowed customer funds from FTX to cover its losses and make risky bets. She was fired when FTX and Alameda Research filed for bankruptcy.

On December 18, Ellison struck a plea deal with prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, pleading guilty to seven charges including wire and securities fraud. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 110 years in prison. According to Ellison's plea deal, she has agreed to provide prosecutors with evidence and "truthfully testify" about the FTX implosion during court trials.

Until recently, Ellison was a shadow behind the success of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried, who was widely regarded as a crypto wunderkind.

On October 10 and 11, Ellison attended Bankman-Fried's trial in New York and took to the witness stand to testify against her ex-boss and ex-boyfriend.

Since FTX's demise, a Twitter account and two Tumblr blogs  that include personal and professional details that match those of Ellison's  have become the internet's greatest resources on the former CEO. They offer what could be a glimpse into the 28-year-old's personal beliefs, including her thoughts on cryptocurrency trading.

While Ellison's views are certainly not a direct reflection of her work, they map onto larger questions of diversity within the cryptocurrency industry. CoinDesk, a cryptocurrency publication, noted that "white men dominate crypto" while a 2022 study from the Morning Consult showed that 62% of all cryptocurrency owners identified as white and male.

Ellison did not respond to requests for comment. Here are some of the most revealing quotes found on these social media accounts.

December 22, 2022: This story has been updated to reflect the details of Ellison's plea deal.

October 12, 2023: This story has been updated to reflect the details of Ellison's witness testimony at Bankman-Fried's trial.

On believing in crypto

On one of Ellison's presumed Tumblr accounts, titled "worldoptimization," the author underscores the natural synergy between cryptocurrency and fraud.

"I didn't get into this as a crypto true believer, and yeah it's mostly scams and memes when you get down to it," the author wrote.

The author added, "but like, I have also come to see a real and pressing need for crypto."



For the author, the importance of crypto all comes down to the power of decentralization. "[D]ecentralized noncustodial money seems pretty foundational to civil liberties and the ability and if authoritarian governments are a serious threat to civilization, which seems not totally insane, it could end up being important," they wrote.

Source: worldoptimization

On using stimulants

Amid the high-octane work environment of FTX and Alameda Research, employees reportedly turned to stimulants like amphetamine, a drug for treating attention disorders.



"Nothing like regular amphetamine use to make you appreciate how dumb a lot of normal, non-medicated human experience is," Ellison tweeted in 2021.

Source: @carolinecapital

On gender disparities in math

Ellison exhibited a natural aptitude for math from an early age. She attended competitions like the Math Prize for Girls, which bills itself as "the largest math prize for girls in the world," and she went on to study mathematics and computer science at Stanford University.

That didn't necessarily make her a proponent for drawing more women into STEM.

In June 2020, the author of the "worldoptimization" Tumblr wrote, "Girls just aren't as good at math. I think my first exposure to feminism came in middle school. I was a math team kid, and one of the things that quickly becomes self-evident when you're a math team kid is that girls just aren't as good at math as boys."

Source: worldoptimization

On power, sex, and "cute boy things"

Ellison and Bankman-Fried's on-again, off-again polyamorous relationship with their coworkers caught the industry's attention following FTX's implosion. Anonymous sources told CoinDesk that the core 10 members of FTX and Alameda Research clan reportedly lived together in a house in the Bahamas and were all paired off in relationships with one another.

In a February 2020 post on "worldoptimization," Ellison may have likened the atmosphere to an "imperial Chinese harem."

"None of this non-hierarchical bullshit; everyone should have a ranking of their partners, people should know where they fall on the ranking, and there should be vicious power struggles for the higher ranks," the author wrote.



In an earlier post from 2019, the author outlined a few of the traits they find attractive in men including "controlling most major world governments" and "spatial reasoning abilities."

Source: worldoptimization

On her beliefs in race science

The Ellison-linked Tumblr contains thoughts about race science, or what the blog's author calls "HBD," or "human biodiversity." Proponents of human biodiversity, which some people associate with eugenics, believe that human beings can be divided into subgroups, or races, and that different human races have inherently different physical and mental capabilities. This idea has been largely discredited by scientists.

In a 2020 Tumblr post that opened with "cw: offensive, sorry," the author expressed their interest in human biodiversity because of their "strong impulse to put people into categories," using the Indian caste system as an example.

"There's a stereotype of racist people that they will like, assume any East Asian person speaks Chinese or something. I appreciate that HBD people are the exact opposite of that, and will like make fun of you for saying something about 'Indians' without specifying province and caste because come on, the genetic differences there are massive," the author wrote.

In January 2022, the author published another post tagged "#hbd cw" comparing "European" and "Asian" "kinship structures."

Source: worldoptimization

On her aversion to social justice

The "worldoptimization" Tumblr archive also contains 92 posts tagged "#not sj go away," where the author expresses views about social justice, including gender roles and race.

"Ugh Columbus Day came and went and I totally forgot I was planning to have a (meta ^ n)-contrarian take that actually Columbus was great," the author wrote in 2018.

In 2015, the author agreed with another Tumblr user who opined about the idea of social justice and how it has hampered free speech.

"Interestingly, though, social justice hasn't made me kinder to oppressed minorities," the quoted user had written. "It's just made me hide in places where sensitive people don't hang out. I breathe a sigh of relief every time someone makes a racist joke or mocks social justice, because it means I'm in a safe space, where no one is going to be deeply damaged just by me speaking my opinion."

"Yep same," worldoptimization replied.

Source: worldoptimization

On her final remarks

Ellison's last public posts are a couple of tweets she posted on November 6 in defense of the Alameda Research's balance sheet.

Source: @carolinecapital

On FTX's alleged fraud at the witness stand

Caroline Ellison testified in the trial of her ex-boyfriend, Sam Bankman-Fried, in October 2023. JANE ROSENBERG

Ellison pleaded guilty to fraud charges in December and has been cooperating with investigators.

In October, Ellison testified in the trial against Bankman-Fried. She said Alameda used FTX customer money to pay off their own loans, Insider previously reported.

"Alameda took several billion dollars from FTX customers and used it to make our own investments and pay off lenders who we owed," Ellison testified.

She also said she "was very stressed out" after the cryptocurrency crash in May 2022.

"We were talking about billions of dollars. I knew Alameda had lost a lot of money in the cryptocurrency downturn," Ellison said.

On creating seven different balance sheets

Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon questions Caroline Ellison as defense lawyer Mark Cohen stands to object at Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan over the collapse of FTX, the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, at Federal Court in New York City, U.S., October 11, 2023 in this courtroom sketch. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Ellison testified that as crypto prices continued to spiral in June 2022, Bankman-Fried directed her to prepare seven different versions of Alameda's balance sheet to potentially show lenders.

"I understood him to be directing me to come up with ways to conceal things in our balance sheet we both agreed would look bad," she said.

On utilitarianism and lying

Caroline Ellison reacts while being questioned by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon during Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial over the collapse of FTX, the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, at Federal Court in New York City, U.S., October 11, 2023. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

At the witness stand, Ellison also claimed that Bankman-Fried followed a utilitarian philosophy, believing he should try to create the greatest good for the greatest number of people. She said over time, being around this outlook made her feel more comfortable taking actions she may have previously believed were wrong.

"He didn't think rules like 'don't lie' or 'don't steal' fit into that framework," she said.

"When I started working at Alameda I don't think I would have believed if you told me I would be sending false balance sheets to our lenders or taking customer money, but over time it was something I felt more comfortable with," Ellison added.

On SBF's curly hair and image

Ellison also testified that Bankman-Fried wanted to "cultivate an image of himself as a very smart, competent, somewhat eccentric founder."

She said he considered his mass of curly black hair to be "very valuable" and that he believed it helped him snag higher bonuses at Jane Street, Insider previously reported.

Ellison also claimed that Bankman-Fried swapped his luxury car for a less flashy one to maintain a certain image.

"He said he thought it was better for his image to be driving a Toyota Corolla," she said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Once considered the blue-collar alternative to Chapel Hill and its flagship university, Carrboro has long since come into its own, with a funky, creative vibe and a tolerant attitude that invites residents and visitors alike to feel free.

But beneath the surface are tensions, over the future of a greenway; taller buildings downtown; and town budgets that strain already high property taxes.

The towns population is now more than 21,300 inside of 6.5 square miles, making it one of North Carolinas most dense towns. Infill development is happening in many neighborhoods, further driving up housing prices to a median of over $500,000. Challenges range from stormwater and climate change to equity, and the future of just a handful of tracts suitable for large commercial development.

This year, the town will elect a new mayor  current Carrboro Town Council member Barbara Foushee is running unopposed  and three council members.

The new council could fill Foushees vacant council seat next year. She will replace Damon Seils, who ends his first term as mayor in December.

The only council incumbent running for re-election is Eliazar Posada, a community advocate and the states first out LGBTQ Latino official, who was elected in a 2022 special election. His opponents are accounting software consultant Catherine Fray, former bike shop owner Jason Merrill, business development professional April Mills, and IT systems analyst Stephanie Wade.

Voting information

Carrboro voters can register through 5 p.m. Oct. 13 to vote in this years elections, or register during early voting. Voters casting a ballot on Election Day  Tuesday, Nov. 7  will only be allowed to vote in the precinct in which they are registered. Orange County voters can find their polling location at tinyurl.com/4p3tvhhe.

Early voting starts Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 4. Voters can cast a ballot at any Early Voting site.

The deadline for most voters to request an absentee, or mail-in, ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 31. However, active members of the military, their spouse and dependents, and U.S. citizens who are overseas have until 5 p.m. Nov. 6.

Request a ballot online or submit a request via mail at PO Box 220, Hillsborough, NC 27278, or in person at the Orange County elections office, 208 S. Cameron St., Hillsborough.

More information about the 2023 election can be found online at orangecountync.gov/1720/Elections.

The News & Observer asked the mayoral and council candidates five questions about the towns priorities and their ideas. Follow the links below to see how each candidate responded.

Carrboro mayor

 Barbara Foushee

Carrboro Town Council

 Catherine Fray

 Jason Merrill

 April Mills

 Eliazar Posada

 Stephanie Wade
Cenk Uygur has long pushed the Democratic Party to fight harder for progressive policies.

Cenk Uygur has long pushed the Democratic Party to fight harder for progressive policies.

Cenk Uygur, a popular progressive YouTube personality who is currently ineligible to serve as president, nonetheless confirmed his decision on Wednesday to mount a long-shot Democratic primary challenge against President Joe Biden .

Uygur told Semafor, which first reported the news of his run, that he hopes to persuade Biden not to proceed with his bid for a second term, on the grounds that Biden would lose to former President Donald Trump .

Im going to do whatever I can to help him decide that this is not the right path, he told Semagor. If he retires now, hes a hero: He beat Trump, he did a good job of being a steward of the economy. If he doesnt, he loses to Trump, and hes the villain of the story.

Uygur, 53, a naturalized citizen and California resident who came to the United States from Turkey in 1978, does not meet the Constitutions clause that only natural-born U.S. citizens are eligible to become president.

Uygur plans to fight for his eligibility in court and believes that the U.S. Supreme Court will rule in his favor.

That, in itself, is a reason to run, Uygur argued. Im tired of 25 million Americans having this albatross around their neck, he said.

Despite Democrats oft-stated concerns about Bidens age and competitiveness against Trump, the field of people challenging him for the Democratic nomination is small  and shrinking.

Progressive author and spirituality guru Marianne Williamson is still running in the primary, but environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. withdrew from the primary on Monday to run as an independent. Cornel West, a left-wing academic and activist, is also running as an independent.

Uygur, who maintains that Biden should have fought harder to pass progressive policies like the $15 minimum wage, does boast a large media platform. He is a founder of The Young Turks, a popular network of left-leaning YouTube shows with over 5.6 million subscribers.

This is not Uygurs first time running for public office. Uygur netted less than 6% of the vote in a 2020 bid for a Southern California House seat.

Related...
A chemical spill in Berea Wednesday evening posed potential danger at a produce company site, but first responders managed to clear the area safely, according to the Berea Fire Department.

The incident happened around 5:10 p.m. at Mastronardi Produce USA on Industrial Drive. The fire department said firefighters found an active spill of nitric acid from a container in a tractor-trailer outside the facility when they arrived.

Nitric acid is very corrosive and can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membrane if exposed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People can be harmed from exposure to nitric acid, depending on the level of exposure and duration. Nitric acid can also cause delayed illnesses.

The fire department said it evacuated the area and quickly contained the spill. No injuries were reported.

Lt. Brent Billings with the fire department said the spill itself was contained to the parking area but the building was evacuated as a precaution. There was also a 500-to-600 foot perimeter set up around the spill. No homes or businesses were in danger during the incident.

A special hazardous material team also responded to the factory to assist with cleanup and disposal of the spill. The fire department said there was no longer a hazardous threat to the area and it is safe.

We would like to thank ... all who responded to this incident, the fire department said in a news release. The quick thinking and training helped from making a bad situation much worse.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) called out former President Trump Thursday for his remarks criticizing Israel and calling the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah very smart.

After Hamas slaughters hundreds of Jewish families, and Israel confronts an unprecedented security crisis, Donald Trump attacks the Israeli govt and praises Hezbollah terrorists, Cheney wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Are Republicans really going to nominate this dangerous man to be President of the United States? she added.

Trump delivered a speech in West Palm Beach, Fla., Wednesday expressing his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and praising the intellect of Hezbollah, a Lebanese-based militant group that reportedly fired an anti-tank missile at Israeli army positions in recent days.

You know, Hezbollah is very smart, Trump said, after describing how the group had picked up on U.S. military assessments that Israel was vulnerable in the north. Theyre all very smart.

Top Stories from The Hill

Trump also complained that Netanyahu had failed to help the U.S. drone strike in 2020 that killed Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general who led the elite Quds Force, but then claimed credit for it after the fact.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, Trump said. That was a very terrible thing.

Trump has also argued that the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend wouldnt have happened if he were still in the White House.

Cheney has been among the most frequent GOP critics of Trump for years. She was among the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and then was one of two GOP members of the House committee that investigated the attack.

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Cheneys anti-Trump stance has cost her politically, with the once high-ranking Republican ousted from her leadership position in 2021 and then unseated by Trump-backed candidate Harriet Hageman in her states primary race last year.

Her latest remarks come as prominent figures on both sides of the political aisle  along with Israeli officials  have called out Trump for attacking Israels leader amid the fallout of a devastating attack that has traumatized the country.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote in a Wednesday night post on X.

As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rebeca Perez is intent on providing for her family in western Guatemala with her brood of chickens (Johan ORDONEZ)

A brood of chickens cluck in the barn as Rebeca Perez collects eggs to sell in her village in western Guatemala -- an endeavor she hopes will keep her from emigrating to the United States as her brothers did, driven by poverty.

Many of her neighbors in the Mayan settlement of Santa Maria Nebaj have left, but the single mother of two children aged eight and 11 is intent on providing for her family with her feathery flock.

"You can generate income here, not only there" in the United States, the 28-year-old told AFP.

With about 250 other farmers from seven municipalities in the Quiche department, Perez is learning agricultural production and marketing techniques thanks to a program created in 2020 by the NGO Save the Children.

Run with US and Guatemalan government support, the project seeks to ensure that the children in Quiche -- one of the poorest regions of the country -- are fed with local food.

Although curbing migration was never the project's main aim, coordinator Lucrecia Mendez said it has lessened the push factor.

"Local producers have increased their incomes to cover their needs and improve the lives of their families, which has helped reduce irregular migration," she said.

Neighbor Jacinto Perez, 27 -- no relation to Rebeca -- grows tomatoes and other vegetables in Santa Maria Nebaj, which he delivers to ten schools.

In the nearby municipality of San Juan Cotzal, Edwin Lopez, 38, sells chickens and grows maize and beans with modified seeds provided by the NGO.

These two also do not see a future elsewhere, despite the nation's poverty -- which affects 59 percent of Guatemala's 17 million inhabitants -- and gang violence, both of which are fueling an ever-growing exodus north.

US authorities deported 40,713 Guatemalans in 2022 -- more than double the 2021 figure.

- 'Fight the battle here' -

Five years ago, Lopez tried to make the perilous journey via Mexico in the search for a better life in the United States after losing his teaching job.

After a nightmarish experience at the hands of smugglers, "hidden, like a slave, without sleeping or eating," he was arrested and spent 27 days in detention before being expelled.

"With everything one experiences there... I have no desire to return," he told AFP. "It is better to fight the battle here."

The return was not easy. Lopez's home was destroyed by hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020.

He built another, out of wood, where he lives with his wife and two children, aged 13 and four.

It is here, in the hills of San Juan Cotzal, that Save The Children approached Lopez, and engaged him in training about soil conservation, fertilizer and climate change.

Rebeca Perez went to study at the ETCAE technical school funded by the NGO in 2023, learning skills to prevent diseases among chickens and increase their egg production.

She started a business in 2016 with a loan from one of her brothers living illegally in Florida. From a handful of hens, she now has 300 and is aiming for 1,000 by next year.

"I already have a market," Perez told AFP, proud to employ six women from her village in the small business.

Jacinto Perez, who also trained at ETCAE, employs three people.

"Going to the United States is risky... Here on the other hand, we advance bit by bit," he said.

hma/mis/sf/lab/mlr/nro
After the September death of a 1-year-old from a fentanyl overdose, New York City officials were pelted with questions Thursday about a backlog in background checks for child care providers.

Law enforcement officials say the Divino Nino daycare center in the Bronx was a front for a drug distribution center. The employees at the center who were known to the health department successfully passed their background checks, according to Corinne Schiff, a deputy commissioner for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The department is responsible for conducting background checks into city child care providers and inspections of their facilities.

At an oversight hearing in Manhattan, members of the New York City Council questioned how those workers could have passed a background check and whether a yearslong bottleneck in that approval process had anything to do with it.

These children should have been safe at daycare, said Pierina Ana Sanchez, a Democratic councilmember who represents parts of the Bronx, at the hearing. We believe that government protocols failed.

After overdose death, police find secret door to fentanyl at Nino Divino daycare in Bronx

The criticism was bipartisan. Joann Ariola, a Republican councilmember from Queens, said she felt city officials were being "intentionally vague" in their answers to questions about fentanyl in daycare facilities and questioned regulations about which daycare workers need vetting.

I'm at a loss for words at the level of incompetence I'm seeing, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Backlog in vetting NYC daycare staffers preceded death in the Bronx

A committee report issued by the council said the city has struggled in recent years to process background checks in a timely manner in accordance with federal and state laws.

The processing logjam has led to long delays in clearances for staffers, causing staffing shortages at early child care programs and afterschool programs, the report said.

Prosecutors in New York charged three people in connection with the September incident in the Bronx. Officials said Nicholas Dominici, the toddler who died, was among four children, all under 3 years old, who suffered fentanyl poisoning. The three others were hospitalized with serious injuries. Before getting help for Dominici, prosecutors said owner Grei Mendez and her cousin-in-law, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, allegedly scrambled to hide the illegal drugs.

Before calling 911 day care owner tried to cover up drug operation where tot died, feds say

The importance of timely and comprehensive background checks and inspections has renewed significance, councilmember Althea Stevens said during the hearing.

Per municipal data, there were roughly 9,700 child care providers in New York City in 2022. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene employs about 100 people to perform inspections of them, both scheduled and unannounced. Schiff said the department has enough staff to conduct inspections.

Citing an ongoing criminal investigation, she did not elaborate on how the providers at the Divino Nino daycare center in the Bronx were cleared. She said the health department has expressed its condolences to the family and took a very hard look at everything that we do.

The death "shook all of us at the health department, she said.

Another reason for the hearing was to consider new local legislation to expedite background checks to two weeks. Schiff pushed back on that idea, arguing the federally recommended 45-day standard is the best timeline to avoid mistakes.

We want to do this as quickly as possible, but we also want to make sure that children are in spaces with people who have been cleared, she said.

Budget cuts will affect agency that oversees NYC daycares

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is planning some of the largest budget cuts in the citys history on top of a hiring freeze. The drastic cuts will affect every agency, including the health department.

Asked how the funding reduction could affect background checks and inspections at child care centers, Schiff said the department is working closely with the mayor's budget office.

Zachary Schermele is a breaking news and education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Divino Nino Daycare death Bronx: Background checks scrutinized in NYC
China appears to have decided that its road to greater global clout lies through the Palestinians  no matter what hits it takes for going soft on Hamas.

Beijings initial statement failing to condemn Hamas for this weekends attack drew immediate backlash from Israeli and U.S. officials for minimizing the brutality the Palestinian militants had visited on Israel.

But China is likely making a long-term play: gain favor in the Middle East as well as with countries sympathetic to the Palestinian cause in regions such as Africa and Latin America, many of which increasingly are looking for alternative partners to the United States.

Alienating Israel, however, could come at high cost for China. It has lucrative tech-sector trade with the country, often importing more than $1 billion worth of semiconductors a year from Israel. And Beijings efforts to position itself as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians may now be damaged.

China is clearly afraid of offending the Arab side. And they sort of bow their hat lightly in the direction of the Israelis but being very careful while they do so, said Robert Ford, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria now with the Middle East Institute, a Washington think tank. The Israelis will tend to look at that and say this is not a neutral arbitrator.

In its first statement following the strikes, China urged both sides to exercise restraint and embrace a two-state solution.

In response, Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, expressed disappointment because he said Israel saw China as a friend, according to a Reuters report.

When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution, Waks told reporters Sunday.



Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was leading a congressional delegation to China starting over the weekend, lectured Chinese leader Xi Jinping for going too soft on Hamas.

Beijing does seem to be trying to balance its message to avoid the worst blowback. Not long after Schumer expressed his frustration to Xi, Chinas Foreign Ministry issued a statement more explicitly condemning harm to civilians.

Still, the Chinese approach overall has been far more neutral than the stance the United States and some European nations have taken, which has largely focused on sympathy and support for Israel. That aligns with Beijings long-standing policy of non-interference in other countries internal affairs.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment on this story.

Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, meanwhile, released initial statements essentially blaming Israeli policies for the Hamas attack  a reflection of the strong pro-Palestinian feelings among their populations.

Beijing, though, is likely thinking years ahead and far beyond the Middle East.

Countries in Africa, Latin America and beyond often see Palestinians struggle against occupation  or what a U.N. expert has declared is an Israeli apartheid policy  as akin to fighting colonization.

South Africa, for instance, issued a statement declaring that the new conflagration has arisen from the continued illegal occupation of Palestine land, continued settlement expansion, desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.

Beijings rhetoric could pull it close to nations like these that have already benefited from Chinese infrastructure investment, from highways to massive new ports.

In the days since the Hamas strikes, Chinese state media also has painted the United States as a regional villain plotting behind the scenes of Middle East conflicts and hinted at a Beijing-led role in ending them.



The Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires a more powerful collective effort from the international community to change it, the state-backed Global Times tabloid said Sunday.

In some ways, it fits into the opportunistic way China is approaching world crises in its push for superpower status. Xi in particular is seeking more support for his Global Security Initiative, an alternative vision to the U.S.-led international order.

Increasingly [in] all of these sorts of issues, when there is a conflict somewhere in the world, China sees it as an opportunity to try to undermine the United States  to try to take, essentially, a shot at the United States, said Michael Singh, a former George W. Bush administration official with Middle East expertise.

Asked about the reaction from the Peoples Republic of China, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday: We were not entirely surprised by the PRCs response based on their history of commentary on these kinds of issues.

China has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. It was among the first countries to recognize a state of Palestine, and, in June, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited China, where he struck a strategic partnership deal with the Chinese leader. Xi used the occasion to unveil his own three-point roadmap to Israeli-Palestinian peace. (The Palestinian Authority governs in the West Bank.)

The Hamas attack may derail any serious Israeli-Palestinian peace talks for years. Still, China has had some success in other efforts to play Middle East negotiator.

Earlier this year, China helped usher through a restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Those two countries remain rivals, but both have historically supported Palestinian rights, and Iran in particular is a major financier and military backer of Hamas.

All of this comes as Saudi Arabia and Israel, guided by the U.S., had been discussing establishing formal diplomatic relations. Israel also has in recent years established such relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, a sign of the regions evolving politics.

Ultimately, Chinas messaging over the fighting that erupted this weekend reveals the weakness of its regional stature, said David Satterfield, a former senior State Department official dealing with the Middle East.

The Chinese have for over a decade wished to present themselves as equal to the big boys  the U.S., the U.N., the U.K. and the EU, Satterfield said. But man, theyre playing third, fourth and fifth fiddle. Not because of being shut out  China just doesnt bring weight to these issues.
[Source]

A Chinese teacher reportedly insisted to police that the scammer who took off with her money amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars would still marry her despite authorities efforts to dissuade the victim multiple times.

What happened: The incident started in November 2022 when the victim, identified as a 38-year-old teacher with the surname Yuan, began transferring money to a man she met online, according to local media.

He allegedly promised her that she would make a fortune through the money sent, which would be invested in Bitcoin. Yuan described the man in the photos and videos the perpetrator posted online as a handsome, wealthy and kindhearted person who loved animals.

Losing money: Yuan lost a total amount of 4 million yuan ($548,000) to the scam that lasted until March. Police believe Yuan was a victim of "sha zhu pan," loosely translated to pig butchering in English. Victims of the popular and complex scams are often baited into eventual relationships, usually romantic or business, that lead to victims handing over their money to the scammers.

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Police involvement: Authorities were eventually alerted after noticing unusual activity in Yuan's bank account. They approached her multiple times to warn her about becoming a victim of a love scam, but she insisted that she was not.

Yuan reportedly even lied to the police on several occasions, including a time when she told them she did not transfer 640,000 yuan ($87,000) to the scammer despite her bank records showing the transaction. She also told them that she was buying discounted luxury bags from the perpetrator during another visit from the authorities.

Causing her more distress: During the police's ninth visit on Jan. 9, Yuan reportedly told them that the life pressure they put on her was bigger than that of being scammed.

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She also told them that she would not be running to them crying in the end, despite what officers told her about their experience with other victims.

Realization and denial: Yuan eventually suspected the man was a con artist when another woman informed her that the same man had cheated on her and scammed her.

Yuan called the police on March 9, and despite the new information, she was still in disbelief. Breaking down in tears, Yuan told the police during their 12th meeting, I don't believe it. He will marry me."

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Speaking to local media, a Yangpu District officer who was part of the anti-scam team said Yuan had invested so much money and emotion in it that she would rather believe the police were scammers.

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GT Voice: Who stands to profit from Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

09:56, October 12, 2023 By Global Times ( Global Times

House of Hegemony Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

US President Joe Biden warned on Tuesday against any country or organization thinking of taking advantage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while indicating that the US is surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors, to Israel.

Also on Tuesday, the first plane carrying American ammunition for Israel's strikes against Gaza landed in Israel.

Rarely does the US react so efficiently to an issue unless there is a huge interest in it. If anything, the fast provision of military aid is another reminder that the US military-industrial complex stands to gain the most again from a Middle East conflict, like it did in Ukraine and other regional instabilities in the past.

At least 2,100 people have been killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since the surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday, and a humanitarian crisis is likely to emerge in Gaza. From the point of view of avoiding more human casualties and of averting a humanitarian disaster, the most rational and responsible response after the initial attack is to call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and calm and to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible.

However, instead of calming the situation, US officials appear busy fanning the flames by providing additional military aid. Not only in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but in every conflict, the US response is always to escalate the violence instead of encouraging peace. This is because war brings losses and pains to most countries and regions in the world, but the US is one of the few that can exploit the conflict for sickening profits.

Take a look at the performance of US defense stocks this week. The nearly 9 percent rise in Lockheed Martin's stock on Monday was the biggest for the largest US defense contractor on a non-earnings day since March 2020. Northrop Grumman shares also had their best day since 2020.

Investors have always been quick to tell who will be the winners in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While the Biden administration warned any group against taking advantage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if any group stands any chance to exploit the conflict and profit from the violence, it will probably be the US military-industrial complex. Whenever there is a military conflict or even merely regional tensions in any part of the world, the US can always find a way of turning it into a great opportunity for American arms dealers to make a fortune.

According to media reports, the big five military-industrial complex giants - Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman - gained the most from those conflicts. They routinely split more than $150 billion in Pentagon contracts annually, said an article published by The Nation in May.

In the Russia-Ukraine military conflict, the big five giants not only sold large amounts of military equipment to Ukraine, but also used the opportunity to market their products to other European countries. They also obtained more contracts and funds from the US government.

As a result, Ukraine became the world's third-largest arms importer in 2022, ranking the fifth among the main US arms export destinations, according to data from Statista. Also, the US State Department said in January that direct military sales by US companies rose 48.6 percent to $153.7 billion in fiscal 2022 from $103 billion in fiscal 2021, thanks in large part to arms sales to Ukraine amid the continued escalation of the conflict, according to media reports.

Moreover, the US keeps creating tension across the Taiwan Straits with arms sales to the Taiwan island. In late August, the Biden administration even announced plans to provide the first-ever military aid to the Taiwan region through the so-called "Foreign Military Financing program" with a total value of about $80 million.

Instead of contributing to the maintenance of world peace, the US has continued to fuel the escalation and continuation of various conflicts so as to bring fortunes to its military-industrial complex, but it comes at the expense of people's lives. Without war, it would be hard for those companies to sustain their businesses. But the approach of relying on wars to get enough orders is dangerous to the world. The world cannot afford to allow them to continue making profits from misfortunes in other countries and regions.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov, with Chabad of Northwest Indiana, on right, hugs former Israeli emissary Omri Markovich during the "We Stand with Israel" event in Munster on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

There are at least 10,000 reasons why Eli Nirenberg should come back home from Jerusalem as soon as he possibly can.

The 23-year-old Munster resident, whos in Israel as a Yeshiva student, was whisked into a bomb shelter Oct. 6 as he and others were celebrating Simhat Torah. After 10 hours, they emerged to learn of the nightmare that was unleashed on their country, he told at least 100 members of the Jewish community via video during a special prayer service put together by the Jewish Federation of Munster Wednesday evening.

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The Associated Press reported as of Thursday, more than 2,700 people have been killed in the attack Palestinian terrorist group Hamas instigated over the weekend  1,300 of them Israeli. But he has only one reason to stay: helping humanity.

Visitors stand and sing along to the Hatikvah, the national anthem of the State of Israel, during a Jewish Federation of NWI event hosted in Munster on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Do not worry about me, because Im taken care of. I may still be brought home by my family, but like General Zelenskyy of Ukraine, I dont want flight  I want to fight, and I can fight by volunteering, Nirenberg said. A lot of people have been reaching out to me, and its very inspiring to see so many people who care. I may not be Israeli, but Im human, and this (attack) is genocide.

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Ill do my best to keep safe.

Omri Markovich, a former emissary from Israel, is hoping to be on the first flight to Israel Sunday after barely sleeping trying to keep up with any an all dispatches from family and friends over there. One of them, a real estate agent from Dallas, told him she was at the rave where the attack started.

She said at 6:30 a.m., they didnt hear any sirens, but they saw the rockets and there was shooting everywhere, he said after weeping at the podium. They tried to get into a bomb shelter, but the door wouldnt close, so they managed to drive to a different town where (Hamas) didnt go.

Visitors sing a prayer for healing, led by Rabbi Mariana Gindlin of Congregation Beth Israel, during a Jewish Federation of NWI event hosted in Munster on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Markovich encouraged everyone to keep speaking out on the atrocities on social media, but more important than that, people need to check on everyone whos even tangentially tied to Israel.

There are people whove lost everything. Make sure theyre OK, he said.

Federation Executive Director Emily Benedix drove Markovichs point home.

When I first started seeing the reports, I felt like, Eh, weve been here. Then I kept seeing the (death and wounded) numbers keep going up, and it quickly became, What do we need to do? Benedix said. We partner with our national affiliates and will be making a sizable donation, but we really need to check in with people who have relatives and family over there because this is a whole community trauma. There isnt anyone we know who doesnt have some ties over there.

Rabbi Mariana Gindlin of Congregation Beth Israel performs Ein li eretz Acharet, A Song for Israel, during a Jewish Federation of NWI event hosted in Munster on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Eli Nirenbergs mom, Miriam Marcus, of Munster, is proud yet terrified that hes decided to stay. She knows that the more you tell a young person they shouldnt do something, the more theyll dig in their heels.

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But she wont leave her son without options, if nothing else.

Ive been sending him links with the embassy information for when the time comes and he needs to get out, she said. Hes very well-informed and mature, but still.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
A burgeoning Christian nationalist movement is looking to reintegrate religious traditions in schools, particularly in Texas, bringing a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ policies with it.

The NBC News podcast Grapevine examines this infiltration of far-right actors into school districts. Those groups claim to want to eradicate indoctrination by woke educators and leaders.

Former President Donald Trump lamented the exclusion of religious teachings in schools at the Conservative Political Action Conference last year. School prayer is banned, but drag shows are allowed to permeate the whole place, Trump said. He later stressed the resonance of this narrative with his supporters in a speech in North Carolina, NBC reports.

Central to this unfolding situation is the state of Texas, particularly the suburban area of Grapevine. Here, the report highlighted how newly elected school board members, backed by far-right Christian supporters, approved a plan restricting mentions of gender fluidity in classrooms and libraries. Similar scenarios are playing out nationwide, showcasing a concerted effort to meld religious traditions with educational policies.

I texted @ahylton26 the next day, and we got to work.



The result: Our new podcast, "Grapevine," was released yesterday.



You can listen to the first two episodes by clicking here: https://t.co/2GMvr0p0ZD



4/  Mike Hixenbaugh (@Mike Hixenbaugh) 1696516728

In a significant episode from August 2022, a mother at a packed school board meeting in Grapevine accused a teacher of influencing her child to transition genders, exclaiming, I lost my son. However, a complex effort was revealed upon deeper investigation by NBC reporters Mike Hixenbaugh and Antonia Hylton.

According to a description of the podcast, its a tale of a transgender child yearning for understanding, a mother rooted in her religious beliefs, and an English teacher caught amid this religious and social discord. The podcast underscores the broader implications, depicting it as part of a larger religious movement with a growing influence over educational policies based on evangelical interpretations of biblical values, according to NBC.

In Oklahoma and Florida, state officials are advancing Christian-centric agendas within the educational sphere. Oklahomas Republican education chief, Ryan Walters, has advocated for displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms.

School board candidates in 3 North Texas districts passed policies restricting lessons on race, gender and sexuality, resulting in hundreds of books' removal from schools



@AHylton26 spoke with a group of students who worry the church is creeping into the public education system  NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt) 1696433463

Concurrently, Floridas Department of Education approved content from the Christian conservative group PragerU Kids for use in public schools at the same time that it stemmed the mere mention of LGBTQ+ people throughout Floridas entire public education curriculum and rewritten the history of slavery to include that those who were enslaved benefited from their enslavement because of the skills they learned. This false claim has been widely criticized, but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has defended his education departments point of view.

Texas state Rep. Nate Schatzline, who wrote the states anti-drag bill but himself dressed in drag previously, aligned with the conservative Christian movement, underscored the importance of Christian values in public policies. Regarding the separation of church and state as outlined by the Constitution, he claimed, The idea was meant to keep the state out of the church, not to keep the church out of the state.

The report also highlighted concerns from LGBTQ+ rights advocates who warn that the escalating rhetoric could incite violence. Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, expressed dismay at seeing faith weaponized in this manner, marking a departure from the values of empathy, compassion, grace he associated with his religious upbringing.

NBCs coverage and the accompanying Grapevine podcast revealed a complex tableau of political, religious, and social elements converging on the educational battleground. Amidst a broader national conversation about transgender rights and religious freedom, the narratives unfolding in Republican-controlled states exemplify the contentious dialogue surrounding the future of Americas educational landscape.
Metula, northern Israel  Israel is warning of a "prolonged" war in Gaza as it prepares to launch a ground invasion of the densely populated Palestinian territory. If ordered by the country's leaders, it would be Israel's first ground offensive in Gaza in almost a decade, but its aerial attacks have already been relentless for six days, and the grim reality for the roughly 2.3 million people trapped in the region is becoming clear.

Many of those paying the ultimate price for the brutal weekend terror attack on Israel by Gaza's Hamas rulers are the youngest Palestinians. Hospitals and clinics struggling to keep their lights on since Israel imposed a complete blockade, cutting electricity supplies to the Palestinian enclave, are full of tiny bodies covered in blood and exhausted doctors trying desperately to save their lives.

Maps, satellite images show devastation in Gaza

Israel says it's targeting Hamas militants and command centers and that several of the group's leaders have already been killed. But as Israel vows to wipe Hamas out completely, many, including experts at the United Nations who have accused Israel of answering Hamas' war crimes with its own, are asking at what cost.

Officials in Gaza said the death toll in the besieged Palestinian territory had surged past 1,300 on Thursday, just six days into Israel's retaliatory attacks. On nearly every street in the 25-mile-long strip of land there have been scenes of anguish as rescue workers gather the remains of the dead.

Wounded Palestinian man Ala Al-Kafarneh (2nd from left), who survived Israeli airstrikes but lost his pregnant wife and several members of his extended family in the the bombardment after they fled the town of Beit Hanoun to Gaza City, sits next to their bodies at a hospital in Gaza City, Oct. 11, 2023. / Credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS

Despite fierce international criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government ordered a complete blockade of Gaza almost immediately after Hamas' attack, vowing that Israel would not allow food, fuel, water or electricity in until Israeli hostages are returned home.

The blockade has amplified the misery of the millions of people who live in the densely packed enclave. More than half of Gaza's inhabitants are under the age of 18  children who, like most in the territory, had no say in Hamas' brutal assault on southern Israel.

"They're wiping us out. This is a genocide," Gazan university student Efaf al-Najar told CBS News. "It's not even an attack anymore. They keep saying, 'leave the Gaza Strip.' Where? They've bombed everything, even the only border we can leave through."

Gazan university student Efaf al-Najar, 23, speaks with CBS News in Gaza City amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian territory, Oct. 12, 2023. / Credit: CBS News

Israel has repeatedly told residents to evacuate their homes, but the Rafah crossing from the far south of Gaza into Egypt is the only functioning route to escape, and it has been hit repeatedly by the Israeli military, leaving the vast majority of Palestinians trapped in the region, fearing what's to come.

Al-Najar told CBS News she lived in Gaza City's Tel el-Hawa neigborhood, "which has been completely destroyed and wiped out by the Israeli airstrikes."

She said when Israel started bombing Gaza her mother feared their neighborhood would be targeted, so they moved to a hotel, "because it's supposed to be safer, because it has U.N. clearance. But obviously, no place in the Gaza Strip is safe. Even the schools that people have sought shelter in, UNRWA schools have been attacked, hospitals and ambulances, educational institutions, our mosques, every place in the Gaza Strip. So really. nowhere is safe."

The young woman, who moved back to Gaza with her family in 2018 after years spent in Malaysia, cast no blame at Hamas for the suffering of Palestinians, calling the group labeled a terrorist organization by Israel and the U.S. "a political party but at the same time, they are Palestinian resistance."

"They keep saying this is an attack [on Israel] and this was not provoked. What about more than 75 years of [Israeli] occupation? More than 17 years of siege on the Gaza Strip? This is not an attack, this is merely a response to the years of occupation and the years of oppression that they've been subjecting the Palestinian people to, not only in the Gaza Strip but in the West Bank as well."

"I don't know. We have memories. We have dreams," sobbed al-Najar. "I don't know what to do."

As the Israeli military's war on Gaza intensifies, the situation along Israel's northern border with Lebanon was also growing more tense.

For the past five days, Israel has traded fire with the powerful Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon.

There have been a handful of deaths reported on both sides, and Israel is taking no chances. CBS News witnessed a massive mobilization of Israeli tanks and soldiers along the border amid mounting fear that a second front could open there. Given Hezbollah's resources and links with Iran and other governments, such an escalation could engulf the entire region in war.

CBS News' Marwan al-Ghoul in Gaza City contributed to this report

Israel-Lebanon tensions tightening after Hezbollah strikes

Death toll rises as Israel-Hamas war intensifies

U.S. efforts to help free hostages from Gaza
A federal court in Wichita has granted class-action status to 5,245 people on the Wichita Police Departments gang list.

U.S. Judge Eric Melgrens decision clears the first major hurdle in a lawsuit that claims the citys criteria for labeling people criminal street gang members and gang associates are too vague. The federal court suit, filed by the ACLU and the Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice in 2021, seeks to strike down a state law and city policy that list the criteria for police to label people as members or associates of criminal street gangs.

Class-action status allows them to represent others on the gang list who may not know they are on it and have no way to have their names removed.

The departments gang list includes 5,245 people  1,728 active gang members, 3,296 inactive gang members and 221 gang associates. List members are subjected to intense police scrutiny, frequent stops and searches over minor traffic infractions, minimum $50,000 bail if charged with a violent crime and longer sentences in higher-security prisons if convicted, according to the lawsuit.

What this means is that we can go forward as a class, to represent the rights of everybody thats on the gang list, Teresa Woody, a lawyer for Kansas Appleseed, said. ...That means if were successful, the relief were asking for  which is basically to change or modify the procedures for getting on the gang list to meet constitutional muster  would apply to everyone on the gang list.

Officials with the city of Wichita did not comment, citing the lawsuit.

We cannot comment on pending litigation, Megan Lovely, city spokesperson, said in a statement.

Under the citys policy, and the Kansas law that empowers it, most Wichitans could be added to the list, which identifies a person as a gang member or gang associate based on a loose set of criteria such as where a person lives, what color clothing they wear, where they shop or buy gas and with whom they are photographed, the lawsuit alleges.

The policy grants broad discretion to Wichita police to decide who gets added to the list. Kansas Appleseed and the ACLU Kansas allege that the police department has disproportionately targeted racial minorities  60% of the people on the gang list are African-American and 25% are Hispanic. Only 6% are white.

The city does not notify people when they are added to the gang list, and theres no way to challenge it or have your name removed.

Lawyers with the ACLU and Appleseed filed the case on behalf of Progeny, a nonprofit juvenile justice organization, and individual plaintiffs Christopher Cooper, Elbert Costello, Martel Costello and Jeremy Levy, Jr. Progeny alleges the gang list has hindered its efforts to organize about juvenile justice because it could put some attendees in legal jeopardy for associating with each other.

Outside of law enforcement, no one is supposed to know who is on the Wichita Police Departments secret list of alleged gang members and associates.

But the gang list is not always private.

Its supposed to be confidential, Woody said. It clearly isnt totally confidential. I mean, we know that a former captain of the Wichita Police Department was charged with releasing some of that information.

Earlier this year, former Captain Wendell Nicholson was charged and entered a diversion agreement for leaking confidential internal records, including gang list information, to a Walmart security guard.

Depositions in the case also suggest that Wichita police officials have illegally shared confidential information with landlords and business owners to block alleged gang members from renting at certain properties or hosting events at different venues.

Woody said everyone should care about the outcome of the case, even if you never break the law.

This is allowing them to put people on a list and say youre a criminal, Woody said. A law-abiding citizen can end up on the list because you dont have to be charged or even suspected of criminal activity to be on the list.

And I think the other reason to care about it is because it criminalizes people on the list and it criminalizes sectors of Wichita, whether those are neighborhoods or racial demographics or whatever.

If the plaintiffs win, the Wichita Police Department could be forced by the court to destroy its list of alleged gang members and gang associates. Or it could give people on the list a chance to challenge the designation.

In the event that there are modifications to the gang list, one of the things were going to be asking for is that everyone whos on the list be notified and have, at the very least, an opportunity to use some procedures to get themselves off, Woody said.
CLEARWATER, Fla. - When word came Saturday morning at five that Israel was under attack, it took a bit for Anat Ezra to grasp that this time would be worse.

"I opened the internet, and I was like, oh my goodness. Oh my goodness," she said. "I talked to my family, and they said they probably kidnapped our relative, my cousin."

Confirmation came flying around the internet of their beloved cousin, 25-year-old Noa Argamani, begging not to be killed as they separated her from her boyfriend, Avinantan Or.

"Noa is the only child in the family," said cousin Anat Ezra. "It took them so long to bring her to the world."

The day after Noa was abducted, video of her in the same outfit surfaced.

RELATED: Jewish community in Tampa gather in solidarity to honor victims of Hamas attacks

Anat and her husband, Tal, have kept in touch with Noa's parents as they live this nightmare. FOX 13 spoke with her mother, Liora, through a translator.

"When [I] saw her drinking the water, it gave [me] relaxation, peacefulness because, you know, at least she's alive," she said.

They have heard very little from Israeli authorities about any efforts to rescue hundreds of hostages taken by Hamas.

Thursday is Noa's 26th birthday.

READ: 'You can't describe it': Tampa Bay area Jewish community reacts to conflict in Israel

"[I] believe that what's holding [me] together is the belief that she will come back home in one piece and alive," she said.

Noa's family says she lived her life hoping to spread love to the world.

The music festival she attended was raided by terrorists who indiscriminately killed 260 people. It was intended to be a celebration of life.

"Their only crime was that they celebrated peace in the Middle East, peace in the world," said Ezra's husband, Tal.

Noa is a university student and served in the Israeli military.

"I hope for the good," said Anat Ezra. "I really hope that somebody will hear me and will open the gates to come back to Israel for those kidnapped."
Dr Gianluca Grimalda pictured on his 9,300-mile overland journey to Papua New Guinea. The senior climate researcher at the Kiel Institute in Germany, lost his job this week over his refusal to fly (Gianluca Grimalda)

A climate researcher has been sacked after he refused to fly home from a fieldwork project in Papa New Guinea because he avoids flights in order to minimise his carbon footprint.

Dr Gianluca Grimalda was notified on Wednesday by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany that his research contract had been terminated.

The academic has refused to take flights since 2010 unless there was no other option, a stance that his employer previously supported.

Earlier this year, Dr Grimalda embarked on a 35-day, 9,300-mile (15,000km) overland journey including through Iran, India and Thailand to reach Papua New Guinea in the southwest Pacific.

Since I do not teach and meetings can be held online, there is nothing that requires my presence in Kiel, Dr Grimalda wrote, in a statement to The Independent. Burning 4.9 tons of CO2  about how much the global citizen of the world emits in one year  for the absurd request to work on site is inacceptable in the current climate emergency. I am going to file a lawsuit for unlawful dismissal against this decision.

The Independent has contacted the Kiel Institute for comment but they have not yet responded.

Last week the academic, who is a member of protest group Scientist Rebellion, told The Independent how he feared losing his job over his beliefs. Maybe I will not find another research position, he said. Doing research is the thing I love the most in my life.

Dr Grimalda started working at the Kiel Institute in 2013 and for the past six months, has been in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea studying the social impacts of climate change and market integration among 30 communities.

The academic acknowledged that he had been delayed in his return to Germany which he attributed to his group being held hostage and additional security threats in Papua New Guinea. Last month, his bosses sent an official warning and demanded he return to his desk by 2 October, the scientist said.

His salary was stopped in September, he added, a source of major stress.

I pay for the healthcare of my mum in Italy. One-third of my salary goes to the payment of the healthcare of my mum, he said during a WhatsApp call from Bougainville Island on 4 October.

He added: I perceive immoral blackmail in what they were telling me. They wanted me to renege on my moral principles, on my commitment, in order to admit my failure in not having complied with the agreement that I had with them.

The academic documented his slow travel journey from Germany to Papua New Guinea in an epic Twitter thread (Gianluca Grimalda)

Dr Grimalda is travelling on a cargo ship for the first leg of his journey home, a voyage which required special permission from the National Maritime authority of Papua New Guinea, before continuing via bus, train and passenger ferries. He has calculated that his slow-travel route, which will take about 50 days, will reduce his emissions more than tenfold from 5,300kg of greenhouse gasses from flying to 420kg.

My stance is to not take a plane unless there is no alternative, he said. He explained that on the outbound journey, he was forced to take two flights - one because Chinas borders were still closed in February due to Covid, and another to reach Papua New Guinea from Singapore.

The scientist said that the Kiel Institute has been supportive of his slow travel in the past, and that it has not impacted his work.

I analyse my data, write articles, read articles. There is nothing that I can do in Germany in my office that I cannot do while traveling, he said. Occasionally I dont have internet while traveling but I just wait a little time and then I can connect to the internet.

He acknowledged that he was supposed to have returned to Kiel by 10 September but said that he had informed his head of department about the security threats he had faced.

Gianluca Grimalda with residents in Papua New Guinea. He says his promise to locals about cutting his carbon footprint has given him resolve (Gianluca Grimalda)

We were held hostage for some hours under machete threat. All of my belongings were confiscated, he said.

I now learned that I should have also informed the personnel office, I was not aware of that. Apparently for the Kiel Institute that was a major infringement of my contractual obligations. But I really had no idea, I thought that informing my immediate supervisor was enough.

Dr Grimalda said that he was given an informal warning and threatened with dismissal by Kiel in 2022 over civil disobedience actions he took part in with Scientist Rebellion, an activist organization.

In an email to The Independent last week, Guido Warlimont, head of communications at the Kiel Institute, wrote: We remain committed to our policy of not publicly discussing or commenting on personal legal matters. This is also for the protection of our employees.

In general, the Institute encourages and supports its staff to travel climate-friendly. We are committed to do without air travel in Germany and in other EU countries as far as we can. We pay to Atmosfair to offset emissions through climate protection projects.

Mr Warlimont added that Dr Grimalda planned his trip to Papua with Kiels support, and that the institute had supported a slow travel trip that he made previously.

Flying is one of the most emissions-intensive pursuits an individual can do. A persons carbon footprint increases by ticket class  and rockets with private jet travel.

Domestic and international aviation is responsible for about 10 per cent of transport sector emissions. Roughly 1 per cent of the global population is responsible for more than half of these, the UN says.

Dr Gianluca Grimalda crossing a stream with a local resident to reach a village in Papua New Guinea (Gianluca Grimalda)

Flying is expected to boom in the coming decades as more countries grow their middle classes. Carbon emissions from the airline industry grew by 75 per cent from 1990 to 2012, according to the David Suzuki Foundation. If left unchecked, they could consume quarter of the available carbon budget for limiting temperature rise to 1.5C, the research group said.

Dr Grimalda said that his resolve had been strengthened by what he witnessed in Papua New Guinea, one of the worlds most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis.

The country is experiencing sea-level rise and more frequent storm surge, forcing coastal communities to relocate. In mountain villages, drought is causing food shortages.

Im going to stick to this promise I made to all these people who are so exposed to climate change without having any responsibility, he told The Independent.

Sea level rise is not because of their emissions. People from the US are the ones with the highest carbon footprint in the world, but also Europeans. I dont want to fail these people one more time, even if this means losing my job.

Dr Grimalda said that, by his calculations, even his slow travel plans are equivalent to the average Papuans emissions in one year.

My estimation is the average person from Bougainville emits 400 kg carbon dioxide in one year, he said. To give you a sense of proportion, the average person in the world emits four tons of carbon dioxide in one year [and] the average US citizen emits 20 tonnes.

The Italian academics story has resonated through the realms of academia and beyond. His saga, which he has shared on X, formerly Twitter, has received hundreds of comments and mounting media attention. Fellow academics have written to the Kiel Institute in protest on his behalf.

We need more people like [Gianluca Grimalda], wrote PhD student Tuulia Reponen. You are my hero.

Some 70 per cent of carbon emissions come from just 100 companies worldwide, according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Mr Grimalda acknowledges that he would be a fool to think his individual actions could alter the course of the climate crisis.

But I thought that this was the right occasion to really sound the alarm bell, to tell as many people as possible that we really need to change completely our lifestyle, he said.
French technology company Shadow has confirmed a data breach involving customers' personal information.

The Paris-headquartered startup, which offers gaming through its cloud-based PC service, said in an email to customers this week that hackers had accessed their personal information after a successful social engineering attack targeted the company.

"At the end of September, we were the victim of a social engineering attack targeting one of our employees," Shadow CEO Eric Sele said in the email, seen by TechCrunch. "This highly sophisticated attack began on the Discord platform with the downloading of malware under cover of a game on the Steam platform, proposed by an acquaintance of our employee, himself a victim of the same attack."

Shadow said that though its security team took unspecified immediate action, the hackers were able to connect to the management interface of one of the companys software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers to obtain customers private data.

That data includes full names, email addresses, dates of birth, billing addresses and credit card expiry dates. Shadow says no passwords or sensitive banking data were compromised.

An individual who posted on a popular hacking forum on Wednesday claiming responsibility for the Shadow breach said they are selling the stolen database, which allegedly contains the personal data of more than 530,000 Shadow customers. The individual said they were selling the alleged data after they claimed they were ignored by the company.

Shadow spokesperson Thomas Beaufils confirmed the authenticity of the email that the company sent to customers but declined to comment further or answer TechCrunch's questions. Shadow declined to name the software-as-a-service provider when asked by TechCrunch or say if it knows how many Shadow customers are affected, but the spokesperson did not dispute the hacker's claims when asked.

Shadow's email to customers, which has not yet been shared on any of the companys website or social media channels at the time of writing, says that the company has reinforced the security protocols it uses with its providers and has upgraded internal systems to render compromised workstations harmless.

The company is advising customers to be wary of suspicious-looking emails and to set up multi-factor authentication on their accounts.
Harmit Singh Juneja moved to the Frenso-Clovis metro area in 2014. When the opportunity to enroll his youngest two daughters at a dual immersion school came up, he couldnt let it pass. After all, he was one of the parents to petition for such a school to exist in Clovis.

Clovis Unified is doing a wonderful job serving the community, Juneja said. But as far as an offering of dual language goes, thats something that was missing in the landscape.

Despite having multiple ethnic groups within its student body and several different primary languages spoken inside its district borders, Clovis Unified School District does not offer dual immersion programs of any kind, whether you are a primarily English-speaking student looking to learn another language or a student who is learning English and also want to learn in your first language.

Bothered by the lack of dual immersion programs in Clovis, in 2020 Juneja helped found the Clovis Global Academy, an independent charter school for the areas families of all backgrounds. The school offers bilingual education, in Spanish and English, for the areas growing diverse communities that are interested in raising multilingual students.

Juneja is now the founding principal and superintendent of the CGA. He said the schools student body is 60% Hispanic or Latino, 30% Asian (including Punjabi and other ethnic groups), 5% African American, and less than 10% other. All students are taught in English and Spanish, he said, and can select visual and performing arts electives in Punjabi and Mandarin.

Clovis Unified is the 14th largest school district in the state and its student body is composed of 40% Hispanic students, 34% White, 16% Asian and 3% Black according to the districts website. Out of all students, state data reports almost 5% are classified as English Language Learners  whose first languages are Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi, Vietnamese and Arabic. Considering all of the citys residents, about a fourth of Cloviss population speaks another language, according to U.S. Census data.

Be it an English Language Learner student, an already-bilingual student, or a monolingual one who only speaks English, dual immersion programs offer them all the opportunity to learn and improve their fluency in the offered languages.

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Junejas youngest two girls are in third and fourth grade and are doing well in the 50:50 dual immersion school, meaning they are taught half the time in English and the other half in Spanish. However, his oldest daughter, an eighth-grader at Clovis Unified, couldnt have the opportunities her sisters are now experiencing because her grade level wasnt available when the charter school opened.

Juneja said he is well aware of the differences between his daughters schooling, and how the younger two are showing the positive results of attending a dual-immersion school.

We are a Punjabi-speaking family, so English and Spanish are second and third languages for us, he said, but the younger two are speaking Spanish fluently.

At a recent parent resource fair, a parent told The Bee he had transferred his Latino children from Fresno schools to Clovis. He said his children, elementary school students, were part of a dual immersion program in Fresno and he was sad his kids wouldnt have the opportunity to practice their Spanish at school at the frequency they did before.

The Bee emailed Clovis Unifieds spokesperson, Kelly Avants, specific questions inquiring about the existence of dual immersion programs at the district now or before, and if there has been registered interest in these programs.

In Clovis Unified, we have chosen not to create a dual immersion program, Avants said in a general email statement providing the districts explanation

She said the district has decided to not offer these types of programs because its educational philosophy focuses on the neighborhood school concept, providing the same programs and services at every site, rather than segmenting schools and the offerings for students.

Avants said because of this same reason, the district doesnt have magnet schools or schools offering the International Baccalaureate. However, she said Clovis Unified does offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes at every high school.

A kindergarten student works on a lesson to learn Spanish syllables in the dual-language immersion program at Quarry Trail Elementary School in Rocklin on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.

What does Clovis Unified offer for multilingual students

Language electives are available for Clovis Unified high school students, and some intermediate schools allow eighth graders to enroll in Spanish I. According to each high schools website, language electives vary by school at the standard and AP levels. However, all of these classes are specifically scheduled for a limited time block and not a dual immersion modality where students can practice and learn in different languages throughout the school day.

For multilingual students entering the district who are English Learners, Avants said multilingual students are placed in a structured English immersion setting along with their classmates. She said focus is placed on EL students accessing core content, meeting grade level standards and integrating into the districts English Language Development (ELD) instruction.

Our multilingual students receive daily designated ELD instruction that is aligned with the CA ELD standards, she said, and is aligned directly with their language proficiency levels.

The California Department of Education (CDE) states it is okay to immerse English speakers into a language, but not Spanish speakers because an English-speaking student is not at risk of losing their language. This means Spanish-speaking students are at risk of losing their first language if immersed in a monolingual program.

For English-speaking students in the United States, their first language is spoken at home, in the community, and in the media, the CDE states. So, their first language can be practiced and used outside of school but that isnt the case for other language speakers.

Dual-language immersion programs are not replacing English with another language, the CDE states, but provide the students the opportunity to acquire a second language.

The CDE states Spanish-speaking students can participate in Spanish-English dual immersion programs since it helps them keep their first language while learning a second.

When immersed in a 90:10 program, meaning students are taught 90% of the time in Spanish and 10% in English, English learners score[d] as well as or better than their peers in other programs in English tests, according to research quoted by the CDE.

And these programs arent limited to Spanish and English speakers only, the department states. Speakers of other languages who are proficient in either Spanish or English could be eligible for enrollment in Spanish-English dual immersion programs. Dual immersion programs arent limited to Spanish-English instruction either, as seen in Hmong-English programs offered in Fresno.

Juneja grew up in India and said his experiences learning English, Punjabi and Hindi at school proved to him how essential dual immersion education is.

I think we as a country are a little bit behind on this, he said. In most of the world, kids are learning two or more languages naturally in their process of education.

Dual immersion better prepares children for the 21st century, Juneja said, since it allows them to communicate in more than one language and be of more service to their communities.

As you start to see different perspectives and cultures and languages, he said, it shapes you in so many beautiful ways.

In the Fresno-Clovis metro area, there are several opportunities to learn languages outside of school hours, in class or at your own individual pace. These classes range from free to varying price ranges. Those interested can access details about these classes, as reported by The Bee, at https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article276268116.html.
CNNs Jake Tapper pushed back on claims from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) that there are some Democrats who trust Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as a possible new Speaker of the House this week.

Tapper asked Mace on Wednesday about possible alternative Speaker candidates after the GOP named Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) its pick for the role. Scalise faces an uphill battle encouraging enough Republican holdouts to get 217 votes. Mace maintained that Jordan, whom Scalise narrowly beat for the GOP nomination, is not yet out of the race.

I think Jim Jordan is not out of the mix. Ive talked to a lot of people who still support him, she said. Ive actually talked to a lot of Democrats who trust him at his word; I dont think thats out of the realm of possibility.

Tapper didnt believe her, but she doubled down.

Democrats in Congress? Name one Democrat from Congress that trusts Jim Jordan? Tapper asked.

Im not going to name people off the record, she replied. They trust him more than they trust the former Speaker, in my private conversations with Democrats, I will say that.

Jordan is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which is leading investigations into President Biden and his family, a pursuit Democrats have widely denounced. He is also a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus.

Mace is one of eight Republicans and the only female in the GOP who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). She backed Jordan earlier this month and continued to do so in the closed-door caucus vote earlier Wednesday.

She said later Wednesday that she will continue to back Jordan in House floor votes this week, saying she cannot vote for Scalise.

Ive been very vocal about this over the last couple of days: I personally cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who attended a white supremacist conference and compared himself to David Duke, she continued. I would be doing an enormous disservice to the voters that I represent in South Carolina if I were to do that.

Mace was referring to reports that Scalise had compared himself to the Ku Klux Klan grand wizard at an event years ago, reportedly calling himself David Duke without the baggage.

More than a half dozen members have committed to voting for a candidate other than Scalise when a Speaker vote reaches the floor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis s multimillion-dollar overhaul of the New College of Florida is rapidly turning into a disaster.

On Wednesday, the college reported reported that its numbers were in dramatic decline. In its last year of operation, the school has more than doubled its normal loss of first-year students between fall semesters, according to an announcement by the colleges provost.



That marks the lowest retention rate of first-year students in the colleges history, reported the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.



New College, a school that was proudly unconventional until the far-right governor chose to give it a conservative revamp, saw 27 percent of its student body drop out.



Despite the dip, the schools total enrollment was still up from last year, bringing a record 325 students to the school, according to the colleges fact book. That may be in part because the school has lowered its standards for admission, according to the Herald-Tribune, which cited lower grade-point averages and test scores of incoming students than those of previous classes.



Under DeSantiss supervision, the school has seen some radical changes. The colleges leadership team has been upended: Six members of the board of trustees have been replaced by DeSantis allies, while the colleges president was ousted and replaced with the administrations former education commissioner, Richard Corcoran. The school has also suffered a faculty exodus, the elimination of the colleges diversity office, and the firing of its academic librarian.

What DeSantis once described as a culture of woke indoctrination has been replaced by one of censorship: Student murals have been painted over, and student orientation leaders were forbidden from wearing pins expressing support for Black Lives Matter or the LGBTQ+ community, reported The New York Times.



The U.S. Department of Education is also investigating a complaint that the new version of the school discriminated against disabled students, reported CNN. Another federal complaint was filed in August claiming that the new leadership of the school discriminated against LGBTQ+ students, effectively driving them out from the campus.
The Colombian navy seized a semi-submersible loaded with 3.3 tons of cocaine on Tuesday, marking the 20th such interception of a so-called "narco sub" this year, officials said in a news release.

The semi-submersible was intercepted while sailing in South Pacific waters, the Colombian Navy said. The cocaine found inside the vessel "was apparently intended to be sent to the coasts of Central America." There was enough cocaine found on board for about 8,000 doses, with an estimated value of more than $111 million, officials said.

Three men were also arrested. The suspects have not been identified, but are aged 57, 50, and 33. All three were "transporting the material aboard the illegal device," the navy said. The men "were captured for the crime of trafficking, manufacturing or carrying narcotics," the navy said, and have been "placed at the disposal of" the country's attorney general.

Members of the Colombian Navy stand in front of seized drugs. / Credit: Ministerio de Defensa Nacional

The vessel leaked water and "excessive toxic smoke" as the navy intercepted it on Tuesday, officials said. This led the navy to remove hundreds of packages from the vessel. The packages contained thousands of smaller packages, the contents of which were subjected to a preliminary identification test and found to be cocaine, according to the navy.

It's the third seizure of a vessel loaded with illicit drugs in less than a week, the navy said. On Monday, the navy seized two fishing boats carrying a combined 1.3 tons of cocaine. Just two days earlier, on Saturday, the navy seized about 1,737 pounds of cocaine from multiple vessels in the Colombian Caribbean.

Semi-submersibles  known as "narco subs"  like the one captured on Tuesday are popular because they can be used to elude detection by the coast guard and other authorities. They never go fully underwater, according to previous reporting by CBS News, and have been intercepted in Colombian waters or while heading to the United States or Europe.

The Colombian Navy has intercepted 20 such semi-submersibles in 2023, the navy said, leading to the seizure of 30 tons of cocaine and more than five tons of marijuana.

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A sign welcomes visitors to the Miller Beach neighborhood in Gary, which is expected to see higher property tax assessments according to the 2023 Lake County Land Order. (Post-Tribune staff)

Around 100 people attended a virtual public hearing held by state regulators on Tuesday in response to a taxpayer challenge of the 2023 Lake County Land Order, which recorded significantly higher land values in Calumet Township and portends a significant increase in property taxes for the area.

Property taxes fund government services provided by counties, townships, municipalities, school districts and other local government bodies, and are based on the market value of a property as determined by an assessors office. In Indiana, properties are assessed every four years, with 25% of a countys properties assessed each year.

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In previous years, Calumet Township properties were assessed by the Calumet Township Assessors office, but after 2022 Lake County Assessor LaTonya Spearman took over the responsibility, a move that she told the Post-Tribune brought the process into closer compliance with Indiana law.

The land order sets base land value rates for each neighborhood area, which factor into the assessed value of each property, which in turn impact property taxes. This years land order noted dramatic increases in Calumet Township land values, with base per front foot rates in many neighborhood areas increasing by hundreds of percentage points.

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Spearman has attributed the jump in property values to updated assessment methods that have rectified a long-term problem with the undervaluation of Calumet Township properties.

At the Tuesday hearing, DLGF staff heard testimony from Lake County taxpayers, who decried land orders assessed values as exorbitant and excessive.

Several of the attendees identified themselves as residents of Garys beachfront Miller neighborhood living on modest or fixed incomes who would struggle to keep up with a significant increase in their annual property tax bill. They voiced their frustration with the prospect of paying larger amounts in property tax while living in a city where government services are notoriously unreliable. Some of the speakers claimed that a small number of purchases by speculators had skewed the data used by the assessors office, resulting in a land order that reflects unfairly inflated property values, while others warned that the land order could drive gentrification.

If taxes go up and the poor and the elderly are driven out then who will come into replace those (people)? Gary resident Jennifer Henderson told the department. I worry that our our community will become very beige.

Though the land orders assessed land values will result in property tax increases for Calumet Township residents, they will not necessarily rise by the same percentage as the base land values. The new tax liabilities of Calumet Township residents are not yet clear, as state regulators are still reviewing filings from local government entities that will inform those values. Tax levies and rates set by local entities, as well as individual property assessment and relevant deductions, all factor into what each taxpayer owes.

Property owners will be able to calculate their property tax liabilities around the end of January, Jennifer Thuma, Deputy General Counsel at the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), told attendees at the hearing.

Under Indiana Law, the DLGF is obliged to review a county land order in the event that a petition challenging the order gets the signatures of either 100 taxpayers or 5% of a countys taxpayers. After the 2023 Lake County Land Order was published, Andy Young, one of Garys largest landowners, secured more than 150 signatures on a petition that prompted Tuesdays hearing .

Challenges to county land orders in Indiana are very rare, though not in Lake Countys recent history. Last year, Young secured the requisite signatures to challenge the countys 2022 land order, marking the first such challenge to be brought in the state and initiating what Spearman called a learning experience for taxpayers, the (DLGF) and assessing officials alike. The DLGF ultimately sided with the county, concluding that Young and his submitted no evidence to demonstrate that the Department should modify or disapprove the order.

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After testimony taxpayer testimony concluded, Spearman read a statement that she had previously read at an Oct. 2 public meeting held at the Gary Public Library, in which she stressed that her offices assessments were driven by the best available market data.

I encourage the individuals on the call today to reach out to their legislators, she added after reading the statement. All of what Ive heard this evening is policy related.

adalton@chicagotribune.com
DENVER (KDVR)  The 52-year-old man arrested for allegedly killing a mother bear and her cubs supposedly cut off their heads and paws before abandoning their carcasses.

Thats according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Problem Solvers after Paul Stromberg was arrested on 15 counts, including three felonies of willful destruction of wildlife.

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The volunteer firefighter appeared virtually in a Fremont County courtroom Wednesday morning.

Court documents reveal investigators with Colorado Parks and Wildlife found the carcasses of the sow and her cubs on Sept. 29 after they were tipped off to a social media post on a Facebook page for local discussion. The post read, verbatim, To who ever poached 2 cubs and a momma bear and dumbed them up Sand Gulch I have strong words for how mad I am.

Sand Gulch is located in Fremont County near the town of Howard, where Stromberg lives.

A sow and two cubs

Bloody gloves and photos as evidence

When investigators found the remains of the three bears, they also found a pair of red and black Milwaukee-brand gloves 60 yards away along Sand Gulch Road. The gloves appeared to have dried blood on them.

The evidence showed that the bears were shot somewhere else and intentionally disposed of in the Sand Gulch location, the affidavit reads. The claws, skull and teeth of a black bear are desirable trophy parts. Each of the three bears the Wildlife Officers found and investigated had these trophy parts removed and the carcasses abandoned. Colorado Law makes it illegal to hunt or take wildlife and detach or remove, hide, claws, teeth, etc. with the intent to abandon the carcass or body.

Investigators were contacted by a person who wished to remain anonymous but shared a picture of Stromberg posing with three dead bears that matched the description of the bears found dead in Sand Gulch. In the picture, Stromberg is wearing red and black Milwaukee-brand gloves that closely resemble the gloves found near the carcasses.

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According to the affidavit, the anonymous person told Wildlife Officers, STROMBERG talked about the bears falling out of a tree when he shot them and said it was epic when the bears fell out of the tree. STROMBERG said that the bears killed chickens at his house and in return, he took out her whole (expletive) family. STROMBERG made a reference to the claws from the bears being removed.

The affidavit said investigators discovered Stromberg did not have a valid black bear license to hunt bears, and even if he did, he could not legally kill the bears and abandon their carcasses.

Paul Stromberg is accused of illegally killing three bears in Fremont County

Accused Colorado poacher claims death threats

At his virtual court hearing, prosecutors requested Stromberg be forced to appear in person for all future court hearings, saying he shouldnt be given favorable treatment.

Strombergs attorney, Ryan Drengler, responded that Stromberg had become the target of death threats ever since his arrest made national news, and hes worried about appearing at a certain place and time in case those threats were credible.

The judge agreed with the deputy prosecutor for the 11th Judicial District Attorneys Office and said Stromberg will have to appear at his next court hearing on Oct. 18, when the judge will decide if investigators have to return Strombergs cell phone that was seized as evidence.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
A Columbus woman has pleaded guilty to one count of murder for fatally shooting Maurice Porter in the back of the head in July 2021 in Franklinton.

Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael J. Holbrook sentenced Teona Brooks, 24, of the city's Hilltop area, on Thursday to life in prison with the chance for parole after at least 15 years.

Brooks had been charged with one count of aggravated murder  which carries a penalty of life imprisonment without parole, if convicted  and two counts of murder.

Porter, 39, was found fatally shot on July 22, 2021, in the yard of an abandoned property on the 300 block of South Central Avenue in Franklinton, according to the Franklin County Prosecutors Office.

Defense attorney Mark Collins said Brooks fired at Porter after seeing him point a gun at friends she was walking with and pull the trigger. The defense aspect of the case made it a complicated legal matter, he said.

"She wanted to take accountability," Collins said. "(The plea) allows Mr. Porter's family to begin to take their first steps toward closure."

Brooks fled Ohio after Porters killing, prosecutors said. She was arrested in November 2021 in Chicago.

Brooks was credited with 533 days spent in jail after her arrest and leading up to her guilty plea.

bagallion@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus woman sentenced for plea to shooting man in back of head
All of Delawares students deserve a safe, equitable, and quality education, but schools in our state and across the country have a long way to go before we make that vision a reality. Violations of students rights, historic underfunding of public schools, systemic racism, and violence in schools are all-too-common occurrences behind school walls. When we pause to look at how these factors contribute to discipline disparities, the reality of inequity in our classrooms is indisputable:

69% of all out-of-school suspensions in Delaware are for minor issues;

Black students  especially boys  are two to three times more likely to receive a suspension; and

Students with disabilities are two times more likely to receive a suspension.

Fostering an inclusive school environment that supports student achievement and builds a sense of belonging cannot be accomplished in a vacuum  it takes a village.

A recent report published by the ACLU of Delawares Equity in Education Campaign in partnership with the Charter School of New Castle highlights approaches to successfully addressing discipline disparities and drastically reducing both in- and out-of-school suspension rates.

The secret? An inclusive school model that not only emphasizes the role of teachers and educational institutions, but also focuses attention on student engagement, and the responsibility of parents, caregivers, and the broader community in creating an environment conducive to a childs learning and development.

CSNCs model adopts responsive school interactions that convey expectations that students belong in school and in their classes. Simply put, rather than punitive disciplinary measures to change the childrens actions, CSNCs practices focus on changing the behavior of the adults who respond both inside and outside of school.

Children dance during a community back-to-school drive Aug. 26, 2023, at Best Night Inn in New Castle.

Too often, schools ignore underlying problems that may impact student behavior. Students could be adapting to a disability or experiencing poverty, abuse, or neglect causing them to act out. The key lies in investing in training educators, school staff, parents, and community members in restorative discipline practices that keep students in classrooms rather than pushing them out. CSNC encourages problem-solving and creates opportunities for students to take more responsibility for their own behavior, leading to better education outcomes and a path of civic engagement that can last far beyond their grade school years.

A childs village is a reflection of our larger society's values and priorities. Are we building inclusive support networks that welcome and value all students who walk through the doors? Or are we invested in fueling the school-to-prison pipeline by removing students from classes, subjecting them to physical restraint and interrogation, and risking their right to education, due process, and equal treatment? Are we teaching our children patience or punishment, compassion or criminalization, belonging or bias? We get to decide.

Whether you currently have children in school or not, you are a part of the village, and it is the village that holds the power to make equity in education a standard in Delaware schools. We need community members who consistently show up to vote in school board elections. We need parents and caregivers who are equipped with the resources to advocate on behalf of their childrens needs. We need school board members who choose to invest in restorative discipline practices. We need lawmakers who are ready to fund preventative, trauma-informed interventions. We need the whole village.

"It takes a village" is not just an age-old cliche; it's a call to action. It's a reminder that every member of society  parents, neighbors, teachers, school administrators, elected officials  has a stake in our childrens education. A child's success in school is not solely determined by their academic abilities but by the strength of the support village that surrounds them. When we all come together to support and nurture the next generation of Delawareans, we create a stronger state for everyone.

Read the full report

Learn more about the Equity in Education Campaign

Learn more about S.A.F.E Schools

Learn about about SEFA

Shannon Griffin is senior policy advisor for ACLU-DE.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Delaware student success: We have to take action
Community star Joel McHale has responded to Chevy Chases damning criticism of the sitcom and his former co-stars.

During a recent appearance on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, Chase, 80, candidly reflected on his time on the popular NBC sitcom, which ran for six seasons from 2009 to 2015.

I honestly felt the show wasnt funny enough for me, ultimately. I felt a little bit constrained, the former Saturday Night Live breakout cast member said.

Everybody had their bits, and I thought they were all good. It just wasnt hard-hitting enough for me, Chase added of his time portraying moist towelette tycoon Pierce Hawthorne in the first four seasons. He later returned for a guest role in the fifth series.

I didnt mind the character. I just felt that it was... I felt happier being alone. I just didnt want to be surrounded by that table, every day, with those people. It was too much, he said of his co-stars.

In a new interview with People, McHale, who starred as series lead Jeff Winger, dismissed Chases remarks, saying: Hey, no one was keeping you there.

I mean, we werent sentenced to that show, added the 51-year-old Ted actor. It was like, All right, you could have left if you really wanted that. But yeah, you know Chevy. Thats Chevy being Chevy I wrote about this in my book, but I was like, Hey, the feelings mutual, bud.

(From left) Ken Jeong as Senor Chang, Danny Pudi as Abed, Gillian Jacobs as Britta, Joel McHale as Jeff Winger, Yvette Nicole Brown as Shirley, Alison Brie as Annie, Donald Glover as Troy, Chevy Chase as Pierce in Community (Mitchell Haaseth /  NBC Universal, Inc.)

McHale detailed his tense interactions with Chase in his 2016 memoir, Thanks for the Money: How to Use My Life Story, including the comedians alleged use of racial slurs on set.

According to the sitcoms creator Dan Harmon , Chase was the actor who would improvise the most. In 2012, it was reported that Chase allegedly used a racial slur on set while questioning a line of dialogue involving Black characters played by Donald Glover and Yvette Nicole Brown.

Chase apologised immediately and came to a mutual agreement with NBC to leave the show, a source told The Hollywood Reporter at the time.

Addressing the controversy with podcast host Maron, Chase claimed he had no ill feelings towards Harmon.

I have no idea if were okay, the Caddyshack actor admitted, noting he hasnt seen Harmon since 2012. Ive never been not okay. Hes kind of a p***er. Hes angry. He called and said he was sorry. I love him now.

Last month, it was announced that the long-promised Community the Movie would be going ahead, with McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong all set to return for the film.

Just last week, however, Harmon suggested that the movie was up in the air due to the Hollywood actors strike. Either way, Chase is not attached to the project.
Even as the number of Tazewell County residents opposing an initiative by Wolf Carbon Solutions, LLC, and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to run a carbon dioxide pipeline through sections of the county grows, company representatives maintain that the project will create jobs and attract new businesses to the area.

When companies today go to locate a new business, theyre looking for rail, theyre looking for water, theyre looking for electricity, and theyre looking for a labor force, said Wolf Carbon Solutions vice president of engineering and operation Patrick Brierley during a presentation at a recent Tazewell County Board meeting. Theyre also looking for emission controls. If they produce a lot of CO2, they need to be able to get rid of that CO2.

Brierley estimated that the pipeline would take the equivalent of 2.2 million passenger vehicles worth of carbon emissions out of the atmosphere. But Elton Rocke of South Pekin believes the pipeline would merely hide emissions rather than eliminating them.

Tazewell County residents turned up early and in numbers to express their opposition to a proposed CO2 pipeline at last week's Tazewell County Board meeting

More: Residents pack Tazewell County board meeting over proposed CO2 pipeline

Its not profiting the people, Rocke added. It's profiting the big corporations and the pipeline companies. Does Illinois really want to be known as the pollution dump for carbon?

After Wolf Carbon Solutions applied with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to construct the pipeline in June, Rocke started the Tazewell County: Stop the CO2 Pipeline Facebook page, which has grown to over 2,300 members.

Additionally, he said, over 500 Tazewell County residents have signed a petition opposing the project.

Matt Gordon, superintendent of Rankin School District in Pekin, noted that the pipeline would pass through district property or just south of Rankin School, and expressed concerns about safety for students and staff in the event of a pipeline rupture.

This pipeline being located on or near Rankin is not in the best interest of our district," Gordon stated. "We urge our local and state leaders, and the Illinois Commerce Commission to stop this pipeline, which has the potential to be catastrophic to our students and staff.

The proposed pipeline is part of the Mt. Simon Hub system that would transport captured CO2 from ADM ethanol plants in Cedar Rapids and Clinton, Iowa to a permanent underground sequestration site in Decatur. The pipeline would pass through parts of Tazewell, Peoria, Henry, Stark, Knox, Logan, DeWitt, Macon and Rock Island counties.

ADM vice president Greg Webb said that over the past decade ADM has sequestered 4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and knows how to do so safely. He added that the technology used in the capture and storage of CO2 is proven and safe, and the Mt. Simon Hub system would offer substantial environmental and economic development benefits.

The state is aspiring to be carbon neutral by 2050, Webb noted. We believe this is one of the technologies that will help us (achieve) that goal.

While acknowledging safety concerns, Brierley said Wolf Carbon Solutions is prepared to adhere to new federal safety regulations expected to come out next year. The Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Materials Administration began drafting the new regulations in 2020 following a pipeline rupture in Satartia, Miss., that led to 40 hospitalizations.

"We already have advance knowledge of what the new material requirements are going to be," Brierley added. "It's going to be stronger pipe that is able to withstand the handling, like nicks and things like that, that the pipe will be stronger."

Tazewell County is an intervener in the pipeline construction application case with the ICC, meaning that the ICC will keep the Tazewell County Board apprised of proceedings regarding the case and will allow the county to actively participate in the process.

The ICC is expected to make a decision on the pipeline construction application next May.

This article originally appeared on Pekin Daily Times: Companies make case for pipeline project in face of stiff opposition
Medical and relief workers are pleading for safe passage for the 2 million civilians in Gaza as Israel pounds the enclave with airstrikes and imposes a complete siege, in response to the brutal attack launched by the militant group Hamas.

Time is running out for the residents crammed into the increasingly battered 140-square-mile territory under Israeli and Egyptian blockades, as supplies of food and water run low. Families are desperately searching for shelter as missiles flatten buildings and towers. Medical supplies are in dire shortage. And most of the enclave has already lost power, after the fuel that generates electricity ran out on Wednesday.

At least 1,500 Palestinians, including 500 children, have so far been killed in Gaza, and over 6,000 others injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

In Israel, at 1,200 people have been killed, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said on Wednesday. Israel also said that up to 150 hostages, including civilians, have been taken to Gaza by Hamas  which controls the strip.

Relief groups are calling for the protection of the many civilians in Gaza who continue to bear the brunt of the bloody war between Hamas and Israel, urging that an emergency corridor be established for the transfer of humanitarian aid.

Medical staff carry injured people to Al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City, on October 11. Relief workers warned the health care system in Gaza is crumbling under an Israeli blockade. - Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu/Getty Images

Smoke billows over Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Thursday. Israeli forces hammered the enclave for a sixth consecutive day. - Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz on Thursday said Israel would deprive the strip of electricity, water and fuel until Hamas returns the hostages.

No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, Katz wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. And no one will preach us morals, he added.

Responding to a question about whether Israel is upholding the laws of warfare with its siege on Gaza, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday his country abides by international law, operates by international law.

Every operation is secured and covered and reviewed legally with all due respect, Herzog told CNNs Becky Anderson at a press briefing in Jerusalem, adding that talk about war crimes is totally out of context.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, the co-founder of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), warned the complete siege of Gaza will pollute water and reduce oxygen supplies, depleting health indicators, including infant and maternal mortality rates, poverty, starvation and the spread of waterborne diseases and gastrointestinal infections.

You will have a very big rise of maternal mortality of women who are going to give birth under terrible conditions. We will see epidemics starting to spread in Gaza, he said. Thats also besides the number of people who will be killed by Israeli air strikes.

We are heading towards a complete paralysis of the medical system there.

Human Rights Watch earlier this week criticized Israels call for the complete siege as a form of collective punishment and a war crime.

Calls for a humanitarian corridor

The Israeli blockade on Gaza has crippled the health system inside the Palestinian enclave, medical workers told CNN, as emergency teams struggle to triage patients amid dwindling medical supplies.

Barghouti, the PMRS co-founder, said patients with pre-existing health conditions, including cancer and chronic kidney failure, are at risk of death because the siege has blocked access to fresh drugs.

The PMRS has 180 doctors, nurses and psychotherapists stationed inside Gaza, alongside thousands of volunteers, he told CNN on Wednesday.

I receive calls around the clock from our people there [in Gaza], patients with kidney problems who need kidney dialysis, telling me that they could die in a few days, said Barghouti, who is also the leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, a political party headquartered in the occupied West Bank.

Our medical teams are finding great difficulty moving from one place to another because, as people will say, there is no safe place at all. So its a disaster in front of our eyes.

A British-Palestinian surgeon working in Gaza, Ghassan Abu-Sitta, said that unless a humanitarian corridor replenishes the system, hospitals may not make it to the end of the week.

Unless there is a cessation of the bombing and the humanitarian corridor (opens), the Palestinian health system will not survive beyond the week, Abu-Sitta, who was working inside Shifa Hospital in Gaza City but is now operating from a hospital in northern Gazas Jabalia refugee camp, told CNN.

The doctor is yet to see any aid come through.

Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes, which were destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the Karama area, in northern Gaza, on Wednesday. - Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images

A catastrophe

Hospitals all over Gaza are overwhelmed with patients, he said, adding that power is limited to generators and already scarce drinking water is being transported in tanks. Concerns of diseases spreading, including cholera, are growing, Abu-Sitta added.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Thursday that Gaza likely only has enough fuel for a few more hours.

I wanted to say we are going toward a catastrophe, but we are already in the catastrophe, ICRCs regional director for the Middle East told reporters during a briefing in Geneva, adding that the humanitarian situation will soon become unmanageable.

Gazas health infrastructure is close to a breaking point, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, said Thursday. All beds are occupied, and there is no room for new patients in critical condition, Al-Qudra said.

Earlier Thursday the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues amid power cuts.

The Palestinian Minister of Health Mai Al Kaila on Thursday called for urgent international help to field hospitals in Gaza. Medical supplies, emergency departments and intensive care units are urgently needed, she said.

Rafah Crossing: the only way in or out

With the current Israeli siege, the only corridor through which Palestinians or aid can pass in and out of Gaza is the Rafah Crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt.

Egypt on Thursday denied reports of the crossing being closed, saying it has however sustained damage due to repeated Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian side of the border.

Palestinian officials in Gaza had said two days earlier that the crossing had been closed due to Israeli airstrikes. CNN could not independently verify whether the crossing is open or closed.

In a statement, Egypt called on international partners to send humanitarian and relief aid to Palestinians in Gaza, adding that Egyptian authorities will be receiving aid packages at the Al-Arish International Airport in north Sinai.

A Jordanian plane carrying medical aid for Gaza left for Egypt on Thursday, according to a statement from the Jordanian Hashemite Charitable Organization, a state-run relief agency, adding that the supplies will be delivered to medical authorities in Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.

It is unclear how the aid will cross the border amid airstrikes on Gaza.

CNN has reached out to the Egyptian government about the status of Rafah crossing, whether aid will be able to pass through, and whether Palestinians fleeing the conflict will be able to cross into Egyptian territory.

The US said it is in talks with Israel and Egypt about creating a humanitarian corridor through which civilians can cross.

Were talking to Israel about that. Were talking to Egypt about that (getting civilians out of Gaza), Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday prior to departing for Israel.

A senior Israeli official told CNN on Wednesday talks are underway to allow US citizens and Palestinian civilians in Gaza to cross over into Egypt ahead of any possible land invasion of the territory by Israeli forces.

The official with knowledge of the negotiations told CNNs Matthew Chance on Wednesday that under the proposal being discussed, all American citizens would be permitted to pass through the Rafah border crossing if they present their US passports, while the movement of other Palestinian civilians would be limited to 2,000 people a day.

Final approval of the arrangement would need to come from the Egyptians, who control the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, but the Israeli official said it was in Israels interests for as many Palestinians as possible to leave Gaza.

The IDF on Wednesday said it has amassed some 300,000 reservists near the Gaza border.

They (Hamas) will regret this moment  Gaza will never return to what it was, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said earlier.

Additional reporting by Ibrahim Dahman in Gaza, Celine Alkhaldi and Abeer Salman in Jerusalem, Sharon Braithwaite in London, Pierre Meilhan, Jennifer Hansler, Kevin Liptak and Rosa Rahimi.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The count at South Walney in 2021 showed a record number of seals

A wildlife charity has criticised boats for disturbing breeding seals at a Cumbrian nature reserve, following the death of two seal pups.

Workers at South Walney say their excitement at the start of pupping season "has turned to sadness and frustration" over the incident.

They are concerned about the long-term future of the colony, where grey seals have been breeding for nine years.

Kayakers, anglers and small boats have been told to stay 100m from the colony.

The first pup of 2023 captured on the seal webcam

A newborn grey seal pup was spotted at South Walney Nature Reserve, near Barrow, on Cumbria Wildlife Trust's seal-cam on Tuesday.

Beth Churn, marine conservation officer for the wildlife trust, said: "October is usually an exciting time of year for us, as we await the first sightings of seal pups.

"But this year, our excitement has turned to sadness, anger and frustration, following two separate incidents of seal pup deaths, which we believe are the direct result of human disturbance."

Two weeks ago, the trust found two adult seals, a seal pup and a dead porpoise washed up at the nature reserve.

One of the adult seals and the porpoise had injuries which indicated they had been hit by a boat.

It is thought the cause of the seal pup and the other adult seal's death could also be linked to the same incident.

'Too close'

A second pup was believed to have been abandoned by its mother who was spotted on the Trust's seal-cam being "scared off" by boats coming too close to shore.

When mothers with pups are disturbed or alarmed, they return to the water, leaving their newborn pups behind - a reaction known as "flushing".

Ms Churn said that over the weekend a seal-watching boat trip, and several small boats, were spotted "far too close" to the colony.

Paul Waterhouse, reserves officer at the charity, said: "These terrible incidents have happened despite repeated appeals to small boat-users and local ferry companies to keep their distance from the seal colony, especially during pupping season."

He highlighted guidelines issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which state boats - and all other visitors - must keep at least 100m (328ft) away from seal colonies.

The incidents at South Walney have been reported to Defra.

Mr Waterhouse said he feared "continued disturbance" could drive the seals elsewhere.

Last year three incidents involving dogs off leads who were frightening seals were reported by the trust.

The South Walney Reserve is the only grey seal breeding colony in Cumbria

A spokesperson for the charity said it had worked hard since the 1980s to make the South Walney site safe and secure, with no public access to the beach where the seals "haul out" of the water.

In recent years, the colony has grown, and in 2021 the charity counted a record 518 seals in the colony.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust advises visitors to the area that they can watch the seals swimming at high tide from a safe distance in Groyne Hide, or tune into their seal-cam online.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
WASHINGTON  A congressionally mandated commission on Thursday released its final report on the U.S. nuclear posture, recommending an increase in additional assets as China rapidly expands its own arsenal.

At the same time, the commission found the Pentagon and Energy Department are lagging behind their modernization goals, raising questions about the ability to develop additional nuclear assets.

Republicans seized on the report to call for more aggressive nuclear modernization, including additional investments in an industrial base thats struggling to keep pace with the tight timelines needed to implement current strategic objectives.

House Armed Services Committee Mike Rogers, R-Ala., endorsed the reports findings in a statement calling it a wakeup call for our strategic posture.

For the first time in history, the United States must deter two near-peer nuclear adversaries at the same time, said Rogers. The results of their report detailed the gravity of the situation we face and emphasized that the current trajectory of the U.S. nuclear deterrent is insufficient to deter the looming Chinese and Russian threat.

Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, called the report a stark reminder of the significant work needed to expand our nuclear submarine industrial base to increase production and reduce repair time.

He reiterated his calls for a defense supplemental spending package to bypass the $886 billion security funding caps laid out in the May debt ceiling agreement while growing the military budget annually beyond inflation.

It is essential that Congress move forward quickly with a plan to provide our military with the resources necessary to restore our nuclear deterrent, said Wicker, in a statement.

Congress established the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States to examine the U.S. nuclear capability as part of the fiscal 2022 defense policy bill. The commissions report identified capabilities beyond existing programs needed to accelerate and enhance nuclear modernization efforts.

The current modernization program should be supplemented to ensure U.S. nuclear strategy remains effective in a two-nuclear-peer environment, it said.

The report states that current modernization programs were developed under the 2010 security environment mainly with Russia on mind and China as a lesser-included case.

The aggressive foreign policies of China and Russia, the extent of their nuclear modernization, and the possibility of conflict with China and Russia were not foreseen, said the report. It assessed that the risk of a major nuclear conflict remains low, but the risk of a conventional military conflict with both countries has grown, thereby raising the possibility of a nuclear strike on the homeland.

The commission notes in its report that while it did not conduct a cost analysis of our recommendations, it is obvious they will cost money.

A July Congressional Budget Office report projects that nuclear modernization efforts will cost $756 billion over the next decade, and that excludes costs for the additional nuclear initiatives the commission would like the U.S. to pursue.

The initial B-21 Raider stealth bomber is expected to have its first flight at some point in 2023, the Air Force and Northrop Grumman said. But in a Wednesday discussion, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the expected date of the bomber's first flight had slipped a few months. (U.S. Air Force)

Specifically, the commission calls for additional U.S. theater nuclear capabilities in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, modernizing nuclear command and control capabilities and effectively employing emerging technology including hypersonics, quantum computing, generative AI and autonomous vehicles.

It also calls for plans to re-convert submarine-launched ballistic missile launchers and B-52 bombers that were rendered unable to deliver nuclear payloads under the New START treaty. Russia suspended its participation in that treaty, its last remaining nuclear arms control accord with Washington, last year. Moscow has also threatened to pull out of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, though it says it will only resume testing if the U.S. does. The U.S. Senate has never ratified the test ban treaty.

Additionally, the commission calls for uploading some or all of the unemployed warheads in U.S. inventory, deploying additional Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and long-range standoff weapons, increasing the planned number of B-21 bombers and upping the planned production of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines.

Industrial base failing to keep pace

The report also sounds the alarm about the industrial bases failure to keep pace with nuclear modernization requirements.

For instance, the Navy is behind in its goal of constructing one Columbia-class submarine per year while maintaining the older Ohio-class vessels on top of trying to produce two Virginia-class conventional attack submarines per year, which use overlapping nuclear supply chains.

The [White Houses Office of Management and Budget] as well as the commission are skeptical that the current infrastructure can simultaneously support conventional and nuclear sustainment, modernization, and construction as scheduled, states the report. The AUKUS agreement may place further stress on this capacity, referring to the trilateral pact in which the U.S. and Britain will help transfer Virginia-class submarines to Australia.

To that end, the commission says the Defense Department should establish or renovate a third shipyard dedicated to production of nuclear-powered vessels, with particular emphasis on nuclear-powered submarines.

Wicker has held up key authorizations needed to implement AUKUS, demanding the Biden administration and Congress put more money into the submarine industrial base. The two authorizations Wicker is holding up would permit the transfer of two Virginia-class submarines to Australia and allow the Defense Department to accept Canberras $3 billion contribution in the submarine industrial base.
The Alabama Public School Charter Commission Tuesday renewed the contracts of two charter schools.

Montgomery-based LEAD Academy, opened in 2019 and approved as a kindergarten to eventually twelfth grade school, received a renewal for two years.

The charter has dealt with crises and controversy since opening its doors, which members of the commission alluded to Tuesday.

We will be helping you with everything we can but just understand our role is to hold you accountable as well, said Luis Ferrer, chair of the commission.

In 2019, a former principal sued the school, alleging mismanagement and discrimination. In 2020, the school dismissed another principal. Also in 2020, a vendor alleged that the school had not paid them.

The first day of school at LEAD Academy in Montgomery, Ala., on Monday August 19, 2019.

Ferrer told LEAD that they saw the schools potential.

Members of the commission discussed the test scores of the school, and the schools financial viability, especially in the light of the schools need to repay funds for the nutrition program. LEAD won a nearly $2 million judgment against a cafeteria vendor in January, but wrote in a court filing in August that it had not yet been able to collect the money.

This is the elephant in the room that we know people have been concerned about, said Erik Estill, executive director of LEAD.

More: How a Montgomery charter school wound up in a $1.9 million food fight

Estill told commissioners that they were ensuring that similar instances to the food vendor situation would not happen again. He said he now looks at the numbers personally.

That will never happen again, he said.

After a roughly one-hour executive session that was not open to the public, the commission voted to approve the charter.

Both of the deliberations about the renewals were conducted in an executive session under the contested case portion of the Alabama open meetings law.

Lane Knight, an attorney for the commission, said that a charter renewal is a license under the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act.

A grant over a revocation or a renewal of a license, by definition, is a contested case, Knight said. So I guess thats as bluntly as I can put it. This is governed by state law.

The commission also voted to renew the contract for Legacy Prep, a charter school based in Birmingham, for four years.

Commissioners cited their appreciation of the school succeeding with 99.7% of their student body as economically disadvantaged.

Its admirable you have a 99% let me repeat that 99%  poverty and you guys are doing so well, said Ferrer.

In response to a question from Ferrer about support, Renata Johnson, head of school for Legacy Prep, said that they would appreciate more funding. She said that part of that is their desire to have buses because their parents have had to drive their students to and from school everyday for five years.

And not just financial but the resources that we need, we just dont have access to them, she said.

The school is working with the Alabama State Department of Education to have transportation in the future.

After the meeting, Ferrer said that there is not a standard period of time for renewal. For considering these schools applications, Ferrer said that they had considered things like performance and following through with what was told to the commission. He also looked at the performance of Legacy Prep, with 99.7% of its student body economically disadvantaged, and LEAD, with 65% of its student body economically disadvantaged.

Youre looking at one school that has 99% poverty, whose growth is in the 90s where you have one that is 60% (poverty) and is underperforming, said Ferrer.

Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in state capitals around the nation.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Contract renewed for LEAD Academy charter school in Montgomery
A man arrested for a nonviolent misdemeanor died in a Northern California jail cell after lying face down on his bunk for three days as deputies and jail medical staff watched, according to his familys newly amended federal lawsuit.

While Maurice Monk, 45, was detained for over a month in Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County in 2021, his family continuously pleaded with jail staff to provide him medical care and give him his needed prescription medications, an amended complaint filed Oct. 6 says.

As Monk lay motionless, half naked, for the last three days of his detainment, uneaten meals, water and his medication piled up on the floor of his cell before he was declared dead on Nov. 15, 2021, according to a review of Alameda County sheriffs deputies body camera footage, the complaint says.

The only person who seemed to care was a fellow inmate who regularly warned multiple deputies that Mr. Monk was not eating, drinking or even moving for the days leading up to his death, the complaint says.

At one point, the inmate asked are we just waiting for him to kick the bucket? according to the complaint.

Monk, a father of two children who worked as a security guard, was arrested in 2021 after he wouldnt wear a mask on a bus, resulting in a verbal dispute, Ty Clarke, an attorney of Lawyers For The People representing Monks family, previously told McClatchy News in July 2022 when the lawsuit was first filed.

His slow, torturous death as a result of neglect in jail came after he missed a court appearance and he and his family couldnt afford a $2,500 bail, according to the complaint.

Nearly two years after Monk died, his familys attorneys have obtained and reviewed more than 150 newly released videos showing how jail staff ignored him and his needs, an Oct. 10 news release from Lawyers For the People says.

His certificate issued by Alameda County says he died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease  but his family doesnt believe that, according to the release.

Thats not what killed Maurice Monk, attorney Adante Pointer said in a statement. It was the failure of the jails nurses and guards to ensure Maurice received his medications to treat his mental illness and chronic high blood pressure.

They literally did nothing more than stare at him and throw food and medications into his cell like he was an animal in a pen at the zoo, Pointer added.

Monks family is suing Alameda County, 15 Alameda County sheriffs deputies, WellPath Community Care LLC, the jails contracted medical provider, and 10 WellPath Community Care employees, the complaint shows.

McClatchy News contacted attorneys representing the county and WellPath Community Care for comment on Oct. 12 and didnt receive immediate responses.

The Alameda County Sheriffs Office declined a request for comment from McClatchy News on Oct. 12 due to the active litigation, according to an emailed statement from Lt. Tya M. Modeste.

We will, however, release a statement when the case has been resolved, Modeste said.

The jails neglect stole Maurice from us

Staff at Santa Rita Jail were supposed to check on Monk every 30 minutes since he was detained in housing unit #1  a section of the jail for high-priority inmates with mental health issues, according to the complaint.

According to body-worn camera footage and internal affairs investigations, staff forged records of wellness checks and his medical compliance, the complaint says.

The last week of Monks life, jail staff saw him go from talking and interacting with them to becoming unresponsive during the last three days, surrounded by his own urine and feces, according to the complaint.

As Monk was motionless, deputies and medical staff are accused of joking about his rapidly deteriorating condition, the complaint says.

On Nov. 13, 2021, deputies and an inmate saw Monk face-down in his cell, where he spent the day prior in the same position, and were heard saying Is he alive and Oh my goodness, hes still there, according to a timeline of the events detailed by Monks familys attorneys.

Elvira Monk desperately advocated on her brothers behalf during his detainment, but the jail rejected her attempts to help get him medical care, the complaint says.

She incessantly contacted Defendant Jail Staff and sadly sent them medical documentation up until November 16, 2021  the day after Mr. Monk died  because they failed to advise her of her brothers passing, the complaint says.

Before his death, when Elvira Monk arrived at the jail to bring him prescription medications, she was turned away, according to the complaint.

The jails neglect stole Maurice from us, Elvira Monk said in a statement.

If not for their utter neglect my brother would still be here today to go to his sons upcoming high school graduation, hug his daughter and play with his nieces and nephews, she added.

The lawsuit seeks to recover general, special and punitive damages and demands a jury trial.

Santa Rita Jail is about 40 miles east of San Francisco.

Dad died emaciated in California jail cell littered with feces and trash, lawsuit says

Officer ignored dying inmate in Virginia prison after promising to help him, feds say

Man was eaten alive by bugs in Georgia cell, attorneys say. Now feds investigate jail

Man suffered 4 days as jail staff watched, lawsuit says. He died on his 30th birthday
I get it. The last thing you want to discuss is how your trip may go awry  through no fault of your own.

But as recent events have shown, thats an important conversation to have. Of course, you dont expect to be caught in a war zone. Consider that a half-million Americans are in Israel at any given time, following the recent terrorist attack from Hamas, American government officials have reported that at least 25 are among the dead and many others have likely been taken hostage.

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You wouldnt think youd be stuck in a fire zone, either, as so many tourists, including some of our family members, found themselves in Maui.

Then there are unforeseen injuries and illnesses. I had to cancel three trips this fall when a recurrent staph infection in my knee necessitated two surgeries and months of rehab.

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What about getting into a bus accident on the way to dinner? That happened to Mark and Anne Yemma, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, in Rome in the midst of a long-planned and expensive six-week trip. Anne had already gotten hurt at the start of the trip by tripping and falling on the transatlantic cruise, but they decided to continue on to Italy and Greece. But the bus accident caused Anne back and head injuries that required stitches. They had to go home, which necessitated extending their stay in Rome, canceling hotels and flights, and rebooking a return flight to the United States. Hopefully, they will recoup at least some of their expenses from travel insurance.

Travel insurance should be part of your travel budget wherever you go this fall and holiday season. What if one of your kids gets an ear infection and you cant fly? What if bad weather cancels your flights and you cant get to your cruise ship in time?

What if you need to change all your flights home, as Mark Yemma had to do? (You can check www.insuremytrip.com to compare policies; Allianz Travel Insurance has some policies that insure kids free.

A tip: Consider how much of your trip you need to insure  certainly what youve paid for that isnt refundable.

Consider that if you or a member of your family is hurt or gets ill overseas, travel insurance representatives should be able to help you navigate the red tape, whether extending hotel reservations, rebooking and canceling flights, and even organizing medical evacuation.

Of course, no one in Israel expected to be caught in a war, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), who was there with his wife and three young children for a family Bar Mitzvah. They were among a host of officials who happened to be in Israel when Hamas launched its surprise multi-pronged attack from the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 1,200 Israelis, injuring thousands more and taking at least an estimated 150 Israeli soldiers and civilians as hostages. To date, 1,417 Palestinian have been killed in Israels response. Rep. Goldman told the New York Times that explaining what was happening to their children, aged 5 to 9 was difficult. There were a lot of life lessons that I would have hoped to have explained at much later dates that we were forced to explain to them, he said, adding that once they got home, his youngest opined that he liked Israel, just not now.

Whatever the circumstance that has derailed your trip, its key to remain calm and, as Dan Goldman did, explain what has happened to the kids in a language they can understand. Remember, if you panic, they will too.

I also found sharing my concerns with the kids  whether it was a canceled flight, an illness that grounded us unexpectedly in Orlando (and Vail), lost luggage we might never see again in France, a tropical storm in Hawaii, a burglary in Australia, helped reinforce the lesson that we could help each other to move forward.

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Now that my kids are grown, they believe that the many missteps we experienced traveling around the world helped them to be more resilient when they began to travel on their own. They had learned how to advocate for themselves in a foreign environment and were confident that things would work out in the end.

Fortunately, none of them found themselves in the middle of a war zone. If this happens to you, call the U.S. Embassy or consulate. Before you go, sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Its a free service that allows U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad to receive the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. At the same time, the information you provide enables the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in case of an emergency. And, if your family or friends in the U.S. are having difficulty contacting you with urgent news while youre traveling, the information you have provided can help them reach you.

Certainly, make sure your family at home knows how to reach you (download an app like Whats App that offers free private messaging around the world; arrange for international cell service if you can. Make sure they know where you are staying. We learned that the hard way when my then college-aged daughter missed her connecting flight and had no idea where we were staying in Quito, Ecuador. (Luckily, she remembered the name of the company that had helped arrange the trip.)

Even now, with the internet, apps and international cell service, I make sure all of our travelers  and those at home  have our itinerary.

Another tip: Play the What If game with the kids. What if you get separated in a busy city or airport? Do they know where you are staying, where you are going, your cell number? Do they know to approach someone in uniform for help? Remember that young kids not only may not know how to reach you but wont know your name beyond mommy and daddy. Do older kids know where to meet you? Do they have any money or an APP for a ride share?)

Theres always a risk when you travel, Mark Yemma said.

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But thats a risk Im willing to take because the rewards are so worth it.

(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kids Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kids Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)

2023 Eileen Ogintz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Columbus police homicide detectives are investigating after a coroner's examination of a man discovered dead Wednesday morning on the Northeast Side found a gunshot wound to his back.

Police said Matthew Hurt, 39, was found unresponsive at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning on the 1300 block of Morse Road, which is west of Karl Road. Medics pronounced him dead at 4:39 a.m., police said.

A post-mortem examination conducted Wednesday by the Franklin County Coroner's Office found signs of foul play, police later reported.

The coroner's office reported finding a gunshot wound on Hurt's back. A bullet and cartridge case were found at the scene, a spokesperson for the Coroner's Office told The Dispatch.

Anyone with information regarding this death is asked to contact the lead detective with the Columbus police Homicide Unit at 614-645-0877 or RShepherd@ColumbusPolice.org, or call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).

Dispatch reporter Jordan Laird contributed to this report.

bagallion@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Homicide ruled after man found dead on Columbus' Northeast Side
If the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) is successful, we may require the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to understand what the aliens are saying and, perhaps, talk back to them.

In popular culture, we've gotten used to aliens speaking English, or being instantly understandable with the help of a seemingly magical universal translator. In real life, it might not be so easy.

Consider the potential problems. Number one would be that any potential aliens we encounter won't be speaking a human language. Number two would be the lack of knowledge about the aliens' culture or sociology  even if we could translate, we might not understand what relevance it has to their cultural touchstones.

Eamonn Kerins, an astrophysicist from the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester in the U.K., thinks that the aliens themselves might recognize these limitations and opt to do some of the heavy lifting for us by making their message as simple as possible.

"One might hope that aliens who want to establish contact might be attempting to make their signal as universally understandable as possible," said Kerins in a Zoom interview. "Maybe it's something as basic as a mathematical sequence, and already that conveys the one message that perhaps they hoped to send in the first place, which is that we're here, you're not alone."

Related: Could AI find alien life faster than humans, and would it tell us?

Indeed, the possibility of receiving recognizable mathematical information  pi, a burst of prime numbers in sequence (as was the case in the novel "Contact" by Carl Sagan)  has been considered in SETI for decades, but it's not the only possible message that we might receive. Other signals might be more sophisticated in their design, trying to convey more complicated concepts, and this is where we hit problem number three: That alien language could be orders of magnitude more complex than human communication.

This is where we will need AI's help, but to understand how, first we must delve into the details behind the structure of language.

Information theory

When we talk about a signal or a message being complex, we don't mean that the aliens will necessarily be talking about complex matters. Rather, it refers to the complexity underlying the structure of their message, their language. Linguists call this "information theory," which was developed by the cryptographer and mathematician Claude Shannon who worked at Bell Labs in New Jersey in the late 1940s, and was expanded on by linguist George Zipf of Harvard University.

Information theory is a way of distilling the information content of any given communication. Shannon realized that any kind of conveyance of information  be it human language, the chemical exhalations of plants to attract predators to eat caterpillars on their leaves or the transmission of data down a fiber optic cable  can be broken down into discrete units, or bits. These are like the 'quanta' of communication, such as the letters of the alphabet or a dolphin's repertoire of whistles.

In language, these bits cannot just go in any order. There is syntax, which describes the grammatical rules that dictate how the bits can be ordered. For example: In English, a 'q' at the beginning of a word is always followed by a 'u', and then the 'u' can be followed by a limited number of letters, and so on. Now suppose there is a gap  'quk'. We know from the syntax that there are only a few combinations of letters that can fill the gap  'ac' (quack), 'ar' (quark), 'ic' (quick) and ir (quirk). But, if the word is part of a sentence  'The duck went quk' then through context we know the missing letters are 'ac'.

By knowing the rules, or syntax, we can fill in the blanks. The amount missing that still allows us to complete the word of sentence is called "Shannon entropy," and thanks to its complexity, human languages have the highest Shannon entropy of any known form natural communication on the planet.

Meanwhile, Zipf was able to quantify these basic principles of Shannon's information theory. In any communication some of the little units, these fundamental bits, will appear more often than others. For example, in human language, letters such as a e, o, t and r appear far more often than q or z. When plotted on a graph with the most common units first (on the x-axis, their rate of occurrence on the y-axis), all human languages produce a slope with a gradient of 1. At the other extreme, a baby's random babbling results in a horizontal line on the graph, with all sounds being equally likely. The more complex the communication  as the baby grows into a toddler and starts to talk, for example  the more the slope converges on a 1 gradient.

A transmission of the digits of pi, for instance, would now carry a 1 slope. So instead of searching for technosignatures, the technologically-generated signals that could mark other advanced extraterrestrial civilizations, some researchers think that SETI should be specifically looking for signals with a 1 slope, regardless of whether they appear artificial or not, and the machine-learning algorithms that carefully sift through every scrap of data collected by radio telescopes could be configured to analyze each potential signal to determine whether a signal adheres to Zipf's Law.

Beyond that, alien communication could have a higher Shannon entropy than human language, and if it is much higher, it might make their language too difficult for humans to grasp.

But perhaps not for AI. Already, AI is being put to the test trying to understand communication from a non-human species. If it can pass that test, perhaps AI will be ready to tackle any alien messages in the future.

a human head made of computer code

Interpreting dolphin communication

Denise Herzing, who is the Research Director at the Wild Dolphin Project in Jupiter, Florida, is one of the world's foremost experts in trying to understand what dolphins are saying to each other. Herzing has been swimming with dolphins and studying their communication for four decades, and has now introduced AI into the mix.

"We have two ways in which we're looking at dolphin communication, and they both use AI," Herzing told Space.com.

One way is listening to recordings of the various whistles and barks that make up the dolphins' own communication. In particular, a machine-learning algorithm is able to take a snippet of dolphin chat and break that communication down into discrete units on a spectrogram (a graph of sounds organized by frequency), just as Shannon and Zipf described, and then it labels each unique unit with a letter. These become analogous to words or letters, and Herzing is looking at the different ways they combine, or in other words their degree of order and structure.

"Right now we've identified 24 small units of sound that recombine within a spectrogram," said Herzing. "So you might have up-whistle 'A' followed by down-whistle 'B,' and so on, and this creates a symbolic code for a sequence of sound."

The machine-learning algorithm is then able to deeply analyze the sound recordings, searching for instances where that symbolic code is repeated.

"We're looking for interesting sequences that are somehow repetitive," said Herzing. "The algorithms then look for substitutions and deletions in the sequences, so you might have the same symbolic code but one little whistle is different. That's a learning algorithm that is pretty important."

That little difference could be because it incorporates a dolphin's signature whistle (every dolphin has its own unique signature whistle, a kind of identifier like human names) or because the context is different.

This is all solidly in line with Shannon's information theory, and Herzing is also interested in Zipf's law and how closely dolphin communication replicates that 1 slope.

"We're looking for language-like structures, because every language has a structure and a grammar that follows rules," said Herzing. "We're looking specifically for what the possibilities are for recombinational data  are our little units of sound only found alone, or do some recombine with another sound?"

Herzing's team have been searching for bigrams  occasions when two units frequently occur together, which might signify a specific phrase. More recently, they have also been searching for trigrams  where three units occur in order regularly  implying greater complexity.

two dolphins swim in a pool

Searching for meaning

This is exactly the way that AI would begin analyzing a real message embedded within a SETI signal. If the alien communication is more complex in structure and syntax than human languages then that tells us something about them; perhaps that their species is older than our own, which has given them enough time for their communication to evolve.

However, we still wouldn't know the context of what they are saying to us in the message. This is currently one of the challenges in understanding dolphin communication. Herzing has video footage of dolphin pods to see what they were doing whenever the AI detects a repeated vocalization of symbolic code, which allows Herzing to try and infer context to the sounds.

"But if you're dealing with radio signals, how are you ever going to figure out what the context of the message is?" asks Herzing, who also takes an interest in SETI. "Looking at animal sounds is an analog for looking at alien signals, potentially to build up the tools to categorize and analyze [the signals]. But for the interpretation part? Oh boy, I don't know."

Once we have received a signal from aliens, we may want to say something back to them. The difficulty in understanding context rears its head again here, too. As Spock says in the film "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," when discussing responding to an alien probe, "we could replicate the sounds but not the meaning. We'd be responding in gibberish."

Herzing is trying to circumvent this context problem by mutually agreeing with the dolphins what to call things. This is the essence of CHAT (Cetacean Hearing and Telemetry), which is the second way in which researchers are using AI to try and communicate with dolphins.

In its first incarnation, CHAT was a large device strapped around the chest of the user, receiving sounds via hydrophone (underwater microphone) and then producing sound through a speaker. The modern version is smartphone-sized and worn around the wrist. The idea is not to converse in 'dolphinese,' but to agree with the dolphins upon pre-programmed sounds for certain toys that the dolphins want to play with. For example, if they want to play with a hoop, they make the agreed-upon whistle for 'hoop'. If a diver wearing the CHAT device wants a dolphin to bring them a hoop, the underwater speaker can play the whistle for "hoop." The AI's job is to recognize the agreed-upon whistle amongst all the other sounds a dolphin makes amidst all the various sources of audio interference underwater, such as bubbles and boat propellers.

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Herzing has observed that the dolphins have used the agreed-upon whistles, but in mostly different contexts. The problem, says Herzing, is spending enough time with any one particular dolphin to allow them to fully learn the agreed-upon sounds.

With aliens, their message will have traveled many light years; any two-way communication could take decades, centuries, millennia, if it is even possible at all. So whatever information we have about the aliens will be condensed into their original transmission. If, as Kerins suspects, they send something mathematical just as a signal to us that they are there and we are not alone, then we won't have to worry about deciphering it.

However if they do send a message that is more involved, then as Herzing is discovering with dolphins, the size of the dataset is crucial, so let's hope the aliens pack their message with information to give us and AI the best chance of at least assessing some of it.
As she tries yet again to push an expansion of Medicaid through the Legislature, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is hoping support from Johnson County officials can help influence state legislators to advance her proposal.

Kelly made a rare appearance at the Johnson County commissioners meeting on Thursday, where the board approved a proclamation in support of Medicaid expansion. The Democratic governor hopes its a strategy that will help her finally find success: Enlisting local officials in Kansas most populous county to persuade rank-and-file Republicans who support the policy to pressure GOP leadership to allow a vote when lawmakers return to Topeka next year.

Im just very grateful to the Johnson County Commission for going on record with support of this. Theyre an influential group of folks here ... And we do need influential people in all of our communities to put pressure on their legislators to demand the right to vote on Medicaid expansion, Kelly told The Star after a roundtable discussion in Overland Park.

Kelly told the group of health care and economic leaders during the roundtable that she hopes, well see other commissions do that. Itll be imperative to get this passed this next legislative session.

We have tried five other ways of getting Medicaid expanded, she later added.

Kelly has put forward a bill to expand Kansas Medicaid program, called KanCare, each year since she became governor in 2019. It was one of her early campaign promises. But Republican leaders in the Legislature have blocked the proposals from advancing.

The majority of Johnson County commissioners supported the proclamation, and Chairman Mike Kelly said the county board has made the programs expansion a priority of its legislative platform since 2014.

Now almost 10 years (later), we are one of only 10 states in the nation that hasnt taken the opportunity to expand Medicaid, he said. The chairman added that the expansion would provide access to health care for an estimated 150,000 people, including 7,000 in Johnson County.

The states current Medicaid program covers about 480,000 people, while about 260,000 people in Kansas do not have health insurance, Kelly said. The state could expand Medicaid to include any adult with an income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, or anyone making less than $20,120.

But the governors visit wasnt welcome by all. Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte OHara, a conservative, called it a bully tactic in an interview with The Star on Wednesday.

To have a proclamation supporting this, in my opinion, its just not appropriate. We havent gone through the vetting process. We do not know what the repercussions of Medicaid expansion would be on our budget, OHara said. This is nothing but political theater. And attempting to put pressure on those who have issues with Medicaid expansion to get in line, Im not going to do it.

The Federal government pays 90% of the cost of expansion, with states covering the last 10%. In 2021 Congress included more financial incentives as part of a COVID-19 aid package, which would cut costs in the early years of the program if it passes.

GOP leadership in Topeka has been adamantly opposed to the programs expansion in recent years. But Kelly hopes support from local Johnson County officials, in the county that continues to trend blue, could make a difference.

In Kansas, Medicaid remains restricted to certain groups, such as pregnant women, low-income families with children and individuals with disabilities.

Under the current law, a single mother of two qualifies for KanCare when her annual income is at or below $9,500 per year, the governor said. That means that single mother, if she works 30 hours a week at a minimum wage job, she does not qualify for Medicaid as it currently exists.

Kelly said that expanding Medicaid would create thousands of jobs, bolster hospitals during worker shortages and provide vulnerable residents with needed access to health care and mental health services.

Kevin Walker, a lobbyist with the Overland Park chamber, said during the roundtable discussion that, We have to get the county commissioners and city councils to understand that and to connect those dots. We need to work with them and get them to talk with their lawmakers.

Kansas is bordered by states that have already expanded Medicaid. Missouri did so after voters approved it in 2020. Thats not an option in Kansas. State law, enacted under former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, requires legislative approval before the governor can expand the program.

The governors stop in Johnson County came on the heels of the rural Herington Hospital announcing its closure, about an hour-and-a-half drive southwest of Topeka. Kellys office said it is now the eighth hospital to close since Kansas has had the option to expand Medicaid.

Includes reporting by The Stars Jonathan Shorman and Katie Bernard.
This Couple That Wed 84 Years Ago Has One Of The Longest-Lasting Marriages In America | Photo: kali9 via Getty Images

One Black couple recently celebrated over eight decades of marriage!

In late September, Cleovis and Arwilda Whites 84-year-long marriage was honored in a ceremony hosted by the Arkansas Family Council. Its mission is to promote, protect, and strengthen traditional family values found and reflected in the Bible by impacting public opinion and public policy, according to its site. Turns out, their marriage is the longest-known union in the states history, reported USA Today.

When asked about the keys to sustaining such a long partnership, Arwilda, who is 98 years old, said she always liked to pray and advised others to do the same in their relationships.

Know how to get on your knees, and get you a bible because that bible is going to have to take you through all kinds of storms, she said in an interview with USA Today.

According to the couples daughter, when Arwilda was 9 years old and Cleovis was 13, they first crossed paths due to Cleovis brother who, due to a disability, would often go up to random girls they ran into and grab their hands. Despite Cleovis being younger, he was taller and used it to his advantage to step in between and grab his brothers hand back. On one particular day, though, his brother attempted to grab Arwildas hand, but her friend spotted Cleovis and told her to run in his direction instead. From the moment he saw her run his way, he knew theyd be married someday.

Living in the same area, they saw each other at a church event where boxed suppers made by the women and girls, including Arwilda, of the church were being sold for 40 cents.

Then, eight years later, when Arwilda was 13 and Cleovis was 17, the couple wed on July 24, 1939. Soon after, they were separated due to Cleovis serving in World War II. After he returned to the U.S. in 1945, he attended Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College, 60 miles away in Pine Bluff, where he studied auto mechanics.

He wasnt able to go back home to Clarendon, their daughter Kathy Whiteside-Sims said. It was a process of calling somebody to call somebody to go and tell somebody Im not coming home. Im in school.'

Following graduation, Cleovis worked at Pine Bluff Arsenal while Arwilda raised their 12 children as a stay-at-home mother.

Sometimes they had children that lived with them, Charisse Dean, from the Family Council, added. They were just pillars in the community.

One of the things Arwilda loves most about Cleovis is how he is always trying to help people.

Cleovis, however, had a hard time giving just one attribute when asked about his wifes best quality.

I love 99% of her, he said.
FILE - The Titanic leaves Southampton, England, April 10, 1912, on her maiden voyage. The company that owns the salvage rights to the Titanic shipwreck has cancelled plans to retrieve more artifacts from the site because the leader of the upcoming expedition died in the Titan submersible implosion, according to documents filed in a U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  A federal admiralty court in Virginia has canceled a Friday hearing to discuss a contested expedition to the Titanic after the salvage firm scaled back its dive plans. But a looming court battle over the 2024 mission is not over yet.

RMST Titanic Inc. owns the salvage rights to the world's most famous shipwreck. It originally planned to possibly retrieve artifacts from inside the Titanic's hull, informing the court of its intentions in June.

In August, the U.S. government filed a motion to intervene, arguing that the court should stop the expedition. U.S. attorneys cited a 2017 federal law and an agreement with Great Britain to restrict entry into the Titanic's hull because it's considered a grave site.

Lawyers on each side of the case were set to discuss the matter Friday before a U.S. District Judge in Norfolk who oversees Titanic salvage matters.

But the company said this week that it no longer planned to retrieve artifacts or do anything else that might involve the 2017 law. RMST is now opposing the government's motion to intervene as a party in its salvage case before the admiralty court.

RMST has been the court-recognized steward of the Titanics artifacts since 1994. Its collection holds thousands of items following several dives, the last of which was in 2010. The firm exhibits anything from silverware to a piece of the ships hull.

The company said it changed the dive plans because its director of underwater research, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, died in the implosion of the Titan submersible near the Titanic shipwreck in June. The Titan was operated by a separate company, OceanGate, to which Nargeolet was lending expertise.

Nargeolet was supposed to lead the 2024 expedition.

The Titanic was traveling from Southampton, England, to New York when it struck an iceberg and sank in 1912. About 1,500 of the roughly 2,200 people on board died.

The wreck was discovered on the North Atlantic seabed in 1985.
Downed Iranian drone, illustrative photo

A Russian drone left a crater after crashing in Romania near the Ukrainian border during Russias attack on Odesa Oblast on Oct. 12, the Romanian Defense Ministry said.

The crater was found near the right bank of the Danube River in the Kiliya region, approximately three kilometers from the Romanian town of Plauru. The area is currently being secured. Authorities are investigating and collecting evidence from the scene.

Read also: Russian drones downed in Romania were hit by Ukrainian air defense  Bucharest

Romanias Defense Ministry strongly condemned Russias attacks on the civil infrastructure of Ukrainian ports along the Danube. These attacks are considered unjustified and seriously violate international humanitarian law. Romania maintains constant communication with allied structures, keeping them informed about such incidents in real-time.

Russia launched several groups of kamikaze drones in the early morning on Oct. 12, causing damage to the port infrastructure and buildings in Odesa Oblast. Ten Iranian kamikaze drones (Shahed) were downed over the region, Odesa Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Kiper said.

Significant damage occurred in the Izmail region, including to port infrastructure and residential buildings. A fire broke out at the site of the impact.

Read also: Russian drones damage Odesa port infrastructure, residential areas in overnight attacks

This is not the first time that fragments of Russian drones have fallen in Romania.

Russian Drones in Romania: What is Known

Russia launched a massive attack on the south of Ukraine using kamikaze drones during the night of Sept. 4. According to Ukrainian border guards, 23 out of 32 Shahed drones were downed, with impacts observed in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Russia targeted the infrastructure of the Izmail region of Odesa Oblast, which shares a border with Romania.

Read also: Ukraine-Romania ferry crossing closed after Russian kamikaze drone attack

The Romanian Defense Ministry initially "categorically denied" the information about the falling fragments and stated that the means of attack used by Russia did not pose direct military threats to the national territory or territorial waters of Romania.

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba subsequently stated that Ukraine had photographic evidence of the fragments falling on Romanian territory.

Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar acknowledged for the first time on Sept. 6 that parts of the Russian drone fell on his country's territory. Bucharest initiated an investigation and informed NATO about the incident. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis called the incident a "serious violation of sovereignty."

NATO member countries expressed "strong solidarity" with Romania.

Read also: Romanian radars triggered in possible violation of NATO air space in Russias mass drone attack on Ukraine

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that there is no evidence that the fall of Russian drones in Romania was a deliberate attack on a NATO ally.

Tilvar announced the completion of the investigation into the drones on Oct. 11, stating that these were Russian drones shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. He clarified that none of the incidents revealed any intention to attack Romanian territory and the strikes were accidental in nature.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Criminals facing short jail sentences will be spared prison under measures to be announced next week to combat the overcrowding crisis.

On Monday, Alex Chalk , the Justice Secretary, is expected to set out reforms that aim to slash the number of offenders sent to jail for less than six months or possibly less than 12 months.

Judges and magistrates will operate under a presumption that criminals such as thieves and shoplifters facing shorter jail terms should instead be handed robust community sentences designed to rehabilitate them. Anyone guilty of sexual or violent offences will be excluded from the scheme.

They are similar to proposals by David Gauke , the former justice secretary, four years ago, who argued for the abolition of six-month sentences. They were ditched by Boris Johnson when he became prime minister in 2019.

Mr Chalk is also expected to announce plans for the early release of hundreds of prisoners to avoid jails overflowing. Offenders assessed as low risk will be freed around two weeks before their automatic release date under licence.

On Friday, Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures are expected to show that the number of prisoners is at its highest on record, surpassing the previous peak of 88,179 in December 2011 and leaving fewer than 600 spare places across jails in England and Wales. In male prisons, there are fewer than 200 left.

Soft justice

On Thursday, Mr Chalk briefed criminal justice officials that the changes would be meaningful, credible and make a difference.

It is not just about short-term firefighting but is designed to stabilise things in the longer term to ensure those more serious criminals can be locked up for longer, said a source.

However, ministers are braced for a backlash from some Tory MPs and campaigners who will see the plans as soft justice and a threat to the partys law and order message in the run-up to next years election.

It is understood the plans have been backed by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, who has accepted that the growth in the jail population is unsustainable and that overcrowded jails prevent rehabilitation.

Ministers will argue the changes are necessary to ensure that the worst criminals can be locked up for longer. The average length of a prison sentence has increased by a third in the last decade as successive Governments have introduced tougher penalties.

The prison population is expected to rise to 94,400 by March 2025 and up to 106,300 by March 2027. However, plans for three new mega-jails have been blocked by planning objections, threatening efforts to increase capacity by 20,000 places by the mid-2020s as originally promised.

Overcrowding crisis

Sources said the MoJ had been working on the reforms before the overcrowding crisis erupted, based on research that reoffending rates could be substantially reduced if more offenders jailed for under six months were given community orders.

The studies suggested that if all offenders who received prison sentences of less than six months were given a community order, there would be around 32,000, or 13 per cent fewer proven reoffences a year.

Alternatives to custody include curfews, exclusion orders and GPS tags to reduce the chances of criminals released into the community from reoffending.

The last time prisons in England and Wales ran out of space was in 2007. Jack Straw, then the justice secretary, authorised an early release scheme that saw 36,000 prisoners freed before they had completed their sentences.

Mr Chalk is expected to limit it to hundreds of prisoners, excluding any convicted for violent, sexual or terrorist offences.

It will be restricted to those assessed as low risk, who will be freed between two and three weeks before their scheduled release date.

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PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic may move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv "in a matter of months" to show support for Israel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Thursday.

Fiala told parliament he would discuss the possibility in his ruling coalition, after Hamas militants carried out the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history on Saturday.

"I believe the situation now is such that we should speed it up to unequivocally support Israel," Fiala said when asked about a potential move.

"It is an issue that can be resolved in a matter of months, not years and not weeks," he said, just days after his foreign minister warned against such a move, saying it would be illegal and also risky at such a time.

The Czech Republic opened a diplomatic office in Jerusalem in 2021, a step that drew protests from the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League.

Fiala, leader of the centre-right Civic Democrats, said the decision would have to be carefully prepared to avoid surprising partners, and security issues needed to be addressed.

Israels government regards Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible capital of the country, although that is not recognised internationally.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem - which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed in a move not recognised internationally - as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The Czech Republic, a long-time supporter of Israel, would be the second NATO country to move its embassy to Jerusalem after the United States, which did so in 2018 under the Trump administration. It would be the first European Union state to move its embassy.

"I do not think we would have to proceed in consensus with all EU countries, we never had that in the case of Israel," Fiala said.

However, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky from the liberal Pirate Party -- who became the first foreign minister on Tuesday to visit Israel to demonstrate solidarity -- said this week that conditions were not in place for moving the embassy.

He said it would go against international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions, undermine European unity when it is needed in the face of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and pose a security threat to Czech diplomatic missions.

President Petr Pavel has also said it was not the time for debate on an embassy move while Israel was fighting a war.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Czechia and Denmark will cooperate on providing Ukraine with armored vehicles and other arms from Czech production lines and stocks in the coming months, the Danish Defense Ministry announced on Oct. 12.

As a first package of the newly announced aid, Ukraine will receive around 50 infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, 2,500 pistols, 7,000 rifles, 500 light machine guns, 500 sniper rifles, electronic warfare and surveillance equipment, and an unspecified amount of artillery shells.

Both countries expect that future supplies will also include 500 heavy machine guns, 280 artillery pieces, 7,000 anti-tank weapons, 10,000 hand grenades, 60 mortars, and anti-drone systems, the Czech Defense Ministry said.

"This is a substantial donation of equipment for which there is a great demand in Ukraine and which has been made possible on the basis of exemplary cooperation between Denmark and Czechia," Danish Defense Minister Lund Poulsen said.

Based on the agreed scheme, Ukraine will receive weaponry from Czech defense companies, while the Danish government will cover the costs. The Czech Defense Ministry will serve as a mediator between Copenhagen and the Czech defense industry.

Prague said that the donations will include both modern Czech equipment and refitted hardware that is already in use with Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Czech Deputy Defense Minister Daniel Blazkovec commented that the cooperation with Denmark will allow continued support for Ukraine not only in the coming months but also into 2024.

Read also: Western allies pledge F-16s, air defense, and ammunition as Stoltenberg closes day 1 of NATO minister meeting

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An Arizona father stripped down to a crop top and short shorts at a school board meeting last month to protest against a proposed relaxing of the districts student dress code. Under the proposed policy this would be appropriate in a classroom, Latham said as he removed his pants and shirt at the meeting for the Higley Unified School District in late September. In May, the school governing board of the district in Gilbert started reviewing its student dress code, which had not been updated since 2001. The proposed new code would end restrictions around students showing their midriffs or wearing tank tops, but would still require kids to cover their underwear and prohibit see-through clothing. After Lathams stunt, the board voted 3-2 to approve the new, more relaxed dress code all the same.

Read it at KPNX

Read more at The Daily Beast.
The importance of building a modern Chinese civilization and promoting exchange and mutual learning between civilizations was highlighted at the 2023 Forum on International Communication of Chinese Culture held recently in Beijing.

Around 400 local and overseas officials and cultural experts attended the forum on Sept 22 to discuss how to better implement the Global Civilization Initiative and how civilization can make greater progress.

Du Zhanyuan, president of the China International Communications Group, said that the forum aimed to look at Chinese culture from a global view, and deepen mutual learning among civilizations, so that the significance of Chinese culture, as well as China's past, present and future, can be better recognized, spread and understood.

The group's Center for International Cultural Communication was one of the three organizers of the forum.

Nobel laureate Mo Yan recalled his experiences of joining cultural exchanges in Japan and Kenya. He told the forum such exchanges bring innovation, and that mutual learning and localization of foreign and fine cultural elements inspire unique styles of art.

Mo Yan said that these days a younger generation of Sinologists has been paying more attention to the literary quality and universal values of Chinese literature. They are willing to translate and introduce these works, which expound on human nature and the shared pursuit of a better life, to the world.

"A writer fully expresses his mind and values in his writing. When his inner thoughts and value concepts are in accordance with those of the readers, his work will naturally have a universality," Mo Yan said.

Sinologist Roger Thomas Ames, Humanities Chair Professor at Peking University and vice-president of the Beijing-based International Confucian Association, said that when cultural equality is achieved and cultural differences are treated fairly and inclusively, there will be mutual accommodation among different ways of living and thinking. Through this process more diversity can be generated.

Diversity can only be achieved by fully acknowledging, acting on, and appreciating the important differences we have from each other. "And in so doing, (it) allows our differences to really make the difference," Ames said.

Wang Meng, 89, said that China has overcome the identity crisis that developing countries often encounter during the modernization process, maintained its stability and traditions, and realized the creative transformation and innovative development of its culture.

The renowned writer and former culture minister added that China has outlined its deep concern for creating a community with a shared future for mankind, and its understanding of the diversity and autonomy of different countries' paths toward modernization.

Therefore, proposing a model that involves cooperation and mutual benefits shows the nation's responsibility and reasonable recognition of the profound changes to the world, Wang said.

Yang Dan, principal of the Beijing Foreign Studies University, whose Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture also served as one of the forum's organizers, stressed the need to enhance regional and country-specific studies with an open, inclusive and multilateral perspective.

He said that cultural experts should take the initiative to voice China's standpoints with an international perspective, consciously integrate the studies of China's past with those of the present, and actively cooperate with international scholars.

Zhu Rui, former assistant to the minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for more coordination of forums on cultural exchange and mutual learning, so that a series of diverse, but interconnected events, can be held to generate more wisdom on implementing the Global Civilization Initiative.
A Dallas county courthouse was cleared after police received a bomb threat Thursday morning, the Dallas County Sheriffs Office announced in a news release.

At around 11:10 a.m. Thursday, Dallas police received a bomb threat toward the Frank Crowley Courts building, according to the release.

The call was forwarded to the Dallas County Sheriffs Office.

At 11:55 a.m., the building sweep was completed and cleared, the release said.

The Dallas County fire marshal led the investigation with assistance from the sheriffs office.
Ground invasion looking likely: "Every Hamas member is a dead man," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech yesterday, accompanied by his newly formed wartime cabinet, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and opposition leader Benny Gantz. "Hamas is ISIS, and we will crush and eliminate it just as the world crushed and eliminated ISIS."

"Israel is in one of its darkest hours ever," said Gantz. Following this past weekend's massacre of Israelis by Hamas, the military is sending troops to the Gaza border, which signals the increasing likelihood of a ground invasion. Israeli airline El Al will, for the first time since the 1980s, fly on Shabbat, carrying army reservists back from around the world.

Hamas has abducted more than 150 people totalalmost all civiliansand "threatened to execute them one by one and videotape the killings each time an Israeli airstrike hits Gazans in their homes," per The New York Times. Some of the hostages are confirmed to be Americans, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on the ground in Israel now. (The total American death toll went up to 25 overnight.)

Meanwhile, power has gone out in Gaza after Israel blockaded the strip, cutting off access to fuel that's used for the region's only power plant. Generators are powering the main hospital, Al-Shifa, but authorities in Palestine say they only have three days' worth of fuel, max, left. "It feels like the world is collapsing," one Gazan told reporters.

Pentagon abortion policy? If you read Roundup yesterday, you'll note that I mentioned that the U.S. currently has no ambassador to Israel. The reason why? Sen. Tommy Tuberville (RAla.) is protesting a controversial Pentagon policy that facilitates service members traveling to get abortions by reimbursing their travel expenses and allowing them up to three weeks of paid leave for this purpose.

As part of this protest, Tuberville is holding up the confirmations of not only the ambassador to Israel but also two nominees for Joint Chiefs and tons of high-up military promotions.

"Tuberville's blockade is unique because it affects hundreds of military nominations and promotions," reports the Associated Press. "Democratic leaders would have to hold roll call votes on every one to get around the hold, an unwieldy and time-consuming process in a chamber that already struggles to finish its basic business."

For people with deeply held moral objections to abortionlike myselfthe fact that so many workplaces (Meta, Airbnb, KPMG, JP Morgan, Tesla, Disney, Amazon, Netflix) now offer "abortion benefits" in the wake of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision is disturbing. But more practically, it creates problems when those issuing such benefits are divided on their prudence and morality; Tuberville and many of his Republican colleagues clearly stand in opposition to the federal government providing such lenience for abortion-seekers, which has now resulted in the bizarre ambassador holdup as war breaks out in the Middle East.

"Partisan antics have gotten in the way of key nominations and military promotions for too long," Sen. Chris Coons (DDel.) said recently. Coons unfortunately seems oblivious to the idea that it's actually partisan antics on both sides that have led to this situation.

Congressional kerfuffles: Representatives in the House remain unsure who they want to elect as speaker following the historic ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (RCalif.) last week. After meeting privately yesterday, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (RLa.) seems like the narrow favorite.

He "won the GOP conference's nomination for speaker by a 113-99 vote, but he needs 217 votes to become speaker and thus can only afford to lose around four Republican votes on the House floor," reports Axios.

That said, "if Republicans aren't able to line up behind either of the two leading contenders to be speaker of the HouseRepresentative Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Representative Jim Jordan of Ohiothere is a third possibility that a bloc of Republicans favors: the former speaker, Representative Kevin McCarthy," reports The New York Times. We will be living through Groundhog Day, forevermore.

Scenes from New York:

New York's new short-term rental regulations have the most predictable consequences ever:

NYC tried to regulate away AirBnB and a peer to peer platform popped up Life, uh, finds a way pic.twitter.com/VpPRvSpAuc  jack miller  e/acc (@john_iller) October 11, 2023

As one property owner told me last month, "The city is treating our private property as the city's housing stock."

QUICK HITS

One could also have chosen to renounce DSA membership because of the bloody record of socialism in Venezuela, Cuba, and pretty much everywhere else it's been tried, but I guess I'll take this too. Better late than never:

I renounce my membership in the DSA pic.twitter.com/rtpxStKW2Q  Congressman Shri Thanedar (@RepShriThanedar) October 11, 2023

This:

For 4 years we've been infantalized with a highly commercial ethical binary demanding we forget all we know about the complexity of human affairs and believe that everything is either "racist" or "antiracist." This worldview's adherents are falling apart in the face of reality. https://t.co/VLtIfoEGGe  Thomas Chatterton Williams (@thomaschattwill) October 11, 2023

The post Darkest Hours appeared first on Reason.com.
President Barack Obama (2nd-R) delivers remarks on the passing of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, at the White House in Washington on October 28, 2009. The bill expands upon 1969 U.S. federal hate-crime law by extending its scope to protect crimes motivated by a victim's gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Obama was joined by Dennis (L) and Judy (2nd-L) Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, and Louvon Harris the sister of James Byrd Jr., both of who were victims of hate crimes. Matthew Shepard died October 12, 1998. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Oct. 12 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1492, Christopher Columbus reached America, making his first landing in the New World on one of the Bahamas Islands. Columbus thought he had reached India.

In 1810, the citizens of Munich were invited to join in celebrating the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen in what would become the first Oktoberfest.

In 1915, British nurse Edith Cavell, 49, was executed by a German firing squad in Brussels for helping Allied soldiers escape from Belgium in World War I.

In 1933, the United States Army Disciplinary Barracks on Alcatraz Island, otherwise known as The Rock, was acquired by the United States Department of Justice. Less than a year later, the prison would become home to some of the country's most notorious criminals.

Survivors from a car bomb in Bali, Indonesia, find loved ones and help the injured on October 12, 2002. File Photo by Brian Richards/UPI

Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI

In 1945, President Harry Truman awarded the Medal of Honor to Desmond T. Doss, the first conscientious objector to receive the honor. Doss was the subject of Hacksaw Ridge, a 2016 movie starring Andrew Garfield.

James Charles arrives on the red carpet at the 36th annual MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on August 26, 2019. On October 12, 2016, CoverGirl announced Charles as its first male model. File Photo by Serena Xu-Ning/UPI

In 1960, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev removed one of his shoes and pounded it on his desk during a speech before the United Nations.

In 1964, the Soviet Union launched Voskhod 1 into orbit around Earth, with three cosmonauts aboard. It was the first spacecraft to carry a multi-person crew and the two-day mission was also the first orbital flight performed without spacesuits.

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole is towed away from the port city of Aden, Yemen, into open sea by the Military Sealift Command ocean-going tug USNS Catawba. On October 12, 2000, 17 sailors were killed and 39 injured in an explosion on the USS Cole as it refueled in Yemen. File Photo by Don L. Maes/U.S. Navy

In 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon nominated House Minority Leader Gerald Ford of Michigan for the vice presidency to replace Spiro Agnew, who had resigned two days earlier.

In 1984, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher escaped injury in the bombing of a hotel in Brighton, England. Four people were killed in the attack, blamed on the Irish Republican Army.

President Harry Truman awards the Medal of Honor to conscientious objector Desmond T. Doss on October 12, 1945. File Photo courtesy the U.S. government

In 1992, an earthquake near Cairo killed more than 500 people and injured thousands.

In 1998, University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay man, died six days after he was beaten, robbed and left tied to a fence. The U.S. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is often called the "Matthew Shepard Act."

A National Park Service employee cleans the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain in front of Union State, on April 23, 2013 in Washington, D.C. On October 12, 1492, Columbus reached America, making his first landing in the New World on one of the Bahamas Islands. Columbus thought he had reached India. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

In 2000, 17 sailors were killed and 39 injured in an explosion on the USS Cole as it refueled in Yemen. U.S. President Bill Clinton blamed the attack on al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

UPI File Photo

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev shouts "This is my America" at a New York cabbie from his window at the Russian U.N. delegation's headquarters during the 1960 United Nations' General Assembly. On October 12, 1960, Khrushchev removed one of his shoes and pounded it on his desk during a speech before the United Nations. File Photo by Gary Haynes/UPI

In 2002, terrorist bombings near two crowded nightclubs on the Indonesian island of Bali killed more than 200 people.

In 2010, the U.S. government lifted a ban on deep-water oil and natural gas drilling for companies that obey stricter rules aimed at avoiding a repeat of the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

On October 12, 1984, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher escaped injury in the bombing of a hotel in Brighton, England. Four people were killed in the attack, blamed on the Irish Republican Army. UPI File Photo

In 2016, CoverGirl announces its first male model, James Charles. The 17-year-old high school senior caught the attention of the makeup brand through his popular Instagram account.

In 2019, California became the first state in the United States to ban the sale of new fur products.

In 2022, a Connecticut jury ordered Infowars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay nearly $1 billion to the families of eight Sandy Hook shooting victims and an FBI agent who responded to the 2012 massacre for spreading lies and calling the attack a hoax.

File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
WASHINGTON - A D.C. man is facing charges in a convoluted, multi-scene crime in which he shot two suspects who allegedly beat and robbed him outside of his Airbnb in Northeast, police say.

Nathaniel Arce-Washington, 28, was arrested and charged with assault with intent to kill while armed on Wednesday, Oct. 11. In a Wednesday arraignment proceeding, Arce-Washingtons attorney claimed his client acted in self-defense. He noted that the defendant does not have a violent criminal history.

The judge did not make his decision to hold the 28-year-old lightly, even taking a break to review the circumstances. That D.C. Superior Court judge came back ultimately decided while the 28-year-old like was the victim of a violent crime, theres probable cause he also may have committed a crime, shooting at suspects as they were fleeing.

Those talking about this case online raised concerns about vigilantism or more people taking matters into their own hands if crime is not addressed in the city.

According to an affidavit obtained by FOX 5, the investigation started after shots were fired in the 1600 block of Montello Avenue, NE, around 11:09 p.m. A patrol officer in the area heard the gunfire and went to investigate.

The officer said he saw a man running down the block in his direction clutching his waistband, and the man immediately switched directions when he saw the police cruiser. The officer followed the suspect in his cruiser before getting out and chasing the man on foot.

The affidavit says when the officer tackled the suspect, the man pulled a gun out from his pants and threw it into a nearby sewer drain.

After he was in custody, the man identified himself as Arce-Washington and told the officer that he wasn't trying to evade arrest, he had just been running from the scene of a robbery  where he was the victim.

During his police interview, Arce-Washington said the officer's presence may have been what "saved his life," the affidavit states.

According to Arce-Washington, he had just gotten to an AirBnb in the 1200 block of Queen Street, NE, where he was supposed to be meeting up with his girlfriend so they could spend a few days together. He said while he was in his car, he noticed a Mercedes coming down the street which he "thought was strange," but didn't think much of it and began to get his things out of the trunk before heading inside.

He says that's when he was hit from behind and fell to the ground. Arce-Washington says he was pistol-whipped and beaten and when he felt the gun pushed up against his face he began to fight back. He says he knocked the gun out of one of the men's hands before they fled.

Arce-Washington got up and started running, saying he believed the Mercedes was still in the area and that the incident wasn't over. That's when he saw the police cruiser.

In the affidavit, the officer noted that Arce-Washington had a cut over his right eye and the right side of his head, and other contusions. He was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment. His face still appeared swollen in his Wednesday court appearance.

Additional officers responded to the scene to investigate and found one man in the roadway at the intersection of Queen Street and Montello Avenue, NE, who had been shot in the back of the neck. According to police, he was unconscious and barely breathing when Fire and EMS picked him up. Medical officials said he was in critical condition and was paralyzed as a result of the shooting, according to the affidavit.

A short time later, a second victim was dumped out of a white SUV near an ambulance that was on another call at the intersection of Florida Avenue and Eckington Place, Northeast. He was also transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition and underwent emergency surgery in which a large portion of his intestines had to be removed.

After canvassing the area for surveillance cameras, police were able to obtain footage that showed part of the night's events.

In the video, police say the two men who were shot were seen running down Queen Street toward the intersection with Montello Avenue when a white SUV pulls up and stops to let them in. While they're trying to climb inside Arce-Washington fires 10 shots, hitting both of them. One victim fell to the ground immediately while the other was able to make it into the car, which sped away.

Arce-Washington is seen going over to the motionless man and taking a mask of the victim's face before running off with the gun still tucked in his pants.

Crime scene investigators say there was a blood trail that led across several blocks. They recovered 10 shell casings from the scene and with the help of DC Water, they were able to fish the 9mm gun used in the shooting out of the sewer drain where Arce-Washington threw it.

Arce-Washington asked for a lawyer after telling his story and according to the affidavit, told police that "the cameras will show he is telling the truth."

The investigation is ongoing. It's not yet known if charges will be filed against the two men accused of stealing a PS4, clothes and shoes from Arce-Washington as he claims. For now, he's facing two counts and will be taken to the MPD Homicide Branch once he's released from the hospital.

In another area of the city, one woman who asked not to be identified believes the citys lawmakers also need to be held accountable.

"To see such a beautiful city, the nations capital at that, preferably go downhill relatively quickly. Its mind-boggling. The cost of living is going up, the crime rate is going up also, which is a problem. The children, seniors, I mean, somethings got to give," the woman said.

Arce-Washington has a next hearing scheduled for Oct.19, 2023.
BEERI, Israel  An overwhelming smell of death lingers in the air in Beeri, a kibbutz near the Gaza border where Hamas militants ambushed the small community Saturday morning, leaving dozens dead and a trail of devastation.

Days later, body bags remain on the streets. Demolished homes and vehicles with their doors hanging wide open tell a story of not just one community, but an entire country, completely caught off guard.

"They came to kill, kill and kill, Israeli Maj. Gen. Itai Veruv said as he led journalists down the now-unrecognizable streets of Beeri.

Follow live coverage from NBC News here.

Liel Fishbien, 25, with his family. (Liel Fishbien)

Theres no kibbutz there anymore, said Liel Fishbien, 25, who survived the attack after 22 hours in hiding with his grandmother at her home in Beeri and later fled to safety. "Everything was demolished.

While Fishbien managed to escape, around 100 people were killed, according to Israeli emergency services, and others were believed to have been taken hostage  including Fishbiens younger sister, Tchelet Fishbien, 18, and her boyfriend, whom she had recently started dating.

Be careful and be quiet

Fishbien said that he and his grandmother were in contact with his sister, who works at a kindergarten, after they took shelter when they heard what sounded like missiles shortly after 6:30 a.m. Saturday, but that they lost contact around 11:30 a.m.

The last thing she said was: Be careful and quiet. Theyre in your neighborhood, he said.

Fishbien, a musician who lives in Jerusalem, teaches drum lessons and works as a technician at the Tower of David, said that before Saturday, he had been planning to go to Japan next year to study music. He also hoped to study Buddhism and visit a monastery.

Now, we have no plan," he said. "Just surviving this.

Blown out homes and buildings in Beeri, Israel (Chantal Da Silva / NBC News)

Blown out homes and buildings in Beeri, Israel (Chantal Da Silva / NBC News)

They left us to die

Fishbien said he felt the Israeli government failed his family and hundreds of others who lost loved ones in the attack.

They left us to die. Its just what happened, he said, adding that he doesnt define myself as left or right.

He said he felt "sad that innocent people are getting hurt, both in Israel, where at least 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have died, and in Gaza, where at least 1,120 people have been killed and more than 260,000 have been displaced.

Liel Fishbien, 25, and his sister Tchelet Fishbien, 18. (Liel Fishbien)

Fishbien said he also saw the faces of some of the Hamas militants who attacked his community, saying some of them looked like they could be 14-year-old children.

Children should not go into places killing people, he said. They should have a better life.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The number of Ukrainians who died during the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has increased to seven people.

Source: Oleh Nikolenko, spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "The number of dead Ukrainians in Israel has increased to seven people. The consuls have established their personal data, maintaining contact with families and taking measures to repatriate the bodies."

Nine citizens were suffered injuries of varying degrees of severity. Another nine Ukrainians are considered missing. The Ukrainian embassy cooperates with the Israeli security services in the search for missing persons."

Details: Nikolenko also said that more than a thousand Ukrainians have asked for help in leaving Israel. The spokesman of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that the first evacuation flight to Romania is scheduled for 14 October.

Additionally, about 200 Ukrainians have expressed their desire to evacuate from the Gaza Strip, but leaving is currently impossible due to the lack of security.

Background:

On 8 October, it became known that two Ukrainian citizens died in Israel.

On 11 October, it was reported about another dead Ukrainian in Israel.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
A woman who was injured in a Russian missile attack on the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast on 5 October has died in hospital, bringing the number of victims of this Russian attack to 56.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The number of people killed in the attack on the village of Hroza has increased to 56 people. Last night, a 53-year old woman died in hospital."

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!
A drone attack on Belgorod Oblast killed two people and injured two others, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed on Oct. 12.

Shortly after midnight on Oct. 12, Gladkov reported that Russian air defense shot down a drone en route to the city of Belgorod.

Falling debris caused a fire to break out in a house, killing two.

Gladkov said the two victims, a man and a woman, were found buried under the rubble. He also said emergency services were continuing to search the site for additional victims.

Two others were reported injured in the attack. One man was reported to be in a coma, while another woman suffered a concussion and fractured limb.

Gladkov said that the house was destroyed and two others sustained partial damage. He also claimed that three cars were damaged by debris from the drone.

Reports of drone strikes within Russia have increased in recent weeks. On Oct. 4, Ukrainian drones hit a Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system near Belgorod, according to sources in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU.)

Read also: Literature community commemorates Ukrainian writer killed by Russian attack

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The parents of 14-year-old Bobby Reyes were furious in 2019 when officials at a Michigan hospital withdrew life support from their son, who had suffered a severe asthma attack that left him unresponsive.

The mother of 2-year-old Isaac Lopez sued a Kentucky hospital in 2014, urging a judge to prohibit staff from removing the ventilator and feeding tube that had kept the boy's organs functioning three weeks after doctors declared him brain dead.

The family of 13-year-old Jahi McMath prompted a nationwide bioethical debate that same year when they opposed to their daughter's brain death diagnosis in California and transferred her to a New Jersey hospital, where doctors kept her on life support for years.

In each of these cases, doctors declared children brain dead, but they did so with minimal professional guidance, leaving their diagnoses subject to criticism from all sides.

New guidelines released on Wednesday aim to iron out those conflicts. The recommendations, published in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology, provide a comprehensive list for clinicians to follow for determining brain death in children and adults.

Life-changing surgery Doctor disconnects brain of 6-year-old with rare disease

The guidelines not only standardize the process, experts say, but they also address ethical sticking points that have caused consternation over the decades. They aim to provide clarity on where doctors have the authority to move ahead and outline areas where they must take addition steps in the case of children.

Its doing a huge service not just in the medical community but to the public in cementing trust, said Arthur Caplan, a medical ethicist at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. When people are declared dead as a result of neurological examinations, that diagnosis can be trusted.

One of the biggest points of contention between families and clinicians has been over the idea of consent. Some parents believe a doctor should obtain consent from family to perform tests that lead to a diagnosis of brain death, experts say, especially in cases involving minors.

Only a few states, such as Nevada and New York, have laws that explicity give doctors the right to test for brain death without the express consent of parents.

Its been sort of murky, said Dr. Michael Bell, chief of critical care medicine at Childrens National Hospital in Washington. There are families who want to stop you from proceeding because they dont want the answer."

Though the new guidelines recommend clinicians notify family before evaluating the patient for brain death, they explicitly that say parental or familial consent is not required for a doctor to perform the assessment.

What's brain fog? Five expert recommended steps to get rid of brain fog.

Making a determination of death is one of the most important actions that a doctor and a team of health care people have to do, Caplan said. People who want doctors to ask permission typically don't want to accept brain death.

The guidelines also recommend that clinicians take their time and additional precautions in determining brain death in children. Whereas adult patients typically undergo one evaluation before physicians can establish brain death, clinicians are instructed, under the guidelines, to perform two separate evaluations at least 12 hours a part.

Children have developing brains that are more able to bounce back. The guidelines say clinicians must take additional time to confirm their brains can't recover from the trauma. But they also say infants under 37 weeks cannot be classified as brain dead partly because experts say it's difficult to make a diagnosis in brains and bodies that small.

Brain death is a medical diagnosis and a legal declaration of death, said study author Dr. David Greer, professor and chair of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine. Experts say its important to make that clear when informing family that there is no wiggle room in that diagnosis. They hope the new guidance leaves little room for mistrust or doubt.

This is obviously a high tension, high stakes, high stress situation for families, Bell said. But this (guidance) gives the clinicians the opportunity to say  We tested this according to the guideline and we can therefore call this a brain death.

Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on X, formerly Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brain dead diagnoses can be controversial. New guidance looks to help.
Even a temporary pause in US aid supplies could put Ukraine's offensive on hold and allow Russian troops to regain their combat capability.

Source: Financial Times

Quote from the Financial Times: "Even a temporary pause in its support could start to impinge on Kyivs war strategy and tactics within weeks, analysts say, potentially curtailing Ukraines grinding counteroffensive, relieving the pressure on Russian forces and giving them the opportunity to reconstitute their combat power."

Details: The Financial Times stated that Volodymyr Zelenskyy's appearance at a NATO meeting on Wednesday to ask for more weapons for Ukraine underscored Kyiv's concern about declining allied support due to Republican opposition in Washington and the distraction of Israel's war against Hamas.

The United States has played a vital role in rapidly supplying Ukraine with modern weapons, including artillery ammunition and air defence assets.

Nevertheless, the Financial Times noted that the Biden administration has pledged to support Kyiv for as long as it takes. Broad bipartisan support, with the exception of a small but powerful opposing bloc in the Congress, is expected to eventually speed up aid delivery.

But even a few weeks of delay could have an impact on the counteroffensive, the FT wrote.

Read also: Crisis That Must Be Averted: How Europe Is Preparing for Possible Cut in US Military Aid.

Background:

Earlier, it was reported that the White House is considering combining funding for Ukraine and Israel into one request to Congress, hoping that this will increase the chances of approval of assistance to Kyiv.

Some Republicans in the US House of Representatives have spoken out against the idea.

On 11 October, it was reported that the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary armaments without interruption. Lloyd Austin, the United States Secretary of Defence, stated this at a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels.

Confidence in US support has been shaken by the exclusion of funding for Ukraine from the temporary budget of the US federal government, as well as the blocking of the decision-making process in Congress after the resignation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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!
Suzhou Symphony Orchestra will launch a tour in Algeria from Oct. 14 to 23, marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Algeria.

On Oct 19, Chen Xieyang, conductor and music director of the orchestra, and conductor Lotfi Saidi will lead a joint orchestra consisting of musicians from the Suzhou orchestra and Algeria Symphony Orchestra, giving a concert in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria.

Both Chinese music pieces and classic Western music works will be staged at the Algiers Opera House.

The Chinese government donated and helped to build an opera house in Algiers, as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. In 2016, the Algiers Opera House opened its doors.

More concerts will be staged on Oct 20 and 21, featuring conductors Chen and Zhu Qiyuan, who will lead Suzhou Symphony Orchestra to perform Chinese folk music pieces and arias from Western operas. Soprano Xiong Yufei and tenor Dai Chen will join the concerts.

From September to July 2024, Suzhou Symphony Orchestra is on its eighth performing season since its founding in 2016, gathering musicians with an average age of 30 from around the world.
Sen. Bob Menendez , D-N.J., is now facing additional charges of acting as a foreign agent and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his "power and influence as a Senator," according to the superseding indictment filed by a grand jury in Manhattan on Thursday.

A superseding indictment is a formal document issued by a grand jury that replaces and expands upon a previous indictment in a criminal case. It is used when new evidence or charges arise after an initial indictment has been issued. In a statement to Fox News Digital after publication, Menendez denied the new charges and insisted he has always been "loyal to only one country  the United States of America."

Menendez, along with his wife Nadine and three other New Jersey businessmen  Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes  were first charged in the federal bribery scheme on Sept. 23.

"Among other actions, MENENDEZ provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt," the indictment states.

"It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that ROBERT MENENDEZ, the defendant, and others known and unknown, being a public official, directly and indirectly, would and did corruptly demand, seek, receive, accept, and agree to receive and accept something of value personally and for another person and entity, in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act and for being induced to do an act and omit to do an act in violation of his official duty," the indictment reads.

MSNBC'S ALICIA MENENDEZ ADDRESSES FATHER'S INDICTMENT: COLLEAGUES HAVE 'AGGRESSIVELY' COVERED

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The new indictment shows a photo of Menendez, Nadine and Hana with unidentified Egyptian officials in Menendez's Senate office in 2018. Prosecutors allege the meeting included talks of "foreign military financing to Egypt."

"Later that same day, Menendez sought from the State Department non-public information regarding the number and nationality of persons serving at the US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt," the indictment states. "Although, this information was not classified, it was deemed highly sensitive because it could pose significant operational security concerns if disclosed to a foreign government or made public."

Last month, Menendez stepped down "temporarily" from his post as chairman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee "until the matter has been resolved," Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., previously told Fox News.

DEMOCRAT SEN. MENENDEZ'S WIFE HIT, KILLED PEDESTRIAN WHILE DRIVING IN 2018: REPORTS

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., holds a press conference as he rejects accusations of corruption and calls from fellow Democrats to step down from Congress after he was indicted for a second time on Sept. 25, 2023.

FBI and IRS criminal investigators allege that Menendez and his wife accepted several gold bars and other gifts from Daibes, a New Jersey developer and former bank chairman accused of banking crimes. Menendez allegedly worked to help appoint a prosecutor who would be sympathetic to Daibes, according to the indictment.

The unsealed indictment alleges that from at least 2018 through 2022, Menendez and his wife, Nadine, "engaged in a corrupt relationship" with Daibes, Hana and Uribe.

The couple is accused of accepting "hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for using Menendez's power and influence as a senator to seek to protect and enrich Hana, Uribe, and Daibes and to benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt."

DEMOCRAT SEN BOB MENENDEZ FACING INDICTMENT ON BRIBERY CHARGES

The alleged bribes included cash, gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle and "other things of value." After the investigation was underway, Menendez reportedly disclosed that his family had accepted gold bars in 2020.

According to prosecutors, Menendez allegedly shared confidential U.S. government information with Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman, to clandestinely support the Egyptian government. The indictment contends that Menendez exerted inappropriate pressure on a Department of Agriculture official to safeguard Hana's business monopoly granted by Egypt. In return, Hana purportedly funneled profits from his monopoly back to Menendez.

In response to the new charges, Menendez said in a statement to Fox News Digital: "The governments latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi on these issues. I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom.



"Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true. The facts havent changed, only a new charge. It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic. I again ask people who know me and my record to give me the chance to present my defense and show my innocence," Menendez said.

This story has been updated.





Original article source: Democrat Sen Bob Menendez accused of acting as a foreign agent in superseding indictment
WASHINGTON  Rep. Shri Thanedar , D-Mich., announced Wednesday that he is renouncing his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America after the left-wing group promoted a pro-Palestinian rally a day after Hamas' deadly terrorist attack on Israel.

In a statement, Thanedar, who is in his first term, cited what he called a "hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City," which other progressives in Congress have also condemned.

"After the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel, which included the indiscriminate murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent men, women, and children, I can no longer associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in all its forms," Thanedar said in his statement.

"Sunday's hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continue my affiliation," he added. "I stand with Israel and its right to defend itself. There is no place for moral equivocation in the face of unadulterated evil as we have seen from Hamas."

A spokesperson for Democratic Socialists of America did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday night.

Follow live updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict

The group has helped elect some of the most progressive members of Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who was among those who have condemned Sunday's rally.

The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment, Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement first shared with Politicos New York affiliate late Monday. It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a fellow New York Democrat, also chastised rallygoers, saying on X: "I am shocked and disgusted by the rally held here in NY this weekend celebrating death or attacks on civilians and showing swastikas. I condemn any demonstration that does this in the strongest possible terms. We must proceed on the basis of recognizing our shared humanity."

The Times Square rally involved clashes between Palestinian activists and pro-Israel demonstrators who protested that the pro-Palestinian rallygoers were antisemitic and terrorist sympathizers.

"On Saturday, in anticipation of escalatory violence to come, we tweeted a promotion of a rally in solidarity with the people of Palestine," NYC-DSA said in a statement Tuesday in response to the criticism.

"We understand why many, including our allies, were shocked by the timing and the tone of this message in a moment of profound fear and grief. We are sorry for the confusion our post caused and for not making our values explicit."

At least 1,200 Israelis  including 189 soldiers  were killed as a result of the terrorist attack Saturday, and more than 2,700 were injured. In Gaza, officials say, at least 1,120 people have been killed and 5,300 have been injured.

Thanedar said he will continue to work toward goals he campaigned on before he was elected to Congress in November, including "universal healthcare, workers' rights, strong labor unions, equity for communities of color, environmental justice, and compassionate immigration."

He said ending his membership with DSA serves the interests of his constituents, saying they expect him "to represent them by helping to build a better, more just world, not fanning the flames of hatred."

Thanedar represents a congressional district that covers parts of Detroit and nearby towns.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The News

New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez has been accused of acting as a foreign agent in a superseding federal indictment.

The new indictment alleges Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt.

The Democratic senator, along with his wife, was originally charged with accepting bribes from a halal meat company that would eventually monopolize the imported meat market in Egypt.

Know More

Menendez allegedly provided data about military aid to Egypt via the businessmen working with the meat company, according to the indictment. Part of the sensitive information he is accused of sharing includes the number of U.S. personnel working at the embassy in Cairo, which Menendezs wife then texted to an Egyptian government official.

The senator allegedly pressured and improperly advised a U.S. Department of Agriculture official to protect the monopoly granted to the halal meat company. He further used his power on at least two occasions to influence a criminal case against the businessmen who have been accused of bribing him, prosecutors allege.

The senator has refused to heed calls from his Democratic colleagues to resign.
A number of Democrats facing battleground Senate races are calling on President Biden to again freeze $6 billion in Iranian funds following Hamass attack on Israel.

Since Hamas launched fatal attacks on Israel Saturday, many lawmakers have questioned the Biden administration for its decision to unfreeze $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of a previous prisoner swap with Iran. Many critics say that the funds may have freed up resources for Irans military spending and support of Hamas.

Theres been pushback from both the left and the right, but a growing number of Democrats in battleground states are now calling on the administration to refreeze the funds. Democratic Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) are just two lawmakers facing tough reelections in 2024 who have called on the administration to immediately freeze the $6 billion.

As American intelligence officials continue to investigate the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, we should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided, Tester said in a Tuesday statement. At a minimum, we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial tools we have at our disposal.

Manchin reiterated the same day that he did not support the prisoner deal in the first place and that the U.S. should freeze those assets as well as consider other sanctions.

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 U.S. had frozen the funds when relations between the two countries faltered.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said that the funds should remain frozen until we can determine whether Iran played a role in the attack and what the appropriate U.S. response should be, and he called out Republicans for spreading misleading information about the situation.

Republican politicians should stop intentionally misleading the American people about this serious matter. None of the sanctions funds have been transferred to Iran, he said in his statement.

Nevada Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto also voiced support for freezing the $6 billion, The Nevada Independent reported. Biden carried Nevada in the 2020 election, beating former President Trump by about 33,000 votes.

Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who are running for Senate seats in their respective states, called on Biden Wednesday to freeze the funds as well.

The longstanding financial, material, and weapons support from Iran to Hamas is significant  and we know at minimum that the Iranian regime is seeking to take advantage of Hamas attack against Israel. Based on what I heard today in our classified briefing, I believe we need to hit pause button on any release of the funds that were part of this deal, Slotkin said in a statement.

As we learn more about Irans role in these horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, one thing is clear: we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in assets and use available tools to discourage Irans illicit conduct. Our ally Israel is at war, and while the conflict continues, we must stand united, Gallego said in his statement.

The Biden administration has emphasized that Iran has not spent any of these funds set to be unfrozen, noting that they can only be used for food, medicine and other humanitarian goods.

Deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said earlier this week 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.

Updated 9:29 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The three Democratic candidates running in the special election for a Central Florida seat in the state House squared off Wednesday on issues ranging from insurance to schools and transportation.

All shared their frustration with Tallahassee, with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and a GOP supermajority in the Legislature.

The debate, sponsored by the Orlando Sentinel and Spectrum News 13, included Rishi Bagga, a civil attorney and the Democratic candidate for the seat in 2022; Marucci Guzman, the executive director of the nonprofit Latino Leadership; and Tom Keen, who has served on Orlandos Citizens Police Review Board and Veteran Advisory Council.

The Democrats and three Republicans are running in a Nov. 7 special primary election for District 35, which includes parts of eastern Orange and Osceola counties. The winners of their party primaries will face off in a general election on Jan. 16.

The special election was prompted by Hawkins resignation earlier this year to become president of South Florida State College in Highlands County.

Bagga, 40, said that as a former prosecutor, I know a bully when I see one. And Ron DeSantis and MAGA Republicans are mercilessly bullying our state, including having passed hurtful legislation fanning the flames of division and staying silent in the face of hate.

Guzman said she was the best fit for the district as a Hispanic woman and cited her work leading Latino Leadership, the Santiago & Friends center for autism and the Clinica Mi Salud free clinic.

Whether increasing access to health care, helping families with unique abilities or providing affordable housing, I have been doing this work from day one, she said.

Keen pointed to his Navy experience and business background. But he also slammed both Hawkins and former Republican state Rep. Rene Plasencia , whom he mentioned was the spouse of one of my opponents, Guzman, for having resigned from office to take political swampy jobs.

Plasencia resigned seven months early in March 2022 to take a job with IBM.

Asked about the property insurance crisis, Bagga said he would push for a state homeowners assistance program to make sure that they dont lose their homes.

Keen said homeowners should be given the advantages that big insurance companies have had, while Guzman said insurance companies should be held accountable through auditing so when theyre asking for a handout from the state, that handout is being passed to the residents of the state.

On affordable housing, Keen and Bagga both criticized the Legislature for taking away local control. So often the Legislature has preempted us and taken away our right to make those decisions for ourselves, Bagga said.

Guzman said that shes worked with local governments to find creative avenues to increase homeowner ability for the working class. We need to keep being creative, not raiding the Sadowski Fund, the money designated for housing that has long been diverted to other projects.

District 35 includes the booming neighborhood of Lake Nona. Bagga said growth needs to be balanced with protecting the environment, and said tourist dollars should be looked at as a means of funding transportation.

Keen said the Legislature needs to take those handcuffs off of counties and let them increase impact fees to fund roads and public transportation. Guzman said communities need to be able to fund quality of life, including transportation infrastructure.

All three vociferously opposed books being removed from school libraries and restrictions on what could be taught to students. Keen said only a very slim minority of parents were pushing book removals.

The people banning the books arent the ones that are reading them, Guzman said.

She also said children should learn accurate history, their history, and we should not be letting Tallahassee dictate to teachers what they should be teaching.

Bagga agreed that we absolutely have to fight back.  These [laws are] bad for students, because it subjects so many students to bullying and being targeted just because they look different.

Bagga said an office of gun violence prevention, similar to one created by the Biden administration, could be bipartisan legislation of his that could make it through a Republican-led Legislature.

Keen said working to reduce the rise in homeowners insurance, not five years from now or three years from now, but next year, was doable even with a GOP supermajority.

Guzman said shed already worked to pass two bills helping people with autism.

To me, its very important to have a Democrat win this race that can have those conversations in Tallahassee that on day one has the experience to get that work done, she said.

The candidates in the Republican primary, Osceola School Board member Erika Booth, flight attendant and former probation officer Ken Davenport and former congressional candidate Scott Moore, did not all agree to attend a planned GOP debate so it was not held.

Meanwhile, initial mail-in ballots for the primary in Osceola County were mistakenly sent out with voters party affiliation on the envelope, a violation of state law.

Michael Hargon, owner of the Osceola elections offices vendor Magnolia Press, said the blame was a shared responsibility.

If the data had not been sent to me with the party affiliation, which is outside standard practice, then the issue never would have happened, Hargon said.

Osceola County Elections Supervisor Mary Jane Arrington said no one in her office approved the final document before it was sent. Replacement ballots have been sent out, she said.

We didnt have the opportunity to correct it, she said. But the buck stops here. Its a mistake and we did everything in our power to correct it.

Staff writer Natalia Jaramillo contributed to this report.
We will say it in no uncertain terms: The violent attack on Israel by Hamas Saturday was extreme, brutal and unexpected. More than 2,000 people have died on both sides.

But when war breaks out, we choose sides. Its a human thing to do. We claim an injured party and give our support through statements, donations, thoughts and prayers. Sometimes those sides involve people far away, thousands of miles from us. But sometimes those sides are our neighbors, those who identify with the people fighting in the war.

Religious and nonreligious ethnic Jews live in the greater Kansas City area. Muslims live here. Palestinians live here. They are our neighbors.

How can we reconcile the grief for those we care about with trying to understand a different group of people who are causing pain and harm to our own?

Just a thought: Are we supposed to find common ground? Or are we just supposed to turn our heads and focus on one side  our side?

A war broke out Saturday, when Hamas, a pro-Palestine organization, attacked Israel. The assault that was launched from the Gaza Strip (a coast sandwiched between Israel and the Mediterranean Sea) killed over a thousand Israelis. Others were captured and kidnapped. On Sunday, Israel retaliated and killed more than a thousand Palestinians. We have seen the news in credible media, but fake headlines and photos have circulated.

What is Hamas? Its described by the Associated Press as a Palestinian Islamic political party, which has an armed wing of the same name. The word is an acronym for the Arabic words for Islamic Resistance Movement. Many call Hamas a terror organization, especially after the horrific and violent attack last weekend.

Immediately, American leaders were sympathetic to Israel. The United States is sending military aid to Israel to fight against Hamas. Rallies were held across the U.S.

On its website, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City says, We Stand with Israel, with a statement that called for donations to its effort to support victims of the violence. A vigil was held Monday in The Temple, Congregation Bnai Jehudah in Overland Park.

The Muslim and Palestinian voice has seemed muted in Kansas City this week, but events where people come together for Palestine are beginning to happen. A KC Rally for Palestine is planned Saturday afternoon at the Mill Creek fountain on the Country Club Plaza. The rally notice appeared on the Al-Hadaf community organizations Instagram account. The organization describes itself as a Palestinian-led organization dedicated to the centering of Palestinian voices and the liberation of Palestine through community engagement.

Weve reached out to several in the local Palestinian community this week, and, when contacted, we vow to lend their voices to our coverage as we have the Jewish community.

Interfaith discussion, history lesson

Monday night, the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council had its monthly meeting. When we learned the theme  Israel and Palestine  we knew we had to join and hear what this multicultural, multiethnic and multireligious organization had to say about what was happening.

That night, a group consisting of members from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Scientology and transcendental faith traditions listened to a Jewish man talk about the war and the history of the land people are fighting for.

Alan Edelman, chair of the interfaith organization, said the conflict is as old as the Bible, and that one way to understand it is by asking an important question, maybe the question:

Is it possible for two people to share one piece of territory that is sacred to both of them?

Edelman described himself as a member of the peace movement. In the peace camp, we like to say that the Palestinians (need to) understand that after 2,000 years of homelessness and a good deal of persecution, the Jewish people are entitled to return to their homeland.

But then he added: And the Jews have to understand that when they got a homeland, the Palestinians lost theirs.

After Edelman gave a history lesson on the land and its people, he said the thing on everyones mind:

If youre confused, join the club. Its a complicated situation.

Edelman said he believes both the average Israeli and the Palestinian just want to raise their families in peace. The innocent people suffer at the hands of extremist leaders making decisions.

You really dont have a government on the Palestinian side or the Israeli side who wants to have conversations about peace. What is going on now isnt going to encourage anyone to come to the table to talk peace, he said.

Edelman gave a measured, informative talk, but did he provide solutions? Could anyone?

Zulfiqar Malik, not a Palestinian but a Muslim and Interfaith Council member, thanked Edelman for the presentation, and added, I am of the Abrahamic faith and, God willing, we have to continue our efforts. We have to pray for it. I know it takes a lot of effort, a lot of patience, a lot of prayers for peace. If we dont have peace in our hearts how can we expect peace around the world?

Unprovoked attack, human rights violations?

As we listen to the many sides invested in the conflict, we can say who we think is more right or more wrong. Was it wrong for Hamas to attack the way it did? Many news outlets are using the words unprovoked attack. On the surface and at the level of aggression used, it certainly was.

But could the attack be a response to human rights violations outlined in a United Nations Human Rights Council report in April 2023? The UN council said it was gravely concerned about the dire humanitarian, socioeconomic and security situation in the Gaza Strip, including that resulting from the prolonged closures and severe economic impediments and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade. The report called Israel the occupying power.

The Rev. Kelly Isola of the Unity faith said she saw terms such as occupied and under oppressive rule used on social media. She said people are discussing this in a binary way but believes theres more than two sides.

I dont support Hamas and yet theres innocent people everywhere being killed and paying the price. I dont want to discount that, she said.

The council wants to educate people and craft a statement against the violence, and we think thats a good idea, but it wont end a war. Only peaceful talks will. And as it stands, the ongoing violence, pain and grief will prevent that from happening anytime soon.

A message for those of us neither Jewish, Muslim nor Palestinian: One way to work toward peace in our community is to get to know those different from us. There are many groups, such at the Interfaith Council, that can provide an answer. The council has an upcoming Table of Faiths dinner next week. For more information, visit kcinterfaith.org/2023-table-of-faiths

The Kansas City Star Editorial Board wants to hear the voices of Palestinians and Jews on the topic of peaceful solutions to the war. Please send your thoughts to oped@kcstar.com
TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Deputies are asking for the publics assistance in locating a black ATV that was stolen during an armed robbery in Orosi on Sept. 30.

Deputies investigate armed carjacking in Orosi

According to the Tulare County Sheriffs Office, just after 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 30, they were called to the area of Road 144 and Avenue 428 in Orosi for an armed carjacking.

Upon arrival, authorities learned the victim was driving their 2022 Black Can Am Maverick in the area when the suspects drove up in a white truck armed with guns and ordered him out. The suspects left with the ATV.

Anyone with any information regarding the location of this ATV is asked to contact the sheriffs office at (559) 733-6218.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order Thursday authorizing the rescue operations of Floridians in Israel and to provide support to Israel in its war against Hamas.

There are more than 20,000 Americans, including many Floridians, in Israel who wish to return home but have been prevented from doing so because of commercial flight cancellation and other travel and logistics disruptions due to the ongoing war in the region, DeSantiss order said.

Multiple airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv in the wake of the attacks. The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory Saturday for Gaza, urging people not to travel to the region.

DeSantiss order criticized President Biden for his failure to launch any form of rescue or evacuation operations.

The Biden administration announced Thursday it would arrange charter flights for U.S. citizens looking to leave Israel.

The administration is looking to charter the flights from Israel to somewhere in Europe and is still finalizing the details, including whether the flights will be free of charge.

Its currently unclear how or if DeSantiss order will work with the Biden administrations plan to fly citizens back to the U.S.

DeSantis said Florida is home to one of the largest Jewish populations in the world, including a large number of Israeli-American citizens. Due to foregoing conditions, which are expected to constitute a major disaster, DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Florida.

The Division of Emergency Management in Florida will handle the states response and recovery of Floridians in Israel, DeSantiss order said. He ordered the states National Guard and State Guard to deal with the emergency as needed.

The order was effective Thursday and will expire in 60 days unless extended.

We will not leave our residents behind, DeSantis said on X, formerly known as Twitter. To the many Floridians who are stuck in Israel, trying to get home  help is on the way.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump is drawing criticism from the White House and Republican presidential rival Ron DeSantis over comments on the conflict in Israel days after the deadly attack by Hamas.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Trump at a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday night said Hamas would never have carried out the assault under his watch and condemned the violence that was mostly inflicted on Israeli civilians.

Yet the former president also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not joining him in a 2020 drone strike in Iraq that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and called Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US, very smart.

The night before it happened I get a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack, Trump said of the drone strike during a rambling commentary. I will never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down.

DeSantis responded Wednesday night with a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, saying he would stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are as president.

DeSantis stepped up his criticism of Trump on Thursday saying it was wrong for the former president to be attacking Netanyahu as he dealt with the most serious crisis Israel has faced in decades.

Nows not the time to air personal grievances about an Israeli prime minister. Nows the time to support their right to defend themselves to the hilt, DeSantis told reporters in New Hampshire after filing his paperwork for the states primary. You may have a personal vendetta or beef with him. But is that really the time to be out there doing that?

Why Hezbollah Is a Wild Card in New Mideast Fighting: QuickTake

DeSantis has grown more outspokenly critical of Trump as polls have shown him dropping further both nationally and in key early voting states like New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung rebuffed DeSantiss critique and said the former presidents words were taken out of context.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good, Cheung said.

Trumps remarks came after President Joe Biden mounted a vigorous defense of Israel and vowed to stand by the Jewish community against a rising tide of antisemitism. Biden on Tuesday condemned the weekend attacks by Hamas and promised military assistance to Israel.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates on Thursday called Trumps statements dangerous and unhinged.

Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart, Bates said in a statement. This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil. Thats what the president is doing as commander in chief.

Earlier: Biden Denounces Efforts to Justify Hamas in Fiery Speech

Trump spent most of his Wednesday speech highlighting his strong support of Israel and condemning the violence against Israeli citizens, while pointing out the apparent intelligence failures before the attacks. He also emphasized his own record of moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and promoting the Abraham Accords, bilateral agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

--With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron.

(Updates to add additional DeSantis comments in paragraphs 6-7)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed an executive order directing the state to help ferry Americans out of Israel who were left stranded amid the conflict.

DeSantis order came just hours after the Biden administration announced it too would arrange charter flights for Americans stuck in Israel, beginning on Friday. Though some airlines are continuing to fly in and out of Israel, many others have stopped service, leaving tourists, foreign workers and Israelis scrambling to find ways out of the country.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said the federal governments charter flights were ordered partly because of the decision by U.S. airlines not to fly into Israel for the near future.

The Florida governors order directs the Florida Division of Emergency Management to charter flights for stranded Florida residents and deliver supplies to Israel, Alecia Collins, a spokesperson for the agency, said. The governor estimates that 20,000 U.S. citizens, including Floridians, remain in Israel.



This Executive Order will allow the State to carry out logistical, rescue and evacuation operations, Collins said.

The FAA has recommended caution for pilots flying into and out of Israel but issued no restrictions.

DeSantis' administration asserts that Americans stranded in Israel have reached out to the Florida governors office for help after they failed to receive a response from the U.S. Embassy in Israel. The governors executive order also criticizes the Biden administration for failing to make rescue plans, echoing rebukes from DeSantis that the White House has not done enough to help Americans.

"We will not leave our residents behind, DeSantis said in a social media post.

DeSantis spokesperson Jeremy Redfern wrote in an email that the governors office received messages from 35 stranded travelers.

The DeSantis administration was also critical of the U.S. Embassy in Israel and a notification program for overseas travelers, also overseen by the U.S. Department of State, saying the agency has been unreachable for stranded Americans.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

DeSantis support for Israel goes back to his days in Congress. Since becoming governor, DeSantis has also regularly supported increased security funding in the state budget for Jewish day schools. He even led a trade mission to Israel during his first term as governor in 2019.
The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, has grown into a new and promising platform for Belt and Road cooperation.

This aerial photo taken on May 31, 2023 shows the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

First proposed in June 2018, the SCODA is becoming an important link in international industrial, supply and trade chains, boosting economic and trade cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries.

It is also a zone for industrial cooperation, having attracted more than 70 projects with a total investment of over 200 billion yuan (about 27.9 billion U.S. dollars).

Logistics corridor

Recently, 110 standard containers of used automobiles and auto parts transported by a ship from Incheon, the Republic of Korea, were reloaded onto a train in the SCO demonstration area bound for Almaty, Kazakhstan, a rail trip lasting 16 days.



Customs staff inspect an international freight train at a multimodal transport center in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, June 1, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The express railway service is an epitome of how the SCODA has been building a new logistics corridor to facilitate regional economic and trade cooperation.

Zang Yuanqi, a SCODA management committee official, said the demonstration area has set up a multimodal transportation service platform covering railway, sea, air and land ports, and customs and other government departments, ensuring speedy logistics for SCO and Belt and Road partners.

Based on the transport advantages of Qingdao, a coastal city, the multimodal transportation service is quickly making the demonstration area a gateway to Asia Pacific for SCO countries.

Apart from sea, air and road transport, the demonstration area operates 31 international freight train routes, reaching 54 cities in 23 Belt and Road partner countries.

This aerial photo taken on June 1, 2023 shows a multimodal transport center in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

With an efficient multimodal transportation network and simplified cross-border trade settlement and customs clearance, the demonstration area is building a Silk Road e-commerce base, said Zhang Dong, deputy director of the SCODA management committee.

Win-win

Earlier this year, several Kazakh enterprises reached a cooperation intention with the demonstration area to set up a trading center in Qingdao for specialty agricultural products from Kazakhstan.



"We chose to cooperate with the SCODA because of its good geographical location, which offers huge sea, rail and air transport advantages," said Manarbek Tulegenov, chairman of EUROLOG LLP, a Kazakh logistics company. He added that entering the Chinese market is in the company's strategic plan.

The SCODA is an important platform for logistics, trade, and investment cooperation between Central Asian countries and China, providing huge opportunities for Central Asian countries, said Botakoz Yelshibek, head of the Kazakhstan exhibition area at the SCO International Investment and Trade Expo held in Qingdao in June.

This aerial photo taken on May 22, 2023 shows the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

"China's economic growth momentum is strong, and I hope that more Kazakh businesspeople will continue to deeply integrate into China's new development paradigm and achieve win-win results through cooperation," Yelshibek said.

The demonstration area has set up a comprehensive economic and trade platform to offer one-stop services covering trade, customs clearance, logistics, and finance. Nearly 5,000 enterprises have registered on the platform.

Said Saydakhmedov, a business specialist from Uzbekistan working for the platform, said many businesspeople from Belt and Road partner countries hoping to explore the Chinese market consult on issues related to laws and regulations, finance and tax, and subsidy policies.

The platform provides facilitation for pine nuts trading company Alhaj Mohammad Nazi Sadat Ltd of Afghanistan, which exports 70 percent of its products to China, helping the Afghan company to find Chinese clients, which means it is not solely reliant on expos and intermediaries.

With one-stop services on offer, pine nuts exported by the company can now reach Chinese warehouses in 15 days, cutting up to two-thirds off the delivery time.

Huge potential

The demonstration area has also either introduced or nurtured 10 trading platforms, linking more than 2,000 trading companies in doing so.



The SCO expo in June this year attracted 330 enterprises and institutions from 34 countries and regions, displaying more than 10,000 kinds of commodities from SCO countries, making it a big stage for Belt and Road cooperation.

This photo taken on June 15, 2023 shows the Iran Pavilion during the 2023 SCO International Investment and Trade Expo in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Thanks to appropriate measures, the area's trade with SCO countries had surged to 8.1 billion yuan in 2022 from 850 million yuan in 2019.

Further expanding overseas cooperation, the SCODA also signed a cooperation agreement with Kazakh logistics company DAMU in September.

The Chinese side can provide advanced experience and solutions as well as financing support, which is of great significance and attractive to the foreign partner, said Mayra Jumagaleeva, director of DAMU.

Seventy percent of DAMU's imports come from China and Chinese vehicles are popular in Kazakhstan and have bright market prospects there, Jumagaleeva added. DAMU is planning to further build a platform selling China-made vehicles to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.

The company expects that the cooperation agreement will activate further trade and investment cooperation and in the long term promote the construction of relevant free trade zones within the SCO framework, said Jumagaleeva.

As a unique economic and trade zone for SCO countries, the SCODA has massive potential and plays a key role in promoting new technologies and technology conversion in SCO countries and boosting international economic and trade cooperation, said Hakimov Masum, an official of Uzbekistan's Tashkent State Transport University.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Biden White House dont agree on much. But they were united in their rebukes of Donald Trump s recent comments criticizing Israel and calling Hezbollah smart.

During a speech in Florida Wednesday night, Trump went after Israels intelligence officials for failing to anticipate the recent attack from Hamas, and called Hezbollah, Lebanons Iranian-backed militia group, very smart.

He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu let us down on the operation to kill Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, and called Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant a jerk.

Know More

DeSantis, a Republican presidential hopeful, posted a clip of the remarks and said 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 terrorists.

The White House said in a statement that Trumps comments are dangerous and unhinged, adding that, Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart.

In a statement, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump was simply pointing out that it was incompetent for Biden officials to say that northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, was susceptible to an attack.

Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid, Cheung said. Trump also said in his speech that the U.S. will fully support Israel if hes reelected to the White House.

The View From Israel

Israelis largely welcomed Bidens forceful show of support for the country, The Wall Street Journal reported. Israelis watched the speech and cried, one resident told a radio network. The Jerusalem Post said Bidens speech set a new standard of support for the Jewish state.

The Times of Israel noted that Trumps remarks stood in sharp contrast to the full-throated support given to Israel by Biden.

Trump and Netanyahu had a close relationship when he was in the White House, but Trump has criticized him since then. Fuck him, Trump reportedly said in 2021, outraged that Netanyahu congratulated Biden on winning the 2020 election that Trump falsely insists was stolen.

Bibi could have stayed quiet. He has made a terrible mistake, Trump told Axios Barak Ravid at the time.

Trumps current criticism of Netanyahu, though, appears to be in line with how many Israelis feel. A new poll of Jewish Israelis found that 86% blame the government and Netanyahu for failing to prevent Hamass attack, and a slimmer majority think Netanyahu should resign at the end of the war.
The jury determining whether Kelvin Vickers Jr. murdered three people, including a Rochester police officer, enters its first full day of deliberations Thursday morning.

The jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon after instructions from County Court Judge Julie Hahn.

Deliberations could be lengthy because of the numerous criminal counts Vickers faces, ranging from the murder charges to weapons-possession accusations. As well, the jury, if it decides Vickers was the killer of Rochester Police Anthony Mazurkiewicz on July 21, 2022, must determine whether he likely knew Mazurkiewicz was a police officer.

Mazurkiewicz was working a plainclothes detail on Bauman Street when he and his partner, Sino Seng, were ambushed. Mazurkiewicz was fatally shot and Seng wounded.

Kelvin Vickers and his attorney Michael Schiano converse during the opening statement portion of Vickers murder trial. Vickers faces multiple charges including the murder of Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz.

The shooting came amid escalating bloodshed between what police have portrayed as rival marijuana-trafficking factions.

As well as the homicide of Mazurkiewicz and the wounding of Seng, Vickers is also accused of the July 20, 2022 homicides of Richard Collinge and MyJel Rand.

Kevin Vickers trial coverage

From Sept. 12: Trial of officer's accused killer to restrict uniformed police presence

From Sept. 21: Three days of violence in Rochester neighborhood ends in officer's murder, prosecutor says

From Sept. 25: Vickers trial enters first full week with testimony about crime spree

From Sept. 28: Final phone call from Officer Mazurkiewicz started calmly, then the gunfire erupted

From Oct. 4: DNA from handgun linked to Kelvin Vickers, accused of killing police officer, two others

From Oct. 5: 'My body collapsed': Officer Sino Seng testifies in Rochester court about night of gunfire

From Oct. 9: These two Rochester women share a terrible tragedy. How does grief bonding connect them?

From Oct. 11: Mazurkiewicz case: Did a Rochester police officer's accused killer know he was a cop?

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Did Kelvin Vickers kill RPD officer, two others? Jury now deciding
As Traylor rumors heat up, fans are dying to know if Travis Kelce attended the premiere of Taylor Swift's upcoming film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" in Los Angeles on Oct. 11.

Well unfortunately for many Traylor supporters, the NFL star wasn't in attendance. His absence was likely due to his scheduled Oct. 12 game in Kansas City, which was the next day.

But even though he wasn't there, Swifties still got to a chance to see their favorite person in action on the red carpet.

For the event, which was held at AMC The Grove 14, Swift arrived around 5:30 p.m. P.T., in a breathtaking Oscar de la Renta gown that featured many floral cutouts.

While striking a few poses for the paparazzi, Swift then turned her attention towards the crowd, whom she took many photos with.

Swift was joined by other celebrities, including Simu Liu, Maren Morris, Flavor Flav and the Queen Bey herself, Beyonce.

On Instagram, Swift shared a fun video of her and Beyonce sitting next to each other in the theater while Bey playfully threw some popcorn on the floor.

"Im so glad Ill never know what my life wouldve been like without @beyonces influence," Swift captured the video. "The way shes taught me and every artist out here to break rules and defy industry norms. Her generosity of spirit. Her resilience and versatility. Shes been a guiding light throughout my career and the fact that she showed up tonight was like an actual fairytale. ."

On Sept. 24, dating rumors started to heat up between Kelce and Swift when the pop star was spotted at one of his Kansas City Chiefs games.

Swift, who is known to be an Eagles fan, was seen cheering for Kelce alongside his mom, Donna Kelce, in the club seats.

After that, Swift attended an Oct. 1 Chiefs game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the Chiefs won 23-20 over the New York Jets.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
When Didi created an autonomous vehicle subsidiary in 2020, the venture was seen as a Chinese counterpart to Uber's AV unit. The tides of change have since swept across China's tech landscape, where internet firms went through a wave of regulatory crackdown and foreign investments dwindled amid worsening U.S.-China relations. Didi's AV unit remained in the shadow during Beijing's data security probe into its parent firm, but it has finally weathered the storm, now freshly pumped with financing.

Previously backed by SoftBank, Didi Autonomous Driving announced today that it will receive up to $149 million in funding from two investors affiliated with the municipal government of Guangzhou, a southern Chinese metropolis: GAC Groups wholly owned subsidiary GAC Capital and Guangzhou Development District Investment Group.

In China, a relationship with local governments is crucial to bringing a company's robotaxis onto the road. Though not spelled out in its announcement, it won't be surprising to see accelerated progress in Didi's robotaxi rollout in the megacity with 18 million people. In March, Didi's autonomous vehicles already started commercial operation in the Huadu District of Guangzhou.

With the new proceeds, Didi plans to invest "deeply in research and development, accelerate the implementation of related products, pursue open collaborations in the industry chain, build a sustainable and open industry ecosystem, and expedite the widespread commercial use of autonomous driving technology."

In April, Didi announced ambitions to introduce self-developed robotaxis to the public on a 24/7 basis by 2025. It's struck partnerships with a handful of OEMs to build the hardware, including Lincoln, BYD, Nissan and Volvo. Its ties with GAC deepened when it emerged in May it had formed a joint venture with the carmaker's electric vehicle subsidiary Aion to mass produce plugged-in robotaxis.
A family is reeling from the loss of a 9-year-old boy who was hit and killed by a truck last Wednesday.

Another challenge they are facing is trying to understand why local police in the City of South Fulton have not arrested or charged the driver, a decision that intensifies their grief.

The boy, ACariyon Perry, had gone to get ice cream with a group of children. While attempting to cross the street to return home, a car sped around the truck and struck the elementary student, tragically ending his young life.

ACariyon Perry was killed on Oct. 4, 2023. (Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta/ YouTube screenshot)

DEstin Perry, her husband, Albert Tillman, and the rest of their family are now mourning the loss of their 9-year-old son, and his premature death has turned their whole world upside down.

Trending Today:

The mother, who was at work, wishes that her son had waited before going out for dessert.

She also mentioned that when authorities responded to their home on Creel Road after the accident, ACariyon was already dead.

By the time they arrived, the blood was so bad that he had to have been speeding because it was on impact. His heart had already stopped, Perry told WAGA-TV FOX5 Atlanta.

The driver has not been charged with the killing, and Perry is furious. She took to Facebook, criticizing authorities for allowing the person responsible for ACariyons death to remain free.

This is unacceptable, she wrote. He didnt even get a ticket; they let this person walk right home like he didnt kill my child.

Tillman, the boys father, tried to make sense of what happened.

The ice cream truck went by, and like most kids, he wanted some ice cream, so he came outside and went to the ice cream truck, Tillman said, adding that the next thing he knew, his child was hit.

He hit him. Im not sure if he was paying attention or something, the dad said in an interview with WSB-TV.

A GoFundMe was set up by the family to help with expenses. The family has raised $9,035 out of the $20,000 goal.

DEstin Perry, who initiated the campaign, described her son as sweet, loving, caring, innocent, and loved by all who knew him.

Perry said ACariyon was the youngest of all his siblings and had a bright, promising future ahead of him.

She also admitted that she was at a loss for words and felt numb.

One thing she cant understand is why police have not moved to get justice for her son.

The man who caused this pain is still walking the streets with no charges brought against him, she said on the profile.

The South Fulton Police Department is currently investigating whether charges will be filed.

While the family waits for those answers, ACariyons father wants people to know how important it is to tell loved ones what they mean to you.

Dont take today and tomorrow for granted, Tillman said. Many say, I will see you tomorrow, but thats not promised. You put your child on the bus, and you just assume you will see them get off the bus.

Read the original story here.
On Aug. 11, 1967, a posse of men from the Pike County sheriffs office raided the rented home of Alan and Margaret McSurely, anti-poverty workers employed by a civil rights organization called the Southern Conference Educational Fund.

The McSurelys were jailed for a week and charged with the state crime of sedition, suspected of plotting the violent overthrow of Pike County. The evidence against them  trucked off by Sheriff Perry Justice  was their suspicious personal library of hundreds of books, magazines and private letters.

Their books covered history, biography, religion, philosophy, anti-war treatises about U.S. involvement in Vietnam, and such novels as Leo Tolstoys classic War and Peace and Joseph Hellers satirical Catch 22. They had The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and the Bible.

A communistic library out of this world, was how Pike Commonwealths Attorney Thomas Ratliff described it to reporters.

Apart from being the felony prosecutor in Pikeville, Ratliff was a wealthy coal operator and that years Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

I want to warn McSurely that if he calls on Russian tanks to help him conquer Pike County, I intend to appeal to Mayor (Richard) Daley of Chicago and (former Alabama) Gov. George Wallace for help in defending Pike County, Ratliff continued, invoking the names of two politicians known for their strong-arm tactics.

A local friend of the McSurelys, Edith Easterling, recalled in a 1987 oral history interview: It wasnt just their books and their letters and the pictures off their walls. (The sheriffs posse) took everything in the house. They had to take their toothbrushes and their toothpaste so they could fill up the truck and say, Look at all this stuff we found!

The McSurelys denied plotting to overthrow anything or having communications with Russia.

Inside the Pike County jail, other inmates asked what charge he and his wife faced, Alan McSurely recalled in a September interview with the Herald-Leader. Now 87 years old, McSurely is a retired civil rights lawyer living in North Carolina.

Sedition, he told them.

The inmates asked what that meant.

Plotting the violent overthrow of the government, he explained.

After a pause, they all go, Right on, brother! Given the crowd this was, they were impressed, McSurely said, laughing.

A home is bombed

A federal court swiftly dismissed Ratliffs prosecution, finding Kentuckys sedition law to be unconstitutional. The court ruled that sedition can only be committed against the United States, not against Pike County or the state of Kentucky.

(After a long legal battle, in 1983, the McSurelys would be awarded $1.2 million in damages from Ratliff for violating their civil rights.)

But the legislatures Kentucky Un-American Activities Committee  often known by the acronym KUAC  was not satisfied with the dismissal.

KUAC investigated the McSurelys a year later, devoting part of its Pikeville hearings in October and December 1968 to criticism of the young couple and their liberal politics.

The committee scrutinized several groups, like the McSurelys, that came to Appalachia as part of the War on Poverty in the 1960s to teach children, organize the poor in remote rural communities and fight strip-mining. The accompanying newspaper headlines warned about the specter of communism in the mountains.

Days before the KUAC hearings resumed at the Pike County courthouse in December 1968, someone tossed lit sticks of dynamite outside the McSurelys bedroom late at night, damaging their house. The couple and their infant son, Victor, were showered with glass shards when the explosion shattered the window.

Someone tossed dynamite at the Pike County home of Alan and Margaret McSurely in 1968, badly damaging it.

Were lucky that it was December, so it was cold and we all had blankets on us, McSurely told the Herald-Leader. I can remember pulling the blankets off our son and seeing what seemed like a thousand shards of glass fall off.

The family fled Kentucky. No arrests were ever made.

The KUAC hearings share part of the blame for the bombing, McSurely said.

Theres no question in my mind that KUAC raised the temperature in the county and got those people upset with us all over again, just as it intended to, McSurely said.

That was the whole point of those hearings, to make people suspicious and to turn them against each other, he said.

Eastern Kentucky coal operators wanted to chase away the anti-poverty workers because they had started organizing local land owners against strip-mining and other exploitative practices, said Thomas Kiffmeyer, an historian at Morehead State University.

KUAC, charged with rooting out communists in Kentucky, was a useful tool, Kiffmeyer said.

I dont think the Pike County officials really thought they were communists, he said. They thought they were on the Left. But they didnt think they communists, and they knew perfectly well they werent conspiring to overthrow the government of Pike County. It was very cynical.

The McSurely familys bedroom in Pike County, in shambles after a nighttime bombing in 1968.

Snooping through their books

In the following exchange from the Pikeville hearings in October 1968, KUAC staff lawyer John Tim McCall questioned James Madison Compton of Pike Countys Shelby Creek community.

Compton, a store owner, had been the McSurelys landlord. It was Compton who went into their house when they were gone one day, snooped through their library and reported his concerns about their politics to the sheriff.

That led to a search warrant on suspicion of sedition and the subsequent sheriffs raid.

Compton: People were complaining about me having them there, so I was afraid it would hurt my business. I would get calls at night as to why I had communists on my property. But at that time, I didnt know they were communists or didnt know that they had any dealings with communists.

I knew they was different from what we were, so I told Al (Alan McSurely) I needed the house and asked him to move. I had my sister to come in to occupy the house.

Inside, there was all this literature and all. Well, it was on the communist line. There was a lot of books on Russia and some on China and all kinds of magazines and newspapers.

McCall: Would you describe any of the pictures that you recall?

Compton: Well, most of the pictures were either a white woman with colored children or a colored woman with white children, or it was colored and white, mixed.

McCall: Do you recall any of the slogans that were on the wall?

Compton: Well, something about adopting a Negro from Mississippi and something about Black power..

McCall: Were you having any problems, any race problems in the area at that time? In other words, Negro problems?

Compton: No, there was several colored back there, but we never did have no problems with them.

McCall: Do you know why they had these race slogans on the walls?

Compton: Nothing, only what I can imagine in my own mind.

McCall: You previously have made the statement that these people were different. What you mean by they were different  in the way they acted?

Compton: Well, their actions and so on. They didnt clean up as we did, they didnt shave, they needed haircuts. They was kind of slouchy and they was continuously going around  see, they didnt talk much to mature people. It was mostly the kids in the neighborhood they seemed to be after.

McCall: Did they have discussions with you about any of their philosophies about the country?

Compton: Well, yes, they believed that money ought to be taken from the rich and given to the poor. It ought to be divided.

McCall: Did they ever make any statements about their philosophies?

Compton: Well, they didnt believe in a hereafter.

McCall: Did you ever ask Mr. McSurely or (fellow anti-poverty worker Joe) Mulloy (also charged with sedition after a raid on his house) whether they were communists?

Compton: No, I didnt. After these calls started coming in, I moved them out.

McCall: Did you personally read any of the literature that you previously described?

Compton: Well, now, I didnt read nothing in full. There was so much of it there and I had a short time and I didnt cover nothing in full. But I did glance at it enough to know what it was.

It upset me so bad at the time that I didnt do too thorough a job on it. I come back home and called the high sheriff and told him what was back there and asked him what could be done about it.

After a time, I got a call from Thomas Ratliff to come to the Pike County courthouse. And I come to the courthouse and there were, I guess, 50 or 60 other people present. They had a hearing and I swore out search warrants and they made the raid.

McCall: Thank you very much, Mr. Compton.
A series of disturbing messages were reportedly sent from a phone belonging to the boyfriend of Shani Louk, one of the people abducted by Hamas in Israel and then seen being paraded by gunmen in harrowing video footage. German-Israeli Louk, 22, and her 30-year-old Mexican boyfriend Orion Hernandez Radoux attended the Nova music festival attacked by Hamas over the weekend. According to The Sun, Radoux is also missing and is feared to be in captivity. The newspaper said Arabic messages sent from Radouxs phone read I spit on you and God damn you, as well as a vow to liberate Palestine and make it free of Zionists. Louks fate also remains unclear, though her mother claimed earlier this week to have received evidence that her daughter is still alive.

Read it at The Sun

Read more at The Daily Beast.
An Othram staff member works at the company's lab in Texas. Othram developed a system to extract a DNA profile from very difficult situations, a company official said.

More than three decades ago, a man walking in a wooded trail near Daytona Beach found a womans bones  a mystery that suggested a violent end but little else.

It would take 33 years to learn who once animated those bones with a life, with family, with dreams.

DNA scientists at Othram labs in Texas and investigators finally learned the womans name: Roberta Bobbie Lynn Weber. On Sept. 28, they confirmed her fate to her family.

And knowing her name brings detectives one step closer to knowing another name: her killers.

Othram solved the mystery using its forensic-grade genome sequencing, a method designed to develop DNA profiles from the most difficult cases.

Its a process by which we are able to get hundreds of thousands of markers and build a DNA profile from the most intractable evidence, said Kristen Mittelman, the chief development officer for Othram in Texas.

Theres never been technology that has brought this much scale to forensic investigation as far as taking intractable cases and making them tractable, Mittelman said in a phone interview. To be at the forefront of that, its such an honor.

The remains of Roberta "Bobbie" Lynn Weber were recently identified using genetic genealogy more than 30 years after they were found, the Volusia Sheriff's Office stated.

Weber was 32 when she died. Her bones were found on April 23, 1990, in some woods east of Clyde Morris Boulevard and about a half-mile north of Strickland Range Road.

Weber was the 100th publicly announced identification in nine months, Mittelman said. She said there have been more but she could not publicly disclose those yet because of legal issues.

Weber was the second DNA identification by Othram in as many months in Volusia and Flagler counites.

Othram DNA research helps identify Flagler County victim

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly announced at an Aug. 17 press conference that Othrams DNA work had helped Detective Sarah Scalia identify a man whose body was found floating in the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler Beach on Sept. 10, 1997. The man had been bound, shot and stabbed.

In law enforcement, we know that if you dont know the victims name, it makes it extremely difficult and hampers that investigation, Staly said at the press conference. We also know that since 1997, significant advances have been made in forensic science such as DNA and now using relational genealogy and DNA together.

Robert Bruce McPhail in a photo taken in the 1980s. McPhail's body was found in the Intracoastal Waterway in Flagler County in 1997. He is one of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office cold case victims.

Scalia submitted the mans bones to Othram in 2021. The man was subsequently identified as Robert Bruce McPhail. He was 58 when his body was found.

We must be the voice for victims, especially murder victims because they can no longer speak for themselves, Staly said.

How DNA technique can solve difficult cases

Mittelman said Othram developed the process and started using it in 2019. Four years later in 2023, the Volusia Sheriffs Office and the Medical Examiners Office sent skeletal remains found along the trail in the woods to the Othram laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas.

She (Weber) was found skeletonized and she had been exposed to elements, Mittelman said in the phone interview. The DNA had degraded. It was contaminated by plant DNA, animal DNA and other DNA at the crime scene. All that stuff makes it really difficult for someone to be able to extract DNA and build one of these really robust profiles that then they can upload to a genealogical database that is constructed for law enforcement use.

Othram scientists extracted DNA from the skeletal remains. Then they used Othrams forensic-grade genome sequencing to develop a DNA profile.

Othrams forensic genealogy team then went to work. They uploaded the DNA profile to their database: DNA Solve.

That led them to a woman in Missouri who was likely Webers sister. Othram gave the information to law enforcement who then contacted the Missouri woman. Investigators asked her if anyone in her family was missing.

According to Mittelman, the woman said her sister had been missing since 1989 after she got a divorce. The family believed she had moved to California. Detectives also found the womans children who said they had not seen their mother since 1989.

The womans sister and daughter then provided DNA samples. DNA comparisons confirmed the identify of the skeletal remains.

An Othram staff member works at the company's laboratory in Texas. The company has developed a process to create DNA profiles under challenging circumstances.

Mittelman said three decades is not even close to the oldest DNA identification Othram has made. Othram scientists identified a body that had been in the ocean off Australia for 95 years and another case involved a body from 1881.

Some of them are over a century old and to be able to bring closure to these families, to bring answers, it means the world, Mittelman said.

She said she has met families who have lived in the same house for half a century hoping that someone will return with news of their missing family member. Some families return to the crime scene hoping that the perpetrator will also return.

Mittelman said some of the people at Othram were part of the Human Genome Project. The project studied all of the DNA (known as genome) of select organisms and generated the first sequence of human genome, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute.

She said Othram scientists realized that people were using a process designed for fresh medical DNA in difficult forensic cases.

So Othram developed the forensic-grade genome sequencing and started using it in 2019.

We decided that someone had to purpose build technology on forensic evidence and so we did just that and thats what forensic-grade genome sequencing is. Its a process by which we are able to get hundreds of thousands of markers and build a DNA profile from the most intractable evidence, Mittelman said.

We are the first lab in the world purpose built to identify victims and perpetrators from crime scenes, she said.

DNA could help unmask killers

Othram works on cases throughout the nation. The company is involved in the case of Rex Heuermann, who is accused of being the Long Island Serial Killer.

These perpetrators, they conceal the crime by concealing the persons identity, Mittleman said. So often people arent certain that someone is actually missing and so the crime is never really even investigated or reported. How can you investigate a crime when you dont know person or the victim of the crime? Its very hard.

Once Othram DNA research points toward a possible suspect, law enforcement can do more investigating. Did the person have access to the victim? Did the person own the type of gun or weapon used in the killing? Depending on the answers, detectives can get a warrant for the persons DNA and do a traditional DNA test to see if it matches.

She said Othram's database, DNA Solve, goes to genealogical databases that are consented for law enforcement use.

She said they do not go to consumer DNA websites like 23 and Me. But people who use those consumer sites can upload their DNA to a law enforcement database if they wish.

Mittelman said she hopes that the Carla Walker Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, and named after a 17-year-old woman who was abducted and murdered in 1974, will be passed directing more funding toward forensic DNA and helping to solve more cases.

Othram used its enhanced technique in 2020 to develop a DNA profile from DNA left on Walkers clothing. That DNA profile pointed detectives to a family and eventually the killer.

Mittelman said Othrams work has saved lives by using DNA to find killers.

There are so many people that are going home today and they are never going to be the next victim of that serial killer or serial rapist because of this technology, she said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Othram DNA scientists identify victims in Daytona, help unmask killers
FILE- This image from police body camera video provided by Roth and Roth LLP, shows a Rochester police officer as he puts a hood over the head of Daniel Prude in Rochester, N.Y., March 23, 2020. Prude died after police held him down until he stopped breathing after encountering him running naked through the snowy streets of Rochester, NY. On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, a leading doctors group has formally withdrawn its approval of a 2009 paper on excited delirium, a document that critics say has been used to justify excessive force by police. (Rochester Police via Roth and Roth LLP via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

A leading doctors group on Thursday formally withdrew its approval of a 2009 paper on excited delirium, a document that critics say has been used to justify excessive force by police.

The American College of Emergency Physicians in a statement called the paper outdated and said the term excited delirium should not be used by members who testify in civil or criminal cases. The group's directors voted on the matter Thursday in Philadelphia.

This means if someone dies while being restrained in custody ... people cant point to excited delirium as the reason and cant point to ACEPs endorsement of the concept to bolster their case, said Dr. Brooks Walsh, a Connecticut emergency doctor who pushed the organization to strengthen its stance.

Earlier this week, California became the first state to bar the use of excited delirium and related terms as a cause of death in autopsies. The legislation, signed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom , also prohibits police officers from using it in reports to describe people's behavior.

In March, the National Association of Medical Examiners took a stand against the term, saying it should not be listed as a cause of death. Other medical groups, including the American Medical Association, had previously rejected excited delirium as a diagnosis. Critics have called it unscientific and rooted in racism.

The emergency physicians' 2009 report said excited delirium's symptoms included unusual strength, pain tolerance and bizarre behavior and called the condition potentially life-threatening.

The document reinforced and codified racial stereotypes, Walsh said.

The 14-year-old publication has shaped police training and still figures in police custody death cases, many involving Black men who died after being restrained by police. Attorneys defending officers have cited the paper to admit testimony on excited delirium, said Joanna Naples-Mitchell, an attorney and research adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, which produced a report last year on the diagnosis and deaths in police custody.

In 2021, the emergency physicians' paper was cited in the New York attorney general's report on the investigation into the death of Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man. A grand jury rejected charges against police officers in that case.

Excited delirium came up during the 2021 trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was later convicted in the death of George Floyd. This fall, the term resurfaced during the ongoing trials of police officers charged in the deaths of Elijah McClain in Colorado and Manuel Ellis in Washington state. Floyd, McClain and Ellis were Black men who died after being restrained by police.

The emergency physicians group had distanced itself from the term previously, but it had stopped short of withdrawing its support for the 2009 paper.

This is why we pushed to put out a stronger statement explicitly disavowing that paper, Naples-Mitchell said. Its a chance for ACEP to really break with the past.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The debate over a higher power has been around since humans first began to communicate. Faulkner University wants to prove God exists.

The universitys V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies is hosting a debate this month between two heavy hitters for both sides.

The Apologetics Press Kyle Butt will debate Michael Shermer of the Skeptics Society and founding publisher of Skeptic magazine over that very question.

This is not the first time both men have tackled this issue.

Butts holds a bachelor's degree from Freed-Hardeman University with a double major in Bible and communication, a master's in New Testament studies, and a master of divinity with a concentration in apologetics. He is well-known for his scripturally sound and scientifically accurate approach to affirming the existence of God.

Shermer earned a bachelor's in psychology from Pepperdine, a master's in experimental psychology from California State University-Fullerton, and a doctorate in the history of science from Claremont Graduate University. He hosts a podcast called "The Michael Shermer Show" and teaches "Skepticism 101" at Chapman University where he is a Presidential Fellow.

The debate is part of this years lecture series on the campus with the theme of "Reconnect."

It will be held Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Tine Davis Gym located on the Faulkner University Montgomery campus located at 5345 Atlanta Highway in Montgomery, Alabama.

Faulkner University is a private, Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It has an enrollment of nearly 4,000 students.

For more information, visit Faulkner.edu/lectureship.

This story is being reported out of Atlanta
A farmer checks the condition of rice seedlings at the hybrid rice planting base in Xinchang Village of Cengong County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 1, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Over the past five decades, China's self-developed hybrid rice has been promoted in an accumulative cultivated area of 600 million hectares across the country, helping increase a total rice yield of 800 billion kg.

Rice is one of the most important staple foods for Chinese. Chinese scientist Yuan Longping, widely known as the "father of hybrid rice," and his research team successfully cultivated the world's first high-yield hybrid rice strain in 1973.

The latest hybrid rice cultivation data was released during an international seminar held in central China's Hunan Province on Wednesday, in memory of the 50th anniversary of Yuan's successful hybrid rice strain research.

China has seen its average yield per mu (about 0.067 hectares) of rice per season soar from 170 kg during the 1950s and 1960s to today's 470 kg, said Bai Lianyang, an official from the Hunan Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Currently, more than 17 million hectares of hybrid rice are planted in China each year, helping boost rice output by about 2.5 million tonnes and feed 80 million more people annually, Bai added.

So far, dozens of countries around the globe have carried out relevant research and trial planting of hybrid rice, while the overseas annual cultivated area of hybrid rice has reached nearly 8 million hectares in total.

Since the 1980s, China has trained more than 14,000 technical and management personnel for foreign countries in the fields of hybrid rice studies and planting.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was sent to the eastern Mediterranean amid the crisis in Israel.

Aircraft carriers have long been deployed to show strength and deter hostile forces.

The Ford's new technological capabilities make it an even more powerful presence.

The US Navy's newest, largest, and most advanced aircraft carrier and the accompanying escort ships in its strike group are in position in waters near Israel, bringing a substantial amount of firepower and a powerful presence to an area grappling with instability and tragedy.

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group  led by the eponymous first-in-class US Navy supercarrier on its first full deployment and boasting nearly two dozen new technologies  arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday.

US officials announced the movement of the carrier strike group toward Israel on Sunday, the day after Hamas carried out deadly terror attacks against the US ally. The Ford's sudden retasking was presented as a sign of US support for Israel, as well as a deterrent  a common task for aircraft carriers, which have long been used to project American military power.

The ships sailing with the Ford include the USS Normandy  a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser  and the USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt  Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. The amount of firepower each vessel brings adds up, especially considering the capabilities of the air wing aboard USS Gerald R. Ford. With these ships, the US is sending a clear and intimidating message amid a serious international crisis.

A senior US defense official said Thursday the force posture sent this message: "The United States is unequivocal in its support for the defense of Israel and is sending a warning to any entities that would consider taking advantage of this conflict and this war to escalate violence. One word, quite simply: Don't."

Carrier strike groups "are a self-contained unit that can strike targets 1,000 miles away  farther with aerial refueling  can defend against air, missile, and submarine attack, and can maintain maritime security over an area of hundreds of square miles," Bryan Clark, a former US Navy officer and defense expert at the Hudson Institute, told Insider.

The USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Normandy, a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, steam in formation in the Ionian Sea in August. US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maxwell Orlosky

The USS Gerald R. Ford was commissioned more than five years ago and was in development for more than a decade. The price tag of the first-in-class carrier, often over budget and behind schedule during its development, was a whopping $13 billion. It set out on a short maiden deployment last year and its first full deployment as part of a fully certified carrier strike group earlier this year. That deployment is ongoing.

Despite challenges in fielding the carrier, the Ford represents a considerable upgrade over previous Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. It boasts faster aircraft sorties and a smaller crew, with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear allowing fixed-wing aircraft to launch more smoothly and effectively.

"The Ford's electromagnetic catapult and arresting gear allow it to launch and recover aircraft faster than other carriers," Clark said. He added that those capabilities might have less of an impact in the Pacific Ocean "because the flights are so long," but in areas such as the eastern Mediterranean, "being able to rapidly launch aircraft could enable the Ford to respond to air threats much faster than even ground-based aircraft."

The Ford is operating with eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft, the US Central Command says. Carrier Airwing 8 is tasked with the defense of the carrier and conducting sustained air operations and consists of aviation assets such as multirole F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, electronic-warfare EA-18G Growlers, early-warning planes such as the E-2D Hawkeye, and rotary aircraft. Carrier air wings typically have more than 70 aircraft.

Among the carrier's new technologies, the dual-band radar, capable of operating two frequency ranges, is also a major boon for operations and logistics, bolstering air defenses and surveillance. The Ford's advanced weapons elevators were designed to transport larger and more complex munitions and systems much quicker to the flight deck, enabling the fast operations for which the carrier Ford was made.

An E/A-18G Growler attached to the Electronic Attack Squadron 142 takes off of the USS Gerald R. Ford during flight operations in the Adriatic Sea in September. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins

The USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt are also key to the strike group's combat power. Carrier groups can also be escorted by a submarine, though there hasn't been mention of one.

The destroyers can carry top air-defense-interceptor missiles such as the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6), Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and the medium-range Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, and the DDGs and CG can both carry Tomahawk cruise missiles with a substantial range that would allow the strike group to hit land-based targets of an Israeli adversary beyond the range of their anti-ship weapons.

The Pentagon said the carrier strike group was moved "to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts," and US Central Command said this week its purpose was "to deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war," referring to the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas, a Gaza-based militant group backed by Iran. The combat capability available in a strike group drives that message home.

And that clear message could be even stronger. A British Royal Navy force is being sent into the eastern Mediterranean, and reports say the US is considering the possibility of tasking a second aircraft carrier to the area.

US officials told The Wall Street Journal this week there had been conversations about sending USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is soon set to deploy, to the eastern Mediterranean, but it remains unclear if USS Eisenhower would replace the Ford or join its group. USS Eisenhower is setting sail this week for a deployment that was planned months ago, but the potential for the carrier to be redirected is always there. If the Eisenhower does join the Ford, it will be the first time two carriers have been deployed in the area since the March 2020 Camp Taji incident, when three soldiers in the US-led coalition were killed by rockets fired against their base in Iraq.

The US Department of Defense declined to comment to Insider on whether there were conversations on tasking the Eisenhower with a mission outside its original deployment plans.

Lt. Bryan Goodman and Chief Warrant Officer 3 William Sum, assigned to the air department of the USS Gerald R. Ford, signalling to launch an E-2D Hawkeye attached to Airborne Command and Control Squadron 124 during flight operations in the Adriatic Sea in September. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins

US Navy aircraft carriers are routinely used as power-projection tools, dispatched to show the flag, show support, and stand as credible deterrents in emergencies.

The introduction of the Ford gave the Navy greater capacity. With its inclusion in the fleet and deployment, the sea service can task its 10 other carriers to other areas, such as the Persian Gulf. That gives the Navy an expanded presence and allows it to better meet demands from military leaders and combatant commanders.

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was deployed in direct response to surprise terror attacks by Hamas on Saturday, when the group, designated as terrorists by the US State Department, assaulted Israel, killing over 1,200 civilians and foreign nationals and injuring thousands more, Israel said.

The Israeli Defense Force has, in turn, launched devastating air strikes in Gaza against the densely populated strip with precision-guided munitions that have destroyed entire streets and scores of buildings. Authorities said more than 1,100 Palestinians had been killed, and injury numbers were significantly higher. It's likely the next step for the IDF is a ground assault on Gaza, which could result in even greater bloodshed and destruction.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A view of houses and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip

The world is on the verge of very tragic events

We remember the statement made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the war in Israel will be a long one. There is such a threat because every time Israel started such operations in the past, there was always a specific period during which they tried to achieve their goals as much as possible, then withdrew. This was due to both the international community's reaction, when many activists worldwide began to worry about civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Secondly, there was always the threat of anti-Israeli forces mobilizing worldwide. It is not only the Middle East, but also those millions of displaced people living in Europe and other parts of the world.

This war is already distracting the West from helping Ukraine. As we all know, today, war is being waged in the media. If you want to see where the attention of the world community and world leaders is focused, you should open CNN or the BBC and see the top news. Accordingly, this affects the priorities for political attention and material resources.

The most critical question for us is how long and how much this attention will be diverted. It's hardly likely that Ukraine and the war will be abandoned entirely in favor of Israel. But in any case, as one Israeli commentator put it, we are entering an era of competition for the attention of world politicians and the public and competition for resources.

This war is already distracting the West from helping Ukraine

Russia is already taking advantage of this war. One of the theses now being intensively propagated to the Russian public is that Ukraine is ungrateful, that Ukraine has transferred weapons to Hamas, and that Ukraine has allegedly trained Hamas drone operators. This signifies Russia's opportunistic information warfare policy. The fact that some trophy weapons may now appear in the war zone in Israel is not even a question, as we have already seen this in Donbas, when there were Georgian weapons or weapons from Crimea.

How is Russia trying to use this further? There was a report about a meeting of the UN Security Council, which failed to reach a unified position. I am sure that Russia was one of the opponents of the UN Security Council's condemnation of aggressive actions against Israel. This is yet another demonstration of the impotence of the UN Security Council, which failed to agree on issues that should a priori be voted on by consensus.

I am told that we are about to see the Israeli security model work, which is being persistently proposed to Ukraine by many experts and politicians. But one of NV's regular contributors, Yigal Levin, has been asked this question many times, and he says that parallels cannot be drawn here. The threat level is completely different, and the enemy is completely different. So what are the security guarantees for Israel, in fact, in essence? There is constant financial assistance for defense. This is not like what Ukraine is receiving now. This is just an additional payment to Israel's defense budget. Secondly, we see today that the United States immediately sent its aircraft carrier to the group there and is obviously ready to provide additional weapons to Israel. And these weapons, as I understand it, are already stored somewhere on the territory of Israel, so there is no need to approve political decisions or deliver them. The only thing that is required is a donation of support. But this is only one of the components.

If we are talking about long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, then, because our enemy is a nuclear power, it is evident that the most reliable guarantee should be a nuclear umbrella. But in the case of Israel, who can Israel threaten? Is it these Hamas terrorists? Can you scare them with nuclear weapons? Moreover, Israel itself has nuclear weapons, but this is only a deterrent in an interstate conflict. That is, it plays absolutely no role vis-a-vis the terrorist organizations Israel is currently dealing with.

There are different estimates as to whether we are already in a World War III or on the eve of it. But in any case, the world is on the verge of very tragic events. Over the past little more than 100 years, this is not the first time that world civilization has gone through this  when the old world order simply stops working. Again, coming back to the UN Security Council. This is the body created after World War II by the victorious Allies. If you read the UN Charter, everything was so well written. For decades, this world order and stability were somehow ensured. But now we see that not only is this body not working, but those undermining this world order have the right to veto. Therefore, the situation is extremely dynamic and highly unfavorable to say that somehow, in the near future, it will be possible to resolve this diplomatically and politically.

Analysts at the Institute for War Studies have concluded that the Russian Federation may be preparing for new conflicts. I will say yes and no. The fact that Russia is preparing to fight permanently is the modus operandi chosen by the Putin regime to maintain his systems power. Yes, some policy decisions can be made, but does Russia have the resources? According to many estimates, by 2024, Russia will have practically exhausted its ability to conduct large-scale aggressive actions, especially against a collective NATO. So, of course, they can prepare. They can report to their people or Putin. But in practical terms, it is unlikely that Russia will be ready for something of the scale happening in Ukraine. On the other hand, all these changes  renaming military districts and restructuring  all of this requires resources. Therefore, the more they carry out such "reforms," the better.

As for a more distant future, if Russia does not suffer a convincing military defeat in Ukraine now, Russia can again restore its forces. We can talk about a threat to our neighbors. Most likely, these will not be NATO member states.

What are the signs that Russia is running out of resources? I personally use the following sources. These are primarily Russian economists who are outside of Russia. I will not advertise them. But why do I tend to believe in their forecasts? A year and a half ago, when many Ukrainian and Western economists were saying that Russia would collapse under the sanctions, these authors (there are not that many of them) said that Russia had a considerable reserve. Now, remembering that they were right then, I tend to trust them (maybe not one hundred percent), but they say exactly that by the end of 2024. They explain it quite clearly, including with reservations about the secrecy of Russian statistics, but they use certain second-order indicators to make these calculations. A whole set of macroeconomic indicators shows that the $300 million that Russia is currently spending on the war, if I'm not mistaken, per day, has eventually eaten up almost all the accumulated reserves. Then Russia is on a rapid downward trend. Several other factors contribute to this, catalysts, so to speak.

Now, regarding the immediate prospects for Ukraine's defense against missile attacks. We need to prepare for the fact that it will be difficult. Perhaps many people have noticed one of the aspects of the fighting in Israel is how the large number of missiles fired simultaneously in a salvo reduces the possibility of interception. Most of the rockets that attacked Israel are quite primitive. We've heard a lot of legends about the reliability of the Israeli air defense system, but quantity matters. Therefore, if we are now seeing a decrease in the number of missiles and drones that Russia is launching (in addition to the fact that September was a record month for the number of Shaheds), it is evident that they continue to accumulate munitions. This is the biggest threat. If the accumulation continues, there will be more missiles and Shaheds in any given volley later. In other words, any air defense system, no matter how reliable, even one like the Israeli one, can be overwhelmed by numbers.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Tensions are understandably high after the horrifying bloodshed resulting from the Hamas terrorist attack on Israelis this past weekend and the subsequent threat of a complete siege of Gaza. Far beyond the site of conflict, incendiary statements are leading to ongoing debates over whats socially acceptable to say after, and during, a highly politicized tragedy.

But amidst our quest to set social parameters around what should be expressed, we often find coinciding legal efforts to define what can be expressed, to the detriment of our free speech rights.

Nowhere was this threat more evident than in the U.K. Home Secretary Suella Braverman s letter this week to chief constables in England and Wales. In it, Braverman advised officers not just to focus on policing explicit pro-Hamas symbols and chants but to consider whether other expressionreferencing Palestinians, not Hamascould constitute a criminal offense.

Trump Makes Hamas Massacre of Israelis All About Him

Braverman singled out the chant from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free as expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world as well as the waving of a Palestinian flag, which she said could be criminal in some contexts. And Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reportedly notified prefects across France that pro-Palestinian rallies would be banned due to their likelihood to generate disturbances to public order."

While these chants and symbols may be deeply offensive and painful to many, government officials should seek to use the law to protect rights, not feelings.

The Home Secretarys advisory to U.K. police also coincided with letters from European Commissioner Thierry Breton to Elon Musks X and Mark Zuckerbergs Meta warning of the E.U.s Digital Services Act and platforms obligation to address disinformation and potentially illegal content.

The flood of murky information surrounding this past weekends developments is no doubt troubling, and at times has made it difficult to glean accurate, up-to-date news. But as Mike Masnick writes at Techdirt, it should never be the job of the government to step in and threaten websites over their moderation practices, which opens up immense opportunities for abuse and censorship of government critics and dissenters.

Even in the United States, some demands for state-sanctioned censorship are emerging. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), for example, announced hell be seeking the removal of all public funding from this anti-American moss covered dump called Harvard in light of university student groups joint statement holding Israel entirely responsible for the recent violence.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) also called for any university that allows these anti-Semitic rants to lose any and all federal funds.

This desire for censorship is disappointing, but its certainly not new.

What It Feels Like to Survive the Massacre Hamas Unleashed at a Music Festival

At the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), where I work, were well familiar with the history of censorship surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflictespecially in higher educationand, as a nonpartisan free speech organization, we have frequently defended the rights of advocates and critics on all sides of it.

The long legacy of challenges to the expressive rights of Israels critics, supporters, and those everywhere in between, should be a lesson both to the people clamoring for speech suppression and the government officials seeking to enforce it.

These censorship demands have not eliminated the source of conflict, nor solved disagreements among those with deeply diverging views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead, all they have accomplished is chipping away at the foundations of their shared rights and sharpening the saw that will cut off the branch on which we all sit.

Protection of speech that cuts to the core, while sometimes uncomfortable, helps free societies thrive. In Texas v. Johnson, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that burning the American flag is protected expressive conduct, despite the widespread social condemnation it evoked then in 1989 (as it still does today). The Court wrote that the flags deservedly cherished place in our community will be strengthened, not weakened by upholding the right to desecrate it.

Doing so is a sign and source of our strength, not weakness.

Do Hamas Brutal Tactics Do Anything to Help Palestinians?

This same idea should guide Americans, as well as other free nations, weighing how to respond to the latest news out of Israel and Gaza. It is not strength to silence unpopular political views. It is weakness.

The right to wave an Israeli flag depends on the same protections afforded to those who wish to wave a Palestinian flag. One cannot exist without the other.

In the coming days, well likely see more contentious disagreements over what should be said about the ongoing conflict, and how it should be said. But we must stay vigilant against government officials efforts to put a thumb on the scales to settle these disputes through force and coercion, rather than discussion and debate.

Regardless of where you stand on the conflict today, the political winds may eventually shift and change. But your right to speak about it shouldnt.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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When he heard that Hamas militants were attacking a music festival his family was attending, Ben said Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, for his mother.

I didnt know what to do. I said please kill her because it would be better than being kidnapped, Ben, whose surname CNN is not using for security concerns, said on Wednesday. Its a nightmare. I said please kill her, dont take her there.

Over WhatsApp, he watched, helpless, as his mother and younger brother sent updates for eight hours, telling him that they were hiding in small bushes, hearing gunfire and people walking past saying Allahu Akbar.

(Every message) took about two minutes to arrive and in between there was no communication, he said. Every two minutes you are tearing your hair out to get an answer.

Eventually, Ben heard of a secure location, sent the map to his brother and they managed to escape from the festival.

The next morning, Ben flew to Israel from London where he lives with his British wife and children.

He is one of many Israelis returning home from abroad as their countrys long-running conflict with Hamas escalates into a war not seen on this scale for a generation. To cope with the increasing demand, Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia added more flights on Tuesday to repatriate military reservists, Reuters reported.

Cutting short holidays or uprooting their everyday lives overseas, these Israelis are returning for funerals, in preparation for being called up into the military reserves, carrying supplies back with them, or to help protect their communities.

At least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel following Hamas deadly and brutal attack on October 7 when its militants broke through the heavily fortified border from Gaza, leaving atrocities in their wake.

Israel has responded by hammering Gaza with airstrikes and halting supplies of electricity, food, water and fuel to the Palestinian enclave. At least 1,417 people have been killed in Gaza in the days since, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and the enclaves only power station ran out of fuel on Wednesday.

Straight after seeing his family when he landed in Israel, Ben went to Lod, a city about nine miles southeast of Tel Aviv, where there had previously been outbursts of violence.

There he joined friends in forming an impromptu neighborhood watch, to ensure the situation remained calm. He has since helped to deliver donated food and is planning to drive to the south of the country as there arent enough drivers to take people to their families.

At least theres something that I can do, he said. I couldnt stay in London and just watch it all happening on TV.

Another returning Israeli is 30-year-old Guy, who works in cybersecurity and has lived in London for the last five years. CNN is not using his surname for safety reasons. Guy traveled back to Israel on Wednesday after learning that six of his friends were missing after attending the Supernova music festival. Two of the group have since been confirmed dead.

Guy, who lives in London, has returned to Israel to join up as a reservist, but also attend the funerals of friends killed at the Supernova festival. - Courtesy Guy

He told CNN that he is returning to be a military reservist, and for the funerals of his friends, who were part of a close circle that often went to trance music festivals, like Supernova, alongside Palestinians too.

The generation born since the Yom Kippur War have never seen anything like this, he said. They have had the opportunity to believe in peace and the two-state solution we grew up with that The people that go to these festivals participate as citizens of the world who essentially just want to celebrate life.

Israel has called up 300,000 reservists to fight for its military, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Maj. Doron Spielman told CNN Wednesday, a mobilization on the scale of a major country such as the United States, despite Israels relatively small population of 9.7 million, according to data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics in April.

Theres not a family that does not have somebody thats been called up. Or, unfortunately, since were such a small country, a family that does not have friends, or loved ones that are still missing, Spielman told CNN.

Though there are some exemptions, every Israeli citizen over the age of 18 is required to serve in the IDF. After finishing their service, many take lengthy trips overseas, a kind of post-service rite of passage.

Ben, 22, was about to go trekking in the Nepal Himalayas when the attacks took place. He flew back from Kathmandu on Tuesday. - ben

After completing his military service, 22-year-old Ben, who also asked to keep his family name confidential, had intended to explore Asia for several months. But he abandoned those plans on Saturday when he learned of Hamas attack while in a mountain village in Nepal. He has since returned to Israel and is on standby to serve as a reservist in a reconnaissance unit.

In a telephone call from Nepal on Monday, prior to his flight on Tuesday, Ben said he thought there were more than 100 Israelis in Kathmandu alone trying to return.

It feels really hard to be so far away and there isnt much you can do, he said. Youre worried about the people there and all you do all day is watch the news and look at your phone. Its impossible to be away right now.

Ilan Fisher is flying back to Israel from Australia, where he was attending a friend's wedding, to join the army as a reserve. - Ilan Fisher

Ilan Fisher, 29, is another Israeli expecting to be called up for reserve duty, he told CNN on Wednesday. He was on vacation in Melbourne, Australia on the day of Hamas attack, attending the wedding of two close Australian friends, both of whom also live in Israel.

Though Fisher has had multiple offers to remain in Melbourne, he intends to fly back on Sunday and expects to be drafted back into the armys media department.

Given the situation there right now, how dire it is and how dire it will be, I dont really have another choice but to go back, he said.

Some Israelis are rushing back for other reasons. Rachel Gold, 27, had been on vacation in Toronto and had the idea of taking supplies back to Israel with her friend, Jessica Kane, who had been visiting her parents in New York.

Jessica Kane and Rachel Gold flew back to Israel from the US where friends and relatives helped them collect donations from the Jewish community. - Courtesy Jessica Kane

After putting out a call on social media, they raised $15,000 to buy supplies and flew back on Monday evening with two other friends, carrying 13 large check-in cases, four carry-on bags and several backpacks with them. The luggage was stuffed with supplies including head torches, flashlights, underwear, socks, toothbrushes, portable chargers, hydration pouches and protein bars.

Kane, 26, told CNN that her family are religiously observant and so she did not hear of the attack until her father learned of it by word of mouth while in synagogue.

Initially I didnt believe it. I thought it was being sensationalized, she said. We very quickly went on our phones. I had a few missed calls from the army and had a million red alert notifications about missiles falling. It was incredibly, incredibly difficult.

Kane and her companions had 13 check-in cases along with a great deal more hand luggage, filled with donations of things like toiletries. - Courtesy Jessica Kane

The friends were met at the airport on Tuesday by volunteers who immediately took the donations to deliver to the south of Israel. Gold is now on a military base in the south, having been recruited as a reservist.

Being here is a lot more comforting than being away, she told CNN. I felt desperately helpless just sitting at home watching the news and thinking what else I can do beyond sending money. Being here at least I feel part of it and taking action and doing things, plus Im not glued to the news all day. Being here is a little bit less scary than being abroad.

CNNs Niamh Kennedy and Abeer Salman contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesdaycriticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days after Hamas surprise attack on Israel prompted the latter to declare a state of war.

The Republican front-runner also called the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant organization Hezbollah very smart amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.

During an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump recalled to supporters what he described as a bad experience with Israel. He claimed Netanyahu had at the last minute pulled out from a joint U.S.-Israel operation to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Trump decided to go ahead with the strike anyway, he said. His version of events has not been confirmed.

We did it but Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing, Trump said.

We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed, Trump later added. But we did the job ourself and it was absolute precision, a magnificent, beautiful job. And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didnt make me feel too good but thats all right.

Trump complains that Israel didnt participate in the operation against Soleimani: Ill never forget that Netanyahu let us down.. and then he tried to take credit for it pic.twitter.com/RQO8rfklZk  Acyn (@Acyn) October 12, 2023

Trump suggested the story wasnt previously known. Theyll say, Oh, its classified information. Well, maybe it is, but I dont think so, he added.

Notably, Trump was charged in June for allegedly mishandling classified materials after leaving the White House. He has denied wrongdoing.

Some commentators speculated that Trumps criticism of Netanyahu could be related to the prime ministers decision to congratulate President Joe Biden on his victory in the 2020 election, which Trump falsely maintains to this day was stolen. The former president was reportedly furious with Netanyahu at the time.

At least 2,600 people have been killed during the war between Israel and Hamas, a militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, since the weekend.

Earlier in his speech, Trump complimented the Iran-aligned Hezbollah, which on Sunday attacked Israeli positions from the north in what it described as solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.

Trump suggested the group got the idea after a U.S. official expressed fears that Hamas could open a second front, and said Israel now had to up its intelligence gathering.

You know, Hezbollah is very smart, Trump said. Theyre all very smart.

The press doesnt like when they say it, he added.

Hezbollah, theyre very smart. Theyre all very smart. pic.twitter.com/bEvG7LXaP2  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 12, 2023

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack, according to The Washington Post.

Smart does not equal good, Cheung added.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) slammed 2024 rival Trumps comments.

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 terrorists as very smart, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Related...
NEW YORK  Donald Trump is expected back in New York City next week, where hell face his fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen at his fraud trial, a source confirmed to The New York Daily News on Thursday.

The former president, who last week attended the first three days of his trial in the civil case brought by state Attorney General Letitia James, plans to come back next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, according to a source with direct knowledge of his plans.

Trump will be back in time for Cohens anticipated testimony. They havent seen each other since Cohen served three years in federal custody for paying porn star Stormy Daniels to stay silent about a 2006 extramarital liaison with Trump on the eve of the 2016 election. Cohen has since become Trumps No. 1 nemesis, chronicling the misdeeds he committed and witnessed working as the former presidents personal lawyer in books and on his podcast Mea Culpa.

Cohens 2019 congressional testimony before the House Oversight Committee prompted AG James investigation into Trumps habit of exaggerating the value of his namesake assets. Hes expected to be the star witness in Trumps criminal case in Manhattan related to the hush money payment, headed to trial next year.

Its been five years since we have seen one another. Assuming I am even on to testify next week, I look forward to the reunion, Cohen said in a statement to The News. I hope Donald does as well.

The Messenger first reported that Trump is coming back to the trial.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle came down hard on Trump Wednesday night after the former president praised the Lebanese militant group and longtime Israeli enemy Hezbollah, calling the group very smart.

Two nights ago, I read all of Bidens security people, can you imagine, national defense people, and they said, Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack from the north, because thats the most vulnerable spot, Trump said at a gathering in West Palm Beach.



You know Hezbollah is very smart, theyre all very smart, he added.



Trump also took the opportunity to complain about Israels leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for refusing to aid his administration in the 2020 assassination of an Iranian Revolutionary Guard chief, Major General Qassem Soleimani.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, that was a very terrible thing, Trump said.



Governor Ron DeSantis was quick to slam the comments, taking a hard line against his former mentor, tweeting that it was absurd that the GOP presidential front-runner would praise Hezbollah terrorists as very smart.



Trump, who has recently polled as much as 40 percent higher than DeSantis in the GOP primaries, has a long history of vocally supporting authoritarian states and leaders around the world, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un.



The White House also condemned the statement, calling Trumps language dangerous and unhinged.



Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement.
Name: Robbie Hinkel Warach

Education: Bachelor of science in business administration, Northeastern University (2008)

Occupation: IT product manager

Political or civic experience highlights: Incumbent city councilor (January 2022 - December 2023); former treasurer (March 2021-March 2023) and current co-chair (since March 2023 ) of the Dover Democratic Committee; at-large delegate of the New Hampshire Stonewall (LGBTQ+) Democrats (March 2021-present); Strafford County town chair representative for the New Hampshire Democratic State Committee (April 2023- present); Board of Directors for Community Action Partnership of Strafford County (June 2021-present).

What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: The three primary priorities I have for a second term are to address the homelessness crisis, find solutions to the affordable/attainable housing crisis, and take action on climate resilience at the local level. In regards to homelessness, I would work to re-establish the Tri-City Task Force on Homelessness, or at least a city committee in Dover. I believe the Task Force would provide transparency to the public while collaborating with community organizations to develop more transitional housing. While the county plan is great, we cannot wait on a project that is currently being blocked by smaller towns. If the county's plan does become reality, it would be a benefit in addition to anything we could achieve locally. Next, I would work with the Planning Department to create additional solutions to promote the development of affordable housing, such as zoning regulation changes. Finally, I want to take meaningful action to address climate change at the local level. I would work with the city's resilience manager and then build consensus with the rest of the council on a plan to eliminate municipal dependence on fossil fuels in a reasonable, but expedient time frame, transitioning city-owned properties to renewable energy. I would also work to establish a renewable energy project, such as a solar farm, that would supplement the city's energy needs and further lower energy costs. If I earn your vote on Election Day, I pledge to diligently make these priorities reality.

What is the biggest problem Dover is facing and how you would solve it?: The biggest challenges Dover faces are not unique to Dover. They're being experienced in cities and towns of all sizes, and in almost every state across the country. For Dover, the biggest issue is housing affordability. If New Hampshire were a home rule state (where cities and towns are free to pass laws above and beyond those passed by the state), my solution would be a requirement that all new housing developments include mixed-income housing units. The number of housing units that would be required to be below market rate would be equivalent to the percentage of people living in the city who qualify for below market rate housing at the time the development is going through the approval process. Unfortunately, New Hampshire is not a home rule state, and cities lack the legal authority to pass such laws unless the state expressly grants that authority. In the meantime, it is up to us to find other solutions at the local level. I will continue to support public-private partnerships that have mixed income units in them, and push back on those that do not, unless they offer some other significant value to the city. To increase the total housing supply in order to drive down prices, I would also request for the Planning Department to present options for zoning changes such as increasing density in the urban center, or decreasing lot sizes in the suburban and rural parts of the city. While we're limited by the state, these are real opportunities to make a substantial impact.

Should the city work to create below market rate housing, and where is the best site?: With New Hampshire having one of the worst housing crises in the country, and the city of Dover being one of the fastest growing in the State, I believe it's critical for the City to work to create more housing at all economic levels, but especially more below market rate housing which is significantly lacking. If we want to keep and attract young people to Dover, like young nurses, teachers, police officers or fire fighters, we need to ensure they can afford to live here. The same is true for seniors who wish to remain in the community into their retirement. They need somewhere affordable to call home too. It is my belief that the best location to develop below market housing is right in the mix with all other economic levels of housing. Studies have shown that when housing markets are mixed, it prevents concentrations of poverty which tend to perpetuate more poverty and crime. It also prevents racial disparities and gives lower income people access to new social networks, as well as more expansive employment networks with better paying jobs. These are all positive impacts on our community and they help build the local economy from the bottom up. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Should the council address the pace and type of development in the city? If yes, how?: Based on the urgency of the housing crisis and how much rent and home prices have increased in our city in such a short period of time, I believe we are developing housing at a good rate to keep up with population growth. Where we're not doing the best job is increasing affordable housing units. While I admit that much of the crisis requires state level changes to fix, I also believe that local changes to zoning, and local incentives to build mixed income housing are something we can, and must, do to make the city affordable for all age groups and socioeconomic statuses. Dover has had great success with public-private partnerships. In these arrangements, the city agrees to something, such as reimbursing the developer for the cost to build public infrastructure, and the developer agrees to provides something of value to the city, such as guaranteeing a certain amount of new property tax revenue from the new development. We have successfully included affordable housing as one of these stipulations in the past, and going forward we should make it a standard.

Does the city need to make changes to its approach to parking as development increases?: It is my understanding that the city's current approach to parking is that developers must provide adequate parking for the buildings they are creating. This strategy ensures we don't have a parking crisis in our downtown area. However, I think this approach should be monitored in the long term to ensure that it doesn't inhibit the development of housing, especially affordable/attainable housing.

What is the city doing well and where is there room for improvement?: There are many reasons to be proud of the city of Dover. We have a nationally accredited police department with many progressive programs for addressing community safety. Our downtown is booming once again with shops, restaurants and other small businesses. Our roads have improved significantly over the past ten years, as has much of our other public infrastructure. We have many beautiful, walkable neighborhoods and access to nature in our 20+ public parks. Our city staff is dedicated to providing excellent service and have implemented many creative solutions to address the challenges facing the city, even some that have been recognized across the region, state and nation. As I have mentioned in other questions in this survey, the areas where we can improve significantly are the development of affordable housing, as well as creating tangible solutions to address homelessness.

What is the citys responsibility to its homeless population, both this winter and long term?: The majority of the homeless population living in Dover identify the city as their primary place of residence. As such, I strongly believe we have an obligation to help our houseless neighbors. This could take many different forms depending on each individual's needs. The city should continue working with the other Tri-Cities on maintaining the warming center for houseless residents to get respite from the extreme weather we have here. Even when the weather doesn't meet the definition of extreme, it's still too cold and inhumane for people to be sleeping outside. Long term, the city needs to work with the county and community organizations to develop a permanent transitional housing facility/shelter, preferably one that operates all year long. We should try to get as much assistance in these efforts as we can from the state and federal government as well, such as in the form of grants. Additionally, we should assist the houseless population by arranging for social service and substance use treatment organizations to make regular visits to the warming center and any new transitional housing that may be built. This would help people get legal documents they need in order to get jobs and housing, and would assist them with services for ongoing medical treatment, food, utilities and rent, as well as getting people who use drugs access to treatment.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dover 2023 City Council candidate Robbie Hinkel Warach
Name: April Richer

Education: Commonwealth Honors Scholar - Northern Essex Community College - associates degree and current fourth-year student at the University of Iowa.

Occupation: Package handler at UPS

Political or civic experience highlights: Engaged Teamster, coat drive for Rochester Childcare Center, Dover Festival of Trees and Lighting Committee - Member (approx. 2010-2013).

What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: I work in Dover, I live in Dover, and I have intentionally established my life as a member of the Dover Community. So with that, my greatest concern for this community is the need for affordable housing, led by the desire for all community members to have that opportunity as well. Housing and food insecurity is a crisis in our community, often going unseen. As a member of the labor force at UPS I have been witness to the hardships of my colleagues and their families. This was why it was so important to stand strike-ready in the negotiations with UPS this year, as my colleagues deserve a wage that will allow them to put food on the table in a home. This is also why I feel compelled to run for City Council, I want to be a force for those who are suffering in my community due to lack of access to basic needs. Food, housing, and substance abuse services are in great demand and we as community members need to work toward viable solutions.

What is the biggest problem Dover is facing and how you would solve it?: The housing shortage is our greatest problem in Dover. As I stated before, I have worked closely with people who are in need of housing and I see it firsthand, it is devastating. The housing issue is not eliminated by income alone, it is difficult for anyone wanting or needing to move in Dover. However, like many issues, housing shortage and affordability is not limited to Dover. We see this playing out in many communities in our state and in the country. Although I am not naive to think I can solve the issue alone, I do support innovative ideas such as the Randolph development. We need to look at the housing crisis as a community concern, pioneering innovative solutions.

Should the city work to create below market rate housing, and where is the best site?: In my experience there is a difference between market rate and affordable housing, both are predicated on external factors that may not touch on the actual needs or finances of those lacking housing. After watching the City Council Workshop Addressing Dovers Housing Needs, I met with Ryan Pope the city housing navigator. In speaking to Ryan, it was clear the most important way to think about the housing market in Dover is to make available attainable housing. It is essential that Dover has opportunities for first-time home buyers and renters that will establish roots in our great city without burdening them with unsurmountable debt. This will allow residents to not only live in Dover but to shop local, entertain local, and eat local. This will allow residents to truly live Dover.

Should the council address the pace and type of development in the city? If yes, how?: Development can be positive and has many benefits, though it is essential that development is strategic, deliberate, and intentional. Growth and development for its' sake alone is not my goal; providing opportunities that enhance the economic, cultural, and residential opportunities are my goals. A deliberate and intentional plan for development will mitigate stresses on infrastructure and environmental concerns that may be associated with growth.

Does the city need to make changes to its approach to parking as development increases?: Growth and economic development likely necessitate parking, and there are also opportunities to maintain a vibrant, active downtown by increasing access to it through bike lanes and even shuttles. In a community such as ours where we have access to the ocean, the lakes, and the mountains in close proximity, it is easy to believe that residents would embrace more public options for commuting, reducing the need for parking and their carbon footprint.

What is the city doing well and where is there room for improvement?: Dover as a city has amazing, informed, and engaged residents who are focused on the desire to be Distinctly Dover. Something that I find encouraging is that the engagement is not specific to an age or generation, it is not limited by background or profession, nor is it connected to affluence. As a candidate for City Council, I have experienced this through encouragement and thanks, as well as vested residents reaching out to talk about their concerns or ask for mine. In preparation for the task of City Councilor I have reached out and met with City Officials who are willing to discuss city projects, plans, and department responsibilities. The city, as a business is focused on the future of Dover, how to maintain the Dover consciousness while progressing into the future in a sustainable and attainable direction.

What is the citys responsibility to its homeless population, both this winter and long term?: The homeless population in Dover is a concern for all community members on some level. Dover is not unlike many other communities across this state and this country. My position, like the housing shortage, is that we need to be concerned members of this community are suffering. I am empathetic to the struggles because of my small-town upbringing. I was once asked by a friend in San Diego how it was that I didnt experience homelessness growing up, I explained to her that in my hometown if there was someone in need, the community stepped up. Even those who didnt have much to offer offered what they could. That lesson was the reason that I returned to New Hampshire after years of looking for a comparable community, and the reason that I moved to Dover specifically. It is a naturally New Hampshire thing to do, to donate our time and our resources to charitable needs. A study out of UNHs Carsey School for Public Policy states that New Hampshire is the second-most charitable state and volunteers at 5% above the national average. In addition, I recall a 2006 article that was produced by Seacoastonline in which it was estimated 20% of donations go unreported by New Hampshire residents.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Dover 2023 City Council candidate April Richer
Even as some of the Harvard students who signed on to a letter placing the sole blame on Israel for the recent deadly attacks by Hamas took steps to distance themselves from the statement amid mushrooming backlash, a billboard truck began circling the streets surrounding the universitys campus on Wednesday, projecting the names and photos of signatories under a banner identifying them as Harvards Leading Antisemites.

The so-called doxxing truck, as The Harvard Crimson characterized it, was apparently organized by Accuracy In Media, a conservative media watchdog. The groups president, Adam Guillette, took responsibility for the stunt on X, saying that his team was removing the names of students from groups that withdrew but are also adding new names every hour.

Also a truck going around Harvard Square with pictures of students (these are also my redactions). pic.twitter.com/X71xqyFgMb  Jason Furman (@jasonfurman) October 11, 2023

The trucks electronic billboard also displayed the URL of a website listing the names of students associated with organizations that had signed the letter, which was penned by Harvards Palestine Solidarity Groups and said it held the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.

More than 30 Harvard student groups signed the open letter, though at least eight had withdrawn their support and signatures by Wednesday, according to the Crimson. Several of them reported that not all members of their respective boards had seen the letter in its entirety before signing on.

The website doxxing the signatories was one of at least four that published students personal informationnot just names and photos, but in many cases also class years, hometowns, past places of employment, and links to their social media profiles.

Palestine Solidarity Groups told the Crimson on Wednesday that the truck actively threatens students safety on campus at a time when credible death threats have already forced us to postpone a solidarity vigil acknowledging all civilian victims.

It is quite literally [a] physical threat, a heinous intimidation technique, a warning sign meant to scare ideological allies into repudiating our missionand for the Jewish members of associations linked to our own, an unjustifiable and insulting slap in the face, the statement continued.

The doxxing truck is the ugliest culmination of a campaign to silence pro-Palestinian activism that the PSC has experienced for years.

A Harvard spokesperson previously confirmed that law enforcement authorities were aware of the online doxxing attempts, and that school officials were in contact with affected students and student organizations.

Lawrence H. Summers, a former Harvard president, who previously condemned university leadership for failing to swiftly denounce the letter, called for an end to the threats. In a Wednesday tweet, he wrote, I yield to no one in my revulsion at the statement apparently made on behalf of 30 plus @Harvard student groups. But please everybody take a deep breath.

This is not a time where it is constructive to vilify individuals and I am sorry that it is happening, he continued. It is a time for absolute clarity that words or deeds that threaten the safety of others in our community will not be tolerated.

The letters publication on Saturday was met with near-universal outrage, with several CEOs calling for Harvard to release the full names of the student organizations members. I would like to know so I know never to hire these people, tweeted Jonathan Neman, CEO of restaurant chain Sweetgreen.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A family who came to Las Vegas as refugees, seeking a better future for their child, said they wont forgive the person who killed their six-month-old boy.

Eythan Castro was killed in a crash on Feb. 25.

In Clark County District Court on Wednesday, Tiffany Carter, 36, asked the judge for leniency and requested forgiveness from the family of Castro.

Yet, that wasnt enough for Judge Monica Trujillo who imposed the maximum sentence of 90 to 250 months in prison.

The judge followed the recommendation of prosecutors who said this case shocked the conscience of the community.

This is not an individual who just came before your honor and made one mistake. This is one mistake, after another, after another, after another, Clark County Deputy District Attorney Yu Meng said.

Carter received a sentence of 90 to 250 for months for the first count of Driving Under the Influence Resulting in Death and/or Substantial Bodily Harm. She was also sentenced to 24 to 60 months for the second count of Reckless Driving Resulting in Death and/or Substantial Bodily Harm. Both sentences will run concurrently.

A family who came to Las Vegas as refugees, seeking a better future for their child, said they wont forgive the person who killed their six-month-old boy Eythan Castro. (KLAS)

According to prosecutors, Carter has a lengthy criminal history. She was on parole for kidnapping in 2015 during a deadly home invasion. She served seven years in prison for that charge.

Honestly, eight years of my life is it going to give you your child back? Is it going to heal your wounds? Its not, Carter said.

Arisley Machado, her husband, and her mother were inside the car that killed Eythan Castro. The three adults were also in court.

She asks to have compassion. Well, I see that they gave her a minimum sentence for what she must pay for, Machado said in tears after Carters sentencing.

A family who came to Las Vegas as refugees, seeking a better future for their child, said they wont forgive the person who killed their six-month-old boy Eythan Castro. (KLAS)

The crash severely injured Machados family, not just physically but emotionally as well.

We came to this country, mainly for my sons future, Machado, who emigrated from Venezuela in 2022, said. Well, my son had his lights turned off.

Arisley Machado added that Carters sentence isnt enough to fill the hole of losing a child.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
DUNEDIN  Sondra Martin woke in a daze when her phone buzzed at 1:40 a.m. Thursday, getting up to retrieve her glasses from the bathroom so she could see the screen.

When she sat back on the bed to read the tornado alert, the ceiling of her manufactured home cracked, dropping dust and debris on her short, silver hair.

I could hear metal twisting and the wind, Martin, 73, said. All I thought to do was run.

She jumped up and headed for the aluminum door, but it wouldnt open. The roof began peeling back. She looked up to see the sky and the ugliest clouds.

Help!, she wailed into the phone after calling 911. It took my house!

If you are unable to see the audio player on your device, click here to listen.

Next door, Martins 83-year-old neighbor was already hiding in her bathtub when she heard the screaming. Shed been up late watching the news when she got the alert.

And then I heard it hit my house, Sharon Murphy said. I heard glass bust and everything turned upside down.

After the storm, the neighbors, who both live alone in the Honeymoon Park trailer park along the Pinellas Trail, waited on lawn chairs until sunrise.

They escaped uninjured, but their homes were among three out of the communitys 230 that were severely damaged  likely destroyed  when tornadoes ripped through the region overnight, damaging homes and businesses in Dunedin and Clearwater Beach and to the north near Crystal River.

Preliminary data suggested two tornadoes touched down in the early morning hours Thursday, one in north Pinellas County and another in Citrus County, both classified as EF2, with wind speeds of 111 to 135 mph.

In Clearwater Beach, much of the damage was to homes and businesses on a small, affluent stretch of El Dorado Avenue. The tornado tore away a large section of roof from a two-story home there as a woman slept inside, police said, but there were no reported injuries in Pinellas County.

A large section of the roof and an exterior wall were also ripped away from a three-story building at the Harbor Pointe condominiums complex just east of the Dunedin Causeway.

A half-mile inland, at the Causeway Plaza in Dunedin, an Isuzu box truck belonging to Bingo Time bingo parlor was toppled onto its side, hitting two parked Mercedes sedans.

Nearby, in a million-to-one shot, a portable toilet was impaled atop a light post in the parking lot.

The entire Tampa Bay region north of Manatee County spent most of Thursday under a tornado watch as a line of strong storms moved northeast through the area from the Gulf of Mexico, colliding with a warm front.

While thunderstorms will continue Friday, forecasters said the worst storm and flood risk should be over.

While the rain swamped streets in some of Tampa Bays most flood-prone areas on Thursday, such as St. Petersburgs Shore Acres and Dodecanese Boulevard in Tarpon Springs, the water stopped short of coming indoors.

The southwest wind pushing the storms across the region was slowing Thursday night, forecasters said, lessening the flood risks across Tampa Bay. A cold front pushing through the area Saturday will bring cooler temperatures into early next week.

Survey teams with the weather services Tampa Bay office searched for signs of damage Thursday that could raise the number of tornadoes thought to have scraped the area, said Stephen Shiveley, a forecaster with the agency, but heavy storms had slowed their work.

A separate tornado warning issued around noon on Thursday for a possible third tornado was for a funnel cloud spotted near Clearwater Beach that moved toward Odessa but never touched the ground.

Robert Wright was asleep at his Island Estates home when he got a call around 4 a.m. telling him there was damage to his business, Bingo Time.

Hours later he looked at shattered glass and yellow caution tape wrapped around the pillars outside the business, which he has owned for 29 years. At least seven windows and two doors were blown out. Collapsed ceiling panels sat on the floor inside.

No big deal, Wright said.

Wright has insurance on the business, he said, but not on the box truck that hit two cars.

At Honeymoon Park, where neighbors Martin and Murphy sustained catastrophic damage to their homes, firefighters and crews from the American Red Cross and a local Home Depot store assessed the damage and offered assistance.

Martin and Murphy, who both originally came to the area as snowbirds from the Midwest before making Florida their permanent home, said they may take up the Red Cross on an offer of temporary shelter. Neither of them has insurance on their homes.

This was my retirement, Martin said.

Theyd both had brushes with tornadoes up north and lived through Floridas hurricanes, they said, but had never experienced such damage.

We got together, and were OK, Murphy said. Thats the main thing. Yeah, our houses might be gone, but were still here.

Across the street, Murphys sister-in-laws home sat untouched.

That sister-in-law, Wilma Murphy, had made a pot of coffee for the women but couldnt get them to eat.

You watch other neighborhoods get hit and the outpouring of kindness and help and everything, Wilma Murphy said. And then all of a sudden, it affects you.

National Weather Service Tampa Bay meteorologist-in-charge Brian LaMarre said warnings usually go out 7 to 10 minutes before a tornado comes through.

Mobile homes are tough, he said. A lot of people get killed or hurt.

Times reporter Max Chesnes contributed to this report.
The Netherlands is set to send over a dozen F-16 jets to a training center in Romania so that Ukrainian pilots can begin training on the aircraft within weeks, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on Oct. 11.

"We hope to transfer twelve to eighteen aircraft to Romania within a few weeks, which means the center can start operating," Ollongren said while speaking to the press at the NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.

The preparations to set up the training center are "going very well," she added.

In August, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is to receive 42 F-16s from the Netherlands after reaching an agreement with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The Netherlands and Denmark are leading the allied efforts to provide Ukraine with the fourth-generation American jets.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine: F-16s and the irrational politics of military aid on Apple Podcasts

Also at the meeting in Brussels on Oct. 11 was Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, who said that Denmark expects to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine in March or April of 2024.

Denmark has pledged to provide 19 of its aircraft to bolster the Ukrainian Air Force.

The Dutch and Danish efforts are part of a broader "fighter jet coalition" to provide training for Ukrainian pilots and technical staff.

The coalition was officially established in July and involves over a dozen countries.

On Oct. 9, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Denmark is working to "expand and deepen" the coalition of countries willing to provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft.

Read also: Austin: F-16s could arrive in Ukraine as early as next spring

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Sacramento Police Department is investigating a shooting Wednesday in East Sacramento that left a with gunshot wounds police said were not life-threatening.

Officers went to the 1500 block of 35th Street just before 8:10 a.m. and found a man who was shot at least once, Sacramento police said. They added no arrests were made and it remains under investigation.

The man was taken to a hospital.
The order comes as the aviation sector is in recovery mode after suffering huge losses during Covid pandemic lockdowns, with the airline saying it was also reinstating shareholder dividends (PHILIPPE HUGUEN)

British no-frills carrier EasyJet on Thursday said it has reached a deal worth close to $20 billion for 157 Airbus planes and alterations to a previous order.

It will allow "fleet modernisation and growth to continue beyond 2028 while providing substantial benefits including cost efficiencies and sustainability improvements", EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said in a statement, adding there was an option for 100 more jets.

Delivery for the 157 firm orders is due between 2029 and 2034.

The announcement comes as the aviation sector is in recovery mode after suffering huge losses during Covid pandemic lockdowns.

EasyJet on Thursday said it would reinstate shareholder dividends after signalling record pre-tax profits in the final quarter of its financial year, or three months to the end of September.

"We have delivered a record summer with strong demand for EasyJet's flights and holidays with customers choosing us for our network, value and service," said the carrier that flies mostly across Europe.

EasyJet is based in Luton, north of London, whose airport suffered a major carpark fire late Tuesday, causing the cancellation of flights.

The airline on Thursday said it had "entered into conditional arrangements" with European planemaker Airbus for 157 aircraft -- 56 A320neo and 101 A321neo.

It has agreed also "to exercise conversion rights within its current order book to convert 35 A320neo deliveries into A321neo aircraft.

Together the deal was worth $19.9 billion and "will deliver lower fuel burn, CO2 emissions and operating costs per seat", EasyJet said.

burs-bcp/rl
The airline says its fares and capacity are higher than a year ago heading into winter (Getty Images)

Britains biggest budget airline, easyJet, has reported record summer profits thanks to sharply higher fares and ancillary revenue.

The results were published a day after the carrier cancelled 100 flights from its home airport, Luton, due to a car-park fire that affected all airlines using the hub.

EasyJets average basic one-way fare during July, August and September 2023 was 9 per cent higher than a year earlier, rising by 5 to 69. Ancillary revenue, including charges for baggage, priority boarding and assigned seats, was up 3 to 27.

Passenger numbers rose 8 per cent compared with summer 2022, with easyJet filling 92 per cent of its seats  meaning only 15 empty spaces on the average Airbus A320 flight.

Profits before tax for the full year ending 30 September 2023 are around 450m.

A significant proportion  120m  is from the airlines package holiday operation, easyJet Holidays, which continues to outperform.

The airline said: Business momentum now allows the setting of new, ambitious, medium-term targets, a proposed new aircraft order and resumption of dividends.

In the medium term, easyJet hopes to make a 1bn profit  through reducing winter losses, larger average aircraft size and growing easyJet holidays

The airline has 157 new aircraft orders for Airbus jets for delivery between 2029 and 2034 as well as 100 options. It has an existing order book of 158 aircraft for delivery before then.

The airline says: Delivery slots for narrow body aircraft with circa 200 seats are very limited until at least 2029 from both Airbus and Boeing.

The new planes will be between 13 and 30 per cent more efficient, depending on which aircraft they replace.

The list price of the new planes is $20bn (16.2bn) but easyJet said: The aggregate actual price for the aircraft would be substantially lower because of certain price concessions granted by Airbus.

The airlines chief executive, Johan Lundgren, said: We have delivered a record summer with strong demand for easyJets flights and holidays with customers choosing us for our network, value and service.

This performance has demonstrated that our strategy is achieving results and so today we have set out an ambitious roadmap to serve more customers and deliver attractive shareholder returns, underpinned by a continued focus on costs and operational excellence.

Going into the winter, easyJet says fares and capacity are both higher than a year ago.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a 46-year-old Eatonton man was arrested on 11 counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials.

According to the GBI, Jamey Allen Nichols was taken into custody on Oct. 5 by the Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

An investigation into Nichols and his internet activity started after the GBIs CEACC Unit received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, involving child sexual abuse material.

GBI got a search warrant for Nichols home. The agency said multiple electronic devices were seized and analyzed by digital forensic investigators.

The materials on the devices resulted in Nichols arrest, according to the GBI.

TRENDING STORIES:

GBI said the Putnam County Sheriffs Office assisted with the search warrant at Nichols home, and his subsequent arrest. He was taken into custody at the Putnam County Jail.

Nichols currently faces 11 charges for sexual exploitation of children: possession of child sexual abuse material. The GBI said they anticipate more charges will come.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
The town of Eatonville is working to ensure it doesnt miss out on federal funds.

Dozens of homes in the Catalina neighborhood were flooded from Hurricane Ian.

Community members say they had to rely on insurance and personal resources for repairs.

Channel 9 learned the town never applied for additional funds that could have helped its community.

Channel 9 found some neighbors with sandbags and tape still surrounding their doors in the area. Some neighbors are still on guard.

Read: Orange County School Board in court over Hungerford property

The house still has sandbags against its doors and tape along the cracks because these families still feel the impacts more than a year after Ian.

Theo McWhite grew up in Eatonville.

Me and my brother built that yard up, McWhite said. Weve been through 20 storms, and it never flooded but the last one.

He was referring to Hurricane Ian last year.

Read: Orange County asks residents for input on how to spend $220M in Hurricane Ian recovery funds

It was really heartbreaking, McWhite said. I just got emotional now, just to see my mom go through that.

Other homes in the Catalina neighborhood along Lake King in Eatonville felt the same pain.

Mamie Hunter had to leave her home for four months after the hurricane.

The water came all the way up, Hunter said.

Looking back: Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida one year ago

After years of complaints about flooding issues in the Orlo Vista, the damage done by Hurricane Ians rains is the final straw.

St. Cloud officials said the vandalization of an outfall pipe near neighborhoods flooded by Hurricane Ian could cause those floodwaters to rise more quickly.

Members of Florida Army National Guard arrive on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Dr. Karen Calkins (left) and Ricki Jackson help Ced Franklin onto a bus to be driven to an evacuation boat on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Florida Army National Guard members unload supplies from a helicopter on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents of the island are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Residents are evacuated from the island by boats on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Francis Gersic is evacuated by a Florida Army National Guard chinook on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

A Florida Army National Guard chinook lands to deliver supplies and evacuate residents on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents of the island are being encouraged to leave due to the only road onto the island was made impassable and the electricity and water were knocked out when Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

A Florida Army National Guard helicopter prepares to land as Madeline Thayer walks to an evacuation center on the island on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Tom O'Sullivan his dog Jack and Harry Marquard prepare to be evacuated in a Florida Army National Guard helicopter on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Residents make their way to a boat to be evacuate from the island on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents of the island are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Tom O'Sullivan along with his dog, Jack, and Harry Marquard prepare to be evacuated in a Florida Army National Guard helicopter on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents of the island are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Catherine Bhinder is helped out of a truck as she arrives at an evacuation center on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Residents are evacuated from the island by boats on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

A Florida Army National Guard helicopter lifts off as they evacuate residents on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Joann Vollmar (left) and Frank Vollmar walk along a dock after being evacuated on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Residents make their way to a boat to be evacuate from the island on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Ricki Jackson sits with Ced Franklin (left) before she boards a bus to be driven to an evacuation boat on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Residents are driven to where they will be evacuated by boat on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Residents are evacuated from the island by boat on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Tom O'Sullivan and his dog Jack look on as a Florida National Guard chinook lands as they prepare to be evacuated on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

Search and Rescue personnel ride in be back of a truck on October 2, 2022, in Pine Island, Florida. Residents are being encouraged to leave because the only road onto the island is impassable and electricity and water remain knocked out after Hurricane Ian passed through the area.

In this aerial view, flooded homes are shown after Hurricane Ian moved through the Gulf Coast of Florida on September 29, 2022 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage.

Motorists travel across the John Ringling Causeway as Hurricane Ian churns to the south on September 28, 2022 in Sarasota, Florida. The storm made a U.S. landfall at Cayo Costa, Florida this afternoon as a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds over 140 miles per hour in some areas.

Jordan Reidy carries his dog, Ivory, back to their second-floor apartment after fleeing when Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Reidy and his mother plan to stay at the home because they feel like they have no where else to go. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage.

Boats are pushed up on a causeway after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage.

Frederic Herodet and Mary Herodet board up their Gulf Bistro restaurant as they prepare for the possible arrival of Hurricane Ian on September 27, 2022 in St Petersburg Beach, Florida. Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

Tom Park begins cleaning up after Hurricane Ian moved through the Gulf Coast of Florida on September 29, 2022 in Punta Gorda, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage.

Deb McGinty walks with outstretched arms near her apartment as she said she was,

Heavy traffic moves slowly on I-4 East as residents evacuate the Gulf Coast of Florida in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Ian on September 27, 2022 in Four Corners, Florida. Ian is expected in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

Stedi Scuderi looks over her apartment after flood water inundated it when Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage.

A burned vehicle from an electrical fire sits in front of damaged homes in Venice, Florida, after Hurricane Ian made landfall.

Homes remain flooded by Hurricane Ian in Orange Countys Orlo Vista neighborhood

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: A chair sits on a flooded roadway in the wake of Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Wreckage left in the wake of Hurricane Ian is shown on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Pine Island residents Wolfgang Nester (R) and his son Sebastian walk amongst the wreckage lef in the wake of Hurricane Ian on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Whitney Hall (R) embraces a friend atop the remains of his home amidst wreckage left in the wake of Hurricane Ian on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Whitney Hall waves to a friend from the remains of his home while waving the American flag amidst wreckage left in the wake of Hurricane Ian on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Homes remain flooded by Hurricane Ian in Orange Countys Orlo Vista neighborhood

Mark Bessette

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Deb McGinty walks with outstretched arms near her apartment as she said she was,

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Lucy Montoya hugs niece Judy Sanchez after seeing her for the first time since Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mrs. Montoya said she road the storm out in the apartment and had to flee through a window because of flood waters in the middle of the storm to a second floor apartment. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Frank Bruno speaks with members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue team as they look for anyone needing help after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Bruno said he road the storm out in his home and told the search team members that he was okay. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Brian Siebert becomes emotional as he looks at what remains of his home after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Siebert feels like he has lost everything in the apartment because there was about 6 feet of water that inundated it. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Sue Lepisto hugs her neighbor after they saw each other when they came to visit what was left of their homes after Hurricane Ian passed through on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Their homes were flooded with about 6 feet of water. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Val Stuart talks on a cell phone as she sits on the bed she setup on the floor after the apartment she was staying in was flooded when Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mrs. Stuart who evacuated from Sanibel before the storm ended up staying in the apartment and had to flee in the middle of the storm through a window because of flood waters to a second floor apartment. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Omar Sanchez walks through flood waters to his apartment after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Sanchez said he had to flee from his first floor apartment to the second floor because flood waters inundated it. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: A member of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue team looks for anyone needing help after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs speaks to a resident as a creek rises from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

A woman walks down the stairs from her house as a creek overflows from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs use a fanboat to rescue residents from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs use a fanboat to rescue residents from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

A man stops in front of his house as a creek overflows from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs use a fanboat to rescue a 93 year-old resident from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: In this aerial view, vehicles drive through standing water left in the wake of Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges, and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: In this aerial view, vehicles line up to purchase gasoline in the wake of Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

A fallen sign following Hurricane Ian in Venice, Florida, US, on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Ian, now a hurricane again, is threatening to carve a new path of destruction through South Carolina Friday when it roars ashore north of Charleston. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ron Waselenchuk inspects his sailboat which was pushed ashore by hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 29: Street signs are seen in the water in a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. The storm has caused widespread power outages and flash flooding in Central Florida as it crossed through the state after making landfall in the Fort Myers area as a Category 4 hurricane. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: A wall of a condo was torn off as hurricane Ian passed through on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Damage to a McDonald's restaurant following Hurricane Ian in Venice, Florida, US, on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Ian, now a hurricane again, is threatening to carve a new path of destruction through South Carolina Friday when it roars ashore north of Charleston. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 29: Members of the Florida National Guard look for stranded residents in a flooded neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. The storm has caused widespread power outages and flash flooding in Central Florida as it crossed through the state after making landfall in the Fort Myers area as a Category 4 hurricane. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In an aerial view, boats are piled on top of each other after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

A man documents storm damage with his phone after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Storm damaged vehicles after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

In this aerial view, the Sanibel Causeway bridge collapsed in places after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Sanibel, Florida.

In this aerial view, boats sit grounded in a woodland area and along the side of the road after being pushed by rising water from Hurricane Ian near Fort Myers Beach on September 29, 2022, in San Carlos Island, Florida.

A man looks out to the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Naples, Florida.

In this aerial view, a neighborhood remains flooded near downtown after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

In this aerial view, boats sit atop one another in a marina near Fort Myers Beach on September 29, 2022, in San Carlos Island, Florida.

Boats sit atop one another in a marina near Fort Myers Beach on September 29, 2022, in San Carlos Island, Florida.

Meagan Hoeschler recovers a family surf board on the beach after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Naples, Florida.

Vehicles float in the water after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

Storm debris fills a street after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

In this aerial view, a home burns after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Sanibel, Florida.

In this aerial view, the Sanibel Causeway bridge collapsed in places after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Sanibel, Florida.

A woman walks her bike past boats blocking a road after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

A car sits in floodwater after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

In this aerial view, cars sit in floodwater near downtown after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

Seth Jones, left, sorts through storm damaged video games as Jason Crosser looks on at Crossers storm damaged business, 8-Bit Hall of Fame, after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Doc's Beach House after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

A storm damaged building after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

People walk along a sidewalk blocked by boats after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

A helicopter hovers over Sanibel Island after Hurricane Ian roared through the area on Wednesday.

FORT MYERS BEACH,FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: The pilings from Fort Myers Beach pier are all that are left after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS BEACH,FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: In an aerial view, boats are piled on top of each other after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS BEACH,FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS BEACH,FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS BEACH,FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS BEACH,FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

An apparent washout happened near Lake Ivanhoe following Hurricane Ian.

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: People walk past a building destroyed as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

An apparent washout happened near Lake Ivanhoe following Hurricane Ian.

FORT MYERS FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: (L-R) Brock Hall and Brenda Hall cook lunch on their barbeque as Hurricane Ian passed through on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 29: In this aerial view, flooded homes are shown after Hurricane Ian moved through the Gulf Coast of Florida on September 29, 2022 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

BONITA SPRINGS, FL - SEPTEMBER 29: Debris is strewn across the beach caused by Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Bonita Springs, Florida. The storm made a U.S. landfall on Cayo Costa, Florida, and brought high winds, storm surges, and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

The heavy rains from Hurricane Ian have turned Lake Davis and Lake Cherokee into one large body of water.

An EF-2 tornado struck Delray Beach, Florida, as Hurricane Ian began its approach to Florida's west coast on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

An EF-2 tornado struck Delray Beach, Florida, as Hurricane Ian began its approach to Florida's west coast on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

An EF-2 tornado struck Delray Beach, Florida, as Hurricane Ian began its approach to Florida's west coast on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

People walk along the beach looking at property damaged by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida. The storm made a U.S. landfall on Cayo Costa, Florida, and brought high winds, storm surges, and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Flagler County officials said the restaurant suffered extensive damage in 2022 from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.

It's been nearly a month since the St. Johns River reached historic levels because of Hurricane Ian, but some people living in Lake County are still dealing with issues.

Hurricane Ian historic flooding

Osceola County leaders are expected to talk about the fate of the Good Samaritan Village after it flooded again during Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 witnessed a contractor on Friday pumping Hurricane Ian floodwater contaminated with sewage directly into Lake Monroe in Sanford.

Many of the people who evacuated from Central Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities during Hurricane Ian haven't returned home.

Many of the people who evacuated from Central Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities during Hurricane Ian havent returned home.

Destruction left behind in the wake of Hurricane Ian is shown October 04, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Southwest Florida suffered severe damage during the Category 4 hurricane which caused extensive damage to communities along the state's coast.

Mims flooding

Lake Toho and East Lake Toho are expected to crest on Friday, more than a week after Hurricane Ian dumped over a foot of rain in Central Florida.

Hurricane Ian recovery

In this aerial view, a FDOT crew works on repairing the road that goes to Pine Island on October 4, 2022, in Matlacha, Florida. The original road was made unpassable after Hurricane Ian passed through the area and washed out sections of the road.

People ride on an airboat along Peace River in the wake of Hurricane Ian on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

An ice and water machine sits in floodwaters in the wake of Hurricane Ian at the Peace River Campground on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

Utility trucks line up at a road block due to flooding from the Peace River in the wake of Hurricane Ian on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

An Okeechobee County sheriff's deputy watches a tractor-trailer drive down a flooded street to reach a community cutoff of by floodwaters from the Peace River in the wake of Hurricane Ian on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

A Peace River campground is shown flooded in the wake of Hurricane Ian on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

National Guardsmen move cases of water near a flooded road in the wake of Hurricane Ian near the Peace River on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

People walk along a road closed to vehicle traffic due to flooding from the Peace River in the wake of Hurricane Ian on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

Travel trailers are inundated by floodwaters at the Peace River Campground on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

National Guardsmen transport meals ready-to-eat to a community cut off by flooding in the wake of Hurricane Ian near the Peace River on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

Mack Martin walks along train tracks surrounded by floodwaters at the Peace River on October 4, 2022, in Arcadia, Florida. Fifty miles inland, and nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the record-breaking floodwaters in the area are receding to reveal the full effects of the storm.

Evictions loom in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Channel 9 crews headed to Fort Myers to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.

Geneva residents voice frustration over Seminole Countys response to Hurricane Ian.

Leu Gardens remains closed due to damage sustained from Hurricane Ian.

Geneva in Seminole County has been impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian damage in Southwest Florida.

Flooding in Astor following Hurricane Ian.

Mayor Angie Gardner told Channel 9 the town didnt apply for federal assistance because its council voted against the presented team of grant writers. The town missed out on grants that could have assisted with the towns damaged pipes and infrastructure, which Gardner said creates an oversaturated ground, leaving water nowhere to go.

That really hurt the community, McWhite said.

Gardner said that theres a budget now for a grant writer and fiscal coordinator, and a contractor will collect data needed to apply for federal funding to help families like the McWhites.

Read: Hurricane Ians impact still felt along Volusia County coastline

We got maybe $8,000 in insurance, McWhite said. But we had about $20,000 in damage.

The town meeting on Monday will prioritize upcoming projects.

It will be at 5 p.m. at the Denton Johnson Community Center. The town is also looking to hire a grant writer.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) - Daniel Noboa, who grew up accompanying his businessman father during the latter's five failed attempts to become president of Ecuador, is betting his employment-focused campaign can fulfill his family's ambition to clinch the presidency.

The 35-year-old Guayaquil native, heir to banana baron Alvaro Noboa's business empire, will face Luisa Gonzalez, the protege of former President Rafael Correa , in the Sunday contest.

Gonzalez won an August first round with 34%, while Noboa came a surprising second with 23%. Polling points to a tight second-round contest.

The campaign was marked by violence and threats toward candidates, including the murder of anti-corruption hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, who was shot and killed leaving a rally.

Suspects jailed in the case were subsequently also killed.

"Ecuadoreans, thank you for having the courage to be part of this new project for life," Noboa said during a recent debate. "The future will win over the past, hope over hate."

Noboa has distanced himself from his father's populist rhetoric, opting instead to focus on proposals to attract foreign investment and develop Ecuador's business sector, which have been well received by investors.

Noboa has also promised job creation, particularly for young people, and spent significant time campaigning at universities. About a quarter of Ecuador's voters are 29 or younger.

Ecuador's economy has struggled to recover in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, contributing to soaring crime - which outgoing President Guillermo Lasso blames on disputes between drug-trafficking gangs - and a sharp rise in emigration.

He would boost employment through investment in strategic sectors and vocational training for job hunters, Noboa has pledged.

"We want politics to be renovated and Noboa is prepared and youthful, you can tell he wants something different for the country," said Janeth Tayo, 46, a law office assistant in Sangolqui near Quito. "We trust him and his intentions."

Noboa resigned from a management position at his family's corporation to enter politics, winning a legislature seat in 2021.

He has also promised to create a new intelligence unit to tackle gangs, supply security forces with tactical weapons, and house the country's most dangerous convicts in prison ships out at sea.

Noboa, a married father of two, frequently appears in videos on social media dancing and singing or DJ-ing music at his political rallies.

"If things were good I'd be relaxed at home watching the sun go down with my dogs, instead of being in a political race," Noboa told local media in August. "My dream is to help the country."

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
An employee of the Ecuadorian embassy in Russia was found dead in a Moscow apartment, Russian state media reported Thursday. A source told RIA Novosti that preliminary information indicated that the death of Jorge Patricio Palacios Porraswho is listed on the embassy website as its plenipotentiary ministeris not of a criminal nature. Another unnamed source told the state-owned news agency that his cause of death appears to have been heart failure. A law enforcement source separately told TASS that the embassy ministers colleagues had gone to visit him after being concerned that he had stopped communicating. An investigation into this fact is being carried out, the source added.

Read it at RIA Novosti

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A soldier guards as supporters of presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez, of the Citizen's Revolutionary Movement, attend a campaign rally in Quito, Ecuador, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  The contest comes Sunday, and whoever wins the prize  a job that starts on Christmas  will face a difficult, if not impossible, task. What awaits is a shorter-than-normal 15-month run as president of Ecuador, which is engulfed in a surge of violence tied to drug trafficking.

The runoff election pits an heir to a banana empire, Daniel Noboa , and an attorney, Luisa Gonzalez.

In a different year or in another country, their business and lawyering experience might help them deliver on campaign promises. But all that Ecuadorians want is safety, and they are demanding to get it in a tiny fraction of the time that has taken other countries to address the issue.

Theres nothing that fails like success, said Lowell Gustafson, a Latin American politics professor at Villanova University. Whoever wins this election is going to have to deal with this  but I dont know what can be expected from the president in that kind of short time with what sure look to be virtually intractable problems.

Ecuador, flanked by the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, is spiraling downward. Virtually no one feels safe amid unprecedented violence that erupted roughly three years ago with a rise in criminal activity.

It has reached an unthinkable level since August, starting with the assassination in broad daylight of a presidential candidate. Fernando Villavicencio , who had a famously tough stance on organized crime and corruption, was fatally shot Aug. 9, only days before the presidential election's first round, despite having a security detail that included police and bodyguards.

Since then, other politicians and political leaders have been killed or kidnapped, car bombs have exploded in multiple cities, including the capital, Quito, and inmates have rioted in prisons. The governments lack of control even allowed the killings earlier this month of seven men being held in prisons as suspects in Villavicencios slaying.

The National Police tallied 3,568 violent deaths in the first six months of this year, far more than the 2,042 reported during the same period in 2022. That year ended with 4,600 violent deaths, the countrys highest in history and double the total in 2021.

Maybe the new president will do something, I hope so, whatever it takes because we are doing really bad with this issue of insecurity, said Edson Guerra, a painter who was robbed of his cellphone over the weekend. Before, those who had money were threatened, now its all of us, even those who dont have much.

Voting is mandatory in Ecuador.

The election was triggered by President Guillermo Lasso dissolving the National Assembly in May to avoid being impeached over alleged improprieties in a contract by the state-owned oil transport company. Lasso, a conservative former banker, clashed constantly with lawmakers after his election in 2021. He decided not to run in the special election, and the winner of Sunday's vote will finish out his four-year term.

Noboa and Gonzalez, both of whom have served short stints as lawmakers, advanced to the runoff by finishing ahead of six other candidates in the election's first round Aug. 22.

Noboa, 35, is an heir to a fortune built on Ecuadors main crop, bananas. His political career began in 2021, when he won a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. He opened an event organizing company when he was 18 and then joined his fathers Noboa Corp., where he held management positions in the shipping, logistics and commercial areas.

Gonzalez, 45, held various government jobs during the decade-long presidency of Rafael Correa , her mentor, and was a lawmaker until May. She was unknown to most voters until Correas party picked her as its presidential candidate. At the start of the campaign, she said Correa would be her adviser, but she has recently tried to distance herself a bit in an effort to court voters who oppose the former president.

The causes for the spike in violence are complex. All, though, revolve around cocaine trafficking. Mexican, Colombian and Balkan cartels have set roots in Ecuador.

Authorities attribute the rising violence to a power vacuum following the killing in 2020 of Jorge Zambrano, alias Rasquina or JL, the leader of the local Los Choneros gang. Its members carry out contract killings, run extortion operations, move and sell drugs, and rule prisons.

Los Choneros and similar groups linked to cartels are fighting over drug-trafficking routes and control of territory, including within prisons, where at least 400 inmates have died since 2021.

Gonzalez has promised to purge police ranks of bad actors; invest in intelligence, technology and other gear for police; and increase law enforcements presence on the countrys borders.

Noboa has proposed changes to the countrys intelligence efforts; more ammunition and other gear for police officers, who are now outgunned by criminals; and a large presence of the military in prisons, ports and roads. He has also pitched using barges to house inmates.

Gustafson said the candidates face one more obstacle. Neither Noboa's nor Gonzalez's parties have enough seats in the National Assembly to be able to govern on their own.

Im pessimistic, he said. I think the Ecuadorian president is doomed. How is he going to gain control over these cartels?

___

Associated Press writer Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador, contributed to this report.
A view of houses and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip

Egypt is discussing aid to Gaza, but refuses to open corridors for refugees, Reuters reported on Oct. 11.

Egyptian security sources said that Cairo has discussed with the United States and other countries plans to provide humanitarian aid across the border with the Gaza Strip, but rejects any steps to create safe corridors for refugees leaving the region.

Egypt has long restricted the flow of Gazans into its territory, even during the most violent conflicts.

Read also: US intelligence found no indication of impending Hamas assault on Israel, White House says

Cairo, which often acts as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, has always insisted that the parties resolve conflicts within their borders, believing that this is the only way Palestinians will be able to secure their right to statehood.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Washington has been consulting with Israel and Egypt on the idea of safe passage for civilians from the Gaza Strip, which was subjected to a massive Israeli attack in response to the Hamas militants' invasion of Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that these consultations are ongoing.

War in Israel  What is Known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages.

As a result, over 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants may have killed approximately 260 people on Oct. 7 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 festivalgoers.

In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords at 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 could be long and challenging.

The Israeli military managed to regain control of all the towns on the border with the Gaza Strip on Oct. 9, but Hamas militants may remain in the area.

Later, on Oct. 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they were completing the clearing of the south of the country of Hamas units.

So far, seven Ukrainians have been reported dead. Six more Ukrainians are missing, while six have reportedly been injured.

The Israeli defense minister ordered a siege of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 9. In his address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas militants would be destroyed after their "atrocities," kidnappings, and murders of children and women. Hamas and other enemies of Israel "will pay a price they will remember for decades to come," Netanyahu stated.

The Israeli Defense Forces announced on Oct. 10 that they had fully regained control of the border with the Gaza Strip and advised its residents to leave for Egypt.

As of Oct. 10, more than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured in the Hamas attack in Israel.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
House foreign affairs committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told reporters Wednesday that Egyptian officials warned Israel about the potential for an attack days before Hamas militants stormed across the Gaza border to slaughter hundreds of people on Saturday.

Israel has pushed back on the claim, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissing as fake news the reports that the country received any sort of warning.

But McCaul, speaking after a closed-door briefing, said lawmakers had heard from the Biden administration, which is working with Israeli officials to help manage the ongoing crisis.

There seems to have been a failure of intelligence, McCaul said. Were not quite sure how we missed it. Were not quite sure how Israel missed it. We know that Egypt had warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen.

He added that the attack had been planned perhaps as long as a year ago.

House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX) after classified briefing on Hamas' attack on Israel:



We heard from the administration. There seems to have been a failure of intelligence as well. Were not quite sure how we missed it ... not quite sure how Israel missed it. pic.twitter.com/F3EEKgR0s2  The Recount (@therecount) October 11, 2023

Lawmakers are also concerned about an escalation in the crisis that could potentially draw in militant responses from Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere.

We know that Hezbollah has 100,000 rockets that would overwhelm the Iron Dome, McCaul said, referring to the Lebanese militant group and Israels high-tech anti-missile defense system.

The catastrophic intelligence failure is key to understanding how the Hamas attack unfolded. Some have pointed to deep divisions in Israeli society, including its military apparatus, sparked by Netanyahus efforts to move the country further to the right. In recent months, members of the military have threatened not to show up for duty in protest of Netanyahus proposals to reshape the nations judiciary.

Egypt shares a border with the Gaza Strip called the Rafah Crossing, which could offer it a means to aid Palestinian civilians  a population that consists in large part of children and teenagers.

However, Egyptian officials have reportedly rejected the idea of setting up safe corridors for civilians to flee into Egypt. Reuters reported that officials are instead discussing how to allow humanitarian resources to flow through the Rafah Crossing.

In the meantime, bombings on the Gaza Strip continue, with Netanyahu vowing this week to wipe Hamas off the face of the Earth.

Related...
The entire Virginia legislature is on the ballot for the first time since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

The entire Virginia legislature is on the ballot for the first time since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Kimberly Pope Adams did not think she would ever crisscross Virginia farmland, knocking on doors and talking about the abortion procedure she got after experiencing a miscarriage 16 years ago. But over the past 15 months, thats nearly all she has done.

Ill be honest with you: Its uncomfortable to talk about, but its necessary, Adams, who is running for the House of Delegates in Virginias 82nd District, told HuffPost. I cannot keep this story bottled up inside when I know how important the stakes are in this election.

The entire Virginia legislature is on the ballot for the first time since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Republicans currently control the House, and Democrats have a small majority in the Senate. If Republicans take back the Senate, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) will get the GOP trifecta hes long been vying for and the power to enact the 15-week abortion ban he has championed.

The results of the November election will be felt beyond Virginia: The state is the last safe haven for abortion access in the South.

If you go southwest from Virginia, you have to go all the way to New Mexico until you reach a state that doesnt have an abortion ban in effect, said Jamie Lockhart, president at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. Not only is it critical for Virginians that we remain a key access state, but its critical for the whole South.

Pro-choice groups like Planned Parenthood and EMILYs List have poured millions into the Virginia legislative elections, as have nationalDemocrats. Youngkin and other Republicans have responded accordingly: The governor has raised millions via his political action committee, Spirit of Virginia, to fund Republicans in competitive races.

Both sides are trying to inspire voters to show up at the polls. Historically, off-year cycles  where there is no presidential or midterm election  have the lowest voter turnout, and the stakes are high. But a recent poll shows that most Virginia voters say Roe v. Wades repeal will play a big role in whom they vote for, and over 55% say they believe abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances.

Had I spoken about this before? No, Adams said of her miscarriage and abortion story. But now I have to, because if I dont, people may not have the right to make this decision for themselves.

The Souths Last Abortion Access Point

Access in Virginia is critical for several reasons. Abortion is legal in the state through the second trimester, or around 26 weeks, making it not only an abortion refuge in the South but also a critical access point for abortion later in pregnancy.

Many neighboring states, including North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee, have enacted strict abortion bans in the wake of the Supreme Court decision that overturned federal protections. In the first six months of 2023, there was a 60% increase in abortion care in Virginia, according to the reproductive rights organization Guttmacher Institute, which attributed the jump to traffic from other states.

If you go southwest from Virginia, you have to go all the way to New Mexico until you reach a state that doesnt have an abortion ban in effect.Jamie Lockhart, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia

Youngkin has pushed the narrative that a 15-week abortion ban is moderate  especially in comparison to the near-total or six-week bans being passed by contemporaries like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)  but it would still have a huge impact on Virginians and patients from the rest of the region.

Just over 95% of abortions in Virginia take place before the 15-week point. But often, the people seeking abortions after 15 weeks are the most marginalized: Theyre under 18, low-income and/or live in rural areas with barriers to care. Additionally, genetic testing for fatal fetal abnormalities often does not occur until 18 or 20 weeks of pregnancy, meaning a 15-week abortion ban would force people with wanted pregnancies who discover a fetal abnormality to seek necessary medical care outside of Virginia.

One recent patient at the Whole Womans Health clinic in Charlottesville came all the way from Georgia to get an abortion, said Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO of the independent abortion care organization.She was a few days shy of 15 weeks pregnant by the time she arrived at the small clinic in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but only because she had faced so many barriers to care until that point.

The patient found out she was pregnant after she went to the emergency room with stomach pain. She was over seven weeks pregnant, putting her just outside of the six-week limit to get an abortion in Georgia. The patient rushed to get an appointment in North Carolina but was over 12 weeks pregnant by the time she arrived at the clinic, making her too far along to get an abortion there. She drove back to Georgia and was eventually able to secure an appointment at the Whole Womans Health clinic in Charlottesville  an eight-hour drive from her home.

Even with all of the abortion funds that we helped them raise, [the patient and her partner] cleared their savings. They had to get back in the car and drive right back after the abortion because her partner had to be back at work, said Hagstrom Miller. Thats the kind of thing that were dealing with.

Youngkins 15-week abortion ban  along with a near-total abortion ban and a ban on the procedure later in pregnancy  died in the Virginia Senate earlier this year, but flipping the Senate would give him the power to pass it.

The governors political action committee, Spirit of Virginia, has proven to be a powerful weapon: In just 48 hours earlier this month, Youngkin raised $4.4 million with the help of several billionaire donors pitching in during the final fundraising stretch. He has also personally donated over $1.5 million to Spirit. In total, Youngkin has raised $19 million for the Virginia GOP via Spirit since 2022.

The Virginia electoral environment in 2023 is really two parties talking past each other. Democrats really want to talk only about abortion, and Republicans want to talk about anything else.Stephen Farnsworth, political scientist

But Republicans in purple Virginia have a big problem: No one knows how to talk about abortion restrictions without the guardrails Roe once provided. It used to be that Republicans could galvanize their base by calling for severe abortion restrictions and trigger bans. Yet they knew they would never be able to act on these political promises, which arent popular with mainstream voters  particularly those in suburban districts, where elections are won and lost in Virginia.

A significant number of Americans may not have clear policies about international matters, but something like abortion is really, really close to home, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. It affects individuals in a very dramatic way, it affects families in a very dramatic way, and so its an effective topic.

Republicans might have had a more appealing environment for talking about abortion when Roe v. Wade was the law of the land because then the conversation was theoretical.

As a result, were watching Republicans experiment in real time with how to handle the question of abortion in a post-Roe world.

In many ways, the Virginia electoral environment in 2023 is really two parties talking past each other, Farnsworth said. Democrats really want to talk only about abortion, and Republicans want to talk about anything else.

The Tale Of The Common Sense 15-Week Ban

Many Republican candidates scrubbed their websites of more extreme anti-choice language and are refusing to discuss the issue in depth on the campaign trail. At the beginning of this year, GOP House of Delegates candidate John Stirrups website stated, in part: John knows that life is precious and a gift from God. John will protect the sanctity of life and will always vote pro-life. As of October, all mention of abortion or anti-choice views had been removed from his website. He did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment.

Stirrup, who is running in a competitive district, was secretly recorded telling voters in August that he would support a 100% ban. (He walked back those comments shortly thereafter, saying there was not enough support for a total ban but that he would support Youngkins 15-week ban.)

Other Virginia Republicans are using a strategy weve seen at the national level: Attack Democrats for purportedly allowing no limits on abortion care. Most people believe that abortion at the moment of birth is wrong, far beyond any reasonable limit. Not Virginia Democrats, a voiceover says in a Republican campaign ad paid for by the GOP House and Senate caucuses. Theyve fought to make late-term abortions the rule, not the exception.(Abortion later in pregnancy is very rare: Less than 1% of abortions occur at 21 weeks or later, and the subset of abortions in the third trimester is even smaller. No Democrats are campaigning to change that.)

Ive worked in this field for almost 35 years, and Ive never met a patient who found out they were pregnant and then decided to wait until the second trimester to get an abortion, said Hagstrom Miller, of Whole Womans Health, debunking the myth that people who get abortions later in pregnancy do so as a form of birth control or because theyve simply changed their minds.

People want to have the care that they need as soon as they can, she said.

If there is a streamlined message on abortion in Virginia Republicans playbook, its that Youngkin is king and his 15-week abortion ban is moderate. More and more candidates are doing mental gymnastics to prove to voters that a 15-week ban is common sense. Some have gone as far as claiming a 15-week ban is so moderate that it doesnt constitute an actual ban.

I dont support an abortion ban. Period, state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, an OB-GYN running in a competitive district, says in a campaign ad released earlier this month. The ad goes on to describe how the Republican supports a 15-week abortion ban with exceptions.

Dunnavant tells her constituents on her campaign website that she supports restricting abortion after 15 weeks  a proposal she says is not a ban, but legislation that reflects compassionate common sense.

After 15 weeks, there should be reasonable exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother and severe fetal anomalies. What I cannot accept is the current Virginia law that allows for abortion up to the moment of birth, she adds in a campaign video on her site.

This is a misleading claim, given that Virginias current law only allows for abortion in the third trimester if the pregnant persons life is at risk or continuing the pregnancy would substantially and irremediably impair the mental or physical health of the woman.

When asked why she does not define a 15-week abortion restriction as a ban, Dunnavant told HuffPost: I would pose that a ban is defined as none. This is not a ban. This is a conversation offering a place where we can build consensus because we have to change the conversation from two radical extremes to something that we can do together. And thats why my position is what it is.

Youngkin is using this rhetoric as well. His political action committee rolled out a $1.4 million ad campaign this week saying the governor supports a commonsense 15-week limit on abortion, with exceptions.

Its just not true, their lies about abortion. Its disinformation. Politics at its worst, the ad states. Heres the truth: There is no ban. Virginia Republicans support a reasonable 15-week limit with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. Its a commonsense position.

Heres the truth: Virginia Dems support no limits on abortion. pic.twitter.com/AKV4dYgeau  Team Youngkin - Spirit of Virginia (@TeamYoungkin) October 10, 2023

The handful of Democratic candidates HuffPost spoke with repeated almost word-for-word the same response: A ban is a ban is a ban.

Its so frustrating for me because people say that its a compromise but its not, Adams said. There is no compromise when youre talking about a womans right to make her own decisions.

Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, a Democrat running against Dunnavant in the state Senate, added: If something is legal and then it becomes illegal, that is a ban.

VanValkenburg pointed to places like Florida, where an abortion ban started at 15 weeks but quickly became a six-week restriction. Theres the law thats started with and theres the law thats ended with, and those laws are often more strict and theyre more punitive, he said. We should not go down that path.

Painting a 15-week ban as moderate is a risky move for Republicans, said Farnsworth, the University of Mary Washington political scientist.

It makes sense for Republicans to be talking about 15 weeks. Thats an area where there could be some opportunity for softening the anti-abortion measure in a way that would be more acceptable to the electorate, he said. But for a lot of Republican candidates, thats a significant change from what theyve said in the past, and thats a problem.

If you win nominations based on being pro-life, and then you talk about 15 weeks, there are plenty of pro-life voters that will see that as a betrayal, Farnsworth added.

There is no compromise when youre talking about a womans right to make her own decisions.Kimberly Pope Adams, candidate for Virginia House of Delegates

Democrats are optimistic that talking about abortion and centering the issue in their campaigns will pay off big in Virginia. Its been a motivating issue for the voters VanValkenburg has spoken with while campaigning in Senate District 16.

This is not some abstract issue were talking about  its something people are seeing happen across the country, he said. Theyre seeing, just a couple of weeks ago, the Alabama attorney general saying that theyd prosecute people who helped women cross state lines. Theyre seeing women who are having to stay in parking lots of hospitals until theyre septic before they can get care. Theyre seeing women come to Virginia and sleep in a parking lot overnight because they have to travel so far to get health care access.

When people bring it up in the community, its oftentimes out of fear because of the very real things theyre seeing happening across the country, but particularly in our backyard in these other Southern states.

Not only is it a motivating issue for voters, but its also proven to be a winning issue. In all five states where there were referendums on abortion rights last year, voters chose to protect abortion access. In Virginia, Democrats centered abortion rights in two critical races earlier this year: a special election in January and a primary in June. Both candidates  Aaron Rouse and Lashrecse Aird, who were backed by pro-choice groups  won their seats.

Its so important for Virginians to know that abortion is on the ballot and to know that our rights are at risk, said Lockhart, of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. We know that abortion rights are a motivating issue for voters and weve seen that over and over again: When races are about abortion, abortion rights win.
[Source]

Elon Musk alleges in a recent X post that the left harbors anti-Asian sentiments.

Alleged Asian bias: The Tesla and SpaceX mogul voiced the assertion while responding to a tweet about an ABC7 News story about an Asian teen rejected by multiple colleges despite having impressive academic credentials. While the "left" can encompass a range of interpretations, it is frequently used to describe groups associated with the Democratic Party.

Its crazy that American universities can have officially racist policies but the victims are Asian kids so we all collectively shrug, an X user named Daniel wrote in a tweet sharing the article.

The left hates Asians, Musk wrote in response.

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The left hates Asians  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 11, 2023

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What sparked the comment: The article highlighted the story of Stanley Zhong, an exceptional Bay Area high school graduate who, despite a 4.42 weighted GPA and a 1590 SAT score, was rejected by 16 out of 18 colleges he applied to. Zhong's remarkable achievement of landing a software engineering job at Google without attending college raised questions about the fairness of the college admissions process, particularly concerning Asian students.

Mixed responses: Musk's tweet ignited mixed reactions from X users. Some argue that colleges aim for a diverse student population and that the struggle for admission is not specific to Asians but affects any group with high-achieving individuals.

I don't think the left hates Asians," an X user wrote in response. "I think the colleges/universities are trying to achieve racial equality on the campuses, meaning having a diverse population where all races are represented equally. Although, I do think Asians who have worked hard all their lives, it's troubling that they now, can't get accepted into colleges because all the other Asians have also worked hard all their lives. So it's like, you can't take all the Asians, so which ones do you take?

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Aren't the more extreme conservatives the strongest proponents of Buy American though?" asked a user. "I thought that campaign was mostly directed at Asian companies?

Others, however, contended that Musk's claims reflect the left's reluctance to acknowledge the role of hard work and individual effort in success, instead advocating for forced diversity.

Asians - East & South Asians in particular - throw a wrench into the leftist worldview that all differences in group outcome are attributable to systematic bias," a commenter said. "So rather than admit theyre wrong and update their priors, they just discriminate their way into forced diversity.

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The elites from the Left dislike us," lamented another user. "It's very hard to get accepted to IVY League Schools. Even with a lot of money and having high SAT, GPA and other scores. This is wrong. And we are a tiny portion of the population too."

Past comments on racial issues: In February, Musk accused the media of being racist after newspapers dropped the "Dilbert" comic strip. The strip's creator, Scott Adams, was accused of making derogatory comments against Black Americans.

According to Musk, the media has a long history of racism, including against whites and Asians, prompting him to suggest that they "try not being racist."

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JOHNSTON  An employee at an automobile dealership in town was wounded in a shooting Wednesday evening, according to the Johnston police.

At about 5 p.m., the police went to City Limit Auto Sales at 760 Hartford Ave. regarding a shooting, according to Johnston Police Chief Mark A. Vieira.

The police learned that an employee had been shot and that the suspect fled before the police arrived, Vieira said.

The victim was taken to a hospital with an injury that's not considered life-threatening, according to Vieira.

The police say a suspect has not been identified, and there is no threat to public safety.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Johnston police: Suspect shot auto dealership employee, fled
Ari Emanuel speaks onstage during the 2017 LACMA Art + Film Gala at LACMA in Los Angeles. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images for LACMA)

Endeavor Chief Executive Ari Emanuel on Wednesday castigated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , citing a massive failure of Israeli intelligence agencies to anticipate Saturday's surprise cross-border attack by Hamas militants.

"As a Jew, what happened in Israel this past weekend was one of the worst pogroms in history, not including the Holocaust," Emanuel said, speaking at Bloomberg's Screentime conference Wednesday night. His Beverly Hills-based company owns Hollywood talent agency WME.

Read more: This Israeli couple's son is in enemy hands. They're determined to get him back

Emanuel, who has spoken out about antisemitism, blamed Netanyahu for making Israel vulnerable to "heinous" attacks by Hamas "terrorists."

"From my opinion, a morally corrupt Bibi Netanyahu exposed Israel and its people to rape, death, beheadings of children, murders of fathers, mothers, grandmothers and he did it to stay in power," Emanuel said. "I just think it's time that we get rid of this man."

Emanuel also called out the leaders of rival Creative Artists Agency.

In a recent lawsuit, actor Julia Ormond said top CAA agents, including co-chairman Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane, discouraged her from coming forward about an alleged sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein's attorney denied the allegations.

Emanuel said Lourd and Huvane should take a leave of absence and called for an outside investigation into Ormond's claims about the agency's involvement.

I think its disgusting what they did, and it happened when they were just taking power, Emanuel said.

Read more: Julia Ormond sues Weinstein for assault and says top CAA agents enabled him

CAA has called the claims baseless and said that the law firm Paul, Weiss had done a review and found nothing to support Ms. Ormonds claims against CAA.

CAA takes all allegations of sexual assault and abuse seriously, and has compassion for Ms. Ormond and the experience she described in her complaint, the talent agency said in a statement. However, the claims that Ms. Ormond has levied against the agency are completely without merit.

On Thursday, Lourd called Emanuel "incredibly performative."

We were falsely accused of something that we did not do and we are going to address those accusations in court in a proper forum," Lourd said at Bloomberg's Screentime conference.

Weinstein, 70, is serving a 23-year prison sentence in New York, where he was convicted in 2020 of sexually assaulting other women. In February, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for raping a woman in a Beverly Hills hotel in 2013.

Read more: Investigations into secret payments. A new sports colossus. Inside Vince McMahon's last stand

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Orlando Sentinel endorses District 6 commissioner Bakari Burns for re-election.

Over repeated elections, Orlando voters have nearly always opted to stick with the status quo. In some cities, that can signal stagnation. In others, its a vote of confidence that voters like the direction their city is headed and want to stay the course.

Ballots are set in Orlando ahead of November contests for mayor, commissioners

Orlando voters have a lot to like. The citys fiscal position is strong. Its investment in community building and infrastructure has paid off in many ways, and signs of innovation can be seen across the city  from the redevelopment of historic neighborhoods (including the fast-moving Packing District taking shape to the west of College Park) to new policing initiatives that use the latest public-safety research. There are big challenges ahead  including Orlandos position at the epicenter of Central Floridas affordable housing crisis  but its clear that city leaders arent resting on their laurels.

In this falls elections, Tony Ortiz in District 2 will be reelected without opposition. Mayor Buddy Dyer has three challengers; Patty Sheehan (District 4) drew two and Bakari Burns (District 6) has one. We will issue an endorsement for mayor at a later date.

Our pick: Re-elect Bakari Burns

Bakari Burns beat considerable odds in winning his first City Council race in 2019, surging ahead of an opponent with far more resources and name recognition. Since then, hes poured considerable energy into serving the constituents of District 6, which spans some of Orlandos most economically depressed areas as well as some of its most historic neighborhoods.

In some areas, he admits he hasnt made as much headway as he would have liked. This districts needs are massive and progress can be frustratingly incremental. Much of Burns energy went toward ensuring that District 6 had adequate resources to meet the demands of a pandemic, a challenge which Burns  the CEO of a nonprofit health provider  was uniquely equipped to meet. Even as a newcomer, Burns wasnt afraid to challenge the status quo, including demands that Orlando do a better job of spending the federal aid that rained down on local cities over the past few years. Hes also done a good job of collaborating with the leaders in his district to identify small-scale improvements, such as technology outposts, that can make a big difference in the lives of his constituents.

His opponent, Rufus Hawkins, has good intentions and insight on some of the challenges facing District 6. But he doesnt come close to making the case for displacing Burns. This one is an easy call.

We will be posting our endorsements in local races over the next week. However, we urge voters to not rely solely on our opinions in deciding how to cast a vote. Voters should check the candidates campaign websites and social media accounts (if they dont have either, that should be a red flag). Ask friends and neighbors what they think. Google the candidates and go to the citys website to see whos giving money to their campaigns. In addition, weve recorded our interviews and posted them in full at OrlandoSentinel.com/opinion.

Election endorsements are the opinion of the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, which consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Insight Editor Jay Reddick and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell participates in interviews and deliberations. Send emails to insight@orlandosentinel.com.
Estonian flag

The Estonian government has approved and sent to parliament an amendment to the International Sanctions Act, which foresees the use of frozen Russian assets to compensate Ukraine for the damage inflicted by Moscows invasion, Estonian PM Kaja Kallas announced on Oct. 12.

According to the bill, the legal framework of Estonia will be expanded to make the competences and powers of institutions clearer and more effective in implementing and overseeing sanctions. Kallas believes that it is crucial for Russia to pay the price for aggression.

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We must find ways to hold Russia financially responsible for the damage it has caused Ukraine, the PM said.

Read also: Ukraine vows further strikes on Russian military assets in occupied Crimea

The bill that we sent to the parliament today allows us to use the frozen assets of sanctioned persons in Estonia to compensate for war-related damage in Ukraine. We should be a role model and a stimulus for other EU countries in establishing similar rules. Russia should compensate Ukraine for all the damage caused by the war.

Margus Tsahkna, the country's foreign minister, also supported Estonia's initiative to use frozen Russian assets.

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I am pleased that today the government has approved the draft amendments to the International Sanctions Act ; part of the draft law is Estonia's initiative to use frozen Russian assets to compensate for losses inflicted by Russia's brutal war against Ukraine, said Tsahkna.

To date, Estonia has frozen Russian assets worth EUR 38 million ($40 million).

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The government of Estonia has approved and will submit to the parliament an amendment to the International Sanctions Act that provides domestic rules for the use of frozen assets of sanctioned persons to compensate for the damage caused to Ukraine by the Russian war.

Source: European Pravda, referring to the press service of the Estonian government

Details: According to the draft law, Estonia's legal space will be organised more broadly so that the competence and powers of institutions in the implementation and supervision of sanctions are clearer and more effective, the government said in a statement.

"The draft law, which the government and I submitted to the parliament today, allows the use of frozen assets of persons sanctioned in Estonia to compensate for damage from the war in Ukraine. We should be an example and an incentive for other European countries to establish similar rules. Russia should compensate Ukraine for everything caused by the war's harm", said Kaia Kallas, the Prime Minister of Estonia.

Kallas expressed her wish that the European Union "complete the work on the use of Russian frozen assets and the development of practical solutions as soon as possible".

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna welcomed Estonia's initiative to use frozen Russian assets.

"I am glad that the government has approved the draft law today ... the purpose of which is to organise the legal space of Estonia in order to increase the competence and powers of the institutions for the implementation of sanctions and their supervision," the minister said.

"Estonia's initiative to use frozen assets of Russia to compensate for damages caused by Russia's brutal war in Ukraine is part of the draft law. Money for compensation for damages caused by Russia to Ukraine should not come only from taxpayers of other countries," he added.

The Foreign Minister explained that according to the draft law, frozen Russian assets will remain frozen until war damages are compensated.

The application of this mechanism requires an international agreement with Ukraine or an international compensation mechanism.

In Estonia, at the time of draft law preparation, assets worth about 38 million euros were frozen on the basis of international sanctions.

Background:

In September, Tsahkna said that Estonia planned to become the first country in the European Union to legalise the confiscation of Kremlin-linked assets to finance the recovery of Ukraine.

The principles of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine were approved by the Estonian government in June.

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The Estonian government has approved a draft law that, if passed by parliament, will allow frozen Russian assets to be transferred to Ukraine, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced on Oct. 12.

"The money to compensate for the damages caused by Russia in Ukraine should not come only from the taxpayers of other countries," Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

The bill intends for assets frozen in Estonia to be used to compensate for war damages, Kallas said, adding that the country "must be an example and an encouragement" to others in establishing similar regulations.

"Russia must compensate Ukraine for all the war damages caused," Kallas said.

Tsahkna said that he hopes that the law will influence Russia to follow international law, as the bill entails that the assets "will remain frozen until the war damages are compensated."

"Applying punishment to every single person who contributes to aggression can ultimately influence the political leadership or people of the aggressor country," the foreign minister said.

The Estonian government estimates that assets worth around 38 million euros ($40 million) have been frozen in the country following international sanctions on Russia.

The news from Estonia comes the day after Belgium announced it has created a 1.7 billion euro ($1.8 billion) fund for Ukraine financed by the tax revenue from interest on frozen Russian assets.

Banks in Belgium who hold frozen assets must pay income tax on the interest they earn, which goes directly to the national government.

"The taxation of income from these assets should go 100% to the benefit of the population of Ukraine," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said on Oct. 11 in Brussels.

Belgium holds about 180 billion euros ($191 billion) in frozen Russian assets, de Croo said in May.

Read also: That diamond ring? It may have helped pay for Russias war

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European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said 'no official decision' had been taken on whether to investigate China's subsidies for its wind power industry (Pedro PARDO)

The European Union's climate chief said Thursday that "no official decision" had been taken on whether to investigate China's subsidies for its wind power industry, following talks with her counterparts in Beijing.

The EU this month launched an enquiry into China's suspected unfair use of subsidies to support the country's electric-car manufacturers -- a move that has been strongly criticised by Beijing.

The bloc is reportedly also considering a similar but separate probe into Chinese producers of wind turbine components, following complaints that state subsidies allow them to offer cheap imports which undercut European competitors.

But European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson told a press briefing on Thursday that she had informed Chinese officials "there is no official decision that we should open any investigation in the wind sector right now".

"From the EU perspective, we will keep our market open. We do believe that just and fair competition will benefit all our consumers and will bring us the most efficient solutions," Simson said.

"If there are cases of unfair competition or providing subsidies or dumping, then we will have to launch an investigation. But all the decisions will be made based on facts," she added.

Simson said she had held talks with Zhang Jianhua, chairman of China's National Energy Administration, as part of a three-day trip to Beijing that ends on Friday.

She is part of a flurry of visits to the country by EU officials, with the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arriving in Shanghai on Thursday for an expected three-day trip.

Borrell is likely to discuss the EU's "de-risking" strategy with China -- its largest trade partner -- and prepare the ground for a planned summit this year.

mjw/je/ssy
The EU says Borrell 's visit should culminate in an EU-China summit later this year (Sergei SUPINSKY)

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in China on Thursday, looking to manage the bloc's "de-risking" strategy with its largest trading partner while laying the foundations for a planned summit this year.

The visit comes just days after war broke out between Israel and Hamas, prompting Borrell to assemble an emergency meeting of European foreign ministers. China has called on all parties to "cease fire".

Borrell's trip, which was postponed twice this year and is expected to last until Saturday, will involve talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and will tackle issues including bilateral relations, global challenges and trade.

The EU says the visit -- the latest in a string of high-level EU-China dialogues -- "should culminate in the EU-China summit later this year".

"Just landed in China to co-chair the EU-China Strategic Dialogue with my counterpart Minister Wang Yi," Borrell said on his verified account on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"An important visit to discuss EU-China relations, key regional and global challenges with government authorities, scholars and business representatives," he added.

Relations between the EU and China have been heavily strained since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February, which Beijing has stopped short of condemning.

Rather than halting dialogue completely, Brussels is pushing for an approach with Beijing that balances its concerns over relying too much on China while also maintaining ties with the world's second-largest economy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has defined the position as "de-risking rather than decoupling" from China.

- 'Volatile' world -

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters that "China welcomes" Borrell's visit, adding that his trip would "inject new impetus into the two sides' joint efforts to address challenges and maintain world peace and stability".

"The world is currently facing a volatile and turbulent situation," Wang said.

"China and the EU, as two major global forces, markets and civilisations, have broad common interests in... promoting global development and prosperity and advancing human civilisation."

Von der Leyen -- who carried out her own official visit to China in April -- announced last month that the EU was launching an investigation into Beijing's provision of subsidies for its rapidly rising electric vehicle industry.

European leaders have said that the Chinese subsidies have resulted in unfair competition in their automotive market.

But Beijing has criticised the investigation, warning that it will harm its trading relationship with the bloc.

And earlier this month, the EU named sensitive technologies that it must defend from rivals, including artificial intelligence.

Borrell's visit is also likely to include dialogue on the ongoing war in Ukraine. China has sought to position itself as a neutral party, but the EU has been critical of its stance.

The bloc's trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said Beijing's position was "affecting the country's image" during his visit to China last month.

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European Union

The European Union is planning to allocate EUR 4.5 billion (USD 4.755 billion) to Ukraine by the end of the year, relying on support from other donors, the EU's Commissioner for Economic Affairs Paolo Gentiloni said at a round table meeting at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Marrakech.

The EU has become Ukraines largest donor in 2023, having already disbursed EUR 13.5 billion (USD 14.266 billion) through the macro-financial assistance instrument. The 4.5 billion EUR would be in addition to this sum.

Read also: Pentagon faces challenges supporting Ukraine and Israel in separate wars

"Overall, the progress is very positive, and I am optimistic about Ukraine meeting all conditions by the end of 2024 and beyond, Gentiloni said, adding that the EU and other international partners should take pride in their contributions to Ukraine. This unity and solidarity have put Ukraines economy in a better position than many expected. "We count on the support of all international partners. We also need to coordinate the terms of assistance between international donors and financial institutions to ensure their consistency.

Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to continue vital economic reforms, with current terms of EU financial support including judicial reform, improved economic regulation, and bankruptcy regime enhancements.

Read also: US plans to bundle aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan in one bill  report

The European Commission's proposal to allocate $50 billion over the next four years will enable the EU to significantly aid Ukraine in fulfilling its financial requirements. Hungary previously suggested that the EU provide Ukraine with only half of this promised assistance.

Ukraine is preparing a plan that envisions growth based on reforms and investments, in addition to international financial support. "The new candidate status for Ukraine also gave a powerful impetus to reforms, despite the ongoing war. We will continue to support Ukraine as much as needed, Gentiloni stated.

The United States was the primary donor to Ukraine in 2022, allocating $11.98 billion compared to the EUs $7.96 billion, and urged European colleagues to be more active. This year, the U.S. provided Ukraine with $10.9 billion compared to the EU's $14.66 billion. Additional funds expected from Washington by year-end remain uncertain due to a congressional crisis.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The European Union launched a probe Thursday into X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, over the handling of content about the war in Israel and Gaza.

The move to investigate the platform owned by Elon Musk is the most significant action taken by the EU under its new Digital Services Act, which aims to restrict the spread of illegal content and disinformation across social media platforms.

How Musks X is amplifying misinformation about Israel and Gaza

The #DSA is here to protect both freedom of expression & our democracies  including in times of crisis. We have sent @X a formal request for information, a first step in our investigation to determine compliance with the DSA, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton posted on X.

The European Commission probe comes after the commission received indications of the spread of illegal content and disinformation on X, in particular the spreading of terrorist and violent content and hate speech, according to the announcement.

The formal probe follows a warning letter the EU sent X Monday.

The Hill reached out to an X spokesperson for comment.

In response to the first letter, X CEO Linda Yaccarino published a letter Thursday morning about steps the platform has taken in response to the conflict.

Yaccarino said X has removed hundreds of accounts linked to Hamas after the attack, as well as redistributed resources and refocused internal teams and is proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis.

False claims have spread across X since the Saturday launch of Hamass surprise attack on Israel. Examples inclulde posts of prior Israeli airstrikes being misrepresented as recent and false claims of the U.S. sending a multi-billion dollar aid package to Israel.

Critics and experts monitoring the situation said the changes to X under Musk have amplified concerns about the spread of disinformation during the conflict.

Under Musk, certain content moderation measures were rolled back.

Musk also overhauled the platforms verification system by allowing users to pay for blue check marks and striping them from public figures. He additionally gave paying users options to monetize content, deepening concerns about attempts to spread misinformation.

The probe into X could be a critical test for the implementation of the EUs Digital Services Act, which went into effect in August for large platforms.

The new law holds platforms responsible for the distribution of illegal content posted on their platforms.

Updated at 3:32 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- The European Unions top diplomat has waited all year for the right moment to visit China. Now, hes finally arriving with the differences between Brussels and Beijing looking larger than ever.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Josep Borrells three-day visit starting Thursday comes as the EU navigates a delicate task: pushing back against Chinese subsidies it says disadvantage European companies, while trying to prevent the $900 billion relationship from imploding into a trade war.

Deadly assaults on Israel by Hamas are also likely to cast a long shadow on talks. President Xi Jinping has so far remained silent over the hundreds of civilian deaths, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has blasted the attack as terrorism in its most despicable form.

Beijings failure to condemn Hamas puts China and the EU on opposite sides of a second major conflict in as many years: Xis backing for Russia after its invasion of Ukraine has been a growing thorn in the relationship, with a top EU official warning China last month that its war stance is hurting its investment potential.

The timing of Borrells trip lays bare the sensitivities: he will depart China just a few days before Russian President Vladimir Putin  whose nation has been heavily sanctioned by the EU  lands in the capital to meet with Xi, avoiding an awkward overlap that could raise tensions.

The top diplomat will meet Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the trip, in talks seen as the final step in smoothing a path for von der Leyen to visit China later this year.

Both sides are going to be trying to make sense of each others positions, according to Alicja Bachulska, policy fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations.

The EU wants to communicate where its red lines are, she said. On its security environment and economic competitiveness, Brussels is trying to recalibrate its position toward Beijing.

Third Time Lucky?

Borrells visit comes after two failed attempts earlier this year. The EU officials first trip in April was scuppered after he tested positive for Covid-19. Then China abruptly postponed a planned July meeting  one of the first signs then Foreign Minister Qin Gang had been ousted from his job.

On this weeks long-awaited visit hell first meet with business people in Shanghai, according to one EU official familiar with his agenda. That comes after a record share of European companies said doing business in the Asian giant is getting more difficult in a survey published in June by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.

Tensions over trade are only likely to intensify. The EU and US are set to announce a provisional political agreement on the so-called Global Steel and Aluminum Arrangement at a summit in Washington on Oct. 20, Bloomberg News reported.

That pact could introduce new tariffs aimed at excess steel production from China at a fragile moment for its economy: The nations post-pandemic recovery has disappointed this year, as the Asian powerhouse faces headwinds from depressed global demand and turbulence in its indebted property market.

Asked about the expected probes at a Thursday briefing, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the country opposes unilateralism and protectionism abusing trade remedies and it will closely monitor the EUs actions.

Beijing is likely to see any steel curbs as an attack on its economy at a time when it is already under stress, said Noah Barkin, senior advisor of the Rhodium Groups China practice.

Borrell will need to make a strong case for why these measures are necessary at a time when concerns in Europe are growing about possible Chinese retaliation, he added.

De-risking

Chinas difficulty in compartmentalizing human rights issues from its trade with the EU was exposed in December 2020 when the bloc froze a major investment pact that had taken seven years to negotiate.

The deal fell apart at the eleventh hour after China imposed tit-for-tat sanctions on members of the bloc over allegations of human rights abuses in its Xinjiang region.

Beijing has since tried to steady bilateral ties as it courts the EU as a counterweight to the US, as the worlds largest economy ramps up trade curbs and political pressure on China. But as concern mounts in the West over Xis military aggression toward the self-ruled island of Taiwan, the EUs approach has increasingly looked more in-step with that of President Joe Bidens government.

The European Commission has increased pressure on member-nations to stop using Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. equipment in their most advanced mobile networks. It has also pledged to de-risk sensitive supply chains from China, in language mirrored by the Biden administration, and is now considering trade curbs in at least two key industries.

Dong Yifan, an academic at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the state-run Global Times newspaper the EU has been coordinating its trade policies with the US more since Russias war in Ukraine. The EUs actions are trade protectionism intertwined with a political mindset, Dong added.

Naked Protectionism

Last month, the EU dispatched its top trade negotiator Valdis Dombrovskis to Beijing days after it announced a probe into Chinas electric vehicle subsidies. Brussels said the investigation was needed to protect jobs and supply chains at home.

While Beijing initially blasted the EV probe as a naked act of protectionism, it was the EU official who had the sharpest rhetoric for Beijing on that trip. He delivered some of the blocs most direct criticisms of Chinas economic and political policies, and said those two pillars of their relationship couldnt be separated.

With Borrell arriving in China straight from talks in Oman, the conflict in the Middle East will likely be front and center. That sets the stage for a potentially thorny series of meetings that will test how far the worlds second-largest economy is willing to go to keep Europe on side.

Beijing wants to improve its ties with Brussels in the context of Chinas rivalry with the US, said Bachulska, the foreign policy fellow. But it wont do it at a heavy cost.

--With assistance from Fran Wang, James Mayger and Natalia Drozdiak.

(Updates with Chinas response in 13th paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The European Union urged Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to be very vigilant about removing illegal content and disinformation from its platforms, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Thierry Breton , the EUs commissioner for Internal Market, sent a letter Wednesday to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the surge of illegal content and disinformation being disseminated in the EU via certain platforms.

He called on Zuckerberg to be very vigilant to ensure strict compliance with the Digital Services Act  a set of rules enacted by the EU last year to regulate online platforms throughout the bloc.

Breton emphasized that Meta is required to take timely, diligent and objective action after being notified of illegal content on its platforms and should take proportionate and effective mitigation measures against such content.

X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, received a similar, more sternly worded warning from Breton on Tuesday after seeing indications that the platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU.

Breton noted that potentially illegal content continued to circulate on X despite being flagged for authorities and reminded owner Elon Musk that he must take action and remove relevant content when warranted.

He also called on Musk to be very transparent and clear about what content is permitted and to consistently and diligently enforce the policies as well as to put in place measures to tackle the risks to public security and civic discourse stemming from disinformation.

X has faced scrutiny in recent days for amplifying misleading information about the war in Israel, including posts misrepresenting old images and footage as recent and false claims from accounts posing as official news outlets.

The platforms trust and safety team said Monday that it is laser focused and dedicated to protecting the conversation on X, noting that it had removed newly created Hamas-affiliated accounts and tens of thousands of posts with graphic media, violent speech and hateful conduct.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been spared prison after agreeing to pay 652m to HMRC for failing to declare 400m of overseas assets to the government.

The billionaire was sentenced to 17 months in prison suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to fraud on Thursday.

On 7 July 2015, Ecclestone failed to declare a trust in Singapore with a bank account containing around $650m.

Bernie Ecclestone arrives at Southwark Crown Court (PA Wire)

The court heard Ecclestone had said no when asked whether he had any links to further trusts in or outside the UK in a meeting with HMRC officers who were investigating his tax affairs. That answer was untrue or misleading, prosecutors said.

The tycoon had been due to stand trial for fraud in November, having previously pleaded not guilty in August. But he admitted the charge at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.

The 92-year-old arrived wearing a dark suit and grey tie supported by his third wife, Fabiana Flosi. He told the hearing: I plead guilty.

The court heard the former racing driver has agreed a civil settlement of 652.6m in respect of sums due to HMRC over the course of 18 years, which includes a penalty of more than 340m. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of 74,000.

Sentencing the F1 supremo, Mr Justice Bryan said: Your offending is so serious that neither a fine or a community order would be appropriate. It is rightly acknowledged that the custody threshold has been passed.

However, he said that he had taken into consideration a number of mitigating factors, including Ecclestones health, age, and that he has no previous criminal convictions.

Before his guilty plea, Ecclestone made a bid to dismiss proceedings by claiming unpopular remarks he made about Russian president Vladimir Putin on daytime television were the reason for the prosecution, rather than legitimate public interest.

Ecclestone was seeking to a draw a line under investigations into his tax affairs, the court heard (PA)

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Bryan said the elderly billionaire had lied to HMRC investigators. He told the defendant: Towards the end of the meeting you were asked if, since the conclusion of the previous investigation in 2008, and excluding the trusts referred to so far in the course of the meeting, whether you were linked as a settlor or beneficiary to any other trust in or outside the United Kingdom.

You replied no. That was a lie. You were in fact linked to a trust structure known as the Kinan Trust and another known as the Nanki Trust.

He added that the prosecution had given careful consideration to the public interest in pursuing the fraud case, given Ecclestones age and health, including considering evidence from the businessmans cardiologist.

The judge also said he accepted that the sizeable settlement figure agreed with HMRC reflected remorse and showed Ecclestones determination to address his offending.

Ecclestones defence barrister, Christine Montgomery KC, said her client bitterly regrets the events that led to this criminal trial.

In 2014, Ecclestone agreed to pay 60m to bring an end to a bribery trial in Germany. As a result of that investigation, HMRC opened a tax fraud investigation into the former racing chief, who has three grown-up daughters, Deborah, Tamara and Petra, and a young son, Ace.

Before his guilty plea, Ecclestone claimed unpopular remarks he made about Vladimir Putin were the reason for the prosecution (Getty)

Ecclestone enjoyed a career as one of the most prominent people in global motorsport after he ran Formula One from the late 1970s until 2017. His current net worth is estimated at $2.9bn (2.1bn), according to Forbes.

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC told the court that Ecclestone was seeking to a draw a line under investigations into his tax affairs at the meeting with HMRC on 7 July 2015, adding: He was fed up of paying huge bills for advice.

The court heard Ecclestone had answered no when asked by HMRC officers whether he had any links to further trusts in or outside the UK.

Mr Wright added: That answer was untrue or misleading. Mr Ecclestone knew his answer may have been untrue or misleading.

As of July 7 2015, Mr Ecclestone did not know the truth of the position, so was not able to give an answer to the question. Mr Ecclestone was not entirely clear on how ownership of the accounts in question were structured.

He therefore did not know whether it was liable for tax, interest or penalties in relation to amounts passing through the accounts.

Mr Ecclestone recognises it was wrong to answer the questions he did because it ran the risk that HMRC would not continue to investigate his affairs. He now accepts that some tax is due in relation to these matters.

Ecclestone, pictured with Lewis Hamilton (Getty)

Investigators said Ecclestone had ample time to be honest about his tax affairs.

Speaking outside court after the tycoon was sentenced, Richard Las, director of the fraud investigation service at HMRC, said: Bernie Ecclestone has had ample time and numerous opportunities to take responsibility and be honest with HMRC about his tax affairs.

Instead of taking these opportunities he lied to HMRC, and as a result we opened a criminal investigation. This investigation has involved inquiries around the world and culminated with todays trial.

Today Bernie Ecclestone pleaded guilty to fraud.

As you know, he has now been sentenced. As well as the sentence he has made a payment of 650m in relation to his tax affairs. Over 340m of that amount is a penalty, so a very significant amount.

Leaving the court, Ecclestone was asked for comment, but his response was unclear as he smiled and nodded and climbed into a waiting white Range Rover.
A former Republican Congressman has blasted members of his own party for aligning with Israel, while simultaneously calling for cuts to aid being sent to Ukraine.

David Jolly accused some of his former colleagues of knee-jerk support for Israel and the Middle East, following simply a political pledge with no actual knowledge of the region.

He told MSNBC that some Republicans were too ignorant to see the similarities between protecting the citizens of both Ukraine and Israel.

It comes as Israels military said 1,200 Israelis have died since terror group Hamas first launched its attack on Saturday  with more than 2,700 injured in the violence.

Speaking to The ReidOut, Mr Jolly said that the position of the Biden administration was the right one and that Israel had been a victim of terror.

As a baseline, we know, and theres agreement in the US, that Israel was a victim of terror at the hands of Hamas, not just the Israelis but the loss of life in America and any additional that may be being held hostage.

So the position of the US and Joe Biden is a right one: To call this evil and say we will stand with Israel."

Mr Jolly said that in his experience many Republicans were allies of Israel out of simply a political pledge, not out of actual knowledge and were motivated by owning the libs [liberals].

"They couldnt tell you the difference or distinguish between Gaza and the West Bank. They couldnt tell you about the complexities of the Middle East, he said.

They just know in Republican politics you prove your worth, not by knowledge about the Middle East, but about the intensity of your pledge to be an ally of Israel, and its the right position even if its for perhaps ignorant or the wrong reasons."

He added: "The similarities between the US aligning with the people of Israel and protecting Ukraine from the encroachment and the evil of Vladimir Putin are right in front of Republicans faces, but theyre simply too ignorant to see it.

"Theyre motivated by owning the libs and therefore  no aid to Ukraine, but yes aid to Israel."

As well as the high number of Israeli casualties, the number of Palestinians killed in the conflict has risen from 1,055 to 1,100, according to Gazas health ministry.

The ministry added that a total of 5,339 people have been injured.
An IRS contractor suspected of leaking Donald Trump 's tax returns to The New York Times faces up to five years in prison (Alon Skuy)

A US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) contractor suspected of leaking former president Donald Trump's tax returns to the media pleaded guilty on Thursday to unlawfully disclosing tax information.

Charles Littlejohn, 38, faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison at sentencing on January 29, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Littlejohn was accused by federal prosecutors of leaking the tax returns of a "high-ranking government official" to a news organization.

Neither the official nor the news outlet were identified by the Justice Department but it has been widely reported in US media that the tax returns were those of Trump and the news organization was The New York Times.

The Times reported in September 2020 that Trump, who has refused to make his tax returns public, paid only $750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017, and none at all for 10 of the previous 15 years.

Littlejohn was also accused of leaking the tax information of thousands of the wealthiest individuals in the United States to another unidentified news outlet.

That outlet is believed to be ProPublica, a nonprofit journalism organization which published extensive reports in June 2021 based on the tax information, a project it dubbed "The Secret IRS Files."

According to court filings, Littlejohn accessed tax returns on an IRS database and saved them on multiple personal storage devices, including an iPod.

"By using his role as a government contractor to gain access to private tax information, steal that information, and disclose it publicly, Charles Littlejohn broke federal law and betrayed the public's trust," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

cl/acb
India, wearing this label, really looks unsightly: Global Times editorial

09:59, October 12, 2023 By Global Times ( Global Times

According to multiple foreign media reports, on October 10, local time in India, law-enforcement agencies arrested four industry executives, including an employee of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, in a case of alleged money laundering. Vivo stated on Wednesday to Chinese media, "Vivo in India strictly adheres to local laws and regulations. We are closely monitoring the recent investigation and will take all possible legal measures to address it."

Many people's first reaction to this news was that India is once again targeting foreign companies operating in the country, especially those from China. This reaction is quite real because such incidents occur very frequently, and people have seen through what is really happening. India has worn the label of the "graveyard for investments" many years, and it seems to have become accustomed to it and doesn't want to take it off. However, wearing this label is not really a good thing for India, but it's ugly.

It is evident that since the border conflict between China and India in June 2020, Indian authorities have significantly increased their hostility against Chinese companies, with Chinese smartphone companies bearing the brunt. From making accusations and threats, conducting sudden office searches, freezing funds, to the recent arrests, India's crackdown actions against Chinese companies have been escalating step by step. The behavior is becoming increasingly unsightly, and is incongruent with India's aspirations for a global major power position and image.

People with some knowledge of India are well aware that India's legal and regulatory framework is as intricate as a labyrinth. Any slight oversight can lead to inadvertent violations, often resulting in widespread non-compliance and selective enforcement. This complexity provides a convenient tool for Indian authorities to extort foreign companies. However, it must be pointed out that in recent years, India has leveled numerous allegations against Chinese companies, yet ultimately found no evidence. It is possible that India aims to use such disturbances to force Chinese companies into unnecessary concessions and compromises.

India has indeed succeeded on numerous occasions, and this is probably the main reason it continues to do so tirelessly. The Financial Times Chinese edition published an article in September, which candidly pointed out that looking back at the history of foreign companies' development in India, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is indeed a history filled with blood and tears.

According to data from the Indian government, from 2014 to 2021, 2,783 multinational companies and their subsidiaries closed their businesses and operations in India. The number of multinational companies registered in India decreased from 216 in fiscal year 2014 to 63 in fiscal year 2021. Many multinational companies, including Metro AG, Ford, General Motors, and Volkswagen, eventually chose to withdraw from the Indian market. The actual number is probably more than that. The poor and volatile business environment in India is a consensus among almost all foreign companies operating in India.

People have summarized India's tactics, which involve initially offering some benefits or promising prospects to foreign capital in order to lure foreign companies to invest in India. Once these foreign companies have established a foundation and achieved certain benefits in India, especially when India has learned a little from imitating them, the Indian authorities use various means to effectively extort them, leaving foreign companies in a dilemma. If it weren't for being unable to bear it anymore, how could those multinational companies endure the pain of giving up such a large market like India? This may make India arrogant, giving it some short-term benefits, but it will inevitably cause long-term damage to India's national interests and act as a ceiling that hinders India's modern economic development. We advise India not to lose sight of the bigger picture for small gains.

After the Modi government came to power, it ambitiously launched the "Make in India" campaign, aspiring to make India a global manufacturing hub. In the past two years, the US' suppression and containment of Chinese companies, coupled with the Western media's hype about "shifting manufacturing from China to India," have made some Indians a bit arrogant. In reality, India is far from achieving this ambition. It is certain that India cannot support its domestic mobile phone industry by targeting Chinese smartphone enterprises. In the era of economic globalization, companies can only truly grow and strengthen through full competition. Driving away Chinese smartphones would bring more harm than benefits to India. In fact, without the support of the Chinese industrial chain, it would be difficult for India's smartphone industry to grow, and the development of India's manufacturing industry would also be hindered.

Lastly, in the face of unreasonable demands, malicious harassment, and repeated extortion, Chinese companies will never be soft targets that can be manipulated. They should stand firm without fear and defend their legitimate rights and interests. India's bullying of Chinese companies not only fails to prove its strength and power but also reveals its inner fragility and lack of confidence, once again demonstrating that India is far from being a mature and investment-friendly market.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A former Israeli prime minister berated an anchor on Sky News for asking him about Palestinian civilian deaths amid Israels retaliation to Hamas surprise attack on Saturday. Are you seriouslykeep asking me about Palestinian civilians? What is wrong with you? Have you not seen whats happened? Were fighting Nazis, said PM Naftali Bennett in the clip. He continued, referencing the countrys decision to cut off essential resources to Gaza, Im not going to [provide food], electricity, or water to my enemies. Anchor Kamali Melbourne pushed back, saying, This is my program, and I am asking the questions. Bennett later claimed that Melbourne was trying to spin a narrative in favor of Palestinians. Eventually addressing the initial question about civilian deaths, Bennett answered, Were going to target Hamas, and were telling Hamas that if you use anyone as your human shield that its their responsibility.

'Are you seriously asking me about Palestinian civilians? What is wrong with you? We're fighting Nazis.'



Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett adds 'if Hamas use anyone as a human shield, it is their responsibility.'https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3



 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/19nBKjOYOQ  Sky News (@SkyNews) October 12, 2023

Read it at Mediaite

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Council member Gil Cedillo speaks in support of the motion for the appointment of Heather Hutt as an interim council member for the 10th District. Motion failed to receive the 10 votes required for a public hearing at City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA.



Council member Gil Cedillo speaks in support of the motion for the appointment of Heather Hutt as an interim council member for the 10th District. Motion failed to receive the 10 votes required for a public hearing at City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA.



Way back in 2021, a few Los Angeles City Council members came under fire for a leaked conversation with racist jokes and schemes to maintain Latino political power in redistricting. One of the callers was former Councilman Gil Cedillo. After over a year, he finally spoke out.



In an interview with Telemundo Noticias, Cedillo insisted that he didnt participate in any racist banter on the phone call ,which included former council president Nury Martinez, colleague Kevin de Leon and head of Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Ron Herrera.

Read more

Read from LA Times transcript of the call:

We have a Mexican in charge of the council. We have more members on the council. Were in a different spot now than we were 25 years ago. The thing for us is to exercise our power. To get together, like we are, exercising our power. Youre right, theres three seats. If you figure out the Valley, the seats on this corridor, historic African American, which I could support one. Maybe two. But those are Latino seats. Yeah, get Fernando Guerra in here, theres 57 out of 60 seats that African Americans are in, are Latino seats.

In another piece of the conversation, Herrera said if 50 percent of voters are Mexican, hed be confident in beating a Black candidate. Cedillo buds in and says, Twenty-five are for Black and the 25 Blacks are shouting, to which de Leon says they shout like theyre 250.

If there are people who have been offended, I want to say Im sorry. But really, these conversations were like every conversation that exists daily between people. Im not the police to cut off every conversation thats not right, Cedillo told Telemundo.

Isnt that the issue? Cedillo may not have been throwing slurs and nasty language like the others. Though, the problem is that he was part of a racist conversation and appeared compliant with their exchange. Thats probably why he lost his reelection bid in 2022.

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By Foo Yun Chee and Sheila Dang

BRUSSELS/DALLAS (Reuters) - EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Thursday opened an investigation into Elon Musk 's X, the first under new EU tech rules, after earlier reprimanding the social media platform, TikTok and Meta for not doing enough to tackle the spread of disinformation following Hamas' attack on Israel.

All three platforms have seen a surge of false content about the Israel and Hamas conflict, with disinformation appearing to be most prevalent on X, social media researchers told Reuters.

Breton's move ramps up the pressure on TikTok and Meta to remove illegal and harmful content from their platforms in order to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The DSA, which entered into force in November last year, forces very large online platforms and search engines to do more to tackle illegal content and risks to public security, and protect their services against manipulative techniques.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino said on Thursday the platform had removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content since the attack, in response to a letter from Breton.

"We have sent @X a formal request for information, a first step in our investigation to determine compliance with the DSA," Breton said in a posting on X.

X declined to comment.

Musk on Friday said in a post on X EU has not provided any example of disinformation after EU industry chief Thierry Breton had asked to tackle the spread of disinformation on X, formerly known as Twitter.

An European Commission spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It has until Oct. 18 to provide details on how its crisis response protocol is activated and functions, and until Oct. 31 on other issues.

A move by Musk to cut off free academic access to a data tool earlier this year is making it more challenging to track keywords and hashtags, forcing researchers to manually sift through content to trace disinformation, researchers said.

Since taking over Twitter, Musk has slashed the workforce to roughly 1,500 from 7,500 employees to cut costs, including many who worked on content moderation, identifying and taking down coordinated propaganda campaigns and curating reliable content.

X has also lost two heads of trust and safety and one head of brand safety, who worked to prevent ads from appearing next to harmful content. The company risks fines of as much as 6% of its global turnover if found guilty of DSA violations.

The Frenchman earlier on Thursday gave TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew 24 hours to step up efforts to remove illegal and harmful content from the short video app.

Breton's warning in a letter to Chew, first seen by Reuters, follows similar letters to X, formerly Twitter, owner Musk and Meta Platforms' Mark Zuckerberg earlier this week. Breton subsequently posted the letter on social media platform Bluesky.

Breton said in the letter to TikTok, owned by Chinese conglomerate ByteDance, that he had indications that it was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU after the Hamas attacks.

"Given that your platform is extensively used by children and teenagers, you have a particular obligation to protect them from violent content depicting hostage taking and other graphic videos which are reportedly widely circulating on your platform without appropriate safeguards," he said.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Writing by Philip Blenkinsop; additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Editing by Jane Merriman, Elaine Hardcastle, Jan Harvey, Sandra Maler and David Evans)
A couple from South Carolina went on a three-week mission trip to Israel. They were supposed return days ago.

Now, their daughters are fighting to get them back on American soil as the violence continues between Israel and Hamas.

Channel 9s Almiya White spoke exclusively with the sisters as they called their parents, Karen and Tom Henry.

Israel-Hamas War: At least 27 Americans killed, 14 unaccounted for (live updates)

They have exhausted all avenues, Tracy Boetto said. And now Ive been told that it might not be until the beginning of November till they can get out.

Karen told Boetto that she could hear bomb strikes in the air right over their hotel in Tel Aviv, where they are staying as they try to find a way back.

Congressman Ralph Norman told Channel 9 that people who have loved ones stuck in Israel can call 803-327-1114.

>> In the video at the top of this page, the daughters tell Channel 9s Almiya White how theyre trying to get their parents home.

(WATCH: Woman returns to Charlotte after escaping war-torn Israel)
By Praveen Menon

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum on Oct. 14 to constitutionally recognise its Indigenous people through the establishment of a representative body that can provide non-binding advice to the parliament.

Here's what you need to know about Australia's Voice to Parliament campaign:

WHO ARE AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the Indigenous people of Australia.

They represent about 3.8% of its population. The more than 800,000 Indigenous people and their ancestors have inhabited the land for at least 60,000 years. They comprise several hundred groups that have their own histories, traditions and languages.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?

Australia's Indigenous population plummeted after British colonisation began in 1788 as they were dispossessed of their land, exposed to new diseases, forced to work in slave-like conditions, and killed by colonisers.

The marginalisation of Australia's First Nations people has continued until recent years.

Aboriginal people track below national averages on most socio-economic measures and suffer disproportionately high rates of suicide, domestic violence and imprisonment. Their life expectancy is about eight years lower than non-Indigenous people.

One in three Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families over 1910 to the 1970s in a bid to assimilate them into white society. The government apologised for the so-called 'Stolen Generation' in 2008.

ARE OTHER FORMER BRITISH COLONIES BETTER?

First Nations people in other former British colonies continue to face marginalisation, but some countries have done better in ensuring their rights.

Canada recognises the rights of its Indigenous people under the Constitution Act 1982.

New Zealand's 1840 Treaty of Waitangi promises to protect Maori culture. The country also created Maori seats in parliament, allowing the Indigenous population to choose to vote for candidates for these seats or participate in the general election.

Te reo Maori has been recognised as an official language and is used in schools, universities and public offices.

HOW DID THE VOICE REFERENDUM COME ABOUT?

Indigenous people began to be included in Australia's census figures after a referendum to amend the constitution in 1967, more than 60 years after it was established as a nation in 1901.

In 2017, about 250 First Nations representatives gathered at the sacred monolith landmark of Uluru in central Australia and produced the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which calls for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

The conservative government at the time rejected the call.

In 2022, Labor's Anthony Albanese became prime minister and said Australians would have their say in a referendum to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

WHO IS FOR AND AGAINST THE VOICE?

The latest opinion polls this month showed more Australians are planning to vote no in the referendum than yes.

The referendum is one of Albanese's key issues and he has staked much of his political capital on it.

Albanese's Labor Party, the left-wing Greens party, some independent lawmakers, several welfare groups, national religious and ethno-religious groups all support the referendum.

But there are those who oppose it on both sides of the political divide.

Independent Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe quit the Green party over concerns about the Voice proposal. She wants a treaty between the government and Indigenous people first, similar to what exists in New Zealand and Canada.

The conservative Liberal Party and the rural-based National Party are against the proposal and are asking Australians to vote "No" in the referendum. The Liberals and the Nationals have a long-standing coalition agreement.

A "No" campaign, or "Recognise a Better Way" campaign, has proposed to set up an all-party parliamentary committee to focus on the rights of native title holders instead of establishing a Voice to Parliament through a referendum.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon in Sydney; Editing by Alasdair Pal and Stephen Coates)
If theres anyone whose dialogue-driven horror can go toe to toe with Edgar Allan Poe , its Mike Flanagan. The savant of fear was already a big name in the genre with films like Absentia, Oculus, and Gerald's Game when Netflix scooped him in 2018. With hit series such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, Flanagan expanded his succinct screenplays into protracted theatrical musings on trauma as terror. While some were more successful than others in freshening up that familiar theme, Flanagans keen eye for detail and frequent ability to shock has always kept his work watchable.

But with his latest Netflix limited series, The Fall of the House of Usher (streaming Oct. 13), Flanagan has outdone himself at almost every turn. The teleplays are tighter, his directorial eye is sharper, and the entire eight-episode affair is more expansive and exciting than anything Flanagan has taken on in years.

The series, which folds several of Poes short stories into an overarching adaptation of the titular tale, is shockingly light on its feet, despite every episode pushing a full hour. But whats most impressive is how Flanagan finally manages to be ambitious without becoming pretentious. Hes streamlined his distinctive traits into a series that will shock, awe, and delight viewers with its gritty drama and ghastly kills, all while making time for a not-so-thinly veiled takedown of the real-life Sackler family. That might sound like a lot of ground to cover efficiently, but The Fall of the House of Ushers maximalism works to its benefit. The end result is a series ably holding its own weight under the solid foundation of Poes everlasting work.

The Midnight Club: Netflixs Teen Horror Series Is Frighteningly Light on Thrills

Though Usher begins like classic Flanagan fareglaringly noticeable CGI plastered over different parts of green-screen sets, not to mention a fair amount of narrative melodramawhat follows is one of the strongest premiere episodes of the year. We meet the Usher family, a dynasty of bastard children operating within an opioid empire created by pharmaceutical magnate Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood) and his sister Madeline (Mary McDonnell), at their joint funeral. Yes, all of the Usher children are deceased, but thats not a spoiler. The fun comes from unraveling the secret that killed them all while digging into their gnarled family dynamic.

Golden boy Frederick Usher (Henry Thomas), as well as his siblings Tamerlane (Samantha Sloyan), Victorine (TNia Miller), Napoleon (Rahul Kohli), Camille (Kate Siegel), and Prospero (Sauriyan Sapkota), have all been the victims of freak accidents and murders. Their deaths just happen to coincide with the family facing serious criminal charges from the government. An informant gave Attorney General Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly) the salacious intelligence hed been seeking for decades to bring the Ushers down. With the family dropping like flies, its time for Auguste and his old foe Roderick to put aside their differences and look back at the events that led to each death. Together, they search for what force has been hunting the Ushers, before the last of the house has perished, and no one is left to tell the tale.

Eike Schroter/Netflix

Needless to say, Rodericks propensity for sticking his dick in anything, as his sister so lovingly puts it, means that there are plenty of intersecting storylines to keep viewers interested. Flanagan hasnt always proven himself so adept at traversing the plots of multiple characters at once (the less said about The Haunting of Hill House, the better), but with House of Usher, the characters operate like a real family. They talk over each other, make decisions that influence one another, and stab each other in the back at every chance they getand theyre each damn compelling while theyre doing it. This twisted energy keeps the series consistently unpredictable, despite us knowing from the start who will die and in what order.

Each of the Ushers has the kind of intensity and privilege that youre likely to find from a child born into a billion-dollar dynasty. Theyre foul-mouthed and cruel, but theyre also all masters at the art of the spin. Though they might have their public battles, theres nothing this family cant do to turn the public back in their favor by throwing enough money at the problem. In that regard, Camille, a masterful PR agent, and Victorine, a crooked doctor working on a heart mesh that she declares a breakthrough in medical science, are the two most irresistible heirs. Their conniving sensibilities are a thrill to watch, with both Siegel and Miller chewing scenery and spitting it back out like cold-blooded killers. Even when the scripts are overwrought, House of Ushers wildly talented ensemble knows exactly when to dial up the tension.

Midnight Mass Star Zach Gilford on Those Shocking Twists and 15 Years of Friday Night Lights

Though Siegel and Miller are scene-stealers, its Flanagans frequent collaborator Carla Gugino who gives the show its edge. Gugino slithers into the series as a nameless figure, trading hairstyles and accents as she stalks members of the Usher family, luring them to their eventual demise. Guginos character holds the key to the shows larger mystery, and watching as she dangles that in front of both the rest of the Ushers and the audience themselves is spellbinding. Gugino has long been an underrated force in Hollywood, one of the best parts of everything that she stars in. The same goes for The Fall of the House of Usher, which is at its most captivating whenever shes on screen.

Eike Schroter/Netflix

As a personification of the sickness that has plagued the House of Usher for generations in Poes short story, Gugino brings the delightfully macabre energy that any adaptation of Poes work requires to truly flourish. The ways that Flanagan (alongside his co-writers and co-director Michael Fimognari, who takes on half the series) spins Poes other yarns into the series is equally impressive, giving viewers capsule versions of Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Masque of the Red Death, and yes, The Raven, among others. Guginos stony assurance offsets Flanagans penchant for the maudlin and melodramatic, achieving a near-faultless symbiosistheir best collaboration yet.

Eike Schroter/Netflix

While The Fall of the House of Usher is occasionally tripped up by its creators most obnoxious artistic traits (the day Flanagan learns how to edit his meandering monologues will be the day pigs fly, apparently), it triumphs by leaning into elements of that same excess. These Ushers are perfect, modern versions of Vincent Prices catty Roderick from the 1960 film adaptation, so amusing that it doesnt even matter that their big pharma plotlines are all but shoehorned into the show to make for a topical peg. The characters self-serving dialogue and motivations are far more mesmerizing than the gravity and ham-fisted family traumas plaguing some of Flanagans other works.

What Flanagan needed was a concept so grand that it could contain all of his lofty ideas. By mining the lineage that Poes story only alluded to, he has conceived a series that not only fulfills the squandered promise of his earlier streaming work but also exceeds it tenfold.

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When the temperature drops, the sandstone cliffs and arches of the Red River Gorge come alive with fall color  so too does the gorges small trailhead parking lots and winding two-lane roads.

Weekends in October are the busiest at one of Kentuckys most popular natural features, a traffic study conducted last year by the states transportation cabinet showed. Traffic in the area has been increasing since 2020.

October and into early November (is) a very busy time here on the forest, said Tim Eling, a spokesperson for the Daniel Boone National Forest. The weathers usually pretty nice, drier, lower humidities, leaves changing colors. Just a lot of people love to come out then.

Folks looking to experience a picturesque Kentucky autumn can do so on the more than 700,000 acres of nearby public land  most of which can be reached within a few hours drive of Central Kentucky. The 29,000-acre Red River Gorge is a small but spectacular part of that.

The Smoky Mountains Fall Foliage prediction, which uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, expects fall foliage to be at its peak in Central and Eastern Kentucky during the last two weeks of October.

Every five years, the Forest Service conducts surveys to see what the most popular forms of recreation are. Driving for pleasure always ranks highest, Eling said. After that, generally hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and rock climbing also rank highly in the fall months.

Below is a guide (which only scratches the surface) on how to enjoy a Kentucky fall in the Red River Gorge, popular state parks and on federally managed Daniel Boone National Forest.

Wherever you go outdoors, remember to follow Leave No Trace principles. October is also the start of Kentuckys fall fire season which lasts until December 15. For the latest on fire regulations, bans and conditions on the forest, Eling recommended checking the National Forests website. Additionally, calling the ranger district nearest to where youll be exploring is a great way to get the latest, local information.

The Daniel Boone National Forest has four ranger districts, and each one of those has people that work there and can help answer questions, Eling said. Sometimes they have more specific knowledge about a particular area on their district.

Fall colors are on display in the Daniel Boone National Forest on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2022.

How do I avoid the crowds at Natural Bridge or Red River Gorge?

If youre looking to find more solitude in nature or simply hoping to secure a parking spot at your favorite trailhead, then Eling recommended getting there early in the day.

If its a nice weather day, the earlier you can get out, the better, Eling said. Getting to your destination by 9 a.m., he said, is much better than arriving around late morning to midday. According to the states traffic study of the gorge, early afternoon on October Saturdays are some of the busiest times of the year.

Visiting the gorge on a fall weekend will likely guarantee some crowds, Eling said. Trying to visit on a weekday can make a big difference. On a Wednesday in October 2022, the states traffic study measured a little under 1,000 vehicles per day passing along KY Route 77, a major road through the gorge. On the busiest Saturday, that number was closer to 2,500.

Simply going where the crowds arent  like a different part of the gorge or larger National Forest  is also a sure-fire way for more solitude. Eling recommended the Sky Bridge Recreation Area within the gorge and the Natural Arch Scenic Area in southern Kentucky. Its home to a nearly 100-foot wide sandstone arch.

This is a beautiful, huge arch and theres some trails there that go under the arch and you can get a great view looking up at it, Eling said.

Scenic drives around the Daniel Boone National Forest

A couple of scenic drives weave through the Forest, Eling said. Perhaps the lesser known being the Zilpo Scenic Byway, an 11-mile road that offers views of Cave Run Lake near Morehead. Its a beautiful drive with lots of vistas where you can see the leaves changing colors and also be looking over the lake, Eling said.

The 46-mile Red River Gorge Scenic Byway goes through the gorge itself, running at times along the Red River, and offers access to several hiking trails and passes through the iconic Nada Tunnel  known by many as the gateway to the gorge.

While much of the roads around the Red River Gorge are able to handle the fall traffic, minutes-long delays can occur at the 900-foot-long tunnel that is only wide enough for one direction of travel at a time. Its nothing like a Lexington rush hour, but the states traffic study did observe a nearly nine-minute wait at the tunnel on an October Saturday in 2022.

The forest also offers off-roading opportunities. According to the Forest Service, the Redbird Crest and White Sulphur OHV trails are the two designated off-highway vehicle trails.

Built in the early 1900s so logs could be hauled out of the gorge by railroad, the 900-foot Nada Tunnel now allows one-lane traffic. A very long exposure in 2006 captured only the taillights of the vehicle making its way into the gorge.

Take a hike

If youre just getting into hiking or new to the area, the gorges Scenic Byway offers multiple short hikes. The nearby Natural Bridge State Resort Park  which like the Red River Gorge is also typically accessed via the Slade exit on the Mountain Parkway  also offers multiple hikes that are around two miles in distance while offering great views.

Popular hiking apps and websites like AllTrails or the Hiking Project offer maps and descriptions of hundreds of curated trails of varying difficulty. There are hundreds of trails in the Forest; an app may help narrow down your search to suit your skillset.

A more challenging hike could include taking on sections of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail. The 343-mile trail runs from near Oneida, Tenn., up the entire length of the Daniel Boone National Forest to near Morehead. Along the way, it passes by Cumberland Falls State Park, Natural Bridge and is the backbone trail of the Red River Gorge.

The Sheltowee Trace Association helps to maintain and promote the trail, said Steve Barbour, the non-profits executive director. Those looking to sample some of the easier parts of the trail should do so around Cave Run Lake or Laurel Lake. If youre looking for a more remote location, he recommended the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Especially in the fall and spring, many through-hikers take on the entirety of the trail in one typically three-week backpacking adventure. The association offers shuttle services to hikers and events for folks looking to get involved.

I just dropped off a hiker from Atlanta, Georgia, whos starting today to hike the whole thing in the next three weeks, Barbour said. And he came specifically because the leaves are changing and wanting to get into the woods.

If youre looking to get into backpacking, the association is offering a fall introductory course from October 27-29 in the Red River Gorge.

Climbing and water sports

The Red River Gorge is also a world-renowned rock climbing destination. A 2021 study estimated that climbers spend nearly $8.7 million annually in the five counties around the gorge.

The non-profit Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition has purchased and made available hundreds of acres of prime climbing territory. Eling said the Forest Service can also direct folks interested in climbing to private businesses that have the proper permitting for the forest.

You can also paddle, kayak or fish on the Red River  a little over 19 miles of which is the only river miles in Kentucky to have a National Wild and Scenic River designation.

More info on fishing, hunting and other recreational activities can be found on the Daniel Boone National Forests website.

Fall colors are on display in the Daniel Boone National Forest on Sunday, Oct.. 20, 2022.

Farther afield

Theres more outdoor fun to be had in Eastern Kentucky beyond the Daniel Boone National Forest. They include:
(Bloomberg) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin overplayed his hand by trying to use Gazprom PJSC to bring Europe to its knees, and now his efforts to bolster the state-controlled gas giant are at the mercy of China.

Most Read from Bloomberg

After years focusing Gazproms exports on pipelines to Europe and underinvesting in liquefied natural gas capacity, Putin has limited options for the national champion, and that will be evident when he meets his counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing next week.

The Kremlin is keen for fresh export deals to shore up Gazproms international presence, which suffered after Putin failed to cow Ukraines allies in Europe with threats of freezing homes. China is the biggest foreign market available but wont be a one-for-one replacement.

Even in the Kremlins best-case scenario  with current and planned projects all reaching full capacity in a timely manner  the Asian superpower would only account for about two-thirds of the volumes that once flowed to Europe. But prices will be lower and the deliveries would still take years and massive investment to get going.

Putin appears to have miscalculated when he cut off Europe, said Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Much of the European market has been lost to Russia, and Gazproms geopolitical relevance appears to be in decline  so much for Russias gas superpower ambition.

With deliveries to Europe only a fraction of what they used to be before Putins invasion of Ukraine, pressure is building in Russia to replace what was once its biggest market before the impact reverberates through the economy, according to Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. But China doesnt have that kind of urgency.

I dont see a big chance for Russia to win a new gas deal with China this year, despite the eagerness on the Russian side, said Kevin Tu, managing director of research firm Agora Energy Transition China. Beijing has already increased Russian energy imports since the outbreak of the war, but the European Unions trouble with overreliance is clearly a big lesson for the worlds largest importer of fossil fuel, Tu added.

There are also other geopolitical considerations at play for Beijing. While the need to balance suppliers remains paramount, a new pipeline is also a useful way of reducing the need for seaborne LNG, which would be more exposed to global tensions.

Any agreement though wont be enough to restore Gazprom to its former stature. Its market value  once the third-highest in the world  is now less than half of Norways Equinor ASA, and insiders see little chance of recovery.

Gazprom has no prospects for the next 5-10 years, Alexander Ryazanov, former deputy chairman, told Bloomberg by phone, adding that he sold his shares this year at a loss. It is hard to agree with China, and the price will not be a good one.

The companys woes show where Russia is vulnerable to both international pressure and Putins intractability. It posted a loss in the second quarter, and output for the worlds largest single supplier dropped 25% in the first half from a year earlier to the lowest level in its 30-year history.

Despite falling gas exports and revenue, Putin remains unbowed. Gazprom is confident, calm, and its coping, he said at the Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow on Wednesday. Chinese demand will grow, he said, chiding Europe for not buying Russian gas. Why create problems for yourselves in the hope that well collapse? Putin said.

Read More: How the Ruble and Russias Economy Have Been Stressed by Sanctions

China kept Gazprom waiting for more than a decade before the Power of Siberia pipeline was agreed and built. A far smaller agreement for gas supplies via the so-called Far Eastern route was reached in 2022, but the next deal has proven hard to close.

Uncertainty over the war and the loss of the bulk of the European market have weakened Russias negotiating position, leaving talks over a third link stalled for months and a deal unlikely when Putin and Xi meet.

The mood close to Gazprom is pessimistic. Even if Beijing shows goodwill toward Putin with a gas agreement, it wont offer the same financial conditions as Europe, a former executive at the company said on condition of anonymity, adding that the blame lies in Gazprom getting dragged into politics.

One of Putins first big economic campaigns after taking power in 2000 was to reassert control over the countrys massive energy wealth, which included installing allies at Gazprom and clawing back assets. Then he turned it into a tool of foreign policy, weaponizing gas and crossing a line that the Soviet Union didnt dare.

Putin spent years cultivating relations in Europe  most notably wooing former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who since became a well-paid lobbyist for Russia. By the time of last years attack on Kyiv, the Russian president thought he had enough leverage to get Europe to back off supporting Ukraine, according to former top executives at the gas giant.

Gazprom and the Kremlin didnt respond to requests for comment.

The gambit ultimately backfired. Europe avoided shortages thanks to an unseasonably warm winter, higher Norwegian deliveries and LNG cargoes. Even if cheap Russian gas is still a powerful lure  and Europe is still importing some Russian LNG  most of Europe has now moved on.

For months, the Russian government has said talks with China on the planned Power of Siberia 2 pipeline are in the final stages, but havent shown concrete progress. The project would help raise Russias total gas shipments to China to nearly 100 billion cubic meters  compared with around 150 billion cubic meters to Europe before the war.

Despite the explosions that crippled the Nord Stream pipelines last year, Putin still sees a revival of deliveries to Europe as an option. At the Valdai Club forum last week, he said Russia was ready to supply gas via the unopened Nord Stream 2 link, which makes landfall on Germanys Baltic coast.

Berlin poured cold water on the prospect. Germanys economy ministry said theres no effort to certify Nord Stream 2 for operation and the countrys companies have successfully diversified away from Russian energy imports.

Putin still sees Gazprom as important, but his administration acknowledges it was a mistake to bet on Europe and not invest more in LNG export capacity, according to a person close to the Kremlin.

To keep some degree of leverage over China, Gazprom is also looking to tighten gas links with Turkey and has proposed a gas trading hub in the country. At his last meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sept. 4, Putin said an agreement is close, but no details have since emerged.

Regardless of its export ambitions, Gazprom is responsible for keeping Russias domestic market fueled, even if its not profitable. The government set the industrial price this year at about 5,000 rubles ($51) per 1,000 cubic meters, less than one eighth of current market rates.

Gazprom is significantly blunted as an economic weapon, said Maximilian Hess, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

--With assistance from Konrad Krasuski, Kathy Chen and Petra Sorge.

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In the last school year, nearly 64% of all reported violent incidents at schools in the United States were actually false reports of an active shooter.

About 8% were credible shooting threats, according to the Educators School Safety Network, a national non-profit school safety organization.

Swatting, or the act of calling in a false threat for the purpose of drawing a large police response, isn't exclusive to schools. It wastes time, causes undue panic and can sometimes turn deadly. It's become a large enough issue that the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced this summer that it has started tracking incidents of swatting.

In Nashville, much like other major cities, these incidents come in waves. Between Aug. 14 and Sept. 25, threats were made against 14 middle and high schools, multiple businesses, a police precinct and Nashville International Airport.

While the cost of responding and investigating these false reports is difficult to calculate, there's no doubt the biggest wasted resource for police is time.

"We're spending time, valuable time, investigating and responding to these threats when we could be working on solving other crimes," said Kris Mumford, spokesperson for Metro Nashville Police.

How swatting cases are investigated

While many of these cases begin similarly  with a called-in threat of deadly violence  the way the cases are handled can vary wildly, Mumford said.

Last month, a 911 caller reported a shooting at Martin Luther King Jr. High School. The response was swift. Dozens of police officers descended upon the school. In short order, officials were able to determine the threat was unfounded and the school was checked out of precaution.

But then another threat was made the same day, this time to Hunters Lane High School. Instead of calling 911, this person called the school directly.

"The two School Resource Officers assigned to Hunters Lane and an SRO supervisor, with knowledge of the MLK situation, handled the Hunters Lane call by checking areas," Mumford said.

Their previous knowledge, coupled with the threat being called directly to the school, allowed for officials to debunk the situation faster and with ease.

In the event a threat is made online, the investigation again varies in procedure. Officers are assigned to track down the source of the original post, while patrols around the threatened location may be increased.

"We take each of these cases seriously," Mumford said. "When tomorrow comes, hopefully it was just a hoax, or we thwarted a threat."

Who commits swatting?

Much like how these threats are investigated, the people who report false threats can vary, Mumford said.

More and more, the calls come from people outside the state where the threat is made, but more frequently outside of the country, the FBI has said.

The calls made to MLK and Hunters Lane were from outside people. Less than two weeks later, a 9th grade student at John Overton High School was charged with making a threat of mass violence after he allegedly made two calls to 911 reporting an active shooter.

"Sometimes it's copy-cat callers. Sometimes it's students who think they can fool the police," Mumford said.

At least five students this year have been charged with making threats, according to press releases sent by Metro Nashville Police.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Police: hoax threats take up valuable investigative time
British families have described the scale of the atrocities committed in Israel by Hamas as a second Holocaust as the UK prepares to send military support to the region.

At least 17 British citizens are feared to be dead or missing after the unprecedented attack last weekend during which 1,200 Israelis were killed while some 1,400 Palestinians have died in retaliatory strikes.

Noam Sagi and Sharon Lifschitz, both from London, said their elderly parents had been forcibly taken from their homes into Gaza and had not been heard from for five days.

Mr Sagi, a psychotherapist, said he last spoke to his mother Ada when she texted him to say she was entering her safe room. She should be celebrating her 75th birthday, he said.

On Saturday morning, the kibbutz woke up to a massacre, a second holocaust, said Mr Sagi at a press conference in Westminster on Thursday, adding that there had been reports of people being burned, butchered, slaughtered and kidnapped.

These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships. If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.

Sharon Lifschitz and Noam Sagi say their parents have been taken hostage by Hamas militants (PA)

His desperate plea for information about his mother came as Rishi Sunak announced UK military support would be sent to the area to support Israel.

The package includes surveillance aircraft, helicopters, P8 aircraft, and a company of marines, which will be dispatched on Friday.

Israel-Hamas war  follow live updates here

The development came as:

:: The Foreign Office announced it would arrange flights for stranded British citizens who want to leave, while the families of diplomats will be leaving Israel as a precautionary measure. British Airways has cancelled all its flights to Tel Aviv

:: The office of Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , released horrific images on social media showing babies murdered by Hamas  adding that the siege of Gaza wouldnt end until the 150 hostages were released

:: The Israeli air force said it had pummelled Gaza with 6,000 bombs since it started its retaliation on Saturday. The UN warned that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in the Gaza Strip

:: US secretary of state Antony Blinken visited Israel on Thursday and told Mr Netanyahu he understood the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews and that Washington was at Israels side

Standing at a podium next to the Israeli prime minister at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Mr Blinken urged Israel to show restraint in its retaliation, in his most direct plea so far, asking that it take every possible precaution to protect civilian life.

You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, he said. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US secretary of state Antony Blinken hold a joint press conference (EPA)

Later, Mr Blinken said at a news conference that Israeli officials had shared videos and images of the aftermath of the Hamas attacks, which he said showed a baby riddled with bullets, soldiers beheaded and young people burnt in their cars.

Its simply depravity in the worst imaginable way. Its really beyond anything that we can comprehend, digest.

In Gaza, there were desperate scenes as health authorities had to make agonising decisions as medical supplies ran critically low and footage showed a city reduced to rubble in many areas.

The UN warned that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in the Gaza Strip (AFP)

Lt Colonel Richard Hecht, international spokesperson of the Israeli military, said the scale and scope of their operation will be very severe. He also confirmed the military was continuing its ferocious bombardment of Gaza.

Israel has been massing troops at the border with Gaza, with expectations a ground invasion will follow. Lt Col Hecht said: We are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if it is decided.

In London, Mr Sagi and Ms Lifschitz showed reporters photographs of people who remain unaccounted for in Israel, including a six-month-old baby.

Mr Sagi and Ms Lifschitz said their elderly parents are without their medication and described the situation created as the biggest hostage crisis the world has faced in decades.

The Hamas attacks were described as a second Holocaust by Sagi and Lifschitz (AFP)

Ms Lifschitz, an artist and academic, who also grew up on the kibbutz where her mother disappeared, said: My mum was taken out, she was kind of disconnected from her oxygen in order to be loaded onto a motorbike or whatever it is, I dont know.

Also feared missing is Emily Damari, a dual Israeli-British national whose mother is originally from Kent.

Her brother Tom told The Independent: We all miss Emily, looking forward for her coming back soon. She has been missing from Kfar Azza since Saturday. Her last message at 10am was that the terrorist is in her apartment and shooting at her.

Shes missing so we presume she is in Gaza taken as hostage. There are 10-15 missing young people from the kibbutz Kfar Aza .

I was also at the kibbutz with my wife and two daughters and with a little bit of luck we survived. I dont want to talk to about it, Im still processing it, he said.

Pictures of loved ones who have been captured by Hamas on display during a Defend Israeli Democracy UK press conference (PA)

Abbey Onn, a US citizen, was one of those to meet Mr Blinken in Tel Aviv. The last message she received from the family of her cousin, Carmella Dan, 80, also a US citizen, was that Hamas militants were inside their house, and that we are afraid we wont get out [of] this. Ms Onn was in Herzily, a city 120km (75 miles) north of the kibbutz in her own bomb shelter as air raid sirens were blaring.

Ms Dan was with three of her grandchildren aged between 12 and 16 years old and her son in law, Ofer Calderon, 50. They texted that they were desperately tyring to make it to the bomb shelters in two locations in a kibbutz, Nir Oz, which is just a few kilometres from the border with Gaza. It is hard, Ms Onn said, swallowing her words with a sob, as she described how Erezs favourite things are lego and video games.

The family have confirmation two of them were kidnapped because they appeared in video footage shared online. They dont know what happened to the others. She is worried about Ms Dan who has a heart condition. It is a 400 person kibbutz, there are only 160 survivors, the rest were killed or believed kidnapped, Ms Onn said.

On Mr Blinkens visit, she added: We are beyond grateful for the support of the US government. We are asking for the secretary of state and the president and the media to secure their immediate release.

In London, Ms Lifschitz said the distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people must now be absolutely clear and that she cant imagine how Palestinians cope under their rule.

She added: This is the defining moment of our life. We are going to spend the rest of our lives dealing with this atrocity.

We have yet to really comprehend what took place. Now, we are still in this event and we are not up to date and, in this event, these children and elderly must come back.

This is people with cancer, this is people with dementia, this is people with Parkinsons.

In Israeli communities in south Israel they went door to door and snatched babies from their mothers and children from their beds, handcuffed them and brutally and cold bloodedly slaughtered them, a spokesperson for the British-Israeli families claimed in a short statement.

On Wednesday, Jake Marlowe from north London was confirmed as the fourth British citizen to have been killed in the shock incursion, with his family left heartbroken.

Jake Marlowe was killed while working at a music festival (Facebook)

He had been working as a security guard at the Supernova music festival near the border with Gaza, which was overrun with gunmen. Emergency workers retrieved 260 bodies from the site, while a number of festival-goers remain missing.

Also confirmed dead is Scottish grandfather Bernard Cowan, photographer Danny Darlington and IDF soldier Nathanel Young.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Cowans friend Craig Budden, who worked with him in Eilat, said he died defending the community he loved.

His hobby was recreational scuba diving and he was passionate about it, regularly driving down to Eilat on the Israeli Red Sea coast even just for the day, he said. There was a day when he took a camera in the water and that was it  passion on steroids, he became the most avid underwater photographer, travelling the world always looking to dive.

He loved his family, Israel, the Kibbutz and scuba diving. We all loved him back and miss him. Mr Cowan, who had only recently become a grandfather, is survived by his wife and three children.
Alissa McCommon's family is "experiencing some ridicule" after the Tennessee elementary school teacher was accused of raping a minor, according to her attorney.

McCommon, a 38-year-old mother of two from Covington, is accused of raping a 12-year-old boy in 2021, when he allegedly woke up to McCommon sexually assaulting him while he was spending the night at her home, according to an affidavit.

"She's a human and she has a family, too. And there are victims, arguably, on both sides of this case, regardless of her guilt or innocence," attorney Jere Mason of Huffman Mason PLLC told Fox News Digital. "She's got two minor children herself. They've had to pull them out of school, and they're experiencing some ridicule."

Mason added that he knows McCommon's husband "very well" after they worked as sheriff's deputies together.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF RAPING STUDENT IMPLIES SHE'S PREGNANT WITH HIS CHILD: REPORT

McCommon, 38, of Covington, allegedly admitted to "communicating inappropriately with former students" through online video games and social media apps, where she apparently sent them "inappropriate photographs" and requested "sexual relationships with the victims," police said.

"My perception had always been they were good folks. And so regardless of her guilt or innocence, any person in this situation would be under extreme mental stress," Mason said. "And I just have to defend her properly. I have to know that my client  is understanding everything and in the right mind of everything."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A Tipton County judge ordered McCommon, a former fourth-grade teacher, to undergo a mental health evaluation, which Mason hopes will be completed in short order.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF RAPING BOY SENT PICS AND TALKED SEX ONLINE: COPS

McCommon was initially arrested on Sept. 8 and released on $250,000 bond until she was rearrested on Sept. 28, when authorities charged her with coercing, harassing and stalking the victim.

Elementary school teacher Alissa McCommon allegedly contacted former students online and engaged in inappropriate communication with them.

The judge revoked a second bond for McCommon after authorities said she violated the terms of her release when she contacted the victim using a previously unknown phone number after she initially bonded out of jail.

In a recording of a phone call from the phone number played aloud in court last week, a person whom prosecutors are alleging to be McCommon suggests she is pregnant.

TEACHER ACCUSED OF RAPING 12-YEAR-OLD REARRESTED FOR TELLING VICTIM HE'LL REGRET DOING THIS

"I'm going to raise this baby. I can do this," McCommon can allegedly be heard saying in a phone call with the victim that was played aloud in court on Oct. 3, according to FOX 13 Memphis.

McCommon allegedly told her victim he would "regret doing this."

Mason said he does not have any evidence to prove "one way or another that" the pregnancy claim "is accurate."

In a text message from the phone number to the victim, McCommon allegedly wrote, "I'm just really scared. I don't even know if it's you or not ... I will never text you again. You will never hear from me again, just please don't say anything," according to FOX 13.

TEACHER RETURNS TO CLASSROOM AFTER POSTING FORMER STUDENT'S NUDE PHOTOS ONLINE: IT DOESNT SIT RIGHT'

In another text to the victim, she allegedly wrote, "This was a mistake, this is my burden. OMG delete this number, please don't get me in trouble," the outlet reported.

The second arrest comes just three weeks after McCommon was arrested at her home on rape charges.

Mason does not believe prosecutors have presented enough evidence at this time to prove it was McCommon who called and messaged the victim from the unknown number.

"It's not  a registered phone. It's just some random number. They don't have the phone or any proof of registration," Mason explained. "So, they had these text messages. Someone in the text thread claims they're Alissa, and then [prosecutors] tried to infer that there were some code words used that had previously been used by [McCommon] in communication with some of the juveniles, allegedly."

OHIO SOCIAL WORKER, 24, CHARGED WITH HAVING SEX WITH 13-YEAR-OLD CLIENT: REPORT

Mason also alleged that the officer who testified it was McCommon on the phone call had only heard the suspect's voice "once for a few moments" approximately five weeks before the hearing last week during which the recording was played aloud.

Covington Police Chief Donna Turner said she is in contact with the U.S. Attorneys Office, and authorities "intend to pursue any appropriate federal charges related to the sexual exploitation of these victims utilizing cellphones, inappropriate relations, and activities across jurisdictional State lines."

"This is a very difficult case for everyone," the attorney said. "These allegations  are heinous, especially someone that we're trusting with the care and instruction of our children.  But I just wish that the public would be patient and let the justice system take its course, and in due time, evidence will either come out or not. And justice will be served one way or the other."

McCommon allegedly admitted in September to "communicating inappropriately with former students" through online video games and social media apps, where she apparently sent them "inappropriate photographs" and requested " sexual relationships with the victims ," police said.

DRUNK WOMAN WHO GROPED 13-YEAR-OLD VICTIM GIVEN SHOCKINGLY LIGHT PUNISHMENT BY COURT

The Covington Police Department initially began investigating the teacher after receiving information from the Department of Children Services that McCommon had engaged in alleged sexual contact with a teenage male student, according to an affidavit.

Alissa McCommon is being held at the Tipton County Jail.

"The evidence indicates McCommon texted a victim, using a specific code word known to the juvenile as a code word McCommon would previously utilize to confirm that the juvenile was alone, often before sending nude photographs on SnapChat," Covington Police said in a statement.

Authorities said there is no evidence indicating McCommon's alleged crimes occurred on school grounds. The Covington Police Department is looking for any other victims who may have been in contact with McCommon to come forward.

Tipton County Director of Schools Dr. John Combs told The Covington Leader that McCommon was suspended without pay on Aug. 24, when a parent "brought forth allegations of misconduct" against the teacher that morning.

McCommon has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 27.

Police are asking anyone with concerns that their child may have been victimized by McCommon to contact the Covington Police Department CID at 901-475-1261 or the Tipton County Sheriffs Office CID at 901-475-3300.





Original article source: Family of allegedly pregnant teacher arrested on student sex charges is experiencing 'ridicule': lawyer
Adrienne Neta was on the phone with her children hiding in the bunker of her home in Israel when Hamas militants barged through the door. The last thing they heard was their mothers screams  but the lack of gunfire provided her family with hope that she survived the attack.

Five days on since the deadliest day in Israels history, Netas family still awaits news of her fate, hoping the U.S. citizen and Fresno native is alive as a hostage of Hamas in Gaza.

They expect the Biden administration to do all in its power to return her safely home.

They are responsible to bring the U.S. citizens back home, safe and sound. We expect nothing less from the U.S. administration and President Biden, said Nahar Neta, one of her sons, at a press conference in Israel on Tuesday.

The optimistic scenario here is that shes held hostage in Gaza, and not dead on the street of the kibbutz where we grew up, he said. My mom devoted her life to helping other people of all races and genders, in her practice as a nurse.

Neta is one of a small number of Americans still missing since the Oct. 7 massacre that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and thousands more wounded. Israeli officials say that Hamas is currently holding over 100 hostages in Gaza, including U.S. citizens.

President Joe Biden on Wednesday refused to provide details on what his administration was doing to free American hostages, but said his team was doing all it could to secure their release.

The press are going to shout to me  and many of you are  that, you know, What are you doing to bring these  get these folks home? Biden told Jewish leaders during a roundtable event at the White House. If I told you, I wouldnt be able to get them home.

Folks, theres a lot were doing  a lot were doing, he added. I have not given up hope on bringing these folks home.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and a top U.S. diplomat in the Office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs traveled to Israel on Thursday, and will continue on to Qatar for talks on mediating a hostage release, officials said. The Qatari government has already begun working to broker a deal to secure their release, and neither Hamas nor Israel have rejected the effort outright, an Israeli official told McClatchy.

Blinken met with the families of slain and missing Americans during the visit, vowing to do what he could to bring the American hostages home.

Theres an unrelenting agony of not knowing the fate of their loved ones, Blinken told reporters after the meeting. Nobody should have to endure what theyre going through.

FBI and U.S. special forces are also on the ground in Israel providing expertise to their Israeli counterparts attempting to locate the missing.

Hamas officials have threatened to execute hostages if Israel launches a widely-anticipated ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials have said they will continue their complete siege of Gaza, launched in response to Hamas attack, until Hamas releases them.

In an interview with NBC, Nahar Neta said he is hopeful that his mother is alive and remaining strong.

My mom, shes a tough lady, he said.
After several emotional and charged city meetings, a Clark County family has asked for community members to change the conversation around the death of their son and remove what the family has called hate from council meetings.

>>RELATED: Truly unique, caring; Loved ones gather to remember 11-year-old killed in Clark Co. bus crash

The statement was penned by the family of Aiden Clark, the Clark County boy killed on his way to school after a crash between an SUV and the Northwestern school bus he was riding in. In the days after his death, dozens of community members have raised concerns inside Springfield city commission chambers worried about members of the citys Haitian community driving possibly without a valid drivers license.

The man charged in his death, Hermanio Joseph, is a man of Haitian descent and did not have a valid drivers license when the crash happened, investigators have indicated in court records.

Clarks family told Springfield Assistant Mayor Rob Rue they felt the recent conversations were full of hate and not something the boy would have stood for.

They wanted to  they asked if I could just stop it and I said, no. And I actually asked them, I said If you want to make a statement, Id be willing to read it, Rue said, as shown on News Center 7 at 5 p.m.

Thats exactly what Rue did at Tuesdays meeting. He said it was intentional that he read it publicly as the last word of the meeting.

>>Judge raises bond for driver accused in deadly Clark Co. bus crash

Please do not mix up the values of our family with the uninformed majority that vocalize their hate. Aiden embraced different cultures and would insist you do the same. Thank you to the community for your continued support, the letter read in part.

Bedell took the letter written by Nathan and Danielle Clark to the Springfield Chapter of the NAACP Thursday. There, President Denise Williams said it was needed.

Hopefully this work will not just calm it down, but just eliminate the chatter, eliminate the chatter. The family cant mourn in peace with all of this hatred that has been shown in our community, Williams said.

The case against Joseph is moving toward trial. Hes scheduled to be in court at the end of the month.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  A Kansas City, Kansas, family is suing after a local officer responded to their home exhibiting unusual behavior earlier this year.

Charles Guy Jr. and Nicole Johnson, along with other family, are suing the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas; KCK Police Chief Karl Oakman; KCK officers Shepherd and Young, and an unnamed KCK sergeant.

Unified Government deactivating account on X following changes

The lawsuit alleges another family member called police to Guy and Johnsons house on Jan. 3 over a child custody dispute.

When KCK officers arrived, the family said they werent home and alleges police entered the home without a search warrant and without their consent.

When Guy and Johnson, the childs parents arrived, the lawsuit says the two KCK officers told them they had to relinquish custody to the other family member.

The KCK family said Shepherd was extremely hostile, threatening, demanding and rude, according to the lawsuit. They also allege it appeared he was under the influence of something.

Viral video released after the incident shows the officer steadying himself against a railing and the wall. His speech is slurred, and he makes some strange gestures with his hands.

Push to deconsolidate Wyandotte County government threatened

The family said they pointed out the behavior to Shepherds partner, but he didnt acknowledge the unusual actions, according to the lawsuit. The KCK family requested that a sergeant respond to the home, who the lawsuit alleges also didnt acknowledge the behavior.

The KCK family said officers didnt make a report on the incident or Shepherds condition, and their lawsuit alleges the officer was not required to take a drug test afterward.

Video of the interaction went viral over two weeks later.

The KCK Police Department said after it learned about what happened, it launched an internal investigation but said it believed a medical condition may have been a factor. Regardless, KCKPD placed the officer on administrative leave.

The department later said it determined there was no wrongdoing on the officers part, and Shepherd passed a fit for duty examination.

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It is important to note that residents featured in the video did not file a formal complaint and refused to cooperate with the investigation, KCK police said in an April statement.

The KCK family is alleging the Unified Government, Oakman and the officers deliberately didnt follow policies; their home was illegally searched; and other officers failed to intervene. They are also accusing Shepherd of common law assault and battery for alleged threatening behavior.

FOX4 reached out to the Unified Government and the KCK Police Department about the lawsuit. A spokesperson for both organizations declined to comment on pending litigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis once again shot down House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Wednesday, calling his ongoing attempts to wade into the prosecution of former President Donald Trump ignorant, troubling and an abuse of power.

A charitable explanation of your correspondence is that you are ignorant of the United States and Georgia Constitutions and codes, Willis wrote in a letter to the lawmaker. 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.

We have already written a letter  which I have attached again for your reference  explaining why the legal positions you advance are meritless, she continued. Nothing youve said in your latest letter changes that fact.

Willis and Jordan have exchanged barbs for months after the district attorney indicted Trump and 18 others as part of a vast racketeering investigation, alleging that the former president and his allies engaged in a sweeping conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

Jordan, who chairs the powerful Judiciary Committee and remains a devout Trump supporter, demanded Willis turn over a range of documents in the case, to which she responded by accusing the lawmaker of attempting to intrude and interfere with an active criminal probe.

Your letter makes clear that you lack a basic understanding of the law, its practice and the ethical obligations of attorneys generally and prosecutors specifically, she wrote last month.

Yet Jordan again asked for documents again a few weeks later, saying the House panel was concerned Willis prosecutorial conduct is geared more toward advancing a political cause and your own notoriety than toward promoting the fair and just administration of the law.

The district attorney wasnt having it.

While you may enjoy immunity under the United States Constitutions Speech or Debate Clause, that does not make your behavior any less offensive to the rule of law, she wrote Wednesday, pointing to a list of other efforts Jordan could pursue that would better serve the public. I would encourage you to focus your attention on those issues, which would make life better for the American people.

Read Willis full letter below.

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A federal watchdogs review of Folsom Cordova Unified School Districts restraint and seclusion policies found the district was inconsistent in its record-keeping and slow to respond in some instances where students with disabilities were subjected to dozens of restraints or hours of isolation

The conclusions reached by the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights come two weeks after a Rancho Cordova kindergartner was allegedly placed in an illegal restraint and struck across the face on campus.

Federal education officials launched the review of 20 school districts after the death of a 13-year-old student who was held in a prone restraint for more than an hour at the now-closed Guiding Hands school. The move caused him to asphyxiate. Folsom Cordova was one of a handful of schools in the capital region that regularly sent special-needs children to the El Dorado Hills facility.

The review said Folsom Cordova Unified in its schools infrequently held meetings for Individualized Education Programs, known as IEPs, after a student was subjected to restraints, even in extreme situations, such as for a student who experienced 22 restraints at a district school in one year.

In another case, a separate FCUSD student at a nonpublic school was subjected to 38 hours isolated in a refocus room, and was put in a prone restraint, the review said. The district did not call a meeting for this student until the end of the school year.

Investigators visited district schools and interviewed 18 employees, according to the letter to the district.

OCR found that 54 students were restrained at 14 District schools and 11 (nonpublic schools) a total of 254 times during the two-year review period, the letter said.

By failing to hold the meetings in a timely manner, the district deprived those students of their right to a free appropriate public education, the review said.

The district agreed to resolve these violations and compliance concerns by making significant changes to its policies, procedures and training requirements with respect to the use of restraint and seclusion, Office for Civil Rights officials said.

We remain committed to the safety of our students and staff, continue to improve and revise policies and processes for safe learning environments for all students, and are complying with the OCR requests, the district said.

New investigation at Folsom Cordova school

In the recent case, the mother of a 5-year-old nonverbal autistic boy said she was not notified of an incident involving her son at Williamson Elementary School in Rancho Cordova until at least two days after it happened when an aide reported it.

Nothing was immediately reported as required by law, Ebone McNeal said in a social media post. So my son was subjected to being around this abuser for multiple days after she harmed him.

District officials held an IEP meeting on Sept. 15 in which McNeal said she was given little information about the incident or what led to it.

Nobody gave me any information really, she said on social media. I emailed and requested a copy of reports from the incident and got no response. Now the lawyer from the school district is calling me asking me to sit down.

The district said it was investigating the incident and the teacher had been placed on leave.

We want the family and the community to know that we are deeply concerned by the allegations brought forth and that we want to stay in close communication with the family, district spokeswoman Angela Griffin said at the time. Our concern is for their son to have a safe and welcoming learning environment where he can thrive. FCUSD takes student safety very seriously and does not tolerate the type of alleged conduct that has been reported.

The district has not provided an update in that investigation, and its unclear if the teacher has returned to instruction.

Restraints are expressly prohibited in California schools unless the student poses an imminent danger to themselves or others. Even in that case, school staff are not permitted to put pressure on a students back, put their body weight on them or use any kind of tool that could restrict the students breathing, according to the National Association of State Boards of Education.

In 2018, Max Benson, 13, died after being held in a prone restraint by Guilding Hands staff for more than an hour. Officials at the El Dorado Hills school were later indicted by a grand jury and charged with involuntary manslaughter by the El Dorado County District Attorneys Office.

The El Dorado Hills school permanently closed following the boys death.
Sen. John Fetterman said Wednesday that America is not sending their best and brightest to represent them in Congress.

Sometimes you literally just cant believe like, these people are making the decisions that are determining the government here. Its actually scary, the Pennsylvania Democrat said during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Before the government almost shut down, I mean, it came down to a couple hours, Fetterman said of the House and Senate last month passing a continuing resolution to fund the government into mid-November, narrowly avoiding a shutdown.

I was in my office, and they finally came over from the House. And theyre like, OK, well, this has to be unanimous in the Senate. And out of 99 of us, if one single one of us would have said no, the whole government would have shut down, he told Colbert.

Thats how dangerous that is to put that kind of power in ones hands, because you have some very less gifted kinds of people there that are willing to shut down the government just as score points on Fox [News], Fetterman said.

Top Stories from The Hill

As House Republicans struggle to elect a new Speaker after removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this month, Colbert asked if senators feel pretty good right now that theyre not the most dysfunctional part of the government?

Well its a low bar, really, Fetterman replied.

I just want everybody to realize just how truly dysfunctional it really is, the 54-year-old lawmaker continued. And I always tell people, dont worry, please dont worry. Its much worse than you think.

Fetterman also opened up about his public mental health challenges. He returned to the Senate in April after taking a leave of absence to be treated for depression.

Its a privilege and its a duty to talk about this, he said.

I want anyone whos listening to this, that sees this: If you are suffering from depression, please get help. Please get help, because it works, Fetterman urged viewers.

Sen. John Fetterman, D.Pa., listens during the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry subcommittee hearing on SNAP and other nutrition assistance in the Farm Bill, Wednesday, April 19, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

I get emotional, because when youre in the blackness, depression tricks you into thinking that youve lost, even though you might have won, he said.

I was a skeptic. Im like, Im never gonna get better, like this is never going to change. And it takes you in a very more dangerous kind of direction. And I really want to emphasize: Anyone that is on that slope, dont ever, ever, ever make the decision to ever harm yourself.

Colbert also asked the first-term senator about the recent drama surrounding the Senates dress code. The Senate voted last month to require business attire be worn on the floor of the chamber, following backlash from both sides over a move by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to relax the dress code.

Its assumed that it was about  for me, said Fetterman, who is known for sporting hoodies and gym shorts. But I never asked for it.

But I was really struck by Oh my God, the world is gonna burn because hes going to wear a hoodie on the floor, he exclaimed, feigning shock.

Ukraine [funding], or shutting down the government, or all these issues  I think its much more important to seize What will this man wear on the floor of the Senate? Fetterman quipped.

After Colbert gave Fetterman a gag T-shirt bearing the image of a tuxedo, the lawmaker presented his own sartorial offering to the CBS host: an oversized Carhartt hoodie.

I think I could go camping in this, Colbert said with a laugh as he tried on the Fetterman-inspired getup.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(The Hill)  Sen. John Fetterman says that America is not sending their best and brightest to represent them in Congress.

Sometimes you literally just cant believe like these people are making the decisions that are determining the government here. Its actually scary, the Pennsylvania Democrat said during a Wednesday appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Before the government almost shut down, I mean, it came down to a couple hours, Fetterman said of the House and Senate last month passing a continuing resolution to fund the government into mid-November, narrowly avoiding a shutdown.

I was in my office, and they finally came over from the House. And theyre like, OK, well, this has to be unanimous in the Senate. And out of 99 of us, if one single one of us would have said no, the whole government would have shut down, he told Colbert.

Thats how dangerous that is to put that kind of power in ones hands, because you have some very less gifted kinds of people there that are willing to shut down the government just as score points on Fox [News], Fetterman said.

As House Republicans struggle to elect a new speaker after removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this month, Colbert asked if senators feel pretty good right now that theyre not the most dysfunctional part of the government?

Well, its a low bar, really, Fetterman replied.

I just want everybody to realize just how truly dysfunctional it really is, the 54-year-old lawmaker continued. And I always tell people, dont worry, please dont worry. Its much worse than you think.

Mace wears red letter A after McCarthy vote

Fetterman also opened up about his public mental health challenges. He returned to the Senate in April after taking a leave of absence to be treated for depression.

Its a privilege and its a duty to talk about this, he said.

I want anyone whos listening to this, that sees this: If you are suffering from depression, please get help. Please get help, because it works, Fetterman urged viewers.

I get emotional, because when youre in the blackness, depression tricks you into thinking that youve lost, even though you might have won, he said.

I was a skeptic. Im like, Im never gonna get better, like this is never going to change. And it takes you in a very more dangerous kind of direction. And I really want to emphasize: Anyone that is on that slope, dont ever, ever, ever make the decision to ever harm yourself.

Colbert also asked the freshman senator about the recent drama surrounding the Senates dress code. The Senate voted last month to require business attire be worn on the floor of the chamber following backlash from both sides over a move by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to relax the dress code.

Its assumed that it was about for me, said Fetterman, who is known for sporting hoodies and gym shorts. But I never asked for it.

But I was really struck by Oh my God, the world is gonna burn because hes going to wear a hoodie on the floor, he exclaimed, feigning shock.

Ukraine [funding], or shutting down the government, or all these issues  I think its much more important to seize What will this man wear on the floor of the Senate? Fetterman quipped.

After Colbert gave Fetterman a gag t-shirt bearing the image of a tuxedo, the lawmaker presented his own sartorial offering to the CBS host: an oversized Carhartt hoodie.

I think I could go camping in this, Colbert said with a laugh as he tried on the Fetterman-inspired getup.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Thursday called on the full Senate to vote on a resolution to expel Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) from the chamber in the wake of new charges asserting the New Jersey senator has acted as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.

Senator Menendez should not be a U.S. Senator. He should have been gone long ago. It is time for every one of my colleagues in the Senate to join me in expelling Senator Menendez, he said in a statement.

We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate, Fetterman added. This is not a close call.

Fetterman called for Menendezs expulsion after federal prosecutors filed a new charge alleging Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, conspired to act as an agent of Egypt while Menendez chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The superseding indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York points out that Menendez, as a public official, was prohibited from serving as a foreign agent.

It also noted that between 2020 and 2022, Menendez made multiple requests for the Justice Department to investigate another person for failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

The fourth count of the revised federal indictment against Menendez alleges that his co-defendants, including his wife and her business associate Wael Will Hana, willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with each other to have a public officials, to wit, Robert Menendez, act as an agent of a foreign principal.

Fetterman told reporters last month he would vote to expel Menendez.

Whatever kinds of procedure that could bring about getting rid of him, Im all for it, forcing it, he said.

Honor, clearly, isnt going to be the option to appeal to at this point, he said, noting Menendez had been defiant in resisting calls for his resignation.

More than half of the Senate Democratic caucus has called on Menendez to resign.

New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim (D), who has announced his plan to challenge Menendez in next years Democratic primary, earlier on Thursday called on the Senate to expel Menendez from the upper chamber.

As a former national security official who swore an oath to defend our Constitution, I cannot stand by as the Senator representing my family and my state has been accused of acting as a foreign agent, Kim Thursday said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. Given the severity of these charges, the US Senate should vote on expulsion.

Kim, who represents New Jerseys 3rd Congressional District, worked for the Pentagon, State Department and White House National Security Council before being elected to Congress in 2018.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Robert Fico, Slovakia's former prime minister whose party SMER won the recent parliamentary elections, has signed a deal to form a coalition government, the Associated Press (AP) reported Oct. 11.

SMER now has the right to appoint the next prime minister, paving the way for Fico to take office again.

The coalition government will be made up of Fico's populist SMER party, the left-wing Hlas party, and the ultra-nationalist pro-Russian Slovak National Party.

The Oct. 11 agreement grants SMER 42 seats in parliament, with Hlas receiving 27 and the Slovak National Party gaining 10.

The deal leaves the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, which took second place in the Sept. 30 elections, in the opposition. They hold 32 seats.

Fico's party won the parliamentary elections after running on a pro-Russian, populist platform. One of his key campaign promises was to immediately end all military aid to Ukraine.

Shortly thereafter, Slovak President Zuzana Caputova refused to sign a new assistance package prepared by the defense ministry, saying it was necessary to respect the outcome of the elections.

It is not clear when Caputova will swear in the new government.

Read also: Opinion: Slovak election results threaten Europes united front

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
UAW President Shawn Fain called for a surprise strike of an estimated 9,000 workers late Wednesday at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, over what the union said was a lack of progress at the bargaining table.

Todd Dunn, president of UAW Local 862, told the Free Press at 6:10 p.m. he had been called into a meeting and was preparing to walk out the workers. The work shift begins at 6 p.m., he said.

"Were being chosen to be the next arm of leverage in an international strike," he said. "Were being called on by our leadership. Its time to stand up and do our duty.

Dunn told the Free Press his 9,000 or so UAW members have long prepared for this moment and are ready to do what's required to help the strike succeed.

United Auto Workers Union President Shawn Fain speaks to members of Local 862 at a rally in Louisville, Ky., on Aug. 24, 2023. The demands that a more combative United Auto Workers union has made of General Motors, Stellantis and Ford  demands that even the UAW's president has called audacious  are edging it closer to a strike when its current contract ends Sept. 14.

With little warning, thousands of workers left their jobs at 6:30 p.m., just minutes after union officials walked through the plant, shut off the line and told workers to walk out peacefully, a source inside the plant confirmed to the Free Press.

Kentucky Truck builds the Ford F-Series Super Duty, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. Super Duty is among the most profitable products the Dearborn automaker sells.

UAW closes $25 billion factory

The site now striking is Fords largest plant and one of the largest auto factories in the world, the company emphasized Wednesday. The vehicles built there account for $25 billion a year in revenue, according to Ford. That amounts to one-sixth of the automaker's global revenue, a Ford source said.

An alert on the site formerly known as Twitter was sent by the UAW at 5:44 p.m. and had 16 views, 4 likes and 1 repost before being deleted. It said: "Breaking: The 8,700 UAW members at Fords iconic and extremely profitable Kentucky Truck Plant have joined the Stand Up Strike after Ford refuses to make further movement in bargaining. Workers are walking off the job right now. STAND UP!"

This is a screenshot of a message the UAW posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, at 5:44 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, announcing a strike of the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant. The post was immediately deleted.

Then, at 6:30 p.m., the UAW reposted its earlier message announcing the strike.

Story continues

This is, to date, the most impactful move against any of the automakers, going at high-profit products and with zero notice. The UAW strike against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis began after their contract expired at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 14. More than 20,000 autoworkers are walking picket lines nationally while the shutdown of auto plants and parts warehouses has created a ripple effect of additional layoffs by carmakers and their suppliers.

The UAW was already striking two Ford plants, Chicago Assembly in Illinois and Michigan Assembly in Wayne.

UAW: 'We have been crystal clear'

The UAW issued a news release at 6:35 p.m. that said: "In an unannounced move, 8,700 UAW members walked off the job today at 6:30 p.m. ET."

"The surprise move marks a new phase in the UAWs Stand Up Strike," the UAW release said. "Previous expansions of the strike occurred at a deadline set in advance by the union. The move comes one day before the four-week mark since contracts expired at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis."

The exterior of the Stamping Facility, part of the Ford Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky., on Aug. 24, 2023.

Fain said in a statement late Wednesday: "We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message. Its time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three. If they cant understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it.

What happened in the hours that led up to this strike

Ford received a call from the UAW on Wednesday afternoon asking for a meeting, saying union officials wanted to see an improved economic offer, the Ford source said. Fain and UAW Vice President Chuck Browning went to Ford World Headquarters with their entire bargaining team and met on the second floor. With more than 40 UAW people in the room, Ford officials realized something was up, the Ford source said.

The UAW asked what Ford had to offer, the Ford source said. That was about 5:30 p.m., the source said. An hour earlier, Ford had heard from its Kentucky Truck personnel that a strike was expected around 6 p.m. and figured that the rushed meeting somehow related to the secret strike plan, the Ford source said.

Ford negotiators told the UAW that there wasn't much additional room on economics and that they didn't have an immediate updated offer. At that point, the Ford source said, "Shawn (Fain) stood up and said, 'If that's all you got, you just lost KTP (Kentucky Truck Plant).' "

And that was the end of the meeting, which lasted less than 10 minutes, the Ford source said.

A UAW source later told the Detroit Free Press a different version of how the conversation unfolded.

"President Fain said, 'If this is all you have for us, our members' lives and my handshake are worth more than this. This just cost you Kentucky Truck Plant. Well take this under advisement. Chuck (Browning) and I have a call to make,' " the UAW source told the Free Press late Wednesday. Fain and Browning left to call local UAW leaders, including Dunn.

Strike on Super Duty is 'grossly irresponsible'

In response to the UAW's strike move, the Dearborn automaker issued a statement calling the union's decision to target the plant "grossly irresponsible but unsurprising given the union leaderships stated strategy of keeping the Detroit 3 wounded for months through 'reputational damage' and 'industrial chaos.' "Ford said it "made an outstanding offer that would make a meaningful positive difference in the quality of life for our 57,000 UAW-represented workers, who are already among the best compensated hourly manufacturing workers anywhere in the world."

Members of United Auto Workers Local 862 gather for a practice picket at their union hall in Louisville, Ky., on Aug. 24, 2023. The demands that a more combative United Auto Workers union has made of General Motors, Stellantis and Ford  demands that even the UAW's president has called audacious  are edging it closer to a strike when its current contract ends Sept. 14.

While making inroads on pay and benefits, Ford said, it "has been bargaining in good faith this week on joint venture battery plants, which are slated to begin production in the coming years.""The UAW leaderships decision to reject this record contract offer  which the UAW has publicly described as the best offer on the table  and strike Kentucky Truck Plant, carries serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers," Ford said.

Kentucky Truck workers stamp parts for the Louisville Assembly Plant, for example, so disruption is inevitable.

"In addition to affecting approximately 9,000 direct employees at the plant, this work stoppage will generate painful aftershocks  including putting at risk approximately a dozen additional Ford operations and many more supplier operations that together employ well over 100,000 people," Ford said. "This decision by the UAW is all the more wrongheaded given that Ford is the only automaker to add UAW jobs since the Great Recession and assemble all of its full-size trucks in America."

Louisville is a union town

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat who represents Louisville, posted on the site formerly known as Twitter: "I stand with our @UAW brothers & sisters on strike. Local 862 is responsible for 54% of Ford's North American profits, & their workers deserve a fair contract, good benefits & wages, & safe working conditions. Louisville is a union town & it's going to stay that way."

I stand with our @UAW brothers & sisters on strike.



Local 862 is responsible for 54% of Fords North American profits, & their workers deserve a fair contract, good benefits & wages, & safe working conditions.



Louisville is a union town & its going to stay that way.  Morgan McGarvey (@MorganMcGarvey) October 11, 2023

Ford's current UAW offer

Here is a snapshot of how negotiations have evolved between Ford and the UAW:

Wages : At the end of August, Ford offered a 15% raise over the life of the contract. An Oct. 3 offer is "more than 20%" with an immediate double-digit increase upon ratification.

COLA : August: Ford offered a lump sum of $12,000 rather than restore COLA. Oct. 3: Traditional COLA will be offered to provide "inflation protection."

Elimination of tiers : Ford offered to eliminate wage tiers  enabling employees at Rawsonville Components and Sterling Axle to reach the top wage rate.

Temps : First offer was a pay increase to $20 (is $16.67 now) and full ratification bonus. Oct. 3 offer is $21 an hour, conversion after 3 months of continuous service, full ratification bonus and profit-sharing.

Retirement: Increased contribution to 401(k) but no restorations of defined benefit plan in either offer.

Ford is continuing to negotiate how to manage battery plants and retirement security, issues the UAW said were top priorities this week, a Ford source said late Wednesday.

More: Spending all night on the Ford strike line

Free Press staff writer Jamie L. LaReau contributed to this report.

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW hits Ford with a surprise strike of nearly 9,000 workers in Kentucky
A producer for CBSs 60 Minutes has sued the network for gender discrimination after she was fired from the company.

Alexandra Poolos filed a lawsuit in New York federal court, for allegedly violating her civil rights by firing her on the basis of her gender and bullying accusations that she denies, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ms Poolos began working at the network in 2011 and states in court papers that during her work on the prestigious news show she produced and developed many significant stories for it.

The lawsuit states that she was fired by CBS in February 2022 after an associate producer came forward and claimed she was a bully who had no boundaries.

She claims that she was discriminated against because of how her case was handled in comparison to complaints made against male employees at CBS.

The lawsuit states that the company itself had a clear bias against women and permitted sexual harassment and gender discrimination to fester unabated.

The associate producer allegedly complained that Ms Poolos was not treating her correctly after she asked her to do her job.

Ms Poolos states in the lawsuit that managers at 60 Minutes agreed that the associate producer had performance problems and that her complaints against Poolos were baseless. She argues that she never retaliated against the associate producer.

The lawsuit reportedly states that CBS asserted she violated policies and was fired in February 2022.

Ms Poolos claimed that she was never told what exact policy or policies she had supposedly violated and called the investigation into her eventual termination bogus.

Before she left CBS, she claims she was given counselling for her tone, but states she was fired within days of receiving it.

She states that the treatment of men at the company is different, as she was never given a chance to fix her supposed misconduct.

Poolos is not aware of CBS firing male 60 Minutes employees based on a single complaint from a subordinate about behaviour that was not alleged to constitute unlawful discrimination or retaliation, the lawsuit states, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In contrast with its harsh treatment of Poolos, CBS has declined to take any meaningful disciplinary action in response to serious allegations of misconduct against male employees.

The lawsuit names and alleges various employees that have has complaints set against them (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

She notes in the suit that many male staff members, with varying degrees of complaints, allegedly had different treatment to her, citing former CBS News co-president Neeraj Khemlani as an example.

Despite the many complaints about his abusive behaviour from CBS employees, particularly women and people of colour, Khemlani has faced no meaningful consequences for his abusive behaviour and remains associated with CBS, the complaint states.

She also alleges in the lawsuit that her former supervisor, producer Shachar Bar-On, had repeatedly subjected Poolos to emotional abuse and sexual harassment over the course of several years.

Ms Poolos claims gender discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract and seeks the severance owed to her, as well as punitive damages.

This is not the first time CBS has been linked to similar allegations.

In November 2022, the New York Attorney General announced her office had won a $30.5m settlement from CBS and former CEO Leslie Moonves for allegedly misleading his investors by concealing sexual assault allegations against him. Mr Moonves resigned from the company in 2018.

The Independent contacted CBS for further comment on the lawsuit, to which a spokesperson for the network said, We are not commenting on pending litigation.

The Independent has also contacted Ms Poolos for further comment.
Maj. Gen. Philip Stewart, a two-star Air Force general who was fired from his post due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, could face court-martial over allegations of sexual assault, adultery, and drinking before flying, according to the Air Force. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force

Oct. 11 (UPI) -- A two-star Air Force general who was fired from his post because of a "loss of confidence in his ability to lead" could face court-martial over allegations of sexual assault, adultery and drinking before flying.

Maj. Gen. Philip Stewart, who commanded the 19th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas, has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman on two occasions at an Oklahoma base, the Air Force revealed Wednesday. The Air Force said both incidents occurred "without her consent."

Stewart is scheduled to have an Article 32 hearing later this month to determine whether there's probable cause that he violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and whether he will be tried by court-martial.

"Due to the impending charges, Stewart is currently serving in a limited capacity at an alternate duty location at JBSA-Randolph," Air Education and Training Command said in a release Wednesday.

Stewart is charged with dereliction of duty over accusations he "pursued an unprofessional relationship" between March 6 and May 9.

The Air Force general is accused of conduct unbecoming of an officer, near Denver between March 6 and 8, "while on official travel." According to the charge sheet, he invited an individual to "spend the night alone with him in his private hotel room."

In addition, Stewart is charged with sexual assault, and a violation of extramarital sexual conduct, for allegedly committing a sex act on a woman near Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma on April 13 and April 14, "without her consent," according to the charge sheet.

He is also accused of "failing to refrain from assuming control of an aircraft after consuming alcohol within 12 hours prior to takeoff."

Stewart is a fighter pilot who logged more than 2,600 hours in the air, including more than 600 hours in combat. At JBSA-Randolph, he was responsible for all flight training operations and oversaw 32,000 employees and 1,530 aircraft.

"The Air Force takes any misconduct allegation seriously and is committed to conducting a thorough investigation," Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, head of AETC which oversees the 19th Air Force, said in a statement in May after Stewart was fired from his post.

Stewart could become the second general officer in Air Force history to face court-martial. Maj. Gen. William Cooley was convicted of abusive sexual contact in a court-martial last year at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
Yevhen Korniichuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel, has said that the first evacuation flight with 200 citizens of Ukraine on board will fly from Israel to Romania on Saturday, 14 October, the next flight is planned on Sunday.

Source: Korniichuk on the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "The evacuation of our citizens is as follows: Ben Gurion Airport is operating normally, and about 1,000 citizens applied on the embassy's website, filling out a questionnaire confirming that they are ready to pay the ticket price... The first evacuation flight, that is, the first 200 people whose tickets have already been issued at an absolutely acceptable price, will fly to Bucharest, Romania, on Saturday evening.

Details: According to Korniichuk, the next evacuation flight from Israel will also fly to Romania, and it is planned on Sunday evening.

Korniichuk stressed that the main problem with the evacuation from Israel is that many foreign companies cancelled flights, and the cost of tickets to Europe increased to US$1,000.

The ambassador also stressed that consuls in Israel work around the clock, and first of all, they help those who call from Ukrainian phone numbers, since these are people who do not live in Israel permanently.

He noted that further evacuation flights will depend on demand.

At the same time, the evacuation of Ukrainians from the Gaza Strip did not begin due to tthe closure of the only checkpoint.

According to Korniichuk, everything is ready for evacuation, and the number of people who agreed to evacuate from the Gaza Strip is increasing every hour. As of Thursday morning, 250 people wanted to evacuate.

Earlier, it was reported that the Israeli airline El Al, for the first time in more than 40 years, will fly on Saturdays. In a statement, El Al said it had received the necessary religious permission to operate the flights.

Earlier: In a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, Oleh Nikolenko, the spokesman for Ukraines Foreign Ministry, reported that the number of Ukrainians who died during the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict increased to seven people.

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!






Okean Elzy turns 29 years old

Legendary Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy celebrates its 29th anniversary on Oct. 12. The musicians continue to inspire Ukrainians and release new, consistently successful tracks.

Okean Elzy has played an important role in the Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion, with songs such as Obiymy (Embrace) and Ya ne Zdamsia bez Boyu (I Won't Give Up Without a Fight) becoming unspoken war anthems with dozens of cover versions released around the world. Through concerts on world tours, the band tirelessly raises funds for the Ukrainian military. In August, the band announced that in six months of 2023, they had managed to raise more than 25 million hryvnias ($686,599) in aid for Ukraine. Besides the concerts, the band's frontman Svyatoslav Vakarchuk continues to perform for Ukrainian troops deployed near the frontlines.

Read also: Ukrainian celebrities shine bright on Defenders Day, saluting our heroes

On the occasion of the band's 29th anniversary, NV recalls five powerful OE songs that helped inspire Ukrainians and lift their spirits.

Read also: Okean Elzy helps raise UAH 5 million for Khersons State Emergency Services in a single day

Misto Mariyi (City of Maria)

The first song released during the full-scale war, which the band presented in April 2022 and dedicated to Mariupol, a city destroyed by the Russian military, as well as to its heroic defenders.

UA So Beautiful

The first and only cover in the band's 29-year history. It is a cover of Joe Cocker's world-famous hit song You Are So Beautiful.

Kvity Minnykh Zon (Flowers in Minefields)

The song was written a few years ago for an album that was supposed to be released in April 2022. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the song echoes with terrible relevance right now.

Koly My Dvoye (When the Two of Us)

The song, which Okean Elzy sang in a duet with KOLA, is dedicated to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian families separated by the war. It's about the military, for whom separation from their loved ones is particularly painful.

Ya Yidu Dodomu (Im going home)

The video is a new interpretation of the song from 2003. It is dedicated to the sappers who demine liberated Ukrainian territories.

Read also: Ukrainian rock star Vakarchuk raises $4 million in aid for Ukraine at London concert

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 Alameda Research CEO Ellison arrives for Bankman-Fried trial in New York City

By Jody Godoy and Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Caroline Ellison , the star witness in the fraud trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, testified this week that the 31-year-old former billionaire, her onetime boss and boyfriend, directed her to commit crimes including fraud.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing billions of dollars from customers at his now-defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange. Here are five key moments from Ellison's testimony.

GREATER GOOD TRUMPED RULES LIKE 'DON'T STEAL'

The FTX founder described himself as a "utilitarian" who thought the only rule that mattered was doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people, Ellison said.

"He didn't think rules like 'don't lie' or 'don't steal' fit in to that framework," said Ellison, who ran Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund Alameda Research. She has pleaded guilty to fraud and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Ellison said Bankman-Fried asked her to falsify Alameda's financial statements to keep lenders at bay amid a downturn in cryptocurrency markets in 2022.

"I understood him to be directing me to conceal things in our balance sheet that we thought looked bad," she said.

BANKMAN-FRIED THOUGHT HE COULD BECOME U.S. PRESIDENT

Bankman-Fried was "very ambitious," Ellison said, adding that he "thought there was a 5% chance he would become president some day."

He sought to cultivate an image as a "smart, competent, somewhat eccentric founder," and viewed his low-effort appearance and hairstyle as "very valuable," she said.

The crypto mogul initially drove a company-owned luxury car in the Bahamas but traded it in for a Toyota Corolla.

"He said he thought it was better for his image," she said.

BINANCE RIVALRY

Bankman-Fried grew preoccupied with a rivalry with the crypto exchange Binance, which he thought would "mess with FTX," leading him to borrow $1 billion in FTX customer funds to buy back Binance's stake in FTX in 2021, Ellison said.

Prosecutors showed jurors personal notes Ellison wrote the following year saying Bankman-Fried was seeking to get regulators to "crack down" on Binance.

Prosecutors have said that Bankman-Fried used customer funds as he pleased, and that the resulting shortfall caused FTX's collapse.

NO PAPER TRAIL

Ellison testified that Bankman-Fried directed employees to "be careful with what we put in writing, and not put into writing something that could get us into legal trouble."

Jurors saw notes where Ellison referred to more than $100 million in what she believed were bribe payments to Chinese officials as "the thing." The assets were used to unfreeze crypto assets that Alameda held in China, she said.

FTX COLLAPSE A RELIEF FOR ELLISON

Ellison said her later days at Alameda were filled with "dread" that the truth would come out about the fund and its sister exchange.

Tearing up on the stand, she said that when customers finally sought to withdraw funds from FTX that it did not have, leading to the exchange's collapse in November 2022, she felt "indescribably bad" but also an "overwhelming" relief.

"I felt a sense of relief that I didn't have to lie anymore," she said.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy and Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Matthew Lewis)
A man in Minnesota suspected of shooting five police officers has been arrested.

The suspect was still on the scene near Princeton, Minnesota when police responded to the scene, according to WCCO.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning near the intersection of 190th Avenue Northeast and Glendorado Road Northeast in Glendorado Township, according to the publication.

Police dispatch radio messages revealed that officers were executing a warrant at the suspects home when the shooting began, according to the Star Tribune. Officers reportedly were intending to search the suspects home, though the purpose of the search is currently unknown.

One officer was reportedly shot in the chest and the pelvis, according to police radio messages.

All of the officers were involved in the Sherburne County Drug Task Force, according to police.

The suspects criminal history includes a felony drug conviction in 2006 as well as another conviction on the same chagre in the mid-1980s, according to court records.

The suspect was reportedly wounded in the exchange with police.

A heavy police response vehicle and officers in tactical gear wait near a Princeton, Minnesota property where five law enforcement officers were shot (screengrab/ Fox9)

The suspect was injured in the incident and was transported for treatment, Benton County Sheirff Troy Heck told the Star Tribune in a statement. The cause and extent of his injuries are unknown at this time.

According to the broadcaster, three officers are being treated at North Memorial Hospital and the other two are being treated at St Cloud Hospital.

They are all suffering from non-life-threatening injuries, the outlet added.

Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said that while there is currently no danger to the general public, he warned locals to avoid the area for the time being, according to the Star Tribune.
Psyche's solar arrays convert light into electricity, providing the power for its four solar electric or "Hall-effect" thrusters (Handout)

For the first time ever, a NASA probe is journeying to an object composed not of rock, ice, or gas, but metal: the asteroid Psyche.

By studying this space oddity, scientists hope to learn more about the inner cores of rocky planets such as our own -- or, potentially catalog a previously unknown class of cosmic body.

Here are some fun facts about the mission, which launched on Friday.

- $10 quadrillion -

If Psyche were mineable, its iron, nickel and gold deposits could be worth an eye-watering $10,000 quadrillion (that's $10,000,000,000,000,000,000), according to an estimate reported by Forbes magazine.

But Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the mission's principal investigator who was responsible for that calculation, said it's nothing more than a "fun intellectual exercise with no truth to it."

"We have zero technology as a species to bring Psyche back to Earth," she said in a recent briefing. Even if the endeavor were successful, it would flood the metals market, reducing their value to zero, she said.

- An electric voyage -

The Psyche probe has blasted off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, but to complete its 2.2 billion-mile (3.6 billion-kilometer) journey, it will turn to a far more efficient form of propulsion.

Psyche's solar arrays convert light into electricity, providing the power for its four solar electric or "Hall-effect" thrusters. These use electromagnetic fields to accelerate and expel ions (charged atoms) of xenon, the same inert gas used in car headlights and plasma TVs.

While the resulting blue glow is evocative of Star Trek, it's no warp drive: the actual force it exerts in a given moment is roughly equal to the weight of an AA battery in the palm of your hand.

But in the void of space, the probe will accelerate continuously to tens of thousands of miles an hour.

- Laser communications -

With deep space missions demanding higher and higher data rates, NASA is turning to laser-based systems to complement radio-frequency based communications.

Psyche is carrying on board a technology experiment, to demonstrate a "10 times augmentation of traditional telecom data rates," said Abi Biswas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory -- enabling the transmission of higher resolution images, more science data, and streaming video.

NASA will shoot its laser beam from a JPL facility on Table Mountain in California, with the spacecraft firing its signal back to Caltech's Palomar Observatory. The hope is eventually to use the technology on human missions to Mars.

- Gravity science -

Psyche has a suite of dedicated scientific instruments to probe the asteroid's chemical and mineral composition and look for signs of an ancient magnetic field.

But the science team will also use Psyche's trusty old radio system to probe the asteroid's gravity field using the Doppler Effect.

"We can look at the pitch or frequency of the radio waves coming from the antenna and figure out how fast the spacecraft is moving" as it orbits its target, said planetary scientist Ben Weiss, just as ambulance sirens have a higher pitch as they come towards you and lower as they move away.

By tracking the spacecraft's speed at different points around the asteroid, they can determine how "lumpy" the gravity field is, which in turn provides clues about the composition and structure of the interior.

- Less metal, more rock? -

Given its brightness, there was until recently broad consensus that Psyche was almost entirely metal -- consistent with the theory it is an exposed planetary core whose rocky crust and mantle were blown off in an ancient collision.

But the way it imposes gravity on neighboring bodies suggests it's less dense than all iron-body should be, according to a 2022 paper by researchers at Brown University.

One possibility they put forward is iron-spewing volcanoes brought metal up from Psyche's core to coat its surface above a rocky mantle -- effectively creating a structure akin to a metal sandwich.

It won't be until 2029, when the Psyche spacecraft reaches its destination, that we'll know for sure.

ia/st
An elderly Vietnam veteran who in 2018 killed two Florence police officers and wounded five others in an ambush-style attack will avoid a death penalty trial after he pleaded guilty Thursday to the killings and woundings in a non-publicized hearing in an Aiken County courtroom.

Fred Hopkins, 79, a disbarred lawyer who was an expert marksman, will be sentenced at a later date, Boyd Young, one of Hopkins defense attorneys, said after the hearing.

Under a plea agreement with the Florence solicitors office, Hopkins will get life sentences, Young said.

The killings of two police officers and woundings of five others was one of the largest shootings of police officers in South Carolina in modern times.

Sentencing of Hopkins, who had once posted on Facebook, I just love the smell of gunpowder in the mornins, will take place at a later date. When arrested, he had 129 guns stored at his home, investigators said.

In a gun battle with police before he was arrested, Hopkins fired out of second-story windows and used three different weapons, two assault-type rifles and a pistol, police said.

State Judge Eugene Bubba Griffith accepted the plea. In 2019, Griffith presided over the Lexington County death penalty trial of Tim Jones, a software engineer who killed his five young children. The trial took nearly four weeks and some 60 witnesses testified.

Young estimated that a death penalty trial for Hopkins would have taken at least six or seven weeks. The plea spares the state a lot of expense, and the witnesses and family members of the victims a lot of heartbreak, Young said.

In October 2018, Hopkins fired at Florence police officers who were coming to his house to serve a search warrant in a sexual abuse case where his son would later plead guilty.

Several Florence city police officers were wounded, and Hopkins kept firing at other officers trying to rescue the wounded deputies, investigators said.

Florence Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway died the day of the shooting and Florence County Sheriffs investigator Farrah Turner was wounded and died several weeks later. Five other officers were injured. Carraway was the first Florence officer to be killed in the line of duty in nearly 30 years, police said.

Florence County Solicitor Ed Clements of the 12th Judicial Circuit declined comment.

The case has been under a gag order, but relatives of the victims and others closely connected to the case were in the courtroom during the guilty plea. On Thursday afternoon, all online information about the case remained sealed.

The case was investigated by Richland County sheriffs office investigators.

Besides Young, other defense lawyers on the case included Bobby Bank, Patrick McLaughlin and Scott Gaustein.

This story will be updated.
A group of fourth-grade students asked their teacher to watch "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey."

It's a horror movie about "Winnie the Pooh," released after the character became public domain.

Parents are now upset at the teacher for showing it.

It turns out impulsive fourth graders may not have the best judgment when it comes to movies appropriate for them to watch.

Parents complained after a teacher showed students in his fourth-grade math class at a charter school in Miami Springs, Florida, a violent reimagining of "Winnie the Pooh," CBS News Miami reported.

"Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" is an unrated slasher film that follows the beloved character going on a killing spree after being abandoned by his sidekick Christopher Robin. The film was released in February after "Winnie the Pooh" became public domain the year before.

Michelle Diaz, a parent of two children at the Academy for Innovative Education, told the outlet her twins were shown the film by their math teacher for 20 to 30 minutes before students started to complain.

Diaz said the students in the class asked to watch the film.

"He didn't stop the movie, even though there were kids saying, 'Hey, stop the movie, we don't want to want this,'" Diaz told the outlet.

Diaz told CBS the school's handling of complaints about the film was "careless" and said she "felt completely abandoned by the school" after a meeting with the principal.

"It's not for them to decide what they want to watch," Diaz said. "It's up to the professor to, like, look at the content."

Academy for Innovative Education did not immediately return a request for comment from Insider on Thursday. The head of the school, Vera Hirsh, wrote in a statement to CBS that the school "promptly addressed this issue directly with the teacher and has taken appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of students."

"We are actively monitoring the students, and our mental health counselor and principal have already met with those students who have expressed concerns," Hirsh wrote.

Correction: October 14, 2023  An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the school. It is the Academy for Innovative Education, not the Academy of Innovative Education

Read the original article on Business Insider
Floridas declared war on liberal education and free thinking has paid out dividends to one of its standard bearers  up to $1.5 million a year, to be exact.

Thats how much Gov. Ron DeSantis  conservative education experiment at New College of Florida in Sarasota might fork out on an annual basis to pay for the compensation of its new president, Richard Corcoran , a former Republican House speaker and previously DeSantis commissioner of education appointee.

When New College selected Corcoran as interim president in February, his base salary was already a whopping $700,000. Thats double what his predecessor made before the schools board of the trustees, remade by DeSantis, ousted her. With a housing allowance, insurance and other benefits, Corcorans full compensation package reached $1 million.

Thats to run a school of roughly 700 students. For comparison, the president of University of South Florida was offered a smaller base salary, $655,000, when she was hired last March to run an institution of 50,000 students.

Flawed analysis

Last week, New College  to no ones surprise  hired Corcoran permanently. An analysis commissioned by the school recommended his base salary fall between $487,110 and $867,777, with total compensation reaching up to $1,547,324. That range is based on executive pay at 12 universities that a consulting company said share similarities with New College.

It turns out the analysis compared apples to oranges.

The Tampa Bay Times found that all of those 12 schools are private with student bodies at least double New Colleges enrollment figures in 2022. The average compensation at those schools was almost twice as much as what Florida university presidents earn on average. It was almost three times higher than the average executive pay at the countrys highest-ranked liberal arts colleges, with the exception of New College and public military academies, according to the Times.

Corcoran does have a big task ahead of him. It is arduous work to turn a taxpayer-funded institution into a partisan body. Under his leadership, the board of trustees abolished the schools diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) office. It also voted to eliminate a gender studies program.

If DeSantis cronies cannot turn the liberal students who usually attend New College more conservative, they will at least control the ideas to which they are exposed in the classroom.

The Student Plaintiffs are adults capable of determining for themselves whether the viewpoints advanced by their various instructors . . . have merit, New College students and faculty stated in a federal lawsuit they filed in August against Corcoran and other Florida leaders. The suit challenges a law that banned college spending on DEI and general education courses based on theories that contend systemic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.

That was one of the bills the Republican-led Legislature passed banning what teachers and professors can say in the classroom on race, gender and LGBTQ issues. Thats essentially government dictating to faculty and students what ideas are true and false, as the lawsuit states.

Gone too far?

It is true that DEI initiatives and the lefts fixation with gender, race and identity politics have fallen prey to excesses  and in the process alienated even some like-minded people with its virtue signaling. We believe conservatives when they complain liberals have an outsized presence in academia, but its ludicrous to say that Floridas renowned university system is more preoccupied with churning out woke students than qualified professionals.

In their crusade against woke, Republicans have become self-righteous. If they complain about the ideological dominance of leftist academics, they have come up with a more extreme version of it  one that uses the power of the state to muzzle dissent and exclude different points of view.

Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist and now a New College trustee, thanks to DeSantis, wrote in a blog post that the changes at the school are meant to restore classical liberal education and to revive the pursuit of transcendent truth. Rufo wrote theres a precedent at other American colleges for abolishing academic departments that stray from a colleges scholarly mission in favor of ideological activism.

Except, at New College, it is the ideological activism of school leaders that dictates what programs get chopped.

Classical liberal education is yet another lofty term to justify moving higher education away from some of its mains tenets: fostering critical thinking and intellectual exploration. The ultimate goal seems to be to control young minds.

New College is paying top dollar to accomplish that, but Florida pays the ultimate price.
A Reddit user tapped into a site not everyone knows about, but that leads you to something valuable  and that belongs to you.

Hello Floridians, I just learned today about Floridas unclaimed property website. Ran a search and found an old account worth about $30 that Id completely forgotten about. Filed a claim online in less than 10 minutes, and fingers crossed I should get the funds in about 3 months. Obviously not a great option if you need money right now, but it could be a nice little unexpected boost.

Florida has about $2.9 billion in outstanding unclaimed property and it could be yours. And, no, this is not a tease for a lottery game.

About 4 million Floridians, or 1 in 5 of Floridas 20 million people, have property waiting to be claimed. The average return per Floridian is $875, Ryan Walker, spokesman for Floridas Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Petronis, told the Miami Herald in an email.

Where does this bounty come from?

State treasury offices collect millions of dollars in unclaimed property. For whatever reason, people may not have cashed or collected payroll checks, received money from their tax returns, collected insurance proceeds or gathered the contents of safe deposit boxes and bank accounts before closing them.

Found an unclaimed paycheck this way a couple years back, 3 months was about what I waited too. Its a good idea to check this for every state youve worked in, a Reddit user from Florida posted.

Most of the money is from dormant accounts in financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, and securities and trust holdings, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Unclaimed property can also include valuables including watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and miscellaneous stuff from abandoned safe deposit boxes. The Department of Financial Services periodically holds unclaimed property auctions, where abandoned safe deposit box contents are auctioned by the Division of Unclaimed Property, the state said.

The dollar value from the sale of each item is applied to the owners account, where it remains, indefinitely, for the owner or the owners heirs to claim, the department says on its website.

According to Florida Statute 717, these unclaimed assets must be held by business or government entities for a set period of time, usually five years. If the holder is unable to locate, re-establish contact with the owner and return the asset, it is reported and remitted to the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Unclaimed Property.

How can you collect lost Florida treasure?

The Florida Division of Unclaimed Property webpage at FLTreasureHunt.Gov can help you find any unclaimed property that you may be owed. Florida Division of Unclaimed Property

 Check the Florida Division of Unclaimed Property website at FLTreasureHunt.gov to see if anything might be yours or a family members. There is no charge to search or file a claim on the site.

 Type your name or business name in the green search field and if any property comes up with your name attached click on the results that match your search and click an Add button to place it in a virtual cart much like purchasing on Amazon. Follow the simple instructions to file a claim for that property.

 Im encouraging every Floridian to search now for unclaimed property for yourself, your friends, your loved ones, and even your business at FLTreasureHunt.gov. Its your money, dont wait, claim it today, Petronis said on the state site.

How do you prove the money is yours to claim?

From Reddit: Holy [expletive,] thanks OP. I put in my dads name and theres almost $600 in unclaimed funds. Anyone claim for a decreased family before?

 Youll be asked to enter contact information and some identifying details like a Social Security number and your birth date. You can file a claim for a deceased persons property if you are the heir to their estate.

 You will then receive an email receipt. Print it out and follow the instructions, which will include filling out the form and providing the requested documentation to prove your identity. This may include a photocopy of a drivers license, a piece of mailing such as a utility bill or some other paperwork that shows the names and matching address of the lost property owner or owners. If one of the owners is deceased, an original death certificate will be requested.

How long does it take to receive funds?

The Department of Financial Services has 90 days once it receives your complete claim package to make a determination.

Unclaimed property returns by region

How did your region do in September?

Patronis said that $40 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians  individuals and businesses  during September.

The states Division of Unclaimed Property released the following figures from media markets around the state that reported returns of unclaimed property to the division, Walker said. So if your region isnt included, like Broward County, chances are it did not report.

 Miami  $12.5 million

 West Palm Beach  $4.2 million

 Tampa/St. Petersberg  $10 million

 Fort Myers/Naples  $2.2 million

 Orlando  $6.2 million

 Gainesville  $694,328

 Pensacola  $1 million

 Panama City  $476,774

 Tallahassee  $957,586

 Jacksonville  $2.1 million.
A Florida high school teacher has been arrested for allegedly having inappropriate relations with a student, according to the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

Lucas Cridlebaugh, 25, is a teacher at Winter Springs High School. He was put on administrative leave Tuesday prior to being arrested Wednesday, FOX 35 Orlando reports.

Deputies say they were contacted Monday evening after the victim's mother learned Cridlebaugh exchanged explicit messages with her daughter, a student at Winter Springs High School, over the spring and early summer of 2023.

"During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Cridlebaugh also had inappropriate sexual contact with the victim on several occasions on the school campus," Seminole County Sheriff's Office said in a press release. The allegations were supported by detectives conducted with the alleged victim, they said.

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Detectives questioned Cridlebaugh, who the sheriff's office said cooperated with the investigation prior to his arrest on two counts of lewed and lascivious battery on a minor and three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a minor.

Cridlebaugh was placed in custody, and bond was set at $75,000.

In a statement to parents obtained by FOX 35, Winter Springs High School Principal Pete Gaffney said: "I want you to know that any allegations of misconduct by our staff will be taken seriously and handled quickly. We will continue to fully cooperate and assist law enforcement as they continue their investigation."

Seminole County Public Schools said they reported the incident to the Department of Family and Children Services and law enforcement.

Detectives are asking anyone who has had a similar incident involving Cridlebaugh to contact the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at 407-665-6650.





Original article source: Florida teacher accused of molesting student on school grounds
A plane taking off from Kabul International airport in August last year (Daniel LEAL)

Low-cost carrier flydubai announced flights to Kabul on Thursday, becoming the first international airline to resume services since US forces' chaotic withdrawal in 2021.

Twice-daily flights will begin on November 15, the Dubai-based airline said. Taliban authorities swiftly returned to power after the hasty US evacuation.

"flydubai... announced today the resumption of flights to Kabul International Airport," said a statement on the carrier's website.

An airlift of more than 120,000 people from the Kabul airport marked the end of a 20-year occupation by US forces following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

A suicide bombing on the airport's perimeter, targeting crowds who were desperate to flee the country, killed more than 170 people including 13 US troops.

The full operation of Kabul's airport -- which was trashed during the mass evacuation of civilians -- is seen as crucial to reviving Afghanistan's shattered economy.

Currently, Afghanistan's Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines operate limited services from Kabul to destinations including Dubai, Moscow, Islamabad and Istanbul.

Last year, a United Arab Emirates company, GAAC, signed a contract to manage Afghanistan's air traffic, an agreement that was expected to bring back international airlines.

GAAC, based in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, also has contracts to provide ground handling services and security screening at Afghanistan's three airports.

flydubai will be the first international carrier to operate Kabul flights in two years, the Afghan consulate in Dubai said on its Facebook page.

Its return "will be the beginning of the resumption of flights for other international airlines", the consulate added.

th/kir
Former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg has been slammed by Forbes for his testimony in court from earlier this week, at Donald Trumps New York fraud trial.

In an article published on Thursday (12 October), the ex-Trump employee is accused by the magazine of lying under oath when he took the stand this week.

The publication was referred to several times during Weisselbergs testimony as part of the $250m civil fraud lawsuit brought against Donald Trump, his sons, his associates  including Weisselberg  and his company by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The defendants are charged with inflating Mr Trumps net worth in order to get favourable financing terms from banks. They have all pleaded not guilty.

Judge Arthur Engoron made a pre-trial ruling that this was the case and ordered the cancellation of their business certificates  effectively putting an end to their real estate empire in New York (though this is now being appealed).

To arrive at the inflated figures that they presented to financial institutions, the court heard from the prosecution how the Trump Organization would allegedly in some cases use incorrect data.

The example given was tripling the square footage of Mr Trumps triplex penthouse apartment at Trump Tower on Manhattans Fifth Avenue, claiming it was 30,000sq ft and not 10,996sq ft as it is listed in property records.

Weisselberg argued in court that he had little to do with the calculation of the penthouses value, repeating the claim several times and saying it was not a concern and a de minimus asset in relation to the overall financial condition of Mr Trump.

Dan Alexander, senior editor for Forbes, who has been reporting on the former president and his business for years, claimed that that is not true.

A review of old emails and notes, some of which the attorney generals office does not possess, show that Weisselberg absolutely thought about Trumps apartmentand played a key role in trying to convince Forbes over the course of several years that it was worth more than it really was, he wrote.

Given the fact that these discussions continued for years and that Weisselberg took a very detailed approach in reviewing Trumps assets with Forbes, it defies all logic to think he truly believes what he is now saying in court.

Former Trump Organization Executive Allen Weisselberg (L) sits in the courtroom during the civil fraud trial of former President Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Alexander then gave a detailed breakdown of communications about the size of the penthouse between journalists at Forbes and Weisselberg beginning in 2009, culminating in the publication in 2017 exposing the lie about the square footage.

The Trump Organization then changed the size of the penthouse on internal documents to its real size.

Weisselberg was demoted after being criminally charged in a separate tax case in 2021 and left the Trump Organization in January when was sentenced to five months in jail after pleading guilty.

Weisselberg agreed not to voluntarily cooperate with anyone, including law enforcement from the looks of his separation agreement, however he has to cooperate with Trump. pic.twitter.com/Z2i8WQnecw  Stewart Bishop (@stewartbishop) October 12, 2023

The publication of Forbess accusation that Weisselberg perjured himself in the Lower Manhattan court came just before the lunch break.

Moments later in court, his separation document from when he left the Trump Organization was revealed showing that in exchange for $2m over two years, he was forbidden from voluntarily cooperating with the authorities but must cooperate with the Trump Organization.

On return from lunch, the former Trump associate did not retake the stand.

Judge Engoron said both the prosecution and defence could recall him during the remainder of the trial.
The Justice Department leveled a startling accusation Thursday at Sen. Bob Menendez: that he was an agent of Egypt while serving in the U.S. Senate.

A revised version of an earlier, bribery-focused indictment accuses the New Jersey Democrat, his wife, and a business associate of a conspiracy to have the senator act as a foreign agent in violation of federal law. Its an extraordinary and perhaps unprecedented allegation: It appears to be the first time a sitting member of Congress has ever been criminally charged with working as an agent of a foreign power.

Prosecutors allege Menendez secretly assisted Egyptian military and intelligence officials on matters over which he exercised significant control as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Menendez could face decades in prison if convicted on all charges.

The new charge is linked to an 85-year-old statute regulating foreign influence in the U.S.: the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA. Heres a look at the longstanding law and how it figures into the case against Menendez.

What is FARA?

The Foreign Agents Registration Act was passed in 1938, primarily to counter Nazi propaganda and influence efforts in the U.S. in the lead-up to World War II. The law requires agents of foreign countries, political parties and companies to register with the Justice Department if they attempt to influence U.S. public opinion or lobby Americans officials for policy changes.

Could Menendez have avoided trouble by registering as a foreign agent?

No. Putting aside the unthinkable political ramifications of a sitting senator declaring himself to be a foreign agent, a provision of federal law added to the books in 1966 prohibits anyone working in any branch of the federal government from foreign lobbying.

That bar certainly applies to members of Congress. The new indictment quotes the Senate Ethics Manual, which says a public official may not act as an agent or attorney for a foreign principal required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.

The prohibition on foreign lobbying by public officials means Menendez will not be able to level a common rejoinder to FARA prosecutions. Defendants often claim theyre being prosecuted merely for paperwork violations, since (for private individuals) its not illegal to lobby for a foreign government  its only a crime if one fails to register. Of course, often a failure to register is deliberate, as registering would expose efforts that the agent (and the foreign principal) wish to keep quiet.

Are Menendezs co-defendants charged with violating FARA?

While Menendezs wife, Nadine Menendez, and a business associate, Wael Hana, are named as co-conspirators in an illegal effort to enlist the senator as a foreign agent for Egypt, its unclear whether prosecutors are asserting that those two defendants had a legal obligation to register under FARA. The indictment says Nadine Menendez and Hana have never registered as foreign agents or lobbyists and at one point calls that a failure, but there is no specific charge against the pair for not registering.

Prosecutors say they have ample evidence that the senator understood the requirements of FARA since he recently urged enforcement of the law against former Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) for his work on behalf of a Venezuelan oil company. But they make no similar claim about Nadine Menendez or Hana. Its possible a lack of proof of their knowledge of the statute led to the absence of such a direct charge against them.

The conspiracy charge against the Menendezes and Hana carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Other counts in the indictment, like extortion and honest services fraud, allow for up to 20 years in prison.

Has a member of Congress ever before been charged with being a foreign agent?

It doesnt appear that a sitting member has ever faced such a charge, but former Rep. Mark Siljander  a Republican who represented a Michigan district for three terms in the 1980s  pleaded guilty in 2010 to a FARA charge for failing to register for his work for the Islamic African Relief Agency well after he left Congress.

Siljander was sentenced to a year and a day in prison on that charge and obstruction of justice. In December 2020, President Donald Trump pardoned the former congressman.

How is FARA enforced?

While there were a smattering of prosecutions in the years after the law was enacted, there were only a handful of criminal cases brought under the statute in the half-century that followed. This led many in the lobbying world to conclude that the law was toothless.

Amid growing concern from lawmakers and Trump about covert foreign influence on U.S. public opinion and policymaking, beginning around 2017, the Justice Department ramped up enforcement of the law, sending out more queries to people or companies who may have failed to register and embarking on a series of criminal prosecutions.

What is DOJs track-record on foreign-agent prosecutions?

Not strong. A string of FARA-related prosecutions has gone awry in recent years, resulting in acquittals.

Last year, a jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., acquitted a wealthy investor and former head of Trumps inaugural committee, Tom Barrack, of charges that he secretly acted as an agent of the United Arab Emirates in attempts to influence U.S. foreign policy during Trumps presidency.

In 2019, a jury in Washington, D.C. acquitted former Obama White House counsel Greg Craig on a charge of seeking to mislead DOJs FARA office about his work for Ukraine.

The Justice Department has succeeded in getting guilty pleas in some recent cases involving FARA. Trump 2016 campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for failing to register in connection with his efforts to lobby U.S. politicians for Ukrainian interests.

Former Republican National Committee deputy finance Chairman Elliott Broidy also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge involving failing to register under FARA for his efforts on behalf of a Malaysian financier. Both Broidy and Manafort won pardons from Trump, although Manaforts came after hed served nearly two years behind bars.

One challenge for prosecutors in such cases is the high burden of proof the law requires. To prove criminal FARA charges, prosecutors have to show that a defendant knew about the registration requirement and deliberately ignored it.

The Justice Department also filed a civil lawsuit last year against casino magnate Steve Wynn to seek to force him to register for alleged lobbying of the Trump administration on behalf of China. A judge dismissed the suit, but DOJ is appealing and also seeking a legislative fix from Congress.

Will Menendezs attorneys be able to poke holes in the foreign-agent aspect of the case?

Menendezs lead lawyer, Abbe Lowell, is intimately familiar with the complexities of a criminal foreign-agent case. Just last year, Lowell won the acquittal of a personal aide to Barrack, Matthew Grimes, who was charged alongside him in the case over allegedly lobbying on behalf of UAE.

Kyle Cheney contributed to this report.


The number of Ukrainian citizens killed in Hamas' attack on Israel has risen to seven, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko reported on Oct. 12.

Nine more Ukrainians were injured, and nine others are considered missing, he added.

Nikolenko said that the Ukrainian embassy is working with Israeli security services to locate those missing.

According to the official, over 1,000 Ukrainian citizens have sought assistance from the embassy in leaving Israel due to canceled flights. Nikolenko said that Ukrainian diplomatic services are preparing a first evacuation flight to Romania on Oct. 14 and are working to secure further flights.

Around 200 Ukrainians have reportedly requested to be evacuated from the Gaza Strip. The Foreign Ministry and embassies in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan are conducting active diplomatic efforts to evacuate Ukrainian citizens as soon as possible, Nikolenko said.

Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us

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 earlier that there are currently 14,000 Ukrainian citizens listed on the consular register of Ukraine's embassy in Israel.

Hamas launched an attack of unprecedented scale on Israel on Oct. 7, infiltrating Israeli territory on the ground and with ultralight aircraft while bombing Israeli settlements.

In response, the Israeli military launched an offensive against Gaza and declared a blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

Read also: A wave of terror: Hamas attack brings back haunting memories of war for Ukrainians in Israel

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BELTON, Mo.  A former substitute teacher for the Belton School District has pleaded guilty to multiple sex crimes against children.

Jason Carey withdrew his plea of not guilty on Tuesday in Cass County court and pleaded guilty to all 12 counts, including child molestation, stalking, promoting child pornography and statutory sodomy from September 2022, with some dating back more than a decade ago.

Prosecutors first charged Carey with child molestation, child enticement, and giving, or trying to give, pornography to a minor in September 2022.

In that case, an 8th-grade student told a principal that Carey sent her inappropriate pictures. The principal reported the incident to the school resource officer, according to the probable cause statement.

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The court document states a group of middle school girls spent the night together Sept. 17, 2022. During the sleepover, several girls used Snapchat to communicate with Carey. The document shows Carey is accused of sending several inappropriate videos and messages to the girls during the sleepover.

The probable cause statement also includes allegations that Carey molested a girl in August 2022. The girl told investigators she spent the night with a friend. She said Carey is a roommate who lives at the same house as her friends family.

Authorities in a Denver, Colorado suburb believe Carey may have more victims there while he lived in the area from 2014-2021. The Douglas County, Colorado Sheriffs Office and Parker, Colorado Police Department are now asking potential victims to come forward eight months after Careys arrest in Missouri.

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While in Colorado, Carey worked closely with children at several organizations. Police said he even dressed up in costume and would go out and do birthday parties as Thor.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in Cass County at 9 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2023.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two former officers of the Tennessee Department of Corrections pleaded guilty for their roles in the assault of an inmate and cover-up at Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee.

Suspect, victim IDd in deadly police chase that ended with I-55 crash

Javian Griffin, 38, of Nashville, Tennessee pled guilty Wednesday to using unlawful force on an inmate and to providing false information in his official report for the incident.

Sebron Hollands, 33, of Clarksville, Tennessee pled guilty last week to providing false information in his official report regarding the same incident.

Court documents state that Griffin admitted to punching the inmate in the head without justification, breaking his jaw. He also said the inmate did not resist or pose a threat.

Griffin and Hollands reportedly admitted that they provided false information in their official reports to obstruct the investigation.

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In the plea agreement, the parties agreed to jointly recommend Griffin to serve a 48-month prison sentence. Hollands faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Holland is set to appear in court on January 19, 2024, for his sentence hearing and Griffin is scheduled to appear on March 5, 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Updated with comments from Laural O'Rourke at 9:40 a.m. Oct. 12, 2023.

Former Eugene School District 4J board member Laural O'Rourke has been given a letter of education after "soliciting gifts" via social media prior to her resignation.

On Oct. 6, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission finalized O'Rourke's case during their regular meeting. A letter of education is essentially a warning, informing the official about laws they have broken instead of delivering civil penalty. This was her first offense.

According to the case file, O'Rourke posted to Facebook on Feb. 1 asking for public compensation, including a link to her Venmo mobile payment account.

The file reported that O'Rourke's post states her intention to continue speaking out against the racial harassment she has faced while on the school board. She also referenced not being able to attend in-person school board meetings due to safety concerns that she had brought up multiple times previously.

"Here's my Venmo white liberal racist Eugene for making me do constant emotional labor, educating you on how to not be disgusting entitled bigots, and dealing with your nonstop trampling of my civil rights," O'Rourke's post stated. "You need to pay me for my work."

The school board is not a paid position.

Community member Julea McKinney filed the complaint against O'Rourke. The OGEC reached out to O'Rourke. She responded to the commission via email.

"This is obviously not me asking for payment for Board work," she stated. "It is me asking to be paid for the emotional labor that [racists] tax Black people... I happen to be on the a Board this is not about the board it is about systemic racism. Thank you, ethics board for helping the racists.

"I am entitled to ask for reparations for racial harassment, unless the Ethics Commission sees a Black person serving on the Public School Board as deserving all racial harassment."

O'Rourke also pointed out that all members of the commission are white.

OGEC in March determined O'Rourke's post violated ORS 244.040, which prohibits a public official from using or attempting to use their official position to obtain financial gain if the financial gain would not otherwise be available if not for their position.

After the initial contact, the OGEC would have conducted an official investigation after finding appropriate cause in April, which would have revealed whether O'Rourke received money and how much.

However, O'Rourke agreed to the terms of the commission, which allowed her to conclude the case without a full investigation. The terms included O'Rourke receiving a letter of education and O'Rourke's commitment to not initiate any actions against the OGEC as a result of this case.

The letter of education restates the laws of soliciting or receiving gifts as a public official, noting that no gifts valued at more than $50 from a single source may be received if there is known administrative interest.

O'Rourke last attended a regular school board meeting as a member in March. She did not attend another meeting for four months and then resigned from the position in July.

She stated to the Register-Guard that this case was not related to her resignation.

"I quit because Eugene didnt deserve my experience and expertise, because of their collective obvious racism," O'Rourke stated in an email. "The ethics committee was biased also but I now refuse to play this game anymore."

In her resignation letter in July, she alleged racism and harassment from the public, fellow school board members and 4J administration. She also stated she did not feel safe on the board or at board meetings as a Black woman.

Her position has since been filled by Ericka Thessen.

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Ex-Eugene 4J school board member Laural O'Rourke reprimanded
A teacher faces a criminal charge for allegedly having sexual relations with a 14-year-old eighth grader, who had told her mother she was staying after school for tutoring, court documents stated.

William David Patterson, 27, who was an eighth grade biology teacher at IDEA Rio Vista charter school, was arrested last month on a charge of improper relationship between an educator and student following a three-month investigation by Socorro police.

IDEA Public Schools said in a statement that Patterson is no longer an employee and that he was under an internal investigation and had not been on its campus since May, when the allegations first arose. "At IDEA Public Schools, our top priority is the safety and security of our students," the school added.

William D. Patterson, a teacher at IDEA Rio Vista school in Socorro, Texas, was arrested on a charge of improper relationship between an educator and student.

IDEA Rio Vista was founded in 2018 and has more than 1,200 students in kindergarten to 11th grade at its campus at 210 N. Rio Vista Road in Socorro.

Teacher's alleged sex messages to girl discovered

The investigation began on May 31 when the girl's mother walked into Socorro Police Headquarters to report finding sexually explicit text messages on her daughter's cellphone between the girl and a teacher, stated a complaint affidavit filed by a Socorro police detective.

A Texas Department of Public Safety special agent assisted Socorro police detectives with a "phone dump" to retrieve archived information from the cellphone.

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Investigators allegedly pulled several screen shots from Whatsapp of inappropriate conversations between Patterson and the girl talking about a romantic relationship, ranging from the flirtatious to extremely sexual content more comparable to "Penthouse" than the schoolhouse.

William D. Patterson, a former eight-grade biology teacher for IDEA public schools in El Paso, was arrested on a charge of having an improper relationship between an educator and student.

The conversations continued for several weeks with Patterson allegedly insisting that the girl send him nude photos of herself. He allegedly told her what he was doing was illegal and that he could get in trouble. The nude photos were retrieved by investigators, the affidavit stated.

The complaint stated that Patterson "confesses to her (the girl) that he wants to marry her and that she is the woman he's been waiting for."

IDEA Rio Vista teacher allegedly had sex with student in parked car

The text-message trail allegedly included a March 25 message that the girl sent to her mother asking if she could stay afterschool for tutoring, which was a lie and an excuse to sneak out and meet Patterson, the affidavit stated.

Patterson allegedly picked up the girl in a Walmart store parking lot and drove to the Rio Vista Community Center at 901 N. Rio Vista Road in Socorro, the complaint stated. He allegedly parked in the rear of the property and had sex with the girl in the backseat of his 2015 Chrysler 300.

Investigators also recovered explicit messages between the two discussing the sexual encounter, according to the affidavit.

Courts: Former EPISD administrator convicted in kidnapping, sexual assault of woman

When interviewed by investigators, the girl allegedly told them she sent Patterson nude photos and that she had sex with him twice, both times in his car behind the community center, the affidavit stated.

On July 12, investigators contacted Patterson after obtaining a search warrant for his cellphone and asked him to come to Socorro Police Headquarters to answer questions regarding a sexual assault case. Patterson initially agreed but then declined to speak with police without talking to his lawyer and refused to release his cellphone, police said in the affidavit.

On Aug. 2, a criminal complaint accusing Patterson of having an improper relationship with a student was filed by Socorro police and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was arrested and booked into the El Paso County Jail on Sept. 6. He was released from jail that same day on a $100,000 surety bond. The case is pending in court.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Former IDEA school teacher arrested in eighth grade student sex case
A former Kentucky county official who admitted to lying to get crop-insurance payments was sentenced Thursday to two years and six months in federal prison.

The sentence for Randall D. Taulbee includes an order to pay $718,784 in restitution to cover losses caused by his conduct. Of that, he owes $458,104 to an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and $260,680 to AgriSompo North America, a company that sells crop insurance.

Taulbee resigned as a magistrate in Bourbon County after pleading guilty June 22 to two charges of conspiring to commit an offense against the U.S., meaning fraud on crop-insurance claims.

Taulbee was first elected magistrate in 2018 and won reelection last year, according to Bourbon County Clerk Cynthia Santana Wilson.

A federal grand jury indicted Taulbee days later. He was charged with his brother-in-law, James McDonald, and his sister, Cherie Noble.

Taulbee, who grew tobacco and corn in Bourbon and Nicholas counties, admitted that between 2013 and November 2017, he used a variety of approaches to commit fraud.

Those included filing false loss claims; over-reporting his production; claiming more expenses than he had; claiming he was the sole owner of a crop when in fact he was a partner with McDonald, which meant they both got paid; and failing to report sales that would have offset his claimed losses, according to the court record.

Randall Taulbee is a former magistrate in Bourbon County, Ky. Photo courtesy of The Bourbon County Citizen

In at least two years, Taulbee and McDonald sold corn in the name of McDonalds minor son to hide the sales, Taulbee admitted in his plea.

Taulbee also involved his sister, Noble, in the fraud by having her take out insurance on tobacco crops owned by Taulbee and McDonald.

That meant they got higher payouts on losses claimed on those crops because Noble was listed as a new producer, according to Taulbees plea.

Taulbee and McDonald misled Noble and she wasnt aware that what they were doing was illegal for several years, Nobles attorney, Gerry L. Harris, said in a sentencing memo.

Of all the money involved in the scheme, Noble received just $3,028, Harris said.

The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams, said in a sentencing memorandum that Taulbee was the one who recruited McDonald and Noble to commit crimes with him.

Taulbee also pushed his sister to lie to investigators, and even impersonated his own father when speaking to investigators over the phone, according to a prosecution motion.

In that call, Taulbee, pretending to be his father, told an investigator that Noble owned cattle and grew her own tobacco, and told the agent to leave her alone, the motion said.

Taulbee also lied about his finances, the prosecution memo alleged.

Taulbees guilty plea required him to disclose financial information to the government.

Taulbee said in the disclosure that he had no checking account and didnt have any interest in property, but that was false, according to the sentencing memo.

The government learned that Taulbee had transferred his home and some land into someone elses name days after pleading guilty, and that that person later switched the property to Taulbee and his fiancee, the memo said.

Taulbee has a pattern of being dishonest in this case, the prosecutor said.

A real problem

U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell sentenced Taulbee during a hearing in federal court in Lexington.

Caldwell said farmers and agriculture are part of the backbone of the country.

Its a difficult job, and taxpayers want to support farmers through programs like crop insurance, so abuse of the program is particularly disturbing, Caldwell said.

Government insurance fraud, particularly agricultural insurance fraud, is a real problem, Caldwell said.

The sentencing range envisioned in Taulbees guilty plea was 46 to 57 months, but those guidelines are advisory, not mandatory.

Caldwell said reason for her relatively generous and merciful sentence for Taulbee was the large amount of restitution he owes.

Noble and McDonald also pleaded guilty.

Caldwell sentenced Noble to perform 200 hours of community service and to be on probation for two years.

She sentenced McDonald to six months behind bars and ordered him to pay $718,784 in restitution, the same amount as Taulbee. They are jointly liable for the restitution.

The case against Taulbee, McDonald and Noble was part of a larger investigation of fraud involving crop insurance in recent years that prosecutors called a severe and pervasive scourge in Central Kentucky.

More than two dozen people have been convicted in the investigation, including farmers, a complicit insurance agent who facilitated more than $20 million in fraud and people associated with a tobacco warehouse, while others resolved allegations of fraud through civil settlements, court records show.
Rep. Kevin Hern , a former McDonald's franchise owner and a leading contender for House Majority Leader. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

GOP Rep. Kevin Hern, a former McDonald's franchise owner, wants to be House Majority Leader.

So he's handing out Bacon, Egg and Cheese McGriddles to his fellow Republicans to win them over.

It's not clear if every GOP office received a breakfast sandwich from the Oklahoma congressman.

Rep. Kevin Hern wants to be the next House Majority Leader, and he's got at least one unconventional trick up his sleeve to try to pull it off: McDonald's.

First elected to Congress in 2018, the Oklahoma Republican was previously the owner of several McDonald's franchises, earning him the moniker "McCongressman."

Earlier this year, he said that the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986 "cut short" his dreams of becoming an astronaut, leading him eventually towards entering the fast food industry.

Congressman Kevin Hern (@repkevinhern) March 3, 2023

According to reporters from Washington Examiner and Punchbowl, Hern is now distributing breakfast sandwiches  more precisely, Bacon, Egg and Cheese McGriddles  to House Republican offices as he seeks to lead the conference.

But not everyone got a McGriddle on Thursday. Miranda Dabney, a spokeswoman for Hern, told Insider that they delivered the breakfast sandwiches to "probably a third to half of the conference this morning."

"I fucking wish," one House GOP staffer told Insider via text when asked if they'd received a delivery.

"Pissed," a staffer from another House GOP office wrote, saying they also hadn't received any McGriddles.

Hern, the current chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, launched his campaign for majority leader on Wednesday after House Republicans nominated current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise to replace McCarthy as speaker.

Hern told colleagues in a letter that his "experience outside of Congress makes me uniquely qualified to lead our majority."

Congressman Kevin Hern (@repkevinhern) October 11, 2023

The race to become majority leader is likely to be more crowded than the two-man speaker's race, with Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Tom Emmer of Minnesota, and Elise Stefanik of New York all rumored to be considering their own bids.

It is unclear when the election will take place. The party technically hasn't settled on Scalise as the new speaker quite yet, with several holdouts raising objections that could take days to iron out.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Oleksiy Kostusyev

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has put former Odesa Mayor Oleksiy Kostusyev on the wanted list, according to an announcement made by the agency on Oct. 11.

He is suspected of involvement in the seizure of the Odesa International Airport.

Read also: Why EUs Borrell personally discusses corruption with Kyiv officials  expert interview

Kostusyev is suspected of committing crimes under Part 5 of Article 191 (Misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office), Part 2 of Article 366 (forgery) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The investigation found that in 2011, two prominent Odesa businessmen devised a scheme to make the Odesa Airport jointly owned by the city government and private investors.

Read also: Ukraine receives first warning from Washington

The entrepreneurs registered an LLC to establish a joint venture with the Odesa City Council with 75% and 25% shares, respectively. According to the NABU, the consent of the members of the Odesa City Council to establish it was secured by the then-mayor.

Through this scheme, the city completely lost control of the airport and did not receive any profit from its activities. Participants in the scheme seized the property of Odesa airport worth about UAH 118 million ($3.2 million) and the income from its operations in 2012-2022 in the amount of more than UAH 2.5 billion ($68.6 million).

Former Mayor Kostusyev and his deputy, businessmen Boris Kaufman and Alex Borukhovich (formerly Oleksandr Hranovskyi), as well as the then director of Odesa Airport Development LLC, were all charged.

Read also: Sumy mayor charged with accepting a bribe

The court imposed on Kaufman a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with an alternative of UAH 268.4 million ($7.4 million) bail.

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
Police in Essex, England, arrested Nicholas Alahverdian on Wednesday after the former Rhode Island fugitive thwarted their attempts to question him about a womans claim he raped her in 2017.

As of mid-afternoon, Alahverdian, who faked his death in 2020, had not been charged with any crime, but the case threatens to delay his extradition to Utah, where he is charged with two rapes and a sexual battery.

In a released statement, Essex police said: Officers investigating a non-recent allegation of rape ... have arrested a 36-year-old man. After liaising with the appropriate authorities, Essex police officers arrested the man on suspicion of rape this morning, Wednesday 11 October. He remains in custody for questioning.

Under English law, it would be up to a prosecutor reviewing the case to determine whether any charge is brought.

Nick Alahverdian was about to be extradited to Utah

Alahverdians arrest came one week after a Scottish judicial minister signed the formal order for his extradition after months of court proceedings, during which Alahverdian presented a fanciful charade of being someone else.

The fabulists tale convinced few, least of all an extradition judge in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Alahverdian (also known as Nicholas Rossi) was then being held without bail.

Said the judge: ... he is as dishonest and deceitful as he is evasive and manipulative. These unfortunate facets of his character have undoubtedly complicated and extended what is ultimately a straightforward case."

Nick Alahverdian on the London Eye observation wheel in a photo from 2017.

Latest Alahverdian arrest stems from 2017 assault in England

In 2017, as the FBI began looking for Alahverdian for $200,000 in alleged fraudulent credit-card expenses, he made one of his earliest known flights out of the country.

Prior to departure, he met a woman from Essex through an online dating site and pushed his way into her life, the woman told The Journal last year, by pretending to be, among other things, a Harvard grad (he actually never graduated from high school), and making plans to move in with her before they ever met in person.

Every single boundary that I set, he broke, the woman told the newspaper. Before I knew it, he had moved in .... Within days he was talking about getting married and doing calculations about how long it would take him to get his residency. In a space of five or six days, I was completely broken down.

Alahverdian raped her, she said, within a week of his moving in with her.

Nicholas Alahverdian faked his own death in 2020

In 2020, days after he married another English woman, Alahverdian concocted his fake death, issuing a statement to Rhode Island reporters through the Office of Nicholas Alahverdian that he had succumbed to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A woman purporting to be his widow began calling reporters and Rhode Island political leaders, coaxing them to write online remembrances of this warrior for childrens rights who supposedly passed away in his wifes arms, his obituary claimed, as his room filled with the music of the end credits for the 1997 film 'Contact.' His final words: Fear not and run toward the bliss of the sun.

The alleged widow, who said her husband's ashes had been spread at sea  and later refused requests by The Journal to produce his death certificate  also urged dozens of politicians and media representatives to attend two planned church services for her dead husband.

But both services were canceled at the urging of a Rhode Island State Police detective who said authorities believed Alahverdian was still alive.

He was ultimately arrested in December 2021 in a Glasgow hospital were he was suffering from COVID.

Contact Tom Mooney at: tmooney@providencejournal.com

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Nicholas Alahverdian, RI conman who faked his death, arrested again
Jaime Herrera Butler announced that shes running for Commissioner of Public Lands, via a news release on Tuesday. Her focuses are reducing catastrophic wildfire risk, preserving habitats, and public recreation.

Im excited to announce my candidacy for the Commissioner of Public Lands. Read more @ https://t.co/QXCQuO7NGz  Jaime Herrera Beutler (@JaimeForLands) October 11, 2023

Herrera Beutler formerly represented Southwest Washington in Congress.

Decades of under management and neglect have turned too many of our public forests into crowded, diseased tinderboxes, said Herrera Beutler. Fires now run rampant every summer. They ruin our days with smoke, emit carbon, make home insurance unavailable and housing even more unaffordable. And for those unfortunate enough to live in the path of one of those fires, they can cause unimaginable heartache. I spent a dozen years in Congress fighting for more resources to responsibly manage our forests, remove the dead and diseased trees that serve as fuel for the fires that plague us every summer, and quickly fight the fires that do occur.

According to the news release, Herrera Beutler graduated from the University of Washington and did a Fellowship-in-Residency at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Institute of Politics.

We are so fortunate to live in Americas most beautiful state, and all of us have a responsibility to keep it that way, said Herrera Beutler. I will work with Tribes, scientists, landowners, sportsmen, the forest industry, and conservation groups to make sure Washingtons forests and diverse array of species and habitats thrive, and to preserve access to recreational use of public land for its owners  the people of Washington.

The news release said she lives on 5 acres in Yacolt wither her husband and three children.

The current Commissioner of Public Lands is Hillary Franz.

In March, Franz announced her run for Washington governor.
Utah legislators stand with Rabbi Benny Zippel, executive director of Chabad of Utah, as he speaks at the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Former Texas Gov. and presidential candidate Rick Perry attended a pro-Israel rally at the Utah State Capitol on Wednesday evening, several attendees confirmed.

About 300 people braved cold and rainy conditions to attend a Stand with Israel rally, showing support for Israel days after Hamas militants invaded Israel, killing an estimated 1,200 people, including one Utahn.

Related

Perry stood on the Capitols front steps, shoulder-to-shoulder with Utah state senators and representatives, while Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and several faith leaders spoke at a lectern at the foot of the staircase.

Cox posted an image on X, formerly Twitter, in which Perry can be seen standing near the top of the steps.

Tonight Utah gathered to pray for peace and to support Israel in the face of terror. I was grateful to see the solidarity of Republicans and Democrats condemning the massacre and caring for Utahs Jewish community. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts: pic.twitter.com/PsRzfcUkEk  Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) October 12, 2023

Perry reportedly came to Utah to meet with Republican lawmakers about psychological health. Perry has become an advocate for psychedelics as a treatment for mental health issues, including for veterans.

Cox spokesperson Jennifer Napier-Pearce said she was not aware of Perrys presence at the rally.

Perry served as governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015, where he succeeded former President George W. Bush. Perry ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. president in 2012 and 2016.

Perry endorsed Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, after dropping out of the 2012 race, after it became clear Romney would win the GOP nomination. Throughout the campaign, Romney and Perry clashed on social security, health insurance and immigration.

In this Oct. 18, 2011, file photo Republican presidential candidates, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, talk during a Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas. | Chris Carlson, Associated Press

Perry was nominated as U.S. Secretary of Energy by former President Donald Trump in 2017. He served until 2019, when he resigned amid scrutiny regarding his participation in pressuring Ukrainian officials to investigate the Biden family, a scandal that led to Trumps first impeachment.

During his presidential campaigns, Perry pledged unwavering support for Israel. On X, he has shared an image encouraging prayer for the state of Israel and an article encouraging the conservative movement to drive those people out who have not denounced Hamas attack.

The Wednesday rally at the state Capitol featured speeches, prayers and readings from the Torah. Cox, who wore a yarmulke, pledged his support for the people of Israel and for the Jewish community here in Utah  or Jewtah, as he called it.

Related

Cox called for a moment of silence for Lotan Abir, a 24-year-old Utah resident who was killed while attending a rave over the weekend. Abir, an Israeli, had recently relocated to Utah.

Many in the crowd waved Israeli flags or held signs saying, I Stand With Israel.

Rabbi Chaim Zippel, co-director of Chabad of Utah County, told attendees he was in Israel Saturday morning when Hamas began its attack. He and his family fled to a bomb shelter, and later made it to the airport in Tel Aviv. Being Shabbat, he had not checked his phone to understand what was going on.

Friends, my message to you this evening is that this is personal, Rabbi Chaim Zippel said. When I turned on my phone after Shabbat I felt completely gutted.

His father, Rabbi Benny Zippel  who established the first Chabad congregation in Utah  and his brother, Rabbi Avremi Zippel, also spoke.

Rabbi Avremi Zippel showed photographs of individuals, including one Holocaust survivor, who were killed in the attacks.

There will come a day in the not-so-distant future when the world will ask you to forget these names, these faces and these stories, he told attendees. Your being here today promises that these names, these faces and these stories will never never be forgotten.
Michael Greenwald speaks Sept. 27 during the Eradicate Hate Global Summit "Upstanders in action" panel at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

A former U.S. Treasury diplomat who has worked in teams countering financing for insurgent organizations, including Hamas, says more must be done to challenge militant organizations in the Middle East.

Michael Greenwald spoke to the Daily News Tuesday about Saturdays attack on Israel by Hamas and Israels response to the incursion. The conflict has left a death toll of more than 2,000.

Greenwald said he had lost friends in the attack but did not give details.

I think what is taking place right now is horrific on every possible level, said Greenwald. The type of violence and terrorism displayed is on the level of how ISIS operates, attacking innocent civilians, elderly and holocaust survivors.

Greenwald, the global lead for digital assets and financial innovations at Amazon Web Services, who served as Treasury attache to Qatar and Kuwait, said, I think it will be even more important moving forward to go after these terrorists in all forms be it infrastructure, finance or logistics.

More: Hundreds gather at Palm Beach Synagogue for 'We Stand With Israel' event

Greenwald and wife Nolan Greenwald co-chair Palm Beach Synagogues Summit to Counter Antisemitism, an annual summit featuring national and local figures with the goal of creating a space for community solutions to combat hate.

When you have solidarity between communities, that is the greatest form of resistance, said Greenwald. The main reason we do the summit every year is not in reaction to something, but to be proactive in building the intercommunity solidarity needed against evil and hatred.

Greenwald commended Palm Beachs response to heightened security concerns in the wake of the attacks situation, noting the increased police presence at synagogues and Jewish institutions. He also praised the unanimous support for Israel by Palm Beach officials.

I applaud our local officials for their quick responses, and I know they will do the right thing, but this is not the kind of situation that goes away next week, next month or next year. Its a continuous threat we have to deal with, said Greenwald.

Greenwald attended Tuesday evening's solidarity rally at the Palm Beach Synagogue, which was organized in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

"Everyone is family ... we will all need to do our part in these incredibly difficult times," Greenwald said.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Former U.S diplomat urges multi-pronged approach to 'terrorists'
Ronald Colton McAbee, a former Williamson County deputy, was convicted Wednesday of five felonies for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Video footage previously reported on by The Tennessean showed McAbee, donning both a Three Percenters patch and a patch identifying him as a sheriff's deputy, punch and drag police officers into a mob of people in the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol building.

A federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found McAbee, 29, of Unionville, guilty of all charges. The charges are for assaulting, resisting or impeding officers; civil disorder; and three charges related to being in a restricted building with a deadly weapon: one for entering the building, one for participating in disorderly and disruptive conduct, and one for engaging in violence.

Ronald Colton McAbee

McAbee pleaded guilty to two other charges on Sept. 25: a separate felony charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding an officer, and a misdemeanor charge for an act of physical violence on Capitol grounds.

U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras will sentence McAbee next leap day, Feb. 29, 2024.

According to The Tennessean's previous reporting, McAbee was employed by the Williamson County Sheriff's Office at the time of the attack but was on leave due to an injury from a car crash.

He resigned from his position in March 2021, before he was charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol.

McAbee was arrested on Aug. 17, 2021.

Before McAbee worked for the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, he worked for the Knox County Sheriff's Office and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office in Georgia, where he was disciplined for taunting inmates with pepper spray and lying to them about their release date, The Tennessean reported.

Prosecutors say just before 4:30 p.m. on the day of the riot, McAbee pulled a downed police officer into a crowd inside the Capitol. When another officer tried to assist the downed officer, McAbee "swung his arms and hands towards the officers head and torso," making contact while he was wearing gloves with reinforced knuckles.

McAbee then returned his attention to the downed officer and lifted him up by the torso and shoulders, causing the two to slide down a flight of stairs with McAbee falling on top of the officer. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs and were among another crowd, McAbee laid on top of the officer while other rioters assailed him for more than 20 seconds.

The officer was taken to a hospital and treated for a concussion, head laceration, elbow injury, and cuts and bruising.

From fines to jail time: Tennesseans sentenced in two years since Jan. 6 insurrection

McAbee is the latest of several Tennesseans who have been charged, convicted and sentenced for their roles in the Capitol breach. Most recently, Eric Munchel, infamously known as "zip-tie guy," was sentenced to nearly five years in prison, among the longest sentences handed down related to the attack.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EvanMealins.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jan. 6 riot: Former Williamson County deputy convicted of 5 felonies
Editors Note: This article was published as part of a content-sharing agreement between Army Times and The Fayetteville Observer.

Fort Liberty families who filed a lawsuit against affiliates of the installations private housing partner, Corvias, in June 2020 appear to be reaching a settlement, according to a federal judges order last month.

In the Sept. 20 order signed by Judge James Dever III, Dever said that the military families and Corvias affiliates met in a Sept. 19 settlement conference and told the court all parties will file a stipulation of dismissal, which means the court can dismiss the case on or before Nov. 30.

Details of the Sept. 19 settlement conference are not included in the court records.

Nothing contained in this order shall be considered a dismissal or disposition of this action, Dever wrote. Upon the request of the parties, this case may be re-opened.

The complaint

The original military families who filed the suit against Corvias are Staff Sgt. Shane Page and his wife, Brittany; Spc. Spenser Ganske and his wife, Emily; Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Wilkes and his wife, Ashley; and Cpl. Timothy Murphy and his wife, Katelyn.

According to an August 2022 motion, Timothy Murphy died, and his wife, Katelyn Murphy, was named as a personal representative of his estate in addition to also being part of the lawsuit on her own behalf.

An amended motion filed in November on behalf of the military families added Staff Sgt. Omar Bonilla Martinez and his wife, former Corvias employee Emiline Bonilla, to the complaint.

According to the latest September motion, Staff Sgt. Ezra Thomas and his wife, Rachel, also filed a separate complaint against Corvias on behalf of themselves and their two children in June 2022.

The Thomases also participated in the Sept. 19 settlement conference.

The suits are filed against Bragg Communities LLC and Corvias Management-Army LLC, which are affiliates of Corvias.

A June 27 amended complaint filed on behalf of the five military families from the June 2020 lawsuit alleges that the defendants conspired to conceal harmful environmental and structural housing defects from unsuspecting service members and their families and failed to comply with applicable building and housing codes.

The complaint further alleged that the defendants knowingly leased substandard homes, while charging grossly excessive rents.

Defendants culture of concealment was driven by corporate greed where financial gains were maximized to the detriment of military families and their children, the complaint alleged.

The complaint stated that all the families moved into homes filled with mold, lead-based paint, structural wood rot and overall disrepair, and that the defendants failed to inform the families the homes lacked effective moisture and air barriers between exterior cladding and wall cavities.

The defense

In a July response to the allegations, attorneys for the Corvias affiliates either denied all the allegations or said they had no knowledge of specific alleged conversations such as contractors showing or telling families they found mold in the homes.

While the military families sought relief for allegations of breaches of warranty and contract, negligence and violation of the Residential Lead-based Paint Hazard Reduction Act and to be awarded an unspecified restitution amount, attorneys for the Corvias affiliates argued that the military families damages are too speculative.

Plaintiffs failed to take reasonable steps to prevent or minimize or otherwise to mitigate the damages they allege to have sustained, court records stated. Defendants actions were done in good faith, without malice and without intent, such that the relief sought is not available.

The motion filed on behalf of the defense also stated that claims or alleged injuries and damages caused by the acts or omissions of third parties that the defendants had no control over absolves them of legal responsibility.

The injuries suffered by plaintiffs, if any, were attributable in whole or in part to plaintiffs own contributory negligence, the motion stated. Defendants did not breach any applicable standard of care.

Then-Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy, center, conducts a walk through of a newly renovated house on Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 2, 2020. (Spc. Joshua Cowden/Army)

What Corvias founder says

In an April motion, the military families sought to obtain a testimony from Corvias founder John Picerne.

In a May 10 motion, attorneys for Corvias said that the military families already had depositions from senior executives of Bragg Communities LLC, the lessor of the homes, and Corvias Management-Army LLC, the property manager.

Attorneys argued that Picerne is not a party in the lawsuit and had no role in defendants day-to-day operations on Fort Bragg, which has since been redesignated as Fort Liberty.

The attorneys said that while Picerne gave a 2019 congressional testimony about the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, the proceedings were not about specific housing conditions or issues related to any particular installation.

Heath Burleson, the then-senior vice president assigned to Bragg Communities with responsibility for Fort Bragg, as the representative for the Corvias Group affiliates, provided a 2020 congressional testimony and also provided a deposition for the lawsuit, attorneys said.

A deposition of Mr. Picerne on the same topics would be duplicative, wasteful, and harassing, the motion stated.

The motion stated that Picerne has no unique relevant personal knowledge about Fort Bragg.

In a statement given to Corvias attorneys, Picerne said he does not have unique personal knowledge about the facts, allegations or issues in the military families lawsuit.

I do not know the plaintiffs personally, have never met them, have never communicated with  or about  any of them to my knowledge, and have no personal knowledge about the homes they leased while residing at Fort Bragg, Picerne said.

He reiterated that as founder of the parent company, he does not handle day-to-day operations at any military installation.

In an Aug. 22 order signed by Judge Robert B. Jones Jr., Jones agreed that having Picernes testimony is disproportional to the needs of the case, and the proposed discovery outweighs its likely benefit.
FOREST HILL, Texas - A Fort Worth ISD cafeteria worker was murdered at the elementary school campus where she worked.

The woman, whose name has not been released, was shot and killed before classes started at Sellars Elementary in Forest Hill, and the shooter got away.

Classes were held as usual, and it wasn't until after school was over that parents finally got an explanation about what happened.

Forrest Hill police havent announced any arrests. They havent released who they are looking for, only saying they found the suspects vehicle abandoned in Fort Worth shortly after the shooting.

Even that information came out hours after the shooting and after kids had gone home for the day.

Afternoon pick up Wednesday at Fort Worth ISDs David K. Sellars Elementary looked different.

Parents had to walk inside the school to pick up their children because a school employee was gunned down in a campus parking lot.

Parents tell FOX 4 they weren't even aware of the murder outside the elementary school that's in the city of Forest Hill.

Many left concerned Wednesday afternoon with extra security standing outside and little to no information.

After school was let out, Forest Hill police announced a female employee at the elementary was shot multiple times and killed in the back parking lot just before 7 a.m.

PTA President Keisha Braziel pulled up with her son Wednesday to police tape.

"All we knew was something bad happened and didnt know what completely what," she said.

Braziel tells FOX 4 she later learned the woman killed was a long-time cafeteria worker at Sellars Elementary, who was beloved and has been at the school for decades.

"She was a very happy and energetic person who works here for many, many years," Braziel said. "She was a mainstay here at the school, and she will leave a void."

Forest Hill police didnt confirm the womans position at the school. Investigators are only saying the woman was seen speaking to a person in another vehicle in the parking lot after she arrived for work.

After shots were fired, police say the suspect took off in a silver chevy impala. The car was later found unoccupied in Fort Worth.

Police believe the woman knew her killer, and they briefed Fort Worth ISD with what they knew. The district decided to continue the school day.

Parents had the option to drop their kid off or keep them at home.

The district says students who were on campus were held in the auditorium until lunchtime after police determined the suspect was no longer in the area.

Braziel says her phone was constantly ringing because police nor the district disclosed the suspect was still on the run.

"I think it adds to the fear of people and the uncertainty," she said.

Forest Hill Mayor Stephanie Boardingham addressed media and parents briefly but said little.

"I do not have specific details regarding this incident to release to you," she said.

The mayor revealed police werent relaying any information to her office.

"We dont have the details, and we are going to shut this down at this time," she said.

The womans identity will be released by the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office.

The motive is still unclear. No one is in custody.

School will be open Thursday with extra security but normal classes.
A deadly shooting at David K. Sellars Elementary School early Wednesday morning marked the second time in as many days that Fort Worth Independent School District officials have had to notify parents of a possible threat on one of the districts campuses.

In both cases, parents have said the districts notifications left them without enough information to make an informed decision about whether to send their kids to school that day.

District officials say they try to give parents information as quickly as they can, but must also take care not to jeopardize police investigations. But a school safety expert said district and campus leaders across the country often lack the skills and training to communicate effectively with parents during crisis situations, leading to confusion and a breakdown of trust with parents.

As superintendents and principals, you not only have to be strategic school crisis leaders but you also have to be a strategic communicator about school safety, said Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school safety consultant.

FWISD employee dies following David K. Sellars shooting

About 6:50 a.m. Wednesday, Forest Hill police responded to the shooting at David K. Sellars, which is a Fort Worth ISD campus but located in the Forest Hill city limits. They found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds in the schools back parking lot. The woman, who was reportedly a cafeteria worker at the school, was taken by ambulance to JPS Hospital, where she died.

Police respond Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, 2023, to David Sellars Elementary School in Forest Hill, where a staff member was fatally shot in the parking lot. The school is part of the Fort Worth Independent School District.

Following the shooting, teachers sent messages through Class Dojo, the districts parent communication platform, notifying parents that classes would be canceled that day. A short time later, parents received word that the decision to cancel classes had been overruled, and that the school would be open that day. Parents told the Star-Telegram the lack of a coherent message left them frustrated.

Messages from school officials also did not inform parents that the incident was a shooting. Emails sent from the district to families and the media referred to a school employee dying in a tragic incident, but did not say how she died. As rumors swirled, school officials referred questions about what happened to Forest Hill police, who did not release a statement until almost 11 hours after the shooting.

A day before the shooting, school officials at McLean Middle School notified parents of a threat made against the school. Parents received the notification at about 6 a.m. Tuesday, saying that police were investigating the threat and that school officials had stepped up security for the day.

In a Facebook group for McLean Middle School parents, users shared screenshots of posts that were made by an Instagram user that said, Theres already a bomb planted in one of the lockers, and that the poster was planning to shoot up the school on certain dates, including Halloween. The Instagram user listed specific targets, including P.E. teachers, counselors and all of the weird kids. The list also included several students by name.

District officials later confirmed to the Star-Telegram that the threats authorities were investigating were made on social media. But the notification McLean principal Barbara Ozuna sent to parents Tuesday morning included little specific information about the threat. The message encouraged students and parents to remain vigilant and continue sharing concerns with a campus teacher, administrator, or counselor.

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A parent anonymously told the Star-Telegram, My issue is that the school and district provide little information to families, and this makes it impossible for parents to judge whether or not they feel it is safe to send their children to school (or not) in the event of a threat.

The parent, whose child attends McLean Middle School, told Ozuna in an email, We as a family feel that the information provided by the school via phone call and email was vague and provided inadequate information for families to make a well-informed decision on how to best handle the situation. Please do better in the future.

The principal responded to the concerned parent via email, Im sorry. I send out what the communication team tells me to send.

Ozuna and district officials later notified parents in an updated email that authorities concluded their investigation and that the campus is deemed safe.

Safety remains the top priority on our campus, the district said in the follow-up email. Once again, we remind our community to stay vigilant and continue sharing concerns with a campus administrator, teacher, or counselor.

The parent said that this wasnt the first time that the principal and vice principals at McLean failed to notify parents about details of threats.

According to the parent, former McLean Middle School principal Karen Brown notified parents in an email sent May 5 that a student brought a toy weapon to the campus, injuring another student. Administrators later told the parent that the toy weapon was a BB gun, which one student used to shoot at another student in a classroom.

School leaders must find a balance when releasing information

Fort Worth ISD spokeswoman Jessica Becerra said district officials are in constant communication with the Fort Worth Police Department, as well as departments in surrounding cities, about possible threats to its campuses. When a crisis does arise, district leaders try to notify parents as quickly as possible through email, text messages and phone calls, she said, even if it means sending incomplete information before all the details are clear.

But district leaders always have to balance those efforts to keep parents informed with the need to avoid interfering with a police investigation, Becerra said. In both of this weeks incidents, police were investigating even as district officials sent out notifications to parents. In such cases, there may be information the district cant share, she said.

Trump, the school safety consultant, said incidents on campuses leave school leaders with two crises to manage at the same time: the emergency itself, and the communications crisis. Managing the threat and keeping students, teachers and staff safe has to be their top priority, he said, but keeping families informed should be a close second

Trump, who recently completed a doctoral dissertation on crisis communications in school settings, said his research has shown him that school leaders are almost uniformly bad at communicating with parents in emergencies. Many told him during interviews that they didnt know what to say or when to say it in volatile situations.

That lack of crisis communication skills is understandable, Trump said, because most school administrators never get any training in it. Principal certification programs teach new administrators things like how to manage teams of teachers, how to work with special education students and how to incorporate technology into the classroom. But they generally dont include instruction on how to communicate with parents about a threat on their campuses, he said.

Some districts have tried to offer crisis communication training as a part of their professional development programs at the beginning of the school year, he said, but its generally offered along with a host of other training seminars states require them to hold. A thorough, high-quality crisis communications training session could last a day or more, he said, and thats an amount of time school administrators cant often find in their schedules.

The only thing that school administrators have less of than money is time, he said.

A security guard with Fort Worth ISD stands at the door of David K. Sellers Elementary School on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. A staff member was fatally shot in the back parking Wednesday morning.

Managing information in crisis situations is especially important for school leaders, because parents are understandably anxious about school safety. If theres an emergency at school, parents will go looking for any information they can, he said. Informal lines of communication like social media will almost always move faster than official sources, he said, but they arent always credible. So its important for school leaders to get reliable information out as quickly as they can, he said.

But even more important than speed is reliability, Trump said. If school leaders release inaccurate information, especially during a crisis, it can damage their relationships with parents and the broader community, he said.

Once you lose the trust and confidence of your school community, particularly on safety, its hard for you to regain, he said. You can do it, but it takes a lot of work to regain that confidence.
Four Sacramento State employees who sit on Capital Public Radios board of directors have resigned less than one week after more than half of the board left in the wake of an audit detailing dire financial problems besieging the institution.

Only six of 23 board members, including the student representative and the broadcasters interim general manager, remain at their posts.

Sacramento State, which holds the license for the bulk of CapRadio FM stations, announced the resignations Wednesday. A California State University released an audit earlier this month describing how significant financial peril  such as an unauthorized CapRadio endowment owning a Lake Tahoe-area timeshare  may lead to the radios insolvency by January.

Its unclear why the additional four members resigned in Sac States news release, but Sac State officials said it was their decision to vacant their posts. Each who resigned Wednesday did not immediately return a request for comment.

Jonathan Bowman, the universitys vice president of administration and CFO, is among the four to quit the board Wednesday. University President Luke Wood appointed Bowman last week to steer the auxiliary groups finances amid questions about questionable financial decisions amid a planned move away from the campus site to new facilities downtown.

More changes are anticipated as Sac State and CapRadio respond to recommendations in the CSU audit, and while they await results of a forensic examination commissioned by Sac State to determine underlying causes of CapRadios problems, the news release said.

The others who resigned Wednesday: Lorelei Bayne, chair of the theater and dance program at Sac State; Antoinette Vojtech, the universitys executive director of fundraising; and Marya Endriga, an associate dean for the schools college of social science and interdisciplinary studies.

Also, Sac State officials said that Frank Whitlatch, an administrator at Cal Poly Humboldt, resigned in August. Whitlatch was a partner-appointed member, as CapRadio operates an FM station owned by the Arcata-based university. His post will be filled by another member from the North Coast campus, according to school officials.

The only remaining vote on the board representing the university is its student representative: Nataly Andrade-Dominguez, president of Associated Students Inc., the schools student body arm. Andrade-Dominguez had previously called for some of her colleagues on the board to resign.

Tom Karlo, a longtime San Diego public broadcasting executive who was brought in last month by Wood just after he took office, is also a member of the board, though only in an ex-officio capacity.

The five others who remain on the board: Kenneth Johnston, who runs his own production company; Annie V. Lam, who operates a business consultancy; Terence Lau, the interim provost of Chico State, which owns the licenses for North State Public Radio; and Barbara OConnor, the retired chair of Sac States communications program.

CapRadios news staff recently described to The Sacramento Bee how worry and exhaustion have been plaguing them after devastating news breaks about their own employer.

Last week, 13 board members  a group comprising Sacramento business and community interests  resigned over what they said was a failure by Sacramento State leadership to engage with the board in good faith. On the same day, another Sacramento State executive resigned separately.

The upheaval on the board began after a blistering audit revealed wide financial mismanagement, prompting Wood to announce the university was assuming operational control of the NPR member station.

Sac State has said that inconsistencies with CapRadios finances were first detected by Bowman in 2021, which led to the audit, and that CapRadios expansion plans to move downtown contributed to the problems.

Among the findings cited in the audit by Cal States Chancellors Office:

 More than $1.1 million in studio equipment and furniture loans were taken out without approval by CapRadios board. These loans were signed by the executive vice president and (general manager), an individual who did not have written delegation of authority from the board.

 Credit card charges were not properly reviewed and, in some cases, late fees and charges over the card limit were incurred.

 CapRadio accepted gifts without written delegation of authority from the campus president and processed an $85,000 gift-in-kind that actually was a discounted purchase of a piano that is now in storage.

 The operation did not have written agreements with either of the two entities that handled vehicle donations to CapRadio as a fundraising device.

 And CapRadio was not doing enough to involve students in its operations, a traditional educational byproduct of campus broadcast operations.

Oct. 4s group resignation letter  which came a day after the university said it would not fund a new GM the board had hired  claims that any such inconsistencies were not shared with the board; had they been, we could and would have acted immediately to avoid the current financial crisis.

A further forensic examination by outside auditors is expected in January, Wood said.

Andrade-Dominguez, president of Sac States ASI, welcomed Wednesdays resignations and said it would allow the board to start anew and get back to rebuilding and restoring CapRadio.

Everyone is confused and lost about whats going on, Andrade-Dominguez said in a phone interview. She added her heart goes out to CapRadio workers whose job security is on shaky ground.

Andrade-Dominguez said she doesnt hold any conflicts of interest since joining the board only in the past few months. She said there are policies and procedures now in place to help appoint new board members

A fresh start is what CapRadio needs, Andrade-Dominguez said.

The Bees Sam Stanton contributed to this story.
A majority of Americans disapprove of how the government has handled border security and support the construction of a wall on the southern border, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday.

Seventy-one percent of registered voters surveyed said that current levels of security at the U.S. border are not strict enough, with a majority of Democrats and Biden voters saying that more needed to be done to secure the border with Mexico. Eighty-two percent of independents voiced their disapproval with current border policies.

A further 57 percent of those surveyed said they were in favor of building a border wall. Among independents, that number was 53 percent. Forty-nine percent of Hispanic voters and 40 percent of Black voters also voiced their support for the wall.

The results are a reversal from past polling, which had consistently shown that most Americans opposed the construction of a wall. Back in January 2019, 58 percent of Americans said they opposed expanding the border wall, according to Pew Research data. A February 2019 Gallup poll found that a similar 60 percent of Americans opposed the border wall.

But the figures come as the U.S. has struggled to contain an unprecedented influx at the U.S.-Mexico border of migrants from Latin America and other parts of the world fleeing gang violence, political instability and economic malaise. Thousands of migrants are apprehended every day by border agents, and cities across the U.S. have struggled to house and support the new arrivals.

The issue has become a political headache for the Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Democratic state and local officials over the federal governments seeming inaction in the face of the crisis.

The administration has tried to change course. Last week, it said it would waive 26 federal laws and resume construction of the border wall in parts of Texas, reversing a key campaign promise. That prompted criticism from both Democrats and and Republicans, and allegations of hypocrisy on the part of the administration.

The Fox poll was conducted Oct. 6-9 in partnership with the Democratic polling firm Beacon Research and Republican polling firm Shaw & Company Research. A total of 1,007 registered voters, randomly selected from a voter file, were surveyed. The poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points for Democratic and Republican primary voters.
Protestors chant slogans during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza, in Paris, Thursday, Oct.12, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PARIS (AP)  Frances interior minister on Thursday ordered local authorities to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations amid a rise in antisemitic acts since Hamas attacked Israel over the weekend. President Emmanuel Macron urged French people not to allow the war in the Mideast erupt into tensions at home.

Soon before Macron spoke in a televised address to the nation about the Mideast conflict, Paris police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters who had defied a ban and demonstrated Thursday against the Israeli government.

Let us not bring ideological adventures here (to France) by imitation or by projection. Let us not add national fractures ... to international fractures, Macron pleaded. Let us stay united.

With several French-Israeli citizens believed held hostage by Hamas, Macron pledged that France would protect its Jewish citizens and be ruthless toward all those who bear hate, and noted concerns about hostility toward Frances Muslims too.

Fighting in the Middle East in the past has led to tensions in France, which is estimated to have the worlds third-largest Jewish population after Israel and the U.S., and the largest Muslim population in Western Europe.

Macron said that 13 French citizens in Israel have been killed in the current fighting, with 17 people missing, many believed held hostage by Hamas. The Paris prosecutors office opened an investigation Thursday into the killings and suspected kidnappings.

The French government has reported 24 arrests for more than 100 antisemitic acts in France since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, including verbal abuse, people caught with knives near Jewish schools and synagogues and a drone equipped with a camera spotted over a Jewish cultural center. More than 2,000 cases of antisemitic speech have been reported to an online watchdog force.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin sent a directive to local prefects on Thursday, seen by The Associated Press, calling for a further tightening of security around Jewish schools, synagogues and other sites.

It said pro-Palestinian demonstrations should be banned and those who defy bans should be arrested, because they are susceptible to disrupt public order.

Pro-Palestinian associations decried the move. The National Collective for a Fair and Lasting Peace between Palestinians and Israelis said it denounces this threat to freedom of expression, and pledged to continue holding actions to support the Palestinian people.

At the banned Paris protest Thursday, protesters draped Palestinian flags around their shoulders, and Free Palestine was sprayed on the monument underpinning Republic Plaza in eastern Paris. Many chanted We are all Palestinians.

Earlier this week, thousands of people marched in Paris in support of Israel, and the Eiffel Tower was lit up with a Star of David and the blue and white of the Israeli flag.

Other European cities have seen pro-Palestinian demonstrations in recent days as well as pro-Israeli gatherings.

Denouncing Hamas as a terrorist group, Macron called for peace efforts that would ensure both Israels security and a Palestinian state.

Those who confuse the Palestinian cause with justifying terrorism are committing a moral, political and strategic error, he said.

Macron also sought to address the concerns of French-Israeli families whose loved ones have disappeared and are believed kidnapped or killed by Hamas.

Struggling to speak as they sobbed or choked back tears, family members of missing French citizens pleaded Thursday at a news conference in Tel Aviv for help from Macron.

We will do everything so that these hostages, regardless of their nationality, are freed, Macron said.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced she would travel to the region on Sunday. Frances government organized an evacuation flight Thursday to bring French citizens in Israel to Paris, and other flights are planned in the coming days.

___

John Leicester, Masha Macpherson, Nicolas Garriga and Alex Turnbull in Paris contributed.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has banned pro-Palestinian protests that could lead to violence amid fears of rising antisemitism in Europe as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues.

France has a Jewish community of almost 500,000, the largest in Europe, the BBC reports, while its Muslim community is also among the largest in Europe with an estimated 5 million people.

Darmanin told a French radio station that since Saturday, when Hamas entered Israel in a surprise attack, prompting a counteroffensive, 100 antisemitic acts had been recorded in the country.

Many of the reported instances involved graffiti showing swastikas and reading death to Jews, but some included people being arrested attempting to carry knives into schools and synagogues, according to the BBC.

Darmanin said the government is going to increase the protection of Jewish sites such as schools and synagogues.

He has ordered foreign nationals who violate the protest ban to be systematically deported.

So far, 12 French citizens are known to have died in the Hamas attacks. Of the 17 French unaccounted for, four of them are children, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday.

Despite the ban, several hundred showed up to rally in support of Palestinians Thursday, causing police to use teargas and water cannons to break up the protest.

Demonstrators chanted Israel murderer and Macron accomplice, referencing Macrons condemnation of the Hamas group and support of Israel.

Hamas chief Khaled Mashal has called for protests across the Muslim world Friday to show support for Palestinians, Reuters reported.

Two pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Paris had already been banned Thursday for fear of outbursts when Darmanin ultimately banned all such activities across the country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central Paris on Thursday, in defiance of a controversial new ban on pro-Palestinian rallies in the country.

French police and members of the gendarmerie worked to disperse the crowds with tear gas and water cannons, visuals showed.

The ban had been announced earlier in the day, according to a message sent by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to the countrys police, citing concerns about public order.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations must be prohibited because they are likely to generate disturbances to the public order, said the minister. He added that any organization of such protests will lead to arrests.

Darmanin also called on the police to protect all locations visited by French Jews such as synagogues and schools, and said any foreigner committing acts of anti-Semitism on French soil will be immediately expelled.

The ban follows a deadly and massive attack by militant group Hamas on Israel over the weekend that killed more than 1,200 people.

The Israeli government has retaliated with overwhelming force in the coastal enclave of Gaza, which Hamas controls. Airstrikes have killed over 1,500 people in the densely inhabited area, and Israeli officials have shut off supplies of water and fuel to the entire population.

As the conflict reaches unprecedented heights, protests in support of both Israelis and Palestinians have been seen around the world  some resulting in violent clashes.

French President Emmanuel Macron in his address to the nation on Thursday called on the French people to stay united, saying that it is this shield of unity that will protect us from drifting away and from all hatred.

French riot police disperse demonstrators in Paris on October 12, 2023. - Ibrahim Ezzat/Anadolu/Getty Images

Protestors chant as they gather at Place de la Republique on October 12, 2023. - Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Demonstrators in the historic Place de la Republique on Thursday whistled, clapped, and chanted in slogans in French including We are all Palestinian and Palestine will live, Palestine will prevail.

The ban on pro-Palestinian rallies is not normal under the rule of law, one attendee named Ryan told Reuters.

In France, the great country that they say France is, you cannot demonstrate as is your right, freely. Unfortunately, freedom is no longer here, and we are forced to defy French law, as one would say, and demonstrate to show the truth, he added.

Another protester described the ban as a great injustice and told Reuters that he had been fined 135 euros (roughly $140) for wearing the keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf.

France is one of a number of European nations, including the United Kingdom and Germany, where security measures have been stepped up amid fears of reprisals against members of the Jewish communities.

CNNs Dalal Mawad reported from Paris and Eve Brennan from London.



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PARIS (Reuters) - French prosecutors have opened an investigation into why an exiled Russian journalist who staged a high-profile protest against the war in Ukraine was suddenly taken ill, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

Christophe Deloire, director general of Reporters without Borders, said he had met Russian television journalist Marina Ovsyannikova after her malaise outside her Paris apartment.

Deloire, writing on X, formerly Twitter, said the possibility Ovsyannikova had been poisoned had not been ruled out, though she was feeling better since the incident.

"We have opened an investigation," a spokesperson for the Paris tribunal prosecutor's office said by telephone.

"She said she had a malaise. "All we have for the moment is what she said."

Ovsyannikova briefly interrupted the main evening news programme Russia's Channel One in March 2022 by putting on the air a placard which read "Stop the war. Don't believe the propaganda. They are lying to you here."

She was sentenced in absentia to 8-1/2 years in prison this month for a subsequent protest in which she stood on a river embankment opposite the Kremlin and held up a poster calling President Vladimir Putin a murderer and his soldiers fascists.

Ovsyannikova, 45, fled Russia with her daughter a year ago after escaping from house arrest, according to her lawyer, saying she had no case to answer.

(Reporting by Paris bureau; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
A wanted mans escape attempt was thwarted by a broken down bus, after he allegedly brutally attacked a man inside a home north of Pasco.

Franklin County deputies arrested Pedro Peter Sarabia, 28, after the Greyhound bus he was on broke down outside of Connell, Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Faurholt said.

Now hes being held in lieu of $1 million bail in Franklin County jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and first-degree robbery.

Sarabia allegedly talked about where to hide the body of a man after he and two others allegedly attacked him in a home in the 4600 block of Janet Road, Detective Sgt. Steve Warren told the Herald.

The man was able to escape the home before the attackers were able to kill him and reached a neighbors home, who called 911. Faurholt said he remains in an Intensive Care Unit receiving treatment.

Faurholt initially asked for $500,000 bail for Sarabia, pointing out that the issue in this case is trying to figure out how many crimes he might be guilty of. Sarabia had four outstanding warrants, including one from when he was a juvenile in Grant County, more than 10 years ago.

When he heard his two co-defendants were arrested, Sarabia got on a bus heading for Iowa, Faurholt said. Police were able to catch up to the bus because it was stopped after breaking down in Connell.

Burrowes went above the recommended amount, because of the potential danger to community and concerns he wasnt going to show up to future court hearings.

The two other men accused in the attack, Conner A. Gray, 23, and Mario Uvalle, 33, have both been released from the jail after paying bond. Grays bail was $15,000 and Uvalles was $75,000.

Both of the men have been charged with first-degree robbery and three counts of second-degree assault.

Theyve all been ordered to not have any contact with the victim in the case, a 25-year-old man.

Attack and Robbery

Gray and the victim planned to go out drinking on Oct. 6 when they were invited over to a home on the 4600 block of Janet Road. The owner of the home on Janet Road is not currently a suspect in the attack.

The two men went to the home and started drinking and using cocaine. Gray allegedly invited Uvalle over. He brought Sarabia along with him, and they also used cocaine, according to court documents.

The situation allegedly started to spiral out of control, when Gray got upset at the victim because he believed that the man was throwing rocks at his home earlier in the week.

As part of the argument, Uvalle allegedly got upset, grabbed the man by the throat and pinned him against the door. Uvalle allegedly pulled a handgun out and threatened to kill the man for throwing rocks.

After making the threats, Uvalle put away the gun and let go of the mans throat.

Gray allegedly took this moment to show the victim he could beat his a-- and got and top of him and began punching him. He told police he punched the man five times before stopping.

But when he stopped, Sarabia and Uvalle allegedly took over and beat the man. Uvalle allegedly threatened to stab the mans eyes out.

After beating him, the men stopped and Uvalle and Sarabia started talking about murdering the man.

They also allegedly went through the mans pockets and took several $20 bills, his cocaine, wallet and his phone, which they broke.

Conner said he heard Mario and Peter discuss a field they could bury (the victim) in, according to court documents. Mario and Peter began to pace back and fourth, discussing plans on what to do with (the man).

As the man was sitting there, Uvalle would pull out his gun and threaten to kill the man.

Escape

After the threats, the man decided to make a break for it and broke a glass window in the room. Uvalle and Sarabia allegedly pulled him back in leaving a 3-inch cut on his stomach.

The man was able to make another break for it, and escaped the house.

A neighbor spotted him standing by her fence about 10:20 p.m. When she approached, she found that the man had a bleeding cut on his stomach.

He allegedly had two teeth knocked out, his eyebrows were split open and a bloody nose.

After the attack, the suspects fled.
Free flu clinic

ROCHESTER  Take your shot at beating the flu. There will be a free flu clinic for anyone ages four years and older on Monday, Oct. 23, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at James Foley Memorial Community Center, 150 Wakefield St., Rochester. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian or bring a consent form signed by a parent/legal guardian. No pre-registration is required. Visit SCPHN.org for more information about the flu shot, FAQS and more.

York Hospital announces 2023 recipients of the Carroll Family and Michael C. Rossiter Scholarship

Carol Kane Leonhard, scholarship committee member; Cami Webber, scholarship recipient; Dr. Patrick Taylor, York Hospital President & CEO; Ava Smith, scholarship recipient; and Kate Ford, Director of Volunteer & Student Experiences.

YORK, Maine  Sylvester and Ruth Carroll believed in rewarding students who demonstrate strength of character, a strong will, and a sense of commitment. Each year York Hospital awards The Carroll Family and Michael C. Rossiter Scholarship to student volunteers who exhibit these traits in their daily interactions. The York Hospital Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the Class of 2023 scholarship recipients: Ava Smith of Marshwood High School and Camden Cami Webber of Kennebunk High School.

Smith, a 2023 graduate of Marshwood High School and resident of South Berwick, is enrolled in the nursing program at St. Josephs College in Standish, Maine. Smith was a much-appreciated volunteer at Pediatric Associates of York Hospital throughout her senior year. Praised by the providers for her professional and uplifting attitude, the practice staff, young patients, and parents all benefited from her attention to detail and willingness to help wherever needed. In addition to volunteering at York Hospital, Smith worked part-time at Beach Pea Bakery and the Ogunquit Lobster Pound, while also participating on Marshwoods volleyball and track and field teams.

Smiths perseverance during the pandemic shone through as she doubled up on chemistry and biology courses, while also participating in Sanford Regional Technical Centers Health Occupations program, where she earned her Certified Nursing Assistant license (CNA). Additionally, Smith enrolled and excelled in College Composition, Medical Terminology, and Overview of Anatomy & Physiology courses at York County Community College. Her advisor and chemistry teacher has no doubt of Smiths ability to attain her end goal, of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner, noting motivation, maturity, and conscientiousness beyond her age as essential contributors to her future success.

Webber, a Kennebunk resident and 2023 graduate of Kennebunk High School, is now a freshman in the pre-medical program at Thomas Jefferson University. Before heading south to Philadelphia, Penn., Webber was a student volunteer in York Hospitals Emergency Department (ED).

Academically, Webber challenged herself with rigorous coursework including honors, advanced placement, college courses, and an international baccalaureate program, receiving high honors throughout her four years. She was also a member of the Student Council and the Yearbook Club. Camis activities outside of school influenced her decision to explore a future in health care. She volunteered with Partners for World Health organizing the shipments of medical supplies to countries in need, and lent her time to Child Care services, Lucky Pup Rescue, and the Animal Welfare Society. Webbers family created their own Kindness Day each February break, to collectively support their community through food, clothing, and flower drives.

York Hospitals ED team was fortunate to receive some of Webbers energy as well. As a volunteer, Webber visited patients and family members offering comfort and communicating concerns to ED staff. She also performed more hands-on ED tasks, from offering warm blankets and refreshments, escorts to other service areas, changing over rooms, delivering lab bloodwork, to snapping and folding johnnies. The EDs nursing director was delighted with Webbers combination of high energy and genuine eagerness to learn and help, along with her calm and focused demeanor, regardless of the situation. She believes that Webbers pursuit of a career as a physician assistant is well-chosen and will lead to a life of happiness and success.

York Hospitals patients and staff are fortunate to have benefited from Smith and Webbers hard work and compassion, attributes that will continue to serve them as they pursue their academic and professional goals.

For more information about volunteering at York Hospital and the Carroll Family & Michael C. Rossiter Scholarship, contact Director of Volunteer & Student Experiences, Kate Ford at kford@yorkhospital.com or 207-351-2224, or visit https://www.yorkhospital.com/volunteers-and-students/.

David Krempels Brain Injury Center receives transformational $250,000 bequest

Attorney Robert Casassa (third from left) delivered the funds to KBIC on September 25th 2023 and was received by Executive Director Renee Couture (second from left) and board members (left and right) Chuck Champagne and Gary Barr.

PORTSMOUTH  In a remarkable testament to the enduring spirit of community support, David Krempels Brain Injury Center announced the reception of a generous $250,000 bequest from the late and greatly esteemed local philanthropist, Jo Lamprey. This substantial unrestricted contribution vividly exemplifies the profound faith and trust she vested in KBIC, serving as a poignant reminder of the unwavering dedication of individuals like Jo to the organization's mission.

KBIC offers both in-person and virtual programming to survivors of acquired brain injury. Lamprey's exceptional generosity empowers us to enhance our efforts and extend our impact, ensuring that more people can benefit from our crucial programs and services. For example, annually KBIC covers over $200,000 in membership fees through its scholarship program which ensures all in need can participate regardless of ability to pay. Additionally, this gift arrives at a critical moment, coinciding with KBIC's third and most active year of an ambitious strategic plan.

"Words cannot express our gratitude for this extraordinary gift from Jo," said Renee Couture, Executive Director of KBIC. "This bequest is a testament to Jos unwavering belief in our mission and will have a profound and lasting impact within our community and for the survivors of brain injury we serve. We are deeply honored to be the recipients of such a transformative gift."

KBIC extends its heartfelt appreciation to Jo for her extraordinary commitment to its cause and so many others around New Hampshire. KBIC invites the community to join in celebrating this remarkable act of philanthropy, which exemplifies the spirit of giving that defines our community, and ensures KBIC will continue to achieve our mission, so ABI survivors are able to live their best lives after brain injury.

For more information about KBIC and its mission, please visit www.kbicenter.org.

Dartmouth Health neuropsychologist elected board president of Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire

Jonathan D. Lichtenstein, PsyD, MBA, director of neuropsychological services at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, has been elected the next president of the board of directors for the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire.

LEBANON  Jonathan D. Lichtenstein, PsyD, MBA, director of neuropsychological services at Dartmouth Healths Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, has been elected the next president of the board of directors for the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire (BIANH). Lichtenstein has been on BIANHs board since 2019.

As president of BIANH, my goal is to be a good steward for this organization that already does such incredible work, Lichtenstein said. Im deeply honored to be chosen to lead the board and look forward to accomplishing a lot with the entire BIANH team during my term.

Lichtenstein holds assistant professorships in psychiatry, pediatrics, and at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice at Dartmouths Geisel School of Medicine. His priorities during his term include improving pediatric brain injury systems, supporting families and caregivers, and boosting what BIANH is able to offer to the New Hampshire brain injury community, in addition to supporting staff and other members of the board, obtaining strategic funding, and building community partnerships.

BIANH has been privileged to have had a close working relationship with Dr. Lichtenstein for many years, said Steve Wade, executive director of BIANH. We are extremely fortunate to have him in this new role as board president of BIANH.

BIANH is the only statewide organization in New Hampshire dedicated to brain injury and stroke support, prevention, education, and advocacy for survivors and caregivers. Each year, the association helps over 1,000 Granite Staters who have sustained numerous forms of acquired brain injuries.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Free flu clinic, KBIC receives transformational bequest: Seacoast health news
 Flash

Israel formed a unity government and a war cabinet on Wednesday to oversee the deadly conflict triggered by Hamas' weekend surprise attack as it continued to launch airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip.

The new war cabinet brings former defense minister and leader of the centrist-right National Unity party Benny Gantz to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition government. Members of the wartime cabinet also include Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The formation of the war cabinet comes amid increasing public criticism in Israel against Netanyahu and his government, who were blamed for failing to adequately preparing and foreseeing Saturday's attack, as well as amid rising speculation that Israel would launch a ground offensive in Gaza soon.

Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) waged a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, which included the firing of thousands of rockets and the infiltration ground attacks on the Israeli towns bordering Gaza.

In response, Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. The ongoing conflict, as it entered the fifth day, has taken a heavy toll on both sides, with the death toll in Israel and Gaza rising to at least 1,200 and 1,100, respectively.

In addition to the retaliatory strikes, Israel has also ordered "a full siege" of Gaza, cutting the supply of electricity, food and water to the coastal enclave.

Fighting continued on Wednesday, with Israeli airstrikes continued to demolish neighborhoods in the blockaded enclave, while militants in Gaza continued to fire rockets towards southern and northern Israel. The Israeli army also reported several infiltrations of gunmen in which at least five militants were killed.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said on Wednesday that four of its paramedics were killed during Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported the loss of eleven employees in the Gaza Strip since the weekend.

According to United Nations figures, some 250,000 people were displaced or lost their homes in Gaza. The Palestinian Energy Ministry said the only power plant in Gaza ran out of fuel. The Health Ministry in Gaza said in a statement Wednesday all hospital beds in the Palestinian enclave had been occupied, and medicines were about to run out as the conflict continued.

To resolve the conflict, an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers was held in Cairo on Wednesday. Participants of the meeting called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

In the final communique of the meeting, the top Arab diplomats urged all parties to exercise self-restraint, warning of "the catastrophic humanitarian and security repercussions" of further escalation.

They also emphasized the necessity of lifting the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza and immediately providing humanitarian aid, food, and fuel to the people there.

Egypt said Wednesday it is in discussions with the United States and other countries to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza through a temporary ceasefire. The aid would be sent through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
Police in Fresno, Calif., launched a hate crime investigation Wednesday after a Jewish temple and a Jewish business had their windows broken overnight, the department announced.

The glass in the front door of the Temple Beth Israel was shattered by a rock, and two windows were broken at a Jewish-owned bakery in the city. A note threatening Jewish businesses was left at the bakery, police said.

The Fresno Police Department will not tolerate any acts of violence, threats of violence or efforts of intimidation towards any of our community members, Chief Paco Balderrama said in a statement. We are actively investigating both of these incidents, dedicating personnel and resources to identifying the suspects and holding them accountable. We cannot do this alone, however, and I am asking that if any of our community members have information on these acts, to please contact the Fresno Police Department.

Employees at the temple and bakery discovered the damage Wednesday morning, police said. The police said no suspects were spotted in either incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Uncanny Everything

As FTX insider Caroline Ellison's star testimony drags on, the sheer uncanniness of the bankrupted crypto exchange's behind-closed-doors practices under the command of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried  Ellison's boss with whom she was romantically involved  continues to take shape.

Previously, we'd heard Ellison's claims that Bankman-Fried dreamed of being president and exhibited extremely Harvey Dent-coded behavior, in addition to more serious allegations of doctoring balance sheets and hiding multibillion-dollar financial holes.

Now, as New York Magazine reports, Ellison  the former CEO of the also-bankrupt sister hedge fund Alameda Research  further alleged yesterday that Bankman-Fried had bribed Chinese government officials to the staggering tune of $150 million in an attempt to unfreeze roughly a billion dollars in trapped FTX funds.

To be clear, that a bribe happened isn't new information; back in March, as The New York Times reported at the time, Bankman-Fried was charged with authorizing and directing some $40 million in bribes to Chinese officials.

But the $150 million alleged by Ellison  and reportedly backed up by Alameda documents  is a much bigger figure, with Ellison's testimony also casting more light on the crypto firms' shared inner turmoil at the time that the bribes were paid.

The Thing

According to Ellison's testimony, per NY Mag, Bankman-Fried's bribery plan was swiftly met with employee pushback, particularly from an ex-Alameda trader Handi Yang, the daughter of a Chinese official who SBF allegedly yelled at to "shut the fuck up" as she voiced her opposition. Unsurprisingly, Yang quit the hedge fund shortly thereafter.

"Did Handi's father immediately turn us in or something?" an Alameda executive asked in a group chat following Yang's departure, according to NY Mag, prompting Bankman-Fried to respond with: "LOL."

Elsewhere, in an especially bizarre turn, Ellison reportedly alleged that Alameda had inexplicably attempted to use trading accounts connected to Thai strippers to retrieve frozen FTX money. When this very weird, very bad plan didn't work out as planned, Alameda apparently paid out the bribes.

As evidence for Ellison's accusations, the prosecution provided a document that Ellison had created and shared with Bankman-Fried titled "notable/idiosyncratic PNL stuff," "PNL" being short for "profits and losses." In one line of this document, according to NY Mag, Ellison had written "-$150 million for the thing"  the blanket "thing" statement referring to the "bribing foreign governments" of it all, naturally.

Asked why she used covert language to refer to the bribes, Ellison reportedly responded that she figured it "might leak" and "could eventually be used against us in a court case."

On that point, she appears to have been entirely correct.

More on FTX: Caroline Ellison Testifies That SBF's Strange Philosophy Justified Lying and Stealing
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis came in swinging in her latest response to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, this time concerning a request for more information regarding her criminal charges against former President Donald Trump.

A charitable explanation of your correspondence is that you are ignorant of the United States and Georgia Constitutions and codes, Ms Willis wrote on 11 October.

She continued, 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.

She was replying to Mr Jordans 27 September demands for more information on the Trump case, calling the district attorneys prosecution of the former president politically motivated.

Mr Jordan asserted, Congress in general, and this Committee in particular, have a strong legislative interest in ensuring that popularly elected local prosecutors do not misuse their law-enforcement authority to target federal officials for political reasons.

The district attorney then pointed to her last letter. On 7 September, she called Mr Jordans attempt to interfere with her offices prosecution of state criminal cases unconstitutional, underscoring the separation of powers issue at play. Ms Willis wrote: Congresss lawful prerogative to interfere with states administration of their criminal laws is extremely limited.

In Wednesdays letter, she said that her previous note explained why the legal positions you advance are meritless. Nothing youve said in your latest letter changes that fact. Ms Willis reiterated, As I have explained, your requests implicate significant, well recognized confidentiality interests related to an ongoing criminal matter, as well as serious constitutional concerns regarding federalism and separation of powers. 

In her conclusion of the letter, Ms Willis wrote with a flourish: I would encourage you to focus your attention on those issues, which would make life better for the American people.

The exchange follows the House Judiciary Committees decision to launch a probe into the Fulton County investigation in August following the indictment of Mr Trump and 18 others.

The probe intends to look into whether the Fulton County District Attorneys office coordinated with federal officials, including DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith, for its politicized indictment of former President Donald Trump, a former White House Chief of Staff, and a former U.S. DOJ official, the committee wrote.

The Independent has reached out to a spokesperson for Mr Jordan.
FILE - Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach answers questions from reporters during a news conference outside his office, May 1, 2023, in Topeka, Kan. On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Kansas' Republican attorney general asked the state's highest court to reward the GOP-controlled Legislature for following through on a decade's worth of court-mandated education funding increases by making it harder for local school districts to force higher spending in the future. (AP Photo/John Hanna, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas' Republican attorney general asked the state's highest court to reward the GOP-controlled Legislature for following through on a decade's worth of court-mandated education funding increases by making it harder for local school districts to force higher spending in the future.

Attorney General Kris Kobach 's office wants the Kansas Supreme Court to close a lawsuit that four school districts filed against the state in 2010. The request was filed Wednesday by Tony Powell, a former state Court of Appeals judge who now serves as Kobach's solicitor general.

The state Supreme Court issued seven rulings from 2013 through 2019 requiring the Legislature to increase funding for public schools and to make its formula for distributing its funds fairer to poorer areas of the state. The justices said in 2019 that the Legislature had complied with their directives, but they kept the case open to ensure that lawmakers fulfilled their promises.

The state expects to provide $4.9 billion in aid to its 286 local school districts during the current school year, which would be about 39% more than the $3.5 billion it provided for the 2013-14 school year. Powell noted that the court approved a plan four years ago to phase in a series of funding increases through the previous school year.

The phased-in remedy has been completed," Kobach said in a statement Thursday. "Its normal to close a case at this time.

Kansas has been in and out of school funding lawsuits for several decades, with lawmakers promising increases in spending and then backing off when the economy soured and state revenues became tight.

Kobach said his office's request won't affect current funding levels.

"Kansas is governed by elected representatives who will make decisions on how the state spends taxpayer money, he said.

With the lawsuit still open and in the state Supreme Court's hands, the school districts can go directly to the justices each year if they don't believe lawmakers have provided enough money. If the case were closed, districts would have to file a new lawsuit in district court that likely would take several years to reach the state Supreme Court.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly opposes Kobach's request. Spokesperson Brianna Johnson described it as an attempt to allow the Legislature to remove funding from our public schools. She also noted that it came the same week that state education officials reported improvements in scores on standardized exams, including the best math scores since 2017.

She said, "It makes no sense to undo all the progress.

The state constitution says lawmakers shall make suitable provision for finance of the states educational interests. The state Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that the language requires legislators to provide enough money and distribute it fairly enough to finance a suitable education for every child.
The finance ministers and heads of central banks of the G7 countries pledged in a joint statement on 12 October to keep Russian assets worth approximately US$280 billion until Russia compensates for the damage caused to Ukraine during the full-scale invasion.

Source: European Pravda, referring to the statement of the finance ministers of the G7 countries

Details: Finance ministers and heads of central banks stressed that they will consider "all possible avenues to aid Ukraine, consistent with our respective legal systems and international law", specifically using frozen Russian sovereign assets.

Workgroup for Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs (REPO) created upon the G7 initiative, has estimated that there are about US$280 billion in frozen Russian sovereign assets, and this amount will be specified in the coming months.

"We recall and reaffirm our Leaders Statement that, consistent with our respective legal systems, Russias sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine," the G7 representatives stated.

They also promised to implement and enforce sanctions and other economic measures for further undermining of "Russias capacity to wage its illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked war of aggression" and their circumvention.

Background:

The US and European partners are studying the legal basis for using confiscated Russian assets to restore Ukraine.

Earlier, Belgium announced that it had created a 1.7 billion special fund for the support of Ukraine, which will be filled by the taxation of Russian assets frozen in the country.

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 South Georgia man is behind bars after troopers said he led them on a chase through five counties that reached speeds of 130 mph.

Jeff Davis County deputies said they attempted to pull over Raymond Franklin on his motorcycle around 3:30 p.m. on Monday when they said Franklin took off.

Deputies, along with the Georgia State Patrol, said they chased Franklin through Jeff Davis County, Telfair County, Wheeler County, Dodge County, and came to a halt in Laurens County.

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When they arrested Franklin, investigators said he had a warrant out for a minor traffic issue. When asked why he sped away from police, he told them I didnt want to go to jail, deputies said.

Franklin was arrested for several charges including felony fleeing and eluding law enforcement in several counties.

We are glad to have ended it with no injuries to neither law enforcement, civilians nor offender, the Jeff Davis Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

IN OTHER NEWS:




Sylvia Bongo , wife of ousted Gabonese President Ali Bongo , is being held in pre-trial detention on allegations of the embezzlement of public funds, her lawyer says.

She had been under house arrest since the 30 August coup.

But after a long hearing in front of a judge it was decided that she should be detained in jail.

Her lawyer, Francois Zimeray, criticised the decision and is quoted as calling it arbitrary and illegal.

Mrs Bongo is facing charges of money laundering, forgery and the falsification of documents. She has not made any public comment on the charges.

The BBC understands she will appear in court in 10 days' time for a further hearing, where her lawyer can make a case for her release.

The former head of Gabon's cabinet, Brice Laccruche Alihanga, who was jailed four years ago on charges of embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds and money laundering, gave evidence at Mrs Bongo's hearing.

The allegations against her are closely linked to the former cabinet chief.

In 2019, the former first lady is alleged to have been behind a major anti-corruption campaign, dubbed Operation Scorpion, which saw several government officials arrested and jailed, including Alihanga, and which some Gabonese described as a witch hunt.

Noureddin Bongo, the son of the deposed president, is also in detention awaiting trial on corruption allegations following his arrest after the coup.

The ousted president, aged 64, had led the oil-rich country since 2009 when he succeeded his father who had been in power for more than 40 years. The family had strong links to France, the former colonial power in Gabon.

The August coup, led by Gen Brice Oligui Ngeuma, was greeted by celebrations at home but has been condemned by regional and continental bodies, as well as France

It came soon after the announcement that Mr Bongo had won disputed elections.

A week after the military takeover, the deposed president was released from house arrest and is free to leave the country, but he has remained in the capital, Libreville.

Gen Nguema has promised that there will be free and fair elections leading to the establishment of a new civilian government, but no timetable has yet been announced.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom s administration is expediting changes to the states solitary confinement rules, a move advocates say is superficial and could hurt efforts to pass more ambitious legislation reforming the practice.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on Oct. 5 announced new emergency regulations covering the use of what was previously described as segregated confinement and is now termed restricted housing.

Inmates living in these settings are isolated from the general population and typically have limited contact with other people. Prisoners are placed in solitary confinement for a variety of reasons, including discipline, threats to others and protective custody.

There are currently few restrictions on the practice in California correctional facilities, and inmates can remain in solitary confinement for decades.

CDCRs new regulations would give solitary inmates up to 20 hours of outside cell time per week, up from the 10 hours they are currently allowed. They would limit the offenses that would lead to solitary to those involving violence or threats, and they would halve the amount of isolation time for prisoners who commit those offenses.

The changes would also allow inmates in solitary to earn credits and shave time off their isolation period, as well as provide some additional rehabilitative programming.

Reporters inspect one of the two-tiered cell pods in the Security Housing Unit, commonly known for solitary confinement, at the Pelican Bay State Prison near Crescent City in 2011. California Gov. Gavin Newsom will change prison solitary confinement rules to give inmates more time outside of cells and in rehabilitation.

Legislative solitary confinement reform

The reforms are a response to attempts by Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, to restrict the states use of solitary confinement. Holden authored bills in 2022 and this year that would have prohibited prisons, jails and immigrant detention facilities from isolating inmates for more than 15 consecutive days in most cases.

His legislation also would have prevented involuntary isolation of pregnant people, prisoners age 25 and older and 60 and older and those with developmental disabilities or serious mental disorders.

Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2632 in 2022, calling it overly broad and saying it did not contain exceptions allowing officials to use solitary confinement to ensure prison safety.

But the governor did call the practice ripe for reform and directed CDCR to find ways to restrict its use.

Holden in September held his second attempt, Assembly Bill 280, in the Assembly as a two-year bill, saying he wanted to wait and gauge the administrations thinking around this issue.

CDCR does not use the common term solitary confinement to describe prisoner isolation. Under the frequently asked questions section of its restricted housing webpage, the agency says it does not employ the practice. However, this is at odds with the international understanding of solitary.

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners defines solitary confinement as the confinement of prisoners for 22 hours or more a day without meaningful human contact. Those who spend more than 15 consecutive days in this setting are in prolonged solitary confinement, which is considered torture.

Holdens AB 280 defines the practice as confinement for more than 17 hours per day, determined by time spent in a cell and contact with persons other custodial staff.

Inmates exercise outside in the yard at San Quentin State Prison in July 2023. Prisoners in solitary confinement are not permitted to have this freedom of movement or contact with others.

An uphill battle to make changes

The revisions CDCR is rushing through the system are modest in scope compared to the changes Holden and advocates are pursuing. They also lessen the chances that more sweeping legislation can be passed and signed into law by Newsom.

CDCR wants to enact the regulatory changes by Nov. 1 through an emergency rule-making provision that allows public comment only until Oct. 14. Terri Hardy, a CDCR spokeswoman, said in a statement the regulations are temporary, and the agency plans to go through a permanent rule-making process with at least 45 days for public comment in the future.

But Holden said the initial tight timeline gives stakeholders little time to process the changes and seems to shorten the window or close the window on the time of being able to have the fullness of conversation based on the best understanding.

He plans to have discussions with CDCR and the Newsom administration, and his goal is to try to get some sense of how far we can maybe agree to be a little bit more aggressive and how the standards are reflected.

Holden called the situation an uphill battle.

Its uphill because its so far away from the bill, he said of the regulations. The bill is the same bill as last year, its nothing new. So its not as though they took the elements of what we were trying to do last year and this year and integrated them in.

Izzy Gardon, a Newsom spokesman, directed The Sacramento Bee to the governors 2022 veto message and declined to comment on the emergency nature of the regulations and their effect on Holdens bill.

A guard tower stands at Folsom State Prison on Aug. 24, 2021.

Advocates unhappy with changes

Criminal justice reform advocates and those who experienced solitary confinement are not impressed by the new regulations.

Hamid Yazdan Panah, advocacy director for Immigrant Defense Advocates, called the changes window dressing.

They can call it whatever they want to call it, Panah said. They can do the window dressing that they want. But it is solitary confinement, and these regulations are just that. Theyre reforms meant to try to improve the image of CDCR without actually setting very clear standards that are met, like the health and safety and mental well-being of people inside. And thats what were looking for.

Jack Morris, a former prison inmate who spent decades in solitary confinement in various California facilities, thinks the new regulations sound like an improvement, but implementation is totally different.

We know as a result of history that the best-laid plans dont seem to become realities inside the Department of Corrections, Morris said.

He said internal political struggles can influence prison operations, prompting the shutdown of programs at any given time at different facilities.

And for those in solitary, Morris said, being outside their cells still frequently means exercising in a small yard fenced in by chicken wire or having therapy sessions through a cage-like structure.

Prison is a harsh place, Morris said. Yes, we understand. You cant have all these things for prisoners, because prisoners violated the laws of California, and therefore they were sentenced to prison.

But that should be their punishment, he added. Being removed from the community and placed in prison, not additional hardships while in prison. Because prison is designed for the purposes of allowing you to rehabilitate so they can be let back into the community.
Gazas humanitarian crisis deepened Thursday, with warnings that the population is at risk of starvation and fuel could run out within hours, as Israel continues airstrikes and withholds essential supplies from the enclave in response to Hamas brutal terror attacks.

The decades old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has entered uncharted territory this week as Israeli declared a complete seige on Gaza. Bombardment by Israeli war planes have reduced entire streets to rubble and killed over 1,500 people in the isolated and densely-inhabited area, including 500 children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israels stepped-up offensive in Gaza follows a bloody surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, which saw armed militants pour over the heavily-fortified border into Israel. The groups gunmen killed more than 1,200 people, wounding thousands more in a coordinated rampage through farms and communities, and taking civilian and military captives. Some 150 hostages are thought to be currently held by Hamas in Gaza.

The atrocities committed by Hamas have sparked international revulsion and vows by Israels government to destroy the group, which controls Gaza and has continued to fire rockets at Israeli towns over the last five days.

In a press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas should be crushed and spat out from the community of nations.

Blinken vowed US support for Israel and likened Hamas crimes to ISIS. At least 25 Americans have been killed in Israel, he said.

He said he discussed with Israeli officials ways to address humanitarian needs in Gaza while Israel conducts its legitimate security operations.

Buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City. - Yahya Hassouna/AFP/Getty Images

A severe humanitarian crisis

More than 2 million Palestinians  including over a million children  live in the Gaza Strip, an area that has been under a land, sea and air blockade enforced by Israel since 2007.

Children make up between 30 and 40% of the wounded in recent Israeli air strikes on Gaza, British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah told CNN on Thursday.

Speaking to CNNs Christiane Amanpour from Al Awda Hospital in Gaza, Abu-Sittah said that the overwhelming majority of the wounded are coming from the rubble of their own home.

There are body parts scattered everywhere. There are still people missing, one man in the northern neighborhood of Al-Karama said. Were still looking for our brothers, our children. Its like were stuck living in a nightmare.

Among the dead are at least 12 United Nations employees, the UN said on Thursday. All of the aid workers who died were Palestinian, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric added.

Israel says its strikes are intended to target Hamas-associated locations.

Israel has also ordered a complete siege on the enclave, including halting supplies of electricity, food, water and fuel. Israels Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that supplies would remain cut off until hostages being held by Hamas are freed.

No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals, Katz said on social media.

The European Union and the United Nations have strongly criticized the tactic, with the UN warning that withholding essential supplies will precipitate a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where its population is now at inescapable risk of starvation.

Food and water are quickly running out, the deputy head of emergencies of the UN World Food Programme, Brian Lander, said Thursday.

More 338,000 people are have been displaced in Gaza, according to a statement by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday. The figure represents a increase of 30% since Wednesday.

Gazas only power station stopped working on Wednesday after running out of fuel, the head of the Gaza power authority Galal Ismail told CNN.

Hospitals are expected to run out of fuel on Thursday, leading to catastrophic conditions, the Palestinian Health Ministry warned.

A surge in injured people seeking treatment has pushed Gazas health infrastructure close to breaking point, according to Ashraf Al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Even after expansion, all beds are occupied, leaving no room for new patients in critical condition, he said on Thursday.

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Thursday that hospitals in the enclave risk turning into morgues following Israels siege.

A mourner reacts while burying a child from who was killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11, 2023. - Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila has called for urgent international assistance to help set up field hospitals in the Gaza Strip and to provide medicines and medical supplies.

We are extremely worried that what is happening now is totally unprecedented, Najla Shawa, an Oxfam worker in Gaza, told CNN. We are talking about entire areas, not just one area. Entire areas are being wiped and destroyed.

Possible escalations

On Thursday, the IDF said it was continuing large scale strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza strip, as speculation of a possible ground incursion into Gaza grows.

Some 300,000 reservists have also been moved near the Gaza border, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a huge mobilization given the countrys 9 million population.

They are now close to the Gaza Strip, getting ready to execute the mission that they have been given, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said Wednesday said.

Israels government also said it was preparing its hospitals and healthcare system for possible escalations in the security situation, its health ministry said.

Hamas attack has also sparked some political unity in Israel after months of domestic friction with Netanyahu and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz jointly announcing an emergency government and war management cabinet on Wednesday.

Gantz, a former defense minister, will join Netanyahu and current defense minister Yoav Gallant in a wartime cabinet.

There is time for war and time for peace. This, now, is the time for war, Gantz said during a televised address.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meet at the Israeli Defence Ministry, after their meeting in Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. - Jacquelyn Martin/AFP/Getty Images

A diplomatic push is being made to try and bring about some sort of mediation.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel on Friday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to a senior defense official.

Blinken will also visit Egypt as part of his trip, and will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan on Friday.

Calls for a humanitarian corridor

Talks are currently underway to allow US citizens and Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip to exit the territory into Egypt ahead of any land invasion of the territory by Israeli forces, a senior Israeli official told CNN on Wednesday.

The official with knowledge of the negotiations said that under the proposal being discussed, all US citizens would be permitted to pass through the Rafah border crossing if they present their US passports, while the movement of other Palestinian civilians would be limited to 2,000 people a day.

A US official said on Wednesday that Cairo wants to use a humanitarian corridor to send food and medical supplies into Gaza, but does not to open the border in the other direction for civilians who are fleeing.

With the current Israeli blockade on Gaza, the only route through which people or aid can pass in and out of the strip is the Rafah Crossing, which links Gaza and Egypt, and has been damaged in Israeli airstrikes.

Horror stories

Horrifying details on the scale and nature of Hamas attacks have emerged each day, as well as tales of survival and bravery amidst the carnage. On Thursday, Netanyahus office released photos of babies murdered and burned by Hamas.

Tom Hand, a resident of the Beeri, a kibbutz where Hamas gunmen left at least 120 dead, learned his daughter Emily, 8, was among those killed in Saturdays onslaught.

I knew she wasnt alone, she wasnt in Gaza, she wasnt in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people, pushed around terrified every minute of every day, possibly for years to come. So death was a blessing, he told CNN, his voice broken, tears streaming down his tired, ashen face.

The fact that Hamas has taken an unprecedented number of hostages now complicates Israels response.

On Wednesday, International IDF spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, told CNN that Israeli authorities believe the hostages are being held underground.

Reason dictates that they are underground, he said. Reason dictates that they planned in advance locations to hide these hostages and keep them safe from Israeli intelligence, and efforts to get them out.

He said even though Israel has had some experience with hostage situations they have never dealt with anything like this.

Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas official, told CNN on Wednesday that its too early to exchange Israeli hostages.

There were many calls made by Arab and non-Arab states to Hamas leadership abroad asking about the possibility of exchanging Israeli captives with Hamas prisoners, al-Risheq said from Doha, Qatar.

But we told everybody that its now too early to discuss it while Israel continues to pound Gaza and kill Palestinian civilians indiscriminately.

CNNs Ibrahim Dahman, Eyad Kourdi, Sharon Braithwaite, Caitlin Danaher, Jennifer Hansler, Casey Riddle, Kevin Liptak, Matthew Chance, Nadeen Ebrahim, Abeer Salman, Richard Roth, Alex Hardie, Natasha Bertrand and Michael Conte contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
TechCrunch

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas reaches its third week, internet connectivity in Gaza is getting worse. On Thursday morning, internet monitoring firm NetBlocks wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the Palestinian internet service provider NetStream has collapsed days after the operator notified subscribers that service would end due to a severe shortage of fuel supplies. Hours later, NetBlocks wrote that its network data showed a collapse in connectivity in the Gaza strip, including Paltel, which bills itself as the leading telecommunication company in Gaza.
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Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. [Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua]



Israel's new wartime cabinet vowed on Wednesday to continue the military operation in the Gaza Strip until "Hamas is toppled and destroyed."

It was the first statement by the new emergency unity government, which was formed earlier on Wednesday as Benny Gantz, an opposition leader and former defense minister of Israel, joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ultranationalist-religious coalition government.

In an address broadcast to the nation, Gantz vowed to deal "decisively" with Hamas.

"We will smash and destroy Hamas," Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.
Israel's military has mobilised troops and heavy weaponry at the border, and could launch a ground offensive (Menahem KAHANA)

Rescuers lifted a cement block and pulled the lifeless body of a Palestinian from the rubble of a residential building destroyed by Israeli air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip.

"Why? We did nothing, oh God," screamed a weeping young man as his relative was wrapped in a shroud and carried away on a stretcher as fighting triggered by Hamas's deadly attack on Israel raged for a sixth day.

The Hamas-ruled enclave has been under heavy bombardment since Saturday when the group's fighters crossed into Israel and killed more then 1,200 civilians, soldiers and foreigners.

Retaliatory Israeli shelling and air strikes on Gaza have killed more than 1,300 people, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian health officials.

On the opposite side of Shati, Gaza's largest refugee camp, another cry let out: "Come! He's still alive."

Rescuers rushed to remove the debris around a hand rising from the rubble, eventually managing to free the trapped man.

With blood dripping down his head, he was taken by the volunteers to nearby ambulances who had come to retrieve Palestinians -- dead or alive -- caught in the crossfire.

- Destruction -

The Gaza Strip, which has endured multiple brutal wars with Israel, is under "total siege" after Israel cut off access to water, electricity and fuel.

Day and night, there has been no let up in the thundering of explosions and buzzing of drones in the densely populated enclave, which is home to 2.4 million people -- half of them children.

Militants in Gaza have kept up their rocket attacks into Israel, which has massed tens of thousands of troops along the border in what appears to be a preparation for a ground invasion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to "crush" Hamas in response to what has been declared the deadliest day in Israel's 75-year history.

AFP journalists witnessed Israeli warplanes carrying out dozens of strikes on Shati, the crowded refugee camp, within the span of half an hour on Thursday morning.

A four-year-old child cried as his father scrambled to pull him from under the rubble.

"Daddy, where is my mom and my siblings?" the boy screamed, covered in dust and bleeding from multiple wounds on his tiny body.

Jamal al-Masri, owner of one of the destroyed homes, said the attack took his family by surprise.

"We were asleep. Suddenly, the entire neighbourhood came under the occupier's bombs. My house, my brother's house, my family's house, and several neighbours' houses were completely destroyed," he told AFP.

When he emerged from his home, Masri said he was met with a scene of carnage.

"I found everyone dead, body parts and bodies of my sons and their children," he said, his eyes wide open in shock.

He tried to soothe his daughter who was yelling "what happened, Dad?" Is this really happening to us?" in disbelief.

"It will be okay," he replied, "we will stay, we will not leave Gaza" -- even though around him, nothing was left.

In many neighbourhoods -- those that have not been reduced to a pile of smoking ruins -- there is no longer electricity.

The sole power plant supplying the territory has stopped working after running out of fuel due to the siege. And with it, internet, water and even telephone communications have largely gone.

The United Nations has criticised Israel's siege as a possible violation of international law.

- Chaos -

At al-Shifa Hospital, the largest in the enclave which has been under a strict Israeli blockade for 16 years, there was chaos.

Amid the uninterrupted stream of ambulances, relatives asking for news, injured arriving and leaving, two children sat on the ground, stunned and silent.

A nurse handed one of them over to a doctor, who called out, "does anyone here know this child?" before rushing to the dozens of wounded sprawled on thin mattresses.

Behind him, wails of pain escaped the mortuary from relatives of the dead.

Inside, dozens of bodies wrapped in white shrouds fill the cold storage units and cover the floor.

One young man staggered out. "Maybe he's not dead. His body isn't here," he shouted.

"Let's check the emergency room. He's probably undergoing surgery," he repeated, as if to convince himself.

my/sy/rd/sbh/ysm/phz/
Gazas heathcare system is collapsing and overflowing hospitals are just days away from completely running out of supplies amid the most ferocious Israeli bombardment ever recorded, Palestinian officials have warned.

Intensive care units (ICUs) across the tiny enclave are beyond capacity, forcing doctors to switch off life-support machines for patients deemed hopeless cases. They are doing this to make way for the unprecedented influx of newly wounded, Gazas deputy health minister has said.

In our religion and ethics, we shouldnt do this, but we have no choice, Dr Yusuf Abu al-Reesh added.

Israel imposed a total siege on the tiny enclave after militants belonging to Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, launched a surprise deadly attack on Saturday, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens of people, including Britons, hostage.

Rights groups have warned that the decision to impose a siege on the enclave, which is home to more than 2 million people, constitutes collective punishment and is a violation of international law.

However, Israels energy minister, Israel Katz, doubled down on Thursday, saying that nothing would be allowed into Gaza until the hostages were released. The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it was ramping up its heaviest bombardment of the strip. More than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed in the onslaught, half of them women and children. More than 6,600 have been injured.

The combination is creating a humanitarian catastrophe, United Nations officials have warned. As the wounded poured in, Gazas health ministry officials said that hospitals, including al-Shifa, the largest in the enclave, had just days left of supplies.

Some of the wounded at al-Shifa hospital (Gaza Health Ministry)

Stocks of vital medicines for emergency departments, such as fluids, bandages and surgical instruments, are said to be running out. Water is in such short supply that doctors at al-Shifa have resorted to using an old well.

We expanded the hospital by 50 per cent, but even that is full, and we are treating people under a tent in the street, said deputy health minister Dr Abu al-Reesh from the medical complex in the heart of Gaza City, with desperation in his voice. He shared photos of children, drenched in blood, being treated four to a stretcher on the floor.

There are no places in the ICU. So for the first time, we have to switch off ICU machines for cases which the doctors believe are hopeless, to make space for those who might have a chance of surviving, he told The Independent. We are collapsing.

The United Nations Palestinian refugee aid agency, UNRWA, is meanwhile frantically negotiating with countries around the world to secure a humanitarian corridor. The UN is currently sheltering 220,000 displaced people in 98 of its schools, but their water supply will run out in a few days. Terrified families in Gaza told The Independent on Thursday that they had received leaflets dropped from Israeli aircraft telling them to evacuate, but they didn't know where to go.

The airstrikes are so heavy they feel like heart attacks, said 21-year-old Sara, a student who was sheltering with five different displaced families.

Houses and buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes in Gaza City (Reuters)

And the war, which has already claimed a total of at least 2,700 lives, is expected to escalate.

Tamara al-Rifae, a UNRWA spokesperson, said that with Israeli doubling down on its siege, All eyes are now on the passage through Rafah to Egypt.

That is the only way for aid convoys and personnel to go in, she continued. Our highest priority is to find a way for humanitarian personnel and supplies to safely enter Gaza. This is a call for humanitarian access.

But Egypts foreign ministry said on Thursday that airstrikes have prevented Rafah from operating. Egypt has tried unsuccessfully to convince Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through the crossing.

Gaza was already short on supplies before the latest conflict erupted, as it has been subject to a 16-year siege imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized control of the strip.

Israel has mobilised 360,000 reservists and appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza, with its government under intense public pressure to topple Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007 and remained firmly in control through four previous wars. Defence officials said on Thursday that they would keep bombing Gaza until Hamas is wiped from the earth. The air force said it had dropped more than 6,000 bombs on Gaza to date.

The Israeli military said that more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, had been killed in Israel, a staggering toll on a scale unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.
Gazas only power plant went dark on Wednesday, running out of fuel following the commencement of Israel's complete siege, of the coastal enclave, in the words of Israels defense minister. The loss of power will worsen the deadly plight facing Gazas densely packed population of 2.2 million. The new electricity crisis comes as Israel steps up its retaliation after Hamas militants killed 1,300 Israelis and kidnapped 150 over the weekend. More than 1,350 people in Gaza have been killed in ongoing Israeli airstrikes, which have leveled entire city blocks.

Israels siege has cut off food, fuel, water, and medical supplies from reaching Gaza, which, in addition to the airstrikes, has created the conditions for a humanitarian catastrophe. Lack of electricity will likely worsen conditions and make it more difficult for Gazans to communicate with each other and the outside world.

Without electricity we cannot be in contact with our loved ones or check the news to find out whether they have been displaced, whether they have been injured, or whether they have died, said Mahmoud Shalabi, senior program manager in Gaza for Medical Aid for Palestinians, an aid group, in a quote provided to TIME. As a humanitarian, I will not be able to do any of the work that I have been doing to try and respond as much as we can.

Read more: How to Help Victims of the Israel-Gaza War

Perhaps the most disastrous near term likelihood is that the enclaves hospitals lose power, with critical consequences for wounded victims of the ongoing bombardment in urgent need of medical care. The Palestinian health ministry has said that hospital generators will run out of fuel on Thursday. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Thursday that back up generators could shut off within hours, threatening to turn treatment facilities into morgues. Israeli power lines supply most of Gazas electricity, and Israels leadership has vowed to withhold power and block food, fuel, and medical aid from entering Gaza until the hostages taken by Hamas are released.

Brienne Prusak, a press officer with Doctors Without Borders, says that as of Wednesday the organizations medical workers in Gaza likely have electricity, but that the group is concerned about losing power going forward. We are already seeing shortages of water, electricity, fuel, and essential medical supplies in hospitals, and our emergency stocks on the ground are limited and will run out quickly if we can't bring in medical equipment and medicines, Prusak wrote over email. We moved medical supplies from our two-month emergency reserves to the Al-Awda hospital, and we have used three weeks worth of this stock the past three days.

On Wednesday, the organization said all the patients treated by its clinic in Gaza City were children between 10 and 14 years oldwomen and children have tended to be the ones at home when airstrikes hit.

Gaza has been under a blockade instituted by Israel with the cooperation of Egypt since 2007, when Hamas took control of the enclave. Since 2017, tensions between Israel, Hamas, and the political authority in control of the West Bank have caused an ongoing electricity crisis, leaving Gaza with only extremely intermittent power supplies. Power typically operates for about half the day.

Those factors have made life challenging for Gazans for years, long before the current siege. Among the most critical impacts to daily lives have been difficulties getting water due to lack of working electrical systems, according to a 2020 Red Cross survey. More than three quarters of people surveyed also pointed to their inability to store fresh foods in refrigerators.

Israeli leaders say they are girding for a long and costly conflict in Gaza, a new war that will generate yet more deaths and human suffering, and also likely perpetuate Gazans deprivation for years.

They say that this time it's different, Leo Cans, head of Doctors Without Borders in Palestine, said of his colleagues working in Gaza in an Oct. 10 statement. They don't see a way out and they wonder how its all going to end.

Write to Alejandro de la Garza at alejandro.delagarza@time.com.
Gaza's hospitals "risk turning into morgues," officials and the Red Cross warned.

Palestinian health officials said health services in Gaza have entered a "critical stage."

Israel has been carrying out air strikes on the territory after Hamas' attacks on the Jewish state.

Gaza's health system is on the verge of collapse, and its hospitals soon "risk turning into morgues" as Israel continues its bombardment of the territory in response to the attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the Jewish state, health officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross warned.

Palestinian health officials said Wednesday that health services in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas rules, have now entered a "critical stage" and that "medicines, medical consumption and fuel are running out."

"Hospitals are fully occupied with their clinical capabilities, and the wounded and patients are on the ground due to the intensification of Israeli aggression," the Palestinian health ministry said in a post on Facebook.

Fabrizio Carboni, the International Committee of the Red Cross' regional director for the Middle East, said in a statement Thursday that as Gaza loses power, "hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk."

"Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues," Carboni warned. Carboni also urged "the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians," adding that families in Gaza are struggling to access clean water. "No parent wants to be forced to give a thirsty child dirty water."

A nurse at Shifa Hospital, which is Gaza's biggest hospital, told The Associated Press that "the body bags started and just kept coming and coming, and now it's a graveyard."

"I am emotionally, physically exhausted," Abu Elias Shobaki said. "I just have to stop myself from thinking about how much worse it will get."

Even before the war began, hospitals in Gaza were not well-stocked with supplies, the World Health Organization's regional emergency director, Richard Brennan, told The Guardian.

"It's almost as bad as it gets," Brennan told The Guardian. "It's not just the damage, the destruction. It's that psychological pressure. The constant shelling  the loss of one's colleagues."

The WHO said in a statement this week that it is working with Egypt to get critical supplies delivered to Gaza over the Rafah crossing, which has been closed to civilians, trapping them in Gaza.

The organization added that it is "gravely concerned" about the Israeli hostages that Hamas took captive when it began its attack. Israel has estimated that Hamas is holding between 100 and 150 people captive, the Washington Post reported.

Israel says that at least 1,300 have been killed on its side, and officials in Gaza say that at least 1,417 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In the aftermath of Hamas' deadly surprise attacks on Israel on Saturday, Israel retaliated, launching deadly air strikes on Gaza that have toppled residential buildings, universities, and mosques.

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Monday that he has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip and that electricity, food, and fuel would be cut off from the already impoverished enclave.

"Continued disconnection of the Israeli occupation of electricity, water, and fuel poses a danger to the lives of the injured and patients and causes a serious health and environmental disaster," the Palestinian health ministry said.

Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, told CNN on Thursday that all hospital beds are filled "leaving no room for new patients in critical condition."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A group of House Republicans introduced a resolution to expel embattled New York Rep. George Santos from Congress. If their scheme is successful, Santos would join a short list of Confederates and convicted felons who have been drummed out of the Capitol over the past two centuries.

Today, Ill be introducing an expulsion resolution to rid the Peoples House of fraudster, George Santos, Rep. Anthony DEsposito said on Oct. 11 on X. Five other freshmen Republican representatives from the Empire State co-sponsored the legislation.

The move to oust Santos, 35, came the day after he was indicted on federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud.

New York prosecutors accuse him of repeatedly charging donors credit cards without their permission and stealing the identities of his family members, among other charges.

Santos was first indicted in May and pleaded not guilty to the original 13 counts, according to the Associated Press.

I look very much forward to seeing the anti American attempt by WEAK RINOs to oust me without giving me my right to Due process, Santos said on X, hours after his fellow lawmakers announced their intent to force him out.

I will have a lot of time on my hands to return the favor in the most expedient fashion mankind has ever seen, Santos tweeted.

When contacted by McClatchy News, a spokesperson for Santos office said, All legal matters are not discussed by the official office.

Expulsion

When a newly elected member of Congress goes to Washington, they tend to stick around, winning re-election after re-election. Some even hold onto power for decades, including Iowa Rep. Chuck Grassley and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy , who have both been in Congress for nearly a half-century.

But an unlucky few, about 10%, are tossed from their seats each cycle, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks political campaigns.

An even smaller number of lawmakers have been booted from the halls of Congress, not by their constituents, but by their colleagues, through a process known as expulsion.

This rare and drastic action is outlined in the Constitution, which states that the House and Senate can punish members for disorderly behavior by expelling them with a two-thirds vote.

While there are no specific grounds for an expulsion expressed in the Constitution, according to a Congressional Research Service report, expulsion actions in both the House and the Senate have generally concerned cases of perceived disloyalty to the United States, or the conviction of a criminal statutory offense which involved abuse of ones official position.

Since the founding of the Republic, just 20 members of Congress  15 senators and 5 representatives  have been ousted from their positions through expulsion.

Confederates and convicted felons

William Blount, a Revolutionary War veteran turned Tennessee senator, holds the dishonorable distinction of being the first lawmaker to be expelled from Congress.

Blount, who served in the Continental Congress, became embroiled in a scandal related to his land holdings, according to Senate records.

He devised a scheme for frontier settlers and Native Americans to invade Spanish Louisiana and Florida so that the territories could be transferred to England, benefiting him financially.

Unfortunately for the senator, a letter, in which Blount thinly disguised his desire to arouse the Creek and Cherokee Indians to aid his plan, fell into the hands of Federalist president John Adams, according to Senate records.

After his letter was sent to Congress, he was charged with anti-Spanish conspiracy and treason and was expelled from the body in 1797.

But the vast majority of expelled lawmakers, 17 of the 20, were discharged for plotting against the United States and siding with the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Ten of those lawmakers, all from southern states, were ejected from the Capitol in one day. On July 11, 1861, after they were charged with aiding the conspiracy for the destruction of the Union and Government, they were expelled, according to Senate records.

After its recurrent use during the Civil War, expulsion as a punitive measure fell out of fashion. No senators since then have been subjected to it.

But two representatives, both convicted of crimes, have been ousted via expulsion in more modern times.

Michael Ozzie Myers, a Democratic Pennsylvania representative first elected in 1975, was expelled from Congress shortly after being convicted of bribery and sentenced to prison in 1980, according to House records.

He was again sentenced to prison in 2022 and ordered to pay $100,000 in fines after admitting to bribing a judge of elections in Philadelphia, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

And most recently, Democratic Ohio Representative James Traficant, first elected in 1985, was convicted of taking kickbacks and bribes and sentenced to prison in 2002, according to the Columbus Dispatch. He was expelled the same year.

Prosecutors said that in addition to extracting bribes from businesspeople, according to the outlet, he forced his staffers to work on his houseboat and farm.

Now as for Santos, hell be waiting to see if the resolution goes up for a vote and whether he, like the 20 members before him, will be cast from the halls of Congress.

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Last month the German government announced an additional 370m (320m; $390m) in funding for nuclear fusion research and development.

This brings the total budget earmarked for the next five years to 1bn.

So is Germany about to take a leap forward in fusion engineering?

"We want to create a fusion ecosystem with industry, so that a fusion power plant in Germany becomes reality as quickly as possible," said Minister of Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger.

Nuclear fusion is the reaction that powers the sun. It produces vast amounts of energy by fusing together hydrogen nuclei.

If it can be harnessed here on Earth, then it promises abundant, cheap, and emission-free electricity.

But the engineering hurdles are daunting. Sparking a fusion reaction and keeping it going needs immense temperature and pressure, and will require technology that is yet to be invented.

Private firms and government projects around the world have made much progress in recent years in overcoming the challenges.

Germany's strength in engineering should put it in a strong position, but, for some, the fresh government investment has come too late.

Marvel Fusion, one of four German fusion start-ups, has chosen to build its laser fusion facility in the US.

The company's chief executive, Moritz von der Linden, said it was "a disadvantage" to be based in Germany.

"Things are moving too slowly, and they're not moving at scale. The main part missing in Germany is a clear political commitment that the government is supporting this, the next is subsidies," he told the Financial Times in February.

That leaves three German fusion start-ups - Proxima Fusion, Gauss Fusion (both magnet-based fusion), and Focused Energy (laser-based fusion).

They have agreed to collaborate in a number of key areas in a bid to accelerate research and development.

They believe Germany's tradition of engineering excellence and world-class nuclear fusion research leaves the nation well-placed to drive reactor development.

"I think Germany has a really good story to tell on nuclear fusion," says Dr Arthur Turrell, author of The Star Builders: Nuclear Fusion and the Race to Power the Planet. "It's home to one of the most exciting fusion experiments in the world, the Wendelstein 7-X."

"Some of the great breakthroughs, and really interesting experiments, have come out of Germany and out of German support for fusion and they're involved in a lot of international collaborations too."

More technology of business

The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are just two of a number of research bodies that have been contributing to joint international efforts and have been making meaningful headway for years.

Milena Roveda, chief executive of Gauss Fusion, agrees that Germany has the potential to play a pivotal role in making fusion energy a reality. "Two of the greatest fusion research devices are in Germany. We have excellent physicists. In Germany, nothing [is lacking] except to say, 'Okay, we'll do it now'."

She believes industry brings urgency and pragmatism to development that's often lacking in research institutes.

"I am convinced that we would already have fusion power on the grid here [in Germany] if industry had taken a role in this before," she says.

Headquartered in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Gauss Fusion's roadmap sees the company opening fusion power plants by the beginning of the 2040s.

Others also see the collaboration between research institutes and private enterprise as the pathway to get fusion power online as quickly as possible.

"I think 20 years is an aggressive but realistic timescale," says Tony Donne, chief executive at EUROfusion, a European consortium of 30 fusion research institutes. "We can [get fusion reactors on the grid] provided we get our act together and we set up the project in a good way".

"If industry had been involved in designing ITER [an international fusion research project based in France] they could have built it faster and cheaper."

"Research engineers from the institutes think about the design and functionality but manufacturability is very low on their agenda. Ultimately, it needs to be industry who builds the reactors and the first fusion power plants," says Mr Donne.

If a Manhattan Project-type collaboration between industry and research institutes were facilitated by the likes of the European Commission, says Mr Donne, the 20-year timeline could potentially be sped up.

"I saw the movie Oppenheimer recently. You'd need a similar type of project with a central team, clear leadership, clear governance, and also with the budget that you can build things fast." says Mr Donne.

"[Beyond that,] many private fusion companies promise fusion in five to ten years. This is just a pipe dream. It's like selling flying carpets."

Several German companies already engineer individual components for fusion research, such as the optics used in laser experiments, and this is where Mr Donne thinks many may end up contributing to fusion reactors in the long-term.

"Since [public research institutes] work with taxpayers money, we are very risk-averse. [Private] companies are less risk-averse, more agile."

"If we can involve them in the development of new materials or in [generating fuel], we maybe could have solutions at a faster timescale."

Both Donne and Roveda are keen to underline that fusion power plants are not a short-term solution and that even in the best possible conditions, could only become a reality in the second-half of the century. In the meantime, more immediate green solutions will be needed to reduce carbon emissions.

"There is still a long, long way to go, especially in Germany. But I think that with the war, [people] have seen how difficult our situation is going to be in future. We are dependent on foreign nations for supplying our energy. This is something we cannot do," says Ms Roveda.
Boris Pistorius

Germany will have 35,000 troops, up to 200 aircraft, frigates, and corvettes on very high alert as of 2025 to boost NATOs new deterrence and defense strategy, German magazine Stern reported on Oct 12, citing German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius  announcement at the NATO meeting in Brussels.

The announcement comes in the wake of extensive plans  some 4,000 pages long  drawn up by the alliance. They describe in detail how critical locations on NATO territory will be protected by deterrence, and defended in an emergency.

Read also: Poland to host over 20,000 NATO troops at Dragon-24  Europes largest army exercise of 2024

We are de facto going all in, Pistorius said, adding that NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) will be able to call on these forces starting from 2025.

The plans were made in light of Russia's war in Ukraine and are aimed at preparing the military alliance for worst-case scenarios such as an attack on a NATO member, either by Russia or a terrorist group. NATO hasn't ruled out the possibility of Russian action against NATO members following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Baltic states are considered particularly vulnerable.

Read also: Three NATO members discuss forming coalition to clear Black Sea of mines  Bloomberg

Germany's commitment is a part of NATO's planning for a new Armed Forces model, which will keep 300,000 troops on high alert for possible NATO missions in the future.

Previously, the NATO Response Force (NRF) has primarily been available for rapid crisis response. Allies currently contribute about 40,000 troops to the force.

British intelligence has previously suggested that Russia is building up large units to bolster its ground forces, which could be used as a reserve in Ukraine or to counter NATO.

Drone wreckage was discovered on Sept. 4 in Romania, 2.5 kilometers southeast of the settlement of Plauru, after Russia carried out a massive aerial attack on southern Ukraine. Ukrainian border guards recorded two detonations of Shahed kamikaze drones on Romanian territory during the Russian attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Sept. 4.

At the time, the Romanian Defense Ministry categorically denied reports about the falling debris. According to the ministry, Russias attack never created a direct military threat to the national territory or territorial waters of Romania.

Read also: Ukraine-Romania ferry crossing closed after Russian kamikaze drone attack

On Sept. 6, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar acknowledged for the first time that parts of a Russian drone used to attack Ukraine had indeed fallen on his countrys territory.

NATO member countries expressed strong solidarity with Romania in a statement published by Romanias ambassador to NATO, Dan Neculescu. However, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated on Sept. 7 that the alliance did not see any indication that there had been a deliberate Russian attack on Romania.

Read also: Russian drones downed in Romania were hit by Ukrainian air defense  Bucharest

Under Article 5 of NATO, in the event of a deliberate attack on one of its member countries, all others would consider this act of violence as an armed attack against the entire Alliance and must take measures to assist the country that has been attacked.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
German officials said they have offered military aid to Israel in the wake of attacks launched by militant group Hamas, vowing to crack down on support for the militant group in their own country.

Germanys Ministry of Defense said Thursday that it has agreed to Israels request to use two of its five Heron TP combat drones, according to The Associated Press. The military equipment was already in Israel, as German soldiers train there.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius noted that Israel also requested ammunition for warships.

Speaking to parliament, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to let Germany know about any needs, the AP reported.

At this moment, there is only one place for Germany  the place at Israels side, Scholz told the parliament. Our own history, our responsibility arising from the Holocaust, makes it a perpetual task for us to stand up for the security of the state of Israel.

Scholz also said that he plans to issue a formal ban on activity by or in support of Hamas and similar groups in the country. He referred to an incident this past weekend in which a small group handed out pastries in celebration of Hamass attack.

Scholzs remarks come as he and other Western leaders issued a joint statement Monday in support of Israel.

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, leaders of Germany, France, Italy, the U.K. and U.S. said in a the statement.

Hamas, a militant group that is the de facto authority in Gaza, launched its deadly attack against Israel on Saturday, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 3,000 others suffering injuries.

Israeli armed forces have launched a counteroffensive against the group, with Netanyahu saying that his countrys forces will exact a huge price from Hamas for the attack.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A huge Palestinian flag is seen on a building in a street in Tehran

A huge Palestinian flag is seen on a building in a street in Tehran

By Thomas Escritt and Miranda Murray

BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday Iran bore responsibility for helping Hamas grow to the point where it launched last weekend's attack on Israel, as he announced a crackdown on organisations that backed the Islamist movement.

"While we have no firm proof that Iran operationally supported this cowardly attack, it is clear to us all that without Iranian support, Ham as would never have been able to launch this unprecedented attack," he said.

"The jubilant statements from the top of the Iranian regime and some other government officials in the region are abhorrent. The leadership in Tehran shows its true colours without shame, and thereby confirms its role in Gaza."

The Islamic Republic has celebrated the Hamas assault but denied that Tehran was behind them.

In a special address to the German parliament, Scholz said his government would ban all fundraising and other activities supporting Hamas, including being seen to glorify its actions or displaying its symbols.

He also announced a ban on Samidoun, an international activist group that says it supports Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, but which German authorities say promotes hate speech and calls for Israel's destruction.

Samidoun did not respond to a request for comment.

Germany rallied around Israel after at least 1,300 people were killed and dozens taken hostage in a mass cross-border infiltration by Hamas militants into Israeli towns and villages near Gaza. It has frozen Palestinian aid pending a review.

Germany has stepped up protection of Jewish institutions and banned a pro-Palestinian protest due to take place in the capital Berlin on Wednesday.

Like other German leaders, Scholz said the country had a historic duty towards Israel given its responsibility for the Nazi-perpetrated Holocaust.

The suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip was likely to worsen "but that too is the fault of Hamas and its attack on Israel," Scholz said, while also criticising what he said was the "shameful" silence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose West Bank-based Fatah movement is a rival of Hamas.

Gaza authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed in a retaliatory Israeli bombing campaign.

Scholz added that it was important to try and avoid a further regional escalation of violence, warning Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed militant group, powerful in Israel's neighbour Lebanon, not to risk an attack on Israel.

"I am in close contact with Egypt's President Sisi, who has channels to Gaza. I will speak with Turkey's President Erdogan today and receive the Emir of Qatar," he added. "All three can play an important role in de-escalating the situation."

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt, Miranda Murray and Riham Alkousaa; writing by Thomas Escritt and Matthias Williams; editing by Rachel More and Mark Heinrich)
The recent meeting between the Defend Texas Liberty PAC leader and prominent white supremacist Nick Fuentes is bringing new scrutiny to the groups donors and the politicians who have accepted its money.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan  a persistent target of the PAC  is calling on fellow Republicans to disavow the group and part ways with its money. While a handful have heeded his call, others have refused to do so and alleged Phelan is just seeking political gain.

Notably, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick  who has taken over $3 million from the PAC  has denounced Fuentes but said Wednesday he sees no reason to return the groups money and accused Phelan of an orchestrated smear campaign.

Either way, it represents a pivotal moment for the group, which started in 2020 and has led the charge to push state GOP officials even further to the right. It is mainly funded by Tim Dunn, a Midland oilman who has spent at least the past decade bankrolling efforts that target Texas Republicans whom he and his allies have deemed insufficiently conservative, particularly in the state House.

On Sunday, The Texas Tribune reported that Fuentes visited an office building associated with Defend Texas Libertys president, Jonathan Stickland, for nearly seven hours last week.

The PAC has not commented on the report other than to criticize Phelan for making an issue out of it and saying it opposes Fuentes incendiary views.

Patrick said Wednesday in a statement that he had talked with Dunn and he told me unequivocally that it was a serious blunder for PAC President Jonathan Stickland to meet with white supremist Nick Fuentes.

Stickland is a former rabble-rousing state representative who did not seek reelection in 2020. Early last year, he started a political consulting firm, Pale Horse Strategies, that Defend Texas Liberty has since paid over $800,000. Stickland remained the president of Defend Texas Liberty as of Tuesday, when a news release about the PACs latest polling identified him as such.

On paper, Defend Texas Liberty PAC started in March 2020. But the political forces driving it are not new.

Before funding Defend Texas Liberty PAC, Dunn plowed millions of dollars into a conservative group called Empower Texans that also was known for aggressively targeting House Republicans in the primary. In more recent years, Dunns millions have been supplemented by similar giving from Dan and Farris Wilks, billionaire brothers from Cisco who made their fortune in fracking. They burst on the national political scene in 2015, when they gave $15 million to a super PAC network supporting Ted Cruzs presidential campaign. They are also major investors in right-wing media companies  including The Daily Wire and PragerU  that push their ultraconservative views.

Today, 90% of all money raised by Defend Texas Liberty comes from Dunn and Farris and Jo Ann Wilks. The group has collected nearly $16 million total and spent $14.8 million, funding primary challengers and allied groups like the Texas GOP who have pushed fellow Republicans to take a harder line against things like illegal immigration and transgender people.

More recently, the PAC has cemented itself as a top donor to two statewide officials, Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The group gave $3 million in campaign funding to Patrick in June as he was preparing to preside over Paxtons impeachment trial in the Senate. After the Senate acquitted Paxton last month on allegations of bribery and misuse of office, Patrick faced a cascade of criticism that he was essentially bought off. Patrick has defended taking the money by arguing he received just as much from the other side in the trial, though that is difficult to verify.

The effectiveness of Dunns network is constantly up for debate. Defend Texas Liberty lost most state House races it got involved in last year, but its influence can often be felt in less tangible ways. For example, Gov. Greg Abbotts governance in 2021 took a pronounced turn rightward when he was up against a primary challenge from Don Huffines, who the PAC backed generously.

Over the years, the Republican establishment has dealt with Dunns activities with varying levels of confrontation. Former House Speaker Dennis Bonnen memorably sought to broker a kind of treaty with Empower Texans in 2019, taking a meeting with its leader, Michael Quinn Sullivan, to discuss election strategy. Sullivan secretly recorded the meeting, later sharing audio of Bonnen suggesting the group politically target certain House Republicans. The meeting ultimately upset so many members that Bonnen chose to step down.

Dunns network has weathered scandals before. In 2020, two Empower Texans staffers, Cary Cheshire and Tony McDonald, were caught on an audio recording disparaging Abbott with profanity and joking about his wheelchair use. Abbott and other GOP leaders denounced the comments, and Empower Texans said both were suspended from all public activities. Cheshire still works inside the Dunn-funded network, and McDonald is a lawyer whose firm continues to represent the networks interests.

The recipients

The biggest recipient of Defend Texas Libertys money has been Don Huffines, who received $3.7 million from the group while running against Abbott in the 2022 primary. Huffines pushed for Abbott to take drastic action on the border, including declaring a constitutional invasion, and especially scrutinized his pandemic leadership, claiming credit when Abbott reversed his opposition to outlawing vaccine mandates by private businesses.

Huffines provided a statement to the Tribune that did not mention Defend Texas Liberty but said Fuentes sucks and Huffines has nothing to do with him.

My father, a decorated war veteran, dedicated years to killing Nazis and earning commendations for liberating concentration camps, Huffines said. Throughout my life, I've been a steadfast friend of the Jewish community and authored pivotal pro-Israel legislation ending the BDS boycotts. While my record speaks for itself, let me be clear: I will always fight anti-semitism and communism.

Beyond Patrick and Paxton, the PAC has made smaller contributions to 17 other current state officeholders: Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian, Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, Sen. Brandon Creighton of Conroe, Sen. Paul Bettencourt of Houston, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, Sen. Kevin Sparks of Midland, Sen. Phil King of Weatherford, Sen. Bob Hall of Edgewood, Rep. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington, Rep. Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth, Rep. Mark Dorazio of San Antonio, Rep. Matt Schaefer of Tyler, Rep. Carrie Isaac of Dripping Springs, Rep. Teresa Leo-Wilson of Galveston, Rep. Brian Harrison of Midlothian and Rep. Stan Kitzman of Pattison.

One of the biggest recipients of the PACs money was former state Rep. Bryan Slaton of Royse City, who the House unanimously voted to expel in May after a committee investigation found he had sex with a 19-year-old intern after getting her drunk. In a photo that has been widely recirculated on social media in recent months, Stickland posed with Slaton last year while handing him a large $100,000 check for his campaign from Defend Texas Liberty.

The Texas Tribune contacted representatives for most of the incumbents Wednesday and only one of them replied. Kitzman, who got a $5,000 from the PAC in his 2022 primary runoff, said in a statement he would redirect the money to support causes that resonate with my personal values as a Christian and as a representative of House District 85. The groups included the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Earlier Wednesday, another House Republican, Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco, said he was sending $2,500 he got from Sticklands campaign in 2018 to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Up until recently, though, Defend Texas Liberty has been better known for its spending on candidates and not incumbents. It has thrown its money behind Republicans who have run the farthest to the right in primaries, vowing to challenge House GOP leadership and staking out the most strident opposition to things like abortion, illegal immigration and gender-affirming care.

Some of the more high-profile candidates for the Texas House the PAC has funded include Shelley Luther, the Dallas salon owner who was arrested for defying a statewide COVID-19 shutdown order, and Jeff Younger, who has been in a yearslong public legal battle with his ex-wife over their childs gender identity. Both espoused hostile views toward transgender people, with Luther questioning at one point why schoolchildren are not allowed to make fun of transgender classmates.

Neither Luther nor Younger won, but like in so many cases with Dunn-backed candidates, their well-funded runs forced the establishment to play defense and pulled other candidates, including incumbents, to the right.

Some of the Defend Texas Liberty-backed candidates are already running again next year, and incumbents have wasted little time trying to make them answer for the Fuentes meeting. Rep. Stan Gerdes of Smithville released a statement Tuesday calling on his challenger, Tom Glass, to return and/or reject any contributions from Defend Texas Liberty. The group gave Glass $10,000 when he ran in the primary for the same seat last election cycle.

Glass said in a statement he condemns Fuenties and his toxic, antisemitic ideas and anyone associated with him.

I also condemn attempts by Dade Phelan and Stan Gerdes to exploit this tragedy for political gain, Glass said. Their pathetic attempts are nothing less than an attempt to distract the voters attention from the baseless, failed Ken Paxton impeachment debacle.

Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Denton, also called on his repeat challenger, Andy Hopper, to denounce Defend Texas Liberty after receiving $55,000 from it in his prior campaign. Hopper, whose son works for Pale Horse Strategies, responded with a two-page statement blasting Stucky for making an issue out of it. Hopper only briefly mentioned Fuentes, saying he just learned of him and found he has some very insidious personal views.

I will not label an organization by the views of an individual who happened to enter their building, Hopper said.

Patrick took a similar posture in his statement Wednesday, saying Phelan is desperate to deflect attention from his failure to pass conservative legislation.

Those who parrot his calls for officeholders to return the money are as politically bankrupt as he is, Patrick said.

The Defend Texas Liberty donations could not only prove problematic in primaries but also in general elections. Adam Hinojosa, who is staging a comeback bid for a battleground state Senate seat in South Texas, took $5,000 from Defend Texas Liberty in his 2022 campaign.

Asked about the donation, Hinojosa said in a statement Wednesday he planned to donate personally to the Pregnancy Center of the Coastal Bend, which will help the organization open a new pregnancy center in Brownsville.

The donors

While Defend Texas Liberty has attracted a handful of other donors giving at least six figures, it is largely driven by the funding of Wilks and Dunn, CEO of CrownQuest Operating in Midland.

Dunn has given $9.7 million to Defend Texas Liberty, while Wilks has contributed $4.8 million.

Neither responded to requests for comment on the Fuentes visit with Stickland. But the morning after the Tribune report, Dunn used X to highlight that he was named a top 50 Christian ally of Israel by the Israel Allies Foundation last year. It was his first original post on the platform since June.

Patrick said Dunn told him that Defend Texas Liberty will not have future contact with Fuentes and everyone at the PAC understands that mistakes were made and are being corrected. Patrick said he trusted Dunn.

Four other people have given six figures to Defend Texas Liberty  a small fraction of Dunns and Wilks funding but still sizable amounts for Texas politics. They include Windi Grimes, a Houston oil heiress; Phillip Huffines, a Dallas home builder and brother of Don Huffines, the 2022 Abbott challenger; Ken Fisher, a Plano money manager; and Alex Fairly, an Amarillo businessman who is active in local politics and recently gave $20 million to create an institute at West Texas A&M University to promote American values.

Two of the six-figure donors responded to requests for comment, including Fisher, who gave $100,000 in January 2022.

Wasn't there, aren't active there, know nothing about it or him, Fisher wrote in an email when asked about the Fuentes meeting. Has nothing to do with my past contribution. Plain and simple.

Fairly and an LLC connected to him gave about $181,000 to Defend Texas Liberty this spring as the group got involved in Amarillo City Council elections.

Having no knowledge of, nor ever having met or spoken to the alleged participants in the meeting referenced in The Tribunes article, I will not comment on the story, Fairly said. But I will comment on the only issue in this story that matters: Racism, in any form, dispersed by any person or organization, saddens and dismays me because I believe God created every man and woman in His image, and any attempt to lessen or denounce the value of any human based on their race does so in direct opposition to the God who created each of us.
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Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, will pay a visit to China from Oct. 12 to 14, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced on Wednesday.

Wang said that Borrell's visit is at the invitation of member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and the two sides will hold the 12th round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue during the visit.

Noting this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Wang said that since this year began, Chinese and EU leaders have had frequent exchanges, and dialogue and cooperation has been carried out across the board at various levels, adding that China-EU relations have shown a positive momentum of growth.

China welcomes High Representative Josep Borrell to visit China and the opportunity to hold a new round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue, and this will contribute to the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations, lay the ground for future high-level interaction and invigorate joint response to global challenges and efforts for global peace and stability, said Wang.

As the world's two major forces, mega markets and great civilizations, Wang said that China and Europe share extensive common interests in the world's peace, stability and development and human progress, and bilateral relations have global influence and significance.

"China stands ready to work with the EU to stay committed to our comprehensive strategic partnership, enhance strategic communication and policy coordination, increase mutual trust, expand cooperation, overcome disturbances, properly settle differences and deliver more benefits to our two peoples and the world," Wang said.
Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo is calling for more security assistance to help West African democracies fight extremist groups (Bryan R. Smith)

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Thursday called for a "global coalition of democracies" to fight violent extremist groups in West Africa that have been spreading south from the Sahel toward Ghana and its neighbors.

"The menace caused by terrorism is such that we must share the burden of the fight," said Afuko-Addo, in a Washington speech in which he contrasted Western aid for Ukraine with that given to West African democracies.

"This is a time for a global coalition of democracies, a coalition of the willing, determined to banish the specter of terrorism and violent extremism."

With Islamist militants controlling large swaths of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the United States and other Western partners have been looking to help Ghana and other coastal West African states strengthen their defenses.

While Ghana has so far been spared direct violence attributed to jihadists, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast have all suffered attacks near their borders in recent years.

But aid for West Africa has been lacking compared to assistance offered to Ukraine, Afuko-Addo argued, speaking at the US Institute for Peace, a government-chartered policy center.

US aid to Ukraine since last year's Russian invasion has climbed to $73.6 billion, while the combined assistance from the European Union, United Kingdom and United States to the West African bloc ECOWAS has only amounted to $29.6 million over the same period, Afuko-Addo said.

The president's call for more security assistance comes as the United States and France have pulled back security assistance in recent years from Mali and Burkina Faso, as extremist violence has spiraled and military juntas have taken over.

A July coup in Niger spelled the defeat of another Western partner in the region.

But Afuko-Addo said Western boots on the ground weren't necessary in Ghana or other coastal states.

"Foreign troops do not have to be involved. West African troops can do the job," he said, praising existing cooperation and intelligence sharing among Gulf of Guinea and Sahel countries.

The presence of French troops in Paris's former colonies in the Sahel had become controversial, with protesters blaming them for being unable to stem the rising violence.

Having already left Burkina Faso and Mali, French troops started departing Niger on Tuesday.

An official declaration by Washington that a coup had taken place in Niger has cut off $500 million in assistance to the country, though for now it is maintaining its force of about 1,000 troops there.

As of earlier this year, Benin had reported more than 20 armed incursions since 2021, and Togo's president in April said that 100 civilians and 40 soldiers had been killed in jihadist attacks.

But as coastal states look for outside aid, some critics of Western-led security assistance in Africa have warned that the Sahel's increasing instability has come in part because of an overly militarized response.

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Around 25,000 people are eligible to cast ballots for candidates from two parties, as well as an independent (JORGE GUERRERO)

Gibraltar votes on Thursday in a tight election which could affect talks on a deal settling the tiny British overseas territory's ties with the European Union following Brexit.

Around 25,000 people are eligible to cast ballots for candidates from two parties, as well as an independent, who are vying for representation in the 17-seat parliament in the enclave on Spain's southern tip, dubbed "the Rock" because of its famous cliff-faced mountain.

Polls have consistently put the ruling centre-left Socialist-Liberal alliance neck-and-neck with the opposition centre-right Gibraltar Social Democrats.

At 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) 24.14 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots, almost two percentage points more than during the previous election in 2019, authorities said.

Fabian Picardo , the incumbent chief minister, who has headed the government of Gibraltar since 2011, has warned that the talks over Gibraltar's post-Brexit future would suffer a setback if his alliance was ousted from power.

"Do you really think that what you want to do on Friday is wake up to a new negotiating team on the most complex negotiation that Gibraltar has been involved in its history?" he asked in one of his final campaign appearances.

"We are on the cusp of achieving something very, very special," said the 51-year-old who is seeking a fourth consecutive term in office.

Gibraltar, which has a land border with Spain, has been in limbo since Britain's withdrawal from the EU in 2020 left it outside the bloc's customs union and without guaranteed free movement of people.

Under a temporary agreement, Spain has granted free border passage to workers and tourists to avoid disruption, but this could be rescinded at any time.

- 'Gibraltar needs a change' -

The talks are aimed at agreeing a common travel area between Gibraltar and the so-called Schengen passport-free zone, which covers most of the EU's member states along with four other European nations.

With the protocol on Northern Ireland agreed by London and Brussels earlier this year, Gibraltar now stands in isolation as the last British territory left without a deal that clarifies its future relationship with the EU and with its neighbour Spain.

Keith Azopardi, leader of the opposition Gibraltar Social Democrats and a former deputy chief minister of Gibraltar, has blasted Picardo for failing to reach an agreement, vowing his party would deliver a "safe and beneficial" deal.

His campaign has focused on domestic issues, promising to build more public housing, reform public services and reduce debt.

"Gibraltar needs a change," the 56-year-old said at the start of the campaign.

The British territory relies on around 15,000 workers -- most of them European, making up half of Gibraltar's workforce -- who cross the border with EU-member Spain every day.

Fluidity at the border is also key for tourism.

Gibraltar, which is strategically located at the western gateway to the Mediterranean Sea, welcomes millions of visitors every year.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht but has long argued that it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty.

Britain remains responsible for its defence and foreign affairs but Gibraltar, with its British pubs and red telephone boxes, is now essentially self-governing.

Polling stations were scheduled to close at 10:00 pm, with official results expected early on Friday.

str-ds/hmw/gw
A recent study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives reveals that nearly all of the adolescents living in the agricultural county of Pedro Moncayo, Ecuador (98%) have high concentrations of a common pesticide, glyphosate, in their urine. In addition, it found that 66.2% of the participants had an herbicide in their urine known as 2,4-D. The researchers also tested for chemicals found in the insecticide DEET, including DCBA in 63.3% of the urine samples and ECBA in 33.4% of the urine samples.

The good news is that the DEET metabolites were not linked to neurobehavioral problems, which the scientists examined in the patients. The bad news is that higher glyphosate concentrations were linked to lower scores in social perception, while higher 2,4-D concentrations were linked to problems memory and learning, language and attention and inhibitory control. Glyphosate specifically has been linked to cancer, particularly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The popular weedkiller has also been found in 80% of Americans' urine, according to a 2022 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2020 Bayer, the German pharmaceutical company that manufactures Roundup (a popular weedkiller which contains glyphosate), paid up to $10 billion to settle cancer lawsuits related to Roundup.

"There is a lot of exposure to Roundup in the environment as well, in everything that we actually do, so there is a huge ubiquitous prevalence," researcher Dr. Chadi Nabhan told Salon regarding glyphosate in a February interview.
In a rare move, the White House on Thursday publicly pushed back against former President Donald Trump after he labeled Israel's defense minister a "jerk" and also called the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah "very smart."

Hamas, the Palestinian extremists who control Gaza next to southern Israel, launched a terror attack on the country over the weekend, killing more than 1,200 people, officials have said.

Israel launched a war in response and has so far carried out a number of military strikes and operations on Gaza. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the territory, according to Palestinian officials.

Hezbollah, based out of Lebanon to the north of Israel, has fought with Israel before, underlining the concern that it could open up another front in the conflict. A senior U.S. defense official earlier this week told reporters that the Pentagon was "deeply concerned" about such a possibility. "We are working with Israel and with our partners across the region to contain this to Gaza," they said.

Trump referred to that in a campaign speech in Florida on Wednesday night.

MORE: Death came from sea, air and ground: A timeline of surprise attack by Hamas on Israel

"Two nights ago I read all of Bidens security people ... they said, 'Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesn't attack from the north, because that's the most vulnerable spot.' I said, 'Wait a minute. You know, Hezbollah is very smart.' They're all very smart," Trump said, going on to add that "the press doesn't like when" he says things like that, as he has when praising the effectiveness of China's authoritarian President Xi Jinping.

Trump swiped at two top Israeli officials, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom Trump once appeared to be close.

"They [Israel] have a national defense minister ... if you listen to this jerk, you would attack from the north because he said that's our weak spot," Trump said.

Gallant's office reportedly said in response that Trump was making "far-fetched speculation" and attested to the military's strength.

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to guests during a campaign event at Refuge City Church, Oct. 8, 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Of Netanyahu, Trump said he "let us down" while talking about the U.S. killing of Iranian military officer Qassem Soleimani.

Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said in a Thursday statement that what Trump said about Hezbollah was "dangerous and unhinged."

"It's completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as 'smart.' ... This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against 'unadulterated evil,'" Bates said.

Trump's comments also drew criticism from his former vice president, Mike Pence, who is challenging him for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

"Hezbollah aren't smart. They're evil," Pence said during a New Hampshire radio appearance on Thursday.

He added that Trump, the front-runner for the nomination so far, is "simply not expressing -- and his imitators in this primary are not expressing -- the same muscular American foreign policy that we lived out every day."

Another GOP presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, said in a statement on social media that "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 terrorists as 'very smart.' As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are."

MORE: Will US efforts to deescalate the Israel-Hamas conflict be effective? Experts weigh in

In his campaign speech, Trump had touted "how much safer the world was" while he was in office while spending much of his nearly two-hour speech blaming the Biden administration for the Israel-Hamas conflict. He said that if reelected, he would seek to "permanently" destroy Hamas.

"I was ... proud to be the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House by far," he said.

Among other controversial claims, Trump alleged, with no evidence, that the Biden administration has been "inviting" in "terrorists and terrorist sympathizers" because former President Barack Obama is his "boss."

Trump then repeatedly said Obama's full name -- Barack Hussein Obama -- while invoking the "great [conservative radio host] Rush Limbaugh," who also referred to Obama that way.

It appeared be an incendiary attempt by Trump to link Obama with extremists by repeatedly bringing up Obama's middle name.

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks Oct. 11, 2023, at Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

An Obama spokeswoman declined to comment to ABC News when asked for reaction to what Trump said.

In a statement, a Trump spokesman did not address his Obama remark but said, "President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid."

In his speech, Trump criticized the Biden administration for freeing up $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue in the weeks before Hamas attacked Israel. That money was part of a deal to release five American detainees who were held in Iran.

Trump, as other Republicans have done, urged Biden to freeze the Iranian revenue. Trump called Biden a "dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb person."

On Thursday, ABC News reported that, according to sources, the fund has since essentially been blocked again.

"We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them," Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said Thursday when asked by reporters about the Iraninan money while visiting Israel.

The Biden administration has responded to criticism over initially freeing up the money by saying it was being closely monitored, hadn't yet been disbursed and could only be used for humanitarian purposes. Skeptics of that view argue the money nonetheless eases broader financial pressures on Iran, which is a primary sponsor of Hamas.

Referring to the potential security and military failures that may have led up to Hamas' surprise assault on Israel, Trump said on Wednesday: "You talk about the intelligence or you're talking about some of the things that went wrong over the last week, they've got to straighten it out because they're fighting potentially a very big force."

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., another 2024 candidate, on Thursday said the former presidents comments about Netanyahu were "wrong" and said the new agreement on stopping access to the Iranian assets was insufficient.

In a radio interview on Thursday, amid the criticism, Trump shared his support for Israel. "They've been, you know, a part, really a part of this country, the fabric of what we stand for. We have to protect Israel. There's no choice."

ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Libby Cathey, Hannah Demissie, Fritz Farrow, Luis Martinze and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.

Trump criticized for calling Hezbollah 'very smart' as he talked of potential risk to Israel originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(Bloomberg) -- Goldman Sachs Group Inc. took the unusual step of suing Malaysia in a UK court amid festering disagreement over a settlement tied to its role in the 1MDB investment-fund scandal.

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Executives at the Wall Street firm have grown increasingly frustrated with the countrys demands to redo its existing 2020 pact in favor of more onerous penalties, and the lack of information tied to the looted assets the nation has been recovering.

We filed for arbitration against the Government of Malaysia for violating its obligations to appropriately credit assets against the guarantee provided by Goldman Sachs in our settlement agreement and to recover other assets, a spokesman for the New York-based bank said in an emailed statement.

The complaint was filed Wednesday in the London International Court of Arbitration, a person familiar with the matter said.

Malaysia said it was quite surprised by Goldmans move and had given the bank multiple extensions on what it described as good faith discussions to resolve any dispute amicably. The government will respond and ensure that the interest of the country is safeguarded, Johari Abdul Ghani, chairman of the 1MDB Taskforce for Asset Recovery, said in a statement Thursday.

The 1MDB investment fund became the center of a multibillion-dollar scandal that spawned probes across continents. Months after striking the initial agreement in 2020, Goldman admitted to its role in the biggest foreign bribery case in US enforcement history, reaching multiple international settlements exceeding $5 billion for its part in raising funds for 1MDB.

The scandal contributed to the fall of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razaks government, and remains a political flashpoint for subsequent administrations. While Najib was imprisoned in 2022 for his role in the 1MDB fiasco, several cases against him are still grinding through the courts, and his party is back in government as part of rival Anwar Ibrahims ruling coalition.

The 1MDB issue has received renewed attention with the return this month of a convicted former Goldman banker to Malaysia to help with the countrys own investigations. Police said they are counting on Roger Ngs cooperation to recover as much as possible from the billions looted from the fund. Ng, a Malaysian, was scheduled to begin a 10-year prison sentence on Oct. 6, but US officials allowed the sentence to be deferred so that he could return to the Southeast Asian country.

As part of the 2020 settlement with Malaysia, Goldman made an initial $2.5 billion payment in September of that year. It also guaranteed the return of $1.4 billion of 1MDB assets seized by authorities worldwide in exchange for Malaysia agreeing to drop criminal charges against the firm and to not bring new ones.

The bank also was required to make an interim payment of $250 million if Malaysia didnt receive at least $500 million of assets and proceeds by August 2022, according to Goldman. The two sides have been locked in a disagreement over that, the bank has spelled out in public filings.

Malaysias Johari said the government was entitled to the $250 million interim payment, and that it had extended the deadline for its good faith discussions with Goldman to Nov. 8. Malaysia planned to begin arbitration proceedings on the interim payment should the two sides fail to reach a settlement by then, he said.

The 1MDB Taskforce views Goldman Sachs initiation of arbitration proceedings as premature and without due consideration of necessary prerequisites, said Johari, adding that the move appeared to be an attempt to detract and divert from their obligations.

--With assistance from Anisah Shukry.

(Updates with comment from Malaysia in fifth and last two paragraphs.)

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Google's AI-powered search feature, SGE (Search Generative Experience), is gaining some new skills, starting today. The AI feature, which introduces a conversational mode in Search, is now going to be able to generate images using prompts directly in SGE similar to rival Bing's support of OpenAI's DALLE-E 3. In addition, SGE will now allow users to write drafts within SGE where you can customize the output to be longer or shorter or change the tone of the writing to be more serious or casual.

The new features come on the heels of a series of rapid-fire updates to SGE as the pace of AI technology development quickens. Over the past few months, SGE has already gained new capabilities to do things like write AI-powered summaries and create definitions of unfamiliar terms, in addition to gaining coding improvements, plus travel and product search features, among other things.

With the new AI image generation feature, you can enter a prompt specifying what sort of image you want, like a drawing, photo or painting, for example. SGE will return four results directly in the SGE conversational experience. From there, you tap on the images, which can be downloaded as .png files, or edit the prompt that created the images to generate a new set. Under the hood, the feature is powered by Google's Imagen text-to-image model.

Image Credits: Google

The same feature will also become available when you use Google Image search. As you scroll through the image search results, if you don't find the photo you need, you'll be able to create a new image using prompts from a box that appears within the results.

Because AI image generation has already led to some inappropriate content, Google is limiting its new image generation feature to users 18 and older even though SGE recently opened up to teens in the U.S., ages 13-17.

Image Credits: Google

It's also thinking about how it can introduce this technology in a responsible way, which means it's added some fairly strict filtering policies in the product, the company told TechCrunch. These filters intend to prevent the creation of images that can be "harmful, misleading, or explicit," Google says, or those that otherwise violate its prohibited use policies for generative AI. It's also blocking the creation of any images that contain photorealistic faces and prompts that mention the names of notable people -- blocks intended not only to prevent inappropriate content but also to prevent the spread of misinformation.

Of course, people are fairly clever when it comes to messing around with AI image generation tools to create obscene and otherwise crazy outputs, as was seen earlier this month when both Meta and Bing's AI image generation tools went viral for how they were being misused to create inappropriate or shocking images, despite the policies the companies had in place.

Google admits that its tools also may not be perfect -- that's why they're still opt-in, for starters, through Google Search Labs. They'll also contain a feedback mechanism so users can report when the technology misfires or is misused. Still, the company thinks it's done a fairly good job with the implementation of its filters and believes that people might even encounter more blocks than they would suspect. (Sounds like a challenge!)

The images will also contain metadata embedded in the files that identifies them as AI-generated as well as embedded watermarking that's invisible to the human eye. This is powered by SynthID, which Google Cloud and Google DeepMind announced at the end of August.

The other new feature builds on SGE's ability to serve as a writing assistant. Already, SGE could provide a written draft -- something Google integrated with the idea that users may want to write an email to the companies whose ads or links they found through Search. But now this draft writing feature can output different types of writing, either longer or shorter, or changing the tone to be more serious or more casual.

Image Credits: Google

With both of the new features -- alternate drafts and image generation -- export options will also be available through SGE. In the case of the former, you can export your writing to Google Workspace apps, like Gmail or Google Docs. The images you generate, meanwhile, can be saved to Google Drive.

Image Credits: Google

Both features are rolling out starting tomorrow to a percentage of SGE users and will then expand to the wider user base over the coming weeks. They'll be available to those who have opted in to use SGE via Google Search Labs and are only offered in English in the U.S. for now even though SGE itself rolled out to India and Japan recently.


Googles Flood Hub

Alphabets Google is setting itself up to be a one-stop shop for all sorts of climate- and sustainability-related decisions. The company announced a series of updates this week that aim to help users make more informed choices, whether theyre about buying an electric vehicle or preparing for extreme weather.

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in a video message that fighting climate change is humanitys next big moonshot. And as with any moonshot, were going to have to answer some big questions to get there.

Read more

The updated hub covers 800 locations by rivers where more than 12 million people live. It uses AI and geospatial analysis to provide real-time flooding information on the hub platform and in Google Search. The tool originally launched in 2018 and has provided flooding forecasts up to a week in advance for hundreds of millions of people across the globe.

And this tool has saved lives. It was critical in South America this August: When heavy rains created flooding conditions in Chile, people in the affected areas received an alert on their phones several days beforehand thanks to Flood Hub, Fast Company reported. We stan.

2. Tracking wildfires and predicting where theyll spread

Another great update: Google is expanding its wildfire tracker. North America just exited its long, hot, smoky summer, as Canadian wildfire smoke tanked air quality throughout the continent. The climate crisis seems hell-bent on creating fiery conditions across the globe, so access to timely warning and tracking has become a matter of life or death.

To help map fire boundaries, our wildfire boundary tracker uses AI and satellite imagery to map large fires in close to real-time and updates every 15 minutes, Google said.

The company is working with the U.S. Forest Service to roll out the largest update to its wildfire models in 50 years to better train firefighters. The tool is available on Google Search and Maps in fire-prone parts of Canada, the U.S., and Australia.

3. Mitigating heat with tree maps

A less vital but still practical update is the expansion of the Tree Canopy tool, which combines AI and aerial images to show the parts of a city that have decent tree coverageand therefore better shade and cooler ambient temperatures. Green spaces dont just make a community look and feel better: more trees are associated with better mental health.

This tool is especially useful for city planners and officials who want to plant trees to mitigate the urban heat island effect, which creates dangerous heat conditions particularly in lower income neighborhoods. Google has now expanded this tool to more than 20,000 cities. We recently partnered with American Forests in the U.S. to make our tree canopy data available on their Tree Equity Score tool, ensuring shade in cities is equitably distributed, the company said.

4. Better electric vehicle search results

Looking for a new set of wheels? Google wants to make it easier for you to pick an electric car. This update includes better insights that will hopefully encourage more folks to buy electric. EV sales increased significantly in 2023, and more states are working to expand charging infrastructure, so this update is timely.

Car shopping can feel especially stressful, as can understanding available tax breaks. If you look for an electric vehicle in Google Search, youll see useful information, including federal incentives and details about battery range, for each EV model.

5. Lowering traffic emissions

This ones a bit wonky, but its a neat idea. With Project Green Light, a tool for traffic engineers, Google aims to make stop lights more efficient, resulting in fewer stops and thus lower emissions from cars. That should also mean better air quality for people living near these intersections.

The tech is now available for 70 intersections in 12 cities around the world. The company used AI and Google Maps driving trends model to make recommendations. Implementing the changes could mean reducing traffic light stops by up to 30% and emissions at busy intersections by up to 10%, according to Google.

Its a nice effort, but heres to hoping that governments will invest in better public transportation and more interconnected rail systems.

6. Mapping eco-friendly travel routes

Ever worry about how your personal travel choices affect your climate footprint? Google is helping even more people consider less energy-intensive routes by expanding fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps to India and Indonesia this year.

Efficient routing already exists in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Google uses AI to find travel routes that will create fewer emissions. For cars, efficient routes will mean ones that that have fewer hills, less traffic, and constant speeds, but with a similar ETA to other options. Some users looking for flights will also see rail options, if theyre applicable to the location and destination. Since launching in October 2021, its estimated to have helped prevent more than 2.4 million metric tons of CO2e emissions  the equivalent of taking approximately 500,000 fuel-based cars off the road for a year, Google claims.

7. Enabling energy-efficient home improvements

This update is lower on the list, because making home improvements isnt within many budgets amid the cost of living crisis. But for those who can, Google is giving you more information to make eco-friendly home choices.

Google search will outline details on energy efficiency and financial incentives from the government. If youre in the U.S., the data will come from the Environmental Protection Agencys ENERGY STAR. If youre searching for home options in the EU, your energy efficiency data will be drawn from the International Energy Agency. Looking for a boiler or a furnace? Google will tell you about alternatives like heat pumps and the tax credits available for installing one. If you search for air conditioners, Google will provide more details about sustainable AC options.

8. Lowering the climate impact of long-distance travel

Have family and friends around the globe, or are you just an avid traveler? You probably already know that international travel is big carbon emitter. You can choose not to fly, sure, but real effective change has to come from policymakers and those responsible for aviation infrastructure.

Google announced that it is expanding cleaner aviation efforts with a new partnership with EUROCONTROL, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation. This collaboration aims to use AI and aviation data to generate flight routes that create fewer contrails, the white streaks airplanes leave in the sky that can contribute to global warming. This comes after an earlier partnership with the Bill Gates climate investment fund, Breakthrough Energy, and American Airlines, to plan sustainable flight routes, the Verge reported. Initial trials reduced contrails by more than 50%, according to Google.

Its worth pointing out that aviation only accounts for about 2% of global emissions, according to data from the International Energy Agency. That does not mean that we shouldnt tackle emissions and climate issues from all angles, but this collaboration doesnt have the widest user case.



9. Cool roofs for extreme heat

Image: Google

Finally, we have the expansion of Googles Cool Roofs tool. Cool roofs, as theyre known, are great for reflecting light and mitigating heat in urban areas.



Like Googles tree-mapping tool, Cool Roofs uses AI and aerial photos to provide better insights about reflective rooftops. This tool can be used by city planners and officials to identify areas where reflective white roofs could be more useful. The tool is available in four cities and will expand to several others in the coming weeks, including New York and Nashville.

Want more climate and environment stories? Check out Earthers guides to decarbonizing your home, divesting from fossil fuels, packing a disaster go bag, and overcoming climate dread. And dont miss our coverage of the latest IEA report on clean energy, the future of carbon dioxide removal, and the invasive plants you should rip to shreds.

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Its known as taking a walk.

Its when lawmakers leave the chamber to avoid taking a stance on an issue. Earlier this week, 12 representatives in the state house took a walk instead of voting on an Israel support resolution. Three of the representatives are from the Charlotte area, John Autry, Nasif Majeed and Diamond Staton-Williams.

The vote passed 104-0. It was a rare unanimous vote from the House.

1200 people have died in Israel since the Hamas terrorist attack on Saturday.

COVERING THE CAROLINAS: Exhausted all avenues: South Carolina couple stuck in Israel amid violence

The resolution called out the terrorist attack and said, in part, the United States Congress is urged to offer full and unequivocal support of Israel financially and otherwise for as long as it takes for Israel to bring justice in light of the unprovoked attacks on innocent Israeli civilians.

>>>> Click here to read the full resolution

House Speaker Tim Moore of Cleveland County says he is disappointed any lawmaker would choose not to vote.

Neutrality in the face of evil is unacceptable, Speaker Moore said. This was an opportunity for all of us on both sides of the aisle from every part of the state, to speak collectively, for the roughly 11 million people in this state denouncing this violence in the Middle East in standing in support of Israel.

Representative Diamond Staton-Williams of Cabarrus County says her district has families with loved ones on both sides of this conflict. She said she chose not to vote on the resolution because she didnt want to endorse more violence.

I absolutely condemn the cruelty displayed by Hamas, Rep. Staton-Williams said in a statement. After leaning into my faith and remaining in prayer, a decision to endorse more violence was something I was not led to do. I will continue to pray for peace as both countries work toward resolution.

Representative Nasif Majeed of Mecklenburg County says he did not support the language in the resolution offering unequivocal support for Israel.

Exhausted all avenues: South Carolina couple stuck in Israel amid violence

I didnt write it and I would have wrote it differently because theres carnage going on both sides, he said. I want peace.

Representative John Autry did not return an email seeking comment.

Speaker Moore says the attack on Israel puts other issues and debates into perspective.

These are the times when folks reflect and we think about the things that divide us as Americans. When something like this happens, it reminds us that weve got a lot more in common than we dont.

Representatives who chose not to vote on the Israel support resolution:

John Autry

Amber Baker

Gloristine Brown

Kanika Brown

Maria Cervania

Terence Everitt

Pricey Harrison

Nasif Majeed

Marcia Morey

Renee Price

Diamond Staton-Williams

Julie von Haefen

VIDEO: Woman returns to Charlotte after escaping war-torn Israel




Much like the ground has shifted on abortion policy since the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer, so too have the positions and rhetoric of two key Republican candidates in Kentucky this year when it comes to exceptions for the state's near-total ban on abortion.

Republican Attorney General and gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron and GOP attorney general nominee Russell Coleman were both endorsed by major anti-abortion groups, appearing to tell Kentucky Right to Life in its questionnaire there should continue to be no exceptions for rape and incest in Kentucky's abortion bans.

Despite his repeated public statements that he supports Kentucky's abortion bans as written and defending them in court, Cameron was the first of the two to veer off course in a Sept. 18 radio interview, saying there was "no question" he would sign a bill to add rape and incest exceptions.

Cameron's comment came weeks after the campaign of Gov. Andy Beshear , his Democratic opponent, began airing ads hitting him for opposing rape and incest exceptions. Two days after Cameron's apparent reversal on the issue, Beshear went on the offensive again, running an ad featuring a woman who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather as a child, saying directly to Cameron: "To tell a 12-year-old girl she must have the baby of her stepfather who raped her is unthinkable."

A week later, audio of Cameron at a campaign event surfaced where he said he would only sign such a bill if the courts forced the state to do so, though he told Bill Bryant of WKYT-TV in an interview last week that he would sign a rape and incest exception bill into law even if the court system was not a factor.

Also last week Coleman  who also gave "100% ProLife Responses" to the Kentucky Right to Life questionnaire and has expressed public support for the state's abortion bans  turned heads with his comments on the issue, telling Spectrum News he supports adding a rape and incest exception and asking the Kentucky General Assembly to "take a hard look at that issue."

Without such exceptions in place, Coleman said, "We would re-traumatize these women by forcing them to have a child that was conceived out of rape or out of incest."

Asked how that answer was consistent with one he gave to Kentucky Right to Life on its questionnaire, Coleman said in an emailed statement that he "had never stated nor been specifically asked whether the General Assembly should amend our pro-life laws."

"After listening to prosecutors, crime victims and my family, I made a statement that I believe the law should be amended to include exceptions for rape and incest in addition to the existing exception for life and health of the mother," Coleman said, adding that is "a mainstream position consistent with my faith that I believe most Kentuckians share, including so many who consider themselves pro-life."

This position is a clear break from the one advocated by anti-abortion groups that endorsed Coleman. That includes Kentucky Right to Life, which  after stating that abortion "only compounds the initial violence of the rape" and is an irrational killing of an innocent child  asked in its candidate questionnaire: "Do you believe that a child conceived as a result of sexual assault should be protected by the same laws protecting the lives of children conceived naturally?"

Coleman and Kentucky Right to Life have declined to share if he answered yes or no to that question, though group Executive Director Addia Wuchner has indicated the group only gives such an endorsement if a candidate answers all questions correctly.

Coleman has also broken with Cameron on a different abortion-related issue, telling The Courier Journal this week he would not have signed the same letter the Kentucky attorney general joined this summer with 19 other GOP state attorneys general, which opposed a proposed federal privacy rule to block state officials from obtaining information on residents' reproductive health care services obtained outside the state.

The Biden administration rule change was advanced in part due to concerns about "instituted or threatened" investigations of patient information from states where abortion remains legal. But the GOP letter said the HIPAA amendment would unlawfully interfere with states authority to enforce their laws and was an administration attempt to "wrest control over abortion back from the people in defiance of the Constitution and" the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade.

Coleman stated in an email to The Courier Journal he would not have joined the letter, adding: "I've been clear about my priorities as Attorney General: I will put violent criminals and drug traffickers behind bars where they belong and protect Kentucky families from the reckless Biden administration."

Abortion opponents stand by current ban and GOP candidates

Several national and state opponents of abortion have stepped forward during the debate over the past month to express their full support of Kentucky law having no exceptions for rape and incest  though none have specifically taken Cameron or Coleman to task over their most recent positions.

Asked if the recent statements of Cameron and Coleman on this issue are consistent the questionnaire answers they gave to win the group's endorsements, Wuchner of Kentucky Right to Life reiterated the group's opposition to rape and incest exceptions  saving her only criticism for Beshear over his campaign's ads highlighting the issue.

"The humanity of the child is not lessened by the circumstances of their conception," Wuchner said in an email. "The child becomes the second victim of a sexual assault that results in a new life being created."

Wuchner said her organization stands by its endorsed candidates, who "share our values and will protect the sanctity of life in our Commonwealth," countering that Beshear's ads are "using this extremely personal and traumatic situation to commercialize the issue into political volley. "

"We find this political commercialization insulting to women and victims of such seriously grave offenses," Wuchner said. She added the state needs leaders who "examine the impunities that contribute to the continued perpetuation of sexual violence in our communities and in our culture."

Another national anti-abortion group opposed to rape and incest exceptions that endorsed both candidates is Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Sue Swayze Leibel, the group's director of policy affairs, was at a conference of social conservatives in Kentucky on Saturday, where the Lexington Herald Leader reported she slammed candidates who change their positions on abortion for political expediency.

Unfortunately, were seeing some reshuffling of the deck, Leibel said, seated next to Wuchner and state Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, a strong abortion opponent. And were seeing some elected leaders who were staunchly pro-life before, reading the polls, or what they think the polls say, and some are watering down their views for political reasons.

Asked by The Courier Journal if SBA Pro-Life America is concerned about their endorsed candidates Cameron and Coleman shifting stances on rape and incest exceptions, state public affairs director Kelsey Pritchard only replied in an email that Leibel was taken "out of context," as she "was not referring to Mr. Cameron, but was speaking about what we have seen nationally."

Following Cameron's public reversal last month, Family Foundation of Kentucky Executive Director David Walls told WLEX18 the group remains supportive of the current ban as written, as "pre-born children should not be made into second victims and these tragic situations" and "should not have his or her human dignity attacked because of an evil act."

'The baby as a blessing'

Several other GOP members of the state House have stepped up on social media to defend Kentucky's lack of rape and incest exceptions, though none have directly criticized Cameron or Coleman.

Responding to a video of Walls' comments, state Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: "Either you believe that pre-born human life is made in Gods image, or you dont. Thank you for not departing from this fundamental truth."

Asked this week if she is concerned about Cameron and Coleman changing their positions on this issue, Maddox responded only that expansion of abortion ban exceptions beyond the life of the mother nullifies the premise that all innocent life, including the unborn, is worth protecting.

State Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, issued numerous posts on X the evening that Coleman's support of rape and incest exceptions was made public, also standing up for the law as written.

"Killing your baby is traumatic," Callaway wrote. "To say you don't want to re-traumatize a woman who has been r4ped so it's okay to have an ab0rtion is nonsense. How about we help her see the baby as a blessing. Many victimized women testify they are just that. Ending life shouldn't be an option."

Killing your baby is traumatic. To say you don't want to re-traumatize a woman who has been r4ped so it's okay to have an ab0rtion is nonsense. How about we help her see the baby as a blessing. Many victimized women testify they are just that. Ending life shouldn't be an option.  KY State Rep. Emily Callaway (@Miz_EmC) October 5, 2023

Callaway noted in another post that she was referring directly to Coleman's remarks, but was still supporting him in his race against Democratic candidate Pamela Stevenson, a state representative from Louisville.

"I support Russell," wrote Callaway, who sponsored a bill this year to allow women who have an illegal abortion to be prosecuted for criminal homicide. "I heard a quote and commented. I didn't mention him at all, but I'm sure he can take the pushback. He's going to make a great AG."

Fred Summe, the president of Northern Kentucky Right to Life, told The Courier Journal neither attorney general candidate answered its questionnaire, so neither would receive an endorsement  though Coleman would receive its "recommendation" based on a letter he sent it saying he'll defend anti-abortion laws in the courts.

Stevenson's campaign did not respond to a request for comment on this story, but she has stated in the past she will "support a women's right to choose and make the health care choices that are best for her and her family" and has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Stevenson has also said she "will not prosecute doctors or patients" and "will not follow in my predecessors footsteps of seeking to violate the privacy each Kentuckian deserves."

Cameron says Beshear is the extremist on abortion policy

Besides slamming Beshear's abortion ads as "disgusting, false attacks"  saying he would sign a bill with rape and incest exceptions if the legislature passes one  Cameron has said that it is actually Beshear who is the out-of-step extremist when it comes to abortion policy in Kentucky.

In his interview with WKYT last week, Cameron said Beshear "believes that there should be no limits on abortion," adding Beshear's office did not defend a 20-week ban on abortion when he was attorney general and that as governor, Beshear vetoed a bill to ban abortion at 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Cameron also said Beshear "refused to sign" a bill in 2021 requiring a baby to receive medical care if it "survives an abortion, is born alive"  which still became law without his signature. Beshear also vetoed a similar bill the previous year, writing that "current law already protects any child born alive."

"That is extreme, and I know the majority of Kentuckians do not agree with a governor that functions more like (California Gov.) Gavin Newsom than a red state governor should," Cameron said.

Beshear has consistently said that he supports the right to an abortion up until the moment of viability for the fetus, saying the overturned Roe v. Wade decision "got it basically right" and he supports "the reasonable restrictions that it set forth." Besides criticizing the current ban for having no rape and incest exceptions, he has criticized it for not including exceptions for women with nonviable pregnancies whose child has no chance of survival.

A spokesman for Beshear's campaign did not respond to an emailed question asking which week of pregnancy should be the limit under Kentucky law for a woman to have an abortion.

While Republicans in Kentucky are usually on offense when it comes to the issue of abortion during election season in the socially conservative red state, this year has seen a clear flipping of the script, with Beshear taking the issue to Cameron in aggressive ads over the past month.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022 and Kentucky's trigger bans on abortion went into effect, voters then went to the polls and rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to declare there is no right to an abortion in Kentucky  with opponents' campaign ads heavily emphasizing it did not include any exceptions for rape and incest.

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Abortion laws in Kentucky: Are Cameron, Coleman shifting on exceptions?
Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) said he is in Israel doing Biden s job as he helps Americans escape the country that has been deluged by fighting in recent days.

The Biden administration  again, weakness invites aggression, and Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, theyre preying upon this weakness in the White House, this weakness in this administration, their priorities on wokeness as opposed to freedoms and safeties of Americans, Mills said on The Ingraham Angle, Laura Ingrahams Fox News show. And I can tell you right now, as an elected official, Im not going to stand for it. And if I had to come over here and do Bidens job, so be it.

Mills said he and his team are conducting ground evacuations to aid Americans in getting back to the United States, adding that many Americans have not heard back from the State Department about getting out of Israel. He said theres a high possibility that there are large swaths of Americans spread across the country.

Many of which are scared, or in some cases, the elderly dont have the ability or the mobility to actually be able to move to those airports. And so were looking at ways to be able to continue to go in there, pick them up and run the routes and get them to safety. But unfortunately, once again, the State Department is playing everything on a hope and a prayer and no real strategy, Mills said.

Millss office said he helped 32 Americans evacuate Israel on Wednesday, and he is hoping to make another trip Thursday.

Mills, an Army veteran who also worked as a defense contractor, previously assisted with the withdrawal of refugees from Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. He is working with the same team that assisted with those evacuations, his office said.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday that the United States is exploring its options for evacuating Americans from Israel but did not expand on what those alternative solutions may be.

The State Department confirmed Wednesday that at least 22 American citizens have died as a result of the ongoing violence in Israel and is urging Americans to reconsider travel to the country. The White House also said that it has determined that 17 Americans are unaccounted for in Israel, but its unclear how many of those may be held hostage by Hamas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
 Flash

U.S. President Joe Biden (R) meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Dec. 21, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

As the world's attention shifted to Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on Wednesday to ask Western countries to continue their aid to Ukraine.

"We spoke about priorities for Ukraine, for defending how to survive during this next winter," Zelensky told reporters before attending a meeting with NATO defense ministers.

"We need some support from the leaders. That is why I am here today," he said, with the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Zelensky named air defense systems as one of his priorities. "It is not just basic words. We need concrete things and we need them in very concrete geographic points on our land," he added.

The NATO-Ukraine meeting secured more support for the country to face the winter conflicts. Stoltenberg said the alliance would provide more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment "to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter."

The new pledge was made when the clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) were drawing the world's attention. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

On Thursday, NATO defense ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant set to join via videoconference.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) said Thursday that now is not the time to attack the Biden administration in the wake of Israels ongoing conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

I want to speak to my Republican and Democrat colleagues here in Washington, D.C.  this is not a time to attack the Biden administration, Orden said in an interview with Fox News. You know how adamantly I disagree with what theyre doing, but as Republicans and Democrats, as legislators here in the Untied States of America, nows not the time to attack the Biden administration; nows the time to stand with the United States of America.

That means the executive branch and the military to make sure that Israel understands that they have our unwavering support, he continued. So Im calling on my Republican colleagues, our Democrat colleagues, lets get together.

In the wake of the attack from Hamas, which has the support of Iran, a growing chorus of Republicans have called on President Biden to freeze the $6 billion transfer previously approved in the U.S.s prisoner swap with Tehran last month. In the deal, the Biden administration granted clemency to five Iranians and issued a blanket waiver for international banks to allow the transfer of $6 billion of Iranian oil sale proceeds, frozen in South Korea, to a bank in Qatar.

While U.S. officials have said the money is only for humanitarian use, some lawmakers argued the funds may have freed up resources for Irans military spending and support of Hamas.

A handful of Democrats including Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) have joined the Republican calls to immediately freeze the $6 billion transfer.

It is still not completely known exactly what role Iran may have played in Hamass attacks, though Tehran has signaled it is increasingly willing to damage U.S. allies.

U.S. deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said Monday that Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attacks, pointing to the countrys efforts to train and provide the group with arms.

A spokesman for Hamas told the BBC that the group received support from Iran and other benefactors for its attacks on Israel.

The Biden administrations response to the attacks has also came under fire from some lawmakers, including Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), who said he is in Israel doing Bidens job helping Americans get home.

Mills said the Biden administrations weakness invites the aggression and Iran, China, Russia and North Korea and claimed the administration prioritizes wokeness instead of the freedom and safety of U.S. citizens.

At least 22 Americans are among the more than 2,500 individuals killed so far in the conflict, and U.S. officials have confirmed Americans are also among those taken hostage by Hamas.

In the hours that followed Hamass initial surprise attack, Biden vowed the U.S.s rock solid and unwavering support for Israel.

Since then, he has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on multiple occasions and said Tuesday he met with his national security team each day since the attacks began Saturday.

Biden on Tuesday condemned the abhorrent terrorist attacks by Hamas, while backing Israels right to respond with force.

A U.S. carrier strike group was moved closer to Israel Tuesday to deter any actor looking to escalate or widen the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the White House said.

The strike group includes the U.S. Navys most advanced aircraft carrier, along with multiple missile cruisers and missile destroyers. The Pentagon is also taking steps to bolster the U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft squadrons in the region, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The owners of a missing cat in California thought their feline friend was long gone until they were surprised to learn he was alive earlier this month.

Angelo and Shelley Castellino told Los Angeles KABC-TV that their tabby cat, Butters, went missing over 12 years ago after the very adventurous feline learned how to use the dog door.

The family, who adopted him when they lived in San Diego, said one day, Butters never returned to their home.

We went looking for him, and our assumption was the coyotes got him because theres a canyon nearby, and we didnt much think about it after that except that we were sad he was gone, said Angelo Castellino, who also told the station that he thought the family cat was dead and someones meal.

But their cat had been alive for over a decade and was spotted on Oct. 1 when Dalton Churchwell, an animal control officer in Riverside County, saw the tabby lurking in his backyard in Blythe, California.

Churchwell caught the cat and  after a scan for a microchip  found that he went missing from his San Diego familys home in 2011, according to a press release from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. San Diego is over 200 miles away from Blythe, according to Google Maps.

The Castellinos, who now live with their cat Barnacles in Stanwood, Washington, told KABC-TV they couldnt believe the call they got with an update on Butters.

At first, we didnt pick it up because we thought it was one of these scam calls, but when they called back again, my wife picked up. He told her they had Butters, said Angelo Castellino, who got the call on the couples 29th wedding anniversary.

I thought it was a prank call because the cat was gone for 12 years, but how did he know our cats name?

Butters returned to the Castellinos when Larry Rudolph, who has volunteered for 10 years at the countys animal services department, met with the pair in Seattle after the Animal Solutions Konnection (ASK) Foundation non-profit paid for the flight out on Saturday.

Carolyn Badger, president of the ASK Foundation, said that the non-profit is thrilled to work with the department in making the reunion possible.

It was such a wonderful story, and we are very happy to know that Butters is home and safe with his family, Badger said in a press release.

Shelley told KABC-TV that the familys prodigal kitty has come home.

Shelley added, I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your kitty cats and your doggies chipped.

Related...
Kentuckys gubernatorial candidates say theyre hopeful Ford and the United Auto Workers union can reach a quick agreement to end a strike after nearly 9,000 workers at Fords Kentucky Truck Plant walked off the job Wednesday.

Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said he hopes the union and Ford can reach a quick agreement, one that benefits both parties.

The UAW represents thousands of our hard-working families and Ford is an important employer in Kentucky. We need both a strong UAW and Ford, Beshear said in a tweet.

Rivaling governor candidate Daniel Cameron (R) blamed the strike on Bidenomics and also hoped for a quick resolution.

Bidenomics is responsible for driving up costs, which drives down household income in Kentucky, Cameron, the states attorney general, said in a tweet. Instead of ending Bidenomics, Andy Beshear pledged his support for four more years of it yesterday.

Morgan McGarvey, the Democratic congressman representing Kentuckys 3rd Congressional district, said he stands with the workers on strike.

Local 862 is responsible for 54% of Fords North American profits, & their workers deserve a fair contract, good benefits & wages, & safe working conditions, McGarvey said in a tweet. Louisville is a union town & its going to stay that way.

The UAW represents thousands of our hard-working families and Ford is an important employer in Kentucky. We need both a strong UAW and Ford. My hope is that they can reach an agreement quickly  one that works for both sides and moves everyone forward.  Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) October 12, 2023

Not even the members of the United Auto Workers can withstand the effects of Bidenomics.



I hope the UAW and Ford can reach a swift resolution.



Bidenomics is responsible for driving up costs, which drives down household income in Kentucky.



Instead of ending Bidenomics, Andy  Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronAG) October 12, 2023

I stand with our @UAW brothers & sisters on strike.



Local 862 is responsible for 54% of Fords North American profits, & their workers deserve a fair contract, good benefits & wages, & safe working conditions.



Louisville is a union town & its going to stay that way.  Morgan McGarvey (@MorganMcGarvey) October 11, 2023

Kentuckys House Democratic Caucus released a statement Thursday afternoon saying it was proud to support the striking workers.

These men and women sacrificed a lot to make Fords  and the overall auto industrys  current success possible, and they deserve not just their fair share of that growth now, but assurances that they will continue to have a strong voice as the industry moves more toward alternative-fuel vehicles, the caucus said in a statement.

Why Kentucky Ford workers are on strike

Auto workers across the United States have been striking against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis since Sept. 15 over pay and profit-sharing.

Thousands of workers who were scheduled to start their shifts at 6 p.m. Wednesday shut down the truck plant in Louisville after union officials informed them it was time to walk out over what they called a lack of progress.

The UAW posted multiple videos on X, formerly known as Twitter, of many workers walking out of the plant and protesting with signs.

Local 862 is shutting it down at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant! Workers have now walked off the job and are joining the Stand Up Strike!#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/NVqlbunZMH  UAW (@UAW) October 11, 2023

"Who are we? U-A-W!"#UAW Local 862 members (Kentucky Truck Plant) are holding the line for economic justice.#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/YuiyGkE6lq  UAW (@UAW) October 12, 2023

UAW President Shawn Fain said in a video posted on X that the unions bargaining committee went to Ford Headquarters in Michigan Wednesday in hopes of striking a new deal. Ford presented the committee with the same deal it offered two weeks ago, which prompted the union to expand its strike.

In our position theyre not taking us serious, Fain said in the video. Weve been very patient working with the company on this. At the end of the day, they have not met expectations, theyre not even coming to the table on it.

The Stand Up Strike just hit Ford's biggest plant. Here's how it went down, and why 8,700 members at Kentucky Truck Plant took action.#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/mzO0AZGMKS  UAW (@UAW) October 12, 2023

Were not gonna wait around forever.



If Ford cant get that after four weeks on strike, these 8,700 workers shutting down their biggest plant will help them understand it.#StandUpUAW https://t.co/NHrd8DRcMM  Shawn Fain (@ShawnFainUAW) October 12, 2023

Ford: Serious consequences come with strike

Ford issued a statement after the truck plant joined the strike, calling the decision grossly irresponsible but unsurprising. It said it made an outstanding offer to the bargaining committee and has been bargaining in good faith.

The UAW leaderships decision to reject this record contract offer  which the UAW has publicly described as the best offer on the table  and strike Kentucky Truck Plant, carries serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers, Ford said in the statement.

The truck plant in Louisville generates $25 billion in revenue yearly and builds the Ford F-Series Super Duty, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, according to Ford. The company said the decision to strike will trigger painful aftershocks by putting additional plants at risk.

This decision by the UAW is all the more wrongheaded given that Ford is the only automaker to add UAW jobs since the Great Recession and assemble all of its full-size trucks in America, Ford said in the statement.

The UAW said Fain will speak on a Facebook live Friday at 10 a.m. to give updates on the bargaining and potential next steps on the strike if necessary.

If the company is not going to come to the table and take care of the memberships needs, then we will react, Fain said in the video. The bargaining committee and vice presidents and the membership are staying united and thats how were going to get this done.

Representatives from Ford and the local UAW chapter did not immediately respond to requests for more information.
Angel Decarlo, right, is shown with her mother, Emily Grant Decarlo, in this family photo. Angel Decarlo was killed in a 2018 officer-involved shooting in Hopewell. Earlier this week, a Hopewell grand jury declined to indict the officer after an almost five-year investigation.

HOPEWELL  No charges will be filed in the 2018 shooting death of a Hopewell woman by a city police officer, the special prosecutor in the case announced late Thursday.

The decision brings to an end an almost five-year investigation into the Dec. 18, 2018, death of Angel Decarlo, an investigation fueled by assorted stops and starts, and direction from a judge to bring resolution to the probe.

In a statement released by her office, Portsmouth commonwealth's attorney Stephanie Morales said the details of the investigation were presented to a Hopewell grand jury on Oct. 10, but that jury declined to indict the officer.

"The Portsmouth Commonwealths Attorneys Offices in its duties as special prosecutor obtained and reviewed all investigative case file materials, expert analysis, legal authority and all available relevant and material information regarding the fatal officer-involved shooting of Ms. Angel DeCarlo," Morales said in the statement. "This offices review and legal analysis led to the determination that a Hopewell grand jury was needed to determine the future of the matter. On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, the results of the Virginias State Polices investigation were presented before a Hopewell grand jury, which did not result in an indictment."

Morales said her office's victim-assistance resources will "remain available to Ms. Decarlo's family."

Angel Decarlo was 31 years old when she was shot and killed on Elm Street in Hopewell. Police were investigating an armed robbery at a nearby convenience store on Winston Churchill Drive. In the midst of canvassing the area, officers said they saw Decarlo running along Westover Street, a connector road between Winston Churchill and Elm, and claimed she matched the description of the robbery suspect.

When they ordered her to stop, the officers said she turned toward them and appeared to be aiming what they thought was a gun at them. One of the officers fired, striking Decarlo once in the chest. She died at the scene.

At the request of Hopewell Police, the Virginia State Police investigated the shooting. The officer involved was put on administrative leave until the investigation was finished.

State police turned their findings over to Hopewell commonwealth's attorney Rick Newman, who subsquently recused himself and asked for a special prosecutor. That was when Morales got the case.

Since that time, Morales had maintained that the investigation was continuing, but various circumstances kept delaying her from reaching her decision. Last July, Decarlo's family asked a Hopewell Circuit Court judge to order Morales to provide evidence that she was nearing the end of her investigation. That judge gave Morales two months to give the family some kind of update on the case.

This is a developing story.

More: Her daughter was killed by the police. Three years later, the investigation is still ongoing

More: State Police will probe shooting death of gun-wielding man by Hopewell Police Wednesday

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell jury declines indictment in 2018 Decarlo shooting
Less than a week after publicly naming the suspect, Beaufort police have arrested 22-year-old Grays Hill resident Trevaughn Eugene Hipp in connection with a deadly June shooting outside a Boundary Street hotel party.

Hipp was charged Thursday morning with murder, discharging firearms into a vehicle and unlawful weapons possession, Beaufort County jail records show. Police announced Oct. 6 that Hipp was wanted for the murder of Jaquavious Washington, warning the public that the suspected shooter was considered armed and dangerous.

The shooting took place on June 10, during a party inside a ground-floor banquet room of Quality Inn, located on Boundary Street. A dispute broke out among the crowd, according to Beaufort police, as the suspected gunman threatened multiple times to shoot Washington.

Trying to leave, Washington began driving away from the hotel around 11 p.m., striking a pedestrian near Starbucks on his way out. The pedestrian was unharmed. Police believe Hipp fired several shots at Washingtons moving car, which swerved and became stuck on a nearby curb.

Washington was gunned down as he tried to run from the stranded car. He was pronounced dead of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene. Police say Hipp fled on foot.

A spokesperson from the Beaufort Police Department did not immediately respond to questions Thursday morning.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) took aim at Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) for her criticism of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), calling it a disgusting attack.

Mace on Wednesday said she couldnt vote for Scalise as the next House Speaker because he attended a white supremacist conference and compared himself to David Duke.

Greene, like Mace, said she was supporting House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) after he was ousted last week from the role. However, she claimed the South Carolina Republicans comments about Scalise  who won the nomination for the top GOP spot  were unfair.

Im supporting Jim Jordan for Speaker. Im not supporting Scalise, Greene reiterated in a lengthy thread on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. I like Steve Scalise, and as I said, I want him to beat cancer, and he should be focused on that.

What I do think is an unfair and quite frankly disgusting attack is members of our conference using  Democratic talking points, she continued, adding that they are using the same lines of attack that Democrats use against every single Republican, every single election, every single day, in these halls of Congress to attack Steve.

Top Stories from The Hill

Sharing a video clip of Mace, Greene said Scalise isnt a White Supremacist. We all know that. Hes a good man.

Mace was referring to reports that Scalise had compared himself to the Ku Klux Klan grand wizard at an event years ago, reportedly calling himself David Duke without the baggage.

In her post, Greene argued that Mace was suggesting that half the conference supports a white supremacist, which could give Democrats ammunition against half our conference.

I want a speaker we can all unite behind and one that reflects what our Republican voters want. They want an agenda like President Trumps, she wrote. I want a party thats not always splintered into five factions. I want a party thats a single fist so we can knock out the Democrats and save this country.

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House Republicans appear to still be divided on whom to advance as the next Speaker after eight of them joined forces with all of the Democrats last week in a historic vote to take the gavel away from McCarthy.

The House GOP conference narrowly voted Wednesday to nominate Scalise as Speaker with a slim 113-99 majority, but more than a dozen House Republicans have said that they will back someone other than Scalise on the House floor instead.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Thunberg joined the activists to block the entrance to the headquarters of state-owned energy group Statkraft (Emilie Holtet)

Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg on Thursday joined indigenous Sami activists protesting in Oslo against wind turbines still operating on reindeer herding land two years after a court ruled them illegal.

On October 11, 2021, Norway's Supreme Court found that two wind farms in the Fosen region of western Norway -- on land used by Sami reindeer herders -- violated the rights of the indigenous people, guaranteed by the UN, to practise their culture of reindeer husbandry.

Two years later, the 151 turbines are still operating.

To mark the anniversary on Wednesday, dozens of environment activists and Samis began a series of protests in the Norwegian capital expected to last several days, demanding the demolition of the turbines.

On Thursday, Thunberg joined the activists to block the entrance to the headquarters of state-owned energy group Statkraft, which operates 80 of the 151 turbines in Fosen.

"It's important to show solidarity when human rights violations are taking place especially in Scandinavia against the Sami people," Thunberg told AFP on Wednesday.

She was speaking just after a court in the southern Swedish town of Malmo had fined her for public disobedience at a July 24th protest in Malmo.

"All of us who can be there and show our support should," she said.

On Thursday, she sat on the ground next to activists clad in traditional Sami clothing at the foot of a lavvu, a Sami tent erected outside the Statkraft entrance.

Thunberg had already taken part in a demonstration in February to mark the 500th day since the Supreme Court ruling.

"Greta Thunberg is an important ally supporting our cause," Sami activist and artist Ella Marie Haetta Isaksen said.

- Demolition 'excluded' -

While the Supreme Court found that the expropriation and operating permits for the construction of the turbines were invalid, it gave no guidance on what should be done with the turbines, which were already in operation.

Norway's government has apologised to Sami reindeer herding families and recognised that their human rights have been violated.

It has launched a mediation process to try to find a solution enabling both the herders and wind farms to continue their activities.

Petroleum and Energy Minister Terje Aasland said Wednesday "the destruction of all wind turbines was excluded" and "not a likely outcome of either a decision-making process or a mediation process."

The outcome could set a precedent for other infrastructure projects on the vast lands traditionally used by the Sami across Norway.

An indigenous minority of around 100,000 people spread over the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, the Sami have traditionally lived off reindeer herding and fishing.

phy/po/jj
Police are looking for an early Grinch accused of stealing Halloween decorations from homes, California officials reported.

A porch pirate has been making off with skeletons, ghosts and other spooky decorations  along with packages  from outside homes in Pittsburg, police said in an Oct. 11 news release.

We havent even made it to Halloween, and this guy (is) already acting like the Grinch who stole police said.

The police department posted several security photos on Facebook of a man approaching porches at night and stealing at least one decorative skeleton.

Our graveyard crews need your help in identifying him, police said.

Anyone with information or security photos or video can call 925-646-2441.

Pittsburg is a town in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta about 40 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Body parts stolen from crypt after disturbing grave robbery, Colorado cops say

He insists he is not a Jack-o-lantern. Meet Lewis the viral Halloween decoration
When President George W. Bush formulated the concept of an American Devils Island in Cuba, he did so heedless of the damage to the Constitution his experiment in torture and confinement without end would bring about. Bush made the case that torture and confinement at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay would allow the government to do its job.

He boasted that the Constitution shouldnt restrain him, federal laws wouldnt apply, and federal judges couldnt interfere.

He was, of course, wrong on all counts. The Supreme Court ruled on six Gitmo cases; and the government lost five. In the case in which the government prevailed, the court ruled that the detainee filed his complaint in the wrong city.

The five cases that the government lost established that federal courts do have jurisdiction over the place where the government goes for more than just a fleeting moment. The court knew that British kings would often have prisoners whom they wished to torture or detain without trial brought to foreign colonies for those purposes. The Framers of the Constitution abhorred that practice and wrote the Constitution so it wouldnt happen here.

As a result of the five Supreme Court rulings, the basic rights that all persons have who are confined anywhere by the government must be recognized and honored at Gitmo. This is so because the detainees are persons and their rights are natural to humanity. It is also because those rights are spelled out in the Constitution, without distinction between good persons or bad persons, Americans or foreigners, persons in the U.S. or outside of it.

Stated differently, all human beings confined by the government have the right to due process, no matter where they are confined. This means they must be given notice of the charges against them, they have a right to remain silent, to the services of a lawyer, to confront the evidence against them, to call witnesses in their own behalf and to challenge the governments evidence.

They have the right to a speedy trial with a professional judge and a neutral jury. And they have the right to appeal.

I offer this brief background in order to address the legal and constitutional debacle that Gitmo has become. In 21 years, at $100 million a year, only two trials have led to convictions by juries and seven have led to guilty pleas. Of those nine convictions (a guilty plea is a conviction), four have been overturned on appeal and two appeals are pending. Thirty detainees remain at Gitmo, 16 of whom have been cleared for release.

The principal remaining defendant is the alleged 9/11 mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. Initially, the government claimed that Osama bin Laden was the 9/11 mastermind. But after it decided to kill bin Laden without any charges or due process, the government changed its mind and decided that KSM  as the government calls him  was the mastermind.

This photo obtained March 1, 2003, shows Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged organizer of the September 11, 2001, attacks, shortly after his capture. A proposal to allow alleged perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks to plead guilty and avoid the death penalty poses a powerful dilemma for victims' families, some of whom still want to seek the ultimate retribution after two decades of legal limbo. The proposal detailed by prosecutors in a letter this month could offer families of the nearly 3,000 victims the best path to a resolution of a case bogged down in pre-trial maneuverings in the Guantanamo military commissions for years -- and with no end in sight.

KSM was tortured at a CIA black site in Poland for three years. Thereafter, he was brought to Gitmo and interrogated without torture by FBI agents. They failed to give him his Miranda warnings about his right to remain silent, the consequences of waiving that right and the right to a loyal attorney at no cost to him. Nevertheless, KSM asked for a lawyer and the agents simply ignored him.

During the interrogation, KSM made some admissions about the 9/11 plot, but he did so fearful that he would soon be tortured again. This meant nothing to the FBI agents or the prosecutors in the case. But it is quite meaningful to federal judges. All evidence obtained under torture, or influenced by realistic fears of torture, or tainted in any way by torture, is inadmissible in any American court. Moreover, no statement from a defendant who has not been Mirandized may be used against him in court without an express written waiver.

More Andrew Napolitano 'Neither liberty nor safety': Why do we sacrifice freedom?

The lead FBI agent who failed to Mirandize KSM and who ignored his request for an attorney is a 33-year veteran of the FBI who testified that he knew the Miranda procedures well and he knew that the failure to abide them could render KSMs statements totally inadmissible. But he thought the warnings did not apply at Gitmo, even though the Supreme Court ruled in 2004 that the Miranda warnings do apply and KSMs FBI interrogation was in 2007.

This is not brain surgery. It is criminal procedure 101.

Meanwhile, Abu Zubaydah, a Gitmo detainee arrested in Pakistan in 2002, is awaiting his release. After a year of CIA torture in Thailand, he was moved to Gitmo in 2003 and has been there since. He has not been charged with any crime or offense, and the government admits it has no evidence of wrongdoing on his part  not just insufficient evidence, but no evidence. However, he is known as the forever prisoner since the government claims he is too dangerous to release.

The concept of a forever prisoner  uncharged, untried and unfree  is unprecedented, unknown and unheard of in the history of American law. Basic due process demands that he be charged and tried speedily or released.

Both KSM and Zubaydah were awaiting rulings from the fourth judge in their cases when that judge announced his retirement. Now a fifth judge will be assigned to both cases. His first job will be to read the files amassed by his four judicial predecessors  all 450,000 pages.

You cant make this up.

The French prime minister Georges Clemenceau once remarked that military justice is to justice as military music is to music. But this is tragedy, not comedy. The defendants are human beings who have the same rights as anyone in America. If rights are lost because of government ineptitude or politics or willful blindness, they are not rights, but government giveaways. And then our rules-based system of rights and laws becomes a humanitarian and a constitutional fiasco.

Andrew P. Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, has published nine books on the U.S. Constitution. To learn more, visit JudgeNap.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Guantanamo Bay prison is a constitutional debacle. We can't tolerate it
After reports of a massive user data hack began circulating online, the consumer DNA sequencing company 23andMe has acknowledged a breach that's seemingly led to its customers' genetic info circulating online.

As Bleeping Computer reported and The Verge later confirmed, an unidentified hacker posted on a data-selling forum that they had access to a million lines of DNA information on the consumer DNA company's users.

Even more darkly, the hackers are specifically offering data on users they say have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry  even teasing, with no evidence and in starkly anti-semitic terms, that some data belongs to notable public figures.

"On offer are DNA profiles of millions, ranging from the world's top business magnates to dynasties often whispered about in conspiracy theories," one of the posts on the data-selling forum reads. "Each set of data also comes with corresponding email addresses."

23andMe acknowledged to both Bleeping Computer and The Verge that although user data had been "compiled," the breach did not occur within 23andMe's system, but rather was the product of "recycled login credentials" that had been "leaked during incidents involving other online platforms."

In its own post about the hack, 23andMe said that it was investigating the hack that involved "customer profile information" being accessed by bad actors through its DNA Relatives feature, but it did not disclose specifically what type of data had been obtained.

The company also did not say how much data was implicated in the hack. As Ars Technica has reported, a post on another crime forum claimed that hackers had obtained "13M pieces of data," though it's likely that that number was inflated to increase the chances of a sale.

Troublingly, this isn't the first time a DNA kit company has suffered a hack.

Back in 2018, hackers gained access to a whopping 92 million accounts on the genealogy and DNA testing company MyHeritage, the company admitted at the time. While the information gained in the so-called "cybersecurity incident" didn't go beyond email addresses and passwords, it still represented a blow to the burgeoning industry that asked consumers not just to pay for their DNA to be sequenced, but to trust companies with their sensitive data, too.

The blow, obviously, wasn't enough to stop tens of millions of people from spitting into test tubes and sending their genetic material to companies like 23andMe. Although there are still many outstanding questions about this latest hack, it seems more and more certain that consumer DNA companies can't be trusted with securely storing their users' data in perpetuity  and that the people who paid them to do so may have made a huge mistake.

More on DNA: DNA Tests Have a Nasty Side Effect
With Israeli-Palestinian conflict or not, IMEEC is just a castle in the air

10:04, October 12, 2023 By Global Times ( Global Times

Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

The outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has cast a shadow over the US' Middle East strategy. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), which received Washington's support at the G20 summit last month, was once touted as a Western competitor to the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). US President Joe Biden called it a "really big deal," while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen boasted of a "green and digital bridge across continents and civilizations." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the IMEEC as the "basis of world trade for hundreds of years to come." However, under the smoke of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this economic corridor now appears to be nothing more than a "castle in the air."

The feasibility of establishing the IMEEC is very low, and the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has made this feasibility even smaller. The IMEEC is more of a political gesture. For the US, the fundamental purpose of building the IMEEC is to leverage the opportunity to win over Arab countries and achieve its own Middle East layout. The US also wants to engage in a great power competition with China and counter the BRI. If the current Israeli-Palestinian situation escalates and further causes a humanitarian crisis, then the US plan will be greatly affected. The current Israeli-Palestinian conflict has made everyone realize that without resolving the Palestinian issue, it is difficult to stabilize the Middle East.

The US is promoting the IMEEC in order to weaken China's influence in the Middle East, but this is just wishful thinking. Arab countries aren't willing to join the US-led confrontation between major powers. Li Weijian, a research fellow with the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times that many countries would not be willing to participate in the IMEEC if it were to lead them back into geopolitical conflicts. Long Xingchun, a professor at the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, believes that in light of the achievements accomplished through the BRI cooperation, which has earned China international recognition and reputation, the US aims to dismantle China's platform by proposing alternative plans instead of genuinely desiring to establish an economic corridor.

In recent years, the US and the EU have proposed several plans to counter the BRI, such as "Build Back Better World" and "Global Gateway." However, it is easy to create new words, but these new words often lack follow-up and quickly fade away after gaining attention from the global media. Whether it is the US, the EU, or India, they all hope to increase their influence through the IMEEC opportunity. However, none of these three parties have sufficient infrastructure construction capabilities. The construction of the IMEEC relies on railways and ports, and India itself has poor infrastructure. The US and the EU also face difficulties in providing financial support for infrastructure projects. Long said that the IMEEC is like a smoke bomb, just a new term being used to attract attention. It's impossible to provide the Middle Eastern countries with an additional choice, added Long.

The IMEEC, like a "castle in the air," can only be used to "make empty promises," Li said. He believes that the Biden administration hopes to gain political resources by promoting this policy, but it doesn't consider whether this plan can be implemented in the long run. Additionally, it is impossible for the US to expect Middle Eastern countries to abandon cooperation with China and lean toward this unrealistic plan.

The motivation behind the IMEEC is questionable, as its ultimate goal is to create geopolitical conflicts and engage in geopolitical games. Many countries are aware of this. The BRI sincerely aims to provide infrastructure development and assistance to developing countries. China advocates for a global community of shared future and promotes cooperation and win-win development. If the US truly wants to promote development, it should not exclude cooperation with China. Whether it is the EU, India, or Middle Eastern countries, their participation in the IMEEC is primarily driven by their own national interests. In such a situation, it is impossible to politically align oneself solely for the sake of the IMEEC.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Hamas's inability to change the dire conditions faced by Gazans living under Israeli blockade may have been a key factor behind its bloody cross-border assault, analysts say (Mahmud HAMS)

In its bloody assault on Israel, Hamas was aiming to break a stalemate in Gaza, analysts say, but with its neighbour now determined to eradicate the Islamist group, it may have made a fatal mistake.

Responsible for governing the coastal enclave since its violent takeover in 2007, Hamas had come under pressure from the Palestinian public for the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, said George Giacaman, a professor at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank.

"The people's anger towards Israel had become anger towards the government and therefore towards Hamas," Giacaman told AFP.

Hamas was created in 1987, amid the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israel's occupation, by a group of militants claiming to be from the Muslim Brotherhood.

By the 1990s, Hamas, Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, had become the spearhead of the armed struggle against Israel, with Yasser Arafat's PLO turning away from violence and towards the peace process.

Hamas developed a vast social welfare network alongside charitable works, most notably schools, which help explain an influence and popularity that has surged at the expense of the Palestinian Authority, considered by many Palestinians to be corrupt and complicit with Israel.

The current head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, lives between Turkey and Qatar, although the group is directed in Gaza by Yahya Sinwar, seen as a hardliner within the movement.

Hamas has a separate armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, which is led by the elusive Mohammed Deif, Israel's public enemy number one and a man they have tried to assassinate on multiple occasions.

Angered that it was blocked from exercising real power after winning a parliamentary election in 2006, Hamas -- considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States -- ousted loyalists of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas from the Gaza Strip in 2007 to take undisputed control of the territory.

Following its takeover, Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, imposed a strict blockade on the territory and its now 2.4 million people, which the United Nations has described as "collective punishment".

- Political instability -

Despite multiple Israeli offensives aimed at ending rocket launches from Gaza, Hamas has retained control of the enclave, most of whose population are the descendants of refugees who were driven from their lands during the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.

In 2018, Hamas and Israel agreed a long-term truce intended to stabilise the Gaza Strip, beset by poverty and unemployment, following mediation by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

Although Hamas engaged in a new round of hostilities with Israel in 2021, it stayed out of May 2023 clashes between Israel and Islamic Jihad, the other main Islamist armed group in Gaza.

That stance had provided ammunition to Hamas's rivals, who accused it of pursuing its own interests in observing a ceasefire with Israel, in exchange for, among other things, an easing of the economic blockade.

However, political instability in Israel -- which has held five elections in three and half years and since late last year has been governed by a coalition including far-right parties wholly opposed to any concessions to the Palestinians -- destabilised that arrangement.

The powerlessness of Hamas when confronted with the deteriorating living conditions in Gaza is one reason why it launched its brutal offensive on October 7, in which more than 1,200 civilians, soldiers and foreigners were killed in Israel and dozens taken hostage, Giacaman said.

"Life in Gaza had become unbearable. Water and electricity are lacking and unemployment is very high. Gaza is a giant prison that depends on Israel for its food and for this the crossing points must remain open," he told AFP.

- 'A large-scale response' -

The timing of the operation, dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood" by Hamas, is also linked to "the escalation of provocations by the Israeli extreme right at the Al-Aqsa Mosque," including the increasing number of Jewish worshippers visiting the mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, said Giacaman.

"Hamas regarded what is happening at Al-Aqsa, a symbol of both religious and national significance for Palestinians that should never be underestimated, as an opportunity to launch its attack," he said.

Israel's reprisals against Gaza have killed more than 1,300 people, the majority of them civilians, according to health officials.

Netanyahu said on Wednesday that "every member of Hamas is a dead man", adding that Israel would "crush and destroy" the movement.

Israel has in the past killed multiple Hamas chiefs -- in March 2004, it assassinated the Islamist group's spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and, just a month later, his successor Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi -- but without significantly weakening it.

"It would be inconceivable for them (Hamas) not to expect a major Israeli response, one that could further destroy Gaza, exact a terrible toll on its long-suffering inhabitants and possibly spell the end of Hamas governance in the enclave," said Brussels-based think tank, the International Crisis Group.

bur-ezz/dcp/kir
The missile siren's eerie wail woke Sabina Elayev early Saturday morning in Sderot, a small Israeli town about a mile from Gaza. She thought the sound was a dream. Instead, it was the beginning of a nightmare that would force her to shelter for nearly two days as gunmen opened fire on her neighbors outside.

"Whole families were disappeared, and during this whole time, you just sit in the shelter waiting for someone to tell you its over, and its not over," Elayev, 31, told Fox News. "Every gunshot  its a person killed, murdered, butchered."

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Sderot was one of the first cities targeted by Hamas terrorists as they launched their attack on Israel. Men rolled into the city in pickup trucks, at least one of which carried a mounted machine gun, The New York Times reported. They shot residents in their cars, on motorcycles and at a bus stop. At least 20 civilians were killed, according to the Times.

Elayev, who was born and raised in Sderot, was confused when she heard the sirens. Although the town of about 30,000 is frequently targeted by rockets, she hadn't heard the warning sound recently. Once she made sense of the noise, she ran to wake up her niece, knowing that it takes between 10 and 15 seconds from the time sirens blare until a rocket hits or is taken out by Israels Iron Dome.

By the time she reached her niece, Elayev said she could already hear multiple rockets in the sky.

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Rockets fired by terrorists in Gaza are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system over Sderot on Oct. 8, 2023.

The two women raced to Elayev's bomb shelter, hands held over their heads defensively. They expected to stay inside for a few minutes like in the past.

"Then we started to hear gunshots," said Elayev, who served more than 10 years in the Israel Defense Forces but recently started a new career in digital marketing. "Not even in the worst dream we would imagine terrorists will come to the city."

They didn't fully understand what was happening until they started getting messages about terrorists invading the city.

"And then we heard screams and more shooting and more shooting," she said, trembling.

Hamas fighters overran the police station about 700 meters from Elayev's home, killing around a dozen soldiers, police and firefighters, the Times reported.

Meanwhile, Elayev and her niece sat together in darkness for hours. Sometimes they had cell signal, and sometimes they didnt. Sometimes they got messages that people had been kidnapped, burned out of their homes, slaughtered in the streets. And sometimes they had only the sound of bullets echoing through the city to remind them that Israel was under attack.

A woman weeps over the covered corpse of her nephew who was shot dead in the southern city of Sderot on Oct. 7, 2023.

LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS AFTER SURPRISE ATTACKS, MORE THAN 1,200 ISRAELIS DEAD

Elayev is tormented by the videos and images circulating on social media of Hamas' acts, which have been compared to those of the Islamic extremist group ISIS. She can't get the pictures out of her head.

"Dancing on bodies, parading them, kidnapping kids," she said, wiping tears from her eyes. "How can you look a person in the eye and just shoot them dead?"

More than 2,000 people have been killed since Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel, including around 1,200 in Israel. Saturdays attack on the Tribe of Nova Trance music festival, which left more than 260 concertgoers dead, is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history

"Why would they hate us so much?" Elayev asked. "This isn't freedom fighting."

Her voice shook as she recalled reading comments online "saying that we deserve this."

"No one who's human deserves being butchered in front of their child or killed just for being Jewish," she said, shaking her head. "No. No."

Cars burned during a terrorist infiltration sit on the side of a road near the southern city of Sderot. Israeli forces battled holdout Hamas members and pounded targets in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 8. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a "long and difficult" war ahead after Hamas' massive surprise attack.

ISRAELI MUSIC FESTIVAL SURVIVOR DESCRIBES HORROR OF HAMAS-LED ATTACK THAT LEFT 260 DEAD

The women lost track of time in the bunker, a small room Elayev usually uses as her office. The only furniture was a desk, but Elayev couldn't have slept anyway as she desperately awaited more news.

Eventually, a missile struck near the neighboring house. The impact shattered Elayev's door and chunks of the ceiling began to rain down on the two women.

They had to leave.

Elayev said the women waited for gaps of quiet between missile blasts, then darted out of the shelter to throw what they could into bags. Two shirts, a pair of shoes, and food.

Then they crept to the front door and looked at each other, not knowing whether terrorists were still outside.

"Are you ready?"

"No."

"Okay, lets go."

Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Sderot Oct. 7, 2023, killing at least 20 civilians and taking over the city's police station. As of Oct. 11, Israeli forces have retaken the city and continue to shell Hamas fighters in Gaza.

'NO MERCY': PRO-ISRAEL SUPPORTERS GATHER IN BOSTON COMMON, CALL FOR HAMAS TO BE DESTROYED

As they sprinted to the car, a neighbor yelled at them through the window, asking if they were running away.

"Yeah, you should too," Elayev responded. But the other woman said she was too afraid to leave.

Elayev started the car and drove through streets, empty save for broken glass, mangled missile parts, burnt out vehicles and other debris. She avoided areas she knew from online chatter that people had been murdered.

"I chose the different path just not to see theto cause more trauma to my niece because I know she is my age but I still feel the obligation to protect her," Elayev said. "She is also my best friend."

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Elayev is now safe, staying with friends in Tel-Aviv. She's still processing her 36 hours in the bunker and doesnt know whether to cry now or wait for the stories of carnage and terror she knows are yet to come.

"People need to know what happened here," she said. "There are still people missing."





Original article source: Hamas attack traps women in Israel bomb shelter for 36 hours: People need to know what happened here
Hamas' deadly attacks last weekend were the worst breach of Israel's security apparatus in decades.

They carried out the attacks, in part, by posting misleading messages on monitored channels, NYT reported.

The messages falsely said Hamas was not preparing to strike, NYT reported.

Hamas' deadly attacks in Israel last weekend marked the worst Israeli intelligence failure in decades.

Before carrying out the attacks, militants posted misleading messages in private channels saying they were not preparing to strike  channels that they knew were being monitored by Israel's security services, four unnamed senior Israeli officials told the New York Times. And Israeli officials took those messages at face value, the officials, who laid out several reasons why Israel didn't anticipate the assault, told the publication.

In addition to failing to vet the accuracy of the messages, Israeli intelligence officials weren't diligent in monitoring key channels militants used to communicate, the report said.

They also depended too much on surveillance equipment at Israel's border with Gaza that was quickly dismantled by the attackers, allowing them to strike Israeli military bases, the officials told the New York Times.

The Israeli Defense Forces said that more than 1,200 people died as a result of Hamas' attacks, including at least 25 Americans. About 2,900 were injured. Hamas also kidnapped around 100 to 150 people, including women and children, and is holding them hostage, Israeli authorities told the Washington Post.

Israel vowed a swift response following the assault and has launched airstrikes and rocket attacks at the Gaza Strip all week. It's also mobilizing for a ground operation that could devastate the civilian population in Gaza.

In addition to its military response, Israel cut off the supply of food, water, fuel, and electricity to the territory, a move that some human-rights advocates say is a violation of international law.

"We are fighting human animals," Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said when announcing the decision this week, "and we act accordingly."

The Palestinian health ministry said that more than 1,400 people, including 447 children, have died as a result of the counterattack, and more than 6,200 people have been injured.

Gaza's health system is also at a breaking point as it strains to stay functional with no access to electricity, officials and humanitarian aid groups said. The International Red Cross warned that if Israel's retaliatory strikes continue, then hospitals in the region could soon "turn into morgues."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A former UK intel chief said Hamas "laid a trap" for Israel.

He said the militant group was provoking Israel to invade Gaza.

An invasion, he warned, would cost many lives and drive radicalization.

Attacks by the Hamas militant group were likely a ploy to lure Israel into a costly ground invasion of Gaza, the former head of Britain's MI6 spy agency said.

Alex Younger , who served as the head of the UK's foreign intelligence service from 2014 to 2020, gave his comments in an interview on the BBC's "The Today Podcast."

It came after Hamas fighters stormed into Israel and massacred whole villages  Israel has said more than 1,000 people were killed, including children and the elderly.

He said: "I absolutely understand and endorse Israel's right to defend themselves in the circumstances, and indeed to restore the credibility of those defenses, so that that sense of psychological safety can be restored to the people."

"But here's the thing, you shouldn't do what your enemy wants you to do," said Younger.

Israel launched waves of airstrikes on Gaza in the wake of the attacks, killing hundreds. It has massed troops on the border of the Gaza Strip and pledged to destroy Hamas in its entirety, but has yet to move in its troops.

Sir Alex Younger, former Chief of UK Intelligence Service MI6, attends the Trento Economy Festival 2023 at Trentino Region Palace on May 25, 2023 in Trento, Italy. Roberto Serra - Iguana Press/Getty Images

"And it's really obvious now that Hamas are essentially laying a trap for Israel," said Younger.

"And [it] will be well pleased if Israel commits itself to an open-ended, full-scale ground invasion of Gaza because of the scale and intensity of conflict that that would entail, and the loss of innocent life that would inevitably follow and the radicalization that would engender, and the extent to which will put Israel's allies and partners in the region in an impossible position."

He said Hamas was likely surprised by how successful its mission had been, with militants successfully evading Israeli surveillance and breaking through Israel's high-tech border security before advancing around 30 kilometres into Israel.

A senior Hamas official said much the same thing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to destroy Hamas in the wake of the attacks. But analysts say that in invading Gaza, the densely populated region the militant group has governed since 2007, the IDF would face fierce resistance from Hamas, which is embedded in a network of underground tunnels and bases. Such an attack would likely result in the loss of thousands of civilian lives.

There are fears the conflict could expand if Israel invades Gaza, and Iran-backed militia Hezbollah could launch attacks on Israel from Lebanon.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A senior Hamas official said the militant group was taken aback by the effectiveness of its surprise multi-front attack on Israel over the weekend, saying that leadership expected their incursions to be halted by Israeli forces. We were surprised by this great collapse, Ali Barakeh told the Associated Press on Monday. We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger. An unnamed diplomatic source elaborated on Hamas scuppered plans to the Middle Eastern news outlet Al-Monitor, saying, They hoped to kill some Israelis, embarrass the [Israel Defense Forces] and return to Gaza with two or three kidnapped Israelis. Now, with more than 1,200 Israelis dead as a result of the attacks and more than 100 being held hostage, Hamas are very worried, the source said. They will face the entire Israeli army inside Gaza. Thats the tragedy of their success. Ahead of an expected large-scale ground invasion over the Gaza border, Barakeh told the AP that Palestinian militants had prepared well for prolonged and total war.

Read it at Associated Press

Read more at The Daily Beast.
It can be tricky to determine how a conflict starts in the Middle East. This region is so weighed down by disputes over land and identity that theres always some bit of nuance or scrap of context you run the risk of leaving out. But heres how the start of Hamas war with Israel felt on the ground: It was Saturday morning, Shabbat. Thats when the assault startedone rocket after another, more than 2,000 of them.

Then it starts to become clear, as the morning goes on, that the rocket fire was almost cover for something else, and that the real point of this attack was to sneak people across the border, says Gregg Carlstrom, who covers the Middle East for the Economist. After the rockets, he says, militants streamed into Israel on paragliders, drove through border fences, even swam ashore from the Mediterranean Sea. Then they started going house to house. Soon, the full extent of the incursion became clear. Now Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promising a complete siege of Gaza. What does that mean for Israelis and Palestinians?

In Tuesdays episode of Slates daily news podcast What Next, I spoke with Carlstrom about the immediate reasons the conflict happened when it did, and where it might be going next. A portion of our conversation is transcribed below; it has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mary Harris: There are still so many questions about this attack. How was Hamas able to so easily take down Israels border defenses? How was the Israeli intelligence service caught so off guard? But the biggest question is: Why now?

Until this weekend, Israelis seemed confident that Hamas was not looking for another large-scale conflict. Some observers have speculated that this attack has something to do with a normalization deal in the works between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The two countries have been negotiating over opening up diplomatic relations. Maybe Hamas goal was to whip up tension and disrupt those talks?

Gregg Carlstrom: I think it will certainly delay efforts at a normalization deal, and that is not for Hamas an unwelcome side effect of this, but I think their considerations are much more local or are domestic. If you look at the situation in the Palestinian territories, you have a succession crisis brewing in the West Bank, where the presidentMahmoud Abbas, 87 years old, not in great healthdoesnt have a clear successor, but theres going to be a change of power soon. There havent been elections in Palestine in almost 18 years now, but theres a moment where it seems like a political change is coming. And to me, a lot of this has to do with those domestic politics, with Hamas trying to do something that boosts its popularity amongst Palestinians ahead of a political change.

And of course, at the same time, Israel has moved to the far right, and its in a strange political situation as well.

It is, and we dont know exactly what happened, this intelligence failure that everyone has talked about. We dont know why it happened, and I think it will be months before we know, but one thing that Ive heard from a number of Israelis is that it has something to do with this far-right government. First, the Israeli army, the Israeli security servicestheyve really been focused on the West Bank, not Gaza, in recent months, because this government, through planned expansion of Israeli settlements and other actions, has pushed tensions to a boil in the West Bank. And so theres been much more concern about the West Bank than about Gaza. This is also a government where, you look at some of the ministers in this government, they have no experience in security matters. The minister in charge of the police, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is a right-wing ideologue who has no background at all in security. So, you combine an army that is focused elsewhere with a cabinet that is very inexperienced on these matters, and I think that that goes some way towards explaining how Israel was caught so unaware by this.

Yeah, youre talking about this intelligence failure, and I feel like its worth pausing to just explain why this attack was so surprising, which means explaining a little bit about what exactly the Gaza Strip is, which is a small sliver of land surrounded by fencing and watchtowers. Its been called an open-air prison. Its also incredibly dense. So its kind of a big deal that somehow Hamas was able to launch an attack from there without Israel knowing it was coming.

It is. Its a very big deal. On the intelligence side, every phone call that you make in Gaza is routed through an Israeli phone network. The Israeli security services have the ability to eavesdrop on any phone call that takes place in Gaza. They also have a network of human informants across the territory. Its remarkable when you talk to Israeli security officials; they have not been to Gaza in 18 years, since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

Because they dont feel like they need to worry about it?

Theyre not able to go into Gaza. The Israelis decided in 2005 to do what they call a disengagement, to withdraw all of their troops and essentially seal it off from the world. But they are still able to, from the outside, penetrate a lot of whats happening inside.

Then you talk about the security situation. Again, fenced off is really an understatement. In some parts of the border, there are massive concrete slabs with automatic robot-controlled weapons mounted on top of them. In other areas, they are just fences, metal fences, but they are studded with high-tech electronic sensors. The Israelis spent almost a billion dollars a few years ago creating an underground barrier to try and stop Hamas from digging tunnels out of Gaza. All of this money, all of this effort thats been put into constructing this barrier, and when it came down to it, [Hamas] just cut their way through it and drove across on motorbikes.

I do want to note something else here, which is that Hamas does not represent all Palestinians. What has happened is between Hamas and Israel, but Hamas is only part of the picture when it comes to representation of the people who are within Gaza, right?

It is, and they like to say that they are an elected government, which is narrowly true, but again, the last election, the last parliamentary election, was in 2006. The average person in Gaza is 18 years old. The median person is 18 years old, which means the last time there was a Palestinian election, most people in Gaza werent even born. So they literally have had no opportunity to choose their leadership. Ive been going to Gaza for more than a decade now, and one thing that I find increasingly when I go is: Theres a level of popular anger and popular resentment aimed at Hamas. Of course, theres anger towards Israel, theres anger towards Egypt, both of which maintain a blockade on Gaza, but the group has lost a lot of popular support. It was elected in 2006, partly as a protest vote against Fatah, which is the nationalist party that controls the West Bank. Its an incredibly corrupt party. People opted for Hamas in 2006 not necessarily because they agreed with the groups ideology but because they thought it was a cleaner alternative.

It has turned out not to be that. Most people in Gaza think that Hamas is equally corrupt, and they think that it has done an atrocious job running the territory over the past 16 years, but they have no opportunity to change their leaders, and so theyre stuck with this unpopular, ineffective government.

Lets talk about what happens now, as far as we know. My understanding is, theyre still fighting off Hamas fighters inside Israel itself. Is that so?

They are. There were some ongoing hostage situations for almost two full days after Saturdays attack, where militants were holed up inside of houses and they had taken hostages, and it took the [Israeli] army a long time to deal with those hostage situations. They also dont know how many people, how many militants crossed the border. The border fence was cut open for a long period of time, and so theyre concerned that even if theyve cleared out the towns and villages along the border, that there might be more militants elsewhere in Israel who theyre not aware of.

So, you have Israel still dealing with that internally at the same time, as you say, preparing for what will likely be a very large response in Gaza. Theres airstrikes that began a couple of days ago, but theres a debate over whether Israel will launch a ground offensive. Thats something it hasnt really done in any of its past wars in Gaza. Its something the army hasnt wanted to do because it would mean prolonged bloody urban combat, but its something that theres a lot of public demand for right now in Israel.

Yeah. Youve called attention to this analysis in Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper, saying that Israels got four bad options. Now, can you just lay out what those options are?

The first one is not a military option. Its to make a deal, a prisoner swap with Hamas [around] these dozens of Israelis whove been taken hostage and brought back to Gaza. The point of capturing them was obviously to exchange them, as Israel has done in the past. In 2011, for example, [Israel] freed about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who had been held in Gaza for five years. Hamas would like to make a similar deal and hand over these hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinians who were being held in Israel.

That does not seem likely, given how brutal the attack was.

No, it doesnt. I think neither the political class nor the public right now is in any mood to make a deal.

So that leaves you with more-military responses, one of which is what Israel has done in past wars, which is a campaign of aerial bombing against Gaza, which has already started. That has been in the past, and that will be, again, devastating for Palestinians. In 2014, during that long war, you had thousands of people killed. You had tens of thousands of people who were left homeless afterwards. And at the end of that, the concern in Israel is that you do all of that and you dont actually change the status quo. In Gaza, you dont remove Hamas from power by doing that. You dont, perhaps, seriously degrade its military capabilities, and so this cycle might continue to repeat.

So then, the other two options that have been floated, one of them is to tighten even further this blockade of Gaza and essentially try to starve not just Hamas but 2 million people into submission. That is more or less what Israel has been doing for the past 16 or 17 years, and it hasnt worked. The blockade has immiserated Gaza. It has left it at a point where two-thirds of the population is unemployed; 80 percent of people need humanitarian aid to survive. It has destroyed the economy, but it has not brought political change. So thats not really a viable option either.

And the last is to go ahead with a ground offensive, which will be devastating for everyone involved.

Youve actually argued that what happened this weekend basically tells you about how Israels approach to Palestinians has failed, because it was assumed that if you divided the Palestinians so they couldnt reach each othertheres the West Bank; theres the Gaza Stripit would sort of dilute the power of this group. And something else happened instead, which, as you said: It just lays out that there are not good options here.

And I think whats particularly a grim irony about the divide-and-rule concept is: You have two entities in the Palestinian territories. You have Hamas, which is a militant group, which has been bent on Israels destruction for decades. And then you have the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, which is led by a party that is open to a two-state solution, is open to negotiating with Israel about an end to the conflict, and has been committed to that for 30 years now. What Prime Minister Netanyahu has donewhat he has made policy over the past decade and a half that hes been in power, for that almost full stretch, uninterruptedwhat he has done is tried to empower Hamas and weaken the P.A. Because his ultimate goal is: He doesnt want to negotiate. He doesnt want to have a two-state solution. He doesnt want to make a deal with the Palestinians, and so he has done everything in his power to weaken the P.A. Hes refused negotiating with it. He has, at various times, imposed economic sanctions on it, cut off tax revenues that are meant to be handed over to the P.A. Hes tried to weaken the more moderate body. And at the same time, he has empowered Hamas by being willing to cut prisoner deals with it, negotiate with it on various economic concessions to Gaza, and we see where that has led.

Listen to the full conversation on What Next here.
Hamas militants have vowed to broadcast their executions of Israeli hostages on the internet. Recent history shows there's virtually nothing tech companies can do to prevent that from happening.

Live-streamed murders in Buffalo and Christchurch, New Zealand, remain visible on the web and have been viewed millions of times, long after the mass killings took place. Companies' efforts to stop access to violent videos have been stymied by an open internet that makes it easy to watch, save and share videos at viral speed - and by the changing strategies of killers and propagandists, who can use a network of distributed online services to ensure the videos remain forever within reach.

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A spokesman for Hamas' military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in an audio message posted to the group's Telegram account this week that its fighters would kill hostages, one by one, every time an Israeli strike hits a home in Gaza, the dense coastal strip of more than 2 million Palestinians under Hamas control.

The executions, the spokesman said, would be broadcast in "audio and video," though he did not specify where or when they would be shown. Hamas is believed to have abducted more than 100 people, mostly civilians, during its brutal assault on southern Israel. Some have already been killed, according to video reviewed by The Washington Post.

The threat harks back to videos nearly a decade ago from the Islamic State, which spread fear and won attention by posting videos showing the beheadings of journalists, aid workers and other civilian captives. But those videos were prerecorded and edited. Hamas' pledge to record and air executions that have yet to take place is new and seems calibrated to incite fear over the barbarism to come.

"Hamas' entire strategy is to inflict as much damage as possible and drive as much attention to that damage as possible, in order to incite fear for the broader public," said Graham Brookie, a senior director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab. "This is one of the first times we've seen this glossy propaganda content recorded in real time."

Hamas already has used Telegram, a largely unmoderated messaging platform with more than 800 million international users, to share grisly videos of kidnappings and murders during the weekend attack.

Many of the videos feature relatively sophisticated touches, such as opening title animations and action-movie-style soundtracks, suggesting the group has a predesigned workflow for recording, editing and publication. Some of the videos appeared in edited form online within hours after the ambush began.

"Hamas has been very well prepared for this and has created professional systems to get their message out," said Josh Lipowsky, a senior research analyst at the Counter Extremism Project, an advocacy group in Washington that tracks online extremism.

Some researchers said they expect Hamas would publish any execution videos to Telegram, from which they are likely to be reposted to mainstream sites such as X, formerly known as Twitter, where they might gain millions of views.

But the group could also live-stream the executions to a social media platform or other website using a throwaway account, as mass murderers have done in recent years. Those videos could then be saved and republished across a number of other video services, practically guaranteeing that the clips would never disappear from the web.

"You cannot rule out a Christchurch-style broadcast," Brookie said, referring to the 2019 killings of 49 people inside two New Zealand mosques that were live-streamed on Facebook. "There are very few ways to stop that. It may reach only a few people in the moment, but it has the potential to go viral."

Telegram, which did not respond to requests for comment, has largely tolerated violent content on its platform on the basis of promoting unrestrained free expression. Other lesser-known sites specialize in the sharing of extreme videos and do not respond to requests for removal.

Hamas' Telegram channels, which have more than 120,000 subscribers and post in Arabic and English, offer a mix of official statements, training videos, propaganda images and grisly videos, some of which show militants stepping on Israeli corpses.

Facebook and other mainstream social networks pay for internal content-moderation systems and staffs to look for and block violent content. After the New Zealand shootings, 14 internet services and 55 international governments backed a policy argument, known as the Christchurch Call, designed to combat the sharing of extremist content. (Telegram is not among them.)

But the pact does not proactively monitor each live stream or shared video, and violent individuals have found ways to circumvent the rules. Last year, when a racist gunman live-streamed himself killing 10 people in a Buffalo grocery store, the video was streamed to Twitch, where it was removed within two minutes of the first gunshots - enough time for at least one viewer to repost it on other sites, including Facebook, where it was viewed millions of times.

The brutality showcased in Hamas' videos has proved especially graphic, even compared to videos from other conflict zones around the world, due partly to the group's preplanning and technological capabilities, Brookie said. In some of the videos, militants can be seen wearing GoPro cameras, so as to record the video from a more visceral, first-person perspective.

Such footage has become a more common facet of modern combat. Ukraine has used first-person video from soldiers' helmets and attack drones to document their war against Russian invaders. And the use of GoPro cameras on the battlefield was first popularized by Syria's volunteer Civil Defense force, known as the White Helmets, which have used them to record their rescues of civilians since Russia dispatched troops there in 2015.

Hamas' warning of execution broadcasts suggests the group is pushing for a more accelerated style of terror propaganda, Lipowsky said.

"The value is to demoralize," he said. "It is a form of emotional warfare. It is Hamas looking to break the spirits of Israelis and the global Jewish community."

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Jason Furman criticized Bill Ackman's call to name students who blamed Israel for Hamas' attack.

Furman said naming and outing students "is just wrong in any circumstance."

The Harvard Crimson said on Tuesday that some students had been doxed over the letter.

A Harvard economics professor has criticized calls from executives like Bill Ackman to publicly out students who blamed Israel for Hamas attacks.

Jason Furman, who was an Obama-era economic advisor, argued that those calling for students to be outed and shamed should bear in mind that "two wrongs do not make a right."

Furman was weighing in on the fallout from the controversial joint statement from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups. This statement, issued by multiple Harvard student groups, held the "Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence."

"Publishing lists of students and personal information under the headings 'terrorist,' 'genocidal murderer' and 'antisemite' is just wrong in any circumstance, and especially when many of the people named have nothing to do with the statement," Jason Furman wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.

"I admire @BillAckman, including for his efforts to exonerate the innocent," Furman added in a subsequent X post on Wednesday. "We may not agree on the definition of guilt here or the appropriate sentence. But I would hope that he & others would at least take more care in condemning people that even he would consider innocent."

On Tuesday, Ackman called on Harvard to release the names of students who had signed a pro-Hamas letter so that he and other CEOs wouldn't "inadvertently hire" them.

Ackman later on Tuesday doubled down on his calls for the names to be released, saying that the students "shouldn't hide behind a Harvard-branded corporation while doing so anonymously."

At least five of the original 34 student groups who signed the letter have withdrawn their endorsements, per a Tuesday report by The Harvard Crimson.

The Harvard Crimson's report added that some students had been doxed over the letter, with at least four websites publishing the personal information of members from the student organizations that were involved.

Ackman defended his calls to name the students on Wednesday, writing in an X post that "it is not harassment to seek to understand the character of the candidates that you are considering for employment."

"If you have made a mistake, acknowledge it, and immediately correct your mistaken actions," Ackman wrote. "Public statements made by organizations of which you are a member can have a material negative impact on your reputation."

Representatives for Furman did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Some Harvard students say their organizations signed an anti-Israel letter without them knowing: 'I didn't even see the statement'

Israel Defense Forces soldiers walk through Kibbutz Be'eri where days earlier Hamas militants killed over a hundred civilians near the border with Gaza on October 11, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Some Harvard students say their groups signed a divisive letter about Israel without them knowing.

The letter, which condemns Israel for Hamas' attacks, drew widespread backlash on Monday.

Amid the furor, several students said they were left in the dark about their groups' involvement.

Several students at Harvard University said they had no idea their student groups were signing a divisive letter condemning Israel for Hamas' attacks.

The statement, initially signed by 34 Harvard student groups, drew intense backlash because it blamed the Israeli government for a series of surprise attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7.

"We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," the Monday statement said.

One of the Harvard students to distance themselves from the letter was Danielle Mikaelian, who said she was a board member of a group that signed the statement.

"I think it was egregious and have resigned from my role," Mikaelian wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I am sorry for the pain this caused. My organization did not have a formal process and I didn't even see the statement until we had signed on."

Mikaelian, who was identified as a law student by the school paper, The Harvard Crimson, did not say which organization she had resigned from. However, she later tweeted that this organization had rescinded its support for the statement.

The student wrote that she "prevented" another student group, of which she is also a board member, from signing the letter.

"I also want to make it clear that I know firsthand some of my fellow students are in this situation too," she added. "I wasn't the only board member who stepped down today."

Student statements like Mikaelian's have emerged online since the original letter was criticized by Harvard professors, US lawmakers, and CEOs like Bill Ackman, who controversially called for a list of the individual signatories so he wouldn't hire them.

Mohini Tangri, who studies law at Harvard, agreed with Mikaelian in a tweet on Wednesday.

"So I know many members had no say in whether their orgs signed either letter," she wrote. "Many weren't even notified that their orgs were considering doing so."

"No need for this level of harassment," Tangri wrote in response to Ackman's request for the identities of the student signatories.

Tangri did not say if she is a member of any of the signing groups, but said she spoke for "general members for a variety of affinity orgs" at Harvard.

Meanwhile, Harvard Act on a Dream, an immigrant rights advocacy group, told The Crimson its signing of the original statement was "a result of miscommunication and a lack of due diligence in sharing the statement with the entirety of the board."

Some of the organization's board members "were not made aware" that the group had even signed the statement, it added, per The Crimson.

Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, wrote a lengthy tweet criticizing students who said they disagreed with their organization's statements but chose to remain part of the group.

"Claiming that you had no involvement or knowledge of the statement, but remaining a member of the organization without it withdrawing the statement is perhaps the worst of the alternatives," Ackman wrote. "As it appears to simply be an attempt to avoid accountability while continuing to be a member of the organization."

Several groups that co-signed the statement have also withdrawn their signatures, including Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo and the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association.

"To ensure that our stance on the condemnation of violence by Hamas and support for a just peace remains clear, we retract our signature from the statement," the Nepali Student Association wrote on Wednesday.

"Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo strictly denounces and condemns the massacre propagated by the terrorist organization Hamas," wrote Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo the same day.

Harvard President Claudine Gay on Tuesday addressed the controversial student statement, saying it did not represent the university's stance.

"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," she wrote.

Israel and the Gaza Strip have been wracked by violence after the Hamas militant group attacked Israeli communities on October 7 under cover of rockets.

Israel declared war in response, and bombarded the Gaza Strip with air strikes in the following days. Around 300,000 reservists have been called up by the Israel Defense Forces, for what is anticipated to be a mass ground offensive to retrieve dozens of hostages held by Hamas.

Around 1,200 Israelis have been killed, while close to 3,000 were injured, per an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson.

In the Gaza Strip, an estimated 1,055 Palestinians have been killed, per the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound is seen in Jerusalems Old City Saturday, July 15, 2017. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Thursday about violence in the Middle East. | AP

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Thursday about Middle East violence.

We are devastated by the recent eruption of violence and loss of life in the Middle East. Violence of this nature is abhorrent to us and is not in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a gospel of peace. At such times, our hearts ache for all victims of this atrocity. As servants of God, we affirm that He calls upon all of us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we pray for a peaceful resolution of all conflicts.

President Russell M. Nelson called for more peacemakers during one of his talks at the churchs April 2023 international general conference. He said, Contention never leads to inspired solutions.

He added, Let us show that there is a peaceful, respectful way to resolve complex issues and an enlightened way to work out disagreements.

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A year earlier, also in general conference, he said, Prophets have foreseen our day when there would be wars and rumors of wars, and when the whole earth would be in commotion. As followers of Jesus Christ, we plead with leaders of nations to find peaceful resolutions to their differences. We call upon people everywhere to pray for those in need, to do what they can to help the distressed, and to seek the Lords help in ending any major conflicts.

The First Presidency is the highest-ranking leadership body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is led by President Nelson and his counselors, Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring.

President Nelson has been to Jerusalem multiple times. He last visited the country in 2018, soon after he became the churchs 17th president and prophet.

Related

On Friday, the BYU Jerusalem Center, which is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that it was relocating students and staff to Greece.

Fighters backed by Hamas, the organization that governs the Gaza Strip of Palestinian territories on a sliver of land between the western border of Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, attacked Israel on Saturday, killing more than 1,200 people in Israel.

Israel has declared war and responded with daily missile strikes in Gaza. The Gazan Health Ministry said that 1,417 Palestinians have been killed and 6,268 others had been injured since Saturday, The New York Times reported.
Heidi Balderree of Saratoga Springs was declared winner in the special Republican election to replace Sen. Jake Anderegg in Utah Senate District 22. | Heidi Balderree campaign

In spite of the rain and the somewhat cramped quarters of a junior high school, 129 Republican state delegates  83% of the total number  showed up to select the next senator for Utah Senate District 22. Several hundred more came to support or observe the special election.

After a half-hour of instruction and adopting the rules governing the special election, and nearly an hours worth of speeches from 13 candidates (4 minutes each), delegates finally cast their votes in the first round of balloting.

It would eventually take six rounds before Heidi Balderree was announced as the winner.

While votes were being counted, Senate President Stuart Adams was invited to address the audience members. Several candidates had given speeches lashing out at Senate leadership and the Utah political establishment.

Adams used his time to praise Sen. Jake Anderegg, who is resigning effective Oct. 15, then pivoted to Utahs standing as the No. 1 economy in the nation. He also noted that earlier this evening, he was standing on the steps of the Utah Capitol to show support for Israel. I hope you are praying, he told the crowd, and that you stand with Israel, too.

After the first round of results were announced, 10 candidates moved on to the second round and gave one-minute speeches. Each subsequent round of speeches clocked in at just 30 seconds each. Between rounds 4 and 5, Balderrees speech was simple: You want to see effective? Vote for me and we can all go home.

Finally, at 11:10 p.m., after six rounds of balloting, Balderree was declared the winner, with 55% of the delegate vote. Out of the 13 candidates, she is the only one who doesnt live in Lehi  she lives in Saratoga Springs.

When she was asked, Youve just won the special election! What are you going to do next? right after her win, she responded: Im going to Cornbellys!

After her post-election trip to Cornbellys, a local corn maze, Balderree says she is ready to hit the ground running. She has two pieces of legislation she is interested in running. First, legislation to prevent central bank digital currency and second, legislation that will protect and harden our energy grid.

Balderree will resign from her current role as community engagement director for Americans for Prosperity-Utah effective Friday, Oct. 13. She will be sworn in after Andereggs resignation is official on Oct. 15.

Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy.
A bear was seen in Cohasset in June.

HANSON  A bear attacked a herd of livestock Tuesday, dragging a small goat into the woods and killing it. The incident happened on Bayberry Road near Hanson Center, Police Chief Mike Miksch said.

Hanson police and state Environmental Police searched for the bear but couldn't find it. Authorities recovered the remains of the goat.

A resident reported today that our local bear and their livestock had a negative interaction. If you have small domestic animals, please take steps to protect them and discourage the bear. Please visit Mass Wildlifes web page for more information. https://t.co/Jy7qVjU0wI  Hanson Police Dept. (@HansonMAPolice) October 10, 2023

This isn't the first black bear encounter on the South Shore this year. Sightings have been reported in towns up and down the coast.

In June, Quincy police officer Jimmy Dalton saw a bear just before midnight in a wooded area behind BJ's Wholesale Club on Crown Colony Drive.

In August, a Kingston resident shot a bear that was attacking his goat. The bear escaped.

Sightings of a black bear were first reported in May as it traveled through Taunton, Fall River, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet and Marion.

Wildlife officials weren't sure if the sightings this year have involved one or more bears.

Officials are encouraging residents to learn more about bears and ways to protect their homes, beehives and livestock. The Massachusetts Wildlife page has more information on how to deal with bear encounters.

How many bears are there in Massachusetts?

American black bears  Ursus americanus, should it come up on trivia night  are endemic to North America. The National Park Service estimates 750,000 of them are in the U.S.

According to MassWildlife, the state's bear population is easily over 4,500, with an expected annual increase of 8%. The species has long been common in the central and western parts of the state and is slowly expanding east.

Despite the occasional appearance of black bears, which are the only bear species in the state, the South Shore is not considered part of their normal range.

A graphic illustrates the concentrations of black bears in Massachusetts.

Given the bears' overall population increase, they are listed as being of "least concern" for extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

While an exact figure for the Southeastern Massachusetts bear population may be hard to pin down, their presence is not new to the area.

A bear dubbed Boo Boo drew attention in 2021 as it made its way north from Wareham to the South Shore before returning to the South Coast, where it died after it was hit by a car on Interstate 95 in Marion on June 24.

Bear sightings continued into 2022.

"We kind of had this last year where we think three to five different bears at different points of the summer moved through different parts of Southeastern Massachusetts, so it's becoming a more regular thing," said David Wattles, a biologist for MassWildlife.

How do I keep bears away?

MassWildlife gave tips on how to prevent negative encounters with bears.

Remove all food sources from your yard and neighborhood.

Never intentionally feed bears.

Avoid feeding birds; birdfeeders, suet and spilled seed attract bears.

Clean barbecue grills and grease traps.

Avoid using open compost.

Never leave trash bags outside.

What do I do if I encounter a bear?

Talk to the bear in a calm voice.

Slowly back away from the bear; do not run.

If the bear makes contact with you, fight back.

Patriot Ledger reporter David R. Smith contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Black bear kills and drags goat into woods in Hanson
When an Austin police officer was charged with murder for an on-duty shooting, an initial attempt to seat a jury proved to be chaotic and unsuccessful.

The May jury selection process for the trial of Christopher Taylor was hampered by a shortage of potential jurors, after an entire panel was dismissed when courtroom doors were illegally locked to the public. More potential jurors were dismissed for summer travel plans. After flyers about the case were placed on the cars of some potential jurors  leading to allegations of jury tampering  District Judge Dayna Blazey ultimately declared a mistrial.

On Monday, the court will embark on a second attempt to seat a 12-person jury. Blazey confirmed that three panels of 100 potential jurors  an unusually large pool  would be summoned for the October trial. One week has been set aside for jury selection.

Taylor is on trial for the April 2020 shooting death of Michael Ramos in a Southeast Austin apartment complex. Officers were responding to a 911 call reporting that a person possibly involved in a drug deal had a gun. Police said that after Ramos did not comply with their instructions, an officer shot him with less lethal bean bag ammunition.

Ramos got into a car and started driving, police said, and Taylor shot three times into the moving vehicle.

Police later confirmed that Ramos did not have a gun.

Ramos, who was Black and Hispanic, became the local face of Black Lives Matters protests in Austin.

Taylors indictment is believed to be the first time an Austin police officer has been charged with murder for an on-duty use of force. The conduct and practices of the Austin Police Department have come under the scrutiny of the office of Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, who has secured an unprecedented number of officer indictments.

This is the first of two murder indictments Taylor faces. He, alongside fellow Austin police officer Karl Krycia, has also been indicted in connection with the 2019 shooting death of Mauris DeSilva.

Defense lawyers and prosecutors declined requests to comment on this story, citing a pending motion for a gag order.

Jury selection when an officer is on trial

Jury selection in the case came under further scrutiny when defense lawyers for Taylor filed a motion to move the trial out of Austin, arguing that a fair and impartial jury could not be assembled in Travis County. In September, Blazey denied the motion.

Experts who spoke to the American-Statesman said that, during jury selection, lawyers will try to determine how potential jurors feel about the police as an institution.

Because it is extremely rare for a police officer to be tried for a crime, there are particular concerns, said Candace McCoy, a professor at the City University of New York, who has studied how jurors regard police officers.

McCoy said that during selection, prosecutors will likely look for jurors who are willing to look past the initial trust that a citizen has in a police officer.

Christopher Taylor

The likelihood that a person is going to believe what a police officer is going to say on the witness stand is profoundly affected by the attitudes of the family and the community around them, McCoy said.

In May, the prosecution and defense were each given 10 preemptory strikes, which allow them to excuse jurors without explanation.

Some potential jurors will be excused by the court for extenuating circumstances, such as scheduling conflicts, child care and medical problems. Lawyers can make motions for cause, asking the court to remove a potential juror for bias without using one of their preemptory strikes.

Its called jury selection, but in reality, its jury de-selection, said Kacy Miller, Dallas-based jury and trial consultant. During the process, lawyers might contemplate how experiences and attitudes might impact a jurors worldview, rather than strict demographics, Miller said.

A mistrial and a motion for venue change

Mays jury selection process was rife with problems, including a shortage of jurors and allegations of jury tampering.

On the first day of jury selection on May 22, members of the public  including reporters and lawyers representing the family of Michael Ramos in a civil suit  were barred from entering the courtroom. Court officials said that the doors had been locked accidentally. Blazey, the judge, dismissed the entire 80-person pool of potential jurors, as public access to trial proceedings is protected under the U.S. Constitution.

The next day, another 80-person panel was called, but those potential jurors had not been told about the duration of the trial, which would likely run for several weeks. Twelve jurors were selected, but four were released due to scheduling conflicts and one was released due to medical hardship.

On the third day, 50 potential jurors were called. Envelopes with flyers inside were found on the cars of three potential jurors. The flyers depicted both Taylor and Ramos, and described the shooting as a murder. No jurors were seated from this pool.

Defense lawyers filed for a mistrial, arguing that there werent enough jurors to form a jury. Blazey granted the motion and reset the trial for October.

In July, defense lawyers filed a motion  which ultimately failed  to move the trial out of Travis County, arguing that pervasive and biased media attention would make it difficult to empanel a fair jury.

Under Texas law, a defendant is entitled to a change of venue if, in that county, there is so great a prejudice against him that he cannot obtain a fair trial.

The motion discussed the dissemination, through social media, of police body camera footage of the shooting. Defense lawyers argued that thousands upon thousands of Travis County residents had likely seen the video, alongside enraged comments and charged political speech.

A man falls to his knees as protesters make their way down Cesar Chavez Street decrying the deaths of George Floyd and Michael Ramos in Austin on May 31, 2020. Behind him is a sign calling for justice for Ramos.

Former Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore, whose office empaneled the grand jury that indicted Taylor, wrote a statement in support of the motion to change venue.

In my opinion, if Mr. Taylor were to be convicted by a Travis County jury, there would always be a question of whether he received a fair trial, she wrote in the declaration.

Prior knowledge of the circumstances doesnt automatically disqualify a potential juror, according to Patrick Metze, a law professor at Texas Tech University.

What disqualifies them is if theyve already made up their mind about guilt or innocence, he said.

In their response to the motion to change the venue, prosecutors argued that in May, the failure to seat a jury was unrelated to bias or publicity. Then, 43 out of 186 prospective jurors said they were familiar with the case. Only 13 said they knew about the case and could not be fair and impartial.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Why jury selection matters in Austin police officer's murder trial
With the latest war between Israel and Hamas now in its sixth day, concerns are only growing about the risk of Hezbollah becoming more deeply involved . With the situation now delicately poised, it makes sense to examine the key standoff strike weapons in Hezbollahs possession; after all, this is a group identified as the worlds most heavily armed non-state actor .

The scale of the threat that Hezbollahs arsenal poses to Israel cannot be overestimated. This, of course, is hardly a new development, with Israeli concerns already having led to extensive measures being taken to curb the flow of weapons being transferred to Hezbollah from Iran, its major sponsor. Still, Hezbollah poses a grave threat to Israel, in particular its ability to rain fire on targets throughout the country, including with far more advanced and hard-hitting weaponry than what Hamas has been able to muster.

Before looking at Hezbollahs standoff weapons in detail, however, lets recap the situation so far, in regard to the groups participation in the ongoing conflict.

Hezbollah fighters take part in a large-scale military exercise in Aaramta, Lebanon, on the border with Israel, on May 21, 2023. Photo by Fadel Itani/NurPhoto via Getty Images

So far this week, Israeli attacks on targets in Lebanon have left at least four Hezbollah fighters dead. Those attacks, involving artillery and helicopters, were in response to what the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described as an incursion into northern Israel by a number of armed terrorists.

In response to the launches identified from Lebanese territory toward Israeli territory, IDF soldiers are currently responding with artillery fire, the IDF reported on Tuesday, adding that approximately 15 rockets were launched from Lebanese territory. Four of those rockets were claimed as intercepted, with 10 apparently coming down in open areas.

So far, exchanges of fire between the IDF and Hezbollah have been limited, but there are clearly fears that an escalation could be imminent.

Smoke rising on a hill shelled by Israeli forces on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese border village of Dhaira on October 11, 2023. Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. has sent a carrier strike group and many additional fighter aircraft into the region as a contingency measure and to deter aggression by additional actors  with Hezbollah and Iran being the focus. Hezbollah has in turn made threats against the U.S. naval presence in the region. Those threats are not as hollow as some may think.

https://twitter.com/Alfaiomi/status/1712061123283787794?s=20

As we have highlighted already, Hezbollahs entry into a wider conflict in the region would have potentially enormous consequences. Not only does Hezbollah have a large ground force, but the militant group is stocked with a huge arsenal of missiles, long-range rockets, and suicide drones. With Israel concentrating on the densely populated Gaza Strip, while busy countering (primarily artillery rocket) attacks launched by Hamas, adding Hezbollahs short and long-range strikes could overwhelm Israels air defenses, putting all of the country at risk of bombardment.

The result of Hezbollah becoming more involved could well see a second front open up in the north, drawing Israeli resources away from the operation in Gaza. Theres the potential for the situation to become worse still since Hezbollah has a major footprint in Syria, as well as direct links with the Iranian regime. That could see the conflict extending well beyond Israel and southern Lebanon and becoming a regional conflagration.

Rockets

The sheer scale of Hezbollahs rocket armory is hard to conceptualize. Even back in 2016, estimates put its arsenal at around 150,000 rockets, a ten times increase over the roughly 15,000 that were said to be available to the group ahead of the 2006 Lebanon War. That number has since grown even larger. While estimates still vary widely, suffice to say Hezbollah has a rocket arsenal unlike any state actor, one they can quickly deploy to cause massive destruction in Israel.

Most of these rockets, however, are relatively small, short-range weapons, typically highly portable and without any guidance system. Nevertheless, even rockets of this type pose a threat to Israel and, when launched in barrages, they threaten to overwhelm IDF air defenses. At the same time, picking out these rockets before they can be launched and targeting them in a timely way is far from easy.

The purpose of our rockets is to deter Israel from attacking Lebanese civilians, Hezbollahs Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah declared in 2006 . The enemy fears that every time he confronts us, whenever there are victims in our ranks among Lebanese civilians, this will lead to a counter-barrage of our rockets, which he fears.

An Israeli police bomb disposal unit member inspects the remains of a rocket fired from Lebanon into the northern Israeli town of Fassuta on April 6, 2023. Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images

Available in 107mm caliber are Hezbollahs artillery rockets derived from the Chinese Type 63 multiple rocket launcher. Beijing supplied these weapons to both Iran and Syria, who in turn produced their own versions, and then transferred them to Hezbollah. Tehran also delivered 12-round launchers for 107mm rockets, although the weapons can also be fired individually from man-portable launchers. These rockets have a range of between five and six miles, carry an 18-pound high-explosive (HE) fragmentation warhead, and weigh around 42 pounds before launch.

Dominating Hezbollahs rocket ranks are the 122mm Katyusha types, inspired by Soviet and Russian designs, including the Grad multiple rocket launcher . Typically, Hezbollah Katyushas have a range of between 2.5 and 25 miles, carry a warhead weighing 22-88 pounds, and weigh a total of 100-165 pounds before launch. Different warheads are available, with HE or submunitions options.

A Grad-type multiple rocket launcher at the Baalbek Tourist Museum in the Bekaa Valley town of Baalbek, Lebanon. Photo by Scott Peterson/Getty Images

Fired from basic tripod launchers or from the rear of trucks and pickups, the number of Katyusha rockets available to Hezbollah has been increased by deliveries from Iran. Tehran has also delivered truck-mounted multi-barrel rocket launchers (MRBL) to Hezbollah, allowing salvo launches.

The Katyushas may have only limited accuracy, but their short flight time and low trajectory make them generally difficult to intercept. The IDFs Iron Dome air defense system is said to be highly effective against rockets of this type , but even these will be strained by incoming mass barrages. This is especially true for mass fires from a group of multiple-launch rocket vehicles that can lay devastation to broad areas. They can be set up, and launched, and the vehicles can retreat quickly, making them hard to target.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgx2CLILh7A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBtIbylToFE

The Hezbollah arsenal also includes the Chinese-developed Type 81 rocket, also in 122mm caliber, but which can be fitted with a cluster munition warhead. Depending on the warhead, the range of the Type 81 varies, but with a HE warhead, it can hit targets at a range of 13 miles.

The Soviet Union replaced the iconic Grad rocket with the BM-27 Uragan , a multiple rocket launcher firing weapons also of 122mm caliber. These weapons are known to Hezbollah as the Raad-2 and Raad-3, have a range of 37-43 miles with a 110-pound HE warhead, and have a launch weight of 617 pounds. At least some of Hezbollahs Uragan systems came from Soviet production and were transferred by Syria. In comparison, the Raad-2 and Raad-3 are normally mounted on light vehicles and have a smaller number of rocket tubes as a result.

Members of Hezbollah stand on a pick-up truck mounted with a multiple rocket launcher as they take part in a parade in the southern city of Nabatiyeh on November 7, 2014. MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

Larger than these Soviet-derived rockets are a number of Iranian-developed solid-fueled rockets, in 240mm caliber. The Falaq-1 has a range of between six and seven miles, carries a 110-pound HE warhead, and weighs a total of 245 pounds before launch. The Fajr-3 has a range of 27 miles, a 99-pound HE warhead, and a launch weight of 897 pounds. Its normally fired from a 14-round launcher.

In the 302mm caliber category is the Khaibar-1 rocket which was developed and manufactured in Syria. Apparently inspired by an earlier Chinese design, the Khaibar-1 can hit targets at a range of 62 miles when carrying a 331-pound warhead and has a launch weight of around 1,653 pounds. It can be fired from a six-round launcher and is judged to be one of the more capable designs in the Hezbollah rocket arsenal, having better accuracy and being generally easier to handle than comparable weapons used by the group.

An apparent Khaibar-1 rocket seized by Israeli security forces aboard an Iranian-registered ship in the Red Sea, about 930 miles from the Israeli coast, in March 2014. Photo by Pool/Israel Defence Forces/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

In 333mm caliber, the Falaq-2 has a range of between six and seven miles, carries a 265-pound HE warhead, and weighs a total of 562 pounds before launch. Versions of these weapons are launched from trucks or boats, but they can also be fired from a static launcher on the ground.

A Falaq-2 rocket in Iranian service. Hossein Zohrevand/Tasnim News Agency

Also in 333mm caliber are another pair of Iranian-developed weapons, the Shahin-1 and the Fajr-5. The Shahin-1 has a range of eight miles, a 419-pound HE warhead, and a launch weight of 847 pounds. The Fajr-5 has a range of 46 miles, a 198-pound HE warhead, and a launch weight of 2,017 pounds. It is typically fired from mobile four-round launchers.

Hezbollah militants ride on a vehicle carrying a Fajr-5 rocket during the annual parade in the southern town of Nabatiyeh on November 28, 2012. MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images

At the heavier end of the Hezbollah rocket inventory are the Zelzal series, Iranian developments of the Cold War-era Soviet FROG-7 short-range artillery rocket that were apparently delivered via Syria. Offering a much greater range and heavier payload than the Katyusha or the Iranian Fajr rockets, the spin-stabilized Zelzal can hit targets far deeper within southern Israel.

The primary versions are the Zelzal-1 with a range of 125-160 miles when carrying a 1,323-pound HE warhead, and a launch weight of 6,504 pounds; the Zelzal-2 has a range of 130 miles when carrying a 1,323-pound warhead, and a launch weight of 7,496 pounds.

An Iranian Zelzal-2 rocket during the Army Day parade in Tehran on April 18, 2009. Photo by BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images

What the Zelzal lacks in accuracy it makes up for in range and destructive power, although its cumbersome transporter-erector launcher (TEL) vehicle makes it a far bigger target than man-portable or small truck-launched rockets, for example. It appears that, in the past, Hezbollah has also been unwilling to use the Zelzal in anger, perhaps fearing wider retaliation from Israel, or possibly prompted by Iran and/or Syria.

Short-range ballistic missiles

Short-range ballistic missiles, or SRBMs are ballistic missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) or less. Iran, in particular, has made considerable efforts to develop missiles in this class. Some of these have been provided to Hezbollah, offering a significant advance in its long-range strike capabilities.

Capable of reaching targets at a distance of 155-186 miles, the Iranian Fateh-110 is a road-mobile SRBM that is reportedly derived from the Zelzal-2, but with the addition of control and guidance systems. Also in Hezbollahs hands is a similar Syrian-made version, the M-600, or Tishreen.

Between them, the Fateh-110 and M-600 are some of the longest-ranged weapons in the Hezbollah arsenal. They are able to carry an HE warhead weighing around 1,000 pounds and are reported to ensure a circular error probable (CEP) of 1,640 feet. However, the Fateh-110 has become increasingly accurate in later variants and derivatives, with GPS-assisted guidance added. The use of Fateh-110s and Zolfaghar (also written Zulfiqar) derivatives to target a U.S. military base at Erbil , in Iraq, in March 2022, as well as on other targets in Syria , suggests that current variants are much more accurate, offering true precision strike capabilities. It is unclear if Hezbollah has the latest versions, but if they do, that would be highly problematic for Israel.

A military truck parades the Fateh-110 SRBM during a military parade in the Iranian capital Tehran on September 22, 2010. ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

Hezbollah likely has hundreds of Fateh-110 and M-600 SRBMs available and its stocks may have been bolstered by transfers of Soviet-made Scud missiles from Syria , although this is unconfirmed. If Hezbollah operates Scuds, these would provide a moderate improvement in capabilities over its existing SRBMs, with a range of up to 342 miles and a warhead weighing up to 2,172 pounds. Although its TEL is hard to conceal, the Scud would also offer the advantage of being able to hit targets deep in Israel when fired from the Hezbollah-controlled north of Lebanon.

Regardless of whether or not Scuds are available to the group, it is obvious that the presence of SRBMs, in general, allows Hezbollah to hit anywhere in Israel and to do so with a heavy punch. This would be a particular concern if the militants were to employ such weapons to target key objectives in Israel, including its nuclear sites and key fortified bases, for example.

Anti-ship missiles

Hezbollahs anti-ship missile capabilities were brought into the public eye in dramatic fashion when the group struck the Israeli Navy Saar 5 class corvette INS Hanit off the coast of Lebanon in 2006. The weapon used was a Chinese-made C-802, reportedly fitted with an Iranian-supplied guidance system.

INS Hanit after the 2006 cruise missile attack. Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum via WikiCommons

The C-802 remains in Hezbollah service but it has since been joined by further developments of the same missile provided by Iran, which received stocks of the Chinese weapon during the 1990s before reverse-engineering them, producing the Noor, which is also used by Hezbollah.

The basic C-802 is a subsonic, sea-skimming weapon with a turbojet engine, a range of 75 miles, and a 364-pound warhead.

An Iranian Noor missile is launched during war games on April 25, 2010, in southern Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz. MEHDI MARIZAD/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli reports indicate that Hezbollah has since received an even more capable anti-ship weapon, the Russian-made Yakhont, the export version of the P-800 Oniks. Its unclear how these supersonic missiles got into Hezbollahs hands, although Syria, which uses these missiles as part of the Bastion coastal defense system, would seem to be the likely candidate. Past Western reports suggest that 12 of these powerful missiles are available to Hezbollah, although this number may since have grown.

For the time being, its unclear what kind of launch system they use. However, as Russia has demonstrated in Ukraine , the missile is also available to hit targets on land, as well. Its very high speed and flight profile make it a difficult target to intercept if Hezbollah were to decide to employ the missile in this way.

Speaking to the Israeli i24News channel, Israeli Col. Eyal Harel, the outgoing commander of the Israeli Navys Missile Boats Flotilla, declared : Even now we can already deal with the Yakhont with the tools at our disposal. But we should take the Yakhont very seriously; its not a toothless threat. If this thing is launched and hits  that would be bad.

https://www.twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1711186578692018505?s=20

The existence of these anti-ship missiles seriously complicates maritime operations in the eastern Mediterranean, including potentially far off the coast of Lebanon. This is not only a problem for the Israeli Navy but potentially also for the U.S. Navy, which would also be operating in a contested environment if Hezbollah enters the conflict, or they would have to move far enough away that the capabilities and deterrence they provide are eroded.

There is also the potential for Hezbollah to launch more complex attacks against naval vessels, using a combination of anti-ship missiles as well as drones, to attempt to overwhelm their air defenses. They could just openly threaten any shipping in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well, which would be a credible issue to contend with.

Drones

In common with its rockets and missiles, Hezbollah has received considerable assistance from Iran in order to field an increasing variety of drones, and in impressive numbers.

Back in 2004, Hezbollah sent an Iranian-made drone briefly into Israeli airspace , where it avoided detection before coming down in the Mediterranean Sea. More drone incursions followed in subsequent months, including an 18-mile surveillance flight over Israeli territory. This situation was an alarm call for the IDF, but since then, Hezbollahs drone capabilities have only increased drastically.

A composite of pictures provided in November 2004 by Hezbollah shows an unmanned spyplane flying over Israel. The Lebanese guerrilla group announced that month that it had sent a drone over Israel in retaliation for repeated violations of Lebanese airspace by Israel. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the overflight of its territory. Photo by -/HEZBOLLAH/AFP via Getty Images

By the time of the 2006 Lebanon War, Hezbollah had refined its drone operations to the point that it was able to launch multiple drones into Israeli airspace and to launch kinetic attacks using suicide drones. While the IDF claimed it shot down many of them, some of the explosives-packed drones succeeded in hitting targets in northern Israel.

Military drones at the Hezbollah memorial landmark in the hilltop bastion of Mleeta, near the Lebanese southern village of Jarjouaa. The landmark was built in 2010 to commemorate the Israeli withdrawal from the country. Photo by Nidal Alwaheidi/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

By 2010, Israeli officials were claiming that both Hezbollah and Hamas were in possession of drones with a range of more than 186 miles.

Provocative drone flights continued, meanwhile, including an incident in 2012 when a pair of the IAF's F-16 fighters shot down a Hezbollah-operated Iranian-made reconnaissance drone close to Israelis highly sensitive Dimona nuclear facility . Hezbollah has also expanded its drone operations into Syria, taking part in the conflict there and gaining valuable experience in the process.

While Hezbollahs drones are not necessarily sophisticated, they are available in large numbers, putting a further strain on the IDFs air defenses and also prompting the development of new weapons and tactics to deal with them. It seems highly possible that Hezbollahs increasing employment of uncrewed aerial vehicles was inspired by the conflict in Yemen, in which Iranian-supplied drones have been used to significant effect by the Houthi militia against Saudia Arabia.

In this photo released by the Israeli Defense Forces, the remains of a Hezbollah drone are displayed by Israeli soldiers after it was shot down by an Israeli Air Force jet on August 7, 2006, over Israel. Photo by Anna Brosh/IDF via Getty Images

The primary Hezbollah drones today include the Mirsad-1, which is broadly similar to the Iranian Abalil-T. It has a reported range of 93-124 miles and a 66-pound payload. It was an example of the Mirsad-1 that made the notorious  brief  incursion into Israeli airspace in 2004.

Larger and more capable is the Ayoub, which has some similarities with the Iranian Shahed-129 . This is assessed to have a range of at least 1,056 miles, an endurance of 15-24 hours, and a payload of approximately 330 pounds. It was an Ayoub drone that was shot down by Israeli F-16s over Dimona in 2012.

Iranians walk past a Shahed-129 drone during celebrations in Tehran to mark the 37th anniversary of the Islamic revolution on February 11, 2016. Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

In addition to these first-generation Hezbollah uncrewed aerial vehicles, the group has very likely received new and more advanced drones , with rumors that additional Iranian-designed types , such as later versions of the Mohajer , Sammad , Karrar , and Saegheh , for a total of thousands of drones, not including smaller, hobbyist-type drones .

Hezbollah has been using drones in Syria since at least 2014 . Here, however, there is a lack of clarity when it comes to which of these drones are operated by Iran, via its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps branch, and which are in the hands of Hezbollah operating in Syria. Examples of these are the drones that have been used in repeated attempts to attack the U.S. military base in Al Tanf , roughly 20 miles northeast of the Jordanian border.

In 2019, for example, a Hezbollah-aligned television station broadcast footage of what it claimed was one of the groups drones shadowing an American pilotless aircraft over Syria. The organization also said it was prepared to attack American forces or their partners if they crossed unspecified red lines in that country. For its part, the Pentagon has described drone attacks on Al Tanf as originating from pro-regime forces, implying they could be from Hezbollah, one of the local militias it is working with inside Syria or Iran.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3SqJWFZ6VU

Hezbollahs drone capabilities arent limited to overland operations, either. Just last year, Israel shot down three uncrewed aircraft the group sent out into the eastern Mediterranean Sea toward platforms in the Karish gas field. Those drones appeared to be configured for surveillance only Hezbollah released footage it said had been captured using the drones cameras. However, the potential for them to have been more of a threat was clear.

https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1543312037761122304 https://twitter.com/Defense785/status/1553712900430233600

Hezbollah's drone arsenal has no doubt only continued to expand in size and capability in recent years. Iran continues to make significant strides in developing and fielding various types of uncrewed aircraft. The Iranians, as well as their proxy groups , have shown off smaller drones capable of dropping munitions, including types inspired by the shape of the U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel they captured in 2011 , along with various kamikaze drones designed to just fly into their targets and detonate.

https://twitter.com/FeWoessner/status/1474647011773358081

These kinds of drones can be hard to spot and shoot down and are able to launch highly accurate attacks. They are also capable of flying further than artillery rockets and even, in many cases, short-range ballistic missiles. Their ability to fly along circuitous routes and attack from unpredictable vectors makes it even more difficult for opponents to defend against them .

Iranian-designed kamikaze drones , in particular, have become a staple among Tehrans proxies They are also now a central feature in Russias ongoing war in Ukraine . Irans continued drone developments overall can only be to the benefit of groups like Hezbollah. Israel is well aware of this threat and has been scrambling to keep up its defense posture to confront it.

An Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drone being employed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

The sheer number of rockets, SRBMs, anti-ship missiles, and drones in Hezbollahs hands makes any kind of interdiction campaign an extremely complicated proposition. If Hezbollah were planning a major attack on Israel it would almost certainly launch these weapons in barrages, to compound the problems faced by the IDFs air defenses. This, in turn, would demand a preemptive interdiction campaign to reduce the threat posed by all these weapons, which would not only tie up many of Israels own strike assets but also place a severe burden on its surveillance and intelligence capabilities, in order to pinpoint the weapons in the first place.

The highly mobile and concealable nature of many of these Hezbollah weapons makes it likely that only a portion would be discovered and destroyed over the course of a conflict. The deployment of additional such forces in Syria further complicates matters, potentially requiring an expanded Israeli interdiction campaign that also targets Hezbollah forces in this country in a far more active and broad role than what we have seen in the past.

Lebanese Hezbollah fighters stand near multiple rocket launchers during a press tour in the southern Lebanese village of Aaramta, on May 21, 2023, ahead of the anniversary of the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Overall, the developments in Hezbollahs strike capabilities in recent years mean that the militia group is now able to hold at risk multiple Israeli population centers, as well as infrastructure, and launch complex multi-faceted aerial attacks against them if it should decide to. While Israel has done anything but stand still as this threat has grown, even the most advanced and deeply layered air defense system in the world would face severe problems if it was called upon to defeat a large-scale onslaught from Hezbollah. No target in the country, no matter how far south, would be fully safe from its reach, either.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
Menendez and his wife arrive for the June 2023 state dinner in honor of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Stefani Reynolds)

A powerful US senator who was indicted last month on corruption charges was hit with an additional charge on Thursday -- allegedly acting as an unregistered agent of Egypt.

Senator Bob Menendez, 69, who has stepped down "temporarily" as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he took actions on behalf of Egyptian officials in exchange for bribes. He has defied calls to resign.

A superseding indictment filed by prosecutors on Thursday accused Menendez, his wife, Nadine Menendez, 56, and Wael Hana, an Egyptian-American businessman, of failing to register with the US government under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including gold bars and a Mercedes Benz automobile, between 2018 and 2022 in exchange for using his influence on behalf of the Egyptian government.

According to the indictment, Menendez "took a series of acts on behalf of Egypt, including on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials, and conspired to do so with" his wife and Hana.

It was the second corruption indictment in eight years against the veteran New Jersey politician and the case threatens his hold on his seat in Congress and the Democratic Party's slim majority in the Senate.

Democrats head into the 2024 elections with a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate.

Prosecutors said they found more than a half-million dollars in cash in Menendez's New Jersey home and in his wife's safe deposit box, allegedly received from three New Jersey businessmen seeking his help.

Menendez took the money to help protect two of the businessmen from Justice Department investigations, and to help the third, Hana, with a business monopoly granted to him by the Egyptian government, the indictment said.

Menendez, his wife, Hana and the two other businessmen, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, were charged with two counts of bribery and fraud. Menendez and his wife were also charged with extortion.

If found guilty, the most serious of the charges can bring up to 20 years in prison.

A senator since 2006 and before that a member of the House of Representatives for 14 years, Menendez has been a Democratic stalwart in Congress for three decades.

In 2015, he was charged with accepting bribes of private flights, luxury vacations and over $750,000 in illegal campaign donations.

But the charges were dismissed three years later after a deadlocked jury could not reach a verdict.

cl/dw
Performances at a high school pep rally sparked outrage and left a North Carolina principal disgusted, news outlets reported.

A video clip shared on social media shows someone in a Batman-like costume giving a lap dance and walking another person on a leash. Another performer can be seen lying against the floor while making a grinding motion.

McClatchy News is not posting the 30-second clip because it may show minors. The video reportedly was taken Oct. 6 at Oak Grove High School in the Winston-Salem area.

Principal Stefanie Stroud said the pep rally left her disgusted, appalled, upset, embarrassed and disappointed, calling the behavior unacceptable, according to The Dispatch newspaper and audio clips shared on social media.

Several users of Facebook and X  formerly known as Twitter  went online to share that they wanted answers. Some wondered whether the performance could have been stopped.

Davidson County Schools didnt immediately respond to McClatchy News requests for comment on Oct. 12. But the district told WFMY that outrage about the pep rally has boiled over.

As a result of the outrage on social media and those soliciting others to join in taking this as far as necessary, the video has gone viral, resulting in death threats against the school, Tabitha Broadway, the interim superintendent, wrote in a statement. While our administration at the school and district level, along with our board of education, agree completely that the student behavior in the video is inappropriate and unacceptable, the public response is posing a threat to the safety and security of students and staff in the school.

The district told The Dispatch that it has worked to address what happened at the pep rally.

Monkey noises targeted players from historically Black college at NC game, school says
Catch an all-new episode of The Hill with April Ryan every Thursday on theGrio.com and theGrios social media platforms.

On this weeks edition of The Hill with April Ryan, theGrios Washington bureau chief and White House correspondent, April D. Ryan, discusses the latest on attempts to prevent a government shutdown.

Shawyn Patterson-Howard, mayor of Mount Vernon, New York, and chair of the African American Mayors Association, tells Ryan she believes the pending deadline to fund the government, Nov. 17, will ultimately collide with  and be overshadowed by  this years elections on Nov. 7.

The U.S. Capitol Building is seen on Jan. 19, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Patterson-Howard says a shutdown would have devastating impacts on all, but particularly for Black communities in inner cities.

This weeks The Hill also dives into calls for Congress to reauthorize funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which subsidizes high-speed internet for low-income rural residents.

The federal government provides up to $30 for eligible American households, something public policy strategist Barbara Williams-Skinner tells theGrio could be the difference [for] a doctors visit online. Skinner said internet access is crucial for a range of things for Black Americans, like employment opportunities, church services, and even accessing information online for voting.

As we talk of rural America, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will conduct an official count of the number of Black farmers in the United States early next year. The population of Black farmers dropped drastically since the turn of the century when there were over a million of them.

Glenn Morris harvests corn on Oct. 11, 2021 in Princeton, Indiana. Morris is one of two full-time Black farmers who still farm in Lyles Station, a region of Indiana once dominated by Black farmers. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack acknowledged the Black farmers count five years ago determined there were about 50,000 Black farmers in America.

There has certainly been a diminishment of Black farmers, said Vilsack, who added that the overall number of farmers more broadly has also taken a hit. The secretary said decades ago, there were about 25 million agrarians who made farming their lifes work. Today, that number has dropped to 2 million.

The Hill also highlights a special moment between a little girl and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The young girl, Marley Rice, dressed up like the courts first Black female justice, wearing a Black robe and white lace collar when she met her.

For many, the special moment resembled the famous White House photograph of then-President Barack Obama and a little Black boy rubbing his head to make sure his hair was real  just like Americas first Black president.

Catch an all-new episode of The Hill with April Ryan every Thursday on theGrio.com and theGrios social media platforms.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post The Hill with April Ryan talks count of Black farmers, Justice Jacksons meeting with young admirer appeared first on TheGrio.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at NYU, accused Trump on Wednesday of encouraging violence.

Trump is "re-educating" his followers, she said, wanting them to see violence "in a positive light."

Ben-Ghiat spoke at a conference in New York City hosted by The New Republic.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian and expert on the far right in the United States and abroad, is convinced that former President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement are the real deal: a "right-wing counter-revolution in the fascist tradition."

Speaking Wednesday at a summit in Manhattan hosted by The New Republic, a liberal magazine, Ben-Ghiat  who urged Trump's prosecution in an interview last year with Insider  likened the United States to Chile in the years before a 1973 coup d'etat saw a socialist president overthrown and replaced by a conservative military dictator.

The forces of the right in Chile first spent years working to "discredit democracy and build an appetite for authoritarian rule," according to Ben-Ghiat, who teaches at New York University. It's the same kind of campaign she accused Trump of leading himself since he announced his first run for the presidency, setting the stage for the January 6 insurrection with years of aggressive rhetoric.

Trump "has been re-educating Americans since 2015," Ben-Ghiat said, "using his rallies, using his events, to see violence differently; to see violence in a positive light." He's a "superb propagandist," she said, and in his appeals to the baser emotions  of resentment and vengeance  he's helped his followers come to view "violence as necessary and patriotic."

"That's why he went to Waco," she said, referring to where Trump rallied his followers in March. Waco is where dozens of cult members died in a confrontation with the FBI under President Bill Clinton. It has ever since been a rallying cry for anti-government extremists. "That's why he went the gun store," she continued (the former president said he wanted to buy a Glock handgun but ultimately, according to his campaign, did not). "His campaign is a radicalization vehicle."

Some certainly took the president's comments on January 6, 2021, as a license to storm the US Capitol and try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, having already lost at the ballot box and in the courts. Prosecutors also accuse Trump of encouraging violence against anyone involved in the federal case over his efforts to stay in power, intimidating not just court staff but prospective jurors.

Violence, Ben-Ghiat argued, has indeed been normalized in MAGA politics. And it's not just Trump anymore. That's a troubling sign, she said, pointing to a rise in anti-democratic thinking.

"You have extremism that becomes mainstream," she said. "We're seeing that in our country. You have violence seen as the only way to change history and move things forward."

In August, for example, Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz appeared at the Iowa State Fair, where he insisted that "only through force do we make any change in a corrupt town like Washington, DC." That, Ben-Ghiat argued, is a chilling bit of incitement.

"I read that as him saying, 'Excuse me, elections won't work, democratic reform doesn't work," she said. But violence does.

"Trumpism and its allied movements they're all hitting notes that go back to the original fascist years," Ben-Ghiat said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
CHICAGO  Elizabeth French was crying when she turned and directly addressed Eric Morgan, a 25-year-old man who on Thursday admitted to his role in the shooting death of her daughter, Chicago police Officer Ella French.

My faith says I have to forgive, she told him. I cannot do that yet.

But she said she hopes he someday understands the value of a human life and what it meant to aid in taking her daughters life.

I can hope that you come to learn and understand how very wrong it was to help take Ellas, French said.

In front of a courtroom full of police officers at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Morgan pleaded guilty to three felony counts for his role in the August 2021 slaying of the 29-year-old officer who was shot during a traffic stop in West Englewood. Her partner, Officer Carlos Yanez, Jr., was seriously injured.

Judge Ursula Walowski sentenced Morgan to seven years in prison, per the terms of the plea agreement.

Elizabeth French delivered a statement to the court before Morgan was formally sentenced, an emotional tribute to her daughters work as a police officer and an expression of the grief she said shes lived with since she learned in the hospital that her daughter had died of her wounds.

As supporters wept in the gallery, French remembered her daughter as a baby, a teenager, a sworn officer and finally on the night she was killed. She described the silence of the small hospital room she was escorted to shortly before she was told her daughter did not survive the shooting. She told the judge about viewing her daughters body and later hugging her casket.

I want to hug and hold my daughter again but all I can do is hug a flag-draped casket and then she disappears, she said. I miss the presence of Ella every day.

She described Ella Frenchs first call as a police officer  an abandoned litter of puppies from which she took one home  and later in the months before she died, an emergency call of a baby who had been shot. She rushed the child to the hospital on her own.

French told the court about the last night she saw her daughter alive. They had dinner together, she said, chatting and hanging out.

I walked her to her car. I hugged her and kissed her. I told her I was proud of her, and told her I would see her soon, she said.

Yanez was in court for the hearing, and stood to hug Frenchs mother after she addressed the court.

Morgan was charged with 11 felonies, including gun charges and a count of obstruction of justice, but he was not charged with murder or accused of firing the shots that killed French and injured her partner. His brother, Emonte Morgan, is facing charges of first-degree murder and other felonies.

Morgan pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of justice. In exchange, prosecutors offered sentences of seven years, five years and three years on the three counts to run concurrently.

There is no legal or reasonable reason for me not to go along with this, Walowski said as she accepted the agreement.

Elizabeth French said she does not believe a seven-year sentence is long enough, but said it was not because she is a vengeful person.

Every day for the rest of your life, your mother will be able to tell you how much she loves you, she said. Your actions took that.

In a brief statement, Eric Morgan offered condolences to the family, though concluded his statement by saying he believes his brother is innocent.

I wish I could take back that night but you cant take back time, he said. I still believe my brother is innocent in this case.

His attorney, Roger Brown, said what happened to French and Yanez was tragic.

How do we get the guns out of the hands of young people. What makes them want to have a gun in their hands? he said. That is the question we must ask and must solve.

Prosecutors have alleged that Emonte Morgan fired multiple shots at the officers after French and two fellow officers stopped a gray SUV driven by Eric Morgan near West 63rd Street and South Bell Avenue on Aug. 7, 2021. Emonte Morgan was also shot during the confrontation.

French and her two fellow officers pulled over the SUV for expired plates, while Eric Morgan was driving his brother and a female passenger, prosecutors have said.

Eric Morgan handed over the keys when asked, prosecutors said at the 2021 bail hearing, but Emonte Morgan refused to put down a drink and a cellphone he was holding, leading to a scuffle, prosecutors said.

Eric Morgan ran away, while Emonte Morgan fired shots at the officers during the scuffle, prosecutors alleged.

French and her partner fell to the ground between the car and the curb, prosecutors said, with both their guns still holstered. The third officer had been chasing Eric Morgan.

The third officer returned and was fired upon by Emonte Morgan, prosecutors said. He returned fire and hit Morgan.

____
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FIRST ON FOX: House Republicans, led by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, are introducing legislation that would stop the release of $6 billion in frozen funds to Iran in the wake of the Iran-backed Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

The legislation would essentially re-freeze the $6 billion in Iranian funds that were released as a part of a prisoner swap. The deal created a blanket waiver to transfer the funds from South Korea to Qatar without fear of violating U.S. sanctions. Administration officials say the funds can only be used for "humanitarian needs like food and medicine."

"A month ago on the anniversary of 9/11, the Biden administration unfroze $6 billion and made it available to Iran  the worlds largest state sponsor of terror  while Iran was helping Hamas plan the horrific terror attacks on Israel," Pfluger said in a statement. "This $6 billion will be used to backfill the money that Iran is paying to Hamas if we dont act."

The unfreezing of the money took place nearly a month before Hamas terrorists launched a massive, deadly attack on Israel over the weekend. Republicans have focused on the money as a way that the U.S. may be enabled Iran to support the Hamas attack. It is a claim that the Biden administration has repeatedly rejected.

President Joe Biden, left, and Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , right.

REPUBLICANS, SOME DEM HOUSE LAWMAKERS URGE BIDEN TO REFREEZE $6B IN IRANIAN ASSETS

"Let's 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 Matt Miller said on Saturday.

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A State Department spokesperson said that the money in the accounts in Qatar "remains in Doha."

Rep. August Pfluger is leading the push on legislation that would stop the release of $6 billion in frozen funds to Iran.

"Not a penny has been spent, and it will never go to Iran  it can only be used for future humanitarian-related purposes. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading," they said.

Meanwhile, the White House said that nothing has been allocated "and we're going to watch it."

But Republican critics have said that money is fungible and have kept up the pressure on the administration on the matter. On Thursday, multiple outlets reported that the U.S. had reached a "quiet understanding" with Qatar not to release any of the money to Iran. But Pfluger rejected that claim.

BIDEN ADMIN 'UNEQUIVOCALLY' CONDEMNS TERROR GROUP HAMAS, SAYS US 'STANDS WITH ISRAEL'

"The Biden administrations quiet understanding is not good enough. They must plainly reject any funds going to Iran," he said. "Since the administration refuses to permanently freeze the funds, Congress will."

The legislation would rescind the waiver used to transfer the funds and limit the president from using waiver authority to permit Iran from granting access to the accounts in the future.

REPUBLICANS BLAST BIDEN FOR RELEASING $6B IN FROZEN IRAN FUNDS AHEAD OF HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with nuclear scientists and personnel of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday, June 11.

The bill has 106 co-sponsors and is backed by the Republican Study Committee, with Chairman Kevin Hern, R-Okla, and Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Mike Gallagher co-leading the legislation.

"The Biden Administration first downplayed Iran's role in Hamas' attacks and then, astonishingly, tried to claim the $6 billion they gave to Iran has nothing to do with it," Hern said. "Appeasing Iran does not work, it just gives them more resources to finance terrorism against Israel and cause chaos in the region."

He noted that Iran provides over $100 million a year to Hamas, and said that Congress must ensure Biden "does not follow through" with sending the money to Iran.

"As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, I am co-leading this legislation and will work to get a vote on the House floor as soon as possible," he said.

The bill comes after House China Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher led a bipartisan group of nearly 100 lawmakers urging Biden to refreeze the money. They pointed to remarks by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who say that the funds would be used "wherever we need it."

Fox News Brooke Singman contributed to this report.





Original article source: House Republican bill backed by over 100 lawmakers would refreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds
Hours before Rep. Kevin McCarthy s historic ousting as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, wrote a Washington Post opinion piece lamenting that no Republicans were willing to work across the aisle to ensure Congresss ability to govern. Nonetheless, Jeffries urged Republicans to join in opening a bipartisan door.

A plan for framing that doorway and walking through it is offered here amidst the chaotic race to replace McCarthy. On Wednesday, Donald Trumps preferred candidate, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Oh., lost a vote for the GOP nomination to Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who still needs to secure the support of 217 members of the House, including several of the Republicans who successfully booted McCarthy.

So suspend disbelief and ask: Could Hakeem Jeffries become Speaker before 2025? Simultaneous domestic and world crises can make strange political bedfellows.

Ironically, this bipartisan plan was recently forecasted with dread by McCarthy himself. He bitterly opined that the eight Republican extremists who defeated him were enabling Democrats to seize the opportunity to regain power in the House.Even so, the path is narrow and not without compromise for Democrats. Plainly, any prospect for such radical change of direction is, at best, weeks away. Things must get worse before they can get better.

Any sign of bipartisanship in Congress is currently blocked by threats to Republicans who dare contemplate working with party opponents to restore a functioning House. Those threats emanate from Donald Trumps sardonic musings about primarying Republicans who cooperate with Democrats. Then danger of violence ripples outward from those musings.

Before long, however, House paralysis may reach a tipping point. If dysfunction and deadlock continue, a November 17 government shutdown looms.

Growing public frustration with a Congress causing real suffering in the country could eventually persuade Republicans from districts won or closely contested by Biden to put their toe in the water of a bipartisan speakership for Jeffries, steering toward a negotiated moderate middle.

The need for congressional functionality in a world riddled by crisis, in the Middle East and Ukraine, could also add momentum for just such an improbable development.

Jeffries should now be designing a detailed plan. The one offered here is not the only option, but it provides key elements that may prove useful for representatives of both parties.

Road Map. Only five Republican House members need to align their speaker votes with the 212 Democrats to break the deadlock and elect Jeffries as Speaker. Eighteen Republican representatives were elected from districts won by President Biden. Two from New York, Marc Molinaro and Mike Lawler, previously admitted they would consider working with Democrats to solve the budget deadlock.

To enlist the needed five or more, Jeffries would have to fully embrace and empower any Republicans willing to save the country from gridlock. At least three political carrots could be dangled.

First, cooperating Republicans would be promised choice Committee assignments that carry weight with their constituents.

Second, cooperators will be credited as profiles in courage ready to take on political risk to restore a functional government.

Third, a Speaker Jeffries would involve the aligned Republicans in developing powerful consensus legislation with broad bipartisan public support. The joint legislative initiative would be announced at the time the coalition is unveiled. It could be ordered from the following menu.

Border control and immigration policy. There is a rising imperative for Biden to demonstrate a strong commitment to border control as the foundation for any immigration system reform. That creates an opportunity to go back to the future.

Ten years ago, a so-called Gang of Eight senators, four from each party, developed a relatively conservative bipartisan plan to tighten borders, screen for truly meritorious asylum cases, and permit immigration as needed to staff U.S. workforce niches (from farming to high tech). It passed the Senate with 14 Republicans in support. That blueprint could be dusted off, updated and elevated as a model of what bipartisanship can accomplish.

Support for Ukraines resistance of Russia. Despite media attention to MAGA Republicans opposition to more military aid for Ukraine, majorities of representatives of both parties support it.

They understand that if the Ukraine domino falls, other NATO neighbors would be at risk. A Russian invasion of any member state would trigger a US treaty obligation to defend it. Continued military support for Ukraine now is the way to avoid that disaster. This fits traditional Reagan/Eisenhower Republican convictions. It should draw the Republican Purple Gang to align to hold firm against Russia.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Rationalize the appropriations process. Pragmatic members in both parties want to avoid the recurring specter of freezing the government and jeopardizing US international financial standing.

Secure basic voting rights. Apply time-honored fairness and access principles with some variation on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, likely with needed concessions to reasonable Republican demands for voter identification.

Basic gun safety measures. Respond to the strong public preference for enhanced gun safety by at least clamping down on assault weapons, large ammunition clips, and gun purchase age limits.

Importantly, the risk brave Republicans would be taking by supporting this agenda along with a Jeffries speakership would be matched by risks to Jeffries and House Democrats. Jeffries would be elevating the political stature of Republican allies in their moderate districts, which could diminish prospects for a 2025 Jeffries speakership based on a Democratic majority.

Of course, this good governance coalition cannot happen absent a prolonged Congressional stand-still and a government frozen in inertia. In such circumstances, to get the country moving, Jeffries would need to whip his own caucus to support collaboration with purple Republican House members.

The alternative: a nation stuck in dysfunction at a time of national and world crisis. We are looking straight down the barrel at that grim alternative. There is a better path. The planning should begin now.
Howard Forman, a former state senator and Broward County clerk of court, died Thursday, his daughter, Iris Forman, said. He was 77.

Forman wore several different hats during his time in South Florida. He was a fixture in Broward County politics for more than three decades, starting out as a Hallandale city commissioner in 1973 before he became a Broward County Commissioner.

A Democrat, he then went on to become a state senator, representing cities in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, before becoming the Broward County clerk of court in 2000.

Forman lived in South Florida for more than 70 years, moving to North Miami Beach around the age of 6, his daughter said.

He bought a home in Miramar in 1978, where Iris and her sister, Rosette Forman, Howard Formans other daughter, still live now.

Rosette has autism, Iris said, which inspired Howard Forman to become a pioneer in politics to create laws assisting people with special needs.

He was always looking at what future generations and what the next generation would benefit from, Iris Forman said.

Iris Forman recalls joining her father for long drives through the state, stopping at different landmarks where he would teach her about Floridas history and environment.

My dad was obsessed with our state, she said. He loved to see the future of his constituency and the future of the state.

He cared about family, too, said Judy Stern, a political consultant and family friend to Howard Forman who knew him for much of his career.

He was just a very gentle and compassionate man, she said. He was a fighter for what he believed was in the best interest for the rights of people and the rights to access.

Forman was a supporter of stricter gun control laws and expanding human services specifically for the elderly, children and people with disabilities. Iris Forman said he also cared for environmental preservation.

During the 1991 legislative session, Howard Forman sponsored bills implementing a three-day statewide wait for handgun purchases, setting up the Department of Elderly Affairs and revising the charitable solicitation law, according to a report card written about Forman in the Miami Herald.

He continued to argue in vain for a new tax to give South Florida a greater share of the states mental health money, the report reads. He pushed a tax on commercial real estate transactions, sought by counties to pay for affordable housing. But the tax died in the sessions last hour when Forman failed to get a two-thirds vote to bring it to the Senate floor.

Well pass it next year, Forman said, reaching for his cigar.

In 2008, the Sun Sentinel editorial board strongly recommended voters to reelect Forman for a third term as Broward Countys clerk of courts as he continues efforts to make the office more consumer friendly.

Howard Forman is an experienced public official who has done a good job upgrading the technology in the Broward Clerk of the Courts office, the editorial board wrote.

Iris Forman remembers her dad as someone who wasnt afraid of technology, even though he himself was not quite technologically literate, she said.

He knew that it was so critical, and he understood the importance of it, and he never shied away from it, she said. He wanted the courthouse to be digital when he got in office.  Even though he knew he couldnt navigate it, that was the direction of the future.

Formans wife of 26 years, Susan Joy Schwartzman Forman, died in 2011 from complications after she was diagnosed with pneumonia and a collapsed lung. She was a retired local Democratic activist, lobbyist and political consultant.

Howard Forman remarried in 2013.

Howard Formans ex-wife, Brenda Forman, works as the current Broward County Clerk of Courts. The pair ran against each other for the position in 2019 when Howard Forman was 73 and emerging from retirement.

I feel very youthful at this point of my life, Howard Forman said at the time. I tried retirement, and it was interesting. I kept busy. That was my biggest challenge.

Brenda and Howard Forman were married until 2018.

During the time that he and I were married, we had a great marriage, Brenda Forman said. The community just knew who Howard Forman was, when he was in the Senate, he got on the floor and he fought for a lot of rights for those who are here in Broward County. So he will be remembered for doing what was good for the community, all of the community, regardless of who they were, where they came from or whatever their status may have been.

In Pembroke Pines, where Forman lived for many years, the Senator Howard C. Forman Human Services Campus, which offers various services for children, families and seniors in southeast Florida, will bare Formans legacy for years to come.

I see it every day when I drive, its my reminder every day that hes going to be with our community, Iris Forman said. His mark on Broward County is indelible, its just permanent in the best way possible.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto arrived in Moscow on the evening of Oct. 12, according to photos he posted to Facebook.

"Arriving in Moscow. Cold weather is coming, energy security is in the spotlight again," he captioned the photos.

Unlike other European officials, Szijjarto is a regular visitor to Russia, with this trip being his fifth to the country since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The minister is in Moscow to take part in the Russian Energy Week forum, according to Russian media.

He previously attended Russian Energy Week in October 2022, following his July 2022 trip to the country to discuss natural gas transportation.

He again flew to Moscow in April 2023 for energy talks.

In June 2023, he was the only high-ranking official from the West to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The event is held under the patronage of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

On Sept. 22, Szijjarto told the Russian state news agency TASS that new sanctions against Russia "are not necessary" and "cause more harm to Europe than to Russia."

Budapest has a history of opposing international sanctions against Russia while blocking funding for Ukraine, despite Hungary being a member of the European Union and NATO.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Ukraine is a financially "non-existent" and "no longer sovereign" state due to its "dependence" on international support.

On Oct. 3, Budapest proposed cutting a 50 billion European Union funding package for Ukraine down to 25 billion.

Read also: Hungary issues more demands following suspension of OTP Bank from international sponsors of war list

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
An Idaho town was evacuated after a huge gas line explosion caused rumbles to be felt across the area.

The Canyon County Sheriffs Office ordered the evacuation of anyone within a four-mile radius of Purple Sage Road and Duff Lane in Middleton, Idaho due to a gas line explosion that occurred near the intersection.

Officials urged locals to contact anyone you might know in that general area and help get them evacuated as a safety precaution following the accident on Thursday morning.

Authorities later reported that the gas had been turned off. The evacuation notice has been lifted. Anyone within a 4-mile radius is being asked to shelter in place at this time, the sheriffs office wrote.

A worker in an excavator dug through a 22-inch Williams pipeline, natural gas transmission line, causing the explosion, the battalion chief said. The excavator operator suffered minor injuries and has been treated at a local hospital, he added.

Following the explosion, locals reported hearing rumbles nearby, sheriffs office spokesperson Joe Decker told the Associated Press.

The explosion was felt and the gas flow could be felt about a mile away. It was a pretty substantial explosion just due to the pressure in that line, Middleton Star Fire District Battalion Chief David Jones said during a briefing.

It was a pretty substantial explosion just due to the pressure in that line, Mr Jones added. However, he clarified that there shouldnt be an interruption in local gas service to the 10,000 residents of Middleton.
[Source]

The Pew Research Center has released data indicating a decline in religious affiliation among Asian Americans.

Religiously unaffiliated: In 2012, 26% of the Asian American population reported being religiously unaffiliated, but this figure has now risen to 32%. A new Pew study released Wednesday revealed that the percentage of Asian American Christians dropped from 42% in 2012 to 34% today, while Buddhism decreased slightly by 3%. However, Hinduism and Islam saw slight increases, going from 10% to 11% and 4% to 6%, respectively.

Broader trend in the U.S.: This decline in religiosity reflects a broader trend in the U.S., where the percentage of adults with no religion has grown from 16% to 29% over a decade. Moreover, 40% of Asian Americans still express a sense of closeness to religious traditions, even if they do not identify with a specific religion.

More from NextShark: Scientists accidentally turn humid air into clean energy

Factors in the decline: The decline in religious affiliation among Asian Americans may be attributed to factors such as political influences, with some individuals feeling alienated due to political stances on issues like abortion, immigration and social programs. Younger Asian Americans born in the U.S. and who lean Democratic tend to be more religiously unaffiliated, with Chinese and Japanese Americans having the lowest rates of religious affiliation at 56% and 47%, respectively.

Family background and cultural ties: The way Americans define religion can also make it challenging to understand or measure Asian belief systems. The data indicates that many Asian Americans feel "close to" religious traditions for reasons such as family background or cultural ties.

For some Asian Americans, their traditions are seen more as philosophies rather than religions. This is particularly true for Buddhism, where 35% of religiously unaffiliated Asian Americans express a sense of closeness to Buddhism for non-religious reasons. Some also feel close to Christianity due to cultural exposure in the U.S., even if they do not identify with it as a religion.

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The senior senator from New Jersey and former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was an illegal unregistered operative for the Egyptian government, an updated criminal complaint alleges.

The document, which prosecutors filed in Manhattan federal court Thursday morning, accuses Sen. Bob Menendez of acting not just on behalf of the businessmen who they say bribed him, but of the regime in Cairo itself. The superseding indictment marks a dramatic escalation of the severity of the corruption charges filed against Menendez, his wife, Nadine Arslanian, and three accomplices last monthand to which they have all pleaded not guilty.

Menendez, the Justice Department alleges, not only violated the Foreign Agent Registration Act by facilitating the flow of aid and information to the regime in exchange for bribes that ranged from cash to furniture to gold bars, but broke the Senate rules barring members from working for overseas interests. And like the initial iteration of the complaint, the new one uses Menendezs own wordsnamely, letters he penned in 2020 urging the feds to investigate former GOP Rep. David Rivera for FARA-related crimes.

"The Act is clear that acting directly or indirectly in any capacity on behalf of a foreign principal triggers the requirement to register under FARA, the senator wrote at the time.

Yet the prosecutors claim that Menendez was doing just that for his Egyptian benefactors.

The new charging documents include eye-bugging allegations that even the often-boggling original indictment did not include. They describe a 2019 meeting between Menendez, his wife, alleged co-conspirator and halal magnate Wael Hana, and an intelligence operative for Cairo in the senators office in which they discussed injuries a U.S. citizen received during a botched Egyptian airstrike using American-made helicopters that hit a tour group.

This crisis had led to several U.S. lawmakers freezing aid to the country. The indictment notes Menendez subsequently conducted web research on the victim and the incident, while the unnamed Egyptian official messaged Hana in Arabic promising that if the senator resolved the matter, "he will sit very comfortably. Hana allegedly answered orders, consider it done. The official then advanced other materials to Hana that he forwarded to Menendezs wife, and which she passed to her husband.

At that same May dinner, Hana and the Egyptian allegedly pressed Menendez to lean on the U.S. Department Agriculture, which was looking into Hanas monopoly on the Egyptian meat import business. At that meeting, Menendezs wife was allegedly so brazen as to inquire "what else can the love of my life do for you?"

The senator responded bitterly to the new allegations, highlighting his history of publicly criticizing the Egyptian government, and suggesting his own countrys authorities were attempting to cow him into pleading guilty.

The governments latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi on these issues. I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one countrythe United States of America, the Democrat said in a statement to The Daily Beast. It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic.

Hanas lawyers answered with a similarly fierce denial.

The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian Government is as absurd as it is false, they wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this new and baseless allegation.

Attorneys for Arslanian did not respond to a request for comment.

Editors note: Updated to include comment from Menendez.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Warning: Some readers may find the details in the indictments graphic.

Indictments have been handed up against a man and a woman accused in the disappearance and death of a Newton County woman.

Morgan Bauer vanished in Feb. 2016. Bauer, who was 19 at the time, came to the Atlanta metro area after moving from South Dakota. Her phone last pinged in Porterdale, and her loved ones searched for answers for seven years.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

In August, police identified Katelyn Goble and Jonathan Warren as suspects in her disappearance. They were arrested in Illinois and California.

Channel 2 Action News obtained a copy of the indictments from Newton County Superior Court that reveal new details from the night Bauer was killed.

The indictments list strangulation as the cause of death for Bauer, alleging that both Goble and Warren put their hands around her neck.

The indictments go on to accuse the suspects of burning Bauers body after she died and destroying physical evidence.

RELATED STORIES:

Goble and Warren each face charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence and concealing the death of another.

Warrens indictment also lists a necrophilia charge.

Both Goble and Warren were extradited to Newton County and remain in jail with no bond.

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Channel 2 Action News has been following the latest developments in the Bauer case since July when federal agents assisted Porterdale police and various other law enforcement agencies in a search of a residence, looking for items related to the case.

NewsChopper 2 was over the scene, where there were several tents set up in a wooded area near a large home. Police released video of FBI agents slowly combing the property in grid formation.

Police said a new search warrant was issued based on new details that recently came to light. Officers said after that items of evidentiary value had been found at the house on Broad Street during their search.

Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes spoke to Bauers mother via phone.

As a parent and a person, I would hope youd want to come forward not only to solve this case, but to bring peace to Morgan and her friends and the rest of her family, Sherri Keenan said.

Police nor the indictments have revealed what evidence was found or how its connected to Goble and Warrens arrests.
Luis Pacheco, President of the K'iche' Indigenous organization "48 Cantones de Totonicapan," poses for photos with Mayors, who are members of the organization, outside the Attorney Generals headquarters in Guatemala City, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. The 48 Cantones de Totonicapan is an Indigenous organization that has been leading the national protests asking for the resignation of Guatemalas Attorney General Consuelo Porras for her attempts to invalidate the recent presidential election. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

GUATEMALA CITY (AP)  One of the leaders of the nationwide protests against efforts to undermine Guatemalas elections that have paralyzed much of the countrys commerce for nearly two weeks is a young one-time law student who now heads up one of the countrys most important Indigenous organizations.

While Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei tries to draw President-elect Bernardo Arevalo into a dialogue aimed at ending the protests, Luis Pacheco says that it isnt Arevalos call to make and that Giammattei could end them by meeting their demands.

Guatemala has been roiled throughout much of this years election cycle and even a resounding victory by Arevalo in August did not calm it. The academic and former diplomat ran on a platform of battling corruption that observers say has unnerved Guatemalas entrenched power structure.

This month's protests have been the largest public display rejecting the administration's questioning of the election. Protesters have peacefully blocked key roadways at more than 100 points across the country. Giammattei this week made clear his intention to clear them by force if necessary.

The protesters have made Attorney General Consuelo Porras the target of their ire. Since Arevalo was the surprise second-place finisher in an initial round of voting in June, her office has pursued investigations related to how Arevalo's Seed Movement party collected signatures required to register years earlier and multiple investigations related to the election itself.

For Pacheco and the 48 Indigenous communities he represents northwest of Guatemalas capital, the solution is simple: Porras, one of her prosecutors and a judge who suspended Arevalos party have to go.

Were not asking for something that cant be done, we are not asking for constitutional reforms, which would be more complicated, Pacheco said late Tuesday. He stood a block from one of the roadblocks in Guatemala City, holding the wooden staff that signals his position and his customary wide-brimmed hat and shoulder bag. His manner of speaking was measured and calm.

Pacheco said the galvanizing moment for the Kiche people he represents was a raid on electoral offices broadcast live in which federal agents opened and took away  despite resistance from some electoral officials  boxes containing precinct vote tally sheets. The people already voted and you have to respect the decision taken, he said.

We know that they dont want to lose the power they have, Pacheco said.

The protests have been largely peaceful. Demonstrators allow ambulances to pass, as well as trucks carrying basic food stuffs and gasoline. We dont want to kill ourselves as people, he said. What we want to show is that we want to defend and take back democracy.

Pacheco cited Atanasio Tzul, an Indigenous leader who led an uprising in 1820 demanding rights, as an influence.

Alvaro Pop, former chairman of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, said that what is happening now in Guatemala is the end of a cycle in which the government has tried to eliminate or transform the protest.

In 2015, thousands of Guatemalans took to the streets, eventually forcing then-President Otto Perez Molina to resign over corruption allegations. In 2020, Giammattei violently put down protests against his administration.

Guatemalans are much more conscious than in previous years of the pervasive corruption in their government, Pop said, in large part because of the years of work by a U.N.-backed anticorruption mission.

The Indigenous peoples (call for the protests) because they are the ones with the moral standing to do so and that is why there is a response and support, but there is the risk that the protests are undermined by racism, Pop said.

Pacheco, mayor of the town of Juchanep, will only hold the rotating post of president of the 48 cantons for a year, but is aware that his role in the protests could lead to persecution.

Recently, a far-right activist closely aligned with Porras filed a complaint against Pacheco alleging damage committed by protesters. Often this is a prelude to criminal charges.

Were not here on behalf of a political party, were not defending Arevalo so he can assume the presidency, no one else decided this, Pacheco said. Not even if Arevalo told us to stop the protests, were not going to do it. The negotiation is between the Indigenous peoples and the government.
South Sulawesi governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo is pictured before meeting with legislative members in Makassar

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's anti-graft agency (KPK) has named the country's former agriculture minister as a suspect in a graft case, its deputy chief said, becoming the sixth member of President Joko Widodo 's cabinet to face corruption allegations.

Syahrul Yasin Limpo, who resigned last week after KPK raids on his multiple houses and ministry, said via his lawyer that he will cooperate with the investigation.

KPK named Limpo as a suspect for allegedly instructing two colleagues to force officials to pay him at most $10,000 in exchange for positions or participation in procurement projects at the ministry.

The money allegedly came from the ministry's marked up budget and further investigation against Limpo is ongoing, deputy KPK chief Johanis Tanak said late on Wednesday.

Limpo and his colleagues allegedly received about 14 billion rupiah ($892,288), Johanis said, adding some of the money was allegedly used to pay for Limpo's luxury car and credit card bills.

The KPK said raids on Limpo's houses and ministry had found billions of rupiah in cash.

Indonesia's president, commonly known as Jokowi, appointed an acting agriculture minister last week.

Limpo is the sixth minister in Jokowi's cabinet to face corruption allegations. Earlier this year, authorities arrested the then communications minister on corruption charges. Jokowi's social affairs and fisheries ministers were jailed in 2021.

($1 = 15,690.0000 rupiah)

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia and Stanley Widianto; Editing by Michael Perry)
The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of the man sentenced to life in prison in the 2018 slaying of Mollie Tibbetts.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 29, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2021. Tibbetts, 20, was a University of Iowa student from Brooklyn, Iowa when she went for a run on July 18, 2018, and disappeared. The search for her drew national attention and kicked off a monthlong manhunt that ended when Bahena Rivera, a Mexican national, led investigators to the rural cornfield where they found her remains.

Attorneys for Bahena Rivera argued to the Iowa Court of Appeals that statements he made to law enforcement on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21 should have been suppressed because he made the statements while he was in custody, but had not been read his Miranda Rights.

Appeals Court Judge Julie Schumacher wrote that Miranda warnings are only necessary if a subject being questioned is deemed to be in custody. Law enforcement initiated the conversation with Bahena Rivera, but he was offered a chance to terminate the conversation and he declined to do so, Schumacher wrote.

Similar issue: Iowa Supreme Court rules ex-Simpson College professor's statements can be used in murder trial

Bahena Rivera was questioned for six hours on Aug. 20 into Aug. 21, 2018, at the Poweshiek County Sheriff's Office. Officers demonstrated to him that the door was unlocked, not blocked and Bahena Rivera signaled that he understood he was free to leave, Schumacher wrote.

He also had access to his cell phone so he could get a ride home, despite law enforcement searching his vehicle at the same time, Schumacher wrote. Bahena Rivera is an undocumented immigrant in the United States. An immigration detainer was put in place on him around 11:30 p.m. that night.

"Bahena objectively confirmed he understood he was free to leave. And while the questions by the interviewers were sometimes accusatory, they did not rise to the level of undermining Bahenas freedom of movement similar to that of a formal arrest," Schumacher wrote.

As a result, Bahena Rivera was determined not to be in custody and Miranda warnings were not required. Thus his statements could be admitted.

Cristhian Bahena Rivera speaks to court interpreter Steven Rhodes during Bahena Rivera's trail, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in the Scott County Courthouse, in Davenport, Iowa.

Bahena Rivera also argued that because of a language barrier between him and officers who found Tibbetts' body, the Miranda warnings they gave him were inadequate and his waiver was not made knowingly.

The officer who read Bahena Rivera his Miranda Rights after Tibbetts' body was found made grammatical errors while informing him of his rights. But the warnings were adequate, Schumacher wrote.

"While there were a few grammatical mistakesshe informed Bahena that he had 'The right to remain silence' and that an attorney 'Will be assign to you without charge'the grammatical errors do not rob the warnings of their meaning," Schumacher wrote.

After the prosecution and defense rested their cases, but before the jury returned a verdict in the July 2021 trial, Bahena Rivera's attorneys argued that a new trial should be granted because of a theory that Tibbetts was killed by a drug dealer and sex trafficker who framed Bahena Rivera after investigators looking for her came too close to where she was hidden.

That motion was denied at the time. Gavin Jones, an associate of an accused drug dealer and sex trafficker Michael Lowe, claimed to have killed Tibbetts, dismembered her and wrapped her body in a tarp. But her remains were not dismembered or in a tarp when they were found, Schumacher wrote.

During the trial, evidence related to a 2019 investigation into Lowe for alleged trafficking was suppressed. But evidence related to the Lowe investigation did not offer a reasonable probability of a different outcome, Schumacher wrote.

"The only evidence tying Lowe to this case is the statements Jones made about working for a 50-year-old sex traffickerLowe was about 50 at the time of Tibbettss death," Schumacher wrote. "Outside of that, nothing suggests Lowe was in any way involved with the case."

Philip Joens covers public safety, retail, real estate and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa appeals court confirms conviction of Mollie Tibbetts' killer
(Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Thursday that the continuation of crimes against Palestinians will receive a response from "the rest of the axis" and Israel will be responsible for the consequences.

Israel has been pounding Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas rampage in Israel this week that has killed at least 1,300 people, the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history. More than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed.

The Iranian minister said the displacement of Palestinians and cutting water and electricity to the Gaza Strip are considered war crimes.

"Some Western officials have questioned if there is an intention to open a new front against the Zionist entity. Of course, in light of the continuation of these circumstances that are war crimes," he said, speaking through a translator, on television upon his arrival in Beirut.

"The continuation of war crimes against Palestine and Gaza will receive a response from the rest of the axis. And naturally, the Zionist entity and its supporters will be responsible for the consequences of that," Amirabdollahian said.

He did not specify, but the Axis of Resistance refers to an alliance among Iran, Palestinian militant groups, Syria, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and other factions.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam, writing by Yomna Ehab and Enas Alashray; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday talked with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the phone for the first time since a deadly war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Mohammad Jamshidi , the deputy chief of staff for political affairs for Irans Raisi, said the two leaders agreed on the need to end war crimes against Palestine during a 45-minute call.

Islamic unity was stressed & both believed the regimes crimes & the US green light will cause destructive insecurity for the regime & backers, Jamshidi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

State-run news outlet Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported the crown prince expressed concern that Palestinian rights were being violated.

Crown Prince Mohammed also said an extensive Israeli response to a Hamas attack last weekend could escalate tensions in the region, according to IRNA.

Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry also said the crown prince stressed his country was attempting to halt any escalation in hostilities through a broad international dialogue with world leaders. And he emphasized his nations unwavering stance for Palestinian rights, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Iran has faced renewed scrutiny after the Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 Israeli people, including women and children.

Iranian forces have long funded and supported Hamas, the militant and political group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and Tehran has called the deadly attack last weekend a victory for Palestine.

Raisi on Thursday personally congratulated the Palestinian resistance movement and called Israels ongoing airstrikes on Gaza war crimes, IRNA reported.

Experts assess that part of Irans overall strategy is to chip away at Israels security and damage it over time through proxy groups such as Hamas.

Another goal is to cripple its standing in the Middle East, where Israel was working to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has never had diplomatic relations with Israel, a state created in 1948.

Crown Prince Mohammed, however, has been working with the U.S., a mutual ally with Israel, in recent months to reach a normalization deal.

Iran has warned against any normalized ties with Israel, and the Hamas attack may prevent such a deal from being reached anytime soon.

The U.S. has said Iran is broadly complicit for the Hamas attack. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken at least twice in the past week with Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and both have agreed to remain in touch as the conflict develops.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israel carried out attacks against airports in Syria on Thursday, according to reports. Syrian state television said the strikes targeted the main airports in Damascusthe capitaland the northern city of Aleppo. A local media channel said no casualties were reported at the Aleppo airport strike but provided no details about the consequences of the attack in Damascus, according to Reuters. Sources cited by the wire say the strikes are intended to disrupt Iranian supply lines to Syria. The attacks also come a day before Hossein Amirabdollahian, Irans foreign minister, was due to visit Syria. On Wednesday, Israel shelled targets in Lebanon after it claims a military post near the border was attacked, with Hezbollah claiming the assault was a reprisal for three of its fighters being killed on Monday.

Read it at Reuters

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A survivor of the massacre at a music festival in Israel said she could hear Hamas terrorists laughing as they killed people. Shani Ohana spoke to CNNs Kaitlan Collins about the agonizing hours she spent hiding from the gunmen after she fled the site of the Nova festivalwhere Israeli authorities would later find at least 260 bodies in the wake of Saturdays massacre. Ohana said she spent nine hours hiding in bushes with her friends after she miraculously avoided being shot herself, but that the killers came close enough to the groups hiding place that she could hear them speaking. We could hear them talking, Ohana said. We could hear them laughing while they were shooting. She added: You could hear them on their voices that they were having fun, that they were like: Yes, we finally did this.

Shani Ohana, who survived the Hamas attack by hiding in the bushes for nearly 9 hours, says she heard Hamas terrorists laughing as they massacred people. They were laughing. Always shooting and laughing. You can hear in their voices that they were having fun. pic.twitter.com/tEgOaKcsxc  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 12, 2023

Read more at The Daily Beast.
An aerial view shows damage caused following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel

An aerial view shows damage caused following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel

(Reuters) - Israel has formed an emergency unity government, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sitting in a war cabinet with centrist former defence minister Benny Gantz .

The move came as the Israeli military pounds Gaza to root out the Palestinian militant group Hamas, ahead of a possible ground offensive in the Palestinian coastal strip.

Most of the 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip have no electricity and no water and 340,000 are now homeless. And, with hundreds of Israeli strikes raining down on their tiny enclave, they have nowhere to run. With the strip's only other border blocked by Egyptian authorities, the people said they were trapped.

CONFLICT

* Addressing American Jewish community leaders at the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden called the Hamas attack on Israel "the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust."

* U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Israel on Thursday, in a show of solidarity.

* The UN Security Council will meet on Israel, Gaza on Friday.

* Israeli schools, which have been shuttered, will shift to remote learning on Sunday. The online studies "will focus first and foremost on emotional and social aspects, in order to strengthen resilience.

* Israeli shelling hit southern Lebanese towns in response to a fresh rocket attack by Hezbollah.

* Governments around the world have arranged repatriation flights from Tel Aviv as the war escalates.

* Hamas militants holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage have threatened to execute a captive for each home in Gaza hit without warning. There was no indication Hamas had carried out its threat.

HUMAN IMPACT

* In Israel, one woman is still searching for news of six missing family members. "There's a 9-month-old baby and a 3-year-old child. And my aunt has Parkinson's disease...."I want them back. We all want our family back."

* Gaza's 75 years of woe from the end of British rule to the present day - a brief history.

* On the grass of the kibbutz in Beeri, Israel, bodies in white body bags were laid out in rows. "I thought I'd seen enough but nothing could prepare me for what happened there. The smell of bodies - as many times as I've showered this week - I can't get that smell out," a first responder said.

* "There are no wreaths left in Israel anymore," said one of the many volunteers working to prepare funeral flowers for more than 1,200 Israelis killed since Hamas gunmen burst into Israel.

* Gazan rescuers pulled the body of a 4-year-old girl and other dead from the rubble of a municipal building where she and many others were sheltering. "They tried to escape death only to find it," said volunteer Mohammad al Najjar.

* Israeli volunteers helped gravediggers at Israel's main military cemetery as burials began for slain soldiers. "I decided that I'm going to do something for the people of Israel" said one.

* Hundreds of cars lie abandoned in the scramble to flee a massacre at an Israeli music festival where Hamas gunmen killed 260 people and took captives back into Gaza. The scene underlines the scale of the deadliest attack on Israel in decades.

INSIGHTS/EXPLAINERS

* How a secretive Hamas commander masterminded the attack on Israel. A survivor of seven Israeli assassination attempts, the most recent in 2021, Mohammed Deif rarely speaks and never appears in public so when Hamas's TV channel announced he was about to speak on Saturday, Palestinians knew something significant was afoot.

* Hamas waged a campaign of deception to pull off its stunning attack.

* What's the Israel-Palestinian conflict about? The fighting between Israel and Hamas is the latest in seven decades of war and conflict. Here's how it all got started.

INTERNATIONAL REACTION

* Initial U.S. intelligence reports show that key Iranian leaders were surprised by the unprecedented attacks on Israel by Hamas, according to a source.

* A surge in doctored images, mislabelled videos and graphic online violence related to the Israel-Hamas conflict prompted the EU to urge Big Tech to remove illegal content or risk legal penalties.

* Pope Francis called for the release of all hostages taken by Hamas militants. He said Israel has a right to defend itself after seeing "a feast day turn into a day of mourning" but was "very worried by the total siege in which Palestinians live in Gaza."

MARKETS AND BUSINESS

* Oil prices fell as fears of disruption to supplies due to conflict in the Middle East receded a day after top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia pledged to help stabilise the market.

* Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron said he would extend his five-year term "given the emergency situation and the challenges to the Israeli economy at this tough time," the central bank said.

* The cost of insuring Israel's debt against default surged to the highest level since 2013.

* International airlines have suspended hundreds of flights to and from Tel Aviv following the attack. Here's a list.

* U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stuck to her view that the American economy is headed for a soft landing. "Of course the situation in Israel causes additional concerns. I'm not saying soft landing is an absolutely sure thing. But I continue to think it's the most likely path."

(Editing by Stephen Farrell, Gerry Doyle, Andrew Cawthorne, Lisa Shumaker and Michael Perry)
Israels health minister has told medical staff in the public health system that they should refuse care to captured Hamas attackers. Since the beginning of the fighting, the issue of treating the damned and despicable Hamas terrorists within the public hospitals has piled up a tremendous difficulty on the health system, Moshe Arbel wrote in a directive, according to The Jerusalem Post. In these difficult times, the health system should focus fully on the treatment of the victims of the criminal massacre, the IDF soldiers and preparedness for the next.

Read it at The Jerusalem Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Dan Schwarzfuchs said he and his team rushed to Soroka hospital in Beersheba as soon as he heard two consecutive sirens wailing early Saturday (Yuri CORTEZ)

Dan Schwarzfuchs has led the emergency unit in southern Israel's biggest hospital for almost a decade, but the rhythm of wounded rushing in since Hamas's bloody weekend assault was unimaginable for him.

"The moment we finished treating a patient and transferred the person to the operation room or to intensive care, another wounded would immediately take their place," Schwarzfuchs, 60, told AFP.

"The floor of the entire trauma unit was covered in blood, we didn't stop cleaning it."

With cover from a barrage of rockets, Hamas militants had breached Israel's southern border on Saturday, pouring in by air, land and sea to gun down civilians in the streets and in their homes.

The unprecedented assault killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, which responded with relentless bombing of Hamas targets in Gaza, where officials reported over 1,300 dead.

The Hamas assault has also left more than 3,200 wounded in Israel, including 870 who were taken to the Soroka hospital in Beersheba, about 40 kilometres (24 miles) from the Gaza Strip.

Schwarzfuchs said he and his team rushed to the hospital as soon as he heard two consecutive sirens wailing early Saturday.

"We very quickly understood that it was a war," he said.

"Very quickly, all the employees of the hospital were here, more than 1,000 doctors, all the nurses, all those who should be there were present... and even those who were not meant to be there -- the nurses on maternity leave, the doctors, came from everywhere."

The first of the wounded began arriving at 8:00 am (0500 GMT), said Schwarzfuchs, who is also deputy director of the hospital.

"And from this moment on, we treated the injured in the trauma care unit at a crazy rhythm that we'd never imagined was possible or that we were capable of handling."

- 'Complete state of shock' -

Since Saturday's attack, the doctor has not been able to leave the hospital to go home.

In all, 120 wounded people were treated in the trauma unit in the first 24 hours of the war -- higher than the average number of patients in a normal month, said Schwarzfuchs.

"The number of the wounded is astronomical. During the 2014 Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, 40 wounded was already a very difficult day," he said.

The type of wounds were also different from what they were used to.

"Most of them were injured by bullets, which required large amounts of blood transfusions," said the doctor.

Besides the patients brought to the trauma unit, young survivors of a rave party where the Islamist group killed 270 people were brought in to the emergency wards in a seriously traumatised state.

"They were in a complete state of shock after having witnessed this indescribable massacre," said Schwarzfuchs.

The hospital's personnel were also stretched, fielding requests from distraught family members seeking information about their missing loved ones.

"We tried to help them as far as we can but many of them left depressed, without finding anyone," he said.

Schwarzfuchs, who is also a doctor at the Alumim kibbutz where inhabitants managed to repel Hamas fighters, said some of the patients brought in were people he knew personally.

"It's difficult to treat people who we know well. But it's a bit normal here, we are a small country, everyone knows everyone," said Schwarzfuchs.

An officer in the army before becoming a doctor, he said he was bracing for tough days ahead.

"It's certain that there will be more wounded. But we are all ready."

dms/hmn/jsa
The Israeli military said Thursday it is preparing for ground operations should the political leaders order one  a move that would likely escalate the ongoing battle with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), told the media forces are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided, according to The Associated Press.

This comes after Hamas, the group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched a multi-pronged surprise attack on Israel over the weekend, invading multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air, along with a barrage of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

Immediately following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against Hamas, vowing to avenge the attack and destroy the group. Since then, Israeli forces have launched hundreds of strikes into the Gaza Strip prompting the evacuation of dozens of towns in the region.

The conflict has already claimed more than 2,500 lives from both sides, including at least 22 Americans.

The Israeli military said more than 1,200 Israelis  including civilians and soldiers  have been killed, with another 3,000 wounded as of Thursday. In Gaza, an estimated 1,354 Palestinians have died and 6,049 others were injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

In addition to ongoing airstrikes, Israel ordered a total siege on the Gaza Strip, halting food, water and electricity supplies to the territory that is home to an estimated 2.3 million people.

Between the suspension of resources and the destruction of several neighborhoods in Gaza, more than 200,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes and take shelter elsewhere, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

While condemning the violence perpetrated by Hamas, the U.N. has also voiced concerns over the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza, who were already facing dwindling resource supplies before the conflict.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israel launched attacks on Syrian airports while Hamas is calling for armed confrontations on the West Bank.

On the sixth day of its war with Hamas and against the backdrop of concerns that the conflict might widen, Israel carried out attacks on two airports in Syria Thursday. That forced Iranian aircraft to land elsewhere, according to Haaretz . Meanwhile, Hamas has called for armed confrontations against Israelis outside of Gaza tomorrow.

Israeli airstrikes on Thursday hit the airports of the Syrian capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, damaging their runways and putting them out of service, according to The Associated Press .

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1712498598988976355?s=20 https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart963/status/1712431413071401046

State news agency SANA quoted an unnamed military official as saying that no one was hurt in the attacks, AP reported. The Israeli military declined to comment."

While Israel routinely carries out strikes inside Syria, often aimed at interrupting Iranian arms shipments, these were the first since the Hamas invasion on Saturday.

The airport attacks forced at least two Iranian aircraft to land elsewhere, Haaretz reported .

One entered Syrian airspace and turned back to Tehran, the publication reported. It belongs to "Mahan Air," an airline accused by the U.S. of providing illicit lethal aid to Syria. It is designated under counterterrorism authorities for support to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), as well as under a counter-proliferation authority that targets weapons of mass destruction proliferators and their supporters, according to the U.S. Treasury Department .

Another Iranian plane turned around mid-air and landed shortly after the attack on Syrian airport in Baghdad, according to Haaretz.

This is an Iranian government plane used by the Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian for his official travels.

https://twitter.com/avischarf/status/1712443823668822511

Abdullahian was just starting his periodic trip to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, the official Iranian Fars News Agency reported on Twitter. Amir Abdullahian left for Baghdad to discuss the current developments in Palestine and the Gaza Strip.

https://twitter.com/FarsNews_Agency/status/1712425041156034893

Hamas meanwhile "renewed the call for a general mobilization tomorrow on 'Friday of the Al-Aqsa Flood,'" based on the name it is using for the bloody operation it launched last week.

The four-point plan calls for Palestinians to march toward the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, "demonstrate, mobilize and clash with the Zionist enemy" in the West Bank, return from wherever they are to Palestine. "Our Arab and Islamic nation, peoples, organizations, mosques, political movements and civil society, to go out on the Friday of the Al-Aqsa flood, and to highlight all forms of support, endorsement and solidarity with our resisting people in Gaza and all of Palestine, and to affirm that the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip will not remain alone and we will not allow the implementation of a war."

In addition, Mohammed Hamada, Hamas spokesman for the city of Jerusalem, called "on the masses of our great Palestinian people, our heroic resistors, and everyone who can carry a stone, a knife, and a weapon, to mobilize urgently and confront the occupation army and its herds of settlers who are raiding and attacking our villages throughout the occupied West Bank."

https://twitter.com/MEMRIReports/status/1712395027891040634

Israel too is bringing its people back home to fight. For this first time in 41 years, El Al, the Israeli national airline, will fly on Saturday, the Jewish sabbath, two bring reservists back to Israel, The Times of Israel reported .

https://twitter.com/TimesofIsrael/status/1712471607455985863?s=20

Israel also continued to keep a wary eye on its northern border, as concerns about Hezbollah entering the conflict remain ever present.

"An interceptor was launched a short time ago in the northern region due to detection in the skies of the country," IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on Twitter. "An examination shows that it is not a hostile aircraft and it is a false interception."

https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/1712464379533476092

That comes a day after citizens in northern Israel were forced to seek shelter for several hours after a false alarm about an attack from the north. You can read more about that in our story here .

https://twitter.com/haltman/status/1712172571158802733?s=20

While the north remains tense, Israel continued to pound targets inside Gaza while Hamas launched rocket attacks on southern and central Israel.

So far, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) said it has dropped about 6,000 bombs against Hamas targets. That number is absolutely massive considering those sorties have occurred over just five days.

https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1712484101763342772?s=20 https://twitter.com/wesleysmorgan/status/1712506126762197457?s=20

The IAF has displayed a range of munitions, from rows of advanced Joint Direct Attack Munition s (JDAMs) which cost about $21,000 a piece to much older unguided 750-pound M117 general-purpose bombs, a design that dates back to the Korean War .

https://twitter.com/itayblumental/status/1712450955424174531?s=12 https://twitter.com/mahmouedgamal44/status/1712459958678126864 https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1712467391849083058?s=20 https://twitter.com/iafsite/status/1712362625672131022?s=12

Overnight Thursday, the IDF conducted what it says was "a wave of strikes targeting the Nukhba elite forces of the Hamas terrorist organization," by "striking operational command centers used by operatives who infiltrated the communities surrounding Gaza last Saturday."

"The Nukhba elite forces consist of terrorists selected by senior Hamas operatives, designated to carry out terrorist attacks such as ambushes, raids, assaults, infiltration through terror tunnels, as well as anti-tank missile, rocket, and sniper fire," the IDF claimed. "The Nukhba elite forces were one of the leading forces that infiltrated the State of Israel in order to carry out murderous acts of terror against its civilians."

https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1712330858848268368

IDF aircraft also "struck Muhammad Abu Shamla, a senior Hamas naval operative in the Rafah Brigade. Abu Shamla's residence was used to store naval weapons designated for terror against the State of Israel."

https://twitter.com/IAFsite/status/1712330480169750971

Hamas denied Israel was striking its elite forces, saying instead that Israel was hitting civilian targets.

"There is no truth to the occupations allegations of targeting the elite forces of the Al-Qassam Brigades, and our valiant resistance continues to confront the Zionist war of genocide ably," Hamas said Thursday on its Telegram channel. "It has no basis in fact, and that what is being targeted are residential squares and neighborhoods, razing them and leveling them to the ground, and targeting civil institutions, mosques, homes and residential buildings, which are being demolished on the heads of their residents, children and women, without warning."

https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1712491160487231832 https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1712463960602243511

There have been 1,417 Palestinians killed and another 6,268 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

https://twitter.com/trtworld/status/1712491414280392919 https://twitter.com/MOH_PR/status/1712457151061327971

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said that his country will continue its shutoff of water and fuel supplies to Gaza until the scores of hostages taken by Hamas are returned.

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza?," he said in a Tweet on Thursday. "No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals."

https://twitter.com/Israel_katz/status/1712356130377113904

Hamas says it fired scores of rockets and missiles at a number of Israeli cities, including Ashdod, Ashkelon, Erez and Sderot in southern Israel, as well as Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1712478609494180263 https://twitter.com/OzraeliAvi/status/1712464690453123503 https://twitter.com/IsraelWarRoom/status/1712473524890435769 https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1712423368090083433

The IDF says that more than 1,200 Israelis have been killed and more than 3,000 wounded since Hamas launched its invasion Saturday. Israel has been hit by more than 5,000 rockets fired from Gaza in that time, the IDF added.

https://twitter.com/idf/status/1712409889367072876?s=12

U.S. Central Command announced that A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets have arrived in the region. The jets are part of a boosted U.S. military presence in the region that includes the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group.

https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1712492087893999880?s=20

The macabre debate over how Israeli babies were killed Saturday in a kibbutz near Kfar Aza in southern Israel continued Thursday, with The Jerusalem Post saying it confirmed that some were beheaded.

"The Jerusalem Post can now confirm based on verified photos of the bodies that the reports of babies being burnt and decapitated in Hamas's assault on Kfar Aza are correct," the publication reported Thursday. "May their memory be a blessing."

https://twitter.com/Jerusalem_Post/status/1712460425529372821

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Israel, offered his take on the condition of victims after Israeli officials showed him images of the aftermath of some of the attacks.

"A baby riddled with bullets, soldiers beheaded, young people burned alive... It's depravity in the worst imaginable way."

https://twitter.com/YWNReporter/status/1712509086623789452?s=20

Yesterday we told you that President Joe Biden made a similar claim that was later walked back by the White House, which said neither Biden nor U.S. officials had independently seen the images and were reacting to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's press office.

https://twitter.com/evanhill/status/1712260928635322502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1712260928635322502%7Ctwgr%5E9acd7e12a25b1bfe2f931b84f2618429b9443f2b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fclashes-with-hamas-are-still-occurring-inside-israel

The IDF posted video of its 13 Sheitat special operations forces unit responding to the initial Hamas attacks.

"Launched by helicopters in a short time upon the arrival of the reports of the infiltration at the Gaza border on Saturday morning," they "joined the fighting forces in the field for a joint effort."

https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1712513580132704360?s=20

Reacting to the ongoing bloodshed, Jordan's King Abdullah again called for a two-state solution, with an independent Palestine established with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Along with Egypt, Jordan is one of two Arab nations to have signed a peace treaty with Israel. Sharing a border along the West Bank, Jordan has a large percentage of Palestinian citizens and the peace deal with Israel is widely unpopular. Despite that, Abdullah has walked a fine line and is considered a key ally in Washington and one of the first people in the region consulted when trouble erupts.

https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1712052364947923304?s=12

This is a developing story. We will update it when there is more news to report about the Israel-Hamas war.

Update: 2:16 PM EST -

The U.S. State Department issued a statement saying it will help arrange flights for U.S. citizens and families to leave Israel:

The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas.

Starting Friday, October 13, the U.S. government will arrange charter flights to assist U.S. citizens and their immediate family members who have been unable to book commercial transit and seek a safe means of departing Israel. From these locations, individuals will be able to make their own onward travel arrangements to the destination of their choice. These initial transportation options will be augmented in the coming days. Senior State Department officials are actively working with airline carriers and international partners on how best to provide additional options to U.S. citizens seeking to depart Israel or conduct onward travel to the United States. U.S. citizens in need of assistance should complete the crisis intake form on travel.state.gov .

We continue to monitor the situation closely and evaluate the demand from U.S. citizens for assistance in departing Israel on a real-time basis but expect these initial travel options to facilitate the safe departure of thousands of U.S. citizens per week. The overall security situation, availability and reliability of commercial transportation, and U.S. citizen demand will all influence the duration of this departure assistance.

We will have more to share in the coming days and will provide updates to U.S. citizens who have registered via our online form . We will continue to provide updates and assistance to U.S. citizens as the situation evolves.

Update: 3:46 PM EST -

Speaking on condition of anonymity to address U.S. support for Israel, a senior defense official spoke with reporters, including from The War Zone, Thursday afternoon.

Here are some of the highlights:

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is traveling to Israel tomorrow, to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the rest of the Israeli war cabinet. The trip is designed to send a clear signal of the depth of the U.S. commitment to Israeli security.

There are deliveries being prepared of Iron Dome [Tamir] missile interceptors , and we will continue to be responsive to Israel's requests for air defense, artillery, ammunition and precision-guided munitions.

The official reiterated the ability of the U.S. to supply both Ukraine and Israel: Put simply, we are the strongest nation in the world with the most combat-credible military. We are capable of supporting Ukraine and Israel in their hours of need. Ukraine is defending freedom against Russian tyranny and Israel's defending its people against horrific terrorist acts. We feel we can do both and the cost of inaction will be much higher and more complex.

The official downplayed concerns about strains on U.S. weapons stocks, particularly 155mm artillery ammunition : We are assessing all of our global stocks. I would not focus on one particular kind of ammunition but we are focused on requirements. What do the Israelis assess they need now and what do they need days and months from now? And based on that information and that level of close consultation, we are working with them on all available kinds of ammunition to respond to their needs.

The requests for additional Iron Dome defense that we're discussing is most likely going to be above and beyond what Israel has already ordered.

One of the categories we are working with the Israelis on are precision-guided munitions. [ GBU-39/B] Small Diameter Bombs and [Joint Direct Attack Munition, or] JDAM kits are part of those categories.

Long-range strike is a capability of the USS [Gerald R. Ford] Carrier Strike Group. I didn't say that that is an option on the table. We have deployed a massive amount of force to make very clear that the United States stands with Israel and to send a strong message to state and non-state actors who would even be considering escalating this conflict, I think this is very important for these leaders and these groups to understand the full capability of the US military which we have put in the eastern Mediterranean.

The official declined to offer specifcs on why the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit was moved out of Kuwait: We are constantly moving our Marine and naval assets around the theater based on what the requirements are. We have military personnel that are part of the U.S. embassy team. And on any given day, they are overseeing cooperation, security assistance, managing senior leader visits, or providing specific support and exercises for specific needs of our partner. In this case, those U.S. military personnel are providing advice on hostage recovery, which obviously is a really significant concern and priority for both the United States and Israel.

Update: 5:05 PM EST

Netanyahu offers more very strong language on the goals of Israel's military operation going forward and reveals a staffer's family member was included in those who were taken hostage in Gaza.

https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1712515201851883904?s=20

The Mayor of Sedrot is asking for his city to being fully evacuated , stating "it's not safe here." The city of 30,000 sits less than a mile from the Gaza border and injuries and deaths have already occurred from recent rocket fire. Sedrot was also a central focus for Hamas gunmen who stormed the city's police station on October 7th. Dozens died in that attack and its aftermath.

The IDF says it is now in place and ready to move into Gaza when the order is given.

https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1712559989662068973?s=20

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday placed blame on President Joe Biden and his administration for Hamas deadly assault on Israel and insisted that such an attack would never have happened if he were still in the White House.

Speaking to supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Trumps remarks played out as more of a checklist of his own record in the Middle East and denunciation of Biden than an affirmation of solidarity with the United States closest ally in the region.

He boasted about his administrations decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem  and at the low cost of just a few hundred thousand dollars  and repeated his baseless claim that the 2020 presidential election was rife with fraud and malfeasance, arguing that if it hadnt been rigged, Israel would never have been attacked.

If the election wasnt rigged, there would be nobody even thinking about going into Israel, Trump said. The election was rigged. Very sadly rigged. But well swamp them the next time and itll be bigger than anybody has ever seen.

Former President Donald Trump supporters attended an event hosted by the pro-Trump Club 47 USA, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

Under his leadership, we had peace, Trump said. And I fought for Israel like no president in history, but then Crooked Joe Biden came along and tossed Israel to the blood-thirsty Jihadists.

Trump, who was invited to speak by the group Club 47 USA, also seized on the fighting in Israel to stoke concerns that the U.S. southern border is vulnerable to being infiltrated by terrorists and bragged that, during his tenure in the White House, he had imposed a travel ban to keep people from certain countries  mainly in the Middle East and north Africa  out of the U.S.

Trumps comments came four days after Hamas militants launched an incursion into Israel, resulting in the deadliest assault on the Jewish State in at least 50 years. Israel retaliated by declaring war and launching a barrage of strikes on the Gaza Strip. The fighting has so far killed more than 2,000 people, including at least 14 Americans.

Trump argued that there was no doubt that Biden was responsible for the brazenness of Hamas attack. He accused Biden of clearing the way for a $6 billion transfer of frozen funds to Iran, a longtime backer of Hamas, in exchange for freeing five American hostages, calling it the most embarrassing day in the history of our country.

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who recently triggered a historic vote to remove Republican Kevin McCarty as Speaker of the House, and his wife Ginger Gaetz greet the crowd as former President Donald Trump introduced them at an event hosted by the pro-Trump Club 47 USA, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

He also demanded that Biden halt all funding to causes and organizations that provide assistance to Palestinians, claiming that the same groups support terrorism in the region.

Under my leadership, we will stand with Israel 100% and we will not let them fail, said Trump, who at one point noted that U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz  one week removed from ousting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy  was in the audience.

Trumps remarks echoed those of other Republicans, who have claimed that Iran was behind Hamas attack on Israel. Top U.S. and Israeli officials have said that they havent yet uncovered any evidence that Iran was involved in the attack, though they have placed blame on Tehran more broadly for funding and training Hamas militants over the years.

The U.S. has already taken a range of actions to assist Israels war effort, transferring munitions and working to replenish the countrys so-called Iron Dome, the air defense system intended to defend Israel from rocket fire. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said on Tuesday that the U.S. was moving an aircraft carrier into the eastern Mediterranean Sea as a deterrent to adversaries who might otherwise look to involve themselves in the conflict.

Former President Donald Trump arrives to the stage at an event hosted by the pro-Trump Club 47 USA, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

Biden, for his part, has condemned Hamas attack on Israel in no uncertain terms, calling it an example of unadulterated evil. Ahead of Trumps speech on Wednesday, Bidens reelection campaign blasted out an email to reporters describing the former president as too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage.

While Trump continues to lie about his record, President Biden is laser-focused on providing steadfast support for Israel and leading on the global stage, the email reads.

Trumps remarks werent limited to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. He railed against the various criminal charges hes currently facing, calling them the Biden indictments, and he took aim at a handful of his rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Repeating a often-used talking point, Trump claimed that DeSantis would never have won the governors mansion in 2018 had it not been for his endorsement. He also railed against Floridas sky-high property insurance rates and urged DeSantis to drop his presidential bid and return to Florida in order to deal with the crisis.

Florida families are getting clobbered while hes off on his failing campaign, Trump said, reminding supporters of his massive polling lead in the 2024 primary.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at an event hosted by the pro-Trump Club 47 USA, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
The ongoing war in Southern Israel and the Gaza Strip has raised a crucial question: Will Iran order its proxy, Hezbollah in Lebanon, to enter the battle and officially open a second front?

To understand the potential involvement of Hezbollah, we must examine the broader context and recognize the connection between Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. These organizations share a common goal  the violent destruction of Israel  and they are trained, armed, funded and receive logistical support from the Iranian regime, which also seeks Israel's demise.

SDEROT, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 12: Israeli troops and artillery gather on the border with the Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023 near sderot, Israel. Israel has sealed off Gaza and conducted airstrikes on Palestinian territory after an attack by Hamas killed hundreds and took more than 100 hostages. On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza by land, sea, and air, killing over 1300 people and wounding more than 3000. Israeli soldiers and civilians have also been taken hostage by Hamas and moved into Gaza. The attack prompted a declaration of war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Iran, aspiring to become a dominant regional power, devised a strategy rooted in perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This strategy involves building a military presence around Israel, with the intent to wear down and weaken Israel through repeated, short military engagements. The ultimate objective is to create a "ring of fire" encircling Israel, ready to strike from all directions when the time is right. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza serve as pivotal components in this network and Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, serves as a crucial component.

As of now, Hezbollah has refrained from actively engaging in the ongoing conflict with any significance. Instead, it employs a strategy characterized by launching gradual, small-scale and carefully controlled threats. This approach appears aimed at deterring Israel from launching a military campaign to eradicate Hamas. It may also reflect Iran and Hezbollah's hesitancy regarding full engagement in the conflict.

There are several reasons contributing to this hesitancy:

Firstly, Hezbollah lacks the element of surprise, because almost immediately following Hamas incursion this weekend from Gaza, Israel has been bolstering its military preparations, shoring up its northern defenses for a potential Hezbollah attack.

Secondly, the images of the devastation in Gaza resonate with Hezbollahs commanders as they know a similar fair would await their power centers in Lebanon. On top of that, Lebanon is already teetering on the edge towards its own internal civil war and significant devastation to what Israel is unleashing on Hamas is Gaza would likely lead to the final disintegration of Lebanon and foster an internal civil conflict Hezbollah would have to allocate its paramilitary forces towards, thus splitting its manpower and weaponry across two battlefronts of its own.

Lastly, the United States has delivered a resolute message to Iran and Hezbollah by strategically staging significant U.S. military assets in the area and making firm public commitments to supply Israel with necessary resources to defend itself, sending a strong message to both Tehran and Hezbollah  Stay Out.

But Hezbollahs current gradual, controlled threat strategy will encounter its moment of truth.

Based on current indicators, Israel's intent is to systematically dismantle the military and organizational capabilities of Hamas over time. Iran will face a tough choice: accept the loss of Gaza as part of its Ring of Fire or commit Hezbollah into the fight to support Hamas and Islamic Jihad, while risking severe repercussions for Hezbollah, one of the regimes most crucial operational assets. While Hezbollah's entry into the conflict is a plausible scenario, it remains uncertain at this stage.

Mike Kelly: 'My PTSD kicked in': Father of terror victim watches chaos in Israel with horror

The war between Israel and Hamas is a seminal event in the history of the Middle East. The event is already sending shockwaves throughout the region and the world. Hezbollah's joining the battle, or its remaining on the sidelines, will further enhance the geopolitical impact of this war on the Middle East.

Avi Melamed is a former Israeli intelligence official who went on to serve as deputy and then as senior Arab affairs adviser to Jerusalem Mayors Teddy Kollek and Ehud Olmert, operating as a negotiator during the first and second intifadas. He is the author of Inside The Middle East | Entering A New Era, and his latest docuseries, The Seam Line, available on the Izzy streaming platform, focuses on Jerusalems flashpoints and his work during the intifadas.

Avi Melamed

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Who is Hezbollah: Will it join Israel war?
Israeli actor David Cunio and his family, including his two 3-year-old daughters, are feared to be among those kidnapped by Hamas militants, his brother-in-law told CNN. Cunio, shown in the image above on the right with his twin brother Eitan Cunio, lived in Nir Oz, a kibbutz located in Southern Israel that was struck during Saturdays bombing. Aharon Aloni told CNN that the actor and his family hid in his homes bomb shelter, but the house was set on fire, forcing them out. Aloni explained, They said they heard terrorists in their house, and theyre not sure theyre going to make it. They said I love you. Later on we got a message that they are aborting the house. The family has not been heard from since, causing Israeli authorities to presume they are among those taken hostage. Sol Bondy, the co-producer of Youth, Cunios debut film, said, Dragging civilians into this terrible conflict is a pure tragedy, on both sides.

Read it at Variety

Read more at The Daily Beast.
An Israeli soldier stands on the turret of a tank near the city of Sderot across the border with as Israel vows to destroy Hamas militants in the coastal enclave (GIL COHEN-MAGEN)

Like clockwork, every 30 seconds Israeli artillery goes into action against a barely visible target somewhere in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Israel has vowed to "crush" Hamas after gunmen from the Palestinian Islamist group stormed across the border and killed 1,200 people -- the deadliest attack on the country since it was founded 75 years ago.

Six days since the offensive took Israel by surprise, its army has kept pounding the densely populated Gaza Strip with artillery shells and air strikes, as it prepares for a possible ground invasion.

Israel has massed forces, tanks and other heavy armour around Gaza and called up 300,000 reservists.

In a statement on Thursday the army said it has bombarded Gaza with approximately 6,000 munitions containing a total of 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday when it began striking Hamas targets.

Troops have deployed 150 mm artillery guns in fields along the border with Gaza, placing them a few metres (yards) apart, near the towns of Netivot and Sderot which were overrun by Hamas militants in their weekend onslaught.

Each time a salvo is fired, the ground shakes and a deafening noise fills the air.

On the front lines near the Gaza border, Netivot and Sderot are used to being targeted by rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, a tiny, densely populated enclave that is home to 2.4 million people.

On Thursday, two such rockets hit Sderot wounding four Israeli civilians, two of them critically.

"Soon, there won't be anyone left to fight, to attack us, to spoil our lives," said Tom, a 24-year-old reservist, deployed in the area.

Tom said he travelled from his home in Rishon Le Tzion near Tel Aviv to join up with his unit, in which his younger brother Adam also serves.

"I don't know what I will do. But one thing is certain: we will wipe them off the map," said Tom, still wearing shorts, a T-shirt and sandals, unlike Adam who is in uniform and toting an M-16 machine-gun.

"No one has killed Jews like that since the Holocaust," Tom said.

- 'It is war' -

On Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, hundreds of Hamas fighters crossed the Israeli border in a coordinated land, air and sea operation and killed 1,200 people

Most were civilians, killed in the street, in their homes and at a rave party, as a deluge of rockets from Gaza rained down on Israel.

Israel has retaliated by pounding Gaza with air strikes and artillery bombardments that have razed entire city blocks, with Palestinian officials reporting more than 1,350 dead, most of them civilians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Wednesday to destroy Hamas after announcing an emergency government for the duration of the war.

"Every Hamas member is a dead man," he said.

"We will crush them and destroy them as the world has destroyed Daesh," he said, using another word for the Islamic State group.

As soldiers fire their cannons at Gaza, volunteers from across Israel wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests hand out sandwiches and cool drinks to the troops.

"I will come back tomorrow and each day to bring them something good" to eat and drink, said Yuval, 49, who runs a transport company in the Israeli coastal city of Herzliya.

Avraham, 60, said he travelled to Netivot from his home in Netanya, north of Tel Aviv, to hug his three boys who have been mobilised to fight the Hamas militants "before they do what they have to do to these savages".

"I am proud of them. They are like me, like all of us, they are afraid of nothing," he said.

The army has set up roadblocks to stop infiltration by armed Palestinian militants into southern Israel.

In the skies above, Apache helicopter gunships fly at low altitude, before briefly breaching the airspace of the Gaza Strip.

On the ground, an Israeli Merkava tank rumbles close to the Gaza border, while in the distance black smoke billows over the enclave's Rimal neighbourhood.

Journalists who tried to enter the Nahal Oz kibbutz, where women and children were killed on Saturday, are turned away by the military.

Young Israeli conscripts bluntly ask reporters to back off.

"There is nothing to see here. It is war," one of them said.

"Come back when they are all dead in Gaza."

pa/bfi/hkb/kir
Girl records video of flyers in Times Square, of Israeli people reported missing in New York

By Christopher Bing, Raphael Satter and James Pearson

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) -As Israeli children listened to their teacher over Zoom, the image of a gun-toting man in fatigues appeared on the screen, according to a screenshot shared with Reuters. In another case, a video showed a billboard in the central Israeli city of Holon displaying images of rockets and a burning Israeli flag.

Israeli information security professionals are banding together to provide free cybersecurity services to Israeli companies amid a spike in hacktivist activity sparked by the war in Gaza, volunteers said.

Reuters could not independently verify the school incident. The screenshot was provided by Yossi Appleboum, the chief executive of cybersecurity company Sepio. Appleboum said he received the screenshot via a person in direct contact with the children's families.

In a statement, Zoom said that it was "deeply upset" to hear about the disruption, and that it had offered its help to enable schools in Israel to continue operating remotely.

The video of the hacked billboard was first posted to the Telegram messaging service on Thursday morning. Check Point, an Israel-based cybersecurity firm, said the billboard was one of at least two such public displays to have been hacked with "pro-Hamas and anti-Israel content". Reuters was able to verify the location of the video as Holon.

Israel's tech industry is - like the country as a whole - in flux, with many professionals being called up for military duty. The changeover has left new openings for mischief.

A disparate group of hacktivists claiming to act in support of the Palestinian people have attempted intrusions and sabotage efforts. Websites have been knocked offline and hackers have occasionally made off with stolen data, but the damage has so far been modest.

Ohad Zaidenberg, an Israeli IT specialist, is leading a group of volunteers to help Israeli companies that are being actively targeted.

The Israeli cyber community is vast - and the mobilization is both effective and moving, he said.

The organizers of the volunteers are drawing the line on members taking vigilante action against Hamas, said Omri Segev Moyal, the chief executive of the Israeli cybersecurity firm Profero.

Moyal, who runs a popular Facebook group for Israeli cybersecurity professionals, said he had already removed a couple of posts calling for digital action against the Palestinian group. He said he could understand the impulse  people are mad  but he believed vigilante action would backfire.

Moyal said Profero had been approached by the family of one of the people who went missing with a request to hack into the victims iCloud and phones in an effort to locate them.

We refused, he said. We think its actually going to cause damage to the victims.

(Reporting by Raphael Satter and Christopher Bing in Washington, and James Pearson in London; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Gerry Doyle)
Aftermath of a strike amid the conflict with Israel in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip

By John Geddie

TOKYO (Reuters) -Israel's ambassador to Japan said on Thursday that his host country should be "vigilant" and look at what Hamas was doing with the aid it has previously extended to Palestinians.

Hamas militants breached the border fence enclosing the Gaza Strip enclave at the weekend, rampaging through towns and villages and killing 1,200 people while taking scores of hostages, the Israeli military has said.

Israeli jets have pounded Gazan targets for days in retribution, and the death toll there has risen to 1,200, Palestinian media reported, citing Gaza's health ministry.

"Japan should be vigilant and look at what Hamas is doing with the aid. Is it going really to the population?," Gilad Cohen said at a press conference in Tokyo.

He showed an image, widely shared on social media, of what he said was a Israeli kidnapped by Hamas lying bound next to sacks containing aid from Japan to Palestinians.

Reuters could not immediately verify the image and Japan's foreign ministry did not immediately have comment.

Japan, which calls for a political solution to allow Israel and a future independent Palestinian state to coexist, has provided $2.3 billion of assistance to Palestinians over the last decade, according to a foreign ministry document.

Cohen, who held talks with a senior Japanese foreign ministry official on Wednesday, said Israel had offered to look into whether the assistance Japan was providing to Palestinians was being misused.

The European Union backtracked earlier this week on an announcement that it was suspending aid to Palestinians, and later clarified it was reviewing the programmes.

LANGUAGE SHIFT

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Thursday told a regular press conference: "We firmly condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups."

In statements earlier this week, Japanese officials had described Hamas as Palestinian militants but had not used the term "terrorist" or "terrorism".

Matsuno said the change in language reflected the "cruel" and "indiscriminate" nature of the attacks.

Cohen commended Japan for describing Hamas' acts as "terrorism" and for saying Israel had a right to defend itself.

Matsuno also said, however, that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip was becoming more serious day by day and Japan was closely monitoring the situation with serious concern.

Cohen declined to say whether the issue of Israel's blockade and barrage of air strikes on the Gaza strip, which has been criticised by humanitarian organisations, had arisen in his talks with Japan.

(Reporting by John Geddie, Kaori Kaneko, Francis Tang and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Edwina Gibbs)
Shoshany shows picture of grandmother Adina who went missing following attack by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, in Tel Aviv

TEL AVIV, Israel (Reuters) - The last word that Anat Moshe Shoshany got from her grandmother was a text message saying that armed men were inside her house in Nir Oz kibbutz near Gaza, pushing their way through the safe room door.

The last she saw of her was a snatch of video on social media showing 72-year-old Adina Moshe, in a red top, forced on a motorcycle between two gunmen, being driven away.

When other relatives on the kibbutz got to the house, they found attackers from the Hamas militant group had killed Shoshany's grandfather, David Moshe, as he fought to keep them out.

He was one of more than 1,300 people killed when Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, according to figures from public broadcaster Kan. Scores of Israeli and foreign hostages were taken back to Gaza; Israel says it has identified 97 of them.

"My grandfather held the door with all his power ... he held the door with all his powers, he is 75 years old," Shoshany said, holding back tears at her house in Tel Aviv.

"Finally they succeeded to open the window. Through the window they shot at my grandfather while he still held the door."

She assumes her grandmother was hiding but saw everything.

"She is sick. She has heart issues. She watched her husband die right in front of her. And right after they got her on (a)motorcycle and she had to hold the terrorist who just murdered her husband.

"They were together from over 50 years. They built the Kibbutz with their own hands."

Shoshany showed pictures on her phone of her grandfather at his last birthday celebration, a video of the elderly couple with their grandchildren at Jewish New Year.

"The hardest part for me is that I believe she doesn't know if her grandchildren are alive or dead or kidnapped too.

"I think the world must understand they didn't came just to kill, they came to destroy, to humiliate, to murder innocent civilians, babies, mothers, elderly, just innocent people wanted to live peacefully in their own houses."

(Writing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Israels communications minister said recent comments by former President Trump criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and complimenting the Hezbollah militant group wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi told Israels Channel 13 it is shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens, according to The Associated Press.

We dont have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts, Karhi added.

Trumps comments Wednesday night came amid deadly fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which began with a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday that killed hundreds of Israelis. Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip with aerial attacks this week in response and has promised to eliminate Hamas.

Trump accused Netanyahu of failing to cooperate on a U.S. drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the notorious head of Irans elite Quds Force, but later claiming credit for the attack.

We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack, Trump said at a rally in Florida.

We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed, he added. But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision  and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.

The former president has also faced criticism for calling a different militant group, Hezbollah, very smart at the same rally in Florida. Hezbollah reportedly fired an anti-tank missile at Israeli army positions this week, and Israel has launched aerial strikes in response.

Republican figures, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fellow 2024 presidential contender, have joined the Biden administration in slamming Trump over the remarks.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, DeSantis wrote Wednesday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Our nations support for Israel is resolute and unwavering, Biden wrote on X, along with a clip of Trumps speech. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israels communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, has condemned former US president Donald Trumps remarks in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks, which included the 2024 Republican frontrunner claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu let us down.

Mr Karhi told Israels Channel 13 that it is shameful that a man like that, a former US president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens.

We dont have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts, the communications minister said.

At a rally on Wednesday, the 2024 GOP frontrunner told the crowd in West Palm Beach, Florida that he felt compelled to share a bad experience he had with Israeli leaders as president.

Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months, Mr Trump said about the plan to kill Iranian Gen Qassem Soleimani. We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack.

Nobodys heard this story before, Mr Trump claimed. They didnt tell us why.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, he said, adding, We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed.

But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision  and then Bibi tried to take credit for it, the former president alleged. Mr Trump also called Hezbollah very smart.

Mr Trumps comments sharply contrasted with President Joe Bidens support for Israel.

In a speech earlier this week, Mr Biden said, The United States stands with Israel, He continued, We will never fail to have their back. Well make sure they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves.

The White House said on Thursday that 27 Americans have been killed after the attacks on Israel by Hamas. Spokesperson John Kirby said that 14 Americans remain unaccounted for.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates also slammed Mr Trumps remarks, calling them dangerous and unhinged.

Earlier this week a retired US general reminded Republican critics of the Biden administration of the time Mr Trump, while president, leaked Israeli intelligence to senior officials of Russia, an ally of Iran.

Mark Hertling shared a story about allegations that the then-president told top Russian officials, during a meeting at the White House, 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, Mr Trump's 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 responded to the uproar at the time by claiming he had the absolute right to share the information.

One of the four sets of criminal charges the former president is now facing relates to the alleged mishandling of secret documents after thousands of government papers, some of them designated top secret, were found at his Mar-a-Lago resort. He is accused of showing members of the public a secret plan relating to a possible attack on Iran. Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing, saying he had the right to keep the documents after leaving office, and saying the papers he showed were not a war plan.
Five days after Hamas brutal surprise attack on Israel prompted relentless retaliatory air strikes against the Gaza Strip, the unrest has spread and is spiraling out of control in the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday that two men were killed by Israeli settlers while attending a funeral for several Palestinians shot a day earlier by Israeli forces and settlers.

Video of the incident shows a car of Israeli settlers swerving into the path of the funeral possession before stopping and spraying the mourners with bullets.

The father and son were reportedly gunned down near the town of Qusra, the same place where West Bank authorities said four Palestinians had been killed by rampaging settlers and Israeli forces on Wednesday.

The father and son are among at least 29 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since Saturday, according to Reuters.

As the barbarity of Hamas massacres in multiple Israeli communities comes to lightwith Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sharing a photo of a childs bed covered in bloodthe National Security Ministry has revealed a huge surge in citizens seeking firearms. Nearly 8,000 requests for licenses have been received since Saturday, the ministry said. The Israeli military has already said it would distribute firearms to those licensed to bolster defense around the country.

Anyone who challenges us in Judea and Samaria will be met with huge force, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said, using the biblical name for the West Bank. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry warned earlier this week that Israeli settlers receiving more arms would likely blow things up in the West Bank.

What It Feels Like to Survive the Massacre Hamas Unleashed at a Music Festival

With Hamas calling on Palestinians in the West Bank to take part in the fight against Israel, a possible Israeli ground invasion of Gaza could be the tipping point into absolute chaos.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said Thursday that troops are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided but that authorities had not yet made that call, the Associated Press reported.

Israeli authorities are also preparing for a second front possibly opening up against Iran-backed Hezbollah on the northern border. After repeated clashes against Hezbollah militants along the border with Lebanon in recent days, the Israeli military on Thursday reportedly carried out simultaneous air strikes on airports in Damascus and Aleppo, presumably targeting airstrips receiving alleged Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Palestinians living in Gaza face the grim reality of a near-total power outage, relentless air strikes, and a blockade on deliveries of food, water, and fuel.

There is no safe place at all in the Gaza Strip, a community activist told Insider. We are just waiting to die.

In addition to carrying out its most intense bombing campaign in decades and vowing to wipe Hamas off the face of the Earth, Israel has said no humanitarian exceptions will be made to its blockade of the strip until all Israeli hostages are freed by Hamas.

The identities of at least 97 people taken hostage by Hamas gunmen on Saturday have been confirmed, Israeli authorities said Thursday, though there are also thought to be more in captivity. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, admitted in an interview with CNN that the Israeli military had never dealt with any hostage situation of this magnitude before.

Calling it an extremely sensitive and complex topic, he said the captives were likely being held underground. Reason dictates that they are underground. Reason also dictates that Hamas, since they planned to launch this attack and they planned to take these people hostage, reason dictates that they planned in advance locations to hide these hostages and keep them safe from Israeli intelligence, and efforts to get them out, he said.

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A masked woman was charged with assaulting a Columbia University student in a feud over posters hung on the campus bearing the names and pictures of people held hostage by Hamas, police said.

The woman, 19, was charged with assault in the incident that police said occurred near 600 W. 116th St., a Columbia residential hall. The student newspaper, the Columbia Spectator, reported the incident occurred near Butler Library, nearby on the main Columbia campus.

The suspect struck the victim, 24, in the head with a wooden stick, said cops. The victim is an Israeli student, the Spectator said.

The Spectator reported that the suspect, who claimed to be Jewish, approached a group of students hanging the missing person posters.

Later in the day, the group found the suspect, her face masked with a bandana, ripping the posters off a wall near the library. People in the group confronted her, leading to the assault against the Israeli student, the student paper said.

The victim refused medical attention, cops said. The Spectator said the suspect tried to punch her victim in the face, and that the victim suffered a broken finger and other injuries to his hands.

The assault occurred as the Columbia campus braced for student protests Thursday afternoon over the war in Israel. On-campus protests were scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the iconic Low Library steps, according to social media.

A spokesperson for Columbia declined to comment on the assault and referred to the NYPD, but said the school was readying for the protests.

Our campus is open to Columbia University ID holders only today to help maintain safety and a sense of community through planned demonstration activities, said the spokeswoman. Our priority is ensuring a safe community and workplace in which we can learn, live, work and, importantly, express ourselves.

The campus restrictions went into place at 6 a.m., according to an internal memo obtained by the Daily News.

University President Minouche Shafik said Monday that she was devastated by the horrific attack Israel this weekend and the ensuing violence that is affecting so many people.

Unfortunately, at this moment, little is certain except that the fighting and human suffering are not likely to end soon, read the statement.

We must reject forces that seek to pull us apart and model behavior that shows respect for all.

A joint statement, signed by 20 pro-Palestine student groups, criticized the university administrations official stance.

We condemn the discrimination against Palestinians evident in Barnard Colleges email and Columbias school of General Studies emails which were sent to the student body over the weekend as each school only addressed Israeli students alone, and not Palestinians, it said.

If every political avenue available to Palestinians is blocked, we should not be surprised when resistance and violence break out, the students continued.

The assault on Columbia campus comes as men waving Israeli flags assaulted an 18-year-old Palestinian man in Brooklyn, police said.
An Israeli kibbutz just miles from the Gaza Strip was the scene of a massacre on Saturday when Hamas terrorists attacked. Amid what officials described as a "haunting" scene, they also uncovered that twin babies less than a year old had miraculously survived  because their young parents hid them just before being murdered by the militants.

The mass killing occurred at the Kfar Aza kibbutz, a community just a few miles from the Gaza border. Israeli officials previously said that when Israel Defense Forces arrived at the kibbutz, they found "blood spread out in homes."

"It's not a war or a battlefield. It's a massacre," said Maj. Gen. Itai Veruv of the IDF.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office posted gruesome photos on social media Thursday showing infants allegedly murdered there. The tweet said Netanyahu had showed the same "horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters" to visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"We've found bodies of people who have been butchered ... beheaded children of varying ages, ranging from babies to slightly older children," IDF spokesperson Maj. Libby Weiss said. "... The depravity of it is haunting."

Among those killed there Saturday were Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky, both 30 years old, according to the Israeli Embassy in France. But in one final act before they were killed, they managed to spare the lives of their 10-month-old twins.

Itai et Hadar Berdichevsky avaient 30 ans, deux enfants.



Ils ont cache leurs jumeaux de 10 mois dans un abri pendant que les terroristes ont force l'entree de leur maison a Kfar Gaza.



Ils se sont battus jusqu'au dernier moment, avant de se faire massacrer par les terroristes pic.twitter.com/DDsAa3FEFA  Ambassade d'Israel en France (@IsraelenFrance) October 10, 2023

The embassy said that the couple hid the babies when Hamas terrorists forced themselves into their home. The Jerusalem Post also reported that the family had lived at Kfar Aza.

"They fought until the last moment, before being massacred by Hamas terrorists," the embassy posted in French on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "Their babies were left alone for 14 hours before emergency services arrived on the scene."

Rotem Segev, deputy ambassador of Israel in Cyprus, also posted about the couple, saying they were "brutally murdered after fighting fiercely with the terrorists."

"Imagine the horror," Segev tweeted. "Two terrified parents who tried with all their might to protect their children, who are now orphans."

As of Thursday, IDF officials said that more than 1,200 Israelis have been killed since Hamas first launched its attacks on Saturday. More than 3,000 others have been injured. In Gaza  where nearly half of the Palestinians who reside there are children under 14  more than 1,200 people, including hundreds of children, have been killed in Israel's counter-attacks.

How one child inspired a possible medical breakthrough

Rescue at the Kibbutz | Sunday on 60 Minutes

Eye Opener: Teen arrested after Morgan State University shooting
Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been murdered in a single day.

Simply stating that raw, harrowing fact, however, doesnt do justice to the unfathomable atrocities that Hamas terrorists committed against Israelis over the weekend of Oct. 7.

Parents executed in front of their children. Mothers, babies, and grandparents kidnapped and taken into the Gaza Strip. Families opening Facebook to find a video of their grandmother murdered in cold blood, uploaded to her own page by her killer. Babies reportedly beheaded.

What It Feels Like to Survive the Massacre Hamas Unleashed at a Music Festival

And as if this unspeakable trauma inflicted on the Jewish people wasnt enough, antisemites the world over have taken their cue from Hamas barbarism and kicked into full swing.

Not only are Jewish communities reeling from an attack that, as of writing, has left a death toll that, if adjusted by population, would be 45,000 Americans dead, but they now find themselves facing a barrage of antisemitism from those willing to exploit a foreign conflict as an excuse to torment their fellow Jewish citizens.

On Monday, at a Sydney, Australia, pro-Palestinian rally in response to the violence in Israel, protesters chanted, Gas the Jews and Fuck the Jews. The coming days saw a dramatic spike in anti-Jewish hatred that has already led to one arrest and left Australian Jewry shocked and feeling vulnerable, prompting police to increase their presence around the Jewish community in Melbourne, home to around half of the countrys Jews.

To my knowledge, there were no calls to gas Jews at a pro-Palestinian rally the day before in Manhattan. But there was outright celebration of Hamas massacre of 260 people at a music festival in southern Israel, where, according to one survivor, women were raped next to their dead friends corpses. 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, the speaker said to a delighted crowd.

Similarly repulsive antisemitism was rife on Telegram too, with the first 18 hours of Saturday witnessing a reported 488 percent jump from the day before in the number of extremist messages calling for violence against Jews, Israelis and Zionists, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Since Hamas attack, Jewish communities nationwide have gone on high alert, with President Joe Biden announcing on Wednesday that he was stepping up security for American Jewry.

In the United Kingdom, the number of reported antisemitic incidents since Saturdays attack has tripled compared with this time last year, according to the Community Security Trust (CST), which aids British Jewry in security and antisemitism matters.

Dont Let Free Expression Become a Casualty of the Israel-Hamas War

Along with other nations across Europe, British police have had to up their presence in Jewish areas, while some Jewish schools have told students not to wear their uniform in public, so as to avoid being identified as Jewish. On Thursday evening, three Jewish schools in London told parents they were closing until Monday in the interests of the safety of our precious children. Disturbingly, CST director of policy Dave Rich believes the rate of antisemitic incidents is likely to increase further.

None of this comes as a surpriseat least, not to those who have been paying attention.

Whenever a major violent conflagration breaks out between Israel and the Palestinians, a global explosion of anti-Jewish hatred is bound to follow. And while those harassing Jews in the name of liberating Palestine or openly cheering on the genocidal death cult that is Hamas may be quick to blame Israel for their anger, it is but a mere deflection. It isnt about Israel. It never has been.

The antisemite always has a rationale for their hatred of Jews.

For Christians in medieval Europe, Jews were Christ-killers. In Nazi Germany, they were polluters of the Aryan race. For antisemites on todays political Left, Jews are the embodiment of white privilege, and Israel is the last remaining bastion of European colonialism in the Middle East. Antisemites within Muslim and Arab communities, meanwhile, have brought along their own toxic concoction of anti-Jewish sentimentone that was on full display at the protest in Sydney.

Trump Makes Hamas Massacre of Israelis All About Him

After its founding in 1948, Israel became but another excuse to target Jews. It matters little whether they live in Israel (around half of the worlds Jews are not Israeli citizens) or have never even visited the Jewish state. After all, what other minority group is targeted and held responsible for the actions of a nation state to which they may not even have any connection?

Such was the logic of the men calling to gas Jews at a rally that was purportedly aimed at demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinian people. If they wanted to protest against the Israeli government, they could have. If they wanted to show their love for Palestinians, they could have done that, too. But instead, they called for the murder of Jews.

World Jewry has seen this play before. We know all too well what comes next.

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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's parliament approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's emergency unity government on Thursday, including a number of centrist opposition lawmakers, to display its determination to fight the war with Hamas in Gaza.

The government, approved after Saturday's attack by the militant Islamist group Hamas that governs the Gaza Strip, underlines the suspension of normal political rules during one of the most serious crises in Israel's history.

"This is a war for our home, it must end with one thing - in total victory, and the crushing and elimination of Hamas," Netanyahu told parliament, calling Oct. 7 "the most horrible day for Jewish people since the Holocaust."

Under the agreement, former Defence Minister Benny Gantz and members of his small centrist party will join Netanyahu's coalition, one of the most right-wing governments in Israel's history, which Gantz had previously bitterly opposed.

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in the attack and more than 100 dragged off into captivity in Gaza with horrific scenes gradually emerging from the accounts of survivors and mobile phone footage.

Israel's political landscape had been bitterly split for months over a hotly-contested push by Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judiciary that drove a wedge between the prime minister's religious nationalist supporters and more liberal, secular Israelis.

But the crisis has seen such differences buried ahead of an expected invasion of Gaza by Israeli forces.

"We will act, the enemy will hear," Gantz said in parliament after being sworn in.

The leader of the largest opposition party in parliament, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid , refused to join the unity government which includes extreme right-wingers, among them Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

"Netanyahu and Ben Gvir are not the people who will restore the shattered trust of the Israeli people in their government," Lapid said in a televised address. He said his party would not oppose the government, however, and he would offer his support during the security crisis.

While a severe reckoning with the intelligence and military failures that allowed hundreds of Hamas gunmen to break through the sophisticated security barrier around Gaza, both the government and army chiefs said consequences would come later.

"The IDF is responsible for defending the country and its citizens, and Saturday morning, in the area around Gaza, we did not live up to it," said Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi. "We will learn, investigate, but now is the time for war."

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by Grant McCool)
By Helen Coster and Alexander Cornwell

NEW YORK/DUBAI (Reuters) - Some were on their honeymoon, others were studying abroad, many were building new lives in foreign countries. But when Israel called up its reservists and declared war this week, the response was swift and overwhelming.

"Everyone is coming. No one is saying no," said Yonatan Steiner, 24, who flew back from New York, where he works for a tech company, to join his old army medical unit.

"This is different, this is unprecedented, the rules have changed," he said, speaking by phone from the border near Lebanon where his regiment is based.

Israel has called up 360,000 reservists in the wake of Saturday's assault by hundreds of Hamas gunmen who overran towns, kibbutzes and army bases near the Gaza enclave, killing more than 1,200 civilians and soldiers and wounding over 2,700.

Most reservists were already in Israel at the time of the call-up - the largest such compulsory mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. But many were out of the country, for a variety of reasons, and dropped everything to rush back.

Nimrod Nedan, a 23-year-old studying medicine in Lithuania, said friends and relatives died or were missing as a result of the surprise Hamas attack, spurring him to action.

"I cannot sit here and study medicine while I know that my friends are fighting and my family needs protection. This is my time," he said.

L.K. - a 37-year-old reservist who served as an air force pilot for 13 years, and asked to be identified just by his initials for security reasons - felt exactly the same.

He works for a tech company in New York, and left his home, wife and children to hurry back to his squadron. "There is no other place in the world I would rather be. If I had to sit in my lovely apartment on the Upper West Side watching this I would never forgive myself," he said.

FINDING TICKETS

Military service is compulsory for the majority of Israelis when they turn 18. Men have to serve 32 months and women 24. After this, most of them can be called up to reserve units until the age of 40, or even older, in case of national emergency.

In times of war, they fight alongside the regular troops.

Yonatan Bunzel only finished his military service this year, making him exempt from immediate reserve duties, and like many Israelis just out of the army, he went travelling to celebrate his demobilisation.

He was in India when Hamas struck and despite not being obliged to return, Bunzel nonetheless packed his bags and headed home, five months ahead of schedule.

"My immediate reaction, of course, was shock and I didn't know exactly what to do. But after a few hours, my mind had cleared and I just knew I had to go back home, save my country, help my people, give my part," he said.

Reaching Tel Aviv was easier said than done. After flying to Dubai, Bunzel found there were no tickets available for Israel. However, a Jewish non-profit organisation, La'aretz, stepped in and secured seats for him and two of his friends.

Other Israelis recounted how their local consulates had provided free trips home, while U.S. media reported that people were going to the counters of Israeli airline El Al in New York and offering to buy tickets for anyone with call-up papers.

While many foreign carriers have cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Israeli airlines have added flights on foreign routes to bring people back, while the military dispatched transport planes to some European cities to collect soldiers.

LIVES UP-ENDED

Israelis abroad are using WhatsApp chats to organise their return, sharing information on where to find available flights, said Yedidya Shalman, 26, who was in Thailand on his honeymoon when the violence exploded out of Gaza.

"(We) set up WhatsApp groups almost everywhere in the world, we called people to join them and we slowly worked to bring as many reservists as possible back to Israel," he said, explaining that he and his wife did not hesitate to curtail their holiday.

"Of course we didn't think twice and are currently on our way home on an El Al plane," he said via WhatsApp.

The mass mobilisation has not only wrecked holidays but also up-ended lives.

Oren Saar, 37, runs a food delivery startup, WoodSpoon, in New York City, where he lives with his wife and three young boys. A former captain in the Israeli army, he immediately acknowledged the call-up, but didn't tell his children what he was doing.

"The kids are very young and it's not really something that you want to explain. We told them I'm going on a business trip to Israel," he said, adding that it was going to be "tricky" to keep his new business going in his absence.

"But you know, there's just no question about what to do when my friends, my family and my country are at risk," he said.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Dubai, Helen Coster, Krystal Hu and Gabriella Borter in New York, Crispian Balmer in Rome and Andrius Sytas in Lithuania; Writing by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have analysed the Russian attacks around Avdiivka and concluded that these advances at the tactical level are unlikely to lead to broader operational and strategic victories.

Source: the ISW

Details: The current local offensive operations of the Russian forces near Avdiivka probably demonstrate the ability of the Russian forces to learn and apply the tactical lessons of the conduct of hostilities in Ukraine.

Russian troops launched local attacks on the Avdiivka front after intensive artillery preparation of the battlefield on the morning of 10 October, and geolocation videos from 10 and 11 October confirm that Russian troops advanced southwest of Avdiivka near Sieverne and northwest of Avdiivka in the area of Stepove and Krasnohorivka.

Analysts note: these adaptations and successes at the tactical level are unlikely to lead to broader operational and strategic victories of the Russian troops.

Geolocation data shows that Russian gains around Avdiivka are concentrated southwest of Avdiivka, and Russian forces have not completed an operational encirclement of the settlement and are likely to attempt to do so.

However, experts point out, Avdiivka is a well-fortified and protected Ukrainian stronghold, which will probably make it difficult for Russian forces to come close or completely capture the settlement.

In addition, Russian troops already control sections of the critical route N20 Donetsk  Kostiantynivka  Kramatorsk  Sloviansk and other roads passing near Avdiivka, so the hypothetical capture of Avdiivka will not open new ways for an offensive on the rest of the territory of Donetsk Oblast.

As previously assessed by the ISW, Russian troops probably intend to attack in the area of Avdiivka in order to pin down Ukrainian forces and prevent them from redeploying to other areas of the front. However, Ukrainian officials have already identified the Avdiivka offensive as a Russian consolidation operation, and they are unlikely to unnecessarily divert Ukraine's Defence Forces to this sector of the front.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 11 October::

Ongoing localised Russian offensive operations near Avdiivka likely demonstrate the ability of Russian forces to learn and apply tactical battlefield lessons in Ukraine. These tactical-level adaptations and successes, however, are unlikely to necessarily translate into wider operational and strategic gains for Russian forces.

Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and reportedly advanced in both sectors of the front on 11 October.

A large number of NATO member states recently announced aid packages to Ukraine against the backdrop of the 16th Ukraine Defence Group Contact Group (in Ramstein-format - ed.) meeting in Brussels, Belgium on 11 October.

Russian military command continues to celebrate the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet) for its service in Ukraine, despite claims that the brigade was defeated and reportedly transferred to the Kherson front.

Armenia continues to ostensibly distance itself from Russia after a decades-long security relationship.

Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, in western Donetsk Oblast, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and advanced in some areas on 11 October.

Russian opposition outlet Sever Realii reported on 11 October that Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) representatives may have recruited over 1,000 convicts to serve in the Russian MoD-affiliated Redut private military company (PMC).

Russian occupation authorities are suffering staff shortages at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
This undated photo released Wednesday Oct. 11, 2023 by Nadav Kipnis, shows him, at left, flanked by his family from left, his brother Yotam Kipnis, his mother Lilach Lea Havron 60 and his father Eviatar Moshe Kipnis 65. Eviatar Moshe Kipnis and Lilach Lea Havron are among the estimated 150 people believed held by Hamas in Gaza following the militant group's stunning incursion in Israel on Saturday. The couple and their health care aide were last heard from Saturday morning, sheltering in their safe room, after militants had begun storming Be'eri, where at least 100 people were later found dead. (Kipnis Family via AP)

They were last heard from at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday. They were sheltering in their safe room after militants began storming the southern Israel community of Be'eri, where at least 100 people were later found dead.

Now they are gone.

Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, 65, and Lilach Lea Havron, 60, are among the estimated 150 people believed held by Hamas in Gaza. The couple were with their health care aide. Their son, Nadav Kipnis, told The Associated Press that in addition to the couple and their aide, eight members of Havrons family  including three children  are unaccounted for.

The family believes all 11 were taken to Gaza because their bodies werent recovered and because some of their cell phones have been traced there. Fears are high especially for the father, who uses a wheelchair, takes medications and needs regular hospital care.

The Kipnis family has Italian citizenship through a paternal grandmother who hailed from Leghorn and moved to Israel, via Tunisia, after the Holocaust.

For now, all the family has to go on are are the messages and videos contained in a nightmarish group chat of Beeri neighbors who described in real time as the militants went door to door, flushing people from their safe rooms, sometimes by setting their houses on fire, Nadav Kipnis said.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani traveled to Egypt on Wednesday to drum up regional Arab support to liberate Italian hostages. Three Italian-Israelis are unaccounted for  the couple and a young man reportedly injured at the music festival massacre.

Nadav Kipnis says hes grateful for the Foreign Ministrys attention, saying Italian officials had been in regular contact with him since Saturday. He told AP: I hope that with the help of the ministry, my family and the rest of the hostages will return home soon."
The Italian flag waves in front of The "Altare della Patria" also known as "Vittoriano" downtown Rome

ROME (Reuters) - Italy is postponing until early next year a summit with African countries that it had been due to host in November due to worsening global security, the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

"In light of the worsening scenario for international security, the Italy-Africa conference scheduled for November has been postponed to the beginning of 2024," the ministry said in a statement.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni previously said the conference would have been the occasion to present a so-called "Mattei plan" for energy cooperation with African nations, on which details have so far been scarce.

Italy will take over the presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) nations in 2024 and has pledged to make Africa a central theme while it is at the helm.

(Writing by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Keith Weir)
UPDATE: The Jackson County Sheriffs Office announced Thursday that Kaleighya Hunter Love has been located and is safe.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Jackson County, Missouri Sheriffs Office is asking the public for help in locating a missing 17-year-old girl who hasnt been seen in over a week.

Kaleighya Hunter Love was last seen around midnight on Monday, Oct. 2, in the area of E. Ponca Drive and E. Ponca Court in Independence, according to the sheriffs office.

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Shes described as standing 51 and weighs 125 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes and was wearing black leggings and a black Chiefs hoodie.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts are asked to call the sheriffs office at (816) 541-8017.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Le'Keian Woods, the man at the center of a viral Jacksonville arrest video that shows him being beaten by police with a bloody, swollen face, has been taken to the Leon County jail for an outstanding warrant on a charge of violating probation, according to an arrest affidavit.

Woods, 24, is in custody in Tallahassee on a robbery by sudden snatching charge in a previous, unrelated case with no bond set. Woods was on felony probation at the time of his Jacksonville arrest and was previously charged with second-degree murder after his roommate was shot during a drug robbery in Tallahassee. However, Woods pleaded down to robbery charges and was never tried for murder. He was transferred back to Leon County on Wednesday.

Tuesday night his family rallied outside Jacksonville City Hall and addressed City Council members inside chambers, speaking out against police brutality.

Woods was arrested on Aug. 29 in Jacksonville after he ran from police who followed the truck he was in during suspected drug activity. The other two men in the truck complied, but police body camera video shows Woods darting off. He was chased and felled by an officer's taser and then punched, elbowed and kneed by three officers at least 17 times in the face and body while trying to handcuff him while not complying, according to an arrest report.

Le'Keian Woods' Wednesday booking photo in Tallahassee.

Woods' mother, Natassia Woods, said Tuesday that her son is still in pain with bruises and swelling along his face.

I just want justice for my son," she said. "I want the officers held accountable."

The Sheriff's Office said Woods was violently resisting arrest and that officers thought he was armed. A gun was not on Woods at the time he was arrested, but one of the other men in the truck surrendered a handgun at the scene.

Woods family believes after he was incapacitated with the taser, he was not resisting.

"In the process of him being tased, he still was trying to give the officers his arm. They saw that he was not resisting. They used extreme deadly force on my son," Woods said.

The attorney for Natassia Woods also believes the officers treated him violently due to his past.

The use of force during Woods' arrest is under investigation, but Sheriff T.K. Waters has publicly stated he believes the officers acted accordingly and within policy.

Natassia Woods and her attorneys are asking for the officers to be fired and for the Sheriff's Office gang task force to be dissolved.

Le'Keian Woods is seen in this video image with a swollen face after fleeing an arrest on Sept. 29 in Jacksonville. It took at least three officers to finally getting him handcuffed.

JSO needs to re-examine their use of force policy. Anything that gives justification for officers kneeing an individual in the head several times in order to gain compliance, the use of deadly force when someone poses no threat, needs to be re-examined," Broderick Taylor, an attorney representing the family said.

Natassia Woods also spoke at Tuesday's City Council meeting, asking for help with addressing her son's health and confinement in jail.

"He was brutally beaten last week and he hasn't been able to get any medical treatment within JSO custody," Woods said. "They have him in solitary confinement for 23 hours out [of] the day, it's hard right now, he's my only child. He's not doing [well]. So, I'm trying to see if I can get some help from Congress or City Council or anybody who can help me get justice for my son."

After she addressed members, City Council President Rob Salem invited Woods' mother to a private meeting with Councilman Jimmy Peluso.

First Coast News reached out for an update into the investigation, but the Sheriff's Office cannot comment due to the pending litigation.

Natassia Woods attorneys have asked the Department of Justice to investigate the arrest.

This story first appeared on Times-Union news partner First Coast News.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Viral beating arrest video suspect is moved from Jacksonville jail
A top adviser to President Biden is facing criticism over a comment he made shortly before the Hamas attacks on Israel.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the Middle East was the calmest it has been in decades, bringing to the forefront other controversial foreign policy decisions the Biden adviser has been involved with over the last decade.

"What we said is want to depressurize, de-escalate, and ultimately integrate the Middle East region," Sullivan said at The Atlantic Festival on Sept. 29.

"The war in Yemen is in its 19th month of truce, for now the Iranian attacks against U.S. forces have stopped, our presence in Iraq is stable, I emphasize for now because all of that can change and the Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades," he said.

Eight days later, Hamas launched an attack on Israel that killed at least 1,200 Israelis, causing many conservatives to blast Sullivans comments on social media.

DEMOCRATS JOIN REPUBLICAN PUSH FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REFREEZE $6B IRANIAN ASSETS

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"We are less safe with this Biden team," former Trump Acting Director of the United States National Intelligence Richard Grenell posted on X , formerly known as Twitter, in response to Sullivans comment.

Matthew Brodsky, senior fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy, wrote on X that Sullivans comment was an "outright lie at the time he said it."

Sullivan has been at the center of several controversies in recent years, many of which have been brought up by conservatives on social media in light of his Middle East comment, including the Biden administrations chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In the days following the Biden administrations withdrawal from Afghanistan, Sullivan and the State Department were criticized for being unable to say exactly how many Americans had been left behind.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS '20 OR MORE' AMERICANS ARE MISSING IN ISRAEL AMID HAMAS ATTACKS

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 7, 2023.

On Aug. 22, 2021, more than a week after frenzied scenes of evacuating Afghans at the Kabul airport began to surface, Sullivan admitted that the administration did not know how many Americans were still in Afghanistan.

"We cannot give you a precise number," Sullivan told CNN. "We believe it is several thousand Americans who we are working with now to try to get safely out of the country."

At one point, it was believed that nearly 450 Americans were still stuck in the country two months after the U.S. withdrawal.

Sullivan said on Aug. 16 that "the president did not think it was inevitable that the Taliban were going to take control of Afghanistan" and that the situation devolved at "unexpected speed."

REPUBLICANS SEND LETTER TO JAKE SULLIVAN DEMANDING 'TOTAL FIGURES' FOR UKRAINE AID

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .

"He shouldve lost his job after the botched Afghanistan withdrawal," Abigail Jackson, press secretary for Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., posted on X on Sunday.

In 2021, the top oversight Republican in Congress called for the removal of Sullivan from his position due to his position at the "epicenter" of failed foreign policy decisions over the last 10 years, including the Benghazi terror attack that killed three American contractors and a U.S. ambassador.

Sullivan served as former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons deputy chief of staff and policy adviser at the State Department during the 2012 attack on U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya.

"From Benghazi to the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Jake Sullivan has been at the epicenter of the worst foreign policy crises and decisions over the past decade," Ranking Member on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital at the time. "Given this administrations tendency to create self-inflicted crises, its no surprise Jake Sullivan has been given a top post at the Biden White House."

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN: 'NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY ON LAB LEAK THEORY

A source involved in Libya policy in Washington throughout Clintons tenure, speaking on background, told Fox News Digital in 2020 that Sullivan was a prominent  albeit quiet  player in the controversial U.S. overthrow of Libya with Clinton's unflinching support.

Republicans also raised questions about Sullivan this past summer, Fox News Digital reported, after it was revealed that Sullivan served with Hunter Biden on the board of the Truman National Security Project, a liberal foreign policy think tank, for roughly two years before Sullivan joined the Biden campaign in 2020.

Jake Sullivan, left, served with Hunter Biden on the board of the Truman National Security Project for roughly two years.

During the Clinton presidential campaign, Sullivan also notoriously pushed the Trump-Russia collusion narrative to reporters. He told members of the House Intelligence committee in a December 2017 interview that prior to the 2016 election he briefed reporters on his suspicions.

"[B]asically we sat with them and walked through what we understood to be the case from  in terms of the DNC hack and leak, what we believed to be the case with respect to Russian involvement," Sullivan said, "and then what we thought the upshot of this was, which is you now have the start of a much more aggressive phase of an intelligence-led operation by foreign power, and there's likely to be more as we go forward, and people should really pay attention to this."

"Jake Sullivan has a lot to answer for," Hawley, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital earlier this year.

"He has repeatedly lied for perceived political gain  whether that be about the Russia Collusion hoax or the Hunter Biden laptop. And now hes Bidens national security adviser? He should resign immediately."

Sullivan was recently accused by former White House official Mike McCormick of being a "conspirator" in the Biden family's "kickback scheme" in Ukraine when Biden was vice president.

Sullivan denied the allegations , telling reporters that he had nothing to do with such an operation.

Sullivan has also been criticized in the past for his involvement in the U.S. foreign policy dealings in Syria and Myanmar.

During a 2019 interview with The New Yorker, Sullivan said it was "a great regret of mine" that "we were not able to more effectively play a role in stopping hundreds of thousands of people from dying in Syria and millions and millions more losing their homes."

The National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital's Cameron Cawthorne and Jessica Chasmar contributed to this report.





Original article source: Jake Sullivan's foreign policy blunders resurface after hyping up Middle East peace days before Hamas attacks
CNN host Jake Tapper was left stunned when Rep Nancy Mace made a wild claim about the future of the House speakership live on air on Wednesday night.

The MAGA Republican appeared on CNN after Rep Steve Scalise defeated Rep Jim Jordan to take the GOP nomination to become the next speaker of the House of Representatives.

During the segment, she claimed that there are several Democrats in Congress who trust Mr Jordan  the Donald Trump ally who has spent more than 500 days evading a subpoena about his involvement in the events leading up to the January 6 Capitol riot.

I think Jim Jordan is not out of the mix. Ive talked to a lot of people who still support him. Ive actually spoke to Democrats who trust him at his word. I dont think thats out of the realm of possibility, Ms Mace claimed.

Mr Tapper balked at the suggestion, questioning: Jim Jordan?

Ms Mace doubled down, saying: Yes Ive talked to Democrats over the past week on who they trust. Even though they wouldnt agree with him on a lot of issues, he is.

But Mr Tapper continued with his incredulity, asking: The Jim Jordan from Ohio?

When the Republican insisted yes again, Mr Tapper pressed: Democrats in Congress?

Ms Mace smiled and insisted yes.

At that point, Mr Tapper challenged the lawmaker to give an example.

Name one Democrat from Congress that trusts Jim Jordan, he said.

Ms Mace refused, saying they were private conversations she had with Democrats.

Jake Tapper stunned by Nancy Mace claims on CNN (CNN)

Mr Jordan lost the Republican party nomination to the majority leader and Louisiana congressman Mr Scalise on Wednesday, in a narrow 113-99 vote.

But the party declined to call a vote in the whole chamber later that day as questions remain as to whether Mr Scalise has enough support from his party to take the gavel.

Mr Scalise can only afford to lose four Republican votes to take the role leaving him now facing an uphill battle to get enough of his own party on side.

Several Republicans including far-right MAGA lawmakers Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene have already said that they will still vote for Mr Jordan on the House floor.

Ms Greene claimed that she wouldnt vote for Mr Scalise due to his health issues.

Ms Mace had endorsed Mr Jordan for the speaker role, after she was one of the eight Republicans  led by Rep Matt Gaetz  who joined Democrats to vote to remove Kevin McCarthy from the speakership on 3 October.

Mr McCarthy had grown increasingly at odds with the far-right wing of the party  notably lead rebel and MAGA Republican Mr Gaetz.

Mr Gaetz had filed a motion to vacate the speaker in outrage that Mr McCarthy struck a deal with Democrats to avert a government shutdown  one that could have temporarily shuttered key services for American people and furloughed federal workers.

Jim Jordan was defeated by Steve Scalise (Getty Images)

After Democrats declined to bail out the speaker and members of his own party turned on him, Mr McCarthy was removed in a 216-210 vote to vacate  marking the first time in American history that a speaker has been ousted by other lawmakers.

Ms Mace came under fire from members of her own party for her involvment in Mr McCarthys ousting.

She defended the move, claiming that he broke several promises that he made to her when she voted him into the role in January.

On Tuesday, she bizarrely showed up to the House speaker candidate forum on Tuesday sporting a t-shirt with a red letter A emblazoned across it, telling reporters that she was wearing the scarlet letter as a symbol that she had been demonised at the Capitol this week.

Im wearing the scarlet letter after the week I just had being a woman up here, and being demonised for my vote and for my voice, she said in the halls of Congress.

Im here to let the rest of the world know and the country know: Im on the side of the people. Im not on the side of the establishment.

She added: And Im going to do the right thing every single time no matter the consequences because I dont answer to anybody in DC. I dont answer to anyone in Washington. I only answer to the people.

The South Carolina lawmakers fashion statement appears to be a reference to the 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter.

In the novel, the female lead character Hester Prynne was forced to wear a scarlet A for the rest of her life as a punishment for having a child out of wedlock.
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey answers questions at a press conference about what led up to the killing of a 9-year-old girl in Silverton, Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Hamilton County Justice Center in Cincinnati.

After Charmaine McGuffey became Hamilton Countys sheriff, then-County Prosecutor Joe Deters took her off a list of law enforcement officers accused of or found guilty of wrongdoing.

She was removed from the list sometime in 2021 by former Prosecutor Joe Deters as a professional courtesy when she became Sheriff, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors office, Amy Clausing, said Wednesday.

However, she noted, our obligation to inform defendants of Brady information remains unchanged. If Sheriff McGuffey was ever a witness in a case, the two infractions that placed her on the Brady List would be disclosed to the defense.

The Brady List is the result of a more than 50-year-old Supreme Court ruling that requires prosecutors to seek and disclose evidence to defense attorneys and the accused that is material to his or her guilt or punishment.

This includes evidence about their untruthfulness; certain prior criminal convictions and evidence of bias; excessive use of force.

The list kept by the prosecutors office currently has more than 150 law enforcement officers, mostly from the two largest agencies in the county: the sheriffs office and Cincinnati police.

Even minor infractions can qualify an officer or Brady. One Cincinnati police officer was put on it after pleading guilty in 2015 to a minor misdemeanor deer regulation.

McGuffey was put on it sometime between September 2018 and February 2019, years after a 2010 charge by Covington police of Disorderly Conduct, Public Intox. and a second incident of Dishonesty during an internal investigation, according to copies of the list the prosecutors office provided in response to a public record request.

Before McGuffey was added, the list had 48 names.

The next time the list was printed, in February 2019 with her on it, the names more than doubled to 111.

Her name appeared on the list for the last time in October 2020. It was not on the next printed version in February 2021 and has remained off, prosecutors records show.

Deters declined on Wednesday to comment for this story: I cannot because of my current position in government.

He stepped down from the prosecutors office in early January after Gov. Mike DeWine appointed him to serve as an Ohio Supreme Court Justice.

Sheriff McGuffey did not respond to repeated requests for comment relayed through a spokeswoman.

Changing policies at prosecutors office

No other law enforcement officer has been removed from Hamilton Countys Brady List in at least the past five years, county records show. Removal is not totally unprecedented, however, according to Clausing.

For a period of time, we had a policy of removing officers after 10 years. At some point that policy was changed and officers are no longer automatically removed after 10 years, she said.

She also stressed that the county is not required to keep a written copy of the list but does. Some local prosecutors do not keep the list in written form.

Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser has said he refuses to keep a paper or electronic copy that can be published by the media or possibly used as a retaliatory move by police officials trying to punish cops.

I wont weaponize Brady, he said.

In Hamilton County, Phil Cummings, assistant division chief of the appellate division, has been responsible for maintaining the list for years.

Cummings testified at length during a January 2019 Cincinnati police arbitration hearing that once officers are on the list, they are not taken off, even if the original accusation was thrown out or overturned.

If a penalty is vacated or mitigated somehow, that has no impact on our obligation under Brady, he said under oath, according to a copy of the arbitration transcript.

He testified that the list would be amended if the initial finding was later reversed or downgraded.

It doesnt rise to the level of a Brady offense

McGuffeys placement on the Brady List came up during her election campaign against her former boss, then-Sheriff Jim Neil. She beat him in the Democratic primary in March 2020 and then defeated the Republican candidate, Bruce Hoffbauer, in the November 2020 general election.

She was not put on it until 2018, several years after she was charged in Covington in 2010.

She addressed it in a June 2020 news release, saying I stood up to an unlawful police stop in Covington Ky where my friends and I were targeted coming out of a gay bar.

She said Neil, her political opponent, submitted her name to be put on the Brady List in December 2018 when she ran against him in the primary.

Ill let you decide the motive behind that, she wrote in the June 25, 2020, statement on her website. Citations given at the time were dismissed and expunged because they had no merit. Then (former longtime) Sheriff (Simon) Leis gave me 5 days off work because he was mad I was at a gay bar. That was my offense.

She also addressed the allegation that she was dishonest in a conversation with internal affairs.

That is not only in dispute and is at the core of my lawsuit for unlawful termination ... it doesnt rise to the level of a Brady List offense. Sheriff Neil was aware that this allegation was in dispute but he held the power to put me on the list regardless.

Days before she was sworn into office, McGuffey settled the lawsuit with the county and it never went to trial. The county and Neil did not admit to any of the allegations in the lawsuit.

FOX19 NOW reached out to Neil for comment and specifically asked if he submitted McGuffeys name to the prosecutors office because of dirty politics.

He did not directly address that question. Instead, he sent a statement: When a sheriffs deputy is arrested and/or found to be dishonest during an official investigation, sheriffs investigators turn the case file over to the prosecutors office at the conclusion of their investigation. The case file on McGuffey would have been sent to the prosecutors office in 2017. The prosecutor would determine who is placed on the Brady List.

Neil recently filed petitions to be on the May 2024 primary ballot in the sheriffs race.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey was taken off Brady List by Joe Deters
Sen. John Fetterman , D-Pa., was roasted on social media after he claimed Wednesday America is failing to send its "best and brightest" to serve in Congress.

"You all need to know that America is not sending their best and brightest to Washington, D.C.," Fetterman remarked during a late-night interview with Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show," sparking laughter from the audience. "Sometimes you literally just cant believe these people are making the decisions that are determining the government here. Its actually scary."

Fetterman's comments came in response to a question from Colbert about whether it was "awkward" to face a lawmaker in person who he posted a meme about.

Shortly after his remarks, Fetterman was roundly mocked by social media users who commented that he "embodies the very truth he speaks."

CRITICS DRESS DOWN SENATE'S 'PATHETIC' DECISION TO AXE FORMAL DRESS CODE: FETTERMAN MUST BE 'VERY FRAGILE'

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., arrives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 21, 2023.

"Fetterman speaks truth. He's unaware of it, but he embodies the very truth he speaks," former GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "This could have been a skit on SNL. But it was a rare funny moment on Colbert."

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REPUBLICAN SENATORS SLAM RELAXED DRESS CODE, DEMAND SCHUMER REVERSE CHANGES

"Yes. Fetterman  the guy who lived off of his parents into his 40s and has never held a job in the real world in his life  actually said that," conservative columnist and author Joe Concha wrote.

Steve Guest, a former staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, added, "Pot met kettle," while Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik said in a post, "Does he own a mirror."

FETTERMAN BLASTED BY CONSERVATIVES AFTER SENATE DROPS DRESS CODE: STOP LOWERING THE BAR!

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is sworn in during a ceremony in the old Senate chamber in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 3, 2023.

"Just wait until John Fetterman hears about John Fetterman," Alex Lorusso, a conservative commentator and media producer, said.

"The whole Fetterman thing is just one giant troll," added Monica Crowley, a conservative podcast host and former Trump administration official.

"For once in his life, John Fetterman is correct. But is he aware that includes himself is the question," conservative commentator Benny Johnson said.

Fetterman's appearance on "The Late Show" comes weeks after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., relaxed dress requirements for the chamber that allowed Fetterman to continue to wear his trademark hooded sweatshirts and gym shorts. The move was blasted by critics who argued for decorum in the Senate.

Shortly after the rule change, a resolution introduced by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was passed unanimously, formalizing a dress code for men that includes wearing a coat, tie and slacks.

During the interview Wednesday, Fetterman and Colbert both mocked the outrage sparked by the brief relaxation of the Senate's dress code.

The pair also discussed at length Fetterman's recovery from a stroke and his mental health issues. The Pennsylvania Democrat was hospitalized earlier this year to treat depression, and he continues to struggle with auditory processing problems that have made communication difficult.

Fetterman used a tablet to transcribe Colbert's questions during the interview.

Fetterman's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.





Original article source: John Fetterman roasted for saying America isn't sending 'best and brightest' to DC: 'Pot met kettle'
Editors Note: Reality Check is a Kansas City Star series focused on holding those in power to their word and pulling back the curtain on decisions happening behind closed doors. This newsroom-wide project will bring fast facts as stories unfold  making sure our local officials and institutions are telling the truth, serving our communities well and following through on their promises. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email tips@kcstar.com.

Now that the Johnson County district attorney has rejected six recall petitions against Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson, a resident has drowned the city in ethics complaints against the mayor and five council members.

Prairie Village resident Mike Sullinger was one of three people behind the failed recall attempt, and has now filed complaints against Mikkelson and nearly half the council, accusing them of pushing personal political agendas for their own gain. Sullinger demanded the officials be censured or face other disciplinary actions.

Sullinger said he was motivated to file the complaints after two council members blocked him on social media. Council members say they did so because he had posted harassing comments on their campaign pages on Facebook.

Some officials say the complaints lack merit, couching them as a drain on city resources and the latest in a personal vendetta that rose from the council discussing whether to adjust zoning laws to make it easier to build duplexes, apartments and other more affordable housing options.

Most people in Prairie Village dont object to having more affordable housing. But theyre just going about it the wrong way, Sullinger said. Theyve completely lost the trust that used to reside between City Hall and the residents.

The City Council is expected to discuss the complaints next month.

As with all concerns voiced by our residents, we are following proper due process to review this matter, Mikkelson said in a statement to The Star. With a claim of this nature it is also important to consider that reputations are not harmed unfairly, maliciously or without cause.

Mikkelson said the complaints are under review by the citys legal counsel, and with that guidance, the council will determine whether or not further investigation is necessary, or whether to dismiss the allegations as devoid of any merit.

Its the latest fuel added to the fire at Prairie Village City Hall. The housing debate, which has now morphed into a protracted political battle, has divided the northeast Johnson County city ahead of the Nov. 7 election, where half the council seats are on the ballot.

The city has been tied up in a legal fight with a group of residents  first formed to oppose any zoning changes aiming to let residents vote on changing the citys form of government, limiting mayoral powers and halving the council.

The city took the issue to court, but it wasnt resolved in time for any such initiative to be placed on the ballot next month. Now, both sides are appealing a judges ruling, which deemed two of the three petitions invalid.

In the meantime, Sullinger has gone down his own path. Along with two founding members of the Northeast Johnson County Conservatives, Sullinger filed petition after petition in an effort to recall the mayor.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe determined Sullingers complaints do not meet the legal standard to recall an elected official. But Sullinger, who describes himself as an independent not associated with the conservative group, isnt giving up and said he plans to appeal that decision.

And now he has filed several complaints against the mayor and some council members, arguing they have violated city code.

Much like his recall petition, Sullinger accuses Mikkelson of having a conflict of interest because he sits on the board of United Community Services of Johnson County, which promotes solutions to homelessness and the affordable housing shortage. With the help of the county and cities, UCS conducted a housing study, which has led municipalities to consider changing their zoning laws and taking other steps to attract cheaper housing.

Its common for mayors, council members and school board members to serve on the boards of nonprofits while also holding office. Mikkelson has previously recused himself when the council has discussed funding for UCS.

He also calls out Councilwoman Bonnie Limbird, who is seeking reelection, for serving on the UCS taskforce that was formed as part of that study, which was made up of several county and city officials and employees across Johnson County. Sullinger said Limbird voted for her own work when supporting affordable housing strategies at the city level.

Sullinger argues the officials violated the citys code of ethics, which requires them to be independent and impartial, and that public office not be used for personal gain. He cited the citys ethics code in his recall petitions as well, where Howe found no grounds to take action.

Sullinger also argues the mayor had an unprofessional outburst at a meeting more than a year ago, when Mikkelson stopped a man who was shouting from the crowd, and warned that he could be removed if he interrupted the meeting again.

Much of the other complaints regard council members social media posts on their personal or campaign pages that either discuss politics or criticize those working to restructure the city government and cut the council in half, which would have meant ejecting six members from their seats mid-term.

In one post, Councilman Ian Graves, who is up for reelection, wrote on his campaign page that a radical group has decided that the residents here enjoy too much representation and are attempting to halve the size of the council via a confusing petition initiative. The best way to push back is at the ballot box.

Sullinger accuses Graves of violating the ethics code, which says officials must act independently, saying he advocated for an outcome that benefits Ian. He also theorizes that council members could have violated the open meetings act because the timing of the social media posts and the similar public language used.

Graves argued that Sullinger reinterprets standard legalese to suit whatever argument he is making, which is the basis for his ethics complaint.

Graves said that section of the ethics code, is intended to prevent self-dealing, where someone would be advocating for an outcome where they would be making money. But thats not what Im doing. Im making my position clear on a political group.

Councilwoman Inga Selders, who also is up for reelection, was included in the complaint for posts she made on her personal Facebook page about the housing opposition group. She argued the ethics complaint is another attempt to oust council members and replace them with the slate of candidates supported by those who oppose the housing efforts.

Prairie Village is just really overheated right now with a lot of political rhetoric, and this is more of that, Graves said. This seems like people trying to impact the political process through nonpolitical means. Its unfortunate. Because the way you get things done is you elect people. We have an election coming up where everyone is contested. Vote for your person.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Thursday for steps to prevent a deterioration in the Gaza crisis and they condemned what they called Israel's "collective punishment" of Palestinians.

In a statement after a meeting in Amman, they also warned against a "rise in violence and its spread" as a humanitarian crisis worsens amid Israel's intense bombing campaign in Gaza after a devastating cross-border attack by Hamas.

Both leaders met ahead of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who was expected to arrive later on Thursday from Israel and meet the king and Abbas to discuss ways to defuse the Gaza crisis, officials said.

Abdullah and Abbas also called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow humanitarian corridors into Gaza to allow food and aid as NGOs and aid groups warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave.

Israel announced a total siege on Gaza on Monday, home to 2.3 million people, blocking the entry of food, fuel and water into the coastal territory and shuttering all crossing points.

Jordan has sent a military plane with medical aid to the Egyptian city of Rafah in Sinai, Egypt, to try to get Israel to allow the cargo into the enclave through a single border crossing with Gaza.

Jordan's interior ministry also said they would not allow protesters planning anti-Israeli marches to reach the border zone with the West Bank, where it said this area was a closed to civilians.

Amman, which lost the West Bank including East Jerusalem to Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, is worried widening violence could have repercussions with a large percentage of Jordans population made up of Palestinians.

The outpouring of anger against Israel also fueled a large rally on Tuesday in downtown Amman. Security has been stepped up ahead of a large rally on Friday called by the Islamist movement, Jordan's main political opposition, officials said.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; editing by Mark Heinrich and Jonathan Oatis)
(WJW)  Josh Duggar will remain behind bars until 2032 after the appeal of his child pornography case was officially denied, according to reports.

As reported by People and other news outlets, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit stated in court documents last week that the former reality TV star will continue serving more than 12 and a half years in prison.

Duggar, who appeared with his family on TLCs  19 Kids and Counting , was convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography back in 2021.

His lawyer filed an appeal last October, asking the court to overturn the ruling, according to The Associated Press.

His sentencing was extended earlier this year, meaning he wont be up for release until Oct. 2, 2032.

Is Americas childcare crisis about to get worse?

According to jail records, Duggar is serving his sentence at FCI Seagoville Federal Prison in Texas.

19 Kids and Counting was canceled in 2015 due to resurfaced allegations that Duggar molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. The statute of limitations on any possible charges had expired, but his parents later said he confessed and apologized.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Sen. Josh Hawley , a Missouri Republican, is leading two potential 2024 Democratic opponents by a significant margin, according to new polling released Thursday.

Hawley, who is running for reelection next year, beat both former Marine Lucas Kunce and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in a survey of 491 Missouri voters conducted last week by Emerson College Polling. Kunce and Bell are both campaigning for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

In a matchup with Kunce, Hawley won 45% of respondents compared to 32% for Kunce. Pitted against Bell, the numbers are similar: Hawley has 44% support to 34% for Bell.

In both scenarios, 5% of respondents said they would vote for someone else and 17% said they were undecided. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4%.

The poll suggests the 2024 Senate race is less competitive than the 2022 race, when Republican Eric Schmitt , then the state attorney general, faced off against Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine. Schmitt won 55.4% to Valentines 42.2%.

Missouri state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis and December Harmon, a civil rights activist in Columbia, are also seeking the Democratic nomination. Emerson didnt poll their support against Hawley.

In the presidential race, former President Donald Trump remains the clear favorite to win the general election in both Missouri and Kansas if he wins the Republican nomination, according to Emerson, which also conducted a survey of 487 Kansas voters last week.

Trumps lead comes as he is fighting multiple felony indictments, including over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, his actions in the lead up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, his handling of classified documents after leaving office and allegations related to hush money payments in New York.

Trump leads President Joe Biden , 50% to 33%, in Missouri. That result would reflect an erosion in both Trump and Bidens support since the 2020 election, when Trump won 56.8% of the vote and Biden won 41.4%.

In Kansas, Trump leads Biden 47% to 31%. In 2020, Trump won 56.2% of the vote and Biden won 41.6%.

In Kansas, Trump leads across all educational levels, except among voters who have a postgraduate degree. These voters break for Biden, 51% to 33%, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a statement.

Trump leads Biden by 12 points among women, 44% to 32%, whereas his lead nearly doubles to 21 points among men, where he leads 50% to 29%.

Even as Trump maintains a clear hold on Kansas, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly enjoys a 39% approval rating, with 30% of respondents disapproving and 31% neutral on the second-term governor.

In Missouri, 36% of respondents approve of the job Republican Gov. Mike Parson is doing, with 28% disapproving and 36% neutral.
U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday was poised to decide whether former President Trumps loyal co-defendants in the classified documents case may need to get new defense lawyers due to conflicts of interest.

In twin hearings that could shake up the federal case against Trump, Cannon will determine whether lawyers paid for by Trump can adequately represent valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago building manager Carlos DOliveira.

The two underlings, who are accused of helping Trump cover up his refusal to return the documents, are facing damaging allegations presented by a Mar-a-Lago IT manager and other colleagues, some of whom are or were represented by the same Trump-funded attorneys.

Former President Donald Trump appears in court for a civil fraud case at a Manhattan courthouse, in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. (Dave Sanders/Pool Photo via AP) Prosecutors believe they might flip and agree to testify against their boss if they received independent legal advice about the perils of continuing to stick with Trump.

Thats exactly what happened when IT manager Yucsil Taveras was given access to a federal public defender after a similar hearing in a Washington, D.C. court.

He is now a cooperating witness and will avoid prison time by testifying against Trump and the others.

Nauta lawyer Stanley Woodward previously represented Taveras, raising serious questions about whether he could cross-examine his former client when he testifies against his current client.

De Oliveiras attorney is John Irving, who also represented several Mar-a-Lago employees whose testimony may implicate the property manager in aiding the alleged Trump cover-up.

The defense lawyers and Trumps legal team say there is no need for any action by Cannon.

Trump is accused of taking hundreds of classified documents when he left the White House and defying government efforts to get them back. He is also charged with trying to obstruct the federal probe into the documents by allegedly hiding the documents from investigators, with the help of Nauta and De Oliveira.

The trio face a May 2024 trial date, although Trump is lookingc to delay it until after the election.

Trump also faces a March federal trial on charges related to his alleged plot to overturn the 2020 election, a scheme that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack as well as a Georgia state racketeering case covering some of the same conduct.

He is facing a civil fraud trial in New York that has already resulted in a judge ruling he carried out a massive years-long scam to overvalue properties to gain favorable terms from lenders and insurers among others.

_____
(NEXSTAR)  A judge in San Francisco gave final approval to the massive Facebook privacy settlement on Tuesday.

The social media company has agreed to pay $725 million to settle claims it violated users privacy by sharing their data with third parties. While Meta agreed to the payout, it denies wrongdoing.

After months of court proceedings, Judge Vince Chhabria overruled several objections to the settlement Tuesday and granted the settlement his final approval. Theres one more key step before payments can go out: a window for appeals to be filed.

How big will Facebook settlement checks be? Lawyers reveal estimated payment per person

A representative for Angeion, the settlement administrator tasked with processing and paying out claims in this case, told Nexstar its still uncertain whether any appeals will be filed in the next 30 days.

If there are no appeals filed, the company is prepared to send out payments soon after the window closes, the representative said. An exact date or timeline has yet to be determined.

Whenever you do get your payment, dont expect it to be a life-changing sum. The exact amount will depend on how long youve had an active Facebook account, but lawyers told Judge Chhabria they expect the median payment to be around $30.

When will Facebook settlement payments be sent out? Heres what we know

Angeion is still working through the approximately 28 million claims it received in the huge lawsuit, validating which claims are valid and throwing out duplicative or fraudulent ones.

As far as we can tell thats the largest number of claims ever filed in a class action in the United States, Lesley Weaver, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the case, said in court last month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
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.

The judge presiding over the first-degree murder trial of Charlie Adelson ordered his parents, Donna and Harvey Adelson, to answer questions from prosecutors for the first time since law professor Dan Markel was killed nine years ago.

Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett on Thursday ordered the Adelsons  who have long been investigated in the conspiracy to kill Markel  to comply with state subpoenas demanding they appear for questioning. He warned their lawyer, Marissel Descalzo of Miami, that if the Adelsons dont comply, hell begin contempt of court proceedings against them.

Are you going to produce your clients to testify pursuant to the grant of immunity? Everett asked. If not, he said, Im going to issue a writ of bodily attachment to bring them to Tallahassee, and we will have contempt proceedings here in Tallahassee.

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.

No, your honor, said Descalzo, who appeared virtually. I will produce them.

On Sept. 12, Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman issued investigative subpoenas to the Adelsons demanding they appear before her on Oct. 3 at the FBI's offices in Miramar. When they didnt, Cappleman filed a motion to show cause, which Everett granted last week.

Descalzo moved to dismiss the order, arguing that a state law conferring immunity to people who testify under subpoena was unconstitutional and that any statements they made could be used against them in a parallel federal investigation.

But Everett shot that down, saying that case law holds that the immunity granted by the state extends to federal authorities.

In fact, in your motion to dismiss, youre arguing against a statute, Florida appellate law and the United States Supreme Court, Everett said. What is your basis in fact or law to make this argument?

Descalzo cited a more recent case involving testimony sought by a foreign authority. But she acknowledged under questioning by the judge that the Adelsons testimony had not been sought by any foreign sovereign.

Everett dismissed Descalzo's motion, finding that it was without merit. She then asked for a stay on the Adelsons testimony, but Everett flatly denied that, too.

The judge set a date of Oct. 17 for the interview. He also suggested there would be consequences if the Adelsons dont answer questions by prosecutors. Their lawyer previously signaled that they would assert their 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination in any interview.

If there is non-compliance with this interview, at that point, it will become an issue of whether there is some remedy that is going to be sought with regard to the witnesses, Everett said.

Charlie Adelson, a South Florida dentist and the suspected ringleader of a plot to kill Markel, goes on trial in less than two weeks for first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation. Prosecutors believe the Adelson family had Markel killed during a contentious custody battle between Dan Markel and his ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, who is Charlie Adelsons sister.

Dan MarkelOs ex-wife Wendi Adelson testifies in the trial of Katherine Magbanua on Thursday, May 19, 2022.

Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, the two hit men who shot and killed Markel in his garage in 2014, and Katherine Magbanua, the mother of Garcias children who dated Adelson, have already been convicted on murder charges in Markel's death.

Donna and Harvey Adelson appear on witness lists for both the prosecution and defense in the trial of their son, which starts Oct. 23 at the Leon County Courthouse. It's unclear at this point whether either of them will be called to testify.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Dan Markel murder: Judge orders Adelson parents to answer questions
WEST PALM BEACH  Jurors on Thursday found a Jupiter father guilty of aggravated child abuse after police said he and his wife confined one of their four children to a locked room in his garage for hours at a time.

The six-person jury also found Timothy Ferriter guilty of false imprisonment and child neglect. Circuit Judge Howard Coates will decide Ferriter's sentence on Nov. 16. He faces up to 40 years in prison.

Ferriter chose not to testify in his own defense. His team relied on testimony from family friends and a child psychologist, who described his behavior as misguided but not criminal.

After the verdict, Ferriter briefly hugged and consoled his wife, Tracy, before court deputies led him away.

Tracy Ferriter faces a separate trial on abuse allegations involving the same child. She sat in the courtroom for most of her husband's trial. She did not speak to reporters as she left the courtroom.

The Palm Beach Post is not identifying the victim either by name or gender.

Palm Beach Post investigation: A couple kept a child locked in the garage. Their lawyer says they had no choice

Jupiter father plans to appeal verdict, seek release from jail

Timothy Ferriter of Jupiter was found guilty of child abuse, child neglect and false imprisonment of a teen child.

In a trial that garnered national attention, including live coverage by Court TV, the state presented testimony from the teenager at the center of the abuse allegations, the teen's older sibling and child psychiatrist Dr. Wade Myers, who told jurors that the Ferriters' treatment of the child was malicious, cruel and psychologically damaging.

But perhaps the most powerful pieces of evidence were video recordings of the child inside the garage structure, Assistant State Attorney Brianna Coakley said. The state closed its case by showing jurors hours of video footage from Ring camera recordings. In the footage, the teen could be heard at times crying while alone in the structure.

We had really credible witness testimony in this case, but theres absolutely nothing better than being able to show the jury exactly what happened and let them see it for it themselves," Coakley said after the verdict.

Defense attorney Prya Murad said Ferriter intends to appeal the verdict. She said the defense will also seek to have Ferriter placed on house arrest.

Ferriter, 48, rejected a plea offer from the state that would have sent him to prison to two years, followed by five years of probation.

Tracy Ferriter, Jupiter, readies to leave court without her husband, Timothy Ferriter, after he was found guilty in the aggravated child abuse jury trial against him at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on October 12, 2023.

During the trial, the defense presented its own video evidence, showing the teen playing outside and interacting with other family members while inside the home. In one video, the teen could be seen watching a college football game with Timothy Ferriter.

I think as the jury saw in the videos that the defense presented, there was a life for this child outside of that room," Murad said. "I wish we had been able to convince the jury of that more, but perhaps on appeal. "

Regarding the verdict, Murad said Ferriter was "obviously very upset, but hes respectful and appreciates the time that the jury put into this."

Prosecutors: Jupiter family's home life looked normal but was abusive

Assistant State Attorney Brianna Coakley in court.

An issue for the jury to decide was whether Ferriter's actions rose to the level of child abuse or neglect.

Jupiter police arrested the Ferriters in February 2022 saying the couple kept the child confined for multiple hours at a time in a windowless 8-by-8-foot structure built in the garage of their Egret Landing home.

In her closing remarks, Coakley described a child's life that appeared normal to those on the outside, but inside the home was anything but normal.

She spoke of a pattern of abusive behavior against the child during the Ferriters' nearly five years in Arizona that continued about five to six weeks after the family returned to Jupiter in late December 2021. They had lived in Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter prior to moving west.

This treatment, this systemic way in which (the teen) was forced to live, is a crime," Coakley said. "Its not every moment of the day. There were lots of times when they looked like a normal family. Its what happened behind closed doors is why we are here."

Investigators discovered the structure after the teen ran away from home in January 2022. The teen was found days later outside Independence Middle School. During their search, police visited the Ferriters' home and asked to see the teen's bedroom. The search led them to the garage.

What it means: Jupiter parents say adopted teen locked in garage room had attachment disorder

Investigators said the garage structure could be opened only from the outside. Mounted on its ceiling was a doorbell camera, where the family could monitor the movements of the person inside, according to police reports.

The teenager was provided with a bucket to use as a toilet, police said when they charged the couple with aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment. The Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office later added a charge of child neglect against Timothy Ferriter.

The teenager, who is now in 10th grade, testified last week that being locked in the garage structure was "dehumanizing."

Defense: Parents made mistakes with teen but did nothing criminal

Photos provided to The Palm Beach Post show the demolition of the garage room where Timothy Ferriter's teenager was locked up for hours at a time.

Murad said the parents struggled in dealing with the teen, who was adopted as a toddler from an orphanage in Vietnam, due to the teen's long-standing behavioral issues. Murad told jurors that Ferriter exhibited poor judgment in responding to the teenager's behavior but did not commit a crime.

The teen had a history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and a condition known as reactive attachment disorder, Tracy Ferriter told investigators prior to her arrest. The disorder keeps children from forming bonds with their family members, and it can lead them to act out or make it difficult for children to accept love.

"This was a poor effort at parenting a child that had issues that the parents didnt understand," Murad said.

Timothy and Tracy Ferriter told Jupiter police that the teen lied, stole, attacked family members and threatened classmates. The room was a means to discipline the teen and protect other people in the household from harm, they said.

Defense attorneys Khurrum Wahid, left, and Prya Murad.

Murad told jurors that the couple tried to get help from therapists, doctors and schools, to no avail.

"The idea that these parents were not involved and not trying is distant from the facts," she said.

During their deliberations, jurors returned to the courtroom to listen to testimony given last week by the teenager's older sibling. The sibling testified from a separate courtroom, appearing over a video feed in the main courtroom. Coates noted difficulties in hearing the sibling's testimony over the video feed and instructed the court to replay the audio recorded from the courtroom the sibling appeared in.

The sibling, who is also adopted, told jurors that the teen at the center of the abuse allegations was treated differently from the other children in the home, including sleeping in a similar garage structure in the family's home in Arizona.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jupiter dad who kept teen in garage guilty of aggravated child abuse
A Lexington 10-year-old boy is mourning the death of his father who was killed in Israel.

The childs mother, Liat Wachs, told Boston 25 News that the most difficult part of the loss was telling her son about it.

53-year-old Igal Wachs and his younger brother 48 year old Amit Wachs, both duel Israeli-American citizens, were killed when gunmen stormed their village of Netiv HaAsara.

The two were members of the villages security team and lost their lives trying to defend their community.

They tried to protect the people, and they didnt have a chance, said Liat Wachs. I want him to be remembered with his big smile and good heart.

The Wachs moved to the United States eight years ago and eventually settled down in Lexington.

Igal moved back to Israel after the couple separated.

The couple was still legally married in America but had obtained a divorce in rabbinical court several months ago.

He had a great sense of sense, and he was very well-liked by many people, she said. My heart is bleeding.

She and her son are still processing the magnitude of the grief just days before the childs 11th birthday.

How can I explain something like that? I just broke his heart into very little, little pieces, explained Wachs. He lost an amazing father, and hes devastated.

Wachs is also grappling with the pain of knowing that the village where she spent most of her life was ravaged in Saturdays surprise attacks.

She said her close friend was executed after hiding out for 60 hours and others she knows from her childhood are still missing.

For me, its a Holocaust, she said. It might take generations to recover from what we experienced.

Igal Wachs and Amit Wachs are among at least 22 Americans who have been killed in Israel.

Were not going to surrender: Needham resident arrives in Israel to serve with his 4 daughters

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
OLATHE, Kan. (WDAF)  Stephen Taylor has been a teacher for six years, most recently at Mill Creek Campus, an alternative school in Olathe, Kansas. He has also been a stand-up comedian for the last eight years, but it seems the school district employing him wasnt amused by his jokes about students.



So unamused, Taylor says he was fired for posting videos on TikTok.



The reason Im doing comedy on TikTok is to make money because [the school] only [pays] me $45,000 a year, and I work all the time, Taylor explained to Nexstars WDAF.

Jets Aaron Rodgers challenges Chiefs Travis Kelce to vaccine debate

But a series of videos at the beginning of the school year had him facing an unusual question from administrators: How often does he really pass gas near students?

Thats something he claimed to do on his TikTok account.

I tell my students the wrong thing all the time when they annoy me. I tell them Abraham Lincoln invented the car, thats why its named after him, Taylor said in a video.

He was told to take the videos down, to which he asked to see the districts social media policy.

The district wouldnt comment on this personnel matter but gave WDAF a copy of the policy, which requires staff on social media to maintain the same level of personal responsibility, discretion, and professionalism expected in any other form of communication.

They dont understand it. The social media policies are designed for Myspace. They are years behind where we are currently at in the world, which is TikTok is alive and well, everyone is on it, Taylor said.

The policy goes on to say you shouldnt post anything online you wouldnt say at a public meeting or to a member of the media. Taylor says he has spoken to both as the district moved for termination after he said he refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement and resign.

Missouri teacher resigns after suspension over OnlyFans account

You are going to vote at the end of this to fire a teacher who has incredible evaluations, great relationships with students, and cares deeply about their success. I am that teacher, and this is all because of TikTok, Taylor told the Olathe School Board before they voted to fire him.

Taylor reiterated that his TikToks and the jokes he told his students were just that  jokes. He added that he was sure his students understood that. But he has had to post a video to them to say he is sorry he is not their teacher anymore.

Its the thing I feel the worst about, is the students are the ones suffering, and I know deep down theres nothing I could have done besides sacrifice all my values and delete the videos and never make another TikTok, he said.

With no immediate plans to try to return to teaching Taylor says he has 30 standup gigs booked on what hes calling The Teacher Shortage Tour.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Editors Note: Reality Check is a Kansas City Star series focused on holding those in power to their word and pulling back the curtain on decisions happening behind closed doors. This newsroom-wide project will bring fast facts as stories unfold  making sure our local officials and institutions are telling the truth, serving our communities well and following through on their promises. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email tips@kcstar.com.

A transgender Kansas City resident said he was denied supplies for his gender-affirming healthcare Monday at the Costco pharmacy on Linwood Boulevard, a year after the city investigated the location for discrimination.

The resident said a routine stop at the pharmacy for over-the-counter syringes ended in frustration when he revealed he planned to use them for his testosterone injections. He says the pharmacist refused to sell him the syringes without a prescription, even though they are typically sold without one.

The citys Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department launched an investigation in October 2022 after a Star report about five transgender and nonbinary people who said they were denied their prescribed testosterone at the pharmacy. Costco denied the allegations.

Discrimination due to gender identity, which includes gender expression, has been illegal in Kansas City since its anti-discrimination ordinance was adopted in 1993.

Earlier this year, the city said it had concluded its investigation and settled it to the satisfaction of all parties.

But city officials have said they will not share any information with the public about the outcome of the case.

And one transgender patient who filed a complaint with the city said that after sharing their story, they never heard back from the civil rights office about a resolution.

Costco customer reports discrimination

Dave, whose name has been changed in this story to protect his identity as a transgender man, was grocery shopping at the Linwood Boulevard Costco on Monday when he decided to pick up some syringes.

Dave has used insulin syringes for years to take his prescribed testosterone  their thin needles make his regular injections less painful.

These small syringes dont require a prescription, making them easy to obtain  and Costco offers a bulk pack of 100 at a nice discount compared to other pharmacies.

At first, the transaction was painless: Dave asked for a pack of syringes and an employee asked him his preferred size and gauge. But when he mentioned that he uses them to inject testosterone, the tone of the conversation shifted abruptly.

They got weird about it, Dave said. The pharmacist, I guess, overheard and she came out and shes like, this wont work for testosterone.

Dave explained that he has used these syringes for his testosterone injections for years  and has even bought the same syringes at that Costco pharmacy before for the same purpose.

Insulin syringes are regularly used to inject low doses of testosterone. But despite being an over-the-counter product, the pharmacist insisted that Dave needed a prescription before she would sell them to him.

Shes like, well, we wont sell it to you unless you have your doctor call it in, Dave recalled. He stepped aside to call his doctors office, but they were closed for Mondays holiday. I didnt feel like arguing (with the pharmacist). So I just left.

An assistant general manager at the Linwood Costco said Wednesday that he was not aware of the incident and couldnt comment on it. A pharmacy employee said that she and her coworkers are not authorized to speak to the media.

A request for comment from Costcos corporate office was not immediately answered.

Dave called the Missouri Pharmacy Board Tuesday and was told that syringes only require a prescription if they bear the label for Rx only, which his syringes didnt.

Beyond that, he said he was told that the state gives pharmacists discretion over what they choose to dispense, as long as they dont violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

Reflecting, I wish I had lied and just said I was diabetic, Dave said. Maybe (then) they would have let me buy them.

City civil rights office investigates

Late last year, five transgender and nonbinary patients reported being denied their prescribed testosterone and Costcos pharmacy.

This drew the attention of the citys LGBTQ Commission, an advisory group to city government which promised to put the full force of the community behind positive change for those those most impacted.

The citys civil rights office, which is tasked with investigating and resolving discrimination complaints, then launched an investigation, asking impacted patients to file formal statements about their experiences.

Four months later, in February of this year, the city announced that the investigation had concluded.

The matter was settled to the satisfaction of all parties, city spokesperson Sherae Honeycutt wrote in an email on Feb. 10. She added that she could not share any further details about the decision.

But one transgender Costco patron who filed a complaint with the city last year said they werent offered any resolution  or even contacted again after sharing their experience with the civil rights office.

Someone took my side of the story/complaint, and thats all I heard, the patient said Tuesday. I never heard anything back at all.

Assistant City Manager Melissa Kozakiewicz said the city was not aware that patients were not contacted for resolution, or that the problem at Costco appears to be ongoing.

I dont believe we have reason to believe there are additional cases to review, she said Tuesday. We try to have eyes and ears everywhere, but can only address what we are aware of.

Justice Horn, the chair of the citys LGBTQ Commission, said he intends to discuss the issue with City Council and is considering the groups next steps to respond to the new revelations.

I think the next thing to do is just call for this pharmacist to resign, he said. Obviously, systems (of) bureaucracy arent helping and folks are being harmed again... I think we need to change strategies if were not getting the outcome we want.

Horn added that a member of the civil rights office had assured him last year that the investigation was being taken seriously. But his commission wasnt given any information about its outcome or consequences for the pharmacy.

Its important that we are ensuring that our non-discrimination ordinance, that turns 30 this year, is not only being addressed but (also) enforced, he said. We unequivocally stand with those harmed and impacted.

Officials decline to answer questions

In the eight months since Kansas City announced the investigation of discrimination at Costco was over, officials have declined to answer questions about the case or the settlement.

In June, the city denied a public records request for any documents related to the investigation.

Any such records related to your request are confidential and therefore closed, the city wrote.

A memo from its law department cited Chapter 213 of Missouris state statutes, which gives civil rights department directors the option  but does not require it  to keep settlement agreements confidential.

City spokesperson Sherae Honeycutt declined to comment on the case when asked about the new developments Tuesday.

We cannot discuss outcomes of a case we are unable to discuss, she wrote in an email, referencing Chapter 38 of the city code and Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Chapter 38 of Kansas City code contains all of the citys civil rights ordinances, and includes a confidentiality clause, which states:

No documentsnor anything which has been said or done during the course of a conciliation endeavor shall be made public without the written consent of the parties concerned, except as such statements or documents are public records as defined by state law.

Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 discusses discrimination in employment, which is not relevant to the Costco case.

Have you been denied your medication at a local pharmacy? Do you have more questions about fighting discrimination in Kansas City? Let the Service Journalism team know at kcq@kcstar.com.
The British Broadcasting Corporation

The protestor who poured glitter on Sir Keir Starmer as he spoke at the Labour conference has apologised for touching the party leader.

Yaz Ashmawi told the BBC he was sorry "for putting my hand on him and touching him when he wasn't expecting it".

But he said he did not regret his protest or using glitter.

Merseyside Police arrested and bailed a 28-year-old man on suspicion of breaching the peace over the protest.

Mr Ashmawi said he was in police custody for 22 hours but added officers were "very respectful to me".

The activist earlier told the FUBAR Radio's Politics Uncensored it was "horrible" to think that Sir Keir might have thought "he was in danger" during the protest.

"Politicians get a lot of death threats and they have a need to feel safe and I compromised that in that moment by touching him (Sir Keir)," he said.

Mr Ashmawi told host Ali Milani - a former Labour party candidate who tried to to unseat Boris Johnson at the 2019 election - that he was "sorry" for making physical contact with the leader of the opposition.

He said: "I think it's absolutely fine to pour glitter on someone and to go on to the stage."

"I just think it's the physical contact that crossed the line there."

In a statement, Mr Ashmawi added: "The glitter was, of course, a lovely, peaceful spectacle and I'm still finding it everywhere."

Sir Keir's speech on Tuesday was interrupted by a protestor wearing a T-shirt linking him to a group called People Demand Democracy.

The party leader held the activist away from the microphone with his right arm before security arrived.

Mr Ashmawi continued to shout demands for changes to the UK's parliamentary democracy.

Sir Keir later called the protestor an "idiot" for trying to interrupt his speech but added he feared "it could have been a lot worse".

Labour shadow justice minister Shabana Mahmood has said she expects "questions are being asked" surrounding how security allowed the protestor to get on stage.

"We will want to make sure that nothing like that can ever happen again," she told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.
The Republican response to a recent poll from Fox56 and Emerson College Polling showing Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear up 16 points over GOP challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron wasnt surprising.

If you believe that any Republican nominee for any KY office is at 33 (percent) in October, you are a complete moron, Scott Jennings, a longtime GOP operative in Kentucky and Washington, posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Others also offered criticism.

The Republican party spokesperson pointed out previous polling misfires from the same firm. Sen. Rand Pauls, R-KY, chief strategist said he just lost IQ points reading that poll, and a GOP-aligned firm posted a full dissection of all the perceived errors of that particular survey.

But skepticism of the latest poll result  as well as the ability to even poll Kentucky accurately  isnt limited to Republicans or even just Kentuckians.

Jared Smith, a Democratic strategist and lobbyist, called the Fox56/Emerson poll trash.

I definitely think Andy is ahead  zero doubts about that, Smith said.

But he added the huge 16-point margin doesnt match up with more recent horse race polling between the candidates, and the results of other questions asked by the pollster raise questions about the poll.

From June up until the latest poll, surveys from independent, as well as partisan, polls had shown Beshear anywhere from 10 to 4 points ahead of Cameron.

Co/efficient, a Republican polling company co-founded by a general consultant to the Cameron campaign, dug into alleged demographic deficiencies of the Fox56/Emerson poll.

In a post, the pollster stated the very small sample of 450 registered voters looks nothing like any general election turnout in decades, citing age, party registration and method of reaching the voters.

The same pollster released a survey showing Beshear up just 2 percentage points over Cameron in the immediate aftermath of Camerons blowout May primary win.

Decision Desk HQ executive Brandon Finnigan in a rare online post, his first since 2021, took aim at the latest poll. Its an example of why polling Kentucky is the stuff of nightmares, he wrote.

Getting a gauge on support for the Republican candidate in Kentucky is so difficult, he wrote, that many pollsters dont even try.

The state seems to bedevil every entity that tries to divine how Republican an election will end up I really cant exaggerate how bad the horserace polling is in this state, Finnigan wrote.

Four years ago was a relatively accurate polling period, with two independent polls conducted in October 2019 getting the nail-biter Beshear victory essentially spot on, but that year was an outlier, per Finnigan.

Thirty-nine of 40 statewide polls since 2014 that Finnigan reviewed underestimated the Republicans final vote share. There was an eight-point average undercount of Republican support in those polls, Finnigan found.

In 2015, most pollsters projected that the governors race leaned toward former Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway. Former GOP Gov. Matt Bevin ended up winning by a whopping 9 percentage points, causing panic among pollsters and analysts around the nation.

However, Democratic support was much more accurate to poll. Twenty-eight of the 40 polls overestimated Democratic candidate support, with all of them averaging a collective one-point overshoot for Democrats.

For whatever reason, the polls can tell you what the Democrat is going to end up with, but in a two-way race, youre still missing half of the story, Finnigan wrote.

Why is this? University of Kentucky Political Science Professor and longtime state political observer D. Stephen Voss, said that two factors could be at play.

One is there is a subset of Republicans, the Trump vote, that wont cooperate with polls. I think there is some bias, caused not by the procedures of the polling company but caused by the nature of the electorate., he said.

We do have maybe a larger share of that group of Republican voters who are non-compliant when it comes to to pollsters.

The other reason: Republicans are often late to fall in line with their party. He said that polls that end up vastly different from the final result could be an accurate snapshot, but that so many Republican voters make their choice late in election season.

Though Voss agreed that its wise to take Kentucky poll results with a grain of salt  so large you risk hypernatremia, Finnigan joked  but that the poll many are criticizing is still helpful to take into consideration.

To see (Beshear) this much ahead in the last poll only reinforces the strength of conviction that hes going into this race in this last month with a significant lead that Cameron needs to hope to overcome, Voss said.

Thats what I do with the poll, I say Im even more confident Beshear is notably ahead here. I dont interpret it as Beshear is ahead by double digits.

Smith suggested that other factors about Kentucky voters make the state especially tricky to poll.

You used to be able to poll just by calling landlines, and now you have to poll in a variety of ways  cell phone calls, texting, internet. I mean you name it and theyre trying to do it, but I just think they havent figured it out yet.

He added: And a lot of the state doesnt have great wifi. Were drastically reducing landline polling in a state that doesnt have broadband everywhere, so how are you really reaching voters that are gonna vote in that next election?

One pollster in 2020 even misidentified Smith.

In 2020, I was standing on my back porch and I got a poll for the House district thats two blocks over from me, Smith said. If they cant do that part, right, what makes you think they can do the whole thing?
The 2023 General Election is nearly upon us as Kentucky voters soon will head to the polls to decide who they want to sit in a number of key statewide jobs.

The governors race between incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear and Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron has consumed most of the commonwealths attention over the past year. But the contests for attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and agriculture commissioner will be on the Nov. 7 ballot, too.

And if youre in Lexington, youll also need to make a choice in a special election for county clerk, Fayette County School Board District 1 and commonwealths attorney (which is unopposed this year). Residents in the 93rd District also will choose their next state representative.

Fayette County voters can view all of the offices and candidates that will appear on the ballot here.

Election Day is Nov. 7, but Kentuckians have options to vote before then, including during the no-excuse early voting period of Thursday, Nov. 2, Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4.

Before casting your vote, read up on the candidates and where they stand on the issues. This page will be updated as new stories are published.

Governors race:

Trail to 23 features:

This occasional series of stories round up news tidbits, developments and discourse from the campaign trail. From newest to oldest:

Beshear-Cameron debates:

Beshear and Cameron both took part in five live debates, as well as additional gubernatorial forums. From newest to oldest:

Attorney General race:

Secretary of State race:

Treasurer race:

Agriculture commissioner race:

Auditor race:

Fayette County clerks race:

Fayette County School Board:

House District 93:

Herald-Leader endorsements:

Note: Endorsements are made by a three-member editorial team and is separate from news reporters work.
A Kenyan court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a government decision to allow the importation and cultivation of genetically modified crops to help combat its food crisis.

In October last year, the government lifted a decade-old ban on GM crops in response to dwindling food security following the worst drought to ravage the Horn of Africa region in 40 years.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) swiftly launched a court challenge, arguing the decision was unconstitutional as there were concerns over the safety of the crops.

But environment court judge Oscar Angote ruled on Thursday that there was no evidence to show any harm to nature or human health.

"As a country, we need to trust the institutions that we have in place and call them to order when they breach the law," Angote said, making reference to government bodies that regulate GM foods.

"We should be confident that our health is in good hands."

An official from LSK told AFP there had not been a decision on whether to appeal the ruling.

Another case against GM crops filed by Paul Mwangi, a lawyer who is close to the opposition, is still active in court.

Kenya, like many other African nations, banned GM crops over health and safety concerns and to protect smallholder farms, which account for the vast majority of rural agricultural producers in the country.

However, the East African powerhouse faced criticism over the ban, including from the United States, which is a major producer of GM crops.

Activists and agriculture lobby groups have protested over the lifting of the ban, saying it opened the market to US farmers using sophisticated technologies and highly subsidised farming that threatened the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.

Agriculture is the biggest single contributor to Kenya's economy, generating more than 21 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year, according to government figures.

The agricultural sector employs about 12 percent of Kenya's 19 million workers, behind the education sector and manufacturing.

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FILE PHOTO: Samuel Wathome 65, a small-scale farmer inspects his crop at his maize farm where he plants indigenous seeds at Kyeleni village of Machakos

NAIROBI (Reuters) -A Kenyan court on Thursday threw out a case challenging the importation and cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops, saying the government had taken appropriate measures to regulate their use.

In October 2022, Kenya lifted a 10-year ban on GM crops in response to the East African region's worst drought in 40 years. Authorities hoped removing the ban would improve yields of maize (corn), as well as strengthen food security.

Kenya has not yet grown or imported any GM crops since lifting the ban.

In January, the Law Society of Kenya challenged the decision, saying the government had failed to seek public input.

A GM crop contains genetic material that is not naturally found in the plant, to better protect against disease for example. Farmers have widely adopted them in some countries like the United States, but critics say their safety for human health and the environment is unproven.

Kenya's decision to lift the ban of GM crops prompted farmers' groups to say it was rushed and failed to address health concerns.

Farmers were also concerned that reliance on GM crops would lead to dependence on seeds from big foreign companies that own patents to them.

In its ruling, the Environment and Land Court said the Law Society had not proven Kenya's laws about GM crops violated its constitution.

The court said while it had not been required to rule on whether or not GM crops were safe, there were enough government institutions in place to check on their safety.

The Law Society could not be immediately reached for comment.

Separately, the same court nullified a government order lifting a 2018 ban on logging in forests countrywide, saying authorities failed to consult the public before giving the order in July.

(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Aaron Ross, Rod Nickel and Kirsten Donovan)
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Wednesday that the United States is exploring its options for evacuating Americans from the Israel war zone.

When asked what the U.S. is doing to evacuate Americans from Israel, Kirby said on NewsNations The Hill that the U.S. is evaluating alternatives for getting them out of the country. He noted that commercial flights are still going out of Ben Gurion Airport, which could be an option for Americans.

While he did not offer much detail on what alternatives could be, he said Americans who are in Israel should stay tuned for more options to evacuate the country.

Were exploring many other options as well, to see if theres other things that we could do to help Americans who want to leave, Kirby said. And there are many Americans who live and work in Israel. For many of them, its home and they dont want to leave.

We are mindful though that there could be some who using the commercial options or the ground route options are either not feasible or affordable. And so, we are actively exploring other options, he continued.

He said that the U.S. is talking to the airlines about potential alternative routes out of Israel and that there should be more information on the options by the end of the day Wednesday.

We have been exploring options and continue to do that. And I would just say stay tuned. I think well have more to say very soon about what some of those options are going to look like, he added.

The State Department confirmed Wednesday that at least 22 American citizens have died as a result of the ongoing violence in Israel. More than 1,200 Israelis have died since the onset of Hamass attacks against Israel over the weekend, and more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed amid fighting in Gaza.

The White House also said Wednesday that it has determined that 17 Americans are unaccounted for in Israel, but its unclear how many of those may be held hostage by Hamas. Kirby said earlier in the day that there are a very small number of Americans believed to be hostages, adding that the U.S. is working with the Israelis, the families of the hostages and unaccounted-for Americans to bring the hostages home.

The State Department also increased its travel advisory for Israel on Wednesday, urging Americans to reconsider travel to the country as its war with Hamas in Gaza intensifies.

The Hill show on NewsNation airs Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. EST.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Israeli and U.S. response to the unprecedented weekend attack by Hamas that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead has been greatly complicated by the abduction of as many as 150 hostages by the militant group.

Hostage-taking has long been a part of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but never in terms of the numbers seen Saturday, when militants from the group  designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.  streamed over the border in attacks on Israeli towns and military outposts.

Heres what we know about the hostage situation:

How many hostages were taken?

It is unknown exactly how many people were taken hostage by Hamas on Saturday, though it has been estimated to be between 100-150 people, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan told CNN on Monday. He called it an unprecedented number.

Previous hostage-taking operations from Hamas have targeted a few Israelis at a time, usually members of the military. In 2006, the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was negotiated in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli custody.

How many hostages are American?

The exact number of American hostages in Gaza is also unclear, though the White House said Wednesday it is a very small number.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said 17 Americans were unaccounted for in Israel on Wednesday, though it is unclear what number are believed to be held hostage. The administration later said that 22 Americans have been killed in the conflict.

Of the 17 that  we know are missing, right now  and again, this is going to change  right now, we think the number that we know, or we believe are held hostage, is very small, very small, like less than a handful. But that could change over time, Kirby said.

We just dont have a lot of granularity on where the people are or what condition they might be in or whether theyre being moved, he added. So, I truly wish I had more that I could provide, because there are a lot of families out there really, really worried.

What have the U.S. and Israel said?

The taking of hostages has outraged the Israeli public and government, which has vowed to completely take out Hamas.

Israeli Energy Secretary Israel Katz said Thursday that the country will not lift its controversial blockade of Gaza until the hostages are released.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, Katz said on X, formerly Twitter. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals.

That blockade has garnered criticism from the international aid community, as hundreds of thousands in Gaza deal with dwindling water supplies, a lack of energy and quickly vanishing medical supplies.

The U.S. and other Western allies, which have fully backed Israel in the conflict, have also called on Hamas to release the hostages, as have humanitarian organizations and the United Nations.

Are the hostages in danger?

Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida threatened Monday that the group could kill hostages if Israel continues airstrikes on Gaza without prior warning.

From this hour on, we announce that any targeting of civilian homes without advanced warning will be met regrettably with the execution of one of the enemy civilian hostages we hold, and we will be forced to broadcast this, Obaida said in a statement broadcast on Arab news channels.

The Israeli military has reportedly continued to warn Gazan civilians before airstrikes, and there have been no reports of hostage executions since Obeidas threat.

The hostages have been among the chief concerns of Israeli military and government officials when considering a ground invasion of Gaza this week. The exact location of the hostages is unknown and may be changing, which means a ground invasion could put the hostages in harms way.

What are the options for releasing hostages?

Hamas said it is seeking the release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons in exchange for the captives. Israel is holding about 5,200 Palestinians in custody, including 170 children, Al Jazeera reported.

There have been few public signs of progressing negotiations over the hostages from either Hamas or the Israeli government.

A Turkish official said Thursday that Turkish diplomats are leading attempts to negotiate for the hostages release, The Associated Press reported.

A Biden administration adviser said Thursday that the White House is not contemplating using U.S. military forces on the ground in the region to free American hostages.

At this point, we are not contemplating U.S. boots on the ground involved in that mission, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said. What we have done is sent experts from across our government to the region to consult and advise with their Israeli counterparts to make sure they find the best way to go about getting these people home.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The U.S. economy continues to do well as the unemployment rate for September remains at a decent 3.8%, the same as it was in August. The rate has remained fairly low and stable between 3.4% and 3.8% since February of last year.

Job openings increased from 8.8 million in August to 9.6 million in September. Locally as well as nationally, the common complaint is that many employers cannot find workers to fill open positions. For many, even if they fill their open positions, depending on industry, the workers soon move on to something else in this very volatile job market where jobs abound. imercer.com reports that the average turnover rate for U.S. businesses between 2022 and 2023 was 17.3% down from 24.7% in 2022. The retail and wholesale industry had a turnover rate of 32.9%. These numbers are voluntary turnovers rates. People start, they find another job paying more, then within a week or two, they are gone. There are so many opportunities, why be tied down to one place or even go to school when jobs are so abundant?

With high turnover rates, businesses must find new hires to fill the roles. However, according to the imercer survey, 55.5% of organizations (based on 2,102 respondents) say they have difficulty hiring or retaining employees. Of those organizations, the following industries have the highest percentage of difficulty: transportation equipment, health care services, logistics, other nonmanufacturing, other manufacturing, insurance/reinsurance, services (nonfinancial), high tech, mining and metals.

Now, since education is the bedrock of our economy and is not directly reflected above (it may be in services (nonfinancial), I will cull from an article specifically on community colleges. The article, published Jan. 3, 2023, in Insider Higher Ed by Sara Weissman is titled, The Great Resignation at Community Colleges. It appears that around the nation, community colleges lost faculty and staff in droves.

According to an estimate from the higher education consulting firm EAB, community colleges lost 13% of their employees nationally from January 2020 to April 2022 during COVID. Some left for higher-paying jobs at four-year schools or private industry, and others were attracted to positions with flexible scheduling and remote options. They say, The result is stalled projects, a near constant cycle of hiring attempts and onboarding processes for new employees, and heavy workloads on those who remain. At some community colleges, the turnover rates are as high as 39%.

Monroe County Community College is not immune to these turnovers, and I am sure that neither are the other industries, some of which even have higher turnover rates.

Local industries suffering some of the same challenges are especially in manufacturing and health care. Health care organizations can turn to travel nurses to shore up their staff, but this amounts to an excessive drain on their finances.

Regardless of industry, there are heavier workloads for those who remain that can certainly impact their mental health, stress levels and morale. According to the article, aside from the impact on employees, students are increasingly coming to college with mental health problems, a lack of reliable food and housing, and learning losses from the pandemic, which makes having adequate staff to support them all the more critical.

High turnover rates certainly put more pressure on the system and leadership to do something. Some options considered include more competitive wages, more flexible work arrangements and additional perks wherever possible. These options are not only for educational institutions but for any firms faced with recruitment challenges and high turnovers. It is estimated that the American workforce will shrink by 6 million people by 2028, and in Michigan, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) forecasted a few years ago that the only labor growth that Michigan would experience over the next few years would come from immigration.

As we all know, the economy is cyclical. The unemployment numbers will rise and fall, and so will turnovers. In the meantime, leaders have to be very intentional about attracting and keeping quality employees.

Kojo Quartey, Ph.D., is the president of Monroe County Community College and an economist. He can be reached at kquartey@monroeccc.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Kojo Quartey: Turnover rates in a workers market
The Kremlin has said it is important to create a Russian-Kyrgyz joint air defence system, which will be located in Kyrgyzstan.

Source: Russian media, Kursiv Media

Quote Peskov: "This is a joint air defence system. It is a great achievement for Russia and Kyrgyzstan. It is very important, given that Russia and Kyrgyzstan, in addition to allied relations, are still included in many joint integration associations. Of course, such common elements of security are very important."

Details: On 11 October, the Kyrgyz parliament ratified an agreement with Russia on the creation of a joint regional air defence system. The deputies of the Zhogorku Kengesh (Kyrgyz parliament) adopted in three readings a bill on the agreement to create a joint regional air defence system with Russia.

The agreement between the parties was signed in August 2022. In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on its ratification.

The agreement between Russia and Kyrgyzstan will be valid for five years with further extension.

According to the agreement, the Russian side will coordinate the joint actions of the air defence forces, while Kyrgyzstan will be responsible for managing the joint actions of the air defence system troops in the collective security area.

A land plot of five hectares was provided for the air defence system near the Russian air base in the city of Kant.

Russia has several military facilities in Kyrgyzstan. The largest of them is the air force base in Kant, which has existed since 2003. Russia annually pays Kyrgyzstan almost US$4.8 million for the lease of 58 hectares of land.

Russia has air defence agreements with other countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States, in particular with Kazakhstan. But the Russian Federation concluded preliminary documents in peacetime, while the agreement with Kyrgyzstan took place during the war against Ukraine.

This agreement indicates Kyrgyzstan's rapprochement with Russia, while other states, in particular Kazakhstan, are trying to distance themselves from Moscow.

Kyrgyzstan shares a border with China.

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!






Chuck Schumer , the Democratic leader in the US Senate, upset Jared Kushner s mother by telling her friends her son would go to jail over his ties to Russia, Kushner said on Wednesday.

Related: Jared Kushner pressured Washington Post to fire editor over Russia, book says

My poor mom, I told her to stop, you know, reading whatever. I said, I promise you, we didnt do anything wrong, its good, Kushner told the Lex Fridman Podcast. But you know, shed call me [to] say  Our friends on the Upper East Side were talking with Chuck Schumer, who says Jareds going to jail.

Schumer, the senior senator from New York, was Democratic minority leader in the US Senate during the presidency of Donald Trump , Kushners father-in-law and White House boss. Since 2021, Schumer has been majority leader.

Married to Trumps daughter Ivanka, Kushner became his father-in-laws chief adviser on the campaign trail and then in the White House.

Trumps first two years in power were dogged by investigations and speculation over his links to Russia and interference by Moscow in the 2016 US election.

Kushners interactions with high-placed Russians were placed under the national spotlight. The former Washington Post editor Marty Baron recently said, in a memoir, that Kushner tried to have him fired over the papers reporting.

Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed by the justice department, secured multiple indictments and issued a detailed report. Though he did not establish collusion between the Trump camp and Moscow, Mueller said he did not exonerate Trump, while also laying out extensive evidence of possible obstruction of justice. Aided by his second attorney general, William Barr, Trump claimed vindication regardless.

Since Trumps defeat in 2020, Kushner has distanced himself from his father-in-laws political operation, even as Trump dominates the Republican primary for 2024, despite facing 91 criminal charges and assorted civil threats.

But Kushner, a real-estate and investment magnate in his own right, has continued to draw attention, not least over lucrative links to Saudi investors which critics say are linked to his time as a White House aide.

Related: A tale of two houses: how Jared Kushner fuelled the Trump-Saudi love-in

Fridman is a computer scientist and podcaster. His conversation with Kushner was released on Wednesday.

Of the Russia investigations by Mueller and congressional committees, Kushner said: I felt like this is one of those things where theyre going to try and catch you and then if you step on the line, they catch with one misrepresentation, theyre gonna try to put you in jail or worse  and so, for me, that was a big concern.

Of the comments by Schumer which upset Kushners mother, Kushner added: This is, like, a leading senator saying these things.

And so it was just interesting for me to see how the whole world could believe something and be talking about it that I knew with 1,000% certainty was just not true. And so seeing that play out was very, very hard.
Povitroflotskyi Avenue in Kyiv

The Kyiv City Military Administration supported the renaming of Povitroflotskyi Avenue in honor of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kyiv administration head Serhiy Popko announced on Telegram on Oct. 11.

At a plenary session of the Kyiv City Council on Oct. 5, the military appealed to council members and Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko to rename Povitroflotskyi Avenue to Air Force Avenue.

Read also: Avenue of Victims of Russian aggression appears outside Russian Embassy in Warsaw

Air Command Center commander, Anatoliy Kryvonozhko, spoke at the City Council meeting and said that renaming the avenue would recognize the special military merits, courage, bravery, and heroism of Air Force personnel.

"The Kyiv City Military Administration and I personally support the Air Force's appeal and hope that Kyiv residents will respond positively to this initiative, and we count on the support and comprehensive assistance of the aces of the sky  those who drove away the enemy invasion, who hold the sky, keep the coast, and still keep the heart of our state, the city of Kyiv, and our native Ukraine, calm," Popko stated.

Read also: Kharkiv renames several streets in honor of fallen Ukrainian heroes

The new name of the avenue will emphasize the honor, love, and respect of Kyiv residents for the victories of Ukrainian Heroes, as well as forever immortalize the memory and gratitude to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he noted.

Earlier, there were proposals to rename Povitroflotskyi Avenue to Povitrianoflotskyi or European Union Avenue, but these ideas were not supported.

Povitroflotskyi Avenue is located in the relatively central Solomyanskyi district of Kyiv. It runs from Chornovola Street in the center of the city southeastward towards Sikorsky International Airport.

Several important government and historic buildings are located along the avenue, including the Defense Ministry and the Russian Embassy. As a major thoroughfare leading to the international airport, it sees significant traffic both from residents commuting around the city as well as travelers going to and from the airport.

Read also: Kyiv City Council renames People's Friendship Arch, says mayor

In May, three underground metro stations and 22 streets were renamed in Kyiv.



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Israeli tanks are stationed near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 11, 2023. (Ariel Schalit / Associated Press)

It was just after dark and David Bacall of Los Angeles Shmira was pacing Olympic Boulevard, his thick glasses aglow in the amber strobe atop his SUV as he scanned the crowd outside the synagogue for threats.

Most days, his job is boring, more Walmart greeter than Mossad.

But in the wake of the deadliest attack on Jews in generations  Saturday's offensive against thousands of civilians in southern Israel  L.A.'s newest security outfit wasn't about to let its guard down.

"People get motivated by each other," Bacall said as he stuck bright orange Shmira magnets to the front doors of the SUV with one hand and threaded an earpiece through his fluorescent yellow safety vest with the other. "Anytime theres an attack on one of us, we all need to raise our level of alert."

Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive

Monday night's prayer service at Beth Jacob was the second event Shmira volunteers had patrolled that evening, one of scores of impromptu expressions of public grief and outrage held across Los Angeles that day and through the week.

Retired cops and other hired professionals have long stood sentinel outside L.A.'s largest Jewish institutions, a silent acknowledgment of a long-standing threat.

But after the Tree of Life massacre in 2018  in which a gunman killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue  many smaller communities sought to harden themselves, reviving sleepy volunteer security forces and inspiring new, more militant community defense groups.

For Bacall's newly awakened Shmira, the Saturday attack by Hamas militants was a call to arms.

Read more: The Tactical Rabbi helps synagogues defend against anti-Semitic violence

"We would have just gone back into our normal operations," Bacall said. "But in light of the global situation, weve asked all of our members to pick an evening that they will be out and about in the major streets, showing a presence, creating a deterrence and using their powers of observation for anything that may be out of sight."

The word shmira comes from the Hebrew word for "guardian" and is a popular moniker for Jewish security forces and extrajudicial defense groups around the world. Like Hatzolah, the volunteer ambulance corps that operates in Jewish communities around the world, they mostly handle non-emergencies and provide help to those in need regardless of faith or background.

But the neighborhoods Shmira patrols are overwhelmingly Orthodox  densely populated, full of children and virtually incommunicado on the Sabbath and religious festivals, when observant Jews do not use phones.

This past Saturday was both. Bacall and his team had gone shul to shul, trying to avert panic as news of the attack spread through the rumor mill.

"We shared what was going on, we told them to pray for everybody but also to have a higher level of situational awareness," Bacall said.

Now, it felt as though new events were popping up every hour  prayers for the wounded and captive, vigils for the dead, rallies for Israel  and with them, new threats to deter.

Read more: She was away when Hamas militants invaded her kibbutz and kidnapped her family

Behind Bacall, throngs of worshipers filed through the metal detectors at Beth Jacob on Monday night carrying small books of Hebrew psalms, a popular talisman, and the text of whispered private prayers  prayers that would now be cried aloud together, in a rare and ritualized howl of pain.

"We're a small community none of us is more than two degrees from someone who was killed or taken," said Shoshana Arunasalam, 29, a member of the synagogue. "We feel helpless."

Many also carried with them a sense that they too were in danger, even here.

"They warned us not to speak Hebrew in public, or to wear anything that identifies you as a Jew," said Shira, 20, an Ethiopian Israeli who took a job teaching in L.A. as an alternative to military conscription, and asked to be identified only by her first name out of fear for her safety.

Spasms of hate often surge through diaspora Jewish communities in the wake of Israeli military operations in Gaza, such as the one now unfolding, or the bloody suppression of Palestinian civil unrest in the West Bank.

Mostly, they take the form of spray-painted swastikas, shattered windows and epithets screamed from cars. In recent years, they have also manifested as online threats.

"Were seeing an uptick online with rhetoric" against both Jews and Muslims, said Haroon Azar, a senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations and a former regional director for the Department of Homeland Security. "It makes everybody antsy across the board."

Most never manifest in real life. But Jewish Angelenos remain on edge after years of escalating antisemitic violence, seen nationally in deadly attacks at synagogues and kosher stores, and locally with the desecration of Torah scrolls and the public beating of Jewish diners.

Many in the religious enclave of Pico-Robertson were particularly shaken after a gunman hunting Iranian Jews shot two men walking to morning prayers last spring.

Read more: Suspect in shootings of two Jewish men in L.A. is charged with federal hate crimes

Not long after, Shmira's bright orange signs began popping up on local lawns.

"When those shootings happened, we now had resources and people to step [up] our game," Bacall said. "Now were at that next level, we want to be able to continue, and in order to do that, we need more trained volunteers."

The plan was to regroup after the fall holidays. But by Monday morning, recruitment calls were speeding through synagogue WhatsApp groups.

"Everyone's nerves are a little shot," Bacall said. "People kept their kids home from school; they didn't go to shul."

Still, the scope of the attack had moved many others to pray together.

Inside the prayer service, a thousand people vied for seats in the narrow auditorium. Men filled the middle, with women on both sides, separated by a wood and glass wall, called a mechitza, that Orthodox communities use for prayer.

Unlike the bulk of Jewish worship, which must be done in public, tehillim are prayers most commonly whispered alone, in private supplication.

Monday night they were said through tears, out loud, in a cacophony of accents  the lyric diphthongs and soft Ss of Yiddish crashing against the tight vowels and sharp Ts of modern Hebrew  a reminder of the multitude of Jewish ethnicities that call LA. home.

This demographic melange is one reason Jewish Angelenos in particular were shaken by the attacks. A large minority of local Jews and more than half of Israelis trace their roots to the Middle East and Africa, while the overwhelming majority of American Jews are descended from Eastern European emigres.

L.A. is home to almost 30,000 Israeli citizens and an additional 5,000 of their children, according to a 2021 study by Brandeis University.

It is also home to some 48,000 Russian-speaking Jews, whose community in Israel numbers more than a million.

And more than 50,000 Iranian Jews live here  more than anywhere outside Israel, where the overwhelming majority now reside.

Many, like Arunasalam, were waiting for news of friends who were missing or had been confirmed as abducted by Hamas militants during the attack and what Israel has now declared as war.

"It's comforting to be with each other," she said. "We've had a revolving door of people coming to sit in our living room because we don't want to be alone."

Others were mourning dead relatives and fretting over family who'd been called up to fight.

"My friends, my cousins, all of my family are being called up to serve," said Shira, the Israeli teacher. "It's hard to be in America when my country needs me."

This diverse demographic reality also makes prayer services more challenging to patrol.

"What does a Jew look like?" Bacall asked with cheerful shrug. "Here, we have to watch how someone behaves."

Hence, the Walmart shtick. Bacall and his crew called 'hello' to almost every person who passed them that night, simply to watch them react.

They also worked hard keeping kibitzers off the street.

"Our people, we're schmoozers," Bacall lamented as he prodded his landsmen to move it along. "But a hundred people on the street is a target."

By 9 o'clock, the crowd finally had dispersed. Bacall let the orange strobe stop spinning and pulled the radio from his ear.

Just then, a bearded man in a hoodie walked past, pushing two toddlers in a double stroller.

Bacall waved. The toddlers waved back. Their father pointed.

"Look," he told his children. "They're all protecting us."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles high school history teacher Donald Singleton has nearly 30 years of teaching experience. But he still finds joy in watching the students in his Advanced Placement African American Studies class immerse themselves in the class content.



The excitement for me is starting in Africa, and for millions and millions of Black kids, Africa is born in them, Singleton told CBS News. My students come in excited. Theyve done the reading. And they wonder, Wow, I never learned this in any of my other classes.

Read more

Conservative Republicans around the country have blasted the course with criticism, standing firmly by their cause against wokeness, wokeisms, and all forms of wokeology. Trusty anti-woke hero, Florida governor Ron DeSantis banned the class in his state, while Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders took a more passive-aggressive approach and wont allow the class to count towards graduation telling Fox News the course perpetuates a propaganda leftist agenda teaching our kids to hate America and hate one another. But Mr. Singletons students say the course has given them a whole new appreciation for the contributions of their ancestors.

Theres a major difference between having somebody tell you that youre the ancestor of a slave family and having somebody tell you that youre the ancestry of an advanced civilization, junior Jordan Love told CBS News.

After Floridas ban, the College Board revisited the curriculum and took out all of the stuff about systemic racism, the Black Lives Matter movement and reparations, a move some like Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Alberto Carvalho have criticized as a sanitized version of history.

If you want to really learn about the history of the African American experience, you cannot leave out or sanitize slavery or the civil rights movements, or the fact that our nation has criminalized activities resulting in disproportionate numbers of people of color being imprisoned, he said.

And while Republicans fight AP African American Studies, calling it indoctrination, Mr. Singleton says at his school, where a majority of the population are students of color, the content of his course is empowering and just as important as our National Anthem.

I inculcate my kids with the idea that youre just as beautiful, just as brilliant, as anyone else, he said. If its not about empowerment, why do you say the Pledge of Allegiance? Why do we teach about the Declaration of Independence? Why do we teach about the Constitution? Isnt that empowerment?

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A St. Louis Park man will be sentenced to 47 years in prison as part of a plea agreement in the Lakeville shooting death of a woman who was nine months pregnant with his child and the mother of his 2-year-old daughter.

Donte Rapheal McCray, 33, pleaded guilty Monday in Dakota County District Court to two counts of second-degree murder by drive-by shooting  one each for the deaths of 31-year-old Kyla Bianca ONeal and Messiah Edward ONeal, who was born by cesarean section the night of the shooting and died nine days later.

The shooting happened about 7 p.m. Jan. 8 in the parking lot of the Amazon Fulfillment Center, where McCray worked.

The two counts were added as part of the plea agreement, which was reached two days before prosecutors were to present the case to a grand jury for consideration of first-degree murder charges. A conviction would have carried a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

McCray agreed to be sentenced to consecutive prison sentences of 306 months and 261 months. His two original counts of second-degree intentional murder will be dismissed at sentencing, which Judge David Lutz set for Dec. 12. McCray remains jailed without bail.

The prosecution opted to resolve the case with a consecutive sentence on two counts of murder in the second degree, instead of seeking the first-degree indictment, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said in a Wednesday statement. She said the decision was made after consent from the victims family.

McCrays attorney, Alexander Vian, did not return a call for comment Wednesday.

McCray was on probation on a gun-related conviction at the time of the shooting, court records show.

Argued that day

According to the charges, McCray and ONeal had argued and fought earlier in the day after she learned he had a child with another woman while ONeal was pregnant with his child.

Later, she agreed to pick up McCray at his mothers house and drive him to work. Police say video surveillance from the parking lot shows McCray get out of ONeals front passenger seat in front of the Amazon warehouse, then go to the back passenger side door and move something.

ONeal pulled the car away from the front of the building while McCray ran alongside. She pulled into a parking spot, but reversed the car briefly, which pushed him backward. She then pulled forward slowly, then very quickly, hitting a parking spot post.

After reviewing the video, officers spoke with McCray again. He said that when ONeals car backed up, he was hit by a door, and that made him angry and he shot her, according to the complaint. She died that night at the hospital of a gunshot wound to her neck.

ONeal, of Minneapolis, left behind three other children, who were ages 10, 7 and 2. McCray is the father of the youngest child, court records show.

In May 2022, eight months before the shooting, McCray was convicted of carrying a pistol without a permit, a gross misdemeanor that made it illegal for him to possess a firearm. He was sentenced to 30 days in the workhouse, 30 days on home electronic monitoring and placed on two years of probation.

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A high-ranking Los Angeles Police Department official has been demoted and is facing the possibility of termination after being accused of stalking a fellow officer with whom he was romantically involved, even as San Bernardino County prosecutors announced they would not file criminal charges in the case.

Al Labrada, a 30-year department veteran, has been on leave since earlier this month amid allegations that he used an Apple AirTag to track the movements of the officer. On Monday, Chief Michel Moore confirmed that he had demoted Labrada from assistant chief to the lower position of commander. Labrada was also directed to a board-of-rights disciplinary hearing  an indication the department is seeking to fire him.

Ontario police had been investigating the stalking allegations, but the San Bernardino County district attorney's office said Wednesday it did not have enough evidence to pursue charges against Labrada.

"Our office has completed its review and determined not to file criminal charges, due to insufficient evidence proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt," Jacquelyn Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the office, said in an email. She said the office would not release its legal rationale for the decision, saying it does so only in a limited scope of cases, including police shootings.

The news of Labrada's demotion and possible termination marked another dramatic turn for a respected official who was considered to be a potential internal candidate to be the next chief. Moore has said publicly that he will not serve out his second five-year term as chief.

Read more: Recent controversies test LAPD Chief Michel Moore in the final years of his tenure

On Tuesday, Moore promoted Deputy Chief Blake Chow, who runs the West Bureau, to assistant chief overseeing the Office of Special Operations, replacing Labrada as the official in charge of detectives, special operations and counterterrorism and transit units. Chow, who joined the department in 1990, was most recently in charge of the department's operations on the Westside after running the Transit Services Bureau for several years.

Chow is the last of a group of LAPD managers who rose to top positions under former Chief William J. Bratton, and other than Moore, he is one of the best-known public faces of the department.

Labrada's removal as assistant chief is not unprecedented. Both Bratton and former Chief Charlie Beck chose to demote assistant chiefs to commanders. Assistant chiefs serve under the authority of the chief and can be demoted without explanation.

Labrada's departure from his previous position has set off the biggest reshuffling yet in Moore's six years as the city's top cop, with Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides shifting from the community services bureau to the South Bureau, which covers South Los Angeles. Tingirides, who spearheaded the department's signature community policing program, has long been considered another potential successor to Moore.

LAPD sources, who requested anonymity to speak freely about department matters, said the move could be a career boost for Tingirides, who has a relative lack of operational experience. Tingirides made deputy chief a short time after her promotion to captain, a jump that's nearly unprecedented in recent LAPD history.

Tingirides now takes a job her husband, a retired LAPD deputy chief, once held. Cmdr. Bill Brockway has been promoted to take over her spot as head of the Community Safety Partnership Bureau, while Deputy Chief Gerald Woodyard was moved from the South to the West Bureau.

For Moore, the allegations against Labrada and incidents involving other senior staff members have renewed questions about his management and oversight of the nations third-largest police department. In an interview earlier this month, Moore acknowledged that the recent controversies had shaken public trust in the department but rejected the notion that they were signs of deeper, cultural problems with the department.

The female officer who accused Labrada of stalking contacted Ontario police after she discovered an AirTag  a small tracking device that can be attached to personal items  among her possessions, according to two sources familiar with the case. A group of officers from a since-disbanded San Fernando Valley gang unit is under investigation for, among other misconduct, allegedly using the devices to track suspects without court authorization.

After The Times inquired about the Ontario police report, the LAPD confirmed it was conducting its own internal investigation into the matter and said Labrada would continue serving in his post. Several days after The Times story about the allegations ran, Moore announced that Labrada would be put on administrative leave.

Read more: LAPD assistant chief is investigated over allegations he stalked a subordinate

In an email that went out to all department personnel, Labrada said he would be taking a weeklong absence from command. According to the email, which was reviewed by The Times, Deputy Chief David Kowalski will assume leadership of the Office of Special Operations  which oversees most of the departments specialized units, including the major crimes, gang and narcotics, and air support divisions  in Labradas absence.

Labrada has repeatedly denied the allegations against him and signaled he is considering legal action against the department. In a previous statement to The Times, an attorney for Labrada said the police report mischaracterizes the nature of everything."

Labrada was the highest-ranking Latino in a department where more than half the officers identify as Latino.

A Marine Corps veteran who worked a variety of assignments as he scaled the ranks, he was a member of the Latin American Law Enforcement Assn., which advocates on behalf of Latino officers. His name was noticeably absent from a recent presentation by the group's members to the Police Commission.

Labrada is not the first high-ranking LAPD official in recent history to abruptly leave his post amid allegations of misconduct.

In 2018, another assistant chief, Jorge Villegas, retired after sources told The Times he was having an improper sexual relationship with a female subordinate. An LAPD surveillance unit caught Villegas and the subordinate apparently engaged in a sex act in a parking lot, the sources said.

Villegas case resurfaced this year in a court filing from a former LAPD commander who is suing the department for retaliation.

Police Commission President Erroll Southers said he had ordered the inspector generals office to monitor the LAPDs investigation to ensure objectivity, impartiality, going forward.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for a violent sex offender they said escaped earlier this week.

John Scott Carver escaped from his state mandated program around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 10, officials said, after he apparently cut off his ankle monitor. From there, police said he fled toward San Vicente Boulevard and Sierra Bonita Avenue. He was last seen near Olympic Boulevard and Masselin Avenue in the Mid-Wilshire area.

Police described Carver as mentally disordered and violent. Authorities also fear he may be armed. He is 71 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighs about 200 pounds. He has brown/gray hair and green eyes.

SUGGESTED: OC authorities looking to ID remains found in Trabuco Canyon in 1996

Authorities are warning the public to be vigilant around Carver, who they said should be considered armed and dangerous. Police said he's also been known to use the names Scott Carver and Michael Meadows.

Police asked anyone who sees Carver to call 911 or your local law enforcement.
Lawmakers applauded Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) after he apologized on behalf of all congress members following GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden s (Wisc.) latest outburst at a group of federal workers.

Crow apologized to the Biden administration briefers, prompting a bipartisan round of applause, during the Wisconsin lawmakers questioning, which some described as rude and obnoxious, according to Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), per comments confirmed by her office to The Hill.

Crows office confirmed the Colorado lawmaker apologized to the briefers.

Van Orden called the White House briefers, who were filling lawmakers in on attacks in the Israel-Hamas conflict, incompetent and told them he knew more about the situation after having served two tours of duty in the Middle East, according to Chus office.

He was rude and attacked the presenters, Chu told Politico. I thought they had very substantive things to say. But he just had this blanket attack saying that, This is the worst information Ive ever had. And basically attacking them for being incompetent.

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), yelled shame on you as a response to Van Ordens conduct  before Van Orden retaliated against Phillips with an f-bomb, according to Politico.

Senate leadership has recently denounced Van Orden for profanity on a separate occasion, following an outburst at Senate pages in July.

Politico was the first outlet to report the briefing incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Dozens of lawmakers are calling on President Biden's Department of Education to act after student groups across the country published messages supporting Hamas terrorists this week.

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., authored the letter and signed it along with 43 other lawmakers on Thursday. The letter calls on Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to take action to protect Jewish students on college campuses across the U.S., with anti-Semitic incidents spiking amid war between Israel and Hamas.

"Many student groups have issued statements condoning and even celebrating the terror attack, which should be considered a modern-day pogrom. Some student groups have even utilized imagery of a paraglider to advertise their rallies, unequivocally celebrating the despicable tactics used by Hamas-- a terrorist organization that President Biden stated is a group whose stated purpose for being is to kill Jews," the letter reads.

Walberg called out universities for portraying themselves as "inclusive and tolerant" and speaking out regarding social issues while remaining silent on the current crisis.

CASUALITIES, KIDNAPPED AND MORE NUMBERS SINCE HAMAS' ATTACK ON ISRAEL

Students held signs and read poems in support of Palestinian and Hamas "martyrs" who attacked Israel.

"In recent years, schools have been quick to weigh in on a plethora of social issues, but suddenly, many have gone silent as anti-Semitism rages across college campuses. This deafening silence and lack of moral clarity by college administrators comes as student groups openly celebrate a terrorist attack motivated by bigotry," Walberg said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "These schools pride themselves on being inclusive and tolerant, but it is clear there is an anti-Semitism crisis on these campuses, so were calling on the Biden administration to take action to protect Jewish students and to visit these schools to examine why they are such a hot-bed for anti-Semitism."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Pro-Hamas sentiment could be seen at Universities across the country. An organization called "Cornell Students for Justice in Palestine" introduced an anti-Israel resolution to the student government body this week justifying the Hamas terror attack and Palestinians right to "resistance by any means necessary."

HARVARD LAW STUDENT LINKED TO STATEMENT BLAMING ISRAEL DENOUNCES CONTENTS, SAYS SHE DIDN'T READ IT

The resolution, titled "Acknowledging Palestinian Suffering under Israeli Apartheid," says it "explains the long-term implications of Israeli Occupation and provides actions to be taken to better Cornell's response to current events," according to a copy provided to Fox News Digital.

"Hamas's armed operations are a direct response to over 75 years of illegal occupation, settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid government endured by Palestinians," the resolution read. "The Gaza Strip has been subjected to the most violence and direct forms of oppression by the Israeli state and military."

"Whilst rushing condemn the attacks by Hamas, the international community is now silently watching the Israeli government conduct one of the largest massacres of our time against the people of Gaza," it continued.

The resolution failed to make it out of committee.

The Israeli military is responding after Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,200 people on Saturday.

Several dozen Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at various universities across the country have released statements claiming that Israel is not a victim and Hamas is fighting for liberation.

HARVARD STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS CLAIM ISRAEL ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR GAZA ATTACKS

The George Washington University chapter wrote, "GWU Students for Justice in Palestine stands in full support of the liberation of our homeland and our people's right to resist the violent 75-year long colonization of our homeland by any means necessary."

"Over the past few days, Palestinians in Gaza and across occupied Palestine have mobilized against the Zionist entity, seizing settlements imposed on our land in violation of international law," the statement said. "For the first time in our history, Palestinians have reclaimed land that we were ethnically cleansed from in 1948. Over 50% of Gaza's population is under 18 years old. The vast majority of them have never been outside of the colonial prison walls, have never set foot on a single inch of the land that their families were violently ethnically cleansed from. This past weekend we witnessed them breaking free, tearing down the prison walls, and making it known to the world: WE WILL BE CAGED NO LONGER."

Saturday's unprecedented attack by Hamas terrorists killed at least 1,200 people in Israel, including at least 25 Americans. Hamas also took more than 100 people hostage, and President Biden's administration says there are Americans among those hostages as well.

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Cardona's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report.





Original article source: Lawmakers urge Biden admin to take action against pro-Hamas demonstrations spreading across college campuses
Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson announces his candidacy for U.S. Senate at a kickoff party in Draper on Sept. 27, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Utah House speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Brad Wilson is facing accusations of fraud and breach of contract in a lawsuit filed last month claiming he violated a business agreement.

David Peterson, the former chief financial officer of Wilsons company, Destination Homes, accuses the Davis County Republican of refusing to pay interest on a $430,000 loan. In a statement, Wilsons attorney called the lawsuit baseless.

The suit was filed on Sept. 28 in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City. Destination Homes co-founder David Bailey is also listed as a defendant.

David Peterson is a disgruntled former employee of a company that Brad Wilson co-founded, said Chris Hogle, Wilsons attorney, in a statement. Peterson has sought to transform an unfounded, years-old dispute with his former employer into a groundless lawsuit against Brad Wilson with false allegations timed to smear Brad Wilson and hurt his political campaign. We intend to vigorously defend Mr. Wilson and pursue all available remedies.

Among the many claims in the complaint, Peterson alleges Wilson became a lawmaker so he could move the Utah State Prison from its former location in Draper to its current location by the Salt Lake City Airport, in order for Destination Homes (and later Newtown Development) to develop that piece of property in Draper and to seek other sweetheart deals he could obtain by leveraging his position in the Utah House of Representatives.

According to the complaint, Peterson agreed to join Destination Homes after Wilson invited him to ski at Snowbasin Ski Resort in 2006. Peterson claims the company was in bad financial condition, and that Wilson and Bailey were spending large amounts of company money to make Brad Wilson appear successful by buying luxury cars, as he wanted to run for the House.

Because the company was short on money, Peterson claims, he loaned $430,000 to Destination Homes so it could purchase Wheatfield Estates in Layton. The lawsuit claims there was an agreement for repayment with interest.

During the same period while the company was strapped for cash, court documents allege Wilson loaned former Utah Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and Chris Martineau $400,000 of Destination Homes money.

The complaint claims Bell and Martineau were unable to repay the loan, but because Wilson needed help in getting his foot in the political door he didnt want to pressure Bell to pay off the debt, court documents read.

In a joint statement, both Bell and Martineau say Wilson or his company never loaned them any money.

In 2006 Brads company agreed to buy several lots from our company, as did two other builders. When the financial crisis hit in 2008, it froze credit markets and made these deals unworkable, the emailed statement reads. We returned part of their deposit, and we mutually agreed to resolve all claims and go our separate ways. We made the exact same arrangement with the two other builders as well. I was never in a position to do Brad any political favors nor did he ask for any.

Wilson was able to pay down the loan made by Peterson to $280,000, the complaint states  but he later announced unilaterally that he would not be paying interest anymore on the companys debt to Mr. Peterson.

Peterson was left stunned by the lack of loyalty but signed a stock agreement to salvage the relationship and the financial solvency of the company.

According to the lawsuit, Destination Homes later announced it would forgive the loan given to Bell and Martineau. Peterson says he was instructed to not report the forgiven loan to the Internal Revenue Service.

Peterson resigned, according to the complaint, but claims a contract would have guaranteed him payment under the stock agreement if there was a sales event. Court documents point to Larry H. Miller Group purchasing Destination Homes in 2022, which Peterson claims was a sales event.

Defendants agreed that a triggering event occurred if the contract had been signed, but denied payment, claiming that the Agreement had never been signed by Wilson, court documents read.

Attachments filed in the 40-page complaint show an email Peterson sent to the law firm representing Wilson, where he lays out the motivations behind the lawsuit, including the claim that Wilson had his high school aged son fired from a part time job cleaning up construction sites.

Wilson allegedly told Peterson it looked bad that the CFOs son had a job at Destination Homes.

In the email, Peterson writes: I will take random actions at times and places I see fit. Things such as a billboard on Beck Street in October or Whistleblowing for Greg Bell owing taxes for forgiveness of debt.

Before closing out the email, Peterson writes For now, trolling Brad with the right people is an amusing endeavor.

In the complaint, Peterson asks for unspecified damages as a result of Wilsons alleged breach of contract, fraud and conscious disregard for the rights of Peterson.
An Austin resident is suing the city, claiming an Austin police officer "recklessly" shot his gun which resulted in the death of his 17-year-old son in 2021.

In October 2021, three Austin police officers were conducting a driving while intoxicated investigation downtown when they heard multiple gunshots to the north of them, according to previous reporting by the American-Statesman. Officers immediately ran in the direction of the gunshots, and officer Glenn Vargas fired his weapon. The lawsuit, filed in Travis County on Monday, says the bullet from Vargas' gun struck and killed Michael Carothers Jr., who was an "innocent bystander."

"Officer Vargas was not acting in good faith when he negligently and recklessly discharged his firearm in the middle of downtown Austin despite innocent bystanders, including Carothers, Jr., being present and in harm's way striking Carothers, Jr. and killing him," said the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of Michael Carothers Sr.

Joe Chacon, then the Austin police chief, later shared three videos of the incident, one from the patrol car's dash camera and two from body-worn cameras. The videos showed Vargas running toward the gunshots, firing his weapon and then saying, "S***."

Chacon said at the time officers found the teenager 90 seconds later and began performing life-saving measures on him before he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At the time, officials were uncertain if the bullet from Vargas' gun was the one that killed Michael Carothers Jr., or if it came from the other weapons that were fired. No one was charged in the death.

Vargas was placed on administrative duty after the incident while two investigations took place, one criminal and one by the internal affairs division. The lawsuit says Vargas' employment with the Austin Police Department ended in July 2022 after the investigation. Vargas had worked at the department for five years.

Officials with the city of Austin said they had not been served the lawsuit as of Thursday, but that they "will follow the appropriate process and stand ready to defend the city.

James Roberts, an attorney with Scott Palmer Law Office in Dallas who is representing the family, said lawyers have not yet decided the monetary amount they will seek, and that right now they are focused on getting "justice for the family."

The results of the investigations into the shooting were never provided to the family, Roberts said, but evidence of the case showed that it was Vargas who killed the 17-year-old.

Roberts said officers are trained to shoot only if they have a "clear target," but Vargas "shot in the dark where innocent bystanders were" and neither of the other two officers fired their weapons.

Roberts said this case shows the need for transparency in police departments.

"Austin tries to do a good job of being transparent," he said. "However, I think sometimes it's easy to be transparent when it's good for the department, and they find it much more difficult to be transparent when it's information that the public is not going to like."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: City of Austin faces lawsuit for Michael Carothers Jr. death
More than 10,000 different cryptocurrencies, such as BitCoin at center, exist across more than 350 exchanges, exceeding $1 trillion in value. Federal prosecutors say cryptocurrency is used as part of online drug trafficking on the dark web.

Another leader of a dark web drug trafficking ring known as PillCosby was sentenced to prison in federal court in Cincinnati this week.

Khlari Sirotkin, 39, of Colorado, was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years in prison. Sean Deaver, 39, of Nevada, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in August.

"The defendants specialized in the manufacturing and distribution of more than one million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and laundered approximately $2.8 million from 2013 until 2020," said a statement from the office of Ken Parker, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

Five people were indicted in 2020 in connection to the drug trafficking ring. The group operated under the names PillCosby and Slanggang and accepted payment in BitCoin and other cryptocurrency.

The federal indictment states the group began forming as early as 2013 and dealt drugs in dark web marketplaces with names like Silk Road, Empire, Dream, Sleep and Nightmare. Prosecutors said the group also used encrypted messaging apps.

According to court documents, the FBI estimates the group sold 33.9 kilograms of fentanyl in five months in 2019. Agents said Sirotkin and Deaver at one time were individually make over $20,000 a month.

Three others were indicted: Kelly Stephens, 32, of Colorado; Abby Jones, 37, of Nevada; and Sasha Sirotkin, 32, of California.

Stephens pleaded guilty and was sentenced in early September to eight years probation. Jones also pleaded guilty is scheduled to be sentenced Monday. Sasha Sirotkin has also pleaded guilty in the case, but a sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Leaders of drug trafficking group PillCosby sentenced to over 15 years in prison
Hamas supporters in the West Bank hold up a silhouette of the Islamist movement's elusive military chief Mohammed Deif, who is almost never photographed after repeated assassination attempts by Israel (HAZEM BADER)

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which Israel has vowed to destroy after it launched a shock attack on Israel Saturday that killed more than 1,200 people, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Here is what we know about the top leaders of the militant organisation which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has likened to the Islamic State group.

- Ismail Haniyeh , the politician:

The 60-year-old Haniyeh was elected head of the Hamas political bureau in 2017 to succeed Khaled Meshaal, but was already a known figure in 2006 when he became Palestinian prime minister following an upset victory by Hamas in that year's parliamentary election.

But ties with the Fatah movement of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas were short-lived and in 2007, Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip after violently ousting the president's loyalists.

Considered a pragmatist, Haniyeh lives in voluntary exile, splitting his time between Turkey and Qatar.

He has long campaigned for a reconciliation between the armed resistance against Israel and a political stance within Hamas, which is blacklisted as a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States.

Haniyeh is said to maintain good relations with the heads of the various Palestinian factions, including rival ones.

In his youth, the Hamas leader, who is known for his calm, was a member of the student branch of the Muslim Brotherhood at the Islamic University of Gaza.

He joined Hamas in 1987 when the militant group was founded as the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising, broke out against Israeli occupation, lasting until 1993.

During that time Haniyeh was imprisoned by Israel several times, and then expelled to south Lebanon for six months.

In footage broadcast by Hamas-linked media on Saturday, Haniyeh is seen watching images on television of the unfolding Hamas attack on Israel, before joining other Hamas leaders in a prayer to "thank Allah for this victory".

- Mohammed Deif, the 'chief of staff' -

The elusive Deif, who heads Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzdine al-Qassam Brigades, is Israel's public enemy number one and a man they tried to assassinate at least six times and on the US list of "international terrorists" since 2015.

Considered by Hamas as the group's "chief of staff", Deif is the one who announced in an audio message the start of the Hamas attack on Israel dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood".

In the recording Deif is heard saying that "the positions and fortifications of the enemy have been targeted by 5,000 rockets and shells during the first 20 minutes" of the attack.

Hamas which released the audio message also posted a picture of Deif in the shadow, as it usually does so that he could not be identified.

Only a few, poor-quality photographs of Deif are known to exist, the most recent taken some 20 years ago.

His hiding place is unknown, and he is reported to be a master of disguise who is able to blend seamlessly into the population.

Deif, whose real name is Mohammed Diab al-Masri, was born in 1965 in Gaza's Khan Yunis refugee camp.

He has been involved with Hamas since the 1980s and took part in many of its operations, including the abduction of soldiers and suicide bombings.

He was appointed head of Hamas's military wing in 2002 after the death of his predecessor, Salah Shehade, in a raid.

Two years earlier, at the start of the second intifada, Deif had escaped, or was freed, from a prison run by Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.

Shortly after he was named Hamas's military head, Israel launched its fifth bid to assassinate him in Gaza, in an attack that left him severely wounded, with unconfirmed reports suggesting he had been left paraplegic.

The last time Israel tried to assasinate Deif was in 2014 when it launched an air strike on Gaza, killing his wife and one of the couple's children.

Deif's enemies have dubbed him the "cat with nine lives" while Palestinians consider him a living legend.

- Yahya Sinwar, the 'strongman' of Gaza -

A former commander of the Hamas military wing, Sinwar, 61, was elected in 2017 as head of militant group in Gaza.

He rose through the ranks of Hamas as a fierce advocate of armed struggle against Israel and is considered by the group as their "defence minister".

An aura of mystery surrounds the slightly-built, Hebrew speaker Sinwar, who knows Israel well, having spent 23 years in Israeli jails before his release in 2011 in a prisoner exchange involving French-Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was held captive by Hamas.

Like Deif he also is on the US list of wanted "international terrorists".

On Thursday, Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters the offensive on Gaza targets senior Hamas leaders including Sinwar.

bur-ezz/fka/hkb/kir
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he was deeply concerned about an outbreak of violence at the country's border with Israel in the past few days and that Beirut would file an urgent complaint with the U.N. Security Council.

The outbreak of violence along the border, the most deadly between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel since a 2006 war, occurred after Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel at the weekend and Israel unleashed a bombing campaign against Gaza.

Mired in one of the world's most acute economic crises that has impoverished much of the population and crippled the state, Lebanon can ill-afford a new war.

"Lebanon is in the eye of the storm," Mikati said on Thursday during a televised address following a session of the country's caretaker cabinet that was dedicated to security issues.

He blamed the cross-border violence, which has also seen attacks mounted on Israel that were claimed by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, on "repeated Israeli provocations" and violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

Lebanese in towns along the border said the violence has brought back memories of the summer of 2006, when Hezbollah and Israel fought a brutal month-long war.

Mikati's government is backed by Hezbollah and mainly composed of Lebanese parties allied with the group.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari in Beirut; Writing by Timour Azhari and Enas Alashray; editing by Mark Heinrich and Grant McCool)
I left my hometown in England to move to Canada, a place I'd never been.

I love living in Calgary, Alberta, and the cold weather has been such a surprise.

The Rockies are much bigger than I expected and the portion sizes here are, too.

I never thought I'd leave my hometown in the UK.

But after 20 years of making memories and building up my career in Maidenhead, England, I was ready for something new. And, in February, I headed to Canada to move to Calgary, Alberta.

I'd never even been to Canada, let alone lived there, so I was in for several surprises when I moved.

We complain about the weather in the UK, but it's nothing compared to Canada.

Winter in Canada is no joke. Shay Bottomley

It's fair to say we're not good with extreme weather back home in Great Britain. A snowy day often causes chaos with closed schools and canceled flights.

I arrived in Canada when it was 0 degrees Celcius, or 33 degrees Fahrenheit, wrapped up in several layers. I braced for the worst.

Within moments of leaving the airport, however, I was shedding clothes as if a heat wave had hit. The dry air felt warmer than the humidity we have back home, despite the 10-degree difference.

Eventually, I found temperatures that seemed inconceivable in the UK were manageable here with just a jumper and a warm pair of mittens.

Still, it does get very cold here. With my newfound confidence in sub-zero temperatures, I felt confident preparing for the -30 C week we were expecting in Calgary.

I was too confident. A quick trip to the shops  a journey so short that I spent more time in the elevator than outside  left me huddling around the fire as soon as I returned home.

The Rockies are even more breathtaking than I imagined  in more ways than one.

Even an easy trail at the Rockies is no joke. Shay Bottomley

My maiden visit to the Rocky Mountains was reserved for the summer once the air warmed up and I settled down. The mountain views were stunning, and the inkpots at the famous Johnston Canyon trail were mesmerizing.

The air was so crisp and clean away from the city's pollutants that I was left breathless. Also, the so-called "easy" trail I hiked left me exhausted.

Even as a semi-regular runner, I think I'll need a few more weeks at the gym before I tackle a more intermediate trail.

Poutine is incredible, but with the large portions, it's often hard to finish a plate of it.

I love poutine, but I can't eat a lot of it at once. Shay Bottomley

Chips with gravy are not uncommon in the UK, although the latter is often resigned to a pot of sauce. In Canada, the two are commonly combined with cheese curds to create poutine  the most amazing yet simple concoction of flavors known to humankind.

I love it, but I've found that portion sizes are huge in Canada, and it's hard to clear my plate.

What many restaurants describe as an appetizer could be classed as a full entree back in Europe. I've often left a plate unfinished in Canada while feeling somewhat apologetic to the chef.

I'm still finding out how big Canada actually is.

I could drive for hours and still be in the same city. Shay Bottomley

It may sound cliche, but the enormity of Canada is not to be underestimated. It's millions of miles bigger than all of the UK.

Back home, you may end up in another town or village after an hour's walk. In Calgary, such a journey might see you cover about an eighth of the city.

It's not just the cities that are ginormous, either. During a road trip through rural Alberta, I was staggered to see how little I'd traveled despite a two-hour drive.

It's no wonder air travel is a big deal over here.

Still, I have fallen in love with living here.

I feel like Canada has welcomed me. Shay Bottomley

Canada is helping me become who I am.

Living here has taught me a sense of independence I missed after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted my university experience.

Canadians are very friendly too, and I feel tremendously lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

There are differences from the UK that take some getting used to, but my months here have flown by, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Read the original article on Insider
Editors note: The Centre Daily Times welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the Nov. 7 election and will accept letters that are received by Oct. 30. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates.

Benner Township needs C-NET

The fall issue of Benner Townships newsletter, Crossroads, includes an article titled Zoning 101. According to the article, the township has received complaints about the types of development on the Benner Pike. Some people, according to the article, dont like the idea of another convenience store or a certain type of restaurant and so on. The article goes on to explain how the land along that portion of Benner Pike is zoned and what uses are permitted, whether residents like them or not.

Im not surprised that people dont know the details of how government works. Unless you let your grass grow too high or dont pay your taxes on time, you may never hear from anyone in local government.

So the growth spurt on the Benner Pike is a teachable moment, which the supervisors should seize upon. The township should become a member of C-NET, the government and education television agency whose members include most of the municipalities in the Centre Region, the county commissioners and two of my favorites, Bellefonte Borough Council and the Bellefonte Area School District.

As a member of C-NET the township can have designated meetings taped for later viewing. Residents can watch meetings at their leisure. And viewers dont even have to watch the entire meeting. The videos come with a table of contents that enables a viewer to jump right to a specific topic without sitting through all the boring stuff.

We can learn a lot watching local government on C-NET.

R Thomas Berner, Benner Township.

Hateful behavior has no place in community

On behalf of the board and members of Altrusa International of Centre County (AICC), we want to express our condemnation of the recent antisemitic actions and intimidation that have taken place in State College. This type of hateful behavior is unacceptable in our community at all times. Altrusa believes that everyone is able to make a positive difference in the world, the nation, and locally. To that end, AICC supports all religions, creeds, races, ethnicities, abilities, ages, genders and sexual orientations. Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and honor. We operate under a mission of service, community and education. State College is a diverse town whose residents should be respected and valued. At no time should we as community citizens accept hateful behavior in any form. We support all efforts to end the tyranny of bullying and domestic terrorism. AICC will continue to work toward an inclusive State College, Centre County, United States, and world.

Jackie R. Esposito, State College. The author is the AICC secretary.

Dont pass on November election

The 2023 Pennsylvania Municipal Election is on Nov. 7. It is an off-year election: there will be no Congressional or Legislative or Presidential candidates on the ballot. But the positions to be filled are still vitally important to Centre County and to the Boroughs and Townships within the County. Dont give away your right to vote by passing on this election.

The Democratic ticket for State College Borough Council is very strong. I urge you to vote for all five of them (four for 4-year terms; 1 for a 2-year term). I especially support a vote for Evan Myers. He has the experience of 8 years on Council as well as several years on Planning Commission. He is a progressive Democrat who understands that State College Council should work for the good of all of us, including our disadvantaged and under-represented citizens.

Peter Morris, State College
Inspirational tour across China: Maltese teacher speaks highly of Belt and Road Initiative

10:07, October 12, 2023 By Peng Yukai, Zhou Yu, Zhang Rong ( People's Daily Online

Martin Azzorpardi, founder of "China Corner" and a science teacher at St. Margaret College Secondary School in Malta, recently lauded the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in an exclusive interview with People's Daily Online. Azzorpardi expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for creating a platform that promotes cultural dialogue and cooperation among nations.

"I am so happy to say that Malta was one of the first countries to join the BRI. This is what we need nowadays," said Azzorpardi. "We don't need wars. We need to come together. We need to share the culture of each other and also share our ideas with each other and learn how to work together."

Azzorpardi's fascination with Chinese culture was ignited during a transformative visit to China in 2010. He journeyed through bustling cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong, experiences that profoundly impacted him. Upon returning to Malta, he dedicated himself to promoting cultural exchanges between Malta and China.

In 2020, Azzorpardi and his colleagues and students from the "China Corner" wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping. They expressed their admiration for Chinese culture and lauded the vision of a shared future for mankind, as represented by the BRI.

Together with one of his students and several international friends, Azzorpardi visited many places across China, including Liangjiahe, a small village in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, where Chinese President Xi Jinping spent a portion of his formative years. These visits deepened Azzorpardi's understanding of China's socio-economic development over the past decades.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Wu Chengliang)
To the editor: None of the current and former Los Angeles City Council members heard in the recording of their racist conversation gets it. ("'Completely destroyed': Nury Martinez talks about the leaked recording and her life today," Oct. 9)

Former Council President Nury Martinez said in her first interview since the conversation was reported a year ago that she didn't mean for her comments to be racist, but they were exactly that. That conversation is a perfect example of the systemic racism in our society that needs to be rooted out.

I see that Councilmember Kevin de Leon and former Councilmember Gil Cedillo each filed a lawsuit because the recording destroyed their reputations and possibly their careers. Wait a minute, they succeeded doing that all by themselves.

I was taught that if you have a comment about another person that cannot be said to that person's face, then don't say it at all. At the very least, I hope that lesson was learned.

Joan Maggs, Granada Hills

..

To the editor: There are two ways to spot a liar  the person says, "I always win when I gamble," or, "I never say anything about anybody in private that I wouldn't say to their face."

Everyone has said things they should be ashamed of. Fortunately, most of us aren't celebrities and nobody gives a damn what we say or think in private. Unfortunately, phones can now easily record everything we say without our knowledge, and there is probably enough material stored to put us all in hell.

Note however that comedians get us to laugh at mean stuff, and Martinez, Cedillo and De Leon may have just been clowning around. More attention could have been given to whether their policies and actions in office were fair and equitable.

In my mind, the real sin was the surreptitious recording and distribution of selected bits from the meeting  to make sure that everyone inside and outside the meeting was hurt.

Ken Hense, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: That thing she did, she didnt mean it. That other thing she did, she didnt mean that either. And that third thing  yup, also didnt mean it.

"I had absolutely no relationship with [L.A. County Dist. Atty. George] Gascon," Martinez said in an interview, but she was more than willing to characterize him as in bed with people she cast aspersions on.

After only 2 years in leadership, Martinez said she had grown "more frustrated and angry and pissed off at everything," so nothing she said should be taken at face value. I have never seen a better example of someone who should never, ever be in a position of civic leadership.

Theres more. Martinez said, "What this has done to me and my family has completely destroyed us," characterizing the scandal as some third party acting on her. Not an iota of responsibility about what she did to herself.

Mitch Paradise, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: A year later, Martinez seems to have learned nothing, and neither have the media or the political culture of Los Angeles.

What remains unaddressed amid this obsession with the racist language in the recording is the real scandal: The then-City Council president and two other sitting City Council members were secretly plotting to gerrymander districts to preserve their personal fiefdoms at the expense of African American constituents.

That's the real racism and political corruption running rampant in L.A.

Doug McIntyre, Woodland Hills

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 26. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

To the editor: Why is the House in such a mess? ("Republicans nominate Steve Scalise for House speaker but struggle to unite to elect him," Oct. 11)

The clown car arrived in Washington on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2017, with bombast and savior-like promises to deliver us from American carnage. Little did we know that the new president was the embodiment of carnage for our democracy.

Instead of running out of gas, the clown car was refueled by Republicans' weakness and fear of destroyed political careers if they stepped out of line.

Former President Trump weakened the nation's character. A narcissist with supercharged skills of bullying and lying, he found a supine Republican Party willing to condone his every indiscretion, ultimately leading his followers to an insurrection in 2021.

Now, a coterie of incompetent chaos agents are in the House.

In Congress, 147 Republicans voted to overturn the 2020 election, 139 of which were in the House. Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, now the Republican nominee for speaker, was among them.

Is this the best they can do? Surely no, but it isnt the worst either if they are reelected in 2024.

D.H. Sloan, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: As it stands, Scalise or Rep Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) will need Democratic support to overcome any far-right resistance and win the 217 House votes needed to become speaker.

At a minimum, the Democrats should demand that anyone the Republican caucus puts forward to replace the ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) should be someone that voted to certify Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory.

Alternatively, moderate House Republicans could show their patriotism and willingness to start doing the nation's business again by supporting Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for speaker. Currently, he has more votes for the position than any of the Republican contenders.

John Goodman, Oak Park

..

To the editor: Well, I guess those in Congress who were fortunate enough to be born with some decent brains and life opportunities did not receive the common-sense gene.

World events what they are, to think these leaders (on both sides) cannot come together for the good of all is distressing. Where's the character and backbone here?

Linda Howe, Irvine

..

To the editor: Both Israel and Ukraine have been attacked by terrorists intent on destroying their existence as free nations. Both countries have seen their citizens slaughtered. They have asked for our assistance.

Unfortunately our assistance is delayed because the House, without a speaker, cannot be called to order.

MAGA Republicans in the House believe their pursuit of power is more imperative than assisting Israel and Ukraine. While both countries see their citizens being slaughtered, House Republicans behave like petulant second-graders choosing a class president.

Is this acceptable?

Frank Ferrone, El Cajon

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The mother of a slain Akron man urged a Summit County judge Thursday to severely penalize the two cousins who were charged in his death but didnt pull the trigger.

People like this dont need to be walking around in the community, Jamekia Stanford, the mother of Giovanni Stanford, said during the Zoom plea and sentencing of Durell and Jameir McDowell. To walk away from this is a slap in the face to me  and for the community.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Michael, though, said Durell and Jameir testified against Deair Wray in his trial last week  and without their cooperation, Wray might not have been convicted on charges that included murder. Prosecutors say Wray was the triggerman in the double shooting that killed Stanford.

They came in and had the courage to do that, Michael said. I have to take that into consideration, too.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Kathryn Michael

Wray and the McDowells, who are all related, were charged in a shooting in Cuyahoga Falls last May that left Stanford dead and a woman injured.

The McDowells agreed to testify against Wray in exchange for leniency in their sentences, with their testimony being the key evidence.

Deair Wray listens during his murder trial last week in Summit County Common Pleas Court. A jury convicted him of all the charges he faced.

Durell McDowell, 33, of Canton, pleaded guilty Thursday to obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony, which was the only charge he faced related to the double shooting, and an unrelated escape charge. The obstruction charge carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

Michael gave Durell credit for already spending nearly a year in in jail and didnt impose an additional sentence.

Jameir McDowell, 33, of Akron, pleaded guilty to obstruction related to the shooting. Prosecutors agreed to drop the other charges against him in that case, which included murder.

Jameir also pleaded guilty to felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for an incident at the jail, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

Michael sentenced Jameir to two to three years in prison on all the cases. He also will receive credit for the time he has spent in jail.

3 men are arrested in double shooting in Cuyahoga Falls

Wray and the McDowells were arrested in a shooting that happened shortly before midnight May 26, 2022, at an apartment at 1376 Forest Glen Drive in Cuyahoga Falls.

Police said Wray fired 9 mm rounds into a window of the apartment, striking Stanford, 23, of Akron, in the torso and head.

Dezah Robertson, Wray's on-again/off-again girlfriend and the mother of his 2-year-old son, was shot in the leg.

Robertson survived, while Stanford, 23, of Akron, did not.

Prosecutors said during Wrays jury trial that Wray shot into the window in a jealous rage when he saw Robertson and Stanford together. They said Durell and Jameir thought they were there to buy drugs, with Durell driving and Jameir waiting for Wray.

Durell is Deairs cousin, while Jameir is Deairs uncle.

Attorney John Greven talks to Deair Wray during Wray's trial last week for charges related to a double shooting. Wray was convicted of murder and other charges.

Wrays defense attorneys claimed he was someplace else during the shooting and questioned whether the McDowells or someone else was responsible.

More: Akron man is convicted of murder in double shooting in Cuyahoga Falls

Wray, though, was convicted of all the charges he faced, which included three counts of murder that involve different explanations of the crime. He faces life in prison when he is sentenced Thursday by Michael.

Prosecutor says Wray has made threats

Assistant Prosecutor Seema Misra said during the McDowells sentencing Thursday that prosecutors have been monitoring Wrays calls at the Summit County Jail and he has made threats against Durell and Jameir.

Erik Jones, who represents Durell, asked whether prosecutors will file additional charges against Wray for the threats.

Misra said shes not sure if theres enough evidence to warrant charges, but said theyll continue monitoring Wrays jail calls.

We want to make them aware there are threats out there, she said. Whether theres any validity, we can't say.

Jones and Ed Smith, who represents Jameir with attorney John Alexander, asked Misra to provide them with copies of the jail calls.

Stanford family pushes for Justice for G

The Stanford family has been outspoken in their calls for justice for Giovanni, including putting up posters around Akron that say, Justice for G.

Jamekia Stanford asked Michael during the McDowells sentencings Thursday to impose probation or prison time for both of them.

Stanford urged Michael to at least put Durell on probation. She said the only reason he was caught was because he was on a GPS monitoring device for a prior crime at the time of the shooting. She said she thinks Durell knew the shooting was going to happen, which is why he didnt park directly by Robertsons apartment.

I feel he should not walk around unscathed, she said. You send the wrong message that, if you drive a car to a murder, you will get a couple days with no probation or parole. I ask for Justice for G. Give him something.

Michael said Durell spent nearly a year in jail and was only ever charged with obstruction.

For Jameir, Stanford asked for the maximum possible sentence.

I hope you find it in your heart to change, she said to Jameir. I know you knew they were going to kill my son. The court is letting you off easy.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Durell and Jameir McDowell are sentenced for their part in shooting
Lithuania has been preparing a new military aid package, which will include NASAMS anti-air missile launchers.

Source: Lithuanian Ministry of Defence

Details: Arvydas Anusauskas, Lithuanias Minister of National Defence, emphasised that the country forms its support packages for Ukraine following the latter's greatest needs and priorities.

Thus, in the near future, Lithuania will send the NASAMS launchers, and together with individual EU member states, they will order 155 mm calibre ammunition for Ukraines Armed Forces.

In addition, Anusauskas said the priority at the moment is equipment for mine clearance, which Lithuania and other countries could help purchase.

"And we intend to commit a significant portion of our financial resources for this purpose," the minister said.

Anusauskas also added that Lithuania will soon transfer power generators and other equipment necessary for the cold season to Ukraine.

Background:

In late June, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced that Ukraine would receive two NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system launch systems from Lithuania.

Nauseda stated that two NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system launch systems, purchased by Lithuania, would arrive in Ukraine in September.

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!
Lithuanian Defense Ministry has announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine, which will include two NASAMS anti-air systems and 155mm artillery ammunition.

Speaking in Brussels on Oct. 11, Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas emphasized Lithuania's unwavering commitment to assisting the Ukrainian Armed Forces and standing firmly by Kyiv until the victory. He mentioned that Lithuania is tailoring its aid packages to meet Ukraine's essential needs and priorities.

Additional NASAMS air defense systems will be delivered to Ukraine in the near future. Collaborating with other European Union member states, Lithuania has already placed orders for 155mm artillery ammunition to bolster Ukraine's military capabilities.

Lithuania has already provided close to one billion euros in military, financial, humanitarian and reconstruction support as of June 2023. It is the first-largest contributor worldwide in terms of the percentage of its GDP.

The minister also said that preparations for the upcoming winter season are in progress, and Lithuania is ready to supply generators and vital equipment that Ukraine needs to endure the winter months.

Read also: Lithuania opens transit corridor for Ukrainian grain

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
TAMPA, Fla. - Traffic is delayed on Jackson Street and South Nebraska Avenue in Tampa after crews said live wires fell on the railroad tracks in the area.

Tampa Fire Rescue said two eastbound lanes on Jackson Street are closed while TECO crews work to deenergize the lines.

Light smoke is visible on the tracks, but crews said a fire has not sparked in the area. Officers with the Tampa Police Department will continue to assist with traffic to keep the area safe while crews work.

Firefighters said the cause of the downed wires is unknown.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Many people regret the things they do in college. Not all of them get national media attention.

That attention has rebounded onto a candidate in a local election more than a decade later. Today, Byron Thomas is a Cayce resident, outreach director for U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-Springdale, and a candidate in the November election for a seat on Cayce City Council.

But to many people trying to research the candidate online, one of the top search results will likely be a news story about Thomas fight to keep a Confederate flag in his dorm room at the University of South Carolinas Beaufort campus back in 2011.

The story garnered attention from many media outlets in and beyond the Palmetto State, fueled partly by the fact Thomas is Black.

At the time, 19-year-old Thomas said he had become interested in the flag during a research project and had come to associate it with his pride in his Southern roots. He argued he had a First Amendment right to display the flag after the university asked him to take it out of his dorm room window when school officials received complaints. In media interviews, he made the case that a Black man flying the Confederate flag could even help to soothe racial tensions.

Today, an older Thomas is at pains to stress that his views on the flag have changed. At a candidate forum last week and again in an interview with The State, he apologized for his past views.

I just wanted to have the opportunity to sincerely apologize to anyone I brought trauma and hurt to, especially people who look like me, that paved the way for me to be here today, Thomas said. Now, the only flag I need to be flying is the American flag.

Byron Thomas, then 19 and a student at USCB Beaufort, holds a Confederate Flag in his dormitory room in 2011.

In a way, Thomas has walked a similar path to that other South Carolinians have on the issue. In 2015, he wrote a column for The Washington Post saying that while he still hung the Confederate flag in his home, he thought it was time to remove the emblem from the grounds of the S.C. State House in the aftermath of a shooting in a historically Black Charleston church that left nine worshipers dead. The battle flag was moved to the front of the State House in 2000 in a compromise that took it down from the State House dome, where it had flown for almost 40 years.

While a college-age Thomas said his three white roommates at the time had no qualms about his Confederate flag, he told reporters at the time that he ultimately took the flag down because it embarrassed his parents. Thomas told The State his now-wife also had some tough questions for him about the flag while they were dating.

He said he probably would have taken his dorm flag down sooner if he hadnt felt the school administration was trying to bully him when he didnt think hed done anything wrong. Looking back now, he wishes he had.

The housing person came with an attitude, he said. They could have called me into the office and said students had complained about the window, and had a nice, mature conversation. I felt like Id been backed into a corner.

Thomas said for a long time he associated the flag with an ancestor, Benjamin Thomas, who served as a cook in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, until further research into his family history showed that the two were not actually related.

While Thomas said he wants to be a man about the issue. Im not going to run away, Im going to apologize, his election opponents, both of whom are also Black, arent so sure.

He hasnt changed his mind. He just wants to get elected, said James Skip Jenkins, the incumbent in Cayce City Council District 2. I just hate that the younger generation thats coming up dont really understand what that (flag) meant, how many people died because of that flag. Its not going to take a simple apology. Thats not going to work for me.

Marie Brown, the other candidate for the District 2 seat, said she was unaware of Thomass history with the flag until a constituent brought it up at the candidate forum, but she agreed that Thomas had the right to display the flag if he wanted to.

Do I uplift it as a part of my history and identity? I dont, but it is a part of history, Brown said.

But Thomas said he knows it may take some time for peoples impressions of him to change.

I really do hope people feel my sincerity, moving forward, to try to be on the right side of history, Thomas said. I want to live my life to bring people together, and I dont want my name to be known forever as somebody whos trying to divide people. I want to bring people together as Jesus taught ... (but) its going to take time for people to truly see my apology, so it takes hard work.

Byron Thomas
Residents of a Connecticut town clamored to the citys council meeting Tuesday, blasting its local leaders as unethical racists, antisemites, and homophobes.

Bristol previously made headlines when a Keep CT White rally was held and one of the citys former rotary club members made less than positive comments about Black people on social media, but community members say issues run much deeper.

Im here today to talk about vetting, lack of judgment, and basic common sense specifically when it comes to appointments made by the current mayor [Jeff Caggiano] and his council, Stacie Roberge addressed the crowd from the dais.

[Councilmember Erick Rosengrens] posts have a certain vibe to them that by being, at the very least, insensitive to current events in those impacted and, at the most, downright racist and a clear disdain for women, Roberge said. Mr. Rosengren has posts referencing Three Percenters, which the Anti-Defamation League has labeled an extremist organization. He also has posts about African Americans and women.

Roberge went to slam Rosengrens social media posts, which allegedly include claiming during the 2012 presidential election that any white guy would have been a better choice to vote for than Barack Obama and jokes about racially targeted police brutality.

City Leader Resigns Over Racist Social Media Posts

An anonymous source told The Daily Beast that Rosengren has multiple Facebook accounts, but that there are various examples that illustrate his extremist views. On one public page, multiple images indicate Rosengrens support of Blue Lives Matter and to the Three Percenters.

Rosengren is also a member of the Bristol Housing Authority, which Roberge implies is a conflict of interest because the department services some of [the] most vulnerable populations, people who come in all colors and genders.

Its a disgrace and an embarrassment to have these people representing this city and even more concerning to know you strategically chose them without the benefit of the voting public having their say, she said. Mayor Caggiano, your leadership is seriously lacking and we deserve better.

Multiple members of the public took aim at Bristol Board of Education head Jennifer Van Gorder, another appointee of Mayor Jeff Caggiano, and alleged antisemitic posts she made on Facebook.

In October, Van Gorder apologized for a meme she shared in 2021 that displayed the Star of David with the words COVID and Scamdemic, claiming she was previously unaware that the depiction of the gold Star of David is offensive to [her] fellow citizens of the Jewish community.

While the meme was not my creation, I understood the meaning as the concern for Government overreach, and the willingness to disregard religious freedoms and bodily autonomy, Van Gorder wrote on Facebook. My advocacy has always been for the rights and liberty of all people and against overreaching governing power.

Bristol-area resident Deb Schur stood at the front of Tuesdays meeting to question the mayor andwhat she consideredan apathetic attitude regarding bigotry.

With Ms. Van Gorders antisemitic posts, and now in light of tonight's revelations about racism found on Facebook posts of yet another of your mayoral appointments, it seems obvious that taking a spin through their [social media] pages could have prevented you from making these misguided appointments, Schur said.

Maybe you were aware of your blatant displays of homophobia, antisemitism, and now racism and you're okay with it, she added.

Parent Mike Erosenko called Van Gorder out for previous comments she made about the LGBTQ+ community before railing about her lack of qualifications to run the citys board of education.

I believe there is an epidemic of kids coming out as bisexual or whatever just trying to fit in, Erosenko quoted a 2021 comment from Van Gorder.

According to The Bristol Edition, Erosenko left the citys Republican Party after it endorsed Van Gorder for board of education, and Democrats have consistently been against her appointment.

Over the last couple of years, there has been a rise in extremist behavior. The Bristol Edition reported more racial slurs and swastikas being discovered around the city. Flyers from a white nationalist, neo-Nazi organization have also started to circulate, CT Insider reported.

In August, Caggiano announced Republican activist Jim Albert would be resigning from the Bristol Rotary Club over problematic social media posts.

Whites cant fix black culture. The more blacks hate everything and everyone, including themselves, the farther behind they will get, Albert wrote Aug. 17, according to the Hartford Courant.

Neither the mayor nor any of Bristols council members, all Republicans, immediately returned The Daily Beasts multiple requests for comment in time of publication.

Tuesday was the citys final council meeting ahead of elections on Nov. 7.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Sony will soon release its Access controller , which it designed to help people with disabilities play PS5 games with greater ease . The $90 peripheral comes with a variety of customization options in the box, and there are four 3.5mm ports that people can use to connect third-party accessories to the controller.

Logitech has teamed up with Sony to release an Adaptive Gaming Kit for the controller. It includes eight buttons and triggers you can plug into the peripheral. These include two small and two large buttons with mechanical switches, two light-touch buttons and two variable trigger controls. These are all configurable on the console to best meet a player's needs. The kit includes labels with PS5 symbols that you can attach to the buttons and triggers, along with mats and velcro ties to keep everything in place.

The Adaptive Gaming Kit, which will be available in January, costs $80 . Logitech previously released a version for the Xbox Adaptive Controller . Since both console platforms' accessibility controllers use industry-standard 3.5mm connectors, the Xbox variant of Logitech's kit should be compatible with the Access controller. Still, perhaps you'd prefer stickers with PlayStation symbols to help keep track of what's what.

Meanwhile, Sony has offered a look at the accessible packaging for the upcoming peripheral. It designed the packaging so that you can open it with one hand by pulling loops from either side. The company said that the components are placed in a single layer to make it easy to identify them.

The Access Controller will be available on December 6. Pre-orders are open at the PlayStation Direct store .
Richard Coleman, a former chief of multiple police departments in Georgia, has announced a run for sheriff of Chatham County.

Richard Coleman , a former officer who has served in multiple departments throughout Georgia, announced his candidacy for Chatham County Sheriff in late August  a seat that isn't on the ballot until November 2024.

Coleman aims to supplant current Sheriff John Wilcher, who replaced six-term sheriff Al St. Lawrence, who died in office, after winning a special election and runoff in April 2016. Seven months later, Wilcher was elected to a full term and re-elected in 2020.

Throughout his career in law enforcement, Coleman has jumped from police department to police department. From 1995 through 2006, Coleman worked for the Thunderbolt Police Department, starting as a police detective before working his way up to sergeant, captain, and then interim police chief in 2002. Coleman was forced to resign in 2006, after he was charged with simple battery when investigators say he got into a fight with another man at a woman's house, according to previous media reports. Although the incident was noted in local media outlets, the Town of Thunderbolt doesn't have a recorded history of discipline for Coleman, only salary sheets, Thunderbolt Town Clerk Deatre Denion wrote in an email. Coleman claimed those charges were dismissed and expunged.

After that incident, Coleman took a few years off, he said. Then, he took brief stints at departments throughout He worked for the Stillmore (Georgia) Police Department from 2011 through 2022, finishing as an assistant police chief. He worked as the chief of internal affairs for the Savannah State Police Department from 2014 through 2016. Then Coleman worked as the captain of criminal investigations at the Wadley (Georgia) Police Department from 2017 through 2019, as the chief of police for the Arlington (Georgia) Police Department from 2019 through 2020, and as the chief of police for the Davisboro (Georgia) Police Department from 2020 through 2021.

Coleman discussed his vision for the office should he succeed Wilcher, centered on a platform of crime prevention efforts.

The following interview was edited for length and clarity.

Why are you running for Chatham County sheriff?

To save lives. Thats what its all about. Crime and safety is just a big issue that were facing in this country. People are losing their lives, and somebody's got to step up and take the burden of responsibility. And thats me.

Everyones doing a good job. I just believe Im called to do a little more.

Throughout your career, youve jumped from police department to police department, and at times, worked multiple jobs at once. How were you able to do that?

Im dedicated to the call. Youve got to commit yourself to something. If you want to get to the level that you desire, youve got to put in the work to do that. People just want things given to them. I was willing to do it. And it paid off handsomely.

According to previous reporting, you were forced to resign in 2006 after you got into a fight with another man at a woman's house. What happened in that incident?

In all fairness to me ... I really want to stick with the election. Let me just say this, I have no criminal record. That was dismissed and expunged 20 years ago.

Let the people know that Im coming. Criminals, welcome to the Chatham County Detention Center.

What kind of research have you done in terms of the other duties of a sheriff, such as overseeing the private healthcare provider of the jail?

Theres a lot of contracts out there. Those things that you sit down with your command staff. Those are things that have got to be done on a daily basis. Actually, right now, I don't think they're broken. I haven't heard any real complaints about them. ... As far as I'm concerned, it's working.

All things will be reviewed.

If elected sheriff, what kind of changes would you make in the office?

"Im (going to) full service the sheriffs office. Im talking about support units to assist these agencies in crime prevention efforts. Thats my big plan. Another plan is Im going to deputize all law enforcement personnel."

"Im focused on stopping crime here in Chatham County. Im telling criminals, you better leave, and you better leave now, because I am coming."

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: Richard Coleman announces run for Chatham County Sheriff
Editors note: This story was updated on Oct. 15 at 9:55 a.m. EST with additional information.

Within hours of the horrific attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needs to respond.

A second U.S. carrier strike group departs from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday. Scores of aircraft are heading to U.S. military bases around the Middle East. Special operations forces are now assisting Israels military in planning and intelligence. The first shipment of additional munitions has already arrived.

[Israel-Hamas war misinformation flourishes on X as platform struggles]

More is expected, soon. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will arrive in Israel Friday to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss what else the U.S. can provide.

For now, the buildup reflects U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel could escalate into a more dangerous regional conflict. So the primary mission for those ships and warplanes is to establish a force presence that deters Hezbollah, Iran or others from taking advantage of the situation. But the forces the U.S. sends are capable of more than that.

A look at what weapons and options the U.S. military could provide:

Missiles for Iron Dome

The U.S. is providing some personnel and much-needed munitions to Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that a small special operations cell was now assisting Israel with intelligence and planning, and providing advice and consultations to the Israeli Defense Forces on hostage recovery efforts. However those forces have not been tasked with hostage rescue, which would put them on the ground fighting in the conflict. Thats something the Biden administration has not approved and White House spokesman John Kirby has said the Israelis do not want.

The U.S. is also getting U.S. defense companies to expedite weapons orders by Israel that were already on the books. Chief among those are munitions for Israels Iron Dome air defense system.

An Iron Dome system launches a missile. (Courtesy of Rafael).

Were surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome, President Joe Biden said Tuesday. Were going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens.

Iron Domes missiles target rockets that approach its cities. According to Raytheon, Israel has 10 such systems in place. Beginning with Saturdays attack, Hamas has fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel, most of which the system has been able to intercept, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Raytheon produces most of the missile components for Iron Dome in the U.S., and the Army has two systems in its stockpile.

The Iron Dome munitions the U.S. provides to Israel will likely be above and beyond what Israel has ordered and will be part of ongoing military assistance packages. Those packages will also include small diameter bombs and JDAM kits  essentially a tail fin and navigation kit that turns a dumb bomb into a smart bomb and enables troops to guide the munition to a target, rather than simply dropping it.

Ships and aircraft

One of the most visible examples of the U.S. response was the announcement Sunday by the Pentagon to redirect the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to sail toward Israel. The carrier had just completed an exercise with the Italian Navy when the ship and its crew of about 5,000 were ordered to quickly sail to the Eastern Mediterranean.

One week after the attacks, as Israel positioned for a major ground offensive into Gaza City, Austin announced a second carrier group would be sailing toward Israel, as he ordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group to join the Ford in the Eastern Mediterranean. In a statement announcing the move, Austin said he was sending the Eisenhower too as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel.

The carriers provide a host of options. They serve as primary command and control operations centers and can conduct information warfare. They can launch and recover E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes, recognizable by their 24-foot (7-meter) diameter disc-shaped radars. The planes provide early warnings on missile launches, conduct surveillance and manage the airspace, not only detecting enemy aircraft but also directing U.S. movements.

160413-N-KK394-083 An E2-C Hawkeye assigned to the Screwtops of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), the flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anderson W. Branch/Released)

They also serve as a floating airbase for F-18 fighter jets that can fly intercepts or strike targets. And the carriers can flex to provide significant capabilities for humanitarian work, including onboard hospitals with ICUs, emergency rooms, medics, surgeons and doctors. They also sail with helicopters that can be used to airlift critical supplies in or victims out.

The Eisenhower had already been scheduled to deploy to the Mediterranean on a regular rotation, and the Ford is near the end of its scheduled deployment. But the Biden administration for now has decided to have both carriers there.

Air Force action

The Pentagon has also ordered additional warplanes to bolster existing squadrons of A-10, F-15 and F-16 squadrons at bases throughout the Middle East and is ready to add more if needed.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Tuesday at an Atlantic Council event that the service was doubling up by directing units that were about to come home to remain in place and stay there along with their replacements.

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron armed with an AIM-9X Block 2 missile sits on the ramp at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept. 3, 2020. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Haley Stevens)

The U.S. Air Force already has significant airpower in the region to conduct manned and unmanned operations, most notably in Syria where an Air Force F-16 last week was ordered to shoot down a Turkish drone that was posing a threat to U.S. ground forces operating there.

Kendall also said U.S. Air Force C-17s have landed in and departed from Israel since the attacks. The transport planes were picking up U.S. military personnel who were there for a military exercise that hadnt started yet when the attacks began, the Air Force said in a statement.

Neither the Air Force nor Central Command would comment on what additional missions U.S. airpower might take on in response to the conflict.

Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this report.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Hyundai Motors Corp.

Louisville will join major cities across the country in suing Kia and Hyundai over the ease with which their cars can be stolen, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced Thursday.

The two companies' delay in using anti-theft technology has led to a local crime wave, the mayor said, accusing the companies of "placing profits over safety."

Hyundai and Kia have cut corners, shifting part of the cost of their business onto Louisville and its citizens," Greenberg said. "This is contributing to our citys public safety issues and, simply put, it is unacceptable.

We filed this lawsuit on behalf of Metro Government, our police department, and the people of Louisville who have dealt with these preventable crimes for far too long.

The announcement comes after The Courier Journal reported this week that the city has seen a massive increase in Kia and Hyundai thefts, part of a national trend that law enforcement has blamed on a viral social media video showing how easy it is to steal the vehicles without a key.

In Louisville, nearly 20 vehicles are reported stolen each day, and half of those are either a Kia or Hyundai.

The city recorded a 732% increase in reported Hyundai thefts between January and July, compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the mayor's office. Reported thefts of Kias skyrocketed 697% in the same period, it says.

Besides draining the resources of law enforcement and emergency response providers, the thefts pose a significant threat to the city's overall public safety, according to Greenberg's office. An auto theft is often accompanied by other crimes, such as reckless driving, which can result in injuries and even death.

In January 2023, an 18-year-old was killed in a hit-and-run crash involving a stolen white Hyundai, according to the mayor's office.

In another incident this year, a stolen Kia crashed into a daycare in west Louisville, though "thankfully, no one was injured," according to the mayor's office.

Car thefts are a keystone crime, meaning a crime which can facilitate other offenses, including burglary, robbery and homicide, LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said. Weve made great strides in Louisville to reduce violent crime, but car thefts and attempts to steal cars have noticeably increased, a trend seen nationally as well. This lawsuit is an important step in fixing this outlier to improve public safety.

At a news conference announcing the lawsuit Thursday, Greenberg said car thefts also place the owner's valuables found inside at risk, including wallets, jewelry and even firearms.

"One of the ways guns get onto our streets is being stolen from inside cars," he said.

Jefferson County Attorney Mike OConnell said the city is suing to force Hyundai and Kia to do what is right  fix the cars and address the effects of the crime wave.

"The actions of Hyundai and Kia have created a criminal's playground in the streets of Louisville and other communities across the country," OConnell added.

To assist in the federal lawsuit, Louisville will employ Keller Rohrback L.L.P., a law firm headquartered in Seattle. The outside firm currently represents over a dozen cities  including Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, San Diego, Milwaukee, New York City and Indianapolis  that say they're experiencing a crime wave of stolen vehicles as a result of the ease and frequency of Kia and Hyundai thefts.

The city will also use Louisville-based Poppe Law Firm as further outside counsel in the lawsuit.

Greenberg said the law firms are taking this case at no initial cost to taxpayers and would only receive payment if the lawsuit results in distributed funds.

The city is seeking both monetary and injunctive relief, though it's too early in the process to place a particular dollar amount, O'Connell said.

The potential injunctive relief could be a multitude of things, including vehicle recalls or "orders to immediately install, in every car that comes off the line, this immobilizer or safe technology," O'Connell added.

Yancy Davis had his 2020 Kia Forte stolen late September in Louisville. It was later recovered by police about a week later with damage to the interior where the thieves were able to start it without a key. October 10, 2023

Why are Kia, Hyundai car thefts being stolen in Louisville?

As of Sept. 1, more than 4,600 vehicles had been reported stolen in Louisville this year, and 53% of those were Kias or Hyundais, according to LMPD data. Ford and Chevrolet automobiles were the third- and fourth-most stolen, at 9% and 7%, respectively.

The difference between the vehicles is the use of engine immobilizers. While many of their competitors quickly adopted the anti-theft mechanism, Kia Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. did not. Vice News reported only 26% of their cars included them in 2015, compared to 96% among other manufacturers. (While Kia and Hyundai are separate entities, Hyundai Motor Co. is Kia's parent.)

Also read: Workers at Louisville's Ford Truck Plant walk the picket line, joining UAW strike

The lack of anti-theft technology was soon discovered and shared. Under the hashtag Kia Boyz, TikTok users posted videos showing how to steal the vehicles with only a screwdriver and a USB cord in a matter of seconds.

The vehicles being targeted are Kia models from 2011-21 and Hyundai models from 2015-21.

Hyundai, Kia response to car thefts

Claims made in a lawsuit represent only one side of a case, and Kia and Hyundai have previously told USA TODAY they dont comment on pending litigation. But they have acknowledged the increase in thefts.

Kia said criminals are seeking vehicles solely equipped with a steel key and 'turn-to-start' ignition system.

All 2022 Kia models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the model year or as a running change, the company said.

Hyundai said criminals are targeting its vehicles without engine immobilizers, which became standard on cars produced after Nov. 1, 2021.

In a statement to The Courier Journal, Hyundai senior group manager Ira Gabriel said the company is offering anti-theft software installations across the country at dealerships to certain vehicles without push-button ignitions and engine immobilizers.

This software upgrade modifies Hyundai vehicles with turn-key-to-start ignition systems, Gabriel said. Once the software is installed, locking the doors with a key fob will set the factory alarm and activate an ignition kill feature, preventing the engine from starting via the theft method popularized by social media. Customers must use the key fob to unlock their vehicles to deactivate this feature.

Hyundai has upgraded close to one million vehicles to date and Gabriel said the company is not aware of any confirmed failures of the software.

According to Gabriel, the software installation takes less than 30 minutes and can be completed for free at a Hyundai dealership. The car owner can also get a free steering wheel lock for additional anti-theft technology.

To speed up completed software installations, Hyundai has launched mobile service centers for car owners to take their vehicles. These mobile centers have been in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis County, MO, with future plans for other places throughout the year.

"We remain committed to ensuring the quality and integrity of our products, all of which are fully compliant with federal anti-theft requirements," Gabriel said.

For information, visit www.hyundaiantitheft.com.

Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kia, Hyundai car thefts: Louisville lawsuit says surge led to crime wave
The British Broadcasting Corporation

Passenger flights have started to get back to normal at Luton Airport after a huge fire ripped through a terminal car park on Tuesday evening.

The blaze caused the building to suffer a "significant structural collapse" but no serious injuries were reported.

Commercial flights resumed just after 15:00 BST on Wednesday.

Travellers told the BBC they were asked to arrive three hours before their flight and one car park had reopened close to the terminal.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it thought the fire started in a "diesel-powered" car and then spread through the building.

The airport said passengers arriving by car could now use the long and mid-stay car parks, while a temporary drop-off was established at the mid-stay car park.

However, the Dart shuttle remains closed, with replacement buses running.

Emily Cozens, from Nottingham, stayed in a Luton hotel overnight to catch her early morning flight to Lithuania, and was able to park at the airport.

She said: "There was a bit of traffic, and straight into terminal one."

Ms Cozens said although it was not clear at first where she should go, there were lots of people on hand to help.

Patricia Marianska, from Slough, Berkshire, drove to the airport to fly to Warsaw and said she was stuck in traffic for about 15 minutes.

She said she had to walk for about five minutes from the mid-stay car park, but "apart from that there was no inconvenience".

"I did get an email to get here three hours before my flight so we made sure we left earlier," she said.

Lucy Smith and Elizabeth Webster, from Bedford, were due to fly at about 09:00 on Wednesday to Amsterdam.

Ms Smith said their flights were rescheduled and changed three times, so they waited at the airport for more than 12 hours.

On the fourth attempt, their flight took off at 20:56, after being delayed by 45 minutes.

Speaking to the BBC from the Netherlands, she said: "It was a very stressful day, we were very tired, but we're happy we finally got here."

London Luton is the UK's fifth largest airport after Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted, carrying more than 13 million passengers in 2022.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830
A Lyft passenger was arrested after hes accused of assaulting a driver, police in Georgia say.

Antonio Cartagena, 25, was using the rideshare service Oct. 10 when police say he groped the driver and performed lewd acts in the backseat, according to the Duluth Police Department.

It happened near the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and North Berkeley Lake Road, police said in a news release. The man reached from the backseat and touched the 55-year-old woman inappropriately, authorities said.

A 24-year-old man was arrested after hes accused of groping Lyft driver, Georgia police say.

The frightened driver told police she then turned around to see Cartagena had undressed and was half naked. He was also engaging in vulgar acts, she said.

Cartagena got out of the car and ran after the attack, according to police. He was arrested a short time later on charges of sexual battery and public indecency.

He was booked into Gwinnett County Jail and was released after making $11,400 bond, online records show.

Safety is fundamental to Lyft, a Lyft spokesperson told McClatchy News in a statement. The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or anywhere in society.

We permanently banned the individual from the Lyft platform and have reached out to the driver to offer our support, the spokesperson said.

On its website, the rideshare service said it also connects drivers with ADT security in emergency situations and monitors rides in real-time, among other safeguards.

Duluth is about 25 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.

If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom.

Day care workers plan to pay $150 to sexually assault teen foiled in Florida, cops say

Man exposed himself to young traveler before boarding plane at Atlanta airport, cops say

Pastor sexually abused teen girl and threatened her not to tell, Oklahoma cops say
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the 'blind murderous hatred' of Hamas in a televised address to the nation (Ludovic MARIN)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday vowed that France would do everything to ensure the release of the dozens of hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas after its attack on Israel.

"I want to say that we will do everything to ensure that these hostages, whatever their nationality, are released," he said in an address to the nation, adding that France would work to this end both with "our partners" and the Israeli authorities.

The French president said that at least 13 French citizens were confirmed to have been killed in the attack by Hamas but 17 more "children and adults" were missing and "without doubt some of them are held hostage".

"France will never abandon its children," he said. Around 150 people are believed to be held hostage by Hamas.

His comments came after the families of French citizens held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza urged the president to step in to help secure their release.

Batsheva Yahalomi, whose 12-year-old son has been missing since Saturday, told a news conference in Tel Aviv that she wanted "French intervention" and details about him and others being held.

"I think France is very generous and compassionate and I'm sure President Macron, who many of us voted for, will do something... (and) get involved," added her mother, Jocelyne.

- No 'endless war' -

Macron condemned the "blind murderous hatred" and "absolute cruelty" of the Palestinian militant group in its attack on Israel early on Saturday.

"Hamas implemented a plan that in its scale, barbarity and human toll has no precedent."

He said that Israel had the right to defend itself "by eliminating terrorist groups, including Hamas, with targeted actions but preserving the civilian population", adding that the "only response to terrorism is one that is... strong but fair".

He said France remained committed to a two state solution to the conflict.

"We cannot resign ourselves to an endless war in this region. The fight against terrorism cannot replace the search for peace. The conditions for a lasting peace are known."

With tensions rising in France which has large Jewish and Muslim communities, Macron said 582 religious and cultural facilities in France were receiving stepped up police protection.

"Those who confuse the Palestinian cause and the justification of terrorism commit a strong moral, political and strategic error," he said.

French anti-terror prosecutors on Thursday said they had opened a terrorism probe into the attack by Hamas on Israel, into murder, attempted murder and kidnapping, including of minors, by a "terrorist organisation".

sjw/rox
When I found out Ina Garten had a penne pasta with five different cheeses, I knew I had to try it.

The dish combines Gorgonzola, fontina, mozzarella, Romano, and ricotta cheeses.

Garten's pasta is super rich without being too heavy, and it's perfect for the fall and winter.

As temperatures start to dip and we settle back into our favorite sweaters, the time has come to whip up some comforting meals for dinner.

And no chef soothes me more than Ina Garten and her delicious pasta recipes.

So when I discovered that the "Barefoot Contessa" star has a penne with five different cheeses, I knew I had to try it.

Garten's penne pasta requires five different cheeses.

Ricotta, fontina, and mozzarella are among the five cheeses in Garten's penne recipe. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

To whip up her five-cheese penne, you'll need:

1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano

1/2 cup shredded Italian fontina

1/4 cup crumbled Italian Gorgonzola

1/4 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese

I should admit that I got Romano cheese instead of Pecorino Romano, which I couldn't find in my local supermarket's little fromagerie no matter how hard I tried. I did a quick Google search  "Is pecorino the same as romano?"  and was convinced that they were basically identical. I later learned that the Romano I had purchased was actually made with cow's milk, while Pecorino Romano is always made with sheep's milk.

But alas, they're both still in the same family and known for their sharp flavors, so I think the cheese gods will forgive me on this one.

Garten's five-cheese penne also requires four additional ingredients.

You'll also need heavy cream, crushed tomatoes, basil, and penne. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

On top of all that cheese, you'll need:

1 pound penne rigate pasta

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup crushed tomatoes in thick tomato puree

6 fresh basil leaves, chopped

To prep, I preheated my oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and started grating and measuring out my cheeses.

I grated my cheeses and used a measuring cup to get the recipe just right. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

This is the only part of Garten's recipe that actually requires a little work. I hadn't bought pre-shredded fontina or pre-crumbled Gorgonzola, so I decided to just grate them as well. And let me tell you, it was definitely an arm workout. Next time, I'll likely just finely chop the fontina instead, as its creamy texture made it a tad trickier to work with the grater.

I couldn't help but admire all the beautiful cheeses in my mixing bowl.

I was intrigued to see how all these cheeses would work together. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

From the creamy ricotta to the sharp Romano, I was excited to see just how all these different flavors and textures would end up blending together.

After I finally stopped staring at my cheese, I added the crushed tomatoes and heavy cream.

After adding the cheeses, I threw in the additional ingredients. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I also chopped up some basil to throw on top.

And just before I mixed everything together, I started cooking my pasta.

I parboiled my penne for four minutes. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Per Garten's recipe, you're not actually supposed to fully cook the pasta. You just need to parboil the penne for four minutes in a pot of salted water.

After I dumped my pound of pasta into the pot, I set a timer and went back to my bowl of cheese.

As I mixed the cheesy sauce, I watched as it turned into a surprising shade of millennial pink.

I loved the pale-pink color of the sauce mixture. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Who knew Garten's pasta would be so on-trend? The color was actually quite pretty, and not at all what I had expected.

After draining my parboiled noodles, I put them back into the same pot and added my cheesy pink mixture.

I made sure all my penne noodles were submerged in the pink sauce. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Garten recommends dividing your pasta into "shallow ceramic gratin dishes." I don't even own a proper stove pot, much less pretty cookware! But I realized that this dish could easily turn into a one-pot recipe, and who doesn't love dealing with fewer dishes?

So I tossed the penne with the mixture, making sure all the noodles were submerged in the pretty pink pool of cheese.

And just before popping my pasta in the oven, I added some butter.

I went against Garten's recipe and added far less butter. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

As much as I love Garten, I have to admit that I did go against her recipe on this last step. The "Barefoot Contessa" star recommends using half a stick (four tablespoons) of unsalted butter to dot your penne pasta with, which sounded very overwhelming, to be honest.

My friend Molly, who is far more experienced in the kitchen than I am, confirmed that  stick of butter would be too much  especially paired with all that cheese. So I decided to take the recipe down to just one tablespoon, using a knife to shave off little knobs of butter that I sprinkled right on top of the pot.

It took less than 20 minutes to bake the pasta.

The pasta has a gorgeous golden-brown color. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Garten's recipe recommends cooking the pasta until it's "bubbly and brown" on top, which she estimates will take around seven to 10 minutes.

As I waited for the pasta to cook, the delicious smell of cheese completely filled the kitchen. And, as the minutes ticked by, I could hear the penne start to bubble.

Of course, every oven is different. Overall, it took my pasta about 17 minutes total to bake. I waited until I could see that the penne in the center of my pan was turning brown before I took it out, ensuring it had cooked through.

The pasta came out looking glorious.

The pasta was creamy and rich without being too heavy. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

The millennial pink turned into a beautiful almost golden color, and there appeared to be an even crust on the top of the pasta.

The chunks of mozzarella that had floated to the top made the dish look even more inviting. I already felt soothed.

And it tasted so good we went back for seconds.

The dish isn't meant to take too long in the oven. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

As much as I love very saucy pastas, I did wonder if five different cheeses  plus plenty of butter and cream  would be too much. I worried that the dish might taste more like cheese with a side of pasta, rather than the other way around, but my fears were unfounded. Garten's penne manages to be rich and soothing, without feeling too heavy on the stomach.

"All that cheese," my friend Molly happily exclaimed as she took her first few bites. "It tastes like a warm blanket."

"But the cheese isn't overwhelming," added my friend Joe, who was also on taste-test duty.

Molly recommended sprinkling some red pepper flakes on top to cut the pasta's richness just a bit, which ended up being a great addition. And I loved the contrast between the crusty pieces and the gooey cheeses, which had sunk inside the penne and would burst with every bite.

Garten's five-cheese penne is definitely a must-have dish for the fall and winter seasons.

I can't wait to make Garten's five-cheese penne again. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Garten's five-cheese penne has the power of a warm blanket, roaring fireplace, and mug of hot coca  all wrapped up in one cheesy bowl.

Read the original article on Insider
Twenty-six students at Alton High School have been charged in connection with fighting at the school on Aug. 30, the Madison County States Attorneys Office said Thursday.

Two of the students were charged as adults while 24 were charged as juveniles.

Precious V. Holloway, 18, was charged on Sept. 25 with aggravated battery of a school employee and AMarie Robinson, 18, was charged on Sept. 25 with aggravated battery at a public place and mob action, according to court records and a news release from the prosecutors office.

The names of the juveniles were not released because of their ages. The charges included disorderly conduct, mob action and aggravated battery of a peace officer.

The students ranged in age from 14 to 18. They include 15 females and 11 males.

No weapons were involved in the altercations, the states attorneys office release stated.

Charging documents allege Robinson struck multiple fellow students located in the Alton High School gym on Aug. 30.

The documents allege Holloway lowered her shoulder and deliberately rammed into Assistant Principal Mike Brey during the course of an ongoing fight on Aug. 30.

Alton School District 11 school board members released a statement last month that said they had disciplined 36 students. The board expelled 20 students and 16 others were administered lengthy suspensions in connection with the disturbing and unfortunate incidents that occurred at Alton High School on Aug. 30.

Due to student confidentiality, no additional information can or will be provided, the statement said.

Superintendent Kristie Baumgartner sent parents a letter last month about the installation of a metal detector at the high school. The Sept. 5 letter also stated there were multiple physical altercations involving students on Aug. 30 and that the sheer amount of students trying to video the fights with their cellphones made it very difficult for staff and other responders to immediately intervene. Baumgartner wrote that any student inappropriately using their cellphone will lose their phone privileges in addition to facing school discipline.

The fights prompted the district to cancel classes on Aug. 31 at the high school.

The Madison County Sheriffs Office lead the investigation of the cases against the students. Sheriff Jeff Connor could not be reached for comment Thursday.

After a close review of each case referred to our office, we have seen fit to file charges against these students for various crimes stemming from these incidents, Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine said in the news release. Our schools must be protected from crime and violence. Period.

Holloway has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday, according to court records.

Court records did not list an upcoming court date for Robinson.

Neither Holloway nor Robinson had a defense attorney listed for them in court records.

Haine commended police and school officials for their response, as well as other public and private community leaders who are working hard to bring the community together in the wake of this difficult episode, the news release stated.

The charges against the 24 juveniles are known as delinquency petitions, according to the states attorneys news release.

A juvenile who is adjudicated to be delinquent can face a range of punishments, including court supervision, probation or commitment to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, the release stated.
An unhinged man targeted unsuspecting straphangers by holding a piece of wood out of a moving Queens subway train as it rumbled through stations and hitting his victims as they haplessly stood on platforms, cops said Wednesday.

The rampage began around 12:30 p.m. last Thursday when the attacker stuck the slab out of an R train as it moved through the Grand Ave. Station in Elmhurst, according to police.

He a 59-year-old woman in the throat with the plank and continued on as the Manhattan-bound train headed to its next stop. The victim suffered minor injuries in the attack and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center in stable condition.

As the train arrived at the Elmhurst Ave. station around 12:40 p.m., the man again held the piece of wood out of the moving train, attempting to hit two men waiting on the southbound platform.

When he was unsuccessful, the enraged attacker threw the slab at the men, neither of whom were hit or injured.

Two minutes later, the train arrived at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave. station, where the lunatic hit a 56-year-old woman in the head with a different piece of wood he astonishingly had on him.

Medics took her to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where she needed stitches to close the wound.

The wood-wielding maniac stayed on the train.

Police on Wednesday released an image of the man in the hopes someone may recognize him.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
Protesters demonstrate on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, in Rome, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. Amini died following her arrest by the Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's mandatory headscarf rule. Writing on poster reads in Italian "Woman, Life, Freedom." (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

BRUSSELS (AP)  Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, sparking worldwide protests against the countrys conservative Islamic theocracy, has been named a finalist for the European Unions top human rights prize.

The European Parliament on Thursday announced the three finalists for this years Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, including Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran.

The selection was in recognition of their brave effort to stand up for women's rights," said David McAllister, the chair of the foreign affairs committee at the EU Parliament.

Amini died on Sept. 16, 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly violating Irans mandatory headscarf law.

The other nominees are Vilma Nunez de Escorcia and Roman Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez  two emblematic figures in the fight for the defense of human rights in Nicaragua  and a trio of women from Poland, El Salvador and the United States leading a fight for free, safe and legal abortion.

Amini died three days after she was arrested by Iran's morality police, allegedly for violating laws that require women to cover their hair in public. While authorities said she suffered a heart attack, Aminis supporters said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries.

Her death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Irans four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.

Authorities responded with a violent crackdown in which more than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 others were detained, according to rights groups. The demonstrations largely died down early this year, but there are still widespread signs of discontent. For several months, women could be seen openly flaunting the headscarf rule in Tehran and other cities, prompting a renewed crackdown over the summer.

The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989.

The winner will be announced on Oct. 19.
SOSUTH BEND  As summer winds down, there continues to be fewer violent crimes reported in the city, compared to recent years, in the first nine months of 2023, South Bend Police said Wednesday.

This slide from the South Bend Police Department shows the trend downward for gun violence incidents, victims and guns confiscated for the first three quarters of 2023, according to their statistics.

So far this year, according to date released by the South Bend Police Department, there have been 56 criminally assaulted shooting victims, a figure nearly half the 101 victims police reported for the first nine months of 2022.

There have been 609 gun violence incidents reported this year, also down from 713 incidents for the 2022 period.

"All Part 1 crimes have gone down every month this year, and including most of last year as well," Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski said. "Again, (this is) not celebratory, because somebody's always a victim in any one of these Part 1 crimes, already, the crimes that you're seeing that are involved here."

Since 2019, the average number of gun violence victims has decreased to 41% over the similar nine-month period of each year. There have been 13 fatal gun violence victims so far this year, five less than the 18 from 2022.

The statistics also shows that about 6 in 10 shootings that involves a victim relates to what the police department determines a Group Member Involvement (GMI) a member of a gang or group or someone that associates with a group or gang but is not considered a part of that group.

More: More police on South Bend streets may be affecting gun violence statistics

Ruszkowski explained that in his perspective, when a person in these groups commits a crime and goes to prison, there's often a person who "takes that person's place."

He believes the groups can establish themselves in other parts of the city, and still have the capacity to commit gun violence.

The number of illicit guns taken from victims also has increased. Year-to-date, 558 guns have been confiscated, up from 385 guns over the same period in 2022.

But police officials credit the continued strength of recruitment and retention efforts in members of the police force as ways they can operate the various departments effectively.

Operations Division Chief Dan Skibins said the department is maintaining its current number of sworn officers at 245 and through transfers and people coming through the Law Enforcement Training Academy, the department could be at 248 or 249 sworn officers by year's end.

Also, a recent Prospect Day event, one in which prospective police officers can complete five of the eight stages in becoming a police officer, about 12 of 45 people completed those requisites and have the potential to receive further training.

Ruszkowski said with a full police force, things like traffic enforcement can be executed more easily.

Police officer traffic stops were 2,101 for the first quarter of 2023, but the department logged 3,943 for the third quarter.

"This is what we're able to do when we have enough personnel to be able to do it," Ruszkowski said.

Using what he calls a hybrid model, there are police officers solely devoted to enforcing traffic laws each shift, which frees up other officers to perform various types of service calls.

Mayor James Mueller, who is running for re-election, said the efforts the past several years to negotiate agreements with the FOP has resulted in conditions where the police force is attracting and retaining officers.

"What does that mean when we're fully staffed? It means your investigative unit is fully staffed so that they can do the investigations," Mueller said. "That means your patrol division is fully staffed so that they can do the traffic stops. We know we weren't able to do this when we were going call-to-call."

Ready for Cops & Goblins

The police department's annual Cops & Goblins event is nearly sold out with the free ticket giveaway for the fun treat event at Four Winds Field Oct. 24 from 5-7:30 p.m. Officials said between 7,000-8,000 people will take part in the Halloween event.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend gun violence crime statistics continue downward trend
An overwhelming majority of Israelis blame their government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Hamass invasion last week, according to a new poll.

A recent survey by the Dialog Center found that out of 620 Israeli Jews polled, 86 percent felt that the surprise attack from Gaza was the fault of Israels government. Seventy-nine percent of coalition supporters also agreed, a damning assessment of Netanyahus leadership.

Nearly all of the respondentsa whopping 94 percentsaid the government was responsible for the lack of security that led to the infiltration of Israels south, reported The Jerusalem Post.



But that doesnt mean Bibis time as prime minister is in imminent jeopardy. A smaller majority, 56 percent, of Israelis polled said that Netanyahu should resign after the current conflict ends, with only 28 percent of coalition supporters feeling the same way.



The war between Israel and Palestine, sparked on Saturday when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a three-pronged assault on Israels southern border with Gaza, has so far killed at least 1,400 people in Palestine and another 1,200 in Israel, ABC reported. At least 27 Americans have also died in the escalating conflict, per reports.



Gaza, a small strip of land sandwiched between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the most densely populated areas of the world, housing more than two million people, with some 40 percent of the population under the age of 14.



In a press briefing late Wednesday night, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that Israeli military forces would wipe [Hamas] off the face of the Earth. Since the initial assault, Israeli defenses have launched more than 6,000 bombs over Gaza, and leadership has cut off access to electricity, fuel, and humanitarian aid.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, said Israel Katz, Israels minister of energy, on Thursday.

The fallout of that decision has caused what Gazas authorities describe as a humanitarian crisis, plunging the country into total darkness as it runs out of water and food.



But the front line is shifting. Early Thursday, Israel sent a large number of the 300,000 Israeli reserve soldiers to the countrys northern border with Lebanon, fearing a possible attack from the Iran-backed Hezbollah, reported the BBC.

While there was a great deal of speculation in the immediate aftermath of the attacks that Netanyahus government would be strengthened, that does not seem to currently be the case.
CHICAGO - A man was found fatally shot and another was wounded Thursday morning in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.

Officers found the 22-year-old man on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds throughout the body around 2:23 a.m. in the 6200 block of South Troy Street, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene but has not yet been identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Police said they recovered a handgun that was lying next to his body on the ground.

A second victim in the shooting, a 19-year-old man, was dropped off at Holy Cross Hospital with gunshot wounds to the torso and arm, police said. He was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

A witness told police they saw a red truck speed away after shots were fired.

No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.
The accused killer of the Buckhead valet, Harrison Olvey, has been arrested

The family told Channel 2s Michael Seiden on Wednesday evening that Randy King, 22, was arrested. Later Wednesday night, police confirmed Kings arrest.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police said on Sept. 3 around 1:40 a.m., Olvey was a valet at the parking garage and interrupted a man breaking into a vehicle when he was shot.

King was wanted for Olveys murder and placed on the Atlanta Police Departments Most Wanted list with a reward amount of $5,000.

RELATED STORIES:

The family told Seiden that King would be charged with multiple crimes, including murder.

Olveys sister, Addison Lin Olvey, mother, Autumn Ernst, and stepfather, Tony Casteel released a statement to Seiden that reads: Its never going to bring Harrison back, but now that Randy King is off the streets, no other family has to feel the pain weve felt.

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Elizabeth French was crying when she turned and directly addressed Eric Morgan, a 25-year-old man who on Thursday admitted to his role in the shooting death of her daughter, Chicago police Officer Ella French.

My faith says I have to forgive, she told him. I cannot do that yet.

But she said she hopes he someday understands the value of a human life and what it meant to aid in taking her daughters life.

I can hope that you come to learn and understand how very wrong it was to help take Ellas, French said.

In front of a courtroom full of police officers at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Morgan pleaded guilty to three felony counts for his role in the August 2021 slaying of the 29-year-old officer, who was shot during a traffic stop in West Englewood. Her partner, Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., was seriously injured.

Judge Ursula Walowski sentenced Morgan to seven years in prison, per the terms of the plea agreement.

Elizabeth French delivered a statement to the court before Morgan was formally sentenced, an emotional tribute to her daughters work as a police officer and an expression of the grief she said shes lived with since she learned in the hospital that her daughter had died of her wounds.

As supporters wept in the gallery, French remembered her daughter as a baby, a teenager, a sworn officer and finally on the night she was killed. She described the silence of the small hospital room she was escorted to shortly before she was told her daughter did not survive the shooting. She told the judge about viewing her daughters body and later hugging her casket.

I want to hug and hold my daughter again. but all I can do is hug a flag-draped casket and then she disappears, she said. I miss the presence of Ella every day.

She described Ella Frenchs first call as a police officer  an abandoned litter of puppies from which she took one home  and later, in the months before she died, an emergency call of a baby who had been shot. She rushed the child to the hospital on her own.

French told the court about the last night she saw her daughter alive. They had dinner together, she said, chatting and hanging out.

I walked her to her car. I hugged her and kissed her. I told her I was proud of her, and told her I would see her soon, she said.

Yanez was in court for the hearing, and stood to hug Frenchs mother after she addressed the court.

Morgan was charged with 11 felonies, including gun charges and a count of obstruction of justice, but he was not charged with murder or accused of firing the shots that killed French and injured her partner. His brother, Emonte Morgan, is facing charges of first-degree murder and other felonies.

Eric Morgan pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of justice. In exchange, prosecutors offered sentences of seven years, five years and three years on the three counts, to run concurrently.

There is no legal or reasonable reason for me not to go along with this, Walowski said as she accepted the agreement.

Elizabeth French said she does not believe a seven-year sentence is long enough, but said it was not because she is a vengeful person.

Every day for the rest of your life, your mother will be able to tell you how much she loves you, she said. Your actions took that.

In a brief statement, Eric Morgan offered condolences to the family, though he concluded by saying he believes his brother is innocent.

I wish I could take back that night but you cant take back time, he said. I still believe my brother is innocent in this case.

His attorney, Roger Brown, said what happened to French and Yanez was tragic.

How do we get the guns out of the hands of young people? What makes them want to have a gun in their hands? he said. That is the question we must ask and must solve.

Prosecutors have alleged that Emonte Morgan fired multiple shots at the officers after French and two fellow officers stopped a gray SUV driven by Eric Morgan near West 63rd Street and South Bell Avenue on Aug. 7, 2021. Emonte Morgan was also shot during the confrontation.

French and her two fellow officers pulled over the SUV for expired plates, while Eric Morgan was driving his brother and a female passenger, prosecutors have said.

Eric Morgan handed over the keys when asked, prosecutors said at the 2021 bail hearing, but Emonte Morgan refused to put down a drink and a cellphone he was holding, leading to a scuffle, prosecutors said.

Eric Morgan ran away, while Emonte Morgan fired shots at the officers during the scuffle, prosecutors alleged.

French and her partner fell to the ground between the car and the curb, prosecutors said, with both their guns still holstered. The third officer had been chasing Eric Morgan.

The third officer returned and was fired upon by Emonte Morgan, prosecutors said. He returned fire and hit Morgan.

mabuckley@chicagotribune.com
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A man is behind bars after being arrested for allegedly having thousands of dollars in cash and ketamine in his car. Its a drug that the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics says theyve seen more of in recent years.

Thankfully, we were able to get those drugs off the streets before they got into the hands of somebody who it could have killed, said Msgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department.

LOCAL NEWS: Police seize meth, fentanyl and firearms in Spencer

A traffic stop revealed hallucinogenic drugs in northwest Oklahoma City Tuesday. Knight said they got a call about a vehicle swerving all over the road and an officer in the area pulled over 39-year-old Gang Wu.

Gang Wu. Image courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center.

They spoke with the driver, obtained consent to search the driver, he said. As they were frisking him, they came across a large sum of cash in one of his pockets, nearly $10,000.

Of bigger concern though, was the ketamine he was carrying.

Thats an illegal drug, Knight said. You must have a prescription to have that.

Ketamine is a very powerful and popular club drug globally, Mark Woodward with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics said.

Woodward said the ketamine is usually mass produced in China and smuggled onto the black market. Since the pandemic, he said theyve seen more of it in Oklahoma.

LOCAL NEWS: OBN shuts down Love County marijuana growing operation

We have intercepted a lot of Ketamine that has come from China being sourced to specifically marijuana farms in Oklahoma that are run by the Chinese or are being sold to workers on these farms, he said.

Woodward added that criminal organizations with ties to China are moving to the sooner state. He said they commit what he called collateral crimes. Theyve seen prostitution and gambling rings, illegal marijuana farms, and trafficking ketamine.

Weve seen it smuggled in cardboard containers in the lining of cardboard boxes to look like legitimate shipments coming in from China on cargo containers, he said. Some of its coming across the southern border by the cartels.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A 65-year-old man is accused of making a bomb threat to a Providence temple Tuesday.

Vincent Johnson was arrested and charged with transmitting a bomb threat and disorderly conduct, according to the Providence police.

Johnson, of Pawtucket, was arraigned Thursday morning in District Court, Providence, where he did not enter a plea, according to court records.

A criminal complaint accuses Johnson of falsely reporting the location of an explosive at Temple Beth-El and "causing anxiety, unrest, fear, or personal discomfort ..."

Vincent Johnson, who is accused of making a bomb threat, directed at Temple Beth-El in Providence, arrives in District Court, Providence, on Thursday.

The incident happened as Israel is at war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner issued the following statement regarding the threat: There is no place for antisemitic harassment in Rhode Island or anywhere. I have been in touch with leaders at Temple Beth-El and other Jewish organizations across Rhode Island, and commend local law enforcement for taking swift action to keep our community safe."

This image by the Anti-Defamation League shows the number of antisemitic incidents reported in each state last year, including 19 in Rhode island.

More: Anti-Semitic incidents rose in RI, across the country in 2022, group says

"As Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, I am committed to providing local authorities with the resources and support they need to stop violent extremism before it occurs," Magaziner said.

The bond for Johnson was set at $10,000 surety, and a no-trespassing order was issued.

His next court date was set for Jan. 25.

- With reports by Journal staff writer, Mark Reynolds

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Man accused of making bomb threat against Providence temple
A man is facing charges after Pennsylvania state police say he shot his father in Somerset County on Wednesday afternoon.

Troopers responded to a home along Demarco Road in Jenner Township at 2:07 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

When first responders arrived, they found a 47-year-old man who was shot in the stomach.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Man injured in Somerset County shooting, state police say

According to state police, Mason Shawn Jack, 20, from Boswell, and his father were involved in a physical altercation when he fired a single shot from a .357 magnum revolver.

Life-saving measures were given to the man and he was taken to an area hospital.

Jack was detained for questioning at the scene and is facing felony charges of aggravated assault, misdemeanor charges of simple assault, and a summary charge of harassment.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Washington, D.C., police arrested a man accused of carjacking and assault amid an argument over his dog and a ride-booked vehicle.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested Dax Franco Willis, a Northeast D.C. native, on charges of unarmed carjacking and robbery, according to a news release from the MPD Thursday.

Authorities said that the ride-booking driver picked up Willis early Sunday morning in the 300 block of Eastern Avenue NE.

Willis, 19, attempted to bring his dog with him into the victims ride-hailing vehicle, but the driver told Willis that his dog is not allowed in the vehicle. According to police, Willis then threatened to mace the female driver.

Willis and the ride-hailing driver engaged in an altercation in which he assaulted her, dragged her from the car, took her phone and fled the scene driving the victims vehicle, authorities said.

CBS affiliate WUSA reported that D.C. police recovered the victims stolen vehicle on Southern Avenue SE, near East Capitol Street SE.

Authorities arrested Willis three days after the incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Cleotha Abston-Henderson can be seen at court listening to the judges response to his team requesting to have a Nashville jury instead of a Memphis jury on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at the Shelby County Justice Criminal Justice Center in Memphis, Tenn.

Cleotha Abston-Henderson, the man charged with killing and abducting Eliza Fletcher in September 2022, will go to trial in April 2024 on a separate rape case.

Prosecutors say Alicia Franklin was raped by Abston-Henderson about a year before Fletcher was kidnapped. The two, according to court documents in a civil case Franklin filed against the City of Memphis and Memphis Police Department for failing to adequately investigate the rape, met through a dating app.

The rape case will be tried before the Fletcher case because Abston-Henderson's new defense attorney, Juni Ganguli, was able to thoroughly investigate the rape case quicker than the murder, Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman said Thursday.

The official trial date is set for April 8, 2024.

A date was also set Thursday for a hearing on Ganguli's motion to bring in jurors from Nashville for the trial. Jurors are normally selected from the jurisdiction a crime took place within, but Ganguli said that the media attention given to Abston-Henderson and his cases would make a fair trial impossible with Shelby County jurors.

That hearing will happen on Nov. 16.

Judge Lee V. Coffee, who is presiding over all of Abston-Henderson's cases, said in court Thursday morning that in his 17 years being a judge in Shelby County, and an additional 15 years of being an attorney here, he has only seen one case have a venue change.

"We try some of the most highly-publicized cases in Shelby County in this court," Coffee said.

He added that he believes that bringing a jury from Nashville would hurt Abston-Henderson's case more than keeping the jury pool in Memphis.

More: Lawyer for Cleotha Abston-Henderson, charged in Eliza Fletcher case, wants Nashville jurors

"I've said this before, but will continue to say that Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee is the most diverse county in the entire state of Tennessee," he said. "It is the most diverse, is the most inclusive and I don't know that it would be in your best interest, frankly, to try this case outside of Shelby County."

Hagerman said that the Shelby County District Attorney's Office will file a written response to Ganguli's motion for a venue change, and said that he will oppose "any sort of venue change."

"We believe, like the judge, said  he mentioned the Lorenzen Wright trial in there, Memphis is incredibly diverse," Hagerman said. "Memphis has a wide variety of people and citizens. I haven't seen a trial, including the Lorenzen Wright trial, where we were not able to get a fair and impartial jury. (Memphians) are good jurors and this is their community. I think they have a right to hear these cases."

Ganguli, after the court appearance, said despite the national coverage Abston-Henderson's cases have received, he believes that a Shelby County jury would come in with a bias due to comments he said he has seen on social media.

"I think that when you look at the local social media accounts, when you look at the comments that people write for things like The Daily Memphian, the comments are, for lack of a better word, toxic," Ganguli said. "They are things like, 'Let's get this man straight to the electric chair;' 'Let's put him on a tall tree and a short rope.' I understand people are angry. That's not lost on me. But with that said, in order to ensure that this man gets a fair trial, that the system works, you have got to have a fair and impartial jury."

Though the motion to select a jury from Davidson County is only for the rape case, Hagerman said that Ganguli mentioned filing a similar one in the Fletcher case as it nears trial.

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: Cleotha Abston-Henderson rape case set for April 2024 trial
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A deadly road rage shooting in July led to the arrest of a man Thursday after Memphis Police tracked him down with the help of a license plate reader.

Rozell Hughes, 25, is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, plus previous charges from unrelated cases.

Memphis murder map: Homicides in 2023

Police say at 12:45 a.m. on July 20, three people were riding in a Toyota Corolla when they were involved in a road-rage incident involving a man and woman in a Nissan Altima.

Someone in the Altima fired several shots at the passengers in the Corolla, hitting one man in the head.

Javeon Bowden, the man who was struck by gunfire, died at Methodist South Hospital.

Court records do not specify where in Memphis the shooting took place, but documents say investigators were able to use several license plate readers in the area to trace the car to a woman who claimed she was driving the Nissan Altima when the incident happened.

The woman identified her boyfriend, Hughes, as the person who fired the shots.

The woman faces misdemeanor traffic violations in the incident. Since shes not been criminally charged in the case at this time, WREG will not name her.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man was critically injured after police say he shot himself after he was tased by an officer in Hickory Hill Wednesday.

According to Memphis Police, around 10:39 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance call in the 6300 block of Winchester Road, but when they arrived, they saw the man was in a parking lot in the 6200 block of Winchester.

Police say preliminary information indicates that as the officer attempted to continue his investigation and de-escalate the situation, he deployed his taser. However, MPD did not say exactly what the situation was.

The man then fired a shot from a gun concealed in his jacket, striking himself. He was transported to Regional One in critical condition.

Suspect in custody, 1 dead after Arkansas chase ends in fiery crash in Mississippi

MPD says no officer fired a gun at the scene, and the incident is under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A man died following a violent assault at a Family Dollar store near 16th Avenue and Buckeye Road in Phoenix on Tuesday night, according to Phoenix police.

At about 9 p.m., officers received a call about a fight. Sergeant Brian Bower, a spokesperson for the Phoenix Police Department, told The Arizona Republic that when officers arrived on the scene, they found a man who had been attacked by multiple assailants.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to police reports.

Phoenix police said that the people who reportedly attacked the man left before officers arrived. Homicide detectives took over the investigation and were looking for information about what led up to the attack and the identity of the attackers.

The identity of the victim was not disclosed.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man dead after being attacked at a Family Dollar store in Phoenix
MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Madera County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics assistance in identifying a man involved in a shoplifting spree.

According to a City of Madera Police Department social media post, the man was seen walking out of a local hardware store with a portable generator worth over $1,500.

Officers are asking anyone with any information regarding this case or anyone who might recognize the suspect to contact them at (559) 675-4220.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
A 45-year-old man Ithaca man was allegedly shot to death early Thursday, the Ithaca Police Department said in a statement.

Police said they responded to a report of gunshots at the intersection of North Plain and West Seneca streets at 3:45 a.m. Thursday.

Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male with apparent gunshot wounds later identified as 45-year-old Ernest Lankford.

The alleged homicide did not appear to be a random act, police said.

Ithaca police were assisted at the scene by the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office and New York State Police.

The investigation into the incident is active and ongoing, police said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ithaca Police Department as soon as possible by calling, police dispatch: 607-272-3245, police administration: 607-272-9973; or police tipline: 607-330-0000. People can also use the anonymous email tip address, cityofithaca.org/ipdtips

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Man killed in Seneca Street shooting; homicide investigation underway
FILE - Frederick Hopkins speaks, June 11, 2020, during a hearing in Florence, S.C. Hopkins pleaded guilty Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 to two counts of murder of five counts of attempted murder in exchange for prosecutors agreeing not to seek the death penalty (Matthew Christian/The Morning News via AP, file)

AIKEN, S.C. (AP)  A 79-year-old South Carolina man avoided a possible death sentence Thursday by agreeing to plead guilty to ambushing police officers coming to his home, killing two of the officers and wounding five others.

Frederick Hopkins court appearance was unannounced and reporters following the widely publicized case were not in the courtroom in Aiken County, some 120 miles (169 kilometers) from where the October 2018 attack took place.

Hopkins was charged with two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Hopkins will be sentenced later, but his attorney Boyd Young told media outlets after the hearing that prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table. Hopkins would face 30 years to life in prison for murder.

Three Florence County deputies told Hopkins they were coming to his home in an upscale subdivision to execute a search warrant against his son for possible sexual abuse charges.

Hopkins, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, armed himself in a upstairs window and fired at the deputies as they got out of their car. He kept shooting as more officers rushed to the scene to save their comrades.

So many rounds were fired with such powerful weapons that it took up to 30 minutes to get an armored vehicle close enough to rescue the wounded officers. He used three firearms in the ambush, and more than 100 guns were found in his home.

Florence Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway died the day of the shooting and Florence County Sheriffs deputy Farrah Turner died nearly three weeks later from her wounds.

The son, 33-year-old Seth Hopkins, pleaded guilty in 2019 to second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and is serving 20 years in prison.

Frederick Hopkins' lawyers, prosecutors and the judge have kept much of the case away from reporters. In June, they all agreed to close the courtroom from the media and the public during pre-trial hearings and kept all motions and records off South Carolinas public court records site.

When cameras have been at Hopkins hearings, his behavior has been erratic. A disbarred attorney, Hopkins called prosecutor Ed Clements Fat Eddie several times during a hearing where the prosecution announced they would seek the death penalty and Hopkins did not have a lawyer present.

In a later hearing, Hopkins was in a wheelchair and had a device to help him hear the proceedings.
A 32-year-old man reached into a mothers stroller and tried kidnapping her 1-year-old child, according to authorities in Texas.

The mom encountered the man Tuesday, Oct. 10, while on a walking and jogging trail, authorities said in court records.

Police said Papa Modou Gueye blocked her path and used both hands to try and take her child from the stroller in Houstons Eleanor Tinsley Park, KTRK reported. She then screamed for help.

A runner on Buffalo Bayou Walking Trail got an officers attention, KRIV reported, and the officer responded to assist. Police said the officer was injured while arresting Gueye.

Following his arrest, Gueye told officers he was trying to take the boy and flee the country, according to court records.

Gueye is charged with attempted kidnapping, records show.

He is being held on a $40,000 bond.

Dangerous man tries kidnapping several women over three days in Texas, police say

8-year-old boy fights off stranger trying to pull him into car, Chicago cops say

Woman with beer and knife opens strangers car and tries to take baby, Utah cops say
Officers arrested an 18-year-old North Dakota man as a suspect in a shooting Wednesday evening in downtown Sacramento where a man was wounded by gunfire.

The man from Williston, North Dakota, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Sacramento Police Department. He was booked early Thursday at the Sacramento County Main Jail, where he was being held without bail.

Jail records show the arrested suspect also faces misdemeanor charges of carrying a loaded gun registered to someone else, possession of stolen property and resisting or obstructing authorities. He is arraignment is scheduled for Friday in Sacramento Superior Court.

About 6:50 p.m., officers were called to the area of Eighth and J streets for reports that someone had been shot, police said.

Officers arrived at the scene and found a man with at least one gunshot wound. Police said the wounded man was taken by ambulance to a hospital, and he remained listed in stable condition Thursday afternoon.

The officers found and detained the North Dakota man in the area of Fifth and I streets and later arrested him, police said.
When 23-year-old Tamar Kam heard gunshots followed by a man speaking Hebrew, she thought it was the Israel Defense Forces arriving to save her.

Instead, Kamwho was hiding in a shower after climbing through the window of a strangers homehad just listened to her boyfriend being murdered.

The young couple were in a desert area near the Gaza border last weekend for the Supernova Festival, an all-night rave meant to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot. They had traveled to the small southern Israeli suburb of Kibbutz Reim, roughly a 90-minute drive south from their hometown of Petah Tikvah, expecting to let loose. But when Hamas militants attacked the gathering just after 6 a.m. on Saturday, slaughtering some 260 revelers, the two fled for their lives.

We had planned to go to a party, Kam told The Daily Beast by phone from her hospital bed in Beer Sheva, where she is recovering from a gunshot wound. We didnt imagine something like this.

While cross-border rocket fire rained down, and armed fighters sprayed the crowd of 3,500 young Israelis with automatic weapons, Kam and her boyfriend ran toward a nearby village. Along the way, they happened upon an outdoor bunker where about 50 others were also hiding, and quickly ducked in to join them. However, the attackers soon began lobbing grenades into the structure, killing several people, Kam said Thursday.

Israeli soldiers inspect the charred remains of cars abandoned in a parking lot near last weekends Supernova Festival. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Terrified, Kam and her boyfriend climbed over a series of bodies and set off once again in search of safety. The pair ran until they saw a house, but found the front door locked so they climbed inside through an open window and found the place empty. Kam ran to the bathroom, locked the door, and holed up in the shower stall. Once there, her boyfriend grabbed a kitchen knife and positioned himself near the front of the house, prepared to do his best in protecting the two of them against any militants going door-to-door.

A little while later, from her hiding spot in the shower, Kam heard a sudden burst of activity and two quick gunshots. Then, a voice saying something in Hebrew. It sounded to Kam as though rescuers had finally arrived, she said, so she emerged from the bathroom, shaken but still breathing, thankful that she and her boyfriend had been spared. Only, he hadnt been. The pair of shots Kam had heard were the ones that killed him, it turned out. And thats when she was shot in the abdomen.

I thought it was soldiers coming to rescue us, but it was a terrorist speaking Hebrew, Kam recalled as her mother, Limor, sat at her bedside. When I came out of the shower, he shot me.

Kam crumpled to the floor, bleeding profusely, and the attackers left her for dead, she said. When security forces from nearby Kibbutz Alumim eventually arrived, two soldiers burst inside the house and found Kam severely wounded and her boyfriend dead. However, it was still too dangerous to go outside. While they waited, Kam said the family that lived there emerged from their own hiding spot in the homes built-in shelter, Kam and her boyfriend having taken the bullets otherwise intended for them.

Israeli volunteers serving free food to first responders, survivors of last weekends terror attack, and their families, outside the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva. Courtesy Rotem Omega

Some five hours passed before the soldiers were able to get Kam to the hospital. During the excruciating wait, her boyfriends parents called her phone to make sure everything was OK. When she told them that their son had been shot dead, she said they started screaming.

Once it seemed safe enough to leave, Kam and the two soldiers dodged continual volleys of gunfire until the soldiers managed to find a car parked next to another houseKam said she doesnt remember the precise chain of eventsand drove her to the Soroka Medical Center. The facility, which is affiliated with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and sits about 25 miles from the Gaza border, received some 700 victims that day.

Distraught as she is, Limor Kam said she felt lucky her daughter survived. At the same time, the loss of Kams boyfriend has hit her particularly hard.

I loved him so much, she told The Daily Beast. There are no words to explain. These were young kids, young people. It was a massacre.

As one festival-goer told the Associated Press, I cant even explain the energy [the attackers] had. It was so clear they didnt see us as human beings. They looked at us with pure, pure hate.

On Thursday, Kam continued her recovery among hundreds of other wounded Israelis at Soroka. Outside, a violinist filled the air with song as a barber gave free haircuts to traumatized first responders, survivors, and their families. A clutch of famous Israeli actors showed up in Kams room to lift her spirits, taking photos and signing autographs.

And then, before anyone could become too complacent, the air raid sirens went off.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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In the fall of 1998, a man named Matthew Shepard was savagely beaten, strung out on a fence like a scarecrow, and left to die as the Wyoming night temperatures plunged. Over the last two and a half decades, the killing has been called many things. But a BBC headline from 2018 perhaps captures best: It was "the murder that changed America."

A statement from President Joe Biden helps explain why. "Twenty-five years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of hate and violence that shocked our nation and the world," he said this morning. "The week prior, Matthew had been viciously attacked in a horrific anti-gay hate crime and left to die  simply for being himself."

Shepard's murder was, without a doubt, an act of hate and violence. But the latter part of Biden's statementthat his murder was spurred by homophobic animusis the most important. For years, it has been repeated in some of the largest media outlets. It has driven federal policy. It is the part that "changed America," despite all evidence pointing to the fact that it isn't true.

If Biden's statement is any indication, that claim has regardless had long-lasting consequences, including a federal hate crime law bearing Shepard's name that broadened those offenses and gave federal law enforcement more muscular authority to pursue such investigations. Over the years, his death has been invoked as proof that gay people have a great deal to fear in the U.S. "simply for being" themselves, per the president.

How the robust narrative took shape is complex. But it didn't take very long. A few initial elements possibly corroborating such a story were there: Shepard was, indeed, gay; Aaron McKinneyone of the murderers, along with Russell Hendersonused gay slurs in his confession; and McKinney's attorneys attempted to introduce the "gay panic defense," hoping to argue at trial that he had essentially descended into madness when Shepard put a hand on his leg. (The judge was not having it, and his team was prohibited from employing that.)

There were, however, many questions that continued to go unanswered after the initial shock wore off. "The act-of-hate story never quite added up," wrote Elizabeth Nolan Brown in the October 2021 issue of Reason. "Why did police insist that the perpetrators' primary motive was robbery? Why did the allegedly violently homophobic perpetrators supposedly pretend to be gay? And if hate crime protections were needed to stop horrific acts like this from happening, why did Wyoming have no trouble convicting the men of first-degree murder and sentencing them to life in prison?"

It wasn't until the prominent gay journalist Stephen Jimenez published his 2013 book, The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard, that those gaps started to narrow significantly. McKinney and Shepard reportedly were connected by the drug trade, with Shepard set to receive a $10,000 shipment of methamphetamine around the time he was killed. Also relevant is that McKinney was allegedly not traumatized by advances from Shepard, as the two had been sexually involved.

In other words, Shepard's murder was almost certainly fueled by disagreements over money and drugs rather than gay identity, something that Henderson confirmed in an interview from prison with the Associated Press in 2018.

But the myth has continued to persist, as they sometimes do when in service of what is seen as the greater good. "25 years after Matthew Shepard's death," the A.P. noted in a piece this morning, "LGBTQ+ activists say equal-rights progress is at risk." Contrast that with what Shepard's father, Dennis, reportedly told Wyoming's governor not long after the murder: "We should not use Matt to further an agenda," he said. "Don't rush into just passing all kinds of new hate crimes laws. Be very careful of any changes and be sure you're not taking away rights of others in the process to race to this."

Yet, we've done that and more. Shepard continues to live on in calls for government intervention and a buttressed police state, as well as culturally, when we tell younger generations of gay people that they could be next.

Shepard's murder was evil. It was evil because murder is evil. Unfortunately, though, that's not always enough.

The post Matthew Shepard's Murder Was Almost Certainly Not an Anti-Gay Hate Crime appeared first on Reason.com.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) urged his Republican colleagues to go through with voting for a new House Speaker quickly, so the body can focus on important legislation like support for Israel amid its escalating war against Hamas in Gaza.

We dont want to go through the 15 rounds of ballots like we did last time. So what were trying to do is make sure we have 217 before we even go to the floor, and thats whats being negotiated, the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman said in a CBS News interview Wednesday.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) won a tightly contested Speaker vote in the GOP caucus earlier Wednesday against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Scalise must now persuade holdouts to back him before a vote can pass the floor.

Jim Jordan has agreed to support Steve as Speaker, and I think right now theyre doing a whip count, McCaul said. So it could be later tonight. It could be tomorrow. I hope its as soon as possible, because as you know, the world is becoming more dangerous. And we need to govern.

You know, we need a Speaker, the chair to govern for the American people and get the peoples business done, McCaul added. Its not a time to be playing games anymore. And we need all the adults in the room [to] step forward.

About a half dozen Republicans have said they will not back Scalise, with some of them pledging to back Jordan instead, despite Jordans own decision to back Scalise.

The first order of business when the House has a Speaker, McCaul said, is his bill pledging U.S. support for Israel.

[Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.)], my ranking member, we introduced a resolution that will be the first bill after the Speaker is instated, a resolution condemning Hamas and supporting Israel. And thats a bipartisan resolution, we have 416 co-sponsors, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
It was just a couple of months ago that Sen. Tom Bennett officially announced his decision to retire from politics. Seemingly in no time, the field for the race to take his place as the state senator for the 53rd District has grown to seven hopefuls.

Last week, five of those candidates gathered at The Cup and Scone in Pontiac at the invitation of Rep. Dennis Tipsword. Tipsword's 105th House district is part of the 53rd Senate district.

Candidates for the 53rd Senate district seat met in Pontiac on Oct. 5. In attendance were, from left, Rep. Jason Bunting (R-106th), Susan Wynn Bence, Mike Kirkton, Sen. Tom Bennett, Gary Manier, Rep. Dennis Tipsword (105th), Jesse Faber and Chris Balkema.

Attending were hopefuls Chris Balkema, Jesse Faber, Mike Kirkton, Gary Manier and Susan Wynn Bence. Among those also in attendance were Tipsword, Rep. Jason Bunting, R-Dwight, and Bennett.

Two candidates  Paul Ducat and Scott Preston  had prior engagements and were unable to attend.

The following is a look at each of the five candidates in attendance, including where they are from and a little information on them.

Chris Balkema

Chris Balkema

Location: Channahon

About: Balkema is currently the chairman of the Grundy County Board, a position he has held for six years. He has been on that board for 13 years. Unfunded mandates are an issue Balkema said is hurting Illinois residents and is something he'll look to fix if elected.

I'm very excited to get off the sidelines and stop complaining about all the unfunded mandates that are coming down and roll up the sleeves and take some action," he said. "For the last four years on the county board, we've actually reduced the levy. Not the rate, which ebb and flows with the assessed value, but the actual amount we extract from taxpayers.

Jesse Faber

Jesse Faber

Location: Pontiac

Faber has been a teacher at Pontiac Township High School for 17 years and leads the FFA program. He has not served in public office before but has served on the Livingston County Farm Bureau Board for more than a decade. He said he is passionate about the agriculture industry and education.

The last seven years, I was the original chair of our legislative committee for Illinois Ag teachers, and I still continue with that. I'm very proud of some of the things that we've done to help our agricultural industry, to help our people, particularly in 4H and FFA, to work for things like teacher retention, particularly in our smaller, rural schools. Those are the things I have been able to work and develop bills, advocate for them, provide testimony in front of different chambers and see how that process works.

Mike Kirkton

Mike Kirkton

Location: Gridley

Kirkton is former Livingston County Board member and works on the family farm along the Livingston-McLean County line near Gridley. He served more than 25 years in the U.S. Army. He said there are two issues that concern him the most:

Constituent services  Kirkton said the constituents and voters of the district come first, and their voice needs to be heard. Kirkton also said serving residents of the 53rd district could include voting "no" on bills that don't benefit the residents.

Educating across aisle about the 53rd  This is an ag centric district. Farming is our number one economy driver in this district, and I think it's on us to educate those across the aisle that have never seen a cornfield, don't know what it's like to be in a combine combining corn and beans.

Gary Manier

Gary Manier

Location: Washington

About: Manier has served as mayor of the city of Washington since 2001. He was a member of the Washington school board before ascending to mayor. Manier was in charge of the city when a devastating tornado hit the community in 2013. He said he'd use that experience to help make changes if elected.

That pension reform is killing us. Unfunded mandates are what everybody is talking about, we need to do something about it.

Susan Wynn Bence

Susan Wynn Bence

Location: Watseka

The most recent candidate to throw her hat into the ring, Wynn Bence is no stranger to the world of government. She has worked in social services, education, government affairs and is a bailiff in Iroquois County. Wynn Bence is a past president for the Illinois Federation of Republican Women and served on board of the National Republican Women organization. She also served as delegate for the national GOP convention in 2016 and again in 2020. She also served as the downstate director and principal staffer for then Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti.

Policy is what I love. I love writing policy and researching and the legislation, and working with the legislation research unit is a passion.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Candidates for 53rd Senate district make group introduction in Pontiac
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex participated in The Archewell Foundation Parents Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age for World Mental Health Day.

In a week that commemorated World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10) and the International Day of the Girl (Oct. 11), Meghan Markle and Prince Harry focused on the mental health of the most vulnerable among us.

On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in New York City for the first-ever in-person event for their three-year-old foundation, The Archewell Foundation Parents Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age.

As reported by People magazine, the couple joined an emotional panel of parents  who have experienced tragic loss connected to their childs social media use. As Harry indicated after taking the stage, the pair had also been engaged with the parents outside of the platform.

I cant start without thanking all the parents, the mothers and fathers for being with us physically today, but also being on this journey with us for the last year, creating this community of shared experience, said Harry as he and Meghan joined the panel. We know its not easy for you guys to be here, so thank you very much.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (left), and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (right), speak onstage at The Archewell Foundation Parents Summit: Mental Wellness in the Digital Age on Oct. 10 in New York City. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds)

A year ago, we met some of the families, Meghan added, and at the time, it was impossible not to be in tears hearing their stories because its just that devastating.

Acknowledging the challenges of raising children in a digital age, in which bullies, predators and other dangers can leverage the broad reach of social media, the Sussexes also acknowledged their concerns as parents to son Archie and daughter Lilibet.

As parents, though our kids are really young  two-and-half and four-and-a-half  but social media isnt going away, noted Meghan. And by design, there was an entry [point] that was supposed to be positive and create community, but something has devolved, and theres no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.

Speaking to the purpose of the summit, Harry added: I think for us, for myself and my wife, with kids growing up in a digital age, the priority here is to, again, turn pain into purpose and provide as much support as well as a spotlight and a platform for these parents to come together, to heal, to grieve and to also collectively focus on solutions so that no other family anywhere has to go through what theyve been through.

Those parents reportedly included Toney and Brandy Roberts, who participated in the Archewell Foundation Parents Summit and previously shared their story with CBSs 60 Minutes. The Robertses 14-year-old daughter, Englyn, committed suicide in 2020 after struggling with mental health issues; she had apparently devised the method from a video on Instagram. The video in question had circulated well into the next year before being removed by the platform; the Robertses filed suit against parent company Meta in 2022.

Meghan was asked by television personality, board member of Project Healthy Minds and event moderator Carson Daly how stories like the Robertses affected her as a mother.

Being a mom is the most important thing in my entire life  outside, of course, being a wife to this one, she said, acknowledging Harry. But I will say I feel fortunate that our children are at an age, again quite young, so this isnt in our immediate future, but I also feel frightened at how its continuing to change, and this will be in front of us.

They say being a parent, the days are long, but the years are short, so it worries me; but Im also given a lot of hope and energy by the progress weve made in the past year being able to have these incredible parents, these survivors of these experiences, share their stories and the more information gathering were able to do, the more we can move the needle a little bit, Meghan continued. Everyone is affected by the online world and social media. We all just want to feel safe. Im confident that with more ears and awareness and visibility of what is really happening, we can make some significant change together.

Also on the panel was Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who offered guidance on safeguarding children from the darker sides of social media.

What were going to need is to work together and partner with other parents, said Murthy. Because its a lot easier to do if you are a part of a group of parents who say were going to do this for our kids. Whenever one of our kids say, Im the only one not on it, we can say, No, Harry and Meghans kids arent on it either!'

If you or someone you know are having thoughts of self-harm, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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.

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Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) faces a new charge of acting as a foreign agent of Egypt, less than a month after the New Jersey Democrat was hit with federal charges of accepting luxurious bribes in exchange for his political influence.

Menendez is accused of conspiring with his wife, Nadine Arslanian, and New Jersey businessman Wael Will Hana to act as an agent of the Egyptian government between January 2018 and June 2022, according to a superseding indictment filed Thursday.

Among other actions, Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt, the indictment reads.

As a member of Congress, Menendez is prohibited by law from agreeing to be or acting as a foreign agent  even as registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law requiring any person acting in the U.S. as an agent of a foreign principal to register with the U.S. attorney general.

The law is meant to prevent covert influence by other countries. Neither Menendez wife nor Hana were registered under the act, the indictment says.

Between 2020 and 2022, Menendez allegedly made multiple requests for the Justice Department to investigate others for failing to register under FARA, including an unnamed ex-member of Congress.

The Act is clear that acting directly or indirectly in any capacity on behalf of a foreign principal triggers the requirement to register under FARA, Menendez wrote in a 2020 letter to the DOJ regarding the ex-congressman, according to the indictment.

In a second letter, sent in 2022, Menendez said it is imperative that the Justice Department ensure he is held to account, the indictment reads.

The New Jersey Democrat has pleaded not guilty to three other federal charges that he accepted luxurious bribes to help enrich Hana and two other New Jersey businessmen and benefit Egypts government. The bribes included cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle and other things of value, according to the indictment.

His wife has also pleaded not guilty to the other three charges alleging the couple entered a corrupt relationship with the businessmen, accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for Menendezs influence.

Larry Lustberg, an attorney for Hana, called the new charge baseless.

The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian Government is as absurd as it is false, Lustberg said.

Menendez has vigorously refuted what hes described as baseless allegations against him and refused to leave Congress, despite the urgings of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate. Fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D), a longtime friend and ally, said last month that Menendezs choice to remain in Congress is a mistake.

Menendez stepped down as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, as is required by the Senate Democrats caucus rules.

The indictment alleges Menendez wielded his power as chairman of the committee to benefit the businessmen and the Egyptian government. In one such instance, Menendez requested nonpublic information  not classified, but deemed highly sensitive  from the State Department about people serving at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. He passed that information to then-girlfriend Nadine Arslanian, who shared it with Hana, who then sent it to an Egyptian government official.

He also sought to disrupt a criminal investigation by the states attorney generals office into Jose Uribe, the second businessman, and to influence the prosecution of Fred Daibes, the third businessman, according to the indictment.

Menedez previously faced federal corruption charges in 2015 for accepting gifts and trips from a donor, but those charges were dropped in 2018 after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

Updated at 6:20 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NEW YORK  Federal prosecutors accused Sen. Bob Menendez on Thursday of secretly acting as an agent of the government of Egypt while serving as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, adding to the slate of criminal charges for which the New Jersey Democrat was indicted last month.

Prosecutors in the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office unveiled an updated indictment adding the charge of conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent, alleging that Menendez; his wife, Nadine Menendez; and a New Jersey businessman, Wael Hana, used his Senate position to benefit the government of Egypt without registering as foreign agents.

The new indictment comes three weeks after a federal grand jury charged all three  along with two other New Jersey businessmen  with conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion. That set of charges also centered on Menendezs alleged efforts to advocate for Egypt.



In combination with the earlier charges, the new indictment paints a damning portrait of a sitting congressman allegedly using his office not to benefit his constituents but to advance the interests of a foreign nation.

The original charges accused the Menendezes of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in cash, gold bars, a Mercedes-Benz C-300 convertible and home mortgage payments. In exchange, prosecutors said, the couple benefitted the three New Jersey businesspeople and the government of Egypt between 2018 and 2022, including with respect to foreign military sales and foreign military financing. Menendez had significant influence over those matters as the chair and, prior to that, as the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.



All of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges in the original indictment.

In a statement Thursday evening, Menendez insisted he is innocent.

The governments latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi on these issues," he said. "I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom.

An attorney for Hana, Larry Lustberg, called the allegation against his client "as absurd as it is false." He added: "As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this baseless allegation.

The new indictment accused the Menendezes and Hana of a more extreme level of advocacy on behalf of Egypt, saying that the senator promised to take and took a series of acts on behalf of Egypt, including on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials, and that his wife and Hana communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to the senator.



The indictment details several specific instances in which Menendez allegedly sought to benefit Egyptian officials. In May 2019, the senator, his wife and Hana met with an Egyptian intelligence official at Menendezs Senate office, where they discussed an American citizen who had been injured in a 2015 airstrike by the Egyptian military using a U.S.-manufactured helicopter, according to the indictment. The incident had resulted in some members of Congress objecting to awarding military aid to Egypt.

Shortly after the meeting, Menendez searched for information about the incident online, according to the indictment, and a week later the Egyptian official told Hana in an encrypted message that if Menendez were to help resolve the matter, he will sit very comfortably. Hana replied: orders, consider it done. The official then sent Hana screenshots of a statement from the American citizens attorney, which Hana sent to Nadine Menendez, who forwarded it to her husband.

The indictment also alleges that in the spring of 2020, after Nadine Menendez arranged a meeting between her husband and the same Egyptian official about a dam on the Nile River that was generally regarded as one of the most important foreign policy issues for Egypt, Menendez wrote a letter to the then-Treasury secretary and the then-secretary of state to push them to resolve negotiations over the dam.

I am writing to express my concern about the stalled negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over [the dam], Menendez wrote, according to court papers. I therefore urge you to significantly increase the State Departments engagement on negotiations surrounding the [dam].

Although Menendez had said prior to the September indictment that he planned to run for reelection in 2024, he appeared less certain after facing the first set of charges.

Im not going to jeopardize any seat in New Jersey under any circumstances, he told reporters earlier this month, saying he hasnt made a decision yet.

Ursula Perano contributed to this report.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) accused prosecutors Thursday of attempting to wear him down and maintained his innocence after he was charged with acting as a foreign agent for Egypt.

Menendez remained defiant after the latest charge was issued against him, his wife, Nadine, and a New Jersey businessman, saying that he has only been loyal to the U.S. throughout his life and career and indicated that he has no plans to step down from his seat.

The governments latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President [Abdel Fattah] El-Sisi on these issues, Menendez said in a statement to The Hill. I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom.

Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true. The facts havent changed, only a new charge, Menendez continued. It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic.

The New Jersey senator added that he is asking supporters and voters to give him the chance to present [his] defense and show [his] innocence.

According to the superseding indictment, Menendez is accused of conspiring to act as an agent of Egypt from January 2018 and June 2022. All members of Congress are lawfully barred from acting as a foreign agent, even if registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Among other actions, Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt, according to the indictment.

The news comes weeks after Menendez was initially accused by prosecutors of accepting bribes to help three New Jersey businessmen and benefit the Egyptian government. Part of the bribes came in the form of gold bars, cash, a luxury vehicle and mortgage payments, among other things, according to the indictment.

More than half of the Senate Democratic Caucus has called on Menendez to resign. That group is headlined by Sen. Cory Booker (D), Menendezs fellow New Jersey member, and all of Senate Democratic leadership except for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Menendez, however, has defied their wishes and has shown no signs of stepping aside. He has not announced whether he will seek reelection next year.

Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) called Thursday on the Senate to bring an expulsion vote to the floor. Kim launched a primary challenge after Menendez was initially charged by prosecutors last month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After a Category 4 hurricane swept Mexico earlier this week concerns over the safety of travel to Mexico and the risk of further natural disasters have risen.

Hurricane Lidia made landfall on Mexicos Pacific Coast, barrelling the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, on Tuesday night (10 October).

Amid Mexicos June to November hurricane season, popular beach resorts such as Puerto Vallarta and Colima were hit with up to 140mph winds.

Although hurricane warnings have now been lifted, a risk of landslides, mudslides and flash flooding remains a threat to holidaymakers with trips booked to the ocean-flanked country.

Heres the latest travel advice for Mexico, plus all the key questions and answers.

What does the Foreign Office say?

On Wednesday the Foreign Office (FCDO) updated its advice on travel to Mexico to read: The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Mexico.

Areas to avoid include:

Tijuana  except airside transit through Tijuana airport

Chihuahua  except the city of Chihuahua

Colima  except the city of Manzanillo

Guanajuato  including all areas southwest of road 45D

Guerrero  except the city of Acapulco, the town of Zihuatanejo and the town of Taxco

Tamaulipas  except the border crossing at Nuevo Laredo accessed by federal toll road 85D from Monterrey

Zacatecas

Jalisco  including all areas south and southwest of Lake Chapala to the border with the state of Colima

Sinaloa  except the cities of Los Mochis and Mazatlan

Michoacan  except the city of Morelia and the town of Patzcuaro

The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to these northern municipalities:

Bolanos

Chimaltitan

Colotlan

Hostotipaquillo

Huejucar

Huequilla el Alto

Mezquitic

San Martin de Bolanos

Santa Maria de los Angeles

Totatiche

Villa Guerrero

What do the Mexican authorities say?

Jalisco governor Enrique Alfaro posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the effects of Hurricane Lidia to assure that the state was in the final stages of the clear-up with very positive results, and stressed that the area was fortunate to get off quite lightly in the aftermath of the Category 4 hurricane.

Are Mexico flights continuing?

Yes. All international airports are operational as usual.

Puerto Vallarta International Airport in impacted Jalisco cancelled several flights on Tuesday (10 October) and Wednesday morning (11 October) but has now resumed its regular arrival and departure schedule.

What if I have booked a package holiday to Mexico?

Travellers who have booked package holidays to Mexicos west or central coast including Puerto Vallarta as advised by the FCDO can cancel without penalty for a full refund, although other popular tourist resorts of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are a fair distance from the affected areas as they sit on the Gulf of Mexicos east coast.

The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so its best to contact them. Be aware that your travel insurance could be invalidated if you choose to travel to an area against FCDO advice.
Microsoft has said it will contest a US tax authority's request to pay an additional $28.9bn (23.5bn) in back taxes for the years 2004 to 2013.

The Internal Revenue Service has been auditing how the firm allocates profits among countries and jurisdictions.

But Microsoft said "the issues raised by the IRS are relevant to the past but not to our current practices".

There have long been concerns that the biggest corporations do not pay enough tax in developed nations.

Tech giants have been criticised for reporting lower profits in high-tax countries and higher profits in lower-tax jurisdictions to minimise their tax burden.

In a securities filing, Microsoft said the IRS was seeking an additional tax payment of $28.9bn plus penalties and interest.

The company said it had "always followed the IRS's rules and paid the taxes we owe in the US and around the world".

It said it believed that any taxes owed after the audit would be reduced by up to $10bn based on tax laws passed by former President Donald Trump.

Other American tech firms such as Amazon and Facebook have also faced similar calls to pay more taxes.

This year, Microsoft has also come under scrutiny from other US authorities.

In June, it agreed to pay $20m to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after the company was found to have illegally collected data on children who had started Xbox accounts.

But the firm may soon have a victory over its plan to buy Activision Blizzard, which makes Call of Duty, for $68.7bn as the deal is expected to be finalised soon.
MIDLOTHIAN, Texas - Midlothian police are searching for three armed kidnappers who took a couple out of their home by force and tied them up.

According to police, on the evening of Monday, Oct. 9, three armed male suspects came to the married couple's home on Vernon Point in Midlothian.

Police said the victims knew at least one of their kidnappers.

"He did not force entry into their home. They felt comfortable enough letting him in, but once inside, the situation turned ugly. They produced weapons and took the individuals from their home," Midlothian PD Assistant Chief Scott Brown said.

The 72-year-old male and 68-year-old female were taken by gunpoint to an Airbnb rental house in DeSoto.

They were tied up, and the suspects attempted to access their online bank accounts.

"At DeSoto, they demanded that they give them access to bank accounts and other financial accounts," Brown said.

After several hours in the home, two of the three armed kidnappers left. That's when the victims were able to get out of their restraints and subdue him with a knife from the kitchen.

"They were very lucky to be able to get free. They were both tied with ropes. The male was able to get free and assist his wife in getting free," Brown explained. "They were able to get a knife from the kitchen of the location where they were taken and use the knife to help facilitate their escape."

The victims then ran to a neighboring home and called 911.

Police said the couple had to fight their way out, slashing at the suspect, stabbing him in the leg and his hands.

"We suspect that he has been cut more than likely on his hands in a defensive measure, and I think he received a pretty significant cut on his leg," Brown said.

The suspect fled before DeSoto police could arrive at the scene.

The couple told police they knew one of the suspects, Noah Gulzar.

"They knew one of the assailants from a previous business transaction. Theyd known him for at least a year," Brown said.

Gulzar was also the one police said the couple fought to get out of the home.

Noah Gulzar (Source: Midlothian Police)

Midlothian police issued warrants for 20-year-old Gulzar for two counts of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon.

His last known addresses are in Red Oak and Ovilla, Texas, according to investigators.

Police are working with the U.S. Marshals to find Gulzar.

Hes still on the run, as are the other two armed kidnappers police havent yet identified.

The couple did not recognize the other two men, but investigators said theyre close to identifying the other two suspects.

Midlothian police said that more charges are pending for the suspects.

Police are asking anyone with information on Gulzar or the other suspects to call them.
This article was originally published in Stateline.

On a pretty fall day in Massachusetts last week, Morad Majjad began work by checking in with a middle school nurse to see if he was needed as a translator.

By the time the day was over, Majjad  whose title is family liaison for the West Springfield school district but who is better described as interpreter-in-chief  had translated for a misbehaving elementary school child, explained to a librarians class in another language how to check out and return books, dropped into a kindergarten class with newly arrived refugees who had trouble understanding what they had to do, and jumped onto a rowdy school bus to discuss proper behavior with a group of immigrant kids new to riding the bus.

At the end of the day, Im exhausted, but it makes me fulfilled, said Majjad, a native of Morocco who speaks five languages  Arabic, Berber (a language spoken by many people in Morocco and Algeria), French, Spanish and English  and who is learning Portuguese. Last year, I helped 300 families. This year, I think I will be able to affect the lives of many, many more kids.

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The West Springfield, Massachusetts, school district has seen an overwhelming influx of immigrants in the past couple of years, as have other towns in Massachusetts.

Democratic Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency in August because of the rising number of migrant families and called on the federal government for help. She announced in August that Boston and the state will share a $1.9 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expand shelters and transportation for the new immigrants. But that did not include money for schools. The state is providing schools with extra money for students housed in emergency shelters.

Related

Newark Schools Enrollment Surges as Teacher Vacancies Grow

An increase in immigrant kids has created challenges for schools in areas that have seen a recent wave of migrants, from Texas to Illinois, Massachusetts to Florida.

Julie Sugarman, associate director for K-12 education research at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonprofit research group, said while many school districts have been dealing with English learners and migrants previously, the wave of the past few months means states are trying to provide guidance to schools without knowing exactly when and from where new students are coming.

Finding [educators] with the right credentials can be challenging, she said. Having students come throughout the year is incredibly challenging.

Take Chicago, for example. A census of the Chicago Public Schools, updated last week, showed that the English learners population grew nearly 11% from last fall to this fall, increasing 7,810 to reach 79,833, according to information provided by the district.

In a typical school year, the district said, there are about 3,000 new English learners, though not all are from migrant families.

The Chicago school district is ramping up recruitment and hiring of educators with bilingual skills. As of the 2022-23 school year, it has about 850 teachers with bilingual credentials and 2,100 teachers with both bilingual and English as a second language credentials, the department reported, up from about 2,100 in 2017.

In the Miami-Dade County School District in Florida, 7,519 new students from other countries had enrolled this year as of Sept. 9, spokesperson Ana Rhodes said in an email. That compares with 13,941 from other countries who enrolled throughout last school year, and 7,436 in 2021-22, she said.

This fall in New York City, a reported 20,000 new migrant students enrolled in public schools.

Increased costs

A large infusion of new immigrant families adds to the costs of schools but not greatly to the tax base that funds them, said Steve Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, a national research and advocacy group that favors reduced immigration. In general, schools are financed by local property taxes, though states and the federal government contribute. In some cases, he said, the increased costs are marginal  buying more equipment and books, for example  but others require capital expenditures such as new school buildings.

In addition to language issues, there is a lack of familiarity with American culture, American education, American ideals, he added. Those aspects all play into school employees work, such as the translations Majjad does in West Springfield. Camarota noted that while the kids generally pick up a new language quickly, parents and other family members acquire language more slowly.

West Springfield Superintendent Stefania Raschilla said the stock of materials she buys every year is based on a set number of students. With the influx of refugees, its been a challenge because the state and agencies dont know how many are coming, they dont know the grades they are in, they just show up here, she said in an interview.

She said space in classrooms, space in buildings, transportation and more than 50 different languages students speak at home are among the other challenges.

She hired a few more English as a second language teachers, anticipating the wave.

Related

In 3 Midwest Cities, Immigrants and Refugees Are Solving Teacher Shortages

Massachusetts and New York City attract many immigrants because of mandates requiring that all people have access to shelter. New York Democratic Mayor Eric Adams recently asked a judge to suspend the requirement, in the face of overwhelming immigration.

Access to education

Every kid in the U.S. is entitled to an education, no matter how they came to live here. Thats because of a Supreme Court ruling about 40 years ago, in Plyler v. Doe, that said all children are entitled to a free public education, regardless of immigration status.

In 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, suggested that the ruling might be ripe for overturning. In comments on Texas radio and to local media, he said that states either should be able to set their own immigration policies, or the federal government should pay for the public education of children without legal status.

In Liberty County, a northeast exurb of Houston, where the immigrant population more than doubled between 2017 and 2022, the Cleveland Independent School District has been unsuccessful in trying to get bond issues passed to build new schools. Undaunted, the school district is seeking $125 million with a bond question this fall.

Matt Bieniek, spokesperson for the school district, which serves Liberty County, said the district now has 66 portable classrooms and may have to order more. He said because a state law requires the bond question to be described as a property tax increase, people were put off by it, even though it wont affect property tax rates. But he is hopeful that it might pass this time if theres better voter turnout.

He said most of the new immigrant population lives in a residential development comprising several subdivisions called Colony Ridge, which has been the subject of discussion by Abbott and the legislature. Abbott suggested that the large number of immigrants buying homes there might become one of the topics to be addressed in a special legislative session planned for later in October.

But immigration status cannot be a reason to deny someone the right to buy property, noted Allison Tirres, a visiting professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, who teaches immigration law. She said those immigrants who are buying homes are contributing to the tax base that funds schools. She said the knee-jerk anti-immigrant reaction is to go scapegoating when schools get crowded.

The school districts Bieniek said some resentment in the community comes because you have some pushback from the community who want things to be the way they always were. We are doing everything we can to continue the small-town feel, he said, while getting our community adjusted to the change in the district.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.
Refugees walk at the first reception center for refugees in Giessen

BERLIN (Reuters) - The number of Germans who fear their government could be overburdened by dealing with immigration has grown sharply this year, though concerns about taxes and living costs still dominate, a long-running survey showed on Thursday.

For the first time, those fears about immigration were shared across the country, not concentrated in poorer regions of former East Germany, according to the poll by R+V insurance, now in its fourth decade.

"An overwhelmingly East German concern has become a topic that worries people equally across Germany," Isabelle Borucki, a political scientist who worked on the survey, said. "Respondents fear that integration won't succeed."

A total of 56% of respondents said they feared the state and its institutions could be overwhelmed, putting that concern in fourth place, up from 45% and ninth place a year ago.

Much lower down the rankings, in 11th place, were fears that immigration could cause social tensions, up from sixteenth place last year.

Ahead of immigration, respondents worried about the rising cost of living, the cost of accommodation and tax hikes and benefit cuts, similar to last year's readings.

Growing anxiety about immigration has come amid a rise in support for the far-right AfD party, which came second in a major regional election on Sunday after a campaign that featured anti-migrant rhetoric.

The levels of concern were still lower than in 2015, when 65% feared that the state would be overwhelmed. That year then-Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed more than a million refugees fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Merkel's successor, has said current refugee numbers are too high, especially given the number that do not go on to receive asylum.

Germany has taken in around a million Ukrainians seeking refuge from the Russian invasion of their country that started last February.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt, Editing by Friederike Heine and Andrew Heavens)
MILWAUKEE - A 34-year-old Milwaukee man is now charged in connection with a fatal crash at Locust and Hubbard on Oct. 4. The accused is Deangelo Wallace  and he faces the following criminal counts:

Homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle

Knowingly operate motor vehicle while suspended-cause death

According to the criminal complaint, Milwaukee police were dispatched to Locust and Hubbard around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4 for a vehicle crash. 911 callers indicated a vehicle (Saturn) was wrapped around a tree and people were trapped inside the vehicle.

When officers arrived on the scene, citizens standing nearby said there was a woman passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Julie Collins. Collins later died from blunt force injuries.

Fatal crash near Locust and Hubbard, Milwaukee

The driver, later identified as Wallace, was laying on the sidewalk. An officer spoke with Wallace and Wallace "admitted to driving the Saturn and claimed that he was driving only 15 mph," the complaint says.

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Scene investigators noted the "damage (to the vehicle) is consistent with a high speed impact, and not driving 15 mph," the complaint says. It also "noted tire marks that measured 130 feet long and indicated a counter-clockwise rotation of the Saturn as it traveled towards the tree that it struck."

Deangelo Wallace

A witness spoke with police and said she saw the Saturn "behind her swerving between lanes passing other vehicles as it traveled eastbound. She stated that the Saturday was traveling at a high rate of speed," the complaint says. The witness said at one point, the Saturn was following her car closely and the driver "attempted to go from the right lane into the left lane, when there wasn't enough room to safely do so," the complaint says. The witness told police she slammed on her brakes and hit the horn. She indicated "if she didn't hit the brakes her car would have been hit," the complaint says. The Saturn lose control and hit the tree.

Fatal crash near Locust and Hubbard, Milwaukee

The complaint says Wallace told a detective he "knew his license was suspended." A further check on Wallace's DOT driving record showed he had been issued an instructional permit, but never had a formal driver's license in Wisconsin.

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Wallace was scheduled to make his initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
MILWAUKEE - The first new route extension of Milwaukee's Hop streetcar is about to open for passenger service. It will be called the L-Line  short for Lakefront Line.

The new L-Line is set to open for riders on Sunday, Oct. 29. It will take you to the Lakefront. But you wont be able to get off there. Its purely a site-seeing tour for now. That is because the Couture high rise is still under construction.

The Hop Lakefront Line (L-Line)

On Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11, Milwaukee Department of Public Works officials gave members of the media a preview of the new L-Line route. The train goes right through the construction zone and then comes right back out. Nobody is allowed to get off.

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Initially, the route will run only on Sundays. DPW Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke says there are two reasons for that.

"To provide as much access as soon as possible, even though its only one day, but its also to get familiar with our operators that operate the streetcar. Its also to get people familiar with seeing the streetcar on Michigan, seeing the street on Clybourn," Kruschke said.

DPW Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke

Why start passenger service on Oct. 29? FOX6 Investigators say there is something the DPW Commissioner is not telling you. Because of the repeated construction delays, Milwaukee is in danger of losing a 2015 federal TIGER grant. President Biden signed a one-year extension for the grant last year, but that only gives the city until Oct. 31, 2023, to get passengers on the L-Line. If they do not, the city could lose $1.4 million.

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For the next six months at least, you can enjoy a Sunday ride to nowhere on the Hop.
Russian mass attacks in the coming winter may lead to blackouts, but they will be only short-lasting, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said on Oct. 12.

"Of course, if there are massive strikes, they will cause significant damage to the power system, and blackouts are possible," the minister said on the air.

"But we are preparing so that they have only a short-term character, and we can restore everything quickly."

According to Halushchenko, relevant authorities are conducting training to prepare for "any solutions" in the coming months.

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."

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.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A member of the Highs, a Minneapolis street gang, has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to court documents, in November 2022, 28-year-old Deon Necole Williams was in possession of a semiautomatic pistol. Due to his prior felony convictions, prosecutors say it's illegal for him to own a firearm or ammunition.

He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in June 2023 and was sentenced on Tuesday to 70 months (5.8 years) in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Williams has prior felony convictions in Minnesota, including aggravated robbery and firearm violations, dating back to 2014.

Previously, both federal and state officials have made a concentrated effort to track and arrest members of gang activity in Minneapolis.
With a number of big elections on the horizon in 2024, some Missourians may be wondering how they can get prepared to participate.

While there are no statewide elections happening in 2023, those who have not yet registered to vote in the 2024 elections may want to begin collecting the documents necessary to complete their voter registration.

There is a presidential election coming Nov. 5, 2024. Voters wanting to participate in that election must register to vote with local election authorities by October 9, 2024.

Missouri has transitioned away from a statewide presidential primary system. The Republican and Democratic parties are now responsible for conducting their own caucus or primary to select their presidential candidates.

For members of the Republican party, there will be a caucus held in each of the states 114 counties on March 2 at 10 a.m. The caucus will go on until a candidate has been chosen, which could take several hours.

Venues may not have been selected yet for the caucuses, so officials are recommending consulting local election authorities or Republican party leaders in each county closer to time.

For members of the Democratic party, a primary election will be conducted March 23 between 8 a.m. and noon. Again, it is unclear which venues will host these primaries in each county, but more details will be communicated closer to time.

Plans for both the Republican caucuses and Democratic primaries are still being finalized, and more details will be determined following approval from each parties national committees.

Candidates running for their parties nominations in races for state or county offices will be decided in the statewide primary election Aug. 6. The voter registration deadline for this election is July 10.

General municipal elections are scheduled for April 2, with the voter registration deadline being March 6. If applicable in a voting area, bond elections will be held Feb. 6. Those wanting to participate in these elections must register by Jan. 10.

More: Missouri Democrats, Republicans work to recruit candidates, fill ballots for 2024

How can I register to vote or check my registration status?

There are a few options for those looking to become registered voters in their county of residence. All options can be accessed online at the Missouri Secretary of States website.

If youre unsure whether you are registered to vote, the Missouri Secretary of States website has a voter registration portal that can be used to verify your registration.

First, those looking to complete their registration completely online can access the form online on their tablet, mobile device, or other touchscreen device. Having a touchscreen is essential for completing the electronic signature necessary to submit the registration form.

Those using a desktop computer or other digital access devices can still fill out the registration form on their device, but they will need to print and sign the completed form, then mail it to their local election authority, the address of which can also be found on the Missouri Secretary of States website.

For those wishing to register in person, applications can be retrieved from the local election authority, which is generally the county clerk. Additionally, voter registration forms are available at a Department of Motor Vehicles office or any state agency providing service to the public.

Voter registration forms can also be mailed directly to a residence, if that option is requested online. Completed registration forms must be returned to the local election authority.

In order to be eligible to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen and a Missouri resident, as well as be at least 17  years old when registering and be turning 18 years old on or before the election day.

Those participating in either the Republican caucuses or the Democratic primary to nominate presidential candidates will need to certify their affiliation as a member of either party.

For Republicans and Democrats, this can be done in advance online at the Missouri Secretary of States website, but must be completed using a touch screen device. Party affiliation can also be registered with local election authorities or using voter registration forms.

Those participating in the Republican caucuses can affirm their party affiliation at the caucus, but are encouraged to pre-register to save time on the day of the caucus. It is unclear from the preliminary rules for the Democratic primary whether same-day registration as a member of the Democratic party will be available.

Those wishing to participate in the Democratic primary election on March 23 do not have to be at least 17 , but they must also turn 18 by the time of the General Election on Nov. 5, 2024.

There are a few other stipulations which must be met in order to register to vote:

Must be registered to vote in the jurisdiction of the person's domicile prior to the election;

Cannot be imprisoned;

Cannot be on probation or parole after conviction of a felony;

Cannot have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected to voting; and

Cannot have been declared incapacitated.

More: Caucuses are replacing the Republican presidential preference primary. What to know

How and where can I vote in upcoming elections?

On Election Day, polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. This excludes any party-run caucus or primary for the 2024 presidential election.

When you register to vote, you will be assigned a polling place based on your residential address. This is also listed on sample ballots that are mailed to each registered voters address. If you cant remember where your polling place is, it can be found by checking your voter registration on the Missouri Secretary of States website.

At the polling place, voting will either be conducted by paper ballot or voting machine. There are no longer straight party ticket options, so voters must mark the ballot individually for each selected candidate. Local election workers can assist any who are unfamiliar with using voting machines.

Those needing accessible voting options will find that every accessible polling place using voting machines has one that will be accessible. If a polling place is not accessible, the voter may request a new polling place.

Additionally, curbside voting may be requested for those at non-accessible polling places. An election worker is allowed to bring a ballot outside to be completed and immediately returned to the polling place.

Permanent absentee voting is an option for those with a permanent physical disability. This must be requested directly with your local election authority, and does not require a notarized signature.

Others seeking absentee voting options must submit a valid reason to do so prior to the second Tuesday before an election. These reasons include:

Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;

Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on election day, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability and resides at the same address;

Religious belief or practice;

Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than such voters polling place, a first responder, a health care worker, or a member of law enforcement;

Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained;

Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 of the Missouri Revised Statutes because of safety concerns.

Absentee ballots must be notarized and submitted to the local election authority in person, by mail, by fax or by e-mail. A form is available on the Missouri Secretary of States website. Relatives including a spouse, parent or children may complete this form for their relative who is unable to do so themselves.

Local election authorities must receive mailed or faxed absentee ballots by 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday prior to any election. Absentee ballots can be submitted in person to the local election authority until 5 p.m. on the night before the election.

No-excuse absentee voting begins the second Tuesday before an election and lasts until the day before the election.

Under Voter ID laws passed in 2022, voters must bring a non-expired photo ID issued by the state of Missouri or federal government. Examples of this include a Missouri drivers license, Missouri non-drivers license, a U.S. passport, or military ID.

You dont need to have a REAL ID to vote, and the address listed on your ID doesnt have to match the address on your voter registration. If you are voting absentee, you must submit a copy of your photo ID, unless it was submitted with your registration application.

If you dont have a state or federally issued photo ID, you may cast a provisional ballot. These can be verified and counted by either bringing your photo ID to the polling place before the end of the polling hours, or by checking your signature against the signature on the voter registration form.

Those who are members of the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. citizens who overseas during the election can request an absentee ballot via the Missouri Secretary of States website. They are not required to submit their photo ID or have their ballot notarized. Those stationed in a hostile zone will be able to submit their ballots electronically.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri voter registration guide: What to know for the 2024 elections
The lapses in former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg's recollection of his work for Donald Trump during his testimony in the former president's ongoing civil fraud trial could stem from the $2 million severance agreement he made with the company earlier this year, legal experts suspect.

Weisselberg, a fellow defendant in the civil suit who took to the stand as a prosecution witness Tuesday, testified that he couldn't recall speaking with Trump, Don Jr. and Eric Trump, or former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen about their statements of financial condition, which were key to the company's deal-making with banks and insurers and are at the center of the trial.

Among responses to the other dozens of questions he could not recall answers to, the former executive also acknowledged that he "periodically" received comments from the former president about the documents before they were finalized but said he couldn't remember any details about changes to them that Trump may have requested. In a May deposition that's now an exhibit in the case, the former chief financial officer explained that his conversations with Trump about the financial statements were limited.

"It was more of just handing it to him and him taking it up to his apartment, maybe reading it in the evening, and making some notations giving it back to me," Weisselberg said, according to a transcript of the deposition.

The deposition also revealed that, in leaving the Trump Organization in 2022, Weisselberg  who left a New York City jail six months ago following a 100-day stint after he pleaded guilty to fraud and tax evasion in 2022  had signed a severance agreement with the company in January of this year, allowing him to receive $2 million paid in quarterly installments over two years.

Upon learning of the contract, legal experts suspected that it played a role in Weisselberg's forgetfulness on the stand Tuesday.

"If you want to understand why Allen Weisselbergs testimony against the Trump Organization is muted, just follow the money," former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti wrote on X, formerly Twitter, of the severance agreement. "He is still owed $1.25 million by the Trump Org, to be paid according to the schedule below. That is likely on his mind as he testifies."

If you want to understand why Allen Weisselbergs testimony against the Trump Organization is muted, just follow the money.



He is still owed $1.25 million by the Trump Org, to be paid according to the schedule below. That is likely on his mind as he testifies. pic.twitter.com/RlLdrCUOCW  Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) October 12, 2023

According to the schedule, Weisselberg is slated to receive five more severance payments between December of this year and December 2024.

MSNBC legal analyst Lisa Rubin dug deeper into the ex-chief financial officer's agreement with the Trump Organization in a thread on X, highlighting a passage that prohibited Weisselberg from communicating with, providing information to or otherwise cooperating "in any way with any other person or entity, including his counsel or other agents," who have claims against the company in relation to the claim. The clause also bars Weisselberg from taking any action to "induce, encourage, instigate, aid, abet or otherwise cause any other person or entity to bring or file a complaint, charge, lawsuit or other proceeding of any kind against the Company."

We learned yesterday that Allen Weisselberg's severance agreement will ultimately pay him $2 million by 12/31/24 if he fully complies. What I didn't appreciate is what he promised in return: 1/ pic.twitter.com/ZSOxWIqhIu  Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) October 11, 2023

Though stipulations like the one agreed upon in the document are not "atypical," Rubin notes, the timing and context of the agreement raise concerns.

While Weisselberg left the company at the end of 2022, he didn't execute the agreement until the day before his Jan. 10, 2023 sentencing, and it wasn't signed by Alan Garten, the Trump Organization's chief legal officer, until Jan. 12, which was two days after Weisselberg was imprisoned, Rubin said. She also pointed out that the former executive didn't receive his first payment per the contract until Mar. 31, 2023, a date over two months into his sentence and "certainly *after* reports that the Manhattan DA was still investigating Weisselberg for insurance fraud."

What's more, according to the payment schedule appended to the agreement, the Trump Org. did not start paying him until Mar. 31, 2023, well into his prison sentence and certainly *after* reports that the Manhattan DA was still investigating Weisselberg for insurance fraud. 5/ pic.twitter.com/mpWsfYAPuU  Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) October 11, 2023

Returning to his severance obligations, Rubin noted that the requirement that he cooperate in litigation against the company by meeting with the Trumps regarding "discovery or pretrial issues" and potential testimony likely means Weisselberg was obligated to meet with them prior to his trial testimony.

Plus, while the agreement ensures his repayment for any legal fees in matters against him or the company, he's barred from hiring an attorney without the company's prior approval and "to the extent there is no direct conflict of interest and at the election of the Company, [Weisselberg] shall be jointly represented by counsel for the Company," the document says, according to Rubin.

"Put another way, if he wants his own fees paid, they get to decide who represents him and even force their own lawyers on him," she added.

Those obligations, she said, are not as significant as the one prohibiting Weisselberg from giving information to anyone with claims against the company or anyone individually released by the agreement.

"Read broadly, the agreement precludes Weisselberg from voluntarily cooperating with any law enforcement or prosecutorial agency in exchange for lenience as to other crimes for which he could be under investigation and/or ultimately charged," Rubin continued.

"And yes, that might be the definition of unenforceable as a matter of public policy," she concluded. "But if you're Weisselberg, what incentive do you have to test that proposition when you have $2 million in severance, payable even if you die, riding on it? None."

And yes, that might be the definition of unenforceable as a matter of public policy. But if you're Weisselberg, what incentive do you have to test that proposition when you have $2 million in severance, payable even if you die, riding on it? None. FIN.  Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) October 11, 2023

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His controversial testimony nonetheless both helped and harmed Trump's case in the lawsuit, Rubin asserted in an analysis for MSNBC earlier Wednesday, arguing that his time on the witness stand "gave way to important, if not damning admissions."

She first pointed to his admission that the selling price, rather than the asking price, of real estate is an appropriate metric in determining its value.

"That concession probably meant little to him, but it was huge for the AGs office, which has shown evidence that [fellow defendant and Trump Organization executive Jeffrey] McConney used the asking price of certain New York residences to inflate the estimated value of Trumps Trump Tower triplex apartment," Rubin writes.

When asked about the accuracy of his 2017 representation to accounting firm Mazars that the financial statements were presented in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Weisselberg responded that the company "relied on Mazars to know GAAP." But when the prosecutor questioning him asked if that meant they relied on the firm to make representations to itself, Weisselberg said no.

While he admitted to giving Trump the financial statements to review before he became president, Weisselberg also admitted that once Trump assumed the role, he started giving the documents to either of Trump's eldest sons but couldn't recall exactly who or whether he discussed the statements with either.

"Its curious that Weisselberg more clearly remembered the period before Jan. 2017," Rubin said in the analysis. "One has to wonder whether, in light of who currently manages Trumps real estate empire day-to-day, Team Trump desperately wants to insulate the two brothers from admissions of wrongdoing."

Weisselberg attempted to distance himself from the Trump Organization's insurance program in the testimony, at one point insisting the company had no real reason to procure any appraisals while conceding that it was "possible" they retained the appraisals conducted for the lenders' benefit, Rubin said. Ultimately, she concluded. Weisselberg was forced to acknowledge that he was a part of the group the insurance employees interacted with and that insurers visited them to review the statements of financial condition.

The lawsuit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accuses Weisselberg of embellishing the financial statements to meet Trump's demands while authorizing exaggerated valuations for assets despite appraisals indicating the contrary. She seeks $250 million in penalties and a range of sanctions on the company, alleging that it, Trump and its executives engaged in fraud for years by exaggerating the value of its assets on its statements of financial condition.
The board game Monopoly has long been marketed as an opportunity to live the dream of becoming a tycoon. By design, Monopoly usually involves one person aggressively grabbing the best properties and slowly grinding everyone else into poverty. Its a fair approximation of real-life monopolies; they are bad for almost everyone and are great at destroying friendships.

Monopolies have been with us a long time. Early monopolies were generally corporations chartered by European monarchs to accomplish government goals or reward loyal supporters. Colonial U.S. history features some prominent examples, like the British East India Company that famously lost a literal boatload of tea in the Boston Tea Party and the Virginia Company.

After the American Revolution, states tried to limit corporations and the abuses they could cause. So the Robber Barons of the 1800s used other business structures like corporate trusts to build their monopolies. Hence, anti-monopoly acts were referred to as trust busting and antitrust.

Our first anti-monopoly law was the 1890 Sherman Act, and it was followed in 1914 by the Clayton Antitrust Act. Both laws were responses to specific bad behavior. As Teddy Roosevelt put it, we are not attacking the corporations, but endeavoring to do away with any evil in them. We are not hostile to them; we are merely determined that they shall be so handled as to subserve the public good. We draw the line against misconduct, not against wealth. In other words, companies that play fair have little to fear.

However, some administrations have cared about fairness more than others, and enforcement of antitrust laws comes and goes. Monopolies gather power when our government turns a blind eye (oil, steel, tobacco, telecommunications), until it becomes too much for public opinion to bear. As the government has recently brought antitrust charges against Google, Amazon, and Facebook, this seems to be the case for Big Tech now.

If public opinion pushes anti-monopoly efforts further, the media sector is another ripe target. Media has become massively consolidated, whether were talking about film, TV, newspapers, or radio. And media monopolies are not just bad for consumers; their influence over public information also makes them bad for democracies. For example, Sinclair Broadcast Group creates must-run segments that use local news anchors as mouthpieces for Sinclairs political views. And Sinclair isnt even the largest owner of local television stations.

Our own local newspaper is not immune. The Press-Citizen is, along with the Des Moines Register and other Iowa papers, owned by Gannett Co. Inc, the largest owner of daily newspapers in the country. The Press-Citizen currently has only two reporters on staff; all other stories come from other Gannett newspapers. This situation isnt entirely Gannetts fault; the company has owned both newspapers for decades, and the decline of local and print media is a much bigger issue than Gannett can bear responsibility for. But it deserves some blame.

And the loss of local journalism is definitely hurting us as a community.

For example, in recent public meetings about proposed changes to Iowa Citys zoning ordinance, one complaint was the lack of media coverage on the issue. While complaining to the Planning & Zoning Commission about media coverage is barking up the wrong tree, it is true that the Press-Citizen did not cover the issue until after we wrote a column supporting the changes last month. But how much can two people do?

So when you think about monopolies, consider this: should Johnson Countys (population about 154,000) local newspaper have a smaller staff than Buena Vista Countys (population about 20,000) Storm Lake Times Pilot?

We are all affected by monopolies. If we prize our liberties, then we must defend them not only from government power but from, in Roosevelts words, enslavement of the people by the great corporations who can only be held in check through the extension of governmental power. Its time for anti-monopoly efforts to expand to local media.

Kelcey Patrick-Ferree and Shannon Patrick live in Iowa City and write at www.ourlibertiesweprize.com. And biannual time changes must be abolished.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Local journalism shouldn't be in the hands of just a few providers
More than 2 million people live in the Gaza Strip, which is facing a punishing counterattack from Israel.

Experts say Gaza is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, and people are running out of basic supplies.

The crisis is exacerbated by the fact that Gaza has been restricted under blockade for 16 years.

Israel's response to the militant group Hamas' terrorist attack on Saturday, which killed at least 1,300 Israelis  including women, children, and hundreds of civilians  has been an all-out assault on the Gaza Strip, a sliver of land that butts up against the Mediterranean Sea and has been under Israeli and Egyptian blockade for 16 years.

Buildings, apartment towers, mosques, and more are being toppled by aerial strikes; access to electricity, fuel, medicine, and food is being cut off by Israeli officials; and hospitals are running on backup generators with only days of power left. Israel is also likely gearing up for a ground assault.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pleaded with the global community to send humanitarian aid to the region, and the World Health Organization is working with the Egyptian government to get health supplies delivered to the area.

So far, thousands have been killed or injured in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank and in Israel.

"The people of Gaza were already in a weakened state as a result of 16 years of living under closure, restrictions on access to freedom of movement, and the opportunities for employment as well as trade," Akshaya Kumar, the director of Crisis Advocacy at Human Rights Watch, told Insider. "And now they are losing even what little access they had."

Human-rights experts who spoke to Insider said the already devastated Gaza Strip  a nearly 140-square-mile territory about the size of Philadelphia that's controlled by Hamas  is being ravaged by Israel's military response, and they said it could get much worse. Groups are begging for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to bring in much-needed supplies to the trapped region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that a humanitarian corridor was being discussed, according to CNN, and a UN spokesperson has called for one saying, "Citizens need protection."

On Wednesday, White House spokesman John Kirby said that the US was in active talks with Israel and Egypt.

"Civilians are not to blame for what Hamas has done," Kirby said. "They didn't do anything wrong, and we continue to support safe passage."

'People are just living in absolute dread'

Using what Kumar described as dehumanizing language, Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant on Monday announced a total cutoff of the Gaza Strip, which is home to more than 2 million people, nearly half of whom are under 18.

"We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly," Gallant said, according to the Times of Israel.

The use of collective punishment is a war crime, Kumar said.

"There's a clear calculation as to how many days people in Gaza could last by using fuel for generators to run their pumping stations or their electricity plants," Kumar said. "And that projection is chilling, actually to know that not only are the Israeli authorities aware of this, they are counting on it to impose their siege conditions."

On the ground, people in Gaza  nearly half of whom already live in poverty  are feeling the effects of the cutoff.

Insider previously spoke with Ivan Karakashian, the head of advocacy in Jerusalem for the NGO Norwegian Refugee Council, who said workers on the ground estimated on Tuesday that essentials, including food, could run out in Gaza in four to six days.

Kumar said her colleagues in Gaza have seen ambulances and refugee camps struck by missiles, and they've described dire conditions at overcrowded clinics that lack access to proper medical supplies to treat the injured.

Kumar said attempts to deliver much-needed supplies are so far failing.

"I think people are just living in absolute dread and fear, and these are people who have been through this in the past but they don't know what to expect, because the intensity of the bombardment and the statements from Israeli officials are truly menacing," she said.

Ahmad Abuznaid, the executive director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, told Insider that he's heard similar stories from friends and colleagues. He said friends in the US are desperately trying to keep up with family in the region.

"I got a tidbit from a colleague in Houston, whose family is in Gaza," Abuznaid said. "Normally, they're telling my friend like, 'Hey, don't worry about it, we'll be fine. We'll be fine.' And they weren't really able to muster out that statement. This time, they're not really sure."

'This has been 75-plus years'

Since the current conflict began on Saturday, much of the US focus has been on supporting the Israeli government's response to Hamas, which targeted civilian populations and left at least 1,200 dead in its most recent attack sagainst Israel.

President Joe Biden sharply condemned the attacks and it is unclear if he asked Israel to practice restraint in its military campaign.

"We know that Israel will take all of the precautions that it can, just as we would, and again that's what separates us from Hamas and terrorist groups that engage in the most heinous kind of activities," Blinken said on Wednesday.

A State Department spokesperson told Insider that Biden would be supporting Israel with whatever it needs at the moment and said the US provides humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the West Bank through trusted partners and in coordination with Israeli officials.

Experts who spoke to Insider said that Israel's human-rights violations against the Palestinian territories have contributed to the decades-old conflict in the region.

Israeli officials have been pushing for a judicial overhaul that would, according to Vox, among other things, make it easier to annex more land from Palestinian territories. Earlier this year, citizens in Huwara were targeted by settlers in what one Israeli military commander called a "pogrom," and raids by Israeli forces in places like Jenin, a densely populated refugee camp, resulted in civilian injuries, according to CNN.

"This has been 75-plus years," Abuznaid said. "People need to understand that this issue didn't come about just in the last three days. They also need to understand that the Palestinian people again have been denied their rights and their right to self-determination. There is no military force that's defending the Palestinian people."

Read the original article on Business Insider
More than 40 percent of LGBTQ young people in the U.S. who are Latino reported having seriously considered suicide over the past year, according to research from The Trevor Project, a leading LGBTQ youth suicide prevention organization.

In a survey of 28,000 LGBTQ youths ages 13-24, 44 percent of LGBTQ young people who are Latinx, the term used by The Trevor Project, said they had seriously considered suicide at some point in the last year. This includes 42 percent of Mexican and Puerto Rican LGBTQ youths and 38 percent of Cuban LGBTQ youths.

Another 16 percent  including 15 percent of Mexican and Puerto Rican LGBTQ youths and 9 percent of Cuban LGBTQ youths  said they had attempted suicide during the same time period, according to the Trevor Project report published Thursday.

Latinx transgender and nonbinary young people reported significantly higher rates of suicide compared to their cisgender peers, with more than half  53 percent  reporting having seriously considered suicide, and 21 percent reporting a past-year suicide attempt, the report said.

Researchers said Thursdays findings underscore the unique challenges and forms of victimization faced by the community, highlighting the connection between immigration concerns and mental health outcomes.

Ronita Nath, vice president of research at The Trevor Project, said the data emphasize the critical and unmistakable need to better invest in mental health resources that are culturally salient.

More than a third of LGBTQ young people who are Latino surveyed by The Trevor Project said they often worry about themselves or a family member facing detainment or deportation because of U.S. immigration policies.

Multiracial Latinx LGBTQ youths expressed lower levels of concern about immigration than their exclusively Latinx LGBTQ peers, according to Thursdays report.

Recent immigration policies and rhetoric have heightened anti-immigration sentiments in the United States; border security and immigration issues dominated the second Republican presidential primary debate in September. Earlier that month, GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said he would deport American-born children of undocumented immigrants as president.

The Biden administration this month announced it waived 26 federal laws to allow construction of a wall along the southern border in Starr County, Texas, which is experiencing high illegal entry, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Latinx LGBTQ young people also face discrimination based on multiple identities, the report said.

More than half said they had faced discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and 39 percent said they were discriminated against because of their race or ethnicity.

Another 11 percent said they faced discrimination because of their immigration status.

But having multiple identities can also serve as a protective factor for Latinx LGBTQ youths, Thursdays report found, and Latinx LGBTQ people who said their race or ethnicity is an important part of who they are had 24 percent lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In a recent The Economist/YouGov poll, more Americans say they sympathize with Israelis than with Palestinians amid the countrys conflict with militant group Hamas.

The amount of Americans who say that their sympathies lie more with Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has grown by 11 percent, from 31 percent to 42 percent, since March, according to The Economist/YouGov poll released Wednesday. In comparison, the amount of Americans who said their sympathies lie with the Palestinians has dropped, from 13 to 9 percent.

Recent fighting between Hamas and Israel has resulted in more than 2,000 people killed on both sides. President Biden has thrown his support behind Israel, alongside many American politicians.

In this moment we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel, Biden said Tuesday. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse.

Sympathies for the Israelis have also grown among both Democrats and Republicans. Twenty-six percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans said they sympathize with the Israelis in October, versus 19 percent of Democrats and 48 percent of Republicans in March.

Other findings in the recent poll show a majority, 54 percent, of Americans saying they think the U.S. government favors the Israeli side of the conflict, up from 41 percent in March.

The recent Economist/YouGov poll was conducted between Oct. 8 and 10, featuring responses from 1,500 U.S. citizens and a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points. The March poll was conducted between March 11 and 14, featuring responses from 1,500 U.S. citizens and a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  A day after the United States first package of security aid arrived in Israel, a senior Pentagon official said more will be on the way.

Its both munitions and air defense, said the official, speaking on background with reporters. We intend to continuously be delivering both to the Israel Defense Forces.

The terrorist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip, launched a startling, deadly attack on Israel Oct. 7. Between the initial assault and the Israeli militarys response, some 2,500 people have now been killed, including 27 American citizens, according to the White House.

Israels government has said it will launch a ground invasion of Gaza, home to more than 2 million people, and has mobilized some 300,000 reservists for the conflict. In support, the U.S. is surging aid to its closest Middle Eastern ally.

The assistance provided will include air defense, precision-guided munitions, artillery and interceptors for Israels vaunted Iron Dome air defense system. The official discussing such aid wouldnt specify which munitions will be given and how many  even a range  but did mention small diameter bombs and kits that make dumb bombs more precise are among those in discussion.

In part, this effort involves accelerating the U.S. industrial bases conveyor belt of weapons already awaiting delivery in Israel. However, the request for additional Iron Dome defense that were discussing, is most likely going to be above and beyond what Israel has already ordered, the official said.

Such weapons are part of a larger show of support.

Americas most advanced aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the region yesterday. The carrier strike group is serving as a floating symbol, Pentagon and White House officials said. Its meant to send the message that if adversaries, such as the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah or Iran, want to join the fight, they shouldnt.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a televised address from the White House on Oct. 10, vowing the U.S. will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack.

On Oct. 12, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Tel Aviv for meetings with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will arrive Friday, according to the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives still lacks a confirmed speaker. Unless one is confirmed, Congress cannot send supplemental aid to Israel.

Weve got to get the House back to work, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the Republican nominee for speaker, said in a Fox News interview Oct. 11. There are real things that need to be done.
Morgan State University plans to build a wall around campus after a shooting that injured five people during homecoming celebrations. The wall would extend existing fencing by 8,000 feet to circle 90% of campus, university President David Wilson said during a campus town hall. About 60% of the campus is already fenced off and has been in the works for decades.

The changes would affect most of the northeast Baltimore campus, reported NBC News. Station security personnel at entrances and exits, as well as additional campus police officers, are also part of the changes.

Were doing this, let me be clear, not to keep out our neighbors and our community writ large; we are doing it to keep out the bad actors, Wilson said.

Community members will still be allowed to visit campus. The HBCU is also considering adding metal detectors and artificial intelligence to detect guns. Wilson said he is asking the Maryland state legislature and congressional delegation for funding to increase security measures on campus. He mentioned the need for $22.2 million in security upgrades, including $6.4 million for the wall, $4 million for electronic locks, and $3 million for cameras, according to the Baltimore Sun.

The shooting occurred during homecoming celebrations on the night of Oct. 3. Five people were shot, including four students, and all were released from the hospital last week, according to NBC News.

No arrests have been made so far. Law enforcement believes the shooting stemmed from a dispute and that the people injured werent the intended targets. Surveillance images of persons of interest have been released, and police are asking for help identifying them.
The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates.

The facts

Mosquitoes are annoying. But for all the summer evenings mosquitoes spoil and the frantic itching their bites inspire, Americans are actually lucky that  for the most part  these insects are only annoying. Mosquitoes are responsible for approximately 700,000 deaths globally every year by spreading diseases like malaria, dengue fever and West Nile infection, earning these insects the title of the worlds deadliest animal.

Scientists now say rising global temperatures are making new areas of the planet, including the United States, more hospitable to the species of mosquito that carry these infections. Earlier this year, U.S. health officials found cases of locally acquired malaria for the first time in 20 years. Dengue fever may also be primed to take off in Southern states over the next decade, the World Health Organizations chief scientist told Reuters last week.

Mosquito control in the U.S. isnt the life-and-death matter it is for the most-affected parts of Africa, Asia and South America. But many disease experts say Americans now need to start taking the issue seriously to keep these dangerous viruses from gaining a permanent foothold.

We need to really prepare countries for how they will deal with the additional pressure that will come.Jeremy Farrar, World Health Organization chief scientist

The conversation

Some of the most effective ways to reduce mosquitoes-borne illnesses are also the simplest, but theyre useful only if people know about them and take them seriously. Health officials are working to spread the word about a strategy they call drain and cover, which asks Americans to eliminate pools of standing water that mosquitoes need to thrive and to cover themselves with clothing or bug spray when outside in mosquito-prone areas.

There is also a strong push for local governments in high-risk parts of the country to invest far more resources into mosquito control and programs to identify outbreaks of malaria, dengue and West Nile virus infection in the earliest stages.

With pesticides proving to be less effective over time while also creating health and environmental risks, scientists are making strides in developing a new weapon to combat these deadly diseases  the mosquitoes themselves. Experiments involving introducing specially bred mosquitoes that either cant carry the viruses or struggle to produce biting female offspring have shown real promise, though theres debate over how well these measures work on a large scale.

Whats next

The public health threat of mosquitoes on the African continent has increased over the past few years, partially reversing decades worth of progress that had made a huge dent in the viruss annual death toll.

Perspectives

We need a unified, well-funded national mosquito control plan

Mosquito abatement is locally controlled in the US, and its very patchy: Some Florida cities can field the equivalent of a small Air Force of sprayer planes, but elsewhere in the South, funds are thin.  Maryn McKenna, Wired

'Drain and cover' needs to become a universally understood strategy

Public health officials need to get everyone attuned to the reality that they should be using mosquito control.  Aileen Marty, infectious disease expert at Florida International University, to Guardian

The best defense is a strong public health system

Were not that much different than other areas of the world. The difference is that we have resources to make sure that these diseases are eliminated in our area.  Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of tropical medicine and infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, to Houston Chronicle

Catching outbreaks early is crucial

Awareness is essential. Investing in a modern epidemiological surveillance infrastructure around the world will give us precious lead time to predict, detect and track emerging outbreaks. This means upgrading laboratory capacity, particularly in high-risk geographic regions, and public health data systems globally.  Saad B. Omer, Los Angeles Times

Pesticides arent the answer

Unfortunately, spraying pesticides doesnt just kill virus-carrying species. Non-target mosquito species and other insects perish, depriving birds, bats, amphibians, and other animals a food source. Pollinator populations also suffer. Moreover, mosquitoes can become resistant to pesticides.  Krista L. Kafer, Denver Post

The good news is we only need to defeat a few species, not all mosquitoes

It turns out the species were most familiar with  the ones causing all those itchy, red bumps, as well as the more notorious diseases  are few in number.  Ritu Prasad, CNN

Protecting people in vulnerable countries is also a great way to defend ourselves

We should really double down on ending malaria globally. If we can take one of the biggest climate-sensitive disease risks off the table  [it would] protect us here at home.  Martin Edlund, CEO of Malaria No More, to NPR

Keeping climate change in check will mean fewer areas will be at risk

We must adapt to this changing climate but, more importantly, we must reduce the dangerous climate pollution warming the planet and driving these health threats.  Anh Le, Tampa Bay Times

Even the best plan can do only so much

Mosquitoes have been doing mosquito things for millennia, and theyre really, really good at it, despite our best efforts to keep them at bay.  Kim Medley, ecologist at Washington University in St. Louis, to Scientific American
WASHINGTON  Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise Thursday night withdrew his name from the race for speaker after struggling over the past two days to rally the support of his fractured caucus, keeping the House's top spot vacant and business stalled.

"I just shared with my colleagues that I'm withdrawing my name as a candidate for the speaker-designee," Scalise said Thursday evening. "If you look at where our conference is, theres still work to be done. Our conference still has to come together, and its not there."

Just hours earlier, five of Wisconsin's six House Republicans signaled their support for Scalise after he was narrowly nominated for the post in a secret ballot vote Wednesday.

But Rep. Scott Fitzgerald remained non-committal early Thursday afternoon as Scalise fell well short of the 217 votes he needed to be elected on the floor.

"My problem is, if you don't have the votes, we ain't going to the floor," Fitzgerald said after an hours-long, closed-door conference meeting earlier in the afternoon. "So there's no reason for me to necessarily commit if it's going to be somebody else that's going to be on the floor."

"The people that aren't there are never going to get there," Fitzgerald told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Scalise's withdrawal from the race emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding who will lead Congress' lower chamber, which has remained leaderless after eight Republicans led an effort to oust California Rep. Kevin McCarthy after nine months in the speakership.

Within Wisconsin's Republican delegation, members who previously supported Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, early Thursday appeared to step in line with many in their conference in supporting Scalise.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, who sits on Jordan's committee with Fitzgerald, endorsed Jordan earlier this week but later said that his "intention at this point" was to back Scalise. He stopped short, however, of giving Scalise his full support. "It's really a dynamic time," Tiffany said. "I want to see what comes out of the conference... before saying exactly what I'm going to do because I don't know."

Rep. Glenn Grothman, who previously said he was leaning toward supporting Jordan, said after Wednesday's secret ballot vote: Absolutely Ill vote for Steve (Scalise) on the floor. We all ought to fall in line. Everybody should respect that vote.

Meanwhile, Reps. Mike Gallagher, Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden all said earlier in the day they would back Scalise on the House floor.

"I think we need to move forward and be united behind the speaker-designee," Steil told the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday. "Every day that we don't have a united approach is a step in the wrong direction."

And Gallagher on Wednesday told MSNBC after Scalise's nomination by the conference that he hoped "everyone would support Steve Scalise on the House floor regardless of who they voted for."

The paralysis is plaguing the House at a consequential time. The chamber is unable to take action to assist Israel and Ukraine as both allies are consumed with war. Congress also faces a mid-November deadline to pass government funding legislation before its short-term spending patch expires.

"There are thing we need to do that simply cannot happen until we nominate a choose a speaker of the House," Gallagher said.

Still, a number of House Republicans remain ardently against their conference's nominee. Some, like Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, maintained their support for Jordan even as the Ohio Republican suggested he might nominate Scalise for the top job himself.

Texas Rep. Chip Roy took issue with Scalise's opposition this week to a proposed conference rule change, telling reporters Thursday, "I'm never just going to say I'm a never-so-and-so. We're adults. Let's go figure out how to lead. But I'm not in a positive place right now with respect to Steve (Scalise)."

Fitzgerald, for his part, raised concerns about Scalise's health. Scalise has multiple myeloma, a form of cancer, which Fitzgerald worried could impact the man's ability to take on the demanding job of speaker.

The divisions within the House GOP leave open the prospect that Congress' lower chamber could conclude its second week without selecting a leader.

Speaking to a group of reporters Thursday afternoon, Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said he doubted the House would vote for a speaker later in the day.

"In fact, based on what I've heard, I don't think there's going to be a vote this week," he said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Steve Scalise withdraws from speaker bid, leaving House paralyzed
The mother of three Soldiers of Christ members, who were arrested in Duluth, Georgia after a decomposed body was found in the trunk of a car, has also been charged with murder.

Mihee Lee, 54, was arrested on 11 October and charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, concealing the death of another, tampering with evidence, and false statements, police said. Ms Lee was charged in connection to the death of a South Korean woman, who has been identified by police as 33-year-old Seehe Cho.

Chos remains were found in the trunk of a car outside of Jeju Sauna, a Korean spa, in Duluth in September.

Ms Lees arrest comes one month after a group of five adults and one minor was arrested following Chos death. Upon their arrest, they described themselves to police as belonging to Soldiers of Christ. Little is known about the Soldiers of Christ, but Gwinnett County Police have been referring to the cult-like group as a religious organization.

Ms Lee is the mother of Juoonhyum Lee, 22, Joonho Lee, 26, and the 15-year-old suspect, who were all arrested on 14 September. That same day, Eric Hyun, 26, Hyunji Lee, 25, and Gawon Lee, 26 were also arrested and charged with murder, among other charges, in connection with Chos death.

One day later, police announced that the five adults and one minor were also facing multiple criminal street gang charges. The 15 September police news release said: Georgia law describes Criminal Street Gang as, any organization, association, or group of three or more persons associated in fact, whether formal or informal, which engages in criminal gang activity.

Cho weighed a mere 70 pounds when she died, police said, and said evidence suggested that she had been starved and beaten for weeks. After the initial round of arrests last month, Gwinnett County Police Sgt Michele Pihera told NewsNation: We believe that most of these injuries, and most of what she went through, was a result of the initiation into the Soldiers of Christ.

The five adults arrested in connection to the homicide (Gwinnett County Police)

She added that police believed the victim had traveled to the United States in mid-June in order to join a religious organisation.

We dont know how far-reaching this organisation is, she added. Its very possible that it was only taking place in the home in Lawrenceville.

Although little is known about the organisation, Mr Hyuns lawyer told CNN that he believes the 26-year-old was also a victim of the Lee family and their religious extremism. He said that Mr Hyun and Cho were attempting to leave the group, and had he not tried to flee, he would have also died.

Mr Hyun was previously in the hospital with injuries  its not clear if those injuries were related to the alleged torture his client faced. Eric can barely walk, his attorney told the outlet.

Mr Hyuns trip to the hospital is actually what led to the discovery of the decomposed body.

Investigators had said that the 26-year-old parked a silver Jaguar sedan outside of Jeju Sauna on 12 September before calling a family member to pick him up.

That family member then drove the 26-year-old to an Atlanta area hospital due to unrelated injuries.

While he was in the hospital, Mr Hyun asked his relative to retrieve something for him from the car; thats when the family member noticed what appeared to be a deceased body in the trunk, prompting the relative to call 911. This 911 report launched an investigation.
Judge Tanya Chutkan should resist the overwhelming temptation to put a gag order on Donald Trump in advance of his trial in federal court, scheduled to begin on March 4, 2024. Undoubtedly, it is frustrating for her and the prosecution to hear Trump disparage them, denounce the proceedings and discuss the witnesses and the evidence. But a gag order, like the one that was issued by Justice Arthur Engoron who is overseeing Trumps civil fraud trial, would infringe freedom of speech and likely do little good.

The Supreme Court has long said that, above all, the First Amendment prevents prior restraints against speech. A court order prohibiting speech is a classic form of a prior restraint. Famously, in the Pentagon Papers case, New York Times Company v. United States, the Supreme Court refused to allow courts to issue orders preventing the publication of a classified history of the Vietnam War, stressing that there is a strong presumption against such gag orders on the press.

Opinion

Similarly, the court has strongly disapproved of orders keeping the press from reporting on high profile criminal cases. In an effort to protect a defendants Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial, some courts issue orders preventing pretrial coverage of high-profile cases.

In Nebraska Press v. Stuart, in 1976, the court disapproved of such orders, holding that courts are only allowed to do so if it can be proven that pretrial publicity would prevent a fair trial, that there would be no other way to ensure one and that such a gag order would be likely to succeed. In the almost half century since the decision, virtually no such court order has been allowed.

The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on when gag orders on lawyers and other trial participants are permissible. Special counsel Jack Smith has asked for one against Trump, and Judge Chutkan will hold a hearing on this on Oct. 16. In his motion to the court, Smith says that Trump has continued making statements that pose a substantial likelihood of material prejudice to this case. If granted, it would keep Trump from speaking out against the proceedings or discussing potential witnesses.

On Sept. 25, Trumps lawyers filed an opposition to the motion for a gag order that was an attack on the prosecutor and the proceedings. The brief described the Justice Departments motion as an obvious attempt by the Biden administration to unlawfully silence its most prominent political opponent.

(K)eenly aware that it is losing ... the prosecution seeks to unconstitutionally silence President Trumps (but not President Bidens) political speech on pain of contempt, Trumps brief states.

Of course, its not the Biden administration thats bringing this prosecution: There is an independent counsel, and the Justice Department has been clear that it is playing no role in the case. The rhetoric of the Trump brief is sure to anger the judge as it is far less a legal argument than an attempt by Trump to appeal to his political base.

Yet, Trump does have free speech rights, however much I loathe what he has to say. Anyone, including him, can criticize a prosecution, a prosecutor and a judge. Of course, no one has the First Amendment right to intimidate witnesses, but there is no indication that his speech has risen to that level.

There is a concern that his incessant criticism of the proceedings will undermine their legitimacy and even lead to violence. But the government, including a court, can never try to bolster its legitimacy by silencing its critics.

The classic justification for a gag order is to protect a defendants right to a fair trial by ensuring that potential jurors are not influenced by pretrial publicity. But given all of the publicity surrounding what occurred on Jan. 6 and on Trump himself, it is impossible to see how more speech about it would matter.

If Chutkan were to impose a gag order on Trump, she must be prepared to enforce it if he violates its terms. In other words, she must be prepared to put him in jail for contempt if he speaks out despite the gag order. It seems likely Trump would do so, whether because he cant help himself or precisely because he wants to provoke the judge. Trump always wants to portray himself as the martyr and victim. A gag order will do this, and putting him in jail for contempt would, in a perverse way, be a reward for him.

As much as I wish Trump would be quiet, and as appealing as a gag order on him seems, the better course is to let him speak.

Erwin Chemerinsky is the dean and a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law.
More than 85 women are suing a former doctor at Boston's Brigham & Women's Hospital and other various local hospitals for alleged sexual abuse.

While Dr. Derrick Todd, a rheumatologist, practiced "primary care" on patients at Brigham and other local hospitals, he performed inappropriate pelvic examinations, breast examinations and rectal examinations, court documents filed in Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday said.

Former Brigham and Women's Dr. Derrick Todd / Credit: CBS Boston

These examinations were performed for "his own sexual gratification," the class action lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit is the third filed in the last two weeks against Todd, CBS Boston reported. The first was filed by an anonymous plaintiff on Sept. 29, and the second was filed by former patient Mimi DiTrani on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

DiTrani told CBS Boston that she went to see Todd because "he has a specialist in very rare autoimmune rheumatological conditions, which I have." Rather than perform MRIs on her bones, though, she said he insisted on repeated gynecological exams and breast exams.

The number of women joining the third lawsuit stands at more than 85 and is expected to rise further, the plaintiffs' attorney told CBS News on Thursday afternoon. Paperwork filed on Wednesday covered at least 70 former patients with lead plaintiff Nancy Larsen.

Brigham Hospital started investigating Todd in April after receiving two anonymous complaints about examinations, said Brigham's Chief Medical Officer Charles Morris in a statement to CBS News. He was placed on administrative leave while the hospital was investigating, Morris said.

After the hospital learned more, they fired Todd in July and notified his former patients in addition to the Department of Public Health and the Board of Registration in Medicine, Morris said. The hospital also contacted law enforcement.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office told CBS News they had no comment when asked if they were investigating the allegations.

Morris said the hospital "deeply regrets the harm Dr. Todd's actions have caused our patients and their families," and the hospital will "act decisively on any allegations of misconduct."

An attorney for Dr. Todd, Ingrid S. Martin said in a statement to CBS News that the doctor has been "fully cooperative" with all the investigations and that "these allegations will be proven to be without merit."

NYT Cooking recipe for a childhood favorite, frosted sugar cookies

What could unite House Republicans behind a speaker?

How Israel is preparing for possible ground offensive in Gaza
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Deborah Matias and her husband Shlomi died protecting their son from gunmen who broke into their home. They are among 31 Americans and six Canadians known to have been killed in the Hamas attacks.

"She was so full of life," said her father, Ilan Troen in a BBC interview. "She could have become a doctor but she once said to me 'Dad, I have to do music because it's in my soul."

His daughter, a 50-year-old musician from Missouri, and her husband fell on top of their 16-year-old son Rotem after their kibbutz near the border with Gaza came under attack.

They were shot and killed but the teenager lay hidden and injured for hours while his grandfather Ilan texted him reassurances.

Hamas, which is labelled a terrorist organisation by the US, has abducted up to 199 people, according to Israel. A number of them are from North America.

It says it has hidden them in "safe places and tunnels" within Gaza, and threatened to kill hostages if civilian homes are bombed by Israel without warning.

These are the stories of Americans and Canadians confirmed by the BBC or credibly reported as missing or dead.

Last updated on 20 October 2023 at 15:00 ET

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Missing

Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from the Chicago area, were released by Hamas on 20 October after they were taken from the Nahal Oh kibbutz in southern Israel on the day of the attacks. They hid in a bunker when the attack started and neighbours said they saw Hamas militants escort both Judith, 59, and Natalie, 19, out of the house.

Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie were in southern Israel when the attacks began

Itay Chen, 19, is serving with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and had elected to work at his base on the Gaza border last weekend to get time off for his brother's upcoming bar mitzvah. On Saturday he told his family that base was under attack. They soon lost communication. "No one has been able to physically locate him - he is not in hospital, not on the deceased list," his father Ruby Chen, who grew up in New York, said at a press conference, adding that Itay is considered Missing In Action.

Omer Neutra, 21, from Long Island in New York, also served with the Israel Defense Forces. His parents told the New York Times that he told them things seemed calm at first from his post in southern Israel. But they have not heard from him since the attack began and believe he was kidnapped by Hamas.

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Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, was last seen fighting off attackers at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he lived with his pregnant wife and two daughters. He has not been heard from since. His father Jonathan. a professor at Hebrew University, is from Connecticut. He said there are only 160 known survivors out of the 400 people living at the kibbutz.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, from California, was at the Nova festival. Witnesses saw him loaded onto a truck by Hamas militants, his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was badly injured, the witnesses said. His parents told the Jerusalem Post they received two messages from him, reading "I love you" and "I'm sorry". His phone was last located on the Gaza border. His family says that told them his arm was seriously injured and he was able to fashion a tourniquet.

Edan Alexander, 19, is an IDF soldier who recently graduated from Tenafly High School in New Jersey. The office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said they believe he is classified as Missing in Action. He was serving with the Golani Brigade near the Gaza border.

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Dead

Roey Weiser, 21, served with the Israel Defense Forces and rushed to defend his military base in southern Israel with fellow soldiers when the attack started. "They managed to fend off a bunch of terrorists," his mother Naomi told the BBC. "Roey even managed to kill one or two and then he died himself." He had worked at the Kerem Shalom Gaza border crossing, where trucks entered the Gaza strip from Israel and Egypt, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Netta Epstein, 21, an Israeli-Canadian who jumped on a grenade to save his girlfriend. According to his family and friends, Hamas militants fired on and threw grenades into his apartment's safehouse. When one landed near his girlfriend, he jumped on it. She survived and was rescued by Israeli soldiers later.

Laor Abramov, 20, is a New Jersey DJ who moved to Israel during the Covid pandemic. He was attending the Tribe of Nova music festival that was attacked and took refuge in a nearby bomb shelter. His parents told CBS News that he texted them, saying "I have to be quiet". A few days later his father confirmed his death on Facebook.

Itay Glisko, 20, born in New Jersey who was serving in the IDF. His family says he fought for hours against the Hamas attack on his military base.

Ben Mizrachi, a 22-year-old from Vancouver, was attending the Nova music festival that turned deadly. He was remembered by an administrator at King David High School as a "caring big brother" who loved Israel.

Lotan Abir, 24, was also attending the Nova festival, with two people he knew from a Utah group for young Jewish professionals. He moved to Utah less than a year ago, and was a DJ and musician, as well as handyman.

Adrienne Neta, 66, grew up in California. She was sitting on her front porch at the kibbutz where she lived when the attack began. She took shelter while on the phone with her two sons and daughter. "The terrorist barged into her home," her son Nahal has said. "We heard a little bit of screaming and that was our last contact with her." Israel's government has confirmed her death, her family has told media outlets.

Alexandre Look, 33, of Montreal, was killed at the Nova festival. He made a video call to his mother, who could hear screaming in the background. He hid in a bunker with about 30 people and survivors told his parents that he used his body to barricade the entrance and shield them from the bullets.

Adi Vital-Kaploun, 33, a dual citizen of Canada and Israel, was killed in her home at Kibbutz-Holit, very close to the Israel-Gaza border. Her two children, said to be four months and four years old, survived. She had deep ties to Ottawa and the family released a statement confirming her death through the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, which did not provide details about how she died.

Hayim Katsman, 32, who received his PhD from the University of Washington and specialised in Israeli studies, was also killed at Kibbutz-Holit. His mother, originally from Ohio, said on Facebook he was killed immediately in his home.

Daniel Ben Senior, 34, was born in Los Angeles and a dual citizen with the US and Israel. She worked with a group of event organisers at the Nova festival. Her father Jacob told CNN he was notified by authorities that she had been killed.

Igal and Amit Wachs, brothers who were citizens of both the US and Israel. They were part of a village patrol in Israel and Igal's ex-wife, Liat, who lives in Massachusetts, said she believed they had been called upon to fend off the attack.

Shir Geory, 22, another Canadian identified to have been killed in the attacks. She went missing from the music festival.

Tiferet Lapidot, 22, an Israeli woman with Canadian parents who is being counted among the Canadian dead. She disappeared from the Nova music festival and it had originally been believed she had been taken hostage.

Carmela Dan, 79, an Israeli-American grandmother who was born in Israel to an American father. She held Israeli, US and French citizenship. She and four other family members had gone missing from the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel. Her death, along with that of her 12-year-old granddaughter, was confirmed by Israel on 19 October.
(Bloomberg) -- Elon Musk s X faces further intense scrutiny in the European Union after regulators demanded answers over concerns about illegal and even terrorist content on the social media platform.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The European Commission late Thursday said it sent X a formal request for information under its strict new digital content management rules following indications about the potential terrorist and violent content.

X, formerly known as Twitter, received a one-week ultimatum  until Oct. 18  to respond to regulators questions about the activation and functioning of its crisis-response protocol, and will have to respond on other questions by Oct. 31, the commission said in a news release.

This formal request for information is a step to fully understand what measures @X is taking to ensure online safety, commission Vice President Vera Jourova wrote in a post on X.

The move comes after the EUs internal market commissioner Thierry Breton set a 24-hour deadline for X owner Musk to respond to allegations that the platform was ignoring notices of illegal content in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In the letter to X earlier this week, which Breton posted on the social platform, he reminded Musk that he has an obligation to take very precise content moderation measures under the EUs Digital Services Act.

Read more: Musks X Rebuffs Accusations of Israel-Hamas War Disinformation

X faces possible fines if it provides the commission with incorrect, incomplete or misleading information in response, according to the news release. Xs spokespeople didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

John Kirby, the spokesman for the US National Security Council, told reporters Thursday he was grateful that X removed some disinformation related to the attack on Israel.

ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok on Thursday was added to a growing list of leading social media players, along with Meta Platforms Inc., that Breton has been warning to take prompt action to stop the spread of disinformation.

Social media companies are required under the new law to hire more content moderators and use risk mitigation methods to decrease the spread of harmful content. Companies that fail to comply could face fines as high as 6% annual revenue or even be banned from the bloc if they repeatedly break the rules.

--With assistance from Jennifer Jacobs.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Rep. Nancy Mace said she "cannot in good conscience" support Rep. Steve Scalise as speaker.

She pointed to a years-old report alleging Scalise had compared himself to a KKK grand wizard.

But in 2020, years after those allegations were publicized, she cheerfully touted his endorsement.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace said she won't be backing Rep. Steve Scalise to become the next speaker of the House because of his previously reported comments about being similar to a Ku Klux Klan leader.

Appearing on CNN on Wednesday evening, Mace told host Jake Tapper that she "personally cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who attended a white supremacist conference and compared himself to David Duke."

Mace was referring to a 2014 report from the New York Times about former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke 's politics, where the publication reported that Scalise told a Louisiana-based political reporter he was "like David Duke without the baggage."

Additionally, in 2014 the New York Times and other outlets also reported that Scalise had previously spoken to a white nationalist group founded by Duke, the European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO). Scalise later apologized for speaking at the event in 2002, saying it was a "mistake I regret."

And while Mace is refusing to back Scalise as speaker in 2023, she prominently promoted his endorsement online in 2020 when she was running for her first term in office, several years after Scalise's alleged "David Duke" comments had already become public knowledge.

Nancy Mace Facebook

"People from all across the party, including the most fiscally conservative policy advocates like the Club for Growth, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Elise Stefanik, AND Republican leadership like Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise, are all uniting behind my campaign because they know no one will work harder than I will," Mace posted.

Though Scalise won a private closed-door House GOP vote on Wednesday to be the Republican Party's nominee for speaker, given the party's very slim majority in the chamber, he can't afford more than a few Republican defections for him to successfully become speaker.

With Mace's refusal, embattled Rep. George Santos decrying Scalise for not personally calling him, Rep. Thomas Massie declining to support Scalise, and several other members publicly going against the Louisiana Republican, unless he can win over the holdouts Scalise's chances of becoming the next speaker are potentially dimming.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Astronaut in a spacesuit backdropped by earth. pieces and solar panels of the space station are visible around him.

NASA has canceled a spacewalk planned for Thursday (Oct. 12) following a space station leak detected earlier this week.

NASA officials called off the planned International Space Station (ISS) spacewalk on Wednesday (Oct. 11), as a precautionary measure after a leak of ammonia coolant was spotted Monday (Oct. 9) in a backup radiator on the Russian Nauka science module. Another spacewalk on Oct. 20 is also postponed and new dates will be announced shortly, NASA officials stated.

"NASA engineering and flight control teams are continuing to review data and video" from the leak, officials said in an update Wednesday, saying NASA will wait until the review is complete before authorizing the planned spacewalks.

"The leak has now ceased," they added, "as was reported by Roscosmos flight controllers and evidenced by NASA external station camera views, which show only residual coolant droplets."

Spacewalks taking place with floating ammonia flakes present often need extra steps to avoid contamination of equipment or astronauts. The cause of the leak remains under investigation.

Separately, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced Tuesday via Telegram that it plans to task two cosmonauts with checking out the radiator during a previously planned spacewalk on Oct. 25.

Related: International Space Station leaks coolant into space, but astronauts are not in danger

Both Roscosmos and NASA officials have repeatedly said the leak  the third in Russian ISS equipment in the past year  had no material impact on space station operations.

But the delayed U.S. spacewalk will push off some minor maintenance on the station, along with a test that was supposed to be in support of future moon exploration.

The EVA originally scheduled for Thursday was supposed to see NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, each on their first spacewalk, "exit the station's Quest airlock to collect samples for analysis to see whether microorganisms may exist on the exterior of the orbital complex," NASA officials wrote of the planned activities on Oct. 3.

A second activity, to replace a high-definition camera on the port truss of the station, was supposed to preview what could be possible with a planned lunar orbiting station called Gateway. Mogensen was tasked to ride aboard the robotic Canadarm2 to reach the camera, but with ground controllers directing the arm rather than the usual astronaut inside the ISS.

"Some of the tests of operations that we'll be doing as part of this EVA will help us inform the ops concepts for that future program," Elias Myrmo, U.S. spacewalk flight director, said during an Oct. 6 briefing livestreamed from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Like the ISS, Gateway will also host a robotic arm made by the Canadian company MDA, called Canadarm3. The company also provides mission support for Canadarm2 on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency.

The delay also moved a milestone second U.S. segment maintenance spacewalk set for later this month. It was planned on Oct. 20, with O'Hara on her second EVA, and NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli undertaking her first. Should it go forward while the duo are on board ISS, it will be the second all-woman spacewalk, following the historic first such EVA in 2019.

Related: Spacewalks: How they work and major milestones

a window view of the space station. the curve of earth is visible in the background. a line of modules is attached to one another on the right-hand side of the picture, with two solar panels visible on either side. on the left side of the picture is a block-shaped module partially obscured by the window frame

A view from one of the International Space Station's cupola windows taken on May 4, 2022. The Russian Nauka science module is visible at top right. Below it is the circular Russian Prichal docking hub, with the Russian Soyuz MS-21 crew spacecraft (far bottom) attached. The European Robotic Arm is also visible, attached to Nauka just under the lefthand solar panel. To the left of Nauka, partially visible, is the Russian Rassvet module. (Image credit: NASA)

The Nauka coolant leak Monday was first reported by NASA's Mission Control from a camera view, and confirmed by Moghbeli with a visual check from the station's wraparound cupola windows. Nauka's backup radiator (the one that was leaking) is a 13-year-old device originally used on the Russian Rassvet module. Cosmonauts transferred that radiator to Nauka during an April 2023 spacewalk.

Nauka's coolant leak is the third in Russian ISS equipment in the past year, following a December 2022 leak in a Soyuz spacecraft built for astronauts, and a February 2023 leak in a Progress spacecraft designed for cargo. The Soyuz, called MS-22, was so damaged by the leak that Roscosmos elected to bring the three manifested astronauts home in a replacement Soyuz in September.

Addressing the Soyuz situation doubled that crew's planned six-month excursion to more than a year, marking an accidental milestone, as they were the first ISS crews to spend so long in space.

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Roscosmos officials have said that the Soyuz and Progress coolant leaks were likely due to micrometeoroid strikes, but they note that the Nauka leak remains under investigation. The Oct. 25 spacewalk by cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub was already planned; Russian state media TASS said in September, quoting Kononenko, that at least one more spacewalk was expected by the Russians in 2023, in October or November.

The new radiator inspection task will see the cosmonauts take photos and report their findings to Moscow, where their Mission Control is located, "for specialists on Earth to find out the reasons for its (the leak's) occurrence," Roscosmos stated on Telegram. Other tasks include installing a radar on Nauka for Earth observation, and launching a student nanosatellite designed to test solar sailing in space.
The ISS as pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around in 2021.



The ISS as pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during a fly around in 2021.

As NASA looks into the most recent incident of a leak from the International Space Station (ISS), two spacewalks have been delayed until ongoing investigations are complete.

NASA postponed spacewalks that were originally scheduled for Thursday, October 12 and Friday, October 20, with new dates for the extravehicular activities to be announced later, the space agency wrote in a blog update on Wednesday.

Read more

This is the third time a leak has sprung from Russian hardware attached to the ISS. In December 2022, ground teams observed a fountain of particles pouring out from a Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS. The spacecraft carried NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin to the ISS in September 2022, and was supposed to transport them back home in the spring of this year. Due to the leak, however, the trios stint on the ISS was extended by another six months.

At the time, Russia attributed the first leak to a micrometeorite strike on the spacecraft. Shortly after, however, a Russian Progress 82 freighter docked to the ISS also began leaking coolant in February. Russias space agency again claimed that it was caused by an external impact but the second incident put the integrity of both Russian spacecraft into question, with suspicion emerging that there are common manufacturing defects or something having to do with launch preparations.



Now, with the third incident of a coolant leak in less than a year, Roscosmos has some explaining to do.

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Nasa has revealed chunks of a distant asteroid that were transported back down to Earth.

The dark, dusty sample comes from a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid, and might include the building blocks of life, the space agency said.

Already, the material from the asteroid Bennu has been found to include high-carbon content and water, the space agency said. But it will be distributed around the world with a view to finding out everything from the history of our solar system to how life came about.

Scientists and space agency leaders showed photos and video of the asteroid material - returned to Earth last month - at a live streamed event at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas.

The display came after a capsule containing an estimated 250g of rocks and dust collected from asteroid Bennu, touched down in the Utah desert near Salt Lake City on September 24.

Nasa has said it was the biggest, carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth, and its contents have now been hailed as scientific treasure.

Nasa administrator Bill Nelson said the sample will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come.

He added: Almost everything we do at Nasa seeks to answer questions about who we are and where we come from.

Nasa missions like Osiris-Rex will improve our understanding of asteroids that could threaten Earth while giving us a glimpse into what lies beyond.

The sample has made it back to Earth, but there is still so much science to come - science like weve never seen before.

Almost 60 million miles away, asteroid Bennu is a 4.5-billion-year-old remnant of our early solar system and scientists believe it can help shed light on how planets formed and evolved.

The spacecraft launched on September 8 2016 and arrived at Bennu in December 2018.

It dropped the samples off sealed in a capsule last month.

Already this is scientific treasure, said the missions lead scientist, Professor Dante Lauretta, of the University of Arizona on Wednesday.

In a statement, he added: As we peer into the ancient secrets preserved within the dust and rocks of asteroid Bennu, we are unlocking a time capsule that offers us profound insights into the origins of our solar system.

The bounty of carbon-rich material and the abundant presence of water-bearing clay minerals are just the tip of the cosmic iceberg.

These discoveries, made possible through years of dedicated collaboration and cutting-edge science, propel us on a journey to understand not only our celestial neighbourhood but also the potential for lifes beginnings.

With each revelation from Bennu, we draw closer to unravelling the mysteries of our cosmic heritage.

Nasas mission goal was to collect was 60 grams of asteroid sample.

But when the canister lid was opened, Nasa said scientists discovered bonus material covering the outside of the collector head, canister lid, and base.

There was so much extra material it slowed down the process of collecting and containing the primary sample, Nasa said.

Scientists are not sure exactly how much of Bennu they brought back because the main sample chamber has not yet been opened.

Mr Lauretta said: Its been going slow and meticulous, but the science is already starting.

He said there is a whole treasure chest of extraterrestrial material still to be examined.

During Wednesdays press conference, Osiris-Rex sample analyst Daniel Glavin added: This stuff is an astrobiologists dream, I just cant wait to get at it.

Were going to learn so much about the origin of the solar system, the evolution and potentially how even life started here on Earth.

Additional reporting by agencies
Rain Check

On Thursday, NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and ESA commander Andreas Mogensen were meant to swab the exterior of the International Space Station to search for evidence of microorganisms surviving the extreme conditions.

But NASA has officially postponed the planned spacewalk, citing an ammonia coolant leak discovered on the Russian segment's Nauka module earlier this week.

The leak was traced back to a backup radiator circuit, which sent flakes of ammonia flying past the station's cupola, alarming mission control in Houston.

While the leak has since stopped, according to an official NASA update, the upcoming spacewalk, as well as an expedition scheduled for October 20, have been postponed "until the review is complete."

We still don't know the exact cause of the leak, but given the fact that it's the third leak affecting Russia's segment of the ISS in less than a year, it's looking conceivable that it won't be the last, meaning that we should expect further disruptions in the future.

Ammonia Shower

Ammonia, a colorless and toxic gas, is used by the station's active thermal control systems to dispel excess heat generated by the station's solar panels, among other components.

Floating flakes of ammonia require astronauts to take extra precautions during spacewalks due to the risk of contaminating themselves or their equipment, according to Space.com.

During a Christmas Eve spacewalk back in 2013, for instance, astronauts had to brave a "mini blizzard" of ammonia spewing out of the faulty fluid line they were replacing on the ISS. Large chunks of the stuff reportedly bounced off their equipment and suits.

The astronauts had to wait while the ammonia dissipated before reentering the station to avoid contamination.

And given the repeated leaks affecting the Russian segment, that kind of contamination will likely continue to be a risk for astronauts venturing outside the station.

Russia's space agency has since announced that it's sending two cosmonauts to "inspect and photograph" the site of the latest leak later this month to figure out the exact cause.

More on the leak: NASA Alarmed to See Flakes Drifting Past Space Station
A NASA probe is set to blast off bound for Psyche, an object 2.2 billion miles (3.5 billion kilometers) away that could offer clues about the interior of planets like Earth (CHANDAN KHANNA)

It's a world like no other: a metal-rich asteroid that could be the remnants of a small planet, or perhaps an entirely new type of celestial body unknown to science.

A NASA spacecraft blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center Friday bound for Psyche, an object 2.2 billion miles (3.6 billion kilometers) away that could offer clues about the interior of planets like Earth.

"We're going to learn all kinds of new things, how these things fly through the solar system, and they hit each other and they cause the evolution of what we have today, our solar system," NASA chief Bill Nelson said shortly before lift off at 10:19 am Eastern Time (1419 GMT) on a reusable SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

"We've visited either in person or robotically worlds made of rock, worlds made of ice and worlds made of gas... but this will be our first time visiting a world that has a metal surface," lead scientist Lindy Elkins-Tanton told reporters during a briefing this week.

Trailing a blue glow from its next-generation electric propulsion system and flanked by two large solar arrays, the van-sized probe should arrive at its destination in the Asteroid Belt, between Mars and Jupiter, in July 2029.

- Studying cores of rocky planets -

Over the course of two years, it will deploy its suite of advanced instruments to probe Psyche for evidence of an ancient magnetic field and to study its chemical and mineral composition, as well as topography.

Scientists think Psyche, named after the goddess of the soul in Greek mythology, could be part of the iron-nickel core of a "planetesimal," a building block of all rocky planets, that was left exposed after an ancient collision blasted off the exterior.

It could also be something else -- a primordial solar system object that's never been documented before.

"This is our one way to see a core," said Elkins-Tanton. "We say tongue in cheek that we're going to outer space to explore inner space."

Psyche is thought to have an irregular, potato-like shape, measuring 173 miles (280 kilometers) across at its widest point -- though it's never actually been seen up close.

Until recently, scientists thought it was overwhelmingly composed of metal -- but analyses based on reflected radar and light now indicate that metal probably comprises between 30-60 percent, with the rest being rock.

- Solar electric propulsion -

The mission will include several technological innovations.

The Psyche spacecraft, named after the asteroid, will test out next generation communications based on lasers -- a step NASA compares to upgrading old telephone lines on Earth to fiber optics.

Deep Space Optical Communications, as the system is called, "was designed to demonstrate 10 to 100 times the data-return capacity of state-of-the-art radio systems used in space today," said Abi Biswas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in a statement.

Psyche also uses a special kind of propulsion system called "Hall-effect thrusters" that harnesses the energy from solar panels to create electric and magnetic fields that, in turn, expel charged atoms of xenon gas.

The thrust it exerts is roughly equal to the weight of an AA battery in your hand. But in the void of space, the spacecraft will accelerate continuously to tens of thousands of miles per hour.

Such systems avoid the need to carry thousands of pounds of chemical fuel into space, and Psyche will be the first time they are used beyond lunar orbit.

ia/st
HOUSTON (KTVX)  If you can get a scientist to say wow, then youre in pretty impressive territory. According to NASAs OSIRIS-REx asteroid researchers, theyve been saying wow quite a bit since their asteroid sample landed on Earth.

This is only the beginning. They havent even opened the canister with the actual asteroid sample yet, said Sample Analyst Dr. Daniel Glavin.

We picked the right asteroid, and we brought back the right samples, Glavin said. This stuff is an astrobiologist dream.

NASA held a press conference on Oct. 11 from the Johnson Space Center, in Houston to show samples from the OSIRIS-REx Mission.

OSIRIS-REx continues to surprise scientists with sample collection

On Sept. 24, OSIRIS-REx ended its nearly 4 billion-mile journey, exploring the solar system and gathering samples from near-Earth asteroid Bennu by releasing its sample capsule. The capsule made its way to the Utah desert floor. The sample canister was then removed and whisked from Dugway Proving Grounds to Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The samples  taken from the outside of the actual sample canister  are astonishing scientists, and preliminary analytics show the samples are 4.7% carbon-based. This is part of what is causing the wow factor since its the highest abundance of carbon in extraterrestrial samples that have ever been measured, according to NASA.

Scientists expected to see some particles from the asteroid on the outside of the sample collection head, called a TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism), following its removal from the sample canister. They were surprised by just how much they found.

As expected, the samples are carbon-rich and show an abundance of water in the form of water-bearing clay fibers. There is also the presence of sulfide and iron oxide. All the elements present are needed for life, and scientists are hoping the samples can answer some of the questions surrounding life on our planet.

Asteroid samples collected by NASA. (NASA)

(NASA)

The sample has been held in a nitrogen-rich environment in a unique glove box inside a new laboratory at Johnson, designed specifically for the OSIRIS-Rex mission.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson showed off the first pictures of the samples during the conference. He said that by having the first asteroid sample ever in the United States, We are going to have answers to questions that we dont even know what the questions are.

Scientists anticipated getting a cupful of the black dust and rubble but are still unsure exactly how much was grabbed. The expected cupful is far more than the teaspoon or so that Japan brought back from a pair of missions.

They are carefully curating these samples before opening the canister, as they are as valuable as the ones contained in the TAGSAM.

This sample return mission is an important part of an integrated planetary exploration strategy answering fundamental questions on the formation and evolution of our solar system, said Eileen Stanbery, Chief Scientist at NASA Johnson Space Center.

MAP: Where, when and how to get the best view of the 2023 annular eclipse

NASA currently has 40 space missions exploring our solar system. Seven of them are studying asteroids. The exploration of this can answer questions about life on Earth and give insight into how to avoid collisions with near-Earth asteroids.

Once the samples are archived, the team will dole out particles to researchers around the world. They will also save a fair amount for future analysis when better technology should be available.

NASA has another asteroid-chasing spacecraft on a Florida launch pad ready to blast off later this week. The destination will be a rare asteroid made of metal named Psyche. No samples will be coming back.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
NASAs six-year trip to the asteroid belt will have to wait at least one more day as mission managers called off the planned Thursday launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy carrying the Psyche probe.

Space Launch Delta 45s weather squadron only gave Thursday a 20% chance for good launch conditions, which will improve to 50% if delayed until Friday.

Now NASA and SpaceX will aim for a 10:19 a.m. liftoff from Kennedy Space Centers Launch Pad 39-A. There are daily launch opportunities for the mission that run through Oct. 23, but weather has only a 50% chance through Saturday as well as the state deals with a fluctuating frontal system.

Falcon Heavy is making only its eighth flight ever, and two of its three boosters will be headed back to land at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station with the pair bringing the sonic booms that come with reentry that can be heard across parts of Central Florida as they head for Canaverals Landing Zone 1 and 2 about eight minutes after takeoff.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy set for 1st NASA launch to explore mysterious asteroid Psyche

The Psyche satellite is heading to what scientists think is a metal-rich asteroid also named Psyche. Its one of only nine known such asteroids out of more than 1 million known asteroids, and by far the biggest.

Scientists think it might be the core of what was once a small planet that was somehow shredded of its outer layers. They see it as potentially revealing just what makes up the core of rocky planets including Earth, and hope to unlock secrets of planetary formation.

The launch will send the probe on a 2.5 billion mile journey that includes a slingshot gravity assist around Mars for an arrival to the asteroid in 2029 where it begin a 26-month investigation.
It looks like Bennu was indeed the right target for NASA's first-ever asteroid sample-return mission.

That mission, OSIRIS-REx, delivered pieces of the 1,650-foot-wide (500 meters) Bennu to Earth late last month. NASA gave the world its first look at the sample today (Oct. 11) during a live webcast event, which also provided a rundown of the first analyses performed on the off-Earth material.

Those very early scientific returns are promising, showing that Bennu is rich in both water and carbon-containing compounds, mission team members said.

"The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement today.

"Almost everything we do at NASA seeks to answer questions about who we are and where we come from," Nelson added. "NASA missions like OSIRIS-REx will improve our understanding of asteroids that could threaten Earth while giving us a glimpse into what lies beyond. The sample has made it back to Earth, but there is still so much science to come  science like we've never seen before."

Related: NASA's OSIRIS-REx lands samples of asteroid Bennu on Earth after historic 4-billion-mile journey

technicians in blue 'bunny suits' manipulate a metallic object inside a clean room.

OSIRIS-REx launched in September 2016 and arrived at Bennu in December 2018. The probe spent the next 22 months studying the space rock from orbit and searching for the right place to swoop down and grab a sample.

That sampling run took place in October 2020, and it provided a fair bit of drama: Bennu's surface turned out to be surprisingly porous, and OSIRIS-REx sank deeply into it.

But the probe emerged with a bounty  so much material that its collection mechanism got clogged, allowing some asteroid dirt and pebbles to escape into space. OSIRIS-REx still managed to secure most of the Bennu bits in its sample container, and the probe headed toward Earth in May 2021.

The journey home wrapped up on Sept. 24, when OSIRIS-REx's return capsule landed in the desert of northern Utah. A day later, the sample arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, where it's being processed, curated and stored.

That work has only just begun. For example, mission team members still don't know exactly how much material OSIRIS-REx hauled home. They think it's about 8.8 ounces (250 grams)  far higher than the mission requirement of 2.1 ounces (60 g)  but that's just an estimate, calculated while the return capsule was still in space.

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JSC will distribute parts of the Bennu sample over the coming months and years to researchers around the world, who will study it in great detail.

Their work will determine, among other things, the identity of the carbon compounds, which could shed light on how life got started here on Earth. (Many researchers think carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu seeded our planet with life's building blocks long ago, via impacts.)

And Bennu is a relic of our solar system's planet-building era, so taking the rock's measure will help us understand the formation and evolution of our cosmic backyard on a larger scale, mission team members said.

"As we peer into the ancient secrets preserved within the dust and rocks of asteroid Bennu, we are unlocking a time capsule that offers us profound insights into the origins of our solar system," Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona, said in the same statement.

"The bounty of carbon-rich material and the abundant presence of water-bearing clay minerals are just the tip of the cosmic iceberg," he said. "These discoveries, made possible through years of dedicated collaboration and cutting-edge science, propel us on a journey to understand not only our celestial neighborhood but also the potential for life's beginnings. With each revelation from Bennu, we draw closer to unraveling the mysteries of our cosmic heritage."

The journey isn't over for the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, by the way. Though its return capsule is now back on Earth, the probe keeps on flying, toward another asteroid called Apophis. OSIRIS-REx is scheduled to arrive at that space rock in 2029 and study it up close, on an extended mission called OSIRIS-APEX.
The "Pavel Derzhavin," a patrol ship from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, was damaged by an explosion, Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk told the Ukrainian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Oct. 12.

Pletenchuk said he could not discuss more details about the incident, nor the extent of the damage, but confirmed there had been explosions and subsequent damage.

The spokesperson did not comment on whether the Pavel Derzhavin was damaged as a result of a Ukrainian strike.

Posts shared earlier on Oct. 11 on the local Telegram channel Crimean Wind also detailed sounds of explosions and reports that the ship had been damaged.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly struck ships from the Black Sea Fleet, causing what U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey characterized as a "functional defeat" of Russia's naval forces in the Black Sea.

According to Ukraine's General Staff, Russia has lost 20 navy ships as of Oct. 12

In addition, Ukrainian strikes hit the Black Sea Fleet's command on land. Reportedly using U.K.-provided Storm Shadow missile, Ukraine struck the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea, killing at least 34 Russian officers, allegedly including the fleet's commander Admiral Viktor Sokolov.

Read also: Uncertain Triumph: Ukraine picks apart Russias best air defenses in Crimea

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Several Democratic state lawmakers, responding to criticism of their decisions to not sign onto bipartisan expressions of support for Israel, said they condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas but could not support statements that made no mention of Palestinian civilians.

The N.C. House and Senate formally expressed their support for Israel on Tuesday after the Palestinian militant group, designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, launched deadly land, air and sea attacks over the weekend that had left more than 1,200 Israelis dead as of Wednesday, and between 100 and 150 Israelis captured as hostages, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Retaliatory strikes by Israel on Gaza had killed at least 1,200 Palestinians, The Journal reported.

A statement read into the record by the state Senate and a resolution adopted by the state House, which said Congress should reaffirm that the U.S. stands with Israel unequivocally, were endorsed by all Republicans and the vast majority of Democrats.

But some Democrats did not join their colleagues. Twelve in the House didnt vote on the resolution adopted 104-0, and four in the Senate chose not to sign the statement that received 45 signatures.

Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, told The News & Observer the attack by Hamas attacking, murdering, torturing, kidnapping innocent civilians was evil and reprehensible. She said she didnt vote on the House resolution because she felt it condoned giving Israel carte blanche to do whatever it felt it needed to do in terms of retaliation or retribution.

Rep. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro, N.C. proposes an amendment to SB 749 during debate on the House floor on Tuesday, September 19. 2023 in Raleigh, N.C.

She said she was troubled by that because the resolution didnt acknowledge the 2 million people living on the Gaza Strip.

I dont know the solution is to go bomb the heck out of the Gaza Strip, when youre going to be killing thousands of innocent civilians, and it has felt like the resolution sort of seemed to green-light that, Harrison said in an interview.

GOP slams Democrats not voting as unconscionable

Republicans strongly criticized the Democrats who didnt endorse the House resolution or the Senate statement, saying it shouldve been a simple choice to back both chambers gestures of support.

Rep. Erin Pare, a Holly Springs Republican, said it was unconscionable and shameful that some Democrats didnt vote on the resolution. Pare was one of the resolutions four primary sponsors along with GOP leaders House Speaker Tim Moore and House Deputy Majority Whip Jon Hardister and Democratic Rep. Caleb Rudow of Asheville.

When I spoke on the floor, I expressed my strong hope that we could come together as a body to support Israel and stand up against the evil and heinous actions of Hamas, Pare said in a statement. Sadly, these twelve Democrats chose to turn their back and walk out in shame.

Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat who also didnt vote on the resolution, responded to Pare on social media, saying that Pare had no idea why she walked out of the vote.

It was not shame, it was because this resolution was hollow, Morey said. I condemn violence against all civilians and children, including shutting off water, electricity and food from children in Gaza.

Rep. Marcia Morey a Durham Democrat, debates a bill that would prohibit transgender females from playing on womens athletic teams, prior to veto override vote in the House at the General Assembly in Raleigh on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023.

Morey had told The N&O earlier in an email that she condemned the attack by Hamas and brutal taking of civilian hostages, but didnt support the resolution because it did not go far enough because it urged Congress to support Israel but said nothing about the safety for all Israeli and Palestinian civilians and children who live in the region.

GOP Sens. Danny Britt, Warren Daniel and Buck Newton, chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also criticized the four Senate Democrats who didnt sign the chambers statement, saying that Democratic leaders Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton should swiftly denounce the silence of these Democrats, and make clear where the Democratic Party stands on this issue.

Cooper and Stein both declared after the attacks they stand with Israel, with Clayton sharing Coopers post on X, formerly Twitter.

Hillsborough Sen. Graig Meyer, one of the Democrats who didnt sign the statement, said that as a state legislator, he was elected to govern on state and local issues, not weigh in on foreign affairs, which are not our expertise nor our jurisdiction.

But as a human, what I see is the toll of hatred and war on real people, and its horrible, Meyer said in an email. I condemn the recent attacks by the terrorist group Hamas and all forms of violence. I pray for peace. What it will take to find peace in this situation is beyond me, but I will not put my energy or my very limited influence into encouraging war.

Sen. Graig Meyer, a Caswell, Orange and Person County Democrat,debates the state budget bill Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 on the Senate Floor of the General Assembly. Sen. Meyer raised numerous concerns with public records language in the budget bill.

What other Democrats have said

Democratic Rep. Gloristine Brown of Bethel said in a statement that she is a strong supporter of the people of Israel and said the U.S. should stand with Israel and continue to defend its liberty. She also said that terrorism is always a morally repugnant act.

However, I believe strongly that the collective punishment of millions of civilians in Gaza is wrong as well, and this belief should be echoed in the actions of our body, Brown said.

Rep. Renee Price of Hillsborough echoed what other Democrats said about the resolution not mentioning Palestinians, saying in an email that she condemned the attack by Hamas but didnt vote for the resolution because it falls short of considering all aspects or dimensions of the situation.

Rep. Renee Price

My concern is for the Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering the consequences and sacrificing their lives because of extremism, she said. My prayer is for the cessation of violence, humanitarian aid to all innocent people, and a resolution of peace throughout the land.

Rep. Kanika Brown of Winston-Salem said in an email that she strongly condemned the attacks by Hamas, saying that there is never an excuse for such acts of terror and urging both sides to work towards a ceasefire and de-escalation.

The House resolution did nothing to achieve that goal, she said, and was done purely for political showmanship rather than genuine care for Israeli and Palestinian people.

Rep. Kanika Brown

Rep. Amber Baker, also of Winston-Salem, said in a statement that she didnt believe she had the authority as a state lawmaker to weigh in on a foreign policy situation as complex as the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Rep. Amber Baker

Other Democrats in the House said they didnt vote for the resolution because they thought Republicans had introduced it as a distraction.

Rep. Julie von Haefen of Apex said on social media that she condemned the attacks by Hamas but called the resolution an effort by Moore to distract from earlier votes Republicans had taken on Tuesday to override Coopers vetoes on five bills taking away powers from the governor, changing the structure of election boards and loosening environmental regulations for a controversial pipeline project, among other changes.

Rep. Julie von Haefen

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after the House session, Moore touted the fact that the days five veto overrides had brought the legislatures total to 19 vetoes defeated this year.

Rep. Terence Everitt of Wake Forest, on the other hand, said Republicans were trying to cover up their silence over antisemitic remarks made by members of their party. He specifically mentioned Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the partys frontrunner for governor, whose remarks have been criticized by Democrats, and Republicans who are running against in him.

Rep. Terence Everitt
So far in 2023, North Carolina is on pace to award fewer major economic incentives than it has in years to help grow or recruit companies.

Since Jan. 1, the North Carolina Department of Commerce has approved job development investment grants, known as JDIGs, to nine businesses, including a Finnish producer of electric vehicle chargers, the German company Siemens Mobility, and Auction Direct USA. Yet this years total is poised to fall well below the grant levels the state gave in 2022 (28), 2021 (32), 2020 (27), and 2019 (28).

In fact, North Carolina hasnt awarded fewer than 20 JDIGs in a year since 2016, according to an Oct. 1 Commerce Department report. The last time the state issued under 12 JDIGs in a year  its current 2023 pace  was 2005.

The cause of this decline is external, said N.C. Commerce Department spokesperson David Rhoades.

Our JDIG approval process has no bearing on the volume of grants approved this year, he wrote in an email. Instead, Rhoades said, the smaller 2023 total is more a factor of macro factors in the nations economy.

Higher interest rates have led many employers to scale back from recent hiring sprees, including with layoffs. Rhoades noted JDIG deployments over the previous two years were absolutely extraordinary, the best on record in fact.

Job development investment grants are North Carolinas largest incentive program, but its not the only taxpayer-backed incentive to have dropped this year. The One North Carolina Fund, which enables the governor to make cash grants to attract job creators, has approved 11 projects so far in 2023 compared to more than 25 in each of the previous four years.

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), which helps recruit large employers to either move into or expand within the state, referred The News & Observer to the Commerce Department to discuss the reasons behind the lower incentive totals.

Some neighboring states have also greenlit fewer incentive projects this year. The South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development told The N&O it has approved discretionary grants on par with 2020 levels, but below 2021 and 2022 totals. And data from Virginia shows the state last year awarded 15 grants through its Commonwealth Development Opportunity Fund, which is similar to the One North Carolina Fund. So far in 2023, Virginia has only approved six.

The NC incentive program at 20: Hits and misses

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the JDIG program. Since 2003, the Commerce Department has approved 406 projects and disbursed $489.5 million to create 61,228 new jobs. This equates to approximately $8,000 spent per job.

The Oct. 1 report found JDIGs have also helped the state retain 140,441 jobs.

Its working as designed, Rhoades said of the program.

JDIG benefits are largely realized through payroll tax rebates, with companies only getting tax breaks after theyve met certain annual hiring thresholds mutually agreed upon with the state.

In recent years, North Carolina has dangled tax breaks to lure sizable employers: Apple in Wake County (3,000 promised jobs), VinFast in Chatham County (7,500 jobs), Wolfspeed in Chatham (1,800 jobs), Toyota in Randolph County (2,100 jobs), and Boom Supersonic at the Greensboro airport (1,750 jobs.)

Heavy equipment prepares the site for a new VinFast production facility Friday, July 28, 2023 in Moncure.

The largest 2023 project  in terms of job creation  is Siemens Mobility, which in March pledged to bring 455 jobs to a passenger rail vehicle manufacturing plant in Davidson County.

However, most JDIG projects historically dont meet their initial job-creation or investment goals.

Since 2003, more than one in five JDIG projects (92) ended before any taxpayer money went to grant recipients. An additional 91 grants terminated early with some public funds allocated after recipient companies created or retained some jobs.

Of the 406 JDIGs North Carolina has issued over the past two decades, 42 reached their full hiring and investment goals while 181 remain active, meaning these companies could still meet their original targets. The Oct. 1 report noted the average term for this grant is more than 10 years.

The man who made the incentive model

But if the past is an indication, many of these active projects will fall short of their initial publicly stated goals.

In 2017, for example, eight of that years 16 approved grants remain active and the other eight have already terminated early. Fitting into this latter group is Allstate, which in July asked the Commerce Department to terminate its job development investment grant after the insurance giant created zero of its promised 2,250 new jobs in Charlotte.

Allstate could have received $17.8 million had it reached its grant commitments. Public data shows the project, an operations center, did receive nearly $1.5 million in local government cash grants.

In a 2022 interview with The N&O, former North Carolina Commerce Secretary Tony Copeland said he believes most companies enter incentive agreements in good faith but that unforeseen factors over the lifetime of a grant  like recessions or leadership changes  may interrupt their plans.

Because payroll tax breaks are tied to hiring, state officials often posit the JDIG program has a no harm, no foul safety blanket: If a company meets some or all of its hiring goals, thats a benefit. If it creates no jobs, no state incentives will be given.

The data mostly shows that new jobs and investment have come to the state that otherwise wouldnt have, Rhoades said.

North Carolina can also claw back money if a company discontinues operations at a site; since 2003, the state has retrieved $4.5 million due to lack of performance by companies, the annual Oct. 1 report found.

Building a backstop into the JDIG program was important from the start, said Michael Walden, a retired North Carolina State University economist who designed a set of formulas, called the Walden Model, that the state has used to calculate every JDIG since the programs inception.

If the state was going to provide incentives, there had to be some assurance that it would still come out ahead, Walden said.

Keeping up with other states

John Quinterno, a visiting professor at the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, believes other states use of corporate incentives may make North Carolina officials feel they must retain their own.

As long as everybody else has these things in their toolbox, (their thinking is) we cant get rid of ours, he said.

A critic of corporate incentives, Quinterno remembers tracking the JDIG program in the mid-2000s when he worked as a research associate at the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center.

He says hes surprised the incentive model  while still controversial to some  is not more of a policy lighting rod.

When this first came up 20 years ago, this was very contested politically, he said. Now, everybody just kind of accepts it on both sides of the aisle. And I dont really know if thats a good thing.

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North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, as acting governor with Gov. Roy Cooper out of the country, said he has issued a proclamation calling for a day of prayer and declaring North Carolina Solidarity with Israel Week throughout the state.

We honor and mourn the victims of the terrorist attacks by Hamas and their allies against Israel, Robinson said.

Robinson has been frequently criticized for his history of antisemitic comments. He walked back some of those comments during a news conference on Thursday, saying that he has never been antisemitic.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, launched deadly land, air and sea attacks over the weekend that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead as of Wednesday, and between 100 and 150 Israelis captured as hostages, according to The Wall Street Journal. Retaliatory strikes by Israel on Gaza had killed at least 1,200 Palestinians, The Journal reported.

Robinson referred to the murders, hostages and violence, and lauded Republican leaders who, along with many Democrats, pledged formal support earlier this week in the General Assembly. Some Democrats who did not sign on have been criticized. Rep. Terence Everitt of Wake Forest said Republicans were trying to cover up their silence over antisemitic remarks made by members of their party, and mentioned Robinson.

On Thursday, Robinson talked about the disturbing videos of violence, saying that terrorists have launched an unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Israel, taken hostages, murdered innocent civilians, including American citizens.

Th evil acts are unconscionable. Sadly, theyre only the latest in a long line of terrorist attacks by groups like Hamas and their allies. Its a solemn commemoration of the lives that have been lost. The fight against evil yet to come, Robinson said.

He declared Oct. 12 through Oct. 19 as North Carolina Solidarity with Israel Week and a day of prayer from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks during a press conference at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.

Robinsons antisemitic comments

The News & Observer asked Robinson about his previous comments criticized for antisemitism. Robinson said that he is not antisemitic.

Robinson was elected lieutenant governor in 2020. Thats when many of his controversial Facebook posts first surfaced.

I believe that Mark Robinsons election in North Carolina is, as we would say in Yiddish, a shanda, Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Temple Beth Or in Raleigh told the Jewish Insider in 2021. It is a black mark on this state.

He once posted that the Marvel movie Black Panther was created by an agnostic Jew and put to film by satanic Marxist. How can this trash, that was only created to pull the shekels out of your Schvartze pockets, invoke any pride? The N&O previously reported.

In a 2017 Facebook post, Robinson wrote: I am so sick of seeing and hearing people STILL talk about Nazis and Hitler and how evil and manipulative they were. NEWS FLASH PEOPLE, THE NAZIS (National Socialist) ARE GONE! We did away with them, and then continued talking about Communism.

Robinson addressed the comments again on Thursday.

There have been some Facebook posts that were poorly worded on my part, did not convey my real sentiments, and I have addressed those issues and moved on from those issues, he told reporters in a news conference at the Legislative Building in Raleigh.

But I think what were seeing here now is the state of North Carolina including me as one of its top leaders, we are dedicated to stamping out antisemitism wherever we find it. And we are definitely dedicated to standing with the nation of Israel as they deal with real antisemitism that has turned into murderous violence. And so our position is clear. There is no antisemitism standing here in front of you, and I can definitely say in the state of North Carolina, the majority of North Carolinians feel the same, Robinson said.

Pressed by reporters, Robinson said there was never any antisemitism intended from those words, and theres never been any antisemitism within me. Ive never been antisemitic. Ive never had anything against the Jewish people, he said. Robinson said he has dealt with his Facebook comments and spoken to several Jewish groups about it.

Asked if he apologizes now for the comments, Robinson said: I apologize for the word  not necessarily for the content, but we apologize for the wording. And we have spoken to several Jewish groups who completely understand what our sentiments were. And we have full confidence in the people of North Carolina understanding Mark Robinson is definitely not anti-Semitic.

Robinson has not met publicly with any Jewish groups.

Cooper is in Japan the rest of the week for the Southeast U.S./Japan Association meeting in Tokyo. Cooper spokesperson Sadie Weiner called out Robinsons long history of hate speech.

Its tragically ironic that someone with a long history of hate speech against Jewish people would take advantage of death and destruction in Israel for his own political purposes. Governor Cooper believes that Israel needs both our prayers and our support, Weiner said in an emailed statement to The N&O.

Governor Cooper stands steadfast in supporting Israel and their right to self-defense and has taken action to protect houses of worship and other religious organizations here that could be targets. He has also been in communication with the Israeli government to reaffirm our partnership, she said.

Robinson said his proclamation on Thursday is not about upstaging the governor, but about standing with Israel. He did not want to answer questions about other topics, but said I dont think so, when asked if he plans to take any other action as acting governor while Cooper is gone. The state Constitution allows the lieutenant governor to serve as acting governor when the governor is out of state.

North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper posted a photo to Instagram on Wednesday night of the Executive Mansion lit in blue, saying it is in solidarity with the people of Israel. Our hearts remain with them.

GOP primary opponent Treasurer Folwell blasts Robinson

Robinson is the frontrunner in the 2024 Republican primary for governor, and is likely to face the Democratic frontrunner, Attorney General Josh Stein.

One of Robinsons primary-election opponents, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, called Robinsons proclamation a stunt.

While I strongly condemn the cowardly attack and unprecedented brutality inflicted on the Israeli nation by a terrorist state, and stand in full support of Israel to take actions necessary to defend themselves against an unprovoked attack that has shocked the world, I could not, in good conscience, accept your invitation as a member of the Council of State to stand with you at your press conference this morning, Folwell wrote in a statement.

Robinson stood alone at the podium in the Legislative Building Auditorium for the news conference.

You have regrettably seized the opportunity to engage in a stunt with dubious authority as acting governor during a brief interlude while Gov. Cooper is overseas conducting state business, Folwell said.

How can you pretend to be governor when the record is clear that you havent done your job as lieutenant governor? As a person who has shamefully denied the Holocaust and whose history is checkered with hateful anti-Semitic comments you have no right to be commenting on this topic.

You were against the Jewish people before you were for them, Folwell continued. As the poet Maya Angelou famously said, when someone shows you who they are the first time believe them. I am saddened but not shocked that you are playing political games for personal benefits.

Folwell also included a screenshot of a 2018 Facebook post by Robinson that said this foolishness about Hitler disarming MILLIONS of Jews and then marching them off to concentration camps is a bunch of hogwash.

Stein campaign spokesperson Kate Frauenfelder told The N&O: Mark Robinson called the Holocaust hogwash and now uses the slaughter of Israelis and Americans to perform a transparent political stunt  this is as close as he should ever get to being governor.

Reporter Avi Bajpai contributed to this story.






The Mint Hill Police Department stole $69,130 from a 17-year-old sexual abuse victim. To be fair, though, they gave the feds a cut before using the rest to buy generators.

A judge ordered the $69,130 cops found in the home of the man who had abused the girl since she was 5 years old to be given to her. But the judge didnt know the money had already been stolen. Mint Hill had taken it under the guise of civil asset forfeiture. The man, Mario Alberto Gomez-Saldana II, had drug paraphernalia. They claimed the cash could have been connected to a major drug operation  even though Saldana II had won the lottery, netting about $70,000 after taxes.

Theyll tell you civil asset forfeiture is a necessary crimefighting tool, one theyve used several times, to the tune of nearly $900,000 over the past five years. According to the Institute for Justice, police departments in North Carolina stole (my word) nearly $300 million between 2000 and 2019.

We know this because thats what Scott MacLatchie, an attorney for Mint Hill, told WCNC Charlotte, the investigative unit that exposed this crime.

I am looking at this through, what you have to understand, through kind of what I would call a sterile lens, MacLatchie told WCNC. I am at peace that we followed the law.

North Carolina, to its credit, passed legislation to make it more difficult for police to engage in this type of theft. The state is one of four that requires a criminal conviction before allowing forfeiture. What a novel idea, that the state must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before punishing you.

I use the word theft purposefully, because theres no other honest way to describe. Under previous civil asset forfeiture laws, police could take your money in North Carolina without even charging you with a crime, so long as they could claim it maybe-kind-of-sort-of might be related to some unproven criminal activity. It made a mockery of the supposed American legal principle of innocence until proven guilty. Police could take your money and there was little you could do about it, even if you did nothing wrong.

Sometimes residents money was taken literally at gunpoint after heavily-armed men broke into their homes, and they had little chance of having it returned. I call that theft  because thats what it is. Calling it anything else is propaganda.

Despite the change in North Carolina law, Mint Hill and other departments have been using a loophole. They simply partner with the Justice Department through a program called equitable sharing and steal money that way, keeping upwards of 80 percent.

Thats why MacLatchie was right in one respect. Mint Hill followed the law when it stole $69,130 a judge said should go to a young victim of sexual abuse.

But no law enforcement official should be at peace with this kind of obvious injustice  inflicted by the very people trained and paid to make the public feel safe. And yet, law enforcement officials throughout the country claim if they can no longer steal money, criminal organizations would grow richer and more powerful, that it would hand drug cartels a win.

Researchers for the Institute for Justice studied those claims. After examining five years of data after New Mexico banned civil asset forfeiture, they found that the predicted rise in crime and drop in arrests did not materialize.

Who could have predicted that allowing police to commit crimes in the name of fighting crime was not an effective way to prevent crime?

Congress is considering putting an end to the loophole. It should. It must.

Gomez-Saldana II is in prison, being held to account for what he did.

But his victim, a teenage girl who had to survive horrific acts, is still denied money rightfully hers because Mint Hill police are at peace that they were able to steal it from her legally.

They should be ashamed. Its a shame that they arent.

Issac Bailey is a McClatchy Opinion writer in North and South Carolina.
ASHEVILLE  Large parts of Buncombe County have seen a 15% drop in crime from 2021-2022, continuing a three-year downward trend, according to the State Bureau of Investigation's recently released data.

Every year, the N.C. SBI releases crime data for the state, individual county sheriff's offices and municipal police stations, including a "crime index," which shows the total number of offenses from that year for eight different crimes  murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.

SBI also calculates the percent change in the combined total number of these crimes committed as compared to the previous year.

Before the 15% drop in 2022, overall crime in the county also decreased by 9% in 2021 and 2% in 2020, after increasing by 27% in 2019, according to annual crime summaries for the state released by SBI. Compared to a decade ago, crime has dropped by 25% from 2,129 incidents in 2013 to 1,585 in 2022.

The area surveyed covers parts of the county under the responsibility of Sheriff Quentin Miller. It does not include areas policed by municipal law enforcement agencies, which would encompass the city of Asheville, patrolled by the Asheville Police Department. However, according to sheriff's spokesperson Aaron Sarver, sheriff's deputies sometimes make arrests within the city, which would be included in the statistics.

Thank you to all of our deputies, detectives and detention officers, as a result of their hard work we are seeing a reduction in crime for the third consecutive year, Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said a news release.

Sarver said the sheriff's office has started a targeted approach that focuses on arresting those involved in high-level crime and "skilled, persistent" offenders who are "committing a significant amount of crime."

Sheriff's crime numbers and new enforcement strategies

The news release said there has been a new enforcement strategy under Miller, who has served as sheriff since 2018. This strategy includes focusing on arresting individuals who are doing the most harm and are responsible for organizing criminal theft rings.

More: Chuck Edwards' Asheville crime summit mostly not about crime, or violence; what was said

The biggest drop in crime for the Buncombe County Sheriffs Office came from larceny, down about 25% from 1,001 crimes in 2021 to 751 in 2022. Burglary was one of two crimes in the county that increased between 2021 and 2022, from 429 crimes to 490, according to the SBI. Arson also increased slightly from 17 crimes in 2021 to 22 in 2022.

Sheriffs office officials also cited the Medication Assisted Treatment Drug Treatment Program at the Buncombe County Detention Facility and the Sheriffs Real Time Intelligence Center as contributing factors to the reduction in crime.

MAT, which is a partnership between Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness and the detention center, employs support specialists and uses medication to help people with an opioid dependency while they are incarcerated and for one year after their release, according to Sunrise Community's website. The program has helped reduce recidivism  the tendency for a convicted criminal to reoffend  by 19%, according to the release.

Regarding the sheriffs office's use of an expansive real-time camera network powered by Fusus, the release said the surveillance cameras are allowing for a quicker response time to certain crimes and aiding and improving our ability to identify suspects and suspect vehicles.

More real time intelligence: Buncombe County Sheriff gets real-time Fusus bodycams, dashcams: Who can access?

Asheville Police Department's crime numbers

The Asheville Police Department saw a 1% decrease in crime when taken as a whole, according to the N.C. SBI's annual summary, although SBI's summary statistics report lists the decrease as 0.6%. However, violent crime in the city increased in 2022, according to the SBI.

Violent crime within APDs jurisdiction, which consists of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault on the index, increased about 23% from 714 crimes in 2021 to 880 in 2022. Other than rape, each of these crimes increased from the previous year, pushing violent crime numbers to a "historic high in 2022," according to APR Deputy Chief Mike Lamb.

APD charged individuals in 29.3% of violent crimes committed in 2022, according to SBI data.

"What really has driven our numbers for all three years is our aggravated assaults. We saw in 2022 just an unprecedented number of assaults, Lamb told the Citizen Times, pointing out how in order to be an aggravated assault, someones injuries have to be bad enough to be hospitalized and the assault has to involve some sort of weapon.

New data presented by APD at the Oct. 10 City Council meeting showed city wide violent crime in 2023 through Oct. 1 is 18% lower than it was through Oct. 1 of 2022. However, violent crime this year through Oct. 1 is still 8% higher than it was in 2021.

More from City Council: Asheville City Council OKs downtown bike lanes amid heated discussion

Buncombe County and Asheville homicide numbers

In 2022, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office had four homicides reported and investigated, down from seven homicides in 2021. Asheville had 12 homicides in 2022, up from 10 homicides in 2021. So far this year, two homicides are being investigated by the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office and five homicides are being investigated by the Asheville Police Department.

The graph depicts the number of homicide investigations for both the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office (in blue) and the Asheville Police Department (in red) from 2000 through 2022, according to NC SBI data.

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: Buncombe County crime rate decreased; Asheville violent crime increase
The North Carolina State Health Plan will put new measures in place to prevent diabetes drugs like Ozempic from being used off-label for weight loss, leadership announced at a meeting Wednesday night.

This is the plans first effort to rein in spending on a class of drugs called GLP-1s, which has put the plans finances under siege.

This group of drugs first made headlines in 2017, when the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk received approval for Ozempic to treat Type 2 diabetes. The popularity of these drugs grew after the Danish company received FDA approval in 2021 to market the same active ingredient at a different dose for weight loss, under the name brand Wegovy.

Among state health plan members, demand for these weight loss drugs skyrocketed from just a few thousand in 2021 to more than 23,000 this year.

Thousands of state health plan members who do not have diabetes are using drugs like Ozempic off-label to lose weight, a practice discouraged by the manufacturers but common in the United States.

New changes to the diabetes drug approval process  which will go into effect at the start of next year will tamp down on off-label uses.

NCSHP tightens approval process for diabetes drugs

In August 2022, the state health plan began requiring doctors to prove their patients qualified for diabetes medications before covering drugs like Ozempic.

But representatives from CVS Caremark, the plans pharmacy benefit manager, said there was a loophole that allowed members to use the diabetes drugs for weight loss: A prior GLP-1 prescription automatically qualified them for more diabetes medications.

That meant if a member was using diabetes medications for weight loss before new approval requirements went into effect in August, they were automatically approved for more refills of the costly medications afterward  even if they didnt have diabetes.

Plan leaders feared this loophole would be further exploited once the State Health Plan began covering Mounjaro, a new GLP-1 competitor to Ozempic that has been shown to cause even more dramatic weight loss.

NCSHP leadership voted to close that loophole Wednesday night, in order to safeguard against inappropriate or off-label uses.

New rules hold more significance with weight-loss drug coverage in limbo

Currently, the state health plan covers GLP-1s like Wegovy for weight loss, giving members access to the medication even if they do not have diabetes.

But recently, plan leaders have indicated that the coverage for weight loss GLP-1s might be in jeopardy.

State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who oversees the State Health Plan, said spending on this class of weight loss drugs has spiraled out of control. The plan spent more on Wegovy than any other medication this year, the plans pharmacy benefit manager told the board of trustees in August.

We have no choice but to do whats in the best interest of our members, Folwell said. And if that includes taking advice and best practices from other states  then we will do that.

Folwell pointed to other plans that have restricted coverage of these drugs. The plan for University of Texas employees, for example, ended coverage for Wegovy and Saxenda on Sept. 1, citing unsustainable costs.

State Health Plan leaders are expected to discuss the future coverage of these weight loss drugs at the next Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 26

Teddy Rosenbluth covers science and health care for The News & Observer in a position funded by Duke Health and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work.

Costly weight-loss drugs are draining the NC State Health Plan. Can coverage continue?
Artisans carve stone sculptures at the Nepal Vocational Academy in Bhaktapur on the outskirts of Kathmandu (Prakash MATHEMA)

Nepal's deadly earthquake eight years ago reduced swathes of centuries-old monuments to rubble, but the vast task of restoration has sparked a revival of once-fading architectural craft skills.

Carpenter Dinesh Tamang is one of hundreds of craftspeople who learned a new trade in the quake's aftermath.

"I got a chance to work in reconstruction projects, to rebuild damaged temples and houses," said Tamang, who was unemployed before the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people.

"It is very rewarding work," he said while carefully carving an intricate pattern on a wooden panel with a chisel and mallet.

The 2015 quake also destroyed hundreds of monuments and royal palaces -- including the Kathmandu Valley's UNESCO World Heritage sites -- that had drawn visitors from around the world.

In deeply religious Nepal, temples and heritage sites are not just tourist attractions, but an integral part of cultural and spiritual life.

The public demand for their rebuilding fueled a need for workers adept at traditional architectural techniques including stone masonry and intricate wood and metal work.

"Nepal is rich in cultural heritage," Tamang said. "You see temples everywhere and I was always fascinated by the designs on the wood".

Nepal Vocational Academy, where Tamang enrolled, said it had trained hundreds in traditional skills since the quake.

"Even though the quake was a tragic event, it has created opportunities in different sectors," said Rabindra Puri, a heritage conservationist and the academy's founder.

"The demand for skilled manpower drastically increased".

Puri said that the academy expanded its facility after the quake to meet the surge in demand for training.

"As far as I know, none of our graduates are unemployed," he said.

- 'Live on after us' -

Many initially feared Nepal lacked the skills needed for the huge task of rebuilding.

The palaces and temples damaged date back to the period between the 12th and 18th centuries when the Kathmandu Valley was divided into the three kingdoms of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.

The wood carvers, stone sculptors and metal workers who created the spectacular temples and palaces were once feted from far away and paid handsomely from the royal purse.

These crafts were historically carried out exclusively by families belonging to the Newa ethnic group and passed on through generations. But over time many opted for other professions.

"The fathers didn't want to teach the sons, and sons didn't want to learn, so it was close to disappearing," Puri said.

The funding for reconstruction has made these professions more economically sustainable.

The government has poured in over $45 billion to restore its heritage sites, with additional projects funded from countries including neighbouring China and India -- as well as Japan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and the United States.

About 80 percent of the 920 heritage structures that were flattened or damaged have been reconstructed.

Heritage conservationist Rohit Ranjitkar, director of the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust, said that while the renewed interest in learning traditional crafts is encouraging, the focus should be on quality.

"The quality must match the monuments we have... These skills that have been passed on from generation to generation cannot be learnt with a few months' training," he said.

"Practice is important... We need to see how to encourage them, so that they can carry on the skills."

Stonework expert Kancha Ranjitkar, 82, who began working with his father as a teenager, said he felt happy alongside younger craftspeople.

"Many of the skills are vanishing," he said. "But the quake gave a chance to pass on our knowledge to the next generation... for it to live on after us."

pm/pjm/dva
PALM BEACH, Fla.  He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called Hezbollah very smart. Both less than a week after the attack on Israel.

It was, as billed, a speech about the atrocities abroad. In the most Trumpian way possible.

Speaking to more than 3,500 supporters at a Palm Beach, Fla., convention center, former President Donald Trump spent nearly two hours recounting how he helped move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and boasted about signing the Abraham Accords, which formalized diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

But he also meandered among various topics, zig-zagging from the weekend terrorist attack in Israel that has captured the world's attention to criticisms of his GOP rivals, crime in Washington, D.C., boasts about rising in the polls despite multiple indictments and even mentioned the assault on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul.

Throughout his speech, Trump, who leads his GOP presidential rivals, painted a picture of an alternate universe he thought would have existed had he been reelected in 2020 instead of President Joe Biden .

"Israel would be flourishing, they would have no problem, he said. Iran would have never played that game.

Instead, he said, the world became full of chaos, bloodshed, war, terror, death, and he warned World War III was on the horizon. He called Biden grossly incompetent, and described members of the Biden administration as stupid people.

He also directly went after Netanyahu, who he asserted did not help the United States in the drone strike in 2020 that killed Suleimani, the leader of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps responsible for secret military operations.

At the time of the killing, Netanyahu praised Trump for acting swiftly, forcefully and decisively but Trump on Wednesday chastised the Israeli prime minister.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, he said. That was a very terrible thing.

His disapproval of Netanyahu drew an immediate response from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is competing with Trump for the GOP nomination and posted on X that it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel.

The remarks, delivered to the Club 47 Trump fan club, were the first extensive comments Trump made on Israel after saying little about the topic during a campaign stop in New Hampshire Monday.

Since the attack on Israel on Saturday that has since broken out into war that threatens to destabilize the Middle East, more than 1,200 Israelis and over 1,100 militants and Palestinians have been killed. The State Department said 22 Americans were among those killed and 17 more havent been accounted for.

Biden has said the U.S. stands with Israel, and the White House plans to ask Congress to approve aid, though the exact request is still coming together. But Republicans running for president are casting the attack on Israel as a referendum on whether Biden can manage international conflict as he seeks to be reelected to a second term.

Trump didn't use the word Israel until almost 20 minutes into his speech, after criticizing his 2024 GOP rivals and praising supporters in the convention center, including comedian Roseanne Barr and GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a close ally who recently led last weeks effort to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Calling himself the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House, Trump accused Biden of having tossed Israel to the bloodthirsty Jihadists when he lifted certain economic sanctions against Iran.

Like many other Republicans in the 2024 race, Trump also bashed Biden for authorizing the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian assets as part of a prisoner-swap deal. The Biden administration has defended the decision, stressing that the funds already belonged to Iran, that they hadnt been spent yet and that they were only allowed to be used for humanitarian reasons.

Trump called on Biden to freeze the funds and promised that if elected in 2024 that he would impose an even stronger version of his travel ban on certain Muslim-majority countries, which included Iran. He vowed to stand with Israel 100 percent as president.

U.S. and Israeli officials have said theyre not sure yet whether Iran directly coordinated with Hamas in its attack on Israel over the weekend. But Iran voiced support for the attack and Tehran officials have provided military aid to Hamas.

Some members of the audience wore pro-Israel T-shirts and a couple of speakers stated their support for Israel when they got onstage.

Gaetz, whod also been scheduled to speak but arrived late following the speakership battle in Washington, D.C., said he agreed with Trumps assessment that the war in Israel wouldnt have happened if he was still president.

The Biden foreign policy is very paint-by-numbers, he said. It's very predictable. And that at times can embolden our adversaries. President Trump was very unpredictable, and it kept everybody real polite.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was shown photos of what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said were babies killed by Hamas militants (Jacquelyn Martin)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday showed visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken horrific pictures of babies he said were killed by Hamas militants in Israel over the weekend.

The pictures were posted by the prime minister's office on X, formerly Twitter. One picture showed a dead baby in a body bag while the other showed the charred remains of another infant.

Israel is reeling under a deadly attack that was carried out by Hamas fighters on Saturday morning in which at least 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in Israel and around 150 hostages abducted to Gaza.

In response, the Israeli military has launched a blistering aerial and artillery bombardment that has killed more than 1,400 people in the Gaza Strip, most of them civilians.

Blinken described to reporters what he saw in the photographs shown to him by Netanyahu: "A baby -- an infant -- riddled with bullets. Soldiers beheaded, young people burnt alive in their cars.

"For any human being to see this, it's really beyond almost anything that we can comprehend and digest," Blinken said.

"Images are worth a thousand words. These images, maybe worth a million.

"The world is seeing new evidence of depravity and the inhumanity of Hamas -- depravity and inhumanity directed at babies, at small children, at young adults, at elderly people, at people with disabilities.

"At a basic human level, how anyone cannot be revolted and cannot reject what they've seen -- and what the world has seen -- is beyond me," Blinken said.

- Hamas denial -

US President Joe Biden too had expressed outrage over the images coming out of Israel.

"I've been doing this for a long time," Biden said at the White House late on Wednesday. "I never really thought that I would see -- have confirmed -- pictures of terrorists beheading babies."

A White House spokesperson later clarified that US officials had not confirmed such reports independently.

The president had based his comments on the claims from Netanyahu's spokesman, the spokesperson said.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Washington takes "very, very seriously the need to be as factual and certainly truthful as we can possibly be".

Without confirming the authenticity of the images, he said "it's obvious what Hamas has proven willing to do to innocent Israeli citizens".

"We all need to be prepared for the fact that there's going to be additional gruesome images coming out... this is not over."

Earlier on Thursday, Hamas rejected claims its fighters had killed infants during the cross-border attack it launched on Saturday.

"The world will discover the fake and false Israeli narrative, which disseminates misinformation about alleged atrocities committed by the Palestinian resistance," Hamas political bureau member Ezzat al-Rishaq said in a statement issued in English.

"Such allegations have never been proven; no evidence has been submitted to support such false claims."

sct-dar-jd-ami/phz
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has his back to the wall, despite a consensus to crush Hamas after their deadly weekend assault (Chaim GOLDBERG)

Benjamin Netanyahu's government had divided Israel with its controversial judicial reforms, but he now presides over a country which is united in its demand for a definitive reprisal against Hamas.

This sudden change in politics stems directly from the collective trauma caused to Israeli society by the bloody and unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday, in which it killed at least 1,200 people and kidnapped dozens more.

"Netanyahu has his back against the wall. Everyone is pressuring him, including his own party Likud," Akiva Eldar, a veteran political commentator, told AFP.

- No blank cheque -

According to Eldar, even the support offered by US President Joe Biden is not a blank cheque.

"Bibi (Netanyahu) has to destroy the infrastructure of Hamas, for certain. But if that comes at the cost of children dying of starvation in Gaza, then global opinion, currently favourable to Israel, will quickly change," he said.

"The response has to be proportional to the horrors committed by Hamas. But Netanyahu cannot afford to have on his hands the deaths of 1,000 more (Israeli) soldiers or the hostages."

Already in Gaza, Palestinian officials have reported more than 1,200 people killed by Israeli strikes, while the United Nations says 338,000 have been displaced.

Another source of pressure on "Bibi", Israeli economists have warned, is the extended paralysis of the country in response to the attack, as was the case after the 34-day war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006.

That problem could be even worse, according to one Israeli military source, because Israel is not well prepared for a conflict that could expand to a second and third front, in the north against Hezbollah and in the east if there is an uprising in the West Bank.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu and one of the leading opposition figures, Benny Gantz , announced an agreement to form an emergency government for the length of the war.

- 'Netanyahu's days are numbered' -

"The presence of Benny Gantz in the government will slightly alleviate the pressure on the Prime Minister," said Daniel Bensimon, an Israeli political expert and former Labour Party MP.

"It will reduce the tension but it won't do anything to alter the fundamentals: Netanyahu's days are numbered and he knows it. He will not survive this crisis. His political career is finished.

"What happened (on Saturday) is unprecedented since the creation of the state in 1948.

"There will be an inquiry. It will be terrible. After that, he will be thrown into the dustbin of history with this shameful stain on his record," Bensimon said, "and he knows it well. That's why his back is against the wall."

Nor have Netanyahu's pre-war problems gone away.

Once the fighting is over, the protests against his judicial reforms that divided Israeli society for the past ten months are expected to be even more widespread than ever.

According to Reuven Hazan, professor of political science at the University of Jerusalem, that is because Netanyahu's entire approach towards Hamas has failed.

"Public opinion will make him pay a price when this is all over.

"His approach was flawed. Hamas has been in power in Gaza since 2007, Netanyahu was elected in 2009, they have been in charge almost simultaneously. And it's during that period that the Islamist threat has grown so much," Hazan told AFP.

- 'A huge mistake' -

Israel has fought multiple wars against Hamas since it withdrew its forces from the Palestinian enclave in 2005, but these have all proved futile said retired general Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser.

"We have made a huge mistake in thinking that a terrorist organisation could change its DNA," he said.

If previous strategies have been proved wrong, what might Israel do instead?

The Jerusalem Post newspaper raised a question that is on many Israeli minds: "Is this Israel's moment to re-occupy Gaza?"

The answer is far from clear cut, said the analyst Akiva Eldar.

"When you enter Gaza, you never know in what condition you'll come out. It's Netanyahu's whole dilemma. So, will he be rational enough to make the right decision?"

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Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that up to 18 F-16 fighter jets will be sent to Romania in the next few weeks to train Ukrainian pilots.

Source: European Pravda with reference to NL Times

Quote: "We hope to hand over 12 to 18 aircraft [F-16s  ed.] to Romania within a few weeks, which means that the centre can start its work."

Details: Ollongren said that the establishment of the F-16 training centre in Romania is "going very well".

She could not specify when her country would hand over the first F-16s to Ukraine, but reiterated that it was about 24 fighters, the rest of which would be used for training purposes.

The Netherlands, along with Denmark, leads a group of countries that want to help Ukraine get F-16s to counter Russia's full-scale aggression.

Background:

In August, Romania announced that it was waiting for the necessary documents to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. At the time, the head of the Romanian government said that all the logistics for the training had already been prepared.

Earlier, the media reported that an air base in Romania had been chosen for the training of Ukrainians and that the expected month of the start of the exercises was August.

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!






LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A judge sentenced a Nevada man to two years and four months in prison Thursday after he fraudulently obtained over $500,000 in COVID relief funds and laundered it through his friends and family to buy a house.

According to court documents, Brandon Casutt, 52, of Henderson, submitted multiple fraudulent applications to the Small Business Administration and four of its lenders under the CARES Act on behalf of two different entities.

The Department of Justice said he was attempting to obtain more than $5.7 million.

Henderson man accused of using COVID-19 funds to buy $400K home

Two of his applications received funding: a Paycheck Protection Program loan for approximately $350,000 in the name of a business called Sky DeSign and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for approximately $150,000 in the name of a charity called Skylers CF Foundation, which is supposedly devoted to raising awareness about cystic fibrosis.

While the loan applications said that each entity had numerous employees, payroll expenses, and revenue, neither had employees or paid any wages.

After receiving the PPP money, Casutt laundered it by writing dozens of fake payroll checks to himself, family members, and friends, officials said. On the checks memos, Casutt falsely wrote that they were for pandemic pay or back pay.

He would then cash or deposit the fake paychecks, and the money was diverted back to a bank account under Casutts control. He then used the money to buy a $400,000 home in Henderson in June 2020 that he and his family moved into, according to the Department of Justice.

In August 2020, Casutt pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of concealment money laundering.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A new bill out of New York is targeting the thing we all have a love-hate relationship with on social media: the algorithm. Governor Kathy Hochul joined lawmakers in introducing the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, which would require a parent or guardian's consent to access algorithm-based feeds on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. In her statement of support, Hochul called for adults to protect their children and villainized algorithms as technology that "follows" and "preys" on young people.

Lawmakers pointed to a range of studies demonstrating social media's association with poor mental health and sleep quality in young people  especially with excessive use. "Social media platforms are fueling a national youth mental health crisis that is harming children's wellbeing and safety," New York State Attorney General Letitia James said. "Young New Yorkers are struggling with record levels of anxiety and depression, and social media companies that use addictive features to keep minors on their platforms longer are largely to blame. This legislation will help tackle the risks of social media affecting our children and protect their privacy."

While pages like TikTok's For You face restrictions, the legislation would allow young people to view content from people they follow without permission. This setup means they can still see accounts with dangerous misinformation or ideals  such as promoting harmful eating habits  as long as they click the follow button. However, the law would also allow parents or guardians to limit the number of hours a person can spend on each app and to restrict access and notifications completely between midnight and 6 AM. Social media platforms that fail to enforce these policies could owe up to $5,000 in damages.

Lawmakers proposed an identical fine for violations of the New York Child Data Protection Act, which was introduced alongside the SAFE for Kids Act. This legislation would ban "collecting, using, sharing or selling" anyone under 18's personal data unless they receive consent or can prove it absolutely necessary.

SAFE for Kids Act's sponsors, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, could bring it before the New York legislature as soon as early 2024. The bill has already faced opposition from Meta and TikTok, as well as Tech:NYC, which represents more than 800 tech companies. Concerns range from restricting free speech to losing out on community-building.

The first state-led bill of this kind passed in Utah earlier this year, requiring anyone under the age of 18 to obtain a parent or guardian's consent to create a social media profile  not just to explore the algorithm. Arkansas enacted a similar law soon after, but a judge blocked it from taking effect in September. Utah's legislation is set to take effect in early 2024. Each of these cases would require more comprehensive age verification on the part of social media companies, likely reviewing an ID of some sort  not something every early adolescent has.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The number of U.S. citizens confirmed to have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war has risen to at least 22, the State Department said Wednesday. Thats an increase from 14 the day before.

U.S. citizens also are among the estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas militants during their shocking weekend assault on Israel, President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday. The war has already claimed at least 2,200 lives on both sides.

The attack raised questions about the potential influence of Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas, and whether Iran had anything to do with it. But the U.S. has collected information that suggests senior Iranian government officials were caught off guard by the multipronged assault, according to a U.S. official who wasnt authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. That piece of intelligence has informed White House officials publicly asserting that it has not yet seen evidence of direct involvement by Iran in the planning or execution of the Hamas attack.

Biden, who is set to meet with Jewish leaders later Wednesday, sought to connect the Hamas attacks directly to decades of antisemitism and violence endured by Jews around the world.

This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by a millennium of antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people, Biden told reporters. And this moment we have to be crystal clear: There is no justification for terrorism, no excuse and the type of terrorism that was exhibited here is just beyond the pale, beyond the pale.

Biden said he and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was at least the fourth call between Biden and Netanyahu since Saturdays attack.

The United States has Israels back and were going to be working on this through the day and beyond, Biden said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Christine Brown was surrounded by friends and family, including one of her former sister wives, as she married David Woolley over the weekend.

The newlyweds tied the knot in Moab, Utah on Oct. 7 and the bride's close pal Janelle Brown was on hand for the festivities.

In a new photo from the wedding, the "Sister Wives" stars stand side by side and pose for a photo in front of a woodsy backdrop. The bride looked radiant in a white lacy gown with a plunging neckline, while her bestie looked equally stunning in a soft pink floor-length V-neck gown with fluttery sleeves and a tied waist.

Christine Brown and Janelle Brown. (Dani Sork Photo/TLC)

The photo comes a day after Janelle Brown posted a photo on Instagram of the sunset in Moab, Utah, where Christine Brown's wedding took place.

The two friends were formerly sister wives while they were part of a plural marriage to Kody Brown with two other women, Meri and Robyn Brown.

Robyn and Meri Brown do not appear to have attended the wedding. In Season 17 of "Sister Wives," Christine Brown told Robyn and Meri Brown she she needed "space. Christine, in December 2022, told TODAY.com she remained distant from them.

I just want people in my life that are safe and people that I trust. So thats what Im going to do: Surround myself with people that I trust, and that I know trust me, she said.

In 2021, Christine and Kody Brown split and Janelle Brown is currently separated from the father of 18. In January 2023, Kody and Meri Brown announced their decision to "permanently terminate" their marriage.

Since leaving Kody Brown, Christine Brown has been open about her close friendship with Janelle Brown. The two reunited over the summer for a fun off-roading adventure. When Christine Brown got engaged to Woolley in April, her pal commented, "Hurray!!!" on the post.

TLC shared photos of Christine Brown's big day on Oct. 10, including one where she and Woolley pose with 12 of the 18 children from her plural family. She and Kody Brown have six children together, as do Janelle and Kody Brown.

Christine Brown, former talent of TLCs Sister Wives, on her wedding day to David Woolley in Moab, Utah. (Dani Sork Photo/TLC)

Christine Brown reflected on her wedding day on Instagram over the weekend, writing, "Im so blessed! Ive married my best friend. @david__woolley and I are happy and honored to have been surrounded by so much love. It was an incredible experience with our family and friends."

In another post, the newlywed called her husband "my king" and "my soulmate" and said she was "so overwhelmed with gratitude."

Woolley reciprocated the gesture and called his new wife his "unicorn" and "so beautiful, inside and out!"

The newlyweds first met on a dating app and announced that she was in a new relationship in February 2023. After introducing Woolley to her fans days later, Christine Brown revealed that they were engaged two months later.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
The Pentagon has confirmed it is sending "new" air defense systems that fire AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles to Ukraine.

The U.S. military says it will soon deliver "new" air defense systems to Ukraine that fire AIM-9M Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles. What these systems are remains a mystery, but The War Zone has previously discussed the possibility of a surface-to-air Sidewinder capability for the Ukrainian forces. This followed the unexplained inclusion of AIM-9Ms, an older air-to-air version of the Sidewinder, in previous U.S. military aid packages earlier this year.

A new tranche of U.S. military aid for Ukraine "includes AIM-9 munitions for a new air-defense system that we will soon deliver to Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said earlier today at the sixteenth meeting of the multinational Ukraine Contact Group in Brussels, Belgium.

The new U.S.-supplied air defense systems for Ukraine will fire AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, an example of which is seen here. David Monniaux via Wikimedia

The Sidewinders are just part of the full aid package the Pentagon announced today , which is valued at $200 million. It also includes "precision aerial munitions" (a term used in the past to refer to Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range precision-guided bombs), TOW anti-tank missiles , artillery and small arms ammunition, unspecified counter-drone and electronic warfare "equipment," and more.

No details have emerged so far about what these air defense systems consist of beyond the AIM-9M Sidewinders working as their effector. The War Zone has asked the Pentagon multiple times in the past for more information about how Ukraine would use these Sidewinders.

As The War Zone has noted in the past, the idea of a ground-based Sidewinder air defense system is not new. Between the 1960s and the 1990s, the U.S. Army fielded such a system, called the Chaparral . This consisted of a turreted four-round launcher mounted on either a tracked vehicle based on the M113 armored personnel carrier or a trailer. Chaparral used derivatives of the AIM-9 Sidewinder known as MIM-72s .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVYocmyJ9I8

Chaparral was exported to a number of countries during the Cold War and remains in limited service today, including in ground-based and navalized forms in Taiwan.

A Sea Chaparral missile is launched from one of Taiwan's six French-made Lafayette class frigates (also known as the Kang Ding class) during an exercise. TAO-CHUAN YEH/AFP via Getty Images

There is the possibility that the "new" air defense systems for Ukraine could just be modernized and/or modified Chaparrals capable of firing AIM-9Ms. If the U.S. military no longer has any suitable Chaparrals left in storage, it could look to acquire them from third countries for re-transfer to the Ukrainian military.

Chapparal launch systems, or just the AIM-9Ms themselves, could also potentially be ported over onto a different carrier vehicle or even a palletized platform. There is some precedent already for this latter course of action with the previously announced plans to send AIM-7 Sparrow/RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles to Ukraine for use as surface-to-air interceptors fired from the country's Soviet-era Buk launchers .

Creating an all-new, but potentially more improvised AIM-9M-based air defense system is another option. The United Kingdom has already done something similar with its short-notice delivery of air defense vehicles designed to fire infrared-homing AIM-132 Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) air-to-air missiles to Ukraine earlier this year. However, unlike the AIM-132, the AIM-9M does not have high off-boresight engagement or a lock-on-after-launch capability. So, some sort of sensor, such as a slaved infrared scanner/tracker, would be needed to cue the Sidewinders to the target.

One of the British-supplied AIM-132 ASRAAM-armed air defense vehicles in Ukrainian service. Ukrainian Armed Forces

Any system making use of AIM-9Ms has the additional and perhaps most important benefit of having vast sources of additional missiles. In the United States, for instance, these older Sidewinders are increasingly available for transfer as they are being phased out in favor of newer AIM-9Xs . Many NATO members who already assisting Ukraine have stocks of AIM-9M or other similar older Sidewinder variants that they are also in the process of replacing. These could be sent to Ukraine to 'feed' these new air defense systems, as well. The War Zone has previously highlighted the similar value of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) supplied to Ukraine using the equally popular AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.

Whatever the case, air defense systems armed with AIM-9Ms can only help meet Ukraine's still significant need for short-range point defenses against various aerial threats, especially Russian kamikaze drones and cruise missiles . These have become well-established now as Russia's primary tools for striking targets deeper inside Ukraine, including high-value sites like air bases and critical civilian infrastructure .

Just yesterday, a video appeared online claiming to show a Russian Lancet kamikaze drone striking a Ukrainian Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack jet at Kryvyi Rih Air Base in south-central Ukraine. This follows the emergence of footage of an apparent Lancet strike on one of Ukraine's MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters at the same base in September, as well as reports that the range of these drones has been increased.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1711843075998269528 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1712160756261646340

Ukrainian forces on the front lines also face significant aerial threats, including from drones and attack helicopters . This only further increases the country's need for short-range air defense systems.

With this in mind, other Western countries are also working to further bolster Ukraine's short air defense capacity.

The United Kingdom announced a new aid package for the Ukrainian armed forces of its own today that includes MSI-Defene Systems Terrahawk Paladin palletized short-range air defense systems. The Terrahawk Paladin is a self-contained system that includes a turreted automatic cannon and a small radar array, as well as its own power source.

Terrahawk Paladin can accommodate multiple different types of guns, including the very popular U.S.-made 30mm Bushmaster II . It is not immediately clear exactly how the examples that Ukraine is now set to receive will be configured.

A Terrahawk Paladin system armed with a 30mm Bushmaster II cannon. MSI-Defense Systems

The palletized Terrahawk Paladin loaded on a truck. MSI-Defense Systems

MSI-Defence Systems says that the Terrahawk Paladin can also be armed with surface-to-air missiles and laser-guided rockets. Ukrainian forces are already using Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) 70mm laser-guided rockets in counter-drone and surface-to-surface roles .

Germany separately announced today that it will be transferring more Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine. Gerpards have already proven themselves to be indispensable short-range air defense assets in Ukrainian service. German authorities plan to send other air defense assets, including another Patriot long-range surface-to-air missile system and additional medium-range surface-launched IRIS-T systems , too.

https://twitter.com/KpsZSU/status/1712039747323883926

When it comes to the new AIM-9M-based systems that the United States says it will send soon, these look set to be another useful and sorely needed addition to Ukraine's short-range air defense arsenal.

UPDATE 10/12/2023:

Jakub Palowski, the Deputy Editor-In-Chief of Polish outlet Defence24, has raised the possibility that Soviet-era Osa wheeled surface-to-air missile systems could be adapted to fire Sidewinder missiles. Palowski highlighted this potential combination in a story last year that also noted that Polish defense contractor PGZ had previously pitched a modernized Osa capable of employing IRIS-T missiles.

https://twitter.com/JakubPalowski/status/1712379481401278785?s=20

Osa has the benefit of an integrated radar, which can be used to slave its turreted launcher in the direction of the target. An AIM-9M would still have to lock on to the target using its seeker before it could be fired.

Combining Osa with AIM-9M, or even IRIS-T, could be even more attractive to the Ukrainian military from a logistical perspective. It has Osas in service now , but has limited options for acquiring additional stocks of the 9M33-series command-guided missiles they were originally designed to fire. Poland has notably already sent some of its modernized Osas to Ukraine, too.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1616133892993318912 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1577805710754209792

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
The combustion engine is a marvel of engineering, but has also majorly contributed to air pollution. After all, there are over 1.4 billion combustion engine vehicles roaming the planet. Thats a whole lot of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons being released into the atmosphere.

While we wait (and wait) for the eventual rise of electric vehicles, some areas have taken it upon themselves to solve the issue of air pollution related to combustion engines by, well, banning the vehicles entirely. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, just announced a ban on diesel and petrol-powered vehicles throughout its city center, as reported by Semafor.

The ban goes into effect sometime in 2025, so you still have more than a year to race around Stockholm in your old beat-up Dodge. The new policy will, however, continue to allow hybrid vans in the city center, in addition to combustion-based ambulances and police cars. Additionally, if you have a documented disability youll be able to drive whatever you want, wherever you want, as indicated by The Guardian.

The ban doesnt impact the entire capital city. This is just for whats called the city center, an area comprising 20 blocks at the heart of the city. Stockholms vice mayor for transport, Lars Stromgren, announced the move and said current conditions represented a completely unacceptable situation, noting that the citys air causes babies to have lung conditions and the elderly to die prematurely.

Electric vehicles will, of course, be allowed to drive in the city center with no restrictions. Stockholms new policy joins other low-emission zones (LEZs) in cities throughout Europe, including London, Madrid, Berlin and Paris, among others. Stockholm goes further than any of the other European cities with this near complete ban. London, for instance, charges combustion vehicles to drive through its low-emission zone while Paris, Athens and Madrid just banned diesel vehicles.

Detractors are calling Stockholms policy too extreme. The Swedish Confederation of Transport Enterprises said that the citys ruling political party is in far too much of a hurry to further reduce combustion-based emissions.

LEZs have a good track record when it comes to reducing health issues related to air pollution. A recent study by The Lancet found that five out of eight LEZs studied showed a reduction in heart and circulatory issues, with fewer hospital admissions for heart attacks and strokes. London, for instance, experienced a 19 percent drop in harmful particulate matter found in dirty air throughout its ultra low-emission zone since rolling out the program in 2019. With that in mind, Europe is about to go all-in on the concept, with more than 500 new LEZs coming by 2025.
The U.S. warships and fighter jets deploying near Israel this week in support of Israel are also intended to send an explicit message to Iran, according to current and former senior U.S. officials.

That message, one of the officials said, is stand down  specifically when it comes to any consideration by Tehran of unleashing the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

This is all about deterring Iran, the official said.

The Biden administration is sending the ships of the Navys USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and officials plan for the foreseeable future to keep in place some F-16 and A-10 fighter jets that had been scheduled to rotate out of the region, a U.S. official said.

The flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford. (Finnbarr Webster / Getty Images file)

The timing of deploying additional F-15s that were scheduled to arrive in about a month has been moved up, the official said. And though the U.S. moved a squadron of F-35s out of the Middle East last week without a plan to replace them, another squadron will move there in the coming days.

In all, as many as two dozen advanced fighter jets are expected to arrive in the region in the coming days. The official said that represents significant air-to-air and air-to-ground capability to deter any Iranian aggression or expansion of ops, which is shorthand for operations.

The ships and the aircraft are all directly supporting Israel and deterring Iran and any other expansion, the official said.

As NBC News has reported, the U.S. is reviewing its plans for any needed evacuation of American citizens, and the ships could be used in such an operation.

Hezbollah has fired dozens of rockets across the Israeli border, but it has not fully taken up arms against Israel in the wake of Hamas attack. The Israeli military said Monday that it had neutralized a number of terrorist infiltrators who crossed from Lebanon into Israel.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) talk after an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. | Paul Sancya, Associated Press

Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone shared a message of gratitude on social media Thursday, along with some good news.

Anzalone notified his followers that his parents, who had been stuck in Israel amid growing violence, were finally on their way home.

Its been a scary, anxiety filled several days but my parents are headed home safely. So many people to thank but I know this, God is good, he said.

Thank you to everyone who has been saying prayers for my family and their safety. Its been a scary, anxiety filled several days but my parents are headed home safely. So many people to thank but I know this, God is good.  Alex Anzalone (@AlexAnzalone34) October 12, 2023

Anzalones parents traveled to Israel earlier this month as part of a 53-person tour group put together by their church in Naples, Florida. When Hamas militants bombed and invaded Israel Saturday morning, the group began trying to find an earlier flight home.

Thank you to everyone who has been reaching out. God is good. We are doing good at our hotel in Jerusalem, the Rev. Alan Brumback, who was leading the tour group, shared on Facebook Saturday.

Flights were difficult to come by since a variety of major airlines shut down service in Tel Aviv over the weekend, as the Deseret News previously reported.

Since then, travel grew even more complicated as Delta, United and other international carriers suspended all flights to and from Israel.

With a number of American citizens in Israel, the U.S. State Department has asked airlines to consider reestablishing air routes, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

After the Lions beat the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Anzalone spoke with The Detroit News about what it was like to play a game while his parents remained in limbo.

Its hard, he said. (Its) really all Ive been thinking about.

Related

Anzalones parents and the rest of their church tour group were ultimately able to board a plane home to Florida from Israel early Thursday morning.

At around 8:00 a.m. MDT, the Rev. Brumback announced on Facebook that the group had touched down in Miami.

Gods faithfulness is unchanging and His grace is amazing. Thank you to everyone who prayed for and reached out to us. We are so grateful to be back in the USA, he wrote.

The Rev. Brumback added that people should continue to pray for Israel, which remains locked in conflict with Hamas.

Since fighting broke out Saturday, more than 2,700 people have died, according to The Associated Press.
A New Hampshire State Police Trooper sustained minor injuries after his cruiser was struck from behind while he was stationed at a construction site along I-93 in Londonderry.

Police said 36-year-old Michael Shanahan of North Chelmsford was seen driving his 2017 Hyundai Elantra in the right break down lane when he struck the cruiser with the trooper inside.

The officer was positioned in the right shoulder, with emergency blue lights activated, providing safety services at an active construction site, according to police.

State and local police responded to the crash, just north of exit 4 on I-93 north, around 3:30 p.m.

Both the trooper, who was not identified, and Shanahan were transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

No charged have been filed at this time.

All aspects of this crash remain under investigation, and we ask anyone with additional information, or who may have witnessed the incident contact Trooper Luan Sanches at Luan.G.Sanches@dos.nh.gov or (603) 227-0114.

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

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PORTSMOUTH  The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of developers who have been trying for years to build a major apartment project along the North Mill Pond off Bartlett Street.

The developers, Iron Horse Properties LLC, were initially granted site plan approval in April 2021 to build 152 apartments in three buildings at 105 Bartlett St.

This rendering shows a proposed housing development at 105 Bartlett St., in Portsmouth, which is planned to include 152 apartments.

The board also granted the developers Conditional Use Permits for work within the 100-foot wetland buffer and a second one for shared parking.

But a group of residents, led by Portsmouth attorney Duncan MacCallum, appealed the approvals to the citys Zoning Board of Adjustment, which granted the appeals.

MacCallum has waged a series of legal battles during the past decade with developers of major projects in Portsmouth.

By granting the appeals, the ZBAs decision effectively reversed the Planning Board approvals, according to the decision released by the New Hampshire Supreme Court Thursday morning.

Iron Horse then appealed the ZBAs decision to the Housing Appeals Board, which reversed the ZBAs findings as to six of the petitioners claims and dismissed the remaining three claims, according to the Supreme Courts decision.

The group of residents, who describe themselves as a group of abutters and other concerned citizens, according to the Supreme Courts decision, appealed the Housing Appeals Board decision to the states highest court.

Court upholds project approvals

This rendering shows the proposed housing development for 105 Bartlett St, along with views of the North Mill Pond and waterfront park.

The New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed the Housing Appeals Boards actions, meaning the approvals stand and the development can move forward.

The issues raised by the residents on appeal can generally be consolidated under the following overarching questions: (1) whether Iron Horses proposed project met the six criteria for a wetland CUP  and (2) whether Iron Horses permit requests were barred under the doctrine of Fisher v. City of Dover, 120 N.H. 187 (1980).

Half-acre public park and greenway included in Residence at Islington Creek project

In addition to the 152 apartments, the development, which is called the Residence at Islington Creek, is proposed to include a half-acre public park along the North Mill Pond and donated rights to the city for about three-quarters of a mile of the long-planned North Mill Pond Trail and Greenway.

Ed Hayes, one of the developers, along with Doug Pinciaro, previously said many, many Portsmouth residents have expressed their support of this project to us  and realize that this development will be a tremendous asset to the city.

Seacoast real estate: New Castle home sells for $4M amid record-low sales volume

The project has been years in the making and gone through multiple iterations before the citys Planning Board approved it.

What the NH Supreme Court ruling says

In its 10-page decision, the state Supreme Court noted that the developers site plan application for the project explained that the site has [a] history of railroad and industrial use and that remaining derelict railroad structures ... pose a safety hazard.

It further stated that nearly the entirety of the 100-foot tidal wetland buffer had been previously disturbed and was overgrown with invasive species, and that a portion of the site had fallen into disrepair . . . [and] has long been an attractive nuisance with a history of debris, homeless encampments, and crime, the court said.

Iron Horse proposed to provide stormwater treatment, which currently does not exist at the site, and to remove invasive species from the 100-foot wetland buffer and replant with a majority of native plants, the court said. Portions of the proposed buildings would encroach on the wetland buffer, but the application stated that the project would constitute an overall improvement to the wetland buffer by moving buildings and parking further away from North Mill Pond than is the case in the sites current condition.

The N.H. Supreme Court addressed the contention by the residents that the developers didnt meet in particular two of the criteria needed for a wetlands CUP.

The criteria for the CUP must show that there are no alternative locations outside the buffer that are feasible and reasonable for the project, according to the courts reading of the CUP criteria.

And the final proposed location for the development will have the least adverse impact to the environment, when compared to other locations, the court said.

The court ruling states that, during the Planning Board meeting where the project was approved, representatives of the developers stated it would have been economically infeasible for them to have erected their three buildings at a location outside the wetlands buffer.

The developers last iteration of the project  which was ultimately approved  showed the least amount of impact to the 100-foot wetland buffer, the court stated.

Reached Thursday afternoon, MacCallum said naturally I was unhappy with the decision. But he credited the states highest court with taking a detailed and thorough look at the appeal, even though the decision went against him and the residents.

The court understood the issues, it just came out on the other side of the issues than what I would have liked, he added. At this point Im afraid I did the best I could, I fought the good fight, but the fight is over."

He acknowledged he could file a motion for reconsideration with the state Supreme Court.

But he stated that after reading the courts decision, you can tell if I filed a motion for reconsideration, theres virtually no chance it would be granted.

The petitioners who filed the appeal to the Supreme Court are James A. Beal, Mary Beth Brady, Mark Brighton, Lenore Weiss Bronson, Nancy Brown, William R. Castle, Lawrence J. Cataldo, Ramona Charland, Lucinda Clarke, Fintan Connell, Marjorie P. Crean, Ilara Donarum, Joseph R. Famularo, Jr., Philippe Favet, Charlotte Gindele, Julia Gindele, Linda Griebsch, Catherine L. Harris, Roy W. Helsel, John E. Howard, Nancy B. Howard, Elizabeth Jefferson, Cate Jones, Robert McElwain, Mary Lou McElwain, Edward Rice, April Weeks, Michael Wierbonics and Lili Wierbonics.

The story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH court rules in favor of Portsmouth apartments on North Mill Pond
Interview: Belt & Road Initiative cements Africa-China cooperation, says South African lawmaker

Xinhua) 10:11, October 12, 2023

CAPE TOWN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has deepened Africa-China cooperation in various fields hence crucial for the relationship-building between the two sides, said Lechesa Tsenoli, deputy speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa.

In a recent interview with Chinese media, Tsenoli shared his insights on the significance of the initiative and its impact on the multifaceted relationship between China and African countries.

The initiative "magnifies the impact China is making on our relationship," Tsenoli said. "Indeed, it strengthens our ability to work together across the continent, as well as with China itself in a variety of areas."

He stressed the importance of the transportation infrastructure that has developed under the initiative, citing the railway lines that have been built in the African continent, such as the one between the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and the coastal city of Mombasa.

As of Aug. 31, the railway is operating an average of six passenger trains per day; a total of 11 million passengers have been carried, and the average occupancy rate is above 95 percent; an average of 17 freight trains operate daily, and a total of 28 million tonnes of goods have been transported, according to a white paper on the BRI released on Tuesday.

By June, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents, yielding a number of signature projects and small-scale yet impactful projects, said the white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future."

"The provision of infrastructure for the African Union ... is a significant thing that China is contributing towards," said Tsenoli, a respected figure in African politics.

The initiative "requires good country relationships" and its growing importance underscores the profound impact on nations that benefit from their association with China, said the politician.

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing from Oct. 17 to 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Wednesday.

It serves as a valuable mechanism for fostering relationships, not only for China but also for the Belt and Road countries, he said, adding that statistics are suggesting a growth in the quality and content of the relationship between Africa and China.

Africa and China, he said, can use their collective influence to "drive things for the better" for the continent in particular and the world in general.

He applauded the progress made in Africa-China collaboration on the global level, including in global organizations and other international forums. "We sing from the same song sheet, as I said."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Health authorities are encouraging parents to get their children immunised

More than 600 people, mostly children, have died of diphtheria in Nigeria since the current outbreak began in December 2022, officials say.

With 14,000 suspected cases, this outbreak is far worse than the last one in 2011 when 98 cases were reported.

Kano state, in northern Nigeria, is the epicentre, recording more than 500 deaths, but there has been a recent decline in active cases.

Diphtheria is highly contagious and affects the nose and throat.

It can also cause ulcers on the skin.

It is spread by coughs and sneezes or through close contact with someone who is infected, and in serious cases can be fatal.

It is preventable through vaccines, but many of the children who have died in Nigeria were unvaccinated, said Dr Faisal Shuaib, the head of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

During a visit to a diphtheria isolation centre in Kano city on Wednesday, he added: "Witnessing the young children suffering from this entirely preventable disease at the centre today was profoundly heart-wrenching."

The death toll has risen since 24 September, when the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 453 fatalities, and 11,587 suspected cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the fatality and infection rate may be higher due to low testing and the failure by some patients to report their symptoms.

But Dr Shuaib said that measures, including contact tracing, have contributed to a decline in the number of cases.

The outbreak has hit 19 of Nigeria's 36 states as well as the federal capital, Abuja.

The worst-affected states are all in the north - Kano, Yobe, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa and Kaduna.

Health authorities are rallying parents with unvaccinated or partly vaccinated children to get them immunised, insisting that it is the most powerful way of controlling the outbreak.

The WHO said that only 57% of Nigerians are immunised with the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against five life-threatening diseases, including diphtheria.

Nigeria must increase vaccinations to cover at least 80% of the population to prevent future diphtheria outbreaks, it added.

The last major outbreak in the country was in 2011, when 21 people died and 98 were infected in Borno state, the WHO said.
Warning: the following contains graphic descriptions of violence.

(NewsNation)  For seven hours, Lee Sasi hid in a bomb shelter and under dead bodies following an attack on an Israeli music festival Saturday when Hamas militants tore through the crowd, killing at least 260 people.

Sasi described it as a nightmare.

Everybody was dying in front of me, Sasi, an American woman from California, told NewsNations Chris Cuomo, who was reporting live from Israel on Tuesday.

Mother of Shani Louk, taken by Hamas, says her daughter is alive

She was among the survivors who were attending the Supernova music festival, where some 3,500 people gathered in the Reim kibbutz in southern Israel, only a few miles from the border with Gaza. Many are still missing, possibly captured and taken to Gaza.

When the attack first began Saturday morning with a barrage of rockets flying overhead, Sasi says she didnt know what was happening.

We arrived to the party and we were dancing and we were taking pictures and then we just saw, up in the sky, it looked like fireworks, Sasi said.

When they realized it wasnt, they fled the party to go to a nearby bomb shelter.

Then, she says, gunmen showed up.

What is Hamas and who leads it?

Our friend Alex who came with us, he stood up front, he guarded the entryway of the bomb shelter, and they immediately just started shooting at everyone who was in front; maybe 10 people fell down instantly in front of my eyes, Sasi said. After that, they were throwing grenades, and when the grenade fell, it blew up my uncle right in front of my face while he was protecting me.

Sasi is one of the many Israelis who have described the atrocities that occurred Saturday when Hamas launched the largest-scale attack on Israel the country has seen in decades. More than 1,000 Israelis have died in the attacks, and some 150 are believed to be held hostage in Gaza.

At the festival grounds, Sasi spent upwards of seven hours hiding under dead bodies as the sounds of explosions and gunfire rang out around her.

It felt like an eternity, she said. I feel deaf in my left ear, but Im so grateful to be alive.

President Joe Biden confirmed Tuesday that Americans are among the hostages. He vowed to provide Israel with whatever support it needs and condemned the attack, saying there is no justification for terrorism.

Hamas responded to Biden, saying his administration should review its biased position and move away from the policy of double standards over Palestinian rights to defend themselves against Israeli occupation.

A spokesman for Hamas characterized the incursion as a legitimate resistance in an interview Monday with NewsNation.

Chris Cuomo in Israel: This is a nation at war

Israeli rescue services say at least 260 bodies have been recovered from the site of the festival, but the death toll may rise as searches for the missing continue, Al Jazeera reported.

The attack is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history.

I hope the world can see this, and I hope this will make a difference, Sasi said of sharing her story of survival. It was a walking miracle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
SDEROTThe roads from Jerusalem to the Gaza border, about an hour and a half drive, were near deserted as the Israeli war with Hamas entered its fifth day. Israel is still recovering bodies from around the 25 mile perimeter of the Gaza Strip and counting more than 1,200 killed in a massive attack on October 7. However, the country now faces the unwelcome prospect of a two-front war. This was driven home to people on Wednesday evening, as sirens sounded throughout northern Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces ultimately said that the sirens were a malfunction. Nevertheless tens of thousands of people in communities near the Lebanon border had been sent scrambling for shelters and safe rooms. Following the initial report regarding a suspected infiltration from Lebanon into Israeli air space, all civilians in the areas where sirens were sounded are asked to enter shelters and stay in them until further notice, the IDF said. Residents in the north, speaking to Israeli television soon after the alert, said that they lack enough shelters and the shelters are sometimes far apart.

What It Feels Like to Survive the Massacre Hamas Unleashed at a Music Festival

Meanwhile in southern Israel, near Sderot, IDF soldiers said they identified a number of vehicles with terrorists in an area adjacent to Kibbutz Nir Am. An IDF tank responded by firing toward them. This is now the situation Israel faces. Israel has trained for a multi-front war for many years. It has also sought to train to make its army more efficient, using more technology and precision munitions, as well as artificial intelligence. However, the last five days have shaken confidence in these systems. Hamas used numerous small drones to neutralize observation sites around the Gaza border, rendering the IDF blind. Then fighters poured through, striking 29 locations in the fence. Israel had invested a billion dollars in a smart fence around the Gaza border. However, like the Maginot line, it turned out that massive investment could not always stop a determined enemy.

In Sderot, the result of the attack is still clear. In a community center the police have set up a temporary command post because the police station was attacked by 29 terrorists, they said. The terrorists took over the police station and it had to be demolished in order to root them out. I drove to the remains of the station, now a pile of rubble. The community center itself has been struck by a Hamas rocket recently. On Wednesday, Israels president came to the center and gave a brief speech after meeting first responders. He said that Israels spirit had awakened in the wake of the attack, which he compared to ISIS-like atrocities.

The awakened spirit was clearly evident in Sderot where hundreds of volunteers have streamed to help the local community of 30,000 residents. However, driving out of the city gives one a sense of foreboding. The roads are dark and lonely. There are few cars and the cars that do pass are mostly security vehicles or police. At the entrance to the city of Kiryat Gat, police have set up a checkpoint where the road branches into the city. They have M-4 rifles and are scanning cars.

While the alerts on Wednesday evening were a false alarm, Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire for several days. The IDF said that in response to the anti-tank missile fired at IDF soldiers a short while ago, an IDF aircraft struck a military observation post belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in southern Lebanon. Furthermore, IDF artillery struck the area from which the launch originated.

The Day Israel Changed Forever

These kinds of exchanges of fire are unprecedented. Generally, Israel and Hezbollah have refrained from clashes since the 2006 war. There have been several incidents, but the tensions have grown in the last week. The presence of a U.S. aircraft carrier off the coast, and attempts to manage the tensions with Hezbollah risk either a spillover or the chance that Hezbollah is not deterred from further action.

At a rally in Beirut this week, a senior Hezbollah official sent a message to the Palestinian people: Our hearts are with you. Our minds are with you. Our souls are with you. Our history and guns and our rockets are with you.

For several tense minutes on Wednesday. Israelis felt that the threat of a multi-front war, similar to 1973 or 1967, was upon them. That fear has not passed. Israel has prepared in the past to face multiple enemies on various fronts, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and also Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq. Israels Home Front Command has told me in the past that this would mean thousands of rockets fired a day and Israelis needing to be in shelters. This week the IDF reminded people they need to have 72 hours worth of goods ready to remain in their shelter for multiple days in a major war. While preparations for a multi-front war are one thing, the shock of October 7 has brought a feeling that Israel may not be as prepared as it said it was in the past. The reports of Israeli strikes in Syria on Thursday brought home the concerns about this multi-front threat.

With 300,000 soldiers called up in the wake of the Hamas attack, there is no shortage of force. However, the country has ground to a halt with flights canceled and many towns and cities deserted, as families stay home, close to their shelters.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Robert De Niro is issuing a dire warning against the country reelecting former President Trump, saying democracy wont survive the return of a wannabe dictator.

Ive spent a lot of time studying bad men, the Godfather actor said in a statement read by former Trump administration official Miles Taylor on Wednesday at The New Republics Stop Trump Summit in New York.

Ive examined their characteristics, their mannerisms, the utter banality of their cruelty. Yet theres something different about Donald Trump, De Niro said.

When I look at him, I dont see a bad man. Truly. I see an evil one.

Over the years Ive met gangsters here and there. This guy tries to be one, but he cant quite pull it off, De Niro said.

Even criminals usually have a sense of right and wrong. Whether they do the right thing or not is a different story, but they have a moral code, however warped, the statement from the 80-year-old Academy Award winner continued.

Donald Trump does not. Hes a wannabe tough guy. With no morals or ethics. No sense of right or wrong. No regard for anyone but himself: Not the people he was supposed to lead and protect, not the people he does business with, not the people who follow him blindly and loyally, not even the people who consider themselves as friends. He has contempt for all of them.

Criticizing the Trump administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, De Niro said, The man who was supposed to protect this country put it in peril because of his recklessness and impulsiveness. It was like an abusive father, ruling the family by fear and violent behavior.

Calling the 45th president a fool, De Niro urged Trumps critics not to write the 2024 White House hopeful off.

Evil thrives in the shadow of dismissive mockery, which is why we must take the danger of Donald Trump very seriously, De Niro, who said he was unable to attend the summit after testing positive for COVID-19, warned.

This is our last chance. Democracy wont survive the return of a wannabe dictator, and it wont overcome evil if we are divided.

But the performer  who famously received a standing ovation after cursing Trump onstage at the 2018 Tony Awards  encouraged the former commander in chiefs opponents not to be disparaging toward his supporters.

We have to reach out to half of the country who have ignored the hazards of Trump and, for whatever reason, support elevating him back into the White House.

Theyre not stupid and we must not condemn them for making a stupid choice, De Niro said.

In 2018, Trump dubbed De Niro a very low IQ individual, saying in a social media post that the film star had received [too] many shots to the head by real boxers in movies.

In his statement this week, the entertainer encouraged critics to reach out to Trumps followers with respect and without mentioning democracy since theyve already turned their backs on it.

Democracy may be our holy grail, he said, but, Lets talk about right and wrong. Lets talk about humanity. Lets talk about kindness, security for our world, safety for our families, decency.

Lets welcome them back, De Niro said.

We wont get them all, we can get enough to end the nightmare of Trump.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Fall enrollment at New Mexico State University-Alamogordo grew by 5.4% from prior year, the largest student enrollment growth across all of the university's community campuses, according to a census enrollment report by the university.

Alamogordo's campus reported a student enrollment of 1,088 for its fall semester, up from 1,032 in 2022, a growth of 56 students.

NMSU Community College Chancellor Monica Torres, in a NMSU newsroom article dated Sept. 6, 2023, said the COVID-19 pandemic was especially hard on community colleges like Alamogordo.

"There were severe enrollment loss at the NMSU community colleges during the pandemic," Torres is reported saying. "It was heartbreaking to see so many community college students lose valuable educational opportunities to the circumstances COVID dropped in our collective laps."

New Mexico State University reported an overall student population of 21,797 for its fall semester, a 2.8% increase from the previous year. In 2022 that number was 21,210.

More: After sizeable grant, Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range expanding and improving parking

State scholarship program contributes to NMSU system enrollment

NMSUs Vice President for Student Success Renay Scott reportedly said, in the same NMSU article, that New Mexico's Opportunity Scholarship had a positive impact on enrollment this year.

The Opportunity Scholarship helps cover tuition of New Mexico students pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree so long as they attend any of the public colleges or universities.

"Going to college is a full-time job for most students, and the Opportunity Scholarship has taken the pressure off for a lot of students who would otherwise have to take time off to save for tuition costs," Scott said.

More: Alamogordo Public School District awarded nearly $30,000 in Juul settlement

Associate Director of NMSU's Center for Academic Advising and Student Support Marissa Fowler said the Opportunity Scholarship allowed students who may have had trouble financing their studies to return to the classroom.

"Knowing they have secured funding to help with their tuition lets them take the nervous leap of returning to school," Fowler said. "Its especially impactful that students can still utilize the Opportunity Scholarship and attend part-time."

Mark Cal, vice president for academic affairs and associate campus director at NMSU-Alamogordo, said that the campus has 219 Opportunity Scholarship students.

"You know the Opportunity Scholarship is great because a lot of students who dropped out during the pandemic have returned and still can return," Cal said. "Our average age for students is 26 and a half years of age and the Opportunity Scholarship is cut off at 27 so, it really covering a great chunk of our returning students."

Cal said those students alone account for $319,000 in scholarship monies.

"They get to finish those degrees they were working on or even start something new," Cal said. "But more importantly they can graduate and enter the work force which is what everyone wants."

Credit hours increase at Alamogordo NMSU campus

NMSU-Alamogordo reported a rise in the enrolled student credit hours. After students have enrolled at NMSU and register for courses, the credit hours, whether online or in person, are logged for the enrolled student credit hours used in the census report.

Alamogordo's community college reported an 11.2% increase in the number of enrolled credit hours.

The number of classes the students enrolled in jumped by 780 classes since fall of 2022.

In 2022, NMSU-Alamogordo reported 6,947 enrolled student credit hours. For the fall of 2023, NMSU-Alamogordo reported 7,727 student credit hours, the highest reported at the campus the last three years.

NMSU-Alamogordo faced some of the lowest enrolled student credit hours during the pandemic with only 6,394 during fall of 2020 and a dip in 2021 to 6,355. Those years the Alamogordo campus had the lowest enrolled student credit hours across NMSU campuses.

Cal said the university is eager to introduce more programs to students interested in enrolling in future semesters.

"We have some programs in the works that we won't bring to light just yet," Cal said. "But we want to be able to introduce more programs to students with that persistence to finish college. With more students enrolled in classes, we can see the interest to learn, and we can introduce more programs to students growing in say the law enforcement field, medical field and even business management."

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: NMSU-Alamogordo student enrollment grows by 5.4%
It was hardly out of character for Donald Trump . But in the pantheon of unforced errors, criticizing Benjamin Netanyahu and praising Hezbollah days after the worst terror attack in the nations 75-year history would seem to rank right up there.

By Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Tim Scott had all lit into Trump for calling Hezbollah very smart and saying the Israeli prime minister let us down. The White House called Trumps comments dangerous and unhinged.

If Trumps many past controversial statements are any indication, he may ultimately pay little price for it. Trump has criticized Netanyahu before.

But never days after such a flagrant attack on Israel. And in a primary where lower-polling rivals have been mostly cautious in their criticisms of the frontrunner, Trumps remarks on Wednesday offered, at a minimum, an opening.

This is no time for any former president or any other American leader to be sending any message other than America stands with Israel, Pence said on a New Hampshire radio station on Thursday morning.



Hezbollah aren't smart, theyre evil, Pence said on News Radio 610 ahead of a two-day campaign swing in New Hampshire. But the former president also said when Russia invaded Ukraine in a similar, unprovoked, unconscionable invasion a year-and-a-half ago, he said Vladimir Putin was a genius.

Trumps remarks were in line with his past criticisms of Netanyahu. His praise for Hezbollah recalled his one-time description of Kim Jong Un as a very talented man and ISIS leaders as very smart.

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, said Thursday that Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack.

Smart does not equal good, he said. It just proves Biden is stupid.

But the timing of Trumps Wednesday night address  in his first extended remarks on Israel, and with the world still shaken by the attack  came as a jolt to the campaign.

The same night Trump spoke in Florida, DeSantis posted on X that it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel. Then, campaigning in New Hampshire on Thursday, he tore into Trump again.

Now is not the time to be doing like what Donald Trump did by attacking Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, attacking Israels defense minister, saying somehow that Hezbollah were very smart," DeSantis said. "We need to all be on the same page. Now is not the time to air personal grievances about an Israeli prime minister. Now is the time to support their right to defend themselves to the hilt.

Speaking to reporters at a campaign stop in Newton, Iowa, Scott remarked that Trump must "disagree" with Psalm 122:6, which instructs people of faith to pray for peace in Israel.

"I don't know where he's coming from," Scott said of Trump. "He's just wrong."

At a town hall in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley said, "I dont want to hear how great Hezbollah is. I dont want to see him congratulate the communist party anymore. I dont want to see him hitting Netanyahu."

Christie, Trump's fiercest critic in the GOP presidential field, posted a video clip of Trump's remarks on X, writing that "all decent Americans understand" that the country should be supporting Israel.

"But not Donald Trump. What does he do?" Christie wrote. "He praises the murderers and attacks Israel over petty personal grievances."

And the pile-on didnt stop there. While filing to run in the presidential primary in New Hampshire, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum also condemned Trumps comments.

Now is not the time, 24 hours in, Burgum said at the statehouse in Concord, when asked about Trumps criticism of Netanyahu, when weve got Americans who have been taken hostage, Americans who have been killed.

He noted that America itself had experienced intelligence failures on 9/11 and with Pearl Harbor, and dismissed Trump as a critic on the sidelines.

Asked about Trumps smart comment on Hezbollah, Burgum said he would call them barbaric and inhumane.

But I dont think I would characterize them in any positive fashion, he continued. Not when you see this incredible ability to conduct atrocities that most of us would find unthinkable and unimaginable.

Of the presidential contenders, only Vivek Ramaswamy defended Trump.

Its laughable theyre going after Trump for saying the wrong thing when he actually *did* more for U.S.-Israel relations than any other U.S. President in modern history, Ramaswamy said in a statement to POLITICO.

Every single Republican presidential candidate is clearly pro-Israel. The real divide is between those of us who are clearly pro-America & there are really only two America-First candidates in this race.

At the White House, deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said, We dont comment on 2024.

But on Trump, he said, Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged. Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel. Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history. This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil. Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

Sally Goldenberg and Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

(Reuters) - The U.S. military is placing no conditions on its security assistance to Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday, adding Washington expected Israel's military to "do the right things" in prosecuting its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The United States has been rushing air defenses and munitions to Israel as it unleashes the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year-old history of its conflict with the Palestinians. Israel is vowing to annihilate Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, following the militants' weekend attack.

"In terms of conditions that we would place on the security assistance that we're providing to Israel, we have not placed any conditions on the provision of this equipment," Austin said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"This is a professional military, led by professional leadership, and we would hope and expect that they would do the right things in the prosecution of their campaign," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel said there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its siege of Gaza until the freeing of all the hostages held by Hamas. This followed a Red Cross plea to allow for the entry of fuel to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from "turning into morgues".

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv to show solidarity, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that America would always be by Israel's side.

Since the Hamas attack, the U.S. military has sought to deter other Israeli adversaries by moving assets into the region that include the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which has arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The force includes the carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers.

The United States also bolstered U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

Austin said the United States had seen no indications that Lebanon's Hezbollah militants were amassing to potentially attack Israel, widening the conflict.

"We've not seen any massing of forces along the border," Austin said. "This is something that the Israelis are focused on. We are also looking for additional things that could widen the conflict here and hopefully, we won't see those things."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Howard Goller)
Jose Vazquez, a member of Sonido Vazquez, DJs at the Diaz Ordaz Market in Monterrey de Nuevo Leon. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

When Yadira Ayala was a child, she walked along one of the many dirt paths on Cerro Loma Larga to her grandmother's home. She lived on the hill next to Ayalas house in Colonia Independencia, a working-class neighborhood in northern Mexico.

The industrial city of Monterrey sits at the foot of the vast mountain, and on the other side is San Pedro Garza Garcia, one of the wealthiest municipalities in Latin America. With this privileged view, Ayalas grandmother warned her as she gazed at the top of the hill: Cuidado, here comes the rich.

I remember my grandmother saying, 'Ay, mija, they want to remove us from here because they want to build elegant houses,' Ayala, now 43, recalls.

Yadira Ayala is a resident of the Tanques de Guadalupe neighborhood. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

Her abuelitas premonition wasnt too far off from what was to come.

In the last decade, the state government and developers have targeted the Loma Larga, a natural border between Monterrey and San Pedro, to build road links and luxury housing.

A view of homes in Tanques de Guadalupe and Independencia. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

La Indepe, in part because of its geographic location, has been persecuted by various actors, from state builders and the church to organized crime and the government. However, beneath the stigma of poverty and violence imposed on La Indepe lies a network of neighborhood solidarity, a model of community life that is under constant threat, and mucha cumbia that keeps arriving from Colombia.

::

On a hot Sunday morning in September, a group of about twenty people gathered in front of the mercado Diaz Ordaz. They arrived for a special baile held in benefit of sonidero Tongo de Valleverde, who is in need of a prosthesis. A sonidero is a combination of a DJ and MC who plays various subgenres of cumbia, salsa and other regional genres.

An old-school sound system blasts porros, gaitas and cumbias colombianas, while residents sell secondhand clothes, tostadas and old records.

Attendees watch a dance with sonideros at the Diaz Ordaz market. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los Jorge Solis Hernandez, owner of the Discos Viniles LP store inside the Diaz Ordaz Market. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los Maikle Guitierrez, A vendor at the market sells shirts and records. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los

Jose Vazquez takes an album from a box of vinyl records and puts it on the turntable. A tropical rhythm fills the atmosphere. Some of the men wearing colorful sombreros vueltiao move their hips from side to side as they drink beer under the Puente del Papa (named after the visit of Pope John Paul II to the city in 1979), which connects downtown Monterrey to La Indepe.

La Colonia Independencia is the mother of all the neighborhoods in Monterrey, Vazquez said.

Diaz Ordaz Market located in the Independencia neighborhood. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los Raul Becerra of Sonido Rena y Hermanos plays vinyl during a dance event at Mercado Diaz Ordas . Velia de la Cruz / For De Los A couple dances during a sonideros event at the Diaz Ordaz Market. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los Two couples dance during a sonideros event at the Diaz Ordaz Market. Velia de la Cruz/For De Los

La Indepe was originally called Barrio San Luisito because it was built by domestic rural migrants, mainly from the central state of San Luis Potosi, who came to build the foundations of the city. It is also known as La Colombia Chiquita because of its connection to the barrios in Colombia. The cumbia and vallenato that blare from the speakers in the barrios of Barranquilla or Medellin can also be heard in the streets of La Indepe.

We even share the mountains with Colombia, Vazquez said.

Read more: Afro Salvadorans faced erasure. Now they are reclaiming their place in the country's history

To outsiders, La Indepe is a settlement of colorful houses spread over several hills between the Rio Santa Catarina, a mostly dry river that runs through the city, and the top of the Loma Larga. It is considered one of the most violent and dangerous neighborhoods in Monterrey. For residents, La Indepe has several barrios: Tanques de Guadalupe, America 2, Ciudad Perdida (La Cima), and dozens of others. They are neighborhoods built from the ground up by their own residents with a strong sense of community ownership.

Yasodari Sanchez, a researcher from La Indepe, has continued the tradition of the sonideros as a space to strengthen the community. Once a month, she tries to organize charity dances to support someone in the community. While people listen to the sounds of the various sonideros, Sanchez collects money in a water jug.

Yasodari Sanchez, a 46-year-old artist, academic and documentary filmmaker, poses for a portrait at the Diaz Ordaz Market. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

It may be something exceptional in other places, but here sonideros have always been part of community building, Sanchez said. The sonideros have always been an axis in supporting health contingencies, but also in other actions such as when we discussed the tunnel project.

Years ago, the government proposed a link between San Pedro and downtown Monterrey without consulting residents. United under the slogan La Indepe is not for sale, residents blocked main avenues and protested in front of the government palace. Ramiro Gamez of Sonido Gamez said that when they realized many residents would be evicted, the sonideros joined, bringing along their most precious companera: la cumbia colombiana.

Read more: These Indigenous people are fighting to keep their languages alive

All of Monterrey knows that the Colonia Independencia is the cradle of the sonideros, Medrano said. So since the Independencia was protesting, we brought the sound system and the cumbia. This is our tradition.

The project was stopped by a judicial action and a government environmental study that determined that the Cerro Loma Larga has areas of flora and fauna at risk. Ericka Charles, one of the organizers and spokesperson of the neighborhood council, said that in a place like La Indepe, coming together for a common cause was the natural thing to do since almost everyone knows one another.

Ericka Charles is a resident of the Independencia neighborhood. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

I believe that the most valuable thing here in this neighborhood is the unity that exists among the people, Charles said. There is a lot of carino between people.

::

On the San Pedro side, luxury residential towers and gated communities are moving closer to Ciudad Perdida, one of the neighborhoods at the top of the city's hill. Once the roads leading to these complexes finish, the pavement ends and the dirt road begins. The water and power supply also end there.

The poor infrastructure in the higher elevated neighborhoods is mainly due to negligence, according to residents.

Many of the streets in the Tanques de Guadalupe neighborhood are long slopes. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

Laura Marin, who lives in one of the last houses on the hill, is surprised that the buildings she sees from her porch have these services.

How do they have [these services] and we don't? Every time we ask [authorities] to regularize our services, they tell us that we live too high up, Marin said.

Read more: Remembering the Tlatelolco massacre, and the questions that remain

However, the elevation of the neighborhood was not an obstacle when it came to erecting a sculpture of the Virgen de Guadalupe, 12 meters high and weighing four tons. This was the beginning of a religious tourism project, led by the Archdiocese of Monterrey and supported by the state government, that mobilized Marin at the risk of being displaced. Most of the houses in the community are considered irregular settlements, and most families do not have title deeds.

The land belongs to those who work it, said Marin, quoting Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. We have been here for years since our families came.

Symbols of resistance are painted in various locations of La Indepe. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

Marin contacted Charles to join the protests against the church project, but the community didnt respond in the same way. La Indepe is home to the Basilica of the Virgen de Guadalupe, which every Dec. 12 receives thousands of parishioners who come to sing her the mananitas. Marin joined a couple of protests but was afraid of becoming too visible.

It wasnt for me. I saw that in the newspaper they generalized a lot, Marin said about the attention the protests were receiving. I felt like they were trampling on one's dignity.

To get to Ciudad Perdida, visitors can walk up long staircases, or take a taxi  also called piratas  which travel through the narrow and steep streets. On the way up, at the various lookout points, there are young boys with walkie-talkies  called halcones  who have been recruited as organized crime spotters to warn of intruders.

A steep staircase in the Tanques de Guadalupe neighborhood. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

Men in bulletproof vests roam the streets carrying military-grade weapons, while children play and residents make their way to the bus stop to get to work.

This led Marin to believe there was another way to connect with her community besides protests. Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, she hosts a small group of children, ages 6 to 13, to teach them music, arts and crafts, or whatever they feel like doing.

On a Tuesday in September, three girls and two boys sat on the porch of Marin's house and traced animal drawings from an old coloring book.

Read more: Operation Lone Star transformed this Texas border town, but the battle didn't start there

"I want to give all the options to the children so that they can see. And from now on they can start thinking: 'I want to do this, I want to do that,' Marin said.

For years, Marin made and sold cakes. In addition to cleaning houses, she dedicated herself to creating the best cake designs for birthdays, quinces and weddings. Together with her husband who works in construction, they have focused on giving their two daughters a college education.

::

With her grandmothers words echoing in her head, Ayala joined the art collective Desde el rio hasta la loma, where her children participated in a workshop called Lxs Ninxs de la Resistencia. Created by local artists Julio Cisneros, Daniel Hernandez and professor Luz Veronica Gallegos, this workshop teaches the richness of the hills habitat.

The workshops were about feeling proud of the neighborhood, knowing that we have the right to be here, to stay here, Hernandez said.

Ayala, Hernandez and other members of the collective organize cultural activities every month such as craft workshops and mural painting. Sometimes the community supports them with materials, or they organize dances to raise funds.

Libertad Chavez prepares glue that will be used in the design of the mural by the collective Desde el rio hasta la loma. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los Daniel Hernandez participates in the creation of a mural in the Tanques de Guadalupe. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los Mural made by the Desde el rio hasta la loma collective. Velia de la Cruz / For De Los

Its a constant struggle, Ayala said. But our idea is to transmit this to the new generation. That is the answer.

From above, the Loma Larga looks like a safe haven. The presence of armed people in some parts is the loudest silence for residents, and a reminder that the so-called war on drugs has crept into the daily lives of the most impoverished. Its also the only security in the neighborhood.

A view of the Alfonso Reyes neighborhood seen from the top of the Tanques de Guadalupe neighborhood. (Velia de la Cruz / For De Los)

The ones before were worse, Marin said. At least these ones dont mess with us.

Collective actions, Marin claims, have regained a greater voice. While some go to work or pick up the children from school, others wearily go up the hill, carrying market bags or materials for the next kids' workshop.

Some people rest outside the corner store and drink a Coca-Cola or a caguama with the panoramic view spread out before them. The cumbia, like an anthem that renews, starts to play. Tomorrow they will go back down to the city and do the same thing again.

Chantal Flores is an independent journalist based in Monterrey, Mexico. She covers the issue of enforced disappearance in Latin America and the Balkans, as well as gender, violence and social justice.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The University of Notre Dame has temporarily halted its study abroad program in Jerusalem, and has moved its students to other "International locations" amid the escalating war between Israeli forces and Hamas, officials said Tuesday.

University President Rev. John I. Jenkins , said the school has suspended its study abroad program at the University of Notre Dame at Tantur (UNDT), which is home of the Jerusalem Global Gateway undergraduate program and the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in the holy city.

STATE DEPARTMENT EXPLORES OPTIONS TO GET US CITIZENS OUT OF ISRAEL WARZONE

The University of Notre Dame on Tuesday said it was suspending its study abroad program in Jerusalem as Israel and Hamas wage war against each other.

"Given the current situation in Israel, we have relocated our students who were studying in Jerusalem to other Notre Dame International locations," Jenkins said. "We will continue to support our relocated students and ensure that their transitions are as smooth as possible."

Jenkins didn't say how many students were impacted or where they were taken.

On its website, the University of Notre Dame at Tantur is described as a "community of students, faculty, scholars, and pilgrims who seek to deepen their worldview by experiencing firsthand the richness and complexity of life in the Middle East."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A man carrying a box leaves a bombed area following overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Wednesday, the fifth day of continuing battles between Israel and the Hamas movement.

The move comes as Israel has pummeled the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip for a fifth day after Saturday's deadly attacks on Israeli civilians. Hamas fighters launched a multipronged assault in southern Israel by air, land and sea, killing and kidnapping civilians.

Israel has responded with airstrikes in what is widely believed to be in preparation for a ground attack. In addition, thousands of reservists have been called up as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a "complete siege" on Gaza.

Israel has also cut off electricity, food, water and fuel to the densely populated area.

Israeli soldiers take a break as they hold a position along the Israel-Gaza border on Wednesday.

The war has claimed at least 1,900 lives on both sides thus far.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Saddened by the outbreak of war in the Holy Land, I join with many in abhorring the killing of non-combatants and I echo the Holy Father's call to pray for all victims of the current conflict, for an end to the cycle of violence, and for a lasting peace with justice," Jenkins said.





Original article source: Notre Dame halts study abroad program in Jerusalem, moves students amid war between Israel, Hamas
'Only the beginning' says Netanyahu as Israel makes first raids into Gaza

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli infantry made their first raids into the Gaza Strip on Friday since Hamas fighters rampaged through southern Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a campaign of retaliation had only just begun.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters burst out of Gaza a week ago and stormed through towns and villages, killing 1,300 Israelis, mainly civilians, and making off with scores of hostages.

Since then Israel has placed the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. Gaza authorities say 1,900 people have died.

On Friday Israel gave more than a million residents of the northern half of Gaza 24 hours to flee to the south to avoid an onslaught. Hamas vowed to fight to the last drop of blood and told residents not to go.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said troops backed by tanks had mounted raids to attack Palestinian rocket crews and seek information on the location of hostages, the first official account of ground troops in Gaza since the crisis began.

"We are striking our enemies with unprecedented might," Netanyahu said in a brief statement which, unusually, was televised after the Jewish Sabbath had begun. "I emphasise that this is only the beginning."

Several thousand Gaza residents took to roads heading out of the northern part of the Gaza Strip, but it was impossible to assess their numbers. Many others said they would not leave.

"Death is better than leaving," said Mohammad, 20, standing in the street outside a building reduced to rubble in an earlier Israeli air strike near the centre of Gaza.

Mosques broadcast the message: "Hold on to your homes. Hold on to your land".

We tell the people of northern Gaza and from Gaza City, stay put in your homes, and your places," Eyad Al-Bozom, spokesman for the Hamas Interior Ministry, told a news conference.

Gaza authorities said 70 people were killed and 200 were wounded when Israel struck cars and trucks carrying people fleeing the north of the strip for the south. Reuters could not independently verify the reported incident.

The United Nations and other organisations warned of a disaster if so many people were forced to flee, and said the siege of the enclave should be lifted to let in aid.

The situation in Gaza has reached a "a dangerous new low", U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday. "We need immediate humanitarian access throughout Gaza, so that we can get fuel, food and water to everyone in need. Even wars have rules."

Earlier, a U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it would impossible for Gazans to obey Israel's order to leave the north without "devastating humanitarian consequences", prompting a rebuke from Israel that the U.N. should condemn Hamas and support Israel's right to self-defence.

"The noose around the civilian population in Gaza is tightening. How are 1.1 million people supposed to move across a densely populated war zone in less than 24 hours?" U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths wrote on social media.

'DISTANCE YOURSELVES FROM HAMAS'

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said such a huge evacuation was a "tall order", but that Washington would not second guess Israel's decision to tell civilians to get out.

"We understand what they're trying to do and why they're trying to do this - to try to isolate the civilian population from Hamas, which is their real target," he said on MSNBC.

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority that is a rival of Hamas, told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jordan that the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza would constitute a repeat of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from what is now Israel. Most Gazans are the descendants of such refugees.

Gaza is already one of the most crowded places on earth, and for now there is no way out. Israel has imposed a total blockade, and Egypt, which also has a border with the enclave, has so far resisted calls to open it to fleeing residents.

'I PROMISE YOU WE WILL WIN'

Hamas issued a video on Friday purporting to show its fighters cuddling a baby and a toddler in one of the villages it ransacked. Israel has said entire families were slaughtered.

"We are fighting for our home. We are fighting for our future," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said, meeting U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who came to Israel a day after a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "The path will be long, but ultimately I promise you we will win."

Austin said military aid was flowing into Israel but that this was the time for resolve and not revenge.

On Friday Blinken travelled to Jordan where he met King Abdullah as well as Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank but lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007. Blinken later travelled to Qatar, a U.S. ally with influence among Islamist groups.

In the West Bank, demonstrators supporting Gaza fought gun battles with Israeli security forces. Palestinian officials said 11 people were shot dead.

There have also been fears of hostilities spreading to new fronts, including Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where clashes this week have already been the deadliest since 2006.

Reuters news videographer Issam Abdallah was killed on Friday while working in southern Lebanon. Reuters said it was seeking more information and working with the authorities in the region.

Earlier, Reuters reported that Israeli shelling had struck a Lebanese army observation post at the border. The Israeli military said it fired in response to a suspected armed infiltration, which it later said had been a false alarm. Lebanese state media reported that shells struck near Alma Al-Shaab and Dhayra, sites of repeated clashes in the past week.

Israel's U.N. envoy said it would investigate what had happened in the area following the journalist's death.

"We always try to mitigate and avoid civilian casualties. Obviously, we would never want to hit or kill or shoot any journalist that is doing its job," Gilad Erdan said.

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar, Dedi Hayun, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie in Jerusalem, Michelle Nichols in New York, Emma Farge in Geneva, Jeff Mason in Washington, Humeyra Pamuk in Tel Aviv, Steve Gorman and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles and Emma Farge in Geneva; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Viewership of NPRs digital journalism has decreased only slightly as a result of the companys decision to get off X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

According to an internal audience metrics memo sent to NPR staffers in August that was obtained by The Hill, the organization has seen what its leaders said was an expected small decline in audience relative to our owned and operated, such as NPR.org.

Before the April 5 decision, Twitter referrals made up less than 2 percent of NPR.orgs audience, the company said, with a majority coming from its primary news accounts: @npr and @nprpolitics.

The audience metrics memo was first reported on by the journalism think tank Nieman Lab at Harvard University.

In the months after what the company is calling Twexit, NPR has seen a 1 percentage point decline in total weekly users to its website, which it attributed to the decision to get off the platform.

The public broadcaster said in April it would let its accounts go dormant and no longer publish its journalism on X, citing a decision at the time by CEO Elon Musk to label NPR as state-affiliated media.

Musk has come under a wave of criticism from tech and media watchdogs for the changes he has made to the platforms content moderation policies and free speech practices.

We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the publics understanding of our editorial independence, NPR said in a statement announcing the decision.

The change in NPRs strategy also comes as news publishers across the industry work to adapt to changing news consumption habits and evolving avenues to reach audiences on different platforms.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A day after a permit for nuclear disposal in southeast New Mexico was issued, workers at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant were ready to begin mining new space for the waste.

The New Mexico Environment Department on Oct. 4 issued a 10-year renewal of the operations permit for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant after months of public input and mediation between the State of New Mexico and federal government.

The agencies signed a settlement agreement June 23, and issued a draft of the permit Aug. 15.

NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said the new permit would protect New Mexico from risks associated with hosting the WIPP site, the U.S.' only underground repository for nuclear materials, amid national efforts to clean up the waste at facilities across the nation.

The new permit will benefit New Mexico and legacy waste clean-up from around the U.S. for years to come, Kenney said in a Thursday statement.

A worker walks through the mine on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, NM.

A day after the permit was issued, the Carlsbad Current-Argus was granted a tour of the WIPP facility, observing progress on capital projects and waste disposal since the last time reporters were granted access in 2021.

Here's what reporters learned on the tour.

More space for nuclear waste means more air needs in the underground

The renewal added language to permit allowing two new disposal panels to be mined into the underground salt formation where WIPP permanently buries waste about 2,000 feet underground.

More: Here's how much of Idaho's nuclear waste was disposed of in southeast New Mexico

Mining those areas can begin 30 days after the permit was issued on Nov. 3.

Ahead of the disposal panels themselves, work was already underway to mine access drifts that will connect them to the rest of the underground, and tie into a new utility shaft that will draw air into the mine.

That air will be exhausted in a 131-foot shaft after passing a series of fans and filtration buildings known as the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS), which WIPP officials said during a Thursday site tour was about 79 percent complete.

More: New Mexico's nuclear waste operations called into question during public forum in Carlsbad

Congress set a deadline of June 2026 to finish the project, which will more than triple available airflow in the underground, while lead contractor Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) plans to have it done a year earlier.

When operational, the SSCVS will provide about 540,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at full capacity, likely running at about 70,000 cfm during normal operations.

It includes 22 high efficiency particulate (HEPA) air filters, that will extract moisture and salt from the air brought through the mine, in a building known as the New Filter Building (NFB).

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is pictured on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Carlsbad, NM.

More: New nuclear waste rules stricter for Carlsbad area facility. Will New Mexico enforce?

By the time air reaches the Salt Reduction Building (SRB), there will be no contamination as demisters and de-dusters will pull moisture and other particulates out of the air.

In the event of a radiological release, the SRB will be shut down and air will go straight to the filters in the New Filter Building.

WIPP spokesman Bobby St. John said during the tour that airflow was crucial to the continued activity and increasing size of the mine.

Adding space does not expand WIPP's mission, officials say

More: Trinity Site downwinders call on US House to pass nuclear reparations for New Mexico

The two new panels will act as replacement space lost in 2014 during an accidental radiological release, as WIPP emplaces waste toward its limit of 6.2 million cubic feet under the Land Withdrawal Act (LWA).

But a bigger site needs more airflow, St. John said.

You can see how much more space weve mined, he said. Thats why airflow is so important. Air is the lifeblood of the underground. It gives us the ability to do waste emplacement and mining.

More: Feds ramp up project sending nuke weapons waste from South Carolina to site near Carlsbad

Each panel takes up to three years to fill, barring any incidents like in 2014.

That event led to a three-year shutdown and meant Panel 7 took more time to fill.

But the final panel permitted under the previous contract Panel 8 is about 21 percent full, with a room and a half of seven full, St. John said, and the next two will likely be ready about three months before they are needed.

More: Feds ramp up project sending nuke weapons waste from South Carolina to site near Carlsbad

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is pictured on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, in Carlsbad, NM.

Adding two more panels is not an expansion of WIPPs mission to meet its volumetric limit, St. John said, but a means to ensure that mission is met.

(The LWA) is based on volume, he said. It doesnt say time or space, it says volume. Were not expanding. What were doing is creating additional disposal space. Its completing the mission we were given by Congress.

Should that capacity be expanded, a mov that would take an act of Congress to amend the federal law, the new permit also contained language allowing the State of New Mexico to revoke it.

More: New Mexico lawmakers discuss nuclear impacts during meeting at Los Alamos National Lab

This was intended by the State to ensure WIPP is limited, thus limiting the risk to New Mexico.

At a Tuesday public meeting, Ryan Flynn with SIMCO said he was unsure how long it would take the facility to meet the limit, with some estimates shifting the closure date out as late as 2080.

Focusing on the time in terms of the life of the facility, is really the wrong the focus. We have a volumetric capacity under the LWA. Our mission is to continue to operate safely until we reach that limit, he said when questioned about WIPPs likely lifespan.

The life of our facility is established under the volumetric capacity under the LWA. I cant really say how long it will take to achieve that mission.

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: More space to be mined at WIPP for nuclear waste disposal in November
NYPD officer loses finger after being bitten by reckless driving suspect (AFP via Getty Images)

A New York Police Department officer lost his left ring finger, after it was bitten off to the knuckle by a drunken man accused of reckless driving.

Lenni Rodriguez Cruz, 28, was arrested after a high-speed chase during which he allegedly mounted a curb, drove through a park, ran through 20 red lights and crashed into four vehicles.

A Brooklyn man was arraigned today, accused of leading police on an extended high-speed car chase through a public park and 20 red lights, as well as injuring a motorist and a police officer whose fingertip he is alleged to have bitten off. https://t.co/ZsPkVWkruz  Queens DA Katz (@QueensDAKatz) October 11, 2023

When officers pulled Mr Cruz out of his crashed car, he had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred his speech and his breath smelled of alcohol, according to a press release from the QueensDistrict Attorneys office.

After being taken to a local police station, Mr Cruz hit, spat on and then bit off the tip of a police officers finger. The sergeant required stitches and a revision amputation, leaving him without the use of his finger down to his first knuckle.

According to the DA, Cruz was arraigned Wednesday on a 15-count indictment, with charges including assault on a police officer, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a licence.

District Attorney Melinda Katz said: The rule of law, and the officers who enforce it, will be respected.

The defendant is accused of recklessly putting countless lives at grave risk, injuring a motorist and causing a grievous permanent injury to a police officer. The dangerous lawlessness seen here simply will not be tolerated or excused.

If convicted, Mr Cruz faces up to 25 years in prison. Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino ordered him to return to court on November 15.
OAKLAND, Calif. - An Oakland police officer has been placed on leave for sexual misconduct.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the victim first met the unidentified officer through a dating app last year. The officer allegedly pulled up in his marked police SUV and in uniform to the victim's home in East Oakland.

"I didn't really want to, but I was like sure, whatever," the victim said, according to the Chronicle.

That same day, a complaint was filed by the victim's sister. The complaint said the officer violated state policy related to sexual activity while on duty.

In a statement to KTVU, the Oakland Police Department said they launched an investigation into the matter "immediately" after learning about the allegations and placed the officer on administrative leave where he remains.

Because it's a personnel matter, the department said they won't comment further.

It is against state law for any police officer to engage in sexual acts while on duty.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) spoke out Thursday against Israels plans to block electricity, water and fuel from Gaza, calling it a collective punishment and a violation of international law.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz this week vowed to cut off energy supplies to the isolated Palestinian territory until Hamas militants from the region free Israeli hostages theyve taken amid one of the groups most brutal attacks on the Jewish country in decades.

We cannot starve nearly a million children to death over the horrific actions of Hamas, whose disregard for Israeli, Palestinian, and human life overall could not be more clear, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This is collective punishment and a violation of international law.



We cannot starve nearly a million children to death over the horrific actions of Hamas, whose disregard for Israeli, Palestinian, and human life overall could not be more clear.



We must draw a line. https://t.co/pUvgmm7AGW  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 12, 2023

Because of Israels land, air and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated places in the world, its residents rely entirely on fuel that must pass through Israel to reach them. The same goes for food, clean water, medical supplies and other essentials.

As of Wednesday, Gaza is without power after its sole power station ran out of fuel, the head of the territorys power authority told CNN.

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that Israels blockade will have devastating consequences for Palestinians.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni said Thursday. Families in Gaza are already having trouble accessing clean water. No parent wants to be forced to give a thirsty child dirty water.

Carboni added that the ICRC is in touch with both Hamas and Israeli officials to facilitate a solution.

The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians, he said.

Related...
Four Ocean Springs residents and Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church are suing the city of Ocean Springs, saying they were blindsided by an urban renewal plan that could cost them their homes, a business and church property.

The church and three of the residents own property in the historically Black Railroad District downtown. Two of the homes have been in the same families for six generations each, while a combat veteran owns a third home he bought for his family in the 1970s.

The Board of Aldermen on April 4 approved six urban renewal areas in the city, including the Railroad District properties, declaring them slum or blighted. They would be eligible for restoration or redevelopment under an urban renewal plan that Mayor Kenny Holloways administration is proposing.

The plan provides scant details on what the city intends to do with properties in the areas, the civil-rights lawsuit says, also noting none of the property owners who are suing want to sell their homes, business or, in the churchs case, land.

The aldermen established the urban renewal areas without notifying property owners, who then had only 10 days to appeal under state law. Residents fear the city will use the designation to take their properties by force through eminent domain. Although Holloway says that wont happen, the citys actions are following a process that would allow property redevelopment and make funds available to assist.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, says the states legal process for designating urban renewal areas violates the 14th amendment to the constitution by denying residents the right to be heard before being deprived of their property.

The city also violated the residents rights by establishing the urban renewal areas without proper notice and without evidence of slum or blighted conditions, the lawsuit says.

Holloway released a statement about the lawsuit Thursday evening, saying state Attorney General Lynn Fitch will address claims about the states urban renewal statutes. But that the city has not violated anyones rights.

It is unfortunate that our residents have chosen to file a lawsuit instead of having a constructive discussion with the city, Holloways statement said. I have personally invited residents to my office to explain and answer questions. I have addressed the concerns regarding eminent domain. We have given the option that residents can remove their property from the proposed plan.

What Ocean Springs residents want

Ocean Springs attorney Elizabeth Feder-Hosey and the Institute for Justice in Arlington, Virginia, filed the lawsuit. They are asking a judge to declare invalid the aldermens vote that established the urban renewal areas. They also want the state law governing the process deemed unconstitutional.

In addition, they are asking the judge to prevent the city from establishing any urban renewal plan based on the April 4 vote and from establishing future urban renewal areas without proper notice to residents. They also want the city to pay their attorneys fees, expenses and nominal damages of $1.

The Sun Herald will have more from a news conference the group is holding at 11 a.m. Thursday at Macedonia Baptist Church.

The individuals who have filed the lawsuit are Cynthia Fisher, whose family has owned a home downtown on Robinson Street for six generations; Esther Faye Payton, who owns a home downtown on Cash Alley that has been in the family for six generations; Edward Williams, who was born in the Railroad District and bought a home downtown on General Pershing Avenue in 1976; Macedonia, a pillar of the Ocean Springs community established in 1891 and with four lots included in the urban renewal area; and Robert Zellner, who owns two business parcels on Franklin Road just off Bienville Boulevard in a different urban renewal area.
DELAWARE - A man is facing his sixth DUI offense in Delaware, authorities say.

Authorities arrested 63-year-old Ralph Cahall, III, of Greenwood, for sixth offense DUI and other traffic-related charges on Tuesday.

According to Delaware State Police, on Tuesday, October 10 at approximately 8:35 p.m., a trooper on patrol in the area of Unity Lane and Deep Grass Lane in Greenwood observed a black Chevrolet pickup truck that only had one operable headlight.

While the trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver later identified as Ralph Cahall, disregarded the troopers signal and began fleeing at what they say appeared to be a high rate of speed.

After a brief chase, the trooper stopped pursuing the vehicle for the publics safety.

The trooper later spotted the vehicle on a dirt lane near the 14000 block of Staytonville Road.

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Once the trooper approached the truck, police say Cahall ran into a wooded area, where he was taken into custody without incident a shortly thereafter.

After Cahall was taken into custody, the trooper noticed that he displayed signs of impairment. Upon conducting a standardized field sobriety test, authorities determined that Cahall was under the influence.

Cahall was taken to Troop 3, where a computer check revealed he had five previous DUI convictions. According to police he was charged with sixth offense DUI (felony), disregarding a police officer signal, resisting arrest and numerous traffic-related charges.

Police say Cahall was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $7570 secured bond.
The Ohio House passed legislation Wednesday to change how home values are calculated in an effort to blunt the impact of property tax increases.

But the state's tax woes are still far from resolved.

House Bill 187 would require the tax commissioner to use three years' worth of home sale data to determine home values in 2023, 2024 and 2025, instead of only the most recent year. That change would lower the value increases for some owners significantly. Butler County, for example, would drop from an average of 42% to 25%.

More: What can Ohio lawmakers do to stop historic property tax increases in 2024?

Rep. Thomas Hall, R-Madison Township, said this bill is only a temporary fix until lawmakers can hash out a more permanent solution. Republicans and Democrats have proposed several ideas to alleviate the property tax burden, such as limiting increases for low-income Ohioans and freezing taxes for certain residents over 70.

Its not that people dont want to pay taxes," Hall said. "These steep increases are really whats killing people."

The bill also changes the calculation for farmland, which is valued based on its agricultural use. And the tax commissioner, who reviews counties' valuations, would no longer be able to order auditors to adjust them if the commissioner believes something is off.

"It's a bill that puts the property tax calculation more into the local governments as opposed to here in Columbus," House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said.

County auditors, schools oppose House Bill 187

Not everyone is convinced House Bill 187 is a solution.

The proposal would reduce the projected increase in tax collections to school districts and local governments by an estimated $539 million, according to a fiscal analysis by the Legislative Service Commission. House Democrats said they heard from school superintendents who were alarmed at the prospect of smaller revenue increases.

County auditors and treasurers also aren't on board. Their associations issued a statement Wednesday saying the bill would "wreak havoc" on the tax collection process and require counties that already finalized values to redo their numbers. It could also lead to different tax amounts for the first and second half of 2024, they warned.

Timing is of the essence if lawmakers want to make a dent in next year's tax bills. The measure now heads to the Senate, but the House didn't have enough votes Wednesday to add an emergency clause that would let it take effect immediately. Despite that, Hall believes lawmakers can push the matter to mid-November.

Others say it's too late.

There is a very good possibility that this is not going to be done in time for the beginning of the year," Rep. Daniel Troy, D-Willowick, said.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio House passes bill to ease rising home values, property taxes
Oklahoma fugitive charged in wife's murder hauled home from Mexico after six years on the run

A wanted Oklahoma man has been extradited from Mexico and is now facing first-degree murder charges in Tulsa for the alleged 2017 shooting of his estranged wife.

Jose Gomez-Baca was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals June 27 after Interpol received a tip that led law enforcement to him.

The man was arrested without incident as he left his job at a machine shop in Tecoman, Colima, Deputy U.S. Marshal John Gage told FOX 23 in Oklahoma.

"U.S. Marshals traveled down to Mexico City, and our Mexico City field office had him prepped and ready with the Mexican authorities. And we flew back commercial with him," Gage told the outlet.

MISSING GIRL'S DAD HUNTS EX-WIFE HE BELIEVES DISAPPEARED WITH DAUGHTER AFTER 34-DAY MARRIAGE

Jose Gomez-Baca, 31, fled after allegedly shooting his wife dead June 22, 2017. After six years on the run, he was located in the Mexican state of Colima in June and arrested as he walked out of his job at a machine shop.

The 31-year-old was booked into Tulsa County Jail Tuesday, according to online inmate records.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Gomez-Baca stands accused of shooting 26-year-old Elizabeth Rodriguez while she sat in a car outside her home on June 22, 2017, per a press release from the Tulsa Police Department.

The estranged husband "surprised his wife [by shooting her] as she arrived in a car with her family," police told the Tulsa World at the time of the alleged murder.

YOUNGEST KNOWN TULSA RACE MASSACRE SURVIVOR DEAD AT 102

Rodriguez's family members told KTUL the woman's mother and brother were in the car when the fatal shots were fired.

"I was in my bedroom asleep, and my brother went in there and woke me up and told me our sister is outside dying," her brother, Gilberto Rodriguez, told the outlet. "I got up and said, How? What happened to her? And he said he shot her."

Gomez-Baca was booked into the Tulsa County Jail, pictured, to await trial on first-degree murder charges Tuesday.

When he got outside, he said, his "mom was in the white car holding her [head] in her hands, and I looked at my sister and she was all shot up."

The couple's children were reportedly inside the house when Rodriguez was shot in the driveway.

"Their mother is gone, and their dad is gone," Gilberto Rodriguez said. "They will never see either one of them again. I love them both with all my heart, and I cant believe their father would do this to my sister  his wife  and not even think about his kids."

OKLAHOMA CHIEF JUSTICE CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF JUDGE CAUGHT TEXTING DURING 2-YEAR-OLD'S MURDER TRIAL



Gomez-Baca then allegedly drove off in a gray 2004 Dodge Ram with an Oklahoma license plate number armed with a pistol and shotgun. But he evaded authorities until this summer.

The day before he allegedly killed his wife, Gomez-Baca called police around 11:30 p.m. to report Rodriguez missing. But homicide Det. Dave Walker told KTUL at the time police believed she "voluntarily left" Gomez-Baca due to problems in their relationship.

Gomez-Baca has not yet retained an attorney. It is unclear when he is scheduled to be arraigned.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"It's always a relief to catch the guy or the woman," Gage told FOX 23 of the arrest. "I think it's a bigger relief for the family that he's now in custody, and he'll be brought to justice through the right way."





Original article source: Oklahoma fugitive charged in wife's murder hauled home from Mexico after six years on the run
An Oklahoma judge faces losing her job after being accused of texting throughout her first murder trial  over the death of a two-year-old boy  including sending inappropriate messages about prosecutors, jury members and police officers.

Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom is alleged to have swapped more than 500 texts with her bailiff during the seven-day murder trial, despite asking jurors to turn off their own phones to focus on the evidence.

Footage of the trial, published online by The Oklahoman, showed Ms Soderstrom taking out her phone multiple times during the course of the trial and appear to be texting, as well as using applications including Facebook and Instagram.

The Daily Beast reported that court records filed on Tuesday claimed Ms Soderstrom had laughed about a prosecutors baby hands, speculated on whether a juror was wearing a wig, and described a testifying police officer as pretty.

She also allegedly speculated that a key prosecution witness might be a liar and praised the defences performance in the courtroom, asking the bailiff in one text if she could clap during opening arguments.

In a 47-page petition, John Kane, the chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, accused Ms Soderstrom of gross neglect of duty, gross partiality in office, and oppression in office. He recommended that she be removed.

The totality of the text messages give the appearance [Ms Soderstrom] believed the defendant was innocent and that she wanted a particular outcome in the case, Mr Kane wrote in the petition, according to The Daily Beast.

Ms Soderstroms attorney told The Oklahoman that she takes the allegations very seriously and was waiting on the full record from the Council on Judicial Complaints so that she could respond appropriately.

In the footage published by The Oklahoman, Ms Soderstrom can be seen holding her phone below bench level in her lap at numerous points throughout the proceedings. This included during jury selection, opening statements, and testimonies.

In Mr Kanes Tuesday petition the contents of some of the messages allegedly sent by Ms Soderstrom to the female bailiff were revealed.

Speaking about the Lincoln County District Attorney Adam Panter, she allegedly wrote: Why does he have baby hands?  They are so weird looking. Ms Soderstrom also texted a laughing emoji icon to the bailiff, who had made a crass and demeaning reference to the prosecuting attorneys genitals, Mr Kane said.

In other bizarre messages to the bailiff, Ms Soderstrom speculated as to whether a juror was wearing a wig, writing Look at that hairline, to which the bailiff wrote back: OMG. LOL.

Oklahoma judge Traci Soderstrom (Lincoln County Court)

The texts also described the defence attorney as awesome and asked can I clap for her? during opening arguments. She also described a police officer as pretty, and added, I could look at him all day.

Mr Panter noted on Tuesday that Ms Soderstrom had spent many hours of a murder trial involving the brutal beating death of a child, glued to her cell phone on social media rather than pay attention to the evidence, and said that the texts about his genitals were especially disgusting and outrageous, according to The Oklahoman.

Khristian Tyler Martzall  the man who was on trial while Ms Soderstrom was on her phone  was eventually convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the 2018 death of two-year-old Braxton Danker, the son of Martzalls girlfriend, and sentenced to time served.

Martzalls girlfriend and Braxtons mother, Judith Danker, pleaded guilty to enabling child abuse and was sentenced to 25 years. She was a key prosecution witness and was allegedly called a liar by Ms Soderstrom during testimony.

Ms Soderstrom has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of a hearing by the Court on the Judiciary, which will determine whether to remove her from the bench.

On Wednesday a telephone contact number for Ms Soderstrom appeared to have been removed from the Lincoln County Court website.
Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom (not pictured) was accused of sending more than 500 inappropriate texts to her bailiff during a murder trial. Chris Ryan via Getty Images; Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images

An Oklahoma district judge was accused in a petition of sending over 500 texts during a murder trial.

Traci Soderstrom said in one such text that she could look at a "pretty" police officer "all day."

The chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court has recommended her removal, per the AP.

A district judge from Lincoln County, Oklahoma, was accused of sending over 500 inappropriate messages during her first murder trial.

Traci Soderstrom, 50, exchanged hundreds of messages with a bailiff in the courtroom, per a petition written by Oklahoma Chief Justice John Kane filed on Tuesday and seen by The Oklahoman, a local newspaper.

Soderstrom sent the messages in June when she was presiding over a trial for a man accused of beating his girlfriend's two-year-old son to death, according to the petition.

"He's pretty. I could look at him all day,' the paper reported, reproducing Soderstrom's text message, referencing a police officer who had taken the stand.

According to The Oklahoman, Soderstrom also mocked a district attorney and juror's appearance.

"Why does he have baby hands?" Soderstrom said of District Attorney Adam Panter in a text. "They are so weird looking."

In another text, Soderstrom told the bailiff that she thought one of the jurors was "definitely wearing a wig."

Kane has recommended that Soderstrom be removed from her position, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing the court petition.

"The pattern of conduct demonstrates Respondent's gross neglect of duty, gross partiality, and oppression. The conduct further demonstrates Respondent's lack of temperament to serve as a judge," Kane wrote, per the AP.

Whether Soderstrom  who has been suspended with pay  will be removed from her post will be decided by Oklahoma's Court on the Judiciary, per the AP.

Soderstrom's conduct first came into the spotlight in July when The Oklahoman published security footage of her scrolling through her phone throughout the murder trial.

Soderstrom was elected to her position in November for a term that ends in January 2027. While campaigning for the position in November 2022, Soderstrom told Countywide & Sun that she had an extensive legal background, ranging from criminal law to juvenile law.

"I also believe that it is important that every person that comes before the court is treated with respect, is treated fairly, is treated with dignity, and is treated with compassion," Soderstrom told Countywide & Sun. "Obviously, the judge's job is to judge but not be judgmental and disrespectful and mean-spirited about it."

Tracy Schumacher, Soderstrom's attorney, told The Oklahoman that Soderstrom "takes these allegations very seriously."

"We are in the process of requesting the entire record from the Council on Judicial Complaints so that she can respond appropriately," Schumacher continued.

Schumacher and representatives for the Oklahoma Council on Judicial Complaints did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Insider
Oklahomas top school board has another vacancy.

Suzanne Reynolds announced her resignation Wednesday from her at-large seat on the Oklahoma State Board of Education, bringing her 10-month tenure to an end.

Gov. Kevin Stitt will appoint her to the board of regents for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, his office announced.

The seven-seat board already was short a member after Trent Smith resigned in May. The governor has yet to choose a replacement for Smith and now must find another for Reynolds. The governors office said it will now begin the process to select a new appointee.

More: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt shakes up Board of Education, replaces 4 of 6 members

Reynolds, an Oklahoma City pharmacist, expressed in her resignation letter the deepest gratitude to Stitt for appointing her to the state Board of Education and cited the governors vision as the driving force behind the boards efforts.

I am proud of the progress we have made together in addressing pressing issues and ensuring every child in Oklahoma receives a world-class education, she wrote.

Suzanne Reynolds, appointed in January, aligned with Ryan Walters in voting on gender identity policy, other issues

Reynolds was part of a new batch of members Stitt appointed to the board in January who have aligned with state Superintendent Ryan Walters politics and policy goals.

She took part in unanimous votes by the board to remove the word diverse from the states academic standards for computer science and to approve a rule that requires school employees to notify childrens parents if students change their gender identity or pronouns.

The state board recently placed new requirements on Tulsa Public Schools to complete various improvements to maintain its accreditation status.

Suzanne leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment toward elevating our education system, and I have no doubt she will continue to do good for parents and students in our state, Stitt said in a statement.

Board member Suzanne Reynolds attends the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting earlier this year.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Suzanne Reynolds resigns Oklahoma State Board of Education to join USAO
GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library invites the community to its annual Halloween carnival.

According to the Museum, its History Never Dies carnival is planned for Saturday, October 28, from 5-7 p.m. The event is free and features a family-friendly Scooby-Doo themed haunted house.

LOCAL NEWS: Oklahoma couple who dressed as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce three years before rumored romance gets free trip

Officials say families can also enjoy carnival games, treats, prizes and a cake walk. There will be hot dogs and nachos served to all attendees as well. All ages are welcome, and costumes are encouraged.

The Oklahoma Territorial Museum is located at 406 E Oklahoma Ave. in Guthrie.

To learn more, call 405-282-1889 or visit okhistory.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Several hundred people were being tested for tuberculosis Thursday at Olathe Northwest High School after being exposed to the illness.

Health officials identified around 425 people who had contact with a student who tested positive earlier this month, said Jennifer Dunlay, a spokeswoman for the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.

The majority of those contacts have connections to Olathe Northwest, but some live outside Johnson County.

Around 270 people consented to be tested Thursday at the school.

The department will conduct another round of testing in mid-November because it can take eight to 10 weeks for bacteria to appear positive in a TB test. Some people from the current round of testing will need to be tested again at that point.

Dunlay said the risk to the general public remains low, as tuberculosis can only be spread through frequent and prolonged exposure to someone with an active case of the disease. Symptoms include a long cough, coughing blood, fever, chills or night sweats.
Oregon's Audit Division did not take the necessary steps to mitigate potential threats to the independence of the audit at the center of the controversy surrounding former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan , according to the Oregon Department of Justice.

Fagan resigned shortly after the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission cannabis program audit was released, following the revelation that she had accepted a $10,000-a-month consulting contract with cannabis company La Mota as her office oversaw the audit of the marijuana industry.

Fagan faces additional ethics investigations related to the controversy.

Gov. Tina Kotek requested an examination of the audit.

The Department of Justice hired California-based Sjoberg Evashenk Consulting to perform an examination of the audit.

Sjoberg concluded that the Audit Division should have taken additional steps to mitigate a threat to the independence of the audit, including pausing the audit.

Sjoberg is recommending current Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade take down the audit from the website and conduct additional work for better trust in the independence of the audit.

Audit team had information questioning objectivity

Sjoberg concluded that there was no evidence the OLCC audit team deviated from typical practices but did find that auditors were aware of information "that could have led a reasonable and informed third party to question the independence or objectivity of the audit division."

The report includes a timeline of information received during the audit.

On June 25, 2021, Fagan forwarded an email from La Mota owner Rosa Cazares to the director of the Division of Audits and asked the director and audit manager to reach out to Cazares. She asked the team nearly six months later if they had interviewed La Mota.

Fagan sent an email Feb. 15 recusing herself from all further work on the OLCC audit, after the division had conducted a quality control review of the evidence used in the draft report. She signed a consulting contract with an affiliate of La Mota on Feb. 24.

Sjoberg said audit staff and management told them the OLCC audit team met in March to discuss whether they believed the team or individual members were "unduly influenced" by Fagan and concluded they had not been. Specifically, they said Fagan was no more involved than usual in this audit and that she had made no changes to the draft report.

Despite that, Sjoberg concluded that standards require additional safeguards when threats to independence appear.

"The Division of Audits should have implemented such safeguards, and the OLCC audit could have benefited had the audit team reassessed the threats to independence as facts and circumstances changed," the report said.

Potential safeguards should have been considered

Sjoberg's report said the team's assessment in March should have included all parties that influenced the audit, including Fagan, the Secretary of State executive office, quality control team and peer team to ensure a uniform understanding of potential conflicts and threats and to determine actions to mitigate the threat.

The team should have also reassessed the stakeholders interviewed given that part of the threat was derived from them. The team could have considered expanding the group of stakeholders who were asked for perspectives.

Another experienced quality control team could have been assigned to re-review the team's work and evidence after facts surrounding Fagan became known, Sjoberg's report added.

Sjoberg also suggested that the division should have pulled the report from its website to allow the reassessment and reexamination of the audit after its release.

Response to review

The Department of Justice concurred with Sjoberg's recommendation that the SOS remove the audit from the website and reassess whether additional work needs to be done to ensure "full trust in the independence" of the audit.

Kotek also released a statement in response to the letter from Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum.

"Oregon's public servants look to performance audits conducted by the Secretary of States Office to understand how best to do the peoples business. Audits ensure that public resources are being well managed and that our government is held accountable for providing the best possible customer service," Kotek said. "Secretary Griffin-Valade has years of experience as a widely respected auditor, and I expect that this report will inform her ongoing efforts to make certain that Oregons audits are objective, independent, and meet professional standards.

Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade answers questions after being sworn in June 30.

Griffin-Valade in a statement thanked the Audits Division for voluntarily complying with the DOJ. She said the report showed the division was not compromised and complied with standards during planning, fieldwork and reporting.

"However, the report reaffirms what we all know to be true: Former Secretary Shemia Fagans actions compromised public trust in the audit. In auditing, we call this a 'threat to independence in appearance.' As a result, the report concludes that auditors should have gone further to reduce that risk by pausing their work and seeking stronger evidence for their conclusions. I agree with the risk that the DOJ report identifies," Griffin-Valade said in the statement.

She said she will "personally oversee" the reevaluation of the evidence within the OLCC audit and cited her 16 years of experience as a government auditor as evidence that she is "well equipped" to do so and restore public trust in the OLCC report.

The full Sjoberg report is available online.

Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her atdlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Examination of OLCC audit following Fagan controversy complete
Social media posts in several languages are claiming a photo shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sending his son off to fight in his nation's war with Hamas, in which thousands have been killed. But the picture dates to 2014 -- years before Israel deployed tens of thousands of soldiers in response to a bloody attack by Palestinian militants.

"Israel PM Netanyahu sends his son to serve the country as a soldier," says an October 11, 2023 post sharing the image on X, formerly known as Twitter, which has been littered with misinformation about the conflict.

Screenshot from X, formerly known as Twitter, taken October 12, 2023

Similar posts spread in several languages across X and other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, after Hamas fighters carried out an unprecedented surprise attack October 7 -- the deadliest since Israel's founding 75 years ago.

Hundreds of Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip rushed across the border, gunning down civilians under a barrage of rockets and taking about 150 hostages, including Americans and other foreigners. In retaliation, Israel has pounded Gaza -- the densely populated, impoverished territory governed by Hamas and under a blockade for years -- with air strikes, leveling entire neighborhoods and sending residents fleeing for safety.

Israel also cut off water, electricity and food and deployed soldiers around the Palestinian enclave and on its northern border with Lebanon. The country called up some 300,000 reservists for the war -- an order that activates some former service members.

But the photo of Netanyahu reaching for his son Avner's face is nearly nine years old -- and any plans for the prime minister's sons to join the fight had not been released as of 1900 GMT on October 12.

A reverse image search reveals the shot was published by the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem Post and other media outlets on December 1, 2014 (archived here and here).

The picture shows the younger Netanyahu reporting for military duty with the Israeli Defense Forces, as is required for all citizens 18 and older, with some exceptions. He joined a combat unit engaged in field intelligence, according to the reports.

The prime minister published the photo on his Facebook page that day, crediting it to Kobi Gideon of the state's Government Press Office (archived here).

He posted the picture again three years later when Avner completed his service (archived here).

Avner Netanyahu's departure and family farewells were also captured on video (archived here).

AFP has debunked other misinformation about the Israel-Hamas conflict here.
White smoke slowly crept out of the buildings second floor. A minute later, the smoke turned a menacing black and began to billow out of the building and swirl in the wind like a twister.

A half-dozen firefighters trudged in the county-owned building and extinguished the blaze Wednesday morning. They took a break, the fire restarted, and they put it out again. Then again.

After all, practice makes perfect  and here, at the Centre County Public Safety Training Center, controlled blazes like this help prepare current and future emergency responders for what could be life-or-death situations. With controlled structural burns in a practice building and a practice roof, to go along with a driving course and other training areas, the Public Safety Training Center in Pleasant Gap has played an important role in central Pennsylvania.

Centre County Public Safety Training Center coordinator Mike Keller talks about plans to build a new classroom building at the center while surrounded by Centre County Commissioners on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

And, if its up to Centre Countys three commissioners and other lawmakers, the center at 391 N. Harrison Road will soon see an expansion as its importance continues to evolve. The training center is seeking several state and federal grants to help build a $4 million education building on the existing property, one that would boast four classrooms, an ambulance bay  and showers. (Controlled or not, its still difficult getting that smoke-smell out of hair.)

If everything goes according to plan, the commissioners hope to break ground by 2025.

This education building is going to be one more step in the continuing evolution of improvements at this facility to make sure our first responders have the training and knowledge they need to serve the same folks that we serve, and that is the citizens of Centre County, County Commissioner Steve Dershem said. And the fact this extends beyond Centre County into a regional facility makes it that much more special for us, because were making an impact across Pennsylvania.

Firefighters from the University Park Airport pull hoses from the truck as they complete a building fire training session at the Centre County Public Safety Training Center on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

According to estimates from officials, about 5,000 volunteers and professionals from 18 surrounding counties receive training from the center every year. Its grown so quickly that, to some extent, its become a victim of its own success: There just isnt enough space anymore.

On Wednesday, the University Park Airport Fire Department continued their training and certification to address emergencies that go beyond airplanes and include the airport terminal itself. Although they were not available to speak with the media, they donned their protective gear, listened to direction from nearby instructors and ignored the swirling smoke to complete their exercises.

Some family members sat in the nearby bleachers, as if watching a softball game. A few well-dressed officials lamented wearing suits and returning to their respective offices smelling like campfires.

Representatives for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard, and state Rep. Jared Solomon, D-Philadelphia, were on-hand Wednesday, as were the countys three commissioners and state Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township.

The dedicated professionals and volunteers who serve our communities every day not only deserve our gratitude but our unwavering support and commitment, Takac said.

The center is owned by the county, but it is managed and operated by the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, which also hosted an emergency services class Wednesday morning for 24 local high school students. Centre Countys commissioners thanked CPI  and many others  for their work toward making the center such a success.

I think this is probably one of the best investments Centre County has ever made, Dershem added. Over the course of time, it went from a concept to something thats evolved into a state-of-the-art training facility.

Smoke rises from the burn building at the Centre County Public Safety Training Center during a training session for the firefighters from the University Park Airport on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.
Grapes grown for eating, and making raisins and wine or juice in 2022 regained their top spot as the most valuable crop produced in Fresno County, surpassing almonds for the first time since 2012.

The estimated gross value of the grape crop last year was more than $1.2 billion, according to the 2022 county crop report released this week by the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioners Office. Almonds dropped to second place on the countys Top 10 list, with gross production value of just over $1.1 billion.

While grapes and almonds both saw their values fall compared to 2021, Fresno County still set a record value of crops and commodities of almost $8.1 billion in 2022  an increase of about $10 million over the previous year, Melissa Cregan, the countys agricultural commissioner, said Tuesday as she presented the report to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

Every year we have a certain number of commodities that go up a little bit, certain that go down, Cregan said.

The complete top 10 crops or commodities were:

Grapes, $1.24 billion. Almonds, $1.14 billion. Pistachios, $705.9 million. Milk, $655.1 million. Poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, game birds, turkeys and eggs, $538.3 million. Cattle and calves, $488.3 million. Tomatoes, $429.3 million. Peaches, $368.4 million. Garlic, $351.9 million. Mandarins, $240.7 million.

Cregan noted that the estimated values reflect the gross production value of each commodity, and not overall profit for farmers and ranchers because the figures do not take into account the expenses that go into producing the crop or commodity.

Much of the variation in crop values between 2021 and 2022 are due to year-to-year price fluctuations; to a lesser degree, changes in acreages are also a factor.

The number of acres producing almonds in 2022, for example, rose by more than 15,000 in Fresno County from 2021, while the overall estimated gross value of the almond crop dipped by almost $219 million from one year to the next. Almond prices fell by almost $600 per ton from 2021 to 2022.

The productive acreage of grapes fell by about 3,400 from 2021 to 2022. Raisin prices dipped by about $460 per ton from 2021 to 2022, but prices rose slightly for grapes sold for canning or crushing and for table grapes.

A wide variety of crops produced

The report covers more than 180 different types of crops, livestock and commodities, including 77 valued at more than $1 million each, Cregan said. Fresno County continues to supply the highest quality of food and fiber nationwide and abroad, she said, exporting 89 unique commodities to more than 90 countries around the world. The five nations to which the greatest number of shipments were sent were Canada, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, Cregan added.

Fresno Countys bounty regularly ranks it at or near the top of the most productive agricultural counties in the U.S. Obviously the productivity we have here is found in very few other places, Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen told county supervisors Tuesday. This is a time for us to celebrate all that we do have in our backyard.

Jacobsen, who farms grapes in the Easton area south of Fresno, reminded the board that while 2022 represented a record value of crops, it was far from a banner year for farmers and ranchers.

It was a third year of drought here in the Valley, he said. It followed that very painful 2021, which is arguably one of the worst years weve had on record with zero allocations of water for irrigation from state and federal projects for western Fresno County. The bounty of this year can easily make you forget what happened, but farmers did struggle once again.

Last year will also be remembered for the many extraordinary increases in our input costs, such as energy, crop protection tools, machinery and so much more, Jacobsen added. Farmers and ranchers are at the mercy of sometimes-wild swings in the market prices that their crops or commodities can command, but they cannot avoid increases in their production costs. Therefore they dont pass on those prices in the global agricultural economy that we play in, he said.

The changing nature of Fresno County agriculture

For most of the past half-century, grapes were the No. 1 crop in Fresno County, reaching the top spot for 36 years between 1970 and 2011, occasionally knocked off the perch by cotton.

But the character of crops planted in the county has changed significantly in recent decades.

In 1981, for example, more than 450,000 acres of land in Fresno County was planted with cotton. Since that time, however, the acreage has trended lower. In 2022, cotton acreage reached its lowest point since 1970, dipping to fewer than 37,000 acres  or only about 8% of its high-water mark 41 years earlier.

Grape acreage was less than 200,000 throughout the 1970s, hitting a low point of less than 144,000 acres in 1973. That was still enough acres of vines to keep grapes as the most valuable crop in that particular year. In 2012, the last time grapes were the most valuable crop, a record 255,000 acres were planted with grapevines. Thats been generally shrinking over the past decade, dipping to fewer than 170,000 acres in 2022.

Almonds, in the meantime, experienced a meteoric rise in acreage, climbing from fewer than 6,500 acres in 1970 to an all-time high of almost 303,000 acres last year.

The county has also seen increases in the number of cattle for beef and dairy purposes combined, from about 400,500 in 1970 to more than 605,000 last year. Milk production over the same 52-year period has grown almost five-fold: from just over 5 million hundredweight  a hundredweight is 100 pounds  in 1970 to nearly 25 million in 2022.
I met Ibrahim Lafi for the first time in 2021. Id returned home to the besieged Gaza Strip after being in the U.K. for six years, unable to go back because of Israels blockade there.

I was an intern at Ain Media, where Ibrahim also worked as a journalist. We have talked every day ever since. He was like a brother who gave me advice when I needed it. He brought sunshine to my life. We covered the 2022 Israeli aggression on Gaza together. He promised me that we would report on every war together. He would be the cameraman, and I, the television reporter. Our friendship made Gaza, the biggest open-air prison in the world, vast and full of possibilities. But now he has become the news that I must report on.

Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive

On Saturday morning, I was at home in London as news of heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza was all over my phone. There were more than 300 messages from different group chats. I went to check the one where Ibrahim was most active, as we were all used to him breaking news before anyone else. He said: The situation is escalating. I am going into the office. Soon after, I texted him to take care, to update me on his location and to tell me if I could help. But I became worried when he didnt reply, and it appeared his phone was off. While asking others if theyd heard anything, a colleague said: Ibrahim is missing.

I called everyone I knew in Gaza, trying to gather any news about Ibrahim. I called other journalists on the ground and asked if they knew anything. One reporter informed me that many journalists were missing. Minutes later, he said to me, We found Lafi. Nothing else. That was Ibrahims last name, but I wasnt certain if it was him. I felt like my lungs had collapsed as I frantically tried to find out what happened  this is a feeling many Palestinians are experiencing: not knowing of their loved ones whereabouts in Gaza.

Read more: As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel forms unity government to oversee the war with Hamas

After many messages and calls, the news came: Ibrahim was killed. Israeli missiles took his life. Everything was a blur after that. All I can remember is that my mum was on the phone with me, and my flatmates were suddenly in my room. I was screaming, crying and unable to breathe. Ibrahim, my best friend, is gone. It felt like my world had completely ended.

Many of Gazas inhabitants moved there as refugees who had been dispossessed from lands where Israeli settlers now live. Gaza has been under a sea, land and air blockade since 2007. Since then, the Israeli military has carried out multiple deadly offensives against the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, launched rockets into Israeli settlements and managed to break into the settlements surrounding the strip. Hamas carried out attacks that have left 1,200 people dead.

Read more: Opinion: How Netanyahu's political calculations resulted in catastrophe

Israel has declared war against the besieged enclave and ordered a complete siege of the already-blockaded Gaza Strip, stopping supplies of all power, fuel, water and food. At least 1,417 Palestinians have been killed, including 447 children, and nearly 6,300 have been injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

When Ibrahim was killed, he was wearing his vest and helmet labeled Press. My colleagues who were on the ground reporting with Ibrahim emphasized to me that he was not caught in clashes between Palestinian fighters and Israeli soldiers, but was actually targeted by heavy bombardment, when two missiles fell on the street he was in at the Erez border crossing. I feel compelled to establish him as a perfect victim to convince the callous world of his humanity. But that doesnt matter. Whether you are resisting the occupation or burrowing your head in the sand, no one in Gaza is safe.

I have two other colleagues, Nidal Alwaheidi and Haitham Abdelwahed, who are still missing. Also on Saturday, a television crew from Sky News Arabia reported Israeli police assaulted them and damaged their equipment. In the last few days, at least seven Palestinian journalists have been killed by the Israeli military airstrikes. But this is not the first time journalists have been among those targeted in Gaza. In 2021, Israel bombed international press offices, including those of Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, as well as many other Palestinian media offices.

Read more: Op-Ed: Israel just declared our human rights work 'terrorism.' But it won't silence us

Right now, my journalist colleagues who are still alive in Gaza are not only grieving their slain peers, but feel under severe threat themselves. Most of them have no access to the internet or electricity. Gaza is facing a complete media blackout. Many of my friends and people I know in Gaza have been calling me with pleas, asking that journalists come and cover what is happening in their areas that are nearly impossible to access because of the heavy and indiscriminate bombardment. Its as though entire neighborhoods, innocent souls and dreams are being obliterated without anyone knowing.

My family and friends describe Gaza as completely unrecognizable and looking like its been wiped off the map. The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis. If the world does not act quickly, we are close to losing the voices of truth, as Gazas 2 million residents face being killed, and those who survive, a terrifying future.

Yara Eid is a 23-year-old war journalist and human rights advocate from Gaza. @eid_yara

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.
Editors Note: Don Lincoln is a senior scientist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He is the author of several science books, including his most recent Einsteins Unfinished Dream: Practical Progress Towards a Theory of Everything. He also produces a series of science education videos. Follow him on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

On Saturday morning, a dragon will eat the sun. If youre able, you should go outside and see it; itll be a dazzling spectacle.

Such poetic descriptions of solar eclipses can be seen in some of the earliest astronomical records, penned by Chinese astronomers over 4,000 years ago. In order to scare away the dragon and restore the normal order of things, people would bang pans and shout loudly. And it always worked. The dragon let go of the sun and light returned.

Don Lincoln - Courtesy of Don Lincoln

Our modern understanding of the phenomenon of solar eclipses is more mechanical, involving the motion of the moon, but even today, an eclipse is a breathtaking experience. But, more than that, its a human experience, one in which people across the world and across time can share a moment of cosmic wonder.

I saw my first solar eclipse on a school playground. It was winter, and kids were making snowmen, sliding down the hill and enjoying the cold air. The sky was absolutely perfect to view an eclipse. It was one of those overcast days with a thin layer of clouds that allows just enough light through so you can view the sun without squinting. The sun was a pale silver disk, surrounded by a light gray sky. As the moon began to pass in front of the sun, children stopped to watch. Recess was extended that day, as the moon steadily blocked the sun, until all that was left of the sun was a silver crescent. Teachers and students alike joined together to enjoy the view.

That first eclipse was only a partial one and it was many years before I saw a full one. Indeed, the first full solar eclipse I saw took place in 2017. I had booked the hotel a full year before. The location I selected was in southern Illinois, close to the where Id be able to experience the maximum duration of the eclipse and also close to the intersection of major highways so I could quickly relocate, in the event a cloudy sky threatened my plans.

But I was lucky. The sky was cloudless, and I stood in the hotel parking lot, watching as the moon covered the sun. As the eclipse began, I looked upward through dark glasses. And then, the moment of totality arrived, and I removed my protective eyewear. For a little over two and a half minutes, I took in my first full eclipse, seeing the darkened sun, the solar corona and the eerie color of the rest of the sky.

In that moment I wasnt a scientist. I was just a person entranced by the astronomical display. I imagined what it must have been like for ancient people who had no understanding of celestial mechanics to see the sun disappear. It had to have been a mixture of fear and religious awe.

And, for the record, I did bang a pot just for good measure. The dragon was scared away. Youre welcome.

On Saturday, another eclipse will be visible across a large part of the country, beginning along the Oregon coast and moving through Texas before passing over parts of Central and South America. This will be a unique event. Rather than a full eclipse, in which the sun is totally blocked, it will be an annular eclipse. At the moment of maximum coverage, a thin ring of sunlight will encircle the moon  a ring of fire in the sky.

Annular eclipses occur when the moon is farthest (or almost farthest) from the Earth. Because it is more distant, it appears smaller, and thus doesnt quite block the entire sun. But even that thin outer circle of sunlight is very bright, which means you must be careful when you view the event, as staring directly at the sun can lead to disrupted vision or, in some cases, blindness. Its recommended that viewers use certified eclipse glasses or solar viewers for their protection.

If you are one of the lucky people who lives under the path of maximum coverage, you should definitely go outside and look up. But even for those of you who live in places where the coverage of the moon will be only partial, its still worth your time to take in the sight. Unless youre an eclipse chaser, you will only see a handful of eclipses in your lifetime. Be sure to see this one.

As fascinating as this eclipse will be, Americans have another celestial event to look forward to. On April 8, 2024, a total eclipse will begin in the southern Pacific and then pass through Mexico and across the United States, beginning in Texas before heading towards Detroit and then over Montreal and out over the North Atlantic. Ive already booked my hotel under the path of totality, again located at the crossroads of highways in case of unlucky cloud cover.

We live in a constant ebb and flow of work and family, chores and responsibilities. However, there are certain events that are worth pausing for a moment to just take in and enjoy. I hope that you, like millions of others before you, will stop what youre doing and turn your eyes to the sky. You wont be sorry.

This piece has been updated with safety information about viewing an eclipse.

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A version of this essay appeared on the Fordham Institutes Flypaper blog.

Before Chipotle, customization of fast, casual meals was relegated to condiments, not the entire entree. Nearly 20 years ago, the Washington Post wrote a piece about Chipotlification  the meal customization model Chipotle introduced  and how it was changing the face of fast food. In 2013, the restaurant chain boasted that there were 65,000 possible menu item combinations  a mind-boggling number of possibilities that would be exponentially greater today.

Chipotlification  is the term I think best describes the relatively recent trends of unbundling or assembly in education reform, which allow parents to assemble components of their childs education to provide them with a personalized learning experience. Unlike those wonky terms, Chipotlification better communicates that when customizing education, you need a bowl (or a taco or a tortilla) to hold it all together. Or, as the national education nonprofit organization Bellwether describes it in its work on assembly: the comprehensive platform that connects parents and families to learning providers.

In the education version of Chipotlification, a charter school could be the bowl. Some innovative charter schools, such as Gem Prep in Idaho and GEO Academies in Indianapolis, are already taking the lead in demonstrating what this might look like.

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Speaking as a mom, as much as I love the idea of customizing all the components of my childs education, part of me would fear the decision making, driving and waitlists that would invariably be involved were I to do it all on my own. Many parents already do this during the summer, cobbling together activities, and even that can be exhausting. The notion of doing the assembly year-round to get the best options for my child, let alone for multiple children, not to mention the anxiety of whether I have assembled it correctly, would be overwhelming.

That is where charter schools  the bowls  come in. Charter schools can offer a structure for learning, but also allow for personalization and independence. They can accommodate parents who would be thrilled to customize education on their own because they have the time and resources to hunt down the best music teachers, statistics classes and pickleball teams, as well as others who would be happy to customize the last 10%, or even follow a pre-set plan that seems to work best for their child.

Moreover, charters also provide built-in accountability and funding.

GEM Prep, for example, provides the opportunity for both in-person and virtual learning, giving students  especially in rural areas  greater access to courses and high-quality instructors. Charter schools such as IEM and Springs in California allow students to conduct independent study at home with guidance from an instructor, but also have physical buildings where they can attend some classes. Springs offers students a choice of educational models, from classical to STEM, and can accommodate students who want to attend school fully in person, do independent study at home or something in between.

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Great Hearts Nova is a virtual version of the brick-and-mortar Great Hearts classical schools, with in-person microschool components. Third Future schools and GEO Academies also personalize student learning with individual learning plans, where the student sets the pace based on subject matter mastery, and in flexible learning environments, such as group work, one-on-one or virtual.

Schools like these provide on-ramps for customization, especially for parents of students with unique learning needs who require additional services. To allow for even more customization for students, schools could provide grants to their families to further refine their childrens educational experiences.

Taking these approaches would leverage existing charter school accountability systems for new innovations. If a school didnt have an orchestra or a specific foreign language option, it could enable parents to access those programs elsewhere. Ultimately, the charter would be accountable for the resources used by parents who exercise their autonomy to tap into grants offered by that school. Parents could customize their childs education, and the school would carefully curate and enable equitable access to resources.

The very concept of chartering is about assembling educational components. It is just that, typically, they are assembled at the community level, reflective of groups of parents and educators. Public charter schools provide leaders with autonomy and flexibility to offer an educational program that can be tailored down to the student level, but with expertise, funding and safeguards to ensure students are learning. Charters are also a way to incrementally implement an assembled, learner-centered public education system both for parents and policymakers. Families can add on educational components without leaving their public schools, and policymakers can offer more options to parents within existing accountability systems for outcomes. Where facilities are limited, charter-based assembly could help expand capacity in areas with high demand. Offering a mix of in-person and virtual instruction can also help with staffing challenges.

Related

Charters Are the Most Popular Form of School Choice. Democrats Must Get on Board

As policymakers explore ways of expanding educational freedom, they should consider that charter schools can provide the best of both worlds when it comes to enabling a customized public education: a home base with a school culture, instructor support and camaraderie, along with flexibility to learn at home, in a pod or at a school. As recent data from CREDO show, the charter school policy framework of flexibility for accountability has had a large impact on student achievement: At the school level, charter schools outperformed district schools in reading and math.

To serve more families and provide expanded opportunities for customization, the charter school community should work to remove barriers that impede the creation of these innovative, learner-centered, public schools.
Ukraine is the second-most corrupt country in Europe."

"The situation with bribery has been at a standstill.

Corruption reform doesnt work in Ukraine.

These statements have been repeated at various international forums, by foreign officials, and by the media. But how much truth is there to these statements?

In short, theyre an inaccurate representation of the situation on the ground.

Transparency International Ukraine (TI Ukraine) published its second study on the capacity, management, and interaction of Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure bodies on Oct. 12. It turns out the situation is a lot less dire than is often portrayed.

Read also: That diamond ring? It may have helped pay for Russias war

TI Ukraines new report covers the activities of five anti-corruption agencies: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC), the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), and the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA).

Our assessment of their respective independence, transparency, accountability, integrity, resource allocation, and interaction with both each other and key stakeholders showed that they have all improved over the past three years.

As compared to TI Ukraines first study, which covered the period from 2015-2020, anti-corruption authorities improved their average overall score by 0.5 points, from 3.4 to 3.9 out of 5.

While ARMA trailed behind with 3.4 points, HACC came out on top with a score of 4.6. Meanwhile, NABUs score increased the most  from 3.6 to 4.3 points. NACP and SAPO experienced a more gradual improvement, with an increase from 3.3 to 3.7 points and 3.3 to 3.5 points, respectively.

During this period, NABUs legal status was clarified in order to comply with the principle of checks and balances between the various branches of Ukraines government. Meanwhile, a case management system was introduced at NACP.

Ukraines High Council of Justice resumed operation with a re-shuffled composition, and no cases of deliberate interference in the activities of HACC judges have been recorded (which was the case before).

Legislative restrictions on the remuneration of anti-corruption body representatives, imposed after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, have also been lifted. Competitions were also held for the heads of NABU, ARMA, and SAPO.

These achievements were made possible thanks to the real and effective cooperation of civil society, government authorities, and international partners, which first began in earnest after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.

In just under 10 years, they have managed to turn Ukraines previously ineffective anti-corruption system into a force to be reckoned with. TI Ukraines research shows that, unlike before when such efforts were taken only by Ukraines Security Service, the unreformed police, and the prosecution.

That being said, our research provides 85 recommendations, 25 of which we believe are of top priority, across the five mentioned anti-corruption institutions to significantly improve their work. These recommendations are also echoed in those of Ukraines international partners, including Washington.

Ukraines civil society and its international partners share the vision for the anti-corruption systems transformation  the ball is now in the governments court.

As a country, we have no choice but to listen to these united voices and make every possible effort to implement the steps needed to strengthen the anti-corruption ecosystem. The past nine years have shown that the resilience of a states anti-corruption bodies is the basis of a strong state, and this is especially the case amid war.

Read also: Opinion: Can national reconciliation defeat populism?

Its important to note that media headlines on corruption can create a different impression altogether, painting a picture of rampant bribery against the backdrop of war, but these headlines do not accurately convey the anti-corruption efforts at play.

According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Ukraine has shown some of the best progress over the past 10 years. While our score may be far from the European Union average, this index reflects the overall perception of corruption, and not necessarily the actual degree of it.

Still, we must appreciate the work that has already been done, and continue to work to give Ukrainians a functional and effective anti-corruption ecosystem after our victory in the war.

Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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A police vehicle is parked in front of West High School in Salt Lake City on Dec. 13, 2021, after a student reportedly stole a firearm from a family member and brought it to school, prompting a lockdown. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Anyone who doubts that Utah has the same problem as the rest of the nation when it comes to firearms in school must have forgotten what happened a year ago in Vernal.

As KSL.com reported that day, a school resource officer at Vernal Middle School, Orion Young, was able to apprehend a student and his gun before anything bad happened. Police had little more to say than that at the time.

This week, The Washington Post filled in some of the details. A student had come to the office, saying he had heard another boy brag he was going to shoot his ex-girlfriend and her best friend. The student said he had seen a loaded gun in the other boys backpack. To be safe, he had brought both of the girls to the office when he made the report.

Office workers provided Young with the suspects class schedule. He rushed to the boys classroom and, with the help of another officer, was able to grab the boy just as he was reaching for his backpack after seeing the officers. Inside the backpack, they found the loaded gun.

The Post used this as one example to illustrate its own lengthy investigation on guns in school, an investigation whose results are shocking, raising more questions than can be answered.

Last school year, more than 1,150 guns were brought to elementary and high schools nationwide, a rate that averages to more than six per day. In all, 1.1 million students last year attended a school in which at least one gun was confiscated and reported, the Post said.

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But that number is misleading because it covers only those incidents that generated a report by the media. The post said it surveyed 51 of the largest school districts in the nation and found that 58% of seizures in those districts last academic year were never publicly reported by news organizations.

These districts said guns have proliferated on campuses in recent years, especially following the pandemic. Guns have been found in bookbags, lockers, trash cans, bathrooms, cars, pockets, purses, bulging behind waistbands and hidden above bathroom ceiling tiles. Not everyone with a gun intended to kill.

In many ways, this is a reflection of a gun-saturated American society as a whole. By some estimates, there are about 400 million guns in circulation in the United States.

But in reality, that is an incomplete and unsatisfying analysis. Reports about the number of guns in circulation may be misleading.

A study by the Violence Policy Center, using figures from the Crime Lab at the University of Chicago, found that the percentage of households with guns has been on a steady decline for at least 40 years. In 1980, 53.7% of Americans said they lived in a household with a gun. In 2021, that figure was 35.2%, up slightly from the lowest point, 32.1%, in 2012.

The study said the decline in hunting may explain some of this, with the percentage of hunting households dropping from 31.6% in 1977 to 14.1% in 2021. But even the overall number of males owning a gun has dropped by 29% over about 40 years.

Second Amendment supporters will be happy to know this isnt necessarily a gun ownership issue. But the bad news is this doesnt get us any closer to really understanding the problem.

Why do so many students feel a need to bring a firearm to school? And why are mass killings on the rise? The Associated Press reported 28 of these in the first six months of 2023, with 140 victims. Why do so many people, including children, imagine mass murder as a solution to any problem?

And why, if gun ownership is on the decline, do they seem to be more ubiquitous than ever? The TSA reports its agents confiscated 5,072 firearms at airports nationwide through the first three quarters of this year, which is on pace to surpass last years record 6,542.

Most people dont carry firearms with the intent to do harm. Many simply forget they have them when going through security. Perhaps it has always been so.

However, absent serious answers to questions about those who do intend harm, the best we can do is sharpen our ability to spot problems before they happen. The Post report is clear that schools need to be more transparent about incidents, especially to parents, even if these never get reported in the news.

And resource officers need to be more like Young, who may have saved Vernal from an unspeakable tragedy by acting quickly to the report of a young student a year ago.
A Fernandina Beach church pastor is working to get back home safely with his church group, according to our sister station Action News Jax.

Fifty-four members of the First Baptist Church Fernandina Beach took a trip to Israel just before the war there broke out last weekend.

Pastor Zach Terry said they were able to cross the border to get to Jordan and made it to their hotel safely.

This is my fifth trip to Israel, Terry said. We always do study tours where we go through all the biblical sites and take some time to teach people about what happened there and showing from a cultural perspective.

He was just in Israel with a group of church members on what was supposed to be an enlightening tour of the Holy Land.

Read: UCF Jewish leaders, students to hold vigil in support of Israel Wednesday night

The sirens would sound from time to time, and we could hear some gunshots, Terry said.

On Saturday, the group was about a two-hour drive away from the active fighting. Israel has declared war against the militant terror group Hamas, a group responsible for hundreds of deaths after this weekends attacks.

Since the start of the fighting, Terry said they have been trying to stay as safe as possible.

Read: Central Floridas Jewish leaders host prayer vigil for war in Israel

Were optimistic at this point and thankful, Terry said.

They even received assistance from Congressman Aaron Bean, who Terry said is a church member and has worked to help the group find flights home.

Just very grateful for all of you back home whos been thinking about us, praying for us, Terry said.

Read: Gov. DeSantis pushes for sanctions against Iran following Hamas attack on Israel

Terry said they are trying to arrange flights and he is hopeful they will get to leave either Friday or Saturday.

Bean released the following statement through his office:

Our number one focus is on bringing Pastor Terry and the 54 members of First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach home. We have been working tirelessly to meet the urgency of this dangerous moment. Our office has been coordinating with the State Department, as well as Senators Rubio and Scott to help these individuals escape Hamas ongoing brutal attacks and get back to American soil.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Oregon church leader jailed for sex abuse of girls in his congregation, police say

A pastor in Oregon was in custody on Wednesday after he was accused of inappropriately touching two girls in his congregation, authorities said.

Christopher Michael Pruitt, 39, of Beaverton, was indicted on six counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of third-degree sexual abuse in Washington County, according to county jail records.

Pruitt allegedly touched two juvenile girls who were members of his small congregation at Our Fathers House Ministries Church.

Pruitt originally operated the church out of his home in north Beaverton before recently moving the church to north Portland, the Beaverton Police Department said.

OHIO SOCIAL WORKER, 24, CHARGED WITH HAVING SEX WITH 13-YEAR-OLD CLIENT: REPORTS

Christopher Michael Pruitt was indicted on multiple counts of first-degree sex abuse and third-degree sex abuse, authorities said.

Detectives believe Pruitt may have more victims and urged anyone with information to contact Det. Patrick McNair via email at pmcnair@beavertonoregon.gov or by phone at 503.526.2261.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Christopher Michael Pruitt originally operated his Our Fathers House Ministries Church out of his home in north Beaverton, Oregon, before recently moving the church to north Portland.

Pruitt was apprehended on Oct. 5 and was being held at the Washington County Jail, where he remained in custody as of Wednesday.

TEXAS PASTOR ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING JUVENILE FAMILY MEMBER FOR OVER DECADE, IMPREGNATING HER AT 16

Court records show Pruitt pleaded guilty in 2017 to public indecency in Multnomah County, the Beaverton Valley Times reported. He was given one year of probation for the Class A misdemeanor.

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A pre-trial release hearing is scheduled for Friday, the report said.





Original article source: Oregon church leader jailed for sex abuse of girls in his congregation, police say
The owner and operator of a Madison Township dog rescue, where 92 dogs were seized and many others were found dead, is now facing nearly two dozen counts of cruelty to animals.

Ronda Murphy was initially charged with a single felony and two misdemeanor counts, court records show. The latest indictment filed Wednesday charges Murphy, 60, with 16 felony and seven misdemeanor counts of cruelty to companion animals.

Butler County sheriff's deputies and deputy dog wardens responded on July 27 to Murphy's home on Mosiman Road to check on the welfare of dogs living there, according to a criminal complaint.

At the time of her arrest, Murphy ran the Helping Hands for Furry Paws animal rescue from the Mosiman Road property and property just down the street on Eck Road.

Authorities had been aware of Murphy for at least two years due to prior calls and visits by deputy dog wardens to her property, records obtained by The Enquirer show.

Dogs cages are spread out in the front lawn of Ronda Murphys home in Madison Township. Murphy has been charged with nearly two dozen counts of cruelty to companion animals.

When the deputies spoke with Murphy, the complaint states, they told her of a new welfare check complaint and asked to see the dogs on both properties.

In total, they found around 90 dogs, including five litters of nursing puppies, all living without water or air conditioning and in their feces.

Authorities also found about 30 dead dogs, mostly inside refrigerators and freezers, with bodies decomposed or liquified and unable to be removed, the complaint states.

All of the living animals were seized along with the remains of 18 dogs.

The Enquirer has reached out to Murphys attorney, Joseph Auciello Jr., requesting comment on the new charges. He has yet to respond as of the publication of this report.

State business records show Helping Hands for Furry Paws was established as a nonprofit in July 2016.

Its status with the Ohio Secretary of State's Office was changed to canceled in July 2021 for failure to file a statement of continued existence.

The animal rescue's tax-exempt status was revoked by the IRS for failure to file informational tax forms for three years straight, records show.

More: 92 dogs rescued in hoarding case work toward health and finding forever homes

The Eck Road property was listed as the primary address for Helping Hands for Furry Paws.

During a hearing in early August, Murphy said she's lived in Madison Township for more than 10 years.

Court records show Murphy was released from jail on her own recognizance, but shes not allowed to own, possess or reside with companion animals as a condition of her bond.

Murphy's due in Butler County Court of Common Pleas for arraignment on the new charges Oct. 24.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dog rescue owner charged with nearly 2 dozen animal cruelty counts
The parents of the Oxford school shooter are asking a judge to let them attend their son's sentencing in December, stressing that they want to be present during this crucial moment of his case, when the teenager may get life without the possibility of parole.

Ethan Crumbley was 15 when he killed four students and injured seven other people at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. He pleaded guilty to all charges against him.

"Clearly, this is the harshest sentence the court could give to the shooter and worries both Mr. and Mrs. Crumbley considerably," defense attorneys Shannon Smith and Mariell Lehman wrote in a Thursday filing on behalf of James and Jennifer Crumbley. "Understandably, this hearing is of paramount importance, and would be to any parent, no matter what their child has done."

Jennifer and James Crumbley, parents of Ethan Crumbley, who is accused of the deadly school shooting at Oxford High School, break down into tears in the courtroom during a hearing on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.

The defense lawyers also stressed:

"Mr. and Mrs. Crumbleys concern for their son should be in no way perceived as 'selfish' or a lack of compassion and concern about what has happened to the shooters victims, the community, and all who have been affected by the awful tragedy."

Crumbley parents have failed in previous efforts to see son

The Crumbleys are locked up on involuntary manslaughter charges filed by Oakland County prosecutors who cite the fact that the parents bought their son the gun that he used in the massacre. Not only are the Crumbleys detained on high bonds that they can't afford  $500,000 each  they also have not been allowed to talk to or see their son for almost two years.

The couple have unsuccessfully argued for lower bond numerous times, and over the summer asked for permission to attend their son's Miller hearing  the proceeding to determine the teen's eligibility for life without parole  but the judge denied the request with no explanation.

The prosecution, however, had plenty to say about that request. In urging the judge to ban the Crumbleys from the Miller hearing, the prosecution labeled the couple as selfish parents who wanted to attend the hearing only because they learned it would include testimony "that would be unfavorable to them."

"This is (the Crumbleys') attempt to confront and/or implore their son not to disclose the full circumstances of his upbringing," Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast argued in a prior court filing.

The Crumbleys are accused of ignoring a troubled son who prosecutors say was spiraling out of control. But instead of getting him help, they bought him a gun as an early Christmas present  the same one he used days later to carry out his deadly rampage.

Emotional sentencing hearing ahead

Prosecutors also argue that the Crumbleys, more than anyone else, could have prevented the shooting had they told the school that they had bought their son a gun when they were summoned over his troubling behavior on the morning before the shooting. The parents said nothing about the gun, went back to their jobs and promised to get Ethan help in the coming days. A few hours later, he emerged from a bathroom and opened fire.

The prosecution has not yet weighed in on this latest request for the Crumbleys to attend the sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 8. Should the judge deny that request, the Crumbleys are asking for permission to at least witness the proceeding via a live feed.

Their request comes two weeks after Oakland County Circuit Judge Kwame Rowe concluded that Ethan Crumbley is eligible for a sentence of life without parole, though he could still give the teenager a sentence of fixed years at the Dec. 8 appearance. That hearing is expected to be long, emotional and traumatic, with the victims' families, surviving victims and witnesses to the shooting giving impact statements.

Ethan Crumbley leaves the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Kwame Rowe on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Pontiac, Mich., after a hearing to determine whether he will spend his life in jail without parole after killing four students and wounding seven in 2021 at Oxford High School.

A gag order has prohibited both sides from publicly discussing the parents' unprecedented case as the Crumbleys are the first parents in America to be charged in a mass school shooting. The Crumbleys have long argued that they had no way of knowing their son would shoot up his school, and that they kept the gun properly stored, but the Michigan Supreme Court this month let the charges stand. A trial date has not yet been set.

Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Crumbleys ask to attend son's sentencing for Oxford shooting
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has voted for the recognition of Holodomor as the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

Source: Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dmytro Kuleba , Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, on Twitter (X); European Pravda

Details: "Restoring historical justice and paying tribute to Holodomor victims sends a message that justice is inevitable for all past and present Moscows crimes," Zelenskyy tweeted, expressing his gratitude for this decision.

I am grateful to @coe Parliamentary Assembly for recognising the 1932-1933 Holodomor as genocide against the Ukrainian people. Restoring historical justice and paying tribute to Holodomor victims sends a message that justice is inevitable for all past and present Moscows crimes.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) October 12, 2023

Kuleba also thanked PACE for recognising Stalins Holodomor [artificial famine of the Ukrainian people  ed.] of 1932-1933 as an act of genocide in his post.

"It is also important that PACE encouraged all Council of Europe members and other parliaments to follow suit. This is a morally, historically, and politically right thing to do," Kuleba noted.

The decision was made with 73 votes "for" and one "against".

I thank @PACE_News for recognizing Stalins 19321933 Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. It is also important that PACE encouraged all @coe and other parliaments to follow suit. This is a morally, historically, and politically right thing to do. pic.twitter.com/28cd021RYY  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) October 12, 2023

Background:

As of now, Holodomor has been recognised as the genocide of the Ukrainian people by the parliaments of about 30 countries in the world, as well as by the European Parliament.

The Italian Senate voted in July to recognise Holodomor as the genocide of the Ukrainian people.

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!
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has recognized the Holodomor of 19321933 as genocide against the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a Twitter post on Oct. 12.

Read also: Thirty-two countries participating in genocide case against Russia at the Hague

I am grateful to PACE for recognizing the Holodomor of 19321933 as genocide against the Ukrainian people, said Zelenskyy.

The restoration of historical justice and honoring the memory to the victims of the Holodomor sends a clear signal that justice for all the past and current crimes of Moscow is inevitable.

Maria Mezentseva, the head of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE, also reported that the body voted to support several resolutions in Ukraines favor.

Those documents reaffirm Europes commitment to supporting Kyiv for as long as it takes, endorse Kyivs comprehensive peace plan, and call for legal mechanisms to bring Russia to justice for the crime of aggression against Ukraine  including war reparations and a special tribunal to hold senior Kremlin leadership accountable. Finally, PACE decidedly rejects Moscows attempts to annex Ukrainian territory in 2014-2022.

Read also: ICJ session starts hearings on Ukraine's genocide case against Russia; Moscow says Hague court lacks jurisdiction

Since Russia launched the full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022, several countries recognized the Holodomor as genocide against the Ukrainian people. These include, among others: the UK, Slovenia, Belgium, Ireland, Romania, Moldova, the Czech Republic, Germany, Iceland, France, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, and Croatia.

Read also: Italian Senate recognizes Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people

On Dec. 15, 2022, the European Parliament voted for a resolution recognizing the Holodomor of 19321933 as genocide against the Ukrainian people.

Read also: Zelenskyy explains why he vetoed draft law allocating funds to finish Holodomor museum

In 2023, 91 years have passed since 1932, when the Soviet regime deliberately began to confiscate grain and other foodstuffs from the residents of Ukraine, which led to the Holodomor famine  one of the greatest tragedies in Ukrainian history. Both in Ukraine and in many other countries, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 was subsequently recognized as a genocide against Ukrainians by Stalins regime.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A number of Lake County motels are being used to shelter nearly 300 homeless people, half of whom are children.

With the help of county and state funding, PADS Lake County  the largest serving homeless agency and sheltering program in the county  altered its sheltering services to hotel stays and away from the rotating church model that had been used.

For 50 years, (churches) have supported the homeless community and ensured that they stay sheltered, said Allen Swilley, executive director of PADS. Now its time for PADS to take over.

Previously, PADS relied on volunteer church communities to provide a safe place for unsheltered people to sleep. Churches would offer up community halls or gymnasiums on a rotating basis as space for people to lay their heads at night.

Providing shelter at a fixed location has many advantages, Swilley said. Instead of worrying about where they will be sleeping each night, people can focus on staying in one place and utilizing the case management support services.

Weve seen much better results when we have our clients in a fixed site, he said. It allows for mental health symptoms to dissipate over time. It allows for a little more predictability in their life, which affords them the opportunity to think about the future and plan for that.

Of those being sheltered in motels by PADS, 54% originate from Waukegan, according to data from the organization. Another 17% are from North Chicago, 13% come from Zion and the remaining 16% are from other areas of the county.

Providing stability

Homelessness is a constant condition, but an analysis of Lake Countys homeless system by the Corporation for Supportive Housing showed that the county doesnt have a round-the-clock response.

Homelessness is a 24/7/365 condition and in Lake County, we dont have a 24/7/365 response, Lake County community development administrator Brenda OConnell said.

A site-based shelter is needed to provide that response, she said, adding that shelter is not the solution to homelessness, but rather an intermediary step in the journey out of that situation.

A solution that provides them stability is more likely to be successful, OConnell said. You can have better engagement with families when theyre not spending so much of their time moving from site to site.

The church model left a lot of gaps in the system. Only able to provide nighttime shelter, people lacked a safe place to be during the day, ultimately affecting their ability to transition out of homelessness.

Additionally, less churches were able to participate as the congregant population decreased. Last season, PADS had 15 churches volunteering as a rotating shelter. This year, Swilley said only nine churches could contribute.

 (The church model) served its purpose. Im humbled and in awe of the commitment and just the fight that our church partners had, he said. As the population ages, its hard for them to contribute in the same kind of way, even though they still want to.

Case managers help people in the hotel shelter program prepare to transition to housing  which starts with acquiring proper documentation so they can be visible to housing resources.

When you become homeless, you become invisible. People dont want to see you on the street, Swilley said. Then you also become technically invisible to the system. You dont get IDs renewed, you dont get your Social Security card renewed or other benefits.

By the end of last fiscal year in September of 2022, there were 991 people who utilized emergency shelter in Lake County, OConnell said. That doesnt include people fleeing domestic violence situations.

An additional 128 people slept outside during that same time period.

PADS helped transition 336 individuals to housing last year. Swilley expects that number to grow this year with the new sheltering and assessment systems.

Finding a permanent shelter

Hotel sheltering is a Band-Aid fix until a permanent, fixed-site shelter is built, OConnell said.

In 2020, PADS, with county grant money, commissioned the Illinois Facilities Fund to develop a design concept for a permanent shelter facility. The final design was informed by shelter residents, staff and other stakeholders to design a site that provides both private and community space.

PADS and the county are working together to make the design a reality by finding a location for the permanent shelter.

The county engages on this issue because its our job to make sure that Lake County is a place where everyone can thrive, and that it is a great place to live and work and play for everyone, OConnell said.

The county has some funds set aside to support the development of a permanent shelter once an appropriate location is identified, according to OConnell.

Homelessness is a shared problem that needs shared solutions, Swilley said. I have full faith in the county, in our city governments and our residents that we can come to a solution and work effectively to mitigate the risks of homelessness. And make it so anyone who is experiencing homelessness, that its brief, and its rare and its not recurring.
Palestinian peace activist Bassem Eid has been traveling to the U.S. every few months for nearly the last decade to warn Americans about the atrocities carried out by Hamas.

Following the terrorist organizations surprise attacks on Israel, Eid is condemning Americans who still champion Hamas as a social justice group and not a terrorist organization.

"Those who are living in Europe and in America who are celebrating the massacre by considering themselves as pro-Palestinians, I don't think that they are pro-Palestinians. . [They have] no idea what is really going on to celebrate massacres. This is completely unhuman," Eid told Fox News Digital in a Zoom interview this week.

Eid expressed shock over Americans showing support for Hamas under claims "it's a justice and social organization." His comments came as pro-Palestinian rallies have been held in cities such as New York and Santa Clarita and on some college campuses.

ISRAELI MILITARY RABBIS STRUGGLE TO EFFICIENTLY PREPARE, BURY THEIR WAR DEAD: REPORT

"I think weapons inside the hospitals and inside the mosques, I think what the Hamas did last Saturday is considered as a genocide," he said. "... Unfortunately, some rubbish human beings around the world are celebrating such a massacre by considering it a Palestinian victory. I think that if then, in the 21st century, if massacres can be considered as victories, that means that this is the end of humanity."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

WHITE HOUSE SILENT ON IRAN NUKE DEAL AFTER CLAIMS TEHRAN HELPED PLAN ATTACKS ON ISRAEL

Eid, who spoke to Fox News Digital from East Jerusalem, is a human rights activist and political analyst who initially uncovered human rights violations carried out by the Israeli armed forces before expanding his research to human rights violations by Palestinian armed forces. He founded the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group in 1996 and has toured the U.S. and world, delivering speeches at college campuses and think tanks on his research.

When asked if the war in Israel and the skyrocketing death count would open peoples eyes that Hamas is a terrorist organization and not a social justice group, Eid said "they dont want to wake up" until Hamas violence affects them directly.

"They don't want to wake up until the Hamas will touch them, until the Hamas will reach them, until the Hamas will kill them. Then everybody will wake up," he said.

"I think what's happened in Israel, in the south of Israel right now, unbelievable. And I think all the international community should have to stand up at once and to declare on the Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, as a terrorist organization, and all of the world should have to participate in the war against such terrorist people," he said.

Chaos broke out in Israel early Saturday morning when Hamas terrorists took the country by surprise with land, air and sea attacks. More than 1,200 people in Israel have been killed, including 14 Americans, and thousands of others injured while nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been reported dead.

Hamas has also taken hostages amid the violence, including American citizens, President Biden said Tuesday.

BIDEN'S APPEASEMENT OF IRAN LOOMS OVER ISRAEL ATTACK: 'IT'S DUMB POLICY AND IT'S EVIL'

Eid said the human rights issues in Gaza are the same as the human rights conditions in Iran, Sudan and Syria, arguing that Hamas is largely trained by those governments.

Israeli air attacks on Gaza continue on Oct. 8, 2023.

"These people are mostly trained by those governments, and those people learn by those governments how to violate the rights of the others. So, to talk about a human rights record under the Hamas, there is no human rights under the Hamas and nothing to talk about it," he said.

"People are killed, people are slaughtered, people tortured, people disappeared, and no one can speak a word about what is going on in the Gaza Strip."

AOC, LIBERAL POLITICIANS SLAM PRO-PALESTINIAN RALLY AMID GROWING BACKLASH: 'BIGOTRY AND CALLOUSNESS'

People march in support of Palestinians in New York on Oct. 8, 2023, after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel.

NYC PROTEST RALLY FOR PALESTINIANS BLAMES ISRAEL FOR DEADLY HAMAS ATTACK AMID RETALIATORY AIRSTRIKES IN GAZA

News broke Sunday that Iranian security officials allegedly approved Hamas' plan to attack Israel during a meeting in Beirut the previous Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported. Hamas and Hezbollah leaders said Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps worked with Hamas since August on air, land and sea attack plans.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE US NEWS

U.S. officials have said that Iran is broadly complicit in the attacks due to the countrys long-standing support of the terrorist organization, though no direct evidence of Irans involvement in the attacks has been found. Eid said Iran is using terrorist organizations as its own agents to achieve its goal of destroying Israel.

"I think that the Iranian government is trying to put out so many activities to destroy Israel. The Iranians believe that Israel has no right to exist. And this is how the Iranians are using the Hezbollah, and the Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad as their own agent. And Iran is spending on these three organizations much more than they are spending on the Iranian people.  This is really horrible."





Original article source: Palestinian activist shuts down anti-Israel critics defending Hamas 'genocide': 'Unhuman'
Palestinians fear a new wave of killing in the West Bank after the territory was sealed off by Israel in response to Hamass deadly attacks.

The death toll on both sides has continued to rise, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting on Thursday that more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli air strikes after the weekend assault left around 1,200 Israelis dead.

At least 27 Palestinians have been killed during clashes in the West Bank since Saturday. On Wednesday, three were shot dead by Israeli security forces and masked Jewish settlers in Qusra village near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said, after the Israeli army said it was supplying licensed citizens with thousands of firearms to bolster defence systems across the country.

Mourners attend the funeral of four Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli settlers, near Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank (REUTERS)

People living in the West Bank told The Independent of their concerns as the crisis continues to escalate. Saed, 26, a resident of Aida refugee camp in the West Bank, feared what would come next.

Hamass attacks were really shocking and surprised all of us, he said. We will face more difficult days in Aida. Israel will hit with force and start a new wave of killing.

Have you been affected? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk

There is considerable tension in the region as Israeli citizens and Palestinians clash. Earlier this year it was reported there were now more than half a million Israeli settlers living in the West Bank. The West Bank and east Jerusalem are together home to some 3 million Palestinians.

Mojahed Tbanjeh, a journalist in Nablus, also told The Independent: The situation here is very bad. Israeli settlers have started attacking the villages.

Yesterday four Palestinians were killed by Israeli citizens and today another two were killed in Qusra at a funeral, a father and son.

An hour ago a doctor from the village of Jit near Nablus was abducted. All the checkpoints are closed. Every day in West Bank cities there are confrontations and marches at checkpoints.

Rubble and concrete boulders block a road in Bayt Tamar, a village near Bethlehem (Saed)

Residents say the blockade is causing residents to run out of food and fuel supplies (Saed)

Raya Osama, 30, is a pregnant mother-of-one who is contemplating leaving the area for the first time.

Were more afraid of the settlers than the army, she said. The settlements are placed between Palestinian villages and they are made up of very far-right Israeli citizens who hate Palestinians and want to punish them for Hamas.

Ms Osama says she feels her community is in danger and wants to leave with her 11-month-old son and her family.

The blockade has closed entrances and exits into Palestinian towns and cities, which Saed said is causing residents to run out of food and fuel supplies.

Supporters of the Fatah and Hamas movments march in Hebron city in the occupied West Bank (AFP via Getty Images)

In one image, a road into Bethlehem can be seen blocked by a pile of rocks and concrete barriers with a bulldozer parked behind. And another image taken in Bayt Tamar, a village near Bethlehem, shows rubble and concrete boulders blocking a different road.

Aida was established in 1950 by the United Nations as a refugee camp for Palestinians who fled what is now Israel in the 1948 Israeli-Arab war.

Refugees have remained there ever since, with generations growing up in the camp which now resembles a town and is located next to Israels heavily fortified separation barrier. The camp is about 0.7km squared and is home to 6,000 refugees. Ten per cent are Christian, and the rest are Muslim.

Allegra Pacheco, chief of party for the West Bank Protection Consortium, said: The situation is getting increasingly tense by the minute. There is incitement among some armed settlers to repeat what is happening in Gaza in the West Bank. There have been deaths both yesterday and today because of this.

Any country that is concerned about destabilisation needs to know that the situation in Gaza is destabilising, but the West Bank could become another front in a minute. It could be another tipping point.
Friday, Oct. 6, was an average day in the chaotic, fractured, and forcibly segregated Israeli-and-Palestinian new normal. The next day, Israeli and Palestinian society transformed in hours as Hamas led a bloody and unprecedented attack from Gaza that has plunged Israel and the occupied territories into new depths of a war without end. Nothing is normal now.

Since Saturday morning, at least 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, have been killed in an assault that has caused Israel more casualties than the country experienced during the entire five years of the Second Intifada that raged nearly 20 years ago. Twenty-four hundred have been wounded, and over 100 have been taken captive in Gaza. At the same time, 950 Palestinians have been killed and an estimated 5,000 wounded since Israel has responded with a punishing bombardment from air, land, and sea that is flattening neighborhoods in the long-besieged strip. More than 300 children are among the dead. Residents, whove endured a 16-year-long blockade, believe this is just the prelude to a mass invasion.

There is no place to go. If I die, I will die in my home, says Mohammad Rajoub, 40, from his home in downtown Gaza City on Tuesday.

Like many Gaza residents, Rajoub was stunned by the massive and ongoing surprise assault. Many Gazans were elated  not by the atrocities, with which they can grimly identify. They celebrated an inconceivable breaking of the siege. For Gazans, it was the bursting of the bubble that allowed Israelis to live cost-free while Israel denied them the most basic rights. Then the dread and panic of the Israeli response set in. As an unprecedented 300,000 Israeli troops now swell around Gaza in expectation of a ground invasion, its a response that has so far plunged Gaza into darkness; cut off food, water, and gas from entering the strip; and then there is the terrifying bombardment that residents describe as being far worse than 2014  the last time Israel fought a ground war there.

Rajoubs phone shakes and freezes regularly on our video call as the blast of Israeli airstrikes shake his building. With the foreign press unable to reach Gaza, Rajoub  a fixer for foreign journalists during previous conflicts  has spent the past several days and nights at home, sheltering relatives fleeing neighborhoods being flattened in the center of the strip. Stocked up on food and water, he wonders what will happen when it runs out. Israel cant say Hamas is like ISIS and then do the same thing to us, he says.

As he speaks, Rajoub struggles to pump out water from his living room that had just flooded in during a storm; he eyes his kids running around the buildings heavy metal-gated entrance way. They play loudly, as if trying to block out the sounds of death from above.

A view of destroyed Al Amin Muhammad Mosque hit by Israeli airstrike, in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 8.

When Israeli airstrikes obliterated parts of Gazas densely populated Jabalia refugee camp in air raids on Monday, four of Mohammed Abdallas younger cousins were killed when bombs rained down on the market. On a video call, he camps out in the hallway of his wheelchair-bound mothers fifth-floor apartment, gleaning what light he can from the window in the stairwell. Abdalla, 36, and his family are without power or water and have nowhere to go. The building elevator is out, and the airstrikes creep closer, jolting his building more violently each time.

I dont know where this is going to go, he says crouched against the wall on a pillow and sporting a tight goatee. Every day is worse than before.

One of the few Gazans who have managed to leave the strip, Abdalla was living in Chile for the past few years, only returning to the confines of his homeland to care for his ill mother. In his previous Gaza life, fluency in English landed him a job at the Hamas-run government press office. However, unmarried and not a party member, he says he didnt fit in. He has tried to make a career as a graphic designer, but, like more than 60 percent of Gaza, he struggles with unemployment.

With nowhere to run, he is horrified by Israeli calls for them to flee their homes to Egypt. It conjures up images of Israels expulsion of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. On the other hand, he says, it sounds better than his fear of Israel reducing Gaza to rubble before a full-scale ground invasion.

Former Gaza health minister and representative of Hamas Basem Naim sees Saturdays assault as the start of a new era. Speaking on the phone from Gaza, he knows the attack has transformed Israelis and scarred Netanyahu, whose political career was defined by maintaining unprecedented Israeli quiet through low-cost Gaza wars and unrelenting blockade. Well aware of the astonishing cost that will come from such a brutal and humiliating attack, he tries to focus on military success and downplay or ignore atrocities. Still, he conditions a restoration of calm with Israel on returning Palestinian prisoners, stopping provocative Jewish religious visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, ending its West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements and occupation, and lifting its blockade of Gaza. You could say we have nothing left to lose.

For Hamas, this brazen attack is the ultimate roll of the dice, one that appears based on preserving the idea of the movement even if war wrestles away its limited control. Its claim to the leadership of Palestinian armed struggle had been waning over the last year and a half.

Amid settler attacks and uncontested army raids on communities cut off from each other by walls and checkpoints, a young generation of independent Palestinian guerrillas had been defined by the Neyanyahu era of segregation. Driven by the notion that its better to die on your feet than live on your knees, they inspired a spreading rebellion amongst West Bank Palestinians. As they became a main force of nationalist armed resistance, Hamas popularity was sinking. With expanding power shortages and an inability to change the siege, consistent Palestinian polling showed, Hamas was becoming a dated idea in Palestinian minds.

Palestinians inspect the destruction from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Citys al-Rimal neighbourhood early on Oct. 10.

When West Bank Palestinians woke up to a different kind of Israeli occupation on Saturday, Hamas was back at the center of it. When the Islamic nationalist movements notoriously mysterious military leader, Mohammed Deif, called for West Bank Palestinians, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and the entire Arab and Muslim world to rise up or join the fight, the Israeli military locked down and divided the West Bank, trapping Palestinians where they were. For the first few hours, even settler-accessed checkpoints into Jerusalem were closed.

As news of Israeli forces being overwhelmed and the breaking of Gazas confines sunk in, young Palestinians took the Israeli checkpoints that controlled their lives around the West Bank. At the daunting Qalandia checkpoint that separates Ramallah from most of occupied East Jerusalem, kids and teenagers from the adjacent refugee camp blocked the road with tire fires to throw rocks at soldiers. The Lions Den of Nablus and the new armed groups from Jenin looked to Hamas for the first time and expanded armed attacks on Israeli settlers and soldiers while calling for an uprising.

And in Ramallah, the hilltop seat of limited power for the Western-backed Palestinian security forces run by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas secular nationalist Fatah movement, hundreds marched, carrying Hamas flags through the city center. Since then, the restrictions dividing the West Bank for Palestinians have only tightened, leaving them stranded where they were on Saturday while taking in Gazan workers from Israel seeking refuge. Checkpoint protests continue to rage as the IDF increases its use of live fire.

Shawan Jaberin, the 63-year-old head of the Ramallah-headquartered Palestinian human rights organization Al Haq, sees this attack and war as a watershed moment for Palestinians. He is horrified by the brutality displayed toward Israeli civilians in the Hamas-led assault backed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Examining its impact, however, he notes that pulling off an attack on this scale has shown Palestinians that while the international community wont use any leverage to protect their rights, they can shape their own fate. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are becoming like Fatah was in 1968, says Jaberin, referring to the era of the Palestine Liberation Organizations formation in the wake of the defeat in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

By Saturday evening, Israelis and Palestinians were still only beginning to see the scale of what had happened. While Western countries turned to their allies in the Palestinian Authority for answers, one Western diplomat says that behind the scenes the reply was blunt. What did you think? the diplomat recalls being told. We fucking told you something like this could happen.

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American and Israeli parents say they have received messages from schools, temples, synagogues and peers following the Hamas terror attack urging them to delete social media applications off their kids phones.

The warning came after the military wing of Hamas threatened to kill an Israeli hostage with every Israeli targeting of civilians in Gaza, and then broadcast the executions in audio and video.

It has come to our attention that deeply disturbing videos, including footage of hostages, may be spread across social media in the near future, a principal at a public school in New York City said in an email this week, quoting from a message she said had been forwarded to her.

These videos and images will likely be shared through Instagram, TikTok and other social media outlets, the email went on to say. We strongly encourage you to consider having your children delete these apps for the time being, putting up additional parental controls, and/or to assist them in exercising extreme discretion around social media.

The messages have been sent to parents in other states that are home to sizable Jewish populations, including Maryland and New Jersey. It was not immediately clear whether a particular organization was encouraging schools to send out warnings or whether schools were acting independently.

David Lange, a resident of Israel who runs the Israeli advocacy group Israellycool, posted on X what he said was a screenshot of a message from parents at his daughters school. The message, written in Hebrew and shared via WhatsApp, warned that Hamas could soon distribute hostage videos and urged parents to get rid of TikTok from their kids devices.

I. Just. Can't. 

Received from my daughter's school:

Dear Parents,

We have been informed that videos will be sent soon

of our abductees begging for their lives.

Please remove the Tiktok app from the children's mobile phones.

We cannot afford our children to watch this!"  (((David Lange))) (@Israellycool) October 10, 2023

The warnings extended beyond the U.S. and Israel. JFS (also known as the Jewish Free School), a British secondary school in London, sent an email this week informing parents that administrators had warned students that Hamas could release disturbing images on social media, and suggested students delete TikTok and Instagram.

In personal safety assemblies today, we have asked students to delete these applications from their phones and it is something you may wish to follow up at home, said the email, which was reviewed by NBC News. (JFS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

The exact number of Israelis abducted by Hamas gunmen remained unclear Wednesday afternoon. Hamas militants have claimed more than 100 people were captured; the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that 60 people were held by Hamas in Gaza.

NBC News has not independently verified either of those claims.

The messages from schools and Jewish religious institutions underscore the sense of fear that has taken root worldwide after Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of people. Israels counteroffensive has killed hundreds of people in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

In the U.S. and abroad, the war between Israel and Hamas has more generally stoked anxieties about outbreaks of violence at temples, synagogues, mosques and other institutions associated with both Judaism and Islam. Police departments nationwide are ratcheting up security at potential targets.

Facebook, X, TikTok and other social media services have been filled with graphic imagery out of Israel and Gaza since the weekends violence, including videos of Israelis being kidnapped from their kibbutzim and photos of Palestinian civilians killed at their homes in Gaza.

In one post on TikTok, a parent said that she has deleted any apps that could potentially lead her kids to disturbing videos, including YouTube and Apples Safari browser.

I had a talk with the kids, too, about why we were doing that, that there could be scary things coming at them through social media and through YouTube, she said in the video. If they do see something, they are not in trouble and it is not their fault, and they need to talk to us about it.

TikTok, which has community guidelines barring violent content, plans to add another layer of protection to the platform amid the conflict, including additional moderation resources, blocking hashtags that promote violence and proactive fact-checking around misleading narratives, according to a spokesperson for the Chinese-owned service.

X and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment Wednesday.

In recent years, leading social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have come under intense scrutiny for hosting video, photo and audio content that might be harmful to teenagers and children, including images related to terrorism, gun violence, suicide and self-harm.

In response, some platforms have rolled out stricter parental controls, assembled moderation teams and invested in automated systems designed to quickly spot harmful content. But debates over content moderation still roil the technology industry, intensified in part by growing politicization.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A metro Atlanta man has been arrested and charged with sexual battery while he was riding in a Lyft, according to Duluth police.

Duluth police arrested 25-year-old Antonio Cartagena on Tuesday after they said he touched a Lyft driver inappropriately.

While at the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and North Berkeley Lake Road, Cartagena was a rear-seat passenger and allegedly reached up to the 55-year-old driver and started groping her.

The driver then turned around seeing that Cartagena was partially nude and engaging in lewd acts.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Cartagena got out of the car and ran away before officers arrived.

Cartagena was charged with sexual battery and public indecency.

Police said detectives played a pivotal role in identifying the suspect.

Safety is fundamental to Lyft. The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or anywhere in society. We permanently banned the individual from the Lyft platform and have reached out to the driver to offer our support. a Lyft spokesperson told Channel 2 Action News.

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Cartagena was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail.

Police said anyone who experienced anything similar with Cartagena should contact Detective Javier Bahamundi at (678) 512-3708.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
You almost have to feel sorry for Christina Paxson, president of Brown University.

She had to make an official statement on Hamas butchering civilians.

Youd think that would be easy.

In a normal world, taking a stand on the slaughter of more than 1,000 Jews seems both a clear task and, in terms of moral imperative, an almost welcome one.

Even ISIS didnt slaughter babies. Even the Nazis tried to hide Auschwitz. By contrast, Hamas live-streamed their extermination.

But you see, Paxson has this problem.

Shes the head of a woke university. On many campuses, as we all know, its trendy to despise Israel and claim allegiance with Palestine.

Despite that, one might hope that with mighty pen, Paxson would have risen to this teaching moment to decry raping and executing women, kidnapping grandmothers, and spitting on a near-dead naked Jewish female while yelling Allahu Akbar.

On Wednesday, an Israeli soldier examines the scene of last weekend's rampage by Palestinian militants on kibbutz Beeri, near the border with Gaza.

But Christina Paxsons pen was not mighty.

Her statement proved a case study in tiptoeing so arduously one expects she will need the services of a podiatrist.

To her marginal credit, Paxson began her page-long statement on the slaughter of Israelis showing a tiny bit of backbone.

With this weekends horrific and devastating terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel and the tragic loss of life that has ensued   she wrote.

But her next words were painfully mushy: " including and especially the impact on civilians in  here it comes  "both Israel and Gaza 

Both.

Which of course is true, but her code was clear: Dont get mad at me. Im not taking sides.

In finishing this first sentence, Paxson twists herself into a pretzel to avoid any iota of controversy.

Commentary: Jews murdered but Israel blamed? The reaction is typical; it has ever been so

 my thoughts are with the individuals and families most directly impacted by the violence 

And on like that. Blah, blah.

Then she rolls out this raging obviosity: The issues that underpin the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are complex. Please.

The rest of her letter is a mishmash of, you know, how we all have to support each other.

It seems clear Paxson hoped to be able to say nothing but someone told her she had to say something so she went about it in a way that preserved her original intention.

Here was a moment to unabashedly condemn evil, not lapse in your first sentence into both-sidesism.

This came up after 30-plus Harvard student groups declared that, despite Hamass monstrous blood-fest, Israel was the only one to blame. It was the Jews fault that they were murdered.

Huge backlash. So Harvards president Claudine Gay finally responded  later than she should have, but at least with one sentence of the moral clarity Browns Christina Paxson lacked.

Devastating time': Local Jews hold vigil to mark violence in Israel

Let there be no doubt that, Gay said, I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever ones views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region.

That was still tepid. But Paxson didn't even have the spine to go that far.

There was a time when school deans, principals and presidents were feared authorities.

That has now flipped. Clearly, Paxson is so scared of upsetting any group of her students that the worst slaughter of Jewish civilians since the Holocaust leaves her more concerned about making nice with both camps than condemning without hedging.

This was not a time to be neutral about a day of abomination.

It was a time to denounce mass murder and decry antisemitism, without adding, On the other hand 

Christina Paxson could have done that - backlash be damned.

She didnt.

What a shame.

mpatinki@providencejournal.com

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Patinkin: Brown University president statement on Israel 'not mighty'
Former Vice President Mike Pence pushed back on former President Trumps labelling of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as very smart, arguing instead that the group is evil.

Hezbollah arent smart, theyre evil, Pence said Thursday in an interview with WGIR radio in New Hampshire.

This is no time for the former president, or any other American leader to be sending any message other than America stands with Israel, Pence continued. And look, I know the former president was frustrated with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu; hes been critical over the last two years  I consider him a friend, and Im proud of the relationship that America had under our administration with Israel.

During a speech Wednesday night, Trump railed against Israels lack of preparation for the surprise attack over the weekend by Palestinian militant group Hamas. Hes also taken aim at the Biden administration and Israelis defense minister for discussing Israels vulnerabilities. Trump suggested these public discussions may have helped Hezbollah plan further attacks against Israel, calling the militant group very smart.

The comment came under harsh scrutiny from some of Trumps political opponents, including President Biden, who wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Our nations support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , who is running in the Republican presidential primary against Trump, Pence and others, called Trumps comments absurd and vowed to stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are.

Trumps presidential campaign responded to the backlash later Thursday, arguing smart does not equal good.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good, according to a tweet from the campaigns War Room account.

It just proves Biden is stupid. And now you look stupid, Ron, the tweet continued, in reference to the president and DeSantis.

In a separate post on X, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said the Biden administration continually highlight[s] weaknesses and project[s] incompetence. He included a quote from a senior Defense official from a briefing Monday in which they said, We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict.

Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged fire in recent days in the wake of Israels separate front against Palestinian militant group Hamas, which launched a multi-pronged surprise attack against Israel over the weekend.

U.S. officials and leaders across the globe have voiced concerns over Hezbollahs involvement in the conflict, which has already claimed more than 2,500 lives from both sides, including at least 27 Americans citizens.

Hamas has also taken dozens of people hostage, including some Americans. The White House has not determined how many Americans are being held hostage but said the number is believed to be less than a handful.

National security spokesmen John Kirby said Thursday the number of Americans unaccounted for is 14, a drop from the 17 unaccounted for Wednesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence speaks, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, during an Associated Press 2024 GOP Presidential Candidates Conversations on National Security and Foreign Policy event, held in partnership with Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service, at Georgetown University in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

RENO, Nev. (AP)  Former Vice President Mike Pence will skip the Nevada caucuses run by the state Republican Party, which has adopted rules that critics say favor former President Donald Trump, and will instead compete in a state-run primary contest.

Pence's name appeared Thursday on a list of presidential candidates who filed for the primary with the Nevada secretary of state's office. The party has barred candidates from participating in the Feb. 8 caucuses if they also run in the primary election.

By skipping the caucus, Pence gives up a chance to try to win Nevadas relatively small number of delegates, which requires more intensive organizing across the state. Instead, a primary win could offer a symbolic opportunity to prove electability before crucial contests in South Carolina and a slate of primaries on Super Tuesday.

Pence seemed to blame his trailing fundraising on the decision, telling reporters on Friday while signing up for the New Hampshire primary in that states capital, Concord, that the newest campaign fundraising reports to be filed in the coming days will show other campaigns with more money.

Well probably have to be a little bit more selective in where we invest resources, and that was the basis of that. But we love Nevada and we look forward to tell our story there in the primary, Pence said.

Nevada holds a prominent place in the 2024 nominating contests as the third state to weigh in on the GOP field next year. But some presidential campaigns and Nevada Republicans have warned that the state's impact may be muddled after the local Republican Party opted to run its own caucuses two days after a state-run primary on Feb. 6.

Last month, the Nevada Republican Party approved rules that rival campaigns say tilt the states nominating process in Trump's favor.

In addition to forbidding candidates from participating in both the caucuses and primary, the state GOP also restricted super PACs from trying to bolster support for candidates in the caucuses. That restriction could be detrimental to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is heavily dependent on the Never Back Down super PAC for organizing and advertising.

The Nevada GOP says it will only award delegates, which presidential candidates try to collect in each state to win the nomination, based on the results of its caucuses.

So far, Pence is the first major GOP contender to decide to skip the caucus. Trump, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have filed to participate in the caucus.

Nevada GOP chair Michael McDonald said in an interview Thursday that he thinks the world of Pence, whom he first met through Trump, but was disappointed in his decision. He said that the former vice president was competing for a beauty pageant for a plastic tiara and that opting for the primary belittles him.

"No serious candidate thats running for president opts in to run for a state primary when youre not going to receive any delegates, McDonald said, adding that he hopes Pence reconsiders.

The news was first reported by The Nevada Independent.

Pence has faced a steep challenge in the GOP primary, with Trump maintaining a solid grip on the party. Many Trump supporters view the former vice president as disloyal for failing to go along with the former president's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump is now facing criminal charges in two jurisdictions over those efforts.

Caucuses, which typically reward grassroots support and organizing, are expected to benefit Trump given his solid grip on the GOPs most loyal voters. In a large and rural Western state like Nevada, it also means organizing in far-flung areas and getting supporters committed to turn out at a specific date and time to show their support.

A primary election, run by the state, would allow a candidate to compete before a broader pool of voters. The format favors candidates who can boost their name recognition and message through television advertising and concentrate on-the-ground organizing in heavily populated areas.

Nevada isn't the only state to have adopted rules seen as favoring Trump, whose team has worked for years to shape the system by which state Republican parties award delegates to presidential candidates.

Michigan and California have also passed rules this year that are seen to widely benefit Trump.

The former president has strong allies in top roles at the Nevada GOP, including McDonald and Republican National Committee member Jim DeGraffenreid. Both served as fake presidential electors in 2020 as part of a scheme in Nevada and other battleground states to try to overturn Trumps election loss. The partys executive director, Alida Benson, left that job this summer to run Trumps campaign in the state.

___

Price reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire contributed to this report.
White House

Concern is growing within the Pentagon over the potential need to stretch its increasingly scarce ammunition stockpiles to support Ukraine and Israel in two separate wars, CNN reported on Oct. 11,citing multiple U.S. defense officials.

At the moment Ukraine and Israel require different weapons: Ukraine wants massive amounts of artillery ammunition while Israel has requested precision guided aerial munitions and Iron Dome interceptors. But if Israel launches a ground incursion into Gaza, the Israeli military will create a new and entirely unexpected demand for 155mm artillery ammunition and other weapons at a time when the U.S. and its allies have been stretched thin from more than 18 months of fighting in Ukraine.

Israel has its own capable industrial base and produces many of its own advanced weapons, but a prolonged ground campaign could drain the countrys stockpiles, officials said. The Pentagons Joint Staff and Transportation Command have been working around the clock since Hamas launched its war on Israel to identify extra stores of munitions around the world and how to move them to Israel quickly, officials said.

Read also: Zelenskyy wants to visit Israel  report

The Pentagon is contacting U.S. arms manufacturers to speed up existing Israeli orders for military equipment that may have been considered less urgent just days ago, a senior defense official said on Oct. 9.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended the ability of the U.S. to support both Ukraine and Israel, as the U.S. announced another $200 million in security assistance for Kyiv, including artillery ammunition.

The United States. moved hundreds of thousands of munitions out of its reserves in Israel earlier this year as the U.S. and its allies were searching the world for ammunition to provide to Ukraine, prompting concerns among Defense Department officials and crystallizing the challenges the country faces as it grapples with supporting two wars abroad. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to carry out a prolonged campaign against Gaza, one that could put extant U.S. stockpiles under more pressure than they already face.

Defense officials are also anxious about the dysfunction in Congress and whether lawmakers will approve additional funding for U.S. support to Israel and Ukraine.

The White House plans to include assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan in its request for congressional approval of funding for Israel, NBC News reported on Oct. 11, citing White House and Capitol Hill sources.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured that U.S. support for Ukraine will continue this year and beyond, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Oct. 11.

The United States will deliver another security assistance package to Ukraine, worth $200million which includes HIMARS rocket artillery munitions, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, precision-guided aerial munitions, the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Oct. 11.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Following Hamas horrific terror attack on Israel this past Saturday, the Biden administration has moved quickly to send Israel weapons and strengthen U.S. military posture in the region. Those initial steps are laudable but not enough. With Israel preparing to launch a major ground incursion into Gaza and with the possibility that Hezbollah could open a major new front in the north, the United States would be wise to proactively provide Israel additional air defenses and weapons as soon as possible to augment what has already been sent or is in the pipeline for delivery.

Many Israelis are comparing the Hamas attack to some combination of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor. It is easy to see why in terms of the brutality and consequences of the attack. The actions of Hamas fighters clearly surprised Israel, and the tactics employed during the assault were straight out of the ISIS playbook, with reports of civilian executions and war crimes. As U.S. President Joe Biden said on Oct. 10: This was an act of sheer evil.

Hamas surprise terrorist attack and subsequent onslaught has claimed the lives of at least 1,200 Israelis. Israels losses would be equivalent to more than 40,000 Americans dying, in per capita terms; that is more than 13 times those lost on 9/11.

In response to Hamas terror attack, the United States is already providing weapons to Israel. A senior Pentagon official stated on Oct. 9 that the support includes air defense and munitions and that the Pentagon is contacting U.S. industry to gain expedited shipment of pending Israeli orders for military equipment. Bloomberg reported on Oct. 10 that a pending order of 1,000 Small Diameter Bombs was already picked up by an Israeli transport aircraft and that an additional sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions conversion kits, which convert unguided bombs into precision munitions, is being accelerated.

Those precision-guided munitions will help Israel precisely target terrorists while minimizing civilian casualties. Attempting to avoid inadvertent Palestinian civilian casualties is a vital but admittedly difficult task for the Israel Defense Forces, considering the dense urban environment of Gaza where Hamas and other terror groups frequently use Palestinian civilians as human shields.

In addition to the weapons Washington is sending Israel, U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday that the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group had arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. That augments other efforts to increase U.S. Air Force posture in the region, including F-15, F-16 and A-10 aircraft. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is heading toward the Middle East, too.

The current U.S. goal is to deter Iran and its largest terror proxy, Hezbollah, from opening a northern front against Israel so that the IDF can focus on operations in Gaza. Success or failure in deterring Iran and Hezbollah will depend on perceptions in Tehran regarding whether the United States means what it says and is willing to back up political statements with military action if warnings are ignored.

Regardless, prudence requires the United States to assume that deterrence could fail in the north and that any major Israeli ground incursion into Gaza could be long, difficult and resource-intensive.

Accordingly, as the first of two additional and urgent steps, the Biden administration should bolster Israels Iron Dome air defense system. More than 5,000 rockets have been fired at Israel so far, and if Hezbollah joins the war, that number could be in the tens of thousands or even over 100,000. Large numbers of incoming rockets and missiles could overwhelm Israeli air defenses, deplete Iron Domes Tamir interceptors and result in major additional Israeli civilian casualties. Israel needs every interceptor and Iron Dome battery it can get its hands on.

War against Hamasoperational update day 6. pic.twitter.com/GomMcR9rVB  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 12, 2023

Therefore, the Pentagon should provide Israel all of the U.S. Armys Tamir interceptors from its two Iron Dome batteries, some of which the United States has already started to provide. The U.S. Army first acquired an Iron Dome battery in 2020 but has failed to make effective use of the systems. Washington should strongly consider providing Israel the two Iron Dome batteries themselves as well. This would provide valuable additional air defense capacity to Israel at no significant risk to U.S. military readiness.

Recognizing this reality, a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Oct. 10, asking for such action. The letter was led by Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and co-signed by Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rick Scott, R-Fla.. The letter stated: Immediately transferring these two Iron Dome batteries that are not in use to Israel would provide tangible, life-saving and sustained support to our ally as it faces rocket and missile salvos that threaten to overwhelm its defenses.

As a second important step, the United States should immediately offer Israel full access to the War Reserves Stock Allies-Israel, or WRSA-I, that the Pentagon maintains in Israel. The stockpile includes weapons that would prove helpful to the IDF during its ground incursion into Gaza. The United States began to stockpile military equipment in Israel in 1984, and in 1989 it altered the terms of the stockpile to allow Israel access during emergency situations.

The Pentagon allowed Israel to withdraw equipment from WRSA-I during the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014. During the bilateral training exercise Juniper Falcon in February 2019, U.S. officers practiced the transfer of munitions from WRSA-I to the IDF. The Pentagon should immediately make the stockpile available to Israel, both for practical reasons and as an additional show of support for Israel.

Israel is suffering from the worst terrorist attack in its history. Americas closest ally in the Middle East needs Washingtons help. The Biden administration has responded with admirable clarity and speed since Saturday. But additional steps are needed  and fast.

Bradley Bowman is the senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where Ryan Brobst is a senior research analyst.
For more than 40 years, the Double Door Inn hosted thousands of artists and music fans on Charlottetown Avenue in Charlottes Elizabeth neighborhood. Through the years, the music venue became a favorite among locals and a must-visit spot for many out-of-towners, leaving a permanent impression on some.

In 2016 the club was sold to neighboring Central Piedmont Community College and hosted its last show in January 2017.

But loyal patrons havent forgotten about the much-loved venue and theyre petitioning the college to install a permanent marker at the clubs former location.

ALSO READ: Charlotte concerts you need to know about

The students, faculty and everyone else should know that they are most definitely on hallowed ground at that site, and the brothers Karres should know how much we appreciate the many years of powerful music they so generously gifted us, an exert from the petition on Change.org read.

On Dec. 17 fans of the Double Door will also gather at the Neighborhood Theatre to celebrate what would have been the venues 50th anniversary.

VIDEO: Owners of popular Charlotte restaurants working to save historic Dilworth building
A demonstrator crossing the street is silhouetted behind a flag of Israel during a rally in support of Israel Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Bellevue, Wash. | Lindsey Wasson, Associated Press

Be careful, my elderly aunt admonished me before I left New York City 22 years ago to visit a number of Christian colleges across the country for research on a book I was writing.

She and others in my Jewish extended family were genuinely worried about my physical safety, with one even muttering something about lynching. They warned me about antisemitism and cautioned me to watch my back.

I thought their words were silly even before I visited these schools  which included those affiliated with evangelicals, Catholics and Latter-day Saints  but afterward I found their ideas downright preposterous. The truth is that Jews have no greater friends in this country, and in this world, than faithful Christians, and I can only hope that somewhere in the aftermath of the horror we are witnessing in Israel, my friends and relatives will reckon with this truth.

According to Gallup polling from 2020, about 70% of Protestants are sympathetic to Israel, a number that remained unchanged since 2010 and is 10% higher than the rest of the American public.

Moreover, Protestants who attend religious services more frequently are more likely to be sympathetic to Israel than the Palestinians. They are vocal about their support both culturally and politically, visiting Israel, supporting its economy and demanding that American politicians remain steadfast in their military and economic support of the country.

Outside of Jews, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were the most sympathetic to Israel, at 79%.

My visits to Christian schools two decades ago yielded few attempts at conversion, let alone coercion or threats. A dean at Bob Jones University in South Carolina teared up and told me he loved the Jews and was thrilled to find out that I was of the Jewish persuasion. At other schools, students asked me about my own religious traditions. At Brigham Young University, students were quick to talk about how they see themselves as very similar to the Jewish people culturally and religiously.

Atheists, by contrast, the group with whom my Jewish friends and relatives would probably say they feel most comfortable with because they are not engaged in any kind of proselytization, are more likely to express a favorable view of the Palestinian government (39%) than of the Israeli government (20%). One hopes that might have changed in recent days, but who knows?

Related

I am not naive to the long history of persecution of Jews by some Christians. The theological and political history of how we got to this point is long and complicated. Norman Podhoretzs 2009 book Why Are Jews Liberals? attempts to answer it. Sadly, we American Jews have too often prioritized liberalism over the preservation and protection of our own community. Many of us dont like the position of religious Christians on abortion, for instance, and so we often fail to recognize and respect the vital role they have played in protecting Israel and speaking out about antisemitism here at home.

In recent years my Jewish friends have been more inclined to populate their lawns and Facebook pages with Black Lives Matter signs, despite the virulent antisemitism and anti-Zionism the leaders of these groups have spewed. Just this week, BLM Chicago posted an image of a parachuter with the Palestinian flag (like the ones who came to murder and kidnap innocent Jews this week) with the caption I support Palestine.

By contrast, here was the statement from Russell Moore, a former leader of the Southern Baptist Convention and now editor of Christianity Today:

As Americans, we should stand with Israel under attack because it is a fellow liberal democracy  and a democracy in a region dominated by illiberal, authoritarian regimes. As Christians, we should pay special attention to violence directed toward Israel  just as we would pay special attention to a violent attack on a member of our extended family. After all, we are grafted on to the promise made to Abraham (Romans 11:17). Our Lord Jesus was and is a Jewish man from Galilee. Rage against the Jewish people is rage against him, and, because we are in him, against us.

At my alma mater, Harvard University, 31 student groups posted a letter unequivocally supporting Hamas in this conflict and it took the administration several days to issue a statement finally saying that these groups did not speak for the school.

As I think about where my own children will attend college, where they will be most protected from the hatred and violence toward Jews that seems to be spreading on American campuses, I suspect a place with a large population of devout Christians should be on the list. Maybe then I wont have to advise them to be careful.

Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Deseret News contributor and the author of No Way to Treat a Child: How the Foster Care System, Family Courts, and Racial Activists Are Wrecking Young Lives, among other books.
Phoenix police were investigating after a man was shot and killed in central Phoenix on Wednesday.

Just before 8 p.m., officers responded to the area of Glendale Avenue just west of Interstate 17, according to police. Upon arrival, units found an unidentified man with a gunshot wound.

He was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Phoenix Fire Department.

Police said the details of the shooting were still under investigation and that no suspects had been contacted.

No other information had been released.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police investigating after man fatally shot near I-17
A photographer arrested while covering the 2020 George Floyd protests will have a chance to present his lawsuit to a jury after a federal appellate court overturned a decision granting Des Moines police immunity for his arrest.

Ted Nieters, a freelance photographer, was pepper-sprayed, tackled and arrested while taking pictures of a group of protestors on June 2, 2020, near the Iowa Capitol. He was one of several journalists arrested while covering the protests, and was charged with failure to disperse, although that charge was later dropped.

Nieters sued the police department and the arresting officer, Brandon Holtan, claiming unlawful seizure, excessive force and retaliation. But in July 2022, a federal district court judge ruled for the city, finding that Holtan had "arguable probable cause" to make the arrest because Nieters was in the proximity of a group that had been previously told to disperse. The judge found Holtan and the city were entitled to qualified immunity, a doctrine protecting officials from liability unless the unlawfulness of their actions was "clearly established" at the time.

Now the case has new life. A three-judge panel of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday, with one partial dissent, that Holtan does not have immunity on Nieter's excessive force and false arrest claims, putting the case back on track for a potential trial.

Nieters referred questions to his attorney, Gina Messamer, who said Nieter's case is about protecting the First Amendment right to gather and publish the news.

"We very much appreciate that the Court of Appeals looked at both sides of the story, and didnt just rubber stamp the officers actions," she said in an email. "The freedom of the press is crucial to our democracy and Ted Nieters looks forward to defending that freedom at trial."

From 2021: 'The jury made the right decision': Reporter Andrea Sahouri acquitted in trial stemming from arrest as she covered protest

City Manager Scott Sanders said in a statement the city will consider seeking further review of the decision.

The city is disappointed with the 8th Circuits split decision today and believes that the dissent is correct in its assertion that the majority misapplied the law in reversing part of the district courts decision," Sanders said. "While the city appreciates the courts affirmance of the dismissal of the plaintiffs First Amendment claim, we will be exploring all options to reach an appropriate result in addressing this split decision.

Did officer have cause to arrest for failure to disperse?

According to court filings, Nieters attended and photographed a rally outside the Capitol on the evening of June 2, followed the demonstrators downtown, and followed a group back to the Capitol grounds shortly before 11 p.m. Police say the group he was photographing became violent and damaged property, and issued several orders to disperse.

Nieters says he did not hear any dispersal orders, but left the Capitol grounds again sometime after 11 to follow another group of protestors. At about 11:45, police approached that group, and Nieters, about five blocks from the Capitol. Believing Nieters was part of the group, Holtan reportedly ran at him, telling him to get on the ground. Nieters raised his hands but turned his body away before Holtan hit him, and Holtan, believing Nieters was about to flee, sprayed him with pepper spray and tackled him to the ground.

Although Nieters showed Holtan a press identification, Holtan "did not want to be perceived as giving a journalist special treatment" and placed him under arrest.

Decision denies qualified immunity for officer

Wednesday's decision found several places where a jury could find Holtan erred.

At the time he was attacked, Nieters was at least 50 feet away from demonstrators, standing outside a hotel with two cameras, and unlike others was not trying to flee from police, Judge Stephen Grasz wrote. Nor was there any evidence that he heard any of the dispersal orders at the Capitol.

"Furthermore, as Nieters was standing by himself five blocks away from the Capitol, a jury could conclude that Nieters did in fact disperse," Grasz wrote.

Even if the initial decision to arrest Nieters might have been based on a reasonable mistake, the court held, once Nieters showed his press ID, "It certainly was not an 'objectively reasonable' mistake to believe probable cause existed for the arrest."

A jury also could find Holtan's use of force to be unreasonable, the court found, pointing to Holtan's statement that his order to get down, Nieters' turn away, and his use of pepper spray happened "almost simultaneously."

As for qualified immunity, the court found it was clearly established that knocking a "non-resisting suspect" to the ground, or arresting people not part of the group believed to have committed crimes, was unconstitutional.

Where do other Floyd protest suits stand?

One of the judges, Raymond Gruender, partially dissented, writing he would have upheld the finding of qualified immunity for Nieters' unlawful arrest claim. But he joined in the rest of the opinion, including upholding the district court's order dismissing Nieters' claims of First Amendment retaliation. While Nieters offered evidence he was wrongly arrested, the judges found, he could not show evidence that Holtan's decision to tackle and arrest him was in retaliation for protected actions.

The reversal adds to a string of losses for Des Moines police in lawsuits arising from the Floyd protests. In at least three other suits, courts have allowed at least some claims against the city to proceed toward trial, although none have yet gone before a jury.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines police denied qualified immunity in Floyd protest lawsuit
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Photographers, both professional and amateur alike, are excited about capturing the moment the solar eclipse becomes a ring of fire, obscuring the sun.

According to Adam Gallardo, manager at B&C Camera in Las Vegas, its important that shooters not damage their equipment while trying to get that epic shot.

How do I protect my camera sensor being totally destroyed by this thing, Gallardo said.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the light of the sun, darkening the sky for people on Earth who are in the shadows path (Credits: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center)

He said concern about the safety of their device is the number one question asked by photographers who visit the store in the leadup to the solar eclipse.

Digital cameras, DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, even your phone [] all have sensors, Gallardo said. Its really not a good idea to point them directly to the sun, especially during this solar eclipse without the proper equipment.

A solar filter, Gallardo said, is essential to photograph a solar eclipse. The filter blocks out most of the sunlight. While that may seem counterintuitive when attempting to take photos of the sun, it could be the difference between a permanently damaged sensor and your camera being able to photograph for another day.

Its really dangerous to look at it directly with your eyes, so its going to be the same thing for your camera, Gallardo said.

This combo of different phases of the solar eclipse seen from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, an archipelago administered by Norway, on March 20, 2015. (Photo: JON OLAV NESVOLD/AFP via Getty Images)

Gallardo had some other tips for eclipse photographers. He recommended using a tripod for stability, especially for those using their zoom features or telephoto lenses. Many photographers, Gallardo said, prefer to use remote and wireless triggers to snap photos of the eclipse, allowing them to stand farther away from their cameras so as not to jostle them while shooting.

NASA photographer Bill Ingalls suggests focusing on the event surrounding the eclipse to take truly memorable shots during the event.

The real pictures are going to be of the people around you pointing, gawking, and watching it, Ingalls said. Those are going to be some great moments to capture to show the emotion of the whole thing.

Eclipse chasers may find Ely, Nevada, the nearest opportunity to catch the so-called ring of fire, along its path of annularity, the less-than-150-mile-wide track illustrated on the map below.

Other tips from NASA experts include photographers being comfortable with their cameras ahead of the big moment and to practice, learning how to manually focus the camera for the sharpest shots possible.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A Pine City man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to charges related to child pornography and enticing minors to engage in illegal sexual activity.

According to court documents, 26-year-old Caleb Vincent McLaughlin allegedly used multiple social media accounts to solicit at least 14 minor girls in Minnesota to send him sexually explicit images and videos.

McLaughlin would use a variety of aliases and Snapchat usernames in the scheme. He would claim to be a 17-year-old when trying to coerce the minor girls online and would on some occasions offer drugs, alcohol, cash, and gift cards in exchange for sexual acts, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say McLaughlin began his scheme in January 2019 and believe there are a number of girls in Minnesota, North Dakota and elsewhere that have yet to be identified.

McLaughlin was charged in July 2023 and on Wednesday he pleaded guilty to five counts related to child pornography at the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2024.

Law enforcement says they are still working to identify and confirm the identities of the victims involved. They ask if you believe you or your minor dependent have been victimized by McLaughlin, to contact the FBI Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
A Bellingham church pastor is working to lead a church group that is stuck in the Middle East to safety as the Israel-Hamas war continues.

As of Wednesday, October 11, the official death toll on the fifth day of the Israel-Hamas war has reached more than 2,300 lives, which includes more than 1,200 deaths in Israel and 1,100 deaths in Gaza.

That figure included at least 22 Americans, according to the State Department.

The Gaza Ministry of Health said the 1,100 deaths included 326 children.

More than 8,000 people have been wounded amid the war as of Wednesday.

Grant Fishbook, a lead teaching pastor at Christ the King Community Church in Bellingham, according to his Facebook page, shared three video updates on his social media in the past couple of days about his groups status after being stuck in the Middle East.

#NEW: Leaders at Christ the King Community Church in Bellingham tell me nearly 60 people, mostly members of their church, are stuck in the Middle East trying to find a way home amid the Israel-Hamas war. Tonight, how the church is supporting them, and what their plans are at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/SsY8CJ6qeM  Louie Tran (@louie_tran) October 11, 2023

In his latest video update on Wednesday, Fishbook said, Please continue to pray for us. Were in great spirits. Everyone is doing really well, other than being a little emotionally tired. More than anything. Or a lot emotionally tired, lets be honest.

The pastor said the group plans to catch flights out of Jordan, beginning Friday evening, to head back to Seattle.

As of right now, were moving in the right direction, he said in the video.

Members of the group will leave in waves, he said, after the group was originally planning to take off to Seattle Wednesday.

Our flights home on Wednesday were canceled, he shared in his second video update. So weve been working tirelessly to find other ways home.

He did not provide details on what specifically caused the change of plans.

In the first video he shared earlier this week, Fishbook explained to loved ones back home that, We can stay in Jerusalem and stare at our phones or there are some safe places that we can go to, and this is where Sam brought us today to rest and to reflect on Gods protection.

We drove up to Bellingham to talk with leaders of Christ the King Community Church (CTK), which is located on Meridian Street.

According to its website, the churchs mission is to create authentic Christ-centered communities that love God wholeheartedly and reach out intentionally so that others experience new life in Jesus and a transforming life of discipleship.

Brian Steele, pastor for adults at the church, said he and church leaders have been in communication with the group.

Were in almost in constant contact with them, when theyre not asleep, he said.

Steele said the group, with nearly 60 adults, mostly members of the church, flew to Israel 11 days ago to deepen their faith and explore the history of their faith.

Experience faith through the eyes being in Israel. Grow as disciples of Jesus. Learn more about, connecting the Bible to history and stepping into that history, he said.

The group was in Jerusalem when the war broke out, he added.

** INSERT SECOND PHOTO OF GROUP DURING TRIP

Right away, I knew they were safe in Jerusalem. I knew that was a very good place for them to be. They werent traveling in the south, he said. When there was a declaration of war, thats different than whats been happening in recent history where thered be different skirmishes. So that really changed. It added a seriousness that wasnt typical for that area.

Steele told us that the current plan is for the group to fly from Jordan to Qatar and back to Seattle. The group will travel back in different waves, adding that he hopes the first group will arrive in Seattle by Friday.

As the group navigates the uncertainty, Steele said the group is exploring safe areas to help keep their minds busy.

Hearing that theyre trying to not just sit in the hotel be afraid, but fill their time in ways that are enriching in ways theyre still being able to encounter the Holy Land and meet different people, and thats helped a lot, instead of sitting and fearing, he said.

And some of that fear is also being acknowledged back home at their church, he told us.

Around 4,000 church members are praying for the group, Steele said, while recognizing their own thoughts and feelings.

Were just being honest and naming the fears, naming some of the doubts and uncertainties, he said.

Steele stressed that the group is still relying heavily on their faith during this difficult time.

We are rallying around them. Were praying together. Were praying for them, he said. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil because Hes with us. Being in the valley of the shadow of death, and this war is that. Its the dark valley. Whats helpful is to acknowledge the valley, not pretend, not try to over-spiritualize. Its name the valley, name the darkness, name the difficulty, and be honest with it.

Steele said the group did not suffer any injuries and the church is still finalizing plans to welcome the group home.

We are for you and were with you. We love you. We know this is a trial. And we know this is difficult. Were praying for you, he said. Itll be amazing (when the group returns). Its going to be big big hugs.
WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland and the Czech Republic will extend temporary controls on their borders with Slovakia into November as countries seek to restrict the flow of illegal migrants.

The Polish government has decided to extend the controls by 20 days to Nov. 2, the interior ministry said in a statement. Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski had said earlier that it would do so following a similar order announced by the Czech government on Wednesday evening.

The two countries, along with Austria, tightened their borders with Slovakia on Oct. 4 to guard against smugglers and a rise of illegal migrants.

"There are good results, there are clear effects," Kaminski said.

Slovakia is a transit country for migrants mostly from the Middle East and Afghanistan who are seeking to reach Germany after crossing into the European Union through Hungary from Serbia, which is not in the EU.

On Wednesday, Slovakia extended its own border controls with Hungary until Nov. 3. The number of migrants entering Slovakia has risen eleven-fold to nearly 40,000 this year, government data shows.

Last month Germany also introduced checks on its borders.

Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and Germany are all part of the EU's Schengen open-border zone.

The issue of illegal migration has featured prominently in campaigning for elections in central Europe.

Slovakia's SMER-SSD party won a Sept. 30 election on pledges to step up border patrols, while Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has branded the opposition soft on migration as it seeks a new term in an Oct. 15 poll.

(Reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw and Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios and Gareth Jones)
NATO

Poland will host Europes largest army exercise, Dragon-24, next year with 15,000 Polish and 5,000NATO troops, including the United States and Britain, Polske Radion reported on Oct. 11, citing a statement by newly appointed Polish Army Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Wiesaw Kukua, at a training area in the southeastern town of Nowa Deba.

Two of Polands top military commanders, Gen Rajmund Andrzejczak, the Chief of the General Staff, and the operational commander, Lt Gen Tomasz Piotrowski, submitted their resignations on Oct. 10, in spat with Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak.

The resignations come just days before a crucial parliamentary election that will determine the countrys future political course and after months of tensions between the armys top brass and Polands Defense Ministry, who have reportedly bypassed the armys leadership in some decision-making.

NATO's Steadfast Pyramid 2023 and Steadfast Pinnacle planning exercises are to start in Riga, Latvia, Latvian news agency Delfi reported on Sept. 3.

Read also: NATO begins large-scale exercises in the Baltic Sea, practices to repulse Russian aggression

NATO member states have started extensive exercises along the northern coast of the Baltic Sea, rehearsing maneuvers the defensive alliance would carry out in the event of a Russian attack, Estonian news website ERR reported on Sept. 9.

Thirty-one NATO countries and Sweden will hold in 2024 the biggest NATO military exercises since the Cold War, UK newspaper the Financial Times reports, citing its sources in NATO.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A person decked out in a phony law enforcement uniform and carrying a fake badge and a loaded gun was recently arrested in eastern Los Angeles County after making unlawful traffic stops, according to the L.A. County Sheriffs Department.

The man, whom deputies declined to identify, is accused of illegally impersonating an officer and carrying a loaded firearm in public, according to Sgt. Jose Arias, the watch commander at the Sheriffs Departments Industry Station.

Arias said the impersonator had made multiple unlawful traffic stops over several months, but noted that investigators were not aware whether the man had taken any enforcement action, such as requesting ticket payments or detaining anyone. Arias did not know under what circumstances the man is suspected of pulling people over, but said the investigation is ongoing.

Sherrifs officials shared photos of the arrest, which showed the man wearing a patch reading Motor officer and Traffic on a navy-blue uniform. He was riding a motorcycle that appeared to be equipped with red and blue lights, and carried a tactical vest with a silver badge. He also had what appeared to be a gun, a baton and a body camera.

Officials said the man made the phony traffic stops in the eastern Valinda area near Nogales High School in La Puente. Detectives ask that anyone who was pulled over by the impersonator to contact the Sheriffs Department.

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.
Officials at Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport temporarily shut down a roadway to the hub Wednesday afternoon to investigate a possible bomb threat and arrested a suspect, according to reports.

BWI officials said in a social media post at 3:10 p.m. that a law enforcement investigation on Terminal Roadway was underway, and all vehicular traffic approaching the airport was being held. Anyone in the lower level terminal was advised to remain in place, officials added.

Just over an hour later, Maryland Transportation Authority Police said at 4:30 p.m. that the airport terminal road was reopening to traffic on the upper level, adding there is no threat to public safety.

Maryland Transportation Authority Police shut down terminal road into BWI on Wednesday afternoon to conduct an investigation into a possible bomb threat, according to reports.

FOX 5 in Washington, D.C. reported that according to the TSA, a man told law enforcement officials he had explosives in his vehicle, after parking his vehicle at the airport.

BALTIMORE POLICE RELEASE CLEAR IMAGES OF SUSPECTS WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SHOOTING

Maryland Transportation Authority Police shut down terminal road into BWI on Wednesday afternoon to conduct an investigation into a possible bomb threat, according to reports.

When reached for more information, TSA told Fox News Digital to contact the lead law enforcement agency on the case, the MDTA police.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Maryland Transportation Authority Police have taken an individual into custody," MDTA Police said. "Based on statements made by the individual, officers took precautionary measures."

Police continue to investigate the incident.





Original article source: Police investigate bomb threat at BWI Airport terminal, suspect in custody: reports
CORRECTION: This article has been modified to correct previous reporting of a shooting. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials said that no shooting occurred. We apologize for the error.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police Wednesday were investigating reports of a person shot at a Las Vegas Strip property, which turned out to be a swatting incident, police say.

According to law enforcement officials, the swatting incident occurred Wednesday at the MGM Grand on the Strip. Initially, sources had reported a shooting on the property. Sources had initially told the 8 News Now Investigators that a person called 911 saying their friend was shot and they were performing CPR.

Police were unable to find a victim and later said that the incident had been an incident of swatting.

According to Oxford Languages, swatting is the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR)  The Guthrie Police Department is investigating after human remains were found Wednesday evening.

According to officials, the remains were found around 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday near Heather Road and Battle Avenue.

LOCAL NEWS: Oklahoma City Police investigating deadly hit-and-run

It was determined by the responding officers that the remains had been there for an extended period of time.

Guthrie Police have requested the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as the investigation continues.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A man stormed a business center in Kyiv's Solomianskyi District, firing shots and attempting to take over the building, Ukraine's National Police wrote on Facebook on Oct. 12.

The police's Rapid Operational Response Unit (KORD- the equivalent of the U.S.'s SWAT) arrived quickly and successfully negotiated with the man, leading to his surrender. No one was injured as a result of the incident, according to the report.

Ukraine's National Police participated in the defense of the country against Russia's full-scale invasion, particularly in the first few months when Kyiv was under threat. But the ongoing war does not mean that their regular duties as policemen have lessened.

Russian strikes on critical infrastructure during the winter of 2022-2023 caused widespread blackouts, leading to a dramatic rise in road accidents involving cars and pedestrians.

Although the midnight curfew, which is still in effect, has reduced the prevalence of theft and other property crimes, more time spent in forced close proximity inside also increased the rate of domestic violence, according to a report by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Many policemen are also contributing to the war effort by seeking out potential spies and saboteurs.

Read also: That diamond ring? It may have helped pay for Russias war

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Berlin has stepped up policing of the German-Polish border to combat a surge in migrant arrivals (JENS SCHLUETER)

It's early morning when 30-year-old Syrian Adem Ahmed walks across a railway bridge that starts in Poland and ends in Germany.

Moments later, he and 21 fellow Syrians are detained by German federal police, after the government stepped up border checks to combat a surge in illegal migrant crossings.

"The smuggler who was supposed to drop them off in a lorry on German soil probably fled when he saw the police and left them on their own," said federal police spokesman Jens Schobranski.

The dawn police operation witnessed by AFP took place in the border town of Forst this week, in Germany's former communist east.

Berlin announced in early October it was increasing police checks along its borders with Poland and the Czech Republic to crack down on popular smuggling routes.

A surge in arrivals in recent months, mainly from Syria and Afghanistan, has reignited a fierce immigration debate in Germany with local authorities saying they are overwhelmed by the number of asylum seekers.

The influx has fuelled support for the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which made major gains in two regional elections this month.

The number of people coming to Germany "is too high at the moment", Chancellor Olaf Scholz said recently, vowing to speed up the deportation of failed asylum seekers.

Last month alone, some 2,000 people illegally crossed into Brandenburg, one of the three German states bordering Poland.

"The only time we had a higher monthly figure in this region -- 3,014 people -- was in October 2021" when Belarus' borders were wide open, said Schobranski.

Since then, Poland has erected a border fence with Belarus.

- 'No food for days' -

Originally from the Syrian city of Idlib, Adem Ahmed lived in Turkey for the past eight years after leaving his war-torn country.

Speaking to journalists near the border, the fatigue etched on his face, Ahmed said it had been "difficult" living alone in Turkey.

"I want to be reunited with my family" in Germany, he said.

Like his fellow travellers, including a child and a teenager, Ahmed said he "went without food for the last three days" of his journey.

Before that, he had been eating "dates and nuts".

Ahmed followed the so-called Balkan route to get to Germany via Poland, travelling through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia.

Unlike the checkpoints on the German-Austrian border -- prompted by the 2015-2016 migration crisis that brought more than a million asylum seekers into the European Union's largest economy -- there are no fixed controls on Germany's frontiers with Poland or the Czech Republic.

The latest migrant flows have put renewed pressure on the EU's open-borders Schengen zone, which normally allows for free movement.

Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria also recently introduced checks on their borders with Slovakia.

After their mobile phones are temporarily confiscated for analysis, Ahmed and his fellow migrants, most of whom have no papers, are interviewed before being sent to reception centres.

- Chasing smugglers -

Sometimes the encounters with police are more dramatic.

Two weeks ago, a Syrian smuggler "forced his way through a roadblock and caused an accident" while carrying passengers, said Schobranski.

To stop illegal transports, police use road spikes to puncture tyres.

"Usually, if it's their first arrest, the smugglers are given a suspended sentence of between one and three years," said Forst police commissioner Frank Malack.

"What really frightens them is being sent back to their own country," he added, as many are asylum seekers themselves.

Police have caught as many as 10 smugglers over two days since the checks were stepped up, said Schobranski.

Many of them are Ukrainians at the moment, trying to earn money quickly and avoid military service at home, he said.

Georgian nationals make up the second-largest number of smugglers in the area.

Like other asylum seekers, they don't have the right to immediately work in Germany, but often still need to pay back the money they borrowed for their own passage, according to Schobranski.

Migrants pay between 3,000 and 10,000 euros ($3,200-10,500) to be smuggled into Germany, he added.

If they are promised as many attempts as it takes to cross successfully, "it's more expensive".

Germany recorded over 250,000 asylum requests in the year to September, more than for the whole of 2022.

The country is also hosting more than a million Ukrainian refugees.

clp/mfp/dlc/ach
The House on Fire ruins are pictured in the Shash Jaa Unit of Bears Ears National Monument in San Juan County on April 9, 2021. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Utahns appear in favor of keeping Bears Ears National Monument at its current size of roughly 1.3 million acres, although a large number of voters arent sure.

Thats according to the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, which asked voters whether they support keeping the monument at its original size. About 42% of respondents say they do  19% say they strongly support it, 23% say they somewhat support it.

Related

Meanwhile, 26% said they oppose the monument at its current size, with 11% saying they somewhat oppose and 15% saying they strongly oppose. And 32% responded with dont know.

The poll was conducted by Dan Jones & Associates from Sept. 24-29. It surveyed 802 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.23 percentage points.

The legitimacy of the monument is currently being challenged in the courts after Utah sued the federal government in August 2022, arguing that both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments violate the antiquities act. The suit was thrown out, but the state quickly filed an appeal with hopes that it will go before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The region is of deep spiritual and cultural significance for tribes in the American Southwest, with over 100,000 archeological sites scattered throughout its 1.3 million acres.

Pressed by a tribal coalition made up of the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe and Pueblo of Zuni, President Barack Obama established Bears Ears National Monument in the waning days of his presidency.

But many Utah politicians, industry leaders and locals in nearby towns opposed the move, and in 2017 former President Donald Trump slashed 228,000 acres from Bears Ears. The administration also reduced Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bears Ears neighbor to the West, by 1 million acres. President Joe Biden restored both monuments in October 2021, a move Utah is now challenging in court.

During his monthly press conference in August not long after the appeal was filed, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters the monument status brings more people to the area, and the federal government lacks funding to handle the influx of visitation. And the protections hinder industry, especially mining for critical minerals that Cox says will help fight climate change.

It has the exact opposite effect of what the president is intending to do, Cox said.

For Hillary Hoffmann, the co-director of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, the new poll begs the question  do Utahns agree with the sentiment often pushed by politicians?

Theyve spoken in congressional hearings about objections to the monument size ... and made statements in public meetings and in the media, but we dont ever have numbers attached to that, or any way of quantifying what those statements represent, she said. Its really great to hear that theres so much local support in Utah for the monument.

Other polling has yielded similar results, with a February 2022 survey by Colorado College suggesting 60% of the states residents think the monument is more of a good thing, while 30% responded negatively. Roughly 6% had no opinion.

But Utah state Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, whose district encompasses Bears Ears, said the high number of respondents who answered dont know means many Utahns are still on the fence.

The fact that youre polling statewide and still getting 32% that dont know, and some who want to see it smaller, I think is really telling, said Lyman, one of the more vocal opponents to the monument in the legislature. And if you were to poll in San Juan County, it would be a lot different.

The poll is statewide, so results specific to San Juan County are not available. However, the poll results do suggest party affiliation plays a role in the Bears Ears debate. About 69% of Democratic respondents say they support the monuments current size, compared to just 28% of Republicans.

The issue is complicated, Lyman said. On paper, the monument sounds great, but he said voters along the Wasatch Front may not have the nuanced perspective that residents in his hometown of Blanding do.

Its complex, and a lot gets lost, he said. People dont get it, its like saying that were $33 trillion in debt. That sounds like a lot, but they dont know the specifics. And its the same thing with saying 1.3 million acres.

A common refrain from politicians is that the monument went against the wishes of residents, harming local industry and the economy. Lyman says if the poll were solely conducted in San Juan County, a majority would be against the current size.

But the county is also home to a large swath of Indigenous voters, and in 2018, following the Trump administrations reduction of Bears Ears, voters elected the countys first ever Native American majority commission. Then in 2020, the new commission passed a resolution asking Biden to restore the monument.

Related

Some of the tribal population of San Juan County in particular has often been overlooked in the discussion, said Hoffmann. The beneficial impacts the monument has on the tribal communities on reservation lands that surround the monument are sometimes ignored.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in the Oval Office of the White House, Oct. 9, 2018, in Washington. | Evan Vucci, Associated Press

Former President Donald Trump is widening his lead among Utah Republicans, a new poll shows.

According to a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, if the 2024 presidential primary election were held today, 33% of Utah Republicans would support Trump, an increase from the 27% who said theyd back him in the last poll in August.

Another 15% said they would vote for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and 11% for former South Carolina governor and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. No other candidate registered in double-digits: Vivek Ramaswamy (5%), Mike Pence (5%), Chris Christie (4%) and Tim Scott (1%).

While Trump now maintains a double-digit lead over his closest challenger, Utah continues to be the most competitive red state with available polling from the last six months, according to aggregate data from FiveThirtyEight. In national polls, Trump leads his competitors by over 40 percentage points.

DeSantis saw a small drop, from 19% to 15%, between the August and September polls, though the decrease fits within the polls margin of error (4.32%). Haley tied with Trump for the biggest jump, increasing from 5% in August to 11% in September.

The most influential cohort in the 2024 Utah primary could be the undecided voters. In August, 11% of Utah Republicans said they support a candidate other than those listed and 13% said they were undecided; in the latest poll, only 6% support an unlisted candidate, but 22% are now undecided.

Overall, 29% of registered Utah voters (of any party) are undecided.

People dont know yet who theyre going to support, because we dont know exactly who the candidates are going to be, said Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.

Four Republican presidential candidates  Haley, Chris Christie, Mike Pence and Doug Burgum  attended the E2 Summit in Park City on Monday and Tuesday, an annual gathering of conservative donors and political leaders spearheaded by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

Related

Among Utah voters who describe themselves as very conservative, support for Trump jumps to 51%, with DeSantis trailing at 20%. Among self-described moderate voters, Haley is the favorite at 17%, with Trump (12%) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (11%) trailing.

Among self-described very active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Trump sits at 27%, with DeSantis, 17%, and Haley, 14%, close behind. Trump is the clear favorite for somewhat or not active Latter-day Saints, 36%, with only 9% favoring DeSantis and 8% favoring Haley.

Among highly educated voters  those with a graduate degree  Haley is the favorite, at 21%. Trump, 11%, DeSantis, 10%, and Christie, 9%, trail.

I think we should look at these numbers right now as as a snapshot in time, realizing that there will be a couple of front-runners emerging over the next couple of months that will completely change Utahns views, Perry said. As the slate becomes more clear, the commitment to one of them will be stronger and more easy to see in the polling.

Trumps indictments are politically motivated, Republicans say

Nearly two-thirds of Utah Republicans  73%  say they believe Trumps indictments are politically motivated.

Trump faces 91 felony counts in four criminal cases, dealing with his attempts to interfere with the 2020 election, mishandling classified documents, falsifying business records. In addition, he was found liable in a civil case for sexual assault.

Related

The Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll was conducted prior to Trump appearing in court in Manhattan last week for a civil fraud case, dealing with his business practices.

Although a vast majority of Utah Republicans say they believe Trumps legal challenges are political in nature, that does not necessarily equate to support for his candidacy. When asked if Trumps four criminal indictments make voters more or less likely to vote for him, 33% of Utah Republicans say they are more likely  the same figure that say theyd vote for him in a GOP primary election.

Meanwhile, 27% of Utah Republicans said the indictments make them less likely to support Trump, and 25% said they make no difference.

The continued support for Trump, despite his indictments, suggests that the former presidents strategy is working. When you have the former president giving speeches to Republicans, saying, Ive been indicted four times, and I did it for you, that has an impact on those core supporters, Perry said. That seems to be the approach that hes taking as he tries to solidify his base through these indictments.
Carter Meister, a member of the Fairbury Police Department, is facing sex crime charges after appearing in court in Pontiac.

Meister, 23, of Forrest, has been charged with four counts of criminal sexual assault and four counts of criminal sexual abuse. These charges are stemming from an Illinois State Police investigation.

The four criminal sexual assault charges against Meister allege that he engaged in sexual behavior with a person between the ages of 14 and 17. These are Class 1 felonies. He's also charged with four Class 2 felonies because the victim was at least five years younger than Meister at the time of the alleged crimes.

According to online court records, charges were filed on Oct. 6 in front of Judge Jennifer Bauknecht. Meister, who was in the custody at the Livingston County Jail, appeared in court via zoom with his attorney Richard Blass of Elmhurst, who was also on zoom.

Livingston County State's Attorney Mike Regnier said in a prepared statement that he requested the services of the (Illinois Appellate Prosecutor) unit and filed a motion with the Circuit Court to assign the unit. To do so is my legal and ethical obligation.

Kate Kurtz of the Illinois State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor unit has been assigned as the special prosecutor.

On Oct. 10, Bauknecht recused herself and Mary Koll has been assigned as the special judge in the case. Koll heard the detention hearing Tuesday afternoon.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month.

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct the victim's age. Meister was charged with Class 2 felonies because the victim in the case was at least five years younger than Meister at the time of the alleged crime.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Fairbury Police Officer Carter Meister facing charges for sex crimes
SAN DIEGO  County officials are warning Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) riders and staff about a potential tuberculosis exposure on some trolley and bus lines this year.

Those at risk of the disease include riders who used certain blue and green trolley lines from Feb. 16 to Aug. 15, the County of San Diego said in a news release Wednesday.

Trolley Blue Line between Balboa Ave Transit Center and Old Town Transit Center, and on the Green Line between Fashion Valley and Old Town roughly between the hours 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday to Sunday, the county said.

Anyone who traveled from April 22 to July 15 on Bus Route 901 via Iris Avenue Transit Center to Palm Avenue, as well as 8th Street between the hours 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., is also at risk.

Overturned tanker truck prompts lane closure on I-5

Tuberculosis, an airborne disease that is transmitted from person-to-person through inhalation of the bacteria from the air, produces symptoms like persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, according to the county.

Most people who become infected after exposure to tuberculosis do not get sick right away. This is called latent TB infection. Some who become infected with TB will become ill in the future, sometimes even years later, if their latent TB infection is not treated. Blood tests and skin tests are effective to determine whether someone has been infected, said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer.

While many riders could have been exposed, its not likely that a rider was exposed for cumulative extended times, county officials said.

The last report of TB exposure on MTS transit was in February. That impacted riders who used certain blue and orange lines during a six-month period between June 31, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022.

For more information on the potential exposure, call the County TB Control Program at 619-692-5565.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Tropical Wind and Rainstorm Bolaven has its sights set on southern Alaska where impacts may begin as the weekend comes to a close, according to AccuWeather hurricane experts. After that, the former super typhoon will help trigger a pattern change and additional storminess downstream in the U.S. later this week.

Bolaven will still pack a punch as it approaches the 49th state as early as the late hours of Sunday, bringing impacts of rain, wind, rough seas, and even interior snow. It will join forces with several other storms swirling in the Gulf of Alaska, a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean to the south of the state.

The sheer size of Bolaven could even force a change in the weather all across North America later this week, resulting in extreme temperatures and an uptick in storminess on either end of the contiguous U.S., AccuWeather's long-range forecasting experts warn.

Tropical Wind and Rainstorm Bolaven, as seen on AccuWeather RealVue Enhanced Satellite late Sunday evening, local time, Oct. 15, 2023.

As of Sunday night, local time, Bolaven was spinning well to the southeast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

Some satellites in recent days estimated the peak strength of the typhoon to be at Category 5 levels on the SSHWS, with sustained winds of up to 180 mph (290 km/h) and gusts of 220 mph (355 km/h). This would make Bolaven the second-strongest storm on Earth this year, after Typhoon Mawar late last spring.

Even though it did not make any direct landfalls, Bolaven brought heavy rain and gusty winds to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands earlier this week. A peak wind gust of 68 mph (109 km/h) was measured on Saipan Island, while nearly 4 inches of rain (101 mm) fell on Agana, Guam, from Monday evening through Tuesday night.

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The core of the Bolaven has since moved away from the islands and will churn harmlessly across the vast open Pacific through the remainder of the weekend.

Despite being far away from land, Bolaven wowed meteorologists and weather enthusiasts alike on social media with its symmetrical buzzsaw appearance on satellite imagery and a well-defined, clear eye, which indicated a powerful tropical system.

"Despite becoming post-tropical, the storm could end up restrengthening by the early and middle part of the new week as it merges with at least one another storm in the Gulf of Alaska," Lundberg said. "This could potentially bring heavy rain and strong winds to areas from south-central Alaska to the Alaskan Panhandle."

Anchorage and Juneau, the largest and third largest cities by population in the state respectively, could see direct impacts this week, including a heavy, chilly rain that leads to flooding. Around Juneau, and along the south-central coast, wind gusts of up to 50 mph will be possible. Farther inland over the mountains, heavy snow can fall.

In addition to waves pounding the southern Alaskan coast, the sprawling storm will also generate swells that reach all the way to the Pacific Northwest coast of the Lower 48 later this week.

All of the precipitation from what's left of Bolaven is expected to ride the jet stream into western Canada and steer well clear of the northwest U.S., but the massive footprint of the storm will have downstream effects on weather patterns across the lower 48 states, according to AccuWeather experts.

"In response to this storm, the jet stream will bulge northward into western Canada," added Lundberg. "This would translate into a period of warm, dry weather for much of the western U.S., beginning late [this] week."

The jet stream is essentially an atmospheric highway of strong winds located at the level where jets cruise. Winds in this high-speed river of air often reach 250 mph, helping to steer weather systems.

While the jet stream will dramatically shift toward the north in the western U.S., the opposite will be true in the East.

"A downstream dip in the jet stream would be expected over the Plains and Mississippi Valley," Lundberg explained.

This dip could portend a storm along the East Coast of the U.S. in the timeframe of Friday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 22, according to Lundberg. This would mean yet another potentially stormy, rainy and windy weekend in the Northeast.

"It's a fascinating connect-the-dots type of pattern," said Lundberg. "What happens in another part of the world really does have an impact on what happens at home."

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.
Former President Donald Trump faced an intense backlash Thursday from a bi-partisan and multinational group of critics, a day after he praised the intelligence of the terrorist group Hezbollah and reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite this weeks deadly attacks against Israel.

Trumps critics  who included Republicans, the White House, and Israeli government  accused the GOP presidential candidate of prioritizing personal grievances ahead of offering support to a country gripped by crisis.

Given the situation there, nows not the time to be doing, like what Donald Trump did, attacking Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, attacking Israels defense minister, saying somehow that Hezbollah were very smart, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday, in remarks highlighted by his presidential campaign. We need to all be on the same page, nows not the time to air personal grievances about an Israeli prime minister. Nows the time to support their right to defend themselves to the hilt.

Trumps criticisms renew longstanding concerns about his devotion to settling personal scores even at times of international crisis, and raise questions about whether the controversy will weaken his support among conservative Jewish voters, a group he has assiduously courted for years.

His remarks came just days after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel out of the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of the countrys citizens and sending shockwaves through the international community. Netanyahu has said that Israel is now at war with Hamas, promising a massive counter-attack in the coming days and weeks.

Rather than focus on Hamas, however, Trump, speaking to a pro-Trump organization in Florida on Wednesday, instead praised the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah as very smart. He argued its intelligence was one reason why American officials were wrong to publicly voice concern about the Lebanon-based group attacking Israels northern border.

The United States and other governments consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization, and it has been involved in armed conflict with Israel for decades

Later in his speech, Trump also lambasted Netanyahu over what he said was a prior difference of opinion between the two leaders when the Republican was president. The Israeli prime minister, Trump said, declined to participate in a U.S. operation that killed Qassim Suleimani, a top Iranian military official, in 2020.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, Trump said. That was a terrible thing.

In response to the criticism, Trump officials pointed to repeated statements of support for Israel in other parts of his speech, including touting his decision as president to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem while declaring that no group would attack the Middle Eastern country if he were still president.

I fought for Israel like no president in history, Trump said during Wednesdays campaign speech.

But his comments nonetheless were starkly different from how politicians have traditionally responded to moments of crisis, when they refrain from offering praise of the countrys perceived adversaries while keeping criticisms of allies out of public view. President Joe Biden, for his part, has struck a deeply different tone than Trump this week, offering his full support to Netanyahu while unreservedly condemning any group that attacked Israeli citizens.

A spokesman for the Israeli government, Shlomo Karhi, criticized Trump on Thursday for his remarks.

Its a shame that such a person, the former president of the United States, assists in propaganda and disseminating things that harm the spirit of IDF fighters and the spirit of Israels residents, Karhi told a local Israeli TV station, according to Haaretz. (McClatchy independently confirmed the authenticity of the spokesmans comments.)

In a statement, a White House spokesman said that although it does not comment specifically on the 2024 presidential race, no American should take Trumps position.

Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged, said White House spokesman Andrew Bates. Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel. Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history. This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil. Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

Trump this year has again emerged as a strong front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, leading a group of conservative rivals, including DeSantis, by as many as 40 percentage points in many national polls of the race.

McClatchy Senior National Security and White House Correspondent Michael Wilner contributed to this report.
A man has pleaded guilty in the killing of his romantic partner, who was shot outside an Amazon facility, Minnesota cops say.

Donte McCray, 33, was accused of shooting Kyla ONeal in the neck in the parking lot of an Amazon warehouse on Jan. 8 in Dakota County, according to court records. The shooting was spurred over McCrays alleged infidelity and ONeal breaking up with him, records say.

ONeal, 32, was nine months pregnant with her fourth child, her sister said in a GoFundMe. She was taken to a hospital, where she died, Lakeville police said in an affidavit.

She and McCray had been engaged to be married, according to WCCO and KARE.

Their baby, authorities said, was delivered by medical staff, but was pronounced dead nine days later due to a lack of oxygen and minimal brain activity.

Police said McCray told authorities he had been arguing with ONeal the day of the shooting when she learned he had another child with another woman while (ONeal) was pregnant).

As the couple argued, a family member said McCray threatened ONeal and her relatives.

You all aint bulletproof, McCray is accused of saying. Im going to (expletive) you all up.

He took his belongings to his mothers home, and ONeal later picked him up to take him to work at Amazon, according to the affidavit. When they arrived at the facility, McCray claimed he accidentally shot ONeal as he cleared guns in his possession of any live ammunition.

He was interviewed again after officers received surveillance footage from the parking lot.

(McCray) admitted when (ONeals) car backed up, he was angry that the door hit him and he raised the gun, pointed it at (ONeal) and pulled the trigger, police said. (McCray) claimed he did not know there was still a round in the chamber of the gun when he pointed it and shot.

Court records filed Oct. 9 show McCray pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. Both counts pose a sentencing of at least 20 years, according to Bring Me The News.

ONeals other three children were ages 10, 7 and 2, according to the GoFundMe. After the shooting, the children were under the care of their grandma, according to KMSP.

A friend said ONeal was studying to become a nurse.

There wasnt an evil or disingenuous bone in her body, Destiny Hicks told KARE. She was always willing to listen when I needed her. I loved her and I loved her energy whenever I was around her.

Lakeville is about 25 miles south of Minneapolis.

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Preliminary examinations have been pushed back for a series of defendants in the Michigan fake elector case, as attorneys have asked for more time to sift through an "overwhelming" amount of evidence.

Six individuals charged in the fake elector case  Kathleen Berden, Michele Lundgren, Amy Facchinello, Meshawn Maddock, Mari-Ann Henry and Ken Thompson  had preliminary examinations scheduled for Thursday in 54A District Court in Ingham County. But Judge Kristen Simmons signed off on pushing the exams back to Dec. 13-14. One defense attorney said additional time was needed to prepare for the exams, where Simmons will decide whether there is enough evidence to send the individuals to a jury trial.

"The volume of discovery is overwhelming," said Duane Silverthorn, a public defense attorney representing Lundgren. ... All parties, including the attorney general, would agree that is the most efficient way to handle it.

The group has been charged after attempting to submit a false slate of Michigan's electoral votes to Congress for former President Donald Trump after the 2020 election, which was won in Michigan and nationally by now-President Joe Biden. All told, 16 individuals face felony charges, including forgery-related charges each punishable by up to 14 years in prison and election law forgery charges each punishable by up to five years in prison.

Neither Thompson, of Orleans, nor his attorney David Gilbert appeared for the hearing scheduled Thursday. Simmons said this would be grounds for a bench warrant to be filed. A bench warrant would permit law enforcement to arrest an individual for not appearing for a scheduled court hearing, according to the Lewis and Dickstein law firm.

Attempts to reach Gilbert and Thompson were unsuccessful.

Last week, Simmons denied a pair of motions from Henry and fellow co-defendant Clifford Frost to have their cases dismissed over comments made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. CNN posted a video of Nessel, speaking to a liberal group during a Zoom meeting, remarking that the group of fake electors were "brainwashed" into thinking Trump rightfully won the 2020 election, and therefore would not plead guilty to the charges.

Defense attorneys argued the "brainwashed" remark was grounds to have the case dismissed, but Simmons said the cases still needed to proceed to preliminary exams so evidence could be submitted and denied the motions.

Facchinello's attorney, Paul Stablein, asked for his client's case to be moved to federal court last month. That request still remains in front of U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker.

Preliminary exam dates for others charged are currently scheduled for Nov. 2. All 16 individuals charged in the fake elector case have pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) @arpanlobo.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Preliminary examination dates pushed back for Michigan fake electors
A Donald Trump-era push to squash antisemitism on college campuses is seeing new life as student protests erupt in the aftermath of the violence between Israel and Hamas.

The latest wave of activism is putting pressure on the Education Department to release a proposal  one twice delayed by the Biden administration  that could force university leaders to referee pro-Palestinian advocacy and discrimination against Jewish people. It would potentially force college administrators to investigate claims of discrimination against ethnic groups or risk losing federal money, making it harder for them to stay out of debates about campus protests.

The absence of the regulation will likely be felt as dozens of campuses expect to host pro-Palestinian rallies on Thursday with the backing of the National Students for Justice in Palestine. The group has been coordinating its 200 solidarity groups for a day of resistance since Monday  a wave of protests that has spurred nearly 150 Jewish student organizations to demand that campus administrators condemn the groups for their campaign to glorify the Hamas attacks.

Harvard, Columbia and dozens of other universities have rushed to put out statements declaring who they support. But the resulting attempts to sympathize with civilians on both sides while fielding concerns about the potential for antisemitism and Islamophobia has rarely satisfied campus factions.

This highlights the need for the Biden administration to make good on its long delayed promised regulations, said Kenneth Marcus, who led the Education Departments Office for Civil Rights under the Trump administration and now leads the Brandeis Center, which advocates for the civil rights of Jewish people. This has been promised over and over again and delayed throughout the administration.



The Education Departments rule on antisemitism and ancestry-based discrimination, which hasnt been proposed yet, might not make college administrators popular with their students or free-speech activists, but it would make it clear when they must intervene in tense demonstrations or discussions. Advocates for the rule say past agency fact sheets indicate that it could closely align with Trumps executive order that threatened to pull federal funding from colleges that ignore antisemitism on campus.

Without the Trump-era policy, its supporters see students, administrators and other education leaders struggling this week to balance free speech with potentially antisemitic or islamophobic rhetoric as tensions over the war in Israel and Gaza escalate on campuses and social media.

Statements from college presidents such as Harvard Universitys Claudine Gay have dominated headlines as being too lax, especially when student groups have touted the invasion as a victory for Palestinians. Gay is one of many college presidents who have fumbled over how to respond to students following the war, and policy experts argue that the Biden administration could help navigate this issue. (Gay quickly released a second statement after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other Harvard alum criticized her first.)

This unfortunately sends a signal that the massacre of Jews is less important in the minds of university leadership, or at any rate that they are, for whatever reason, less capable of a response than when other groups such as Ukrainians are attacked, Marcus said of Gays initial response.

Israeli-Palestinian protests on college campuses are not new. Palestinian student groups have long rallied in support of national liberation, while Jewish groups who support Israel have been worried about a rise in antisemitic incidents which have surged on college campuses in recent years.

When there's an uptick in violence in Israel-Palestine, we see ramifications here in the United States and in Europe, and we see an uptick in antisemitism, said Miriam Elman, executive director of the Academic Engagement Network, a nonprofit that organizes and trains about 1,000 faculty and administrators on 300 campuses to combat antisemitism.

She added that Jewish student groups are largely concerned with National Students for Justice in Palestine, which seems to have wrapped itself in a very pro-Hamas position and messaging.

National Students for Justice in Palestine has asked its student chapters to rally because we have an unshakable responsibility to join the call for mass mobilization National liberation is near.

Student organizers, however, say there has been increased police presence on campuses around their rallies and Jewish gathering places. Academic and mental health support has also been extended to Jewish students, but that same support has not been extended to Palestinian, Arab or Muslim students at all, said Craig Morton, a Yale University student organizer with Yalies4Palestine and a fellow at the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.

Whenever something comes up with Palestine, the narrative put out by police or elected officials is that they're deeply concerned about Jewish Americans, Morton said. My community is made out to be a threat against the Jewish community here, which couldn't be further from the truth.

The Yalies4Palestine protest held Monday was peaceful, according to reports, and students from other nearby colleges including the University of Connecticut and Wesleyan University joined the demonstration held in New Haven.

But a Harvard University student-organized vigil for solidarity with Palestinians was abruptly postponed Tuesday due to threats and safety concerns. Police officers divided protesters Monday at Indiana University. And dozens of students were injured in a stampede during a candlelight vigil supporting Israel at the University of Florida after a woman fainted at the event.



California State University at Long Beach disavowed rhetoric at a pro-Palestinian student rally as deeply offensive. And there has been pushback over the posters used widely to promote rallies held by student groups that depict a paraglider, which were used by Hamas in their attack on Israel.

Gay, the Harvard president who came under criticism for not responding to student groups pro-Palestinian messaging, condemned the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and said no student group speaks for Harvard. At Columbia University, President Minouche Shafik urged students to support each other, and encouraged her faculty to find ways of bringing clarity and context to this painful moment. New York University President Linda Mills also acknowledged that the violence in the Middle East will likely intensify the feelings of those on our campus who hold strong views on the conflict, and presidents of other institutions released similar statements disavowing the attacks.

Where leadership really has to intervene is to say, we do want robust conversations that can be quite critical of Israeli policy, said Elman, of the Academic Engagement Network. We do want conversations about how to advance Palestinian rights and justice and we want to create space for that, but not to the point where we are allowing  in an uninhibited way  speech and activism that is crossing a line into advocating for violence and terror.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has yet to publicly acknowledge the conflict and how it is roiling colleges. Lawmakers and advocates for Jewish students have been urging the Education Department to make combating antisemitism on college campuses a priority after the agency delayed its rulemaking on the issue, which was first expected in January 2022. A proposed rule is expected to be unveiled in December.

An Education Department spokesperson said the administration remains deeply concerned about antisemitism and related forms of discrimination and hate at schools and on college campuses, and pointed to its national strategy and awareness campaign on antisemitism.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against students based on shared ancestry and national origin, including Jewish students and those from other religious groups, as well as students from Israel and Palestine, the Office for Civil Rights wrote on X.

Advocates for Jewish students said they want to see Cardona issue a strong statement. But the delay in response at Harvard has been top of mind for advocates who say Gays tepid statement from campus leadership and her delay to address her student groups statement was a failure.

Marcus said his group has already seen significant increases in antisemitic remarks on social media since the weekend, and they expect more calls this week regarding Jewish students facing harassment. He urged university leaders to get ahead of potential harassment.

But groups that support Palestinians see a clear imbalance and fear an erosion of free speech.

A pro-Israel narrative has dominated the airwaves from the U.S. government and the media, making it difficult to voice differing opinions, U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights Executive Director Ahmad Abuznaid said. The group is afraid their activists are being labeled as antisemitic while protesting the conflict.

The administration should refrain from allowing for certain adjectives like that to be levied at Palestinian students, he said, and they should make sure it's a safe environment for Palestinians to organize and speak up.
FIRST ON FOX: Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon responded Wednesday after 131 current and retired District Attorney employees sent a letter harshly criticizing his silence on the atrocities committed against Israel by the terror group Hamas.

One hundred thirty-one current and retired district attorney employees in Los Angeles sent a letter to Gascon on Wednesday afternoon saying they were "appalled" by his lack of condemnation against Hamas.

"Your Jewish attorneys and their colleagues are imploring you to explain why, since you comment publicly on virtually every newsworthy loss of life around the world, from an outbreak of war to the death of a beloved California senator, you have not seen fit to acknowledge, much less express condolences for the unimaginable terrorist actions of Hamas against civilians in Israel this past week," the letter states.

"And why, when you repeatedly post on social media and train about the vicarious trauma we sustain while supporting victims of crime in Los Angeles, you have not offered the services of the Bureau of Victim Services (BVS) and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counseling when so many of us have lost friends, relatives, friends of friends, or are simply reeling from generational trauma as the children and grandchildren of survivors of prior antisemitic mass murder? We are at a loss and await your response," it adds.

WHITE HOUSE SPOX PRESSED ON IRAN'S $6 BILLION IN UNFROZEN FUNDS AFTER HAMAS UNLEASHES TERROR IN ISRAEL

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon is creating a Racial Justice Act Section within his office.

After the letter was sent, Gascon emailed the entire Los Angeles District Attorney's office addressing the war in Israel.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Dear DA Family, The brutal terrorist attacks on Israel have left the world shaken and many concerned for their safety both at home and abroad. I've spent the last few days connecting with faith leaders and law enforcement to express my commitment to ensuring public safety and that members of our community feel protected. There is no justification for these senseless and inconceivably cruel acts of violence against Israel," the email reads. "My heart goes out to everyone that has been impacted."

"We must stand together to support one another. Please take care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community. Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance to us," he added.

LIVE BLOG: AT LEAST 22 AMERICANS, OVER 1,200 ISRAELIS DEAD IN HAMAS WAR

A destroyed house after a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinan miltants on October 10, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel. Israel has sealed off Gaza and conducted airstrikes on Palestinian territory after Hamas attack killed hundreds and took nearly 100 hostages.

John Lewin, who works in the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, told Fox News Digital that Gascon "constantly interjects himself in political events."

"Yet one of the worst terror attacks of our lifetime occurs over the weekend and we hear nothing," Lewin said of Gascon.

Brian Shirn, who also works in the district attorney's office, told Fox News Digital that Gascon initially refused to address the war because "he's worried about it hurting his base."

"You know, I'm a manager in the office, and I've had people call me crying because they feel like this office has abandoned them and doesn't care about them. And it's sickening," Shirn said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Gascon's office for comment.





Original article source: Progressive Los Angeles prosecutor slammed for not responding to Israel terror attacks: 'Just sickening'
Progressives are facing backlash over their initial responses to the attacks on Israel by Hamas militants, revealing the degree to which theyre at odds with others in the Democratic caucus over the issue.

Members of the Squad such as Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) took heat from fellow Democrats this week over statements criticized for being too tepid in the wake of the violent attacks against Israeli civilians.

Meanwhile, after mounting pressure, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) condemned the bigotry and callousness at a pro-Palestinian rally aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in New York City.

The condemnation directed at certain segments of the left underscores the fissures within the Democratic Party when it comes to Israel. It also suggests progressives will have to navigate an increasingly difficult political environment in which they will be expected to unequivocally support Israels right to exist while also advocating for Palestinian rights.

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The challenge is to continue to respond, as I think a lot of progressive members have already done  to acknowledge the common humanity of all of us, of both people, Matt Duss, a former senior foreign policy adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), told The Hill.

Were going to be getting to a moment where some people are going to be required to show real courage and take a page from Congresswoman Barbara Lee in the wake of 9/11, said Duss, referring to the California progressives vote against the invasion of Afghanistan.

To say, lets think about this a little bit. We could be starting something that were not quite ready for, quite sure about, he said.

Bush and Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, were among the most harshly criticized in the immediate aftermath of the initial wave of attacks in Israel. Tlaib suggested withholding United States support to fund Israels apartheid government, a comment that infuriated fellow lawmakers who found it offensive as the death toll continued to rise. She also categorized the terrorist attack as part of a resistance effort.

Bush, an equally outspoken House progressive, echoed Tlaibs sentiments.

Some voices on the left saw their public remarks as appropriate calls for de-escalation that recognized the plight of both sides. They argued for an acknowledgment of suffering among civilians in both camps and denounced Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Rep. Tlaib and Rep. Bush both issued statements that mourned the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives, and then said we need to address the root causes of violence to get to peace, and they are now being attacked, said Beth Miller, the political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, a progressive Jewish group.

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But others in the party were enraged by the statements. Some of the Democratic caucuss most pro-Israel members, including Reps. Ritchie Torres (N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), expressed their full disapproval.

Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, Torres said, calling the statement reprehensible and repulsive.

The mounting pushback came as Israelis publicly mourned the severity of the ambush as videos showing the atrocities  many of them inflicted on women and children  spread across social media.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the attack by Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, had left more than 1,200 Israelis dead, starting a war in which more than 2,300 people have been killed in total. The U.S. government said that 22 U.S. citizens had been killed in the conflict, and 17 were still unaccounted for.

In a sign of the growing pressure on progressives, Ocasio-Cortez earlier this week criticized the DSA-aligned rally in New York Citys Times Square, a stance that came after she was chided for supporting a ceasefire.

The rally, which was held in support of Palestinians, drew swift rebukes from leaders across the political spectrum. Ocasio-Cortez, whose district is not far from where the protests were held, eventually released a statement condemning it.

The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment, Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement reported by Politico. It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing for the basis of the impeachment inquiry of President Biden on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

The clash between DSA affiliates and its usual allies such as Ocasio-Cortez highlights the delicate nature of the issue and its evolution on the left. While Democrats are reliable allies of Israel, the party has seen cracks in its support, as many on the progressive left have also pushed for Palestinian rights.

Duss said conversations are already happening between progressive lawmakers and outside advocates about addressing the conflict in a constructive and nuanced way  a potential uphill battle given the severity of the situation on the ground.

This horror is very fresh. Were still learning more about this hour by hour. It keeps getting more awful, he said. I do think people are thinking about ways to talk about this in the most constructive way possible.

Even in normal times, this is a difficult discussion to have. It is far more difficult now for obvious reasons, Duss added.

Sanders, who is Jewish and has sometimes clashed with pro-Israel Democrats, released a statement Wednesday addressing the conflict. He said Hamas committed a terrorist assault on Israel that could have horrific short- and long-term consequences.

His position  which included a reference to justice for the Palestinian people and called Israels tactics in response to the attack a serious violation of international law  went further than others in the Senate.

Longer term, this attack is a major setback for any hope of peace and reconciliation in the region  and justice for the Palestinian people. For years, people of good will throughout the world, including some brave Israelis, have struggled against the blockade of Gaza, the daily humiliations of occupation in the West Bank, and the horrendous living conditions faced by so many Palestinians, the Vermont senator wrote.

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Some progressive Jewish activists say Capitol Hill Democrats should formally emphasize de-escalation and are looking to members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the top body of elected liberals in the House, to lead the way.

It has never been so important that we fight harder, because it just got a lot steeper, said Miller, whose group is in regular communication with lawmakers. And that means we need to be louder.

Blurring the lines further among the left flank, other progressive officeholders offered staunch support for Israel.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) went further than other Senate progressives for Israel, with Warren tearing up while discussing the devastating losses and Fetterman making it clear that he is in support of Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism.

Meanwhile, many Democrats applauded President Bidens speech Tuesday, in which he called the Hamas terrorist attack pure, unadulterated evil and reconfirmed his administrations unwavering support for Israel.

In progressive circles, there is also hope that he and the administration will also acknowledge the struggles of Palestinians and are pushing for a conversation around de-escalation both in Congress and on Pennsylvania Ave. Its their goal for that discussion to happen sooner than later.

I understand you want to show complete support and sympathy for the Israelis, said Duss, who added that the severity of the moment means the president should speak to the full depth of his countrys diversity.

This is a president who has taken important steps to address issues of racial injustice and equality. I think a lot of progressives just want him to extend that to foreign policy, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Italian journalist and writer Roberto Saviano adresses the press after the verdict in the defamation case brought by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Andreas SOLARO)

An Italian court on Thursday handed a suspended fine of 1,000 euros to journalist Roberto Saviano for defaming Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by criticising her stance on migrants.

Saviano, best known for his international mafia bestseller "Gomorrah", had called the far-right leader a "bastard" on national television in December 2020, when Meloni was still in opposition.

His lawyer Antonio Nobile said he would appeal the verdict, after a trial that has sparked fears over freedom of speech in Italy.

But the fine was far less than the 10,000 euros requested by the Rome prosecutor, and the 75,000 euros in damages demanded by Meloni's lawyer.

It was also suspended, meaning it need not be paid except in the case of a repeat offence, and will not be mentioned on Saviano's criminal record, Nobile told AFP.

Speaking to reporters outside the Rome court, Saviano said Meloni's hard-right government had sought to "intimidate" him for calling out "lies" about migrants and the charity ships that rescue them in the Mediterranean.

But he added: "There is no greater honour for a writer than to see their own words brought to trial... so today I am actually proud of having done this."

In court, Meloni's lawyer, Luca Libra, had said Saviano's words were not criticism but an "insult", accusing him of using "excessive, vulgar and aggressive language".

- 'Dangerous warning' -

Press freedom groups had supported Saviano in a case he had described as a test of "whether or not it is possible to exercise the right of criticism" in Italy.

Sabrina Tucci of PEN International said it was "deeply disappointed" at the verdict.

"This sentence is an attack on freedom of expression which the Italian constitution and international law recognise as an inalienable human right," she said.

The fact the case was brought by the prime minister "is a dangerous warning for all writers and journalists... inviting them to measure their words, to not risk long legal battles, financial difficulties, emotional distress and imprisonment", she added.

Saviano, who lives under police protection due to threats from the mafia, had faced up to three years in jail for his comments.

- Migrant shipwreck -

The case revolved around comments Saviano made on a political TV chat show following the death in a shipwreck of a six-month-old baby from Guinea.

The baby, Joseph, had been one of 111 migrants rescued by the Open Arms charity ship. He died before he could receive medical attention.

In footage shot by rescuers and shown to Saviano on the show, the baby's mother can be heard weeping "Where's my baby? Help, I lose my baby!"

Saviano blasted Meloni, who leads the post-Fascist Brothers of Italy party, and Matteo Salvini , the leader of the anti-immigrant League party.

"I just want to say to Meloni, and Salvini: 'You bastards! How could you?'" Saviano said on the show.

The year before, Meloni had said charity rescue ships "should be sunk", while Salvini, as interior minister that same year, blocked such vessels from docking in Italian ports.

After taking office in October 2022 on a promise to end migrant landings in Italy, Meloni's government limited the activities of charity rescue ships.

But almost 140,000 migrants have arrived this year, up from more than 74,000 in the same period last year, according to the interior ministry.

The majority are picked up by the coastguard, with around five percent rescued by NGO ships, the government says.

- Salvini trial -

Salvini -- now deputy prime minister in Meloni's government -- has filed a separate defamation suit against Saviano for calling him the "minister of the criminal underworld" in a social media post in 2018.

The case is still ongoing, with the next hearing due on December 7.

"I will not give up against this gang," Saviano said Thursday.

PEN International called on Italy to abolish its defamation laws, saying: "Those who express their opinions on matters of public interest should not feel threatened."

Italy ranked 41st in the 2023 world press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders, up from 58th in 2022.

bur-ar/rox
Residents can meet and chat with the four finalists for Columbia police chief in a forum starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the city council chambers at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway.

The event will start with the finalists talking about their visions and ideas for the Columbia Police Department. Those attending will be able to leave written comments with officials and meet and greet the finalists after the presentation, which is scheduled until 9 p.m.

The vacancy was created by the retirement of Police chief Geoff Jones. A search firm has assisted the city.

The finalists are Nathaniel Clark, former police chief and public safety director in Forest Park, Georgia; Dan Haley, a major in the Kansas City, Mo., police department; Jill Schlude, Columbia's assistant police chief; and Michael Zeller, deputy police chief, Greeley, Colorado.

Clark worked as the public safety director and chief of police in Forest Park, Georgia from 2020 to 2023. Prior to being public safety director and chief of police, he worked as the interim city manager and chief of police in Forest Park.

Before that, he worked as the chief of police at the Fort Smith, Arkansas Police Department from 2017 to 2019, and the deputy chief of the Albany, Georgia Police Department from 2012 to 2016.

Clark's education includes a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Webster University in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Haley has served as a major in the human resources division in Kansas City, Mo., since 2023. Before that, he worked as a major in the research and development division, the logistical support division, the south patrol division, the special assignment office of general counsel, staff inspection, and as a captain and assistant division commander for central patrol, diversity commander, assistant division commander for north patrol, budget unit commander, employment unit commander, sergeant and police officer.

His education includes a doctorate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a master of public administration in public affairs/government and business relations from Park University, and a bachelor's degree in Personal Financial Management Services from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Schlude has served as the assistant police chief in Columbia since 2019. Prior to being assistant police chief, she worked as the deputy chief of police, a police sergeant, and a police officer in the same department. She has been with the Columbia Police Department since 2005.

Schlude's education includes a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia College and a master's in strategic leadership from Stephens College.

Zeller has served as the deputy police chief in Greeley, Colorado since 2018. Before that, he worked as a police commander, a police sergeant, and a police officer/detective in the same department. Before working at the Greeley Police Department, he worked as a deputy sheriff at the Grand County Sheriff's Office from 1998 to 2001, and the Denver Sheriff's Department from 1996 to 1998.

Zeller's education includes a master's in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

The city may hire a new police chief by the end of the year.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: The finalists for Columbia police chief will be at City Hall forum
President Vladimir Putins spiritual adviser has been appointed to a diocese in annexed Ukrainian territory.

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided Wednesday to appoint Metropolitan Tikhon to head the Diocese of Crimea, located in an occupied region of Ukraine.

Tikhon is known to be a close ally of the Russian president and has been characterized as "Putin's confessor" by experts.

POPE AFFIRMS ISRAEL HAS 'RIGHT' TO 'DEFEND THEMSELVES,' MOURNS INNOCENTS IN GAZA

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens to Orthodox Church Metropolitan Tikhon, left, during the opening ceremony of the monument to Prince Alexander Nevsky and His Guard in Samolva Villiage outside of Pskov, Russia.

In many Christian churches, a "confessor" is a priest who hears an individual's confessions and offers absolution for sins.

Tikhon and Putin have been photographed together on multiple occasions, including in March of this year when the pair visited Crimea on the ninth anniversary of its annexation.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

UKRAINE ASKS COURT TO PUT ORTHODOX LEADER UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Governor Sergei Aksyonov, who was installed by the Russian government following the territory's annexation in 2014, has called Tikhon "one of the most famous and influential" prelates of the Russian Orthodox Church, according to the Moscow Times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, center right, and Archbishop Metropolitan Tikhon, center left, visit the Saint Vladimir's Cathedral in the ancient city of Chersonesus outside Sevastopol.

Despite his close ties to Putin and the Russian government, Tikhon has tried to posture himself as sympathetic to the Ukrainian people since the invasion began.

POPE FRANCIS GREETS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX LEADER AMID SECRET VATICAN 'MISSION' TO END WAR IN UKRAINE

"We must speak about what we wake up with, what's in our heads all day long, and what we go to bed with - it's Ukraine," Tikhon said in November 2022. "There is no doubt we are living through an unprecedented tragedy, a fateful stage in the life of our people, our country, and Ukraine."

"How will it end?" the bishop continued. "We shall pray that, of course, it should end with peace, and safely. Everyone is calling for peace now."

Tikhon  secular name Georgiy Alexandrovich Shevkunov  is currently serving as the bishop of Pskov and Porkhov.

He will take up the position left open with the retirement of Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol.





Original article source: 'Putins confessor' named bishop of annexed Ukrainian territory
Putin has rarely left Russia since launching the Ukraine offensive in February 2022 (VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO)

Vladimir Putin on Thursday called to strengthen military ties with Kyrgyzstan in a trip to the Central Asian country, his first foreign visit since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March.

President Putin is wanted by the court over the deportation of Ukrainian children. Its ruling requires members of the ICC, which does not include Kyrgyzstan, to make the arrest if he sets foot on their territory.

Televised footage showed Putin greeting Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov in the capital Bishkek for a summit of the post-Soviet group Commonwealth of Independent States.

"I would like to thank the president for the invitation. We have good reasons (to be here), but even without reasons this visit is long overdue," Putin said in talks with Japarov.

"I expect that military and military-technical cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan... will continue to strengthen and expand," Putin said.

Kyrgyzstan is part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a NATO-style military alliance of ex-Soviet states led by Russia.

Putin has rarely left Russia since launching the Ukraine offensive in February 2022.

This year, he has travelled only to Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, with his last foreign trips to Belarus and Kyrgyzstan last December -- a far cry from the busy international schedule he had earlier in his rule.

He is expected to travel to China next week.

Moscow has likened the prospect of Putin being arrested abroad to an act of war, calling the warrant "illegal".

In practice, however, it has taken precautions: in August, Russia sent Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to a BRICS summit in ICC member South Africa, instead of Putin.

- 'Political show' -

While the full-scale offensive in Ukraine made Putin a persona non grata in the Western world, the ICC ruling virtually closed the door to a large part of the globe for him.

The Rome Statute, a treaty requiring members to adhere to ICC rulings, has been ratified by 123 countries.

The ruling caused a legal headache for ICC member South Africa, which hosted the BRICS summit to which Putin was invited.

In a last-minute decision, Moscow sent its foreign minister instead of Putin.

"Why should I create some problems for our friends during an event?" Putin said this month, commenting on his absence from Johannesburg.

"If I come, a political show will start," he added.

Putin is wanted alongside his children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for the war crime of allegedly unlawfully deporting thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Moscow rejects the allegations.

- Armenia PM snubs meeting -

The visit comes amid rifts among Russia's allies.

Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan will skip the summit attended by Putin, host country Kyrgyzstan announced two days before the event.

Pashinyan had criticised Moscow for not intervening when Azerbaijan launched a successful offensive to take over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region last month.

His snub came after Armenian lawmakers moved to join the ICC, angering Moscow and potentially limiting Putin's travel options further.

Putin is planning to meet with the leader of Armenia's arch-foe, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

Ahead of Putin's trip, Kyrgyzstan said it had ratified an agreement for a common air defence system with Russia.

Moscow has similar deals with other allied countries including Kazakhstan, Belarus and Tajikistan.

But suspicion of Russia in parts of the region has grown since the conflict in Ukraine. None of the Central Asian countries supported Russia in a key UN vote on Ukraine last year.

bur-bk/db
The Kremlin says Putin wants to act as mediator in the Israel-Hamas war.

The Russian president is friendly with leaders on both sides of the conflict.

But Putin has little to gain from bringing an end to the conflict.

As violence erupted between Israel and Hamas this week, the Kremlin sought to cast Russian President Vladimir Putin in the role of peace broker.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov , said Russia could act as a mediator in the wake of the militant group's attacks on Israeli towns, a music festival, and military bases, and Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

Russia, said Peskov, intends "to keep making efforts and play our role in terms of providing assistance to seek ways to a settlement"

Speaking on Thursday, Putin said Russia could "make a contribution to the peace process."

"Well, why not?" he said. "We have had very stable business relations with Israel. We've had friendly relations with Palestine for decades."

But Russia's claims shouldn't be taken at face value, warn analysts.

They say Putin has more to gain, not by bringing a swift end to the conflict, but by prolonging it to further Russia's strategic goals, notably in Ukraine.

Rising oil prices and a distraction from Ukraine

Putin is playing a long game in Ukraine, which his forces invaded in 2022. He hopes that the commitment of Ukraine's Western allies, who have provided billions in aid and weapons, will begin to weaken.

"A rival crisis to distract Ukraine's allies, in the form of war in the Middle East, could provide just this," writes Robert Dover, professor of Intelligence and National Security at the University of Hull in the UK.

Such a conflict would divert attention, diplomatic energy, and even military resources from Ukraine should Israel launch a land invasion of Gaza, said Dover.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) pose for pictures during the Victory Day reception at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 9, 2018. ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP via Getty Images

Another factor weighing on Putin is the price of oil.

Russia is heavily dependent on its oil exports to fund its campaign in Ukraine and has acted in tandem with Saudi Arabia to reduce supplies and boost prices. Instability in the Middle East, the world's chief oil-producing region, could further spike prices.

"As oil prices go up, this enables them to continue spending on arms production and it also helps them cover some budget deficits," Ann Marie Dailey, a policy researcher at Rand Corporation, told Bloomberg. "Russia absolutely gains an advantage from this in the short-term."

A power broker in the Middle East

Russia was a peripheral presence in the Middle East after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But in recent decades, Putin has reasserted Russian influence in the region, forging close ties with Iran, intervening in the Syrian civil war to help prop up the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, and cultivating ties with their rivals.

Putin also has friendly relations with both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined to criticize Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Russian officials in recent months have met delegations from Hamas, which it does not designate as a terror group.

It places Russia in a unique position of having good relations with the governments of implacable regional foes.

But Russia's attempts to play the peace broker are unlikely to be sincere, with Arkadi Doubnov, a Moscow-based expert on Russian foreign policy, telling Le Monde it appeared to be part of a ploy to blame the US for the crisis.

"It does so almost out of inertia and to accuse the West of sabotaging its efforts," he said of Russia's peace broker overtures. "In reality, any prospect of playing that kind of role disappeared on February 24, 2022," with the invasion of Ukraine, he told the outlet.

But Dover, the Hull University expert, believes that if Russia were to broker talks, it could boost its international credibility and put it in a position to determine its pace and outcome.

"Managing to broker some form of de-escalation brings Russia a little closer to the mainstream of international relations again, and allows it to make a claim  that would be very well received in India, South Africa, China, and so on  that it is a positive and engaged actor in the international system," he told Insider.

"The US will, of course, be very unkeen on this Russian role. Russia's central involvement  if it happens  would allow them to help shape the pace and shape of discussions. They have much to gain from a conflict that draws attention and Western military equipment to the Middle East."

Russia has sought to spin the outbreak of violence to damage Ukraine, baselessly accusing it of supplying weapons to Hamas militants.

There are signs the Kremlin's attempt to appear to be a neutral power broker are faltering, with Russian officials declining to lay the blame for the latest fighting with Hamas. Russia appears reluctant to say anything critical of Hamas that would anger Iran, which has provided a steady supply of drones Russia has used to attack Ukrainian cities.

Abbas Gallyamov, a former speechwriter for Putin, told CBC News that Russia had become an "Iran proxy" in the region, like Hamas or Hezbollah.

"Previously if you wanted to get Russia's position, you needed to negotiate with Russia. Now you've got to go to Tehran," Gallyamov told the outlet.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Putin visited Kyrgyzstan

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin finally came out of his self-imposed exile, making his first trip abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March, Reuters reported on Oct. 12.

He had a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian nation with strong ties to Moscow.

Read also: Russian foreign minister to attend G20 summit instead of Putin  report

He held talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and attended a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of Russia's Kant military airbase outside Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital The strategically important facility allows Moscow to project power in the region. His visit coincided with a Russian-led security bloc holding military drills in Kyrgyzstan.

Putin has rarely travelled abroad since he sent troops into Ukraine in Feb. 2022 and is not known to have left Russia, except for an apparent brief visit to temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, since the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of overseeing the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.

Read also: ICC may issue another arrest warrant for Putin  Ukrainian intelligence

He is also due to travel to China next week for the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. Neither Kyrgyzstan, nor China are members of the ICC, which was established to prosecute war crimes.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Putin is only willing to visit those countries where his security service can guarantee his safety, which includes China.

Putin skipped the BRICS summit in South Africa in Aug and the G20 summit in India in Sept.. Instead Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Kremlin dictator can be arrested on the territory of 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
An Alaska Airlines flight from Oakland to Los Angeles Tuesday had several people scratching their heads when the plane flew several hundred extra miles, circling and flying over land and the Pacific Ocean several times.

The flight -- which typically runs just under 90 minutes -- took over four hours to complete.

@AlaskaAir today I saw an Alaska airlines plane that just took off from Oakland airport circling, while being escorted by a small private aircraft. What was going on do you have any info on that? A fighter jet flew over right before that so it was I

Just strange all around.  Diz Slau (@DizSlau) October 11, 2023

According to flightaware.com, the Boeing 737 MAX 9 flew at 5,000 feet for about a third of the flight, then 10,000 feet for another third, and topped out at 25,000 feet before landing at 7:40 p.m.

@KTVU Any ideas on whats going with Alaska Air flight ASA 9820? Its been flying in circles for over an hour. First over the Bay with escort and now off the coast of Santa Cruz.  Echo.The.Cattle.Dog. (@Emmett_Eilands) October 11, 2023

KIRO 7 reached out to Alaska Airlines who told us the flight was not a passenger flight. The planned flight was to capture air-to-air footage for future use by the airline.
Questions persist over Irans role in the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend.

U.S. and Israeli officials have publicly said they do not have evidence of Tehrans involvement in the assault while there is a long history of Iran supporting Hamas militants in the past.

Top officials, however, are still debating the extent of the countrys involvement and U.S. President Joe Biden warned Iran to be careful on Wednesday.

Tehran has denied allegations that it was involved in Hamass attack. And on Thursday Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a rare phone call to discuss the war  their first since resuming full diplomatic ties in March.

U.S. officials stressed Wednesday that there is so far no evidence that Tehran was directly involved in Saturdays attack. Senior U.S. government officials who spoke to reporters said that Iran was surprised by the attack. That has not stopped Washington from placing some blame for Saturdays incursion on Tehran: For years, Iran has provided weapons and funding to Hamas. Iran is complicit in this attack in a broad sense because they have provided the lions share of the funding for the military arm of Hamas, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said earlier this week.

Concerns are growing that Hezbollah, an insurgency group operating in Lebanon, could launch an attack against Israel. Whether that happens will likely come down to whether Iran orders Hezbollah to attack, Atlantic Council nonresident senior fellow Nicholas Blanford writes. The militant group serves as a key security partner for Iran and its unlikely that Tehran will want to waste Hezbollah in a futile full-scale war with Israel for the sake of supporting Hamas in Gaza, Blanford notes. Israel, too, seems keen to avoid fighting a war on two fronts.

Iran has long propped up Hamas. While Iranian officials did not order Saturdays attack, there are clear signals  such as the weapons used and the on-the-ground strategy employed by Hamas  of their past involvement, Sean Yom, associate professor of political science at Temple University, told The Jerusalem Post. Iran is willing to support proxy actors because they assume that neither the U.S., Israel, or their allies are willing to wage a full-scale battle against Tehran so long as Iran does not initiate a formal interstate war, Yom notes.
Residents in a Minnesota town are being advised to stay away from raccoons, which are said to be exhibiting abnormal behavior.

Officials in Burnsville, about 15 miles south of Minneapolis, say animal control officers have seen a recent increase in raccoons that are behaving oddly.

These raccoons have been observed to be staggering, experiencing seizures, unafraid of their surroundings and allowing people to approach them, or laying/slumped for an extended period of time, the city of Burnsville said in a Tuesday, Oct. 10, news release.

Since July, animal control officers have seen 39 reports of sick raccoons, the city said. Burnsville had 17 such reports in 2022.

A raccoon taken to a veterinary clinic tested positive for distemper and salmonellosis, while a second raccoon that was tested may have died from salmonellosis, officials said.

Salmonellosis is a bacterial infection that lives in the intestinal tracts of animals, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. It can be spread to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

Raccoons could be infected with salmonella by eating infected wildlife or by consuming soil, water or plants that are contaminated, the National Institute of Health said in a 2008 study.

John Erb, a wildlife research biologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the Star Tribune raccoons can quickly spread disease when they share a common food source, like a dumpster.

The reports of the oddly behaved raccoons are widely spread in Burnsville, which covers 27 square miles.

People are advised to stay away from raccoons or any wildlife they encounter and to protect children and pets from approaching wildlife, the city said.

So far, there have not been reports of raccoons acting oddly outside Burnsville, officials told WCCO.

Anyone who sees a raccoon displaying abnormal or concerning behavior is asked to contact Burnsville Animal Control at 952-894-3647.

Aggressive raccoons terrorize people and their dogs in Oregon neighborhood, videos show

Mama raccoon and babies made a home in Home Depot. Colorado rescuers needed a forklift

Petco customers kiss raccoon brought in for nail trim. Then came warning from officials
RACINE, Wis. - Calls to the Racine Police Department for gun crimes are down 45% compared to last year, according to new crime data FOX6 News obtained.

The calls are for reports of shots fired. So far this year, as of Oct. 2, the city has had 526 such calls  down from 947 calls at the same time in 2022.

"Im glad to see the progress. A 45% reduction in gun violence is a big deal," said Racine Mayor Cory Mason . "The men and woman who work here [Racine Police Department] deserve a lot of the credit for this, but were not taking victory laps here. We know theres still work to do. There are still homicides that occur."

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Through Oct. 3, the city crime data shows 10 homicide in 2023, which is one more than the same point last year.

The data, exclusively obtained by FOX6, shows car thefts are up 30%,. While rapes are up 8%, from 71 reported this time in 2023 to 77 so far this year.

In total, the department reports serious crimes are down 13% in the city, including a 31% drop in burglaries and a 64% drop in robberies.

Alex Ramirez, the city's interim police chief, said the police department is using data to focus its strategy and working with the community and both the Racine County Sheriff's Office and federal agencies  like the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Interim Racine Police Chief Alex Ramirez

"We work with members of the community that take a big part of this, so theres a lot of collaboration," said Ramirez. "We share that information, we get the data, we put it together. We focus on individuals who are prone to violence or have violence in their past and are continuing with that violence."

One of the Racine Police Department's difficulties is a staffing shortage, down 35 officers  a 17% hole from its authorized strength of 196 officers.

"We still have men and women who work here who then fill in those shifts with overtimes, for extended periods of time," said Mason. "Chiefs doing everything he can to fill those positions, but its going to take time to build back to full strength. And thats why were pleased to have coordination with federal agencies or county agencies to help us do that work."

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Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave lambasted Mason in an August email, obtained by FOX6 News. He wrote that the sheriff's office filled in "six to seven" deputies to assist the city at a cost of nearly $800,000.

Last spring, the county and city launched a joint Violent Crime Reduction Initiative.

"We started this Violent Crime Reduction Initiative last May, the previous May," Mason countered. "The county came forward and said they wanted to be part of it.

"A year ago, certainly we heard a lot about gun violence, in particular. So, first and foremost, I think people who work here in the police department deserve credit."

The city then set up its own Office of Violence Prevention. The county executive alleged that office "recreates the VCRI framework, inadvertently claims credit for previous collaborative efforts, and shifts ownership of violence prevention work exclusively under the city."

Racine Police Department

"This is really a case that we need both/and in this case not either/or'  no one organization has sole jurisdiction to keep the community safe. We all need to work together," responded Mason in an interview with FOX6 News.

Despite the back and forth between these two leaders, both the city and county are working together. Maurice Horton, the county's community violence prevention supervisor, is part of the team called when there is a shooting.

"It gives us the opportunity to really work with families that need us, hear from families that need other resources, whether its employment, whether its resume building, and being able to just collaborate in partnership with all partners that are involved," he said. "This is a situation where no one partner can do it alone."

The Racine Police Department is hiring, looking to fill the 35 openings and get up to full strength. There are 15 people in the academy right now. The department launched a cadet program from those too young to join the academy, which city leaders hope will lead to more recruits for the academy.
Guayaquil, a city of almost three million people, has borne the brunt of Ecuador's descent into drug violence, with foreign cartels using the port to flood the world with cocaine from its neighbors (MARCOS PIN)

On a normally quiet street, two men lie dead surrounded by blood and bullet casings, the latest victims of a series of executions that have become a daily affair in Ecuador's port city of Guayaquil.

Police reports and security camera footage seen by AFP reveal a group of men chatting on a street corner when a white van, door flung open, swings around the corner, and gunmen jump out and open fire.

"It was raining bullets," a neighbor told an AFP team that arrived after the Sunday murder on Machala Avenue.

The previous day, elsewhere, "two people were killed in a shooting, including a policeman," said military officer Alex Merchan, running a checkpoint with a handful of soldiers in Duran, across the river from Guayaquil.

However, security forces describe the weekend as relatively calm compared to most in the city dubbed "Guayakill" on social media. One weekend in September saw 30 murders, another, 24.

The explosion of insecurity in Ecuador -- once a haven of peace wedged between cocaine-producing nations Colombia and Peru -- is the main concern as voters head to the polls Sunday in a run-off election.

- 'Cat and mouse' -

Guayaquil, a city of almost three million people, has borne the brunt of Ecuador's descent into drug violence, with foreign cartels using the port to flood the world with cocaine from its neighbors.

The business has brought with it often barbaric bloodshed.

Hundreds have been killed in prison gang fights, the streets have been hit by car bombs and kidnapping victims have had their fingers cut off to boost ransom demands.

According to Ecuador's Observatory of Organized Crime, there were almost 1,500 murders in the first six months of 2023, almost double that in the same period of 2022.

It was on a pedestrian bridge crossing the ten-lane highway close to where Merchan and a handful of soldiers have set up their checkpoint that two decapitated bodies were left dangling from a bridge in February.

His men search passing vehicles for drugs, weapons and explosives, in what he calls a "game of cat and mouse" with criminals.

Guayaquil offers a contrasting landscape between gleaming modern buildings and luxurious villas, ensconced behind barbed wire, and crime-ridden poor neighborhoods.

"Crime here is now a mixture of petty crime, drug trafficking, and mafia" activities, said a local journalist speaking on condition of anonymity of a violence that was almost "non-existent two years ago".

"The killers strike anywhere and at any time. There are no real rules."

Victims are almost always men, generally recently released from prison, and killers often "teenagers", said Merchan.

- 'That's my husband' -

At stake is the control of territory and drug trafficking routes.

According to the local news site Primicias, it is a question of controlling "the departure of drugs through the Guayas River towards the Gulf of Guayaquil."

Gangs involved include the country's most powerful criminal group, Los Choneros, and a web of rivals such as the Lagartos, Tiguerones, and Aguilas.

The gangs have complex alliances with Mexican groups like the Sinaloa cartel, Colombian guerilla groups, and Balkan traffickers.

The battle for control largely plays out in the immense prison complex on the outskirts of the city, where Choneros leader Jose Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," has been held since 2011.

However, the innocent get caught in the crossfire, like one of the victims on Machala Avenue who police described as "collateral damage" in whatever score was being settled.

"That's my husband," cried a woman throwing herself on his body, covered in a blue sheet.

hba/fb/st
FILE - Director Raoul Peck poses for a portrait to promote his documentary film "Silver Dollar Road" during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9, 2023, in Toronto. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP, File)

TORONTO (AP)  The filmmaker Raoul Peck was sitting in a Toronto hotel lobby talking to a reporter when Barry Jenkins beelined over to embrace him.

The two know each other, though it had been years since they saw one another. They also share a mutual affection for James Baldwin . Peck made the incisive, incendiary Oscar-nominated 2017 documentary I Am Not Your Negro." Jenkins, following his Moonlight, made the 2018 Baldwin adaptation If Beale Street Could Talk.

Anytime you make work, Jenkins told Peck, I will see it.

The latest from Peck is Silver Dollar Road, which opens in theaters Friday and streams Dec. 19 on Prime Video. In it, the Haitian-born filmmaker of Lumumba, Sometimes in April and some of the most thoughtful, prodding essay-film documentaries, chronicles the story of the Reels family in North Carolina.

For generations, the Reels have owned and lived on 65 waterfront acres along Adams Creek in Carteret County. The land, known as Silver Dollar Road , has been in the family since the days of Reconstruction, when their ancestors were freed from slavery. Elijah Reels officially took ownership in 1911, but when he died without a will, the land became what's called heirs' property, with ownership shared among a large group of Reels descendants.

When one distant relative sold off 13 acres, some of the most sought-after property along the waterfront fell into the hands of developers. Licurtis Reels and Melvin Davis found themselves accused of trespassing on the land they grew up on. After extensive legal battles, the two were jailed for eight years for refusing to obey a court order to stay off the land.

In Pecks hands, the film stays close to the Reels experience and to the land; images of vines that wrap the family tree seem to grow out of the forests of Silver Dollar Road. The story is specific but reverberates with a much larger history of Black landownership and exploitation. Between 1910 and 1997, Black Americans are estimated to have lost 90% of their farmland, with the heirs' property system often playing a role.

Documentary, for me, is about creating much more than a story, Peck says.

But the 70-year-old Peck sees his kind of documentary filmmaking as growing obsolete. Streaming platforms, where documentaries have proliferated, have led to increasingly formulaic approaches to nonfiction filmmaking, he says.

We are in format more and more. Some companies are using algorithms for documentaries, says Peck. The whole filming is being transformed almost as we speak. I almost think its too late for the kind of documentary I make.

Its not impossible, he adds. But the mainstream, theyre going to a place that I think is not that interesting. So I have to fight against all that.

Peck, who was Haitis Minister of Culture from 1996 to 1997, has long approached cinema through political and historical lenses. His films, personal and passionate, rigorously engage with stories of injustice and atrocity that often go unexamined in popular culture. His four-part 2021 HBO documentary Exterminate All the Brutes connects the enslavement of Africans with the genocide of Indigenous peoples in North America, along with other historical connections.

I came to filmmaking out of politics, Peck says. I grew up around liberation movements. I went to Berlin when I was 17. I grew up in a collective. And my country was a dictatorship until 1986. Cinema was a way of expression or another way to fight. All the films Ive made could have been easier films, they could have been comedies. But I knew I had to fight my own way. What I did was coherent. There was no Scary Movie 2 somewhere.

Silver Dollar Road, which is based on a 2019 ProPublica article by Lizzie Presser, focuses primarily on Mamie Reels Ellison and Kim Renee Duhon, two women who have spent decades working to protect their ancestral home.

I wanted to put the family at the center and not the drama. The drama happened to a family that could be yours, it could be mine, says Peck. The usual format would have asked me to let the audience know from the get-go that theyre victims. Then you lose. Theres no way you can recover.

Instead, any villain in Silver Dollar Road is faceless. There is the sense of how identity is bound up in home, and the feeling of invasion when forces gather to dispossess the Reels of their land.

You dont see the other side. Its danger. Its money. Its power. We never put them in human form. Its a system, Peck says. A decision I made very early on was that I wanted Black and minority audiences to feel at ease every minute of this movie. To feel at home and to feel at ease, not to be afraid that there would be something that would aggress them.

Peck was in Toronto to premiere Silver Dollar Road at the Toronto International Film Festival. But screening it for Ellison and Duhon was the more meaning experience for him. Afterward, Ellison told him: Now I feel like I dont have everything on my shoulders anymore because the story exists.

Theres no happy ending. This isnt Hollywood. Thats our lives, Peck says. Well survive. Those two women, theyre still standing.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the lone Palestinian American member of Congress, on Wednesday spoke to the Detroit Free Press about her colleagues motion to censure her, following a statement she made over the weekend mourning lives lost in the conflict between Israel and Palestine and calling for an end to apartheid in the region. A fellow member from Michigan, Rep. Jack Bergman (R), filed the motion against her on Wednesday.



After the Hamas attacks on Saturdaywhich left more than 1,200 dead and included the kidnapping of roughly 150 peopleTlaib said that Israels apartheid system is what creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance in Palestine. She continued: The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. ... As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.

Read more

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said on CNN that it shouldnt be hard to condemn terrorists and terrorism.



But Tlaibs comments should not have been remotely controversial, Beth Miller, political director of the Jewish Voice for Peace Action, told The Intercept. She continued, There have been almost no members of Congress who have so much as acknowledged... there have been Palestinian civilians who have been killed by the Israeli military and by Israeli settlers.

As of Thursday morning, the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza has climbed above 1,400, including almost 500 children, per the Palestinian Health Ministry, and these numbers are rapidly rising. Journalists in Gaza, seven of whom have been killed in Israeli attacks over the last few days, report mass casualties; lack of shelter; and dead bodies of women and children in the streets.

In her interview with the Free Press, Tlaib cautioned that its dangerous to call criticism of the Israeli government antisemitic, and said shell continue to call for it to be held accountable for some of its atrocities, even as she recognizes thats going to be incredibly difficult.

Im going to remind them that a Palestinian life is just as important as an Israeli life, Tlaib said.

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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday warned hospitals in the Gaza Strip could turn into morgues without electricity in the wake of Israels siege on the territory that cut off several resources for Palestinians.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk, Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, wrote in a statement. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.

Earlier this week, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, following an onslaught of attacks from the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The order stopped the supply of food, electricity and water to the territory that was already running low on several resources. The sole power plant in Gaza officially ran out of fuel and was shut down Wednesday, sending the territory into a deeper humanitarian crisis.

Generators were typically used to power buildings and homes in Gaza, with the order cutting off any fuel imports.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said earlier this week Gazas medical supply has been exhausted following days of violence.

Israeli armed forces have ratcheted up the counteroffensive against Hamas in recent days, sending hundreds of airstrikes into the Gaza Strip. Several neighborhoods in Gaza have been destroyed as a result, and more than 200,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes and into shelters.

The death toll continued to rise Thursday to just more than 2,500 lives from both sides, including at least 22 Americans.

The Israeli Military said more than 1,200 Israelis  including civilians and soldiers  have been killed, with another 3,000 wounded as of Thursday. In Gaza, an estimated 1,354 Palestinians have died and 6,049 others were injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Carboni said the ICRC is in contact with Hamas and Israeli officials and is prepared to conduct humanitarian visits as a neutral intermediary.

Hamas claims to be holding over 150 people hostage, including Israeli soldiers, civilians and some Americans. The militant group vowed to kill an Israeli hostage any time Israels armed forces targeted civilians in Gaza without prior warning.

Calling for the immediate release of hostages, Carboni said the ICRC stands ready to facilitate communication between hostages and family members and assist with releases.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) said that he is voting against the status quo when asked if he would back Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) during the House vote for the Speakership.

Well, Im a firm no against the status quo. The Republican Party has not shown a willingness to fight, to use every weapon at our disposal to fight against the radical Biden agenda, he said on NewsNations The Hill on Wednesday.

Good was one of the eight Republicans who sided with Democrats to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the Speakership last week. He also said that he was still supporting Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker in an earlier post on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, after the House GOP voted to nominate Scalise.

We did not have a majority, Good said, speaking of the Speakership vote. But we cant maintain the status quo. Washington is broken. Congress is failing the American people. Theres nothing were doing here that is working. And a Jim Jordan speakership would represent that change the American people want.

Scalise likely faces an uphill battle for the Speakership after he won the GOPs internal conference vote 113-99 on Wednesday. While Jordan said he would support Scalise for Speaker after the election, its unclear whether Scalise will win the support necessary to be elected to the top spot this week.

Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Max Miller (Ohio), Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Lloyd Smucker (Pa.) are also among those who have said they plan to vote for Jordan on the House floor. Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-Fla.) said he plans to vote for McCarthy for Speaker on the House floor.

The Hill airs on NewsNation airs Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) said Wednesday that Hamass attacks on Israel need to be condemned by everyone and took aim at some Democrats over their statements on the ongoing fighting.

I agree that every member of our Democratic caucus has called out the gruesome nature of what happened, and its undeniable that what the Hamas terrorists did was barbaric, was unacceptable and has to be condemned by everyone. I do believe our colleagues have condemned that  we do have some diversity in our caucus, she said on NewsNations The Hill.

Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) have faced criticism from fellow Democrats over their statements on the fighting in Israel over the weekend, where they each labeled the nation as an apartheid state and called for the ending of U.S. funding for Israel. They each also offered condolences for both Israelis and Palestinians who have been killed during the fighting.

Manning was asked what her reaction was to Bushs statement, in which the Missouri Democrat said the U.S. must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.

I could not disagree with her more strongly. I think shes wrong on that issue. And she knows that I disagree with her, Manning said regarding Bush.

Tlaib also faced backlash for her statement, with Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) saying Tuesday that it shouldnt be hard to condemn terrorists and terrorism.

Manning also described the briefing all House members received from the Biden administration Wednesday about the ongoing fighting.

We learned what efforts are being made to make sure that we help provide Israel with what they need to win this war against this gruesome terrorist group. We learned that all efforts will be made to make sure that Americans are safe and to bring them here Americans back home, she said.

The State Department confirmed Wednesday that at least 22 American citizens have died as a result of the ongoing violence in Israel. More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed since the onset of the Hamass attacks against Israel over the weekend, and more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed amid the ensuing fighting in Gaza.

The Hill on NewsNation airs Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. ET.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
New information about the United States' long-documented history of atrocities against Native Americans continues to emerge to this day, as was recently the case in Colorado, where a new investigative report has illuminated the state's dark history of forced assimilation.

The report, helmed by History Colorado, was presented to the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs but only released in its entirety to the public this month. Entitled "Federal Indian Schools in Colorado, 1880-1920," the analysis concludes a year-long effort by researchers into the practices of Colorado's Native American schools at the dawn of the 20th century.

The report was a follow-up to a 2022 federal investigation that showed the national scope of the problem. The federal investigation concluded that the United States "directly targeted American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children in the pursuit of a policy of cultural assimilation" across 37 states. But History Colorado's report sheds light on just how widespread  and devastating  this forced assimilation was across the Centennial State.

What did the Colorado report find?

Authored by Colorado archeologist Dr. Holly Norton, the report examined nine historic boarding centers that were used to educate Colorado's Ute tribe, the state's original inhabitants. These schools were "intended to serve and assimilate the Ute population" into Western culture, Norton wrote.

But the Ute tribes were "very distrustful of the schools and were largely successful in resisting efforts to enroll their children," per Colorado Public Radio (CPR). As a result, most of the schools in question were forcibly populated by Navajo children from throughout the Southwest, CPR reported. Children from other tribes, including Hopi, San Carlos Apache and Tohono O'odham, were also enrolled. The facilities were spearheaded by a 19th-century initiative called the "Indian Question," which Norton described as a "set of policy decisions around the dispossession of Native land, attempted genocide and obliteration of Indigenous culture, language and political power in what is today the United States."

The Native American children at these schools were pushed into a pervasive and widespread system of cultural assimilation, according to Norton. They were forced to cut their hair and forbidden from speaking their native languages. Their cultural heirlooms were stolen, and they were made to perform manual labor throughout the day. These jobs would've been "what Euro-American society would see as gender appropriate," Norton wrote  "farming, digging ditches [and] carpentry for the boys" and domestic work for girls like laundry and sewing. Children "were severely injured regularly" as a result of this often physically demanding work. The report also cited dozens of deaths and widespread sexual abuse at schools throughout the state.

Norton concluded that these institutions were "not about reading, writing and arithmetic but about severing Native people's ties to their traditional knowledge systems." The schools would then aim to instill in the children "Euro-American ideals of religion, labor, private property and even family dynamics," while education "sat alongside physical domination, such as warfare, as a means of eradicating Native peoples."

How has Colorado responded?

This new report could act as a reminder of the past horrors inflicted on Native populations. Matt Miguel, a senior at Fort Lewis College  which evolved from one of the original assimilation boarding schools  told Chalkbeat Colorado that the report can "serve as a way to educate others about the history of Native people."

"We didn't forget who we are. We didn't forget our culture," Miguel told the outlet. This sentiment was echoed by Donna Chrisjohn, an Indigenous advocate, who told Chalkbeat that Native American education should "work toward healing and understanding each other better." Chrisjohn said her hope is that the report will "lead to changes beyond curriculum and lessons that build trust in the system."

Fort Lewis College President Tom Stritikus said that his institution should "double down" on serving Indigenous students. The college's board of trustees has also codified a commitment to reconciliation, in which it writes that forced assimilation "contributed to the loss of life, physical and mental health, territories and wealth, Tribal and family relations, use of Tribal languages and Tribal religious and cultural practices."

Stritikus added that Colorado curriculums should "develop the things that boarding schools very deliberately tried to take away."
WASHINGTON  For a man who won the majority of his partys votes on Wednesday to become the new House speaker, Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) sure has detractors among his fellow House Republicans.

While he came out on top of a 113 to 99 vote in the House GOP conference, Scalises prospects for getting enough Republicans to back him to ensure his victory on the chamber floor quickly shriveled. The reasons given for not backing him range from the petty to the esoteric, and point to the difficulties Scalise may have in uniting 217 Republicans to vote for him on the floor.

Previous Republican rebellions, such as the battles between then-Speaker John Boehner and the House Freedom Caucus, generally involved leadership facing down a united bloc of conservatives seeking to move the caucus rightward. But Scalises skeptics are more scattershot ideologically, ranging from right-wing diehards like Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia to relative moderates like Mike Lawler of New York

The diverse opposition may prove far more difficult to pick off, since moves to appease one group of critics may only serve to aggravate another. And there are a handful of members with particularly personal problems with Scalise, or issues he simply cant solve.

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) leaves a House Republican conference meeting Thursday at the U.S. Capitol.

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) leaves a House Republican conference meeting Thursday at the U.S. Capitol.

One Republican representative said Wednesday night he was miffed simply because Scalise had not picked up a phone and dialed his number to ask for his support.

Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who can vote for speaker even though he is barred from serving on House committees because he was indicted, posted on social media Wednesday night that he assumed Scalise did not want his support because he had not called him.

Ive made my decision and after 10 months and having had 0 contact or outreach from him, Ive come to the conclusion that my VOTE doesnt matter to him, Santos said.

On Thursday morning, Santos told HuffPost that Scalise still had not called, despite his public plea.

If the leader isnt able to call each and every member of the conference, no matter what circumstances, thats not a leader, so hes never gonna get my vote, Santos said.

(One reason Scalise might not have reached out is that Santos has repeatedly lied about his background and has been criminally indicted for various frauds for which one of his alleged co-conspirators has already pleaded guilty.)

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), an outspoken opponent of his colleagues efforts to thwart their own leadership, ridiculed the phone call gripe on Thursday.

What do you want, a fucking massage? Crenshaw told HuffPost. This is just childish.

I mean, give me a break. Grow up if youre going to be in this business, said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), another Scalise backer.

What do you want, a fucking massage?Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas)

But a lack of communication wasnt the only reason Republicans gave for not backing Scalise.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said Wednesday night he would back Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for speaker because Scalise is too much a creature of the Washington swamp, meaning he is insufficiently conservative and overly willing to compromise with Democrats.

Even though he is a long-serving member of House Republican leadership, Republicans generally consider Scalise more conservative than Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted last week after avoiding a government shutdown with help from Democrats. Scalise may be less of a right-winger than Jordan, whom he defeated in the vote to become the conferences nominee for speaker, but Jordan himself said he plans to make a nominating speech on Scalises behalf.

Tell me Steve Scalise isnt conservative, said Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), who is supporting Scalise for speaker.

Roy said he was also upset that his proposal to change how House Republicans pick their speaker nominee  he aimed to require a much higher vote threshold than a mere majority  was scuttled without much debate.

It was kind of, lets just say, dismissed by a certain bloc, Roy said.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) arrives for a meeting of House Republicans on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) arrives for a meeting of House Republicans on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Another reason offered by Scalise opponents: Theyre opposing him for his own good.

Greene, for example, said shell vote for Jordan not because Scalise is a swamp creature or because hes insufficiently conservative, but because hes not healthy enough. Scalise announced earlier this year that hes undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. He said last month that tests showed the cancer had dropped dramatically, but apparently not enough for Greene.

I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in Congress, Greene wrote on social media.

Former President Donald Trump seemingly echoed Greene Thursday, saying in a Fox News interview the treatment is like a draining of strength. Trump had backed Jordan for speaker ahead of the House Republican vote.

HuffPost asked lawmakers if the people holding out might be doing it for attention and self-aggrandizement.

You could make a very reasonable argument for that, couldnt you? Van Orden said.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who voted to oust McCarthy despite his financial support for her in a tough primary, said she couldnt vote for Scalise because of his now-infamous boast that he was David Duke without the baggage. Duke is a notorious white supremacist and former Louisiana political figure.

I, personally, cannot in good conscience vote for someone who attended a white supremacist conference and compared himself to David Duke. I would be doing an enormous disservice to the voters that I represent in South Carolina if I were to do that, she said.

Scalises attendance was in 2002 and he has said he was not aware the group believed in white supremacy and he would not have gone if he had known. The comparison to Duke has been widely reported since at least 2014.

But Mace posted a photo with Scalise on Instagram in 2020, saying Republican leadership like Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise are all uniting behind my campaign because they know no one will work harder than I will.

On Thursday, in a rare move, Mace declined to be interviewed about her stance on Scalise.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) said he was not voting for Scalise because he wanted to make sure spending cuts that would affect most government programs across the board would take place next spring, as scheduled under the debt limit deal Republicans and the White House reached in May. He said he feared Scalise would reach an agreement to make smaller cuts instead.

The automatic spending cuts were included in the deal on a bipartisan basis to actually encourage a deal on spending bills.

Im concerned he doesnt want to leverage that 1% cut thats already been signed into law by Joe Biden, Massie said.

Massie said his reasoning was his alone and not part of a larger anti-Scalise effort.

This is what I think is the right thing and thats why Im doing it, he said.
EXCLUSIVE: House China Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher led a bipartisan group of nearly 100 House lawmakers on Wednesday to urge President Biden to refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets released last month in light of the deadly Hamas terrorist war on Israel.

Gallagher, R-Wis., led a group of 96 House Republicans and two House Democrats, Reps. Donald Davis, D-N.C., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., in sending a letter to Biden. The lawmakers said they "stand ready to work" with the president and will back up his administrations "rock solid and unwavering" support for Israels security.

DEMOCRATS JOIN REPUBLICAN PUSH FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REFREEZE $6B IRANIAN ASSETS

"Denying the terrorist-sponsoring regime in Tehran access to funds with which it can export chaos is an essential step in this direction," they wrote.

President Joe Biden speaks from the White House to reaffirm commitments to Israel.

In September, the Biden administration made a deal with Iran to swap prisoners and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds.

As part of the deal, Iran released five American citizens detained in Iran and the U.S. released five Iranian citizens being held in the U.S. The deal also created a blanket waiver to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar without fear of violating U.S. sanctions. Administration officials say the funds can only be used for "humanitarian needs like food and medicine."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The unfreezing of the money took place nearly a month before Hamas terrorists launched a massive, deadly attack on Israel over the weekend.

At least 22 Americans have been killed in the terror attacks. An unknown number of Americans are being held hostage by Hamas, U.S. officials say.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., led a bipartisan group of nearly 100 House lawmakers to urge President Biden to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets that were released last month in light of the deadly Hamas terrorist war on Israel.

BIDEN ADMIN 'UNEQUIVOCALLY' CONDEMNS TERROR GROUP HAMAS, SAYS US 'STANDS WITH ISRAEL'

"Your administration recently released $6 billion in frozen funds to Iran in return for American hostages. Our concern  a concern that has grown more acute in light of Irans support for a terrorist war against Israel that already amounts to the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust  is that the Iranian regime will use all available financial tools to further fuel this war against Israel, fund other terrorist proxies in the region such as Hezbollah who export Irans genocidal terrorism, and accelerate Irans nuclear [buildup]," Gallagher and the group of lawmakers wrote. "Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi put it plainly that the funds would be used wherever we need it."

They added, "Irans need is Israels destruction."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was "at war" and promised that the attackers would pay "an unprecedented price."

But the lawmakers cited Irans supreme leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who stated, "This cancer [Israel] will definitely be eradicated, God willing, at the hands of the Palestinian people and the resistance forces throughout the region.'"

Gallagher and the lawmakers also pointed to reports of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) "involvement in planning and giving the final go-ahead for Hamas terrorist war on Israel," saying it "demands an immediate response."

REPUBLICANS BLAST BIDEN FOR RELEASING $6B IN FROZEN IRAN FUNDS AHEAD OF HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL

"Left unaddressed, the Iranian regimes continued support for terrorist groups and attempts to wipe Israel off the map will only grow more brazen and more destabilizing for the region," they wrote.

Biden administration officials have repeatedly said they have "not seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack." However, Gallagher said "senior Hamas and Hezbollah officials claimed that IRGC officers have been working with Hamas since August to prepare for air, land and sea invasions of Israel."

"This, combined with years of Iran providing weapons and training, enabled Hamas to launch thousands of rockets at Israeli civilian targets and invade communities, murdering and maiming hundreds of innocent people," Gallagher said.

Gallagher and lawmakers also pointed to Irans United Nations mission, which "said the measures Hamas has taken  which include rape, kidnapping, torture, bombings, and murder  constitute a wholly legitimate defense and that the regime emphatically stands in unflinching support of Palestine."

"To prevent Iran from accessing tens of billions of dollars to further subsidize this terrorism, we are requesting that you take immediate action," they wrote, demanding the administration start by "freezing the $6 billion provided in exchange for hostages, as well as the $10 billion in released funds based in Iraq, and withhold all waivers, general licenses and specific licenses for the use of such funds."

"In September, the State Department said, we have the ability to freeze [the released funds] again if we need to," they wrote. "The events of this weekend demonstrate such a necessity."

ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES WAR AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS LAUNCH MASSIVE ATTACK: LIVE UPDATES

The lawmakers also called on Biden to fully enforce sanctions on Iranian oil exports to China, which, they say, "have been unenforced for months despite Chinas crude oil imports from Iran having set a new record."

They further demanded that the administration "prevent Iran from accessing any further Special Drawing Rights from the International Monetary Fund, through which they have quick access to $6.7 billion, and blocking the further provision of funds to Iran in upcoming SDR packages."

The letter to the president comes after both Senate Democrats and Republicans have called on him to do the same.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., posted about his support of freezing the $6 billion in Iranian assets to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.

"As American intelligence officials continue to investigate the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, we should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided," the senator said. "At a minimum, we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial tools we have at our disposal."

U.S. officials have said that "not a dollar" of the money has been spent, but still, critics argue that the funds can be diverted to other places.

Iran is a known backer of Hamas and praised the attacks on Israel. The State Department has stated in the past that Iran provides some $100 million a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Fox News' Adam Shaw, Greg Wehner and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.





Original article source: Republicans, some Dem House lawmakers urge Biden to refreeze $6B in Iranian assets amid Hamas attacks
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he was not prepared for Hamas attacks across the country.

Trump during a speech to supporters in Palm Beach, Fla., bragged about how he moved the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and signed the Abraham Accords, which formalized diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, before repeating his endless 2020 election conspiracy theory.

If the election wasnt rigged, he said, there would be nobody even thinking about going into Israel.

Trump during the speech appeared to fault Biden administration officials rhetoric for a missile attack on Israel that was attributed to Lebanons Hezbollah.

Two nights ago, I read all of Bidens security people, can you imagine, national defense people, and they said, Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack from the north, because thats the most vulnerable spot, Trump told the crowd. I said, Wait a minute. You know, Hezbollah is very smart. Theyre all very smart.

Trump acknowledged that his remarks would draw backlash.

The press doesnt like when they say it, he said.

Trump in his remarks also criticized Netanyahu, claiming he backed out of participating in his administrations strike that took out Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

But Ill never forget  Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing, Trump said. And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That was it. That didnt make me feel too good, but thats all right.

Also in the speech 



 Hezbollah is very smart.



 Trump calls Israels defense minister @yoavgallant this jerk for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel.



 Trump suggests Israel wasnt ready militarily to protect itself from Hamas and Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/Ml9jv6GoaO  Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 12, 2023

The former president in an interview with Fox News Brian Kilmeade also faulted Netanyahu for the intelligence failure leading up to the attack.

We have to protect Israel. Theres no choice. And we have to do it. He has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here. He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldnt have had to be prepared, he said.

Who wouldve thought their intelligence wouldnt have been able to pick this up? Thousands of people were involved. Thousands of people knew about it and they let this slip by. That was not a good thing for him or for anybody, he added.

'HAVE TO PROTECT ISRAEL': Trump says the war in Israel wouldn't have happened if he was president, claims Netanyahu "was not prepared." https://t.co/j3yWycCGvp pic.twitter.com/OEjuYlZazq  Fox News (@FoxNews) October 12, 2023

Trump, who forged close ties to Netanyahus government during his administration, has criticized the prime minister ever since he congratulated President Joe Biden on his 2020 election win.

MSNBC host Jon Lemire on Thursday reported that part of the reason Trump went after the prime minister "is that Netanyahu had praised President Biden, of course, Trump's likely rival in 2024. And Trump simply couldn't stand for that."

Jonathan Lemire reports, "Part of the reason why Trump was critical of Netanyahu...I am told by someone close to the former president is that Netanyahu had praised President Biden, of course, Trump's likely rival in 2024. And Trump simply couldn't stand for that." pic.twitter.com/8rBZQLHBtt  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) October 12, 2023

Trumps remarks drew heated backlash days after the attack.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trumps primary challengers, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Olivia Troye who served as a national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, another Trump challenger, also called out the Republican frontrunner for praising Hezbollah while they launch attacks against Israel.

Perhaps Trump needs to be reminded about our own country's history with the group, such as their attacks on our US Marine Barracks & that they're a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization, she wrote. How does all of this horrid rhetoric square now with those who claim to stand by Israel while still standing by Trump?

After Hamas slaughters hundreds of Jewish families, and Israel confronts an unprecedented security crisis, Donald Trump attacks the Israeli govt and praises Hezbollah terrorists, wrote former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Are Republicans really going to nominate this dangerous man to be President of the United States?

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough said Trump was out of his mind.

"I mean, praising Hezbollah, just like he praised Vladimir Putin, said he was brilliant after the invasion of Ukraine, he said Thursday. All the praise that he's had for President Xi in China, always talking about what a brilliant man he is. Same thing, of course, with the tyrannical leader of North Korea  out of his mind, and again, the fact that Republicans are embracing this guy just is absolutely crazy."
Brunch: a hate-it-or-love-it weekend activity where friends gather to eat a combination of breakfast and lunch foods, gab about their lives and, sometimes, drink mimosas. Maybe a couple mimosas. Maybe more. And now, some California restaurants are trying to prevent that boozy overindulgence.

SFGate first reported on a fee instituted at some Bay Area brunch spots that aims to curb patrons, often folks in their 20s, imbibing too much on bottomless mimosas during brunch.

Three popular brunch spots in the area have been dealing with folks drinking too much and ultimately getting sick  sometimes right at their table in the dining room.

Kitchen Story, a restaurant that serves Asian-inspired breakfast and brunch in Oakland, California, has a sign in its bathroom directed towards anyone planning on chugging rather than sipping their mimosas:

Dear all mimosa lovers,

Please drink responsibly and know your limits. A $50 cleaning fees will automatically include in your tap when you throw up in our public areas. Thank you so much for understanding 

The restaurant posted the sign almost two years ago when its general manager saw similar signs in bars in the area.

This was still during the pandemic and it became a very sensitive issue for customers and staff having to clean up, Kitchen Story owner Steven Choi told SFGate. But this is not unique. Its there to make the customers stop and think about other people.

Kitchen Story co-owner Chaiporn Kitsadaviseksak also said he cant recall having to actually charge the fee since the signs were posted, but before introducing the fee, folks tossing their cookies in the restaurant happened a lot. Additionally, the restaurants current bottomless mimosa policy limits cocktail time to a single hour.

Another spot San Francisco eatery, Home Plate, gives the same warning to its brunch customers. Starting in late 2021, owner Teerut Boon instituted a similar policy to that of Kitchen Story. But Home Plates signs, which used to be posted around the shop, were eventually taken down due to customer complaints.

Still, the warning, Please Drink Responsibly. $50 cleaning fee per person for any incident incur as a result of intoxication, remains on its menu, right under the $22 price tag for bottomless mimosas, printed in red. Boon said it helped.

We cant continue to serve them mimosas if they become intoxicated, Boon told SFGate.

While Home Plate and Kitchen Story both provide carafes of bottomless mimosas to tables so that patrons can pour their own drinks, one area restaurant forgoes that entirely to prevent customers from getting sick. Gastropub The Sycamore leaves the job of pouring drinks to an employee, who during brunch service has a fantastic job title.

We have a staff member who is a mimosa fairy, Liz Ryan, co-owner of The Sycamore, told SFGate, adding that theres a mimosa station with a sign warning patrons that its for staff use only. They bring a pitcher around that they use to refill glasses.

About every 15 minutes, the restaurants mimosa fairy offers to top off glasses of bubbly, while also noting who may be going overboard, keeping this in mind for a potential cutoff.

This way of doing things is due in part to Responsible Beverage Service training from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which became mandatory for all California restaurant employees who handle and serve alcohol in July 2022.

The training teaches employees, among other things, alcohols effect on the body and how to responsibly serve alcohol to patrons.

Our staff is trained to make sure our customers dont overdo it, Ryan said. Nobody wants to see people throwing up. That sort of spoils the party vibe that were trying to create.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Southwestern Illinois area residents will have the chance to see an annular solar eclipse on Saturday, Oct. 14, weather-permitting. The annular solar eclipse is also known as a ring of fire because the moon obscures all but the suns outer rim, the Associated Press reports.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth while its at its farthest point from earth, NASA reports. Because the moon is farther away from earth than in a total eclipse, it looks smaller than the sun and never completely obscures it, NASA continues.

The Oct. 14 annular solar eclipse will block approximately 55% of the suns light from reaching the St. Louis metro area, according to an Oct. 11 press release from the Saint Louis Science Center. The partial eclipse will be visible between approximately 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the region, the science center reports.

Prepare to get eclipsed this weekend, Oct. 14th, during our FREE SciFest/Eclipse Expo! An annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, & South America. It will be visible in St. Louis as a partial solar eclipse. Learn more: https://t.co/MdMW4ZMo5D #eclipse #scifest pic.twitter.com/gaoGqjAZue  Saint Louis Science Center (@STLScienceCtr) October 10, 2023

Theres a 20% chance of rain showers in Belleville Saturday afternoon, National Weather Service forecasters report, and the skies should be mostly cloudy with a high near 60 degrees.

Its important to take safety precautions when viewing an annular solar eclipse. Heres what to know about safely viewing the event in the St. Louis region.

How to safely view the 2023 annular eclipse

Its unsafe to look directly into the sun, and the only time you dont risk permanent vision loss is during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse, NASA reports.

This years eclipse is annular, meaning there will be no point where the suns light is entirely obscured by the moon. It will not be safe to look straight at the 2023 annular eclipse without proper eye protection at any point.

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, NASAs website reads.

To safely view an annular or partial eclipse, you need eclipse glasses or a safe handheld solar viewer, NASA says. Regular sunglasses will not provide enough protection and are unsafe for this use.

Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses, NASA reports, and they should comply with international standards. NASA does not approve any specific brands of solar viewers.

Here are more tips from NASA on safely viewing the annular eclipse:

Always be sure to inspect your handheld viewer or eclipse glasses before using them. Discard them if they have any tears or scratches or if theyre otherwise damaged.

Always supervise children who are using solar viewers.

Do not look at the sun through binoculars, a camera lens, telescope or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer. The suns concentrated rays will burn through the filter and lead to serious eye damage.

If you dont have access to a solar viewer, you can indirectly view the eclipse by making a pinhole projector. (This does not mean looking at the eclipse through a pinhole.)

A total solar eclipse will occur April 8, 2024, and should be visible in southern Illinois and southern Missouri around 2 p.m. that day.
Senator Robert Menendez, who was already facing a slew of bribery charges, was hit with a raft of new accusations on Thursday, with federal prosecutors alleging that the New Jersey Democrat and former chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had accepted bribes from a foreign government and acted as a foreign agent.

Things already looked pretty bad for the New Jersey Democratic senator, to be fair. Last month, Menendez and his wife were charged in a sweeping indictment and accused of multiple bribery counts. The pair were accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars, and a car (seriously) in exchange for Menendezwho was chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee until he was forced to resign in September after being chargedagreeing to use his power and influence to protect and enrich those businessmen and to benefit the government of Egypt.



Still, Menendez had two things going for him. One was that he had previously gotten away with corruption charges. Way back in 2017a year before the scheme he is currently charged for is alleged to have begunjurors were unable to reach a verdict on charges including conspiracy, bribery, and honest services fraud. Menendez, who had then been in the Senate for more than a decade, insisted then that the charges were related to a simple misunderstanding: Menendez and the man who was accused of bribing him were simply friends who enjoyed exchanging gifts and favors.



The other is that the current conservative-led Supreme Court has shown again and again that it does not care about corruption. The charges Menendez was facing were beyond the palehe and his wife had over $400,000 in cash stashed in their home, along with several gold barsbut this court has consistently been skeptical of all but the most overt bribery and corruption charges. Menendez still had a chance, in other words.

But with Thursdays charges, that seems to have all but evaporated. A new indictment filed by a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Thursday claims that Menendez provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt. According to prosecutors, Menendezs wife and a New Jersey businessman worked to introduce Egyptian intelligence and military officials to Menendez for the purpose of establishing and solidifying a corrupt agreement. As part of this agreement, businessmen with ties to Egypt provided hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes to Menendez and Nadine Menendez, in exchange for Menendezs acts and breaches of duty to benefit the government of Egypt, [businessman Wael] Hana, and others, including with respect to foreign military sales and foreign military financing, according to prosecutors.

Thats bad! Its also, unlike more humdrum corruption, not the kind of thing the Supreme Court bats an eye at. Menendez is stubbornly refusing to resignand is even suggesting that he might run for reelection in 2024. But the latest charges show that hes in even bigger trouble than beforeand that Democrats need to find a way to push him out quickly.
Chinese, Singaporean legislators promise to strengthen exchanges, cooperation

Xinhua) 10:16, October 12, 2023

SINGAPORE, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese legislator He Wei led a delegation to visit Singapore between Monday and Wednesday at the invitation of Singapore's parliament.

He Wei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met with Singapore's parliament speaker Seah Kian Peng and deputy speaker Christopher de Souza.

China-Singapore relations maintained strong momentum under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries. The two sides elevated bilateral ties to an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, which is a milestone, He noted.

The vice chairman stressed that China is willing to work with Singapore to enhance political mutual trust, expand win-win cooperation to deliver mutual benefits, and deepen practical cooperation in various fields including green development and digital economy.

The NPC is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Singapore's parliament and make positive contributions to bilateral relations, He said.

He also introduced the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, the content of the three initiatives and whole-process people's democracy to the Singaporean side.

Noting that Singapore-China relations are forward-looking and have continued to deepen in recent years, the Singaporean side agreed to work with China to strengthen exchanges at all levels, including those between the legislative bodies, implement existing cooperation projects and promote bilateral relations to keep pace with the times.

The Chinese delegation during the tour also visited the Sustainable Singapore Gallery and the Bank of China Singapore Branch.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Luminita Odobescu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, has called on Russia to stop its constant attacks on Ukraine, particularly Odesa, which directly affect Romanian territory: another drone fell there on the night of 11 October.

Source: Luminita Odobescu on Twitter (), as reported by European Pravda.

Details: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania called Russian attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine "heinous", adding that they had "serious consequences on Romanias territory" again.

Quote: "New evidence of impact was found on Romania's soil. We call on Russia to stop these war crimes."

Heinous Russian attacks on #Ukraine civilian infrastructure had again serious consequences on #Romanias territory. New evidence of impact was found on Romania's soil. We call on Russia to stop these #war crimes.  Luminita Odobescu (@Odobes1Luminita) October 12, 2023

Background:

The Ministry of Defence of Romania reported that a drone flying "from the conflict zone in Ukraine" was detected on Romanian territory at around 05:00 on 11 October. This happened amid Russian attacks by kamikaze drones on Ukrainian port infrastructure near the Ukrainian-Romanian border. Special services discovered a crater from the alleged fall of the drone during the investigation of the crash site.

This is not the first such incident. The Romanian Ministry of Defence previously concluded that the drones fell on Romanian territory accidentally  they were Russian drones that were shot down by the air defence of Ukraine.

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Another drone likely fell and exploded on Romanian soil following an overnight Russian drone strike against Ukraine's Danube ports, the Romanian Defense Ministry reported on Oct. 12.

A crater left behind by the drone's explosion was found at around 5 a.m. on Oct. 12, roughly three kilometers west of the town of Plauru, which lies just across the Danube River from the Ukrainian port of Izmail, the ministry said.

Russian forces launched a wave of Shahed-type drones against Odesa Oblast overnight, targeting port infrastructure in Izmail. Governor Oleh Kiper reported that the attack injured one person and caused damage to the port and houses in the Izmail district.

The Romanian Defense Ministry said that appropriate steps were taken to secure the area of the impact, and the investigation of the incident is ongoing.

"The Defense Ministry strongly condemns the attacks carried out by the Russian Federation against civilian infrastructure facilities in the Ukrainian ports on the Danube River," the ministry said in its press release.

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This is not the first time the Romanian authorities have found fragments of what are presumably Russian drones destroyed in strikes against Ukraine.

Russia has escalated its attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure following its unilateral termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, targeting Ukraine's river ports Izmail and Reni near the Romanian border.

Bucharest reported the discovery of suspected Russian drones on Romanian soil in three separate incidents in September.

Romania has introduced new security measures to protect the civilian population near the Danube River. This included the construction of air raid shelters in high-risk areas and the strengthening of air defenses near the border.

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CONCORD, N.H.Ron DeSantis began a two-day New Hampshire swing Thursday by displaying a revamped campaign style that includes amped-up criticism of Donald Trump .

DeSantis focused on Trump's comments Wednesday criticizing the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netahnyahu and his government over the war with Hamas, and describing Hezbollah militants as "very smart."

"Now is not the time to be attacking our ally," DeSantis told supporters at the New Hampshire State House.

Several Republicans noted that, after the 2020 election, Trump attacked Netanyahu for hailing Biden as the president-elect.

"Its clear hes angry at Netanyahu for recognizing Trump lost in 2020," said a statement from Never Back Down, a pro-DeSantis political action committee. "Trump puts himself first."

What did Trump say about Netanyahu? Trump blames Netanyahu for Hamas attacks, calls Hezbollah leaders 'very smart'

DeSantis in New Hampshire

Oct 12, 2023; Concord, NH, USA; Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis greeting supporters outside of the New Hampshire Secretary of State offices after he filed paperwork at the New Hampshire State House to get on the New Hampshire 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY ORG

DeSantis spoke after formally filing for the New Hampshire primary expected to take place in January, a contest he declared wide open despite Trumps huge lead in polls.

If you want to change from Trump, I think Im the best leader, DeSantis said, adding that he gives Republicans the best chance to be able to do well in a general election.

DeSantis, who has seen his support erode after months of attacks from Trump, has gradually escalated counter-criticism of the former president throughout the campaign. He has been more pointed in recent days, part of a strategy adjustment that includes more interviews with mainstream media outlets.

The Florida governor plans to spend Thursday touring the northern part of the state along with members of his political action committee, Never Back Down.

He is scheduled to participate Friday in traditional events, including a "Politics and Eggs" breakfast hosted by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

DeSantis and other Republican candidates are scheduled to address the state Republican Party's "First in the Nation Leadership Summit" in Nashua, N.H. this weekend.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ron DeSantis in N.H. slams Trump for Israel comments on Netanyahu
Former President Donald Trumps description Wednesday of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that recently attacked Israel, as very smart drew criticism from 2024 GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, who called his rivals choice of words absurd.

Trump made the comments while speaking at a Club 47 event in West Palm Beach during which Florida Republican congressman Matt Gaetz also addressed the crowd.

During his speech, Trump continued to insist that President Joe Biden is to blame for the deadly conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas simply because he is now president and Trump isnt.

If the election wasnt rigged, there would be nobody even thinking about going into Israel, Trump said, also regurgitating his bogus election fraud claim. The election was rigged, very sadly rigged.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.



As pic.twitter.com/408e82OVDP  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 12, 2023

The comments sparked ire with DeSantis, Trumps biggest competition in the 2024 Republican presidency race, though DeSantis still trails the former president by a wide margin.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, the Florida governor wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to Trumps speech. As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are.

In a radio interview earlier in the day with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, the former president made a similar assertion about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus level of preparedness.

He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldnt have had to be prepared, Trump claimed.

Unsurprisingly, Trump has also used the Middle East crisis to gin up fears about immigration through the U.S.--Mexico border.

The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, at Record Numbers, Trump claimed baselessly in a Truth Social post Monday. Are they planning an attack within our Country? Crooked Joe Biden and his BOSS, Barack Hussein Obama, did this to us!

Separately on Fox, DeSantis said Israel has Every right to defend themselves and called for the complete annihilation of Hamas.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(Bloomberg) -- Global financial markets are discounting the risk of a massive conflict throughout the Middle East for now, economist Nouriel Roubini said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Investors expect Israel has no choice but go into Gaza and get rid of Hamas, Roubini told Bloombergs Francine Lacqua on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco. Markets are pricing in a baseline scenario in which Israel occupies Gaza, its going to get ugly, but the conflict remains contained.

Read more: Israel Latest: IDF Jets Target Hamas Leaders; Blinken Lands

But Roubini said there is a downside scenario in which Iran and Lebanon get involved, risking conflict between Israel and Iran. If that were to be the case, of course the supply of oil from the Gulf gets disrupted and you get a spike in oil prices and the economic impact would be huge, he said. Its not the baseline scenario, but its a risk.

If oil prices do rise, it would be a stagflationary shock and a huge dilemma for central banks, he said.

Roubini, also a professor of economics and international business at New York Universitys Stern School of Business, is known for bearish pronouncements that earned him the moniker Dr Doom. He correctly warned of disaster before the 2008 financial crisis and is followed for his often counter-conventional views.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla., the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to the U.S. State Department on Wednesday calling for a tougher crackdown on Iran and its role in helping carry out the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel over the weekend.

Rubio, along with several co-signers, including Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., among others, also want the administration to release information about the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) investigation into Iran. The GOP senators criticized the lack of progress in resolving key questions about Iran's nuclear program during a September IAEA Board of Governors meeting.

Over the last five years, the IAEA has been conducting an inquiry into Iran's undisclosed nuclear material and endeavors linked to a covert initiative in 2003 aimed at creating atomic weaponry, known as the Amad Plan.

"The Iranian regime is intent on fomenting terror across the region, as evidenced by its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollahs, brutal attacks this weekend on our ally, Israel," Rubio wrote. "Now more than ever, you must ensure that you hold the regime accountable for its failure to comply with obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."

BIDEN ISSUES CRYPTIC WARNING TO IRAN AFTER ADMIN DENIES COUNTY WAS INVOLVED IN HAMAS ATTACK: BE CAREFUL

Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida and ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, during a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

The Nuclear-Non-Proliferation Treaty, which came into law in 1970, is an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology to nonnuclear weapon regions.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Rubio wrote that despite the IAEAs repeated attempts to access several Iranian regions, it "has not been able to determine whether Tehran retains covert nuclear weapons activities."

"The Biden Administration has failed to press for concrete action against Iran in Vienna. We are especially disturbed by reports that the United States led efforts to oppose a censure of Iran," Rubio wrote. "As Iran violates its commitments and refuses to comply with the IAEA, your business-as-usual approach to resolving the situation is tantamount to an endorsement of the Iranian regimes activities."



US MUST STOP FEEDING 'MONSTER' IRAN FOLLOWING HAMAS' ATTACK ON ISRAEL: FORMER TRUMP ADVISER AND SCHOLAR SAYS

He added, "Further, your failure to pursue a censure of Iran, likely in conjunction with ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran that you continue to conceal from Congress, is simply unconscionable."

According to a congressional report in July, which cited U.S. intelligence assessments, Tehran  the capital of Iran  has the "capacity to produce nuclear weapons at some point," but froze the program and "has not mastered all of the necessary technologies for building such weapons." While both the IAEA and the U.S. government continue to investigate Iran and have not found evidence they are involved in creating any nuclear weapons, they "assess that Iran is more likely to use covert, rather than declared, facilities to produce the requisite fissile material."

However, Rubio said "many questions remain with regard to Irans nuclear activities" given several instances where they violated the Safeguards Agreement  the framework for the IAEA to verify that nuclear materials and facilities are used for peaceful purposes and not diverted for any military or explosive purposes  at two sites with undisclosed nuclear activity.

Rubio joins a growing choir of GOP lawmakers who are seeking answers from the Biden administration on the $6 billion deal with Iran in exchange for five American prisoners last month.

The deal 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, but it quickly drew skepticism about whether those funds could have been used to fund the surprise attack in Israel.

KAMALA HARRIS ALLIES FURIOUS OVER DISRESPECT FROM DEMOCRATS: 'CUT THE BULLS---'

A Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told the BBC this week that they had Irans support for the attacks, which began Saturday. A bombshell Wall Street Journal report Sunday also said Hamas and Hezbollah helped Iran plan the attack  which killed at least 1,200 Israelis and injured thousands more  contradicting the administration's statements.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, speaking Wednesday at the annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco, said the money has not been spent and could be re-frozen.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for comment on Rubio's letter.

Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.





Original article source: Rubio demands answers on Iran's nuclear weapon activity amid ongoing bloodshed in Israel
(NEXSTAR)  Rudolph Isley , a founding member of the R&B/soul group the Isley Brothers, died Wednesday at 84, according to multiple sources.

Isleys publicist confirm his death to the Los Angeles Times, though no cause of death has yet been given.

There are no words to express my feelings and the love I have for my brother, Ronald Isley told Rolling Stone Thursday. Our family will miss him. But I know hes in a better place.

The Isley Brothers are known for several iconic hits across several decades. The group was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1954 and rose to fame following the 1959 release of their single Shout.

As a group, the Isley Brothers have won two Grammy Awards, which includes a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. The group was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for two separate songs.

Nexstar has reached out to representatives for Isley and will update once theyve responded.

This is a developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
A grain ship near the port of Odesa, November 2022

Russia wants to attack civilian ships in the Black Sea again, senior military advisor of the UK delegation to the OSCE Nicholas Okott said.

The United Kingdom declassified new intelligence last week indicating that Russia may continue to target civilian shipping, including planting explosive devices on approaches to Ukrainian ports.

Read also: Russia attacked civilian ship in Black Sea last month  UK PM

Russia continues to expend significant resources on its self-destructive war. "The longer Russia fights, the more it loses and becomes weaker. Russia has suffered nearly 200,000 casualties, and 50,000 of its soldiers have been killed.

A Turkish ship in the Black Sea was hit by a sea mine on Oct. 5, sustaining minor damage with no injuries to the crew. Information emerged about an explosion in the Sulina Channel in Romania near the Danube involving the trading ship Seama, which sailed under the flag of Togo and may have struck a mine on Sept. 20.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament  ed.] may consider a bill that would revoke the decision to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at its first reading on 17 October.

Source: Interfax, a Russian news outlet, citing the State Duma press service

Details: The bill was drafted on the instruction of State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin .

At the start of the plenary session on Thursday, Volodin noted that the issue had been discussed at the State Duma Council and all factions were in favour of passing the bill.

Volodin invited all MPs to become authors of the bill. At the same time, Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, told journalists that the second reading of the de-ratification bill is expected to take place on Wednesday, 18 October, and the third reading on 19 October.

Slutsky stressed, however, that Russia is not withdrawing from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and remains a party to the treaty.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted by the 50th session of the UN General Assembly on 10 September 1996. The Treaty has been signed by 177 states and ratified by 138 states, including 34 of the 44 states required for its entry into force (it has not been ratified by Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, China, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States).

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Russian forces attacked nine communities in Sumy Oblast on Oct. 11, injuring one woman, the Sumy Oblast military administration reported.

A 68-year-old woman in Druzhba was hospitalized after being wounded in the attacks.

No further casualties were reported.

The Russian military attacked the Sumy border with artillery, mortar shelling, anti-tank missiles, drones, and mines, among other weapons, causing 286 explosions throughout the day.

The attacks hit the communities of Druzhba, Znob-Novhorodske, Khotin, Seredyna-Buda, Bilopillia, Esman, Krasnopillia, Shalyhyne, and Velyka Pysarivka.

Daily shelling is a fact of life for residents of the vulnerable border communities in Sumy Oblast. An Oct. 10 attack killed a 13-year-old girl in Uhroidy.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: NATO ministers meet to talk Ukraine aid; death toll of Hroza strike rises

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Smoke rises from the direction of Avdiivka after several days of fighting - Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

Russia has suffered heavy losses in a large-scale armoured assault to encircle a strategically important town in Ukraines eastern Donestsk region, open source analysis has shown.

Analysts said Kyivs forces took out dozens of tanks and other armoured vehicles during Moscows two-day offensive operation to encircle the settlement of Avdiivka.

Russian troops attempted a blitzkrieg-style advance on the town in what was seemingly a shift away from its previous reluctance to use heavy armour in an attempt to make sweeping gains.

Geolocated footage showed the Russians had made gains five miles to the north-west of Avdiivka and four miles to the north and west of the settlement.

The bulk of Moscows forces are concentrated south-west of the town, according to military analysts.

Ukraine's 79th separate amphibious assault brigade conduct operations near Avdiivka - Yevhen Titov/Getty Images

Vitaliy Barabash, head of the towns administration, has described the Russian push as the largest-scale offensive action in our sector since the full-fledged war began.

But the advance has seemingly faltered after hitting Ukrainian defensive lines consisting of minefields and anti-tank positions.

Ukraines general staff said that up to three Russian battalions, supported by tanks and armoured vehicles, had launched the assault on Avdiivka.

Battlefield footage on social media in recent days appeared to show Ukrainian efforts to bring the offensive back under control.

In one clip, a Russian armoured advance of at least a dozen vehicles north of Avdiivka was spotted by a Ukrainian drone before artillery fire was able to halt the advance.

Another clip, apparently captured by a Ukrainian reconnaissance team, shows a Russian column moving along a road, before the lead vehicle slips over the side of a pontoon bridge.

A bridge between Horlivka and Yasynuvata, two towns to the east of the assault, was destroyed by Ukrainian forces.

In one picture of the incident, a Russian 3-STS Akhmat armoured vehicle can be seen destroyed under the wreckage of the fallen crossing.

Ukrainian military analysts have estimated that Moscow lost at least 36 vehicles in the two-day assault on Avdiivka.

Russian losses included at least one of each of their four main table tanks: the T-62, T-72, T-80 and T-90.

We are holding our ground

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, said on Thursday: We are holding our ground. It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end. We must all remember this.

The town, once home to 30,000 people, is seen as an important point in Ukraines defensive lines and considered the gateway to Donetsk.

It is a suburb of the city of Donetsk and has been on the front line of the war since the initial Donbas invasion in 2014.

Russian sources claimed the advance was made possible by Russian forces applying lessons they had learned from earlier battles with Ukraine in the south.

Instead of using human wave attacks, Moscows commanders were able to integrate assault groups, aerial reconnaissance and artillery fire in order to advance.

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The Russians currently see the occupation or encirclement of the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast as a symbolic victory.

Source: Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, the spokesman of the Joint Press Centre of the Defence Forces of the Tavriia front, on the air of the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "The enemy sees Avdiivka as an opportunity to gain some kind of symbolic victory and turn the tide of hostilities. If at the beginning of the large-scale invasion Avdiivka was considered by the enemy as something insignificant, then today the occupation or encirclement of Avdiivka for them is perhaps the only one they can achieve at this stage.

Therefore, the enemy actively uses aircraft and continues offensive actions."

Details: Shtupun also said Russian forces "deployed a lot of infantry and armoured vehicles on the Avdiivka front" a few days ago. "As of now, we record a decrease in the number of armoured vehicles, but the enemy is trying to advance with infantry," the colonel said.

Background:

In the evening of 10 October, Shtupun reported that Ukraine's Armed Forces repelled all attacks by the Russian forces in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast, where the Russian occupiers resumed their assaults.

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysed the Russian attacks around Avdiivka and concluded that these advances at tactical level are unlikely to lead to broader operational and strategic victories.

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A Russian attack on Beryslav in Kherson Oblast injured one person, Volodymyr Litvinov, regional administration head, reported on Oct. 12.

The shelling wounded a 70-year-old man, who received help from medics at the scene.

The same afternoon, the head of Kherson city military administration, Roman Mrochko, said that Russian forces shelled the city's suburbs.

Information about the damage and if there are any casualties is being clarified, Mrochko said.

Earlier in the day, a 71-year-old man was killed after Russian shelling in Chornobaivka in Kherson Oblast, according to the regional military administration.

The attack also injured a 70-year-old man and damaged a number of buildings.

Read also: Man arrested for selling abandoned Russian weaponry in Kherson Oblast





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Russian forces carried out 39 attacks on areas and settlements near the Russian-Ukrainian border in Sumy Oblast over the course of Wednesday, 11 October. A civilian, a woman, was injured in one of these attacks.

Source: the Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "A total of 286 attacks occurred. The Khotin, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Druzhba, Znob-Novhorod, Seredyna-Buda, Esman, and Shalyhyne hromadas came under [Russian] fire."

Details: Russian forces deployed multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) to attack the Druzhba hromada, causing 21 explosions. A woman born in 1955 sustained injuries and was hospitalised.

Russian mortar attacks caused 12 explosions in the Znob-Novhorod hromada, with Russian artillery shelling causing another four.

In the Khotin hromada, Russian mortar bombs caused five explosions and an airstrike, which involved Russian warplanes, and helicopter-launched unguided missiles caused six more.

Russian forces deployed tubed artillery (one explosion), a mortar (18 explosions), and a kamikaze drone (one explosion) to fire on the Seredyna-Buda hromada.

They also deployed a mortar to attack the Bilopillia hromada, which saw 30 explosions as a result, and another 59 explosions caused by an AGS grenade-launcher, eight caused by tubed artillery attacks, and eight by MLRSs.

Russian forces fired 23 mortar bombs on the Esman hromada.

They shelled the Krasnopillia hromada, causing 28 explosions, and deployed mortars (five explosions), anti-tank guided missiles (one explosion), and AGS-17 grenade launchers (eight explosions) in further attacks on the hromada.

Furthermore, Russian mortar attacks caused nine explosions in the Shalyhyne hromada, which they also shelled, causing another 30 explosions.

In the Velyka Pysarivka hromada, five explosions occurred after a Russian SPG-9 attack and four after Russian drones dropped VOG explosives on the hromada.

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Russian drones dropped grenades near soldiers, a Ukrainian commander told The Washington Post.

He said the goal was to figure out which side each soldier was on, based on where they ran.

It's not clear if the unorthodox tactic worked, or if anyone was killed.

Russian drone pilots have dropped grenades over soldiers to try to work out which side they were on, a Ukrainian commander said.

The commander in Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, identified as Rollo, told The Washington Post that Russia used the tactic last month in the battle for the village of Andriivka.

Russian troops became confused by their own force's tactics during the fighting, which sometimes involved sending small groups of soldiers at Ukraine, and at other stages sending in large forces to try and overwhelm them, he said.

He told The Post that Russian drone pilots deployed the tactic, which was described by captured soldiers, to see if the soldiers ran toward Russian or Ukrainian lines, which would reveal which side they were on, he said.

It is not clear if anyone was killed as a result.

Ukraine retook the village, in the southeastern region of Donetsk, last month.

Intercepted Russian radio conversations also appeared to show Russian forces would shoot any of their own soldiers who retreated, Rollo said.

This is a tactic the UK Ministry of Defence says Russia has likely deployed in the fighting.

Other Ukrainian soldiers have reported seeing Russians firing on their own troops when in thick fighting, firing indiscriminately into the battlefield, and killing some of their own soldiers when territory was on the line.

Read the original article on Business Insider
As a result of a nighttime Russian attack with Shahed drones on Odesa Oblast, a person has been injured, and port infrastructure and residential houses have been damaged.

Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, and the Defence Forces of Ukraine's south on Telegram

Quote: "At night, the Russian terrorists once again attacked Odesa Oblast. Our air defence forces have shot down 10 Shahed drones above Odesa Oblast but, sadly, there have still been strikes. There were injured people in the Izmail district port infrastructure and residential houses. Fires started on site of the attacks, they have been put out."

Details: As a result of the attack, an 88-year old woman was injured. She suffered burns and is now in the hospital.

The Defence Forces of the South specified that the strike damaged storages in the port zone as well as private houses of civilians.

Reportedly, last night the Russians launched the Shahed drones on the port infrastructure of the Danube River region.

Background:

On 11-12 October at night the Russians attacked Ukraine with 33 Shahed drones, 28 out of which were destroyed by the Defence Forces.

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Paris prosecutors have opened an investigation into the suspected poisoning of a Russian journalist who made headlines last year when she brandished an anti-Ukraine war slogan on state television.

Marina Ovsiannikova reportedly told police that she felt unwell when she opened the door to her Paris apartment Thursday and noticed a powder substance. Forensic police were sent to examine her home.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) secretary general Christophe Deloire reported on social media that the journalist was feeling better by the afternoon but was still under medical supervision.

Former Russian state TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova attends a press conference in Paris, France, Feb. 10, 2023. / Credit: Christophe Ena/AP

The international non-profit was instrumental in getting the 44-year-old journalist and her 12-year-old daughter out of Russia late last year, when she fled in fear for her life.

A reporter at the Perviy Kanal television channel, Ovsiannikova became an instant pariah in Russia in March 2022 when she appeared behind a news anchor on screen brandishing a placard about the Ukraine war, bearing the words: "Stop the war, don't believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here."

Just last week, a court in Moscow sentenced Ovsiannikova to 8 1/2-years in prison in absentia for protesting the war.

In 2022, Russia passed a law under which anyone it deems to have spread "false" information on the war in Ukraine can face up to 15 years in prison.

Top critics of the Kremlin have been handed lengthy prison terms, independent news sites have been blocked and independent journalists have left the country, fearing prosecution.

Among the most prominent dissidents jailed in Russia is opposition leader Alexey Navlany, whom a Russian court convicted of promoting "extremism," extending his already-lengthy time in prison by 19 years.

Navalny spent five months in Germany recovering from a poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin  a claim Russian officials have always denied.

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According to the calculations of the Ukrainian military, during the last 24 hours, the Defence Forces of Ukraine have killed 990 Russian soldiers and destroyed approximately 42 tanks, 44 armoured combat vehicles, 32 artillery systems and 25 units of automotive equipment.

Source: operative data of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the morning of 12 October

Details: The total combat losses of Russian troops between 24 February 2022 and 12 October 2023 are estimated to be as follows (figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.):

284,890 (+990) military personnel

4,905 (+42) tanks

9,264 (+44) armoured combat vehicles

6,763 (+32) artillery systems

811 (+2) multiple-launch rocket systems

545 (+0) air defence systems

316 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft

316 (+0) helicopters

5,247 (+21) tactical UAVs

1,531 (+1) cruise missiles

20 (+0) ships and boats

1 (+0) submarines

9 170 (+25) vehicles and tankers

966 (+1) special vehicles and other equipment

The information is being confirmed.

        12.10.2023

RUSSIAN LOSSES IN THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE AS OF 12 OCTOBER 2023

GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE

In its morning report the General Staff stated: "During the last 24 hours the Defence Aircraft launched 12 attacks on the areas of concentration of manpower, armament and military equipment of the Russians. Ukrainian missile units have struck an area of concentration of manpower, armament and military equipment, nine artillery means, an ammunition storage and a radar station belonging to the Russians."

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Real estate of Mkrtich Okroian

Mkrtich Okroyan, the lead designer of Russias Soyuz plant that produces engines for cruise missiles, owns luxury real estate in the UK and Spain, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK, founded by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny ) reported via YouTube on Oct. 12

Okroyan was found to have a new mansion in the UK worth GBP 10 million ($12.2 million), a villa in Spain worth EUR 20 million ($21.1 million), and a fleet of expensive cars.

Read also: Navalny team reveals former Donetsk militia leader has luxury apartment in Dubai

Investigative journalists discovered that his family owns a mansion in Surrey, with Okroyan's children holding UK citizenship.

Okroyan also owns several luxury cars: A Tesla X, two Tesla Model 3s, an Audi S6, and a Ferrari, according to FBKs report. In addition, the engineer owns a seven-story mansion with an area of 6,700 square meters.

Read also: Scholz explains hesitancy in shipping Taurus missiles to Ukraine after former UK DM Minister calls Germany out

The Soyuz plant, owned and ran by Okroyan, manufactures engines for Kh-555, Kh-101, Kh-35, Kh-65, and other missiles Russia uses to attack Ukraine.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is blaming the United States for creating an environment that led to the violent war between Israel and Hamas.

Putin made the comments during a forum with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani on Wednesday.

During the forum, Putin said that the "problem" that Israel and the Palestinians are facing is the result of U.S. foreign policy in reference to settlements in Israel.

"Settlement mechanisms have been established, but the United States has neglected these mechanisms over the past few years and decided to regulate everything on its own, did not use these mechanisms and in recent years has relied on meeting the material needs of the population living in the Palestinian territories," Putin said. "In fact, they tried to replace the solution of fundamental political problems with some material handouts. Of course, this is very important for people who have a low standard of living, it is important to solve socio-economic issues."

WHITE HOUSE SPOX PRESSED ON IRAN'S $6 BILLION IN UNFROZEN FUNDS AFTER HAMAS UNLEASHES TERROR IN ISRAEL

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 19, 2023.

The Russian president said "without solving fundamental political issues, the main of which is the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, it is impossible to solve the problem as a whole."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"In addition, settlement policy, in addition, a number of other components eventually led to such an explosion of violence. What's happening is terrible," Putin said. "We understand that the hardening on both sides is very large, but no matter what the level of hardness on both sides, it is still necessary to strive to minimize or reduce to zero, to minimize losses among the civilian population: women, children, the elderly. If men have decided to fight among themselves, let them fight among themselves - children, leave women alone. This applies to both sides."

LIVE BLOG: AT LEAST 22 AMERICANS, OVER 1,200 ISRAELIS DEAD IN HAMAS WAR

Rockets into Israel from Gaza Strip

"I would add that the position of Russia, which you mentioned, and I have just outlined it, has not developed today, not in connection with these tragic events, it has been formed for decades, and this position is well known to both the Israeli side and our friends in Palestine. We have always advocated the implementation of the decisions of the UN Security Council, referring primarily to the creation of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state. This is the root of all the problems. And, of course, all that has accompanied this problem in recent years has aggravated it is settlement activity," he added.

Putin's statement comes after Hamas attacked Israel over the weekend during the holiday of Simchat Torah.

So far, at least 2,300 people have been killed during the war, which includes over 1,200 people in Israel.

Following the surprise attack Saturday, Israel's security cabinet officially declared war that night against Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas "will pay an unprecedented price.  This war will take time. It will be difficult."





Original article source: Russian President Vladimir Putin blames US for creating conditions leading to Israel-Hamas war
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A Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group of eight people was attacked at night in Sumy Oblast.

Source: Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Telegram

Quote: "Fighters of a territorial defence brigade, while performing tasks in the area of the Sumy hromada, discovered a subversive reconnaissance group of the enemy consisting of eight people today [12 October  ed.] at midnight, as they executed tasks at the observation post (a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories  ed.).

The saboteurs tried to cross the state border of Ukraine and aimed to move further towards one of the civil critical infrastructure facilities. Artillery and mortar units fired at the enemy.

Details: The subversive reconnaissance group suffered losses and retreated. There are no casualties among Ukrainian servicemen.

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Russian patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin

The Russian Black Sea Fleet's patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin was damaged near the temporarily-occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk reported on Oct. 12.

"We can officially confirm that the ship has sustained damage, regardless of how it happened. This can be interpreted as another hint to the Russian occupiers that it's time to leave our Sevastopol.

Read also: Russian fleet retreating from Crimea, Ukraine advancing on two fronts  ISW

Pletenchuk did not specify the circumstances in which the vessel was damaged. The incident was previously reported by the Telegram channel "Krymsky Veter," suggesting that vessel might have been damaged by a Russian mine on Oct. 11.

Pavel Derzhavin is a patrol ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, part of the Vasily Bykov-class, which joined the fleet in November 2020. Russians equipped the ship with the Tor-M2KM anti-aircraft missile system in June 2022.

Read also: Russian Black Sea Fleet facing conundrums as Ukrainian sea drones keep attacking

Ukrainian forces used maritime drones to strike and damage two Russian patrol ships part of the Vasily Bykov-class project 22160 in the southwestern part of the Black Sea on Sept. 14. The missile ship Samum was also hit.

Powerful explosions rocked the occupied city of Sevastopol on Sept. 13. Russia claimed that it was an attack with missiles and maritime drones (unmanned boats), acknowledging damage to two ships that were "undergoing repairs."

The large landing ship Minsk and the Rostov-on-Don submarine were hit and damaged beyond repair, Ukrainian intelligence stated.

Read also: Local partisans helped target Russias Black Sea Fleet HQ in Crimea

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Russian strikes on several settlements in Donetsk Oblast on Oct. 12 killed two people, including an 11-year-old boy, and injured seven other residents, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.

The child was killed in a Russian strike on the village of Bahatyr in the Volnovakha district, the report said.

His six-year-old brother sustained injuries to his torso, and his 31-year-old mother was hospitalized with multiple lacerations, according to the prosecutors.

Russian forces also targeted Avdiivka, a front-line town currently facing heavy ground assaults and regular shelling and air strikes.

A 58-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman suffered shrapnel wounds in today's attacks against Avdiivka, the prosecutors reported.

In the strike on the village of Halytsynivka in the Pokrovsk district, a 32-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman were reportedly injured.

Russian forces attacked the town of Hirnyk in the same district, killing a 44-year-old woman and injuring her 24-year-old son-in-law, the prosecutors said.

Donetsk Oblast, partially occupied by Russian forces since 2014, suffers regular attacks, and local officials report losses among the civilian population virtually on a daily basis.

Read also: Ukraine faces onslaught at Avdiivka as Russia launches new offensive

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The Russian occupiers announced the air-raid warning in the city of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea in the evening of 12 October, and later blocked the Crimean Bridge.

Source: Mikhail Razvozhaev, the so-called "governor" of Sevastopol, on Telegram; propaganda media outlet RIA Novosti Crimea

Details: Later, the occupiers reported that sea and land traffic would be suspended as the air-raid siren sounded.

Then the occupiers blocked the Crimean Bridge and called on those on the bridge and in the inspection zone to keep calm and follow instructions.

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Tokmak

The Ukrainian forces advance on the Zaporizhzhya front is forcing Russian occupiers to withdraw some of their units from Tokmak, the Ukrainian Mayor of Russian-occupied Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, said in an interview with Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL) on Oct. 12.

"Our military is gradually advancing towards Melitopol on the Zaporizhzhya front. What is the trend we are seeing from the enemy? First of all, today we can confirm the information that the enemy has moved some of its units from Tokmak and Molochansk."

Read also: Russia building new defenses near Berdyansk  Estonian intelligence

Almost half of the staff of the so-called "executive committee" was evacuated from Tokmak. The occupiers also evacuated some educational institutions, the FSB units, as well as relatives and families of military personnel stationed in the city.

Read also: Russian logistics in southern Ukraine hampered by adverse weather, Ukrainian defense official says

"They are transporting them to the temporarily occupied Melitopol. But I am confident that it will not be for long," Fedorov said.

Russian forces are reinforcing fortifications near Tokmak and constructing a new defensive line on the way to Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Estonian defense intelligence assessed on Sept. 29

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are consolidating their positions near Verbove in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, while Russian troops are on the defensive and fear losing the strategically important Tokmak, said the Tavria Defense Forces spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun

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The Russian army once again targeted Donetsk Oblast, killing two people, including an 11-year-old child, and injuring seven more civilians.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Facebook

Details: According to the investigation, on 12 October, the Russian army bombarded Avdiivka, causing shrapnel wounds to a 58-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman.

In addition, the Russians carried out missile attacks on the village of Bahatyr in Volnovakha district. An 11-year-old boy was killed as a result of the attack, and his 6-year-old brother sustained torso injuries. Their 31-year-old mother was hospitalised with multiple lacerations.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office

The village of Halytsynivka in Pokrovske district also came under fire. As a result of the explosions, a 32-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman were injured.

In addition, the Russian army attacked the city of Horniak, Pokrovske district. A 44-year-old woman was killed in the Russian strikes. Her 24-year-old son-in-law was injured.

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Kyrylo Budanov , Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has revealed that the Russians supplied the Hamas group with infantry armaments that they managed to seize in Ukraine. He believes that the events in Israel will not affect the war in Ukraine if they end within a few weeks but at the moment there is a threat of a "global war".

Source: Budanov in an interview for Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "We know for sure that weapons captured from Ukraine were supplied by the Russians to the Hamas group. These were mainly infantry armaments.

There is some information that something was sent to Hezbollah but at the moment, we dont know for sure."

Details: Budanov also believes that the Russians taught the Hamas militants how to use FPV-drones against armoured equipment: "No one but the people who have had the experience of our theatre of war could have done this. Since we were not here, it must have been the Russians."

The DIU chief reported that a week before the start of combat action in Israel, a Russian radio station Sputnik (Satellite) was officially launched, broadcasting in Arabic in Lebanon: "This kind of broadcast has an absolutely propagandistic style with clear Russian narratives."

Moreover, on 24 September, a Russian spacecraft that is able to conduct electronic warfare and intercept satellite signals was transferred to Israels geostationary orbit.

From 22 to 24 September, a Russian military delegation was on a visit in Iran: "We know that the Iranian had a few, so to speak, requests. One of them concerned extending intelligence capacities. It is now clear what kind of intelligence information the Russians started providing for all interested parties. I stress that this is not only about Iran but about all interested parties."

Budanov also expressed his opinion on how the events in Israel may influence military aid for Ukraine. He believes that "if the conflict is limited in time up to a few weeks then there is nothing to worry about".

Quote: "But if the situation drags on, then there will definitely be some problems as Ukraine will not be the only state to need armament and ammunition supplies

We see no problems with military aid until the middle of the next year. And then, everything will depend on us and whether we will be able to properly show and explain our needs to others and organise the expansion of domestic production."

He added that at the moment, "the world is getting close to a global war" because all these conflicts "are interconnected by the same countries involved in these processes".

Background:

On 7 October, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack on Israel, with fires breaking out in cities.

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 attitude of its allies and have an impact on the supply of Western weapons.

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Military equipment of Russian invaders in occupied Mariupol

Russian occupation forces have begun preparations for the defense of temporarily occupied Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast, the pro-Ukrainian Atesh guerrilla movement reported on Telegram on Oct. 12.

Atesh agents recorded the transfer of the so-called "dragon's teeth" through the city.

Read also: Loud explosions reported near Russian-occupied Mariupol according to mayoral adviser

The Russians were reportedly taking them to build new defense lines northwest of Mariupol.

/Telegram

/Telegram

/Telegram

"The occupiers are so sure that Ukraine's counteroffensive has failed that they are hastily building new defenses" Atesh noted.

But they will not help them  the occupiers' defense will be broken through!

Read also: Russian forces race to build railway link between Mariupol, Donetsk, and Volnovakha

Earlier, Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the Mariupol mayor, said that Russia had deployed new manpower reserves and military equipment to the city and the area.

He also noted that the Russian military was building fortifications near Mariupol.

Reports suggest that Russia is building a new railroad line to connect Mariupol with Donetsk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised to liberate Mariupol and Melitopol.

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BISHKEK (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, a Central Asian nation with strong ties to Moscow, during what was his first foreign trip since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March.

The Kremlin chief has rarely travelled abroad since he sent troops into Ukraine in early 2022 and is not known to have left Russia since the ICC issued a warrant for him, accusing him of overseeing the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine.

Russia does not recognise the ICC's jurisdiction and has rejected its allegations.

Putin attended a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of Russia's Kant military airbase outside Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, a strategically-important facility which allows Moscow to project power in the region.

"This military outpost significantly contributes to boosting Kyrgyzstan's defensive power and ensuring security and stability in the whole region of Central Asia," said Putin, who said he expected Moscow to expand its military and defence ties with Kyrgyzstan.

His visit coincided with a Russian-led security bloc holding military drills in Kyrgyzstan.

The Russian leader is also due to travel to China next week for the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing. Neither Kyrgyzstan nor China are members of the ICC, which was established to prosecute war crimes.

SURGING TRADE GROWTH

Putin's two-day trip to Kyrgyzstan will culminate in his participation in a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet republics, in Bishkek on Friday amid signs that Russia's influence in some parts of the Soviet Union, such as Armenia, is under pressure.

Moscow's ties with other countries in an area it has traditionally regarded as its backyard have come under strain over their enforcement of Western sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine.

At a meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Putin underscored Russia's importance as the biggest investor in the Kyrgyz economy and said the two sides would further develop cooperation.

"Our country is the main supplier of oil products to Kyrgyzstan, we fully supply Kyrgyz consumers with gasoline (petrol) and diesel," Putin told a briefing.

"We very highly value the Kyrgyz-Russian strategic partnership and our relationship as allies," said Japarov.

Putin cited fast growth in Russian-Kyrgyz trade, which some in the West suspect is partly due to Kyrgyz intermediaries facilitating sanctions-busting by Russian businesses.

"Russia is one of the leading trade partners of Kyrgyzstan. Our trade turnover grew 37% last year to a record of nearly $3.5 billion. In the first half of this year it grew a further 17.9%," said Putin.

The United States imposed sanctions on four Kyrgyz companies in July for re-exporting electronics components and other technology to Russia. Kyrgyzstan's central bank last week urged local banks to tighten controls over compliance with Western sanctions against Moscow.

(Reporting by Marlis Myrzakul uulu; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
With an estimated 9,300 people homeless on any given night in Sacramento County, it can feel overwhelming to know how to help. The city and county have roughly 2,300 shelter beds, all of which are typically full.

The Sacramento region has numerous organizations seeking financial and volunteer help, ranging from a nonprofit that has more than 1,000 volunteers serving meals, to a large shelter on a former Air Force base, to a volunteer effort organized by a nun who delivers hot chocolate and coffee on bikes.

Here are a few ways you can help those in need:

Founded in 1983, Sacramento Loaves & Fishes is the largest and among the longest-established non-profits assisting homeless people in Sacramento. The organization welcomes donations. You also can volunteer to help serve meals. Loaves & Fishes more than 1,000 volunteers serve an estimated 150,000 meals annually at its River District location.

The organization has several additional programs it operates. Annekes Haven serves as a kennel for pets of unhoused people. Loaves & Fishes also has a needs list it publishes on its website soliciting donations of specific items such as boots and water bottles.

donate via website: https://sacloaves.org or call 916-637-2450

The Sacramento Homeless Union is an activist organization that provides equipment, clothing, and supplies to folks living on the streets in Sacramento. The organization welcomes financial donations and supplies.

Contact: sacramento.homeless.union@gmail.com or call/text 916-495-9026

https://www.sacramentohomelessunion.org/

Sacramento SOUP (Solidarity of Unhoused People) is a spinoff of the Sacramento Homeless Union which focuses on providing aid with an activist spirit. One of Sacramento SOUPs current focuses is on providing aid to Camp Resolution, a homegrown safe encampment that The Sac Bee has reported on. Camp occupants lobbied the city for a lease that guarantees people cannot be moved until every resident has been placed into permanent, stable housing. Sacramento SOUP is seeking volunteers to help with aiding Camp Resolution.

The organization can be reached via email at: sacsoup916@gmail.com

https://www.sacsoup.org/

Saint Johns Program for Real Change provides 300 women and children transitional housing through a comprehensive 12-18 month residential program that also offers counseling and other support services. Saint Johns seeks both donations and accepts volunteers for a variety of tasks from working in the kitchen to helping with childcare.

The organization can be reached through their website at https://saintjohnsprogram.org/

Volunteers of America Northern California operates seven emergency shelters in the Sacramento region, including The X Street Navigation Center, which has 100 beds for single adults, and the 12-bed Open Arms Shelter, serving adults diagnosed as HIV-positive or who are living with AIDS. Volunteers of America Northern California has volunteer opportunities ranging from Operation Backpack which helps children prepare for success in school to assisting with birthday parties for homeless children.

To volunteer or donate, visit https://www.voa-ncnn.org

Next Move Homeless Services operates multiple shelters housing almost 700 people nightly. Shelters include a facility it operates under contract with Sacramento County at the former Mather Air Force base,as well as shelters and transitional housing for families. The non-profit welcomes tax-deductible donations as well gently used items.

Next Move Homeless Center can be reached at (916) 443-2646 or via their website at https://www.nextmovesacramento.org/contact-us/

Founded by a nun, Sister Libby Fernandez, Mercy Pedalers has around 100 volunteers who ride adult tricycles and bikes, distributing water, assorted supplies, coffee, hot chocolate and cheer around Sacramento. The all volunteer non-profit run by Fernandez accepts donations and volunteers who have their own bicycles.

Contact Mercy Pedalers at (916) 879-5581 or LMFernandez@sistersofmercy.org

https://mercypedalers.com/
This photo provided by Kurt Schleicher shows the schooner Grace Bailey with its main mast broken off the coast of Rockland, Maine, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Kurt Schleicher via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP)  A historic sailing vessel on which a passenger was fatally injured by a broken mast was involved in three previous accidents in 2022 and 2019 when the schooner was under different ownership, according to Coast Guard records.

The Grace Bailey , built in 1882, was returning from a four-day excursion when its main mast splintered and tumbled onto the deck, killing a doctor and injuring three other passengers Monday outside Rockland Harbor.

The most serious previous incident happened on July 8, 2022, when the Grace Bailey's skipper apparently misjudged distance while maneuvering and struck another schooner anchored in Rockland Harbor, with the Grace Baileys front boom hitting the American Eagle. American Eagles mainsail suffered a large gash, and Grace Baileys boom crashed into the water, according to a Coast Guard report.

The Grace Bailey also ran aground in 2022 and in 2019. Both times, there were no injuries and only minor damage, according to Coast Guard reports. The schooner floated free at high tide in both instances.

The vessel was under new ownership this season, according to a spokesperson. It underwent an annual inspection on May 31 and was in compliance with all regulatory requirements, the Coast Guard said.

The mast failure in routine sailing conditions suggests the mast mustve been weakened, probably by water intrusion and rot, said Jim Sharp, a former schooner owner who runs the Sail, Power and Steam Museum in Rockland.

The Bailey Grace was carrying 33 passengers and crew when the mast snapped Monday morning. Its unbelievable that this could happen this way. It takes me aback, Sharp said Wednesday.

Nicole Jacques, spokesperson for the Grace Baileys owners, said it's conjecture to offer theories about why the mast failed. The cause will be determined by the Coast Guard, she said.

It's unclear when the mast was last inspected. Those inspections are less frequent than annual inspections and require the mast to be removed from the vessel and inspected on land, Sharp said.
Members of an Ohio community are mourning the death of a woman after police say she was shot multiple times in a home.

Shes going to be missed, Rachel Owens told WEWS.

Amanda Williams, 46, was found on Oct. 9 with several gunshot wounds in a home in Warrensville Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, after police were called for a domestic disturbance, WKYC reported.

She was taken to a hospital where she died, according to the outlet.

Williams, who also went by Amanda the Stylist, was the owner of A La Mode Stylez, according to Williams Facebook page.

Theres some people, and Ive been doing this a long time, that when they walk in the room, they light up the room; that was her, and shell be sorely missed, and were grieving the needless death because of domestic violence, Pastor R.A. Vernon told WEWS.

Others took to social media to voice their grief.

This truly hurts. Amanda was a beautiful soul. She was a genuine person who loved people and was gifted and anointed to beautify others, one person wrote on Facebook.

SPEECHLESS!!!!! My Friend, My Spec. Gone too soon. Amanda was the life of the environment, another Facebook user wrote.

Police have one man in custody in connection to the death, according to WOIO.

McClatchy News is not identifying the suspect because he has not been formally charged as of Oct. 12.

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The cases of two Rapides Parish men accused in separate homicides have been continued until later this year.

The cases of two Rapides Parish men accused in separate homicides have been continued until later this year.

Markese Deshawn Dewayne Harrell, 27, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the May 2022 death of another Rapides Parish inmate, an action called "unprovoked" at the time of his arrest by the Sheriff's Office.

He's accused of attacking 23-year-old Andrew Steven Myles in a holding cell at the downtown Alexandria jail on May 19, 2022. Myles later died at a hospital.

Harrell was indicted by a Rapides Parish grand jury in June 2022 on a charge of second-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in August 2022.

A trial was set for the week of Oct. 9, but the date was passed pending the outcome of a sanity commission. A hearing on that was set for Dec. 12 by 9th Judicial District Court Judge Mary Lauve Doggett.

Sheriff's Office: Rapides inmate dead after 'unprovoked' attack by another inmate

Kyle Ryland arrest: Pineville man charged after argument ends in fatal shooting

In the second case, Kyle Lucien Ryland had his trial on a charge of manslaughter set for the week of Oct. 9. But he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of negligent homicide on Sept. 18.

Ryland had been arrested by the sheriff's office in December 2019 on a second-degree murder charge.

He and another man, 56-year-old Steven Wayne Saucier, had gotten into a verbal argument in the Kolin area, near the intersection of Hog Lake Road and La. Highway 454, when Ryland shot Saucier, according to the initial news release.

He was indicted on the manslaughter charge by a Rapides Parish grand jury in November 2020 and, after three trial dates were set and continued, both sides said in September 2022 that they were unable to reach a plea agreement.

Two more trial dates were set before the parties  Kelvin Saunders for the Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office and George Higgins III for Ryland's defense  reached a deal.

Sentencing was deferred until Nov. 17, and Doggett ordered a pre-sentencing investigation to be done.

Negligent homicide carries a maximum sentence of five years, but Higgins reversed the defense's right to file a motion to reconsider a three-year sentence, according to Rapides Parish Clerk of Court online records.

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: 2 Rapides homicides: Sanity evaluation in one and plea deal in second
Over 100 people, including children, were taken hostage by Hamas militants during their unprecedented and bloody invasion of southern Israel, according to the Israeli government.

Among the captives are an unknown number of American citizens, around 20 of whom are currently unaccounted for in the region, according to White House officials.

To recover the hostages  whose exact whereabouts and conditions are unknown  Israeli officials, with the assistance of the American government, have two options, both of which would be extremely difficult, John McLaughlin, a former deputy director of the CIA, told McClatchy News.

Stealthy extraction

The first path, of course, is recovering them through special operations, McLaughlin, who had a three-decade-long career at the CIA, said.

But a number of factors make extracting the captives  who are believed to be somewhere in the Gaza Strip, a seaside Palestinian territory the size of Detroit  implausible.

Theyre in the most densely populated spot on Earth that is itself in the midst of a violent military operation, McLaughlin said. So going in there in some stealthy way to grab people and get them out is more complicated  perhaps not impossible  but is dramatically more complicated than any other situation I can think of when I think back to hostage rescue efforts.

Hamas, the Islamic militant organization that rules Gaza, a labyrinthian metropolis populated by 2.1 million people, nearly half of whom are children, has infrastructure throughout the territory and could be holding captives in a number of places. Further complicating things is the Israeli militarys besieging and bombarding of the strip, which has killed over 1,000 people and injured some 5,339 more, according to Palestinian health officials. Its conceivable that hostages were among those killed in the airstrikes.

Typically you know where the hostages are in broad terms, and you have avenues of approach that can be managed to a degree, McLaughlin said. But at this point, without access to classified data, I dont know and I doubt anyone knows with confidence where they are.

Its also possible, if not likely, that theyve been separated into smaller groups, making any potential rescue effort that much trickier.

Intelligence officials are likely poring over satellite imagery of the area, searching for signs of movement, McLaughlin, now a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, said.

But of course, in Gaza, you have the problem of tunnels, McLaughlin said. You cant yet see through dirt from space.

Still, tunnel openings are likely visible on satellite imagery, and they could be used, along with other techniques, to map out areas where captives could be held. But this process would undoubtedly be slow.

It took years to figure out where one guy was: Bin Laden, McLaughlin said.

Negotiations

The second avenue to secure the hostages would be through diplomacy, McLaughlin said.

It would be normal in the government setting, in the sit(uation) room for someone to say Should we even think about some channels that could pursue hostage exchanges here? McLaughlin said. Someone should at least be asking that question.

However, given the levels of hostility and the emotions running sky high, its unlikely that this is a realistic option in the current moment, McLaughlin said.

The Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog was unambiguous when asked about the possibility of hostage negotiations in an Oct. 9 interview with CNN, saying, We are not conducting negotiations right now; We are at war.

I call on all those who have influence over Hamas to demand unequivocally that Hamas will release all the hostages and will not harm them, Herzog added.

The siege of Gaza, which has left the strip without access to food, water, electricity and fuel, and been labeled abhorrent by the Red Cross, will continue until the hostages are released, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on X.

In the case of Hamas, it may not be in its best strategic interest to give up captives, McLaughlin said.

The militant group has said it will free the hostages in exchange for the release of 5,200 Palestinian prisoners they say are being held in Israeli jails, according to the Associated Press. Theyve also threatened to kill hostages when Israeli airstrikes hit civilian targets without warning.

All the incentives on the Hamas side are to hang onto the hostages at this point, both as bargaining tools and ways of inflicting terror, and as human shields, McLaughlin said.

But, if an Israeli ground invasion were to take place, he said, then the incentive on the Hamas side will be to bring the whole hostage issue more to the fore.

Still, its extremely difficult to predict exactly what will happen given how dynamic the situation is, McLaughlin said.

Were in early days, McLaughlin said, Were in an extremely volatile period now where its not much of an exaggeration to say almost anything could happen.

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U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace says she will not vote for Majority Leader Steve Scalise for House speaker, citing his past involvement with a white supremacist conference.

Mace was one of eight Republicans who voted Kevin McCarthy out of the speakers role. Since, Mace has generated national news and has been anything but quiet about her decision.

Mace, the Isle of Palms Republican, previously considered supporting Scalise, but ultimately has said she will instead support Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan.

I personally cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who attended a white supremacist conference and compared himself to David Duke , Mace said on CNN Wednesday. I would be doing an enormous disservice to the voters I represent in South Carolina if I were to do that.

Scalise served as a state lawmaker in Louisiana before being elected to Congress. When he was a state lawmaker he attended the European-American Unity and Rights Organization  a white supremacy group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

Scalise eventually apologized for speaking to the group, and said he hadnt been aware of any of its controversial history.

However, his past has come back to haunt him again, and this time it may affect his chances for speaker of the House.

In a secret ballot vote Tuesday, Scalise beat Jordan for the GOPs speaker nomination 113-99, where some members didnt vote at all. Now, Scalise needs to secure 217 votes to officially win the speakership.

Scalise is far off from 217 votes, and Associated Press reported that some members are still set on voting for Jordan or even McCarthy, even though Jordan has dropped out and McCarthys not running.

Mace has made national headlines the past two weeks with her vote to oust McCarthy, and then showing up to congress wearing a scarlet letter T-shirt, claiming she had been demonized for her vote and voice.

Other South Carolina Republican congressmen who previously said they backed Jordan have thrown their support behind Scalise after Tuesdays GOP Caucus vote.

U.S. Reps. Russell Fry, of Surfside Beach, and Jeff Duncan, of Laurens, both initially tweeted they endorsed Jordan. However, after Scalise won the nomination, Duncan and Fry tweeted that they will now vote for Scalise.
The News

The Republican Study Committee has long been a vanguard for conservative policy ideas on Capitol Hill. Now, for the first time, one of the groups former heads stands poised to become the next House speaker, giving it a brighter national spotlight that could also carry some risks for Republicans.

On Wednesday, Republicans narrowly nominated their current majority leader, Rep. Steve Scalise, for the speakers chair over right-wing favorite Rep. Jim Jordan. Both lawmakers previously led the RSC one after the other  Jordan from 2011 to 2013, and Scalise from 2013 to 2014.

Josephs view

These days, the RSC is best known around Washington as a GOP policy shop responsible for crafting proposals to balance the federal budget, often through changes and cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Expect those measures to feature prominently in Democratic campaign ads if Scalise (or Jordan) clinches the speakership, which could cause some headaches for Republicans in Biden districts.

In 2014, for instance, Scalise released a proposal to raise the eligibility age for Social Security and Medicare to 70, among other cost-cutting measures  the kind of thing Democrats see as prime attack ad fodder.

Youre definitely going to see us capitalize on that across the country, a Democratic strategist working on Congressional races told Semafor. I think most folks know  whether youre in Arizona or Pennsylvania  attacking and undermining Social Security, or trying to privatize Medicare is not going to be a winning issue for you come November 2024.

The RSCs proposals largely serve as messaging bills that lawmakers back to burnish their conservative credentials. But those votes have come back to haunt some Republican politicians this year. During his years in the House, for instance, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis backed RSC budget resolutions that included cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Donald Trump has savaged him for those votes during this years presidential race.

President Biden has made this years RSC budget his own punching bag. To hear MAGA Republicans in Congress tell it, the only way to reduce the deficit is to cut Medicare, Social Security that youve paid for your whole life, he said in a Sept. 13 speech on the economy. Give me a break.

The fact that the two top speaker candidates are both former RSC leaders also reflects how the House GOP has evolved over time. The RSC was once seen as a thorn in leaderships side. But while its remained a fount of conservative ideas, it has also grown in size to become the largest single faction of House Republicans  described often as a shadow conference. That it has become a stepping stone for Republicans with ambitions towards a leadership post in some ways reflects the partys drift to the right.

This isnt a choice between the establishment and conservative, this is going to be a conservative outcome, Liam Donovan, a GOP strategist, told Semafor.

Notably, Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, the current RSC chair, launched a campaign on Wednesday to be Scalises number two after also weighing a run for speaker.

Room for Disagreement

Not everyone thinks the RSCs deep budget cuts will be a headache for House Republicans. Last month, House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas., released a separate blueprint to balance the federal budget within a decade while also setting up a debt commission with the ability to fast-track recommendations for floor vote.

He told Semafor that Scalise supports establishing a bipartisan debt commission and voters wont necessarily punish Republicans if the party explains why major reforms are necessary. Theyll recognize that the only way to save this country from going into a sovereign debt crisis is to address those entitlements, make them work better for the beneficiaries, Arrington said.
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough tore into former President Trump over his comments Wednesday praising the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

Out of his mind, I mean, praising Hezbollah, just like he praised [Russia President] Vladimir Putin , said he was brilliant  after the invasion of Ukraine, Scarborough said on his program Thursday morning. All the praise that hes had for President Xi [Jinping] and China always talking about what a brilliant man he is. Same thing, of course, with the tyrannical leader of North Korea.

You know, out of his mind, he added.

Trump, during a stump speech Wednesday, said Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, is very smart, theyre all very smart.

The former president also questioned intelligence failures in Israel that led to the massacre carried out by Hamas militants in the country over the weekend.

So when I see sometimes the intelligence,  you talk about the intelligence or you talk about some of the things that went wrong over the last week, theyve got to straighten it out because theyre fighting, potentially a very big force, Trump said.

Scarborough, a frequent Trump critic, said the fact that Republicans are embracing this guy is just absolutely crazy.

Thats your Republican Party right there. Thats thats your Republican Party, he said. Thats the guy who is in first place in the Republican contest to be the next presidential nominee for the GOP.

While you have two people that are the leaders running for Speaker and who still cant tell you who won the 2020 election, he added. Its absolutely crazy.

Trump also took flack from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), seen as one of his closest rivals in the 2024 presidential race.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, DeSantis wrote Wednesday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Members of President Bidens team also condemned Trumps comments.

Fighting in the Gaza region continued Thursday between Hamas militants, who launched a surprise attack over the weekend, and Israel, which has vowed retaliation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Broward College has resolved the many concerns identified by its accreditor and will likely escape any sanctions, officials say.

The college met this week with representatives from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to review a preliminary report that said the college was out of compliance in 22 out of 40 areas. The concerns ranged from the credentials of faculty to resources for students to oversight by the colleges Board of Trustees.

But the in-person review, which ended Wednesday, determined there were no findings, officials from the college and accreditor told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. That means the colleges accreditation is expected to be renewed in December for 10 years with no issues.

The preliminary findings by the on-site committee gave the College an A+. No recommendations were reported by the on-site committee, which stated that Broward College has excelled in meeting all the assessed standards, the college said in a release.

With the recent resignation of former President Gregory Haile, the Board of Trustees assigned Provost Jeffrey Nasse to oversee accreditation efforts. Acting President Barbara Bryan, who just started Oct. 4, made it first priority to ensure the district got a clean final review, said Alexis Yarbrough, chairwoman of the colleges Board of Trustees.

This is 100% the result of Dr. Bryan and the provosts leadership of the last two weeks, just grinding this out to get it done, Yarbrough told the Sun Sentinel.

Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association, told the Sun Sentinel on Thursday that her staff member who led the Broward College visit hasnt returned yet, but he confirmed to her by phone that the review resulted in no findings.

They will make a recommendation to the board, and nothing is final until our board approves, Wheelan said.

Many of the initial findings in the preliminary report were easy to fix, such as the colleges failure to post certain policies or data on its website.

Others required more work, such as findings that more than 75 faculty and administrators may not be qualified for their jobs.

The preliminary review cited examples of faculty who didnt have the proper degrees or certifications and administrators who lacked the number of years of experience required by their job descriptions. College policy allows work experience to offset degree requirements or high-level degrees to offset a shortage in years of experience. But the college didnt provide any proof of this prior to the preliminary review, the report said.

Most of the issues were related to staff not getting them the answers or inconsistencies with the way staff got the information, Yarbrough said. Im so excited the new leadership has turned the corner.

Wheelan said she hasnt received specifics on how the college was able to resolve the findings, but she said preliminary findings are often due to a college not turning in all the needed information.

The good thing about the whole process is its continuous improvement, she said. Sometimes the institution doesnt give us the right documentation, or they forget something or its wrong. Once the committee comes to visit, they are able to talk about it and remedy it in person. I imagine thats whats happening.

The preliminary accreditation review was one of many areas of tension between Yarbrough and former President Haile, whose resignation was accepted Sept. 26.

In a Sept. 17 email to Haile, Yarbrough questioned whether Broward Colleges accreditation and student access to financial aid may be at risk due to the 22 findings.

Staff has explained this is a very serious matter which could have severe consequences for our students ability to obtain financial aid which would then lead to a significant loss in enrollment, Yarbrough wrote to Haile.

Had Broward College not resolved the issues, it could have been placed on warning or probation, early signs that a colleges accreditation could be in jeopardy. Colleges must be accredited for their students to qualify for federal financial aid.

But Wheelan told the Sun Sentinel on Sept. 22 that even if the college hadnt resolved the issues and was given sanctions, it would still be accredited and students could still get financial aid.

No public college or university in Florida has ever been dropped from accreditation. However, they are expected to drop their membership in the Southern Association over the next few years due to a law passed last year that requires them to change accreditors every cycle.
BALTIMORE  A motion to direct staff to update the school systems policy on selecting books and instructional materials for students  adding language that would ban books defined as sexually explicit  was passed unanimously by the Carroll County Board of Education Wednesday night.

Board of Education member Steve Whisler made the motion during new business; the topic was not on the school boards agenda for the October monthly meeting.

Id like to make a motion that we ask staff to review Policy IIAA, to consider including a provision in there that restricts explicit sexual content in our instructional materials, Whisler said. Id suggest that we consider a clear definition of explicit sexual content and have that derived from federal and state laws and FCC decency standards.

Next, Carroll County Public Schools staff will draft language to update Policy IIAA, which governs the selection, evaluation and adoption of instructional materials. The board will discuss and vote on the policy update at its Nov. 8 meeting.

Whisler said an update to the instructional materials policy would ensure, a backstop so we can make sure instructional materials and supplemental materials do not include explicit sexual activity or explicit sexual content. It doesnt necessarily have to relate to state requirements or state curriculum, I just wanted to see if the staff could come to us with a recommendation.

The motion was seconded by board member Donna Sivigny, who said she wanted to, discuss it a little further.

School board student representative Sahithya Sudhakar, a senior at Liberty High School, asked how sexually explicit content could be defined for works of literature.

Its a very vague term for a lot of us and can be stated in simple undertones when youre reading any passage of text, versus explicitly describing the act, so how exactly would you formulate some type of method of finding this? asked Sudhakar, who as a student member of the board is allowed to comment on issues before the panel but does not have the authority to vote.

Board of Education President Marsha Herbert said a discussion about adding language to the instructional materials policy next month should help clarify what books and instructional materials are too sexually explicit for schools.

We just need a clear, concise definition, Herbert said. I think that will help a lot, and I think that will clear a lot of things up.

Board member Patricia Dorsey asked if adding language to the policy would impact the school systems health curriculum. Whisler said it would not.

In August Superintendent Cynthia McCabe ordered 58 books to be removed from library shelves amid challenges from the Carroll County chapter of Moms for Liberty, a conservative education advocacy group.

A Reconsideration Committee is in the midst of evaluating book removal requests; the committee meets every three to five weeks, according to school system communications coordinator Brenda Bowers.

Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut has been permanently removed from middle school libraries, but retained in high schools. Four other titles have been retained for high school libraries: Tilt, by Ellen Hopkins; The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky; The Sun and her Flowers, by Rupi Kaur; and Not that Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture, by Roxane Gay, according to Director of Curriculum and Instruction Steve Wernick. The five books have not yet been returned to library shelves, as they are going through the appeals process, Bowers said.

Sudhakar said Wednesday night that many students are confused about how the school systems book reconsideration process works, said and it would be helpful if students were given more information about the process.

The superintendent is responsible for enforcing the instructional materials policy, by communicating it to all relevant parties and by providing necessary instructions and/or administrative regulations (if appropriate), to all staff members, according to the policy.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, six people spoke in opposition of banning or removing books from school libraries. Three other speakers addressed other topics.

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Hospital and school caterers are not doing enough to stop farmers from overusing antibiotics in their animals, according to campaign groups.

Such overuse raises the risk of antibiotic resistance rendering key human medicines ineffective.

Health and animal welfare campaigners analysed 10 UK caterers' policies and found a lack of a ban meant controls on antibiotics could be weak or absent.

The government, caterers and suppliers say voluntary measures are effective.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) points to a 55% drop in antibiotic use in food-producing animals since 2014 and an 83% decrease in the use of antibiotics most critical for human use.

Caterers who supply the public sector said they were committed to reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in animals farmed for food.

There is a global drive to reduce the use of antibiotics, in both human medicine and agriculture, to tackle the rise of 'superbugs' - strains of bacteria that can no longer be treated by certain drugs.

The Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) assessed the publicly-available food procurement policies of 10 of the UK's leading caterers supplying the NHS, the education sector, care homes and prisons.

In a report released on Thursday, it claimed the firms had either "weak or non-existent" policies on antibiotic use.

It said the companies were "lagging well behind" the standards set by supermarkets and elsewhere in the commercial food sector.

Meanwhile, it found there is no current requirement for responsible antibiotic use in the government's own public sector procurement standards. These are the mandatory food buying rules for the NHS, armed forces and prisons, and recommended best practice for schools and local authorities.

The alliance also found that Defra itself, which leads efforts to reduce antibiotic use on farms, has a contract with one of the firms criticised in the report.

Coilin Nunan, the Alliance's scientific advisor, told BBC News that the government could use its considerable purchasing power in public service contracts to encourage better controls on antibiotic use.

"The current situation shows a lack of joined-up thinking," he said. "Defra is proposing legislation to ban the routine use of antibiotics on farms, yet it is concerning that a company that is not making a significant effort, based on what is publicly available, is winning a Defra contract."

The catering company, ISS, said it took the responsible sourcing of food "incredibly seriously".

"Every meal we serve meets stringent UK regulatory requirements and we work only with food suppliers who meet the high safety, animal welfare and traceability standards we demand as part of our contract terms," a spokesperson said.

"We are currently in the process of updating our buying standards policy to formally address the use of antibiotics in our supply chain and will publish this document on our website in due course."

ASOA comprises medical, environmental and animal welfare organisations who are worried that the continued overuse of antibiotics will render many of the lifesaving medicines we have today less effective.

That is because the infections that they are used to treat are continually adapting and they can evolve into forms that are resistant to antibiotic treatment.

One assessment in medical journal The Lancet calculates that more than 1.25m people worldwide are dying each year as the result of the emergence of new superbugs because of the overuse of antibiotics.

In the UK, the figure for deaths from drug-resistant infections is more than 7,500. These numbers are likely to increase and it is feared the development of new medicines to combat new infections will not keep up.

Governments across the world have acknowledged that the best way to slow the emergence of superbugs is to restrict the use of antibiotics, both in human and animal health.

Antibiotics are widely used on farms to protect animals from disease. But there has been concern that they can be routinely overused by the industry to prevent healthy animals, particularly those that are farmed intensively, from becoming ill. Consequently, government, agriculture and industry in the UK have agreed voluntary measures to limit their use.

Catherine McLaughlin, the chair of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance, said UK farmers should be recognised for their antibiotic stewardship programmes.

She said: "UK livestock sectors have achieved great results over the past decade.

"The concept of responsible use of medicines, and the importance of using the right medicine at the right time, and in the right way, is now engrained in everyday language on UK farms."

Thursday's report by ASOA looked at the publicly available policies of 10 of the UK's leading catering companies.

It found that Apetito, ISS, Newrest, OCS and WSH had no publicly available antibiotic use policy; Aramark, CH&CO, Compass Group UK, Elior and Sodexo do have policies, but none of the 10 prohibited the routine use of antibiotics.

UK laws 'exceeded'

The BBC approached the caterers for comment. Those that responded said they were committed to stopping inappropriate antibiotic use in their supply chains and used recognised traceable suppliers and farms, including those accredited by food standard assurance schemes such as Red Tractor.

They pointed out such schemes require farmers to avoid the use of antibiotics unless there is a specific need to treat an illness and even then only under the direction of a veterinary practitioner.

They said they were fully compliant with the government buying standards for food and catering services.

Apetito said it had a "steadfast commitment" to "curtailing inappropriate antibiotic use" and carried out supplier audits to "ensure that traceability of our food and standards are maintained."

CH&CO said it was removing preventative use of antibiotics from the supply chain by the end of 2024 and was working with suppliers to ensure all meat, fish, dairy and eggs served in their public and private sector cafes and restaurants do not contain preventative antibiotics.

Compass Group UK said its current standards around the use of antibiotics in the supply chain "exceed UK legislation and guidance" and that its animal welfare policy makes it clear that the routine prophylactic use of antibiotics must be avoided.

Sodexo said its supplier charter obliges suppliers to implement the highest practical standards of farm animal welfare and provides the use of antibiotics should not be routine, and that antibiotic reduction plans should also be implemented.

Elior responded to the BBC but said it was unable to gather the relevant information to provide a statement in time.

A Defra spokesperson said the government was currently revising veterinary medicines legislation to tackle antimicrobial resistance and reduce the preventative use of antibiotics to groups of animals.

"We do not support the routine or predictable use of antibiotics, particularly where they are used to compensate for inadequate farming practices.

"That is why we are working to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals, while safeguarding animal welfare," she added.
Good news, everyone! According to a recent study published in The Journal of Sex Research, regularly gettin' down to some quality hanky panky goes a long way to protect senior citizens against cognitive decline.

The study utilized data from The University of Chicago's National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSLHA)  described as the "first nationally representative study of the intersection between social and intimate relationships and healthy aging" by the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center (NORC)  to determine whether older adults' sex lives could be linked in any way to cognitive decline as they age.

"Broadly, I am interested in how social relationships are related to the risk of health problems in later life," study author Shannon Shen, an assistant professor of sociology at Hope College in Michigan, told PsyPost of her research, adding that sexuality is an "often overlooked" part of older American adult's lives. "Despite there being a great deal of research on cognitive decline," she continued, there's "little work that considers how intimate social relationships may be beneficial for cognitive functioning."

Using the NSLHA data, Shen limited the study's sample to 1,683 individuals aged 62 and older, all of whom had provided complete data on their cognitive health and were sexually partnered in some way  as PsyPost put it, all of the 1,683 chosen for study were "either married, cohabiting, or had a romantic, intimate, or sexual partner."

The results were striking. Shen found that elders between the ages of 75 and 90 who had sex at least once a week were shown to exhibit better cognitive function than counterparts who were less sexually active  specifically, older folks who hadn't had sex within the past year at the time of the survey  if sexually active at all.

What's more, according to the study, is that not all sex is created equal. For folks between the ages of 62 and 74, sexual quality was key in determining whether sexual activity actually offered cognitive benefits. Per the research, those who were partnered yet reported a lack of satisfaction in their sex life didn't appear to experience the same brain-protecting boost as those who reported their sex lives to be satisfying and pleasurable  meaning the takeaway of the research isn't that seniors should commit to less-than-gratifying sex just for health reasons.

"For partnered older Americans, sex matters for later cognitive function, but this depends on age and aspect of the sexual relationship," Shen told PsyPost. "For adults 75 to 90 years old, having sex once a week or more is related to better cognitive function five years later compared to those who had no sex."

There's also a long-term element. Good sex now, she found, seems to have a protective effect on cognitive function years down the road.

"For adults 62 to 74 years old," the researcher added, "having better sexual quality  both more physical pleasure and emotional satisfaction  was related to better cognitive function five years later."

As with most similar research, the study isn't with caveats. Though factors like race, ethnicity, and income were taken into account, the research, as Shen told PsyPost, "only examined community-dwelling older adults, so the results do not speak to older adults living in nursing homes."

"Second," Shen added, "there were no questions in the dataset that addressed sexual consent, which someone with more severe forms of cognitive decline may have a limited capacity to give."

Still, the findings are intriguing. It's also reason, perhaps, for those in other age groups to reflect on their intimate relationships  and the norms and judgment we might project onto seniors in particular.

More on sex: Flirting with a VR Hottie Might Help People Avoid Cheating, Experiment Finds
Samuel Caster-Winegeart is sentenced to 12 months of incarceration related to a Jan. 3 road rage incident in which he called a man a racial slur and fired a gun at his vehicle.

Samuel Caster-Winegeart has been sentenced to 12 months of incarceration for charges related to a Jan. 3 road rage shooting incident.

Caster-Winegeart, 26, of Scotts Mills, pled guilty to assault and bias crime charges, which under Oregon law is defined as a crime motivated in part or whole by bias against another person's race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.

He faced up to five years in prison and a $125,000 fine for the felony charges and 364 days in prison and a $6,250 fine for misdemeanor charges in the case.

According to the 2023 report from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, reports of bias crime incidents in Oregon continue to rise. Bias-motivated reports to the Oregon Department of Justices Bias Response Hotline increased by 60% from 910 in 2020 to 1,457 in 2021, and by 74% to 2,534 in 2022.

Among thousands of reports, few lead to criminal charges and even fewer end in a conviction.

Of the bias cases referred to county district attorney offices in 2022, 32% of defendants were convicted on any charge. Few of those convicted were sentenced to prison, according to the commission's report.

Crash turns into gunfire, assault

Salem Police in January said they responded to a crash at the intersection of Lancaster Drive and Market Street NE at 4:40 p.m. Jan. 3.

The exact cause of the crash was unclear in police reports.

Caster-Winegeart told police he had been driving east on Market Street NE when another vehicle hit him from behind after turning north on Lancaster Drive. The other driver said he had been driving east on Market Street and was turning north onto Lancaster Drive in the turn lane when Caster-Winegeart came over into his lane and struck the front of his vehicle.

The victim told police at the scene that Caster-Winegeart had sped past him and struck his vehicle again after the initial crash.

At the sentencing Thursday, security camera footage shown to the court showed the moments after the crash.

According to police, Caster-Winegeart, who is white, approached the SUV as the other driver pulled over to the side of the road, yelled a racial slur at the driver, who is Black, and punched through the partially open window, striking the driver in the face.

A photograph shows the damage done to the victim's vehicle after Samuel Caster-Winegeart fired his gun at it three times following a crash.

Police in their report said they saw an abrasion and laceration consistent with the victim's statement.

The victim told police Caster-Winegeart then approached with a handgun, pointed the pistol at him while standing three feet away and threatened to kill him while referring to him with a racial slur.

In a probable cause statement, police said Caster-Winegeart fired the handgun three times at the SUV.

Cellphone footage shown during sentencing, captured by a witness located behind the two vehicles, showed Caster-Winegeart shoot towards the vehicle as the witness gasped and another car nearby sped away after the gunshots rang out.

Police said Caster-Winegeart admitted no one shot at him and that he shot the tire of the other vehicle because he thought the driver was going to get away. He said he had not been trying to hurt the other driver.

The victim told the police officer he looked away when Caster-Winegeart approached, believing he would be shot. He heard a gunshot and realized Caster-Winegeart was shooting at his front tire.

Two witnesses interviewed told police they saw Caster-Winegeart punch the driver and believed he was firing at the driver and not the tire.

'I would like to start trying to fix things'

Caster-Winegeart initially faced six charges but in exchange for his plea, the district attorney agreed to dismiss a second misdemeanor unlawful possession of a firearm charge.

Caster-Winegeart pled guilty to a felony bias crime in the first degree, felony bias crime in the first degree with a firearm, felony unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm, misdemeanor fourth-degree assault, and misdemeanor unlawful possession of a firearm.

The prosecutor recommended 60 months in prison.

During the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Braden Wolf said Caster-Winegeart's actions were "indefensible" and an "egregious" reaction to a fender bender.

Samuel Caster-Winegeart said during his sentencing for a road-rage shooting that he was working to make changes. "I would like to start trying to fix things as soon as I can," he said.

Caster-Winegeart's language, Wolf said, displayed "animus towards" the victim based on his race. Wolf said the state asking for the max sentence was appropriate based on the security footage, cell phone recording and facts of the case.

"Facts cannot be ignored," he said.

Caster-Winegeart, emotional throughout the sentencing, was not denying the seriousness of his actions, his defense attorney Spencer Todd said.

He asked the judge to sentence Caster-Winegeart to probation, noting he had no prior criminal history and the work he has done since January.

Caster-Winegeart completed anger management classes; is in counseling; completed a diversity, inclusion, and anti-bias class through Black Joy Speaks; and his family had sold his firearms, Todd said.

Caster-Winegeart's family sat in the courtroom and were dedicated to "keeping him in line," Todd said. Caster-Winegeart did not deny using racial language during the incident but did not walk around with hatred in his heart, Todd added.

"I would like to start trying to fix things as soon as I can," Caster-Winegeart said in a brief statement.

Judge Tracy Prall said she believed Caster-Winegeart was trying to make amends but said she had to find a balance of accountability.

Prall said she believed Caster-Winegeart was "desperately trying to address" the bias crime through the work over the past 10 months but was concerned with addressing his decision to return to his vehicle to retrieve his firearm and then shoot.

Caster-Winegeart had entered a rage and turned a fender bender into something very scary, she said.

"There has to be some punishment to ensure that society understands the ramifications of using a gun unlawfully," Prall said.

Caster-Winegeart was also sentenced to four years of post-prison supervision and $800 in fines. He will serve his sentence at the Marion County jail, according to Todd.

The victim did not appear in court or provide a statement.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Scotts Mills man sentenced for Jan. 3 road rage shooting, bias crime
SEATTLE - Rain continues to fall, but the reservoirs that hold 1.5 million peoples drinking water in and around the City of Seattle continues to drop.

(Seattle Public Utilities)

Its been about two weeks since Seattle Public Utilities and 24 related utilities that work with them began asking customers to conserve water.

While the call has been public, and publicized across TV, print and radio not everyone is getting the message. In Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood a majority of people FOX 13 News spoke with said they hadnt heard about the call to conserve.

"Im not surprised, but I havent heard anything about it," explained Becca Norris, one of a handful of people who were unaware of the current concern.

The overall amount of water being used on a daily basis has dropped since SPU enacted their call for voluntary water conservation, but looking at SPU data, there was a slight uptick in daily use week-to-week during the second week of their call to conserve. In their latest weekly snapshot SPU users were using 120 million gallons of water per day, the goal is to cut back to 100 million gallons a day.

"We need weeks and weeks, a months worth of rain, to really start to refill reservoirs," explained Kelly ORourke, a member of SPUs water conservation team. "Our reservoirs that are lower than normal right now are going to go down even further, because were releasing even more water for fish. So, we realize its raining and were getting into fall, but we are still asking people to conserve water."

The Cedar River municipal watershed is typically low this time of year, however, the current level of water is roughly 20% lower than its historical average. While SPU consumers have dropped consumption since a voluntary call to conserve, the levels at the reservoir continue to drop despite recent rains.

Those releases for fish are required through agreements with state and federal agencies. If they didnt release that water, it would threaten species our region relies on, including species like salmon that are threatened.

The concern is for the water level now, but also for the future. SPU is constantly modeling what their water situation looks like tomorrow, but also 45 months down the line.

Washington is entering an El Nino period, which typically comes with less precipitation.

As Washingtons state climatologist Nick Bond explains, the concern is that well see a one-two punch. The first punch was an extremely dry summer that saw parts of Western Washington reach extreme drought stage. The second punch would be if precipitation falls as rain, rather than snow this winter, which would impact the snowpack that SPU relies on to refill its reservoirs to their peak levels during spring.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Washington state declares drought emergencies in a dozen counties

"Even though were called the Evergreen State, we definitely can have water shortages," said Bond. "Certainly there have been some significant impacts this year in terms of water supply, restrictions for agriculture. It also makes a difference for hydropower."

In the short-term, SPU is asking people to continue to cut back on water. It may seem crazy for locals who continue to see rain in the forecast, but it hasnt been enough to catch up with the conditions we saw throughout summer.

In fact, SPU held back additional water earlier in the year in their reservoirs as they were concerned about the dry forecast. It helped, but the reservoirs that feed two-thirds of their consumers is still 20% lower than it typically is this time of year.

RELATED: Seattle Public Utilities asks its 1.5 million customers to 'voluntarily' reduce water use

If the reservoirs continue to drop in the coming weeks, its possible that pumps that sit in the Chester Morse reservoir would need to be turned on to ensure water is reaching its intended destination. Aside from maintenance and regular checks, those pumps havent been utilized since 2015, the last time SPU had to activate its water shortage contingency plan.

Its a reminder that the current state of our areas water supply isnt cataclysmic, though it is rare, and things could get worse if locals dont attempt to conserve.

"No matter how you use water, were asking people to think about it and pull back a little bit more, help us stretch this water supply," said ORourke.

There are a number of ways both residential water users, and businesses owners can reduce the amount of water theyre currently using to help SPU meet its current conservation goals until reservoirs are able to recover. You can find information, and infographics, on the SPU website.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel Thursday morning as a show of support for the longtime ally following Hamas' terrorist attacks on the country on Saturday.

Blinken was greeted by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and other officials after departing the plane at the Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, which is on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.

Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen also traveled to Israel with Blinken to prioritize the mission to urge Hamas to release all hostages immediately.

BLINKEN TO VISIT ISRAEL TO MEET WITH OFFICIALS IN SHOW OF SUPPORT AFTER HAMAS ATTACK

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, Israel, on Thursday ahead of meetings with senior Israeli officials following Hamas' terrorist attacks on the country.

Blinken will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other senior Israeli officials, and will "reiterate his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attacks against Israel and condemn those attacks in the strongest terms," a statement from his office said Tuesday. He is also expected to meet with the team at the US embassy in Jerusalem.

According to the Secretary of State website, Blinken is scheduled to travel to Jordan before his scheduled departure on Friday, Oct. 13.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

BLINKEN: WE STAND WITH ISRAEL AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO

Prior to his departure from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday, Blinken denounced the terrorism displayed by Hamas and reiterated America's plans to "ensure Israel gets everything it needs to defend itself and provide for the security of its people."

"We stand resolutely against terrorism. Weve seen the almost indescribable acts committed by Hamas against Israeli men, women, and children," Blinken told reporters. "Every day were learning more, and it is simply heartbreaking. Not since ISIS have we seen this kind of depravity, and we will continue to stand very resolutely against it."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) was greeted at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport by the Israeli Foreign Minster Eli Cohen (L) Thursday morning.

Israel has launched a counteroffensive and bombarded the Gaza Strip , which is controlled by Hamas, with airstrikes in what many believe will precede a ground operation.

In addition to military aid, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was moving to the Mediterranean to reinforce deterrence in the region.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.





Original article source: Secretary of State Blinken arrives in Israel in show of solidarity following Hamas terrorist attacks
Hamass massacre of 1,200 Israeli civilians, in addition to being the greatest humanitarian outrage ever visited on the state of Israel, is also an act of both rehabilitation and self-erasure. Overnight, Hamas reestablished the legitimacy of the Israeli government, which had been hanging by a thread under an authoritarian prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , currently on trial for corruption by a judiciary whose independence hes trying to destroy. Hamas also allied itself with its own gravediggers by guaranteeing a furious military response, which has already begun, in which Israel will endeavor to remove every trace of the terrorist group from Gaza. The Hamas incursion, which (according to The Wall Street Journal) was plotted in collaboration with Iran, was not just obscene; it will also, I think, enter the history books as one of historys greatest tactical blunders.

This was by any definition an atrocity: Hamas gunmen struck 20 sites near the Gaza Strip, murdering adults and children indiscriminately. They opened fire on unarmed kibbutzim. They opened fire on a music festival. They shot people in their cars, in their houses, and in the street. Seven people were shot while waiting for a bus. One gunman filmed himself shooting an elderly woman, using her cell phone, then posted the video to Facebook and set her house on fire. This wasnt a military operation; it was a Jew-killing spree. The gunmen also took more than 100 civilian hostages. These actions are all, unambiguously, war crimes.

The next victims will be the people whose interests Hamas purports to defend. It would be pointless to expect Israel not to move swiftly into Gaza to smash Hamas. Any nation would do the same, as a simple matter of self-defense.

Israels hands are not clean going into Gaza. It is no longer controversial to describe Israels policies toward Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as a form of apartheid. Israels 15-year blockade of Gaza, according to Amnesty International, amounts to illegal collective punishment. Plenty of civilians, including children, have died at the hands of Israeli soldiers in Gaza, under conditions some human rights groups consider war crimes. Many more will die in the days to come. Theres plenty of blame to go around.

But its worth noting one key moral difference. Israel, at the very least, consistently denies that it targets civilians deliberately. Hamas has never pretended to consider civilian targets illegitimate. Hamas will surely keep its promise to retaliate against Israeli bombings and the imminent Israeli invasion by killing many, if not all of, its Israeli hostages. Thats repugnant.

Its also just stupid. What were Hamass (and, if The Wall Street Journals reporting holds up, Irans) war aims? Peter Krause, a political scientist at Boston College, told The Washington Posts Marc Fisher that Hamass goal was to terrorize Israel, provoke a disproportionate reaction, and thereby scuttle the official normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The first two parts of this game plan resemble what Al Qaeda envisioned on 9/11. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the slaughter of 2,977 civilians, did indeed terrorize the United States and prompt a disproportionateand, for Al Qaeda, ruinousmilitary response. The U.S. ended up lingering in Afghanistan nearly 20 years after Al Qaeda was defeated at Tora Bora (largely, it turned out, by Afghan troops). The U.S. also ended up waging, for no apparent reason, an eight-year war against Iraq. This was all somewhat traumatic for the U.S., but it never advanced, by so much as an inch, Al Qaedas stated goal of eliminating Western influence over the Islamic world.

Its inevitable that Israels response to terror, much like that of the U.S. after 9/11, will be disproportionate. But as was true for Al Qaeda and the U.S., the resultant harm will be far greater to Hamas than to Israel. And while Israel will likely be condemned internationally for the collateral damage it inflicts on Palestinians as it roots out Hamas, the jurys still out on whether that will outweigh international outrage over Hamass Manson Familylike tactics.

I would guess not. Certainly it wont likely change the equation for Saudi Arabia, whose Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman has amply demonstrated his indifference to bloodshed. Saudi Arabia stands by the Palestinian people, he said after the Hamas raid. Dont bet on it.

Hamas may have delayed the Saudis recognition of Israel, but Saudi Arabia has been an unofficial ally of Israel for years, much as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan were well before the Trump administration formalized matters with the Abraham Accords. (Lets face it: If the Abraham Accords were difficult to pull off, do you really think the job could have been done by President Donald Trumps son-in-law?) As Imad K. Harb, director of research and analysis at the Doha-based Arab Center, wrote last May for Al-Jazeera, Palestine today appears like an afterthought in the Arab political order.

Hamass weak tactical reasoning is not atypical for terror groups. Terrorists almost never get what they want. The Irish Republican Army did not chase Britain out of Northern Ireland. The Baader-Meinhof Gang did not subsume West Germany into the Communist East Germany. The Proud Boys did not overturn the 2020 election. The only straight-up terrorist victory I can call to mind is Gavrilo Princips assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which in 1914 provoked a world war that led to the dissolution of Austro-Hungary, thereby freeing his beloved Bosnia from that empire. But even here, Princips ultimate aim went unrealized. It would take the better part of a centuryand bloodshed galorebefore Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent state.

The only palpable long-term danger to Israel arising from Hamass invasion is that Netanyahu will tighten his grip on power, just as President George W. Bush did after 9/11. Indeed, thats happened already; on Wednesday Netanyahu formed a national unity government with members of the opposition, though at this point its only for the duration of the war.

My guess is it wont be a long war. When its done, Israel will, one hopes, hold Netanyahus government accountable for failing to anticipate the attack, much as Golda Meir was made to resign in 1974 over her failure to anticipate the Yom Kippur War. If Representative Michael McCaul, Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is correct in his assertion that Egypt warned Israel three days before the attack, that may make removing Netanyahu easier. Bushs political rebirth after 9/11 eventually cost the U.S. lost prestige abroad, but it didnt threaten the legitimacy of the U.S. government. But with Netanyahu, the situation is quite different.

Fortunately, there are voices in Israel saying already that Netanyahu must lose his job over the Hamas invasion, including the left-leaning Haaretz, which on Sunday editorialized that the disaster that befell Israel on the holiday of Simchat Torah is the clear responsibility of one person: Benjamin Netanyahu. (Im grateful to The Nations Jeet Heer for flagging it.) Maybe this can help: Those who want to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state should support the strengthening of Hamas, and the transfer of money to Hamas, Netanyahu said in March 2019. This is part of our strategy, to differentiate between the Palestinians in Gaza and the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria [i.e., the West Bank]. Whoops.

Ironically, the first part of Netanyahus strategic assessment may have been correct. Hamass existence probably was an obstacle to the creation of a Palestinian state. If thats true, chasing Hamas out of Gaza might make it possible once again to contemplate a two-state solution. Granted, many practical obstacles would remain. In any event, its doubtful that Hamass tactical goal was ever to bring about its own destruction. Even if it survives, Hamas has by its own deeds shed any hope of acquiring anything that resembles political legitimacy; the path to some Sinn Feinlike rebirth is permanently closed off. Events of the past week have established for all time that Hamas is nothing but a pack of cold-blooded killers. Lets try not to forget that in the weeks to come.
Sen. Bob Menendez , D-N.J., was hit with new charges Thursday accusing him of accepting bribes from a foreign government and conspiring to act as a foreign agent, according to a superseding indictment.

The new indictment, filed by a federal grand jury in Manhattan, alleged that he provided sensitive U.S. Government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt.

Menendez could face up to two years in prison for failing as a public official to register as an agent of a foreign power, according to a law cited in the superseding indictment.

In a statement Thursday, Menendez dismissed the new allegations.

"The governments latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President [Abdel-Fattah] El-Sisi on these issues," he said.

"Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true. The facts havent changed, only a new charge," he added. "I again ask people who know me and my record to give me the chance to present my defense and show my innocence."

Menendez and his wife, Nadine, last month pleaded not guilty to corruption charges alleging that they used his influence to pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.

Three other defendants  New Jersey businessmen Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana  also pleaded not guilty to the corruption charges last month.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who was the first Senate Democrat to call for Menendez to resign after the initial criminal charges, said Thursday that senators should hold a vote to expel him.

"We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate," Fetterman said in a statement. It is time for every one of my colleagues in the Senate to join me in expelling Senator Menendez."

Expulsion would require two-thirds of the full Senate to vote in favor of removing Menendez.

Fetterman's call was backed by Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who announced after last month's charges that he was running for Menendez's seat. "Given the severity of these charges, the US Senate should vote on expulsion, Kim wrote on X.

In the indictment Thursday, federal prosecutors alleged that Menendez's wife and Hana worked to introduce Egyptian intelligence and military officials to Menendez for the purpose of establishing and solidifying a corrupt agreement.

The new charge alleges that from 2018 to 2022, Hana, Menendez and his wife "conspired, confederated and agreed together and with each other to have a public official"  Menendez  "act as an agent of a foreign principal, to wit, the Government of Egypt and Egyptian officials."

It cites as overt acts a dinner Menendez, his now-wife and Hana had together at a restaurant in 2018 and a second dinner Menendez had with Hana and an unidentified Egyptian official in 2019.

Hana's lawyer, Larry Lustberg, mocked the charge in a statement Thursday.

The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian Government is as absurd as it is false. As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this baseless allegation," Lustberg said.

An alleged meeting in Sen. Menendezs office with his wife, Hana, an Egyptian military official and other officials where the discussion involved foreign military financing to Egypt, among other topics (USDC Southern District of NY)

While additional details about Menendezs alleged conduct on behalf of the government of Egypt are included in Thursdays filing, prosecutors did not allege that the senator or his wife accepted any additional cash or gifts that werent already included in the charges issued last month.

The superseding indictment noted that Menendez had sent two letters to the Justice Department in May 2022, including one letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking that they request an unnamed former member of Congress to be investigated as a foreign agent.

Prosecutors said the letters, which were posted on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website and/or Menendezs website, included the specific statutes that prohibit Americans from working on behalf of a foreign government without registering with the Justice Department.

The indictment alleged that Menendezs wife was the one who advised Hana that she was dating the senator and that allegedly happened when Hanas outreach, in part to advance Egypts interests, began.

An alleged meeting at a Washington D.C. steakhouse where Sen. Bob Menendez, his wife, Hana, and Egyptian Official-3 (USDC Southern District of NY)

The new charges against Menendez come weeks after he and his wife were accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in return for the use of his influence to enrich the three New Jersey businessmen and benefit the Egyptian government.

During his time as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Menendez helped oversee billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Egypt. He stepped down as chair of the panel shortly after he was indicted last month.

The charges in the indictment from last month included conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right. In that indictment, prosecutors alleged that the couple received bribes, including in the form of cash, gold bars, payments toward a home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job, a luxury vehicle and other items of value."

In addition to the federal corruption case, the FBI is investigating whether Egypts intelligence services might have been involved in the alleged bribery scheme described in the September indictment of Menendez and his wife, sources familiar with the matter said last month.

Menendez rejected calls for his resignation from dozens of his Democratic colleagues after he was indicted on bribery charges last month.

Amid those calls, Menendez had met with his fellow Senate Democrats in a closed-door meeting. After the meeting, he told reporters: I will continue to cast votes on behalf of the people of New Jersey as I have for 18 years. And I am sure when they need those votes, theyll be looking for it, for me to catch those votes.

Menendez has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the case and predicted that he would ultimately be exonerated. Nadine Menendezs lawyer, David Schertler, said in a statement after the charges last month that she denies any wrongdoing and will defend vigorously against these allegations in court.

In his first public comments on the charges, Menendez insisted all of the cash found in his Englewood Cliffs home was his.

For 30 years, I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which I have kept for emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba, he said. These were moneys drawn from my personal savings account based on the income I have lawfully derived over those 30 years.

The federal indictment was the second Menendez has faced since he entered office as a senator in 2006. He was charged in 2015 with illegally accepting favors from a Florida eye doctor. The case ended in a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Federal prosecutors decided against retrying him.

Menendez is the first sitting U.S. senator to face indictments on two unrelated criminal allegations, according to data compiled by the Senate Historical Office.

CORRECTION (Oct. 12, 2023, 9 p.m. ET): A photo caption in a previous version of this article misstated the state Menendez represents in the Senate. It is New Jersey, not New York.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Washington  New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, have been accused by the Justice Department of conspiring to act as a foreign agent for Egypt, according to new court documents unsealed Thursday.

The superseding indictment filed in federal district court in New York charges Menendez with one count of conspiracy for a public official to act as an agent of a foreign principal, the Egyptian government and its officials. Federal law prohibits Menendez, as a public official, from serving as a foreign agent.

Prosecutors said that Menendez "further promised to take and took a series of acts on behalf of Egypt, including on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials, and conspired to do so with" Wael Hana, a New Jersey businessman from Egypt who runs a halal meat company, and his wife.

The new allegations against Menendez

Sen. Bob Menendez arrives at the Capitol ahead of a Democratic caucus meeting on Sept. 28, 2023 in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Getty Images

The new indictment claims that Hana and Nadine Menendez "communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to Menendez." Neither Hana nor Nadine Menendez registered as foreign agents or lobbyists, the Justice Department said.

Menendez, along with Nadine Menendez, Hana and two other New Jersey businessmen were charged last month for allegedly engaging in a bribery scheme that prosecutors said involved the senator accepting lavish bribes in exchange for official acts.

Menendez and his wife were charged with three counts in the initial indictment, and he now faces a total of four counts. The senator pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment on the three counts last month. He temporarily stepped down from his role leading the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after the original charges were brought.

In a statement Thursday, Menendez said, "The government's latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi on these issues. I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom."

Menendez continued to maintain his innocence: "Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true. The facts haven't changed, only a new charge. It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic. I again ask people who know me and my record to give me the chance to present my defense and show my innocence."

The new charging document details at least two meetings Menendez and Hana had at Manhattan restaurants in June 2018 and September 2019, the second of which also included an unnamed Egyptian official.

Prosecutors claim that Nadine Menendez "had meetings and direct communications with multiple Egyptian officials, at least some of whom she understood were intelligence officials, and received requests from them, and conveyed information and requests from them to Menendez."

The alleged bribery scheme

In the initial document, prosecutors said Nadine Mendez and Hana worked in the years after Nadine and the senator began dating to introduce him to Egyptian intelligence and military officials in an effort to solidify "a corrupt agreement." Under the deal, prosecutors alleged, Menendez and his wife would receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for acts beneficial to the Egyptian government.

The Justice Department said that a search of Menendez's New Jersey home in June 2022 yielded "the fruits of Menendez's and Nadine Menendez's corrupt bribery agreement."

Federal agents found more than $480,000 in cash, which was stuffed in envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets and a safe, according to court filings. Photographs included in the indictment show the gold bars and cash spread across a jacket bearing Menendez's name, as well as as Mercedes-Benz convertible that Nadine Menendez allegedly received through the allegedly bribery plot.

Nadine Menendez is accused of arranging meetings and dinners with Menendez and Egyptian officials in 2018, during which the senator allegedly promised to use his power to "facilitate" foreign military sales and financing in exchange for Hana  who paid for the dinners  putting his wife on his company's payroll.

The allegations from the Justice Department prompted a flood of calls for Menendez to resign, including from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and many of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate. Following the latest accusation that Menendez conspired to act as a foreign agent, Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said the full Senate should vote to expel the New Jersey senator.

"We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate," Fetterman said in a statement. "This is not a close call."

But the senator has resisted the pressure to step down and instead vowed that he will be exonerated.

Menendez last month said the cash found by agents during the search of his home was withdrawn from his personal savings account and kept for "emergencies," as has been his practice for decades. He also cited "the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba" to explain why he kept large amounts of cash in his home.

The most recent charges come years after Menendez was indicted in 2015 on roughly a dozen counts, including bribery and conspiracy, following accusations he accepted gifts from a wealthy Democratic donor in exchange for political favors. That case ended in a mistrial when jurors were unable to reach a verdict after deliberating for more than a week.

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Sen. Bob Menendez hit with new conspiracy charge
Federal prosecutors say Sen. Bob Menendez acted as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.

They said in a new indictment that Menendez should have registered as a foreign lobbyist.

He was the top Senate Democrat for foreign policy for most of the time the allegations stemmed from.

Federal prosecutors said on Thursday that Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez acted as an unregistered foreign agent by accepting bribes in exchange for using his office to benefit the Egyptian government.

In a new superseding indictment, prosecutors added the foreign-agent charge to the litany of counts against Menendez, his wife, Nadine Menendez, and a New Jersey businessperson. Prosecutors previously said that the Menendezes accepted everything from gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz C 300 to a recliner in exchange for their assistance.

At the time from which the allegations stem, Bob Menendez was the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He also led the powerful panel after Democrats retook the Senate majority in 2021. Menendez stepped down from his chairmanship amid his legal fight.

The new indictment contains a redacted photograph of Menendez, his then-girlfriend, and Will Hana, the New Jersey businessperson accused of helping facilitate the bribes, meeting in Menendez's Senate office in March 2018. Unnamed Egyptian officials also attended the meeting where prosecutors said "foreign military financing to Egypt" was discussed. Hana and the senator's future wife arranged the meeting.

"Later that same day, Menendez sought from the State Department non-public information regarding the number and nationality of persons serving at the US Embassy in Cairo, Egypt," the indictment said. "Although, this information was not classified, it was deemed highly sensitive because it could pose significant operational security concerns if disclosed to a foreign government or made public."

Prosecutors say Menendez acted as a foreign agent for Egypt. He is seen here meeting with unnamed Egyptian officials in his office. Justice Department/INSIDER

Prosecutors said that without telling his staff, Menendez then texted this information to his then-girlfriend, Nadine.

Just over a year later, the couple and Hana, along with an unnamed Egyptian official, met at a Washington, DC, steak house. Prosecutors said they discussed the opposition the US Department of Agriculture had to Hana establishing a monopoly on the certification of US food exports to Egypt as compliant with halal standards.

What "else can the love of my life do for you," prosecutors alleged Nadine Menendez said during the meal.

The love, Bob Menendez, is accused of later calling a top USDA official, pressuring the department to leave Hana's company alone.

As a lawmaker, Menendez is prohibited from being a lobbyist, let alone an unregistered lobbyist for a foreign government. Nonetheless, prosecutors said that Menendez's official acts, including providing "sensitive US government information," rose to the threshold of him being considered a foreign lobbyist. By law, people lobbying on behalf of a foreign government must register with the Justice Department. Issues surrounding foreign lobbying took renewed interest during the Trump administration, when multiple officials were accused of running afoul of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Prosecutors also said Menendez should have known better because he once pushed for the Justice Department to investigate whether a former House lawmaker violated FARA. While prosecutors did not name the former lawmaker in question, they were likely referencing Menendez's efforts to get the department to investigate the work former Republican Rep. David Rivera was accused of doing for Venezuela's state oil company.

Correction: October 12, 2023  An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of a New Jersey businessperson. His name is Will Hana, not Hanna.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Jim Risch (Idaho), the ranking Republican on the panel, will introduce a bipartisan resolution supporting Israel when the Senate returns to Washington next week.

The noncontroversial measure is expected to pass the Senate easily by unanimous consent.

Hamas is a terrorist organization and its brazen acts of terrorism against civilians must be met with a united response that strongly underscores Americas unwavering support for the people of Israel, Cardin said in a statement. The U.S. Congress is unified in working to support our ally, and to send a clear message to the world that terrorism against innocents will not be tolerated.

I look forward to swiftly introducing a bipartisan resolution when the Senate reconvenes to demonstrate our ironclad support for Israels security, he said.

Moving a measure through the House is a more complicated question because of the lack of a Speaker, which has essentially frozen work in the lower chamber. Republicans voted to nominate Rep. Steve Scalise (La.) as their Speaker on Wednesday, but it is not clear he can win enough support to win the Speakership on the floor.

The Senate resolution is certain to have the support of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a strong ally of Israels, who is cutting short a trip to Asia to return to New York on Thursday to respond to the unfolding crisis in Israel.

Risch said U.S. military support to Israel is already on the way and pledged Congress will work to speed up additional assistance as quickly as possible.

I will also continue to press the administration to cut off Iranian resources that fuel these attacks. The days ahead will be tough but the United States will continue to support our partner until the job is done and Israels citizens are safe.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) has asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to share with Israel two Iron Dome missile-defense batteries that the U.S. Army has in its possession but are not being deployed.

Meanwhile, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) say they will ask for unanimous consent next week to approve legislation that would fund $6 billion in Iranian funds being held in Qatar that the Biden administration agreed to release in exchange for the freedom of five American prisoners held by Iran.

A group of Senate Democrats, including Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), have called on the administration to freeze the Iranian assets.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A senior Hamas official stated during a Russian television interview that the Israel attacks had been planned for years under the guise of governing Gaza.

"In the past couple of years, Hamas has adopted a 'rational' approach. It did not go into any war and did not join the Islamic Jihad in its recent battle," senior Hamas official Ali Baraka said in an interview that aired on Russia Today TV on Oct. 8.

The interviewer interjected, "But all this was part of Hamas's strategy in preparing for this attack."

"Of course," Baraka said, according to the translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a nonprofit press monitoring and analysis organization co-founded by a former Israeli military intelligence officer and an Israeli American political scientist. "We made them think that Hamas was busy with governing Gaza, and that it wanted to focus on the 2.5 million Palestinians [in Gaza], and has abandoned the resistance altogether."

"All the while, under the table, Hamas was preparing for this big attack," Baraka continued. "The rockets of the resistance cover all of Palestine. Where would [Netanyahu] take [the Israelis who were attacked]? To Tel Aviv? We bombed Tel Aviv on the very first day of the attack. Does he want to take them to the Galilee? The northern front  with Lebanon  has opened today. The Galilee is no longer safe for the Zionist enemy. We can bomb the Galilee from inside occupied Palestine."

"The Israelis are known to love life. We, on the other hand, sacrifice ourselves. We consider our dead to be martyrs. The thing any Palestinian desires the most is to be martyred for the sake of Allah, defending his land," he continued. "We have been preparing for this for two years. We have local factories for everything. We have rockets with ranges of 250 kilometers, 160 kilometers, 80 kilometers, 45 kilometers and 10 kilometers."

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BLINKEN, IN ISRAEL, SAYS MORE AMERICANS KILLED, VOWS SOLIDARITY ALWAYS

Israeli intelligence has come under fire after Hamas launched what came as a surprise attack Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since declared war, launching airstrikes pulverizing Gaza and preparing for a ground operation yet to come. During the interview, Baraka said the timing and specific details were kept top secret among a handful of Hamas officials.

"The zero hour was kept completely secret," he said. "A limited number of Hamas leaders knew it. The number of people who knew about the attack and its timing could be counted on one hand."

Ali Baraka, middle right, told a Russia Today TV interviewer the attack on Israel was planned for years.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BLAMES US FOR CREATING CONDITIONS LEADING TO ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

"In order to keep the attack secret and successful, the different factions and our allies did not know the zero hour," Baraka explained. "But after half an hour, all the Palestinian resistance factions were contacted as were our allies in Hezbollah and Iran. The Turks were also notified, and a meeting was held with them three hours later, at 9 am. We updated anyone who contacted us. Even the Russians sent a message and inquired, and they were updated about the situation and about the goals of the war."

As of Thursday, authorities in Gaza say more than 1,400 people have died there, and Israel says hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members. The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been dispatched by President Biden to Israel, said Thursday said at least 25 Americans are among the dead. Hamas militants are said to have kidnapped more than 150 people being held hostage.

During the Oct. 8 interview, Baraka also spoke of a potential prisoner swap deal.

"There are also Palestinian prisoners outside of Israel, in European countries," the Russia Today interviewer posed. "There are also prisoners in the U.S. We want them. Of course. There are Hamas members sentenced for life in the U.S.," Baraka responded. "We want them too. Of course. We demand that the U.S. free our sons from prisons. The U.S. conducts prisoner swaps. Only recently, it did one with Iran. Why wouldn't it conduct a prisoner swap with us? After all, it is participating in this war. Biden, the highest authority in the U.S., declared that he stands with Israel against Hamas and the Palestinian people. Therefore, he is a partner to this aggression, he must pay the price."

The Biden administration brokered a $6 billion prisoner swap deal with Iran last month, but since Hamas attacks in Israel, even some Democrats have joined Republicans in demanding the White House rescind those funds. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday no current evidence directly linked Iran to the attacks in Israel, though admitted Tehran held "broad complicity" in bolstering Hamas, Hezbollah in bordering Lebanon, and other terrorist groups.

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Baraka applauded Iran during the TV interview for their financial and arms support for Hamas.

"Our allies are those that support us with weapons and money. First and foremost it is Iran that is giving us money and weapons," Baraka said. "There is also Hezbollah, and the Arab and Islamic people who are standing by us. There are countries that support us politically. Even Russia sympathizes with us. Even the Russians sent us messages yesterday morning. They sympathize with us. Russia is happy that America is getting embroiled in Palestine. It alleviates the pressure on the Russians in Ukraine. One war eases the pressure in another war. So we are not alone on the battlefield."





Original article source: Senior Hamas official admits Israel attacks had been planned for years under guise of governing Gaza
Sergei Bobrovsky took a moment to do something he rarely does. The Florida Panthers goaltender, entering his 14th NHL season and fifth in South Florida, is always one to focus on the present. Hes rooted in routine. He prioritizes staying grounded, level-headed.

But here, in this instance, Bobrovsky took the time to look back at what he and his teammates had just accomplished a few months earlier. He was stellar in net as the Panthers made an unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final  the first of Bobrovskys career and the second in Panthers history. He started each of Floridas final 18 games of the playoff run. The Panthers went 12-6 in those games, including a perfect 7-0 in games that went into sudden-death overtime. He was clutch in the moments when the Panthers needed him to be the most.

Even for someone so focused on the here and now, a slight grin appeared as Bobrovsky reflected on the not-so-distant past as he prepared for whats ahead.

It was a big experience, Bobrovsky said. I think I learned more from those two months of playoff hockey than [I did over] 13 years of my hockey career. Now, there are new challenges, new opportunities in front of us. You dont know whats going to happen, what kind of things were going to face, but Im ready.

As the Panthers prepare to make another run at the Stanley Cup, they need Bobrovsky once again to be ready. He is entrenched as their primary goaltender, with Anthony Stolarz serving as his backup while Spencer Knight begins the season with the Charlotte Checkers, Floridas American Hockey League affiliate. That starts Thursday with their season opener against the Minnesota Wild.

The results wont always be perfect. Thats one of the few guarantees that can be made whether talking about Bobrovsky or anyone else on the Panthers roster.

One of the other guarantees: Bobrovsky will do what he can to make sure hes ready for the moment.

Thats his whole life, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. He has a routine thats very involved. The hours that he puts in are highly unusual for any player, certainly for a goaltender, so you have a great faith in his preparation.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) blocks a shot by Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) in Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at the FLA Live Arena on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla.

Now, preparation doesnt always equal success. Bobrovskys tenure with the Panthers to this point shows that. Hes been great at times and has struggled mightily at others.

Through 185 regular-season games (180 starts) in his first four seasons with Florida, Bobrovsky has a 105-54-14 record, a .905 save percentage, a 2.97 goals against average and five shutouts. Among 15 goalies with at least 150 starts in that span, Bobrovskys goals against average is the third worst and his save percentage the fifth worst.

However, when hes in peak form, its hard denying his talent.

His second half of last season exemplifies that.

After Bobrovsky returned from a lower-body injury sustained on Jan. 19 against Montreal that sidelined him through the All-Star Break, he went on a 17-game stretch in which he posted a .915 save percentage and 2.54 goals against average. Florida went 12-4-1 in that run.

Bobrovsky did struggle in his final three starts of regular season (.862 save percentage). He gave way to Alex Lyon for the final nine games of regular season and first three games of playoffs after before rounding back into form on the highest stage once he was back in net.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates their 3-2 overtime win over Vegas Golden Knights during of Game 3 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final at the FLA Live Arena on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Sunrise, Florida.

Just how dominant was Bobrovsky in the playoffs?

After regaining the net after Florida went down 2-1 in the first round against the top-seeded Boston Bruins, Bobrovsky posted a .935 save percentage over 13 starts to get Florida through to the Stanley Cup Final before the Panthers lost in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights.

This included a 50-save effort in Floridas series-clinching win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 2, his franchise-record 63-save performance in the Panthers quadruple overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes to begin the Eastern Conference finals and seven other outings in which he had to make at least 30 saves.

His 7.09 goals saved above average were the second-most across the playoffs behind only Vegas Adin Hill (13.65).

Bob wasnt just good in the playoffs. Sergei was really good from the time he came back in the middle of the year, Maurice said. He had four-and-a-half really strong months here and he gets to build on that. He has the foundation of his work ethic, but hes also coming back with confidence that he certainly earned last year.

Its a defining moment of Bobrovskys Panthers tenure, but the time to reminisce has now come and gone. Once he enters the net Thursday to face Minnesota, its on to the next chapter. Bobrovsky knows how to compartmentalize key moments, both the good and the bad. The same applies here.

Its pretty simple, Bobrovsky said. I dont think too big. I try to stay with the moment, enjoy the moment, do whats needed for the moment.

And with that, Bobrovsky is back in the present.
Residents of Israel's border villages evacuate their homes over fears of attacks from Hezbollah (Thomas COEX)

A stationary cable car, an abandoned tourist van, empty roads -- the scene around Rosh Hanikra, an Israeli seaside kibbutz bordering Lebanon, looked like still life if not for the goats grazing languidly under the hot wind.

The kibbutz has over the years seen its share of rockets launched by Hezbollah militants from Lebanon, but this time, it has become a ghost town over fears that it could be the target of an Islamist incursion like the deadly attack by Hamas fighters in southern Israel.

Under cover of a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, Hamas militants breached Israel's border on Saturday, storming kibbutzim and gunning down civilians in the streets, at a rave party and in their homes, claiming more than 1,200 lives.

Israel has responded by declaring war on Hamas, pounding targets in Gaza where officials said more than 1,300 people have been killed.

Wary of Hezbollah -- also backed by Iran like Hamas -- in its north, Israel has rushed troops to villages like Rosh Hanikra. But terrified inhabitants were not taking any chances.

In the neighbouring town of Shlomi, Ida Lannkri said she was still "shaking with fear" hours after an anti-missile rocket fired from Lebanon landed near a military post on Wednesday morning.

"There was a loud boom that set fire to all of the mountain," said Lannkri, recalling the "smell of gunpowder".

From her balcony, Lannkri has a view of a green slope where a thick wall zig-zags across, marking the Israeli-Lebanese border.

She will be leaving for the Red Sea coastal resort Eilat imminently, the 61-year-old with short dark hair said.

Only "a family or two remain" in her 28-apartment building, said Lannkri.

- 'Same trauma' -

With most civilians gone, Israeli soldiers have fanned out across Shlomi's numerous homes, casting a watchful eye on the mountain border.

Tanks were also parked near the village while Hummer armoured trucks could be spotted in walled compounds.

The village's petrol station is now one of the rare places that has stayed open, becoming the go-to store for the few residents remaining to get water, biscuits or milk.

Israel Ravid, 34, who works at a petrol station, said his wife had already left Shlomi with their two children.

Deeply shaken by the bombing that she had suffered during the 2006 war with Hezbollah, he said "she doesn't want our children to suffer the same trauma".

The 2006 war left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers.

Since then, cross-border skirmishes have been common, but both sides have refrained from all-out conflict.

Ravi said he suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome, but wanted to keep busy because staying at home and watching the horrors unfold on television news was "horrible".

Teacher Leon Gershovich, 40, also tried not to let his fears take over him.

From his garage, the border is less than a kilometre away.

His elderly mother had sought to dissuade him from talking to AFP, fearing that the journalists were Hezbollah fighters in disguise.

"She isn't afraid so much of rockets, but of what can repeat itself like it happened in the Gaza border. And we know how close we are to the border," said Gershovich.

"If they cross and run, how many will it take for them to get here? Knowing that actually it could happen right here like it happened there in itself is extremely frightening."

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Arizona sheriffs want the state to double its funding next year for crimes related to crossing the border illegally, but an estimated budget shortfall could hamper the request.

The Arizona Sheriff's Association made its plea for more money in a letter Tuesday that criticizes the "abject failure" of the Biden administration's border policies, which it says is leading to neighborhood problems across the state. Lawmakers put about $12 million in this year's budget for "local border crime."

"The money allows for more deputies patrolling the roads, more canine handlers and dogs to sniff out drugs, and better technology to match the wealth and equipment used by the cartels," the letter states.

David Rhodes, sheriff of Yavapai County and the association's president, described how border problems affect his jurisdiction, which is about 200 miles north of the international border.

"Were seeing more illegal immigrants obviously in the county," he said. "There's more human trafficking and more sex trafficking. We just added two new trafficking detectives who are very busy."

Rhodes said the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office requests U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau detainers for jail occupants about 12 times a month, which is up from about four per month during the pandemic year of 2020.

Sheriff Mark Dannels of border-adjacent Cochise County has repeatedly raised concerns over crimes including human smuggling attempts and apprehending suspected illegal border crossers.

Dannels, along with county and city officials, have decried the high-speed car chases that have become commonplace in the border communities as a result of human smuggling attempts.

On Sept. 28, Christopher Oletski, a Cochise County deputy, was seriously injured after falling 15 feet while deploying spikes to try to stop a driver suspected of human smuggling.

While border problems are a pressing concern in Arizona for lawmakers, especially Republicans, it's too early for lawmakers to know how much discretionary spending will be allowed in next year's budget, and this year's budget is already looking thin.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, told The Arizona Republic last week he removed a $60 million demolition project from the current budget because of a pending shortfall.

"It's ridiculous to even think about spending $60 million when we're going to have to dip into the rainy day fund to make up the current shortage and just to maintain baseline spending," Kavanagh said.

The rainy day fund stands at about $1.2 billion and could absorb the currently planned shortfall, but lawmakers may need to look at other items to save money, he said.

"There's not going to be too many increases anywhere," Kavanagh said.

Border crime could still potentially see an increase in funding, he added, but the funds may need to be shifted from elsewhere in the budget to make it happen.

Arizona Republic reporter Jose Ignacio Castaneda contributed to this report.

Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sheriff's group asks Arizona for more money to combat border crime
Volusia Circuit Judge Mary Jolley conducts a hearing in August, when two Daytona Beach Shores police officers requested the sealing of records related to investigations into their use of a city jail cell to potty-train their son. She denied that request. .

Volusia County Circuit Judge Mary Jolley has ruled against a petition to hold the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in contempt after it released records that had been sealed under a court order.

Michael Schoenbrod and Jessica Long, two Daytona Beach Shores police officers who have a son together, sought and got a temporary injunction on March 24 barring public agencies including the Sheriff's Office from releasing records related to investigations that involved them. Schoenbrod, who has since announced his resignation, and Long brought their 3-year-old son to a city jail cell on consecutive days in October 2022 in an attempt to potty-train him.

Ultimately the State Attorney's Office declined to pursue criminal charges against them.

The first agency to investigate was the Department of Children and Families. During the investigator's meeting with Schoenbrod and later Long at the family's home, a sheriff's deputy accompanied her and recorded part of the interview with his body camera.

When that body-cam footage was requested as a public record last November, the Sheriff's Office redacted portions and released it to Mark Dickinson, a police corruption activist who posts videos to the internet using the moniker James Madison Audits.

Dickinson posted the video online, but it didn't get a lot of attention until months later after Schoenbrod and Long had gotten their injunction against the release of such materials.

In June, The News-Journal requested a copy of the video of the DCF investigation from the Sheriff's Office, which then made it available despite the injunction still being in effect. Portions of the video, including the images from inside the home, were redacted. However, some portions of the audio left in the child's name, which Peter McGlashan, the sheriff's general counsel, admitted was a mistake.

Three days after releasing the video, Andrew Gant, the sheriff's director of public affairs and media relations, emailed The News-Journal stating he "was just made aware of a court order restricting release of records in this case  evidently issued after the video was initially released and posted on YouTube by a third party."

He asked that The News-Journal delete the video files. The newspaper reported contents from the DCF interview, including Schoenbrod's admission that he and Long had brought the boy to the jail, but did not publish the boy's name.

The News-Journal and Florida Center for Government Accountability later sought to lift the temporary injunction, which the judge granted.

That led to the release of records including a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report recommending the officers be charged with felony aggravated child abuse, the State Attorney's Office memo detailing why it wasn't charging Schoenbrod and Long, and the city's professional standards case which found both officers had violated a policy related to conduct detrimental to public respect for the employee and department.

In an interview with The News-Journal in August, after the story had come to light, Long said she and Schoenbrod were trying to protect their son from threats and harassment when they sought the injunction and to permanently seal the records.

"We knew what this would do to our family if this got out and twisted, and it is exactly what happened. Thats why we sealed this, or tried to, Long said.

Daytona Beach Shores police Lt. Michael Schoenbrod meets two fellow law enforcement officers and a Florida Department of Children and Families caseworker on Oct. 27, 2022, outside his home. They were there to interview him about jailing his son earlier that month for a potty-training lesson.

The officers' attorney, Michael Lambert, argued that the Sheriff's Office's release of the body-cam footage in June "willfully violated" the temporary injunction and Chapter 39 of Florida Statutes, exempting DCF investigations from being public records.

He argued the courts' authority to hold parties in contempt because it is in the "interests of orderly government."

McGlashan, in a brief defending the Sheriff's Office, said the agency "did not willfully, maliciously or intentionally violate the temporary injunction," and noted that the first release of the video was four months before the injunction was imposed.

"Generally speaking, civil contempt is intended not to 'punish' past conduct but to coerce future compliance," McGlashan wrote, citing case law.

He also added: "The 'toothpaste is out of the tube.' For this, (VCSO) apologizes and has taken steps to ensure there is not a repeat."

'Nothing Worked': Shores officers speak out about why they used jail to potty-train son

In a follow-up brief, Lambert described the Sheriff's Office arguments against contempt.

"The escape from sanction avenues sought by VCSO are unpalatable: i) Oops; ii) Oops times two; and iii) Since VCSO claims, no matter the number of times, its actions were those of unnamed, unknowing, not trained 'employee number one' and later 'employee number two,' each from an unnamed arm of the Sheriff's Office, and though it 'appears inexcusable,' the court must just accept the violations and move on."

He argued the court should impose a fine against the Sheriff's Office, which he said would benefit both his clients and the public.

The judge's order did not comment on the matter.

Internal Investigation: Officers in potty-training case violated code of conduct rule

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach Shores officers' bid to find VCSO in contempt is refused
Nun and famed anti-death penalty advocate Sister Helen Prejean has sued Louisianas prison pardon board and state attorney general Jeff Landry, arguing officials illegally agreed to halt numerous appeals from death row without the required public input.

Im suing the Louisiana Board of Pardons, Ms Prejean, whose book inspired the film Dead Man Walking, wrote on X on Tuesday. The Board held a secret meeting on September 29th in an attempt to thwart clemency hearings for 56 Louisiana death row prisoners. The secret meeting occurred in violation of Louisianas Open Meetings Law.

The suit from the activist, as well as a similar action from Brett Malone, the son of a murder victim whose killer is on death row, allege that the Lousiana Board of Pardons, Attorney General Landry, and a group of prosecutors violated state open meetings laws by settling an ongoing lawsuit over an attempt by outgoing Lousianas governor John Bel Edwards to schedule a series of clemency hearings for 55 people on death row before he leaves office in January.

The settlement at issue, reached on 29 September, converted the hearings into administrative reviews, and pushed back the timeline of the petitions such that only five cases would be considered by the board before the governors term expires.

Prior to the settlement, Attorney General Landry, who is currently running for governor, sued the board, arguing it was forced to cast aside the law, its administrative rules, and procedure, all at the behest of the outgoing governor who only recently announced his anti-death penalty stance.

In March, Governor Edwards, citing his Catholic faith, said he was against capital punishment.

The death penalty is so final, he said. When you make a mistake, you cant get it back. And we know that mistakes have been made in sentencing people to death.

The Independent has contacted the attorney general for comment.

The governors office declined to comment.

The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebooks Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage.
Will Skittles no longer be sold in California?

Thats the question thats on Californians minds after a bill was recently passed in the state that aims to change some of the ingredients found in Americas most popular candies and snacks.

These four ingredients are brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye No. 3.

Since titanium dioxide, an ingredient in Skittles, was originally included in the bill, many people believed that the candy would be banned in California.

But, as it turns out, titanium dioxide was dropped from the ban, making Skittles exempt from the changes. And since Skittles dont have any of the other four ingredients listed above in them, its safe to say the candy will be safe from any major changes  for now.

Variety of Skittles candies. (Jakub Porzycki / Getty Images)

In fact, when Jesse Gabriel, a Democratic assembly member from Woodland Hills, California, introduced legislation, called Assembly Bill (AB) 418, that would ban the sale of processed foods in California containing certain chemicals he claimed were dangerous and toxic, it quickly became known as the Skittles ban, which has now become a misnomer.

In response to AB418, TODAY.com reached out to Mars, the makers of Skittles, who referred us to the National Confectioners Association, as the McLean, Virginia candy conglomerate is one of the associations biggest member companies. In a statement, the Association told TODAY.com that it strongly opposes AB418.

Chocolate and candy are safe to enjoy, as they have been for centuries. We strongly oppose AB418 because there is no evidence to support banning the ingredients listed in the bill, the statement reads.

The ingredients that would be banned under this proposal have all been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Food safety is the number one priority for U.S. confectionery companies, and we do not use any ingredients in our products that do not comply with the FDAs strictest safety standards, it continues.

As for Gabriel, he tells TODAY.com he doesnt want to ban Skittles, he just wants to make American treats less dangerous to eat.

The idea here is for these companies to make minor modifications to their recipes so that these products dont include dangerous and toxic chemicals, he said. Skittles and many other brands have already made changes to their recipes in the European Union, the UK, and other nations where these chemicals are banned. We simply want them to do the same thing in the United States.

Skittles may be off the hook for now, but there are still up to 12,000 products  like Peeps, which contains red dye No. 3  that could be impacted by AB418.

But just because an ingredient gets banned doesnt mean an entire product will be, too. The bill wont go into effect until 2027, which gives brands time to change their recipe rather than decide not to sell their product in an entire state.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
(FOX 2) - Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin equated the attacks against Israel over the weekend as if 30,000 Americans were killed during 9/11.

"It is a really significant impact on a new and very different thing for Israel citizens," said Slotkin, a member of the Michigan Congressional Delegation.

She also said the fallout for the country would take a longtime to reconcile with for Israelis.

"It is very clear to me that the Israeli government will have to do a serious blue ribbon panel similar to what we did after 9/11, after the dust settled a bit on 9/11," she said.

Slotkin spent part of Wednesday in a classified briefing, learning that more than 150 hostages are held somewhere in the Gaza Strip, including some Americans. Her office has been helping American citizens get out of Israel and Palestinian Americans out of Gaza.

"We had Michiganders who were on planes and in the airport having to take cover," she said.

The world's gaze has been on the Middle East since the weekend when the extremist group launched an assault on Israel. Thousands of people have since died.

Questions over how Israel failed to prepare for the attack are just some of what officials are now asking. Among other questions is whether Iran was involved in the planning. Slotkin, who has a military intelligence background, said there was no evidence to suggest that was the case.

"I think while both American and Israel intelligence officials have not said Iran was directly involved in the planning of this specific operation, we know that the longstanding support, financial support, material support, leadership support, weapons provision between Iran and Hamas is significant," she said.

Another question is what the U.S. should do with $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets that it exchanged for American prisoners. The U.S. Secretary of State said Iran hasn't been able to use that money yet.

Slotkin said she would consider a pause on the provision of those funds.
Ukraine is using small assault groups of up to 12 to attack Russia's larger forces.

Soldiers told The Washington Post these groups have helped to retake key villages, but there are risks.

Ukraine has needed to adapt its tactics as it is outnumbered and facing Russia's strong defenses.

Ukraine is deploying small groups of soldiers who are able to creep up close to Russian troops and carry out assaults, The Washington Post reported.

The stealth groups, made up of between four and 12 soldiers, can get close to Russian forces without being noticed, unlike vehicles or large groups of troops. Sometimes they get close enough to read the name tags on soldier's body armor, The Post reported, citing interviews with Ukrainian soldiers and commanders.

Their attacks cause chaos on the front lines, the report said.

Ukrainian soldiers told The Post that the tactic helped Ukraine retake the villages of Andriivka and Klishchiivka last month.

It's also particularly suited to the environment around the city of Bakhmut, where the longest and bloodiest battle in Ukraine has taken place, they said.

Soldiers there must move fast and hard toward the enemy, The Post reported, with soldiers telling the outlet that using smaller teams reduces their exposure to drones, attack helicopters, and artillery crews hunting for larger groups.

But the tactic comes with big risks, and if someone is injured or killed, evacuation is dangerous and difficult.

"The enemy bites, fight back, they have a big advantage, one against five," an assault platoon commander with the call sign Percent told The Post.

In recent months Ukraine has seemingly abandoned some of the training given to it by NATO allies, who encouraged it to attack Russian defenses in large groups, with Washington DC-based think tank The Institute for the Study of War praising Ukraine's pivot, saying it's a much better tactic against Russia.

Others have also pointed to different tactics being needed by Ukraine to deal with the realities on the ground.

A US veteran now fighting in Ukraine and training its soldiers told Insider last month that Russia's forces are so big that there is no way to outflank them. Instead, Ukraine has to punch through the middle  a risky move  he said.

The only advantage Ukrainians have is Russia doesn't "know the exact second that you're coming," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Employees of a company that Republican Gov. Tate Reeves  campaign accused in a TV ad of illegally donating to his Democratic opponent, Brandon Presley, is threatening to sue the governors campaign if it doesnt take the ad off the air.

Jackson-based attorney William Manuel wrote a letter on behalf of solar energy company Silicon Ranch to Reeves campaign manager Elliott Husbands, saying the ad contains audio falsely accusing employees of the energy company of breaking the law.

In consideration of the foregoing, should you fail to immediately cease broadcasting, publishing, and promoting the subject of the advertisement, Silicon Ranch will pursue all available legal remedies to cease the publication of this defamatory advertisement, including seeking injunctive relief and damages for the continued improper publishing and broadcasting of the advertisement, Manuel wrote.

The ad in question aired on Oct. 6 and accused Presley, north Mississippis current public service commissioner, of illegally accepting campaign contributions from employees of the Tennessee-based company that does business in Mississippi. Presley has denied his campaign ran afoul of state campaign finance law with the donations.

The basis for Reeves ad revolves around a statute that forbids public service commissioners, who regulate public utilities, from taking campaign donations from representatives of public utilities the commission is responsible for regulating.

But Manuel contends in the letter that Silicon Ranch, a producer of of solar energy, is not considered a public utility under Mississippi law, which would, in theory, clear the way for Presley to accept those donations legally.

Clifton Carroll, a Reeves spokesman, told Mississippi Today in a statement that Manuels letter shows Reeves and the Silicon Ranch donors are afraid of being caught using campaign donations to corruptly influence PSC actions.

When applying the law and the facts to the matter at hand, it is unlawful for Brandon Presley to accept campaign contributions from any agent of the Corporation, Carroll said. And thats exactly what Brandon Presley did.

The cease and desist letter cites a 2017 order that was approved unanimously by the three-member Public Service Commission. The order was based on the findings of the Public Service Commission staff, which is independent of the commission itself. The director of the PSC staff was appointed by then-Gov. Phil Bryant.

The order states: Petitioner Silicon Ranch is not a public utility and the project is not utility property under the laws of the state of Mississippi. It is further ordered that petitioner Silicon Ranch is not subject to the Commissions jurisdiction except for the requirement of obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity.

The order gave Silicon Ranch the authority to generate and sell electricity generated at a site in Lauderdale County to Mississippi Power, a public utility. Silicon Ranch was not providing electricity to the general public.

The Reeves campaign ads accusing Presley and Silicon Ranch of violating state law have run extensively across the state for several days. The cease-and-desist letter also was sent to Mississippi and Memphis television stations. But as of Wednesday morning, the ad was still airing.

If the solar company does follow through with legal action against the governors campaign, it could mean they will have to spend money defending the ad in court and prove the contents were not defamatory.

Reeves and Presley will compete against one another in the states general election on Nov. 7.
DOVER  Landlord Anji Reddy, who owns a number of rental properties in Somersworth, could avoid thousands of dollars in fines if addresses all the code violations at 86 High St., per an agreement reached last week in Dover District Court.

Shane Conlin, Somersworth's code officer, said all fines will be reinstated if Reddy fails to meet the terms of the agreement. Reddy has been in court with the city since at least 2021, often failing to appear for court dates. Last winter, a tenant hung a sign from her window at 86 High St., begging for the heat to be fixed, along with electricity and life safety code violation measures.

Shayntel Cormier's sign at 86 High Street.

Conlin said Reddy Infosys Inc., Reddy's company, was fined $1,000 for the violations.

"At the end of all of this, bringing 86 High Street into code compliance is the citys primary goal," Conlin said in a written statement. "The Somersworth code compliance office has suspended the fines contingent upon Reddy Infosys Inc. bringing the property into full compliance by Jan. 31, 2024.

Previous story: Complaints filed against Somersworth landlord for rats, no heat. Residents band together.

Conlin filed civil complaints of 22 additional code violations against Reddy in April for failure to meet deadlines to fix code violations at 86 High St. The city requested the court grant fines of $25,000 for each of the 22 violations, potentially totaling $550,000.

Among the violations at 86 High St., were inadequate heat, a lack of water, unsafe or improperly installed appliances, work needed to the apartment building's boiler, unsafe stair treads, broken flooring and handrails, improper installment of windows and doors, lack of emergency escape routes, shoddy wiring, and improper plumbing fixtures.

Conlin said if Reddy fails to abide by the agreement, his office will take steps to impose the original fines.

"As part of the agreement, the city has secured access to the property to conduct code inspections between now and the deadline," said Conlin. "The goal of these inspections is to monitor the work going on in the property as well as making sure that the defendant is adhering to their agreement. This case has been an issue for the city for almost two years. I hope that this case can be closed, and the property will be brought into compliance. If not, the city will continue its pursuit in bringing this property into compliance though whatever means possible.

Popzup Popcorn: Family business now popping in Somersworth after move from Dover

"If Reddy Infosys fails to complete the work by Jan. 31, 2024, the city may file a motion to impose the suspended fines listed in each citation" he said. "Reddy Infosys Inc. recently requested an inspection of the property and I can say that he is now making progress on the unit."

An effort to reach Reddy for comment was unsuccessful.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Somersworth NH landlord agrees to fixes at 86 High St.
This aerial photo taken on April 26, 2023 shows a construction site of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a major infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Kelantan, Malaysia. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council Information Office on Tuesday released a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future."

The white paper, comprised of preamble, five chapters and a conclusion, presents the achievements of the BRI over the last 10 years, aiming to provide the international community with a better understanding of the value of the initiative, facilitate high-quality cooperation, and deliver benefits to more countries and peoples.

Since its launch in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative has been welcomed by the international community as both a public good and a cooperation platform. The following are the key takeaways from the white paper, including some of the highlights and major achievements of BRI cooperation over the past decade.

ULTIMATE GOAL

According to the white paper, the ultimate goal of the BRI is to help build a global community with a shared future. The BRI involves countries in different world regions, at different development stages, and with different cultures. It transcends differences in ideologies and social systems.

It enables different countries to share opportunities, realize common development and prosperity, and build a community of shared interests, responsibility and destiny characterized by mutual political trust, economic integration and cultural inclusiveness.

As a practical means of building a global community with a shared future, the BRI has brought new understanding, inspired the world's imagination, and contributed new ideas and new approaches to international exchanges.

PRINCIPLES, CONCEPTS, OBJECTIVES, VISION

The BRI was founded on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It advocates win-win cooperation in pursuit of shared interests and the greater good. It emphasizes that all countries are equal participants, contributors and beneficiaries, and encourages economic integration, interconnected development and the sharing of achievements.

The BRI is committed to the concept of open, green and clean cooperation on inclusive and sustainable development. It has zero tolerance for corruption, and promotes steady and high-quality growth.

It aims for high standards and sustainability, and to improve lives by raising cooperation standards, investment effectiveness, supply quality and development resilience, delivering real and substantive results for all participants.

The BRI envisions a path to global well-being. As an initiative working for progress, cooperation and inclusiveness, it pursues development, promotes win-win outcomes and inspires hope. It aims to deepen understanding and trust, strengthen comprehensive exchanges, and ultimately achieve common development and shared prosperity.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER LAST DECADE

BRI partners -- By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents, yielding a number of signature projects and small-scale yet impactful projects.

High-level forums -- China has hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation twice, providing an important platform for participating countries and international organizations to expand exchanges, increase mutual trust and strengthen ties. China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation from Oct. 17 to 18 in Beijing.

Infrastructure connectivity -- substantial progress is being made in the construction of six economic corridors: the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor, the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor. And in Africa, railways such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway are now operational and have become important drivers of in-depth development in East Africa and across the entire continent.

Maritime connectivity -- The Maritime Silk Road network has continued to expand. By the end of June 2023, it had reached 117 ports in 43 countries, and more than 300 well-known Chinese and international shipping companies, port enterprises and think tanks, among other organizations, have joined the "Silk Road Maritime" association.

Air connectivity -- China has signed bilateral air transport agreements with 104 BRI partner countries and opened direct flight routes with 57 partner countries to facilitate cross-border transport.

International inter-modality transport -- The China-Europe Railway Express now reaches more than 200 cities in 25 European countries. By the end of June 2023, the cumulative volume of the China-Europe Railway Express had exceeded 74,000 trips, transporting nearly 7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and over 50,000 types of goods in 53 categories, including automobiles, mechanical equipment and electronic products, with a total value of more than 300 billion U.S. dollars. Rail-sea freight train routes on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor cover 18 provinces and equivalent administrative units in central and western China, transporting goods to more than 300 ports in over 100 countries.

Trade and investment -- From 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and BRI partner countries was 19.1 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent. Cumulative two-way investment between China and partner countries came in at 380 billion U.S. dollars during the period, including some 240 billion U.S. dollars from China. By the end of August 2023, more than 80 countries and international organizations had subscribed to the Initiative on Promoting Unimpeded Trade Cooperation Along the Belt and Road, which was proposed by China. And China had signed 21 free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions.

Industrial cooperation -- By the end of June 2023, China had signed agreements on industrial capacity cooperation with more than 40 countries. These countries have promoted cooperation on industrial capacity, expanded cooperation in traditional industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals, building materials, automobiles, engineering machinery, agriculture, and resources and energy, and explored cooperation in emerging industries such as the digital economy, new energy vehicles, 5G, and nuclear energy and technology.

Financial cooperation -- By the end of June 2023, a total of 13 Chinese-funded banks had established 145 first-tier offices and branches in 50 BRI partner countries, some 17.7 million businesses in 131 partner countries had opened UnionPay banking services, and 74 partner countries had opened UnionPay mobile payment services. China has signed bilateral currency-swap agreements with 20 partner countries and established renminbi (RMB) clearing arrangements in 17 partner countries. China has funded the establishment of the Silk Road Fund (SRF) and opened the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with other participating countries. By the end of June 2023, the SRF had signed agreements on 75 projects with committed investment of about 22 billion U.S. dollars, there were 106 AIIB members, and the bank had approved 227 projects with a total investment of 43.6 billion U.S. dollars.

Culture and tourism cooperation -- By the end of June 2023, China had signed cultural and tourism cooperation documents with 144 BRI partner countries.

Green development -- China has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Environment Programme on building a green Belt and Road for 2017-2022, reached environmental cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries and international organizations, launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development together with 31 countries, and formed the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition with more than 150 partners from 40-plus countries.

Scientific and technological innovation -- By the end of June 2023, China had signed intergovernmental agreements on scientific and technological cooperation with more than 80 BRI partner countries. Since 2013, China has hosted more than 10,000 young scientists from partner countries to carry out short-term research and exchanges in China, and trained more than 16,000 technicians and management professionals for partner countries. China has established nine cross-border technology transfer platforms targeting ASEAN, South Asia, the Arab states, Africa, Latin America and other regions since 2013, assisted 22 African countries in building 23 agricultural technology demonstration centers, and established over 50 joint BRI laboratories in areas such as agriculture, new energy and health.

The Digital Silk Road -- By the end of 2022, China had signed MoUs on the construction of the Digital Silk Road with 17 countries, on e-commerce cooperation with 30 countries, and on closer digital economy investment cooperation with 18 countries and regions.

Poverty reduction -- China has signed more than 100 agricultural and fishery cooperation documents with almost 90 BRI countries and international organizations. It has dispatched more than 2,000 agricultural experts and technicians to over 70 countries and regions, and introduced more than 1,500 agricultural technologies and crops such as Juncao grass and hybrid rice to many of these countries. It has aided rural poverty reduction in Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, developing modern agriculture and helping increase farming incomes.

Boosting employment -- In the process of BRI cooperation, China has helped participating countries construct industrial parks and provided guidance for Chinese enterprises to create jobs for locals through high-level industrial cooperation. A McKinsey survey has revealed that Chinese firms in Africa recruit 89 percent of their employees locally, effectively contributing to local employment. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investment could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty. 
The Tribune is partnering with the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area and the American Democracy Project of Indiana University South Bend to publish candidates' answers to questions on the issues. The League, with local help from the ADP, operates Vote411.org, a website with information about the candidates and their positions on key issues.

The Tribune has agreed to run candidate answers unedited, meaning any spelling, typographical or grammatical errors are the candidates' own. The Tribune is publishing only some of the questions from a selection of contested races. Additional questions and answers, including from candidates who have no opponent, are available at Vote411.org.

Early voting for Indiana's Nov. 7 municipal election has already begun. To vote early, either fill out an application for a mail ballot at https://indianavoters.in.gov/MVPHome/PrintDocuments or vote in person. In St. Joseph County, there are two early-voting locations: the County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. in South Bend; or the Mishawaka County Services Building, 219 Lincoln Way W. in Mishawaka. Voters must present a valid government-issued photo ID.

Three of the nine members are South Bend's Common Council are elected at large, meaning they represent the whole city rather than one district. Voters can pick up to three candidates to support. Two Republican challengers face two Democratic incumbents: Karen White and Rachel Tomas Morgan, and a former council member, Oliver Davis.

Heidi-Sunje Bell is a candidate for South Bend Common Council.

Heidi-Sunje Bell

The candidate has not responded to the questionnaire.

Oliver Davis is a candidate for South Bend Common Council.

Oliver Davis

Occupation: School social worker at South Bend schools and Social work and gerontology faculty at Saint Mary's College

Email: oliverdavis4citycouncilatlarge@gmail.com

Campaign phone: 574-876-6938

Rhonda Richards is a candidate for South Bend Common Council.

Rhonda Richards

Email: Vote4RhondaRichards@gmail.com

Campaign phone: 574-210-1847

Facebook: facebook.com/Vote4RhondaRichards

Rachel Tomas Morgan is a candidate for South Bend Common Council.

Rachel Tomas Morgan

Occupation: South Bend Common Council member; Former higher education educator & administrator

Email: info@rachelforcouncil.com

Website: rachelforcouncil.com

Campaign phone: 574-250-3770

Facebook: facebook.com/rachelforcouncil

Karen White is a candidate for South Bend Common Council.

Karen White

Occupation: South Bend Common Council member; Retired Associate Vice Chancellor at IUSB

Email: kwhite4211@gmail.com

Website: reelectkarenwhite.com

Campaign phone: 574-229-3100

Facebook: facebook.com/councilwomankarenwhite

What is the most important challenge facing South Bend and how will you address it?

Bell: The candidate has not responded to the questionnaire.

Davis: South Bends biggest challenge is ensuring that all districts within the city are equitably funded annually. Historically in South Bend and throughout America, prosperity can be tied to zip codes. We must change that here and ensure high-quality city services blanket each part of our city. Whether infrastructure, health, safety, or any other pressing issue, we must actively and continuously assess our work so that all are able to prosper. That will beacon to others the strengths of our city in a manner which invites others to move here to live, to work, and to enjoy South Bend and all that it provides to families and businesses. Our goal must remain all, no matter your station, will be proud to say that South Bend is Home and all, no matter your station, will be truly welcome.

Richards: One of the most important challenges facing South Bend today is the fact that as a society we dont see or acknowledge each other. We are so focused on ourselves and the things facing us or our community that it limits what we hear, accept or expect when it doesnt appear to immediately correct our problem. We are a community, our elected officials need to look at South Bend as a whole and work equally for whats right for all, not just whats best for one group or another. Each person has the same worth and value. Every community has the same worth and value. The hard part is looking for the best for everyone not just the quick fix answer that doesnt result in the expected long-term goals for that group or South Bend.

Tomas Morgan: Public safety is the top concern I hear from residents. This can mean feeling free from any potential harm, and Council plays a key role in decisions affecting quality of life. I believe every person should feel safe, secure, that they belong. To that end, I support adopting best practices in policing; infrastructure improvements in streets, sidewalks, and lighting; expansion of quality, affordable housing; efforts to house the most vulnerable; thriving businesses and quality jobs; and revitalizing public spaces to foster a sense of pride and place. We need to ensure our youth have outlets for positive activities, that parents have options for quality childcare, that all can use streets without fear of speeding cars or distracted drivers, and that we address the harms climate change and food insecurity bring.

White: The most important challenge facing the City of South Bend is gun violence. The alleviation of crime and keeping our citizens safe remain a top priority. 2022 had LESS incidents of violence but more people shot compared to 2021. 2021 had less people shot but more incidences of shootings We must address gun violence from a holistic perspective, and as a public health safety issue, and treat it as such. Prevention and Intervention strategies must address the root causes of violence and create policies/programs to treat them. The root causes are many and varied. There is a dire need to have a comprehensive community safety plan with implementation to occur after having all stakeholders at the table. We need to combine all our efforts into a holistic plan.

What is the best way to curb crime? Should we increase police staffing, technology and budgets? Or should we redirect resources away from policing? Explain your reasoning.

Bell: The candidate has not responded to the questionnaire.

Davis: Addressing crime in South Bend is not just the responsibility of our local police and public safety officials. While we need to continually support our local public safety officials, and as an At-Large Councilmember, I will include various local partners such as our schools, churches, businesses, civic groups, and mental health professionals to promote non-violence, shared safety, and improved health throughout our populations no matter their age, gender, geography, or background. Also, I will promote throughout our city the beautification of our neighborhoods and parks and advocate for environmental justice funding, as public safety, in our residential and in our brownfield areas which may have historically had hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. All our residents deserve spaces to flourish and to find a better path.

Richards: We as a society have already redirected money away from important areas causing our Police to have to deal with issues that are not just law and order. They are not fully equipped or trained to care for the numerous other social issues in our city. We have systematically disassembled or greatly decreased the ratio of help for these issues. It has fallen on our police to step in, out of necessity, causing them to have the stress of functioning in areas outside their expertise. Redirecting resources away from policing will just exasperate this already overwhelming problem. We do need to continue training, staffing and adding technological advantages to our police force, but we also need to attract, develop, and increase the private agencies that have the expertise in these other societal issues.

Tomas Morgan: Reducing crime demands a data-informed, multi-disciplinary response, with solutions that strengthen both community and enforcement-based approaches. I supported providing resources for our police and firefighters in the form of pay increases and residency incentives, along with resources to effectively recruit. For the first time in many years, SBPD will soon be fully staffed with the most diverse force ever. I also supported resources for enhanced, cutting-edge technology and the creation of the violent crimes unit and the Real Time Crime Center as critical to solving crimes and, in turn, helping to deter crime. Both personnel and technology investments are critical to reducing crime and enhancing public safety in our community. In addition, I support investments that address the social and environmental conditions that foster crime.

White: There is not necessary a best way to curb crime. They are best practices. One of them is community policing. Staff, resources, citizens involvement, cultural diversity training are valuable. Community policing is important to building and creating community trust. Officers become part of the neighborhoods they serve. They are able to get a better sense of residents needs and help residents to develop greater trust in the police. Our residents also have an opportunity to see them differently. Redirecting resources away from policing will not curb crime. From a practical standpoint, the engagement must begin at the elementary school level. We must work closely with our students, neighborhood associations, religious institutions, and all schools beginning at the elementary level.

Many recognize a disparity in economic growth in different parts of the city. What steps will you take to ensure economic growth and development is more widely distributed across the entire community?

Bell: The candidate has not responded to the questionnaire.

Davis: Economic growth hinges on our entire city and all its residents being lifted up. Our past efforts to promote our downtown area should now be expanded to include all of our entry areas. With the closing of Wal-Mart on the Northside of our city (Portage Avenue, Cleveland Road, and Bendix Drive), we need to address our financial plan to reinvest in that area. On our Southside (Ireland Road, Michigan Street, and Main Street), on the Westside (Sample Street, Western Avenue and Lincolnway West), and on our Eastside (Mishawaka Avenue, Miami Street, and Lincolnway East) we need to promote targeted financial growth. Thus, as we lift up our city on all four corners and in our downtown area of our City of South Bend, we can ensure that our overall economic growth is maximized to benefit all of us.

Richards: There are several areas throughout our city that need our focus and attention. Some areas are the west side, the area south of Ivy Tech, and some of our subsidized housing. Each area has potential, but each area is different and the goals for growth will need to differ also. Some concerns can be addressed through zoning and code enforcement. Others need the help of development and holding the proper stakeholders accountable, while not letting the punishment and hardship fall on the possible victims of others negative actions. Code enforcement, traffic flow, street accessibility all play a part. We need to look at and deal with all possible courses of action.

Tomas Morgan: In 2019, I ran on wanting to extend community and economic investments to all corners of the city. Over the past few years, South Bend has seen unprecedented development across the city and especially in parts that have not seen investment in a long time. These include the expansion of public WiFi; of affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing options in vacant buildings and on vacant land; and of pre-K opportunities in areas of greater need. We are building a new MLK Dream Center to create opportunities for youth in westside neighborhoods and to activate the Linden Avenue business corridor. Small businesses across the city can get a facelift with the new Vibrant Places grants. We are keeping, expanding, and attracting business and industry to South Bend. I am committed to building on this progress.

White: Economic growth in all of our neighborhoods is vital for South Bend to thrive. Recent population data from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that South Bend grew by 2,285 people over the last ten years. This has been the largest increase in the citys population since the 1960 Census. We are no longer a dying city, but instead a vibrant, still blossoming one. Economic development must be comprehensive and inclusive. We must proactively and intentionally address long-standing issues related to inequality and inequity. We must articulate and address residents needs so that real change occurs, and the residents trust that development will happen. We are moving in the right direction by creating oppo. attracting small business and industries to our city. Why? Jobs are created, and revenue remains in our community.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Gun violence, tax abatements debated by South Bend council candidates
Battered by late campaign season attacks on abortion, several South Jersey Republican lawmakers and candidates are distancing themselves from past comments made by one of their colleagues, state Sen. Ed Durr.

The social media posts by Senator Ed Durr were offensive and unacceptable. They don't represent us or what we believe in any way, reads a joint statement to POLITICO from the candidates in legislative districts 4 and 8.

Prior to his shocking upset of then-Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) in 2021, Durr (R-Gloucester)  who himself is facing a competitive challenge by former Assemblymember John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester)  made several inflammatory social media posts. Now a newly-formed Democratic political organization is highlighting and tying them to the other candidates with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of TV ads in the region.

The ad, by a nonprofit called Brighter Future Forward, says the candidates would ban abortion and they stand by when their extreme colleague Ed Durr spews hate. The ad then refers to a 2020 Facebook post Durr made in which he wrote A woman does have a choice! Keep her legs closed, as well as a post Durr liked that called for spaying women like dogs.

The Republicans in the joint statement are Assemblymembers Mike Torrissi (R-Atlantic) and Brandon Umba (R-Burlington), 8th District state Senate candidate Latham Tiver, 4th District state Senate candidate Chris Del Borrello and his Assembly running mates, Matt Walker and Amanda Esposito.

Republicans fully control the 8th Legislative District, where state Sen. Jean Stanfield (R-Burlington) is retiring. Democrats hold all three seats in the 4th District, where state Sen. Fred Madden (D-Gloucester) is retiring. Assemblymember Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) is running to replace Madden. Both districts are considered competitive and would be crucial to Republicans' longshot chance to taking back control in the Statehouse.

The response shows the potency of abortion as a campaign issue for Democrats, who spent the summer struggling to counter Republican campaign attacks on trans students and clean energy but have have seized on abortion rights during the final stretch of the campaign season. Since the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade last year, abortion rights have proven to be a motivating issue for the Democratic base and moderate suburban women, with voters on ballot questions in several states far more conservative than New Jersey repeatedly siding with keeping abortion legal and blocking restrictions.

Durr could not immediately be reached for comment.

New Jersey Democrats know their extreme and radical agenda of attacking parental rights in our schools, banning gas cars and stoves, and building giant wind turbines off the Jersey Shore is deeply unpopular with voters, the Republicans said. These wildly dishonest attack ads are a last-ditch attempt to change the subject. It will fail on November 7.

Republican leaders have emphasized that they do not plan to ban abortion, which the state Supreme Court and a recent state law have all protected. But Republican lawmakers have introduced several bills that would restrict abortions in various ways, and the last Republican governor, Chris Christie, cut funding for Planned Parenthood clinics. Democrats hold a 25-15 majority in the Senate and a 46-34 majority in the Assembly.

We do oppose late-term abortion, while state Democrats have embraced an extreme new state law that expands abortion access up to the moment of birth, the Republicans said. We do support parental notification, while Democrats believe that a 15-year-old girl should need parental consent to get her ears pierced but are fine keeping her parents in the dark if she wants an abortion. That's insane.

When Republicans controlled both houses of the Legislature more than 20 years ago, they passed a parental notification law on abortion, but it was struck down by the state Supreme Court.

Attacking Democrats for supporting abortion up to the moment of birth is not new. According to the health care nonprofit KFF, 1 percent of abortions are performed after 21 weeks of pregnancy for reasons including fetal anomalies or maternal life endangerment, as well as barriers to care that cause delays in obtaining an abortion.

While its unusual for Republican lawmakers and candidates to condemn the remarks of a state senator from their own party, Durr and Del Borrello were on different sides of a regional primary fight. A close Durr ally, Gloucester County Commissioner Nick De Silvio, ran a heated primary campaign against Del Borrello, for instance.
(Bloomberg) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was dealt a blow when a candidate from his conservative party lost a hotly contested election in Seoul that was seen as a gauge for support of his government ahead of national elections in April.

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Jin Kyo-hoon of the progressive Democratic Party beat Kim Tae-woo of the conservative People Power Party by about 17 percentage points for the chief of Gangseo Ward in Seoul, election results Thursday showed. The vote set records for early turnout and drew national attention.

The floor leader of the Democratic Party called for Yoon to overhaul his cabinet to take responsibility for the defeat, Yonhap News reported.

Yoons PPP is looking to regain control of parliament from the Democratic Party in April elections, which would end divided government for the final three years of his single five-year term. His office said it accepts any election results sternly, according to local media including YTN television.

If Yoons party takes control of parliament next year, it is likely to push through economic policies that include taking on powerful labor unions, reducing regulations on businesses, and tax cuts for companies and on real estate transactions.

Read: South Korean Court Rejects Arrest Warrant for Opposition Leader

Voter sentiment is expected to shift several times ahead of the vote and the Democratic Party is also facing difficulties as its leader Lee Jae-myung has been indicted on graft charges. Some party members are concerned Lee has become a liability and may not be able to focus his attention on the election while embroiled in a prolonged legal battle.

Kim, the candidate from the presidents party, was removed from the ward post in May as a result of a suspended prison sentence for leaking secrets when he was on an inspection team under former President Moon Jae-in  once the flag-bearer for the Democratic Party.

Kim was later granted a special pardon under Yoons government and ran as the PPP candidate for the seat he once held. The documents were concerning suspected corruption by a South Korean ambassador and a railway official, and Kims lawyers argued he released them in the publics interest, according to the JoongAng newspaper.

Kim was fired from his post on the inspection team in 2019 over misconduct allegations and then joined the conservative camp, winning the race for ward boss in 2022, according to Yonhap.

--With assistance from Shinhye Kang and Seyoon Kim.

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FALL RIVER  Members of the legal community will recognized during the annual Red Mass hosted by the Diocese of Fall River.

The mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.

A long-standing tradition in the church, the Red Mass is offered each year by the diocese to invoke God's guidance and strength on those who work to promote justice in the legal system.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Red Mass on Oct. 14.

In a tradition unique to the celebration in the Diocese of Fall River, the Red Mass will conclude with the presentation of the St. Thomas More Medallions to members of the area legal community in recognition of dedicated service.

Selected to receive the award this year are, as distinguished jurist, Judge Thomas J. Perrino, Massachusetts Superior Court; as distinguished attorney, Maryclare Cushing, Assistant District Attorney Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorneys Office; as distinguished court employee, Jennifer A. Sullivan, Clerk of Courts, Bristol County Superior Court; as distinguished recipient of the ecumenical award, Attorney Aaron J. Bor, New Bedford; and as distinguished recipient of the Joseph P. Harrington Founders Award, Attorney Daniel M. Rich, Norton.

Award recipients were nominated for the recognition by the Red Mass planning committee, headed by New Bedford attorney Michael J. Harrington .

All are welcome at the Red Mass. A reception and dinner will follow for which a ticket is required. For more information about the Red Mass and reception, contact Harrington at 508-994-5900 or email harringtonpc@aol.com.

St. Thomas More Medallion Honorees

Jennifer A. Sullivan is a St. Thomas More Medallion Honoree.

Jennifer A. Sullivan was appointed the eighth Clerk of Courts for Bristol County in July 2022 and has the distinction of being the first woman to hold the office.

She began her legal career right out of high school, first with part-time work in a law office then full-time as a paralegal for various area law practices. In 2007, she became a case specialist in Bristol County Superior Court and, while employed there, attended the University of Massachusetts Law School and earned a law degree. In 2013, she became Assistant Clerk/Magistrate for Bristol Superior Court.

She and her husband Brian reside in South Dartmouth, and they have two daughters. She is a longtime parishioner of St. Bernard Parish in Assonet.

Attorney Aaron J. Bor is a St. Thomas More Medallion Honoree.

Attorney Aaron J. Bor maintained a general practice of law in the firm of Falk and Bor in New Bedford for 54 years. He dedicated much of his legal work to the youth of that city and practiced for many years in New Bedford Juvenile Court.

After graduating from Boston University School of Law in 1961, he served in the U.S. Army for two years and then remained in the Army Reserve, attaining the title of Lieutenant Colonel and Judge Advocate General. He completed his service with the Army in 1996.

He and his wife Susan are residents of Dartmouth, and they have one daughter and two grandchildren. He is a lifelong member of the Tifereth Israel Synagogue in New Bedford.

Judge Thomas J. Perrino is a St. Thomas More Medallion Honoree.

Judge Thomas J. Perrino is an Associate Justice in Barnstable and Bristol County Superior Courts where he presides over both civil and criminal trials. He was appointed to the bench in 2018 by Governor Charlie Baker.

He previously served as the First Clerk Magistrate at the Barnstable County Superior Court Clerks Office and prior to that was in private law practice on Cape Cod. He is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School.

He and his wife, Anastasia Welsh Perrino, reside in Dennis and are parishioners of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster. They are the parents of two adult children.

Maryclare Cushing is a St. Thomas More Medallion Honoree.

Maryclare Cushing is a career prosecutor; she has served for over 20 years prosecuting the most serious crimes in Bristol County Superior Court. For her work, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly named her Lawyer of the Year in 1997.

Prior to becoming an assistant district attorney, she worked for over a decade at Massachusetts Citizens for Life, the states largest right-to-life group, as its executive and legislative director. In that post, she worked closely with members of the legislature and the public to help educate on and promote pro-life initiatives.

She received her law degree from Southern New England School of Law.

She lives in Sandwich with her husband Kevin and their children and is a longtime member of Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich.

Distinguished recipient of the Joseph P. Harrington Founders Award, Attorney Daniel M. Rich, Norton.

Attorney Daniel M. Rich is a solo practitioner with a law office in his hometown of Norton.

During his service overseas in the U.S. Army, he was a legal clerk for various military officers and upon his discharge decided to pursue a law degree. He graduated from the New England School of Law in 1982 and established his practice, mainly centered in the courts in Bristol County.

In 1982, he also joined the then-newly established Bristol County Bar Advocates, becoming one of its first attorneys to provide legal representation to indigent clients. He continues to this day to be a leading attorney for that organization.

He is a parishioner of St. Mary Parish in Norton.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: SouthCoast residents to be recognized at Red Mass
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX is gearing up to launch its fourth Falcon Heavy rocket mission from Florida's space coast Thursday morning.

The rocket will launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:16 a.m. A backup opportunity is available for Friday, October 13, and 10:19 a.m.

The Falcon Heavy is part of the Psyche mission and will travel to a "metal-rich asteroid of the same name orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Mars in pursuit of studying the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet," according to SpaceX.

Falcon Heavy went vertical overnight on Launch Complex 39 in Florida ahead of its launch of the Psyche mission to an interplanetary transfer orbit  https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/T6FZgDX5Xy  SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 11, 2023

The mission will also demonstrate NASA's first deep space test of high-bandwidth optical communications through space and back to Earth.

This is the fourth Falcon Heavy launch of the year.

FOX 35 will livestream the launch.
Rocky Road

NASA has readied a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for a mission that could launch from Florida as soon as tomorrow, weather permitting, for a unique destination: a big metal asteroid called Psyche, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Atop the rocket is a spacecraft, also called Psyche, whose main objective is to study its namesake. Of particular interest: Psyche is believed to be the leftover core of an ancient planet-like object, meaning the mission could yield invaluable clues about the early history of the solar system, its evolution, and how metallic-cored planets like Earth might have formed.

"We're trying to understand about the metal core of the Earth," Arizona State University professor and the mission's principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton told NPR. "We are never, ever going to go to those cores  way too hot, way too deep  so this is our one way to see a core."

Mass Hole

Psyche the asteroid is shaped roughlylike a potato and is about the size of the state of Massachusetts, according to NPR. Researchers think the surface is pockmarked with craters that are encircled with iron spikesmeaning smaller objects may have dinged the rock and sent molten metal into a splatter pattern that then solidified.

They've also estimated the asteroid to be between 30 to 60 percent metal while the rest is silicate, according to NASA. This composition distinguishes it from many asteroids, which are mostly made up of clay and silicate rock.

The mission is slated to travel for six years until reaching the asteroid in 2029, according to the space agency. It will then orbit the strange rock for two years while studying Psyche with sophisticated instruments onboard and beaming pictures from the surface.

Besides further sleuthing the composition of the mysterious and distant world, there's even a half-cocked financial interest in Psyche: some have estimated that, if you could somehow access the precious metals it contains, it would be worth a staggering $10 quintillion. .

More on asteroids: NASA Probe To Drop Off Asteroid Samples After 7 Years in Deep Space
Hawk air defense missile systems

Spain will provide Ukraine with six MIM-23 Hawk anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as 155-mm and 105-mm artillery ammunition, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on Oct. 11.

The units will be integrated into the American battery, and training for Ukrainian operators and technical staff of the air defense system will start in Spain in November.

Read also: US buying decommissioned MIM-23 Hawk missiles from Taiwan for Ukraine  report

Madrid will also provide Kyiv with power generators, diving compressors, and winter gear for the military, while training for Ukrainian soldiers will continue in Toledo and other locations.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would receive Hawk launchers during a visit to Granada on Oct. 5, where he attended the European Political Community Summit. Kyiv received the first batch of such systems in December 2022.

Read also: US may transfer HAWK air defense systems to Ukraine  media reports

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Germany will provide Ukraine with additional IRIS-T and Patriot air defense systems. Belgium also agreed to strengthen Ukraines air defenses.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The man accused of killing his two-year-old son and stabbing the childs mother to death is headed to the state psychiatric hospital.

A judge ruled Thomas Mosley incompetent to stand trial right now Wednesday morning after reviewing reports from two court appointed doctors who recommended that the state hospital in Chattahoochee is the best place for him right now.

Pictured: Pashun Jeffery and Taylen Mosley.

"I find that Mr. Mosley is not competent to proceed, but he is restorable," Judge Susan St. John said to the courtroom.

RELATED: Thomas Mosley double-murder case: State wants hospital records for man accused of killing toddler, child's mom

Mosley is accused of stabbing Pashun Jeffery more than 100 times in March in St. Petersburg and killing their two-year-old son Taylen. Jeffery was found in her apartment and Taylen was found a day later in a lake close to Mosleys mothers home.

Police said evidence puts Mosley at both scenes.

Jeffery and Taylens family was in the courtroom Wednesday.

PREVIOUS: Father accused of murdering the mother of his child and two-year-old son appears in court

According to Mosleys arrest affidavit, he was admitted to the hospital for injuries consistent with slippage during a knife attack the night before Jeffery was found dead. Defense attorneys said at a previous court hearing that Mosley was put under a Baker Act while he was hospitalized.

"This is not a case where he's walking free," Anthony Rickman, a defense attorney not affiliated with the case, said. "Its not a case where because he's incompetent today doesn't mean he won't be tried in the future. There's a case where, as we sit right now, he's found to be incompetent and as a result, they need to send in the state hospital to restore that confidence."

Rickman said this is fairly common in criminal court. He said theres a difference between competency and insanity.

READ: Missing St. Pete toddler found dead in nearby lake, father accused in double-murder, police chief says

"Hes not saying, hey, I was insane at the time of the offense we're talking about. As it stands right now, he's not competent to stand trial. And that's different than somebody being insane or raising that insanity defense," Rickman said.

"This is more of a procedural mechanism making sure the defendant is able to assist in his defense," he said.

There will be another court date on April 22 at 8:30 a.m. to see if Mosley is competent.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Mosley, who is charged with two counts of first degree murder, has pleaded not guilty.
The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it was exploring options to help Americans who want to leave Israel get to nearby countries.

In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, State Department officials tell U.S. citizens who want to leave Israel that commercial flights are available, though they may not fly directly to the U.S.

"We are also exploring contract options to facilitate U.S. citizen travel to nearby countries and will provide updates to U.S. citizens who have registered via our online form," the post reads, directing readers to a crisis intake form.

CONGRESS URGES STATE DEPARTMENT TO USE CHARTER FLIGHTS TO EVACUATE AMERICANS FROM ISRAEL

The form gives U.S. citizens and eligible family members the opportunity to request assistance during the crisis in Israel.

The post comes a day after members of Congress urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to do everything possible to evacuate Americans out of Israel.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Included in the request to Blinken was a push to charter flights out of Israel, as airlines have canceled most flights out of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

AMERICAN WOMAN SAYS FAMILY HAS BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS IN ISRAEL: 'ANY PARENTS WORST NIGHTMARE'

Rockets fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza are intercepted by Israels Iron Dome missile defense system over Sderot, Israel.

"Given the rapidly escalating situation as Israel launches a counteroffensive, it is imperative that you use all tools at your disposal to return all U.S. nationals in Israel home who wish to do so," the letter, which was signed by 146 members of Congress, reads.

On Saturday, Hamas launched the biggest attack in Israel in over 50 years, killing nearly 1,600 people and wounding thousands more with a barrage of rockets.

Hamas-led terrorists poured over the Israel-Gaza border as residents slept, then dragged people into the streets, took hostages, and beheaded and killed others.

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"As the number of casualties continue to rise, our constituents who remain in Israel fear for their lives," the letter to Blinken reads. "We ask that you consider charter flights and military options for evacuation, simultaneously. At this harrowing moment in Israels history, it is more important than ever that every American who is looking to return home has the opportunity to do so."





Original article source: State Department explores options to get US citizens out of Israel warzone
Stockholm to ban petrol and diesel cars in its city centre by 2025

Stockholm has announced plans to ban all petrol and diesel cars from its centre by 2025 as it aims to become the worlds first major city to do so.

The Swedish capital will have no petrol-diesel cars in the key parts of the city centre as it seeks to improve air quality and reduce traffic noise, the vice mayor for transport said on Tuesday.

The ban will apply to 20 blocks of Stockholms inner city area, spanning its office real estate and main shopping districts, where only electric vehicle traffic will be allowed from 2025.

The plan can be further expanded to other areas and a decision for that will be taken early in 2025.

Stockholms air quality is safer to breathe than many major cities like New York and London. However, the pollution levels exceed the standard set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to the IQAir index.

Hundreds of vulnerable groups, including senior citizens and children, experience health challenges due to long term exposure to pollution in Sweden.

The Green Party, part of the Stockholm City Councils ruling coalition, said it hopes the new rules will encourage more people to exchange their old cars and move to electric vehicles.

Nowadays, the air in Stockholm causes babies to have lung conditions and the elderly to die prematurely. It is a completely unacceptable situation, the vice mayor for transport Lars Stromgren of Green Party said in a statement.

The law, however, has several exceptions. While only private electric cars will be allowed in the central zone under the scheme, some bigger vans, with plug-in hybrid engines will also be allowed.

Exceptions have also been made for emergency vehicles like ambulance and fire brigades under the regulation as well as for cars with driver or passengers who have a documented disability.

The plan has received flak from the representatives of transport industry who said the government seems to be too much in hurry.

Since 2010, we have reduced emissions by 34 per cent. But the Green party and their colleagues in the city of Stockholm are now in far too much of a hurry, the Swedish Confederation of Transport Enterprises said.
by Naftali Mwaura, Li Zhuoqun

NAIROBI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- For Dennis Ogeto, a young man from western Kenya, a humble upbringing in a rural hamlet could not stop him from dreaming big, and his dream of a better life is coming true thanks to a Chinese-built railway.

A career spanning over five years at the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has changed the 33-year-old's life dramatically. Now he is not just earning a living, but also pursuing a career.

"I dream to get a managerial position at the SGR in the years to come and hope one day it will be extended to the Ugandan border so that it creates more opportunities for fellow youth," Ogeto said.

Since joining the SGR in 2018, the mechanical engineering major and former construction worker has come to realize how rewarding his academic efforts could be.

Ogeto is now working in the dispatch section, assembling wagons for the passenger and freight trains that ply the Mombasa-Nairobi and Suswa routes.

"The training by Chinese instructors has been very good because when I joined the SGR, I had few skills, but now I have learned a lot of skills," Ogeto said, adding that he has also acquired managerial and social skills from his Chinese supervisors, including better time management, self-discipline, hard work, communication with passengers and colleagues, and respect for diversity.

For Ogeto and many young men like him, the SGR is more than a fast track to convenience, but also to more opportunities, and personal happiness.

The SGR, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has created a skills and technology transfer, benefitting local youth, since its launch six years ago in 2017.

The railway has been a catalyst for transformation in Kenya, helping to localize its workforce by hiring a growing number of young professionals in key sections like locomotives, track, signal and management.

Lawrence Pius Murithi, another young man from the central Kenyan countryside, is also a beneficiary of the SGR and a deputy superintendent at the rolling stock department of the railway. He is in charge of supervising the track maintenance.

Over the past six years, his work at the SGR has trained him comprehensively. Now earning a decent salary, he was able to purchase land and run a livestock business as a side hustle.

"Working for the SGR has improved my lifestyle and I look forward to furthering my education so that I can be in the company's top management," Murithi said, adding that he is determined to help more young people to pursue decent, life-changing careers.

Government statistics indicate that the 480-km modern railway line has contributed to Kenya's gross domestic product growth by 1.5 percent. Kenya's infrastructure modernization has accelerated thanks to input from China in terms of capital, technology and reskilling of local youth.

Stephen Mutua, a 39-year-old father of three, is a proud team leader at the track and bridge maintenance section of the Ngong SGR station, located on the western hillsides of Nairobi.

"I have gained knowledge, especially from the Chinese technicians who have taught us a lot in the areas of management, planning, and inspecting the track and bridges," said Mutua, who joined the SGR in 2019.

In the near future, Mutua plans to return to college for his studies in railways operations and maintenance, and hopefully secure a senior managerial position at his current workplace. 
Editors Note: This story is part of a series profiling American youth killed this year by guns, a leading cause of death of children in the US. Read more about the project here.

Alexander Lara Delgado smiled and focused on his friend as he twirled her around, moving to clear the belled skirt of her baby blue ballgown. The guests cheered as Alex, dressed in a sharp white tux, swept her up in a hug, spinning her four times in the air.

It was all part of a beautiful dance Alex choreographed for his dear friend Roselenas quinceanera. Alex even went so far as to don his friends Cinderella-like dress during rehearsals to show her all the steps.

They were neighbors and close friends, raised together from a young age. And that dance celebrating Roselenas 15th birthday, it was something that was very beautiful, Alexs mother, Eubdulia Delgado Alvarado, said.

It was the last big milestone Alex got to experience.

Just a few months later, the 16-year-old stopped at a Nashville gas station for a chocolate bar and Gatorade, his mother said. In the moments that followed, a chain of dramatic events left his family devastated, heartbroken and searching for answers.

His mother lost her only child on the early morning of January 7, awoken by a phone call that her son had been shot after his car was struck by another at the gas station and an altercation ensued. The happy, lovable and outgoing teen left behind both parents, four half-siblings on his dads side and two stepsiblings.

Alex is one of more than 1,300 children and teens in the US killed by gunfire so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Firearms became the No. 1 killer of children and teens in America in 2020, surpassing motor vehicle accidents, which had long been the leading cause of death among Americas youth.

Read other profiles of children who have died from gunfire

Ten months later, no suspect has been charged and the family is still looking for justice.

He was just starting to live his life, said his mothers longtime partner, Claudia Gutierrez. He wanted to be someone in life, and they just took it away from him.

He danced with his mother for hours

The family celebrated together for Alexs last milestone, the quinceanera, last August. They watched as Alex cheered on and escorted Roselena as her chambelan, her only court at the event.

He taught the girl how to dance, he taught her how to spin, and he put on the girls dress to teach her how she needed to move so that the dance would come out perfectly, Delgado said.

Alex inherited his dance skills from his mother, whom he first started dancing with when he was 12.

Delgado remembers dancing with her son for hours on end at local dance nights for families. Some of her favorite memories were of dancing with him, teaching him different moves and how to hold a girl.

Growing up, he was known as Little Alex in the home he shared with his mom, her partner and her two children. It was always the three of the children together, Alex being the youngest.

Since they were little, they were each others only friends, the three of them, Gutierrez said. Its devastating right now because they miss him.



Eubdulia and Claudia (right) celebrate the holidays with their children Alejandro, Alex and Vanessa when they were younger. - Courtesy Eubdulia Delgado

Alex had spent a lot of time with his stepbrother, Alejandro, who taught him how to change a car tire, change the oil and more. He became more interested in cars and wanted to be a mechanic when he grew up, his mother said.

The more he learned about cars, the more he wanted one. Alex saved up to buy a black 2005 Infiniti. It was a bit rough and required some love. Alex worked tirelessly on it.

Whatever it took for him to be on the steering wheel, he just loved driving his cars, just being free, exploring that freedom that every teenager wants to feel, his father Aniceto Lara Jr. said.

Gun violence is an epidemic in the US. Here are 4 things you can do today

He worked hard to help his family

As much as Alex relished those moments of freedom, he was always taking on more responsibility to help his family, his father said.

Alex looked out for his mother and prioritized taking on part-time jobs in construction so she wouldnt have to work so hard, his father said. Alex had lived with his mother in Nashville for most of his life, as his parents divorced when he was a baby.

At a young age he was already thinking of just getting a job to help his mom, so his mom wouldnt have to work as much anymore, Lara said. That brought a lot of joy to me, that he was being a good son.

Alex also helped his fathers family, traveling to Mexico to reconnect with his dad and spend time with his grandparents on their farm and orchard in Michoacan whenever he could. Lara was surprised at how easily Alex adjusted to the change in environment, especially the lack of air conditioning and early morning chores.

Lara recalled a time when Alex and the family were working in the corn fields. These little hairy spines from the corn plants would get on your skin and create a burning rash that was uncomfortable, he said.

He was right there with all of us doing the hard work, like anyone else would, Lara said. That was one of the things that I admired, that he was just willing to be out there and do things no matter what. Just like a real cowboy.

Alex loved riding horses and participating in activities around his grandparents' farm in Mexico, his dad said. - Courtesy Eubdulia Delgado

The memory of them working together in the corn made Lara laugh. Others made him smile, like the many times his son went horseback riding. Alex enjoyed the activities around the farm, but he really loved horses, his dad said.

We had very many beautiful moments and those are all lost, Lara said.

His legacy beats on

Back home in Nashville, his mother says she misses the way it felt knowing Alex was in his bedroom. His 10 pairs of shoes, including his prized Air Jordans, sit neatly and pristine in their boxes  Alex didnt want them to lose their shape.

His shoes were his signature, and they remind her of his flair.

As his mother looks upon Alexs favorite things resting untouched, she remembers their bond and how close they were. I was his mother and his friend, she said.

I remember him with happiness because we were always very happy, Delgado said. We were very close. He loved me very much.

Alexs last gift was the gift of life.

After the shooting, his heart was still beating strong, but there was no brain activity, his mother said doctors told her. The family kept Alex on life support so they could donate his organs  three children and one adult were recipients, his family said.

I know what I did was something important for all the families that were able to have part of my son, his mother said. I did it with all of my heart, for them, and I know my son did it, too.

CNNs Catherine Shoichet and Sofia Fox contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A recently-established day care/pre-K through 12th grade Christian school in Belleville has shifted to online instruction for most grades.

Belleville Christian School  which occupies the former Belle Valley School South building at 1901 Mascoutah Ave.  had to temporarily move to an online curriculum for its 11 elementary, middle and high school students due to financial difficulties, according to Founder and Chairman Rev. John Yu. He said the decision was communicated by the principal sometime this week or last.

Yu said 10 students decided to leave the school and one 11th grade student has stayed for the virtual instruction. The 21 pre-K and kindergarten students remain in-person.

The school made the decision to go online only because it didnt have enough students, and therefore enough tuition to pay salaries for the number of subject teachers needed for in-person classes, Yu said. With the online program, only one or two teachers are needed because students study by themselves and then go to the teacher when they have questions.

Tuition at Belleville Christian School is $400 per month, totaling $3,200 for the school year, but many students receive scholarships, Yu said.

Belleville Christian School is owned by Korea International Christian School English Corp., which operates the original Korea International Christian School in South Korea. Yu is the organizations president.

Two vacant Belleville schools repurposed for Christian and special needs students

The organization bought the vacant Belle Valley facility in 2018 and renovated it to open for the 2020-21 school year, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The goals were to serve the community, raise Christian leaders and facilitate student exchanges between the United States and Asia, according to previous Belleville News-Democrat reporting.

Yu said he thought a lot of students would come to the school when it opened, but only a few students came.

Now, he said the school aims to get the elementary, middle or high school instruction back in-person by bringing students from South Korea over to the Belleville facility.
JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. - A student was arrested at East Jackson Comprehensive High School in Commerce after bringing a gun on campus on Wednesday, according to a letter sent to East Jackson families.

The letter from Principal Matt Stratemeyer says school administrators and school resource officers took swift action after receiving a report about the gun. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office took the student into custody and removed the student from campus.

The student will be facing disciplinary consequences and criminal charges, according to the letter.

READ LETTER BELOW

Dear East Jackson Families,

It was brought to the attention of building administration this morning that a student was in possession of a weapon on our campus. School administrators and school resource officers took swift action and found a loaded handgun. The student was immediately taken into custody by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, is no longer on campus, and will be facing disciplinary consequences and criminal charges. We are grateful that this concern was reported immediately so we could work with our partners from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to take action and ensure that our school is safe.

School safety is of paramount importance to our school and district. We ask that you continue to partner with us in creating a safe learning environment for all students by reinforcing with your children that weapons, to include firearms, pocket knives, toys, and look-alikes, are neither appropriate for, nor permitted in, any Jackson County School System facility.

As always, we sincerely appreciate your continued support and understanding. I hope you and your students have a safe, relaxing fall break.

Sincerely,

Matt Stratemeyer

Principal

A person with a gun was also reported at a Christian school in South Fulton on Wednesday, However, in that case, police did not locate anyone with a gun.
Nearly everyone at a pro-Palestinian vigil supporting Hamas' surprise attack that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians hid their faces with masks Tuesday night and refused to reveal their names.

"We are here today to honor our martyrs and to honor the struggle for liberation that they made the ultimate sacrifice for," a vigil organizer told the crowd of students. "Our resistance fighters are defying Zionist intelligence as we speak, exposing the cracks and its ironclad foundation and dispelling the illusion of its invincibility."

George Washington University students chant "from the river to the sea Palestine will be free."

About 50 people attended a Students for Justice in Palestine at George Washington University event, "Vigil for the Martyrs of Palestine," and were encouraged to bring flowers, signs and face coverings. The group handed out masks at the event to help attendees disguise their identities.

"Glory to our martyrs, each and every one," the speaker, who refused to share his name with Fox News, continued. "May they attain the highest level of paradise."

WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE

Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel Saturday, killing more than 1,200 Israelis, including elderly civilians, women and children, and taking others hostage. Israeli villages near the Gaza border have been massacred, with "a lot of men, women and children" beheaded, according to Israel Defense Forces commander.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Israel declared war against Hamas in response and has launched retaliatory strikes against in Gaza.

"Over the past few days, the Zionist entity has rained and continues to rain down bombs and missiles on Gaza, indiscriminately targeting men, women and children, slaughtering entire families," the speaker told the crowd. "Over 900 of our people have ascended to martyrdom."

DEM SENATOR BOOED AT PRO-ISRAEL RALLY AFTER SUGGESTING A 'DE-ESCALATION OF THE CURRENT VIOLENCE'

As of Wednesday, at least 1,100 people, including 326 children, have been killed by Israel's airstrikes in Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

"They call us savages, barbarians, terrorists, but we know who the real terrorists are," the student speaker said.

A Fox News reporter was repeatedly interrupted while trying to interview attendees. It's unclear whether they were organizers or other attendees since they refused to identify themselves.

Students held signs and read poems in support of Palestinian "martyrs."

The event organizers instructed the crowd against speaking to the media and told them to direct the press to speak with the vigil leaders. But the vigil leaders declined Fox News' interview requests and refused to answer questions.

"It just appalls me, the amount of violence on both sides," Sami, a student who overheard but did not attend the vigil, told Fox News. "I've seen Palestinian children get burned alive. Seen videos of rape, of murder of [Israeli] civilians by Hamas."

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"My personal belief, it's a radical belief among many, but you need to end the Israeli state as we know it," he continued. "And we need a binational state that has equal rights for both Palestinians and Israelis within the area we know as Israel."

The Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at colleges across the country have been organizing similar pro-Palestine events that are set to take place later this week.





Original article source: Students hide identities with masks while praising Hamas' massacre of Israelis
Students at the University of California, Riverside are reacting to the placement of several dozen Palestinian flags on campus Wednesday as the war between Israel and Hamas rages on.

The flags mysteriously appeared overnight on a main campus lawn area with no other messages.

Some students who belong to UCRs student Jewish group, Hillel, told KTLA that the flags made them feel uneasy. They did not want to speak on camera.

Live updates | Day 5 of the latest Israel-Palestinian war

One student who did, however, said he did not find them threatening.

Seeing those flags out isnt a big deal  if they want to [project] a message of pro-Palestine, he told us. But if its a message of pro-Hamas, it could be totally different.

Palestinian Flags at UCR

The war has claimed 2,300 lives on both sides and counting, including civilians and children.

Many people locally are feeling the effects of what is occurring overseas. Families have lost loved ones and others are desperate for answers after learning that Hamas has taken hostages.

At UCR, some students are also feeling the impact.

One student of Palestinian descent condemned Hamass attack on Israeli civilians but also called for empathy.

Its very bad for both sides, Adrian Adi told us. What Western media fails to portray is that my people have been oppressed for a very long time. I dont condone violence, but its semi-understandable whats going on.

Palestinians walk amid the rubble following Israeli airstrikes that razed swaths of a neighborhood in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel Saturday, killing over 900 people and taking captives. Israel launched heavy retaliatory airstrikes on the enclave, killing hundreds of Palestinians. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Mourners react during the funeral of Israeli soldier Benjamin Loeb, a dual Israeli-French citizen, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Loeb was killed on Saturday as the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy, in Kensingston, London, as the death toll rises amid ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza following the attack by Hamas, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)

This image from video provided by South First Responders shows charred and damaged cars along a desert road after an attack by Hamas militants at the Tribe of Nova Trance music festival near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. (South First Responders via AP)

FILE  Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair, File)

Israeli soldiers take position 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/Oren Ziv)

Palestinians isit 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)

Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Ramez Mahmoud )

ADDS NAME OF THE MOSQUE -The rubble of the Sousi Mosque, destroyed in an Israeli airstrike, is seen at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City early Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israels military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Destruction made by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip is seen in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. 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. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli soldiers head south near 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. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. (AP Photo/Hassan Eslaiah)

Administrators at UC Riverside declined to directly comment on the flags, instead, deferring to a statement the university issued on Tuesday.

At times like this, we must remain steadfast in aligning our behavior with the Principles of Community, sent just last week, which state our shared commitment to a respectful, cooperative, professional, and courteous environment. Anyone who experiences discrimination or harassment should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action, the statement read.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A suburban Kansas City substitute teacher who was arrested last year when a group of eighth grade girls reported receiving his nudes during a slumber party has pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including molesting a child.

Jason L. Carey, 43, admitted to all 12 criminal charges, including four misdemeanors, filed against him during a hearing Tuesday in Cass County Circuit Court. Carey, who taught at Belton Middle School for one week before students reported him, has been held without bond in the county jail since September 2022.

Belton police began investigating Carey after the principal of the middle school heard from an eighth grader that she had received a series of inappropriate messages from him over Snapchat.

The student, described in court papers as Confidential Victim #1, told a school resource officer that she met Carey during school hours and they exchanged social media handles.

Messages from Carey started off as innocuous but became increasingly strange, she said, and later included comments about her body.

She and several other middle schoolers communicated with Carey, who went by thundergod714 and thunder_god7, during a Friday night sleepover. They were sent videos of Carey masturbating, according to charging documents.

Another girl, named as Confidential Victim #2, reported that she added Carey as a Snapchat friend. He began sending her messages that evening, she said, including asking if she was alone and if her parents ever let her leave the house.

Four video messages saved by the girls were shared with police. One showed Careys face and a tattoo covering his shoulder and bicep area, according to court documents.

Investigators were later contacted by the mother of an 8-year-old girl who reported being assaulted by Carey.

The 8-year-old, named in court papers as Confidential Victim #3, reported to authorities that she knew Carey as an employee at her old school when she visited the Belton home where Carey rented a room.

She had gone there to meet her 10-year-old friend for a sleepover, she told investigators. During the visit, she said, Carey made her watch pornographic videos, including one that featured a girl probably her age, and molested her, according to court papers.

Belton Superintendent Andrew Underwood last year referred to the incident  without mentioning Carey by name  in a letter to families, describing a police investigation of a substitute teacher having inappropriate communications with some students. Carey was identified as previously working for Beltons School-Age Childcare, an after-school program offered for children kindergarten through sixth grade.

Carey worked for the district through a third-party company that provided substitute teaching staff for Belton. After the report, the superintendent said appropriate action was taken by his employer.

In his guilty plea, Carey admitted to two counts of enticement of a child, two counts of molestation of a child under 12, statutory sodomy, and two counts of promoting child pornography. He also admitted to four misdemeanors of furnishing pornographic materials to a child.

A sentencing hearing for Carey is scheduled to take place Dec. 13.

The Stars Sarah Ritter contributed to this report.
Scott Baxter regularly frequents the Western Australia coast with his drone  capturing overhead shots of the ocean, beaches and wildlife.

Baxter was at Geographe Bay on Friday, Oct. 6, when he caught a glimpse of something special: a young whale calf with its mom.

This little one took my attention super chilled, Baxter told McClatchy News in a message.

A video he captured shows the momma whale swimming at the surface of the water when suddenly her calf appears from beneath her. The baby swims alongside its mom before diving back beneath her and surfacing on her other side.

Each of the whales appears to have rough patches of skin, known as callosites. The unique spots are similar to a persons fingerprints in that no two whales have the same pattern, Baxter said in an Instagram post.

Humpback whales and Southern right whales are the most common species spotted during migration, Baxter told McClatchy News.

Whales near Australia migrate north starting in May and June, and they begin their southbound journey between August and November, according to Australias National Parks and Wildlife Services blog.

Geographe Bay is about 140 miles southwest of Perth.

Watch magical moment baby whale leaps from water during sunset. Incredible

Kayakers get unreal visit from two giant sea creatures in Australia. See the video

Humpback whales surround boaters in Iceland. Then black fins appear, photos show
The flags at Liberty Plaza across the street from the Georgia Capitol building were lowered to half-staff in solidarity with Israel on Oct. 11, 2023.

ATLANTA - Flags at all Georgia state buildings and grounds have been ordered to half-staff by Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday. It is to show solidarity with the country of Israel after a devastating surprise attack over the weekend, which has claimed thousands of lives.

At least 22 Americans were among the more than 1,200 killed and an unknown number of people were kidnapped.

The Associated Press is reporting militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

FALCONS OWNER ARTHUR BLANK DONATING $750K TO ISRAELI ORGANIZATIONS AFTER HAMAS ATTACK

"The people of Georgia mourn the American lives lost in these unwarranted attacks and join our close ally Israel in grieving all those who were taken from their families or injured," the governors executive order reads in part.

As we continue to stand with and pray for the people of Israel, we're also mourning the loss of American citizens killed in the terrorist attacks.



I have ordered the U.S. flag and the flag of Georgia to fly at half-staff on state grounds and buildings until sunset on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/6lTgeERy5s  Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) October 11, 2023

ISRAEL WAR: GAZA SEALED OFF AFTER INCURSION BY HAMAS, DEATH TOLL RISES TO NEARLY 1,600 ON BOTH SIDES

The attack happened on Saturday, Oct. 7, which is Shemini Atzeret in the Jewish faith. The day is described as being filled with "utterly unbridled joy" and marks the conclusion of the yearly reading cycle of the Torah.

The attack by Hamas massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets, and at an outdoor music festival celebrating the day.

Flags in Georgia will remain at half-staff through sunset on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The Supreme Court appeared likely to preserve a South Carolina voting map that would likely keep Republicans in control of a key congressional seat, a major redistricting case that could affect ongoing legal challenges in other battleground states and control of Congress in next year's elections.

At issue is the Republican-controlled legislature's redrawing of congressional voting boundaries, and whether race was used as a proxy for partisan affiliation, in violation of the 14th Amendment.

After two hours of often heated oral arguments at the high court, the outcome could come down to the votes of the three newest conservative justices: Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett and particularly Brett Kavanaugh . Each asked tough questions of both sides.

The nine-member court actively engaged in questions over whether the original map created by the legislature was an impermissible racial gerrymander.

HIGH-PROFILE SUPREME COURT CASES TO WATCH IN 2023-24

Citing two experts who have analyzed the map, Justice Elena Kagan said of their findings: "We can show you that Black Democrats and White Democrats are not being treated the same way, that Black Democrats are being excluded for the district at a far greater proportion. So every regression analysis has things that you can poke holes in, but you didn't give anything in response to that," Kagan said of the state's claims.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

But Chief Justice John Roberts said that accepting the arguments of the plaintiffs challenging the state "would be breaking new ground in our voting rights jurisprudence."

"We've never had a case where there's been no direct evidence, no [alternative] map, no strangely configured districts, and a very large amount of political evidence" to counter the racial gerrymander claims, he said.

All six of the court's conservative majority expressed concern over a federal court ruling that ordered the state to create a new congressional map in time for the November 2024 election.

SUPREME COURT PREPARES FOR NEW TERM BY LOOKING BACK, WITH LIKELY IMPACT ON 2024 ELECTIONS

Rep. Nancy Mace , R-S.C., narrowly won election in 2020 over former incumbent Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., by 1 percent, or about 5,400 votes. With newly redrawn redistricting maps in place, she comfortably won re-election by 14%.

That three-judge panel found that the coastal 1st Congressional District now represented by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., was an unlawful racial gerrymander when Republican lawmakers shifted about 30,000 Black voters from Charleston County over to the states 6th Congressional District, which became more solidly Democratic than it was before. That seat is held by Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., a longtime member of Congress who is Black.

The state, in its appeal to the Supreme Court, said the lower court "failed to apply the presumption of good faith" to the legislature when creating its map.

Lawyers for the state told the high court on Wednesday that partisan politics and a dynamic population growth along coastal areas explains its redistricting efforts and that race did not play a factor.

But groups like the NAACP and ACLU challenging the boundaries said that the GOP-led legislature had adopted "perhaps the worst option of the available maps" for Black voters.

"There was a racial target, it reflects that there was a significant sorting of Black people, it reflects unrebutted expert evidence of race rather than party explaining the assignment of voters, it reflects a disregard of traditional redistricting principles," Leah Aden, a lawyer for the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund, said at argument.

FEDERAL COURT SELECTS NEW ALABAMA CONGRESSIONAL MAP, LIKELY HANDING DEMOCRATS A SEAT AT NEXT HOUSE ELECTION

The high court's ruling could broadly affect the 2024 elections.

Both sides have asked for an expedited ruling by Jan. 1 to allow for new maps to be possibly redrawn.

Mace narrowly won election in 2020 over former incumbent Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., by 1 percent, or about 5,400 votes. With newly redrawn redistricting maps in place, she comfortably won re-election by 14%.

Mace was among eight Republicans who voted last week to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker.

The high court's ruling could broadly affect the 2024 elections, a template for ongoing redistricting efforts in states like Louisiana, Ohio, New York and Texas. There are more than two dozen pending lawsuits across 12 states challenging congressional maps.

The Supreme Court in June upheld a lower court ruling ordering Alabama to again redraw its map that would create two Black-majority congressional districts. Currently, only one of the state's seven districts has a substantial number of Black voters, in a state where Blacks are 27% of the overall population. Roberts and Kavanaugh had sided with the court's three more liberal justices when concluding that Alabama had diluted the voting power of Black voters.

SUPREME COURT DEALS FINAL BLOW TO ALABAMA GOP IN REDISTRICTING BATTLE

The justices seemed duly aware of the implications that their ruling in the South Carolina case will have nationwide. Democratic pickups in that state, Alabama and Louisiana, which is facing a similar legal challenge, could tip the balance of power in a closely divided Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

Justice Samuel Alito strongly defended those helping draft the 2022 map favoring Republicans and questioned the conclusions of the four opposing experts hired by the plaintiffs. "Is there any reason why one or more of them could not have drawn up an alternative map that met the legislature's stated partisan goal but had a different effect on the racial composition?" he asked.

"I mean, this whole case is about disentangling race and politics, right?" Alito added.

But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson echoed the arguments of those challenging the GOP-drawn map.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson echoed the arguments of those challenging the GOP-drawn map.

"In a situation in which you're bringing in more White voters and moving out Black voters, in this kind of circumstance, you're still relying on race in a way that is, you say, improper?" she said. "Your argument is that racial data was really kind of driving this because they didn't have a robust set of political data that they were drawing from in order to do this?"

The case is Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (22-807). A possible ruling by January 2024 would come a month before the Feb. 24 primary in South Carolina.





Original article source: Supreme Court appears to lean in favor of upholding GOP-drawn South Carolina congressional map
Marsys Law for Florida, which successfully pushed for a 2018 constitutional amendment to protect the rights of crime victims, says the measure should not be used to shield the identities of on-duty police officers in use-of-force case.

The announcement comes roughly 10 months after the Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case involving two Tallahassee police officers who fatally shot suspects and asserted their privacy rights under Marsys Law, successfully blocking public release of their names. The court has not yet issued a decision.

Marsys Law for All, the groups national organization, said it clarified its position on the amendment in response to use-of-force cases across the country in which officers have invoked the law to keep their names secret. Marsy's Law for Florida informed the Democrat of the position in a Tuesday email, saying no right is absolute and that all rights must be weighed and balanced by the courts.

Florida Supreme Court Justice John Couriel listens to arguments on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 in a case concerning Marsy's Law.

When reviewing the conduct of an on-duty law enforcement officer who has used physical force, the right to privacy of their name must quickly yield to the publics right to know, Marsys Law said in a statement provided Tuesday to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The case awaiting a ruling from the high court arose out of two separate incidents in 2020 in which Tallahassee police officers shot and killed armed suspects who were threatening them. After the city announced plans to release the names of the two officers, the Florida Police Benevolent Association got an injunction while the case headed to circuit court.

The city, joined by a coalition of media outlets including the Democrat pushing for greater police transparency, prevailed. However, the judges decision was reversed in 2021 by the 1st District Court of Appeal.

Luke Newman argues on behalf of the Florida Police Benevolent Association on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 in a case concerning Marsy's Law.

More: Marsys Law was meant to protect crime victims. It now hides the identities of cops who use force.

Since its adoption, Marsys Law, which grants crime victims privacy and other rights, has been used by police agencies across Florida to shield the identities of officers in use-of-force cases. Agencies from Tampa to Broward County have withheld the names of officers who used lethal force against suspects.

PBA attorneys argued that language in Marsys Law explicitly says that it applies to all persons. But lawyers for the city and media said that would lead to perpetual anonymity for officers who use deadly force and undermine police transparency.

Both Tallahassee police officers said they were victims of aggravated assault when they encountered the two suspects, Tony McDade, who was armed with a gun, and Wilbon Woodard, who was armed with a knife. Lawyers for the media argued that Marsys Law shouldnt apply in part because the two officers killed their victimizers.

Philip Padovano argues on behalf of the city of Tallahassee on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 in a case concerning Marsy's Law.

Marsys Law was first enacted in a 2008 voter referendum in California. It has since passed in 16 other states.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Marsy's law group says police officer names should be public in force cases
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- BMI Industry Research, a Fitch Solutions unit, said Thursday that Malaysian energy group Petronas' private 5G deployment will add momentum to digital transformation in the Southeast Asian country.

The research house said in a note that private 5G networks will be critical enablers of digital transformation for large enterprises in many different industries across Southeast Asia over the next five years.

It believes that the first step being taken by a large and economically important company like Petronas is crucial in encouraging other enterprises, both public and private, to follow suit.

It also said that this opens up the sector to specialized solutions providers rather than making an enterprise dependent on the existing public mobile network operators.

It believes enterprises in industries as diverse as agribusiness, infrastructure, healthcare provision, manufacturing, logistics, heavy industries and education will be looking to adopt wireless technologies to support their evolution over the coming years.

Petronas last Friday announced that it has successfully adopted 5G private network at its Regasification Terminal Sungai Udang (RGTSU) in Melaka, the first in Malaysia to adopt the 5G technology for enterprise use.

BMI Industry Research said the deployment of the 5G private network by Petronas is expected to optimize its internal operations and induce industry-wide change. 
Police respond to a bomb threat at the Social Security Administration office in Augusta, Ga., on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

The identity of a suspect accused of attempting to bomb the Social Security Administration office building in Augusta has been released, along with the contents of a threatening note he brought to the scene.

Keyon Tishaye Dickens, 38, of Blake Drive in Augusta, is being investigated by the FBI for his involvement in the incident. A Richmond County sheriff's report lists his offense at terroristic threats and acts.

On Tuesday morning, Richmond County deputies responded to a bomb threat at the Social Security Administration office on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway, according to an incident report. Dispatch told deputies the suspect was a man wearing a red jacket and carrying a bookbag.

When deputies arrived, they saw Dickens walking along the side of the building, according to the report. Deputies ordered Dickens to drop the bag and he was detained.

While searching Dickens, deputies found a white paper towel that had "I have a bomb" written on it, according to the report.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

While the bomb squad responded, Dickens "requested if he was going to be on the news and that we should loosen his handcuffs so that he looks good for the news," deputies noted in the report.

Dickens was transported to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office at the request of FBI and the note on the paper towel was turned over to the bureau, which is investigating the incident.

The sheriff's office confirmed a suspicious package was located, but the FBI has not confirmed its contents.

The Charles B. Webster Detention Center did not have Dickens listed as an inmate as of Thursday afternoon.

Bomb threat: One arrested, suspicious package removed at Social Security office in Augusta

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Suspect identified in Augusta Social Security building bomb threat
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The suspect arrested following a police chase that started in Arkansas and ended in Mississippi on Wednesday has been identified as 37-year-old Matthew Nemacheck of Wisconsin.

ORIGINAL STORY: Suspect in custody, 1 dead after Arkansas chase ends in fiery crash in Mississippi

According to the Hernando Police Department, Nemacheck is charged with Culpable Negligent Manslaughter and is held on a $350,000 bond in the DeSoto County Detention Center.

During the police chase, Nemachecks vehicle collided head-on with a semi-truck on I-55 after merging into oncoming traffic.

The driver of the semi-truck has been identified as 40-year-old Milan Alilovic of New York. He did not survive his injuries.

The chase started when HPD was notified of a Blue Dodge Ram with Wisconsin plates refused to stop for authorities out of Crittenden County Arkansas southbound on Interstate 55.

Law enforcement officers said that they used stopsticks to get Nemachecks vehicle to stop before he hit the semi-truck. The chase then ended in a fiery crash.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Dallas police are asking for the publics help finding a suspect wanted for murder in a shooting on Oct. 1, where one person was killed and another was injured.

At about 11 p.m. on that day, police responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of Britton Avenue.

A short time earlier, a suspect had shot a man and woman outside a home in the 3400 block of Britton Avenue, according to the preliminary investigation.

Martha Perez Enriquez died after being shot at multiple times in a vehicle on Britton Avenue on Oct. 1, 2023.

The two victims left the scene in a car, but crashed into a parked vehicle in the 2700 block of Britton Ave, causing their car to flip, police said in a news release.

A surveillance video obtained by Dallas police shows a white SUV driving up near the wrecked car. The suspect, identified by police as Omar Hernandez, 30, gets out of the passenger side of the SUV.

Hernandez walked around the victims vehicle before shooting into the car multiple times, hitting the woman, who was still inside, according to police. The video then shows Hernandez getting back into the passenger side of the white SUV and leaving.

Dallas police are looking for Omar Hernandez, 30, wanted in an Oct. 1 shooting in the 2700 block of Britton Avenue that killed a woman and injured a man.

The female victim, identified as Martha Perez Enriquez, 29, died at the scene, police said in the release. The male victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. His identity was not released by police.

Omar Hernandez is wanted for murder and aggravated assault with serious bodily injury.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Detective Kenneth Castoral at 214-671-3666 or at Kenneth.castoral@dallaspolice.gov.
The suspect in connection to the shooting death of a 23-year-old Chelsea man over the weekend was arrested on Wednesday, according to the Suffolk DAs office.

Police say 28-year-old Edgar Nerys was taken into custody after Investigators were waiting for him as he showed up for a monthly meeting with his probation officer.

Nerys is facing a murder charge after he was identified as the shooter that killed Santos David Canizales on Sunday night, police said.

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 Canizales lying on the ground with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds.

Canizales was transported by EMS to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was pronounced dead.

Nerys will be arraigned Thursday in Chelsea District Court on murder and firearm charges.

The cause of the shooting is under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Chelsea Police at 617-466-4800.

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.

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SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  The man prosecutors refer to as the Ted Bundy of Mexico is expected to be extradited to Mexico from the U.S. in three months, prosecutors say.

Brayan Rivera is accused of murdering three sex workers in Tijuana.

The U.S. Marshals Service and FBI arrested Rivera in July in Downey, California.

Baja Californias previous state attorney general, Ivan Carpio Sanchez, gave Rivera the Ted Bundy moniker and said it appears Rivera is likely responsible for a fourth killing.

Bundy is an American who confessed to kidnapping and killing 30 women in the United States in seven states between 1974 and 1978. He was sentenced to death for his crimes and died in the electric chair in 1989.

At the time of the deaths in Tijuana, Carpio Sanchez said the killer, like Bundy, lured vulnerable women into private settings where violent acts were performed against the victims before they were killed.

Ted Bundy-like serial killer sought in deaths of at least 3 women in Tijuana

Rivera has been held in a Los Angeles-area detention facility since his arrest.

Rafael Orozco Vargas, a prosecutor with Baja Californias Attorney Generals Office, said the extradition process from the U.S. is complicated buts is certain Rivera will be extradited to Mexico.

We have more experience when extraditions are from Mexico to the United States, he said. There are a lot of protections offered to those accused of crimes, including a type of mini-trial that determines whether extradition can be authorized.

Number of registered sex servers in Tijuana doubled in 4 years

Orozco Vargas said Rivera is likely to seek some of those protections, which could extend the process for a year.

Were going to have him here, its a matter of time, Orozco Vargas said. Were not getting interference with the application for extradition so were confident hell be brought back in about three months.

Rivera is suspected of killing three women from late 2021 to early 2022.

In each case, according to investigators, he set up meetings at hotels or restaurants with women he had met in bars or nightclubs.

The women were later found beaten and strangled to death.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

According to Bajas Attorney Generals Office, Riveras phone number and text messages sent from his device were allegedly traced back to the victims. Prosecutors also say they have surveillance images of Rivera with the victims at the locations where they were found dead.

Rivera is a U.S. citizen who lives in the Los Angeles area.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
Humanitarian aid from Iran for survivors of a February earthquake is unloaded at Aleppo airport, after it reopened following a previous Israeli air strike in March (-)

Israeli strikes knocked Syria's two main airports out of service on Thursday, Syrian state media said, in the first such attack since a weekend Hamas onslaught on Israel triggered fierce fighting.

Israeli strikes have repeatedly caused the grounding of flights at the airports in the capital Damascus and northern city Aleppo, both of which are controlled by the government of war-torn Syria.

The "simultaneous" strikes "damaged landing strips in the two airports, putting them out of service", state media said, citing an unidentified military source.

Flights were re-routed through Latakia airport on the Mediterranean coast, according to Syria's transport ministry.

Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, confirmed the strike on Damascus airport, saying it was intended to thwart weapons deliveries from Iran".

"These missiles, these drones are used against Israel," he said in an interview with German broadcaster Die Welt.

The latest strikes came as Hamas and Israel traded heavy fire for a sixth day, after hundreds of Hamas gunmen stormed across the border from Gaza into Israel on Saturday and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

They also came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel, and hours after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a telephone call with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, called on Arab and Islamic countries to cooperate in confronting Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is due to tour the region in the coming days, including Iraq on Thursday and Lebanon later to promote Tehran's initiatives.

The military source cited by Syrian state media described the strikes as a "desperate attempt" by Israel to "divert attention" away from the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Syria's foreign ministry condemned the attack as an attempt by Israel to "export its crisis".

During more than a decade of war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on its northern neighbour, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes it carries out on Syria, but it has repeatedly said it will not allow its arch foe Iran, which supports Assad's government, to expand its presence.

Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated Hamas's assault on Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.

bur-lar/lg-ho/kir
A frustrated Doug Carter sat down in an office facing the TV camera.

A 19-year-old his troopers arrested just 72 hours earlier, who is accused of going on a high-speed joyride Sept. 26 that killed three of his passengers, had been let out of jail after securing a $1,000 cash bond, and $50,000 surety bond for his three counts of resisting law enforcement, resulting in death.

Doug Carter, the Indiana State Police superintendent, talks with media members on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Carter recently criticized a Marion County judge following the death of three people in a high speed chase on the eastern side of Indianapolis.

As the cameras rolled, the Superintendent of Indiana State Police of nearly 11 years shared his reaction.

Damn it, this is not OK, he said in an interview on Fox59. What were doing is not working, and we need to talk about it and get uncomfortable.

More: Teen takes 'full responsibility' for 'joyride' that killed his brother, 2 others, docs state

Carter lobbed criticism at the Marion County criminal justice system, saying the release of Luis Leyba-Gonzalez days after the fatal crash is emblematic of a broken system. He then called for a complete review of the courts and the judges who oversee them. A shaking of the Etch a Sketch, he said.

His statements prompted a strong response in the weeks since, with fierce support from Indianapolis police union president Rick Snyder, and Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman, and equally strong backlash from the same people he criticized, who retorted the accusations "are inaccurate, mischaracterize the judiciary and the Marion County criminal justice system, and are counterproductive to the goal of public safety.

In an address to media on Thursday, Carter doubled down on his uncharacteristically scathing remarks and once again shared a call for action.

"Anyone that believes that all is well in Marion County, or that it does not affect the rest of the state, is living under a rock," he said.

Doug Carter, the Indiana State Police superintendent, talks with media members on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Carter recently criticized a Marion County judge following the death of three people in a high speed chase on the eastern side of Indianapolis.

What State Police say needs to change

From a podium at the Indiana State Police Museum, Carter reiterated his "unapologetically" critical comments, going on to say the release of Leyba-Gonzalez was a "stark realization" of a failed system to address violent crime.

"Our system is not working," he emphasized. Carter said that since the interview, he learned Leyba-Gonzalez's bond included a $50,000 surety, but his feelings about the 19-year-old's release remain the same.

He also shared ideas for changes he believes need to happen. Judges, he repeated, should be held accountable by the public to the same degree he says law enforcement has in the past three years.

"Law enforcement officers are not without sin," he emphasized, while also saying his profession has "never been in a lower place."

Carter called for a heightening of the Marion County bail matrix, saying the "floor should be raised" in cases where serious bodily injury is involved. He then said a staffing evaluation should be conducted within the Marion County Jail and the Prosecutor's Office to address a backlog of court cases.

In a backtrack of his earlier statements, Carter said his attempt to contact the judge about her bond decision in the case was "inappropriate," a move that was also criticized by the Indianapolis Bar Association in biting response to Carter's comments about Marion County Judge Jennifer Harrison.

Just think how it would be if everyone in a case could first pick up the phone and call the judge to directly influence them about the case, the groups statement said at the time.

In their lengthy response to Carter's interview, IndyBar defended the judges bond decision and stated there are very limited circumstances in Indiana in which a defendant can be denied bond, which they argued was Carters suggestion.

Carter on Thursday denied ever wanting the judge to withhold bond in the case.

To him, Carter said he wants to address what he labeled a "circular system" that sees people in and out of the jail's walls. His suggestions would serve as immediate fixes, he said, though multiple agencies in the county must put their heads together to address the more complicated adjustments.

"This is no one's fault," he said. "No one agency, no one judge, no one prosecutor, no one police agency, no one mayor, no one City-County Council ... the position we have found ourselves in happened over time."

Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Head of Indiana State Police doubles down on calls for judicial review
[Source]

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has established a task force to examine the recent war between Israel and Hamas.

Prep for attacks: In a statement to the press on Thursday, Taiwan's Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng announced the creation of the task force with a focus on intelligence gathering in preparing for potential enemy attacks.

"The initial (lesson) is that intelligence work is very important," Chiu was quoted saying. "With intelligence, many countermeasures can be made. A war can even be avoided."

China's military exercises: The announcement comes amid China's aggressive military exercises near Taiwan.

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Last month, Taiwan expressed caution against China's military harassment after Beijing dispatched 103 warplanes toward the island within a 24-hour period. The move, which included 40 of the deployed warplanes breaching the symbolic median line dividing their territories, marked a recent high in Chinas ongoing efforts to assert control over the island, according to Defense Ministry spokesperson Sun Lifang.

Commitment to war prevention: While acknowledging the differences between Taiwan's situation and that of Israel and Hamas, Chiu noted the necessity of preparing for war while avoiding any actions that could provoke it.

Chiu also expressed concerns about the harrowing consequences of conflict and reiterated that Taiwan's armed forces are committed to preventing war through diligent monitoring of any signs of enemy advancement. While he did not provide a direct answer regarding Taiwan's ability to call up 300,000 reservists in a single day, he noted the presence of mobilization plans and high attendance at past reservist training programs.

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Information dissemination: During a legislative meeting, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu urged the MND to work with the Ministry of the Interior to increase public awareness of air raid shelter locations. Currently accessible through a QR code in the All-Out Defense Handbook, Wang suggested printing and distributing the information to residents at the district, borough, and neighborhood levels.

Chiu acknowledged Wang's proposal, noting that it should be evaluated in the regular meetings with various government agencies by the All-Out Defense Mobilization Agency.

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Flares, fired from the Israeli side, burn in the sky as seen from Ramyah near the Lebanese-Israeli border

By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan has set up a task force to draw lessons from the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Thursday, saying intelligence is key to preventing a war as the island works to counter China's military threats.

Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has come under increasing military and political pressure from Beijing, including two major sets of Chinese war games near the island since August 2022, heightening fears of a conflict that would have global ramifications.

Although there are major differences between the threat Taiwan faces from China and what is happening between Israel and Hamas - China for example would have to cross the Taiwan Strait to invade the island - the war has focused attention on the possibility of a Chinese attack.

Chiu, asked by reporters at parliament about what lessons Taiwan has learned from Israel's conflict with Palestinian Hamas militants, said the ministry had set up a task force to monitor the situation.

"The initial (lesson) is that intelligence work is very important. With intelligence, many countermeasures can be made. A war can even be avoided," Chiu said.

He said the fighting between Israel and Hamas demonstrated the horror of war, and although the military was working to boost combat readiness, it will not conflict.

"It is everyone's shared expectations to avoid a war," he said.

Taiwan's government has condemned the Hamas attack, with President Tsai Ing-wen saying Taiwan remains "committed to working with like-minded countries to fight threats and violence and to safeguard freedom and democracy".

Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary elections in January, which the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has cast as a choice between war and peace. The KMT has accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of taking Taiwan to the brink of war by intentionally provoking China, which it strongly denies.

On Sunday, KMT chairman Eric Chu said what happened in Israel has "made everyone feel what it means to be threatened by war".

"We believe that peace across the Taiwan Strait is what everyone expects. No Taiwanese wants to see war," said Chu, whose party traditionally favours close ties with Beijing.

Senior DPP lawmaker Wang Ting-yu, responding on his Facebook page, criticised the KMT for not condemning China and its threats against Taiwan.

"These people are not pacifists; they have intentionally or otherwise become pawns of the aggressor," Wang wrote.

Tsai has overseen a military modernisation program to bolster Taiwan's defences.

Former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison told a forum in Taipei on Wednesday that with China's threats against the island, it was important to strengthen Taiwan's resilience but that Taiwan needed to do more itself.

"Such urgency must also be demonstrated by Taiwan itself. Israel is an even smaller nation than Taiwan and likewise lives under constant threat," he told an audience that included Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. "But they spend considerably more proportionally on its defence than here in Taiwan."

The overall defence budget proposed by the government for next year amounts to 2.5% of Taiwan's GDP. Israel's amounts to 4.5% for this year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

(Reporting By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Taiwan is studying the deadly surprise attack that Hamas terrorists from Gaza launched on Israel in the hopes it will help the self-governing island prevent war, a Taiwanese defense official said Thursday, as it deals with threats and intimidation from China.

Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said a task force has been set up to monitor the Hamas-Israel war when asked by reporters about what lessons Taiwan has learned from the attack.

"The initial (lesson) is that intelligence work is very important. With intelligence, many countermeasures can be made. A war can even be avoided," Chiu said.

More than 2,400 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed in the Middle East since terrorist group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel Saturday morning.

EGYPT WARNED ISRAEL OF ATTACK, HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN CLAIMS

Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said intelligence work is an important initial lesson taken away from the Hamas-Israel war.

As of Thursday morning, Israel Defense Forces said more than 1,200 Israelis are dead and at least 3,000 are wounded.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Thursday that at least 25 Americans were killed in the violence after Hamas infiltrated Israel on Saturday.

Chiu said the war "blew up so suddenly," prompting Taiwan to up its ability to forecast possible threats.

CHINA FLEW MORE THAN 150 MILITARY PLANES TOWARD TAIWAN AS ISLAND CONDEMNS MILITARY HARASSMENT

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has conducted increasingly large military drills in the air and waters around Taiwan as tensions have grown between the two and with the United States. The U.S. is Taiwans main supplier of arms and opposes any attempt to change Taiwans status by force.

The Chinese government would prefer that Taiwan come under its control voluntarily and last month unveiled a plan for an integrated development demonstration zone in Fujian province, trying to entice Taiwanese even as it threatens the island militarily in what experts say is Chinas long-running carrot and stick approach.

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Taiwan's Foreign Ministry also expressed its support for Israel in the face of the Hamas attack and said it strongly condemns violence against civilians. Authorities are also in contact with more than 130 Taiwanese citizens residing or traveling in Israel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Taiwan studying Hamas-Israel war for lessons amid military intimidation from China
SINGAPORE, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Scoot flight scheduled bounding to Perth, Australia, returned to Singapore Changi Airport on Thursday due to a bomb threat after takeoff, local media reported.

A spokesperson for the airline told local media that the plane departed at 4:11 p.m. and turned back about one hour into the flight due to a bomb threat.

The aircraft landed in Singapore at 6:27 p.m., and security checks were carried out, the spokesperson added.

Singaporean Air Force sent fighter jets to escort the Scoot flight back to Changi. 
Taylor Swift didnt stop in Raleigh on her Eras Tour this summer, but Swifties in the Triangle can still see her nearly three-hour performance on the big screen.

Swift announced her big-screen concert this summer with an Oct. 13 release date. But Wednesday night, Swift dropped another announcement for Swifties: Select theaters around the country will push their opening night up by one day, allowing early access to the concert(ish) experience on Thursday, Oct. 12.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film will be playing at theaters internationally beginning Friday.

You can find theaters near you and showtimes by visiting tstheerastourfilm.com and searching in your city or zip code.

Ticket prices are often $13.13  a nod to Swifts longtime favorite numbers  or $19.89  the title of Swifts next re-recorded album, dropping Oct. 27.

Heres how you can snag tickets in and around Raleigh.

zero-tolerance cell phone policy , but kid-friendly screenings relax the rules for young guests. There are many of those for the Eras Tour at the Raleigh Alamo. For tickets and showtimes, visit drafthouse.com/raleigh/show/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour. Raleighs Alamo Drafthouse is located at 2116-D New Bern Ave.  Triangle Cinemas & Drive-In: The drive-in theater will be playing the concert film from Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 29, according to their website. For tickets and showtimes, visit triangledrive.in/schedule. Triangle Cinemas & Drive-In is located at 9500 Forum Dr. in Raleigh.
HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A movie theatre in Hanford will be showing the highly-anticipated Taylor Swift : The Eras Tour a day earlier than the general release.

The concert film, compiled from several Swift shows at Southern Californias SoFi Stadium, has been billed as game-changing for the movie industry.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour may be game-changing for movie industry

Cinemark in Hanford is one of the movie theatres that will be offering early access showings on Thursday, Oct. 12  one day ahead of the official opening on Friday, Oct. 13.

Early access showings start on Thursday at 6 p.m., with further showings set for 6:45 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. at the Cinemark in Hanford. Tickets can be booked by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
Teacher Goes Viral For Adorable Mock Class Trip To Mexico: Why Teachers Deserve To Be Paid 6 Figures | Photo: kali9 via Getty Images

Teachers who go above and beyond often leave a positive, lifelong impression on their students. Sonja White, a teacher who put together an intricate in-classroom trip to Mexico, is one of those educators.

According to Complex, White shared a TikTok video detailing how she put the extravagant affair together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. White put together fake passports and boarding passes for her students and tasked them with packing carry-on luggage and bringing it to their flight.

White decorated the classroom like an airplane and played a video of a plane taking off while the students were in the fictitious plane. Each student was given a drink and snack while aboard.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

After landing in Mexico, the students received a paycheck they could use at the gift shop White created. She instructed them to pay the exact amount or tell her how much change they should receive, integrating math into the equation.

The class enjoyed a meal at a Mexican restaurant to conclude their trip. A mom provided enchiladas, rice, chips, salsa, and tres leches cake.

The TikTok post has racked up 2.4 million views and hundreds of thousands of likes and comments.

Viewers commended Whites commitment to her students and noted how important that experience will likely be in their lives.

One TikTok user commented, Not me thinking you really were taking a field trip to Mexico with the kids at the beginning ! I loved every second of this!

This is the type of teachers students always remember , another added.

One user said she wants to be in Whites class as an adult.

@ my big age I wanna be in her class how creative and fun, they wrote.

Viewers on X, formerly Twitter, were impressed, too. One argued Whites classroom experience proves teachers are underpaid.

This is why teachers deserve to be paid 6 figures. I know for a fact most of this was out of pocket cost and an experience they will never forget. Shes teaching them real life experiences in a fun way. Educators we appreciate you , the user wrote.

This is why teachers deserve to be paid 6 figures. I know for a fact most of this was out of pocket cost and an experience they will never forget. Shes teaching them real life experiences in a fun way. Educators we appreciate you  https://t.co/ebmAWY0KMl  Ari B, LCSW (@JustAriSpeaking) October 11, 2023

Another agreed its an experience the kids will never forget.

Im not exaggerating when I say this is the coolest teacher ever. She put SO MUCH thought and effort into every detail of this day for her students. Adorable! And shout out to the mom that made enchiladas and the drinks. Kids will remember this forever, they tweeted.

Im not exaggerating when I say this is the coolest teacher ever. She put SO MUCH thought and effort into every detail of this day for her students. Adorable! And shout out to the mom that made enchiladas and the drinks. Kids will remember this forever. https://t.co/GTB7hSCscF  Heather Doyle (@heathermdoyle) October 11, 2023
A teen has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Greece teenager during a gunfight in a city parking lot in May.

Shanye Moody, 18, of Greece was shot to death in the parking lot of the Anthony Jordan Health Center on Holland Street around 3:10 a.m. on May 29, when a large group gathered in the parking lot, and two groups of people started shooting at each other, according to Rochester police.

Mootry was a 2022 graduate of Greece Athena High School and was sitting in a vehicle at the time. She was not involved in any altercation but was struck by gunfire and killed, said Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department.

Investigators said that Mootry was part of a roving party that originated from Genesee Valley Park earlier in the evening, Umbrino said. The gathering at the park was disrupted by gunshots, causing the group to relocate - first to Westgate Plaza, then later to the parking lot behind the Anthony Jordan Health Center, where gunfire again erupted.

Naveair Stewart, 18, was charged with second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, felonies, in connection with Moody's death. He was indicted by a Monroe County Grand Jury and the indictment was unsealed on Wednesday in Monroe County Court.

Stewart has been in custody since late August in connection with the Aug. 26 shooting death of Jevonte Huff, 28, of Rochester in a drive-by shooting outside a gas station on Dewey Avenue. Police said that Huff was not the intended target and was struck by a stray bullet.

Stewart and Thailea Arroyo, 19, were apprehended that same day following a car chase that followed a drive-by shooting on Hudson Avenue. Stewart and Arroyo are both accused of killing Huff and were each charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Moody's death.

Stewart is being held at the Monroe County Jail without bail and is due to return to court on Dec. 15.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Naveair Stewart accused of killing Shanye Moody in Rochester NY
Progressive and moderate House Democrats scuffled over the war in Israel during a closed-door caucus meeting on Wednesday, with one lawmaker accusing another of saying a shit thing about Muslims.

The exchange started when Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) talked to her fellow members about a vigil she attended virtually in the wake of this weekends deadly attack by Hamas, according to six people familiar with the events that transpired.

As Wild told fellow House Democrats that she didnt want any religious community to feel ostracized  noting that Muslim leaders werent present at the event she participated in  Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), a moderate Jewish Democrat and Israel hawk, loudly interjected.

Accounts differ, however, on whether Gottheimer was referring to Muslims or made an ill-timed remark in an unrelated conversation, with some attendees overhearing him saying because theyre all guilty" and others saying he stated "because they should feel guilty." A spokesperson for Gottheimer strongly denied that he was talking about Muslims.

Congressman Gottheimer never said anything about Muslims in today's caucus meeting, a community he cares deeply about. Congressman Gottheimer said that the members of Congress who have not yet condemned Hamas terrorists should feel guilty, said his spokesperson Chris DAloia.



Gottheimer later told other Democrats at the meeting that his comments were taken out of context and made as part of a separate conversation with an attendee about condemnation of Hamas. The lawmaker has been publicly critical in recent days of those he saw as insufficiently criticizing Hamas for its attacks on Israelis.

But others in the room were taken aback by his remarks, which they saw as insensitive to Muslims. One Democratic lawmaker shouted out: Joshua!

Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), a first-term progressive lawmaker, and others walked up to confront Gottheimer. The two argued back and forth, according to witnesses, with Gottheimer saying that more people should talk about how Hamas is responsible and Casar countering that Gottheimer didnt know whether Muslim leaders in Pennsylvania had failed to do that.

Eventually Casar told Gottheimer that his remarks were a shit thing to say, sources said, and called the centrist shameful. Gottheimer insisted to Casar that the comments werent directly aimed at him.

Amid the spat, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and other progressive lawmakers were spotted leaving the party meeting together.

The dustup shined a bright light on the longtime fracture within the Democratic Party over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its a divide that the party had largely skirted following the bloody surprise terrorist attack this weekend  but one that threatens to roil Democrats further as the war in the Middle East progresses in the weeks ahead.



A Casar spokesperson declined to provide a comment for the story.

Congressman Gottheimer is furious and deeply disappointed with Members of Congress who have yet to condemn Hamas terrorists for brutally murdering, raping, burning alive, kidnapping, torturing, and beheading innocent babies, children, women, men, and grandparents  including Americans, said DAloia, the Gottheimer spokesperson. Congressman Gottheimer said that those members who have not condemned Hamas terrorists should indeed feel guilty. Of course, Congressman Gottheimer doesnt blame innocent Palestinian civilians  he blames the terrorists.



The White House itself has been acutely aware of Democratic schisms on the matter, even as President Joe Biden casts a very public show of support for Israel. In a speech Tuesday, Biden forcefully denounced Hamas attack as pure, unadulterated evil, pledging that the United States has Israels back. On Wednesday, he noted that in calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he had stressed that Israel, with all its anger and frustrations, had to operate by the rules of war.

While a handful of progressive lawmakers have publicly pushed for a cease-fire, de-escalation and even stripping government support from Israel, most Democrats in Congress have largely stayed behind the president as he sidestepped those calls.

Biden also has urged lawmakers in both parties to provide emergency funding for Israel and condemned Hamas for the killing of more than 1,000 Israelis and the kidnapping of hundreds more.

Several progressive and more establishment-minded Democrats said that party unity has been palpable so far due in part to the gruesome nature of the attacks on Israel that took place.

It was so grotesque that it ended up uniting people even if they have different views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With the exception of a few of the [Democratic Socialists of America] chapters, you really haven't seen any difference of opinion when it comes to this, said a Democratic House member who was granted anonymity to speak freely.

Indeed, party leaders have worked to project consensus. House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) noted Wednesday: The Democratic caucus can be unified behind our values, behind our purpose, behind the policy that we support. And that doesn't always mean we have unanimity.

But those lawmakers and others in liberal circles said that they expected the political terrain to become more volatile for Biden as the war in Israel drags on.



There are a couple of people, a handful of people, who are not part of the present, unanimous posture of progressives and Democrats, said Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of liberal Jewish advocacy group J Street. Thats where we are today in the immediate aftermath of this attack. Im not going to say thats where things will be in a week, two weeks, three weeks, but thats where we are today.

As Biden has rallied forcefully to Israels defense, there have been blunt conversations with stakeholders behind the scenes. Progressive congressional offices privately spoke with the White House about the war in Israel, according to a congressional aide familiar with the conversations. Theyve specifically discussed the need for restraint, avoiding a wider conflict, minimizing civilian casualties and opening humanitarian corridors, the source said.

And White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this week, in response to a question about Democrats calling for a cease-fire, that such remarks are repugnant and disgraceful.

Within the progressive left, chasms over the war in Israel are already publicly appearing.

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) declared in a separate statement Wednesday that he was leaving the DSA over their stances on Israel. DSAs inability to look at what has happened as terrorism is very upsetting and shocking, he said in an interview.

But the Metro Detroit chapter of the group disputed Thanedars statement, with its co-chair Mikal Goodman telling POLITICO a majority of the group had actually voted to expel him over a month ago over his foreign policy stances.

His views are not  and have never been  representative of Detroit DSA, Goodman said in an email.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) has also taken heat from some in her party over what her critics saw as insufficient condemning of Hamas attacks on civilians. But in a Wednesday statement she said: I do not support the targeting and killing of civilians, whether in Israel or Palestine. The fact that some have suggested otherwise is offensive and rooted in bigoted assumptions about my faith and ethnicity.
Temple University's Department of Public Safety released a photo of a subject they believe may be connected to both incidents.

PHILADELPHIA - Temple University police and Philadelphia police are investigating two indecent assault incidents the university says recently occurred near campus.

Police say a student was in the area of the 1500 block of West Norris Street when they were touched from behind by an unknown male.

Days before that incident, police say another indecent assault - possibly involving the same suspect - happened near the 1800 block of Norris Street.

Announcement regarding incidents in area of Norris Street https://t.co/3GF6v1kSCz  Temple Public Safety (@TU_Police) October 12, 2023

A photo of the suspect was also distributed by Temple's Department of Public Safety on social media. Officials did not release the date or time when each incident is said to have occurred, or the exact number of days between the two incidents.

The university said in a release issued Thursday that the Department of Public Safety was not aware of the first incident until after the second incident was reported to police.

Officials say they have increased the police presence in the area, and anyone who believed they may have been a victim in a similar incident is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Departments Special Victims Unit.
A commander of the security department at the Ternopil military enlistment office had been charged with torture, and another staff member of the same department had been charged with illegal imprisonment, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Oct. 12.

On the evening of Oct. 6, the latter of the suspects, accompanied by two unidentified people in military uniforms, stopped a local resident in Ternopil to check his documents, the prosecutors said.

Upon discovering that the man was born in Russia, the alleged perpetrators decided to take him to the local recruitment office. When the resident refused, the suspect and his companions physically assaulted him and forcibly took him to their headquarters.

According to Ukrainska Pravda, the victim was born in Murmansk, Russia, but is a Ukrainian citizen.

The video of the incident appeared the day later on the local 20 Minutes news channel.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine: Corruption in Ukraine, and where reforms fall short on Apple Podcasts

Soon after, another video appeared on social media, showing staff members of the Ternopil enlistment office violently beating two recruits. According to the prosecutors, the victim from the earlier incident was among those who were beaten.

The investigation established that the violent incident was caused by an altercation between the two recruits and an enlistment officer the previous day.

The recruits were reportedly drunk and attempted to take a weapon from the officer, which eventually led to them being beaten, the prosecutors reported.

Enlistment offices across the country came under the attention of the authorities after journalists discovered in June that the family of the ex-head of the Odesa Oblast military enlistment office had acquired property worth $4.5 million since the start of the full-scale invasion.

This led to a nationwide inspection that uncovered already 260 cases of suspected violations by enlistment offices and military medical commissions, the State Bureau of Investigation reported on Oct. 10.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Texas paid over $75m to a private company over one year to transport migrants out of the state and into sanctuary cities across the country.

From August 2022 through August 2023, the state paid Wynne Transportation $75,561,032.72, according to transaction data provided by the Texas Department of Emergency Management, reported ABC13.

Among other services, the companys website says, Wynne Transportation provides services to businesses, corporations, academic clients, municipal, and government agencies who are interested in contract services, custom transportation services, and more.

The outlet obtained a statement from Texas Gov Greg Abbott s office on Wednesday.

Mr Abbotts spokesperson, Andrew Mahaleris, told ABC13, Governor Abbott launched the border bus mission in April 2022 to provide support to our overrun and overwhelmed border communities as the Biden Administration dumps thousands of migrants in their towns. Texas has since bused over 54,000 migrants to self-declared sanctuary cities, providing much-needed relief.

He added, In recent weeks, border officials and NGOs in border communities have requested additional support to respond to the unprecedented surges enticed by President Bidens reckless open border policies. Until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to help our local partners respond to this Biden-made crisis.

Gov Abbotts office boasted the number of migrants sent to each city in a press release last week as part of Operation Lone Star, a multi-agency effort  to respond to a rise in illegal immigration, according to Texas Indigent Defense Commission.

The release stated that Texas has bused at least 12,500 migrants to Washington, DC since April 2022, 18,500 to New York City and over 13,500 migrants to Chicago since August 2022, over 3,200 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022, over 3,200 migrants to Denver since May 18, and over 940 migrants to Los Angeles since 14 June 2023.

While sanctuary cities have offered many migrants a place to stay, some cities are strained for resources. New York Gov Kathy Hochul last month warned that Places like New York really are at capacity.

She added, We have large hearts, we want to be generous and supportive to people who are experiencing a humanitarian crisis. But there is a limit to what we can do.

On 2 October, Illinois Gov JB Pritzker wrote a letter to President Biden, asking for federal assistance as the migrant crisis in his state is overwhelming. Without calling out Texas or Gov Abbott by name, but in an apparent reference to both, Mr Pritzker penned: Allowing just one state to lay the burden upon a certain few states run by Democrats is untenable.
The Legislature has about $6 billion available to spend during its third special session, which the governor called to advance school choice, strengthen border security and restrict COVID-19 mandates.

How much of that money lawmakers will approve for increases in public education spending, as many teachers and superintendents have called for, remains uncertain, though the Senate Education Committee has advanced two proposals.

Senators could vote as early as Thursday on a $5.2 billion package  Senate Bill 2  to increase teacher pay, raise per-student funding and allocate more school safety money. Officials could also vote Thursday on a $500 million school choice bill that would provide $8,000 to students for private school and other education costs, prioritizing low-income and special education students. Sen. Brandon Creighton , R-Conroe, authored both bills.

School choice is a voucher-like program that uses public money to help pay for students K-12 private school costs.

SB 2  the finance bill  proposes to use almost $4 billion that lawmakers appropriated during the regular session in spring for public education.

Lawmakers did not agree on a school finance bill during the regular session, which ended May 29, so the $4 billion is essentially sitting in the states budget without any direction. Lawmakers would have to pass legislation to allocate the money to a certain purpose, such as for public school funding.

Creightons finance bill would also pull about $1.2 billion from predicted state revenue over the next two years to invest in education.

The $500 million Creighton proposed in SB 1  his school choice bill  was also set aside during the regular session. The money is sitting in the states budget, earmarked for school choice programs.

More: Texas Senate panel advances school choice, education funding bills to full chamber

The regular session ended in squabbles between the House and Senate over school choice. Creightons school choice bill in the regular session sailed in the Senate, but it died in the House after members had committed against spending public money on private school costs.

How much money is available?

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts released updated calculations last week that predict an $18.3 billion budget surplus at the end of the 2024-25 biennium, the two-year period over which the Legislature is allocating funding.

Thats $4 billion more than the $14.1 billion the comptroller initially predicted over the summer would be available, according to the comptrollers office. The comptroller released that initial estimate before the second special session in July.

However, because of constitutional spending limits, lawmakers are really working with about $6 billion to fund school initiatives, border issues and any bills restricting COVID-19 vaccine mandates for this biennium.

More: Texas Senate panel OKs border bills to increase penalties for human smuggling, crossings

Lawmakers could vote to spend more than the constitutional limit, but doing so is rare and can be considered politically risky.

Even if lawmakers pass a school funding bill, Gov. Greg Abbott hasnt signaled whether hes on board. In his call for this third special session, Abbott didnt list school finance as one of the approved topics. Instead, he called for education savings accounts, a type of school choice proposal, for all Texas students.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Legislature: Lawmakers have $6B to spend on schools, border
A Houston-area pastor is behind bars after he allegedly sexually assaulted a juvenile family member hundreds of times for more than a decade, and getting her pregnant, according to Texas court records.

Court records allege that 39-year-old Robert L. Carter was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child and sexual assault of a child under the age of 17, both felonies.

The criminal complaint, which was obtained by Fox News Digital, alleges that Carter began abusing the girl when she was 7 years old in 2008. At the time, Carter was married to the girls mother.

JOSH DUGGAR WILL REMAIN IN PRISON UNTIL 2032 AFTER APPEAL TERMINATED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

The girl, who is now 22, told police when she was 7, Carter went into her bedroom and made her perform sex acts on him. After that night, she said, he allegedly made it a regular occurrence.

It started with Carter disrobing in front of her, the complaint alleges, and then led to him exposing himself and bribing her with candy.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Police said the victim said the sexual assaults occurred at least 600 times.

FLORIDA MAN WHO POSED AS TEEN IN DISTURBING SEX CRIM SCHEME FACES JUSTICE

Police said the victim said the sexual assaults occurred at least 600 times.

"It happened a lot over the years," she told police.

Carter also allegedly drove the victim to school and would pull the vehicle behind a supermarket and sexually abused the juvenile, sometimes making her watch pornography on his cellphone.

He also allegedly sexually abused the young girl at the Greater Bible Way Church in Sunnyside, where he worked.

WOMAN AWAITING TRIAL ON CYCLIST ANNA MORIAH WILSON'S HOMICIDE ATTEMPTS ESCAPE DURING MEDICAL ESCORT

Carter is currently being held at the Harris County Jail, on $100,000 bond.

At one point, the girl told Carter she was "not doing this anymore," and he got mad and threatened her by saying, "if you dont do this, I promise youre going to regret it. Im going to make your life a living hell," court documents allege.

The sexual assaults ended when the girl was 19.

Just three years prior, she was pregnant with Carters child from January 2018 to Sept. 5, 2018, when she gave birth to a baby boy in a closet, the complaint notes.

The victim told Carter the baby was born, and he allegedly took the child to a firehouse and dropped him off.

Carter is currently being held at the Harris County Jail, on $100,000 bond.





Original article source: Texas pastor accused of sexually abusing juvenile family member for over decade, impregnating her at 16
Chinese envoy eyes new start of China-Australia ties

Xinhua) 10:38, October 12, 2023

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian delivers a speech at the Asia Briefing LIVE 2023 Organized by Asia Society Australia in Melbourne, Australia, Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- China and Australia should not only maintain the steady and positive momentum of bilateral relations, but also go beyond stabilization to promote the continuous improvement and development, as the relations are at an important moment for a new start, Chinse Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said on Wednesday.

Xiao made the remarks at the Asia Briefing LIVE 2023 Organized by Asia Society Australia in Melbourne.

Xiao said last year was a year of stability for China-Australia relations. This year is a year of exchanges, dialogue and improvement for China and Australia, said the ambassador, noting that the two countries have seen exchanges and visits in various fields and at various levels, and made positive progress in bilateral ties in 2023.

For the future of China-Australia relations, he shared three expectations.

First, mutual understanding. "China regards Australia as a friend. There is no reason for Australia to see China as a threat," the Chinese ambassador told the audience.

Second, expansion of practical cooperation. China is Australia's largest trading partner. The practical cooperation between China and Australia has benefited the two peoples, and the mutually beneficial cooperation also enjoys a promising prospect, Xiao said.

Third, proper handling of differences. The Chinese envoy called on to focus on cooperation, manage differences on the basis of mutual respect, and promote the further improvement and development of bilateral relations, rather than let differences hinder the pace of cooperation.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
CAIRO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged Israel to "avoid targeting the Rafah crossing on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt," according to a statement by the ministry.

"The Rafah crossing remains open and has not been closed since the beginning of the ongoing crisis, but its basic infrastructure at the Palestinian side was destroyed due to the recurrent Israeli raids which prevent its normal operation," the statement said.

Raids on the Rafah crossing should be evaded, so the crossing can be restored to serve as a life artery for supporting the Palestinian brothers in the strip, the statement added.

The statement urged all countries, and regional and international organizations to provide humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip to reduce their sufferings caused by the continuous and violent Israeli strikes.

Egypt directed international aid for Gaza to al-Arish Airport in the north of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, the statement said.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

In Gaza, Israel continues its massive airstrikes and has halted the supply of water and electricity. The United Nations reports that at least 200,000 Palestinians have been displaced, with more than 120,000 taking shelter in U.N. schools under challenging conditions. 
Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) said someone has taken down his I Stand With Israel sign that was posted outside his office and that U.S. Capitol Police will be investigating the incident.

Last night, someone came to my D.C. office and removed my Stand With Israel sign. Let me be clear, this is not just about a stolen sign, this is about uniting as a country to stand alongside our closest ally in a fight against hate and evil, Williams said in a statement to The Hill.

More than 35 Americans have been killed or are still missing along with more than 1,000 Israelis. Yet our nation is divided on standing united with Israel. My support for Israel is unmoved and I will not be silenced. We must do all that is required to ensure their victory. My office has contacted Capitol Police, who will be opening an investigation, Williams said.

Williams displayed two new I Stand With Israel signs that he posted outside his office in a video posted Thursday on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

The Capitol Police confirmed to The Hill than an investigation has been opened.

The White House and many lawmakers have been adamant about providing continuing support to Israel after the nation was infiltrated by Hamas over the weekend. More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed in the fighting and more than 1,100 Palestinians have died as a result of airstrikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

John Kirby, a White House spokesperson on national security issues, confirmed Thursday that 27 Americans have been killed in the fighting and 14 U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for.

The U.S. is continuing to work to provide Israel with military capabilities in the days since the attack. Additionally, emergency munitions began arriving Tuesday in Israel, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The administration also announced the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as an act of deterrence against actors looking to escalate or widen the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It has also moved U.S. Air Force F-15s, F-16s and A-10s to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After suspending a Black student over his dreadlocks, a Texas high school sent a notice to his family saying the student will be sent to a disciplinary education program, according to a letter reviewed by the Associated Press.

Darryl George, 18, was referred to EPIC, an alternative school program, from Oct. 12 through Nov. 29 for "failure to comply" with multiple campus and classroom regulations, including a "violation of the dress and grooming policy," read the letter signed by Lance Murphy, the principal of Barbers Hill High School.

Murphy wrote that George can return to the classroom on Nov. 30. His family cannot appeal the decision because the alternative school referral was not for a period longer than 60 days, according to the Texas Education Code cited in the letter.

The school district did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

Darryl George, an 18-year-old junior looks on before walking into Barbers Hill High School after serving an in-school suspension for not cutting his hair. George will be sent to EPIC, an alternative school program, from Oct. 12 through Nov. 29 for failure to comply with multiple campus and classroom regulations, the principal said. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)

High school suspends teen claiming violation of dress and grooming code

On Aug. 31, George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School, was suspended after school officials said his twisted dreadlocks violated the district's dress and grooming code. Although the district's policy does not prohibit dreadlocks or braids, it states that male student's hair cannot "be gathered or worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a t-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down."

But George's mother, Darresha George, and Allie Booker, the family's attorney, have denied that the teenager's hairstyle violates the district's policy.

Last month the family filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency and a federal civil rights lawsuit against the states governor and attorney general, alleging they failed to enforce a new law outlawing discrimination based on hairstyles.

George has twisted dreadlocks tied on top of his head that he wears as an "outward expression of his Black identity and culture," according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Darryl George, left, an 18 year-old junior, and his mother Darresha George, right, talk with reporters before walking into Barbers Hill High School after he served an in-school suspension for not cutting his hair on Sept. 18, 2023, in Mont Belvieu, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Family's federal lawsuit and the CROWN Act

The lawsuit and supporters of George allege that his ongoing suspension is a violation of Texas' CROWN Act, a new law that is intended to prohibit "discrimination on the basis of hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race," according to state Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers, D-Rowlett, who authored the bill.

The suit also alleges that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have failed to enforce the CROWN Act, which went into effect on Sept. 1  a day after George was suspended. The lawsuit alleges that the state leaders did not protect George's constitutional and state rights, and allowed the school district to violate the law.

On Wednesday, an attorney representing the Barbers Hill Independent School District filed a motion asking the judge to send the case back to state court, arguing that "No federal claims were raised" in the lawsuit by George's family, according to court records.

The following day, Judge George C. Hanks Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Houston denied the motion because it did not comply with court procedures, records said.

The attorneys for the George family and school district did not reply to requests for comment.

Darryl George, left, a 17-year-old junior, and his mother Darresha George, right, talks with reporters before walking across the street to go into Barbers Hill High School after Darryl served a 5-day in-school suspension for not cutting his hair Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Mont Belvieu. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

High school had other clashes with Black students over dress code

Barbers Hill High School has previously clashed with two other Black male students over the dress code.

Barbers Hill officials told cousins DeAndre Arnold and Kaden Bradford they had to cut their dreadlocks in 2020. Their families sued the district in May 2020, and a federal judge later ruled the districts hair policy was discriminatory. Their pending case helped spur Texas lawmakers to approve the states CROWN Act. Both students withdrew from the school but Bradford returned after the judges ruling.

Contributing: The Associate Press; Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darryl George sent to alternative school after hairstyle suspension
A Black Texas high school student who has been suspended for more than a month over the length of his locs hairstyle has been referred to an alternative school, according to a notice sent to his mother from his school principal and obtained by CNN.

Darryl George, 18, will be placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, also known as an alternative school, through Nov 29, the notice said.

The letter, signed by Barbers Hill High School principal Lance Murphy, cites violations for multiple infractions of campus and classroom rules including, disruption of the ISS classroom, failure to comply with directives from staff/administration, violation of tardy policy and violation of the dress and grooming policy.

As the School Principal, I have determined that your child has engaged in chronic or repeated disciplinary infractions that violate the Districts previously communicated standards of student conduct, Murphy writes in the notice.

The decision to send George to an alternative program is the latest escalation in a legal fight over whether the teenagers locs hairstyle  which he often wears in braids or a ponytail  is a violation of the school districts dress code which places limitations on how long a male students hair can be.

School officials had previously warned George and his family that continued violation of the dress code would result in a referral to an alternative program, CNN previously reported.

The George family refuses to cut the teens hair and argues the districts policy is a violation of the Texas CROWN Act, a law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of hairstyles commonly associated with race.

Last month, George and his mother, Darresha, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the states attorney general, and school officials for allegedly failing to enforce the law.

George will be allowed to return to class on November 30, according to the notice.

But the notice also states the family will not be able to appeal the referral to an alternative school. The letter cites the Texas Education Code, which states if the period of placement in the alternative education program does not extend beyond 60 days  this decision is final.

Greg Poole, superintendent of the Barbers Hill Independent School District, told CNN George was not referred to an alternative school because of his hair.

Confidentiality does not allow us to disclose the infractions that caused his current disciplinary placement but it was unequivocally not because of his hair, he said.

Allie Booker, an attorney for George and his family, called the move retaliation for the familys ongoing legal dispute with the school district.

On Wednesday, a judge in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas denied a motion filed by the Barbers Hill Independent School District to remove the case from federal court, according to court documents.

Today they filed a motion to pull (the case) out of the federal court and the judge struck the motion for non-compliance with court rules, so they retaliated by putting Darryl in DAEP, Booker said, referring to the alternative school.

District officials denied Bookers claim, saying administrators do not intend to enhance the current disciplinary action against the student for the ongoing violation of its grooming policy, pending the courts ruling on whether the districts policy is legal.

Candice Matthews, a spokesperson for the family and a civil rights activist, told CNN George feels horrible about the referral but plans to show up for the program tomorrow. She also said George still does not plan to cut his hair.

The 18-year-old student has been serving in-school suspension since August 31 because of the length of his locs, according to court documents.

Clarification: On Thursday, the Barbers Hill Independent School District reiterated the districts dress code allows students to wear locs but places limitations on the length of hairstyles for male students. The headline of this story has been updated to be more precise.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Worried families gathered at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport to await the arrival of a commercial flight carrying 15 Thais (Lillian SUWANRUMPHA)

Twenty-one Thai nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Thursday, up from the previous toll of 20.

"The update from last night is bad news that one more Thai died, the number rises to 21," he said.

The war was triggered by a bloody attack by Hamas and has left thousands dead with around 150 hostages taken.

There are approximately 30,000 Thais in Israel, mostly working in the agriculture sector, according to Thailand's labour ministry.

Fears are mounting over the fate of 14 Thai citizens who have been taken hostage.

Worried families gathered Thursday morning at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport to await the arrival of a commercial flight carrying 15 Thais, including many wounded.

Yanisa Thaweekaew, whose son Supipat Kongkaew has worked on an Israeli avocado farm since last year, said she hadn't slept in days.

"My son is everything to me. I was worried. He is the only son I have," she told AFP.

"I cried every day knowing that he lived in the red zone."

Many of those being repatriated are farm workers from Thailand's poor northeast who had gone to Israel in search of vastly higher wages.

The mother and wife of Somma Sae-ja -- a Thai man who moved to Israel two years ago to work in agriculture -- were anxiously awaiting his safe return home after he was shot in the leg.

"I couldn't sleep last night, I was so excited and worried," his wife Nantawan Sae-lee, 30, told AFP.

"We don't have much money so he went to Israel. He is a really good man."

Mhee Sae-ja, his 55-year-old mother, said she was "overwhelmed".

More than 5,000 Thais are seeking to return to the kingdom and diplomats are exploring potential sea and overland evacuation options.

Further Thai repatriation flights are due to leave Israel on Sunday and Wednesday next week.

Sawiang Paelin, 69, from Nong Khai, said her son was able to support his entire family by working abroad.

"No amount of money is more important than a persons life," she said.

tp-tak-lpm/mca
The USS Gerald R. Ford anchored in the Gulf of Trieste, Italy, on Sept. 18. (Andrej Tarfila/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) (SOPA Images via Getty Images)

The United States this week dispatched a group of warships, including the USS Gerald Ford, to support Israel following the brutal attacks by Hamas militants.

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Death toll reaches 2,800, including 27 U.S. citizens

Where were they sent specifically?

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group  which includes the namesake aircraft carrier, the guided missile cruiser USS Normandy and four guided missile destroyers (the USS Thomas Hudner, Ramage, Carney and Roosevelt)  would be headed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

"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 a statement. "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."

The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required, he said. In addition, the United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions.

The strike group arrived Tuesday afternoon, the Pentagon said. The Wall Street Journal reported that another carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, was expected to head to the region later this week.

Largest warship ever built

A fighter jet is launched from the deck of the Ford during flight deck operations in Virginia in 2022. (Steve Helber/AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The USS Gerald Ford is the Navys newest and most advanced aircraft carrier.

Commissioned in 2017, the ship is named after former President Gerald Ford , who served in the Navy during World War II. Measuring more than 1,100 feet long, 255 feet wide and 250 feet high, the $18 billion vessel is the largest warship ever built.

The 5-acre flight deck can carry up to 90 aircraft, including F-35 fighter jets, The carriers size allows it to support up to 90 aircraft, including F-35s, F/A-18 Super Hornets, E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, EA-18G Growlers, SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and other aerial weaponry.

Recommended reading

 USA Today: Pentagon sends warships, warplanes to Middle East after Hamas attacks

 NBC News: U.S. military presence near Israel is a blunt message to Iran, Hezbollah: U.S. official

 CNN: 75 years of U.S. support for Israel, briefly explained

It's designed to get more fighter planes in the sky in less time and to be ready to incorporate unmanned aircraft into its air wing, the Associated Press noted at its christening in 2013.

The ship is powered by two state-of-the-art nuclear reactors and can reach a top speed of over 34 miles per hour.

The Ford is currently on its first combat deployment, with about 4,500 crew members on board. That figure does not include the rest of the strike group, which has roughly 1,500 sailors in its fleet.

Biggest, baddest warship

The Ford anchored in the Gulf of Trieste. (Andrej Tarfila/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) (SOPA Images via Getty Images)

The movement of what the Navy calls the biggest, baddest warship and others to the waters off Israel is meant largely as a deterrent against future attacks against Israel, particularly by Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group that's allied with Hamas and backed by Iran.

A U.S. official told NBC News earlier this week that the warships, as well as as many as two dozen fighter jets expected to arrive in the region, represent significant air-to-air and air-to-ground capability to deter any Iranian aggression.

Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, commander of the U.S. Central Command, said in a statement that the arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation."

If you think that this is a good time to join in the fight and attack Israel from other fronts, think again, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said Monday. That is the American message, and that is a message that we totally approve."
Armed bandits attacked an orphanage north of Haitis capital where several disabled children recently died after being blocked by gangs from seeking medical care, the operators of the orphanage and one of its residents told the Miami Herald.

Located in the coastal city of Arcahaie an hour north of Port-au-Prince, the HaitiChildren orphanage has been appealing for months to Haitian authorities to allow the transfer of dozens of its disabled children and dependents to safety in Jamaica. Theyve cited the escalating gang violence surrounding the facility and ongoing threats from armed groups who have threatened to shoot the kids.

The latest attack, said resident Ronald Beaubrun, happened at about 11 p.m. Tuesday. The bandits didnt leave until around 2:30 a.m. after stealing everything and attempting to rape one of the female residents.

There were 20 to 25 of them and they were all heavily armed, said Beaubrun, 26, who grew up in the orphanage and still lives there. After the attack, the staff responsible for caring for all 107 kids, including some who use wheelchairs, fled, leaving the children to fend for themselves.

We have no reinforcements, Beaubrun said, fearing the bandits return.

Beaubrun said the the bandits gained access to the orphanage by overpowering the armed security guards and trying them up. After spending about a half hour in the yard, they ransacked the facility, stealing everything of value: food, laptops, cell phones, solar panels and even the cows and goats.

After finding the safe in the office, they spent almost an hour on cracking into it before finally leaving.

More than 50 of the abandoned children and dependents at the orphanage are disabled. Their disabilities include Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism and brain injury from seizures.

Since June, the charity and its supporters have been appealing to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the head of the Institute for Social Welfare and Research, Haitis child welfare agency, to allow the disabled kids and adults to temporarily leave. They would relocate to Jamaica, where an internationally renowned Catholic charity, Mustard Seed Communities, founded by the Rev. Monsignor Gregory Ramkissoon, has agreed to take them until it is safe to return to Haiti.

More than a month after the Miami Herald first wrote about their plight, the children remain in Haiti.

Trish, who is 18 months old, is the youngest of dozens of disabled children cared for at an orphanage in Haiti.

Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, the head of Haitis child welfare agency, told the Herald she is working on transferring some of the disabled orphans and is waiting on documents from the charity. While she has not decided how many will be allowed to go to Jamaica, Villedrouin said a review of the medical records has shown that there are 19 who are really, really in need.

Its important that the documents arrive soon, she said.

Even if all of the disabled children and dependents are allowed to go to Jamaica, Villedrouin said, there are still 40 or so orphans without serious medical conditions whose safety in Haiti will need to be addressed, given the ongoing threat from gangs. She has recommended that the charity relocate the orphanage.

While no one was hurt in the latest attack, one of the residents, a young female, reported being the target of a thwarted rape attempt. In an email to Susie Krabacher, the orphanages co-founder along with her husband Joseph, the target of the attack said she was very afraid and cant sleep or eat. She referred to Krabacher as mom, as do all of the children.

I dont feel good, she wrote in the email that was shared with the Herald. They made [two] attempts to rape me.

At one point, Beaubrun said, the armed men tried to access the area where some of the disabled children were sleeping. The children refused to open the door. They started pulling at it, he said of the bandits. When they asked who was inside, we said, The children with mental problems. 

Joseph Krabacher sent an email to Villedrouin at around 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, informing her of the attack.

Armed gangs overwhelmed our security, they claimed that they are the owners of the orphanage, they stole all of the food and other supplies, stole all of the money [apparently broke the safe on the front gate], took the firearms of the security, shook down all of the staff and took all of their cash and phones, stole all of the computers, stole the microphones, speakers electronics of the church, stole all of the animals, goats, cows and we have nothing to feed the children tomorrow, he wrote. Our poor employees are terrified, those who remain.

The orphanage, he said, is now in extremely urgent need of food and supplies, unable to communicate with our staff, and the disabled childrens fate is in extreme peril. So we are pleading with you to provide help or assistance, whatever the government can provide for these children. At the moment we have been unable to reach the police. We are exhausting our efforts to find other security protection that may be available from other [non-governmental organizations] in the area, but currently to no avail.

Villedrouin responded that she had contacted the Brigade for the Protection of Minors and Food for the Poor to provide assistance.

They promised to contact the orphanage directly. They are trying to determine the best way they could reach the orphanage and bring some food for the children, she said, adding that her agency had also reached out to UNICEF, which could provide support to the children and adults of the orphanage.

Villedrouin later told the Herald that she was in contact with both the childrens brigade and a police commissioner in the area, who said he would have officers patrol the area to keep an eye on the orphanage.

Haiti police dispute both Beaubruns and Joseph Krabachers account of events, telling the Herald that they have a report showing that the incident was the result of an internal dispute involving the staff, and that the invaders were not armed. Both men say that is not the case and Beaubrun said hours after the incident neither police nor a justice of the peace had come to the orphanage to take an official report.

We left everything as it was, he said, expressing fear that the armed bandits would return that evening.

Last month, Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Henry met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss the fate of the disabled children, following several efforts to get the Haitian leader to agree to the move. Following the visit, Villedrouin and Krabacher had at least one video conference to discuss the relocation.

Johnson Smith, hearing about the attack, said it is so horrendous that everything was stolen. Those criminals have no heart.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  Former President Donald Trump fired up thousands of his supporters at a club event Wednesday in West Palm Beach, touting how hes the front-runner in the Republican 2024 presidential race.

Were up, he boasted Wednesday night. Everyone knows what the result is going to be.

Trump spoke to a group of hardcore loyalists known as Club 47 USA, drawing a spirited crowd of nearly 4,000 supporters to the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Trump fans showed up early and en masse to see their political hero.

He was supposed to take the stage at 7 p.m. but was running late. By 7:55 p.m., the crowd was still waiting. While they waited, some supporters took selfies with the stage in the background. Others stood on the backs of chairs to get a better view of the stage.

One woman walked by the media section and shouted Fake news!, a common refrain made popular by Trump. Another group in the crowd began chanting USA! USA! USA!

Vero Beach resident Sandra Rivera told a South Florida Sun Sentinel reporter she backs Trump all the way.

All of those guys should jump out of the race and let Trump have it, she said of the others making a run for president. They cant compete with Trump. You have to talk about the issues that are out there. The biggest issue right now is having that border.

Rivera described the many indictments Trump is facing as a political witch hunt. They do not want Trump to take over the White House in 2024, she said. Right now Trump is the leading candidate and theyre trying to bankrupt him, theyre trying to do everything possible to keep him from running for president.

Still the front-runner

Trump, who has a commanding lead as front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, has already seized on the escalating war in Israel to put the spotlight on what he called the incompetence of President Joe Biden, lambasting him for everything from his immigration policies to his unsteady gait and confusion on stage.

Trump took aim at Biden again on Wednesday, calling him the countrys weakest president ever.

Under my leadership the world was peaceful and calm, Trump said. They were afraid of America. Today they laugh at America  because the occupant of the White House is a laughingstock. We have a man who is grossly incompetent. Cant put two sentences together.

During a campaign event in New Hampshire on Monday, Trump blamed Biden for the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel over the weekend and warned of the very, very grave danger of a World War III.

Hamas staged a deadly attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip over the weekend, prompting the Israeli government to declare war. More than 2,300 people have been killed on both sides and the conflict is expected to soon escalate into a ground war.

The state of Israel is a blessing, Trump said during his Wednesday night speech. Our prayers are with them now. Under my leadership, we will stand with Israel 100% and we will not let them fail.

Biden has made it clear that the U.S. stands with Israel.

Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop, he said over the weekend. Theres never a justification for terrorist attacks and my administrations support for Israelis security is rock solid and unwavering.

But Biden has come under attack for a $6 billion deal he made with Iran to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for a prisoner swap that secured the release of five U.S. citizens being held hostage.

Trump blasts Biden

After Trump took office in 2017, he launched a ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

This week, he vowed to reimpose a travel ban on people coming from predominantly Muslim countries if he wins reelection next year. Biden reversed the ban shortly after taking office. Trump claimed that tens of thousands of probable terrorists had entered the U.S. since the travel ban was lifted.

Club 45 USA began in 2018 as a fan club for Trump, the nations 45th president, and to help prepare for the 2020 election. The club has since been renamed Club 47 USA. If Trump were to win the presidency in 2024, he would be the 47th president.

The clubs website describes its members as being PROUD to be ULTRA-MAGA.

Shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday, a line with hundreds of Trump supporters wrapped through the parking garage of the convention center. Many donned cowboy hats and shirts with images of the American flag.

Make America first

Boca Raton resident Laraine Abbey, 78, said if Trump were still in office the war in Israel wouldnt be escalating.

Several others in the crowd echoed that opinion.

Abbey said shes well aware of Trumps imperfections, but remains an avid supporter of his policies.

I cant understand how anyone wouldnt say, Make America first, she said.

Pam Uhrina, of Indianapolis, and Peg Zuniga, of Maryland, traveled all the way to Florida for the speech. They wore matching shirts that depicted Trump as a matador riding a bull.

Were fighting for our kids and grandkids, Uhrina said. Thats why were here.

Both women said they think Trump could have stopped the war in Israel.

As for news of Trumps indictments, Uhrina said conservatives see it as election interference.

I think its so obvious what theyre doing, Uhrina said. I think anybody thats conservative, we know that. Were going to support him no matter what.

Mark Smith and wife, Carol Smith, drove down from Jupiter for the event.

Theyve been members of Club 47 since it was Club 45 and have been to local events at Mar-a-Lago and rallies in other parts of the state.

Hes 100% American

Mark Smith said hes a small-business owner, and thats one reason he backs Trump.

Hes for America, he said. Hes 100% American. Hes for America, by America. I think the (presidential) campaign  its like a bunch of monkeys fighting over a banana. In the Republican Party, theyre fighting each other instead of finding one goal and working toward that goal.

One example of that infighting was the recent ouster of McCarthy, Smith said.

The Republican Party needs to come together as a team, he said.

Early in the evening, an announcer with the Right Side Broadcasting Network  the conservative media company live streaming the event  delivered the news that one of Trumps most vocal allies, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, would not make it because of the ongoing debate in Washington over who will take over as the next House Speaker. But in the end, he did make it and got an introduction from Trump himself shortly after 8 p.m.

Last week, Gaetz orchestrated the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy arranging a vote through a motion to vacate. Gaetz and his Republican allies targeted McCarthy after he worked with Democrats to prevent a shutdown of the federal government.

South Florida native Angelo Cornacchia says he backs Trump because he lived up to the promises he made.

Promises kept, he said. The man kept his promises.

_____
Police in New York are investigating at least three incidents targeting Palestinians and Jews in the city amid heightened tensions around the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A series of attacks and threats were reported across the city on Wednesday night. Earlier this week mayor Eric Adams said that New York police were on high alert for potential violence inspired by the latest Middle Eastern conflict.

Related: At least 25 Americans killed in Hamas attack, Antony Blinken says

We cannot let our guards down, Adams said.

In the south Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge, home to many Arab-Americans, a Palestinian man, 18, was attacked by men waving Israeli flags from cars, the New York Daily News reported.

The men shouted anti-Palestinian messages before attacking the victim with kicks and punches, according to the Daily News. The incident is being investigated as a potential hate crime.

Elsewhere in Brooklyn, local television station ABC7 reported that two men walked up to two people holding Palestinian flags, grabbed a flag and hit one person over the head.

Meanwhile, in Gravesend  also in Brooklyn  two juvenile boys pointed what turned out to be fake guns at the local BNai Yosef synagogue, police said. The boys were given criminal court summonses.

In a joint statement, the city council member Justin Brannan and the state senator Andrew Gounardes condemned the reported hate crimes in southern Brooklyn.

Escalating violence in Israel and Palestine has inflamed tensions here at home. But we cannot allow these conflicts to cause violence or hateful rhetoric on the street of New York City. No one deserves to be attacked for their identity or their beliefs and we wont stand for it in our community or anywhere, they said.

Meanwhile high-visibility patrols of police near protests, mass gatherings and places of worship were set to be carried out across the city, Rebecca Weiner, the NYPDs deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, told local TV station Fox5.

This is really about making sure people feel safe, feel supported and can go about their daily lives, Weiner said.
Jim Jordan's bid to become Speaker of the US House of Representatives is building momentum, just moments away from a vote in the lower chamber.

The Republican has won over opponents in his own party, but a handful of holdouts remain.

The Ohio congressman said on Tuesday morning he was feeling "really good" about clinching the 217 supporters he needs to lead the House.

It would be a stunning victory for the Trump-endorsed, right-wing firebrand.

Mr Jordan is a founding member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and seemed to be an outsider in the race, which began two weeks ago when Kevin McCarthy was ousted by rebels in his own Republican Party.

Without a Speaker, the House is unable to pass any bills or approve White House requests for emergency aid. That includes potential help for Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas.

The number of fellow Republicans opposed to Mr Jordan had dwindled to about 10 by Monday night, down from more than 50 on Friday.

Five Republicans vote against him when the count begins on the House floor at about 13:00 ET (18:00 BST) on Tuesday, that would end or delay his chances of becoming Speaker. But there could be multiple rounds of voting.

Several moderate lawmakers had previously expressed reluctance to vote for him.

Some of them, such as Missouri's Ann Wagner and Alabama's Mike Rogers, backtracked on Monday and declared their support.

House Armed Services Committee chairman Mr Rogers wrote on social media that the two had "productive conversations" and eventually came to agree on several policy points.

In a letter to colleagues on Monday, Mr Jordan vowed to unite his party as he scrambled to consolidate support a day before the expected floor vote.

"The principles that unite us as Republicans are far greater than the disagreements that divide us," he wrote.

"The country and our conference cannot afford us attacking each other right now. It is time we unite to get back to work on behalf of the American people."

Fierce resistance to Ukraine war funding among Republican hardliners, including Mr Jordan himself, contributed to the ousting of Mr McCarthy on 3 October.

But last week Axios reported that some Republicans felt Mr Jordan had signalled that, if he were to become Speaker, he would allow the chamber to vote on linking funding for Israel and Ukraine. That would likely pass with Democratic support.

In his 16 years in Congress, Mr Jordan has faced criticism for his record. He was once labelled a "legislative terrorist" by former Speaker John Boehner.

Colleagues have also expressed concern over his past disruptive tactics, as well as his reported efforts to undermine Steve Scalise's doomed bid for the speakership last week.

Mr Scalise, a long-time deputy of Mr McCarthy, failed to win enough support.

Others have argued that Mr Jordan is not adept at fundraising. Speakers are expected to get donors to open their chequebooks for the party.

But he and his supporters are betting those opposed to him will eventually fold so as not to prolong Republicans' internal dysfunction.

Democrats will votes for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

There are other ways this saga could end, if Mr Jordan fails to get the votes.

Some of the anti-Jordan holdouts are currently working to suggest an alternative candidate who could get more support from the party's centrist wing.

On Friday, it was Austin Scott, a little-known Georgia congressman who announced he was running for Speaker just hours before Republicans met to cast an internal ballot.

Mr Scott won as many as 81 votes for a bid he conceded was more about providing opposition than about winning the gavel.

If Mr Jordan fails, more names will be floated in the coming days.

Another way to end the House's paralysis would see acting Speaker Patrick McHenry be granted extra powers on a temporary basis - for up to 30 or 90 days.

This would allow the House to function - and avoid a government shutdown in a month's time - while a longer-term solution is found.

This would require some co-operation from Democrats to work out the details.

A third option would be for Republicans to agree with Democrats on a consensus Republican candidate.

This option, however, would entail concessions to the minority party.

Even more unlikely is that five Republicans switch sides and back Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker.
DES MOINES  U.S. Sen. Tim Scott is calling on Congress to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets that were unlocked as part of a U.S. prisoner swap deal in September, saying the negotiated funds were paying for attacks from Hamas on Israel.

Politico reported Wednesday that Scott is working on a bill that would freeze those assets and require the U.S. Treasury Department to study other Iranian assets across the globe. That would allow Congress to step in and pass legislation limiting the countrys access to those funds.

U.S. officials are still investigating whether Iran played a direct role in aiding Hamas attack on Israel, which led Israel to declare war on the militant group and launch its own attacks in Gaza.

But Scott, campaigning in Des Moines Wednesday, told reporters theres little doubt about Irans role.

If there's a way for us to claw back those resources that would be fantastic, he said. But let's just be clear  crystal clear. Putting the credit on the balance sheets of Iran makes that money accessible, according to Hamas. The biggest backers that they thanked for this attack was Iran.

He said the money creates a market for American lives by linking money with prisoner exchanges.

Six billion only means that every single American abroad is in more of a dangerous position, not less, he said. So if we can get the money back, that will save lives, not cost lives.

None of the money has been released, according to the Biden administration.

2024 Iowa Caucus Calendar: See where GOP presidential candidates are campaigning

Scott is kicking off a two-day swing through Iowa as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

His trip follows a week in which he has responded aggressively to the attacks on Israel, lobbing criticism at Democratic President Joe Biden as well as some of his Republican rivals.

Scott has said entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis project American weakness abroad, and he said Tuesday they are more in line with the Joe Biden foreign policy wing of the party.

My perspective is a simple one, Scott said. We should be loyal to our allies, and we should also be lethal to our adversaries. Anything less than that lacks leadership.

Ramaswamy said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, that "now is the time to learn from our foreign policy disasters of the past."

"We spent $3 trillion & sacrificed thousands of innocent American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. To what end?" he said. "The Taliban is still in charge in Afghanistan 20 years later & we have a hostile unstable regime in Iraq. We must support Israel diplomatically, share intelligence, and supply munitions where necessary, but we require a Commander-in-Chief who will make coolheaded decisions in the present to avoid broader regional war in the Middle East that doesnt advance U.S. interests."

Campaigning in Iowa just after Hamas' attack, DeSantis said that "Israel has every right to defend itself and they should really do what it takes to root out Hamas once and for all."

More: GOP presidential candidates respond to attacks on Israel while campaigning in Iowa

Tim Scott: Pro-Palestine demonstrations are 'disgusting'

Scott called pro-Palestine demonstrations, like the one that occurred in downtown Des Moines Tuesday evening, disgusting.

People gathered at Cowles Commons in downtown Des Moines to call for an end to U.S. aid to Israel and rally in support of the Palestinian people on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.

I can't understand how anyone would show up at a pro rally, when in fact what you're showing up to is a consequence of the beheading of babies, he said. How anyone explains that at all, I can't imagine. I can't imagine anything more disgusting, more inhuman than literally taking a child's head off. So showing up at a rally that supports that kind of unconscionable behavior  it's just disgusting.

About 80 people from various Iowa activist organizations gathered to call for an end to U.S. aid to Israel and criticize U.S. leaders response to the war.

As of Wednesday, the American death toll rose to 22 and Israeli fatalities surpassed 1,200. Palestinian officials said more than 1,100 militants and citizens in Gaza have been killed with more than 5,000 wounded.

Several attendees said they desired a peaceful resolution to the decades-long conflict but doubted one was possible.

"Seeing all the violence, it breaks my heart, but I know it's a byproduct of 70-some-odd years of occupation and violence," said Kelly Banfield, a 22-year-old Grinnell University student who attended Tuesday evening's demonstration. "So ignoring that precedent and just saying Hamas is attacking people, it ignores all the context of what's been going on in the region for years."

Scott has been unequivocal. He said he hopes that Hamas is wiped off the face of the earth.

He said he believes the United States should give Israel whatever resources it needs. But if Congress moves to pair aid to Ukraine with aid for Israel in a package deal, he said hed need to take a look.

What we've heard is that you'll see a combination between Ukraine, border security, support for Israel, or perhaps another component or two, he said. I'd like to see that package come together. I'd like to see what's in it before I can say whether I'd vote for it or not.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on Twitter at @brianneDMR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Tim Scott: Congress should freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets
TOKYO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks jumped Thursday, boosted by buying of technology and other export-oriented issues as investors took the opportunity to purchase undervalued stocks following a series of heavy sell-offs.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 558.15 points, or 1.75 percent, from Wednesday at 32,494.66, marking the third consecutive session of gains.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 34.65 points, or 1.5 percent, higher at 2,342.49.

Market watchers here said investors demonstrated confidence in the Japanese economy by buying back stocks that had recently fallen during the sell-offs.

This resurgence in confidence was largely attributed to recent developments in the chip industry, analysts said.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by electric appliance, machinery and transportation equipment issues.

Among exporters, TDK jumped by 243 yen, or 4.4 percent, to 5,782 yen, while chip-testing device maker Advantest surged by 178 yen, or 4.0 percent, to 4,590 yen. (1 Japanese yen equals 0.0067 U.S. dollars) 
WASHINGTON - Military advocates, as well as some big celebrities, were out at The Wharf Thursday to honor our nations heroes and their families.

Hundreds of people paid tribute to those who care for wounded, ill, or injured service members.

That includes their parents, spouses, kids, and even friends.

All of them have seen first-hand the effects of their service and sacrifice.

Actor Tom Hanks and TODAY Show anchor Savannah Guthrie co-hosted the Heroes and History Makers celebration

FOX Corp. is a proud sponsor of the Heroes and History Makers Celebration, which is put on every year by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Founded in 2012, their mission is to recognize the more than 5.5 million military caregivers who help our nations service members and veterans by supporting and investing in them.

Actor Tom Hanks and TODAY Show anchor Savannah Guthrie co-hosted the event.

Both have been recognized in the past for their efforts to Americas military.

With so many military advocates in D.C. under one roof, FOX 5 asked them what the toughest challenges are right now facing veterans, service members, and their caregivers.

"I would say access and communication. Theres a tendency I think to isolate, and I think by and large a lot of veterans think theyve got to do it themselves; theyve got to suck it up, theres only one person responsible for their kit bag and thats them. The truth is this is America, and we help each other," said Hanks, who also serves as the Hidden Heroes Campaign Chair for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

The event at The Anthem also honored actor Adam Driver with the Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion Award.

That award is given out to someone who has made profound changes and championed support for the military community.

Driver, a Marine himself, co-founded the nonprofit, Arts in the Armed Forces.

Adam Driver awarded the Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion Award for his support of the military community.



In case you didnt know, he co-founded Arts in the Armed Forces. @DoleFoundation @fox5dc @tomhanks @SavannahGuthrie https://t.co/jZr2uTh0Im pic.twitter.com/tK21pgxp5S  Jacqueline Matter (@JMatter_TV) October 12, 2023

The organization has brought performing arts to active duty service members and their families for more than 15 years.

The Heroes and History Makers Celebration raised more than $2 million for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and its programs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has slammed Donald Trump for calling Hezbollah "very smart."

Trump was weighing in on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas at a rally in Florida.

DeSantis said he thought it was absurd that Trump would praise the armed group.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida finally gloved up and went after his onetime mentor, former President Donald Trump, after the latter called the armed group Hezbollah "very smart."

DeSantis wrote in a Wednesday post on X that "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 terrorists as 'very smart.'"

Trump was weighing in on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas during a rally in Florida. Trump was also mocking the Biden administration for raising concerns about a possible Hezbollah attack on Israel.

"Two nights ago, I read all of Biden's security people, can you imagine, national defense people, and they said, 'Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesn't attack from the north, because that's the most vulnerable spot,'" Trump said at his rally.

"I said, 'Wait a minute.' You know, Hezbollah is very smart. They're all very smart,'" he continued.

Pro-Trump accounts on X have since hit back at DeSantis for his criticism of Trump. The Trump War Room, an X account linked to the Trump campaign, said DeSantis had mischaracterized Trump's remarks on the war.

"President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack," read the post, which was published on Wednesday. "Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid. And now you look stupid, Ron."

On Saturday, Hamas launched surprise attacks on Israel, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza. Israel declared a state of war the next day, with officials saying their goal was to vanquish Hamas and take complete control of Gaza.

Yesterday, Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said Israel's army planned to "wipe this thing called Hamas, ISIS-Gaza, off the face of the earth."

DeSantis, who is vying for the Republican presidential nomination with Trump, has rarely criticized his one-time mentor. In fact, the presidential hopeful often shies away from attacking Trump directly.

"It's a very tough line because so many of the voters DeSantis wants  they like Trump," Christian Grose, a political science professor at the University of Southern California, told Insider in July.

Trump has led DeSantis by more than 40% in several recent polls for Republican candidates.

Representatives for DeSantis and Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
At least one tornado damaged homes, cars and businesses in Florida as severe weather hit the state Thursday.

A likely tornado damaged at least two homes in Clearwater Beach after it roared ashore early Thursday morning. No one was injured, Clearwater police said, but photos from the scene show debris scattered through streets and a homes gutter impaling a cars windshield.

A 90-year-old woman was asleep in her home when the storm hit and collapsed a wall and the homes roof in on her. She was uninjured, Clearwater police and fire officials said.

She woke up to the sound of glass breaking, Clearwater Fire and Rescue spokesperson Rob Shaw told CNN. She pulled the covers up over her head and rode out the storm.

A drone view of a home damaged by a likely tornado in Clearwater. - Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/Zuma Press

Reported tornado damage in Clearwater, Florida. - Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/Zuma Press

Damage, including downed power lines, was also reported near the coast in Dunedin, north of Clearwater Beach, town officials said. Video posted to social media by the city showed walls and roofs missing from buildings and windows blown out of businesses.

The National Weather Service will survey the damage to confirm it was from a tornado and determine its strength.

More damage was reported from a separate potential tornado around 65 miles north in Crystal River. The reported tornado damaged and destroyed a multitude of businesses and homes in the city, Crystal River mayor Joe Meek said on social media.

There is a considerable amount of damage throughout the city, Meek said. We have no reported major injuries or reports of deaths which is truly remarkable. When you look at some of these pictures of the houses and the condition that theyre in  its just a miracle.

Tornado damage in Crystal River, Florida, on October 12, 2023. - Citrus County Sheriff's Office/Facebook

Citrus County officials said most of the roads that were closed because of downed power lines, trees and debris had since reopened. School was canceled across the county Thursday because of the damage.

The storms kept tracking east across the state, reaching parts of northeast Florida Thursday morning. An EF2 tornado with winds of 115 mph cut a mile-long path of damage through Palm Coast on Floridas Atlantic coast, the National Weather Service in Jacksonville said.

Palm Coast fire chief Kyle Berryhill said several homes suffered major structural damage in Palm Coasts Indian Trails neighborhood, but there were no injuries.

Photos posted to social media by the Palm Coast government showed a car flipped on its side, roof damage and insulation strewn about a yard there.

We have several families that have experienced a catastrophic property loss and our hearts go out to them this morning, Palm Coast fire chief Kyle Berryhill said in a Thursday morning news conference.

Millions of Floridians were under a tornado watch through Thursday afternoon during the peak of the tornado threat. Wind gusts of 30 mph to 40 mph and bouts of heavy rain are possible into the afternoon across northern parts of the state as a storm system moves across the area.

The storm system will begin to move off into the Atlantic waters during the early afternoon. This means heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorms will still be possible over the area through most of Thursday, with activity beginning to wind down into the evening.

CNNs Andy Rose and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this story.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Gov. Roy Cooper and more than two dozen other North Carolina officials are in East Asia this week for the annual Southeastern United States/Japan Economic Development Conference.

The goal of this Tokyo trip, Cooper said in a statement, is to recruit more Japanese industry. It is an effort the Tar Heel State has been making for 45 years.

North Carolina operates economic development offices around the globe, and its Japanese site is one of its oldest, having opened in 1978. The following year, then-Gov. James Hunt led a three-week trade mission to the country.

By 1998, Japan was third among foreign countries, behind only the United Kingdom and Germany, for the number of companies in the state. Today, more than 27,000 people in North Carolina work at Japanese-owned companies, Cooper says.

In recent years, North Carolina has expanded its relationship with Japan. Between 2018 and 2022, Japanese firms pledged to invest $6.66 billion and create 5,166 jobs here according to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC).

In 2021, Toyota announced plans to build a battery manufacturing factory south of Greensboro, which the state anticipates could employ around 4,500 people by 2035. Late last year, Fujifilm said it will open another manufacturing site in the Triangle, adding to the firms existing site in Morrisville and its planned site in Holly Springs.

Another Japan-based company with a large presence in the state is Bridgestone, which has operated a tire factory in Wilson since it acquired Firestone in 1988. Cooper met with the heads of Toyota and Bridgestone this week.

Several prominent North Carolina businesses also have offices in Japan, including Raleigh software firms Red Hat and Pendo as well as Carys Epic Games.

Charlotte-based Bank of America also has multiple offices in the country.

Edging out neighboring states

North Carolina isnt alone in courting foreign businesses.

There are sort of the usual suspects who we typically compete with, Korey Howard, international business development director at EDPNC, told The News & Observer during an interview in February.

By usual suspects, Howard meant other Southeastern U.S. states.

In April, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his first international trade mission. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visited Japan in 2019 during his first foreign economic development trip.

A rendering of Fujifilm Diosynths $2 billion manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, N.C. Another Fujifilm subsidiary announced plans Tuesday to open a new plant in Research Triangle Park. Fujifilm Diosynth

Cooper previously traveled to Japan in 2017 in his first year as governor. Joining him in Tokyo this week were more than 30 other North Carolina officials, including EDPNC CEO Christopher Chung and N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders.

Over thousands of miles of land and sea and several generations, North Carolinas relationship with Japan has grown strong and resolute, producing valuable successes for our people, Cooper said at the conference, which runs through Oct. 15. We look forward to continuing to work together to bring success to both the Southeastern United States and Japan through this valuable partnership.

The Southeastern United States/Japan Economic Development Conference has been held annually since 1976. North Carolina might have a leg up at next years event, which will be held in Charlotte.

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Launch of the ATACMS missile from the M270 MLRS in South Korea in 2017

The White House does not rule out providing ATACMS ballistic missiles to Ukraine, John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council, said in an interview with Voice of America on Oct. 10.

"ATACMS are not off the table. We are having continued reviews of the additional capabilities that Ukraine needs," he stated.

The United States is providing Ukraine with different capabilities as the war evolves, Kirby noted.

Earlier, he said that Ukrainian troops have another 6-8 weeks of favorable weather conditions for counteroffensive actions, adding that Washington provides security assistance to Ukraine approximately every two weeks, and vowed that this would continue in the near future.

Transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine - What is Known

The Pentagon said on Oct. 3 that the U.S. Army was ready to transfer these long-range missiles with cluster warheads to Kyiv as soon as Biden made the decision.

Read also: US giving ATACMS rockets may clear way for Germany to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine

Presidents of Ukraine and the United States Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joe Biden held talks at the White House on Sept. 21. The American leader announced a new $325 million military aid package for Ukraine, but without long-range missiles.

However, NBC News later cited sources as saying that Biden had promised Zelenskyy that Washington would provide Kyiv with a small number of ATACMS.

The Financial Times wrote that the Biden administration had decided to provide Ukraine with ATACMS missiles before Zelenskyy's visit, but chose not to announce it publicly.

The New Yorker wrote that Biden refused to send ATACMS missiles to Ukraine in 2022 because he believed that Russia would escalate, but eventually approved thedecision.

NV

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Miles beneath the ocean's surface, a remotely-operated vehicle called SuBastian smoothly glided up the side of an underwater mountain near the coast of Costa Rica. The eerie glow it cast ahead revealed bubblegum-pink corals scattered here and there among greenish black rocks as a crew on a ship at the surface guided SuBastian along. An otherworldly scene awaited at the peak; a treasure trove of dark, leathery pouches lay nestled amid the rocks, resembling meticulously designed props for an episode of Star Trek.

Each of the hundred or so pouches, known as mermaid purses, is the temporary home of a baby deep-sea skate  a spade-shaped fish related to rays and, more distantly, sharks. Their flat, diamond-shaped bodies flanked with wavy, wing-like fins make skates easily recognizable denizens of the deep.

But, if theyre the species researchers think they are, fewer than 100 have ever been spotted worldwide. That makes this nursery even more interesting.

We had only seen about ten skates total during several dives when we stumbled on this area teeming with egg cases," said Beatriz Naranjo, a marine biologist at the University of Costa Rica, who participated in the expedition. The team collected a sample for dissection to see whether these eggs were empty cradles, like unfertilized chicken eggs at the grocery store. However, Naranjo says they saw yolk and embryo development, which means a new generation of baby skates is incubating now at the top of a mountain at the bottom of the ocean.

The serendipitous find marks the first time a deep-sea skate nursery has ever been identified in Costa Rican waters. Scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institutes Falkor (too) research vessel were conducting an expedition with the primary goal of studying an octopus nursery, where they saw deep-sea octopuses hatching along low-temperature hydrothermal vents. The skate nursery is a bonus, spotted by chance as the team was exploring a nearby area that had never been seen before. The discovery opens up new questions about why the skate eggs are clustered in this specific area.

Skate

A water cycle beneath the waves

In addition to vents, where warm fluids seep up from cracks in the Earth, hydrothermal systems also include recharge zones  cooler areas where water flows down into the seafloor. The skate nursery is found on one such suspected cold seep; the underwater mountain is actually called the Tengosed Seamount (Spanish for I am thirsty) for that reason. But when they arrived, the temperature at the skate nursery was the same as surrounding waters.

We deployed temperature sensors to test hypotheses about hydrothermal outflows and recharge sites, said Sergio Cambronero, an assistant professor at Costa Rica's Universidad Nacional, who also participated in the expedition. That will also help us see if the temperature on the seamount fluctuates regularly or if it has periodic hydrothermal activity, and all of that will help us find out why the skates were drawn here to deposit their eggs. The team will collect the sensors when they return in December for part two of their voyage.

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Slow living

In the meantime, the scientists are back ashore while Falkor (too) completes other expeditions. Theyre working to confirm the species found at the skate nursery, which they think is the Pacific White Skate (Bathyraja spinosissima). These creatures have adapted to withstand the extreme environment miles beneath the oceans surface.

Their eggs likely incubate for an extremely long time  more than four years, based on information from similar species. Lengthy incubation times are common among deep-sea creatures, partly because biological and chemical reactions are slower in cold environments. Their sluggish metabolisms help them conserve energy, which is difficult to come by in the dark, sparsely-populated deep.

Navigating near the seafloor would be like surface-dwellers hiking up a mountain with an extremely heavy pack. Beneath the surface, the weight of all the water overhead crushes down. All of that pressure means hard-won energy would be quickly spent if it werent for the creatures slow metabolisms.

Skate egg

The extended incubation period that comes attached with that means eggs are left vulnerable for very long stretches. But some deep-sea skate moms may have found a way to speed up the process. By depositing eggs along warm hydrothermal vents, skates can accelerate embryo development. One such instance near the Galapagos Islands was reported in 2018, and could also be the case at the Tengosed Seamount nursery if it experiences periodic hydrothermal activity. We wont know for sure until the researchers collect their sensors.

A delicate balance

Even once they hatch, deep-sea skates develop very slowly. Various species are known to take around 10 to 20 years to reach the point where they can reproduce. The leisurely pace of life in the deep sea means creatures and habitats there are slow to recover if harmed, whether by human activity or natural causes.

But the lack of information about this remote region makes it difficult to even establish a baseline population. According to NOAA, 80 percent of the ocean remains uncharted and unseen. And the discovery of the skate nursery highlights how little we know about some areas that have been mapped.

We knew the seamounts here existed thanks to a previous mapping expedition, said Cambronero. But you cant understand the biodiversity of the deep sea without going there and looking around.

Seeing the ecosystem firsthand and documenting their findings will likely help scientists establish protections around Tengosed Seamount. The nursery grounds seem to be an important area for these skates, and few other such locations are now known. Since these elusive creatures are seldom seen, it makes sense to take special efforts to protect their young. Who knows how few of them remain?

Though the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) acknowledges that these skates are known only from a few scattered records, they listed the species conservation status as least concern.

Their rationale is that the skates arent commercially targeted or likely to be picked up accidentally as bycatch, since their habitat is so deep and rocky  it would be hard to scoop them up even if anyone wanted to. But some scientists disagree with this justification, partly because fishing and deep sea mining are both expanding human influence into deeper waters across the globe. The problem could get even worse as shallower food stocks or coral reefs collapse.

Deep-sea ecosystems can be harmed indirectly through human activities; fishing is not the only possible concern, said Naranjo. Garbage is increasingly found in deep waters, and microplastics are present all over the ocean, no matter how deep or how far away from the coast. And climate change affects the ocean down to the seafloor, changing living conditions there.

If the skates are harmed, they would likely take a long time to rebound and there could be ripple effects that snowball into tidal waves.

We rely on the ocean for food, pharmaceuticals and much of the oxygen we breathe. Its important for the global economy and even dampens the effects of climate change. This is not a resource we can afford to destroy, experts argue and when we discount the importance of some of its inhabitants, we may put the oceans health  and our own survival  at risk.

We try to ensure that every species is reassessed at least every five to ten years, or sooner if there is a significant change in its situation, but this is dependent on funding and capacity, said Janet Scott, a programme officer for the IUCN's Red List Unit. If an assessment is more than ten years old, it remains in place but is flagged as needs updating on the website, to alert users that it may be outdated.

Just over a year from now, the Pacific White Skate will hit this 10-year mark. In the meantime, scientists are working to better understand the creatures true conservation status.

In search of secrets

The surprise finding of the skate nursery underscores the need for further deep-sea exploration and research. Beyond learning more about the skates themselves  their reproductive habits, population, vulnerability and interconnection with the ocean at large  the discovery hints that vital habitats may lay shrouded from human eyes in far more regions across the abyss.

Scientists around the globe continue to survey the deep sea and drive new protections for the intricate, delicate world that lies beneath the oceans surface. Doing so, they tap into one of the most fundamental facets of humanity: curiosity.

We are wired to explore, to push farther than ever before, to see the unseen. We revel in the thrill of unveiling the universes secrets, pressing into new frontiers to discover new mysteries. Those frontiers are dwindling as more of the world is mapped and traveled, its secrets laid bare.

Perhaps thats why unreachable realms, like distant planets and our own alien deep sea, are so captivating. We yearn to know what wonders lay beyond the edges of our understanding. Technology can bring us part way there; telescopes and remotely-operated vehicles offer windows into both the heavens and the watery underworld of the deep. But they leave gaps full of questions. Shining a light in the darkest reaches of Earth and space both satisfies our curiosity and ignites it.
More than 30 Harvard student groups signed a letter blaming Israel for the Hamas attacks.

A driver rode around Harvard in a truck with names and images of students it linked to the letter.

Faculty, students, and people online have been critical of the truck tactic.

On Sunday, dozens of Harvard student groups cosigned a letter blaming Israel for the brutal Hamas attacks over the weekend. The letter's release sparked a backlash against the student groups that now apparently includes a doxing effort involving a truck.

The Harvard Crimson reported that a truck was spotted being driven through campus on Wednesday featuring a digital billboard claiming to show faces and names of students associated with the letter. Images on social media appear to show that the students' names and images appeared alongside the title "Harvard's leading antisemites."

It's not clear how long the truck was being driven through campus. Insider was not able to verify that all names and images displayed on the truck were involved in the letter.

The university released a statement Wednesday saying it had been in contact with students and organizations to provide support but did not directly mention the truck. Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

The president of the conservative watchdog Accuracy in Media has claimed responsibility for the stunt, writing on X that his team was "removing the names of students from groups that withdrew but are also adding new names every hour."

Accuracy in Media used the truck to advertise a link to its website and a petition calling for Harvard to expel the students whose organizations cosigned the letter. Its website also displayed the full names of students it said were associated with the letter.

The organization did not make clear how it sourced the students' names. Accuracy in Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

The truck has drawn significant backlash. One user on X wrote, "This is so grotesque and depraved." Another added that the truck represented "intimidation & harassment of appalling proportions."

In a post on X on Wednesday, Jason Furman, a Harvard Kennedy School professor, condemned the letter but criticized the doxing of students. Furman also shared a redacted photo of the truck online.

"Publishing lists of students and personal information under the headings 'terrorist,' 'genocidal murderer' and 'anti semite' is just wrong in any circumstance, especially when many of the people named have nothing to do with the statement," Furman wrote.

The letter at the heart of the controversy was cosigned by more than 30 Harvard student groups. "We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," the letter read.

The billionaire investor Bill Ackman has been one of the loudest voices leading the backlash against the organizations that signed the letter. He called on Harvard to identify student members of groups that cosigned the letter so CEOs would not "inadvertently hire" them.

The Harvard Crimson reported that at least four websites had doxed students by publishing their names, hometowns, photos, and social-media profiles online.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

STUDY SHOWS FLIGHT OF ELECTION OFFICIALS IN RECENT YEARS

A new report says that election officials have been leaving their posts in large numbers, resulting in a loss of institutional knowledge and increased costs in recruiting and training replacements.

IssueOne, a Washington, D.C cross-partisan political reform group, surveyed 11 western states, including California. It found that more than 160 chief election officials have left since November 2020. That represents about 40% of the leadership in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

The report attributes the wave of retirements and resignations in part to the lies spread by former President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election that it was rigged or stolen.

The brain drain associated with this exodus is real. IssueOne said, finding that officials took with them more than 1,800 years of combined experience.

In California, 41% of election officials left their post, taking with them 252 years of combined experience. And in 2024, 44% of California residents will see someone new running their elections. Thats 24 out of Californias 58 counties.

Turnover is costly in many ways, and while election officials have a track record of rising to the occasion and performing heroically despite limited resources, Congress can help remedy this crisis by providing more funding and protections to these dedicated public servants, the report said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

A very simple question  should Republicans dine with a holocaust denier? It takes Ron DeSantis 4 questions, 3 attempts at a pivot, and over a minute to give an even semi-coherent answer.

- California Gov. Gavin Newsom , via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

Seven months after Gov. Gavin Newsom promised that by the fall California would gift 1,200 tiny homes for unhoused residents to cities across the state, including 350 to Sacramento, officials have not selected a builder nor awarded any contracts. All 1,200 homes will likely not be delivered and ready to house people until early to mid-2024. That will be roughly a year after the governor, touting the states investment, acknowledged that people are dying on our watch, via Maggie Angst .

Under steady rain and a gloomy sky, about a hundred people gathered Tuesday evening outside a Jewish school in Granite Bay. In Hebrew and English they heard scripture wishing for the Lord to send help and support during moments of trouble, via Stephen Hobbs .

Despite a federal judges ruling overturning Californias ban on large-capacity firearm magazines for a second time, the law remains in effect after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  which oversees federal cases from California  issued a stay on the judges order pending further legal proceedings. With that decision, gun magazines with more than 10 rounds remain illegal to purchase, sell or transfer in California, via Andrew Sheeler .

The message behind a rally Tuesday in Yolo County  attended by dozens of elected officials across the region  came through words and action: Numerous speakers moved to huddle around a transgender person as a man interrupted her speech with expletives about gay people, via Ishani Desai.
Donald Trump lashed out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , telling a crowd of Florida supporters that the countries' intelligence failed, and its enemies were ''very smart."

"I'll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down," Trump told a group of supporters Wednesday in West Palm Beach, Fla. "That was a very terrible thing."

Trump discussed the operation that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani in early 2020. The former president said Israel now has to strengthen itself as it fights Hamas and other militant groups, including perhaps Iran.

Supporters of Israel said on social media said that the Soleimani operation was aided by Israeli intelligence, while others criticized Trump for criticizing Israel's government in the midst of a crisis.

'Hezbollah is very smart'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running against Trump for the Republican nomination, zeroed in on Trump's description of Hezbollah leaders as "very smart."

Noting that at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans have been killed in recent days, DeSantis said on the X website that "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 terrorists as 'very smart.' As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are."

During what was otherwise a campaign speech, Trump claimed that an unnamed U.S. official described Israel as being vulnerable from the north, and that kind of information would be helpful to adversaries.

"You know, Hezbollah is very smart - they're all very smart," Trump said at one point.

More criticism of Netanyahu

Trump also criticized Netanyahu in an interview on Fox News Radio, saying Israel was ill-prepared for the Hamas attack earlier this month.

"He has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here," Trump told Brian Kilmeade of Fox News Radio. "He was not prepared. He was not prepared, and Israel was not prepared."

Republicans hit Trump for attacking Israel

Trump even linked the Israel attack to his false claims of a "rigged" U.S. election in 2020, and said the attack on Israel would not have happened if he was president.

Several Republicans noted that, after the 2020 election, Trump attacked Netanyahu for hailing Biden as the president-elect.

"Its clear hes angry at Netanyahu for recognizing Trump lost in 2020," said a statement from Never Back Down, a pro-DeSantis political action committee. " Trump puts himself first."

On the X social media site, the organization Republicans against Trump said: "As President Biden and the entire world stand in solidarity with Israel after the worst terrorist attack in Israels history, Donald Trump has decided to attack Israel and its military. Unfit for office."

Democrats respond

Democrats denounced Trumps comments.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates said that while we dont comment on the 2024 races, statements like this are dangerous and unhinged.

Bates added: Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel. Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history. This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil. Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

Trump does not comment on Speaker's race

Trump's comments came during a rambling 100-minute speech in which he didn't say anything about his involvement in the snagged House Speaker's race, but instead predicted he would succeed in next year's presidential election.

"Everyone knows what the result is going to be," the former president told supporters gathered in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Last week, Trump injected himself into the speaker's race by endorsing Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. He also said he would travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with House Republicans about replacing ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Trump did not go to Washington and Jordan fell short in balloting among House Republicans who favored House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.

It is not yet Scalise's job. A number of House Republicans said they would continue to support Jordan, denying Scalise a necessary majority in a full House vote that includes Democrats.

Trump did not discuss any of this during his campaign speech. He mentioned Jordan's name only in connection with his work in Congress.

He also praised Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., the most outspoken member of the eight House Republicans who triggered McCarthy's removal as speaker.

Campaign speech

For the most part, Trump focused on his own 2024 presidential campaign before a group called Club 47 USA. If Trump wins next year, he would be the 47th president, only the second to serve non-consecutive terms.

The standard campaign speech featured all-out attacks on President Joe Biden, with an emphasis to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. He also hit Biden over the economy, his son Hunter Biden, and border security.

Trump, as is custom, also bragged about poll numbers that show him way ahead of his Republican rivals for the 2024 presidential nomination. He mocked his opponents for debating without him, and said Republican voters are not paying attention to them.

"Everyone knows what the result is going to be," Trump said.

He also complained about his legal issues. He faces four criminal trials and three civil lawsuits The criminal cases include hush money, the handling of classified information, and efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump sounds off on Netanyahu, Israel amid war with Hamas
Donald Trump s campaign defended the former presidents remarks calling the militant group Hezbollah smart during a rally this week, arguing smart does not equal good.

Trump has faced backlash from several political figures for comments made during a speech with supporters Wednesday in Florida, in which he criticized Israels lack of preparedness for the widespread attacks from the militant group Hamas. He slammed the Israeli defense minister for issuing a warning to Hezbollah against attacking Israel in the north, saying that Hezbollah is very smart and would do so.

On Thursday, the campaign and a Trump adviser sought to defend and clarify Trumps remarks, saying he was not praising Hezbollah.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good, read a tweet from the campaigns War Room account.

It just proves Biden is stupid. And now you look stupid, Ron, the tweet continued, referring to President Biden and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.

Both Biden and DeSantis had previously chimed in to denounce Trumps comments.

Our nations support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never, Biden said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A Biden campaign spokesperson called Trumps comments sickening rhetoric that show Trump is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage.

DeSantis said Trumps comments were absurd in the aftermath of the deaths of more than 1,000 Israelis and with numerous Americans being held captive by Hamas.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, DeSantis said on X.

Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said on X that the Biden administration is continually highlighting weaknesses and project incompetence. He quoted a statement from a senior U.S. defense officials press briefing from Monday, in which they said, We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict.

Hezbollah is a Lebanese militant group that has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom and many other countries.

In the aftermath of Hamas launching its surprise attack on Israel and Israel responding with airstrikes and a counteroffensive in Hamas-controlled Gaza, concerns have been raised about Hezbollah getting involved in the conflict and attacking Israel from the north.

An Israeli Military spokesperson has warned Hazbollah of very severe consequences if it gets involved in the conflict.

Hezbollah has fired rockets into Israel in recent days.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and 11 others injured on Wednesday evening in a road accident in the Khairpur district of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, an official said.

Deputy Commissioner of the district Ahmed Fawad Shah told the media that a passenger van and a car collided with each other near the Babarloi Bypass area of Khairpur, leaving seven people dead on the spot and 16 others injured.

Police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to a nearby hospital.

The official added that five of the injured succumbed to their injuries during their treatment at the hospital, increasing the death toll to 12.

The official feared that the death toll might rise further because some of the wounded were still in critical condition.

According to the official, the passenger van was heading towards Khairpur from Sukkur when it had a head-on collision with the car coming from the opposite side. 
WASHINGTON  Among the bold claims in the motion filed last week by former President Donald Trump seeking to dismiss the federal indictment accusing him of conspiring to undermine the 2020 election, there was a significant concession. The key Supreme Court precedent the motion relied on for claiming absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, his lawyers acknowledged, did not address criminal prosecutions.

The motion cited the 1982 precedent, Nixon v. Fitzgerald, at least 40 times over 52 pages. But that decision merely held that a former president is immune from lawsuits in civil cases  ones from private litigants seeking money  and then only if the suits concerned conduct within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.

John Lauro , a lawyer for Trump, conceded that no court has addressed whether such presidential immunity includes immunity from criminal prosecution for the presidents official act. The question, he wrote, is serious and unsettled.

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Should Trump lose in the trial court and on appeal, there is every reason to think that he will ask the Supreme Court to step in.

Lauro was right to say that there is no other Supreme Court decision squarely on point. But the leading candidates all point in a different direction, as does the most thorough lower-court decision considering Trumps conduct in trying to subvert the election.

Legal experts said the overall landscape does not look promising for Trump and his lawyers.

Theyre trying to make bricks with very little straw, said Frank O. Bowman, a law professor at the University of Missouri. And I cant imagine the Supreme Court would buy this for an instant, at least not a majority of them.

But Bowman added that the true purpose of the motion was not to obtain immunity from prosecution. It was, he said, delay.

The 1982 precedent arose from a lawsuit brought by an Air Force analyst who said he was fired in 1970 in retaliation for his criticism of cost overruns. By the time the Supreme Court acted, President Richard Nixon had been out of office for several years.

By a 5-4 vote, the justices ruled for Nixon. In view of the special nature of the presidents constitutional office and functions, Justice Lewis Powell wrote for the majority, we think it appropriate to recognize absolute presidential immunity from damages liability for acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.

That sounds generally helpful to Trump, at least if you accept the motions contention that Trumps relentless efforts to subvert democracy were part of his official duties. But it also seems pretty clear that the decision addressed only what it called damages liability, meaning civil cases seeking money, and not criminal prosecutions.

Powells majority opinion noted that the court has recognized before that there is a lesser public interest in actions for civil damages than, for example, in criminal prosecutions. He explained that in view of the visibility of his office and the effect of his actions on countless people, the president would be an easily identifiable target for suits for civil damages.

Chief Justice Warren Burger underscored the point in a concurring opinion. The immunity is limited to civil damages claims, he wrote.

There are good reasons to treat civil suits and criminal prosecutions differently, Bowman said. The danger against which Fitzgerald and other similar cases are to some extent trying to protect is the danger of abusive, harassing private litigation, he said.

Other Supreme Court precedents seem to be of no help to Trump.

In Clinton v. Jones in 1997, the court unanimously allowed a sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton to proceed while he was in office, discounting concerns that it would distract him from his official responsibilities. That was also a civil case.

Two precedents on criminal investigations seem closer to the mark.

In United States v. Nixon in 1974, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Nixon, then still in office, had to comply with a trial subpoena seeking tapes of his conversations in the Oval Office, rejecting claims of executive privilege.

Neither the doctrine of separation of powers, nor the need for confidentiality of high-level communications, without more, can sustain an absolute, unqualified presidential privilege of immunity from judicial process under all circumstances, Burger wrote.

And more recently, the Supreme Court ruled by a 7-2 margin in Trump v. Vance in 2020 that Trump had no absolute right to block the release of his financial records in a criminal investigation.

No citizen, not even the president, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority.

Those two decisions do not directly answer the question presented in the recent motion, concerning as they do the obligation to produce evidence rather than criminal liability. But they are certainly suggestive.

The most extensive and pertinent ruling may be one from Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court in Washington. He rejected Trumps claim of absolute immunity in a civil suit from several members of Congress and police officers who sought to hold him accountable for his conduct relating to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The court well understands the gravity of its decision, Mehta wrote in explaining why he was ruling against Trump. But the alleged facts of this case are without precedent.

Mehta went on: After all, the presidents actions here do not relate to his duties of faithfully executing the laws, conducting foreign affairs, commanding the armed forces or managing the executive branch. They entirely concern his efforts to remain in office for a second term. These are unofficial acts, so the separation-of-powers concerns that justify the presidents broad immunity are not present here.

Trumps legal team was attracted to the immunity argument in the criminal case for at least two reasons. Not only is the issue partly unresolved, but a ruling on it will be, unlike ones on other challenges to the indictment, subject to immediate appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is also reviewing Mehtas decision.

And if Trump loses in the appeals court in either case, the Supreme Court awaits.

c.2023 The New York Times Company
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

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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.
Its about him. Its always about him. In the wake of Hamas savage terrorist attack on Israel, former president and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump somehow found a way to make this all about him.

During a speech in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, Trump criticized Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, over a past perceived slight, and praised Hezbollah terroristswho have been exchanging fire with the Israel Defense Forces on a second front in the North of Israelas smart.

The context is important. We are just days removed from a terrorist attack that has been described as Israels 9/11. Babies were killed and their bodies desecrated. Women were raped. Elderly people were abducted. Hostages (including Americans) are missing. The nation is still mourning.

What It Feels Like to Survive the Massacre Hamas Unleashed at a Music Festival

And, in the wake of all of this, Trump thinks this is a good time to dredge up an old indignity by the prime ministersomeone he had previously lavished with praise and called a friend.

Trumps reason for launching this verbal assault? Hes still angry about Israels refusal to participate in the 2020 killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, then head of Irans Quds Force.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing, Trump said. (Note: Trumps invocation of the words never forget is likely accidental, if extraordinarily insensitive. But what else would we expect from a man who adopted the America First slogan?)

Trump later added that, after the mission to take out Suleimani was successful, Bibi tried to take credit for it.

Translation: Never mind the terrorist attack, Trump is the real victim.

Regardless of the merit of this (the veracity has yet to be confirmed), there is a time to air grievances and there is a time to comfort our friends. For any normal human being, this moment would call for the latter.

But who could be surprised? One of Trumps first big political scandals came when he attacked John McCain, a former prisoner of war, for being captured. (When people tell you who they are, believe them.)

Of course, theres more to Trumps criticism of Bibi than meets the eye. Theres always more to the story when it comes to Trump.

Trumpwho loves to praise evil strongmen like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Unwouldnt publicly criticize Bibi were it not for another perceived slight.

This affront was much worse and borderline unpardonable: After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Netanyahu congratulated him.

Trumps Overrated Peace Plan Helped Enable the Horrors in Israel and Gaza

If theres one thing that really annoys Trump, its people who arent willing to perpetuate his big lie.

Say what you will about Bibi; he wasnt about to let Trumps reality distortion field force him to take sides against the man who was likely to be the next POTUS.

In Trumps warped mind, though, Bibi should have been more loyal to Trump than he is to the truth or Israel. Nobody did more for Bibi. And I liked Bibi... But I also like loyalty... Bibi could have stayed quiet. He has made a terrible mistake, Trump was quoted as saying at the time, before adding: I havent spoken to him since. F- him.

Now, it is true that under Trumps leadership, America moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. At Netanyahus urging, Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal. And Trump also brokered the Abraham Accordsearning praise from this columnist (note: others argue that it contributed to Hamas attack).

Evangelicals Worshiping Trump Is as About as Unchristian as It Gets

But in typical Trumpian fashion, Trump assumes that these favors buy lifetime loyalty from Bibi, the nation of Israel, and even Jewish Americans.

Speaking of which, just last month, Trump commemorated Rosh Hashanah by sending out a flier on the Truth Social platform reminding liberal Jews of all he has done for Israel. He also added a note blaming them for having voted to destroy America & Israel

Back to Trumps latest comments this week: He didnt just criticize Bibi for not being prepared for the attacks, he broadly criticized Israels intelligence failure that allowed last weeks Hamas terror attacks to succeed.

Andin a move reminiscent of him calling Putins propaganda genius and savvy as Russia invaded UkraineTrump also praised Hezbollah as very smart (not like everybody says).

(Question: What would people say if Barack Obama praised an Islamic terror organization as very smart?)

Do Hamas Brutal Tactics Do Anything to Help Palestinians?

Its tempting to dismiss Trumps blather as laughable, but the stakes are high. At a time when Ukraine and Israel both face serious threats, should the leader of the free world be a thin-skinned and capricious president who puts his own ego above all else?

Does America really want four more years of chaos and a president who is harder on allies than dictators?

The good news is that Trump vowed to stand with Israel 100 percent and not let them fail. This is to say that he still considers himself a friend of Israel.

For Netanyahu, who now girds for what looks to be a grueling ground invasion and rescue mission, this may feel like cold comfort.

With friends like Donald Trump, who needs friends?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Donald Trump is being mocked for appearing to blame hummus for the attacks in Israel over the weekend.

At a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mr Trump mispronounced the name of the terrorist group Hamas several times, appearing to refer to it as hummus.

A clip of the speech went viral on social media and the former president was also mocked by TV host Jimmy Kimmel.

In the opening monologue of his show, Mr Kimmel joked that Mr Trumps speech displayed the deep well of insight he has into this ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Could you imagine anyone else in the world doing anything even remotely like that? Mr Kimmel asked.

The guy who claims to be the most pro-Israel president of all time was in Cedar Rapids on Saturday demonstrating the deep well of insight he has into this ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Yes the hummus, the baba ghanoush, what theyre doing is a disgrace, he joked.

The former president was also widely mocked on social media after a clip of the speech went viral.

Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of the Meidas Touch, shared the video with the caption: Apparently, Israel was attacked by hummus.

Another person commented: Ill be damned if you think Im gonna stay quiet on Facebook while Hummus attacks Israel.

Donald Trump is being mocked for mispronouncing Hamas as hummus (AP)

Following the attack by Hamas on Israel, Mr Trump took to his Truth Social platform to claim that the attack never would have happened while he was president.

THE HORRIBLE ATTACK ON ISRAEL, MUCH LIKE THE ATTACK ON UKRAINE, WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF I WERE PRESIDENT  ZERO CHANCE! he said.

During his speech at the rally in Iowa at the weekend, Mr Tump repeated this claim and also shifted the blame onto Democrats for the attack, stating falsely that American taxpayer dollars had funded it.

He described the attack as an act of savagery that must and will be crushed.

Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel early on Saturday morning, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border.

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 would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel until all the Israeli hostages are returned home.

Israeli officials have said that more than 1,200 people have been killed since the attacks began.

More than 1,300 Palestinians have also been killed in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza officials.

At least 22 Americans have been killed since the violence began on Saturday, the US State Department has confirmed.
Former President Trump risks potential backlash in the Republican presidential primary over his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks in Israel.

In a speech Wednesday, Trump accused Netanyahu of letting us down in 2020 just before the U.S. killed a top Iranian general. Trump also suggested that the Biden administration and Israeli leaders public discussions helped Hezbollah, which the U.S. designates as a terror organization, plan further attacks on Israel. Then on Thursday, Trump said in an interview that Israel wouldnt have had to be prepared if he were in the White House. Additionally, the former president referred to Israels defense minister as a jerk.

The comments have already opened Trump up to criticism from rival GOP presidential candidates including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his former Vice President Mike Pence . Additionally, the comments could threaten to attract more criticism from other members of the GOP, which is dominantly pro-Israel.

I think its a strategic mistake, said Alex Stroman, a Republican strategist. If I was a Republican candidate, I would probably be running ads [using Trumps comments against him].

Top Stories from The Hill

DeSantis took to X, the platform formally known as Twitter, on Wednesday to criticize Trump and tout his own position on Israel.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, the governor wrote on the platform.

DeSantis further responded to Trumps remarks Thursday during an interview with Fox News.

This is a time to be standing with Israel, DeSantis said. And to be attacking the prime minister and the defense minister just makes no sense.

On Thursday evening, DeSantiss communications director hit the Trump campaign over their response to the criticism of the former presidents comments.

No matter what rhetorical gymnastics act his campaign team tries to perform to attempt to once again cover for him, nobody can change the fact that last night Donald Trump showed his true colors by insulting Israelis during one of their darkest hours and simultaneously complimenting one of the terrorist groups that continue to pose a grave threat to Israelis and Americans alike. It is disturbing and disqualifying, said Andrew Romeo, communications director for the DeSantis campaign.

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On Thursday, Pence said in an interview on New Hampshire Today that its no time for the former president or any other American leader to be sending any message other than America stands with Israel.

Hezbollah arent smart, theyre evil. But the former president also said when Russia invaded Ukraine in a similar unprovoked, unconscionable invasion a year and a half ago, he said Vladimir Putin was a genius, Pence said. And I will tell you, look, all the blame here lies at the feet of the Hamas and the Russian military in these unprovoked invasions, and they need to be held to account.

Trumps campaign has come out in his defense, noting that he was not praising Hezbollah.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid, Trumps campaign said.

The Trump campaign also pointed out that Xs Community Notes put a disclaimer on the DeSantis campaigns post, saying it intentionally misuses the word praise to suggest Trump is complementing Hezbollah.

Trumps defenders argue that the remarks wont have any significant impact in the long term.

This was not the best choice of words, said Ford OConnell, a Republican strategist. Hes not wrong, Hezbollah is not stupid and theyre well organized, and theyre also south of our U.S. border.

OConnell went on to cite a Marquette University poll that was released earlier this month, showing that voters said they believed Trump was better on foreign relations than Biden, 43 percent to 38 percent.

Donald Trump is seen as the gold standard among Republican voters when it comes to foreign policy, OConnell said. You didnt have any wars, and you had stability on the world stage, particularly you had stability in the Middle East.

And Trump did offer words of solidarity with Israel during his speech Wednesday.

Under my leadership, the United States will fully support Israel, defeating, dismantling, and permanently destroying the terrorist group, Hamas, the former president said.

The Trump administration played a key role in mediating the Abraham Accords, which was a 2020 agreement to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Since Hamass attacks on Israel and the subsequent war, however, any hope of peace between Israel and other Arab countries, notably Saudi Arabia, has cratered.

What the Republicans are able to say is that Joe Bidens appeasement, whether its Iran, Russia and everything else, has squandered the stability that Donald Trump has brought to the world stage in the Middle East in the four years he was in office, OConnell said.

Other Republicans say Trump may have had a different strategy in mind when he issued criticism of Netanyahu days after the terror attacks.

What this is an attempt to do is to get voters who might not like Netanyahu, but are also likely to more agree with his positions, especially on migrants and the economy, said Hank Sheinkopf, a Republican strategist. He shows himself to be more of a moderate, less of a lunatic, and the end result is he picks off votes in a very close election that can make the difference.

But Biden and his administration have received widespread praise for their response to the attacks, including from Netanyahu and some conservatives in and out of Israel.

While I have been, and remain, deeply critical of the Biden Administration, the moral, tactical, diplomatic and military support that it has provided Israel over the past few days has been exceptional, David Friedman, former U.S. ambassador to Israel under Trump, wrote on X.

Biden has delivered a number of blistering condemnations of the attacks and repeatedly reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel. Additionally, Secretary of State Antony Blinken received a warm welcome by Israeli officials and citizens alike in the country Thursday.

Trumps argument is that Biden is weak, Sheinkopf said. Bidens response to the atrocities committed by Hamas this week in Israel was one of strength.

That helps him not just with Jewish voters but with voters in the middle, he continued. So this battle is something that Trump understands and Biden understands. It will be a very close race and every vote will matter, especially in states where electoral votes are tight. So the rhetoric of each of these men is going to try to deal with that.

This story was updated at 8:06 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Tim Reid and Nathan Layne

(Reuters) - Israel and the White House on Thursday condemned remarks by Donald Trump in which he praised the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over an attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed more than 1,300 people in Israel.

Trump, a former Republican president who is the frontrunner to become the party's 2024 presidential nominee, called the Lebanese Hezbollah, a sworn enemy of Israel, "very smart" and accused Netanyahu of being "not prepared" for the Hamas attack, which also killed 22 Americans.

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said Trump's comments to supporters and in a television interview on Wednesday night showed he could not be relied on.

It is "shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel's fighters and its citizens," Karhi told Israel's Channel 13.

White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates called Trump's comments "dangerous and unhinged."

"It's completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as 'smart'," Bates said.

Democratic President Joe Biden has condemned the Hamas attack as "an act of sheer evil" and declared his unwavering support for Israel.

"This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against 'unadulterated evil,'" Bates said on Thursday. "That's what the President is doing."

On Thursday evening, Trump released a statement, saying there had been "no better friend or ally of Israel" than when he was U.S. president.

Several of Trump's opponents in the Republican contest also criticized the former president.

"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 terrorists as 'very smart'," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X social media.

Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, another 2024 rival, said in New Hampshire: "This is no time for any former president or any other American leader to be sending any message other than America stands with Israel."

Asa Hutchinson, a former Arkansas governor and a Republican 2024 candidate, said on X that Trump was "out of his mind if he thinks that any candidate for President of the United States should praise the terrorists attacking one of our most important allies."

TRUMP-NETANYAHU RELATIONSHIP SOURS

Trump and Netanyahu had a close relationship during Trump's time as president, though cracks have appeared in their once ironclad rapport. Trump was annoyed when Netanyahu called to congratulate Biden on winning the 2020 presidential election against Trump, an election Trump still calls fraudulent.

Speaking to supporters in Florida on Wednesday, Trump said he was disclosing for the first time that Israel decided at the last minute not to take part in the U.S. assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, killed in Iraq in a drone strike on Jan. 3, 2020, which was ordered by Trump.

Trump said Israel relayed to the United States on the night before the operation that it had decided not to participate. Trump said Israel officials did not explain why they came to that decision.

"I'll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing," Trump said, using Netanyahu's nickname.

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip, in retribution for the deadliest militant attack on civilians in Israeli history, when hundreds of gunmen crossed the barrier and rampaged through towns on Saturday.

Israeli officials say the death toll inside Israel has risen to more than 1,300. Most were civilians gunned down in their homes, on the streets or at a dance party. Scores of Israeli and foreign hostages, including Americans, were taken back to Gaza; Israel says it has identified 97 of them.

Gaza authorities said more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,000 have been wounded in retaliatory air strikes by Israel.

(Reporting by Tim Reid, Nathan Layne, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey and Jeff Mason; Editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller)
NEW YORK (AP)  Several of former President Donald Trump 's Republican rivals denounced him on Thursday for lashing out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days after Hamas' deadly attack, a rare moment in which multiple competitors directly criticized the GOP front-runner.

Trump at a rally Wednesday night said Netanyahu let us down just before the U.S. killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020. He also said Israeli leaders needed to step up their game" and referred to Hezbollah, the group Israel fears may launch a large-scale attack from the countrys north, as very smart. In an interview that aired Thursday, he added to his criticism, saying Netanyahu was not prepared" for the deadly weekend incursion from Gaza.

Now is not the time to be attacking our ally," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trumps 2024 rivals, echoing denunciations from the White House and elsewhere. More than 2,700 people are dead on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, and Hamas is believed to have taken around 150 hostages.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, another GOP presidential contender, compared Trumps comments to a foreign ally criticizing the U.S. in the aftermath of 9/11 or the attack on Pearl Harbor. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said, We cannot accept a single message to any of the enemies of Israel that U.S. and Israeli leaders are at odds.

Trump is generally treated with a hands-off approach by his leading Republican opponents, who are fearful of alienating his loyal base. But his criticism of Israel, so soon after the unprecedented attack, underscores the extent to which the man most likely to take on President Joe Biden next year is driven by personal enmity and resentments toward those who rejected his lies about winning the 2020 election.

While Trump and Netanyahu were close allies for years, the former president turned on the embattled Israel leader after Netanyahu congratulated then-President-elect Biden for winning the 2020 election while Trump was still trying to overturn the results. In interviews for a book about his Middle East peace efforts, Trump, according to its author, used an expletive to describe Netanyahu and said he believed the Israeli leader never really wanted to make peace.

Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary who serves on the board of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said he wished Trump would let his personal grievances with Bibi, whatever they are, slide for now.

I think it's just a reflection that for Donald Trump, everything is personal," Fleischer said. "But despite it, I'll never forget and no one should forget Trump has been good for Israel." Trump has long said that he did more to support Israel than any previous president, pointing to his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

Others were less forgiving.

I think it is another sign that Trumps impulsiveness plays into the hands of those who are not his friends, said Erick Erickson, a conservative radio host and Trump critic. Hes given a propaganda win to a terrorist group. Thats unfortunate.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates called Trumps statements dangerous and unhinged," while the Israeli communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, told Israels Channel 13 that it was shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens.

Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment.

The prime minister and Israel's intelligence services are under immense pressure to explain how they missed the planning of a multi-pronged attack unlike any in the country's history. Before this week, his far-right government was facing mass protests over a proposed judicial overhaul and criticism from former senior officers of Mossad, Shin Bet, and other Israeli security services who said his proposed policies weakened Israel's internal security.

In Washington, President Joe Biden and senior Democratic and Republican leaders have lined up behind Israel in the wake of the Hamas attack. Biden spoke to Jewish leaders on Wednesday and called the attack the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Trump has long tried to paint himself as one of Israels staunchest defenders and has continued to pledge support in the wake of the attack. In the immediate aftermath, he, like some other GOP contenders, tried to place the blame on Biden, and said he would support the country's efforts to crush Hamas.

But on Wednesday night, after saying his prayers were with Israel and again vowing support, Trump told a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, that he was frustrated with Netanyahu over the 2020 mission that killed Soleimani, then the head of Irans Quds Force.

In Trump's telling, Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months."

We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack," Trump alleged, adding that he would never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down.

His account of Israel's role in the raid could not immediately be verified.

Trump also seized on intelligence failures surrounding the past weekend's onslaught, saying the Iraelis had to strengthen themselves up.

Theyve got to straighten it out because theyre fighting, potentially, a very big force, he said. Theyre going to have to step up their game. He further criticized Israels defense minister, calling him this jerk for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel from the north.

In an interview that aired Thursday morning on Fox News Radio, he told host Brian Kilmeade that Netanyahu "was not prepared and Israel was not prepared."

Who would have thought their intelligence wouldnt have been able to pick this up?" he asked. "Thousands of people were involved. Thousands of people knew about it and they let this slip by.

Speaking to reporters after filing for the New Hampshire primary on Thursday afternoon, DeSantis said Netanyahu was managing one of the most difficult situations Israels ever had to face."

You may have a personal vendetta or beef with him, but is that really the time to be out there doing that and to be attacking the Israeli defense minister? I dont think so, he said. He also criticized Trump for calling Hezbollah very smart.

Trump campaign aides defended the former president's comments, saying that there was nothing new about his criticism of Netanyahu over the 2020 strike and defending his use of the word smart to describe bad foreign actors.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack," said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung. Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid.

It remains unclear how the new war in the Middle East might impact both the GOP primary, which will begin in three months in Iowa, or the general election.

While the war in Israel was not top of mind for many of the Republican primary voters who gathered at the New Hampshire statehouse on Thursday to see DeSantis, several were aware of Trumps comments. One of them, 34-year-old Republican Melissa Blasek, of Merrimack, said it was another example of why she had lost faith in the former president.

One of the things I always liked about Trump was his strong support for Israel, said Blasek. I dont really know what he meant. It was very rambling. Whats clear is that this is not the Trump of 2016. He is not the same candidate  And so things sound less coherent. And I am tired of incoherency. I like an articulate and coherent president.

___

Gomez Licon reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Amy Teibel in Jerusalem, Holly Ramer, Steve Peoples in Concord, New Hampshire, and Thomas Beaumont in Newton, Iowa, contributed to this report.
Former President Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israeli prime minister was caught unprepared by Hamas attack and praising the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as very smart.

The remarks reflect the soured relationship between the two men and are notable at a time when Trumps Republican presidential rivals have uniformly sought to position themselves as steadfast supporters of Netanyahu during Israels war with Hamas.

(Netanyahu) has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here. He was not prepared. He was not prepared, and Israel was not prepared, Trump told Fox News Brian Kilmeade in an interview clip that aired Wednesday night.

Trump went further at a campaign event in West Palm Beach, Florida.

When I see sometimes the intelligence, you talk about the intelligence, or you talk about some of the things that went wrong over the last week, theyve got to straighten it out because theyre fighting potentially a very big force, Trump said Wednesday.

Regarding Hezbollah, which the US and its allies have warned against escalating the current conflict, Trump said, Theyre vicious, and theyre smart. And, boy, are they vicious, because nobodys ever seen the kind of sight that weve seen.

The criticism is a stark reversal from the firm friendship Trump shared with Netanyahu while in office, embracing the Israeli leader at every turn. But its driven by animosity Trump has held for Netanyahu ever since the prime minister publicly acknowledged that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. In the months that followed, Trump accused Netanyahu of disloyalty and fumed to Axios, F*** him.

Though Trump later congratulated Netanyahu after he returned to power late last year, his hostility toward him has hardly waned, sources familiar with his thinking told CNN, and Trump maintains that Netanyahu shouldnt have commented on Bidens win. At the campaign event Wednesday night, Trump again resurfaced his false claims of election fraud and suggested that Hamas attack wouldnt have happened if he were president.

If the election wasnt rigged, there would be nobody even thinking about going into Israel, the former president told his supporters.

He also invoked the US governments 2020 killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and claimed Israel declined to participate in the strike.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing, I will say that, Trump said.

At the time, however, Netanyahu praised the strike, saying it was justified because Soleimani was planning further attacks.

When CNN pressed Netanyahu in his last interview with the network in September about whether the newfound hostility from Trump bothered him, the Israeli leader said, Ive been long enough in the political life to put aside the periodic ebb and flow of emotion and to look at the substantive positions that leaders and allies have done.  So, yeah, I dont particularly care for that. I mean, I dont care about it, is the way I would say it.

In the interview with Foxs Kilmeade, Trump would not say if he has spoken with Netanyahu in the days since the Hamas attack.

I dont want to say about, you know, who Ive talked to. But I was very disappointed that a thing like this could happen, the former president said.

Trump team plays defense after facing backlash

Trump and his team were playing defense Thursday night, blasting out a series of statements praising the Trump administrations work in the Middle East and relationship with Israel, after comments at a rally Wednesday sparked enormous backlash from both allies and adversaries.

There was no better friend or ally of Israel than President Donald J. Trump, Trump said a statement Thursday, adding: Under my leadership, the United States stood in complete solidarity with Israel, and as a result, Israel was safe, America was safe, and for the first time in decades, we made historic strides for Peace in the Middle East.

During what was intended to be a campaign speech highlighting Trumps accomplishments in the Middle East and pledging his unequivocal support for Israel, Trump had veered off course Wednesday night.

Most of Trumps closest advisers were not with him Wednesday night, but many watched live as he muddied the messaging on his achievements while in office with attacks that the Israeli prime minister was caught unprepared by Hamas attack.

Multiple sources acknowledged that it was immediately clear that his negative remarks would overshadow the point of the speech and receive backlash.

Those comments received a lot more attention than other parts of his speech, one Trump adviser said.

The adviser added that the purpose of the statement and talking points highlighting Trumps past achievements on Israel that his campaign blasted out Thursday night was to serve as a reminder of where Trump stands. I think a lot of that a lot of the accomplishments, they were overshadowed by some other things, the adviser said.

Trumps team also sent talking points to allies Thursday after the speech, pointing to his record in office and clarifying his remarks the night before.

This was to highlight President Trumps accomplishments during his first term and to reiterate everything that hes done to bring peace to the Middle East and to foster a deeper relationship between Israel and the United States, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told CNN in response to the statements the team sent out on Thursday.

One person close to Trump criticized the former president for bringing up the Soleimani strike.

That was unnecessary, especially at this time. And it does nothing to show hes with the people of Israel and Bibi, the person said.

Multiple Trump advisers and allies said the former president had been telling this story in recent days as well as implying that Netanyahu was weak for missing the terrorists attack before it happened.

While in office, Trump and Netanyahu maintained a firm friendship and he was a vocal Netanyahu ally during his presidency. Sources, however, said that has changed since Trump left office.

Trumps relationship with Netanyahu has deteriorated since Trump lost. Couple that with a need to be a strongman in the face of what Trump probably sees as Biden admin weakness on terrorism, and you get comments like that, a former Trump administration official told CNN.

GOP opponents seize on remarks

While most of the 2024 GOP field has otherwise been reluctant to criticize Trump head on, a few contenders seized on his Wednesday remarks.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has recently escalated his attacks against Trump, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: (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 terrorists as very smart.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also pushed back on his former bosss remarks, saying, Hezbollah arent smart, theyre evil.

This is no time for the former president, or any other American leader to be sending any message other than America stands with Israel, Pence told a local New Hampshire radio show Thursday.

While Trumps comments toward Netanyahu are personal, Israeli officials have acknowledged they were caught by surprise when Hamas attacked. US officials have also said they did not see intelligence that this type of attack was going to unfold any more than the Israelis did.

We were surprised this morning, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, told CNN on Saturday. 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.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Brian Rokus, David Wright and Veronica Stracqualursi contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Donald Trump has been absolutely furious with Benjamin Netanyahu since the Israeli prime minister declined to publicly back his conspiracy-fueled effort to overturn the 2020 election. The Israel-Hamas war that erupted over the weekend has only stoked the former presidents animus toward Netanyahu, and hes now trying to use the unfolding horror to get even.

In recent days, Trump has had phone calls with various pro-Israel GOP allies and donors who want to know how Trump would handle Israeli-Palestinian matters if reelected, two sources familiar with the matter tell Rolling Stone. Trump has relayed a few ideas he has discussed with policy advisers  including cutting off all aid to Palestinians and encouraging other nations to do the same, as well as capturing and extraditing certain Hamas figures. But during these private conversations, Trump has also spent an inordinate amount of time aggressively trashing Netanyahu.

In a recurring comment Trump has yet to voice publicly, the former president  and former close ally of the Israeli prime minister  has expressed his strong desire for Netanyahu to be gone by the time Trump would potentially be back in office in 2025, the sources recount. Since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, Trump has said Netanyahu should be impeached by the Israeli Parliament because the assault  which was preceded by an apparently catastrophic intelligence failure on the part of Netanyahus government  occurred on his watch. (Israels parliament cannot impeach a prime minister in the same way Congress can impeach a president in the United States).

Trump has also asked multiple longtime advisers if he should now publicly call for Netanyahu to step down as prime minister. Some confidants and allies have recently recommended that he not do it this week, as the dead are still being counted and a major war seems underway.

The private comments track with Trumps public speech on Wednesday, in which he criticized Netanyahu and Israeli intelligence while referring to the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah as smart. In a meandering monologue, the former president declared himself the best friend Israel had in the White House by far but lamented that he did have a bad experience with Israel.

Trump told supporters in Palm Beach that he would never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down when the Israeli prime minister, in Trumps telling, provided intelligence to help with the killing of Iranian covert operations chief Qassem Soleimani in 2020, before backing out of participation in the operation at the last minute. Trump also criticized Israeli intelligence for failing to anticipate the Hamas assault, saying theyve got to straighten it out.

Many Israelis appear to blame the Netanyahu government for the surprise attack. In a recent poll by Israels Dialog Center, 86 percent of Israelis surveyed characterized the assault as a failure of leadership by the Netanyahu government.

But in his own private ranting against Netanyahu, Trump has made it abundantly clear that his fury at Netanyahu is driven more by preexisting personal animus than by the Israeli leaders performance in office during the Gaza offensive. The former president has derisively compared the very weak Netanyahu to the majority of American Jewish voters who support Democratic President Joe Biden, and has assailed Netanyahus intelligence and alleged corruption.

Over the past few days, during these conversations that started as focusing on the horrifying situation in Israel, Trump has  naturally  found ways to quickly pivot to Netanyahus ultimate betrayal of failing to back Trumps post-election lies while congratulating Biden on his victory. Its hard to overstate how much that enraged Trump, and how his distrust and bitterness have persisted even in this moment of crisis. Though Trump has a reputation for profuse vulgarity in private, he typically tries to refrain from publicly telling other world leaders to go fuck themselves. Trump, however, made an apparent exception in Netanyahus case.

Israeli officials have for the most part ignored Trumps public comments criticizing Netanyahu Wednesday night, but some have shown flashes or irritation at the speech. Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi told Israeli reporters that it was shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens. Trump, Karhi said, cant be relied on.

Trumps attempts to contrast his record on Israel comes as President Biden  who has had an at-times tense relationship with Netanyahu  has earned praise from Israelis and even some Republicans for his administrations response to the crisis.

David Friedman, Trumps former ambassador to Israel, took to Twitter on Wednesday to say that he was deeply grateful for the moral, tactical, diplomatic and military support that [the Biden administration] has provided Israel over the past few days, calling it exceptional.

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Phyllis Coates , the first actor to portray Lois Lane on television, has died aged 96.

Coates starred opposite George Reeves in the black-and-white Adventures of Superman series.

Laura Press, Coatess daughter, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that her mother died on Wednesday (11 October) from natural causes at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.

Coates featured as Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men . She later reprised the role in the first season of the six-season adventure series, which ran from 1952 to 1958.

Born Born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell on 15 January 1927 in Wichita Falls, Texas, Coates and her family eventually moved to Hollywood, where she launched her showbiz career as a chorus girl in the 1940s. She often toured with the United States Organisations (USO), entertaining the US Armed Forces and their families.

Nearly a decade later, she landed several small supporting roles in films, including Smart Girls Dont Talk (1948) and My Foolish Heart (1949). She also appeared as Alice McDoakes in a number of Joe McDoakes comedyshorts.

Coates was then invited in 1951 to audition for the part of Lois Lane in the low-budget feature film Superman and the Mole Men. The movie, starring Reeves as Superman, was essentially a de facto TV pilot to Adventures of Superman, which they both returned for.

Phyllis Coates on far left (Getty Images)

However, Coates left after the first season due to conflicts with producers and future projects. The show continued for six more seasons, with Noel Neill taking over for Coates. A seventh season was planned but was scrapped after Reevess unexpected death in 1959.

Coates was portrayed by Lorry Ayers in Hollywoodland (2006), about an investigator (Adrien Brody) who looks into Reevess (Ben Affleck) death, which was ruled a suicide.

Coates continued to rack up an extensive list of TV and film credits during her career. She appeared in numerous Fifties and Sixties TV shows like The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Leave It To Beaver, Hawaiian Eye, Rawhide, Perry Mason, The Untouchables, The Virginian and Death Valley Days, followed by a role in the 1970s TV-movie The Baby Maker, alongside Barbara Hershey.

Her final on-screen role was in two 1994 episodes of Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman.

Coates, who was married four times, is survived by daughters Laura and Zoe, and granddaughter Olivia.
HELSINKI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Finnish and Estonian police are set to jointly investigate the breach in the Balticconnector gas pipeline and a data cable, which took place last weekend.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation announced the cooperation on Thursday, emphasizing the progress made in ascertaining the ships that had been in the area at the time.

Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported on Thursday that the focus is now on the ships that were in the area on the surface, rather than on underwater activities.

Both the Finnish navy and frontier guards have gathered data on maritime traffic and provided support to the police. NATO intelligence and situation reports have also been used for the probe, Yle reported.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen and Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said on Wednesday that Finland and Estonia are currently investigating the matter without NATO participation. However, NATO has pledged to give support if required. 
Two men who went missing after Sacramentos Aftershock Festival have been found safe and are returning home to Southern California, a mother of one of the men said Thursday morning.

Anthony Acosta, 32, and Jacob Clark, 24, were reported missing after their families couldnt get in touch with them since Saturday, said Shannon Jendrock, Clarks mother. The men were visiting from Southern California to attend the annual four-day music festival in Discovery Park.

The Sacramento Police Department began investigating their disappearance, asking for the publics help after the pair were last seen entering onto southbound Interstate 5 in a black Ford F-150.

In a phone call Thursday, Jendrock said the two men fell out of contact with their families when their cellphones were stolen at the festival and along the American River. Clarks truck keys were also stolen, she said.

Theyre heading home today, the Riverside County mother said.

The missing persons have been located safely and have been in contact with family, the Sacramento Police Department said.
By Rich McKay

(Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday ruled as valid a temporary suspension by the governor of New Mexico of the right to carry guns in parks and playgrounds in parts of the state, court records show, in a victory for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham .

U.S. District Court Judge David Herrera Urias declined to block the governor's heavily criticized temporary suspension, saying the government has an interest in protecting a vulnerable population, "such as children" in "sensitive places" such as playgrounds.

He ruled the motion for a preliminary injunction of the order was denied.

Lujan Grisham in September initially issued a blanket suspension on the right to carry guns in Albuquerque, the state's largest city and surrounding Bernalillo County, framing it as a public health response to deaths of children in gun violence, including the killing of an 11-year-old boy in a road rage incident.

Amid fury from gun advocates and a ruling from Judge Urias, her original order was frozen, and a new, tailored-down version was made to restrict guns at just public parks and playgrounds in the area.

Gun rights groups and some gunowners still filed lawsuits seeking to overturn that scaled-back version which they said would deprive Albuquerque-area residents of 2nd Amendment rights to carry guns in public.

A spokesperson for the governor did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the ruling.

The Democratic governor had previously said: "Im going to continue pushing to make sure that all of us are using every resource available to put an end to this public health emergency with the urgency it deserves."

Last month, Albuquerque's mayor Tim Keller urged Lujan Grisham to call a special session of the state legislature on gun violence.

But Lujan Grisham said she had no plan to call a special session as she believed her public health order, which includes measures on drugs and juvenile offenders, would at this time achieve more than new legislation.

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; editing by Miral Fahmy)
Local and federal law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are stepping up their patrols of Jewish houses of worship, Jewish-owned businesses and Israeli diplomatic buildings as calls for attacks on the Jewish community in the U.S. intensify online.

Former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal recently called for Friday to be a global day of "anger" in support of the recent Hamas attack on Israel, which has left over 1,300 Israelis dead. He said demonstrations would send a "message of rage to Zionists and to America."

Follow along for live coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

Historically, such calls for action or for a day of rage have produced large demonstrations and unrest in Gaza and the West Bank. But they have not led to large-scale attacks in the U.S. in the past.

Oren Segal, the vice president of the ADL Center on Extremism, said that such calls are common in the Middle East but that now they are becoming more common here.

"Right now, we're concerned about the vulnerability of the Jewish community and the possibility of violence targeting the community," he said. "Were seeing how white supremacists online are glorifying what happened in Israel. We are also seeing organization on the left at rallies and other events who justify and celebrate that violence, as well."

Multiple law enforcement officials said they are monitoring a lot of chatter on social media about retaliatory attacks against Israels counterstrikes on Gaza, which have also killed over 1,300.

But none of the online threats are specific and credible, according to three officials, a standard that law enforcement applies to intervene to stop potential perpetrators of violence.

However, antisemitic threats specific to the Jewish community in the U.S. have been and continue to be made, multiple senior law enforcement officials say.

Law enforcement agencies in cities like New York and Washington, D.C., as well as federal agencies, are increasing their security postures.

Image: A resident walks past a New York Police Department patrol van in Brooklyn on Thursday. Some areas have increased security following the conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images)

We are at a heightened posture and talking to our counterparts across the country. This is the highest level of security a lot of cities have had in some time, a senior law enforcement official said.

The New York Police Department canceled all training for officers Thursday and ordered the entire force to be in uniform and on patrol, two senior law enforcement officials said. The officials said police department will have additional security at large gatherings, cultural sites and houses of worship Friday.

In Los Angeles, all personnel have been to report Friday in uniform, as well. Officials said they will have enough personnel on duty to provide security at any protests or rallies.

In Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service and others are stepping up their monitoring and adding more officers around the Israeli Embassy and other areas they think might be vulnerable.

The senior law enforcement official said local and federal agencies are viewing Friday as a bellwether for the level of antisemitic energy in the U.S., adding that all in law enforcement hope calls for violence will not materialize.

But Friday is not the only focus. The nature of the war and the predictions that it might be a long war mean heightened security against attacks in the U.S. may need to continue for some time, the officials said.

Neo-Nazis are contributing to the antisemitic chatter online, sometimes using rhetoric from Hamas.

We are really interested to see how Friday plays out, because it will tell us a lot about the energy in the U.S. for antisemitic rhetoric and attacks: Who comes out, how many people, the senior law enforcement official said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The News

The United States and Qatar have reached an understanding not to allow Iran to access the $6 billion funds reserved for humanitarian assistance.

U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Democrats behind closed doors on Thursday that the U.S. and Qatar had reached a quiet understanding not to move the money, which is being held in a Qatari bank, a person familiar with his comments told Semafor. The news comes as U.S. officials probe whether Iran was directly involved in the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend.

Adeyemo told the lawmakers the funds would not be moving anytime soon, the person said.

The Biden administration has withstood growing pressure from lawmakers in both parties to refreeze the money, which Iran was given access to as part of a prisoner swap deal between Washington and Tehran in recent weeks.

Know More

Biden administration officials have said they do not have evidence of Irans direct involvement in the attack over the weekend while acknowledging that Iran has long supported Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union.

Republicans have accused the administration of emboldening Iran with the prisoner swap deal, arguing that the money ultimately helps Iran and its proxies in the region. The administration has stressed that none of the $6 billion has been accessed by Iran and that it is reserved for humanitarian purposes, dismissing efforts to link the $6 billion to Hamass attack on Israel as disinformation.

Still, a number of Senate Democrats facing difficult reelection battles in 2024 joined their Republican colleagues in demanding the $6 billion be frozen.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. announced Wednesday that they would seek unanimous consent to pass legislation that would block Iran from accessing the funds when the upper chamber reconvenes next week.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. and Qatari governments have agreed to block Iran from accessing any of the $6 billion it gained access to as part of a prisoner swap deal between the Biden administration and Tehran last month, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats on Thursday, according to three sources familiar with his remarks, two of whom were in the room.

The two sources in the room said Adeyemo did not give any timeframe for how long the U.S. and Qatar agreed to block Irans access to the money.

Follow along with lives updates on the Israel-Hamas war here.

Punchbowl News was first to report Adeyemo's comments.

The administration has faced bipartisan pressure to block Irans access to the money as U.S. officials continue to investigate whether Iran had any direct involvement in Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel. The Biden administration has said Tehran could use the $6 billion only for humanitarian assistance.

The money was transferred last month from a South Korean bank to a bank in Qatar. Iran could access the money only through a series of steps, including oversight by the Treasury Department, administration officials have said.

Wally Adeyemo speaks. (Jordan Vonderhaar / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

Administration officials have said over the past several days that Iran has not accessed any of the money and that the U.S. could re-freeze it at any time. But there was growing pressure on the White House to send a clearer message that Iran would not access the money.

Critics of the White Houses decision to give Iran access to the $6 billion have said that the money is fungible and that any funds Iran receives, regardless of whether they are for humanitarian assistance, would free up more money for it to fund terrorism.

It's unclear how halting Iran's access to the $6 billion might affect the administrations efforts to negotiate future deals to release other wrongfully detained Americans.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The U.S. has reached a "quiet understanding" with Qatar not to release any of the $6 billion in Iranian oil revenues that was unfrozen as part of the prisoner swap last month, a source with knowledge of the arrangement told CBS News.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo informed House Democrats of that understanding in a closed-door meeting Thursday morning.

As part of the high-stakes deal to release five Americans who had been wrongfully detained in Iran, the Biden administration included the transfer of the Iranian oil assets from a restricted account in South Korea to Qatar.

Many Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for releasing the funds, claiming it freed up resources for Iran to support the attack. Administration officials have said since the attacks began that Iran has long supported Hamas with material, financial and logistical support, but to date, no evidence has been found to link the surprise attacks to Tehran.

The Biden administration has said that the money would not be given directly to Iran and that it could only be used to fund Iran's purchases of humanitarian goods, such as food and medicine, though Iran's president has said he would decide how to spend the previously frozen funds.

In his closed-door meeting with the House Democrats, Adeyemo said the $6 billion "isn't going anywhere anytime soon." His comments were first reported by Punchbowl News.

The timing of the understanding that was reached was not disclosed by the source, so it is not known whether this transpired after Hamas attacked Israel over the weekend.

But even before this understanding, the mechanism for Iran to access the funds was heavily scrutinized and quite complicated. Iran was unlikely to be able to get to the funds quickly, even for legitimate humanitarian efforts.

In a briefing with reporters on Thursday afternoon, White House national security spokesman John Kirby insisted that "the regime was never going to see a dime of that money."

Caitlin Yilek and Olivia Gazis contributed to this report.

NYT Cooking recipe for a childhood favorite, frosted sugar cookies

What's happening at the Israel-Gaza border?

Social Security benefits to rise 3.2% in 2024 after 8.7% hike for 2023
The U.S. State Department revised its travel advisory to Israel on Wednesday, urging Americans to reconsider travel to the country amid its intensifying war with Hamas in Gaza.

Hamas  the militant group that rules over the Gaza territory  launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of soldiers and civilians. Hamas is holding more than 150 people hostage, according to Israel.

Israel declared war in response, and at least 2,300 people on both sides have been killed, including 25 Americans.

Saturdays attack put an abrupt stop to several flights from the U.S. to Israel. As violence continues to unfold between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. State Department has bumped its travel advisory to Israel up to Level-3 Reconsider Travel.

Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, the advisory states. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.

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 advisory continues.

Even before the war began, the State Department had warned Americans against traveling to Gaza and urged them to be cautious when traveling to Israel in general due to the threat of terrorism.

Now, the revised advisory lists Israel and the West Bank as places to reconsider traveling to due to terrorism and civil unrest. It warns Americans not to visit Gaza for the same reasons, along with armed conflict.

Israels military launched airstrikes in Gaza, which are likely only the start of its offensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to bring on a larger retaliation that would reverberate ... for generations.

President Joe Biden pledged on Tuesday to continue supporting Israel in its defense.

Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai  without taking sides  called for an immediate ceasefire on Tuesday for the sake of children caught in the middle of the violence, echoing a similar statement released by UNICEF that same day.

The war follows the Israeli governments ongoing and decadeslong apartheid against Palestinians. Biden appeared to allude to this in his remarks on Tuesday as he condemned Hamas and emphasized that the group is not reflective of the entire Palestinian cause.

The brutality of Hamas... brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS, Biden said. Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and self-determination ... Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed, with no regard to who pays the price.

Related...
Blinken tells Netanyahu in Israel: U.S. will 'always be there'

By Humeyra Pamuk

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a robust message of solidarity to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday as he embarked on a Middle East tour aimed at stopping spillover from the war between Israel and Hamas.

The top U.S. diplomat also plans to visit key American allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates - some of which have influence on Hamas, the Palestinian militants who attacked Israel on Saturday. It will be Blinken's most extensive Middle East visit since taking office in January 2021.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust and massed tanks on the border with the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Gaza Strip on Thursday ahead of an anticipated ground invasion. The escalation is the most serious in the region in years.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side," Blinken told Netanyahu.

He urged restraint by Israel as it hits back against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Blinken said taking steps to avoid civilian deaths sets democratic governments apart from groups like Hamas, who target civilians in "most inhumane ways."

"It's so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians," Blinken said while standing beside Netanyahu after their meeting.

Blinken also toured a donation center. Among the volunteers was a young Israeli-American woman, Lior Gelbaum, who - along with her Israeli boyfriend - survived the Hamas attack on a rave party in southern Israel.

"We went through horror really," said Gelbaum, struggling to hold back tears as she described losing friends in the attack. "Thank you for being here; it's really important."

SAFE PASSAGE

Washington says at least 25 Americans were killed in the Hamas attacks and more are believed to be among the scores of hostages taken to Gaza. U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen traveled with Blinken to Israel and will stay to support efforts to free them, Blinken said.

Blinken was headed to Jordan on Thursday evening to meet King Abdullah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The United States is offering charter flights to Europe from Friday to help Americans leave Israel if they want.

During his visit to Tel Aviv, Blinken recounted how his grandfather fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived Nazi concentration camps.

"I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas' massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere," he said after meeting Netanyahu.

Blinken said that Israel is obliged to defend itself in a way to ensure the cross-border attack can never happen again, and that he spoke with Netanyahu about how it will do so.

Blinken also said as Israel's defense needs evolve, Washington would work with Congress to ensure they are met. The Biden administration plans to next week release its request for more money from Congress.

Gaza moved closer to a humanitarian catastrophe on Thursday as the death toll rose and vital supplies ran low after Israel imposed a siege on the enclave. Israel said there would be no humanitarian break until all hostages were freed.

A senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Washington was working to advance talks on providing a safe passage to civilians, including around 500 to 600 Palestinian Americans resident in Gaza.

Containing the conflict is a top U.S. priority and Blinken has been speaking with regional allies, who speak to Iran and Iran-backed groups, to ask them to advise Tehran to keep out.

In the biggest sign yet of the conflict potentially spilling across borders, Syria said Israeli air strikes had hit the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, putting both out of service, while Israel and the powerful armed group Hezbollah have exchanged fire across the Lebanese border.

"We're very intent on demonstrating ... that we're committed to keeping other parties out of this conflict," the official said.

(Additional reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Jonathan Oatis)
The Biden administration will begin arranging charter flights to ferry Americans from Israel to destinations in Europe starting Friday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday.

Though some commercial airlines, such as Israel's El Al, are continuing to operate flights in Israel, many other carriers  including those based in the U.S.  have stopped service, making availability scarce.

Kirby cited that limited availability in making his announcement during a briefing at the White House and said President Joe Biden asked his national security team to help Americans who want to leave Israel. Kirby added the government "is still working out details" of how many flights will take place and what their destinations will be.

"We're exploring other options, whether it's possible to help Americans leave by land and sea," Kirby said.

Kirby said he did not have "hard figures" of how many Americans want to leave Israel. He noted that 27 Americans were killed and 14 are unaccounted for after Hamas attacked civilians in Israel near Gaza.

Kirby deferred to the State Department when asked if the charter flights would be free of charge, though he said in most previous cases flights were free.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the charter flights will allow U.S. citizens "to make their own onward travel arrangements to the destination of their choice." Miller added that the initial transportation options "will be augmented in the coming days" and that the initial charter flight options will facilitate the departure of "thousands of U.S. citizens per week."

Kirby added that getting Americans out presents a challenge because of the large number of U.S. citizens in Israel. He noted that U.S. citizens aren't required to notify the U.S. government of their travel plans. He said the charter flights were ordered, in part, because of the decision by U.S. airlines not to fly into Israel for the foreseeable future.

"We realized that as the situation evolved that more and more Americans are desiring to leave," Kirby said.

Kirby said there isn't any way to get Americans out of Gaza right now due to Israel's blockade, though he said the U.S. government would support a means of safe passage for Americans wishing to leave and then facilitating potential travel once they are out of Gaza.

"We have no physical means of getting that travel out," Kirby said of U.S. citizens in Gaza. "If there's onward travel they might need we might be in a position to be more physically involved."

Lawmakers from both parties this week called on the Biden administration to run charter flights as well as potentially a military airlift.

"As the number of casualties continues to rise, our constituents who remain in Israel fear for their lives," the group of lawmakers wrote. "We ask that you consider charter flights and military options for evacuation, simultaneously."
The United States and the Qatari government reached an agreement to prevent Iran from tapping $6 billion in frozen fundsmoney slated for humanitarian assistance in exchange for the release of 5 American hostagesin the wake of the attack on Israel, The Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the agreement. Iran has long been a supplier of weapons to Hamas, but U.S. intelligence officials believe that Iran likely did not have forewarning of the attack on Israel. Pressure mounted on President Biden in recent days from allies and critics in the Senate who urged him to halt the funds in the wake of the attack. The decision marks the second time in recent years that the U.S. has broken a major agreement with Iran; Trump reneged on Obamas Iran Nuclear Deal, and now Biden has reversed course on his own agreement.

Read it at The Washington Post

Read more at The Daily Beast.
New York (CNN)  Billionaire hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman and several other business leaders are demanding Harvard University release the names of students whose organizations signed on to a letter blaming solely Israel for the deadly attacks by Hamas.

The CEOs want the students blacklisted. But some of those students have since distanced themselves from the letter.

One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists, Ackman said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

If the members support the letter, the names of the signatories should be made public so their views are publicly known, Ackman said. The CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management said he wanted to ensure his company and others dont inadvertently hire any students belonging to Harvard groups that signed the letter.

Following a backlash to the statement, some of the student groups have since withdrawn their endorsements.

Multiple other business leaders, including the CEOs of shopping club FabFitFun, health tech startup EasyHealth and Dovehill Capital Management supported the call from Ackman to name the students.

I would like to know so I know never to hire these people, Jonathan Neman, CEO of restaurant chain Sweetgreen, said on X.

Neither Neman nor Ackman responded to requests for comment.

Others warn that naming the students whose groups backed the statement could put the students in harms way and did not account for differences of opinion within the student groups.

Larry Summers, the famed economist who on Monday drew attention to the morally unconscionable Harvard student statement, is now preaching caution.

I yield to no one in my revulsion at the statement apparently made on behalf of 30 plus @Harcard student group, Summers said in a Wednesday afternoon post on X. But please everybody take a deep breath. Many in these groups never saw the statement before it went out. In some cases those approving did not understand exactly what they were approving.

Summers, the former president of Harvard and US Treasury Secretary, added that probably some were naive and foolish.

This is not a time where it is constructive to vilify individuals and I am sorry that is happening, Summers said.

Harvard professor and legal scholar Laurence Tribe told CNN Wednesday he initially agreed with Ackman but on reflection decided not to join the push to publicize their names.

Any number of the students who got caught up in this misguided campaign probably didnt even know there was a statement. Others no doubt didnt focus on, much less understand, what they were signing, Tribe said in an email. Naive and stupid as they may have been, I now think it would be an overreaction to penalize them permanently by publishing their names and implying that they actually endorsed what the terrorists did to innocent Israelis.

Similarly, Meds.com CEO Stephen Sullivan wrote that people should be angry at the administration and teachers but cautioned against putting college students names on a list, according to Forbes.

Harvard University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Harvard President Claudine Gay issued a statement Tuesday saying no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership.

Harvard student groups statement

The controversy comes in response to a joint statement released by a coalition of Harvard student groups following the attacks by Hamas that have killed more than 1,000 Israelis and at least 14 American citizens.

We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, the statement from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups said.

The statement said millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison and called on Harvard to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians.

A footnote at the bottom of the statement said the names of the original signing organizations have been concealed at this time.

Jake Wurzak, the CEO of Dovehill Capital Management, said he believed the students who signed the letter should be named.

Free Speech is paramount. Words have meaning and students shouldnt be allowed to hide behind an institution, Wurzak said on X.

Some students withdraw their signatures

According to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper, at least five of the original 34 signatories have withdrawn their endorsements as of Tuesday night.

For example, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association said on Instagram we regret that the decision to co-sign the statement has been interpreted as a tacit support for the recent violent attacks in Israel.

To ensure that our stance on the condemnation of violence by Hamas and support for a just peace remains clear, we retract our signatures from the statement, the Nepali student group said.

Act on a Dream, a student group supporting immigrants, told the Crimson the group signed the statement as a result of miscommunication and a lack of due diligence in sharing the statement with the entirety of the board.

Others responded to Ackman saying students werent aware of the letters content or that groups they belong to were signing the statement.

No need for this level of harassment, Mohini Tangri, a Harvard Law School student, said on X in response to Ackman. Tangri said many student members had no say in whether their organization signed the letter.

Another Harvard student, Danielle Mikaelian, said she resigned from the board of a group that signed the statement on Israel and didnt have a chance to read it until it was too late.

I am sorry for the pain this caused. My organization did not have a formal process and I didnt even see the statement until we had signed on, Mikaelian posted on X.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told CNN on Wednesday he doesnt know about the wisdom of releasing the names of the students but called for them to take responsibility on their own.

It is an outrageously offensive piece and anyone who signed it should either stand behind it and face the consequences in life or step up and apologize and explain themselves, Greenblatt said. This is what we learn to do in elementary school. Its hard for me to understand why its complicated for people at Harvard University.

Real-life consequences for anti-Israel statement

Separately, there has been a backlash against a statement released by the president of the NYU Student Bar Association saying Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life.

That statement had immediate consequences, with law firm Winston & Strawn promptly pulling a job offer to the NYU student who previously served as a summer associate at the firm.

These comments are profoundly in conflict with Winston & Strawns values as a firm. Accordingly, the Firm has rescinded the law students offer of employment, the law firm said in a post on X. Winston stands in solidarity with Israels right to exist in peace and condemns Hamas and the violence and destruction it has ignited in the strongest terms possible.

Morally unconscionable

After criticism from Summers and others, Harvard President Claudine Gay said there should be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever ones individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region, Gay said.

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, dean for leadership studies at the Yale School of Management, told CNN on Wednesday that Jews have many centuries of being blamed as victims.

Villains cannot be celebrated as heroes, Sonnenfeld said in an email. Anyone who does so cannot hide as cowards behind the shields of association titles any more than Nazi stormtroopers were allowed anonymity. Our society is founded on personal accountability.

The Anti-Defamation League, in response to a surge of antisemitism around the world following the attacks on Israel, called on CEOs on Wednesday to speak out against hate and sign a pledge to fight antisemitism.

The ADL said signatories include Accenture, Adidas and the NBA.

For companies that have Jewish employees, Jewish customers, Jewish investors, Jewish shareholders, or simply have a modicum of a conscience, this one should be easy, Greenblatt, the ADL CEO, told CNN.

CNNs Kristina Sgueglia and Sabrina Shulman contributed to this report

This story was first published on CNN.com, "UN staffers killed in Gaza as the organization calls for emergency funding"
A California judge has ruled to consolidate 80 lawsuits against Uber from women who claim the company hasnt taken necessary steps to protect its riders from sexual assault. The ruling marks a major victory for the women who want to show the extent of the alleged sexual assault from Uber drivers.

Regardless of where the clients are based, their cases and supporting documents and witness and expert testimony will be presented to Judge Charles Breyer in the Northern District of California. Following the pre-trial hearing, the cases will then go to trial in the victims respective states.

Read more

Ubers whole business model is predicated on giving people a safe ride home, but rider safety was never their concern  growth was, at the expense of their passengers safety, Adam Slater, Founding Partner of Slater Slater Schulman LLP said in a news release. While the company has acknowledged this crisis of sexual assault in recent years, its actual response has been slow and inadequate, with horrific consequences.

The civil action alleged that women passengers in multiple states were kidnapped, sexually assaulted, sexually battered, raped, falsely imprisoned, stalked, harassed, or otherwise attacked by Uber drivers with whom they had been paired through the Uber application, the news release said.

Uber published its second safety report last year, revealing it received 998 reports of sexual assault, including 141 reports of rape in 2020 alone. Uber added that it received a total of 3,824 reports of sexual assault between 2019 and 2020 ranging from non-consensual kissing of a non-sexual body part to non-consensual sexual penetration, or rape.

Additional lawsuits have been filed against Uber in recent years, but the newly consolidated lawsuit will speed up the proceedings and show the scope of the victims claims. Uber has taken steps to provide an added level of security for riders with in-app features like a 911 option and location sharing which allows family or friends to view your location while in the Uber in real-time.

Uber did not immediately respond to Gizmodos request for comment regarding the upcoming legal proceedings, but a spokesperson told NPR: Sexual assault is a horrific crime, and we take every report of this nature very seriously. They continued: While we cannot comment on pending litigation, we are deeply committed to the safety of all users on the Uber platform.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Some students at University California, Riverside are speaking out after dozens of Palestinian flags appeared on campus Wednesday. It is unclear who placed the flags on the UCRs campus or what message the person(s) who set them out are hoping to send.

Several UCR students reached out to KTLA regarding Palestinian flags on the lawn on campus and say they feel unsafe and uneasy and they can feel tensions rising.

Seeing those flags out isnt a big deal, compared to like if they want to perceive a message of pro-Palestine then its totally ok, but if its a message of pro-Hamas it could be totally different, said a student, who asked to not be named, who is part of UCRs Hillel Group, a Jewish organization supporting Jewish students and their peers. Putting a message out that theyre ok with Hamas and what theyre doing.

Many people condemn Saturdays violent attack, but in reference to the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine, there are varied opinions. One Palestinian student condemns the violence but says his people have been oppressed for years.

Its like very bad for both sides, but what people fail to understand and what western media fails to portray is that my people have been oppressed for a very long time and when theyre constantly ignored, said Adrian Adi. I dont condone violence on both sides, but its semi understandable whats going on.

Is its day five of the war that was waged by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group in Gaza that attacked Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking many others hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Hamas has even beheaded soldiers and raped women.

He said out of retribution, he vowed to crush and destroy Hamas, responding with a deadly counterattack. The war has claimed 2300 lives on both sides and counting, including civilians and children.

Many people locally are feeling the effects of whats happening overseas. Families have lost loved ones from Saturdays gruesome attack and others are desperate for answers after learning that Hamas has taken some of their loved ones hostage. Similarly at UCR, students are directly impacted.

A lot of our students have family in Palestine, said Omar Aziz, UCR Middle Eastern Student Center director. Ive had students tell me that theyve lost loved ones from the bombing campaigns and that theres a real sense of fear and hurt and anxiety from our student population

UCR has not responded to KTLAs specific questions, but they do say they have counseling resources for students and staff.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The UK is arranging flights to get stranded British nationals out of Israel, the Foreign Office has said.

The first plane was expected to leave Tel Aviv on Thursday, with more flights planned "in the coming days, subject to security".

Those eligible to leave will be contacted directly and British nationals should not go to airports unless they are called to.

A team of diplomats has been sent to Israel to help people flying to the UK.

The Foreign Office said it is "working to ensure the flight can proceed as soon as possible."

The UK government said earlier this week it would not arrange evacuation flights because commercial routes were still available.

But British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates have all suspended flights in recent days.

In other UK developments:

International Aid Minister Andrew Mitchell said a review of funding for Palestinian refugees could mean the government will start moving "essential humanitarian supplies forward near the region". He told the BBC the UK would "do whatever is necessary to play our part in meeting humanitarian need"

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has chaired an Israel policing roundtable in Downing Street, ahead of protests expected this weekend

Mr Sunak has also announced 3m to help protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings

King Charles has held talks in Buckingham with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. It comes after palace sources said yesterday that the King condemns the "barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel"

The government-arranged flights will be chartered by the Foreign Office but are commercial services. Each passenger will be charged 300.

A statement said British nationals, including dual nationals, and dependants if travelling with a British national normally resident in the UK, would be invited to take up seats.

All seats for the first flight have been allocated, a British official at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport told the BBC.

Those who will be travelling on the flight have been notified by text message.

More on Israel Gaza war

A number of countries have already completed flights to get people home from Israel, including Canada, France, Italy and Poland.

Most airlines stopped flying direct between Israel and the UK earlier this week, and Virgin Atlantic and British Airways pulled their last remaining daily service on Thursday after a BA flight was forced to turn back over security concerns.

It has left people struggling to find tickets for the few remaining commercial routes operating.

Laurence Julius, 67, is in Tel Aviv with his wife Lyn, where they had been visiting family.

They have registered with the Foreign Office, but they have not been contacted about a flight.

Mr Julius is eager to return to London as he is the primary carer of his 92-year-old mother, who has chronic health issues. His children in London have stepped in to help care for her while he is away.

"It's not optimal that we are stuck here, to put it mildly," he said.

After a BA flight was cancelled, he said the airline "tried to book us on every possible route" but all flights were "absolutely full".

The British Broadcasting Corporation

The Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday that families of British diplomats were leaving Israel as a "precautionary measure".

It stressed the embassy in Israel continued to operate, and British nationals could seek consular assistance.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to advise against all but essential travel to all other parts."

Meanwhile, Downing Street said the UK will send surveillance aircraft and two Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean in a military package "to support Israel".

Under the plans, a Royal Navy task group will be moved to the area next week to support humanitarian efforts.

At least 100 "reservists and active duty soldiers" are understood to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israel Defence Forces, the Israeli embassy in the UK said.

The Israeli government has indicated it is preparing to launch a ground military operation inside Gaza in response to Hamas's deadly attacks at the weekend that have left 1,300 dead.

Authorities say more than 1,300 have also been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, with 338,000 displaced.

In a call with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for the country to keep its crossing with Gaza open for "humanitarian and consular reasons", Downing Street said.
The UK will find it harder to meet its climate targets after the prime minister's policy changes last month, the government's advisers have warned.

PM Rishi Sunak said his review of green pledges was about putting the "long-term interests of our country" first.

But the Climate Change Committee (CCC) says the PM's "loosening" of key climate policies has countered recent progress in other areas.

The government said it was confident the UK would meet its commitments.

The CCC also warned of knock-on effects of the government's "reduced ambition" on consumer confidence and investment, and noted some of Mr Sunak's changes would actually increase bills for households.

It urged the government to "restate strong British leadership on climate change" - which it said had been lost.

This assessment of the UK's progress towards its climate goals follows a series of policy changes announced by the prime minister at the end of September.

These included pushing back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035 and changing the rules on the phase out of gas and oil-fired boilers.

The CCC said it has "run the numbers" and the biggest impact would come from a promise by Mr Sunak that one in five homes would never be required to switch from a fossil fuel boiler.

It means that many more UK homes could still be producing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from their heating systems by 2050 - the deadline for the legally-binding commitment for the UK to reach net zero.

Net zero is when the country is not adding any additional greenhouse gases like CO2 to the atmosphere.

Mr Sunak has said he is "absolutely unequivocal" about sticking to the 2050 net zero target, but the committee warned the new exemptions will make that "considerably harder to achieve".

It said the changes would also create uncertainty for consumers and supply chains.

The government did increase the grant on offer to homes for installing heat pumps from 5,000 to 7,500. It says this will encourage people to make the switch away from fossil fuel boilers, meaning more people could benefit.

But the CCC noted that the overall budget did not increase, so fewer homes would be able to be served by the scheme.

Delaying the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles will only have a small impact on emissions, according to the CCC.

That is because the government confirmed that car companies will still be obliged to meet strict quotas for selling electric cars.

Under this Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, 80% of new cars sold in the UK by 2030 will have to have zero emissions.

However, the CCC said it was worried shifting the date of the ban could undermine consumer confidence in electric vehicles and potentially jeopardise foreign investment in UK manufacturing.

'Pragmatic and proportionate'

Mr Sunak said his changes to climate policy were about taking a "more pragmatic, proportionate and realistic approach".

He said he was trying to "bring the country along with us" and "save families thousands of pounds" by delaying some policies.

But today's assessment from the CCC found some of the Prime Minister's changes "likely to increase both energy bills and motoring costs for households".

It says that electric vehicles will be significantly cheaper to own and operate over their lifetimes so delaying their rollout will ultimately increase costs for consumers.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak's decision not to force landlords to improve the energy efficiency of accommodation would increase costs for people in rented homes, it concluded.

The regulations would have saved tenants 325 a year at current energy prices, it said, although lower bills might have been partially offset by rent increases.

The committee praised progress in some areas.

It highlighted a deal to support the electrification of the steelworks in Port Talbot owned by Tata and a much tougher cap on the carbon that can be emitted by certain sectors as positive developments.

However, it criticised the government for not being open enough with information about the impact of the policy announcements, which meant it could not assess the full consequences of some of the changes.

"Recent policy announcements were not accompanied by estimates of their effect on future emissions, nor evidence to back the Government's assurance that the UK's targets will still be met," said Professor Piers Forster, chair of the CCC.

"We remain concerned about the likelihood of achieving the UK's future targets," he added.

The government said today that the "UK remains a global leader on climate", cutting emissions faster than any other G7 country since 1990.

But Prof Forster said the UK's position as a global leader on climate has come under renewed scrutiny following the PM's speech.

He told the BBC that he was worried that when other countries see the UK "rolling back on commitments", they may use it as an excuse to duck their own promises.

He urged strong British leadership in the run up to the crucial COP28 climate summit in Dubai at the end of November.

Additional reporting by Mark Poynting
Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko

With Russia poised to resume bombing Ukrainian power stations and energy grid ahead of the coming winter, Ukraine could experience short-term power outages, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko told Ukrainian TV broadcasters on Oct. 12.

Despite the measures Kyiv has taken to bolster its air defenses and harden key nodes of the power grid, the minister did not rule out Moscow managing to disrupt electricity supply to at least extent in the coming months.

Read also: Ukraine to continue counteroffensive during winter  CJCS Brown

But we are preparing for everything, so that they [blackouts] are temporary in nature, and to be able to quickly restore [damaged facilities], said Halushchenko.

Read also: After the war, Ukraine to offer global system for protecting energy facilities during combat, says UkrEnergo

According to him, preparations are ongoing for any eventuality. The scale of potential hostile attacks and their possible impact on the power system is hard to predict, he said.

Read also: Ukraine shields its energy infrastructure in several defensive layers  official

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently warned that Russia is most likely to step air strikes against Ukraine in the winter.

UK Defense Intelligence had previously reported that, while Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure are likely to continue this winter, Ukraine demonstrated last winter that it has skilled workers and experience needed to keep the grid operational, even in wartime conditions.

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
After months of a relatively static siege, Russian forces launched a heavy assault in the direction of the front-line town of Avdiivka, backed up by armor, artillery, and air strikes.

The Ukrainian military has reported unusually heavy fighting over the past three days as Russia encroaches on the mostly destroyed town and along its flanks.



Avdiivka has stood on the front lines since the very start of Russia's war in 2014.

Success in this sector would not only be a symbolic victory and a morale boost for Moscow but could also push back Ukrainian forces from the doorstep of occupied Donetsk.

The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces reported on Oct. 10 that up to three Russian battalions  over 2,000 soldiers  supported by tanks and armored vehicles had intensified their operations against Avdiivka.

Around the same time, Russia launched massive strikes against the town, after which even those few residents remaining in the largely ruined settlement began to leave in higher numbers.

"There has never been such an amount of equipment that the Russians used in action. There has never been such a number of personnel at the same time," Vitalii Barabash, the head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, said on the air.

The General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled 10 enemy attacks against Avdiivka and eight more east of Stepove and southeast of Sieverne on Oct. 11.

On the following day, the military said that Russia launched 10 more unsuccessful attacks in the Avdiivka direction and 10 assaults east of Stepove, southeast of Sieverne, and south of Pervomaiske.

The General Staff also reported close to a thousand Russian casualties per day both on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, which is roughly double the usual average in the previous days.

The direction of the attacks at the settlements on Avdiivka's flanks would indicate that Russia seeks to encircle the town.

Ukrainian officials said that even on the third day of the offensive, the intense fighting had not ceased.

On Oct. 12, Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraine's southern group of forces, reported that Ukrainian defenders are dealing heavy losses to Russian troops.

He noted a moderate recorded decrease in the number of deployed Russian armor but added that Russia is nevertheless continuing in the offensive operations using infantry.

President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel that Ukrainian forces are holding the ground: "It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end. We must all remember this."

The U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War commented that the Avdiivka offensive illustrated how Russia is learning its lessons and adapting on the battlefield.

Russian forces are effectively using electronic warfare, counterbattery measures, artillery preparation, aerial reconnaissance, and inter-unit communications, the analysts said.

"These tactical-level adaptations and successes, however, are unlikely to translate into wider operational and strategic gains for Russian forces," the ISW concluded.

Read also: Russias southern mistake  Surovikin lines, Gerasimov tactics

According to analyst Ian Matveev, the method of advance indicates that Russia is indeed trying to capture the town itself, or at the very least, setting the stage for it.

He estimated that the settlement could not be quickly captured only by flank and frontal assaults, and a full encirclement would be necessary.

For this, Russia does not currently have enough ready units or freedom of action, and Ukrainian troops do not have critical issues with either artillery or reconnaissance, Matveev wrote on his Telegram channel.

Nevertheless, Russian forces are continuing their efforts to win a major symbolic victory after months of defending against Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south and around Bakhmut.

"Russia is attempting to win some kind of a symbolic victory in Avdiivka," Shtupun said.

"At the start of the full-scale invasion, Avdiivka appeared insignificant to Russia, but today, capturing Avdiivka is the most that the enemy can achieve at the current stage (of the war)."

The importance of the town may be more than symbolic, however. Russia has been recently escalating its attacks along the eastern front, not only around Avdiivka but also in the Lyman-Kupiansk direction in the northeast.

According to the ISW, the focused efforts at the Lyman-Kupiansk axis may be an attempt to pin down Ukrainian troops, who could otherwise be deployed elsewhere. It is possible that the recent onslaught against Avdiivka may have a similar goal.

Read also: Endless Russian assaults near Kreminna test Ukraines defenses

The front-line town also has a value on its own. Military expert Oleh Zhdanov told the TSN News outlet earlier this year that if Russia manages to seize Avdiivka, it would push Ukrainian troops away from Donetsk's doorsteps.

Capturing the town could also mean further Russian advances toward the administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, he added.

However, the expert warned against overestimating the strategic value of the town itself, adding that it is important mainly in the context of broader Russian operations.

Matveev also said that even if Avdiivka falls, Ukrainian troops could simply withdraw and take positions further west, leading to another "Bakhmut scenario"  a costly tactical success without much future prospects.

While the ongoing assault on Avdiivka is the largest one within the past year, the town has been on the front lines since 2014, which is also a reason why Ukraine had time to build up strong defenses in the sector.

At the same time, it has remained as a salient lodged between Russian positions, which gave Moscow's troops several vectors of possible attacks.

Russian forces began escalating their assaults against the town in July 2022, and in March this year, the Ukrainian military warned that Russia had launched an attempt to encircle Avdiivka and make it into a "second Bakhmut."

While the level of hostilities never reached the current phase, Avdiivka has long been a flashpoint of battles on the eastern front, leaving the town mostly depopulated and destroyed.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
WERE IN THE CRIMEA: The unit of GUR officer Timur (foreground) landed on Cape Tarkhankut in August 2023

From the attempted assaults on Enerhodar to amphibious landing in Russia-occupied Crimea  Ukrainian Defense Intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov and his colleagues told NV some hitherto classified details of HURs most daring operations.

A combat helicopter took off from the military airfield in Russias Kursk at 4.30 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2023. Its stated destination was an airbase located nearby where the Mi-8 helicopter was supposed to deliver parts for Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets of the Russian Air Force.

But within a few minutes after takeoff, the helicopter descended sharply, turned southward, and flying at low altitude, constantly maneuvering and observing radio silence, flew to the Ukrainian-Russian border, as if intending to get to Kharkiv Oblast.

Read also: Behind the scenes: How Ukraine's SBU executed the Crimean Bridge attack

Three Russian pilots were on board, but only one of them, 28-year-old Maksim Kuzminov, was flying the aircraft.

While approaching the border, the helicopter was spotted by Russian military personnel stationed along it, who, suspecting something was wrong, opened fire from small arms at the low-flying target. Kuzminov was wounded in the leg but managed to get his Mi-8 to one of the Ukrainian airfields in Kharkiv Oblast.

His colleagues realized where they were only after the aircraft had landed.

At this moment, Kuzminov tried to calm his colleagues, explaining that Ukraines officers were staying nearby, at the airfield, and resistance was futile.

But the pilots colleagues got angry, scared, and tried to flee. As a result, both were killed by military intelligence officers.

This is how the eight-month HUR special operation ended, resulting in Ukraines Armed Forces received a Russian Mi-8 transport attack helicopter and parts for fighter jets, while Kuzminov, whose family was in Ukraine by that time, received freedom and a $500,000 reward.

Read also: Ukrainian intel provides insight into recent bold raid in occupied Crimea

Recalling this episode in an interview with NV, Budanov said the most difficult thing was to convince Kuzminov to steal the helicopter on which he was serving: the pilot was nervous and did not really believe that it would work out. The intelligence officers had long conversations with him and promised to guarantee security, in particular when crossing the border.

The operations technical part, namely extracting his family from Russia inconspicuously, also turned out to be a difficult task, Budanov added.

I think there were only five or seven such operations in the history of mankind.

Read also: Israel bolstered by first US arms delivery as operation against Hamas continues

He immediately remembers the one when during the Soviet times, U.S. special services persuaded a Soviet pilot to steal a MiG-25 supersonic interceptor and fly it to Japan.

Such operations are usually very difficult and its almost impossible to carry them out, Budanov clarified.

But I will say in advance: were already working on [turning] two more Russians, he added.

The trophy aircraft is the most modern Mi-8 modification, and its cost reaches $17 million, said military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko. Such aircraft have equipment that no one outside Russia has previously studied. And getting such a helicopter is tantamount to revealing several military technical secrets as it will be possible to understand what the Russians have been working on for the past 10 years.

Therefore, this Ukrainian military intelligence operation deserves highest praise, Kovalenko added.

At the same time, the episode involving the Mi-8 is just one of several unique military intelligence special operations, which include drone attacks on Russian military airfields, last years attempt to liberate Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), etc.

Read also: Ukraine assures IAEA it will not attack Zaporizhzhya NPP directly

The former HUR chief, Valeriy Kondratyuk, calls the current military intelligence activities a strategy of a thousand cuts.

The logic of what the HUR is doing is clear: to prevent the Russians from building up forces at the front, to force them to patch up their rear, to prevent them from deploying units on the occupied Crimean Peninsula, and to cut off their fleet from the open sea, he explained.

The totality of such operations literally bleeds Russians dry.

At that time, the Russians wanted to connect the ZNPP to their power grid. If this were to happen, the Kremlin would provide energy to the occupied southern Ukraine and Crimea, which would help Moscow gain a foothold in the region.

A few dozen officers raced through the Dnipro River on civilian speedboats since HUR had no specialized military watercraft then.

Neither did special military intelligence officers have experience of conducting such operations, [commander of a HUR unit referred to as Shaman] Volodymyr clarified.

The first fry was bound to be a washout: the officers landed near Enerhodar but could not gain a foothold as they lacked artillery support, Volodymyr said. After staying on the left bank of the Dnipro River for half a day, the fighters were forced to retreat under the pressure of the overwhelming enemy forces.

It was psychologically difficult for the guys [to carry out this operation], Volodymyr said.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries involved in training Hamas militants for operations against Israel, Ukrainian military say

After all, you swim on the waves at night, the water floods the boats, you need to drain it, transfer to other watercraft, and all this happens under enemy fire.

But Budanov and his colleagues did not abandon the idea of liberating Enerhodar and the ZNPP. HUR forces tried twice more to land on the left bank of the Dnipro River, with several hundred people being involved in the latest attempt.

Vadym Popyk, commander of the International Legion, was one of them. He recalls that even fighters from other countries took part in those actions, e.g., from New Zealand who had the necessary experience, could stay in the water for a long time and at the same time perform tasks.

But as HUR gained experience from landing to landing, so the Russians became increasingly savvy in this area. And during the third amphibious operation, they brought heavy military equipment, including tanks, to the very shore.

Therefore, the Ukrainian special forces again failed to gain a foothold and had to eventually retreat.

Both managerial and executive shortcomings prevented the success of the three Enerhodar operations, Budanov admitted. However, HUR has accomplished the main task as the Russians have not yet dared to connect the ZNPP to their power grid.

However, this was facilitated not only by the special forces actions, but also by HURs agents, Budanov clarified.

Read also: Drone attacks reported in multiple Russian cities, including in 2014 Olympic city and resort hub of Sochi

The Enerhodar operation also played another role: it provided practical skills for everyone, from the command staff to the officers, how to act on water, he assured.

This experience is very well applied and used now. For example, during the landing in Crimea.

Later, the lessons from these amphibious operations were indeed used repeatedly in other landings. For example, HUR officers ambushed and captured Yuri Tomov, one of experienced Russian intelligence commanders in Kherson Oblast, on Aug. 8, 2023.

Budanov towers

The liberation of the so-called Boyko towers, two oil and natural gas drilling platforms off the western coast of Crimea in the Black Sea, was another stage of preparation for landing at Cape Tarkhankut.

Viktor Torkotyuk, commander of a HUR special unit referred to as Artana, told NV that it was his subordinates who had been given the task of taking control of platforms that the Russians had used as auxiliary positions for air defense and radio reconnaissance since 2014.

The unit completed the task quite quickly. Later, HUR organized a headquarters there, as well as a base for further landings in Crimea.

The Russians saw that we were there and tried to attack with a fighter jet, Torkotyuk said.

Read also: Russia scrambling to fortify an increasingly vulnerable Crimea as Ukraine scores hit after hit

But it fired from a simple autocannon, so they couldnt get us. When our guys fired from a MANPADS [portable anti-aircraft missile complex] and damaged the aircrafts wing, it flew away. The Russians were afraid to approach us.

Seizing control over the towers helped to strike a dry dock in Sevastopol overnight on Sept. 13, damaging a Russian landing ship and diesel submarine beyond repair.

According to military experts interviewed by NV, Ukrainian jets that carried out the main attack on the Sevastopol dry dock approached the launch site of the [UK-made] Storm Shadow cruise missiles from the drilling platforms.

The fact that a modified Ukrainian-made Neptune missile destroyed a modern Russian S-400 Triumf air defense system worth $1.2 billion on the Crimeas western coast on Aug. 23 also helped the pilots. Moreover, its death was demonstrated almost in real time by a HUR drone, which hovered above it: here was the vaunted Russian air defense that should have shot it down first, but somehow the drone avoided being hit.

Serhii Kuzan, the head of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, believes that even the passage of ships with Ukrainian grain, which are currently leaving the ports of Odesa without Russias purported blockade having little effect, also became possible after the capture of the Boyko towers.

Cape of hope

When Torkotyuk was informed that his unit would take part in a landing in Crimea, he asked the officers who would like to go on this most dangerous raid? About a hundred people volunteered, although about forty were needed.

The Artana commander explained that operations of this level of complexity had not been carried out in the world for 100 years as it was necessary to cover more than 200 km by sea in small vessels, sailing for five-six hours at night.

Rubber boats, which U.S. marines use in coastal areas to travel several kilometers from the amphibious assault ship to the landing site, became the transport of choice for Ukrianes special forces.

Seconded navigators from the Navy led the boats, departing from one of the areas of the Black Sea coast controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The participants in the raid had only small-arms weapons, including assault rifles, machine guns, and MANPADS.

Torkotyuks unit provided fire cover from the sea for the HUR landing strike group.

Tymur, the commander of a large HUR special unit, was one of those who set foot on Crimean soil that morning.

He told NV that the operation actually involved several landing zones.

We dont show some destinations [in public access] so that the enemy doesnt find out where were getting and our plans for the future, he explained.

During the landing, Tymurs group destroyed a Russian patrol vehicle, as well as the base of one of their units, along with some of its residents.

While one group of HUR special forces was attacking Russian border guards with a grenade launcher, another one set up a Ukrainian flag with the HUR insignia on one of the buildings at Cape Tarkhankut, the officer said.

The whole operation lasted about half an hour. At the same time, Tymur hinted that the landing and all subsequent events had taken place with the support from local population.

Military analyst Viktor Kevlyuk highly praises the Crimean operation. He explained that intelligence officers had destroyed up to 30 enemy combatants who specialized in radio-electronic reconnaissance and airspace control, destroyed military facilities, and seized documents.

Hats off to the HUR special forces who can easily cross the sea on rubber boats. Just like the Cossacks on chaikas [wooden boats] under the leadership of [17th century Ukrainian Hetman Petro] Sahaidachny who went to Feodosia [Crimea], said Kevlyuk.

Read also: Belgium to set up $1.8 billion relief fund for Ukraine financed by frozen Russian wealth

The Russians scrambled their fighter jets when the landing force was leaving. The watercraft had to maneuver to avoid autocannon fire from enemy aircraft. At that moment, a Ukrainian soldier under the alias Conan fell overboard.

The senior commander in that boat decided that they could not stop, otherwise the fighter jet would destroy the boat with everyone in it. Thats why he ordered to sail away from the Crimean coast. The soldier was left stranded in the waves.

When the enemy aircraft flew away, the boat returned, but its crew could not find Conan. Later, two search boats approached the same area, but they also returned with nothing.

At that moment, everyone lost hope of finding Conan and decided that he had drowned, Torkotyuk recalled.

But the soldier did not give up and stayed afloat for an incredible 14 hours. He was found and rescued only after the Navy had sent a Bayraktar drone to the area of his disappearance and it saw a speck in the water  the soldier who was stubbornly fighting for his life.

Torkotyuk sent a boat with a rescue team after his subordinate.

He spent more than half a day in the sea, he slept there, and drank salt water, the commander said.

He was saved by the fact that he was wearing a life jacket and a wetsuit. He had a fever and was dehydrated. But hes now recovering and is ready to fight.

Read also: Budanov warns of potential aid challenges if Israel war persists

The landing at Cape Tarkhankut is remarkable as the Ukrainian special forces approached one of the most protected Crimean coast sites unnoticed and performed their tasks there, thereby proving that the Russian defenses can be penetrated even in the most difficult conditions.

The Kremlin was shocked: in their opinion, landing in Crimea is almost impossible, Budanov said.

But they saw that its quite real. This is how another Russian myth was busted.

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Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of IMF

Ukraine's external financing needs for 2024 will be $3 billion higher than previously anticipated and requires assistance in handling this task, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated.

Ukraine has shown remarkable results in economic management during times of war, she said.

"We have identified that the needs for the next year will be slightly higher than we initially assumed, approximately $3 billion more. I firmly believe that our investments in Ukraine are not acts of charity, but investments. said on Oct. 11 during the fourth roundtable of ministers supporting Ukraine held within the IMF and World Bank meetings in Marrakech.

The Ukrainian government estimates a need for external financing of $42.9 billion for the next year due to Russias war in Ukraine. These investments are in the Ukrainian people, the regional economy, and a message that "no war should be allowed to shattera nation.

"The preliminary results of the mission to prepare the second review of the IMF's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program indicate that economic management in the country, despite the conditions of war, is outstanding.

Economic recovery is happening faster than expected, with growth likely to be at the upper end of the IMFs forecast at 3% this year. Structural reforms, which are challenging even during peacetime, are being implemented during wartime. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is shifting from a fixed exchange rate regime to a flexible one, demonstrating strength.

"All of this is very good. But it will be sustainable only with our unwavering support," Georgieva added.

Ukraine's external financing has already reached $32.6 billion since the beginning of 2023 and $63.7 billion since Feb. 24, 2022. It is expected that Ukraine will receive more than $42 billion in total from international partners in 2023.

Ukraine received a $1.2 billion grant from the United States on Oct. 11 and is counting on an additional $3.3 billion in direct budget support from Washington by the end of 2023.

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Switchblade on the move

Kyiv expects to get additional shipments of Switchblade 600 suicide drones in the near future, Newsweek reported on Oct. 12.

The Ukrainian military currently has more Switchblade 300 models than the 600s, but this will soon change, according to Charlie Dean, vice president of global business development and marketing at AeroVironment, the Switchblade manufacturer.

Read also: Russian drones damage Odesa port infrastructure, residential areas in overnight attacks

Dean added that the Switchblade 600 drones are extremely important for Ukraine's defense.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force neutralizes 28 of 33 Shahed drones in Russias overnight attack, injuries and damages reported

The United States has provided Ukraine with several types of UAVs as part of its military assistance, including the Switchblade and Phoenix Ghost. Switchblade drones, which were also used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, have appeared in videos from Ukraine, but Washington has not revealed exactly how many were sent to Kyiv.

Read also: Spain to send 6 Hawk air defense missile systems, much needed ammunition as part of aid package to Ukraine

In response to Newsweek's inquiry, the Pentagon stated that it cannot provide any additional details regarding the specific quantities or types of weapons, systems, and equipment provided to Ukraine, apart from public announcements.

On July 19, the United States announced a military aid package for Ukraine, totaling $1.3 billion. The aid package included Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade UAVs, among other items.

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The SBU detained a Russian informer in Kramatorsk

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) exposed an informant for the Russian FSB who was guiding rocket strikes on the frontlines in Donetsk.

The informant was revealed to be a resident of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast. Russian special services drew her into cooperation remotely through her brother, who is involved in Russias occupation forces in Eastern Ukraine.

Read also: SBU detains FSB agent caught planning espionage network in Odesa Oblast

She transmitted intelligence about Ukrainian facilities to her brother through text and voice messages, as well as media files. The woman collected information regarding the deployment and movement routes of Ukrainian forces in the Kramatorsk area. She was particularly interested in the locations of radio-electronic warfare equipment and air defense systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The woman repeatedly went to the sites hit by rockets in the city's social and housing infrastructure to covertly document the aftermath and send relevant data to the Russian occupiers.

Read also: Kramatorsk informant sentenced to 9 years for revealing UAF locations to Russians

The womans reconnaissance information was vital for Russia in preparing new and launching repeat rocket attacks on Kramatorsk, including the use of multiple launch rocket systems like the "Smerch."

SBU officers arrested the suspect at her place of residence. During the search, they discovered a laptop and a mobile phone with evidence of her cooperation with Russia.

SBU

Read also: SBU nabs 3 Russian military intelligence agents in raids across Ukraine

The detainee has been informed of suspicion under Article 111-1, Part 7 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for providing assistance to Russian in carrying out combat actions against the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other military units. She faces up to 15 years in prison.

The woman is currently in custody.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  The crisis alert in Gaza has been raised to Alert Level 3 amid the Israel-Hamas war, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega confirmed to CNN Philippines on Thursday.

The alert level means repatriation of Filipinos is now voluntary.

Foreign affairs officials said 70 Filipinos in the Palestinian enclave are now seeking repatriation, as clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas escalate.

The Philippine Embassy in Jordan also affirmed the development. The embassy, which has jurisdiction over Filipinos in Gaza, recommended placing the area under Alert Level 3 on Tuesday.

According to De Vega, the DFA approved the raising of the crisis alert level in Gaza on Wednesday.

Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos earlier said he is working with his counterparts in Israel and Egypt to identify possible exit routes from Gaza.

But it remains to be seen how the Philippine government will get Filipinos seeking repatriation out of the enclave immediately, especially as civilians face a "deepening humanitarian crisis" due to Israel's bombardment and "complete siege" in the area, according to CNN.

In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines assured it is ready to evacuate Filipinos "should there be any further attack."
Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine

Implementing a sweeping privatization program, Ukraines State Property Fund (SPFU) has sold off UAH 4.5 billion ($123 million) worth of state assets in 2023, with plans to privatize five major state-owned companies next year, Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal said at the Kyiv International Economic Forum on Oct. 12.

This is a major indicator even compared to peacetime, Ukrinform news agency quotes Shmyhal.

Read also: Large swaths of Ukraine riddled with landmines  PM Shmyhal

Despite the war, small privatization produces results. The government handed over 2,200 state enterprises to the SPFU during the war. This is a huge quantity.

Read also: Ukraines security service uncovers big state property privatization corruption scheme

According to the PM, the authorities intend to leave up to 200 critically important enterprises in state ownership, having corporatized them and appointed supervisory boards.

Read also: Ukraine embraces widespread privatization of state assets

"We continue large-scale privatization; five large-scale privatization objects remain [in state ownership]; I hope that we will do this soon, within the next year," Shmyhal adds.

As reported, at the end of May, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law that resumed large-scale privatization in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian parliament had passed a law in late May resuming large-scale privatization processes in the country.

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Russia has launched a new push to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, but is facing major resistance.

Intense fighting continues in the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka after Russian forces launched a new offensive in the area backed by heavy armor, artillery, and attack helicopters earlier this week. The assault looks intended to try to encircle a pocket of Ukraine's forces, but there are indications that Russia has already sustained significant losses to make at best modest gains.

"We are holding our ground," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X, formerly Twitter, earlier today. "It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end. We must all remember this."

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1712377631188852754

The first reports that Russian units were launching a new push into Avdiivka came on October 10. The city is a suburb of Donetsk, the capital of the eastern Ukrainian region of the same name.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1712140056717111629 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1712200714594754900?s=20 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1712287487215776151?s=20 https://twitter.com/UKikaski/status/1711703433810469216?s=20

There are reports that Russia has already lost large numbers of tanks, artillery, and personnel in its new pursuit of Avdiivka. The War Zone has not been able to readily confirm these claims.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1712229927158747643?s=20 https://twitter.com/Reevesity/status/1712443710351241489

"Russian forces have not completed an operational encirclement of the settlement and will likely struggle to do so if that is their intent," the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank has assessed based on open source information. "Avdiivka is also a notoriously well-fortified and defended Ukrainian stronghold, which will likely complicate Russian forces ability to closely approach or fully capture the settlement."

ISW did also suggest that the "ongoing localized Russian offensive operations near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast [is] likely demonstrate the ability of Russian forces to learn and apply tactical battlefield lessons in Ukraine."

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1712265329047429393?s=20 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1712259387497087063?s=20

Videos and pictures that have emerged on social media from Avdiivka certainly show immense devastation, but the area is also a strategic juncture that has long been a flashpoint in the conflict. One video circulation reportedly shows train cars full of fuel burning near the city after being hit by Russian artillery in the course of the latest fighting.

https://twitter.com/ukikaski/status/1712410343253697007?s=12 https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1712513461572481026 https://twitter.com/RandyHiggins757/status/1712162990282154325

A portion of the overall Donetsk region has been occupied since 2014, first by Russian-backed separatists and now openly by Russia's armed forces. The Russian government announced it was annexing Donetsk , as well as other parts of eastern Ukraine, in September 2022. This move was widely denounced and decried as illegitimate by much of the international community.

Before diving into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can get up to speed with recent events with our previous rolling coverage here .

The Latest

Though activity around Avdiivka is an important specific flashpoint currently, it is also reflective of what looks to be a broader surge in fighting in Ukraine as winter approaches. There had been a decline in major reported engagements in recent months, according to data compiled by independent Poland-headquartered Rochan Consulting .

https://twitter.com/konrad_muzyka/status/1712028680707342828?s=20

Fighting also continues in various other parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, including around the Dnipro River, in the vicinity of the city of Bakhmut, and in the Zaporizhia region.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1711845831198880011?s=20 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1711921145421648114 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1712084159030558845?s=20 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1712075577845538934?s=20

Western countries continue to lay the groundwork for transferring F-16 Viper fighters to the Ukrainian Air Force. At the 16th meeting of the U.S.-led multinational Ukraine Contact Group yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the United States, Denmark, and the Netherlands are now formally working to spearhead this effort. Training of pilots in the U.S. will start in the coming weeks.

https://twitter.com/OstapYarysh/status/1712147672247713868

Belgium also issued a statement yesterday around the Contact Group meeting confirming that it "will be able" to send F-16s to Ukraine from its stocks starting in 2025 as it begins to replace them with new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters .

https://twitter.com/GarethJennings3/status/1712157628267114633

This comes as the U.S. and its allies are breaking down assistance to Ukraine in smaller focused groups that will specialize in specific areas of need, like network security and naval warfare.

Multiple other announcements about additional military aid for Ukraine were made by various countries yesterday. This included details about a new $200 million tranche of military assistance from the United States. This package contains, among other things, AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for use with a still mysterious "new" air defense system, as you can read more about here .

https://twitter.com/CarlaBabbVOA/status/1711764037795524992

Ukraine continues to have a major need for additional air defense capacity, especially short-range point defenses used to help tackle threats like drones, cruise missiles, and attack helicopters. The video below appears to be the second to emerge of an ad hoc mobile short-range air defense system the United Kingdom quickly developed and sent to Ukraine earlier this year that uses the AIM-132 Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) as its effector.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1712408442026004549

At the Association of the U.S. Army's (AUSA) main annual conference earlier this week, U.S. Army Col. Mike Parent, the acquisition chief for the service's Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), said that examples of Northrop Grumman's Agnostic Gun Truck (AGT) were set to arrive in Ukraine soon. The AGT is a self-contained counter-drone-focused system that includes a turreted 30mm M230LF automatic cannon that is designed to be readily integrated onto various light trucks and other platforms (hence the "agnostic" part of its name).

The AGTs are then linked to additional vehicles carrying a sensors and fire control package called the Mobile Acquisition Cueing and Effector (M-ACE) system. The Pentagon announced plans to acquire AGTs (as well as M-ACE systems) for the Ukrainian armed forces through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) earlier this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr7ym1zkda8

The threat of drones, in particular, continues to prompt both Russian and Ukrainain forces to install improvised screens of various types on tanks and other vehicles, as well as artillery pieces.

https://twitter.com/AndreiBtvt/status/1710965294158475646?s=20 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1712233761700446538 https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1711652513219280954

Add-on armor cages to try to protect against drones and other threats are increasingly becoming a standard production feature on Russian tanks, too.

https://twitter.com/ralee85/status/1712268383893279189?s=12

This week, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark announced that they will now pool their resources on purchases of artillery shells for Ukraine as part of a Nordic Ammunition Initiative. The three nations say they will collectively contribute a total of 52 million Euros (almost $55 million at the rate of exchange at the time of writing) to this effort and the deliveries of rounds will begin before the end of the year. Artillery ammunition, especially 155mm shells, is something Ukraine has a huge demand for, as has been reported in the past .

https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1712160271836336345

The picture below shows one of the ex-Swedish Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122) tanks, a variant of the German-made Leopard 2A5 , that Ukraine has received.

https://twitter.com/AndreiBtvt/status/1711728155147329936?s=20

The U.K. Ministry of Defense says intelligence indicates that the Russian military is facing a "mental health crisis" with "approximately "100,000 military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder." This in turn could hamper the effectiveness of its forces across the board.

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1711984643921092876

In a similar vein, at a panel discussion at the AUSA convention in Washington, D.C., yesterday, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, head of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, spoke about Russian desertion rates and how that is impacting its operations.

"You've had 17,000 Russians desert... that's 17,000 soldiers, you didn't have to blow up on the battlefield, or destroy. That has weakened... the defensive mechanisms of the Russian [military in Ukraine]... right now," Braga said.

Unconfirmed reports that the Russian military may have once again placed a new commander in charge of the 58th Combined Arms Army (CAA) in the Zaporizhia region could be another possible sign of ongoing personnel problems. If true, this would mean Lt. Gen. Denis Lyamin was only head of the 58th CAA for three months before being replaced.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1711917303082721638

In a recent interview with Ukrainian Pravda, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, commander of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR), claimed that Russia has provided military aid, including weapons captured in Ukraine, along with satellite intelligence, to Iran and the Palestinian group Hamas. This follows Hamas' unprecedented and brutal assault on Israel over the weekend that has now morphed into an all-out conflict, as you can read about more in The War Zone's separate coverage of that crisis .

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1712384141608550899?s=20

A second-order impact tied to Ukraine that stems from the conflict that has erupted in Israel just recently has emerged in Russia. Viacheslav Volodin, the current chairman of the lower house of Russia's parliament, or Duma, has warned Russians who fled to Israel to escape being drafted or who otherwise oppose the war in Ukraine that they face the prospect of jail time if they now seek to return home.

https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1711722431679996309

Ukrainian President Zelesnky has publicly voiced concerns that the conflict in Israel could draw international support away from the ongoing war in his country. "There is a risk that international attention will turn away from Ukraine, and that will have consequences", he said during an interview with the the France 2 television channel this week.

Though there is no hard link yet to Russian involvement or the broader conflict in Ukraine, the Finnish government's announcement on Tuesday that a leak in the Balticconnector pipeline and damage to associated undersea cable line was "likely...caused by external activity" has prompted new concerns about spillover. Balticconnector, which runs under a part of the Baltic Sea, links Estonian and Finnish natural gas grids and also provides the latter country with access to natural gas stored in Latvia.

https://twitter.com/akihheikkinen/status/1711731191819165926 https://twitter.com/jensstoltenberg/status/1711733199527678254?s=20 https://twitter.com/akihheikkinen/status/1711706167766843582

The Norwegian NORSAR foundation, an independent organization that monitors seismic activity, said its sensors in the region picked up what could have been an explosion around where the pipeline leak is reported to have been discovered.

https://twitter.com/The_Lookout_N/status/1711783515170173357

This of course follows the apparent sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in the Baltic Sea in September 2022. Who may have been responsible for that incident has not been conclusively determined, with reports pointing to both Russia and Ukraine . Crippling sanctions on Russia's natural gas and oil industries have been a major component of the international response to its all-out invasion of Ukraine. There have long been concerns about the potential for more active retaliation from the Kremlin as a result.

When it comes to the prospect of potential spillover from the war in Ukraine, neighboring Moldova has often been highlighted as one possible flashpoint . This week, the Moldovan government formally declared Russia to be a threat to its national security and said that the Kremlin was interested in "liquidating our statehood."

https://twitter.com/HenryJFoy/status/1712082633214017578

This week Ukrainian President Zelensky announced new plans to open a corridor through Moldova and Romania to help with the export of grain.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1712090679307030695?s=20

That is all for now. This story will be updated when theres more news to report about Ukraine.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
Key developments on Oct. 12:

Interior Minister: All 59 people killed in Russian attack on Hroza attack identified

Military: Russia intensifies offensive in Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian forces repulse attacks

Ukraines navy spokesperson confirms Russian Black Sea Fleet ship damaged by explosion

Denmark and Czechia to jointly donate arms to Ukraine

Reconnaissance group intercepted near the Russian border zone in Sumy Oblast.

The death toll of the Russian missile strike against the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast has risen to 59, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on Oct. 12.

All of the victims bodies have been identified, he said.

On Oct. 5, a Russian Iskander ballistic missile hit a cafe in Hroza during a memorial service for a fallen soldier who was being reburied in the village.

Following the attack, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office spokesman said that the number of people living in the village didn't exceed 100, meaning that the Russian troops "killed most residents of this village with one rocket."

It is the single deadliest Russian attack against civilians in 2023.

"Pensioners, doctors, farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs  all are civilians. Entire families of several generations were killed," Klymenko wrote on Telegram on Oct. 12.

Klymenko said investigators had to rely on mobile DNA laboratories to identify 19 of the victims due to the nature of their injuries. Nearly a week of extensive work was required to collect enough samples and match them with surviving relatives.

"It was important for us to establish the name of each killed person, preserve their memory, and record all the victims of the Russian attack," he wrote.

A week after the strike, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) named two Ukrainian collaborators who allegedly assisted the Russian forces with the attack  brothers Volodymyr Mamon, 30, and Dmytro Mamon, 23. They are wanted in Ukraine.

Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral

Military: Russia intensifies offensive in Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian forces repulse attacks

On Oct. 12, Ukraine's Special Operation Forces Command reported that over the past day, its troops destroyed eight units of heavy military equipment and dozens of Russian soldiers near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Russian troops have intensified the offensive in the direction of Avdiivka over the past three days, reads the report.

Ukrainian forces, however, "thwarted" Russias plans, repulsing all attacks and holding their positions, the Special Operation Forces Command said.

According to the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces, Ukrainian troops repelled seven Russian attacks near Avdiivka on Oct. 12.

Avdiivka has stood on the front lines since the very start of Russia's war in 2014.

Success in this sector would not only be a symbolic victory and a morale boost for Russia but, according to some experts, could also open the door to future Russian advances in Donetsk Oblast.

Earlier on Oct. 10, the General Staff reported that up to three Russian battalions  over 2,000 soldiers  supported by tanks and armored vehicles had intensified their operations against Avdiivka.

Around the same time, Russia launched massive strikes against the town, after which even those few residents remaining in the largely ruined settlement began to leave in higher numbers.

"Special attention is currently being paid to Kharkiv Oblast, the South, and Donetsk Oblast at the same time, particularly to the battles in the Avdiivka region. I am grateful to every soldier and every unit for their resilience," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 12.

Read also: Ukraine faces onslaught at Avdiivka as Russia launches new offensive

Denmark and Czechia to jointly donate arms to Ukraine

Denmark and Czechia will cooperate in providing Ukraine with armored vehicles and other arms from Czech production lines and stocks in the coming months, the Danish Defense Ministry announced on Oct. 12.

According to the ministry, Ukraine will receive around 50 infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, 2,500 pistols, 7,000 rifles, 500 light machine guns, 500 sniper rifles, electronic warfare, surveillance equipment, and an unspecified amount of artillery shells in the first batch of the newly announced aid.

The two countries expect that future supplies will also include 500 heavy machine guns, 280 artillery pieces, 7,000 anti-tank weapons, 10,000 hand grenades, 60 mortars, and anti-drone systems, the Czech Defense Ministry said.

Based on the agreed scheme, Ukraine will receive weaponry from Czech defense companies, while the Danish government will cover the costs.

The Czech Defense Ministry will serve as a mediator between Copenhagen and the Czech defense industry.

"This is a substantial donation of equipment for which there is a great demand in Ukraine and which has been made possible on the basis of exemplary cooperation between Denmark and Czechia," Danish Defense Minister Lund Poulsen said.

Read also: Zelensky, partners meet in Brussels to boost military support for Ukraine ahead of winter

Ukraines navy spokesperson confirms Russian Black Sea Fleet ship damaged by explosion

A patrol ship from Russia's Black Sea Fleet, "Pavel Derzhavin," was damaged by an explosion, Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk told the Ukrainian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Oct. 12.

Pletenchuk said he could not provide further details on the extent of the damage but confirmed there had been explosions and subsequent damage.

He also did not comment on whether the Pavel Derzhavin was damaged as a result of a Ukrainian strike.

On Oct. 11, local Telegram channels of Russian-occupied Crimea reported explosions and shared some reports that the ship had been damaged.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly struck ships from the Black Sea Fleet, causing what U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey characterized as a "functional defeat" of Russia's naval forces in the Black Sea.

According to Ukraine's General Staff, Russia has lost 20 navy ships as of Oct. 12.

Read also: Uncertain Triumph: Ukraine picks apart Russias best air defenses in Crimea

Reconnaissance group intercepted near the Russian border zone in Sumy Oblast

Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces operating in Sumy Oblast intercepted a reconnaissance group of eight Russian soldiers, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev said on Oct. 12.

The reconnaissance group headed in the direction of local critical infrastructure installations, according to Naiev.

According to him, Ukrainian soldiers fired on the saboteur group, inflicting casualties and forcing them to retreat. Naiev reported no losses on the Ukrainian side.

Russian forces withdrew from Sumy Oblast in April 2022 after the Russian military had been widely routed across the north of Ukraine.

Since then, however, Russia has attacked Sumy Oblast nearly every day, including 286 explosions recorded throughout the day on Oct. 11.

Read also: I want to go home: Inside a Russian prisoner of war camp in Ukraine

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Key developments on Oct. 11:

Zelensky makes surprise visit to NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels

Russia attacks school in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's Nikopol, killing 2

Austin: F-16s could arrive in Ukraine as early as next spring

International donors pledge up to $530 million to Ukraine in demining assistance

Canada presents new aid package for Ukraine that includes munitions, winter equipment

Death toll in Oct. 5 strike on Hroza village in Kharkiv Oblast rises to 55; authorities name alleged collaborators who helped Russians pick the target

The death toll of the Oct. 5 Russian missile strike against the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast has risen to 55, Dmytro Chubenko, the spokesperson of the regional prosecutor's office, said on Oct. 11, Ukrinform reported.

Two more victims were identified by a DNA test over the past day, he said.

"Two more women, who were previously considered missing, were identified to be among the dead," Chubenko told reporters.

The official said that the identification of bodies is ongoing, and the death toll can increse to 58, as three more people are currently considered missing. The identification process is difficult due to extensive injuries to the victims' bodies.

On Oct. 5, a Russian Iskander ballistic missile hit a grocery store and a cafe in Hroza during a memorial service for a fallen soldier who was being reburied in the village.

A week after the strike, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) named two Ukrainian collaborators who allegedly assisted Russian forces with the attack. The two are wanted in Ukraine.

The alleged collaborators are brothers Volodymyr Mamon, 30, and Dmytro Mamon, 23. Both locals from Kharkiv Oblast, they began working with Russian forces during the occupation of the area, the SBU claimed.

Following the region's liberation in late 2022, the brothers fled to Russia, where they continued collaborating with Russia, creating a network of local informants and other contacts.

The brothers used these contacts to identify Ukrainian troop movements or gatherings, which they reported to their Russian controllers. According to the SBU, they often used unwitting informants, whom they asked seemingly innocent questions.

The SBU alleges that the brothers explicitly worked to gather information about the memorial service for a fallen soldier who was being reburied in Hroza, then provided these details to Russian forces.

Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral

Zelensky makes surprise visit to NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels

In a surprise visit, President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at NATO headquarters this morning as alliance officials prepared for the 16th Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and a session of the Ukraine-NATO Council, the first with Zelensky attending in person.

Ukrainian leaders and NATO defense ministers convened in Brussels on Oct. 11 for a two-day summit to mobilize allied support for Kyiv in the coming winter.

Ukraine's main defense partners announced major new military aid packages for Ukraine, including Belgium, which joined Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway in the so-called "fighter jet coalition," pledged to deliver an unspecified number of F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine starting from 2025.

In a short press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Zelensky said he planned to discuss various issues but stressed that one of the priorities remains air defense systems in anticipation of a new campaign of Russian missile strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure over winter.

Russian forces on Sept. 21 already launched their first mass strike against Ukraine's energy infrastructure in six months. Ukrainian officials warned that Russia will seek to cripple the country's power grid with large-scale attacks, as it had attempted during the fall and winter of 2022-2023.

Stoltenberg closed day one of the defense ministerial meeting on Oct. 11, welcoming allies newly pledged military aid for Ukraine, including F-16 fighter jets, crucial air defense systems for winter, and much-needed ammunition.

Some new pledges include the U.S.s more than $200 million of aid in air defense, artillery, and rocket ammunition and Germanys one billion-euro package that includes powerful Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems.

In a tweet by Zelensky right after the days end, the president thanked allies, particularly Croatia, Sweden, Poland, Greece, and Latvia, for powerful decisions on military aid for Ukraine and reaffirming earlier commitments at the meeting.

The international coalition works to ensure our common victory, Zelensky said.

Russia attacks school in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's Nikopol, killing 2

Russia launched a missile strike against a high school building in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, on Oct. 11, killing four adults, reportedly the school's employees, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

According to the governor, two men aged 24 and 71 were also injured.

The school sustained serious damage. Lysak reported that the strike also affected 42 houses, 18 commercial buildings, an infrastructure facility, 17 solar panels, a shop, and a car.

The city of Nikopol lies at the mostly dried-up Kakhovka Reservoir, just across the Russian-occupied Enerhodar and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. It is a regular target of Russian attacks.

Nikopol and the surrounding area were targeted several times with artillery and drones over the past day, resulting in damage to multiple buildings and a 78-year-old woman injured, the governor said earlier.

Read also: Stranded civilians brave shelling, return to Ukraines front-line towns

International donors pledge up to $530 million to demine Ukraine

Participants of the International Donor Conference on Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine pledged almost 500 million euros ($530 million) to Kyiv in demining assistance, the Croatian news agency HINA reported on Oct. 11, citing Croatia's Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic.

The two-day conference that started in Zagreb on Oct. 11 serves as a platform for Kyiv's partners to mobilize resources for Ukraine's recovery efforts with a particular focus on humanitarian demining.

On Oct. 10, Croatia signed a bilateral agreement with Ukraine on joint demining operations in the war-torn country.

Specifics of the agreement included the transfer of technical expertise and special safety equipment, as well as educational programs for civilians and capability development.

Croatia has also disbursed over $1 million for demining operations in Ukraine.

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.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, 250 people have been killed by mines in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war, and over 500 have been injured or maimed.

The State Emergency Service earlier reported that after the end of the war, Ukraine would need at least ten years to demine its territory.

Read also: Russia is covering Ukraine with landmines. Clearing them will be extremely difficult

Austin: F-16s could arrive in Ukraine next spring



Ukraine could receive F-16 fighter jets as early next spring, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Oct. 11 at a press conference at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

As we look at what it will take to provide initial capability, this will take months, as we've said before. The earliest is next spring when we can begin to see additional capability, Austin said in response to a question from the Kyiv Independent.

The projection comes nearly two months after Washington first approved the third-party transfer of U.S.-made F-16s to Ukraine after Ukrainian pilots completed training.

Austin said the training, taking place in Europe and the U.S., was ongoing. He did not specify when it was expected to end.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Oct. 11 that Belgium and Denmark confirmed the planned delivery of F-16s to Ukraine, without citing how many they were sending.

Regarding 300-kilometer-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which the U.S. has reportedly already decided to deliver to Ukraine, Austin said there was no news yet.

Instead, the U.S. is focused on equipment that it believes Ukraine needs and those addressed by Zelensky, which include additional air defense and artillery ammunition, according to Austin.

And that focus, I think, has been very, very instrumental in making sure that President Zelensky can protect his cities and also protect his troops, Austin said.

Asked about Ukraines four-month-old counteroffensive, Austin said that Ukrainian forces were making steady progress.

We've been very impressed by the determination, by the valor of the Ukrainian forces, Austin said.

And we will continue to focus on providing the forces and the leadership those things that they need to be successful in this fight on the battlefield.

Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 22  F-16s and the irrational politics of military aid

Belgium will provide Ukraine with several F-16 fighter jets, with the first ones expected to arrive in 2025, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder told RTL info on Oct. 11.

The minister did not specify the number of the planes Belgium intends to send but said that the transfer will depend on "the build-up of our new F-35 capabilities."

Ukrainian pilots will receive training in Belgium, Denmark, and several other EU countries, Dedonder said.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov discussed the provision of F-16s and the training of pilots with Dedonder in a phone call on Oct. 10.

Kyiv has placed high hopes on the fighter jets, which could shift the balance in the war by lending the Ukrainian military air superiority in the occupied territories.

Read also: Air Force: F-16 jets can change course of war in Ukraine





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Russia deployed 33 Shahed drones to attack Ukraine on the night of 11-12 October, with Ukraines defence forces destroying 28 of them.

Source: Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "The enemy deployed Shahed attack UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] to attack Ukraine from the northern and southern direction, namely from Russias Belgorod Oblast and the Chauda Cape in temporarily occupied Crimea, on the night of 11-12 October 2023.

A total of 33 Shaheds were launched. Enemy UAVs approached from different directions, and [Ukraines] air defence was activated in at least six Ukrainian oblasts."

Details: The Air Force reported that aircraft, anti-aircraft forces, firing squads, and units engaged in electronic warfare were involved in repelling the Russian drone attack.

Ukraines Air Force and anti-aircraft units of Ukraines Defence Forces intercepted a total of 28 Shahed-131/136 drones overnight.

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Ukraines Defence Forces continue to repel Russian attacks on the Bakhmut, Lyman, Avdiivka, Marinska, Shakhtarsk, and Kupiansk fronts, where a total of 95 combat engagements took place during the past day.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 12 October

Quote from General Staff: "On the Bakhmut front, Ukraines Defence Forces repelled Russian attacks near the settlement of Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast. Meanwhile, they continue their assault operations south of the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, making some progress east of Klishchiivka and east of Andriivka.

On the Lyman front, Ukraines Defence Forces are holding back the Russian offensive near the settlements of Makiivka in Luhansk Oblast as well as Torske and Serebrianka Forest in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian defenders repelled over 15 enemy attacks on this front."

Details: In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka front, Ukrainian defenders bravely hold the defence; they repelled over 10 Russian attacks near Avdiivka and another 10 attacks near the settlements east of Stepove, southeast of Sieverne, and south of Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Marinka front, during the past day, Ukraines Defence Forces successfully repelled over 10 Russian attacks near the settlements of Marinka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Shakhtarsk front, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the areas south of Zolota Nyva and southeast of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast.

In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled over 10 Russian attacks near the settlements of Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian defenders are holding back the Russians near the settlement of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, Ukrainian troops are conducting counter-battery operations, destroying supply storage points and effectively hitting the Russian rear.

Ukraines Defence Forces continue their offensive operation on the Melitopol front. They improved the tactical situation in the area west of the settlement of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukrainian defenders are inflicting losses in military personnel and equipment on the Russians, and exhausting them.

In the zone of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the operational situation remains without significant changes.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, Russian forces are maintaining military presence in the border areas and undertaking active sabotage activities to prevent Ukrainian troops from being deployed to vulnerable areas.

During the past day, dozens of settlements in Ukraine were hit by Russian airstrikes, and over 100 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts came under Russian artillery fire.

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 12 strikes on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment.

Ukraine's Rocket and Artillery Forces struck an area where Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated, nine artillery pieces, an ammunition storage point and a radar station belonging to the Russians.

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Kyrylo Budanov , Chief of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has said that Ukrainian intelligence has no information confirming the death of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin .

Source: Budanov in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "Regarding the death of Prigozhin, let's say this: all I can tell you is that we still do not have a single fact confirming his death.

I don't know whether he died or not.

And what was the impact of what was shown? Well, it is quite understandable that there has been a certain weakening within the Wagner Group. This is good for us, what's there to hide. Wagner was a very serious adversary when it acted as a private military company."

Details: Budanov says that the events that happened to the Russian private military company give hope that Wagner will not fight as a single organism: "This was actually a huge problem for Ukraine. No matter what anyone says, they knew how to fight."

Budanov also spoke about the fate of Sergey Surovikin, the Former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, who was dismissed due to his connection with the Wagner Group.

The DIU Chief believes that Surovikin was "given a nominal position" and "is living a normal life": "Of course, he no longer has the same influence as he had. But, in the end, again, this is good for Ukraine."

Quote: "He was quite strict in making decisions and was not afraid to take responsibility. And this is a problem for us.

Now he lives quietly and is engaged in analytical work.

It cannot be said that he was integrated into the rebellion. It's just that he had a very close relationship with Prigozhin.

He did everything to ensure that, in the eyes of the Russians, he did not issue criminal orders to strike at his own people. And the Wagner Group is Russia. His role was there."

Background:

On 23 August, Russian media and Rosaviatsia reported that a plane carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin had crashed in Tver Oblast. All 10 people on board were reportedly killed, including Prigozhin's deputy, Dmitry Utkin, who went by the alias Wagner.

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The Security Service of Ukraine has documented new crimes of pro-Kremlin propagandist Diana Panchenko, who contributes to Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

Source: the press service of the Security Service of Ukraine; Office of the Prosecutor General

Details: After working for the sanctioned TV channels belonging to Viktor Medvedchuk, Russian President Putin's close associate, Panchenko moved to the temporarily occupied city of Donetsk to continue her information and sabotage activities in favour of the aggressor country.

From October 2022 to the present day, Panchenko, on instructions from Moscow, has been assisting the military and political leadership of the Russian Federation in sabotage activities against Ukraine.

Panchenko systematically justifies Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, supports and promotes the occupation of the regions of Ukraine, as well as manipulates the information about the military and political situation in Ukraine in her covering and calls on Ukrainians not to resist the occupiers.

She posts this content on her own YouTube channel, which has almost 1 million subscribers.

In addition, Panchenko spreads propaganda-orchestrated "stories" through a network of pro-Kremlin Telegram channels.

Based on the new facts of criminal activity, investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine served Panchenko with a notice of suspicion of high treason committed under martial law.

As Panchenko is a fugitive from justice, comprehensive measures are being taken to bring her to justice.

Background: In January 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine served her with a notice of suspicion of justifying, recognising as lawful and denying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as glorifying its participants.

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Over the first day of Russian occupiers intensification on the Avdiivka front, the Special Operations Forces destroyed eight pieces of heavy equipment and killed dozens of Russian invaders.

Source: the press service of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces on social media and in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "For three days now, Ukrainians have been focused on the situation on the Avdiivka front, where the enemy has intensified its offensive. However, the Defence Forces disrupted the plans of the insane enemy, repelled all attacks and held their positions.

:      8      

   pic.twitter.com/9q00Wkl2Nq     (@ukrpravda_news) October 12, 2023

The Special Operations Forces soldiers were among the first to engage in combat. As of now, the 3rd Special Operations Forces regiment has destroyed, using ambushes, raids and attack UAVs:

five tanks;

one infantry fighting vehicle;

one armoured combat vehicle;

one Tigr armoured vehicle;

killed dozens of Russian soldiers.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers once again remind the occupiers: do not try to set foot on Ukrainian land, otherwise it will burn under your feet!

Details: The Special Operations Forces clarified to Ukrainska Pravda that their soldiers inflicted these losses on the Russians on 10 October.

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Consequences of Russia's attack on Ukraine

28 out of 33 Shahed kamikaze drones, launched in several groups to attack Ukraine from different directions, were shot down overnight, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on national television on Oct. 12.

"I would not say that this is a test (of air defense systems). This is a full-scale attack. More than 30UAVs. We've seen this throughout September, and not just September. The enemy has been actively using Shahed and other types of drones of its own production, including Lancets," Ihnat said, commenting on the rather successful results of Ukrainian air defense.

Read also: Russian drones downed in Romania were hit by Ukrainian air defense  Bucharest

"Unfortunately, we will have to deal with this more

."One person in Kharkiv was injured by shrapnel, a woman suffered a severe stress reaction, and a private home was damaged in the attack, Kharkiv Oblast Military Administrations head OlehSynehubov reported.

There are also reports of damages to port infrastructure and nearby buildings in the kamikaze drone attack on Odesa Oblast.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  The 14-year-old Antipolo student slapped by his teacher died of a rare congenital condition and not because of physical harm, the Philippine National Police (PNP) autopsy report said.

The report showed Francis Gumikib suffered from arteriovenous malformation, or the unusual twisting of arteries and veins.

It added that one of the entangled veins ruptured, causing his brain to swell and bleed that led to his death.

"At first asymptomatic, walang symptoms tapos bigla na lang kasi fragile po yung mga ugat na yun na it can rupture or burst," said Lt. Col. Maria Anna Lisa Dela Cruz, chief medicolegal officer of the PNP Forensic Group in Rizal.

[Translation: One could be asymptomatic at first, with no symptoms showing. But veins can rupture or burst knowing how fragile they are.]

Gumikib, a Grade 5 student of Penafrancia Elementary School, died on Oct. 2 reportedly after a bout of intolerable headache and ear pain. This was over a week after he was slapped by his teacher on Sept. 21.

A classmate said Gumikib was just reporting to their teacher about their noisy classmates. The teacher, however, suddenly pulled his hair and uniform before slapping him, the classmate told authorities.

The Gumikib family said they cannot accept the result of the autopsy, insisting that the teacher killed their son.

Yung sampal lang talaga po dahil ang anak namin simulat sapol hindi pa na-ospital iyon," Eusebio Gumikib, father of Francis, told CNN Philippines.

[Translation: It was really the slap, because our son has never been confined to a hospital.]

The teenager will be buried next week.

PLtCol Ryan Mangondo, Antipolo City police chief, said the teacher may still face charges for violation of the anti-child abuse law.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Dignity Coalition urged authorities to still honor the teacher's right to due process.

We would not tolerate any form of abuse by teachers against students, but we challenge the Department of Education as well to safeguard the rights of teachers to due process and equal protection of the law," the group said in a statement.

With reports from CNN Philippines senior correspondent AC Nicholls
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with his Bulgarian counterpart Todor Tagarev, and signed a memorandum on bilateral security cooperation, Umerov wrote on Twitter on Oct. 12.

The memorandum increased the spectrum of bilateral cooperation in a variety of security-related areas, including "cyberdefense, strategic communications, and receiving military-technical support," said Umerov.

Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev has consistently opposed providing Ukraine with large-scale defense assistance. He has been accused of having a pro-Moscow stance and called Crimea "Russian" during a 2021 presidential debate.

Read also: Bulgarian MP: Bulgaria can send 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine

After the Bulgarian parliament approved arms supplies to Kyiv in December, the interim cabinet provided the first package of military aid, but further aid was reportedly blocked by Radev.

However, the new government, which was formed in early June under Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, appears to be taking active steps to help Ukraine repel Russian aggression.

Since then, Bulgaria has directly sent Ukraine a variety of military hardware, including ammunition and armored personnel carriers.

Rustem and Tagarev also discussed how Bulgaria will help with English-language courses for future F-16 Ukrainian pilots.

In August 2023, the first group of Ukrainian pilots were selected to be part of the F-16 training program, but the lack of English language skills created a significant obstacle.

Some pilots were sent to the U.S. and the U.K. for English language training in September 2023.

On Oct. 11, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Ukraine could receive F-16s in spring 2024.

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Consequences of Hamas' attacks on Ashkelon

The death toll of Ukrainian citizens in the bloody Hamas militant attack on Israel has risen from three to seven, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) spokesman Oleh Nikolenko confirmed on Oct. 12.

Read also: Ukrainian embassy in Israel struggles to help more than thousand people without budget and resources

Nine Ukrainians are still missing, while nine others were injured.

Consular officials have identified the personal information of the deceased, are in contact with their relatives, and are taking steps to repatriate their bodies.

More than a thousand people have already contacted the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel for assistance. Ukraine initiated the evacuation of its citizens from the Gaza Strip, with more than 200 applying to leave.

Diplomats are preparing the first evacuation flight to Romania for Saturday, Oct. 14.

War in Israel  What is known

Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. From the early morning, Hamas repeatedly targeted the country with thousands of rockets and missiles. Armed Palestinian militants then invaded southern Israel, killing people, and taking hostages.

As a result, over 1,000 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 are thought to have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of the hostages have since been murdered.

The Israeli defense minister ordered a siege of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 9. In his address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas militants would be destroyed after their "atrocities," kidnappings, and murders of children and women. Hamas and other enemies of Israel "will pay a price they will remember for decades to come," Netanyahu stressed.

Israeli Defense Forces announced on Oct. 10 that they had fully regained control of the border with the Gaza Strip and advised its residents to leave for Egypt.

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The Russians stepped up their offensive on Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast

Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding their positions near Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Oct. 12 via Telegram.

"Avdiyivka. We're holding our positions. It's Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine the end of this war. We must all remember that.

Read also: Ukraine thwarts Russian attempts to gain operational space in Maryinka and Avdiyivka

Russian forces have intensified their offensive on Avdiyivka, launching mass attacks on the city. The fighting has been ongoing for three days now, with Oct. 10 seeing the biggest offensive on the city throughout the entire full-scale war.

The situation remains under control, Avdiyivka City Military Administration head Vitaliy Barabash stated. Ukrainian forces reported that Russia is attempting to encircle Avdiyivka by deploying a significant amount of equipment and personnel.

Read also: Ukraine thwarts Russian attempts to gain operational space in Maryinka and Avdiyivka

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled over ten enemy attacks near Avdiyivka and another ten attacks in the area east of Stepove, southeast of Siverske, and to the south of Pervomaiske in the Donetsk Oblast.

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Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces operating in Sumy Oblast intercepted a reconnaissance group of eight Russian soldiers headed in the direction of local critical infrastructure installations, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev said on Oct. 12.

The intercepting Ukrainian soldiers reportedly fired on the saboteur group, inflicting casualties and forcing them to retreat.

Naiev reported no losses on the Ukrainian side.

Russian forces withdrew from Sumy Oblast in April 2022, after the Russian military had been widely routed across the north of Ukraine.

Nevertheless, Russia has regularly attacked Sumy Oblast since then, including 286 explosions recorded throughout the day on Oct. 11.

A 13-year-old girl was killed by Russian shelling in Sumy Oblast on Oct. 10.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: NATO ministers meet to talk Ukraine aid; death toll of Hroza strike rises

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On 11 October, the Pavel Derzhavin, a patrol vessel of Russia's Black Sea Fleet was damaged in the Black Sea near occupied Sevastopol.

Source: Captain 3rd Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, on air with Radio Liberty

Quote: "You are the first people to whom I confirm this officially today that it was damaged. I can't give you any information about the circumstances of this incident, let's call it that, but it is a fact."

Details: Pletenchuk clarified that the Pavel Derzhavin is a Russian navy vessel, although the Ukrainian navy used to have a vessel of the same name: "They have the same name. As far as I remember, it was a very interesting moment before the war. I can only say that this is not the Ukrainian ship," he said.

Earlier, media outlets and Telegram channels reported that the Pavel Derzhavin vessel had exploded for unknown reasons while on the outer raid of Sevastopol.

The Krymskiy Veter (Crimean Wind) Telegram channel stated that its subscribers reported hearing the sound of an explosion at around 10:00.

Nataliia Humeniuk, Head of the Joint press centre of the Defence Forces of Ukraine's south, said that the Armed Forces were clarifying whether this was true, but noted that "everything is possible".

The Russian Ministry of Defence did not comment on this.

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More than 650,000 Gazans are at risk of running out of water amid the territorys siege by the Israeli military, the United Nations humanitarian office said early Thursday.

The escalating war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has resulted in a complete blockade of the territory, preventing energy, food, water and medical supplies from relieving the regions dwindling stocks.

More than 2.3 million people live in Gaza, with about 40 percent of them younger than 14. The blockade and a massive airstrike campaign from Israel which has leveled entire neighborhoods have sparked calls from humanitarian groups to allow assistance into Gaza.

The Israeli energy minister said early Thursday the country will not allow aid into Gaza, despite calls from organizations including the United Nations.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, Israel Katz said on X, formerly Twitter. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals.

Gazas only power station ran out of fuel and shut down Wednesday, and medical supplies became more and more rare in the territorys hospitals. The United Nations said dozens of the areas hospitals are running at reduced capacity due to a lack of power and supplies.

The Red Cross warned Thursday those hospitals could soon turn into morgues without immediate aid.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk, Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, wrote in a statement. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.

More than 2,500 people from both sides have been killed in the conflict.

A group of independent U.N. humanitarian experts denounced Israels attacks on Gaza on Thursday, directly calling them collective punishment and a war crime.

The group called out indiscriminate military attacks against the already exhausted Palestinian people of Gaza, citing rights violations in previous conflicts with Israel which remain unaccounted for.

This amounts to collective punishment, the U.N. experts said. There is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces. This is absolutely prohibited under international law and amounts to a war crime.

It is also difficult for Gazans to leave the territory because the only border with Egypt was closed again Thursday due to Israeli airstrikes in the area. The crossing was previously closed on Monday due to strikes. The Egyptian government has now urged Israel to stop the strikes so aid can enter Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Oriana Boselli

ROME (Reuters) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Thursday that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in the Gaza Strip after Israel imposed a total blockade on the territory following deadly Hamas attacks.

"It's a dire situation in the Gaza Strip that we're seeing evolve with food and water being in limited supply and quickly running out," said Brian Lander , the deputy head of emergencies at WFP, which is based in Rome.

"WFP is on the ground and is responding and we're providing food to thousands of people that have sought shelter in schools and elsewhere across the territory. But we're going to run out very soon," he told Reuters TV.

Israel announced a total siege on Gaza on Monday, blocking the entry of food, fuel and water into the coastal territory and shuttering all crossing points following Hamas's weekend rampage that killed more than 1,300 people.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (IRCRC) said on Thursday that fuel for hospital generators in Gaza would run out shortly, adding that its stocks of aid and medicine within Gaza were stranded for want of safe passage.

Besides sealing the border, the Israeli military has also launched massive air attacks on the enclave, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes.

"The people that are seeking shelter and striving to survive in this environment are only going to get into worse and worse situations as time goes on," Lander said.

He urged both Israel and Egypt to create secure corridors for the WFP to be able to bring supplies into Gaza and to make sure U.N. staff could work safely in the area.

"We've seen a number of sites that are considered humanitarian, or clinics and schools that have been hit by the strikes. So, we again, we are calling on the parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law," he said.

The U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees (UNWRA) has said 11 of its staff have been killed in the conflict so far. "(It) is a terrible tragedy and we really extend our condolences to their families," Lander said.

In normal times, the U.N. agency provides direct food assistance to some 350,000 Palestinians monthly, while also offering aid to nearly 1 million people in cooperation with other humanitarian partners via cash transfers.

In a 2023 report, U.N. agencies estimated that 58% of Gaza Strip residents required humanitarian assistance with 29% of Gazan households living in extreme or catastrophic conditions compared with 10% in 2022.

(This story has been corrected to rectify the day of the week to Thursday in paragraph 1)

(Writing by Crispian Balmer; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
A top UN expert noted a "considerable spike" in allegations of torture over the past year, especially as part of Russia's war in Ukraine (Daniel SLIM)

A top United Nations expert on Thursday urged law enforcement agencies around the world to ban 20 "modern-day torture tools," such as spiked batons, electric shock bands and caged beds.

"They are as horrifying as the racks and thumbscrews favored by medieval torturers," special rapporteur on torture Alice Edwards said at the UN. "They have no place in human rights-compliant law enforcement."

On the list of "inherently cruel, inhuman" tools compiled by Edwards were "spiked batons that literally just rip through the skin," knuckle cuffs and finger cuffs with serrated edges and electric shock bands worn by defendants in court.

Other torture devices include "caged beds so people are literally constrained in those places," Edwards said, after presenting an annual report on torture to UN officials.

"We're talking about tiger chairs and metal chairs where people cannot move and are held in stress positions for hours while they are being interrogated."

Tools like gang chains, used to chain individuals to each other, "actually are remnants of slavery and servitude and they really conjure up terrible images," the rapporteur added.

Edwards also singled out millimeter wave weapons used for crowd control. The technology is "designed to heat the uppermost layer of the skin in a crowded area so people will disperse on the basis of the unbearable pain, but they will not know where the pain is coming from," she said.

Aside from immediately banning the torture tools, she urged countries to catalog the equipment used by their police and prison authorities and destroy them if found.

Edwards also called for an international treaty banning the trade in these tools, saying the industry manufacturing and promoting them "has tentacles that stretch across the globe."

Edwards noted a "considerable spike" in allegations of torture over the past year, especially as part of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"My recent country visit to Ukraine confirmed the worst, that this pattern suggests torture is Russian state policy," Edwards said.

Torture has also been observed in Haiti, Mali, Myanmar, Sudan and Yemen, she added.

abd/cha/md/acb
A group of United Nations humanitarian experts denounced attacks on civilians in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza early Thursday, saying Israel is now committing war crimes through collective punishment by blockading aid from the territory.

The war has killed at least 2,500 people on both sides. Concerns for civilians in Gaza have mounted in recent days as the territory runs out of power and medical supplies due to a complete blockade by Israel.

We strongly condemn the horrific crimes committed by Hamas, the deliberate and widespread killing and hostage-taking of innocent civilians, including older persons and children. These actions constitute heinous violations of international law and international crimes, for which there must be urgent accountability, the U.N. group said.

We also strongly condemn Israels indiscriminate military attacks against the already exhausted Palestinian people of Gaza, comprising over 2.3 million people, nearly half of whom are children, it added. They have lived under unlawful blockade for 16 years, and already gone through five major brutal wars, which remain unaccounted for.

This amounts to collective punishment, the experts continued. There is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces. This is absolutely prohibited under international law and amounts to a war crime.

The U.N. said Thursday that more than 650,000 people in Gaza are running out of water due to the blockades. Medical supplies are also dwindling in the areas hospitals, which are at times without power.

The Israeli energy minister said early Thursday the country will not allow aid into Gaza, despite calls from organizations, including the U.N.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, Israel Katz said on X, formerly Twitter. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals.

The Red Cross warned Thursday those hospitals could soon turn into morgues without immediate aid.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk, Fabrizio Carboni, International Committee of the Red Cross regional director for the Near and Middle East wrote in a statement. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.

The Israeli military has committed to completely eliminating Hamas through a campaign of extensive airstrikes and an expected ground invasion.

The U.N. experts specifically called out Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over comments calling Gazans human animals on Monday.

Besides this appalling language that dehumanises the Palestinian people, especially those who have been unlawfully imprisoned in Gaza for 16 years, we condemn the withholding of essential supplies such as food, water, electricity and medicines, the group continued. Such actions will precipitate a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where its population is now at inescapable risk of starvation. Intentional starvation is a crime against humanity.

It is also difficult for Gazans to leave the territory because the only border with Egypt was closed again Thursday due to Israeli airstrikes in the area. The crossing was previously closed on Monday due to strikes.

The Egyptian government has also urged Israel to stop the strikes so aid can enter Gaza.

The U.N. group called on both sides of the conflict to immediately negotiate a ceasefire, in addition to corridors for humanitarian aid and a release of the captured on both sides of the conflict.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed a dozen UN aid workers, a spokesperson told Insider.

The dead include five teachers, a gynecologist, and a psychologist.

"Many of them were killed with their families," the spokesperson said.

At least a dozen UN aid workers have been killed in the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, a spokesperson told Insider on Thursday, demonstrating the dire risks being faced by non-combatants in the Palestinian territory.

"Many of them were killed while with their families," Juliette Touma, director of communications for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said in an interview. The dead, who were all Palestinians, included five teachers, a gynecologist, a psychologist, and support staff, she said.

It is not known how many of their family members were also killed.

"I want people to know that there are civilians  really civilians  who are being killed in Gaza," Touma said.

UNRWA was created to support the hundreds of thousands of people displaced around the time of Israel's founding in 1948. It runs a network of medical facilities in Gaza, as well as schools that are now serving as shelters for nearly 220,000 Palestinian civilians.

Initially, UNWRA said 11 of its employees had been killed in the Israeli attacks, but a 12th fatality was confirmed overnight, Touma said. The agency employs more than 5,300 people in Gaza.

Israel launched an aggressive counterattack on Gaza following a devastating terrorist attack last Saturday in which militants from Hamas and other Palestinian factions slaughtered hundreds of civilians, including women and babies.

As of Thursday afternoon, Israeli authorities said that at least 1,300 had been killed in the terrorist, the vast majority of them civilians. Another 2,800 people were wounded, and at least 97 are being held hostage.

Israel has cut off all water and electricity to Gaza. Israeli officials said they would restore the vital resources only if Hamas handed over those it kidnapped, which includes children and elderly women, as well as some IDF soldiers. It has urged civilians to avoid areas frequented by Hamas, but the vast majority of the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million residents have nowhere else to go; Egypt, which maintains a border with the territory, has only allowed a few Palestinians to leave.

The death toll has quickly climbed in Gaza as Israel pounds the territory with airstrikes ahead of a possible ground offensive. Local authorities say 1,417 people have been killed in the Israeli response, with another 6,200 wounded.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, asked to comment on the killing of UNWRA aid workers, insisted that the IDF "only strikes military targets, and in accordance with the international law."

Read the original article on Business Insider
London (CNN)  Wild beavers have returned to Londons Ealing district after an absence of 400 years.

A family of five Eurasian beavers  a breeding pair and their three offspring  were transported from Scotland and released Wednesday at the Paradise Fields wetlands area, in Ealing, west London.

The Ealing Beaver Project hopes the beavers can help reduce the risk of flooding, as well as engaging people in nature.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan was at the release. [Beavers] are natures way of building dams  helping the wider ecosystem, he said. Its good for humans, its good for nature, its good for our city.

His Rewild London Fund provided almost 40,000 ($49,000) in funding for the project.

Sean McCormack, chair of Ealing Wildlife Group, one of many groups behind the beaver initiative, said: Paradise Fields is a little oasis of nature adjoining a big retail park and adjoining urban Greenford.

Greenford is a high flood risk zone, and thats only going to be exacerbated by climate change. The beavers should build a series of dams through the site and create wetlands  this acts as a giant sponge.

Wild beavers were hunted into extinction in the UK over 400 years ago for their meat and fur pelts. In recent years, they have been reintroduced to Devon, southwest England, and in 2022, they were legally defined as a protected species in England, paving the way for further conservation and rewilding.

In March 2022, beavers were released in Enfield, north London, and last month it was announced that a baby beaver had been born there, the first beaver birth in London for hundreds of years.

The Ealing site will be closed to the public for one month, to give the beavers time to settle, but by the end of the year the area will be fully open to visitors.

We are part of nature, we need to live alongside nature, said McCormack. Beavers are a good example of the ecosystem services provided to us.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Wild beavers return to west London for the first time in 400 years"
At least 11 United Nations employees have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza since the weekend, the UN said Wednesday, even as it called for emergency funding to continue humanitarian work in the embattled Palestinian enclave.

The UN staffers who were killed paid the ultimate price, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a brief statement to press on Wednesday.

Among the dead are five teachers, a gynecologist, an engineer, a psychological counselor and three support staff, according to Jenifer Austin, UNRWAs Deputy Director in Gaza, who added that some were killed in their homes with their families.

Thirty students at UN schools have also been killed, the organization said.

Gaza has been hammered by Israeli airstrikes for days, in response to a surprise attack launched by Hamas over the weekend that killed at least 1,200 people in Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces says it is targeting Hamas, which controls the coastal enclave. But the dense population of Gaza  2 million people living in 140 square miles  means that civilians are often caught in the crossfire. Air strikes have so far killed 1,100 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Heightening humanitarian concerns is the Israels governments order for a complete siege of Gaza, closing off access to electricity, food, fuel and water. The areas only power station ran out of fuel on Wednesday.

US and Israeli officials are working to figure out a potential humanitarian corridor that would allow civilians to leave and humanitarian supplies to enter  a step that the UN says is already overdue.

Crucial life-saving supplies  including fuel, food and water  must be allowed into Gaza. We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now, Guterres said.

In the meantime, UN staffers are working 24 hour days as dozens of UN-operated schools provide shelter for civilians fleeing the bombardment. In total, 220,000 people are seeking refuge from air strikes, according to the organization.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Wednesday that it has only enough money to continue its work until the end of the month, and is urgently seeking $104 million in new funding.

Asked whether Gazans should use an eventual humanitarian corridor to flee the area, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said safe shelter for civilians within Gaza was the priority.

Civilians need to be protected. We do not want to see a mass exodus of Gazans and many of them have already been displaced from other parts, he said.

The UNs powerful Security Council will meet on Friday afternoon to discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza.

CNNs Pierre Meilhan, Abeer Salman and Ibrahim Dahman contributed to this report.

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[Source]

Officials at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center are asking for help in identifying a man who was found severely injured in San Pedro on Monday.

What authorities found: The patient, an Asian man, was reportedly found in the 3700 block of South Meyler Street, a residential area near Wilders Addition Park. He had a black backpack, a wallet containing Japanese currency and multiple travel-size personal hygiene items, according to the hospital.

Condition: The man suffered a traumatic brain injury. As of Wednesday, he remained at the hospital in grave condition, being intubated and sedated.

Identifying details: The patient is believed to be in his mid-20s. He is 5 feet and 10 inches tall, about 158 pounds, has black shoulder-length hair, brown eyes and no tattoos or other distinguishable marks.

More from NextShark: Asian Woman Spit on, Gets Hair Ripped Out in Manhattan After She's Blamed for Coronavirus

How the patient sustained his injury is unknown. Anyone with information on his identity is urged to call the hospital at 424-306-5305.

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Public health officials in Los Angeles County are asking for help identifying a patient who was badly injured in San Pedro earlier this week.

The patient, an Asian male in his mid-20s, was found in the 3700 block of South Meyler Street, a residential area near Wilders Addition Park, on Monday after sustaining a traumatic brain injury, according to L.A. County Health Services.

The cause of his injury was not released.

He was found with a black backpack, a wallet containing Japanese currency, and several travel-size personal hygiene items, officials said. He does not have any visible tattoos or other distinguishable marks.

Authorities say the man is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 158 pounds.

He was listed in grave condition at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he was intubated and sedated as of Wednesday.

Anyone with information that may help to identify him is asked to contact the hospital at (424) 306-5305.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
FILE - In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, a Syrian White Helmet civil defense worker runs at the site where a shell struck in the outskirts of the northern town of Jisr al-Shoughour, west of the city of Idlib, Syria, on Oct. 5, 2023. United Nations humanitarian officials sounded an alarm Thursday Oct. 12, 2023 over a humanitarian crisis in rebel-held northwestern Syria, warning that intense shelling by government forces displaced almost 70,000 people in recent weeks. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

DANA, Syria (AP)  United Nations humanitarian officials sounded an alarm Thursday over a humanitarian crisis in rebel-held northwestern Syria, warning that intense shelling by government forces displaced almost 70,000 people in recent weeks.

The Syrian government, backed by Russia, pounded the country's northwest this month, especially after a drone attack targeted a military college graduation ceremony in the heart of the government-held city of Homs. At least 89 officers and civilians were killed, making it one of the deadliest attack in the war-town nation in years.

Humanitarian agencies and human rights organizations have reported Syrian and Russian strikes hitting hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure as Syria endures the 13th year of a conflict that has killed a half-million people.

Were at the most significant escalation of hostilities since 2019, David Carden, the U.N. deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, said after meeting with displaced Syrians living in temporary shelters What they want above all is to return home to their homes, but right now they do not feel safe to do so.

The vast majority of the 4.5 million people living in Idlib and northern Aleppo provinces rely on humanitarian aid to survive, and almost half live in displacement camps. Northwestern Syria is controlled by the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib province and by Turkish-backed groups in northern Aleppo province.

Shrinking budgets due to donor fatigue have humanitarian organizations struggling to respond to the growing needs in the impoverished enclave undergoing daily attacks.

Carden and other U.N. officials toured the encampments where millions of Syrians are staying. He was accompanied by Oliver Smith, senior operations coordinator the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR and Rosa Crestani, the head of the World Health Organization office in Gaziantep, Turkey.

Crestani said WHO received 23 reports of strikes impacting health facilities, while others shut down fearing they would be hit, too.

I really hope that the services can restart, and we really ask everyone to not target or not do indiscriminate shelling on civilians, or medical facilities or ambulances, Crestani told The Associated Press after visiting Sham Hospital near the city of Sarmada.

___

Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb contributed from Beirut.
Americans are watching the Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing war with horror, mourning the death of innocent civilians, thinking about their family and friends, and worrying that the violence in Gaza will trigger an even more violent conflagration in the Greater Middle East.

Theres another reason Americans should be worried.

Whats happening in Israel now is a disturbing example of what can happen when elected officials use partisan and personal motivations to warp national security. For years, Republicans in Congress have attempted to sabotage what they call the Deep State. This includes placing holds on political nominees and castigating diplomats, officers and analysts employed in the government as captives to Big Woke. They might see it as political theater, necessary to boosting profiles and fundraising. But as this week shows, there can be a price.

Reporting suggests that the hardline elements of Benjamin Netanyahu s governing coalition were openly hostile to warnings from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and security agency Shin Bet that settler violence would increase the security threat to Israel. One Likud member of parliament complained: The ideology of the left has reached the top echelons of the Shin Bet. The deep state has infiltrated the leadership of the Shin Bet and the IDF. Another Netanyahu coalition member stated, We see there is confusion as to who is an enemy.

Hamas surprise attack has highlighted further national security dysfunction within the Netanyahu government. There are confirmed reports that Egyptian intelligence directly warned Netanyahu that something fierce will happen from Gaza. Allegedly, Netanyahu was indifferent to the warning, explaining that the IDF was swamped with terrorism threats in the West Bank. Israeli critics have stated that his coalition repeatedly ignored earlier warnings from Arab allies regarding rising levels of Palestinian frustration. Haaretz editorialized this week that, a prime minister indicted in three corruption cases cannot look after state affairs, as national interests will necessarily be subordinate to extricating him from a possible conviction and jail time.

Israel is paying a steep price for its national security dysfunction right now in the form of hundreds dead, a planned siege of Gaza and an imminent ground invasion involving hundreds of thousands of Israeli soldiers that may accomplish little more than producing more bloodshed and grievance.

Heres my question: Is Israel a harbinger for the United States? Are we getting a sneak preview of what will happen if Republicans succeed in their effort to exercise more control over the national security bureaucracy?



Bashing political polarization is the first thing they teach you in Centrist Punditry 101. Partisanship is not all bad, however, even in areas of foreign policy and national security. Different political parties will have different national security priorities and preferences. Sometimes an ideological hedgehog clearly sees a threat that no one else notices due to groupthink. Winston Churchill was an isolated political figure in the 1930s because of a series of high-profile policy miscues. Alone among British politicians, though, he correctly perceived the threat posed by Hitlerite Germany. Political ideologies are a natural source of supply for the foreign policy marketplace of ideas.

The problem comes when elected officials and political appointees decide that in order to achieve their desired ends, they need to reduce entire national security institutions to rubble. And lets be very clear: In 2023, all of the U.S. partisans engaging in such behavior are Republicans. Former president and likely future presidential nominee Donald Trump has set the tone here. The number of instances that the former president sabotaged U.S. national security while in office and afterwards is too long to recount in detail. Theres the blabbing of secrets to Russian officials in the Oval Office, the tweeting of classified photos, the refusal to return national security secrets once he left office, and the fact that he shared extremely sensitive information about the capabilities of U.S. nuclear submarines to Mar-a-Lago members, who in turn blabbed it to everyone. His behavior was so egregious that multiple former cabinet members  most recently John Kelly, Trumps former White House chief of staff  have gone on the record to discuss the danger he poses. Back in June his attorney general, William Barr, warned on Face the Nation, He will always put his own interests, and gratifying his own ego, ahead of everything else, including the countrys interests.



After losing the election in November 2020, Trump fired or demanded the resignation of several political appointees on his foreign policy team because of a perceived lack of personal loyalty. He replaced them with acting officials who had minimal qualifications for their jobs beyond abject fealty to Trump. If he wins the 2024 election, Trumps stated policy positions will make his lame duck actions in 2020 seem tame by comparison. His campaign, in concert with the Heritage Foundation, has announced plans to convert tens of thousands of civil service employees into political appointees the president could fire at his whim. According to the New York Times, if reelected, Trump plans to scour the intelligence agencies, the State Department and the defense bureaucracies to remove officials he has vilified as the sick political class that hates our country. One Bush 43 official told the Atlantic, I cant overstate my level of concern about the damage this would do to the institution of the federal government. The CEO of the Partnership for Public Service explicitly analogized Trumps idea to Netanyahus controversial and unpopular efforts to constrain the Israeli judiciary.

Trump is the loudest but hardly the only Republican willing to sabotage the U.S. national security architecture. Other GOP presidential contenders have expressed an equally strident desire. Vivek Ramaswamy promised to use executive authority to shut down the deep state. His plans included firing 75 percent of the federal workforce and dismantling the FBI and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been even more violent in his rhetoric, promising one New Hampshire crowd that all these deep state people  were going to start slitting throats on day one.

The GOP caucus in the Senate has also been busy stymieing the foreign policy machine. The most obvious manifestation of this is Sen. Tommy Tuberville holding more than three hundred military promotions hostage unless the Pentagon stops funding travel for service women to receive abortions. This includes two selections for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as Middle East theater commanders for naval and ground forces. Though his Republican colleagues have expressed queasiness at Tubervilles tactics, they have remained unwilling to intervene. Tuberville recently made it clear that his position was unchanged despite the return of Middle East turmoil.

While Tuberville might be the most obstructionist Republican senator, he is hardly alone. Marco Rubio has placed holds on multiple Biden nominees, as has Ted Cruz. The result is that, at present, the United States does not have confirmed ambassadors in Israel, Egypt, Lebanon and Kuwait. There has been no confirmed USAID official for the Middle East for close to three years, nor has there been a confirmed State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism for nearly two years.

The GOP caucus in the House of Representatives makes its Senate counterpart look like a model of bipartisanship. As the majority party, House Republicans have taken the most concrete efforts to stymie the foreign policy and national security bureaucracies. Upon taking office, then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy signed off on a new Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. That subcommittee has accomplished little beyond holding hearings aimed to fan the flames of dubious far-right conspiracy theories like the Twitter Files. Jim Banks, the chair of the House Armed Services Committees personnel panel, recently told evangelists: Wokeism will eat our country inside-out if we let it, and weve got to stop it from taking over and transforming the military. In response, Peter Feaver, a conservative expert on civil-military relations, noted, Weve reached the point where the concern is greater than the reality. No one has presented evidence that is commensurate with the amount of energy that is being devoted to it.

Meanwhile, GOP infighting in the House already threatened to shut down the government once, and forced out McCarthy from the speakership immediately following his efforts to avoid that outcome. One of the sticking points for funding the government has been whether there would be supplemental aid for Ukraine to assist in its defense against Russias invasion. Until a new speaker is chosen, the House cannot authorize any aid to Israel as well. One of the leading candidates to replace McCarthy is the Trump-endorsed Jim Jordan. He is the House member most closely involved with Trumps efforts to incite violence on Jan. 6, 2021. He is also the current chair of the weaponization subcommittee.



Outside assessments of the GOPs ability to promote U.S. national security in the House have not been kind. One recent withering analysis noted, For the better part of a month, House Republicans argued amongst themselves over whether it was necessary or even desirable to keep the U.S. government open if they failed to use leverage they did not have over Democrats to secure spending cuts. It was a conversation divorced from political reality, and it produced only one concession from the party in power  cutting off support for a U.S. partner that has been ruthlessly invaded by an overt American enemy. Where was that lefty screed published? That would be the National Review.

None of this is to imply that the U.S. foreign policy and national security apparatus is above reproach. Bureaucrats are far from perfect, and civilian control of the military is essential for democracy to work. It is the job of elected officials to ask hard questions. What Republicans are doing right now, however, bears little resemblance to proper political oversight. It more closely resembles the kind of intellectual jihads that Republicans claim to abhor in their enemies. It is conservative political correctness run amok.

Some House Republicans have voiced concerns that their current dysfunction factored into the timing of Hamas surprise attack. That is highly unlikely  but it is encouraging to hear Republicans express concern that U.S. national security interests could be undermined by their own partys extremism. Because it could be. Imagine, for example, what a second Trump term would actually look like. If he only appoints toadies to cabinet-level positions, there would be no adults in the room. His planned jihad against the permanent bureaucracy would trigger an exodus of the best, most independent diplomats, general officers and intelligence analysts. The ability of Trumps weakened administrative state to accurately assess or respond to any national security threat would be suspect at best and incompetent at worst. The likelihood of a successful terrorist attack on U.S. soil, undeterred Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, or open war in the Pacific Rim would rise exponentially. The U.S. military would be too busy bombing Mexico or governing U.S. cities to respond. As chaotic as Trumps first term was, his second term could set the world on fire.

The failure of Israel to accurately assess the threat posed by Hamas is a cautionary tale of what happens when elected officials view their own government as part of a deep state instead of professionals trying their best to provide useful intelligence and advice. If Republicans do well in the 2024 elections, Americans could view what is happening in Israel now as the same sneak preview that Brexit provided in 2016.


Going to the park to feed the ducks is out, and going to the park to watch the beavers is in?

Introducing beavers to urban parks could foster biodiversity and increase parks resiliency, suggests Ethan Freedman, a science and nature journalist, in an article for Slate. Brooklyns Prospect Park, for example, is 526 acres of fields, wetlands, and forest. Beavers, which are native to North America and New York state, would find themselves right at home.

Parkgoers wouldnt have to worry about crossing the beavers paths as they tend to live in small areas and prefer to remain in their aquatic environment. Prospect Park Lake wouldnt be at risk of getting dammed up, either. At 50 acres wide and 7 feet deep, the lake is too large for beavers to bother building a dam. Where lakes are to be found, beavers prefer to build their homes along the existing body of water instead of creating their own pond.

As ecosystem engineers, beavers promote the development of wetlands that would invite ducks, herons, fish, and amphibians to your neighborhood park. As they gnaw on fallen trees near waterways, beavers would allow space for more vegetation to flourish. Dams also decrease erosion, improve water quality, and reduce flooding during storms.

Of course, introducing beavers to urban parks would also likely pose some problems, Freedman explains. If beavers built dams over the parks creeks, it could result in flooding, submerging trails and vegetation. Nearby trees may be at risk of the beavers bared buck teeth. And, because beavers are social animals, you cant just have one. Pairing a male and a female could result in offspring, and you dont want a brood of baby beavers unleashed on the big city.

Thankfully, there are simple solutions to these problems. Pond levelers can drain water from beaver ponds to prevent flooding. Because beavers dont like to move far from their homes, only trees by the water would be within gnawing range, and fencing could prevent beavers from felling any vital trunks. The parks beavers could be all female or male to ensure baby beavers arent running amok.

I think its possible. I totally do, Benjamin Dittbrenner, a beaver expert at Northeastern University, told Slate.

Commenters were enthusiastic about the idea. I have a beaver dam across the street from me, and it definitely leads to greater biodiversity, one wrote.

Great idea! Beavers moving back will increase biodiversity, including creatures who eat mosquitos, another added.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
An Iranian pro-government protester in Tehran joins a celebration of the Hamas attack on Israel

The US says Iran has not accessed money agreed in a prisoner swap as the White House faces renewed criticism over the deal amid claims Tehran instigated a Hamas attack on Israel last weekend.

Washington has a "quiet understanding" with go-between Qatar not to free up any of $6bn (.4.9bn) from the pact, the BBC's US partner CBS reports.

Iran's mission to the UN said the US cannot renege on the agreement.

The US has said it has no evidence of a direct Iran link to the Hamas assault.

The $6bn of Iranian oil funds held in South Korea were unfrozen in September as part of a deal that saw five US-Iranian citizens freed from captivity.

US President Joe Biden 's officials have pushed back strongly against Republican criticism that the fund empowered Iran's support for Hamas.

On Thursday morning, Deputy US Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House of Representatives Democrats behind closed doors that the money "isn't going anywhere anytime soon".

But later in the day, White House spokesman John Kirby would not confirm reports that the funds had been frozen.

"What I can tell you," he said, "is none of it has been accessed and we are watching every dime as you would expect.

"We were watching it very, very closely."

More on Israel Gaza war

Neither would US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirm the money had been frozen as he visited Tel Aviv on Thursday.

He instead listed the "facts" about the account in a weary voice when asked about the matter by journalists.

America's top diplomat said it was Iran's money from oil sales, that it was held in Qatar and that it was only for food and medicine and that the US has to approve every transaction.

It is a complicated mechanism that has not yet been activated.

Any such freeze would be a provocative one at a time when the US is trying to prevent Iran and the militant groups it backs from joining the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Analysts warn such a move could embolden hardliners in Iran.

US officials would also probably be concerned a freeze of the fund would lead Iran to arrest more US-Iranian citizens.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Wednesday that Iran had played a role in the attack by funding the military wing of Hamas over the years.

But US officials have also said they cannot corroborate reports of direct involvement in the attack by Iran, which is Israel's arch-enemy.

President Biden has been under pressure from within his party to stop the funds going to Iran.

Democratic senators who are facing re-election next year have joined Republican calls for the US president to effectively break the deal.

But Iran's mission to the United Nations said in a statement reported by the Washington Post: "The senators in question and the US government are all acutely aware that they can NOT renege on the agreement.

"The money rightfully belongs to the people of Iran, earmarked for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to facilitate the acquisition of all essential and non-sanctioned requisites for the Iranians."
U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is escorted as it arrives in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Kang Duck-chul/Yonhap via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Thursday in a demonstration of strength against North Korea, as the Norths leader reaffirmed his push to bolster ties with Russia.

The USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group came to the southeastern South Korean port of Busan after participating in a trilateral South Korean-U.S.-Japanese maritime exercise in international waters off a southern South Korean island earlier this week, the South Korean Defense Ministry said.

The aircraft carrier is to stay in Busan until next Monday as part of a bilateral agreement to enhance regular visibility of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program, according to an earlier Defense Ministry statement.

Its the first arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier in South Korea in six months since the USS Nimitz docked at Busan in late March, the statement said.

The arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan is expected to enrage North Korea, which views the deployment of such a powerful U.S. military asset as a major security threat. When the USS Ronald Reagan staged joint military drills with South Korean forces off the Korean Peninsula's east coast in October 2022, North Korea said the carriers deployment was causing considerably huge negative splash in regional security and performed ballistic missile tests.

The U.S. carriers latest arrival comes as concerns grow that North Korea is pushing to get sophisticated weapons technologies from Russia in exchange for supplying ammunitions to refill Russias conventional arms stores exhausted by its protracted war with Ukraine. Such concerns flared after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russias Far East last month to meet President Vladimir Putin and inspect key weapons-making facilities.

Many experts say Kim would want Russian help to build more reliable weapons systems targeting the U.S. and South Korea. Washington and Seoul have warned that Moscow and Pyongyang would pay a price if they move ahead with the speculated weapons transfer deal in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any weapons trading with North Korea.

On Thursday, Kim and Putin exchanged messages marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message to Putin, Kim said he was very satisfied over an exchange of candid and comprehensive opinions with Putin during his Russia trip, while expressing a firm belief that bilateral ties will develop onto a new level. Kim also hoped that the Russian people would defeat the imperialists persistent hegemonic policy and moves to isolate and stifle Russia, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Putin, for his part, told Kim in his message that he was satisfied with the fact that bilateral ties continue to positively develop in all aspects, KCNA said.
An American aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea early Thursday as a demonstration of strength as tensions rise with North Korea over possible collaboration with Russia.

The USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group docked at the port of Busan on South Koreas southern coast, the South Korean Defense Ministry announced, according to The Associated Press.

The carrier group will stay in Busan until next Monday, following military drills with South Korea and Japan earlier this week. The deployment is part of an agreement with South Korea to increase regular visibility of U.S. military assets in the region.

Concerns have mounted in recent weeks over apparent North Korean attempts to negotiate an arms deal with Russia. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

Defense analysts believe North Korea wants to exchange shipments of small arms and munitions  in support of Russias invasion of Ukraine  for advanced Russian nuclear and satellite technologies.

North Korea has increased its missile tests in recent months. In late September, Kim called on his country to increase nuclear weapons production, describing a new Cold War with the U.S.

North Koreas nuclear force-building policy has been made permanent as the basic law of the state, which no one is allowed to flout with anything, Kim said in a speech to the assembly, according to state media.

Putin and Kim exchanged letters this week in a celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, North Korean state media said.

In his message to Putin, Kim said he was very satisfied over an exchange of candid and comprehensive opinions during the pairs recent meeting. He also willed Russia to defeat the imperialists persistent hegemonic policy and moves to isolate and stifle Russia, apparently referring to the Ukraine war.

Putin told Kim in his message that he was satisfied with the countries relations and hoped they would continue to improve, North Korean state media said.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed unwavering US support for Israel in its war on Hamas during a visit Thursday but said the Palestinians also have "legitimate aspirations" not represented by the Islamist militant group.

Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people in Israel and took about 150 hostages in their surprise onslaught from Gaza Saturday. Israel has retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days, claiming over 1,350 lives.

Israel has deployed forces, tanks and other military hardware to the Gaza border, AFP journalists said, as it prepared for a possible ground invasion of the Palestinian territory after what has been labelled Israel's 9/11.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself," Blinken said at a joint press conference in Tel Aviv with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side."

Israeli fighter-jets and drones flew above Gaza City in the relentless bombardment that has levelled entire blocks and destroyed thousands of buildings, while Hamas had now fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel from Gaza, the army said.

US President Joe Biden has vowed unwavering support for Israel and not called for restraint against Hamas, but Blinken hinted at the need for an eventual peace settlement -- an idea that has long met resistance from the right-wing Netanyahu.

"Anyone who wants peace and justice must condemn Hamas' reign of terror," Blinken said.

"We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people, or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity and dignity."

Netanyahu voiced appreciation for US support, which includes military aid, and said Hamas, which rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, should be treated like the Islamic State group.

"Just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. And Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated," Netanyahu said.

Blinken, speaking in personal terms, said that "I come before you not only as the United States secretary of state but also as a Jew" and "a husband and father of young children".

"It's impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed, such as the mother, father and three small children murdered as they sheltered in their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, and not think of my own children," he said.

- 'Cycle of violence and horror' -

Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht said the military was readying for a potential order to launch a ground invasion in the war with Hamas: "This has not been decided yet... but we are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if it is decided."

"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," he said.

Fears have grown for Gaza's 2.4 million people now enduring the fifth war in 15 years in the long-blockaded coastal enclave, which has also seen Israel cut off water, food and power supplies.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed the total siege of Gaza would remain in force until the hostages are freed.

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," he said.

Gaza's hospitals "risk turning into morgues", said the International Committee of the Red Cross Middle East chief Fabrizio Carboni, stressing "the human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern about the "supercharged cycle of violence and horror", urged the release of all hostages and the lifting of the siege, and stressed that "civilians must be protected at all times".

There have been calls for a humanitarian corridor to allow Palestinians to escape ahead of a possible Israeli ground invasion that would spell brutal urban combat and house-to-house fighting.

If Israel does send ground forces into Gaza, it risks walking into a Hamas "trap", warned a former head of Britain's MI6 intelligence service, Alex Younger, speaking on BBC radio.

"You shouldn't do what your enemy wants you to do," he said, arguing the inevitable loss of innocent life would further drive radicalisation and regional sentiment against Israel and its allies.

"These are all things that Hamas wants," he said.

- 'All I do is cry' -

Israel has called up 300,000 reservists and rushed forces, tanks and heavy armour to the southern desert areas around Gaza from where Hamas launched their unprecedented attack on October 7.

Israeli soldiers have since then swept the southern towns and kibbutz communities and killed 1,500 of the militants, while making ever more shocking discoveries of large numbers of dead civilians.

"I would never have been able to imagine... something like this," Doron Spielman, an Israeli army spokesman, said at one gated community where more than 100 residents were killed.

"It looks like... an atomic bomb just landed here."

Israeli outrage has been further fuelled by Hamas's capture of at least 150 hostages -- mostly Israelis but also foreign and dual nationals -- now being held in Gaza.

"I know he's out there somewhere," one of the affected Israelis, Ausa Meir, said of her brother Michael, who is among the captives. "It's very, very painful."

Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if Israel bombs Gaza civilian targets without advance warning -- deepening the anger and fear in shell-shocked Israel.

"Everybody is impacted in Israel," said Joana Ouisman, 38, a finance executive. "I've been watching TV all day for the past three to four days. All I do is cry."

- 'We must win' -

Israel's war now flaring in the south is further complicated by a threat from the north, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group based in Lebanon.

The army has massed tanks on the border after repeated clashes with Hezbollah in recent days, including cross-border rockets and shelling.

As Israel seeks to boost its military forces, flag carrier El Al said it would operate special flights to bring back reserve soldiers from overseas on the weekly Jewish day of rest.

"It's really sad what happened. We don't believe what Hamas did... we are going to fight back," said one of them, Ido Malka, who flew in from Los Angeles.

The United States has sent munitions to Israel and deployed an aircraft carrier battle group to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support, while warning Israel's other enemies not to enter the conflict.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that Washington has "not placed any conditions" on the way Israel can use the weapons it has provided to its ally.

Israel's arch foe Iran has long financially and militarily backed Hamas and praised its attack, but insists it had no involvement.

Iran's ultra-conservative President Ebrahim Raisi called on Islamic and Arab countries to confront Israel and support the "oppressed Palestinian nation", in a phone call with his Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad.

Israel also struck Syria's two main airports, in Damascus and Aleppo, in "simultaneous" attacks on landing strips that put them out of service", state media said, citing an unidentified military source.

Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on Syria, its northern neighbour, in recent years, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes on Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow its biggest enemy Iran to expand its footprint there.

burs-jd/dv/fz
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Globe has announced it is offering free connectivity, including roaming call, text, and data to Filipinos in Israel to help them keep in touch with loved ones amid reports of the worst militant attacks in the area.

Globe postpaid and prepaid customers currently using roaming services in Israel may connect with their loved ones with free 15 minutes of incoming and outgoing calls, 15 texts to all networks, and 1GB data (whichever service is currently available) good for 7 days at no extra cost.

To avail of the free roaming service, Globe customers only need to connect to Globes roaming partners Cellcom, Partner Communications, and Pelephone. No registration is required for the goodwill offer, with the free roaming service automatically provided to Globe customers currently in Israel. A confirmation message will be sent to customers advising them that the free roaming offer is ready for use.

Globe is immediately providing connectivity support to Filipinos in Israel as conflict grips the Middle Eastern nation, where thousands of our kababayans live and work. Through free roaming access, we hope to help them reach their loved ones at home at this difficult time, said Coco Domingo, Globe VP for Postpaid and International Business.

To make a call, dial + plus country code, area code and telephone number (ex. +63773101212) or dial + plus country code and mobile number (ex. +639171234567). To send a text, type + plus country code and mobile number (ex. +639171234567).

To use the free 1GB data allocation, customers simply need to turn on mobile data and data roaming on their phones settings, and set the network connection to 3G or LTE. Postpaid customers are encouraged to only turn on their mobile data and data roaming once they have received the activation message.

News reports indicate that militants have infiltrated Israels southern areas with the largest rocket attack in years, leaving dozens killed and hundreds wounded.

Globe regularly provides free roaming to customers nationwide in times of crises, most recently in Morocco following the historic 6.8 quake that struck near Marrakech last September.

For additional information, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/international/roaming.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Army is examining how it can reinvigorate its aging fleet of blimp-like aircraft known as aerostats that serve as elevated surveillance and communication platforms.

The service is interested in the updates amid a focus on countering the Russian and Chinese militaries, forces more sophisticated than those fought for decades in the Middle East.

Aerostat, I think, is synonymous with the old fight, counterinsurgency, Lareina Adams, a project manager for terrestrial sensors, told C4ISRNET during an interview at the Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington. But what were trying to see is if we can expand the applicability of the aerostat to other missions that will support the Army in 2030.

Future aerostats could carry autonomous capabilities  slashing costly logistics and staffing needs  or even counter-drone payloads. Adams said she observed autonomous features aboard an aerostat at a recent demonstration, but offered few additional details.

After Blimp Broke Free and Crashed, JLENS Program Hangs by a Thread

The Army has for decades deployed and tinkered with aerostats and other so-called lighter-than-air technologies. Examples include the Persistent Threat Detection System, PTDS, and the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System, JLENS.

One of my priorities is to help reimagine aerostats, Adams said. Were starting to have those conversations with the requirements community within the Army to figure out what the needs are. Were also looking at industry, as well, to see what advancements theyve made.

The terrestrial sensor bureau that Adams leads is part of the Armys Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. The executive office is tasked with helping develop and deploy everything from aerostats to biometric devices, electronic jammers to soldier-carried navigation tools.
By Michael Martina and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. says it has accepted an invitation to attend China's top annual security forum in late October, the latest sign of potentially warming ties between the two countries' militaries.

Washington has been eager to revive military-to-military communications with China, its main strategic rival, and three sources familiar with the matter said Beijing had invited Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to attend its Xiangshan forum, scheduled for Oct. 29  31.

The United States, however, won't send Austin to the event, styled by Beijing as its answer to Singapore's annual Shangri-La Dialogue, where in late May China's defense minister Li Shangfu - who has since disappeared from public - declined a formal meeting with the U.S. defense secretary.

Although the invitation could be intended to counter U.S. criticism that China has been slow to rebuild military engagement after cutting most ties following then-U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August 2022, it may also signal a desire by Beijing to improve relations, analysts say.

U.S. officials have suggested recently there are "limited" early signs that better military communications could be restored.

The Pentagon did not say whom China had invited or who from the U.S. side would attend, and China's embassy in Washington also declined to give details.

In a statement to Reuters, the Pentagon said it "welcomes the opportunity to engage" with representatives from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the Xiangshan forum on ensuring open and reliable lines of communication and crisis communications channels.

"The Department responded to the PRC's August invitation for Department officials to participate in the Beijing Xiangshan Forum with the Department's intent to participate at a level consistent with past precedent," it said.

In 2019, the last time the forum was held, then-U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China Chad Sbragia attended, making him the most senior U.S. official to date to participate.

Before 2019, the U.S. often sent embassy defense attaches.

CHINA'S DEFENSE MINISTER

As China's defense minister, Li typically would give a keynote speech at the forum and meet with delegations. But Reuters reported in September that he was put under investigation over corrupt procurement of military equipment.

Beijing has offered no official explanation about Li's fate and his disappearance raises questions about how this year's forum will be conducted.

Sbragia, who plans to attend the forum as a former official, told Reuters he received an updated invitation with an agenda that didn't have earlier references to a speech by Li, who since 2018 has been under U.S. sanctions over Beijing's purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia. Those sanctions had been an obstacle in China's eyes to a meeting with Austin.

China was probably aware that Austin was unlikely to attend, but it would not have extended such an invitation if it weren't prepared for a meeting, Sbragia said.

"It probably shows that there is a significant amount of anxiety and demand that they try to reach some pattern of stable defense relations with the United States," he said.

China has quietly issued invitations to senior U.S. officials in the past  including defense secretaries  to attend the event, held in the hills away from Beijing's busy downtown.

Washington typically has not wanted to lend U.S. credibility to the forum by dispatching high-level delegates, a source of frustration for Beijing, which uses the conference to try to shape global discussions on defense and security issues.

China's embassy in Washington said the forum would provide parties "an equal opportunity to express their views on advancing security cooperation" under Chinese President Xi Jinping's Global Security Initiative, which Washington has criticized.

"China and the U.S. have been maintaining candid and effective communications through military diplomatic channels," Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said.

(Reporting by Michael Martina and Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and Gerry Doyle)
Warning this article contains graphic descriptions of death surrounding civilians, in particular children.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed revulsion at photographic evidence released Thursday showing the atrocities committed by Hamas against civilians in Israel, including young children and babies.

Its hard to find the right words, Blinken said of the images shared by the Israeli government, which he said were new to me, and I think new to our team.

Its beyond what anyone would ever want to imagine. Much less actually see, and God forbid experience. A baby and infant riddled with bullets. Soldiers beheaded. Young people burned alive in their cars or in their hideaway rooms, he said.

I could go on, but its simply depravity, in the worst imaginable way, it almost defies comprehension.

The secretary was speaking shortly after the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted graphic images on X, formerly called Twitter, which gave visual support to some of the grisliest descriptions of atrocities committed by Hamas as it terrorized Israeli villages beginning Saturday morning.

The Israeli government said the photos shared on X were taken from the community of Kfar Azza, in southern Israel.

Israel has launched massive aerial strikes on Gaza in response to the Hamas assault, targeting what it says is infrastructure of the terrorist group and going after its leadership.

Hamas, recognized as a terrorist group by the United States, controls Gaza, a narrow strip of land bordering Egypt, Israel and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to more than 2 million people.

Natanyahu said Thursday Hamas must be treated the same as ISIS, as Israel prepared for a possible ground invasion of Gaza.

Israel has cut off supplies of electricity, fuel, food and water to Gaza, and the United Nations has warned of a humanitarian crisis.

Blinken did not specifically address claims made by Israeli soldiers and officials that Hamas decapitated babies, but he described the group as carrying out depravity and inhumanity  at babies, at small children, at young adults, at elderly people, at people with disabilities, the list goes on.

And on a basic human level, how anyone cannot be revolted and cannot reject what theyve seen, and what the world has seen, its beyond me, he added.

President Biden referenced seeing images Wednesday of the mutilated bodies of children.

Ive been doing this a long time. I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children. I never thought Id ever  anyway, he said in remarks with Jewish leaders at the White House.

The White House has not explained what images Biden was referring to with those comments. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday that Bidens point was to underscore the depravity and the barbaric nature of the attacks.

Kirby grew defensive as reporters continued to press him about how officials verified the specific claims.

We take it very, very seriously, the need to be as factual and truthful as we can possibly be, he said. Its obvious, sadly, its obvious what Hamas is proving willing to do to innocent Israel citizens. Were not going to shy away from talking about the grotesque nature of what the terrorists have done.

When a reporter brought up misinformation spread during previous wars like the war in Iraq, Kirby said theres no comparison whatsoever.

During a speech at the White House Tuesday, Biden described his horror at stomach-turning reports of babies being killed.

Israeli soldiers on the ground in Kfar Azza, a bedroom community about a mile from the Gaza Strip, have told reporters that the bodies of babies had been found with their heads cut off, a claim that has not been confirmed by media outlets.

Those claims were repeated by Tal Heinrich, a spokesperson for Netanyahu, who told CNN that babies and toddlers were found in Kfar Azza with their heads decapitated.

The Hill has reached out to Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli government for evidence of the claims.

Senior members of Congress have also repeated the claims of beheadings.

Its disgusting to me that 70 Hamas killers went into that village and slaughtered almost all of the residents there, including the babies at the day care center, some of those were beheaded, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told reporters Wednesday following a classified briefing on Israel presented by Biden officials.

McCauls office pointed to Israeli government claims in media reports when asked about where the chairman had received that information.

Yossi Zilberman, a spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Unfortunately, we stand behind our claims. Hamas is ISIS, it is not a slogan, when asked by The Hill about the claims of atrocities in Kfar Azza.

When asked specifically to confirm that babies were beheaded in Kfar Azza or any other communities, Zilberman shared graphic images, but they did not specifically show beheaded babies.

In a voice note, he sought to convey that a focus on individual atrocities should not distract from the overall horror of the more than 1,000 people killed in Israel by Hamas in its assault.

Regarding the beheading of babies, whether we have, right now, the photos or not, perhaps I will have the photos eventually, it is something quite minimal whether they were beheaded or not. Literally they burnt alive babies, he said.

There were families that were burnt alive. Things are quite obvious.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Biden administration is set to announce new measures to raise the cost of Russias attempts to skirt a limit set on the price for its oil, senior administration officials told CNN, as the West aims to enforce more strictly a price cap first introduced nearly a year ago.

Today, the US Treasury Department is imposing sanctions on two entities and identifying as blocked property two vessels that use price cap coalitions services providers while carrying Russian crude oil above the coalition-agreed price gap, a senior official briefing reporters Thursday said.

Taking the steps is sending a clear message to Russia that we will continue to be focused on forcing them into two costly options. And attempts to expand beyond them will face a decisive and unified response, the official added, as the US and its allies have determined that the price cap is unequivocally diverting Russias money that could be spent on tanks, armored vehicles, and other equipment for use on the battlefield.

The new sanctions, part of a series of actions announced Thursday, would primarily target the illicit fleet of ships the Kremlin has built up in the last year for the purpose of transporting its oil and oil products and selling them above price limits put in place by the West.

The Biden administration is looking to make sure that their (Russias) costs go up significantly in this next phase, the official briefing reporters said.

Additionally, the senior official briefing reporters said, the G7 price cap coalition is reiterating in a new joint statement the risk of violating price cap rules.

A senior administration official told CNN the policy process has been underway for several months.

In December 2022, the United States, G7 allies and Australia banned the purchase of Russian oil above the price of $60 per barrel if it was shipped, insured or financed by the West. The policys goal was to cut off revenues to Russia  used to fund the countrys invasion of Ukraine  while still keeping enough oil on the market to limit disruptions for global consumers.

But the Kremlin began establishing a workaround by sourcing other means to ship and insure energy and sell it above the cap. In early October, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told reporters that recent market prices for Russian oil suggested there had been a reduction in effectiveness of the price cap.

Yellen is expected to discuss the price cap and its enforcement with her G7 counterparts in Marrakech this week, where the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are holding their annual meetings.

Speaking from Marrakech, Yellen said the policy had significantly reduced Russian revenue, while also acknowledging Russia was spending huge amounts on its alternative ecosystem to export energy products.

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(Bloomberg) -- The US imposed the first sanctions for violations of the price cap on Russian oil introduced by the Group of Seven nearly a year ago, as signs mount the restriction is failing to cut Kremlin revenues as hoped.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Treasury Department called the steps a new phase in the enforcement of a policy aimed at limit the flow of money to Russia to fund its war in Ukraine. It announced sanctions on two firms and blocked two vessels it said had violated the cap.

That measure was aimed at keeping Russian oil flowing to the world market to ensure prices didnt spike but choking off the Kremlins financial gains. To do that, the cap bans companies from providing services like shipping and insurance to any cargoes priced above the $60/barrel limit.

Russia has managed to accumulate a fleet of its own, however, and shifted export flows to countries like India, which didnt join the price cap. In recent months, the price of Russian sales has reached $80 or more and even US officials began to publicly admit the limit was losing effectiveness.

We remain committed to implementing a price cap policy that has two goals: reducing the oil profits upon which Russia relies to wage its unjust war against Ukraine and keeping global energy markets stable and well-supplied despite turbulence caused by Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned United Arab Emirates-based Lumber Marine SA, the registered owner of SCF Primorye, and Ice Pearl Navigation Corp, the registered owner of the Yasa Golden Bosphorus.

Read More: Russian Oil Revenue Rises to 14-Month High on Prices and Exports

The Primorye is accused of carrying Novy Port crude priced above $75 per barrel from a port in the Russian Federation after the cap went into effect in December. The Golden Bosphorus carried ESPO crude priced above $80 per barrel after the cap took effect. Both vessels used US-based service providers while transporting the oil, Treasury said in a statement.

The Yasa Golden Bosphorous, is currently in the Atlantic Ocean and signalling that its next destination is Houston, according to vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. It was unclear whether the ship was going to complete that voyage.

Treasury released its new guidance and announced the sanctions just as G-7 finance minsters were meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

A US official indicated there were currently no plans to lower the cap, as some European nations have suggested. The official also acknowledged that the size of the Russian fleet has grown, though the exact size could not be determined.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last month said the effectiveness of the cap in reducing Russian revenue had waned over time as Moscow had found ways to evade its reach and break its rules.

A key metric of the caps impact is the discount of Russias Urals grade crude oil to Brent, a global benchmark. For many months that discount exceeded $30, but has recently fallen to about $10.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters on Thursday that loopholes had emerged in the cap that the Group of Seven nations needed to address.

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The U.S. is working quickly to provide Israel with the capabilities it needs to defend itself and bolster its security after an unprecedented attack from the Palestinian militant group Hamas over the weekend, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis.

At the top of the list for Israel is air defense munitions for its Iron Dome missile defense system, which consists of advanced radar and tracking technology and a group of batteries that fire projectiles to take out incoming rockets.

The Pentagon is rapidly sending those air defense munitions to Israel, using available money and resources for the aid.

President Biden said the U.S. is going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens.

In this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel, Biden said in an address this week. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said additional, emergency munitions began arriving on Tuesday, just four days after Hamas launched its attack on Israel.

The Biden administration is also helping in another way: deterring nations and militant groups hostile to Israel from intervening in the war with Hamas.

This week, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, boasting eight squadrons of aircraft, a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser and four Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers.

That may help to prevent the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah from intervening, as fighters have traded fire with Israeli soldiers in northern Israel this week.

Gen. Charles Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday at a defense meeting for Ukraine in Brussels, Belgium, the U.S. presence was a strong show of support for Israel that will deter future action.

The joint force continues to work with our Israeli defense force counterparts at multiple levels to ensure they have the means and capabilities to defend themselves and deter future aggression, he said.

The U.S. is also providing intelligence to Israel through a few special forces teams in the country. They are not, at this time, assisting with the recovery of the roughly 150 hostages taken by Hamas.

Early Saturday morning, Hamas invaded southern Israel in a surprise attack, breaching the border with bulldozers and paragliders before they killed Israeli civilians and soldiers.

In response, Israel declared war. As of Thursday, it has mostly reclaimed its territory in the south and is conducting massive air strikes on Gaza, the coastal enclave run by Hamas.

But Israel is preparing for a long war and may have to launch a ground offensive in Gaza to clear out Hamas. It could prove complicated, as Palestinian militants work from an underground network of tunnels.

The U.S. provides about $3 billion to Israel every year, but Congress may need to provide an emergency aid package to bolster Israeli capabilities. Biden has hinted he will ask lawmakers for help.

When Congress returns, were going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners, the president said in his address.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States must prepare for possible simultaneous wars with Russia and China by expanding its conventional forces, strengthening alliances and enhancing its nuclear weapons modernization program, a congressionally appointed bipartisan panel said on Thursday.

The report from the Strategic Posture Commission comes amid tensions with China over Taiwan and other issues and worsening frictions with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

A senior official involved in the report declined to say if the panel's intelligence briefings showed any Chinese and Russian nuclear weapons cooperation.

"We worry ... there may be ultimate coordination between them in some way, which gets us to this two-war construct," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The findings would upend current U.S. national security strategy calling for winning one conflict while deterring another and require huge defense spending increases with uncertain congressional support.

"We do recognize budget realities, but we also believe the nation must make these investments," the Democratic chair, Madelyn Creedon, a former deputy head of the agency that oversees U.S. nuclear weapons, and the vice chair, Jon Kyl, a retired Republican senator, said in the report's preface.

Addressing a briefing held to release the report, Kyl said the president and Congress must "take the case to the American people" that higher defense spending is a small price to pay "to hopefully preclude" a possible nuclear war involving the United States, China and Russia.

The report contrasts with U.S. President Joe Biden's position that the current U.S. nuclear arsenal is sufficient to deter the combined forces of Russia and China.

The arsenal's makeup "still exceeds what is necessary to hold a sufficient number of adversary targets at risk so as to deter enemy nuclear attack," the Arms Control Association advocacy group said in response to the report.

"The United States and its allies must be ready to deter and defeat both adversaries simultaneously," the Strategic Posture Commission said. "The U.S.-led international order and the values it upholds are at risk from the Chinese and Russian authoritarian regimes."

Congress in 2022 created the panel of six Democrats and six Republicans to assess long-term threats to the United States and recommend changes in U.S. conventional and nuclear forces.

The panel accepted a Pentagon forecast that China's rapid nuclear arsenal expansion likely will give it 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, confronting the United States with a second major nuclear-armed rival for the first time.

The Chinese and Russian threats will become acute in the 2027-2035 timeframe so "decisions need to be made now in order for the nation to be prepared," said the 145-page report.

The report said the 30-year U.S. nuclear arms modernization program, which began in 2010 and was estimated in 2017 to cost around $400 billion by 2046, must be fully funded to upgrade all warheads, delivery systems and infrastructure on schedule.

Other recommendations included deploying more tactical nuclear weapons in Asia and Europe, developing plans to deploy some or all reserve U.S. nuclear warheads, and production of more B-21 stealth bombers and new Columbia-class nuclear submarines beyond the numbers now planned.

The panel also called for boosting the "size, type, and posture" of U.S. and allied conventional forces. If such measures are not taken, the United States "will likely" have to increase its reliance on nuclear weapons, the report said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
A White House national security adviser said Thursday that the U.S. is not contemplating putting troops on the ground to assist with hostage recovery efforts following terrorist attacks in Israel.

Jon Finer, President Bidens deputy national security adviser, said on MSNBCs Morning Joe that efforts to recover Americans who were taken hostage by Hamas following the terrorist attacks over the weekend are going to be difficult, in part, logistically because of the environment in Gaza.

There is an Intelligence challenge: How do you actually find these people, and then once you do find them, if you do find them, how do you actually locate them, either negotiate their release or try operationally to remove them, Finer said.

But what I can say is at this point, we are not contemplating U.S. boots on the ground involved in that mission, Finer said. What we have done is sent experts from across our government to the region to consult and advise with their Israeli counterparts to make sure they find the best way to go about getting these people home.

Biden administration officials have said that Americans are among those who have been taken hostage by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza and launched terrorist attacks against Israel on Saturday.

U.S. officials have provided scant details about the number of Americans being held, or their location and conditions, but have acknowledged they believe the number of hostages to be less than a handful.

Folks, theres a lot were doing. A lot were doing, Biden said Wednesday in remarks to Jewish leaders. I have not given up hope on bringing these folks home. But the idea that Im going to stand here before you and tell you what Im doing is bizarre.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The US and Qatar have agreed to stop Iran from accessing a controversial $6bn account for humanitarian aid in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel.

The move was made amid questions about what role Tehran may have played in supporting the bloody surprise Hamas attack from Gaza, reported The Washington Post and New York Times.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo informed House Democrats about the agreement to block access to the account on Thursday, sources told the Post.

The money, which comes from unfrozen Iranian oil sales, was only made available to the country several weeks ago as part of a prisoner swap deal with the US.

Mr Adeyemo told Democrats that the money isnt going anywhere, three House Democratic aides told the newspaper.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv on Thursday that the US had the right to freeze the account, while not confirming that it would.

The money that Iran accrued in bank accounts in this case in South Korea, and the sale of its oil was done pursuant to an arrangement established by the previous administration, the Trump administration. None of the funds that have now gone to Qatar have actually been spent or accessed in any way by Iran, said Mr Blinken.

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. (AP)

Indeed, funds from that account are overseen by the Treasury Department and can only be dispensed for humanitarian goods, food, medicine, medical equipment, and never touch Iranian hands, he added. We have strict oversight of the funds, and we retain the right to freeze them.

The US State Department has said it has seen no evidence directly tying Iran to the unprecedented Hamas attack in which at least 1,200 people were killed and 2,900 injured.

Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel and around 1,000 fighters entered Israel, where they took more than 100 civilians and soldiers captive.

Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP)

More than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza from Israeli air strikes that have followed last Saturdays attack with around 6,000 bombs dropped on the territory.

Irans mission to the United Nations warned that the US could not walk back the agreement.

The senators in question and the US government are all acutely aware that they can NOT renege on the agreement. The money rightfully belongs to the people of Iran, earmarked for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to facilitate the acquisition of all essential and non-sanctioned requisites for the Iranians, it stated.

In 2020, the State Department reported that Iran spends around $100m annually supporting Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
The U.S. has a "quiet agreement" with Qatar to block Iran from accessing the $6 billion in humanitarian aid amid Hamas' terror attacks on Israel, sources familiar told Fox News.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo met with House Democrats on Thursday. Sources familiar with the meeting told Fox News that Adeyemo told lawmakers that the U.S. has a quiet agreement with Qatar not to move any of the $6 billion in unfrozen money to Iran for an indefinite period.

A source present in the room told Fox News Digital that Adeyemo told congressional Democrats in that meeting that the U.S. has reached "quiet understanding" with Qatar not to move the $6 billion in funding.

A senior House aide told Fox News that Congress has not received an official notification from the State Department or the Biden administration freezing the funding. The aide said it was not mentioned in the briefing on the matter earlier Thursday.

President Biden delivers remarks on the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

REPUBLICANS, SOME DEM HOUSE LAWMAKERS URGE BIDEN TO REFREEZE $6B IN IRANIAN ASSETS AMID HAMAS ATTACKS

In September, the Biden administration made a deal with Iran to swap prisoners and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

As part of the deal, Iran released five American citizens detained in Iran and the U.S. released five Iranian citizens being held in the U.S. The deal also created a blanket waiver to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar without fear of violating U.S. sanctions. Administration officials say the funds can only be used for "humanitarian needs like food and medicine."

The unfreezing of the money took place nearly a month before Hamas terrorists launched a massive, deadly attack on Israel over the weekend.

President Biden speaks during a roundtable discussion with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

DEMOCRATS JOIN REPUBLICAN PUSH FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO REFREEZE $6B IRANIAN ASSETS

At least 27 Americans have been killed in the terror attacks. An unknown number of Americans are being held hostage by Hamas, U.S. officials say.

Iran is a known backer of Hamas and praised the attacks on Israel. The State Department has stated in the past that Iran provides some $100 million a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have been urging President Biden to refreeze the assets  something Secretary of State Antony Blinken has repeatedly said the Biden administration has the ability to do.

BIDEN ADMIN 'UNEQUIVOCALLY' CONDEMNS TERROR GROUP HAMAS, SAYS US 'STANDS WITH ISRAEL'

"We retain the right to freeze them," Blinken said during a press conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

U.S. officials have stressed that none of the funds have been accessed by Iran.

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, John Kirby, said Thursday that the $6 billion is "still sitting in the Qatari bank, all of it. Every, every dime of it."

When pressed on the "agreement" to withhold the money, Kirby stressed again that "none of that money has been spent," but provided "no updates."

"I'm not going to talk about diplomatic conversations one way or another. And what I can tell you is that every single dime of that money is still sitting in a country bank. Not one of it, not one dime of it has been spent," he said. "The regime was never going to see a dime of that money. And this account, although it's moved from South Korea to Qatar, was set up by the previous administration for this exact purpose. In fact, I think it was back in 2018, the former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, actually talked in quite some detail about how this money and these accounts could only be used for humanitarian purposes, and that there was going to be oversight."

"We've done nothing different," he continued. "Even if they had access to it, it wouldn't go to the regime. It would go to approved vendors that we approved to go buy food, medicine and medical equipment, agricultural products, and ship it into Iran directly to the benefit of the Iranian people."

Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., introduced legislation that would freeze the $6 billion account. The bill is the House companion bill to legislation introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in the Senate. The legislation also prohibits the administration from further lifting sanctions or providing additional relief for Iran.





Original article source: US, Qatar have quiet agreement to block Iran from accessing $6B in funds amid Hamas' terror attacks on Israel
Gaza and Jerusalem (CNN)  Gazas humanitarian crisis deepened Thursday, with warnings that the population is at risk of starvation and fuel could run out within hours, as Israel continues airstrikes and withholds essential supplies from the enclave in response to Hamas brutal terror attacks.

The decades old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has entered uncharted territory this week as Israeli declared a complete seige on Gaza. Bombardment by Israeli war planes have reduced entire streets to rubble and killed over 1,500 people in the isolated and densely-inhabited area, including 500 children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israels stepped-up offensive in Gaza follows a bloody surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, which saw armed militants pour over the heavily-fortified border into Israel. The groups gunmen killed more than 1,200 people, wounding thousands more in a coordinated rampage through farms and communities, and taking civilian and military captives. Some 150 hostages are thought to be currently held by Hamas in Gaza.

The atrocities committed by Hamas have sparked international revulsion and vows by Israels government to destroy the group, which controls Gaza and has continued to fire rockets at Israeli towns over the last five days.

In a press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas should be crushed and spat out from the community of nations.

Blinken vowed US support for Israel and likened Hamas crimes to ISIS. At least 25 Americans have been killed in Israel, he said.

He said he discussed with Israeli officials ways to address humanitarian needs in Gaza while Israel conducts its legitimate security operations.

A severe humanitarian crisis

More than 2 million Palestinians  including over a million children  live in the Gaza Strip, an area that has been under a land, sea and air blockade enforced by Israel since 2007.

Children make up between 30 and 40% of the wounded in recent Israeli air strikes on Gaza, British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah told CNN on Thursday.

Speaking to CNNs Christiane Amanpour from Al Awda Hospital in Gaza, Abu-Sittah said that the overwhelming majority of the wounded are coming from the rubble of their own home.

There are body parts scattered everywhere. There are still people missing, one man in the northern neighborhood of Al-Karama said. Were still looking for our brothers, our children. Its like were stuck living in a nightmare.

Among the dead are at least 12 United Nations employees, the UN said on Thursday. All of the aid workers who died were Palestinian, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric added.

Israel says its strikes are intended to target Hamas-associated locations.

Israel has also ordered a complete siege on the enclave, including halting supplies of electricity, food, water and fuel. Israels Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that supplies would remain cut off until hostages being held by Hamas are freed.

No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals, Katz said on social media.

The European Union and the United Nations have strongly criticized the tactic, with the UN warning that withholding essential supplies will precipitate a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where its population is now at inescapable risk of starvation.

Food and water are quickly running out, the deputy head of emergencies of the UN World Food Programme, Brian Lander, said Thursday.

More 338,000 people are have been displaced in Gaza, according to a statement by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday. The figure represents a increase of 30% since Wednesday.

Gazas only power station stopped working on Wednesday after running out of fuel, the head of the Gaza power authority Galal Ismail told CNN.

Hospitals are expected to run out of fuel on Thursday, leading to catastrophic conditions, the Palestinian Health Ministry warned.

A surge in injured people seeking treatment has pushed Gazas health infrastructure close to breaking point, according to Ashraf Al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Even after expansion, all beds are occupied, leaving no room for new patients in critical condition, he said on Thursday.

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Thursday that hospitals in the enclave risk turning into morgues following Israels siege.

Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila has called for urgent international assistance to help set up field hospitals in the Gaza Strip and to provide medicines and medical supplies.

We are extremely worried that what is happening now is totally unprecedented, Najla Shawa, an Oxfam worker in Gaza, told CNN. We are talking about entire areas, not just one area. Entire areas are being wiped and destroyed.

Possible escalations

On Thursday, the IDF said it was continuing large scale strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza strip, as speculation of a possible ground incursion into Gaza grows.

Some 300,000 reservists have also been moved near the Gaza border, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a huge mobilization given the countrys 9 million population.

They are now close to the Gaza Strip, getting ready to execute the mission that they have been given, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said Wednesday said.

Israels government also said it was preparing its hospitals and healthcare system for possible escalations in the security situation, its health ministry said.

Hamas attack has also sparked some political unity in Israel after months of domestic friction with Netanyahu and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz jointly announcing an emergency government and war management cabinet on Wednesday.

Gantz, a former defense minister, will join Netanyahu and current defense minister Yoav Gallant in a wartime cabinet.

There is time for war and time for peace. This, now, is the time for war, Gantz said during a televised address.

A diplomatic push is being made to try and bring about some sort of mediation.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel on Friday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to a senior defense official.

Blinken will also visit Egypt as part of his trip, and will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan on Friday.

Calls for a humanitarian corridor

Talks are currently underway to allow US citizens and Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip to exit the territory into Egypt ahead of any land invasion of the territory by Israeli forces, a senior Israeli official told CNN on Wednesday.

The official with knowledge of the negotiations said that under the proposal being discussed, all US citizens would be permitted to pass through the Rafah border crossing if they present their US passports, while the movement of other Palestinian civilians would be limited to 2,000 people a day.

A US official said on Wednesday that Cairo wants to use a humanitarian corridor to send food and medical supplies into Gaza, but does not to open the border in the other direction for civilians who are fleeing.

With the current Israeli blockade on Gaza, the only route through which people or aid can pass in and out of the strip is the Rafah Crossing, which links Gaza and Egypt, and has been damaged in Israeli airstrikes.

Horror stories

Horrifying details on the scale and nature of Hamas attacks have emerged each day, as well as tales of survival and bravery amidst the carnage. On Thursday, Netanyahus office released photos of babies murdered and burned by Hamas.

Tom Hand, a resident of the Beeri, a kibbutz where Hamas gunmen left at least 120 dead, learned his daughter Emily, 8, was among those killed in Saturdays onslaught.

I knew she wasnt alone, she wasnt in Gaza, she wasnt in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people, pushed around terrified every minute of every day, possibly for years to come. So death was a blessing, he told CNN, his voice broken, tears streaming down his tired, ashen face.

The fact that Hamas has taken an unprecedented number of hostages now complicates Israels response.

On Wednesday, International IDF spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, told CNN that Israeli authorities believe the hostages are being held underground.

Reason dictates that they are underground, he said. Reason dictates that they planned in advance locations to hide these hostages and keep them safe from Israeli intelligence, and efforts to get them out.

He said even though Israel has had some experience with hostage situations they have never dealt with anything like this.

Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas official, told CNN on Wednesday that its too early to exchange Israeli hostages.

There were many calls made by Arab and non-Arab states to Hamas leadership abroad asking about the possibility of exchanging Israeli captives with Hamas prisoners, al-Risheq said from Doha, Qatar.

But we told everybody that its now too early to discuss it while Israel continues to pound Gaza and kill Palestinian civilians indiscriminately.
The United States and Qatar have reached a quiet understanding not to allow Iran to access any of the $6 billion in Iranian funds that were transferred to Qatari accounts last month as part of a deal to free Americans detained in Iran for the time being, following Hamas bloody attack on Israel on Saturday, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats Thursday, according to a source in the room.

Adeyemo conveyed to lawmakers in that meeting that those funds would not be touched anytime soon, according to another congressional source.

The funds were moved to Qatari accounts as part of a broad deal to secure the release of five Americans whom the US deemed had been wrongfully detained in Iran. There were bipartisan calls to freeze the funds in the wake of the deadly Hamas attacks in Israel this weekend.

Administration officials have said there is no direct evidence of Iran having a direct link to the attack but that Tehran is broadly complicit given their historic support for the terrorist group.

Still, the quiet understanding not to move the money right now appears to be largely symbolic, given the strict restrictions that were already tied to the funds.

None of the funds have been spent or accessed in any way by Iran, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference Thursday in Tel Aviv.

Blinken did not confirm that a quiet understanding had been reached but made clear the US is able to freeze the funds.

We have strict oversight of the funds, and we retain the right to freeze them, Blinken said.

John Kirby, a National Security Council spokesman, declined to elaborate on any new agreement on the funds.

Its still sitting in the Qatari bank, all of it. Every dime of it, he told reporters at the White House on Thursday. None of that money has been spent and I have no updates to provide.

Iran was only going to be permitted to use the money for specific humanitarian trade transactions, and the approval of those transactions would be heavily scrutinized by the US government. The process for Iran to be able to spend the funds was expected to take months, if not years.

Given the due diligence involved and the complexity of what have to be specific humanitarian transactions through this channel, it will take many months for Iran to spend down this money, a senior State Department official told CNN on Saturday. 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. Period.

It is not easy to get the funds anyway, it is long process, another source familiar with the discussions said.

CNN reported on Wednesday that the US has collected specific intelligence that suggests senior Iranian government officials were caught by surprise by Saturdays attack, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence.

The existence of the intelligence has cast doubt on the idea that Iran was directly involved in the planning, resourcing or approving of the operation, sources said.

The sources stressed that the US intelligence community is not ready to reach a full conclusion about whether Tehran was directly involved in the run-up to the attack. They continue to look for evidence of Iranian involvement, which caught both Israel and the United States by surprise.

On Wednesday, National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby told CNNs Jim Sciutto on Max that the US has no intelligence to suggest Iran was pre-aware or were involved in any of the planning, resourcing or even directing of the operation.

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The U.S. raised its travel advisory on Israel to its second-highest level early Thursday, warning Americans that they should "reconsider" plans to visit.

The adjustment comes as the Israeli military responds to an unprecedented assault by Hamas terrorists on Saturday, which killed at least 1,200 people in Israel, including at least 25 Americans. The level 3 travel advisory is in place for all of Israel, though the city of Gaza remains a Level 4, or "do not travel" zone.

"Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza," the State Department wrote in its advisory. "Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities."

"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 warning continued.

LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS

The State Department further recommended that Americans traveling to Israel familiarize themselves with the nearest bomb shelter wherever they are visiting.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Israel officially declared war against Hamas on Sunday, and the country has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the border around Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that a ground invasion of Gaza may be imminent.

AT LEAST 40 BABIES, SOME BEHEADED, FOUND BY ISRAEL SOLDIERS IN HAMAS-ATTACKED VILLAGE

While Gaza lies in the south of Israel, the country is also facing aggression from the north. The Hezbollah terrorist group, which like Hamas has ties to Iran, fired rockets into Israel.

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Oct. 11, 2023. Israel declared war on Hamas on Oct. 8 following a shock land, air and sea assault by the Gaza-based Islamists.

US AMMO ARRIVES IN ISRAEL AHEAD OF EXPECTED GROUND OPERATION IN GAZA

The U.S. has vowed full support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict. President Biden has ordered two U.S. aircraft carriers to deploy to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. He has also issued a global warning against joining the war against Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that a ground invasion of Gaza may be imminent.

"The arrival of the world's largest aircraft carrier  the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group  in the Eastern Mediterranean yesterday sends a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to escalate or widen this war," the White House said in a Wednesday statement.





Original article source: US raises travel advisory on Israel to second-highest level
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against two companies and two of their tankers for transporting Russian crude oil at a price higher than the $60-per-barrell cap, the department announced on Oct. 12.

The restrictions apply to the United Arab Emirates-based Lumber Marine SA and its vessel SCF Primorye, which reportedly carried Russian crude priced over $75 per barrel.

They also targeted Turkey-based Ice Pearl Navigation Corp and its YasaGolden Bosphorus tanker, reportedly transporting Russian oil at a price over $80 per barrel.

This is the first case of Washington applying sanctions against an entity over the violation of the price cap imposed by the U.S., the EU, the Group of Seven (G7), and Australia in December 2022.

The measure was designed to ensure that sufficient supplies of crude oil continue to flow to global markets while at the same time limiting Russia's revenue.

As most providers that offer maritime shipping insurance and other crucial services are based in the countries of the so-called Price Cap Coalition, this gives the West and its allies leverage to enforce the measure.

Read also: That diamond ring? It may have helped pay for Russias war

According to the department's press release, the two sanctioned vessels were using providers based in the coalition countries.

"Today's action demonstrates our continued commitment to reduce Russia's resources for its war against Ukraine and to enforce the price cap," said Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo.

"We remain committed to implementing a price cap policy that has two goals: reducing the oil profits upon which Russia relies to wage its unjust war against Ukraine and keeping global energy markets stable and well-supplied despite turbulence caused by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine."

Russia has been successful at bypassing the price cap by building up a so-called "dark fleet" of oil tankers operating without Western insurance or other services.

According to the Financial Times, almost three-quarters of Russian seaborne crude traveled without Western insurance in August.

In combination with a steady rise in crude prices, almost up to $100 per barrel, Moscow's oil sales profits are continuing to grow.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The administration of the President of the United States sees no signs of Russian involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel.

Source: John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the US National Security Council, said this in an interview with Voice of America, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kirby said that as in the case with Iran, they see no indication that Russia was in any way directly involved in these attacks.

The White House spokesman reiterated the US position that Iran was somehow involved in Hamas' attack on Israel, pointing out that Tehran has been supporting the terrorist group for many years now.

Kirby said that no one disputes the fact that Hamas could not function if not for the assistance they receive from Iran.

US and Israeli officials claim that they see no direct evidence that Iran was directly involved in these attacks. However, they will continue to study, monitor the intelligence picture and evidence, and see where it leads.

US officials have said publicly in the past few days that they do not have evidence of Iran's direct involvement in the attack, but condemn Tehran as "complicit" in the aggression because of past support for Hamas.

Earlier, it was reported that the United States had received specific intelligence data that cast doubt on Iran's direct involvement in the planning, financing or approval of an attack on Israel by the Hamas terrorist group.

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By Humeyra Pamuk and Daphne Psaledakis

TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States said on Thursday that Iran would not gain access any time soon to $6 billion in Iranian funds parked in a Qatar bank last month as part of a prisoner exchange and that Washington retained the right to completely freeze the account.

The question of Iranian access to the funds has been in the spotlight since Iran-backed Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel on Saturday, killing more than 1,300 people and taking scores of hostages back to the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

"Iran will not be able to access the funds for the foreseeable future," a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken , speaking at a news conference in Tel Aviv, said that Iran had neither accessed nor spent any of the $6 billion, adding: "We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them."

Blinken said the U.S. Treasury oversees any disbursement to ensure it is used only for humanitarian purposes.

Several U.S. media outlets reported on Thursday that the United States and Qatar had agreed to stop Iran from accessing the money.

Iran has made no secret of its backing for Hamas, funding and arming the group, but Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Tehran was not involved in the Hamas attack on Israel.

Iran's U.N. mission said the U.S. government was "acutely aware that they cannot renege" on the deal reached over the money, which was transferred to Qatar from an account in South Korea to make it accessible for Iranian humanitarian needs.

The Iranian oil revenues had been frozen in Seoul after Washington, under former President Donald Trump, placed a total ban on Iran's oil exports and sanctioned its banks in 2019.

"The money rightfully belongs to the people of Iran, earmarked for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to facilitate the acquisition of all essential and non-sanctioned requisites for the Iranians," said Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York.

It did not respond to a request for comment on whether Iran had yet tried to access the funds.

Qatar's International Media Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Treasury Department declined to comment.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby declined to speak about diplomatic conversations or "speculate ... about future transactions."

He said the money was intended to be disbursed "to approved vendors - that we approved - to go buy food, medicine and medical equipment, agricultural products, and ship it into Iran directly to the benefit of the Iranian people."

"Every single dime of that money is still sitting in the Qatari bank," Kirby told reporters, adding: "The regime was never going to see a dime of that money."

(Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi, Andrew Mills and Michelle Nichols; Writing by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Howard Goller)
The State Department increased its travel advisory for Israel on Wednesday, urging Americans to reconsider travel to the country as its war with Hamas in Gaza intensifies.

Hamas militants launched a wide-scale attack on Israel on Saturday. Military actions between the nation and the militant group have continued since then, leaving more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 1,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Israeli media and the Palestinian government.

Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, the State Department said in the advisory. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.

The reconsider travel advisory also applies to the West Bank, whereas Gaza is under do not travel recommendation. The escalating violence in Israel means that U.S. government employees are no longer allowed personal travel in the country, according to the advisory.

In recent days, Israel has begun a campaign of airstrikes in Gaza, leveling entire neighborhoods. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the wars objective is to completely eliminate Hamas.

We will wipe this thing called Hamas, ISIS-Gaza, off the face of the earth, he said in a statement Wednesday, Reuters reported. It will cease to exist.

Hamas, the militant group that has controlled Gaza since 2007, is not affiliated with ISIS.

The U.S. and its Western allies have backed Israel since the conflict began Saturday. President Biden said Israel has a right to defend itself and will have U.S. support during a Tuesday address.

In this moment we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel, Biden said in remarks from the State Dining Room. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
People walk next to a sign directing for Shelter after landing in Israel at the arrivals section of Ben Gurion International airport in Lod near Tel Aviv

People walk next to a sign directing for Shelter after landing in Israel at the arrivals section of Ben Gurion International airport in Lod near Tel Aviv

By David Shepardson and Steven Scheer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department will begin offering charter flights to Europe to help Americans leave Israel if they want starting Friday, the White House said, after extensive talks with U.S. airlines and pressure from Congress.

Reuters reported details of the plan earlier.

The U.S. government will provide charter flights to cities in Europe, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday. "We know there is a demand signal out there."

Expected routes include Tel Aviv to Athens, Reuters reported. It is unclear how long the offer will last but it might just a few days, airline officials said.

A State Department email seen by Reuters said it plans to offer transit options beginning on Friday "but it will take some period of time to schedule everyone seeking to depart."

" If you choose to take this departure assistance, transportation will be by air to Athens or Frankfurt, or sea from Haifa to Cyprus," it added.

Senate Majority Chuck Schumer praised the announcement but said "these transports must be increased as needed to ensure Americans in Israel who want to can return to the United States."

On Wednesday, United Airlines it would add two flights between Newark, New Jersey, and Athens in the coming days to help Americans trying to return home from Israel. The company said on Thursday it would add a third roundtrip. Delta Air Lines also said it would add flights to Athens in the coming days.

The email seen by Reuters said "Americans will be asked to sign an agreement to repay the U.S. government prior to departure and should be prepared to arrange your own lodging and onward travel from Greece, Germany or Cyprus to your final destination."

United, American Airlines

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma held discussions with U.S. airlines this week about the issue, sources told Reuters, adding he told them the U.S. government had received roughly 17,000 inquiries about travel assistance leaving Israel.

Earlier this week, nearly 150 lawmakers led by U.S. Representatives Grace Meng and Nicole Malliotakis sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the department "to use all tools at its disposal help get Americans out of Israel and back home to the United States."

(Reporting by David Shepardson and Steven Scheer; additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Richard Chang and Nick Zieminski)
Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe and Republican Celeste Maloy are facing off in the special election to fill Utahs 2nd Congressional District seat. | Spenser Heaps, Ryan Sun, Deseret News

With just over a month until the special general election to replace former Rep. Chris Stewart in Utahs 2nd Congressional District, a new poll shows how the vote is shaping up.

On Wednesday, the Utah Debate Commission said that only those candidates who received over 10% support in its poll are eligible to participate in the special election debate on Oct. 26 in the PBS Utah studio.

The debate will be moderated by Mary Weaver, director of the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics and Public Service at Southern Utah University.

The poll, conducted by Lighthouse Research, surveyed 528 registered voters from the 2nd Congressional District from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.26 percentage points, which allows candidates polling 5.74% or higher to qualify for the debate.

Who is participating in 2nd District debate?

Republican candidate Celeste Maloy, who served as counsel for former Rep. Chris Stewart for four years, garnered 42.8% of the support. She won the Republican special primary election on Sept. 6.

Related

Utah state Sen. Kathleen Riebe, who represents Utahs 15th District and earned the Utah Democratic Partys nomination for the special election, came in second with 34.28%.

Who did not qualify for the debate?

Brad Green, a Libertarian businessman, earned 5.68% support, just barely under the threshold.

Meanwhile, the candidates who didnt qualify include the unaffiliated Joe Buchman, who has run unsuccessfully in a few races, as well as January Walker, the United Utah Party candidate. Both of them earned less than 3% in the poll.

Enoch resident Cassie Easley from the Constitution Party and Perry Myers, the CEO of Belle Medical, a beauty spa in St. George, earned less than 2% support.

Nearly 9.28% of voters said they were undecided.

How does the Utah Debate Commission determine who is eligible to debate?

The debate commission uses polling as a qualifying limit to allow for meaningful discussion within the time constraints set by a televised broadcast, it said in a press release.

The Commission on Presidential Debates set the precedent for using poll results as a participation metric, but it uses 15%, a threshold 5 points higher than UDCs.

The Utah Debate Commission did not hold a primary debate for this special election. Commission board co-chairman Wayne Niederhauser told KSL News in July that the commission didnt have enough time to prepare, plus the costs were high.

Resources are always a factor like any nonprofit organization, said Niederhauser. We not only have to plan for the special election but also for an election year in 2024.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes released a statement Wednesday addressing references to him in a recently filed lawsuit against Tim Ballard , the founder and former CEO of the anti-child trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad.

Reyes denies having any prior knowledge of Ballards alleged misconduct or any role in shutting down the Davis County Attorneys investigation  or any other investigation  into the organization, according to the statement published on the Utah attorney generals website.

The Utah Attorney Generals Office is fully committed to fight crime, protect the public, act with integrity, and see that justice is done. It is important that recent allegations not detract from the urgency to fight the very real crime of human trafficking in our state and in the world, the statement says.

A lawsuit filed Monday and another filed Tuesday by different unnamed plaintiffs who claim to be former employees of OUR accuse Ballard of sexual assault, fraud and emotional abuse. Other defendants listed include board members of Operation Underground Railroad, the organization itself, and several other corporate entities tied to Ballard, including the Spear Fund.

Reyes was not named as a defendant in either lawsuit.

Reyes, however, is mentioned in the court filings as One of Ballards closest friends who has repeatedly vouched for OUR and Tim Ballard, even participating in an alleged OP in Colombia.

The Deseret News reported that Reyes had joined Ballard on an undercover sting operation in Columbia in 2014. But Reyes denies being aware of the alleged misconduct against Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad, and condemns the behavior if true.

If the allegations are true, and had he known of such alleged behavior, he would not have allowed use of his name and would have strongly condemned such actions, the statement said of Reyes.

Related

One of the lawsuits alleges Ballard intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, committed battery and sexual assault of Plaintiffs, as all sexual touching was done under the Couples Ruse in order to help save trafficked children and women.

The couples ruse came to public light through media reports alleging misdeeds by Ballard and OUR. As alleged in both of the lawsuits, Ballard claims that the couples ruse was an undercover tool to prevent detection by pedophiles when Ballard would not engage in sexual touching of the trafficked women offered up to him in strip clubs and massage parlors across the world.

But those bringing the lawsuits allege that Ballard soon began abusing the couples ruse and eventually used the ruse as a tool for sexual grooming, both lawsuits state. The documents outline alleged grooming tactics, and claim Ballard manipulated women to coerce them into sexual contact.

The statement from the attorney generals office says Reyes had never heard of any alleged sexual conduct as addressed in the Complaint, including what has been described in detail as the Couples Ruse, and that Reyes had only ever observed conduct that was positive, productive and legal in his interactions with OUR and Mr. Ballard.

The statement adds that Reyes was aware that on operations there were sometimes operators posing as couples and that arrangement, itself, was a deception or ruse, but he never had any direct or indirect knowledge of the sexual actions alleged in the Complaint.

In the statement, Reyes strongly disputes the claim found in the lawsuit that consumer complaints and criminal investigations were pouring into his office regarding the improprieties of OUR and Ballard.

None of the senior leadership in the (Utah Attorney Generals Office) could recall a single request for investigation, consumer complaint, or any substantive complaint at all until the Vice story broke in September, the statement reads. The (Utah Attorney Generals Office) is reviewing documents internally to see if there was ever any complaint made to any part of the office.

Related

In 2020, as part of its now-closed investigation into Ballard and OUR the Davis County Attorneys Office did reach out to the Utah Attorney Generals Office, the statement confirms. Documents related to funds given by OUR to the Davis County Internet Crimes Against Children agency were given in response to the request.

However, the statement from Reyes office claims a screen has been in place since December 2020, a few months after investigations were opened into Ballard and OUR, to prevent Reyes from making decisions on behalf of cases pertaining to Davis County, Tim Ballard or OUR out of an abundance of caution.

The Deseret News reported in May that the Davis County Attorneys Office had closed its investigation of Operation Underground Railroad without pursuing any potential charges related to the organization.

Reyes, or his office, was never the subject of this criminal investigation, the statement clarifies.
SAO PAULO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Shandong province and Brazil's Sao Paulo state have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, the state government said Wednesday.

As part of the deal, Sao Paulo's Deputy Governor Felicio Ramuth on Monday welcomed a Chinese delegation, according to a government release.

The meeting at the government headquarters "aimed to strengthen relations between the province of Shandong and the state of Sao Paulo," said the release.

Sao Paulo today has a bold project of concessions, public-private partnerships and privatizations, said Ramuth.

China has been Brazil's top trade partner since 2009.

Sao Paulo is Brazil's most populous state and one of Latin America's leading financial and industrial centers, contributing one-third of Brazil's gross domestic product. 
First mainland-Taiwan agricultural exchange conference to be held this month

Xinhua) 10:42, October 12, 2023

BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- An inaugural cross-Strait agricultural exchange conference will be held from Oct. 23 to 27 in Zhangping City, east China's Fujian Province, according to a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

The conference aims to boost exchanges and cooperation in agriculture across the Taiwan Strait, exploring new ways for compatriots on both sides to work together to advance rural revitalization, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at the press conference.

The agricultural exchange conference also seeks to facilitate the development of a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Strait, Chen said.

Nearly 260 agricultural sector representatives from both sides of the Strait will be invited to attend the conference, he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
People attend the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Rabbi Chaim Zippel, co-director of Chabad of Utah County, was in Israel for his wifes brothers bar mitzvah last week. Afterward, they stayed in the town of Omer, an urban community in southern Israel not far from Gaza.

Early Saturday morning they were awakened by the sound of red alert sirens warning of rockets heading in the direction of the home we were staying in, he said.

He and his wife Esty and their young son rushed to a bomb shelter.

Being that it was Shabbat and it was a holiday we didnt have our phones or televisions on for updates. So we remained unaware of the gravity of what was unfolding around us despite the sound of booms from all around, he said, speaking at a Stand with Israel rally Wednesday on the south steps of the Utah State Capitol.

At 9 a.m. Saturday they headed toward the synagogue for services, but before they got there, a frantic young Israeli man with one hand on the steering wheel of his car and a gun in the other told them in Hebrew that there was chaos.

He explained that terrorists had infiltrated the border and that they were coming into the villages and killing and kidnapping people so we should not leave our home. As he finished speaking we looked up to see a large black pillar of smoke in front of us and we took off running home for shelter, he said.

They managed to get to the airport in Tel Aviv to arrange a flight home, all while Hamas was firing hundreds of rockets at the airport, he said.

Friends, my message to you this evening is that this is personal, Rabbi Chaim Zippel said.

When I turned on my phone after Shabbat I felt completely gutted. I came across a video from a pro Hamas rally in downtown Salt Lake City in which people were dancing and celebrating the terror in Israel. My neighbors in my home state in Utah were dancing and celebrating the terror that my family was experiencing. They were rejoicing over the hundreds of my brothers and sisters that were murdered, he said.

We need to take this personally. This is not a fight happening to strangers thousands of miles away. This is happening here, too. And we need to use every platform at our disposal to stand with Israel and support our Jewish brothers and sisters, Rabbi Chaim Zippel said.

He addressed a crowd of about 300 people who braved chilly and rainy weather to support Israel and Utahs Jewish communities. The attendees included elected officials, community members and members of several faith communities.

People attend the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who wore a yarmulke, told those assembled that Utah stands with Israel.

Tonight, we gather in solidarity and support for the people of Israel as they defend their right to exist free from those who would destroy them from the face of the Earth. We also gather in support of our Jewish community here in Utah, he said.

Cox said he recently spoke with the Israeli Consul General and told him that Utahns are allies to Israelis. He corrected me. He said, No, were not allies. We are family, and he was right.

The governor said he had the opportunity to travel to Israel about a year ago, during which he visited Israels Holocaust memorial and laid a wreath on behalf of all Utahns to honor those lost and as a symbol of our commitment to never allow it to happen again. And I said a prayer of gratitude that our world has changed so much for the better.

Cox said he was horrified to learn of the depraved terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against innocent women and children and men, the largest massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

As videos and images of the carnage began to circulate, we all saw the unspeakable horrors. Yet, we must speak of them or risk repeating history again. Women murdered and their bodies dragged through the streets. A peaceful celebration gunned down execution style, families kidnapped and tortured. Human beings burned alive. Babies beheaded. Evil exists. Hamas is evil. We must say it and we must defeat it, Cox said.

Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. In light of the brutal terrorist attacks against innocent Jewish men, women and children, Chabad of Utah invited the public to stand with Utahs Jewish community and in support and solidarity of their brothers and sisters in Israel. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Utahn James Weaver, who attended the rally with his wife, Shantaal, and their two young children, said he had the opportunity to spend about four weeks in Israel working with farmers.

In our Western world, we dont understand what it means to be over there, he said.

Instead of police, soldiers serve and protect Israelis out of necessity. They have bomb shelters in their homes. When he traveled, he rode in a bus fortified to withstand bombs, which he later learned was actually a school bus used to ferry children to and from school.

For somebody whos prepared to go through this travesty, we ought to have sympathy beyond what we had in the past, he said.

While some have described the terror attacks as Israels 9/11, Weaver said the stakes are even greater. Hamas fighters attacked Israel for annihilation, he said.

Theyre not after peace. Theyre not after land. Theyre after getting rid of a people as a group. You cant even compare the two. Theyre not on the same level, he said.

Shantaal Weaver said the events are a reminder that we are to love our neighbors, but evil is very real. We dont hate the Palestinians. Our heart hurts for them, too, but the Israeli people are very important to us and very important for our Christian walk as well.

The rally featured prayers and readings from the Torah and the Old Testament.

Utah legislators and the governor stand with Rabbi Benny Zippel, Executive Director of Chabad of Utah, as he speaks at the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Rabbi Benny Zippel, executive director of Chabad of Utah, blessed community member Tzachi Korzbart, who is returning to Israel to re-enlist in the Israeli Defense Force.

The rally was held on the fifth day of fighting following the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas militants on Saturday, which killed an estimated 1,200 people, including at least 22 Americans, among them children and elders. Meanwhile, 150 people are believed to be being held as hostages in Gaza, according to The New York Times.

Related

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, issued the following statement following the death of Lotan Abir, an Israeli who relocated to Utah eight months ago, who was killed by Hamas militants in Israel while attending a rave:

The horrific, inhumane, and depraved terrorist acts perpetrated by Hamas against Israelis have touched everyone around the world. Today, news of the loss of one of our own from Utah further tears at our collective heart. I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lotan Abir  may he rest in peace, Romney wrote.

He continued, I continue to pray for the safe return of hostages, for the Israeli soldiers and first responders in harms way, and for the families of the victims of Hamas brutality. I condemn these unprovoked atrocities in the strongest possible terms and wholeheartedly stand with Israel, with the Jewish people, and our Jewish community in Utah.

Men sing Am Yisrael Chai (May the Jewish Nation Live Long) at the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. In light of the brutal terrorist attacks against innocent Jewish men, women and children, Chabad of Utah invited the public to stand with Utahs Jewish community and in support and solidarity of their brothers and sisters in Israel. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Yotam Svoray of Salt Lake City attends the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. In light of the brutal terrorist attacks against innocent Jewish men, women and children, Chabad of Utah invited the public to stand with Utahs Jewish community and in support and solidarity of their brothers and sisters in Israel. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Flags fly at half-staff during the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Governor Spencer Cox has ordered flags at all state facilities to be lowered to half-staff this week. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

An attendee of the Stand with Israel rally is restrained from a protester at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Utah legislators stand with Rabbi Benny Zippel, Executive Director of Chabad of Utah, as he speaks at the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

A woman attends the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

People attend the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

People attend the Stand with Israel rally at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

The governor asked those attending Wednesdays rally to observe a moment of silence to honor Abir.

Rabbi Avremi Zippel, program director of Chabad of Utah, thanked Cox for ordering the nations and Utahs flags to fly at half-staff after the terrorist attacks, noting this was not the case in many U.S. states.

Zippel displayed photographs of men, women and children killed in the terrorist attacks, one of them a Holocaust survivor.

There will come a day in the not-so-distant future when the world will ask you to forget these names, these faces and these stories. Your being here today promises that these names, these faces and these stories will never never be forgotten, said Rabbi Avremi Zippel.

[
The GOPs search for a new House Speaker has led to mayhem and infighting that has crippled the caucus for weeks now. Despite managing to approve a preliminary nomination of Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise in a two-thirds majority vote on Wednesday, by Thursday afternoon House Republicans were publicly stating the speaker negotiations had descended into utter chaos.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) lost the caucus vote despite having been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and though Jordan offered to personally introduce Scalises nomination to the House floor there are still enough hold outs to put the 217 votes Scalise needs out of reach.

You want to talk about confusing the American people? Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) told CNN on Thursday. They think this whole place is a circus up here and all of a sudden Jim Jordan is nominating Steve Scalise and were voting for Jim Jordan. Thats just utter chaos.

GOP Rep. Troy Nehls on a message to his colleagues: "You want to talk about confusing the American people? They think this whole place is a circus up here and all of a sudden Jim Jordan is nominating Steve Scalise and we're voting for Jim Jordan. That's just utter chaos." pic.twitter.com/FhFsOXMXP7  Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 12, 2023

Upon exiting a closed-door GOP meeting earlier in the day Nehls, who is backing Scalise, quipped to reporters that in the partys current state not even the Lord Jesus himself could get 217 votes. He added that if a Speaker has not been elected by Sunday, he will revive his campaign to have Trump fill the role.

Almost two dozen members of the House GOP have declared they will not vote for Scalise. Among them are Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), and the criminally indicted George Santos (R-N.J.). Additional members have declined to commit to voting for Scalise.

Greene raised concerns about Scalises recent cancer diagnosis as a justification for her no vote. He is battling cancer, Greene told reporters. I have great compassion for him for that. We have a president right now that clearly has dementia. We have Chuck Schumer, who is 80 years old, [and] is the Democrat leader in the Senate. We have Mitch McConnell, who looks like he has mini-strokes on camera, [also] over 80 years in the Senate. We need a strong fighter for the Speaker.

Rep. MTG (R-GA) on her major concerns with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) for Speaker:



He is battling cancerWe have a president right now that clearly has dementiaWe have Mitch McConnell, who looks like he has mini-strokes on cameraWe need a strong fighter for the Speaker. pic.twitter.com/BIAihAjegG  The Recount (@therecount) October 12, 2023

Greene also broke with many Republicans who feel that the internal divisions within the caucus should be squared away behind closed doors before moving a nomination to a floor vote. Lets do this on the House floor instead of behind closed doors. Stop dragging it out. If Kevin McCarthy had to go 15 rounds then the next Speaker should be able to do the same or more if they have to, the Georgia congresswoman wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

To no ones surprise, the chaos agent who kicked off the Republican leadership crisis was fully on board. I agree with MTG, Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has endorsed Scalise, wrote on X. Lets do the messy work of governing and leadership selection in front of the people. Just like I voted against McCarthy time after time  in public  making my argument, others should have to reveal their thinking and be appropriately judged by their voters.

Gaetz led the push to oust McCarthy earlier this month, succeeding in convincing a small gaggle of hard-line Republicans to support a motion to oust McCarthy from the speakership. The vacancy has paralyzed the speakership during a time of both domestic and international crisis. The House barely managed to avoid a government shutdown over the annual appropriations process in September, and the delayed deadline to approve the required funding bills is rapidly approaching. Abroad, a violent attack by Hamas on Saturday has led to the outbreak of war between Israel and the Islamist militant group.

Its a dangerous game that were playing, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told C-SPAN. It just proves our adversaries right that democracy doesnt work. Our adversaries are watching us and Israel is watching. They need our help.

Israel is going to need an aid package, he added. But if we dont have a Speaker we cant assist Israel.

The exasperation is clearly reaching a fever pitch within the party. On Thursday Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) issued a Dear Colleague letter to the members of his caucus with a clear message: Meet later today at Conference, lock the door, and not adjourn until we have selected our new Speaker.

The closed-door vote to nominate Scalise on Wednesday was part of the House GOPs effort to avoid another 15-vote public catastrophe it took to elect McCarthy in January. Its unclear whether another floor vote will be called with so many lawmakers stating on the record that they wont vote for Scalise. What is clear is that despite their best efforts, Republicans cant help but humiliate themselves.

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Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) on Thursday defended his questioning of Biden administration officials at a briefing this week on Israel after other lawmakers criticized him for what they called rude and obnoxious behavior.

I did not use any vulgarity or any profanity, Van Orden said while leaving a GOP conference meeting Thursday, referring to the earlier closed-door briefing. However, I took the Biden administration to task.

The briefers were filling in lawmakers on the Hamas attack on Israel that began Saturday. Van Orden called the briefers incompetent, according to Rep. Judy Chus (D-Calif.) office. He also reportedly told the briefers he knew more about the circumstances after having served two tours of duty in the Middle East.

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips (D) yelled shame on you in response to Van Orden, which resulted in Van Orden dropping an f-bomb against Phillips, according to Politico. Politico was the first outlet to report the incident.

Van Orden acknowledged he was frustrated at the breifing.

We now have Americans held hostage by terrorists in the Middle East, Van Orden said Thursday. At least 25 Americans have been murdered by savages. Theyre killing Jews at a level that they havent done since the Holocaust. And the Biden administration is not acting.

So was I frustrated? Van Orden continued. Absolutely. You know why? Because that could be you. It could be your sister, it could be your brother.

Van Orden has been in hot water for alleged profane behavior before. In July, he reportedly called a group of teenage Senate pages in the Capitol rotunda jackasses and pieces of s, and he told them he didnt give a f who you are.

Who the f are you? Van Orden reportedly asked, to which a person responded that they were Senate pages. I dont give a f who you are, get out.

Emily Brooks contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Kentuckians have been inundated with TV commercials, digital ads and text messages in recent months about the governors race contest between incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Along the way, Herald-Leader journalists have been diligently fact-checking many of the claims in those ads, as well as statements made by the candidates and campaigns themselves.

Heres a look at what we found.

Who deserves credit for Kentuckys opioid settlements?

Both candidates vying to be governor have at one point been the commonwealths attorney general. Cameron currently holds that office, while Beshear served a four-year term immediately before becoming governor in 2019.

And as such, both candidates want some  or all  of the credit for bringing in around $900 million in opioid settlement money.

In this piece, accountability reporter John Cheves breaks down the facts about the lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors and the settlement dollars coming to Kentucky.

Read more: Daniel Cameron claims sole credit for Kentuckys $900M opioid settlements. Is he right?

What do the numbers show about crime in the commonwealth?

Crime and public safety have been recurring themes of the governors race, especially in our urban areas of Louisville and Lexington.

In July, Beshear and Kentucky State Police leadership announced the 2022 annual crime report data, which showed a drop in homicides.

However, a key number presented was not accurate, as politics reporter Austin Horn reported.

Read more: Ky crime data, produced by police & touted by Beshear, exaggerated drop in homicides

Does Daniel Cameron want to criminalize birth control?





Renewed scrutiny of Camerons answers on the Northern Kentucky Right to Life 2023 primary election questionnaire have raised concerns that if elected Kentuckys next governor on Nov. 7, he would make contraception illegal.

Cameron told the Herald-Leader that such claims are absolutely ridiculous and clarified his position on birth control in this report from Horn, enterprise reporter Alex Acquisto and Frankfort Bureau Chief Tessa Duvall.

Read more: Cameron says claims he wants to criminalize, ban birth control are absolutely ridiculous

Did Beshear cut the income tax?

A Beshear campaign ad features a supporter for former president Donald Trump explaining hes voting for the Democratic governor because he cut the income tax.

While this is technically true, its not the full story, politics reporter Austin Horn explains.

Read more: Pro-Beshear Trump supporter ad claims Andy cut the income tax. Here are the facts

Whats the story behind the photo of Beshear and drag queens?

Cameron and conservative groups have hit Beshear hard on social issues, and often recirculate a photo of the governor standing alongside members of an LGBTQ group called The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Reporter Aaron Mudd explains the backstory of the photo and what the group stands for.

Read more: Photo of Andy Beshear with drag queens recirculates in governors race. Whats the story?

Does Beshear support surgeries for trans kids?

Cameron and his allies have claimed Beshear supports gender-reassignment surgeries for transgender kids following his veto of Senate Bill 150 during the 2023 legislative session. The sweeping anti-trans bill, among other things, made such surgeries illegal for anyone under age 18.

Beshear, however, said hes never supported gender-reassignment surgeries. Politics reporter Austin Horn and Frankfort Bureau Chief Tessa Duvall explain the background.

Read more: GOP group says KY Gov. Andy Beshear supports surgery for trans kids. He says no.

Read more: New information from UK complicates Democratic narrative on trans surgeries for minors in KY

Did Beshear release prisoners?

Another common Republican line of attack against Beshear thats been on the airwaves is claims that he let criminals loose on the commonwealth.

Beshear has issued commutations since taking office, but the facts are more nuanced than the attack ads would have you believe. Accountability reporter John Cheves and Frankfort Bureau Chief Tessa Duvall have more.

Read more: GOP ads say Andy Beshear let criminals loose on Kentucky. What are the facts?

Read more: Beshear campaign demands TV stations pull materially false commutation attack ad

This story may be updated to reflect future fact-check stories ahead of Election Day on Nov. 7.
Vermont State Police have released a sketch of an unidentified man they say witnesses saw on the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail in Castleton last week at the same time 77-year-old retiree Honoree Fleming was found shot dead there.

The sketch shows a man with short, disheveled hair, a round face and big eyes. It was drawn by a composite sketch artist with the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office in Maine, who is assisting state and local investigators.

Police say the suspect is around 5 feet, 10 inches tall and has red hair. He was last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, heading off in a "northerly" direction up the trail.

The sketch is based on interviews with witnesses who saw a person of interest on the trail around the time of the shooting, Vermont State Police Capt. Scott Dunlap told reporters during a Wednesday evening news briefing.

VERMONT POLICE RELEASE NEW PROFILE OF SUSPECT IN RETIREE MURDER ON POPULAR HIKING TRAIL

A composite sketch of the man sought in connection with the shooting death of 77-year-old retiree Honoree Fleming on a Vermont hiking trail last week.

"We'd like to have anybody who recognizes or thinks they recognize the person in the sketch to reach out," he said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Witnesses reporting seeing the same individual behaving "odd" just moments before finding Fleming's remains on the trail, he added.

Police have alternately called the man a suspect and a person of interest. He is considered armed and dangerous.

"We don't know right now if it's random or if it was targeted," Dunlap added.

Honoree Fleming, 77, looks toward the sky in an undated photo provided by Vermont State Police. The retired educator was found shot to death on a trail in Castleton on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.

VERMONT STATE POLICE SEARCHING FOR ARMED AND DANGEROUS SUSPECT IN SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF WOMAN ON TRAIL

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information on the case is asked to call police at 802-773-9101 or send an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

Authorities have received hundreds of tips in the case, and investigators were following up on them. Police have asked local residents, business owners and even hunters with trail cameras to check their images for anything suspicious between 3 and 5 p.m. on or near the trail the day of the murder.

Honoree Fleming, 77, pictured in an undated photo provided by Vermont State Police. The retired educator was found shot to death on a trail in Castleton on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS

Fleming was a longtime fixture at the nearby Vermont State University Castleton Campus, where she retired as its dean of education.

Hikers found Fleming dead around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, near the campus entrance of the trail. She was wearing a white and blue striped shirt, black pants and black sneakers, and police are also asking to hear from anyone who saw her alive earlier in the day.

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."

Honoree Fleming, right, pictured next to her husband Ron Powers.

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Fleming lived near the trail, according to police, which has two sections and runs about 20 miles along the border between Vermont and New York. It is open to pedestrians, bicyclists and horseback riders and seasonally open to snowmobiles and cross-country skiers.

Classes have resumed on campus, but police continue to increase patrols in the area and maintain a visible presence.





Original article source: Vermont police release sketch of man sought in murder of 77-year-old woman on hiking trail
Vermont police have released a sketch of a person of interest in the case of a retired college dean who was found shot in the head last week.

Honoree Fleming, 77, was discovered dead on 5 October on a hiking trail near Vermont State University Castleton Campus, where she used to work.

The sketch was based on witness descriptions of a man they saw enter the trail before her body was found.

The killing has shocked the small town of Castleton, Vermont.

Police say the suspect is a 5ft 10in (1.78m) white male with red hair who seemed to be in his 20s. They say he wore a dark grey T-shirt and a black backpack and is armed and dangerous.

"There was more than one witness that observed this individual just prior to coming across Miss Fleming's body," Vermont State Police Captain Scott Dunlap told a news conference on Wednesday.

He said without elaborating that the potential suspect was observed to be "acting very strangely".

It is unclear if the shooting was targeted or random.

Officials did not release any other details about the case, which has been ruled a homicide.

The Burlington Medical Examiner's office determined Ms Fleming died from the gunshot wound to the head.

She was attacked while on her regular afternoon walk last Thursday along the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail, a 20-mile (32km) section of former railway that is used by pedestrians and cyclists.

Ms Fleming was the dean of education at Vermont State University before she retired in 2012. In a statement on Facebook, the college said more police would patrol the campus.

The university said Ms Fleming was beloved by faculty, staff and students. A professor of education and biochemist, she was still publishing academic papers on cellular biology.

"Her contributions to education and her impact on our campus will live on in all of us," the college said.

Ms Fleming lived in Castleton with her husband Ron Powers, who in 1973 became the first television critic to win a Pulitzer Prize.
A person uses TikTok on their phone in Hanoi on Oct. 6, 2023. Credit - Nhac NguyenAFP/Getty Images

Vietnamese authorities announced last week the results of a monthslong investigation into TikTok, finding that the social media platforms censorship processes failed to filter out content that violates Vietnamese laws.

The probe, which started in May after authorities accused the app of hosting toxic content that poses a threat to the country's youth, culture and tradition and threatened a ban, concluded with recommendations for how TikTok can step up its protection of childrensuch as removing all accounts of users below 13 years old and setting a time limit for users under 18.

In response to the findings, TikTok said that it would work with Vietnamese authorities to address their concerns, adding that the company would also continue to pro-actively implement public education initiatives to raise awareness of online safety.

The Vietnamese governments emphasis on youth safety comes amid heightened efforts to protect children from exploitation on the interneta problem that the media and government in Vietnam have become increasingly concerned about.

But seamlessly weaved into the advocacy for online child safety are also calls for greater censorship tools that can and almost certainly will be used to crack down on anti-state contentwhat experts say is a familiar pattern of the Vietnamese government conflating the tackling of legitimate cybersecurity concerns with stamping out political dissent. And so far, such online censorship has been quietly accepted by tech giants desperate to continue operating in the countrys lucrative market, as freedom of expression and the state of Vietnams democracy continues to decline.

Read More: What to Know About Vietnams Persistent Crackdown on Environmentalists

Last year, authorities similarly announced that platforms like Facebook and Google should remove content that the government deemed harmful to childrenalong with other content that violates Vietnamese law, a spokesperson of the social affairs ministry said. Months later, when authorities were putting together a blacklist of harmful websites and social media accounts to be barred from getting advertising revenue, the information ministry warned companies not to place ads where the content is untrue, obscene, contrary to traditions, sensational, or clickbait.

Embedded in these broad guidelines to create a safer cyberspace are expectations for social media companies to scrub content deemed politically inconvenient to the countrys one-party government off the Vietnamese web. In 2021, five journalists were jailed for sharing Facebook posts which were deemed to infringe upon the interests of the state. Meanwhile, false contentwhich social media platforms in Vietnam are required to take down within 24 hoursare commonly assessed by how critical they are of the state.

I think its a very smart strategy by the government, says Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow in the Vietnam studies program at Singapores ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. The combination of both legitimate and vague concerns would make the targeting of platforms like TikTok very effective and very convincing.

A girl uses a smartphone in Vietnam in June 2022. Godong/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

With child safety foregrounded as the authorities main concern, says Giang, its very easy for the government to argue against critics [who say] they are trying to tighten the freedom of speech in Vietnam.

To be sure, youth cybersecurity is a real problem in Vietnam. Since 2020when Vietnam was ranked near the bottom in a child online safety index survey that assessed 30 countries cyber risks, disciplined digital use, digital competency, guidance and education, social infrastructure, and connectivityauthorities have stepped up efforts to educate youth on keeping safe while using social media. In 2021, Vietnams nationwide child online protection program, which set out to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, was lauded by UNICEF. Child safety continues to be an area of focus outlined by the government when talking about regulating the internet.

But the way in which politically motivated censorship has been wrapped into the governments concerns about user safety and privacy on social media platforms is a familiar tactic that goes back decades, observers say. Authorities have long harped on the problem of toxic online content, which in the 1990s and 2000s was more closely associated with pornograpy.

Read More: Internet Censorship Is Taking Root in Southeast Asia

The stated need to censor pornographic content, however, masked a greater concern of the powers that be, noted a 2022 report published by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, and that was that the Internet would open the floodgates for anti-government propaganda and facilitate a freer flow of information, which would end up posing major threats to the Communist Party.

Authorities have stepped up their demands on social media platforms since a controversial cybersecurity law took effect in 2019, granting the government sweeping power to censor anti-state content and obtain user data from tech companies. This rigorous policing of social media was, according to then-Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, a way to create social consensuseven if it meant forcefully kicking critics out of cyberspaces and slapping them with criminal charges.

Vietnams campaign to attain control over online discourse has largely succeeded, with the worlds tech giants putting up little resistance to the governments diminishment of civil liberties. Last week, Vietnamese authorities said that YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook had removed almost 800 posts, including those with false and negative messages about the party, over a one-month period between August and September.

Amnesty International noted in 2020 that tech giants were increasingly complicit in Vietnams political censorship. The country of almost 100 million, a majority of whom are young and tech-savvy, has stood out to social media companies as one of the most potentially lucrative markets. Facebook, which routinely complies with the governments take down requests, generates nearly $1 billion in revenue from Vietnam, where it has 60 million users.

Social media companies, according to Giang, would rather sacrifice whatever principles they might have in terms of freedom of speech [than stop] operating in [Vietnams] vastly growing market.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former Democratic candidate for president who this week said he would seek the White House as an independent, brought his long-shot campaign to Miami on Thursday, attracting a small crowd of anti-establishment supporters.

Addressing a few dozen people at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts near downtown Miami, Kennedy  the nephew of assassinated president John F. Kennedy  delivered a meandering 45-minute speech that touched on a variety of issues ranging from housing prices, economic inequality and the U.S. military-industrial complex.

He criticized Americas past and current military decisions, claiming that the U.S. has spent trillions on wars, created the Islamic State terrorist group and destabilized Europe in the process. He also said that the U.S. government is using Ukraine aid as a money laundering scheme for military contractors, but then later went on to express that the U.S. should support Israel following last weeks attacks by Hamas.

We dont have strategic interests for being in Ukraine, but we have an absolutely critical existential strategic interest for being in Israel, for supporting them. Israel has never asked for troops. They never will. What they want is our support and they need some of our weapons, said Kennedy.

Kennedy, whose critics have labeled him a conspiracy theorist  he has said that WiFi causes leaky brain and that chemicals in drinking water are leading kids to identify as transgender  also said that U.S. politicians are using divisive tactics like culture wars to keep Americans fighting among themselves.

Its like the jangling keys, all these culture wars, so as you look over here, theyre robbing the bank over there, said Kennedy.

He finalized his speech by comparing his supporters to the masses overthrowing a monarchy.

They know as long as were all fighting each other, that nobodys coming up the castle wall. And what I want to do with this campaign, and my presidency, is to put aside those squabbles and lets all go over that castle wall.

Miami Beach City Commissioner Ricky Arriola, at left, flexes as he tells the crowd how fit Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is as he approaches the podium. Kennedy Jr. hit the campaign trail to celebrate his launch of an independent run for President of the United States of America while visiting the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Al Diaz/adiaz@miamiherald.com

Kennedys Supporters

Polls of the Democratic presidential primary consistently showed President Joe Biden with a strong majority of support in his party for a second term. Kennedy had averaged about 15% support among Democrats prior to announcing Monday that he would run as an independent.

Though Kennedys own siblings have condemned his campaign, he said he believes that he can win because his appearances on podcasts and long-form interviews have proven that he has the ability to convert viewers quickly and gain support from unexpected demographics.

The crowd for his speech on Thursday was no more than a few dozen. Those who showed up included vaccine skeptics and those disgruntled with the state of politics in the U.S.

This guy, hes got chutzpah. Hes asking the tough questions and hes fighting the good fight, said Chuck Muldoon, a Miami resident who considers himself a monetary reform activist.

Muldoon, 54, said he became interested in Kennedy after seeing him question the crimes of banking and pharmaceuticals.

Chuck Muldoon, at right, a supporter of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., poses for a selfie as Kennedy Jr. hits the campaign trail to celebrate his launch of an independent run for President of the United States of America at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Al Diaz/adiaz@miamiherald.com

Lianette Laria, 46, came to the event decked in Kennedy gear and brought with her a small Kennedy poster and a mini American flag. She said that she and her husband, John Lewis, 55, became interested in Kennedy long before his announcement to run for president because of his warnings about vaccines. (Kennedys claims about vaccines include the debunked assertion that they cause autism, and once led the social-media company Meta to pull down Facebook and Instagram accounts of Kennedys Childrens Health Defense.)

RFK Jr. is a hero. Hes been fighting for the most vulnerable segment of our population which is our children, said Lewis. Its unfortunate that he gets labeled as an anti-vaxxer, Im not anti-vaxxer but Im anti-scientism.

Jalen Martin, 23, attended Kennedys event because, although he voted for Donlad Trump in the past, he doesnt want to vote for him in the upcoming election. With Trump and President Joe Biden looking to be the respective candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties for the presidential election, Martin is interested to see how far Kennedy can go.

Were all here for an independent voice, said Martin. I think this is an interesting route we have forward with Kennedy and I think we need someone whos going to pull a lot of people in.
Across the metro area, there were multiple vigils in support of Israel.

Channel 2s Michael Doudna was live Wednesday on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. at Emory University.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Hundreds of college students gathered on campus, standing side by side in the rain.

Doudna asked the students what they do when their friends and family are in danger thousands of miles away.

I think weve all been in a situation where we are too far away to do anything about it, Michael Zuspan said. I think all of us have experienced the futility of words.

Morgan Ames is a senior at Emory and the granddaughter of a holocaust survivor.

I think the only thing we can do is come together as a community, Ames said.

Ames said the Jewish people are resilient.

The Jewish people have an ancestry of resilience, but we also have a repeated pattern of suffering, she added.

Another vigil at the Congregation of Tor Tamid in Johns Creek saw members of multiple faith groups and backgrounds supporting Israel after the weekends attacks.

Too often through world history, we have stood alone. This time, it feels like the world is with us, the world is behind us and has our back, said Rabbi Jordan Ottenstein.

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I dont think anyone has chosen a side tonight, but theyve chosen to be human, Zuspan said.

It was a welcome change after a weekend that showed some of the worst humanity has to offer as Georgians gathered for prayers of peace and safety.

[I pray] first and foremost, that the innocent be spared all around. It doesnt matter what you believe or what you look like, Zuspan said I think thats it, a prayer for peace.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Authorities are asking for the publics help in locating a violent convicted sex offender with mental health problems who walked away from his state-mandated program in Los Angeles.

John Scott Carver, 71, was last seen Oct. 10 at around 7:30 p.m. near Olympic Boulevard and Masselin Avenue, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police.

The 71-year-old, who police say should be considered armed and dangerous, cut off his monitoring device and fled toward San Vicente Boulevard and Sierra Bonita Avenue, possibly on foot.

John Carver, 71, was last Oct. 10 after he walked away from his state mandated program in Los Angeles. (LAPD)

John Carver, 71, was last Oct. 10 after he walked away from his state mandated program in Los Angeles. (LAPD)

Carver, who has also gone by the names Scott Carver and Michael Meadows, is described as a white male adult with brown and gray hair and green eyes. He stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds.

The public is asked to remain vigilant. Anyone who might spot Carver is asked to call 911 immediately or contact your local law enforcement agency.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Carver is urged to contact the Crisis Response Support Section, Senior Lead Officer Canales at 213-925-6788. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at L.A. Crime Stoppers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The Virginia Beach School Board has revised its transgender model policies to align with the guidelines advocated by Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration. This decision comes as Virginia school districts grapple with policies surrounding transgender students rights and the Republican administrations attack on them.



With a 9-1 vote in favor of the amendments, the board on Tuesday set new stipulations regarding the modification of students official records, naming conventions to be adhered to by school personnel, and the usage of facilities by students based on their sex as designated in official documents, according to Hampton Roads area NBC affiliate WAVY. One member cast a dissenting vote, while another abstained from voting.

Related: Glenn Youngkin Scrambles as Virginia Schools Reject His Anti-Trans Policies

The revised policies now mandate that any amendment to a students official record concerning their legal name or sex requires a legal document such as a birth certificate or a court order. School personnel are instructed to refer to each student using only the name that appears in the official record, a designated nickname, or a name commonly associated with the name appearing in the official register.

Additionally, the policies dictate that students are to use restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities corresponding to the sex designated in their official records, except when state or federal laws mandate otherwise.

This move marks a divergence from the stance taken by other school districts in Virginia. Earlier in the year, many communities rejected Youngkins model policies, criticizing them for discriminating against transgender students.

Related: Arlington Schools Chief Rejects Youngkins Discriminatory Transgender Student Policies

The Advocate previously reported that Francisco Duran, the superintendent of Arlington Public Schools, said that his districts existing policies were already in compliance with Virginia law, thus not necessitating the adoption of Youngkins new guidelines, which he did not believe served all students in the community.

Other school districts in the state have also rejected the policies, for which the governor has demanded compliance, though there doesnt appear to be an enforcement mechanism to implement what critics call Youngkins bigoted policies.

The Virginia Beach School Boards decision follows several heated meetings over the past three months since the Virginia Department of Education released the governors model policies. During these meetings, board members heard impassioned remarks from supporters of the governors model policies and LGBTQ+ students who opposed them.

The discourse in Virginia Beach mirrors a larger statewide and national conversation surrounding transgender rights and parental involvement in education. As school districts across the state navigate these complex issues, the actions of the Virginia Beach School Board could set a precedent for other districts in the state.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have agreed to debate each other after the GOP poured cold water on the latters attempts to debate any of his fellow Republican candidates in the 2024 presidential race one-on-one. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Khanna pitched Ramaswamy on a civil discourse with the two of us on race, identity and the American dream, taking place at the University of Chicago at the campus request. Ramaswamy agreed, stipulating a change of venue. Youre a solid dude with whom I disagree on a lot, and Id be glad to have a discussion at some point, just need to balance it in the context of campaign priorities, Ramaswamy wrote back. If you are willing to do it in New Hampshire, Im game. The agreement comes after California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis similarly agreed to debate each other next month in Georgia.

Read it at The San Francisco Chronicle

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Australians are being asked to decide on constitutional recognition for Indigenous people

Australians have voted in a historic referendum, rejecting a reform that would have changed its constitution for the first time in almost 50 years.

If the referendum had been approved, it would have established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice - a formal body for Indigenous people to give advice on laws.

PM Anthony Albanese had argued that it would be a "simple" change to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.

Constitutional referendums in Australia are rare and difficult to pass - only eight of 44 have succeeded.

And the Voice proposal was the subject of fierce debate - with both support and opposition across the political spectrum.

What is the Voice to parliament?

The Voice was recommended by a historic document in 2017 called the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

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Drafted by more than 250 Indigenous leaders, the statement is considered the best - though not unanimous - call to action for reforms which affect First Nations Australians.

When announcing his plan to hold a referendum in March, Mr Albanese said the Voice would enshrine "recognition" that Australians "share this great island continent with the world's oldest continuous culture".

"Our nation's birth certificate should recognise this and be proud of it," he added.

The proposal states the Voice will "make representations" to MPs and policy makers "on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples".

However, if the referendum had passed, parliament would have the power to decide on the Voice's composition, functions, powers and procedures.

What's the case for it?

Indigenous Australians feel a "powerlessness" when tackling structural problems to improve their lives, the Uluru Statement says.

These problems include having a shorter life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians, disproportionately poorer health and education outcomes, and higher incarceration rates.

Many argue this is often because of a failure to properly consult Indigenous people on solutions.

"Non-Indigenous people [are] making decisions about communities they have never visited and people they do not know," wrote Prof Megan Davis, an Uluru Statement signatory.

What do opponents say?

Some argue Indigenous people are already represented fairly in parliament. It currently has 11 Indigenous lawmakers - representing 4.8% of the parliament, a slightly higher percentage than the Indigenous Australian population nationwide.

But Voice supporters counter that MPs represent specific constituencies, not necessarily Indigenous interests.

Other critics say it could act like a third chamber of parliament and potentially veto legislation, but the government has ruled this out.

Support is not universal among Indigenous people, either. Some say a treaty with Indigenous people - a legally binding, negotiated agreement - should be the priority. Australia is the only ex-British colony without one.

Senator Lidia Thorpe is among those who want a formal treaty first

Many Indigenous Australians emphasise they never ceded their sovereignty or land. There are fears that being recognised in the constitution could amount to that.

And others argue it's just a symbolic gesture and that money could be better spent on immediate solutions.

What will the Voice look like in practice?

That's not yet certain. If Australia had voted yes, legislation designing the Voice would have been developed and debated.

One proposal had suggested the advisory body could have 24 members - comprised of representatives from each state and territory, the Torres Strait Islands, and remote Aboriginal communities.

Mr Albanese still sees the Voice being "an unflinching source of advice and accountability".

Are there global comparisons?

Voice advocates compare it to the First Nations parliaments in Norway, Sweden and Finland for the Sami people.

They're not parliaments in the traditional sense - they are mostly consultative bodies which do not have a formal legislative function.

In Finland, for example, the government negotiates with the Sami Parliament on specific matters like land management and legislative or administrative changes affecting Sami culture.

However, Finnish laws don't prevent government authorities from forging ahead without negotiations.

Why is a referendum needed?

Advocates say the Voice needs to be enshrined in the constitution rather than legislated. Such a change cannot happen without a referendum.

They argue this would give the Voice permanency, insulating it from partisan politics.

The referendum would have succeeded if a majority of Australians voted yes, and received majority support in at least four of Australia's six states.

Polling had previously indicated about three quarters of Australians supported a constitutionally enshrined Voice - but dropped since the debate began in earnest.

Mr Albanese wants the Voice to be a legacy of his government

But the last successful referendum was in 1977, and none have passed without bipartisan support.

In this vote, Australia's main opposition coalition campaigned against the change.

The Greens party supported the Voice. But its previous Indigenous Affairs spokesperson, Lidia Thorpe, left the party over its position - she is advocating for a treaty first.

What next?

In a live address following the referendum result, Mr Albanese called for a new way forward, saying: "Tomorrow we must seek a new way forward with the same optimism."

He said that as prime minister, he will accept the responsibility for the decisions he took, but that he still believes that calling the referendum was the right thing to do.

"We argued for this change not out of convenience but out of conviction," he said.

"This moment of disagreement does not define or divide us. We are not Yes or No voters, we are all Australians, and it is as Australians together that we must take our country beyond this debate," he added.

Mr Albanese had previously indicated a referendum on the issue is likely if he wins a second term in 2025.

Additional reporting by Tom Housden
Iowans will soon be able to vote for city and school elections, and can start requesting absentee ballots now.

Early and absentee voting begins Oct. 18. Polls will be open Nov. 7 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and you can find your precinct and polling location on the Secretary of State's website.

"City and school elected officials play a critical role in our day-to-day lives, so its vitally important for Iowans to make their voices heard in Novembers elections, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a news release.

How do I register to vote in Iowa?

Iowans can check whether they are registered to vote in Iowa by going to the Iowa Secretary of State's website, sos.iowa.gov.

They also can register to vote online or download a voter registration form to send to their county auditor.

To register in Iowa you must:

Be a U.S. citizen

Be an Iowa resident

Be at least 17 years old as long as you will turn 18 on or before Election Day

Not be judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court

Not claim the right to vote in any other place

Iowa also has same-day voter registration, meaning Iowans can register when they go to the polls to vote, as long as they prove their identity and residency.

How do I get an absentee ballot in Iowa?

Any registered voter in Iowa can request an absentee ballot through their county auditor.

The absentee ballot request deadline is Oct. 23. Written applications for mailed absentee ballots must be received by a voters local county auditors office by 5 p.m.

In order to receive an absentee ballot, a registered voter must have:

Iowa residential address

Voter verification number (ID number)

Iowa driver's license, non-operator ID number or a voter PIN located on the their Iowa voter ID card Voters may request an Iowa voter ID card by contacting their county auditor's office

The name or date of the election for which they are requesting an absentee ballot

How can I check on the status of my absentee ballot?

Iowans can track the status of their absentee ballot on the Secretary of State's website at sos.iowa.gov/elections/AbsenteeBallotStatus by entering their full name and date of birth.

Voters can return an absentee ballot through the mail, at a ballot drop box or by bringing the ballot to their county auditor's office in person.

Only the voter, an immediate family member or household member may return the ballot to the auditor's office or place it in the mail. There are exceptions for those with blindness or another disability; those voters may designate another registered voter as a "delivery agent" to return their ballot.

When do mail-in ballots need to be received?

Absentee ballots must be received in the county auditor's office by the time the polls close on Election Day at 8 p.m. to be eligible for counting.

Absentee ballots cannot be delivered to a polling place on Election Day. If you have not returned your absentee ballot on Election Day, you have the following options:

Deliver your voter absentee ballot to the county auditor's office before the polls close on Election Day.

Surrender your absentee ballot at the polls and vote a regular ballot.

Vote a provisional ballot at the polls if you cannot surrender your voted absentee ballot.

Do I have to show ID to vote in Iowa?

Registered Iowa voters must bring ID with them when they go to vote at the polls. Acceptable forms of identification are an Iowa driver's license or a non-operator ID, a U.S. passport or military ID, a veteran's ID, tribal ID or an Iowa voter ID card.

In some instances, Iowans voting at the polls may need to prove their residencies as well. They can do this by bringing proof of residency if they are either voting in Iowa for the first time or if they've recently moved within the same county and have not updated their address with the auditor. If they have moved to a different county between elections, they will need to complete the Election Day registration process at their precincts.

If someone can't prove their identity with any of those documents, a registered voter in their precinct can attest to who the voter is. Both the voter and the attester will need to sign an oath.

Can people who have been convicted of felonies vote in Iowa?

In 2020, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order restoring voting rights to most people with felony convictions once they have completed their sentences, including any parole or probation.

Before the executive order, Iowa had been the last state in the nation to ban all people with felony convictions from voting, even after the completion of their sentences, unless they applied individually to the governors office to have their rights restored.

The executive order does not apply to those convicted of homicide offenses or certain serious sex offenses that carry a lifetime special sentence of supervision. Those people can still apply directly to the governor to have their rights restored.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: How to vote in city and school elections in Iowa 2023
President Joe Biden , and his son Hunter Biden arrive at Fort McNair on June 25, 2023, in Washington. | Andrew Harnik, Associated Press

During his vice presidency, Joe Bidens office emailed back and forth with Hunter Bidens investment management firm, Rosemont Seneca, more than 19,000 times, according to the National Archives and Records Administration.

House Republicans argue these emails raise questions about President Bidens involvement in his familys businesses.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Biden has lied to Americans about the existence of an absolute wall between his official government duties and his personal life, in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Related

While campaigning for the presidency in 2020, President Biden said he never discussed business with his son or brother and pledged to separate the two parts of his life.

Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., who serves on the Judiciary Committee and Oversight Committee, said, Were these emails from then-VP Bidens office to Hunter, Jim Biden and their business associates about the weather too?

Were these emails from then-VP Biden's office to Hunter, Jim Biden and their business associates about the weather too? https://t.co/NcWAFoM71K  Congressman Russell Fry (@RepRussellFry) October 10, 2023

America First Legal Foundation, a conservative legal advocacy group headed by Stephen Miller, who previously served as a White House policy adviser under the Trump administration, filed a Freedom of Information request on Aug. 9, 2022. In response to the request, the National Archives identified a trove of emails, including more than 5,000 emails to and from Hunter Biden.

Hunter Biden and his investment firm Rosemont Seneca

The House Oversight Committee has linked Hunter Bidens Rosemont Seneca to foreign entities in Kazakhstan and Russia.

Bank records show that the Rosemont Seneca received $142,300 from Kenes Rakishev, a Kazakhstani oligarch, who wired the amount from his Singapore account in April 2022, according to the committees findings.

The same month, this money was transferred to a car dealership, where Hunter Biden bought a vehicle.

The Oversight Committee found another such transaction from February 2014, when the late Yelena Baturina, a Russian oligarch, wired Rosemont Seneca $3.5 million.

On March 11, 2014, the wire was split up: $750,000 was transferred to Devon Archer, and the remainder was sent to Rosemont Seneca Bohai, a company Devon Archer and Hunter Biden split equally, according to the Oversight Committee.

In the spring of the same year, Baturina shared a meal with Hunter Biden and the then-vice president at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.

Was VP Biden involved in his sons business dealings?

Archer, Hunter Bidens business partner, said, President Biden was not involved in his sons business, during a closed-door testimony to a congressional committee.

But Archer also allegedly said President Biden was on speakerphone during Hunter Bidens meetings with clients, as the Deseret News previously reported.

I dont know if it was an orchestrated call-in or not. It certainly was powerful, though, because if youre sitting with a foreign businessperson, and you hear the vice presidents voice, thats prized enough, he said in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, adding that Hunter Bidens access was the pinnacle of power in D.C. and in hindsight, an abuse of soft power.

Related

Presidents brother James Biden and Lion Group Hall firm

America First Legal Foundation also requested emails between the then-vice president and his brother.

Roughly 1,700 emails were exchanged between President Biden and James Biden and more than 3,700 with James Bidens firm, Lion Hall Group, the National Archives said.

James Bidens firm received thousands of dollars from Hudson West III, a company operated by Chinese nationals, according to the Oversight Committee.

Both business entities are central to the House investigation and the records request, but the National Archives said because of the size of the request, it wont be able to complete it until Aug. 1, 2029.

Whats next in the Biden family investigation?

Its worth noting that in September, Comer sent a letter to the Archivist of the United States Colleen Shogan, asking for unrestricted access to records relevant to the committee's investigation into the Biden family.

Despite the fact that GOP representatives dont have a speaker after ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans are moving forward with the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Fox News reported that a House Oversight Committee spokesperson said the committee will continue reviewing records before taking action in the coming days.
Chowchilla residents who own food trucks and say its near impossible to operate them in town called for the city to cancel a $100-a-day fee it passed in August, describing it as one that stifles entrepreneurship for Latinos and low income people.

Digna and Adonay Diaz took their Platano, Pupusas Y Cafecito Salvadoran food trailer to Madera after finding out in August that a food truck permit would cost them $100 per day of operation  or $36,500 annually  in Chowchilla.

On Tuesday, Adonay Diaz presented to the City Council a petition with 514 signatures that requests the repeal of the new food truck fees and other obstructions, including the requirement for an administrative use permit that costs $550.

All four individuals that we know that are being pushed out of the city by this fee are Latinas, Adonay Diazs son, Josue, told the council. This is a textbook example of institutional racism, and we will not stand for it in any way, shape or form.

Mayor Ray Barragan Jr. previously said he wanted the food truck owners to make their voices heard to the council so it could consider their requests.

Food truck owners battle Chowchillas new $100-a-day fee, say it has racial undertones

We dont know whats going on unless people come and speak up to us during council, he told the Bee on Wednesday. It was great that people showed up in support of food trucks.

After hearing the Diaz family and Chowchilla food truck owner Catalina Mendoza speak, the council directed staff to bring the fee back for review at a later date. Barragan said there will be a public hearing on the matter when city staff are ready to present a report.

An exact date is not yet known, Barragan said Wednesday.

The Chowchilla City Council will revisit the $100-a-day food truck fee it passed in August. After hearing local owners voice their concerns Oct. 10 about possibly paying $36,500 annually, the council directed city staff to bring a report on the matter back at a later date.

City Council to discuss fees more comprehensively

Barragan attributed the minimal council discussion when the new fee schedule passed Aug. 22 to there having been so few food trucks in Chowchilla in the past.

Community and Economic Development Director Mark Hamilton said during that meeting that the city was trying to make its fees more current to todays standards.

Jacob Sandoval, California director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, called into Tuesdays council meeting and noted that permits for food truck operators in nearby cities amount to less than $1,000 annually. The Diaz family paid $614 in the city of Madera.

Barragan told the Bee the council will likely compare its fees to those in surrounding cities and ask more questions when the issue is back on the agenda.

More importantly, weve never really allowed food trucks in Chowchilla, so change is good for everybody if we need it, he 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.

Pupusa, taco truck owners address council in Spanish

Digna Diaz told the council its been impossible to obtain a food truck license because of the citys high costs and unreachable regulations.

They are not imposed on other businesses, she said in Spanish. We also want to be treated equally to all others who seek business licenses in Chowchilla. We dont want injustice or exclusion for this citys Latino community.

Mendoza, who owns Tacos El Guerrero, said she stopped working her trailer after being notified that she will be brought into compliance with the citys new fee. Previously, Mendoza paid $242 for a permit, which she said was a battle to get approved for one location.

She doesnt sell enough food to afford the $1,000 rent she pays at the location and the citys new fee, Mendoza said.

Im here asking for you to help us, she told the council in Spanish. Its not fair to those of us who are trying to succeed in this city.

We shouldnt have to be your friends to participate in legal business activities, Adonay Diaz said after Mendoza. Mobile vendors should not ... have to beg you for an exemption from a fee you have imposed.

Nitesh Kunwar, speaking on behalf of Masala Art Indian Cuisine, raised concerns that too many food trucks will begin to appear in the city. He questioned whether food truck operators will pay the same amount in taxes and fixed costs as brick-and-mortar restaurant owners.

Sandoval told the Bee on Wednesday that the new fees take away what is for many Latinos the first step in the restaurant business.

A food truck owner can become a brick-and-mortar restaurant owner, he said. This (fee) impacts young Latinos especially.

Like the food truck owners once did, Barragan said he grew up doing fieldwork. He added that he has created jobs for 1,700 Latinos nationwide as president of Golden Memorial Insurance, and reiterated that he wants to help Hispanics open businesses in Chowchilla.

Owners and supporters of the Tacos El Guerrero and Platano, Pupusas Y Cafecito food trailers sit together at the Chowchilla City Council meeting Oct. 10, when they commented that the citys $100-a-day fee is unfair to Latino businesses. Nitesh Kunwar, seen behind the woman wearing the baseball cap, was the sole person to warn against allowing too many food trucks in town.

Mayors vote a conflict of interest?

Josue Diaz said during his comment to the council that Barragans vote on the fees in August was a conflict of interest because he owns Sugar Rays BBQ in Chowchilla. He called it a vote to increase fees on a competing business segment.

If council does not repeal the fee, a court of law can decide if that conflict nullifies the vote, Josue Diaz said.

Barragan told the Bee that he does not believe his vote constitutes a conflict of interest.

I would think that it would be in everyones best interest because I am so pro-business, he said.

Barragan said he will follow the city attorneys guidance on whether he should vote on the fee when it comes back to council.
The Washington State Transportation Commission has recommended launching a voluntary road usage charge program on July 1, 2025 with the ability to be a full-scale, mandated program by 2035, as the state continues to consider options in light of declining gas tax revenue.

Washington lawmakers embarked in early 2012 to learn if charging drivers for the miles they travel could eventually replace taxing them on every gallon of fuel they buy.

The concern then, and now, is gas tax receipts are in a slow decline as passenger cars get more fuel efficient and electric vehicles become more prevalent. Other sources of revenue will be required to cover the ever-rising cost of maintaining the states roads and bridges.

Eleven years later, after $16 million worth of research, testing, modeling and a full-scale pilot with 2,000 drivers, a thick dossier of data on deploying a road usage charge has been compiled.

But lawmakers and Gov. Jay Inslee have yet to embrace the idea. And its almost certain they wont act in the 2024 session, punting the decision to the next governor and Legislature.

Its complicated. We still need a lot more feedback, Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, said on Monday. Im not saying hell no but given the complexity of the task, we need to work through it.

The Washington State Transportation Commission, the citizen panel entrusted with steering the yearslong effort, concluded the Legislature should begin a gradual transition from taxing motor fuels to per-mile assessments.

After delivering that recommendation in 2020, the commission used federal funds to do additional research and survey Washington drivers on their concerns should a road usage charge, or RUC, be launched. Commission leaders shared some findings at a legislative hearing Monday and will submit a full report due by the end of the year

Were ready to go. The investments made to date are critical to supporting a successful transition away from the gas tax to a new paradigm, the complexity of which cannot be underestimated, said Reema Griffith, the commissions executive director, following the presentation to the bicameral Joint Transportation Committee.

This is why we are working through all the details now rather than taking a learn as you go approach, she said. There is simply too much at stake to not get this right.

Too big for a short session

The commission recommends launching a voluntary road usage charge program on July 1, 2025 with the ability to be a full-scale, mandated program by 2035.

Initially it would be open to any vehicle rated for 25 miles per gallon or higher at a cost of 2.5 cents per mile. Owners of battery-powered electric or hybrid vehicles would not pay annual electric vehicle fees if they participate.

A road usage charge would not be in addition to gas taxes. Drivers would get a credit for gas taxes paid which could be used to cover RUC charges. Washington drivers could obtain exemptions for out of state driving. Those from other states would pay the gas tax.

The most recent financial modeling, shared with legislators, estimates Washington drivers pay an average of $146.40 per year in gas taxes. With a RUC, they would owe $29.64 in road user charges after getting credit for their gas tax expenses.

Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, leader of the House transportation panel, did introduce a bill last session containing many of the transportation commissions suggestions. He held a hearing on it but the legislation didnt advance.

My goal this session is to identify what the key problems and issues are for people, he said following Mondays presentation. I am not going to try to run a bill in a short session in the last year of a governor.

Meanwhile, Inslee isnt pushing for a resolution before his tenure ends.

He vetoed a provision in the transportation budget passed in April directing the Department of Licensing to study the feasibility of implementing and administering a per-mile fee program.

This work pre-supposes a per-mile fee program will be adopted despite the need to consider broader options for alternative funding sources for transportation, he wrote in his veto message.

At the time, his action surprised lawmakers. Some wondered if the governors concern was less about a lack of options and more about the potential of such a program to deter people from buying electric vehicles.

An Inslee spokesman said thats not correct.

The governor is not opposed to a RUC but there has not been a clear legislative approach to how a RUC would work, wrote press secretary Mike Faulk in an email. The veto did not stall or in any way stop the [transportation] commissions work on this.

A global view of moving away from gas taxes

The commission forecasts that revenues generated from the states 49.4 cents a gallon gasoline tax  one of the highest in the nation  will drop from $1.3 billion in 2026 to under $1 billion in 2035. Thats when all new cars sold in the state are supposed to be zero emission.

Washington is not alone. Any state reliant on fuel taxes to pay for building, maintaining and preserving their roads is facing a similar dilemma.

Based on the numbers, there will need to be an alternative or states will have to become comfortable with having to rely on general fund dollars for transportation, said Garett Shrode, policy analyst with the nonprofit Eno Center for Transportation.

And the federal government isnt immune either.

Shrode pointed to a 2009 report by the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission calling for a new approach to paying for transportation projects because of expected declines in gas tax revenue.

That threat is not only still present, but magnified by federal policy prioritizing electric vehicles, Shrode and two colleagues wrote in a July paper.

The answer, he said in an interview this week, will be for states to look for multiple revenue sources. He said a road usage charge, also referred to as a vehicle-miles traveled fee or mileage-based user fee, will get the attention of many.

Oregon, Utah, Hawaii, and Kansas are among states now or soon to be operating some variation of a RUC. A national pilot is planned for later this decade.

Other possibilities to raise funding include electric vehicle registration fees, which Washington has, fees on electric vehicle charging and fees on retail deliveries.

Were going to need this patchwork of revenue sources and solutions to really solve the problem, Shrode said, adding that a road user charge would definitely be more sustainable than a fuel tax.

There are obstacles. The charge would cost more to administer than a gas tax. Concerns about privacy and how mileage is reported must be alleviated.

And then theres politics.

It is hard for any politician to get near a new tax, even a user fee as a replacement, Shrode said. It is easier to kick the can down the road for a decade, even though there is not enough money in the pot, and let the next generation deal with it.

This story was initially published by Washington State Standard, a nonprofit newsroom part of the States News organization, covering state issues. Read more at washingtonstatestandard.com.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Washington state plans to replace gas tax revenue
A Washington man was sentenced to five years in prison for selling fentanyl and meth from a Great Falls hotel room, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Montana.

Ryan Mark Jensen, 44, of Bremerton, Washington, who court documents described as "a significant drug dealer," pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced Wednesday.

Jensen admitted to traveling to Great Falls to sell drugs because the mark-up in Montana was profitable, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. The Russell County Drug Task Force team searched a hotel room where Jensen was staying in September 2022 and found a backpack containing several hundred fentanyl pills and a digital scale, as well as baggies that appeared to contain residue from methamphetamine.

His sentence includes four years of supervised release following the prison time, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Washington man sentenced for traveling to Great Falls to sell fentanyl
(NEXSTAR)  NASAs Psyche mission is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket Friday morning to start a nearly six-year mission to a metal-rich asteroid.

The mission namesake is also the target: Asteroid 16 Psyche. While NASA has conducted a number of asteroid-related missions, including the recent return of its first asteroid samples, this will be the agencys first mission to an asteroid which they believe has more metal than rock or ice.

While there wont be a return trip for the Psyche spacecraft, scientists hope to confirm a theory from afar. They hypothesize the asteroid, which is 173 miles in diameter at its widest point, could actually be the leftover core of a planetesimal, or very small planet. If confirmed, the study of 16 Psyche could offer a look at what might be Earths own center and how our planet was created.

Psyche mission: watch the most recent science and mission update brief

As of Thursday at 2 p.m. EDT, the mission blog notes the Friday 10:19 a.m. EDT launch window has a 40% chance of favorable weather conditions, while its next launch window on Saturday at 10:24 a.m. EDT has a 70% chance.

Nexstar Media plans to livestream the launch within this story beginning approximately one hour prior to the scheduled launch time.

The current mission timeline aims to put NASAs craft into orbit around the asteroid in late July 2029. At that point the actual mission will begin: two years of photo taking, surface mapping, and data collection to determine Psyches composition.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

3D printing may help NASA develop moon colony by 2040

Here is a bit more about the asteroid as written by NASA:

Psyche was discovered in 1852 by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis. Because it was the 16th asteroid to be discovered, it is sometimes referred to as 16 Psyche. Its named for the goddess of the soul in ancient Greek mythology, often depicted as a butterfly-winged female figure.

Psyche orbits the Sun in the outer part of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is approximately three times farther from the Sun than Earth. Because Psyche and Earth orbit at different speeds, the distance from Earth to Psyche varies from less than 186 million miles to more than 372 million miles.

Psyche is dense, estimated at about 212 to 256 pounds per cubic foot (3,400 to 4,100 kilograms per cubic meter). The surface gravity on Psyche is much less than it is on Earth  even less than it is on Earths Moon. On Psyche, lifting a car would feel like lifting a large dog.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
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Heres whats on TV tonight.

Dateline: Secrets in Pleasant Prairie (10 p.m., NBC)

Dateline has started airing new episodes on Thursday nights. This weeks episode looks at the long quest for justice in the poisoning death of a young Kenosha, Wisconsin, mother, Julie Jensen. Her case takes a surprising turn when detectives learn she wrote a letter days before her death, naming a possible suspect.

Interviews with: Pleasant Prairie Police Department Captain Barry Ollila, former Kenosha County District Attorney Bob Jambois, Private Investigator Dave Ellis, coworkers of Julies husband Mark Jensen and others.

How to stream: This will stream on Peacock.

Kelsey Grammer as Frasier, left, and Jack Cutmore-Scott, as Freddy, right, in the Paramount+ reboot of Frasier.

Fasier (Paramount+)

The reboot of the NBC hit sitcom  Frasier  (1993-2004) hits Paramount+ streaming today. Kelsey Grammer is back as the snooty Seattle psychiatrist, Dr. Frasier Crane, but sadly, David Hyde Pierce does not return as his even snootier brother Niles.

There are lots of great supporting characters, though. In the reboot, Frasier stops in Boston on his way to Paris, visit with his now-adult son, Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott) and give a guest lecture at Harvard. (Fans will recall that we first met the character Frasier on the show Cheers, when he was living and working in Boston. For the Frasier spinoff, he had returned to his hometown of Seattle.) Presumably, Frasier decides to stay in Boston, at least for a 10-episode span of his future.

Most reviews of this are positive, with The Los Angeles Times calling it quite good. The first two episodes of the new Frasier will air on CBS on Tuesday, but you arent likely to see more free eps there (at least not anytime super soon).

True Crime Story: Citizen Detective (10 p.m., Sundance TV, AMC+, Sundance Now)

This new series, a spinoff of True Crime Story, tells the stories of regular citizens who have solved or who are trying to solve a murder. There are six parts, and each part focuses on one of these citizens (or sometimes a group of citizens) working on a case that consumes them.

Some programming descriptions are provided by networks.
Thursday was a Weather Alert Day in Central Florida. Review our live blog of all the updates from Thursdays tornado in Palm Coast and severe thunderstorms across Florida.

3:45 p.m. update

The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday afternoon that an EF1 tornado moved through Clearwater and an EF2 tornado moved through Crystal River on Thursday morning.

You can read more about the damage those tornadoes caused by clicking here.

Read: NWS confirms EF2 tornado moved through Palm Coast damaging homes, cars

Earlier Thursday, the agency said that an EF2 tornado also moved through Palm Coast on Thursday morning.

Click here to read more about that tornado.

See photos of the damage from all three tornadoes below, and watch special live team coverage on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4.

Damage near Pine lakes Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast.

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater





2:15 p.m. update

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF2 tornado moved through Palm Coast early Thursday morning. You can read more about the damage it caused here.

Read: NWS confirms EF2 tornado moved through Palm Coast damaging homes, cars

1:30 p.m. update

Marion County Public Schools said that all after-school activities and athletics have been canceled Thursday due to inclement weather, including gusty winds and isolated thunderstorms.

Marion Afterschool Programs remain open.

Read: Potential tornado damages homes, flips cars in Palm Coast





10 a.m. update

The Flagler County Sheriffs Office said residents in need of assistance following Thursday mornings severe weather can go to

Parkview Church in Palm Coast.

See the location below:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Flagler County staff will be on hand until at least 12 p.m. Thursday.

Sheriff Rick Staly also held a news conference Thursday to give an update on the potential tornado or tornados that caused damaged to areas of Palm Coast.

Watch Staly speak below:





8:30 a.m. update

NWS has extended the Tornado Warning until 8:45 a.m. in Marion County.





8:18 a.m. update

The Tornado Warning remains in effect in Marion County but has expired for Flagler County.





8:10 a.m. update

Tornado Warnings are in effect until 8:30 a.m. for both Marion and Flagler counties.

NWS is pinpointing these areas:

Southwestern Marion County

Northeastern Flagler County





8 a.m. update

The Tornado Warning for Flagler County has been extended until 8:30 a.m.

Flagler County Sheriffs Office continues to receive damage reports from Palm Coast, primarily in the B-section.

Channel 9 is in Palm Coast and will continue to provide live updates on air and at WFTV.com

FCSO and emergency response partners are active in the area of the B-section of Palm Coast following a reported tornado.



No injuries have been reported at this time, however, there is some significant damage in the area.



Please use caution in the area. pic.twitter.com/P5eZ1eMXfM  Flagler County Sheriffs Office (@FlaglerSheriff) October 12, 2023





7:38 a.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for Flagler County until 8 a.m.

Tornado Warning including Bunnell FL, Crescent City FL and Espanola FL until 8:00 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/MvM32HlPiC  NWS Jacksonville (@NWSJacksonville) October 12, 2023





7:30 a.m. update

More photos of damage are coming into the Channel 9 newsroom.

Flagler, Citrus and Pinellas counties have reported storm damage, possibly related to tornados.

See the latest photo gallery below:

Damage near Pine lakes Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast.

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater





7 a.m. update

The Flagler County Sheriffs Office said emergency responders are active in the area of the B-section of Palm Coast following a reported tornado.

Officials said that NO injuries have been reported at this time.

There is significant damage in the area, according to FCSO.

Channel 9 has a news crew in Palm Coast to gather the latest images and information.

This is damage we captured near Pine Lakes Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway.

Damage near Pine lakes Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast.

Monitor WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News for live updates.





6:50 a.m. update

NWS has issued a Tornado Warning until 7:15 a.m. for:

West Central Flagler County

Southeastern Putnam County





6:45 a.m. update

Spruce Creek High School will not hold classes today because of a power outage.

Volusia County Schools said that all other schools and bus schedules are operating normally.

Good Morning VCS Family:

We are monitoring the weather and will update you immediately if there are any changes. @GreatDay2BAHawk will not have classes today due to a power outage.



No other school start times or buses have been affected at this time.

Please stay safe. pic.twitter.com/5avKBvOngv  Volusia County Schools (@volusiaschools) October 12, 2023





6:33 a.m. update

Here are some initial images of storm damage from across parts of Central Florida:

Damage near Pine lakes Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast.

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Citrus County

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater

Damage out of Clearwater





6:27 a.m. update

The Citrus County School District has announced that all school is canceled Thursday due to storm damage.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

The west side of Citrus County has experienced significant damage from an unconfirmed tornado(s) which hit the area overnight.

ALL SCHOOL IS CANCELED for today, Thursday, October 12th.

Monitor our website and social media channels for further info. pic.twitter.com/8txuPFLztg  CitrusSchools (@CitrusSchools) October 12, 2023





6:15 a.m. update

The Citrus County Sheriffs Office is reporting that a tornado touched down and caused damage in Crystal River.

ROAD CLOSURES ALONG BOTH HWY 19 AND 44 - CRYSTAL RIVER - TORNADO TOUCHDOWN https://t.co/mcR3Gxc9Cg pic.twitter.com/F9p1WnkedM  Sheriff Citrus (@SheriffCitrus) October 12, 2023

Officials say there are road closures along US-19 and State Road 44.

This embedded content is not available in your region.





6:05 a.m. update

NWS has issued a Tornado Warning for Marion County until 6:30 a.m.





5:45 a.m. update

The Tornado Warning for northern Volusia County has expired, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS said a Tornado Warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. for northcentral Citrus and southeastern Levy counties.

Meteorologists Brian Shields and Kassandra Crimi are in Severe Weather Center 9, continuing to follow storms that are still moving across the Channel 9 viewing area.

Watch live coverage NOW on Eyewitness News This Morning.





5:10 a.m. update

FPL is reporting 1,875 power outages to customers in Volusia County.





5 a.m. update

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Warning for:

Northern Volusia County until 5:45 AM EDT

LIVE severe weather coverage continues RIGHT NOW on Channel 9.





4:30 a.m. update

The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a Tornado Warning until 5 a.m. for the following areas:

Central Lake County in east central Florida

Northwestern Volusia County in east central Florida





4:08 a.m. update

Just after 4 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning in Lake County near the Lake Griffin area until 4:30 a.m.

This includes the cities of Leesburg, Eustis and Tavares.

Tornado Warning including Leesburg FL, Eustis FL and Tavares FL until 4:30 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/UkWww6EiFx  NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) October 12, 2023





4 a.m. update

Several tornado warnings expired in Central Florida early this morning, but the threat of potential severe weather remains for much of the northern part of our viewing area, including Marion, Flagler and Volusia Counties.

 Several tornado warnings for north-central FL early this morning, including Marion County



 Areas near & south of the lifting warm front are in the more favored tornado threat area (area in red circle) through 6 am#jaxwx #flwx pic.twitter.com/jgCyQk3WtF  NWS Jacksonville (@NWSJacksonville) October 12, 2023

Channel 9s meteorologists are tracking powerful thunderstorms in Central Florida that could spawn tornadoes.

Sumter County is under a tornado warning until 3:45 a.m.

A tornado warning in Marion County has since been lifted.

Strong thunderstorms are currently moving through Marion and Sumter counties.

Read: Tornado Watch vs. Tornado Warning? What you need to know

Chief meteorologist Tom Terry said area residents should move to a closet or bathroom on the lowest level of their home.

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The Russians stepped up their offensive on Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast

Everyone knew the attack on Avdiivka in Donbas would happen on [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putins birthday. But something didn't add up, and the Russians have withdrawn by now. What are the prospects on this front?

Several battalions of the Russian occupiers were involved in the attack on Avdiivka from all sides. They were going to gather in Donetsk in another week and a half. It's right next door. Of course, some of these Russian soldiers preparing for the attack were deployed around the city, and they went to all the cafes and other activities soldiers do during their downtime. The whole of Donetsk knew there would be an attack on Avdiivka shortly. They have a problem with their tongues in this sense. Not only our intelligence, not only our garrison in Avdiivka  everyone knew perfectly well that the attack would take place on Putin's birthday, Oct. 7. This was the gift they were preparing for Putin, a big strike on Avdiivka, boiling the cauldron, as they say, and then by the evening to take the city. In general, the whole process. Russian journalists came to Donetsk; there were a lot of telegram bloggers and TV journalists. They had prepared to organize such a demonstrative offensive since Thursday or Friday.

But something didn't work out.

Something didnt quite work out, so they didn't manage to carry out this attack on the seventh of the month. Perhaps the events with Hamas in Israel had something to do with it. The preparations may have worked fine, and they just postponed the date. Or they went on a binge, as I understand it, on the weekend of Friday. On Monday, they turned on this mechanism. At five in the morning, they started their offensive.

We were waiting for it, and we knew exactly what would happen. They came to Donetsk, Yasynuvata, and Makiivka along with their equipment. They left residential areas and began to assault Avdiivka around five in the morning. Of course, our fighters, knowing all this, went into cover. We have been holding this line in the Avdiivka area for ten years. There is a fortified area, including industrial enterprises, Koksokhim, and many underground communications. It's about the size of Azovstal. And our troops withstood this attack because they understood where and from where the enemy would attack.

The Russians in Donetsk were waiting for a response. MLRS, Grads were coming in, right into the yard, and hitting Avdiivka. They were waiting for an answer when they would fly to film the strikes of Ukrainian troops on residential areas. Of course, there was no response. We were in the shelter at that time. Then there was a serious offensive, a very serious offensive, in a semicircle from Vodiane to Krasnohorivka.

Avdiivka is a point operation. It's not a large-scale operation

Indeed, hundreds of people were marching in columns, assault companies, and the total number of battalions involved was about several. Up to fifty tanks and over a couple hundred armored personnel carriers, but at least half remained there. We were preparing, and we knew that these offensives would take place. I repeat: this is the 10th year we have been monitoring this situation. Every bush there has been shot. Our artillery worked splendidly, and the enemy forces were caught in the fire.

Why did the Russians suffer such heavy losses from this offensive? Our artillery simply worked well, and then our assault groups counterattacked them. Several companies are still wandering around in the gray zone. Nothing is over yet. They continue these offensives, trying to knock out our troops with the help of, again, artillery. There were a lot of airplanes; that is, the number of flights was an order of magnitude higher than it was most of the time. They have already lost a Su-25.

We held our positions, the gray zone, but the gray zone is uncontrolled. Now, they are still languishing there. The gray zone will be cleared in the near future, because it is almost all shelled by our artillery, and the borders of the fortified area that has been there for ten years will be restored.

Avdiivka is a point operation. It's not a large-scale operation, and it's not a significant movement. It has nothing to do with the Kupyansk direction. These are two absolutely separate operations. Moreover, the "feeding" comes from Donetsk. They mostly come from Rostov. Rostov-Mariupol-Volnovakha-Donetsk is the direction of the supply of equipment and ammunition. The Kupyansk direction comes from Valuiki.

What are the Russians' reserves for Avdiivka? Out of the 400,000 Russians on the front line, they have given up several battalions, one and a half to two thousand people. This is the maximum. Even then, they were unable to carry out offensive actions. These are not resources, and these are not reserves. This has been happening lately - several tens of thousands of people in the Donetsk area. Donetsk, Makiivka, Yasynuvata. They managed to carry out such an operation over the past six months. But again, they came under serious artillery fire.

Read also: What does the war in Israel change for Ukraine

Now, the Russians will try to gather again. Donetsk is right next door. The whole problem, not just the problem, but the situation in the Donetsk area is precisely because it is a large city. You can get scattered there, get lost among the population. They can work from residential areas, which they do all the time. That's why they always get their money's worth. We have high-precision weapons. Sometimes, we hit military targets in Donetsk with precision. But Donetsk is a massive city. It's a big, flat city. Several battalions can hide themselves there. It is difficult to find them there.

Nevertheless, they are crawling out. You can't close them off completely. They are Russians, after all. Some windows have not been broken, as far as I understand it. Not to mention the houses there. They get them from somewhere in the middle of nowhere. It needs to be clarified. I'm from Donetsk, so I know some details of what's happening in the city with these worthless characters.

Donetsk is empty now. There is no one to clean Donetsk. There are mountains of garbage. Even the drivers of garbage trucks have been drafted into the army. There is practically no one left to fight in the city. Only girls and the elderly are left. Children, women, and the elderly. All the men were taken away. The most interesting thing is that now they will round up everyone, starting from the age of 18, although there is information about 16-year-olds and up to old age, up to 70, up to 80 years old, almost everyone who appears on the street is rounded up. Soon, they will clean up everyone.

The attack on Avdiivka was carried out with the help of outsiders, not locals. I'm saying that they were gathered from all over Russia. Right now, the Donetsk condos are wandering around, the ones who changed their colors back in 2014, mostly SBU officers and local cops; they stand aside and don't get involved in such a mix. They save lives, so to speak, for Russia, for life beyond the Urals. These stormtroopers are brought from across the Urals, and they find their death here. They die in large numbers and leave behind their equipment. Indeed, the fields there are dotted with Russian equipment that was destroyed by our artillery. They also ran into minefields. As I understand it, the minefields were placed on purpose in a few hours or days, perhaps, in these areas that our intelligence knew about.

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Amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas, several Western governments have clamped down on demonstrations in support of Palestine that have ranged from peaceful marches to protests glorifying violence towards Israelis.

French authorities banned all pro-Palestinian demonstrations, while leaders in Australia made similar warnings after a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney ended with activists shouting antisemitic slogans. Germany banned the pro-Palestinian group Samidoun, saying its members were celebrating Hamas attack on Israel.

In Vienna, police also shut down a pro-Palestinian protest that coincided with a pro-Israeli demonstration, citing the phrase from the river to the sea that was used in invitations, which alludes to the elimination of Israel.

The crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests raises important questions over freedom of speech and assembly, lawyer Greg Barns writes in The Sydney Morning Herald. Governments should be cautious when thinking about outright banning a demonstration, and should instead use existing laws around hate speech to charge people who attend them and incite hatred, he argued. In the U.K., Home Secretary Suella Braverman said waving a Palestinian flag could be an offense when intended to glorify acts of terrorism, while opposition leader Keir Starmer said its very important that at times like this we dont conflate peaceful discussion of Palestinian issues with Hamas.

While the EU has been the largest foreign donor to Palestinian territories, the blocs ties to Israel have deepened in recent years. Geopolitical realities have worked in Israels favor" after the country made it a priority to thaw relations with the EU, Politico reported, and the heads of the EU Commission and Parliament plan to visit Israel on Friday. While fewer than half of Western Europeans picked a side in the Israel-Palestine debate in a YouGov poll from July, those that did showed more sympathy for the Palestinian cause than support for Israelis  with the exception of Germany, where respondents were evenly split on the issue. However, the public had a tendency to believe that their governments sympathized more with Israel.

The EUs response to the conflict has caused division and confusion among its member states. European governments were in disarray over the question of cutting off aid to Palestine. They also disagreed over the EUs statement condemning Hamas in the strongest possible terms, with some countries like Ireland, Luxembourg, and Denmark wanting the EU to push for de-escalation, while other member states advocating for a strong statement of solidarity with Israel.

Within the U.S., the conversation surrounding pro-Palestine rallies has become politically fraught. Following Hamass attack over the weekend, groups held such rallies across the country that were largely condemned by elected officials across the political spectrum. The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America faced backlash for promoting a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square, leading at least one member of Congress to cut ties with the party. The chair of the state Democratic party said anyone endorsed by the group would face future repercussions, Politico reported.
Two people were arrested on suspicion of stealing a United States Postal Service mailbox key used to purloin mail after officers found the pair with multiple credit cards belonging to others, according to the West Sacramento Police Department.

Police stopped a car on West Capitol Avenue over the weekend to search it because the female motorist was on probation, a news release said. Officers said they found several credit cards belonging to others, as well as altered checks.

West Sacramento police said officers also searched the womans motel room and found the postal key which provided some relief for victimized residents, the news release said.

Its unclear how the man taken into custody was connected to the mail thefts. Police did not immediately respond to questions about the arrests.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) withdrew his bid to become the new Speaker of the House on Thursday night, following a day of intense GOP resistance to his nomination for the position.

Its been quite a journey. And theres still a long way to go. I just shared with my colleagues that Im withdrawing my name as a candidate for the speaker designee, he said, according to The Hill.

Speaking to reporters, Scalise said, according to Axios, I was very clear we have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs. This country is counting on us.

But theres some folks that really need to look in the mirror over the next couple of days, he continued, and decide are we going to get it back on track, or theyre going to try to pursue their own agenda.

Scalises decision to drop out of the race was first reported by Punchbowl News Jake Sherman. The 58-year-old lawmaker said he would remain in his position as Majority Leader, the No. 2 position in the GOP conference.

Scalises announcement ensures that House Republicans leadership crisis, sparked by their ouster of Kevin McCarthy last Tuesday, will drag on with no end in sight. Without a speaker, the House cannot function or conduct normal business, and the current situation is without precedent.

Now, Republicans are asking whether anyone will be able to gather enough support to lead the conference and revive a chamber that has been ground to a halt by McCarthys ouster nearly 10 days ago.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who Scalise defeated in a secret ballot nomination for speaker on Wednesday, began making calls Thursday night to revive his speakership bid, according to Punchbowl News. It's possible other Republicans could angle for the job, too.

Though Jordan endorsed Scalise, a critical mass of his backers publicly vowed to block the Louisiana Republican's campaign for the speakership.

At least 15 Jordan supporters said they intended to vote for him over Scalise on the floor, more than enough to deny Scalise the speakership. With 217 the magic number to elect a Speaker in the full House, any candidate can only lose four GOP votes.

House GOP Finally Picks a SpeakerNow Comes the Hard Part

A frustrated Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) raged at the partys traitors on Thursday, telling NBC News that no Republican might ever be able to get 217 votes.

As of Thursday afternoon, lawmakers were clearly digging in for a protracted battle. According to Punchbowl News, GOP lawmakers have begun to explore whether the interim speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), might be given additional powers so the House could at least conduct legislative business while Republicans sort out their messy drama.

Members of the anti-Scalise faction offered a variety of reasons to explain their opposition.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) cited Scalises ongoing battle with blood cancer in her post announcing her vote for Jordan.

I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in Congress, she wrote. I lost my father to cancer and its a very serious battle.

Greene and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) are aligned in their support for Jordan, but that hasnt stopped them from devolving into social media infighting over Maces rationale for opposing Scalise.

Mace said in a CNN interview that her position stemmed from Scalises attendance at a white supremacist conference, which is a disqualifying factor in her eyesalthough it didnt stop her from touting his endorsement in 2020.

Greene shot back that if Mace were right, it would mean a majority of House Republicans support a white supremacist.

We have a member of our conference using Democrat BLM lines to attack a guy for Speaker that more than 100 of our own conference supports, youre now saying half the conference supports a white supremacist, Greene wrote on X.

House GOP Realizes Ditching McCarthy Didnt Solve Its Problems

As for serial fabulist Rep. George Santos (R-NY), theres absolutely nothing that can be done to make him vote for Scalise, he told Axios. Im voting for Jim JordanIll vote for anybody. Ill vote for Donald Trump. (Santos, who was hit with a superseding federal criminal indictment on Tuesday, claimed Scalise had not called him to ask for his support.)

The chaos works in Santos favor for the time being, delaying his fellow New York Republican lawmakers from moving forward with their effort to expel him.

Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) told Punchbowl News that theres concern Scalise is merely a rubber stamp for McCarthy. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), meanwhile, told right-wing talk host Glenn Beck that Scalise was part of the swamp.

Reps. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Mary Miller (R-IL), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Bob Good (R-VA) and Keith Self (R-TX) each issued statements blasting Scalise and vowing to throw their support behind his former opponent.

Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) told CNBC he remained in Jordans camp; Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) told NBC News the same.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) initially voiced her full backing for Scalise Wednesday, writing on social media that he was going to allow her to aggressively pursue issues important to her.

But that support lasted less than a day, with Luna flipping on Scalise on Thursday and admitting that there is no consensus candidate for the Speaker and I dont think we will make it to the floor.

At least half a dozen other detractorsincluding Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX)have said they wont support Scalise on the floor but did not indicate who their ballots will be cast for when it comes time to vote.

The massive mutiny within Republicans ranks shows no signs of abating, threatening to extend the chambers unprecedented stretch without a leader and handing Democrats ammunition as they take aim at Republicans inability to govern.

Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on Thursday again floated the idea of a consensus speakership to restore order to the House. The idea may have begun as a way to contrast Democrats seriousness with GOP chaos, but it may look less farfetched the longer the leadership crisis drags on.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told The Daily Beast on Sunday that the vacant speakership is especially concerning amid the unfolding war between Hamas and Israel, and that hed be open to a consensus candidate to help Congress find its way out of the current turmoil.Re

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump 's comments calling Hezbollah "smart" and criticizing Israel's defense minister were "dangerous and unhinged," White House spokesman Andrew Bates said on Thursday.

"Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged. Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as 'smart,'" Bates said.

Trump, who is seeking to run against President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, in comments to supporters in Florida Wednesday night, said Hezbollah was "very smart" and called Defense Minister Yoav Gallant "a jerk."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building October 11, 2023 in Washington, DC.



U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building October 11, 2023 in Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, President Biden commented on the horrors of the Israel-Hamas war while addressing Jewish community leaders. However, the White House had to clear up some of his claims.

I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children, Biden said as he and his administration offered support for Israel during its war with Hamas.



Read more

I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home. But the idea that Im going to stand here before you and tell you what Im doing is bizarre, Biden said.

During a news briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that there have been 22 confirmed U.S deaths. In addition, she said that 17 Americans are still unaccounted for.

This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by a millennium of antisemitism and genocide against Jewish people. And in this moment, we have to be crystal clear: There is no justification for terrorism, no excuse, Biden said Wednesday.

At least 1,200 Israelis  which includes 189 soldiers  have been killed as of Wednesday. In addition, more than 2,700 have been wounded per the Israel Defense Forces.

According to health ministries in the West Bank and Gaza, over 1,100 people in Gaza have been killed and 5,300 have been hurt.

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The White House on Thursday condemned former President Donald Trump for describing Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, as very smart.

In a statement, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said that although it doesnt typically comment on the 2024 presidential race, Trumps remarks were dangerous and unhinged.

Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel, Bates said. Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history.

This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil, he added. Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

In remarks at a Club 47 event in West Palm Beach, Trump blamed President Joe Biden for the deadly Israel-Hamas war by baselessly claiming that the Biden administration had funded the attacks with the $6 billion in oil revenue it recently unfroze as a result of a prisoner exchange with Iran, which has historically funded both Hamas and Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been exchanging fire across the border with Israel since Hamas' surprise attack last weekend.

Follow live updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict

Trump said: And then two nights ago, I read all of Biden security people  can you imagine? National defense people and they said, Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack from the north because thats the most vulnerable spot. I said, 'Wait a minute. You know, Hezbollah is very smart. Theyre all very smart.'

In a statement Thursday, the Trump campaign said, President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid.

Trump also went after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his speech, saying he "has been flying around the country setting fire to his reputation and destroying the reputation frankly of Florida.

DeSantis also took aim at Trump on Wednesday night for describing Hezbollah as very smart" in a post on the X platform that included a video of the former presidents remarks: Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.

As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are, he added.

DeSantis has sharpened his criticisms of Trump in recent days. He argued Tuesday in an interview on MSNBCs Morning Joe that Democrats have a better chance of winning the White House in 2024 if Trump wins the GOP presidential nomination.

I think a referendum on Joe Biden means we win, if Im the candidate. I think a referendum on Donald Trump, if thats it, then I think the Democrats would win, DeSantis said on Morning Joe.

He said although there are millions of voters who disapprove of Biden, believe the country is heading in the wrong direction and want to vote for a Republican, Trump is just a dealbreaker for them. They just wont do it.

Since Hamas launched its attacks against Israel last weekend, Republican 2024 presidential candidates have blamed the Biden administration for the attacks that have prompted war. Several of the contenders have insisted, without evidence, that the U.S. funded the attacks as a result of the prisoner exchange deal with Iran.

Biden has repeatedly stressed his administrations support for Israel amid its war with Hamas and efforts to free American hostages this week. His administration has also pushed back against the GOP criticism, insisting that the $6 billion in oil revenue that Iran recently regained access to did not come from U.S. taxpayer dollars.

The U.S. and Qatari governments have agreed to block Iran from accessing any of the $6 billion, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo communicated to House Democrats Thursday, according to three sources familiar with the remarks, two of whom were in the room.

Adeyemo said the money isnt going anywhere anytime soon, two of the sources said.

Israel has launched airstrikes into the Gaza Strip and Hamas has fired rockets toward Tel Aviv as the war stretches into its sixth day. Israels military said it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza, a densely populated strip that is home to more than 2 million Palestinians, half of whom are children. The Israel Defense Forces preparations come after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a wartime unity Cabinet and vowed to crush and destroy Hamas.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Biden administration blasted Donald Trump on Thursday for heaping praise on the terrorist group Hezbollah, calling the former presidents statement dangerous and unhinged. During an off-the-rails speech on Wednesday, which also featured Trump blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the Hamas conflict, the GOP presidential frontrunner credited Hezbollah over its recent attack on Israel. You know, Hezbollah is very smart. Theyre all very smart, Trump said of the Iran-aligned militant organization. Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement. Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel. Bates added that this is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil. It isnt just Democrats and President Joe Biden who are assailing Trump over his comments. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trumps biggest competition in the 2024 GOP race, condemned the ex-presidents remarks as absurd.

NEW: Trump praises Hezbollah, calling the Iran-backed terror group very smart hours after they attacked Israel.



Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/8YhjpyyGLZ  DeSantis War Room  (@DeSantisWarRoom) October 12, 2023

Read more at The Daily Beast.
The White House maintained Thursday that Iran has not accessed any of the $6 billion in funds transferred to a Qatari account as part of a recent prisoner swap with Tehran amid multiple reports that the U.S. and Qatar are discussing blocking Iran from accessing the funds moving forward.

John Kirby, a White House spokesperson on national security issues, told reporters the entirety of the $6 billion is still in a Qatari bank after it was transferred from South Korea as part of a prisoner swap that freed five Americans. Talks of refreezing the funds have bubbled up since the devastating attacks on Israel by Hamas, a militant group long known to be backed by the Iranian regime.

Im not going to talk about diplomatic conversations one way or another, Kirby said. What I can tell you is every single dime of that money is sitting in the Qatari bank. Not one dime of it has been spent.

Kirby later told reporters he wasnt going to discuss changes that may have happened involving the funds in the last 24 hours.

Im not going to speculate one way or another here about future transactions, he said. What I can tell you is none of it has been accessed, and we are watching every dime.

His remarks came soon after multiple news outlets reported that Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats that Iran would no longer have access to the funds.

The administration had faced pressure from Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill to cut off access to the money in the wake of terrorist attacks against Israel.

White House officials have so far said there is no evidence Iran was involved in planning or carrying out the attacks, which have left more than 1,000 Israelis and more than two dozen Americans dead. But they have stressed that Iran is broadly complicit because of its years of support for Hamas.

Kirby emphasized that the $6 billion in funding was never going to be available to the Iranian regime and that it was subject to strict oversight.

None of it has been accessed by Iran at all, and even if they had accessed it, it wouldnt go to the regime, Kirby said. It would go to approved vendors that we approved to go buy food, medicine, medical equipment, agricultural products and ship it into Iran directly to the benefit of the Iranian people.

The $6 billion that was unfrozen as part of the prisoner swap was already the subject of intense scrutiny from Republicans in particular, even prior to the Hamas attacks, with GOP lawmakers and presidential candidates equating it to a ransom payment that would embolden Iran.

The White House has been adamant that the money was not a ransom payment, noting that it did not come at the expense of U.S. taxpayers and that the money was from South Korean oil purchases to Iran under an agreement established during the Trump administration.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The White House has said that 27 Americans have been killed after the attacks on Israel by Hamas.

Spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday that 14 Americans remain unaccounted for.

Ill start with the saddest news. We can now update the number of Americans that we know had been killed to 27 and the number of unaccounted for stands today at 14, Mr Kirby, the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, said during a press briefing.

In Israel, more than 1,300 people were killed in the Hamas attack that began on Saturday. Following the beginning of the Israeli retaliation, more than 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza. Hamas has been designated as a terror group by the US, the EU, the UK and other countries.

Mr Kirby was asked about the $6bn of Iranian assets that were set to be unfrozen to be used for humanitarian needs as part of a deal to release five Americans held in the country. Republicans have bashed the Biden administration, claiming that the funds have allowed Iran to reallocate assets to back Hamas.

Every single dime of that money is still sitting in a Qatari bank, not one dime of it has been spent, Mr Kirby, the former Pentagon press secretary and retired US Navy rear admiral, said on Thursday.

Ill also remind ... in certain audiences, inconvenient facts are easy to forget, the regime was never gonna see a dime of that money, he said, seemingly in a dig at conservatives. And this account, although it's moved from South Korea to Qatar, was set up by the previous administration for this exact purpose.

Back in 2018, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo actually talked in quite some detail about how this money and these accounts can only be used for humanitarian purposes and that there was going to be oversight. We've done nothing different. It is the same process, he added. All we've done is move the funds from South Korea where for some technical reasons, it wasn't accessible to Qatar, where its more accessible. All that said, none of it has been accessed ... by Iran at all. And even if they had access to it, it wouldn't go to the regime.

It would go to vendors that we approved to go buy food, medicine and medical equipment, agricultural products, and ship it into Iran directly to the benefit of the Iranian people, he said.

This comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned Israel ahead of its planned siege of Gaza as he spoke alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

Mr Blinken spoke of the strong US support for Israel and reiterated that the country has the right to defend itself, but he added that how Israel does this matters.

The secretary of state met with Mr Netanyahu at the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv. The top US diplomat mentioned his Jewish ancestry and horror at the Hamas attacks.

I understand on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere, he said.

There is no excuse. There is no justification for these atrocities, he added. This must be a moment for moral clarity.

The brutality and inhumanity of Hamas was similar to the worst of ISIS, Mr Blinken said.

Mr Blinken said the US would supply ammunition to restock Israels air defences, adding that there would be bipartisan support for further military assistance. He then cautioned that how Israel goes about its counteroffensive matters.

Our humanity, the value we place on human life and human dignity ... is what makes us who we are, he said.

We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when its difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short, Mr Blinken said. Thats why its so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. And thats why we mourn the loss of every innocent life  civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed.

No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again, he added before going on to note that as the Prime Minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters.
The White House has condemned former president Donald Trump for calling the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah very smart in remarks on Thursday night in Florida.

His comments came less than a week after militant group Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a Club 47 USA event in West Palm Beach on Wednesday (11 October), the former president said: Can you imagine national defence people, and they said gee, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack from the north because thats the most vulnerable spot.

And I said Wait a minute. You know Hezbollahs very smart. Theyre all very smart. The press doesnt like it when I say that. You know, I said that about President Xi of China, 1.4 billion people, he controls it with an iron fist. I said hes a very smart man.

They killed me the next day He said he was smart. What am I gonna say But Hezbollah, theyre very smart.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement that, although the Biden administration doesnt typically comment on the 2024 presidential race, Mr Trumps remarks were dangerous and unhinged.

Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel, Mr Bates said.

Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history.

He added: This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil.

Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

We don't comment on 2024.



Calling an Iran-backed terrorist group "smart" - especially at a time like this - is unhinged and sickening.



Why in God's name would any American do that? https://t.co/37ZFLx4kCQ  Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) October 12, 2023

Mr Trumps remarks were also slammed by his GOP presidential rival Ron DeSantis.

The Florida governor shared a clip of Mr Trumps comments on X, writing: Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.

As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.



As pic.twitter.com/408e82OVDP  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 12, 2023

In other recent remarks, Mr Trump has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country as unprepared.

He has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here, Mr Trump said of Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday night.

He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared.

Israel reports that more than 1,300 people were killed and more than 3,000 wounded in the attack on the south of the country on Saturday (7 October).

Since then, Palestinian officials report that more than 1,400 people have been killed and over 6,000 injured in Gaza.
Ukrainian military personnel fire from Grad towards Russian troops near Avdiivka

Avdiyivka must be won to achieve victory in the war against Russia, former Ukrainian MP, military medic, and Territorial Defense Forces soldier Yehor Firsov told Radio NV.

Firsov revealed that he had observed significant enemy troop concentrations through quadcopters, including columns of troops, which is currently a rarity. Two heavy multiple rocket launcher systems were also observed.

Read also: Russian forces launch massive advance on Avdiyivka, Ukrainian military destroys 60 enemy vehicles

"In the one and a half years I've been on the front lines, I've never seen two Suncepek systems simultaneously.

Russians are infiltrating Ukrainian positions with small groups of six to eight individuals, he said. Although these groups are numerous, the Russians employed all possible weaponry during the assault on Avdiyivka, ranging from small artillery to mass airstrikes on Avdiyivka and all the surrounding suburbs, such as Ocheretyno and Krasnohorivka.

Read also: Russia launches major offensive on Avdiyivka  Butusov

"All of this indicates that it's not just a singular attack, an attempt at a local assault, or some provocation. It's about the enemy trying to do everything it can to exert pressure on Avdiyivka. Avdiyivka is now a strategic city because they can't feel secure in Donetsk. Our forces have the entire perimeter of Donetsk under fire, primarily from Avdiyivka and its suburbs.

"One of the significant battles in this war has commenced, Firsov stated, and "to achieve an overall victory, we must win this battle."

Read also: Ukrainian forces holding positions in Avdiyivka as Russia makes push in Donetsk Oblast

Russian occupiers view Avdiyivka as an opportunity to achieve a symbolic "victory" and shift the course of military operations, Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun stated.

Russian forces have intensified their offensive on Avdiyivka, launching mass attacks on the city. The fighting has been ongoing for three days.

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
Delawares population is aging. Look at the demographic trends: existing residents growing older, retirees relocating here, and longer lifespans. Its clear: the First State is graying quickly.

Today, more Delawareans are making multi-generational family planning decisions. This sandwich generation is not only raising children, but are often also caring for an aging parent or loved one. Many are helping parents determine whether they can continue to live independently or whether its time for them to consider an assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility. These can be stressful and emotional conversations to begin with, made even more difficult when confronting the high costs of these facilities.

When we read the troubling accounts of elder care recently captured by Meredith Newman, families and caregivers are understandably concerned about the quality of care their own loved one may receive. While these stories are difficult to stomach, I thank The News Journal for its continued coverage of this issue, because Delawareans deserve to know that our states eldercare network falls short for some of our neighbors  whether they receive care in or out of the home.

Delaware lawmakers last week introduced a package of bills aimed to better regulate long-term care facilities, particularly those that offer dementia care.

Since I was first elected, one of my top legislative priorities has been to improve the quality of life for our aging Delawareans, their families, and caregivers. In 2021, I launched the Aging-in-Place Working Group, convening policy experts and stakeholders to examine our states home eldercare landscape. That group produced several policy recommendations aimed at improving health outcomes for the seniors that choose to remain in the comfort of their own home.

Then last year, we formed the Long-Term Care and Memory Care Task Force, which focused on the quality of care, workforce needs, and training standards for our states long-term care facilities  especially those that offer memory care services.

We heard gut-wrenching stories from community members who had negative experiences at facilities across our state. We learned the impact on residents when facilities are constantly understaffed, elevating levels of risk across the board. Whether residents are paying tens of thousands of dollars each year to reside in a long-term care facility, or are people on a fixed income and limited to few facilities, all our states long-term care facilities should be providing all their residents the support and care they need and deserve.

On the other hand, we heard about several positive patient experiences. Some facilities are providing remarkably high-quality care and service. We analyzed how these facilities were operating, developing best practices that could be adopted by other providers across our state committed to high-quality service and care.

Subscriber exclusive: How Delaware failed to police assisted living facilities

After meeting for nine months, the task force developed 19 recommendations, which led to the introduction of five bills in the General Assembly this past spring. We passed two of the task forces recommendations back in June  increasing cultural competency standards for long-term care facilities staff, and mandating a review and report of laws and regulations governing skilled nursing and long-term care facilities.

But there is much more work to be done.

This is not an issue that can wait and we, as policymakers, need to act because Delawareans deserve to age with dignity. Let me be clear: Delaware must invest in services for its seniors and their caregivers. If we dont, there will be dire economic consequences as the emotional and economic strain on caregivers, who are often in their prime earning years, and care workers increases. We must develop a comprehensive strategy to accommodate not only the health care needs of Delawares aging population, but also reimagine their transportation, social, and housing needs. In order to support this strategy, its imperative to recruit, grow and retain a dedicated workforce to sustain these needs for generations to come.

When the General Assembly reconvenes in January, I will be moving forward with the recommendations developed through the Aging-in-Place Working Group and the Long-Term Care Task Force. I encourage my colleagues to support these initiatives, so that we may continue our commitment to improving eldercare for all.

State Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos represents the 7th District, which encompasses Elsmere, Greenbank, Marshallton, the Lancaster Pike/Newport Gap Pike areas and portions of Newport and Stanton.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Delaware long-term care options must be improved
As schools and parents contend with uncomfortable and increasingly unavoidable truths about persistent learning loss, new data out Thursday points to a key source of the problem: Scores of students have in recent years missed so much school that catching up seems nearly impossible.

The U.S. Education Department data, analyzed by Attendance Works and Johns Hopkins Universitys Everyone Graduates Center, shows that in the 2021-22 school year, 2 in 3 students attended schools with high or extreme levels of chronic absence. Chronic absence typically refers to missing at least 10% of the school year, and the analysis considers a schools levels to be high or extreme if at least a fifth of its students are chronically absent.

Overall, roughly 30% of students were chronically absent during the 2021-22 year. It was an era still reeling from the devastation of COVID-19  quarantines were frequent, health needs were vast and hardship was widespread.

Going to school was hard during COVID. Why arent kids (or teachers) returning to class?

Attendance challenges persist

But as in-depth reporting by USA TODAY revealed earlier this year, attendance challenges persisted into the subsequent school year  the one that was, at long last, supposed to feel normal. A separate recent analysis by Attendance Works of 11 states data found only a slight decline in chronic absence from 2021-22 to 2022-23. Last school year, 28% of those states students were chronically absent, down from 30% the year prior.

An unprecedented wave of chronic absenteeism has spread across the country, the analysis notes. Not only is teaching and learning more challenging when large numbers of students are frequently missing class, such elevated levels of chronic absence can easily overwhelm a schools capacity to respond.

Kids who are chronically absent have lower odds of graduating and, especially when they miss school in the early grades, of learning how to read. And while chronic absence generally is more common at the high school level, the latest report shows the increases were especially pronounced at elementary schools.

The rate jumped from 7% in 2017-18 to 38% in 2021-22. In fact, the number of elementary schools with extreme levels of chronic absence  more than 30% of kids missing 10% of the year  far exceeded that of high schools.

Which kids missed class during COVID? We asked, and shools dont know.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why are kids still behind in school? Their attendance remains abysmal
Back in 2008, a little restaurant called Fridas Mexican Grill opened in a 60-seat space on 21st Street, right next to the Thai Binh Supermarket.

Back then, not many Wichitans knew what a pirata was, but they were about to find out. The dish straight out of Monterrey, Mexico  a giant flour taco stuffed with meat, lettuce, pico de gallo and melty cheese then folded and grilled until crisp  became the thing that Wichita foodies craved.

But bridge construction near the restaurant in 2009 made Fridas almost impossible to reach, and owner Mario Quiroz closed the restaurant in 2010. He took a job at a food service distributor and would occasionally tease a Fridas comeback. But nothing happened.

Then, in 2013, one of Quirozs restaurant clients opened and then quickly closed a restaurant at 1064 N. Waco  right next to longtime local favorite Juarez Bakery  and Qurioz saw his chance for a comeback. He and his wife, Mara Garza, announced they would open a new Mexican restaurant with a new name  Molinos Mexican Cuisine  and that they would serve lots of authentic dishes many other Mexican restaurants in the area didnt offer at the time  including a Yucatan-style slow-roasted pork called cochinita pibil.

And yes, they promised, the piratas would be back.

Now, a decade has passed, and Quiroz and Garza are celebrating 10 years in business by looking back  and by launching several new menu items, including a list of signature tacos representing several different regions of Mexico. All the new dishes were dreamed up by Garza, who has in the last year taken over the day-to-day management of the restaurant and its kitchen.

Its been an eventful 10 years for Molinos owners, filled with expansion, retraction, COVID survival and changing roles for Garza and for Quiroz, parents of two sons who were boys when Molinos opened and now are both out of high school.

Though much has changed at Molinos over the past decade, much has stayed the same, too. The pirata is still the main draw, and the clientele  made up mostly people on lunch breaks from downtown businesses and residents of nearby Riverside  has stayed strong and loyal.

The new Gobernador tacos at Molinos Mexican Cuisine are made with shrimp sauteed in poblano peppers, onions, melted cheese, red cabbage, chipotle creamy sauce and green aioli sauce.

Looking back, the couple says, they can see the impact Molinos has had on the local dining scene since it opened. Their attention to detail, focus on presentation and ability to serve unique dishes that are a step above standard Wichita Tex Mex offerings has pushed other local restaurants to do more, Quiroz said.

The big restaurants, when we started, they started watching what we were doing, and I think they improved, Quiroz said. And I think in the end, that was good for the whole community.

From burgers to business school

Quiroz grew up in Guadalupe Victoria, a city in the state of Durango in northwestern Mexico. His grandfather was an entrepreneur, and when a teenage Quiroz suggested that he might be interested in running a charcoal burger stand that was for sale, his grandfather was thrilled, he said.

His grandfather bought the stand, and Quiroz  14 at the time  started running it with two of his cousins. Eventually, the boys got busy with school and activities, but the stand was successful, so their parents ran it. Quirozs grandfather eventually bought a building and moved the hamburger business indoors, and today  36 years later  it still operates.

Quiroz grew up with a mind for business, and in 2001, he decided to finish his accounting degree in Monterrey, Mexico. After he graduated, he worked in Mexico for five years before moving to the United States, determined to continue his education. He looked at colleges in the two cities where he had relatives living: San Jose and Wichita. The stark difference in cost of living made the choice easy, Quiroz said, and he enrolled at Wichita State University.

Two years later  in 2003  Quiroz married Garza, whom hed met back home, and she joined him in Wichita. He worked for a couple of food businesses before he started waiting tables at La Mesa, a Mexican restaurant that operated at 6960 W. 21st St. from 2001 until 2009. He eventually worked his way up to manager and then became a co-owner.

But in 2008, Quiroz decided to follow his entrepreneurial instincts and opened a new restaurant: Fridas, which operated in a big space at 1580 W. 21st St. as part restaurant, part event center. The restaurant was an almost instant hit. Once people tried the Monterrey-inspired pirata and Fridas fresh self-service salsa bar  word spread fast.

Just two years later, though, Fridas was gone, and Quiroz said he felt like a failure.

The one that was the hardest and hurt the most was Fridas, Quiroz said. We suffered the loss of that business, not just financially, but it was more emotional.

A photo taken at Fridas Mexican Grill in December 2008

Quiroz went to work for US Foods, but his dream of reopening a version of Fridas never left him. And his fans never left him alone, frequently asking him when theyd be able to get piratas again.

Three years after Fridas closed, Quiroz said, his credit was clear, and he stumbled into what he considered an ideal location.

And I said, Im ready, he remembers.

Return of the pirata

When Quiroz announced that he and Garza were back, their longtime fans rejoiced. They were even happier when Molinos opened its doors in the spring of 2013. Not only was the pirata back, but Quiroz and Garza had built a menu of unique, upscale Mexican dishes that werent as widely available in Wichita at the time: things like queso fundido served flaming tableside, elote and chilaquiles. Molinos also became known as a go-to spot for street tacos.

The response was so favorable that the couple felt driven to expand the concept. In July of 2015, they opened an east-side Molinos at 37th and Rock Road. But despite an extensive building remodel, the business Quiroz was sure hed find in the area never really materialized. He closed that restaurant in 2017.

Mario Quiroz is pictured making fresh tortillas at Molinos Taqueria in 2019.

The following year, he tried again, opening Molinos Taqueria at 2035 N. Rock Road. The restaurant, a build-your-own burrito place that featured flour tortillas made on site and Fridas famous salsa bar, started strong, but after COVID-19 hit, the business never really recovered. He closed it in September of last year, citing the inability to find employees and rising food costs.

It was a blow, Quiroz remembers, but it was also a reminder that his flagship restaurant on Waco was his bread and butter. Though business there has never fully recovered from COVID-19, Quiroz said, the home base restaurant supports itself.

Today, Quiroz is philosophical about his two false starts.

Through the years, something Ive learned is not to have bad feelings or to get depressed about what happens, he said. You need to move on. You need to learn. Thats the most important part.

The new boss

A year ago, Quiroz decided that he needed to find an income source outside of the restaurant business. He became a contractor for FedEx and now runs seven to eight routes in Newton, Valley Center, Sedgwick, Halstead and the surrounding areas.

The job is full time, so Quiroz has stepped away from Molinos, leaving it in Garzas hands. He still helps her with big catering jobs, but she now has taken over the responsibility of running the restaurant day to day  handling payroll, ordering inventory, scheduling employees, paying bills and more.

When the couple decided to create the new anniversary menu, the project was completely Garzas. She relied on her skill in the kitchen, which has grown and developed ever since she was a small child living with parents who were talented home cooks.

The La Piedad tacos on the special anniversary menu at Molinos Mexican Cuisine are made with crispy pork belly, green tomatillo salsa and guacamole on corn or flour tortillas.

She came up with all the recipes for the special menu, which includes six taco options built to reflect various regions of Mexico. The La Piedad tacos, which are an ode to the state of Michoacan, feature crispy pork belly, tomatillo salsa and guacamole. The Nortenos tacos, representing the state of Chihuahua, are filled with grilled chicken, melted chihuahua cheese and roasted poblano peppers.

Garza also introduced to the menu molcajetes  a mixture of meats and veggies served in a stone pot  as well as a shrimp pasta shes always served at home to rave reviews. Soon, she also plans to start offering piratas on corn tortillas (they normally come on flour) and shes planning to make her own giant corn tortillas.

Working separately for the first time in 20 years has been good for the couple, they say, and has allowed each to grow.

Quiroz and Garza say they dont know what the next 10 years will hold for Molinos, though Quiroz said he hasnt totally ruled out trying to expand again. His gut tells him that the taqueria could have worked if itd been in a better location and if the pandemic had not gutted the business.

But for now, theyre content with what they have.

This has been our home for 10 years, and after testing or trying in other places, we still see that this is our main location, he said. This is the business that has been supporting our family for all these years.

Molinos Anniversary menu

A special menu of composed tacos Mara Garza came up with to help celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Molinos Mexican Cuisine.
Check your tickets! Two winning Powerball tickets worth $2.1 million were sold in Pennsylvania, and one of the winners was in Allegheny County.

According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, a ticket worth $100,000 was sold to someone in Allegheny County who purchased the ticket online.

The ticket matched four of the five white balls drawn (22-24-40-52-64) and the Powerball (10).

The second ticket, worth $2 million, was sold in Bucks County and matched all five numbers but not the Powerball.

A ticket in California matched all five numbers drawn and the Powerball for the $1.76 billion jackpot, according to the Powerballs website. The cash value is $774.1 million.

A total of ten people will be walking away from this Powerball drawing with winnings totaling $1 million or more, according to the Powerballs website.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told reporters on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Madison, Wis., that the unprecedented step of impeaching liberal state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz is an option he is still considering. Protasiewicz has drawn Republican ire for refusing to step down from a redistricting case after she called Wisconsin's GOP-drawn legislative maps "rigged" during her campaign. (AP Photo/Harm Venhuizen) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The Republican leader of Wisconsins Assembly refused to back down Thursday from possibly impeaching a newly elected liberal state Supreme Court justice over her refusal to step aside in a redistricting case, even after two former conservative justices advised him against the unprecedented move.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos originally threatened to impeach Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she did not recuse from the redistricting challenge, which is backed by Democrats seeking to throw out Republican-drawn electoral maps. But Protasiewicz said last week she's staying on the case.

Now, Vos is tying possible impeachment to how she rules on the case, emphasizing the importance of following past precedent.

If they decide to inject their own political bias inside the process and not follow the law, we have the ability to go to the U.S. Supreme Court, Vos said, and we also have the ability to hold her accountable to the voters of Wisconsin.

Oral arguments in the redistricting case are set for Nov. 21. A ruling likely wont come until after the Dec. 1 deadline for calling a special election to replace Protasiewicz, if she were removed from office or resigned. That means Democratic Gov. Tony Evers would appoint her replacement, who would almost certainly be another liberal.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said Vos's comments are a signal that Republicans are backing off from impeaching Protasiewicz and moving the goal posts. He called the impeachment threat an outrageous attempt at political extortion.

Time will tell if its just an attempt to save face," Wikler said. "But right now, its a climb-down.

Vos first floated the possibility of impeachment in August after Protasiewicz called the Republican-drawn legislative boundary maps rigged and unfair during her campaign. Impeachment has drawn bipartisan opposition and two former conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, asked by Vos to investigate the possibility, told him in the past week it was not warranted. Vos refused to say what advice he got from the third retired justice.

Wisconsins Assembly districts rank among the most gerrymandered nationally, with Republicans routinely winning far more seats than would be expected based on their average share of the vote, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The legislative electoral maps drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2011 cemented the partys majorities, which now stand at 64-35 in the Assembly and a 22-11 supermajority in the Senate. Republicans adopted maps last year that were similar to the existing ones.

The lawsuit before the state Supreme Court asks that all 132 state lawmakers be up for election in 2024 in newly drawn districts.

Vos also said Protasiewiczs acceptance of nearly $10 million from the Wisconsin Democratic Party would unduly influence her ruling.

Protasiewicz last week rejected those arguments, noting that other justices have accepted campaign cash and not recused from cases. She also noted that she never promised or pledged to rule on the redistricting lawsuit in any way. A state judiciary disciplinary panel has rejected several complaints against Protasiewicz that alleged she violated the judicial code of ethics with comments she made during the campaign.

Other justices, both conservative and liberal, have spoken out in the past on issues that could come before the court, although not always during their run for office like Protasiewicz did. Current justices have also accepted campaign cash from political parties and others with an interest in court cases and havent recused themselves. But none of them has faced threats of impeachment.
The waters of Morro Bay will be taken over by witches and warlocks as part of an annual Halloween event.

On Oct. 29, Morro Bay will host its annual Witches and Warlocks Paddle to benefit the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County.

Dozens of people wearing their witching wardrobes will paddle out on paddle boards and kayaks into Morro Bay for the yearly holiday event.

Youll glide through the calm waters, surrounded by the shimmering lights of Morro Rock and the picturesque coastal landscape, organizers said.

Paddleboarders and kayakers gathered in the waters of Morro Bay during the annual Witches and Warlocks Paddle.

The gray and gloomy fog that Morro Bay is known for serves as the perfect backdrop for a coven gathering.

Morro Bay is one of the most popular Californian destinations for calm paddle boarding and kayaking. The city offers the recreation activities year-round, but autumn is considered among the best times to try it.

Dozens of people pose on the beach after the annual Morro Bay Witches and Warlocks Paddle.

A paddleboarder dressed as a witch paddles in Morro Bay with her dog riding along.

Paddleboarders and kayakers gathered in the waters of Morro Bay during the annual Witches and Warlocks Paddle.

Those brave souls who venture out into the water may also find themselves up close to the majestic marine mammals that call Morro Bay home.

Sea otters and sea lions are among the creatures that can be found in Morro Bay, although approaching them and invading their space could get you in legal trouble. Its best to admire them from afar.

The Witches and Warlocks Paddle begins at 11 a.m. on Oct. 29, and ends at 12:30 p.m.

For more information, including where to park your broom, click here.

The Central Coast enclave is a popular getaway for travelers from Northern and Southern California. Morro Bay is located just off Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The woman who authorities say fled to Costa Rica and was missing for more than a month after allegedly killing an elite professional cyclist in Texas attempted to escape custody on Wednesday, authorities said.

Kaitlin Marie Armstrong is accused of fatally shooting Anna Moriah Mo Wilson at an Austin home in May 2022 and was captured in Costa Rica on June 29, 2022, authorities said. She was deported to the US days later to face a first-degree murder charge according to the US Marshals Office. She has pleaded not guilty.

On Wednesday morning, Armstrong was taken to a doctors appointment by corrections staff in Texas, a spokesperson with the Travis County Sheriffs Office told CNN.

As she and two corrections officers were exiting the medical building after the appointment, Armstrong ran, spokesperson Drew Knight said. The officers pursued her on foot for approximately 10 minutes without ever losing sight of her.

Armstrong was captured and taken to a local hospital, Knight said, adding she is now back in the sheriffs office custody.

CNN has reached out to Armstrongs attorney for comment.

Armstrongs jury trial is scheduled for October 30, according to court records.

Rick Cofer, her attorney, said after a hearing last year that Armstrong wants her day in court, and that she wants a trial.

All I can ask of the press here is that you not consider everything told to you by law enforcement as confirmed and reportable facts. Simply put, theres a lot more to the story than has yet been heard, Cofer said at the time.

Wilson was found dead on May 11, 2022, with multiple gunshot wounds at the home of a friend in Austin, authorities have said. She had told her friend she was going for an afternoon swim with Colin Strickland, 35, a professional cyclist and Armstrongs boyfriend.

Strickland told police he and Wilson swam and ate dinner, and he dropped her off at the friends home, according to an arrest affidavit in Travis County District Court.

Strickland considered Wilson, 25, to be one of the best cyclists in the world, he told police.

Investigators have said romantic jealousy might have been a motivating factor in the killing.

CNNs Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman is accused of stealing money orders from multiple apartment complexes in Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Mariela Meza, 34, worked for apartment complexes as an assistant manager or leasing agent, which police said allowed her access to tenants money orders. Police also allege Meza would deposit the money orders into bank accounts in her name or cash them at payday loan establishments across the valley.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments Financial Crime Section is searching for businesses that may have employed Meza throughout 2023.

Those with information can contact the police by email at: FinancialCrimes@LVMPD.com.

Meza is expected to appear in court on Nov. 9., according to online records.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Amid a months-long shortage of semaglutide-based diabetes and weight loss drugs, one woman is suing her insurer for not covering the medication.

As the New York Times reports, Washington State nurse Jeannette Simonton was told that her insurer has a blanket ban on weight loss meds and would not cover her prescription for Wegovy, the semaglutide injectable that's swept off shelves this year.

So now she's suing the Washington State Health Care Authority  the agency responsible for purchasing public employee health insurance  for discrimination, arguing that obesity is a legally recognized disability in Washington and that insurance, therefore, must cover it. As such, it's a significant case for Simonton's specific employer, but could also be a sign of things to come across the country.

Semaglutide, the crucial ingredient in Wegovy and its diabetes sister drug Wegovy, belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, or GLP-1 agonists for short. Originally used as a diabetes drug because of its ability to lower blood sugar levels, semaglutide for weight loss was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2021 after drug manufacturers found that it also helped patients feel fuller and eat less.

Over the past few years, Wegovy and Ozempic have become the stuff of headlines and memes as more and more people  already an estimated 1.7 percent of the total American population, or 5.68 million people  are prescribed the injectable that many users consider to be a revolution in weight management.

In spite of all those prescriptions, however, Wegovy and Ozempic are increasingly difficult to acquire due to an industrial shortage. And those lucky enough to find them in pharmacies are often forced to pay for the drug, which can run more than $1,000 per month, out-of-pocket because their insurers, like Simonton's, refuse to cover them.

"Theyre being penny wise and pound foolish," the 57-year-old nurse told the NYT. "What will they be paying in 10, 15 years if I dont continue to lose the weight?"

Simonton's argument is a common one: that the imposing cost of the medication, which has no generic, will ultimately save her and her insurer money because it will preclude obesity-related health issues.

She may be correct, but not all experts agree.

"These drugs are insanely expensive and desired by a ton of patients, and the patient can never get off them," James Gelfand, the president and CEO of the employer advocacy group ERISA Industry Committee, told Insider over the summer. "The drug companies, providers, and patient groups are insisting that weight loss will improve health and therefore offset these massive costs. That's not true."

In Simonton's case, however, the proof has been in the pudding. After a lifelong struggle to control her weight, the nurse was initially prescribed Moujnaro, another GLP-1 agonist injectable, and for a while had the drug's costs mostly subsidized by its manufacturer, Eli Lilly. When that payment help stopped coming, her doctors prescribed her Wegovy, and in spite of looking for ways to get it paid for, were unable to find a solution.

Simonton ultimately decided to go to a compounding pharmacy to get an unauthorized GLP-1 agonist. Even that off-label version has had its cost, however: the nurse told the NYT that she's shelled out close to $2,000 out-of-pocket so far, and has had to dip into her retirement fund and even spend less on groceries to cover it.

In her suit against the state healthcare agency, Simonton is seeking to recoup the money she's already shelled out and force the state to pay for state employees' Wegovy prescriptions in the future, which she's seeking class-action status to do so.

In the meantime, drugmakers and members of Congress are aiming to change restrictions that bar Medicare from paying for weight loss medication.

The potential black swan? Even as all this insurance and supply drama plays out, we're learning more and more about semaglutide's potential risks  and because nobody has been taking it that long, it's always possible that we'll discover some terrible long-term effect.

More on semaglutide: Walmart Spies on Ozempic Patients' Shopping Habits, Finds They're Buying Less Food
A worker repairing a dishwasher at a Chick-fil-A restaurant died after being electrocuted, Utah officials told news outlets.

The accident happened in Riverton shortly before noon Wednesday, Oct. 11, city officials told KTVX.

A 38-year-old electrician working on the dishwasher was severely electrocuted and could not be revived, officials told KSTU. He was not a Chick-fil-A employee.

The electricians name has not been publicly released.

The restaurant, which was open at the time of the death, closed following the traumatic incident, KSL reported.

We extend our sincere condolences to the family for their tragic loss, Nathan Freeman, who operates the franchise location, said in a statement to the station. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. We are also working to ensure our team members have the necessary resources and support they need.

Police are investigating, KTVX reported.

Riverton is about 25 miles south of Salt Lake City.

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Kyrylo Budanov

Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) Head Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov believes that the world is moving closer to a global war, he told Ukrainska Pravda.

When asked whether the world stands on the brink of a Third World War, Budanov replied, "The answer is not so simple....This is my subjective assessment: considering the geography, we see several conflicts that, at first glance, appear regional, apart from Ukraine. But they are all interconnected by the same countries involved in these processes. So, yes, I do think that we are rapidly approaching a global war."

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned European partners that Russia intends to freeze its full-scale war against Ukraine and has multiple scenarios.

The critical moment could be in 2028, Zelenskyy said, citing information from HUR. By that time, Moscow could rebuild its military potential and attempt to reoccupy Ukraine and attack the Baltic countries and other nations where its contingents are stationed.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
DENVER  Starting Thursday, a bi-lateral above-knee amputee is climbing Handies Peak to fundraise for a Kansas City radio host diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

World record holder Mandy Horvath will begin without any prosthetics. Shell be climbing up the 14er with just her arms, KDVR reports.

Horvath summiting a mountain (Courtesy of Mandy Horvaths Instagram)

Mandy beginning to climb a mountain (Courtesy of Mandy Horvaths Instagram)

Mandy during a climb (Courtesy of Mandy Horvaths Instagram)

From Oct. 12-13, Horvath will be accompanied by an all-women team to attempt her second 14er in the state of Colorado.

Her journey is to raise funding and awareness for Brian Adams (known as Slacker), the morning host of 101.1 The Fox in Kansas City, who has recently been diagnosed with AML.

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This hits close to home for Horvath, as shes know Brian for many years and she lost her grandmother to AML in 2020.

In between her diagnosis and her death, I only had 7 days to spend with her and there was absolutely nothing I could do, said Horvath in a press release.

Horvath is using attempting this climb to raise awareness and funds for Slacker through his GoFundMe page.

Brian gives back to his community, hes spent his entire life helping others. That is why we are committed to helping him in his time of need, said Hovarth.

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While Horvath is new to this mountain, shes more than familiar with climbing up mountains.

She became the first woman in the world to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro without the aid of prosthetic equipment. Shes also completed Pikes Peak twice before.

Hovarth will be carrying a backpack about the same weight as her body to base camp.

The group plans to summit on Friday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon has floundered in her handling of former President Donald Trump's federal criminal case in Florida compared to the judge presiding over Trump's Georgia criminal case, who "has been impressive, in a quiet, competent sort of way, ever since the Fulton County case was first assigned to him," former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance suggested in a Thursday post to her Substack.

Vance praised Georgia State Court Judge Scott McAfee for being "courteous to both sides" and seeming "fair-minded, up to speed on the law, and unafraid to rule promptly," giving credit to his courtroom proceedings in the Georgia election interference case being televised. In contrast, Vance conceded that, though she wanted to give Cannon  who the Eleventh Circuit ruled to have overstepped in her serious consideration of a "frivolous" lawsuit Trump had filed to delay the government's investigation after the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago last year  the benefit of the doubt upon her assignment to the case, she had ultimately misplaced her faith in the Trump-appointed judge.

"Initially, I wasnt concerned. I even made the argument that every federal judge gets that gig because theyre appointed by a president from one party or the other, and there was no reason for us to be critical of her before observing how she would handle the case. Of course, I was wrong to be optimistic in that case," Vance wrote. "But I continue to believe that most judges do take their job seriously and set aside their politics and any party affiliation when they take to the bench."
A participant in a prayer service for the victims of terror in Israel lights a candle in the shape of a star of David in Red Square at Western Washington University on Monday. The service was sponsored by the Chabad temple near campus. (Robert Mittendorf/The Bellingham Herald)

An Arab student group at Western Washington University issued a statement Tuesday on social media in support of the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered more than 1,000 Israeli civilians last weekend, including more than 250 young people at a music festival.

The Arab Student Associations message on Instagram denies Israels right to exist by falsely claiming that the Jewish state has enforced a 75-year occupation despite its creation by a United Nations vote in 1947.

Israel has officially declared war, but the real war began 75 years ago with the commencement of Israeli occupation and oppression of Palestinians, the Instagram post said, twisting historical fact.

In its post, commonly called a story on the Instagram platform, the Arab Student Association referred to the Hamas gunmen who murdered men, women and children as resistance fighters and said the wholesale slaughter of civilians was justified because of the Benjamin Netanyahu governments harsh treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

More than 200 Instagram accounts, including those for several WWU student groups and two campus departments, liked or shared the student post. Someone in the College of Business and Economics liked the post and the Ethnic Student Center shared it to its home page.

Some of those likes or shares were removed on Wednesday, and the Ethnic Student Center later issued a statement of regret.

This sharing occurred without proper consideration of the likely impacts of resharing. When staff became aware of this resharing, the post was removed from the ESC Instagram. We are deeply sorry for harms caused by the ESCs resharing of this post, the Ethnic Student Center said online Wednesday.

In its statement, the Ethnic Student Center didnt describe the Arab Student Associations post or challenge its support for terror.

The ESC is a program of Western [Washington University]. As a public institution, we must ensure that our social media postings are aligned with our educational mission and goals, including a commitment to equity and justice, respect for the rights and dignity of others, and integrity, responsibility, and accountability in all our work, the statement read.

Western Washington Universitys administration didnt respond to The Bellingham Heralds request for a statement on the postings.

In an Instagram direct message exchange with The Herald, the Arab Student Association declined interviews, deferring to the Ethnic Student Center for comment.

Reaction at WWU

The social media posts angered and shocked many in the university community, said Rabbi Avremi Yarmush of the Chabad synagogue located across Highland Drive from the WWU campus.

That was not an apology, Yarmush told The Bellingham Herald in an interview. Just imagine that was a massacre and it was in Africa or Asia or pick your place in the world. They would never get away with such a non-apology. They didnt even say what they were apologizing for, he said.

I dont care if student groups [criticize Israel or support terror]. They have that right. Its the university that shouldnt be allowed to do it, Yarmush said.

Yarmush said that the Ethnic Student Center sent him a private message that was more heartfelt.

The personal apology was very nice. But the public one, that wasnt an apology, he said.

Antisemitism on campus

WWU senior Ariela Ikezawa told The Herald that she was disappointed at the university administrations silence and she wondered whether that meant approval for the Arab Student Associations message.

Theres been no condemnation of violence, no condemnation of terrorism, no condemnation of antisemitism or anything. I know Im frustrated, Ikezawa said.

Maddie Pelkey, another WWU senior, told The Herald that she fears the climate of antisemitism on campus, which has seen several incidents of hatred against Jews in recent years, including vandalism of Jewish texts at Wilson Library.

Until this is addressed, how is any Jewish student, currently or in the future, going to know that they are welcome here? Pelkey said.

I have a lot of criticism of the Israeli government, but both of us have a right to life. If this were any other country, everyone would condemn it. Nowhere else in the world would you see people dismissing and trying to justify the slaughter of civilians. It sickens me that people argue that its heroic, she said.

Several WWU students have told The Herald that antisemitic slights are frequent on campus and that their professors ignore antisemitic comments in class.

A recent survey by the American Jewish Committee found that 84% of American Jews believe that denying Israels right to exist is antisemitic.

Meetings set Thursday

In a post on its public Instagram page, the Arab Student Association said that it will be meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Viking Union multi-use room to talk about whats happening in Gaza. ...

Meanwhile, the Jewish Student Union of WWU is hosting a Community Care Space from 4-6 p.m. Thursday in Viking Union 565.

In response to the devastating losses of life and the ongoing war in Israel and Palestine, we are partnering with the Counseling and Wellness Center to create a space of comfort, support and grief for those affected, the Jewish Student Union said on its public Instagram page.
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has removed hundreds of accounts linked to Palestinian militant group Hamas after the attacks on Israel, the CEO confirmed.

In a letter to Thierry Breton, the European Union (EU)s Commission for Internal Market, X CEO Linda Yaccarino laid out a series of steps the platform has taken in recent days to protect the public conservation, ensure access to real-time information and safeguard the platform for users.

Yaccarcino said the platform redistributed resources and refocused internal teams, and is proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis.

Her response comes after Breton sent a letter to X owner Elon Musk on Tuesday, warning the social media platform was spreading illegal content and disinformation in the wake of the Hamas attacks. Breton called upon the company to respond within 24 hours, while noting the potential for noncompliance penalties.

Yaccarino told Breton the platform removed or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of content while Community Notes  a feature aimed at correcting misinformation  are attached to hundreds of posts related to the attacks and unfolding events.

There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts, she wrote.

The CEO also explained the platform was responding to over 80 takedown requests from EU member states in a diligent and objective manner.

Since the conflict began over the weekend, several photos and videos circulated the platform showing violence and carnage, as well as those of Hamas fighters taking Israelis hostage. Other posts included false claims or the misrepresentation of prior Israeli airstrikes.

While the spread of viral misinformation during a conflict is nothing new, some experts have argued the moderation policies changed under Musks leadership have contributed to the issue.

Since purchasing the platform nearly a year ago, Musk made it so accounts that subscribed to Xs blue-check service can get paid if their posts go viral, creating a financial incentive to post reaction-enticing content. Meanwhile, the companys workforce, including its content moderation team, has been extremely cut down.

In a post earlier this week, Xs trust and safety team claimed it is laser focused and dedicated to protecting the conversation on X and enforcing our rule as we continue to assess the situation on the platform.

Fighting between Hamas and Israel continued Thursday, with the death toll rising to just more than 2,500 lives from both sides, including at least 22 Americans.

The Israeli military said more than 1,200 Israelis  including civilians and soldiers  have been killed, with another 3,000 wounded as of Thursday. In Gaza, an estimated 1,354 Palestinians have died and 6,049 others were injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Up to 20 members of a church group from New York City are stuck in Israels Ben Gurion Airport, with some Dominican immigrants unable to get visas to board available flights.

The International Missionary Commission Narrow Door Pentecostal Church group arrived at the airport early Tuesday morning, after its Jerusalem hotel reservation expired and amid growing tensions over the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas.

When they landed in Israel, it was the same day the war started, on Saturday, said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), whose office is trying to help get the group back home.

The group members were locked in the hotel until the reservation ended and were told they should leave, but they had nowhere to go.

Thats when the transportation company the group had hired stepped in and offered to take 15 of the members to the airport, according to Espaillat.

Two members of the group days earlier paid $11,000 each to be evacuated through the Jordanian border.

The remaining 15 members of the tour bought airplane tickets at the airport for up to $4,000, some using debit cards, but their flight was canceled.

The few flight options available are offered at exorbitant prices.

Its the same as trying to get a last-minute airline ticket on Thanksgiving, said Stephen Davis, whose wife Mzrai Davis-Peres and brother-in-law Jose Gonzalez are in the group.

Davis said his family is saddened they will no longer feel safe traveling to Israel and shocked by the violence.

And thats the real tragedy. I mean, theyre from New York. New York is everybody in the world. Theres not one place on Earth not represented in New York. And does New York have some problems? Yes. But for the majority of the people that live there, they get along and they live in peace, and theres not a problem, he said.

Espaillats office worked overnight to speed up refunds to allow the group members to buy new tickets as they became available, but other complications popped up.

Some group members are diabetic and have run out of insulin, according to the New York Democrat, and four are Dominican citizens with green cards, meaning they need visas to take flights through Europe.

Another four members of the group were able to board a flight through Greece, but seven Dominican citizens and their immediate relatives were left behind.

Espaillat said he is unsure how many people are in the group. At least one woman from New Jersey joined the New Yorkers in seeking help from his office.

Since they are traveling with some of their children  one daughter, for example, in one case, shes an American citizen and she could leave, shes not going to leave her mother alone, Espaillat said.

He said he has called the White House and the State Department for assistance in getting one-day visas for the Dominican nationals to fly through Greece.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

The State Department on Thursday announced plans to arrange charter flights to help U.S. citizens and their immediate family members depart Israel to other nearby locations.

From these locations, individuals will be able to make their own onward travel arrangements to the destination of their choice. These initial transportation options will be augmented in the coming days, reads a State Department press release.

Dominican nationals require preapproved visas in 114 countries, including every nation in the European Union, according to the Passport Index. They can get visas on arrival in some countries near Israel, such as Jordan, Egypt and Turkey.

Its unclear whether the State Department-sponsored flights will fly to countries where only U.S. citizens can enter visa-free, or stop in visa-on-arrival countries.

All of this has been a nightmare, because the State Department obviously didnt have a plan in place for evacuation  how to get American citizens out of Israel in the middle of a war, Espaillat said.

Updated Friday at 11:01 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A New York man was charged by federal prosecutors for allegedly smuggling over $200,000 worth of deceased, protected butterflies, including exceptionally rare ones known as birdwings, into and out of the United States through online retailers like eBay and Etsy.

In a press release, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn said that 75-year-old Charles Limmer allegedly trafficked "unlawfully imported wildlife on Internet platforms" between October 2022 and September 2023.

Birdwing butterflies, named for their large size and birdlike flight, are endangered and protected butterflies.

The six-count indictment against Limmer accuses him of working with overseas collaborators to smuggle some 1,000 insects, including some of the rarest and most endangered moths and butterflies in the world.

BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY: REMARKABLE PICTURES SHOW EXTREMEMLY RARE LONG-TAILED FLYING INSECT

Prosecutors said that Limmer concealed his scheme by directing his co-conspirators to label the shipments of the protected butterflies as "decorative wall coverings," "origami paper craft" and "wall decorations."

The indictment noted that Limmer expressed contempt for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, saying, "Screw USFWS They are a gang of Orangutans."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Federal law prohibits the commercial export or import of wildlife without permission from the USFWS. Additional authorization would need to be secured for endangered species, as part of an international partnership to protect wildlife from trafficking.

GOOD LUCK OMENS! WHY THE PRAYING MANTIS, BUTTERFLY AND LADYBUG ARE THOUGHT TO BRING GOOD THINGS

An eBay page of a seller going by "limmerleps" shows the account had made more than 4,600 sales on the shopping platform, many of the most recent sales were moths and butterflies. There were two birdwing specimens currently on sale and two were sold over the past year, according to the website.

An Etsy page connected to a seller going by the name "Limmer" had four ads for birdwings still advertised on Wednesday, including featuring a collection of five specimens with an asking price of $133.

The 75-year-old's indictment also seeks to force Limmer to give up his collection of over 1,000 butterflies, moths and other insects that he allegedly illegally trafficked.

If convicted of smuggling, Limmer faces up to 20 years in prison.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: New York man charged for allegedly smuggling $200K of rare butterflies, selling them on eBay, Etsy
 The Young Turks  founder Cenk Uygur announced on his show Wednesday that he will run for president as a Democrat, directly challenging President Biden.

[Biden] is not going to win, Uygur said during the announcement. It should not have been me, it should have been somebody else, but unfortunately it was not anyone else. Theres only four months left. We must change course. He has at best a 10 percent chance of winning. Im running as a proxy. I am running to win. But I am also running as a proxy for any other candidate.

The progressive media host has called for Biden to drop out of the race, stating repeatedly that democracy is on the line, referring to former President Trumps 2024 run.

We have got to get Biden out of the race, Uygur said. Thank you for winning in 2020. But if he loses this time around, its not just his problem, its all of our problems. I actually think democracy is on the line, and so if it takes me running, thats what Im gonna do.

Uygur has a big obstacle to overcome in his run for the White House.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Uygur immigrated to the U.S. at 8 years old. He believes that the Constitutions Natural Born Citizen clause will not prevent him in his effort, believing that he can win the battle in the Supreme Court.

I have lawyered up, Uygur said. I have the same lawyer [Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)] used in both of his presidential runs. And my guess is Im going to have some strong allies in this. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Im going to the Supreme Court. Either Im going to win or Im going to lose. Now this case is on our side. The precedent is definitely on our side. So, what are you going to do, brother?

In his last congressional run in Californias 25th District, Uygur came up with 6.6 percent of the vote and finished fourth in the field of 12 candidates.

Uygur, a former MSNBC commentator, joins book author Marianne Williamson as the only other candidate challenging Biden in the Democratic primary. Environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that he is switching his campaign to an independent run.

Marianne Williamson has been in there but unfortunately, she hasnt broken through, Uygur said. I have nothing but respect for her courage and her policies, but at this point, were not at progressives versus establishment. Were at four months left, and things must change. Otherwise, were almost definitely going to lose to Trump.

The announcement was first reported by Semafor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has convened a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, where officials considered the situation on the front line, weapons production and the situation in the Middle East.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote: "Held a meeting of the Staff. We discussed three key questions.

The first is the front. We heard the reports of the commanders: Zaluzhnyi, Syrskyi, Tarnavskyi [Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of Ukraine's Ground Forces and the Khortytsia group; Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, Commander of the Tavriia group  ed.]. Discussed the situation in the main directions in the east, south. Protection of our positions. Our advances.

The second is the Ukrainian production of weapons and equipment, a constant increase in volumes. The Ministry of Strategic Industries has a clear task to present a programme for providing Ukrainian weapons in all key areas, from missiles and drones to armoured vehicles and shells. There have already been reports on individual elements of such a programme. Good results. There will be more significant ones soon.

A separate order to Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov and Defence Minister Umierov is the maximum digitalisation of the mechanism of supplying our defence forces. Full accountability and control is our priority. There are clear deadlines for implementation.

The third point is the situation in the Middle East. We heard a comprehensive analysis from the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Lytvynenko. We take all factors into account, take care of the interests of our citizens in the region and work with partners to prevent further destabilisation."

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!






President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Defence Forces of Ukraine continue to hold their positions in the city of Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Avdiivka. We are holding our positions. It is Ukrainian courage and unity that determine how this war will end. We all must remember this."

Avdiivka

PHOTO BY OLEG PALCHYK: ZELENSKYYS TELEGRAM

Details: Zelenskyy also posted several photos from Avdiivka.

PHOTO BY OLEG PALCHYK: ZELENSKYYS TELEGRAM

PHOTO BY OLEG PALCHYK: ZELENSKYYS TELEGRAM

Vitalii Barabash, Head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, reported that the fighting in the city has not stopped for the third day, and the situation is tense, but under control.

Quote from Barabash: "The situation is very tense for the third day. The fighting around the city does not stop, the shelling does not stop  both on the [Ukrainian] positions and the city itself. This night passed more or less calmly, because there were several small attacks on the city itself. Another missile attack from the air occurred at 02:55".

Details: Barabash clarified that there were about 30-35 air missile strikes in the past two days. At night, the Russians struck the so-called "government quarter", but there was no information about wounded or dead civilians.

Barabash also reported that the Ukrainian military tried to counterattack in certain places.

Background:

Vitalii Barabash, Head of the Avdiivka City Military Administration, said that starting from 06:00 on 10 October, Russian troops had been launching large-scale attacks on the city.

In the evening report on 10 October, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the Russian army had intensified its offensive on the Avdiivka front with up to three battalions supported by tanks and armoured vehicles.

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have analysed the Russian attacks around Avdiivka and concluded that these advances at tactical level are unlikely to lead to broader operational and strategic victories.

Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron!
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated the need to digitise the accounting of supplies to the Defence Forces so that the relevant information does not differ from real facts.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening video address

Quote: "Another immediate priority is to digitise the entire supply accounting for the defence forces. Digitalization will provide a clear understanding of how our warriors are being supplied and where deficits are occurring and how they are being filled."

Details: As Zelenskyy said, digitisation of supply, in particular, is necessary in order to show every partner of Ukraine information about each delivered weapon as quickly as possible.

"It's essential that the reports here in Kyiv match the actual facts on the front lines," the president stressed.

Zelenskyy also added that today at the Staff, they talked, in particular, about how to provide our soldiers with more of our own Ukrainian armed capabilities. "We are grateful to every leader, every country that helps us with weapons, equipment, and ammunition. And we are doing everything to increase the supplies," Zelenskyy said.

As he said, the Ministry of Strategy and Industry has already presented reports in several areas: "armour", missiles, and ATGMs.

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!
Parkland Direct, a high-volume lithographic print and custom envelope manufacturer, will invest $10 million to expand its operations in Bedford County, according to a news release from the countys office of economic development.

The company on Enterprise Drive in Forest will add 50,000 square feet to its facility to increase production capacity with the addition of two new converter and press machines. The expansion will create 41 new jobs.

We are excited for our operational expansion and adding new careers in our community and the Commonwealth, Clint Seckman, president of Parkland Direct, said in a news release. We are also thankful to our clients and team for the opportunity to improve and expand our manufacturing process for direct mail marketing and really appreciate the support from Bedford Countys Economic Development Authority in this planned expansion and job growth.

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors and county planning commission each recently approved a special use permit that allows the business to expand the current space on two parcels zoned General Commercial, C-2, located on Homestead Drive just west of the intersection with Enterprise Drive.

Due to business growth exceeding what is anticipated, the company is pursuing a three-phase expansion that includes three 50,000-square-foot warehouses, according to the permit application.

Norm Walton, engineer for the project, told county officials Parkland Direct has looked at what is needed for the next 25 years in presenting its plans.

We are thrilled to see Parkland Directs expansion project take shape in Bedford County, Edgar Tuck, the Bedford boards chair, said in the release. This project not only creates new jobs but reinforces the Countys reputation as a place for businesses to grow.

The companys growth is a testament to its resilience and vision, Jimmy Robertson, chair of the Bedford County EDA, said in the release.

Their commitment to invest in new equipment, infrastructure and employees sets a strong example of industry leadership, Robertson said.

Pam Bailey, director of the county EDA, added: Over the years weve built a strong foundation of collaboration, and Parklands decision to grow and expand here in Bedford County is a testament to our areas economic vitality.

A separate news release from Gov. Glenn Youngkin also complimented the Forest business.

Parkland Directs success in Virginia for 45 years exemplifies what startup businesses can accomplish in the Commonwealth, Youngkin said in the release. Cutting-edge companies thrive in our entrepreneurial ecosystem that is enhanced by unparalleled talent, and I am proud that this homegrown Virginia business is expanding and creating new jobs in Bedford County.

Parkland Direct, located at 305 Enterprise Drive, is an industry leader in high-volume lithographic envelope manufacturing with extensive experience in foiling, embossing and specialty coatings for direct mail marketing, according to the news release. A family-owned business started in Virginia in 1978, its primary clients include national brands in the financial, insurance and travel industries.

The EDA is providing a financial incentive to the company based on the new jobs and investment. The company currently employs 145 workers.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Bedford County to secure the project for Virginia and will support the companys job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities.

As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state funded and demonstrates the states commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens, according to the release.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israeli troops advanced toward Gaza City on Thursday, as the Palestinian death toll rose above 9,000. With no end in sight after weeks of heavy fighting, U.S. and Arab mediators intensified efforts to ease Israel's siege of the Hamas-ruled enclave and called for at l
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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is joining efforts with Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition & Sustainable Development to accelerate the decarbonization of the electricity sector in Morocco.

The two sides signed on Wednesday a MoU on the sidelines of the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank & the International Monetary Fund taking place in Marrakech.

Cooperation will focus on accelerating renewable energy deployment, strengthening the electricity network, rolling out energy efficiency solutions across sectors and developing an open and well-functioning electricity market.

The EBRD also pledged to support Moroccos public power utility, the Office National de lElectricite et de lEau potable (ONEE), in its decarbonization efforts, as well as strengthen ONEEs resilience, notably through implementation of Law 48-15 on electricity market regulation.

Joint work will cover a number of common long-term strategic interests, including putting in place a carbon neutral trajectory and gradually phasing out fossil fuel assets over the next decades.

Morocco is one of the regions most ambitious strategies for scaling up renewables and pioneering green technologies. For over a decade, the EBRD has been supporting the decarbonization of the Moroccan energy sector and its green energy transition through direct and indirect financing.

According to a WB report on funding energy transition in the power sector, Moroccos transition to low-carbon economy requires an annual investment of $2.6 billion through 2030, rising to $17.4 billion annually by 2050.

The money will be spent on new clean energy solutions and technologies. Moroccos energy transition will lead to a transformation of power sector infrastructure. This transformation will require a massive scaling up of renewable energy and energy efficiency to meet rapidly growing demand, followed by a phasing down of coal-fired power generation.
King Mohammed VI has continuously called for moving away from the logic of conflict and violence, to promote that of peace, cooperation, and to build up a prosperous space for all the peoples of the Middle East region.

The remarks were made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, on Wednesday in Cairo as he was chairing the extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the level of foreign ministers on the development of the situation in Palestine.

The Ministerial meeting, dedicated to examining the actions to be taken at the Arab level to end the escalation in Palestinian territories and to put an end to the targeting of civilians, adopted a resolution demanding the immediate cessation of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and its surroundings and calling on all parties to exercise restraint.

The resolution warned of the catastrophic repercussions, both human and security-related, of the continuation and expansion of the escalation, advocating urgent and effective action to enforce international law, ensure the regions security and stability against the risk of an expanding spiral of violence that everyone will pay for.

In the same context, the Arab foreign ministers condemned the killing of civilians on both sides and expressed their unequivocal rejection of any actions targeting them, while emphasizing the imperative of ensuring their protection in accordance with universal human values and in compliance with international humanitarian law and the law of war.

In his address before the council, Bourita expressed Moroccos readiness to join any Arab and international efforts aimed at realizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people for the establishment of an independent state with East Al-Quds as its capital, based on the borders of June 4, 1967, in accordance with the internationally agreed upon two-state solution.

He stressed that the King has always emphasized that the security and stability of the Middle East require mediation and intense, ongoing efforts to move away from the logic of conflict and violence and to promote that of peace, cooperation, and the construction of a prosperous space for all the peoples of the region.

He also reiterated Moroccos full and constant support for the State of Palestine and its legitimate national authority under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas in defending the rights of the Palestinian people and achieving their aspirations for freedom, independence, and a dignified life.

Bourita emphasized the commitment of Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, to a just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the resolutions of international legality as an inevitable strategic choice.

The bloody and horrifying events that erupted on Saturday, October 7, 2023, and the unprecedented violence that accompanied them, show that the region is facing an unparalleled situation that could lead to a conflict with unpredictable repercussions and fuel a discourse of systematic extermination, he added.

He pointed out that the King has consistently warned of the danger of blocking the political perspective of the Palestinian cause and the continued violations and unilateral measures in Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Minister emphasized that the Sovereign has also warned that these unacceptable actions fuel extremism, nurture a culture of violence, stoke conflict, undermine peace efforts, and sabotage the prospect of a two-state solution and the chances of a just and lasting global peace.

Bourita also indicated that on the Kings high instructions Morocco, as the President of the 160th session of the Arab League Ministerial Council, convened this emergency meeting for consultation and coordination regarding the deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and the outbreak of military actions targeting civilians, as well as examining means to end this dangerous escalation.

The Moroccan top diplomat presented a four-axes roadmap to address the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, emphasizing the need to spare no effort to achieve calm, put an immediate end to the fighting, and reduce the escalation through collective or individual action with international forces, aiming to protect civilians, prevent them from being targeted, and stop provocations and unilateral actions to avoid the situation from deteriorating and getting out of control.

In the same context, he stressed the importance of evaluating urgent health and humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the affected Palestinian territories, and planning an emergency meeting of the Arab Health Ministers Council to address these needs.

Bourita also called on the international parties sponsoring the peace process, including the International Quartet, to initiate genuine consultations to revive the peace process, develop a roadmap with practical objectives, including a timetable to start serious negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis to reach a final formula for a solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with international and Arab references.

Furthermore, the Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening the negotiation capacity of Palestinian brothers by accelerating the national reconciliation process, ending discord, and prioritizing the supreme Palestinian interest. In this connection, he urged Egypt to continue its sustained efforts to achieve effective and lasting Palestinian reconciliation.
Malian authorities have nullified authorization given to Air France to resume flights to the West African country after the airline suspended its services in August 2023.

The decision came a day after Air France announced plans to resume flights to Mali from Friday October 13. The airline suspended on August 7 its flights to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after a junta deposed on July 26 Nigers President Mohamed Bazoum and shut down its airspace.

Malian transition authorities on August 11 slammed Air Frances decision and accused the carrier of unilaterally suspending its flights to the country without prior and adequate information to authorities and customers.

A statement by the Transport Ministry said the National Aeronautical Authority of Mali is still examining the request made by Air France for resumption of flights. Air France used to operate seven flights per week to Mali and five to Burkina Faso.

The airline on Tuesday October 10 indicated that it would resume service to Malis capital Bamako from Paris with three direct flights per week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays through a third party, Portuguese EuroAtlantic Airways.
The Swiss ambassador to Libya, Joseph Ringli, has surrendered to the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs a list of items, including antiquities belonging the North African country, seized inside Switzerland, Libya Observer reports.

The announcement came in statements by the Director of the Antiquities Authority, Mohammed Faraj.

Faraj indicated that appointments had been set with the Libyan Embassy in the Swiss capital, Bern, to receive the antiquities in an official ceremony, in preparation for their transfer to Tripoli and their delivery to the Libyan Antiquities Authority. In August 2023, Libyan authorities recovered a large bronze wolf statue that once sat atop a pillar in central Benghazi. The wolf statue disappeared decades ago.

The relic was recently found on a farm. A tip led authorities to the colonial-era statue, Chinese media CGTN reported. In March 2023, authorities in Tripoli successfully recovered nine pieces of antiquities from the United States that were looted following the 2011 uprising that killed Muammar Gadhafi.
Seven survivors and relatives of victims have launched a legal action against French company TotalEnergies for involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist a person in danger following a bloody 2021 Islamic State-linked jihadist attack in northern Mozambique.

Victims and their families accuse the French energy giant, which ran a $20 billion liquefied natural gas project near Palma, of acts of negligence, of not having ensured the safety of its subcontractors during the attack, their lawyers said Tuesday (10 October). Islamic State-linked militants killed dozens of people when they attacked the Mozambican port town of Palma in March 2021, sending thousands fleeing into the surrounding forest. The attack in Cabo Delgado province lasted several days, during which the militants hunted people in the town and forest. Some of the victims were beheaded. Some employees of the company were among the more than 1,000 killed or missing.

Mozambiques government said around 30 people were killed in the attack but, this figure is disputed by Alexander Perry, an independent journalist, who investigated for five months in Palma, and found that the toll is 1,402 civilians dead or missing, including 55 subcontractors of the Total group. The plaintiffs accuse TotalEnergies, which was still known as Total in 2021, of failing to properly assess the threat to people working on the massive gas project. And yet the danger was known. Several villages had already been attacked before the Palma attack, and there was a real jihadist threat, their lawyer Henri Thulliez argued. Total rival ExxonMobil had pulled out of the project in 2019 over what it saw as the excessive threat from the insurgents in the area.
The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Morocco have launched a call for enhanced global action on common challenges in a bid to build resilience and expand opportunities for a better future.

In a joint statement issued Wednesday in Marrakesh which is hosting the 2023 Annual Meetings of the WB & IMF, the WB President Ajay Banga, IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva, Moroccan Minister of Economy & Finance Nadia Fettah Alaoui and Bank Al Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri said: we need to stand together, united in the goal of protecting our future shared prosperity and ending extreme poverty.

They laid out their vision for global cooperation to help harness the power of multilateralism to the benefit of all, leaving no country behind by supporting inclusive & sustainable growth, transformational reforms and enhancing international monetary system.

They stressed the importance of promoting growth-driven structural reforms aimed at strengthening governance, the rule of law, trade, and the business environment to attract new investment and generate jobs.

They called for expanding financing sources by boosting domestic resource mobilization, up-scaling the provision and effective use of concessional resources, leveraging donor resources, fostering foreign direct investment, and catalyzing private sector finance, while improving public expenditure efficiency.

The joint statement urged the international community to support fragile and conflict-affected states and jointly addressing global sources of food and energy insecurity, while pursuing sound macroeconomic policies and strengthening institutional capacity with support from international organizations.

The document recommends the strengthening of external & domestic debt, global crisis preparedness and mitigation by increasing the resilience of supply chains, enhancing pandemic preparedness, and undertaking timely macroeconomic adjustments, building adaptive social protection, and reinforcing the Global Financial Safety Net.

To address climate risk, the joint statement called for developing capacities to manage and implement cost-effective strategies for disaster risk reduction, enhancing climate and disaster shock resilient infrastructure, preserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable land and water management practices.

In their joint statement, the WB, IMF and Morocco called for accelerating the green transition on the basis of the principles of the Paris Agreement, while ensuring energy security throughout the transition.

They also called for the creation of modern, efficient domestic and cross-border payment systems, saying internationally harmonized rules and regulations must also be developed in tandem on crypto assets, data protection, cyber security, and artificial intelligence.

They likewise stressed the need to foster health systems and preparedness through collaborative work towards enhancing global health security by improving universal health coverage, strengthening health systems, and establishing global mechanisms to ensure equitable access to vaccines and medications.

They put emphasis on promoting equitable and quality education to advance global efforts toward inclusive and equitable quality education, broadening access to early childhood, while building gender equality for womens empowerment.

The joint statement called for strengthening the multilateral trading system to support global economic cooperation and growth by ensuring that it is rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, sustainable, and transparent with effective dispute resolution mechanisms.
To offer developing countries an alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the EU launched, in 2021, its 300 billion Global Gateway scheme but as Kenyas case shows, the EUs initiative struggles to challenge its Chinese rival.

For the European Union, investing in trade routes is about economic development and a way to push for a more environmentally friendly seaborne trade route over air freight, the blocs experts say. The EU and its member states have invested in the so-called Northern Corridor, a strategic trade route that starts and ends at Kenyas Mombasa port, linking a number of African countries in the Great Lakes region with the world  including Europe and China. To make seaborne freight more attractive and trade routes greener, for the EU is all about efficiency  the transit time from the farmers fields to the European supermarket must be quick, going from weeks to days.

Large European investment is visible from the Mombasa port  the original congested one-lane road has been rebuilt into a two-way road, which helped with traffic flows, and thanks to an electronic device and technology funded by the EU, the cargo bound for Europe can now be tracked throughout its route. But alongside the Europeans, Chinas presence is highly visible at the port  China Aid logos ore omnipresent in the Mombasa port, as well as in the Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting Mombasa with Nairobi and the 27-km-long Nairobi Expressway built by a Chinese firm in a record time of about a year.

It is difficult to avoid comparing Chinas accomplishments with the EUs rival efforts: the Europeans want to offer a more transparent alternative, with donations of development aid  instead of loans, as is the case for Chinas BRI. But at first glance, the EU can also look less attractive, not least because its projects take longer to come to life, there is a lot of red tape, and control over the expenses is tight. Still, the 27-member bloc may have gained an upper hand over China after it signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Kenya in June, the first major deal since 2016 with an African country. Some experts say that the trade agreement could allow the EU to solidify its trade position while shaking off Chinas influence in East Africa.
Its high time to address the embarrassingly low level of intra-African air connectivity which is depriving the continent and its people from reaching their full potential, an airline body chief has said.

Addressing the recent annual general assembly of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) that was held in Luanda in Angola, the airline bodys CEO, Aaron Munetsi, urged the SADC (Southern African Development Community) governments to remove the obstacles hindering the industrys expansion and connectivity. It has also called on African governments to open aviation markets and allow for more routes and more flights where regulatory impediments were blocking growth. AASA represents most of the airlines in the SADC. The AASA meeting has highlighted that poor intra-Africa airline connectivity, inadequate infrastructure and unclear policies, inconsistent regulations and rising aviation taxes and other statutory charges are preventing African economies from reaching their full potential.

The trade body called on regional governments to open access to their markets and allow more routes and more flights where regulatory impediments were blocking growth. AASA also cautioned that without a clear coordinated strategy for the development, production and supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), of which the SADC region will need at least 15 billion liters a year by 2050  and improvements to airspace management to streamline traffic flows, the regions airline industry would fail to meet the global net-zero 2050 carbon emissions target. As remedies, AASA has put forward a number of proposals, including that authorities permit the establishment of at least 200 new intra-Africa city pairs by 2030; ensure airports in the region are operationally fit-for-purpose, cost-efficient and subject to industry service level agreements; and also, for example, that governments make intra-Africa travel visa-free for all passport holders.
France has begun pulling out its troops from Niger after being ordered out of the West African nation by the military junta that ousted the pro-Paris president in a July coup, the military said Tuesday (10 October).

The first troops have left, the spokesman of the French chief of staff said, confirming an earlier announcement by Nigers army, which said that the 1,400-strong French contingent would begin leaving shortly, escorted by Niger forces. A French defense source said a first group of soldiers that were considered priority for evacuation for health or humanitarian reasons had already flown out of Niger on Monday (9 October). French President Emmanuel Macron, who had initially resisted demands by Nigers coup leaders to withdraw his troops and ambassador to Niamey, finally agreed in September to pull out the troops by the end of the year, complying with the coup leaders demand.

The French troops were deployed in Niger as part of a wider fight against jihadists across the Sahel region. But they have been living with uncertainty since the military junta began demanding their departure, with irregular supplies of food and amid rising anti-French sentiment in the West African nation. Niger is the fourth African country  coming after Mali, the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso  in under two years where French troops have suffered the humiliation of being forced out of a former African colony. The French troops will now gradually exit the nation, marking the end of a significant chapter in Franco-Niger relations.
The Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted, on Wednesday, a resolution reiterating its support for the political process carried out under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations for the settlement of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara and reaffirming the final burial of the referendum.

The resolution calls on all parties to fully cooperate with the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to achieve a political solution to this regional dispute on the basis of resolutions adopted by the Security Council since 2007. It thus supports the political process based on the 19 Security Council resolutions since 2007, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue.

The text commends efforts in this direction and calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General, and with each other, to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution.

This resolution, like the Committees previous ones and those adopted by the Security Council over the past two decades, at no time cites the referendum, dead and buried by both the UN Secretary-General and the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The UN General Assembly also welcomes in this resolution that the parties have committed to continue to display political will and to work in an atmosphere conducive to dialogue, based on the efforts made and the developments that have occurred since 2006, thus ensuring the implementation of Security Council resolutions since 2007.

It should be noted that the only new development that has occurred in the political process since 2006 is the presentation by Morocco on April 11, 2007 of the Autonomy initiative.

In this regard, the resolution supports the Security Council resolutions since 2007, which have established the pre-eminence of the Autonomy plan presented by Morocco, hailed by the Executive Body and the entire international community as being a serious and credible initiative for the definitive settlement of this regional dispute within the framework of the Kingdoms sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The text also supports the recommendations of resolutions 2440, 2468, 2494, 2548, 2602 and those of the latest resolution 2654, adopted at the end of October 2022. All these resolutions determine the parameters of the solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara: a political, realistic, pragmatic solution that is sustainable and based on compromise.

Resolutions 2440, 2468, 2494, 2548, 2602 and 2654 reaffirmed the round table process and defined, once and for all, its four participants, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario. Indeed, resolutions 2440, 2468, 2494, 2548, 2602 and 2654 cite Algeria, in the same way as Morocco, five times, thus reaffirming Algerias role as the main party to this regional dispute.

These Security Council resolutions also welcome the measures and initiatives taken by Morocco for the promotion and protection of human rights in its southern provinces, and the role played by the Commissions of the National Rights Council of Human Rights in Laayoune and Dakhla, as well as Moroccos interaction with the mechanisms of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

They also reiterate the request of the UN executive body for the registration and census of the populations of the Tindouf camps, and demand the deployment of the necessary efforts to this end.

The present resolution of the 4th committee of the General Assembly in no way refers to a so-called imaginary war that Algeria and its puppet the Polisario claim to exist in the Moroccan Sahara. Thus, after the Security Council, the committee in turn exposes the lies and false allegations by Algeria and the Polisario regarding the situation in the Moroccan Sahara where stability and peace and all-round development prevail.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has praised King Mohammed VIs commitment to peace and security in the Middle East.

During a phone call Wednesday with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, the U.S. top diplomat also welcomed continued close cooperation between Morocco and the United States, according to a press release issued Thursday by the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The two officials also discussed efforts to prevent escalation in the Middle East region and secure the release of hostages.

Morocco had expressed its deep concern at the deterioration of the situation and the outbreak of military action in the Gaza Strip, condemned attacks against civilians wherever they may be, and called for an immediate halt to all acts of violence.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Saturday at the outbreak of violence said Morocco, which has repeatedly warned of the repercussions of the political deadlock on peace in the region, calls for an immediate halt to all acts of violence and a return to calm, while avoiding all forms of escalation that could undermine the chances of peace in the region.

Morocco also summoned an extraordinary session of the Arab League Ministerial Council on the situation in Palestine. During the session, held Wednesday in Cairo, Bourita underlined that King Mohammed VI has continuously called for moving away from the logic of conflict and violence and to promote that of peace, cooperation, and the construction of a prosperous space for all the peoples of the region.

Bourita also expressed Moroccos readiness to join any Arab and international effort aimed at realizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people for the establishment of an independent state with East Al-Quds as its capital, based on the borders of June 4, 1967, in accordance with the internationally agreed upon two-state solution.
JERUSALEM  The Israeli military pulverized the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, prepared for a possible ground invasion and said Thursday its complete siege  which has left Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine  would remain in place until the Hamas militants that rule the territory freed some 150 hostages taken during a grisly weekend incursion.

A visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with shipments of U.S. weapons, were a powerful green light to Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas deadly attack on civilians and soldiers, even as international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gazas 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt.

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver should political leaders order one. A ground offensive in Gaza, where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 25 miles long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Hamas assault on Saturday killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers  a toll unseen in Israel for decades  and the ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides. Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members.

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Amid concerns that the fighting could spread in the region, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday put two Syrian international airports out of service.

The relentless barrage on Gaza  6,000 munitions dropped since the conflict began, the military said  left Palestinians running through streets with what belongings they could carry, looking for a safe place.

A strike Thursday afternoon in the the Jabaliya refugee camp collapsed a residential building on families sheltering inside, killing at least 45 people, Gaza's Interior Ministry said. At least 23 of the dead were under the age of 18, including a month-old child, according to a list of the casualties. Ministry spokesman Eyad Bozum said dozens were wounded and the death toll was likely to rise as rescue workers were still pulling bodies from the rubble.

The home, belonging to the al-Shihab family, was packed with relatives who had fled bombing in other areas. Neighbors said a second house was hit at the same time but the toll was not immediately known. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike.

The camp has seen non-stop bombardment for days. We cant flee because anywhere you go you are bombed. You need a miracle to survive here, neighbor Khalil Abu Yahia said.

Palestinians fleeing airstrikes in Gaza could be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place. The number of people forced from their homes by the airstrikes soared 25% in a day, reaching 423,000 out of a population of 2.3 million, the U.N. said Thursday. Most crowded into U.N.-run schools.

Families were cutting down to one meal a day to conserve supplies, said Rami Swailem, a 34 year old lecturer at al- Azhar University, who has 32 members of his family sheltering in his home. Water stopped coming to the building two days ago, and they were rationing whats left in the tank on the roof.

Alaa Younis Abuel-Omrain has been staying in a U.N. school after a strike on her home killed eight members of her family  her mother, aunt, a sister, a brother and his wife and their three children. She said food supplies were running out. Most bakeries stopped producing bread for lack of electricity.

Even if there is food in some areas, we cant get to it because of strikes, she said. Many children will die from hunger.

On Wednesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

Hospitals, overwhelmed by a constant stream of wounded and running out of supplies, have only a few days worth of fuel before their power cuts off, aid officials say. The cut-off has also caused dire water shortages for over 650,000 people, according to the U.N.

"Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues," said Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Newborn incubators, kidney dialysis machines, X-rays, and more, are all dependent on power, he said.

Ambulance crews carrying bodies from the rubble of demolished buildings to the morgue at Gaza's biggest hospital, Shifa, found no space left. Dozens of bodies in body bags were lined up in the hospital parking lot. Fourteen health facilities have been damaged in strikes, health officials said Thursday.

"The situation is very critical," said Shifa hospital director Mohammad Abu Selmia. "We've never seen days in Gaza like what we see now."

With Israel sealing off the territory, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah. Egypt's Foreign Ministry said it has not officially closed Rafah but airstrikes have prevented it from operating. Egypt has been trying to convince Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "crush" Hamas after the militants stormed into the country's south on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people, including killings of children in their homes and young people at a music festival. Netanyahu alleged Hamas atrocities, including beheading soldiers and raping women. His allegations could not be independently confirmed.

Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

In a video released Thursday, civilian Hamas figures defended the groups rampage and decried the civilian deaths in Gaza from six days of Israeli airstrikes. The solemn video lacked the bravado of a recording aired Saturday by Hamass military wing that hailed the greatest battle as the massacres were still taking place.

Basem Naim, a former Hamas government minister, said that in the swift collapse of the Israeli military on Saturday, chaos prevailed and civilians found themselves in the middle of the confrontation." The claim is contradicted by countless videos and survivor accounts of Hamas militants deliberately targeting and killing civilians in Israel.

Naim added that there would be no action to free the 150 captives taken back into Gaza while Israel's operation continued.

Funerals continued to be held around Israel. Struggling to speak as they sobbed, families of French-Israeli citizens missing since the attack appealed Thursday for information.

We dont know if she is dead, if she is in Gaza. We dont know anything. We havent heard anything, Doron Journo, whose 24-year-old daughter, Karin Journo, disappeared Saturday, said at a news conference in Tel Aviv.

Four previous conflicts ended with the group still firmly in control of the territory it has ruled since 2007. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities. A new war Cabinet, which includes a longtime opposition politician, is now directing the fight.

A high-ranking Hamas official, Saleh Al-Arouri, warned on Thursday that any Israeli invasion of Gaza "will turn into a disaster for its army," saying the group was prepared to respond.

Blinken's visit underscored American backing for Israel's retaliation.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to," Blinken said after meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. "We will always be there by your side."

Blinken is to meet Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority is confined to parts of the occupied West Bank, and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in a 1967 war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state, but there have been no peace talks in over a decade.

In Gaza, the Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centers used by the fighters in Saturday's attack, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons. Other airstrikes killed commanders from two smaller militant groups, according to media linked to those organizations.

"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," Hecht, the military spokesman, said of Hamas. "Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehia) Sinwar."

Israel is employing a new tactic of leveling whole neighborhoods, rather than just individual buildings. Hecht said targeting decisions were based on intelligence and civilians were warned.

Even with the warnings, Palestinians say some are unable to escape or have nowhere to go, and that entire families have been crushed under rubble.

Drone footage filmed by The Associated Press revealed extensive damage at the Shati refugee camp, in the north of Gaza, following overnight airstrikes. Residents used their bare hands to clear rubble, searching for survivors. A man who was informed his missing family members were dead collapsed in the arms of a fellow resident.

Jaber Weshah, a 73-year-old rights activist, said there was no warning when a strike leveled a multi-story building neighboring his in the Bureij refugee camp early Wednesday. At least 12 people were killed, including a bookseller, his wife and two toddler daughters and six members of another family, residents said.

"It was an inferno," Weshah said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Thursday when Israeli settlers sprayed bullets at a funeral for three people killed in a settler rampage the day before. Footage showed Jewish settlers in their cars swerving into the funeral procession and cutting off the road before stopping and opening fire.

The Health Ministry says more than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and two in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem since Saturday, most when police fired on stone-throwing protesters.

The death toll in Gaza rose to more than 1,400 killed, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 247 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

MORE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR COVERAGE

WARNING: The following photo gallery contains graphic images.
In case youve been understandably distracted from domestic news and have not followed the presidential race, it is not going very well for the Democrats. The RCP polling average now has Donald Trump leading President Biden by a point. If you recall, Biden beat Trump by four and a half points in 2020, and  because Trump fared especially well in the closest states  needed about four of those points to carry the Electoral College.

Some initial evidence has suggested that Trumps Electoral College edge might be shrinking and that Bidens popularity decline is occurring disproportionately in deep-blue states. But two new state polls suggest otherwise. A Michigan poll shows Trump leading Biden 42 to 35 percent. One in Pennsylvania has Trump leading 45 to 36 percent.

Yes, the election is a year away, and yes, polling this far out has limited value. But this is looking dire.

One finding both polls reflect is that the problem isnt so much with the Democratic Party as a whole as it is with Biden specifically. In Pennsylvania, Democratic senator Bob Casey leads Republican David McCormick 41 to 33 percent. The Michigan poll shows that Bidens job-approval rating is 31-58, while Governor Gretchen Whitmers is a sterling 53-37. It also tests a Whitmer-Trump presidential race and finds Whitmer leading Trump 46 to 40 percent.

Now, you cant exactly take these numbers at face value. If Whitmer were the Democrats presidential nominee, she would have to run in every state, not just Michigan (though Michigan, and the Midwest in general, is especially important).

Still, these numbers provide at least some evidence that Biden is now running behind, rather than ahead of, other members of his party. In 2020, Biden was a comforting callback to the popular Obama presidency. He had the ability to attract even voters concerned about the Democrats leftward drift. But whatever positive differentiation he had then has been swamped by disapproval of his job performance. At the moment, he is anything but a safe choice.

A month ago, I wrote a column wondering why no Democrats were challenging Biden. Democrats have largely assumed that Biden is not going to receive a serious primary challenge, which gives them the incentive to muffle their doubts. Talking about Bidens unpopularity can easily feed into Trumps attacks on Bidens performance. You can believe, as I do, that Biden is capable of handling his job while doubting he is up to the public-facing duties of a campaign, but when it filters down to the public, the distinction between the two is easily lost.

Jonathan Martin has a column revealing several disturbing aspects of the partys thinking. One is that Democratic officials are privately very concerned about Bidens ability to win. Most House Democrats, he writes, are more anxious about Biden than they are about their colleague from Minnesota.

Second, pollsters and consultants are finding that Bidens age is an overwhelming drawback in the eyes of the voters:

Last month at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, many lawmakers watched livestreams of focus groups with voters in Nevada and Michigan. Nearly all of them responded to questions about Biden the same way voters do in every focus group: by bringing up his age. (Though one attendee was heartened that the voters also cited Trumps age and complained that both are too old.)

Every Democratic consultant Ive talked to in recent weeks said thats the only refrain they pick up on Biden.

And third, fear of internal blowback is preventing them from speaking publicly. Nearly every ambitious Democrat [is] falling in line behind Biden for fear of weakening him, and their own future prospects, reports Martin.

Right now, the only Democrat mulling a challenge is Representative Dean Phillips, a House member from Minnesota. Phillips had to give up a leadership position simply because he is talking openly about a primary challenge. Yet Martin reports the Democratic lawmaker group texts are filled with admiration that somebody is at least highlighting the donkey in the room  if acknowledging that they could never say so publicly.

What all this suggests is that Democrats believe Biden may be fatally damaged, but everybody is hesitant to run against him for fear that the blowback will end their career. Say, Governor Whitmer  who might be the partys best presidential material at the moment  is well positioned to win the nomination in 2028, so why would she take a gamble? Other Democrats have to weigh the chance of beating Biden against the risk they lose and are blamed for his eventual defeat, jeopardizing whatever career ambitions they have.

Yet this means Bidens campaign ability is not going to be tested during the primary, and next summer, the party will more or less hand him the nomination and hope somehow the publics opinion of him turns around.

Almost two decades ago, Tom Edsall wrote about his years of experience playing poker with political big shots in Washington. Edsall recounted that, as a whole, Republicans are much less risk-averse than Democrats, and taking risks is crucial to poker.

Now, an observation like this  vulnerable to bias and confined to a limited sample size  can only go so far. Still, it seems to explain the Democratic Partys passivity in the face of a dire circumstance. Running a primary challenge against Biden is a high-stakes bet. The risks are large: A defeated challenger could possibly hurt Biden and probably damage their own viability. But a defeated challenger could also give Biden the chance to prove his ability to handle a rigorous campaign. And a successful challenger could rescue the party from the worst possible outcome.

Here is the most chilling passage in Martins story:

In their more honest moments, even the most dedicated Biden defenders not on his payroll will nervously wonder if in the future theyll look back at this moment and realize that the electorate had concluded he was too old for another term  and he ignored the flashing red lights to barrel ahead anyway.

Martins reporting doesnt make it sound like Democrats have calculated that an uncontested primary gives them the best chance to beat Trump. It makes it sound instead like the decision has been made out of a combination of inertia, self-interest, and fear.
A demonstrator holds a sign against Israels leader two weeks ago. Benjamin Netanyahu was already deeply unpopular before presiding over the greatest security debacle in the nations history. Photo: AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

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The screech of an air-raid siren punctured the silence at the Tel Avivarea grave site of Yinon Shay, a 21-year-old soldier killed while fighting Hamas during its bloody invasion. After pausing to allow the interruption, his brother Ophir was unsparing:

The bunch of imbeciles leading the country we live in, the country where my beloved little brother was killed protecting the homeland that forgot us  not because it was inevitable but because this disgraceful government is involved in everything it should not be involved in. My beloved brother was murdered by hate-filled terrorists, but those who disgracefully opened the door for them are the Israeli government, from the minister of national security and his messianic friends  clowns who busy themselves creating violent, idiotic slogans  to the prime minister, who is doing everything in his power to disintegrate the State of Israel.

Shay was referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right governments minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, a racist provocateur elevated to high office with several other extremists to cobble together a government after the last election. That government is facing a growing chorus of criticism from all corners of Israeli society since Hamass surprise attack with the military caught off guard and taking hours to reach towns where terrorists massacred over 1,200 people.

You, Shay continued, betrayed the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. You betrayed the residents of the Gaza border. You betrayed the State of Israel. You betrayed my beloved brother. I expect all of you to take responsibility and resign immediately at the wars end.

Another siren interrupted before he finished.

I will not forget, and I will not forgive. I promise that I will pursue you till the ends of time.

About a foot behind him stood Economy Minister Nir Barkat  who hopes one day to replace Netanyahu as head of the Likud Party  unmoving, inscrutable as a sphynx. Later that day, he visited Tel Avivs Tel HaShomer hospital, where he encountered Shirel Hogeg, attending to a wounded relative. Three of Hogegs relatives are missing or dead.

You better learn to take some criticism, he yelled at Barkat, shaking a finger into his face. Because you dismantled this country! You as a businessman know what happens when you dismantle the corporate structure of a company! Youve destroyed this countrys institutional structure!

Since Netanyahu returned to power ten months ago, Barkat, one of Israels first tech billionaires and the wealthiest man in politics, has been a loyal soldier of Netanyahus judicial reform, which would practically neuter the countrys courts. Israel was in fragile shape before the war erupted, beset by unrelenting massive protests against Netanyahus attempted coup against the rule of law.

You broke this country apart. Now, Hogeg thundered, I want to hear you take responsibility. I want to see how you rend your shirt and beg forgiveness from 2,000 people. Ten percent of all of Israels wartime losses were slaughtered on your watch.

Barkat: Ill talk to you after the war.

Hogeg: Why after the war?!

Barkat: Because right now I am occupied with the important thing: to come and look you in the eye.

Hogeg: And maybe ask for forgiveness?

Barkat: Certainly to ask for forgiveness.

Hogeg: Where is the prime minister of Israel? Everyone should stand in line like you do to get your pictures taken and ask the Israeli people for forgiveness, get down on your knees, rend your shirt.

Barkat: I have no doubt that we will all have to ask for forgiveness, everyone without exception 

And resign, another man in the hospital corridor growled.

The prime ministers approval rating hovered at about 27 percent before the bloodshed. Apparently aware that he does not have the public legitimacy to lead Israel into war, Netanyahu late on Wednesday night established an emergency war cabinet with Benny Gantz, a former IDF chief of staff who leads a center-right opposition party.

Aside from a video clip posted to social media, Netanyahu waited 70 hours before addressing the nation. Two days later, a host on Channel 12 insistently asked Yossi Shelley, director general of Netanyahus office, Where are all the ministers? Shelley deflected, first seeming to blame the victims of one of the biggest massacres, concertgoers at a desert music festival, for the governments failure to respond to the public clamor.

The party made a not insubstantial contribution to the chaos, Shelley said. Then he compared identifying and tallying the dead and the hostages to standing in line at the supermarket. It doesnt matter how many shop assistants there are  sometimes its impossible to deal with everyone.

Perhaps the most infuriated group in Israel is the families of hundreds of people believed to be held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The government said it will not take hostages into consideration for how it prosecutes the war against Hamas absent specific information about exactly where the captives are held. Families of American and French dual-citizen hostages have such little confidence in Israels government that they have begged Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron to rescue their loved ones. On Tuesday, three families held press conferences warning Netanyahu. If we dont get the attention we need, said Uri David, whose daughters, Tair and Odaya, are missing, this country will tremble.

Netanyahus cabinet also decided to exempt ministers from their obligation to attend military funerals during wartime. Yossi Fuchs, the American-born cabinet secretary, issued a laconic statement explaining that, unfortunately, there are hundreds of funerals. We have adjusted the protocol for sending ministers to represent the government at security forces funerals, prioritizing wartime needs. The decision was slammed even by Israel Hayom, the tabloid started by the late casino mogul Sheldon Adelson to burnish Netanyahus reputation.

Many Netanyahu allies believe he is a dead man walking, politically. Amit Segal, a journalist considered very close to the prime minister, said on a radio panel that it is hard to see how he can survive this.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York and adviser to several prime ministers  and no fan of Netanyahus  predicted the protests will return and morph into toppling him for this war.

Bibi is absent, said Hebrew University political-science professor Gideon Rahat, using Netanyahus nickname. What has Bibi even done? Listen to his words  he says, I ordered such and such. Thats the entire story; they sit there and issue orders. Netanyahu is completely disconnected. He has no idea where he is living. He has no idea of the magnitude of this moment.

This is what happens when you have a populist government attacking the state, Rahat continued, attacking its institutions. How can a country function when you attack all the professionals? What you are seeing in Israel  what every voter on earth should see  is the result.

Netanyahus history of escaping what seemed like political death before has earned him the sobriquet the magician. Still, the hits keep coming. Closer to home for Netanyahu, Education Minister Yoav Kisch said in a Thursday interview that we are responsible for the situation. We focused on stupidities.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who has refused to join the emergency war cabinet as long as Netanyahu keeps his extremist ministers, accused the government of an unforgivable failure and said he who brought about this failure cannot fix it. On September 20, Lapid, who is privy to top-secret intelligence briefings, warned in a video message that he had reason to believe that Israel was vulnerable to a multifront attack as a result of the governments lack of coordination with security agencies. The prime ministers office issued its fourth denial about having dismissed any such prior warning. Netanyahu was updated only when the fighting broke out and not before.

As the war entered its sixth day on Thursday, Transportation Minister Miri Regev checked on the wounded at the same Tel Aviv hospital her colleague had visited. Regev had recently returned from Mexico, where she was on vacation when Hamas attacked  leading to accusations that her absence contributed to the hourslong delay of reservists to the front lines as Hamas rampaged freely. Family members of the wounded gathered around her car as she left. One, who appeared to be on the verge of collapse, threw a cup of coffee at her car as it pulled away, yelling, You bitch! You whore!
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Jane Rosenberg/REUTERS

Just six days into U.S. v. Samuel Bankman-Fried, a trial likely to last six weeks, Manhattan federal judge Lewis Kaplan expressed that he was growing tired of sidebars. Sidebars are talks between opposing counsels, off to the side of the judges bench, where each side hashes out their differences with the judge. The problem? They drag. White noise plays, to keep the jury from hearing whats said. A few last minutes at a time and can jam up the questioning lawyers momentum. Lets try to hold the sidebars to a minimum from now on, Judge Kaplan said late in the day.

But sidebars arent off the record. Court stenographers record whats discussed, which then makes its way onto official transcripts. On Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon called a sidebar, and it was an explosive one. This is what she said to the judge:

Ive noticed several times since the lunch break that in response to things the witness has said, the defendant has laughed, visibly shaken his head, and scoffed, and obviously Im not communicating with the witness, but its possible its having a visible effect on her, especially given the history of this relationship, the prior attempts to intimidate her, the power dynamic, their romantic relationship, and I would ask that defense counsel tell him to control his visible reactions to her testimony.

Remember, Bankman-Fried has been staying in jail since August 11 because he leaked portions of Caroline Ellisons diary to the New York Times, which the prosecution has said was an instance of witness intimidation. On Tuesday, I wrote about how he appeared to be visibly oscillating in his chair while Ellison was in the witness box. (Liz Lopatto at the Verge noticed the same thing.)

Mark Cohen, SBFs attorney, said he was offended by Sassoons implication and pointed out that Ellison had trouble even noticing him when she was first in the court. The notion that someone who she couldnt even pick out in the courtroom, after we stipulated to this, is trying to intimidate her is ridiculous. Lets try the issues in this case, Your Honor, he said.

Judge Kaplan opted not to take any action  he didnt see any of the reactions himself  but did tell Cohen to keep his clients reactions in check. Kaplan also said that he would be paying closer attention. Ill keep an eye on him, to the extent I can, because Im taking copious notes too. And well see what happens, he said.

Most sidebars are, in reality, not very interesting  typically just the haggling of two lawyers over how to characterize testimony or whether to allow an exhibit, that kind of thing. And that has been the case for most of the Bankman-Fried trial. But it does appear that these are starting to get heated.
Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Senator Robert Menendez Thursday, alleging that the longtime chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee used his public position to act as a foreign agent on behalf of the Egyptian government.

The new charge stems from the prosecutors ongoing case against the New Jersey senator, in which they accuse Menendez and his wife, Nadine, of providing political favors to three businessmen, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes, in exchange for bribes of money and even gold bars. In addition to Menendez, his wife and Hana are facing a charge of conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent.

In the initial indictment unveiled last month, prosecutors alleged that Nadine Menendez introduced her husband to Hana, an Egyptian American, who in turn connected Menendez with Egyptian officials. Following that meeting, Menendez allegedly provided sensitive information about the amount of staff in the U.S. Embassy in Cairo as well as details about U.S. military aid to Egypt to Hana, either directly or through his wife, who would then share the information with Egyptian officials.

Menendez is also alleged to have intervened when the USDA contested the monopoly that Hanas halal company had over certifications of U.S. meat exports to Egypt. Hana is being accused of using his company to facilitate bribes to Menendez and his wife including one instance where his company paid around $23,000 toward Nadine Menendezs mortgage. The senator is believed to have advocated for positions favorable to members of the Egyptian government, at one time writing to the then state and treasury secretaries about stalled negotiations over a dam. The letter came after Menendezs wife arranged a meeting between her husband and an Egyptian official. In one text-message exchange prior to setting up the meeting, Menendezs wife wrote to an Egyptian official, Anytime you need anything you have my number and we will make everything happen.

As a U.S. senator, Menendez is forbidden from acting on behalf of a foreign nation as dictated by the Foreign Agents Registration Act. In the new indictment, prosecutors cite several instances where Menendez implored the Justice Department to investigate other members of Congress who failed to register under FARA, indicating that the senator was aware of the rule. They also note that Menendezs wife and Hana have never registered as foreign agents or lobbyists.

Menendez has maintained his innocence since he was first charged in September and has indicated that he will not step down from office despite many of his Senate and even House colleagues calling on him to resign. As the case is ongoing, Menendez has stepped down from his prestigious role as Senate Foreign Relations chairman.

Senator John Fetterman, the first in the chamber to call for Menendez to step down following the initial indictment, is now urging his colleagues in Congress to expel the senator for this new charge.

Senator Menendez should not be a U.S Senator. He should have been gone long ago. It is time for every one of my colleagues in the Senate to join me in expelling Senator Menendez, he said in a statement. We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate. This is not a close call.
Looking better than Ron DeSantis isnt enough. Photo: Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Were in a week whose events, from the terrifyingly significant (the Israel-Hamas war) to the puzzlingly comedic (the House GOP Speakership deadlock), have all but obscured the 2024 Republican presidential contest. But there have been a couple of newsworthy developments. First, front-runner Donald Trump keeps making crazy remarks (most recently calling the terrorist group Hezbollah very smart) that give his rivals hope that the GOP electorate will reconsider its current determination to give the former president a third straight nomination. Second, an all-but-forgotten GOP candidate, Texas congressman Will Hurd, dropped out of the race and endorsed Nikki Haley.

Normally an endorsement from someone like Hurd wouldnt amount to a hill of beans. The most notable thing about his candidacy was that his hostility to Trump led him to refuse the RNCs loyalty-pledge requirement for participating in two debates he wasnt going to qualify for in any event. But it arrives at a moment when Haley is hovering on the edge of marginal relevance in the GOP contest. After two creditable debate performances and amid the growing realization among anti-Trump Republicans that Ron DeSantis is not wearing well on voters, Haley has risen in both national and early-state polls to a position challenging the Florida governor. That is not to say, however, that she represents a serious challenge to Trump.

In the national RealClearPolitics polling averages, Haley is now in a reasonably solid third place at 7.3 percent while DeSantis is at 12.8 percent. From a momentum perspective, shes probably at her all-time peak, while RDS is near his all-time low. None of the other candidates seem to have shown much progress since Vivek Ramaswamys brief late-summer surge subsided. There are two early states, moreover, where Haley is now ahead of DeSantis: New Hampshire, where RCP shows her at 14.2 percent as opposed to DeSantiss 10.4 percent; and her own home state of South Carolina, where shes at 15.3 percent and RDS is at 11.3 percent.

Unfortunately for Haley, she is still significantly trailing DeSantis in Iowa, the first state to vote; hes at 17.3 percent in the RCP averages while shes at 9.5 percent. And Haley still trails Trump everywhere (again using RCP averages): by 50 points nationally; 40 points in Iowa; 30 points in New Hampshire; and 32 points in South Carolina. While some desperate anti-Trump Republicans (like Hurd) may have concluded Haley has the least-impossible path to a position challenging the former president, others may plausibly think a DeSantis shocker in Iowa (where he is closely following in the strategic path of past Iowa winners Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Ted Cruz) is more likely. If Trump wins the first state or two, he will have a head of steam its hard to imagine anyone matching and a clear opportunity to croak Haleys candidacy once and for all in her home state.

In his Wall Street Journal op-ed endorsing Haley, Hurd doesnt so much praise her as dismiss DeSantis and argue for a much smaller field, saying, The time is now. If we wait much longer, we will anoint Mr. Trump as the leader of our party. The question is whether the time for that was actually last year, or maybe during Trumps second impeachment trial, when a universal condemnation of Trump by his party might have banned him from a 2024 race.

As for Haley herself, the central dilemma of her campaign has not gone away with her modestly elevated standing in the polls: She cant resolve her own ambivalence about the 45th president, whom she has both cravenly served and carefully disrespected. She cant even come close to beating Trump without going after him more aggressively than before, but if she takes that path she will almost certainly lose votes to him when the field of candidates winnows. But you cant even think about a path to the nomination without surviving the invisible primary first. If Haley does that, then maybe she is worth seriously considering as a presidential candidate rather than just the symbolic champion of her partys losing faction.
Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

In the first few days following Hamass attack on civilians in Israel, which left at least 1,200 people dead, Donald Trump didnt seem eager to discuss the horrific situation dominating political discourse worldwide. During his meandering remarks at a Monday campaign event in New Hampshire, Trump lobbed criticism at The Wall Street Journal editorial page, windmills, and the New England Patriots. When he finally got around to his scripted comments on the attack, he predictably blamed President Joe Biden for tossing Israel to the bloodthirsty terrorists. Politico said Trumps speech suggested he had scant organic interest in the events in Israel and saw little upside in making it part of the primary.

But now, Trump suddenly has a lot more to say about Israel since he has realized the attack was actually all about the primary topic he does have an organic interest in: himself. During a campaign rally in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, Trump tied the attack to his stolen 2020 election lies, aired his personal grievances against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and repeatedly called the Lebanon-based militant organization Hezbollah, which has been clashing with the Israeli Army this week, very smart.

Trump regularly (and nonsensically) claims that various unfortunate situations would never have happened on his watch, so its no surprise this was his primary take. But he gave the argument a particularly unhinged spin in his Wednesday remarks, explicitly linking the attack to his conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

If the election wasnt rigged, he said, there would be nobody even thinking about going into Israel.

Trump ties the attack on Israel to the 2020 election which he describes as rigged pic.twitter.com/BSX0SC8N8c  Acyn (@Acyn) October 12, 2023

Trumps criticism of Netanyahu is a bit more surprising as the two were close allies throughout his time in the White House and Trump insists hes the most pro-Israel president ever. But in the final weeks of his administration, Trump turned his back on Netanyahu. (He actually told a journalist, Fuck him.) The Israeli leaders crime: publicly congratulating President-elect Biden on his win.

While there are certainly many legitimate reasons to criticize Netanyahu at the moment, Trump instead focused on personal gripes. During the speech, he told a story he claimed he had never told before about the U.S. operation to assassinate Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in 2020. (Theyll say, Oh, its classified information. Well, maybe it is, but I dont think so, he mused aloud.) Trump said Israel had been collaborating with the U.S. on the plan for the operation but pulled out at the last minute.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing, Trump said. So we were disappointed by that. Very disappointed. But we did the job ourself. It was absolute precision, magnificent, beautiful job. And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didnt make me feel too good. But thats all right.

Trump complains that Israel didnt participate in the operation against Soleimani: Ill never forget that Netanyahu let us down.. and then he tried to take credit for it pic.twitter.com/RQO8rfklZk  Acyn (@Acyn) October 12, 2023

While Trumps story focused more on Netanyahus alleged slights, he tucked in some criticism of Israeli intelligence, too, saying, Theyve got to straighten it out. Then he branded Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant a jerk for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel in the north and repeatedly called the terrorist group very smart, even as he noted that doing so would probably get him in trouble.

Also in the speech 



 Hezbollah is very smart.



 Trump calls Israels defense minister @yoavgallant this jerk for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel.



 Trump suggests Israel wasnt ready militarily to protect itself from Hamas and Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/Ml9jv6GoaO  Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) October 12, 2023

Indeed, Trumps remarks were not well received in the press, and his biggest political rivals also seized on them. Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently decided to start attacking Trump now that hes trailing him by 40 points in GOP primary polls, posted a video of Trumps speech on X with this caption:

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.

As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are.

And while Biden has yet to respond directly, White House spokesman Andrew Bates condemned Trump, saying, Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged. Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart.

Trumps remarks do make sense once you realize hes a narcissist devoid of empathy who cant help but praise the side he thinks is winning. But yes, it still is kind of shocking that a person like that was president and has a good shot at being reelected.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP

From the moment Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend, Irans role in the massacre has come under scrutiny. Though it does not appear Iran directly orchestrated Saturdays carnage, the longtime nemesis of Israel actively supports Hamas and has been increasingly wary about diplomatic negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia that could further isolate it on the world stage. To gauge what Iran stands to gain or lose from Hamass incursion and Israels attacks on Gaza, I spoke with Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who is the author of several books on Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported the other day that Iran had helped plan the Hamas attack, but U.S. government officials say they havent seen any confirmation of that, and Iran denies it. Other outlets have reported that Iran was caught unawares by what happened, and the Journal walked back its original claims to say that Iran knew a Hamas operation was in the works but not the specifics of it. How do these conflicting accounts align with what you know?

I would say the following: The Iranian government has a very close relationship with Hamas. It has a relationship that is financial  they do transfer military assistance to them, including projectiles and missiles. Thats acknowledged by Hamass leadership. The Hamas leadership are regular visitors to Tehran, and they meet with the highest leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The question of did they order this or not is important, but narrow. It is possible that they didnt say to Hamas, Can you launch an operation on Saturday at 7:30? But would they be unaware that Hamas was planning something? I dont think so. I dont think Israeli intelligence or American intelligence were unaware of those reports. They may have misinterpreted the data points that they were getting.

It seems like Israeli and U.S. intelligence were unaware. This was a massive intelligence failure on all sides, from what Ive read.

I tend to be sensitive about intelligence failure, because Im sure the intelligence community saw things being mobilized, but did not feel that it would lead to conflict  that Hamas was not about to launch an operation irrespective of his adherent military preparations. So it wasnt failure to detect movement and motion, it was failure to acknowledge that that movement motion could actually lead to conflict.

The Iranians certainly wanted Hamas to attack. Hamas wanted to attack. So there was a meeting of minds. Now, whether there was operational coordination to the level of detail people want to know is important, but in some ways, I think, besides the point.

Well, theres been speculation that the timing of this attack was intended specifically to destroy or at least delay the big negotiations happening between the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Israel, which would further isolate Iran and sideline the Palestinians. If Iran wasnt as intimately involved with the attack as some people thought, that would seem to cast doubt on this motivation.

For the Iranian side, the motivation would be multilayered. There have been shadow, low-intensity conflicts taking place between Iran and Israel for some time. Israelis have successfully seemingly assassinated some Iranian officials, and the Iranians have been trying to assassinate Israeli officials. In Syria, the two sides have gone at it. The Iranians are hoping that their allies will inflict pressure and damage on Israel. So putting pressure on Israeli frontiers would be an aspect of Iranian motivation, and the increasing Saudi-Israeli cooperation would be an aspect of it.

Hamass calculations may have been slightly different. Hamas is not Hezbollah  it has its own agenda and its own objectives. In that sense, its different in terms of its relationship with Iran. Their motivation may have been, to some extent, to scuttle what is happening, to inflict damage on Israel, which always works for them. So the two sides may have overlapping motivations and slightly different ones, but the conclusion that they both arrived at would be that they should do something on the Israel front. They both sense regional politics, I think, better than Israelis or the Saudis or the Americans, because they seem to have understood that whats agreed on in conference rooms can be undone by the street. They understood that street politics still mattered. A lot of people in America didnt.

What youre saying is that Arab countries rapprochement with Israel over the last few years is not broadly popular in those countries.

Yes, thats right. Only 3 percent of Saudis are supportive, I think, something like that. These were agreements between Israelis, Americans, and Arab despots who are afraid of the people they rule. The Iranians understood that, because they knew that street politics hadnt left the Middle East. Theyre right.

So an attack of this scale could be something of a happy surprise for Iran.

Theyre jubilant up to a point. As Israelis go into Gaza, they get bogged down. Therell be civilian casualties, therell be international programs and all that stuff. And that essentially preoccupies Israelis for some time if theyre insisting, as they rightfully should, to cleanse Gaza of Hamas. And then what do you do with Gaza? Who rules it? Nobody wants it. Israelis are going to be busy for a very long time, and that suits the Iranians just fine.

So why jubilant only up to a point?

If things get out of hand, that could lead to a more direct Israeli-Iranian confrontation, then not so. So thats the angle that one has to watch. But at this point, I think Israelis have their hands full.

Since Saturday, there have been limited exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah on Israels northern border. Hezbollah is much more a direct Iranian proxy than Hamas is. Do you think Iran would want them to take the fight to Israel now or be a bit more restrained?

This is just my guess, because people are throwing out the old assumptions. But my guess is they would not want the northern border to be inflamed, because then theres a real risk of a confrontation that could drag Iran potentially into it, and it certainly would be very damaging to Hezbollah. Obviously, itd be substantially damaging to Israel  Hezbollah has 150,000 rockets and so forth. But I think they would want the Israelis to be preoccupied with Gaza and essentially be mired in that particular quagmire. But were in a situation where things can be unpredictable and things can get out of hand.

Yes, were talking about an event that nobody predicted in the first place, and then asking people to make predictions based on that event.

Exactly. Were also talking about an event where the two protagonists, Israelis and Hamas, are both talking about throwing out the old playbook. Hamas certainly threw away the old playbook with this attack on Israel, which is far more substantial than anything it has done before. Israelis are talking about throwing out their playbook of retaliation and retreat. So if everybodys discarding traditional assumptions and old playbooks, then we may be in a new era.

Probably not a good one.

Certainly not a good one. Im just thinking the laws of gravity still hold on the northern front. These are famous last words.

Going back to the big Saudi-Israel-U.S. deal  again, this is something that we can only speculate about, but do you think those negotiations are dead? Delayed? Or we dont know?

I think its dead for now. Because what is the practical value of that rapprochement for the Israelis? The Saudis are supposed to present themselves as a regional actor of consequence. Well, this regional actor of consequence certainly exercised no restraint on Hamas.

But could they have exercised restraint on Hamas if they wanted to?

Probably not. But if they havent, then what is the practical value of that rapprochement? And for the Saudis, I think you always saw them hedging. They were negotiating with the Israelis, but they were also negotiating a mobilization agreement with the Iranians. Saudi Arabia is not the rock you want to build your church on in the Middle East.

Iran has seen a lot of domestic turmoil over the last couple of years  huge protest movements that may be reigniting again. Could this attack help the hard-liners maintain their power?

This does not help the Iranian regime at home, because the Iranian people are not Saudis. They dont care about Arab conflicts or Arab civil wars. The regime has gotten the country involved in these Arab conflicts whose costs are obvious. There isnt much benefit as far as the average Iranian is concerned. They dont care which set of Arabs lives in the Gaza Strip. Thats different from public opinion in places like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and so forth. And its different from public opinion in the West Bank, where people are supportive of Hamas. Not so much in Iran. This doesnt work among the Persians.

Its almost like an inverse of the split between public and elite opinion in Saudi Arabia and other countries leaning toward peace with Israel.

Exactly. Getting involved in this particular conflict for reasons that are not obvious, and certainly not compelling, at the time when the country is in economic distress  this doesnt address the domestic quandaries that the Islamic Republic has.

Presumably the Iranian government doesnt really care much about public opinion and just wants some level of chaos.

Ideologues have their own perspective, their own values. They think the Iranian people should care about this, and if they dont, theyre all wrong.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The brother of the Auburn man who died in police custody was arrested at the Lee County District Attorneys Office on Friday after attempting to obtain additional records related to Ricardo Garys death.

Reggie Hall, 28, was charged with obstruction of governmental operations.

He was booked into the Lee County Jail, but released on bond later that evening.

An employee with the office called Lee County court security deputies to the DAs office at approximately 2 p.m. Friday to report an individual interfering with the operations of the office and being a nuisance.

Hall said that shortly after he entered the office to speak with District Attorney Jessica Ventiere, employees with the DAs office told him that he was not supposed to be in the building. Deputies detained him and escorted him out.

If a deputy is called to any type of circumstance, its in their judgment based on the actions of the individuals involved if it is probable cause to effect an arrest. Then an arrest is effected or arrest is made, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said. And in that case, the deputy felt that the element was met and made the arrest.

Hall said that during the arrest, a deputy told him that hell need his attorney to subpoena the records, and he was arrested under trespassing and disorderly.

This transpired nearly a year after Halls brother died in police custody.

Gary died on Nov. 22 after Auburn police shocked him with a Taser on Spencer Avenue. At the time, officers were responding to a call about someone showing erratic behavior.

Police said that Gary was combative upon contact, so they restrained him and shocked him with a Taser. Gary later passed out during an EMS examination and died, authorities said.

The family said Gary had a stick with him while walking in the area in case he were to be attacked by dogs in that area. They said he likely became suspicious of them after he saw officers following him for several blocks.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated Garys death. The evidence and testimony was presented to a Lee County Grand Jury, but no charges were filed after the grand jury determined the death was not a result of any criminal action.

Hall has repeatedly visited the DAs office

This was the fourth time Hall had been to the DAs office since Garys death last November.

Before Friday, he last visited on Aug. 22 to discuss the report from ALEA.

In recalling Fridays incident, Hall said employees with the district attorneys office told him that theyd already informed he that there was nothing more that could be done. Employees told him they informed him then that he cannot return to the office, according to Halls account of the incident.

Hall told the Opelika-Auburn News he was never told he couldnt return.

I never got served, and I have the full conversation recorded the last time I talked with Jessica. She never stated that, Hall said.

Ventiere declined to share any specifics on Fridays incident or anything related to Gary or Hall when the Opelika-Auburn News inquired.

In regards to the most recent event, which happened on Friday.... Because that is an ongoing situation, the rules of professional conduct prevent what I say in public, Ventiere said. I cant make comments about pending actions or pending cases or anything of that nature. Its against the rules.

In the previous visits with the office, Hall said Ventiere spoke with him and other members of the family in regards to the information that they can share. Hall said Ventiere met with a few members of the family to explain the ruling of the grand jury as well as supply additional information, which is standard practice according to Ventiere.

We routinely meet with families of people who are victims of crime, or in this particular case, where Mr. Gary died unexpectedly. And again, any unattended death is going to go to our grand jury, Ventiere said, while clarifying that her comments were not specific to the situation with Gary. When we have those types of cases, we meet with the family, we spend as much time as they need to go through the evidence that we have to talk about the process, how the process starts, what they can expect, as the process continues, how the process ends, we try to keep them as informed as possible...that is how we handle those cases routinely.

Ahead of Saturdays scheduled town hall that was held by the Racial Justice Network, Hall attempted to make a public records request for any documents related to his brothers detainment and subsequent death on Nov. 27.

Hall said he has already received the ALEA investigation file from Ventiere, but he was still looking for the incident reports from the officers involved in Gary being detained.

I was just going through my notes and all my case files, and I was going through my emails. Ive seen where Jessica Ventiere had sent me an email with the State Bureau Investigations report, which I never asked for, Hall said. I just wanted the police incident reports.

Hall started his day by going to Auburn Public Safety to make a public records request related to the incident, as Gary died while in Auburn police custody. Upon arriving to make his request, Hall faced an initial roadblock of securing the records.

They told me that hey, because it involved a death a detective or somebody of that nature has to pass it out, do you have time to stay?, Hall said.

A short time later, Hall was told that he needed to speak to the city attorney due to pending litigation related to the records he was requesting. While there, Hall was referred to Assistant Chief of Police Clarence Stewart, and Hall said they spoke for around 10 minutes. In that conversation, Hall said that Stewart referred him once again to Paul A. Clark, who works with the city attorneys office.

Multiple attempts were made to contact Auburn Public Safety, but the Opelika-Auburn News was unable to speak with Stewart and the department declined to comment further.

Paul A. Clark works with the Auburn city attorneys office under Auburns appointed city attorney Rick Davidson. Both of them work in the law firm Davidson, Davidson, Umbach and Forbus LLC at 310 Samford Village Court in Auburn, of which Davidson is a partner.

On Aug. 23, Hall received a letter from the law firm banning him from the office or from contacting the firm.

If you choose to go on or about the aforementioned property a trespass warrant will be signed for your arrest. You should be advised that security cameras are installed in various locations around the property, the letter stated. Additionally, you are prohibited from calling the offices of Davidson, Davidson, Umbach and Forbus or any of the attorneys or staff that work there. Any attempt to communicate with the law firm attorneys or staff will be considered harassing communications and appropriate action will be taken to stop the behavior.

The letter was signed by Patrick C. Davidson. It notes that Ben Bugg Private Investigator delivered the letter.

Patrick Rick Davidson could not be reached for comment at this time. Hall said he visited the offices twice before and still has not heard a reason for being banned.

I was banned from their property, and I cant go back up there and they never listed to reason, Hall said. So I felt like the police department was trying to get me arrested at that point.

Hall is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 5.
Two 40-year-old men were charged with murder on Wednesday after authorities found human remains in a wooded area on Bay Court, according to Opelika police.

Matthew James Dillon from Ohio and Francis Harland Hamblin from New York were arrested on a murder charge tied to the disappearance of 28-year-old Reggie Cornelius Stokes. Both suspects, who recently relocated to the Opelika area, were booked into the Lee County Jail.

After Stokes family reported his disappearance on Monday, Opelika police launched a missing persons investigation that same day. They sent out a press release on Tuesday notifying the local media. At the time, Stokes family hadnt seen him since Sept. 22 and his last social media post was dated Sept. 23.

During the initial investigation into the disappearance of 28-year-old Reggie Cornelius Stokes, detectives identified 40-year-old Matthew James Dillon and 40-year-old Francis Harland Hamblin as possible suspects, the Opelika Police Department said Wednesday night in an updated news release.

Authorities continue to investigate the connection between the suspects and victim, but Allison Duke, OPDs community relations administrator, confirmed that the suspects and victim did know one prior to the incident. She described them as acquaintances.

Dillon and Hamblin reside in the 100 block of Bay Court. Stokes lived a few blocks away from that road, Duke said.

Detectives contacted the Alpha Team K9 Search & Rescue to help search a wooded area near the 100 block of Bay Court. During Wednesdays search, canines alerted to the presence of human remains, police said.

The remains were sent to the medical examiners office in Montgomery for further examination. Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton said there is no official timetable on identifying the remains that he said were found decomposing.

At this time, authorities do no believe there are any more suspects or victims involved, Duke said. Officials have yet to release any other details about this ongoing investigation.

If you have any information about the incident, Opelika police urge you to call their detective division at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Tips can also be submitted through the OPDs mobile app. You may wish to remain anonymous.

You can also call the Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP (toll-free). Youre free to submit tips via the Central Alabama Crimestoppers Facebook page or the website www.215STOP.com.
As members of the Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) Honors Program, three students are traveling to Chicago, Ill. to participate in presentations at the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC23) Conference on Nov. 8 - 12.

Two seniors, Kinesiology Major Shadara Stevenson and Psychology Major Jordan Thornton, along with Junior, English Major Kristen Bannerman, will be traveling with Dolapo A. Adedeji, Ph.D., director of the University Honors Program and associate professor of Pharmaceutical Science. Students are being judged on the conferences topic of liberty, equality, and humanity for a chance to win an award.

Stevenson will present on, Diversity Issues Within Science, Thornton, also Miss ECSU, will present on, Is Addiction a Disease or a Choice? and Bannerman will present on, The Misrepresentation of Black People in the Film Industry On and Off Camera.

Students participation in the conference is an exciting opportunity for national dialogue and academic rigor among other honors program students across the country, Adedeji said. All student presenters must be in good standing in their respective honors program or honors colleges.

Im certain this competition will give each of our students benefits from which they will continue reaping throughout their time at ECSU and as they enter the workforce, professional or graduate school, Adedeji said. It is this type of experience that will make them, and other honors students who get this opportunity, confident as they research and articulate important, relevant concepts and ideas.
AMPTP sound like they're being shitty little assholes.

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they ARE and always have been greedy fuckasses who care about nothing but their profits.

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good luck making movies with hand puppets that don't talk i guess

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Puppeteers are SAG :)

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then i'm afraid it's poorly assembled little stick men made from glued together popsicle sticks

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 I needed this laugh thank you

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$800 million is a pittance compared to what the studios are making on the backs of the workers.



Edited at 2023-10-12 06:27 am (UTC)

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I was going to say. Thats an economic burden when one movie costs $200 mil to make nowadays?

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Right like if every studio doesn't make one blockbuster a year they're good.

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I literally had to read the figure twice. I was like that's 3 movies worth of funding the way we're currently going.

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That's like 4 studio head bonuses.

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Great. Just great. Honestly I was already done with SAG-AFTRA and this doesn't help. All their interim agreements, loopholes, meeting every other day, etc. I wish they'd just pick a lane and stick with it. I'm sick of all of this.



This doesn't mean I'm on the side of the AMPTP. Screw those guys too. It's just that WGA was solid. They didn't write. They shut down anyone trying to find a loophole. They met every day to finalize the deal. That's why they got what they got. SAG is all over the place.



I wonder what "2% cut of streaming revenue" really means. Like is it 2% per actor? 2% to split among all the actors? Every other aspect of the proposed deal actually sounds really good, and this seems to be the sticking point. Every other department is getting pissy so they better figure this out soon. A lot of people are in trouble and the holidays are coming up.

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I want SAG to get paid. Well paid.



This 2% thing is not realistic. And the idea that payments would be based on analytics from an outside company, Parrot or anyone, is silly.



There is no revenue by show in streaming. Its an unreality. Find another standard, SAG.  David Poland (@DavidPoland) October 12, 2023 This guy is a financial analyst for the entertainment industry.

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That just makes it sound like streaming itself is fucked.

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Now Im more confused. I agree that revenue on streaming isnt really quantifiable (You can do hours watched and then divide that by episode number I guess). Most of the money from the biggest streaming shows is from outside like merch and events. Theres no one show that suddenly makes a streamer a ridiculous amount of money like network shows plus advertisers. Even the biggest shows like Squid Game and Stranger Things didnt add that many new subscribers. People already had Netflix.



Just where does this 2% come from? Is it 2% for every show individually? Is it 2% per company? Is it 2% of all revenue?

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maybe, before netflix decided to upend the film goddamn medium as we know it, they should have made thorough plan for how to make it a realistic business, and all the wishwashying from people trying to both fight for their rights and put food in their mouths doesnt change that. i dont know what 2% means but i know it would take a goddamn afternoon to hammer out if these people wanted to.

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lol some people wanted to argue me about the SAG-interim not being loopholes!! lol this is Hollywood!! You think they wont find ways of getting paid and awards is around the corner!!

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ugh and here I was hoping it might resolve quicker than the writer's strike after their recent success

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My best and final offer to studio heads:

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Now we're getting somewhere! 

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That would free up the money for proper streaming residuals too!

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sounds like a bunch of rich assholes determined to remain rich assholes

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the moment i saw a news alert flash across my screen with this, i literally said out loud: "that's such fucking bullshit!"



guess they want to lose even more money seeing as awards season is right around the corner. $800 million is chump change compared to how many members are in SAG-AFTRA. how much did these executives make in bonuses last year alone? you have to spend money to make money, so it'd be really fucking wise of them to use that "bonus" money on various things that SAG-AFTRA want in their renewed contracts.



and the longer this goes on the more the general public is going to side with the actors & actresses. with all the strikes going on across the country and the overwhelming public support these members (in all unions currently on strike) are ultimately getting,AMPTP needs to read the room.

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That 800 million number probably needs to be explained and put in perspective with how much money is generated

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they want a 2% cut of streaming revenue

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totally off topic but i was hoping to see you in a post! i have a tarot deck thats cobbled together from other decks and found a card yesterday that is your icon but carving a pentacle! i was like ?! haha

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Fuck the studios.



Stay strong, solidarity to SAG-AFTRA!

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Stop the loopholes & agreements and strike completely. That'll mellow them out.

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fuck the studios. i just want to get back to work and they know damn well the actors deserve to have their demands met.



Edited at 2023-10-12 09:31 am (UTC)

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I don't know how people are just skipping over this part: "continuing to demand consent on the first day of employment for use of a performers digital replica for an entire cinematic universe (or any franchise project)."



They want to do a full scan of an actor to make basically a clone of them that they can then program to do anything they want--and of course not pay them anything extra for using their image in as many films as they want til the end of time.



This will insure we see a lot of bad actors because I can't see any really talented actor who would want to sell themselves like this. And the studios may not get it in this contract, but they won't give up on trying to get this, because it's so much cheaper for them than working with real actors.

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I don't think this will happen this time because the studios will get desperate. Their pipeline is already fucked for 2024. When they need to ratify this again ? Sure, and this song and dance happens again.

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Right, and unless they settle the strike this week, everything will be totally fucked. Promo for awards movies begins six weeks before release. So films opening in December should begin real promo with actors doing TV appearances, magazine interviews, videos, etc. next week.



None of that is happening, and it will affect box office for all their big Oscar movies. TV and streaming series won't be ready in time to launch next year. It's unbelievable that the studios have let this go on so long as it is. What was the point of settling the writer's strike if you aren't going to film anything?

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The fact that the studios have played in everyone's faces all summer and fall saying with a straight face that WRITERS AND ACTORS are not worth a fair wage in the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY has been WILD.



Stay strong, SAG! They did the same to the WGA and the writers WON.

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Were heading into the Oscar campaigns. If they really think they can carry on without actors lol good luck to them.

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literally these assholes would be nowhere without writers and actors like...................

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I think the union needs to tighten up (maybe eliminate completely) the strike exemptions.



SNL should not be coming back (as an example.)

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Thats not an exemption though, its under a different contract that theyre not on strike for. Its different than the interim agreements SAG has granted. They actually ratified that contract last year.



(Its confusing and I was wondering about SNL too until I read it was under a different contract).

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I actually agree- there should be NOTHING filming or being promoted or premiered, even if it meets the requirements. No filming, no promotion, no red carpets, no interviews, no social media- NOTHING. Everything should stop. Allowing productions and promotion to carry on during a strike has been questionable to me from the jump.

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If this continues into Oscar season, I'd be interested to see which movies are nominated based less on actor networking. Of course studios will push fyc campaigns and writers and directors can push, but it would be interesting.



Of course the better option is that studios don't try to replace everyone with an AI copy, of they they succeed, people don't watch it.

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If that Leslie movie would have come out this year, 100000% no nom for Andrea. That is the power of some hardcore campaigning and campaigning only.

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A+A Congress Coming to Dusseldorf in October 2023

The international event runs from Oct. 24-27 and focuses on digitalization and sustainability in workplace safety.

Global safety event A+A congress is set to return for its 38th edition from October 24 to 27, 2023 at the fairgrounds in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Hosted by Messe Dusseldorf, A+A 2023 is a hub where workplace safety and health experts converge to share ideas, policy plans and best practices, shaping the industrys way forward. This includes emerging trends, such as the Vision Zero preventative strategy designed to nullify occupational accidents and diseases.

Themes of digitalization and sustainability are slated to take center stage at this years event, echoing the global shift towards more technologically integrated and environmentally conscious workplaces. In addition to showcasing recent accomplishments, the A+A congress offers a glimpse into the products, experts and research deciding the future of occupational safety.

One of the most-anticipated highlights is the integration of the WEARRACON EUROPE conference and EXOWORKATHLON life study scheduled from October 25 to 26 and 24 to 27, respectively. These coordinated events will address exoskeleton technology, which aims to enhance workplace safety by combining human physiology and mechanical augmentation.

Introduced in the 1950s, A+A Congresswhich runs parallel to the A+A trade fairremains a pivotal event for occupational safety in Germany and beyond. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the previous congress in 2021 attracted around 1,500 trade visitors. According to the A+A website, attendance is normally closer to 5,000 guests.
National Food Manufacturer Pays $140,164 in Penalties for Child Labor Violations

A federal investigation determined the company illegally employed 11 teens.

Monogram Meat Snacks LLCa subsidiary of national food manufacturer Monogram Food Solutions LLChas been fined $140,164 following a federal investigation.

According to a release dated Oct. 10, the company illegally employed 11 teenagers at its meatpacking and food processing facility in Chandler, Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) found that the minors, including nine who operated hazardous machinery, were employed in violation of federal child labor laws.

Inspectors from the DOLs Wage and Hour Division launched the investigation in March 2023. They confirmed Monogram had employed five 17-year-olds, four 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds, infringing federal statutes. The case against Monogram resulted in a consent judgment by the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in July 2023.

Monogram must now take action to get in compliance with the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company is required to hire a third-party consultant for nationwide audits, establish a toll-free number for anonymous reporting of potential child labor issues and place identifying marks on all hazardous equipment.

As we made clear earlier this year, the Department of Labor and the Biden-Harris administration are committed to combating the troubling increase in child labor violations, Principal Deputy Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman said in a statement. No employer should ever jeopardize the safety of children by employing them to operate dangerous equipment. Employers are legally responsible to recognize potential child labor violations and to take all appropriate actions to verify that they are not employing children illegally.

The DOLs Wage and Hour Division is amid an ongoing campaign to combat child labor. According to the department, child labor violations have increased by 69 percent nationwide since 2018.
The government must send clear signals to clean energy investors that the UK is ready for business, or risk failing to meet its hydrogen ambitions.

Sarah Williams, director of regulation at Wales and West Utilities, told City A.M. that domestic renewables producers would be tempted by rival markets such as the US and EU  which are offering more tempting subsidy packages than the UK.

She argued the government needed to provide a pathway for investment in hydrogen to encourage those investors to invest in the UK now before its too late.

I think those signals are clearer elsewhere, particularly in the States and to some degree in Europe. So we need to make sure that we dont fall behind and that we really power through to be a leader in the world. she said.

In her view, this was essential for a realistic approach to net zero, with Williams fearing the government risked becoming too dependent on electrification to meets its climate goals.



This comes with National Grid targeting a five-fold hike in transmission lines installations by the end of the decade compared to its last 33 years of operation as a privatised company.

The government is targeting the decarbonisation of the electricity grid by 2035, while Labour has a more ambitious 2030 goal  with the shift considered a vital milestone for net zero.

Green hydrogen  which is produced through electrolysis in water  remains more expensive to generate than renewable alternatives such as wind and solar.



To ease the pressure on electrification and make hydrogen more competitive, she supported a contracts-for-difference style approach to the sector in line with the auction process for securing offshore wind projects.

This is where companies accept capped returns in exchange for a guaranteed income, to counterbalance intermittency in generation, so that they have confidence in committing to new projects.

Energy Source Generation levels Target level Target date Wind  offshore 15GW 50GW 2030 Solar 17GW 70GW 2035 Nuclear 7GW 24GW 2050 Hydrogen <1GW 10GW 2030

The governments energy security strategy targets include a robust role for hydrogen (Source: Gov.uk)

Active policy and very well targeted spending  similar to whats happened in wind  that type of messaging is really important to give the right direction, she said.

Williams welcomed Labours recent pledge to effectively double the governments green hydrogen target  scrapping Downing Streets twin track approach with blue and green options  and instead focusing on 10GW of renewable generation.

However, she believed the country could go further and faster to set our stall out there on the international stage.

Gas company confirms hydrogen boiler push



Wales and West Utilities provides gas services for 2.2m customers, as part of the UKs wider network of 22m homes.

Roughly 85 per cent of the countrys housing stock is dependent on the energy source to meet its heating needs.

The company is committed to net zero and welcomed the raised 7,500 allowance for heat pumps, but argued the government should also mandate boilers to be hydrogen ready by 2026, as an alternative option.

She said: For consumers and households, there are challenges around the costs of reaching net zero. So whilst obviously its important that we do need to move at pace, we also need to make sure that we dont end up leaving people behind who can not afford to change, particularly heating systems.

It would also enable the company to present a plan for repurposing hundreds of miles of gas pipeline infrastructure.

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Polling from the Energy Climate and Intelligence Unit earlier this year suggests that while 74 per cent of Brits support hydrogen investments, only a fifth would be in favour of subsidies to make boilers hydrogen ready.

The government recently shelved a proposal to bring in a so-called hydrogen levy, where consumers would fund hydrogen generation at the cost of 120 per year.

City A.M. has approached the government for comment.

By Nicholas Earl via City AM

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The French government will further restrict store and commercial real estate lighting usage and fine offenders as part of a new set of measures aimed at saving energy.

France and all other European countries are looking to curb energy and gas use after last years energy crisis and the skyrocketing prices of electricity and natural gas following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In newly-announced measures this week, France will further restrict the hours during which shop windows and commercial real estate can be lit, Energy Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told L'Alsace newspaper this week.

Businesses that violate the new rules could face fines of $1,593 (1,500 euros), the minister said.

To encourage smart energy use and higher bicycle use for work commutes, France is also subsidizing up to 80% of the price of smart digital thermostats for homes and introducing tax breaks for businesses that encourage employees to cycle to work.

France has already seen a 12% decline in electricity and natural gas use compared to the levels from before the energy crisis, the minister said, adding that she hopes the lower energy use could become structural.

Europe is currently in a much better position ahead of this winter compared to this time last year, with nearly full gas storage sites well ahead of the November 1 deadline, more LNG imports, and more LNG import terminals.

However, a colder-than-usual winter could strain energy supply again. Last winter was mild and it remains to be seen how Europe would handle a cold winter without Russian gas.

In Germany, Europes biggest economy ahead of France, gas supply disruptions continue to be a risk, the chief executive of Germanys biggest utility, RWE, said earlier this month.

We don't have any buffer in the gas system, RWEs chief executive officer Markus Krebber told German publication WirtschaftsWoche in early October, adding that Europes biggest economy must accelerate the construction of gas import infrastructure to avoid future shortages.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Iran and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding pertaining to oil and gas on the sidelines of the 6th Russian Energy Week International Forum.

The MoU was signed by the chief of Irans Institute for International Studies and the CEO of Russias Roscongress Foundation, SHANA reported. The two organizationssharing similar footing over Western sanctions of its oil and gas exportswill team up to study proposed projects for energy cooperation between the two countries. The groups will also form a think tank to study and pursue joint collaborations in terms of energy.

Irans Minister of Petroleum Javad Owji was visiting Moscow this week for Russian Energy Week on an invitation from Russias Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. On Wednesday, Owji disclosed that the two countries both had access to significant reserves of hydrocarbons and said that MoUs had been signed with upstream and downstream companies in Russia, adding that oil and gas cooperation between the two countries was one of the primary reasons for the visit to Moscow.

This weeks visit follows Alexander Novaks visit to Iran back in May, where he highlighted the benefits of increased cooperation between Iran and Russia in the areas of oil and gas. At the time, Novak visited several oil and gas equipment manufacturers and discussed plans to work together with Owji.

The two countries would benefit from cooperation in the fossil fuels segments, with both countries industries being squeezed by Western sanctions. Cooperation between the two could undermine the effectiveness of the sanctions, which has already been called into question. The two countries rely heavily on their oil and gas riches to finance their state budgets, and even current sanctions have failed to strip the two of their fossil fuel-derived revenues.

China remains a large buyer of sanctioned Iranian and Russian crude oil.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Global oil demand is set to rise by 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) this year and by another 2.2 million bpd next year amid improving Chinese economy, OPEC said on Thursday, leaving its demand forecast for both 2023 and 2024 unchanged, despite fears of slowing economies and demand destruction.

Developing economies, led by China, will account for most of this years oil demand growth, OPEC said in its Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) published today. World oil demand is set to reach a record average of 102.1 million bpd in 2023, driven by a 2.3-million-bpd demand increase in the non-OECD region, OPEC noted.

A steady increase in transportation and industrial fuel demand, supported by a recovery in Chinas activity as well as other non-OECD regions, is projected to boost demand in the region in 2023, the cartel said.

Next year, OPEC expects another rise in global oil demand, by 2.2 million bpd, also unchanged from last months assessment. In 2024, world oil demand is projected to average 104.3 million bpd. Demand in the OECD Europe and the OECD Asia Pacific regions is set to remain below pre-pandemic levels, OPEC said, due to expectations for slower economic activity and ongoing supply chain bottlenecks that would weigh on industrial activity, particularly in Europe.

But demand in non-OECD economies is expected to rise by nearly 2 million bpd, led by China and the Middle East, according to OPEC.

The cartels outlook continues to be positive for oil demand growth in 2024, as solid global economic growth, amid continued improvements in China, is expected to further boost oil consumption next year.

OPECs view for next years oil demand growth is much rosier than the one from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which now sees 2024 global demand growth at less than 1 million bpd.

In its Oil Market Report for October, the agency lowered on Thursday its demand growth estimate for 2024 by around 100,000 bpd, due to expectations of slowing economies and energy efficiency weighing on oil consumption. The IEA sees next years oil demand growth at 900,000 bpd now, down from the 990,000 bpd increase expected in last months report.

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Global oil demand growth is set to slow to 900 kb/d in 2024 as the post-Covid rebound runs out of steam while the economic expansion slows and energy efficiency improvements weigh on oil use, the IEA said today.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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OPEC's crude oil production rose in September compared to August, according to the group's latest Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) published on Thursday.

According to the MOMR, OPEC's crude oil production rose to 27.755 million bpd in Septemberup 273,000 bpd from the 27.482 million bpd the group produced in August. Based on the report's secondary sources, the largest increase in production was from Nigeria, which saw a 141,000 bpd increase month over month. Saudi Arabia also saw a production increase, of 82,000 bpd. Other OPEC members saw an increase, although smaller, including Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, and the UAE.

But some members saw their production decline like Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Venezuelathe latter of which saw its production fall by 25,000 bpd to 733,000 bpd, the lowest level since April 2023.

Saudi Arabia's September production rose to 9.006 million bpd. The country's quotawhich includes The Kingdom's 1 million bpd voluntary production cut quotais 9 million bpd.

Iran's September production, which rose to 3.058 million bpd, was the highest in years as the United States struggles to keep its oil revenues in check through sanctions, in a sign that the country is on its way to restoring production to pre-sanction levels.

OPEC members Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE reaffirmed their commitment to "collective and individual voluntary adjustments" to oil production after meeting on the sidelines of the UN MENA climate week last weekend. The members also said it would be willing to take "additional measures at any time" to support market stability. The group's current production quota agreement runs through the end of next year, but Saudi Arabia's extra 1 million bpd production cut runs through the end of this year and will then be subject to monthly reviews.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Petrobras expects to begin in 2024 offshore exploration drilling close to the mouth of the Amazon River in the so-called Equatorial Margin offshore Brazil, the chief executive of the Brazilian state-owned oil and gas giant said on Wednesday.

Petrobras expects to start drilling off the coast of the state of Amapa in the first half of 2024, CEO Jean Paul Prates said, as carried by Reuters.

The Brazilian firm currently doesnt have permission from regulators to drill for oil and gas in the environmentally sensitive area.

Earlier this year, Brazils environmental protection agency, Ibama, refused to grant approval for a controversial offshore oil project in the area led by Petrobras. The company was preparing to drill a well in the Foz do Amazonas area in the Equatorial Margin where the Amazon River meets the Atlantic.

Petrobras has appealed the decision of the environmental protection agency.

The so-called Equatorial Margin offshore Brazil, which includes the Foz do Amazonas, Para-Maranhao, and Barreirinhas basins, and is estimated to hold large oil and gas reserves.

The administration of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is looking to accelerate the energy transition, but it is also betting on continued development of the oil and gas industry, to pay for more incentives for green initiatives.

Despite the efforts to accelerate emissions reductions, the Brazilian administration has signaled that there isnt a discrepancy in Brazils efforts to advance the energy transition and its state oil company Petrobras pursuing drilling in domestic frontier areas.

There is no contradiction. You indicate where you want to get and then you'll need resources for that, Lulas chief of staff Rui Costa said in a radio interview in August carried by Reuters.

We are going to build a sustainable, renewable energy matrix, but it's obvious that we need to fund that transition process, Costa added.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Russias commitment to reduce its oil exports by 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) includes oil products, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday in remarks that sowed further confusion about how much oil supply Russia is really withholding from the market.

Russia has pledged to reduce its oil exports by 300,000 bpd until the end of 2023, in a show of solidarity with its OPEC+ partner Saudi Arabia, which is voluntarily reducing its oil production by 1 million bpd until 2023.

While the Saudis essentially stick to their promises, Russia appears to be looking for excuses for the fact that it hasnt delivered on the pledged export cuts.

Months ago, when Russia first announced a 500,000-bpd cut  later lowered to a 300,000-bpd reduction  analysts expressed doubts about Russias actual supply cut, due to the opaque nature of Russian oil trade and the lack of data from Moscow, which has stopped reporting volumes after the invasion of Ukraine.

Today, Novak said, as carried by Russian news agency TASS, When we talk about the oil market, about production, oil is extracted and supplied to markets and for processing, everything is considered together."

The final product takes into account the production volumes that are produced, Novak added.

In September, Russias total crude and petroleum product exports rose by 460,000 bpd to 7.6 million bpd, with crude oil accounting for 250,000 bpd of the increase, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly report published on Thursday.

As a result of higher export volumes and narrower discounts of the key Russian crude grades to international benchmarks, Russias oil export revenues surged in September to the highest level since July 2022, the IEA has estimated.

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Russian oil export revenues jumped by $1.8 billion to $18.8 billion in September 2023the highest level since July last year. The weighted average crude export price rose by $8 per barrel to $81.80 a barrel of Russian crude, narrowing the discount to North Sea Dated to $12.20 a barrel, its lowest since March 2022, per the IEA.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Following this weekends attack by Hamas on Israel, the United States could re-freeze at any time the $6 billion for humanitarian purposes to Iran which was part of a prisoner swap last month, Bloomberg reports.

In September, five Americans imprisoned in Iran were officially flown out of Tehran as the U.S. unfroze some $6 billion in Iranian oil funds held for five years. The prisoner swap deal also included the release of five Iranian prisoners being held by Americans, two of whom plan to stay in the U.S.

The deal between Washington and Tehran reached in August pledged to give Tehran access to nearly $6 billion in frozen oil revenues on the condition that the funds be used for humanitarian purposes.

However, the U.S. Administration is now weighing the option to freeze those funds again, although there has been no official blaming of Iran for any role in the Hamas attack, yet.

Intelligence agencies havent found yet hard evidence that Iran was behind the attack, but they believe Iranian officials knew of a plot by Hamas to carry out some action in Israel, an anonymous U.S. official told Bloomberg on Wednesday.

Commenting on the $6 billion funds to Iran, John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications at the White House, told MSNBC this week That money can be frozen at any time. We can stop any transaction.

None of it has been allocated. None of it has been spent. So its all still sitting in a Qatari bank, and that is an option thats available to us, Kirby added.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday, referring to the $6 billion, I wouldn't take anything off the table in terms of future possible actions.

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Also on Wednesday, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said they would introduce and seek unanimous consent to pass legislation to block Iran from accessing the $6 billion in funds that the Biden administration released in August.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Venezuela has received a second shipment of fuel for Italian supermajor Eni in a month, Bloomberg has reported, noting the amount of the shipment was 351,000 barrels.

The shipment is fuel aid for the country, which cannot produce enough gasoline and diesel to cover the needs of local drivers.

The first shipment, coming from Eni and Spains Repsol, was 260,000 barrels. The total planned to be shipped from Europe to Venezuela is 900,000 barrels.

Last month, Bloomberg cited unnamed sources as saying PDVSA and the European majors were in talks about scheduling the shipments.

Last year, Washington allowed Eni and Repsol to ship some Venezuelan crude to process at European refineries in order to recover debts and dividends owed to them by Venezuela for their joint ventures in the country holding the worlds largest oil reserves.

In August this year, Reuters reported the two European companies were looking to expand their business in Venezuela, including through deliveries of fuels and diluent for the Venezuelan heavy crude.

Since the U.S. sanction regime does not allow for cash payments involving PDVSA, the Venezuelan company is operating on a barter basis, paying for the fuels with crude oil.

Meanwhile, despite its struggle to supply the local market with fuels, PDVSA is ramping up exports of crude oil. In September, the daily average topped 800,000 barrelsthe second-highest export rate since the start of the year.

The increase in exports came on the back of a recovery in production, mainly in the Orinoco Belt which is home to most of Venezuelas oil reserves.

The output at the joint ventures between PDVSA and Chevron, however, slipped in September, from 147,000 bpd in August to 145,000 bpd, LSEG data cited by Reuters showed. Chevron hopes to boost this to 200,000 bpd this year.

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The report, which cited documents from PDVSA, also noted that higher exports have resulted in lower inventories of the countrys flagship Merey 16 crude blend, which could have a negative effect on exports in the coming months.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Via Metal Miner

The United Auto Workers strike finally began to take its toll on the Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) as well as month-over-month steel prices. Regarding price drops, hot-dipped galvanized managed to suffer the most. And with the strike continuing to escalate, negotiations stagnating, and more and more layoffs occurring nationwide, the index faces massive bearish pressure in the immediate future.

Overall, the Automotive MMI dropped by 4.51%

Mass Layoffs from Stellantis and Other Manufacturers

Jeep manufacturer Stellantis announced that it has laid off more than 500 employees at the Trenton Engine Complex, as well as a smaller number of workers in Indiana. The UAW strike, which led to storage difficulties and a lack of parts, proved the primary reason for the layoff decision. At the moment, 640 Stellantis employees are currently on temporary release due to the strike.

Other automakers have also witnessed impacts from the UAWs ongoing protest. Due to the strike at the Chicago Assembly Plant, Ford requested that 71 employees of the Livonia Transmission Plant not report to work on Monday, October 9. Like Stellantis, Ford also experienced a scarcity of parts due to the strike. Ultimately, General Motors (GM) had to idle an assembly plant in Kansas, resulting in the layoff of around 2,000 workers.

Economic analysts estimate that the UAW strike has thus far cost the automotive sector $5.5 billion. Indeed, nearly 13,000 GM, Ford, and Stellantis employees took to picket lines over the past four weeks. The UAW has since criticized the Big Three automakers decisions to fire workers, with union leader Shawn Fain claiming that the Big Three are using the layoffs as a strategy to put the squeeze on our members to settle for less.

UAW Strike Ramifications on Steel Prices

Ultimately, the strike continues to lower demand for auto steel, adding bearish pressure to already falling steel prices. Indeed, auto companies produced 6,030 fewer vehicles per day due to the UAW strikes effects. The cost of the UAW strike reflects the 16 days that production was halted at one assembly facility in Wentzville, Missouri, which produces mid-size pickups. Because of the strike, Ford has had to let go of around 930 employees. Meanwhile, Stellantis released at least 370 employees in Ohio and Indiana. That said, its possible that the strike may eventually reduce steel availability and raise steel prices, though only time will tell.

Mack Trucks Workers Reject Contract Offer and Join Strike

After overwhelmingly rejecting a proposed five-year deal, thousands of unionized workers at Mack Trucks went on strike. According to the United Auto Workers (UAW), 73% of its members voted against the proposed agreement. The deal apparently included a 19% pay increase, a $3,500 ratification bonus, improved retirement benefits, additional vacation time for some employees, and a shorter time to reach top pay.

About 4,000 Mack employees represent the UAW in three separate states. According to UAW President Shawn Fain, several issues still need to be resolved, including clauses relating to salary, work schedules, benefits, and health and safety.

The latest strike is distinct from the UAW disagreement with Detroits Big Three automakers, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, as Mack Trucks belongs to Volvo. Since September 15, the UAW has been striking specifically against the Detroit Three automakers facilities, with around 25,000 of the 146,000 UAW workers participating. Ford agreed to enhance its salary increase to 23% over four years, potentially raising expectations for union members at Mack due to recent developments in their own negotiations.

The Mack arrangement also included an immediate 10% pay hike and nine more percentage points of compensation increases over the course of the five-year contract. When the UAW decided to strike, Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said that the firm was surprised and disappointed, and that the action proved needless. In the past year, workers at FedEx and in the freight rail industry rejected tentative deals before later agreeing.

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By Jennifer Kary

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Most people  if not all  would acknowledge that school discipline shouldnt be a pathway to prison. Figuring out how to fix the problem is another story.

The new play thats now onstage in the Omaha Community Playhouses Howard Drew Theatre deals with that conundrum.

In Pipeline, by Dominique Morisseau, Nya (Deborah Dancer) is a dedicated Black educator at a high school where students have been hard to manage, though things are getting better.

Shes squarely in the middle of the school-to-prison dilemma: As an English teacher, shes trying to engage her students and control classroom behavior enough so that they stay out of trouble and find postsecondary success. And as a mother, shes wrestling with how to handle her sometimes volatile teenage son, Omari (Wayne Hudson II), who attends a mostly White  and definitely upscale  boarding school miles from home.

At first, I was not at all sure I would like Pipeline. It seemed to take too much time to get to the meat of the story, only vaguely revealing key points such as an incident involving Omari at school  seriously threatening his future  and Nyas strained relationship with ex-husband Xavier (George Weaver), a professional man who clearly thought the solution to Omaris problems was money and private school, not time with his son.

Performances from some also were stiff and a little hesitant (a couple of people appeared to be searching for lines), something thats not surprising on preview night. As the show progressed, however, the story was gripping, and the actors loosened up.

And as it came to a climax, several cast members got a chance to shine.

Hudson and Weaver were impressive in a pivotal scene between Omari and his dad. As Laurie, a teacher who had been a victim of classroom violence, Pamela Chase was profanely and darkly funny  and tortured  at the injustices she experienced. And Letitia Taveras, a performer from the Dominican Republic, was excellent as Omaris boarding school girlfriend, Jasmine, whos left behind to pick up pieces when Nya comes looking for her son, who ran away. The young actor had a lot of fast dialogue that she handled with ease.

Technical aspects were excellent and evocative. Real high school scenes were shown on screens behind the stage amid a row of lockers, making the entire set including the linoleum floor look just like the halls of Omaha North, my alma mater. Nora Marlow Smith designed both the scenery and the projections.

Original music by Shannon Smay set the mood and ramped up the tension as son and parents battled over the fallout that occurred when a White teacher pushed Omari too far: Would he be expelled? Would charges be filed? Was this his entry into the pipeline?

The play, directed by Brianna Carodine, was more slice of life than a piece that attempted to reach conclusions about who is to blame (probably all of us) and how to fix anything. It did a great job illuminating problems within our educational system: the need for restoring order in classrooms, finding appropriate punishments or sanctions that allow kids to remain in school, and helping beleaguered families, among others.

When you go, make sure you read Carodines enlightening program notes for facts that she learned when she researched the school-to-prison pipeline phenomenon. Many of them shocked me.

I dont often say this, but I think Pipeline is an important  even crucial  play. It certainly will provoke conversation and, perhaps inevitably, debate. Try to see it if you can. It runs through Nov. 5.

Omaha Community Playhouse through the years
The Omaha Police Department hopes to combat an increase in excessive speeding in the metro area through an operation that begins Thursday.

As part of Operation Falling Speed, which will continue until Oct. 30, officers will conduct traffic enforcement with the goal of taking unsafe and high-risk drivers off the road, according to the Police Department.

Authorities stated that excessive and dangerous speed has been an increasing problem in the Omaha area in both frequency and the extreme behaviors of some offenders.

Dangerous and excessive speeds also continue to be a leading factor in crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities, according to the OPD.

The Nebraska State Patrol saw an increase in citations given to Omaha drivers for excessive speeding this summer, The World-Herald previously reported.
Three Omaha men accused of beating a wheelchair-bound man to death earlier this year accepted plea deals Wednesday and were found guilty on various felony charges.

The body of 68-year-old Gary Lew was found in a ditch near Denton, Nebraska, on April 11. Four people were arrested: his only child, 37-year-old Christina Thornley; her husband, 39-year-old Justin Thornley; his cousin, 37-year-old Jacob Thornley; and a family friend, 26-year-old Braden Bongers.

On Wednesday, three of the four people charged in his killing accepted plea deals with prosecutors and pleaded no contest to reduced charges. Justin Thornley and Jacob Thornley, who were initially charged with second-degree murder, were found guilty of manslaughter. They also were found guilty of abuse of a vulnerable adult, false imprisonment, evidence tampering and criminal conspiracy.

Bongers, initially charged with first-degree assault, was found guilty on a reduced charge of attempted assault. Christina Thornley, Lews daughter, did not change her plea and is still slated to go to trial. She faces charges of being an accessory to murder and evidence tampering, and will be back in court later this month.

According to testimony from detectives at a preliminary hearing for the four defendants in May, Lew was fatally beaten March 3 in the basement of his own home after he attempted to swipe at Christina Thornley and Justin Thornleys 9-year-old daughter. Justin Thornley slammed Lew into the ground and began beating him.

At some point during the assault, Bongers and Jacob Thornley joined in and kicked Lew in the head and ribs. Bongers also poured water on Lew and poked him with a broom, according to testimony.

Lew had multiple medical conditions, including dementia and spina bifida, and he was confined to a wheelchair. Two young children were in the basement as the assault occurred.

Christina Thornley told police that she was sleeping upstairs when she heard a disturbance, prompting her to go to the basement. She said she tried to protest, and the beating stopped shortly after she came downstairs.

According to Christina Thornley, Lew remained alive for a few days after the initial assault. She told police that she brought him food and water until she came downstairs and noticed that he was cold to the touch and bleeding from the ears.

On March 8, Christina Thornley, Jacob Thornley and Justin Thornley put Lews body into the trunk of his own car, drove to a remote part of Lancaster County and rolled his body into a ditch.

After Lews body was found April 11 and identified April 13, authorities went to Lews west Omaha home to speak with his daughter. Christina Thornley told officers that Lew was sick and couldnt come to the door  raising suspicions, as officers already knew he was dead.

When authorities returned to the home with a search warrant, they found a scene of absolute filth. Blood splatter was noted on the walls and floors in the basement, as well as on Lews wheelchair.
Omaha City Council President Pete Festersen is proposing city ordinances to ban so-called ghost gun components as well as bump stocks and other accessories that make semi-automatic guns fire more rapidly.

Festersen also wants the council to pass a resolution supporting Omaha Mayor Jean Stotherts recently issued executive order prohibiting people from carrying firearms on city property. Festersen also is proposing a resolution encouraging gun owners to store their weapons safely and to take basic firearms safety classes.

His proposals represent the latest effort by city officials to adopt new local gun regulations that they believe are allowed by Nebraskas new permitless concealed-carry law, Legislative Bill 77, which led the City of Omaha to repeal most of its gun ordinances.

LB 77 failed to recognize cities that face different circumstances and need local control of public safety, and it forced us to repeal measures that were in place that the police chief believes helped prevent violence and that were successful in removing illegal guns from the streets, Festersen said. And it does limit future measures we can take to address the issue. But its important we do whatever we can to reduce gun violence and increase public safety in the community.

Festersen called his proposals commonsense measures that will contribute to public safety. The council is likely to hold public hearings and vote on the measures Oct. 31.

LB 77 took effect in September. It allows Nebraskans 21 and older to carry concealed firearms without a permit. The state legislation invalidates any local ordinances limiting that ability. Because of the law, the Omaha City Council repealed a raft of ordinances.

Stothert, Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer and a majority of the Omaha City Council had opposed LB 77. The mayor issued her executive order in late August. It prohibits firearms at properties owned, leased or managed by the city. Those properties include buildings, facilities, parks and public spaces.

Ghost guns are kits that people can buy online and assemble into firearms. They dont have serial numbers, require background checks, or generate records transfers that allow guns to be traced. Festersen proposes to make it illegal to possess the unfinished pieces or to manufacture a firearm from a ghost gun kit from a frame that does not have serial number.

The other ordinance he proposes would prohibit possessing or selling multi-burst trigger activators such as bump stocks in the city. The mass shooter who killed 58 people and wounded about 500 others in Las Vegas in 2017 was suspected to have used bump stocks.

Festersen said he had consulted with Schmaderer and Omaha City Attorney Matt Kuhse on the ordinances.

Ghost guns in particular, I think that is an emerging issue for cities, given that emerging technology, Festersen said. Thats a concern of his (Schmaderers).

Kuhse said Wednesday that the proposals would not run afoul of LB 77. He said the ghost gun ordinance would apply only to the parts, not a completed firearm. Once a ghost gun was fully assembled and operable, the ordinance would not apply to it, Kuhse said.

The City of Lincoln, he said, has had a bump stock ban for quite some time.

The mayors executive order has already taken effect. Asked why a resolution was necessary in addition to the order, Festersen said he felt it was important we get on record in support of that, because I know that it may be challenged. He said he wouldnt be surprised if the Legislature tried to revisit that issue.

Festersen said the council cant require safe gun storage or training on firearm use and safety because of LB 77.

But we can support and encourage it, he said. And thats what this would do.

State Sen. Tom Brewer, who introduced LB 77, has criticized Stotherts executive order and a similar one from Lincoln Mayor Leiriron Gaylor Baird. Whether they call it an ordinance, an executive order, or a law, any government ban on going armed in public places is repugnant to the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, let alone the substance of LB 77, Brewer wrote in an opinion piece published in the McCook Gazette.

Stothert said the first time she saw Festersens proposals was Wednesday. She said they are not yet in their final form, having been submitted to the Law Department on Tuesday.

As far as any resolutions or ordinances, I will have to evaluate any final and amended proposals like firearms with the chief to ensure that theyre helpful and are successful efforts to further reduce crime, while also not infringing on ones right to have a firearm that is outlined in our Constitution and in our new state law, Stothert said.

She knows from talking with Schmaderer that ghost guns have been used in crimes. But she said she needs to talk with Schmaderer, look at data and statistics and understand the ordinances implications for Omaha police before deciding whether to support the ordinances.

Stothert said she didnt know why Festersen would forward a resolution supporting her executive order. She said she couldnt recall the council doing that in her 11 years as mayor. As for the safe storage and training resolution, she said she questioned the accuracy of the data in the draft and disagrees with some of the statements in it.
Chinese in Afghanistan donate cash to quake-affected Afghans

Xinhua) 10:43, October 12, 2023

KABUL, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan-based Chinese citizens have collected cash and donated to the quake-affected families in west Afghanistan's Herat province on Wednesday.

Donated by 73 Chinese citizens, the cash was handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Afghan caretaker government and the donation would be spent through Afghan Red Crescent Society to the earthquake victims' families in Herat.

Expressing sympathy to the quake-affected families and the Afghan administration, a donor Meng Xiaoli said at the handover ceremony of the donation that she has been doing business in Afghanistan over the past 20 years and considers Afghanistan as her second home.

More than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others were injured due to earthquakes and aftershocks in Herat and the neighboring Badghis and Farah provinces since Saturday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A pristine asteroid sample that could serve as a time capsule from the early days of our solar system has finally been revealed.

The rocks and dust contain water and a large amount of carbon, said NASA administrator Bill Nelson, which suggests that asteroids may have delivered the building blocks of life to Earth. The sample is nearly 5% carbon by weight, making it one of the highest concentrations of carbon to be studied in an asteroid, according to Dr. Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Far exceeding our goal of 60 grams, this is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever returned to Earth, Nelson said. The carbon and water molecules are exactly the kinds of material that we wanted to find. Theyre crucial elements in the formation of our own planet. And theyre going to help us determine the origin of elements that could have led to life.

The sample, collected from the 4.5 billion-year-old near-Earth asteroid Bennu in October 2020 by NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission, arrived on Earth in a capsule on September 24, dropping from the spacecraft and landing in the Utah desert.

Since then, scientists have been hard at work studying the wealth of material  more than they expected  just inside the top of the canister to conduct an early analysis. The results of that analysis, and the first look at the sample, were shared during a live NASA broadcast from the agencys Johnson Space Center in Houston on Wednesday. Its the largest asteroid sample returned to Earth.

There was so much bonus material when the scientists opened the canister that the team has yet to open the bulk sample.

A treasure chest of extraterrestrial material

Over the past two weeks, the science team analyzed some of the rocks and dust using a scanning electron microscope, taking infrared measurements and conducting a chemical element analysis. They also used X-rays to create a 3D model of one of the particles to reveal its composition, revealing a scientific treasure of carbon and water content, said OSIRIS-REx principal investigator Dante Lauretta.

The first analysis shows samples that contain abundant water in the form of hydrated clay minerals, and they contain carbon as both minerals and organic molecules, Nelson said.

The team shared detailed images of the particles revealing the water-bearing clay minerals.

That is how we think water got to Earth, said Lauretta, who is also a University of Arizona Regents Professor of Planetary Sciences. The reason that Earth is a habitable world, that we have oceans and lakes and rivers and rain, is because these clay minerals landed on Earth 4 billion years ago to 4 and a half billion years ago, making our world habitable. So were seeing the way that water got incorporated into the solid material.

The analysis also revealed sulfide minerals, a critical element for planetary evolution and biology, iron oxide minerals called magnetite that react to magnetic fields, and other minerals that could be important for organic evolution, Lauretta said.

The science team was excited to detect organic matter and a wealth of carbon, which is an essential element for all life, said Dr. Daniel Glavin, OSIRIS-REx sample analyst and senior scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center.

Were just beginning here, but we picked the right asteroid, and not only that, we brought back the right sample, Glavin said. This stuff is an astrobiologists dream.

Going forward, the team will look to see just how much chemistry evolved on Bennu to determine whether the building blocks of life created peptides, or chains of amino acids that form proteins, Glavin said.

Meanwhile, still waiting inside of the canister is a whole treasure chest of extraterrestrial material, Lauretta said.

What the sample could reveal

When the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft closely approached Bennu three years ago, it extended a Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism head, or TAGSAM, toward the asteroid and fired a blast of nitrogen gas. The burst of gas lifted rocks and dust all the way from 19 inches (50 centimeters) beneath the space rocks surface. That debris flowed into the TAGSAM head.

The TAGSAM also had 24 surface contact pads that touched the asteroid and trapped fine-grained material.

The device has been removed from the capture ring, sort of like removing a boot from a ski, Lauretta said. During the removal, material slipped out of the TAGSAM flap, a check valve designed to keep material inside the sample collector. The flap struggled to close due to some rocks that kept it open after collecting the sample in 2020. The rocks measure a couple of centimeters at the longest, he added.

Over the next couple of weeks, the curation team will continue to carefully disassemble the TAGSAM head to reach the bulk sample within. Once they do, the team expects to have a good estimate of the entire mass of the sample.

Together, the dust and rocks collected from Bennus surface and its interior could reveal the history of how the asteroid formed and evolved over time. These insights will also shed light on the space rocks overall composition, which could help NASA determine how it might deflect the asteroid, which has a chance of impacting Earth in the future.

The much-anticipated reveal has been seven years in the making, from the OSIRIS-REx missions launch in 2016 to the capsule landing last month. Some have looked forward to the moment for even longer. Lauretta, who helped develop the mission during its earliest stages, has waited nearly 20 years to see the sample and glean the insights it might reveal about our solar system.

Our labs were ready for whatever Bennu had in store for us, said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASAs Johnson Space Center. Weve had scientists and engineers working side-by-side for years to develop specialized gloveboxes and tools to keep the asteroid material pristine and to curate the samples so researchers now and decades from now can study this precious gift from the cosmos.

Scientists will analyze the rocks and soil for the next two years at a dedicated clean room inside Johnson Space Center. The sample will also be divided up and sent to laboratories around the globe, including OSIRIS-REx mission partners at the Canadian Space Agency and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. About 70% of the sample will remain pristine in storage so future generations with better technology can learn even more than whats now possible.

Rocks tell you a story, Lauretta said. The greatest mystery that were facing right now is, how do you go from a ball of mud to something thats alive? When do you make that transition? The deepest desire is that were going to make some progress in trying to figure out why is it that were here in this universe.

30 breathtaking images from NASA's public library The moon from Apollo 11 Earth from the International Space Station Shuttle space walk Shuttle in silhouette Eruption on the sun Raikoke volcano eruption Cargo craft docks John Young on the moon Canadian aurora Helix Nebula The cracking Brunt Ice Shelf Cassinis capture of Saturn The heart of Madagascar The last landing The eye of the hurricane International Space Station Watercolor of the sea The Great Red Spot of Jupiter Monument Valley Flying through an aurora Pillars of Creation Untethered in space Marbled Pluto The wild river Supermassive black hole The space selfie An SLS test article
The driver of a stalled semitrailer truck was able to get out of his truck before it was hit by a freight train Wednesday morning northeast of Silver Creek, Nebraska.

The collision occurred at U.S. Highway 30 and 35th Road, said Capt. Jake Bauer of the Merrick County Sheriffs Office. No one was injured.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at 9:34 a.m.

The 1998 Volvo semi was driven by Dylan Sock, 32, of Columbus.

Sock was trying to drive north across the tracks when the semi stalled. Sock tried to restart the vehicle but was not successful. He got out of the semi before impact.

The Union Pacific train, heading east, mainly struck the trailer portion of the semi, Bauer said.

The trailer was a complete loss, he said.

Emergency workers were on the scene for several hours.

Bauer expressed thanks to Silver Creek Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Union Pacific and Lone Tree Towing.
LINCOLN  Amid a statewide labor shortage, lawmakers are looking at ways to lower a key entry barrier for child care workers.

The Legislatures Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing Wednesday for Legislative Resolution 191, which calls for an interim study into the statutorily required fingerprint-based background checks for child care workers. State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, who introduced the resolution, said the process poses a serious threat to an already struggling industry.

Lawmakers established the fingerprinting requirement through two bills in 2019 and 2020 in order to put Nebraska in compliance of the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. Since then, some providers have said delays in the process have held up new and existing workers, and have even cost some businesses qualified applicants.

Most of the child care workers who testified at the hearing agreed with fingerprint background checks as a concept, but said the current process is unnecessarily cumbersome. Leslie Baker with Fits and Giggles Daycare in Norfolk said the turnover rate in the child care industry is already high.

We cannot afford to lose anyone who wants to work in child care to a job in another industry, just because they are seeking immediate employment, Baker said.

Fingerprinting is done at Nebraska State Patrol offices, which already poses a challenge for some applicants who live far away. Baker said some applicants have had to travel over 100 miles for this purpose.

A bigger problem, however, is the delays both in setting appointments for taking the fingerprints, and the waiting period for them to be processed. Mitchell Clark, policy adviser for First Five Nebraska, said this part of the process should take between seven to 10 days, but Nebraskas average in 2022 was 25 days.

Theresa Thibodeau, CEO of the Heartland Independent Business Association, said she heard from an owner of a child care establishment who waited roughly six months for her fingerprints to be processed, which put her at risk of losing her license.

Kelsey Remmers, a manager with the patrols criminal identification division, said the average timeline for conducting background checks on child care workers before submitting the results to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was eight business days. After altering the process slightly in August, she said the patrol was able to reduce its average to roughly five business days.

This left committee members questioning the discrepancy between the patrols timeline for the background checks and the delays that child care workers experience. Remmers said she wasnt sure of the reason because the patrol only is one piece of the process.

Were kind of the middle man of the process, Remmers said.

Lawmakers passed legislation this year adding two patrol staff to work on processing fingerprints, although those staff werent designated specifically for handling fingerprints of child care workers. Charity Menefee, director of DHHS division of public health, said her department has nearly doubled its staff for processing applications, from five to nine employees, although two of those positions remain unfilled.

We understand and acknowledge that this is a complicated process, and are exploring every opportunity we can to identify and simplify the steps while ensuring we meet federal and state requirements, Menefee said.

Tami Soper, youth care policy advocate for Boys Town, suggested several ways the state could improve this process. She said DHHS and the states licensure office follow different timelines for processing background checks, and noted it would be more efficient if they consolidated their efforts.

Soper also suggested officials make fingerprinting available at service area sites for state departments to reduce travel times for workers who live far away from a patrol office. In addition, she suggested that Nebraska could return to a process taken up during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed child care workers to work provisionally while their background checks were being evaluated.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023
BLOOMINGTON  Sprinkles of rain patter on the closed windows as the wind whips across the shutters. Your reading lamp flickers as the hot cup of cocoa steams on your side table.

Even the thick, warm embrace of your blanket isn't enough to warm the chill in your heart. Suddenly, there's a crash outside your window!

You whip your head around to see  it's just a stray cat, and he knocked over the trash cans.

It's spooky season! And Bobzbay has the cure for what ails you.

Horror aficionados and book lovers rejoice, because Bobzbay Books is hosting a Tomes of Terror event this Saturday, Oct. 14, at Red Raccoon Games.

Just in time for Halloween, the Tomes of Terror Horror Convention & Author Fair features 11 authors from the Midwest and beyond, with some who have been writing for decades and others who have just started out.

Tomes of Terror takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the basement of Red Raccoon Games, 301 N. Main St., Bloomington. Admission is free.

Some of the local authors include Steve Bryant and Sue Rovens, both from Normal, Pete Altieri of Heyworth, and DM Gritzmacher from Tremont.

Other Illinois authors include Jay Bower of Carbondale and Bolingbrook-based Christopher Hawkins.

Bobzbay owner Elizabeth Aspbury said while the store usually hosts events for all ages, Tomes of Terror could be a little more ... frightening.

"Authors might have things on their tables that could scare your kids. So we recommend using caution," she warned.

"All of our events are all ages, but use your best judgment. If your kid is sensitive to scary things, maybe don't bring them."

Aspbury said attendees will get the chance to spend time with each author and talk with them about their books and writing process, but they're also free to just have them sign a copy of their work.

She said it's important to highlight what she calls "indie authors" because it can be difficult to break into the scene.

"I think we have a lot of talented people in Central Illinois that aren't getting the attention they deserve simply because they don't have the financial means to get in with a big publisher and do the whole song and dance that's required," Aspbury said.

While publishing online and through major sites like Amazon can be slightly easier, "there's something to having your book in a bookstore, accessible to someone who may not have heard of you," she said.

As for why people migrate toward horror stories, Aspbury said the genre is a universal one.

"Everybody finds at least one thing scary," she said.

"I think people are able to release their anxieties through reading (horror stories). It's a very good therapy tool to be like, 'I'm stressed out in real life. This book may stress me out, but I can get through it. Because it's just a book,'" Aspbury said.

Photos: Girls 2A sectional golf at Ironwood Golf Course
BLOOMINGTON  A North Carolina truck driver died Wednesday night after his vehicle crashed off of Interstate 74 south of Bloomington.

A statement from Illinois State Police said troopers were called at 7:31 p.m. Wednesday to the I-74 overpass interchange with U.S. Route 51.

A 2021 Kenworth truck hauling a semi-trailer was heading east on I-74 when it left the road, drove through a guardrail and came to rest on Route 51 below.

ISP said the driver was the only person inside the truck and was pronounced deceased at the scene. On Thursday afternoon, McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder identified the driver as Willie J. Broner Jr., 52, of Dallas, North Carolina. Toxicology testing is pending, Yoder said in a news release.

Route 51 and I-74 were closed for several hours for the crash investigation.

Bloomington Police Department officers assisted with the response.

The crash remains under investigation by ISP and the coroner's office.

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's the police responding to a 911 call It's a bird. It's a plane. It's the police responding to a 911 call
BLOOMINGTON  A Chicago man pleaded guilty this week to firearm charges from over two years ago.

Larry L. Williams, 35, pleaded guilty Wednesday to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 felony).

Williams was also charged with one count of violation of the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (Class 3 felony), but as part of a plea agreement, that charge was dismissed.

In July 2021, Illinois State Police conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 55 after receiving a report that a passenger of a vehicle possessed a revolver, according to court documents.

Williams was a passenger in the vehicles, and after police searched the car due to an odor of cannabis, they found Williams in possession of a .32-caliber revolver.

Judge Jason Chambers sentenced Williams to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by one year of mandatory supervised release.

Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson James A. McConnaughay Jessica M. Longberry Barry D. Guyton Keon E. Spiller Melina Aguilar Carlos D. Cregan Wayne M. Damron Terrance L. Ford Stanley M. Miller Darryl R. Vinson Jarvis K. Heads Wesley M. Noonan Brad Carter Brian K. Burnett Kenneth D. Downey Kenyon J. Bones Brittany N. Greiner
BLOOMINGTON  The Bloomington Police Department has been awarded a Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program grant by the Illinois Department of Transportation to conduct additional traffic safety enforcement efforts.

The program focuses on high-visibility enforcement and strategies aimed at saving lives and preventing injuries by reducing traffic crashes.

"Speeding and traffic violations continue to be the number one complaint received by the Bloomington Police Department," BPD Chief Jamal Simington stated in a news release. "We remain committed to changing driver behavior and making the roadways a safer place to be a driver and passenger."

BPD will conduct additional enforcement efforts to supplement mandatory and optional campaign enforcement dates scheduled during some of the deadliest times of the year, according to the news release.

The department will also have an upcoming detail with increased enforcement from Oct. 16 to Oct. 26.

The efforts will focus on leading causes of crashes, which includes speeding, impaired driving, electronic device use, failure to yield and disobeying traffic control signals, as well as occupant restraint violations.

Check out photos from the 2023 Alzheimer's Walk Lus Crew Greg Ekdale, Dave Lowe Milo, Alyssa and Kari Wurth writing on flowers, which symbolize a promise to remember, honor, care and fight for those living with Alzheimers. Different colored flowers highlight different connections to the disease. Walk host Susan Saunders takes a picture of the Future Educators of Color team. Walk manager Josh Cox erect the starting gate. Jody and Curt Nettles Lois Thompson, Renee and Kevin Brucker Viola Freimann, Betty Rock Kathy Neil, Lynne Ekdale Ping Yin, Luke Yin, Ian Shin, David Yin Peyton and Kelly Friesen, Abigail and Robin England Michael Lena, Catie Welsh, Derian Cunningham Elaine Vitzthum, Michele Jenkins, Sarah Vitzthum Harry and Hilary Rouse with Pawprint Ministry dogs Silver and Sterling The Commerce Bank Team plants flowers which visually communicate a connection to Alzheimers. Daniel Tofte, Cheryl and Kylie Schimmelpfenning, Sara Larsen, Danielle Randle Walk Host and MC Susan Saunders Freds Forget-Me-Nots Brian Dixon, Joshua Sutton Mikayla, Tiana and Jim Haas Walking in memory of Allan Eichholz The Pray family The Nettles family Warming up before the walk Lucy Croft leads the group in some pre-walk Zumba Getting their Zumba on
BLOOMINGTON  The McLean County Republican Party will host its annual Lincoln-Reagan dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center, 10 Brickyard Drive, Bloomington.

The keynote speaker will be Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White, who will share a message of hope and how she overcame the odds to rise to a high level of public service.

Congressman Darin LaHood will also give an update about recent events in Washington, D.C.

The night will feature a meal, cash bar, silent auction, two raffles, door prizes, conviviality, camaraderie and more.

The emcees will be radio hosts Cat Peterson and Ty Smith from Cities 92.9 FM.

Tickets are available at mcleancountyrepublicans.org and must be purchased by Monday, Oct. 23. The deadline for sponsorships is Friday, Oct. 20.

Watch now: Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White in Bloomington Julie Dobski, Honorable Carla Barnes, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White, Lyn Landon Meyer Capel attorneys Nate Hinch, Tristan Bullington, Samantha Walley, John Pratt Bev Stevens, Mike Martin Greg Meyer, Rick Wills Former District 6490 Governer Julie Dobski Donna Carlson Webb, Carrie Clodi Cheryl Magnuson, Kathleen Lorenz Karen Hanson, Honorable Beth Robb, Coroner Kathy Yoder Shandra Summerville, Uma Balakrishnan, District 6490 Governor Connie Walsh Jane Schurten, Julie Payne Karen DeAngelis, Kim Schoenbein Dayna Brown, Tracy Patkunas Feli Sebastian, Deanna Frautschi, Peggy Hundley Sue Seibring, Sonya Mau Erika Reynolds, SaMond Davis, Honorable Don Knapp, Coroner Kathy Yoder Julie Dobski, Pat Grosso Honorable Beth Robb, Josephine Shane, Aimee Beam
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. 12, 1923: Lee O'Neil Browne, of Ottawa, this afternoon told visitors at the Modern Woodmen homecoming in Odell that this country is seriously ill, and that the malady is too much law, too much legislation, too many musts and too many mustn'ts. The homecoming was under the auspices of Modern Woodman camp No. 1673. A block on the main business street of the west side had been roped off for the festivities, and a stand erected in the street.

75 years ago

Oct. 12, 1948: About 700 workers for the Bloomington-Normal Community Chest began their campaign in the residential zones seeking $121,242 for 15 participating charitable and character-building institutions. They will work until Oct. 20. A total of reports for all divisions revealed that $62,197 toward the Chest goal has already been collected.

50 years ago

Oct. 12, 1973: Hundreds of people gathered at Illinois State University to hear from speaker Frank Collin, leader of the American Nazi party. He was brought to campus by Dr. W.B. Mead, a political science teacher, so that students and the public could know what Collin stands for. Collin said the crowd was not his "type," but said he spoke because he believed in what he was saying and could "use the publicity."

25 years ago

Oct. 12, 1998: Residents of a subdvision near Mahomet are looking forward to welcoming some new neighbors to the fold. After all, it isn't every day that the governor of a large industrial state buys a house in your neighborhood. But in the case of the Pinetree subdivision, four miles outside of this Champaign County community, the new owners of a 3,400-square-foot home are Jim and Brenda Edgar.
There is a crisis coming to Illinois that will affect thousands of Illinois children. I refer to the "Invest in Kids" act which is scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

Invest in Kids is the act which offers scholarships to children from lower income families to attend a private school of their choice. The act currently serves 9,600 students across Illinois.

The Democrat-led legislature is set to allow the act to expire unless the citizens rise up and demand the sunset be removed.

During the last election many politicians paid lip service to an extension, including Governor Pritzker. As with prior issues the administration now chooses to do nothing. The Governor has stated the Invest in Kids program diverts money from public education. In fact, in the past six years funding for public education in Illinois has increased by over $2 billion while student enrollment has fallen.

Many public schools across Illinois are failing our students for a variety of reasons. Education is the one area we can and must make a difference. The Chicago Teachers Union has invested millions of dollars in opposition to Invest in Kids while at least 22 schools in Chicago have no students who can read and do math at grade level.

One editorial referred to the president of the CTU, Stacey Davis-Gate, as a "world class" hypocrite. She referred to the Invest in Kids program as inherently racist, yet chooses to send her own son to a private school. The Pritzker family and Barack Obama also chose to send their children to private schools as the best fit for their children.

While many states are expanding their voucher programs, Illinois is the only state looking to rescind the program. Our children deserve better. They deserve a chance.

Gordon Herbert, Bloomington
In a remarkable achievement, Stanbic Bank Ghana has secured an outstanding rating of 98%, solidifying its position as the second-best bank for customer service excellence in Ghana, as per the 2022 Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana Customer Satisfaction Index.



Dr Joyce Esther Dadzie, Head of Client Experience at Stanbic Bank, graciously acknowledged this recognition, emphasizing the bank's unwavering dedication to enhancing the value of its partnerships.



She stated, At Stanbic Bank, our core belief centers around elevating the value of our partnerships. Our commitment extends to serving our clients and customers, ensuring they consistently enjoy top-tier banking services when they choose us.



Our focus is not solely on profit generation; rather, we aim to demonstrate to our customers that, with Stanbic Bank, their financial aspirations can become a reality. Our devotion to making dreams a possibility drives us to surpass expectations, consistently delivering the exceptional services our clients have come to expect.



She added, As a bank, we possess a profound understanding of the intricacies of the Ghanaian banking landscape. That's why we partnered with and embraced Salesforce as the primary tool for client relationships, allowing us to leverage engagements and interactions to our mutual advantage. This marked a significant step towards transforming the Bank into a client-centered platform business that offers a spectrum of personalized, instantly accessible solutions, services, and opportunities, all enabled by cutting-edge digital technologies and delivered in the manner preferred by our clients.



Dr. Dazie attributed the bank's success to its strategic use of technology in meeting customer needs, stating, Our substantial investment in technology and the utilization of our data capabilities to forge deeper, more enduring relationships with our clients have enabled us to form stronger connections with our customers and fulfill their banking requirements.



The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform has streamlined our ability to provide tailored and targeted financial services to our customers. Our team of seasoned banking experts works tirelessly around the clock to meticulously tailor our products and services to meet the unique demands of each of our esteemed customers. Kudos to them for ensuring that customer satisfaction remains our top priority.



Earlier this year, Stanbic Bank Ghana was recognized as the highest-rated Ghanaian bank for overall service quality for both personal and business customers in the 5th Ghana Customer Service Index (GCSI), a survey conducted by The Institute of Customer Service Professionals (ICSP). The bank also earned a place among the top three Ghanaian banks with the most loyal customer base in the banking sector, according to research firm Global InfoAnalytics.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Police on 9th October 2023, arrested two suspects, for preparation to commit robbery and opened fire on Police officers at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.



The suspects, Alhaji Wahab Suleiman and Ibrahim Abubakari together with one other accomplice currently on the run, opened fire on officers who were on an operation to quell a planned robbery attack on a mobile money vendor at Ejura.



Two of the officers sustained gunshot wounds in the process and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention. However, one of the officers,  42250 General Sergeant Ahmed Kamal, unfortunately passed on.



The two robbery suspects who also sustained gunshot injuries from the exchange of gunfire with the Police, are receiving medical attention under Police protection while efforts are underway to get their accomplice arrested to face justice.



Exhibits retrieved at the scene include two (2) SB shotguns, one (1) pump-action gun, six (6) live BB cartridges and one (1) used BB cartridge.



Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased officer. You paid the ultimate price in the service of your nation, rest well with your maker. May Allah grant you Jannah. Police said.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A two-day conference that seeks to provide a platform for stakeholders in the health sector across the African continent to exchange knowledge and ideas on health financing schemes with a special focus on the role of public health insurance schemes in the attainment of universal health coverage will be held in Ghana from Thursday, October 12 to Friday, October 13, 2023.



The conference which forms part of the National Health Insurance Schemes 20th anniversary will draw together representatives from over 30 African countries to converge under one roof to explore ways of enhancing health financing on the continent.



The conference, themed Overcoming Financing Barrier and Providing Financial Risk Protection is the product of collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Health, the National Health Authority, and the World Health Organization.



Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, 11 October 2023, the chairman of the planning committee for the conference and Director of Projects at the NHIA, Raphael Segkpeb disclosed that at the heart of the conference are important deliberations on the strengthening the financing of health insurances schemes to ensure that they deliver quality and affordable healthcare to the public.



He asserted that conference participants will be tasked with bringing to the fore their knowledge and experiences on how their respective countries and African countries can empower their respective public health insurance schemes to adequately deliver on the mandate for which they were established.



The crux of this matter is to give the continent of Africa through the ministries of health, the health insurance schemes, and other stakeholders the opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge in respect of the health financing schemes in their countries and the role of public health insurance in the attainment of universal health coverage, he stated.



While congratulating the NHIA on its 20th anniversary, Francis Chisaka Kasolo, Country Representative for the World Health Organization commended the management for living up to their reputation as the oldest public health insurance scheme on the continent by bringing together African countries to jaw-jaw on delivering affordable and effective healthcare to citizens.



Francis Chisaka Kasolo noted with conviction that the conference is the ideal platform for stakeholders to propose ways of mitigating the challenges that have plagued some public health schemes in the country.



He stated that the conference will help African countries re-examine the direction and focus of public health insurance schemes and birth plans and resolutions that will shape the sector for the better.



Some countries expected to be present at the two-day seminar are Gabon, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Togo, South Africa, Guinea, and Comoros, among others.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for the resignation of Dr. Ernest Addison, the Central Bank governor, if he's unable to effectively perform his duties.



He criticised the apparent disrespect shown by the Bank of Ghana's Governor towards protestors, particularly those led by the parliamentary minority and other concerned Ghanaians.



These are critical warning signs going to destroy the security of the state. We need to pay critical attention to this. The Akufo-Addo I knew and had numerous dialogues and demonstrations with is not the Akufo-Addo who is now president.



We have noticed with grave concern, the clear disrespect shown by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to protestors led by the minority in parliament and many aggrieved Ghanaians. It cannot be true that the OCCUPY BOG demonstrators were solely on any political agenda when they were joined in the March by other well-meaning Ghanaians to show their indignation against actions taken that have led to losses to the taxpayer.



Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe didn't hold back as he expressed his concerns about the perceived corruption among political officeholders, their unexplained accumulation of wealth, tribalism, nepotism, and their focus on self-interest.



The veteran politician raised the issue of how some government ministers seem to amass significant wealth, hoarding cash in various currencies, acquiring prime properties, driving luxurious cars, and living extravagantly.



In an address at a press conference organised by ex-military officers on the topic, The State of Ghana Today, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe said:



In the old age of ours. we dont sleep soundly at night. Ghana has been riddled with perceived corruption of political public office holders amassing unexplained wealth, tribalism, nepotism and parochial in their interest, especially under this regime under President Akufo-Addo.



How do Ministers hoard stashes of cash in foreign and local currencies in their homes, acquire properties in prime areas of Accra and other parts of the country, drive the most luxurious cars and live extravagantly and expect our youth who remain largely without meaningful employment to be satisfied, he said.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left the country on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the invitation of the President of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to deliver a keynote address at the headquarters of the Institute in Washington D.C. today (Thursday, 12th October 2023).



As West Africa and the Sahel face a wave of extraconstitutional movements and growing political instability, the United States and its partners are seeking ways to best support Ghana, seen as one of the United States most enduring democratic partners in West Africa, and other longstanding democracies in the region, to promote and sustain democracy as a governance model.



The discussion with President Akufo-Addo will also examine Ghana's critical role as a regional leader in promoting peace, stability and sustainable development, with the President also set to meet with other US officials whilst in Washington D.C.



He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.



President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Sunday, October 15, 2023, and, in his absence, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60 (8) of the Constitution, act in his stead.



Watch the live stream below;



Source: graphiconline.com









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Fifty young climate tech innovators and leaders from 19 African countries have arrived in Ghana for a three-week intensive leadership and professional development training program sponsored by the U.S. Government.



Announced during Vice President Harriss historic visit to Ghana in March 2023, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Center West Africa will host the program, which will challenge young leaders and entrepreneurs to develop social and business solutions to address todays climate challenges using innovative technology.



Speaking at the welcome event for the new cohort of climate tech innovators, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer noted that African leadership is critical to confronting our times defining challenge of climate change.



The U.S. government is a long-standing partner with Ghanaian and African youth to advance our mutual priorities, particularly related to climate change".



The new program is a collaborative effort of three YALI Regional Leadership Centers (East Africa; Southern Africa; and West Africa) and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).



Project Director of YALI RLC, Dr. Esi E. Sey, added that there are no boundaries when it comes to climate change.



Through the Climate Tech Innovators and Leaders Program, we wish to join hands with young people from across Africa to build a world where there are also no boundaries to climate tech.



The YALI Climate Tech Innovators and Leaders Program is a unique opportunity for young African leaders to develop the skills and knowledge they need to make a difference in the fight against climate change. The program is also an opportunity to build relationships and networks with other young leaders from across the continent. Since 2015, the YALI Regional Leadership Centers in Africa have trained more than 7,800 young leaders.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Bernard Allotey Jacobs has shredded Professor Frimpong-Boateng over his galamsey claims against the Akufo-Addo government and other allegations he has leveled against the President.



It could be recalled that Professor Frimpong-Boateng accused some government officials of being involved in galamsey (illegal mining) which caught the attention of the Police and Attorney General.



The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, concluding its review of a docket submitted by the Police on the allegations contained in a 36-page document written and signed by Professor Frimpong Boateng entitled Report on the work of IMCIM so far and the way forward, disclosed that the Professor has refused to cooperate with the Police.



Several attempts by the Police to obtain further information from Professor Frimpong Boateng to substantiate the allegations in the Report and to assist them to conduct further investigations proved futile. The Professor refused to provide any further information to the police", the AG's report read.



The AG noted that "all of the individuals named in Prof Boatengs report denied the various allegations made against them in the report".



Nonetheless, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, in an article authored by him and published on Monday, October 9, 2023, further alleged that the President has turned his government into a family, friends, and concubines government.



There are people who claim to be stalwarts of the party; they have neither political appointments nor positions in the party structure. They appear to wield so much power that one of them is described as de facto Prime Minister of the country. Apparently, they have what it takes to get their friends and favourites appointed to prominent and powerful positions in society. At the same time, they have the tendency to disrespect and make life difficult for Ghanaians. This is unlike the NPP we know. NPP, HOW DID WE GET HERE?



We are being served with a variation of family, friends, and concubines government, and control of the press not through violence but through bribery and intimidation. We are witnessing the weaponization of state institutions to silence transformative voices while allowing patronized corruption to flourish. Instead of development in freedom, we are witnessing unprecedented intimidation, economic retrogression, and suffering in silence. NPP, HOW DID WE GET HERE?, he said in his article.



But Allotey Jacobs has asked the Professor to keep mute.



He wondered at what point did Prof. Frimpong-Boateng know the things he's accused the government of since he (Frimpong-Boateng) served in the government for four years.



To Allotey, Frimpong-Boateng's behavior is unacceptable, therefore cautioning him to reverse his steps from the journey he is embarking on.



"It will be good for him if he shuts up...I expect him to sit somewhere and be very quiet after you were given four years. In politics, some people, after appointment, were dismissed after one or two years but you (Frimpong Boateng) held your appointment for four years", he said on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Kwamena Duncan, a former Central Regional Minister, has replied Professor Frimpong-Boateng over his allegations against the Akufo-Addo government.



Prof. Frimpong-Boateng accused some officials in the government of engaging in illegal mining which is currently under investigations by the Police and the Attorney General.



He also blasts President Akufo-Addo as leading what he terms family, friends, and concubines government.



There are people who claim to be stalwarts of the party; they have neither political appointments nor positions in the party structure. They appear to wield so much power that one of them is described as de facto Prime Minister of the country. Apparently, they have what it takes to get their friends and favourites appointed to prominent and powerful positions in society. At the same time, they have the tendency to disrespect and make life difficult for Ghanaians. This is unlike the NPP we know. NPP, HOW DID WE GET HERE?



We are being served with a variation of family, friends, and concubines government, and control of the press not through violence but through bribery and intimidation. We are witnessing the weaponization of state institutions to silence transformative voices while allowing patronized corruption to flourish. Instead of development in freedom, we are witnessing unprecedented intimidation, economic retrogression, and suffering in silence. NPP, HOW DID WE GET HERE?, he said in his recent article titled "NPP, How Did We Get Here?".



Responding to these claims during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Wednesday morning, Kwamena Duncan sought to find out who the "concubines" of President Akufo-Addo that the Professor claims are and wondered why Prof. Frimpong-Boateng would make such allegations.



He slammed the Professor for being ungrateful to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who appointed him as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, serving in his government for four years.



"It takes a congenital ingrate to describe a government that you served four solid years...So, it is when the four years you were a part, you never saw that government as constituted for family, friends and concubines...The cruelest way to thank somebody that has given you this honor," he rebuked Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.



"You must have a life. Professor, have a life...hate is eating him up," Kwamena Duncan exclaimed.



Watch video below





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has warned of serious consequences if the Electoral Commission does not up its game ahead of the 2024 General Elections.



According to the founding Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), there is the need to also rethink processes and structure of the EC in order to make it more politically neutral and operationally effective.



The poor performance of the EC is a serious challenge to Ghanas democracy ahead of the 2024 general elections, that we have to think about seriously, he submitted at a press conference dubbed The State of Ghana on October 11.



The presser held alongside Brigadier (rtd) Nunoo Mensah addressed a myriad of issues in the country relative to politics, activism, the economy and security.



The duo gave four recommendations to help improve the ECs performance in the short to long-term. They were:



1. EC should be made more independent with the amending of the Constitution to allow EC members be appointed by independent body



2. EC should be more accountable  by publishing its activities and finances



3. EC must establish more effective system of handling complaints and grievances



4. EC should conduct regular audits to identify and address weaknesses



The EC recently engaged in a heated back and forth with the main opposition during the limited voter registration exercise across the country.



Whiles the parties wanted more decentralization of the process, the EC stuck with its plans of using district offices with the promise to decentralize further next year.















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This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
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:

Floodwaters flow over and erode the Dalton Highway on May 21, 2015. The flooding contributed to the slow subsiding the ground in the permafrost-rich region. Credit: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

The massive 2015 flooding of the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska had immediate impacts, including closure of the Dalton Highway for several days, but it also contributed to longer-term ground subsidence in the permafrost-rich region.

That's the finding by assistant professor Simon Zwieback at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute in a study published Sept. 27 by the journal Permafrost and Periglacial Processes.

Zwieback is the paper's lead author. UAF scientists Mikhail Kanevskiy, Donald Walker, Vladimir Romanovsky and Franz Meyer are among the nine co-authors.

Zwieback, who also teaches at the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics, specializes in using space-borne remote sensing to study the Arctic.

"What previously hadn't been known is that subsequent to the flood there were diffuse and variable changes to tundra and to this permafrost landscape," Zwieback said. "In particular, we observed that in areas that were flooded, there were several hotspots of subsidence with subsidence exceeding three inches over a few years. And we also observed many more areas with less pronounced but still measurable sub-segments.

"We also observed a green-up and a wettening of the landscape, which was also quite variable," he said. "All of this is important for understanding how these landscapes react to floods."

Floodwaters began spilling onto the Dalton Highway, Alaska's road to the North Slope, in mid-May 2015 and also reached Deadhorse airport. A pre-flood buildup of aufeis, layered ice that formed from the freezing of river water, is seen as the leading cause of the chaotic flooding. Aufeis diverted the thawing river's water away from natural channels.

The river's massive floodwaters exacerbated what the authors describe as a "complicated relationship" between rivers and their floodplains in regions of continuous permafrost. Human activity in the area, driven by continued expansion of the Prudhoe Bay oilfield and the presence of the Dalton Highway, has also interfered with natural drainage.

The flood may have stimulated subsidence by warming the ground, causing ground ice to melt, the authors state. Warming can be due to increased wetness, disturbance to the protective layer of organic matter or sediment deposition, allowing more heat to penetrate.

Zwieback analyzed satellite data from 2015 through 2019 to estimate ground deformation over the post-flood years.

"What we did observe from space was widespread but also quite variable subsidence," Zwieback said.

Subsidence was most pronounced in flooded locations and was most active in the two years after the flood.

"We interpret the subsidence that we observed with remote sensing to be largely due to melting of ground ice," Zwieback said. "Soils in the area contain substantial quantities of ice in the form of ice wedges and segregated ice, small lenses of ice as opposed to big chunks."

Ice wedges are generally anywhere from about three to 10 feet across and about six to 10 feet deep at their narrow bottom. They form regular networks and in the study area are typically found about 30 feet apart.

"One of the main complicating factors here is that initial subsidence can trigger changes at the surface, such as ponding of water," Zwieback said. "The surface becomes darker and warmer. And that means more thawing underneath, because you have changed the surface conditions."

Subsidence occurred in some areas with high ice content but not in others, indicating multiple factors driving deformation. These can include organic layer disturbance and sediment deposition, which settles into the soil and drives out its insulating air pockets and allows more heat to penetrate. Researchers found fine grain sediment in the top two inches of soil plugs taken at two locations but could not conclusively state the sediment derived from the flood, despite the sample site being nearly 1,000 feet from the highway.

Researchers also found that, on average, subsiding ice-rich locations showed increases in greenness and wetness. Conversely, many ice-poor floodplains greened without deforming.

Nevertheless, the paper notes that flooding can be beneficial in the long term. It deposits sediment, which in turn allows for an increase in insulating vegetation cover and other organic matter. Over time, the active layera layer of soil that freezes in winter and thaws in the summerthins. That thinning in turn allows growth of ice wedges and segregated ice. All of this increases elevation and reduces flood frequency, the authors write.

The new research is important as the Arctic comes under increasing climate stresses.

"With the Arctic becoming wetter and the flood regime changing, we need to understand how riverine landscapes respond to these changes in the rivers and the floods associated with those rivers," Zwieback said.

More information: Simon Zwieback et al, Disparate permafrost terrain changes after a large flood observed from space, Permafrost and Periglacial Processes (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ppp.2208 Journal information: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
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Credit: PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay

"Measuring, Managing, Mitigating: Gaining a One Health Perspective on Removing Antimicrobial Residues from Water," a white paper released today by Shawview Consulting, provides recommendations aimed at addressing the critical role of water in preventing a scenario where simple infections could become deadly again and certain surgeries might become too risky to perform.

Australia is experiencing a rising threat from antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where bacteria and other microorganisms are able to survive in the presence of drugs intended to eliminate them, such as antibiotics, largely due to over-exposure, commonly because of misuse or overuse.

AMR undermines the effectiveness of medicines and makes infections more difficult to treat.

An often-overlooked aspect of AMR is its emergence and spread in the environment, particularly in water sources. Antimicrobial contaminants stemming from health care facilities, domestic sewerage, agricultural activities, and livestock run-off all have the potential to seep into natural waterways. Yet there is no national monitoring of antimicrobials in groundwater, urban stormwater or drinking water.

The document presents four thematic recommendations and includes discrete actions that should be undertaken such as:

The establishment of national standards defining maximum permissible levels of antimicrobials.

The development of monitoring systems to track antimicrobials in water systems.

The appointment of an AMR Emissary for Australia who would enhance awareness and promote action on AMR issues locally and internationally.

Collectively, the recommendations highlight advocacy, leadership, engagement, and monitoring initiatives. They were formulated through rigorous discussions held during a government and industry roundtable in Canberra earlier this year. The meeting brought together over 20 organizations from government, industry, academia, and the not-for-profit sector.

Participant discussions focused on AMR and its presence in the environment, namely water systems, and the implications for human and animal health, the environment, and the industry.

Brendan Shaw, Principal at Shawview Consulting, said the white paper highlights the importance of collaboration across the different industry sectors and with policy makers, reflecting the broad impact AMR is having on industries and communities around the world.

"As the rates of AMR increase around the world, establishing a two-way exchange of information regarding AMR in our environment is critical to future success. It's a fundamental strategy for reducing its impact," Dr. Shaw said.

"A major cause of the problem is the One Health nature of the problem itself, because of which no one sector or organization has primary responsibility for addressing the problem," Dr. Shaw said.

Professor Branwen Morgan, Lead of CSIRO's Minimizing Antimicrobial Resistance Mission, one of the roundtable sponsors, said AMR is designated as one of the top 10 public health threats facing humanity by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Water is a contributor to the spread of antimicrobial resistance as it contains a wide range of bacteria and contaminants that can accelerate the development and dissemination of AMR."

"Sectors that use antimicrobials or deal with waste containing antimicrobials, may be inadvertently having a greater environmental impact than expected. It's crucial that the potential risks are understood and mitigated," Dr. Morgan said.

Provided by Shawview Consulting Australia
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Unlike almost any other archaeologist on earth, Jessi Halligan does her digging underwater.

Halligan, an associate professor of anthropology at Florida State University, studies the first people who came to Florida about 15,000 years ago, when sea levels were 300 feet lower than they are today. These days, many of Florida's oldest settlements, hunting grounds and ceremonial mounds are at the bottom of rivers or the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida is one of the global epicenters for a little-known field called "submerged landscape archaeology." There are only about a dozen full-time scientists working in the field in the U.S. They tend to focus on Florida because the state has lost half its landmass to sea level rise since humans started living here.

Scientists have found evidence of ancient shell mounds as far as 20 miles into the Gulf, one of thousands of preserved archaeological sites hidden under the state's gentle rivers and along the wide, shallow continental shelf that stretches 200 miles off the state's west coast.

The stories that archaeologists like Halligan unearth from the depths offer lessons for modern Floridians who are now facing sea level rise once again.

"Across space and time in human history, water always wins. So we have to learn to accept that and be creative with it," said Halligan. "Flexibility is the watchword. You have to build structures that can move and can bendor be willing to say goodbye to them."

"For cities like Miami and St. Pete and Jacksonville, that's going to come to a pretty major reckoning," said Morgan Smith, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga who studies underwater sites in the Apalachee Bay in North Florida. "Native peoples had to adapt, and they were able to do it because they had that flexibility in their lifestyle We're going to have to do it also, and it's going to be a lot more complicated."

Studying artifacts found underwater in Florida has already rewritten the history of human migration in North America. In 2016, Halligan led a team of researchers that found a stone knife buried under 13 feet of sediment at the bottom of the Aucilla River, which drains into Apalachee Bay. It provided evidence that people were living in Florida 14,500 years agoa millennium earlier than scientists previously assumed the first people arrived in the Americas.

So far, Halligan, Smith, and other scientists have identified about 50 underwater archaeological sites in Florida. Soon, some of these sites may become the first submerged landscapes to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. But the researchers have only surveyed about 1 percent of the Gulf, and they suspect there are thousands of Florida sites left to find.

"Imagine having a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle and you have like 10 pieces and none of them are corners," said Matthew Newton, an anthropology Ph.D. student at the University of Florida who studies underwater archaeology. "That's archaeology, and that's especially how offshore archaeology is. It's a huge ocean."

Diving into the past

There's something eerie about diving underwater to dig up the remains of ancient homes and hearths.

Last summer, Smith and his team dove in the Gulf of Mexico 15 miles off the coast of Tallahassee, at a site that once served as a campsite. There, on the sandy seafloor, he found a stone spearpoint lying more or less where someone had left it 8,000 years earlier.

"When you take something like that out of the ground, you're all of a sudden slapped in the face with the reality that everything there was dry land, and you're under 20 feet of water right now," he said. "That was a landscape, you know? There were springs and ponds and forests and people hunting and gathering and hanging out and kids running around and dogs barking."

"Then you come up and you look all around you and you can't see land," he said.

The evidence of these ancient landscapes is still down there beneath the sea and sand. Riverbeds and sinkholes that once fed ponds and springs are carved into the limestone, running between humps of stone that were once high ground. Divers will occasionally find a tree stump that marks where a forest once stood. "It's basically like a mirror image of what's on land out there," Smith said.

Things get even stranger in the deep muck of the Aucilla River, where Halligan spends most of her time. The tannic water there is cold and dark with the decomposing remains of foliage rotting in North Florida's cypress swamps. "It's like diving in really dark iced tea most of the year," Halligan said. "Without a dive light it is completely blackYou could be teleported into space and you wouldn't know."

Some divers find that unnerving. The water is home to catfish, turtles and alligators, and it's so dark you'd never know if any of them were lurking over your shoulder. But Halligan says the gators have never given her any trouble. "We'll see them swimming on the surface but they tend to stay away from us," she said.

That leaves Halligan and her colleagues free to sink to the bottom, 30 feet beneath the surface, breathing from long tubes connected to "hookah rig" air compressors on pontoon boats docked near the shore. Then, working by the glow of dive lights, they use hand trowels to carefully excavate the riverbed.

They dig for hours, sinking farther and farther into an underwater hole as much as nine feet deep, the walls of river muck rising above their heads. As they dig, the archaeologists might find stone fragments of ancient tools, the remains of drowned firepits, or the bones and droppings of extinct mammoths, mastodons, bison and paleo-llamas. "You're just down there in the dark, underwater, and you're like, 'This was a landscape that people's feet were on,'" Halligan said. "It is a really unique thing."

Lessons from Florida's flooded history

Just like modern Floridians, ancient people tended to build their homes along the coasts, according to Jessica Cook Hale, a seismic mapping research assistant at the University of Bradford's Submerged Landscapes Research Center.

But as sea levels rosesometimes gradually, at an average rate of about three feet per century, and sometimes in quick pulses of about a dozen feet per centuryancient Floridians were forced to adapt.

Cook Hale has found evidence of this in the shell mounds native people build along the coast near Apalachee Bay. There are shell middens on land along the modern coastlinebut Cook Hale has also dived on middens as far as five miles off the coast and seen evidence of shell mounds 20 miles off the coast.

"As the coastline encroached, they pulled back," Cook Hale said. "You can sort of follow these shellfish middens from the shore seaward."

Even for hunter-gatherers, that kind of change was disruptive. "The prehistoric people who were adapted to this landscape probably had to reshape their entire decision-making strategy," said Smith. "It was like, "That hunting ground was dry land and now it's marsh and I can't go there anymore.'"

For modern Floridians, adapting to a changing coastline will be even harder. "People could pick up and move 10,000 years ago," said Cook Hale. "They didn't have a Miami or an I-95 or an I-75 to worry about. So we have a lot more of a challenge to overcome in terms of the rigidity of our coastal infrastructure."

Halligan suggested we could learn from the attitudes of the Floridians who came before us. "They weren't putting billions of dollars into sea walls and concrete and asphalt roads," she said. "Instead they were responding flexibly and saying, "Okay, well, the world is dynamic. It changes all the time. The coastlines change. We also need to adapt to that.'"

"These lessons are going to be really hard to employ," she added.

Cook Hale sees some parallels between modern Floridians who rebuild beach houses leveled by hurricanes and their ancient predecessors who kept building coastal shell mounds even as they kept getting swallowed up by the sea. "We have ties to the landscape, and those people did, too," she said. "They're meaningful and they're important to us culturally."

Although she agrees that Floridians will eventually have to accept and adapt to sea level rise, Cook Hale said it isn't realistic to expect people to easily give up on their homesthe places where they grew up, developed their lifestyles and buried their dead.

"When we talk about how to cope with climate change and sea level rise, I think it's really important to go beyond just that linear logic," she said. "If you can't appreciate how people may feel attached to their landscape, it's going to be really difficult, I think, as a culture, to respond effectively."

2023 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Artist's rendering of the completed Tiangong space station. Credit: Shujianyang/Wikimedia

The International Space Station (ISS) will be retired in 2030 after more than 32 years of continuous service. Naturally, there are questions regarding what will replace this station, which has served as a bastion for vital research and inter-agency cooperation in space. In the past, China has indicated that their Tiangong ("heavenly palace") space station will be a successor and rival to the ISS, offering astronauts from other nations an alternative platform to conduct research in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). As part of this plan, China recently announced plans to double the size of Tiangong in the coming years.

This announcement was shared last Wednesday, October 4th, during the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2023) in Baku, Azerbaijan. According to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), three new modules will be added to Tiangong, which currently consists of the Tianhe Core Cabin Module (CMM) and two Laboratory Cabin Modules (LCM)Wenhian ("Quest for the Heavens") and Mengtian ("Dreaming of the Heavens"). This expansion will be accompanied by extending the station's operational lifetime.

According to the statement made by CAST, Tiangong will be in service for more than 15 years, 10 more years than previously announced. This means that China intends to keep Tiangong operational until 2037 or later, several years after the ISS is decommissioned and deorbited. As of the penning of this article, the station has been fully operational since late 2022 (a total of 894 days) and has been occupied for the past 764 days. The station has hosted 15 taikonauts (a maximum of three at a time) at orbital altitudes of 340 to 450 km (210 and 280 mi).

Once the additional three modules are added, the station will weigh 180 metric tons (198 US tons), which is still just 40% of the mass of the ISS. Nevertheless, the upgraded Tiangong will reportedly be able to accommodate a maximum crew of six, falling just shy of the ISS's current crew capacity of seven. These plans are consistent with China's repeated statements that they intend to become a "major power" in this century that will rival NASA and other major space agencies. Last year, Chinese state media said that "several countries" had asked to send their astronauts to the Chinese station.

The subject of Tiangong was one of two Global Networking Forums hosted by the Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA) at IAC 2023, which included "International Cooperation on China's Space Station" and "The International Lunar Research Station" (ILRS). The ILRS, a collaborative effort between China and Roscosmos (Russia), also represents China's desire to become a superpower in space. When it was first announced in June 2021, China indicated that the ILRS would rival the Artemis Program and hinted that the decision was in direct response to NASA's Artemis Accords.

China is currently looking for international partners for both projects. Unfortunately, China's attempts to enlist other countries to join the Tiangong program suffered a slight setback when the European Space Agency (ESA) announced earlier this year that it would not participate. The ESA has been in talks with China for years and expressed interest in sending European astronauts to Tiangong. However, in January, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher stated the following during an annual press briefing in Paris:

"We are very busy supporting and ensuring our commitments and activities on the International Space Station where we have a number of international partners working together. For the moment we have neither the budgetary nor the political, let's say, green light or intention to engage in a second space station; that is participating on the Chinese space station."

In response, the Global Times (a Chinese state-controlled media outlet) quoted adjunct professor and military analyst Song Zhongping, who stated that the decision resulted from "Europe being increasingly kidnapped by the U.S. amid the ongoing and prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict." Song added that the ESA's decision to give up on many years of "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."

Space race would be an accurate term since China has followed a policy of rivaling NASA since it was isolated from the ISS program and banned from collaborating with NASA. Tiangong has become a symbol of this new race, and China hopes it will fill the void left by the ISS and become the new platform where lucrative space research will take place. Russia, meanwhile, announced similar plans to build a successor station consisting of six modules that could accommodate up to four cosmonauts. They also extended an invitation to its partners in the BRICS group (Brazil, India, China, and South Africa) to contribute a module to this station.
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Panda cubs Rui Bao (L) and Hui Bao, were born 97 days ago at South Korea's Everland theme park.

South Korea got its first up-close look at its new pair of baby giant pandas Thursday at a name-revealing ceremony that doubled as an early celebration of the 100 days since their birth.

The female cubsnamed Rui Bao, or "wise treasure", and Hui Bao, "shining treasure"were born at the Everland theme park near the capital Seoul on July 7, and have since been showered with an outpouring of excitement and affection.

Some half a million panda lovers helped choose their names via online voting, the zoo said, with a handful of lucky fans invited to Thursday's ceremony.

Lee Da-young, a 20-year-old university student in attendance, said it was her third visit to the zoo in two months to see the pandas.

"I've always liked pandas, so I came to Everland last week and also a month ago," Lee told AFP. "But I'm honored to have come again on such a great opportunity.

"They are even cuter in real life than they appear on screen," she said.

Since their birth 97 days ago, the zoo has posted videos documenting the pandas' growth on its YouTube channel that have garnered millions of views.

"I feel healed whenever I watch their videos," said 31-year-old office worker Jung Hyun-ye, who regularly watches the twice-weekly clips.

The names Rui Bao and Hui Bao mean 'wise treasure' and 'shining treasure', respectively.

"I think I'm healed by their harmless expressions and relaxed manner," she added.

The cubs, which have just begun teething and crawling, are very healthy, zookeeper Kang Chul-won told reporters.

"We've never raised twins before, so we were very nervous, but I was happy seeing them grow up and I think the people watching them via social media were also happy," he said.

They will likely be revealed to the public early next year, the zoo said in a statement.

Ai Bao and Le Bao, the twins' parents, arrived in South Korea in 2016 as a state gift from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In July 2020, the pair gave birth to a daughter, Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in South Korea via natural breeding.

China has long deployed "panda diplomacy", gifting the animals to various countries, often to further its foreign policy aims.

Beijing only loans pandas to foreign zoos, which must usually return any offspring within a few years of their birth to join the country's breeding program.

 2023 AFP
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Credit: AI-generated image

The death of 39-year-old Frank Ospina, a Colombian man in immigration detention in the UK, shocked his family. Ospina was awaiting deportation, and his mental health appeared to deteriorate rapidly. He is thought to have taken his own life in March 2023.

I study trauma in the aftermath of war and conflict, and have researched what life is like for the thousands of people in immigration detention in the UK. For me, Ospina's death is a horrific reminder of how detention centers are failing to meet the complex needs of the people in them.

Last year, more than 20,300 people were held in immigration detention, which includes both immigration removal centers (IRCs) and short-term holding facilities. People may be detained while awaiting their identity or claims to be established, or to be deported.

A 2017 BBC Panorama investigation into Brook House immigration removal center near Gatwick airport was a rare look at the conditions in these facilities. The revelations prompted a public inquiry, which has now been published, revealing many serious incidents over a four month period in 2017, including "credible evidence" of breaches of human rights law.

The inquiry describes a "toxic" environment, where detainees self-harm, and staff lack compassion and use inappropriate and unnecessary force. In one disturbing incident, a witness described an officer making "inappropriate and humiliating comments towards [two detainees] as they were attempting to take their own lives."

"The abuse that took place at Brook House in 2017 was unacceptable", a Home Office spokesperson said.

Government guidance says detention should be used "sparingly and for shortest periods necessary". But there is currently no limit to how long someone can be detained. For some, it has been years.

According to the Brook House report, the negative impact of unlimited detention is exacerbated by very challenging, noisy living conditions, lengthy lockdowns in rooms, overcrowding and understaffing. These conditions, the inquiry found, are particularly detrimental to acutely vulnerable detainees who may have experienced prior trauma, torture and other harm.

The report concludes that although there were adequate safeguarding procedures in place, these were not used appropriately. What I have found in my research indicates current systems and staff (including health care staff) cannot adequately combat the distress created by detention, nor detainees' preexisting mental health needs.

Mental health in detention

With colleagues, I have conducted ethnographic research and interviews inside several immigration removal centers, including Brook House.

Our findings show many reasons why the current system of detention cannot meet the needs of detainees, including those who are self-harming or having suicidal thoughts. On the contrary, the distress of detention can exacerbate these feelings.

In detention, people are cut off from family and friends. If they are being deported, this separation may be permanent. In a time of extreme vulnerability, a key source of support is taken away.

Detainees we spoke to described emotional pain, feeling trapped or unable to escape. Many feared returning to the countries they left, because of the threat of persecution or extreme poverty, having borrowed vast sums of money to migrate in the first place.

Some were influenced by their surrounding detaineesother people experiencing high levels of distress, and in some cases self-harming or dying by suicide. As one of our research participants said, "Never in my life I thought that I would hurt myself, burn myself. I don't even feel it when I'm doing it. Sometimes I'm scared to be in the room by myself. But they don't care. Since I been inside the facility I'm staying right now, two people died. One of them hang himself."

Detainees described feeling surrounded by processes and systems they did not fully understand. They distrusted staff and health professionals, worried that talking about their mental health would negatively affect their cases and lead to deportation. Some also described finding it difficult or impossible to access sufficient legal support.

The Home Office says changes have been made to immigration detention since the abuse uncovered in the Panorama report, including improved training for staff on use of force and better monitoring of safeguarding.

But the death of Frank Ospina is evidence that the effect of detention on mental health continues to be severe and, in some cases, deadly.

None of the reported improvements address one of the key changes needed to immigration detentionlimiting the time people spend there to 28 days. Given what I've found in my discussions with detainees, I agree.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Photoluminescence image showing NV centers near a network of five artificial synapses in a VO 2 film. A central electrode resembling a dendrite is connected to power sources, while five labeled electrodes A to E act like presynaptic terminals. Credit: Ce Feng, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9376

In a new Science Advances study, scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China have developed a dynamic network structure using laser-controlled conducting filaments for neuromorphic computing.

Neuromorphic computing is an emerging field of research that draws inspiration from the human brain to create efficient and intelligent computer systems. At its core, neuromorphic computing relies on artificial neural networks, which are computational models inspired by the neurons and synapses in the brain. But when it comes to creating the hardware, it can be a bit challenging.

Mott materials have emerged as suitable candidates for neuromorphic computing due to their unique transition properties. Mott transition involves a rapid change in electrical conductivity, often accompanied by a transition between insulating and metallic states.

Co-lead author Prof. Chong-Wen Zou explained to Phys.org, "The pronounced electron-electron behavior in Mott materials leads to several orders of magnitude changes in conductivity over a very narrow temperature interval or even superconductivity."

In their study, the team chose vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ). Explaining their choice of material, co-lead author Fang-Wen Sun said, "VO 2 is a typical Mott material with the phase transition temperature near room temperature, thus possessing the feasibility for a variety of applications."

VO 2 as an electrical switch

VO 2 , like all Mott materials, undergoes metal-insulator transition (MIT) at around 68 Celsius (154 Fahrenheit). This means that at this specific temperature, VO 2 changes from being an insulator to a conductor. The ability to switch between these states makes VO 2 suitable for various applications.

What makes VO 2 ideal for neuromorphic computing applications is its MIT behavior, which mimics the behavior of biological neurons. In simpler terms, VO 2 exhibits changes in electrical conductivity, similar to how the strength between biological neurons in the human brain can change.

This similarity to the brain's plasticity means that VO 2 can adapt and change its conductivity, just like the brain adapts and rewires itself. Additionally, VO 2 's exceptional ability to switch between conducting and non-conducting states makes it a valuable component for electrical circuits, acting like an efficient switch.

The flow of electricity and light through VO 2 materials can be controlled based on temperature, making them ideal for other applications. This is especially useful in applications like smart windows, allowing the control of light and heat passing through, enhancing energy efficiency.

Furthermore, VO 2 can be used to construct dynamic networks where signals can be processed and stored in a way that imitates the functionality of the human nervous system, especially in terms of adaptability and response to external stimuli.

Prof. Zou and Prof. Sun explained, "The controlled connections of conducting filaments in VO 2 devices are similar to those of the biological synapses. Therefore, we also explored the application of the network organized by the artificial synapses based on VO 2 devices in our research."

Focused lasers and quantum sensors

"In traditional artificial synaptic device research, properties of individual synapses are characterized, and these synapses are used as response functions to simulate neural networks. However, our dynamic network, achieved through laser-controlled conductive filaments, exists in hardware, closely resembling the behavior of biological neurons, without relying on semiconductor circuits," explained the researchers.

The research team constructed a highly sophisticated experimental setup to study and manipulate conducting filaments within VO 2 materials. They began by growing VO 2 films with a precisely controlled thickness of 100 nanometers.

To gain insights into the behavior of the VO 2 material, the team utilized quantum sensors based on diamond nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers known for their exceptional sensitivity to changes in electric conductivity due to atomic defects within the diamond crystal.

These sensors played a crucial role in detecting alterations in the electrical properties of VO 2 . By manipulating the NV centers, the researchers were able to observe how conducting filaments formed and were controlled. The primary objective of their experiments was to have precise control over the location of the conducting filaments within the VO 2 devices, which acted as pathways for electrical signals.

To achieve this, the researchers used focused lasers, precisely directed within the VO 2 devices, to manipulate the conducting filaments' location. This level of control was crucial for regulating the flow of electrical signals, resembling the behavior of biological synapses.

Additionally, the team employed high-angle annular darkfield scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to capture high-resolution images and analyze the structure of the VO 2 material, gaining valuable insights at the nanoscale.

The expertise of Prof. Sun's group with conducting filaments of nanowires using quantum sensors based on the diamond NV centers, along with Prof. Zou's group, who have focused on the studies of VO 2 phase transition and device applications, helped the team successfully image conducting filaments with quantum sensors based on the diamond NV centers by detecting the current distribution.

Future work

The researchers found that the artificial synapses demonstrated long-term and short-term potentiation, with channels re-triggerable by current, lasting over two hours, and featuring transient resistance changes due to laser heating. In simple terms, the artificial synapses exhibited the ability to strengthen and adapt their connections over time, much like how our brain's neural networks learn and process information.

Speaking of the future applications of the work, "In the current demo, we've established a network with five artificial synapses using focused lasers to control conducting filaments," said Prof. Zou.

"Our future goal is to build more complex neural networks using multilayer electrodes and light fields for synaptic connectivity. Challenges remain in creating a feedback mechanism to regulate light intensity, but we're eager to explore practical applications of Mott materials," concluded Prof. Sun.

More information: Ce Feng et al, Quantum imaging of the reconfigurable VO 2 synaptic electronics for neuromorphic computing, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9376 Journal information: Science Advances

 2023 Science X Network
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Gray whales migrating south between their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic and wintering lagoons in Mexico. Permit number 14097. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/SWFSC/MMTD.

Dynamic and changing Arctic Ocean conditions likely caused three major mortality events in the eastern North Pacific gray whale population since the 1980s, a new study has found.

During each of these die-offs, including one that began in 2019 and is ongoing, the gray whale population was reduced by up to 25% over just a few years, said Joshua Stewart, an assistant professor with Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute and the study's lead author.

"These are extreme population swings that we did not expect to see in a large, long-lived species like gray whales," Stewart said. "When the availability of their prey in the Arctic is low, and the whales cannot reach their feeding areas because of sea ice, the gray whale population experiences rapid and major shocks."

"Even highly mobile, long-lived species such as gray whales are sensitive to climate change impacts. When there are sudden declines in the quality of prey, the population of gray whales is significantly affected."

The findings were published in the journal Science.

Eastern North Pacific gray whales are one of the few populations of large whales that have recovered to what may be similar numbers that existed prior to commercial whaling. As the population has approached levels close to what their Arctic feeding areas can support, they have likely become more sensitive to environmental conditions due to competition for limited resources, Stewart said.

The unfavorable Arctic conditions that led to two die-offs in the 1980s and the 1990s were not permanent, and the population quickly rebounded as conditions improved.

"It turns out we didn't really know what a healthy baleen whale population looks like when it isn't heavily depleted by human impacts," he said. "Our assumption has generally been that these recovering populations would hit their environmental carrying capacities and remain more or less steady there. But what we're seeing is much more of a bumpy ride in response to highly variable and rapidly changing ocean conditions."

A Southwest Fisheries Science Center researcher scans for gray whales during a survey as part of the long-term population monitoring research. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Eastern North Pacific gray whales, which currently number about 14,500, migrate more than 12,000 miles each year along the Pacific Coast, from the warm waters off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, in the winter months to the cold, productive waters of the Arctic to feed in the summer months.

Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California, have been conducting long-term population monitoring studies of these whales since the 1960s, tracking abundance, birth and death rates and monitoring body condition using aerial images.

This extensive research has made this population of gray whales the most closely studied large whale population on the planet, providing a unique window into the population dynamics of the species.

"This research demonstrates the value of long-term data in understanding not only the species under study but also the environment it depends on," said Dave Weller, director of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center's Marine Mammal and Turtle Division.

"When we began collecting data on gray whales in 1967, little did we realize the important role they would play in understanding the effects of climate change on an iconic sentinel species in the Pacific. This research would not have been possible without our reliable long-term record."

The eastern North Pacific gray whale population, which was hunted to near extinction before a whaling moratorium was enacted, has been viewed as a conservation success story because of the population's rapid recovery in the post-whaling era.

In 2019, when a high number of gray whale strandings began occurring along the Pacific coast, Stewart, a researcher at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center at the time, began looking more closely at the long-term data to see if he could learn more about what might be driving the unusual mortality event.

By combining the long-term data sets on the gray whale population with extensive environmental data from the Arctic, Stewart and his collaborators determined that the two "unusual mortality events" declared by NOAA in 1999 and 2019 were tied to both sea ice levels in the Arctic and the biomass of seafloor-living crustaceans that gray whales target for food.

Stewart also identified a third die-off in the 1980s that followed a similar pattern but was not associated with higher numbers of strandings, likely due to lower reporting rates of stranded whales prior to the 1990s.

The researchers found that years with less summer sea ice in the gray whales' Arctic feeding areas provided increased foraging opportunities that benefited the population. However, in the long term, decreasing sea ice cover, a result of rapid and accelerating climate change, most likely will not be beneficial to gray whales.

A gray whale breaching. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Photo taken under permit).

Benthic amphipods, the calorie-rich prey that gray whales prefer, are also sensitive to sea ice cover. Algae that grow underneath sea ice sink to the seafloor, enriching the amphipod population. Less ice leads to less algae reaching the seafloor, warmer water that favors smaller benthic crustaceans and faster currents that reduce habitat for gray whales' preferred prey.

"With less ice, you get less algae, which is worse for the gray whale prey," Stewart said. "All of these factors are converging to reduce the quality and availability of the food they rely on."

For the gray whales, less prey availability ultimately leads to die-offs. The most recent event is still considered ongoing and has continued significantly longer than the two earlier events.

"We are in uncharted territory now. The two previous events, despite being significant and dramatic, only lasted a couple of years," Stewart said. "The most recent mortality event has slowed and there are signs things are turning around, but the population has continued to decline. One reason it may be dragging on is the climate change component, which is contributing to a long-term trend of lower-quality prey."

Gray whales have lived through hundreds of thousands of years of environmental change and have adapted over that time to changing conditions, making extinction due to climate change unlikely, Stewart said.

"I wouldn't say there is a risk of losing gray whales due to climate change," he said. "But we need to think critically about what these changes might mean in the future. An Arctic Ocean that has warmed significantly may not be able to support 25,000 gray whales like it has in the recent past."

More information: Joshua D. Stewart et al, Boom-bust cycles in gray whales associated with dynamic and changing Arctic conditions, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi1847. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi1847 Journal information: Science
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Police officers often respond to incidents that do not involve crime or immediate threats to public safety but instead deal with community members facing unmet mental health needs. In response to this, many cities are experimenting with co-deploying police officers alongside health professionals or deploying teams entirely composed of civilian health professionals.

Recently, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) explored the perspectives and preferences about these programs among residents in structurally disadvantaged areas where mental health distress is more common, mental health services are less accessible, and involvement with police is more frequent and fraught. The findings, published in the Journal of Community Safety & Well-Being, provide valuable insights to guide efforts toward a healthier response to mental health crises.

The study revealed that while many respondents suggested that police presence is necessary during the response to mental health crises because of the risk of violence, they were simultaneously uncomfortable with police officer involvement. The discomfort with police involvement was especially pronounced among younger and Black residents. However, support for co-deployment was high across all subgroups.

First author Helena A. Addison, MSN, RN, a Presidential Ph.D. Fellow and 2021-2023 Jonas Scholar at Penn Nursing, emphasized the importance of considering help-seeking norms and the concerns and experiences of historically underserved community members, who often possess significant apprehension regarding police involvement in crisis response.

"We can all agree that we want police involved as little as possible as mental health first responders," Addison noted, "and the perspectives of community members is essential to effectively identifying and scaling better systems for supporting people in moments of crisis."

Co-authors of the article include Evan Anderson, JD, Ph.D., of the Thomas Jefferson College of Population Health; Ruth Shefner, MPH, MSW, Ph.D.(c), of Columbia University; and Jennifer Wood, Ph.D., MA, of Temple University.

More information: Resident Perspectives on Police Involvement In the Response to Mental Health Crises, Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being (2023). www.journalcswb.ca/index.php/c  article/view/322/960
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Research participant Nicole Panneton holds Peanut, a puppy from the Montgomery County Humane Society, for the language study. Photo courtesy of Robin Panneton. Credit: Virginia Tech

Language researchers have studied how mothers speak to their infants, to their pets, and to other adults. Mothers speak slowly and clearly to their infants, hyperarticulating speech to teach language. What this research did not examine was the positive valence, or emotion of a mother's speech.

Robin Panneton, professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Psychology and affiliated faculty member with the Child Study Center, provides this missing factor in a study published in the Journal of Child Language that examined how mothers speak to their infant and to puppies.

"There's no reason for you to be speaking clearly to a puppy because you're hoping that puppy learns English. So if you speak more clearly to a puppy, something else is happening," said Panneton, a faculty member in the College of Science. "What [previous studies] found is that you actually raised your pitch and slowed down a little bit when you speak to your dog or your cat, but you don't hyperarticulate or speak more clearly. But vocal emotion was also less to pets. We had to somehow get more vocal emotion in the mothers' speech to dogs, and we were able to do that."

The research process

Mothers brought their 6-month-old infants into the lab. The infants were placed in a little seat, and mothers were asked to talk to infants using three objects: a boot, a ball, and a bead. Then the infants were removed, and a puppy was placed in the same seat. Mothers were asked to again speak using three objects: a boot, ball, and bead. Then the puppy was removed, and mothers spoke to an undergraduate student incorporating the same three words.

"The order was randomized. Sometimes the student would be first and the puppy last, so the order is irrelevant. What we're trying to say is, if you are more emotional in your voice when you speak to a puppy than to your own animal in the house, what does that do to your hyperarticulation? It elevated it, so when we did our emotion analysis, they were equal across the baby and the puppy. That is, the speech to the baby is rated just as positive in emotion as the speech to the puppy," said Panneton. But both baby and puppy speech were higher in emotion than speech to adults.

This "happy talk" connection has implications for future research in language development and for how we support mothers who may not be able to speak as positively to their infants.

Future implications

Previous studies indicate mothers speak more clearly to infants because they view themselves as a teacher that knows their child is going to learn language from them. Panneton adds that in addition to being a teacher, "there might be other important factors that influence her speech clarity."

Emotion must be considered when looking at the data.

"If you compare a woman who is 35 having her first baby to a woman who's 16 and having her first baby, they might be very different in their view of themselves as the teacher. You have to address that difference because not all moms speak clearly to their infants," said Panneton. "If you open the interpretation to include emotion, now you can explain the data better. Rather than saying, 'There's just some bad teachers out there,' it's also a question of how the mother is feeling."

Mothers suffering from postpartum depression are one group that Panneton said could benefit from additional support in this area as well as mothers who manage the daily stress of working multiple jobs.

"I think we have to really be sensitive to all the challenges that mothers face and know that there is variability. If that variability in any way compromises the way their kids are learning language, then we have to support them."

More information: Robin Panneton et al, Positive Valence Contributes to Hyperarticulation in Maternal Speech to Infants and Puppies, Journal of Child Language (2023). DOI: 10.1017/S0305000923000296
A US Navy sailor pleaded guilty to conspiring with a Chinese spy officer. He also admitted to receiving thousands of dollars in bribes from the Chinese intelligence official.

He admitted his crimes in a plea agreement filed in the federal court in Los Angeles, confirming that the Chinese spy could receive unclassified private military information about the US military.

US Navy Sailor Admits Conspiring With Chinese Spy Officer

According to The Guardian's latest report, 26-year-old Petty Officer Wenheng "Thomas" Zhao pleaded guilty to accepting almost $15,000 in bribes from an unnamed Chinese spy official.

He explained that he received this money in exchange for photographs of unclassified private U.S. military information. Specifically, Thomas admitted that he was sending plans for US military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region.

Aside from this, the Chinese intelligence officer also received operational orders, electrical diagrams, and blueprints for a radar system on the US military base in Japan.

Because of this, the person who worked at the Nava Base in Ventura County in California faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment on the charges.

ABC News reported that Zhao has been in custody since his arrest on August 3. But a judge hasn't determined the US Navy sailor's final sentence yet.

US Atty. Martin Estrada of the California central district argued that the US Navy officer "betrayed his country" and the American people of the US Navy by accepting bribes in exchange for critical military information.

Matthew G Olsen, the assistant attorney general of the justice department's national security division, heavily condemned Zhao after being arrested in August.

"These individuals stand accused of violating the commitments they made to protect the United States and betraying the public trust, to the benefit of the [Chinese] government," he said.

Read Also: China Exposes CIA Spy Who Worked for Military Company

Another US Navy Sailor Accused of Conspiring With China's Spies

Another US Navy sailor in California was arrested due to similar Chinese espionage crimes when Thomas was arrested.

22-year-old Jinchai Wei, assigned to the San Diego-based USS Essex, also faces charges of providing detailed weapons systems and aircraft information to a Chinese spy officer.

Critics said that the cases of Zhao and Wei are just the tip of the iceberg in China's larger espionage scheme. But, unlike Thomas, Jinchai decided to plead not guilty in federal court in San Diego.

If you want to learn more details about Wei's separate case, you can click this link.

Related Article: US Navy Sailor Sells Naval Secrets to China, Says Mom Encouraged Him to Trade Sensitive Military Details

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Phinney collecting her soil cores in a high burn intensity region of the 2020 Mangum Fire, Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona. Credit: April Phinney

On 8 June 2020, the Mangum Fire ignited 16 miles north of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. By the time it was mostly contained, about a month later, the fire had burned over 70,000 acres of land.

April Phinney, a M.Sc. candidate at Utah State University, immediately started drafting a burn intensity map based on remote sensing data. Six months later, she set boots on the burned ground and started collecting soil samples, hoping they would contain quartz grains.

This research would become the basis of a presentation being given by Phinney's advisor, Tammy Rittenour, on Sunday, 15 October at the Geological Society of America's GSA Connects 2023 meeting.

Quartz may be the most common mineral on Earth, but it's anything but boring. The focus of Phinney's research was quartz's ability to luminesce (i.e., emit light). When a mineral is exposed to ionizing radiation, some of its atoms will eject an electron. Most of the time these electrons fall quickly back to their parent atom.

But in quartz, there are often structural defects in the crystal (e.g., a titanium or sodium atom replacing a silicon atom, or a missing oxygen), which create "positive traps." The ejected electrons may thus be pulled to one of these defects, which will hold it ("trap it") for millions of yearsor until the crystal is exposed to light or heat.

When this happens, the electron is set free from the structural defect and can drop to a lower energy state (such as an atom missing an electron), releasing a photon in the process and resetting the luminescence clock.

Correlation plot between soil burn index (expressing how severely the soil has been burnt) and quartz luminescence intensity. Plot created by Phinney and Rittenour. Credit: April Phinney

Dating applications use this luminescence signal to determine the last time the mineral was exposed to light or heat. In this study the age of the fire was already known, and the researchers instead used a measurement of the luminescence sensitivity (light produced per dose of radiation) to identify quartz grains that been exposed to elevated heat, which enhances the luminescence properties.

Wildfires, of course, provide an enormous amount of heat to the soil they raze; it was therefore conceptually understood that the intensity of quartz luminescence should be higher in sediments that had been exposed to wildfires. However, this had never been field-tested before, and Phinney set out to do so for the first time. Using luminescence measurements from fire-affected soil, she would test the relationship between burn severity and luminescence intensity.

In the field, Phinney collected soil samples inside the fire perimeter in different burn intensity zones. To establish quartz's baseline luminescence level, she also collected a few samples outside the fire perimeter, in areas that had not burned for at least 70 years, according to U.S. Forest Service records.

Her results show that soil samples collected in wildfire-affected areas luminesce more than soil samples collected outside the fire perimeter. The difference between burn severity areas is also clear, with high burn intensity samples luminescing up to twice as much as medium burn intensity samples. Phinney's field testing demonstrates that wildfire burn intensity is recorded in the magnitude of quartz luminescence.

If quartz luminescence intensity is a fingerprint of fire exposure in surface soils, then it can be used to assess past fire intensity. Burn intensity maps only exist for very recent fires, but quartz luminescence intensity can help us look back in time up to two million years. These data can be used as a proxy for fire regimes, a measurement of how frequent and intense naturally occurring wildfires are in a particular ecosystem over a long period of time.

Understanding these patterns is key to understanding and predicting current and future fire regimes, with important implications for hazard mapping and mitigation strategies throughout the southwestern United States.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Influencers with a large following are expensive and usually not interested in promoting unknown brands. This marketing channel is therefore largely inaccessible to small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). Business professors are now suggesting a bypass from the financial sector: Forward contracts, which allow companies to sign such influencers early on, when they are still relatively unknown.

For companies, influencer marketing has become a reliable way for effectively reaching their target audiences. They are dedicating more and more marketing spending to it, with the global market for paid influencer endorsements expected to reach US$21.1 billion in 2023.

Expensive and hard to get

Companies are most interested in individuals with the most followers on online social networks. These macro-influencers have follower counts in the six or seven digits and a huge sphere of influence. Their price is accordingly high: for example, Kylie Jenner, one of the best-paid influencers, charges around US$2 million for sharing a single endorsement.

Such sums are out of reach for SMEs. Endorsing unknown brands is also associated with reputational risks, so the macro-influencers are often not willing to work with SMEs.

A future-oriented approach

A tool from the financial sector could provide a solution. In a recent article in the Journal of Marketing Research, Andreas Lanz, Professor of Digital Marketing Analytics at the University of Basel, and his colleagues recommend putting binding agreements in place for endorsements to be shared in the future, analogous to the use of futures in finance.

More specifically, they suggest contacting macro-influencers while they are still relatively unknown, and signing them to an agreement to market the company a few years later. This has the advantage of ensuring a significantly lower endorsement price.

The challenge lies in signing the right individuals at the right time since only the tiniest fraction of new users on an online social network become macro-influencers. To solve this problem, the researchers developed a predictive model and tested its effectiveness using data from a worldwide music platform.

The model analyzes users' activity and follows the developing community on an individual level. This enables the researchers to identify future macro-influencers a mere six months after they begin using a platform. This is of particular interest for record labels but also for the platform itself, as these users will eventually be responsible for a significant portion of the platform's traffic.

Each wave of new registrations is associated with earnings potential resulting from the value of the future endorsements. Assuming a three-fold return on spending on influencers, the proposed approach can capture around 20% of this profit potential.

More information: Andreas Lanz et al, EXPRESS: Buying Future Endorsements from Prospective Influencers on User-Generated Content Platforms, Journal of Marketing Research (2023). DOI: 10.1177/00222437231207323 Journal information: Journal of Marketing Research
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(Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 29: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper speaks during the lighting ceremony for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on the West Lawn on November 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. The 79-foot-tall red spruce, nickname "Ruby," was cut from the Pisgah National Forest near Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, and is decorated with 12,000 ornaments from 125 communities in 13 different states across the country.

North Carolina's Republican-controlled legislature passed sweeping new election regulations on Tuesday, which were immediately challenged in court by Democrats and voting rights organizations.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the bills earlier this year, stating in a statement that they make it more difficult to register, but Republicans have a legislative supermajority and voted to override his vetoes, as per to CNBC News.

North Carolina's Controversial Election Bills

The two bills in question are expected to impact the state's election process in 2024 substantially. However, legal challenges are anticipated and could delay or block the implementation of specific provisions. One of the bills, Senate Bill 749, is of particular concern to advocates as it alters the composition of both state and local election boards.

These five-person boards are crucial in overseeing democratic operations and certifying election results. County boards are responsible for registering voters, operating polling sites, and counting ballots, while the state board appoints individuals to and supervises these local boards.

Under the existing system, all election boards are controlled by the governor's party, with nominations made by state parties and appointments by the governor. However, the new legislation completely removes the governor from the appointment process.

Instead, it establishes state and local boards that are evenly divided between the two major political parties, with members appointed by state legislative leaders. Supporters of the bill argue that it depoliticized the election administration process.

Still, experts warn that it may lead to a nightmarish scenario of deadlocked election boards, making it difficult to carry out essential election administration tasks, according to CNN News.

Read Also: Honoree Fleming Case: Former Vermont University Dean Shot Dead Near Campus; Who's the Suspected Killer?

North Carolina's Voting Restrictions

The bill needs to adequately address what would happen when election boards cannot reach a consensus on administration or result certification matters.

Governor Cooper expressed his concerns when vetoing the bill: "The legislative takeover of state and local elections boards could doom our state's elections to gridlock and severely limit early voting.It also creates a grave risk that Republican legislators or courts would be empowered to change the results of an election if they don't like the winner. That's a serious threat to our democracy."

Of particular concern to advocates and Democrats is the bill's potential impact on early voting. If county or state election boards fail to approve early voting sites and schedules by state law, early voting may only occur at the county board of elections office.

This could leave hundreds of thousands of voters with only one early voting option in populous counties. The second bill, Senate Bill 747, introduces a range of new voting restrictions in North Carolina. These include a ban on drop boxes and most private funding for elections.

Additionally, the bill shortens the deadline for mail ballots to be received by election officials by three days. In the 2020 election, such a rule change would have resulted in the rejection of 11,000 votes.

The debate over these bills underscores the broader divisions in American society and the challenges of balancing election integrity with access to the ballot.

As North Carolina prepares for the next presidential election, the consequences of these legislative changes will likely be hotly contested and closely watched by advocates, lawmakers, and legal experts, Fox The Washington Post.

Related Article: Las Vegas Teachers' Union Files Lawsuit Over Nevada's Anti-Strike Law

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From a press release: The Cambridge Central School District, and the Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad are pleased to announce that they are resuming their partnership for the 2023-24 school year. The partnership resumed on Monday, Oct. 2.

An Emergency Medical Technician will be on site each day beginning at 10 a.m. for the remainder of the school year. The EMT will remain on site until 6 p.m. so they are available during practices and games in the event an athlete or individual on campus requires medical attention.

The EMT will be stationed in the Health Office and provide care to students, assist with medical emergencies and support day-to-day operations.

The partnership allows us to establish relationships with kids  both in and out of the building, said Tim Phillips, CVRS crew chief assigned to the program. It allows kids to see a familiar face in the event there is a medical emergency outside of school. They recognize our members who may be responding to a medical event in the community.

This system started during COVID.
A dozen or more people, some friends of Robert and Francine Nemer, some appreciative Glens Falls Hospital employees, congregated at the hospital for a small opening ceremony of the new lounge on the 6th Floor of the hospitals Tower 6.

The $33,000 renovation was funded by the Nemers, and was designed by Francine, an interior designer by trade.

It was like a perfect opportunity for that reason. I felt I can do something with my talent, she said with a chuckle. I hope that people will benefit from a nice place to be.

Small tables and chairs line the lounges outer wall of windows, with views of Washington County and mountains to the east, and West Mountain to the west. Along the inner wall, two L-shaped couches face away from each other, and Francine said that was intentional to break the space up.

Although the space is small, the intention was to create some privacy for up to a few small groups of people, perhaps family who need to speak with each other or with healthcare workers about a family member, Francine said.

Groups can come in and they dont have to be sitting all together, she said.

We had to be specific for hospitals, she said, explaining some of the choices made regarding furniture, carpets and more. She and others considered the ability of the materials to take wear-and-tear and whether the materials were hygienic.

She said that the idea came to her and Robert when Francine herself was recently ill. She and Robert spent time in the so-called lounge room, and at one point they looked around and then at each other.

I said, What do you think? and he said, I think we need to do something, Francine recalled.

Paul Scimeca, the president of the hospital, was thankful they did, he said. He admitted that the old room had seen better days. That lounge and the sixth floor of Tower 6 are some of the most-used areas in the hospital, he said.

It gets a lot of use. It needed a little bit of attention, he said of the old space.

Traditionally, the lounge was the place where healthcare workers talk to families about the care needed when the patient goes home, where families chat, or where workers catch a few minutes of calm.

In the ceremony to unveil both the room and a plaque honoring the Nemers for the donation, Scimeca said even if people are coming to the hospital for a good reason, such as a pregnancy, the experience can be overwhelming.

They come when they are at their most vulnerable, and the experience can be so intense, and the environment is just as much a part of the experience as the care, he said. Having that (improved) space is really critical.

The room includes original artwork by Tim Gow of Bolton. Robert Nemer is an owner of the Nemer Motor Group of car dealerships.
ATLANTIC CITY  The resort is preparing to roll out an expanded drone program it says will help first responders better monitor the beaches and ocean to keep visitors safer next year.

Beginning in the spring, beachgoers may see drones flying above them more frequently as the Beach Patrol performs more flights to assess safety, fire Chief Scott Evans said.

The city currently has nine drones that are shared among several departments, including the Beach Patrol and Public Works. Firefighters and police also have access to the devices, which range in cost from $3,000 to $30,000.

The pricier drones are fitted with stronger cameras and technology and are better able to fly in windy conditions, Evans said.

"This is something that's going to be able to give us quicker intelligence, something that'll be able to give us real-time situational awareness," Evans said of the program's expansion.

The new practice comes as public safety agencies continue implementing drones as an emerging technology. About 1,400 U.S. police departments are flying drones in some form, according to a recent report from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Officials on Tuesday demonstrated how the city plans to implement the drones to keep their beaches safe. The demonstration was held in partnership with the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park, or NARTP, in Egg Harbor Township.

Second aviation research building designed for post-COVID workers The second building in the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park has been designed for workforces with some work-from-home employees, officials said at the groundbreaking Thursday.

"It offers people in public safety much more of a perspective of what's going on in a particular location at that time," NARTP President and CEO Howard Kyle said. "It also brings in other features, such as the ability to zoom in on certain areas or specialize on certain features."

So far, the city has trained 28 drone pilots, Evans said. About 40 will be certified once the latest round of training is completed. Evans said as the program expands, the drones will be used to observe the beaches when lifeguards are not present, flying in the morning and evening hours.

The drones also will make lifesaving efforts more efficient by dropping flotation devices to struggling swimmers. The devices next year also will be equipped with speakers, allowing first responders to communicate with crowds of people from above.

The beach-flight simulations are part of an ongoing series of emergency management training sessions that began in 2017 in Cape May County, according to the NARTP. The exercises are planned to continue, featuring local and other first responders, including the U.S. Coast Guard in early 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ATLANTIC CITY  A city woman is accused of abandoning four children in a resort hotel room last year and was captured recently by police.

Naayasia Torres, 29, allegedly left four children, ages 6, 4, 2 and 1, inside a room at the Flagship Hotel on North Maine Avenue alone for about six hours, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

She had been wanted since February and was arrested last week at the Al-Shaheen Market on Atlantic Avenue, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.

Superior Court Judge Pamela D'Arcy ordered Torres to pretrial detention at the Atlantic County jail Tuesday. She faces several counts of child neglect.

Flagship staff told police Torres had not checked out of the room she shared with the children before the 11 a.m. deadline Feb. 5, the affidavit states. Staff visited the room, speaking to both the children and Torres, who purportedly said she was preparing to return to the hotel to retrieve the children but never did.

Police spoke to the oldest child through the door, which was locked with a security latch. Police eventually entered the room after an ambulance arrived, finding several piles of feces and vomit inside, the affidavit states.

No one else was inside the room besides the children.

The children were dressed and taken by ambulance to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus.
An Egg Harbor City man Wednesday admitted possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Anthony Barbarino, 37, who was employed as a nurse prior to his arrest last year, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, Barbarino knowingly possessed, from April 12, 2022, to his arrest Aug. 3 that year, 93 photographs and 108 videos of child sexual abuse across three electronic devices, including at least one image of a prepubescent minor or a minor under the age of 12, and at least one image that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.

Possession of child porn that involves a prepubescent minor or a minor under 12 carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 13, 2024.

Homeland Security Investigations Newark led the investigation with help from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

Barbarino will face justice for the deplorable acts against the innocent children he helped victimize, said Resident Agent in Charge of HSI Atlantic City Christopher Popolow. HSI will not stop at making sure dangerous child predators are removed from our communities.
NEW YORK  U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey faced a new charge Thursday that he conspired to act as an agent of the Egyptian government, a remarkable accusation against a Democrat who had a powerful role in U.S. policy as head of the Senates Foreign Relations Committee.

The superseding indictment, filed in Manhattan federal court, accuses Menendez of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people to register with the U.S. government if they act as an agent of a foreign principal. As a member of Congress, Menendez was prohibited from being an agent of a foreign government.

The new charge comes just weeks after Menendez and his wife were accused of accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senators help and influence over foreign affairs.

The new indictment said the conspiracy occurred from January 2018 to June 2022, when Menendez was alleged to have promised to take and took a series of acts on behalf of Egypt, including on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials. It said he conspired to do so with his wife, Nadine, and a business associate and fellow defendant, Wael Hana.

According to the indictment, Hana and Nadine Menendez also communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to Menendez.

Messages left with Menendezs Senate staff and attorneys Thursday were not immediately answered.

The indictment further alleged that in May 2019, Menendez, his wife and Hana met with an Egyptian intelligence official in Menendezs Senate office in Washington. During the meeting, they discussed an American citizen who was seriously injured in a 2015 airstrike by the Egyptian military using a U.S.-made Apache helicopter, the indictment said.

Some members of Congress objected to awarding certain military aid to Egypt over that episode and the perception by certain lawmakers that the Egyptian government was not willing to fairly compensate the injured American citizen, according to the indictment.

NJ attorney general looking into 2018 investigation of crash involving Nadine Menendez The New Jersey attorney generals office has opened an inquiry into how local law enforcement handled an investigation into a December 2018 car crash that involved Sen. Robert Menendezs wife Nadine, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the situation.

Shortly after the meeting in Washington, the Egyptian official texted Hana that if Menendez helped resolve the matter, he will sit very comfortably. Hana replied, Orders, consider it done, the indictment said.

In an email, Hanas attorney, Lawrence Lustberg, said the new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian Government is as absurd as it is false.

As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this new and baseless allegation, he wrote.

Menendez and his wife have pleaded not guilty to the charges lodged against them last month. Hana pleaded not guilty last month to charges including conspiracy to commit bribery.

After Hanas company was granted a lucrative monopoly by the Egyptian government to certify that all meat imported into that country met religious requirements, prosecutors said, Menendez urged U.S. agriculture officials to stop questioning the deal.

As in the earlier indictment, the senator is accused of trying to interfere in two criminal cases, pushing prosecutors to either drop an investigation or give leniency to friends of his associates. In return, prosecutors said one businessman, Jose Uribe, bought Nadine Menendez a $60,000 luxury car. Uribe has pleaded not guilty.

In both the old and new indictments, prosecutors said Menendez, after meeting with an Egyptian official, lobbied then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to increase American engagement in stalled negotiations involving Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to build a dam over the Nile River, a key foreign policy issue for Egypt.

The indictments said that while Menendez was chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he took several steps to secretly aid Egyptian officials. That included ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in aid to Egypt.

Report of fatal New Jersey car crash fills in key gap in Menendez federal bribery investigation Nadine Menendez, now the wife of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, killed a man with her car in December 2018 and left the scene without being charged.

He was also accused of passing along information about employees at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt and transmitting nonpublic information to Egyptian officials about military aid.

Menendez, 69, has insisted he did nothing unusual to assist Egypt and that prosecutors had misunderstood the work of a senator involved in foreign affairs.

Authorities who searched Menendezs home last year said they found more than $100,000 worth of gold bars and over $480,000 in cash  much of it hidden in closets, clothing and a safe.

The new charge against Menendez comes as more than 30 Senate Democrats  including his home state colleague, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker  have called on him to resign. Menendez has remained defiant, telling his colleagues in a closed-door luncheon two weeks ago that he will not leave the Senate.

Menendez has not said whether he will run for reelection next year. At least one Democrat, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, has already jumped into the primary, and the head of Senate Democrats campaign arm, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, has called on Menendez to resign, signaling that he may not receive campaign assistance traditionally available to incumbents.

The Justice Department in recent years has stepped up its criminal enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a law enacted in 1938 to unmask Nazi propaganda in the United States that requires people to disclose to the Justice Department when they advocate, lobby or perform public relations work in the U.S. on behalf of a foreign government or political entity.

The statute made headlines during President Donald Trumps administration when federal prosecutors accused multiple aides close to the Republican, including the chairman of his 2016 presidential campaign, of failing to register as foreign agents.

Last year, Trumps inaugural committee chair, Tom Barrack, was acquitted of using his personal access to him to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates. And in 2019, lawyer Greg Craig, a Democrat, was acquitted of making a false statement to the Justice Department about work for Ukraines government.
WOODBRIDGE  Opponents of a natural gas-fired power plant planned for an already polluted low-income area in New Jersey celebrated Thursday after hearing the company that proposed the project no longer plans to build it, citing low energy prices.

Competitive Power Ventures wanted to build a second plant beside one it already operates in Woodbridge, about 20 miles south of Newark. The company previously said the expansion is needed because of growing demand for energy, pitching it as a reliable backup source for solar and wind energy when those types of power are not available.

But in a statement Wednesday night, the Silver Spring, Maryland-based CPV said market conditions have deteriorated to the point where the project is no longer feasible.

Company spokesman Matthew Litchfield said CPVs agreement with PJM Interconnection, a regional power transmission organization, required it to either begin construction or terminate the agreement by Sept. 30.

In light of current PJM market conditions that do not support construction of the project at this time, CPV had to withdraw from the interconnection agreement, he said.

Litchfield said market prices for energy were too low, and that unlike many other types of generation projects, including offshore wind and nuclear power, the natural gas plant wouldnt be subsidized by the state.

These prices currently do not support the construction of the project, he said.

The company will continue to operate its existing plant, he added. Its evaluating uses for the adjacent land where the second power plant had been proposed.

A wide coalition of residents from Woodbridge and surrounding low-income communities, environmental and social justice groups opposed the project, saying it would have placed an unacceptably high health burden in an area that already deals with serious pollution.

In public hearings regarding the proposal, area residents said their children developed chronic breathing problems, including some so severe that the children had to be rushed to hospitals.

The American Lung Association gives Middlesex County, which includes Woodbridge, a grade of F for ground-level ozone pollution. That type of pollution is caused by car exhaust, the burning of natural gas, and other human activities, according to the EPA. Its known to exacerbate lung problems.

New Jerseys environmental justice law is designed to prevent overburdened communities from having to accept additional sources of pollution. Signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2020, it did not apply to the CPV proposal, which completed its air quality permit application in 2017, before the law took effect.

The CPV power plant scheme would have dumped air pollution into already overburdened communities, and undermined the Murphy administrations climate goals, said Charlie Kratovil, an organizer for Food & Water Watch. The inspiring grassroots movement to stop this plant won a major victory for clean air, environmental justice, and our climate.

He noted that two other gas-fired power plants remain under consideration in the state, both proposed by government agencies in Newark and Kearny, and called on the governor to back up his rhetoric with decisive action to stop all fossil fuel expansion projects.

Anjuli Ramos Busot, director of the Sierra Clubs New Jersey chapter, said the project would have pumped over 2 million metric tons of additional planet-warming greenhouse gases into the environment, increasing the states output by 2%.

The people won against the polluters in New Jersey, she said. Our state does not need more natural gas. This is a massive victory for our communities, environmental justice, and in the fight against climate change.
(Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)



NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 10: Caroline Ellison, former chief executive officer of Alameda Research LLC, leaves Manhattan Federal Court after testifying during the trial of FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, on October 10, 2023 in New York City. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of fraud and conspiracy in connection with the collapse of the crypto exchange he founded, FTX.

Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison, a couple whose lives entwined in business and romance, took a dramatic turn.

The high-profile case, now in its fifth day, revolves around the collapse of their cryptocurrency trading companies, FTX and Alameda Research, in November.

Caroline Ellison, the government's star witness and a key figure in the trial, faced Bankman-Fried in court, accusing him of directing the actions that led to FTX's downfall, as per Washington Examiner.

Sam Bankman-Fried Crypto Case Trial

The former couple's journey began on a trading floor in New York, continued with their start-up venture in Hong Kong, and eventually morphed into a highly publicized office romance. However, it wasn't their romantic history that took center stage in the courtroom; instead, Ellison focused on allegations of financial misconduct and fraud within their cryptocurrency ventures.

Ellison, who has pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy, testified that Bankman-Fried instructed her to utilize FTX customer deposits for venture investments and loan repayments by Alameda Research, a cryptocurrency hedge fund under her management.

She claimed that Alameda took approximately $14 billion from FTX, only partially repaying the borrowed funds. The trial's proceedings, especially Ellison's testimony, shed light on the complex financial dealings and corporate governance that contributed to the collapse of their ventures.

The case against Bankman-Fried has drawn significant attention as he faces charges of masterminding a conspiracy to embezzle billions of dollars from FTX's customers.

Despite his not-guilty plea, a conviction could result in a life sentence. In the courtroom, Bankman-Fried's defense strategy seeks to shift blame towards Ellison, arguing that she disregarded his instructions and made mistakes in managing Alameda, which exacerbated FTX's financial woes.

Notably, this case turned even more dramatic when Bankman-Fried had his bail revoked after allegedly attempting to intimidate Ellison by leaking her private writings to the media, according to ABC News.

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Caroline Ellison's Testimony

The trial's unfolding events, filled with personal accounts, financial intricacies, and misconduct allegations, have captivated observers in the cryptocurrency industry and beyond.

Caroline Ellison's testimony delved into the financial aspects and explored the personal dynamics of her relationship with Mr. Bankman-Fried. The two met over five years ago at a New York trading firm, Jane Street, where Bankman-Fried briefly worked.

Their shared commitment to effective altruism, a philanthropic movement popular in tech, laid the foundation for their personal and professional connection. Eventually, they became romantically involved, which gave Ellison a unique vantage point as FTX's founder built his cryptocurrency empire.

After joining Bankman-Fried at Alameda in 2018, Ellison worked as a trader and was later promoted to chief executive. The couple's on-and-off romantic relationship was marked by the challenges of maintaining a professional dynamic in the workplace.

At times, Ellison described feeling powerless and ultimately decided to end the relationship due to perceived emotional distance and inattentiveness on Bankman-Fried's part. The courtroom proceedings also unveiled how Alameda had dipped into FTX's customer funds for years.

Additionally, Ellison detailed how Bankman-Fried aimed to maintain the value of FTX, a digital coin he created. FTX was used as loan collateral, but its importance was largely hypothetical. Ellison expressed discomfort with this approach, as selling FTT in large quantities could render it worthless.

Nevertheless, she claimed that Bankman-Fried directed her to proceed with it, keeping these actions concealed from prying eyes. As the trial continues, the cryptocurrency world watches with bated breath, witnessing the unraveling of a complex tale that entwines personal relationships, financial intricacies, and allegations of financial misconduct.

The trial's outcome may hold significant implications for the crypto industry, highlighting the importance of transparency and accountability in this evolving landscape, The New York Times reported.

Related Article: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Criticizes Pro-Hamas Protesters in Times Square for Spreading Hatred

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By: Amol Avchite

The Pune Municipal Corporation is facing criticism over its indifference to recovering fines amounting to crores of rupees imposed for unauthorised road excavations. Despite punitive action taken against the contractors responsible for road excavation in the Vimannagar area, questions have arisen regarding the municipality's efforts to collect the substantial fines imposed.

Unauthorised road excavation has led to severe road damage and raised concerns about road safety. In response, the PMC has imposed hefty fines on contractors involved in this practice. However, it has now come to light that the PMC has not provided a clear response regarding their actions to recover the fines.

Unauthorised road excavation activities have not only caused inconvenience for the public but also resulted in potholes and road damage in various parts of the city. Roadways such as Sakore Nagar, Somanath Nagar, Datt Mandir Chowk to Khalsa Dairy, Disha Skyline, Nagapal Road, Durga Mata Temple in Kharadi, Phoenix Mall to Shri Krishna Hotel, Mhada Road in Vimannagar, Ganpati Chowk to Nyati Impress, and more have been affected by unauthorised road excavation. However, it has come to light that the municipal corporation has not yet collected even a single rupee in fines related to these cases.

Social worker Ashish Mane from the Vadgaonsheri electoral constituency inquired through the Right to Information (RTI) Act about the amount of fines collected for the road excavation cases and found that not a single rupee had been collected, leading to questions about the municipal corporation's diligence in fine collection.

Unauthorised excavation work often takes place for installing drainage lines, water pipelines, unauthorised cable installation, and improper sewage connections. Citizens have raised concerns about the municipal corporation's inaction in collecting fines and have urged the authorities to take stricter measures to address these issues.

Municipal authorities display promptness in taking action against ordinary citizens, yet glaring potholes mar our city's roads and illicit road excavations persist unchecked. Curiously, the municipality appears to overlook these issues. This revelation comes from a Right to Information request submitted to the Municipality, highlighting the favourable treatment accorded to contractors. In response to this concerning situation, a petition will be submitted to the court next week, Mane said.

PMCs reply The information provided under the Right to Information (RTI) from the municipal corporation reveals that between April 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, notices have been issued for unauthorised and illegal road excavations in the jurisdiction of the Nagar Road Regional Office. It is mentioned that punitive actions have been taken against those responsible. However, specific details about the fines collected for these actions have not been disclosed yet, meaning that there is no information available about the exact amount of fines collected. The responsibility for imposing and collecting fines lies with the relevant authorities in the municipal road department.

Sahebrao Dandge, superintending engineer, PMCs Road Department, said: Unauthorised road excavation activities are subject to strict enforcement by the municipal corporation. Notices for punitive actions are issued in such cases. The information obtained from the Vadgaonsheri electoral constituency, along with various other areas in the city, is being compiled. Accordingly, actions will be taken. Penalty can be recovered from the contractor or concerned person as per law. If he evades paying the fine, the amount is included in his property tax.

Illegal Excavations: Penalty levied

 Sakore Nagar road in Viman Nagar area: Rs 13,16,763

 Illegal digging of footpath in Somnath Nagar: Rs 76,80,960

 Road between Viman Nagar to Shree Krishna Hotel: Rs 28,200

 Sakore Nagar Gali No. 2 Road in Viman Nagar: Rs 2,92,608

 Dutt Mandir Chowk to Khalsa Dairy Road: Rs 25,60,320

 Vimannagar- Disha Skyline Road: Rs 2,56,032

 Nagpal Road, Durga Mata Temple in Kharadi: Rs 14,63,040

 Phoenix Mall to Sri Krishna Hotel: Rs 36,57,600

 Mhada road in Vimannagar: Rs 36,57,600

 Road from Ganapati Chowk to Nyati Impress: Rs 51,20,640
On Saturday, ahead of the National Coming Out Day, an event, named "Radiant Revelations: A Celebration of Love, Identity, and Equality", was orchestrated by Marathwada Mitra Mandal Shankarrao Chavan Law College's Equal Opportunity Cell to promote acceptance and embrace the LGBTQIA+ community. The event was graced by Supreme Court Advocate Anand Grover and India's first openly gay Prince, Manvendra Singh Gohil, to commemorate and advocate for love, individuality, and equal rights.

The discussion highlighted the courage and strength of individuals in revealing their authentic selves. Prince Manvendra, the 39th descendant of Gujarats Gohil dynasty and co-founder of NGO Lakshya Trust, dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community engaged in the discussion and shared the struggles he had endured and the positive transformations that have occurred since he came out. Whereas Adv. Anand Grover, Sr. Lawyer Supreme Court and Legal Activist in Indian Law relating to homosexuality and HIV discussed the legal aspects of LGBTQIA+ issues and shared his own story of serving people living with HIV. He recalled a pivotal moment when Dominic D'Souza, the son of a petitioner, approached him on his deathbed, asking Anand to serve people living with HIV. This promise became his life mission. He emphasised that to fight for justice, one must first serve their own humanity.

In a moving narrative of transformation, Prince Manvendra Singh Goyal of Rajpipla, shared his personal journey of coming out as gay and how his would-be assassin became an unexpected ally, during the discussion. His story serves as a beacon of hope, shedding light on the power of love, education, and the capacity for change within even the most staunchly homophobic individuals. He recounted the nearly three-decade-long process it took for him to accept his true self and how the guidance of his godfather, Ashok, helped him embark on a journey of self-discovery. During this discussion, he revealed the challenges he faced as the crown prince while hiding his identity, including a severe nervous breakdown in 2002. His parents' initial denial led to desperate attempts to change him, even considering electroshock therapy and brain surgery.

During the engaging discussion, audience members also had the opportunity to share their stories of support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Arpita Garekar, a member of the audience, highlighted the challenges faced by her childhood friend who struggled to come out due to fear of acceptance, ultimately expressing a willingness to embrace their true self. Another audience member, Adv. Ishwini, recounted an inspiring tale of two girls she met at a family court who had eloped to marry each other. She provided them with vital legal aid, and today, they are self-sufficient and one of them has even become a political representative. These personal stories showcased the progress being made in fostering acceptance and understanding within society, further emphasizing the importance of allies.

The event commenced with a felicitation of the guest speakers by the event coordinators and college faculty, Followed by the guest speakers' enlightening sessions. Diligent allies, including Damini Sinha, Dr Kanchan Pawar, Sophia Vednesan, Ms

Dhanashree Ghare, Prof. Jyoti Chandiramani, and Ms Shivani Jadhav were felicitated for their substantial contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community. The event also saw the felicitation of researchers who contributed their research papers, compiled in the book titled 'Alternative Sexualities In India: History, Law, and Literature.'
In a recent statement, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar expressed skepticism about his nephew, Ajit Pawar's, ambitions to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar dismissed these aspirations as nothing more than a "dream" and asserted that they would never materialise.

The ongoing turmoil within the NCP, including a notable July revolt led by Ajit Pawar, which resulted in the split of the party and his alignment with the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance government as the third partner, prompted these remarks. Ajit Pawar, currently serving as the Deputy Chief Minister, has been quite vocal about his desire for a promotion to the top post in the state.

Ajit Pawar, at the age of 64, has repeatedly made his intentions clear on various occasions, openly expressing his eagerness to ascend to the position of Chief Minister. He later acknowledged that this goal could only be achieved by securing the necessary support from members of the legislative assembly, acknowledging the importance of the "game of numbers."

Sharad Pawar's recent declaration has dealt a significant blow to his nephew's unbridled ambitions and to those who have fervently supported his candidacy for the role of the future Chief Minister, if not the immediate one. Notably, banners and posters proclaiming Ajit Pawar as the "Future CM" have been visible in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and other locations.

As of now, there has been no response from the Ajit Pawar faction to Sharad Pawar's statement. Both factions of the NCP are currently entangled in a legal dispute and are actively contesting before the Election Commission of India for control of the party, which was founded by Sharad Pawar 25 years ago. The future political landscape in Maharashtra remains uncertain as these internal conflicts continue to unfold.
According to the pornography charges, Daniel N. Carlson, 56, possessed 11 images of child pornography of a victim under the age of 13 on or about Sept. 18. He was also arrested for public indecency in the area of East First Street and North East Street in Kewanee on that same date.
Henry Dinkins has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the kidnapping and murder of Breasia Terrell.

Judge Henry Latham gave the sentence at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday. Dinkins will also have to pay $150,000 in restitution to Aishia Lankford, Breasia's mother. The life sentences are without parole.

Looking back at the verdict

Latham found Dinkins guilty of kidnapping and murdering Breasia Terrell, announcing the verdict Sept. 15 in Scott County court.

Latham said the testimony and evidence given by Breasia Terrell's younger brother  identified as D.L. in the courtroom  was crucial in solving the case and in Latham's verdict.

The judge called the boy's testimony "remarkable." D.L. was 8 years old when Breasia disappeared. He is now 11 and testified in court.

During his testimony, D.L. told the court how he and Breasia spent the night with Dinkins and his girlfriend, Andrea Culberson, in her apartment.

He testified he saw Dinkins leave with Breasia in the early morning of July 10, 2020, and how Dinkins later picked him up and drove him to the Clinton Walmart.

Latham pointed to D.L.'s interviews with police, and how he told investigators about putting the battery back in Dinkins' cellphone while Dinkins was in the Walmart. That action allowed investigators to track Dinkins' movements.

Latham said he found the testimony of every single state witness credible  except for D.L.'s testimony about seeing Dinkins shoot Breasia.

The trial lasted 14 days, included 47 witnesses and roughly 70 hours of testimony and concluded Aug 29.

History of the case

In the early morning of July 10, 2020, Breasia was taken from an apartment No. 8 at the Jersey Ridge complex in Davenport. She was reported missing just before 8:30 a.m. that day.

Over the course of days, weeks and months, law enforcement officers from Davenport, Scott County, Clinton County, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched for the 10-year-old girl.

Countless volunteers  private citizens from both sides of the Mississippi River  walked through fields and ditches and woods, hoping to find some sign of Breasia.

From the day she disappeared, the Davenport Police Department considered Dinkins "a person of interest" in the case.

Three fishermen found Breasia's remains on March 22, 2021, near a small, tree-shrouded pond behind Kunau Implement, an isolated area roughly two miles north of DeWitt.

Dinkins was charged with her murder in early May, 2021.

Dinkins was granted a change of venue, moving the trial to the Cedar Rapids Courthouse in Linn County. As jury selection started on Aug. 8, Dinkins asked for a bench trial. The trial was moved back to Scott County.
Aishia Lankford told her experience of being the mother of a murdered child.

"Closure doesn't exist in this case. Justice doesn't exist in this case," she said Wednesday as she read from her victim's statement during the sentencing of Henry Earl Dinkins for the killing of Breasia Terrell.

"You took away everything."

Dinkins was found guilty of the 2020 kidnapping and murder of 10-year-old Breasia by Judge Henry Latham on Sept. 15.

Latham sentenced Dinkins to two consecutive life sentences without parole Wednesday, the harshest possible option for the charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham asked for the consecutive sentences based on the horrific nature of the crime and Dinkins' past adult record of criminal behavior. Defense attorney Chad Frese asked for the life sentences to run concurrently, which means Dinkins would have served both sentences at the same time.

Dinkins will also have to pay $150,000 in restitution to Lankford, Breasia's mother.

Lankford started her statement by thanking the judge, prosecutors and law enforcement for the work of convicting Dinkins. Later in the statement she asked Dinkins a number of questions, which included:

"Was (Breasia) scared? ... Did she ask for me? ... Did she know those gunshots were coming? ... Did she beg you to stop? ... What were her last words? ... Did you watch my baby die?"

Lankford went on to say that after Breasia disappeared on July 10, 2020, she "doubted" herself as a mother "day in and day out" questioning what she could have done.

"I was truly broken the day I got the call saying that they had found my daughter," Lankford told Dinkins and those gathered in the courtroom.

Dinkins is the father of Lankford's youngest child, a son referred to as D.L. in the courtroom. Breasia went to visit Dinkins with D.L. the night she disappeared.

"I've watched my youngest baby (D.L.) become unrecognizable," Lankford said.

D.L.'s testimony placed Dinkins in Clinton and areas near DeWitt during the early morning hours of June 10, 2020. Those were near where Breasia was found on March 22, 2021. Latham credited D.L.'s testimony as key in proving Dinkins' guilt.

Dinkins speaks

Before Lankford read her victim's impact statement, Dinkins read from a multi-page letter.

During that statement, Dinkins said he was "railroaded" from the time he was taken into custody and questioned. He said the police and investigators looked solely at him and his past criminal record.

Dinkins also pointed out there was "nonstop negative media coverage" of his case and because of that coverage, he "could not choose a jury trial ... there was no way to be fair."

Dinkins said he wanted to represent himself in the case and that he "went through three different attorneys." He said Frese and attorney Joel Waters "did their best" with his case, but they "overlooked some things in my case."

Later in the statement he said he was "bamboozled" and "the judge wanted this verdict" and he "never had a chance to win from the beginning."

Dinkins also addressed D.L., saying: "My dearest son, I love you with all my heart. ... I know you're mad. ... I love you more than all the lies."

In defense of Dinkins

Frese said he and Waters "absolutely" planned to appeal the verdict.

"A motion will be filed within a week," Frese said after saying the defense team respected Latham's verdict and sentence, though they disagreed with some of the findings.

Frese did confirm it was Dinkins' decision to ask for a bench trial in Scott County, even though Dinkins previously had won a change of venue to the Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids.

"It was Henry's decision and Henry's alone," Frese said. "He did consult with us before he made that decision."

Keys to the prosecution

Cunningham said the testimonies of D.L. and Dinkins' girlfriend, Andrea Culberson, were the keys to establishing Dinkins' guilt.

"Andrea Culberson put Henry Dinkins as the last person seen with the child, and she described his behavior in the apartment while Breasia stood outside the car Henry Dinkins was driving," Cunningham said.

The prosecutor also explained how D.L. allowed her team to build a timeline.

"We knew there was brief cellphone activity on Henry Dinkins' cellphone in Clinton that morning," she said. "What D.L. told the investigators helped us put Henry Dinkins in Clinton, in the Walmart, buying bleach the morning of Breasia's disappearance."

Cunningham said that testimony was crucial in establishing the fact Dinkins wasn't looking for Breasia that morning.

Cunningham agreed with Frese that the consecutive sentences were "largely symbolic."

"But symbols can be important," she said. "We want to sent a clear message to the community that the sex abuse of a child will not be tolerated. We are sending a message that these crimes will meet the maximum sentences."

A look back at the verdict

Latham found Henry Earl Dinkins guilty of kidnapping and murdering Breasia Terrell, announcing the verdict Sept. 15 in Scott County court.

Latham said the testimony and evidence given by Breasia Terrell's younger brother  identified as D.L. in the courtroom  was crucial in solving the case and his decision

The judge called the boy's testimony "remarkable." D.L. was 8 years old when Breasia disappeared. He is 11 and testified in court.

During his testimony, D.L. told the court how he and Breasia spent the night with Dinkins and his girlfriend, Culberson, in her apartment.

He testified he saw Dinkins leave with Breasia in the early morning of July 10, 2020, and how Dinkins later picked him up and drove him to the Clinton Walmart.

Latham pointed to D.L.'s interviews with police, and how he told investigators about putting the battery back in Dinkins' cellphone while Dinkins was in the Walmart. That action allowed investigators to track Dinkins' movements.

Latham said he found the testimony of every single state witness credible  except for D.L.'s testimony about seeing Dinkins shoot Breasia.

The trial lasted 14 days, included 47 witnesses and roughly 70 hours of testimony, and concluded Aug 29.

History of the case

In the early morning of July 10, 2020, Breasia was taken from an apartment at the Jersey Ridge complex in Davenport. She was reported missing just before 8:30 a.m. that day.

Over the course of days, weeks and months, law enforcement officers from Davenport, Scott County, Clinton County, the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched for the 10-year-old girl.

Countless volunteers  private citizens from both sides of the Mississippi River  walked through fields and ditches and woods, hoping to find some sign of Breasia.

From the day she disappeared, the Davenport Police Department considered Dinkins "a person of interest" in the case.

Three fishermen found Breasia's remains on March 22, 2021, near a small, tree-shrouded pond behind Kunau Implement, an isolated area roughly 2 miles north of DeWitt.

Dinkins was charged with her murder in early May 2021.
The second of five men involved in a Quad-City fentanyl distribution ring has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy that led to his 18-month-old child overdosing on the opioid.

Kathan Daniel Wiley, 23, of Davenport, received his sentence during a hearing Wednesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, before U.S. District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger.

Ebinger ordered Wiley to serve five years on supervised release once his prison sentence is complete.

There is no parole in the federal system.

As outlined in a search warrant, the case began Oct. 30, 2021, when at 3:51 p.m. officers were sent to Genesis Medical Center-East Campus, Davenport in reference to a 1-year-old child who had ingested unknown pills.

Wileys child had ingested pills that were thought to be laced with fentanyl and had to receive multiple doses of the anti-opioid naloxone to be revived.

The investigation led to federal authorities charging five men, including Wiley, in a fentanyl and ecstasy distribution ring.

Wiley was arrested June 13, 2022.

On April 5, 2023, a federal jury found Wiley guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance-fentanyl, and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl) resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to U.S. District Court documents, the child had ingested fentanyl that was in blue pills stamped with M and 30. The pills were meant to resemble Oxycodone tablets.

The other men involved in the case are:

Linder Kai Divos, 27, also known as Lindo pleaded guilty Sept. 30, 2022, to one count each of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance-fentanyl, and felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to Feb. 21, 2023, to 14  years in prison. Divos currently is serving his sentence in the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City according to electronic records of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Jordan Thomas Hopper, 25, of Davenport, pleaded guilty Feb. 28, 2023, to one count of distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl) resulting in death relating to a June 2021 overdose death in Davenport. He also pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl) resulting in serious bodily injury relating to an overdose in April 2021 that occurred in Bettendorf, and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl). He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 28.

Austen Michael Thomas, 26, of Davenport, pleaded guilty March 7, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl) and felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 29.

Marshall Matthew James Carver, 26, of Davenport, pleaded guilty Feb. 4, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl) and distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl) resulting in serious bodily injury relating to an overdose in Bettendorf that occurred in April, 2021. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 23, 2024.

The Davenport Police Department investigated the cases.
A Milan man accused of bludgeoning a woman to death in 2021 awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to a first-degree murder charge.

On Sept. 18, 2021, the Rock Island County States Attorneys Office accused Ward F. Davis, now 42, of bludgeoning Julie Bowser Shell with a blunt instrument the day before, according to court documents. The attack left Shell with extensive brain injuries.

Prosecutors initially charged Davis with aggravated battery, but Bowser later died from her injuries and the states attorneys office added charges of first-degree murder and attempted arson, records state. The arson charge accused Davis of setting a fire in an occupied Milan apartment building on the day of the attack on Shell.

Bowser was 54 when she died, according to previous reporting.

On Tuesday, Davis pleaded guilty to the murder charge after negotiations with prosecutors, court records state. Concessions in the agreement included the states attorneys office dropping the aggravated battery and arson charges.

After his plea, the court set Davis sentencing for Dec. 11, court records state. Judge Peter Church ordered a presentence investigation.

Such investigations gather information about defendants backgrounds, and judges use the resulting reports to help them determine appropriate sentences.

Davis remained in custody Wednesday, according to the Rock Island County Jail website.

What to plant in fall for a thriving ornamental winter garden 1. Winterberry Holly 2. Hellebores 3. Winter Aconite 4. Camellia 5. Japanese Sky Pencil Holly
A Chicago man is accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old Park View girl in April of 2021, according to the Scott County Sheriffs Department.

Joseph Barner, 51, formerly of Park View and now of Chicago, is charged with one count of third-degree sexual abuse. The charge is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Scott County Sheriffs Deputy Anthony Johnson, at 4:30 p.m. April 10, 2021, deputies responded to an apartment building on Manor Drive in Park View to investigate a disturbance.

Upon arrival a woman told deputies that she was Barners girlfriend and that while she was going through his phone that morning, she discovered a video of her 13-year-old daughter engaged in a sex act with Barner. Barner recorded the act on his phone.

When the woman confronted Barner, he took the phone from her and fled from the second-story balcony of the apartment.

Barner contacted Deputy Johnson on May 3, 2021, and promised to appear for an interview on May 7, 2021. However, Barner never appeared and never responded to Johnsons attempts to contact him.

During a first appearance on the charge Thursday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Catherine Cartee scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for Oct. 20.

Barner was being held Thursday night in the Scott County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
The White House, in collaboration with two of the country's main consumer-protection agencies, will unveil new steps to reign in tens of billions of dollars worth of surcharges attached to products and services, also known as the "junk fees."

Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) Lael Brainard said in a statement with reporters, "Those sneaky fees might not matter a lot to the wealthiest Americans, but they sure do matter for hardworking Americans sitting around the kitchen table trying to stay on top of their bills and have a little left over."

'Junk Fees' Ban

There are new policy ideas from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that will outlaw junk fees in specific industries, as reported by CNBC. These will be announced on Wednesday, October 11, by President Joe Biden, FTC Chair Lina Khan, and CFPB Director Rohit Chopra.

According to a press release, the FTC is proposing new rules that would require firms to disclose the amount and rationale behind surcharges up front, possibly saving customers over $10 billion over the next decade. The regulation allows the commission to collect consumer reimbursements in the event of a mandate violation.

Khan told reporters on Tuesday, October 10, that the regulation would do more than simply put money back in people's wallets as it will also bring justice to American families and fairness to the markets.

Meanwhile, CFPB enforcement efforts focus on customers' rights under federal legislation passed in 2010 to provide them with comprehensive, accurate, and free account information upon request.

Chopra explained, "When people request basic information about their accounts, big banks cannot charge them massive fees or trap them in endless customer service loops. Charging a competitive price for a legitimate service makes sense, but charging junk fees for basic customer responsiveness doesn't."

See Also: US Casino Industry Brings About $329 Billion in Revenue Yearly, Survey Says

Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Regions Bank have all been hit with penalties by the CFPB in recent years due to excessive overdraft fees and overcharges. The bureau plans to submit a proposal later this month to oblige financial institutions to make it simple for clients to transfer their banking transaction data to competitors in an effort to break up the monopoly of large banks.

Biden's 2022 executive order on strengthening competition in the economy is the starting point for the administration's sweeping plan to enhance rivalry across businesses. Fresh guidance will be published by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on Wednesday to assist federal agencies in establishing the new standard in collaboration with the NEC and the Council of Economic Advisers.

In the last several months, the FTC and the CFPB have taken the first steps in cracking down on junk fees. The CFPB proposed new rules on credit card overcharges earlier this year, while the FTC started investigating potentially misleading pricing on tickets and other services in late 2022.

See Also: Bank of America Ordered To Pay $250 Million, Issue Customer Refunds; Here's Who Will Be Eligible!

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Update: The Rock Island County Health Department said Friday all Pfizer and Moderna appointments had been filled. Other providers can be found at vaccines.gov.

The Rock Island County Health Department announced in a news release Wednesday that it has a 100-dose supply of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 12 and older.

Appointments to receive the vaccine can be made for the next three Tuesdays, Oct. 17, Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. Appointments are expected to fill up quickly.

To make an appointment call 309-794-7080.

Those who make an appointment are asked to bring their COVID-19 vaccination and insurance cards.

The vaccine will be given at the Rock Island County Health Department, 2112 25th Ave., Rock Island.

Walk-in clinics have been suspended due to the limited supply of the vaccine.

We understand that our clients have a loyalty to the manufacturer of their first dose, which is why we ordered both Pfizer and Moderna, said Janet Hill, the interim Rock Island County Health Department administrator.

According to the news release, federal health officials recommend that people take the first vaccine that is available to them because the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna are interchangeable.

There are Pfizer vaccines available on Fridays, according to the health department.

If the Moderna appointments fill up, Hill said people should consider making a Friday appointment to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Our number one goal is to get you protected from the worst of COVID before we get too far into the respiratory illness season, Hill said.

COVID vaccines are no longer given at no cost to the consumer. The health department will bill a persons health insurance. It is the patients responsibility to determine coverage with their health insurance company, with the health department as an authorized site.

Medicare Part B and Illinois Medicaid will pay the cost of the COVID vaccine.

It is expected that insurance patients will have no out-of-pocket costs, but individual policies may vary.
South Dakota's Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into a police shooting in Dell Rapids, according to Attorney General Marty Jackley.

In a press release issued Thursday, the AG's office said the South Dakota Highway Patrol had requested the agency's help in investigating the shooting, which occurred Wednesday.

One person was injured in the shooting, according to the release. The Highway Patrol trooper involved was not injured. No other information about the shooting, state of the injured person, or alleged crimes committed were released.

Attorney General Jackley said DCI is working with local and state law enforcement on the investigation, and the Highway Patrol is cooperating.

"The DCI will process the crime scene, conduct a forensic examination of all collected evidence, interview officers and witnesses, and will review all video cameras from the area," the attorney general's office said.

After the investigation is complete, DCI will issue a shooting summary.
This is the first in a four-part series by South Dakota News Watch about the political journey and Republican Party challenges faced by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson.

Johnsons political pedigree took shape in Pierre

It makes sense to portray Dusty Johnson as a born politician.

He grew up in Pierre with a family legacy of lobbying and lawmaking and pushing the right buttons to make your voice heard. He immersed himself in the South Dakota Teenage Republicans the way some youth embrace the Boy Scouts, to avoid being lost in the wild.

His grandfather was Bill Johnson, a former broadcaster who turned to Republican politics in the 1960s and became an influential state lobbyist. Bills wife, Joan, was also active in the GOP ranks, attending several national conventions as a delegate, serving as party treasurer and working as an administrative clerk in the South Dakota Senate for nearly three decades.

Dusty spent a few afternoons with his grandmother roaming the halls of the state Capitol, across the street from his middle school. On Sundays, when his family attended church at Lutheran Memorial, it was not uncommon to see three or four state Supreme Court justices in nearby pews, solemnly absorbing the sermon.

But the narrative of an idyllic upbringing surrounded by constructive influences is not entirely whole, as Johnson acknowledges.

There were rough patches that helped mold his political temperament. His parents, Kevin and Jacque, struggled at times to provide for five children during what Dusty, the oldest, describes as a hardscrabble existence.

He started working at 14, washing cars at Capital Motors and manning the snack bar at Lariat Lanes bowling alley to be able to afford daily essentials such as socks and deodorant.

Its very easy to see that government exists when living in a state capital, said Johnson, who was born in 1976, the year Democratic upstart Jimmy Carter won the White House in the wake of the Watergate scandal.

Because of growing up poor, I was aware that there were safety-net programs out there. When I walked to the convenience store to get groceries for my family, it was not unusual to have to pay with food stamps. So Ive always been fascinated about the question of what is the right role of government in peoples lives.

Kevin worked as a hotel clerk and groundskeeper and Jacque is a social worker with the South Dakota Department of Social Services.

They started out as Republicans from conservative families and gradually became more liberal, finding daylight between their own beliefs and those that became keystones of their sons political career.

When you work in social services, you develop a different idea of how things should go, said Jacque, who went from Teenage Republican as a high schooler to precinct captain for the South Dakota Democratic Party in Fort Pierre.

We avoid discussing those matters (with Dusty) because its not worth fighting about. He knows that some of our core beliefs are different and were going to stand by them. But we also believe in getting along.

Janklows leadership noticed in Johnson household

Johnson and his parents found common ground in their admiration for Bill Janklow, whose first stint as governor from 1979 to 1987 encompassed much of Johnsons childhood.

They saw him as an effective leader who put public concerns ahead of his own, understood policy matters and worked to solve problems without regard to partisan interests. His ability to unite a politically fractured family was something that young Dusty took to heart.

Another source of agreement was that education was paramount.

Kevin and Jacque, neither of whom are college graduates, wanted to put their kids on a different path. That especially pertained to Dusty, the oldest, who entered a gifted program in elementary school. When the program was threatened by state budget shifts in 1988, when Dusty was 11, Jacque showed up at an Education Committee hearing at the Capitol with her son to testify against the change.

I did a lousy job, she told News Watch when asked of that day. My voice quavered, and I shook, but I tried to make my points. Unbeknownst to me, Dusty had signed up while I was testifying, and he got up and testified in front of the committee and did a remarkable job.

Teenage Republicans served as political proving ground

Johnson landed his first job at 14 and started a business at 16, buying out a local hobby-store owner for $4,000. It was a place for kids to play Dungeons and Dragons and other role-playing games.

He also wrote for the Riggs High School newspaper and ran track as a quarter-miler, convinced that going out and running until you puke teaches you plenty of lessons.

Dustys lean toward politics was encouraged by Alice Kundert, a former state auditor and secretary of state who served as adviser to South Dakota Teenage Republicans, a group that gathered in the Black Hills each summer for a camp to identify and inspire future leaders.

Dustys role as chairman of Teenage Republicans earned him a seat on the state GOPs executive committee, a position he didnt take lightly. Joel Rosenthal, the Republican Party chairman who became one of Johnsons closest advisers, saw that they werent dealing with an average teen.

He interacted well with adults, had a perspective of the party, and made contributions to our efforts and discussions, said Rosenthal. He was easily distinguishable from Teenage Republican representatives that had previously served on our board.

Head-to-head with Janklow over scholarship funds

Johnson had earned an all-expenses-paid Mickelson Scholarship to study political science at the University of South Dakota starting in 1995, fulfilling his parents vision in the only way the family could afford.

It was Janklow, revered for years in the Johnson household, who nearly stood in the way.

Budget cuts were looming, and the governor proposed cutting the Mickelson Scholarship grants, which were draining funds from an economic development program.

Johnson and a classmate skipped school and headed to the Capitol on a February morning to testify to legislators, a familiar trip for Dusty with an added sense of urgency.

When you believe you have a full ride to the University of South Dakota, you dont go hunting for other scholarships, Johnson told the Senate Education Committee. If I have a full ride, why go out and find another $10,000 that maybe somebody else could use?

The high school senior later headed to Janklows office and requested a private meeting, exhibiting a blend of self-assuredness and naivete at which he still marvels.

I mean, I know now that governors and congressmen are booked every 15 minutes for 12 hours a day and you dont just get to parachute into their calendar, Johnson said. But I waited and I waited, and we ended up squaring off for a bit. Hes quick on his feet and sometimes I can be, and we went round and round on the issue.

In the end, the scholarship program was cut but that years recipients were allowed to keep their grants, meaning Johnson would head to Vermillion with the understanding that politics are about negotiations and small triumphs, and tenacity is a handy tool.

This article was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit journalism organization located online at sdnewswatch.org.
The Synagogue of the Hills in Rapid City is directly feeling the impact of Saturdays Hamas attack in Israel. Aaron Benn, the son of synagogue president Dr. Steven Benn and his wife, Jo, was called to active duty with the Israel Defense Forces. Aaron is currently on the front lines of combat.

The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, is the national military of the State of Israel. Aaron, a 2009 graduate of Rapid City Stevens High School, moved to Israel after graduation and has lived there for the past 14 years. He has dual United States and Israeli citizenship, Steven Benn said.

For now, Aaron is able to communicate with his parents and siblings through an app on his phone, though the Benns said for security reasons, theyre unsure how much longer Aaron will be able to remain in contact with them.

On Friday night, Aaron started sending us messages. He said there are sirens and there havent been sirens recently. There are more sirens and more sirens, Jo said. I searched for what was going on and realized something really extraordinary was going on. The next day he packed his bag and he got called [for duty].

Aaron reported for duty on Saturday.

By Saturday night, they were already loading the tanks onto flat beds and by Sunday morning, he was at their destination somewhere along the Israel-Gaza border, Steven said. On Monday, they were sent out to hunt down insurgents, which is what his company was doing, and he reported that they completed their mission.

On Tuesday, Aaron told his parents his unit was going to back off from the front lines to repair tanks and rest, and on Thursday theyll be back on the front lines, Jo said.

Steven said theres a general sense there will probably be a ground campaign followed by more active combat, and at that point Aaron will likely no longer be able to communicate with his parents.

Were obviously all glued to the news, Steven said.

The Benns are keenly aware of the attacks in Israel. Steven has an app on his phone that beeps every time a rocket launches into Israel.

Ive had this app for years, and now [the beeping] is almost constant, Steven said.

Being parents of a soldier fighting in a war is an unfamiliar role for them, Jo said. The Benns have two sons and two daughters. Their daughters, Sarah and Rebekah, and son Joshua live in the United States, and those three have not served in the military.

Its unique for us. Were not a military family. There are military families here who Im sure understand the emotions were going through, but its new to us, Jo said.

The Benns have lived in Rapid City for 28 years. Steven is a retired neonatologist who practiced at what was then the Rapid City Regional Hospital. Jo is retired from teaching French language at St. Thomas More.

The Benns are grateful for the supportive calls and emails theyve received from members of The Synagogue of the Hills and from friends, acquaintances and former colleagues throughout the community.

As the president of the synagogue and as a fatherIve been keeping people updated with regard to Aaron and what hes doing and where he is to the best that we can, Steven said. Our rabbi will be here on Friday. There will be ample opportunity to talk about what has been going on.

In general, the congregation has been very supportive. Its not just happening to people in Israel. Its not just happening to us because our son is there. All of our members feel like its happening to them, Jo said.

Over the arc of history, the Jewish people have been the targets of many acts of violence, and while we as a family of Jews have our differences like any family has, when it comes to general threats to us as a whole, we band together and we act as a family. An attack on one is an attack on all, Steven said.

Aaron chose a very different path from his siblings. Aaron knew he wanted to live in Israel and, while in high school, he spent a semester in Israel through a program sponsored by Union for Reformed Judaism. After graduating from Central High School, he moved to the city of Yavne where hes lived since.

Aaron spent three years of active military service in the IDF after moving to Israel. Steven and Jo said all Israeli children have a military obligation when they graduate from high school, and although Aaron had already graduated in the United States, he felt a responsibility to serve in the military. Additionally, it was required for Israeli citizenship.

Aaron went into the armored division and became a tank commander, Steven said. His training as a tank commander makes it possible he can fulfill any one of the various jobs required [in the current conflict].

Aaron has been in the IDF reserves since completing his three years of active service. Though Aaron has periodically been called for reserve duty, this is only the second time he has been called to active duty. Aaron is an audiologist and speech pathologist who is working toward completing his masters degree. He is married and he and his wife, Patricia, have a three-year-old daughter and a four-month-old daughter.

They were very taken aback by the whole [attack] when it started, and Patricia did not want Aaron to leave, but shes supportive, Jo said. Shes Israeli and they have grit.

Steven is hoping to be in Israel soon to provide medical care. As of midday Wednesday, ABC News reported about 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, more than 1,000 have died in retaliatory air strikes on Gaza, and thousands more have been injured since Saturday.

The nation of Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey. Its small physical size means from the time a rocket is detected to the time it impacts, people dont have much time to seek shelter, Steven said.

Ive been trying to make my way to Israel and be able to serve as a physician. As we speak, flights into Israel are few and far between and then trying to navigate the bureaucracy to match the credentials of foreign physicians  thats a work in progress, Steven said.

My sons in-laws are in Ashkelon, which is only 20 kilometers from Gaza, which has been targeted repeatedly by rocket attacks. Theres a major hospital there Im trying to get to, he said.

The Benns said the Rapid City community can help by making donations to the American Friends of Magen David Adom, which is the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross. Go to afmda.org to make a donation and for more information about Magen David Adoms work.

The Benns also encourage the community and churches to keep talking about the attacks on Israel to maintain awareness of whats happening, and to keep the State of Israel, the military and civilians affected by the conflict in their prayers.

The attack in Israel occurred on the holiday Simchat Torah, which is the final in the series of Jewish holidays. Simchat Torah celebrates the completion of reading through the Torah and beginning a new cycle, Steven and Jo said, and its traditionally a joyous event.

Its really the civilians that are paying the heavy price, Steven said. Theyre just the victims. Theyre caught in the crossfire of combatants, just like civilians since time immemorial. The innocent civilians are not carrying weapons. Theyre not the fighting units. Theyre just in the wrong place at the wrong time  and thats occurring on both sides of the border.

The other side of the border

A phones buzz and a solemn hello connected Hani Shafai with his family 6,500 miles away in Gaza.

How are you, Hani? said Hazem, Shafais brother and a South Dakota Mines graduate, his weary voice crackling to life over speakerphone.

Good. Hows things? Shafai replied.

The same.

Hazem and his three young children, along with much of Shafais family, are among the civilians caught in the crossfire between Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Hazem and his children live in Boston and were visiting when the attacks started. It's the children's first time in Gaza.

Theres less [bombing] than yesterday, Hazem relayed. You never know. They stop over here, they start somewhere else, they come backits not safe to be outside.

Shafai, who lives in Rapid City and founded the major corporation Dream Design International, grew up in Beit Lahia, a northern village less than two miles from the Gaza-Israel border. Beit Lahia was a small village during Shafais youth  no cars, no running water, no phone  but in the 40 years since, as refugees from the nearby Jabalia Refugee Camp began to settle, Beit Lahia boomed to more than 120,000 people.

Much of his family remains there, raising sheep and goats and growing strawberries and tomatoes under the sharp shadow of the border fence.

On Saturday, as armed militants from Hamas began their incursion into Israeli territory, Shafais family fled to Gaza City, leaving their farms behind.

There is no safe place, because [the bombings] are random, Shafai said. But its a lot safer than being close to the borders.

As bombings continued in Gaza, civilians like Shafais family have found little safety among the destruction.

Days ago, Hazem was in line to buy bread when the building across the street was hit. The same happened again to others yesterday, rockets falling not even 30 seconds after they left the storefront, reducing half the building to rubble.

The family moves from one neighborhood to the next in search of safety, passing through the debris as they go. Israels total siege of Gaza has cut off power, food and water supply lines, leaving Shafais family questioning how long food will be available.

When Shafai asked about the university, Hazems response was stark.

What university? What university? Hazem said, much to Shafai's dismay. Theres nothing left, not even a single inch.

Conflict in the region is nothing new to Shafai, who was there in May when Israel carried out a barrage of air strikes on Gaza in response to rocket attacks.

[The political parties] have to listen to the people of Israel and the people of Gaza. The majority of them, all they want is to provide a good life for their children and live in peace.

Peace has long been on Shafai's mind.

He submitted a proposal for Middle East peace during the Obama Administration, putting his engineering degrees and institutional knowledge to use. The plan was to trade land with Israel, allowing Palestinians to disperse from overly crowded Gaza (two million people living in an area half the size of New York City), and build waterways that would allow for the generation of hydroelectric power, the irrigation of fertile farmland and the introduction of petrochemical refining  industry that would provide jobs for Egyptians, Israelis and Palestinians alike.

"You're creating a lot of jobs, and that's what it is all about," Shafai explained. "It's actually improving the quality of life  it doesn't matter whose life you're improving."

The current system, he said, isn't sustainable. The displacement of Palestinians following the creation of Israel in 1948 was upsetting, Shafai said, and a sense of disparity and inequality festered over the decades, leading to an environment where radicalization grew. The peace treaty with Israel in 1993 didn't lead to lasting peace, but left the lack of opportunity in Gaza to serve as a catalyst for future radicalization by Hamas, according to Shafai.

The imbalance of democracy on the Palestinian side creates friction between people and their government, Shafai said. The imposition of military law on Palestinians creates friction, both in politics and economics, where some border control policies affect farmers like the Shafais.

"There is no real reason for any of that to exist if the peace process continued," he said. "If it went according to plan, I think most of these issues would not exist, because there is no reason for any security concern if there is peace."

The lack of opportunity in Gaza is striking. Many young people leave, like Shafai's niece, who took her young children to Turkey before the attacks. They're living in parks and shelters, waiting for the chance to travel to Greece and into Europe in search of better opportunity, he said.

Wiping out Hamas without resolving the issues that existed prior could just pave the way for another radical group, Shafai said.

Shafai was supposed to be in Gaza this weekend for a family gathering, including a reunion with a cousin he hasnt seen in 20 years. Hazem and his family will continue to huddle inside, glued to a radio for any news of the outside world  holding their passports close in case of any encounter with soldiers and waiting for a ceasefire so they can return to the U.S.

Shafai's father will continue to try and check on the farm every morning, turning on the well and feeding the animals, trying to keep things going as best as possible.

There's always an avenue for peace, Shafai said. Compromise is not a crime. Compromise is understanding that everybody has a right to a decent life, no matter who they are. It doesnt matter what religion or background or what have you, as long as they respect the law and respect the rights of others to exist.
Former Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor charges of official misconduct as part of a plea agreement on Tuesday, Oct. 10 in Ravalli County District Court.

Judge Jennifer Lint sentenced Dewey to an 18 month sentence  6 months on each charge  with all but 14 days suspended, as detailed in the agreement, and ordered him to pay $28,196 in restitution. As part of the plea agreement, Dewey is barred from holding public office and waives his right to appeal or otherwise challenge the conviction. Dewey was initially charged with three felony charges of theft by embezzlement and three misdemeanor counts of official misconduct in July of 2022.

Dewey was accused of using town funds to pay for his personal legal fees by trying to bypass the town's usual claim process, allocating himself retroactive pay not authorized by the Town Council, and improperly giving some employees severance pay.

The first charge stems from legal fees related to a March 2020 recall petition against Dewey, filed by a Stevensville citizen with the Ravalli County election administrator. Dewey filed a civil suit against the citizen and the election administrator in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the recall, which his tenure as mayor ultimately survived. Between mid-November and the end of December 2021, five town employees resigned their positions following the failed November recall.

An investigation found that Dewey was billed $12,020.20 from the law firm Boone Karlberg, P.C. for representation in the legal matter. According to court documents Dewey submitted a $12,020.20 bill from Boone Karlberg, P.C. in December 2020 as part of out of cycle expenses to be retroactively approved by the Town Council at its next meeting. The out of cycle process was regularly utilized during the months of November and December to avoid delayed payment of the towns expenses during the holiday season. After questions were raised about the payment by the towns finance officer, Robert Underwood, Dewey later paid a personal check to the Town of Stevensville to cover the amount.

The second charge resulted from a three-month period in which Dewey served as interim finance officer and town clerk in addition to his duties as mayor of Stevensville, following the resignation of several town staff. According to court documents Dewey paid himself for 210 hours of extra pay, including 180 hours of retroactive pay that was not approved by the Town Council, as well as paying himself duplicate for the month of August.

The third charge involved severance payouts made by Dewey to five employees who resigned their positions. Total gross severance pay issued to the five employees was $16,925, with the total cost to the town being $19,863, according to court documents. An investigation determined that historically the town regularly paid employees who left their position a payout of their accrued vacation, sick and compensatory time. However, the town had never provided any prior employee with severance pay. The five employees acknowledge having received the severance payout.
A hulking eight-story mixed-use building on West Broad Street has sat underutilized for a decade. Its owners want to breathe new life into it, but city leaders have been hesitant to approve the proposal.

Known as the 3600 Centre, the building is at 3600 W. Broad St. in Scotts Addition, at the corner of Broad and Interstate 195.

It went up in 1955 as an office building. A decade ago, it was transformed into a mix of office, retail and residential. A Crunch Fitness gym occupies half the ground floor.

Now the owner, an LLC connected to Philadelphia-based PMC Property Group, wants to convert the first floors other half into residences. But city leaders are hesitant to let go of retail space in the citys most up-and-coming neighborhood.

Its kind of schizophrenic, Rebecca Rowe, a member of the planning commission, said of the building. It doesnt know what it is. If you are driving by you dont know what it is, either.

When it was built, the large gray structure was home to a railroad company called Seaboard Air Line Railroad, which eventually became CSX Transportation. The building, when viewed from the northeast, resembles a ship, said Jeff Geiger, a lawyer for Hirschler Fleischer who represents the owner.

In 2011, PMC Property Group bought it and remodeled the inside. The city has assessed the 6-acre plot for $36 million.

The first floor is marked for commercial use, and the seven floors above are mostly residential. The building is home to a number of employees who work in Scotts Addition, Geiger said.

Most businesses there have left since the pandemic. As the floors opened, PMC converted those spaces into residences. The last business above ground, law firm Emroch & Kilduff, still has an office at the top of the building.

Crunch Fitness moved in around 2013, occupying the east half of the ground floor. But the rest of the floor has been empty for a decade, Geiger said.

Its not for lack of trying, he added. Cushman & Wakefield  Thalhimer, the buildings property manager, has tried to find office and retail tenants for years but cant convince businesses to take a spot that cant be seen from the highway, doesnt have parking abutting the building and features low ceilings and an old look

Instead, PMC has petitioned the city for a special-use permit to place up to 18 residences there.

Kevin Vonk, planning director for Richmond, said the city generally should allow buildings to be flexible so they can flip from residential to commercial and back as the market shifts. That helps keep neighborhoods active.

But members of the commission worried that during the time it takes to flip a building, it sits empty. The commission also worried about dropping apartments into a business-looking setting.

Dan Rothschild, executive vice president of PMC, said the company would put up screenings or vegetation to separate the apartments from the street and sidewalk, giving them a little more privacy from the street.

With an offer to modify the proposal in place to include those barriers, the planning commission recommended approval. City council will address the proposal next month.

Much of the new construction in Scotts Addition features retail on the first floor and residential above. Thats what Elizabeth Greenfield, a member of the planning commission, would like to see at the 3600 Centre. But most important, she said, is that the building not sit vacant.
Officers were called to the 2400 block of Ford Avenue at about 7:39 a.m. The man had an apparent gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
A February trial date has been set for Amari Pollard, the 20-year-old charged with shooting Huguenot High School student Shawn Jackson outside of his high school graduation in Richmond on June 6.

Pollards trial will begin on Feb. 26 and could run as long as five days.

Pollards lawyer, Jason Anthony, has said his client was exercising his right to self-defense, in part to protect family members, including his grandmother, who were at the event. Anthony said police and media frenzy after the shooting mischaracterized his client.

This wasnt Columbine, said Anthony, referring to the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Technically, the event qualifies as a mass shooting. Two people were killed  Jackson, 18, and his stepfather, Renzo Smith, 36  and five others were injured by gunfire. They have since recovered, police said.

Pollard, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, has only been charged with killing Jackson. The decision leaves questions as to who prosecutors may yet charge for the killing of Smith and the assaults on bystanders.

Pollard is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony. The murder charge was upgraded from second-degree in July.

The shooting in Monroe Park occurred after Huguenot Highs graduation ceremony at the nearby Altria Theater.

In the wake of the shooting, Jacksons aunt said she believed other shooters were involved, although no other arrests have been made by Richmond police.

Police have said little about how the confrontation initiated, just that Pollard and Jackson had an ongoing dispute. Anthony has said Jackson was the one to initiate the confrontation outside the theater.

Jackson was on a homebound study program that prevented him from attending school in-person and required he complete coursework online. An exception was made for his graduation by Richmond Public Schools.
Henrico County residents on Tuesday night called on the county to do more to fight climate change while local officials pointed to past accomplishments and projects that were in the pipeline.

Three local organizations comprising around 30 environmental advocates used the boards public comment window at a Board of Supervisors meeting to ask for a clear climate plan, akin to the net zero goals established by the Virginia legislature in 2020 and adopted by Richmond City this summer.

The groups also presented a petition to create an office of sustainability.

The request comes as scientists say global emissions need to reach net zero by 2050 or there will be irreversible effects.

Leaders must set the standard, said Anne-Marie Leake, a Tuckahoe district resident.

Nina Kang, a 17-year-old student from Deep Run High School, said that she and her classmates live in anxiety about their future. Kang was joined by classmates Meghana Kancharla and Sastha Tripathi, members of Greenteenz RVA, a local environmental group formed by high school students.

Henrico leaders told The Times-Dispatch that action is on the way and noted a raft of past and present environmental efforts. There are significant things in the pipeline that we think theyll be very happy with, said John Vithoukas, the countys longtime manager.

Joining him was Board Supervisor Patricia OBannon, who represents Henricos Tuckahoe District. We dont just signal action, we take action, OBannon said.

While the county doesnt have an office of sustainability, it does have an inter-agency climate team, informally known as the Henrico Environmental Action Resource Team (HEART).

On Wednesday, officials from the team explained the teams recent accomplishments, saying that there is a disconnect that has left residents  like some of the petitioners at the meeting  with the presumption that the county isnt taking sustainability seriously.

The HEART committees chairs, Cari Tretina and Steve Yob, said that the county is a leader in the Commonwealth. They pointed to the countys 22 LEED-certified buildings, education efforts, investments in the regional bus network, solar panel installments and upcoming living buildings.

LEED certification indicates that a building has passed energy efficiency standards. Living buildings are ultra-environmentally friendly buildings that give clean energy back to the grid.

Tretina, who is also the county managers chief of staff, described living buildings as LEED on steroids. The countys first living building, a 300,000 square foot commercial project, is slated for 2024.

The new zoning ordinances will reward developers for building efficiently.

Henricos neighbor, the city of Richmond, has committed to a 45% reduction of emissions in the next seven years, and an overall goal of net zero by 2050. An online dashboard shows a 21% emissions reduction between 2008 and 2018.

However, the dashboard doesnt show numbers for the past five years. Laura Thomas, director of the Office of Sustainability, did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Yob, an environmental engineer by trade, said the county is hesitant to make a similar commitment.

Yob said more than 80% of the countys emissions are outside of the influence of local government. Around 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in Virginia come from the exhaust pipes of cars. Emissions from private houses come out to around 17%.

How would you feel if we came to you and said you had to retrofit your home? Yob said. I dont want to throw a number out there that we cant achieve.

County data show that Henrico has become around 10% more energy efficient against a growing population. Those numbers dont tell the story of the countys total greenhouse gas emissions, however, which arent tracked.

Virginia leads the nation in removing Confederate symbols, but many remain Despite legal and logistical challenges, a 109-year-old memorial in Arlington National Cemetery is scheduled to be removed by Jan. 1.

Among residents demands was that the county determine its carbon baseline by tracking those emissions.

Virginia Commonwealth University Professor Elizabeth Kreydatus, who organized the environmentalists on Tuesday, told supervisors that the county deserved more. In her petition, she notes that former Gov. Tim Kaine tasked localities to create plans in 2008.

Henrico has been resistant to the idea of creating an office of sustainability. In a written statement, Board of Supervisors Chairman Frank J. Thornton said that it is every departments responsibility to embrace environmentally friendly practices and projects, and that they havent found a need for a dedicated office.

Professor Damian Pitt, who studies climate action planning at VCU, lauded some of Henrico Countys efforts  like a new low-interest loan program for business owners to green their facilities.

But Pitt was skeptical that the countys many small-scale programs do enough and that counties have more control than they think.

Theyre right to a degree that a lot of what needs to be done is outside of their control, Pitt said. But the bottom line is that to really say youre doing something about climate change, you need to be on a net zero trajectory by 2050.

While Henrico has not committed to its own emissions goal, the county is collaborating with PlanRVA as part of a regional effort which Thornton said is developing ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. That project could bind a number of Central Virginia localities to forthcoming emissions reduction goals.

From the Archives: Broad Street Station
(Photo: by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

A Walgreens sign is displayed outside one of its stores in Hollywood, California, on March 9, 2023. - California Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that California will cease all business with Walgreens after the company announced it would not dispense abortion medication in several US states.

A new CEO has been appointed by Walgreens following this week's pharmacy staff walkout due to concerns about unsafe working conditions for both staff and customers.

As of October 23, Tim Wentworth, who recently served as CEO of pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts, was named CEO. Rosalind Brewer, the former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, resigned from her position in late August as the company struggled with a staffing and prescription shortfall.

The recent Kaiser Permanente strike demonstrates that there is widespread worker unhappiness and staffing difficulties in health care that are not unique to pharmacies.

Uncertainty surrounded the precise scope of the pharmacists' protest.

On Tuesday, organizers projected that walkouts scheduled for Monday through Wednesday would affect more than 300 of the approximately 9,000 Walgreens outlets nationally, as reported by The Associated Press. According to a corporate spokeswoman, problems occurred at "no more than a dozen" pharmacies.

Teams were understaffed and overworked, especially with the added demands from the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a Walgreens pharmacy manager who assisted with organizing the walkouts, told The Associated Press.

The Staff's Requests

The staff who walked out are organizing online; many Walgreens employees aren't unionized. According to the organizer, they made three key requests of the business: to increase transparency regarding shift times and schedules; to reserve time for new team members to get training; and to modify tasks and expectations at each site based on staffing numbers.

The organizer warned that more walkouts would occur at the end of the month if Walgreens did not address concerns from pharmacy staff.

According to Fraser Engerman, a spokesman for Walgreens, the firm is taking the employees' complaints seriously.

As the busy fall season approaches, drugstores around the nation are faced with a challenging burden.

Read also: Kaiser Permanente Protesters Threaten More Demonstrations if Demands Not Met

Several Pharmacy Staff Walkouts

Last month, there were walkouts at CVS sites in the Kansas City area as well. As a result, the firm pledged to increase recruiting.

According to Bled Tanoe, a former pharmacist who has been supporting the walkouts on social media, many of these underlying worries about working conditions have been accumulating for years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made the situation worse by introducing additional requirements, like as testing and immunization, without providing "the proper support for the people behind the counter," she claimed.

Brewer, who departed the firm in late August, said that 1,100 pharmacies, or around 12% of its U.S. locations, were having their hours reduced. This was a decrease from the 1,600 earlier this year, but a firm executive has stated that it does not anticipate returning all pharmacies to regular business hours by the end of the year.

Stefano Pessina, the executive chairman of Walgreens, said in a statement that the business had been looking for a CEO with "deep healthcare experience."

Related article: Walgreens Pharmacies May Be Closed Next Week; Workers Preparing to Strike Over Pay, Benefits

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Henrico Police investigated a number of hoax calls into area schools on Wednesday.

Between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., a school employee at Douglas S. Freeman High School, Deep Run High School and Mills E. Godwin High School all received a threatening phone call.

The call was similar in nature to the phone call made to Hermitage High School on Tuesday.

Henrico Police is coordinating with the school administration regarding the safety and security of all students and staff at those locations.

Additionally, police units proactively responded to some large private schools to address any safety concerns they may have had.

All schools have deemed safe. Henrico Police said it is taking these threats seriously and will continue to investigate the origin of these phone calls.

Officers are working with area partners as part of this ongoing investigation.

The preliminary investigation shows this type of hoax call is being made to other schools nationwide.

As a result, the Henrico County Police Division is utilizing Division resources and area partners to investigate the phone number used during the original call.

Additional police officers will be on site at the schools throughout the day to ensure there are no further disruptions.

Top five weekend events: Richmond Folk Festival, 'Frozen' and GalaxyCon Richmond Folk Festival 'Frozen' Groovin in the Garden GalaxyCon Nightmare Weekend Virginia Opera
Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, held a news conference Wednesday to address a number of instances she said her opponent Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg and Democrats have mischaracterized her and her track record as a two-term state senator.

A recent advertisement from VanValkenburgs campaign takes aim at a 2022 law Dunnavant wrote that requires parental notification for curriculum materials with sexually explicit content. The measure gives parents the option to opt their children out of that particular reading.

The advertisement claimed that Dunnavant wants to allow extremists to censor what teachers can teach in our schools, using the excuse of explicit materials to prevent students from reading books extremists dont agree with.

Dunnavant called the claim ridiculous and pointed to an enactment clause that states her bill is not to be used for the censorship or banning of books. It states that the provision of this act shall not be construed as requiring or providing for the censoring of books in public elementary and secondary schools.

Dunnavants lawyers have sent a letter to VanValkenburgs to address what it terms blatantly false and disparaging accusations in VanValkenburgs ad. It says that if his campaign does not stop airing the claims, she will be forced to consider all available legal action against VanValkenburg and his campaign.

While Dunnavant asserts that banning books from schools was not the intention of her bill, some school boards like Hanover and Spotsylvania counties have removed books from school libraries.

She said that anyone who thinks the measure can be used in that way, needs to go read the bill.

An example of a removed or flagged book in VanValkenburgs ad includes The Diary of Anne Frank  which recounts the period in which a Jewish family was sheltered and hiding in another familys home in Amsterdam during the Holocaust.

Dunnavant said she had her own children read the book before taking them to the house the Frank family had sheltered in.

VanValkenburgs campaign said in a statement: It is a fact and has been widely reported that Senator Dunnavants legislation has enabled right-wing MAGA extremists across the Commonwealth in their attempts to ban classic and educationally important books, like The Diary of Anne Frank and To Kill a Mockingbird.  The campaign added: If you give extremists the tools to promote hate and sow division, they will use them. We encourage Senator Dunnavant to reflect on the tool she provided to the most extreme right-flank of her party and take responsibility for doing so.

In her meeting with members of the press Wednesday, Dunnavant laid out other claims she said VanValkenburg has made that arent true, such as allegations that she once wrote a bill that would let insurance companies deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Dunnavant said former Del. Debra Rodman, D-Henrico, levied the allegation in their 2019 Senate campaign and that it was deemed false by PolitiFact.

Dunnavant also blasted VanValkenburg for claiming credit on efforts between state and local officials to add a new traffic interchange in the Short Pump area.

The claims have appeared in mailers but were not sent by VanValkenburgs campaign. They were paid for by an organization called Freedom Virginia.

Perhaps one of the most contentious issues this election cycle has been abortion. Democrats accuse Republicans of supporting more than the proposal to end most abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the pregnant person, a stance that many GOP candidates have espoused. Republicans have countered that Democrats support no limits on the procedure, essentially supporting infanticide.

Current law bans most abortions after the end of the second trimester, or around 26 weeks of gestation. Abortions that happen after that require three physicians to attest that the continuation of the pregnancy is likely to result in the death of the woman or substantially and irremediably impair the mental or physical health of the woman.

Current law also already has criminal penalties outlined for both infanticide and unlawfully-performed abortions.

While many Republican candidates have coalesced around the proposal Gov. Glenn Youngkin backs to bar most abortions after 15 weeks  with exceptions for rape, incest or when the pregnant persons life is threated  Dunnavant has carved out a more nuanced stance that she said is informed by her experience working in medicine.

Earlier this year Dunnavant, a practicing OBGYN, proposed moving the 26-week threshold forward to a range of 22 to 24 weeks. The measure failed to pass, as did a range of other GOP proposals to restrict or ban abortion. She also voted against Youngkins 15-week proposal this winter because it lacked exceptions for when severe fetal anomalies are detected.

Dunnavant has since embraced 15 weeks as a limit for most abortions with the proposed exceptions to include anomalies.

I am the person that will vote against the Republicans and against the Democrats when I dont think theyre showing principled guidance in developing their legislation, Dunnavant said Wednesday.

Today in history: Oct. 11 1779: Casimir Pulaski 1884: Eleanor Roosevelt 1968: Apollo 7 1986: Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev 1991: Anita Hill 2001: George W. Bush 2002: Jimmy Carter 2006: Adam Yehiye Gadahn 2014: Kennedy International Airport 2020: The Los Angeles Lakers 2022: NASA
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has sent a letter to the states public universities, urging them to take additional security measures or have safety plans ahead of potential demonstrations that could occur on campuses this week.

The warning comes following attacks on Israel from Hamas  a militant organization that governs the Gaza strip of Palestine  over the weekend.

The long-rooted conflict in the area and recent spate of violence to Israelis and Palestinians has sparked statements from politicians, activists and students around the nation.

Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Virginia released a statement that described Saturdays attacks from Hamas as an unprecedented feat for the 21st century, and said that resistance fighters in Gaza had broken through an illegal border fence and had taken occupation soldiers hostage.

This prompted House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, and alumnus of the University of Virginia, to call on university president Jim Ryan to condemn the statement from the student organization.

In response, Ryan condemned the violence in a statement and added that the university has a longstanding tradition of not just allowing free speech, but promoting civil discourse, even when ... we strongly disagree.

While Miyares said his office stands behind free speech, his letter to universities expresses caution.

I write to express deep concern for the rhetoric of some student groups that are sympathetic to Saturdays terrorist attacks in Israel, Miyares wrote.

The right to freedom of speech does not include violent acts against persons or property, he added.

Individuals who commit crimes as part of demonstrations are subject to arrest and prosecution. Similarly, students remain, of course, subject to student codes of conduct.

Today in history: Oct. 11 1779: Casimir Pulaski 1884: Eleanor Roosevelt 1968: Apollo 7 1986: Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev 1991: Anita Hill 2001: George W. Bush 2002: Jimmy Carter 2006: Adam Yehiye Gadahn 2014: Kennedy International Airport 2020: The Los Angeles Lakers 2022: NASA
Informing Democracy, a nonprofit research organization, has released a guide to understanding the election process in Virginia to include timelines and charts explaining the process and key individuals involved.

The report also included an overview of vulnerabilities  namely the partisanship and turnover that has presented itself in some electoral boards and election offices over the past year.

While elections in Virginia are generally well organized and run by dedicated public servants, there are a number of risks we must monitor in order to keep anti-democracy actors from undermining elections this year, Jenna Lowenstein, executive director of Informing Democracy, said in a statement.

While registrars and election office staff are nonpartisan, electoral boards  which approve polling locations and appoint registrars  are partisan by design. Virginia has 133 boards composed of three members each, and two of those members are always aligned with whichever political party holds the governorship at the time.

Since Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin took office, all 133 of Virginias electoral boards have shifted to Republican majorities. Some of those members have been outspoken deniers of the results of the 2020 election. Several attended the Jan. 6, 2021 Stop the Steal rally that subsequently turned violent in the U.S. Capitol.

Perhaps the place in Virginia that has felt the election board and staff shift the most is Buckingham County. After its electoral board became GOP majority, mounting pressure and claims of election fraud prompted the entire staff of the registrars office to quit this spring garnering attention from national media.

Drama continued to ensue when the board briefly appointed Luis Gutierrez, a registrar who was later fired a month onto the job and feuded with a member of the board of supervisors.

Nearby in Lynchburg, its registrar, Christine Gibbons, was not reappointed and was instead directed to apply among a candidate pool that also included Buckinghams Gutierrez (though he did not get the job).

Registrars serve four year terms and are typically reappointed by electoral boards, but when Gibbons was ousted by the GOP-controlled electoral board, she filed a lawsuit alleging partisanship was involved.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, is a First Amendment challenge that alleges the new majority of Lynchburgs electoral board is intent on pressing the partisan falsehood  widely known as the Big Lie  that the defeat of Donald Trump for President in 2020 must have been procured by fraud, and the ancillary supposition that local election administrators who are not part of the Republican faction are not to be trusted.

Gibbons suit alleges that the two GOP board members decision to replace her was motivated by politics. It cites incidents leading up to the 2020 election where its chair, Betty Gibbs, was allegedly outspoken with suspicion of election administrators, lingering in the office with intent to intimidate during the 2020 election cycle. The suit also noted Gibbs attendance at the Washington rally on Jan. 6, 2021.

Informing Democracys report also cites what it terms other possible vulnerabilities in electoral boards. In Albemarle County, Clara Belle Wheeler led training for poll watchers as part of an Election Integrity Summit hosted by Trump allies and through Virginians For America First  an organization founded by former 4th District congressional candidate Leon Benjamin, who has denied the results of the 2020 election. Wheeler is part of an organization called Virginia Fair Elections, which Informing Democracy referred to as a coalition of organizations associated with election denialism.

The report noted that state law still protects democratic processes.

There are strong protections in Virginia law, including the power of the State Board to remove local officials for a failure to discharge their duties, the report stated. This makes it unlikely that even election deniers or subverters serving in an official role could fully undermine a Virginia election.

Lowenstein of Informing Democracy said the guide should be a helpful resource to know which vulnerabilities to monitor and which election officials to keep close eye on.

Voting roll issues

While the report focuses on how elections are administered in Virginia and notes particular areas that may be vulnerabilities, it lands at a time when fresh concerns have emerged.

This week, Democratic members of Virginias congressional delegation have asked for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into issues in Virginias Department of Elections.

That error appears to stem from a change the department implemented this past winter. It was meant to remove people from the rolls who had previously served time for felonies and since had their rights restored  but who have also since committed new felonies.

But some canceled voters had not committed new felonies.

The governor asked for (Virginia State Police) to correct the process and ordered a review, said Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Gov. Glenn Youngkin. While analysis is still ongoing, we are aware of fewer than 300 voters who were impacted and those individuals are being reinstated. The governor is committed to ensuring those that are eligible can vote.

In Virginia, people convicted of felonies permanently lose several rights, including to vote, even upon completion of their prison sentences. Any restorations are within the purview of the governor and happen through the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Though three previous governors had streamlined the process for ex-felons to have their rights restored, and eventually made the process automatic upon release, the Youngkin administration quietly adjusted the process earlier this year.

Following inquiry from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, other media, state lawmakers and the Virginia conference of the NAACP, then-Secretary of the Commonwealth wrote in a letter that Youngkin will be less likely to quickly restore the voting rights of anyone who used a firearm in the commission of a crime, and that, generally speaking, but not always, he will work to restore the voting rights of those who committed nonviolent crimes.

Richmond resident George Hawkins has a case against the Youngkin administration that is moving forward in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Hawkins, who completed a 13-year sentence for attempted murder and aggravated malicious wounding, claims his application for restoration was rejected and told VPM News that hes unclear why.

University of Richmond professor Carl Tobias said he is watching the proceedings with concern.

In noting the more streamlined processes under Republican Gov. Rob McDonnell and Democrats Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam, the Youngkin administration has restored rights to fewer people. Tobias said the administration has been less forthcoming, less solicitous, less open.

As Hawkins case progresses, it could shine more light on the case-by-case basis of rights restorations under the Youngkin administration.

Today in history: Oct. 11 1779: Casimir Pulaski 1884: Eleanor Roosevelt 1968: Apollo 7 1986: Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev 1991: Anita Hill 2001: George W. Bush 2002: Jimmy Carter 2006: Adam Yehiye Gadahn 2014: Kennedy International Airport 2020: The Los Angeles Lakers 2022: NASA
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The Confederate monuments disappeared. The racism did not.

When the monuments were dismantled during the spring and summer of 2020, no one was under the illusion that systemic racism would be hauled away in the process. Toppling statues was widely viewed as a symbolic beginning during our nation's moment of racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

What a difference three years makes.

In hindsight, the momentum from those street protests was destined to stall in a nation that historically has lacked the emotional stamina or spiritual resolve to sustain a pursuit of social justice.

For sure, there were undeniable gains from the protests beyond the removal of monuments and school names that honored agents of treason in service of Black enslavement. Phil Wilayto, a founding member of Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, says those protests boosted his organization's efforts to reclaim and properly memorialize Shockoe Bottom, once a major slave trading market, with the city agreeing to the community demand for a memorial park there.

But ensuing legislative efforts "were watered down as the upsurge subsided or were reversed after the protests ended," Wilayto said, citing a dubious reform of solitary confinement, a failed attempt to end qualified immunity for police officers, and the unsatisfying passage of the Marcus Alert law.

That law was named was for Marcus-David Peters, a high school biology teacher who was fatally shot by a Richmond police officer in 2018 while experiencing a mental health crisis. The bill's intent was to limit police responses to mental health crises. But Peters' sister, Princess Blanding, denounced what was passed into law as "watered down and ineffective."

The circle that housed the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was renamed in Peters' honor by the protesters who occupied it. But the 2020 upsurge lacked a lasting structure to sustain it, Wilayto said. "And now the inevitable reaction has set in, with the attacks on the concepts of Critical Race Theory; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and the vicious campaign against trans people."

Joseph Rogers, a member of Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, similarly lamented the denouement of a movement whose beginnings he traced to the August 2017 murder of counterprotester Heather Heyer by a neo-Nazi motorist after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville.

"Change was demanded, monuments came down and hope was on the horizon," he said. "And the same period of time it took to get from Heather Heyer to monument removal, looking at monument removal to now, it feels like we missed it. Because at no point in the conversations about the monuments were people saying, 'This is our only goal.'"

In ways big and small, Virginia and America are reverting to racist form  from a violent white nationalist-led insurrection to overturn the results of a presidential election to the landscaping project that curtails access to the reimagined site of the Lee monument, to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's attempt to salvage a Confederate memorial that President Joe Biden has deemed too offensive to remain at Arlington National Cemetery.

Youngkin would move this monument to a sanitized Lost Cause  with its Black "Mammy" figure holding the infant child of a Confederate officer  to a battlefield owned by VMI, which has become a battleground in the Youngkin administration's efforts to scuttle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

"I'm not entirely surprised by where we find ourselves," said Christy Coleman, executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the former CEO of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond.

"Following any major period of social disruption (i.e. 2020), there is often a sharp backlash against progress gained. Imagine, after nearly 60 years of Civil Rights gains for a variety of communities, there's now a massive backlash against the scholarship gained, the innovations made, and progressive legal/social changes. It is the social pattern. The question is how long will this last? Will it rise to atrocity? Or will coalitions coalesce to prevent further erosion?"

Indeed, that social pattern seems to be playing out as it always has, except in a more compressed fashion. The period of Reconstruction after the Civil War lasted until 1877, when America decided that it prized white racial reconciliation between the North and South more than Black human rights. Then-President Rutherford Hayes pulled federal troops from the South, unleashing a reign of racial terror upon that region's Black citizens. What followed was what came to be known as the Redemption era, with its retrenchment of African American rights.

We are experiencing a second Redemption Era defined by political attacks on "wokeness," the censorship of literature and classroom lessons addressing systemic racism, and legal challenges to affirmative action, voting rights and other efforts to remedy centuries-long structural racism.

Calls to defund the police faded; even modest reform efforts, such as a civilian review board in Richmond, were diluted. Nationally, the sentiment on the political right, once dominated by unwavering "Back the Blue" support, morphed into at-times menacing hostility toward the FBI, the Justice Department, district attorneys and jurors involved in the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

In this altered state of U.S. politics, the events of 2020 figure prominently, says Larry Sabato, founder and director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

"The social justice movement threatened to bring ruin to the system that had used law and order to maintain the old ways, including white dominance and brutality. The president who was their champion was supposedly cheated out of his second term, and their justifiable (in their minds) revenge on Jan. 6 has been used to throw the lot of them into prison. So the 'patriots' are rising up and taking over in any way they can, legal or illegal," Sabato said.

Lawrence West, founder of Black Lives Matter RVA, was a regular at Marcus-David Peters circle during the summer of 2020. But he says the city seems intent on burying what happened on Monument Avenue during a transformative moment in which the graffiti-clad Lee statue was named by New York Times Style Magazine as the most influential work of American protest art since World War II.

That protest art, as it turns out, was a temporary exhibit. Statue and plinth were taken away when the Lee statue was removed from the circle in September 2021.

The reimagined circle was "a beacon of inclusion," West said  a community gathering place where people could shoot baskets and obtain fresh vegetables, clothing and resources. But long after the Lee statue was removed, the circle  which featured a memorial to victims of police violence  remained fenced off.

The fencing was only recently removed with the completion of a landscaping project that West and other activists see as a not-so-subtle attempt to keep Black people and their allies off the space.

Wilayto said the greatest gain from the protests was "a deeper general consciousness about racism in U.S. society  structural, systemic racism." But sadly, that awareness has triggered a countermovement grounded in censorship, denial and anti-democratic impulses.

The monuments to oppression were removed. But ironically, the absence of so much as an empty pedestal has left a void. Activists are happy that the symbols of oppression no longer dot the landscape, but mourn the erasure of their own vision of change. But mostly, they're impatient to push back against a familiar but renewed resistance and finish what they started.

The protesters made specific demands related to "the conditions that white supremacy creates, not just the monuments it builds," Rogers said. The monuments are gone, but "those monumental mentalities, those Confederate mentalities, those are still there. And in many ways, it feels like we're fighting the same battle again  a battle we were told we won."

PHOTOS: The fall of Richmond's Confederate monuments
Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton, 55, remained in intensive care while dealing with a rare form of pneumonia.

Retton's daughters posted a message on Instagram saying their mother "continues to fight" and thanked the thousands who have donated money to help take care of Retton's medical bills.

Nearly 5,000 people had donated more than $275,000 in the 24 hours since her family launched an online fundraiser Tuesday. The family said Retton does not have medical insurance and indicated they were asking for donations  with an initial goal of $50,000  to help pay for Retton's care.

Retton was 16 years old when the Fairmont, West Virginia, native made history at the Los Angeles Olympics, scoring perfect 10s on floor exercise and vault in the final two rotations to become the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title. She ended the Olympics with five medals and became a pop culture sensation.

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FGE begins investigation into allegations of payoff to free cartel boss located in Tulum restaurant

Tulum, Q.R.  An investigation into allegations of Tulum police officers letting a high ranking cartel leader go free is under way. The allegations stem from the report of an armed man inside a Tulum restaurant Wednesday.

Officials responding to the report are alleged to have arrived to find a high-ranking criminal leader inside the restaurant in the company of a woman. Further allegations include a payoff to those responding authorities to avoid his arrest and being handed over to the Public Ministry.

The State Attorney General (FGE) of Quintana Roo has confirmed the start of the investigation into the allegations.

On Wednesday in a brief statement the agency said The FGE of Quintana Roo reports that it has initiated an investigation to clarify the facts where an armed person was reported inside the facilities of a restaurant in the municipality of Tulum.

It should be noted that elements of the Tulum Municipal Police, as well as the Ministerial Police and the Navy, arrived to inspect the alleged suspect, who was in the company of a woman, who was not made available to the Public Ministry.

Regarding the incident, the Prosecutors Office began an investigation against all the elements that participated in this incident and who have been fully identified, and if they have any responsibility, the full weight of the law will fall on them.

Several local media have identified the armed man by name and with photos as the boss of the Caborca Cartel that operates in the southeast, including Tulum. However, the FGE says the photos circulating do not match the description of the suspect and have referred to them as unofficial images.

After the dissemination of journalistic reports in various digital media which reveal the arrest and release of an alleged criminal leader with a video and photographs in a restaurant in Tulum pointing out the intervention of the State Attorney Generals Office, it is stated that there is no indication that indicates similarity or qualitative correspondence of phenotypic characteristics that indicate that the person seen in the images is the person indicated.

Marked differences are observed in the shape of the face, the nasal tip and mouth, which do not coincide between both subjects in the publications, which have disseminated unofficial images or those from institutional sources, the FGE reported Wednesday afternoon.

The current allegations are of responding authorities being paid millions of pesos in cash to not arrest the armed man reported in the Tulum restaurant Wednesday. The State Attorney General has not confirmed or denied any of the allegations, nor have they confirmed or denied the identity of the armed man as the Caborca Cartel boss.
Over 1,300 passengers expected to dock Cozumel on two first-time ships

Cozumel, Q.R.  More than 1,300 cruise ship passengers are expected on the island of Cozumel Friday. The passengers will be arriving by two first-time ships.

Vagner Elbiorn Vega, the General Director of the Comprehensive Port Administration of Quintana Roo (APIQROO), reported the cruise passengers will be arrving via the Norwegian flag cruise ships Viking Polaris and Viking Mars.

It will be their first time docking the island of Cozumel. The ships will arrive in Cozumel Friday the 13th with more than 1,300 passengers, which consolidates Isla de las Golondrinas as the favorite destination for cruise passengers in Mexico and the Caribbean, he said.

Vega says the Norwegian-flagged Viking Polaris cruise ship, which will be docking Cozumel Friday, has capacity for 378 passengers and 256 crew members. The vessel is 665 feet in length, constructed in 2022 and owned by Viking Expedition Ltd.

The Viking Polaris cruise ship, according to its itinerary, will be arriving at the Punta Langosta port in Cozumel at 7:00 a.m. from Fort Lauderdale, and will set sail at 6:00 p.m. to Colon, Panama.

Elbiorn Vega said that the luxury cruise ship Viking Mars, also flying the Norwegian flag, will dock at Cozumel early Friday morning. Viking Mars, with a capacity for 930 passengers, will also arrive for the first time from Fort Lauderdale.

The 745-foot-long ship will arrive at the Puerta Maya port at 05:45 hours and set sail at 17:30 hours bound for Belize.
Over 68 hectares of Ejido land in Felipe Carrillo Puerto purchased for Tren Maya use

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R.  The Government of Mexico has expropriated more land in the south of Quintana Roo for Tren Maya use. On Wednesday, approximately 68 hectares in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto was purchased for its use.

The latest land to be acquired by the government for the project belongs to the Xmaben and Annexes Ejidos.

The Government of Mexico published the expropriation decree in the Official Gazette of the Federation by which the area of 68-83-91 hectares (sixty-eight hectares, eighty-three areas, ninety and one centiare) in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto will be used.

The land will be signed over to Fonatur Tren Maya, SA de CV to be used for the construction of railway infrastructure and operation of the Tren Maya Project. The Tren Maya company is responsible for paying, as compensation, the amount indicated in the appraisal issued by the Institute of Administration and Appraisals of National Assets (Indaabin), which has been determined at just over 27.5 million pesos.

Both sides agreed on the expropriation of the 68 hectares in July of 2022 and signed an agreement that August.

The Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development, once this decree has been published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, will proceed to its execution when Fonatur Tren Maya, SA de CV has accredited the payment or deposit of the compensation indicated in the section previous, the Government explained in its publication.
A wrong-way driver in Georgia killed two more drivers after counterflowing a four-lane highway. Authorities said that the incident happened near Roopville, south of Carrollton.

Georgia State Patrol troopers confirmed that the counterflowing driver also died as well. Here are other details shared by law enforcement officials about the latest car crash in Georgia.

Georgia: Wrong-Way Driver Kills Two Other Drivers on Four-Lane Highway

According to Fox News' latest report, the driver was traveling the wrong way on a four-lane highway. He was zooming north in the highway's southbound lanes on Monday, Oct. 9.

Authorities said that the reckless driver was riding a Lincoln Town Car. Because of his dangerous driving, he eventually hit a Mazda Miata. After that, he crashed into a Chevrolet Cruze; both of the victims were traveling south.

Georgia state troopers said that the Chevrolet and Lincoln cars both caught fire. All three drivers died before responders could take them to the nearest hospitals.

Police officers said that the three cars were not carrying any passengers. As of writing, the identities of the reckless driver and his victims haven't been disclosed yet.

However, Carroll County police could release more information about them once they complete their ongoing investigation.

Because of the wrong-way driving incident, authorities had to close the highway while clearing the scene of the deadly car crash to avoid further accidents.

Read Also: Honoree Fleming Case: Former Vermont University Dean Shot Dead Near Campus; Who's the Suspected Killer?

Why Some Drivers Counterflow?

Parker & Parker law firm explained that there are numerous reasons why some drivers end up counterflowing one-way roads and even wide highways.

Of course, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs is among the major reasons. The National Traffic Safety Board said that around 50% of wrong-way accidents in the U.S. are caused by driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

NTSB warned car owners that even drinking only a small amount of alcohol can affect their driving awareness, which can lead to serious or life-threatening road accidents.

Another reason why some drivers counterflow is because they are distracted. If they are using their smartphones to text, browse, or call other individuals, then their road attention is likely divided.

Aside from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and getting distracted, overconfidence is also to blame for wrong-way accidents.

Other reasons include mistakes of officials and road builders. These include insufficient road lights, poor road design, and inadequate signage.

Related Article: Rhode Island: 20-Mile Police Chase Leads to Animal Abuser's Death-Here's What Happened

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More Americans than you think support training in diversity, equity, and inclusion. And why are more and more corporations looking beyond it?

Once considered the highest rising feature of Americas business spaces, the cliffs of corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are slowly eroding under the reliable and unrelenting tide of American apathy. Fewer and fewer businesses are seeking to hire a chief diversity officer, and those who manage to get hired are finding their jobs often paired with other more traditional work responsibilities. DEI is increasingly perceived as incapable of sustaining itself, even as criticisms and concerns about litigation become more pronounced in the wake of the Supreme Courts rejection of race-conscious affirmative action.

The right in general has hardly been subdued in its attacks on DEI: from Ron DeSantis ban in Florida to former president Donald Trumps ban on military DEI initiatives (repealed by the Biden administration in 2021). Beyond the legislative arena, hard critiques of DEI have come from sources such as the New York Post, whose editorial board asserted in May that DEI programs are about nothing but rank racism, as well as Heritage Foundation scholars arguing that DEI offices create little more than  bureaucratic sound and fury on the taxpayers dime.

Yet these stances hardly mirror the views of the general publicmore than half of American workers (56%) believe that focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace is a good thing, with almost a third (28%) ambivalent on the issue. Only 16% of Americans seem to share the opinions of the Posts editorial board and the Heritage Foundation. This breakdown, combined with the decreased corporate interest in DEI, raises an incredibly important question: Why is DEI such a contentious issue?

Is it the fault of right-wingers high on culture war fumes seeking to undermine legitimate corporate initiatives aimed at ensuring a more comfortable and respectful workplace for employees from diverse backgrounds? I mean, even notably anti-woke presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamys former company offers a DEI initiative, and famed conservative/Christian-friendly chains like Chick-fil-A have sparked ire from some on the right for DEI programs that, by all appearances, seem to stem from a legitimate desire for company betterment.

But anti-woke hawks and conservative boycotters cannot bear sole responsibility for DEIs decline. If all the anti-DEI energy is coming from that 16%, one would not expect to see such a significant decline in corporate interest, particularly from major companies that trend to the political left. There has to be another variable. Could DEI itself be to blame? Has DEI fallen victim to entropy? Has legitimate theory been corrupted by poor practice? Or is there something inherent to corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that has caused American workplaces to question its usefulness?

DEI in Practice

While it would be easy to rack up broad criticisms of corporate DEI programs from conservatives, I thought it better to talk to a professional to understand how DEI initiatives actually function. Mandice McAllister is the manager of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Warner Norcross & Judd, a corporate law firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We started out with the question one might naturally ask in such a situation: How is DEI defined by its practitioners?

Its about fairness, says McAllister, whos managed DEI at the firm for the past five years. Its about making sure people have fair access to opportunities and advancement. Were Americans; we want things to be fair. When asked what DEI practitioners are specifically looking for, she starts by addressing a common misconception about racial diversity in the workplace: Its not quotas. Her team is looking for overrepresentation in hiring demographics and disparities in pay equity and promotion rates. To McAllister, meritocracy is what shes looking forbut theres a catch. We love meritocracy; any organization taking this seriously knows that its not one.

McAllister and her team have encountered their fair share of pushback at the various organizations for which theyve carried out DEI training. When asked what some of the most common criticisms are, she gave me her top three: Were focusing too much on DEI, were wasting money and time, and its racially divisive. And yet, McAllister, notes, Theyre often just not interested in sitting down and having a conversation about why theyre so resistant.

One of the most controversial aspects of corporate DEI training is mandating it. For her part, McAllister says her thinking has evolved on the issue. In 2020, I was pro-mandatory DEI. We had a required awareness training that covered sexual harassment, and it felt weird for one to be mandatory and one to not be. Yet, as time went by, she came to believe it was undercutting her goal: I dont think making it mandatory is effective. When you try to mandate DEI, and were going to talk about [workplace racial dynamics], it can inflame racial tensions. You dont have to comeyou can decide to miss out on the information we present.

DEIs Weaknesses: Glitch or Feature?

Regarding the question of legitimate theory and poor practice, McAllister points out that different types of DEI training require different levels of information. For an awareness-based training, its simply not as heavy of a load. I understand why people gravitate towards [awareness-based training] and why people with marginalized identities find that useful.

Yet, for more outcome-oriented DEI sessions, the process is largely different, and McAllister doesnt sugarcoat the issues at play and the less-than-stellar practice from some consultants. All the workplace stuff requires a s*** ton of dataif you dont have the data, its not persuasive. We have to be very robust in our methodology, and we havent been. Being able to articulate the meaning of the D, E, and I is critical. If you cant present it to highlight the fundamental good in the training, it doesnt work.

Given that DEI is increasingly being paired with similar areas of corporate management, wheres the intersection between HR and DEIis it a Venn diagram or two completely separate circles? Her answer takes me by surprise: DEI isnt generally seen as company first. she admits. HR is there to look out for the company and mitigate risk. And DEI can create some risk there.

Well, that was unexpected. In a sense, DEI consultants are buying into the corporate and capitalist game, McAllister chuckles. But its different from the traditional HR focus on workplace performance: I care about peace, justice, and human flourishing. Those are the things Im trying to promote. She closes our interview on another interesting note: Ive talked to conservatives about what they want in terms of racial relations, and they talk about things that are very familiar to me: parity, access, equality, things like that. A lot of times, it seems like we want the same stuff.

The Conservative Response

Talking to McAllister revealed key insights about the on-the-ground struggles DEI practitioners face. According to her, many of the problems are practice issues, not true philosophical issuesshes a true believer operating in good faith, and her honest evaluation of an industry shes invested years into is a useful one. But while she addressed the question of theory and practice and voiced some critiques of the politicization of her industry, I still felt it necessary to sit down with a conservative to hear the opposition casebut not the typical one. I thought it would prove far more interesting to talk to someone who represents an alternative to both hardline DEI rejection and the more-or-less traditional DEI perspective of an advocate like McAllister.

Ismael Hernandez of the Freedom & Virtue Institute is a different kind of racial thinker. Born in Cuba, he writes in his recent book Not Tragically Colored about being an ex-Marxist and maintains that his journey to America was the catalyst for a deep philosophical transformation that led him to rediscover the values of self-reliance and personal liberty. In sharp contrast to McAllister, he gives me a notably less positive definition of DEI: Its an attempt to fabricate diversity by feeding people cultural and social information thats outcome-based and views equity as a central outcome. He views much of the modern DEI-scape as based on faulty assumptions. Its the belief that racism is connected to the organizations intrinsic components. Where is the incentive to succeed? he asks. The definition is impersonal and about structures. Were not asking the question about the human person.

Hernandez nevertheless maintains a remarkable openness to many of the terms used by non-conservative racial justice advocates. I love diversity, he says. If you want to call what Im doing DEI, do itIm simply providing an alternate framework. Yet it quickly becomes apparent how Hernandez philosophical approach is anything but simpleit starts at his conception of the human person. Theres a fundamental sameness to human dignity, he asserts. We have the same dignity and the same brokenness.

We need each other, Hernandez insists. Its a universal experience of human frailty. You can feel an experience, intuitively, without having to use religion, of human brokenness. He acknowledges that these intuitive experiences are felt differently by different people, seemingly a point in favor of a more intersectional worldview, yet immediately uses that acknowledgement to drill down to one of his core issues with the typical approach to DEI: The problem is not the different modes of training; its the assumptions. Their approach pays inordinate attention to race at the heart of identity; when you do that, unwittingly you are inserting a human construct at the heart of human identity.

This human construct, Hernandez argues, leads us to apply our human biases and prejudices to the study of that identity, exemplified in several diversity trainings he attended in the early 2000s. In DEI, we dont give any benefit of the doubt to blacks, stereotyped as oppressed, or whites, stereotyped as oppressors. It gives us an understanding of American racism that allows no disagreement, he continues. Its dialectically antagonisticwhen youre seen as a specimen of a group, how do you expect people to come together for anything, work included? Youre loading the gun by which the company shoots itself.

As might be expected, Hernandez approaches DEI differently. He calls his version Commonality Training, a three-step-process that begins with the dignity of the human person, then applies that dignity to a given organizations mission and values, and finally translates that applied dignity into virtuous workplace behavior. He tells me the focus on commonality is very intentional: In modern DEI, its absent. Its instead about controlled dialogue that frames the encounter with ideological poles. Its collectivistwere prisoners of the categories that precede us. To Hernandez, Commonality Training isnt anti-DEI but a robust alternative. We are seeing a hunger for people who want to do diversity but are scared. We are here to compete with the culturally prominent model of DEI, he affirms. We dont want them to control the term anti-racist.

The Future of Race

For me, researching DEI and understanding racial questions is more than a pet interest or a mere question of corporate policy. As a nonwhite American, its a journey that revisits a host of other deep questions Ive had throughout my life about unity, justice, and belonging. Hernandez touched on this aspect in our interview: Its a secondary, not primary, element of identity. It doesnt mean you avoid it. It means youre giving it its proper place. If thats your framework in anthropology, it affects sociology. And it doesan improper view of race, whether through ignorance or hyper-fixation, can wreak tremendous havoc on ones ability to be hopeful about life in America.

And yet Im reminded of a story Hernandez told me halfway through our interview. In 1962, John F. Kennedy visited the NASA Space Center to oversee Americas continuing progress in the Space Race. During the course of the visit, President Kennedy saw a black sanitation worker carrying a broom and asked about his function at the Center. Without hesitation, the man responded, Mr. President, Im helping put a man on the moon.

Its a quite possibly an apocryphal story, one told by everyone from Hernandez to Zuckerberg. But as a journalist, I know that even dubious stories contain a hint of truth, if only in the aspirations they represent. Even if JFK never told that story, someone did. Its a cultural representation of something largerthe profoundly American belief that human dignity and purpose, to be found in the seemingly mundane and the ordinary, even given the racial prejudice felt by a black low-income janitor in 1962, can propel humanity to unimaginable heights of achievement. Thats human flourishing. Thats human dignity. And in the course of our often-heated debates on race, diversity, and justice, those are the things we must be pursuing: in boardrooms, on college campuseswherever the power of American dynamism leads us. If we realize we want the same things, then maybe we can also realize we have much more in common than we think.
Virginia Western Community College on Thursday named more than 600 students from the Roanoke Valley who are attending classes tuition free this fall, and applications are now open to students aspiring for college in 2024.

Free tuition is made possible through the Community College Access Program, which for 15 years now has provided more than $10.5 million in tuition assistance to more than 4,200 Roanoke Valley students, according to a Virginia Western news release.

Recipients, such as 2019 graduate Paige Wainwright, know the scholarship by its acronym CCAP. Wainwright was a new mother when she enrolled for a science degree, and now works in health care administration, according to an earlier news release.

CCAP allowed me to go to college for two years without worrying about financial burdens, she said. I loved doing volunteer work.

Together, scholarship students have logged 30,837 community service hours since the Community College Access Program started in 2008. That service is a cornerstone of the program, and students often describe it as a highlight of their learning experience.

Its the largest free college program at any Virginia community college, said Deborah Petrine, who is chair of the Virginia Western affiliate nonprofit that administers the scholarships, in the news release.

What began with a what if? has truly grown into a communitywide commitment to making college possible, she said. We are so excited to celebrate CCAPs 15th anniversary this fall.

Virginia Western is encouraging Roanoke region high school seniors to apply for 2024 Community College Access Program scholarships now through Feb. 1.

Learn more by navigating online to virginiawestern.edu/ccap.
WASHINGTON  More than eight years after it originally aired on live television, efforts are still underway to remove the graphic videos online depicting the murders of WDBJ journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward while reporting from Smith Mountain Lake.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner wrote to Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan on Thursday urging action against Google and Meta for their failure to remove videos of the August 2015 shooting at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta from YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. The live footage, as well as video recorded by the gunman, has continued to circulate online.

I am deeply troubled by this response, as the burden of finding and removing harmful content should not fall to victims families who are grieving their loved ones, Warner wrote. This approach only serves to retraumatize them and inflict additional pain. Instead, I firmly believe that the responsibility lies solely with the platform to ensure that any content violating its own Terms of Service is removed expeditiously.

The letter by Warner continues the efforts started in 2019 by Andy Parker, father of Alison Parker, urging Congress to take action against Facebook and Google for failing to remove the videos. He also worked with Warner as well as U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Amy Klobuchar to pass legislation that would force companies to be responsible for material uploaded by third parties.

Those early efforts were focused on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a law that allows technology companies to provide content on their platform uploaded from third parties without consequences. Andy Parker supported the case Gonzalez v. Google that was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in February. The case questioned the blanket protections tech companies are provided by Section 230.

The Supreme Court declined to rule on the case earlier this year.

In March 2020 and October 2021, Parker had submitted complaints along with the Georgetown Law clinic to the FTC and requested a Section 5 investigation of deceptive practices in connection with YouTube and Meta (then Facebook).The complaints argue that YouTube and Meta have failed to enforce their terms of service by neglecting to remove videos of the murders from their platforms. Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, with a deceptive act defined as one that misleads or is likely to mislead a consumer acting reasonably.

It has been over three years since Mr. Parker and the Georgetown University Law Clinic filed their first complaint regarding this case, and Mr. Parker continues to endure harassment as a result of the videos remaining on these platforms, Warner said in the letter. Given the practices outlined above, I ask that your agency consider all possible avenues to ensure that companies like Google and Meta uphold their Terms of Service, not only in Mr. Parkers case but also in other instances where their platforms may host violent and harmful content.
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder will deliver the keynote address at the National D-Day Memorial for its 2023 Veterans Day observance.

The public is invited to the ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at 11 a.m., according to a news release from the memorial.

The event will be livestreamed at dday.org.

Eder is a speaker and author, who is experienced in strategic communication and leadership, according to a release. While in Germany, Eder has served as director of public affairs at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and as an adjunct professor and lecturer in communications and public diplomacy at the NATO School and Swedens International Training Command. She served in senior positions in the Pentagon, in the Department of Defense, and on the Army staff.

Eder is the author of the award-winning The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of WWII. A book signing with General Eder will be held following the ceremony, according to the release.

Her newest book in the Girls series will feature groundbreaking policewomen; The Girls Who Fought Crime was released in August 2023.

There will be free admission until noon for all on Nov. 11. Veterans receive free admission all day.
LYNCHBURG  Parkland Direct, a high-volume lithographic print and custom envelope manufacturer, will invest $10 million to expand its operations in Bedford County, according to a news release from the countys office of economic development.

The company on Enterprise Drive in Forest will add 50,000 square feet to its facility to increase production capacity with the addition of two new converter and press machines. The expansion will create 41 new jobs.

We are excited for our operational expansion and adding new careers in our community and the Commonwealth, Clint Seckman, president of Parkland Direct, said in a news release. We are also thankful to our clients and team for the opportunity to improve and expand our manufacturing process for direct mail marketing and really appreciate the support from Bedford Countys Economic Development Authority in this planned expansion and job growth.

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors and county planning commission each recently approved a special use permit that allows the business to expand the current space on two parcels zoned General Commercial, C-2, located on Homestead Drive just west of the intersection with Enterprise Drive.

Due to business growth exceeding what is anticipated, the company is pursuing a three-phase expansion that includes three 50,000-square-foot warehouses, according to the permit application.

Norm Walton, engineer for the project, told county officials Parkland Direct has looked at what is needed for the next 25 years in presenting its plans.

We are thrilled to see Parkland Directs expansion project take shape in Bedford County, Edgar Tuck, the Bedford boards chair, said in the release. This project not only creates new jobs but reinforces the Countys reputation as a place for businesses to grow.

The companys growth is a testament to its resilience and vision, Jimmy Robertson, chair of the Bedford County EDA, said in the release.

Their commitment to invest in new equipment, infrastructure and employees sets a strong example of industry leadership, Robertson said.

Pam Bailey, director of the county EDA, added: Over the years weve built a strong foundation of collaboration, and Parklands decision to grow and expand here in Bedford County is a testament to our areas economic vitality.

A separate news release from Gov. Glenn Youngkin also complimented the Forest business.

Parkland Directs success in Virginia for 45 years exemplifies what startup businesses can accomplish in the Commonwealth, Youngkin said in the release. Cutting-edge companies thrive in our entrepreneurial ecosystem that is enhanced by unparalleled talent, and I am proud that this homegrown Virginia business is expanding and creating new jobs in Bedford County.

Parkland Direct, located at 305 Enterprise Drive, is an industry leader in high-volume lithographic envelope manufacturing with extensive experience in foiling, embossing and specialty coatings for direct mail marketing, according to the news release. A family-owned business started in Virginia in 1978, its primary clients include national brands in the financial, insurance and travel industries.

The EDA is providing a financial incentive to the company based on the new jobs and investment. The company currently employs 145 workers.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Bedford County to secure the project for Virginia and will support the companys job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities.

As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state funded and demonstrates the states commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens, according to the release.
Three specialties at the University of Virginia Medical Center are among the top in the world, according to new rankings for 2024.

Out of the tens of thousands of hospitals worldwide, Newsweek magazine placed these three specialities among its worlds best:

Neurosurgery at No. 61.

Oncology at No. 185.

And cardiology at No. 248.

Those three also earned top marks in Virginia, according to Newsweek, with neurosurgery and oncology ranking No. 1 in the commonwealth.

Newsweeks rankings are based on an international survey that invited the participation of tens of thousands of medical professionals, along with hospital data that includes accreditations and certifications, UVa Health said in a statement announcing the rankings.

UVa credited developments it has made in all three specialties for the new rankings.

In neurosurgery, UVa Health has pioneered focused ultrasound  a incision-free form of brain surgery  to treat Parkinsons disease symptoms and essential tremor, the health system said.

The UVa Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center is the first such center in the world, where multiple clinical trials are currently underway examining the addition of the therapy to existing immunotherapy treatments.

Focused ultrasound could greatly expand the types of tumor that respond to immunotherapy, according to Natasha Sheybani, research director at the UVa Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center.

I would liken [focused ultrasound] to the concept of taking a magnifying glass out on a hot day and basically shining a bunch of rays of light through the glass such that you can burn a hole in a leaf, Sheybani said at a UVa Lifetime Learning webinar in June. Youve projected all of that energy into a single focus. Were doing the same thing with sound waves here.

In oncology, UVA Cancer Center is just one of 54 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers for its internationally recognized research along with highly specialized patient care, UVa Health said in its statement.

At the start of the year, the center established new partnerships to expand cancer screening access across the commonwealth.

The partnerships are with three regional community health centers  Central Virginia Health Services, Tri-Area Community Health and Blue Ridge Medical Center  and are supported through $500,000 grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve equity in cancer screenings, UVa Health said in a statement at the time.

The three health centers serve all patients, regardless of insurance or ability to pay, the health system said.

It was a major success helping hundreds of patients in our communities, Dr. Randall Bashore, clinical director for Central Virginia Health Services, said in the statement. Im excited that we now have the opportunity to expand on that experience working with UVa and Tri-Area Community Health to address both colon and breast cancer screening.

In cardiology, UVa Health lauded the recent research breakthroughs that have been made at the medical center including the discovery that a common chemotherapy drug could prevent heart failure.

Last month, UVa Health announced that a powerful new drug-screening tool developed at UVa by researchers Jeffrey J. Saucerman and Taylor G. Eggertsen found the drug midostaurin  typically used to fight bone marrow cancer  could help prevent the enlargement of heart muscle cells that often precedes heart failure, and subsequent lab results bore that out.

This new computer tool helps us find new uses for old drugs, and it also explains how they may work in the heart, Saucerman said in a statement. New drugs take decades to develop. We hope this tool will help us find drugs for heart failure that are already known to be safe and effective for other diseases.

UVa Health CEO K. Craig Kent congratulated his team on the Newsweek rankings.

An important part of our 10-year strategic plan is creating destination patient care programs that draw patients from across Virginia and beyond, Kent said in a statement. These awards from Newsweek highlight that we are approaching that work with a strong foundation of high-quality, specialized care.

His words were echoed by Wendy Horton, CEO of the university medical center.

These honors from Newsweek exemplify the groundbreaking, excellent care provided by our team every day, Horton said in her own statement. I am thrilled to see the hard work of our team recognized with these international awards.

Localities with the lowest hospital bed capacity in Virginia Localities with the lowest hospital bed capacity in Virginia #50. Alexandria city, VA #49. Franklin city, VA #48. Winchester city, VA #47. Lexington city, VA #46. Fauquier County, VA #45. Wythe County, VA #44. Prince Edward County, VA #43. Manassas city, VA #42. Albemarle County, VA #41. Montgomery County, VA #40. Petersburg city, VA #39. Danville city, VA #38. Lee County, VA #37. James City County, VA #36. Henrico County, VA #35. Loudoun County, VA #34. Lynchburg city, VA #33. Prince William County, VA #32. Fairfax County, VA #31. Portsmouth city, VA #30. Russell County, VA #29. Giles County, VA #28. Salem city, VA #27. Roanoke city, VA #26. Spotsylvania County, VA #25. Charlottesville city, VA #24. Arlington County, VA #23. Bedford County, VA #22. Shenandoah County, VA #21. Essex County, VA #20. Chesterfield County, VA #19. Richmond city, VA #18. Norfolk city, VA #17. Newport News city, VA #16. Hopewell city, VA #15. Virginia Beach city, VA #14. Mecklenburg County, VA #13. Page County, VA #12. Chesapeake city, VA #11. Augusta County, VA #10. Buchanan County, VA #9. Hanover County, VA #8. Franklin County, VA #7. Warren County, VA #6. Smyth County, VA #5. Washington County, VA #4. Suffolk city, VA #3. Stafford County, VA #2. Fredericksburg city, VA #1. Wise County, VA
Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has admitted fraud at a court hearing after prosecutors charged him with failing to declare millions of dollars held in a trust in Singapore to Britains government
This tiny fleck of paint, taken from the Mona Lisa is revealing insights into previously unknown steps of the artists process. Credit: Adapted from the Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07000

Leonardo da Vinci is renowned to this day for innovations in fields across the arts and sciences. Now, new analyses published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society show that his taste for experimentation extended even to the base layers underneath his paintings. Surprisingly, samples from both the "Mona Lisa" and the "Last Supper" suggest that he experimented with lead(II) oxide, causing a rare compound called plumbonacrite to form below his artworks.

An aura of mystery has surrounded the paints and pigments in da Vinci's studio, leading scientists to scour his writings and artwork to search for clues. Many paintings from the early 1500s, including the "Mona Lisa," were painted on wooden panels that required a thick, "ground layer" of paint to be laid down before artwork was added. Scientists have found that while other artists typically used gesso, da Vinci experimented by laying down thick layers of lead white pigment and by infusing his oil with lead(II) oxide, an orange pigment that conferred specific drying properties to the paint above. He used a similar technique on the wall underneath the "Last Supper"a departure from the traditional, fresco technique used at the time. To further investigate these unique layers, Victor Gonzalez and colleagues wanted to apply updated, high-resolution analytical techniques to small samples from these two paintings.

The team performed their analyses on a tiny, "microsample" previously obtained from a hidden corner of the "Mona Lisa," as well as 17 microsamples obtained from across the surface of the "Last Supper." Using X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy techniques, they determined that the ground layers of these artworks not only contained oil and lead white, but also a much rarer lead compound: plumbonacrite (Pb 5 (CO 3 )O(OH) 2 ). This material had not previously been detected in Italian Renaissance paintings, though it'd been found in later paintings by Rembrandt in the 1600s. Plumbonacrite is only stable under alkaline conditions, suggesting that it formed from a reaction between the oil and lead(II) oxide (PbO). Intact grains of PbO were also found in most of the samples taken from the "Last Supper."

While painters were known to add lead oxides to pigments to help them dry, the technique has not been proved experimentally for paintings from da Vinci's time. In fact, when the researchers searched through his writings, the only evidence they found of PbO was in reference to skin and hair remedies, even though it's now known to be quite toxic. Though he might not have written it down, these results demonstrate that lead oxides must have had a place on the old master's palette, and might have helped create the masterpieces we know today.

More information:

Victor Gonzalez et al, X-ray and Infrared Microanalyses of Mona Lisa's Ground Layer and Significance Regarding Leonardo da Vinci's Palette, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07000

Provided by American Chemical Society
FLORENCE  As a partner in nursing education for the region, McLeod Health has made a contribution to an area nursing school  a $25,000 gift to Central Carolina Technical College.

Nursing represents the nations largest health care profession and the largest component of hospital staff.

By the year 2030, South Carolina will be one of four states with a nursing shortage of more than 10,000, according to an analysis by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Additional nurses will be needed to care for the aging population, who typically have more medical problems than younger people.

The need for health care services is increasing as the number of aging baby boomers continues to grow, said Kim Jolly, chief nursing officer for McLeod Health Clarendon. As a result, more nurses are needed to educate and care for patients than ever before. It is crucial for our health care organization to support the education program at Central Carolina Technical College so that we can continue to educate nurses for years to come.

We value our partnership with CCTC as they prepare our future nurses to provide compassionate medical care to our patients and families, Jolly said. We are honored to invest in our students, our employees, and our community as CCTC continues advancing educational opportunities.

McLeod Health recognizes the value of our nurses contributions to patient care, said Jolly. They do so much to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently in our hospitals. Providing patient advocacy, promoting a safe environment, and participating in shaping health policies and patient education are also key nursing roles. With competent nurses as part of the medical team, McLeod Health is capable of carrying out its mission of providing quality health care for patients in the region.

Central Carolina Technical College offers multiple stackable credential certifications in the area of allied health that allow students to progress in the field of nursing. CCTC students can choose to go directly into the two-year ADN program to become a registered nurse. With the stackable credentials models, students can start with the medical assistant or phlebotomy program, move on to earn higher certification, and then transition into the colleges ADN program, which prepares students for the registered nurse boards.

We are extremely grateful for this generous gift from McLeod Health, said Dr. Kevin Pollock, Central Carolina Technical College president. With the hospitals continued support, we will be able to create a mutually beneficial academic-practice partnership where we maximize our resources, maintain cost-effective education and continue supplying frontline health care workforce to the communities we serve.
Maggie Wilson, the former Philippines candidate for the Miss World 2007, announced that her mother was arrested on Oct. Wednesday, Oct. 11.

The Filipino-British model confirmed this incident via her official Instagram account's stories. She said that Sonia Nales was arrested because of carnapping allegations.

Based on her statements, she blames her ex-husband, Victor B. Consunji, for what happened to her beloved mom.

Maggie Wilson Blames Ex-Husband for Arrest Against Her Mother

According to Rappler's latest report, Maggie Wilson posted a series of IG stories about the arrest made against her 64-year-old mother.

She explained that the arrest was one of the strangest things happening in her life and her family, especially since her mother doesn't have a driver's license and has no driving capabilities.

Because of this, she questions the actions of police officers who arrested her mother.

"A few moments ago, multiple police officers came to arrest my mom," said the model.

"My mother has looked after OUR son and YOU through thick and thin. You've hit a new low," added Maggie via her official Instagram story.

She added that she is now unsure how to tell her son (with Victor) that her husband had the child's mother and grandmother arrested because he can no longer control her ex-wife.

Based on Maggie's statements, she is blaming her estranged husband for the latest issue. This just shows that the feud between the former couples is far from finished.

The Filipino celebrity promised Philippines residents that she would continue documenting the events that have been happening for the past weeks.

Maggie Wilson claimed that the government and the justice system wouldn't listen to their arguments. Because of this, she is relying on the world to listen to her family.

"One man is about to bring great shame to our country," she warned.

Read Also: Britney Spears Dancing With Knives Video Update: Pop Singer Says Police Abuses Power After Welfare Check

Filipino Netizens Support Maggie, Bash Ex-Husband



In one of Maggie Wilson's Instagram posts, many Filipino netizens shared their support for the model. One of them said that Maggie was "scammed" by her husband after promising a 20,000 PHP monthly stipend, which the celebrity claims she didn't receive.

Another Pinoy fan said that she fears for Maggie's son because the kid has a father like Victor. The netizen added that the mode's estranged husband could be detrimental to the child's mental health and overall well-being.

Meanwhile, others criticized the promised stipend of Victor Consuji, questioning why it was only 20,000 PHP despite him being a magnate.

These are just some of the comments made by Filipino netizens about the latest issue between Maggie and her ex-husband. You can click here to learn more about their opinions.

Related Article: Jada Pinkett-Smith Reveals Secret 7-Year Split from Will: 'We're Still Figuring It Out'

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Close-up shot of Emmanuel Macron, France's president, during the NATO summit on July 12, 2023 in Vilnius, Lithuania. .

About two years after the Pegasus scandal drew back the curtains to reveal the lengths governments can go to spy on their citizens, another investigation has revealed that the EU has a spyware problem bigger than we could possibly imagine.

According to Donncha O Cearbhaill, Head of Amnesty Internationals Security Lab, Predator "is arguably worse" than similar NSO-developed software. This is primarily because the tool wasn't just used across the EU this time, but was developed, sold, and exported by EU-based firms mainly operating across France, Ireland, and Greece.

Now, a joint year-long investigation by media partners from the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) and Amnesty International's Security Lab can reveal the failures of the EU in regulating highly lucrative and unethical surveillance business.

A EU-based spying alliance

"The Predator Files investigation shows what we have long feared: that highly invasive surveillance products are being traded on a near industrial scale and are free to operate in the shadows without oversight or any genuine accountability," said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals Secretary General.

What is Predator spyware?

malware

Predator spyware is a highly invasive phone hacking software, designed to access all stored and shared data (such as messages, calls, photos, and passwords) while leaving no trace on the target device. It can infiltrate a smartphone via a malicious link or through tactical attacks launched on unsecure networks by nearby devices.

"It proves, yet again, that European countries and institutions have failed to effectively regulate the sale and transfer of these products."

The so-called Intellexa Alliance is, in fact, a group of companies among which many are EU-based and should adhere to EU laws. However, evidence suggests that this corporate spying consortium acted undisturbed for years with little or no transparency over its internal operations and business relationships.

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Signed-off in 2019, Amnesty explained the Alliance has evolved over time into "a complex corporate structure" with ties in many countries across the world. It comes as a commercial coalition mainly between two groups of tech companies, namely the Nexa and Intellexa group.

The Intellexa group was founded in 2018 by Tal Dilian, a former Israeli army officer, and some of his associates. It appears to be controlled by Ireland-based holding company Thalestris and includes other tech firms located across Cyprus, Greece, North Macedonia, and Hungary. The group produced the spyware software, all while describing itself as an "EU-regulated company."

The Nexa group, which mainly operated from France and the UAE, was revealed to have strong ties with President Emmanuel Macron. The company allegedly hired his former bodyguard and personal security adviser, Alexandre Benalla, to try to sell spyware to Saudi ArabiaMediaPart reporteda repressive government thought to have used Pegasus spyware to track and murder dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The group seems to have been operating since 2012 after it took over the surveillance business of the French firm Amesys.

Predator spyware started making headlines back in 2021, as the new surveillance-for-hire software was used to spy on journalists, civil societies, and politicians across Armenia, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Madagascar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Serbiaa CitizenLAb forensic report exposed at that time.

In 2022, an investigation around what's known as the Greek wiretapping scandal provided even more insights into state intelligence spying operations on political grounds conducted directly on EU soil.

Now, new evidence has revealed that at least 25 more countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa have been using the Intellexa alliances mass surveillance products to undermine human rights, press freedom, and social movements across the globe since 2007.

Their most prominent clients include notorious authoritarian regimes like Sudan, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Egypt, and Vietnam, together with European democracies such as Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

The Intellexa Alliance repeatedly claims to have "scrupulously respected export regulations" despite acknowledging the establishment of "commercial relations with far from perfect countries in terms of the rule of law," Amnesty reported.

How the EU can fix its spyware issue

So, how could such an intricate mercenary spying group with ties to European democratic governments have managed to conduct its shady business operations for so long?

According to experts at Amnesty, the opaque and complex corporate structure has helped Intellexa avoid accountability, transparency, and government regulation. The whole truth is that the EU should have done better in the aftermath of the Pegasus Project disclosures.

As Callamard explained, EU-based surveillance technology companies are subject to the EU Dual Use Regulation, a series of export controls aiming to prevent human rights harms linked with the sale of spyware and similar software.

At least 25 more countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa have been using Intellexa alliances mass surveillance products to undermine human rights since 2007.

Yet, "as the Predator Files investigation demonstrates, EU regulators are unable or unwilling to control and prevent human rights harms in relation to the export of spyware," she said.

In March 2022, the European Parliament even formed the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) with the scope of regulating the use of spyware technologies. However, experts lamented a lack of political will among EU member states to come up with a unified response to the issue.

There's also the problem around the technical features of Predator spyware and similar software, which are designed to leave no traces and prevent any independent audits over potential abuses. Once again, this seems to show, as Amnesty put it, that "human rights abuse is a feature of the industry, not a bug."

That's why a call to completely ban the use of spyware technology get stronger and stronger. Callamard said: "There is only one possible conclusion: given the ineffectiveness of the regulation, proven time and time again, the use of highly invasive spyware like Predator must be outlawed."
Anafa Ifshitcl was in Kathmandu when the news of the attack by Hamas in Israel broke last Saturday. With no direct flights to her home country, she took a 22-hour bus travelling around 1,100km from Nepal to Indias capital Delhi.

I just got a flight back to Israel, [almost] all of the flights got cancelled, she tells The Independent, standing in a dingy back street near Chabad House, a Jewish community centre in the heart of the city. I hope I make it to Israel because a lot of my friends were kidnapped in the [Supernova] party or died.

Ifshitcls brother, who is serving in the Israeli army, is among those who disappeared in the weekends fighting and has possibly been taken hostage, she tells The Independent. We dont know what happened with him or with his team  This is just a terrible situation.

Having already served two years in the Israeli army, she is now racing to return in the hopes of serving again.

I plan to come back to Israel and do whatever I can, she says. If its not in the army and they dont need me because they have enough people, then there are so many other things to do.

The killing of more than 1,200 people in the carnage by Hamas on 7 October was followed by Benjamin Netanyahus declaration of war against Gaza as he vowed to exact revenge.

It has been followed by hundreds of retaliatory Israeli strikes from air and sea, leading to the death of over 1,400 people in Gaza.

Israel has also announced a complete siege on Gaza, cutting off water, food and power to the enclave that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, until the hostages are freed. A ground offensive by the Israeli military is widely expected to follow.

Israeli police and security forces assist a journalist taking cover during an alert for a rocket attack in the southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

The Israeli military says it has seen a huge response to its call for 360,000 reservists to mobilise, with men and women like Ifshitcl flocking back to their home country from all over the world.

At least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the military. The Israeli embassy in London said it was understood those who travelled were reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

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We have had a 150 per cent attendance of reservists, IDF spokesperson Major Nir Dinar tells The Independent. That means people who havent been called up came. I saw an 80-year-old who served in the IDF spokesperson unit during 1973 [the Yom Kippur war] turn up for duty, he said no one called him  I just came.

Israelis living abroad are trying to respond to the aftermath of the attack in other ways as well. Those who cannot return are raising contributions to buy military gear, clothing, food and household supplies for families back home.

A young boy walks past felled trees and destroyed structures in Gaza City on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

Rabbi Jonathan Leener told the Reuters news agency that he received a total of $5,000 within an hour of putting out a call for donations among his small Brooklyn synagogue community.

It was enough to buy supplies including sleeping bags and toiletries that he aims to donate to the IDF.

"I think people here feel somewhat helpless being so far away, so the response from people has been really dramatic in the best way possible," the rabbi said, noting that many community members have immediate family in Israel.

Philanthropists and members of the business community have pledged monetary donations to support humanitarian efforts in the country.

A woman mourner reacts outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

Billionaire investor Yuri Milner said on Tuesday that his philanthropic foundation would donate $5m to the Jewish Agency for Israel, a non-profit organisation, to provide emergency aid and long-term rehabilitation.

Mike Bloomberg promised to match all donations to Magen David Adom, an Israeli disaster relief and emergency medical service organisation. Bloomberg had matched $7.5m of donations as of Wednesday, a spokesperson said.

The Israeli army has said it is ready for a ground incursion into Gaza as soon as it gets the political green light, even as the United Nations warned of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Danielle Alarme (left) and Achana Chasnao cut short their six-month-long trip to India to return to Israel (Namita Singh/The Independent)

Tamara al-Rifai, spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency, said nearly 180,000 displaced people, fleeing airstrikes, had taken shelter in 88 UN schools in Gaza in just two days.

No humanitarian aid has been getting in because of Israels total siege and the fact the border with Egypt had been closed. It is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding, she said.

Additional reporting by agencies
(Vermont State Police)

Police have released a sketch of a person of interest wanted for questioning in the murder of a beloved former college dean who was killed while hiking on her favorite trail near the Vermont State University campus.

Honoree Fleming, 77, a retired dean of education, was found dead on 5 October. She died from a gunshot wound to the head and her death has been ruled a homicide.

On Wednesday, a composite sketch was created from witnesses accounts of a man they saw on the trail before they came across Flemings body while they were hiking, Captain Scott Dunlap, commander of the Vermont State Police major crime unit, announced during a press briefing.

Weve had witnesses that came across him acting very strangely, oddly, Dunlap said, but did not give additional details. More than one person saw the man but Dunlap would not say how many.

The police captain called the sketch their best lead yet, as no suspects have been identified nearly a week after the shooting.

Its somebody that we want to talk to in regards to her death, Dunlap added.

The man was described as being a 5-foot-10 (1.78-meter) white male with short, red hair, who appeared to be in his 20s. He was wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, and is considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Rail Trail Killing Vermont (Vermont State Police)

Flemings husband, award-winning author Ron Powers, has been posting updates on his Facebook page as he tries to process his grief.

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 wrote following the shocking news of her death.

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.

Her husband later wrote that the rail trail was one of her favourite walks.

On Monday, before the sketch was released, Mr Powers wrote that his grief counselor, who has been a liaison between himself and the police, said the first people to come upon Honorees body were two rail trail walkers, a middle-aged husband and wife.

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The woman ran for help. The man stayed with Honoree. She was clearly dead, but he stayed with her anyway. He knelt beside her and, I gather, tried to communicate to her that she was not alone, Mr Powers wrote.

I have not met this man, this couple. I dont know their names. The counselor believes that it would be unwise to meet them in these first few heartbreak-drenched days. But I will meet them. Dean and I will meet them. And we will say our thanks.

Honoree Fleming was married to Pulitzer Prize-winning Ron Powers (Ron Powers/Facebook)

The crime has shaken the small college town of Castleton as police warn the public to remain vigilant and said they dont yet know if the shooting was random or targeted.

Students and residents in Castleton were being told to lock their doors and stick together.

Just be vigilant and you know if you see something say something. Please report it," Dunlap said Wednesday.

Fleming was a retired dean and professor of education at what was called Castleton State College and is now the Vermont State University Castleton Campus.

She 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.

She died just a few days before the couple was due to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.

(The Times Argus)

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.

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 wrote.

This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University, it continued. Honoree will be deeply missed.

Castleton, in west-central Vermont, is about 5 miles east of the Vermont-New York border in an area known for scenic mountain views and slate and marble quarries. The university, founded in 1787 was closed last week for fall break. Students were excused from classes when it reopened Monday, and classes resumed Tuesday.
About 4,000 security forces were deployed to seek out gang members (Handout)

With rifles, helmets, and bulletproof vests, about 4,000 soldiers and police on Wednesday encircled sections of two Salvadoran cities as part of a massive crackdown on gang activity.

President Nayib Bukele imposed a state of emergency in March 2022 that has seen tens of thousands of alleged gang members rounded up -- a move popular among the people, but which has alarmed rights groups.

"Since this morning, 3,500 soldiers and 500 police have established three security perimeters" in parts of Apopa and Soyapango, cities which abut the capital San Salvador, Bukele wrote on social media Wednesday.

Soldiers guarded entry points to the neighborhoods to block anyone trying to flee, while police went house-to-house asking for identity documents and even rental contracts -- as many gangsters seize houses from locals.

Some officers even took up positions in a small church, while others checked passing vehicles, an AFP journalist observed.

Gangsters are often identified by their tattoos or IDs if they have police records. Locals typically know who they are too, and might tip off the police.

Defense Minister Rene Francis Merino said the operation "is a response to a call from the population indicating that there are some gang members trying to reorganize" in the area.

"We are not going to stop until we capture the last remaining terrorist (gang member). We will not allow small remnants to regroup and take away the peace that has cost us so much," said Bukele.

The new anti-gang raid came as Congress approved later that same day a nineteenth extension of the country's state of emergency.

Bukele imposed the state of emergency, which allows arrests without a warrant, after a particularly bloody weekend in March 2022 left 87 civilians dead at the hands of gang members.

Since then, about 73,000 alleged gang members have been arrested. More than 7,000 were later released.

In February, Bukele inaugurated a mega-prison considered the biggest in the Americas, with a capacity of 40,000, in central Tecoluca.

Bukele is expected to seek re-election in February 2024.

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Midwest Honor Flight Fundraiser

Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S Lakeport, is hosting a fundraiser dinner for Midwest Honor Flight from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16. Sneakys Chicken, sides and dessert will be served. A free-will offering will be collected. 100 percent of the proceeds from the dinner will be directed to Midwest Honor Flight to fly Veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials placed in honor of their service to this country. Seven hundred veterans are currently on a wait list to fly to D.C. on an Honor Flight.

Pancake Breakfast

St. John Lutheran Church, 2801 Jackson St., will host a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21. This will be the last pancake breakfast of the year. Menu will include pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee, juice, milk, butter, syrup. Donations will help the church's community outreach effort and support other non-profit groups, including St. John's twice-monthly food pantry.

The Fabulous Blackwood Quartet

Trinity Lutheran Church, 220 Hardy St., Akron, Iowa, will host the Fabulous Blackood Quartet at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22. Free will offering hosted by the Akron Ministerial Association.

Community Wide Salad Luncheon

Peace Reformed Church, 4100 Outer Dr., will hold a Community Wide Salad Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, with Speaker Sister Shirley Finneran, Director of Lila Maes House. She will be speaking on the sex trafficking issue in the Siouxland area. This is a Potluck Salad, Bread, Dessert luncheon.

Fall Craft & Vendor Fundraiser

St. Luke Lutheran Church, 2039 S St. Aubin, will present a Craft & Vendor Fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4. Vendors & Crafters are called - $30 table fee. Bake sale items will be available. Call Michelle at 712-898-9349 to reserve your table. Free admission. Proceeds go towards the Youth Gathering trip to New Orleans.

Red Mass

Bishop Walker Nickless and the Sioux City Cathedral Parish will host a Red Mass Nov. 6 for workers in the legal profession. Bishop Nickless will celebrate the Mass at 5 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Epiphany.

Legal professionals and their families planning to attend are asked to RSVP to info@sccathedral.org. However, anyone who arrives without an RSVP is welcome to attend the Mass and the meal afterward.

The Man of the Shroud

Siouxland Catholic Radio will host an up-close experience of the most studied artifact of all time  The Shroud of Turin, what many believe to be the authentic burial cloth of Christ. The Man of the Shroud exhibit will include 42 beautifully designed panels. The exhibit will be on display at Siouxland Catholic Radio, located at 701 West Fifth St. (located in the historic St. Boniface Rectory and Social Hall) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14-16. This exhibit will raise the questions, Could the Shroud be the most important archaeological artifact ever found? Does it provide clues to what happened during the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus?

On Nov. 16, Shroud expert Jim Bertrand, M.Ed. of the American Confraternity of the Holy Shroud, will give two special presentations, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., plus a rare viewing of a Shroud replica. The replicas of the Crown of Thorns, whips, nails, and Holy Sponge used in the Passion of Our Lord will also be on display from Spirit Catholic Radio, KVSS, from Omaha.

The exhibit is being held in conjunction with Siouxland Catholic Radios fall pledge drive. The exhibit and presentation are free and open to the public. A free-will offering will be taken on Nov. 16 for the American Confraternity of the Holy Shroud and to help offset Bertrands expenses.

For more information on this exhibit, visit siouxlandcatholicradio.com/shroud-of-Turin or contact Siouxland Catholic Radio at 712-224-5342.

Citywide confessions

In an effort to encourage the Catholic faithful to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), the four Catholic parishes in Sioux City are collaborating on citywide confessions throughout the next year.

Each parish will host one of four come and go confessions in the next 10 months to remind Catholics that the sacrament is available throughout the year  not just during the liturgical (church) seasons of Advent and Lent.

Confessions will be available at the following locations from 7 to 8 p.m. and the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for confession participants to pray in adoration if they wish. Multiple priests will be present at each citywide confessions event.

Dec. 19 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany at 1000 Douglas St.

March 19 at Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Church at 4241 Natalia Way

June 18 at Sacred Heart Parish at 5010 Military Rd.

Pastors of the four parishes include: The Rev. David Hemann of Holy Cross Parish, which includes Blessed Sacrament and St. Michael churches; The Rev. David Esquiliano of Cathedral Parish, which includes the Cathedral of the Epiphany, St. Boniface and St. Joseph churches; The Rev. Brad Pelzel of Mater Dei Parish, which includes Immaculate Conception and Nativity churches, and The Rev. Tim Friedrichsen of Sacred Heart Parish

Food pantry

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays.
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SIOUX CITY  The former Danbury city clerk has pleaded not guilty of spending more than $175,000 in city funds for personal purchases.

Stacy Rockdaschel, 31, of Danbury, entered her written plea Wednesday in Woodbury County District Court to charges of ongoing criminal conduct -- commission of a specified unlawful activity, a Class B felony, and first-degree theft, a Class C felony. If found guilty as charged, she would face prison sentences of 25 and 10 years, respectively. A trial date has not yet been set.

The total of the purchases, court documents said, is between $177,468 and $209,646. During that time, $776 in late fees and finance charges were assessed to the city's credit card.

An Iowa State Auditor's investigation of the city's finances from March 2020 to May 2022 found nearly $100,000 in retail and wholesale purchases on the city's credit card. Rockdaschel, who was responsible for nearly all the city's financial operations, owned a boutique in Danbury at the time, an auditor's report said, and city officials had become concerned she was using city funds to buy items for her business, which closed shortly after she no longer had access to the city's credit card.

Rockdaschel is suspected of making more than 1,500 personal purchases using the city's credit card from numerous businesses, including Fashion Go, Amazon, PayPal and other clothing stores. She is accused of using city funds to buy women's and children's clothing, cosmetics, home decor items, wine glasses and scrapbooking supplies. Other purchases included tickets to the Omaha zoo, flowers, cat litter and food.

Rockdaschel also is accused of using city credit cards to pay for personal services to Facebook, Kickstarter, TikTok and Shopify.

The auditor's report found an additional $32,000 in city purchases during Rockdaschels tenure could not be accounted for, and an estimated $26,500 in utility cash payments was missing. The auditor also found thousands of dollars from rentals of a city shelter house were unaccounted for.

Rockdaschel was the city clerk from March 19, 2020, until her May 15, 2022, resignation. She was arrested Oct. 3 and was released from custody after posting a $25,000 bond.
LONDON  The European Commission on Thursday made a formal, legally binding request for information from Elon Musk's social media platform X over its handling of hate speech, misinformation and violent terrorist content related to the Israel-Hamas war.

It is the first step in what could become the EU's inaugural investigation under the Digital Services Act, in this case to determine if the site formerly known as Twitter is in compliance with tough new rules meant to keep users safe online and stop the spread of harmful content.

San Francisco-based X has until Wednesday to respond to questions related to how its crisis response protocol is functioning. Responses to other questions must be received by Oct. 31. The commission said its next steps, which could include opening formal proceedings and penalties, would be determined by X's replies.

Representatives for X did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The company's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, said earlier that the site removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and took down or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of content since the militant group's attack on Israel.

Yaccarino on Thursday outlined steps X took to combat illegal content flourishing on the platform. She was responding to an earlier letter from a top European Union official for information on how X is complying with the EU's new digital rules during the Israel-Hamas war. That letter, which essentially served as a warning, was not legally binding  the latest one, however, is.

"X is proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis," Yaccarino said in a letter to European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the 27-nation bloc's digital enforcer.

"While these actions are better than nothing, it is not enough to curtail the misinformation problem on X," said Kolina Koltai, a researcher at the investigative collective Bellingcat who previously worked at Twitter on Community Notes.

"There is an overwhelming amount of misinformation on the platform," Koltai said. "From what we have seen, the moderation efforts from X are only addressing a drop in the bucket."

Since the war erupted, social media was flooded with photos and videos of carnage, including haunting footage of Hamas fighters taking terrified Israelis hostage, alongside posts from users pushing false claims and misrepresenting videos from other events.

The conflict is one of the first major tests for the EU's groundbreaking digital rules, which took effect in August.

Breton fired off a similar letter Thursday to TikTok, telling CEO Shou Zi Chew that he has a "particular obligation" to protect child and teen users from "violent content depicting hostage taking and other graphic videos" reportedly making the rounds on the video sharing app.

He urged TikTok's leader to step up efforts at tackling disinformation and illegal content and respond within 24 hours. The company did not reply immediately to an email seeking comment.

Changes Musk made mean accounts that subscribe to X's blue-check service can get paid if their posts go viral, creating a financial incentive to post whatever gets the most reaction. He also gutted X's workforce  including its content moderation team.

Those changes are running up against the EU's Digital Services Act, which forces social media companies to step up policing of their platforms for illegal content, such as terrorist material or illegal hate speech, under threat of hefty fines.

"There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts," Yaccarino wrote in the letter posted to X.

She noted there are 700 unique Community Notes  a feature that allows users to add their own fact-checks to posts  "related to the attacks and unfolding events."

The platform has been "responding promptly" and in a "diligent and objective manner" to takedown requests from law enforcement agencies around the world, including more than 80 from EU member states, Yaccarino said.

Koltai said Community Notes are not an "end-all solution to curtailing misinfo" and there are gaps the feature just can't fill yet. "There are still many videos and photos on X that don't have notes that are unmoderated, and continue to spread misleading claims," she said.

Since Musk acquired Twitter and renamed it, social-media watchers say the platform has become not just unreliable but actively promotes falsehoods, while a study commissioned by the EU found that it's the worst-performing platform for online disinformation.

Rivals such as YouTube and Facebook also are coping with a flood of unsubstantiated rumors and falsehoods about the Middle Eastern conflict.

Breton also sent a warning letter to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook and Instagram parent Meta.

Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war
A leading doctors group on Thursday formally withdrew its approval of a 2009 paper on "excited delirium," a document that critics say was used to justify excessive force by police.

The American College of Emergency Physicians called the paper outdated and said the term excited delirium should not be used by members who testify in civil or criminal cases. The group's directors voted on the matter Thursday in Philadelphia.

"This means if someone dies while being restrained in custody  people can't point to excited delirium as the reason and can't point to ACEP's endorsement of the concept to bolster their case," said Dr. Brooks Walsh, a Connecticut emergency doctor who pushed the organization to strengthen its stance.

Earlier this week, California became the first state to bar the use of excited delirium and related terms as a cause of death in autopsies. The legislation, signed Sunday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, also prohibits police officers from using it in reports to describe people's behavior.

In March, the National Association of Medical Examiners took a stand against the term, saying it should not be listed as a cause of death. Other medical groups, including the American Medical Association, previously rejected excited delirium as a diagnosis. Critics called it unscientific and rooted in racism.

The emergency physicians' 2009 report said excited delirium's symptoms included unusual strength, pain tolerance and bizarre behavior and called the condition "potentially life-threatening."

The document reinforced and codified racial stereotypes, Walsh said.

The 14-year-old publication shaped police training and still figures in police custody death cases, many involving Black men who died after being restrained by police. Attorneys defending officers cited the paper to admit testimony on excited delirium, said Joanna Naples-Mitchell, an attorney and research adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, which produced a report last year on the diagnosis and deaths in police custody.

In 2021, the New York attorney general cited the emergency physicians' paper in a report on the investigation into the death of Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man. A grand jury rejected charges against police officers in that case.

Excited delirium also came up during the 2021 trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who later was convicted in the death of George Floyd. This fall, the term resurfaced during the ongoing trials of police officers charged in the deaths of Elijah McClain in Colorado and Manuel Ellis in Washington state. Floyd, McClain and Ellis were Black men who died after being restrained by police.

The emergency physicians group previously distanced itself from the term but stopped short of withdrawing its support for the 2009 paper.

"This is why we pushed to put out a stronger statement explicitly disavowing that paper," Naples-Mitchell said. "It's a chance for ACEP to really break with the past."

States with the highest rate of people killed by police States with the highest rate of people killed by police #51. Rhode Island #50. Connecticut #49. New York #48. Massachusetts #47. New Jersey #46. Pennsylvania #45. Illinois #44. Michigan #43. Iowa #42. Minnesota #41. New Hampshire #40. Virginia #39. Maryland #38. Delaware #37. Vermont #36. Ohio #35. Nebraska #34. Wisconsin #33. North Carolina #32. North Dakota #31. Indiana #30. Florida #29. Maine #28. South Carolina #27. Texas #26. Hawaii #25. Kansas #24. Washington #23. Georgia #22. California #21. Utah #20. Alabama #19. Oregon #18. South Dakota #17. Kentucky #16. Tennessee #15. Louisiana #14. Missouri #13. Mississippi #12. Washington D.C. #11. Idaho #10. Arkansas #9. Nevada #8. West Virginia #7. Wyoming #6. Montana #5. Colorado #4. Arizona #3. Oklahoma #2. Alaska #1. New Mexico
Int'l summit in Hong Kong highlights high-quality construction of Belt and Road

Xinhua) 13:19, October 12, 2023

HONG KONG, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Law Society of Hong Kong on Wednesday held the International Summit 2023 in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), focusing on high-quality construction of the Belt and Road.

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Fang Jianming, deputy commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR, and Paul Lam, secretary for justice of the HKSAR government attended the summit.

Lee said at the summit that the HKSAR government welcomes and fully supports the white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" published by the central authorities. Hong Kong will continue contributing to the efforts of building a global community of shared future under the BRI, he said.

Lee said that the national 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong's continued development as a center for international legal and dispute-resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region, which will consolidate its status as a global city contributing to the prosperity and development of the Belt and Road.

Liu said that for Hong Kong's legal community to better participate in the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road, it should work to defend the constitutional order of the HKSAR, promote the connectivity of rules and mechanisms in trade, investment, and transportation, among others, along the Belt and Road, better resolve cross-border disputes and further enhance Hong Kong's status as an international legal service hub.

Liu also called on it to leverage the policy benefits for legal practices in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and strengthen integration with the mainland legal sector.

Fang said that the commissioner's office will fully support the efforts by Hong Kong's legal community to set up the bridge for the connectivity of the Belt and Road markets, and enhance the connectivity of rules related to the Belt and Road.

Lam said that Hong Kong has always been an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the BRI. He called on Hong Kong's legal community to provide professional services for the development and implementation of the Belt and Road projects.

C. M. Chan, president of the Law Society of Hong Kong, expressed the belief that countries and regions would take the opportunities offered by the BRI to overcome challenges, promote peace, and work together to strengthen ties and safeguard common interests.

More than 800 government officials, experts, scholars, and business leaders from countries and regions along the Belt and Road participated in the meeting online and offline.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Following strikes by the terrorist organization Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition party leader Benny Gantz declared they had reached an agreement to establish an emergency unity government.

Gantz and Netanyahu met secretly for about 30 minutes at the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv. Then they stayed there to sort out specifics, according to a report by The Times of Israel.

What Is Specified in the Agreement?

Gantz and his fellow party members will be sworn in as ministers under the terms of the deal, which will last for the length of the conflict. Gantz is a former minister of defense as well as the former chief of staff of the IDF, a position shared with fellow National Unity party member Gadi Eisenkot. They will join Netanyahu and Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the security cabinet.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer will be an observer in the war cabinet, making room for opposition leader Yair Lapid to enter the government.

National Unity also included a clause that said the emergency government could not adopt any laws unrelated to the war. This clause seems to be a reference to the administration's very contentious plan to revamp the judicial system.

Whether or not it decides to join the war, National Unity has pledged its complete support to the government and security services.

The political landscape in Israel would alter dramatically because of this deal. Notably, Gantz has been advocating for Netanyahu's removal. He cited the hardline coalition's support of radicals, the prime minister's continuing corruption investigation, and the coalition's drive to remove judicial checks on the government as reasons for his disapproval.

See Also: British Airways Plane Makes U-Turn Before Reaching Tel Aviv; Suspends Flights to Israel

'Sheer Evil'

Hamas, which serves as the de facto authority in Gaza, launched a horrific onslaught against Israel on Saturday, October 7. The attacks killed over a thousand Israelis. More than 150 Israeli troops and civilians are being held prisoner, according to Israeli authorities. These prompted the establishment of an emergency government.

With Netanyahu promising a "huge price" for the assault on Israel, the IDF has begun a counteroffensive against Hamas.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden confirmed that Americans are among the captives held by Hamas militants and the victims of the terrorist assault on Israel. Likening Hamas to ISIS, he condemned the organization as "sheer evil."

Although it is estimated that Hamas militants have kidnapped over 150 persons, the US president did not specify how many of them were American citizens. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said afterward that the exact figure is still unclear.

Biden said in his statement that he had ordered his staff to meet and advise their Israeli colleagues on attempts to take back captives by sharing information and sending in extra US government professionals. He stressed that the security of the hostages held in Israel is his first responsibility as president.

See Also: Elon Musk Has 24 Hours to Handle Israel-Hamas War Propaganda, Disturbing Footage on X

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MITCHELL, Iowa (AP)  A northern Iowa man has died after getting trapped inside a grain bin.

Mitchell County Sheriff Gregory Beaver said in a Facebook posting that officers responded to a 911 call Wednesday afternoon at a grain bin. First responders arrived to find 69-year-old Dennis Ray Fischer of Mitchell trapped in the bin.

Rescuers tried for an extended period of time to free Fischer. He was pronounced dead at the scene. It wasn't immediately clear how Fischer became trapped.

Beaver urged farmers at harvest time to be aware of the danger of becoming trapped in a grain bin.
Nebraska Wesleyan University is teaming up with Lincoln Public Schools to provide more opportunities in the social studies department for teachers and students with a $1.9 million grant.

The grant awarded to NWU by the U.S. Department of Education will fund a three-year partnership program between the two institutions to provide free dual-credit and Advanced Placement courses for students, and allow current social studies teachers to apply for free college credit hours through the university.

Thousands of students across all middle and high schools at LPS will be impacted, said Jaci Kellison, K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist.

The program aligns with LPS All Means All Action Plan by not only making advanced honors courses more accessible to students, but by giving teachers a cost-free opportunity to learn, too, Kellison said.

It's going to remove barriers for them, she said. They can have access to really high-quality materials, high-quality teaching, that can continue through the opportunities that this grant is going to provide.

Starting in January, LPS middle and high school teachers who teach social studies can apply for the 60 available spots to earn 18 free hours of college credit at NWU.

Classes are set to begin next summer and will take place outside of teachers regular contract time during the school year so anyone can take advantage of the opportunity.

The classes are designed to prepare teachers to meet the needs of all students enrolled in social studies honors courses at LPS.

Those who successfully complete the program may be eligible to teach in the Wesleyan Honors Academy, a dual-credit program for students.

Kellison said she is excited to see social studies teachers from across the district come together through the program.

We already have a great community of social studies teachers in Lincoln Public Schools, Kellison said. No matter what school you teach at, no matter what grade level you teach at, you're going to have the opportunity to network and collaborate with folks from across the city.

In terms of students, the funding will provide scholars the opportunity to take college-level courses at Nebraska Wesleyan for dual credit at no cost.

The grant also covers the nearly $100 fee to take AP exams for students in United States history, human geography and American government.

LPS students will be able to attend free exam preparation sessions at NWU on Saturdays during the spring semester. There, they will have the chance to work with faculty to prepare for the tests, said Kevin Bower, professor of history at the university.

Bower, who leads the project, said the process to apply for the federal grant was strenuous. Nebraska Wesleyan and LPS began working on the application in May and didnt submit it until July, he said.

It really becomes almost a full time job for a number of people," Bower said.

Nebraska Wesleyan's was one of 25 awarded by the Education Department, and the $1.9 million it received makes it the largest competitive federal grant the university has received in a decade.

Now, Bower is just ready to get the program started.

My teaching has been enhanced, and my career has been enhanced, by working with LPS teachers for the last 17 or 18 years, he said. The chance to have all those folks in one place again, learning from one another, working together to figure out how to serve students, that generates a lot of excitement.
Will Hurd, a former Texas congressman whose biggest campaign moment came on an Iowa stage when he was booed for criticizing former President Donald Trump, has suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

It was an inevitable conclusion to his fledgling campaign that never gained much momentum. In a statement on social media Monday, Hurd threw his support behind Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador.

"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 said.

It was an ending that took no one by surprise. Hurd never got much support from Republican voters in Iowa or anywhere else, and he had almost no fundraising operation to speak of. His campaign raised a total of $273,000 through July.

With Hurd out of the running, joining Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who will be the next candidate to drop out of the race?

The long-shot candidates

First, let's look at some of the tiers that have emerged in this campaign. This isn't an exact science, but polling and fundraising can tell us something about who is viable in this race.

At the lowest level, the almost-certainly-won't-be-the-nominee tier, I'd place North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Larry Elder, Perry Johnson and Ryan Binkley.

They're all polling at 1% or lower nationally. For these five candidates, a moment of reckoning will have to come soon. Some of them (Burgum, Johnson, Binkley) can dedicate their vast wealth to keep the operation running even without grassroots support.

Some, like Binkley and Johnson, don't seem to be campaigning much at all. Hutchinson said recently he would consider ending his candidacy if he didn't reach 4% in polling in an early state by Thanksgiving, and I imagine some of the other candidates are having similar conversations.

I'd expect a few of these candidates will be out of the race before Christmas.

Trump challengers may consolidate

The next tier is a little more fuzzy, but I'd place U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on the next level up. These three are all polling between 2 and 4% nationally. Christie is banking on riding a wave in New Hampshire to a national victory, but that doesn't seem to be happening.

For these three, they're going to have a hard time winning or even breaking the top three in an early state, based on current polling. But there's plenty of time between now and the early primaries for them to break out of the pack.

They also have enough support and enough of an operation behind them to keep pushing into Super Tuesday, even if their campaigns aren't doing well. I don't expect any of them to drop out before the caucuses or even Super Tuesday.

Next, the candidates who seem to be at the top of the running to take on Trump, are Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy. There's a gulf between these three and Trump, but they all have distinct advantages that suggest they pose some level of a threat.

They're likely to stay in the race for a long time. At some point, though, the candidates who want to stop Trump from winning the nomination may need to consolidate around just one challenger. The contests in the early states could give us a signal of who that challenger is.

Then, of course, there's Donald Trump. He's polling at 58% nationally, on average. His support has steadily ticked up for months, and none of his many legal troubles or refusals to debate has made any negative impact on his support.

The primary is his to lose, so don't expect a concession from him any time soon.

What I'm reading

Nikki Haley expands Iowa footprint as debate performances fuel momentum (Brianne Pfannenstiel, The Des Moines Register): Nikki Haley is beefing up her Iowa operation in the hopes of taking on Ron DeSantis in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

Iowa Democrats release details of mail-in caucus plan (Tom Barton, The Gazette): Iowa Democrats will announce the results of their mail-in caucus on Super Tuesday after making a compromise on the process with the national party.
The Iowa Department of Education announced close to 19,000 education savings accounts (ESAs) had been approved through a new state program that allows families to use public funds to pay for private school tuition.

The number of students who used an ESA to attend private school this year, as well as the number of students who transferred out of public school to attend private school with an ESA, will not be made public until certified enrollment data is released in December, department officials said.

The state approved 18,893 applications for the program for this school year, according to a press release from the state Department of Education.

The Students First education savings account program, signed into law by Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in January, allows students to receive their full public per-pupil allocation, around $7,600, to pay for a private school tuition and related costs. The approval period for this year's program closed Sept. 30.

These numbers reflect that Iowans were hungry for educational freedom," Reynolds said in a statement on Thursday. "Empowering parents wasnt just a campaign slogan or empty rhetoric. It was a promise, and I am excited to say we are delivering.

The number reflects students who applied and were approved for the state assistance, not the number of students who used those accounts to attend a private school this year. Because of space limitations at private schools, not all of those approved may have attended private school.

If an approved student does not attend a private school, the money is returned to the states general fund.

For those students who are attending private schools this year with an ESA, department officials said the department has already begun sending payments to private schools for their tuition.

The number far exceeds legislative predictions for the program's first year. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency predicted around 14,000 applications would be approved in the first year, for a total cost of $106.9 million.

If each of the approved students attends a private school, the cost would increase by more than $35 million.

How many applied, and who was denied?

The total number of applications submitted for the program was 29,612, which is more than 500 more than was reported when the application window ended in July. The additional applications were from people who had already applied but had to restart their application, the Department of Education said.

Of the nearly 30,000 applications, 5,927 were denied because the family did not meet the residency or income requirements, the department said. Another 4,792 were duplicates or were closed voluntarily by the applicant.

Students coming from public school not announced

For its first year, the program was open to public school students and incoming kindergarteners at any income level, as well as private school students in families that have an income below 300% of the federal poverty line. By the 2025-26 school year, the accounts will be available to all students, regardless of income.

Department of Education officials said on Thursday they would not be able to provide the percentage of approved students who already attend a private school and who attended a public school until certified enrollment data is released.

In an August state Board of Education meeting, officials said they expected this years portion of approved applicants to be around 60% private school students and 40% public school students.

Which counties had the most ESA applications approved?

The state's most populous counties had the most approved applications, with four counties receiving more than 1,000 approvals. The top 10 counties are as follows:

 Polk County: 3,179

 Linn County: 1,344

 Scott County: 1,309

 Sioux County: 1,200

 Black Hawk County: 955

 Woodbury County: 930

 Dubuque County: 892

 Johnson County: 585

 Dallas County: 508

 Carroll County: 438

Democrats: Program hands millions to special interests

Legislative Democrats, who hold a minority in both the House and Senate, staunchly opposed the program when it was passed by Republicans earlier this year. They argued it would pull money away from struggling public schools and give it to unaccountable private entities.

In a statement on Thursday, House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights said Iowans are opposed to the program and want to see public money being used in public schools.

"The $139 million Reynolds is handing over to the special interests and private schools should be going to the kids in Iowas public schools," Konfrst said. "Iowans want us to focus on the real issues facing our students today. That means strengthening public schools, addressing Iowas teacher shortage, getting students the one-on-one attention they deserve, and expanding school-based mental health services to support students."

Iowa Sen. Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, called on Reynolds to release more information about how the accounts are being used.

"Iowa parents, educators, and communities deserve to know how many vouchers are actually being used in Iowa, who is taking advantage of them, and how much private vouchers are costing public taxpayers," Quirmbach said.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Grimes, said on Thursday the number of approvals show that there is a demand for the program in Iowa.

"It also shows a vast majority of Iowa students will continue to be educated in public schools. Senate Republicans will continue to provide sustainable increases in funding for all Iowa students and implement policies to make Iowa schools the best in the country," he said in a written statement.
The Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground invasion in Gaza as it pounds the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas. In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, following Thursday's visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Suffering in Gaza, meanwhile, rose dramatically with Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine and the territorys only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. Israel said Thursday that a complete siege would remain in place until Hamas freed 150 hostages taken during its incursion.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican Steve Scalise ended his bid to become House speaker late Thursday after hardline holdouts refused to back the partys nominee, throwing the GOP majority into deeper chaos and leaving the chamber still unable to function.

Scalise told GOP colleagues at a closed-door evening meeting of his decision and pointedly declined to announce backing for anyone else, including his chief rival, Rep. Jim Jordan, the far-right Judiciary Committee chairman backed by Donald Trump who had already told colleagues he no longer would seek the job.

Next steps are uncertain as the House is essentially closed while the Republican majority tries to elect a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job.

I just shared with my colleagues that Im withdrawing my name as a candidate for speaker-designee, Scalise, the House majority leader, said as he emerged from the closed-door meeting at the Capitol.

Scalise, R-La., said the Republican majority still has to come together and "open up the House again. But clearly not everybody is there.

He had been working furiously to secure the votes after being nominated by a majority of his colleagues, but after hours of private meetings over two days and late into the evening it was clear many other Republican lawmakers were not budging from their refusal to support him.

Asked if he would throw his support behind Jordan, Scalise said, "Its got to be people that arent doing it for themselves and their own personal interest.

Scalise spoke candidly of the perspective on life he said he has gained from surviving being shot in 2017 and said he would push quickly for a resolution. But it wasnt going to happen. It wasnt going to happen today. It wasnt going to happen tomorrow. It needs to happen soon, but Ive withdrawn my name, he said.

Frustrations were boiling over and some lawmakers simply walked away as the political crisis spiraled and now threatens to leave the Republican majority in turmoil for the foreseeable future.

Scalise had been laboring to peel off more than 100 votes, mostly from those who backed Jordan. But many hard-liners taking their cues from Trump have dug in for a prolonged fight to replace McCarthy after his historic ouster from the job.

The hold-outs argued that as majority leader, Scalise was no better choice, that he should be focusing on his health as he battles cancer and that he was not the leader they would support. The House closed late in the night, with lawmakers vowing to meet again early Friday.

McCarthy said afterward that Scalise would remain as majority leader but had no other advice for his colleagues. The California Republican had briefly floated a comeback bid but that seems uncertain.

I just think the conference as a whole has to figure out their problems, solve it and select the leader, he said.

The House is entering its second week without a speaker and is essentially unable to function during a time of turmoil in the U.S. and wars overseas, and the political pressure increasingly is on Republicans to reverse course, reassert majority control and govern in Congress.

The situation is not fully different from the start of the year, when McCarthy faced a similar backlash from a different group of far-right holdouts who ultimately gave their votes to elect him speaker, then engineered his historic downfall.

But the math this time is even more daunting, and the problematic political dynamic only worsening.

Scalise  who is seen by some colleagues as hero for having survived the 2017 shooting, when a gunman opened fire on lawmakers at a congressional baseball game practice  won the closed-door Republican vote 113-99.

But with the House narrowly split 221-212, with two vacancies, Scalise could lose just a few Republicans to reach the 217 majority needed in the face of opposition from Democrats who will most certainly back their own leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Absences heading into the weekend could lower the majority threshold needed.

We will come together and we will move forward for the good of the country, Jordan said afterward.

Attention now focuses on Jordan and his backers instantly revived calls for party members to get behind the Ohio Republican, who is a founding leader of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus.

Make him the speaker. Do it tonight, said Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind. Hes the only one who can unite our party.

But the firebrand Jordan has a long list of detractors who started making their opposition known. Other potential speaker choices were also being floated.

Some Republicans proposed simply giving Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was appointed interim speaker pro tempore, greater authority to lead the House for some time.

Rank-and-file Republicans left Thursday night's meeting angry, overwhelmed and with their heads spinning about what to do next.

Im a freshman caught up in this maelstrom, said Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo. Were a ship without a rudder right now. And Im thoroughly disappointed in the process. And I just pray to God that we find something.

Exasperated Democrats, who have been watching and waiting for the Republican majority to recover from McCarthys ouster, urged them to figure it out, warning the world is watching.

The House Republicans need to end the GOP Civil War, now, Jeffries said.

The House Democrats have continued to make clear that we are ready, willing and able to find a bipartisan path forward, he said, including doing away with the rule that allows a single lawmaker to force a vote against the speaker. But we need traditional Republicans to break from the extremists and partner with us.

As Congress sat idle, the Republicans spent a second day behind closed doors, arguing and airing grievances but failing to follow their own party rules and unite behind the nominee.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, said the meetings had been marked by emotional objections to voting for Scalise.

Some Republicans simply took their Chick-fil-A lunches to go.

Earlier in the day, Jordan had given his most vocal endorsement yet to Scalise and announced he did not plan to continue running for the leadership position. But it was not enough to sway the holdouts.

Handfuls of Republicans announced they were sticking with Jordan, McCarthy or someone other than Scalise.

Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, reaffirmed his support for Trump as speaker; the position does not need to go to a member of Congress.

Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, repeatedly discussed Scalise's health during a radio interview that aired Thursday.

Well, I like Steve. I like both of them very much. But the problem, you know, Steve is a man that is in serious trouble, from the standpoint of his cancer, Trump said on Fox News host Brian Kilmeades radio show.

Scalise has been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer known as multiple myeloma and is being treated.

I think its going to be very hard, maybe in either case, for somebody to get, Trump said. "And then you end up in one of these crazy stalemates. Its a very interesting situation.

Many Republicans want to prevent the spectacle of a messy House floor fight like the grueling January brawl when McCarthy became speaker.

But others said it was time for Republicans to get out from behind closed doors and vote.

Stop dragging it out, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on social media. If Kevin McCarthy had to go 15 rounds then the next Speaker should be able to do the same or more if they have to.
1 Say cheers to beers!

The third annual 712 Brew Fest will give beer aficionados a chance to sample more than 100 beers, seltzers and ciders under one roof, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Tyson Events Center, 401 Gordon Drive. There will also be plenty of food trucks if you like noshing while youre imbibing.

2 A Philly Favorite!

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, native Shane Gillis won a 2016 Phillys Funniest contest at the Helium Comedy Club. Yes, we do agree that Helium is a stupid name for a comedy club. Luckily, Gillis career bounced back from that. In fact, hell be at the Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St., for a 7 p.m. Saturday show.

3 Tats & Laughs!

Ginger Billy is tattooed, frequently shirtless and loves NASCAR. It may go without saying but the dude is also from South Carolina. An internet sensation, the redheaded Mister Billy will be playing at 6 and 9 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos Anthem, 111 Third St.

4 Metal mayhem!

For some reason, Halloween is the perfect time for heavy metal music. Hey, you wouldnt want to see Hell Vendetta, Spiral Doubt or Fatal Fall singing Christmas carols. Instead, all three bands will be at the Marquee, 1225 Fourth St., for a 7 p.m. Saturday show.

Yummi Blox Peggy La of Yummi Blox

5 Speak out, eat out!

Yummi Blox and Siouxland Public Media will be hosting a special Amplify Welcoming Siouxland event in which participants can tell their origin stories. This will take place from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 700 West Seventh St. Stick around and grab a bite from one of Yummi Bloxs food trucks.

6 Its fall, yall!

Make candles, drink cider and pig out on some homemade beef stew. Those things will be on the agenda when the Betty Strong Encounter Center, 900 Larsen Park Road, hosts a Fall Fest from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.
When Martin Scorseses Silence was released in 2016, I wrote that, though I ardently hoped it would not be his last, that meditative and deeply personal film would have made a fitting capstone to an illustrious career. In the seven years since, the now octogenarian master, his career well into its sixth decade, has made both another sweeping big-screen epic, The Irishman, and a project for the small screen, the playful semi-documentary Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story.

Killers of the Flower Moon is a cathedral of a movie, cavernously huge in ambition and scale, yet oddly intimate in its effect on the viewer.

If he wanted to spend the remainder of his life resting on his laurels as one of the most beloved and influential artists in any medium, while continuing to be a force in the world of film preservation and a supporter of up-and-coming cinematic talent, his repose would be more than well-earned. But as is clear from Scorseses soul-searching recent interviews (the one upside of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike is that, by keeping actors from promoting new releases, its given us extra Marty face time), the director of Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, After Hours, The Age of Innocence, Goodfellas, The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, and [insert your own celebrated masterpiece and/or underrated genre experiment here] has never been one for laurel-lounging. With Killers of the Flower Moon, an adaptation of the nonfiction bestseller of the same title by David Grann, Scorsese explores what is for him new terrainhis first Western, only his second feature (along with Kundun) to foreground the lives of nonwhite characters, and one of the few (alongside The Age of Innocence and Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore) to place the experience of a female character, in this case the Osage woman Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone), at or near the center of the story.*

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Killers of the Flower Moon is set during the 1920s, when a series of brutal murders stretching over years sowed a climate of fear across a swath of oil-rich Oklahoma territory legally belonging to the Osage Tribebut primarily and corruptly controlled by white businessmen, lawmen, and con artists. Like Silence, Killers of the Flower Moon is a cathedral of a movie, cavernously huge in ambition and scale, yet oddly intimate in its effect on the viewer. But if Silence was a cathedral in the austere Romanesque style, Killers is full-on Gothic, its surface a profusion of gargoyles, monsters, sinners, and saints.

Killers setting, a lonely stretch of prairie dotted with frontier settlements (Gray Horse, Pawhuska, Fairfax, and a disreputable gambling outpost called Whizbang), has something in common with the urban jungles that have often served as the location for this filmmakers work. In these unpaved mean streets, social hierarchies are overturned as well-off Osage families build and furnish grand houses, wear their wealth in the form of jewels and furs, and get around town in fashionable cars chauffeured by white servants. The intertitles of a silent newsreel that appears early on capture the combined sense of amusement and resentment that this carnivalesque reversal of norms creates in the wider culture. But for all their economic might, the Osage lack political and social poweror more accurately, the freedom to exercise that power, since many holders of underground mineral rights, including Mollie and her family, require white guardians to access their own money.

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Partly as a result of this legal setup, marriages between Osage women and white men in the territory are not uncommon. Two of Mollies sisters already have white husbands, so its no family scandal when Mollie marries her hired driver, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), newly arrived in town after military service in World War I. Ernests uncle is William King Hale (Robert De Niro), a powerful local rancher with a longstanding connection to the Osage community. Call me King, this soft-spoken yet lordly man tells his nephew by way of welcome. The ostensibly intimate moniker turns out to be a chilling sign of both Hales authoritarian nature and the far reach of his influence.

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From the start, Ernest and Mollies relationship has an economic element that both parties fully acknowledge. As he sweet-talks her late one night at her graciously appointed dining-room table, she parries his flirtation with the dry observation that Coyote wants money. But her joke is a form of flirting too, and Ernest laughingly acknowledges his appreciation for lifes finer things. A good deal of time is spent early on establishing this fact, which will later become the movies aching heart: For all the racial, social and economic divides that make their marriage fraught with the potential for exploitation, Mollie and Ernest are in love.

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Unlike Granns suspensefully constructed book, Scorseses adaptation never withholds the truth behind the two-dozen-plus murders that will eventually tear through the community. From the start we see how Hale manipulates the gormless Ernest, and hear how the older mans pious speeches at Osage religious and social events contrast with his private machinations. But the conspiracy to destroy Osage lives and capture Osage wealth extends its tentacles much farther even than Hales circle of influence. Gradually the magnitude of the scheme expands to include the local doctors, two brothers who also happen to be the areas go-to undertakers; the insurance companies that make it easy for white settlers to collect hefty settlements on Indigenous lives and property; and the complicity, whether through malevolence or systemic neglect, of local, state, and federal officials. Late in the film, an officer from the United States newly formed Bureau of Investigation shows up at the Burkharts door to ask questions about the unsolved murders in Osage country, and what has for two-plus hours been a love story embedded in a portrait of organized crime suddenly morphs into a heart-pounding courtroom drama, as the weak-willed Ernest flails between his fear of his powerful uncle and his real, if twisted, loyalty to his broken, bereaved, but still trusting wife.

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An early draft of the script, like Granns book, paid considerable attention to the federal investigator Tom White (Jesse Plemons), whom DiCaprio was at first slated to play. But in part at the actors suggestion, Scorsese and his co-screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, Munich, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the 2018 A Star Is Born) did a complete rewrite, focusing instead on Mollie and Ernests marriage and reducing Whites role to the final hour of the film. Scorsese has said that this change was crucial to discovering what Killers of the Flower Moon should be: not a cops-versus-bad-guys whodunit but a template for that tragedy of love, trust, and betrayal of the Indigenous people. Without ever hammering the point home, the film makes Ernests monstrous betrayal of Mollie a kind of scale model for the foundational American crime of Native American genocide, one that leads us to sense our own complicity in this vast web of violence.

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Related From Slate Does the Pioneer Woman Really Own All the Land from Killers of the Flower Moon? The Real Story Is Stranger. Read More

Whats hard to convey in the format of a review is the enveloping, overpowering experience of watching Killers of the Flower Moon. The opening scene, in which an outdoor Osage ritual is interrupted by the sudden explosion of a geyser of black oil, is accompanied by a soaring score by Robbie Robertson, a part-Indigenous Canadian musician and longtime Scorsese friend who died earlier this year. The cinematography, worthy of an Old Master painting, is by Rodrigo Prieto (The Wolf of Wall Street, Silence, The Irishman). The almost dementedly intricate production design, created by the legendary Jack Fisk in his first collaboration with Scorsese, brings the past to life in the smallest and most unexpected details, such as a billiard parlor that contains its own in-house barber station. The costumes, splendidly imagined by Jacqueline West, also deliver jolts of surprise: Mollies wedding outfit, while based on a historical photograph, fits into the times popular image of neither a white nor an Indigenous woman.

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The sense of idiosyncrasy and specificity that makes this film feel so different from a standard period Western comes not just from the craft side, but from the performances. As played by the stupendous Lily Gladstone, Mollie is quiet, watchful, reservedbut never stoic or pitiably long-suffering in the style of a stereotypical onscreen Indian. We see her experience longing, lust, grief, suspicion, forgiveness, and fury, even as shes obliged to conceal her true feelingsand the extent of her awareness of the deceit all around herin order to survive in a white-controlled world. Scorsese has been criticized in the past for failing to deliver female characters as complex and believable as the men his movies usually showcase. In the portrait of Mollie Burkhart, embodied by a performer as intuitive and artful as any hes ever worked with, he has outdone himself. DiCaprio, too, gives a career-best performance as the deservedly miserable Ernest, who lacks both the brains and the backbone to resist the pernicious influence of his uncle (played by De Niro with a malignant cunning that cant help but evoke some of the skilled practitioners of false piety in our current political moment). In the late scenes where Plemons straight-laced investigator interrogates Ernest with cool efficiency, the DiCaprio characters stammered self-contradictions and cowardly reversals even provide some dark and much-needed comedy.

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At 3 hours and 26 minutes, Killers of the Flower Moon makes for a long sit even for those whove grown used to our era of ever-extending runtimes. It is never dull, though the scope of the storytelling and the sheer quantity of side characters are so enormous that the movie requires a fair amount of focus and concentration on the viewers part. My only substantive critique of this sublime motion picture is that, as befits an epic on the David Lean scale, it could have used an old-school intermission. This would have provided a break for the audiences backs and bladders, but just as importantly, it could have allowed the jumbo-sized story a bit of room to breathe. I can even pinpoint the place in the narrative where such a pause might have made sense, perhaps accompanied by that gorgeous score as a way of keeping the audience anchored in the movies world.

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Ill end not with the statement that Killers of the Flower Moon could stand as a worthy swan song for its creator (though that is certainly true), but with a profound wish that the swan keep singing. Scorsese has already spoken about his desire to adapt another nonfiction book by David Grann, The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder, and also chatted with no less a world figure than the Pope about making a film about the life of Jesus, something hes done before with 1988s controversial The Last Temptation of Christ. Killers ends on a breathtaking stylistic swerve, an epilogue that recasts the tale of the Osage murders in a storytelling medium other than film. Ill preserve the beautiful surprise of this sequence by noting only that it represents an unprecedented moment of self-disclosure and self-critique from an artist keenly aware of the moral responsibility he bears in recounting a true-crime story in which his ancestors, and those of any white member of the audience, were on the side of the criminals. His passion to keep making work that expands his and our sense of what art can and should do, and his ability to turn out one of the best films of his career this late in life, is proof that he is more than equal to the task of carrying on.
You know a horror drama is flailing when its final episode pauses for a character to deliver a long lecture on Viagra, the Supreme Court, air pollution, and single-use plastics. Great horror stories culminate like a clockwork trap, with an inevitability that makes words almost superfluous. Mike Flanagans The Fall of the House of Usher, newly released on Netflix, resorts to multiple gassy monologues explaining why all these terrible things had to happen.

The Fall of the House of Usher is something of a return to form for Flanagan, and thats unfortunate. Of the four miniseries he has made for Netflix (Im not including The Midnight Club, which was co-created by Leah Fong and intended to last longer than one season), three have been inspired by classic works of fiction: 2018s The Haunting of Hill House (based on Shirley Jacksons novel), 2020s The Haunting of Bly Manor (based on Henry James The Turn of the Screw), and this latest, very loosely based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. The three adaptations were uneven at best. The exception, 2021s Midnight Mass, an original work about an island community bedeviled by strange nocturnal phenomena after the arrival of a charismatic young priest, was so superior to its predecessors that it suggested Flanagan had tapped into a new wellspring of authenticity and depth. The Fall of the House of Usher, frustratingly, once more shackles him to source material thats simply incompatible with his own gifts.

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This time around, Flanagan has spun out Poes story about an aristocratic British brother and sister sequestered away in a moldering mansion into a saga of self-made American hubris. The fabulously rich Ushers command a pharmaceutical company whose star product, an opioid, has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. The Ushers insist that the drug isnt addictive or harmful when used as directedexactly what the real-life Sackler family (an apparently irresistible subject for TV dramatists) claimed about OxyContin. The series opens with a despairing Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood) summoning the investigator-turned-DA (Carl Lumbly) who has pursued him in vain for decades. All five of Rodericks adult children have died within the past few days, andopening a bottle of obscenely expensive cognac in the derelict home of his childhoodthe drug magnate is finally ready to tell his story.

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Unlike the generation of Sacklers who brought OxyContin to market, Roderick and Madeline Usher (a sublimely icy Mary McDonnell), fraternal twins, came from nothing. Their mother, secretary to the head of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals, became pregnant by her boss, who never acknowledges their paternity. Flashbacks depict how the twins clawed and double-crossed their way to the top of the company (our birthright, as Madeline calls it) in spite of many obstacles. Madeline remains childless, but Roderick has two children by his first wife, and three illegitimate kids from mistresses and hookups, all raised as his own.

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Related From Slate How Scary Is The Fall of the House of Usher, the New Show by the Creator of The Haunting of Hill House? Read More

Allusions to Poe come thick and fast. At the funeral for Rodericks children, the priest delivers an atmospheric but incoherent eulogy cobbled together from Poes poetry and fiction. Rodericks first wife is named Annabel Lee, Fortunatos loyal fixer is called Arthur Pym (an unrecognizable Mark Hamill), and the investigator who doggedly seeks to bring the Ushers to justice is C. Auguste Dupin, after the central character in the first modern detective stories, a genre Poe invented. The Usher children each die by means derived from iconic Poe stories: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Black Cat, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death, and so on.

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None of these citations have much resonance. As with The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, Flanagan has taken works that are fundamentally about the horror of loneliness and turned them into occasions for florid family melodrama. He loves nothing so much as a pack of squabbling siblings; an unpleasable, authoritarian patriarch; a wronged and saintly mother. The characters in Poes stories, like the characters in Jacksons and James, feel cast out beyond the circle of human fellowship, slipping off the edge of the world and into the abyss. Flanagans characters are crowded, jammed together until they cant help but lash out at each other. The scares in The Fall of the House of Usherand there arent a lot of themmostly come in the form of apparitions suddenly shoving their melted or mutilated faces up in Rodericks grill. In Flanagans universe, the problem with people isnt that you cant hold onto them. Its that you cant get free of them.

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Theres nothing wrong with an adaptation that takes liberties with the original, but why pick material so alien to your own sensibility that it gives you next to nothing to work with? Midnight Mass, the only genuinely frightening miniseries among Flanagans four for Netflix, is also the only one in the quartet that doesnt feel forced. Community has its horrors, too, and Flanagan seems more intimately acquainted with these. In the insular village on Crockett Island, you cant live down the worst mistake youve ever made or avoid that malevolent neighbor youve been feuding with for years. The same Catholic congregation that provides some residents with comfort and hope makes others feel oppressed or excluded. The promise of a religious revival conceals the poison of an ancient curse.

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Although Flanagan has described his Catholic upbringing as healthy, its no coincidence that the most accomplished of these four miniseries puts Catholicismthe cannibalistic iconography of the Eucharist, the archaic hierarchy, the irradicable burden of sinat its center. (When, in his latest show, a young Roderick and Madeline attend a costume party at which two guests are dressed as bishops, you have to wonder if Flanagan himself doesnt recognize it, too.) If theres a Catholic vein in horror, Flanagan makes for an excellent example. A preference for gore over introspection, drama over ennui, the notion of evil as a force of tremendous vitality that must be met with equivalent vigorall of these qualities seem to come more easily to him than a morbid, WASP-y preoccupation with decay and death.

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Perhaps this disconnect explains why The Fall of the House of Usher often seems unsure of its moral center. It soon becomes obvious that a shapeshifting demonic entity (Carla Gugino) is out to get the Ushers, specifically Rodericks children. Why? Well, theyre all fairly terrible people, cruel and selfish, who treat other people as a means to their ends. Most of them are extravagantly kinkyProspero (Sauriyan Sapkota) stages high-end orgies, Tamerlane (a poor mans Shiv Roy, played by Samantha Sloyan) hires hookers to enact scenes of domestic tenderness with her husband while she masturbates, Camille (Kate Siegel) makes engaging in a nightly threesome a job requirement for her two assistants. Napoleon (Rahul Kohli) does drugs and hates cats, and even the seemingly mild-mannered Frederick (Henry Thomas) turns into an unhinged sadist when he finds out his wife attended one of Prosperos parties.

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But there is an original sin in this story, only revealed at the end. You can get the gist of it straight off, though: Theyre greedy! Rich people are greedy. The demonic entitywhose name, Verna, is an anagram of raventakes a break from her depredations to explain that humanitys problems are self-inflicted. Starvation, poverty, disease, she tells Pym, you could fix all of that with just money, but you dont. If you took just a little bit of time off from the vanity voyages, pleasure cruising, billionaire space racehell, if you stopped making movies and TV for one year, and you spent that money on what you really need, you could solve it all with some to spare. Debatable, but not explosively soits the kind of canned sermonizing thats barely worthy of a Twitter thread, let alone a denouement. Perhaps Flanagan himself doesnt believe in it. Hes still making TV, after all. Just not the sort of TV that does justice to his source material or, more importantly, to himself.
After a monkey received a genetically altered pig kidney and lived for almost two years, researchers declared it a great advancement in the area of organ transplantation.

The research is the most recent product of collaboration between the US biotech firm eGenesis and Harvard Medical School, where experts are exploring the use of genetically modified pigs to address the critical shortage of organ donors for people worldwide.

As eGenesis CEO Dr. Michael Curtis put it, this "extraordinary milestone" might lead to improved results for the countless patients needing critical organ transplants.

Breakthrough in Organ Transplantation

For decades, researchers have tried to answer whether organs from other species can be successfully transplanted into humans without the recipient's immune system rejecting them.

In the most recent study, kidneys from Yucatan miniature pigs were transplanted into macaques after being genetically modified using the gene-editing tool CRISPR. These adjustments eliminated pig viruses that may be triggered in transplant patients and reduced the risk of organ rejection.

The results of the experiment, which included the removal of 21 monkeys' kidneys and the subsequent implantation of a single genetically engineered pig kidney, were published in the journal Nature.

In most cases, monkeys barely lived for 24 days after having three genes in their kidneys altered to prevent immunological rejection. After having seven human genes that prevent blood clotting, inflammation, and other immunological responses implanted into them, the monkeys lived an average of 176 days longer than usual.

Researchers claim that one monkey lived with the transplanted organ for almost two years, or 758 days, after receiving medication to suppress the immune system.

According to Curtis, eGenesis is already well on its way to meeting the 12-month animal survival criterion set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they can begin human clinical trials.

The Yucatan miniature pig is used as a donor because, at full size, its kidneys are comparable to those of an adult human. The kidneys implanted in the monkey study were just two or three months old.

Also Read: Breakthrough Blood Tests Could Make Early Detection of Alzheimer's a Reality

Pig Organs for Human Transplants

Harvard Medical School professor Tatsuo Kawai, who co-authored the paper, said the modified pig organs were likely to do better in humans than monkeys as they are a better match.

So far, two people have gotten hearts from pigs, according to The Guardian. The first was David Bennett, who passed away in 2022, only two months after undergoing surgery. The second recipient, 58-year-old Lawrence Faucette, is doing well after receiving a new heart on September 20. He had suffered from advanced cardiac disease and is in recovery.

One of the pioneering heart transplant surgeons, Professor Muhammad Mohiuddin of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has advocated for the use of genetically engineered pig organs in clinical studies involving humans. A lack of human organs has led to the need for clinical translation of this crucial technology, he said.

Also Read: CRISPR Gene Editing: How Scientists Use It to Improve Chicken Resistance to Bird Flu

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In the years since Donald Trump was elected, a variety of Republican politicians, writers, and think tanks have declared that his positions constitute a new kind of conservatism. Its often referred to as the America First ideology and accompanied by the claim that the GOP is, or is becoming, a party for working people rather than the establishmentand that the interests of working people dont include intervention abroad.

A central plank of the America First platform, born out of candidate Trumps claim that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake, is that MAGA Republicans shouldnt support endless war or forever warparticularly the deployment of U.S. troops in the Middle East, or the provision of weapons and other aid to Ukraine. While president, Trump himself had to be talked out of withdrawing from NATO, the U.S.s most significant commitment to common international defense; earlier this year, he claimed to object to the perpetuation of the war in Ukraine on humanitarian grounds, arguing that he would negotiate its end in short order were he to hold office again. Senators such as Missouris Josh Hawley and Ohios J.D. Vance have denounced the U.S.s support for the besieged European nation as a waste of resources that would be better put toward security at the U.S.Mexico border or deterring China, while Hawley has complained about the United States involvement in constant intervention around the world and its massive, permanent presence in the Middle East. The abortive America First Caucus in the House wrote in its would-be founding manifesto that sending taxpayer money outside of the nation is generally an unwise undertaking and an entanglement that rarely provides any benefit to our citizens.

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More broadly, this wing of the party has been dismissive of the idea that regular Americans have an emotional interest in the protection of populations abroad. In their view, concern for the plight of Ukrainians is sometimes denounced as an affectation of globalism-friendly cosmopolitans who identify more with the interests of elites in other countries than with regular Joes and Janes in the heartland. As Vance famously told right-wing operative Steve Bannon during last years Ohio Senate primary, I dont really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other. (He has since said the invasion of the country was a tragedy and that he is sympathetic to what Ukrainians are experiencing.) Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who now heads an organization called America First Legal, told Tucker Carlson with disdain that Ukraine support was the product of a fetish in Washington for the citizens of foreign countries.

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These positions have appealed to the conspiratorial, online alt-right, whose members believe the Ukraine war has been orchestrated by globalists, neoconservatives, or just plain Jews in order to profit from military spending or inflict death and immiseration on white populations. Given the tendency of conspiracy theories to overlap, some of the individuals who hold these beliefs have coalesced behind the presidential candidacy of anti-vaccine ex-Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has said that Russia was acting in good faith toward Ukraine before it was provoked into war by the U.S. (He, too, has denounced the actual invasion as brutal.) RFKs profile on X (formerly Twitter) says that, as president, he would end the forever wars.

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Taken all together, there is enough anti-Ukraine feeling on the right that, in late September, the Biden administration and Democrat-controlled Senate felt obligated to agree with the Republican-controlled House on a short-term government funding compromise that didnt include the $6 billion in additional Ukraine aid that had initially been planned.

Put simply, though, the isolationists response to Hamas attacks on Israel has not been isolationist. The Heritage Foundation, despite its America First turn under the leadership of new director Kevin Roberts, has announced that it stands with Israelwhich, in context, as Emily Tamkin explained in Slate on Tuesday, is a phrase that implies support for current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government, which has been aggressive in its push to extend Israeli settlements into areas of the West Bank previously reserved for Palestinians. Vance said in a statement that the U.S. should stand with our allies in Israel as it strikes back against Hamas with overwhelming force. Hawley has called for shifting military funding from Ukraine to Israel because the latter faces an existential threat, and RFK Jr.s statement about the matter said that the U.S. should take unwavering, resolute, and practical action to support a sustained military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

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(Not everyone is on board. Alt-right figures Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec have warned vaguely but darkly that factions within the United States will attempt to use the Hamas attack as a pretext for launching an attack on Iran. RFK Jr.s statement was hammered by commenters accusing him of creating a new forever war.)

Whats the rationale for supporting Israel but not Ukraine? To be generous, one might argue that Israel is a more established U.S. ally than Ukraine, that involvement in a conflict with a global power like Russia has more potential strategic downsides than involvement in a conflict with Hamas, and that the exclusive targeting of civilians by a nonstate actor is a more blatant violation of international order than the invasion of a neighboring country over a historic territorial dispute. Said Victoria Coates, a former adviser to Trump and the Heritage Foundations vice president for national security and foreign policy: One can make a moral case for supporting Israel based on shared values, a shared history of democracy, but the case is also very practicalits intelligence-sharing capabilities, its strategic position in the eastern Mediterranean projecting both east and west, its contribution to the stability of international energy markets. (She also observes that Ukraine, unlike Israel, could be reasonably expected to draw non-U.S. support from European neighbors and allies.)

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Related From Slate Donald Trump Continues to Twist What It Means to Be Conservative Into Total Incoherence Read More

Being less charitable, though, one might suggest that support for Netanyahus government might be related to the increasingly rightward arc of his career. Netanyahu has formed a coalition with Israels most extreme religious parties, attempted to consolidate constitutional power through reform proposals that have triggered widespread domestic protests, and hosted visits by right-wing leaders like Vladimir Putin and Hungarys Viktor Orban, whose policies have been cited as a model for the American right by intellectuals like Vance and Carlson. Carlson and figures like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz have contrasted what they see as American softness and liberalism with the purportedly robust state of traditional Christianity, masculinity, and resistance to cancel culture in Putins Russia. Trump, a noted admirer of Putins ruthless style, helped advance Netanyahus belligerent domestic interests by moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The relative treatment of Israel and UkraineRussias enemyisnt a contradiction if the actual issue at stake, rather than the protection of American resources, is the expression of solidarity with leaders who share an America Firstlike interest in ethnic purity, cultural conservatism, and the rollback of democratic institutions.

This might not be what motivates every conservative drawing a distinction between the two countriesCoates says shed be calling for military aid for Israelis at the moment regardless of where its government stood on the leftright continuum. But it also wouldnt be the first time that a nominally defensible conservative policy goal was carried along by a darker undercurrent. Perhaps the lesson of recent days is that there is no Republican isolationist movementjust a transition toward a new, more brutal kind of internationalism whose alliances are only beginning to form.
The look on my counselors face told me something was wrong. She asked if I had seen the news, then slid a pack of papers through the bars. The shock and horror of the moment were paralyzing. According to the reports, my 21-year-old son Hunter had tried to join ISIS and was arrested by the FBI at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

No parent wants to see their kid arrested. But there is a twisted agony in your child being arrested while you sit in a prison cell. I wanted to do something, anything, in that moment. If only I could talk with him, scream at him, or comfort him. In all my years spent in prison, I never felt so helpless. All I could do was sit on my bunk and cry.

I remember the 7-year-old Hunter who existed before I came to prison. He cared about everything. He was the kid who shuffled bugs off the sidewalk so they wouldnt get stepped on by accident. I remember him sitting in front of the TV watching Star Wars and then running around for days confirming all communication with Roger Roger. He was bright, expressive, and beautiful.

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I know my son as I know himbefore the state and his mother kept him from any contact with me for more than 10 years. And I know his arrest was a direct result of my absence in his life.

I wish I were the only father who knew this pain. A 2022 Prison Policy Institute report showed there are 1,252,100 children in America with a parent in state prison. The National Institute of Justice calculates that children living with a carceral legacy are six times more likely to end up incarcerated. This leaves hundreds of thousands of children set up to be the next generation of prisoner, and a lot of parents in our prisons crying on bunk beds.

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Intergenerational incarceration has left an indelible impact on my life. Like my son, I grew up with a father in prison. In 1997, my father and older brother were cellmates at Folsom in California. While they were in Folsom, I was confined within the same prison that holds me today. This makes Hunter the third successive generation of my family to be incarcerated.

Children living with a carceral legacy experience reduced life chances stemming from disadvantages that affect every element of their growth, development, and socialization. This legacy often cripples their ability to transition into adulthood as a functioning member of society. Having a parent in prison is listed as one of several forms of childhood trauma, according to a Centers for Disease Control classification of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

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Related From Slate The Surgeon General Is Right That Loneliness Is an Epidemic, but He Missed One Major Cure Read More

Well before Hunters arrest, I knew what he was facing. In an attempt to unpack what went wrong in my life, I became familiar with how my fathers incarceration impacted me. To raise awareness on this topic, I gave a speech titled What Are the Chances? at the annual Concerned Lifers Organization conference in 2018. In it, I explored the battle my son would face as a result of my incarceration. I spoke about the burden I placed on him and the consequences we face as a society with so many similarly situated children being set up for failure.

The human and capital costs of mass incarceration are hard to measure with raw numbers but can be seenand feltthrough the personal impact on families and communities. We observe this most acutely in the lives of children with incarcerated parents. They deal with stigmatization, shame, and bullying from other children, and they are especially susceptible to the harms of what criminologists call labeling theory.

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I experienced all of this growing up. Labeling strongly shaped the future I envisioned for myself by pointing me toward the failures of my father. I cannot tell you how often I heard I was just like my father. It was such a prevalent conversation that my mother and her friends called me Rerun. My dads side of the family called me Little Ray, and my father, Ray Sr., was Big Ray, by default.

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Comparisons between a child and a parent are natural and can have positive outcomes when the father is a doctor, or some other noble profession. But when the father is a prisoner, the effects of labeling are often detrimental. And when labeling is used with the intent to denigrate the child, the effects are devastating.

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When I was 11 years old, I was in the hospital with a burst appendix. During this time, a nurse filed a report with Child Protective Services stating that my mother and stepfather had been witnessed calling me a wimp. They had said I was stupid and told me I would end up in prison like my dad.

While my experience is strikingly toxic, and I would like to believe unique, I know it is not. Many children face labeling similar and even identical to mine. Its easy for children living with a carceral legacy to see prison as a destination for their lives and take on assigned roles, acting out antisocial, destructive behavior that leads directly to future incarceration. I think this is, in part, what happened with my son, and I know it happened with me.

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While my judgment and sentence confines me within the Department of Corrections, a court did not explicitly sentence my son to life without a father. Depriving a child from an incarcerated parent is an extralegal action having no basis in law or policy. It stems from an ideology asserting that, since I came to prison, I dont deserve to have a relationship with my son. However, this is just another way of saying that, because I came to prison, my son doesnt deserve to have a father. This ideology is directly responsible for exacerbating intergenerational incarceration.

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Growing up, I knew nothing of my father other than the bad things my mother told me. She was allowed to keep me completely out of his life while he was in prison. Maybe my father had something of value to give me when I was a child. I cannot say. What I can say is that I had a lot to offer my son, and his mother keeping him from me was an injustice.

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From age 7 until age 17, every attempt I made to contact my son failed. During these crucial years, I spent my life in prison teaching a self-awareness course and mentoring others. While I was guiding troubled young people, helping them overcome the adversities in their lives, my son was left without my guidance when he needed me most.

When contact was finally established with Hunter, his mother expressed deep regret for her earlier decision. Im sure it was not easy for her to admit this, and I believe her when she says she thought she was making the best decision for him. She subscribed to an opinion prevalent in society, the same as my mother did, and we are all living with the fallout from this error.

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My son was looking for some place, any place, to belong. Just like we all do. Many children living with a carceral legacy find that place with street gangs or fringe groups; others turn to addiction or destructive lifestyles. Too many find a place to belong they did not bargain for. Hunter thought hed found his place in radical Islam, and instead found himself in prison like his father, and his father before him.

We need to recognize the harms wrought by intergenerational incarceration and build social support structures and community-based programs to help mitigate them. This work could start with a focus on easing lines of communication between children and incarcerated parents. Additionally, we must deconstruct ideologies that assert mothers and fathers in prison are, as a consequence of their location, unable or unfit to parent.

Children will benefit from simply knowing they are loved, and many incarcerated parents have more to offer than those on the outside realize.
The second-biggest question in the Capitol right now is who will be the speaker of the House. The biggest question is simply: Why would anybody want to be the speaker of the House at this point?

By Thursday afternoon, there was still seemingly no clear path to Rep. Steve Scalise getting the 217 votes he needs to secure the joband there didnt seem to be a way forward for anyone else, either.

Whoever wins will have to deal with a seemingly unmanageable Republican conference, the expiration of government funding in just over a month, multiple geopolitical crises in Israel and Ukraine, and a host of other day-to-day issuesall while trying to hold on to a paper-thin majority, with 18 members in districts won by Joe Biden and another member who has introduced six different bills to impeach Biden.

The job also comes with the constant risk of being deposed at any time and the urgent necessity to spend free time crisscrossing the country to raise money. It comes with a nice gavel, sure, but you can buy one of those online for $20 without any of the aggravation of having to manage the egos of 220 other members of Congress (not to mention one very mercurial resident of Mar-a-Lago).

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But, for whatever reason, on Thursday, Scalise still seemed intent on trying for the job even after 36 topsy-turvy hours where he had both earned the title speaker-designate and endured repeated failures in his efforts to win a floor vote. [Update, Oct. 12, 8:24 p.m. ET: Scalise told reporters Thursday night that he was dropping out of the speakers race.]

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On Wednesday, before the process to elect a new speaker began, members of Congress received a classified intelligence briefing about Hamas brutal terrorist attack on Israel over the weekend that left over 1,200 Israelis dead. This nominally would have been a reminder of the perilous state of American governance when the lack of a speaker prevents the House of Representatives from functioning.

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From there, Republicans walked to a spacious committee room in a congressional office building to debate the rules of their leadership election and pick a candidate. The scene around was a circusit wasnt just that the room was surrounded by the entire Capitol Hill press corps, but that it was taking place in a congressional office building during office hours. Delegations of visiting lobbyists tramped through the halls as Republicans were quizzed by dozens of reporters about their vote and tourists crowded along with the press to see what the buzz was about.

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Members were made to check their cellphones before entering the meeting under the very justifiable assumption that they would leak information in real time about what was happening if given the chance. Their phones were originally placed into numbered Manila envelopes, and staffers dug frantically through bins to find the right phone as members left the room. Eventually, cubbies on wheels were rolled up to hold peoples phones, further constricting the already jammed corridors. The scene after the meeting ended resembled a silent auction if it was held at rush hour in a New York subway station, with members of Congress holding up numbered slips of paper as staffers frantically searched for the matching cubby.

Inside the room, the first task was to decide the rules. Traditionally, House Republicans would accept the decision of a majority of their conference. However, in light of the rather unusual circumstances at present, there was an attempt to change the rules to try to bind at least the 217 Republicans necessary on the floor of the House during the meeting through a rather elaborate multistep process. Scalises camp was strongly opposed to this, and it failed. Then the conference voted on the nominee: Scalise versus Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. The Louisiana Republican eked out a narrow victory of 11399, with another 11 members either voting present or for a candidate not on the ballot.

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There was an immediate hope that, with a majority backing a single candidate, things could quickly proceed to a floor vote. This was not the case. For one thing, now that there is clear precedent for any handful of members to block a speaker or remove him, it has given permission to all Republicans to mount their own personal coups.

Speaking on Tuesday night, Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas noted to reporters that former speaker Kevin McCarthy received the support of 94 percent of House Republicans when the motion to vacate was offered, and he was removed. The Texas Republican said that, after McCarthys ouster, he felt no pressure to unite around the conferences choice. So now youre gonna try to convince a guy like me that just says 51 percent? he said, referring to the percentage of people who voted for Scalise on Wednesday. You just get behind that guy? I wont do it.

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Members were discontent with Scalise for a variety of reasons. Some were unhappy with how aggressively his team whipped against the rules change. Others had more curious objections. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted that she would not vote for Scalise because he was suffering from cancer; Rep. George Santos tweeted that he was for ANYONE but Scalise because the Louisiana Republican never called him.

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Scalise, for this part, had made progress with some of the skeptics who thwarted McCarthy on ballot after ballot in January. Even Rep. Matt Gaetz was backing him, saying in a Twitter Spaces conversation that Scalise was a major improvement over McCarthy.

But the whip count was ever-shifting. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who was one of the 20 who thwarted McCarthy in January, told reporters late Wednesday that she would be supporting Scalise because he would allow her to aggressively pursue three key priorities: defunding special counsel Jack Smith, issuing a congressional subpoena to Hunter Biden, and forcing a floor vote on impeaching Joe Biden. But hours later on Twitter, she said would only back Scalise for a single ballot on the floor without mentioning him by name, and after, that there was a need for a consensus candidate. By Thursday afternoon, she had flipped again, tweeting I will no longer be voting for scalise.

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Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota expressed his displeasure with the state of his party. He noted this kind of intra-Republican division hadnt just defined the speakers fight in January, but that its been every week around here. In his view, its been really, really hard for this Republican House to govern. We have incredibly tight margins. And, frankly, some members who have a hard time getting to yes on almost anythingon almost every week.

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On Thursday, the cycle began again. House Republicans checked their phones into another cubby to debate their leadership in a basement room in the Capitol and enjoy catering from Chik-fil-A while endlessly debating what would happen next. The meeting eventually broke up without anything concrete being achieved except the promise of further meetings in the days to come.

Leaving the room, Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California reflected that the only motivation he could see for anyone wanting to become speaker would be that they hadnt had enough root canals over the past two years. He added that if someone with the desire to be speaker managed to get the 217 votes necessary on the floor, that means they have the confidence of a broad section of the conference for at least three weeks. After that, it would just be more root canals.
The Israel-Hamas war has provided an opportunity for Donald Trump to demonstrate once again, more forcefully than usual, that he has no business being president of the United States.

At a rally on Wednesday in South Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, derided the countrys defense minister as this jerk, and touted Hezbollah as very smart.

Netanyahu deserves plenty of criticism for his policies toward Palestinians; for ignoring signs of a growing threat from Hamas in Gaza; for leaving the fence dividing Israel from Gaza insufficiently guarded to focus more on protecting settlers in the West Bank. He will almost certainly be ousted from power once the war is over.

Still, as every world leader knows, now is not the time to hammer Netanyahu, much less any other Israeli official, or to cast doubt on Israels strength. Benny Gantz, the Israeli opposition leader and former army chief of staff, who a week ago wouldnt have sat in the same room with Netanyahu, has now joined him in a unity government, at least for as long as the war lasts. Trump seems not to understand that as a former and possibly future president of Israels top ally, he should at least keep his mouth shut.

But Trumps problem with Netanyahu isnt even about the current war. Ill never forget, Trump said to his cheering crowd in Florida, that Bibi Netanyahu let us down by not taking part in the 2020 assassination of Iranian Quds Force leader Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. That was a very terrible thing, Trump went on, adding, We did the job ourselves  and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.

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The implication of this remarkand others throughout the speechwas that Israel is hopeless and hapless without Donald Trump in the White House. He claimed, as he has claimed about nearly every crisis in the world, that this crisisHamas surprise attack on Israel last weekendwould not have happened if he were still president (or, as he put it, if the 2020 election hadnt been stolen). He also blamed President Biden for letting the terrorist attack happen, in part because he reports to his boss, whom Trump identified as Barack Hussein Obama, Barack HUSSEIN Obama.

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Trumps ignorance and arrogance is more appalling the more closely you examine his speech. He not only criticized Israels intelligence failure last weekendsomething that many Israelis have donebut attributed it to Israels weakness, saying they have to strengthen themselves up  because theyre fighting potentially a very big force. Theyre going to have to step up their game.

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Trump criticized Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as this jerk for warning Hezbollah not to strike Israel from the north. Trump suggested that, by doing so, Gallant might have planted the idea in the heads of Hezbollahs militiamen, saying theyre very smart, very smart. Perhaps Trump didnt realize that Hezbollah and its large arsenal of rockets are based in southern Lebanon, which is to Israels north, so that is where they would be attacking from no matter what. Should Gallant not have warned Hezbollah against attacking in general? Perhaps Trump doesnt understand deterrence.

Related From Slate When Trump Promises to End the Ukraine War, Heres What He Really Means Read More

The thing is, Trump doesnt realizeor maybe he does, but doesnt carethat the whole world is watching. European leaders have expressed nervousness at the prospect of a Trump victory in 2024, worried that he would not only cancel military aid to Ukraine, thus leaving the country to Vladimir Putins savagery, but also pull the United States out of NATO and other alliances, as some of his former aides say he would have done had he won in 2020.

Now, Israelis and others in the Middle East need to worryor chortle overhis intentions there as well. Israels communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, called it shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens. Asked if Trumps comments make it clear that Israel cannot rely on him, Karhi replied, Obviously.
On Oct. 4 at 2:20 p.m. EDT, the zombie apocalypse was supposed to begin, not with a bang, but with an unpleasant screeching sound coming from every phone in the United States.* At that precise moment, the multiyear plans of shadowy elites would finally become reality, and by using 5G mobile networks and the emergency alert system, they would turn vaccinated people into zombiesor so claimed a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that has been viewed over 10 million times.

Turn off your cell phones on October 4th. The EBS is going to "test" the system using 5G. This will activate the Marburg virus in people who have been vaccinated. And sadly turn some of them into zombies.  gina shirah (@GinaShirah81815) October 1, 2023

Even though many of the people who saw the post probably laughed it off as a random assortment of nonsense, there was nothing random about it. To people embedded in right-wing conspiracy culture, every part of that post made perfect sense, speaking to long-held fears and providing an opportunity for multiple conspiracies to all come true on a single afternoon. The Oct. 4 conspiracy, as outlandish as it was, is a microcosm of how conspiracy theories circulate, evolve, and become entangled in the contemporary social media environment.

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The idea that the zombie apocalypse would begin on Oct. 4 originated not on X but in a post on an alt-right Telegram channel called The Patriot Front. In late September, a QAnon influencer asked, IS THERE A Zombie Apocalypse activated by 5G towers on the way?!?! The answer was apparently yes, because the post then claimed that COVID-19 vaccines secretly had sealed pathogens that contained the Marburg and Ebola viruses and could be activated only by a specific signal from nearby 5G towers. That signal was supposed to be the national test of the Emergency Alert System, which the Telegram and X posts mislabeled as the EBS. The only way for a vaccinated person to avoid their deadly fate was to turn OFF ALL 5G devices before the test.

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On the surface, this seems like a straightforward story about a conspiracy theory that began with a post in late September and ended a week later, after the test alert failed to turn people into zombies or infect them with the Marburg virus. That telling of the story, however, doesnt explain why these types of conspiracy theories gain traction in the first place, or why a QAnon influencer decided that a routine test of the EAS was going to start the apocalypse. To understand that, we have to go back much further. The deeper story of this zombie apocalypse didnt begin in late Septemberit began years ago.

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To trace the moving parts of our uneventful zombie outbreak, Ill start with the EAS. The EAS is exactly what it sounds like: a system that government agencies can use to alert people to emergencies. In recent years, however, the EAS has been the target of various conspiracies. In 2018 QAnon followers spread the rumor that Trumps Presidential Alert test was a secret message to his supporters, and John McAfee, creator of McAfee antivirus software and a notorious conspiracy theorist, claimed that EAS alerts are capable of accessing the E911 chip in your phonesgiving them full access to your location, microphone, camera and every function of your phone. A few years later, QAnon followers warned that a routine 2021 test of the system could be used to locate vaccine deniers and put them in internment camps.

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5G networks have also been a frequent target of conspiracy theorists. Even before the networks were operational, people had already begun to spread rumors that they caused everything from cancer to infertility. Then, as the coronavirus started to spread in early 2020, conspiracy theories began to claim that 5G towers were actually causing the virusand that conspiracy gained broader attention after it was spread by celebrities such as Wiz Khalifa and Woody Harrelson. In a few cases, people destroyed 5G infrastructure because of COVID fears and threatened engineers who were working on 5G networks.

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Countless conspiracies about COVID vaccines began circulating before the vaccines were even available. Maybe the most evocative vaccine conspiracy is also the most relevant to the events leading up to Oct. 4: the false rumor that the vaccines included secret microchips or sealed pathogens. Somehow, Bill Gates became a key villain in the microchip conspiracy because of unrelated comments hed made years before the pandemic; conspiracy theories pointed to his comments as evidence that he had planned for the pandemic as a way to microchip the public. What had begun mostly as a joke about Bill Gates and microchips on a small subreddit went mainstream after Trump ally Roger Stone claimed, on a radio show, Whether Bill Gates played some role in the creation and spread of this virus is open for vigorous debate.  He and other globalists are definitely using it in a drive for mandatory vaccinations and microchipping people.

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Related From Slate On Wikipedia, Anyone Can Be a Model Read More

Many conspiracy theorists are like members of doomsday cults: They say the world is going to end on a specific date, and when the date passes and the world doesnt end, they just pick a new date. QAnon, for example, is filled with predictions of events on specific dates. Those dates pass uneventfully, but QAnon believers shrug them off and the conspiracies continue to transform and survive.

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Almost every time there is a routine test of the EAS, people warn that something awful is going to happen. The fact that nothing happens doesnt stop new conspiracies from arising when the next test is scheduled. After COVID spread to areas that didnt have 5G networks, conspiracy theorists didnt suddenly admit they were wrong and 5G was safethey just started to claim that 5G was built to activate microchips in vaccines. After hundreds of millions of people got the COVID vaccine and didnt turn into magnets because of microchips, the conspiracies survived and evolved yet againwhich is how we ended up the Emergency Alert System 5G vaccine zombie apocalypse.

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Conspiracy theories frequently rely on an (often dangerous) ability to creatively connect disparate threads into what seems like a coherent whole to believers; the Oct. 4 conspiracy combined at least three initially distinct conspiracies into a single narrative. In his book Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories, Rob Brotherton details how belief in one conspiracy theory correlates with belief in otherseven when theres no obvious logical connection between the theories. Or, as Jonathan Kay puts it in his book about 9/11 conspiracies, Among the Truthers, Scratch the surface of a middle-aged 9/11 Truther, and you are almost guaranteed to find a JFK conspiracist.

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The type of person who believes that EAS tests are part of a secret plot is far more likely to believe that 5G networks and COVID vaccines were created by shadowy elites as a form of population control. And the correlation often goes further than just believing multiple conspiracies. QAnon, for example, includes conspiracies about everything from satanism to John F. Kennedy Jr. faking his own death. Understanding the various threads of conspiracies often requires a strange kind of literacy and a complex understanding of histories that never happened.

Unfortunately, the fact that we didnt turn into zombies on Oct. 4 probably wont have much impact on future conspiracies about the EAS, 5G, or COVID vaccines. The enduring power of these conspiracies is that they can survive repeatedly being wrong; after all, they can only be wrong until the next time they have a chance to be proved right.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Twitter has never been the most popular social media platform. Its never been the coolest, its never had the most features, and its never been the biggest moneymaker. It has, at times, been the weirdest, and many groups given to high-velocity posting have maintained valuable communities there over the years. But Twitters X factorsigh, pun intendedhas always been its strength as a platform for news.

In moments of crisis, Twitter has been essentialno more so in times of bloody conflict. Not only do professional journalists relay on-the-ground realities, but so do eyewitnesses and citizen journalists. War being war, the fruits of Twitters role as an information funnel have never been perfect. But theyve been a helpful first draft of the news.

In contrast, under the ownership of Elon Musk, who bought the platform for $44 billion last October, the platform now called X has become a vortex of false claims and doctored footage. Its a fog-of-war machine.

Thats been the unmistakable reality in the days after Hamas deadly terrorist attack on Israeli civiliansa land, air, and sea operation that has killed at least 1,200 people in Israel and led to another 900 deaths in Gaza following Israels military retaliation.

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Musks changes to the foundation of how Twitter works have not only rendered Twitter useless as a means of making sense of the conflict as (or even hours after) it unfolds, but made it actively counterproductive for users trying to figure out whats going on. As Musk and Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino have rolled back the platforms rules of engagement and rid their ranks of the content-moderation teams and tools that actually keep X trustworthy, theyve also put in place a system that fundamentally incentivizes the spread of misinformation during times of mass panic and confusion, in part because X is now a platform that pays for viral content.

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The end result is that Twitter, more so than any other platform right now, is fertile ground for a new kind of war profiteering.

On Oct. 8, the day after the initial Hamas attack, an account called @AGCast4 posted a video supposedly showing a Hamas rocket attack in Israel. The BBC journalist and fact-checker Shayan Sardarizadeh debunked it: The footage wasnt from the ongoing conflict or any real-life war but from the video game Arma 3. The account wasand still isverified with a blue check mark.

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Two days later, the investigative outfit Bellingcat, known for its visual forensics work, had to debunk some fake news  about itself. A doctored BBC video was circulating on social media, claiming that Bellingcats journalists had confirmed Ukrainian weapon sales to Hamas. Weve reached no such conclusions or made any such claims, Bellingcats official account wrote on Twitter. In a screenshot, Bellingcat showed that a Twitter account called Geopoliitics & Empire had shared the video. Like the account that posted video game footage, this account was also verified with a blue check mark. (The account owner deleted the post and called it an honest mistake, simultaneously posting a meme captioned We are going to be famous.)

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If a user had taken even a yearlong hiatus from Twitter and redownloaded the app this week to follow the goings-on of the emerging war, theyd be disoriented. Why are these accounts posting nonsense, and why are they allowed to do so without any ramifications? Twitter has always had problems with the spread of misinformation, but the current site experience is noticeably degraded. So, why is that?

First, the blue check mark doesnt mean what it used to. Verification once signified that Twitter had confirmed the identity of a person or organization of note: a journalist, a public health organization, or even a professional athlete. But in April, Twitter began removing check marks from all but the most famous.

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But now anyone who pays for Twitter Bluerecently renamed X Premiumcan just buy a blue check mark for $8 a month, along with the veneer that they are a notable person or a legitimate source of information. Just last week, X removed headlines from linked news articles, making the site exponentially more confusing to scroll through.

There is a difference between platforms that take steps to mitigate harm, platforms that have not yet started taking these steps, and platforms that take steps to undo processes that mitigated harm, Chinmayi Arun, the executive director of Yale Law Schools Information Society Project, told me. Users who are accustomed to a different version of X may not know how to process or understand what they are seeing now.

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Its been mere days since the war broke out, but European regulators are already peeved with what theyve seen. In a posted letter to Musk, European commissioner Thierry Breton asked the X owner to comply with the continents sweeping Digital Services Act. He urged the billionaire to respond within 24 hours with assurances that hes taking the spread of illegal content and disinformation seriously or face legal penalties.

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Musk responded, Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports.

Musk has delivered on a lot of what he promised. He campaigned to buy Twitter on a platform of restoring free speech, which meant loosening the sites rules, firing most of its content moderation staff, removing blue check marks from the accounts of professional journalists, and prioritizing subscription revenue over advertising.

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What were seeing right now is the culmination of all of those factors: a degraded site that cant be trusted for sensitive breaking news.

There are several additional perks for paying $8 for a blue check mark. The first is that paying users now get priority placement in a tweets replies. Take a Musk tweet, for examplescroll down and itll take a while before you find any reply without a check mark next to it. (Good way for a billionaire to insulate himself from criticism, huh?) But they also get increased reach across the siteespecially on users algorithmic news feeds.

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Theres another perk thats even more dangerous. In July, Musk began paying out the most engaging users on Xas long as they had bought a check mark. Twitter rewarded a number of prominent accountsmostly far-right influencers, as the Washington Post reportedwith big paychecks. Andrew Tate, a popular right-wing internet personality facing rape and human trafficking charges in Romania, received $20,000 in his first check alone.

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Twitter lagged far behind other platforms that have been paying out top influencers for yearsYouTube began doing so in 2007. But the rules about who is eligible to receive payouts, and what rules they have to follow, are vague. By promising honestly very opaque parameters, said Christine Tran, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto, the floodgates open for accounts to generate content about major events that arouses engagement without discriminationregardless of what good that information serves.

X did not respond to a request for comment, but according to its website, sensitive events, including war, are not eligible for monetization. That fine print, though, doesnt seem to stop would-be profiteers from trying, asking the platforms few remaining moderators to differentiate eligible posts from rule-breaking onesespecially since X doesnt seem to be punishing any misleading posts about war. The unclear rules about what engagement [leads to] monetization leads to See what sticks to the wall incentives to aggregate engagement, Tran said. It costs nothing to post (yet), but a viral post could lead to untold profit. Low risks, high reward.

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Even if fake-news peddlers are unable to profit directly from viral posts about war, there are perks to merely being allowed to post them at all: Mass engagement like this can help an account build an audienceand from there, they can profit off future viral posts, sell stuff to their followers, and monetize their newfound following off-platform. In the creator economy, all attention can be good attention. But on X, the race for clicks is simultaneously a race to the bottom.

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Related From Slate Elon Musks New, Inventive Way to Vandalize the Social Network He Owns Read More

Twitter isnt the first platform thats financially rewarded the spread of misinformation, but its policy decisions have made it all the more vulnerable to abuse, an own goal that hurts not only trust in the platform but also users understanding of a major geopolitical event.

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Instead, Musk has promoted the use of Community Notesa crowdsourced fact-checking system formerly known as Birdwatchand, in recent days, has claimed to have increased the speed at which these notes appear on misleading content. Further complicating things, a recent report found that hes also stopped allowing users to self-report political misinformation on specific posts. Community Notes is a helpful system (when its not wrong!), but Twitter is ultimately outsourcing the job of content moderation from in-house professionals to unpaid volunteers. And fundamentally, leaving bad information up with a user-generated addendum is not the same as removing or hiding it with a warning label, as Twitters old guard did.

Shannon McGregor, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills media and journalism school, has been arguing for years that the most powerful people on a platform shouldnt be treated with kid gloves but taken more seriously. That includes not only political leadersremember Donald Trumps ongoing feuds with Twitter?but also users paying for greater reach and the chance to make money.

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Those with the greatest reach and power should be subject to at least the same policies as all users, if not perhaps either more stringent or more holistically enforced versions of those policies, McGregor said. Thats where we see the danger. Its not like some random person breaking a content moderation rule, which is a problem. Its a [bigger] problem when someone who has a ton of power and attention does it.

Musk may want to prioritize free speech and being open source, but millions of people rely on his platform for reliable information. And, as its played out time after time, there are often very scary real-world consequences when conspiracy theories and fraudulent stories are allowed to run rampant. The only thing thats transparent is the owners inattention.
How long has it been since you updated your online newsroom? Or do you even have one?

As business owners, its easy to overlook the critical role that our newsroom plays as were busily dealing with social media, press, and more on a day-to-day basis. An online press room is going to be one of the first stops for media or bloggers who are looking for information for a post or story, trying to find a corporate contact, or checking facts.

Having a fully featured online press room isnt just the domain of big companies. It is a great asset to build for any company looking for press coverage. The goal of your online press room should be to make it easy for media, bloggers, and other key stakeholders and to provide the most up-to-date information. But what should go in your online press room outside of your latest press releases?

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Here are 5 must-haves for your online press room:

#1. Background Information

The goal of most PR outreach is to help establish the company and its executives as thought leaders, so you want to include as many resources as possible to back that up. In your online press room, this means you want to include corporate information, backgrounders on issues/trends, fact sheets, biographies on key executives, upcoming events, and more.

Additionally, a key part of providing background is ensuring that theres a full view of what your organization is doing; this is why you want to include:

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Links or social media feeds

Link or feed to your blog

A collection of your latest press coverage

Customer case studies

Try to tell your story, at least briefly. Stories on why and how people start businesses always travel from blog to blog, so you get that exposure.

#2. Image Gallery

Theres nothing worse than a reporter on a deadline looking for an image and they cant get what they need. If you want to keep a consistent look and feel for your images, you want to provide access to images that can be used by media and bloggers.

Curate a collection of the best possible images that represent your brand, including:

Photos of key executives

Photos of products

Company logos

Graphics, infographics, and charts

With the image gallery, you want to ensure they can be easily downloaded and provide details on how they can be used.

#3. Product or Service Information

Typically, information on products or services is already included on our site, but this information is written with your end user in mind.

For your press room, consider including information on each product/service so it can be easily found and used. This could be information such as:

Product specs, features, and benefits

Associated white papers or industry backgrounders

Images or videos related to the product or service

Customer use cases or case studies

Press releases

Keep in mind the type of media that may be using this information. For print, they will need higher-resolution files, and they will want different types of information.

If youre selling something technical, they may desire screenshots, while if you have a consumer product, theyd want a product shot that can be placed on various backgrounds.

If you have video content, make sure to provide some here. There are many options when it comes to video, most of which will depend on your type of organization. A few options include:

Video case studies

Product demonstrations or webinars

Presentations or executive speaking engagements

If you have done solid interviews elsewhere around the web, share these videos here. Not only will it let potential reporters learn more about the story behind your business, but it will also show them that you have been featured before. For example, Hari Ravichandran talks a lot about his business and the problems his products are solving, and theres always a story behind those talks. Things like this make a great addition to a press room.

#4. Rewards, Milestones, Trust Signals

Think of this page as your business card: By looking at it, people need to feel tempted to trust you and know more about your company. Visualizations and badges can make that necessary positive impression, urging more people to feel your story is trustworthy and authentic.

If your company has won any awards, got featured in great publications, or worked with great people, heres a place to mention that.

#5. PR Contacts

Last but not least, you must include PR contact information. This should be prominently featured on your press page so it can be found in a matter of seconds. For a smaller company, this may be a single point of contact, while with a larger one, youll want to include in-house contacts or PR agency contacts by region or division.

Dont just include email addresses. Youll want to include local phone numbers so they can get the information they need quickly. Rapid response is a must, so dont just have everything go to a single inbox and check it every three or four days. Using CRM software will help you organize your press contacts and build stronger relationships with them.

Take some time in the next few weeks and audit what you may need to update or add to your online press room. Having a robust online press room may be the difference between PR success and failure as if youre the one who makes it easy, youre more likely to garner media coverage.

Image by Michael Zimmermann from Pixabay


With an incredible 269 billion emails sent every day around the world, it stands to reason, emails are a vital form of communication for small businesses. Email signatures are an important part of a small businesss identity, helping nurture consistency and professionalism.

Email Signature Best Practices

If you want to improve what is likely to be one of your most prevailing forms of business communication, take a look at the following 15 best email signature practices.

Have an Email Signature Practice in Place

First and foremost, you should have an email signature practice in place. As Ivana Taylor, small business marketing expert, online publisher, influencer and publisher of DIYMarketers.com, told Small Business Trends:

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The most important email signature practice is to HAVE ONE. Im astonished at how many people have NO email signature.

Make It Clear Who You Are

It might sound obvious, but your email signature needs to include your name and your position in the business, so recipients know exactly who you are.

Include Information About How People Can Reach You

Emails provide the perfect opportunity to provide recipients with your contact information. As Ivana Taylor advises:

Every email signature needs to have (at the very least) your name, physical address, best number to reach you, your email address, as well as a skype address (for international folks).

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Include Links to Social Media Channels

Encourage your email recipients to find and follow you on social media by including links to your social media channels on your email signature.

Make Your Email Signatures Mobile Friendly

Did you know that 50% of all emails are sent from mobile devices?

As Growth Mail, providers of innovative email signature software recommend, rather than sending emails that feature unprofessional sent from my mobile messages, send emails that still feature your professionally designed email stationery and clickable marketing messages, wherever you are.

Include a Headshot on Your Email Signature

Enhance the professionality of your emails further by including a headshot so that people know what you look like. According to Ivana Taylor this matters for a host of reasons.

If youve never met someone and youre going to finally meet at a conference  the image is a big help. But heres another tip  use the SAME headshot image for ALL of your profiles including your email signature because this makes it easy for people to confirm that the John Smith that is writing the email is the same John Smith on LinkedIn for example. If you have a popular name, its critical that you give people as much information as you can so that they can connect with YOU and not someone else.

Create a Clear Design

Fussy email signatures that are long and cumbersome can confuse and put recipients off. Aim to create a clean, clear and consistent design. As Chamaileon, experts in email signature design, recommend:

Your email signature design shouldnt be too long. Dont include more than 7 lines. Dont share too many details about yourself. Its not your biography. Needless to say, you shouldnt include personal details either.

Add a Link to Your Blog or Website

Email signatures are a great opportunity to promote your blog or website, so be sure to include a link to them.

Provide Links to Featured Products

Ivana Taylor also advises using email signatures to add links to featured products.

Feature Links to Case Studies

Sophia Bernazzani, writer and editor of the HubSpot Service blog recommends linking to case studies in an email signature.

If youre talking to potential customers, whats better than sharing stories of successful ones?

Add Links to an Automated Meeting Scheduler

Ivana Taylor says small businesses should think about adding a link to an automated meeting scheduler, so that people can schedule meeting with you.

Include Free Tools on Your Email Signatures

If your small business has a free tool, help engage recipients and generate greater interest in your business and its services or products by including a link to your free tool on your email signature.

Have a Professional Sign Off

With much love wouldnt look too professional in a business email. Whilst there is no right or wrong, its a good idea to have a professional email sign off practice throughout the business, such as best regards or yours sincerely.

Keep Email Signatures Consistent and On Brand

The emails you send are a representation of your business and your brand. Make them recognizable by using the same branding that identifies your business, such as the color, font and logo.

As Lisa East, Senior Account Manager at Autoweb Design and Marketing and Sales Consultant at The Thinking Cap, advises:

Keep it on brand, make sure you keep to your colour palette.

Go Through All of the Platforms that You Use and Make Sure You Have a Signature

Reiterating Growth Tracks recommendations to ensure your email signatures are mobile friendly, Ivana Taylor advises going through all the platforms that you use making sure you have a signature.

Your email signature is valuable marketing real estate  so be sure to use it to its full potential, said the marketing expert.

Practice Description Establish Email Signature Policy Maintain consistency with a standardized email signature policy across your organization. Clearly Identify Yourself Include your name and role for easy recognition by recipients. Provide Contact Information Share essential details like your address, contact number, email, and Skype ID for international communication. Link to Social Media Profiles Increase online presence by adding links to your social media profiles in your signature. Optimize for Mobile Devices Ensure proper display on mobile devices, as a significant portion of emails are viewed on smartphones and tablets. Add a Professional Headshot Enhance professionalism with a headshot to help recipients associate a face with your name.

Email Signature Mistakes to Avoid

While crafting effective email signatures is important for small businesses, its equally crucial to avoid common mistakes that can detract from their professionalism and impact. Here are some email signature mistakes to steer clear of:

Excessive Information: Overloading your email signature with too much information can overwhelm recipients. Keep it concise and relevant.

Overloading your email signature with too much information can overwhelm recipients. Keep it concise and relevant. Irrelevant Links: Including links that arent related to your business or the emails context can be distracting and counterproductive.

Including links that arent related to your business or the emails context can be distracting and counterproductive. Non-Compliance with Regulations: Ensure that your email signatures comply with data privacy and email marketing regulations, such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM, to avoid legal issues.

Ensure that your email signatures comply with data privacy and email marketing regulations, such as GDPR and CAN-SPAM, to avoid legal issues. Inconsistent Branding: Failing to maintain consistent branding elements, such as color schemes and logos, can dilute your brands identity.

Failing to maintain consistent branding elements, such as color schemes and logos, can dilute your brands identity. Spelling and Grammar Errors: Mistakes in your email signature can reflect poorly on your professionalism. Proofread carefully to catch any errors.

Mistakes in your email signature can reflect poorly on your professionalism. Proofread carefully to catch any errors. Unprofessional Design: A cluttered or overly flashy email signature can look unprofessional. Keep the design clean and in line with your brands style.

A cluttered or overly flashy email signature can look unprofessional. Keep the design clean and in line with your brands style. Non-Mobile Optimization: Neglecting mobile optimization can result in poorly formatted email signatures on mobile devices, potentially frustrating recipients.

Neglecting mobile optimization can result in poorly formatted email signatures on mobile devices, potentially frustrating recipients. Ignoring Updates: Failing to update email signatures with changes in contact information, roles, or promotions can lead to outdated and ineffective signatures.

Failing to update email signatures with changes in contact information, roles, or promotions can lead to outdated and ineffective signatures. Non-Uniform Signatures: Inconsistent email signatures across your team can create confusion and diminish your brands image. Implement uniformity in your email signature practices.

Inconsistent email signatures across your team can create confusion and diminish your brands image. Implement uniformity in your email signature practices. No Call to Action: Missing a clear call to action in your email signature can be a missed opportunity to guide recipients toward desired actions.

Mistake Description Excessive Information Avoid overwhelming recipients with too much information in your email signature. Keep it concise and relevant. Irrelevant Links Don't include links that aren't related to your business or the email's context; they can distract and be counterproductive. Non-Compliance with Regulations Ensure your email signatures comply with data privacy and email marketing regulations (e.g., GDPR and CAN-SPAM) to avoid legal issues. Inconsistent Branding Maintain consistent branding elements, such as color schemes and logos, to strengthen your brand's identity. Spelling and Grammar Errors Proofread your email signature carefully to avoid mistakes that can reflect poorly on your professionalism. Unprofessional Design Keep your email signature design clean and aligned with your brand's style; avoid clutter or flashy elements that can look unprofessional. Non-Mobile Optimization Optimize your email signature for mobile devices to ensure it displays correctly, as a significant number of emails are viewed on smartphones. Ignoring Updates Regularly update your email signature with changes in contact information, roles, or promotions to prevent outdated and ineffective signatures. Non-Uniform Signatures Implement uniformity in email signatures across your team to avoid confusion and maintain a consistent brand image. No Call to Action Include a clear call to action in your email signature to guide recipients toward desired actions and enhance engagement.

Email Signature Tools and Software

To streamline the process of creating professional email signatures for your small business and ensure consistency across your team, consider utilizing specialized tools and software. These resources can help you design, manage, and implement effective email signatures efficiently. Here are some notable options:

Wisestamp: Wisestamp is an email signature generator that offers customizable templates, social media integration, and the ability to add promotional banners to your signatures.

Wisestamp is an email signature generator that offers customizable templates, social media integration, and the ability to add promotional banners to your signatures. HubSpot Email Signature Generator: HubSpots tool provides easy-to-use email signature templates that align with your brand, allowing for customization and branding consistency.

HubSpots tool provides easy-to-use email signature templates that align with your brand, allowing for customization and branding consistency. Mail-Signatures.com: This online service offers email signature templates for various email clients and provides guidance on how to install them.

This online service offers email signature templates for various email clients and provides guidance on how to install them. Exclaimer Cloud Signature Manager: A cloud-based solution, Exclaimer allows you to create and manage email signatures centrally, ensuring uniformity across your organization.

A cloud-based solution, Exclaimer allows you to create and manage email signatures centrally, ensuring uniformity across your organization. CodeTwo Email Signatures for Office 365: Designed for Office 365 users, this software lets you create and manage email signatures for your entire team while maintaining a professional look.

Designed for Office 365 users, this software lets you create and manage email signatures for your entire team while maintaining a professional look. Sigstr: Sigstr is an email signature marketing platform that enables you to turn your email signatures into promotional channels, helping you drive traffic to specific campaigns or content.

Sigstr is an email signature marketing platform that enables you to turn your email signatures into promotional channels, helping you drive traffic to specific campaigns or content. Xink: Xink offers email signature management for businesses, ensuring consistent branding and contact information across all email communications.

Xink offers email signature management for businesses, ensuring consistent branding and contact information across all email communications. Mail-Signatures.com: This online tool provides email signature templates that you can easily customize and install for various email clients.

This online tool provides email signature templates that you can easily customize and install for various email clients. Rocketseed: Rocketseed offers email signature software with marketing capabilities, enabling you to track interactions and conversions from your email signature campaigns.

Rocketseed offers email signature software with marketing capabilities, enabling you to track interactions and conversions from your email signature campaigns. MySignature: MySignature is a user-friendly email signature generator that offers various templates and customization options.

Conclusion

In todays digital age, where a staggering 269 billion emails are sent daily across the globe, email communication remains a cornerstone for small businesses. An often-overlooked yet essential aspect of this communication is the email signature. Email signatures play a pivotal role in shaping a small businesss identity, fostering consistency, and projecting professionalism.

By adhering to email signature best practices and steering clear of common pitfalls, businesses can harness the full potential of this digital real estate. The 15 best email signature practices outlined here offer valuable insights into optimizing your email signatures. These practices encompass everything from basic contact information to mobile-friendliness, design clarity, and strategic linking to enhance your brand and engage recipients effectively.

Furthermore, the cautionary section on email signature mistakes serves as a vital reminder of what to avoid. Excessive information, irrelevant links, and design missteps can diminish the impact of your email signatures. Compliance with legal regulations, consistent branding, and a clear call to action are equally crucial considerations to ensure your email signatures convey professionalism and respect privacy.

To facilitate the implementation of these practices, a wide array of email signature tools and software is available. These resources streamline the process, enabling small businesses to create and manage email signatures efficiently while maintaining brand consistency.

In conclusion, email signatures are not just a digital formality; they are a powerful extension of your small businesss brand identity. By adhering to best practices, avoiding common mistakes, and leveraging available tools, your email signatures can become effective marketing assets that leave a lasting impression on recipients and elevate your businesss professionalism in the digital realm.
RebateKey is an excellent marketing tool that provides companies on a website platform like Walmart or Amazon ways to offer thousands of rebates and rewards on their products and brands for a chance to attract more customers.

The buyers benefit from the reduced cost of the products they purchase, while the seller benefits from the boost to their full-price sales numbers which help increase their rankings. This guide will help you discover if RebateKey can work for your business.

Sell Your Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Drive Traffic to Your Website Advertise Your Business Here

What is RebateKey?

One huge difference between RebateKey and the thousands of traditional rebate services is that RebateKey does not require physical coupons or the mailing in of a Universal Product Code.

It allows shoppers to register their claim online and then simply wait for their rebate check, overall creating a much better experience with its discount offer.

RebateKey was started in 2018 by over 30 eCommerce sellers who took the chance to join forces to develop a better way to promote their best and latest products with shoppers. It has since been growing at a rapid pace, mostly thanks to word of mouth.

What is a Rebate?

Small Business Deals

For anyone unfamiliar with the retail rebate process, they are a type of discount that is offered retrospectively after purchase rather than upfront like a normal discount.

So with a product offered with a rebate promotion, the customer will initially purchase the item at full price but on the promise that they can then claim the rebate later and receive a partial refund.

Ultimately it is an incentivizing marketing ploy to drum up interest in a product and get people to purchase the product originally at full price which then improves the shop and products rankings better than a standard discount sale would.

How does RebateKey work for Sellers?

Rebate Key handles the entire process for both the buyers and the sellers. Both sign-up to the Rebate Key platform, with the sellers informing Rebate Key of what products are offered with deals, and Rebate Key then manages everything else.

The sellers Rebate Key process looks like this:

Step Description 1. Sign-up Sign-up to Rebate Key with your email and shop details. 2. Receive URLs They send URLs of products offering discounts. 3. Product Promotion Rebate Key promotes the products to registered buyers. 4. Buyer's Purchase Buyers make a purchase and enter their order number on Rebate Key. 5. Process Rebate Rebate Key proceeds with the rebate and sends an email confirmation.

The rebate process begins after the buyer enters their name, email and order ID number. The rebate key money is then held for 30 days, after which the seller must approve or decline the rebate. Once approved, Rebate Key sends the money via check to the buyer.

Why Your Business Should Use RebateKey

There are a lot of fantastic features for sellers on Rebate Key which provide a better user experience and great value for money. You can create unique landing pages, communicate with buyers and integrate with Chrome Extension. Heres a quick run through all the reasons why you should consider using Rebate Key.

User-Friendly Platform Providing a Better Experience

The Rebate Key platform is very intuitive and easy to navigate. You can quickly set up rebate offers and RebateKey manages the whole process from there.

Value for Money Customers will Appreciate

By being able to offer such easy rebate offers, your consumers will appreciate the great value for money you offer on your products. While RebateKey does not generate reviews itself, the goodwill and generous discounts provided by the good deals can only help increase positive feedback.

Useful Chrome Extension for Adding Rebates and Coupons

The Chrome Extension available with RebateKey makes it even easier to add rebates for your customers to claim their discounts in the future.

Landing Pages for User Conversions

To help drive up user conversions, RebateKey has a landing page creation feature that lets you create landing pages for your products. This gives more visibility to the rebate offer and the product itself and makes it easier for the customer to make the claim.

Multiple Online Marketplaces

RebateKey works with multiple online marketplaces, including two of the very biggest in Walmart and Amazon.

Ability to Contact Buyers Via Internal Messaging

Another brilliant feature of RebateKey is the ability for sellers to contact buyers via the special internal messaging service, whether they purchase through Amazon from Orlando or Walmart from San Diego.

Pre-Approval of Each Rebate Check on Auto

While RebateKey manages the entire rebate claim and money payment process, each seller still retains authority over each purchase rebate.

Support Via Facebook Messenger

Rebate Key also provides support with contact available through Facebook Messenger for quick and easy communication.

Access to Deals and Discounts for Your Customers

Every seller can use RebateKey as a one-stop-shop for all their special offers, which saves time and energy and keeps everything organized. This includes discounts for small business owners looking to save on everyday items.

RebateKey Pricing for Sellers  Its Even Cheap at Full Price

Sellers only pay $2.95 to RebateKey per sale or rebate claim by buyers. This means if a single rebate campaign results in ten claimed refunds, then the total amount the seller pays to RebateKey is just $29.50.

Extrapolate that to a much more successful campaign that results in a hundred refunds, all of which are full price-paying sales that help improve the shops ranking for the product, and the total is still only $295.

Using RebateKey for Amazon

There is so much eCommerce website competition online these days, and that is doubly so for the bigger online markets like Amazon and Walmart. But while competition numbers are high, customer numbers are much, much higher. Amazon Prime alone has nearly 100 million subscribers, so giving your business a visibility boost with a service like RebateKey is absolutely worthwhile.

Setting up a RebateKey account for an Amazon ship is simple and you can do it from your browser. The very first step is to create a sellers account by providing some details such as your company name, address and website, as well as your contact email address. You will also be asked to enter your average product sales volume and the sort of products youd like to rebate.

The RebateKey dashboard then features all the options for submitting a rebate campaign. To set up the campaign, you must enter the following information:

Name of the rebate product

Brief description of the product and product category

Images of products

Unique product ID number

Number of rebates in the campaign and campaign length

Discount percentage offered in rebate

Is It Worth It? A Brief RebateKey Review

It is worth weighing up the pros and cons so here we will have a look at the primary benefits and compare them to less beneficial elements of working with this discount system for an Amazon store.

Perhaps the most reassuring aspect of RebateKey is that you know all your payments are covered and secured. The product rebate ID system also ensures customers cannot make the same purchase more than once.

Another pro is that all the external traffic generated by the product rebates will be diverted to your Amazon store. The Facebook Messenger contact point is also good, though more on this below when we go through some of the cons.

One more pro for this RebateKey review is the automated mail after every rebate check so you know exactly which discount tickets have been claimed and when.

And so to the cons. While the Messenger contact point is good, the lack of assistance via telephone feels limiting. A phone number for personal contact would greatly improve customer service.

There is also the oft-unspoken negative that is the majority of rebates being more likely to be claimed due to the ease of claiming them online. With the old mail-in rebates, many of them would have been forgotten about or lost, but it is now easier for the customer now as well as for the seller.

Alternatives to RebateKey for Sellers

RebateKey is not the only service available for Amazon to take advantage of. Here we go through a few of the alternative firms that provide similar features.

Snagshout

Snagshout offers cashback and price reduction codes for products bought online with the refunds paid directly into the customers PayPal account. This is an even more streamlined service than RebateKeys check-sending method but does of course limit the number of customers to those that have a PayPal account.

Vipon

Vipon offers lots of cash savings on products you order on the Amazon or Walmart site. They also have a points system and instructions for regular customers to reward them for multiple purchases via their site.

Cashbackbase

Cashbackbase lets customers find 100% cashback products that they can buy and be fully refunded for if they are not happy. The site also offers coupons from Amazon and Walmart stores to help them build sales quickly.

Who owns RebateKey?

As previously mentioned, the site was started about three years ago by over 30 successful e-commerce people who were looking for a better way to promote their products to more target users via rebate campaigns.

One of the co-founders is the wonderfully named Ian Sells, and another Leo Limin, and together these two characters recruited more businesses to join them in creating an easy-to-use rebate and coupon experience for both customers and online shops.

They run the platform site from their headquarters in Sheridan, Wyoming.

How does an Amazon rebate work?

To submit an Amazon rebate order claim for an item, you must follow these instructions carefully.

First, you purchase an item that has a rebate offer available on it and ensures the rebate offer deadline has not passed. The product details and information will have the deadline for purchase. It will also have a postmark deadline, which is the deadline by which you must file the rebate claim.

Secondly, once you have received the package, go to the RebateKey website and click their option for Amazon rebate campaigns (you will need to set up your account first). Complete the rebate form by entering the order number or order ID for the products you purchase before the postmark deadline. And make sure to read all the fine print to see if there are any other conditions or changes to the rebate process.

Be aware that once you click to submit the rebate claim after entering the order ID for your products, you can no longer return the products for any reason.

Finally, you simply wait for the 30 day time period to pass, the seller will then approve the rebate and RebateKey will send out your check in the mail.

Is RebateKey against Amazon TOS?

No, it does not go against the content list of the Amazon and Amazon Prime ToS because it is not a review-generating service. The terms of the Amazon platform absolutely do allow price reduction on products. However, it explicitly states that you cannot reduce prices in exchange for a review. As a review is not offered, it is perfectly fine.

Of course, sellers will hope the increased sales that the rebates generate will organically lead to a review or two, but a review is not part of the service and a review that does arise out of the rebate campaign will be a genuine review from a genuine customer.

Is RebateKey allowed?

Again, it is 100% legitimate because it has nothing to do with creating a review. All the Amazon and Amazon Prime platform restrictions on such services relate to creating reviews, not offering reduced prices.

How do I sell on RebateKey?

To sum up, here is a step-by-step guide on how to sell on RebateKey:

Create a RebateKey account, and set up the rebate campaign, including prices.

Publish and promote your rebate campaign to increase purchases.

Approve all legitimate rebates generated by RebateKey.

RebateKey now does all the work and mails the checks out.
Jevontez Davis.

LEONARDTOWN, Md.

(Oct. 11, 2023)State's Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Jevontez Davis, 22, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, was sentenced to Life in prison with 50 years of active incarceration for the shooting homicide of a teenager.On Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 3:21 p.m., deputies from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office responded to Pegg Road in Lexington Park for a reported shooting. Deputies arrived on scene and located two male victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims, a 19-year-old, was pronounced deceased on scene."This sentence cannot bring back the life that was senselessly taken, but I hope the victim's family, his friends, and our community can find some solace knowing the Defendant will spend significantly more time in prison than the total number of years he has been alive to date," said State's Attorney Jaymi Sterling.Senior Assistant State's Attorneys Donna Pettersen and Jeffrey Maylor prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary's County.Detective Sergeant Austin Shultz of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office was the lead detective.The Honorable Michael J. Stamm presided over the case.
The Tesla Cybertruck hasn't officially arrived yet as Elon Musk missed its recent prediction, claiming that the electric pickup truck was supposed to launch in 2023's Q3.

Unfortunately, critics believe that the most-awaited Cybertruck could be delayed once more. Although this is the case, exciting rumors about the Tesla pickup truck are starting to appear.

These include the arrival of new colored wraps for the Cybertruck. If you are among the interested buyers, here's why these alleged color options are a big deal.

Tesla Cybertruck Colored Wraps Could Arrive

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Tesla launched seven new colored wraps for the popular Model 3 and Model Y. Now, many EV fans and enthusiasts speculate that the Cybertruck will receive new color options next.

According to Teslarati's latest report, some interested EV buyers are also wondering if the upcoming Cybertruck will receive urethane-based films as well.

While other users are just making speculations, X user Teslascope made more specific claims, saying that the giant American automaker will offer colored wraps for the initial Cybertruck deliveries within the first six months once it arrives.

However, the car platform said that no sources shared the exact price for these color options. Although this is the case, it is believed that the Cybertruck color wrap service could range between $8,000 to $12,000.

"There are no price confirmations yet, but it is expected to be $8-12K," said Teslascope via its official X post.

The price estimate provided by Teslascope is reasonable since the color wraps for Tesla Model 3 and Model 7 cost $7,500 to $8,000.

Here are the exact available color options for these Tesla EV modes:

Satin Stealth Black: $7,500

Slip Grey: $7,500

Glacier Blue: $8,000

Satin Rose Gold: $8,000

Forest Green: $8,000

Satin Ceramic White: $8,000

Crimson Red: $8,000

Read Also: What is Tesla Giga Water Loop? Here's What Elon Musk is Possibly Building Outside Gigafactory Texas

Why Cybertruck Color Wraps are Big Deal

Business Insider explained that the upcoming Tesla Cybetruck has a stainless steel color. Because of this, most prototypes of the electric pickup truck are usually spotted covered in fingerprints and other dirty markings.

But, this issue can be solved by color wraps. Car experts said that color wraps can help Cybertruck buyers thousands of dollars on stainless-steel cleaner over the lifetime of the pickup truck.

This is because a thin film will be applied outside the entire body panel of the Tesla Cybertruck. Of course, color wraps can also benefit consumers in other ways, especially when it comes to customizing.

Tesla Giga Berlin Work Accident Accusations Denied by EV Maker Despite Reports From Local Authorities

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From September of last year to April, seven, then later ten people, worked there.

The construction of the monastery dates to the 14th century. It was completed in 1543. (Source: TASR)

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The rare Klastorisko (Monastery) locality in Slovak Paradise National Park in eastern Slovakia has been restored for more than a year thanks to the national project People and Castles.

The coordinator of the restoration of the Carthusian monastery and architect Juraj Slivka, said that ten people are currently working on a permanent basis. Slavomir Zahornadsky, mayor of the village of Letanovce, to which the area belongs, added that they received 169,000 from the Culture Ministry as part of the project.

A helping hand in the heart of Europe offers for you Slovakia travel guide.

From September last year to April, seven, then later ten people, worked there.

"It's the first time in the history of the reconstruction that it was possible to employ such a number of workers," pointed out the architect.

In addition to him and another archaeologist, Peter Durica, the guarantor of the project, Roma from the villages of Svinia and nearby Hrabusice and Letanovce were also employed. He added that most of the aforementioned subsidy went to wages.

"This leaves us with less money for materials. In the future, we would perhaps accept if this had also been thought of when distributing resources. Quite a lot of work was done that year, especially in the cleaning of historic ponds. We are interested in continuing the project, but everything depends on how the new government will approach it. However, in order to move further with the restoration, it will be necessary to finance other items in addition to wages and employ more qualified people," stated Zahornadsky, as quoted by TASR.

According to Juraj Slivka, from the beginning of the project, they mainly conserved sections of the middle part of the monastery. They also focused on the north, where the monastic houses are characteristic of the Carthusian order.

"However, it was not only work on the monastery itself, but mainly on making roads to the Monastery itself accessible. This is for the benefit of supplying the construction site, logistics, cyclists and tourists," he explained.

In October and November, they plan to roof the oldest part of the monastery, the Chapel of St Margaret of Antioch from the second half of the 13th century.

"We are satisfied with their work, some have already worked on castles in the past, so they also have experience with masonry," added the coordinator. None have completed high school education, but thanks to the project, according to him, they will be better able to apply themselves to the labour market in the future.

Archaeologist Michal Slivka has been uncovering the ruins of the Carthusian monastery for almost 40 years. He pointed out that the history of this territory's settlement goes back even further. The oldest fortress fortified with a rampart is from the Late Bronze Age - 11th century BC. The second chronologically oldest is a rampart from the Hallstatt period 600 years before Christ, and in the centre of the site is a fortification against the Tatars from the 13th century. They started building the monastery at the beginning of the 14th century and completed it in 1543.

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Shortage of skilled labour curbs growth of Slovak business service sector.

A positive news is that shared service and business service centres are scattered across whole Slovakia. (Source: Courtesy of AmCham)

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The shared service and business service sector remains the third largest of the Slovak economy and keeps growing. Nevertheless, the lack of talent curbs its growth while several centres complain about a dramatic increase in costs. On the other hand, automation, robotisation and artificial intelligence is making them more efficient.

Shared service centres are here, they are successful and growing. They are encountering some hurdles, but they are trying to overcome them, said Gabriel Galgoci, chair of the Business Service Center Forum (BSCF), a sectoral organisation running under the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia, during the eighth annual BSCF conference in Bratislava on September 28. When we look at global trends, this sector in Slovakia is not only resilient and able to adapt to new conditions, as proven during the Covid pandemic, but its also able to generate ideas, produce new products and send them out into the world. I believe that its future is bright and positive.

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The sectors employees kept growing in 2022. The headcount of BSCS members increased by 1 percent year-on-year to 37,843. For comparison, one year earlier, the number of employees increased by 4.3 percent. Galgoci attributes this low growth dynamics to slowdown in the economy and a worsening demographic, with fewer children being born on the one hand, and the more intensive introduction of automation and robotisation on the other.

Since we lack talented people in Slovakia while globally scarce, and the academic world cant generate as much talent as the sector needs and demographics are playing a role to some extent, we need to look for other, more creative and more efficient ways to operate, he said. He indicated that if there had been enough talent available, the headcount growth last year would have been higher. Nevertheless, the sector keeps growing.
Smer, Hlas and SNS have signed a declaration on cooperation.

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Smer chair Robert Fico wants to replace the interim government as soon as possible so that he could attend the upcoming EU summit, which takes place in late October in Brussels.

Fico, whom the president is expected to appoint the next Slovak premier at some point this month, announced his plan after he signed a declaration with two other parties, Hlas and the ultranationalist Slovak National Party (SNS), on Wednesday.

The three parties agreed on signing a coalition deal in the days to come, a document that should define the priorities of Ficos fourth government in the next four years. The agreement mentions that the post of prime minister belongs to Smer, the post of speaker of parliament to Hlas, and that a new ministry will be established from January 2024.

Also, Smer will have six ministers, Hlas will have seven, and the SNS party should be responsible for three ministries, including the new one. The ministry is said to be responsible for tourism and sports.

Fico attacks LGBT+ people

In the declaration, the parties guaranteed that Slovakias foreign policy would formally remain unchanged, but that they would also respect Slovakias sovereignty and national interests. Fico, a leader with pro-Russian views and a critic of the EU when it comes to refugees or unanimous voting, wants to control the foreign ministry.

The parties want to reform the criminal system and the human rights protection mechanism as well.

Fico dedicated some of his time to the LGBT+ community, attacking transgender people in particular. He started with a story about a school girl's dream in which she changes from a girl to a boy and back, and then she is asked to write an essay about her dream in school.

I say clearly that we reject these gender ideologies, these gender adventures and want the return of common sense, traditions, a return to what's normal, what's natural, while fully respecting the diversity of Slovak life, Fico said.
Poland, Austria, Czechia and Slovakia announced border checks last week.

Slovak police officers check a van at the Nove Mesto - Satoraljaujhely border crossing on October 5, 2023. (Source: TASR)

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Border checks introduced by Slovakias neighbouring countries will not end this weekend. Instead, Austria, Poland and Czechia all decided to extend the checks by 20 days.

Austria said that the extension would last until November 2 due to increased illegal migration.

Read also:

Read also: Bratislava declares emergency as illegal migrants get stuck in city Read more

The police must be faster than smugglers, who change routes immediately if their business is disrupted, said Austrias Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

However, the Austrian liberal politician Niki Scherak from the NEOS party criticised the Austrian governments decision, the public broadcaster ORF wrote.

Czechia and Poland made the same decision.

The results are good, the effects are clear. There will be no illegal migration routes through Poland, said Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski.

Read also:

Read also: Poland, Austria and Czechia will introduce border checks with Slovakia from midnight Read more

On Sunday, parliamentary elections will take place in Poland. The current government has been using anti-immigration rhetoric to convince people to vote for the ruling party Law and Justice, a conservative nationalist party.

Border checks initially started on October 4 and were meant to last until October 14.

Slovakia extended border checks with Hungary to November 3. The government said that the number of illegal migrants has decreased since their reintroduction, from 2,496 to 1,929 illegal migrants in one week.

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Viera Tetakova, who now works for the MOL refinery, used to be Fico's chief of protocol.

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In the past, an informant of the Hungarian secret service was reportedly very close to Slovakias future prime minister Robert Fico.

Ficos party Smer won the election on September 30. Fico himself will become the premier for the fourth time after running the country in 2006-2010 and in 2012-2016 and 2016-2020.

This informant was supposed to be Levente Magyar, now Viera Tetakovas husband. Tetakova worked at the Slovak Government Office during the first two Fico governments as head of the protocol department.

It is not clear what information Magyar provided to Hungary and for how long.

The Jan Kuciak Investigative Journalism Centre in cooperation with Vsquare reporters broke the story.

Closer to Hungarian PM

Sources close to Magyar indicate that he may have been in contact with counterintelligence even when his then-girlfriend worked for Ficos office. They jointly organised Ficos meetings with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and allegedly had an impact on building relations between the two countries.

Tetakova worked at the Government Office during the first two Robert Fico governments and during the government of Iveta Radicova (2010-2012). During Ficos second premiership, Tetakova met her current husband, Levente Magyar, who worked for Viktor Orbans staff at that time.

Neither the Slovak Government Office nor Smer responded to the centres questions about whether secret services alerted them to the fact that Tetakova, who was close to Robert Fico, had a relationship with the then-informant of the Hungarian counterintelligence.

Security threat

They did not answer the question as to whether Tetakova had a security clearance before she left the Government Office in 2015.

Levente Magyar worked for a time as a secret informant (or secret contact) of the civilian secret service, which issues security clearances: Hungarian counter-intelligence, Constitution Protection Office (AH). This was confirmed by several sources familiar with Magyars ties to the Hungarian national security agencies, writes the centre.

Security analyst and head of the Prague-based Centre for an Informed Society, Andrea Michalcova, believes that this is a security risk.

It may have been a direct threat to the sovereignty of the Slovak Republic, because an important person in the Government Office could knowingly or unknowingly be helping in espionage for another country. And in the case of Hungary, we are not sure whether these reports are not reaching Russia, for example, she said.

Today, Magyar is Hungarys Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. According to several sources, he de facto runs this ministry.

Tetakova became publicly known after tabloid articles in 2014 hinted at her relationship with Fico. However, no one confirmed the rumours. Today, she works for the Hungarian refinery MOL.
The suspension of Smer MEPs from the S&D Group may follow next week.

Smer chair Robert Fico (c) and Smer MEP Monika Benova (l) during a press conference on October 1, 2023. (Source: TASR - Pavol Zachar)

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Smer and Hlas, two of the political parties that will form the next Slovak government in coalition with the ultranationalist SNS party, have been suspended from the Party of European Socialists (PES) over their publicly expressed stances.

The Presidency ruled to suspend the membership of Smer (full membership) and Hlas (associate membership), the PES Presidency wrote in a press release on October 12, which was the first anniversary of a homophobic terrorist attack that left two queer people dead in Bratislava.

Smer, led by Robert Fico, came first in the parliamentary election on September 30. Hlas, chaired by former Smer member Peter Pellegrini, came third and announced its decision to join forces with Smer to form a government coalition on October 10.

The PES Presidency explained that its decision to suspend Smer was taken following the clear divergence from the values of the PES family demonstrated by Smer leader Robert Fico.

Back in March, the PES Presidency expressed concern about Smers positions on the war in Ukraine. Unlike Hlas, Smer has repeatedly said that Slovakia will not send any weapons to Ukraine if Smer comes to power.

Read also:

Read also: Fico's close aide dated a Hungarian informant Read more

SNS is seen as a problem

The president of the European socialists, Stefan Lofven, who is a former prime minister of Sweden, threatened Smer with expulsion over its rhetoric in an interview with a Swedish daily newspaper. The interview was published online on the day of Slovakia's election.

In response, Fico called Lofvens words undemocratic and compared them to blackmail.

PES also expressed concern about the emerging Slovak government. Smer and Hlas plan to rule in coalition with the far-right and pro-Russian politicians grouped in the SNS party.

In 2006, PES suspended Smer for two years after it previously formed a coalition government with SNS.

When Pellegrini was asked on Tuesday if he was not scared of his party being expelled from PES, he joked that Hlas could not be expelled because it is not a full member. On Thursday, Hlas expressed its surprise at PES decision.

Smer leader Robert Fico responded to the decision of PES in his video from October 13. A segment that is aimed for PES has got English subtitles.

If you intend to keep scolding us for [our left-wing] politics, you do not understand real life, Fico said.

Possible suspension for Smer MEPs

The latest PES decision has also been embraced by the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament.

The memorandum of understanding signed by all three parties is not compatible with the progressive values and principles of the European family of Socialists and Social Democrats, the group wrote in a statement.

The group slammed Smer and Hlas for their positions on the war in Ukraine, migration, the rule of law and the LGBT+ community.

Fico has a long track record of anti-Muslim views and recently threatened to use force against refugees crossing the Slovak-Hungarian border. For his part, Pellegrini authorised and featured personally on explicitly anti-immigration billboards during the election campaign.

On October 11, Fico attacked transgender people, saying that he wants to return to traditions, to something that is normal and natural. In September, he said in a campaign video that we [Smer] only recognise [relationships between] a man and a woman.

The S&D Group may suspend the membership of Smers three MEPs - Monika Benova, Katarina Roth Nevedalova and Robert Hajsel  next week.

Read also:
Two queer people Matus Horvath and Juraj Vankulic were murdered in Bratislava on the night of October 12 last year.

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Good evening. Here is the Thursday, October 12 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

One year on, one thing changed

People gather on Zamocka Street on October 12, 2023, to honour Matus Horvath and Juraj Vankulic, victims of last year's terrorist attack. (Source: TASR - Martin Baumann)

A year has passed since a terrorist attack outside Teplaren, an LGBT+ bar on Zamocka Street in Bratislava, in which two young people died. Their names were Matus Horvath and Juraj Vankulic.

We are not an ideology. We are living people who are hurt by derogatory statements, Teplaren owner Roman Samotny said on Thursday. We live in fear that words will translate into action, as it did a year ago.

Shortly after the attack, LGBT+ organisations asked politicians to take steps to improve the life of queer people in the country. Today, they say that none of their demands have been fulfilled despite the support of about 100 organisations and 33,000 people. Queer people continue to face attacks on a daily basis.

On Wednesday, for example, Smer leader and future PM Robert Fico attacked transgender people during a press conference, implying that this community is not normal and natural. He attacked the community in a campaign video, too. The emerging coalition is full of MPs who share Ficos view on LGBT+ community.

At present, only one demand will soon become a reality: a community centre for queer people in Bratislava.

5 demands: adoption of a life partnership bill, including the possibility of adopting a child of one partner by the other; dignified transition for transgender people without forced sterilisations; introduction of disciplinary liability for hate speech in parliament, better prosecution of hate crimes; systematic support, creation of safe spaces and support services for LGBT+ community.

Investigation: The investigation into last years shooting at the Teplaren bar should be completed within a month, said the General Prosecutors Office. The terrorist who killed two queer people committed suicide after his act.

Teplaren owner Roman Samotny (l) and acting PM Ludovit Odor on Zamocka Street in Bratislava on October 12, 2023. (Source: TASR - Martin Baumann)

Teplaren: The bar, which has served as a place for discussions in the past year, will cease to exist in November, Samotny said. Teplaren will go back to its roots when it was a party that took place in different places.

Community centre: Bratislavas first community centre for queer people should open next spring. It will be situated in a building on Krizna Street. LGBT+ organisations are trying to collect 30,000 for renovation of its premises. Anyone can support them. Several embassies have already supported the project.

QUOTE

So much has already been said and so little has changed for the better. 

President Zuzana Caputova on October 12, 2023

More LGBT+ news

Watch a Thursday concert that honoured Matus Horvath and Juraj Vankulic.

that honoured Matus Horvath and Juraj Vankulic. One year after the murders outside Teplaren, there are calls to murder LGBT+ people in Bratislava. (Sme)

in Bratislava. (Sme) Lack of doctors helping transgender people, registry offices that arbitrarily refuse to issue new documents to transgender people, lack of official procedures that would address the situation of transgender youth are some of the major problems that transgender people face in Slovakia. (Sme)

in Slovakia. (Sme) It is up to us to support LGBT+ people at a time when political agreements are sealed with remarks about gender ideology and voters are fed outrage that minorities want something outrageous, deviant and incompatible with the Slovak identity, writes Beata Balogova, editor of the Sme daily.

At 16:00 on October 14, a gathering will take place outside Teplaren to honour the victims of last years terrorist attack . Then, people will walk to the city centre to show others that there is no place for fascist aggression and hatred in Bratislava.

. Then, people will walk to the city centre to show others that there is no place for fascist aggression and hatred in Bratislava. In June 2023, the members of the Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia (ECAV) sent the ECAV leadership a letter to find a new form of coexistence with sisters and brothers with minority sexual orientation and gender identity. The letter was signed by pastors and other people from various church congregations in Slovakia. They have not received any response from their leadership since then.

LGBT+ EVENT

Inakost

Mladost cinema in Bratislava. (Source: FFI/Monika Kovacova)

The film festival Otherness (Inakost/FFI) will take place from November 22 to 28 in various Bratislava cinemas. The festival will present more than 50 films about queer people divided into several sections (Classics, Queer Hongkong, Diamonds, Disturbia, ...). Czech and Slovak films will also be screened.

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.

Other stories from The Slovak Spectator website

EU: European socialists suspended Smer and Hlas parties on Thursday.

European socialists suspended Smer and Hlas parties on Thursday. Migration: Border checks in the region have been extended until November.

Border checks in the region have been extended until November. Politics: Smer leader Robert Ficos close aide dated a Hungarian secret connection, investigative journalists have found.

Smer leader Robert Ficos close aide dated a Hungarian secret connection, investigative journalists have found. Business: These are the richest Slovaks, according to Forbes.

These are the richest Slovaks, according to Forbes. Bratislava: Three things to do for free in the Slovak capital.

Three things to do for free in the Slovak capital. Good news: A Slovak artist will exhibit his sculpture by the sea in Australia.

WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Expect clear skies and daily temperatures ranging from 17C to 25C. (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 and Instagram (@slovakspectator).
10 years is a long time in any business, in any industry, in any city. But for Craftsman and Wolvesa contemporary San Francisco bakery and patisserieto call the last decade a sea change would be to underestimate the sea. Opened in 2012 with one cafe on Valencia Street, in the heart of the Mission District, Craftsman founder Lawrence Lai has seen the neighborhood and city around him transformed in a short period of time. Along the way a boom time for San Francisco craft bakeries and pastry shops has sprung up, with many citing Craftsman as a major source of inspiration. Along the way Lais brand has expanded, now with two cafes, two market locations (in Palo Alto and Sunnyvale), and wholesale partners across the city.

Coffee has long been part of the equation for Craftsman and Wolves, and in late 2019 the bakery to an usual step for those whose focus is primarily the pastry arts: they started roasting their own coffee using a Bellwether roasting machine. At first the company actually roasted on their behalfBellwether is a SF-based company, and Craftsman are something of an icon in the citys food & beverage scenebut now Lai and his team are at the helm of they own Bellwether unit, roasting coffee to their exact specification to compliment the truffle croissant breakfast sandwich, Kentucky bourbon cake, oolong white chocolate panna cotta, and cocoa nib brownie with puffed rice for which they are so rightly revered.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Craftsman and Wolves (@craftsmanwolves)

To learn more we sat down with Lawrence Lai to talk roasting and baking, and to learn about some of his favorite items on offer at Craftsman and Wolves in year ten.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed.

Hey Lawrence, and thanks for speaking to me for Roaster Spotlight. To start, please tell our readers a bit about the background of Craftsman & Wolveshow and when did the bakery get started? How has your coffee program evolved over the last decade?

We started Craftsman and Wolves in 2012. It was a collaboration based on a shared vision for a different patisserie cafe experience and pastry aesthetics. While we do not have the same depth in coffee knowledge and technique as some others, we do know the type of coffee we want to compliment our products.

From the beginning, we were already sure we do not want the typical 3rd wave coffee that emphasizes on light roast and the more acidic and fruity aspect. We know exactly that we want a more medium body with flavors toward chocolate, nut, and brown sugar. We started with Bellwether with them roasting for us and moved to roasting our own and experimenting with various blend to create a flavor that is unique and only available at Craftsman and Wolves.

Why is roasting important to your projectwhat does this control over the product offer your business? What do you like about it?

We started roasting about four years ago. Roasting ourself is important because we now have the flexibility and control over the type of beans and roasts we want for our brand. We started working with Bellwether, and at first we were a bit nervous about roasting ourselves, but the roaster and the interface are very well designed and user friendly. We became comfortable roasting in a very short period of time.

Tell uswhat does being a coffee roaster mean to you? And is there a coffee you find the most challenging to roast?

It means we can ensure the coffee we serve is on par with our pastries. With the roaster taking care of the roasting, we really dont have a preference over which beans we like more. The profiles are perfect!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Craftsman and Wolves (@craftsmanwolves)

What do you consider to be the *best* or perhaps most emblematic/iconic pastry at Craftsman and Wolves?

I would say The Rebel Within has achieved the most notoriety as it is a fun pastry: a savory muffin with pork sausage, scallion, parmesan-asiago cheese, and a soft cooked egg in the center. We are equally proud of our petits gateaux for their complex flavor profile and refined aesthetics.

How has the San Francisco bakery scene changed in the years since you opened?

There are more bakeries and patisseries by young and talented chefs. We love to see their creative pastries as they motivate us to keep improving and innovating.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Craftsman and Wolves (@craftsmanwolves)

What is your personal favorite coffee to drink? And what is your personal favorite pastry?

My everyday and all-day drink is our 24-hour cold brew; it is strong AF and keeps me wired. When I want to indulge, I have a mocha with oat milk. The mocha mix is made in house with Valrhona chocolate, making our mocha extra chocolatey and decadent.

My favorite sweet pastry is the blueberry muffin, but it is only available for a couple of months when blueberries are in season. As for savory, I love our mortadella and havarti cheese croissant that we are actually calling Havartadella Croissant. It has to be toasted for the best experience!

Thank you.

Roaster Spotlight is a feature series on Sprudge presented in partnership with Bellwether Coffee. Read more Roaster Spotlight on Sprudge.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/activist-damage-already-done-by-false-stories-of-atrocities-despite-media-corrections-1114146412.html

Activist: Damage Already Done by False Stories of Atrocities, Despite Media Corrections

Activist: Damage Already Done by False Stories of Atrocities, Despite Media Corrections

Misconceptions about the conflict between Israel and Palestinians abound, including when the conflict started and even what its about. Such manipulation conceals a potent truth: the US can no longer guarantee Israels safety.

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Since Hamas launched a surprise sally from the Gaza Strip to attack nearby Israeli towns on Saturday, lurid reports of atrocities committed by the group have spread through the media.While more than 1,000 Israelis have been killed, the vast majority whom were civilians, many of the most extreme claims have since been retracted, including that Hamas militants slit the throats of Jewish babies and that they raped Jewish women in the border settlements.After repelling the Palestinian militants from Israeli territory, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a massive air bombardment of the Gaza Strip aimed at destroying Hamas as an organization, which has killed more than 1,400 people so far, and is massing hundreds of thousands of troops for a likely ground assault on the densely populated territory.American rapper and activist Immortal Technique told Sputnik on Friday that manipulation of narratives in the media has long surrounded the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including giving the public a limited understanding of the context of particular events, such as atrocities committed by one side against the other.For example, in Syria, there were mixed reports of who was using chemical weapons until we found out everybody was using illegal munitions. And then later on, we have this conversation about Hamas decapitating 40 babies. And just last night, the Israeli Army released a report that says they cannot confirm that and now they've backed completely off of that report.Now, this doesn't mean that there haven't been atrocities, this doesn't mean that there haven't been dead people. But this definitely means that we're being manipulated, in a sense, to feel sympathy or empathy for one group of people while completely demonizing another group of people. And that's par for the course for American media, the activist noted.'It Didn't Start Yesterday'The rapper and activist noted that another method of manipulation is for the media to ignore the larger context of an event, such as the history of a conflict.But it's important for us to know that even though this has been going on, it's also damaging for someone to say, Oh, that conflict is thousands of years old. Well, there's been war in that place for thousands of years. You could point to any place in Europe and say the same thing. But the difference is that this has tried to be framed as a religious conflict. And I believe that that's wrong, because that erases the millions of Jewish people that are opposed to Zionism and that are opposed to the illegal open-air prison that is Gaza. It also erases the 20% of Palestinians that happen to be Christian - and some of them are dying in Gaza, too. So we have to be very careful about whether to label it one thing or another and to always provide some kind of historical context to all of these things that are going on.Some Will Repeat Misinfo 'For the Rest of Their Life'Turning to the question of fake news reports from the conflict being spread through the media, Immortal Technique recalled the quote commonly attributed to the Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels: Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.So I think once the propaganda is out, the damage has already been done. There are people now that will repeat, Oh, Hamas beheads babies for the rest of their life and it won't matter that the Israeli Army itself came out and said that's not true. They're going to hold on to that forever. And unfortunately, when you talk about what the long-term effects of this are, you're talking about a situation in which people who may not even have anything to do with it now become targets of retribution and all measures of violence," he said.So I think that that affects not just the people, but also other individuals that are in proximity as well, which I think is is another topic to bring up, because it does look like the war, if it doesn't end up being curtailed or they don't find some immediate solution, is most likely going to expand. I mean, Israel is already blaming Iran for giving drone technology to Hamas. Hezbollah has stated that if a ground invasion occurs, that it will participate in a war against Israel. That being said, that also means that Lebanon as a whole will probably be drawn into the conflict and so will the remainder of what is Syria.'American Can No Longer Protect Israel'I think that's what bothers a lot of people in the region, whether they're supporters of Palestine or even the people that support Israel that are just listening to this show rolling their eyes and saying, Man, I just want to hear what the other side says. You know, they have to come to terms with some horrific news, not just that they were attacked. But here's the more crucial part of what we're going to say today, ma'am: they have to come to terms with the idea that America can no longer protect Israel. It can give it weapons, can defend itself, it could even buy them a shield, but it cannot stop missiles and bombs from hitting Israel.""The only people that seemingly can do that would be a coalition of larger states. That would have to include Russia and that would have to include China. And that's the reality that they're waking up with today: not just the fact that this war exposed 75 years of occupation, but can the United States have influence over Iran? No. Can the United States have influence over Syria, Lebanon and the rest of these places as [easily] as its other world controlling counterparts? No. So therefore, it has to expand its cooperation with the region. This is going to affect the war in Ukraine. This is going to affect the situation in Taiwan. It's going to affect every major conflict that exists.And that's just the truth, because now it needs to be said that: what is the goal here? To the Israelis, to the ones that support Israel that are listening to this show: what's the United States plan for you? To put you on the front lines of World War 3 like a crash test dummy? I mean, you certainly must be looking at the clock now and saying, Jesus, I really have made a partnership with maybe the wrong people. Now I have to expand what I believe global partnership really looks like and I may have to declare the Palestinian territories their own state. That way they get their own airport there, their own region, and we're guaranteed security by apparently the only people that can guarantee security because the United States can send a gigantic freighter or aircraft carrier there,'" the activist said.But again, all it [the US] can do is the same thing it does here when it polices people: it doesn't stop crime, right? The police don't jump in front of bullets here. Rarely. What they do is they go and punish the people that do it in the hopes that they'll never do it again. And, ma'am, that has not worked since 1776, it hasn't worked since the Laws of Moses - it's never worked for human beings. So obviously, there's a lot of re-analysis that people in Palestine have to make. But also the people of Israel have to make some decisions now and say, hey, we have to expand our global partnerships to include maybe the people that we didn't want to have a conversation with before. We think we can only talk to the United States. We don't have to talk to China and Russia anymore. Well, now you have to talk to the two of them because there's no other way to make peace now. You can't make it with only the United States.For more in-depth analysis on the issue, chek out our The Backstory podcast.*Al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) are terrorist organizations banned in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231011/holocaust-comparisons-seek-to-exceptionalize-hamas-violence-not-contextualize-it-1114115654.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/atacms-why-are-us-war-hawks-so-desperate-to-send-tactical-missile-system-to-ukraine-1114148434.html

ATACMS: Why are US War Hawks So Desperate to Send Tactical Missile System to Ukraine?

ATACMS: Why are US War Hawks So Desperate to Send Tactical Missile System to Ukraine?

Hawks in Washington have spent months demanding the delivery of US MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine. What are the tactical missile system's capabilities? And why would they pose such a danger in the Zelensky regime's hands?

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The Biden administration has reportedly signed off on sending ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, with Kiev expected to get a "small number" of the long-range tactical ballistic missiles for the ongoing NATO proxy war against Russia. The Pentagon announced readiness to deliver cluster bomb-armed ATACMS to Kiev last week, pending final White House approval.Washington's ATACMS pledge marks another step up the escalation ladder with Moscow, with Russian officials warning NATO repeatedly about the dangers associated with sending increasingly advanced strike systems to Kiev, which not only risks accidental escalation into a world-ending nuclear war, but increases the chances of sophisticated Western armaments winding up on the black market after resale by corrupt Ukrainian officials.Kiev has already used its existing long-range ballistic and cruise missiles, drones and cluster munitions to target civilian areas in the Donbass, Belgorod and elsewhere, and the deployment of ATACMS would increase these capabilities further. But it won't change the situation on the battlefield, with Kiev's costly summer counteroffensive stalled and Biden administration officials warning that Washington is "coming near to the end of the rope" on additional Ukraine funding.

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UK's monarch, King Charles III, has expressed his condolences and "deep shock" at the "barbaric" actions by Hamas in its attack on Israel in his call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

In response, Herzog thanked the king for his support and said his words were an "important statement" that could serve as a "great comfort to the people of Israel."

"President Isaac Herzog spoke today with the King of the United Kingdom, King Charles III, who called to express his condolences and deep shock at the criminal and barbaric actions of the terrorist organization Hamas in its attack on the citizens of Israel," the Israeli president's office said in a statement.

"The conversation between the two took place as part of a series of conversations the president has been holding on a daily basis with leaders from all over the world, including leaders of international organizations, and Jewish community leaders."

Buckingham Palace also said Charles has also asked to be "actively updated" on the war as he was "appalled" by the "barbaric acts of terrorism" in Israel, Sky News reported.

"This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about and he has asked to be kept actively updated," a palace spokesperson told reporters.

"His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak. His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel."

Read Also: Israel Declares Emergency Unity Government 5 Days Into Conflict

William and Kate Also in Mourning

Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales said they were "profoundly distressed" by the "horrors" that came out of Israel.

"The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days," a spokesperson for William and Catherine said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

"The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling, they utterly condemn them. As Israel exercises its right to self-defense, all Israelis and Palestinians will [continue] to be stalked by grief, fear, and anger in the time to come."

UK's Involvement with Israel and Palestine

On the other hand, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrived in Israel on Wednesday (October 11) to show the UK's "unwavering solidarity" with their Middle East ally.

The UK's involvement with Israel began when the then-British Empire made a deal with France to partition a majority of the territories of the Ottoman Empire through the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

However, it was the Balfour Declaration, which stipulated the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people," that the Palestinians and Hamas have been criticizing the UK for the longest time.

Related Article: Hamas Supporters in UK Receive Warning from PM Rishi Sunak

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/biden-officially-enters-2024-race-with-nevada-primary-bid-1114119252.html

Biden Officially Enters 2024 Race With Nevada Primary Bid

Biden Officially Enters 2024 Race With Nevada Primary Bid

US President Joe Biden filed paperwork on Wednesday to appear on Nevadas Democratic Party primary ballot next year, making official his candidacy in the 2024 US presidential election.

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2023-10-12T02:08+0000

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US President Joe Biden filed paperwork on Wednesday to appear on Nevadas Democratic Party primary ballot next year, making official his candidacy in the 2024 US presidential election.The Democratic Party holds 57 nominating contests to choose its candidate for president every four years: one for each state plus contests in Washington, DC, five US territories, and a poll of Democrats living abroad. Nevadas October 16 filing deadline is the first of the 57 contests.Although some have questioned the wisdom of Bidens candidacy at the age of 80, he has faced little formal challenge within his party. Robert F Kennedy Jr., perhaps the biggest potential threat to Bidens re-nomination, announced he would run as an independent earlier this week after polling at only around 15% support within the Democratic Party. Author Marianne Williamson, who is running as a Democrat, has typically polled at 10% or less.The Democratic Party hasnt seen a major internal challenge to a sitting president since Ted Kennedys abortive run against Jimmy Carter in 1980.Meanwhile, new general election polling from Nevada shows a tight race in the Silver State with Biden and former US President Donald Trump at 46% and 45% support, respectively. Some 7% of voters polled said they were undecided.Nevada is traditionally a swing state; Democrats have won it in every election since 2008, but with increasingly narrow margins each time. In 2020, the vote count in the state appeared to be headed towards a contentious, drawn-out process as in neighboring Arizona before Biden ultimately won with 50.1% of the vote.In a potentially ominous sign for Bidens performance next year, 55% of Biden supporters in Nevada said they were backing him primarily in order to beat Trump. Only 44% of Bidens supporters claimed they were motivated mainly by support of the candidate himself. Sixty-three percent of Trump backers in the poll said they would vote for Trump out of love for the former president.Trump stomped his Republican primary opponents in the poll, leading his closest rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis 65%-13%. No other Republican candidate registered above mid single-digit support.Fifty-five percent of likely Republican voters polled said the economy was the main issue driving their support for their preferred candidate in their partys primary. Some 19% said they were motivated primarily by the issue of immigration, while 11% claimed they most cared about voting rights and election integrity.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230920/dead-heat-new-poll-shows-trump-biden-tied-in-voter-preferences-for-2024-election-1113544185.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/biden-pledges-us-support-for-israel-urges-netanyahu-to-minimize-civilian-casualties-1114116810.html

Biden Pledges US Support for Israel, Urges Netanyahu to Minimize Civilian Casualties

Biden Pledges US Support for Israel, Urges Netanyahu to Minimize Civilian Casualties

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins discussed current events including Steve Scalise winning the Speaker of the House vote in a secret ballot by the GOP, and Republican George Santos charged with identity theft and fraud.

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2023-10-12T11:03+0000

the backstory

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palestine

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Biden pledges U.S. support for Israel, urges Netanyahu to minimize civilian casualties On todays episode of The Backstory, host Rachel Blevins discussed current events including Steve Scalise winning the Speaker of the House vote in a secret ballot by the GOP, and Republican George Santos charged with identity theft and fraud.

In the first hour, Rachel spoke with international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda about Israeli war crimes, the Biden administration seeks one hundred billion in aid for Ukraine, and US foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel. Mark talked about the US stockpile of artillery shells ammunition formerly held in Israel and how the entire stockpile was sent to Ukraine in 2022. Mark commented on President Zelensky's claims that Russia supports Hamas.Rachel spoke with attorney, media relations specialist Tyler Nixon about the special counsel investigation into Joe Biden's classified documents, Vice President Joe Biden's office emails, and how the Obama administration was shielded from any criticism. Tyler commented on a report of nearly twenty thousand emails from Joe Biden's vice President's office and the emails to Hunter Biden's former investment firm.In the second hour, Rachel spoke with rapper and activist Immortal Technique about the results of Russia and China's end to the onflict in Yemen, the media portrayal of the conflict in Gaza, and the US hunger for war across the globe. Immortal Technique talked about the long-term effects from the propaganda surrounding the conflict between Israel-Palestine and compared the current fog of war to 9/11.Rachel spoke with host of Silk and Steel podcast Carl Zha about China's diplomatic power in the Middle East, US criticism of China, and China's calls for de-escalation between Israel and Palestine. Carl talked about China's response to the attacks by Hamas and the need for the international world to seek a two-state solution.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/blinken-embarks-on-israel-trip-in-show-of-support-amid-hamas-conflict-1114118909.html

Blinken Embarks on Israel Trip in Show of Support Amid Hamas Conflict

Blinken Embarks on Israel Trip in Show of Support Amid Hamas Conflict

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and Jordan from October 11-13 in a show of support for the Jewish state amid its escalating war with Hamas.

2023-10-12T01:27+0000

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2023-10-12T01:23+0000

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palestine-israel conflict

palestine

israel

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The secretary is expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday. In both countries, the top US diplomat will meet with senior officials to discuss measures to bolster Israels security and underscore the US' unwavering support for Israels right to defend itself, according to the State Department. Blinken told reporters before boarding a plane Wednesday that he plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other senior officials, and is looking forward to seeing US embassy teams in the country. Blinken will follow up on discussions that he and President Joe Biden have been having with their Israeli counterparts since the launch of Hamas' attack on Israel. The secretary will also use this opportunity to reiterate his condolences for the victims of the attacks against Israel and condemn them in the strongest terms, the State Department said. "We will be reiterating, reaffirming the very strong message that President Biden has delivered to any country or any party that might try to take advantage of this situation, and that message is Don't," Blinken told reporters. The trip will also focus on the issue of American citizens who have been missing since the beginning of the Hamas attack. The number of US nationals killed in the Israel-Hamas war since Saturday has reached 22 as of Wednesday and will continue to grow, according to Blinken. On Saturday, the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack on Israel, prompting the latter to declare a state of war the following day. On Monday, Israel put the Gaza Strip under full blockade, with no food, water, gas, or electricity supplies. Both Israel and Palestine have so far reported hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation. From the very beginning of the attack on Israel by Hamas, the US declared its full unwavering support for Israel and its readiness to provide its closest ally in the Middle East with everything it needs to protect itself. Within 24 hours of the start of the escalation, the US dispatched the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. On Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed considering sending a second carrier strike group to the region in a show of support. The move prompted criticism from Russia and Turkiye, which have warned it will only exacerbate the situation in the region. At the same time, the US underscores it does not plan to have boots on the ground, or take any military action to support Israel in repelling the ongoing attacks.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231011/holocaust-comparisons-seek-to-exceptionalize-hamas-violence-not-contextualize-it-1114115654.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/blinken-says-us-supports-finland-estonias-probe-into-balticconnector-gas-pipeline-damage-1114131398.html

Blinken Says US Supports Finland, Estonia's Probe Into Balticconnector Gas Pipeline Damage

Blinken Says US Supports Finland, Estonia's Probe Into Balticconnector Gas Pipeline Damage

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the United States supports the investigation of Finland and Estonia into the causes of the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline, which runs from Finland to Estonia under the Baltic Sea.

2023-10-12T09:31+0000

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"We stand with NATO Allies Finland and Estonia as they investigate damage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea and support their ongoing investigation to determine the cause," Blinken said on X (formerly known as Twitter).Earlier on Wednesday, Finnish police spokesman Mikko Simola said that some external traces had been detected in the seabed near the site where Balticconnector was damaged, adding that the Central Finland Police Department was investigating the matter together with colleagues from Estonia. On Wednesday, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that his ministry obtained photo and video footage of the damage, which suggests that the pipeline had been pulled from one side and dragged. Authorities cannot rule out that the pipeline had been damaged by an anchor, media reported. On Tuesday, NORSAR, an independent seismic monitoring organization, said that it had recorded what appeared to be an explosion at the pipeline. The suspected explosion was measured at 1.0 on the Richter scale, which NORSAR said was much smaller than the explosion at Russia's Nord Stream pipeline in September 2022. Balticconnector was shut down early on October 8 after a sudden drop in pressure raised concerns that gas was leaking from the 48-mile undersea pipeline, which has an annual capacity of up to 2.6 billion cubic meters. Pipeline operator Gasgrid Finland said the pipeline appeared to have been damaged. Balticconnector is a gas pipeline connecting the Finnish city of Inga and Estonia's Paldiski. The pipeline gives Finland access to Latvia's Incukalns underground gas storage facility.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231011/external-traces-found-in-seabed-near-balticconnector-pipeline-leak---finnish-police-1114115199.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/borrell-arrives-in-china-for-eu-china-strategic-dialogue-1114121394.html

Borrell Arrives in China for EU-China Strategic Dialogue

Borrell Arrives in China for EU-China Strategic Dialogue

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles said Thursday that he has landed in China to co-chair the EU-China Strategic Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

2023-10-12T04:38+0000

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"Just landed in China to co-chair the EU-China Strategic Dialogue with my counterpart Minister Wang Yi. An important visit to discuss EU-China relations, key regional and global challenges with government authorities, scholars and business representatives," Borrell said on X (formerly known as Twitter). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Wednesday that Borrell would visit China from October 12-14 to hold another round of China-EU strategic dialogue at the invitation of Wang, adding that Borrell's visit would facilitate a healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and prepare the soil for the next stage of high-level cooperation between the countries. In July, the EU foreign policy chief said he hoped to travel to China this fall to discuss bilateral relations and prospects for cooperation after his visit was postponed twice. The trip was first pushed back in mid-April when Borrell tested positive for COVID-19 and was postponed again in July, allegedly due to then-Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's health issues.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230925/eu-flexes-muscles-on-fair-trade-with-china-1113646731.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/canada-shelling-out-millions-in-grants-to-ukrainian-groups-honoring-wwii-nazis-investigation-finds-1114136557.html

Canada Shelling Out Millions in Grants to Ukrainian Groups Honoring WWII Nazis, Investigation Finds

Canada Shelling Out Millions in Grants to Ukrainian Groups Honoring WWII Nazis, Investigation Finds

The standing ovation given by Canadas parliament to a Ukrainian veteran of the Waffen SS during President Zelenskys visit to Ottawa last month became the impetuous for a reexamination of Canadas policy toward WWII-era Nazi collaborators. But new research shows that the lionization of such odious figures isnt just a dark legacy of the Cold War.

2023-10-12T12:46+0000

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2023-10-12T12:46+0000

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roman shukhevych

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Ottawas low key assistance to Ukrainian Nazi collaborators may have begun in the late 1940s, but has continued all the way into the present day, with the government reportedly shelling out grants worth over $2.2 million (nearly $3 million Canadian) over the last seven years to at least eight groups glorifying the infamous 14th Waffen SS Grenadier Division Galicia, a German WWII unit made up of Ukrainian volunteers.According to a new investigation by independent US media, authorities okayed nearly $1.5 million in funding to a group known as the Ukrainian Canadian Congress between 2016 and 2022, with much of the funds listed as cash spent on translation services. The nonprofit umbrella group played an active role in US and Canadian Ukrainian-language propaganda services against Soviet Ukraine after WWII, and has actively defended SS Galicia, recently speaking out in support of a monument to the Nazi military unit at the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery in Oakville, Ontario.The Ukrainian National Federation of Canada, whose official logo contains a Ukrainian coat of arms combined with a sword - the same logo used by the notorious Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and its Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) militia force  another collaborator force, got some $140,000 between 2015 and 2022, ostensibly for summer jobs for youth.Meanwhile, New Pathway, a Canadian-Ukrainian weekly newspaper which has publicly accused Edmontons Jewish community of fueling the flames of ethnic discord and regurgitating Russian propaganda by expressing vehement opposition to a monument to UPA leader Roman Shukhevych, got $68,000 in money through a grant for local publishers. The same newspaper has repeatedly sought to whitewash SS Galicia by assuring that the division has been wrongly accused of Nazism and of war crimes, and evidence in this direction is just "Russian propaganda."The money for the Ukrainian-Canadian groups defending or lionizing Nazi collaborators came from a variety of sources, including Canadian heritage, social and economic development and public safety-oriented institutions, organizations and grants.Thousands of Ukrainian fascists, including former fighters from the UPA and the SS Galicia Division, fled to Canada after World War II. As in their home country, they constituted a minority in their newfound home, with tens of thousands of Ukrainian-Canadians joining millions of Soviet Ukrainians to fight the Nazis during World War II. However, amid the escalation of the Cold War, these small numbers of Ukrainian Canadians gained an outsized influence in their new homeland, with the Canadian and US governments happily using former collaborators to wage guerilla and propaganda warfare against Moscow.In the mid-1980s, the Canadian government formed a commission of inquiry to research evidence that hundreds if not thousands of potential WWII war criminals had been allowed to enter Canada. But the commission concluded that mere membership in SS Galicia did not mean they should be indicted as a group and have their citizenship revoked or be prosecuted.Amid the scandal over Yaroslav Hunka, the SS Galicia division vet who got a standing ovation in Canadas parliament last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured that the government would look carefully at the possibility of making more of the partially classified 1980s report public, including the names of alleged Nazis in Canada, most of whom are now presumed dead and thus happily immune to prosecution.There are top public servants looking very carefully into the issue, including digging into the archives, Trudeau told reporters late last month. Trudeau also apologized to Canadians over the Hunka scandal, but immediatedly complemented it with a call to fight so-called Russian propaganda.Jewish advocacy group Bnai Brith Canada received sneak peek access into part of the sealed portion of the report, which included 822 opinions on individual cases, revealing this week to media that Canadian immigration authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had a major soft spot for potential WWII war criminals hailing from Eastern Europe, liberally overlooking records and potential evidence of potential crimes.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/nazism-isnt-nuanced-internet-rips-op-ed-blaming-complicated-history-for-canada-nazi-row-1113883227.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231004/another-nazi-fail-israels-envoy-to-ukraine-pulls-ill-timed-song-stunt-1113925999.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231005/canada-regrets-awarding-former-ss-division-member-in-1987-1113946797.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/cia-finally-admits-1953-coup-of-irans-mohammed-mossadeq-countered-democracy-1114154929.html

CIA Finally Admits 1953 Coup of Irans Mohammed Mossadeq Countered Democracy

CIA Finally Admits 1953 Coup of Irans Mohammed Mossadeq Countered Democracy

While it has long been known that the US Central Intelligence Agency played a key role in orchestrating the fall of Iran's Mohammed Mossadeq, only recently has the agency admitted that doing so was a violation of democratic norms.

2023-10-12T21:12+0000

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mohammed mossadegh

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The admission came on a recent episode of The Langley Files, a podcast produced by the CIA and named after its Virginia headquarters. Published last month, the episode was the first of two that discussed the CIAs role in rescuing six American diplomats from Tehran during the 1979 siege of the US embassy. However, it also contains a commentary on the events of 1953, which in many ways set in motion the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that caused the siege.At one point, CIA spokesman and podcast host Walter Trosin claims that most of the CIAs clandestine operations have bolstered popularly-elected governments, but he goes on to say that we should acknowledge, though, that this is, therefore, a really significant exception to that rule, referring to the August 1953 coup.However, Geary quickly turns the corner on the admission, saying that in the macro sense, the argument it wasn't about democracy in Iran from Eisenhower's perspective, it was about defending democracy worldwide in that case because the Soviet Union bordered Iran.Asked about the admission, the CIA told US media the CIAs leadership is committed to being as open with the public as possible.Oil or Democracy?Since the late 19th century, Iran - then called Persia and under the rule of the Qajar dynasty - had been mostly in the British Empires sphere of influence, with both London and St. Petersburg exerting a powerful sway over affairs in the late Qajar Empire. A liberal movement succeeded at creating a constitutional monarchy and Majlis in 1906, but expanding British interests in Persian oil resources led to London backing the Shahs power, especially after the Pahlavi dynasty took power in 1921.After an assassin failed to kill Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1949, the monarch made a new grab for power by convening a previously-ignored Senate and staffing it with his own supporters. The popular backlash was harnessed by the National Front and Mohammed Mossadeq, who became prime minister in 1951 after the electoral coalition won a majority in the Majlis. Mossadeq moved to deepen Irans democratic institutions and limit the Shahs power, and most controversially in London and Washington, moved to nationalize British and American oil assets, which he saw as giving the two foreign powers undue influence over Iranian politics.Washingtons role in Operation Ajax, the 1953 plot to create a fake revolution that would overthrow Mossadeq and return the Shah to power, was admitted to the world in 1979 by Kermit Roosevelt Jr., the grandson of US President Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote that he had personally directed the coup on the CIAs behalf from inside Tehran.Ironically, the admission came as the most direct blowback from the operation was already unfolding in Iran: the 1979 revolution that overthrew Shah Reza Pahlavi and declared a republic. After the Shahs return to power in 1953, he became a key US ally against the USSR, receiving top-of-the-line weapons and crushing any attempts at reforming his undemocratic, secular, right-wing government using his secret police, the SAVAK. Mass civil demonstrations against his rule began in 1977 as a growing working class and urban intelligentsia grew too powerful for him to control, and he fled the country in January 1979. Shiite Muslim religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini emerged as the leader of the revolution after students laid siege to the US embassy in Tehran and the US attempted to mount a rescue operation, which failed, casting Washington as a threat to the revolution and evoking memories of 1953, which Khomeini pledged to prevent from recurring.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221016/washington-admits-to-aggressive-meddling-in-iran-as-tehran-recalls-1953-coup-1101906653.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20200817/how-mi6-and-cia-recruited-army-generals-and-bribed-politicians-in-run-up-to-1953-coup-in-iran-1080195463.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/death-toll-in-drone-debris-fall-in-russias-belgorod-region-rises-to-three---governor-1114120980.html

Three Dead After Ukrainian Drone Debris Falls on House in Russia's Belgorod

Three Dead After Ukrainian Drone Debris Falls on House in Russia's Belgorod

A child died when debris from a drone fell on a house near the Russian city of Belgorod, so the death toll has risen to three, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

2023-10-12T04:10+0000

2023-10-12T04:10+0000

2023-10-12T06:24+0000

russia

ukrainian drone attacks on russia

russia

belgorod region

belgorod

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"Three people, including a small child, died," Gladkov said on Telegram. The governor said two injured people are in intensive care. Earlier, he said two people were killed when debris from the drone, shot down by Russian air defenses, fell near Belgorod and caused a fire in a house, adding that a child could be under the rubble.Ukraine has been sending drones into the Russian territory almost daily since it launched a counteroffensive in early June. The United Nations said in August, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/russian-air-defenses-strike-down-multiple-ukrainian-drones-over-belgorod-region-1113973067.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/gratitudes-not-currency-ukraine-needs-to-pay-up-for-aid-says-polish-politician-1114127572.html

'Gratitude's Not Currency': Ukraine Needs to Pay Up for Aid, Says Polish Politician

'Gratitude's Not Currency': Ukraine Needs to Pay Up for Aid, Says Polish Politician

Poland will slap Ukraine with a bill for the assistance funneled to it, Anna Brylka, a candidate for the Polish Sejm from the Confederation Coalition said during the election debate on Polsat.

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Poland will hand Ukraine a bill for the assistance funneled to it, Anna Brylka, a candidate for the Polish Sejm from the right-wing Confederation Coalition (Polish: Konfederacja) said during the election debate on Polsat. She added that the Confederation will also set clear and tough conditions for Ukraine, which will include withdrawing the World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint against Poland, stopping the Ukrainization of trade, exhuming the victims of the Volhyn massacre, and being allowed to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the conflagration.Furthermore, Anna Brylka emphasized that aid to Kiev should not be allowed to jeopardize Polands own food security."We stand for political realism: yes, there is help, not privileges" said Anna Bryka, adding that "an embargo only on grain is not enough. This should be extended to other goods."Earlier, the head of the Confederation faction in the Sejm, Krzysztof Bosak, went on social media to announce that he had billed Ukraine for all the aid that his country had provided. In footage attached to the post on X (formerly Twitter), the politician stands next to the Ukrainian Embassy in Warsaw holding a check indicating the amount of 101bn zloty. Confederation members had picketed the Ukrainian Embassy in Warsaw and held up the mock invoice for Poland's support, which reads: "Paid: zero. Gratitude: none." Bosak had cited to the press figures from the report of the Institute of World Economics in Kiel, adding:In its program, the Confederation has underscored the dominance of Polands own interests, while also pointing out the legacy of the Volyhnia massacres committed against the Poles during World War II. The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Ukrainian acronym UPA) militias murdered up to 200,000 Poles, as well as anti-fascist Ukrainians, Russians and Jews in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. Ukraine has refused to apologize for these crimes, and instead has put up monuments to UPA leaders, while glorifying them.Parliamentary elections will be held in Poland on October 15. According to polling data by United Surveys, 33.8 percent of respondents would vote for Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, and 28.1 percent - for the opposition Civic Platform (PO) led by former European Council President Donald Tusk. (CO). The Left, which comprises several parties, polled at 10.2 percent, the centrist Third Way Coalition (Trzecia Droga) with 9.4 percent, and the Confederation with 8.4 percent of the votes.In their battle for the hearts and minds of voters, Poland's Law and Justice party has also been forced to contend with the fact that Polish farmers do not want to face competition from Ukrainian grain. "Poland will protect the interests of farmers where they are threatened... we also oppose placing Polish interests on the altar of the interests of international corporations," emphasized Radosaw Fogiel, former PiS spokesman and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Polish parliament.Hence, the Ukraine-Poland spat, which started when the influx of Ukrainian grain resulted in Polish farmers facing a plummeting prices and overflowing warehouses. The European Union member states that border Ukraine had long objected to the duty-free import of Ukrainian produce to the bloc stressing that it wreaked havoc on their own markets. Polish President Andrzej Duda, who cancelled a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, pulled no punches, as he compared Ukraine to a drowning man who grabs on to everything and threatens to drag anyone to the bottom who tries to help him.The most noteworthy remark came from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who announced on September 20 that Poland - among the top suppliers of arms to Kiev together with the US and the UK - was no longer supplying weapons to its neighbor. It would, instead, focus on rearming itself.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/no-arms-no-cash-how-us-and-europe-getting-bored-and-tired-of-ukraine-conflict-1113989546.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/how-many-soldiers-are-in-hamas-1114135939.html

How Many Soldiers Are in Hamas?

How Many Soldiers Are in Hamas?

The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict has revealed some disturbing developments since last weekend. Saturdays unexpected onslaught launched by Hamas begs the question: how many combat forces does the group have?

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Its worth noting that defense-related information is not officially publicized by Hamas, so any relevant data can only be obtained through various external sources.Hamas, a Palestinian political party and militant organization, was founded in 1987 amid the First Intifada, a Palestinian revolt against Israeli settlement on lands occupied after the Six-Day War. Hamas, based mostly in the Gaza Strip, emerged as a contender to another Palestinian political party, the predominantly secular Fatah movement. Fatah holds sway over the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), with a primary focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.At the core of Hamas' power lies its military wing, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. This military wing is one of the main instruments of Hamas in achieving its declared goal, namely the creation of an Islamic Arab state throughout Israel.Hamas has consistently been involved in various confrontations, including armed, challenging both Israeli forces and Palestinian political institutions. This trajectory took a significant turn in 2006, when it clinched a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council through electoral triumph.In 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, ousting Fatah supporters from the enclave. The event marked a watershed moment, solidifying the movement's de facto rule, which endures to this day.Hamas' military and political strength play a pivotal and evolving role in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, significantly impacting relations between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as global efforts to reach a resolution.Strength and Composition of Hamas' Military ForcesThe potency of Hamas' combat forces rests on its artillery units, comprising rockets and mortars, which spearhead the movement's offensive capabilities.Second is the ground forces, comprising regulars and reservists, accompanied by combat brigades and supplementary elements, which constitute the bedrock of Gaza's defensive capabilities. Their primary mandate is to protect the territory of Gaza, and especially shielding Hamas leaders. These forces operate as an unyielding shield, providing essential cover for the rocket forces to carry out their tactical operations.The artillery units and ground forces form the the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. This armed wing also has a distinct marine commando division, complemented by an elite unit well prepared for subterranean incursions into Israeli territory.Hamas' precise troop force is unspecified, but various estimations have put the numerical strength of its service members at around 30,000 militants, if non-core members are summoned in an emergency.The al-Qassam Brigades are organized into six groups. Each group has many smaller groups, and each smaller group has even tinier parts. Three of these groups stay in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. One is in the north of Gaza City, one is to the east of Gaza City, and one is in the south of Gaza City. There is one group in the middle of Gaza, and two are in the south, superintending Khan Yunis and Rafah. The Hamas combat forces are reportedly also dispersed in the West Bank and neighboring countries.These brigades encompass a wide range of combat forces, including anti-aircraft weaponry, snipers, artillery, engineers, anti-tank capabilities, and infantry. Additionally, the Qassam Brigades incorporate specialized staff units for communications, intelligence, smuggling, weapons production, logistics, and public affairs functions. This diverse composition allows Hamas to adapt to evolving political scenarios and address diverse threats. Hamas Combat StrategyWith insight from Michael Stevens, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, it becomes clear that Hamas gravitates towards a guerrilla combat strategy.Weapons Systems Hamas UseThe Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades boast an extensive arsenal that encompasses an assortment of conventional arms, expertly fashioned improvised explosive devices (IEDs), critical rocket components, and a covert network of tunnels and bunkers in Gaza. This comprehensive cache gives them a strategic edge in confrontations with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).A recent report from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy has shed light on the Hamas artillery program, identifying four critical components that shape its operational capacity:Other weapons include an unspecified number of unmanned aeriel vehicles and drones, and several hundred Kornet anti-tank guided missiles.Sources: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Public Information

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Elon Musk announced that Tesla Superchargers in Israel are free to use. The billionaire made this effort as the Middle Eastern country suffers from horrifying acts of the Hamas terrorist group.

But, will Israelis and other victims of the ongoing war really benefit from free Tesla Superchargers? Here are the major details you need to know.

Elon Musk Makes Tesla Superchargers Free in Israel

According to Interesting Engineering's latest report, Elon Musk declared that all Superchargers in Israel are free.

"All Tesla Superchargers in Israel are free," said the tech executive via his official X post, which garnered over 20 million views, 200,000 likes, and 4,200 comments.

This is a big deal for Israelis since the giant EV maker has shifted away from providing free Supercharger access to its customers.

Thanks to Elon Musk's decision to support Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas terrorists, Israelis, and other war victims can take advantage of 22 Supercharger stations without spending anything.

Just like previous similar efforts for other countries, the main goal of these free Tesla Superchargers is to help people who want to move rapidly to avoid dangerous places.

But, some critics didn't appreciate the latest Israel aid announced by Elon Musk.

They explained that since Tesla owners are the only ones who can benefit from the free Superchargers, the effort is not a big deal since these individuals are likely able to afford Supercharging sessions amid a disaster or conflict.

On the other hand, other people praised the Tesla CEO, saying that the free Superchargers are still a show of support to Israelis.

Read Also: Israeli Soldiers Discover Dozens of Dead Babies, Some Beheaded, in Hamas-Attacked Village

People's Opinion on Elon Musk's Supercharger Aid for Israel

Since some people support Gaza and others are on the side of Israel, opinions about Elon's Supercharger aid for the Middle Eastern country are divided.

In the comment section of Musk's X announcement, one netizen questioned the effort since he believed that there was no electricity in Gaza.

This was corrected by other users, saying that Elon didn't mention the Palestine city; only Israel.

Meanwhile, other individuals said that people should stop complaining and just appreciate whatever assistance Elon Musk and other billionaires can offer to Israel.

On the other hand, some X users said that Musk doesn't value the lives of Gaza residents.

"Where's the free energy for Gaza? I guess Arab lives don't matter to you huh," sarcastically asked a netizen.

These are just some of the comments made by the public on Elon Musk's latest Israel aid. If you want to see more of their opinions, you can click this link.

Related Article: Biden Vows To Provide Support to Israel After Confirming Americans Among Hostages, Killed

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/israel-not-prepared-for-hezbollahs-second-front---alastair-crooke-1114141013.html

Israel Not Prepared for Hezbollahs Second Front - Alastair Crooke

Israel Not Prepared for Hezbollahs Second Front - Alastair Crooke

Hezbollah may open a second front against Israel amid Tel Aviv's war with Hamas, former British diplomat and MI6 agent Alastair Crooke told Sputnik's New Rules podcast.

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The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah may raise the stakes in the Israel-Hamas war by getting directly involved in the conflict.Over the past few days, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah fighters have been exchanging strikes across Lebanons southern border. The clashes came after Hamas' surprise attack on Israeli cities from the Gaza Strip on October 7 and Tel Aviv's retaliation. The question is whether the Shiite militants will resort to a direct military intervention in Israel in a show of solidarity with Hamas.Hezbollah is both a political party and militant group that was formed in 1982, during the 15-year Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), and earned the name "state-within-a-state" due to its sophisticated security apparatus, well-trained fighters, and political organization. Since its inception, Hezbollah has been involved in a continuous fight against Israel over what it called the "occupation" of Palestine.In 2006, the month-long Israel-Hezbollah war erupted, precipitated by the Lebanese militant groups cross-border raid on an Israeli military patrol on July 12, 2006. A UN-brokered ceasefire was agreed by the warring parties on August 14, 2006, while on September 8, 2006, Israel lifted its naval blockade of Lebanon. Per Crooke, the IDF was outperformed by Hezbollah at the time.Israel Intelligence Lapses Speak VolumesFurthermore, the Israeli intelligence failure to proactively thwart the Hamas attack suggests the erosion of intelligence capabilities and understanding of the situation on the ground, according to Crooke. It appears that despite Tel Aviv and Washington's top notch technology, the nations' spies failed to correctly interpret the massive volumes of intelligence data. Crooke explained that the shift over to artificial intelligence (AI) as a means of intelligence gathering "has not been very successful, neither in Ukraine for the Americans and for NATO and computer modeling efforts.""Nor has it for the Israelis, because there comes a point when you have so much information and data bits and everything like this that you don't have a clear picture," the former British intelligence operative emphasized.To understand how people are thinking one needs "emotional intelligence" and some sort of empathy, and not just the AI-collected data, according to him.What if Hezbollah Joins Israel-Hamas War?If Hezbollah does intervene, it would be an unpleasant surprise for Tel Aviv, according to Crooke.It appears that the US and its allies are well-aware of the potential threat: the Biden administration made it clear that the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and, possibly, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and accompanying warships, is not aimed at Hamas, but at Hezbollah and Iran.Per the US press, Washington and its Western allies, including France, have conveyed messages through informal channels to the Lebanese Shiite group warning it against joining Hamas in the unfolding war. Officially, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the US issued a joint statement on Monday which said: "[T]his is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage."Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) warned the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict or allowing militant groups to launch attacks on Israel from Syrian soil. Per the Western media, Hezbollah could maintain a substantial military presence in the Syrian Arab Republic. Last year, the UAE normalized its relations with Damascus and backed Syria's readmission in the Arab League. At the same time, the UAE maintains working relations with Tel Aviv, being part of the 2020 Abraham Accords.If Hezbollah nonetheless decides to enter the Israel-Hamas war, the escalation could have disastrous consequences for Tel Aviv, Crooke believes. The next several weeks will show how the conflict will evolve:*ISIS (ISIL/Daesh/Islamic State) is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/israel-palestine-conflict-baltic-pipeline-attacked-trump-files-russiagate-lawsuit-1114118450.html

Israel Palestine Conflict; Baltic Pipeline Attacked; Trump Files Russiagate Lawsuit

Israel Palestine Conflict; Baltic Pipeline Attacked; Trump Files Russiagate Lawsuit

Former US president Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the author of the infamous Steele dossier.

2023-10-12T04:05+0000

2023-10-12T04:05+0000

2023-10-12T11:11+0000

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Israel Palestine Conflict; Baltic Pipeline Attacked; Trump Files Russiagate Lawsuit Former US president Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the author of the infamous Steele dossier.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow based international relations security analyst joins us to discuss Russia and Ukraine. President Putin is meeting with the Prime Minister of Iraq and the US is struggling to simultaneously arm both Ukraine and Israel. Mark Sleboda says that this meeting was scheduled prior to the latest outbreak of violence in the region but the subject will likely dominate the discussions. Russia's position is that this conflict is due to failed US and Israeli policy and that a diplomatic settlement is needed.Dan Lazare, Investigative Journalist, Author of America's Undeclared War joins us to discuss the Israel Palestine conflict. Russia maintains a balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestine conflict. Dan Lazare says that this is a dangerous situation because the Israelis have oppressed the Palestinians and Hamas is a deeply flawed organization that has taken violent inexcusable actions. Also, he says that President Biden's statement on the conflict was appalling.Robert Fantina, Journalist and Palestine Activist joins us to discuss the Middle East. The Israeli leadership has formed a new government and seems poised to attack Gaza. Robert Fantina says that the Palestinian situation cannot be ignored. Also, there are stories of war crimes that are circulating that are not corroborated and the US and Israel are arguing over whether Iran was involved in planning the Hamas attack.Jon Jeter, Journalist and Author joins us to discuss the Uhuru African People's Socialist Party charges by the FBI. The FBI has a long history of criminalizing dissent. Jon Jeter says that the leader of the Uhuru movement is a brilliant man and the FBI may have bitten off more than it can chew. Also, he says that the cointelpro FBI operation has never died and that numerous Black activists have been murdered. He also said that the FBI has always been operating an intelligence war against Black people.Garland Nixon and Dr. Wilmer Leon discuss GOP politics. House republicans have chosen Steve Scalise as the nominee for Speaker. Representative Scalise was Speaker McCarthy's right hand man and the policies of leadership are unlikely to change. Also, the GOP ruling elite likes Nikki Haley over Trump but the voters do not agree.Dan Kovalik, writer, Author, lawyer joins us to discuss Eastern European politics. There is another pipeline attack in Europe as the Baltic connect route appears to have been blown up. Dan Kovaik says that he would not be surprised if Ukraine and/or the US is involved. Destroying civilian infrastructure is an act of war. He says that Europe has not benefited from the Ukraine conflict and the pro-NATO governments are falling one by one.Jim Kavanagh, Writer at thepolemicist.net and Counter Punch joins us to discuss US presidential politics. Former US president Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the author of the infamous Steele dossier. Dr. Jim Kavanagh says that Russiagate never dies because people are still quoting the Steele dossier as though it's true. The claim that Steele was careless with the accuracy of the violation and did share it with journalists to make it public will help Trump's case. Also, he believes that RFK Jr will take votes from both parties and that President Biden will not be the Democrat's nominee.Kim Ives, journalist and editor at Haiti Liberte joins us to discuss Haiti. Nairobi's high court has halted the US backed Kenyan troop deployment to Haiti. Kim says that it may be a judo move wherein the court, that put the President in power, halts the deployment. Kim feels that the Kenyan opposition is up in arms because there is resistance from all parties. This is not a UN peacekeeping force but the UN Security Council has given the US the right to set up this force. Kim believes that the rejection of the Kenyan deployment is part of the overall African rejection of imperialism.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/palestinian-journalists-bear-witness-to-israeli-bombing-of-gaza-1114133887.html

Palestinian Journalists Bear Witness to Israeli Bombing of Gaza

Palestinian Journalists Bear Witness to Israeli Bombing of Gaza

Gaza resident and journalist Tareq Hajjaj and Ahmad Al-Bazz, an independent journalist and filmmaker, told of the suffering faced by ordinary Palestinians since the decades-long conflict escalated sharply at the weekend.

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Two Palestinian journalists have given first-hand accounts of the Israeli bombing campaign against the besieged Gaza Strip.Palestinian militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad launched a major incursion into southern Israel on Saturday, apparently taking the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) by surprise despite prior warnings from neighboring Egypt.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered electricity and water supplies to be cut off in the tiny enclave, home to more than two million people. The death toll after six days of fighting has exceeded 1,400 in Gaza, along with more than 1,300 in Israel. The IDF said 222 of its soldiers had been killed  the worst casualties since its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000  and 97 more taken prisoner by Hamas and other militant groups. Dozens of Israeli civilians are also being held hostage in Gaza.Journalist Tareq Hajjaj told Sputnik from Gaza itself that he and other civilians "have no safe place to go."The correspondent for the Mondoweiss website said that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's vow to "destroy Hamas," the movement which governs in Gaza in partnership with the Fatah party-dominated Palestinian Authority based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was counter-productive."Even people that don't support Hamas or its actions this time, they are supporting Hamas fully because they saw on the first day how Hamas broke down the borders," Hajjaj pointed out. "They felt for the first time that Hamas is actually doing something to liberate Palestine."He said the total blockade of Gaza by Israel, which even bombed the Rafah crossing point into Egypt to prevent humanitarian aid convoys from entering, was causing immense hardship among the population.He dismissed Tel Aviv's assertion that it was only targeting militants in the enclave."Israel is targeting journalists' homes. The homes of two journalists to enter occupied Palestine, and the first day to report on the situation were targeted," Hajjaj said. "Israel has targeted the ambulances and the medical care staff. So far, seven ambulances affiliated to the Health Ministry have been directly targeted."Fellow journalist Ahmad al-Bazz told Sputnik from Nablus in the West Bank that since the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza, the IDF had locked down the communities in the West Bank."Palestinians in the West Bank live in separated enclaves," Bazz explained. "All of these enclaves have military gates at the main entrances. So right after the escalation in Gaza, the Israeli military made sure to close down all of these gates."He said the IDF and Israelis from the hundreds of illegal settlements dotting the West Bank opened fire on Palestinians protesting in support of their compatriots in Gaza, killing dozens.The journalist said the situation in the West Bank was "nothing that can be compared to what is happening in Gaza." But while it was relatively quiet and safe in the centers of cities like Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron, "movement in between these enclaves is not."Asked to speculate on Israel's intentions, Bazz said some believe the IDF wants to "end the Gaza model" of "a closed ghetto where Palestinians live and there is no presence for the Israeli military.""Maybe they prefer the West Bank model, in which there is a presence for the Israeli military everywhere in the West Bank, controlling the population in a direct way," Bazz argued. "Some Israeli leaders refer to some historical changes that are going to happen... occupying Gaza, imposing a direct occupation, instead of a siege."For more in-depth analysis of current affairs, tune in to our Sputnik Radio shows.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231011/palestinians-and-israelis-tell-of-suffering-in-new-gaza-war-1114091402.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/putin-and-kyrgyz-president-zhaparov-meet-in-bishkek-1114122188.html

Putin and Japarov Hold Joint Press Conference in Bishkek

Putin and Japarov Hold Joint Press Conference in Bishkek

Sputnik goes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Bishkek with an official visit on the eve of the CIS Summit of heads of state.

2023-10-12T08:34+0000

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Sputnik comes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov hold meeting in extended format. Later in the day, Putin and Japarov are expected to make a joint press statement.During his two-day official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin will take part in the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, hold a number of bilateral meetings - including with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev - and attend a number of other events. The first day of the visit will begin with an official meeting between the Russian leader and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Sadyr Japarov.Follow Sputniks feed to find out more!

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/report-biden-administration-may-revisit-decision-on-not-sending-troops-to-israel-1114156760.html

Report: Biden Administration May Revisit Decision on Not Sending Troops to Israel

Report: Biden Administration May Revisit Decision on Not Sending Troops to Israel

The Biden administration may revisit its decision to not send American troops to Israel amid its war with the Palestinian Hamas group, Politico reported citing a US official.

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Citing a US official, American media reported on Thursday that although the United States has ruled out sending its troops to Israel, that decision is subject to change as the Biden White House and Israeli leaders handle the ongoing hostage situation. Americans and Israelis are among hostages being held by Hamas fighters following the group's Saturday attack. US media has detailed that the hostage situation has been exceedingly complex and challenging, noting how the Biden administration remains uncertain as to where exactly the hostages are being kept. Earlier Thursday, John Kirby, who serves as the coordinator for strategic communications for the National Security Council, said Israel was not interested and did not welcome having US troops in Israel. However, the Pentagon told Sputnik earlier this week that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has placed special operations forces on standby as they provide intelligence and planning support to Israel for now. The United States currently has two carrier strike groups in the Eastern Mediterranean to deter any third party groups hostile to Israel from getting involved in the war.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231011/why-us-warship-deployment-nearby-israel-spells-escalation-risks-1114110822.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/sputnik-reporter-his-wife-injured-in-drone-attack-in-belgorod-region-their-daughter-killed-1114137219.html

Sputnik Reporter, His Wife Injured in Drone Attack in Belgorod Region, Their Daughter Killed

Sputnik Reporter, His Wife Injured in Drone Attack in Belgorod Region, Their Daughter Killed

A Sputnik journalist and his wife were wounded in a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone strike near Belgorod, while their daughter was killed.

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2023-10-12T13:15+0000

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A Sputnik journalist and his wife were wounded in a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone strike near Belgorod, while their daughter was killed, said Dmitry Kiselyov, head of Rossiya Segodnya Russian state-media group, Sputnik's parent company.The Kiev regime embarked upon this terrorist attack on peaceful villages in Russia out of desperation, in response to what was happening on the battlefront. We are doing everything possible to help the family, support them, heal them, said Kiselyov, adding that a decision was being taken as to whether it is necessary to transport the wounded to Moscow.The general director of the Rossiya Segodnya media group lamented the fact that these losses among the media groups journalist staff were not the first.The condition of the wounded Sputnik journalist who is currently in the ICU is extremely grave and unstable, with doctors doing their outmost in an effort to save his life, said the Health Ministry of Belgorod region. As to Khaibar Akifi's wife, she is in ICU after undergoing surgery, with medics assessing her blood circulation signs as stable.Olesya Akifi is an employee of the Belgorod State Technological University (BSTU named after V. G. Shukhov), candidate of philological sciences. According to a Sputnik source, the couple had been visiting their elderly relatives. It was added that the wounded woman does not yet know about the death of her daughter.Earlier in the day, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov had said on Telegram that a child died when debris from a drone shot down by Russian air defenses collapsed on a house near the Russian city of Belgorod, causing a fire.Ukraine has been attacking Russia's Belgorod region over the past months, targeting civilian infrastructure. Kiev resorts to aerial attacks by drones and missiles, while also sending sabotage groups. Russian Armed Forces have been successfully downing the UAVs, intercepting missiles and wiping out sabotage groups.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/death-toll-in-drone-debris-fall-in-russias-belgorod-region-rises-to-three---governor-1114120980.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/sy-hersh-how-bibis-opposition-to-two-state-solution-claimed-lives-of-jews-and-arabs-1114146176.html

Sy Hersh: How Bibi's Opposition to Two-State Solution Claimed Lives of Jews and Arabs

Sy Hersh: How Bibi's Opposition to Two-State Solution Claimed Lives of Jews and Arabs

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's mistake has come at great cost for Israel and may lead to huge casualties among Jews and Palestinian Arabs, a knowledgeable source told Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh.

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2023-10-12T16:49+0000

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Benjamin Netanyahu "is finished," as his decision to allow a group of Orthodox settlers to celebrate Sukkot in the West Bank last week was ill-timed, given the growing tensions between Jews and Palestinians in the region, an Israeli source told Seymour Hersh.On October 6 a group of Jewish settlers were reported to have clashed with local Palestinians in Huwara, a village in the northern part of the West Bank, which resulted in the death of a 19-year-old Arab man.Israeli settlers in the West Bank required "extraordinary protection" over the upsurge in violence. So, Netanyahu gave a nod to local Israeli military authorities to order two of the three Army battalions that controlled the border with Gaza to shift their focus to the Sukkot festival. Given that each battalion comprised about 800 soldiers, 1,600 were sent to shield the Orthodox Jews.Thus, unsurprisingly, the diminished IDF contingent was overrun by Hamas militants on October 7, while Israeli civilians were left unprotected.Hersh's sources called the Saturday attack "the great military failure in Israeli history." He noted that a previous surprise attack on Israel by Egypt and Syria in 1973 claimed the lives of soldiers, while this time peaceful civilians suffered. "Last Saturday twenty-two settlements in the south were under control of Hamas for hours, and they went house to house slaughtering women and children," the insider said.The source believes that this failure means the end of Netanyahu's political career: "[He] is finished. He is a walking dead man. He will stay in office only until the shooting stops . . . maybe another month or two." But not just for Saturday's slaughter: the root of the problem named Hamas goes much deeper, per Hersh's interlocutor.Bibi's Frankenstein to Disrupt Two-State SolutionTo begin with, Benjamin Netanyahu "was always opposed to the 1993 Oslo Accords," the insider said. The agreement envisaged the gradual implementation of the so-called "two-state solution" for Israel and Palestine. It was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) negotiator Mahmoud Abbas in September 1993.Under the agreements, Tel Aviv accepted the PLO as the representative of the Palestinians, and the PLO recognized Israels right to exist in peace. The document stipulated the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which would assume governing responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.At the time, Netanyahu was out of office: he served as a prime minister between 1996 and 1999 and won the Israeli prime ministership for the second time in 2009. When Bibi returned to office in 2009, he "chose to support Hamas" as an alternative to the Palestinian Authority, "and gave them money and established them in Gaza, according to the insider.Furthermore, an arrangement with Qatar was made under which hundreds of millions of dollars were directed to the Hamas leadership with Israeli approval, per the source.Meanwhile, it was no secret that Hamas was formed in 1987 as an Islamist militant entity which claimed in its two charters that it did not recognize Israel's right to exist and was ready to resort to all means possible to fight against Israel's "occupation" of Palestine.Ground Op in Gaza to Lead to Huge Human LossesWhat happened on October 7 "was a result of the Bibi doctrine that you could create a Frankenstein and have control over it," according to Hersh's interlocutor.Now, the unfolding havoc requires a military response from Israel, which has already mobilized over 360,000 reservists. Tel Aviv is reportedly bracing for a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. But the problem is that the Israeli ground forces "are not trained for combat," the insider said.The forthcoming operation promises to be a slaughter of great proportions, judging from the insider's account of events. He noted that the Israeli Air Force no longer alerts Arab civilians of bombing raids. Previously, they dropped a small bomb on the roof of a civilian facility to be targeted to give a signal to non-combatants to leave the building. That is not happening now, according to him.Meanwhile, Tel Aviv has imposed a full blockade of Gaza, meaning the civilians have been deprived of food, water, and electricity. "Hamas now only has a two- or three-day supply of purified water and that, along with a lack of food," the insider said, explaining that the rationale behind the move is to draw Hamas out of the city, avoiding house-to-house raids in the city of Gaza.Israel's Western partners have already warned Tel Aviv not to violate the rules of war. At the same time, Hamas does not appear to act rationally and or be capable of earnest negotiations, per Hersh's interlocutor. The more images of Hamas violence are shown on TV, "the more Hamas is seen as another ISIS*, time gets short," he said.There may be a general ground invasion with "untold deaths" unless the international community and some third parties step in to broker cessation of hostilities. "The decision to invade in full force is Israels, and it has not yet been made," Hersh concluded.*a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other states.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/turkiye-gazprom-agree-to-draft-roadmap-for-gas-hub-in-near-future---energy-minister-1114131125.html

Turkiye, Gazprom Agree to Draft Roadmap for Gas Hub in Near Future - Energy Minister

Turkiye, Gazprom Agree to Draft Roadmap for Gas Hub in Near Future - Energy Minister

Turkiye and Russias Gazprom have agreed to draft a roadmap for a gas hub in near future, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Thursday.

2023-10-12T09:25+0000

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During our negotiations with Gazprom, we decided, by mutual agreement, to draw up a roadmap on this issue in the near future, and then we will jointly carry out work related to the implementation of the natural gas center in the near future. We agreed on this issue, the minister said, as quoted by Turkiyes newspaper.Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, that the proposed gas hub project in Turkey will be an electronic platform for gas trading that will benefit all sides.In October 2022, the presidents of Turkey and Russia instructed their relevant authorities to map out the possibility of creating a gas hub in Turkey where traffic could be diverted from the damaged Nord Stream pipelines. During a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi in September this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes negotiations on the creation of a gas hub in Turkey will soon be completed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/erdogan-discusses-creation-of-gas-hub-in-turkiye-at-g20-summit-sidelines-1113284169.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/two-state-solution-or-one-state-agreement-what-are-the-options-in-palestines-path-to-statehood-1114148856.html

Two-State Solution or One-State Agreement: What are the Options in Palestines Path to Statehood?

Two-State Solution or One-State Agreement: What are the Options in Palestines Path to Statehood?

Hamas-led militants surprise offensive deep into Israeli-controlled territory around Gaza has again focused the worlds attention on the 75-year-old perpetual conflict between Jews and Palestinians. Amid the crisis, its worth reexamining the history of the Palestinians quest for statehood, obstacles standing in the way, and options available.

2023-10-12T18:01+0000

2023-10-12T18:01+0000

2023-10-12T19:26+0000

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Russia has always advocated for the implementation of decisions of the United Nations Security Council, meaning, first and foremost, the creation of an independent Palestinian state. This is at the root of all problems, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an address at an energy forum in Moscow on Wednesday, touching on the escalating Israeli-Palestinian crisis.Characterizing the Palestinian problem as an issue that touches the heart of every resident in the Middle East, and the worlds Muslim community in general, Putin stressed that Russias stance on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian crisis is well known both to the Israeli side and to our friends in Palestine.A day earlier, in a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani in Moscow on Tuesday, Putin characterized the Israeli-Palestinian escalation of the crisis as a clear example of the failure of US policy in the Middle East, and of Washingtons effort to monopolize the settlement process.Unfortunately, Putin said, the US was not concerned with finding compromises acceptable to both sides, but on the contrary, put forward their own ideas about how this should be done, putting pressure on both sides...But each time, without taking into account the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people, instead trying to buy them off through economic handouts.Conflicts OriginsThe Israeli-Palestinian crisis is the consequence of a very longprotracted conflict going back about 150 years, says Dr. Raphael Cohen-Almagor, a professor of politics at the University of Hull in the UK, and Olof Palme visiting professor at the Center for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University.The Zionist movement received crucial support from the British during the First World War, with a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, a leader of Britains Jewish community, known as the Balfour Declaration, setting out a formal commitment by London to allow for the creation of a national home for the Jewish people in what was then-Ottoman-controlled Palestine.The settlement of the land increased quite a lot as a result of the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 1930s, Dr. Cohen-Almagor continued, citing large waves of immigration into Palestine  which by that point was under British mandate rule. There was another wave of immigration after World War II. In 1947, there was a UN resolution to divide Palestine. That's after the Holocaust and the horrors that Europe had experienced under the Nazi occupation, including the systematic extermination of millions of Jews. The United Nations decided on partition, that this land that is called Palestine will be divided into two parts, Israel and Arab.The Jews rejoiced and accepted the partition plan. The Arabs inside Palestinerejected the partition plan with contempt, and a brutal civil war ensued, with the British mandate folding in May 1948, and Israel formally declaring its statehood, prompting armies from half-a-dozen Arab countries to invade the territory, turning the civil war between Arabs and Jews in Palestine into a wider, regional war.Why Does the Crisis Seem So Intractable?Two-State Solution?The idea of a two-state solution  that is, two separate Israeli and Palestinian states, has been kicked around for decades, starting with the aforementioned 1947 UN plan for the partition of Palestine, which would grant the Palestinians sovereignty over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and establish a capital in East Jerusalem.Israel and the Palestinians have held dozens of exhaustive sets of negotiations on the matter, starting with the Madrid Conference in 1991, which culminated in the Oslo I Accord of September 1993 and a Declaration of Principles  i.e. a framework for further talks. The outbreak of a Palestinian uprising in Israeli-occupied territories and in Israel proper in the year 2000 reduced support for the Oslo process in Israel.The last real attempt to resolve the conflict was in 2008, Cohen-Almagor said, referring to the series of talks stretched out over two years between Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.Since 2008, the two sides have more or less wasted their time. There have been several rounds of violence in 2008-2009, 2012, in 2014, in 2020. And now the most horrendous one is going to be in 2023. And yes, when sides believe in violence and not in talking to each other, thats the result, the professor added, predicting that an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza would result in a major humanitarian crisis, since neither Israel nor Egypt appear willing to let refugees into their countries.Is a Two-State Solution the Only Available Option?The two-state solution is not the only possibility for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, which others including the idea of a single state accommodating the interests of all residents, either in the form of a federal state divided into Jewish and Palestinian districts, or a form of confederation providing broad autonomy to members of both communities.The one-state solution idea does not enjoy the backing of the UN or support from Israeli or Palestinian officials, and has instead been popularized by figures including Israeli journalist Gideon Levy and Palestinian author Ali Abunimah. Palestinian proponents of the idea see it as a means to secure fair and equal treatment, while Israelis who support it see it as perhaps the only effective long-term means to stop the seemingly endless cycle of violence.Polling in 2016 by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 36 percent of Palestinians, 19 percent of Israeli Jews, and 56 percent of Israeli Arabs supported a one-state solution idea.By contrast, polling from earlier this year by the center together with Tel Aviv University found that 33 percent of Palestinians and 34 percent of Israeli Jews back a two-state solution.A Palestinian state is impossible, Dr. Mehran Kamrava, a professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, believes.Everyone, including policymakers in the US, is fully aware that the two-state solution has not been tenable for a number of decades now. But the US and the EU, and many others, claim to support it. This rhetorical support for the untenable, impossible two-state solution is because the US does not want to admit that the reality on the ground is apartheid, nor does it want to admit that the only realistic alternative now is a one-state solution, the academic said.Need for OptimismWe have to be patient," Cohen-Almagor urged, when asked about the prospects for a fair and lasting peace agreement including Palestinian statehood being reached.Cohen-Almagor believes that peace will become truly possible when three key conditions are met, including:

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US Officials Actively Promoting Idea of Sending Russia's Frozen Funds to Ukraine - Reports

US Officials Actively Promoting Idea of Sending Russia's Frozen Funds to Ukraine - Reports

US officials have intensified their efforts to convince Western governments to use frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia to support Ukraine, an American newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

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The idea has gained more popularity in recent times amid new obstacles faced by the US and the EU governments in attempts to send money of their taxpayers to Ukraine, the newspaper said. However, there are still certain financial and legal challenges preventing the Western authorities from confiscating Russia's resources. In particular, the United States and the European Union are concerned over the possible loss of trust from other governments keeping their money in Western banks, the news agency stated. Moreover, there are special constitutional norms forbidding the White House to confiscate anyone's money unless the country is involved in war with the United States, US lawyers told the newspaper. The EU member states have reported having more than 200 billion euros ($211 billion) of Russian central bank's assets frozen in their banks. Moreover, EU banks are holding 24.1 billion euros of assets belonging to individuals and private entities. Earlier this year, EU representatives, commissioners and legislators started discussing a legal framework that would enable confiscation of assets of Russian citizens and entities accused of violating EU sanctions. However, no concrete steps have been taken in this regard so far. Moscow has on many occasions said that any attempts to confiscate frozen Russian assets are an expropriation of property and a violation of international law. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik that Russia would do everything possible to return the seized assets.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has departed for a two-day trip to Israel and Jordan to meet with senior leaders in both nations.

According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Blinken's trip was a solidarity visit following a Hamas attack that killed over 1,000 Israelis, as per Reuters.

"The Secretary will reiterate his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attacks against Israel and condemn those attacks in the strongest terms," he said in a statement dated Tuesday (October 10).

"The Secretary will also reaffirm the United States' solidarity with the government and people of Israel. He will also discuss measures to bolster Israel's security and underscore the United States' unwavering support for Israel's right to defend itself."

Prior to his departure, Blinken reiterated the Biden administration's support for Israel.

"As I head to Israel, I will be working to ensure they are equipped to defend themselves and making sure any hostile parties know they must not seek to take advantage of the situation," he said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Read Also: King Charles, Prince William Send Messages of Condolence, Grief to Israeli People

In the days ahead, we will continue to stand with our Israeli partners. As I head to Israel, I will be working to ensure they are equipped to defend themselves and making sure any hostile parties know they must not seek to take advantage of the situation. pic.twitter.com/kwchxyggnO  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 11, 2023

Blinken's Trip a Gesture of Support

Miller added in a briefing that Blinken's trip was "a message of solidarity and support."

"He, of course, wants to hear from the leaders of Israel, hear from them directly about the situation they're facing ... about what they need and how we can best support them," Miller added.

Earlier, the State Department announced that the American death toll on Hamas's attack has been updated to at least 22, up from yesterday's tally of 14.

"At this time, we can confirm the deaths of at least 22 US citizens," the State Department said in an earlier statement. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected."

Related Article: [BREAKING] Israel-Hamas War: State Department Updates US Death Toll to 22

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231012/zelenskys-statement-on-final-stage-of-conflict-shows-hopelessness---lavrov-1114136922.html

Zelenskys Statement on Final Stage of Conflict Shows Hopelessness - Lavrov

Zelenskys Statement on Final Stage of Conflict Shows Hopelessness - Lavrov

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys recent statement on Kiev entering a final stage of conflict with Moscow shows his hopelessness, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

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"I think [of it] as an admission of hopelessness," Lavrov told reporters, when asked about Zelenskyys statement.Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with a Romanian TV channel that the conflict in Ukraine is at its final stage.In addition, Zelensky admitted that Ukraine is afraid of a possible shortage of financial resources and weapons. He added that Kiev has "many more fears" in the current situation. In September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference after his speech at the UN General Assembly that Russia was ready for talks on Ukraine, but would not consider proposals for a ceasefire.

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The winningest horse trainer in North American history will be at Cumberland Run on Sunday, Oct. 15 to watch his four horses race.

No, trainer Steve Asmussen hasnt branched out from Thoroughbred racing. Rather its Ron Burke, who with 14,269 victories heading into Thursday is harness racings all-time win leader. Hes also his sports winningest money-earner, with his horses making more than $320 million in a career that started in the 1990s.

Burkes 300 horses are spread amongst Pennsylvania (his main hub and residence), Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey and Florida. But he said in a phone interview that hell be at Cumberland Run for Sundays opening day and is looking forward to being at a new track and its 12-day meet as harness racing comes to southeastern Kentucky for the first time.

Asked what he knows about Cumberland Run, Burke said, I dont. Its exciting; thats what I mean. Well all figure out the track together. Im even bringing my dog. Were both punching our tickets for another track weve been to.

To put Burkes numbers in perspective, the 2022 harness racing U.S. Hall of Fame inductee has won about 4,400 more races than Asmussens 10,271 Thoroughbred victories. Asmussen does have the edge in purse earnings, exceeding $425 million (second to Todd Pletchers $472 million).

Burke has lapped the Standardbred competition, topping 1,000 wins in a year four times (hes at 925 so far in 2023) and already at $22.3 million this season, exceeding $20 million in purses for the 10th time. According to the U.S. Trotting Association, no other harness trainer has won more than 663 races or $13.4 million in purses in a year.

Second in career wins for a harness trainer is Virgil Morgan Jr. with 7,370. The retired Jimmy Takter is second in purse earnings at $130 million.

I own every record in the sport, and its not even close, Burke said matter of factly, adding when asked if being the all-time leader had been a long-time goal, I didnt realize it. But once I started piling up the numbers, then, yeah, I wanted to be the first one to reach 1,000 wins in a year, $100 million and things. The one year I led both harness and Thoroughbreds in money, that was cool. Because they never thought there would be a day when a harness trainer would be close.

That was 2014, when Burkes stable accrued $28.5 million  $6 million more than Thoroughbred leader Pletcher.

There are a lot of similarities between Burke and Asmussen, Hall of Famers in their respective breeds. They are close in age: Burke will turn 54 on Monday; Asmussen is 57. Both were born into racing families and have several hundred horses spread among multiple divisions. And they possess a single-minded focus on winning  whatever the division or class of horse.

While Burke has never met Asmussen, he said a mutual acquaintance told him, You two guys should meet. You remind me so much of each other.

Of course, there is one big difference: Burkes Standardbreds will race weekly for stretches at a time while todays Thoroughbreds rarely run closer than three, four or five weeks apart. As a measure, Burke has had 66,571 career starters through Wednesday, compared with Asmussens record 50,669 starts in Thoroughbred racing.

When I pass you, Burke said, its hard for you to pass me back until I slow down. He doesnt plan on that being any time soon, saying, Were going to keep rolling.

Told about Burke, Asmussen quipped, Then I better get back to work.

Told Burkes age, Asmussens response: Dude! Then Ive got no shot against him. If hes 54, hes just getting in his prime.

(As an aside, Asmussen noted that his wife, Julie, owned a few Standardbreds that raced at Saratoga Harness during the Saratoga Thoroughbred season a couple of summers back. She had one winner, but it was fun as heck, her husband said.)

Burke says he doesnt get tired of keeping up with 300 horses.

No, when its the only thing you do and you enjoy it , he said. Even if I do go on a vacation, by the third day I want to go home. Ill do it for a few more years like this, and then Ill re-evaluate. At some point, Father Time has defeated all of us; we become not good enough. Before somebody has to tell me Im not good enough, Id rather tell myself.

Burkes father led the nation in wins and earnings before his son took over the entire family stable in 2008. Burke said it started out as a hobby for his dad.

We went from having two or three horses to 200-300 horses, he said. My dad still jogs and trains with us. Hes 87 years old and works for us every morning.

Burkes quartet racing on Sunday on the Cumberland Run opener include three in a trio of $30,000 legs of the Kentucky Sires Stakes and one in a $20,000 Open Pace. The record-smashing trainer is among the harness horsepeople who have handicapped the Kentucky circuit and are rating it a buy.

With the historical Red Mile in Lexington bookended by western Kentuckys Oak Grove in the spring and now Cumberland Runs fall meet, Standardbred horsepeople believe Kentucky is becoming the place to base. If the Kentucky meets are comparatively short on dates, Kentucky is centrally located to also race throughout the Midwest. As has happened in Thoroughbred racing, they see harness purses only going up, thanks to the Kentucky General Assembly passing legislation to protect historical horse racing (electronic gaming that is pari-mutuel in design).

Im excited. Cumberland Run gives Kentucky a third track for the harness people, said Burke. Im looking to try to find a farm. Now, with more race dates, Im trying to set up permanently there. I bought a condo in Lexington this year. Were definitely going to be there more often.

Burkes four horses on Sunday will be driven by David Miller, a 2014 inductee into harness racings U.S. Hall of Fame.

Its a legit stop now for the horse world, Burke said of Cumberland Run. Give it another year and youll see it even more... Everywhere in Kentucky just keeps getting better and stronger.

To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click here.

(Kentucky Downs)
A sense of excitement and pride burned bright last Friday afternoon at Bingham & Taylor, a cast-iron foundry making utility lids since 1946 along the railroad tracks in downtown Culpeper.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin was in town for the special occasion, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a $23 million expansion and modernization at the female-owned plant typically closed on Fridays.

The governor, an American businessman, touted domestic production of goods.

Manufacturing is coming back to Virginia and I believe strongly that 'Made in America' means made in Virginia, he said. A celebration of partnering, the history here is one I am honored to share, operating in Culpeper since 1946, Bingham & Taylor has had their flagship plant right here in the commonwealth for 77 years.

"That partnership has withstood the test of time with expansions twice for an injection molding plastics plant, enabling it to be at the heart of our gas and water industries, building a Virginia for the future.

Bingham & Taylor, founded 1849 in Buffalo, New York, was the first company to create a plastic valve box, manufacturing custom cast iron and plastic products to meet the needs of its customers, Youngkin said.

This company, for 175 years, has understood that innovation and excellence and passion for what customers need come together to create a great company that grows, comes great opportunities, we are here at the tail end of of an extraordinary expansion, the governor said.

Most of the investment was to ready the plant to switch from a coal-burning furnace to an electric melt furnace, cutting carbon emissions produced by the site by 98%, according to Culpeper Tourism and Economic Development Director Paige Read.

This is a true testament to collaboration, to having likeminded partners on the vendor side and the contractor side, to that collaboration from the client side as well, as Bingham & Taylor is coming on up on their 175th anniversary, she said in remarks Friday.

Read was part of the town team that helped facilitate the cleaner, greener switch to electric at the foundry through Town of Culpeper Light & Power.

The town electric distribution company built an electrical circuit from its Chandler Street facility, servicing a mini substation the town built behind the massive operation across town. Light & Power Director Mike Stover said Bingham & Taylor is the towns largest power customer. We sat down and talked with them 20 years ago about this, it never went anywhere, been in the works for quite a while. Im happy to see it happen.

The electric-powered melt furnace is better for the environment and the community, Stover stated. Councilwoman Meaghan Taylor, who has lived in the area of the foundry for years, agreed, recalling no more black soot covering their porches since the switchover.

The electric melt furnace at Bingham & Taylor went live this past spring, Stover said. The town council passed a new industrial power utility rate class that made the environmental upgrade affordable, Read said in a phone call.

The expansion generated 45 new jobs, an entire second shift with 32 hourly positions and 13 professional/managerial positions, Read said. She noted the workforce at the plant is 60% Latino.

Bingham & Taylor workers lined up by the dozens for the ribbon cutting on their day off, wearing hard hats and safety goggles with button-up cotton uniforms in shades of blue, standing behind the governor as he spoke about bringing manufacturing jobs back to Virginia.

It was a show of force for American manufacturing at the facility employing around 165 employees, a figure provided by Steve McGuff, chief of manufacturing, a consultant for the company.

Bingham & Taylor in Culpeper will produce 1.5 million parts per year, a turnout of 12-13 million pounds, he said, of their manufactured on-site inventory serving public utilities, including valve covers, manhole covers, cast iron frame, meter covers and valve box covers, in both cast iron and plastic components.

Its the highest we have ever been able to do because the old system limited how many pounds we could melt, McGuff said. The new system could potentially do 40 million pounds. We are only using a quarter of the capacity on-site  were growing.

Bingham & Taylor President Laura Grondin has been CEO since 1999, appointed by her father, now in his 90s, who she thanked at the ribbon cutting for having in faith in her.

Today we are a 100% female owned company, she said. Thank you to the people from the town of Culpeper, those who helped us set up our electric run furnace, we have a substation built here and really provided the electricity we need to operate these furnaces  I am very proud to stand before you on the eve of our 175th anniversary and to celebrate our electric melt.

The $23 million also invested in other equipment, Grondin added.

As much work as we have done to modernize this foundry, we have more work to do and we will keep going."

Grondin asked the audience to support domestic manufacturing every chance they get.

We provide products that help to bring clean drinking water into peoples homes, she said. The EPA estimates, in the next 20 years, it is going to cost $625 billion to repair and replace water systems across the U.S. We have created a product called the Bison that will directly compete with imported products  it is, in fact, a better product."

Bingham & Taylor is a job creator, the CEO said, and they are going to add more jobs because they are going to get more work. The company is a sustainability creator, Grondin added, noting most of what goes into products from the factory is made of recyclable material.

The No. 1 recycled material melted into utility valve parts at the foundry are old brake rotors. Bingham & Taylor is an industry leader, Grondin said.

In the 1850s, we invented the first Buffalo valve box, that box is still in being put into the ground today, (we are the) original patentee, Bison box is a combination of cast iron and plastic, she said.

It defeats the import product coming into this country and it is our intention that we spread it as far and wide as we can and 100% of those inputs will be made in the state of Virginia.

The company president stated she is always walking around looking down at the sidewalk for their products. We are going to put as many of those in the ground as we possibly can."

Tours of the foundry were well-attended, with employees at various stations explaining how the parts are made. Starting the process, the furnace is heated to 2,850 degrees, hotter than the center of a volcano, turning brake rotors to liquid metal for reshaping down the assembly line from the pour zone, following the flow of iron, according to a first stop on the tour.

Second shift superintendent Doug Barton of Louisa County was among tour presenters down the line. He works 2 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the plant.

Mr. Youngkin was talking about the jobs that had been created, 40 plus  40 of them work at night with me. That furnace has supplied an entire shift of employment, not just expanded, but an entire shift of new employees in one year, Barton said.

The foundry shift leader was working in art and sculpture before coming to Bingham & Taylor. Barton mentioned an industrial background.

This is easy for me. I'm used to it, I used to make more complicated stuff, its fine  this entire facility is running for 20 hours per day, double shifts, were trying, pushing it to the max  we need more orders."

Tour presenter Wayne Lee of Culpeper, an 18-year employee, runs two shifts at the foundry, in the molding department. The plant uses a monorail system for the shaping of the iron into parts, he said.

Sand is used for making the molds of the desired parts that are poured into the mold then carefully removed, leaving a negative impression.

Once the iron solidifies, you have a finished product  one pour per mold, the shift supervisor said. Lee noted they recycle 147 tons of sand per year. He said his hours vary at the growing plant. Some weeks is 80 hours, some is 40 hours."

Chief engineer Sahil Makwana of Herndon participated as a tour presenter from the lab, speaking about testing the cast iron so it meets standards. He said he loved the work.

I have been in this industry since after college, metal, its my passion for seven years, said Makwana, noting his dad was in manufacturing. I learned it during high school, started working in India, worked couple foundries over there, then took my masters at the University of Akron in Ohio.

The modernization at Bingham & Taylor has reduced injuries on the job by 90%, Gov. Youngkin said in his remarks at the ribbon cutting, noting the company's commitment to improving the environment.

What a resume, he said. Going to be here for another 175 years right here in the heart of Culpeper. Talent is at the heart of everything. My breath was taken back by the talent around the room, the commitment you all have, your hard work, passion, professionalism is what distinguishes you, that talent pipeline, from 28 years to one year, mentoring the new ones, all working together for the next generation of great labor.

Virginia should have a tremendous dedication to make sure its schools are delivering for the next generation and that parents are deeply engaged, the governor said, and that there is an opportunity to forge a path to the future.

This is what education is all about and thats what were standing for in the commonwealth of Virginia. Job well done."
Its taken a lot of planning and even more hard work, but a group of Troutman-area residents are ready to hit the ground running as part of the new Exchange Club that was chartered in a ceremony last week.

The sponsoring club is the Evening Exchange Club of Lake Norman, which provided the startup funding for the newest organization in Troutman.

Troutman Town Manager Ron (Duck) Wyatt said he saw firsthand the impact the Lake Norman club had on the town earlier this year. The club held its Walk of Heroes in honor of Memorial Day and the greenway that runs through Troutman was decorated with hundreds of American flags.

He said that display brought many people to Troutman, whether it was just to drive through and look or stop and take photos of the many flags.

He said he is confident the Exchange Club of Troutman will have a positive impact on the community.

The Exchange Clubs chief mission is the prevention of child abuse and its members help in that endeavor with sponsorship and fundraising for Pharos Parenting, a local organization that works to instill positive parenting skills.

One of the orders of business at the chartering ceremony was to install officers for the new club.

John Gallina will serve as the first president of the Exchange Club of Troutman. Other officers are Amy Suggs, president elect; Crystal McIntosh, secretary; and Tonya Bartlett, treasurer.

Leadership, Gallina said, is not about making decisions. Its about unifying. Its not about making a plan, he said. Its about pulling the best and the brightest  its about working to our best to achieve common goals.

McIntosh said she is excited to see the club open up in Troutman. This is a wonderful organization, she said. We have a lot of good ideas.

Board members were also sworn in at the ceremony. Barbara Sprinkle, Becky Sharer, Curtis Fortner and Robbie Suggs form the board.

Fussell Hughes, Region 10 vice president and national representative, conducted the official ceremony.

Marie Watts, president of the Evening Exchange Club of Lake Norman, welcomed the new club members, and said she knows the Troutman organization will do good things in the community. The opportunities are endless, she said.
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) Chicago chapter is under fire for tweeting an image of a person with a parachute with a Palestinian flag and the caption "I Stand with Palestine," which was a presumed reference to the deadly first strike at a music festival near Kibbutz Re'im in Israel.

An estimated 260 partygoers were killed in that incident on October 7.

BLM Chicago stands with the murder of women children in a tweet depicting the parachute attack of peace music festival. pic.twitter.com/Wx1iPcBVqz  Dean Dorame (@DorameDeano) October 10, 2023

Backlash Galore

The reaction to the graphic was swift and relentless, the Washington Times reported.

Several conservative individuals and other persons or groups have criticized the group for allegedly supporting the massacre of civilians at the music festival.

"Black Lives Matter Defends Hamas, Salutes Killer Paragliders, "conservative podcast host Todd Starnes said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

"The guy with the parachute raped, tortured, kidnapped and murdered people... including 40 babies," posted Chicago talk-radio station AM 560 The Answer. "That's who BLM Chicago is standing with."

"BLM Chicago, like many leftists, comes out in support of slaughtering innocent people they don't like," conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck added. "Now ask yourself this: Do they like you? Unless you're an extremist, they probably don't. Consider the future ramifications of that for your family."

Elon Musk, who owns X, made a one-word reply to Starbuck: "Exactly."

Read Also: Israel Conflict Puts US College Administrators at Odds Over Pro-Palestinian Student Groups

BLM Chicago's Non-Apology

After the reaction, BLM Chicago responded to the criticism by removing the tweet and instead issued a statement on Wednesday (October 11).

"Yesterday we sent out [messages] that we aren't proud of," the chapter said. "We stand with Palestine & the people who will do what they must to live free. Our hearts are with the grieving mothers, those rescuing babies from the rubble, who are in danger of being wiped out completely."

In response, conservatives retorted in what seemed to be BLM Chicago's apparent doubling down.

"[The image] represents the Hamas terrorists who paraglided into the music festival and shot 260 people and took hostages," said Puck News founder Julia Ioffe.

"Honest question: Does [BLM Chicago] advocate for the kind of methods we saw from Hamas on Saturday - like paragliding into a music festival and shooting 260 people, then taking hostages & raping them - for American cops or even white Americans? Or is that reserved just for the Jews?"

Conservative radio host Erick Erickson also wrote in his daily email about the post.

"Look at the progressives right now, please," he wrote. "BLM is sending out graphics of Hamas paratroopers with Palestinian flags claiming to support them. Hamas parachuted into a music festival in Israel and killed over 200."

Related Article: Blinken Leaves for Israel, Jordan on 2-Day Solidarity Trip

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Iredell County Farm Bureau Board, during its annual meeting, recognized the many accomplishments and awards received by the FFA chapters and 4-H groups throughout the county. Iredell County Board President Doug Holland presented each group with a monetary donation for their continued efforts in educating and promoting agriculture. ABOVE: FFA and 4-H groups from across the county were recognized. RIGHT: Iredell County Farm Bureau President Doug Holland spoke at the annual meeting.
Walmart customers in Statesville were welcomed inside the newly transformed Supercenter at 1116 Crossroads Drive last week as the project is now complete. The stores associates marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, community celebration and a community-inspired mural unveiling by a Statesville artist.

The event was attended by local Statesville organizations including VFW Post 2031, North Iredell High School Band, Statesville High School Cheer Team, Iredell-Statesville Schools Bible Association, Pharos Parenting, Chestnut Grove Community Center, PFLAG Charlotte and Project Linus.

During the celebration, Walmart store manager Michael Young highlighted the Supercenters transformed departments as well as the new interactive features now available to customers, including:

Expanded online, pickup and delivery services

New digital menu boards, expanded self-check-out options and updated registers

New platform displays and light fixtures

Freshly painted interior and exterior

Statesville-inspired mural

Updated restrooms for customers

New and expanded merchandise in every department

New signage throughout the store

This remodel is not only an investment in the store but also in our customers and city, said Young. Im proud of our associates for their hard work and for getting us to the finish line; we look forward to exceeding our customers expectations as we continue to serve the Statesville community.

Grants presented

To reinforce Walmarts dedication to the communities it serves, the store manager presented $9,948 in grants to local nonprofit organizations, including:

$2,500 to Iredell-Statesville Schools Bible Association

$2,000 to The Exchange Center for Child Abuse Prevention

$2,000 to Speedway Childrens Charities

$2,000 to Chestnut Grove Community Center

$948 to PFLAG Charlotte

$500 to Project Linus

The Supercenters new mural, designed and illustrated by a local artist is an eye-catching piece that reflects the diversity and local cultures of Statesville, and is part of Walmarts Community Mural Program, the largest public-facing art installation celebrating communities across America. Walmarts Community Mural Program is an important part of each store transformation and furthers Walmarts commitment to the local community.

Signature experience

Statesvilles Walmart transformations are a part of Walmarts Signature Experience, which seeks to inspire customers and elevate their in-store experience. Upgrades at the Statesville Walmart Supercenter include:

Activated corners: Exciting displays are featured at the corners of certain departments to pull customers in and help them touch, feel and become a part of the space, allowing them to discover all that Walmart has to offer.

Elevated departments: Transformed stores feature displays showcasing products that are out of their boxes so customers can imagine them fitting into their daily lives.

More space to discover: Walmart has created more space for customers to explore and discover the breadth and depth of what their local store has to offer.

Digital touchpoints: These new touchpoints located throughout the store help to communicate to customers the vast range of products and services Walmart offers online through the use of QR codes and digital screens.

For example, in Walmarts Pets area, a customer may scan the QR code to find additional dog bed options, learn about Walmarts pet insurance service options or have a 20-pound bag of kibble delivered to their door.

In addition, Statesville Walmart customers can save time and money by shopping when, where and how they want. The Statesville store continues to offer the following innovations:

Pickup  Walmarts Pickup option has become a favorite among busy shoppers. It provides the convenience of online shopping and allows them to quickly collect their groceries without stepping out of their vehicles. The best part is that Walmart Grocery Pickup is completely free of charge. Furthermore, customers using SNAP in most states have the option to avail themselves of the pickup service as well.

Delivery  Walmarts convenient delivery service is also a hit with customers. Even more, Walmart has now made both pickup and delivery contact free. Express delivery  customers now have the option to have their deliveries made in under two hours.

Walmart Pay  a touch-free way to pay

Walmart+

This membership program is designed to save customers time and money with free, unlimited deliveries, member prices for gas, use of the Scan and Go app, allowing the scanning and payment of products while shopping for quicker checkout and exclusive access to select deals before the general public. Walmart+ costs $98 per year ($12.95 per month) and includes a 15-day free trial period (available for sign-up at walmart.com). Items available for free delivery include groceries, electronics, toys and household goods. To take advantage of Walmarts new shopping features, customers can download the Walmart app through Apple Store or Google Play.
RALEIGH  The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is accepting entries to its 19th annual Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition. Entries will be accepted until Jan. 31.

The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages, except for employees of the Wildlife Commission and their immediate families (children, siblings and spouses).

Adult competition entrants must be current magazine subscribers. Photographers in the two youth categories (13-17 years old and 12 and under) may enter without a subscription.

Only digital entries in JPEG format, no larger than 2 MB, will be considered  no slides, negatives or prints will be accepted. Photographs must have been taken in North Carolina on Sept. 15, 2019 or later.

Entrants may submit a maximum of two photos per category. The competition categories are:

1. Animal Behavior

2. Birds

3. Invertebrates

4. Mammals

5. Outdoor Recreation

6. Reptiles and Amphibians

7. Wild Landscapes

8. Wild Plants and Fungi

9. Youth Photographer, 13-17: Any of the above subjects, shot by children ages 13-17.

10. Youth Photographer, 12 and younger: Any of the above subjects, shot by children 12 and younger.

Photos of captive native animals are allowed, but photos of animals that are both captive and non-native to North Carolina will not be accepted. No pets or domestic animals will be accepted, except animals participating with people in an outdoor activity, such as hunting dogs or horses with riders.

Entries will be judged by a panel comprising staff from the Wildlife Commission and professional wildlife photographers. The grand prize winners photo will be published on the cover of the July/August 2024 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina, and the winner will receive a cash prize of $200. All winning photos will be published in the July/August 2024 issue. Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded to the first, second and third place photographers, respectively, in each category.

Additional details about the contest and past winning photos are available at ncwildlife.org/contest.

Wildlife in North Carolina is published bimonthly by the Wildlife Commission in both print and electronic formats. Subscribers to the magazine enjoy exceptional color photography and articles on hunting, fishing, natural areas, wildlife research and the states environment in every issue. Annual subscriptions to the printed version of the magazine are $12. A digital subscription is $10; a combination digital/print subscription is $15.
Kim Kardashian supported her Jewish friends during this hardest time saying you are not alone in this.

In her new Instagram post the world known American-Armenian stated her heart is "broken seeing the videos of the babies and families being terrorized and murdered."



'Brutal terrorism has taken innocent lives, and now both Israeli and Palestinian civilians are suffering and paying the greatest price there is, Kardashian writes adding that as an Armenian she is particularly sensitive to such issues. Because I have been talking about the Armenian Genocide for years, and now, after months of blockade with minimal media coverage and no external support, Armenians are the victims of an ethnic cleansing themselves in Artsakh. They are in the moment also suffering from an extreme humanitarian crisis, and there are still prisoners of war being held captive or missing.'

Kardashian calls to action today. Something that we can all do, is simply to reach out to your friends, colleagues and those in your community, those who are hurting, no matter what side they are on. Check in on them and tell them you love them. Prayers and Peace always.

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The discussions also touched upon the future directions for the IMF and the World Bank, according to al-Baath.

Syria joined discussions with representatives from various countries attending the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to address the ongoing challenges in the global economy.

During the meetings, participants underscored the significance of backing international efforts aimed at achieving stability and providing assistance to cope with various crises.

The discussions also touched upon the future directions for the IMF and the World Bank, particularly in terms of expanding the role of developing nations in the governance of these international financial institutions and their decision-making processes.

The 2023 World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings are currently being held in Morocco from October 9 to 15, marking the 50th anniversary since these meetings were last hosted in Africa. This years agenda centers on sustainable poverty eradication and exploring effective solutions for global issues, including job creation, digital infrastructure development, and climate action.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Attendees at the meeting expressed full confidence that the countries and forces within the Axis of Resistance would not allow the enemy to isolate the people in Gaza, according to al-Watan.

In the heart of Damascus, a massive demonstration took place to express solidarity with the Al-Aqsa Flood operation initiated several days ago by Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza against the Israeli occupiers. Syrian and Palestinian groups in Damascus united to emphasize that the Al-Aqsa Flood symbolizes the collective struggle to defend sacred lands and sanctities, demonstrating unwavering support and pride for the people in occupied Palestine.

In Arnous Square, a rally organized by the Palestinian Foundation for Culture and Development drew hundreds of Syrian citizens and Palestinian refugees. Participants waved Syrian and Palestinian flags, donned Palestinian insignia, and held banners that proclaimed, Our hearts are with you Supporting the Al-Aqsa flood and From Damascus Here is Homs Here is Jerusalem Here is Gaza. Chants reverberated through the crowd, including We declare to the world We are ready to sacrifice for Palestine and With our souls and blood, we stand with you, O Al-Aqsa.

Simultaneously, Palestinian resistance factions, the Al-Quds International Foundation  Syria, and the Syrian Arab Popular Committee for Supporting the Palestinian People and Resisting the Zionist Project released a statement through SANA news agency. They commemorated the 50th anniversary of the October War of Liberation, a conflict led by the Syrian and Egyptian Arab armies and supported by fighters from various Arab nations. They condemned the heinous crime against the Military College students in Homs, emphasizing that such atrocities cannot alter the course of history. The statement celebrated the heroism of the Palestinian resistance, which breached enemy lines on October 7, 2023, and confronted occupiers in Palestine, demonstrating unwavering steadfastness.

The statement underscored that defending ones homeland is a matter of historical allegiance and true connection to the land. It stressed the importance of unity among those opposing terrorism, occupation, and aggression in Syria, as defending Syria is tantamount to defending Palestine. The statement advocated for the integration and collaboration of the Axis of Resistance to ultimately defeat the Zionist enemy and its supporters while upholding the rights of people to sovereignty, independence, freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

Additionally, the Follow-up Committee of the General Arab Conference, consisting of various Arab conferences and organizations, met and decided to maintain open virtual meetings to monitor developments in the ongoing conflict between the Palestinian resistance and the Zionist occupation forces, following the significant Al-Aqsa Flood operation. The committee expressed admiration for the achievements of Hamas, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and other Palestinian resistance movements in this operation, which marked a historic turning point in the struggle against the Zionist enemy and its supporters.

The committee called for the upcoming Friday to be recognized as a day of global, Arab, and Islamic outrage against the genocidal acts committed by the Zionist enemy in Gaza against the Palestinian people.

Attendees at the meeting expressed full confidence that the countries and forces within the Axis of Resistance would not allow the enemy to isolate the people in Gaza. They pledged support for Gaza on all fronts when the time is right, emphasizing that the battle for Gaza is inseparable from the broader struggle for all of Palestine and the entire Arab and Islamic world.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

In a landmark international case, judges have been presented with evidence that Syria has subjected tens of thousands of its citizens to torture, operating a system of abhorrent treatment that spans extensively. Simultaneously, tensions persist along Israels northern border with Lebanon, marked by ongoing shelling. This situation is reminiscent of 2006, sparking concerns on both sides about a potential recurrence of the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, a Shiite group with a stated goal of destroying the Jewish state.

Syria accused of pervasive torture in first global case over civil war

Syria has tortured tens of thousands of its people and maintains a widespread and pervasive system of abhorrent treatment, world court judges have heard at the first international case related to the civil war in the country.

Canada and the Netherlands have brought Syria before the international court of justice (ICJ), seeking urgent measures to stop the mistreatment of thousands of people still in detention.

Every day counts, Rene Lefeber, the top representative for the Netherlands, told the court. Persons in Syria who are currently detained or at risk of being detained cannot afford to wait any longer.

Damascus snubbed the first day of hearings and has previously dismissed the case as disinformation and lies, saying the allegations lack the slightest degree of credibility.

Lefeber cited wrenching testimony from detainees, describing gang rapes, mutilation and a standardized punishment method involving contorting people into a car tyre and administering a severe beating.

Canada and the Netherlands have asked the ICJ to urgently demand that Syria stop all torture and arbitrary detention, open prisons to outside inspectors and provide information to families about the fate of their loved ones.

The ICJ can take years to rule on a case, but urgent provisional measures can be ordered in a matter of weeks and are legally binding.

It is our sincere belief that the lives and wellbeing of Syrians are at stake and require the courts immediate attention, said Lefeber.

Ahmad Helmi, a former prisoner who is now an activist, said: I was in prison in Syria for three years and I know for sure that torture is happening around the clock. Its happening around the hour.

It doesnt happen only for interrogation. Sometimes it happens for fun. Just because they feel they enjoy impunity, they can do whatever they want.

Hundreds of people are dying under torture every month, said Helmi in an interview before the hearings.

Along Israels Borders With Lebanon and Syria, Clashes Raise Fears of Another Front

Shelling sounded out along Israels volatile northern border with Lebanon for a third consecutive day Tuesday, stoking fears on both sides of a repeat of 2006, when Israel fought a bloody monthlong war with Hezbollah, the Shiite group committed to the destruction of the Jewish state, The New York Times reported.

Although paling in comparison to the fighting that has taken place around Gaza, in the countrys southwest, the continued clashes on Israels northern border have deepened unease over the possibility that the conflict  already the broadest invasion in 50 years  could spread to multiple fronts.

There were signs late Tuesday that could happen: The Israeli Army said it had identified a number of launches from Syria into Israeli territory, the first time that fire had been exchanged across that border since fighting erupted on Saturday. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Israeli military said the projectiles apparently fell in an open area and that it had been firing artillery and mortar shells in return.

Along the Israel-Lebanon border, the day had begun with residents assessing the aftermath of clashes Monday, when Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an armed group based in Gaza, sent fighters into Israel, two of whom died. Funeral processions were held in southern Lebanon for three Hezbollah fighters also killed amid the skirmish by Israeli shelling.

But the relative calm was shattered Tuesday evening when 15 rockets were fired over the border from just outside the Lebanese city of Tyre, on the Mediterranean coast, the Israeli military said. Four of the rockets were intercepted, the military said.

Although it was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, the Israelis said they had responded by striking two Hezbollah observation posts with tank fire. Hezbollah responded in turn with an anti-tank guided missile attack on an Israeli armored personnel carrier in the northern Israeli town of Avivim, according to a statement from Al Manar, the Hezbollah-owned Lebanese broadcaster.

Hezbollah published footage it said was of the attack, which showed two strikes on an idle military vehicle, leaving it with considerable damage. The Israeli Army said no soldiers were injured. It added that Israeli forces had struck another Hezbollah observation post in response.

As the exchange of fire continued late into the night, two senior Lebanese army officials claimed that Israel had used munitions loaded with white phosphorus, the use of which can be a violation of international law when civilian areas are targeted. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media.

Footage posted online showed white puffs trailing white smoke before falling to the ground. A spokesperson for the Israeli Army denied the use of white phosphorus, saying soldiers had deployed only illumination flares.

Global Coalitions inaction to boost ISIS activity  AANES official

An official of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said the stance of the US-led Global Coalition towards the Turkish strikes on northeastern Syria create the right conditions for increasing the activity of the Islamic State (ISIS).

Amina Osse, Deputy co-chair of the Executive Council of the AANES, said the actors in the Syrian issue ignored the unjustified Turkish attacks.

The AANES contacted officials in the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS, and Russia to report the scale of the damages inflicted to vital infrastructure facilities that provided services for the community, Osse stated to the official account of the Executive Council.

Since Oct. 5, Turkey has launched many airstrikes, artillery shells, and drone strikes against 28 infrastructure facilities, 150 residential areas, 34 military sites, including 21 locations of the Syrian government forces, seven farmlands, three factories, a school and a hospital, according to the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press.

The strikes took place following a statement by Turkeys Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, in which he threatened to strike a broader range of targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for the Ankara attack.

SDF kills 4 Turkish soldiers, 3 SNA militants in Syrias Hasakah

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stated on Wednesday their forces attacked two Turkish military bases in occupied areas in the countryside of Tel Tamr in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria.

The SDFs Media Center stated their forces carried out on Tuesday an operation targeting two bases of the Turkish occupation in the occupied villages of Knehir and Arbain, Tal Tamir northern countryside.

The operation resulted in the killing of four Turkish soldiers and three militants from Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA) in addition to the injury of several others, the statement added.

So far, the total death toll of Turkish soldiers reached 22 soldiers killed and dozens wounded following operations in response to the Turkish attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure in northeastern Syria, the SDF noted.

Since Oct. 5, Turkey launched many airstrikes, artillery shells, and drone strikes against 28 infrastructure facilities, 150 residential areas, 34 military sites, including 21 locations of the Syrian government forces, seven farmlands, three factories, a school and a hospital, according to the Monitoring and Documentation Department of North Press.

The SDF further added they will continue to respond to the attacks of the Turkish occupation and its mercenaries, within the framework of their legitimate right to defend and protect their areas and people, a right guaranteed by all international laws and legislation.
The organization's statement highlights the distressing conditions in camps for displaced individuals in northern Syria, according to Syria TV.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has issued a dire warning regarding the ongoing military escalation in northwestern Syria, stating that it is further exacerbating the already severe humanitarian crisis. They have noted that the delivery of aid has been severely hampered due to the hostilities.

In an official statement, the organization expressed deep concern, stating, The escalation of hostilities in northwest Syria has inflicted significant suffering on the local population and has had severe repercussions for healthcare facilities. MSF also emphasized that ongoing hostilities are hindering their efforts to provide essential assistance.

The organization has reported that healthcare facilities have not been spared from the shelling by Syrian regime forces. Specifically, three hospitals in Idlebthe university hospital, the national hospital, and the governorate hospitalhave been bombed, significantly impacting their ability to function. Additionally, 19 hospitals in Idleb and western Aleppo have ceased offering non-essential services and are now exclusively providing emergency care.

Siham Hajjaj, MSFs head of mission in northwest Syria, strongly condemned these attacks, emphasizing their unacceptable nature and the dire consequences they have on the vulnerable population and the already fragile healthcare system in northwest Syria. She called upon all parties engaged in the conflict to adhere to international humanitarian law, safeguard civilians and vital infrastructure, and protect medical facilities, all while highlighting the presence of explosive hazards in populated areas.

Already limited resources

The organizations statement highlights the distressing conditions in camps for displaced individuals in northern Syria. These camps are currently experiencing extremely challenging circumstances characterized by a severe lack of basic services such as clean water, sanitation facilities, food, and adequate shelter. Furthermore, overcrowding compounds the hardships faced by those residing in these camps.

The head of the MSF mission in northwest Syria has emphasized the urgency of taking immediate measures to enhance surgical capabilities and trauma care in Idleb. She pointed out that these resources are already in short supply in the region, making it imperative to provide essential care for those injured in the conflict, as well as addressing the long-term consequences of the rising number of casualties.

The MSF statement underscores that this new cycle of violence will only worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in northwest Syria, which has been enduring the effects of a protracted decade-long conflict.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
In a statement, the US embassy in Syria expressed its support for the International Court of Justice's efforts, according to Baladi News.

The United States and the United Kingdom have both commended the International Court of Justice for conducting public hearings in the case brought forth by the governments of Canada and the Netherlands regarding crimes of torture attributed to the Assad regime.

In a statement, the US embassy in Syria expressed its support for the International Court of Justices efforts, emphasizing the importance of holding the Assad regime accountable for its ongoing atrocities and the use of torture.

Similarly, the UK Embassy in Syria, through a post on the X website, highlighted the joint actions of the Netherlands and Canada in bringing the Assad regime before the International Court of Justice to expose its grave violations of the rights of the Syrian people. The statement also underscored the continuous human rights violations by the Syrian regime even after 12 years, reaffirming the UKs commitment to supporting the Netherlands and Canada in their pursuit of accountability in Syria.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The ICJ has decided to cancel the second hearing, originally scheduled for Wednesday, according to Enab Baladi.

The International Court of Justice has released a statement regarding the session held on Tuesday as part of the lawsuit brought forward by Canada and the Netherlands against the Syrian regime. This lawsuit primarily centers on allegations of torture against Syrian individuals.

During the hearing, the prosecutor, Alain Kessel, presented several demands. These demands include an immediate call for the Syrian regime to take effective measures to cease and prevent all acts amounting to torture, as well as other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. The prosecutor insisted on the following actions:

Cease arbitrary detentions. Release all individuals held arbitrarily or unlawfully. Put an end to incommunicado detentions. Allow access to all official and unofficial regime detention facilities by independent monitoring mechanisms and medical personnel. Permit contact and visits between detainees, their families, and legal advisers. Implement urgent measures to improve conditions in all detention facilities to ensure humane treatment of all detainees in accordance with international standards.

The prosecution emphasized that the Syrian regime must not destroy or deny access to any evidence related to cases of torture, including medical or other records documenting injuries resulting from such treatment. Access to the remains of individuals who have been victims of torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment should not be denied.

Furthermore, the prosecution demanded that the Syrian regime preserve information regarding the cause of death of any detainee who died in custody or during hospital treatment. This includes forensic examination of human remains and burial sites, along with providing the next of kin of the deceased with a death certificate stating the true cause of death.

The prosecution also insisted that the regime disclose the burial sites of those who died due to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment after being arrested, hospitalized, or detained to their next of kin.

It was stressed that the Syrian regime should refrain from taking any action that could exacerbate or expand the existing conflict that is the subject of the lawsuit or make it more challenging to resolve. The prosecutor also requested that a report be submitted to the Court detailing all measures taken to implement the interim measures within six months from the date of their issuance and every six months thereafter until the dispute is resolved.

Additionally, the prosecution called upon the Syrian regime to take immediate steps to reduce the risk of torture committed by its officials and other personnel. This includes issuing instructions to ensure detainees are treated in accordance with their human dignity and suspending any staff members suspected of torture or ill-treatment.

The courts decision will be issued in a public session, with the date to be announced at a later time.

Cancellation of the second session

The International Court of Justice has decided to cancel the second hearing, originally scheduled for Wednesday. This cancellation is a result of the Syrian regimes absence from the first session and its failure to send a delegation to represent it at the proceedings, as reported by Enab Baladis correspondent at the court.

Joan Donogo, the President of the Tribunal, expressed her disappointment regarding the Syrian regimes non-participation, stating that the Court regrets the failure of the Syrian Arab Republic to appear.

Kessel, the head of Canadas legal team, addressed the judges, emphasizing that Syrias decision not to participate in todays proceedings does not exempt it from complying with the courts orders.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
A new study revealed that Asian American Christians have drastically decreased over the past 11 years. Meanwhile, the number of other religious Asian Americans who believe in Islam and Hinduism is increasing.

The Pew Research Center revealed these new details about religious people on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Here are other things the American think tank showed in its latest study.

[STUDY] Asian American Christians Drastically Decreasing

Pew's newest study revealed that Asian American groups who believe in Christianity dramatically declined from 42% in 2012 to 34% in 2023.

"Like the US public as a whole, a growing percentage of Asian Americans are not affiliated with any religion, and the share who identify as Christian has declined," said the US-based research firm via its official website.

Aside from Christians, Asian American Buddhists are also in a downward trend. The new study revealed that Buddhists are down by three percentage points (14% in 2012, now 11%).

While American Christians with Asian ancestry are declining, believers of other religions are increasing. Specifically, Pew researchers stated that Asian American Hindus increased from 10% in 2012 to 11% in 2023.

Other religious Asian Americans who didn't disclose the religions they believe in also increased in numbers, from 3% in 2012 to 4%, as reported by NBC News.

On the other hand, the US-based research firm claims that more Americans with Asian origins are becoming religiously unaffiliated (atheists).

Recently, The Guardian reported numerous reasons why many Christians are losing their faith in Christianity. One of these is the sexual abuse scandals linked to the Catholic churches.

Another reason is the COVID-19 pandemic since many Americans are already used to not attending churches. Meanwhile, other Christians just found new things to do.

Read Also: Older American Adults Still Have Higher Probability of COVID-19 Hospitalizations, CDC Claims

Asian Americans Perspective on Religion's Importance

The Pew Research Center also analyzed the numbers of Asian Americans who consider religion important and those who don't.

Its study showed that Filipino Americans have the highest number of people who value religion; 39% agree. This is because around three-quarters of them are Christian (mostly Catholic).

Filipino Americans are followed by Korean Americans (37%), Vietnamese Americans (37%), and Indian Americans (36%) when it comes to valuing their religions.

On the other hand, Japanese and Chinese Americans are least likely to consider religions critical for everyday life; only 20% of Americans with Japanese ancestry and 14% of Chinese Americans value religion.

Related Article: [SURVEY] Younger Americans' Impulse Buying on Social Media Getting Worse-Spending Over $71 Billion in 2022

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A brief but heavy downpour didnt prevent lab professional Leila Johnson from picketing Wednesday evening outside PeaceHealths Longview hospital with about seven others.

Johnson, with parts of her jeans soaked from the rain, stood at the corner of 15th Avenue and Douglas Street, with a sign that read Safe Staffing.

Thats what the unionized lab professionals are fighting for, and why they recently authorized a vote to strike, she said. They arent requesting just any amount of employees on a shift, but the number needed to ensure workers can take breaks, and the work  often needed in a rush for the emergency department  can be finished on time.

We need people to be able to cover emergencies, she said. With short staffing, we cant.

Last week, the 1,300 members of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals AFT Local 5017 voted to authorize a strike after the union reports they met at least a dozen times with PeaceHealth officials with no agreed contract in sight.

PeaceHealth spokesperson Debra Carnes said in an email that the hospital is committed to negotiating with the union to create a contract that is fair, competitive and sustainable for our hospital and the community, as the union is also requesting wage increases.

Our goal is to reach an agreement as soon as possible so our caregivers can benefit from the improvements a new contract would provide, and we can focus on our shared goal of serving our patients with the highest quality care, she said.

Hospitals across the state have reported facing grave financial challenges as costs driven by longer patient stays and wage increases exceeded revenue and state insurance reimbursement rates, according to a 2022 survey by the Washington State Hospital Association.

Last year, Carnes told The Daily News the Longview hospital was keeping patients longer and serving fewer people, leaving the facility over-capacity and earning less revenue.

But for Johnson, who has been in the field for 18 years, the cost of living increases is weighing on her, so her wages need to match, she said.

Last week, Kaiser Permanente workers in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, including in Longview, held a three-day strike, also requesting what that union called living wages and increased staffing to avoid care delays. Since then, the two parties have reached a tentative agreement.

I think we are all really feeling it, Johnson said about healthcare staff shortages.

Johnson said St. John employs 18 lab professionals who run tests on specimens like bloodwork and interpret results for doctors to diagnose patients. Wage increases, she added, will help attract more workers.

Shane Burley, a communications representative with the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, said about 400 picketers also convened Wednesday evening outside PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver.

Burley said the workers could call a strike anytime by filing a 10-day notice, which he added is required before workers walk out of hospitals.

If that happened, PeaceHealth would likely hire contract workers to replace Longviews lab professionals because the hospital would be required to continue offering the services, he said.

While St. Johns Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals workers are lab professionals, Southwest includes a technical unit, like X-ray technicians, as well as service and maintenance workers, which include custodians and CNAs, Burley said.

Johnson, who was starting her shift at 10 p.m. Wednesday, said she was focusing on the positive for now, as a fellow picketer rang a bell, and the rain formed a double rainbow near the hospital.

We try to make it fun, she said about the picketing.

Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the day of the picketing.
A man who lost half of his leg in a logging accident near Boistfort on Monday is in stable condition, according to friends who are working to raise money for his recovery.

Crews with Lewis County Fire District 13 and Lewis County Fire District 6 responded to a call for help at about 7:45 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, according to Gregg Peterson, a volunteer for District 13 who is also the interim chief of Lewis County Fire District 5.

The report was an individual with a serious leg injury was being driven down from the 4,000 line to meet crews at the elementary school, Peterson recalled Tuesday, referring to Boistfort Elementary School.

The man, identified by friends as Steven Lundy, was reportedly putting a new drop line down when it sucked him into the sheave and amputated his leg from below the knee.

Airlift Northwest and American Medical Response transported Lundry from Boistfort Elementary School to Tacoma General Hospital via helicopter. He was in stable condition and unbelievably maintaining good spirits, one of his friends, Kayla Trodahl, wrote Monday afternoon.

Trodahl launched a crowdfunding campaign benefitting Lundy on Monday with a goal of raising $10,000 to help alleviate some of the stress of the unknown and help pay for medical, recovery, monthly bills, etc. to help navigate an entire new way of life, she wrote.

Lundy himself has asked only for prayers, Trodahl stated. Being as humble as he is, I asked before taking the initiative on making this, but I cant imagine the long road ahead of Steve for recovery alone. He is suffering the complete loss of his right leg from the knee down.

Lundy is a veteran who served multiple deployments in Iraq, and his son is set to follow in his footsteps, Trodahl said.

"You wont ever find him not proud of his kids, complimenting someone else, giving a kind word, or saying something to make you laugh till your stomach hurts, she wrote.

For more information or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/steven-lundy-logging-accident.

In a social media post on Monday, Lewis County Fire District 13 Chief Gwen Turner thanked all the parties involved in getting Lundry emergency medical care.

Sometimes people ask me, chief, why do you train with other districts and with other medical providers? This is why, Turner wrote in a Facebook post. Today we responded to a need and were able to smoothly get the need met  Taking the time to work together when the pressure is off, makes the time when the pressure is on much more manageable.
The possibility of the Cowlitz County drug court program expanding to a lower court level in light of a new state law remains in limbo as officials grapple with the budget.

Cowlitz County Therapeutic Courts Manager Adam Pithan said the department is in waiting mode, because the program, which is currently held in superior court, cant expand to the lower court until funding is OKd by the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners.

Pithan said he expects commissioners to review funding by the end of the year. Until then, many people arrested for simple drug possession today arent going through the court system to seek treatment in lieu of jail: they are facing misdemeanor charges and leaving people with a substance use disorder without the extra incentive to get clean.

What changed?

A new drug possession law, dubbed the Blake fix, went into effect on July 1 in reaction to the 2021 Washington state Supreme Court ruling that struck down Washingtons criminal statute barring possession of a controlled substance.

Now, a person who knowingly possesses a controlled substance is charged with a gross misdemeanor, sending them to district court, not a felony like under the previous law, which sent them to superior court.

Drug court is a 12-month program where participants enter treatment for drug addiction, and if they complete the program, current charges are dropped.

The program is expected to remain in the superior court, Pithan said, because people arrested for drug-related felonies can also enter the program at the higher court. For example, if a person breaks into a truck with the intent to use their ill-gotten gains to purchase drugs, they would meet the criteria for superior courts drug court.

Pithan said the Cowlitz County Drug Court Office does not anticipate any impact from the new law on current programs or clients.

Presiding Cowlitz County District Court Judge M. Jamie Imboden said cases in Cowlitz County District Court are up since the new law took effect, but havent impacted the courts operations.

Imboden said a person arrested for illegal possession could not go to prison if convicted for that alone because gross misdemeanors are typically punishable for a maximum time of no more than 364 days in jail and a possible fine.

Treatment

From July 1 through Aug. 8, there have been 78 possession charges and 13 use charges, according to Imboden. Since July 1, superior courts drug court accepted 10 people, Pithan said.

Admitting fewer people into drug court would be a deterrent to sobriety, said Substance Abuse Counselor Supervisor Breezy Lorenzo at Awakenings in Kelso. Lorenzo said she works with Cowlitz County Drug Court clients to ensure they are compliant with treatment to prevent them from being locked up.

She said the intensive outpatient treatment center sees 80 to 100 clients a month, with a little over a quarter from drug court. She has seen new drug court clients come in since the new law took effect, she added, but without another drug court at the lower level, some arrestees will miss out on the extra resources to reach sobriety.

Sometimes when in addiction you just need an extra push and direction to get clean, she said.

Funding

Pithan said the drug court office will likely have a definite answer on funding in December after the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approves the final county budget for 2024 and 2025. He still maintains hope that the program will start accepting clients at the district court level until January 2024.

Cowlitz County Board Commissioner and Vice Chair Arne Mortensen said commissioners have not been formally asked to fund the court.

I have not yet seen an ask by anyone from the courts for money for a district court drug court, and that topic has not been discussed in any public meeting, said Mortensen.

He also mentioned that the final decision on the drug court expansion to the district court level may be impacted by the upcoming budget decision on the 0.1% behavioral health tax.

The tax is set to sunset at the end of 2024, but the board wants to make a decision this year to account for the change in the next biennial budget. About 36% of the 2.5 million annual revenue goes to therapeutic courts, including the superior courts drug court.

Pithan acknowledges there is not unanimous support among the Cowlitz County Board of County Commissioners even to continue funding the therapeutic court programs at the superior court level.

Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Michael Evans, the presiding Cowlitz County Therapeutic Court Judge, pointed out that drug court motivates people to get clean.

The accountability drug courts offer, through a structure of sanctioning negative behavior and incentivizing positive behavior, is what many people need to get out of the revolving door of the criminal justice system, said Evans.
Minka Atkinson recently joined The Daily News staff as an education reporter, who will also focus on local groups providing services for the needy.

Until a new copy editor joins the newsroom in a few weeks, Atkinson is also helping to lay out pages.

Originally from the Netherlands, Atkinson moved to Longview from Texas, where she attended the University of Texas and graduated with a bachelors in journalism in 2022. While in school, she worked as a copy editor and page designer at UTs student newspaper, The Daily Texan.

She has been writing creatively for most of her life, but developed an interest in journalism through her high schools involvement in University Interscholastic League journalism competitions. Along with education, she likes to write about transportation and local government.

In her free time, Atkinson enjoys knitting, sewing, drawing and hiking.
Several years ago, I was invited to a peculiar meeting involving Facebook and about a dozen or so London-based technology journalists. It was in the earliest days of the company's efforts to court high-quality news content, hoping that topical posts would drive engagement.

The goal of the meeting was to persuade us to post more content directly to the platform rather than just on the websites of our respective news organizations. Kindly enough, Facebook had created some tools for doing just that and promised its algorithm would grant us a worthwhile audience. It was total nonstarter, obviously  our news organizations paid our wages; Facebook didn't.

So some years later, Facebook decided to pay our wages, too. It shoveled money at news organizations so they could hire workers and create bespoke video to go on Facebook. Cash-strapped newsrooms were all too happy to take Silicon Valley money. But that didn't work either  the content, by and large, wasn't all that compelling (I'm allowed to say that because I was involved in making some of it). Another intiative, a format for helping news articles load more quickly on Facebook, was also abandoned eventually.

This was the peak of Facebook's attempts to woo the news business. Today, it wants little to do with it. As noted by Axios, referrals from the Facebook app to news sites have plummeted because articles are no longer receiving any algorithmic support. Meta Platforms Inc.  as the company is known now  has discontinued the special tab on Facebook for news content in the US, UK and elsewhere, and the company openly said it wouldn't prioritize news on Threads, its new competitor to X, formerly known as Twitter.

In Canada, things are even more extreme: In August, Meta began blocking links to news content across the board in protest against an absurd law that demands the company pay for the privilege of sending traffic to news websites. Meta warned it would take similar steps in California if similar legislation is put into force. Legislators seem emboldened by what happened in Australia, where Meta backtracked on threats to block news because of a new law. Instead, it made deals directly with publishers, fending off the government clampdown. The Canadian law doesn't offer a similar middle ground; California's likely wouldn't either.

These laws are the final straw for a company whose relationship with the news business has slowly unraveled over the past few years. Beginning with the fallout from the election of Donald Trump as president, promoting the news became more trouble for Facebook than it was worth though it's only now that it dares say it out loud. Turning its back on news during the Trump years would have been seen as giving up on the truth. Meta was trapped in a cycle: With legitimate news came fake news. With fake news came the need to moderate. And with the need to moderate came the accusations of bias. Depending on whom you asked, Facebook was either censoring or pandering to the right. A Trending Topics team brought the company into disrepute and was eventually disbanded. Congress vented its fury.

All the while, there was a nagging thought inside the head of Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. News content is just a tiny fraction of what people share on Facebook, and whenever the company asked users what they thought of news, they said they wanted less of it in their feeds.

So now Meta has decided it's had enough. It's not that news isn't allowed  Canada excluded  but that Meta doesn't feel it's in its interests to support news organizations the way it once did. In Zuckerberg's year of efficiency, spending money on nurturing news is not money well spent. The company feels it has obligation to prop up the business models of a struggling industry.

Now, news organizations are noticing what they have lost. According to data from Similarweb, reported by DigiDay, traffic from Facebook to sites like the Sun, Business Insider and the Guardian has dropped by around 80% year over year  a devastating drop. Already, publications in Canada are realizing what was patently obvious  news outlets need Facebook traffic far more than Facebook needs news content. Meta can't be strong-armed into paying more for something it barely wanted to tolerate in the first place. It certainly shouldn't be forced to subsidize news organizations through ill-considered laws.

But there is without question an urgent problem to be solved. The transfer of advertising revenue from media companies to tech giants has brought about a collapse in reliable news sources. Cities across America have gone from having two or even three newspapers to none at all; formerly watchful eyes over City Hall now shut. The fact these laws seem so haphazard is an indication of the dire circumstances. It's almost like saying: Where do we get the emergency funds from to stop the news industry completely collapsing and disappearing? said Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. Legislators and tech companies need to find frameworks that aren't blunt instruments that disincentivize platforms from making sure trustworthy news goes as far and wide as possible.

Above all, Meta's latest stance is bad news for those who think it's critically important to have an informed citizenry. It's beyond dispute that Facebook and Instagram are two vital platforms when it comes to average people discovering important things happening in the world around them. When people say the important news will always find them, it's likely social media doing that work. In that, Meta can be more ally than enemy.

Dave Lee is Bloomberg Opinion's US technology columnist. He was previously a correspondent for the Financial Times and BBC News.
When it comes to international trade and investment, AI will create some obvious winners and losers. It's the second-order effects that may prove more interesting.

To understand those, start with two premises: First, AI services will consume a lot of energy, not all of which will be green. Second, many nations will regulate either the use of AI, or the implementation of AI-derived goods and services, for instance the creation of new pharmaceuticals or new educational techniques.

Let's consider each of these factors in turn.

Posting a query to ChatGPT consumes a lot of energy, by one estimate 10 times more than a Google search. Currently large language models are sufficiently limited that this is not a major factor in aggregate energy consumption. But as use of AI services increases, the energy burden will rise. Countries with expensive energy, or which will not allow energy consumption to rise much for climate or regulatory reasons, will look to import their AI services from energy-rich countries.

In the future, energy-rich regions may include Spain and Morocco with solar power, South Korea with affordable nuclear power, and whichever nations are pioneers in nuclear fusion. Those nations may end up as major exporters of AI-generated data. They might draw their AI inputs from the US, but specialize in cheap calculation and information transmission. And some regions of America may join this list as well, especially if they are well-suited for solar and hydroelectric power.

To be clear, the US will export a lot of AI services, through such companies as OpenAI, Google, Meta and Anthropic. But the US is not as good at building affordable infrastructure, and that will put it at a disadvantage in the AI revolution and distribute many of the gains abroad.

It remains to be seen whether there are higher profits in selling the original source code or the more derivative electricity-driven, infrastructure-based AI calculations. Nonetheless, this is a potential economic and national security risk for the US. It could end up with a strong lead in the source product, but fall badly behind in making (manufacturing, you could say) the final AI outputs.

The way to ease this potential problem is to make the permitting and construction of power generation easier and cheaper. Any US state that does this  and perhaps some will  could become a true economic powerhouse. Many US institutions probably would prefer to buy their AI calculations domestically rather than from a foreign power, if only for data-security reasons.

When it comes to shaping international trade, a second major factor springs from domestic regulations on the potential products of AI services. Consider this scenario: AI services suggest a large number of plausible pharmaceuticals to treat some condition. Yet the US has fairly stringent restrictions on the approval of such pharmaceuticals.

So a trade opportunity will arise, with some countries specializing in testing the products of AI services. It is already the case that many large pharmaceutical companies run drug trials in Africa, where costs are lower and regulations looser. The scope for such regulatory arbitrage will expand considerably, and the net result will be that nations willing to take regulatory chances will attract more foreign investment.

Or how about this related scenario: Advanced AI suggests that some educational techniques are superior. Many nations may be too bureaucratic to take advantage of such options quickly. It is not difficult to imagine some smaller nations, especially those governed with fewer checks and balances, moving more quickly to implement the changes. What if Singapore adopts the new educational innovations before they spread to Western Europe or California?

It's not only that Singaporean education will improve. It's that Singapore, from those innovations, may develop products for export, such as effective online education. Nations that develop or tolerate AI-generated innovations also will become more important exporters.

Can you imagine a future in which the US remains a leader in AI innovation, but for many of the actual products (and energy sources) the world relies on Singapore or Uruguay? What if those nations find it easier to install nuclear fusion, or to experiment with the social and economic innovations derived from AI? Over time, those countries could become more important allies.

More generally, many larger nations might look to smaller partners that have more institutional flexibility as part of a new series of AI-derived economic and perhaps also military alliances. Who ends up more dependent on whom?

In any case, as with many other AI-influenced human endeavors, international trade will never be the same again.

Elsewhere in Bloomberg Opinion:

Globalization's Demise Has Been Greatly Exaggerated: Daniel Moss

A Bigger Threat to US Trade Than Chinese Chips: Tim Culpan

Your Future AI Will Have Multiple Personalities: Parmy Olson

Want more Bloomberg Opinion? Subscribe to our newsletter.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, a professor of economics at George Mason University and host of the Marginal Revolution blog.
IDEMIA has joined forces with tech giant Samsung to introduce a groundbreaking initiative that will integrate mobile drivers licenses and state ID cards into Samsung Wallets. This innovative collaboration promises to revolutionize the way we carry and use our identification, offering consumers enhanced security, convenience, and accessibility. The feature is set to debut in Arizona and Iowa, with plans for more states to follow suit in 2024.

IDEMIAs expertise in digital identity verification has paved the way for this exciting development. Soon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone users will have a secure and efficient solution for storing their state-issued IDs and drivers licenses directly on their devices. This breakthrough allows for swift and streamlined digital validation of individuals identities.

Matt Cole, EVP of Strategic Alliances at IDEMIA, expressed his pride in the companys achievements and its partnership with Samsung: As the global leader in identity technologies, IDEMIA is proud to be recognized as a company that delivers identity with integrity. This partnership with Samsung will enable us to further deliver on our mission to make identity services safer, easier, and more accessible for all.

The collaboration strategically positions IDEMIA, which currently serves as the top supplier of drivers licenses in the United States. Remarkably, the company issues over 55 million ID cards and their digital equivalents in the US, underscoring its capabilities and extensive reach in this field.

The comprehensive details of this exciting announcement were unveiled during the 2023 Samsung Developer Conference. The integration of mobile drivers licenses and state ID cards into the Samsung Wallet represents a significant advancement in mobile identity solutions. This development promises to provide users with unmatched convenience while streamlining various aspects of daily life through instant, secure digital verification.

Mobile drivers licenses represent the forefront of identification technology, with numerous use cases ranging from age-restricted purchases to expedited airport security checks. These certified digital IDs, authenticated and issued by state DMVs, ensure that personal information is securely stored on the users device, all under the complete control of the license holder, thereby elevating convenience and security in everyday activities.

In addition to collaborating with Arizona and Iowa, Samsung is actively engaging with several more early-adopting states and will work alongside the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on a pilot program to accept mobile drivers licenses at 25 federalized airports where the technology is currently available. IDEMIA, a long-time partner of the TSA and the supplier of TSA Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) readers in over 120 U.S. airport locations, plays a pivotal role in enabling this technology.

As the leading supplier of drivers licenses in the United States, IDEMIA has been trusted by U.S. government agencies for over 60 years and has issued a staggering 70 percent of all drivers licenses and identification documents in the country.

This partnership between IDEMIA and Samsung signifies a significant leap forward in digital identification, promising users a more convenient and secure way to carry their vital documents. As more states embrace this technology in the coming year, it is clear that the future of identification is digital, and IDEMIA and Samsung are at the forefront of this transformation.
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Credit: University of Eastern Finland

Service robots have started to appear in various daily tasks such as parcel delivery, as guide dogs for the visually impaired, as public servants at airports, or as seen in Joensuu: in the inspection of construction works. Robots are able to move in different ways: on legs, on wheels or by flying. They know the shortest or easiest route to the destination. A guide dog can search for bus schedules or even order a taxi when needed.

However, robots have difficulty coping with one basic thing: moving in the middle of a crowd of people. A robot observes the environment with a camera and other sensors, but its movement is jerky with continuous changes of direction, including several stops. Thus, robots are usually not even allowed to travel alone.

The problem with the latest robots is not in finding the destination or observing the surrounding world, but in the real-time reactions in the crowd. Current methods require too many computing resources and are therefore not suitable for real-time application where reactions should be quick.

In their dissertation, Chengmin Zhou, MSc, used reinforcement learning algorithms (RL) for the navigation of service robots. Algorithms solve navigation tasks in the case of several moving obstaclesthat is, for example, in a situation where the robot moves in a crowd of people and has limited time to react.

The best solution turned out to be a model-free RL algorithm, which enables robots to learn from their historical experiences. After training or learning, robots are able to survive even in challenging situations. However, the model-free RL algorithm has many challenges, such as slow learning efficiency (convergence). In this dissertation, learning efficiency has been improved in two different ways:

Utilization of data collected during operation for robot training. When operating robots, new real-time data is obtained. This data can be combined with previous training data, thus enhancing the robot's training. Translating environmental information. The sensor information collected from the robot's operating environment cannot be learned efficiently and accurately. It should be interpreted or translated so that the robot can learn it easily and the learned knowledge (trained model) can be used for navigation in other similar situations.

Robotic navigation is improved from three technical aspects: discrete actions (giving robots limited action choice to choose the next action), mixing real-time data and historical data, and exploiting relational data (utilizing the relationship of the robot and obstacles to train the robots). The developed algorithms have been tested both with computer simulations and in a laboratory environment at the Shenzhen Technology University, China.

The doctoral dissertation of Chengmin Zhou, MSc, titled "Deep Reinforcement Learning for Crowd-Aware Robotic Navigation," will be examined at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Joensuu Science Park, 19 October 2023. The opponent will be Professor Juha Roning, University of Oulu, and the custos will be Professor Pasi Franti, University of Eastern Finland. The language of the public defense is English.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A European consortium on Wednesday said it had in a world first successfully tested a gas turbine fully powered by hydrogen, opening the way to slashing carbon emissions in energy-intensive industries like cement.

Hydrogen has been touted as a potential alternative to the polluting fossil fuels primarily responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions warming the planet.

But technical challenges, high costs and a lack of infrastructure have hampered its development, while the amount of emissions it saves has generated debate depending on the production methods.

French energy company Engie, the German Aerospace Center, Siemens Energy, Britain's Centrax and European universities were part of the EU-funded consortium Hyflexpower that carried out the test at a Smurfit Kappa paper packaging factory near the French city of Limoges.

The experiment used a Siemens Energy SGT-400 gas turbine whose combustion system was adapted for hydrogen, a process comparable to replacing the carburettor of an internal combustion car engine, said Engie vice president Frank Lacroix.

"We've just achieved a world first which involves injecting 100-percent hydrogen into a gas turbine to produce electricity," he told reporters.

"The long-term advantage is being able to convert existing turbines through simple modifications," said Gael Carayon, head of the Hyflexpower project at Engie.

Hydrogen is produced through a process called water electrolysis and is only considered "green" if the electricity used to generate electrolysis is obtained from renewable sources.

The hydrogen used in the test was produced by an on-site electrolyzer powered by renewable energy sources and stored in a reservoir before entering the turbine.

The promoters said the test showed that hydrogen can be a flexible way of storing electricity like batteries, potentially allowing the rapid decarbonization of energy-intensive industrial sites.

Cement, steel, refineries and any industry where "decarbonization is complex" are the main targets of the innovation, according to Engie.

Unlike the gas usually used, hydrogen has a "quicker" and "hotter" flame, which meant the developers had to overcome significant security hurdles, said Lacroix.

These included the resistance capacity of the materials, the cladding of the combustion chamber and the settings for the combustion process.

"The next step will be not only to produce electricity, but also heat," said Lacroix, with the aviation and shipping sectors potentially in line to benefit afterwards.

 2023 AFP
(Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise wins the GOP nomination for House speaker but still lacks enough votes to successfully be elected into the position.

The House GOP has chosen Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise to be their House Speaker nominee after the ousting of Kevin McCarthy, but how likely is he to win a vote?

Scalise currently serves as House majority leader and lacks the 217 votes needed to be elected as the House speaker in a floor vote. Additionally, several Republican lawmakers have not committed to supporting the individual, which signals the potential for a drawn-out fight for the gavel.

Steve Scalise Wins House Speaker Nomination

Until lawmakers select a new House speaker, it will remain paralyzed after McCarthy was removed from the position in a controversial vote. This unprecedented situation has taken on new urgency amid Israel's ongoing war against Hamas militants.

What further raises the stakes is that the longer Republicans take to elect a new speaker, the less time they have to try to avert a government shutdown with a funding deadline looming in mid-November.

Scalise got the nomination by edging out Rep. Jim Jordan in a closed-door vote by the House GOP conference in selecting their speaker nominee on Wednesday. It was a blow to former United States President Donald Trump, who endorsed Jordan, who currently holds the position of chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, as per CNN.

Now, the question that remains is whether or not Scalise will be able to win support from the Republican holdouts, which is a major obstacle in his path to the gavel. House Republicans have a narrow majority; he can only afford to lose four GOP votes on the floor and still win the speakership.

The removal of McCarthy as House speaker, which resulted from efforts by a group of hardline conservatives, intensified deep tensions within the House GOP conference. It also raised tensions and threatened to make it even more difficult for Republican lawmakers to unite behind a new speaker.

Following the nomination of Scalise on Wednesday, several Republicans said they would not commit to voting for him for speaker. The swift announcement clarified that the GOP fight over the position will not be resolved quickly.

Read Also: Conservative Firebrand Kari Lake Officially Launches US Senate Bid in Arizona

Getting Enough Support

The policy director for the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, called for a delay to the vote on a House speaker. He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing his opposition to Scalise's nomination. He added that the development was "unacceptable & purposeful," according to the New York Times.

After his nomination, Scalise said that it was crucial for the House to quickly reconstitute itself so that it would be able to confront the challenges at home and abroad. He said they need to ensure that they send a message to people worldwide that the House is open and doing the people's business.

Rep. Nancy Mace is among the few Republican holdouts against Scalise's efforts to become the House speaker. She said that her decision was set in stone because the House majority leader previously spoke at a gathering that was hosted by white supremacist leaders, an event that took place more than two decades ago at a time when he was a state representative, said the Washington Post.

Related Article: North Carolina Republicans Enact Voting Changes That Hinder Governor's Authority to Oversee Elections

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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A replica of the US army combat ground vehicle used in the AI experiment. Credit: Fendy Santoso, Charles Sturt University

Australian researchers have designed an algorithm that can intercept a man-in-the-middle (MitM) cyberattack on an unmanned military robot and shut it down in seconds.

In an experiment using deep learning neural networks to simulate the behavior of the human brain, artificial intelligence experts from Charles Sturt University and the University of South Australia (UniSA) trained the robot's operating system to learn the signature of a MitM eavesdropping cyberattack. This is where attackers interrupt an existing conversation or data transfer.

The algorithm, tested in real time on a replica of a United States army combat ground vehicle, was 99% successful in preventing a malicious attack. False positive rates of less than 2% validated the system, demonstrating its effectiveness.

The results have been published in IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing.

UniSA autonomous systems researcher, Professor Anthony Finn, says the proposed algorithm performs better than other recognition techniques used around the world to detect cyberattacks.

Professor Finn and Dr. Fendy Santoso from Charles Sturt Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute collaborated with the US Army Futures Command to replicate a man-in-the-middle cyberattack on a GVT-BOT ground vehicle and trained its operating system to recognize an attack.

"The robot operating system (ROS) is extremely susceptible to data breaches and electronic hijacking because it is so highly networked," Prof Finn says.

"The advent of Industry 4, marked by the evolution in robotics, automation, and the Internet of Things, has demanded that robots work collaboratively, where sensors, actuators and controllers need to communicate and exchange information with one another via cloud services.

"The downside of this is that it makes them highly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

"The good news, however, is that the speed of computing doubles every couple of years, and it is now possible to develop and implement sophisticated AI algorithms to guard systems against digital attacks."

Dr. Santoso says despite its tremendous benefits and widespread usage, the robot operating system largely ignores security issues in its coding scheme due to encrypted network traffic data and limited integrity-checking capability.

"Owing to the benefits of deep learning, our intrusion detection framework is robust and highly accurate," Dr. Santoso says. "The system can handle large datasets suitable to safeguard large-scale and real-time data-driven systems such as ROS."

Prof Finn and Dr. Santoso plan to test their intrusion detection algorithm on different robotic platforms, such as drones, whose dynamics are faster and more complex compared to a ground robot.

More information: Fendy Santoso et al, Trusted Operations of a Military Ground Robot in the Face of Man-in-the-Middle Cyber-Attacks Using Deep Learning Convolutional Neural Networks: Real-Time Experimental Outcomes, IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing (2023). DOI: 10.1109/TDSC.2023.3302807
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Credit: DARPA

A 12-ton fishing boat weighs anchor three kilometers off the port of Adelaide. A small crew huddles over a miniature submarine, activates the controls, primes the explosives, and releases it into the water. The underwater drone uses sensors and sonar to navigate towards its pre-programmed target: the single, narrow port channel responsible for the state's core fuel supply.

You can guess the rest. A blockage, an accident, an explosionany could be catastrophic for Australia, a country that conducts 99% of trade by sea and imports more than 90% of its fuel.

As drone submarines or "uncrewed underwater vehicles" (UUVs) become cheaper, more common and more sophisticated, Australia's 34,000km of coastline will face a significant future threat.

What can be done? Our assessmentvalidated through workshops with experts from across Australiashows the same technologies can aid our maritime security, if we build them into our planning from now on.

Seabed warfare

Australia is not alone in its rising concern for submarine security. In 2022, France launched its Seabed Warfare Strategy to address autonomous underwater maritime threats. In February 2023, NATO established an Undersea Infrastructure Coordination Cell in response to the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas line in September 2022.

The war in Ukraine has seen relatively small, cheap aerial drones play an outsized role. At a smaller scale, underwater drones have also enabled Ukraine to conduct asymmetric attacks on Russian forces.

Current drones can be used in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, mine countermeasures, antisubmarine warfare, electronic warfare, underwater sensor grid development and special operations, among other things.

However, their capabilities are likely to expand. China's Haidou-1 project dived to a record depth of 10,908 meters.

A Chinese underwater glider, the Haiyan, holds the drone sub endurance record with a 3,600km voyage over 141 days across the South China Sea. Russia boasts of having a prototype nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed undersea drone, although some analysts doubt it really exists.

Nations are also developing broader programs to control underwater sea domains.

For instance, the United States' proposed Advanced Undersea Warfare System envisions a network of fixed submarine stations able to deploy defensive and offensive drones. In the South China Sea, China is developing an "Underwater Great Wall" of ships, bases and drone (both at surface level and beneath) to monitor the area and make it difficult for foreign navies to operate in international waters.

A new age of war at sea?

Some analysts argue these developments amount to the dawn of a "new age of naval warfare." Others suggest autonomous maritime systems, as they grow cheaper and more effective, may become preferred over crewed vehicles for national defense: by one estimate, uncrewed vessels may make up more than half of the US naval fleet by 2052.

The advent of sea drones may also encourage the further growth of hybrid or "gray zone" approaches to conflict, which avoid outright warfare, keep casualties low, and can inflict heavy costs on enemies. In this context, uncrewed marine vessels may offer states a deniable way to carry out aggressive actions to advance their aims without crossing the threshold of war.

Put differently, drone submarines may lend themselves to creating apparent accidents and other actions that can't be pinned on their instigators. It is worth quoting the French Seabed Warfare Strategy on this point:

"An attack on the underwater part of submarine cables is a potential cause of action, with possibilities ranging from a 'convenient' accident in a coastal area, to deliberate military action. In this regard, the intrinsic features of the seabed make it the ideal theater for non-attributable actions in 'gray zones.'"

The road ahead for Australia

Our new research examined the threat to Australia's trade posed by autonomous, uncrewed underwater vehicles.

With colleagues at the RMIT Center for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, Charles Darwin University, and WiseLaw, we ran workshops with people from government, the Royal Australian Navy, Defense, industry and academia. We found a growing tension between efforts to protect ocean-borne trade and critical undersea infrastructure today, and more forward-looking strategies aimed at developing the next generation of maritime defense.

Under the AUKUS security pact, Australia has engaged the United Kingdom and the US to buy and build nuclear-powered submarines, and seeks to acquire and develop new systems "with additional undersea capabilities." This is a good start, but the scale of the purchases has raised concerns they will become all-consuming for Australia's military.

Australia also engages in exercises such as Autonomous Warrior to test new and emerging systems in maritime defense. However, these exercises under-examine threats to maritime trade that underwater drones are likely to produce in the future.

One result that emerged from our workshops is that mines are seen as an emerging challenge. Loitering drones with explosiveswhich could even be commercially available vessels carrying improvised explosivescould hold up commercial ports and traffic, bottle up naval assets, or disrupt maritime shipping routes. This would cause delays, loss of revenue, and increased insurance premiums.

As "set and forget" weapons, mines have an outsized impact as they can cause great damage for a low cost. And they are difficult and costly to find and neutralize.

For the time being, Australia is largely protected from the threat of underwater drones by distance. Current battery and communication technology mean drones would need to be deployed from relatively nearby, and Australia's maritime environments would make operation difficult.

However, the technology is advancing quickly. The time available for the Australian Department of Defense to address the threat of underwater uncrewed vehicles is shrinking.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Idemitsu Kosan Co. President and CEO Shunichi Kito, right, with Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Koji Sato, speaks during their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in future electric vehicles.

The deal is an important step for Toyota Motor Corp., which has promised to speed up its battery EV offerings and catch up after having fallen behind rivals like Tesla and China's BYD. Toyota lags partly because of its success in hybrids, like the Prius, that are equipped with both gasoline engines and battery-powered motors.

Toyota, with its production finesse, and Idemitsu, which owns technologies in materials, said they are aiming for successful commercialization of all-solid-state batteries in 2027 or 2028, followed by full-scale mass production.

"With repeated efforts involving trial and error, we have succeeded in developing a material that is more stable and less prone to crack," Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato told reporters in Tokyo, after shaking hands with his counterpart at Idemitsu.

"The future of mobility lies in the tie-up between the auto and energy sectors, including this innovation hailing from Japan," he said.

Solid-state batteries are widely believed to be essential for mass commercialization of battery-powered EVs. The lithium-ion batteries whose components are liquid are now commonly used in electric vehicles, but are prone to fires. Solid-state batteries are more stable and potentially more powerful, but generally more expensive.

Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Koji Sato, with Idemitsu Kosan Co. President and CEO Shunichi Kito, speaks during their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

"The era of the solid-state battery is right around the corner," said Idemistu Kosan Co. Chief Executive Shunichi Kito.

Idemitsu has been researching basic technologies for all-solid-state batteries since 2001. Toyota started in 2006. Kito said recent innovations will help the batteries now in the works overcome the edge lithium-ion batteries have had over EVs.

The collaboration focuses on sulfide solid electrolytes, materials that are soft, adhesive and suitable for mass production, the companies said. Kito said Idemitsu developed mass production technology related to sulfide solid electrolytes by studying by-products from petroleum refining.

The companies plan a large pilot facility to develop sulfide solid electrolytes, paying special attention to quality and costs. Mass production would follow.

Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Koji Sato, with Idemitsu Kosan Co. President and CEO Shunichi Kito, speaks during their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Idemitsu Kosan Co. President and CEO Shunichi Kito, with Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Koji Sato, speaks during their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Koji Sato, with Idemitsu officials, speaks during their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Koji Sato, left, and Idemitsu Kosan Co. President and CEO Shunichi Kito shake hands before their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Idemitsu Kosan Co. President and CEO Shunichi Kito, with Toyota Motor Corp. officials, responds to a reporter's question during their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Koji Sato, left, and Idemitsu Kosan Co. President and CEO Shunichi Kito shake hands before their news conference in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Japan's top automaker Toyota agreed Thursday to work with Idemitsu, a major Japanese oil company, on technology for the mass production of solid-state batteries that promise to be a key component in electric vehicles. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Many of the world's top automakers are working on solid-state batteries, including domestic rival Nissan Motor Co. and American manufacturer Ford Motor Co. But some technological challenges remain.

Toyota, which makes the Lexus luxury models and Camry sedan, had said it will offer a commercial solid-state battery as soon as 2027, with charging time, one of the main drawbacks of electric vehicles, shortened to 10 minutes or less.

It's planning to deliver 1.5 million EVs in 2026 by expanding its battery EV lineup.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Sam Bankman-Fried's former girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, walks through security at Manhattan Federal Court on October 10, 2023, in New York.

The former partner and girlfriend of Sam Bankman-Fried told a New York courtroom on Wednesday that she constantly worried that clients of their FTX crypto platform would discover they were being defrauded.

After already offering damning evidence against him on Tuesday, Ellison delivered new details on Bankman-Fried's management in which the onetime crypto wunderkind was involved in all major decisions.

"I constantly worried about people finding out and customers withdrawing too much money at once," Ellison told the courtroom as she described the measures the company took to cover up their tracks.

The testimony came a day after Ellison said that they had stolen around $14 billion from clients of the cryptocurrency trading platform before it collapsed into bankruptcy late last year.

The 31-year-old Bankman-Fried, co-founder and former CEO of FTX, has been charged with seven counts of fraud, embezzlement and criminal conspiracy, and if convicted could face the equivalent of a life sentence.

At the heart of the case is the unhealthy relationship between FTX and Alameda Research, Bankman-Fried's personal hedge fund that depended on client money from FTX to stay afloat.

Ellison and Bankman-Fried met as traders at a New York investment company and she joined him when he started FTX.

He later asked her to be CEO of Alameda but she insisted he made all significant decisions, even though he still ran FTX.

Ellison said that when the crypto markets began to sour, she at one point prepared seven versions of Alameda's balance sheet as Bankman-Fried feared the true state of their finances would spook investors.

Given the financial shenanigans, the 28-year-old Stanford University mathematics graduate said she often voiced her concerns with her on and off again boyfriend.

Bankman-Fried told her their work was being done for "the greater good" and that "he didn't feel like 'don't lie, don't steal' fit into that," she told the jury.

She said this was in reference to Bankman-Fried's utilitarian system of belief, in which the moral outcome of one's actions are what matters, not necessarily the means.

 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:

Three core elements of the Digital Twin Brain: (1) brain atlases representing anatomical structure, (2) models of brain functions, and (3) applications that provide new real-world data. Credit: Intelligent Computing (2023). DOI: 10.34133/icomputing.0055

Recent developments in neuroscience and brain-inspired artificial intelligence have opened up new possibilities in understanding intelligence. Now, a research team led by Tianzi Jiang at the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has outlined the key components and properties of an innovative platform called the Digital Twin Brain, which could bridge the gap between biological and artificial intelligence and provide new insights into both.

This research was published in Intelligent Computing.

Network structure is something that biological and artificial intelligence have in common. Since the brain consists of biological networks, a digital model or "twin" of the brain built using artificial networks would allow researchers to feed knowledge about biological intelligence into the model. The ultimate goal is to "propel the development of artificial general intelligence and facilitate precision mental health care," a feat calling for joint efforts from interdisciplinary scientists worldwide.

Using the Digital Twin Brain, researchers could explore the working mechanisms of the human brain by simulating and modulating the brain in different states for various cognitive tasks. For example, they could simulate how the brain functions properly in a resting state and how it malfunctions in disorders, or develop methods to shift it away from an undesirable state by modulating its activity.

Despite sounding like science fiction, the idea of the Digital Twin Brain stands on solid biological ground. It integrates three core elements: brain atlases serving as the structural scaffolds and biological constraints, multi-level neural models trained on biological data to simulate brain functions, and a spectrum of applications for evaluating and updating the current "twin."

The three core elements are envisioned to evolve and interact in a closed loop. A dynamic brain atlas leads to improved neural models that generate more realistic function simulations. The current "twin," consisting of these models, is then validated across an ever-expanding spectrum of practical applications, including disease biomarker discovery and drug tests. These applications complete the cycle by providing feedback to enhance the brain atlas.

The biological brain has intricate structures and complex dynamics. Therefore, highly nuanced brain atlases, including atlases at different scales, of multiple modalities, and even from different species, are needed for learning how to build its digital twin. With a comprehensive collection of atlases, various aspects of the brain, and the connections and interactions between different brain regions, as well as the fundamental principles of brain organization, can be explored in depth.

On the other hand, brain atlases are also constraints in the sense that neural models must be based on them for "biological plausibility," and that poses technical challenges.

Jiang's team suggests that the Brainnetome Atlas will be an important component for developing the Digital Twin Brain. Announced by researchers at the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2016, this atlas is a macroscale atlas encompassing 246 brain sub-regions and has been evolving towards an "extensive and detailed mapping" of the structure and connectivity of the human brain.

Meanwhile, given that existing brain simulation platforms fall short of their anatomical basis, the authors believe it is vital to design "an open-source, efficient, flexible, and user-friendly brain atlas-constrained" platform that is powerful enough to support multiscale and multimodal modeling. There are still many open questions to be addressed, such as how to effectively weave bits and pieces of biological knowledge into a digital twin, how to design better models for simulations, and how to integrate the Digital Twin Brain into practical scenarios.

In summary, the Digital Twin Brain represents a convergence of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. By integrating intricate brain atlases, dynamic neural models, and a multitude of applications, this platform is poised to revolutionize our grasp of both biological and artificial intelligence.

With the collective efforts of scientists worldwide, the Digital Twin Brain holds the promise of advancing artificial general intelligence and revolutionizing precision mental health care, paving the way for transformative breakthroughs in our understanding of the human mind, the development of intelligent technologies, and the discovering of therapeutics for brain disorders.

More information: Hui Xiong et al, The Digital Twin Brain: A Bridge between Biological and Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Computing (2023). DOI: 10.34133/icomputing.0055

Provided by Intelligent Computing
WASHINGTON  House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul said the gridlock among U.S. House Republicans over the choice for their next speaker is jeopardizing some of the countrys top national security priorities including providing aid to Israel.

The world is watching us now. Were not just in some vacuum in D.C. Its urgent, the Republican, whose district includes Bryan and College Station, said in an interview Tuesday. Its just imperative that we stop playing games, we elect a speaker and we govern.

Until the House selects a new speaker, all other business is paused. That means defense aid for U.S. allies like Israel and Ukraine are stuck, even though overwhelming majorities of Congress support assisting Israel following last weekends attacks.

Israel sustained a series of rocket attacks and a ground invasion over the weekend that killed more than 700 Israelis and 11 U.S. citizens, with hundreds more being held hostage in Gaza. Hamas, a terrorist group that has had control over the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched the attack, which has been widely condemned by Western governments as an act of terror. Israel and Egypt have long imposed a land, air and sea blockade of Gaza. But Israels conservative government has vowed to further retaliate by blocking off resources for the Gaza Strip and has hit the territory with targeted strikes.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday he would push Congress to take urgent action to fund the security requirements of our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. McCauls committee authorized $3.3 billion for Israels Iron Dome defense system earlier this year, with about $420 million appropriated in defense funding legislation.

McCaul led a vastly bipartisan group of nearly 400 members Tuesday in introducing a resolution declaring the U.S. steadfast support for Israel and condemnation of Hamas. Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, another member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was also one of the original sponsors of the resolution. The majority of Texas members signed onto the resolution, including deep conservatives like Rep. Ronny Jackson and progressives like Rep. Lloyd Doggett, with more signatories continuing to join Tuesday evening.

But none of that aid money or legislative action can move forward without a speaker dictating floor action in the House.

I dont think they even thought about [the national security consequences] until the events of last weekend showed its a dangerous world, McCaul said of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy. This is not a game. Some of them had legitimate complaints, but for some of them, it was just a personality problem.

It isnt a new position for the Texan. The House was stalled for a week in January when it took 15 rounds of votes to elect McCarthy as speaker of the House. During that time, no members could be sworn in, and no committees could organize and do their work.

McCaul lamented at the time that the pause could be a national security threat by blocking members from accessing sensitive information or conducting congressional oversight functions.

Aid money to Ukraine is already a major sticking point for Republicans, with more conservative members opposing further funding. Its a central question in the speaker fight as candidates make their case.

House Republicans voted for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise over House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan in a closed-door vote Wednesday but tabled a floor vote due to the lack of a consensus.

Republicans are hoping to avoid the chaos of Januarys speaker election, which was largely driven by a group of conservative members pushing for rules changes to give their faction of the party a greater voice. Without those demands, members are more concentrated on finding a candidate who can unify the party rather than any specific policy stances.

Still, the conference remains deeply divided between Scalise, who rose up through the natural hierarchy of Republican leadership and was close to McCarthy, and Jordan, a co-founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus who has been skeptical toward continued aid for Ukraine.

The Texas delegation is no different. Just over half of Texas Republicans announced whom they backed in the speaker race, and they were nearly evenly split between Scalise and Jordan.

McCaul did not say which candidate he supported and predicted most members of the delegation wont rally behind a single candidate until after they all hear out the different candidates.

When we show dysfunction in government, it weakens our democracy. And thats precisely what our adversaries like to see, McCaul said.
Skeena Resources (NYSE:SKE  Get Free Report) and Rare Element Resources (OTCMKTS:REEMF  Get Free Report) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

36.0% of Skeena Resources shares are held by institutional investors. 2.0% of Skeena Resources shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 3.2% of Rare Element Resources shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Risk & Volatility

Skeena Resources has a beta of 1.19, suggesting that its share price is 19% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Rare Element Resources has a beta of 0.57, suggesting that its share price is 43% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Skeena Resources 0 0 0 0 N/A Rare Element Resources 0 0 0 0 N/A

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Skeena Resources and Rare Element Resources, as provided by MarketBeat.

Skeena Resources currently has a consensus target price of $17.00, indicating a potential upside of 284.62%. Given Skeena Resources higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Skeena Resources is more favorable than Rare Element Resources.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Skeena Resources and Rare Element Resources top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Skeena Resources N/A N/A -$68.37 million ($0.81) -5.46 Rare Element Resources N/A N/A -$9.43 million ($0.04) -12.50

Rare Element Resources is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Skeena Resources, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Skeena Resources and Rare Element Resources net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Skeena Resources N/A -56.63% -47.52% Rare Element Resources N/A -60.26% -53.36%

Summary

Skeena Resources beats Rare Element Resources on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Skeena Resources

(Get Free Report)

Skeena Resources Limited explores for and develops mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold, silver, copper, and other precious metal deposits. It holds 100% interests in the Snip gold mine comprising one mining lease and four mineral tenures that covers an area of approximately 1,932 hectares; and the Eskay Creek gold mine that consists of eight mineral leases, two surface leases, and various unpatented mining claims comprising 7,096 hectares located in British Columbia, Canada. The company was formerly known as Prolific Resources Ltd. and changed its name to Skeena Resources Limited in June 1990. Skeena Resources Limited was incorporated in 1979 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

About Rare Element Resources

(Get Free Report)

Rare Element Resources Ltd. engages in the exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It holds a 100% interest in the Bear Lodge property that comprises the Bear Lodge REE project and the Sundance Gold project located in Crook County, northeast Wyoming. Rare Element Resources Ltd. is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

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Hess (NYSE:HES  Free Report) had its target price boosted by Piper Sandler from $167.00 to $169.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the oil and gas producers stock.

HES has been the topic of several other research reports. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Hess from $175.00 to $178.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, September 18th. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on Hess from $155.00 to $153.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Hess from $161.00 to $169.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on Hess in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on Hess from $205.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hess currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $170.71.

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Hess Trading Up 0.9 %

Hess stock opened at $154.98 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $47.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.69 and a beta of 1.57. Hess has a fifty-two week low of $113.82 and a fifty-two week high of $165.43. The firms fifty day moving average price is $154.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $143.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.54.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $2.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. Hess had a net margin of 14.60% and a return on equity of 19.56%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 22.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.15 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Hess will post 4.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hess Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 18th were issued a dividend of $0.4375 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 15th. This represents a $1.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.13%. Hesss dividend payout ratio is currently 33.52%.

Insider Transactions at Hess

In other Hess news, SVP Barbara J. Lowery-Yilmaz sold 24,319 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.91, for a total value of $3,815,894.29. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 113,670 shares in the company, valued at $17,835,959.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Hess news, COO Gregory P. Hill sold 33,414 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.33, for a total value of $5,056,540.62. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 82,932 shares in the company, valued at $12,550,099.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Barbara J. Lowery-Yilmaz sold 24,319 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.91, for a total transaction of $3,815,894.29. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 113,670 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,835,959.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 9.91% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hess

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Huntington National Bank increased its stake in shares of Hess by 2.5% during the second quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 2,742 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $373,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its stake in Hess by 36.8% during the 1st quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 279 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Hess by 24.0% in the first quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 403 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the last quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Hess by 4.0% in the second quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,062 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $280,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Alliance raised its stake in Hess by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Wealth Alliance now owns 2,219 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $302,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.72% of the companys stock.

Hess Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.

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President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spoke today with President Mohamed bin Zayed to discuss the terrorist attacks on Israel.

The President stressed his condemnation of Hamas's terror and his warning against anyone who might seek to exploit the current situation. The two leaders also discussed the importance of ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those in need.

READ ALSO: Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with National Security Advisor Sydney Mufamadi of South Africa



Finally, they discussed the history of relations between the UAE and the United States and the steadfast U.S. commitment to peace and security in the region.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact both directly, and through their teams.

READ MORE: Statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Visit of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
International Land Alliance, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ILAL  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,000 shares, a decrease of 60.0% from the September 15th total of 5,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 201,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days.

International Land Alliance Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS ILAL opened at $0.20 on Thursday. International Land Alliance has a one year low of $0.05 and a one year high of $0.37. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $0.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.08 million, a PE ratio of -0.31 and a beta of -0.34.

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International Land Alliance (OTCMKTS:ILAL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 21st. The company reported ($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $0.49 million during the quarter.

About International Land Alliance

International Land Alliance, Inc operates as a residential land development company with target properties located primarily in the Baja California, Northern region of Mexico, and Southern California. Its principal activities include purchasing properties; obtaining zoning and other entitlements required to subdivide the properties into residential and commercial building lots; securing financing for the purchase of the lots; enhance the properties' infrastructure and amenities; and selling the plots to homebuyers, retirees, investors, and commercial developers.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of PNM Resources (NYSE:PNM  Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning.

PNM has been the topic of several other reports. Mizuho raised shares of PNM Resources from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $50.30 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Citigroup reissued a neutral rating and issued a $51.00 price target on shares of PNM Resources in a report on Monday, September 18th. Three 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, PNM Resources presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $51.08.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on PNM

PNM Resources Price Performance

Shares of PNM Resources stock opened at $43.80 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.81, a P/E/G ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.40. PNM Resources has a 1-year low of $42.75 and a 1-year high of $49.60. The firms 50-day moving average price is $44.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.83.

PNM Resources (NYSE:PNM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $477.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $446.75 million. PNM Resources had a return on equity of 10.31% and a net margin of 10.26%. PNM Resourcess quarterly revenue was down 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.57 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that PNM Resources will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

PNM Resources Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 10th. Investors of record on Friday, October 27th will be issued a $0.368 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 26th. This represents a $1.47 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.36%. This is a positive change from PNM Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. PNM Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.07%.

Institutional Trading of PNM Resources

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in PNM Resources by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,097,571 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $540,230,000 after acquiring an additional 68,064 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in PNM Resources by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,045,025 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $413,629,000 after acquiring an additional 99,734 shares during the period. PSquared Asset Management AG grew its holdings in PNM Resources by 227.4% during the 1st quarter. PSquared Asset Management AG now owns 4,094,600 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $199,325,000 after acquiring an additional 2,844,000 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in PNM Resources by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,373,488 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $164,221,000 after acquiring an additional 49,528 shares during the period. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP grew its holdings in PNM Resources by 73.4% during the 2nd quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP now owns 1,874,524 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $84,541,000 after acquiring an additional 793,558 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.18% of the companys stock.

PNM Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

PNM Resources, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides electricity and electric services in the United States. It operates through Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP) segments. The PNM segment engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:IQI  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 51,500 shares, a growth of 189.3% from the September 15th total of 17,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 123,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust Trading Up 0.7 %

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust stock opened at $8.47 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $8.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.33. Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust has a 52-week low of $8.23 and a 52-week high of $10.38.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.0358 per share. This represents a $0.43 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 13th.

Institutional Trading of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust Company Profile

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust by 52.8% during the first quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 658,521 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,572,000 after purchasing an additional 227,487 shares during the last quarter. Concorde Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust during the second quarter worth $99,000. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust by 21.5% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 625,530 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,243,000 after purchasing an additional 110,717 shares during the last quarter. Ironsides Asset Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust by 15.9% during the first quarter. Ironsides Asset Advisors LLC now owns 12,884 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $129,000 after purchasing an additional 1,767 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Meitav Investment House Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust during the second quarter worth $12,530,000.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd.

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State of Michigan Retirement System trimmed its holdings in shares of Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:GPN  Free Report) by 7.0% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 91,678 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 6,900 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement Systems holdings in Global Payments were worth $9,032,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Oak Thistle LLC acquired a new position in Global Payments in the 2nd quarter worth $1,528,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in Global Payments by 9.5% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 209,931 shares of the business services providers stock worth $22,093,000 after buying an additional 18,220 shares in the last quarter. RFG Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Global Payments by 4.9% in the 1st quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 5,938 shares of the business services providers stock worth $625,000 after buying an additional 280 shares in the last quarter. Compass Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Global Payments in the 1st quarter worth $310,000. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Global Payments by 114.5% in the 2nd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 48,962 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,824,000 after buying an additional 26,131 shares in the last quarter. 85.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have commented on GPN. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $135.00 price objective on shares of Global Payments in a report on Friday, September 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Global Payments from $126.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. KeyCorp upped their target price on shares of Global Payments from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $154.00 target price on shares of Global Payments in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Global Payments in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and twenty-one have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $148.27.

Global Payments Stock Down 0.0 %

GPN opened at $115.18 on Thursday. Global Payments Inc. has a 12 month low of $92.27 and a 12 month high of $129.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market cap of $29.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.98. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $122.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $110.71.

Global Payments (NYSE:GPN  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The business services provider reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.43 by $0.19. Global Payments had a return on equity of 10.98% and a net margin of 8.65%. The firm had revenue of $2.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.19 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.23 EPS. The firms revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Global Payments Inc. will post 9.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Global Payments Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Global Paymentss payout ratio is currently 33.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Global Payments

In other Global Payments news, CAO David M. Sheffield sold 2,016 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.47, for a total transaction of $240,851.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 25,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,992,126.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Global Payments news, CAO David M. Sheffield sold 2,016 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.47, for a total transaction of $240,851.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 25,045 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,992,126.15. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Joshua J. Whipple sold 37,096 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.28, for a total value of $4,721,578.88. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 39,772 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,062,180.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Global Payments

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Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Teekay Tankers (NYSE:TNK  Free Report) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Wednesday.

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Teekay Tankers from $51.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd.

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Teekay Tankers Trading Up 0.0 %

NYSE TNK opened at $40.49 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 2.61, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of -0.07. Teekay Tankers has a 52-week low of $26.40 and a 52-week high of $48.05. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $41.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $39.95. The company has a quick ratio of 2.70, a current ratio of 3.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13.

Teekay Tankers (NYSE:TNK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The shipping company reported $4.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.28 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $370.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $242.67 million. Teekay Tankers had a net margin of 37.90% and a return on equity of 46.25%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 52.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.76 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Teekay Tankers will post 13.74 EPS for the current year.

Teekay Tankers Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 14th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This is a positive change from Teekay Tankerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 11th. Teekay Tankerss dividend payout ratio is presently 6.45%.

Institutional Trading of Teekay Tankers

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. AE Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Teekay Tankers in the third quarter valued at approximately $519,000. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of Teekay Tankers by 10,816.7% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 655 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 649 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of Teekay Tankers by 195.5% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 3,688 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $141,000 after purchasing an additional 2,440 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its position in shares of Teekay Tankers by 11.3% in the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 68,135 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $2,605,000 after purchasing an additional 6,940 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in shares of Teekay Tankers by 122.0% in the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 9,274 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $355,000 after purchasing an additional 5,096 shares during the last quarter. 48.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Teekay Tankers

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Teekay Tankers Ltd. provides marine transportation services to oil industries in Bermuda and internationally. The company offers voyage and time charter services; and offshore ship-to-ship transfer services of commodities primarily crude oil and refined oil products, as well as liquid gases and various other products.

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LINCOLN  EducationQuest Foundation has awarded 69 Nebraska schools  including Westridge Middle School in Grand Island  nearly $45,000 in 8th Grade Campus Visit Grants this fall.

The schools will use grants ranging from $210 to $850 to help fund college visits and related activities to get students on the path to college. Since the programs inception in 2011, EducationQuest has awarded 647 grants totaling more than $380,000 to Nebraska schools.

EducationQuest Vice President of Grants and Scholarships Eric Drumheller said, Our goal is to get young students on college campuses early so they can envision themselves living and learning there. First-hand experiences are the best way to show students that higher education is possible.

The 8th Grade Campus Visit Grants are awarded annually and are one of several programs EducationQuest provides to improve access to higher education in Nebraska

Area schools awarded grants include: Riverside Public Schools, Cedar Rapids; Gibbon Public Schools, Gibbon; Pleasanton Public School, Pleasanton; and Loup County Public School, Taylor.
Hau Giang province looks to add $142 mln wind farm to national plan

By Tri Duc Thu, October 12, 2023 | 9:45 am GTM+7

Vietnams Hau Giang province is seeking to add the VND3.46 trillion ($141.7 million) Long My 2 wind power plant project to the national power development plan (PDP VIII).

In a letter sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, authorities from the Mekong Delta province said the 100-MW project, covering 9.89 hectares in Long My district, does not conflict with the protection forests or other projects.

The project is invested by Hong Kong-based Envision Energy (Hong Kong) Limited, and a survey was approved for processing in July 2022.

A wind power project in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Photo courtesy of Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper.

Local authorities noted the inclusion of the project in PDP VIII would facilitate its deployment. Hau Giang has stable and strong winds and low impacts from hurricanes, they highlighted.

The project will help fulfill the power demand of the province and reduce dependence on electricity transmitted from other areas. It would also serve the rising demand in Long My district and Vi Thanh town, the provincial economics hubs, they added.

On May 15, 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued Decision No. 500/QD-TTg approving the PDP VIII for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050. It features 21.8 GW of onshore wind power.

The plan mentions that Vietnam has the technical potential of generating 600,000 MW from offshore wind power. The target is to develop 6,000 MW of offshore wind power until 2030 to serve the domestic market and move towards 70,000-91,500 MW by 2050.

Another goal is to develop offshore wind power and renewable energy of 15,000 MW by 2035 and 240,000 MW by 2050 from green energy such as hydrogen and ammonia.
Restructuring key to businesses development: executives

By Thien Ky, Minh Hue Thu, October 12, 2023 | 11:52 am GTM+7

Leaders of large enterprises such as Phu Nhuan Jewelry JSC (PNJ) and Decathlon Vietnam have emphasized the crucial role of corporate restructuring to businesses sustainable development.

At a Tuesday seminar entitled "Quick adaptation - Big change" organized in Ho Chi Minh City by NEWING, a provider of business consulting and services, PNJ chairwoman Cao Ngoc Dung, said if her company had not focused on restructuring and seriously implementing the Enterprise Human Resource Planning (ERP) project, it would have struggled to maintain operations and been unable to achieve strong growth in recent times, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

PNJ chairwoman Cao Thi Ngoc Dung (second from right) shares the restructuring story of her company at a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, October 10, 2023. Photo by The Investor/Thien Ky.

Over the past over 35 years, shifting from a state-owned enterprise to a joint stock company and then a listed firm, PNJ has undergone many corporate restructurings.

The positive point is that throughout that process, PNJ always achieved its annual growth plans and business targets. Despite being a strong brand, in an open economy, if it did not change or restructure itself, it could not compete with foreign companies, she said.

In 2012, PNJ decided to invite a foreign company to aid its governance and restructuring to adapt to new changes.

In the 2018-2019 period, PNJ implemented the digital transformation strategy with a focus on System Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP), including ERP. However, this led to an incident during the transfer process between the old and new systems, which securities companies at that time called "PNJ's ERP incident". This incident caused PNJ to face a backlog of orders, customer complaints, stock price drops, sales declines, and a sudden increase in the number of employees resigning, affecting its business results, Dung recalled.

She emphasized that the biggest difficulty in transformation was that some personnel could not overcome the challenges of innovation. At that time, the company had to strengthen trust among employees regarding corporate culture.

If we were not determined to apply SAP, we, with 600 stores, would not have achieved the growth we've posted in recent years, she noted, adding even during the Covid-19 and post-pandemic period like 2022, PNJs after-tax profit still increased by 75% compared to the previous year.

According to Dung, the role of business leaders in the restructuring process is of utmost importance. All changes must come from the leader's thinking and he/she must lead those changes, with clear objectives and commitments while staying consistent with the set goals, she stressed.

Sharing the same view, Pham Thanh Ngan, Uknit production zone director at Decathlon Vietnam, a French group specializing in producing and distributing sporting items, argued that restructuring is the foundation for sustainable business development.

Ngan said previously Decathlon only distributed products through a system of stores, but during the pandemic, to ensure its growth plan, the company increased the proportion of online sales. At the same time, it worked hard to avoid supply chain disruptions during this period, supplying goods to 60 different countries. The quick response helped the group maintain a stable growth rate.

After the epidemic, we learned a lesson that if businesses want to be successful, they must have a corporate cultural foundation with their own core values. They must have a clear priority strategy for each stage and focus on actions and solutions to be able to adapt to strong fluctuations," Ngan said.

Boasting experience in working with a number of big customers in the world such as Boeing and Microsoft, Bruno Anjos, business development director at the NeuroLeadership Institute, said that most big firms have their own data measurements and statistics that show that 75% of behavioral changes come from corporate governance awareness.

Highlighting Vietnams great potential, he said the country is at the right stage to bring brain science into governance to change leadership and human resource management behavior.

Ngan added his institute has worked with businesses in Vietnam such as Mobile World Investment Corp. (MWG), PNJ, Nhat Tin Logistics, G-Group, Vietnam Education Cooperation (Edufit), Hoa Sen Viet Group, Rever, Golden Gate, Mutosi, Pharmacity, Thien Viet Securities (TVS), VNG Corp., Talentnet Corp., Vccorp, and Open Asia.

The Vietnamese market has a lot of potential but many businesses are still not ready to participate in restructuring, he noted, saying lessons from businesses that have been successful in restructuring will be "examples" for other businesses to follow.

Experts held that in the context of integration, businesses need to access and apply modern business governance principles and skills in line with international practices. This will not only help businesses meet market rules, but also provide them with better competitive advantages and momentum for stable development.
Huawei commits to advancing digital inclusion in Kenya with innovative technologies

Xinhua) 13:25, October 12, 2023

NAIROBI, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company, committed on Wednesday to helping Kenya accelerate its digital inclusion, ensuring expanded access to online platforms and services by providing innovative technologies.

Tony Li, the chief technology officer of Huawei Southern Africa Region, made this announcement during a regional forum in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. He noted that Kenya has already witnessed significant progress in the last decade with the rollout of 4G and 5G networks, as well as fiber networks for transmission and last-mile connectivity.

"We aim to create innovative hardware and software solutions that are easier and quicker to install, maintain, and upgrade," Li said during the East Africa Conext Digital Infrastructure Summit.

The day-long event brought together more than 100 experts on information communication technology and government officials from East Africa to review the latest technological advancements in the digital economy sector.

Li said that Huawei will assist Kenya in expanding its broadband coverage because both fixed wireless access, using mobile technologies, and fixed networks, using fiber, are critical for digital inclusion and the digital economy. He added that Huawei is ensuring that the country can keep up with the rising demand for digital services by providing technologies that offer better performance, lower energy usage and higher quality.

"Technology is the foundation that allows every entrepreneur to start a business, every teacher to educate students no matter where they are in the world, and every citizen to receive world-class health services," he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
(Photo : Alexander NEMENOV / AFP) (ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)

A leak on the International Space Station forced NASA officials to call off scheduled spacewalks until the incident has been fully reviewed.

NASA was forced to delay a spacewalk that was scheduled for Thursday after officials discovered a leak on the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this week.

The space agency said that the decision was made to call off the planned ISS spacewalk as a precautionary measure following the leak of ammonia coolant discovered on Monday. The incident involved a backup radiator on the Russian Nauka science module and marks the third time such a leak has happened on the spacecraft.

ISS Leak Delays Scheduled Spacewalks

Officials also postponed another spacewalk that was scheduled for Oct. 20 and noted that new dates will be announced in the near future. In an update on Wednesday, they said that NASA engineering and flight control teams continue to review data and video from the leak. They added that they would wait until the completion of the review before authorizing the planned spacewalks.

Roscosmos flight controllers later said the leak had ceased, evidenced by NASA external station camera views showing only residual coolant droplets. Spacewalks with floating ammonia flakes present often need extra steps to avoid potential contamination of equipment or astronauts, as per Space.

Roscosmos also announced on Tuesday via Telegram that it was planning to task two cosmonauts with checking out the radiator during a previously planned spacewalk on Oct.25. Officials from both agencies repeatedly said that the leak, which is the third in Russian ISS equipment in the past year, had no material impact on the operations of the ISS.

However, the delay of the spacewalk will result in the pushing off of some minor maintenance on the station, along with a test scheduled to support future moon exploration. The Extravehicular Activity (EVA) originally scheduled for Thursday was supposed to have NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara and European Space Agency astronaut Andres Mogensen exit the ISS's Quest airlock to collect samples.

These would then be used for analysis to see whether or not microorganisms could exist on the exterior of the orbital complex. A second activity was to preview what could be possible with a planned lunar orbiting station called Gateway by replacing a high-definition camera on the port truss of the ISS.

Read Also: NASA's SOFIA Provides New Insights Amid Space Agency's Mission To Study Psyche Asteroid

Reviewing the Incident

Fortunately, the primary radiator on Nauka continues to work normally as it provides full cooling to the module without impacting the crew or ISS operations. According to NASA, the backup radiator that was found with a leak was delivered to the station on the Rassvet module during the space shuttle mission STS-132 in 2010.

The recent incident is not as dramatic as the one that involved a Russian Soyuz capsule in late 2022. At the time, the incident rendered the MS-22 spacecraft unable to carry the crew back to Earth as scheduled.

The occurrence forced multiple astronauts and cosmonauts to extend their stay on the ISS while Roscosmos prepared another Soyuz vehicle to bring the space workers back home to Earth, said Extreme Tech.

Related Article: NASA Shares First Peek of OSIRIS-REx Return Sample-What Did They Find?

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CARBONDALE  Big data and big AI need big power to operate. Thats why a researcher at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is studying ways to make this growing tech sector greener.

Iraklis Anagnostopoulos, an associate professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, recently received a three-year, $588,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study substantially improving the sustainability of modern edge data centers by mitigating the environmental impact of AI and boosting the efficiency of data processing.

The AI market is anticipated to expand tenfold into a sector worth hundreds of billions of dollars within the next five years, Anagnostopoulos said. But the rapid expansion of this type of technology has caused apprehension about its impact on climate change.

AI has enormous potential to positively influence society, and its projected to grow considerably in the coming years, he said. But along with this rapid expansion of AI technologies are issues with a considerable environmental impact and raised concerns about their associated operational and embodied carbon footprints. The former is associated with their ongoing operation and maintenance while the latter with the entire life cycle of the devices.

Big power

AI, big data and the massive server farms that power them use a lot of electricity.

The primary concern here is the energy required for the computation and data processing tasks, Anagnostopoulos said. These operations are usually carried out in large data centers that consume enormous amounts of electricity.

Beyond simply powering the servers, operators must expend significant energy to cool the data centers, which necessarily create heat. The server environment must maintain a certain temperature to ensure they function optimally.

Network infrastructure that operates cloud-based storage and real-time data analytics also contributes to the growing carbon footprint in this sector, Anagnostopoulos said.

The central aim of our research is to improve the sustainability by using extensive, multilayered optimizations of edge data centers, he said. Unlike conventional data centers, edge data centers are designed to be closer to end-users and able to harness renewable energy for their operations.

Taking a high-tech approach

Optimization of edge data centers would enable a more localized computing infrastructure, Anagnostopoulos said. His research would move beyond traditional optimization methods and target vertical solutions for specific sectors of the infrastructure to improve the efficiency at each stage.

There are multiple parameters that affect operational and embodied carbon footprints, he said. Were trying to find ways of lessening the operational carbon footprint by harnessing renewable energy sources, enhancing power usage efficiency and strategically distributing workload across various computing components.

At the same time, other ways to decrease the carbon footprint include down-scaling energy-efficient hardware accelerators, which are specialized units designed to perform specific functions more efficiently than a general-purpose central processing unit. Tensor processing units, a subcategory of these, are designed to accelerate machine learning calculations and are critical in speeding up computationally intensive tasks and making data processing more efficient.

Developing reliable hardware accelerators and efficiently utilizing computing resources lead to more energy-efficient data centers, Anagnostopoulos said. It reduces the carbon footprint and improves their overall sustainability.

Downscaling hardware accelerators would help reduce carbon in several ways.

First, smaller hardware accelerators often are designed to be more energy-efficient, using less power per computation. They also typically require fewer materials to manufacture, decreasing the rare-earth materials often needed in semiconductor manufacturing. Such efficiently designed hardware is often more reliable and has a longer lifespan, as well.

Striking a balance between performance and the need for downscaling hardware is a difficult challenge, Anagnostopoulos said. The goal is to optimize hardware designs in a way that minimizes environmental impact without compromising the performance requirements essential for specific tasks.

Anagnostopoulos hopes the work ultimately will promote the adoption of sustainable practices in the computing industry as a whole.

We want to contribute to a broader paradigm shift toward embracing eco-friendly practices in the computing domain that will drive digital infrastructures transition towards a greener and more sustainable future, he said.
DEERFIELD  After several weeks under interim leadership, Walgreens Boots Alliance has named Tim Wentworth as CEO.

Wentworth will lead the Deerfield-based retail pharmacy chain starting Oct. 23.

The founding CEO of Evernorth  the health services arm of insurance giant Cigna  Wentworth has an extensive resume in the business of health. He previously served as CEO of Accredo, the pharmacy arm of Medco, then led and expanded Express Scripts following its merger with Medco.

In a Wednesday news release, Wentworth expressed high hopes for his time at WBA, focusing on the companys pharmacy strength and trusted brand.

I believe in WBAs vision to be the leading partner in reimagining local healthcare and well-being for all, Wentworth said in the release.

Previous CEO Rosalind Roz Brewer, the first African-American and first woman to lead the company, stepped down Aug. 31.

Ginger Graham, who has served as interim CEO since then, will return to her previous role as lead independent director. Graham was previously CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals and has sat on the Walgreens board of directors for 13 years.

Brewer, who also vacated her seat on the Walgreens board, advised the Walgreens search committee in appointing Wentworth.

WBA executive chairman Stefano Pessina said in the Wednesday release that the board had been seeking a new CEO with deep healthcare experience.

[Wentworth] is an accomplished and respected leader with profound expertise in the payer and pharmacy space, Pessina said. We are confident he is the right person to lead WBAs next phase of growth into a customer-centric healthcare company.

Walgreens Boots Alliance also oversees healthcare retailers including Duane Reade and the No. 7 Beauty Co. Starting Oct. 23, Wentworth will lead more than 13,000 locations in nine countries across all WBA holdings.

With his new role, Wentworth inherits the aftershocks of several troubled fiscal quarters, including widespread downsizing and $5.4 billion in charges related to opioid settlements.

In May, the company announced layoffs of 10% of its corporate staff, or about 500 people, mostly from Walgreens Chicago and Deerfield offices. Walgreens also plans to close down a distribution plant in Edwardsville, cutting 393 jobs, the Tribune previously reported.

Wentworth will also take on a plan announced by WBA to save up to $4.1 billion by cutting up to 17% of internal costs. The company reported a $6.4 billion loss in the first nine months of the most recent fiscal year, which ended Oct. 1.

Walgreens leaders have also announced plans to close up to 450 stores  150 in the United States and 300 in the United Kingdom  by fall 2024.

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Orangeburg City Councilmember Annette Dee Grevious will host a meet and greet event with constituents on Friday, Oct. 13.

Grievous hopes the event will further her connection to her district.

The event will be held at Venue on Summers at 249 Summers Ave. in Orangeburg. It will start at 4:30 p.m. Food and Italian ice will be available free of charge, Grevious said.

The event is very informal and truly a drop-in, but it provides an opportunity to introduce myself to residents within District 4  especially those I was unable to meet while I was campaigning  collect and/or update their contact information and hear concerns or issues pertinent to them while fellowshipping with one another, Grevious said.

Grevious is encouraging attendees to bring canned goods to be donated to a local food pantry, she said.

Grevious was elected to the District 4 seat on Sept. 12 after longtime Councilmember Bernard Haire decided to not seek re-election after 35 years on council.

Grevious was sworn in at the Oct. 3 City Council meeting.

She has previously said she would focus on promoting economic development and reducing crime during her term.

She is a professor of speech and drama at Claflin University.
(Photo : SAID KHATIB / AFP) (SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt is floating the idea of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza amid the rising tensions of the Israel-Palestine conflict that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.

Egypt is floating the idea of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza amid the Israel-Palestine war but shut down civilian corridor proposals.

Officials said they are discussing plans with the United States and others to provide aid through its border with the Gaza Strip, said Egyptian security sources on Wednesday. Gaza is a tiny coastal strip of land wedged between Israel in the north and east and Egypt in the southwest.

Egypt Floats Potential Gaza Aid

The area is home to roughly 2.3 million people living under a blockade since the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas took control of the region in 2007. For quite some time, Egypt has restricted the flow of Gazans into its territory, even during the fiercest conflicts in history.

Cairo, a frequent mediator between Israel and Palestinians, always insists that the two parties resolve conflicts within their borders. It says that this is the only way that Palestinians can secure their right to statehood, as per Reuters.

In a statement, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Washington has been negotiating with Israel and Egypt regarding a safe passage for civilians from Gaza. This follows the area being struck by a massive Israeli assault in response to Hamas militant forces' deadly incursion into the Middle Eastern nation.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said these negotiations were ongoing. One of the Egyptian security sources, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that the country rejected the idea of safe corridors to protect the "right of Palestinians to hold on to their cause and their land."

Several Arab states still have camps for Palestinian refugees who are descendants of the ones who fled or left their homes during the war surrounding Israel's founding in 1948. Additionally, the Palestinians and other Arab states argued that a final peace deal needs to include the right of those refugees to return, which is a move that Israel has continuously rejected.

Read Also: Israel Declares Emergency Unity Government 5 Days Into Conflict

Israel-Palestine Conflict

The situation comes after a third attack on the Rafah crossing in 24 hours consisted of "four missiles." According to Aljazeera, these targeted the Palestinian side of the crossing, said the local Egyptian group Sinai for Human Rights on Tuesday.

Witnesses also noted that the second attack struck the no-man's land between the Egyptian and Palestinian gates. It allegedly damaged the hall on the latter's side, and the Israeli military could neither confirm nor deny any attack on the crossing "at this point."

Furthermore, Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip. The announcement on Monday noted that Gaza would receive no electricity, food, water, or fuel following Hamas' attack.

Most commodities in Gaza, from foodstuffs to construction supplies, are imported from Israel through official border crossings. Additionally, the region gets most of its electricity via Israeli power lines and produces some at a power plant in Gaza using fuel that is imported from Israel, according to the New York Times.

Related Article: Only Palestinian Lives Matter? BLM Chicago Slammed for Tweet Celebrating Hamas Attack

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The Casper Fire-EMS Department is asking City Council for help setting up a new program thatd allow qualifying establishments to conduct their own fire safety inspections.

Many, but not all, public buildings in Wyoming must routinely be inspected by a fire agency to make sure theyre in compliance with fire safety regulations.

In Casper, most of the inspections are conducted by the Fire-EMS Departments Community Risk Reduction Division  which also specializes in things like investigations and public education  with help from the agencys five fire engine crews.

But right now, the fire department just doesnt have enough staff to perform all the inspections it needs to.

The Community Risk Reduction Division currently only has four people, Deputy Chief Jack Moore wrote in a description of the proposed program shared with City Council. By comparison, the division had eight staff members in 2015.

The combined efforts of the CRR Division and Engine companies are currently unable to keep up with the demand for fire inspections and the frequency at which they are required to be performed, Moore wrote, using an acronym for Community Risk Reduction.

For that reason, the fire department has been looking into setting up a self-inspection program for a while. The hope is that it would free up time for the agency to focus on other important tasks, like responding to service calls.

The program would only be open to places that have low to moderate safety risks, Moore told the City Council during a Tuesday work session. Think small retail stores, doctors offices or storage units. Those account for an estimated 60% of the roughly 3,000 establishments in Casper that need regular fire safety inspections, according to Moore.

Self-inspections would be off the table for higher-risk organizations like schools, daycares and businesses that work with hazardous materials.

What would the program look like in practice? First, approved establishments would be given specific instructions on how to conduct the inspections. Theyd be responsible for turning in completed inspection reports to the fire department online.

The fire department would provide guidance on how to spot and correct any reported fire safety violations, as well as deadlines for making those changes.

To keep participants accountable, the fire department would perform in-person audits of self-inspections every three years.

But does it work? Other communities that have tried self-inspection programs have seen mixed results, Moore said.

One of the hallmarks of the more successful programs was that they had the support of their municipality or their governing body in the form of an ordinance or some sort of legal grounding for that program, he told the council on Tuesday.

To that end, the Fire-EMS Department is asking City Council to adopt specific guidelines for the proposed program into city code. The Council on Tuesday gave approval to city staff to put together a draft ordinance for councilors to consider at a future city council meeting.

Inspections are far from the only area where the Fire-EMS Department is feeling a staff crunch. Its common for the department to get more service calls than on-duty staff can accommodate, Fire Chief Jacob Black told the Star-Tribune in June.

Part of the issue is the size of the department; the departments ranks simply havent grown in step with the increased demand on its services.

Turnover presents another problem. As of this summer, the department projected that more than two dozen fire personnel would be leaving in the next five years.

To address some of the staffing concerns, the city of Casper funded six new fire fighter positions in its budget for the 2024 fiscal year. It expected to add six more positions in fiscal year 2025.

The Council also recently approved a partnership between the city and the Banner Health-owned Wyoming Medical Center to make the hospitals ambulance service the default provider for local 911 medical transport. The city expected that arrangement to take some of the pressure off the department, too.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
The Carbon County landowner who lost a civil suit alleging four hunters trespassed by passing through the airspace above his ranch has hired three appeal attorneys, including one who clerked for Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh.

The three lawyers filed papers in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to represent Elk Mountain Ranch owner Fred Eshelmans Iron Bar Holdings company. Chief Judge Scott Skavdahl of the U.S. District Court for Wyoming ruled against Eshelman, who had sued four Missouri men who corner crossed to hunt public land enmeshed in his 22,045-acre ranch. Eshelman appealed the judgment to the 10th circuit in Denver.

The moves suggest Eshelman is serious in pursuing the case through the highest levels of the legal system.

All of the attorneys work for Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, which has offices in Denver, Washington, D.C. and other cities. The company earned recognition as one of the countrys top firms dealing with appeals.

Heres a sketch of the new players in the 2-year-old case.

R. Reeves Anderson graduated from North Carolina State University as valedictorian. He earned a Masters degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and got his law degree from Yale. He is a partner in the firms appellate and Supreme Court division and has appeared before the high court at least 50 times, according to a company profile.

A student of law, his research and articles about cases have drawn praise. The firm, known for its volunteer work, appointed him to its pro bono committee in 2011. He was a member of the team that won a civil rights verdict for protesters injured by Denver police during George Floyd protests in 2020.

Senior Associate Sean A. Mirski, who works in the firms D.C. office, brings experience clerking for Supreme Court Justice Alito and for Kavanaugh when the latter was on the bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He was special counsel for the U.S. Department of Defense, is a scholar and student of U.S. foreign policy and a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School. Forbes put him on its list of 30 under 30 up-and-comers for law and policy in 2019.

Brian Williams, a magna-cum-laude BYU alum, earned his law degree at Georgetown Law Center, where he graduated with honors. He lives in Denver and some of his pro-bono work with advocacy groups has aimed to strengthen gun safety.

The trio replaces former Eshelman attorneys Theresa Wardon Benz and Kristin Arthur. Iron Bar Holdings opening brief is due by Nov. 6. Eshelman attorney Greg Weisz remains on the team.

Corner crossing is the act of stepping from one section of public land to another over the common corner with two pieces of private property, all arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Eshelman sued the hunters, even though they did not set foot on his land during hunts in 2020 and 2021, claiming their passing through airspace above his property constituted trespass. The hunters claimed the federal Unlawful Inclosures Act of 1885 prevents landowners from blocking access to public land in such situations, a defense with which Skavdahl agreed.
POWELL  Greater sage grouse lek attendance saw a 15% increase over 2022, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports.

The appearance of more birds at leks, or breeding grounds, is thought to be due to the natural population cycles of sage grouse combined with good moisture that benefited habitat, the department said in a press release.

Officials reported counting an average of 21.1 male sage grouse per active lek across this past spring. The news comes as the annual hunting season for the birds ended Sept. 30.

Part of state management includes a conservative hunting season that undergoes thorough review annually and a process where the public can provide comments.

Part of the study includes annual wing counts during hunting season, though it is voluntary.

Three of the four sage grouse hunting areas remained closed this year, though Hunt Area 1, which is the largest area and includes the entire Big Horn Basin, remained open.

While last winter was tough on much of Wyomings wildlife, it was not on sage grouse, the report said.

Sage grouse have relatively high winter survival where habitat is not limiting. Sagebrush, which blooms in late summer or early fall and flowers right before the first hard frost, is the birds main food source and, even during tough winters, allows the bird to weather storms better than many wildlife species.

During winter months sage grouse are able to fly to better habitats where sagebrush remains available.

Wyoming invests significantly in efforts to study sage grouse populations and conserve sage grouse habitat, with local working groups contributing over $500,000 to this effort, the department said.

The iconic western birds have disappeared from much of its former range, according to the National Audubon Society. Loss of habitat through clearing for farmland and overgrazing and energy development are cited as major causes for the species dropping from an estimated 16 million to about 300,000 in 11 western states.

Invasive plants also threaten the birds habitat.

The Department of the Interior announced in July rule changes to revise the Bureau of Land Managements oil and gas leasing regulations, which would ensure a balanced approach to development, provide a fair return to taxpayers and ensure that drilling does not conflict with protection of important wildlife habitat or cultural sites, said Laura Daniel-Davis, principal deputy assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management.

The Interior Department has taken several steps over the last two years to ensure the federal oil and gas program provides a fair return to taxpayers, adequately accounts for environmental harms, and discourages speculation by oil and gas companies. This new proposed rule will help fully codify those goals and lead to more responsible leasing and development processes, she said.

Despite the update, conservation groups say more should be done and the threat of an Endangered Species Act listing was hotly debated as populations fell in the past several years.

Game and Fish claim sage grouse populations rise and fall cyclically, with studies indicating Wyoming populations cycle every seven to nine years. Cycles are believed to be influenced by weather and climate, which impacts the availability of food and cover in the sagebrush ecosystem.

Wyoming sage grouse populations hit an all-time low in the early 1990s following an extended drought and loss of habitat, the department reported.

Annual observations are carried out by Game and Fish, federal partners, consultants and volunteers. Birds are observed on the ground from a distance during their spring mating.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two newly created national wildlife refuges in Tennessee and Wyoming will help protect habitats for threatened and endangered species such as toads, bats, shrimp and salamanders, federal officials say.

The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area and the Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee are the result of decades-long, locally led efforts to conserve habitat for species while maintaining recreational access, the U.S. Department of Interior said Tuesday in a news release.

The two refuges are the latest additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System, a collection of 570 refuges and 38 wetland districts managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area is in the Laramie Plains of the Wyoming Basin and will provide public access to the Laramie River. Officials say it will help protect the Wyoming toad, an endangered amphibian, while also helping conserve other species including the white-tailed prairie dog and migratory birds.

The Fish and Wildlife service bought 1,078 acres of land known as Bath Ranch from The Conservation Fund to officially establish the Wyoming refuge, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge will connect land in Tennessee and Alabama that helps protect the rivers watershed in the Cumberland Plateau and one of the largest tracts of hardwood trees remaining in eastern North America.

The refuge in Franklin County features habitats for threatened and endangered species including gray bats, Indiana bats, Tennessee cave salamanders and Alabama cave shrimp. Fifty kinds of freshwater mussels, including some that are found nowhere else in the world, live in the areas waters, officials said.

Land for the 87-acre refuge was donated by The Nature Conservancy and the Open Space Institute.

The announcement of the creation of the two refuges comes as part of National Wildlife Refuge Week. There is a national wildlife refuge within an hours drive of most major metropolitan areas, with almost all offering free admittance, the Interior Department said. Visits have doubled in the past decade; 67 million visits were recorded last year, officials said.
Two weeks ago, several Wyoming politicians published hyperbolic statements claiming that a draft land use plan by the Bureau of Land Management for the Rock Springs basin was federal overreach on an epic scale. One politician went so far as to claim that the plan would place American citizens under more tyranny and oppression than the colonists were under King George, and that the plan was probably the biggest disaster in the history of the United States, affecting more people than the Civil War, Pearl Harbor or 9/11 combined.

Wow!

Since approximately 625,000 Americans died in those events, I decided to read the BLM plan for myself, to see how many people the BLM planned to kill through its tyranny and oppression. Not surprisingly, it turns out that nobody would die if the plan were adopted. In fact, conceivably some lives might be saved.

The BLMs Draft Resource Management Plan Revision for the Rock Springs Field Office will help BLM manage nearly 3.6 million acres of land in southwestern Wyoming. The plan helps BLM to fulfill its mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Since many diverse interests wish to use BLM lands in potentially mutually inconsistent ways, balancing these competing interests is an extremely difficult task.

The draft plan lays out four alternatives. Alternative A is the status quo: no major changes from the current plan. Alternative B prioritizes resource conservation, which places the most new restrictions on mineral extraction. Alternative C is essentially the opposite; it prioritizes mineral extraction, but has the greatest negative impact on the land itself. Alternative D is a compromise between Alternatives B and C.

Because the BLM has indicated that, at this point in the planning process, it prefers Alternative B, it is unsurprising that the mining and energy companies who want access to the resources in those 3.6 million acres are opposing it. The problem is that they are resorting to hyperbolic claims that dont really stand up to scrutiny when one reads the plan.

Some opponents have claimed that the plan will put significant restrictions on ranchers in the area. But that is simply not true. Alternative B reduces the percentage of BLM land available for cattle grazing from 99.97% to 99.76%, a negligible reduction of 0.21%.

Alternative B does reduce the amount of BLM land available for resource extraction, but that just reflects the policy choice inherent in Plan B: prioritization of natural resource conservation. More importantly, the reduction of available land for those purposes might not be as extreme as it may appear.

The biggest reduction would be in land available for coal extraction. Currently, 96.67% of all BLM land in the area is potentially available for coal extraction. Under Alternative B, that would be reduced to 6.21%. While that reduction appears at first glance to be dramatic, there is little evidence that there is any coal to be recovered there anyway. The plan notes that [t]here are no outstanding or pending applications for federal coal leases or exploration licenses on lands within the Planning Area. The last leasing was completed in 2013 and recent coal production has been in decline. In other words, there is little demand for this land for coal mining to begin with.

Land availability for other resource extractions also goes down significantly, but not as much as coal. Land for trona extraction, for example, would be reduced by about half (98.4% to 45.6%). Land available for oil and gas production would go down from 85.4% to 39.5%. Even land available for wind or solar energy installations would be reduced by more than half, from 68.4% to 27.5%.

While some public officials decry the loss of economic activity and revenues that might occur as a result of these reductions, it is important to note that these reductions are only to potential economic activity. As noted above, there is essentially no current demand for more land for coal mining. The land available under Alternative B for oil and gas production would still be more than 1.4 million acres. Drilling continues in those areas right now, and the plan notes that [t]he majority of the wells [started] in the last 10 years were drilled within existing oil and gas fields. In other words, reducing the available acreage for oil and gas production by half will not reduce oil and gas production by half. It is unclear if it would reduce production significantly at all.

The objections currently being raised are driven by a policy choice that favors resource extraction over resource conservation. But Alternative B reflects a different policy choice: greater protection of [h]abitat for wildlife, vegetation, natural resources, and cultural resources. That is a policy choice that a large number of Wyoming citizens agree with, because protecting wildlife and the natural habitat not only preserves the Wyoming tourist industry, it reduces our carbon footprint and relieves pressures on global climate change.

Debating the relative merits of resource extraction vs. resource conservation on public lands is a debate worth having. But lets have that debate based on provable facts, not on hyperbolic accusations or misrepresentations.
DECKER Petroleum and Marketing Company Ltd (DPMCL), based in Trinidad and Tobago, has written the US District Court of Delaware officially expressing its interest in acquiring the asphalt assets of Venezuelan oil refiner Citgo.
UK Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk blocked the early release of the man who had beaten his wife to death in October 2010.

The release of Robert Brown was supposedly due next month after 26 years of imprisonment for killing Joana Simpson.

UK Justice Secretary Blocks Robert Brown's Early Release

The Simpson family has endorsed prolonging the imprisonment of Robert Brown to Alex Chalk. The Lord Chancellor used his power to sympathize with the Simpson family by referring the release of Brown to the Parole Board.

"I am delighted that Alex Chalk, the lord chancellor, has blocked Robert Brown's automatic release and is referring the decision to the Parole Board," said Joana's mom.

According to Parkes, Brown left a traumatic experience for the family. She fears for the safety of their family and what Brown might do in the future to other women. Parkes said Brown is a dangerous man and should be kept in jail.

Chalk pushed through the referral by the power to detain provisions under the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act, introduced in April 2022. The act was implemented to protect the public from threatening offenders when the offender poses severe harm and cannot be managed by the usual license conditions.

Furthermore, the Joana Simpson Foundation was built as a tribute to her. The organization aims to protect children who have undergone domestic abuse and homicide. The foundation also campaigned to block the early release of Brown.

Simpson's close friend, Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, said, "Whilst today has been a victory for Diana Parkes, Joanna's children, myself, and Joanna's wider family and friends, we know the fight doesn't and won't end here."

Read Also: Blinken Leaves for Israel, Jordan on 2-Day Solidarity Trip

Joana Simpson's Death

Brown aallegedly killed Simpson with a hammer smashed in her head at least 14 times at their home in Ascot, Berkshire, while their two children were in the next room. Simpson's body was moved to a grave made before her death in Windsor Great Park.

Brown was sentenced to 24 years for manslaughter and an additional two years for the offense of obstructing a coroner in the execution of his duty. He was absolved of murder in May 2011 at Reading Crown Court for admitting to a manslaughter case that shortened his responsibility.

Chalk's commitment to the Simpson family motivated his referral to the Parole Board. He also reviewed the investigation and concluded that Brown should stay in jail to protect the public.

The blocking of Brown's release has also gained support from the former justice secretary, Robert Buckland, who commissioned the domestic homicide review. He said that their action is for both justice and public protection.

Related Article: Delivery Driver Who Shot Classified Goons Prankster in Virginia Acquitted





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PANELLISTS: Chief executive officer of The University of the West Indies Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, Mariano Browne, left, economist Dr Indera Sagewan, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Brian Manning, moderator Hayden Blades, economist Dr Marlene Attzs and Tunapuna Chamber of Commerce director Jason Roach after the St Marys College Business Department post-budget panel discussion for Forms Five and Six held yesterday at Centenary Hall, St Marys College, Port of Spain. Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
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.
GUNS GALORE: Police Commissioner Erla Christopher, right, inspects one of the many firearms recovered by the police yesterday, during last evenings press conference at the Police Admin Building. Looking on, from left, are Senior Supt Roger Alexander, Supt Earl Elie and ACP Oswain Subero. Photo: CURTIS CHASE
The report on the investigation into the death of WASA employee Kern Ettienne will be made public.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the decision of Israel to conduct a complete blockade in Gaza. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch, an international human rights advocacy organization, explained why Israel's retaliation is concerning.

The comments of the senator and the human rights group came as Israel cuts essential supplies in Gaza, such as fuel, electricity, water, and food.

Israel's Gaza Blockade Criticized by Sen. Bernie Sanders

According to Fox News' latest report, Bernie Sanders criticized Israel on Wednesday, Oct. 11. The American senator claimed that the complete blockade made by the Israeli government is a serious violation of international law.

"The targeting of civilians is a war crime, no matter who does it," said Sanders.

"Israel's blanket denial of food, water, and other necessities to Gaza is a serious violation of international law and will do nothing but harm innocent civilians," he added.

On Monday, Oct. 9, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete supply blockade in Gaza after Israelis in southern Israel were killed and kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist group.

He argued that since they are fighting against "human animals," they must act accordingly to how these terrorists move. With this mindset, Gallant concluded that Gaza should have no electricity, fuel, water, or food.

Before Israel launched its supply cuts against Gaza, Sanders also condemned the attacks of the Palestinian terrorist group, saying that the previous incident, which killed hundreds of Israelis and injured thousands, was a major setback for any hope and peace in the region.

But, the U.S. senator also warned that the Israeli government should show restraint in order to minimize further civilian casualties.

Read Also: Egypt Floats Potential Gaza Aid, Rejects Plans To Set Up Corridors for Civilians

Human Rights Watch Concerned About Israel's Gaza Blockade

Human Rights Watch group said that Israeli blockade moves in Gaza risk exacerbating the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, especially since conditions in this region were already dire after 16 years of "crushing" restrictions.

The organization argued that Israeli officials who are occupying Gaza's power under international law are responsible for ensuring that the residents in the area receive basic needs, such as electricity, food, water, etc.

Human Rights Watch further stated that the decision of Israel to deprive the entire Gaza population is unreasonable since it is a form of collective punishment.

This means that the restriction not only affects the terrorists but also greatly impacts innocent civilians in Gaza.

Related Article: Readout of President Biden's Call with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates

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We understand that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is on the frontline of a significant battle and that their human and other resources must naturally be focused on the unbridled violence the society experiences daily.
PROCESSING THE SCENE: Members of the TTPS, in a cordoned-off area, process the scene of yesterdays murder/suicide at the

home of WPC Josette Marshall and PC Dwight Skeete, in

Edinburgh 500, Chaguanas. Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
Federal prosecutors wont bring charges against Border Patrol agents who shot and killed Tohono Oodham tribal member Raymond Mattia in front of his home in May.

The Department of Justices decision, first reported by The Intercept, came after a criminal investigation found agents use of force under the facts and circumstances presented in this case does not rise to the level of a federal criminal civil rights violation or a criminal violation assimilated under Arizona law, Zachry Stoebe, public affairs officer with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona, said in a statement.

Body-cam footage released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in June appeared to show Mattia, who was unarmed, reaching into his jacket and removing his hand quickly, immediately before agents fired on him.

Federal officials, including representatives from the U.S. Attorneys Office and an FBI agent, met with Mattias family and their lawyers on Sept. 19, in Sells on the Tohono Oodham Nation, to convey the decision.

But an attorney for Mattias family said the officials present shared no substantial information from their investigation and would not answer basic questions from the family.

The family is looking for answers and justice, Ryan Stitt, the San Diego-based attorney representing the family, told the Arizona Daily Star on Thursday.

The family will likely file a civil lawsuit to get answers about what happened that night, he said. In particular, the family wants to know the agency affiliation of all officers who opened fire on Mattia, as officers from both Border Patrol and the Tohono Oodham tribal police department were on site.

Customs and Border Protection said in a June press release that three Border Patrol agents fired on Mattia, out of 10 agents who were present, and that there was one tribal policeman on duty in the area that night.

During the September meeting, Mattias family asked DOJ employees if tribal police also fired at Mattia.

In response, they said it wasnt the appropriate time to do civil discovery, a legal term related to information youd get as part of a civil lawsuit, Stitt said.

That response suggested to the family that DOJ officials were looking to protect themselves against this forthcoming lawsuit, instead of answering the familys questions about who the shooters were, what they said and what the independent investigation shows, and why charges are not going to be filed, Stitt said. The family has a clear right to that information.

On Thursday the Star asked Stoebe, of the U.S. Attorneys Offices Arizona district, whether any tribal police members also fired on Mattia. Stoebe said a Freedom of Information Act request is necessary to get that information, which the Star filed on Thursday.

The lack of transparency from the U.S. Attorneys Office is really disappointing and upsetting to the family, Stitt said. It compounds their grief and the injury that theyve suffered.

Night of the shooting

Mattia, 58, lived near the U.S.-Mexico border in a remote Tohono Oodham village called Menagers Dam, about 140 miles southwest of Tucson.

Mattias family said on May 18, the night he was killed, Mattia had called law enforcement to report border-crossers on his property.

Raymond called for help and, in turn, was shot down at his doorstep, the family said in a statement at the time. In our eyes and hearts, we believe that Raymond was approached with excessive and deadly force that took his life.

CBP said on that night, Ajo Border Patrol Station agents were responding to a request for assistance from the Tohono Oodham Nation Police Department around 9 p.m., after receiving a report of gunfire in the area.

Agents met a tribal police officer at a local recreation center and followed the officer by car, then on foot, to an area near Mattias home.

The body-cam footage CBP released in June shows Mattia illuminated by agents search lights in front of his home. A few moments later, the video shows Mattia throwing an object toward the officers, which lands at their feet, after agents ordered him to put down what he was carrying. Agents later learned that it was a machete still in its sheath.

Mattia, who was unarmed at that point, then appears to reach into his jacket and agents yell, Put your hands out of your (expletive) pocket! As Mattia quickly pulls out his hand, a volley of gunfire immediately follows and Mattia falls face down on the ground.

According to the autopsy report, agents bullets struck Mattias torso five times and his extremities another five times.

Afterwards agents approach and begin life-saving efforts, including CPR, the video shows. He was pronounced dead at 10:06 p.m.

The autopsy report showed Mattia had methamphetamine and alcohol in his system. According to the toxicology report from the Pima County Medical Examiners Office, Mattia had a high enough level of methamphetamine to cause intoxication, and a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit for driving.

Mattias family and supporters have decried the shooting, saying it shows how a militarized border region has damaged the tribe, whose ancestral lands encompass terrain on both sides of the border with Mexico.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

At the end of August, I was in Israel for a wedding. The last two days were spent in Rehovot (one of the cities targeted and struck by Hamas missiles). I spent the last hours of my last day in Rehovot at their main mall. Going to the mall in the cities that I visit is a habit of mine. It gives me a chance to casually observe how life is really being lived by the people who call that place home.

It was lunchtime; I took a seat in the food court. While waiting for my order I watched Jews and Arabs walking down the same corridors and going into the same stores looking for the same back-to-school sales for their children. There were smiles and tears, nervous laughter, and heated discussions (usually by the teenagers who would have preferred to have been allowed to go shopping alone). The most interesting moment for me was when a table of elementary school aged kids started up stealing each others chicken strips and French fries. I had a lesson in Israeli parenting that I will never forget! I remember wishing that I could bottle up those moments and bring them back to share with people, especially the skeptics who question Israels right to exist. These people were not the militant agents of oppression described so often in Arab propaganda. These people were just like you and me wanting to live life to the fullest with love and laughter, together.

When I saw the pictures of the damage that the Hamas rockets had done to Rehovot, I wondered if any of the people with whom I shared that afternoon were hurt in the attack. The brutality of Hamas cannot be excused or justified. Unfortunately, Israel will have to justify its efforts to defend itself constantly and continually. Israel, though it has tried, cannot make peace with those who do not want to, especially when those those want to kill its citizens. Unfortunately, in some ways, this invasion, as much of a surprise attack as it is, was expected to happen one day.

When we watch the news and read the papers concerning what is going on in Israel right now (and I do encourage people to do both through multiple outlets) I wonder who we are watching. Are we watching the same people I saw at the mall that day, Jews and Arabs? Are we seeing people trying to live their lives fully with love and laughter? Or, are we watching Hamas who represent no one besides themselves (and Iran) terrorize not just Israel, but the entire world?

The headlines read: Hamas attacked Israel. The truth is they attacked us as well. They attacked the concepts of democracy and freedom. Though I am sure that if history holds true to itself, Israel will soon be called on to the table because it responded and sought to defend itself and everything for which it (we!) stand. And, if the war expands or escalates, that criticism will get even worse. Israel is called on to defend itself in many different ways on many different fronts.

What can we do? Thoughts and prayers are good options. However, what is even more important is staying in touch with the truths of what is going on as reported by legitimate news agencies. Show support of/for the values that we share in common through appropriate institutions and organizations. And most important of all, remember those images I shared of Jews and Arabs living together in peace, hormonally challenged teenagers, and stolen French fries. Remember those images because they say more about Israel than anything anyone else can show you  and, they say more about Israel as she is real than any propaganda coming out of Gaza. May they offer an image of the future as well.
Ageism is appropriate

Re: the Sept. 29 article A letter from one old guy to another.

I dont usually give an opinion as open as a letter to the editor but the analysis written by Mr. Ray Lindstrom is hard to resist.

I am older than both Ray and Joe. I lived and worked in the corporate world located in Wilmington, Delaware for many years. The one and only time I supported Joe Biden was the tragic accident involving his wife and children. He was a young Senator and commuted daily on the Amtrak from Washington to Delaware to be with his surviving son in the hospital. I gave him credit for being a caring father.

Now on ageism. You bet. Joe Biden does not belong in yet another term as Chief Executive of this great country of ours. Im with Ray Lindstrom on this one point. Its time for Joe Biden to retire. I will refrain from what I would say if in private conversation. Instead I will sign off as a concerned citizen for the future of the United States of America.

Joan Wolfe

Marana

Unknowingly accepting fascism

There is a small faction of far right Americans who openly embrace fascism. But most Republican voters deny that they support fascism. Our fascism experts have shown that Trumpism is fascism, so the support of Trump is also the support of fascism. Although there is also a small group of Republicans that rejects fascism, most Republicans support fascism unknowingly. This delusion is very logical psychologically because few want to believe that they would knowingly accept the destructiveness of fascism. So, its easier for them to deny that what Trump represents is fascism, than to admit that they support fascism. This is a classic psychological defense mechanism, where denial is used to protect our mind from anxiety. Mark Twain said that Its easier to fool people than it is to convince them that theyve been fooled.

But accepting fascism is the acceptance of using violence to accomplish your end goal, while giving up on democracy. Fascism is very real in America. Its time to acknowledge it.

Steve Rasmussen

Foothills

No on Prop. 413

The Tucson and council are asking voters to give them a pay raise tied to county board of supervisors.

The mayor would jump from $42,000 to around $96,000. The Phoenix mayor only makes around $62000.

We are being asked to give a pay raise when many people are struggling to make ends meet. Gas prices are high. Food cost etc. Tucson is having a huge homeless crisis right now. Our streets are falling apart.

This seems to be a very tone deaf time of the mayor and council to ask at this time. We also have a city manager that runs the city, so giving the Mayor a huge pay raise would mean we are paying two people for the same job.

I urge Tucson voters to think about this before voting yes on prop 413.

Michael Childree

Southeast side

Immigration

Re: the Oct. 6 letter 470,000 Venezuelans to stay and work.

I want to thank the letter writer for clarifying why Biden is so interested in allowing Venezuelans (and other immigrants) into this country. The unemployment rate of foreign-born persons in the United States is now 3.4% and they are filling jobs in agriculture, service, construction and maintenance. Their influx, though initially costly, will become more and more important as the Boomer generation ages and retires. We will need millions of new workers to keep the labor force constant let alone growing. If the letter writer hadnt told us that they were here simply to cement the Democratic partys power and control of the country, I would have ignorantly assumed they were here to escape either natural or man-made disasters such as poverty, violence and drugs and make a better life for themselves and their families (and incidentally help this country continue to flourish).

Kenneth Cohn

Northwest side

President Trumps Abraham peace deals

During the last months of President Trumps term, he negotiated and secured several peace normalization deals between Israel and Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco. Saudi Arabia was to be next, but the election occurred. It was part of Trumps strategy of encircling Iran with countries friendly to Israel. The mega Democrat news media largely ignored and dismissed the deals as meaningless as they wanted their guy, Joe Biden in the White House. Under Trump there was no invasion of Ukraine by Putin, no collapse of Afghanistan, no large scale attack on Israel that we have just seen by Iranian funded Hamas, and our border was secure. Under President Biden we have a disastrous border, Putins second invasion of Ukraine, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan leaving behind hundreds of thousands of small arms and ammunition to the Taliban and possibly now in the hands of Hamas, appeasement of Iran, and now war in Israel. A re-election of Biden would mean more of the same.

Haley Roberts

West side

Term limits, please?

With all due respect to the family and friends of Senator Dianne Feinstein, who passed away on Sept. 28 after serving 31 years in the U.S. senate.

She has been called a titan of U.S. political history, a befitting description for one who has given so much as a public servant.

However, the first question to be asked is, Can a 90-year-old function optimally as a member of the Senate  or, indeed, in any other political position? The second question to be asked is: Were there others behind the curtain functioning for her?

Mary Jo Swartzberg

SaddleBrooke

Follow the money for incorporation

Re: the Oct. 10 letter If its not broke, why fix it?

The author asks why the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC) supports the incorporation of Vail. SALC works to improve the economic vibrancy and quality of life in Southern Arizona and the state. Our members are business leaders who are committed to helping our region thrive. Since its founding in 1997, SALC has strongly supported annexation and incorporation. State shared revenues are distributed to incorporated areas of each county. Indeed, as the author suggests, voters should follow the money. While 97% of Maricopa County is incorporated, only 65% of Pima County is. That costs our region close to $50 million annually. The City of Tucson recognizes the economic impact and has been very active in annexing adjoining areas in the last few years. Vail residents should take notice and vote YES to incorporate and assert their self-governance, strengthen their representation on regional matters and increase funding to their community.

Ted Maxwell, President & CEO Southern Arizona Leadership Council

Oro Valley

Embellished financial statements

Its nice to find humor in the morning paper outside the funnies. The latest source of comic relief is the fraud trial going on in New York. Apparently its a criminal offense to embellish a financial statement. That would be serious if anyone actually looked at them. I submitted countless financial statements to banks and they were never even looked at. In the five years as a Realtor and 50 years as a property investor, I never figured out what method financial institutions used to lend money. At first I had the Magic 8 Ball theory but decided on the paper weight method. When the paperwork took on a certain weight the loan was approved. One of my weight approved loans was called after five years of on time payments on a technicality. The bank took my money and borrowed it back out at 2% less. If banks cant figure out basics of lending, I doubt prosecutors in New York will have any luck.

Gary Stoeger

Northwest side

War

There is a national TV station that states we need to go to war for our beliefs. Really  as we are seeing today do we want this now? War does not solve anything. Our Americans can feel very sad for what our fellow human souls are going thru but do we want this here? Dont listen to this faction of communities. We need to work together. God, please look over our country.

Mary Beth Schneider
NEW YORK (AP)  Sam Bankman-Frieds lawyer did little to dent the credibility of the government's key witness in the former crypto mogul's fraud trial Thursday, meandering through a cross-examination of Caroline Ellison that at times left even the judge puzzled and impatient.

During the prior two days of testimony, the prosecution presented Ellison as a high-level insider who had, at Bankman-Fried's direction, overseen the improper borrowing of funds from customers at the FTX crypto exchange run by Bankman-Fried. The funds often were used for investments at an affiliated trading firm, Alameda Research, that was headed by Ellison, Bankman-Fried's one-time girlfriend.

Bankman-Frieds lead defense attorney, Mark Cohen, was expected to try to shift the blame for the problems at Alameda to Ellison, following up on his opening statement in the trial where he said Bankman-Fried didnt commit fraud and instead was trying to clean up a mess largely created by his lieutenants.

Cohen, however, seemed to struggle in his questioning of Ellison, failing to knock any holes in her testimony. He repeatedly changed topics, changed dates of discussion, often seemingly at random.

Several times, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan had to ask Cohen where he was going with his questions or what exactly he was talking about.

After Ellison finished testifying, prosecutors brought out a former software developer at Alameda who largely backed up what Ellison told the jury.

I was utterly shocked, said Christian Drappi, who worked for a year at the crypto trading firm and was present when Ellison came clean to Alameda employees in November 2022 that the trading firm had been using FTX customer funds. Exchanges like FTX are supposed to segregate customers deposits from any bets they place in the markets.

Ellison spent much of her testimony on Tuesday and Wednesday walking the jury through how she repeatedly had to tap into the customer deposits at FTX to solve problems at the hedge fund or at the exchange. FTX deposits would be withdrawn to pay for new investments or political donations, or to hide steep losses on Alamedas balance sheet, she testified. All of this was done at the direction of Bankman-Fried, she said.

When the losses at Alameda became so big in November 2022, it became necessary to shut down the trading firm and sell FTX to potentially save the two entities from bankruptcy. Ellison held a all-hands meeting that week, which was recorded by an Alameda employee and given to government investigators.

In those audio tapes played for the jury, Alameda employees asked Ellison whether the decision to borrow FTX customer funds was a YOLO decision, an acronym meaning you only live once," implying that it had been done impulsively.

No, Ellison told employees, on those tapes. It was done over a period of years.

Drappi testified he resigned 24 hours later after that meeting.

Ellison, 28, pleaded guilty to fraud charges in December, when Bankman-Fried was extradited to the United States from the Bahamas. Bankman-Fried, 31, has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges.

Initially confined to his parents Palo Alto, California, home under terms of a $250 million bond, Bankman-Fried has been jailed since August after Judge Kaplan concluded that he had tried to improperly influence potential witnesses, including Ellison.

__

Reporter Larry Neumeister contributed to this article.
PELLA, Iowa (AP)  Voters in a small Iowa city will decide in November whether to give their City Council more say over what books the public library can and cant offer.

A ballot proposition in Pella, a community of about 10,500 residents in central Iowa, asks voters if they support changing the structure of the Pella Public Library Board of Trustees. The change would limit the board's authority over the library and give the City Council more control over library policies and decisions, the Des Moines Register reported Tuesday.

The effort follows attempts by some community members two years ago to ban or restrict access to Maia Kobabe's LGBTQ+ memoir Gender Queer at the library. The library board eventually voted to keep the book.

Like many Iowa communities, Pella's board holds independent control over how money is spent, who is hired as director and other key issues. It also decides whether to keep books if community members challenge them. The City Council appoints the board's members and approves the library's budget.

The referendum would make the library board an advisory committee that makes recommendations to the City Council, with no formal authority. Even with voter approval, the council could still decide not to change the current system and to allow the board to maintain direct control over library decisions.

The referendum comes amid a push in conservative-led states and communities to ban books, the American Library Association said last month. Such efforts have largely focused on keeping certain types of books out of school libraries, but the ALA said they now extend just as much to public libraries.

Through the first eight months of 2023, the ALA tracked 695 challenges to library materials and services, compared to 681 during the same time period last year, and a 20% jump in the number of unique titles involved, to 1,915.

Opponents of the Pella referendum say the changes would erode a necessary independence that ensures libraries can offer diverse materials, free from political interference. They say the changes would amount to censorship and erase stories about underrepresented groups.

There isnt pornography in the library, said Anne McCullough Kelly of Vote No to Save Our Library. There are books that people might personally object to because its not aligned with their values, books whose content might make them uncomfortable for different reasons. But there isnt any actual pornography in the library.

Referendum supporters say the changes would give taxpayers more say in how public money is spent. They frame the proposal as a way to keep material they view as pornographic and harmful away from children.

None of this prevents parents from getting ahold of what they want, said state Rep. Helena Hayes, a Republican who chairs Protect My Innocence, a group that supports the referendum. All they have to do is go on Amazon and click buy.

In late 2021, the library board heard concerns from residents who believed Gender Queer  an illustrated memoir of the author's real-life journey with sexuality and gender that includes frank sexual images  should be removed or placed behind the checkout counter.

A Register review has found that parents have challenged the book eight times in Iowa school districts since August 2020.

When a Virginia school system removed Gender Queer" in 2021, publisher Oni Press issued a statement saying that limiting the book's availability was short-sighted and reactionary.

The fact is, GENDER QUEER is an important, timely piece of work that serves as an invaluable resource for not only those that identity as nonbinary or genderqueer, but for people looking to understand what that means, the publisher said in a statement.
NEW YORK (AP)  Several of former President Donald Trump 's Republican rivals denounced him on Thursday for lashing out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days after Hamas' deadly attack, a rare moment in which multiple competitors directly criticized the GOP front-runner.

Trump at a rally Wednesday night said Netanyahu let us down just before the U.S. killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020. He also said Israeli leaders needed to step up their game" and referred to Hezbollah, the group Israel fears may launch a large-scale attack from the countrys north, as very smart. In an interview that aired Thursday, he added to his criticism, saying Netanyahu was not prepared" for the deadly weekend incursion from Gaza.

Now is not the time to be attacking our ally," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trumps 2024 rivals, echoing denunciations from the White House and elsewhere. More than 2,700 people are dead on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, and Hamas is believed to have taken around 150 hostages.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, another GOP presidential contender, compared Trumps comments to a foreign ally criticizing the U.S. in the aftermath of 9/11 or the attack on Pearl Harbor. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said, We cannot accept a single message to any of the enemies of Israel that U.S. and Israeli leaders are at odds.

Trump is generally treated with a hands-off approach by his leading Republican opponents, who are fearful of alienating his loyal base. But his criticism of Israel, so soon after the unprecedented attack, underscores the extent to which the man most likely to take on President Joe Biden next year is driven by personal enmity and resentments toward those who rejected his lies about winning the 2020 election.

While Trump and Netanyahu were close allies for years, the former president turned on the embattled Israel leader after Netanyahu congratulated then-President-elect Biden for winning the 2020 election while Trump was still trying to overturn the results. In interviews for a book about his Middle East peace efforts, Trump, according to its author, used an expletive to describe Netanyahu and said he believed the Israeli leader never really wanted to make peace.

Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary who serves on the board of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said he wished Trump would let his personal grievances with Bibi, whatever they are, slide for now.

I think it's just a reflection that for Donald Trump, everything is personal," Fleischer said. "But despite it, I'll never forget and no one should forget Trump has been good for Israel." Trump has long said that he did more to support Israel than any previous president, pointing to his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

Others were less forgiving.

I think it is another sign that Trumps impulsiveness plays into the hands of those who are not his friends, said Erick Erickson, a conservative radio host and Trump critic. Hes given a propaganda win to a terrorist group. Thats unfortunate.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates called Trumps statements dangerous and unhinged," while the Israeli communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, told Israels Channel 13 that it was shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens.

Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment.

The prime minister and Israel's intelligence services are under immense pressure to explain how they missed the planning of a multi-pronged attack unlike any in the country's history. Before this week, his far-right government was facing mass protests over a proposed judicial overhaul and criticism from former senior officers of Mossad, Shin Bet, and other Israeli security services who said his proposed policies weakened Israel's internal security.

In Washington, President Joe Biden and senior Democratic and Republican leaders have lined up behind Israel in the wake of the Hamas attack. Biden spoke to Jewish leaders on Wednesday and called the attack the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Trump has long tried to paint himself as one of Israels staunchest defenders and has continued to pledge support in the wake of the attack. In the immediate aftermath, he, like some other GOP contenders, tried to place the blame on Biden, and said he would support the country's efforts to crush Hamas.

But on Wednesday night, after saying his prayers were with Israel and again vowing support, Trump told a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, that he was frustrated with Netanyahu over the 2020 mission that killed Soleimani, then the head of Irans Quds Force.

In Trump's telling, Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months."

We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack," Trump alleged, adding that he would never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down.

His account of Israel's role in the raid could not immediately be verified.

Trump also seized on intelligence failures surrounding the past weekend's onslaught, saying the Iraelis had to strengthen themselves up.

Theyve got to straighten it out because theyre fighting, potentially, a very big force, he said. Theyre going to have to step up their game. He further criticized Israels defense minister, calling him this jerk for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel from the north.

In an interview that aired Thursday morning on Fox News Radio, he told host Brian Kilmeade that Netanyahu "was not prepared and Israel was not prepared."

Who would have thought their intelligence wouldnt have been able to pick this up?" he asked. "Thousands of people were involved. Thousands of people knew about it and they let this slip by.

Speaking to reporters after filing for the New Hampshire primary on Thursday afternoon, DeSantis said Netanyahu was managing one of the most difficult situations Israels ever had to face."

You may have a personal vendetta or beef with him, but is that really the time to be out there doing that and to be attacking the Israeli defense minister? I dont think so, he said. He also criticized Trump for calling Hezbollah very smart.

Trump campaign aides defended the former president's comments, saying that there was nothing new about his criticism of Netanyahu over the 2020 strike and defending his use of the word smart to describe bad foreign actors.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack," said Trump spokesman Steven Cheung. Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid.

It remains unclear how the new war in the Middle East might impact both the GOP primary, which will begin in three months in Iowa, or the general election.

While the war in Israel was not top of mind for many of the Republican primary voters who gathered at the New Hampshire statehouse on Thursday to see DeSantis, several were aware of Trumps comments. One of them, 34-year-old Republican Melissa Blasek, of Merrimack, said it was another example of why she had lost faith in the former president.

One of the things I always liked about Trump was his strong support for Israel, said Blasek. I dont really know what he meant. It was very rambling. Whats clear is that this is not the Trump of 2016. He is not the same candidate  And so things sound less coherent. And I am tired of incoherency. I like an articulate and coherent president.

Gomez Licon reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Amy Teibel in Jerusalem, Holly Ramer, Steve Peoples in Concord, New Hampshire, and Thomas Beaumont in Newton, Iowa, contributed to this report.
(Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

An Alabama judge found 26-year-old Carlee Russell guilty in a kidnapping hoax and ordered her to pay $18,000 in restitution.

Alabama Judge Thomas Brad Bishop found 26-year-old Carlee Russell guilty in a kidnapping hoax and ordered her to pay $18,000 in restitution.

The Black woman was found guilty of two misdemeanor charges after supposedly faking her abduction in July. The order was handed out on Wednesday and notes that Russell was guilty of false reporting of an incident and false reporting to law enforcement, both misdemeanors.

Carlee Russell's Kidnapping Hoax

The state recommended one year in jail for the defendant, which is the maximum, and is brought by six months for each charge she is found guilty of. Additionally, officials recommended a fine of $831 and restitution of $17,974.88.

The 24-year-old reportedly dialed 911 on July 13 at around 9:34 p.m. to report that a toddler was walking along the southbound side of Interstate 549 near Birmingham. Russell is said to have returned home on July 15 at around 10:45 p.m. near where police officials said that she was seen walking along the sidewalk beforehand, as per Fox News.

Russell made a statement through her attorney, Emory Anthony, saying she admitted to never seeing a baby on Interstate 459. Anthony said that the 26-year-old did not have any help in the incident, noting that it was a single act done by herself alone.

The attorney noted that the defendant was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time that she was missing. Russell also apologized for her actions to the community, the volunteers searching for her, the Hoover Police Department, other agencies, and her friends and family.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said during a press conference when charges were filed against Russell that officials still did not know the woman's whereabouts during the 49 hours she was missing.

Read Also: US Navy Sailor Admits Conspiring With Chinese Spy Officer

Ordered To Pay $18K in Restitution

Russell can be found guilty in municipal court in Alabama without presenting a defense to a jury. However, according to USA Today, an appeal sends her case to circuit court where she is given the right to a trial by jury, said the spokesperson for the Alabama Attorney General's office, Amanda Priest.

The Wednesday decision does not influence a trial in circuit court, and if the defendant is found guilty there, there will be a new sentencing, said Priest. Anthony noted that a hearing in the higher court is the best way to pursue justice for his client. He added that it was the option they had to take because they disagreed with the defendant serving any time in jail.

Anthony argued that generally, defendants are not given jail time for a Class A misdemeanor, saying that if there was ever any instance of such happening, he would want to look at it. On the other hand, he said that they did not disagree with the order to pay restitution.

The attorney added that Russell was nervous on Wednesday as she stood before Judge Bishop. He added that they wanted to avoid the defendant having a breakdown, so they handled her with "kid gloves" and ensured that her mental state was okay, said Advance Local.

Related Article: Multiple defendants prosecuted on federal firearms, drug charges

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James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A new venture by celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, Chuck Lager Americas Tavern, is coming to Tulsa in 2024.

Viviani, a native of Florence, Italy, gained fame in the United States when he earned the Fan Favorite award during the fifth season of the reality series Top Chef. He has opened numerous restaurants throughout the country, including Osteria and Bar Cicchetti in Oklahoma City.

Andy and Tonya Sanders will be the franchisees for the Tulsa location, which Andy Sanders said he hopes will be open in late 2024.

Were still very early in the process, Sanders said. Were considering a number of possible locations  in the Jenks area, in downtown Tulsa. Were open to just about anything.

Chuck Lager is a collaboration between Fabio Viviani Hospitality and the Colby Restaurant Group, the company behind such establishments as Red Robin and Twin Peaks. The chain consists of seven restaurants in Illinois, Delaware, New Jersey and Florida.

Menus vary by location but some signature dishes include the Mt. Kilimanjaro Burger (two beef patties, beer cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, arugula and a garlic aioli), Tuna Poke Nachos, and Guinness-battered Fish & Chips. The food menu is complemented by a beverage program anchored by craft cocktails, bourbons and whiskies, wines (by the glass and bottle) and draft beers.

We wanted to bring a unique and innovative concept to Tulsa. The amazing menu and wide diversity of what Chuck Lager offers is exactly what we were looking for, and were thrilled to work with Fabio and the team, said Andy Sanders.

French Hen hosts Hungarian wine dinner

Wines from Hungary will be featured at a special Hungarian Wine Dinner, 6:22 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the French Hen, 319 E. Archer St., in the Vast.Bank Building.

Travis Smith, owner of Rooted Selections, will be the guest at the dinner, to talk about the wines being served alongside the five-course menu planned by chef Kathy Bondy and her staff.

The menu will begin with at toltott kaposzta, or cabbage roll, followed by a beet root-cured salmon, served with vodka, horseradish and pickled cucumber.

Hungarian chicken paprikash will be followed by a beef-and-potato Hungarian goulash. Dessert is Gerbeaud cake, a traditional Hungarian dessert of shortbread with an almond jam filling, topped with chocolate.

Cost is $89 per person, and reservations are required. To reserve: 918-492-2596, frenchhentulsa.com.

Sunday wine dinner at Little Venice

Little Venice, 208 N. Main St. in Sand Springs, will host a wine dinner, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.

The menu begins with Italian breadsticks and the cured meat known as speck, followed by squid-ink spaghetti with shrimp. The entree will be a beef filet with gorgonzola cheese and polenta, and dessert will be a special creation by chef Walter Munaretto.

Cost is $68 per person, and reservations are required. To reserve: 918-514-0134.

Flemings gets Roaring Good

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 1976 Utica Square, will host its Roaring Good Vines Wine Dinner Event, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, with a unique five-course pairing menu and four delicious wine pours from Jackson Family Wines.

The first course will be a scallop crudo, followed by a seasonal citrus frisee salad. Fennel roasted lamb lollipops will be followed by a cabernet-flavored filet mignon, with Flemings Signature Olive Oil Cake as dessert.

Cost is $130 per person, and reservations are required. To reserve: flemingssteakhouse.com.

Pasta Month specials at Carrabbas

Carrabbas Italian Grill, 11021 E. 71st St., is offering several specials as part of National Pasta Month in October.

Through Oct. 15, the special is Shrimp & Chicken Spaghetti Carbonara. Mezzauma Carraba, an entree from the restaurants secret menu, will be available Oct. 16-22, while Pasta Toscan with Chicken will be available Oct. 23-29.

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Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow Jimmie Tramel 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

Blackhorse Lowe, a Tulsa Artist Fellow and a director of multiple episodes of the recently concluded, shot-in-Oklahoma series Reservation Dogs, is an executive producer on Navajo Police: Class 57, an upcoming HBO three-part documentary series.

The series debuts with the first two episodes 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, followed by episode three airing 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18. All three episodes will be available to stream on Max beginning Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Set against the sweeping backdrop of the Navajo Nation, Navajo Police: Class 57 follows a group of recruits over the course of one year as they fight their way through the Navajo Police Training Academy and go out into the field, where they must contend with rising crime and centuries of neglect to hold their community together.

For the group of recruits, known as Class 57, the pressure is fierce, and the stakes are high as the survival of their sovereign nation depends in part on the success of this academy.

The Navajo Nation is the largest Native reservation in the United States with a landmass the size of West Virginia and a population of over 190,000 people, but the Navajo Police Department has just 180 police officers, according to a news release.

The series follows officers and recruits through rigorous training, physical challenges and self-doubt, delving into backstories to reveal an overview of life on the reservation and the motivations that drew them to the force.

While the turbulent stories unfold in real time, the series provides a portrait of the Navajo Nation at large.

Said a news release: The Nations deep sense of kinship grounds efforts to address a range of social issues police encounter on the job  such as alcoholism, drugs, violence and domestic abuse  issues that many of the recruits have to deal with in their own extended families, leading to dramatic intersections of the personal and the professional, the past and the present. In this unique social and cultural context, the NPD stands as a microcosm of the Navajo Nation itself, revealing its history, uncertain future and its resiliency.

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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

For the second time this year, a Tulsa high school has a national award finalist among its faculty members.

The lead counselor at Booker T. Washington High School and the 2023 Oklahoma School Counselor of the Year, Jennifer Sack was named a finalist Wednesday for the American School Counselors Associations School Counselor of the Year.

Its incredible, Sack said. Im very excited to have that spotlight on the work that we do here at Booker T., but and also in (Tulsa Public Schools) and with the school counseling profession as a whole to recognize the difference we make in schools and the role that we play.

One of four school counselors at Booker T. Washington, Sack works with about 325 students in grades 10-12 to address their academic needs, college and career advisement, and social-emotional needs, such as connections to mental health resources and food pantries.

Now in her 12th year at the north Tulsa high school, Sack in October 2022 coordinated Booker T. Washingtons College Application Week, which saw a 22% increase in the number of seniors applying to college within a five-day window.

The American School Counselor Associations recommended ratio for school counselors is 250 students per adult. However, Oklahomas statewide average is roughly 400 students for each counselor, which presents an additional challenge for Sack and her colleagues.

By and large, school counselors are not the guidance counselors of years past, Sack said. Its a very different world, and school counseling is specifically its own unique profession. We are tasked with serving the whole student.

Its a much more proactive approach, and its more student-driven.

The winner will be announced later this year. Other finalists include Cynthia Bourget from Elk Mound, Wisconsin; Kristin Nye from Wilmington, Delaware; Jorge Torres from Tukwila, Washington; and Diana Virgil from Daleville, Alabama.

Since the American School Counselor Association launched the National School Counselor of the Year award in 2008, no one from Oklahoma has won the award. To date, the only other Oklahomans to be named national finalists are a pair of elementary school counselors: Norman Public Schools Sarah Kirk in 2019 and Edmond Public Schools Kenneth Elliott in 2012.

Earlier this year, Union High Schools Rebecka Peterson was named National Teacher of the Year, making her the first Oklahoma honoree since 1964.

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Tulsa leaders announced on Thursday the largest infusion of competitive mental health funding for childrens services in the citys history.

The $13 million federal investment  $9 million of which will go to Tulsa Public Schools and $4 million to the city  is being matched by $3 million in local contributions from community partners.

The grants were awarded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

As many of you know, our society is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis when it comes to the mental well-being of our young people, Zack Stoycoff, executive director of Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, said during a City Hall press conference announcing the grants. Following the onset of the pandemic, Tulsa hospitals reported up to an 84% annual increase in the number of children entering emergency rooms with suicidal thoughts or other mental health crises.

At the same time, we saw a 117% increase in psychiatric admissions in Tulsa for our young people.

Stoycoff noted the significance of Thursdays announcement, saying it was just the second time a community has received both of these signature federal grant programs in one funding cycle.

The federal funding will be provided to TPS over five years and to the city over four, with much of the money to be contributed to community partners.

Mayor G.T. Bynum said the city will use its federal funding to augment the work it has already undertaken with community partners. The city is in the process of hiring its first chief mental health officer, and Bynum said the federal funding will help fund another position.

This grant is now going to allow our chief mental health officer to also have an additional staff person who is solely focused on childrens mental health, he said.

Krystal Reyes, chief resilience officer for the city of Tulsa, said the city established a working group to look at the communitys mental health needs and offer recommendations, some of which will be used to inform how the grant money is spent.

Were going to be contracting with, likely, the Oklahoma Family Network for a lead family coordinator, Reyes said. And the rest of the contracts will be to support additional services like outpatient care, community services, in-home intensive therapy, crisis intervention and stabilization.

Interim TPS Superintendent Ebony Johnson said the federal funding would put the district in a better position to serve all students and their families and provide targeted services to those who need more support.

For all students, this includes universal screening (with parental permission), mental health promotion, and prevention services, Johnson said. For specific students needing additional support, this could include small group therapies, family programs and substance-abuse (disorder) education.

And for students in crisis, this work focuses on having families (and) people in partnerships in place to provide the specialized care that they need.

According to TPS-specific data from the 2021-22 Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment, 64.1% of students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 reported moderate or high psychological distress, and 83.1% reported having moderate or high depressive symptoms.

The anonymous survey also found that 18.5% of surveyed students had seriously considered suicide, 15.6% had planned for suicide and 11.0% had attempted suicide.

Johnson said TPS had begun assessing and preparing for the mental health crisis afflicting young people even before applying for the federal grant.

In 2021 its estimated that less than half of youth experiencing severe emotional disturbance were served through the state-funded behavioral health system, Johnson said. Thats approximately 7,000 Tulsa youth that year with severe and potentially untreated mental health needs.

Theres a reason youve heard about a mental health crisis for our young people. At Tulsa Public, were responsive to our students needs, but it takes a village to solve a crisis. And currently, capacity limitations mean that the funding and personnel expansion made possible by this grant are critical as it is sustaining or expanding existing partnerships.



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The death this week of 102-year-old Hughes Van Ellis underscores the urgency of an appeal before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said Wednesday.

We are hoping and praying that the Oklahoma Supreme Court, if it never understood the urgency (of the case), they understand it now, a subdued Solomon-Simmons said Wednesday at the Greenwood Cultural Center.

Ellis, his sister Viola Fletcher, 109, and Lessie Randle, 108, are the plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking damages from the city and others for Tulsas 1921 Race Massacre and for claims of continued harm to the historically Black Greenwood community.

Unlike previous such lawsuits, this one seeks relief under the states public nuisance statute.

Filed more than three years ago, Randle v. City of Tulsa was dismissed by Tulsa County District Judge Caroline Wall. Solomon-Simmons and the plaintiffs appealed that decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Wednesdays remarks by Solomon-Simmons came one day after plaintiffs filed their brief with the court. The defendants have 15 days to respond, and the plaintiffs will have another 10 to reply. That means the justices are unlikely to get all of the pleadings until next month.

Even then, theres no predicting when a decision might be forthcoming. Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has no deadline.

The brief challenges the district court decision on two points: failure to state a claim by failing to state a legally cognizable remedy and that the defendants did not uphold an agreed-to stipulation.

All we are asking the Supreme Court to do is give us the opportunity to get back into (district) court, Solomon-Simmons said. This is not about the Supreme Court deciding if were ultimately successful; this is not about deciding what remedies we would receive. We are asking the law to be applied equally to everyone.

Defendants have argued in previous pleadings that the relevant statute of limitations tolled 80 years ago and that allowing the suit to proceed would be contrary to all precedent.

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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

When Itzik Levin was growing up in Israel, it was a common experience among youths to hear stories about all the family members they would never have a chance to meet or know.

A chance that had been forever lost when they were murdered during the Holocaust.

But if efforts to annihilate them had one positive for the Jewish people, it was in breeding resilience, Levin believes.

It has served them since then when faced with other threats. And Levin, a longtime Tulsa resident and former Israeli soldier, is certain that it will serve them now.

The past has given us a strong feeling and a strong will to survive, said Levin. When you grow up with what happened in the past, it gives you strength to continue.

Currently in Israel visiting family, Levin was as shocked as everyone on Saturday, he said, when Hamas militants invaded and murdered hundreds of Israeli civilians, prompting Israel to declare war.

In the days since, Levin has provided daily updates to friends in Tulsa.

And in Tulsa, friends have been thinking about him and what the Israeli people are enduring.

The Jewish Federation of Tulsa, of which Levin is a committee chair, is organizing a special event to show support this weekend in partnership with Congregation Bnai Emunah and Temple Israel.

Solidarity in Song, a chance to gather and show support for Israel, is set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the federation, 2021 E. 71st St.

The event is open to the public, but to help ensure safety, all participants must register in advance at JewishTulsa.org/solidarity and bring their ID.

Levin, whose wife is in Tulsa, is staying in central Israel with his sons family, which includes his three grandchildren.

For Levin, last Saturday began at 6:30 a.m., when he was awakened by his son to the news that a siren was going off.

It was totally a surprise, he said.

Levin and his family took shelter in their safe room. It would be a few hours, he said, before they learned the extent of what was going on.

Terrorists were storming all the places around the Gaza Strip and basically went from house to house and murdered people, Levin said. Children, babies, women, elderly people.

Its devastating to read and to hear, he said of when the names of the dead began appearing in the news. Every city, every town has lost some, including some I know.

His family has not lost anyone, though they do have members serving in the military, he said.

Over the days since, missile attacks have continued. Sirens sound a couple of times every day where Levin is, keeping everyone on edge, ready to hustle for the nearest safe room or shelter.

The siren is like with a tornado in Tulsa, he said.

But he said Israel also has a sophisticated alert system that reports when missiles launch and where they are going to land.

Every place knows how long they have to take shelter, he said.

For older Israelis, the attacks have been met with a stony resolve, he said. Theyve seen it all before. Levin, for one, was a member of the Israeli army during the Arab-Israeli war of 1973.

But its hard to see his grandchildren, the youngest of whom is 9, trying to absorb what is going on.

All you can do as adults is try to make them feel secure, Levin said.

The events of Saturday and the civilian death toll have led many to describe it as the darkest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust.

That comparison hits close to home for Levin. Originally from a part of Poland now in Belarus, most of his parents relatives were murdered by the Nazis during World War II.

His father, a Jewish resistance fighter who hid out with other fighters in the forests, saved his mother, and the two later moved to Israel.

With family stories and experiences like those common among Israelis, Levin is confident that they will prevail again.

Israel is strong mentally and physically and can deal with any enemy  anybody that wants to destroy us  and there are many of them.

Levin has received encouraging emails from friends in Tulsa, both from the Jewish community and the community at large.

The Tulsa community supports Israel and will continue to, he said.

Levin intends to finish out his planned stay, which would mean two more weeks.

But if I have to stay longer, I will stay longer, he said. Whatever it takes or is needed.

Event What: Solidarity in Song, a gathering to show solidarity and support for Israel with songs, prayer When: 4:30 p.m. Sunday Where: Jewish Federation of Tulsa, 2021 E. 71st St. Who: Public is invited, but all participants must register in advance at JewishTulsa.org/solidarity. Strict safety protocols will be adhered to and IDs will be required at check in. Tulsa police officers will be on site to ensure safety. For more information or to register: Go to JewishTulsa.org/solidarity.

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Andrea Eger Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Andrea Eger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A gubernatorial appointee to the State Board of Education has resigned after 10 months.

Gov. Kevin Stitts office announced Wednesday that Suzanne Reynolds has tendered her resignation effective immediately. That makes two vacancies out of the six appointed seats Stitt is responsible for filling on the board. It is chaired by the elected state superintendent, Ryan Walters, whose initiatives Reynolds consistently supported during her short service.

After careful consideration, I have decided to transition away from this role. I assure you, I did not come to this decision lightly, but with careful consideration of the impact my departure may have on the boards continued work, Reynolds, of Oklahoma City, wrote in her resignation letter.

Trent Smith resigned in May after serving more than two years, and that seat, representing Congressional District 5, has remained vacant. Stitt replaced four other members in January, including one whose place Reynolds took.

Another January appointee, Marla Hill, was never sworn in and resigned after two months of absences at board meetings. She has since been replaced.

Reynolds had served as an at-large member of the State Board of Education. She has attended meetings of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee Foundation, a right-wing group Walters recently hailed as the tip of the spear and the spine in his fight against woke indoctrination in public schools.

In July 2022, Reynolds offered public comments at a State Board of Education meeting in support of a Tulsa teacher who filed a House Bill 1775 complaint against Tulsa Public Schools and urged the board to assess the strongest possible penalty. That complaint resulted in state sanctions against TPS accreditation status.

Reynolds likened the Tulsa teachers complaint to her own experience with diversity, equity and inclusion training that encouraged the use of inclusive language for LGBTQ people that she underwent as a health care provider and former faculty member at the University of Oklahoma.

She called it a direct assault on my civil rights, my freedom of religion, speech and thought. Six months later, Stitt appointed her to the board.

Upon her resignation, Stitts office said he will next appoint her to the Board of Regents for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

Suzanne has been a fighter for parents, a champion for students, and a dedicated advocate for education in Oklahoma, Stitt said in a written press statement. Suzanne leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment toward elevating our education system, and I have no doubt she will continue to do good for parents and students in our state.

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Barbara Hoberock Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Barbara Hoberock 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 law protecting the oil and gas industry needs some changes, a legislative panel was told Wednesday.

Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, hosted an interim study on House Bill 2034 before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The bill, passed and signed in 2022, requires the treasurer to maintain a list of financial companies that boycott energy companies.

Governmental entities, including pension funds, are to divest themselves of investments in those institutions unless the institutions show they are not discriminating against fossil fuel-related companies.

The bill says that if a company divests or boycotts investments in oil and gas, the state wont do business with it, said Corporation Commissioner Kim David, who was one of the authors of the measure when she was a senator.

The bill allows exceptions in cases in which divestiture would not be in the states best financial interests.

The initial list of businesses with which the state was told not to do business had 13 companies on it, but the figure later dropped to six, according to State Treasurer Todd Russ office.

Rader said tweaks need to be made to the law so that state entities are not losing money as a result of their pulling back from investments in companies on the list.

Four different articles in the Oklahoma Constitution essentially say those handling public money have a fiduciary responsibility to seek the maximum return, and the Oklahoma Constitution trumps state statute, Rader said.

He said questions arose after the law took effect.

David said the law is having a positive effect on the state.

The purpose of the measure was to protect 27% of the states economy  the oil and gas industry  from ESG, or environmental, social and governance, policy goals. David said the whole conversation about ESG is a political hotbed.

She said some companies are going out of their way to invest in renewable energy even at the expense of their clients. David said there cant be a reliable energy grid if it is based 100% on renewables.

Sarah Hunt is founder and president of the Washington, D.C.- based Rainey Center for Public Policy, which provides support to companies, organizations and governments that seek to improve their environmental stewardship practices.

She said that the evolution of the ESG debate in American statehouses is showing up as heavy-handed one-size fits all legislative fixes, such as boycotts, and can end up doing more harm than good.

She cautioned against weaponizing the government against an industry because of political disagreements.

I understand it is upsetting to see very large, powerful companies with billions and trillions of dollars potentially engaging in activities that are harmful to your state, she said. But I would like you to consider that these asset managers are responding to a consumer demand for ESG products. And they offer them in addition to non-ESG products.

She said that in other states boycott laws have had unintended consequences that have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, asked how much money the state has lost as a result of the bill.

I dont think we have lost anything at this point, Russ said.

Still, Floyd asked Russ to provide a figure on what the bill is costing the state.

Rader asked who settles a dispute when a company disagrees with its inclusion on the list.

David said that issue might need some clarification.

Russ said the bill gives his office great latitude in determining what publicly traded institutions go on the list, adding that he doesnt think the criteria are overly subjective.

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(Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to NATO headquarters to request military assistance from global defense leaders as focus has shifted to Israel's war with Hamas militants.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday to request military assistance from global defense leaders.

Zelensky traveled to the region to discover a Europe that was no longer completely focused on the war that Russia unleashed on his country. He argued there was no danger of Israel crowding Ukraine out of the limelight in international issues.

Zelensky Visits NATO HQ

The official also encouraged Western politicians to visit Israel amid its war with Hamas militants, replicating similar treks to Kyiv that many world leaders conducted in the past. In a statement, Zelensky said his recommendation was for global leaders to go to Israel because Unity is more important than being alone.

Furthermore, the Ukrainian president sought to tie the two conflicts together, saying that divisions in the global military alliance would only help the Kremlin. He argued that Russia is counting on such a situation, which is the division of support, as per Politico.

His remarks were made during an appearance with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, which followed him linking the two crises explicitly. He called both Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Hamas group "terrorists" that "seek to hold free and democratic nations as hostages."

In front of a crowd of NATO defense ministers, Zelensly claimed that Russia still has enough resources to incite conflicts and turn them into full-scale tragedies. He added that this includes the happening in the Sahel. He said that it could happen even more painfully in Israel and the Middle East.

The Ukrainian president's appearance in Brussels surprised many because the meeting was supposed to be at the ministerial level. The visit was made as Kyiv is desperate to shore up additional Western weapons and ammunition assistance. It faces a renewed Russian offensive in the east and the prospect of widespread attacks over the winter.

Read Also: Ukraine's Intel Chief: 3 Failed Attempts Made to Liberate Zaporizhzhia Plant

Requesting for More Military Assistance

Zelensky's visit to Brussels underscores the growing concerns regarding gaps in staunch international support for Kyiv in its war against Russia. There are also worries that Ukrainian forces have not made measurable progress in the counteroffensive as winter approaches, according to the Associated Press.

On the other hand, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin dismissed suggestions that American support for Kyiv could suffer amid efforts to send assistance to Israel. He noted that Washington will provide support to both Israel and Ukraine.

In a fortunate development for Zelensky, top NATO officials sought to reassure the Ukrainian president by pledging more than $2 billion in additional military aid that will be delivered before the winter season.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, "Your fight is our fight, your security is our security, and your values are our values." He added that they will continue to stand behind Ukraine for as long as needed.

John Kirby, a White House National Security Council spokesman, also warned that the US is "running out of runway" regarding support for Israel and Ukraine. However, he noted that a diversion of weapons to Israel at Ukraine's expense is not expected because the two nations use different kinds of air defenses, said the New York Times.

Related Article: NATO Equips Kosovo Peacekeepers with Heavier Weapons as Tensions Rise

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Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn hit the mark when she called out Oklahoma employers for refusing to hire felons (Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn: Unemployed people are not lazy; they need stronger state resources, Aug. 31.)

The stigma surrounding felons is so prevalent that many employers continue to blackball them instead of hiring them. I know because I have experienced the effects of this stigma for 11 years.

Even with a solid work history and no arrests since 2012, I still have employers deny me because of my background. I have been promoted eight times over the past 11 years, as my work ethic and dedication outmatched those of any traditional employee.

Im not saying that felons are better than everyone else; they just have to continually prove themselves worthy of being employed.

Research has shown ex-offenders have higher retention rates, are promoted faster and have fewer call-off days than their non-offender counterparts. The fear of being unemployed is always present.

Oklahoma has banned the box, but employers still reject them after the interview and background check are done. Felons who manage to secure employment are usually offered the lowest job on the totem pole. These jobs dont pay more than the minimum wage, which keeps them far below the poverty line.

How can we expect ex-offenders to become productive members of society if we cant offer them the opportunity to obtain sustainable employment?

Do better, Oklahoma. You are only one bad decision away from being in our shoes.

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter.

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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.
MANAUS - Life has come to a standstill for a floating village now stranded on mud flats left by severe drought in Brazil's Amazon rainforest.

Motor boats lie tilting in the mud, no longer bringing in fish, fruit and vegetables or ferrying tourists to see the nearby confluence of the Rio Negro and Solimoes River, where they form the mighty Amazon River.

As Lake Puraquequara dried up, so too has business evaporated for the owners of boats and floating shops that are also stuck in the mud.

"Our shops have no customers. We are isolated, boats cannot enter or leave the lake," said local resident Isaac Rodrigues. "We're going to be here until God sends us water."

A person on a boat navigates on Puraquequara Lake, which has been affected by drought, in Manaus, Brazil, October 6, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Brazil's government said last week it is preparing to provide emergency assistance to inhabitants in the Amazon region hit by record drought that has drained the rivers that are their life support. The Amazon drought, like flooding in the south of Brazil, is a result of the El Nino phenomenon, which warms the Pacific Ocean's surface water, experts say.

Some rivers winding through Brazil's vast Amazon rainforest have piled up masses of dead fish as the drought worsened, constricting local communities' access to food and drinking supplies.

A boat is pictured stranded on Puraquequara Lake, which has been affected by drought, in Manaus, Brazil, October 6, 2023. Photo: Reuters

The carcasses of some 120 rare river dolphins were found floating in a tributary of the Amazon River in circumstances that experts suspect were caused by severe drought and heat.

Things have gotten so bad at Lake Puraquequara that there is little water to drink or cook with. Ivalmir Silva spent a whole day digging a waterhole in the drying mud flat.

Shopkeeper Otenisio de Lima, wearing a cowboy hat to shield himself from the hot sun, said fishermen cannot bring in their catch and produce like bananas and collard greens have stopped arriving.

"Everything has become so difficult. Sales have dropped and there are days when we barely make enough to live on," said another shop owner, Raimundo Silva do Carmo, as he bathed with a bucket of water taken from a makeshift well he dug.

"Let's see what God does for us," he said.

Fisherman Raimundo da Silva do Carmo, 67, baths with water from a well on Puraquequara Lake, which has been affected by drought, in Manaus, Brazil, October 6, 2023. Photo: Reuters
Twenty Vietnamese people are being trapped in the fighting areas between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung said on Wednesday evening, five days after a bloody conflict broke out between the two sides.

The ambassador provided the information while talking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about the situation of the Vietnamese community in Israel amid the ongoing fierce conflict.

All these Vietnamese have been safe generally so far, Trung said.

The 20 stuck people include five students in the Israeli city of Sderot, only about 10 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, which has been controlled by Hamas and is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, the ambassador said.

These students have received top priority from Israeli authorities as they are living in a dangerous area.

A local caretaking unit that has been supporting the students has pledged to move them to a safer place when conditions permit, the diplomat said.

These students are highly appreciated by their teachers for their skills in responding to emergency cases, he added.

Hong Shurany, a Vietnamese-Israeli woman who is a member of the Vietnamese Community Liaison Committee in Israel, participates in a community support activity in Israel. Photo: Hong Shuranys Facebook page

After the Israeli army regained control of the attacked areas, these students were able to contact the embassy, local Vietnamese community, and student groups again, according to the ambassador.

They were generally in a comfortable mood, he commented.

Trung said people in large areas in Israel, especially Tel Aviv and the central region, had to take cover in their shelters many times on October 10 (local time) whenever air-raid sirens sounded.

Most of the attacks hit areas around the Gaza Strip. They subsided at night, but a new air-raid siren was heard on October 11.

According to the ambassador, Hamas might be preventing Israel from examining the status quo in the Gaza area before the latter takes steps to rescue hostages taken by the former.

He said citizens of more than 20 countries, including Vietnam, have become victims of the conflict that began last Saturday.

Vietnamese communities in Israel have taken part in movements to voluntarily support those who have been affected by the fighting, the ambassador said.

Many families that have left their residence around the Gaza Strip have been given accommodations and food by such volunteers.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has advised that all Vietnamese delegations and short-term visiting/working groups should find ways to return home early to avoid potential problems.

Many airlines have postponed or canceled flights to and from Israel for safety reasons, Ambassador Trung said.

The embassy is coordinating with Israel authorities to prepare plans to ensure safety for Vietnamese communities in the western Asian country.

Vietnamese citizens who need help can contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel at +972-50-818-6116, +972-52-727-4248, and +972-50-994-0889 or the citizen protection hotline +84 981 84 84 84 of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday signed a decision to appoint Nguyen Minh Hang, assistant to the minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the Department of General Economic Affairs, as new deputy minister of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Born in Hanoi in 1976, Hang earned a bachelors degree in International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, and a masters degree in the major in the United Kingdom.

The newly-appointed deputy minister started her diplomatic career in 2000, and has held several positions.

Among them are deputy head of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, minister-counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, deputy head of the APEC Vietnam Secretariat 2017, head of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation, assistant to the foreign minister, and head of the Department of General Economic Affairs.

Hang currently serves as a member of the Vietnam Women's Union Central Committee.

The new appointment has raised the total number of deputy ministers of Foreign Affairs to five, including Nguyen Minh Vu, Ha Kim Ngoc, Do Hung Viet, Le Thi Thu Hang and Nguyen Minh Hang.

Hang becomes the third female deputy minister of Foreign Affairs in Vietnam, after Nguyen Phuong Nga in 2011, and Le Thi Thu Hang in December 2022.

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A mother and her two chidren residing in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam have been hospitalized for food poisoning after consuming toad meat recently.

The three were transferred to the emergency department of Phu Tho General Hospital from a local medical center with symptoms of dizziness, nausea, and excessive vomiting.

The mothers account showed that they started displaying those signs of food poisoning 30 minutes after eating two fried toads she had cooked for her family.

She claimed she was very careful in preparing the ingredients, getting rid of the toads skin and organs, only leaving meat and eggs, assuming they were safe for consumption.

She then ate the eggs and the children consumed the meat.

Doctors at Phu Tho General Hospital diagnosed all three with toad poisoning and prescribed them stomach pumping, activated carbon pills, and detoxification therapy.

Consuming toads is not uncommon for many Vietnamese people who believe that toad meat is nutrient-rich and can help in treating rickets.

Doctor Ha Thi Bich Van, head of the emergency department at Phu Tho General Hospital, refutes this misconception.

In a toads body, there are some parts like liver, eggs, skin, glands, eyes, and brain that contain toxins, especially bufotoxin, Van explained.

This [bufotoxin] is an extremely toxic, heat-stable substance that can cause heart arrhythmia and rapid death.

While the meat and fat of toads are not naturally poisonous, they can become contaminated during the food preparation process, which leads to toad poisoning, a condition with a severe prognosis and high rate of fatality.

After a person consumes contaminated toad meat, the toxin will be absorbed through the digestive system, then cause symptoms like bloating, upper abdominal pain, excessive vomiting, and possibly diarrhea within one to two hours.

When the toxin starts affecting the cardiovascular and nervous systems, the patient may show signs of dizziness, hallucination, cold sweats, increased saliva production, shortness of breath, apnea, cardiac arrest, and many other symptoms.

Doctors strongly advise against consuming toad meat and products made from toad meat, unless it has been properly prepared.

Under no circumstance should one consume the egg, skin or internal organs of a toad.

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Authorities of Gia Lai Province in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam announced on Wednesday that they are looking into all possible causes for the breaking of a hydroelectric dams wall which caused immense damage to the surrounding areas.

The la Glae 2 hydropower plant is a project under construction by Khai Hoang Hydropower JSC over la Glae stream in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, with an investment capital of over VND423 billion (US$17.3 million).

Once construction is completed, this hydropower plant will boast a 12MW capacity and occupy 83.7 hectares spanning la Ve and la Ga Communes of Chu Prong District.

Heavy rain throughout Sunday night and early Monday resulted in a sudden flood in the hydropower plants vicinity.

Pieces of cement wall from a broken hydroelectric dam lie on a river in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, October 11, 2023. Photo: Huynh Cong Dong / Tuoi Tre

The flash flood broke a three-meter-high and 50-meter-long wall of a dam spillway at the plant, according to Tu Ngoc Thong, deputy chairman of the Peoples Committee of Chu Prong District.

The floodwaters then continued to make its way to the local agricultural crops.

Pham Van Binh, director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Gia Lai Province, stated that all local departments and organizations are looking into the cause of this incident.

The spillway of la Glae 2 hydropower plant had neither finished construction nor started water storage before the breakage, according to Binh.

Tree branches are swept away by floodwaters in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, October 11, 2023. Photo: Huynh Cong Dong / Tuoi Tre

We found out that two dams illegally built further upstream also broke during the flood, Binh said.

He suspected that these dams were unauthorized constructions of coffee farmers from the nearby areas as a way to store water for dry seasons.

Water from the heavy rain and flash flood must have swept downstream and busted these smaller dams, Binh said.

The combined force of the flood and pressure from breaking through these reservoirs was possible to break the spillway of la Glae 2 hydroelectric dam.

Dang Van Dau stands in his farm, which was destroyed in a flash flood caused by a broken dam in Chu Prong District, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, October 11, 2023. Photo: Huynh Cong Dong / Tuoi Tre

On the other hand, the department has been assigned by Nguyen Huu Que, deputy chairman of the People's Committee of Gia Lai Province, to review the construction qualifications of Khai Hoang Hydropower JSC and whether the construction process is ensured.

Authorities of Chu Prong District stated that the exact damage caused by the breakage is still being assessed.

Initial reports showed that 19 households la Ga and la Ve Communes were adversely affected and many hectares of valuable crops were destroyed.

Deputy chairman Que urges competent forces to help local people overcome the consequences of the incident.

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A motorcyclist died and three others were badly injured following a frontal crash between two motorcycles on Wednesday night in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam, authorities confirmed on Thursday morning.

The fatal crash took place on a road section passing through Nghia Thuan Commune, Tu Nghia District.

A local police division said that Nguyen Quoc Thoi, 36, a native of Quang Ngai City, was carrying Dinh Thi Do, 29, from the mountainous district of Son Ha to Quang Ngai City.

His motorbike then crashed into another one whose rider was Nguyen Thien Trung and the pillion passenger Tran Truong Hoang Tuan, both 27 and residing in Tu Nghia District.

Some local inhabitants said they rushed out of homes after being awakened by the crash and saw the four victims lying immobile on the street.

The two motorbikes were found lying on two different lanes and were some 10 meters away from the spot they collided.

The head-on collision left both motorbikes distorted, with many parts of the vehicles smashed into pieces.

The four were rushed to a nearby hospital where Thoi was fatally injured and the three others are receiving medical treatment.

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The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport said on Wednesday that it had given its nod to an investment of over VND3.9 trillion (US$159.2 million) for a Ho Chi Minh road section passing two Mekong Delta provinces of Kien Giang and Bac Lieu with a total length of some 52 kilometers.

The section in Kien Giang will be over 45 kilometers long and the section passing through Bac Lieu is some 6.6 kilometers long.

The road section will have two lanes in the first phase and will later expanded to four lanes. It will have a designed speed of 80 kilometers per hour in both phases.

The capital, planned to be sourced from the state budget, will be allocated until 2030.

The amount includes more than VND538 billion ($22 million) for site clearance and resettlement, some VND2.8 trillion ($114.4 million) for construction, over VND24 billion ($1 million) for project management, around VND131 billion ($5.4 million) for investment and construction consultancy, and VND299 billion ($12.2 million) for backup.

The project will last until 2025.

Some VND3.1 trillion ($126.6 million) will be allocated for the project in the 2021-25 period and VND780 billion ($31.9 million) in 2026-30.

The project received VND757 billion ($30.9 million) last year.

The Ministry of Transport assigned the Ho Chi Minh road project management board to produce, appraise and approve a design for the road sections in Kien Giang and Bac Lieu Provinces and choose contractors.

Ho Chi Minh Road runs over 2,700 kilometers from northern Cao Bang Province to Ca Mau Province, the southern tip of Vietnam.

According to a resolution of the lawmaking National Assembly, the road should have been completed by 2020. However, nearly 2,400 kilometers of the road and 258 kilometer of bypasses had been developed as of mid-2022.

Another 211-kilometer section of the road is under construction, while 171 kilometers, which needs around VND10.7 trillion ($436.6 million), has yet to be developed.

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President Joe Biden collaborated with prominent groups at the White House on Wednesday to tighten the security of Jewish communities in the US amidst the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel.

Biden claimed that the United States has sent experts advising and accommodating hostage recovery efforts.

National Security Council Safeguard Jewish Communities in America

According to Biden, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland will boost security to locate threats in Jewish communities in America.

National Security Council spokesporsen John Kirby said the White House has not found any specific targeted violence against the Jews in the United States since the Hamas attacked Israel, according to WUSF.

The meeting in the White House was led by Vice President Kamala Harris' husband Douglas Emhoff with more than 20 Jewish organizations ranging from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to J Street and National Security adviser Jake Sullivan, who assistsed the president.

On Tuesday, Sullivan said Biden would meet with his domestic security advisors later in the week. On the same said day, US authorities will be vigilant. Biden spoke about the attack and claimed that "it's the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust."

"I never really thought that I would see, have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children," the president referred to media reports in Israel. Moreover, Biden discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it would be hard for Israel to use war rules, even though they are already enraged with the attack.

Read Also: Report: SecDef Austin Receives Bipartisan Senate Request to Transfer 2 Iron Dome Batteries to Israel

White House Confronting Antisemitism

Emhoff revealed that the Biden administration has been working towards combatting antisemitism. Emhoff furiously elaborated to the Jewish leaders that they had witnessed a mass murder of innocent civilians.

He said that the terrorist assault would never have any justification for the violence that occurred. He added that it will only remain in our memory forever, according to WPR. Biden has also revealed that they are forming a national strategy to withstand antisemitism this year.

The awareness about antisemitism can improve safety and security for Jewish communities. President Biden and the US Jewish groups have continued to extend their solidarity and support.

Additionally, Biden reassured that the administration is doing their best to ensure the safe release of the hostages. Biden emphasized that restraint is not an issue and that they have the "right" and "duty" to respond to their responsibilities of protecting the citizens.

Related Article: Readout of President Biden's Call with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates





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The proposal to construct an overpass at the busy Cong Truong Dan Chu Roundabout in Ho Chi Minh City has been placed under renewed discussion to alleviate traffic congestion in the vicinity after a decade of dormancy.

Cong Truong Dan Chu Roundabout is the convergence point of several significant thoroughfares, including Vo Thi Sau, Cach Mang Thang Tam, Ba Thang Hai, Ly Chinh Thang, Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, and Nguyen Thuong Hien Streets.

Being a prominent city center junction connecting District 10 and District 3, it frequently experiences congestion during peak hours.

In 2013, Ho Chi Minh City proposed the implementation of a steel overpass project at the roundabout in order to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

The overpass was designed for motorbikes and automobiles under 10 metric tons to travel from Vo Thi Sau Street to Ba Thang Hai Street.

The structure was projected to have a length exceeding 268 meters and a width of 6.5 meters per lane, with a total budget of over VND281 billion (US$11.5 million) allocated from the citys finances.

Congestion at the Cong Truong Dan Chu Roundabout in Ho Chi Minh City, October 11, 2023. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

Construction was slated to commence in the same year, with an expected completion date in January 2014.

However, the overpass construction remains pending as it awaits necessary adjustments aligned with the progress of the citys second metro line project, which connects Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Tham Luong Depot in District 12 and features an underground station situated within the vicinity of the Cong Truong Dan Chu Roundabout.

In the most recent proposal put forth by the Transportation Works Construction Investment Project Management Authority of Ho Chi Minh City (TCIP), the steel overpass would still be constructed to carry Vo Thi Sau Street over the rounabout toward Ba Thang Hai Street, news site VnExpress reported on Wednesday.

The overall project investment now stands at VND287 billion ($11.7 million), marking an increment of VND6 billion ($245,500) from the previous figure.

Construction of the project is anticipated to commence in late 2024 or early 2025, with completion targeted for 2025.

A steel overpass is expected to be constructed to carry Vo Thi Sau Street over the Cong Truong Dan Chu Roundabout toward Ba Thang Hai Street in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

In response to the aforementioned proposal, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport noted that the design plan lacks an optimal solution to address the extent of the impact on currently existing infrastructure along the route.

Additionally, TCIP has not incorporated feedback provided by the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) concerning the metro No. 2 project passing through the roundabout.

An official from the transport department revealed that, originally, there had been plans for an underpass connecting Vo Thi Sau Street with Ba Thang Hai Street.

However, this suggestion was deemed too much of a challenge due to the presence of an underground metro station below.

Subsequently, the alternative of constructing an overpass was put on the table.

Congestion at the Cong Truong Dan Chu Roundabout in Ho Chi Minh City, October 11, 2023. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

The official added that this junction, situated in the heart of the city, requires meticulous design planning to ensure aesthetic harmony.

Furthermore, given the significant traffic at the roundabout, merely having an overpass allowing vehicles to run in one direction would not help to alleviate congestion.

Therefore, further exploration of connecting lanes is necessary.

In addition, the complexity of coordinating the overpass construction with the operation of metro line No. 2 requires available options to be calculated and assessed thoroughly.

Congestion at the Cong Truong Dan Chu Roundabout in Ho Chi Minh City, October 11, 2023. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City boasts nine steel overpasses located at crucial intersections, marking the culmination of an 11-year effort that began with the deployment of the initial two bridges at Thu Duc intersection in Thu Duc City and Hang Xanh intersection in Binh Thanh District, according to VnExpress.

Despite facing a range of opinions regarding their aesthetics, durability, and incline, the implementation of steel overpasses has been deemed effective in addressing traffic congestion hotspots within the city.

In addition, these bridges are cost-effective, easily relocated, and have minimal environmental impact.

In the investment allocation proposal presented by the Department of Transport to deal with congestion at 16 intersections in the next three years, the construction of steel overpasses have been put forward for Dien Bien Phu Intersection and Nguyen Tri Phuong Intersection, both located in District 10.

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Nguyen Van Troi Elementary School in Tan Binh District under Ho Chi Minh City suspended a teacher accused of beating her first-grade student and fracturing his finger last week.

T., the students mother, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that her child came home after school, complaining of extreme pain in his hand on Wednesday last week.

His right hand was swollen, she said, adding that her child admitted to her that he was hit by his teacher.

A day later, she took him to a hospital for a medical checkup.

After an X-ray scan, he was diagnosed with a broken finger on his right hand.

T. also said that after the incident, the teacher and representatives from the school traveled to her house to visit the student several times.

Speaking at a meeting with the principal of the school, and officials from the Tan Binh District Division of Education and Training, T. expected that her child would be guaranteed rights for the next five years at school.

She also asked that the teacher be sanctioned.

The beaten student was back to school on Monday, and was transferred to another class in accordance with his parents demands.

The teacher has been on suspension since last Thursday.

The teacher will be sanctioned in line with Law on Public Employees, said Phan Van Quang, head of the Tan Binh District Division of Education and Training.

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Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam has detected the second monkeypox case, who works as a photographer at a photo studio in neighboring Ho Chi Minh City.

The Healthcare Center of Bien Hoa City under Dong Nai Province on Thursday confirmed one more infection of monkeypox, an illness caused by the monkeypox virus.

The patient was identified as P.Q.T., 33.

T. exhibited symptoms of the disease such as skin lesions and rashes on October 1.

He continued suffering more serious symptoms of itches, mouth sores, conjunctivitis, and swollen lymph nodes, but no fever.

He visited the Ho Chi Minh Eye Hospital for a checkup on October 3, and was diagnosed with pinkeye.

He then went to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermato-Venereology for another medical examination.

As his health condition did not improve, he decided to take a re-examination at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermato-Venereology on October 7.

As a result, he tested positive for monkeypox two days later.

The municipal Healthcare Center said that T. had not gone to work over the past month.

Since October 1, he has stayed in his house, and had close contact with his parents, older brother and two children.

A representative of the medical center told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the patient is in stable health condition, and is suffering no fever and cough.

The representative advises residents to regularly wash their hands, and restrict their contact with ill people to avoid monkeypox transmission.

The Dong Nai Province Center for Disease Control documented the first case of monkeypox on September 25.

The patient is L.V.T., a 25-year-old resident of Xuan Loc District under the province.

He developed some symptoms of fever, cold shiver, rashes, and pustules on September 17.

The patient traveled to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermato-Venereology for a medical checkup on September 22, and tested positive for monkeypox.

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The Ninh Thuan Province Peoples Committee has requested funding from the central government to fund a seawall to protect a coastal village from powerful waves that have been battering the south-central Vietnam coast.

The request was made after complaints from villagers in Khanh Hai Town under Ninh Hai District that erosion has been eating away at shorelines and destroying housing foundations in the village.

Le Huyen, vice chairman of the Ninh Thuan Province Peoples Committee, said on Wednesday that the provincial administration had written to the national steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control, asking for financial support to battle floods, rains, and waves.

Over the past few years, increasingly strong waves have led to the ocean eating up about 20 meters of land in Khanh Hai Town.

On one specific occasion, the sea rose five meters, destroying 10 houses, one aquaculture farm, and portions of the towns infrastructure.

As provincial budget is already stretched thin, the proposal called for VND70 billion (US$2.9 million) in the state budget for the construction of a 600-meter-long anti-abrasion embankment along Khanh Hai Towns Ninh Chu 1 Street.

Without such funding, many residents worry that the coming rainy season will bring increased destruction to the village.

Several houses are damaged by waves in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

According to Do Tuan Dong, a Khanh Hai Town local, he had parts of his home destroyed by waves on the third day of the 2023 lunar year.

My family has yet to repair our house. We have had to use the living-room for cooking and sleeping, said Dong.

We are sheltered by our relatives, about 200 meters apart, when tidal waters climb, he added.

Do Xuan Bon, one of Dongs neighbors, also had part of his home destroyed by a large wave in February.

I spent VND40 million ($1,640) on repairs, but my worries persist, Bon said.

Duong Buu Vien, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Khanh Hai Town, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that marine abrasion has affected 38 households in the village.

Do Tuan Dongs house suffers significant damages by ocean waves. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

The foundation of a house is eaten away by high waves in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

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Content creators in Japan have been sharing memories of their time at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023, held in Tokyo on October 7 and 8.

The festival, which attracted more than 85,000 visitors, aimed to enhance the global recognition of Vietnamese culinary culture, particularly the Southeast Asian countrys popular beef noodle soup.

It marks a significant milestone in celebrating the seventh edition of the Day of Pho (December 12), initiated and annually held by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper to honor the world-renowned dish since 2017.

The event at Yoyogi Park also served as a tangible commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Hiromi, who runs the Vietnam Channel Hiromi channel on YouTube, joined the festival on the opening day.

In her video, the Japanese YouTuber took viewers on a trip around booths at the festival before ordering herself a bowl of beef pho.

She seemed to enjoy her pho from the very first sip.

Hiromi, who runs the Vietnam Channel Hiromi channel on YouTube, enjoys 'pho' at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2023 in this screenshot from her video.

Hiromi also showed her audience what was in her bowl of pho, namely noodles, beef, hoisin sauce, and veggies.

She pointed out the differences of how the broth tasted before and after she added a squeeze of lime.

After pho, Hiromi wrapped up her meal with a cup of sugarcane juice.

A booth sells sugarcane juice at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 in Tokyo, Japan in October 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

I also went to the Pho Festival! The banh mi is delicious and of course the pho is also delicious! It was the first time I'd tried Vietnamese coffee, it was so good and I really enjoyed it! one viewer commented on the video.

The search term "" (Vietnam Pho Festival) also brought up dozens of videos on TikTok.

TikToker @sushi_sushiman said he had a wonderful time taking part in the festival and called on people to join.

Besides Japanese, Vietnamese people living and working in Japan also shared their experiences at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 in Japan, expressing their joy and excitement when enjoying their national dish in another country.

I was excited learning that the world's biggest pho festival was to be organized abroad for the first time, as the pho here is good but doesnt truly fit my taste, a festival-goer said while being interviewed by TikTok channel Cuoc Song Nhat.

The pho at the festival is cooked by five-star hotels and reputable chefs and tastes really good."

People flock to the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 saw the participation of famous pho brands from Vietnam, as well as winners of the Hoa Hoi Vang (Golden Star Anise), an award granted each year during the 'Day of Pho' to honor pho chefs from across Vietnam.

Before the event kicked off, the chefs spent the night preparing ingredients, with a total of 170 kilograms of beef bones and 150 kilograms of beef cooked and sliced till early morning before being transferred to Yoyogi Park on the opening day.

A chef pours broth into a bowl of 'pho' before serving it at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, Japan, October 7, 2023. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

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Mondays Four Corners Trapped by Alexandra Blucher reveals allegations of the torture and mistreatment of people living with disabilities and mental illness who are locked up indefinitely by the state.

Around Australia an estimated 700 people who have been charged, but not convicted, of crimes are being detained in the forensic system.

In some of the most extreme cases, theyre locked up for years in solitary confinement with no release date.

Some have been determined too great a risk to live in the community because of their history of violence and complex behaviour.

The United Nations has condemned this treatment, and along with the Disability Royal Commission, has called for an end to their indefinite detention.

Reporter Alexandra Blucher has gained unprecedented access to forensic patients and their families. In this program she enters a facility to speak to one man whos spent more than two decades in custody.

He remains indefinitely detained.

The program also features another patient whos spent 11 years secluded in a high-security unit with only a caged outdoor area, sometimes pitching a tent to obscure himself from the constant CCTV surveillance.

Blucher exposes the extent of harm that can be done to patients by forcing them to live in these conditions  in some cases making them more dangerous.

Trapped is an unflinching portrait of the forensic system and the dilemma we face in balancing the safety of the community and the basic human rights of people living with a disability.

Monday 16 October at 8.30pm on ABC.
Released today at SBS On Demand are Irish crime drama Hidden Assets, French crime drama Piste Noire, and Swedish-Finnish mystery Thicker Than Water.

Thursday, 12 October 2023:

Hidden Assets

Season 2

All six episodes available.

Bibi arrives at her father-in-law Richards memorial service, hoping to see her son. When shes blocked from entering by his business partner, Bibi is warned that any deals with Richard died with him. Bibi returns to Ireland, only to have her car bombed. Fearing her enemies are tying up loose ends, Bibi approaches the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and proposes a deal: protection and immunity from prosecution in return for information. But there have been changes in CAB and the new team is less than thrilled to deal with Bibi  until a cyber-attack puts everyones lives at risk.

Piste Noire

All six episodes available. In French with English subtitles.

When a local worker is found murdered in his caravan, ski-champion-turned-police-officer Emilie discovers behind the beauty of the icy mountains lies a dangerous conspiracy. Emilie joins forces with Major Servoz, a disillusioned local gendarme, and they soon discover a link between the crime and local drug dealers. Then Emilie uncovers evidence that brings the case far too close to home: her brother may be the murderer.

Thicker Than Water

(Season 3)

All seven episodes available. In Swedish with English subtitles.

Three years have passed, and the Waldemar siblings are asked to visit by their mother. They gather at the family lodging house on Sunnano, where buried secrets and old injustices threaten them, not to mention new mistakes and drastic consequences.
(Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

US President Joe Biden speaks at a roundtable with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room of the White House on October 11, 2023.

US President Joe Biden warned Iran against intervening in Israel's conflict with Hamas out of concern for a wider regional conflict, while continued Israeli air strikes around the Gaza Strip moved hundreds of thousands.

Israeli aircraft have bombarded Gazan targets for days in retaliation for a weekend attack by Hamas militants who breached the enclave's border fence and rampaged through towns and villages, murdering 1,200, injuring over 2,700, and seizing dozens of captives, according to the Israeli military.

Iran's Potential Role in Hamas Attack

Per Reuters, the United States has gathered intelligence indicating that senior Iranian government officials were surprised by the multi-pronged assault. While the White House has publicly stated that it has not yet seen concrete evidence of direct Iranian involvement in the planning or execution of the Hamas attack, discussions and investigations continue.

A US official, speaking anonymously, shared that the intelligence regarding Iranian involvement had informed the White House's public statements.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby noted, "We haven't seen anything that tells they have specifically cut checks to support this set of attacks, or that they were involved in the training."

President Joe Biden, in meetings with Jewish leaders and nationally televised speeches, expressed his horror and condemnation of the Hamas onslaught. He was particularly incensed by reports of terrorists beheading children, a gruesome act he acknowledged publicly.

However, the White House later clarified that Biden's comments were based on various media reports citing Israeli officials, and he had not seen independent confirmation. Biden emphasized the need to combat hate and remember the lessons of the Holocaust.

He underscored the significance of speaking out against atrocities committed by Hamas, stating, "Silence is complicity. I refuse to be silent."

The roundtable discussion, hosted by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, reiterated the unwavering support for Israel, according to Washington Examiner.

Read Also: Report: SecDef Austin Receives Bipartisan Senate Request to Transfer 2 Iron Dome Batteries to Israel

US Actions in Gaza Conflict

The United States is actively working to secure the release of around 150 hostages held by Hamas. While details were not provided, President Biden assured that a comprehensive approach is being taken to address the hostage crisis in Israel.

Regarding the possibility of deploying American troops into Gaza to recover hostages, the US does not have sufficient information to make such decisions. The captives' whereabouts remain unknown, but discussions with Israel and other regional allies are ongoing.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to Israel's defense and the effort to prevent additional actors from joining the conflict. He will meet with Israeli leaders and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during his visit to the region.

The United States is rallying international support for Israel. At an event organized by the American Jewish Committee in New York, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield passionately called for solidarity with Israel and condemned Hamas's attacks.

She stressed the importance of sharing the stories of victims and unequivocally denouncing Hamas by name. The eyes of the world are on the current situation, and the international community is urged to stand with Israel and combat antisemitism.

Applying the lessons of the Holocaust to the present, Thomas-Greenfield emphasized, "Never Again is now," Times of Israel Reported.

Related Article: Biden Vows To Provide Support to Israel After Confirming Americans Among Hostages, Killed

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Scotland defender Aaron Hickey challenges Spain's Alejandro Balde during the Euro 2024 qualifier in Seville. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

Yet, the 2-0 loss to Spain - however agonising - surely did more than merely delay them booking a place in next summers German finals. It ensured that when they are there next summer, they are guaranteed to face a distraction. Because there appears little question that come next June, the auction among leading lights of the English Premier League for the services of Aaron Hickey will be in full swing.

It would be truly unjust if there is any attempt to home in on the cruelest luck imaginable that befell the 21-year-old Brentford full-back when assessing his contribution in Andalusia. His slip near the right corner flag - while under no pressure - allowing Mato Joselu to throw in the cross that ended up being turned into his own goal by Ryan Porteous for the home sides 86th minute clinching second goal.

It was so entirely out of keeping with the monumental display from the player that wrote large he is becoming as prized an asset as any that Steve Clarke has available to him. Hickey should not have been in that area to falter, of course. Nothing to do with any ill-judged positioning. Not on an evening when until that moment - a juncture when frankly the encounter had slipped away from Scotland despite an incredible ability to cling on with fingertips - he had so often proved in the right area, at the right time. Instead, it was a measure of Hickeys two-footedness as well as his sure-footedness that he spent the second half covering at left-back, having started on the right, as a consequence of captain Andy Robertson being forced off with a suspected dislocated shoulder minutes before the interval.

In his more familiar role, Hickey had proved an unpassable object for Spains wide-men. His drive, his snapping into tackles, meant the hosts practically gave up seeking to initiate moves down that flank. As would be expected of a performer of his age, his 14 months in the English top flight - following a 14m move from Bologna for the Hearts youth product - has led to him noticeably filling out. But more than that, he has filled in with regards to bolstering the capabilities required to patrol the pitch looking every inch of looking a top class performer.

Frankly, there seems no limits to where his burgeoning talents appear capable of taking him. He has long been reported as on Arsenals list of possible purchases. Manchester United have also been previously credited as holding an interest. Scotland love to boast that they have a coterie of Premier League-based players. Yet, on the latest evidence it is perhaps Hickey who could take up the longest residence with one of the clubs in the upper echelons of the most celebrated league set-up.

The lightning pace of Hickeys development can sometimes be too easily overlooked. Beyond his star turn in Hearts 2019 Scottish Cup final defeat to double-treble landing Celtic. It isnt so very long ago since Nathan Patterson was being touted as the natural first-choice right back for the country. And the play-off semi-final defeat to Ukraine in June 2022 was followed by regretful murmurings of the difficult night he endured as he was doubled-up on by full-back Vitali Mykolenko and creative fulcrum Olkesandr Zinchenko. In truth, he ended up looking a little lost then. Losing his footing in Seville doesnt change the fact that in Hickey, Scotland have found themselves a gem.
Jimin (Photo: Press)

BTS Jimin has announced details of a vinyl edition of his debut solo album FACE.

The album, one of a series of BTS solo projects in the last few years, came out back in March and saw Jimin score the highest UK chart appearance of a solo member of the band.

The new physical versions of the album will be available to pre-order in the US and Europe next week (October 18), with fans in South Korea and Japan able to order now.

For those in Japan and South Korea, the album will ship in December, while those in Europe and the United States will have to wait until January.

Announcing the release on Weverse, representatives for Jimin said: It resonated deeply with the fans for its authentic expression of the emotions he had felt over the past two years.

To express our gratitude for your tremendous support, were making FACE available on vinyl.

[]  FACE LP    (+ENG/JPN/CHN)https://t.co/zZfe6IRaaw  BTS_official (@bts_bighit) October 12, 2023

When his single Like Crazy went into the charts at Number Eight earlier this year, Jimin became the second member of the Korean megastars to have a solo hit on the UK charts, after J-hopes collaboration with J. Cole, On the Street, squeezed into the Top 40 in 37th position last month. Jimin followed that by reaching number 30 with Set Me Free Pt. 2, the first single from FACE, and then cracked the top ten with Like Crazy.

Jimin has enjoyed a positive critical response to FACE, with Rolling Stone saying of the six-track release: Jimins processed yelps depict his agitation in a way that implies he wants to break out of any boxes in which he might be placedand this twisty, yet hooky EP is his first step toward doing so.
FILE PHOTO: Finnish Border Guard's offshore patrol vessel Turva guarding near the place where damaged Balticconnector gas pipeline is pinpointed at the Gulf of Finland

By Anne Kauranen and Elviira Luoma

HELSINKI (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday the United States would support Finland and Estonia as they probe damage to a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable under the Baltic Sea.

NATO defence ministers discussed the incident at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

"We stand with NATO Allies Finland and Estonia as they investigate damage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea and support their ongoing investigation to determine the cause," Blinken said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Damage to the Balticconnector pipeline and a data cable was confirmed on Tuesday after one of the two pipeline operators, Finland's Gasgrid, noted a drop in pressure and possible leak on Sunday night during a storm.

In Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that should the incident be proven to be a deliberate attack, it would be met by a "united and determined response" from NATO allies.

"Allies expressed strong solidarity with Estonia and Finland as they work to establish the facts. NATO and allies are sharing information to support that effort," Stoltenberg told a press briefing after the two-day meeting of defence ministers.

He added undersea infrastructure was "extremely vulnerable".

"We speak about thousands of kilometres of cables or pipelines and of course there is no way to have military presence along all these pipelines and infrastructure all the time," he said.

Finland joined the alliance in April this year, Estonia in 2004.

Finnish defence minister Antti Hakkanen said NATO ministers discussed how to protect critical infrastructure better, sharing best practice.

STATE ACTOR?

Earlier on Thursday, Finnish intelligence said it could not rule out the possibility of a "state actor" being involved in damaging the infrastructure.

Finland has said the damage was probably caused by "outside activity", renewing concern over regional energy security and pushing gas prices higher just over a year after the dramatic Nord Stream pipeline bombings.

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"Involvement of a state actor in this job cannot be ruled out," Finnish Security Intelligence Service Director Antti Pelttari told reporters.

"Who is behind this is a matter for the preliminary investigation. We do not comment on it in more detail."

Finnish and Estonian police will form a joint team of investigators to ensure a smooth exchange of information, Finland's National Bureau of Investigation (FNBI) said.

Progress has been made on identifying vessels operating in the area, and the investigation will continue to focus on the technical examination of the seabed for any visible traces, although bad weather was hampering efforts, FNBI said.

"The area under study is large and located tens of metres below sea level, which makes the investigation particularly challenging," Detective Superintendent Risto Lohi said in a statement.

Finnish authorities said on Wednesday "external marks" had been found on the seabed beside the damaged pipeline and that they were reviewing vessel traffic in the area at the time of the rupture.

A chief investigator also said that it currently looked like the damage was caused by "mechanical force", not an explosion.

(Reporting by Elviira Luoma in Gdansk, Anne Kauranen in Helsinki and Terje Solsvik in OsloWriting by Niklas Pollard and Gwladys FoucheEditing by Mark Potter, Deborah Kyvrikosaios and Susan Fenton)
(STEVE GILLETT /LIVEPIX)

Gilberto Gil has always had a soft spot for London. Back in the early 1970s the capital was a refuge for the iconic Brazilian musician, who was exiled here for two years after being arrested by the Brazilian military dictatorship and told to leave the country. He was under house arrest when he wrote the samba Aquele Abraco (That Hug), in which he sings about the people and places hell miss when hes gone; the track was a massive hit in Brazil while Gil and Caetano Veloso, with whom he co-founded the countercultural Tropicalista movement that reshaped Brazilian music, were living in the UK: vibing to the Beatles. Cheering on Chelsea FC. Helping to stage the first ever Glastonbury Festival.

I learned to love London, said Gil, who received a standing ovation before he reached his mic. I even bought an electric guitar.

After nine Grammys and 60-plus albums spanning everything from rock, reggae and bossa nova to highlife, psychedelia and disco boogie, Aquele Abraco  Gils most listened to song on Spotify  took on another hue with this, his farewell tour. At 81-years-old, having showcased the talents of his extended family during 2022s baton-passing We the People tour, the Bowie of Brazil is bowing out.

A sold-out crowd of Brazilians and ardent fans (including a low-key Janet Jackson) were at the Royal Albert Hall to party like it was 1972  the same year Gil returned to Brazil and released the evenings catchy opener Expresso 2222, which sparked a mass singalong.

(Tatiana Valenca)

A backing band comprised of sons Bem and Jose, guitar-wielding grandson Joao and granddaughter Flor on keyboards buoyed their silver-goateed paterfamilias through hit after hit. The rhythmic mash-up Chiclete con banana, with its Bebop bebop refrain (Sing it London! cries Gil, and they duly did). The Afro-tastic samba Upa Neguinho, a hit for beloved Brazilian musician Elis Regina. A samba reggae take on Garota Ipanema, the Joao Gilberto classic, came with the crystalline voice of Flor Gil, whose rendition of Moon River shimmered about the auditorium.

In between, Gil spoke in Portuguese and English of freedom, democracy and again, of the UK. An impassioned version of Bob Marleys No Woman No Cry piqued memories of eating Jamaican food at the Mangrove in Notting Hill; the rollicking, riff-heavy Back in Bahia, an ode to his birthplace, owed much to Lennon-McCartney. The encore was Aquele Abraco, which had all dancing and hollering while Gil danced across the stage, his arms wide open, as if saying thank you and goodbye - obrigado and adeus - with a mighty embrace.
Hamas's inability to change the dire conditions faced by Gazans living under Israeli blockade may have been a key factor behind its bloody cross-border assault, analysts say (Mahmud HAMS)

In its bloody assault on Israel, Hamas was aiming to break a stalemate in Gaza, analysts say, but with its neighbour now determined to eradicate the Islamist group, it may have made a fatal mistake.

Responsible for governing the coastal enclave since its violent takeover in 2007, Hamas had come under pressure from the Palestinian public for the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, said George Giacaman, a professor at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank.

"The people's anger towards Israel had become anger towards the government and therefore towards Hamas," Giacaman told AFP.

Hamas was created in 1987, amid the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israel's occupation, by a group of militants claiming to be from the Muslim Brotherhood.

By the 1990s, Hamas, Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, had become the spearhead of the armed struggle against Israel, with Yasser Arafat's PLO turning away from violence and towards the peace process.

Hamas developed a vast social welfare network alongside charitable works, most notably schools, which help explain an influence and popularity that has surged at the expense of the Palestinian Authority, considered by many Palestinians to be corrupt and complicit with Israel.

The current head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, lives between Turkey and Qatar, although the group is directed in Gaza by Yahya Sinwar, seen as a hardliner within the movement.

Hamas has a separate armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, which is led by the elusive Mohammed Deif, Israel's public enemy number one and a man they have tried to assassinate on multiple occasions.

Angered that it was blocked from exercising real power after winning a parliamentary election in 2006, Hamas -- considered a terrorist group by the European Union and the United States -- ousted loyalists of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas from the Gaza Strip in 2007 to take undisputed control of the territory.

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Following its takeover, Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, imposed a strict blockade on the territory and its now 2.4 million people, which the United Nations has described as "collective punishment".

- Political instability -

Despite multiple Israeli offensives aimed at ending rocket launches from Gaza, Hamas has retained control of the enclave, most of whose population are the descendants of refugees who were driven from their lands during the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.

In 2018, Hamas and Israel agreed a long-term truce intended to stabilise the Gaza Strip, beset by poverty and unemployment, following mediation by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

Although Hamas engaged in a new round of hostilities with Israel in 2021, it stayed out of May 2023 clashes between Israel and Islamic Jihad, the other main Islamist armed group in Gaza.

That stance had provided ammunition to Hamas's rivals, who accused it of pursuing its own interests in observing a ceasefire with Israel, in exchange for, among other things, an easing of the economic blockade.

However, political instability in Israel -- which has held five elections in three and half years and since late last year has been governed by a coalition including far-right parties wholly opposed to any concessions to the Palestinians -- destabilised that arrangement.

The powerlessness of Hamas when confronted with the deteriorating living conditions in Gaza is one reason why it launched its brutal offensive on October 7, in which more than 1,200 civilians, soldiers and foreigners were killed in Israel and dozens taken hostage, Giacaman said.

"Life in Gaza had become unbearable. Water and electricity are lacking and unemployment is very high. Gaza is a giant prison that depends on Israel for its food and for this the crossing points must remain open," he told AFP.

- 'A large-scale response' -

The timing of the operation, dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood" by Hamas, is also linked to "the escalation of provocations by the Israeli extreme right at the Al-Aqsa Mosque," including the increasing number of Jewish worshippers visiting the mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, said Giacaman.

"Hamas regarded what is happening at Al-Aqsa, a symbol of both religious and national significance for Palestinians that should never be underestimated, as an opportunity to launch its attack," he said.

Israel's reprisals against Gaza have killed more than 1,300 people, the majority of them civilians, according to health officials.

Netanyahu said on Wednesday that "every member of Hamas is a dead man", adding that Israel would "crush and destroy" the movement.

Israel has in the past killed multiple Hamas chiefs -- in March 2004, it assassinated the Islamist group's spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and, just a month later, his successor Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi -- but without significantly weakening it.

"It would be inconceivable for them (Hamas) not to expect a major Israeli response, one that could further destroy Gaza, exact a terrible toll on its long-suffering inhabitants and possibly spell the end of Hamas governance in the enclave," said Brussels-based think tank, the International Crisis Group.

bur-ezz/dcp/kir
Rep. Nancy Mace speaks to reporters after the House Republicans nominated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) to be their candidate for Speaker of the House, at the U.S. Capitol on October 11, 2023 in Washington, DC Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Rep. Nancy Mace said she "cannot in good conscience" support Rep. Steve Scalise as speaker.

She pointed to a years-old report alleging Scalise had compared himself to a KKK grand wizard.

But in 2020, years after those allegations were publicized, she cheerfully touted his endorsement.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace said she won't be backing Rep. Steve Scalise to become the next speaker of the House because of his previously reported comments about being similar to a Ku Klux Klan leader.

Appearing on CNN on Wednesday evening, Mace told host Jake Tapper that she "personally cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who attended a white supremacist conference and compared himself to David Duke."

Mace was referring to a 2014 report from the New York Times about former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke's politics, where the publication reported that Scalise told a Louisiana-based political reporter he was "like David Duke without the baggage."

Additionally, in 2014 the New York Times and other outlets also reported that Scalise had previously spoken to a white nationalist group founded by Duke, the European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO). Scalise later apologized for speaking at the event in 2002, saying it was a "mistake I regret."

And while Mace is refusing to back Scalise as speaker in 2023, she prominently promoted his endorsement online in 2020 when she was running for her first term in office, several years after Scalise's alleged "David Duke" comments had already become public knowledge.

Nancy Mace Facebook

"People from all across the party, including the most fiscally conservative policy advocates like the Club for Growth, Sen. Rand Paul, Rep. Elise Stefanik, AND Republican leadership like Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise, are all uniting behind my campaign because they know no one will work harder than I will," Mace posted.

Though Scalise won a private closed-door House GOP vote on Wednesday to be the Republican Party's nominee for speaker, given the party's very slim majority in the chamber, he can't afford more than a few Republican defections for him to successfully become speaker.

With Mace's refusal, embattled Rep. George Santos decrying Scalise for not personally calling him, Rep. Thomas Massie declining to support Scalise, and several other members publicly going against the Louisiana Republican, unless he can win over the holdouts Scalise's chances of becoming the next speaker are potentially dimming.

Read the original article on Business Insider
When the homeland is dying, it is everyones fault.

And for now, that dying homeland is Niger, the usually-overlooked and landlocked West African nation that has been commanding headlines in even the Western media since late July when the latest in a long line of coups in the Sahel region  stretching from the Atlantic to the Red Sea along the southern edge of the Sahara  was announced by the countrys military.

African affairs typically only enter the mainstream media in the context of humanitarian crises or through the geopolitical prism.

And sure enough, in this case, the West  led by the US and France, the former colonial power  is concerned that Niger will follow the path already taken in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali in the new scramble for Africa.

The sudden rise in interest in a country that most people might have trouble distinguishing from Nigeria, its southern neighbour, has put a spotlight on Niger and offered an opportunity to reflect on the key development challenges confronting the region.

Chief among these is the stickiness of the highly extroverted colonial development model of resource extraction, which has been at the root of intergenerational poverty in Niger and other African states, as well as environmental stresses that fuel insecurity and amplify migration pressures.

A country is so rich, yet its people are poor

Niger is the quintessence of Africas development paradox. The country is one of the most natural resource-rich in the world and endowed with plentiful renewable and non-renewable energy sources, but is also one of the worlds poorest.

Despite being one of the leading producers of gold and a major supplier of uranium, Niger suffers from one of the highest poverty rates in the world and is ranked third from last on the United Nations Human Development Index, ahead of only Chad and South Sudan.

More than 10 million Nigeriens (around 42% of its population) live in extreme poverty, and only 58% of children attend school, down from 66% in 2017.

Story continues

Women gather at a clinic to have their children vaccinated in Niamey, August 2023 - AP Photo/Sam Mednick

More than 10 million Nigeriens (around 42% of its population) live in extreme poverty, and only 58% of children attend school, down from 66% in 2017.

Violence and insecurity have caused mass displacement and school closures, with almost 900 schools having been shuttered across affected communities.

Things have gone from bad to worse in Niger and, indeed, in many Sahelian countries, where more than 22,000 Africans were killed in jihadist-related violence in the 12 months to June 2023, a 50% increase from the year prior.

Terrorist acts and pitch-dark blackouts

Nigers population has suffocated under a combination of immiserising growth, mismanagement of natural resources, intergenerational poverty, climate disaster, and rampant insecurity.

Countless villages have been destroyed by itinerant terrorists whose firepower has grown ever more powerful year after year, despite the proliferation of foreign military bases and drone stations in the country.

Niger hosts strategic US drone bases and French soldiers, as well as troops from Germany, Italy, and Canada.

French Barkhane Air Force mechanics maintain a Mirage 2000 on the Niamey base, June 2019 - AP Photo

On top of that, Niger was plunged into blackouts just days after the coup when Nigeria cut off the supply of electricity to its neighbour, in contravention of its obligations as a member of the nine-country Niger Basin Authority.

The power cuts risk exacerbating insecurity and social stresses in Niger, which has already come under draconian economic and financial sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.

In addition to freezing Nigerien assets held in regional central banks, these sanctions suspended all commercial and financial transactions between Niger and other member states.

Neighbouring Nigeria suffers from the same paradox

There is a certain irony to Nigeria cutting Nigers access to power. In normal times, the former provides around 70% of the total electricity consumed by the latters homes and industries  despite Nigerians themselves suffering frequent blackouts, which occur so often that the power supply in the country has been called epileptic.

Despite being the largest oil exporter on the continent, Nigeria is actually one of the most energy-poor countries in the world in per capita termsits citizens consume 113 kilowatt hours of energy per capita annually, against a continental average of 317 kilowatt hours.

Vegetable vendors ply their wares by the light of locally-made lanterns in Lagos, February 2017 - Sunday Alamba/Copyright 2017 The AP. All rights reserved.

Typically, Nigerias power system is able to dispatch only around 4 gigawatts per day, far too little to support its population of more than 220 million people.

Around 60% of Nigerians have access to electricity. For the neighbours to the north in Niger where citizens consume a paltry 51 kilowatt hours of energy per capita annually, that percentage stands at less than 20%, and just 9.1% in rural areas, even though the country is endowed with remarkable resource wealth.

It is one of the worlds leading producers of high-grade uranium, the radioactive material essential to the production of nuclear energy in Europe. Nigers uranium has served its former colonial possessor, France, especially well.

Let there be light  thanks to Nigeiren uranium

Over a third of all lamps in France light up thanks to Nigerian uranium. Around 70% of Frances electricity is derived from nuclear energy, which has enabled French citizens to consume over 6,950 kilowatts hours of energy per capita annually, one of the highest in the world.

Last year, Niger supplied 1,440 tonnes of the countrys natural uranium, accounting for almost 30% of all such imports between 2020-22. More broadly, Niger accounts for a fifth of the European Unions uranium supplies.

Figures show that in 2010, two Nigerien subsidiaries of Areva, the French nuclear power multinational, extracted 114,346 metric tonnes of uranium in Niger with an export value of more than 3.5 billion, of which just 13% (around 450m) was paid to Niger.

A Nigerien soldier walks outside France's state-owned nuclear giant Areva's uranium mine, September 2010 - ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP

In 2013 the UK-based anti-poverty organization Oxfam published a report detailing how French multinational companies were profiting massively from Nigers uranium.

Figures show that in 2010, two Nigerien subsidiaries of Areva, the French nuclear power multinational, extracted 114,346 metric tonnes of uranium in Niger with an export value of more than 3.5 billion, of which just 13% (around 450m) was paid to Niger.

That share has hardly changed in the intervening years, and with rising military expenditures and constraints on the domestic revenue mobilisation side of the sovereign balance sheet, Niger has fallen into a debilitating donor dependency trap.

The government depends on foreign aid for around 40% of its budget.

'David vs Goliath struggle'

Watchdogs have documented over several years the extent to which the contracts between successive Nigerien governments and multinational companies have exploited the countrys uranium wealth to the detriment of its citizens, both financially and environmentally.

Nigers efforts to secure greater benefits from its natural resources were aptly described by Oxfam as a David vs Goliath struggle.

20 million tonnes of waste from a recently depleted uranium mine was spreading radon, a potentially lethal radioactive gas, polluting the air and contaminating the soil and water supplies.

A man walks past advertisements for household insecticides painted on a grocery store in the "Petit Marche" market area of Niamey, February 2010 - REBECCA BLACKWELL/AP

In 2010, a Greenpeace investigation revealed dangerous radiation levels among Nigeriens working in the mining sector, with people suffering from unexplained diseases affecting their skin, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

And earlier this year the France-based Independent Research and Information Commission on Radioactivity found that 20 million tonnes of waste from a recently depleted uranium mine was spreading radon, a potentially lethal radioactive gas, polluting the air and contaminating the soil and water supplies.

Natural resources, a blessing for some, for others a curse

Numerous reports have also documented the climate crimes committed by multinational oil companies, most notably Shell in Nigeria and more specifically in the Niger Delta, the oil-rich region devastated by pollution from oil spills that have cost many residents their livelihoods.

In addition to destroying mangrove forests, families were forced to abandon their homes.

Under the highly extroverted and sticky colonial development model of resource extraction, African natural resources have been a blessing for former colonial powers and a curse for source countries and the entire continent as a whole.

Nigerois peasants return to their homes after a day of work on the farms in Koni, July 2008 - MUSTAFA OZER/AFP

Reflecting on the scale of pollution and the human costs, Mark Dummet, then director of Amnesty Internationals global issue program, said: It is incomprehensible to imagine that if these spills and this level of pollution occurred in North America or Europe that it would be allowed to happen.

The natural resources that were supposed to help improve the welfare of the population have failed to meet expectations.

Worse still, they have produced enduring pollution and environmental stresses, which have become their main heritage.

Under the highly extroverted and sticky colonial development model of resource extraction, African natural resources have been a blessing for former colonial powers and a curse for source countries and the entire continent as a whole.

Democracy will remain fragile

Army Captain Ibrahim Traore, the young leader of Burkina Faso who engineered his own military coup last year, has been vocal about the similarly incomprehensible position in which Africa finds itself from a development perspective.

Speaking at the Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg on 27-28 July hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Traore asked: The question that my generation poses to itself, if I can summarise it, is how can Africa, with so many resources under our soil, with such a natural abundance of sun and water, still today remain the poorest continent?

Unless we find the right answer to this development paradox and broaden the distributional gains from natural resource exploitation while minimising the negative externalities, democracy will remain fragile.

Waves of campaigners have cheered on troops in Niamey, Nigers capital, and the first survey of citizens opinion of the coup, conducted by Premise Data, is very revealing: 78% of respondents support the militarys actions and 73% believe the coup leaders should stay in power for an extended period or until new elections are held.

When the homeland is dying under the relentless firepower of jihadist forces and a long heritage of environmental crimes, it is everyones fault; and this includes both the military and civilian population.

Hippolyte Fofack is Chief Economist and Director of Research at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

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Hooters Liverpool.

Nine new apartments could be created in New Zealand House, above the controversial Hooters bar in Liverpool city centre.

Under the plans, vacant former office space could be converted into seven three-bed apartments and two two-bed apartments, housing up to fifty people.

Proposals were initially submitted in January, by Wroot Design on behalf of their client, and work has begun on the site according to documents published by Liverpool City Council.

The signs still visible outside Hooters at the start of October 2023. Photo: Emma Dukes

No external alterations are to be made to the building, according to the plans, which documents said would provide accommodation for a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 50 occupants at one time.

A design and access statement added, the main aim of the design is to bring life back into the vacant building and provide a positive population within an underused area and the application supports the need for varying unit types to sustain population levels and to address the issues of urban density.

The document states that each new apartment would include bedrooms, furnished bathrooms and living/kitchen areas all facing out onto Water Street to the front or the Old Churchyard to the rear.

Hooters controversy

A premises licence was agreed by the council for Hooters in February last year in the property previously occupied by the Newz Bar. It prompted a public outcry across the city, including from the former Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, and has caused controversy in a row over signs put up outside the building without planning permission.

Earlier this year, an appeal by Hooters against Liverpool City Council denying them planning permission for two large illuminated signs outside the Water Street venue was dismissed.

In a bid to keep the brand insignia up, Hooters sought permission from the local authority planners to put up smaller, differently designed signs to be put up outside the venue, however this attempt was also rejected.

Despite this, the two illuminated signs, put up last November, can still be seen outside the bar.
By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The release of an Australian journalist after three years in a Chinese prison should improve the atmosphere for a visit by Australia's prime minister but won't shift its policies aimed at hedging against China's military build-up, analysts said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was no deal struck to release journalist Cheng Lei, who arrived home on Wednesday.

However, Australian officials had raised Cheng's detention on national security charges as China pushed to lock in an official visit by Albanese this year, the first by an Australian leader since 2016.

Albanese confirmed he would visit Beijing after meeting Chinese Premier Li Qiang at a regional summit in Indonesia last month. A date has not been set.

The release of the business television anchor was "a sweetener for the Albanese visit", said senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute foreign policy think tank, Richard McGregor.

"China always engages in elaborate diplomatic table setting for visits like this," he said.

The visit will be a major step for relations between the trading partners that soured when Beijing placed restrictions on Australian exports in 2020, and detained Cheng, coinciding with an Australian call for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.

Asia Society Australia's Executive Director of Policy Richard Maude said there would be no "direct quid pro quo" for her release.

"It would be reasonable to expect China's diplomats to be dusting off their long list of asks of Australia. Among these are that Australia step back from participating in what Beijing regards as a U.S.-led effort to contain China," said Maude, who is leading a review of Australia's intelligence agencies, and is an adviser on a government shakeup of its defence force.

"This won't happen," he said.

Australia will continue to hedge against the risks posed by China's conduct, including its pressure on self-ruled Taiwan and aggression in the South China Sea, he said.

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China has in recent weeks repeatedly said it poses no threat to Australia, coinciding with an uptick in Australian participation in military exercises with its allies, from amphibious drills in the Philippines to navy exercises with Japan, the U.S. and India off Australia's east coast, seen as a deterrent to any plan by China to attack Taiwan.

Australia has also said it plans a navy patrol with the Philippines in the South China Sea, where tension with China is rising.

'BENEFITS OF ENGAGEMENT'

While political dialogue is back on track, and most - but not all - Chinese restrictions on Australian exports lifted, China and Australia were entering a "riskier" phase of their relationship, McGregor said.

"This is all while Australia is full speed ahead with AUKUS, doing patrols in the West Philippines sea with Japan and the U.S., and continuing to build up the military camps in northern Australia," he said.

China has said the so-called AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States on defence technology, announced in 2021, has raised doubts about Australia's reliability as an economic partner.

For Australia, stabilising relations with China plays well in Southeast Asia, where leaders are concerned about tensions, McGregor said.

It also helped China, facing economic problems and higher commodity prices, to mend relations with a major supplier of iron ore, coal, gas and wheat, he said.

Analysts said China was likely to push for a more liberal approach to foreign investment in Australia's emerging critical minerals industry, and for support to join a Pacific-wide trade pact.

But Australia is unlikely to shift on policies such as national security screening of foreign investment, and will still urge exporters to diversify markets to reduce reliance on its biggest customer.

"There are areas where we will disagree, there are areas where we will cooperate," Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters, adding that Cheng's release showed the upside of the government push to stabilise ties with China since it was elected in 2022.

"You've seen some of the benefits of engagement."

A former trade minister, Craig Emerson, who led an Australian delegation at talks in Beijing last month, said both sides were reaching out to each other.

"There hasn't been any provocative language from either side for a considerable period of time and that provides the ballast for warming in the relationship," Emerson said.

Scott Morrison, prime minister when ties deteriorated in 2020, said in a speech in Taipei that Beijing hadn't walked away from its grievances with Australia, including "laws about foreign investment, espionage and national security".

"While their removal of some illegal trade sanctions is welcome, this is something that should be expected, not commended, and certainly not haggled for," he said.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; editing by Robert Birsel)
The Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has called for a day of prayer and fasting on October 17 for peace and reconciliation in Israel and Palestine, collectively known by Christians as the Holy Land.

Catholic News Agency reported that he specifically urged Catholics to organize times of prayer, including but not limited to attending Mass, the recitation of the rosary, and Eucharistic adoration "to deliver to God the Father our thirst for peace, justice, and reconciliation."

"In this time of sorrow and dismay, we do not want to remain helpless," he said in a statement issued on Wednesday (October 11). "We cannot let death and its sting be the only word we hear."

Pizzaballa - who serves as the bishop of Latin Catholics living in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Cyprus - acknowledged that the war might inhibit many Catholics in the Holy Land from organizing large gatherings and encouraged "simple and sober common moments of prayer in parishes, religious communities, and families."

Global Catholics Respond to Patriarch's Challenge

Upon publishing the call to prayer, Catholics from around the world have pledged on social media to join the day of prayer and fasting in solidarity with the people directly affected by the back-and-forth strikes.

He also called for peace to be restored at the soonest time possible and called for the international community to begin reviewing the situation in the Middle East.

"We need support, to condemn all forms of violence, to isolate the violent, and to work relentlessly for a cease-fire," he added. "Because as long as weapons speak, it will not be possible to hear other voices."

The day of fasting selected by Cardinal Pizzaballa fell on the Catholic feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, a first-century bishop and martyr from Syria.

Read Also: US State Secretary Blinken Visits Israel, Meets with President Herzog, PM Netanyahu

All Christian Leaders in Jerusalem Call for Peace

In a separate interview with Vatican state media, he feared that the war Israel and Hamas were in would be a long one.

"Probably the Israeli response will not be limited to bombing but there will be a ground operation," the cardinal said. "It is clear that we have suddenly entered a new phase in the life of this country and in the relations between Israel and Palestine. If one can speak of relations."

Pizzaballa was recently named a cardinal by Pope Francis late last month, the first modern Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to be named as such.

The Greek Orthodox churches have also stated their solidarity with the Christians in Jerusalem in a separate statement.

"War is a tragedy for the civilian population and young children, who at this tender age face the horrors of war and the agony of death," it wrote. "We unequivocally condemn any terrorist act against our fellow human beings, of any race and religion, wherever they come from"

Meanwhile, Pizzaballa and other patriarchs and leaders of churches in Jerusalem made a joint statement of their united call for peace.

"The Holy Land, a place sacred to countless millions around the world, is currently mired in violence and suffering due to the prolonged political conflict and the lamentable absence of justice and respect for human rights," the joint statement wrote. "In these trying times, we come together to raise our voices in unity, echoing the divine message of peace and love for all humanity."

Related Article: Israel Won't Restore Electricity, Water Supply to Gaza Until Captives Are Released

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'We have the science on our side': Greta Thunberg defiant as she attends court

Greta Thunberg has been fined again for disobeying police at a climate protest.

She was fined 4,500 krona (about 400) yesterday in Malmo District Court in Sweden.

It is the second time the court has fined Thunberg, after being fined 2,500 krona (216) in July for a similar offence.

What has Greta been fined for?

Thunberg took part in a 24 July protest at an oil terminal in Malmo. Activists from the Reclaim the Future movement temporarily blocked access to the facility by sitting down. They were later removed by police.

On 15 September she was charged with disobedience to law enforcement for refusing to obey police who asked her to leave the scene. She then was dragged away by two uniformed officers.

Greta says she is not guilty

Thunberg, 20, admitted to the facts but denied guilt, saying the fight against the fossil fuel industry was a form of self-defense due to the existential and global threat of the climate crisis.

We have the science on our side and we have morality on our side. Nothing in the world can change that and so it is. I am ready to act based on the conditions that exist and whether it leads to more sentences, she said after the verdict.

Greta to attend Norway protest against wind farm

Today Thunberg is due to travel to neighbouring Norway to take part in a protest with activists, including Indigenous Sami.

They're protesting a wind farm of 151 turbines and want it removed because they say it endangers the reindeer herders way of life. The activists say a transition to green energy shouldnt come at the expense of the rights of Indigenous people.

Opposition to the project has been ongoing, with activists blocking the entrance to the Norwegian Prime Minister's office in June.

Read more on why mining Europes biggest rare earth deposit could make life impossible for Sami communities.

Two years ago, Norways Supreme Court ruled that the construction of the turbines had violated the rights of the Sami, who have used the land for reindeer for centuries. The Norwegian government has no plans to remove the wind farm.
The Duchess of Edinburgh is in Ethiopia to support efforts being made to tackle eye disease

Adam Mengistu/Orbis Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh meeting staff from the eyesight charity Orbis

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is continuing her visit to Ethiopia on behalf of a favorite cause.

The royal spent a couple of days earlier this week supporting efforts to combat deficiencies in eyesight health, and she said the "incredible goal" of beating the eye disease trachoma by 2030 was very possible thanks to efforts being made in the African country and beyond.

"So much has been achieved both here in Ethiopia and around the world. But now is the time that we must all redouble our efforts if we are to achieve our aim of eliminating trachoma by the year 2030, which is a mere six years away, Sophie said on Wednesday.

We must not let ourselves become defocused or complacent," she continued. "We are on the cusp of achieving something almost unimaginable in previous years. Every person involved in this vital work has reason to be so very proud of each and every accomplishment. We are creeping closer to our incredible goal, and I urge you all to keep your eyes on the prize and to make this disease so awful that it is worthy of mention in the Bible a thing of the past and give our communities the gift of sight.



Sophie was speaking before World Sight Day on Oct. 12, when she took part in celebrations in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.



Earlier in the week, she met workers who are carrying vital services helping to protect the vision of children and adults in Hawassa, Ethiopia, with international eye care charity Orbis. There, she was told about how limited access to clean water and sanitation can lead to trachoma, and some of the work being undertaken to screen and treat those with the condition at a primary eye care clinic.

Adam Mengistu/Orbis Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh talking with people receiving screening for eyesight issues like trachoma

If a patient suffers repeated infections, the condition will cause a persons eyelids to turn inwards, scraping and damaging the surface with every painful blink. It is particularly prevalent among women, with 70% of cases in Ethiopia impacting women.

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Sophie, 58, then headed to a local school, to see how children are screened by teachers for many eye conditions, and where they learn about how to protect themselves from trachoma, through school eye care clubs sharing the information through plays and songs.



Adam Mengistu/Orbis Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh in Ethiopia this week

At Hawassa Tertiary Eye Care unit, Sophie was taken through the simulation training opportunities  before trying her hand at a mock operation. Eye care teams use virtual reality and cutting-edge prosthetics to develop their skills and confidence safely before taking on real-life surgeries. Guided by the centers doctors, Sophie got to test her skills in cataract surgery.

Orbis Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh trying her hand at some of the simulation operations

Related: Prince William Attends Documentary Screening on Close Cause with Surprise Royal Guest: His Aunt Sophie!

On Wednesday, she took part in a trachoma elimination conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought together over 40 organizations and more than 100 participants who discussed obstacles, successes and future plans, delivering the keynote speech, highlighting the impact of trachoma on women, children, livelihoods and education and the work that has gone the bid to eliminate trachoma by the World Health Organization target of 2030.



Adam Mengistu/Orbis The duchess meets meets head nurse Zemen Beshah, from Hawassa Tertiary Eye Care Unit

Earlier in her visit to Ethiopia, it was another cause that dominated her activities: combating gender-based violence against women in conflict. She visited Sabacare IDP Camp in northern Ethiopia, which cares for more than 16,000 Internally Displaced Persons  many of them women and girls. At Ayder Hospitals One Stop Centre (OSC) for survivors of gender-based violence, the Duchess was shown the range of medical and counseling treatments that have aided hundreds of women amid the country's humanitarian crisis.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Adam Mengistu/Orbis The Duchess in Ethiopia for World Sight Day

Sophie, who shares daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and son James, Viscount Severn, 14, with her husband Prince Edward, 59, also visited the Womens Development Centre, a charity that equips vulnerable women, many of them survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, with skills to lead an independent life with secure employment, the palace said in a press release.



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Read the original article on People.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that with the right approach, plants in cities dont just help filter out air pollution  they reduce the amount created in the first place, Phys.org reports.

A team of researchers from Sweden, the United States, and China conducted the study. It focused on solutions for 54 cities in the EU to ensure they can remove as much carbon dioxide from the air as they put into it.

Carbon dioxide is one of the main heat-trapping gases currently causing Earths temperature to rise out of control, as NASA explains. Its also a vital ingredient that plants need for photosynthesis, so they absorb carbon dioxide and expel oxygen, filtering pollution out of the air. For this reason, people and organizations hoping to cool down the planet advocate for planting lots of trees and other plants.

However, according to this study, the benefits of green spaces in urban environments go even further. As KTH Royal Institute of Technology associate professor Zahra Kalantari told Phys.org, Nature-based solutions not only offset a proportion of a citys emissions, but can contribute to reduction in emissions and resource consumption too.

For an example, look at the Boulevard Anspach in Brussels, Belgium. In 2016, the city began turning this busy street into a pedestrian thoroughfare. Instead of cars, visitors now bike or travel to the streets many businesses on foot  which means far fewer motor vehicles belching smog into the city center. The total benefit to air quality is greater than just the filtering effect of the trees.

In areas that receive this treatment, the cleaner air is healthier for residents. The green areas are also beautiful and inviting, prompting physical exercise like walking and biking, which further benefits health. Looking out for the environment, it turns out, is also good for the people within it.

The study also examined a wide range of other solutions, like urban farming and water-permeable pavement, and recommended which would most benefit each city on the list, Phys.org explains. There are many studies that examine the effects of individual nature-based solutions, but this merges all of them and analyzes the potential systemic effect, Kalantari said. Thats new.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
Surging Hollywood production levels in and around Vancouver took a hit last year in part due to local labor action against North American producers, and the current industry shutdown around the Writers Guild of America and the SAG-AFTRA strikes will lead to additional losses, according to the Vancouver Film Commission.

Overall film and TV spending in the Canadian province, virtually all of which originates with major Hollywood studios and streamers, fell to $3.4 billion in 2022, compared to a record $3.5 billion in 2021 amid rebounding foreign location shooting for series like Yellowjackets, Superman & Lois and The Flash as the pandemic ebbed.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The slippage in total film and TV activity last year had been expected as local Hollywood production was dampened by a labor action in the province that began after the Directors Guild of Canada B.C. issued a formal strike against North American producers represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Canadian Media Producers Association.

After a brief halt on a halt on new film and television productions in the province, a new collective agreement covering local film and TV production was eventually reached.

The Vancouver Film Commission also put the slight fall in foreign production in 2022 down to American film and TV activity stabilizing after a backlog of production work coming out of the pandemic-era industry shutdown was cleared.

At the same time, less foreign location film and TV production was offset by higher visual effects and animation production in British Columbia, which jumped to a record $1.4 billion in 2022, against a year-earlier $1.1 billion.

That activity led the provinces overall spend on film, TV, VFX and animation production to reach a record $4.9 billion last year, up from $4.6 billion in 2021, according to the Vancouver Film Commission.

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But the local agency warned the settled Writers Guild of America strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike stateside will result in a significant short-term drop in production spending around the world, including British Columbia. The dual labor actions have caused a big slice of North American film and TV production to halt, including projects in Canada.

Hollywood film and TV production in B.C. has been underpinned in recent years by major U.S. streaming giants joining traditional Hollywood studios in shooting originals locally to engage a global base of TV subscribers.

B.C. competes against rival locales like Ontario, Georgia, New York and California to lure Hollywood producers to take advantage of tax credits and other incentives when shooting on its soundstages.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Click here to read the full article.
(Bloomberg) -- Australian leader Anthony Albanese should beware of accepting concessions from China for actions that the worlds no.2 economy simply shouldnt have done in the first place.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Thats the view of Lavina Lee, a security studies specialist at Macquarie University, citing Chinas current easing of export restrictions or releasing of detained Australians, at an Asia Society event in Sydney on Thursday.

Australia should recall who changed the status quo between the two nations and not fall for that trap, Lee said in a panel discussion. Ending coercion of various sectors of our economy arent concessions from China and we shouldnt offer too much in return.

Lee was speaking a day after China released journalist Cheng Lei from about three years of detention, for allegedly passing national secrets to an overseas institution. Chengs detention in 2020 happened at a time of worsening ties between Beijing and Canberra.

If Albanese failed to show resolve when meeting President Xi Jinping, an event yet to be officially scheduled, it would only encourage further coercive or illegitimate behavior from Beijing in future, said Lee.

Flashpoints

The panel on Thursday discussed Australias role in the Asia-Pacific region and touched on various flashpoints in the region. Participants, who also included Bates Gill of the Asia Society and Michael Green of the US Studies Centre, viewed Taiwans election in early 2024 and Beijings response as a potential inflection point.

China is also likely to try to persuade Albanese that tensions in the region are really a US-China issue and not something Australia and other countries should be involved in, said Lee. It suits China to have less players interested in Taiwan or the South China Sea rather than more, she said.

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But Australia shouldnt remain aloof from the Taiwan issue, Lee said. She urged the government to press on Beijing that the lack of transparency around Chinese military and nuclear modernization is of concern to the region and to us.

Trump

The panel also discussed the potential of a second Trump presidency, with US elections in November next year, and what that might mean for Australia.

Green, who served on the staff of the National Security Council from 2001 through 2005, said Trumps own party was likely to curb his unilateral instincts as its lawmakers tended to be more internationalist. But he warned that right-wing governments like Australia under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had worked better with Trump than left-wing ones such as Albaneses.

For a Labor government, its going to take some discipline, and some really serious thought about how to manage the alliance, Green said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
This Trafalgar Day (October 21) veterans and civilians will join forces for an epic 12-hour relay run of the 1,398ft high Rock of Gibraltar in support of headline-making veteran support charity Waterloo Uncovered, following the success of last year's inaugural event. Picture: Waterloo Uncovered

This year, its bigger and better than ever with more than 20 runners take on the gruelling challenge in aid of Waterloo Uncovereds life-changing veteran support programmes, including Commonwealth Games competitor Arnold Rogers, who serves in the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and Commodore Tom Guy, who took up the post of Commander British Forces Gibraltar in 2022.

Donations can be made and are being collected through JustGiving which can be found online at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/gibraltar-2023

The Rock Relay Run team will be led by REME and Royal Signals veteran Ben Mead, who was previously stationed in Gibraltar and has completed tours of the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

This Trafalgar Day (October 21) veterans and civilians will join forces for an epic 12-hour relay run of the 1,398ft high Rock of Gibraltar in support of headline-making veteran support charity Waterloo Uncovered, following the success of last year's inaugural event. Picture: Waterloo Uncovered

Ben first joined the Waterloo Uncovered team in 2018 as a participant on the charitys flagship Excavation Programme on the Battlefield of Waterloo, and has since worked his way up to become a valued staff member, serving as the charitys Quartermaster for their annual excavations.

In addition to raising vital funds for veterans and serving personnel, the Rock Relay Run team will give back to the local community by spending the day before the run working in the Gibraltar Clubhouse, a local mental health charity hub that provides work-based programmes where individuals with a history of mental illness can develop to their full potential.
A view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline with Petronas Twin Tower at the centre as the lights switched on after Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian lawmakers have approved legislation aimed at improving fiscal responsibility, as the government looks to better manage public funds, reduce debt, and boost accountability.

The Southeast Asian country's coffers have come under strain in recent years, following a multibillion-dollar financial scandal at state fund 1MDB and increased subsidy spending to tackle rising living costs.

The new legislation, called the Public Finance And Fiscal Responsibility Law, sets out a series of targets to be achieved within three to five years, including lowering the fiscal deficit to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) or less, and keeping debt levels at 60% of GDP or less.

Malaysia's fiscal deficit is expected to reach 5% this year, while the federal debt ratio hit 57.6% of GDP last year, according to government forecasts and reports.

The law also requires annual development spending to be at least 3% of GDP and government guarantees to be capped at 25%, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said before the bill was passed late on Wednesday.

Government debts and liabilities have risen to about 1.5 trillion ringgit ($317.80 billion), resulting in an increase in debt servicing charges and a narrowing of fiscal space to implement new projects or prepare for economic shocks, Ahmad said.

"As such, this situation has increased the importance of the role of fiscal policy in supporting economic recovery and growth, as well as ensuring the sustainability of national finances in the medium and long term," he said.

The law's passage comes as the government prepares to present its budget for 2024 on Friday.

Analysts expect the budget to cut subsidies for the wealthy and prioritise aid for low-income households amid fiscal strains.

($1 = 4.7200 ringgit)

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Martin Petty)
The Israeli Prime Minister's office released graphic photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas group. The office published these alarming images on Thursday, Oct. 12, via its official X account.

The graphic photos came after the Israel Defense Force (IDF) recently moved into the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which was attacked by Hamas terrorists.

Israeli Shares Graphic Photos of Babies Killed by Hamas

According to Fox News' latest report, Israel's PM office confirmed that the dead babies in the graphic photos were murdered and burned by Hamas terrorists.

"Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken," said the Prime Minister's Office via its official X post.

"Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters," it added.

The X post containing three graphic images of burned babies was already viewed by 2 million people. These images include two photos showing a burned baby.

The other one shows a dead baby in a white body bag. Reports stated that the graphic photos appeared to be taken inside a medical facility.

"Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS," the PM office said.

U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said that they already saw videos and photos, which were shared by the Israeli government. But, no matter how they look at this graphic content, they still can't find the right words to describe them.

Blinken said that the horrible things in Israel are not something anyone ever wants to imagine, see, or "God forbid," experience.

Read Also: Ex-Hamas Chief Urges Neighbors To Join War Against Israel, Calls for Stronger Action From Arab World

What People Say About Israelis Sharing Graphic Images

In the comment section of the Israeli PM office's official X post, many people shared how they felt after seeing the alarming photos of dead babies.

An X user said that the graphic images were so disturbing that he literally cried after seeing them. Another netizen said that the photos are proof of how devastating the current situation in Israel really is.

Meanwhile, other X users condemned Hamas terrorists; calling them "barbarians." Some netizens asked how other people could do such a thing.

On the other hand, many netizens shared their concerns about the decision of Israel to share these graphic photos. One of them explained that the Israeli prime minister recently discouraged the media from showing videos and photos that are too disturbing.

Another netizen said that the statements provided by Israeli officials about the murdered babies can already be heard and there's no need to share the graphic images.

Related Article: Israeli Soldiers Discover Dozens of Dead Babies, Some Beheaded, in Hamas-Attacked Village

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New energy industry contributes to rural revitalization in SW China's Guizhou

People's Daily Online) 13:57, October 12, 2023

Aerial photo taken on Oct. 3, 2023 shows a wind farm in Haila township, Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo/Han Xianpu)

Wind turbines and solar panels, with vibrant clouds as a backdrop, formed a breathtaking landscape in Haila township, Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province.

By leveraging its abundant wind and solar resources, the county has promoted the large-scale and intelligent development of its new energy industry, effectively boosting local employment and income while injecting strong momentum into rural revitalization.

Weining has built 62 clean energy projects with a total installed capacity of 3.68 million kilowatts, generating output worth over 15 billion yuan ($2.06 billion).

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Alphabet's artificial intelligence company based in the U.K., DeepMind Technologies, reportedly slashed staff expenses by 39 percent after seeing the decline in the share price in 2022.

Read Also: DeepMind's AlphaFold: The AI That Solved the 50 Year Biological "Grand Challenge"

DeepMind Reduces Expenses After Low Revenue

DeepMind disclosed that the company reduced employee-related expenses to $732 million from almost $1 million expenses in the previous year. This reflected an around %39 percent reduction for the 2022 financial year.

The reduction was attributed to the declining company revenue, which focuses on research and development services. The 2022 revenue for research and development reportedly fell by 21 percent. In September 2022, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai unveiled the company's plan to make it 20 percent more productive.

Recently, DeepMind announced the closure of its Edmonton, Canada research lab following the budget cuts across Google and the depleting demand in the tech industry. With its closure, Google revealed that it would eliminate around 12,000 jobs.

Alphabet's Future Plans for DeepMind

During the first-quarter-earning call of 2023, the Alphabet executive discussed the possible ways to allocate resources to drive the revenue upwards. This might mean the possibility of combining Google Brain and DeepMind to pool computational resources.

"Beginning in the second quarter of 2023, the costs associated with teams and activities transferred from Google Research will move from Google Services to Google DeepMind within Alphabet's unallocated corporate costs," Pichai announced during the spring earnings call.

In 2014, Google acquired DeepMind which allowed the company to run using Alphabet's financing. In 2022. DeepMind's overall profit was around $74.9 million compared to the $126 million profit in 2021.

Related Article: Google Opens Beta for SynthID, Allows Digital Watermarking for AI-Generated Images
HA NOI  The Ministry of Industry and Trade has provided early warnings for 18 export products originating from Viet Nam which were facing a high risk of being investigated for trade defence measures, origin fraud and illegal transshipment.

Those products include hardwood plywood, wooden cabinets and vanities, seats with wooden frames, upholstered, quartz surface products, ceramic tile, steel propane cylinders, carton-closing staples, wood mouldings, millwork products, solar panels, CORE, pipe and tube, prestressed concrete, steel wire strand, large residential washers, aluminium wire and cable, aluminium extrusions, stainless steel flanges exported to the US and electric bicycles exported to the US and EU.

For hardwood plywood, early warning was issued from July 2019 after the US imposed anti-dumping duty on the same products originating from China from October 2017.

Viet Nams export of hardwood plywood increased rapidly from $33.4 million in 2016 to $322.2 million in 2019. The export revenue to the US from July 2022 to June 2023 reached $378.9 million, accounting for 27.8 per cent of the USs import.

The US Customs and Border Protection in October 2019 initiated investigations for tax evasion of several US companies importing hardwood plywood from Viet Nam.

The US Department of Commerce initiated circumvention investigation on plywood imported from Viet Nam in June 2020 and issued the final decision in July 2023 which said that plywood which had the core produced from peeled wood imported from China was considered to be evading the trade remedy measures applied to plywood imported from China.

For wooden cabinets and vanities, Viet Nams export to the US also increased strongly from $913 million in 2018 to $1.37 billion in 2019. The total export value to the US in the period from July 2022 to June 2023 exceeded $2.7 billion, or 3.8 per cent of the USs import.

The investigation on wooden cabinets originating from Viet Nam was initiated in May 2022 and initial decisions were expected to be announced in October.

The US imposed an anti-dumping duty from 4.37 per cent to 262.18 per cent, and an anti-subsidy duty from 13.33 per cent to 292.45 per cent on similar products originated from China.

The export of seats with wooden frames, upholstered, also saw strong increases to the US from $819 million in 2018 to $2.1 billion to 2020. During the 12 months ending in June, the export revenue was $2.2 billion, or 34.2 per cent of the USs import. The similar product originated from China was subject to a tariff of 25 per cent in the US.

For other products, the US was also imposing trade defence measures on those originating from China and the exports of Viet Nam to the US were seeing significant increases, pushing these products to the risk of being investigated for trade defence measures, the Viet Nam Trade Remedies Authority said.

The authority urged enterprises to improve the origin traceability and to avoid using materials from China which were subject to duties in the US.  VNS
HCM CITY  Central Retail Vietnam has opened a mini go! supermarket in Hoa Thanh Town, Tay Ninh Province, its seventh mini go! supermarket in Viet Nam and the second outlet of its kind in the province.

Spanning 2,000 square metres, the new store offers a wide range of cakes, fresh and processed foods, household goods, fashion and other products.

In addition, the store also has the presence of Central Retails strategic partners such as KFC, PIZZA HUT and Kubo brands that provide a modern playground for children.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on October 10, Truong Van Hoan, chairman of the Hoa Thanh Town Peoples Committee, said the presence of the new mini go! supermarket will offer consumers in Tay Ninh in general and Hoa Thanh in particular with more experiences and options for their shopping.

He also expected Central Retail to make more investments in the province to better meet the diverse needs of consumers.

Olivier Langlet, CEO of Central Retail Vietnam, said mini go! Hoa Thanh will create 100 stable jobs for local residents, both full-time and part-time, thereby contributing to local socio-economic development.

The opening of the new store marks an important milestone in Central Retails business and investment expansion in Viet Nam, and is a testament to the groups confidence in the investment and business environment of the country.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam wishes to develop its semiconductor industry, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Vice President and CEO of Amkor Technology Ji Rong-rip during a reception in Ha Noi on Thursday

PM Chinh said Viet Nam is building a development strategy and a human resources development plan, along with appropriate regulations, policies and mechanisms, to attract the worlds leading semiconductor manufacturers and designers to the country. This initiative aims to promote collaboration with the Vietnamese firms, creating conditions to improve their capability and gradually join the semiconductor industry value chain.

Viet Nam will step up the training of high-quality workforce in semiconductor industry, with the goal of training 50,000 workers by 2030, he said, adding that Viet Nam also advocates building a national semiconductor ecosystem with the participation of various stakeholders, including the Government, businesses, support organisations, universities, research institutes, and financial institutions.

The PM suggested that based on mutually beneficial interests and risk sharing, Amkor continue helping Viet Nam develop semiconductor industry, especially in building mechanisms and policies, technology transfer, human resources training, governance capacity improvement, infrastructure and training facility building, R&D, design and testing, while also strengthening cooperation with Viet Nam National Innovation Centre (NIC).

The group was also urged to expand its investment earlier than schedule, increase the rate of locally-made items, and make it easier for Vietnamese firms to explore collaboration opportunities and join its global production chain.

He assigned the Bac Ninh provincial People's Committee to work closely with ministries and agencies to promptly resolve any feedback and proposals from the group, ensuring the best conditions for its operations in Viet Nam.

Ji, for his part, affirmed that Amkor will further contribute to Viet Nam's development and shape its semiconductor ecosystem in line with the suggestions provided by the PM.

He said Amkor wishes to employ highly skilled engineers and workers in Viet Nam while also mobilising senior engineers and experts from its other facilities worldwide.

He also promised to continue attracting other investors to Viet Nam and adding the country into its global network.

Established in 1968 and headquartered in the US, Amkor Technology is a pioneering semiconductor company that operates in both the US and the Republic of Korea (RoK). It was the first company to produce semiconductor products and brought success and growth to the RoK in this field. Recently, Amkor has inaugurated its new facility in Viet Nam's northern province of Bac Ninh.  VNS
TOKYO  Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam Peoples Army (VPA) and Deputy Defence Minister, had a meeting with Japanese Minister of Defence Kihara Minoru in Tokyo on October 11.

The Vietnamese officer informed the host of the outcomes of the talks between the delegations of the VPAs General Staff and the Japan Self-Defence Forces Joint Staff, expressing his hope that Minister Kihara will provide guidance for relevant agencies of both sides to comprehensively and effectively implement the agreed defence cooperation contents, contributing to deepening friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Humanitarian assistance and overcoming post-war consequences are areas of cooperation that both sides consistently value, Cuong stressed, showing his desire that the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Cooperation Agency of Japan and related agencies continue promoting cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence in these works, particularly in projects related to landmine clearance and provision of equipment for dioxin decontamination.

He conveyed the congratulatory message and invitation to visit Viet Nam from Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang to the Japanese officer.

For his part, Minister Kihara thanked for Defence Minister Phan Van Giang's invitation and congratulatory message, and said that he will visit Viet Nam as soon as possible.

The Viet NamJapan defence cooperation is entering a new phase of development, opening up opportunities for collaboration in numerous areas between the two defence ministries, Kihara said.

He hoped for a higher, deeper, and more effective level of the cooperative relations.

Earlier the same day, Cuong held talks with General Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defence Forces Joint Staff.

Both sides agreed that their defence cooperation has deepened and become more collaborative over the past time on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Defence Cooperation and Exchanges in October 2011, and the Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation towards the next decade in April 2018.

The two countries have promoted delegation exchange, effectively maintained consultation and dialogue mechanisms, worked together in defence industry and settlement of post-war consequences, and supported each other at multilateral forums in the region, particularly the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM).

Particularly, both sides joined hands to organise the Competency Evaluation Programme for Prospective United Nations Peacekeepers (CEPPP) in Viet Nam last September, fulfilling the role of co-chairs of the 14th meeting of the Experts Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations Cycle 4 for the 2021-23 period within the framework of the ADMM.

Cuong and Yoshida reached consensus on several measures to promote the bilateral defence ties, with a focus on delegation exchange, maintenance of existing consultation mechanisms, human resources training, implementation of a programme to improve capacity in the fields of diving medicine and clearance of naval mines, UN peacekeeping activities, recovery of post-war consequences, and bolstered coordination at multilateral mechanisms.

They compared notes on international and regional issues of shared concern, and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, security, safety, and aviation and navigation freedom in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), and settling disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).  VNS
HCM CITY  His Majesty's Australian Ship (HMAS) Toowoomba visited HCM City on Thursday, beginning a six-day visit to Viet Nam, as part of Australias flagship regional engagement activity, Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE).

During the visit, the frigate's captain Darin MacDonald and Air Commodore Tony McCormack who is Commander of IPE 2023, will lay a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh Monument, pay courtesy visits to leaders of the HCM City People's Committee, and have meetings with the 7th Military Region Command, and representatives of the High Command of Region 2 of the Viet Nam Peoples Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to engage in a range of goodwill activities, including sharing professional experience on emergency medicine at sea and exchanges on ship operations such as passage exercises and search and rescue.

The crew will also participate in friendly sporting activities with cadets at the Naval Technical College.



Air Commodore Tony McCormack said: We are excited to return to Viet Nam this year in honour of the 50th anniversary year of our diplomatic relationship. Viet Nam is a critical regional partner for Australia and the friendship between our two countries has never been stronger. We have a shared interest in a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region with ASEAN at its centre.

Our defence relationship, particularly education, training and peacekeeping, is strong, and we are keen to continue building on our success."

IPE supports the Australian Governments focus on deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships across Southeast Asia and the Northeast Indian Ocean and reinforces Australias commitment to a peaceful, secure and prosperous region.

IPE 2023 will conduct activities with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Thailand and Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Thursday provided opinions on the thematic supervision report regarding the implementation of energy development policies and laws during the 2016-2021 period, focusing on electricity planning and pricing.

Bui Van Cuong, the NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office, highlighted the complexity and depth of the issues, with a multitude of aspects to be examined.

Cuong pointed out that several issues had arisen during the thematic supervision, including a shortage of stability, comprehensiveness, and consistency in the legal framework. There were many problems that required revisions to legal documents, including the proposal for two new laws to address the State's management of this issue.

In particular, the implementation of energy planning was facing many challenges, especially funding, technology development, human resources and regulatory mechanisms. Ensuring national energy security was challenging, domestic energy sources were falling short of requirements, posing the risk of short-term and long-term power shortages. The prerequisites for establishing the power market had not been adequately implemented, and price policies on electricity, coal, gas and oil remained incomplete.

The report also highlighted shortcomings in both legal policies and their practical implementation. It provided short-term, medium-term, and long-term recommendations to address these issues.

Cuong said that the monitoring team would focus on completing the report. They would seek the opinions of the NA Standing Committee before submitting it at the 6th session of the NA.

Electricity pricing was a critical issue, in which financial investment mechanisms should be focused on, said Le Quang Huy, head of the NAs Committee on Science, Technology and the Environment and head of the monitoring team.

In the context of achieving fair energy transition, an essential objective on the path to zero emissions, the monitoring team said international community support and commitments were required. This encompassed financial resources, technology transfer and managerial capacity. The monitoring delegation would provide further insights into this aspect.

For key projects, the monitoring team had detailed annexes that contained information on each project, highlighting challenges and difficulties. They would also incorporate various aspects such as energy planning, energy reserves, energy supply, social policies, and employment, which were of public interest.

During the session, NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong stressed the need for an assessment of the obstacles and challenges in managing electricity, coal, gas and oil prices. This assessment should investigate the reasons behind any problems and clarify lines of responsibility.

A more thorough evaluation of the implementation of the Seventh National Power Development Plan (2011-2020) was required, addressing the issues between planning and electricity transmission that led to instances of excess electricity without integration into the national power grid, he said.

Phuong also suggested pinpointing key solutions for ensuring energy security, comprehensive sector planning that aligned with branch-specific planning, rectifying discrepancies in sector-specific plans, and prioritising energy infrastructure, scientific and technological development, and the energy market.

Deputy Inspector General of the Government Le Sy Bay said the Government was also resolute in its efforts to adjust the electricity and fuel pricing mechanisms and to manage energy and power grids. Government agencies were actively involved in inspections and audits regarding these matters.

He also suggested the monitoring team add more recommendations to the National Assembly's resolution regarding energy sector planning and its implementation by related energy sectors such as electricity and fuel.

At the discussion, NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue said the thematic report should clearly delineate the responsibilities of relevant agencies and organisations. The focal point of the monitoring activities should concentrate on the implementation of the Seventh National Power Development Plan and the plans for coming years.  VNS
Thu Trang

HA NOI  Todays more developed society has expanded both the need for mental health care and the treatment options, experts said at a conference in Ha Noi.

The conference on strengthening mental health systems was organised on Tuesday by the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and other partners.

In conference discussions, experts agreed that social development brought stress and pressure related to the economy, work and family burdens.

With digital technology, young people are susceptible to mental health problems related to accessing unhealthy online platforms, which are numerous and difficult to manage.

Le Hong Trung, director of the Vinh Phuc Department of Health, said the perspectives of patients, families and society about mental health diseases are still limited.

They are shy, do not want treatment or cannot accept that they or their family member have mental health problems, said Trung.

Thus, it is difficult to recruit doctors to work at psychiatric hospitals. As a result, the sector faces a lack of young human resources.

Trung added that in Vinh Phuc Province as in many other localities, facilities for mental health care were degraded and could not meet the increasing needs for patient care and treatment, such as gymnasiums and treatment rooms.

Hospitals campuses are large with many trees but have not been optimally designed for use in treatment.

Moreover, psychotherapy and non-pharmacological treatment methods have not yet been well developed.

With the same view, Associate Professor Nguyen Van Tuan, director of the NIMH, said that mental disorders accounted for 14 per cent of the global disease burden, and Viet Nam had 10.3 million people in need of mental health care.

So the country was in real need of human resources to provide health care for the people.

But in fact, it lacks high-quality human resources and lecturers for the health care field.

One more problem was that the medical workers and training institutions are unevenly distributed.

They are often concentrated in main cities such as Ha Noi and HCM City, with few in the northern mountainous, Central Highlands and southwest areas.

Training programmes were only focused on university curriculum, with limited pathways for post graduate studies, Tuan said.

There has been no study on the necessary content, composition and duration of training programmes for the major.

Khine Pwint Nwe, founder and chief executive officer of the Z-waka Pte Ltd, said, Myanmar has hundreds of practicing psychiatrists, but the number of psychologists can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Only 10 to 15 people in every 100 receive the care they need and there is only one working psychiatrist for every 260,000 people, she said.

Opportunities

But the new era also opens opportunities for mental healthcare, representatives at the conference said.

Many new treatment methods were available for specialised medical workers to use as reference, and residents can more easily access treatments and other services.

Both medical workers and the people can take advantage of online platforms to raise awareness about mental healths importance.

They can also apply digital technology in therapy.

Dutsadee Juengsiragulwit, director of the Bureau of Mental Health Service, Department of Mental Health under the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, said that mental health care at schools was taken care of on a digital platform.

A school health and educational reintegrating operation (SchoolHealthHERO) was founded in her country as an intersectoral collaboration between the health and education sectors.

It is a timely and user-friendly innovative digital platform for mental health surveillance, support and care for vulnerable students in schools, she said.

Thanks to the platform, 20,480 at-risk students were under collaborative care between the school and health sectors via 681 HERO consultants.

Future plan

Director Trung proposed building a monitoring and early detection system while continuing to organise and deploy mental health management activities in the community.

Mentally ill people should be managed and treated in the community according to family medicine principles, he said.

He suggested completing the management software for mentally ill people so it can be applied in all localities, and establishing contact channels between medical facilities to ensure convenience and ease of access for people when they have mental health-related needs.

Jinsuda Phabmixay, deputy head of the Mental Health Department under the Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane, Laos, had another idea.

She desired collaboration with development partners and other countries for knowledge sharing, study visits, short- and long-term training, technical assistance and research.

To uc, director of the Department of Social Protection under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the social support programme for mentally ill people, autistic children and people with mental disorders in the period of 2021-30 was approved by the Prime Minister.

Under the programme, society, especially families and communities, will work together to increase material and spiritual support, care and rehabilitation for mentally ill people.

It will supply screening, detecting and preventive measures, ensuring social security and improving the quality of social support services, he said.

The programme targets delivering medical services in different forms to about 90 per cent of mentally ill people by 2030. At least 70 per cent of social assistance facilities taking care of mentally ill people will have fitness, sports, cultural and art clubs.

At least 60 per cent of families with mentally ill members will have improved awareness and skills in care, support and community-based rehabilitation for them.

At least 70 per cent of social workers and collaborators in the field of mental healthcare at the grassroots level and in the community will have training to improve their capacity.

With funds from the State and local budget, and legal support from domestic as well as international organisations and individuals, the programme will research and compile manuals to support families with mentally ill people and adolescents.

A monitoring system would also be developed for them, uc said.

The programme will also conduct research to learn from the experiences of countries in the region, and organise competitions to spread information and knowledge related to mental healthcare.

Currently in Viet Nam, the number of people with mental disorders is estimated at 10.5 per cent of the population, equivalent to 10.3 million people, according to statistics of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The country has 45 social protection facilities providing care and rehabilitation for mentally ill people.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has tremendous opportunities to develop its semiconductor industry, but the biggest hurdle to the sectors growth is a lack of high-quality workforce.

The semiconductor industry currently sees huge development potential with cooperation strategies in place with other countries such as Japan, South Korea and the US, said Nguyen Phu Hung, chief of the Department of Science and Technology for Economic Technical Branches (under the Ministry of Science and Technology - MoST).

In Viet Nam-US joint statement on upgrading bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership, the countries leaders - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam's Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joe Biden, also acknowledged Viet Nams potential as a major player in the semiconductor industry.

Hung said: Viet Nam definitely can become one of the countries in the global value chain of this sector.

However, the industry demands qualified high-skilled workers to work with advanced technology.

Statistics from associations in the sector showed that Viet Nam has around 5,000 engineers in semiconductor manufacturing, Hung said.

The MoST has identified technology transfer and coordination as the priorities for human resources training.

Vietnamese scientists and researchers based abroad are welcome to participate in the semiconductor industry development in Viet Nam.

The MoST will also propose policies that encourage local and international businesses to invest in laboratories in Viet Nam or innovation centres in institutes and universities.

The aim is to form research groups that can master and utilise the core technologies of this field.

Hung added: Since 2010, the Prime Minister has included semiconductors in the list of national products, however, we have yet to optimise real-life implementation.

Enterprises with strengths in technology such as Viettel, FPT, CMC, Phenikaa as well as universities and institutes are also encouraged to work together to develop national products related to semiconductors.

This is expected to create an ecosystem that covers all the stages of production from designing to manufacturing.

The MoST puts the focus on mastering chip designs in the semiconductor value chain, as this accounts for 50-60 per cent of the product value.

The ministry will also issue investment and supporting policies related to monitoring and quality control devices to ensure that the output products meet the standards ISO/IEC 17025:2017, while also reducing production time.

This will also decrease costs as products no longer need to be sent abroad for quality checks.

The chief of the Department of Science and Technology for Economic Technical Branches also said: We believe that with these measures and the comprehensive implementation from the ministries, sectors and the government, we can grasp the excellent opportunities that we have.

Innovation policies

According to the Global Innovation Index 2023 published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on September 27 this year, Viet Nam ranked 46th out of 132 countries and economies, rising two positions compared to the previous year.

The country was also placed third in the Southeast Asian region and second in the group of 36 economies with low-middle income.

Viet Nam, together with India and the Republic of Moldova, are considered record holders for impressive achievements in innovation compared to the countrys development rate for the 13th consecutive year.

The MoST has also completed and submitted to the Prime Minister a directive on developing the science-technology market in a comprehensive, effective, modern and integrating manner; a decree specifying the implementation of the law on intellectual property; a decree specifying the functions, tasks, scope of management and organisational structure of the MoST; a resolution transferring the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park from the jurisdiction of the MoST to the Ha Noi Peoples Committee.

The ministry also finished the draft documents related to high-tech parks; the development and application of biotechnology for national sustainable development; comprehensive science-technology and innovation solutions to improve productivity by 2030; addressing projects using outdated technology that could pose harms to the environment; the development of national standards for quality control; and infrastructure development.

MoST officials will also accompany government leaders to seminars and bilateral meetings in Brazil, Cuba, Japan, Australia and Austria to strengthen international cooperation in the field.

In Q4-2023, the MoST will host and co-organise several major events such as Techmart 2023; Techfest Vietnam 2023, the celebration of the World Standards Day, and the meeting of the joint committee on science-technology cooperation between the Vietnamese MoST and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, among others.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has seriously implemented recommendations made by the European Commission (EC) to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Regarding the legal framework, the ministry has closely coordinated with the National Assembly (NA) committees and Government agencies to integrate the EC regulations into domestic laws.

Notably, the Government proposed the legislature approve the Law on Fisheries in November 2017 and issued two decrees. Meanwhile, the ministry issued eight guiding circulars. As a result, the legal framework was essentially completed in 2019, meeting the requirements of the IUU fishing combat.

Viet Nam is continuing to review, amend, and supplement the framework in line with reality and international regulations, as recommended by the EC in its third inspection.

The MARD has set out programmes, projects, and plans on the sustainable development of the fishery sector and the IUU fight and proposed them to the Prime Minister for approval.

The PM has also instructed localities to review their fishing fleets and upgrade their data and information in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), according to the ministry.

Twenty-six out of the 28 coastal cities and provinces have completed the review of their fishing vessels to date.

Up to 97.65 per cent of fishing boats measuring at least 15 metres long nationwide have been equipped with the vessel monitoring system (VMS). The remainder are under supervision.

The fight against IUU fishing has seen the engagement of border guards and law enforcement forces at sea, among others, the ministry said, stressing that no cases of Vietnamese fishing boats encroaching upon foreign waters have been reported so far.

Seafood traceability has been carried out in accordance with the Fisheries Law and the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA).

Regarding law enforcement and administrative punishment by localities and competent forces, the ministry said that since the beginning of this year, the authorities have imposed fines on 2,111 cases with a total of VN44 billion (US$1.8 million).

In terms of international cooperation, Viet Nam signed the Joint Communique on Voluntary International Cooperation to Combat IUU Fishing and to Promote Sustainable Fisheries Governance with Indonesia, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the use of a hotline to deal with IUU fishing with Brunei, along with other documents with Australia and the US.

Viet Nam is negotiating to sign similar hotlines with Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia, while effectively operating that with the Philippines and materialising cooperation agreements in this field with Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines.  VNS
TOKYO  Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son on October 11 said he highly valued Japans educational development, and suggested the country share its experience with Viet Nam to step up bilateral cooperation in this field.

At his meeting with Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama Masahito in Tokyo, Son stressed that Viet Nam wants to learn from foreign countries advanced education, especially Japans policy on general education.

The minister expressed his hope that the two sides will foster collaboration in higher education, with more Vietnamese students to study in Japan, especially through scholarship programmes granted by the Japanese Government and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

He suggested Japan further support Viet Nam in implementing the present projects and work on plans to boost cooperation between the two countries higher education institutions in terms of training, research and the exchange of lectures and students.

Son called on Japan to expand short-term training courses in the country for Vietnamese public servants.

For his part, Moriyama affirmed that Viet Nam is one of Japans strategic partners in Asia-Pacific, saying the two countries have maintained collaboration in general education and student exchanges.

Regarding the exchange of undergraduate and postgraduate students, the minister agreed with his Vietnamese counterparts suggestions, stressing that relevant agencies of both sides need to make greater efforts in this regard.

Moriyama noted with pleasure to witness, together with Son, the exchange of a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and Japans Mizuno Group on cooperation in physical education at primary schools in Viet Nam.

On October 10, Son and his entourage visited the Tokyo Gakugei University and met with the universitys representatives.

He is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on October 13.  VNS
HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai outlined eight crucial missions to develop Viet Nam's collective economy, as he attended the eighth National Farmers' Forum on Thursday.

The forum in Ha Noi, under the theme of "Farmers' Union developing collective economy", was organised by the Viet Nam Farmers' Union, in association with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

"Collective economy is an important economic component that must be strengthened and developed alongside the state economy to become a solid foundation of the national economy," Deputy PM Khai said.

"Emphasising that the development of the collective economy is an essential and objective trend, it is a task of the entire political system."

According to Khai, the Government and the Party see the collective economy as one of four important sectors of the economy, and will create Viet Nam's economic power.

Khai ordered leaders of localities and authorities, as well as the Viet Nam Farmers' Union, to focus on executing eight crucial missions.

One: It is essential to have a correct and comprehensive understanding of the nature, position, role and importance of the collective economy in the market-oriented socialist-oriented economy.

To fulfill this requirement, the Ministry of Planning and Investment should coordinate with relevant agencies in urgently revamping the National Steering Committee on the Collective Economy in accordance with the guidance of the Central Party Committee.

Two: Farmers' unions at all levels should continue to promote, mobilise and guide the establishment of more cooperatives and cooperative groups based on existing agricultural associations and vocational groups.

The general goal is to have 140,000 cooperatives, 45,000 cooperative groups, and 2 million members nationwide by 2030. Newly established cooperatives and cooperative groups should promptly apply advanced scientific and technological achievements to their production.

Three: The "Viet Nam Farmers' Union's Involvement in Developing the Collective Economy in Agriculture" project should be quickly proposed to the Prime Minister for ratification. The project must ensure feasibility and mobilise social resources, encourage innovative approaches and establish sustainable linkages.

Four: For ministries, sectors, and localities, in line with their functions and assigned tasks, they should focus on researching and resolving the difficulties and challenges raised by cooperative representatives at the Forum.

Five: It is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of state management in the field of the collective economy. Prioritise resources, allocate funds and appoint officials to monitor the innovation of the collective economy and cooperatives in organisations and units from the central to local levels.

Six: There is a need to strengthen international cooperation to attract resources for the development of the collective economy and cooperatives in agriculture, expand markets, promote cooperative products, and provide training and development for human resources within cooperative organisations.

Seven: It is of utmost importance that cooperatives take an active, innovative approach and transform their mindset and practices, shifting from agricultural production to agricultural economics with integrated added value.

The products they produce should have a strong brand, high quality, and be market-responsive, particularly aligning with the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program. Cooperatives should also swiftly embrace digital transformation in their production and business activities, actively apply new scientific and technical advancements to modernise production processes, and enhance product competitiveness.

Eight: The Viet Nam Farmers' Forum is a significant initiative that should be maintained as a beneficial platform for farmers to share practical production and business experiences. It should also provide suggestions and recommendations to the Government, the Prime Minister, and relevant ministries, departments, and local authorities to address challenges promptly with effective solutions.

The Viet Nam Farmers' Union should actively engage in promoting, mobilising, and guiding the establishment of cooperatives. Build mechanisms and policies to train, develop, and attract a young, educated workforce to work in cooperatives, meeting the increasing demands for value chain development and international integration.

Cooperatives play key role

At the forum, ang Van Thanh, Deputy Director of the Cooperative Economic Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment, made a presentation on the situation of cooperatives and collective economy in Viet Nam.

According to Thanh, the number of cooperatives has risen during the last 10 years, at an average pace of 4.8 per cent. The numbers rose sharply in 2022, just after Resolution 20-NQ/TW on renovating and developing the collective economy was issued.

Viet Nam currently has 31,700 cooperatives, with 20,357 related to agriculture. The average annual revenue of a cooperative is VN3.592 billion/year (US$143,000), and a worker can earn VN56 million ($2,291) annually.

In just the seven months of 2023, 1,626 cooperatives were established, with 64.64 per cent in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. If compared to the period of 2013-2021, the number of new cooperatives in 2022 is lower, however, the size is much bigger, and the quality is much improved.

Thanh emphasised that in agriculture, cooperatives play a key role in networking and supporting its members both economically and technically.

Cooperatives are well-suited to the specific scale of agricultural production in Viet Nam because they support farmers in forming linkages within value chains, adhering to standards and regulations, ensuring food safety, and connecting with the market.

According to Thanh, developing agricultural cooperatives is crucial in creating huge production zones, specialising in agricultural products, but with a processing and consuming value chain.

Good Farmers' Network introduced

The event also introduced the Viet Nam Good Farmers' Network, which connects more than 800 approved farmers, as well as model cooperatives to share farming experiences.

The initiative was started by the Nong Thon Ngay Nay (Rural Today) newspaper.

"The selected individuals in the Good Farmers' Network are the best of the best, models, pioneers and inspirations for other farmers," said Nguyen Van Hoai, Deputy Editor-in-chief of the newspaper.

The formation of the Viet Nam Good Farmers' Network aims to gather and connect outstanding Vietnamese farmers from different periods, facilitating exchanges, learning, market exploration, and investment cooperation.

It also serves as a platform for sharing experiences and exchanging information in agricultural production, through means of training, farm visits, and social programs.

The network will primarily operate online, but there will also be in-person events planned. VNS
QUANG NINH  ASEAN member countries yesterday adopted a declaration on enhancing early action in disaster management within the ASEAN region during the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province.

The Ha Long Declaration underscored the commitment of ASEAN ministers to enhance the implementation of early action in disaster management within ASEAN, with a special focus on the three main pillars: risk information, forecasting and early warning systems; planning, operation and implementation; and the promotion of pre-allocated financial resources.

The ministers emphasised the continuous efforts aimed at realising the ASEAN Vision 2025 for disaster management to make ASEAN a pioneering region in changing the landscape of disaster management within and outside the ASEAN region.

Additionally, they sought to strengthen ASEAN's leadership role in maintaining its central position, adopting innovative approaches, building sustainable financial systems, multi-sectoral and multilayered management, with people at the core by the year 2025.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to support the implementation of the ASEAN Early Warning Action Framework.

They pledged to achieve the goal of promoting the adoption and dissemination of early action approaches within ASEAN to safeguard people, property and livelihoods in the face of potential disasters, aiming to minimise losses and damages in ASEAN member countries.

Furthermore, they committed to making efforts to enhance regional and national risk information, forecasting and early warning systems.

They recommend that the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and the Board of Directors of the ASEAN Regional Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Disaster Assistance (AHA Centre) conduct research and establish mechanisms for sharing high-quality data within the region and with their partners.

They stressed the importance of enhancing the planning, operation and implementation of early action measures for disaster prevention and response at both regional and national levels.

To achieve this goal, ASEAN member states will continue to promote the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on ONE ASEAN, ONE RESPONSE: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region.

Member states will continue to enhance the financial capacity of the ASEAN region to respond to disasters by promoting cross-sectoral cooperation with other relevant sectors within ASEAN related to finance and risk insurance to implement regional initiatives such as the ASEAN Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Programme and the ASEAN Disaster Risk Insurance Fund.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said Viet Nam will continue to commit to making every effort, actively participating alongside ASEAN member nations in building and effectively implementing common mechanisms for disaster management cooperation within ASEAN countries.

The minister emphasised that the ASEAN region, while a dynamic and developed part of the world, grapples with many challenges due to climate change and natural disasters.

Over the years, tsunamis, super typhoons, floods and severe earthquakes have claimed the lives of many people in ASEAN countries, causing significant disruptions and impeding the development of numerous regions.

Recognising the seriousness of these challenges, ASEAN nations have collaborated to establish and implement cooperative mechanisms with consolidated and progressively evolving visions. This approach involves enhancing information sharing, establishing connectivity at various levels and implementing training programmes to promote advanced approaches.

As the chair of the 2023 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management, Viet Nam has been actively promoting the theme: "From Response to Early Action and Enhanced Resilience, ASEAN Aiming for Global Leadership in Disaster Management."

This theme underscores a new direction in disaster management, shifting from passive response to proactive prevention and preparedness to minimise the impact of disasters.

United in spirit and fortified by strategic trust, ASEAN countries are earnestly collaborating on the principles of equality and mutual respect, all in pursuit of mutual benefits.

With determination and responsibility of the nations in the region, ASEAN countries believe that they can elevate their collective strength together, overcome challenges of climate change and natural disasters, safeguard the achievements of their collective efforts over the years, and propel ASEAN forward to remain a region of development, prosperity and security in the world, the minister said.  VNS
By Thanh Nga

From a distance, Hoang Manh Chien appears the master artisan. Despite his sweaty body, he remains passionately dedicated to crafting extraordinary, beautiful knives.

Chien, a young blacksmith, is among the few individuals in Viet Nam who possess the skill to forge kind of legendary Damascus steel. This type of metal is renowned for producing exquisite swords and knives.

With his beautifully patterned knives, Chien is in the vanguard of forging Damascus steel in a Sy blacksmith village, located in Kien Hung Ward, Ha ong District, on the outskirts of Ha Noi.

"I have only been pursuing this profession for about two years, but it feels as though it's ingrained in my blood. Perhaps it's because I grew up surrounded by hammers in my relatives' workshops in the village, which has been celebrated for centuries for its high-quality farm tools and cutlery," Chien told Viet Nam News.

"I have had a passion for blacksmithing since I was young. As I grew up, I attended a vocational college and worked for a business in Vinh Phuc Province. However, my love for blacksmithing persisted. During the COVID quarantine two years ago, I returned to my a Sy native village, and decided to abandon everything for blacksmithing. I spent six months re-learning and honing my skills at my uncle's smithy. It was during this time that I gradually began forging Damascus steel."

Through his research, Chien discovered that Damascus steel, originating from the Middle East, possesses exceptional properties. The technique for forging this type of steel has been lost since the 17th century.

"When I started, I had doubts about the authenticity of the videos showcasing this type of knife. I didn't dare try it myself. However, I delved into extensive research, studying types of steel and the process of crafting knives with distinct vein patterns. The most challenging aspect was sourcing the steel required, as it is scarce in the Vietnamese market," he said.

"As a newcomer to the craft, acquiring small quantities for practice proved difficult. Consequently, I resorted to using scrap steel and experimented with combining different pieces. Fortunately, my initial attempt at forging steel to test its viability for making Damascus knives was a success."

Despite this initial success, he encountered numerous setbacks and made many mistakes. At times, he felt disheartened. However, after seeking guidance from experienced blacksmiths in the village, Chien learned that improper fire temperatures resulted in undesirable products.

"Once I became proficient in controlling the fire using charcoal and forging manually, I began contemplating establishing a small workshop of my own," he said.

The process of crafting a Damascus steel knife involves several distinct stages. It takes approximately two to three days to make a knife, selling for VN1 million to 2 million.

Unlike forging knives from a single ingot of steel, Damascus steel is entirely handmade, and the steel forging process alone takes an entire day.

The defining characteristic of Damascus steel is its multitude of layers. Starting with a billet comprising more than 30 layers, the steel is tempered, stretched, cut into sections, and then stacked three to four times. The Damascus steel knives created by Chien boast more than 100 layers.

Chien's knives exhibit naturally flowing, circular, layered lines on their surfaces.

Vietnamese knives are known for their exceptional sharpness. However, they are often made from scrap steel, such as car springs, which makes them prone to oxidation, rust, and unattractive designs.

Chien's products are increasingly meeting the demands of consumers who desire a set of knives that are not only convenient and sharp, but also aesthetically pleasing in the kitchen.

Chien is among the few young individuals in the a Sy blacksmith village to continue the ancient craft.

"Currently, there are still over 1,000 households engaged in blacksmithing in our village, but the numbers are dwindling. The skilled artisans are getting older, and the younger generation is losing interest in the trade. I aspire to contribute to the preservation of our craft by exploring new directions," Chien said.

"As society progresses, traditional crafts are in danger of being lost. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that handmade products will continue to be appreciated. I intend to dedicate myself to this profession for the rest of my life. I am continuously honing my knife-making skills, hoping that more people will soon become acquainted with my products." VNS
By Thanh Nga

Hai Phong tourism has captivated visitors with its myriad interesting destinations and rich cuisine. The Long Chau archipelago is an ideal spot for those who are looking for a new place to travel and experience when visiting the northern port city.

The archipelago is located in Cat Hai District, approximately 50km from the coast of Hai Phong port city. It is very well known because it is home to a lighthouse built more than 100 years ago.

The archipelago is composed of more than 30 limestone islets and reefs. It features sharp, pointed rocks amid the deep blue skies and seas.

The almost bare islands are uninhabited; there are only a team of men guarding the lighthouse, which allows this rocky outpost to retain its inherent wildness and majestic beauty bestowed by nature.

It is necessary to obtain permission from the Long Chau Border Guard Station to visit the islands.

From central Hai Phong City, one can travel to Beo Wharf, Cat Hai District, to rent a boat to the islands. Each boat can carry about 10 people, and the average rental price is from VN400,000 - VN600,000 per boat.

Sitting on the boat, inhaling the sea breeze, and gazing at the towering rocky mountains in the vast ocean, one can truly relax and experience a sense of peace.

During the journey, we passed through an intriguing area called Lan Ha Bay, a calm, arc-shaped bay with a shimmering strip of water divided by large and small limestone islands, creating a breathtaking natural scene.

The islands finally come into view after about 30 minutes. In the middle of the vast ocean, a tall mountain stands proudly with a lighthouse, as if challenging the test of time.

Upon arrival, we headed to a clear blue beach right at the foot of the lighthouse. This quiet space belonged solely to our group, the vast skies and cool blue seas. It exceeded our expectations and provided a rich experience.

The beach is located deep in the bay, resulting in calm and gentle waves. It is not very deep, making it perfect for swimming. There were only a few people on the large, white beach with clear blue water. We could freely lie on the sandy shore, gaze at the skies and relax without being bothered by anyone.

After enjoying our swim, we took a leisurely walk around the islands and visited the stone lighthouse, built in 1894 during the French colonial era.

Long Chau Lighthouse stands at an impressive height of 110m above sea level. It is one of the three oldest lighthouses in Viet Nam, along with Hon Dau also in Hai Phong, and Ke Ga in the central province of Phan Thiet.

From a distance, we immediately spot the lighthouse tower with a distinctive dome rising skywards. Its strong light reaching up to 27 nautical miles away warns and guides ships and boats arriving and departing from Hai Phong Port. The lighthouse is also known as the "Long Chau pearl eye" by seafarers.

Standing on the windy lighthouse and gazing into the distance, we could see the sharp and jagged rock formations. Further off, Lan Ha Bay unfolded before us, showcasing the majestic beauty of the seas, skies, and limestone isles amid the emerald green waters.

We had a cheery chat with some border guards stationed on Long Chau, who were happy to tell us about the history of the place. The soldiers spend most of their time on the island, only visiting home once a year. Long Chau is their home.

Mai Tien Manh, a native of Hai Phong's outlying district of Tien Lang, has been assigned to work at Long Chau Lighthouse since January last year. He is in charge of maintaining equipment, lights, machines, and observing the sea for any incidents during the day. At night, they turn on the lights to warn and guide sea craft.

The most enduring challenge for those on the islands is the lack of fresh water. There is no underground water source, so they rely mainly on rainwater kept in tanks and water transported from the mainland.

The soldiers' efforts and dedication to protecting the lighthouse are supported by fishermen in surrounding areas.

Pham Van Dung from Cat Ba Town, who has been working as a fisherman since 2012, said that seeing the lighthouse during the day and its lights at night brought a sense of comfort to those at work at sea.

When the staff at Long Chau Lighthouse have urgent duties on the mainland, Dung and other fishermen are willing to temporarily leave their own work to provide support.

After our visit to the lighthouse, we returned to a raft house moored around the islands, where we had arranged to stay overnight.

This particular raft house specialises in catching and selling seafood such as shrimp, crabs, squid, snails, and oysters.

Whatever we wanted to eat, we could get directly from the raft house, and the owner cooked them into delicious dishes. In just a few minutes, we found ourselves enjoying a hearty party, full of sea food, iced beer, and more important, laughter. VNS
After 3 great welcoming "giants" Honda, Samsung, and Aeon, Vietnam is about to witness the fourth foreign investment boom, especially from the US.

"Vietnam may be receiving a new foreign investment boom" - Nikkei Asia commented in a recent article.

According to Nikkei, US President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam last month seems to have opened a new era of expanding economic links between the two countries.

During a visit to the headquarters of "chip manufacturing giant" Nvidia in San Francisco on September 19, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to establish a production base in Vietnam and take advantage of it as a production center in Southeast Asia.

Nvidia is a top manufacturer of chips to power artificial intelligence systems. Responding actively to the Prime Minister's proposal, Mr. Huang said that Vietnam is undergoing great changes. The prime minister also met other prominent figures in the US technology sector, including Bill Gates - Microsoft founder, senior executives at Meta, and Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Mr. Biden's visit to Vietnam also brought about a number of major business deals. Vietnam Airlines has signed an initial agreement to buy 50 Boeing 737 Max jets in a deal worth about $10 billion.

FPT Software also announced a strategic cooperation with American startup Landing AI. Synopsys, a leading semiconductor company, has signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate to assist the Vietnamese semiconductor industry enhance its chip design workforce and R&D manufacturing capacity.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also requested to make a human resources development project, training 30,000-50,000 engineers and 100 experts in digital transformation and semiconductor chip production.

In the past, Vietnam has seen three major booms in foreign direct investment. The first time happened when Honda Motor started producing motorbikes in Vietnam in 1997.

The second wave lasted from the early 2000s until 2008. Notably, South Korea's Samsung Electronics invested in a mobile phone production facility in Bac Ninh province in 2009.

And the third boom took place strongly in the mid-2010s. With increasing purchasing power, Vietnam is also becoming an attractive market for foreign consumer businesses. For example, Aeon opened its first store in Vietnam, Aeon Mall Tan Phu Celadon, in HCM City, 2014.

Nikkei Asia believes that now, President Biden's visit can stimulate a wave of US investment in Vietnam.

Vietnam is attempting to shift from labor-intensive industries such as garment manufacturing and electronics assembly to high-tech industries with higher added value. Cooperation with US technology companies, especially those dominant in the semiconductor and AI sectors, will be crucial for the transformation of the country's industrial structure.
Amkor is one of the world's largest providers of outsourced semiconductor packaging, design, and test services with thousands of diverse semiconductor products rendered to trusted customers and partners globally.

The fresh factory at Yen Phong 2C Industrial Park is deemed the smartest and most state-of-the art factory in the group's global assembly and testing system, focusing on providing Advanced System in Package solutions.

The new facility will span 230,000 sq.m, with a total investment value touching $1.6 billion. Amkor will produce, assemble and test semiconductor materials to feed the burgeoning needs from strategic partners who are global tech giants, such as Qualcomm, Samsung, Apple, NVIDIA, Foxconn, Broadcom, LG, and SK Hynix.

The Amkor Yen Phong 2C (Bac Ninh) facility will aid the formation and development of Vietnams semiconductor ecosystem, laying the bedrock for Vietnam to carve a spot on the world map of semiconductor component manufacturing.

Amkor's global largest factory at Yen Phong 2C IP in Bac Ninh

At the launch ceremony, CEO of Amkor Technology Vietnam Kim Sung Hun expressed his gratitude to Viglacera Corporation and Bac Ninh provinces leaders for supporting and creating better conditions for helping the company achieve construction progress, especially during the pandemic.

With seamless and compelling infrastructure, the Amkor Bac Ninh facility is set to become an important base, a pillar in the group's operational network for sustainable development.

Amkor Technologys choice to invest in Yen Phong 2C Industrial Park once again affirms the capacity and reputation of Viglacera as an industrial park (IP) developer.

With a more than 20-year track record in industrial real estate development, Viglacera is deemed one of the top businesses in foreign investment attraction, particularly enticing global tech and clean energy players.

Each of Viglacera's IPs features the presence of top corporations such as Samsung, Amkor, Hyosung, Foxconn, Qisda, BYD, Kortek, and Canon.

To meet strict requirements from these global partners, Viglaceras IPs eye synchronous technical and social infrastructure systems, buoyed with compelling utility services.

IPs developed by Viglacera host synchronous and modern technical infrastructure

Among them, it is impossible not to mention the urban areas and housing complexes catered for workers at the IPs.

The projects attest Viglacera's social responsibility in ensuring social wellbeing, solving workers accommodation, indirectly supporting costs and creating abundant human resources for businesses as well as regenerating labour resources.

Viglacera's IPs have been operating effectively, eyeing the fastest occupancy rate in the region, and are a trusted investment destination for more than 300 domestic and foreign businesses, enticing more than $16 billion of foreign direct investment.

By 2025, Viglacera aims to bolster the number of IPs in its portfolio to 20 with 10-plus fresh IPs, with a total additional area from 2,000-3,000ha to develop industrial land.

Viglacera's IPs are located in six localities in Vietnams northern and central regions, providing diverse choices for investors. With cleared space, complete and modern infrastructure, the IPs are poised to welcome businesses to rent and build factories.

For enquiries, please contact: Viglacera Corporation Hotline: (+84) 888 25 22 88 | Website: viglaceraip.com

Aurora IP to host $30 million Singaporean megaproject The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association forecasts garment and textile exports to surpass $45 billion this year, driven by the opportunities provided by new free trade agreements (FTAs).

Synopsys to bolster semiconductor development in Vietnam US semiconductor-maker Synopsys has inked deals with Vietnamese partners to advance semiconductor development in Vietnam.

FPT Semiconductor and Silvaco forge business partnership Vietnam's FPT Semiconductor JSC is teaming up with US-based Silvaco to enhance human resources development in the semiconductor sector, with plans to establish a training centre in Vietnam and expand business in advanced tech areas.
Binh Thuan has identified the industrial sector as one of the three pillars of its development, and the province has made great strides in improving the local investment climate and enhancing competitiveness to entice major businesses to the area.

The province has presented solutions on revising local industrial park (IP) development planning scheme attuned to its socioeconomic development master plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050.

In the first half of this year, Binh Thuan ratified 14 different projects, pushing the total number of ventures in the province to 1,620, including 121 funded by overseas investors.

In addition, Binh Thuan is focusing on reforming administrative procedures following the one-stop shop model associated with strengthening IT applications. These measures are improving the local investment and business environment to meet the growing requirements of the province's people and businesses.

Binh Thuan is home to Vinh Tan International Port and the construction of Phan Thiet airport is ongoing. The Dau Giay - Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet - Vinh sections of the North-South motorway have been completed and put into operation, facilitating better connections between Binh Thuan and localities in southern Vietnam.

Ham Kiem 1 Industrial Park has recently completed its technical infrastructure, home to 14 secondary investors from various industries and has a lease rate of over 38 per cent.

Clearing such infrastructural bottlenecks has been instrumental in growing the number of tourists coming to the province, as well as more foreign-invested enterprises.

By leveraging its immense development potential, Binh Thuan has attracted top domestic and international businesses such as Becamex-VSIP, Sonadezi, AES Group, PV Gas, Power PLC from the UK, and Sojitz from Japan, among several others.

Ham Kiem 1 Industrial Park has proven to be an ideal venue as it's conveniently located close to major roads such as National Highway 1 and the Phan Thiet - Vinh Hao motorway, and has quick and easy connections to Phan Thiet airport, Vinh Tan seaport, and the railways.

The park has recently completed its technical infrastructure and is home to 14 secondary investors from various industries and has a lease rate of over 38 per cent.

Investors at the park also enjoy a favourable corporate income tax policy for a period of 10 years at an annual tax rate of 17 per cent, compared to the standard 20 per cent.

In addition, developer Hoang Quan Binh Thuan Consulting Trading Real Estate Service JSC provides investors with a highly efficient support network, offering incentives for factory and office designs and human resource support.

Binh Thuan is also focusing on attracting and retaining factory staff through innovative housing and public utility schemes to enrich the leisure time of workers, with the developer setting aside 13.5 hectares to build social housing at Ham Kiem 1.

The Ham Kiem 1 housing project has a total investment of approximately $38 million, including 955 town houses and more than 200 apartments.

Building housing complexes at the industrial parks had proven to help workers feel more secure in their jobs and can lead them to be more productive and live better social lives.

Leveraging outstanding values, Ham Kiem 1 IP aims to bring favourable and sustainable investment opportunities, helping businesses to best avail themselves of current economic rebound brimmed with many positive signals.

Project name: Ham Kiem 1 Industrial Park Investor: Hoang Quan Binh Thuan Consulting Trading Real Estate Service JSC Location: Ham Kiem and Ham My communes, Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province. Website: https://hoangquanbinhthuan.com.vn/ Hotline: 0918043264 or 0909111208

Rooftop solar event entices EPC contractors and investment funds On March 3, DAT Solar  both a major EPC contractor and a comprehensive supplier of rooftop solar power products  successfully organised a workshop on optimal rooftop solar technology and products for Commercial and Industrial (C&I) projects in 2023 along with introducing prominent features of novel products by its strategic partners, Sungrow and Canadian Solar (CSI).

Compal Electronics arrives with $260 million investment in Thai Binh Renowned electronics manufacturer Compal Electronics has made a substantial investment of $260 million in Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park in the northern province of Thai Binh, delivering a boost to Vietnam's industrial growth prospects.
By Yi Whan-woo

Yu Sung-hun, a former executive at Shinhan Financial Group, finds credibility as the biggest asset that he brings to L&F, a battery materials maker where he was scouted as the chief financial officer (CFO) in September.

Yu, 58, spent 18 years in investor relations (IR) business at the banking group, responsible for providing investors with accurate accounts of company affairs.

He is in charge of IR at L&F, a promising, tech-heavy Kosdaq-listed manufacturer that reported record annual sales of 3.88 trillion won ($2.89 billion) in 2022.

A Daegu-based manufacturer, L&F nevertheless is struggling with a decline in profitability due to currency volatility and losses on lithium inventory valuation.

For instance, its operating profit slid for three consecutive quarters throughout the second quarter this year  from 53.3 billion won to 40.4 billion won and then to 3 billion won.

Even under such circumstances, being transparent, trustworthy and frank is what matters, and these are the values that I put into practice persistently as I communicated with the market at Shinhan Financial Group, Yu told The Korea Times this week.

A company is tempted to not disclose financial weakness that can work against it in drawing investment while highlighting, and even glamorizing its strengths, he said, adding, And I would say I prioritized openness as a key criterion during my 18 years in the IR business.

Yu implicitly hinted at his credibility throughout the market by pointing out that his customers remain largely unchanged even after his career turned from finance to manufacturing.

He was a founding member of the IR unit at Shinhan Financial Group when it was launched in 2001, faithfully building expertise as on both working and senior levels, before being promoted to CFO of Shinhan Asset Management, a group subsidiary in 2020.

He served as the CFO for three years thereafter, before moving to L&F.

Yus expertise in the IR business is apparently self-explanatory considering he was ranked top in Asia twice  in 2011 and 2015  in an IR poll conducted by Institutional Investor magazine.

Throughout the year, Institutional Investor publishes global research rankings in the field of finance that serve as industry benchmarks.

Yu humbly attributed the honors he received to Shinhan Financial Groups corporate culture, saying, The principle of trust perhaps could not last if corporate culture was not supportive of such a principle.

He said he is hopeful that L&F has a similar corporate culture as his former workplace, saying, I joined L&F because it is very open, dynamic and forward-looking.
This prestigious win follows Citi Vietnams award in 2022 for Best Corporate Bank from Asiamoney.

The Asiamoney Awards honour banks that have demonstrated exceptional performance across various core banking activities over the past 12 months.

Citis remarkable range of offerings and notable activities across corporate and investment banking, treasury and trade solution services, commercial banking, and securities services were highlighted by the publication.

Led by Citis country officer Ramachandran A.S, Citi Vietnam serves multinational companies seeking to capitalise on Vietnam's rapid growth and increasing per-capita income.

The bank manages the largest portfolio of Fortune 500 companies in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam and facilitates annual international trade flows exceeding $90 billion.

Citi Vietnam plays a pivotal role as partner to some of Vietnam's top corporations and financial institutions.

Over the past five years, Citi has successfully raised close to $6 billion from global capital markets to support the growth of its clients in Vietnam.

The bank is a key player in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) financing in the country. Through Citi's contribution in creating sustainable business models, Vietnam's progress towards achieving net-zero emissions is being accelerated.

Citi has collaborated closely with authorities to establish more efficient frameworks for green finance and support Hanoi's carbon-reduction strategy.

Most notably, Citi played a key role in Vietnams first voluntary carbon credit (VCC) transaction.

Acting as the offtaker, Citi purchased VCCs from a project developer manufacturing cooking stoves and water purifiers for low-income rural Vietnamese communities.

Additionally, the bank played a pioneering role in arranging and structuring an emissions reduction-linked bond with the World Bank, facilitating prepayment financing for the project developer.

The Asiamoney awards are determined by a team of senior journalists who carefully evaluate detailed submissions from market participants. These decisions are made in conjunction with extensive research conducted by their editorial committee into the banking and capital markets.

Vietnam climbs two positions in Global Innovation Index 2023 Vietnam has risen to 46th place out of the 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

BAC A BANK twice-honoured at APEA 2023 BAC A BANK has been awarded a prize at this year's Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA 2023), and Thai Huong, the bank's general director, has been honoured with an award in the 'Master Entrepreneur' category.
The ceremony took place on October 6 in the Deep C 2 Industrial Zone in Haiphong, where Core5 Vietnams maiden project is strategically located with its superior infrastructure and environmentally sustainable planning.

Indochina Kajima plans to invest aggressively in Vietnams burgeoning industrial sector under the Core5 Vietnam brand.

Peter Ryder, Indochina Capitals CEO said, Core5 Vietnam will initially focus on northern Vietnam, but with the unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability, and value creation that we have applied to our past projects, we plan to roll out a collection of exceptional industrial assets across the country.

Core5 Vietnams current portfolio covers 80 hectares of land, including seven projects in northern Vietnam and one in the South that covers approximately 700,000 square metres.

The first three projects, which are located in the North, will offer nearly 228,000sq.m of world-class, LEED-certified factories for lease. In addition to Core5 Haiphong's 87,000sq.m, two more projects are under construction in Quang Ninh and Hung Yen provinces, supplying nearly 141,000sq.m of factories by early 2024.

The pre-opening ceremony marked the completion of the first two blocks of Core5 Haiphong, ahead of the handover to the first tenants in November.

True to Core5 Vietnams commitment to sustainability, the event featured a mini-conference focusing on net-zero and an MoU signing ceremony between Core5 and its partners that will contribute to its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda and net-zero strategies.

Christopher Piro, development director of Indochina Kajima said, With Indochina Capital and Kajima's deep roots in the hospitality sector, we aim to bring some of our flare, style, and service standards to the industrial sector. Our goal is to develop a unique design concept for Haiphong by working with an international architect from Switzerland."

"Aside from the aesthetics, another key pillar of the project is sustainability. We are proud to announce that the Core5 Factory Village is the first ready-built factory in Haiphong that adheres to LEED standards with efficient operating systems, rooftop solar panels, and health and wellness areas for tenants, he added.

Core5 Factory Village has been conceptualised as a community for innovative, best-in-class tenants who appreciate a high-class working environment. The concept will deliver three main benefits for its occupiers, namely faster incubation and accelerated business growth, operational cost savings by reducing waste and sharing utilities, and meeting the ESG requirements of the supply chain.

Despite the economic headwinds of the last few years, there have been some green shoots of recovery of late. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first nine months of this year is a good example. Haiphong ranks second in Vietnam with $2.24 billion in FDI being registered in the third quarter of 2023.

Paul Tonkes, industrial deputy director of Indochina Kajima, provided some insight into Core5's outlook.

"Since we commenced leasing activities at Core5 Haiphong, we have noted significant demand from many manufacturers who prefer the quick market entry or expansion offered by the ready-built factory model. We expect demand for this product to continue growing over the long term," he said.

Core5 Vietnam also created a unique experience for its guests and tenants at a Belgian Beer Festival in the Czech Vietnam Friendship Cultural Centre from October 6 to 8. Guests celebrated and enjoyed networking while being catered for by Wink Hotel, an urban hotel chain developed by Indochina Kajima.

The sixth Wink Hotels broke ground in Haiphong Indochina Kajima Development Ltd. held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wink Hotels Haiphong Centre at 135 Dien Bien Phu on August 18.

Industrial real estate on growth agenda of Indochina Kajima Realising the promising land of industrial real estate, developer Indochina Kajima has set foot in the segment with the ambition of becoming one of the leading world-class multi-segment property names.

Core5 to set up one-stop factory and warehouse solutions Core5 Vietnam aims to raise the bar within the country's industrial property market to welcome the new wave of foreign investment. Peter Ryder, CEO at Indochina Capital talked with VIR's Nguyen Huong about the expansion of Core5.

Indochina Kajima holds ground-breaking ceremony for Wink Hotel Can Tho Centre Indochina Kajima Development Limited, a joint venture between Indochina Capital, a leading real estate developer in Vietnam, and Kajima Corporation, one of Japans largest general contractors and overseas real estate developers, held a ground-breaking ceremony for its latest venture, the Wink Hotel Can Tho Centre, on September 16.
Vietnam is progressing towards adopting a global minimum tax (GMT). How is this initiative intertwined with the broader economic development strategy of the country, and what is the timeline for its implementation?

Duong Hoang, partner and head of Tax at KPMG in Vietnam

Vietnams decision to move towards the implementation of GMT aligns with its broader political resolution related to tax reforms, foreign investment attraction, and socioeconomic development strategies targeted for 2030. This strategic move is anchored by the prime ministers sustainable development vision, which, among other things, emphasises combating profit shifting, championing transparency, and bolstering investor confidence.

Drawing from the Pillar II guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Vietnam is recalibrating its strategy. Rather than predominantly leaning on tax incentives, the country seeks to foster a diversified competitive ecosystem.

On September 28, the National Assembly Standing Committee were giving comments on the draft resolution on the application of additional corporate income tax in accordance with global anti-base erosion provisions. Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc also voiced his opinion that Vietnam should support and proactively apply the GMT regulation from 2024, which is set to create a favourable mechanism to encourage enterprises to pay additional taxes in the country. This ambitious timeline, however, hinges on the National Assemblys (NA) nod, which we anticipate might transpire in their 15th session in October.

Key elements of the proposal include the income inclusion rule and the qualified domestic minimum top-up tax, targeted at both foreign and domestic businesses with a global revenue of at least 750 million ($790 million).

How does the Pillar II model shape Vietnams tax strategy to remain competitive and appealing to foreign investments, particularly in light of the unanimous minimum tax rate of 15 per cent?

Global tax shift forces inevitable adjustment, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

Vietnam, being one of 142 markets that signed the framework agreement, has its investment partners and recipients both covered by this accord. Thus, Vietnamese businesses investing abroad and multinationals investing in Vietnam, with global revenue of at least the aforementioned threshold, will be subject to this new tax landscape under Pillar II. The core premise is to ensure a level playing field for all businesses operating across borders.

If Vietnam chooses not to enforce the GMT, companies would still be liable for additional taxes in their home countries or wherever their parent companies are based. Thus, the net effect remains a uniform 15 per cent tax rate.

The real challenge and focus now is to maintain Vietnams attractiveness as a top-tier investment destination. Leveraging advantages like expansive land resources, abundant labour, and expansive trade networks with significant players remains a priority. The stable political climate further consolidates Vietnams edge.

In the context of shifting production trends, how is the country positioning itself to continue attracting foreign investment, especially in high-tech and green sectors?

Vietnams strategic assets, from its vast labour pool to a comprehensive trade network, have consistently positioned it as a preferred investment locale. Stability, both politically and economically, is a unique advantage that Vietnam possesses.

In addition, the country has been a beneficiary of the recent trend where multinational groups are diversifying their production bases, moving from China to other countries. Vietnam has already demonstrated strengths in certain sectors, notably electronics and high technology. New areas like electric vehicles and their manufacturing ecosystem are emerging.

This trend is expected to remain central to Vietnams strategic focus until at least 2030. Additionally, Vietnam is exploring avenues in green technology and renewable energy. To further attract foreign funding in these high-priority sectors, there are proposals for amendments to the investment law which will cater to preferential treatments and incentives. These incentives are not just tax-based but also encompass broader benefits. Vietnams high-tech sector, in particular, proposes incentives not just for multinationals but also for domestic enterprises, even those outside the 750 million ($788.1 million) revenue bracket, provided they meet certain research and development criteria. As the global competitive landscape intensifies, Vietnam is determined to maintain its competitive edge by timely adjusting its policies to continue attracting high-tech projects.

Amid global foreign direct investment (FDI) slowdowns and high interest rates, to what extent are tax reforms in Vietnam anticipated to impact inflow?

Tax reforms are not seen as a primary factor slowing down such investment. Global FDI is currently in a slowdown, and given the high interest rate environment, the financial benefits of investments are not as straightforward. Investors should tread with caution, unsure of how the next 2-3 years will pan out, especially in the face of prolonged inflation and high interest rates.

However, Vietnam, like other countries, is in the process of reviewing and reforming its tax policies, and more clarity on the direction is expected post the upcoming NA session. By 2024, there will be definitive changes in laws and policies related to investments.
Nitori, Japan's largest furniture and home-furnishing retail chain, has a plan to open its first store in Vietnam. The move is part of the company's strategy to take on Ikea in Asia with new Thailand and Vietnam stores.

"Our rival is Ikea," Nitori said, adding that the next five years will be decisive.

Accordingly, Nitori plans to open 77 stores this fiscal year, more than double its year-earlier tally. It has already added locations in China and Taiwan and plans to enter six other markets for the first time, including Vietnam and Indonesia. Next fiscal year, it aims to launch more locations abroad than in Japan, as reported by Nikkei Asia.

Before any upcoming retail presence in Vietnam, Nitori has had already set up its manufacturing base in Vietnam. The group boasts two in-house factories in Hanoi and the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Covering a total area of about 160,000 square metres, the Hanoi factory began operation in 2005. Meanwhile, the total area of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau factory is about 400,000sq.m, which is about 2.5 times that of the Hanoi factory.

According to a Mordor Intelligence report, the scale of the Vietnamese furniture market is expected to expand from $1.4 billion in 2023 to $1.82 billion in 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.33 per cent during the period.

As a result, Vietnam's furniture market has attracted major international brands to enter the country, such as Thailand's Central Retail with its Come Home brand. Meanwhile, existing players, such as Danish retail chain JYSK, continue to expand their presence in Vietnam.

Wood and timber sector anticipating strong finish to year Wood and timber firms have reported an uptake in orders and are taking measures to increase exports in the build up to vibrant year-end shopping season.

Diverse retail players turn heads towards interior design Vietnams furniture industry is witnessing adaptation and diversification as businesses tap into the lucrative domestic market of interior design, driven by evolving consumer preferences.
The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) convened a session with its member firms on October 10 to assess the preparedness for the forthcoming roll-out of the Korean Exchange's (KRX) IT system, a pivotal move in the nation's stock market infrastructure.

Recent testing results suggest a varied landscape of readiness. Out of 76 securities companies, 59 have successfully tested all the system's functions, representing a promising 77.6 per cent success rate. Among these, Pinetree was noted for fully completing all functional tests.

Conversely, 17 firms, including prominent names like MB Securities (at 85.71 per cent functionality), Viet First Securities (90 per cent), VPS Securities (95 per cent), VNDirect Securities (95.3 per cent), and SSI Securities (97.6 per cent) are yet to achieve full test success.

Seven members, including ACB Securities, VIX Securities (with the lowest readiness score at 50 per cent), and SaigonBank Berjaya Securities, are languishing below the 80 per cent threshold.

The Vietnam Securities Depository and its members have collaboratively executed their entire scripted testing sequence concerning stock payment offset systems and security registrations.

However, a lingering concern is the current low go-live readiness rating for the KRX system among market members. Only 10 members, or 13.2 per cent, are adjudged to be fully ready, while a staggering 86.8 per cent are yet to reach that point.

Deputy chairwoman of the HSX, Nguyen Thi Viet Ha stressed, "The Ministry of Finance is resolved to operationalise the KRX system by year-end. Securities companies that are unprepared for this transition will face consequences. The onus is on them. If they are not ready, HSX will proceed regardless. Any fallout will squarely be the securities firms' responsibility."

Earlier in August, only 32.8 per cent of the 76 securities firms had achieved a 100 per cent test success rate with the KRX system's functionality. This underscores the critical progress made in the intervening period but also highlights the road ahead.

By mid-September, the Vietnam Stock Exchange (VNX) had issued directives urging its member firms to rigorously complete the second round of KRX system testing. It was clarified that firms unable to connect with the KRX system would not meet VNX membership criteria, and as such, would risk losing their member status and would be fully liable to their clientele.

On the current timeline, Vietnam is planning for the final testing phase in November. The system is expected to be prepped to go-live on December 11, with formal operations commencing by year-end.
The strategic partnership was signed on October 11, allowing Shinhan Bank to offer Samsung Vina's property insurance products to its corporate clientele.

With this new agreement, Shinhan Bank will distribute property insurance offerings across its branches throughout Vietnam. This will enable its corporate customers to tap into a suite of enhanced insurance services backed by the expertise of Samsung Vina Insurance.

Kang Gew Won, CEO of Shinhan Bank Vietnam, expressed confidence in the collaboration by saying, This cooperation will help leverage the effectiveness, potential, and strengths of both sides to improve capacity and create competitive advantages for both Shinhan Bank and Samsung Vina Insurance.

Echoing his sentiments, Ye Young Hae, general director of Samsung Vina Insurance, highlighted their shared vision for sustainable growth, effective risk management, and superior customer service.

He remarked, "This signing ceremony lays a foundation for the relationship between the two parties and for further successes in the future."

Recent shifts in the non-life insurance sector have seen steady annual growth in premium revenues. In the first half of 2023, property insurance made up 29 per cent of the total, registering a growth rate of 10.9 per cent on-year.

Through this collaboration with Samsung Vina Insurance, a trusted name in the industry, Shinhan Bank aims to provide its business customers with tailored insurance choices and holistic banking solutions from a single point of contact.

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.
On October 5, Sofitel Saigon Plaza hosted an enchanting anniversary dinner in its opulent Diamond Hall, attracting the presence of Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel.

At this extraordinary soiree, the hotel had the privilege of hosting esteemed guests, ranging from international diplomats and government officials to renowned celebrities, CEOs of prominent corporations, and dedicated Heartists  Accor team members  who have passionately served Sofitel Saigon Plaza for over two decades.

The honoured guests were invited to enjoy a sumptuous six-course dinner crafted by chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants in Asia and France and others from the big screen. The exquisite evening was topped off with spectacular performances blending these two cultures.

To mark the occasion, Heartists, who have been with the property since its opening, were highlighted and recognised for their exceptional commitment and remarkable work.

Bailly commented, "Over these two and a half decades, we have not only celebrated the excellence of Sofitel, but also the enchanting partnership between Ho Chi Minh City's vibrant spirit and the elegance of French heritage. This celebration embodies the essence of our vision, where the rich traditions of the city meet the sophistication of French savoir-faire, creating a world of endless delight and unforgettable moments."

Mario Mendis, general manager of Sofitel Saigon Plaza added, "It is a privilege to be part of an establishment that has redefined luxury, elegance, and service in Ho Chi Minh City. Our gratitude goes to our valued guests, passionate team, and partners who have shown unwavering support throughout this journey. This anniversary pays tribute to our past and reaffirms our dedication to offering unforgettable experiences to our guests into the future."

The festivities provided a delightful array of culinary experiences, including immersive cooking classes, exclusive lunches and dinners, and an unforgettable brunch featuring renowned chefs.

The lineup included Sebastien Voelker (French pastry chef), Truc Dinh (Vietnamese chef), Shozo Tsuruhara (Japanese chef), Victor Savall (Spanish pastry chef), Sakal Phoeung (French-Cambodian chef), Keiko Nagae (French-Japanese pastry chef), Vuong Vo (Vietnamese chef), Adrien Guenzi (French chef), and Thierry Renou (French chef from a Michelin-starred restaurant).

Founded almost 60 years ago, Sofitel was the first French luxury hotel brand to develop an international network of hotels and resorts. Each of the establishments now artfully blends the French art-de-vivre with the essence of the local destination, offering chic design, the best of the culinary arts, and an exceptional personalised service.

The 25th anniversary was an illustration of the cultural link between France and Vietnam, exemplifying the symbolism of the Sofitel logo, which signifies the seamless blending of French and local cultures.

Since its establishment in 1998, Sofitel Saigon Plaza has consistently delivered a 5-star luxury experience marked by heartfelt service and hospitality excellence in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Globally acclaimed throughout the decades, it has welcomed dignitaries and political figures, including the former French President Francois Hollande and the US Secretary of State John Kerry.

VILAF hosts 30th anniversary staff retreat On May 14, a gathering of nearly 200 VILAF staff members from across the country took place at the delightful 30th Anniversary Retreat in Cam Ranh.

Sofitel Saigons 2023 mooncake collection Sofitel Saigon Plaza hotel is thrilled to unveil its highly anticipated mooncake collection for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, combining the charm of local Vietnamese culture with the timeless elegance of French 'art de vivre'.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi to host third annual Korean Culinary Experience From October 15 to 31, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi will offer a 2-week feast of Korean cuisine.
During a key dialogue between the government and Vietnamese business magnates on October 11, Pham Thi Nhung, deputy CEO of VPBank, clarified the bank's position.

"We have marshalled the necessary resources and, once the transfer process concludes, our focus will immediately shift to revitalising the bank in question," she conveyed.

Nhung's confidence rests on VPBank's three-decade track record. She firmly believes that the bank's vast experience, coupled with meticulous preparation, places it in a prime position to execute the mandates given by the government and the State Bank of Vietnam.

This marks VPBank's first public acknowledgment of its intention to spearhead such a takeover. A hint was dropped earlier in the year during an annual session by the bank's chairman, Ngo Chi Dung, where he discussed the possibility of assimilating a weak credit institution.

Currently, four banks are under the scanner for potential restructuring, DongABank, Construction Bank (CB), Oceanbank, and Global Petroleum Bank. Before VPBank's recent announcement, Vietcombank and MB had already floated the idea of compulsory acquisitions to their stakeholders. Out of these, only CB's potential alignment with Vietcombank has been detailed.

Adding to the narrative of VPBank's strategic evolution, Nhung divulged another significant piece of news.

The bank is in advanced talks to offload a 15 per cent stake to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, a Japanese financial titan and member of the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group.

Nhung elaborated, "Such partnerships will significantly amplify VPBank's capital reserves. This, in turn, will escalate our support for medium- and long-term credit, particularly benefiting small- and medium-sized enterprises and green projects."

VPBank brand value reaches nearly $1.3 billion VPBanks value is almost 1.5 times as high as the previous year, valued at nearly $1.3 billion and ranking 173rd in the worlds 500 most valuable banking brands.
A conflict between Assyrian scribes over a change in written language isn't the likeliest subject for a stage comedy, but perhaps that's a reason behind the production of "The Handless King" this weekend by Waco's Wild Imaginings theater company.

The play by New York playwright Harley Elias won Epiphanies new work competition last year and, as the winner, returns as the stage production of this year's festival, which runs Thursday through Sunday.

It's the third year for the Wild Imaginings festival, which drew a little more than 300 submissions, a slight increase from last year's entries, said Wild Imaginings director Trent Sutton.

"The Handless King," a three-actor production featuring the company's Jeffrey Vitarius, Jack Norman and Christopher Clifford, imagines two scribes and an administrator in the Assyrian Empire, circa 728 B.C., arguing over a transition from cuneiform to Aramaic in the scribes' work. Underlying their bickering, however, is a greater debate on shifting societies and change  a discussion that seems fairly contemporary, Sutton said.

"When we move forward, what do we leave behind?" he asked.

Elias' work has won multiple awards, including a Fulbright Grant and a Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway award; French has published his "Play #3." The playwright and actor will attend this year's festival, with its highlighted production staged in a new location this year: University Baptist Church.

His attendance underlines what Sutton considers an important aspect of the new works festival: the role that actors and audiences play in shaping the final form of a play. Elias and the playwrights of this year's four finalists will either experience their work performed in person or in video shot of those performances, providing helpful feedback as they tune their plays for publication or future productions.

Sutton said the submissions for this year's festival, the third in person since its creation during the pandemic, showed a shift in subject from dystopian topics and settings to stories more about relationships, whether between couples or within families. "It's always interesting to see what seems to be bubbling up among playwrights," he said. "I think the quality of plays has grown just better and better."

This year's four finalists will receive public readings at downtown Waco art space Cultivate 7twelve, with the winner receiving a staged production at next year's festival.

On the schedule for the weekend:

Hypotheticals by Rebecca Anne Nguyen. A romantic comedy where the two people attracted to each other find out they're both on the autism spectrum. Three characters. 5 p.m. Saturday.

Wicked Bitter Beast(s) by Kira Rockwell. A pastor's daughter tries to deconstruct and reconstruct her faith after feeling disillusioned and betrayed by the church in which she grew up. Six characters. 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Not the Myth by Paige Goodwin. A fantasy in which Greek goddesses and female dramatic characters, members of a "Mythological Man-Haters and Co." agency, muse what a world without male gods would be like. Eight characters. 2 p.m. Sunday.

Sunday the Thirtieth 3AM Raining Slightly Drunk by Chandler Hubbard. A queer couple tries to sort through relationship and mental health issues. Three characters. 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
A ring of fire eclipse will be visible in the skies above the Waco area Saturday as the moon will appear to cover most of the sun around midday.

A ring of fire eclipse is properly called an annular eclipse and is distinguished from a total solar eclipse in which the moon appears to completely cover the sun. A total solar eclipse will be visible from Waco on April 8, the last to be visible from the continental United States until 2044.

On Saturday morning, when viewed from Waco, the moon will cover all but 11 percent of the sun.

From Waco, the moon will appear to begin moving in front of the sun around 11:25 a.m. and will cross the face of the sun, completely ending the annular eclipse by about 1:30 p.m.

Viewing events will be held at Baylor Universitys Mayborn Museum, 1301 S. University Parks Drive, and at Texas State Technical Colleges student recreation center, 2502 Campus Drive.

The western part of the Texas Hill Country and parts of the coast will be the best places to view the eclipse in Texas, with Odessa, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Padre Island all having 100% visibility, according to a Baylor press release.

Conditions must be perfect, with the sun and moon exactly in line with the Earth, for the natural phenomenon to occur, Baylor astrophysicist Barbara Castanheira Endl said in the press release.

Following Keplers laws of planetary motion, during an annular eclipse, the ellipticity of the orbit will cause the angular size of the moon to be just a little bit smaller than the angular size of the sun, Castanheira Endl said. Even a small 5% difference in the angles of the sun and the moon, the eclipse would not occur.

To safely view the eclipse from anywhere, approved solar filter glasses must be worn to actually look directly at it, said Alan Small, the Mayborns science, technology, engineering and math programs manager.

Sunglasses for sure are not safe, Small said. Proper solar filters are required and sunglasses arent it.

He also said there are many ways to enjoy the wonder of the annular eclipse without looking directly up at the sun.

You can use shadows instead, Small said. Naturally occurring shadows will work, or you can make your own.

Standing under the canopy of a tree, the light from the eclipse will cast shadows through the leaves of the tree onto the ground that will show the lights and darks of the eclipse, Small said.

Punch a hole in a card with a thumb tack, a hole punch or a pencil, and use that card to cast a shadow on a sidewalk, driveway or an outside table. The ring of fire will be visible in the part of the cards shadow where the hole is, Small said.

He also said the sun is no more dangerous to look at during an annular eclipse than it is on a regular sunny day.

You wouldnt look at the sun on a normal day, so dont look straight at it without the right glasses during the eclipse, Small said.

A good supply of eclipse glasses was available in the Mayborn Museum store as of Thursday morning, Small said.

Pets are not prone to look up at the sky when shadows change on the ground, so it will be safe for pets to be outside during the eclipse, he said.

Pets dont connect lights and shadows to the sun, so theyre not likely to look up at the sun, Small said.

The viewing event from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at TSTCs recreation center is free, and will accommodate 200 people of all ages, TSTC spokesperson Peter Macias said.

We will have many STEM activities for people of all ages, including the proper way to view the eclipse, Macias said.

Macias said a limited supply of free glasses would be available, but participants should bring their own refreshments.

During the SicEm Science event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mayborn Museum, eclipse viewing and activities will be available until 1:30 p.m. Many other science demonstrations from disciplines as diverse as chemistry all the way to the study of sleep will be available during the whole event. A special loud, colorful and explosive chemistry demonstration by associate professor Darrin Bellert will run from 2 to 3 p.m.

Eclipse viewing and the chemistry show will be outside at the museums Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village, between the main museum building and the Brazos River.

Events at the Mayborn Museum related to the eclipse will include video feeds from sites with 100% visibility on large television monitors, as well as an art station, a tinkering station, and posters for visitors to record their observations, questions and expressions of wonder, Small said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have pledged to move relations between the two countries further forward as they exchanged messages marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties after a summit last month, Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday.

Kim expressed his firm belief that North Korea-Russia relations will steadily develop to a new level in the future in a letter to Putin to celebrate the anniversary, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

In the letter, Kim said he was "very satisfied" with the fact that he had "candid and comprehensive" discussions with Putin for the "multiform development" of the bilateral ties during their latest summit in Russia, the KCNA said.

Kim traveled to Russia's Far East in September for a rare summit with Putin amid concerns about a possible arms deal between the two nations.

The North's leader also hoped that Russia will be victorious in its struggle for "frustrating the imperialists' persistent hegemonic policy and moves to isolate and stifle Russia," the report said,

In his message to Kim, Putin said the summit proved that the bilateral relations are continuing to "positively develop in all aspects on the basis of the glorious traditions of the past."

He said the implementation of the summit agreements will contribute to "further expanding the constructive bilateral cooperation for improving the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and ensuring security and stability" on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, the KCNA said.

North Korea has vowed to strengthen solidarity with countries standing against the United States and is seeking to bolster its ties with China and Russia vis-a-vis the strengthening of security cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.

Russia, then the Soviet Union, forged diplomatic ties with North Korea on Oct. 12, 1948, recognizing the North as a state for the first time in the world. (Yonhap)
Cameron Park Zoo on Thursday announced the causes of the deaths of mother and daughter giraffes at the zoo this summer, after receiving finalized reports from outside labs and specialists in zoo animal pathology.

Penelope, a 10-year-old Masai giraffe, died July 19, and her month-old calf, Zuri, died three days later.

The findings on Zuri indicate there was an infection of the gastrointestinal tract, which spread to her bloodstream, causing sepsis, the press release says. Even with aggressive medical treatment, this infection reached the lungs, causing pneumonia and shock. Stress was a possible contributing factor and may have been linked to the loss of her mother and the transition to being bottle-fed.

Even with the most aggressive therapy, sepsis always has a poor prognosis, Cameron Park Zoo veterinarian Dr. James Kusmierczyk said by email. Her young age "also put her at a significant disadvantage," Kusmierczyk said.

Based on the pathology report for Penelope, it appears the primary issue was muscle trauma in the form of exertional rhabdomyolysis, also known as capture myopathy, according to a zoo press release.

The condition that affected Penelope is usually associated with stress and severe physical exertion, but zoo staff did not see any stressful behavior that was significant enough to explain the muscle trauma in the days leading up to her death, according to the press release.

"With Penelope, capture myopathy is extremely difficulty condition to treat and overall has a very poor prognosis," Kusmierczyk said in his email. "In general, the larger the animal is, the tougher it is to treat and have a positive outcome. More likely than not, once an animal as large as a giraffe develops capture myopathy, it results in euthanasia or death."

Penelope received treatment at the zoo but started having difficulty standing up from lying down, the press release says.

In large animals such as giraffes, the inability to stand can lead to a multitude of issues, including further muscle damage, aspiration of stomach contents, and gastrointestinal disease, the press release says.

Giraffes are challenging to treat because of their size and physiology, Kusmierczyk said in the press release.

The Cameron Park Zoo is still mourning the loss of Penelope and Zuri, but this information helps us understand what we were dealing with, Kusmierczyk said. It gives me comfort knowing that we provided the best medical care we could under the circumstances.

He said he the information learned about Penelope and Zuri will contribute to the body of knowledge about giraffes care by humans.

He said anyone who wants to take action in memory of Penelope and Zuri can make a donation to giraffe conservation programs by mailing the Cameron Park Zoo Society, 1703 N. Fourth St., Waco, Texas 76707.

Masai giraffes, native to Tanzania and Kenya, represent the largest species of giraffes, known for their irregular star-like patterns. They are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to poaching and habitat fragmentation.
Waco police arrested a 23-year-old man Tuesday after two children reported he sexually assaulted them.

Deodrick Jaquan Mack was booked into the McLennan County Jail and charged with two counts of sexual assault, a second-degree felony.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, police received reports of the abuse from a family member, who told police Mack had been caught in bed with one of the children a day prior. Police interviewed the child, who told police she had sex with Mack, the affidavit says.

Another child told police Mack took an Uber to her home and sneaked into the house through a window, the affidavit says. Both children told police Mack had known them since elementary school, the affidavit says.

The warrant states these assaults occurred in July and August 2022. Macks arrest warrant was signed on April 26, and the affidavit says initial attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.

He remained jailed Wednesday on $20,000 bond.
Editors note: Voters have amended the Texas Constitution 517 times since 1876, and they will get the chance again Nov. 7. This is the eighth of a series of Tribune-Herald articles examining the intention and implications of the 14 amendments on the ballot.

In this technology-driven world, where students learn, farmers grow and the general public chats and conducts business via the internet, it would seem broadband access has become an inalienable right.

Life, liberty and 25-megabits-per-second download availability, at the very least, has become essential to happiness in some quarters. Sometime in the future, we will tell our grandkids that in Texas, in 2023, an estimated 7 million people were doing without broadband internet access, according to census data. Proposition 8, a proposed constitutional amendment Texans will consider Nov. 7, aims to address what some view as a shortcoming.

Specifically, the proposal creates a broadband infrastructure fund of $1.5 billion to expand high-speed internet availability.

These dollars would help pay to develop and finance broadband and telecommunications services as well as 911 services, according to reporting in The Texas Tribune. The fund will also provide matching funds with federal money from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program.

Broadband scarcity is most acute in rural Texas, so it should come as no surprise the Waco-based Texas Farm Bureau supports Proposition 8.

Texas Farm Bureau spokesperson Gary Joiner confirmed the organizations interest in seeing high-speed internet coverage stretch from El Paso to Nacogdoches and Amarillo to Eagle Pass, and everywhere in between.

The fund would be administered by the Comptrollers Broadband Development Office, along with the Public Utility Commission, Joiner said. The funding would only be used for efforts aimed at the expansion of broadband services and fully funding the Texas Universal Service Fund.

State Rep. Charles Doc Anderson, R-Waco, who has advocated for broadband expansion during his time in the Texas Legislature since 2004, said during a phone interview he cannot overstate the importance of passing Proposition 8.

It actually is part of the broadband plan established a couple of sessions ago, Anderson said. The goal is to have available and affordable high-speed internet service, and this is a means to help Texas fund that. It also helps us reach more federal money when they see were up and running and getting things started.

Anderson said Texas lawmakers passed middle-mile legislation to smooth the transition to possibly having $1.5 billion available.

It involves utilizing existing lines, right-of-ways and poles to help broadband companies get started a little quicker while this fund is coming into fruition, Anderson said.

House Joint Resolution 125 puts the amendment on the ballot, and House Bill 9 lays out the details of the fund.

He said he hopes voters approve the measure.

Were keeping our fingers crossed and definitely promoting it, Anderson said. There are 14 propositions to be voted on. Some incur costs and some dont. When voters see that $1.5 billion and other propositions with a price, they may say, nope, nope, nope. But this is super important for the entire state, even Waco, where people do not have reliable service. High-speed internet opens business up to the entire world market, and then there are the medical and educational aspects to be considered.

K. Paul Holt, president and CEO of the local Associated General Contractors of America office, said the organization eagerly endorses Proposition 8.

In a word, Yes!!!, Holt wrote in an email. That will help virtually all homes, but it also should enhance job site capabilities as well. Rep. Doc Andersons bill reminds me of the federal Rural Electrification Act of 1936 that brought electricity out of the cities and all over the country. The internet has become as indispensable as electricity in todays world.

The Texas Comptrollers Office prepared an analysis of internet needs in Texas in the wake of Comptroller Glenn Hegars Broadband Listening Tour last year.

The pandemic highlighted the critical need for reliable, affordable access to broadband for remote work, education, health care and civic engagement, according to a comptrollers office post. Many Texans, especially in rural areas, lack access to broadband service that meets the minimum speed requirements of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload.

According to experts, it takes 0-5 Mbps to check email, stream music on one device and search the internet. Downloading large files and streaming video on one device requires 5-40 Mbps. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 93.9 percent of Texas households had a computer, but only 86.9 percent had a broadband internet subscription in 2017-2021.

Congress in 2021 created the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program to stimulate internet expansion. Texas was promised $3.3 billion, the most of any state, and Texas Broadband Development Office predicted it would begin accepting grant applications in 2024. Eligible applicants would include internet service providers, political subdivisions and public-private partnerships interested in developing broadband infrastructure.

Ray Perryman, a Waco-based economist with a national and international clientele, chaired the infrastructure segment of a state task force on COVID-19, and broadband service was far and away the biggest need identified by residents throughout Texas, he said by email.

The need for access to broadband is clear, Perryman said. What was once viewed as a luxury is now an important aspect of infrastructure.

Texas size poses challenges to providing high-speed internet service statewide, though residents of the states far-flung outposts and rural areas probably need it more than most, as they lack close proximity to education, training and medical specialists, Perryman said. Farmers and ranchers are increasingly reliant on connectivity for everything from commodity price monitoring to the use of sensors, he said.

More remote areas are not generally attractive for private companies in comparison with densely populated urban centers, he said.
JESUP  Craig Parker has been recognized as the 2023 Tree Farmer of the Year by the Iowa Tree Farm Program in recognition of the work hes done over the course of a decade.

The Iowa Tree Farm Program is a collection of woodland owners dedicated to sustainably managing their land for wood, water, wildlife and recreation.

[Im] grateful to know that what weve done in the last 10 years out here is headed in the right direction and doing the right thing, Parker said as he accepted the award. [I] try to be a good steward of the land.

The land has been in the Parker family since 1914. Parker, 72, received his first 20 acres of land from his father, Stuart, on the southeast portion of the family farm in the 1980s.

He became the caretaker of the Wapsicor Tree Farm starting in 2013 after retiring from his job at MidAmerican Energy. According to Parker, he had other options about how to use the land. These included growing Christmas trees and vineyards on the property. But bad experiences working on a friend's Christmas tree farm soured him on the former, while a lack of people to harvest discouraged him from the latter.

He decided to plant woodlands and contacted then-Iowa Department of National Resources District Forester Bruce Blair to get the project underway. Since then, hes planted nearly 150 acres worth of trees of more than a dozen species, along with various shrubs along the banks of the Wapsipinicon River.

The land is a haven for wildlife, giving Parker -- an avid outdoorsman -- his own personal spot to hunt and fish.

We had the church group out for a ride on Sunday afternoon and we saw a dozen turkeys head to the timber and lots of deer, he said. One day, I was down hunting and a friend walked the timber toward me and I saw -- well I lost count at 35 deer.

Parker has also planted a prairie restoration project on the western part of the land on roughly 10 acres and a pollination site for bees.

What Craigs done out here has led to really great habitat for game and non-game species, and thats improved the hunting too, said Alex Hoffman, the current district forester, who recommended Parker for the award. So kind of the four pillars there.

Parker, for his part, says its the ideal way to spend his retirement.

Well, its just a wonderful opportunity. I enjoy retirement, Parker said. It gives me something to do every day and its varied  whether its planting trees, spraying, trimming, maintaining the trails  its just a wonderful way to retire.
WATERLOO -- The attorney for a North Liberty man accused of breaking into homes in Waterloo and Cedar Falls and raping the women inside is asking the court to put the brakes on the case.

Asante Ajee Walker-Garcia Adams, 25, is charged with burglary and sexual abuse in the March and April attacks, and he is suspected in similar incidents in other communities.

Last week defense attorney Matthew Hoffey asked the court to issue a stay in the Black Hawk County cases in order to obtain a competency evaluation.

Based upon observations and communications with the  defendant, it is the opinion of counsel that the defendants mental health is preventing him from appreciating the charges, understanding the proceedings and effectively assisting in his defense, Hoffey wrote in his request.

Hoffey asked the court to transport Walker to the Iowa Department of Corrections Medical and Classification Center for a mental health exam.

The defense also is asking the court to hold separate trials in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls incidents.

Trial had been tentatively set for later this month.

Walker is charged in the March 10 attack in an apartment complex near Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo and an April 10 attack at a College Street apartment near the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

He is also charged in Johnson County with a Sept. 6, 2022, attack.

Photos: Asanta Walker-Garcia Adams court appearance 052423jr-adams-court-2 052423jr-adams-court-1 052423jr-adams-court-4 052423jr-adams-court-3 Person of interest
WATERLOO  Black Hawk Countys longtime sheriff will not seek a fifth term.

Sheriff Tony Thompson announced he will not run in next years election after holding the position for 15 years. Hes been with the department for 30 years.

He's stepping down to spend more time with his wife and two sons. He said his family has paid the price for his job for decades.

I owe them the rest of my time and attention, he said in a press release.

He announced his decision a year in advance to allow candidates plenty of time to campaign. After winning his fourth term in 2020, he stated then he would not run for another term.

First elected in 2008, he said hes proud of many projects hes helped accomplish. He mentioned building the training center in Raymond, creating a mobile radio network with almost full coverage, improving the jails infrastructure and extending health care to the jails inmates.

He said he always encouraged staff to move forward and hopes that continues.

I hope whoever gets the opportunity to take over this office keeps their foot on the gas, he said. Its easy to stagnate when youre a public entity demanding tax dollars to not force yourself to be creative, to not force yourself into a mindset that requires you to constantly look for opportunities to grow.

The new sheriff will have the opportunity to work on projects already on the mind of the department. That could include expanding the training facility to allow for situation-based training and increasing the size of the jail.

Thompson said there was an opportunity for the county to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to increase the size of the jail and add more inmate beds, but the county didnt go forward with the project. The sheriffs office has designs for how to increase bed space and spread out inmates as the inmate population gets younger and more violent.

He also hopes the new sheriff continues to be transparent do the job with integrity.

When I dont see the same in others, it grates me, he said.

Thompson said he will miss the staff and the challenges the department deals with every day, as well as the affect he has on the county.

Although he will be leaving his post, Thompson wont be retiring. He said he has had job offers elsewhere, but gave no details.

I look forward to what opportunities present themselves, he said. Im encouraged to entertain anything that is less stressful, equally as impactive and provides me with purpose, direction and motivation.

How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years How spending on public safety and policing has changed over the last 40 years Spending on public safety in cities in the US has doubled since 1980 Police funding has remained about half of public safety budgets consistently for 40 years Even with ballooning public safety budgets, many cities allocate more money to the police Some cities have reigned in police spending, while others have tightened overall public safety budgets
WATERLOO  The Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging is offering Tai Chi for arthritis and fall prevention classes from Oct. 30 to Dec. 20.

Classes will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 505 Franklin St. in Waterloo, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The class is offered on a $4 suggested contribution per class for those age 60 and over. For participants under age 60, there will be a $4 charge per class. Space is limited and registration is required.

Register by calling Elise Bovy at (319) 231-6798 or ebody@nei3a.org by Oct. 25.

Late retirement: More than 25% of seniors still work in some US cities Late retirement: More than 25% of seniors still work in some US cities A closer look at the top 10 cities for senior employment
Iowa Republican U.S. House Reps. Ashley Hinson of Marion and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa on Wednesday supported House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana as the next House speaker, who was narrowly nominated for the post by House Republicans.

Scalise secured the nomination by a 113-99 vote during a closed-door House Republican conference meeting, besting House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio. The nomination followed last weeks historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Next up was a vote on the House floor, where Scalise was not assured of victory as a number of Republicans have publicly said they will not back him.

All of us know the urgency of electing a speaker, Miller-Meeks told The Gazette before the floor vote was held. Im hoping that this will be effortless.

It took McCarthy 15 rounds of voting over four days in January to be elected speaker.

Miller-Meeks said shes hopeful House Republicans can elect a new speaker quickly and avoid a messy and protracted floor flight, but we certainly may.

I think both candidates were excellent candidates, she said. Im hoping our better natures will come to the surface and we will quickly elect a speaker  this time respecting the will of the majority of the conference.

Miller-Meeks, Grassley move to freeze Iranian assets

Miller-Meeks said Wednesday she planned to introduce a House resolution demanding the release of all American hostages taken captive by Iran-backed Hamas, freezing the release of $6 billion in sanctioned Iranian assets promised as part of a prisoner swap with the regime, and providing Israel with additional munitions and support to be able to defend itself.

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley joined Senate colleagues Wednesday in calling on Democratic President Joe Biden to coordinate with the G7 nations to sanction Iran for its support of Hamas, and urged Biden to deny the release of $6 billion in Iranian assets.

Every dollar within the grasp and control of the Iranian regime is used to fund terrorism and fuel its power, the senators wrote. That is why we must isolate Iran and cut it off economically. Without sources of revenue, Iran will be unable to fund the mass terror it supports around the globe.

The senators, in their letter, urged Biden to lead Americas partners and allies in securing agreements from as many nations as possible to take the most severe economic and diplomatic action against Iran possible under law.

Biden administration officials have stressed none of the frozen Iranian assets have been spent, and that it may be used for only humanitarian assistance under close supervision by the Treasury Department.

Some Senate Democrats, however, have called for the transfer to be halted, pending an investigation into what involvement Iran had in supporting or greenlighting the attacks on Israeli civilians over the weekend.

Miller-Meeks and Grassley argued the assets are fungible.

They can meet certain basic humanitarian needs, but then money that they dont have to spend on humanitarian needs, they can then spend on funding Hamas, Miller-Meeks said.

The Wall Street Journal and Washington Post have reported the Palestinian militants behind the surprise weekend attack on Israel received key support from Iranian allies who provided military training, logistical help and weapons.

Twenty-two Americans had been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hamas, and 17 were unaccounted for, the White House and State Department said Wednesday.

We support Israel in its actions in order to squash Hamas, Miller-Meeks said.

Miller-Meeks accompanied Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation last week to the Middle East, where she received classified military briefings and met with U.S. embassy staff. She was not part of the delegation that visited Israel on Tuesday.

Miller-Meeks said it was harrowing to be in the Middle East during the heinous attacks on Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, but also we sent a reassuring message of support for Israel.

The visits were part of a U.S. effort to encourage Arab and Israelis leaders to move toward normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and a show of support for countries who signed the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-mediated bilateral agreement signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to recognize Israels sovereignty. Miller-Meeks and the delegation met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Prince Mohammed this week expressed his continued support for Palestine, dealing a blow to U.S. efforts. It and other Gulf states blamed Israeli policies for the war and refused to explicitly condemn Hamas.

I remain committed to the ongoing normalization efforts with Israel and I will continue to find ways for our countries to work together and bolster our strategic alliance, Miller-Meeks said.
North Korea's propaganda outlets on Thursday issued a barrage of insults against South Korea's point man on inter-Korean affairs, calling him a "madman" and the worst-ever "traitor."

North Korea has often denounced South Korea's unification ministry. But it marked the first time North Korea lashed out at Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho by name.

"A madman bent on pouring out slanders day after day has appeared in the puppet region. It is puppet Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho," Uriminzokkiri TV said.

"This man, drenched in an anti-republic sense, is a traitor who exceeds previous puppet unification ministers who were notorious for their criminal behavior," it said.

Another propaganda outlet, Meari, claimed that Kim will come to face the "stern judgment of history" over what it called his "exalted" attitude.

Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korean newspaper based in Japan, also took a swipe at Kim, calling him an "anti-unification minister" who only ratchets up tension on the Korean Peninsula.

The criticisms are the latest in a series of similar rhetoric the propaganda outlets have issued amid lingering tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim, a conservative professor known to be a vocal advocate of human rights, vowed to pursue a principle-based inter-Korean policy as he took office in late July.

Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Seoul-based Dongguk University, said the North may be trying to shift the blame for strained ties onto the unification minister. (Yonhap)
Amazing to watch the Western Media switch directions and more interesting to watch the people switch right with it

We have the same statements being used

Just last week western politicians called for death to all Russians, I heard western politicians spouting such trash. Now we have hatefull western politicians wanting to kill all of the Palestinians

Evil lives well in the West

Never good to kill anyone. But, it is never ever appropriate also to make all suffer for the actions of the few and Israel is as guilty as anyone at that

So Israel has declared war on a prison camp. Sorry Israel you have no high road in this fight and the USA is even farther in the sewer, than you are in this game you are playing

Gotta get that war, since Russia refuses to do it

Pray to God that we survive the collapse of the U.S.A. Empire of Lies and Chaos

WtR
The University of Minnesota Extension is once again hosting land rent workshops this fall. Landlords, farmers and agri-business professionals should make plans to attend one of these free, informative, in-person meetings being held across Minnesota in October, November and December. Farm land rental rates are the largest input cost the farmer has. Determining a fair farm rent agreement is always challenging.

Negotiating a fair rental agreement that satisfies the land owner and the farmer is a challenge. David Bau and Nathan Hulinsky, extension educators in ag business mnagement, will provide several ways, by examples, factsheets and worksheets, to determine a fair farm land rental rate for both parties.

Make plans to attend one of these meetings now. Check out the University of Minnesota Extensions website at www.extension.umn.edu and search land rent workshop in late October for the complete schedule of dates and locations of workshops. Attendees will receive several informative worksheets and factsheets that will help to determine what a fair 2024 farm land rental rate is. The meetings will be held across Minnesota from late October through mid-December. There will be a follow up of Zoom meetings scheduled regionally across the state starting in January. Make plans to attend one of these meetings now. Pre-registration is not required.

The land rent workshop will be held locally in both Fillmore and Houston counties, including:

Tuesday, Oct. 31, in Preston from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Fillmore County Office Building Room 108, 902 Houston St. N.W., Preston MN 55965.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, in Caledonia from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Criminal Justice Center, basement meeting room, 306 South Marshall St., Caledonia MN 55921.

If you have questions about land rent, this event or any other agriculture, horticulture or natural resources question, please reach out to your local University of Minnesota Extension educator. Residents in Fillmore and Houston counties can call 507-765-3896 or 507-725-5807 or email wins0115@umn.edu.
An 87-year-old Arcadia man was killed in a wrong-way crash Wednesday evening on Interstate 90 in the township of Dresbach.

Donald Joseph Suchla was driving a 2006 Ford F150 eastbound in the westbound lanes of the interstate when the Ford collided with a 2018 Kenworth semi tractor at about 7:49 p.m., according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The driver of the semi, Mark Peter Crom, 67, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, was uninjured, but Suchla died before he could be transported to a hospital.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and the Ford's airbag was deployed.

Alcohol was not involved in the crash.

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It was a sad day in early 2021 when Wisconsin Dells popular brewery, Port Huron Brewing, closed. It had been the first Wisconsin Dells brewery since Leutes City Brewery burned down in 1899.

The 17 beer-barrel volume brew house opened to much acclaim in 2012. Started by Lodi native Tanner Brethorst, it closed due to a variety of reasons, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its closure, beer enthusiasts were no longer able to get a pint of one of the brewerys most beloved beers, the honey blonde ale.

But, now, beer enthusiasts can again, thanks to Bevy. Bevy is a new brewery and winery located in Wisconsin Dells at 805 Business Park Road. Owned by Lodi resident Peter Tonn, Bevy makes its own beers, wines, ciders, and, also, Port Hurons honey blonde ale.

Its our tip of the hat for the work Port Huron did, the beer they made, the brand they created, Tonn said. It should be celebrated, honored and respected.

Bevy, now open every day of the week except Mondays, has a self-pour tap wall, allowing guests to try a little of everything, at ones own pace. It keeps a running tab, and guests pay upon leaving.

The operation creates more than just Port Hurons old recipe. With Nicholas Smith as chief fermentation officer, Bevy creates many adult beverages.

Beers include Kongs Garage Band, an imperial stout; Jimmy Jorts, a juicy pale ale; and Cold Conspiracy, a cold IPA/lager combo.

Wines include Devils Rock, a semi-dry Wisconsin rose; Tropical Trekker, a semi-sweet Wisconsin white; and BAR. Campfire Retreat, a dry Wisconsin red.

Bevy also makes ciders, juices, meads and cysers, a mead that is fermented with apple juices rather than water.

Its exciting to be at Bevy and work on an array of products and test the range of my skills, Smith said. Every day we are trying and learning something new.

Tonn purchased the property in 2021. He got the necessary licenses situated in the fall of 2022. The new tap room opened last spring.

Having had a hand in several businesses through the years, starting Bevy has been rewarding for Tonn. I enjoy the social aspects of Wisconsin and its beverage industry, he said. The beer community, and the Wisconsin area as a whole, he said, is phenomenal. Its incredibly collaborative, welcoming and rewarding. Were all in this together.

Bevys beverages can be found throughout the area, from restaurants to bars to liquor stores. Their products can be found from Wisconsin Dells to Sun Prairie, from Verona to Okee, Baraboo to Madison to Middleton. All self-distributed, visit bevy.llc for more information on where to find them.

As for more Port Huron beers? Its a distinct possibility. With Tonns purchase of Port Hurons real estate, equipment and recipes, perhaps a peanut butter porter or a hefeweizen will be created soon.

Its a lasting legacy we want to preserve, Tonn said. In Bevys tap room is a tribute wall, celebrating the brewers that came before.

With an eye toward the past, glasses are being filled at Bevy in the here and now. We just released two new ciders, both made from Wisconsin-grown apples, Smith said. I am in the process of developing a line of wine spritzers made from Wisconsin grapes, as well as a couple of new lagers for next season.

With Port Hurons history in their minds, Bevy is beginning to make history of its own.

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As National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed throughout October, representatives of area organizations that offer assistance are urging community members to think about, support and advocate for victims of violence and abuse.

I would love for people to realize that domestic violence survivors are not others, said Jaime Sathasivam, co-executive director at Hope House South Central Wisconsin. They are the people within your community, they are someone you know.

An average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute, according to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, which equates to about 10 million abuse victims every year.

Multiple Portage area organizations work every day of the year assisting those impacted by domestic violence by providing them with support, resources and in some cases housing, while they go through the process of leaving an abuser.

River Haven Homeless Shelter

River Haven, located in Portage at 108 East Pleasant St., works to provide safe, temporary shelter for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness while also providing them with guidance and community resources.

The shelter has two separate housing units, one for single men, which can hold 12 individuals, and a four-bedroom remodeled home that houses its main office as well as single women and families. Residents of the shelters have access to laundry facilities, bathrooms and a kitchen for up to 30 days, said Angie Braddock, director and case manager at River Haven.

The need for shelter in Portage and its surrounding area is rising, as organizers said they receive about 50 to 60 calls every month from people looking for somewhere to go. Organizers also said domestic violence calls seem to be growing in frequency lately.

In probably the last 30 days, there has been at least five or six calls from people who are fleeing from domestic violence, said Braddock. We have had some heart-wrenching voicemails left by women who are just desperate in their situations.

Renovation of new PAVE facility in Beaver Dam has begun The renovation of the new PAVE building has begun with plans for it to be fully in use by January.

Alongside River Havens shelter offerings, is its equally important ability to connect in-need individuals with appropriate community resources, organizers said.

One of the first suggestions we make when somebody in a (domestic violence) situation calls, is to reach out to Hope House or another domestic violence shelter, said Braddock. Because we are not the experts on that, and not that we wont take them ... But we first try to connect people with places and resources that will meet all their needs.

Hope House

Hope House, located at 720 Ash St. in Baraboo, provides support and resources to individuals who are affected by or fleeing from various forms of domestic and sexual violence. It also works to prevent abuse through community education.

Hope Houses shelter has about 10 rooms for individuals and families to stay for between 30 and 60 days, and last year housed 71 adults and 63 children from Columbia County who were fleeing violence, organizers said.

The need (for shelter) is high and will remain high ... because the numbers for domestic homicide continue to go up year after year, said Sathasivam. So continuing to offer those services to individuals who seek safety planning or someone to lean on and support them (is important), even if they arent ready to leave their abuser.

In addition to the shelter, one of the organizations largest programs is its victim advocacy and support counseling, which saw around 6,000 sessions in Columbia County last year. Program counselors attempt to support local families and individuals who have experienced or are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, while assisting them through processes such as safety planning and obtaining restraining orders, organizers said.

The Supreme Court's new term starts Monday. Here's what you need to know The Supreme Court seems a bit quieter than in recent years as the justices begin a new term. Major cases await, as they always do, including several challenges to regulatory agencies and efforts to regulate social media platforms.

Hope House also offers an education and community outreach program, which has a team of its educators visit area schools to provide students with information about healthy relationships and what they look like. The community educators also provide resource information for those who are affected by various forms of unhealthy relationships. Last year, Hope House gave 102 youth presentations in Columbia County, organizers said.

The Harbor Recovery Center

The Harbor Recovery Center, a Portage-based nonprofit, provides free resources and services to families and individuals who are struggling or have loved ones struggling with alcohol abuse, substance use and/or mental health issues.

One of the things the recovery center does really well is resource navigation, said Faith Gladem, executive director at The Harbor Recovery Center. If it is unable to help someone under its roof, The Harbor will find the right place for them to go.

A significant number of those who seek The Harbors support services are individuals and families affected by domestic violence, organizers said.

Its very uncommon for me to interact with an individual or a family who has domestic violence issues where substance abuse and mental health are not major players, said Gladem. Its all threaded together to some degree.

The Harbor also provides the community with education-based learning opportunities on subjects such as substance use in the Portage community, relapse prevention, ending the stigma surrounding addiction, mental health, self-care, prevention and more.
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Experts warn simple missiles, if fired in large numbers, can make superior enemy vulnerable

By Kang Hyun-kyung

South Korea should take heed of Israels ongoing war against Hamas, an Islamic militant group controlling the Gaza Strip, as the recent incursion illustrates the potential risks posed by North Korea, experts said.

They pointed out that simple and cheaper weapons, if used in a huge barrage like the recent raining down of rockets fired by Hamas, can be destructive enough to make an enemy armed with state-of-the-art defense systems vulnerable.

If the Iron Dome cant stop all of the rockets from Hamas, how is South Korea supposed to stop all the rockets from North Korea in an attack? Bruce Bechtol Jr., a former officer of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, said during a phone interview with The Korea Times on Wednesday. I think thats the question South Koreans need to start asking themselves because North Korea has much more effective rockets than Hamas.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has killed over 2,000 people since a barrage of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip by Hamas on Saturday.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), some 4,500 rockets have been fired at Israeli territory by Hamas, backed by Iran since Saturdays attack.

The huge barrage of rockets launched by Hamas initially overwhelmed Israels Iron Dome air defense system, which was designed to track and intercept inbound missiles.

After the initial struggles, however, the Iron Dome batteries successfully prevented short-range rockets from hitting Israelis.

The conflict in the Middle East has drawn attention from South Koreas defense authorities because some of the weapons Hamas used are believed to have originated from North Korea.

It looks like some of those rockets or at least some of those launchers were supplied to Hamas by the North Koreans back in 2014, said Bechtol Jr.

He was referring to the report in 2014 by British newspaper The Telegraph that North Korea and Hamas signed a secret arms deal worth several hundred thousand dollars to sell rockets and communication equipment.

These are not sophisticated systems that Hamas were shooting at Israelis. These are simple: 107 mm, 122 mm Katsuya rockets. These are the same kind of rockets that the North Koreans have, Bechtol Jr. said.

He encouraged South Korea to invest in more sophisticated counter-battery fire capabilities, stressing North Korea has many rockets all over the Demilitarized Zone.

Bechtol Jr., a professor of political science at Angelo State University in Texas, warned that Israel could face another challenge if Hamas is going to launch its anti-tank system, which it reportedly purchased from North Korea.

Troubling to me are the reports that North Korea has also sold Bulsae anti-tank systems to Hamas, and that they have assisted Hamas with the tunnels they built under the border into Israel, he said.

The Bulsae-2 is an anti-tank-guided missile developed by North Korea. It is a variant of the Soviet Unions Fagot. Since the late 1970s, the Soviet Union provided its Fagot anti-tank-guided weapons to North Korea and even helped the North to set up local production of these weapons.

The problem with this is a lot of those tanks Israelis have are very susceptible to the Bulsae system. South Korean tanks are susceptible to Bulsae, too. Its something to think about, he said.

Following Hamass massive rocket attacks, Hezbollah, another Islamic militant group based in southern Lebanon, congratulated Hamas for the massive rocket attacks, and fired rockets at the Israeli border area. Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, exchanged fire with respective rockets. Analysts say Hezbollahs rocket launches are a symbolic move to show the armed groups support for Hamas, rather than a precursor to serious military action against Israel.

North Koreas arms exports and training of Hamas and Hezbollah militants have emerged as a fresh headache for South Korea.

This could steer the U.S. governments foreign policy focus back on the Middle East from the Indo-Pacific region.

If this happens, South Korea will face challenges in defending itself from North Korea.

Hong Sung-pyo, a senior research analyst at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, said Seoul needs to closely watch North Koreas military ties with Hamas and Hezbollah as they could have significant implications for South Koreas security.

North Korea is under layered sanctions from the United Nations, the U.S. and the European Union. Considering this, it is no surprise that the North is trying to work with illicit groups like Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations to export their weapons, he said.

Through cooperation with these armed groups, Hong said North Korea earns cash and tries to team up with them to foster partnerships against their common adversaries, such as the United States.

Hamas and Hezbollah have decades-old ties with North Korea.

North Korea secretly exported its weapons to Hamas and Hezbollah which are designated by the U.S. as terrorist organizations, and helped the armed groups dig underground tunnels to launch surprise attacks on Israeli citizens living in the border area. The North also trained the Islamic militants to enhance their wartime skills during the Cold War period.

North Koreas covert arms deals with Hamas were confirmed in 2009 when 35 tons of weapons, including surface-to-surface missiles and rocket-propelled grenades, were seized after a cargo plane carrying the weapons was forced to land at Bangkok airport. It was later confirmed that those weapons were scheduled to be smuggled to Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon via Iran.

In 2014, the Israeli Army uncovered a network of underground tunnels stretching from the Gaza Strip to Israeli territory during its aerial operation against Hamas and other militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF calls the network the metro as it is as huge as an underground city, comprising dozens of access points from the Gaza Strip. The tunnels were used as weapons caches, bunkers and command centers, according to the IDF.

According to the Alma Research and Education Center of Israel, North Korea, in collaboration with Iran, also helped Hezbollah build a host of inter-regional tunnels in Lebanon after the Second Lebanon War in 2006. The think tank said that Hezbollahs tunnel network is even larger than that of Hamas.

Hezbollahs model is the same as the North Korean model: Tunnels in which hundreds of combatants, fully equipped, can pass stealthily and rapidly underground, it said in a 2021 report.

North Korea has also trained Islamic militants, according to experts.

Between 1968 and 1988, North Korea built and operated at least 30 special training camps within its borders, specializing in terrorist and guerilla warfare training. Reports at the time indicated that over 5,000 recruits from some 25 nations visited these camps to take part in various courses lasting anywhere from three to 18 months, Bethol Jr. said.

North Korea trained Palestinian terrorists, both those belonging to the Palestine Liberation Organization and from Syrian and Libyan-backed groups, up until the late 1980s, according to Barry Rubin, author of North Koreas Threats to the Middle East and the Middle Easts Threats to Asia.
Mourners gather around the grave of May Naim, 24, during her funeral in Gan Haim, central Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Naim and at least 260 more Israelis were killed by Hamas militants on Saturday at a rave near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip's separation fence with Israel as the militant Hamas rulers of the territory carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack that killed over 1,000 Israelis. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
The U.S. and Qatar have reached an agreement that the Qataris will not act on any request from Tehran for the time being to access $6 billion in Iranian funds that were unblocked as part of a prisoner swap last month
One of those taken hostage is a grandmother who learned Arabic in hopes of building bridges with her neighbors. Others include 11 members of an extended family, one an elderly man in a wheelchair who requires hospital care. Still another is a nurse who delivered thousands of babies over the years to parents both Israeli and Palestinian. All are among roughly 150 people abducted by Hamas militants early Saturday during sweeping raids on Israeli towns and villages near the heavily fortified border with the Gaza Strip. They include citizens of Brazil, Britain, Italy, the Philippines and the United States, as well as many Israelis. The number of hostages, provided by Hamas and Israeli officials, has not been independently confirmed.
The unification ministry on Thursday hinted that the government may suspend the 2018 military tension reduction accord with North Korea, depending on the security situation, even if Pyongyang does not violate South Korean territory.

The Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) has recently received fresh attention, as the defense minister publicly pledged to push for halting it, citing its impact on limiting South Korea's surveillance capabilities against North Korea's military threats.

A surprise rocket attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group has raised concerns over South Korea's capabilities to counter a potential attack from North Korea.

"After comprehensively taking into account the security situation, the government would consider suspending the CMA if it judges such a move is necessary for national security," a ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Following five North Korean drones' infiltration into the South last December, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered officials early this year to consider the suspension of the accord if North Korea violates the South's territory again.

When asked if the government's stance has changed since then, the ministry official said many situations have changed almost a year after Yoon gave the instruction.

North Korea has been doubling down on its weapons provocations since last year, with the launches of a record number of ballistic missiles, including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. Last month, the repressive regime stipulated the policy of nuclear weapons development in its constitution.

The CMA, signed under former liberal President Moon Jae-in, is designed to reduce military tensions, prevent accidental clashes and build mutual trust. The deal calls for setting up buffer zones along land and maritime borders and creating no-fly zones along the border.

Pyongyang had violated the agreement 17 times until the end of last year and 15 violations occurred last year alone, according to the defense ministry. (Yonhap)


Tamboran announces intention to re-domicile to the U.S.

Sydney, Oct 12, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Tamboran Resources Limited ( ASX:TBN ) ( TBNNY:OTCMKTS ) has made the decision to re-domicile the Company and its subsidiaries ("Tamboran Group") from Australia to the United States of America by way of a proposed scheme of arrangement with its shareholders ("Tamboran Shareholders") under Part 5.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the "Scheme").



Effect of the Scheme



If the Scheme becomes effective:



- all ordinary shares in Tamboran ("Tamboran Shares") will be transferred to a newly formed corporation in the State of Delaware ("Tamboran US HoldCo");



- Tamboran US HoldCo will become the new parent company of Tamboran Group and will retain the Company's listing on ASX via CHESS depositary interests ("CDIs");



- the Company will de-list from ASX and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Tamboran US HoldCo;



- in consideration for the transfer of the Tamboran Shares to Tamboran US HoldCo, Tamboran Shareholders will receive one CDI in Tamboran US HoldCo (conferring an interest in 1/200th of a share of common stock in Tamboran US HoldCo) ("Tamboran US HoldCo CDIs") for each Tamboran Share held on the record date for the Scheme, which will continue to be traded on ASX under the code "TBN";



- Tamboran Shareholders will retain an equivalent proportional economic interest in Tamboran US HoldCo as they previously held in the Company, subject to the sale facility aspect of the Scheme dealing with the interests of ineligible foreign holders; and



- the operations, management and strategy of Tamboran Group will remain unchanged.



Rationale for the Scheme



The Company's Board of Directors believes that the Scheme will best position Tamboran Group for the next phase of its growth as Tamboran seeks to accelerate the commercialisation of the Beetaloo Subbasin, including by:



- better positioning Tamboran Group in a deeper capital market in the United States where shale investors are more active. This is expected to allow existing Tamboran Shareholders to benefit from the anticipated growth and more clearly evaluate the performance and future prospects of Tamboran Group, whilst maintaining a listing on ASX;



- providing access to a broader US investor pool, which is more familiar with shale developments, than were previously unable or unlikely to invest in non-US securities. This may lead to a better reflection of valuation for Tamboran US HoldCo over time and improve liquidity in the trading of the Company's shares;



- improving access to lower-cost US debt and equity capital markets, which are larger and more diverse than Australian capital markets. This could enable Tamboran to fund future growth at a lower cost and with less dilution to existing shareholders; and



- simplifying Tamboran Group's corporate structure for potential future merger, sale or acquisition transactions, which may increase Tamboran Group's attractiveness as a potential target to strategic and merger partners, sellers or acquirers.



Board Recommendation



The Company's Board of Directors unanimously recommends that Tamboran Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme. Each member of the Board intends to vote all the GetSwift Shares held or controlled by them in favour of the Scheme.



The Board recommendation and voting intentions as set out above are subject to no superior proposal emerging and an independent expert concluding (and continuing to conclude) that the Scheme is in the best interests of Tamboran shareholders.



Independent Expert's Report



The Company has appointed an independent expert, BDO Corporate Finance (WA) Pty Ltd ("BDO"), to determine whether the Scheme is in the best interests of Tamboran Shareholders. BDO's report will be included in a Scheme Booklet, which is expected to be distributed to Tamboran Shareholders around late October 2023, subject to completion of the initial regulatory approval process.



Details of the Scheme



In connection with the Scheme, the Company has entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed with Tamboran US HoldCo ("SID"), under which the parties have agreed to implement the Scheme subject to the satisfaction of several customary conditions, including:



- Tamboran Shareholders approving the Scheme by the requisite majorities;



- the Independent Expert concluding that the Scheme is in the best interests of Tamboran Shareholders;



- the Federal Court of Australia approving the Scheme; and



- other necessary regulatory approvals (including ASX).



The full details of the conditions to, and other terms of, the Scheme are set out in the Scheme Implementation Deed, a copy of which is attached to this announcement*.



*To view the Implementation Deed, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/664IZA90





About Tamboran Resources Limited





Tamboran Resources Ltd (ASX:TBN) is a natural gas company that intends to play a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future by developing low CO2 unconventional natural gas resources in the Beetaloo Sub-basin within the Greater McArthur Basin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Tamboran's key assets are a 25% working interest in EP 161 and a 100% working interest in EP 136, EP 143 and EP(A) 197 which are located in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.

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The 'Crazy Rich Asians' actor and his wife Liv Lo reveal on Instagram that they welcomed their second child into the world, daughter Florence Likan Golding, on September 9.

Oct 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Henry Golding has become a father for a second time. The 36-year-old actor and his wife Liv Lo Golding welcomed their second child into the world, daughter Florence Likan Golding, on September 9.

Captioning a joint Instagram video, the couple wrote, "The journey of childbirth is full of its ups and downs, but glorious none the other. This is our birth story fit-sphere.com @fitsphere_bylivlo (sic)"

Liv, who also has two-year-old daughter Lyla with the "Crazy Rich Asians" star, revealed she went to hospital "for observation" on her due date, September 8, after suffering "heavy bleeding." A day later, the medics began preparing an emergency C-section after she had a fever and the baby "started to go into distress," but Liv was still able to have her desired vaginal birth.

She wrote on her Fit Sphere website, "We checked in to the hospital at 3:30 a.m. on 9/9/23. The nurses knew I wanted a vaginal birth, but were worried about my bleeding. At 4 cm dilated I got an epidural, but things didn't calm down as expected. I suddenly had a fever and the baby started to go into distress. The team started prepping the OR for an emergency C-section and rushed to get me antibiotics, but in the meantime, I went from 4-10 cm so quickly that there was no time for that plan. My doctor came in and said, luckily, that I had the option to push, but the baby would have to be born right away. Any mother with the threat of a C-section would do as I did. In 3 pushes Florence Likan Golding was born at 7lbs at 9:03 am on 9/9/23. (sic)"

Liv, 38, was re-admitted to hospital a few days later with a blood infection, and she felt "rebirthed" during the whole experience. She wrote, "Healing from postpartum, a blood infection, becoming a mother of two, and breastfeeding at the same time was an intense experience that rebirthed me at the same time as my daughter Florence. When a life-changing moment presents itself we have a choice to change with it. These powerful moments, which do not come often, can last for an instant or, if we choose, can continue to process and implement changes for a complete lifestyle overhaul. While at the time the process was utterly devastating I have no regrets about choosing a spontaneous vaginal delivery nor do I hold any ill feelings towards the process. With some intuition and a bit of my demanding stubborn personality, I managed to get diagnosed. I got through it and healed with the love and support of my family, friends, doctors, nurses, and holistic specialists who helped me turn around in a record time. I am so grateful to have access to these healers, so I have shared their links with their mentioned titles for you to reach out to if you also need help or if their work resonates with you. (sic)"

In May, Henry confirmed he and Liv were expecting their second child together. The actor shared a black-and-white photo of his family on Instagram and he captioned the snap, "Inbound [heart and child emoji]."

Liv, who married the Hollywood star in 2016, has also shared the same image on her own Instagram account. She captioned the photo, "Oh hey! New baby otw, due Sept 1 [heart and stars emojis]."

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After re-watching the film for the first time in two decades, the 85-year-old filmmaker insists that he stands by his opinion that the motion picture is 'not slow.'

Oct 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Sir Ridley Scott has hit out at "Blade Runner" critics who blasted the movie as "slow," after he recently re-watched the film for the first time in two decades. The 85-year-old filmmaker has insisted that after seeing his 1982 sci-fi classic again, he stands by his opinion that the motion picture is "not slow," and he has told anyone who thinks so to "go f**k yourself."

He told Total Film magazine, "I hadn't seen 'Blade Runner' for 20 years. Really. But I just watched it. And it's not slow. The information coming at you is so original and interesting, talking about biological creations, and mining off-world, which, in those days, they said was silly. I say, 'Go f**k yourself.' "

Scott knew at the time he was making a "very special movie," and that has been justified as his motion picture has been used as a major influence for many sci-fi films since.

He added, "[The shoot] was a very bad experience for me. I had horrendous partners. Financial guys, who were killing me every day. Id been very successful in the running of a company, and I knew I was making something very, very special. So I would never take no for an answer. But they didnt understand what they had. You shoot it, and you edit it, and you mix it. And by the time you're halfway through, everyones saying it's too slow. You've got to learn, as a director, you cant listen to anybody. I knew I was making something very, very special. And now it's one of the most important science-fiction films ever made which everybody feeds off. Every bloody film."

In August, Scott said how he regretted not being able to direct the "Blade Runner" sequel. The filmmaker found himself in a difficult position having to choose between "Blade Runner 2049" and "Alien: Covenant" due to a scheduling clash, and he wishes he'd worked on the follow-up to the 1982 movie.

Speaking to Empire magazine, he said, "I shouldn't have had to make that decision. But I had to. I should have done 'Blade Runner 2'."

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Through a spokesperson, the Prince and Princess of Wales shares in a new statement that they are 'profoundly distressed' by the terrorist attack upon Israel.

Oct 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Prince William and Kate Middleton are "profoundly distressed" by the terrorist attack upon Israel. The royal couple have "utterly condemned" Hamas' attack upon the country, which is reported to have killed more than 1000 people, and noted that the "horrors" committed by the group will leave a lasting effect of "grief, fear and anger" on the country.

A spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales said, "The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days. The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them. As Israel exercises its right of self defense, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come."

Prince William and Kate, both 41, are said to be "holding all victims in their hearts and minds" and are continuing to "hope" for a "better future" despite the anarchy. Their Royal Highnesses hold all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds. The spokesperson added, "Those The Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope that of a better future."In the midst of such terrible suffering, The Prince and Princess continue to share that hope without reservation.

King Charles is also said to be "extremely concerned" about the situation and has sent his "thoughts and prayers" to those suffering. A spokesperson for the monarch said, "This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about, and he has asked to be kept actively updated. His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak. "His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel," the spokesperson added.

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The 29-year-old comedian/actor is set to return to the popular NBC comedy show to host the show, noting that he will bring his mom Amy with him with one goal.

Oct 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Pete Davidson wants to find his mom a boyfriend. The 29-year-old comedian, whose firefighter father Scott tragically lost his life during the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York, is returning to "Saturday Night Live" to host the show at the weekend, and he's bringing his mother Amy with him in the hope of finding her a date.

Speaking on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon", he said, "She's very excited. She actually has been on the show almost as many times as I have! Like, she's always ready to go up. And I'm really excited, just because, like, I'm trying to find my mom someone to date. She hasn't been with anybody in like 23 years. So, like, yeah! And she's a good catch."

He then jokingly added, "And it's like, you know, brand new down there so..." Pete went on to explain he was "trying to find someone nice" for his mom, both to make her happy to and to help him out.

He quipped, "I really just want someone to take care of her, and to get her off my hands". Pete left "SNL" as a series regular towards the end of season 47 and he's hopeful his hosting gig finally happens after having previous appearances cancelled due to reasons outside of his control.

He joked, "It's funny, any time I have something that I work really hard on that I'm, like, really proud of, either a national pandemic happens, and they're like, 'No premiere for you!' Or then this writer's strike happened. So yeah, I still think it might not happen."

The "Dumb Money" actor found out he'd be hosting this week from a text message from producer Lorne Michaels. He laughed, "I got a classic Lorne text. He was like, 'There's a rumor going around that you're the host for the premiere.' And he goes, 'I guess it's true, because I started it.'"

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Katharina Mazepa stresses that she and her plastic surgeon fiance are still together and are 'happier than ever' after their engagement despite speculations suggesting otherwise.

Oct 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Katharina Mazepa has broken her silence on recent rumors about her relationship with Lenny Hochstein. After reportedly having an awkward run-in with his fiance's former wife Lisa Hochstein, the Austrian model shut down speculations suggesting that she and the plastic surgeon had called it quits.

Speaking to Page Six on Wednesday, October 11, the 28-year-old beauty stressed, "There is absolutely no truth to these claims." About her romance with 57-year-old Lenny, she went on to insist, "And we are happier than ever."

In addition to Katharina, her representative Louisa Warwick issued a statement about the matter in a separate interview with the outlet. Louisa revealed that Katharina and Lenny are "happily settled into their home, cherishing quality moments with the kids" and hosting a Halloween party. The rep continued, "Katharina has played a key role in organizing their upcoming Halloween party."

Katharina's clarification came after hosts of the "Cocktails and Gossip" podcast reported that she and Lenny had called off their engagement. In the Saturday, October 7 episode of the podcast, a source spoke to the hosts, "I was told that they have a pretty combative relationship."

"Ultimately, they had a huge fight after the move to the house that he evicted Lisa and the kids from," the source continued. Not stopping there, the source claimed that the engaged couple's house in Star Island, Florida is "available to rent." However, it was previously revealed by Page Six that the two intentionally rented their mansion for events.

Katharina and Lenny announced their engagement on July 29 in a joint post via Instagram. In the wake of the news, Lenny's former wife Lisa sarcastically congratulated the two. In a message on Instagram Story, Lisa deemed Katharina a "mistress."

On Saturday night, October 7, Katharina and Lenny reportedly had an awkward encounter with Lisa and her boyfriend Jody Glidden. A source, via Page Six, spotted Katharina and Lenny hanging out with their friends at the Prime 112 in Miami when Lisa and Jody arrived at the restaurant.

The star of "The Real Housewives of Miami" and Jody "arrived" as well as "dined with friends across the dining room but in eyesight [of Lenny and Katarina]," the source stated. "The two seemed to be happy they were there, but you could feel there was tension between the two [couples]."

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The 'Today' co-host recounts on the talk show his meeting with the Duchess of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry at the Archewell Foundation summit, where he served as moderator.

Oct 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle apparently left a huge impression on Carson Daly. The "Today" co-host met the Duchess of Sussex at the Archewell Foundation summit, where he served as moderator, on Tuesday, October 10.

Recounting the event, Carson revealed that Meghan preferred the warm greeting over formal protocol. "One of the main events was a special conversation that I shared with the Duke and Duchess, Harry and Meghan, about how to build a safer space online for our kids and teenagers," Carson revealed to co-host Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker and Craig Melvin on Wednesday morning.

Calling Meghan and her husband Prince Harry "so great," Carson shared that the former "Suits" actress encouraged him to forget protocol when he was unsure of royal protocol. "People asked me, 'How were the royals?' I didn't know whether to curtsey or hug, like, what's the royal rules and whatnot? And Meghan [said], 'Bring it in,' [with a] big hug," he said, before Savannah responded, "That's really cool."

During the summit, titled The Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age, Meghan and Harry discussed their roles as parents to son Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2. "I think for us, for myself and my wife, with kids growing up in a digital age, the priority here is to again turn pain into purpose and provide as much support as well as a spotlight and a platform for these parents to come together, to heal, to grieve and to also collectively focus on solutions so that no other family anywhere has to go through what they've been through," the British prince said.

Meghan, meanwhile, shared that "being a mom is the most important thing in my entire life" in addition to being a wife to Harry. "But I will say I feel fortunate that our children are at an age, again quite young, so this isn't in our immediate future, but I also feel frightened at how it's continuing to change and this will be in front of us," the mom of two divulged.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex impressed the audience, who gave them a standing ovation following the panel.

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Bilateral trade amounts to all-time high of $27.8 billion in 2022

By Ko Dong-hwan

India has emerged as major investment destination for Korean firms as the South Asian country with one of the biggest consumer markets in the world has continued to increase its trade volume with Korea year after year.

Bilateral trade in 2022 reached a record level of $27.8 billion. Indias import volume that year stood at $ 18.8 billion and export volume at $9 billion.

Four years ago, bilateral trade stood at $20 billion, with Korea exporting $15 billion. The total figure dipped the following year to $16.8 billion but rebounded to $24 billion in 2021 and increased further to the highest historical level the following year.

As of August this year, Korea exported to India $11.7 billion and imported over $4.4 billion from India.

Major items of Indias exports to Korea are mineral fuels and oil distillates, cereals, iron and steel. Koreas main export items are car parts, telecommunications equipment, hot-rolled iron products, refined petroleum products, base lubricating oils, mechanical appliances, electrical machinery parts and iron and steel products.

Since India and Korea launched the "Korea Plus" initiative to promote Korean investments in India, Korea's total foreign direct investment (FDI) to India as of December 2022 stood at $7.8 billion, according to the Export-Import Bank of Korea. Investment by India in Korea, meanwhile, reached approximately $5.2 billion, which was led by Tata Daewoo and Aditya Birla Group. Tata Motors acquired Korea's Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company for $102 million in 2004.

Korea's car exports to India particularly shined this year as Hyundai Motor has sold over 450,000 vehicles, an 8.8 percent year-on-year jump. Kia sold almost 200,000, a year-on-year increase of 1.1 percent. The sales boon in India helped Hyundai Motor Group further cement its goal this year of securing a spot in the "Big 3" global carmakers.

Exchanges in financial sectors in recent years are also notable. In 2016, the State Bank of India opened a branch in Seoul to provide a wide range of services including loan services and project financing for Korean and Indian companies. Six Korean Banks have branches in India, including KEB Hana, Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Nong Hyup and IBK.

In total, there are more than 600 Korean firms operating in India, according to the Embassy of India in Seoul.

Other latest business ventures in India by Korean firms include a possible joint battery factory by LG Energy Solution, the launch of the affordable Galaxy Tab A9 tablet by Samsung Electronics and expansion of the Choco Pie production line in Lotte Wellfood's factory in Chennai.

According to the India Embassy, bilateral trades took a strong leap in 2010 when the two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The relationship developed further in 2015 when India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Seoul and agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a "special strategic partnership." In 2018, when then-Korean President Moon Jae-in visited India, both countries issued a statement outlining Vision for People, Prosperity, Peace and our Future.

Modi's relationship with Korea extended to incumbent President Yoon Suk Yeol, who visited India last month to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi. On the sidelines of the summit, Modi and Yoon had a bilateral meeting.
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The Canadian rapper is trending on social media amid fans' speculation that he has been released after he submitted another bail request, but his father clarifies that they're 'still waiting.'

Oct 12, 2023

AceShowbiz - Tory Lanez's father has spoken up on rumors of his son's release from jail. #FreeToryLanez was recently trending on X, formerly Twitter, as fans have falsely speculated that the Canadian rapper has walked away from prison, but Tory's dad has set the record straight.

On Wednesday, October 11, Sonstar hopped on Instagram Live to address the matter. In a video filmed while he was in a car, Sonstar expressed his confidence that his son will be released, but stated that "we're still waiting."

Putting his faith in God, Sonstar said in his fiery message to Tory's fans, "I refuse to hang my head in shame.... I stand confident in Him. God says He will never allow his children to be put to shame before their enemies." He then declared that his son's voice "is not gonna be silenced."

Earlier this week, Tory'z legal team resubmitted his bail request after it was denied back in September. According to Meghann Cuniff, who has been covering the trial of Tory's shooting case, the motion was "nearly identical" to the first one he submitted.

The legal journalist went on noting that his motion is still pending. Following the false rumors, Meghann said she was "bombarded" with questions surrounding his release, which she found "hilarious."

"I gotta say this was an absolutely hilarious 45 minutes of being bombarded with questions about Lanez getting bail, posting that it's BS, then listening to a Twitter Spaces in which the people saying he got bail realized in real time it was BS. Epic," she wrote on X. " 'It shouldn't be that easy to make a fake email. ... These things should be verifiable.' Yes, if only there was this thing called the public court docket that we could check to see if something has actually happened in a case," she stressed.

Previously, Meghann reported that Tory's legal team was hoping it would only take "a day or two" for a hearing to be scheduled in the appellate court. However, contrary to their belief, the journalist noted that the process will take far longer than that.

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TV9 Network, India's largest television news network, has undergone a profound and disruptive transformation that has propelled it far ahead of traditional industry stalwarts. The network's exceptional evolution has been recognized with two prestigious awards at the WCRCLEADERS GLOBAL Summit in London, hosted by the World Consulting & Research Corporation International (WCRC).

Barun Das, Managing Director & CEO of TV9 Network, received the prestigious 'Worlds Best Leader' award from Baroness Sandip Verma and Baroness Pola Uddin at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster. Additionally, News9 Plus, TV9 Network's groundbreaking News OTT platform, was honoured with the title of 'Worlds Best Brand' in News Media 2023.

Expressing his gratitude for this prestigious honour, Mr. Barun Das said, Running a news network is an incredibly challenging endeavour, perhaps the most complex aspect, is that a news channel is considered the fourth estate. Balancing the responsibility of being a watchdog of democracy while running a profitable business is a formidable challenge. We must generate profits to sustain our operations and provide deserving journalists with the recognition and rewards they deserve for upholding their journalistic principles. These factors collectively make our roles incredibly demanding, and I am honoured to represent my team here today. A leader is only as good as their team, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to WCRC for this recognition.

As the distinguished recipient of the Worlds Best Leader 2023 award, Mr. Barun Das now enters an exclusive league of exceptional leaders who have demonstrated unparalleled leadership skills, propelling their organizations to unprecedented levels of success. His innovative strategies and transformative leadership have not only fueled the growth of his own company but have also left an indelible mark on the industry at large. Mr. Barun Das, also co-presented the lifetime achievement award to Lord Swraj Paul along with Abhimanyu Ghosh, Editor-in-Chief WCRC.

In addition to celebrating Mr. Barun Dass remarkable achievements, his brainchild, News9 Plus, has received the prestigious Worlds Best Brands 2023 recognition in the Media industry category. This accolade underscores News9 Pluss unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity, quality reporting, and serves as a testament to its consistent dedication to excellence, innovation, and the mission of providing accurate and timely news coverage that informs and engages a global audience.

The momentous occasion of the WCRCLEADERS GLOBAL Leaders Summit and Awards took place on Thursday, 5th October, 2023, at the prestigious Peers Room, located within The House of Lords at The Palace of Westminster in London.

This years summit centred around the theme One Earth. One Family. One Future, emphasizing the profound interconnectedness of our world and how it generates fresh opportunities for global business, concurrently fostering the reduction of tensions and the promotion of international trade.

Notably, the Peers Room at the House of Lords reached maximum capacity as attendees gathered to celebrate the award winners. Esteemed guests from various countries graced the occasion, further enhanced by the presence of several prominent British ministers, Lords, Baronesses, and distinguished individuals. Their participation elevated the WCRCLEADERS GLOBAL Leadership Summit to unprecedented levels of excellence.
One of the leading Indian fund houses, Axis Mutual Fund, has announced the launch of its new insightful and dynamic advertising campaign, titled #SochaSamjhaRisk, which is a 360-degree campaign with the objective of motivating and encouraging the investors to understand individual and personal risk appetites with the assistance provided by Risk Profiler. It also lays emphasis on educating investors about Riskometer in order to understand the risk associated with funds and thereby make informed decisions surrounding investment. Most investors easily get carried away by market noise, though they understand the significance of investing. The campaign #SochaSamjhaRisk is aimed at enhancing the education level of the investors, and thereby encourage the individuals in truly understanding the risks associated with their investments.

The first and second videos emphasise on spreading awareness and educating the investors about Riskometer as a key metric and tool to comprehend risks associated with funds. It requires investors to familiarise themselves with the categories of Riskometer and thereby, align them with their goals, comfort levels, duration of investment, for making informed decisions and manage risk efficiently in order to meet the financial goals set by them.

The Risk Profiler is a tool to measure the personal risk-taking appetite of an individual and is designed to assist investors in understanding their differentiated risk-taking capacity by taking into consideration financial objectives and individual goals. Therefore, the third and fourth videos focus on encouraging the investors to identify and assess their appetite for risk in order to make informed decisions.

In conversation with Adgully, Boniface Noronha, SVP & Head, Marketing, Digital & Direct Sales, Axis AMC, stressed, It is important to note here that while there has been an improvement in the understanding of mutual funds, thanks to multiple awareness drives by AMFI, the category is still relatively new to the Indian markets, and it has only recently seen an uplift.

What is the concept and idea behind the #SochaSamjhaRisk campaign? What was the core insight behind it? How did you come up with this idea?

While most investors understand the importance of investing, they tend to get swayed easily by market noise. Unfortunately, everyday market fluctuations are treated as the benchmark for Risk, resulting in mutual funds being perceived as a Risky investment avenue. This also paves the way for several misconceptions amongst investors, primarily led by limited understanding of risk and tools to mitigate risk. At Axis MF, we conducted an interesting research on Risk Comprehension amongst Indian investors which revealed that while 89% investors believe that risk appetite (among other factors) plays a significant role in choosing the right mutual fund, 53% of investors are not confident of their risk-taking ability.

Therefore, #SochaSamjhaRisk is Axis Mutual Funds proactive step towards enhancing investor education and encouraging individuals to truly understand the risks associated with their investments. The campaign has been built on the premise that while many investors understand the importance of staying invested for the long run, most investors do not understand for just how long one must stay invested. Our latest initiative #SochaSamjhaRisk underscores the significance of well-thought-out investment decisions over impulsive, uninformed choices influenced by hearsay or market noise. It is a 360-degree campaign aimed at encouraging investors to understand individual risk appetites with the help of a Risk Profiler. The initiative also focuses on educating investors about the Riskometer to understand fund risk and make informed investment decisions.

Which creative agency has conceptualised the campaign and what was the brief given to them?

The campaign has been creatively conceptualised and led by Mirum India, a part of the WPP group. Our brief to the agency was rather simple. Most of us must have read, heard, or at some point seen, the often-quoted 14 letter disclaimer that goes Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. Now the question to ask here is, just how many investors truly understand what risks we are referring to. It is important to note here that while there has been an improvement in the understanding of mutual funds, thanks to multiple awareness drives by AMFI, the category is still relatively new to the Indian markets, and it has only recently seen an uplift.

Choosing the right mutual fund can be difficult and confusing as each investors investing capacity and objectives are different. Additionally, the Riskometer can seem like a daunting tool for an uninformed investor. We wanted to change this attitude to something more positive. So, the one-liner brief was To get investors to understand risk-o-meters based on which they should be making informed investment decisions. We wanted this Investor Awareness Initiative to be true to its name and empower investors with the requisite knowledge of the available tools to take #SochaSamjhaRisk.

Who is the TG for this campaign and what was your thought process while coming up with the ad films?

The beauty of this campaign is that it appeals to all investors across age categories. As of now, no AMC has attempted to educate the investors on disclosures and disclaimers. Therefore, the films have been carefully designed in a manner so as to resonate with all individuals who are keen on understanding mutual funds to start their financial journeys. Axis Mutual Funds #SochaSamjhaRisk is a one of its-first kind of initiatives aimed at changing the dynamics of investor education by actively encouraging people to understand and decode risk. #SochaSamjhaRisk capitalises on the core human insight of staying away from everything seemingly Risky without truly understanding the Risks involved. The four slice of life films capture everyday interactions to create a stronger resonance with the target audience.

Watch the ad films:

Video 1: https://youtu.be/P2flUrzhTPc

Video 2: https://youtu.be/YLAr-9zzF3M

Video 3: https://youtu.be/ghZclymEza0

Video 4: https://youtu.be/oAxZNSo7Xng

All four videos of the campaign are your everyday slice-of-life situations, which have been designed in a manner to focus on two key elements that are central to the campaign. We have two videos that focus on spreading awareness and educating investors about Riskometer as a key tool to understand fund risk. By familiarising themselves with the Riskometers categories and aligning them with their comfort levels, goals, and investment durations, investors can make informed decisions and effectively manage risks to meet their financial goals. The remaining two videos focus on the Risk Profiler, a tool to gauge ones personal risk-taking appetite and help investors understand their unique risk-taking capacity by factoring in individual goals and financial objectives. They emphasise on encouraging investors to assess their risk appetite to make informed decisions.

What do you mean by a Riskometer and a Risk Profiler?

Whenever you open a scheme-related document, one of the first things you will see is a semicircle with an arrow pointing towards the Risk levels associated with that fund. The Riskometer is a standardised tool used by mutual fund houses to communicate the risk levels of individual funds. It offers a visual representation of a funds risk profile that uses a needle (like that of a compass) to represent different risk levels ranging from Low Risk, Moderately Low Risk, Moderate Risk, Moderately High Risk, High Risk, and Very High Risk. The Riskometer acts as a helpful guide for investors, helping them grasp the risks associated with investing in mutual funds.

A Risk Profiler is a self-assessment tool that can help individuals understand their own risk appetites for a particular goal and plan their investment journey accordingly. Typically, investors need to answer a series of questions focusing on factors such as financial goals, time horizon, investment preferences, and risk aversion to understand their approach to different situations, basis which their risk appetite will be revealed.

What is the marketing mix for the campaign? How did you develop it at a time when there is a requirement for the creation of awareness on Risk Comprehension?

#SochaSamjhaRisk is a 360-degree campaign, wherein we have leveraged the power of print, digital, OOH, online, TV and content. Wanting the connect with Bharat, we have ensured communication in six regional languages (4 films x 8 languages = 32 total combinations), targeting SEC A and B in a pan-India campaign.

As mentioned earlier, we conducted a pan-India survey with Axis MF investors prior to the launch of the campaign. Our survey revealed that of the 27% respondents who claimed to take risk appetite into account, 64% were not aware of risk profiler as a tool to evaluate risk appetite. This indicates that investors know the importance of risk profiling, but might not be aware of Risk Profiler as a tool for assessing personal risk, leading to a potential mismatch between personal risk and that of the fund. As high as 61% of the respondents were not aware of what risk-o-meter indicates. Only 16% of the total respondents who were aware of a Riskometer and that it indicated Fund risk, claimed to check the Riskometer before making an investment. We figured there was a need to educate investors on these tools and empower them to make informed decisions.

What are the innovative technologies and strategies that are utilised by Axis Mutual Fund in order to increase reach, thereby spreading awareness on responsible investment? How is Axis Mutual Fund leveraging technology and digital media to promote the campaign?

Along with the 4 films that we have for the main campaign, there is an extensive marketing plan that has been curated and is being executed for our different audience sets. We have used a technology where it works like an interactive video, and the person can get to know his risk profile is based on the inputs, live. We sent out this unique link to our investor base as well as our distributor base.

We have deep dived extensively into Tier 2 and 3 markets in regional languages. Our B2B set up for this campaign has also been quite strong and robust. Additionally, to empower every consumer with the knowledge of this campaign we have sent out multiple communications where we talk about how each person is a responsible manager and how each distributor acts like a personal risk manager to his/her investor.

What are the factors that people consider before investing in mutual funds in India currently?

The mutual fund industry is at an interesting inflection point today, underscored by the increasing influx of investors in the category. While we continue to grow as an industry, enabling investors to make informed investment decisions is also our responsibility. We strongly believe that an educated, financially literate, and well-informed customer is an Investor for Lifetime. According to our survey, buoyed by the awareness drives by regulators, fund houses, and distributors, investors have recognised the importance of investing their hard-earned money to potentially appreciate it, and one of the increasingly preferred investment avenues is Mutual Funds.

However, 59% investors still consider past performance as one of the key benchmarks for investing in mutual funds. Often, mainly influenced by market noise, investors tend to redeem their investments even though they are aware of the importance of long-term investing and power of compounding. According to data by AMFI, 22.2% equity investors stay invested for 12-24 months and in total 48.7% equity investors redeem their portfolio within two years or less.

Even though 89% investors believe that understanding risk appetite plays a role in choosing the right mutual fund, only 27% investors said that they actually took their risk appetite into consideration before investing. Therefore, #SochaSamjhaRisk focuses on debunking the perception that All mutual funds are risky and instead, encourages investors to make informed and strategic choices by understanding the risks involved.

Source: AMFI, Axis MF Investor Survey
Go Digit General Insurance, one of Indias fastest-growing general insurance company, released the finale episode of Simply Put YouTube series on World Mental Health Day. The episode The Magic of Health Insurance: Easing Anxieties in the Post-pandemic Era explores the connection between financial security and mental health in a post-pandemic world and how one can ease anxiety arising out of multiple disruptive life events by better preparing oneself.

Taking health insurance as the central theme, the episode talks about how anxiety and depression during the first year of the pandemic was associated with many Indians not being financially prepared for unexpected life disruption like Covid-19. This, however, witnessed a major shift during the second and third wave of Covid as many Indians had prepared themselves better from any impending medical emergency by taking health insurance. According to Digit's internal survey, the demand for health insurance during Omicron went up by 98%3 as compared to 2020.

Tanya Marwah, Head - Marketing & Corporate Communication, Digit General Insurance, said, "Anyone who has spent a night at a hospital admitted or caring for their loved ones would know how distressing such times can be. Health Insurance is usually looked at from the lens of coverage and affordability. We often do not talk about the absolute peace of mind it provides during such anxious times and one cant really put a price on that. Through this episode, we hope we are able to start a conversation around doing away with our internal biases and buying health insurance to be mentally prepared for inevitable life events. The idea behind Digit coming out with such series is to actively engage in conversations related to insurance beyond products and increase the peripheral knowledge of people at large."

The series has been conceptualised by Digit Insurance and the company roped in Bangalore-based LastBench Studio as the Creative Agency. Talking about the thought behind the series, Sriram Sabhapathy, Founder, LastBench Studio said, Getting to work on the Simply Put series was not only a unique experience but also eye opening for many of us. We are glad brands like Digit are pushing the boundaries of creative content production by letting creative studios like ours experiment with unique creative styles. Topics related to health insurance are often perceived to be very complex. We are optimistic that breaking the barriers of communication by using a mix of pop-culture references, memes and data to make it more relatable and relevant for millennials and Gen-Z will hopefully make such important topics more mainstream.

The Simply Put YouTube series by Digit Insurance is a four-episode series that explores different themes around health insurance. While the first episode talks about how the human brain tricks oneself into making biased decisions, the second episode talks about how one should view health insurance through different life stages. The third episode takes a data rich approach and explores the math behind whether having a health insurance is really worth it.

Digit Insurance will come out with Season 2 of Simply Put in 2024.
Ahead of World Sight Day, LG Electronics India proudly embarks on the next phase of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) endeavour, "KAREIN ROSHNI: Light For Every Sight," aimed at transforming lives through comprehensive eye care and surgical interventions. This year's initiative marks a significant expansion of the program's reach as LG India collaborates with six new partners to support 14,500 cataract surgeries across India to amplify its impact.

Under the banner of "KAREIN ROSHNI," LG India has forged strategic partnerships with six esteemed hospitals across the country, thereby solidifying its commitment to improving eye care accessibility and eliminating preventable blindness. Through these partnerships, a projected total of 14,500 surgeries are anticipated to be performed during the fiscal year 2023-24 across India, a remarkable testament to LG's dedication to making a difference through six charitable hospitals namely - Dr. Shroffs Charity Eye Hospital, Icare Eye Hospital, Noida (unit of Ishwar Charitable Trust), Sankara Eye Foundation (A unit of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Medical Trust, H.V. Desai Eye Hospital (The Poona Blind Mens Association), Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya Guwahati (a unit of Sri Kanchi Sankara Health and Educational Foundation), Sri Akhand Jyoti (Yugrishi Shriam Sharma Acharya Charitable Trust).

Furthermore, the initiative encompasses a comprehensive awareness campaign about eye care to educate and empower individuals to take charge of their visual health. By promoting eye care awareness, LG endeavours to prevent avoidable blindness and enhance the quality of life for countless individuals across India.

Commenting on the initiative, Hong Ju Jeon, MD, LG Electronics India said, "At LG, our commitment goes beyond innovation  it's about illuminating lives. Building on the incredible response to the flagship initiative KAREIN ROSHNI, we're thrilled to take this forward on a bigger scale. With this initiative, we're not just offering vision, but also awareness, choices, and possibilities to the lesser privileged society. For over 25 years, we've constantly elevated lives, and our KAREIN ROSHNI- Light For Every Sight CSR initiative is another stride on that path. We extend heartfelt thanks to our partner hospitals for joining us in this noble cause."

Karein Roshni has been LG Indias one of the flagship CSR project. Under the aegis of this initiative, this year LG India has pledged to support 14,500 cataract Eye surgeries across India through 6 charitable Hospitals. As LG Electronics India continues to champion social responsibility through innovative initiatives like "KAREIN ROSHNI: Light For Every Sight," the company is set to reaffirm its dedication to creating a brighter, more inclusive, and healthier future for all.
Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series  START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the Vocal for Local movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the count.

SALT Attire is a leading womens fashion workwear brand that goes beyond providing stylish clothing options. It aims to establish a community that supports and empowers women in the workplace. SALT Attire strives to be a symbol of sophistication, simplicity, and strength, catering to the diverse needs of Indian women in their professional lives.

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Dipti Tolani, Founder, SALT Attire, talks about the inspiration behind her start-up, challenges faced by the company in the marketplace along with growth plans, and much more.

What inspired the founding of your start-up, and what problem did you set out to solve?

I noticed a significant gap in the Indian market when it comes to premium business casual and professional clothing options for women. With the increasing number of women entering the workforce, there is a growing demand for such attire. This realisation inspired me to create a holistic store that caters to womens clothing needs from 9 AM to 9 PM, ensuring that every item serves both work and post-work purposes.

As I delved deeper into the disconnect between what working women desire in their clothing and what is currently available, I identified several crucial elements, including design, fabric selection, and fit. This led me to conduct extensive field research, closely examining the industry and the intricacies of the design process.

The core vision behind SALT Attire was to establish a single destination offering high-quality wardrobe solutions for professional women, while keeping affordability in mind. We provide our customers with an omnichannel experience through our online presence and multiple stores in Delhi and Mumbai, aiming to offer a seamless shopping experience. Salt Attire also offers personalised tailoring services to ensure our customers achieve their desired fits without compromising on the aesthetics and quality of the garments.

Could you provide an overview of your product and its unique features or benefits?

Our collection is a combination of fashion with absolute practicality. Our range includes impeccably fitted trousers, shirts that prevent gaping, airy skirts, hassle-free tops, and the most stylish and comfortable dresses. Each of these pieces is meticulously crafted using top-quality lightweight materials. We firmly believe that what pleases the eye should also provide comfort to the skin. We also provide customisations and personalised shopping based on customer preferences, lifestyle, and body type. Our commitment to our customers is simple: with our premium fabrics, great finishing, and exceptional craftsmanship, SALT Attire offers professional, stylish and comfortable clothing options in one.

How does your start-up differentiate itself from competitors in the market?

Affordability is paramount, delivering top value without compromising on quality. We provide an omnichannel experience through online and physical stores in Delhi and Mumbai, making shopping convenient. Our customer-centric approach reflects insights gained from extensive field research. We understand the unique needs of professional women, crafting clothing that suits both work and leisure. Our focus on high-quality imported fabrics, and bespoke tailoring for the perfect fit.

What milestones has your company achieved so far, and what are your future growth plans?

SALT has undergone significant transformation since its inception. We have an in-house team responsible for the design, development, and production of our clothing line. Our product offerings are accessible through our website, and we have established five physical retail outlets, three in Mumbai and two in the Delhi-NCR region. We anticipate a growth rate of over 3x this financial year. Over the next two years, we have ambitious plans for rapid expansion, both in terms of our physical presence and online footprint, with the aim of becoming the go-to destination for women seeking thoughtfully designed, fashion-forward, and premium clothing.

How has the start-up evolved since its inception, and what challenges have you overcome along the way?

Challenges included achieving the perfect fit, which required extensive research and development. Balancing our online and offline presence presented logistical hurdles, but it broadened our customer reach. Scaling production while maintaining craftsmanship was a complex challenge, addressed through investments in advanced processes. A customer-centric approach, supported by field research and continuous feedback, refined our offerings.

Financially, weve seen substantial growth and in the competitive fashion industry, we stay agile by closely tracking market trends and offering unique, high-quality products.

How does your start-up contribute to the industry or community that you operate in?

We empower women in the workforce by offering high-quality professional attire that enhances their confidence and career prospects. Simultaneously, our expansion initiatives have created job opportunities within the fashion and retail sectors, fostering economic growth locally. Our commitment to affordability ensures that professional attire is accessible to a diverse demographic. Sustainability is a priority, with a focus on long-lasting products and the exploration of eco-friendly materials and practices.

What problem does your start-up solve?

Our start-up addresses multiple critical challenges in the fashion industry. Firstly, we provide professional women with a wide array of premium, meticulously designed workwear and business casual options, solving the issue of limited choices.

Secondly, we tackle the problem of ill-fitting clothing by offering tailored fits and anti-gaping solutions that ensure both comfort and confidence for our customers.

We also prioritise high-quality materials, using top-notch lightweight polyester, rayon, and pure cotton sourced from reliable suppliers, thereby rectifying the compromise on material quality in the industry. Our clothing effortlessly transitions from work to post-work activities, eliminating the need for multiple outfit changes in a day.

And lastly, we bridge the gap between customer desires and market availability through extensive market research and customer engagement.

How much funding has the company raised, and from which investors?

Weve secured funding for our retail expansion primarily through angel networks.

Who are your target customers, and how are you acquiring them?

Our target audience is women aged 25 years and above, ideally working professionals. Women interested in curating a wardrobe featuring timeless, elegant styles. We serve numerous customers seeking high-quality, comfortable western clothing, even if they are not in the working professional category.

What are the major challenges that the company faces currently?

Challenges are a part of any growth journey. In the realm of retail expansion, we encounter specific hurdles concerning both human resources and operational aspects. Concurrently, the landscape of online growth presents its unique set of challenges, including meeting turnaround time (TAT) requirements and optimizing performance marketing strategies. Our predominant challenges revolve around the intricacies of growth, and our ongoing efforts are dedicated to crafting and refining the necessary processes to surmount these obstacles effectively.

What is the background and expertise of the founding team?

The founding team has expertise in Operations & Marketing, Designers from NIFT and a strong tech team.

What is the companys growth plan and vision for the future?

Our objective is to establish a nationwide presence among our consumers while upholding our strong online footprint. As a direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand, we currently operate on popular marketplaces such as Myntra and Nykaa. Furthermore, we are actively pursuing an expansion into the realm of offline retail, having successfully launched five physical stores, with several more in the pipeline. This multi-pronged approach allows us to connect with a diverse range of customers across India, ensuring our brand's accessibility both in the digital and physical retail spaces.

How does the company measure success, and what are its key performance indicators (KPIs)?

KPIs vary across departments and verticals within our organization. Each business unit is guided by specific and highly focused KPIs. From a broader business perspective, we track standard metrics encompassing areas like sales, conversion rates, return on ad spend (ROAS), and customer repeat rates. Additionally, we have distinct KPIs tailored to individual departments, including Design, Marketing, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Sales, Retail Sales, and we delve even deeper to continuously enhance each department's performance.

What are the exit strategies for investors?

We will be exploring this idea once we reach a certain level of revenue.
Federal Finance Administration

Bern, 12.10.2023 - The Swiss economy's recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic is also reflected in the government units' 2022 results. A financing surplus of 6.9 billion is anticipated for the general government (Confederation, cantons, municipalities and social security funds), due primarily to the high surpluses of the cantons and social security funds. By contrast, the Confederation's results are set to remain negative. Despite weaker economic growth in 2023 and 2024, the general government's fiscal balance is expected to stay positive. Switzerland's net debt ratio is likely to decline further in the coming years in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is shown in the latest financial statistics figures of the Federal Finance Administration (FFA).

The entire press release is available in pdf format.

Address for enquiries

Philipp Rohr

FFA Communications Officer

Tel. +41 58 465 16 06

Kommunikation@efv.admin.ch

Publisher

Federal Finance Administration

http://www.efv.admin.ch




At least 11 United Nations staff and personnel, as well as 30 students at UN schools, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel, according to The Times of Israel.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, 11 United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff and personnel have been killed since Saturday, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees which also runs schools in Gaza.

30 UNRWA students have also been killed and another eight have been injured, she said.

The victims include five teachers, a gynaecologist, an engineer, a counselor, and three support staff, UNRWAs deputy director Jennifer Austin said in a statement.

She further said, UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families. UN staff and civilians must be protected at all times during conflict. We call for the fighting to come to an end to spare more civilian lives. Reportedly, over 250,000 people in Gaza have fled from their homes, the UN said.

However, most of these people have crowded into schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, The Times of Israel reported.

Marking the sixth day of the fatal rocket fire attack by Hamas, over 1,200 people have been killed, more than 3000 injured and an estimated 100150 were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Air Forces chief of staff, Brigadier General Omer Tishler, said that the Israeli Air Force was not targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip but that the strikes were no longer surgical.

We do not act like the other side, we do not attack the civilian population. Behind every attack there is a target, he said. We act precisely and professionally but not surgically. Im not talking about single, tens, or hundreds [of strikes]. We are talking about thousands of munitions, Tishler said.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that he has ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip.

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Wednesday to protect civilians and for international humanitarian law to be upheld.

About 220,000 Palestinians are now sheltering in 92 UNRWA facilities across Gaza, he said, adding that UN premises, hospitals, clinics, and schools must never be targeted. The Palestinian envoy also mentioned Israels Defence Ministers statement in the letter, which said, We are fighting human animals We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza. There will be no electricity, no water, and no fuel. Everything will be closed.

He claimed that Israeli occupying forces (IOF) continue attacking civilian areas across the Gaza Strip, firing missiles, bombs, and artillery by air, land, and sea. Violating all rules of international humanitarian law, Israel is deliberately targeting homes, including apartment buildings, refugee camps, hospitals and other medical facilities, UNRWA schools, mosques, and other civilian properties and infrastructure, including roads, hampering the passage of emergency vehicles and access of humanitarian personnel to aid the wounded.

The letter mentioned that the casualties are estimated at 849 Palestinians killed, including families in their entirety throughout Gaza, and over 5,350 wounded by lethal IOF attacks in the days since Israel began its onslaught on October 7. The toll is rising by the minute.

He emphasised that the harm being done to children and women is unspeakable. Children are being traumatized and terrorized, orphaned by the hundreds as their parents are murdered before their eyes, displaced as their homes are blown up and reduced to rubble, and among the dead and wounded, with reports of over 140 children killed.

As of this writing, it is estimated that more than 80 women are also among the dead, with casualty figures still rising.



Giving details about the destruction, the Palestinian envoy sought to stop the bloodshed and save civilian lives and he reiterated that the targeting of civilians must be halted immediately.

Meanwhile, earlier, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the US was actively discussing with Israel and Egypt to ensure safe passage for civilians from Gaza, according to The Times of Israel.

We support safe passage for civilians. Civilians are not to blame for what Hamas has done. They didnt do anything wrong, and we continue to support safe passage, Kirby said during a press briefing.

As of Wednesday, the coastal enclave, home to 2.3 million people have been dealing with deteriorating condition as entire city blocks were reduced to rubble and residents searched for places to go.

Moreover, the power plant in the Gaza Strip ceased operations on Wednesday afternoon after running out of fuel, the Gaza Energy Authority announced, The Jerusalem Post reported.

In an update posted on X, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that dozens of warplanes attacked more than 80 targets throughout Beit Hanon during the night.

Dozens of warplanes attacked over 80 targets throughout Beit Hanon during the night. Among other things, the planes attacked two bank branches used by the terrorist organization Hamas to finance terrorism in the Gaza Strip, an underground terrorist tunnel in the territory of the Gaza Strip and two operational headquarters used by the terrorist organization Hamas to direct terrorism to the State of Israel, IDF posted on X.

Gazas Civil Defense Department has warned that there were only a few rescue teams to search for survivors buried under rubble and that teams were unable to reach many places owing to the damaged roads and constant bombardments.

There is no safe place in Gaza right now, said journalist Hasan Jabar after three Palestinian journalists were killed in the bombardment of a downtown neighbourhood home to government ministries, media offices, and hotels. I am genuinely afraid for my life.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made an official visit to Denmark as part of his four-nation European trip to promote South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southern city of Busan, his office said Thursday.

Han arrived in Copenhagen on Tuesday (local time) for the second leg of his tour, engaging in meetings with prominent figures, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Queen Margrethe II, the office said.

Han is the first South Korean prime minister to visit Denmark in a decade.

In his meeting with the Danish leader on Wednesday, Han requested support for hosting the global quadrennial event in 2030, highlighting its potential to strengthen bilateral relations.

He also sought Denmark's assistance in countering the ongoing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, his office said.

In response, Frederiksen emphasized that South Korea is a major partner country sharing common values, conveying a message of solidarity.

During his meeting with Queen Margrethe II, Han expressed gratitude for the exchange of goodwill between the two nations and requested the Denmark royal's continuous attention and support.

The Danish monarch also expressed her satisfaction with the steady development of cooperation between the countries in various areas.

The next leg of Han's journey will take him to Zagreb, marking the first high-level official visit to Croatia. He will hold a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to discuss cooperation in sectors such as defense and technology, according to the office.

From Thursday to Saturday, Han will make his official visit to Greece, where he is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Han's visit will mark the first official visit to Greece by South Korea's prime minister in six years.

The Bureau International des Expositions plans to select the host city for the World Expo in late November. (Yonhap)
The Hindu Research Foundation, based in Mumbai, is a registered public charitable organization that has been working on a national scale since 2000. This organization works to preserve and promote various aspects of Hinduism.

It is disheartening that Indian culture has a rich heritage of sages and scholars who contributed significantly to literature, art, science, and mathematics in ancient times. Unfortunately, much of this information is still unknown to Indian society. The Hindu Research Foundation established the Saptarshi Puraskar Shrunkhala in an effort to correct this and honor the accomplishments of these sages.

The core idea behind the Saptarshi Puraskar Shrunkhala is to recognize and celebrate the achievements of seven notable sages from Indian culture in a manner akin to the Nobel Prize for their selflessness, outstanding contributions, and research benefiting all of humanity in their respective fields.

Initially, the scheme will focus on honoring distinguished Indian scientists for their remarkable accomplishments, with the aim of introducing the world to the achievements of our forefathers in the field of science from ancient times.

Last year, the Acharya Bharadwaj Award was presented to Padma Bhushan Shri Nambi Narayanan, a scientist who played a pivotal role in developing rocket technology, and Padma Vibhushan Shri Raghunath Mashelkar, a renowned chemist who gained worldwide acclaim for his unique contributions, received the Nagarjuna Award.

This year marks the second year of the awards. The following distinguished individuals from the fields of literature, art, and science will be honored with awards bearing their names. Each recipient will receive a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh along with a certificate of honor.

Padma Vibhushan Dr. Kasturirangan, Former ISRO Chairman  Bharadwaj Award Padma Bhushan Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, Father of the Super Computer  Aryabhatta Award Padma Vibhushan Shri E. Sreedharan, Metro Man  Vishwakarma Award Padma Vibhushan Dr. Anil Kakodkar  Acharya Kanad Award Padma Shri Dr. GD Yadav,Wizard of Chemical Sciences  Nagarjuna Award Dr. Anmol Sonawane,Authority on TAVER/TAVI Heart Surgery  Shushrut Award Mahakavi Sudhakar Gaidhani, Author of Devdoot: Maha Vakya  Maharshi Valmiki Award

Details about the work of the sages after whom the awards are named are attached.

The award ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the Kavikulguru Kalidas Auditorium, Persistent System, IT Park, Nagpur.

The event will be presided over by Nath Parampara Acharya Swami Shri Jitendranathji Maharaj, with the Honorable Shri Hareram Tripathi as the Chief Guest in attendance.

We kindly request your participation and presence at the award ceremony. Your attendance will add to the events grandeur and prestige. We also seek your support in spreading the word about this innovative initiative through our newsletter and social media.

Best Regards,

Hindu Research Foundation

Contact: 9820001954

Collaboration with Vishwa Mangalya Sabha, Nagpur; Maitri Parivar Sanstha, Nagpur; Engineers Forum, Nagpur
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 are 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 systems 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.

The payoff may be years away, when current Dallas students win high-paying jobs in STEM fields.

Tha Cung was placed in that sixth-grade honors math class two years ago. Now hes an eighth grader enrolled in Algebra I. He thinks that will give him a leg up.

My mom told me that I could be anything, said Tha, now 13. So I chose engineer.

___

The Education Reporting Collaborative, a coalition of eight newsrooms, is documenting the math crisis facing schools and highlighting progress. Members of the Collaborative are AL.com, The Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor, The Dallas Morning News, The Hechinger Report, Idaho Education News, The Post and Courier in South Carolina, and The Seattle Times.
A church group from Alabama safely made it back to the United States on Tuesday after getting stuck in Israel, where war broke out after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack.

Eleven members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills were in Israel for a mission trip when the fighting began.

The missions team from Shades Mountain who had been in Israel when the war broke out, returned home safely, senior pastor George Wright said in a press release Wednesday. We give thanks to God for His care and protection during this time and are grateful for the many people who prayed for their safe return.

At least 1,900 people have been killed in Israel and the Gaza Strip since early Saturday, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. 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 living there.

The siege, condemned by the United Nations Secretary-General, has halted any food, water, electricity or supplies amid continued airstrikes. Disputes over who has rights to the land have long preceded this latest conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Even as we celebrate the return of our team, our hearts are heavy from the acts of evil we have seen in recent days, he said. We ask that you join us in praying for the protection and safety of people of Israel.
An Alabama woman accused of causing the death of her special needs daughter during a 2021 incident in a Pensacola hospital room was sentenced Wednesday to one year and one day in a Florida state prison, according to WEAR.

Jessica Bortle, 36, was initially charged with manslaughter and aggravated battery in the death of her daughter, 14-year-old Jasmine Singletary. Police said the Bonifay, Ala., resident had slammed a hospital table into the girls abdomen out of anger after Singletary had broken and thrown crayons in the room at Sacred Heart Hospital in July 2021.

Five days after the incident, Bortle reportedly admitted to slamming the bedside meal table into her daughters abdomen and then leaning her weight into the table, effectively crushing the childs liver, according to an autopsy report.

Escambia County Medical Examiner Dr. Deanna Oleske found Singletary had suffered internal injuries to her ribs and liver that did not exist when she was admitted to the hospital and were similar to those found in victims of traffic accidents.

At trial, Bortle testified her daughters injuries were a result of an accident, according to the report.

Facing up to 45 years in prison on the manslaughter and aggravated battery charges, Bortle was instead found guilty by an Escambia County jury in late July on lesser charges of battery and child abuse.

In addition to the year and a day jail sentence, Bortle will spend three years on post-release supervision and will be required to attend parenting classes.
A 31-year-old Grand Bay woman faces life in prison for trafficking a large amount of fentanyl while taking her children to school, according to the Mobile County Sheriffs Office.

Alexis E. Alexander was arrested on Thursday and booked on charges of trafficking fentanyl, possession of narcotic paraphernalia and two counts of chemical endangerment of a child.

According to the sheriffs office, Alexander left Thursday morning to take her children to school.

When she returned home, Sheriffs deputies arrested her in her driveway. They discovered 38 grams of fentanyl in her car along with $1,000 in cash.

The Sheriffs Department, in a news release, noted a new Alabama state law that provides for a minimum mandatory prison sentence for people convicted of trafficking fentanyl.

Under the new law, signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on April 6, Alexander could face a life sentence because she was in possession of more than 8 grams of the deadly drug. The new law also applies a minimum fine of $750,000 upon those convicted of trafficking the drug.

The new law went into effect on July 1, after it was approved by Alabama state lawmakers during this past springs legislative session amid concerns over a rash of overdoses from illicit fentanyl use.

The illegal use of fentanyl has led to a surge in overdose deaths nationwide. The drug is considered far more powerful than heroin, where two milligrams is considered a potentially lethal amount -- and where one gram is said to have the potential to cause 500 deaths.
Alabama U.S. Rep. Barry Moore appears to be among a group of Republicans in Congress opposed to Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., becoming the next Speaker of the House.

Scalise secured the GOP nomination on Wednesday over Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy with a 113-99 internal party ballot.

On Thursday, the House will open at midday in anticipation of floor action to elect the speaker, The Associated Press reported. It was not clear if Scalise had enough GOP backing to replace McCarthy.

Typically, the majority needed would be 218 votes, but there are currently two vacant seats, dropping the threshold to 217, according to AP.

I just dont think Steves got the votes, Moore said as he left the GOP nomination election, according to Politico.

Moore said he planned to support Jordan -- who he had backed for Speaker after McCarthys ouster -- after hearing other conservatives argue that Scalise was a rubber stamp for McCarthy, Politico reported.

Efforts by AL.com to reach Moores office for comment early Thursday morning were not immediately successful.

I thought I might go with Scalise if everybody was gonna get behind Scalise, that was fine, but its just not that way, Moore told Fox News after meeting with the House Freedom Caucus. Theres just people that are not on his team.

Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, also indicated he would back Jordan, calling the Ohio congressman the strong conservative voice we need for the future. Ill be supporting him for Speaker:

.@Jim_Jordan is the strong conservative voice we need for the future. I'll be supporting him for Speaker.  Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) October 11, 2023

Other Republicans who say they will instead continue to support Jordan include Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Michael Cloud and Chip Roy of Texas, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Max Miller of Ohio, and Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania, according to States Newsroom.

No other members of the Alabama House delegation have publicly voiced plans to back Jordan over Scalise in a floor vote.

Jordan last week tweeted that he backed Jordan after former President Donald Trump endorsed him for Speaker.

I believe we should listen to the leader of our party. I know Chairman Jordan will help us get real wins for the American people, and I fully support him for Speaker of the House, Moore tweeted.
A Birmingham man is one of two people arrested after authorities say they tried to deliver contraband to Alabama prisons.

Derian Quintez Holloway, 28, is charged first-degree promoting prison contraband and second-degree criminal trespassing, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

On Monday, Oct. 2, a correctional officer observed a trespasser carrying a backpack and attempted to communicate with him. The suspect dropped the backpack and ran into the woods.

A tracking dog was deployed, and a track was established, leading authorities through the woods for about three miles.

A school bus driver had spotted the suspect and notified the officers of the location, prison officials said.

Officers responded and took Holloway into custody.

A Birmingham man is among two people arrested on contraband charges as separate Alabama prisons. (ADOC)

The backpack contained 12 packages wrapped in black tape. Authorities did not identify the contents of those packages.

Holloway was booked into the Jefferson County Jail and released on bonds totaling $8,500. Authorities said more charges could be added.

Earlier this week  on Monday  40-year-old Arteres Neyan Banks, of Columbus, Ga., arrested on charges of promoting prison contraband and unlawful possession of marijuana.

A prison investigator notified officers at Ventress Correctional Facility in Barbour County of trespasser on state property.

A tracking dog followed a track for about a half mile to a residential area whey they located Banks and took him into custody.

He was booked into the Bullock County Jail.
A guilty verdict handed down by a Hoover municipal judge on Wednesday in the false abduction of 26-year-old Carlee Russell is not the end of the case that captured Americas attention.

Russell pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident.

However, Municipal Judge Brad Bishop found her guilty based on the recommendation of state prosecutors.

Bishop recommended one year in jail and $17,874 in restitution. He also recommended two fines of $831 each.

Heres a look at what is expected to happen next:

Russell is appealing the verdict: Bishop explained that often defendants will appeal his verdict to Jefferson County Circuit Court to take the case to a jury trial.

Russell, represented by attorneys Emory Anthony, Richard Jaffe and Luckie Milad, is appealing to the circuit court.

As of now, a date has not been set for a circuit court trial and Anthony said they will decide how to proceed.

I have two of the greatest lawyers with me,' he said. And they will let me know whats the best thing to do.

Will Russell serve time in jail? Anthony said Russells legal team completely disagrees with jail time for a Class A misdemeanor, especially when its Russells first offense.

The lawyer said he believes the amount of restitution sounded fair, given the resources expended during the search.

If you can find where someone was put in jail for that, bring the file to me and Ill look at it, he said. Generally, theyre not put in jail.

Legislators say stronger penalties are needed because of the amount of time and money that police, volunteers and others can spend in response to a false kidnapping report.

Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, said in a news release she is talking with prosecutors and law enforcement officials about a bill to make falsely reporting an abduction a felony. Reps. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, and Leigh Husley, R-Helena, have said they are working on legislation to enhance penalties.

Will there be more charges? Anthony said he doesnt know if more charges will be filed, but said the defense was invited by the Attorney Generals Office to speak before a grand jury. They declined.

Authorities said a grand jury has already possibly met in the Bessemer Cut off but it wasnt immediately clear what, if anything, resulted.

We intend to fully prosecute this case, Alabama Attorney Generals Office said in July.

We dont see this as a victimless crime .... There are significant hours spent, resources expended, and not only that, but the many men and women civilians who wore those yellow vests on a hot afternoon and in the evening looking for someone they thought was abducted, trying to be of assistance.

Will we ever know why Russell did it? The number one question on the minds of many is why Russell, a nursing student, called family and 911, said she saw a baby walking along I-459, vanished and later said she was abducted. Russell ultimately admitted the story was a hoax.

Anthony said thats something that will eventually come to light.

Were dealing with issues with Carlee, and we want the best for Carlee, Anthony said. We realize a mistake was made but we dont want to just pile on right now.
Decatur police walked back initial accounts of the fatal shooting of Stephen Perkins on Sept. 29, saying Perkins did not refuse to drop a weapon as originally reported and instead was ordered to get on the ground before he was shot.

Police Chief Todd Pinion released the revised narrative of the police encounter with Perkins on Thursday, correcting the original public statement by police. I also want to share that in our initial rush to release information to the public on the morning of September 29, said Pinion, we provided inaccurate information about the interaction between Mr. Perkins and the officer.

Related: What happened on the night police killed Stephen Clay Perkins in Alabama

Police have said Perkins pulled a gun on a tow truck driver attempting to repossess his vehicle early on the morning of Sept. 29. The driver left but returned with police officers more than an hour later, police said at the time. Police said Perkins came outside with a gun and began to threaten the tow truck driver and turned his gun toward the officer who shot him. The original public statement from police said: Officers on scene ordered the homeowner to drop his weapon, which he refused to do.

The new narrative says police instead told Perkins to get on the ground before firing. That means that we also erred in stating Mr. Perkins refused to drop his firearm prior to the shooting, reads the new statement from Pinion.

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Heres the new police statement:

Our news release and social media post indicated the officer ordered Mr. Stephen Perkins to drop his weapon before shooting. We now know the officer identified themselves as police and ordered Mr. Perkins to get on the ground prior to the officer firing rather than ordering him to drop the weapon at that time as we initially reported the morning of the shooting. That means that we also erred in stating Mr. Perkins refused to drop his firearm prior to the shooting.

The message from Pinion continues: I apologize for the inaccurate description of the encounter in our initial statement, and we have already taken steps to improve our public information sharing process.

Pinion also said two investigations are ongoing into the shooting. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is conducting a criminal investigation into the shooting. And Decatur police are working to determine if any department policies were violated just before, during and after the shooting.

There is understandably much public conversation about the shooting of Stephen Perkins, Pinion said in his statement. Any time a police officer uses deadly force, questions should be asked, and answers provided.

Pinion also confirmed that nine people were arrested for disorderly conduct over the weekend during protests at city hall. Those were the first arrests made associated with protests that have been ongoing since the shooting, the police chief said.

Organizers told AL.com some were arrested for stepping in the street and at least one was arrested for cursing as hundreds marched downtown. Pinion said the disorderly conduct charges stemmed from blocking traffic and disorderly conduct language in public.
Human remains were discovered in Opelika as part of the search for a 28-year-old man missing since last month.

A Wednesday search by Alpha Team K9 Search and Rescue and Opelika police turned up the remains in a wooded area near the 100 block of Bay Court. Opelika police said the tracking dogs alerted investigator to the presence of those remains.

Police said the remains will be sent to the medical examiners officer for further study.

Opelika police have been searching for 28-year-old Reggie Stokes, missing since September 2023. On Oct. 11, human remains were discovered as part of that search. (Opelika Police Department)

On Monday, police began to investigate the disappearance of Reggie Cornelius Stokes.

Stokes was last seen by his family on Sept. 22, and last posted a photo on his social media the following day. He has not been seen or heard from since then.

Authorities said they have identified two suspects in Stokes disappearance but have not announced formal charges against them.

Anyone with information in the ongoing investigation is asked to call Opelika detectives at 334-705-5220, the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
Korea and Chile discussed ways Thursday to boost bilateral cooperation on a wider range of economic and industry fields as they marked the 20th anniversary of a bilateral tree trade agreement (FTA), Seoul's industry ministry said.

Some 100 government and corporate officials from the two nations held an economic cooperation committee meeting in Seoul and exchanged opinions on how to work together on such new sectors as supply chains, digital economy, and new renewable energy resources, according to the Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of signing the bilateral FTA, and two-way trade had surged more than fivefold from $1.5 billion in 2004 to about $8.3 billion last year.

Chile is Korea's first free trade deal partner, and Korea is the first FTA partner for Chile among Asian nations.

"The two nations have complementary industry structures and the FTA has greatly contributed to boosting their trade," Keum Hye-yoon, an expert of the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy, said during the meeting.

"The two sides will be able to further bolster their trade and exchanges by removing non-tariff barriers and enhancing cooperation on supply chains, digital economy and energy fields in line with changing global circumstances," the researcher added.

Korea's Industry Minister Bang Moon-kyu and Chile's economic minister, Nicolas Grau, attended the meeting and asked their businesspeople to play a greater role in developing bilateral relations.

Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun held separate talks with Grau on ways to cooperate on supply chains of critical minerals and green energy resources.

He also asked for Chile's support for Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southern port city of Busan, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
In its first meeting since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, igniting a war in the Middle East, the Huntsville city council expressed its support for Israel, a longtime ally of the United States.

The one-page resolution was sponsored by Bill Kling, the dean of the city council, and passed unanimously at Thursdays meeting.

Related: Alabama church group home safely after being stuck in Israel amid war

Related: We feel your prayers: Alabama church members still trying to get home from Israel

The resolution proclaims that Mayor Tommy Battle and the city council express great concern and support Israel in its efforts to defend itself. We stand unified and offer our sincerest thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

The relevance of the resolution is to offer support for Huntsvilles Jewish community.

WHEREAS, this senseless act of violence that has devasted the lives of many, weighs heavy on our hearts, and we wish to offer support and comfort to Israel and our local Jewish community by coming together in this time of need, the resolution said. It is a disaster of unimaginable proportions for the State of Israel and for the many families whose lives will never be the same. The City of Huntsville stands in solidarity with the state of Israel and all those seeking peace in this time of sorrow; and

WHEREAS, as the situation is expected to escalate and more lives are to face inconceivable challenges, we hope for there to soon be a light in the darkness for the citizens of Israel. The City of Huntsville acknowledges this will be a long and difficult war but even when wounded, Israels history of resiliency stands on display. The fierce and determined people of Israel will remain strong and overcome this tragedy.

The federal government has said 27 Americans have died in the violence since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7. An undetermined number of Americans have been taken hostage.
Huntsville police are investigating a bank robbery that happened Thursday morning, and say a suspect is in custody.

According to a department spokesperson, officers responded to Truist Bank, at 4955 University Drive, for a robbery call around 11:15 a.m.

No other details were immediately available. An investigation is ongoing.

A short time later, Huntsville police said an individual suspected in the robbery was taken into custody in Mississippi.

This post will be updated.
Madison police have arrested a Madison man on charges of electronic solicitation of a child after a multi-agency investigation.

On Wednesday, police executed a search/arrest warrant at the residence of John Justin McCall, 51, in Madison.

Capt. Lamar Anderson said the warrants came after a multi-agency Investigation conducted by agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Alabama State Bureau of Investigation, Madison County Sheriffs Office, the Huntsville, Madison and Decatur police departments and members of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

McCall was booked into the Madison County Jail on $43,000 bond. He also has a warrant for a violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
A young Birmingham man has been indicted in the 2022 death of a 14-year-old who was fatally struck while watching a street race on the citys west side.

A Jefferson County grand jury in September issued indictments for manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death against Zenardo LeGrant Marshall Jr., 20. The indictments were made public Wednesday.

Marshall was initially arrested by Birmingham police earlier this year  in January  and released on $30,000 bond.

Killed in the hit-and-run was Kamari DeShaun Adams.

The crash happened at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, July 24, 2022, on Bessemer Road at Avenue R.

According to the Jefferson County Coroners Office, Kamari was a pedestrian struck by one of two vehicles that were racing on Bessemer Road.

Kamari was pronounced dead on the scene at 12:30 a.m.

The indictment against Marshall states he was driving a vehicle in excess of posted speed limits.

A trial date has not been set.
Mariachi music is family music, says educator Ramon Rivera, who led Alabamas first school-based mariachi program at Pinson Valley High School in September.

He said mariachi is for people of all ages, and thats why its so important to the Hispanic community, especially within Mexican culture. Rivera said mariachis cultural significance and popularity make this an ideal music to teach students of all backgrounds.

I think theres new progressive ways of reaching students, Rivera said. In particular, Hispanic students recognize this music as the sounds they grew up with.

Representation matters in the classroom, Rivera said. He said families can feel their culture is being honored and that students and their families can feel represented at school. Rivera said he plans to expand this program to other schools statewide.

Mariachis roots began in the 1800s in rural western Mexico. Scholars believe the term mariachi was used by the indigenous Cora to describe the wood used to craft the instruments. Popularity expanded into Mexican cities in the 1920s, then spread to the United States after World War II. While the type of songs may change, mariachis importance to Hispanic culture has stayed the same.

Each of the (Alabama) mariachi bands has their own unique approach to music and styles, said Guntersville resident Luis Trevino, who started mariachi band Los Amigos 14 years ago. Trevino grew up in South Texas with a grandfather who shaped him into a lifelong musician.

He moved to Alabama in 1989 to become a NASA electrical engineer at Redstone Arsenal. His passion has always been music, and he led Latin jazz and merengue bands with people from different backgrounds in Alabama.

Weve evolved into what I call a unique American party mariachi band, which means we play not only the classics, but we also throw in some Americana styles. At a recent private event, a Mexican diplomat requested Sweet Home Alabama. Their set list includes Mexican classics like Cielito Lindo and Besame Mucho. However, they also play Johnny Cashs Ring Of Fire, Patsy Clines Crazy, and the Osborne Brothers Rocky Top.

Their first gig in front of a Mexican crowd in Decatur was nerve-wracking for Trevino, especially considering two original band members were white. Once they started playing, however, Trevino said their jaws dropped.

They loved us, Trevino said. They gave us food and drink afterwards. He added the crowd loved their rhythmic styles and was glad for the positive feedback.

Trevinos band is expanding in reach and size. They played Bonnaroo in 2016 after a showing of the 1986 movie The Three Amigos. In 2018, he created a mariachi band in Atlanta after an impromptu jam session at a restaurant.

Its been an adventure, Trevino said. (Mariachi has) taken us to every state in the southeast, including the Midwest several times. Los Amigos now includes multiple people of Hispanic ethnicity and sometimes a dancer. They play quinceaneras, private events, weddings, and surprise performances, which Trevino loves.

He recently visited a Catholic middle school for Hispanic Heritage Month to talk about mariachi, sing, and play the trumpet and ukelele. Trevino said theyre getting many more gigs for Hispanic Heritage Month, which lasts through Sunday.

The Hispanic influence has really grown quite a bit, so the music is really a big part of it, Trevino said.

Trevino turned 60 in July and said he isnt quite ready to retire from engineering. But he knows what hell do when he leaves his day job.

Well just travel and play gigs everywhere, he said. Music keeps you young, keeps you agile and happy.
President Joe Biden offered full-throated support to the Jewish community and a fiery denunciation of those offering justification for the bloody attacks by Hamas, saying it was unconscionable to downplay the atrocities.

The address was Bidens latest effort to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, even as divisions over the Middle East fester within his Democratic Party, and push back against what the president sees as a growing tide of antisemitism and hate in the U.S. He characterized the attack as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Silence is complicity, Biden said as he met with Jewish leaders at the White House on Wednesday to drive home a pledge to defend the community. I want you to know, I think youve already figured it out, I refuse to be silent, he said to applause.

Bidens pledge to stand with Israel comes even as the attacks have shined new light on divisions within the Democratic Party and progressive movement over the Middle East. He often says that his 2020 White House run was spurred by images from a 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Biden said he knew the attendees at the roundtable had been personally affected by the attacks, saying he could see the pain on their faces. He called Hamass actions a campaign of pure cruelty against the Jewish people.

In one of the most emotional speeches of his presidency, Biden recounted how he took his children and grandchildren to visit Dachau once they turned 14 to highlight the horrors of hate, raising his voice and slamming the lectern. The president also grew somber when he said he saw confirmed photos of terrorists beheading children.

We must all do our part and forcefully speak out against antisemitism and push back against the attempts to deny or distort the facts, the president said.

Bidens appearance came one day after the president condemned the Hamas attackers as pure, unadulterated evil and promised U.S. military assistance to Israel during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The presidents Tuesday speech was carried live on television across the U.S. and Israel, and current and former Israeli officials and Jewish leaders have lauded his unabashed, at times indignant, rhetoric about the brutality of Saturdays attacks.

Biden has not held back support for Israel in its fight against Hamas following the militant groups deadly surprise attack, which killed mostly civilians. He has said the U.S. would speed defense aid to Israel and ordered an aircraft-carrier group to the region, while warning Iran to be careful not to intervene.

The president has also refrained from directly urging Israeli leaders to limit their military response.

Biden on Wednesday repeatedly expressed frustration that he could not detail actions the U.S. was taking to secure the release of hostages being held by Hamas, saying he didnt want to jeopardize those efforts. And the president said he told Netanyahu that while he understood the anger and frustration in Israel, it was important that they operate by the rules of war.

At the same time, Biden expressed concern the fallout from the war could foment anti-Jewish sentiment in the U.S.

Terrorist groups like Hamas brought not only terror but sheer evil to the world, evil that echoes the worst and matches in some cases exceeds the worst atrocities of ISIS  more than 1,000 civilians slaughtered, he said.

The president had not originally planned to stop by Wednesdays meeting, hosted by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and other senior White House officials.

Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president and has helped lead Bidens campaign against antisemitism.

We witnessed a mass murder of innocent civilians. It was a terrorist assault. There is never any justification for terrorism. There are no two sides to this issue. Emhoff said.

Emhoff praised the work of the groups who attended to build coalitions to fight back against hate.

I know many of us feel a deep fear that these attacks will unfortunately and already have led to a rise in hate, and antisemitism, Emhoff said. Were already seeing it.

A pro-Palestinian protester in New York Citys Times Square last weekend displayed a swastika and others carried signs advocating Palestinian return to ancestral land by any means necessary. Demonstrators in Sydney, Australia on Monday chanted gas the Jews.

The New York demonstration, which was promoted by the Democratic Socialists of America, drew condemnations from several Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Other DSA-endorsed lawmakers, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, condemned the protesters rhetoric, and the Hamas attack, but also called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation.

Tensions have also risen on college campuses where pro-Palestinian student groups have come under fire, at times from university administrators, for blaming Israel for the attacks due to its occupation of Palestinian territory.

Biden has asked state and local law enforcement to step up security at Jewish community centers and synagogues. The Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation are also working to identify any domestic threats arising from the Hamas attacks.

The White House meeting with Jewish community leaders was previously planned but expanded to include more organizations and the Israel-Hamas war was added to the agenda. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and J Street were among more than 20 Jewish and Israeli advocacy groups represented at the meeting, according to the White House.

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(With assistance from Justin Sink.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Comments made by Sen. Tommy Tuberville about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas drew an angry response from the White House Wednesday.

Tuberville, speaking to WBRC, said he is hoping that cooler heads prevail, they dont go into Palestine.

Hopefully they get the hostages back and people start cooperating, Tuberville said. But this has been really bad. Israel has the right to go because they they came in and they did some terrible things in their country.

But the problem is when you start picking sides in the Middle East, it could get really messy very quick, he said.

The comments drew a sharp response from White House on Tuesday. Deputy Press Secretary and Senior Communications Adviser Andrew Bates contrasted Tubervilles comments with those of President Joe Biden on Tuesday: Were with Israel. Lets make no mistake.

Outrageously, at the same time Senator Tuberville is directly sabotaging the American military  including in the Middle East  he is also warning against picking sides, even after Israel endured horrific terrorist attacks from Hamas, Bates said.

At the same time, Bates blasted Tuberville for his ongoing hold of military promotions in the Senate in response to the Pentagons abortion policy. Democrats over the weekend continue to say it is time to break the logjam of about 300 promotions bottled up in the Senate as Tuberville protests the Defense Departments reproductive healthcare policy.

Senator Tubervilles selfish stunt is also providing a windfall to our adversaries in the world, Bates said.

A spokesman for Tuberville, Steven Stafford, said, We will respond to the lies from the White House but not to AL.com.

As of Thursday, Israeli jets have continued attacks into Gaza in the sixth day of fighting, according to CNN.

At least 1,354 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, while Israel has reported at least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas attacks over the weekend. Hamas is also holding as many as 150 people hostage in Gaza.
Sandra Underwood knew she would get asked the question on where residents in Jasper could pick up a pair of solar eclipse-certified glasses to view Saturdays astronomical extravaganza.

But the Jasper Public Library doesnt have them available for Saturdays viewing, and the Walmart store in the city also does not have them in stock.

We knew wed have these questions, and we are telling people they can go to Walmart.com, said Underwood. It might be a little late now.

Online, libraries

Indeed, it is a bit of a scramble for people hoping to view the partial solar eclipse on Saturday to obtain the correct glasses. Specialized shipping is still available at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart, but time is running short.

So where do you go to get the special eyewear? A host of Alabama libraries have supplies, if you are unable to purchase them online.

Librarians are encouraging the public to call this week and check on supplies.

We are asking Birmingham residents to call their local library, said Heather McWilliams, a librarian at the Central Librarys Youth Department. There is a limited amount at each of the locations.

Many libraries throughout the U.S. will give giving away free pairs of approved glasses to view the eclipse safely. The glasses are provided by the Space Science Institute through funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. A total of 5 million glasses will be distributed to 10,000 libraries, and the organization is encouraging librarians to register to participate.

An online map shows which libraries have them.

But not all of the libraries listed on the map will have the glasses in stock for Saturdays event, an annual solar eclipse that will be viewable throughout Alabama. They will instead have 2,000 glasses available ahead of the April 8, 2024, eclipse, according to Underwood.

In Arab, the public library is advertising that they are giving out two glasses per family. Glasses are also available at the Ashland and Lineville libraries.

At New Hope Library in North Alabama, the glasses will be issued to visitors who attend a space-themed party accommodating the solar eclipse on Saturday beginning around 10:30 a.m.

Well have those glasses while supplies last, said Diane Carroll, the librarys branch manager.

In Mobile, University of South Alabama astronomy professor Albert Gapud will be talking about solar eclipses starting at 10 a.m. at West Regional branch library. The library will provide solar-filtered googles, and Gapud said he will have one telescope on hand that is equipped with a solar filter, and another telescope projecting an image of the sun.

Libraries are not the only places that will have glasses. Universities are advertising solar eclipse viewing gatherings on Saturday, including the University of Alabama at Huntsville where a viewing party will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Charger Union Lawn (breezeway). Events include a solar viewing tent, Galileoscopes with sun funnels, and solar viewers. Planners are requesting people RSVP on Facebook.

Safety

There is a lot at stake for viewing the moon passing in front of the sun on Saturday. Without the proper eyewear, the powerful rays could literally burn someones retina. According to NASA, viewing the 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.

Eclipse glasses are ISO 12312-2 certified. They are supposed to include the ISO logo and manufacturers information on the glasses. Glasses are also not supposed to have any scratches on them.

Michelle Wooten, assistant professor of astronomy in the Department of Physics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, recommends people refer to the American Astronomical Societys guidelines for safety tips and advice.

Wooten, who has seen eclipse glasses on sale inside Home Depot stores in Alabama, said that if the home improvement retailer is selling the glasses made by one of the approved vendors, you are in the clear.

My advice for watching the eclipse on Saturday is to make sure you are doing it safely, she said. Your body has a natural reaction to looking at the Sun: Ouch. Listen to it.

She said that Saturdays eclipse will prepare everyone for the April 8 event. But she said those wanting to view the rare occurrence should be ready to go on Saturday, largely because of weather unknowns.

The weather is looking great this weekend to observe the annular partial eclipse from Alabama, and who knows what the weather will be like in April, so viewing this fantastic phenomena now may be (your) only chance in the near future, Wooten said.

The April total eclipse will occur closest to Alabama in Arkansas in April.

This October eclipse should remind (people) to plan their travel, Wooten said. Totality is an incredible human experience, which often brings screams of excitement, seriously.

After April, the next total eclipse will not occur until August 12, 2045. That eclipse, Wooten said, will pass through a portion of Alabama.

This story was updated at 6:44 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2023, with comments from Michelle Wooten, professor at UAB.
Authorities are asking for the publics help in solving last years shooting death of a 21-year-old man in east Birmingham.

Demetris Silliman Jr. was found shot to death on Oct. 11, 2022.

Birmingham police and fire medics responded at 1:30 a.m. to that Tuesday to the 1100 block of Penfield Drive at the intersection of Zion City Road.

Silliman was found unresponsive inside the vehicle. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:50 a.m.

Police said Sillimans black 2010 Chevrolet Impala off the roadway.

One year later, no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
China calls for restarting peace talks on Palestinian-Israeli conflict: foreign ministry

By Zhu Yurou (People's Daily App) 15:20, October 12, 2023

To end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, China said on Wednesday. "China has stated a few times China's position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a routine press briefing in Beijing. "I'd like to reiterate that to end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, implement the two-state solution and seek a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestine question through political means at an early date, so that the parties' legitimate concerns can be taken care of."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan)
Two nations celebrates 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties

By Kim Hyun-bin

On the global stage, marked by geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainties, Korea and India have emerged as strong partners, forging deeper diplomatic and economic ties. The relationship between these two Asian powerhouses has steadily evolved, with both countries recognizing the mutual benefits of collaboration.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and India, officially established back in 1973, but historical connections between the two nations date back centuries. Cultural exchanges, including the spread of Buddhism from India to Korea, have long served as a foundation for bilateral relations. Today, both countries actively engage in various diplomatic initiatives and dialogues.

India is a nation weaving a rich tapestry of history, culture and diversity. With a population of over 1.4 billion people, it is the world's most populous country and has played a pivotal role in shaping global narratives.

India's history dates back thousands of years, with evidence of ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley dating as far back as 2500 B.C. The subcontinent has seen the rise and fall of numerous empires, including the Maurya, Gupta and Mughal dynasties, each leaving an indelible mark on its cultural heritage.

According to the 13th-century Korean historical text "Samguk Yusa" or "Heritage History of the Three Kingdoms," Princess Suriratna from "Ayuta," thought by some to be Ayodhya in India, arrived in Korea in 48 A.D. She married King Kim-Suro of the former Gaya Confederacy in ancient Korea, becoming Queen Heo Hwang-ok.

Many Koreans trace their ancestry to this lineage.

Some scholars believe that Buddhism reached Korea via a maritime route with the arrival of Princess Suriratna and her brother Monk Jangyu. Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore composed a short but evocative poem titled "Lamp of the East" in 1929 about Korea's glorious past and its promising bright future, which is fondly remembered by Koreans and finds mention in Korean school textbooks.

India also played a significant role in the Korean Peninsula after Korea's liberation in 1945. Former Indian diplomat Shri K.P.S. Menon chaired the nine-member U.N. Commission set up in 1947 to hold elections in Korea. India sent an Army medical unit, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance, consisting of 627 medical personnel, commanded by Lt. Col. A.G. Rangaraj during the Korean War as part of the U.N. Command and treated about 220,000 patients.

During the 1950-53 Korean War, both warring sides accepted a U.N. resolution sponsored by India, and a ceasefire was declared on July 27, 1953. Lt. Gen. K.S. Thimayya of India served as the chairman of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) after the armistice and contributed to resolving humanitarian issues arising from the war. India dispatched a Custodian Forces-India (CFI) brigade, comprising 5230 personnel, to Korea under Maj. Gen. SSP Thorat. It played a pivotal role in resolving the prisoners of war issue.

The arrival of European colonial powers, primarily the British East India Company, in the 17th century marked a significant chapter in India's history. Over the centuries, the British Raj exerted control over much of the subcontinent until India gained independence in 1947, thanks to the tireless efforts of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

The country is home to hundreds of ethnic groups, and it boasts a staggering linguistic diversity. Hindi and English are the official languages with each state often having its own distinct official language.

Religion plays a central role in India's social fabric. It is the birthplace of major religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

India is the world's largest democracy, known for its vibrant political landscape and free and fair elections.

The country has made substantial strides in areas such as education, healthcare and infrastructure. However, it continues to grapple with income inequality, access to basic services and environmental sustainability.










English News China's vision of a global community of shared future draws a new blueprint for a better world

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 12 Octobre 2023



The vision has been included in United Nations General Assembly resolutions for six consecutive years and has been repeatedly incorporated into resolutions or declarations of multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS. From bilateral to multilateral occasions, and from regional to global levels, China has been forging communities with a shared future in different forms with dozens of countries and regions.

He Yin, People's Daily "The vision of a global community of shared future stands on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. It introduces a new approach for international relations, provides new ideas for global governance, opens up new prospects for international exchanges, and draws a new blueprint for a better world."



The white paper titled "A Global Community of Shared Future: China's Proposals and Actions" recently issued by China's State Council Information Office provides a profound explanation of the historical background, rich connotations, implementation paths, and vivid practices of building a global community of shared future.



It helps people from all sectors of society and the international community have a more comprehensive understanding of the far-reaching significance of building a global community of shared future. It also provides a clearer understanding of the great goals of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Furthermore, it consolidates the broad consensus and strong momentum for jointly building a global community of shared future.



The world is undergoing changes on a scale unseen in a century. Various problems old and new and complex issues are converging with and compounding each other. The peace deficit is growing, the development deficit ballooning, and the security deficit glaring.



In March 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping propounded the idea of building a global community of shared future, answering a question raised by the world, by history, and by the times: "What is wrong with this world, what we should do about it." His proposal lights the path forward as the world fumbles for solutions, and represents China's contribution to global efforts to protect the shared home and create a better future of prosperity for all.



The vision of building a global community of shared future complies with the prevailing trend of interdependence throughout history, responds to the needs of the times to tackle global challenges, and echoes the popular calls for peace, justice and progress.



Under the personal guidance and promotion of Xi, the building of a global community of shared future has evolved from a vision to action, and grown stronger. It has steadfastly adhered to the viable path amidst changing winds and storms, and has made remarkable achievements in the face of crises and challenges, demonstrating its leadership in shaping the era.



Over the past decade, the vision of building a global community of shared future has become increasingly refined. From state visits to multilateral summits, Xi has systematically expounded on this significant concept on various international occasions, continuously deepening the international community's understanding of it.



Xi proposed to forge partnerships in which countries treat each other as equals, engage in mutual consultation and show mutual understanding, create a security environment featuring fairness, justice, joint efforts, and shared interests, promote open, innovative and inclusive development that benefits all, increase inter-civilization exchanges to promote harmony, inclusiveness, and respect for differences, and build an ecosystem that puts Mother Nature and green development first. He also emphasized the importance to build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity.



With its connotations and paths constantly deepened and expanded, the vision of building a global community of shared future has gradually formulated a science-based theoretical system pursuing the five goals for the world and the common values of humanity, with building a new type of international relations as the fundamental path, the Belt and Road Initiative as an important platform, and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative as a crucial cornerstone.



The vision of building a global community of shared future conforms to the trend of the times and charts the course for improving global governance. It envisions a world characterized by openness and inclusiveness, equity and justice, harmonious coexistence, diversity and mutual learning, and unity and cooperation. It calls for peaceful development rather than conflict and confrontation, common security rather than absolute security, mutual benefit rather than zero-sum games, and exchange and mutual learning rather than a clash of cultures, as well as for green development to protect our planet.



Such a vision rises above the exclusive rules of bloc politics, the notion of might makes right, and the "universal values" defined by a handful of Western countries. It sets a new example for the theory of international relations and serves as a great banner that leads the trend of the times and the direction of human progress.



International dignitaries pointed out that the vision of building a global community of shared future outlines the path to achieve the grand vision of all humanity and charts the course for human development and progress, bringing hope for building a free, just, and beautiful world.



The vision of building a global community of shared future adheres to peace and cooperation, providing an important guideline for achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.



It mirrors the common values shared by all humanity, and reflects the broadest common aspiration of the peoples of all countries in pursuit of peace, development, and stability, and the broadest consensus among countries with different cultural backgrounds and at different stages of development. It has won broad understanding and support from the international community.



The vision has been included in United Nations General Assembly resolutions for six consecutive years and has been repeatedly incorporated into resolutions or declarations of multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS. From bilateral to multilateral occasions, and from regional to global levels, China has been forging communities with a shared future in different forms with dozens of countries and regions.



In the face of global challenges, all countries in the world are in the same big boat. Whatever they may encounter on their journey ahead, the only right choice is to work together for the benefit of all.



Only when all countries work together, only when they align individual interests with the interests of all, and only when they truly build a global community of shared future, can humanity sail towards a better future.



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Over the past few decades, two extreme ideas have unfortunately gained wide acceptance: that racism is systemic in America; and that if you are white, you are by default privileged and racist.

As a result, many young whites are ridden with guilt. Meanwhile, leftists and radical blacks are advancing reverse racism  active discrimination against those who happen to be white.

No wonder a 2021 Gallup poll found white-black relations at a 20-year low: 57% of the respondents said relations were somewhat or very bad. In The War on Whites, author Ed Brodow attributed the downturn to Barack Obama and his focus on racial division. Harping on white supremacy and privilege fomented animosity and engendered an inquisition against whites, aimed at exorcising unconscious biases through a racial justice shakedown.

Examples abound of institutional level discrimination by exclusion of whites, unthinkable a decade ago and sure to provoke widespread outrage if blacks or Latinx were excluded. Perhaps the most glaring instance is the establishment of quotas by the city of Asheville, North Carolina, for its Human Relations Commission. Five white residents, represented by attorney Ruth Smith, have sued the city for employing illegal discriminatory policies and procedures.

More on the Asheville lawsuit later. Before that, some other examples of the effrontery with which institutions are testing the waters on anti-white discrimination, perhaps in the hope of normalizing it eventually:

To mark the second anniversary of her inauguration as mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot announced that she wouldnt be granting one-on-one interviews to white reporters. Her justification: the City Hall press corps was overwhelmingly white in a city where more than half the people identify as black, Latino, Native American, or Asian Pacific Americans.

In August, retail giant Best Buy released a memo about a mini MBA-style training program for employees from which whites were specifically prohibited. The social-media blowback was such that its CEO Corie Barry made her Twitter account private.

Last year, Brown University offered an online teacher-training course meant only for black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). It removed the restriction after a complaint.

The University of Minnesota established a summer internship to prepare students for graduate school that excluded whites and offered stipends of $6,000 to black and Native American students. The university is re-evaluating the program after a complaint.

In 2021, Cornell University created a BIPOC-only rock-climbing course. An instructor claimed it wasnt discriminatory but aimed at making minorities comfortable in a white-centric sport.

Now for the details of the Asheville case. In 2018, the city established a Human Relations Commission of Asheville (HRCA), a voluntary advisory board to promote and improve human relations and achieve equity among all citizens. When it was set up, the commission was to have nine members; this was then raised to 15 members. The membership criteria were: six African Americans; two Latinx; two LGBTQ; two aged 18-25; two to three living in public housing; two with disability; and three recognized as community leaders.

Last year, city attorney Aairn Miles and equity consultant Alayna Schmidt recommended the removal of these racial qualifications, recognizing them as constitutionally problematic and amounting to race quotas, not permitted under federal and state law. At the time, Tanya Rodriguez, the HRCA chair, expressed concern that our color shouldnt be diluted out of the commission.

The numerical quotas were removed, but new categories were created that effectively kept whites out unless they satisfied criteria such as being LGBTQ+, disabled, etc. And after facing quorum problems, in January this year, the HRCAs strength was reduced to nine members, with membership open to up to three non-city residents of Buncombe County.

In February this year, there were four vacancies on the HRCA. Among those who applied were John Miall, Robyn Hite, David Shaw, Danie Johnson, and Willa Grant  all white, not disabled, not LGBTQ+, and not living in public housing, hence not meeting the criteria, but otherwise well qualified to serve. Miall has in fact worked for the city for 30 years, including as its director of risk management. Hite serves on a teachers board, and the others are professionals or citizens with a record of social service.

The city rejected them outright, neither interviewing them nor seeking more information about their qualifications. Unable to fill the positions, the city has readvertised the vacancies.

Miall and the others sued Asheville on September 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, alleging they were rejected merely for their skin color in blatant violation of the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment and also Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. On September 26 and 27, with assistance from the non-profit Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), they requested an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction and also filed an amended class action, seeking a court declaration that Ashevilles criteria are unconstitutional. The amended class action dropped the Title VI claims, as they apply only to cases involving federal funding. And on October 6, again with PLFs assistance, the plaintiffs proposed inclusion of all past, present, future, and deterred non-minority applicants to the HRCA.

The motion for the TRO (seeking emergency relief) and the preliminary injunction (seeking an opinion from the defendants) were denied by the court because the plaintiffs applications are still pending before the city council and they havent suffered irreparable harm. The legal point that the criteria are still unlawful remains; so, in future, the court may annul any HRCA appointments made before its ruling in the case. The city council was to consider the appointments on October 10.

Ashevilles actions amount to addressing equity, as bolstered by Critical Race Theory, rather than equality, mandated by the Constitution. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of the U.S. curtailed affirmative action in college admissions as disadvantaging equally or better qualified whites. As attorney Ruth Smith, representing Miall and others, says, The Supreme Court has just said that the way to end discrimination is to end all discrimination, not keep on discriminating.

The Asheville city council has discriminated against whites before, designating a scholarship program exclusively for black students and teachers. In 2021, Judicial Watch (JW) and WNC Citizens for Equality Inc. filed a lawsuit against the city for this. Tom Fitton, the president of JW, described the exclusion as unconstitutional and said, This civil rights lawsuit seeks to ensure that no student in Asheville is denied educational scholarship opportunities on account of race. In 2022, the city settled the lawsuit, agreeing to remove all racially discriminatory provisions of the program.

Commenting on such cases, law professor William Jacobson of Cornell, who also runs the Equal Protection Project of the Legal Insurrection Foundation, says, There is an increasing trend where people think its O.K. to discriminate on the basis of race as long as the discrimination is against whites or Asians or others, and we dont accept that.

Indeed, telling whites to undo their whiteness and renounce their privilege is being tolerated as normal, while it would be unthinkable and abhorrent to make a similar statement about blacks. Billionaire talk show host Oprah Winfrey had no qualms about saying in a 2013 BBC interview: There are still generations of people, older people, who were born and bred and marinated in it, in that prejudice and racism, and they just have to die.

It is in such an atmosphere of permissiveness for anti-white sentiment that unfair policies and programs such those mentioned in this column are being introduced, all in the name of fostering diversity. These follow up on the sustained racial indoctrination of young minds through critical race theory at our universities and through public discourse. But demonizing whites for non-existent systemic racism and undue white privilege only foments further racial division. This must stop.

Image: Springfield College Archives and Special Collections, via Picryl // public domain
The British Isles bestowed blessings and curses on the world. On the one side, Britain was the Western worlds foremost colonialist nation. However, on the other side, unlike Islam, the other foremost colonialist nation, England brought economic prosperity and the idea of liberty to the nations it colonized. In America, at least, chief amongst those ideas was free speech. However, in England itself, free speech is dead. Only those with government-approved ideas may speak aloud thereand one of those ideas seems to be kill the Jews.

At the end of the 17th century, when James II fled England following the Glorious Revolution, Parliament created the 1689 Bill of Rights. One stated that the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament. By the mid-18th century, Englishmen, including those in the North American colonies, felt their right to speech extended beyond Parliaments four walls. A hallmark of a free people is the right to speak their minds without government retribution.

So, in 1791, the newly created nation of America, which looked to England for its ideas about individual liberty, enshrined free speech in the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Recently, in America, the left has relentlessly worked to silence speech with which it disagrees. However, it keeps being stymied by that pesky First Amendment.

England, however, has no right to free speech. Thats because when American colonists started speaking out against Parliament, the solons in England declared that the Bill of Rights applied only to the monarch, not the rest of the government.

Since 2000, weve seen England clamp down on speech with which it disagrees. This happens with both conservative and leftist governments. Thats becauseand this is importantoutside of America, they have no notion of individual liberty versus government tyranny. Instead, parties represent different types of government tyranny. In England, no matter which tyranny they represent, all government leaders are university graduates, which means they all share certain values (the same American graduates share).

One value is fealty to the pro-LGBTQ+ agenda. Thats why anyone who dares to offend LGBTQ+ sensibilities will be arrested:

British Police violently arrest an autistic girl because she said one of their officers looked like her lesbian grandmother.



Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/92Y9atmtTF  Turning Point UK  (@TPointUK) August 9, 2023

This video shocking! A British man arrested because his social media post caused someone anxiety!

Coming to a city near you America!#Orwell #freespeech #Fascism pic.twitter.com/cxNPYOF5Br  21 Gun Podcast (@21gunpodcast) July 31, 2022

Another value is that abortion is sacred. Thats why anyone who dares offend pro-abortion sensibilities, even by praying silently or standing peacefully, will be arrested:

OY YOU GO A LICENSE TO PRAY IN YOUR EAD MAAM? https://t.co/7NSoYRMo4z  Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari) December 22, 2022

However, what will not get you arrested in England is loudly calling for Jewish genocide. That is fine:

"Are your people dead?"- "yes" - "aww, good. Are they dead?, aww, good"



London, last night. pic.twitter.com/J8fQPTPurL  Yonatan  #AdoptIHRA (@__jacker__) October 10, 2023

British Police shaking hands with Hamas supporters.

From the same British police that brought you the Islamist grooming gang coverup presents pic.twitter.com/JGydeJMxnX  Britain First (@BFirstParty) October 8, 2023

A pro-Hamas caravan drives through the streets of London shouting into a bullhorn: "F*** the Jews. F*** their mothers. F*** their daughters. Rape their daughters."



Reminder: This is occurring in a country where someone was arrested for posting a meme mocking the transgender flag pic.twitter.com/urzSr2kGPU  Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 12, 2023

Stand with Jews.



And know what they face. The appalling Islamist hater Mohammed Hijab showed up at a pro-Israel rally in London in 2021 to declare his love for, ahem, death.



Similar scenes are likely now. https://t.co/L9c9uj1pVF pic.twitter.com/p3Lpuz32DU  habibi (@habibi_uk) October 8, 2023

The reality is that England foolishly invited into her country people whose values are completely antithetical to Enlightenment notions of liberty. Theyre afraid of them now because theyve seen what they do to those who oppose them. And of course, Britain has disarmed her citizens, so they are defenseless, as the people at the rave for peace or in many of the invaded communities were.

Here in America, Biden has also lawlessly opened the border to aliens who hate our values. Thankfully, our Founders gave us the gifts of the First and Second Amendments. They are the only bulwarks we have against tyranny and terrorism. In England, however, the cradle of those rights, citizens face nothing other than an increasingly swift slide into the hell of a socialist/Muslim caliphate.

Image: Twitter screen grab.
For most Americans, labels such as gay, non-binary, and even members of the LGBTQ+ community are generally used interchangeably to describe those preferring same sex partners. This imprecision suffices for ordinary conversation, but it fails to capture a key political distinction among todays homosexuals, namely those embracing the label queer.

The label queer may appear new, but it is decades old. In his 1995 book Saint Foucault: Towards a Gay Hagiography, David Halperin explains:

As the very word implies, queer does not name some natural kind or refer to some determinate object; it acquires its meaning from its oppositional relation to the norm. Queer is  at odds with the normal, the legitimate, the dominant.  Queer, then, demarcates not a positivity but a positionality vis-a-vis the normative a positionality that is not restricted to lesbians and gay men but is in fact available to anyone who is or who feels marginalized because of her or his sexual practices [I]t describes a horizon of possibility whose precise extent and heterogeneous scope cannot in principle be delimited in advance.

Queers thus differ from homosexuals who embrace the traditional gay political agenda of same sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws. Queerness aims to undermine the very ideas of normal sexual identity, create a world of anything goes where one form of sex is no better or worse than any other. This might include currently illegal sexual practices such as incest, bestiality, and pedophilia. Queerness is thus revolutionary and subversive.

As James Lindsay noted in an August expose:

And what is it Queer Theory does? It disrupts. By definition. The definition of Queer in Queer Theory, as we see, is that which resists and challenges all norms and expectations of normalcy. So bringing into education materials based in Queer Theory, including so-called gender-critical perspectives that separate sex and gender as though they are completely different phenomena, is meant to make children activists in this disruptive, destabilizing mode of misunderstanding the world.

This subversive intent is apparent in how Queers fixate on the education of children, especially very young children, and the campaign to capture young children is hardly hidden. At one New York City Gay Pride parade, a flamboyant drag queen openly chanted, were here, were queer, were coming for your children. An estimated two million onlookers watched that Pride parade. Proselytizing can be outrageous as in another Gay Pride parade where stark naked tattooed men marched down the street waving to children and their families. Elsewhere a man was dressed as a giant penis, and he too, waved to the crowd. Interestingly, the parade was sponsored by Bud Light beer. A similar parade of naked gay men with children watching recently occurred in Seattle while in Los Angeles elementary school students as young as five were required to participate in a weeklong celebration of National Coming Out Day.

The most notable example of exposing youngsters to Queer is the fact that drag shows have now become ubiquitous in Americas public schools. One NYC organizationDrag Story Hour NYChas recently given its raucous drag queen show 49 times in 34 public schools to kids as young as three thanks to $200,000 in city funds. Columbia, Missouris Values Diversity breakfast was held to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and featured a drag show where adults tossed dollar bills at lip-syncing dancers. No parent was informed about sexual content. Permission slips just mentioned traditionally there are songs, performances, and a food item.

But the greatest controversy surrounding children and Queer sex concerns banning books from school libraries. The term book banning conjures up images of Nazi book burnings but debates ignore whether the portrayed graphic sex is age-appropriate. The often-unspoken reality is that hard core pornography has been placed in school libraries under the subterfuge of educating youngsters about human sexuality. No doubt, the graphic depictions are too raw for public forums.

Fortunately, the writer Dave Seminara provides lurid examples that young school children might encounter. In This Book is Gay, transgender author Juno Dawson claims that perhaps the most important skill you will master as a gay or bi man is the timeless classic, the handjob and Something they dont teach you in school, is that in order to be able to cum at all, you or your partner may need to finish off with a handy. Also depicted are explicit descriptions of oral and anal sex where the recipient of anal penetration is praised for taking it like a man.

Seminara also highlights Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen, which depicts the explicit unapologetically queer active sex life of a teenager that asserts Big hairy muscled men love taking it up the ass. On page 285 we encounter a boy who boasts, What I really get turned on by, is the idea of hurting (girls). Not like beating them or anything but spanking them, slapping them, making them wear collars and ball gags and ordering them around. Despite the graphic material, the School Library Journal nevertheless praises Jack of Hearts as an essential addition to library collections that serve teens, recommending it for children in grades ten and up. These are just a few of Seminaras examples of Queer pornography found in school libraries.

The Queer movement is also proliferating on todays college campuses. Five prestigious liberal arts colleges now offer a certificate in Queer, Trans and Sexuality Studies that leads students to investigate how non-normative and normative genders and sexualities intersect with other social categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, class and nationality. Another website provides a detailed guide to prospective Queer Studies majors and lists thirty-five colleges offering that major, including prestigious schools such as Brown University, Cornell, Penn State, and Rutgers (a minor in Queer Studies can be found at dozens of top colleges). Another site presents a detailed guide for Queer students on evaluating a schools program, the challenges a Queer student might face on campus and, critically, available scholarships.

Queer activism is an all-hands-on-deck crusade across the entire American culture. On the movie front, the website Queerty boasted that 2023 is here, its queer, and its got a ton of great LGBTQ+ movies to look forward to. The National Gallery of Art has a major exhibition of Queer Art, and thanks to philanthropic generosity, Queer artists will be able to produce yet more paintings, photographs and sculptures. Queer authors can meanwhile avail themselves of some 61 publishing firms which specialize in getting Queer writers into print.

For an identity comprising only a tiny sliver of the population, this is an amazing, almost overnight accomplishment. Its impact, however, may be far from insignificant, and pushing an agenda asserting that there is no such thing as normal in human sexuality is not inconsequential. It hardly exaggerates to say that society rests on normal sexuality though, to be sure, not every individual is obligated to embrace procreative sex. Multiple factors are currently reducing already low fertility rates, and we do not need one more push in that direction.

Queerness is a movement whose purpose is psychological affirmation of its adherents, not securing a tangible benefit, and, as such, is without limits. Will requiring grade school kids to watch drag shows help Queers to feel better about their identities? Will hands-on workshops for pre-teens on edgy sexual practices be next? Unlike most traditional gay political demands, for example, legalizing same-sex marriages, the Queer movement will not settle for half a loaf. They want to transform society in their image, not just a new law or two. Then add both physical and psychological damage inflicted on youngsters who decide to experiment with Queer sex.

The crusade is not about men harmlessly dancing around pretending to be sexy floozies.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required.
Hamas -- the Gaza branch of the Muslim Brotherhood --murdered approximately a thousand people on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur 1973 War. While Israeli armed forces deal with the attack, the ideological brothers-in-arms of the perpetrators in the West celebrate. Countless demonstrations have been organized worldwide -- from Berlin to Amsterdam to London -- to anti-Israeli protests in New York, Washington, D.C. (a pro-Hamas parade in front of the White House), Florida, and many Canadian provinces.

When the Sydney Opera House was illuminated in the Israeli flag colors at night in Australia, hundreds of Hamas supporters gathered to attack the Opera House while chanting, "Gas the Jews!" Hamas celebration rally in New York City arrogantly flashed the Nazi swastika.

Why are there so many Hamas supporters outside the Gaza Strip? Why did the anti-American group Code Pink endorse Hamas' butchery of Israelis? Some are simply anti-Semitic, but anti-Semitism in the West has long been considered not "cool," and only a few relatively low-profile, marginalized groups practice it openly. Why do so many misguided souls express thanks for the mass slaughter of music festival attendees in Israel?

Most likely, the answer lies in the unique marriage of convenience between the ideological and religious domains. Case in point, the New York City pro-Hamas rally was masterminded by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). This political party used to have Barack Obama as a member. DSA has six House members, including Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Jamaal Bowman. In addition, DSA has numerous officeholders at the state and local levels.

Hamas (an acronym for "Islamic Resistance Movement") has two Charters (or Covenants). The first one is dated 1988 and filled with Soviet rhetoric typical of that time. To be specific, in the familiar Soviet style, Article 15 emphasizes that "imperialistic invasion" "paved the way towards the loss of Palestine" and "imperialism has helped and is still helping the ideological invasion." Article 20, echoing Soviet propaganda, proclaims that Jews are a "vicious enemy which acts in a way similar to Nazism." Further, in Article 22, Hamas -- in the archetypical KGB manner -- formally distances itself from the Soviet Union by stating, "The imperialistic forces in the Capitalist West and Communist East support the enemy [i.e., Jews] with all their might."

Nevertheless, under Soviet pressure, Hamas committed a commonly overlooked apostasy. Article 12 blatantly asserts, "Resisting and quelling the enemy become the individual duty of every Muslim, male or female. A woman can go out to fight the enemy without her husband's permission, as does a slave without his master's permission." That is quite a deviation from the classical Sharia doctrine of women's subordination. Also, it implicitly ascertains the existence of slavery in Muslim lands.

Along with Hezballah and the PLO, the Soviet communists made Hamas a legitimate Middle East player. The present third Obama term in the White House continues that tradition. The internal structure of Hamas' security apparatus is a carbon copy of the KGB. Hamas has its highest-elected governing body, the Politburo (like the Soviet Union), hosted in Qatar since 2012.

The international leftist-inspired Hamas concept of Palestine in 1988 contained the categorical negation of Israel. There are no shades of gray: Hamas, along with many other Islamoleftist organizations, aims to exterminate all Jews in Israel and elsewhere.

T he latest 2017 Hamas Charter no longer has Stone Age values on display; there are no more citations from the Quran or Hadith in every Article. There are no more phrases like "Zionism, together with imperialistic powers." The current Hamas Covenant is tailored for the post-Soviet era; it was compiled during Obama's second term and has unmistakable Woke overtones. Hamas Covenant style is indistinguishable from the left-wing lawfare lexicon.

The Hamas Covenant no longer explicitly calls for the extermination of Jews. Instead, they want to "liberate Palestine and confront the Zionist project" (Article 1). Article 4 uses the Soviet definition of "Palestinians" as exclusively "Palestinian Arabs."

Hamas Covenant of 2017 does not utilize grisly terms; the "drowning Jews in the [Mediterranean] sea" is nowhere to be found. Instead, they discuss the "complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea." There are no more mentions of the Crusaders; instead, they proudly state that Palestine "is the birthplace of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him" (Article 7). Article 8 of the Covenant postulates that "Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance," whatever that means. In addition, "Hamas also believes that Palestine has always been and will always be a model of coexistence, tolerance, and civilizational innovation." This statement has obvious footprints of activist lawyers and the Woke law school curriculum, for "jihad" appears just once in the 2017 Charter vs. eleven occurrences in the 1988 version.

The entire Article 9 was written for Western intellectuals. "Hamas believes that the message of Islam upholds the values of truth, justice, freedom, and dignity and prohibits all forms of injustice and incriminates oppressors irrespective of their religion, race, gender, or nationality. Islam is against all forms of religious, ethnic, or sectarian extremism and bigotry. It is the religion that inculcates in its followers the value of standing up to aggression and of supporting the oppressed."

One of the postmodernist philosophers, Professor Judith Butler, in 2006 spoke the quiet part out loud: "I think, yes, understanding Hamas, Hezbollah as social movements that are progressive, that are on the Left, that are part of a global Left, is extremely important. That does not stop us from being critical of certain dimensions of both movements."

In unison, Article 15 says, "Hamas affirms that its conflict is with the Zionist project, not with the Jews because of their religion. Hamas does not wage a struggle against the Jews because they are Jewish but wages a struggle against the Zionists who occupy Palestine." The hallmarks of progressive community organizers are apparent here.

If the Charter of 1988 was composed in Mein Kampf language, the Hamas Covenant of 2017 is written in modern Wokespeak. However, the truth is that "decolonization," in both Woke and Islamoleftist vocabulary, is decapitation. "Multiculturalism," by the same token, means rape by multiple lowlifes. Likewise, "Free Palestine" means Judenfrei, and "diversity" means pro-Hamas jubilation parades.

That is why, so far, not a single word from the BLM Marxist thugs regarding the Hamas bloody attack on Israel. Nobody from the ersatz-fascist Antifa chapters said anything, either. Many well-educated (read: well-brainwashed) American Jews were essential constituencies of the BLM and Antifa movements.

Who paid for the mass murder? Iran. Who facilitated Iran's money flow? An international left-wing cabal, in conjunction with the Obama and Biden administrations. The good thing is that Iranian adventurism forced all parties to spell out their position concerning the events. Gazans outright call for Putin to increase Ukraine attacks; they call for China to invade Taiwan. Gaza is a typical quasi-socialist oasis where practically nobody works, and the whole enclave exists entirely with handouts from abroad. The only option for these poor souls to break free is to discard Islamoleftism, which facilitates such misery.

On October 7, 2023, the ticking time bomb known as the Soviet Palestinian Project slipped into oblivion. The non-Soviet Palestinian Project may appear in the future, but it is unlikely due to the fully recognized equivalency between Hamas and the Nazi Einsatzgruppen. The train has left the station and into the lifeless Arabian desert from which there is no return.

Gary Gindler, Ph.D., is a conservative columnist at Gary Gindler Chronicles and a new science founder: Politiphysics. Follow him on Twitter/X.

Image: Tasnim News Agency
For the last sixty or so years the media-education complex has established a rule that only ethnic groups of color are permitted to have grievances. Indeed, since the emergence of Barack Obama, these groups have formed something of a grievance-industrial complex.

Italian-Americans apparently dont pass the color test. Although they come from roughly the same Mediterranean stock as people from Spain, Americans of Spanish descent get a bump up the swag wagon. Italians get niente.

People of Spanish descent even get a designated month, National Hispanic Heritage Month. In that month begins on September 15, it overlaps and overshadows the one day historically allotted to Italians, the second Monday of October, as well as the real Columbus Day, October 12, the actual anniversary of Christopher Columbuss arrival in America.

Italians, in any case, are less inclined to dwell on past injustices than most other ethnic groups. They have not, for instance, pounded into our consciousness the events that took place in New Orleans in 1891. They could have. That year the citys popular police chief was shot down on a city street. As the chief lay dying, he was asked who shot him. He reportedly whispered, Dagoes. Nine Italians were promptly rounded up for trial.

In a tribute to American justice, the jury found six of the accused innocent and could not reach a verdict on the guilt of the other three. As happens even today, unpopular verdicts provoke mobs to violence. In this case, on March 14, 1891, a mob stormed the jail and lynched the nine accused, plus two of their paisanos who got in the way.

Although the CRT crowd is mum on the subject, this attack represented the most deadly mass lynching in American history. That said, rather than fret about systemic anti-Italianism, just a year after the New Orleans lynchings Italians proudly celebrated the four hundredth anniversary of Columbuss discovery of America.

In Newark, New Jersey -- the city at the center of my new book, Untenable: The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from Americas Cities -- some 32 Italian societies joined in the festivities. For Italians, no historical figure solidified their status as real Americans the way Columbus did.

Italians celebrated despite the decidedly mixed reception they received from the native born. A late-century Newark publication, the Sentinel of Freedom, said of these newly minted Americans, Though the Italians form a very small part of the population of Newark, they are steadily growing in numbers and, as a rule, are quiet, inoffensive people, and many of them are industrious and thrifty and are steadily making money. So far, so good, then this unfiltered gem: They come chiefly from Naples and a more ragged, dirty set of people it would be hard to imagine.

Ignoring the contempt from the Anglo establishment, Italians increasingly identified themselves as Americans. In 1927, with the cooperation of the city, Newarks Italians chipped in to place an epic statue of Christopher Columbus in downtowns Washington Park. Some fifty thousand people showed up for a parade and the unveiling.

Newarks Italian population was centered in the First Ward, known affectionately as Little Italy, a thriving neighborhood filled with shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and the occasional street festival. In 1952, the progressive housers of the federal government declared the neighborhood a slum and set about to level it.

The plan called for the destruction of 477 buildings, most of them three-story walk-ups. The 3,000-plus people who lived there were unceremoniously set adrift on their own trail of tears. The CRT crowd doesnt talk about this mass removal either. Replacing Little Italy was a housing project comprised of eight thirteen-story buildings. As balm to the Italian community, the authorities called the project the Columbus Homes. Within a decade, it would be unlivable. Within four decades, gone.

In Newark as in other American cities, Italian-Americans were reluctant to flee the increasing crime and chaos consuming urban America. Instead, they fought back. After the lethal Newark riots of 1967, aspiring local politico Anthony Imperiale organized a resistance. The media were quick to denounce him as a vigilante and worse.

The locals who saw Imperiale and his crew in action had a different take. He was not resisting Blacks, they argued. He was resisting criminals. Imperiales people often got to crime scenes before the police did and were particularly attentive to the victims, especially women. His presence solidified neighborhoods and slowed white flight.

It didnt matter. The White ethnics of urban America were damned if they fled and damned if they fought. As an ethnic group, Italians in Newark and elsewhere had been effectively cleansed from the political landscape. Their resistance was denounced. Their champions were denied status as civil rights leaders. Their protests went all but unheard.

Nationally, the media indifference to the plight of Italian-Americans showed itself in their growing hostility to Christopher Columbus. For many Indigenous peoples, US News reminds us, Columbus Day is a controversial holiday. This is because Columbus is viewed not as a discoverer, but rather as a colonizer. His arrival led to the forceful taking of land and set the stage for widespread death and loss of Indigenous ways of life.

Overlooked in this description is the fact that Christopher Columbus was in the employ of the Spanish crown. He was a discoverer, an explorer, a bold and brilliant one. The Italians did no colonizing. Columbuss employers did, and yet their descendants get to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. How does that work?

Although Columbus Day still exists as a federal holiday, it is increasingly being replaced by what is called Indigenous Peoples Day. Says US News, Research has shown that many schools do not accurately represent Indigenous peoples when they teach history.

Of course they dont. If their teachers did teach the truth, they would start by telling their students that there are no indigenous people in America. American Indians all came from somewhere else, most likely northeast Asia, and not that long ago. Most tribes kicked a lot of Indian butt to end up where the Europeans found them.

The hatred of all things American and Italian culminated in the summer of 2020. All across America, the George Floyd mania gave the haters the excuse they needed to deface or destroy Christopher Columbus statues. In Newark, Mayor Ras Baraka had city work crews rip the epic Columbus statue from its pedestal in the middle of the night without even consulting the Italian community that had given it to the city.

Baraka claimed the statues removal was a statement against the barbarism, enslavement, and oppression that this explorer represents. He then had the moxie to say, The removal of this statue should not be perceived as an insult to the Italian-American community.

Insult, no. This crudely symbolic stroke of ethnic cleansing went well beyond insult. Baraka wasnt through. Although he promised that the statue would be kept in storage, this was not a promise he felt obliged to keep. The statue was soon found dumped in an open field next to an interstate.

That same summer, Newark began work on a statue of the newly sainted George Floyd. The 700-pound Floyd now sits on a bench in front of City Hall. His lengthy rap sheet includes no known instances of oceans crossed or continents discovered or, for that matter, anything that made anyone proud. Ever.

Jack Cashills new book, Untenable: The True Story of White Ethnic Flight from Americas Cities, is now available in all formats.

Image: Public Domain
As Brazil, Spain, Poland and other nations fly their stranded nationals out of war-hit Israel, the Biden administration is once again letting Americans fend for themselves as they did in Afghanistan.

There are about 500,000 there now, 27 have been murdered by Hamas, and about two dozen remain missing. Many, as the State Department has said are dual nationals and may want to stay and fight. But other are clearly candidates for evacuation -- tourists, church groups, the handicapped, medical patients, tech guys, artist types, and others.

According to Politico:

The U.S. government is struggling to locate Americans stranded in Israel  and so far doesnt seem likely to try to airlift them out, even as Hamas intensifies its attacks, including near Ben Gurion International Airport. Some foreign airlines are still operating flights, but U.S. carriers have halted service in Israel, with hundreds of flights canceled until at least months end. The State Department would not comment on how many U.S. citizens are looking to return stateside given the fluid situation, said spokesperson Vedant Patel.

Oh, there's been a snail's pace effort, with ABC News reporting this recent announcement:

The U.S. Embassy said it'll offer transportation for Americans looking to leaving Israel beginning on Friday. "It will take some period of time to schedule everyone seeking to depart," the embassy said. "Transportation will be by air to Athens or Frankfurt, or sea from Haifa to Cyprus. You will not be able to choose your destination  we will assign you to the next available flight or ship."

What's more, they're likely to have to shell out for those flights at commercial rates, payable within 30 days through a signed promissary note, or the State Department will hire a collection agency to go after them.

That stands in stark contrast to the concierge service the Biden administration is providing to illegals, the foreign nationals of other countries, who, unvetted, are flown into the U.S. through U.S. arrangements, to the U.S. destination of their choice.

According to Todd Bensman, writing at the New York Post last month:

Illegal migrants arent just overwhelming the border  President Biden is flying them secretly to airports around the country. More than 200,000 people from four countries have landed over the past year, according to data obtained by the Center for Immigration Studies through a Freedom of Information Act request. In January, Bidens Department of Homeland Security began implementing the cornerstone of its current strategy: a series of new lawful pathways measures designed to decrease the historically high crowds at the southern border before they become a political problem. DHS cajoles tens of thousands of intending illegal border-crossers per month to instead go on the CBP One smartphone application, and make an appointment with US officials at land ports of entry instead of crossing illegally. After making an appointment, DHS invites these inadmissible aliens to walk over to the American side at the land ports, where US Customs officials quickly parole them in, allowing them to travel to a city of their choice in the nations interior.

Supposedly, they, too pay commercial rates. But with migrants like these coming from Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and other very third-world places where the annual salaries don't break above $1,000, one wonders if such a claim is actually true, even if they have sponsors in the states willing to shell out. Do they, too, sign promissary notes, payable in 30 days, and then skip out on them same as they generally do their immigration hearings, do they pay cash on the barrelhead from the wealth they do have as they seek economic opportunity in the states, or do they get "waivers" for the general poverty of their homelands? The money issue could use a few answers since it's pretty unlikely that migrants from impoverished countries would have cash to pay commercial flight rates and for international flights.

In general, I do think people should be called to pay if the U.S. somehow has to get them out, particularly if they've defied a State Department warning about travel to whatever hellhole they get evacuated out of. It's only right.

The Israel issue, though, was purely a disaster without warning. It's arguable that it happened because Joe Biden forked over $6 billion to Iran's mullah regime, which clearly was complicit in the Hamas attack. Should Americans be held financially responsible for Joe Biden's fecklessness? Wouldn't it serve U.S. interests to get them out of there so that Hamas can't kidnap them and parade them around for the cameras in order to extract concessions from the U.S.?

Even if they don't have to pay for these initial outflights, which I am far from sure is the case, they'll still have to figure out how to get home from expensive cities like Frankfurt, and probably pay a for a few nights in expensive hotels.

Illegals flown into the states to the cities of their choice by Biden don't have that problem.

What's wrong with this picture?

Image: Monica Showalter, with use of public domain images
United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has postponed his visit to Korea planned for this month due to "unforeseen regional circumstances," Korea's presidential office said Thursday.

Mohamed's visit would have come nine months after Yoon paid a state visit to the UAE and secured its commitment to invest $30 billion in Korea's nuclear power, arms and energy sectors.

"Due to unforeseen regional circumstances, we decided to postpone the visit through mutual discussions," a presidential official told Yonhap News Agency, without elaborating.

The postponement appears to have been related to regional tensions caused by Palestinian militant group Hamas' surprise attack on Israel last week. (Yonhap)
Muslims and anti-Semites around the world have gathered in recent days to celebrate the mass slaughter of Jews in Israel by Hamas terrorists. Several cities in Europe, including London and Berlin, have been the sight of these unspeakably appalling  yet joyous  gatherings. Various cities in North America, such as Montreal and New York, have also been witness to such madness and depravity. BLM has thrown its support behind the Palestinian cause, as have, unsurprisingly, many campus groups across America.

In Australia, thousands of Australians gathered outside the Sydney Opera House to lose themselves in such zesty chants as "f--- the Jews!" and "gas the Jews!" One person was arrested...for breaching the peace of the wannabe Jew-gassers by having the audacity to possess an Israeli flag. Good on the local constabulary for dealing with him!

But might not f--- the Jews be considered hate speech in this day and age? I mean, nearly all locales across the former penal colony have laws regulating hate speech as regards race and religion. If gas the Jews doesnt qualify, what would? Misgender the Jews?

Crazed Hamas terrorists killed more than 250 mostly Israeli youths who were attending what many dubbed a musical festival for peace. They slaughtered or took hostage  or both  women, children, and the elderly. They reportedly beheaded dozens of babies. Thousands of Israelis were killed or injured, more than in any one day since the concentration camps of the 1940s were in existence. It is a new Holocaust.

Any individual or group celebrating this genocide-in-progress is beyond repulsive, beyond redemption.

Speaking of the difference between Western nations and terrorists, Benjamin Netanyahu once observed, Heres the difference between us. Were using missile defense to protect our civilians, and they're using their civilians to protect their missiles.

In fact, Hamas has located its military headquarters under a hospital.

And theres no cure for that kind of sickness.

Image via Pxfuel.
Las Vegas has a great slogan: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Israel could have an opposite variation on this slogan: What happens in Israel doesnt stay in Israel. After all, Israel is just the canary in the coal mine. Its the Islamists first target, but its not their only target or even their primary target. Its simply on the front lines and a useful way to determine whether the rest of the world has the spine to face the Islamic challenge.

Todays Evidence A for this truism is the call from Hamas for Friday the 13th to be a Day of Jihad. The call, ostensibly, demands this Jihad across the Muslim world but lets not be naive. According to Islam, the whole world is now or will be the Muslim world. We draw bright lines; the Islamists do not.

Most people first became aware of this demand for jihad from the Daily Mail, which reported that Khaled Meshaal, a former Hamas leader, issued the call:

A former Hamas chief has called for protests to take place across the Muslim world on Friday in support of the Palestinians, and for the peoples of neighboring countries to join the fight against Israel. [We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday, said Khaled Meshaal, who currently heads Hamass diaspora office. Meshaal, who is based in Qatar, said the governments and peoples of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt have a bigger duty to support the Palestinians. Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan... This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility, Meshaal said in a recorded statement. To all scholars who teach jihad... to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application (of theories).

But Meshaal isnt just a has-been Hamas leader trying to find relevance. In fact, he echoed verbatim Hamass official statement about a general mobilization for Muslims to rise up around the world. I encourage you to read the whole darn thing. For now, here are just a few key statements:

Declaration of General Mobilization Next Friday: Al-Aqsa Flood Friday in support of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa, and the jihad-waging Gaza. Palestine and its steadfast people, standing their ground, call upon you from the heart of the Al-Aqsa Flood battle. Answer the call, muster all your energies, and mobilize in numbers, both light and heavy, to support Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa, and the jihad waging Gaza. [snip] First: We declare next Friday, The Friday of the Al-Aqsa Flood, as a day of general mobilization in our Arab and Islamic world and among the free people of the world. It is a day to rally support, offer aid, and participate actively. It is a day to expose the crimes of the occupation, isolate it, and foil all its aggressive schemes. It is a day to demonstrate our love for Palestine, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa. It is a day for sacrifice, heroism, and dedication, and to earn the honor of defending the first Qibla of Muslims, the third holiest mosque, and the ascension of the trusted Messenger. Second: We call upon our rebellious youth throughout the West Bank, in its cities, villages, and uprising camps, in the streets and neighborhoods of Jerusalem, and at the squares of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, to rise up, join massive demonstrations, and shake the ground beneath the feet of the Zionist invaders and their settler gangs. Engage with their soldiers and cowardly army in every place, affirming the unity of destiny and the path towards Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, liberating them from the defilement of the Zionist occupation. [snip] Islamic Resistance Movement  Hamas"

If anyone doubts that this is a call to global jihad, remember a few things:

In the Muslim world, Israel is the Little Satan, and America is the Great Satan. Iran doesnt just say Death to Israel. It also says, Death to America. The fact that Iran is Shia and other parts of the Muslim world is Sunni is irrelevant. For Muslims, the first order of business is to destroy the West. Later, the victorious Muslims will engage in the necessary internecine wars for total domination.

The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq didnt trigger 9/11. The order was reversed: First came 9/11. That was a jihad, too.

Islam has been at war against the world for almost two thousand years:

After the Muslims conquered the Middle East and North Africa, they turned their attention to India and Europe to the East of Byzantium (i.e., Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire). They engaged in constant incursions against Europe. We think of Vlad Dracula as a man so cruel he inspired the ultimate vampire legend but his cruelty had a context, which was pushing back against the equally cruel Muslims invading his realm. His was a defensive war, not an offensive war. Muslim pressure against the West stopped (temporarily) only at the Gates of Vienna in 1683.

In the modern era, Muslims realized the Wests weakness was hospitality. For decades now, Muslims have been pouring into Europe and America, whether because

theyre invited (as was the case when Germany needed Turkish labor or because of English guilt over colonialism),

they come as refugees (as happened in 2015) in Europe,

they immigrated via the normal immigration process (as happened for generations in America) or

they crossed borders via illegal immigration (as is the case with Americas southern border).

Many of these Muslim immigrants to the West have assimilated and are wonderful citizens and good people. However, as the protests against Israel that have unfolded in America and Europe show, many are not. When those who have not assimilated hear the call to jihad, they will answer.

Be vigilant on October 13. While nobody may have expected the Spanish Inquisition, everyone should expect the global jihad. Muslims have never been shy about stating their goals and then acting on them in the most violent ways imaginable. The West is decidedly imperfect but, when I look at the Muslim world, whether as a Jew or a woman, I infinitely prefer what the West has to offer.

Image: Battle of Vienna 1683 by Gonzales Franciscus Casteels. Public domain.
The railroad cars squealed to a stop where lines of police and soldiers stood by to receive the deplorable passengers. The human cargo -- nearly all middle aged to seniors -- debarked with their few permitted possessions and turned where the uniformed guardians directed. Those using crutches or wheelchairs took separate routes for greater efficiency.

Some of the deplorable detritus still sported red hats rather than yellow stars.

Welcome to Hillary Clintons Amerika.

In a CNN interview earlier this month Clinton said, At some point maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the (Trump) cult members.

That sentiment is from a former Democrat presidential candidate who has been in the public eye, holding national offices, for thirty years. Perhaps she still does not realize that in 2016 by characterizing Donald Trump voters as a basket of deplorables she energized the GOP base and fence sitters.

A few salient points that the former First Lady omitted from her deprogramming scheme:

Establishing legality (perhaps a minor concern on the Left.)

Providing considerable funding (perhaps a minor concern on the Left, which has run our debt north of an unrecoverable $32 trillion.)

Establishing the institutional and physical infrastructure.

Providing qualified deprogrammers for untold millions of Deplorables.

Identifying the offenders other than by their red MAGA hats or bumper stickers.

Convincing the Deplorables to board trucks and trains.

Since millions of Deplorables are not voluntarily going to board transport to deprogramming camps -- Clinton is appalled that they cling to their guns -- the process would immediately turn confused, messy, and loud.

As a Yale-educated lawyer, Clinton surely knows that in the American justice system, the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. How to prove who were/are cult members, and how to square that accusation with First Amendment rights?

Obviously: you do not. But it doesnt seem to matter. Clearly, Clintons political zealotry has overcome any residual trace of rule of law.

The foregoing reflects what the Wall Street Journal properly labeled the totalitarian heart of Hillary Clinton. That phrase reflects upon the two-tiered justice system now institutionalized in the United States.

Nor does the matter end with Hillary Clinton.

CNNs interviewer Christiane Amanpour could have pressed Clinton on the subject but apparently Ms. Amanpour is more astute in such matters than Hillary. Amanpours husband James Rubin was an assistant secretary of state under Bill Clinton and became an advisor to Hillary and other prominent Democrats. Numerous viewers wonder if Amanpour was exercising de facto editorial control over a careless Clinton. CNNs star certainly was not practicing objective journalism, nor anything within telescopic range of it.

Apart from the ethical and legal problems of deprogramming (easily overlooked by political zealots -- ask Lenin, Hitler, Mao, and Pol Pot among others), theres the unavoidable matter of housing and/or detention space for the Deplorables. Of the 74-some million Trump voters, assume that 10 percent are declared eligible for deprogramming. Thats about the same number of illegal immigrants that Clintons party has allowed to violate U.S. sovereignty since President Biden took office.

(The 7 million figure comes from the Department of Homeland Security, in the same administration as the White House spokesperson who continually bleats The border is secure. Seven million equals or exceeds the populations of three dozen states.)

Leftists openly advocate draconian measures to advance their agendas. In 2019 teenage activist Greta Thunberg (That Swedish truant) infamously called for climate deniers to be put against the wall. When pinned down, she apologized in case anyone misunderstood.

For more historical context, recall that in the Soviet Union, unknown thousands of dissidents were sent to mental institutions for detention or cure. Building on existing policies, the 1958 addition to Moscows criminal code was aimed at those promoting anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda. There was no right of appeal.

If any Democrats condemned Clintons appalling suggestion, so far the statements seem to remain well hidden. No matter how phrased, my Google searches for the subject produce this:

It looks like there arent any great matches for your search.

That fact alone implies liberal tolerance for, or outright acceptance of, Hillary Clintons nascent American gulag.

Image: PxHere
Many and sharp the numerous ills

Inwoven with our frame;

More pointed still, we make ourselves

Regret, remorse and shame;

And man, whose heaven-erected face

The smiles of love adorn,

Man's inhumanity to man,

Makes countless thousands mourn. -Robert Burns

Has there been in recent years any more evidence of the gross probability of the inhumanity that human beings are capable of than what Hamas has perpetrated on the civilians of Israel?

In the decades past, we have seen what Islamic terrorists are capable of; beheading Americans on video, the obvious intent to shock and terrorize the West.

Remember the publicized scene of Daniel Pearl being beheaded? Americans learned then how barbaric the Jihadist Muslims could be. Everyone knew then, or should have, that those horrific crimes could not, should not, implicate all Muslims.

But the inhumanity of those doing the beheading was shocking to the nominally Judeo-Christian West. All these years later, that inhumanity has become all too familiar across the world. The horror stories that millennia of history provide seem too far removed from us today to be relevant.

But they are. From the pogroms of the 19th century to the inhumane crimes of Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, and Mao to the tyrannical dictators of today, none of us should be surprised by the level of evil that weighs upon us now. The terror visited upon Israel this past week is a wake-up call to all civilized peoples: The violence Hamas perpetrated on Israeli civilians is not beyond belief. It is a profound reminder of how evil human beings can be if so radicalized, brainwashed, and indoctrinated that they become savages.

There is no explanation for Israel being caught off guard. How do the most superior intelligence agencies in the world, Mossad and Shin Bet, miss a plan so calculated that the IDF was nowhere to be found, with the borders unguarded?

How do allegedly American premier agencies like the CIA and our DIA miss a plan of attack as sophisticated as this was? They dont. They knew. Someone had to know. Israeli intel agencies know if a Hamas or PLO activist sneezes, let alone plans a terrorist attack. Someone in Israel knew this was coming and let it happen. Sad to say, but it must be true. Why? The Palestinians, for at least three generations, have been indoctrinated and brainwashed, to believe that Israel and its Jewish population must be driven into the sea because they are the cause of everything bad in their lives.

What occurred in Israel this past week is so gruesome, it is difficult to absorb. Hamas militants murdered hundreds of young people at a desert dance party. The terrorists first destroyed the cars of those at the rave before they began shooting them so that those who made it to the parking lot could not escape. This was no mere terrorist attack. It was a long-planned, calculated military operation of the most odious, grotesque kind. The Hamas militants went door to door murdering innocent civilians in their homes. They attacked kibbutzs and beheaded babies at one of them. They did these things with relish, with pride. They posted videos of their murderous crimes on social media. That is inhumanity writ large.

How did we get here? At a place in time where this hideous version of inhumanity is the order of the day? We let it happen. We voted for people like Barack Obama and his anti-American, destroy-America agenda. Donald Trump interrupted their nefarious plan to communize America, so they rigged the 2020 election which Trump had clearly won. His promise to drain the swamp put the fear of God into said swamp. If there is a person on the planet who does not believe the 2020 election was stolen, they are in serious denial. The proof, the evidence, is overwhelming. Our judiciary has been compromised, and our judges are afraid to do the right thing regarding election fraud. The media of course suppresses it, but Biden was illegitimately installed.

Our Constitution has been invalidated, and the members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are culpable for the breach. It seems nearly every member of Congress is beholden to someone who controls how they vote. They are all on the take. Someone has something of leverage on each of them. Ours is no longer a free nation, no longer a constitutional republic. The demarcation line was the Obama presidency. He weaponized the FBI, the CIA, the ATF, the DIA, the IRS, etc.

Obama implemented the plan to take America down a peg or two. Boy did he! The Trump administration was a shock to the lefts system, so he had to be destroyed. The Democrats are still doing their best to ruin the man, his business, his family. Their use of lawfare to do it is unconscionable. The Democrats have emboldened the terrorists, funded the terrorists, racialized college students throughout the country, convinced black people they are oppressed, Asians that they are privileged, white people that they are interminably racist oppressors, etc., etc. These are the people who now support the murderous Hamas terrorists. Reagan's warning that:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our childrens children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

His words should be ringing loudly in our ears today.

Image: Screen shot from NBC News video, via YouTube
The dinosaurs roaming the streets of London are legends of civil disobedience and common sense, and true champions of the people:

Not all heroes wear capes, some wear inflatable dinosaur costumes to block ULEZ cameras from identifying and fining non-compliant drivers.#ULEZ #SadiqKhan #NetZero #BladeRunners pic.twitter.com/0WmIrMVYCV  Olivia Murray (@americaliv1) October 12, 2023

From a report out at MyLondon last week:

A trend has been spreading in London of ULEZ opponents using inflatable dinosaur suits to block the view of mobile camera vans. It has proved a light-hearted way of protesting the 12.50 a day clean air zone.

If you havent heard, the ULEZ system is an eye-in-the-sky surveillance network that identifies, tracks, and fines drivers of vehicles that arent compliant with current emissions standardsunless these are Ministry of Defense vehicles, or other vehicles used by government elites, which are exempt from the rules because their occupants are important and sacrifices are for the little people.

Paul Sullivan, the dinosaur in orange, said he came across the idea on social media, and was happy to get involved, given the publics overwhelmingly negative response to the ULEZ system. From a News Shopper article out Monday:

We spoke to Paul Sullivan, the man behind the dinosaur costume, who explained that he noticed that the ULEZ expansion was causing great concern in his community and so decided to take action after it was implemented on August 29. Paul, 36, told the News Shopper: My biggest gripe that I had with it is when it was spoken about, the majority of people decided they didnt want it expanded but the audacity of the mayor forced it out to the edges of Greater London. For the people that live on the outskirts or people have to drive into London, whether be that traders, self-employed, small businesses, or even carers for elderly family members  for the majority of people that 12.50 a day is just unachievable financially.

To put it into perspective, one 12.50 fine per day would equate to more than $450 a month, which is a massive, and yes, unachievable bill to add in on top of everything elsepeople are already drowning, largely due to the fallout of big government policies, the last thing they can do, even if they wanted to, is budget in nearly five hundred dollars a month to fork over for government fines.

Now, I have to say this because I know stupid socialists love to co-opt the Robin Hood tale as a claim to the morality of socialism and I want to take the wind out of their sails early, but Robin Hood taking from the rich to give to the poor wasnt an act of theft because in the story, the rich didnt acquire the wealth through consensual and mutually-beneficial business dealingsit was a time of feudalism, not capitalisminstead, they wielded an aristocratic system and government against the little guy via exorbitant taxes and oppressive measures; Robin Hood was returning to the people what was forcefully and wrongfully seized from them.

However, the socialists concept of taking from the rich means stealing wealth from countless people who rightfully earned the money or property, to which they had a legitimate claim, and redistributing it to greedy little non-producing loafers. (To be fair, this argument is becoming less and less valid as crony capitalism proliferates and wealth comes via government corruption.)

But Paul Sullivan and his gang are like the new-and-improved Robin Hood and his Merry Men, because theyre preventing the initial theft from taking place, all without breaking any laws.

Not all heroes wear bycockets, because some wear inflatable dinosaur costumes.

Image: Walter Crane, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. Hosea 8:7.

If it werent so unutterably tragic, it would be amusing to watch leftist Jews shout their outrage at fellow leftists who are siding with Hamas. These leftist Jews may have been pro-Israel and afraid of a second Holocaust, but their support for leftist policies led to the slaughter that horrifies them now.

What happened in Israel was not war. It was, instead, a grotesque violation of modern norms driven by people who have, for 1,500 years, proudly and unabashedly stated both their goal and their means: The goal is world domination, and the means are torturing and slaughtering men and boys, raping women and girls, enslaving those women and girls they dont murder, and killing babies in their cradles.

This isnt about territorial disputes or someone elses colonialism. This is written into their most holy text, which has not undergone a single revision since their prophet first spoke his words. They did this in the 7th century, they did it two decades ago on September 11, they did it a decade ago to the Yazidi, they did it last weekend to the Israelis, and theyre chomping at the bit to do it to you.

But speaking of colonialism, since the Soviets embraced the Palestinian cause in the 1960s, for the left, Islamic jihad has been converted into anti-colonialism. Despite the fact that anyone with a scintilla of knowledge knows that, in Israel, its the Arabs who are the colonialists, there have been enough useless idiots in American institutions to ignore this fact and paint the Jews as the interlopers and the invading Arabs as the pathetic victims of Western colonialism.

Image: Rob Reiner by Montclair Film Festival (CC BY 2.0), Lawrence Summers by LHSummers (CC BY-SA 3.0), and Scott Weiner by Scott Weiner (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Thats why the left has embraced the jihad against Israelbecause theyre siding with the downtrodden brown people. (Yes, theres a huge racist element to leftist anti-colonialism.) That explains how we end up with this leftist garbage justifying the slaughter of civilians in Israel:

Israel is a colonialist apartheid state that has been oppressing Palestinians for decades (expelling them from their homes, restricted movement, frequent bombings, etc...). Hamas fought back but people are calling them terrorists, even though Israel has left...  Socialist HyperpopDaily (@socialisthpd) October 12, 2023

"If one good thing comes out of the current bloodshed in Gaza and Israel, it is that the



colonialist mindset of Western elites  and those who imbibe their racism unthinkingly 



has been laid bare for the rest of us to see."

-- Jonathan Cook  108Anna (@108SAR) October 9, 2023

Nowhere has this mindset been more prevalent than in academia, which is a cesspool of antisemitism. For those of us paying attention, it was no surprise that student groups from CUNY to Columbia to Harvard to Stanford instantly denounced Israel as the aggressor when Iranian-funded terrorists, probably carrying American weapons left behind in Afghanistan, descended on civilians to rape, slaughter, and kidnap them. This is leftism writ large.

Of course, leftism isnt just about Israel. Its about everything, and there are few more enthusiastic leftists than Jews. For those who are not Jewish, its not always easy to understand that these leftists are Jews In Name Only. They love throwing around Yiddish words and boasting about fasting on Yom Kippur, but their values are informed by the Democrat party platform and the academic faculty lounge, not by the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the Mishnah (the first rabbinical interpretation of the Torah), or the Talmud (the primary rabbinical interpretation of the Torah).

These leftist Jews fought against the Iraq War (a misbegotten war but one that, had it been carried to a full conclusion, might have had a better outcome), embraced the antisemitic Barack Obama, suffered from violent Trump Derangement Syndrome, headed academias institutions and sat in its faculty lounges, went cuckoo for the LGBTQ+ agenda, and organized groups such as Jews for Justice for Palestinians. Contrary to the myth of Jews as a smart people, these are stupid Jews.

Stupid or not, some of these leftist Jews are waking up to the reality of what happened in Israel and are shockedshocked!by the response of their fellow lefties to the attack. Theres the inimitable Meathead:

As a Jew, I dont care if youre pro Palestinian or pro Israeli. Hamas is the epitome of evil. And anyone who condones their barbarism is evil. Full stop.  Rob Reiner (@robreiner) October 11, 2023

Or Lawrence Summers, who presided over an aggressively leftist Harvard:

I yield to no one in my revulsion at the statement apparently made on behalf of 30 plus @Harvard student groups. But please everybody take a deep breath. Many in these groups never saw the statement before it went out. In some case those approving did not understand exactly  Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) October 11, 2023

The more crazed, of course, continue to blame Trump, even though Trump, through his pro-Israel, anti-Palestinian policies and the Abraham Accords, was slowly quashing violence and bringing peace to the region. Take Californias sexually-obsessed Scott Weiner, who approved of Californias antisemitic, mandatory ethnic studies curriculum because he actually believed it wouldnt be antisemitic. Hes simultaneously supporting Muslims and castigating conservatives, even while decrying Muslim violence and the results of abandoning conservative policies. Yes, he is that intellectually muddled:

Like clockwork, the disaster in Israel & Gaza is bleeding over to the U.S.



Celebration of Hamass massacre, at colleges & by DSA etc, fuels anti-Jewish violence. Muslims are also at risk given anti-Muslim rhetoric.



CA has a grant program to protect at-risk nonprofit/faith orgs: pic.twitter.com/dwsH2nYAWY  Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) October 12, 2023

Lets be clear: The MAGA cult is supporting Jews at this moment b/c they hate Palestinians even more than they hate Jews.



But theyll turn on the Jews in a heartbeat if the mother ship signals a moral panic that Jews are groomers who want to steal their children.



Eyes wide open  Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) October 10, 2023

Leftist Jews sowed the wind and are absolutely horrified to find themselves reaping the whirlwind. They are like the Jews who flocked to Lenins banner only to have Stalin relentlessly hunt them down and kill them. When it comes to socialismwhich was baked into the Nazis name (National Socialists)a certain segment of Jews is endlessly surprised when reality comes to kill them.

UPDATE: I forgot the ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt, a hard leftist who was also forced to face the antisemitism from his side of the aisle:
Munition workers in a shell warehouse at National Shell Filling Factory No.6, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire in 1917. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

The role women played in the two World Wars is well known and well appreciated. As men went off to fight the war, positions previously held by men in factories and other services were quickly filled by women. Women worked the assembly line, drove trucks, served as air raid wardens and as nurses, worked in communications, intelligence, and performed hundreds of other duties critical for the war effort. One vital role women played was ensuring that the soldiers in the front line had adequate ammunition.

From the very beginning of the First World War, the British were having trouble producing the amount of weapons and ammunition needed by the country's armed forces. After several scathing attacks from the opposition and the media on the shell crises of 1915, the British government passed the Munitions of War Act 1915 to increase government oversight and regulation of the industry. To maximize munitions output, private companies supplying the armed forces were brought under the tight control of the newly created Ministry of Munitions. Wages, hours and employment conditions were regulated, strikes were prohibited, and workers were forbidden to leave their jobs without the employers consent. The Act also forced factories to employ women because of the shortage of able-bodied men, most of which were fighting the war. By the end of the war, the British government had more than four thousand munitions factories under its control, employing nearly a million female workers.

While women who worked the assembly lines were spared the horrors of the trenches, their jobs were no less dangerous. Munitions factories were often the enemys prime target with sites routinely flattened by bombing. There was also the risk of explosions.

In these factories, they would take the casing, fill it with powder, then put a detonator in the top and that had to be tapped down, said researcher Amy Dale to BBC. If they tapped too hard, it would detonate."

"It happened to one lady, who was pregnant at the time, and it blinded her and she lost both her hands. Amy added.

Two women munitions workers stand beside examples of the shells produced at National Shell Filling Factory No.6, Chillwell, Nottinghamshire during the First World War. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Nylon and silk clothing were banned as these materials build up static electricity which can create sparks, and sparks might lead to explosions. Women were strip searched everyday they went to work. They had to remove all objects containing metals including brassieres that contain metal clips and hair pins.

Freak accidents with explosives were common and they took the lives of many workers or left them injured. At least three major explosions occurred during this period killing more than three hundred workers and injuring hundreds more. Another occupational hazard of working in a munitions factory was the constant exposure to toxic chemicals.

Many women worked with trinitrotoluene (TNT), which is used in the manufacture of explosives, and cordite, which is used as a propellant in cartridges. When cordite is fired, the expanding gases propel bullets and shells out of the cartridge and out of the barrel. The manufacture of both TNT and cordite involves such corrosive substances such as sulfuric and nitric acid. Fumes from these acids turned many womens skin and hair to a yellow color, earning them the nickname canary girls.

Female workers in the Finishing Room, No. 14 National Filling Factory, Hereford. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

At the HM Factory in Gretna, in southern Scotland, which was the largest cordite factory in the world employing 12,000 women, female munitionettesanother nickname female munitions workers earned mixed cordite paste in large vats with their bare hands. This particularly nasty brew was dubbed the Devil's Porridge by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the famous Sherlock Holmes series, when he visited the munitions factory in December 1916. Sir Doyle was particularly impressed by those smiling khaki-clad girls who are swirling the stuff round in their hands, unmindful of the fact that they would be blown to atoms in an instant if certain small changes occurred.

Indeed, there were more serious health hazards of working in a TNT factory than a little bit of harmless coloring, the effect of which wore out in a couple of weeks anyway.

TNT is toxic to the liver, and prolonged exposure causes anaemia and jaundice, which gave the body a different yellow coloration. Some 400 cases of toxic jaundice were recorded among ammunition workers in the First World War, of which 100 proved fatal. Some workers reported bone disintegration in later life, while others developed throat problems and dermatitis from TNT staining. Some women even gave birth to bright yellow babies. These babies were called Canary Babies.

There is a new museum near the Gretna today exploring the history of HM Factory, and highlighting the role women played in the war effort. Its called The Devils Porridge Museum.

Stirring the Devils Porridge at HM Factory Gretna. Photo credit: the Devils Porridge Museum, Gretna.

Women workers preparing nitre to be taken to the Gretna munitions factory. Photo credit: Science & Society Picture Librar/SSPL

Female munitions workers manufacturing heavy artillery shells at one of the Vickers Limited factories, May 1917. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munition workers weighing 4.5 shells in a factory in the Birmingham area, March 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munitions worker drilling the bodies of Mills hand grenades in a workshop of a British factory. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munitions worker inspecting Mills hand grenades in a British factory. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munition worker at work in a factory at an undisclosed location. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

A female munition worker painting shells in a factory at an undisclosed location. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munitions workers pushing a truckload of shells to be verified by the government inspector, June 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female workers painting aerial bombs in a factory, June 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munition workers sorting through products in a factory in an undisclosed location in Britain, probably March 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female munitions workers guide 6 inch howitzer shells being lowered to the floor at the Chilwell ammunition factory in Nottinghamshire, UK. July 1917. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum

Female workers assembled in the Recreation Room at the Cubitts munitions factory, March 1918. Photo credit: Imperial War Museum
During the Pixel event, Google announced something that we all expected, Assistant with Bard. This will take the existing voice assistant and supercharge it with generative AI. Well, it seems that it wont be for everyone when it launches. In fact, Google Assistant with Bard will be limited to only Tensor-powered Pixels and the Galaxy S24 at launch.

When Google announced this new evolution for the Assistant, the company said that it was going to test it out on limited testers. As you can guess, these testers will include Pixel 8 users. If youre thinking of picking up this phone, you can click the links below to place your order.

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The Pixel 8 starts at $699 and the Pixel 8 starts at $999.

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Google Assistant with Bard will have a very limited launch

Since were talking about a Google product, its no surprise that its going to launch for the latest Google Pixel devices first. However, 9To5Google did an APK deep dive, and they were able to find out a bit more about the test. It looks like, based on the code hidden within the Google app version 14.41, Assistant with Bard will only launch on Tensor-powered Pixel phones and the Galaxy S24.

The Tensor-powered Pixel phones include the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, Pixel 8 series, and the Pixel Tablet. People sporting the older models will need to wait. It would seem odd that the Galaxy S24 is on this list, however, Google and Samsung have a tight-knit partnership. Also, the Google Tensor chips are extremely similar to Samsungs Exynos processors, so that could also be a reason.

As for when its going to make it to other devices, were all in the dark. Google said that its going to be testing this new feature with a limited audience over the next several months. This means that older Pixels and all of the other phones could be on the bench for quite some time.

By the time Google releases Assistant With Bard, who knows if Lets Chat mode for Amazon Alexa will be out? This is Alexa augmented with generative AI. When both of these features are on the market, theres going to be a competition to see which one is better.
The escalating conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group may portend a shift in U.S. policy focus back to the Middle East from the Indo-Pacific, a Korean expert on the Arab region said Thursday, calling for Seoul to work in solidarity with the international community over the issue.

In Nam-sik, a director general at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, a think tank affiliated with the foreign ministry, made the case, taking note of Korea's planned role as a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council starting next year for two years.

"Especially given that we are about to enter the U.N. Security Council as a nonpermanent member next year, it is right to put our heads together on these issues on the multilateral stage and coordinate our stance with the international community," In said in a seminar hosted by the think tank.

"Although we're not a direct party to the issues, we need to make our principles clear that we stand with the international community to prevent the vicious cycle of this kind of tragedy," In said.

The Israel-Hamas clashes, which began with the surprise incursion by the Islamist militant group into Israel last Saturday, are turning into a full-blown war with Israel hitting back with air strikes on the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip and Hamas threatening further offensives.

The death toll has reached more than 2,000 in total from both sides, with thousands wounded.

As a Middle East expert, In said there is a growing possibility of Washington reverting its diplomatic focus to the Arab region from the Indo-Pacific, or keeping China in check.

"What stopped the U.S. from moving away from the Middle East in its Rebalance-to-Asia policy during the Obama administration was the assassination of its top envoy in Libya," In said. "They could think that they sense a 'deja vu' in this.

"The fatigue from the European front (in Ukraine) and the Israeli-Palestinian front are increasing. ... It remains to be seen how much (the U.S.) can maintain its strategic interest in the Asia-Pacific region." (Yonhap)
Disinformation is a big deal, and Elon Musks platform might come under fire due to the recent turn of events. The EU is now turning its attention to X and how the platform has been handling the spread of information in recent times. These concerns are coming after various details on the Israel and Hamas conflict that is claiming lots of lives got to the social media platform.

Considering how delicate this matter is, the EU argues that there must be some control over what information gets to social media platforms. To do this, the EU requires transparency, swift moves to tackle disinformation and protection of users of the X platform. All these requirements are under the EUs Digital Services Act regarding content moderation on various online platforms.

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Over the past few days, X seems to have taken the back seat in the fight against disinformation. This is clear in the way and manner in which news and reports of the Israel and Hamas clash get to the platform. The EU is now demanding that X explains the measures they have taken to curb the flow of disinformation regarding the current issue.

EU asks Musk to address concerns over disinformation by explaining how X is fighting it

In a letter to Elon Musk, Thierry Breton and the EU commissioner expressed concerns about how X is handling disinformation. The letter also questions Xs compliance with the EUs Digital Service Act requirements on content moderation. Over the past few days, the internet has been in shock over the sad events taking place in Gaza as Israeli troops clash with Hamas terrorists.

In various ways, innocent civilians are feeling the effects of this clash in their area of domicile. However, some ill-meaning individuals are out to thwart the narrative of the entire sad turn of events. They do this using various channels, from which netizens access information on the web.

One such channel is X and the platform is now flowing with some disinformation on the current events taking place in Gaza. Netizens are fed with misleading images pushing blame to one side of the conflict or the other. Some netizens are now believing this misleading information and are also spreading it to others as well.

The EU is now calling on Elon Musk to explain how his platform is handling the disinformation spreading on his platform. They also question what content X permits users to share and if it complies with the Digital Service Act requirements. With the letter, Thierry Breton also calls out Elon to Xs systems are functioning fine and demands a report on the recent turn of events on the platform.

Elon Musk was given just 24 hours to respond to the letter sent out by Thierry Breton. The EU also intends to kick off investigations on this matter and might penalize X if it is found wanting. More information on this issue will become available in the coming days.
During day 20 of Google vs the US aka DoJ trial, something interesting was revealed. A Home Depot exec took the stand, and he basically testified that heavy advertising on Google boosts your position in Google Search algorithms.

The Home Depot exec revealed rather interesting results of the companys Google Search experiment

The person who witnessed is called Ryan Booth, and hes a senior advertising exec with The Home Depot. Just for clarification, his company spends millions of dollars a year on advertising via Google.

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He also highlighted that he has a team of about 20 people who focus almost exclusively on advertising. That info is based on what Leah Nylen reported. Now, folks over at The Home Depot decided to conduct an interesting experiment.

They call this the Go Dark experiment, during which the company basically stopped advertising via Google. When they did that, however, they started getting much less traffic, and fewer sales as part of it.

Once he finished with his testimony, Judge Mehta asked Booth how much the cost of Google advertising plays into how much Home Depot is willing to spend on ads there. This is what he said: Its less about the price of the click. At the end of the day, I would be willing to pay more for a cost per click for a relevant user who transacts with Home Depot.

Ex Google employee also took the stand, and described Google as a benevolent dictatorship

Ryan Booth wasnt the only one who testified, though. Arjan Dijk also took the stand, who is an executive over at Booking.com. He did work at Google, he was there for 11 years before he joined Booking.

During his testimony, he said: If you want to be found on the web, there is one door that is controlled by Google and we need to use that door. He also described the company as a benevolent dictatorship.

He also added: We have to accept any changes that Google makes. We get this imposed on us. Its a fascinating thing when you spend billions but that is how it is.

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Dijk conducted an internal study called Project Tulip in October 2019, for Booking. The company compared the traffic and ad spending from 2015 vs 2019. Regarding that, Dijk said the following: Google has consistently introduced changes to the search results page that give paid placements (PPC ads and Google hotel ads) more visual prominence and screen real estate, displaying organic [SEO] results.

His conclusion is: Google is optimizing their search results page (SERP) such that http://booking.com gets a smaller fraction of free clicks over time and thus the advertising spend is increased.

Dijk believes its obvious Google has favored ads

He also added that its obvious that Google has favored ads, and that Consumers have to work pretty hard to find natural search results. Following that, Googles lawyer went into cross-examination, and that didnt end well.

Dijk was repeatedly asked whether he thinks a company is allowed to make a profit. To that, he responded, several times, that its a stupid question. He refused to answer it.

Things are really heating up in the courtroom, and if the trial ends up lasting 40 days, as predicted, were halfway there.
Samsung is expected to ship its Galaxy S24 series flagships with two different chipsets. The Ultra model will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 For Galaxy globally, while the other two models will feature the Exynos 2400 in some regions, including Europe. Neither processor is official yet, but we may have an early look at their performances thanks to CPU benchmarks.

Benchmarks suggest the Exynos 2400 cant beat Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The Exynos-powered Galaxy S24+ and Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S24 Ultra have just popped up on the popular benchmarking platform Geekbench. The former phone achieved a single-core score of 2,067 and a multi-core score of 6,520 in the Geekbench v6 CPU tests. The latter delivered better results in both tests, scoring 2,234 and 6,807, respectively.

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If these scores are anything to go by, Samsung might find it hard to sell the Exynos versions of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+. The Exynos 2400 lags behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in CPU performance, and thats something that fans dont want to hear. It isnt a massive gap, but Galaxy users are already fed up with an underperforming Exynos chip. This is why everyone appreciated Samsung for using a Snapdragon chip for the Galaxy S23 series globally.

Unfortunately, the Korean behemoth is going back to its usual dual-chip strategy next year. There are hopes that it has fixed all those power and performance issues that have been plaguing the Exynos chip lineup for years. However, early signs arent very promising. Not just the CPU performance, the Exynos 2400s GPU may also fail to outmuscle the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It struggled to beat the previous-gen Snapdragon processor in a recent benchmark run.

Samsung reportedly plans to unveil the Galaxy S24 series in January 2024. So time is running out for it to optimize the performance of the Exynos 2400. It remains to be seen whether the new Exynos chip does a better job in power efficiency and thermal management than the competing Snapdragon solution. If it underperforms in those areas too, it would be tough to recommend the Exynos 2400 versions of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+.

Geekbench shows the Galaxy S24 Ultra with 8GB of RAM

Interestingly, the new Geekbench entry for the Galaxy S24 Ultra shows it with 8GB of RAM. Earlier rumors said Samsung will offer at least 12GB of RAM on the phone. That said, the device used for this benchmark run isnt a retail unit, so those rumors might still turn out to be true. Maybe, this performance gap between the Exynos and Snapdragon versions will also be lesser in the retail units. We shall find out soon.
The South Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has launched a probe into Google and Apple business practices in the country. The agency worries that the American companies misuse their dominance in the app market.

As two tech giants with global dominance, Google and Apple face multiple lawsuits a year that drive them into legal battles with regulators and watchdogs. Most lawsuits argue these companies leverage their power to abuse the market and competition. This time, the South Korean telecommunications regulator is investigating Play Store and App Store payment methods.

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The agency claims Google and Apple forced app Korean developers to use a specific payment method that could lead to unfair delays in app review. The two tech giants are required to take corrective action. Otherwise, they could face fines totaling up to $50.5 million.

The South Korean telecommunications regulator could impose a $50.5 million fine on Apple and Google over their app store policies

In response, Google said it has received a pre-notice, and theyll take necessary actions once the final written decision is shared with them.

But Apples response to KCC was more drastic. The company stated, We disagree with the conclusions made by the KCC in their Examiners Report and believe the changes we have implemented to the App Store comply with the Telecommunications Business Act. As we have always done, we will continue to engage with the KCC to share our views.

Both Google and Apple force app developers to use a payment method provided by the company. This has led to many antitrust cases against these tech giants in the United States and European Union. The critics claim this practice undermines competition in the payment industry and gives even more dominance to app store owners.

As for South Korea, it passed an amendment to the Telecommunication Business Act in 2021 that prevents app stores from forcing developers to use a specific payment method. KCC added the laws purpose is to promote fair competition, but enforcing a payment method to app developers deviates the bill from its purpose. The agency also described Apples practices as discriminatory charging of fees to domestic app developers.

Despite the competition, Google and Apple have many common interests, including the search market. Google pays over $20 billion a year to Apple to be the default search engine on Safari browser. This has drawn criticism from Microsoft, the owner of Bing. The Redmond company argues Googles payment to Apple is hurting competition.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks have long been an issue for tech companies, considering they are easy to manufacture. Now, according to a new report from Google, the company recently stopped the largest DDoS attack ever, with a peak of 398 million requests per second (rps), significantly surpassing last years record of 46 million rps.

For a sense of scale, this two-minute attack generated more requests than the total number of article views reported by Wikipedia during the entire month of September 2023, said Google.

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How did the attack work?

For those who are unfamiliar with DDoS attacks, they involve threat actors overwhelming a server with internet traffic to prevent users from accessing connected online services and websites.

According to the report, the DDoS attack began in August, targeting major providers, including Googles services and Google Cloud, as well as their clients, using a new technique known as Rapid Reset. This technique involves the use of multiple HTTP/2 connections, with requests and resets happening rapidly in succession. This overwhelms the targeted systems by generating logs for requests that are promptly reset or cancelled. However, it is important to note that the threat actors exploited the vulnerability CVE-2023-44487 in the protocol stack to carry out the attack.

While Google was the most affected, threat actors also targeted companies like CloudFlare, which defended against a 201 million RPS attack, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), which repelled a 155 million RPS assault.

Response to the attack

In response to the attacks, all three companies collaborated and shared information to develop patches and mitigation techniques. Additionally, Google has informed business providers to check for the vulnerability in their systems and urged them to promptly apply the relevant patch. Furthermore, recognizing that most companies lack the resources to fend off such attacks, there are calls to invest in robust network DDoS defence services.

We were able to mitigate the attack at the edge of Googles network, leveraging our significant investment in edge capacity to ensure our services and our customers services remained largely unaffected, reads Googles blog post.
Google Search has been the default option on Apple devices for years. And its precisely that which has been part of the scrutiny surrounding Google in its landmark antitrust trial against the US Justice Department. Since the trial began back in September most days have brought to light new details about Googles allegedly monopolistic business practices. And a new key detail might just give the DOJ a little more leverage.

An email correspondence from Google CEO Sundar Pichai suggests he didnt think Google should be pushing so heavily to be the default search option in Apples Safari browser. The email is from 2007 while Pichai was running the Chrome team and was to co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. It states that Pichai thought being the only search option on Apples devices was bad optics. Pichai also said he didnt think being the only option was a good user experience.

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This viewpoint from Googles current CEO would seemingly lend credence to the DOJs claims that Google operates an illegal monopoly in the online search business.

Google currently pays a significant amount of money to be the default search for Apple devices

In addition to the details within the email, Bloomberg reports that DOJ attorneys questioned Googles Joan Braddi. Braddi is a Google executive who helped secure the exclusive search deals outlined in earlier trial days. When asked whether or not Google pays a large sum of money to keep these exclusive deals in play, Braddi said yes. Though she also testified that it wasnt always this way. It wasnt always, but today, yes, Braddi said.

Throughout the trial Google has maintained that it doesnt operate a monopoly in online search. Stating that users have complete control and can easily change the default after just a few taps. But both rivals and the DOJ dispute this. Stating that Google makes it unnecessarily difficult to swap from Google to another option.

Microsofts current CEO Satya Nadella echoed a very similar sentiment noting that everyone is just playing in Googles web. And that because of its market dominance, rivals like Bing and others dont stand a chance at gaining any market share.
The location of Samsungs Galaxy S24 series event has just been revealed, it seems. Based on some reports from Korea, the Galaxy S24 event could take place in San Francisco, US.

The location of Samsungs Galaxy S24 event has seemingly been revealed

As many of you know, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 even took place in Seoul, Korea. That was a bit surprising, as Samsung tends to host its global events outside of its homeland, especially when it comes to launching its Android flagships. In any case, that happened back in July.

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Samsung seems to be getting ready to change locations for the Galaxy S24 event, though. Based on the provided information, the company is currently coordinating the details, and San Francisco is the likely location. Thats actually where the Galaxy S23 series launched too.

The devices will likely arrive in January

Now, if youre wondering when will this event take place, well, the January launch seems to be quite likely. We do know that it will arrive early next year, and several rumors suggested January as the time frame.

That is entirely possible, as the Galaxy S21 series arrived in January, and Qualcomm will announce the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 earlier than expected this year. The chip will launch at the end of October.

The Galaxy S23 series didnt exactly launch in January, but it arrived on February 1, so almost January. Either way, we wont know for sure until Samsung confirms it, of course.

Three phones are coming

Samsung is once again planning to announce three devices, the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Galaxy S24 Ultra will, of course, be the most powerful handset in the series.

Samsung will seemingly stick with its design language. Some changes will be made, but nothing major. Its doing basically the same thing as Apple and Google, its sticking with a recognizable look for its phones.
Right now, Google is involved in a landmark antitrust case thats been going on for some time. The search giant has had to face testimony from several individuals and companies that want to see it downsized. Well, audio brand Sonos is on the search giants case for a different reason; patent infringement. Sonos wants to continue its courtroom battle with Google after a disappointing ruling on Friday.

What is the battle about?

Sonos is facing off against Google over supposed patent infringement. The former is a brand thats known for its audio equipment. Moreover, it frontiered the ability to sync its speakers so that youre able to listen to the same content over multiple speakers. This was the main selling point of its devices besides the incredible audio quality.

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Well, Sonos alleges that Google had copy-catted the company and used its technology in its Nest speakers. In a statement to The Verge, spokesperson Erin Pategas said, We have proven that Google  a latecomer  has infringed on our invention of foundational customer experiences including setting up and syncing speakers, as well as other important features like group volume and stereo pairing.

These are some rather innovative and useful features that the company is talking about, and it wants compensation from Google. However, Sonos stated another motive that fueled this lawsuit. Its also standing up for smaller companies.

In case you dont know, Google is a big company- a BIG company. Its monumental enough to throw its weight (and billions of dollars) around to rush to the top of any market that it pleases. This is why its in a massive antitrust case.

Well. Sonos wants to fight for smaller companies that want to break into a market without the threat of being trampled by large companies like Google.

Lastly, Sonos also wants to create a revenue stream from companies that use its patents. Basically, it wants to establish a royalty system.

Sonos is NOT satisfied with the recent ruling

Right now, Sonos is not only fuming at Google. On Friday, US District Judge William Alsup tossed out a ruling that would have granted Sonos a large and lucrative victory. This would have granted the company $32.5 million in damages. So, its obvious that the company is not happy.

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However, Alsup brought up the point that Sonos took quite some time to bring Google to court over this matter. Googles speakers have been on the market for a while, and the company has hesitated until just recently to take any action on it. That seems to be the main reason as to why Alsup chucked Sonos verdict.

Alsup even went as far as to say that Sonos lawsuit is emblematic of the worst of patent litigation. The amount of time it took Sonos to open the case is what cost the company the victory.

Sonos is not giving up on this court battle against Google

That was a major blow to Sonos case but not its confidence. While the companys shining victory was thrown out in one courtroom, that doesnt mean that the legal battle is over. The company still has cases open against Google in other countries. So, Sonos hopes to score some victories in those countries and push its fight along. We remain confident we will continue to prevail in our efforts against Googles infringement, said Sonos.

The company is vehemently against larger corporations stepping on the little guy, and you can hear that laced throughout its arguments. However, we cant deny that a major part of its case is to protect its property.

Meanwhile, Google has been restoring the functionality that it had to strip away because of the case. This is a quick reaction to the ruling turnover, and it seems that Google is confident that its heard the last from Sonos. However, the question remains if thats true. From the way it sounds, Sonos will not give up the fight to hold Google accountable. The fight rages on!
X (Twitter) is now putting replies behind a paywall. The latest change made to the platform allows users to only accept replies from verified accounts who paid for X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue).

X has undergone many changes since Elon Musk acquired it. After rounds of massive layoffs, the billionaire shifted the platforms policies, claiming to reinforce free speech. He later locked some extra features behind a paywall, including an edit button. Now, if you want a blue verified badge and additional perks, you must pay X a monthly fee.

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The latest addition to X is quite controversial. The company announced on Monday that users can now limit replies to their posts and only allow paid verified accounts to comment.

You can now set that only verified accounts can respond to your posts on X

X has not yet mentioned any reason for the change. However, some might argue that limiting replies to paid users who passed ID verification could reduce online harassment and misinformation. Additionally, it might make finding cyber criminals and predators easier for law enforcement.

The problem with this argument is that buying a verification badge on X costs only $7.99 per month, and the platform currently hosts endless bots with that badge. The owners pay the monthly fee to make their bots look more authentic and legitimate.

X already prioritized replies from paid users, and the recent move makes engagement harder for those who dont pay for X Premium. This could also lead to lower engagement rates for the user and platform.

The platform has recently implemented another controversial change that some believe reinforces the spread of disinformation. X now removes headlines from links to the articles, confusing users as theres no link at all. It remains to be seen if these changes could reduce harassment and disinformation. The European Union has recently accused X of having the highest ratio of disinformation among social platforms, a claim that Musk strongly opposes.
The Xiaomi 14 series could launch a lot sooner than you think. According to new rumors, the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro will become official on October 27. Considering that their predecessors arrived in December last year, this is a bit surprising.

The Xiaomi 14 series could launch sooner than expected, two out of three models

Several tipsters from China shared the same information, so its possible its true. If youre wondering about the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, well, chances are that it will arrive later on. The same happened with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, so its not all that surprising.

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The fact that Qualcomm moved up its Snapdragon Summit this year adds even more fuel to the fire. Qualcomm will host its annual Hawaii event between October 24 and October 26. So, it makes sense that Xiaomi would want to host its event soon after that, as Xiaomi is usually the one that ends up announcing smartphones with Qualcomms latest flagship SoCs.

In this case, it will be the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which will become official on October 24, almost certainly. Both the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro are expected to include that processor. The same goes for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, actually, even though its coming later on.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro could have the thinnest bezels in the industry

What do we know about the Xiaomi 14 series? Well, the phones are expected to launch with refreshed designs. The Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro will have even thinner bezels, based on some rumors that surfaced a while back.

Both smartphones are tipped to not only have thinner bezels this time around, but also the thinnest in the industry (at least the Pro model). On top of that, uniform bezels are expected, so lets hope Xiaomi will manage to make it happen.

Leica will once again be a part of the offering, and Android 14 is expected to come pre-installed, along with MIUI 15. The Pro model is tipped to include a titanium frame, just like the iPhone 15 Pro series.
About 720 Korean nationals remain safe in Israel amid the conflict with the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

Some 540 Koreans were confirmed to be living or staying long term in the Jewish state, with about 180 others remaining there for a short stay, as of Thursday, ministry spokesperson Lim Su-suk said in a press briefing.

Arrangements are being made at the embassy level to help those who have expressed their wish to leave the country, Lim added.

A total of 192 Koreans returned home aboard a flight from Tel Aviv on Wednesday, the first flight that brought Koreans home since the conflict erupted Saturday.

They were among some 480 Korean tourists visiting Israel when the attack began. Of them, 27 people crossed into Jordan via a land route.

Another 30 people flew out of Israel on Thursday (local time) aboard a Turkish Airlines flight, heading for a third destination, according to the ministry.

No Korean casualties have been reported from the armed clashes so far. (Yonhap)
Do you ever just feel like you want your smart speaker to look and sound like Darth Vader? Well if you answered yes to that question then you need to hop on this deal for the Echo Dot Star Wars bundles over at Amazon before the Jawas pick them clean. The typically $90 bundle is currently available for just $53 as part of Prime Big Deal Days. The bundle in question is the 2022 Echo Dot speaker which comes with one of three different Star Wars stand options. Darth Vader, The Mandalorian, and a Storm Trooper. All of these are available at 41% off.

Echo Dot Star Wars Bundles - Amazon

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The Echo Dot can be a handy tool to have around the home for any number of things. Checking the weather, playing your favorite cantina tunes, or even finding out specific facts about your favorite Star Wars characters. You might even be able to find out if Han truly shot first and how long it took the Millenium Falcon to make the Kessel Run. The Echo Dot is powered by Alexa so it has lots of AI-assisted smarts. This includes allowing you to control smart home equipment like lights, thermostats and more.

In addition to the Echo Dot bundles mentioned above, there are a few other bundles on sale. For instance you can get the Echo Dot with a clock and a Baby Grogu-inspired stand for $61.98 when its normally $87.98. Theres also a bundle for the Echo Show 5 Kids that comes with stands for both Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. If you love Star Wars and/or Disney, dont miss these deals before they disappear tomorrow.

Echo Dot Star Wars Bundles - Amazon
(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 12 - Italian architect Stefano Boeri said Thursday that he was not worried about being put under investigation for alleged bid rigging over the BEIC European information and culture library project in Milan because he is innocent.

"I am very calm," Boeri said on the sidelines of an event at Milan's Palazzo Reale.

"I am certain that I am innocent of any possible charges. I am happy and serene".

Another lesser-known architect, Raffaele Lunati, is also among those under investigation.

Lunati was awarded the project, while Boeri was part of the judging commission. Starchitect Boeri, 66, is the creator of the iconic Vertical Forest in Milan, among other things. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 12 - A major show on Italian writer Italo Calvino opens Friday at the Scuderie del Qurinale marking the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The exhibition, 'Fabulous Calvino, the world as work of art, Carpaccio, de Chirico, Gnoli, Melotti and the others', was inaugurated by President Sergio Mattarella Thursday and will run until February 4 2024.

Organizers said they aimed to "illustrate Calvino's gaze on the world, uncovering many unexplored aspects of his life and work".

The show features over 400 loans including portraits of Calvino by Tullio Pericoli and Carlo Levi, photographs with Natalia Ginzburg and with Elio Vittorini in the Einaudi years, book covers, and first editions of iconic works like Il Barone Rampante (The Baron in the Trees, 1957).

"But it isn't a biographical show," said curator Mario Barenghi, "this exhibition wants to bring people closer to Calvino's imaginary world." Calvino, who was also a great cultural journalist, died on 19th September 1985 aged 62.

He was born on October 15, 1923.

His best known works include the Our Ancestors trilogy (1952-1959), the Cosmicomics collection of short stories (1965), and the novels Invisible Cities (1972) and If on a winter's night a traveler (1979), as well as the lecture collection Six Memos for the Next Millennium, which he died before delivering at Harvard.

Admired in Britain, Australia and the United States, Calvino was the most translated contemporary Italian writer at the time of his death.[ (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 12 - The government tries to intimidate those who expose its lies, anti-mafia writer Roberto Saviano said after being fined 1,000 euros for calling Premier Giorgia Meloni after the death of a migrant baby amid her fiery anti-migrant rhetoric when in opposition in 2020.

"Losing today is an example of what will happen tomorrow, it leads one even more to understand what kind of situation we are living in, with an executive power that continually tries to intimidate anyone who exposes their lies", said the Gomorra author.

Saviano, who has lived under police protection since his Camorra expose was published in 2006, also called then interior minister Matteo Salvini, now deputy premier and transport minister, a bastard over the 2020 incident. (ANSA).


Korea Times Global Business Club explores opportunities for bilateral cooperation

By Kim Hyun-bin

Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar emphasized the importance of the deepening strategic partnership between Korea and India, Thursday, underscoring that the multifaceted nature of this partnership, including political and strategic consultations, economic collaboration and cultural interactions, is the key for the prosperity and development of both nations.

"We are going through significant transitions in terms of geopolitical shifts or reconfiguration of supply chains or in terms of new and emerging technologies," Kumar said during the "India-ROK: Partners for Growth and Prosperity" Global Business Club (GBC) event organized by The Korea Times at the Press Center in Seoul. The main theme of the event was potential opportunities in India, particularly amidst the backdrop of rising global uncertainties.

"As the fifth- and the 10th-largest economies in the world, India and the Republic of Korea will need to work even more closely in the coming years," Kumar said.

The GBC, an exclusive business club-style event, aims to galvanize communications with decision-makers outside Korea. Thursday's event was the third of its kind after its inaugural edition with Indonesia in February and second with Vietnam in May.

Representing Korea's seventh-largest trading partner, the Indian ambassador also stressed the importance of investing more time and effort in raising awareness about business opportunities, describing the event as a crucial step in that direction.

Oh Young-jin, president-publisher of the English-language daily, introduced India's remarkable economic growth and its potential for enhancing relations with Korea.

"Korea stands ready to provide assistance for India's future journey, both in terms of technology and finance. Involvement in India plays a vital role in Korea's growth and prosperity, Oh said.

The trustworthy relationship formed as friends with a long historical bond and support during challenging times will transform both nations into mutually complementary and essential partners admired by all."

Kumar further highlighted the extensive calendar of bilateral engagements that have taken place throughout the year, including a meeting between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as interactions between Foreign Minister Park Jin and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. Notably, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Korea in April, reinforcing the commitment to enhancing economic ties and cooperation.

India is changing at an unprecedented rate. We have implemented structural reforms and regulatory liberalization, relaxed FDI norms, relentlessly focused on improving both physical and digital infrastructure, the ambassador said.

I firmly believe that India has the size, scale and growth opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. Plus, our location can serve as a springboard for exports to other regions.

The envoy also emphasized the need to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to bolster cooperation between the two nations.

"The two sides are in discussions to upgrade the CEPA. We need to approach CEPA as a tool not only for trade but also investments and as an avenue for bilateral economic cooperation by expanding discussions to include infrastructure, energy and new technologies." he said.

Kumar concluded his address with optimism for the future of Korea-India relations, emphasizing the boundless potential for bilateral collaborations.

He underlined the imperative for both countries to work hand in hand, heralding a promising era of fortified bilateral ties. "It is time to move forward," he said, underscoring the significance of this partnership on the global stage.

During the event, Nishi Kant Singh, deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of India in Seoul, delved into the wide-ranging investment opportunities in his country, while Sharique Badr, first secretary of the embassy, provided insights into India's startup ecosystem and digital transformation.

Following the presentations, a panel of experts engaged in Q&A sessions, which included the participation of Kim Jong-chul, director general for international trade relations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Kim Jeong-kon, director of the India and South Asia team at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy.

The event drew approximately 100 attendees, signifying Koreans' heightened interest in India. Participants included executives from some of Korea's leading companies, academics specializing in Asian studies and students engaged in Indian studies, who are anticipated to become the bridges between Korea and India in the near future.

"I didn't have much knowledge about India, and the reason for that is because India, in my perception as a somewhat developing country, was primarily associated with poverty, such as the Ganges River," said Min Geun-hye, a student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

"However, now that I'm here, I learned more about how India is reforming and developing, such as the 'Make in India' policy or how it is improving and expanding its infrastructure."
Steve Barclay acknowledged there is huge pressure on the prison system but refused to confirm or deny reports that judges have been told not to jail some criminals due to prisons nearing capacity.

The Health Secretary told broadcasters that Justice Secretary Alex Chalk will address the issue in a statement to the Commons on Monday.

Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has ordered the sentencing of convicted criminals currently on bail to be delayed from Monday, The Times has reported.

Rapists and burglars could be among those whose sentencing is put off, the newspaper said.

Asked on Sky News if the reports are true, Mr Barclay said: Its a longstanding convention ministers dont comment on leaks. The Lord Chancellor will make a statement to Parliament on Monday.

Senior Cabinet minister Steve Barclay acknowledged prisons are under huge pressure (PA)

Pressed over whether prisons are full, he conceded theyre under huge pressure.

But he said that is the case in many countries, adding it is due to the Government ensuring prisoners are in jail for longer and because of pressures as a result of Covid.

He also told the programme: We have an absolute commitment to protect the public.

He told broadcasters the judiciary makes independent decisions on sentencing but insisted the Government is overseeing the fastest rollout of prison places.

He told Times Radio: There is pressure on the system, as there is in Ireland, as there is in France and a number of countries, as a consequence of the fact that jury trials were delayed during Covid, and that has meant there are additional numbers on remand.

Decisions on sentencing are taken by the judiciary independently. What the Government is doing is expanding at pace the number of prison places that we have.

The UKs prison population has increased substantially since the Covid pandemic in 2020 and, according to the latest figures, there are now 88,016 prisoners.

As of October 6, capacity across the whole prison estate stood at 88,667.

Andrea Albut, president of the Prison Governors Association, recently told The Daily Telegraph that jails in England and Wales are bust of space, saying male facilities are running at more than 99.6% capacity and womens are 96% full.

The MoJ said there are 6,000 more prisoners on remand than pre-pandemic (PA)

The Times quoted an anonymous senior judge as saying they had been ordered/strongly encouraged not to send to prison a defendant who appears before them on bail due to concerns the prison system is at capacity.

The Judicial Office, which supports the judiciary, said it would not comment on what was said during an internal meeting.

The independent body said it could not confirm whether new guidance on sentencing had been issued to judges.

Labours shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: After 13 years of failure with the Conservatives, we are now seeing the serious repercussions of continuously ignoring the warnings on the broken criminal justice system and a prison estate in chaos.

The Tories are unable to get rapists behind bars and now the public know why.

People up and down will be asking: if this Government cant fulfil the basic duty of keeping criminals locked up, why are they still the Government?

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We are categorical that the most serious offenders should be sent to prison and that anyone deemed a risk to public safety is remanded in custody while awaiting trial. Reports to the contrary are false.

This Government has done more than ever before to protect the public and keep sex offenders locked up for longer, ending automatic halfway release for rapists and serious violent offenders and sending rapists to prison for three years longer than in 2010.

Following the pandemic and barristers strike, the criminal justice system has seen a significant spike in the prison population, with 6,000 more prisoners on remand than before the pandemic.

While we are carrying out the biggest prison-building programme since the Victoria era, and have taken decisive action to expand capacity further by doubling up cells in the short-term, the prison estate remains under pressure.

The Lord Chancellor will be meeting criminal justice partners later today and setting out a programme of reform in the coming days to ensure that we can continue to strengthen public protection by locking up the most dangerous criminals.

Tana Adkin KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said judges would still follow sentencing guidelines for serious offences like violence or sexual violence that require immediate custody.

But she warned that prison overcrowding has reached a critical point in terms of judges managing ongoing cases.

The current crisis is symptomatic after more than 15 years of disjointed central planning and underfunding for those tasked with delivering justice in our courts and keeping the public safe within our prison estate, she said.

Judges, barristers and solicitors continue working hard to ensure justice is delivered and safe outcomes for victims despite the acute strains on the prison and courts system.

The overriding duty of any government is to safeguard its citizens from harm. Judges will continue to uphold that basic principle when faced with the current challenges our criminal justice system is experiencing.

The management of cases, however, is especially difficult with diminished resources and with prison overcrowding that has reached a critical point.

If we want prison sentences to work, we must have the capacity to punish wrongdoers, deter others and rehabilitate offenders who are imprisoned at great cost to the taxpayer as well as themselves and their families.
Dan Smith from Bastille has said it was a dream come true to be involved with the score for TV series Planet Earth III.

The BBC series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough celebrating the natural world, will return to screens later in the month.

Singer Smith, 37, spoke about the programme during its launch at immersive London art venue Frameless on Thursday evening  where presenter Sir David, 97, was a guest of honour.

Sir David Attenborough arrives for the global launch of BBC Studios Planet Earth III (Ian West/PA)

Over the past year, composer Hans Zimmer, collective Bleeding Fingers Music and Smith have collaborated across the Planet Earth III score  and Bastilles hit single Pompeii features in one of the docuseries trailers.

Speaking to the PA news agency about what it was like to work on the score, Smith said: Its literally a dream come true. When we were asked to be involved we sort of couldnt believe it.

We started with a theme and worked on a bunch of scenes and then you know having now Pompeii with Hans (Zimmer) in the end credits and used in the trailer, it is unbelievably surreal but were so so proud of of being able to be involved. Its amazing honestly.

Discussing his personal relationship with the BBC show, Smith said: Weve all grown up watching those shows.

Its such a massive part of culture and David Attenborough, obviously, has shown so many of us a window into the natural world and so its just very surreal. Very, very surreal.

Other attendees at the event included The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey, Sex Educations Gillian Anderson, Little Mixs Jade Thirlwall, fitness influencer Joe Wicks, wildlife TV presenter Chris Packham and wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin.

Shailene Woodley arrives for the global launch of BBC Studios Planet Earth III (Ian West/PA)

American actress Shailene Woodley also attended and spoke about what she was looking forward to watching in the series and said: I think that audiences can expect a lot of opportunity for empathy and a lot of opportunity for just mind blowing education.

Thats really what Planet Earth does so well is, it educates us about all the things that that seem like a fairy tale or seem like something that cant possibly exist in real life and yet it does.

And I think that to me, thats the thing Im most looking forward to watching and witnessing is just what are the things that I didnt know exist that definitely do exist.

Speaking on her role as an ambassador for the series, the Hollywood actress and environmentalist also discussed her time out on location in Chad with the Planet Earth III production team.

Revealing that she had to go without her thyroid medication for a while, she said: We landed in Chad and all of our luggage somehow miraculously did not land with us and so the first four days we were there, five days we were there, I didnt have  I take thyroid medicine every day  I didnt have that.

Gillian Anderson arrives for the global launch of BBC Studios Planet Earth III at Frameless (Ian West/PA)

Like we didnt have a lot of the things that were used to.

I had the same pants and shirt and the director was able to lend me some of her shorts and tank tops and I mean that was kind of the funny thing of, you go to a place and we bring so much to be super prepared and make sure our lives can exist and continue no matter where we are in the world.

At the end of the day you really dont need anything. We had nothing with us and it was still the most mind blowing incredible experience in my life.

Planet Earth III launches on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK on October 22 and BBC America and AMC+ on November 4 with further global dates yet to be announced.
People arriving in the UK from Israel have described the moment Hamas rockets started landing on their cities.

One woman cried as she said she and her husband mistook the air raid sirens for a false alarm before the explosions started.

Saturdays attack on Israel by Hamas has seen a scramble for flights, travellers said, as people try to escape the danger.

Arriving at Luton on a flight from Tel Aviv on Thursday morning, one teenager from London said he waited for 16 hours for his flight home after a cancellation.

A 26-year-old man, who has been studying to become a rabbi in Jerusalem, will be staying with a friend in Manchester until he can fly home to New York.

The chemical engineering graduate told the PA news agency: We had rockets landing in Jerusalem but none of them landed in a civilian area.

There were sirens and we took cover. Its the first time Ive experienced it. Its a very tense environment there at the moment.

Every Israeli knows there are civilians in Gaza who are the victims of brainwashing by Hamas, but when you democratically elect a terrorist group there is no choice but to deal with it by force.

Issac Lowry, 17, from Hackney, east London, had travelled to Israel for Sukkot, a Jewish holiday celebrating the autumn harvest.

The teenagers parents are on a different flight back to the UK.

Arrivals at Luton Airport (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

He said: The situation is getting worse and worse.

The airport was very full. Ive had a cancelled flight; I waited 16 hours for a flight to get here today.

When I was there, there were rockets. We had to go into bomb shelters. It was quite scary.

I feel safe to be back in the UK. This is the first time Ive experienced a war.

A woman who was in the city of Rishon LeZion, five miles south of Tel Aviv, wept as she told PA about air raid sirens going off.

The woman, who did not give her name, said she was making coffee at about 6.30am when she heard the warning.

My husband said, Whats happening? Is there something wrong with the sirens?

Then it started. Its very difficult for me to talk about.
The recommended maximum amount of cannabidiol (CBD) healthy adults should consume a day has dropped from 70mg to 10mg following evidence of adverse effects on the liver and thyroid, the food safety watchdog has said.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued new precautionary advice on CBD, recommending healthy adults should limit their consumption of CBD from food to 10mg per day, which is about four to five drops of 5% oil.

The FSA published consumer advice in February 2020 which recommended that healthy adults not take more than 70mg of CBD per day, or about 28 drops of 5% CDB, but warned that this doesnt mean that these levels are definitely safe, but that the evidence we have suggests adverse health effects could potentially be seen above this.

Since then, a joint subgroup of the Committee on Toxicity (COT) and the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, two independent science committees that advise the FSA, had been reviewing the safety evidence submitted by the CBD industry.

CBD sold as a food includes oils, drops or tinctures, gel capsules, sweets and confectionery, bread and other bakery products and drinks.

The FSA said there was no acute safety risk by consuming more than 10mg of CBD a day based on available data.

However, above this level and over a period of time, there was evidence of some adverse impacts on the liver and thyroid, with the higher the dose and the more often it is consumed increasing the risks.

Some food products currently on the market contain more than 10mg of CBD per serving, and the FSA said it would work with the industry to agree a way forward on these items.

The FSA encouraged consumers to monitor their daily consumption by checking the CBD content of the product and consider if they wished to change it in light of the updated advice.

It continues to advise that CBD is not taken by people in vulnerable groups, including children, people taking medication who have not consulted a medical professional and those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.

Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA, said: Our independent advisory committees have reviewed the safety assessments submitted by the industry as part of their novel food applications and we are advising that healthy adults should take no more than 10mg of CBD a day.

The more CBD you consume over your lifetime, the more likely you are to develop long-term adverse effects, like liver damage or thyroid issues. The level of risk is related to how much you take, in the same way it is with some other potentially harmful products such as alcoholic drinks.

We encourage consumers to check the CBD content on the product label to monitor their overall daily consumption of CBD and consider if they wish to make changes to how much they take based on this updated advice.

FSA chief executive Emily Miles said: We have always advised the public to think carefully about taking edible CBD products and, as with all foods, we continue to review our advice based on the evidence we gather from industry.

We understand that this change to our advice will have implications for products currently on the market that contain more than 10mg of CBD per serving.

We will be working closely with industry to minimise the risk so that consumers are not exposed to potentially harmful levels of CBD.
The Government has organised flights to help British nationals leave Israel.

The first flight is expected to leave the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Thursday, the Foreign Office said, with further flights planned in the coming days subject to the security situation.

The UK has also sent a rapid deployment team to assist British citizens on the ground.

The Foreign Office, which has said family members of British diplomats are leaving Israel as a precautionary measure, has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The flights will be commercially operated and arrive in the UK, with vulnerable British nationals prioritised.

The Foreign Office said it will contact those eligible for the flights directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they are called.

Today we are providing a UK-sponsored flight to help British nationals leave Israel. Vulnerable British nationals will be prioritised for these flights. After this, seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We are directly contacting those who are eligible to pic.twitter.com/m3WkHXqSh1  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) October 12, 2023

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

At least 17 UK nationals are reported to be either dead or missing, including children, with Jake Marlowe, 26, the latest to be named among three known to have died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

Children and other dependents of British diplomats are expected to fly out of the country on the Government-arranged flights.

It is understood that British nationals, including dual nationals, and dependents travelling with a British national normally resident in the UK, will be invited to take up seats, and that tickets will cost 300.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK has said at least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military.

The embassy said it is understood those who travelled are reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces.

Sharon Lifschitz and Noam Sagi, two London-based British Israelis whose parents are among the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza (Lucy North/PA)

On Thursday family members of some of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza gave an emotional press conference in London.

Noam Sagi told reporters he should be celebrating his mothers 75th birthday but she had been kidnapped by Hamas, branding the attacks a second holocaust.

He said: These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships.

If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also spoken out about the violence, condemning all acts of terrorism and brutality.

Harry and Meghan stopped short of singling out sides in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website and vowed to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region.

The Sussexes statement came a day after the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales condemned the barbaric acts and appalling horrors inflicted in Hamass attack on Israel.

We stand with  Im here in Israel today to show that the UKs support for the Israeli people is unwavering.    pic.twitter.com/vQgLwMaALZ  James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) October 11, 2023

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted Israel has the right to do everything it can to rescue hostages in Gaza, amid reports the country is preparing to launch a ground offensive.

Asked on ITVs Good Morning Britain whether he has fears over the level of Israels retaliation in Gaza and concerns there may be breaches of international law, Mr Barclay said: We think international law obviously should be followed and civilian casualties should be minimised.

But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.

But the former head of MI6, Sir Alex Younger, urged Israel not to do what your enemy wants and said its intense retaliation could end up creating more terrorists.

International aid groups said deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the regions only power station ran out of fuel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday and offered the UKs support to try to keep the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza open for humanitarian reasons, Downing Street said.
The King has held talks with the Chief Rabbi at Buckingham Palace to discuss the horrors of events in Israel and how to support interfaith harmony in Britain in distressing and difficult times.

Charles welcomed Sir Ephraim Mirvis for a private audience in the London royal residence on Thursday afternoon as the Israel-Hamas conflict continued to gather pace.

The King personally expressed his deep care and concern for the Jewish community in the UK who are suffering grief, fear and anguish.

The King welcomes the Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis to Buckingham Palace (Yui Mok/PA)

Their conversation is said to have covered the horrors of recent events in Israel, ways to support interfaith harmony in Britain in distressing and dangerous times, and the continued hope that a path to peace can be found internationally.

Following the meeting, Sir Ephraim said the Kings words offer strength to the Jewish community at this dark time.

In a statement, he said: At a time when Jews around the world are grieving following the unspeakable evil perpetrated against loved ones in Israel, I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III for expressing in person his deep concern, and his support for the Jewish community. His words of comfort and solidarity give us strength at this dark time.

It comes a day after Charles condemnation of Hamas barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel attacks at the weekend, with the Palace saying the King is being actively updated on developments.

The King also spoke to Israeli President Isaac Herzog by telephone on Wednesday, offering his thoughts and prayers to all those suffering.

At least 100 people  reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces  are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military as it mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Thursday (Hatem Moussa/AP/PA)

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,600 lives.

The Government has organised flights to fly British nationals out of Israel, with the first flight set to leave Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Charles, head of the Church of England, greeted the Chief Rabbi in the Kings Audience Room at the Palace.

The pair were pictured looking solemn as they stood side by side, and with the King gesturing as he welcomed Sir Ephraim to the meeting amid difficult times.

Palestinians evacuate the wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp (Hatem Ali/AP/PA)

The pair have met previously through Charles work as the Prince of Wales on interfaith tolerance, and Sir Ephraim took part in the Kings coronation in May, greeting him in unison with faith leaders at the end of the service.

Sir Ephraim is the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since the office was introduced in 1704.

He is traditionally seen as the figurehead of British Jews, but is only officially representative of the United Synagogue, the biggest wing of orthodox Judaism in the UK.

He was installed in September 2013 during a ceremony attended by Charles when he was Prince of Wales, the first time a member of the royal family was present.
The King laughed and joked as he presented the 2022 and 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Engineering at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QE Prize), first presented in 2013 by the then-Queen to the creators of the world wide web, recognises engineers responsible for groundbreaking global innovations.

This is the first time Charles has presented the prize since his coronation. He presented it three times as the prince of Wales.

Charles presents Dr Aihua Wang, one of a team of four, with the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (Yui Mok/PA)

Wearing a blue striped suit with black shoes, the King on Thursday presented the 2022 QE Prize to Dr Masato Sagawa for the discovery, development and commercialisation of the worlds most powerful permanent magnet, NdFeB, which is a crucial component in smartphones, cars and robots.

The 2023 QE Prize laureates are Professor Martin Green, Professor Andrew Blakers, Dr Aihua Wang and Dr Jianhua Zhao for the invention and development of passivated emitter and rear cell (Perc) solar photovoltaic technology, which has lowered the cost of solar panels by 80% over the last decade.

The breakthrough has helped solar power to become a reliable source of electricity around the world.

The King talks to guests as he presents the 2022 and 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (Yui Mok/PA)

Professor Green said the King genuinely knew about the technical aspects of solar technology.

He told the PA news agency: He was interested in the details of technology. He wanted to know what a passivated emitter is. He genuinely knew what he was talking about.

From left: Professor Andrew Blakers, Dr Aihua Wang, Dr Jianhua Zhao and Professor Martin Green, winners of the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering for the invention and development of passivated emitter and rear cell solar photovoltaic technology (Yui Mok/PA)

This award being associated with the British monarchy, my mum is a big fan of the monarchy, particularly the late Queen Elizabeth, so she would have been delighted to know Im here at Buckingham Palace.

Dr Sagawa said he was more honoured than ever to receive the prize in the presence of the King.

He said: Many years ago, experts in my field were convinced that magnets could not have been made with rare earth metals and iron, but I remained curious and today have been recognised for effort and perseverance in this idea.

Dr Wang, the first female QE Prize laureate, accepted the prize with her husband Dr Zhao. She said: Achievements in engineering can have a remarkable impact all over the world and we are very grateful that the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering has selected Perc technology among many global innovations.

From left: Dr Aihua Wang and Dr Jianhua Zhao (Yui Mok/PA)

Professor Blakers said: It is an honour to be presented the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering alongside academic colleagues and friends at a venue that is as renowned as Buckingham Palace.

All winners got unique trophies designed in a competition; the 2023 trophy was designed by 25-year-old Anja Brandl from Switzerland and the 2022 trophy was designed by 19-year-old Anshika Agarwal from India.

Charles, right, talks to inventor of the world wide web Sir Tim Berners-Lee and his wife Rosemary Blaire Leith, also known as Lady Berners-Lee (Yui Mok/PA)

The inventor of the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, attended the ceremony, as did the ambassadors of Japan and Australia, and spoke with the King.
At least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military as it mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK said it was understood those who travelled were reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

A statement said: The Embassy of Israel understands that at least 100 reservists and active duty soldiers have gone back to Israel from the UK to serve in the IDF.

The announcement came as family members of some of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza gave an emotional press conference in London.

Noam Sagi told reporters he should be celebrating his mothers 75th birthday but she had been kidnapped by Hamas, branding the attacks a second holocaust.

Noam Sagi, a London-based British Israeli whose mother is held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, speaking at a Defend Israeli Democracy UK press conference (Lucy North/PA)

He said: These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships.

If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

At least 17 UK nationals are reported to be either dead or missing, including children, with Jake Marlowe, 26, the latest to be confirmed among three known to have died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

And the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which has said family members of British diplomats are leaving Israel as a precautionary measure, has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The international outrage over the atrocities continued on Thursday, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex condemned all acts of terrorism and brutality.

The Embassy's building in Tel Aviv lit up in blue and white. Israel  we stand with you  pic.twitter.com/1FxoN1439v  UK in Israel  (@ukinisrael) October 12, 2023

Harry and Meghan stopped short of singling out sides in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website and vowed to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region.

The Sussexes statement came a day after the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales condemned the barbaric acts and appalling horrors inflicted in Hamass attack on Israel.

Under the title With Heavy Hearts, the statement on Harry and Meghans Archewell site read: At the Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted Israel has the right to do everything it can to rescue hostages in Gaza, amid reports the country is preparing to launch a ground offensive.

Asked on ITVs Good Morning Britain whether he has fears over the level of Israels retaliation in Gaza and concerns there may be breaches of international law, Mr Barclay said: We think international law obviously should be followed and civilian casualties should be minimised.

But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.

But the former head of MI6, Sir Alex Younger, urged Israel not to do what your enemy wants and said its intense retaliation could end up creating more terrorists.

Sir Alex told BBC Radio 4s The Today Podcast: Its really obvious now that Hamas are essentially laying a trap for Israel and will be well pleased if Israel commits itself to an open-ended, full-scale ground invasion of Gaza.

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building levelled in an Israeli airstrike (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Because of the scale and intensity of conflict that that would entail and the loss of innocent life that would inevitably follow, and the radicalisation that would engender and the extent to which it would put Israels allies and partners in the region in an impossible position.

He added: You cannot kill all the terrorists without creating more terrorists.

And military operations of this kind very, very rarely succeed outside some kind of political strategy.

International aid groups said deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the regions only power station ran out of fuel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday and offered the UKs support to try to keep the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza open for humanitarian reasons, Downing Street said.
Media groups are set to meet the Culture Secretary over concerns that news organisations could lose control of their copyrighted material to artificial intelligence (AI) models such as ChatGPT.

On Thursday, Lucy Frazer will take the pulse of the media industry on how they see journalists being protected and benefiting from AI.

Broadcasters such as the BBC, Sky News and ITN  who make Channel 4 News, ITV News and 5 News, along with news companies like the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), the Mirror owners Reach, and the Times and the Sun owners News UK are among those attending the meeting.

The BBC along with other broadcasters and newspapers will meet with the Culture Secretary to talk about AI (Ian West/PA)

The groups  which also include news agency owners such as PA Media and industry bodies such as the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), News Media Association (NMA) and Society of Editors  are set to help inform the Governments wider AI policy by speaking to the Culture Secretary.

Ms Frazer said: The rapid development of AI poses huge questions for the future of our countrys world-class news industry. I want to make sure that we are supporting journalists and writers who are grappling with the impact of this revolutionary technology.

The UK is a world leading democratic AI power and globally renowned for our rigorous and fearless press. We want to make sure we are also leading the world in how we respond to this developing technology so the things that are precious to us  our creative industries, our media  are protected, whilst harnessing the benefits that this innovation brings.

One of my focuses is how to enhance press freedom. I want to listen closely to the views of the media industry to make sure journalists are protected from the risks of AI while benefiting from the opportunities it offers.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that concerns about AI-powered language model ChatGPT, AI firms with lower editorial and ethical standards creating competition for news organisations, and the spread of AI-generated mis/disinformation will be top of the agenda.

ChatGPT  made by OpenAI  creates a response that users ask for by drawing on people using the platform and the internet, while other machine learning technology can make deepfakes that can be altered to look like someone and create images, videos and audio.

The meeting will also look at the benefits of AI, which DCMS said could help publishers and local and regional news outlets by reducing administrative work and business expenses as well as freeing up time for journalists to concentrate on meaningful reporting.

The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Daily Express and The Sun (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Media groups will also be asked about their views on the current work by the Government which includes a white paper outlining a pro-innovation approach to AI regulation, a new code of practice for AI companies and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill currently going through Parliament.

DCMS said rules could be introduced requiring greater transparency over the algorithms used by tech firms which drive traffic and revenue to news publisher websites.

This follows Reach  also owners of the Daily Express, Daily Star, Manchester Evening News, the Daily Record and OK Magazine  saying on Tuesday it faced a drop in revenue because of Facebooks de-prioritisation of news.

The company said the number of views on its articles fell by a fifth (21%) in the nine months to late September.
Antisemitic incidents in the UK have increased by more than 300% since Hamas attack on Israel, according to a Jewish security group.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which represents British Jews on issues of racism and policing, said it had recorded 89 incidents between October 7-10 that it classed as anti-Jewish hate.

It said that marked a 324% rise on the 21 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat said he was very concerned at reports of an increase in antisemitism in Britain since the assault by the Palestinian militant group started on Saturday, which saw fighters massacre hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at a music festival.

CST said six of the 89 incidents recorded were assaults, three referred to damage to Jewish property and 66 were related to abusive behaviour, with 22 taking place online.

Examples of an assault given by the organisation included a Jewish person walking to synagogue in London on Sunday morning being called a dirty Jew by a stranger, who said no wonder youre all getting raped.

In north east London, the CST said a car slowed down outside a synagogue before the occupants of the vehicle shouted Kill Jews and Death to Israel while waving a Palestinian flag.

In a blog post on Wednesday, the Jewish security group said: Make no mistake: these are anti-Jewish racist incidents and hate crimes in which Jewish people, property and institutions are singled out for hate, including death threats and abuse.

In many cases, the perpetrators of these disgraceful incidents are using the symbols and language of pro-Palestinian politics as rhetorical weapons with which to threaten and abuse Jewish people.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat said he was very concerned about the rise of antisemitism since Hamas attack (Lucy North/PA)

Mr Tugendhat, a senior minister, said the UK Government took the rise in antisemitism extremely seriously as he voiced support for the CST and the police in cracking down on the spreading of hate.

The security minister, who has Jewish ancestry and whose family members were murdered in Europe during the Holocaust, drew parallels between the ideology of Hamas and that of the Nazis in the 1930s and 40s.

What the Nazis were doing is exactly what Hamas is doing today. It is preaching a blood libel, preaching a hatred for Jews and preaching a hatred that extends around the world, he told Sky News Politics Hub programme.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it had made arrests while hundreds of people gathered in St Peters Square on Wednesday evening to take part in a vigil for those who were killed in Hamas terror strike.

The force said four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace.

We are currently receiving many reports of antisemitism. Response times may increase, but please continue to call our National Emergency Number: 0800 032 3263. If it is not an emergency, please visit: https://t.co/5oxeIubv0P Thank you for helping us to protect our community. pic.twitter.com/FdPDlxRxJD  CST (@CST_UK) October 11, 2023

In a social media post that was later deleted, GMP said the arrests were not for supporting Palestine, saying people had a right to express their support for both Israel and Palestine.

The force draws a clear distinction between support for Palestine and support for the proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas, it said in a post on social media.

GMP later said one person had been de-arrested following further investigation, with three remaining under arrest.

It comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote to police chiefs this week saying that waving a Palestinian flag and chanting pro-Arab songs could amount to a public order offence if it could be deemed to be in support of terror atrocities.

With the war between Israel and Gaza escalating, officers from the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command has issued an appeal for anyone in the UK who has direct evidence related to the terrorist attacks in southern Israel to contact them.

The Met said the appeal is directed at anyone who may have already returned from Israel in the past few days and has footage or images of the terrorist attacks.

On Wednesday it was confirmed that another Briton had died in the incursion by Hamas fighters.

#Update | One person arrested in St Peters Square earlier tonight has since been de-arrested following further investigation. A total of three people remain under arrest on suspicion of breach of the peace.  Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) October 11, 2023

Jake Marlowe, 26, is among three known to have died. He was originally recorded as missing but was confirmed dead by the Israeli Embassy in London.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was invaded by Hamas gunmen, reportedly killing at least 260 people.

Concerns remain for the safety of British citizens in the region, with reports that 17 UK nationals are either dead or missing, including children.

The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy every member of Hamas in a televised address on Wednesday.

In the sealed-off Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas, Palestinian suffering has mounted as Israeli retaliation bombardment demolished neighbourhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

British aid charity Oxfam announced it has started a fundraising appeal, warning that unless Tel Aviv  which put Gaza under siege following Hamas deadly assault on the weekend  eases its complete blockade, then food is likely to run out within a week.

Aleema Shivji, Oxfams chief impact officer, said innocent communities are trapped in Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on earth, with no safe place to escape the Israeli airstrikes.
Korea will send $1 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after a devastating earthquake in a northwestern province last week killed more than 2,000 people, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.

The emergency aid will be delivered via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the ministry said.

As of Monday, 2,445 people had died and 9,240 had been injured, as the 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Herat on Saturday, according to data from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

"Our government hopes this aid will help swiftly stabilize the lives of Afghan people suffering from the earthquake and the restoration of affected areas," the ministry said in a release. (Yonhap)
EasyJet hopes to resume flights to and from Israel as soon as possible but cannot say when it will happen, chief executive Johan Lundgren said.

The airline suspended its Tel Aviv operations after Hamass attack on Saturday.

Flights have been suspended until at least October 17.

In the UK, easyJet usually serves Gatwick, Luton and Manchester airports from Israel.

EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren said Israel is an important route to have in place (PA)

Mr Lundgren said the carrier will continue to evaluate this on a daily basis.

He added: We are making our decisions (based) on a multiple number of sources. We are engaging with probably 10 or 12 different authorities, government authorities, security experts, alongside the expertise that we have within ourselves.

We are making then a weighted decision on what it would take for us to start up again.

We want to start up again. We believe its an important route to have in place.

But for now, when we have weighed up all the information that we have, we have decided to continue to suspend the operation.

Mr Lundgren said a number of things must happen for the airline to feel comfortable about resuming operations to and from Israel.

Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (Fatima Shbair/AP)

He added: That is obviously something that we want to do as soon as possible but we cannot say now when that is.

Mr Lundgren said the airline has not seen a reduction in demand for flights to other countries in the region, such as Egypt and Turkey.

He said: I think that this is very much a specific issue locally from the demand point of view.

On Wednesday, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic became the latest airlines to suspend flights between the UK and Israel.

British Airways flight BA165 returned to Heathrow after nearly reaching Tel Aviv before the decision was made.

There were reports Palestinian militant group Hamas fired multiple rockets towards Ben Gurion Airport.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay, when asked if there will be Government-sanctioned flights to bring back UK citizens, told Good Morning Britain: At the moment there are still commercial flights but of course the Foreign Office keeps these issues under review.
The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel on Saturday

Hamas and its allies were sent hundreds of millions of pounds worth of cryptocurrencies in the months before the terrorist groups attacks on Israel.

More than $134m (108m) was transferred to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by Hamas and the allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group during the first half of 2023, according to analysts.

Hamas launched a large-scale terrorist attack on Israel on Saturday, which has left more than a thousand people dead. Questions have been raised about how the group was able to organise and fund the complex attack.

Analysis of blockchain records shows around $93m (75m) of cryptocurrency was transferred to the PIJ alone between August 2021 and June this year, according to cryptocurrency analysis company Elliptic.

Hamas raised about $41m in crypto tokens over the past 18 months, according to figures from Tel Aviv-based crypto tracing company BitOK that were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Cryptocurrency has been used by Hamas and other terrorist organisations to evade global financial sanctions.

David Carlisle, vice president at Elliptic, said: Hamas has been among the most prolific, raising millions of dollars in crypto alongside other Palestinian militant groups.

In April Hamas announced it was suspending cryptocurrency donations, citing problems with the safety of donors.

A number of private companies and, increasingly, law enforcement agencies have become adept at tracing cryptocurrency payments through their blockchains, the public digital ledgers that record each transaction for tokens such as Bitcoin.

Israeli police said on Tuesday that they had frozen cryptocurrency accounts identified as belonging to Hamas.

A spokesman said: The Israel Police, Ministry of Defense, and other partners will continue the fight against terrorist financing and targeting the strategic financial assets of terrorist organizations.

Israeli police said they had also worked with their British counterparts to freeze a British bank account at Barclays, which they said was used by Hamas to solicit donations.

Barclays was asked for comment.

Hamas is a sanctioned terrorist organisation in the UK, US and EU, among other countries. It is illegal to provide the group with funding.
Two Jewish schools in north-west London are set to close temporarily because of safety fears after the crisis in Israel and Gaza, as ministers announced 3m for a charity that helps protect Jewish community sites.

The extra support for the Community Security Trust (CST) was announced after a roundtable discussion at Downing Street involving ministers, police and the charity, which recorded a quadrupling of antisemitic incidents in the UK since Hamass attack on Israel.

The meeting was chaired by the home secretary, Suella Braverman, who asked police chiefs to consider using their existing Section 14 powers under the Public Order Act where appropriate to prevent assemblies blocking roads, including outside Jewish monuments and buildings such as the Israeli embassy.

Related: Englands Jewish schools heighten security as antisemitic incidents quadruple

No 10 said the additional money  which brings the total funding for Jewish community protection for 2023-24 to 18m  would enable the CST to place additional guards at schools it supports and allow for additional security staff outside synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings when Jewish communities are marking the sabbath.

Rishi Sunak said: This is now the third deadliest terror attack in the world since 1970. The United Kingdom must and will continue to stand in solidarity with Israel.

No 10 also said that the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs Council would clarify guidance to commanders as they police protests over the weekend, when a number of demonstrations are planned.

The CST said it has recorded at least 89 anti-Jewish hate incidents from 7 October to 10 October. Tell Mama, a charity that monitors hate crime against British muslims, said it was deeply concerned after anti-Muslim cases reported to its service had tripled since the Hamas incursion on 7 October. The charity also said it was deeply concerned with the rise in antisemitic incidents.

The organisers of the annual Palestine Festival of Literature announced that a book launch that was due to take place on Thursday night in partnership with Amnesty International and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign would not be going ahead due to security concerns.

Ateres Beis Yaakov primary school in Colindale and Torah Vodaas primary school in Edgware reportedly told parents on Thursday evening that they would not reopen until Monday.

Rabbi Feldman, from Torah Vodaas, told parents in a letter that there was no specific threat to our school and that it was not a decision that has been taken lightly, Sky News reported.

The developments come after a major demonstration outside the Israeli embassy in London that prompted Braverman to write to police chiefs saying that waving a Palestinian flag and chanting pro-Arab songs could amount to a public order offence if it could be deemed to be in support of terror atrocities.

She said after the meeting: I have been clear with police chiefs in England and Wales that there can be zero tolerance for antisemitism, and that they should act immediately to crack down on any criminality  both in our streets and online.

Earlier on Thursday, the Metropolitan police published an open letter to Londons Jewish communities from the forces deputy commissioner, Dame Lynne Owens, in which she pledged support and solidarity.

Owens said that she understood why, after the Hamas attack on Israel, the sight of people outside the Israeli embassy waving flags, chanting, letting off flares, some with scarves across their faces would be interpreted as a direct statement of support for atrocities that took place.

But she added: The law on this is very clear, but it is also very specific and we have to act within it. What we cannot do is interpret support for the Palestinian cause more broadly as automatically being support for Hamas or any other proscribed group, even when it follows so soon after an attack carried out by that group and when to many the link seems indisputable.



An expression of support for the Palestinian people more broadly, including flying the Palestinian flag, does not, alone, constitute a criminal offence.

Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, meanwhile, visited a synagogue in north London, where he said there was a need to talk honestly about the impact on the UK from the attacks on Israel.
Almost 400,000 people left their jobs in social care in the year to March, with around of third of these exiting the sector altogether, according to a detailed annual report on the workforce which reveals a leaky bucket on staffing.

Skills for Care, which is the strategic workforce development and planning body for adult social care in England, said its projections suggest that in just over a decade from now, a quarter more posts in the sector will be needed.

In its annual State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report, published on Thursday, it said that equates to some 440,000 posts needed to keep in line with the projected number of people aged 65 and over in the population by 2035.

Skills for Care said it is working with a wide range of organisations and people who have a stake in social care to develop a workforce strategy for the sector identifying what is needed over the next 15 years, complementing the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan which was published earlier this year.

The organisation said the plan will aim to ensure the sector has enough of the right people with the right skills and will help employers and commissioners with their workforce planning.

Among its key findings were that an estimated 70,000 people arrived in the UK and started direct care-providing roles in the independent sector in the year to March, up from 20,000 the previous year.

The report noted that this was a substantial increase in international recruitment and came as employers relied more on international recruitment since care workers were placed on the Shortage Occupation List in February 2022.

It also said while care worker pay has increased at a faster rate since the introduction of the national living wage, there is very little difference in pay depending on experience.

On average, care workers with five or more years of experience in the sector were paid just six pence (0.6%) more per hour than care workers with less than one year of experience, the report said.

Adult social care is estimated to bring 55.7 billion per year to the economy in England, up by 8.5% from 2021/22, and greater than the economic contribution of the accommodation and food service industries, Skills for Care said.

Its report stated: Far from adult social care being a drain on resources, we are key to the economies of local communities and in economically deprived areas.

A report from Skills for Care in July had already noted that the workforce grew by 1% between April 2022 and March 2023, after shrinking for the first time on record the previous year, and that the vacancy rate fell to 9.9%  around 152,000 vacancies on any given day  from 10.6% the previous year.

Its latest report stated that the turnover rate across the sector was 28.3%, down slightly from 28.9% the previous year  meaning that around 390,000 people left their jobs.

Around a third of those people left the sector entirely.

In the latest financial year, the proportion of men working in the sector increased for the first time on record from 18% to 19%.

Just 8% of the workforce was aged under 25  compared with 12% of the economically active population.

A career in adult social care could mean something new every day. Find a job in your area now: https://t.co/mBVPuNHpyA #MadeWithCare pic.twitter.com/YsFLJjFJVI  Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) October 9, 2023

The report comes in the same week as the Government launched a recruitment campaign for the third year in a bid to help build the vital workforce.

Skills for Care chief executive Oonagh Smyth welcomed the green shoots for the sector with the workforce having grown slightly and the vacancy rate down.

But the challenges havent gone away, she added.

In particular, the fact that 390,000 people left their jobs in 2022/23 and around a third of them left the sector altogether shows that we have a leaky bucket that we urgently need to repair.

We cant simply recruit our way out of our retention challenges. So, we need a comprehensive workforce strategy to ensure we can both attract and keep enough people with the right skills to support everyone who draws on care and support  and all of us who will draw on care and support in the future.

Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers which represents trusts, welcomed the pledge to develop a new workforce strategy but said it must be accompanied by sustainable Government investment and support to ensure the sector can not only recruit but keep much-needed staff.

Both Care England, a representative body for independent adult social care providers, and the Health Foundation charity said while international recruitment is filling staff gaps, a new approach is needed.

Beverley Tarka, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass), said international recruitment has been a sticking plaster to the bigger problems of poor pay and working conditions in the sector and called on the next government to commit to a long-term, fully funded plan for social care.

A Government spokesperson insisted the action weve taken is growing the social care workforce and filling vacancies, meaning there is more capacity in the social care system than last year and said it is investing almost 2 billion over two years to help councils support the workforce.
Steph McGovern missed the start of her Channel 4 daytime show due to delays on her train journey to Leeds.

The 41-year-old presenter had been at the Attitude Awards in London on Wednesday night before travelling back to host Stephs Packed Lunch on Thursday.

She documented her delays in Instagram stories showing her in a LNER service alongside fellow presenter Ashley James.

Will @StephLunch make it to Leeds before the end of the show?   And, more importantly, can she get a refund on her train ticket? Money Saving Expert's @GarethRShaw has the answer #SimonsPackedLunch @simonrim pic.twitter.com/kk1cNuOPuD  Steph's Packed Lunch (@PackedLunchC4) October 12, 2023

McGovern said their train was running 90 minutes late before being terminated at Grantham, which is around 80 miles (130 km) from Leeds Dock  where Stephs Packed Lunch is filmed.

They then took a taxi  which they said had to be swapped out for another cab in Doncaster  while TV chef and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Simon Rimmer took on presenting the start of the programme.

Simon Rimmer stepped in and presented the Channel 4 show after Steph McGovern was delayed (Matt Crossick/PA)

Phoning into her show during the consumer affairs segment, she said: Im excited to be on Simons Packed Lunch, cant believe this We were coming up from London because I was at the Attitude Awards last night, great night. I didnt actually drink  or did I?

(I) jumped on the train this morning, I was on the 7.03 (service) and then not long into it, it stopped (and) came to a shuddering halt, I threw a coffee all over myself, a cold one, an ice one, so no injuries but I smell and Im damp.

The train stopped, an hour and a half later we still hadnt moved, we ended up getting booted off at Grantham our taxi driver had to stop because he had to pick up an old woman that he didnt want to let down so had to swap cars (and) were now on the final car on our way.

What I want to know is the compensation, man?

McGovern was told by Gareth Shaw, deputy editor of the MoneySavingExpert website, that she would be entitled to delay repay compensation.

According to Channel 4, McGovern arrived at 12.30pm after missing the first 30 minutes of her show.

Rimmer told audiences: Welcome back to Simons Packed Lunch before McGovern arrived and took over her show again.

A spokesperson for LNER said: Unfortunately, due to a fault with the signalling system earlier today, there has been disruption on the East Coast Main Line.

Our social media channels include information about this disruption, including an apology for any inconvenience caused.

Stephs Packed Lunch is on weekdays from midday on Channel 4.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced 3 million in extra funding to protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings in the UK in response to Hamas attacks in Israel.

The money will be given to the Community Security Trust (CST) after the group, which acts on the behalf of British Jews on matters of policing and racism, said it had recorded a 400% spike in antisemitic incidents in the UK since the weekends assault.

No 10 said the additional money will enable the CST to place additional guards at schools it supports and allow for additional security staff outside synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings when Jews are marking the sabbath.

Mr Sunak said: This is now the third deadliest terror attack in the world since 1970.

The United Kingdom must and will continue to stand in solidarity with Israel.

At moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe.

That is why we must do everything in our power to protect Jewish people everywhere in our country.

If anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. You have our complete backing.

It brings the total funding for Jewish community protection security for 2023-24 to 18 million.

The CST said it had recorded 139 antisemitic incidents, including assaults, in the past four days  a 400% increase on the same period in 2022.

The King held a private audience with the Chief Rabbi at Buckingham Palace to personally express his deep care and concern for the Jewish community in the UK who are suffering grief, fear and anguish, the palace said.

At a time when Jews around the world are grieving following the unspeakable evil perpetrated against loved ones in Israel, I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III for expressing in person his deep concern, and his support for the Jewish community. His words of comfort and pic.twitter.com/i8Yc9t9M1Y  Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (@chiefrabbi) October 12, 2023

Following the meeting, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who also met with Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday, said the Kings words offered strength to the Jewish community at this dark time.

Mr Sunak convened representatives from UK policing and the Jewish community with ministers at Downing Street on Thursday for discussions on policing protests.

The roundtable, chaired by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, comes ahead of expected protests and marches taking place across the UK this weekend.

No 10 said specific guidance will be provided to police on the beat on where and when to intervene.

It comes after Mrs Braverman wrote to police chiefs this week saying that waving a Palestinian flag and chanting pro-Arab songs could amount to a public order offence if it could be deemed to be in support of terror atrocities.

Englands mens players will wear black armbands during their friendly football match against Australia on Friday to remember the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine.

But the Football Association (FA) has been criticised for its weak response by a group representing the British Jewish community.

After the Bataclan massacre in 2015, when 90 were murdered at a Paris nightclub, La Marseillaise was played at every Premier League stadium the following weekend. The refusal to illuminate the Wembley Arches in solidarity with #Israel brings no credit to the @FA. Our statement: pic.twitter.com/tWyGp6JLUL  Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) October 12, 2023

The FA had faced calls to illuminate the Wembley arch in the colours of the Israeli flag before the game, but has opted for a period of silence instead, with captain Harry Kane and his teammates also wearing armbands.

Israeli or Palestinian flags will not be permitted into the ground, the FA has said.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews criticised the FA statement, pointing out that it made no mention of the mass terrorist murders of hundreds of innocent Israelis last Saturday.

With the conflict between Israel and Gaza worsening, the UK Government has organised flights to help British nationals leave Israel.

The first flight was expected to leave the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Thursday, the Foreign Office said, with further flights planned in the coming days subject to the security situation.

The UK has also sent a rapid deployment team to assist British citizens on the ground.

The Foreign Office, which has said family members of British diplomats are leaving Israel as a precautionary measure, has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Police are to receive guidance on patrolling protests and vigils, with more expected this weekend (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

Three Britons are confirmed dead, with at least 17 UK nationals reported to be either dead or missing, including children.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK has said at least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military, with reports suggesting a ground offensive into Gaza could be mobilised.

The embassy said it is understood those who travelled are reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces.

International aid groups have warned that deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the regions only power station ran out of fuel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

I've written to the Foreign Sec about the situation in the Middle East, and to call for urgent action to deliver humanitarian access and support to and from Gaza, echoing the @UN and @WHO. The Govt must redouble efforts that lead us to a secure Israel and a viable Palestine. pic.twitter.com/iTwVqMYXeL  Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) October 12, 2023

There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out.

Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has written to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly pushing for urgent action to deliver humanitarian access and support to and from Gaza following similar calls by the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.

The Foreign Office published a video on social media on Thursday of Mr Cleverly speaking during his visit to Israel.

The Cabinet minister said the UK supported Israels right to defend itself and right to recover the people who have been kidnapped.

He made no mention of the situation in Gaza during the 30-second clip.

Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel targets locations home to Palestinian civilians without warning, with Tel Aviv continuing to carry out retaliatory missile strikes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that every Hamas member is a dead man.
The Prime Minister says he is delighted an SNP MP has quit to join the Conservatives, with Humza Yousafs party calling for a by-election in her seat.

Dr Lisa Cameron said a toxic and bullying culture within the SNP group at Westminster had led to her switching sides, becoming the first MP of her party to join the Tories.

Her defection comes on the day she was facing a selection battle in her constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow.

An SNP minister had backed her opponent, Grant Costello.

Rishi Sunak said he was delighted by the switch (Joe Giddens/PA)

Dr Cameron claimed she was shunned by other SNP MPs at Westminster after challenging the support given to former chief whip Patrick Grady  who was suspended from the House of Commons and apologised in Parliament after being found to have acted inappropriately towards a party staffer.

She told the Scottish Daily Mail newspaper: I do not feel able to continue in what I have experienced as a toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group, which resulted in my requiring counselling for a period of 12 months in Parliament and caused significant deterioration in my health and wellbeing as assessed by my GP, including the need for antidepressants.

I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrators interests over that of the victims and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.

She praised Mr Sunaks positive leadership, saying it contrasted to that of the SNP group.

Dr Lisa Cameron said Scottish independence had led to division within families (Richard Townshend/UK Parliament)

Dr Cameron also said the SNPs founding cause of Scottish independence had led to significant division in families like hers.

Her change of party comes days before the SNP conference in Aberdeen and follows the partys significant by-election loss in Rutherglen and Hamilton West last week.

Mr Sunak reacted to her decision saying: I am delighted that Lisa Cameron has decided to join the Conservatives. She is a brave and committed constituency MP.

Lisa is right that we should aim to do politics better, with more empathy and less division and a dedication to always doing what we think is right.

Wow! Welcome aboard @DrLisaCameron. As the SNP continues to implode, this is another signal that @ScotTories are making gains at their expense. https://t.co/2IvaaAKkgk  Murdo Fraser (@murdo_fraser) October 12, 2023

I look forward to working with her on the disability issues she has championed so passionately in Parliament.

An SNP spokeswoman said her constituents would be appalled that they now had a Conservative MP.

She said: Lisa Cameron should now do the right thing and step down to allow a by-election.

Her constituents elected an SNP MP not a Tory, and they deserve to have the democratic opportunity to elect a hard-working SNP MP who will put the interests of Scotland first.

On a personal basis, we wish her well.

In the 2019 election, Dr Cameron took 46.4% of the vote as an SNP candidate, with Labour winning 22.7% and the Conservatives 21.2%.

Dr Cameron is a clinical psychologist and has previously been the SNPs spokeswoman on mental health matters.

Conservative MP John Lamont posted a warm welcome to his new colleague on Twitter, while Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: As the SNP continues to implode, this is another signal that @ScotTories are making gains at their expense.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said he looked forward to working with Dr Cameron.

He said: Like many ex-SNP supporters, she has realised that her former party is hopelessly divided under Humza Yousaf and incapable of focusing on the real priorities of the Scottish people.

Lisa took a principled stand in supporting the victim in the Patrick Grady case, when her party took the side of the disgraced MP. For doing so, she has been shamefully and inexplicably mistreated by the SNP.

Labours shadow Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, said: This bizarre move shows that the SNP is falling apart before our eyes.

The fact is that the SNP and the Tories are two sides of the same coin  putting the cause of division before the needs of the people.

While the SNP and Tories compete to out-do each other in incompetence, Labour is focused on rebuilding our country and getting Britain its future back.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have condemned all acts of terrorism and brutality amid the growing Israel-Hamas war.

Harry and Meghan stopped short of singling out sides in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website and vowed to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region.

The Foreign Office has said family members of British diplomats are leaving Israel as a precautionary measure.

The war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building levelled in an Israeli airstrike at Al Shati Refugee Camp (Fatima Shbair/AP)

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted Israel has the right to do everything it can to rescue hostages in Gaza.

Asked on Good Morning Britain on ITV if he has fears over the level of Israels retaliation in Gaza and concerns there may be breaches of international law, Mr Barclay said: We think international law obviously should be followed and civilian casualties should be minimised.

But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.

International aid groups said deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the regions only power station ran out of fuel.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex condemned all acts of terrorism and brutality (PA)

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

The Sussexes statement came a day after the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales condemned the barbaric acts and appalling horrors inflicted in Hamass attack on Israel.

Under the title With Heavy Hearts, the statement on Harry and Meghans Archewell site read: At the Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

We are supporting our partners and organisations on the front lines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.

A vigil outside Downing Street for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks (PA)

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: We are temporarily drawing down dependants of staff at our embassy in Tel Aviv and our consulate in Jerusalem as a precautionary measure and in line with our travel advice, which advises against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Our embassy and consulate remain fully staffed and continues to provide consular services to those who require assistance.

Former head of MI6 Sir Alex Younger urged Israel not to do what your enemy wants and said its intense retaliation could end up creating more terrorists.

Sir Alex, speaking on BBC Radio 4s The Today Podcast, said: Its really obvious now that Hamas are essentially laying a trap for Israel and will be well pleased if Israel commits itself to an open-ended, full-scale ground invasion of Gaza.

Because of the scale and intensity of conflict that that would entail and the loss of innocent life that would inevitably follow, and the radicalisation that would engender and the extent to which it would put Israels allies and partners in the region in an impossible position.

He added: You cannot kill all the terrorists without creating more terrorists.

And military operations of this kind very, very rarely succeed outside some kind of political strategy.

Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Thursday (Hatem Ali/AP)

Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters on Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if decided but the political leadership has not yet ordered one.

Concerns remain for the safety of British citizens in the region, with reports that 17 UK nationals are either dead or missing, including children.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that another Briton died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

Jake Marlowe, 26, is among three known to have died. He was originally recorded as missing but was confirmed dead by the Israeli embassy in London.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was invaded by Hamas gunmen, reportedly killing at least 260 people.

In the UK, antisemitic incidents have increased by more than 300% since Hamass attack on Israel, according to a Jewish security group.

The Community Security Trust, which represents British Jews on issues of racism and policing, said it recorded 89 incidents between October 7-10 classed as anti-Jewish hate.

It said it marked a 324% rise on the 21 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year.
UK holidaymakers and travellers who left their cars at Luton Airport have been left in limbo after a vehicle fire caused a car park to collapse.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received a report of a car fire on level three of the airports Terminal Car Park 2 at 8.47pm on Tuesday.

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said up to 1,500 vehicles were inside the car park at the time of the fire.

The scene at Luton Airport after a fire ripped through level three of the airports Terminal Car Park 2, causing it to collapse (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Katie Forbes, 42, who lives on the outskirts of Coventry, had travelled to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands with her husband, daughter and her daughters boyfriend, due to return on Friday.

Having parked their car in Car Park 2, the group have been forced to hire a car for their return, with no information regarding the state of their vehicle.

Ms Forbes told the PA news agency: Ive had no joy with Luton. Ive heard nothing back, Ive been tweeting them, everything, and nothing.

I get it, theyre getting other people that are going to the airport, but to me theres been no apology, not once has anybody said were sorry about the situation.

Were kind of left in limbo.

Katie Forbes, pictured with her husband Adrian, said they had been left in limbo (Katie Forbes/PA)

Ms Forbes added her daughter had left her own car keys in the parked car as well, and said the incident had had a negative impact on their holiday.

Its hard to do anything, you cant relax around the pool because youre constantly looking at your phone to see have they emailed, have we got an update? Theres just been nothing.

An apology goes a long way, its not an admission of guilt, its an Im sorry youre in this situation even if they cant help.

Thomas Willett, 29, a content manager for a real estate firm, from Essex, had travelled to Gran Canaria with his partner, arriving on Tuesday evening.

Having parked their car on the third floor of Terminal Car Park 2, he said he believes others are being taken care of instead of those looking to confirm the state of their vehicle.

I received an email from Luton Airport Parking on Wednesday at 2am telling us to email them to get information about our car, Mr Willett told PA.

A London Luton Airport spokesperson thanked customers for their patience (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

I have since emailed them three times and contacted them on Twitter over the course of Wednesday and (Thursday) but have heard nothing.

We dont know if our car has been damaged or not, or how we will be getting home from the airport.

Their duty of care should be to those whose vehicles have been impacted, but they seem to be replying to everyone else with other queries instead.

Mr Willett is due to return home on Sunday but said: Currently, we have no means of getting back home.

Lucy Lynam, a 42-year-old accountant from Hertfordshire, said she is none the wiser about the state of her car and is expecting the worst.

Lucy Lynam said she is none the wiser about the state of her car (Lucy Lynam/PA)

Ms Lynam parked her car on Tuesday morning, as she had to attend a conference in Majorca, and first heard about the fire on Tuesday evening.

However, she praised Luton Airports communication, adding she had been emailed a couple of times with updates.

She told PA: Im parked on level 2 against the perimeter fence (facing row C), nearest the apron, which, from the videos, seems where the bulk of the damage has happened.

However, Im still none the wiser as to the state of my car. I would appreciate more information as to where the fire started based on a map view, maybe with a plan of row letters etc so I can estimate the likelihood of the level of damage to my car.

Im expecting the worst.

She said she regularly uses her car to transport her two children, but added that Luton Airport has been good at communicating with her about updates.

I can only imagine theyre operating in crisis mode behind the scenes, she said.

Theyve emailed me a couple of times with updates and whilst theres little specific info around my individual vehicle, theyve kept me up to date.

Izabela and her husband Dawid in Lanzarote before the fire at Luton airport (Izabela/PA)

Izabela, a 34-year-old beauty therapist in Willenhall, told PA she felt massive shock upon learning that Luton car park was on fire as she believes her car has been burnt.

Izabela had boarded the plane to return from a holiday in Lanzarote with her husband Dawid when the pilot announced that there was an incident at Luton Airport and the flight had been cancelled.

Izabela, who did not wish to share her surname, said we dont know nothing about our car, which contained a laptop, house keys and other items.

She said the situation was a nightmare and added: Without the car, what are we supposed to do now?

A London Luton Airport spokesperson said: We understand the distress this incident has caused for our car parking customers, and we recognise many are anxious for answers.

We are working hard to provide those answers as quickly as possible, though this will take some time.

We would like to thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.
A digital marketing student was knifed to death by another undergraduate who stole cannabis worth 1,000 from him during a row inside a hall of residence, a jury has heard.

Melvin Lebaga-Idubor is alleged to have stabbed 19-year-old Kwabena Osei-Poku in the neck on a street near the University of Northamptons campus, before fleeing to Paris on a Eurostar service.

Lebaga-Idubor, originally from Barking in east London, and fellow student Ogechi Eke, who is alleged to have assisted and encouraged the killing, both deny the murder of Mr Osei-Poku and possession of a weapon in a public place.

Opening the Crowns case on Thursday, prosecutor Vanessa Marshall KC claimed the men, both aged 19, are jointly responsible for killing Mr Osei-Poku, originally from Peterborough.

Lebaga-Idubors 19-year-old girlfriend Zhanae Forbes-Coleman, from Edmonton in north London but who was also a first-year student at the University of Northampton, denies perverting the course of justice by providing him with a change of clothing and booking him a taxi to London.

In her opening speech, Ms Marshall told the court: It is the prosecution case that the defendants Mr Eke and Mr Lebaga-Idubor are jointly responsible for the murder of Kwabena Osei-Poku on the evening of 23rd April, just off the campus at Northampton University, on New South Bridge Road.

He was stabbed not once but twice by Mr Lebaga-Idubor, the fatal injury being a stab wound to the neck.

Mr Eke was present when the fatal stab wound was inflicted and, the prosecution say, jointly participated in the offence.

The Crowns barrister added: The background to this killing is a dispute about drugs.

You will hear how minutes before the fatal stabbing, these two defendants (Lebaga-Idubor and Eke) stole a large quantity of cannabis from the deceased.

After alleging that Lebaga-Idubor was seen holding a folded knife in the kitchen of a hall of residence where the victims girlfriend lived, Ms Marshall said of Forbes-Coleman: It is the prosecution case that she arranged to take Mr Lebaga-Idubor a change of clothing to a nearby property, where he was lying low.

Forbes-Coleman, the jury was told, is then alleged to have made arrangements for Lebaga-Idubor to travel by taxi to London, from where he travelled by train to Paris.

Photos of Kwabena Osei-Poku released by his family after his death (Northamptonshire Police/PA)

Eke, from Enfield in north London, was described during the Crowns opening speech as probably the most popular drug-dealer on campus.

Ms Marshall said Lebaga-Idubor was the principal defendant, having allegedly stabbed the victim intending to cause death or at least really serious harm, while she claimed Eke was a secondary party who had assisted or encouraged Mr Lebaga-Idubor from start to finish.

During the argument in a communal kitchen minutes before the stabbing, Lebaga-Idubor is alleged to have demanded that a quantity of Californian wedding cake cannabis be weighed.

Part of the dispute was filmed by a witness on a mobile phone, the court heard, capturing some of what was said.

According to the witness account, Ms Marshall said, Lebaga-Idubor was heard to say: This is my strip. What are you doing strutting drugs around here? Our line is here.

The jury was also told the victim, known by the nickname KP, had been suspended or excluded by the university in November or December last year, but had been allowed back in February this year.

The motivation for the killing, Ms Marshall said, was to scare KB off from dealing at the university, to steal his drugs, or a combination of both motives.

The trial continues.
Korea's state-run energy company said Thursday it is taking a step closer to winning a project worth around 2.5 trillion won ($1.87 billion) to refurbish an aging nuclear reactor in Romania's Cernavoda power plant through a consortium with Canadian and Italian firms.

The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed a tripartite consortium agreement with Canada's Candu Energy Inc. and Italy's Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. to jointly conduct a project to refurbish Cernavoda's unit 1 reactor.

The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of Romania's nuclear energy company SNN, or Nuclearelectrica, in the capital city of Bucharest on Thursday (local time), the company said.

Located some 170 kilometers east of Bucharest, the unit with a capacity of 700 megawatts has been in operation since 1996 and its 30-year operating license is supposed to expire in 2026.

The Romanian government has sought to renew the license for an additional 30 years and SNN plans to upgrade and replace key components starting in 2027, the KHNP said.

Under the agreement, the KHNP will lead the construction part of the project, including building radioactive waste storage and other infrastructure, while Candu and Ansaldo will take charge of the engineering and procurement work as original designers of the unit.

"The three companies will begin preparations for negotiations with SNN about the envisioned project," the KHNP said. "The three companies seek to sign a contract with the Romanian entity within the first half of next year."

If signed, the envisioned contract will be the second large-scale export of nuclear power facilities for the Yoon Suk Yeol government after Korea won a 3 trillion-won deal in August 2022 to build Egypt's first nuclear power plant project in El Dabaa.

The Yoon administration reversed the nuclear phase-out policy of the preceding government and set a target of exporting 10 nuclear power reactors by 2030.

In June, the KHNP won a 260 billion-won deal to build a tritium removal facility at the Cernavoda plant. (Yonhap)
A Virgin company has won a High Court fight with an American train operator which pulled out of a deal after alleging the Virgin brand had stopped being a brand of international high repute.

Virgin Enterprises said Brightline Holdings was in breach of a trademark licence agreement.

Brightline disputed Virgin Enterprises claim.

A judge on Thursday ruled in favour of Virgin Enterprises.

Judge Mark Pelling said, in a written ruling, that Brightline had failed to prove issues it had to prove.

The judge, who oversaw a High Court hearing in the Rolls Building, in London, in July, indicated that decisions about damages would be made at a later date.

He was told that Virgin Enterprises wanted around 200 million damages.

The case was being heard at the Rolls Building in London (Steve Parsons/PA)

The deal meant that Brightline would rebrand its rail services in the US as Virgin Trains USA, Judge Pelling heard.

He heard that Virgin Enterprises was part of the Virgin Group, founded by businessman Sir Richard Branson, and managed intellectual property relating to the Virgin brand.

Virgin Enterprises had alleged that Brightline had breached a 2018 trademark licence agreement, said the judge.

He said Virgin Enterprises had agreed to license the Virgin Brand to Brightline for use in connection with its rail services business on the east coast of the USA.

Brightline argued that it was entitled to terminate.

The judge said Brightlines defence was that a clause entitled it to terminate if the Virgin brand had ceased to be a brand of international high repute.

A Virgin company has won a High Court fight with an American train operator (Peter Byrne/PA)

Lawyers representing Brightline, which, the judge said, was registered in Delaware and operated a train service between Miami and Orlando, had outlined concerns about Virgins train and airline businesses, at the hearing.

They said by the end of 2019, Brightline was becoming concerned about the reputation of the Virgin brand.

In April 2019, Virgin Trains was disqualified from bidding for a renewal of the West Coast mainline train franchise; it operated no trains in the UK after December 7 2019, they said.

Not long after the announcement that Virgin Trains had been disqualified, investors started to express concerns about Brightlines links with Virgin.

Lawyers representing Virgin Enterprises had said Brightlines allegation  that the Virgin brand had stopped being a brand of international high repute  was cynical and spurious.

Judge Pelling said: I conclude that Brightline has failed to prove any of the issues it had to prove if it was to succeed in its defence and for that reason the claim succeeds.

Judge Pelling said Brightline had failed to prove that the brand had ceased to be a brand of international high repute on relevant dates.

He added: Although it was suggested by Brightline that its standing with consumers was damaged by its continued association with Virgin, there is no evidence that is so.

The judge said there was no evidence which demonstrated Brightlines brand equity had been damaged.
Comments made by an SNP councillor in Aberdeen accused of racism have been branded unacceptable by the First Minister.

Humza Yousaf said Kairin van Sweeden was right to apologise for her comments made during an Aberdeen City Council meeting on Wednesday, where she described Labour councillor Deena Tissera as a new Scot.

Councillor Tissera, who was born in Sri Lanka and holds full British citizenship, has since written to the Fist Minister urging him to suspend Ms van Sweeden and stand together against racism.

Ms Van Sweeden has since apologised for the clumsy language, which has been dismissed by Mr Yousaf.

He told the PA news agency on Thursday: It was unacceptable. I saw the comment this morning. Its unacceptable and the councillor is right to apologise.

In fact, I also want to apologise to councillor Tissera who was on the receiving end of that comment.

There will now be a process around a potential disciplinary. Ill not interfere in that process.

Referencing Ms Van Sweedens apology, he said: It wasnt just clumsy. It speaks to the unconscious bias and discrimination that people hold and we all have to challenge ourselves  we all have it  but we have to challenge ourselves about it.

But theres just no kind of place for that language. I saw the comments and I was thoroughly disappointed.

The remark came during a debate on austerity on Wednesday afternoon, with Van Sweeden saying: I realise, as a new Scot, councillor Tissera maybe doesnt know about the mitigation that the SNP Government has had to put in over the years they have been in power.

The SNP councillor later apologised in the chamber following objections by other councillors. She later said: I unreservedly apologise for the clumsy language I used in the chamber and the offence it caused.

It could not be further from the values I hold.

But in her letter to the First Minister, Ms Tissera said she would refer the matter to the Standards Commission, adding: The innuendo of her comments were that I had just come off the boat as a new Scot  her words not mine  I am not as Scottish as others and I did not understand Scotland like her and the SNP group, this being despite the SNP council leader being of French descent and myself holding a United Kingdom passport.

All leaders must stand up against racism and words are easy but it is actions that are required.

She added: First Minister, it is incumbent on us to stand together against racism and, as such, I call on you to act in this matter and act by suspending councillor Van Sweeden.

The letter was also sent to SNP chief executive Murray Foote.
PHOENIX (AP)  The four sons of Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen are scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Wednesday's Game 3 of the NL Division Series, in honor of their mom Nicole Hazen, who died from brain cancer in 2022.

Hazen's four sons are Charlie (17), John (16), Teddy (15) and Sam (13).

Nicole Hazen was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2020 and fought the disease for more than two years. She was 45 when she died.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo  who has worked with Hazen for the past several years  said during Wednesday's pregame press conference that it would be an emotional moment.

Those are some special kids, Lovullo said. "Those four children have had to go through a lot. It's hard for me to talk about. But to see them, the way I get the chance to see them, as often as I do, and them coming out the other end the best they can  Mike's been an unbelievable mother and father.

The Diamondbacks came into Wednesday's leading the best-of-five series against the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0. It's the first playoff game at Chase Field since 2017 and a sellout has already been announced.

Mike Hazen, 47, has been with the Diamondbacks since 2016. He recently received a new contract through 2028 that includes a club option for 2029.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
UPDATE (Oct. 13, 2023): Karl Holmberg has been charged in connection with this shooting. What follows is a revised version of this story.



PRINCETON, Minn.  A suspect has been taken into custody hours after a shooting that injured five officers in Minnesota's Benton County Thursday morning.

According to the Benton County Sheriff's Office, all five shot are members of the Sherburne County Drug Task Force. They are all expected to survive.

"This has been a difficult day. And we are grateful that the incident did not result in further injury or in loss of life," Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said. "We are also grateful for the bravery and professionalism of all the law enforcement personnel involved in this incident."

The suspect is 64-year-old Karl Holmberg, authorities said, who was formally charged Friday.

Heck says the task force members were confronted by the suspect while executing a search warrant near the intersection of 190th Avenue Northeast and Glendorado Road Northeast in Glendorado Township. The township is located just west of Princeton.

/ Credit: WCCO

The officers exchanged fire with the suspect during the initial confrontation around 7 a.m., officials said. Around 10:45 a.m., the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect was injured and transported from the scene for treatment.

"We don't know at this point the extent or cause of his injuries," Heck said.

Of the five officers injured, three were from the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, one was from the Princeton Police Department and another was from the Elk River Police Department. Heck said two of the Sherburne County deputies were shot in bulletproof vests and have since been released from the hospital. The other three officers suffered gunshot wounds, but Heck did not say where they were shot. Their injuries are described as non-life threatening.

Heck said he could not identify the officers because "all were working in an undercover capacity."

Heck says deputies from his department were also at the scene during the incident, but were not injured. Multiple other agencies assisted, as well.

"We had people coming from all over," Heck said. "When there's a need in this community in law enforcement, people come."

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.

"This is still a very active scene and there is still a lot of information we don't know," Special Agent Michelle Frascone said.

Sky4 helicopter footage showed a person being loaded into an armored vehicle around 11 a.m., it has yet to be confirmed if that was the suspect.

Neighbors react

Neighbors WCCO spoke with said they are in shock that this happened so close to home.

"I woke up and there was an alert saying that there was a shooting in the area and I looked it up and it's right across the street pretty much," Kelly Moos said. "It's kind of scary. My kids were getting on the bus at the time."

Neighbors also said hearing several law enforcement officers were shot is a wake-up call for the mostly quiet township.

"It's pretty sad because we support the men and women in blue," Mike Mago said. "Prayers go out to the police officers and their families for sure. I'm hoping everything turns out well for them."

Sky4 footage key moments

At around 10:15 a.m., a person in a red robe is seen approaching law enforcement outside the property and raising their arms. They head back to the residence shortly later.

At around 10:45 p.m., what appears to be the same person without a robe is seen sitting outside the house. The person then appears to get up before being hit by a non-lethal projectile, which sprays green mist into the air.

Sky4 footage shows what appears to be a person being hit by a non-lethal projectile, which sprays green mist after contacting the individual. / Credit: WCCO

Just after 10:50 a.m., an individual was loaded into an armed vehicle and taken to a helicopter.

NEW photo of an injured individual being loaded into an armored vehicle before being whisked away to a nearby chopper for medical attention.



At least five officers have been shot in Glendorado township in rural Benton County.



Follow @wcco for the latest. pic.twitter.com/JEmDhrAqNw  Guy Still (@mplstvguy) October 12, 2023

WCCO crews noted the presence of sheriff's deputies from Benton and Sherburn counties, as well as Minnesota State Patrol squads. SWAT vehicles have also been seen at the scene, and there is at least one helicopter monitoring the area.

Glendorado Township is located about 60 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Minnesota governor calls the incident "horrific"

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz released a statement shortly after 2 p.m.:

"Today there was a horrific incident in Benton County where five officers were shot. Thankfully no one was killed and the suspect is now in custody. My thoughts are with the officers as they recover, and we're keeping in close touch with the local authorities."

MPPOA reacts to shooting of 5 officers

Following the news of five officers shot, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association released a statement.

"Today five police officers were shot & injured in Benton Co, near Princeton, MN. Please pray for the officers and their families as they undergo medical treatment. Today's injuries once again illustrate the increased and grave danger posed to law enforcement & communities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the responding officers, for answering the call in the face of danger and putting their lives on the line to help victims of crime and to keep the public safe."

Local officers killed in 2023 shootings

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, there was one officer killed by gunfire in Minnesota so far in 2023. Pope County, Minnesota Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Owen was killed in a shootout in April. Another deputy and a Starbuck police officer were also shot, but survived.

There have been four officers killed by gunfire in Wisconsin this year. In February, Police Officer Peter Jerving was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect in the Milwaukee metro area. In April, Hunter Scheel of Cameron and Emily Breidenbach of Chetek were killed in a shootout after serving a warrant at a traffic stop, and Deputy Kaitie Leising, 29, was responding to a call about a potential drunk driver in a ditch in May when "gunfire was exchanged" and she was killed.

Just across the border in Fargo, North Dakota, 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat, shot and killed Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin and wounded officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes as they responded to a routine traffic crash on July 14.

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Alabama Barker is getting real about her experience dealing with internet haters.

The 17-year-old aspiring musician, who is the daughter of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, responded to a social media user who asked how she is able to stay so positive when receiving so much criticism on the internet.

Im not going to sit here & lie and say its easy and to keep pushing, Alabama wrote in an Instagram Story shared on Wednesday, October 11. It gets very challenging especially when they dont know you. I feel very misunderstood!

She continued, People are going to hate regardless  you need not to feed into it, you wont benefit from it! Keep your peace protected.

Back to School Bliss! Kourtney K. and Travis Gear Up for Fall With the Kids

Blending their families! Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have been spending time with each others kids since they started dating, from beach trips to Memorial Day celebrations. The couple, who went public with their relationship in January 2021, initially became close because of their children. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star shares Mason, Penelope []

Alabama later offered further advice, writing, Dont entertain what people say about you, if you know yourself & your morals & your intentions, nothing else matters.

Last month, Alabama admitted that she sometimes feels tempted to respond to internet trolls.

Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Capitol Music Group

Sometimes I find myself wanting to clap back, she wrote on September 3. Bark at everyone who bites at me. But then I look at those people, like really look at them  what kind of life theyre living. The choice theyre making. The things they do compared to do I am, what I do & how I live. And that, itself keeps me humble.

She concluded the post by saying, Misery loves company but were cut from different cloths, made from different sauces. Stay blessed, wish them well and remind yourself that the evil-hearted never win.

Travis Barker Best Dad Moments Over the Years 28

Travis Barkers time with his kids! The Blink-182 drummer became a dad in 2003 and has been showing off his sweet bond with his little ones ever since. The rocker was married to Shanna Moakler when their son, Landon, was born, followed by daughter Alabama in 2005. The California native also acted as a stepfather []

Alabama has battled internet trolls on multiple occasions. In February 2022, the then-16-year-old defended a TikTok she made with her shirtless dad.

When one user said her song choice of as Kalan.FrFr and Bino Rideauxs Tell Me was strange, the teen replied, Yall do to fkin much stop trying to make st weird. Worry about yourself its old.

More recently, in August, Alabama opened up about her autoimmune disease after receiving criticism about her body. I would love to see you guys getting random pictures taken of you when youre leaving the grocery store, [speaking in] the middle of a sentence and your mouth wide open and lets see how beautiful you look, she said in a TikTok.

She added that several factors out of her control, including a thyroid problem and autoimmune disease contributed to her weight gain.

Feuding family. Shanna Moakler and her two children with ex Travis Barker are no strangers to butting heads on social media. The former pageant queen gave birth to son Landon and daughter Alabama in 2003 and 2005, respectively. She and the Blink 182 rocker went on to briefly split in 2006 after two years of []

Alabama has also defended her choice to pursue rap music.

Im tired of people saying I dont know anything about rap music, I wasnt raised around rap music, I wasnt anything, she said in a since-deleted TikTok in May. So, lets take a little field day into my life because you guys know it so well.

Since I could walk, I was in the music industry, Alabama continued. I was watching my dad perform in punk bands, rock bands, in rap concerts, everything. So, for the people that say, Oh, she doesnt know anything about rap music. She didnt grow up around rap music. Why is she doing this? Why is she doing that? Ive been influenced by rap my entire upbringing and punk rock.
Two of Israels cabinet ministers were heckled during hospital visits to see the wounded as anger mounted in the country amid an escalation of the ongoing war between prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government and Hamas militants.

Israels environment minister Idit Silman was forced to return from a hospital after anguished residents accused the government of ruining the country.

Ms Silman had come to visit those who were receiving treatment at the Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Tzrifin in central Israel after the deadly attack by Hamas and was seen talking to a family member outside when the situation became heated, forcing her to return.

Youve ruined this country! Get out of here! an unidentified person told her.

Another person in scrubs said: "Its our turn to stand together  left and right  and help without you. Youve destroyed our country. Leave!"

How are you not ashamed to wage another war? he added.

Economy minister Nir Barkat also faced angry crowds when he visited the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv to meet the injured.

Mr Barkat was seen standing and listening as frustrated family members confronted him. You understand where you brought us to? a man asked. Can you see what is happening to us?

He was also heckled during the funeral of the son of former economy minister Izhar Shai. The brother of Yaron Shai said the government should be ashamed for opening the doors with its debased actions to Hamas, according to The Times of Israel.

The death toll in Israel has crossed 1,200, including 189 soldiers, and more than 1,100 people have been killed in Gaza in Israels retaliatory air strikes.

More than 2.3 million Palestinians who live in the densely packed Gaza City were plunged into darkness after the territorys only power station ran out of fuel and shut down.

Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip on Monday (AP)

The Israeli government on Monday even halted the entry of food, water, fuel, and medicine into the territory where nearly half of the population is children.

Pressure was mounting on Israeli authorities to confirm the fate of those missing following Hamass attack on an Israeli settlement after breaching the borders.

Iris Haggai Liniado, who lives in Singapore, told Israeli newspaper Haaretz that her parents have been missing since Saturday and it is believed that they were kidnapped by Hamas militants. But they have received no word or confirmation on their whereabouts from the authorities.

She expressed frustration with the Israeli government and said: "It feels very crazy to me that the Israelis who are hurt and broken right now are doing all the work.

We all gave to this country. We all served in the army, we all pay a crazy amount of taxes, and we live in our country where our paychecks dont support the cost of living, she said.

The only thing we believed that our government was good for was keeping us safe and helping us when we were in distress. But even that wasnt true.

Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to crush and destroy Hamas and said every member of the organisation was a dead man.

He issued the dire warning in a televised address and said atrocities took place during the Hamas attacks. He claimed boys and girls were bound and shot in the head, people burned alive, women raped, and soldiers beheaded.

Mr Netanyahu joined with a top political rival on Wednesday to create a wartime cabinet to oversee Israels retaliation against Hamas, with hundreds of thousands of Israeli troops amassed at Gazas border in preparation for a potential ground attack on the besieged enclave.
The Arizona Diamondbacks celebrated their sweep over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series on Wednesday night the only way they know how  with a pool party.

For the second time in less than two weeks, the D-backs took their postgame party to the right field pool at Chase Field, doing cannonballs, this time after advancing to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2007.

The infamous pool was cleaned ahead of Wednesday's 4-2 win in anticipation of a D-backs victory. And the team made it worthwhile.

The D-backs last swam in the pool after clinching a playoff berth on Sept. 30, after a loss to the Houston Astros.

The Diamondbacks celebrate in the pool after beating the Dodgers 4-2 in Game 3 of the NL Division Series at Chase Field.

Last week, Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said that the team would not prevent the Dodgers from celebrating in Chase Field's pool  as they had at times in the past  if the Dodgers won the series in either Game 3 or Game 4.

No, Hall said last Friday. The rivalry was strong and thriving then, which is a good thing. I think looking back it's all in good fun. And it's a completely different group of guys here on the other side as well.

In 2013, the Dodgers clinched the NL West with a win over the D-backs at Chase Field and celebrated by jumping into the pool to the dismay of the Diamondbacks, adding fuel to the rivalry. Since then, the D-backs have tried to prevent the Dodgers from doing it again.

This time around, Arizona got the last laugh. And it might not be the last of the pool parties this October.

Its always pool party season in AZ.  pic.twitter.com/iERXHWE3Uq  Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 12, 2023

The Diamondbacks move on to the NLCS to play the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies-Atlanta Braves series beginning Monday night, with a chance to advance to the World Series for the first time since they won it all in 2001.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diamondbacks celebrate NLDS sweep over Dodgers with a pool party
The Biden administration is still searching for concrete details about the condition of the handful of Americans believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, including exactly how many the terror group may be holding captive in Gaza, or if they are currently being held together in one place, a US official told CNN.

National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby told reporters Wednesday that, of the 17 known Americans unaccounted for in Israel at this time, the number believed held hostage by Hamas is very small like less than a handful.

Many of those unaccounted for Americans are thought to be dual Israeli-American citizens. Israeli authorities believe up to 150 total hostages are being held in Gaza.

As the Biden administration continues its work to support Israel and move military assets into the region, US officials across the government are furiously working behind the scenes to piece together an accurate picture on the ground. That includes figuring out how many Americans are being held hostage in Gaza and what can be done about it.

This isnt just like any other typical hostage situation, this is an active war zone, Kirby told CNNs Jim Sciutto on Wednesday. And so getting granular information that you can act on is going to be that much harder and the risks will be that much higher for any attempt to recover them.

In remarks to a roundtable with members of the Jewish community at the White House Wednesday, President Joe Biden pledged the full force of his administrations commitment to rescuing hostages, saying that while were working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, if he relayed in detail what steps the administration was taking, I wouldnt be able to get them home.

Folks, theres a lot were doing a lot were doing, I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home, Biden said. But the idea that Im going to stand here before you and tell you what Im doing is bizarre, so I hope you understand how bizarre I think it would be to try to answer that question.

President Joe Biden speaks about the war between Israel and Hamas, as Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken listen, Oct. 10, 2023. - Evan Vucci/AP

Further complicating the situation, US officials say, is that Hamas consists of numerous and often competing subgroups and militias that all operate in Gaza. Before the US can put together a plan to recover hostages, officials first have to figure out which of those Hamas sub-groups may be holding them, and for what reason.

Its just not clear yet why the hostages were taken. And exactly by who? said Phil Andrew, co-founder of Pax Group and former FBI hostage negotiator. Are these little gangs or groups that are not part of the main infrastructure. Were they taken to negotiate? We dont know yet. That all affects how we deal with this. We cant make assumptions just yet.

FBI hostage negotiators in Israel

The US is working closely with Israel to recover hostages in Gaza, with FBI and Pentagon personnel on the ground in Israel providing support to Israeli special operators.

An interagency team of US officials from the State Department, National Security Council, and FBI is receiving input from all over about the Americans who are missing or deceased in Israel, the US official said. Family members and friends have reached out to the embassy about loved ones, and that information has been compiled alongside work that the FBI has been doing.

Relatives of citizens missing since Saturday's attack by Hamas near the Gaza border, in Tel Aviv, Israel attend a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. - Maya Alleruzzo/AP

FBI hostage negotiators and agents, some working in Israel and others in field offices around the US, have been assisting in that effort, according to U.S. law enforcement officials involved in the matter.

These include members of the FBIs Critical Incident Response Group, which has extensive experience in helping to resolve hostage incidents, including in war zones from Afghanistan to Iraq and across the Middle East. Negotiators and agents are talking to family members, getting proof of life information that can be used in the investigation and for possible questions to be asked if hostage takers reach out.

The agents are prepping family members in case that phone call comes in or text message from the hostage-takers or from their family member who is being held, one official said. Thats hugely important, they have to know what to say if they get that call.

US intelligence agencies are also trying to assist in helping to determine how hostages were taken, in part by tracking any cell phone signals and social media images that have been made public.

The US official familiar with the efforts say the administration is working through phone calls coming into the US embassy in Israel, the FBI and the White House from family and friends of Americans believed to be missing.

Some of these phone calls have been based on eye-witness accounts of people being taken by Hamas. But one challenge has been trying to verify second-hand accounts, the first US official said.

The government has been in touch with the next-of-kin of any American they are aware of as being missing.

Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen is traveling to Israel with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who left for the region on Wednesday.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks before boarding a plane, Wednesday Oct. 11, 2023, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., en route to Israel. - Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Gillens presence is a stark illustration of how the Biden administration is prioritizing dealing with the hostage situation. Blinken has urged partner countries who have the ability to get messages to Hamas to urge the terrorist group to release all hostages immediately.

CNN previously reported that Qatar is among the countries in talks with Hamas over hostages. A senior Turkish official also told CNN that Turkey is also actively working to try to secure hostages taken by Hamas.

At least 22 US citizens have died in Israel, a State Department spokesperson said Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if the additional deaths were Americans previously considered to be unaccounted for.

Biden had previously said at least 14 American citizens had died.

Much of the information about the deceased Americans has come from the Israel Defense Forces as they make identifications, as well as from family members who have been notified, the first US official said.

US special forces units

Along with a handful of FBI and military personnel on the ground, the US is moving a carrier strike group into the region as both a show of support for Israel and message of deterrence.

US special forces who were in Israel before the attack are offering their expertise on hostage situations. But US sources stressed to CNN that those forces are not engaged in any mission to physically extract American hostages at the moment.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that the US has special operators in Israel who are going to help the Israeli military with intelligence and planning for potential operations regarding hostages taken by Hamas.

Not only are we offering to help, we have people on the ground that have a small cell, the liaison cell that has established contact with [Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallants] special operators, and well continue to help with intelligence and planning as things go along, Austin told reporters at a press gaggle after landing in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday.

Austin said he has offered help from our special operators, our intelligence community in planning and developing intelligence to help in this endeavor to Israel since speaking with their defense minister on Sunday.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, who moderated a classified briefing Wednesday morning for congressional lawmakers, noted that the US is prepared to work with Israel to try and get hostages out of Gaza, but that it will be a difficult task.

We have obviously our special forces are good at this, we have hostage rescue team, FBI, we will provide assistance to Israel to get them out of there. Its going to be very difficult, going house to house, like Fallujah in 2005, when they use them as human shields, he said

CNNs Alex Marquardt, Gul Tuysuz, Natasha Bertrand and Oren Liebermann contributed to this report.

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Bernie Ecclestone  the former supremo of Formula 1  has pleaded guilty to fraud at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday but has been spared jail.

The 92-year-old failed to declare more than 400 million of overseas assets to the government, namely a trust in Singapore with a bank account of around $650 million.

He was sentenced to 17 months in jail, suspended for two years. He has agreed a civil settlement of 652,634,836 in respect of sums due to HMRC over the course of 18 years.

The billionaire, who has courted controversy throughout his life, was in charge of F1 for over 40 years before relinquishing his role in 2017 when current owners Liberty Media took over the running of the sport.

The Independent takes a look at Ecclestones life and times through his tenure in motorsport and beyond:

1930  Ecclestone born on 28 October, son of Sidney and Bertha Sophia, in St Peter, Suffolk.

1952 Marries first wife, Ivy Bamford, at 21-years-old. They have a daughter, Deborah, born in 1955. The pair divorce in the 1960s.

1958  Entered two F1 races as a driver, at Monaco and Silverstone, after purchasing two chassis from the disbanded Connaught Formula One team. Failed to qualify for either race.

1972  Buys Brabham F1 team for 100,000. Tastes success with Nelson Piquets two world titles in 1981 and 1983, though only records a best result of second in the constructors championship.

1974  Forms the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA). Played crucial role in negotiating F1s television rights. Becomes chief executive in 1978.

Bernie Ecclestone was the boss of Formula 1 for over 40 years (Getty Images)

1984  Slavica Radic, later his second wife, becomes pregnant and second daughter Tamara is born. Marries Radic in 1985.

1988  Sells Brabham for more than $5 million to Swiss businessman Joachim Luhti.

1988  Ecclestones third daughter, Petra, is born in London.

1997  Embroiled in a dispute with the Labour Party over tobacco sponsorship of Formula 1, in contrary to the new governments health position.

After a meeting with prime minister Tony Blair alongside Max Mosley (a fellow Labour Party donor), the government make an exemption for F1.

2005  Farce embroils the United States Grand Prix, with seven teams refusing to participate due to safety concerns over the Michelin tyres used. No compromise was reached, and only six cars (using Bridgestone tyres) started the race.

2008  Radic files for divorce, which is settled in March 2009. She receives a reported settlement of $1 billion.

2009  Crashgate. F1 descends into chaos after cheating scandal which saw Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crash a year earlier in Singapore to aid his team-mate, race winner Fernando Alonso.

It later emerges, in 2023, that Ecclestone and then-FIA boss Mosley knew about the scandal at the time. Felipe Massa is now in the process of pursuing legal action for damages, having lost the 2008 world title to Lewis Hamilton.

Ecclestone pictured with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton (right) (Getty Images)

2009  Ecclestone widely condemned after remarks that were positive about Adolf Hitler.

He said to The Times: Terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was  in the way that he could command a lot of people  able to get things done.

Ecclestone later apologised for his comments.

2012  Marries vice-president of marketing for the Brazilian Grand Prix Fabiana Flosi, 46 years his junior.

2014  Paid a 60 million settlement to end a bribery trial in Germany without admitting guilt. Prosecutors had accused him of bribery of banker Gerhard Gribkowsky.

Ecclestone and his third wife Fabiana, 46 years his junior, married in 2012 (Getty Images)

2017  Removed from position as CEO of Formula One Group after its 6.4 billion takeover by Liberty Media. Retains title of Chairman Emeritus until January 2020.

2020  Ecclestone has first son, Ace (Alexander Charles Ecclestone), at age 89.

2020  Criticised by F1 and Lewis Hamilton after comments made in wake of the murder of George Floyd.

Ecclestone says to CNN: In a lot of cases, black people are more racist than what white people are.

2022  Arrested by Brazilian authorities for illegally carrying a firearm while boarding a private plane to Switzerland. Ecclestone paid bail and was freed to travel to Switzerland.

2022  Ecclestone says on Good Morning Britain that he would take a bullet for Russia president Vladimir Putin because he was a first class person, adding that Putins invasion of Ukraine was just a mistake that businessmen make.

He later apologised for his comments.

2023  Pleaded guilty to 400m fraud. Sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear continues to bring in heaps of money for his re-election bid against GOP challenger Attorney General Daniel Cameron, with his most recent campaign finance report showing he raised $1.5 million in the last 30 days.

Cameron, meanwhile, reported about $529,000 raised in the last 30 days.

Cameron has $968,000 left on hand as of Wednesday compared to Beshears $1.9 million cash on hand.

More than 3,800 individual itemized contributions were made to Beshears campaign during that time period, according to the campaigns Kentucky Registry of Election Finance filings.

Of those contributions, 248 were either at the current maximum individual donation amount of $2,100 or the old maximum amount of $2,000. More than 3,100 of those contributions came from Kentucky, totaling around $983,000 of the campaigns $1.27 million in individual itemized donations.

Cameron received more than 1,100 individual itemized donations during the 30-day reporting period. Of those donations, 110 were maximum or near-maximum. About 920 of those donations were from Kentucky, totaling close to $401,00 in in-state money.

Beshear has raised around $18 million this entire gubernatorial cycle, including during the primary where he faced little serious competition. He first filed for re-election in late 2021. Cameron has raised a total of about $4.8 million through primary and general election cycles in the last year-plus.

Cameron won nearly 50% of the Republican primary vote in a blowout win over a crowded and well-funded field.

The remainder of Beshears campaign haul came from $184,000 in un-itemized contributions and about $40,000 in political action committee and executive committee contributions. Cameron received $14,000 in un-itemized contributions and $47,000 from PACs and executive committees.

Beshear campaign manager Eric Hyers said in a release that the numbers reflect continued enthusiasm for Beshear.

Governor Andy Beshear has consistently delivered for Kentucky, which is why he remains one of the most popular governors in the country, Hyers wrote. Once again, our fundraising report shows sky-high enthusiasm for the governor that is reflected on the ground, in polling and in the millions raised to support our campaign.

Sean Southard, a spokesperson for the Cameron campaign and the Republican Party of Kentucky, said that Cameron is well-positioned to retire the Beshear family. Beshears father, Steve, was governor of the state for two terms from 2007 to 2015.

Team Cameron has the resources to win on November 7. Andy Beshear is bankrolled by Joe Biden. We are running an aggressive campaign around the state. This fall, Kentuckians will retire the Beshear family once and for all, Southard wrote.

Southards reference to Democratic President Joe Biden bankrolling Beshear comes from a $250,000 contribution the Biden Victory Fund  a joint fundraising committee between Biden, the Democratic National Convention and all state Democratic parties  made to the Kentucky Democatic Party. The Kentucky Democratic Party is primarily focused on re-electing Beshear this year, as well as supporting other down-ballot candidates.

Recent polling done by partisan groups as well as independent pollsters show Beshear with a lead over Cameron, stretching anywhere from four percentage points to double digits, but Republicans believe that more voters will side with Cameron as election season continues to heat up. Beshears approval rating polls consistently high and has at times led all Democratic governors in the nation.

Though Beshears campaign fundraising has thus far bested Camerons, outside groups have made up some of the difference in the advertisement wars. AdImpact reported on Wednesday that pro-Beshear groups, including the official campaign, have reserved $39.8 million in advertising compared to $21.3 million for groups supporting Cameron.

PAC involvement

Several PACs are involved in the governors race, paced by Defending Bluegrass Values. That group is almost entirely funded by the Democratic Governors Association, and has reported raising $12 million since the general election began. However, the group has reserved $20.7 million in ads supporting Beshear, according to AdImpact.

The second-biggest PAC, Kentucky Values, is funded by the Republican Governors Association. The group has reported relatively little raised on its KREF filings, but has reserved a total of $10 million in ads supporting Cameron.

The down-ballot candidates

The following down-ballot candidates have reported raising decent chunks of money as of Wednesday evening. Heres how much they raised in the last 30 days and how much cash on hand they reported:

GOP nominee for attorney general Russell Coleman - $87,000 raised, $888,000 cash on hand

Democratic nominee for attorney general Pam Stevenson - $62,000 raised, $44,000 cash on hand

GOP Secretary of State Michael Adams, running for re-election - $81,000 raised, $300,000 cash on hand

Democratic candidate for secretary of state Buddy Wheatley - $42,000 raised, $140,000 cash on hand

GOP candidate for commissioner of agriculture Jonathan Shell - $55,000 raised, $227,000 cash on hand

Democratic candidate for commissioner of agriculture Sierra Enlow - $33,000 raised, $97,000 cash on hand

Democratic candidate for auditor Kim Reeder - $30,000 raised, $86,000 cash on hand

GOP Treasurer and candidate for auditor Allison Ball had not yet filed her report as of late Wednesday evening
The nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier arrived at the southeastern port of Busan following trilateral naval drills involving the United States, South Korea and Japan in a show of force against North Korea.

Carrier Strike Group 5, which includes the aircraft carrier, the Aegis-equipped USS Shoup destroyer and other warships, docked at the naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, for a five-day visit.

The U.S. carrier strike group took part in a trilateral exercise with South Korean and Japanese warships in international waters southeast of South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju on Monday and Tuesday, the first of its kind since 2016.

The USS Ronald Reagan last visited South Korea in September 2022, the first time after about four years. It is the second U.S. aircraft carrier to visit the nation this year after the USS Nimitz docked in Busan in March for naval drills with South Korea.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea unveiled a new "tactical nuclear attack" submarine early last month. It has also vowed to launch a military spy satellite again this month after two failed attempts this year.

The defense ministry said the carrier strike group's visit has been scheduled as part of the U.S. commitment to further enhancing the "regular visibility" of strategic assets on the peninsula as outlined by their leaders in the Washington Declaration issued in April this year.

During its stay in Busan, the U.S. carrier strike group plans to conduct friendly exchanges with the South Korean Navy. (Yonhap)
Israelis evacuate a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon on Monday 9 October (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press All rights reserved)

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.

Whats more, now Iran may never get that money.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told members of Congress on Thursday that the US and Qatar had agreed to stop Iran from accessing the $6bn, The Washington Post reports.

The official reportedly told lawmakers the cash isnt going anywhere anytime soon.

Speaking with reporters in Tel Aviv on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would not comment on whether the funds had been locked down, but the top diplomat said, None of the funds that have now gone to Qatar have actually been spent or accessed in any way by Iran.

Secretary Blinken also reiterated that the funds can only be spent for humanitarian purposes.

"Funds from that account are overseen by the Treasury Department, can only be dispensed for humanitarian goods, food, medicine, medical equipment and never touch Iranian hands," he said. "We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them."

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.
By Henriette Chacar, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Humeyra Pamuk

JERUSALEM/GAZA/TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel said on Thursday there would be no pause in its siege of the Gaza Strip for aid or evacuations until all its hostages were freed, as Washington urged it to protect civilians and the Red Cross warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, arriving in Tel Aviv on a trip to show solidarity, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that America would always be by Israel's side and give security assistance, but he urged Israel to show restraint "even when it's difficult".

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip, in retribution for the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history, when hundreds of gunmen crossed the barrier and rampaged through towns on Saturday.

The head of the Israeli military, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, said lessons would be drawn from the security failures around Gaza that enabled the attack.

"The IDF is responsible for defending the country and its citizens, and Saturday morning, in the area around Gaza, we did not live up to it," he said. "We will learn, investigate, but now is the time for war."

Public broadcaster Kan said the Israeli death toll had risen to more than 1,300. Most were civilians gunned down in their homes, on the streets or at a dance party. Scores of Israeli and foreign hostages were taken back to Gaza; Israel says it has identified 97 of them.

Israel has responded so far by putting Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, under total siege and launching by far the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year-old history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, destroying whole neighbourhoods. Gaza authorities said more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,000 have been wounded.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said fuel powering emergency generators at hospitals in Gaza could run out within hours.

"Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues," ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni said. "The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians."

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said there would be no exceptions to the siege without freedom for Israeli hostages.

"No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals," Katz posted on social media platform X.

Egypt, which has a single border crossing with Gaza, said it was trying to allow in aid there.

THANK YOU, AMERICA

In the biggest sign yet of the conflict potentially spilling across borders, Syria said Israeli air strikes had hit the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, putting both out of service. The Israeli military said it does not comment on such reports. Syria is a close ally of Iran, which sponsors Hamas and has celebrated the attacks while denying a direct role.

Standing beside Netanyahu, Blinken said: "You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side."

Netanyahu said: "Thank you, America, for standing with Israel, today, tomorrow and always."

Blinken also offered an emotional, personal aside, recounting how his own grandfather had fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived Nazi concentration camps.

"I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas' massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere," he said.

"We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when it's difficult. That's why it's so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians."

Blinken will visit Jordan on Friday to meet King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority that operates limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Abbas, whose Fatah faction is a longstanding foe of Hamas, condemned violence against civilians on both sides on Thursday.

"We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying.

Scores of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem's Mount Herzl military cemetery on Thursday to bury their dead.

"When you didn't take my call, I knew you were fighting with all your power. When I realised you were missing, I could not imagine this is how it would end," one mourner said.

In Gaza's main southern city Khan Younis, where cemeteries were already full, dead were being buried in empty lots, like the Samour family, killed on Wednesday night in a strike that hit their house.

Relatives and friends found eight bodies at the morgue, with 10 more still believed to lie under the rubble. The bodies were driven from the hospital in a truck covered with flowery blankets, and lined up in white shrouds at a lot down the street from their destroyed home. Hundreds of men prayed nearby.

At the nearby hospital, a woman tried to calm a weeping girl whose house had been hit. The girl kept screaming "my mother, I want my mother". The woman took the girl in her arms.

In Gaza's Al Shati refugee camp, residents were sifting through rubble with their bare hands looking for survivors and bodies. Rescue workers say they lack fuel and equipment to dig.

While Washington has strongly backed Israel, Blinken's plan to meet Abbas shows it is still mindful of Palestinian grievances, strongly felt by Arab allies.

Gazans, mainly descendants of refugees who fled or were expelled from homes in Israel at its founding in 1948, have suffered economic collapse and repeated Israeli bombardment under a blockade since Hamas seized power there 16 years ago.

Palestinian anger has mounted in recent months, with Israel carrying out the deadliest crackdown for years in the West Bank and its right-wing government talking of seizing more land. A peace process meant to create a Palestinian state collapsed a decade ago, which Palestinian leaders say left the population with no hope, strengthening extremists.

(Reporting Henriette Chacar, Dedi Hayun, Maayan Lubell and Emily Rose in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Emma Farge in Geneva, Jeff Mason in Washington and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff and Alexandra Hudson; Editing by Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie and Toby Chopra,)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday that at least 25 Americans were confirmed to be killed in the attacks on Israel by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.

Tragically, the number of innocent lives claimed by Hamass heinous attacks continues to rise, Blinken said during a press conference in Israel, standing alongside Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Among those, we now know that at least 25 American citizens were killed.

We joined families in Israel in the United States around the world in mourning their immeasurable loss, he added.

U.S. officials have been working with Israelis to secure the release of hostages, and Blinken noted he will continue to engage in diplomacy in his meetings throughout the region.

Military support from the U.S. has already arrived in Israel, he confirmed, pledging to continue adapting it to the needs of the country.

As Israels defense needs evolve, we will work with Congress to make sure that theyre met, he told Netanyahu. And I can tell you, there is overwhelming, overwhelming bipartisan support in our Congress for Israels security.

Netanyahu reached an agreement Wednesday with opposition leader Benny Gantz to form a unity government  which Blinken said the U.S. welcomes.

Blinken also reiterated President Bidens message of unwavering support for Israel and echoed the presidents warning to neighboring nations.

We will reaffirm the crystal-clear warning the President Biden issued yesterday to any adversary, state or nonstate, thinking of taking advantage of the current crisis to attack Israel: Dont, he said. The United States has Israels back.

Blinken delivered a personal appeal, noting his background as a Jew with family that fled pogroms in Europe and survived the Holocaust.

I come before you, not only as the United States secretary of State, but also as a Jew, he said during the press conference. My grandfather, Maurice Blinken, fled pogroms in Russia. My stepfather, Samuel Pisar, survived concentration camps: Auschwitz, Dachau, Majdanek. So, prime minister, I understand, on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamass massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere.

I also come before you as a husband and father of young children. Its impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed and not think of my own children, Blinken continued. This was just one of Hamass countless acts of terror.

The secretary made the trip overseas less than a week after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, brutalizing Israelis and attacking from the sea, air, and by foot. Israel has responded with a barrage of airstrikes.

More than 1,200 Israelis and 1,350 Palestinians have been killed since Saturdays initial attack. More than 100 Israelis are also estimated to be held hostage in Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
US Senator Bob Menendez faces new charges

US senator Robert Menendez, who is already facing corruption charges, has now been accused of acting as a foreign agent of Egypt.

The new indictment alleges Mr Menendez and his wife Nadine, provided "sensitive US government information" that helped Egypt's government.

This comes weeks after the couple were accused of bribery, which they pleaded not guilty to.

The senator called the accusations false and has denied any wrongdoing.

In September, prosecutors charged Mr Menendez and his wife Nadine with accepting bribes of cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage and a luxury vehicle from three New Jersey businessmen as part of a scheme to use the senator's influence to increase US aid and military sales to Egypt.

During a search of the senator's New Jersey home last year, investigators found $480,000 (393,000) in cash hidden throughout the residence, as well as 13 bars of gold bullion worth an estimated $155,000 (127,000), prosecutors allege.

The new indictment filed by New York federal prosecutors on Thursday alleges Mr Menendez used "his influence and power to breach his official duty in ways that benefited the Government of Egypt".

While part of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - which he has now stepped down from - he allegedly encouraged fellow senators to lift a hold on $300m (246m) in aid to Egypt and provided sensitive US government information to its government, according to prosecutors.

The indictment alleges the conspiracy occurred between January 2018 and June 2022.

It also includes new photos of Mr Menendez and his wife, Nadine, dining with Egyptian officials at a steakhouse in Washington, DC. Nadine asked: "What else can the love of my life do for you?" prosecutors alleged.

According to the indictment, "public officials, including Members of Congress, are prohibited from agreeing to be or acting as an agent of a foreign principal required to register under FARA", which is the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

In last month's indictment, the pair each face three criminal counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under colour of official right.

In a statement on Thursday, the 69-year-old lawmaker defended himself against the new charges.

"Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true," he said. "I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America," he said.

More than 30 Senate Democrats have called on him to resign, including fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.

On Thursday, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman called on the Senate to bring a resolution to expel Mr Menendez from the chamber in the wake of new charges.

"We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate," Mr Fetterman said in a statement. "This is not a close call."
Californias newly enacted Ebony Alert law is the first of its kind in the nation to prioritize the search for Black youth gone missing.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 673 into law on Sunday, making California the first state to create an alert notification system  similar to an Amber Alert  to address the crisis of missing Black children and young women.

The law, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, will allow the California Highway Patrol to activate the alert upon request from local law enforcement when a Black youth goes missing in the area. The Ebony Alert will utilize electronic highway signs and encourage use of radio, TV, social media and other systems to spread information about the missing persons alert. The Ebony Alert will be used for missing Black people aged 12 to 25.

Data shows that Black and brown, our indigenous brothers and sisters, when they go missing theres very rarely the type of media attention, let alone AMBER alerts and police resources that we see with our white counterparts, state Sen. Steven Bradford, also a Democrat and creator of the legislation, told NBC News earlier this year.

He added: We feel its well beyond time that we dedicate something specifically to help bring these young women and girls back home because theyre missed and loved just as much as their counterparts are.

About 141,000 Black children under the age of 18 went missing in 2022, and Black women over 21 accounted for nearly 16,500 missing persons cases that year, according to the most recent data from the National Crime Information Center. More than 30,000 Black people in the U.S. remained missing at the end of 2022, according to the center. Although about 38% of the people who went missing i in 2022 were Black, according to the Black and Missing Foundation, missing Black people are less likely than white people to have their stories highlighted in the media. Also, missing persons cases for Black people remain open longer than those for white people. Derrica Wilson, co-founder of the foundation, told CNN that a majority of the 6,000 cases of missing Black people in her database remain unsolved.

In order for authorities in California to issue an Amber Alert, the victim must be under 17  or have a proven disability,  there must be reason to believe theyre in danger, and the alerts cannot be used for custodial disputes or runaway cases. Part of the problem is that missing Black children are usually classified as runaways and, as a result, dont get an AMBER alert, according to the foundation. Since its inception in 1996, 1,127 children have been successfully recovered through the Amber Alert system, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Black and Missing Foundation also also found that Amber alerts are inexplicably less effective when Black children are missing than for white children.

Timothy Griffin, an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of Nevada, Reno, said he believes the Amber Alert is not effective and, therefore, it may not be worth it to replicate the service. Griffin, who has spent years studying the Amber Alert, said it is rare for a citizen to see the alert and spot the missing child, or for the alert to scare an abductor into returning the child. Theres just not a lot of reason to believe that when theres an Amber Alert success its successfully rescuing children from threatening situations, Griffin explained. Thus, I would strongly suspect that that would be the experience of any implemented Ebony AAlert in California.

Bradford said he doesnt see it that way. To him, the new law represents a historic breakthrough in combating the racial disparities in the ways the nation handles missing persons cases, he said in a new news release Monday. He said it will ensure Black missing persons cases receive the necessary resources and attention that they havent in the past.

Somethings better than nothing, Bradford told NBC News. Whether the Amber alert or an Ebony Alert is going to be 100% effective, we dont go with that false illusion or belief. But its better than not doing anything at all.

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A new California law will create an emergency alert system to help find missing Black youth and women between the ages of 12 and 25.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 673 into law Oct 8. The bill, which goes into effect January 1, will enable the California Highway Patrol to activate the new Ebony Alert upon request from local law enforcement when a Black youth or young Black woman is reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, is considered at risk, developmentally disabled, or cognitively impaired or has been abducted.

The Ebony Alert will ensure that vital resources and attention are given so we can bring home missing Black children and women in the same way we search for any missing child and missing person, State Sen. Steven Bradford, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation said in a statement.

The alert system is similar to the Amber Alert. The California Highway Patrol may use highway signs and encourage news outlets to disseminate information from the Ebony Alert, the law says.

Bradford said its heartbreaking and painful that Black children and young women are disproportionately represented on the lists of missing persons. He described it as a public crisis for the state of California and something that the Ebony Alert can change.

Last year, more than 130,000 Black children under 18 were reported missing in the US, data from the National Crime Information Center shows.

Law enforcement officials will also be able to request an Ebony Alert if the missing person could be a victim of trafficking or their physical safety is endangered, if police believe the person is in danger due to their age, health, a disability, environmental conditions, or if the missing person is believed to be in the presence of someone potentially dangerous.

This is not the first time an alert system has been created to highlight the number of missing people of color in the United States. In 2022, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a law creating the first alert system for missing Indigenous people.

Currently there are more than 23,000 missing persons cases open in the US, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System said.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  While revealing new details about one of the most famed CIA operations of all times  the spiriting out of six American diplomats who escaped the 1979 U.S. Embassy seizure in Iran  the intelligence agency for the first time has acknowledged something else as well.

The CIA now officially describes the 1953 coup it backed in Iran that overthrew its prime minister and cemented the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as undemocratic.

Other American officials have made similar remarks in the past, but the CIA's acknowledgment in a podcast about the agency's history comes as much of its official history of the coup remains classified 70 years after the putsch. That complicates the public's understanding of an event that still resonates, as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington over the Islamic Republic's rapidly advancing nuclear program, its aiding of militia groups across the Mideast and as it cracks down on dissent.

The CIAs leadership is committed to being as open with the public as possible," the agency said in a statement responding to questions from The Associated Press. "The agencys podcast is part of that effort  and we knew that if we wanted to tell this incredible story, it was important to be transparent about the historical context surrounding these events, and CIAs role in it.

In response to questions from the AP, Iran's mission to the United Nations described the 1953 coup as marking the inception of relentless American meddling in Irans internal affairs and dismissed the U.S. acknowledgments.

The U.S. admission never translated into compensatory action or a genuine commitment to refrain from future interference, nor did it change its subversive policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran, the mission said in a statement.

The CIA's podcast, called The Langley Files as its headquarters is based in Langley, Virginia, focused two recent episodes on the story of the six American diplomats' escape. While hiding at the home of the Canadian ambassador to Iran, a two-man CIA team entered Tehran and helped them fly out of the country while pretending to be members of a crew scouting for a made-up science fiction film.

The caper, retold in the 2012 Academy Award-winning film Argo directed by and starring Ben Affleck, offered a dramatized version of the operation, with Affleck playing the late CIA officer Antonio Tony Mendez. The podcast for the first time identified the second CIA officer who accompanied Mendez, naming him as agency linguist and exfiltration specialist Ed Johnson. He previously only had been known publicly by the pseudonym Julio.

Working with the six  these are rookies," Johnson recounts in an interview aired by the podcast. "They were people who were not trained to lie to authorities. They werent trained to be clandestine, elusive.

But in the podcast, which aired about a month before Hamas unprecedented attack Saturday on Israel, another brief exchange focuses on the 1953 coup in Iran.

In it, CIA spokesman and podcast host Walter Trosin cites the claims of agency historians that the majority of the CIAs clandestine activities in its history bolstered popularly elected governments.

We should acknowledge, though, that this is, therefore, a really significant exception to that rule, Trosin says of the 1953 coup.

CIA historian Brent Geary, appearing on the podcast, agrees.

This is one of the exceptions to that," Geary says.

Seven decades later, the 1953 coup remains as hotly debated as ever by Iran, its theocratic government, historians and others.

Iran's hard-line state television spent hours discussing the coup that toppled Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh on its anniversary in June. In their telling, a straight line leads from the coup to the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ultimately toppled the fatally ill shah. It still fuels the anti-Americanism that colors decisions made by the theocracy, whether in arming Russia in its war on Ukraine or alleging without evidence that Washington fomented the recent nationwide mass protests targeting it.

From the U.S. side, the CIA's hand in the coup quickly was revealed as a success of Cold War espionage, though historians in recent years have debated just how much influence the agency's actions had. It also led the CIA into a series of further coups in other countries, including Guatemala, where American clandestine action in 1954 installed a military dictator and sparked a 40-year civil war that likely killed some 245,000 people.

That's led to an American political reappraisal of the 1953 CIA action in Iran. Then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright acknowledged the U.S.' "significant role" in the coup in 2000. President Barack Obama, speaking in Cairo in 2009, described the CIA's work as leading to the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government.

But largely absent from the discussion was the CIA itself. After years of conflicting versions of the coup both in public and classified papers, a member of the CIA's own in-house team of historians wrote a reappraisal of the operation in a 1998 paper titled Zendebad, Shah! in Farsi  or Long Live the Shah!

But despite a series of American historical documents being made public, including a major tranche of State Department papers in 2017, large portions of that CIA reappraisal remain heavily redacted despite attempts to legally pry them loose by the George Washington University-based National Security Archive. That's even after pledges by former agency directors Robert Gates and James Woolsey Jr. in the 1990s to release documents from that coup and others engineered by the agency.

Further complicating any historical reckoning is the CIA's own admission that many files related to the 1953 coup likely had been destroyed in the 1960s.

Its wrong to suggest that the coup operation itself has been fully declassified. Far from it," said Malcolm Byrne of the National Security Archive. "Important parts of the record are still being withheld, which only contributes to public confusion and encourages myth-making about the U.S. role long after the fact.
Ronny Le Blanc of Leominster Thursday, August 17, 2023.

Anyone not want to sleep tonight? Ronny Le Blanc, best-selling author and star of the hit cable TV series "Expedition Bigfoot," asked an audience at a local library recently.

He was referring to how we might react to hearing a recording known as the Sierra sounds, purported to be a group of Bigfoot creatures  the elusive, large, hairy, humanlike bipeds also known as sasquatch  communicating with each other.

It's pretty fascinating, he said. You hear communication happening between two individuals, and it sounds like language that is sped up, almost like an alien language. The recording has been studied by various experts, including a retired Navy cryptologic linguist, who vouch for its authenticity as  well, they dont exactly know what, beyond that it isnt human or any known animal.

The recording was made in the Pacific Northwest, where there are vast forests known for stories of Bigfoot sightings. So, after hearing the Sierra sounds youll sleep just fine, you think, perfectly safe here in Central Massachusetts  until Le Blanc tells you that Bigfoot is also alive and well and living in Leominster State Forest.

Le Blanc, who grew up in Leominster and still lives there, says he has seen many strange things in that forest over the years, some of which he recounts in his book Monsterland: Encounters with UFOs, Bigfoot, and Orange Orbs. The book is named after an especially spooky parcel in Leominster that lies near the state forest. Growing up, the neighborhood kids had all heard the stories of the strange things that were said to happen there, and they mostly avoided the area. (Its aura of mystery was severely crimped later, however, after a Walmart was built on the site.)

Le Blanc frequently presents talks about Monsterland and his experiences and research into Bigfoot and other Massachusetts monsters  of which there are apparently many  at area venues, often libraries. Not only is Bigfoot apparently regularly tramping through a patch of woods near you, but also it seems we best be wary of other fantastical Bay State entities ,include the Dover Demon, a small, not-quite-human creature that sent a wave of terror through the town of Dover after a sighting was reported in 1977. There theres the unnatural denizens of the Bridgewater Triangle in Southeastern Massachusetts, where sightings of everything from poltergeists to UFOs have been reported.

NORTHBRIDGE - Bigfoot expert Ronny Le Blanc gives a talk at the Whitinsville Social Library Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

'Beyond the beaten path'

We caught up with Le Blanc for a summertime talk at Whitinsville Social Library, the public library in Northbridge. Librarian Heather Wade said she booked Le Blanc because of a widespread interest in the paranormal, especially cryptids, the catchall term for the many creatures some believe to be out there somewhere in the wild but whose existence remains unvalidated  or downright disputed by the more pragmatic among us, usually with an eye roll and a dismissive wave of the hand.

But the Whitinsville Social Librarys patrons, from the convinced to the merely curious, increasingly have been seeking information about Bigfoot and other mysterious phenomena, especially after the librarys summer reading topic last year, which fittingly was "read beyond the beaten path."

Weve seen an uptick in people checking out books related to the topic, Ward said. They are asking for books on the Dover Demon and Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster or theyre asking, What kind of cryptids can I learn about and what is their history? People have been so interested in exploring those subjects and they seem to feel that theres something more to our world even if we cant understand it.

During his Whitinsville talk, Le Blanc projected a map of North America on a screen showing the locations of reported Bigfoot sightings over the past 90 years. There were hundreds, maybe thousands, of dots. Bigfoot is not a single entity like the Loch Ness monster, he said. There are a multitude of them. No one really knows how many there are, but if there have been this many sightings across the country, there's a good amount.

Le Blanc stressed that the map represents only reported sightings. Most people, either fearing ridicule or assuming their eyes and ears surely must be playing tricks on them, keep any Bigfoot sightings to themselves. They wont tell you or me  but they readily tell their stories to Le Blanc, relieved to finally have someone with whom they feel they can safely share their spooky secrets. From his role in over three seasons of "Expedition Bigfoot" and appearances on related paranormal-themed cable shows, they know theyll have a sympathetic ear.

I can't tell you how many people have told me about their Bigfoot encounters, Le Blanc said. None of those are recorded in any database. People keep a lot of these things close to their chest. They don't even tell their loved ones, but a lot of people are having experiences with things that just don't seem to make sense, that defy the laws of physics.

LEOMINSTER - Ronny Le Blanc in woods near his Leominster home Thursday, August 17, 2023.

Suspending disbelief

Le Blanc doesnt ask you to believe a Bigfoot may have been watching you on your woodland hikes or anything like that. He just asks just that you momentarily suspend your disbelief and remain open to the plethora of information he presents in his talks.

In movie terms, suspension of disbelief is the process in which you nudge your rational mind off to the side for a while and just kind of go through the experience. If you are looking through the usual rational type of lens when you're talking about Bigfoot, you're going to dismiss certain things that are clues that there's something else going on, he said.

With that, he launches into a bit of Leominster lore about a man who back in the 1950s bravely (foolishly?) entered Monsterland and sees a terrifying monster on the side of the road. He freaks out and rushes to a local bar, now known as Mirandas Pub, tells the bartender what he just experienced and asks him to call the Leominster Police Department.

So, after some convincing, the bartender calls the police, Le Blanc said, then the guy says, Im going back. Tell them where it is, and Ill meet them there. The police show up at this location and they find the guy's vehicle running, the lights are on, the door is open, but he's nowhere to be found. They just assume that he's going to emerge from the woods but at first minutes, then hours, go by and this guy never materializes out of the forest.

Le Blanc says he continues an as-yet unfruitful search for evidence that might corroborate this oft-told local story.

But I just find it interesting that there are certain locations that seem to have a lot of this activity, he said.

As happened in this case, police are sometimes called in when theres a sighting, and Le Blanc says they also find their experiences hard to process. I've talked to police officers that have said, Nobody needs to know that I had this experience, because they don't want the ridicule. They don't want any of that. So things like that led me to write the book, which in turn led to more people coming forward with their experiences and their stories, and what I found interesting in listening to all this is that Monsterland is like so many other places where people are seeing a lot of weird stuff going on.

Among other places he mentioned was the Skinwalker Ranch in Utah, for decades a reputed hotbed of UFO activity that has piqued the interest of paranormal researchers from all over the world.

The ranchs name is derived from the so-called "skinwalkers" of Navajo legend who are evil shamans able to appear as animals to deceive their would-be victims. Those who claim Bigfoot encounters usually dont report that kind of menacing aspect  in fact, the creatures are said to be quite shy, preferring to avoid human contact. But Bigfoots footprint, if you will, is as large in Native American lore as it is when it allegedly shows up in the mud of a remote forest. Indigenous people have reported seeing Bigfoot-type creatures in almost all parts of North America, Le Blanc said.

Depending on the tribe, they have different names with some of them kind of menacing like wild men, hairy devils, evil creature or hairy savage, he said, as he showed a slide with a long list of the names used by many different tribes. And then you have other tribes that talk about them as being the forest people and something that's not going to cause harm, but the big question is this: Why would all these tribes have a name for something that doesn't exist?

Know your sasquatch

So, then, what exactly is Bigfoot anyway? A challenge for researchers is that no one has ever found a body of one that could be studied to answer that question. But, then again, bodies of space aliens are scarce, too, although there is a small but adamant contingent of UFO fans who insist that the U.S. government has found alien casualties from past spaceship crashes and withheld the evidence from us. That seems a stretch, but who is to say that Bigfoot or aliens, if they do exist, are even physical in the same way we are?

Ive worked with a few psychic mediums and they all talk about them being interdimensional, Le Blanc said. The Native American tribes talk about them having one foot in the physical realm and one foot in the spiritual realm. They believe that these creatures are guardians of the forest or theres some kind of role that they play when it comes to nature, and people that are more spiritually attuned seemed to encounter more of this activity.

Glen LeBlanc (no relation to Ronny Le Blanc), who attended the Whitinsville library lecture, has never had any actual strange encounters but likes to keep an open mind. Ive always been interested in this type of thing  ghosts, cryptids, Bigfoots, he said. Ive always thought that theres more out there than what we know. Everything is so vast and theres so much undiscovered in space and even the ocean that it makes me think we cant be the only intelligent life in the entire universe.

Audience member Kent Snow of Millbury also attended because he finds the topic intriguing. The persistent issue of "you couldnt possibly have seen what you think you saw" reminds him of when his uncle, a state wildlife worker, saw a mountain lion in the wilderness around the Quabbin Reservoir many years ago.

He saw a mountain lion there back in the 1950s, Snow said. They still say there are no mountain lions there, but they could roam down from Canada or upstate New York. Were not supposed to see them here but they exist, so could Bigfoot exist? Thats a good question. The big thing seems to be they havent found a body yet, but they dont find mountain lion bodies around here either.

The fourth season of "Expedition Bigfoot" will premiere at 10 p.m. Aug. 30 on the Discovery Channel, and will appear afterward on the new Max platform, a combined streamer that resulted from the recent WarnerBros./Discovery merger.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Expedition Bigfoot' star discusses mysterious monsters nearby
Around 2,300 lives have been lost as of Wednesday evening in Israel and Gaza in a sequence of horrific events that began with a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday.

The bloodshed has commanded the worlds attention.

But it has also returned focus to a recent deal between the Biden administration and Iran.

Critics say it provided a massive cash infusion to a key American adversary and may even have contributed to the Hamas attack.

Defenders say the two issues are separate and that the administration did the right thing.

Heres what to know.

What was the deal?

President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable with Jewish community leaders in the Indian Treaty Room on the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The core of the controversy is a deal the Biden administration reached with Iran to secure the release of five Americans.

The outlines of that deal were announced in August, and the five Americans were freed in mid-September.

The Biden administration considered all five Americans to have been wrongfully detained.

Two of the five were not publicly identified. The others were Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz and Siamak Namazi.

Five innocent Americans who were imprisoned in Iran are finally coming home, President Biden said at the time.

In return, five Iranians held in the United States were also allowed to leave and  crucially  $6 billion in previously frozen Iranian assets was freed up.

The money had been in South Korea, and banks were reluctant to transfer it for fear of running afoul of sanctions.

Under the deal, the money was transferred to Doha, Qatar, where it can be used by Iran for certain approved purchases.

The deal came under criticism at the time, and it is now back in the spotlight because of Irans long-standing support of Hamas.

Top Stories from The Hill

So America gave Iran $6 billion?

No.

The $6 billion was always Iranian money. Some critics have described the money as coming from American taxpayers. It did not.

In addition, Iran is not at liberty to do whatever it pleases with the money.

Its use is supposed to be tightly limited to humanitarian purposes and the purchase of food or medicine.

Put simply, the money in Qatar functions like credit. The Iranians can place orders for humanitarian goods. Those goods will then be delivered to Iran, and the purchase price will be transferred from the accounts in Qatar to the vendor.

The facts of this arrangement are when this money arrives in these accounts in Qatar, it will be held there under strict oversight by the United States Treasury Department and the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a Sept. 12 press briefing. We will remain vigilant in watching the spending of those funds and have the ability to freeze them again if we need to.

Administration officials have also said none of the money has been spent yet.

For all these reasons, they push back against the accusation that the deal has facilitated Irans funding of Hamas or other comparable groups such as Hezbollah.

What do critics say?

Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks during a town hall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Boone, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

In big-picture terms, there are two main criticisms  one about the money itself and the other about the ethics of the deal.

Regarding the money, opponents of the deal think the White Houses focus on the specific terms and conditions is disingenuous.

They argue that the bottom line is simple: Iran has access to $6 billion that it did not have access to three months ago.

Whether or not the specific account in Qatar is confined to humanitarian use is irrelevant, they contend. If all those funds were used tomorrow for needed medicine, for example, Tehran would have $6 billion in its regular coffers that it hadnt had to spend. Therefore, some or all of that money would be freed up, possibly to be used for nefarious purposes.

To think that they are not moving money around is irresponsible.  They are moving money around to threaten those they hate. They hate Israel; they hate America; they are going to continue to use this, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley told NBCs Meet the Press Sunday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on social media in the aftermath of Hamass initial attack that Iran has helped fund this war against Israel and Joe Bidens policies that have gone easy on Iran have helped fill their coffers.

Former President Trump has repeatedly hit out at the deal in recent days.

Crooked Joe Biden must take back and freeze the 6 billion dollars right now, before it is too late, Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. How could anyone be so incompetent and stupid?

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The other argument from critics is an age-old one  namely, that doing deals for the return of American citizens incentivizes hostage-taking.

At the time the deal first emerged, former Vice President Mike Pence wrote on social media that it amounted to the largest ransom payment in American history.

The ethical quandary over hostages affects other nations as well as the United States  including Israel.

Back in 2011, Israel agreed to the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners  including more than 200 who were serving life sentences  to secure the release of a member of the Israel Defense Forces, Gilad Shalit, who had been held by Hamas for five years.

But was Iran behind the Hamas attack?

Destruction from Israeli aerial bombardment is seen in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 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 hundreds of deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

It depends how you see it.

Irans support of Hamas is so pivotal that Tehran can fairly be seen as complicit in all the groups activities.

In addition, a Wall Street Journal story soon after the attack reported that Iranian officials had given the green light for the attack at a recent meeting in Lebanon.

However, no other news organization has confirmed the Journals report.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration and  crucially  the Israeli government have each said they have no specific evidence so far that Iran planned the Hamas attack.

Beyond condemnation, can Republicans do anything?

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) relinquishes the podium for the next speaker after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. (Greg Nash)

They can try.

On Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced a bill to refreeze the Iranian money.

The text of the bill runs to just two pages and, at its core, it simply states that the release of funds to Iran under the deal is hereby prohibited.

McConnell said: The civilized world must re-impose serious consequences on the regime that aids and abets murderous evil against innocent Israelis. The United States must lead that effort by our example, and freezing Iranian assets is an important first step.

Its too early to gauge how much congressional support the move has, and of course a decision by the Biden administration to refreeze the funds would render the question moot.

One argument against the refreezing of the funds is that it could possibly make future hostage negotiations harder  suggesting to adversaries that the U.S. could renege on any commitments made.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 2018 military tension reduction agreement with North Korea restricts South Korea's surveillance of the North due to no-fly zones set along the heavily fortified border under the deal, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday.

Gen. Kim Seung-kyum made the assessment during a parliamentary audit, as newly appointed Defense Minister Shin Won-shik has been pushing to suspend the 2018 agreement signed when then President Moon Jae-in traveled to Pyongyang for summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"Due to no-fly zones set under the military agreement, our surveillance range is restricted in terms of time and space," Kim said during the audit of the JCS, when asked if the military accord has limited the spy planes' flight range.

The September 19 agreement called for setting up buffer zones along land and maritime borders and creating no-fly zones to reduce military tension. Pyongyang has violated the agreement 17 times until the end of last year and 15 violations occurred last year alone, according to the defense ministry.

"The September 19 military agreement has affected surveillance and reconnaissance and the current operational readiness. The agreement was aimed at easing tension and building trust, but doubts have arisen due to (North Korea's) advancing nuclear and missile programs," Kim said, taking note of the need to reconsider its effectiveness.

Kim evaluated the Palestinian military group Hamas' surprise attack on Israel succeeded in the early stage of the conflict through "various, manipulative tactics and strategy," saying South Korea faces a different type of security threat from North Korea.

"The way Hamas invaded Israel has many implications as North Korea could wage a war in a similar way in the future," he said.

Hamas unleashed a barrage of some 5,000 rockets on Israel last Saturday, with some of them bypassing Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, despite its known interception rate of 90 percent.

The attack has brought renewed attention to South Korea's military capabilities for countering the threats posed by North Korea's artillery positioned near the border, which is known to be more powerful than Hamas' rockets.

According to Kim, the North is estimated to have some 700 long-range artillery pieces, with about 300 of them evaluated to pose a threat the Seoul metropolitan area, home to about half of the country's 51.5 million people.

"Our military confronts an adversary equipped with different military capability from Hamas. (The South Korean military) is maintaining firm warfare capabilities that can retaliate against any provocations by the adversary and aggression immediately, strongly and until the end," the four-star general said.

Kim said South Korea has been putting resources to achieve "peace through strength" amid Pyongyang's advancing missile and nuclear threat and uncertainties surrounding the regional security.

"Through close coordination with the United States, the South Korean military has been increasing the extended deterrence capabilities of the South Korean-U.S. alliance and the three-axis system to enhance our ability to deter and respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," Kim said.

In a policy report, the JCS said it will beef up the operational capability of the country's "three-axis" defense system against North Korea.

The system includes the Korea Air and Missile Defense system, which involves the long-range surface-to-air missile system and an improved version of the mid-range surface-to-air missile system, as well as an operational plan to incapacitate the North Korean leadership in a major conflict and the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike platform. (Yonhap)
Jamie Grill - Getty Images

Red dye No. 3, among other additives, has been banned in California under a new law.

The additive appears in thousands of products, including candies and some medications.

Red dye No. 3 has been linked to hyperactivity in kids and cancer.

Red dye No. 3 will be banned in California after landmark legislation was signed late last week by the states governor, Gavin Newsom. The California Food Safety Actwhich has been referred to as a Skittles banforbids the sale of four food additives, including brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3, starting in 2027.

Youve probably heard of red dye No. 3 at some point and are at least aware that theres some controversy around the ingredient, which pops up in everything from candies to childrens medicines. But what is red dye No. 3, exactly, and what does it show up in? Heres what you need to know.

What is red dye No. 3?



Red dye No. 3, which is also known as erythrosine, is a synthetic dye derived from petroleum. Its often used in select foods to give it a red color.

Despite its wide use in certain foods in the U.S., its controversial and banned in some forms in this country.

Why is red dye No. 3 bad?

Red dye No. 3 has been associated with a slew of potential health conditions. In 1990, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of red dye No. 3 in cosmetics due to studies that linked high doses of the additive to thyroid cancer in animals. However, it was allowed to still be used in certain foods.

The FDA told The New York Times at the time that the risk of getting cancer from red dye No. 3 was no greater than one in 100,000 over a lifetime of eating it.

A lot of people wonder, If it cant be in cosmetics, why can it be in food? says Jessica Cording, R.D., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers.

Red dye No. 3 has been connected to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children, too. A 2021 report from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that kids who have food dyes, including red dye No. 3, can become more hyper than usual and have difficulty focusing.

Thats a big concern for pediatricians. The potential issue with food additives like red dye No. 3 is their association with health concerns, including potential links to hyperactivity in children, says Daniel Ganjian, M.D., a pediatrician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. If children ingest this dye, adverse effects may include hyperactivity, allergic reactions, and behavioral issues. Ganjian says hes personally witnessed children act out after having the food dye.

What does red dye No. 3 show up in?

Red dye No. 3 shows up in a lot of processed foods, Cording says. Candy is where its most commonly seen, she says. But its also in certain drinks, like oral nutrition supplements, cough syrups, and gummy vitamins.

Cording says red dye No. 3 can show up in things you might not expect, like certain grain products and snack foods.

An FDA exposure analysis broke down the most common spots youll find red food dye No. 3:

Baking decorations

Ice cream cones

Frostings and icings

Frozen dairy desserts

Soft candy and gummies

Meal replacement drinks and bars

Cookies

Toaster pastries

Ice pops

Baby foods

Hard candy

Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs for the Environmental Working Group, says its important to read labels if youre trying to avoid red dye No. 3. Artificial food dyes must be listed on the labels of packaged foods, she says. You can also limit your intake of red dye No. 3 and other synthetic dyes by choosing certified organic packaged foods. These products cannot contain artificial food dyes.

By the way, Benesh says that companies that make foods with these dyes will likely just tweak their recipes. Many of the companies that will be affected already make these products without these four additives to sell in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other nations where these chemicals are banned, she says.

Is it OK to have any red dye No. 3?

Cording says youre probably OK if you have red dye No. 3 here and there. However, she points out that kids have smaller bodies and will likely be impacted by the dye more than adults.

As with many things, the amount and frequency you have matters, she says. If you have a lot of it, it can add up.

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WASHINGTON  A former IRS contractor admitted in federal court Thursday that he stole tax records belonging to Donald Trump and thousands of other wealthy people in 2019 and 2020 before he leaked them to the media.

Charles Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of disclosure of tax return and return information at a brief hearing in Washington. The felony charge carries a five-year maximum sentence, but Littlejohn is expected to face eight to 14 months in prison, according to prosecutors estimate of the sentencing guidelines.

Littlejohn, who's free on bail, appeared in court wearing a suit and tie and gave brief responses to questions posed by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes.

Donald J. Trump, Littlejohn said when he was asked to confirm the identity of the high ranking government official whose tax records he was charged with leaking.

Littlejohn confirmed to Reyes that he leaked Trumps records to The New York Times and that he had leaked the tax records of thousands of wealthy people to ProPublica.

The Times published exclusive reporting on Trumps tax returns in 2020 showing that he had paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, ProPublica published reporting based on a trove of IRS data showing how billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk avoided paying federal income taxes.

Prosecutors said in court filings that Littlejohn provided ProPublica with information about thousands of the nations wealthiest people, including returns and return information dating back more than 15 years.

ProPublica has said it doesnt know the identity of the source who provided this trove of information on the taxes paid by the wealthiest Americans.

Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesperson for the Times said in a statement: We remain concerned when whistleblowers who provide information in the public interest are prosecuted. The Timess reporting on this topic played an important role in helping the public understand the financial ties and tax strategies of a sitting president  information that has long been seen as central to the knowledge that voters should have about the leader of our government and the candidates for that high office.

Trump was the first president since the 1970s to refuse to make his tax returns public. He claimed during the 2016 campaign that he could not release them because he was under audit, and then refused to disclose them after he was elected, sparking years of speculation about how little he was paying in taxes and how his businesses might have been profiting off his presidency.

The House Ways and Means Committee, then under Democratic control, voted to make six years of his returns public in 2022. They showed he reported millions in negative income in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020, and he paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017. He paid no taxes in 2020, according to a House review.

They also showed he raked in tens of millions of dollars from overseas, including $6.5 million from China in 2017.

After the judge accepted Littlejohn's guilty plea on Thursday, she said, "I cannot overstate how troubled I am by what occurred.

Make no mistake, this was not acceptable, Reyes added. And if theres anyone out there telling you its acceptable because the ends justify the means and they think the end is appropriate, they are wrong.

Trump lawyer Alina Habba delivered a victim impact statement on his behalf, calling Littlejohns actions an atrocity.

This was an egregious breach by an agent of the IRS who targeted the president of the United States, among others, for political purposes and personal gain, Habba said.

Littlejohn is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 29.
By Ludwig Burger

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Fresenius Medical Care said that use of Ozempic and other diabetes and weight-loss drugs of the same class would have an overall neutral effect on how many patients would require the company's kidney dialysis services in the future.

The company's shares, and those of its closest rival DaVita, plunged on Wednesday after Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, part of a class known as GLP-1 drugs, showed early success in a trial to treat kidney failure in diabetes patients.

"Based on currently available clinical data and scientific evidence, Fresenius Medical Care assesses the overall effect of GLP-1 analog use on its own patient flow model as neutral," it said in a statement to Reuters.

Novo said on Wednesday that the Ozempic trial was stopped ahead of schedule because independent supervisors had ruled the drug's positive effect on chronic kidney disease had become clear enough.

In its statement, Fresenius Medical said that the early termination of the study, known as FLOW, does not allow for clear conclusions.

It added that, while past trials have indeed shown that GLP-1 drugs could slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, overall survival was also prolonged, potentially keeping patients in its care for longer.

"Clinical trials as well as already approved indications of GLP-1 analogs show cardiovascular benefits, reducing the overall mortality of treated individuals," it said.

Earlier on Thursday, rival DaVita said that Novo's FLOW trial would only have a limited impact on overall dialysis patient numbers.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger. Editing by Jane Merriman, Kirsten Donovan)
GAZA CITY, Gaza  Om Hamza Mesleh, 45, was searching desperately for her son when she saw a young man carrying a body draped in bloodied white plastic.

This is Hamza! he shouted.

Panting, Om Hamza, a common honorific in Arabic for matriarchs that translates to mother of Hamza, rushed to see whether it was, indeed, her lost son.

She couldnt hold back her tears when she saw his face.

My children were playing in front of me inside the house. Suddenly, the floors above my head collapsed, and I could not find my children. I do not know how I got out. I looked for my children but did not find them, Mesleh said.

After Hamas terrorist attack Saturday, Israeli airstrikes have reduced entire neighborhoods in Gaza, including hospitals, to soot. The remaining clinics and emergency units have been operating without power and supplies.

Follow along for live coverage

Our hospitals are flooded with patients and injured people, and we have to deal with casualties that are arriving on a daily basis at our emergency department, Marwan Abu Seeds, the deputy director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, said as ambulances brought in one casualty after another.

On Saturday, Hamas  a militant organization that is one of the two major political groups in the Palestinian territories and has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S., the European Union and other countries  launched a terrorist attack via land, air and sea that killed at least 1,200 people in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the terrorists raped women and butchered people.

Israel has responded by bombarding the enclave, and on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a full siege of Gaza, blocking food, gas and power into the area. Officials say at least 1,100 people have died in Gaza in bombings since the attack. Now, as Israel's forces prepare for a possible ground invasion, doctors and aid workers say the health care system in Gaza is about to collapse.

The situation is really catastrophic, said Sarah Chateau, a Paris-based desk manager for Doctors Without Borders, which has 300 staff members in Gaza. We barely can operate in Gaza. The bombing is almost nonstop.

Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah had been in Gaza City for less than 48 hours when he operated on Unknown Child No. 6.

Half his face is missing, Abu-Sittah told NBC News just moments after he finished the three-hour operation. The whole time youre thinking this is someones baby boy. We dont know his name. You dont know what happened to the rest of his family. We lost count of people now. We dont know whos who.

When he heard about Hamas terrorist attack, Abu-Sittah, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in London, packed his bags and made his way to Gaza, where he has family.

A man brings an injured baby into Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike. (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images)

I knew what was about to happen, he said. I knew what the Gaza health system is capable of and what its not capable of.

Abu-Sittah arrived in Gaza City on Monday. He specializes in treating war injuries, and he has traveled to Gaza to provide care after nearly every major conflict over the last 15 years.

After he evacuated to a shelter because rockets were hitting near his familys home, he made his way to Al-Shifa Hospital.

It looked like a refugee camp, he said: It was filled with families taking shelter, he said, hoping it would be safe from bombings. Inside, it was already at capacity, filled with what he called the tsunami of wounded.

They had already run out or are running out of supplies, especially consumables like gauze, antiseptic, sutures, blades and antibiotic ointment, things you need for burns, he said.

Most of the patients at the hospital are in critical condition, said Seeds, the hospitals deputy director, adding that many were injured when buildings collapsed and the people on the streets have gotten shrapnels.

Right now, there are so many people with serious injuries that others with lesser injuries are being forced to wait. Abu-Sittah said delaying care could lead to a higher risk of infection and permanent disability.

What has stuck with him most so far are the tiniest patients, the young children who are ending up in hospitals. Half of the Palestinians living in Gaza are younger than 19.

Gaza has the highest percentage of pediatric war injuries in the world, said Abu-Sittah, who wrote a textbook on the topic.

This is the worst place to be a child, he said.

At the Doctors Without Borders clinic, all of the patients were children 10 to 14 years old, Ayman Al-Djaroucha, the groups project coordinator in Gaza, said in an email. The majority of the injured in Gaza are women and children, since they are the ones who are most often in the houses that get destroyed in the airstrikes, Al-Djaroucha said.

Doctors and aid workers say health care in Gaza was already at a crisis point before the war started. The tiny enclave regularly faces shortages of medical supplies and drugs. Cancer patients, for example, must leave Gaza for treatments like radiation  and leaving requires special permits and permission from the Israeli government, according to humanitarian groups.

Dr. Zaher Sahloul, a Chicago-based pulmonary and critical care specialist who runs the nonprofit organization MedGlobal, said he was supposed to go to Gaza next week. The organization sends teams of physicians to countries in need.

Medics transport an injured man into Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images)

Sahloul said that last week, before the war started, there was already an urgent call for dialysis supplies. Now, with no supplies getting into the area, he estimated that Gaza will completely run out in two to three days.

Patients with dialysis, they will stop getting treatment, and they will die, he said. After one week, if you are a renal failure patient, you will die.

Hospitals across the Gaza Strip have been operating mostly on diesel generators, with electricity available for only three to four hours a day.

But Gazas Energy Ministry spokesman, Muhammad Thait, said that the energy plant stopped working Wednesday after it ran out of fuel and that there was no alternative electricity source left in Gaza.

Seeds said we are in bad need of fuel at Al-Shifa.

That left 2.2 million Gaza residents with only generators as sources for power, and the diesel to operate them is in acute shortage. The World Health Organization said Tuesday it is expected that fuel will run out in a matter of days.

Youre going to have a lot of people dying unnecessarily and a lot of mental health trauma among providers, because they cannot save everyone, Sahloul said.

The World Health Organizations director general met Tuesday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who agreed to facilitate a delivery of health and humanitarian supplies through the countrys border crossing into Gaza, provided Israel allows safe passage.

The WHO said in a statement: They have exhausted the supplies WHO pre-positioned before the escalation. The life-saving health response is now dependent on getting new supplies and fuel to health care facilities as fast as possible.

Mesleh, the mother, said about 70 people were inside the building she lives in at the time of the attack.

My other son is wounded, and my daughter is, as well, she said. They are all in the hospital.

Much of the medical staff has not left the hospital for days, working around the clock to treat the wounded, like Meslehs children. With ambulances and nearby buildings coming under aerial attack, emergency staff members said accessing services was becoming a gamble for patients.

He is a martyr, by the will of God, he is a martyr, said Hamzas father, Mohamed Mesleh, who then helped lift his sons body into an ambulance.

It arrived at Al-Shifa Hospital, where babies and their mothers sat on the crowded floor, waiting for their loved ones to be treated.

Wounded people wait for treatment in the overcrowded emergency ward of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images)

At area clinics, like the makeshift Doctors Without Borders clinic in Gaza City, emergency doctors treated dozens of victims all day long.

Two days ago, we had a young patient, about 8 or 9 years old, who was in the vicinity of an aerial strike, Dr. Justin Dalby said. He sustained severe burns across the face, the chest and upper arms on both sides of his body.

He said the boy had nowhere to go after an airstrike flattened his building.

Patients recoveries could take months, he said, with rampant risks of infection and no clean water.

Leo Cans, the head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Palestinian Territories, which provided medical aid and surgical teams at Gaza hospitals, said: One of the hospitals we support was hit by an airstrike and damaged. Another airstrike destroyed an ambulance carrying the wounded, right in front of the hospital where we work.

The Gaza City clinic opened Sunday, and doctors like Dalby were performing highly complicated operations under some of the worst conditions they had ever seen, they said.

While patients try to recover in previously unfathomable conditions, their loved ones are finding that their own roads to recovery are also just beginning.

We dont know where to go now. Our homes are destroyed, and there is no shelter in which we can stay. We have no involvement in Hamas, Fatah or any other organization, said Mesleh, the mother, referring to the Palestinian authorities in Gaza and the West Bank. Suddenly, the building fell on my head and my childrens heads.
An inmate already serving a life sentence was indicted by a grand jury last month after he was charged with murder in a fellow prisoners death earlier this year. He was identified for the first time Wednesday at an initial appearance in Ada County Court.

Juan Santos-Quintero Jr., 27, is charged with one count of felony first-degree murder in the June death of inmate Junior Garcia, 26, of Idaho Falls, at Idahos maximum security prison in Kuna. Santos-Quinteros arraignment, where he will be asked to enter a plea, was scheduled for Oct. 23.

Santos-Quintero is one of two inmates who the Idaho Department of Correction alleges were involved in an attack on Garcia on June 14. Garcia was left in critical condition and died four days later at a Boise hospital.

If convicted by a jury, Santos-Quintero could face the death penalty. Under Idaho law he would receive no less than a 10-year prison sentence if found guilty.

It is unclear whether another inmate at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution will face charges related to the fatal incident. Ada County Prosecutors Office spokesperson Emily Lowe told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday that she cannot discuss cases that involve a grand jury until a warrant is served or a hearing is held in court.

If there are other defendants I would be prohibited from talking about it until they are served, Lowe said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Santos-Quintero appeared in court from the prison before Ada County Magistrate Judge Adam Kimball. Santos-Quintero was seated with his hands restrained behind his back.

Kimball stated that Santos-Quintero was charged with the premeditated murder of Garcia by kicking, stomping, striking and/or smashing (his) head, and/or chest, from which he died.

Santos-Quintero issued no statements during the six-minute virtual hearing. He was granted a public defender and is represented by Ada County chief public defender Anthony Geddes, as well as Amy Mitchell and Abby Broyles from that office. Broyles appeared by video Wednesday at Santos-Quinteros side.

Ada County deputy prosecutor Tanner Stellmon is prosecuting the case for the state. The grand jury indicted Santos-Quintero on Sept. 19, Stellmon said during Wednesdays hearing.

A grand jury is an intentionally secretive process available to state prosecutors. Defendants and their attorneys are not permitted to participate, or even know if a grand jury is empaneled.

It has not been disseminated either publicly or privately for that matter, Stellmon told Kimball on Wednesday. But now that we are here and were anxious to get him to district court, we can talk about this event.

Idaho State Police investigated the fatal assault. Idaho State Police did not respond to a Statesman request for comment Wednesday.

Garcia was seriously injured during the attack at about 3:45 p.m. June 14, IDOC said in a news release from that time. A follow-up news release days later announced Garcia died at the hospital from his injuries just after 8 p.m. June 18.

An IDOC spokesperson declined to comment further on the incident as state police began their investigation. Idaho State Police completed that review and turned over their findings Aug. 15, the prosecutors office said in a news release.

Santos-Quintero is serving 11 felony sentences out of Bonneville and Bingham counties. His life sentence stems from a conviction for aggravated assault or battery upon certain personnel. He is eligible for parole in December 2044.

Garcia reached an agreement to plead guilty to felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon or instrument in a Bonneville County case from 2018. He received a sentence of no less than three years in prison, and a maximum of 10 years.
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The year is 1993, and Kelsey Grammer is on NBC premiering his new TV series Frasier. A spinoff of the hit sitcom Cheers, the show followed psychiatrist Frasier Crane as he manned his own radio show after returning to his hometown of Seattle from Boston. As he creates a new path, fans also watch the titular character rebuild his relationships with his dad Marvin (John Mahoney) and brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce).

Given how the character was well-loved on Cheers, it was no surprise that people couldn't get enough of Frasier. What's more, the show successfully ran for 11 seasons (which ended in 2004) with its cast win a whopping 37 Primetime Emmy Awards. Now, exactly three decades after Frasier initially aired, fans will see him come back for a reboot, premiering on October 12 on Paramount+. This time around, Frasier will return to Boston for the next phase of his life as a college professor. As he navigates this new chapter, he also looks to bond with his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott), who may not be so thrilled to have his dad back in his life.

Longtime fans of the show will likely be ready to tune into the new version of Frasier as soon as the first set of episodes drop. But what about those looking to watch the original series before the reboot premiere? Well, luckily there are a few ways to do so, and it may just involve you sitting on the couch to do so. Keep on reading to learn where to watch and stream Frasier, both the original series and the reboot.

Where to watch and stream Frasier (original and reboot):

As we mentioned above, the Frasier reboot will exclusively drop new episodes on Paramount+, starting on October 12. On October 12, two episodes will be available, and then one new episode will air every week on Thursdays until December 7. The streamer offers a number of plans for people to choose from, the lowest starting at $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Once the account is all set up, just click on the show's title page on the Paramount+ website or the Paramount+ app.



Just like the reboot, fans can watch the first iteration of Frasier on Paramount+. But that's not the only place folks can watch Frasier online. Since the show is a classic sitcom from the 1990s, Hulu also has it available for those who wish to stream it there. While the price per month to stream the series from the site is slightly pricer than Paramount+, viewers can access it starting at $7.99 per month on the Hulu website or the Hulu app.

As if Paramount+ and Hulu aren't enough, Amazon Prime Video also has the option to stream Frasier online. To access it, though, folks will need to purchase a membership that costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. It's definitely the most expensive to stream it from there, but if you already have a subscription, you can easily access it from the Amazon Prime Video website or the Amazon Prime Video app.

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Israel is laying siege to Gaza and is amassing forces for a ground invasion, as it inflicts brutal vengeance after Hamas militants broke through the border and launched the deadliest attack in Israeli history, killing more than 1,200 civilians and soldiers.

Gazas trapped and densely-packed 2.3 million inhabitants have suffered constant retaliatory air strikes since Saturday mornings unprecedented attack, with more than 1,000 Palestinians killed and 5,000 injured.

Vowing to reduce Gaza to a city of tents, Israel has called up 300,000 reservists and claims to have created an iron wall of tanks, helicopters and aircraft around the enclave, pledging that Gaza will never return to what it was.

With an existing humanitarian crisis in Gaza now threatening to spiral into catastrophe as Israel shuts off electricity and already tight supplies of food and water, its inhabitants now face the prospect of the Israel Defence Forces unleashing the might of its significant firepower upon their towns and cities.

Here, The Independent speaks to experts about the Israel Defence Forces capabilities and how a ground invasion of Gaza could unfold.

How big is the Israeli military?

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has three branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. In 2021, the Israeli military spend was $24.34bn (20bn).

Fixed-term military service has been compulsory for nearly all citizens over the age of 18 since the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.

Israel is amassing troops near the Gaza border (PA)

There are currently 173,000 active soldiers in the Israeli army, including 8,000 commanders. The military has also called up 300,000 reservists to prepare for its largest ever mobilisation, with special flights being organised to bring reservists from abroad to join its efforts.

Israel is also drawing on its special forces from the Sayeret Matkal unit to fight against Hamas, who it is expected will aim to neutralise high-ranking fighters and rescue captured Israelis.

In total, Israel has 15 active infantry brigades, each around 3,000 troops strong, plus another 22 brigades in reserve  which contrasts with just seven in the British Army, according to Dr Frank Ledwidge, a senior lecturer in military strategy at the University of Portsmouth.

While reservists would likely not be committed to frontline fighting, the mass of the Israeli army deployed to Gaza would be further divided by concerns of uprisings in the occupied West Bank, and most importantly and formidably of Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is far stronger than Hamas, said Dr Ledwidge.

Israeli soldiers in Kfar Aza (Bel Trew/The Independent)

What weaponry does the Israeli army have?

Israel has already used 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to strike Gaza. The air force is known for its Kfir fighter jets and also has a number of F-35 Lightning II jets obtained from the US. Israel is by far the strongest air force in the region, comparable with Turkey, said Dr Ledwidge.

Israel also has amazing capabilities for automated weaponry, said Dr Ledwidge, adding that there is a question to whether Israel is the first country to have executed an operation wherein [artificial intelligence] selects the targets for killing within the context of swarm drones.

Ground troops are drawing from an arsenal of around 1,100 third and fourth-generation Merkava tanks, which are similar to the German Leopard 2 battle tank widely used in Ukraine, with a thick front armour plate to provide maximum protection for its crew, and a 120mm main gun.

The Merkava tank is a main weapon weve seen in previous Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip and we are likely to see it again in the coming invasion, Dr Ahron Bregman, a former IDF major who served in the 1982 Lebanon war, told The Independent.

Where could Israel focus an invasion?

Whatever the Israelis do will be very much at the extreme end of plans which have been refined over nine years since the last incursion into Gaza in 2014, which lasted for a month, said Dr Ledwidge, adding that there is already evidence of a fairly systematic plan being executed.

Dr Bregman expects a ground invasion to be mainly, but not exclusively, into the northern Gaza Strip, which has so far seen the bulk of Israels aerial bombardment, although heavy and deadly strikes have been reported in the southern city of Khan Yunis, and other locations.

What Hamas want is to get those Israeli solders into their alleyways where they can exploit their local knowledge, says expert (REUTERS)

These airstrikes are aimed at preparing the ground for the invasion, including emptying the area of innocent residents  getting them out of the way so it would be easier to hit the enemy, Dr Bregman said, adding that northern Gazas more open and agricultral terrain makes it easy for Israeli tanks to manouvre.

As with previous operations, the invasion will involve carving up the strip and cutting off communications between the different sectors, particularly between Gaza and the rest, he added.

Dr Bregman added: Its hard to say, but I cant see how the military could achieve its main aim  weakening the military capabilities of Hamas  without moving into towns and even cities.

Israeli assaults on cities would open with massive [barrages] from air, land and sea, said Dr Bregman, adding: While inside urban areas, troops will try to move from house to house breaking internal walls rather than moving along roads.

What dangers do Israeli forces face?

The dangers to the Israelis fighting in urban areas are clear, as it is there that Hamas, equipped with Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, can cause much damage. Also, inside towns and cities Hamas got tunnels from where it could emerge, hit, and then retreat back, said Dr Bregman.

Dr Ledwidge agrees that you wont see tanks in built up areas  theyre much too vulnerable, and if you do theyre probably going to get killed.

An Israeli tank drives toward the Israeli southern border with the Gaza Strip (Getty Images)

The militants stock of drones now means also that for the first time for the Israelis, Israeli soldiers willl have to look up and make sure theyre not being spied on or bombed by drones, added Dr Ledwidge, a former military officer who has served in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Gaza, Hamas also have the advantage of local knowledge, and of extensive preparation, and there is no doubt whatsoever they have very capable leadership, said Dr Ledwidge.

Describing Saturdays brutal incursion and slaughter of civilians as a come-on, in our parlance, he said What they want is to get those Israeli solders into their alleyways where they can exploit their local knowledge, the cover, the tunnel systems, use their new drone capabilities, and trap them and kill them there  which the Israelis are more than aware of and will offset, but thats the Hamas plan.

And they will have prepared ambushes, fortified positions, tunnels, weapons dump, human shields, hostages, and extensive information operations to support all of those things.

How long could an invasion last?

With Hamas having clearly long-planned their incursion, and Israel bracing its citizens for a long, long haul, both sides appear steeled for a drawn-out conflict.

Dr Ledwidge compared an invasion of Gaza to the battle against Isis in the Iraqi city of Mosul, which took many months to subdue  and in which Isis certainly hadnt prepared in the same way that Hamas has for years.

He added: While its not quite an immovable object meeting an irresistible force  because the Israeli army will prevail  the question is how many sides are both sides willing to sustain in this fight? And both sides are clearly not casualty-averse.

The Israelis consider themselves to have been defeated in Lebanon in 2006 when they lost 136 soldiers killed and were forced to retreat because of the political effect. Now that is not going to be an issue - they want this done, and are prepared to pay the cost for that.
India and Canadas foreign ministers reportedly held secret back-channel talks in Washington last month after a bitter diplomatic feud erupted between the two countries over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.

The reported back-channel meeting between the top diplomats in September would be the first instance of high-level face-to-face discussions taking place between the two sides after Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations of the Indian governments involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly held a secret meeting after Mr Trudeau went public with the allegations, government sources familiar with the meeting told the Financial Times. Officials in Ottawa and Delhi have not confirmed the meeting took place.

Mr Jaishankar had gone to Washington DC on an official visit in the last week of September to meet US secretary of state Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

India and Canada have been embroiled in one of their worst diplomatic rows in recent history. Canada ejected an Indian diplomat who it identified as heading the intelligence wing of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, while India ordered a similarly high-ranking Canadian diplomat in Delhi to leave within five days.

India then suspended visa services in all categories for all Canadian nationals, citing security threats to its consulates.

In more retaliatory moves, the Indian foreign ministry also told Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in New Delhi by 10 October citing parity in an attempt to downsize the countrys diplomatic presence.

Government officials in Ottawa told the Financial Times that they were trying to resolve the situation and that Delhi had warned the loss of diplomatic immunity for Canadian diplomats staying in India beyond the deadline.

Indian and US diplomats said they discussed Canada issue during their meeting (Getty Images)

Canada has reportedly not withdrawn any of its diplomats yet, despite the deadline passing, as talks about the future of the Canadian mission in Delhi continue.

During his visit to the US last month, Mr Jaishankar said the Canada issue did come up during his talks with the US officials. Mr Blinken said he urged India to cooperate fully with Canadian investigations into the murder.

While at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Mr Jaishankar was asked about discussions of the Canada issue.

To your question... Yes, I did [discuss it] with Jake Sullivan and Tony Blinken... They shared US views and assessments on this whole situation and I explained to them at some length... a summary of the concerns I had. I think hopefully we both came out better informed, he said.

He added that the Canadian prime minister had made allegations initially privately and then publicly.

Our response to him, both in private and public, was that his allegation was not consistent with our policy. And if he had, his government had anything relevant and specific, we would look into, he said. We were open to looking at it now. Thats where that conversation is at this point of time, he said.

Earlier this month, Ms Joly said she would continue to engage with India privately as the Canadian government believes in having a strong diplomatic footprint in India.

We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats safety very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we think that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private, she had said.

She acknowledged that tensions between the two countries are more than ever, while saying it is necessary for diplomats to be present on the ground. That is why Canada has a strong diplomatic footprint in India, she said.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday talked with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the phone for the first time since a deadly war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Mohammad Jamshidi, the deputy chief of staff for political affairs for Irans Raisi, said the two leaders agreed on the need to end war crimes against Palestine during a 45-minute call.

Islamic unity was stressed & both believed the regimes crimes & the US green light will cause destructive insecurity for the regime & backers, Jamshidi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

State-run news outlet Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported the crown prince expressed concern that Palestinian rights were being violated.

Crown Prince Mohammed also said an extensive Israeli response to a Hamas attack last weekend could escalate tensions in the region, according to IRNA.

Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry also said the crown prince stressed his country was attempting to halt any escalation in hostilities through a broad international dialogue with world leaders. And he emphasized his nations unwavering stance for Palestinian rights, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Iran has faced renewed scrutiny after the Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 Israeli people, including women and children.

Iranian forces have long funded and supported Hamas, the militant and political group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and Tehran has called the deadly attack last weekend a victory for Palestine.

Raisi on Thursday personally congratulated the Palestinian resistance movement and called Israels ongoing airstrikes on Gaza war crimes, IRNA reported.

Experts assess that part of Irans overall strategy is to chip away at Israels security and damage it over time through proxy groups such as Hamas.

Another goal is to cripple its standing in the Middle East, where Israel was working to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has never had diplomatic relations with Israel, a state created in 1948.

Crown Prince Mohammed, however, has been working with the U.S., a mutual ally with Israel, in recent months to reach a normalization deal.

Iran has warned against any normalized ties with Israel, and the Hamas attack may prevent such a deal from being reached anytime soon.

The U.S. has said Iran is broadly complicit for the Hamas attack. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken at least twice in the past week with Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and both have agreed to remain in touch as the conflict develops.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The top court finalized life imprisonment Thursday for a former Seoul Metro employee charged with stalking a female co-worker and murdering her in a public restroom at a subway station in central Seoul last year.

The life sentence given by the Supreme Court was the same as the lower court's decision on the 32-year-old Jeon Joo-hwan indicted on charges of stabbing the woman to death in the ladies' room at Sindang subway station in Seoul in September last year.

The killing took place a day before Jeon was set to face a court ruling on separate charges of stalking the victim on 351 occasions, and illegally filming and blackmailing her in late 2021.

The two had known each other since they began to work for Seoul Metro, the operator of Seoul's subway system, in December 2018.

District courts had handed out a 40-year prison term for Jeon in the murder case and another nine-year term in the stalking case before the two cases were combined for an appellate ruling.

At the time of the murder, he had been relieved of duty as part of a disciplinary action taken in response to the stalking case, but he illegally broke into the company's intranet to locate the victim's address and gain access to her work schedule.

Prosecutors had demanded capital punishment for Jeon.

"It is highly necessary to ensure crimes like this never happen again by proclaiming that anyone who, with unjust intention and purpose, infringes upon another innocent person's life will be made to pay the price," the top court said, upholding the life sentence.

The top court also maintained the lower court's order for Jeon to wear an electronic location monitoring device for 15 years. (Yonhap)
From dramatic humpback breaches to enthralling dolphin acrobatics, a springtime visit to the Azores is synonymous with incredible sightings of whales and dolphins.

The remote Portuguese archipelago, consisting of nine volcanic islands about 900 miles west of Lisbon, lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, putting it on the migration route of several whale species. And from March to June  whale migration season  lucky tourists may even catch a glimpse of behemoths like the blue whale and the fin whale, the two largest animals on the planet.

As well as migrating whales, the Azores also have resident cetaceans, including sperm whales and some dolphin species, which can be seen year-round. With nearly a third of the 94 known cetacean species in the world observed here, the archipelago consistently ranks as one of the best places on the planet to go whale watching.

But the centuries-old relationship between Azoreans and whales has not always been so harmonious,as Rui de Souza Martins, emeritus professor of Anthropology at the University of the Azores, explains.

The archipelago was populated by settlers from mainland Portugal from the 15th century onwards, he says. These early inhabitants, mostly farmers, limited themselves to harvesting the dead whales they found at sea or on the coast. The whale blubber was boiled down to make oil for lamps.

By the 18th century, the Azores resident population of sperm whales was drawing attention from the United States. Whaling ships from Nantucket and New Bedford, Massachusetts, would make the roughly 2,300-mile voyage east to go hunting. In the age before the discovery of crude oil, the use of spermaceti (the waxy substance obtained from the head of a sperm whale) and whale oil (from blubber) for lighting and other purposes, made whaling a lucrative industry.

These factory-style ships would lower small wooden boats into the ocean for the hunt, then haul the dead animal onboard the larger ship for processing.

It wasnt only the whale carcasses that came onboard. The Americans recruited Azorean men at low pay, enticing them with the offer of residence in the US once theyd worked a certain number of years on the ships. Many emigrated to Massachusetts with the whalers.

Whale hunting was still going strong in the Azores in the 1950s. - V. Giannella/De Agostini/Getty Images

By the middle of the 19th century, some of those emigrants returned to the archipelago, bringing with them the knowledge of whale hunting and dedicated boat construction. They kicked off the local whaling industry, building seven-man hunting canoes and equipment. Soon, factories processing whale oil, meat and bones sprung up on the islands.

Whaling seems unspeakably cruel from a modern perspective, but back then it was a matter of survival. There were no other paying jobs in the islands. Many whalers  who were primarily farmhands working for rich landowners  didnt even know how to swim, but risked life and limb to provide for their families.

Whale hunting and the commercial processing of its derivatives was a much needed source of income for the locals, says Jose Carlos Garcia, sociologist and anthropology researcher. The money earned from whaling was used to pay for groceries, childrens education, and other necessities. Films like 1969s The Last Whalers and the 2019 Netflix production The Last Whalers of Sao Miguel, provide a glimpse into the difficult lives of the Azorean whalers.

The slow decline

The whale hunting industry declined over roughly a century. - Pedro Madruga/Visit Azores

However, it wasnt to last forever. With declining whale populations and other market factors (including the discovery of crude oil in 1859), the demand for whale oil decreased dramatically by the middle of the 20th century

Right until the industrys end, in 1987, the practices of Azorean whalers were different from the factory ships of the Americans. They continued to hunt in their small wooden boats with handmade weapons, killing only a small number of sperm whales. Counterparts in other countries used modern vessels and sophisticated harpoons, leading to the decimation of many whale species.

To address this drastic decline in populations, the International Whaling Commission issued a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1982. Portugal supported the ban, which meant the Azores  an autonomous region of the country  also had to comply. Pressure from local and global conservation organizations led to the eventual end of whaling in the Azores. The last whale was said to have been killed in 1987 by some disgruntled whalers from Pico island.

New beginnings

Sperm whales can be seen around the Azores. - Francois Gohier/VW Pics/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

The transition away from whaling gave birth to new industries and practices  with the impetus coming from outside. In 1990, French national Serge Viallele set up the first whale watching company in the archipelago, on Pico island.

Viallele showed that it was possible to live off the whales without killing them, says Miguel Cravinho, co-owner of Terra Azul, a whale watching company based on Sao Miguel island. The focus quickly shifted from whaling to eco-tourism, conservation and education.

Todays whale watching trips arent just fun days out for tourists; they support research, with the data collected from each of the trips used by local scientists to study behaviors and migration patterns. It is, says Cravinho, an educational approach to whale watching.

Nearly 20 whale watching companies currently operate across the Azores, following global best practices and guidelines issued by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), as well as local regulations.

Boats must follow whales at a maximum speed of 10 knots, can only approach from 90 degrees behind, and must stay 50 meters (164 feet) away from them  or three times that distance if theres a mother and calf.

There are strict rules for observing whales and dolphins. - Francisco Garcia/Courtesy Terra Azul

Only three boats may hover near the whales at any time, for a maximum 15 minutes  and sailing through a pod is not allowed.

To keep disturbance to a minimum, most whale watching companies in the Azores use RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) to minimize noise and emissions. The number of whale watching boats is strictly limited by a license system, which issues a maximum number per island  or per zone for the smaller islands. Hilltop lookout points known as vigias, once used by the whalers to spot prey, are now used by whale watchers to direct boats to different areas, so they dont congregate near the same animals.

We developed a new and dynamic culture in which the whale took center stage as a creature of ecological, scientific, heritage, and tourist value, de Souza Martins explains. Meanwhile, museums across the islands discuss the Azores whaling history, and youll still see traditional 40-feet whaling canoes repurposed for sailing and rowing, used annually in summer regattas.

Whaling boats are now used for less bloody purposes. - Martin Zwick/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

In February 2023, the archipelago was recognized as a Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance, an accolade described as the gold standard for responsible whale watching by its honorary president, Jean-Michel Cousteau. It is the second site in Europe and only the sixth in the world to achieve the rating.

Whale Heritage Sites are places that have been judged to have achieved an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable balance between nature, the local community and what visitors expect from the place.

Destinations must have already have conducted research on the whale watching in their area, and must commit to further research, education and awareness  as well as staging cultural events that celebrate cetaceans.

A new risk

If not done properly, whale watching can be damaging for both the whales and the local community. - Francisco Garcia/Courtesy Terra Azul

With rising tourist numbers and the increasing popularity of whale watching tours, there are concerns about the pressures on whales and their behavior. In his paper on whale watching as eco-tourism, Luis Silva, senior research fellow at the Centre for Research in Anthropology in Lisbon analyzed potential challenges posed by the whale watching industry, both to the animal and the local community  from stress for the whales to profits going to tour company owners rather than the wider community.

For now, whale watching remains a major draw for visitors to the islands.

The whale has had such a remarkable journey in the Azores, says Garcia.

Once considered a sea monster, it later became a useful resource. Now, it is a symbol of our collective identity and universal value.

Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolexs Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action.

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China-born journalist Cheng Lei extended gratitude to the Australian government in her first comments on being freed from a Chinese detention centre after three years.

Speaking to prime minister Anthony Albanese by phone after setting foot in Melbourn airport, Ms Cheng credited his government for her return in one piece from China.

The video of her conversation with Mr Albanese was released by Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"Hello, prime minister. Its because of you and all the team at DFAT that Im able to make it here in one piece," a visibly ecstatic Ms Cheng was heard saying on the call.

Tight hugs, teary screams, holding my kids in the spring sunshine, Ms Cheng said on X on Wednesday evening. Trees shimmy from the breeze. I can see the entirety of the sky now! Thank you Aussies.

Her comments apparently contradicted the Chinese governments version of her release which said that she was deported in accordance with the law after serving her sentence of two years and 11 months in prison.

The 48-year-old woman, who worked for the international department of Chinas state broadcaster CCTV, was held under murky espionage charges since August 2020.

Mr Albanese suggested that she had recently been sentenced after being convicted in a closed-court trial last year on national security charges, straining bilateral relations between the two countries.

She was born in China and migrated to Australia with her family at age 10.

The moment the foreign minister met Cheng Lei and a little of her chat to the PM pic.twitter.com/NnZEDALNcx  Kieran Gilbert (@Kieran_Gilbert) October 12, 2023

Ms Cheng denied the allegations and Canberra had complained that her case lacked transparency and judicial fairness.

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong welcomed Ms Cheng in Melbourne, where her two children, 11 and 14, were being raised by their grandmother.

Ms Wong said improved bilateral relations between Canberra and Beijing had paid dividends since her centre-left Labor Party government was elected last year after nine years of conservative rule. Ms Wong said she had promised the children she would do everything needed for their mothers safe return.

"Weve made clear since we were elected that we wanted to stabilize our relationship with China, we wanted to engage and I think youve seen some of the benefits of engagement," Ms Wong said.

The breakthrough in the case came ahead of Mr Albaneses planned visit to Beijing this year. He will become the first Australian prime minister to visit the Chinese capital in seven years amid strained ties.

It has marked the removal of another blockage in testy ties with Beijing which has lifted several official and unofficial trade barriers on Australian exports.

Mr Albanese called her a strong and resilient person, adding When I spoke to Cheng Lei I welcomed her home on behalf of all Australians.

Ms Wong said Ms Chengs reunion with her children was a moving moment to witness.

It was really moving to meet Cheng Lei yesterday and to speak to her kids, who are not much older than mine. I made them a promise some time ago we would do everything, I would do everything I could, to bring her home, and it was wonderful to see them together.

The Australian government has not shared what the conditions of her release were. But Ms Wong said the government appreciated the arrangements which were made to bring her home.
Jury deliberations are set to resume Thursday morning in the trial of two Colorado police officers who arrested Elijah McClain, an unarmed 23-year-old Black man who died in 2019 after being subdued by police and injected by paramedics with ketamine.

Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt have pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless manslaughter and assault in connection with McClains death. Rosenblatt was fired by the police department in 2020 and Roedema remains suspended.

The court recessed Wednesday evening without the jury reaching a verdict after the panel deliberated for eight hours. Jury deliberations began Tuesday after closing arguments and will resume Thursday at 8:30 a.m. local time.

The jury on Wednesday asked the court several questions throughout the day, including three related to the two officers field experience. The court told jurors they had received all the evidence and testimony you may consider in deciding these cases.

In closing arguments of the weekslong trial on Tuesday, prosecutors said Roedema and Rosenblatt used excessive force, failed to follow their training and misled paramedics about his health status.

They were trained. They were told what to do. They were given instructions. They had opportunities, and they failed to choose to de-esclate violence when they needed to, they failed to listen to Mr. McClain when they needed to, and they failed Mr. McClain, prosecutor Duane Lyons said in court.

In contrast, defense attorneys placed blame on the paramedics and on McClain himself.

Rosenblatts attorney Harvey Steinberg painted his client as a scapegoat and said its the paramedics responsibility to evaluate a patients medical condition. Rosenblatt was facing charges, Steinberg argued, because he didnt grab the paramedic by the shoulders and throw him down and say do something.

Roedemas attorney Don Sisson said his clients use of force was justified because McClain resisted arrest. He said McClain had been given 34 commands to either stop or stop fighting.

Because he (McClain) made a different choice, the officers were forced to make a different choice, Sisson said.

The case focuses on the events of August 24, 2019, when officers responded to a call about a suspicious person wearing a ski mask, according to the indictment. The officers confronted McClain, a massage therapist, musician and animal lover who was walking home from a convenience store carrying a plastic bag with iced tea.

In an interaction captured on body camera footage, police wrestled McClain to the ground and placed him in a carotid hold, and paramedics later injected him with the powerful sedative ketamine. He suffered a heart attack on the way to a hospital and was pronounced dead three days later.

Prosecutors initially declined to bring charges, but the case received renewed scrutiny following the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests in spring 2020. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appointed a special prosecutor to reexamine the case, and in 2021 a grand jury indicted three officers and two paramedics in McClains death.

A third officer, Nathan Woodyard, and two paramedics who treated McClain, Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, are set to go on trial in the coming weeks. They have also pleaded not guilty.

How the trial has gone

Former Aurora Police officer Jason Rosenblatt, left, and Aurora Police officer Randy Roedema have pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and assault. - Andy Cross/Pool/The Denver Post

The trial began last month and featured testimony from Aurora law enforcement officers who responded to the scene as well as from doctors who analyzed how McClain died. The defense did not call any witnesses.

In closing arguments, the prosecution played body-camera footage of the arrest and said the footage showed officers used excessive force for no reason. McClain repeatedly said he couldnt breathe, yet the officers did not tell that to anyone on the scene.

His name was Elijah McClain, and he was going home. He was somebody. He mattered, Lyons, the prosecutor, began his argument Tuesday afternoon.

Officers chose force at every opportunity, instead of trying to de-escalate the situation, as theyre trained, he said.

One of the key focuses of the trial was analysis of how McClain died and whether the officers actions caused his death.

The jury heard from a pulmonary critical care physician who testified that he believed the young man would not have died if the paramedics had recognized his issues and intervened.

Dr. Robert Mitchell Jr., a forensic pathologist who reviewed McClains autopsy, testified the cause of death was complications following acute ketamine administration during violent subdual and restraint by law enforcement, emergency response personnel. He testified there was a direct causal link between the officers actions and McClains death.

Meanwhile, defense attorneys argued there was no evidence the officers actions led to his death, and instead pointed to the ketamine injection.

Though an initial autopsy report said the cause of death was undetermined, an amended report publicly released in 2022 listed complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint as the cause of death. The manner of death was undetermined.

Dr. Stephen Cina, the pathologist who signed the autopsy report, wrote that he saw no evidence that injuries inflicted by police contributed to McClains death, and that McClain would most likely be alive but for the administration of ketamine.

In the prosecutions rebuttal, Jason Slothouber told the court that while the officers did not inject McClain with the ketamine, their failure to protect McClains airway allowed him to become hypoxic then acidotic, and thats what made the ketamine so dangerous to McClain.

Officers didnt provide accurate information to the paramedics when they arrived on scene, and in doing so they failed Elijah McClain, Slothouber said.

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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is reserving the option to halt Irans access to $6 billion it is set to receive as part of a prisoner exchange deal the White House and Tehran reached last month, but so far, it sees no need to do so, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.

The White House has faced bipartisan pressure since Hamas attacked Israel to block Iran from accessing any of the $6 billion, particularly as the U.S. tries to assess whether Iran had any direct involvement in the attack.

Follow along with lives updates on the Israel-Hamas war here.

These funds should remain frozen until we can determine whether Iran played a role in the attack and what the appropriate U.S. response should be, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said in a statement Wednesday.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., issued a similar statement, and Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on Tuesday called for the U.S. to refreeze the assets.

Critics of the White Houses decision to give Iran access to the $6 billion argue that the money is fungible and that any funds Iran receives for humanitarian assistance frees up more money for it to spend on nefarious activities in the Middle East.

Administration officials, while suggesting that freezing the $6 billion is on the table, have not said what the trigger to do so would be or how the process would work. Refreezing the Iranian funds also could have an effect on the administrations efforts to negotiate future deals for other wrongfully detained Americans abroad.

President Joe Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that none of the $6 billion in unfrozen Iranian oil revenue has been spent, while he declined to say whether the administration would seek to refreeze it. Jon Finer, the deputy national security adviser, told Jewish leaders in a call Tuesday that, if necessary, we have options available to us if it is not spent for the purpose to which it is restricted.

Iran cannot directly access the funds on its own, according to U.S. officials, who stress that the money is sitting in a Qatari bank and is intended only for humanitarian use.

The officials insist there are already several safeguards to ensure the money is not misused, including monitoring by the U.S. Treasury Department and by the Qataris, as well. Any approved withdrawal for goods such as food, medicine and agricultural equipment would be monitored by both entities, officials said.

The funds had been held in a South Korean bank under a mechanism that allowed Iran to keep selling oil to South Korea and several other countries. U.S. sanctions had prohibited Iran from accessing the money.

The funds in Qatar are subject to identical restrictions as the funds in South Korea and may only be used for the same types of humanitarian trade. Such transfers are consistent with our Iran sanctions, which include long-standing authorizations and exceptions for the provision of humanitarian goods and assistance to Iran, one of the administration officials said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told NBC News' Lester Holt in an interview last month that his government would spend the money wherever we need it.

The U.S. has pledged to take action immediately if it notices Iran using the money for anything other than the stated humanitarian purposes, the official added.

The National Security Council spokesman, Adm. John Kirby, said Tuesday on MSNBC, That money can be frozen at any time, we can stop any transaction.

The U.S. government has accused Iran of funding and arming Hamas since the 1990s. So far, administration officials have said they have not found a smoking gun that directly links Iran to Saturday's attack in Israel.

Still, some congressional Democrats say the administration needs to hit pause. In the House, Reps. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., and Colin Allred, D-Texas, called on the Biden administration to refreeze the funds, as did the Blue Dog Coalition whose members are moderate Democrats.

Money is fungible, and there is a well-documented history of Iran funding Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations opposed to the existence of Israel, the coalition said. Doing what we can to prevent the financing of future acts of terrorism by a regime in Tehran whose leaders praised these attacks is the least we can do to ensure our ally Israel can defend itself.

Separately, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., introduced legislation Wednesday that would block Irans access to the funds.

Over the weekend, Biden administration officials pushed back against accusations from Republicans that the $6 billion had been used to fuel the attack by Hamas in Israel, saying Iran had not yet accessed any of the money.

Its very unfortunate that some are playing political at a time when so many lives have been lost, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. 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.
Fernando Russek, 51, a Jewish resident of South Texas who was born in Mexico, spoke with urgency and strength about "people on the side of good" standing with Israel and speaking out against the attack by Hamas.

But he couldnt maintain the bravado as he disclosed that his daughter is fighting in the war because she is a captain in the Israeli army and that his brother, a reservist, was reactivated two weeks before he was to have opened a restaurant in Israel.

I am like a father  and like any brother, Russek said when he was asked how he was coping.

The gruesome violence that unfolded when Hamas staged a surprise attack along the Gaza border in Israel and the current state of war have put into focus the Latino Jewish diaspora and the interconnected nature of families, friends and cross-cultural ties among the U.S., Latin America and Israel.

Theres literally thousands of Latinos who are Jewish, said Rabbi Peter Tarlow, the executive director of the Center for Latino-Jewish Relations, whos based in College Station, Texas. Like anyone else in the Jewish community, this is personal. You know, it hits home. Many people in the Jewish Latino community have been to Israel. Many people have friends. You can go to cities in Israel and you hear lots of Spanish.  Lots of people have relatives in Israel.

Russeks daughter was born in the U.S. but went to live in Israel 15 years ago, and his brother returned several years ago. Russek said he gets to talk to his daughter once a day and recently got to talk to his brother, but he isnt sure when or whether hell get to speak to him again.

To my brother, I talked to him. I asked that God protects him. I asked him, Dont get captured. Fight to the end. He said, Yeah, I dont plan to, Russek said.

Follow live coverage from NBC News here.

Worried for their children, other young relatives

Like Russek in South Texas, Humberto Ismajovich, 58, told Noticias Telemundo that while his head is in Asuncion, Paraguay, where he lives, his heart is in Israel, where his two sons are reservists. One of them, Uziel, 26, is already on the front lines, and a video he made as he says goodbye to his family has spread on social networks. It is our time. That is why we came here, he says on camera. Uziel was born and raised in Paraguay, but he is also a citizen of Israel, where he has lived for five years.

personal items baby stroller car (Alexi J. Rosenfeld / Getty Images)

Now that my sons video has come out, many people have called me and expressed their support. But I tell them that war is always the last step. Unfortunately, it was our turn, but Israel has to defend itself, Ismajovich said.

Colombians Sandra Montano and her husband, Juan Hernan Hincapie, who live in Tel Aviv, have been desperately trying to find out what happened to Antonio Macias Montano, their nephew, and his girlfriend, Ivonne Rubio Vargas. They were attending the Supernova music festival when Hamas started to attack. Antonio told his family by phone that they were running toward a bunker, but as of Monday, the family told Noticias Telemundo, they were missing.

Its stressful. Were just waiting day to day without knowing whats happened to them, do they have them, are they alive, are they dead, Montano said. Antonio has a 6-year-old daughter, and Ivonne has a 3-year-old son.

Thats what hurts us the most, Montano said, her voice breaking.

One of the stories that has reverberated internationally is that of Brazilian Bruna Valeanu, 24, a student at Tel Aviv University who was also attending the Supernova music festival and was one of the hundreds of people killed at the event. Her family had recently moved to Israel and didnt know many people, so they asked whether at least 10 people could attend her funeral; tens of thousands showed up.

Proud to be Jewish

There are over 750,000 Latin American Jews, according to Brandeis University, and about half live in the U.S.

According to a 2020 Pew Research survey of U.S. Jewish adults published in 2021, 4% identified as Hispanic. But in a sign of changing demographics, nearly 3 in 10 (28%) Jewish adults under 30 (28%) identified as Hispanic, Black, Asian, other race or multiracial.

Some Latino Jewish families have immigrated to the U.S. in recent decades amid turmoil in Latin America.

montevideo uruguay israeli flag proud (Dante Fernandez / AFP - Getty Images)

In St. Louis, Daniel Platschek, 51, who immigrated to the U.S. from Venezuela over 30 years ago, is very active in the citys Latino community, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a Hispanic leaders group.

Because I am Jewish and people know that Im Jewish, I make it even more of an effort to be part of the Hispanic community, he said, as he tries to dispel stereotypes and forge connections among communities.

Like many other Latin American Jews, both his parents families had fled Hitlers Germany and ended up settling in Uruguay, though Platschek was born in Venezuela, where his parents went to work.

I grew up in a displaced place of the world where I was not supposed to be born, but I did, and I grew up there, and those are my roots, he said. l identify just as much to my Hispanic roots as to my Jewish roots.

Asked about the attack on Israel, Platschek said he was very adamantly against violence in any form, no matter where it comes from.

But he reflected on something his late mother said.

"I remember my mom when she was alive, she would usually say: 'I'm not an observing Jew  but I will never deny the fact that I'm Jewish, because at the end of the day, I'm here, and nobody's going to take that away from me. I'm proud to be Jewish, and you know  my family made ridiculous sacrifices to survive.'"

Jacob Monty of Houston founded and runs the Center for Latino Jewish Relations along with Tarlow. Montys father was Jewish, and his mother is Roman Catholic; he grew up Roman Catholic.

The organization teaches Latinos and Jews about their shared heritage  many areas of Mexico and what is now New Mexico, for example, became home to Jewish families who were expelled from Spain in 1492 and had to convert or live as Catholics for survival, said Tarlow, an expert on crypto-Jewish history.

The center, Monty said, hosts trips to Israel, and it had one planned for Nov. 28. For now, its not canceling, he said, hoping the Israeli government will have taken control of the situation by then.

Its important for us as Latinos to condemn whats happened, he said. Hamas is a terrorist organization. When I say condemn it, I'm not saying condemn Palestine. You can be pro-Palestine and criticize Hamas."

"We stand with Israel," he said.

Amid the worries over peoples safety and the tensions over the state of war, groups in the U.S. are mobilizing to offer support and raise money. In Texas, Tarlow was helping spearhead a fundraiser to help a small Israeli village on the Gaza border, where at least 18 residents were killed when Hamas attacked, he said.

"Were trying to help them rebuild, he said. Almost all this money is coming from Latino donations.

'I'm afraid'

In Washington, D.C., Dina Siegel Vann, the director of the American Jewish Committees Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, has worked for years to connect Latino and Jewish communities because of shared histories and geographies and mutual concern about issues such as immigration, bigotry and hate.

That work also involves taking Latinos to Israel. Since the attack, she has been wondering about the fate of a woman whose parents founded one of the kibbutzim that were devastated by Hamas and of another woman who was a potter and had visitors sign tiles with messages of peace that were then plastered into a wall.

Siegel also said the director of her groups Jerusalem office was in the Israeli army and was most likely activated, along with her son.

Siegel said she has always been a proud Jew and has never kept silent about it. People tell her she doesnt look Mexican, to which she responds, Im Jewish and Im Mexican. Punto. (Period.)

Siegel said she has seen Israel in many crises and has endured antisemitism in the U.S., but for the first time, Im afraid," she said. "I feel vulnerable, and my friends, we feel vulnerable.

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Local and federal law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are stepping up their patrols of Jewish houses of worship, Jewish-owned businesses and Israeli diplomatic buildings as calls for attacks on the Jewish community in the U.S. intensify online.

Former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal recently called for Friday to be a global day of "anger" in support of the recent Hamas attack on Israel, which has left over 1,300 Israelis dead. He said demonstrations would send a "message of rage to Zionists and to America."

Follow along for live coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

Historically, such calls for action or for a day of rage have produced large demonstrations and unrest in Gaza and the West Bank. But they have not led to large-scale attacks in the U.S. in the past.

Oren Segal, the vice president of the ADL Center on Extremism, said that such calls are common in the Middle East but that now they are becoming more common here.

"Right now, we're concerned about the vulnerability of the Jewish community and the possibility of violence targeting the community," he said. "Were seeing how white supremacists online are glorifying what happened in Israel. We are also seeing organization on the left at rallies and other events who justify and celebrate that violence, as well."

Multiple law enforcement officials said they are monitoring a lot of chatter on social media about retaliatory attacks against Israels counterstrikes on Gaza, which have also killed over 1,300.

But none of the online threats are specific and credible, according to three officials, a standard that law enforcement applies to intervene to stop potential perpetrators of violence.

However, antisemitic threats specific to the Jewish community in the U.S. have been and continue to be made, multiple senior law enforcement officials say.

Law enforcement agencies in cities like New York and Washington, D.C., as well as federal agencies, are increasing their security postures.

Image: A resident walks past a New York Police Department patrol van in Brooklyn on Thursday. Some areas have increased security following the conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip. (Spencer Platt / Getty Images)

We are at a heightened posture and talking to our counterparts across the country. This is the highest level of security a lot of cities have had in some time, a senior law enforcement official said.

The New York Police Department canceled all training for officers Thursday and ordered the entire force to be in uniform and on patrol, two senior law enforcement officials said. The officials said police department will have additional security at large gatherings, cultural sites and houses of worship Friday.

In Los Angeles, all personnel have been to report Friday in uniform, as well. Officials said they will have enough personnel on duty to provide security at any protests or rallies.

In Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service and others are stepping up their monitoring and adding more officers around the Israeli Embassy and other areas they think might be vulnerable.

The senior law enforcement official said local and federal agencies are viewing Friday as a bellwether for the level of antisemitic energy in the U.S., adding that all in law enforcement hope calls for violence will not materialize.

But Friday is not the only focus. The nature of the war and the predictions that it might be a long war mean heightened security against attacks in the U.S. may need to continue for some time, the officials said.

Neo-Nazis are contributing to the antisemitic chatter online, sometimes using rhetoric from Hamas.

We are really interested to see how Friday plays out, because it will tell us a lot about the energy in the U.S. for antisemitic rhetoric and attacks: Who comes out, how many people, the senior law enforcement official said.
The Israeli military prepared for a possible ground invasion in Gaza on Thursday as it pounded the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas.

In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Suffering in Gaza, meanwhile, rose dramatically with Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine and the territorys only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. The morgue at Gazas biggest hospital overflowed Thursday as bodies came in faster than relatives could claim them.

Israel said Thursday that a complete siege would remain in place until Hamas freed 150 hostages taken during its incursion. Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday.

The war has claimed at least 2,800 lives on both sides.

Here's what's happening on Day 6 of the latest Israel-Hamas war:

NEPALIS RETURN HOME FROM ISRAEL

KATHMANDU, Nepal  More than 200 Nepali nationals evacuated from Israel returned home Friday as the government worked to bring back the bodies of 10 Nepali students killed in the unprecedented attack by Hamas.

Nepals foreign minister, Narayan Prasad Saud, accompanied 254 citizens on a plane chartered by the government. The returnees were welcomed home by family and friends at Kathmandu airport.

In addition to those killed, four Nepalis were wounded and one is still missing, Saud said. One of the wounded was flown back in the evacuation flight and three others were getting treated at hospitals in Israel, Saud said.

He said 54 Nepali nationals still in Israel have been moved to safer areas and will be evacuated eventually.

Many Nepalis in Israel are students studying agriculture techniques.

HAMAS CIVILIAN MEMBER DEFENDS GROUP'S INCURSION

JERUSALEM  A prominent civilian member of Hamas defended the groups rampage through Israeli communities in a video released by the group Thursday and decried the civilian deaths in Gaza from the six days of Israeli airstrikes that have followed.

The solemn video lacked the bravado of a recording aired by Hamas' military wing Saturday hailing the greatest battle as the massacres still played out.

Basem Naim, a physician and former Hamas government minister, said in the swift collapse of the Israeli military on Saturday, chaos prevailed and civilians found themselves in the middle of the confrontation between Israeli and Hamas combatants.

The claim is contradicted by countless videos and survivor accounts of Hamas militants deliberately targeting and killing hundreds of civilians.

Naim said the 150 hostages taken back into Gaza would be treated according to religious values and international laws. At the same time we are really worried  they might be the victims of the Israeli army bombardment, like our people, he said.

He added that Hamas would not consider freeing the captives until Israel stopped its bombardment.

IF ISRAEL DOESNT END BOMBARDMENT, WAR MAY OPEN ON OTHER FRONTS, IRAN SAYS

BEIRUT  Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that if Israels bombardment of Gaza continues, the war may open on other fronts, an apparent reference to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Amirabdollahian arrived in Beirut late Thursday evening, where he was greeted by representatives of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad along with Lebanese officials.

In light of the continued aggression, war crimes, and siege on Gaza, opening other fronts is a real possibility, Amirabdollahian said, speaking to journalists on his arrival.

Early Thursday, Amirabdollahian had visited Iraq, where he made similar statements after a meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Questions have swirled around the extent of Irans role in the unprecedented surprise attack launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on Saturday.

Hamas officials have denied that Iran was directly involved in planning the attack or green-lighted it, and to date no government worldwide has offered direct evidence that Iran orchestrated the attack. However, many have pointed to Irans long sponsorship of Hamas that has included training, funding and providing it with weapons.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL TO ISRAEL

BRUSSELS  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Israel on Friday to express support for the nation in the wake of last weekends attack by Hamas.

Von der Leyen will be accompanied by European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, the commission said in a statement late Thursday. Von der Leyen has been one of the most outspoken European Union leaders in support of Israel since the attacks and the subsequent war with Hamas.

HEZBOLLAH SENDS DRONE OVER ISRAEL, OFFICIAL WITH LEBANON GROUP SAYS

BEIRUT  The militant Hezbollah group sent a drone over Israel on Thursday, according to an official with a Lebanese group familiar with the situation along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The drone was shot down over Israel, the official said, without elaborating further. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to comment to the news media.

An Israeli military spokesman wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, Thursday afternoon that an air-defense missile was fired in northern Israel but it turned out there was no target in the air.

___

Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue contributed to this report.

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN GAZA BELOW 20%, ANALYST SAYS

BOSTON  Internet connectivity in Gaza City has been below 20% since Tuesday, according to analyst Doug Madory of the network monitoring firm Kentik Inc., whose data shows outages began Saturday morning.

Madory said an internet provider in Gaza told him that Israeli air strikes had cut fiber optic cables. The provider declined to speak with an Associated Press reporter but Madory relayed his message: Pray for us to stay alive and stop this war.

DEATH TOLL IN GAZA HAS SURPASSED 1,500, HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS

JERUSALEM  The death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza has risen to 1,537, with 6,612 people wounded, the Gaza-based Health Ministry reported Thursday.

Of those killed, 276 were women and 500 were under the age of 18, the ministry said.

The jump in the death toll comes as Palestinians report heavy Israeli airstrikes across the besieged Gaza Strip, with bombardment on residential buildings in densely populated city districts and refugee camps killing many family members at a time in their homes.

US AND QATAR AGREE TO NOT ACT ON ANY IRANIAN REQUEST TO ACCESS FUNDS

WASHINGTON  The U.S. and Qatar have agreed not to act on any Iranian request to access $6 billion in funds that were transferred from South Korea after a blanket waiver by President Joe Biden's administration meant to clear the way for the release of five Americans held by Iran, a U.S. official said Thursday.

The move stops short of freezing the funds. Under the terms of the agreement, the funds must be requested by Iran and can go only for humanitarian purposes. The Americans were released last month.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the agreement and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The funding has been a concern as questions mount about Irans influence or role in the Hamas attack on Israel. Iran is Hamas' principal financial and military sponsor, though the White House says it has not uncovered information that Iran was directly involved in the operation.

___

Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

ISRAEL TELLS CITIZENS ABROAD TO AVOID HAMAS DEMONSTRATIONS

TEL AVIV, Israel  Israels Foreign Ministry is warning Israelis abroad to avoid demonstrations said to have been called for by Hamas in cities around the world, saying they could become violent.

In a joint statement with Israels National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday that there is a concern that Israelis or Jews could be targeted during the protests. The ministry statement said protests are expected on Friday and urged Israelis to be cautious.

45 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN AIRSTRIKE ON HOUSE, GAZA MINISTRY SAYS

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The Israeli military bombarded a residential building in the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza on Thursday, killing at least 45 people and injuring dozens more, Gazas interior ministry said.

A late-afternoon airstrike hit the al-Shihab family house at the center of the Jabaliya camp, interior ministry spokesperson Eyad Bozum told The Associated Press. The al-Shihab house was packed with dozens of relatives at the time of the airstrike, Bozum said. Some family members had fled heavy bombing from other parts of the Gaza Strip and taken refuge there

Bozum said the death toll was likely to rise from that airstrike as civil defense workers were still pulling bodies from the rubble and counting the dead.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike.

TWO ISRAELI POLICE OFFICERS WOUNDED IN EAST JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM  A Palestinian armed with an improvised submachine gun opened fire toward police officers at one of the entrances to Jerusalems Old City, wounding two officers, including one seriously. Police said they chased and shot the assailant, whose condition was not immediately clear.

Tensions have been running high in Jerusalem, with most shops closed since the Hamas attack and Palestinian protests in East Jerusalem at night that have devolved into deadly clashes with police.

EGYPT CALLS FOR URGENT DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA

CAIRO  Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Thursday called for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip through the crossing with Egypt.

With Israel sealing off the Palestinian enclave, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah. While Rafah is not officially closed, airstrikes have prevented it from operating. Egypt has been trying to persuade Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through Rafah.

Egypt is ready to harness all its capabilities and efforts to mediate in coordination with all international and regional actors without restrictions or conditions, el-Sissi said during a military college graduation ceremony in Cairo.

US HAS NO PLANS TO SEND TROOPS TO ISRAEL, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

WASHINGTON  The U.S. has no plans to send troops to Israel, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.

There is no intention, no plan, and frankly, no desire by the Israelis, Kirby said.

Kirby also said there have been ongoing conversations with Israel about the continued need for continued flow of humanitarian assistance" into Gaza.

He said establishing corridors to provide safe passage out of Gaza for civilians is the right thing to do for innocent victims who are actually being held hostage as well by Hamas.

US DEFENSE SECRETARY TO VISIT ISRAEL ON FRIDAY

WASHINGTON  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit Israel on Friday, the second high-level U.S. official to visit Tel Aviv in two days, in a deliberate show of support and an effort to determine what additional military aid is needed in the war with Hamas.

Austin is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive travel details. Austins arrival comes just a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited and vowed American support for Israel in a meeting with Netanyahu.

ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT APPROVES EMERGENCY UNITY GOVERNMENT

JERUSALEM  Israels parliament approved an emergency unity government Thursday night, swearing in Benny Gantz and four other ministers to serve in a security cabinet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

DEATH TOLL OF US CITIZENS IN HAMAS ATTACK RISES TO 27

WASHINGTON  The death toll of U.S. citizens in the Hamas attack on Israel has risen to 27, and the number of missing is now at 14, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.

Kirby said that the U.S. was continuing to work with Israeli officials to try to locate those who remain unaccounted for. Kirby said he believes only a few of those missing have been taken hostage.

ERDOGAN RENEWS CALL FOR REDUCING TENSIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINIANS

ANKARA, Turkey  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the United States to work toward reducing tensions between Israel and Palestinians, renewing his criticism of a U.S. decision to send an aircraft carrier to the region.

What is more appropriate for a country like America? To establish peace or to go there with gasoline and fuel (the fire)? Erdogan said during an address to hundreds of youth on Thursday.

We dont want the conflict and attacks to escalate further and God forbid, spread to our region. We call on all actors who have a voice and influence in the region to make efforts toward reducing tensions, he continued.

US TO START EVACUATING AMERICANS FROM ISRAEL, POSSIBLY AS SOON AS FRIDAY

WASHINGTON  The U.S. government will begin operating evacuation flights to help Americans leave Israel as Israel prepares to escalate retaliatory action against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, according to the Biden administration.

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby confirmed Thursday that the U.S. would arrange charter flights from Israel to sites in Europe.

The evacuation flights are expected to begin operating as early as Friday.

LEBANESE PREMIER URGES GROUPS TO AVOID INCITING CONFLICT IN ISRAEL

BEIRUT  Lebanons caretaker prime minister is calling on all Lebanese groups to exercise self-restraint and to not be pulled into Israels plans.

Najib Mikati's comments Thursday after a Cabinet meeting in Beirut were apparently meant to encourage the militant group Hezbollah to avoid inciting any conflict with Israel.

Lebanon is in the eye of the storm and what is happening along our southern border leaves us deeply worried, Mikati said.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -TikTok has not done enough to curb defamatory or misleading content in Malaysia, the communications minister said on Thursday, adding that the short video application had also failed to comply with several, unspecified local laws.

In a social media message posted after meeting TikTok representatives, Minister Fahmi Fadzil said TikTok also had to address issues related to content distribution and advertising purchases following complaints.

He said TikTok had assured him it would cooperate with the government and that its shortcomings were due to not having a representative in Malaysia at present.

Fahmi did not give any further details in the post.

A spokesperson for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the meeting or the minister's remarks.

TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has recently come under scrutiny in Southeast Asia, where Indonesia's government last week halted transactions on its platform following a ban on e-commerce trade on social media and as Vietnam probes the app for "toxic" content.

Malaysia has increased scrutiny of online content in recent months as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration vowed to curb what it deems provocative posts that touch on race, religion and royalty.

Earlier this year, the Malaysian government said it would take legal action against Facebook parent company Meta for violating the Communications and Multimedia Act, but dropped the plan after meetings with the company.

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Danial Azhar;editing by Miral Fahmy)
Dancing With the Stars pro Sasha Farber says his former dance partner, retired Olympian Mary Lou Retton, is fighting for her health.

Earlier this week, Rettons daughter McKenna Kelly posted on Instagram that her mother is is fighting for her life because of a very rare form of pneumonia.

Kelly asked for prayers and donations to offset her mothers medical bills in the post.

Farber, who partnered with Retton during Season 27 of DWTS inn 2018, told Entertainment Tonight that he had spoken with her.

Ive been talking to her today and shes fighting, said Farber, who this season is competing on the show with actress Alyson Hannigan. She kind of wants to give up, but Im sending her videos of her dancing and Im telling her, Theres only one Mary Lou Retton. Youve got this!

Sasha Farber and Mary Lou Retton. - Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images

The dancer said Retton had wanted to meet up with him a few weeks ago when she was in Los Angeles, but he was too busy with rehearsals.

He expressed confidence that she would conquer her illness.

Shes a fighter. Shes going to be great, he said. I know her very well. And shes like family to me and shes a fighter shes strong. Shes strong.

Kelly posted a note on her Instagram account on Wednesday, thanking people for their support.

My sisters Skyla, Shayla Emma and I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for our mom, the note reads. Mom is in ICU and continues to fight. She is getting incredible medical care! Thank you to all the doctors and nurses! We ask for continued prayers and positive thoughts for our mom.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Lee Hae-rin

Korea sees an annual average 36,000 criminal suspects of foreign nationality, a ruling lawmaker said, Thursday.

According to statistics that Rep. Chung Woo-taik of the ruling People Power Party obtained from the Korean National Police Agency, the number of foreign criminal suspects over the past five years amounted to 180,162, yielding an annual mean average of 36,032.

This year, 21,908 were caught by the police from January to August.

By type of crime, assault accounted for the largest portion with 22.2 percent (40,028).

Following, in order, were traffic crimes at 20.9 percent (37,670), intellectual crimes including fraud, forgery and embezzlement at 16.2 percent (29,108), theft at 8 percent (14,489) and rape and molestation standing at 2 percent (3,525).

Gambling cases numbered 2,280 (1.3 percent) while robbery stood at 361 (0.2 percent) and murder at 340 (0.2 percent).

Nearly half, or 49.5 percent of these, were Chinese nationals, who make up 37.8 percent (849,804) of the 2.2 million foreign residents of Korea as of 2022.

The nationalities of suspects following China in order were Thailand (8.4 percent), Vietnam (7.8 percent), the United States (4.8 percent), Russia (3.6 percent) and the Philippines (1 percent).

In June, the Incheon Metropolitan Police arrested 82 Thai nationals, some of whom were found to be undocumented, for allegedly controlling a large-scale drug trafficking crime ring. They were suspected of having smuggled nearly 2,000 tablets of yaba, a drug containing methamphetamine and caffeine, from January 2022 to May this year.

In response, the Ministry of Justice announced the launch of an intensive crackdown under the one-strike policy and vowed stern punishment of foreign nationals involved with drug crimes.

As Koreas immigrant population increases, experts are calling for countermeasures to tackle the growing number of crimes committed by foreign nationals.

Choi Hong-man, a professor of Taegu Science University's Department of Defence Technology & Administration, noted that crimes committed by foreign nationals in Korea have grown more diverse, sophisticated and organized over time, according to his study published in the Journal of Social Convergence Studies last year.

Choi called for rigid enforcement on immigration and unregistered foreign residents as well as the application of judicial power on suspects to tackle the crimes.

However, the professor also highlighted the need to provide foreign residents with Korean language education and adopt policies that engage with multicultural communities to prevent recidivism and the spread of prejudice and discrimination against foreign nationals.

Chung called for active crackdowns on crimes committed by foreigners and urged the government to block an inflow of foreign criminal organizations to Korea and prevent domestic crime by foreign residents from organizing networks and becoming influential.
A large storm will bring rain to at least two dozen states as it moves slowly along from the Great Plains and Midwest into the start of this weekend and on to coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England where it will finish up later this weekend, AccuWeather meteorologists say.

The storm will spread rain along a 1600-mile-long zone, from the High Plains to the Atlantic coast.

While the rain will be beneficial in terms of pausing the worsening drought conditions in the north-central United States, it will lead to disruptions in travel and outdoor plans for tens of millions from the Heartland to the Northeast.

In the Midwest, the major metro areas and travel hubs of Chicago and Detroit will be drenched. Farther to the east, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York City are among the many major cities and transportation centers that will be soaked. It's not only the big cities but also the million square miles that make up the suburban and rural areas in between that can expect pouring rain from the storm.

In the Northeast, the zone most likely to be drenched for many hours will include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, northern parts of West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware and the southern tier of New York and New England.

Rain will break out, expand slowly over the central Appalachians on Saturday and continue eastward to the upper mid-Atlantic into Saturday night. A general 1 inch of rain with localized amounts to 2 inches is likely from the storm.

"There is some indication that the drenching rain in the Northeast will have a northern edge to it, due to a wedge of dry air over Canada that will try to hold on," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

The widespread rain and clouds on Saturday will likely obscure the views of the upcoming solar eclipse for many across the Northeast and Midwest.

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The latest data suggest this dry air may even try to push farther south.

"Boston and much of New England look even drier than they did a few days ago with any rain likely holding off until later in the day on Saturday or even Saturday night," AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore said. Most or all of the rain should end up sliding south of Boston.

"Some steady rain should move into at least part of the New York City metro area during the day Saturday and could produce some localized ponding on roads and sidewalks as the heaviest moves in during Saturday night," DeVore said. Fallen leaves could compound that issue in New York City or anywhere it pours in the central Appalachians and mid-Atlantic.

Despite the storm, it does not look as impactful as the rain around the same time over the past couple of weeks where flooding ensued, DeVore added.

Just as in the Midwest, south of the storm track where a wedge of warm air develops, thunderstorms are likely to rumble in portions of eastern Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula. Some of the storms may be feisty at the local level with brief torrential downpours and locally gusty winds from Saturday afternoon to Saturday evening.

Steady rain will move away from the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts on Sunday.

The dynamic, potent nature of this storm will generate some gusty winds during the rain, but more widespread wind is likely on the backside of the system as it departs.

Blustery conditions over the Midwest through much of this weekend will spread to the Northeast as the storm begins to pull away on Sunday and continue into Monday.

AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures will dip into the 50s and 40s at times during the day.

As winds blow in from Lake Michigan and chilly air arrives, Chicago may remain wet and cool through the weekend, DeVore said.

Elsewhere in much of the Midwest and in the Northeast, the combination of chilly air high in the atmosphere, moisture from the Great Lakes and a southward dip in the jet stream will promote extensive clouds and periodic showers in the wake of the storm into early next week.

As a result, it will look and feel like the middle of November in a lot of locations from the Midwest to the Northeast and especially in the Southeast following the storm.

Where it does rain with a stiff breeze, a blizzard of leaves will rain down, and autumn foliage may fail to rebound in some locations in the storm's wake. In areas where fall color was delayed, the wet conditions followed by cloudy and chilly weather may expedite the autumn splendor.

Record-challenging warmth into Saturday will be swapped with record-challenging chill in Florida from Sunday to Monday. Ninety-degree highs will be followed by lows in the 60s in South Florida.

Some of the first snowflakes of the season may be spotted over the ridges in the southern Appalachians from Sunday to Monday. Grandfather Mountain and Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, are among the most likely places to experience some snowflakes.

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.
Visit if you dare.

Winchester Mystery House

If Halloween is your favorite holiday, telling ghost stories is your favorite pasttime, and horror is your favorite movie genre, then it's safe to assume that visiting haunted spots is your favorite kind of sight seeing. And you're in luck, because the U.S. is filled with historic spots that are rumored to be busy with paranormal activityfrom the classic culprits, like old hotels, to the unexpected, like mysterious underwater caves. For ideas on where to take a spooky roadtrip to this month, Camping World, an RV and camping equipment supplier, analyzed Google searches to identify the top 20 most searched-for haunted places in the U.S. The list includes locations from California to New York, and lots of eerie places in between.

Top 20 Most Searched-For Haunted Places in the U.S.

Winchester Mystery House, California (74,000 monthly and 888,000 yearly searches)

Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia (60,500 monthly and 726,000 yearly searches)

Main Street, Missouri (60,500 monthly and 726,000 yearly searches)

Jacobs Well, Texas (49,500 monthly and 594,000 yearly searches)

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado (49,500 monthly and 594,000 yearly searches)

White Horse Tavern, Rhode Island (22,200 monthly and 266,400 yearly searches)

Masonic Temple Detroit, Michigan (22,200 monthly and 266,400 yearly searches)

Waipi'o Valley, Hawaii (18,100 monthly and 217,200 yearly searches)

St. Roch Chapel, Yellow Fever Shrine, Louisiana (18,100 monthly and 217,200 yearly searches)

Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana (18,100 monthly and 217,200 yearly searches)

Omni Mount Washington Resort, New Hampshire (14,800 monthly and 177,600 yearly searches)

The Biltmore Estate, North Carolina (14,800 monthly and 177,600 yearly searches)

Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania (14,800 monthly and 177,600 yearly searches)

Mount Hope Cemetery, Maine (12,100 monthly and 145,200 yearly searches)

Ohio State Reformatory, Ohio (12,100 monthly and 145,200 yearly searches)

The Clown Motel, Nevada (12,100 monthly and 145,200 yearly searches)

United States Military Academy, New York (12,100 monthly and 145,200 yearly searches)

Jerome Grand Hotel, Arizona (9,900 monthly and 118,800 yearly searches)

Oakland Cemetery, Georgia (9,900 monthly and 118,800 yearly searches)

Villisca Axe Murder House, Iowa (9,900 monthly and 118,800 yearly searches)

Keep reading to learn more about some of the spookiest places on the list.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, Calif.

Winchester Mystery House

Built in 1884, The Winchester Mystery House is a mansion in San Jose, California with a bizarre history. The house belonged to Sarah Lockwood Pardee Winchester, who moved into it after her daughter and husband tragically died a few years apart. After moving in, the wealthy widow began non-stop renovations that lasted for 38 years and ended only when she died. The Victorian-style house spans 24,000 square feet, features 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 47 stairways (some of which lead nowhere) and 160 roomsand it's a mystery what compelled Winchester to construct the home.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

Photographer: John Van Horn

This historic penitentiary, in Philadelphia once held nearly 85,000 people, including some famous criminal figures, like Al Capone. The site is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S. and reports of paranormal activity from visitors, staff, guards, and inmates alike go back to the 1940s. The former prison, which closed in 1971, now hosts immersive Halloween nights from September through November, which includes tours, haunted houses, live performances, and more.

Main Street, St. Charles, Mo.

stcharlesghosts.com

A little different from the rest of the list, this haunted location isn't one destination, but an entire streetand an unsuspecting one at that. In the daytime, the street offers small-town old-timey charm, but legend has it that this area is home to lots of strange paranormal activitythere's a college, high school, and forest all said to be haunted. You can take a ghost tour of the town year-round, but even if you don't visit for the thrills, there's lots to learn about and explore in this historic city on the Missouri River.

Jacobs Well, Cypress Creek, Texas

benedek/Getty Images

Whether it's haunted or just plain dangerous, this place definitely has a reputation. Jacob's Well is the second-largest fully submerged cave in Texas. The karstic spring is a popular swimming hole (though recent summers have caused the well to run dry) and, for some brave people, a place to dive and explore what lies beneath. The cave has been the site of numerous drownings and some believe the ghosts from those fatalities haunt the spot.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colo.

goldhawk/Getty Images

You probably recognize this one. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colo., the famous Stanley Hotel is striking in appearanceand it will forever be known as the location (and inspiration for)The Shining. Reports of paranormal activity go back as early as 1911, decades before Stephen King's pivotal visit in 1974. The hotel offers a nighttime ghost tour of the property so you can immerse yourself in the movie experienceor you can book one of the 140 rooms for a stay if you're feeling even more brave.



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BRUSSELS (AP)  NATO will hold a major nuclear exercise next week, the alliance's chief said Thursday, an announcement that came after Russia warned it would pull out of a global nuclear test ban agreement.

NATO's Steadfast Noon exercise is held annually and runs for about a week. It involves fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads but does not involve any live bombs. Conventional jets and surveillance and refueling aircraft also routinely take part.

This is a routine training event that happens every October, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. This year, the training will take place over Italy, Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea.

He said the exercise will help ensure the "credibility, effectiveness and security of our nuclear deterrent, and it sends a clear message that NATO will protect and defend all allies.

The exercise is scheduled to run from Monday until Oct. 26. It will involve 13 NATO allies and a mix of aircraft types, including advanced fighter jets and U.S. B-52 bombers that will fly in from the United States. The bulk of the training is held at least 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Russias borders.

Stoltenberg said Russias war on Ukraine is a reminder of the important role that NATOs nuclear weapons play in deterring aggression.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, adopted in 1996 and known as the CTBT, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. It was signed by both the Russian and U.S. presidents but was never ratified by the United States.

On Tuesday, a top Russian diplomat said that Moscow would pull out of the treaty to put itself on par with the United States but would only resume nuclear tests if Washington does it first.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that Russia will rescind its ratification to mirror the action by the U.S. He warned that in the case of a U.S. nuclear test, we will be forced to mirror that as well.

On Wednesday, Stoltenberg said the move demonstrates Russias lack of respect, and the continued disregard for its international commitments. He added: This is reckless and endangers the global norms against a nuclear explosive testing.

Stoltenberg said the NATO allies have no plans to start testing again. He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to use this nuclear rhetoric to prevent NATO allies from supporting Ukraine, but he will not succeed, because again it is in our security interest that Ukraine prevails.

NATO does not possess atomic weapons; as an organization, it owns no weapons of any kind, only its individual members do. Three allied nations  the United States, the United Kingdom and France  are nuclear powers.
Workers at the Chicago Field Museum inspect the bodies of migrating birds that were killed when they hit a building.

About 1,000 songbirds died last week after flying into a Chicago convention center during their migratory journey south.

The birds crashed into McCormick Place Lakeside Center, a mostly-glass building located on the shore of Lake Michigan, on the night of Oct. 5.

The convention center said on their Instagram the unusual weather conditions coupled with avian confusion from the light that is emitted from buildings like their own is to blame.

"In one night we had a year's worth of death," Douglas Stotz, a conservation ecologist with the Chicago-based Field Museum, told NPR.

He said the museum regularly monitors the convention center for dead or injured birds, and typically between 1,000 and 2,000 die each year from flying into the building.

"It would have made a huge difference to have the lights off," Stotz said to NPR.

Turning out the lights in tall structures during the spring and fall migration dates helps reduce confusion for the birds, especially since some species rely on the stars for navigation at night.

The convention center is one of Chicagos buildings that participates in the citys voluntary Lights Out program, which asks tall buildings to cut their lights every night during peak migration season.

"Lighting at McCormick Place is turned off unless needed for our employees, clients, or visitors," the convention center said in the Instagram statement. "It is important to understand that there is an event going on at Lakeside Center this week, and thus the lights have been on when the space is occupied."

Window strikes are not an issue exclusive to the Windy City. Researchers estimated up to one billion birds are killed in window strikes across the United States each year, according to a study done in 2014.

Birds don't have the capability of distinguishing reflective glass and don't comprehend it's a lethal barrier. Often they circle the buildings repeatedly and die of exhaustion or collision. Thats why organizations like the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors are pushing for construction of buildings with bird safety in mind.

Chicago Bird Collision Monitors also joined the Chicago Audubon Society and the Chicago Ornithological Society in creating an online petition asking political leaders in Illinois and Chicago to make it a requirement for McCormick Place to have their interior lights turned off or their shades drawn every night of migration following the unusually high number of dead birds.

SEE MORE: More than 100 dead dolphins found in Amazon amid historic drought
A man was shot multiple times inside of his house Tuesday night in Cahokia Heights. He died later at a St. Louis hospital.

Maj. Tony Tomlinson of the Cahokia Heights Police Department said police received a call at 7:20 p.m. to go to 631 West Ave.

Upon arrival, officers learned that the victim had been lying in his bed inside his home when the shooter knocked at the door.

The shooter identified himself as someone else and was given the green light to enter the home, and seconds later, he shot the victim multiple times and fled out of the front door, Tomlinson said. Our victim died later at a St. Louis hospital.

Police have interviewed multiple witnesses and are continuing to look for more.

The only description police officers were able to obtain is that the suspect was a black male with dreads. They are asking anyone with information about this crime to call Cahokia Heights Police at 618-825-2681.

Tomlinson said police have been canvassing the area seeking video footage from homes and businesses in the neighborhood.

He said Cahokia Heights police have requested Illinois State Police to assist in the investigation. No further information is available at this time, Tomlinson said.




KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Malaysian budget carrier MYAirline abruptly suspended operations Thursday, citing financial pressures less than 11 months after it took to the skies. The announcement on social media caught many travelers by surprise and left thousands stranded as 40 flights were canceled.

The airline apologized for the extremely painful decision but said significant financial pressures forced it to suspend operations pending an ownership restructuring and recapitalization of the company.

We have worked tirelessly to explore various partnership and capital raising options to prevent this suspension. Unfortunately, the constraints of time have left us with no alternative but to take this decision, the airline's board of directors said in their statement.

The move came just days after the airline said it was in advanced stages of finalizing a strategic partnership. Local media reported that the suspension signaled that those talks may have collapsed.

The airline began flights last December with a fleet of nine aircraft that fly to domestic destinations and Thailand's capital, Bangkok. It is owned by businessman Allan Goh Hwan Hua. Just two days ago, CEO Rayner Teo, who has a 2% stake in the carrier, stepped down citing health reasons.

The Malaysian Aviation Commission instructed MYAirline to immediately halt sales and bookings of flights, and said refunds must be paid. It said it was investigating the airline over complaints that employees' salaries were unpaid, among other issues.

MYAirline made the announcement on social media before dawn on Monday, after passengers on early flights had already checked in at the terminal. Angry travelers took to social media to criticize the carrier for the sudden announcement that left them stranded.

Malaysia Airports, which manages the country's airports, said some 5,000 passengers were affected Thursday as 39 flights to local destinations and one to Thailand's Don Mueang Airport were canceled. It said it was working to help those affected and the situation was under control.

Malaysia Airlines and low-cost carrier AirAsia and Batik Air announced discounts and special fares to help MYAirline passengers affected by the suspension.
Republican opponents of making Steve Scalise speaker of the House dug their heels in on Thursday before the House was set to vote for a new leader.

The House Republican Conference met in the basement of the US Capitol on Thursday to continue their deliberations after they had spent most of Wednesday morning in the Longworth House Office Building nominating Mr Scalise.

But many Republicans who supported Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH), a hardline conservative and chairman of the House Judiciary Chairman, remain dissatisfied with Mr Scalise as the nominee for speaker.

Rep Chip Roy (R-TX), a member of the House Freedom Caucus which Mr Jordan co-founded, criticised the process on Thursday after Republicans tabled an amendment of his that would have required any Republican nominee for speaker to have the support of 217 of 221 members. Mr Roy told reporters the process was one of the swampier things hed seen, mentioning how leaders invoked K Street, the famous lobbying corridor of Washington DC.

Many of us who can do our own whip count knew that the votes weren't there, he told reporters. So let's figure this out. And they tried to steamroll it. And that's not a good direction to go. So I'm not there.

Mr Roy was one of the initial opponents of former speaker Kevin McCarthy who later flipped his vote and opposed a motion to vacate last week.

But even supporters of Mr McCarthy in January  when Mr McCarthy won the speakers gavel  now have concerns about Mr Scalise, who serves as House majority leader. Rep Brian Mast, who supported Mr McCarthy and vehemently criticised holdouts in January, said that he shared many of the concerns of his colleagues.

I wouldn't vote for any member of our current leadership, he told The Independent. Because they're not leading right now.

Rep Thomas Massie (R-KY), who also supported Mr McCarthy, said he continues to back Mr Jordan and criticised Mr Scalise.

He hasn't given us a plan to get past the spending bills actually, he told The Independent. House Republicans generally oppose passing an omnibus spending bill which puts all 12 spending bills for the fiscal year into a single piece of legislation.

Republicans had hoped to pass single pieces of legislation before the end of the fiscal year last month, but after negotiations failed, Mr McCarthy passed a continuing resolution to keep the government open for 48 days.

Mr Massie said he preferred Mr Jordans leadership style.

It's more of a meritocracy on these committees instead of fundraising-tocracy are some of the ways this place is broken, he said. He added that voters back in Kentucky preferred Mr Jordan. Like 10 to one in my district, they're for Jordan.

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), repeated her concerns to reporters that Mr Scalise has myeloma, a type of cancer in the plasma cells.

I like him so much, I want to see him beat cancer, she told The Independent. My father died from cancer. It's a serious battle. But our country we have many issues right now and I want the strongest, healthiest sSpeaker of the House.

But many Republicans are frustrated at the holdouts.

My message to them is the same as those who are holding off McCarthy, unify behind our conference candidate, Rep Ashley Hinson (R-IA), told The Independent. We need to get back to work because it's certainly the American people who suffer. It's not the politicians playing games here.

The House was set to hold a vote for speaker on Wednesday but members left after it was clear Mr Scalise did not have the votes. But Ms Greene said she was not concerned about the process being drawn out.

I think we should get to the House floor and do the votes. Kevin McCarthy had to go 15 rounds, she said. The next one maybe needs to go 15 or more and I'm all game for it.
Julie Jensen was found dead in her Wisconsin bedroom nearly 25 years ago, her body poisoned by the primary ingredient in antifreeze, ethylene glycol.

The effort to prosecute Jensens killer  her husband of 14 years  took almost as long, with protracted court battles over a key piece of evidence, two trials and one overturned conviction.

Earlier this year, Mark Jensen was sentenced  again  to life in prison in the killing.

Here are four key moments from the legal saga, as told by the prosecutors.

For more on Julie Jensen's death, watch "Secrets in Pleasant Prairie on "Dateline" at 10 ET/9 CT tonight.

Dec. 3, 1998: Julie Jensen is found dead

Mark Jensen, 63, called 911 and said hed discovered the body of his 40-year-old wife at their home in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, just south of Kenosha. She was in bed, under the covers, wearing a T-shirt and underwear. She had no obvious injuries, Bob Jambois, then the Kenosha County district attorney, told NBCs Dateline.

A deputy medical examiner at the scene initially believed the death was due to natural causes, Jambois said. But to the countys top prosecutor, a series of suspicious details stood out: Julies position on the bed seemed unnatural  she appeared to have been rolled onto her side  and even though she was so sick shed complained of breathing problems, her husband had left her alone that day.

A detective briefed Jambois on another startling detail: Julie had been targeted for years by an anonymous stalker, with hang-up phone calls and a barrage of pornographic photos.

She believed the culprit might be a man with whom shed had a brief affair, Jambois said. Authorities had their own suspicions about who was behind the harassment, but it would be years before they offered proof in a courtroom.

In the meantime, Jambois learned of another clue that would become an essential part of the case he was building  a letter from Julie that seemed to predict her own death.

She addressed the note to the local police department and included a photo of an ominous list she had found in her husbands planner. She told a prosecutor that she was afraid her husband was using the list to chronicle her behavior to make it look like she was losing her mind, the prosecutor, Angelina Gabriele, told Dateline.

Then, in late November, days before Julie was found dead, she placed everything inside an envelope and gave it to a neighbor. According to a photo of the note obtained by Dateline, she said her husband was acting suspiciously and she feared her early demise.

"If anything happens to me, he would be my first suspect, she wrote, adding that she prayed she was wrong but hed never forgiven her for the affair.

Julie Jensen. (Courtesy photo)

"I would never take my life because of my kids  they are everything to me! she wrote.

When a detective confronted Mark with the letter the following April, asking why his wife would have written it, Mark said she was "off the wall" and he was concerned she would harm herself, according to a transcript of the interview obtained by Dateline.

"How did she stop breathing, Mark? a detective asked at one point.

"I dont know, Mark responded. I honestly dont know.

March 19, 2002: Mark Jensen charged with first-degree intentional homicide

The charge had taken years to file, Jambois said, because he hadnt been able to rule out suicide as a possible manner of death.

Because of the small amount of ethylene glycol in Julies system, it had taken months for investigators to even find it, and Jambois said he learned that most poisonings linked to the chemical are suicide.

And though Julie said that shed never take her own life, two days before her death shed been prescribed antidepressants after telling a therapist she was miserable over her failing marriage, he said.

"I never for a moment thought Julie Jensen committed suicide, Jambois said. But what I did know is that the defense would be that she committed suicide.

The medical examiner eventually determined her death to be a homicide and pointed to two causes  ethylene glycol poisoning and asphyxiation. Based on the testimony of a jailhouse informant who said that Mark had confided in him, prosecutors said that Mark panicked when the doses of ethylene glycol didnt end Julies life.

Mark David. (Courtesy photo)

As her breathing appeared to improve, Jambois said, Mark rolled her over and shoved her face into a pillow.

Prosecutors argued that another piece of evidence corroborated their theory that she had been poisoned. At 9:42 a.m. on the morning of Julies death, someone searched the internet on the familys desktop computer for diminished consciousness from ethylene glycol poisoning, Jambois said. The two searches were then deleted.

During his interview with police, Mark said that his wife was so sick the morning of her death that she hadnt been able to get out of bed.

"She couldnt move. She could not even think straight, Gabriele said. Shes not on the computer tracking her own symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning.

Prosecutors also had the letter, though it wasnt clear if they would be able to use it in court: In criminal cases, the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right of the accused to confront their accusers. In this case, the witness wasnt available; she was dead.

Gabriele thought the letter might do more harm than good  and could present grounds for an appeal. But to Jambois, it was a critical piece of evidence that would allow jurors to hear Julies voice.

In the end, a judge allowed the document in  and it became the center of a legal battle that lasted more than a decade.

Dec. 18, 2013: Federal judge overturns conviction

The decision from a U.S. District judge in Wisconsins Eastern District came nearly six years after a six-week trial and more than 30 hours of deliberation, after which a jury found Mark guilty in his wifes murder and a judge later sentenced him to life in prison.

In addition to the informant, the letter and the computer searches, prosecutors had amassed other evidence, including testimony from a former colleague of Marks who recalled a chilling conversation from roughly a month before Julies death.

While he and Mark were chatting and having a few drinks after a conference in St. Louis, Mark confided that you could poison your spouse with Benadryl, pool chemicals or ethylene glycol, the friend, Ed Klug, told Dateline.

But to federal Judge William Griesbach, the effect of the letter  which he described as the prosecutions roadmap for trial  outweighed all of it, according to the 2013 decision ordering Marks release in 90 days if prosecutors failed to retry him.

And despite a lengthy hearing on the letter prior to that trial, as well as several state court decisions  including from Wisconsins high court  in Griesbachs view, the document shouldnt have been admissible. It violated Marks constitutional rights and had a substantial and injurious effect on the jurys verdict, he wrote.

The decision stunned Gabriele.

"It was a punch in the gut to know that there was so much evidence of his guilt and that a jury spent three and a half days carefully considering all of it and carefully considering the law, and they came back with the guilty verdict, and that we had done everything the way we were supposed to do it, she said, noting that prosecutors had followed a decision handed down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

"And then to have the federal court tell us, no, do it again was just like  I just wanted to throw up, she said.

But there was no question they would aim for another conviction, Jambois said.

"I could have been gumming my oatmeal in the old folks home, he said. Id have climbed out of my wheelchair and crawled back into court to try this case again.

Feb. 1, 2023: Mark Jensen is convicted  again

After years of delays, Marks second trial began on Jan. 9. This time, prosecutors didnt offer Julies letter as evidence. But with the help of a Department of Justice computer analyst, theyd uncovered something else  evidence that Mark was the person whod been harassing Julie for years.

On an external computer drive, they found a fake email laden with pornographic attachments that Mark had sent himself, only hed tweaked the name of the sender to make it seem as if it had been sent by someone else, said Carli McNeill, the deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case.

Then Mark presented the email to his wife as evidence of harassment, and she noted it in a catalog of the disturbing events, McNeill said.

But to McNeill, the most damning evidence was something theyd had since the beginning  the computer searches from the morning of Julies death.

And when a jury delivered a guilty verdict nearly a month later, Jambois said he felt far more confident than he did the first time around, when the legal issues surrounding the letter loomed over the trial.

"This was a clean trial, he said. Im absolutely confident this case is going to withstand appellate review."
Karishma Mehta responds after the Delhi High Court ruling (YouTube / Raj Shamani)

The founder of Humans of Bombay (HOB) said she, her family, and her team were subjected to a slew of personal attacks, including death and rape threats, after she sued a similar social media page for copyright infringement.

While we did not expect to be vilified to his extent it will not deter us from continuing to tell important stories ..., said Karishma Mehta, the founder of HOB  an Indian version of the popular storytelling platform Humans of New York (HONY).

Ms Mehta faced major backlash last month for filing a copyright suit against People of India and seeking to restrain the page from appropriating what it claimed was its unique format of storytelling.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed both the "storytelling platforms" to not use each other's copyrighted work such as commissioned images, literary works, original pieces, and commissioned videos.

The judge, however, added that there could be no copyright claims for photographs provided by individuals from their private collection.

Ms Mehta was called out online for a host of reasons, including monetising her content for profit and reluctance to recognise her privilege.

Creator of HONY Brandon Stanton called out Ms Mehta for copying his own original initiative.

Ive stayed quiet on the appropriation of my work because I think Humans Of Bombay shares important stories, even if theyve monetised far past anything Id feel comfortable doing on HONY, he said. But you cant be suing people for what Ive forgiven you for.

Following the court ruling, Ms Mehta in a statement said her legal action was about "substantial imitation", necessitated after the other page "didn't stop the plagiarism" despite 16 of their posts being taken down by Instagram.

"The outcome of this case will set a precedent for the creator community and will hopefully go a long way in safeguarding the original content that creators work so hard to build," Ms Mehta wrote.

Ms Mehta justified the monetisation of the page's content, saying: "While some may choose to monetise stories through mediums like books and subscription platforms, we have chosen to do it primarily through meaningful campaigns with partners."
Korea got its first up-close look at its new pair of baby giant pandas Thursday at a name-revealing ceremony that doubled as an early celebration of the 100 days since their birth.

The female cubs  named Rui Bao, or "wise treasure", and Hui Bao, "shining treasure"  were born at the Everland theme park near the capital Seoul on July 7, and have since been showered with an outpouring of excitement and affection.

Some half a million panda lovers helped choose their names via online voting, the zoo said, with a handful of lucky fans invited to Thursday's ceremony.

Lee Da-young, a 20-year-old university student in attendance, said it was her third visit to the zoo in two months to see the pandas.

"I've always liked pandas, so I came to Everland last week and also a month ago," Lee told AFP. "But I'm honored to have come again on such a great opportunity."

"They are even cuter in real life than they appear on screen," she said.

Since their birth 97 days ago, the zoo has posted videos documenting the pandas' growth on its YouTube channel that have garnered millions of views.

"I feel healed whenever I watch their videos," said 31-year-old office worker Jung Hyun-ye, who regularly watches the twice-weekly clips.

"I think I'm healed by their harmless expressions and relaxed manner," she added.

The cubs, which have just begun teething and crawling, are very healthy, zookeeper Kang Chul-won told reporters.

"We've never raised twins before, so we were very nervous, but I was happy seeing them grow up and I think the people watching them via social media were also happy," he said.

They will likely be revealed to the public early next year, the zoo said in a statement.

Ai Bao and Le Bao, the twins' parents, arrived in Korea in 2016 as a state gift from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In July 2020, the pair gave birth to a daughter, Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in Korea via natural breeding.

China has long deployed "panda diplomacy", gifting the animals to various countries, often to further its foreign policy aims.

Beijing only loans pandas to foreign zoos, which must usually return any offspring within a few years of their birth to join the country's breeding program. (AFP)
From her office that is rarely in the publics eye, Beaufort Countys elected treasurer, at her wits end, has resorted to using the South Carolina courts system to quell an extended dispute over how her employees should be compensated.

In her 12-page filing to South Carolinas Fourteenth judicial Circuit, Maria Walls, in her capacity of county treasurer, accuses former County Administrator Eric Greenway and current interim County Administrator John Robinson of meddling and playing politics in what should be the walled-off domain of the Treasurers office. The treasurer accuses the pair of preparing an altered and modified version of the treasures report to county council and citizens. Additional accusations include the pair of administrators interfering with everything from demotions and promotions to extra pay for the staff that worked through the threat of Hurricane Idalia while many other county offices were closed.

The lawsuit claims the pair of administrators employed tactics including directing administrative staff to no longer communicate with the treasurers office, countermanding raises and threatening to revoke the offices access to the human resources department, which is responsible for posting job listings and processing payroll.

Walls summarized her reasoning for filing the suit in a text message, This is a serious matter and not an action to be take lightly. State law has checks and balance in place to protect our citizens. The Countys violation of this separation of powers left no other options and created a dangerous precedent that goes beyond the treasurers office affecting the entire state. Similar to the Eargle vs Horry County case, Im confident the court will provide the clarification needed to move forward productively and preserve the protections of SC law intended for our citizens.

In the filing Walls acknowledges that she exhausted every reasonable effort to have County Administration to comply with the Home Rule Act

Home Rule keeps elected officials and county administration strictly separate. For instance, the county council can only direct the county administrator and not anyone who works under him. In the same vein, the administrator does not have authority over the treasurers staff.

I did not alter that dynamic, they did, Walls said.

In the suit Walls argues that she has the right to compensate her employees as she sees fit. She reiterated multiple times that she wants to give her employees raises so that her office can have competitive rates in todays job market. A starting position in her office starts at $17.98 an hour, according to Walls.

You cannot have good government without good employees, Walls said. I have a good team. I want to retain that good team.

We cannot find anyone willing to work for 17.98 an hour, she added.

Walls touted her offices retention rate stating she lost her first employee since the COVID-19 pandemic this year. The employee was a telecommuter with flexible hours who left her job for a higher paying brick and mortar position.

So if Im losing telecommuting staff, for higher pay, I mean, eventually its going to cause disruption in operations.

This has been an ongoing battle for Walls dating back at least as far as May, when she advocated for her budget request to council, but was ultimately turned down in a tight 6-5 vote.

Beaufort County is aware of the lawsuit filed by Treasurer Maria Walls, and we are unable to comment on pending litigation, said County spokesperson Hannah Nichols Thursday morning.

Former County Administrator Eric Greenway declined to comment on the matter Thursday morning.
An elderly Vietnam veteran who in 2018 killed two Florence police officers and wounded five others in an ambush-style attack will avoid a death penalty trial after he pleaded guilty Thursday to the killings and injuries in a non-publicized hearing in an Aiken County courtroom.

Fred Hopkins, 79, a disbarred lawyer who was an expert marksman, will be sentenced at a later date, Boyd Young, one of Hopkins defense attorneys, said after the hearing.

Under a plea agreement with the Florence solicitors office, Hopkins will get life sentences, Young said.

The killings of two police officers and wounding of five others was one of the largest shootings of police officers in South Carolina in modern times.

The sentencing of Hopkins, who had once posted on Facebook, I just love the smell of gunpowder in the mornins, will take place at a later date. When arrested, he had 129 guns stored at his home, investigators said.

In a running gun battle with police before he was arrested, Hopkins fired out of second-story windows and used three different weapons, two assault-type rifles and a pistol, police said.

State Judge Eugene Bubba Griffith accepted the plea. In 2019, Griffith presided over the Lexington County death penalty trial of Tim Jones, a software engineer who killed his five young children. The trial took nearly four weeks and some 60 witnesses testified.

Young estimated that a death penalty trial for Hopkins would have taken at least six or seven weeks. The plea spares the state a lot of expense, and the witnesses and family members of the victims a lot of heartbreak, Young said.

In October 2018, Hopkins fired at Florence police officers who were coming to his house to serve a search warrant in a sexual abuse case where his son would later plead guilty.

Several Florence city police officers were wounded, and Hopkins kept firing at other officers trying to rescue the wounded deputies, investigators said.

A two-hour standoff ensued, and police finally resorted to a bulletproof military vehicle to collect the wounded before Hopkins surrendered to a negotiator, police said.

Florence Police Sgt. Terrence Carraway died the day of the shooting and Florence County Sheriffs investigator Farrah Turner was wounded and died several weeks later. Five other officers were injured. Carraway was the first Florence officer to be killed in the line of duty in nearly 30 years, police said.

Florence County Solicitor Ed Clements of the 12th Judicial Circuit declined comment.

The case has been under a gag order, but relatives of the victims and others closely connected to the case were in the courtroom during the guilty plea. On Thursday afternoon, all online information about the case remained sealed.

The case was investigated by investigators with the Richland County Sheriffs Office.

Besides Young, other defense lawyers on the case included Bobby Bank, Patrick McLaughlin and Scott Gaustein.
Floridas declared war on liberal education and free thinking has paid out dividends to one of its standard bearers  up to $1.5 million a year, to be exact.

Thats how much Gov. Ron DeSantis conservative education experiment at New College of Florida in Sarasota might fork out on an annual basis to pay for the compensation of its new president, Richard Corcoran, a former Republican House speaker and previously DeSantis commissioner of education appointee.

When New College selected Corcoran as interim president in February, his base salary was already a whopping $700,000. Thats double what his predecessor made before the schools board of the trustees, remade by DeSantis, ousted her. With a housing allowance, insurance and other benefits, Corcorans full compensation package reached $1 million.

Thats to run a school of roughly 700 students. For comparison, the president of University of South Florida was offered a smaller base salary, $655,000, when she was hired last March to run an institution of 50,000 students.

Flawed analysis

Last week, New College  to no ones surprise  hired Corcoran permanently. An analysis commissioned by the school recommended his base salary fall between $487,110 and $867,777, with total compensation reaching up to $1,547,324. That range is based on executive pay at 12 universities that a consulting company said share similarities with New College.

It turns out the analysis compared apples to oranges.

The Tampa Bay Times found that all of those 12 schools are private with student bodies at least double New Colleges enrollment figures in 2022. The average compensation at those schools was almost twice as much as what Florida university presidents earn on average. It was almost three times higher than the average executive pay at the countrys highest-ranked liberal arts colleges, with the exception of New College and public military academies, according to the Times.

Corcoran does have a big task ahead of him. It is arduous work to turn a taxpayer-funded institution into a partisan body. Under his leadership, the board of trustees abolished the schools diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) office. It also voted to eliminate a gender studies program.

If DeSantis cronies cannot turn the liberal students who usually attend New College more conservative, they will at least control the ideas to which they are exposed in the classroom.

The Student Plaintiffs are adults capable of determining for themselves whether the viewpoints advanced by their various instructors . . . have merit, New College students and faculty stated in a federal lawsuit they filed in August against Corcoran and other Florida leaders. The suit challenges a law that banned college spending on DEI and general education courses based on theories that contend systemic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.

That was one of the bills the Republican-led Legislature passed banning what teachers and professors can say in the classroom on race, gender and LGBTQ issues. Thats essentially government dictating to faculty and students what ideas are true and false, as the lawsuit states.

Gone too far?

It is true that DEI initiatives and the lefts fixation with gender, race and identity politics have fallen prey to excesses  and in the process alienated even some like-minded people with its virtue signaling. We believe conservatives when they complain liberals have an outsized presence in academia, but its ludicrous to say that Floridas renowned university system is more preoccupied with churning out woke students than qualified professionals.

In their crusade against woke, Republicans have become self-righteous. If they complain about the ideological dominance of leftist academics, they have come up with a more extreme version of it  one that uses the power of the state to muzzle dissent and exclude different points of view.

Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist and now a New College trustee, thanks to DeSantis, wrote in a blog post that the changes at the school are meant to restore classical liberal education and to revive the pursuit of transcendent truth. Rufo wrote theres a precedent at other American colleges for abolishing academic departments that stray from a colleges scholarly mission in favor of ideological activism.

Except, at New College, it is the ideological activism of school leaders that dictates what programs get chopped.

Classical liberal education is yet another lofty term to justify moving higher education away from some of its mains tenets: fostering critical thinking and intellectual exploration. The ultimate goal seems to be to control young minds.

New College is paying top dollar to accomplish that, but Florida pays the ultimate price.
By Layli Foroudi and Michel Rose

PARIS (Reuters) -French police used teargas and water cannon to break up a banned rally in support of the Palestinian people in Paris on Thursday, as President Emmanuel Macron urged the French to remain united and refrain from bringing the Israel-Hamas conflict home.

Macron's interior minister had earlier banned pro-Palestinian protests, saying they were "likely to generate disturbances to public order".

France is home to Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities. The Middle East conflict has often stoked domestic tensions in the past.

"This event is an earthquake for Israel, the Middle East and beyond," Macron said in a solemn TV address. "Let's not pursue at home ideological adventures by imitating or projecting."

"Let's not add, through illusions or calculations, domestic divides to international divides," he said. "The shield of unity will protect us from hatred and excesses."

Macron said the government had acted to boost police protection of Jewish sites, including schools and synagogues, and that there could be no justification for atrocities.

"There is no 'Yes, but'. Those who confuse the Palestinian cause with the justification of terrorism are making a moral, political and strategic mistake."

Before he spoke, the far-left France Unbowed party faced criticism for refusing to call the Hamas attack an act of terrorism, causing tension with its Socialist and Green opposition partners.

BANNED RALLY

Despite the ban, several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in central Paris in separate groups that police forces sought to keep from merging.

Demonstrators chanted "Israel murderer" and "Macron accomplice." Macron has previously condemned the deadly attack by the Palestinian militant Hamas group and voiced solidarity with Israel.

"We live in a country of civil law, a country where we have the right to take a stand and to demonstrate. (It is unfair) to forbid for one side and to authorise for the other," said Charlotte Vautier, 29, an employee at a non-profit who took part in the rally.

Earlier this week, Hamas called for protests across the Muslim world on Friday to support Palestinians.

Two pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Paris had already been banned on Thursday for fear of outbursts when interior minister Gerald Darmanin told prefects to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country.

Since the Hamas cross-border attack from Gaza on Saturday, French police have arrested more than 20 people in dozens of antisemitic acts, including harassment of Jewish children by fellow pupils at school, the government said on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Layli Foroudi, Antonoa Cimine, Noemie Olive and Michel Rose; writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Benoit Van Overstraeten; editing by Mark Heinrich and Howard Goller)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Most of the 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip have no electricity and no water. And, with hundreds of Israeli strikes raining down on their tiny enclave, they have nowhere to run.

The Palestinian territory, one of the most crowded places on Earth, has been under siege since Saturday in a near-constant bombardment that Gazan health officials say has killed more than 1,000 people. The blitz is retaliation for a devastating attack on Israel by Gaza's ruling group Hamas which the Israeli military says killed more than 1,200 people.

Gaza's sole power station, which had been working intermittently for days, cut out on Wednesday after running out of fuel. Without power, water can't be pumped into houses. At night there's nearly total darkness punctuated by fireballs and the pin-pricks of light from phones used as flashlights.

"I lived through all the wars and incursions in the past, but I have never witnessed anything worse than this war," said Yamen Hamad, 35, a father-of-four, whose home had been destroyed by Israeli strikes on the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.

At a hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, relatives and friends lined up outside the overloaded morgue where bodies were laid out on the floor because coolers were full or had no power.

The mourners were desperate to bury their loved ones swiftly before the unseasonable heat took its toll. They spoke briefly over the bodies, praying for the souls to rest in peace, before they carried them to graves nearby, with stretchers if they were available, or otherwise without.

Reuters interviewed more than three dozen people in Gaza, and most echoed Hamad's sentiments. They painted a picture of dread and hopelessness in the face of what they described as the worst violence they'd ever seen.

With the strip's only other border, to Egypt, blocked by Egyptian authorities, the people said they were trapped. They feared the worst was yet to come, including a possible ground invasion, as Israel seeks retribution for the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in the country's 75-year history.

That surprise raid, launched on Saturday, saw Hamas militants burst out of Gaza and kill hundreds of people, leaving corpses strewn around a music festival and a kibbutz community. Scores of Israelis and others have been taken to Gaza as hostages, some paraded through the streets.

The Hamas attack drew strong condemnation by the United States and other Western governments. The militant group's 1988 founding charter called for Israel's destruction, and the group is branded a terrorist organisation by Israel, the United States, the European Union, Canada, Egypt and Japan.

CIVILIAN LOSS 'UNPRECEDENTED'

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has pledged intensify the military campaign in Gaza, saying on Wednesday that Israel would wipe Hamas "off the face of the Earth".

Beit Hanoun, near the frontier with Israel, was among the first places hit hard by retaliatory Israeli strikes, with many roads and buildings destroyed and thousands of displaced, according to Hamas and local residents.

There was no escape for Ala al-Kafarneh's family.

The 31-year-old said he fled the town on Saturday with his pregnant wife, his father, brothers, cousins and in-laws. They drove to Beach Refugee Camp on the coast, where they hoped they would be safer, but air attacks began targeting that area too so they headed to Sheikh Radwan, another district deeper east.

On Tuesday night, an airstrike hit the building where Kafarneh and his family were sheltering, killing all of them except him, he added.

"We escaped from danger into death," Kafarneh said outside the Shifa hospital in Gaza City, his head cut and a plaster cast running from his shoulder to his wrist. He was sitting on a pavement near hundreds of other people living in the open next to the hospital. Some said they hoped that its presence might offer them some protection from the bombardment.

"I'm homeless now," said Youssef Dayer, 45, sitting on the ground by the hospital. "Maybe it's safe. Maybe. It's a peaceful civilian place, right? Maybe not. Nowhere seems safe," he added.

Some people outside the hospital had brought blankets or strips of cardboard to sleep on, others had flung themselves straight down onto the bare ground. There were long queues for people to use the few toilets inside the hospital.

More than 175,000 Gazans have fled their homes since Saturday, according to the United Nations. Some aid agencies in Gaza say the conditions are the worst they can remember even after repeated conflicts and 16 years of an Israeli blockade since Hamas took power there in 2007 following a brief civil war with forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction.

"The civilian loss this time ... is unprecedented," said Hisham Muhanna, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza.

At another hospital, Medecins Sans Frontiers doctor Mohammad Abu Mughaseeb said medical supplies had been lacking for years. The intensified Israeli siege meant fast-dwindling stocks would run out in weeks, he said.

"If things continue like this for a few days the health system will collapse," he said after sleeping at the hospital because his own home had been damaged in a blast.

The lack of electricity has cut off much of the enclave's water supply. Men and boys stood near one of the few supplies in Khan Younis loading huge tanks onto three-wheeled rickshaws, carts they dragged by hand and a small wagon pulled by a horse.

The Gazan health ministry said hospitals and other medical facilities running on fuel generators were expected to run out of power in the next few days. The ministry said it feared that sewage treatment facilities would also come to a halt, leading to growing waste and disease across the territory.

BUILDING COLLAPSED ON ME

Dawn in Gaza brings the sight of new destruction, with some entire blocks razed by strikes.

With the roads smashed up by the bombardment, civil defence workers are often unable to reach bomb sites and local residents must haul away the rubble themselves.

"They took the whole building down. I was sleeping here when it collapsed on top of me," said a man who had managed to clamber out of a collapsed building in the Zeitoun district of Gaza, who didn't give his name.

He and another man were searching inside another building, using the lights from their phones as they climbed an inner stairwell to reach smashed up apartments where they pulled out several survivors and some bodies.

Hamas, as the de facto government of the Gaza Strip, runs the police, hospitals, ambulance service, plus the civil emergency department.

U.N. schools have become the main places of shelter for Gazans who have fled their homes, with families crowded into classrooms, some sleeping on mattresses others on blankets.

At one school in Gaza City, the sound of blasts frightened the children, keeping them and their parents awake. Many people sat outside in the open, scared they'll be buried by airstrikes that pancake concrete buildings.

In Khan Younis, an ambulance stood at the end of an alleyway with its siren blaring, a man sat inside cradling his young daughter, their eyes staring wide from faces covered in dust. "Don't be scared, don't be scared," he whispered over and over.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Additional reporting by Abir Al Ahmar in Dubai; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Pravin Char)
The Bibb County jail holds people charged with everything from murder to tax fraud.

But turtle smuggling? Thats unheard of. Until this week, at least.

Bibb sheriffs deputies charged South Carolina native Steven Verren Baker, 43, with abusing 15 of the web-footed critters at a house in east Macon, a sheriffs office arrest warrant said.

Baker established himself as a reptile racketeer of sorts, his criminal history shows. He did time in federal prison in 2019 for acting as the ringleader of an illegal turtle trafficking business, a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office of South Carolina read.

The turtles were sold from South Carolina to Asian businessmen on the black market, the statement read. The reptile sales were connected to a larger scandal involving sellers in Hong Kong and New York.

While Baker had not yet sold the 15 turtles hed taken in Macon, he was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated animal cruelty for mistreating a variety of species. The group of sliders, side necks and more were abused to the point of blindness, sepsis and fungal infections, the warrant said.

The turtles ranged in type from rare albinos to the Chinese golden thread turtle, which is considered endangered in the wild, according to Reptiles Magazine.

Bakers underground animal trade stretches back further. The State, a newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, reported that before Baker sold turtles under the table in 2019, he was charged with wildlife trafficking another time in 2016.

Bakers 2019 turtle-selling scheme unraveled when inspectors opened packages at New Yorks JFK International Airport to find turtles nested in piles of noodles and candy, The State reported. A New York seller then led investigators to Bakers operation in South Carolina.

Baker was still listed on the Bibb County jail website Thursday morning with a bond of $8,250. It was unclear in the warrant how long hed been in Macon before his arrest.
Matthew Shephard

President Obama signed the Matthew Shephard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act into law in 2009. But the effort to pass this landmark legislation started much earlier.

Legislative activists Michael Lieberman and David Stacy were there from the beginning, helping craft and lobby for the legislation which, among other things, expanded federal hate crime laws to include crimes motivated by "actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability."

"I worked on the law for 13 years to get it passed," said Lieberman.

"It was 13 years and 14 separate floor votes between the House and the Senate over that period of time," said Stacy.

"It made it possible to prosecute cases involving victims who are attacked, targeted because of their sexual orientation. That was not possible under federal law before then," said Lieberman.

Matthew Shephard, who's namesake is attached to the bill, was kidnapped, brutally beaten and left for dead in a field outside of Laramie, Wyoming.

While Shephard's death was largely viewed as a hate crime, it couldn't be prosecuted as such federally because there were no federal criminal statutes that included sexual orientation.

"Everybody knows what a burning cross means and for law enforcement to treat that as trespass, damage to property, unlawful burning, you're missing something, you're missing something big," said Lieberman.

SEE MORE: Racist Walmart shooter agrees to pay $5 million to victims' families

"When you commit a crime against somebody, it scares more than just that person. It's intended to intimidate a community," said Stacy.

In the years since the Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed, it's been used to prosecute hate crimes after major incidents, including the killing of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, and the Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting  the deadliest antisemitic hate crime in U.S. history.

But its first use in a criminal prosecution came in Mississippi in 2015 after the killing of Mercedes Williamson, a 17-year-old trans woman.

Jerome Lorrain, a retired FBI agent, was the lead investigator on Williamson's case.

"Once we examined the body and determined that Mercedes was transgender, well, that brought a different element to it," said Lorrain.

Lorrain says prosecuting the case under the new law at the time was risky because it hadn't been used successfully yet.

"But motives matter, and we felt like we needed for the whole story to be told, and the victims deserve that the truth come out," said Lorrain.

Josh Vallum pleaded guilty to Williamson's murder and stated in open court he was motivated by her gender.

"It showed that, if you commit a hate crime in Mississippi, the FBI is going to investigate it, the U.S. Attorney's Office is going to prosecute it and you will be held accountable. And so it sent a very strong message  in Mississippi but also throughout the United States," said Lorrain.

According to the FBI, there were more than 10,000 reported hate crimes in 2021  the most ever recorded.
Its been almost two weeks since the House Republicans ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy and they have yet to elect a new leader of the chamber.

Following the failure of Majority Leader Steve Scalise to get the support needed from his own party, its now up to the man who came up short against Mr Scalise for the nomination  Rep Jim Jordan  to make an attempt.

The House GOP remains divided, dysfunctional and disorganised, with members telling reporters over the weekend that the pressure is mounting on holdouts to support Mr Jordan.

Mr Jordan, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, is moving towards a vote on the floor of the House on Tuesday (17 October).

Mr Jordan told CNN that hes planning to go to the floor of the House for a speaker vote at 12pm ET on Tuesday, regardless if he has the votes he needs or not.

Mr Jordan said previously that he didnt want to go to the floor before securing the support of 217 Republicans.

Well go the floor tomorrow, he told Manu Raju.

Thats how our great system works. And we will go to the floor tomorrow. Its not about pressuring anybody just about we got to have a speaker. You cant open the House and do the work of the American people and help our dearest and closest friend Israel, he added.

We set it for 12pm. I feel good about it, he said.

When Mr Jordan was asked if he would move on to a second vote if he fails on the first, he simply said: We are going to elect a speaker tomorrow.

If you dont have a speaker, so we get a speaker, we get the House open and we get to work on the resolution and supplemental for Israel, he told the network. And we get back to work for the American people. Thats what Ive committed to doing.

When asked about his earlier comments on only going to the floor after having secured 217 votes, Mr Jordan said, I do think thats, thats ideal, but  I dont know if theres any way to ever get that in the room. I would love that. But I think the only way to do this is the way the Founders intended.

While Mr Jordan and his allies have shrunk the number of members set to vote against him, he remains below the threshold of 217 votes.

The Ohio Republican won a nomination vote on Friday (13 October), receiving 124 votes against 81 for Rep Austin Scott, who put his name in for contention while noting he didnt actually want to be speaker. Observers noted that the support for Mr Scott revealed the substantial antipathy towards Mr Jordan within the conference.

Mr McCarthy, the ex-speaker, pushed for a second vote on Mr Jordans nomination, during which 152 members voted yes and 55 said no.

While Mr Jordans team says they have minimised that number over the weekend, the number of members opposed to his speakership was estimated to be in the double digits on Monday morning, according to Punchbowl News.

By Monday afternoon, it was becoming increasingly clear that the tide was turning. The moderates were beginning to cave.

Jim Jordan is trying to become speaker (REUTERS)

Accordingly, Republicans supporting Mr Jordan pushed to bring the vote to the floor as a way to put public pressure on the holdouts. Several votes may take place depending on what the opposition looks like on Tuesday. Those backing Mr Jordan have said that the backlash from the Trump wing of the GOP will be fierce against those blocking the Ohioan.

A staff member from the Hannity programme on Fox News wrote an email to holdouts asking why theyre not backing Mr Jordan, but the email is reportedly having the opposite effect, with its pressuring tone possibly pushing members away from the Judiciary chair, according to Axios.

Mr Jordan is also trying to push the House GOP closer to a presidential candidate  former White House incumbent Donald Trump  in the middle of a primary with those not backing him likely supporting other contenders.

Several members of the GOP establishment were working to take down Mr Jordans speaker bid before the lay of the land began to turn.

Jordan looking more and more likely to be able to get across the line

A number of Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee as well as the Appropriations Committee were reported to be set to vote against Mr Jordan indefinitely, according to Punchbowl News, as they were sceptical of his beliefs and record on government and defence funding.

But Mr Jordan is now looking more and more likely to be able to get across the line and become speaker.

A number of holdouts, such as Reps Mike Rogers, Ken Calvert, and Anne Wagner, have now announced that following conversations with Mr Jordan, they are now set to back his bid for speaker.

Notably, Mr Calvert won reelection in Californias 41st district last year with 52.3 per cent of the vote and Ms Wagner is reported to have personal issues with Mr Jordan.

Rep Mike Lawler of New York represents a district won by President Joe Biden in 2020 and pushed hard for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to be reinstated, but in a recording obtained by Politico, he can be heard telling a constituent on Sunday that he would back Mr Jordan if he had the votes.

Mr Rogers, the chair of the Armed Services Committee, and Mr Calvert, whos on the appropriations panel, both suggested that they had gotten assurances from Mr Jordan on issues such as defence and government funding as well as the farm bill.

But funding for Ukraine in the war against Russia wasnt mentioned, and its likely to be axed in a chamber headed by Mr Jordan.

There were reportedly about 10 Republicans who were steadfastly against a Jordan speakership. This would have been enough to permanently block Mr Jordan as he can only lose four of the 221 Republicans in the chamber to reach the 217 votes he needs in the face of unified Democratic opposition. But the Republican holdouts were starting to vanish on Monday.

There were whispers that GOP rightwingers might have moved to employ an internal resolution to get rid of the entire Republican leadership in the House. There was also a suggestion that another internal speaker race be held, where the top candidate is nominated for speaker, the second becomes majority leader, and on it goes.

Some legislators also indicated that choosing a speaker by House resolution on a plurality vote could be an option.

But both of these plans are unlikely to come to fruition.

Moderates always cave. A tale as old as time

GOP House members close to the leadership seem increasingly sure that Mr Jordan will win the speakership on Tuesday, telling The Washington Post that if Mr Jordan isnt successful on the first ballot, hes set to win on the second.

Moderates always cave. A tale as old as time, one member told the paper.

On 13 October, Sahil Kapur of NBC News noted that a GOP staffer said that he was sure that Mr Jordan would get the gavel.

The people opposing him are moderates. Either he gets it or the moderates for the first time ever grow a spine, the aide told NBC.

On Monday, Mr Kapur added: Of note: today is World Spine Day.

Florida Democrat Jared Moskowitz piled on the criticism of the backtracking GOP moderates,

Jordan will win the speakership tomorrow. It may take multiple rounds. Moderates will cave. This was always the plan by the Freedom Caucus. It wasnt just about removing McCarthy, but installing one of their own. Freedom Caucus played chess. The rest played checkers, Mr Moskowitz said on X.

If Jordan fails, whos up?

If Mr Jordan is unable to grasp the gavel, a number of Republicans have mentioned Louisiana Rep Mike Johnson as a possible next option. The vice chair of the Republican conference, 51, has been floated alongside Majority Whip Tom Emmer, 62, who has spent the last half-decade in the leadership, with most of his time going to chairing the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

While Mr Emmer has some backers on the right of the party, large parts of the Trump wing arent as supportive, Punchbowl News notes.

Mr McCarthy may start believing in an unlikely comeback if the speaker race doesnt come to a resolution this week. This would require at least four of the eight members who voted against him to flip.

Many GOP members have told the press that their party is so divided that no candidate can get 217 votes from the party, meaning that votes from Democrats may be required to get over the line.

But there have been no major discussions between the parties and the Democrats would use their leverage to push for major concessions, and its unclear what a deal would look like.

Any member of the chamber could simply step onto the floor when the House opens and put forward a privileged resolution to strengthen and widen the powers of the temporary speaker, Rep Patrick McHenry of North Carolina. The McCarthy ally and famed gavel-slammer could also be elected as the permanent speaker.

The background

The fresh chaos emerged after the initial GOP nominee for speaker, Mr Scalise, declared on Thursday (12 October) that he had been unable to secure the support he needed to take the vote to the House floor.

If you look at where our conference is, theres still work to be done, he said. Our conference still has to come together. And its not there.

There are still some people that have their own agendas, he added at the time. And I was very clear we have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs this country is counting on us to come back together.

The House GOP met on Friday (13 October), once again rejecting rules changes to how they elect their leaders. Among the proposed changes was a requirement that for a representative to be nominated for speaker, they must get 217 votes within the conference  the number of votes needed on the House floor  to be nominated, not a simple majority, according to CNN.

This would prevent Mr Scalise from having been nominated in the first place, as he received 113 votes to Mr Jordans 99 in the first internal vote.

Another proposed rule would kick people off committees if they dont follow through and vote on the floor the way they said they would in the conference. But the party voted not to adopt the new rules, according to Politico.

I think hes gonna have a math problem as well

The focus is now back on Mr Jordan, but a number of his party colleagues initially believed that it was likely that he would end up failing in the same way.

I think hes gonna have a math problem as well, Rep Mike Garcia told Axios last week, with Rep Greg Murphy adding that its going to be hard for the Ohio conservative to become speaker.

Any deal with Democrats would be to elect a Republican Speaker

Rep Mike Lawler, a freshman New York Republican in a district won by President Joe Biden in 2020, appeared on Bloomberg TV last week saying that all the options must be exhausted before any Republican will turn to Democrats to possibly make a deal on who can become speaker.

Any deal with Democrats would be to elect a Republican Speaker, he said at the time amid suggestions that five Republicans could cross the aisle and back Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat.

Steve Scalise announces hes out of the speakers race (Getty Images)

Last week, members of both parties appeared to be opening up to a possible bipartisan deal to elect a speaker as a number of Republicans were and continue to be worried that no one can win a House vote with only GOP votes because of the division within their conference.

Rep Dan Kildee, a member of the Democratic leadership in the House, told Axios at the time that theres a sentiment building around [a bipartisan deal] among Democrats and Republicans.

Meanwhile, Rep Maria Salazar, a member of the moderate Republican Governance Group, told the outlet that were open to anything thats reasonable, adding that bipartisanship is not a sin.

And Rep Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican who has a reputation for making deals across the aisle, told Axios that at this point, there are enough Republicans and Democrats saying weve got to get this fixed while Rep Greg Landsman, an Ohio Democrat, said that he absolutely is seeing Republicans open up to a deal, saying: Yes, I mean youre seeing that.

A group of 10 lawmakers including members of both parties were having initial discussions last week, according to a moderate GOP member.

The question is who gets you to the largest minority of the majority, the lawmaker told Axios. Is it Don Bacon, who gets 20 [GOP] votes and 200 Democrats? Is it French Hill who gets 100 votes from Republicans? And the fewer Republicans, the more dangerous this is  not just politically, but structurally.

The lawmaker, who requested to remain anonymous, noted that another issue is how many candidates have to fail before members are open to a deal.

Kevin, Steve, Jordan, Emmer  how many losses do you have to have to make that an acceptable outcome? the lawmaker asked.

While coalition government is foreign to Congress, even as its common in state legislatures and internationally, the House is setting precedent every day, the lawmaker added.

Whatever solution we have will be unprecedented

Before Mr McCarthys ouster nearly two weeks ago, a speaker had never before been voted out.

Whatever solution we have will be unprecedented, the moderate GOP member said.

Mr Landsman said that Democrats want institutional reforms, rules changes that allow for bipartisan votes ... not every couple months but every day.

But heavy scepticism remained last week that any bipartisan deal would be possible after every single Democrat voted to boot Mr McCarthy.

Rep Blake Moore, a Utah Republican, told Axios that there was no sense of [bipartisanship] when it was the motion to vacate a week and a half ago, so I dont think anything is credible that could be realistic at the moment.

Mr Bacon said before Mr Scalise announced his withdrawal that at some point were going to be exasperated [and say], Okay, this is not working.

Following Mr Scalise making his failure official, Mr Bacon was asked if Republicans were closer to that point.

I think we are ... Its going to be a sort of consensus opinion between a group of us, he told Axios.
(Reuters) -Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Wednesday, in the first telephone call between the two leaders since a China-brokered deal between Tehran and Riyadh to resume ties.

The two leaders' call came as Israel carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a deadly attack by Palestinian Hamas militants in Israel.

Raisi and the Saudi crown prince discussed the "need to end war crimes against Palestine," Iranian state media said.

The Saudi crown prince, for his part, "affirmed that the Kingdom is making all possible efforts in communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation," Saudi state news agency SPA said.

He also reiterated Saudi Arabia's rejection of targeting civilians in any way, SPA added.

Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to resume ties in March under a deal negotiated by China after seven years of hostility, which had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East, from Yemen to Syria.

Asked about Raisi's call with the crown prince, a senior U.S. State Department official said Washington, which staunchly backs Israel in its fight against Hamas, was in "constant contact with Saudi leaders".

The official added that the U.S. was asking its partners with channels or relations with Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah or Iran "to get Hamas to stand down from its attacks, to release hostages, keep Hezbollah out (and) keep Iran out of the fray."

(Reporting By Dubai newsroomEditing by Chris Reese, Diane Craft and Lincoln Feast.)
Israel was warned of a potential violent attack days before the Hamas militant group launched a barrage of rockets into the country, a US congressional panel chair said.

Egypt had warned Israelis "that an event like this could happen" at least "three days" before the Hamas attack last weekend, House Foreign Affairs chair Michael McCaul told reporters on Wednesday following a closed-door intelligence briefing on the crisis.

"I don't want to get too much into classified, but a warning was given," the Republican member of Congress said, according to AFP. "I think the question was at what level."

Israel denied the reports of Egypt sending a warning as "absolutely false".

"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," prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a tweet.

Hamass ability to launch a complex assault from the heavily surveilled Gaza Strip appeared to be an unprecedented intelligence failure by Israel and its ally, the US, according to experts.

An Egyptian intelligence official earlier this week claimed that Cairo had repeatedly warned Israel that "something big" was being planned from Gaza.

"We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big," an unnamed Egyptian official was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.

The official said Israel "underestimated such warnings" from Gaza and focused on the occupied West Bank.

Israeli jets have pounded Gaza City for days in retaliation against the weekend attack by Hamas militants who rampaged through towns and villages, killing 1,200 people and taking scores of hostages, including foreign nationals.

The death toll in Gaza has risen to 1,200, with some 340,000 of Gazas 2.3 million population displaced due to the war.

"We are not quite sure how we missed it," Mr McCaul said, adding the attack may have been planned as long as a year ago.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Israeli troops gathered in multiple divisions on the border of the enclave as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) prepared for a ground invasion of Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to crush and destroy Hamas. Every Hamas member is a dead man, he said in a televised address.
Prosecutors on Thursday indicted opposition leader Lee Jae-myung without physical detention over corruption charges, two weeks after a court rejected an arrest warrant sought for him.

Lee of the Democratic Party of Korea has been accused of breach of trust, bribery and other charges stemming from his time as the mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul, from 2014-2018 in connection with a scandal-ridden land development project in the city's Bundang district.

The prosecution has accused Lee of committing a breach of trust worth 20 billion won ($15 million) by giving special treatment to a private developer in the Baekhyeon-dong district apartment project between 2014 and 2015.

The prosecution of Lee, along with his right-hand man named Jeong Jin-sang as an accomplice, by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office came after a Seoul court decided on Sept. 27 not to issue an arrest warrant for him.

The National Assembly had earlier voted to lift the opposition leader's immunity from arrest in a surprise, narrow 149-136 vote attributed to a number of dissenting ballots from his own party that commands a majority of parliamentary seats.

By law, sitting lawmakers are immune from arrest while parliament is in session unless the National Assembly passes a motion giving its consent to the arrest, a measure intended to shield lawmakers from political persecution.

Lee and his party have vehemently lambasted the prosecution for what they called the "persecution" of the opposition party and accused the Yoon Suk Yeol government of an attempt to "remove a political enemy."

Lee is already standing trial on two other separate cases, involving alleged election law violations during his run for the 2022 presidential election and corruption charges connected to another property development project launched during his term as Seongnam mayor, respectively.

Prosecutors are also expected to additionally indict Lee in the near future on two other cases, including one involving an underwear company's suspected illegal transfer of $8 million to North Korea.(Yonhap)
By John Geddie

TOKYO (Reuters) -Israel's ambassador to Japan said on Thursday that his host country should be "vigilant" and look at what Hamas was doing with the aid it has previously extended to Palestinians.

Hamas militants breached the border fence enclosing the Gaza Strip enclave at the weekend, rampaging through towns and villages and killing 1,200 people while taking scores of hostages, the Israeli military has said.

Israeli jets have pounded Gazan targets for days in retribution, and the death toll there has risen to 1,200, Palestinian media reported, citing Gaza's health ministry.

"Japan should be vigilant and look at what Hamas is doing with the aid. Is it going really to the population?," Gilad Cohen said at a press conference in Tokyo.

He showed an image, widely shared on social media, of what he said was a Israeli kidnapped by Hamas lying bound next to sacks containing aid from Japan to Palestinians.

Reuters could not immediately verify the image and Japan's foreign ministry did not immediately have comment.

Japan, which calls for a political solution to allow Israel and a future independent Palestinian state to coexist, has provided $2.3 billion of assistance to Palestinians over the last decade, according to a foreign ministry document.

Cohen, who held talks with a senior Japanese foreign ministry official on Wednesday, said Israel had offered to look into whether the assistance Japan was providing to Palestinians was being misused.

The European Union backtracked earlier this week on an announcement that it was suspending aid to Palestinians, and later clarified it was reviewing the programmes.

LANGUAGE SHIFT

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Thursday told a regular press conference: "We firmly condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups."

In statements earlier this week, Japanese officials had described Hamas as Palestinian militants but had not used the term "terrorist" or "terrorism".

Matsuno said the change in language reflected the "cruel" and "indiscriminate" nature of the attacks.

Cohen commended Japan for describing Hamas' acts as "terrorism" and for saying Israel had a right to defend itself.

Matsuno also said, however, that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip was becoming more serious day by day and Japan was closely monitoring the situation with serious concern.

Cohen declined to say whether the issue of Israel's blockade and barrage of air strikes on the Gaza strip, which has been criticised by humanitarian organisations, had arisen in his talks with Japan.

(Reporting by John Geddie, Kaori Kaneko, Francis Tang and Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Edwina Gibbs)
Missle launching

High over Israeli territory, a volley of rockets explode midair. It's the work of one of the most advanced ground-based aerial defense systems in the world.

"It has saved countless lives, not just in Israel, but on the other side of the borders as well," said Steve Zipperstein, a distinguished senior fellow at UCLA Center for Middle East Development.

Here's how it works:

- A radar system monitors for more than a thousand aerial targets at a time and finds incoming rockets.

- A computer then determines whether the rocket is headed for populated areas.

If it is, it sends a message to fire a guided missile to destroy the rocket.

"You have very limited time to find some kind of secure place, 30 seconds at most, before either the interceptor works, or if it's not one of the ones that it can take out, then you're going to be put in jeopardy if you didn't go into a basement or a bunker somewhere," said Howard Stoffer, an international affairs professor at the University of New Haven.

Israel reportedly has at least 10 batteries of interceptor missiles around the country.

Each are designated to defend about 90 square miles with some 60 missiles, according to an analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

SEE MORE: State Department: American death toll in Israel increases to 22

That's 600 missiles  locked and loaded ready to intercept rockets on a moment's notice.

"You can imagine, not speaking of the current war, but in the prior rounds of conflict when Hamas fired rockets into Israel. Thousands of rockets in the prior conflicts in 2021 and 2014 and 2009. If those rockets had not been intercepted and had landed and killed Israeli civilians, the Israeli retaliation would have been far, far more comprehensive, resulting in far more deaths on the Palestinian side of the border," said Zipperstein.

The system was put into development in the mid-2000s. It became operational in 2011, with a good chunk of financing from the U.S.

U.S.-based Raytheon helped supply some of the technology for the system, and the U.S. government has access to the system's design and technology.

The Congressional Research Office said in a report last year the U.S. has provided close to $2 billion for Iron Dome development, parts and maintenance.

"It is a tool for peace. It is purely defensive," said Zipperstein.

Israel is expected to request munitions to replenish the Iron Dome from its heavy use amid the current war with Hamas in Gaza.

Each interceptor missile costs some $40,000 to $50,000. Some estimates put it as high as $100,000.

"Last night, there were already shipments that arrived probably at Ben Gurion on a military part of the airfield. And we will keep shipping as much as and as often as we can until, you know, the rocket fire from Hamas is suppressed," said Stoffer.

While the Israel Defense Forces have said in the past that the Iron Dome is 96% effective in intercepting rockets from Palestinian territory, it hasn't detailed its efficacy in the current fighting.

"Hamas is trying to figure out ways to overwhelm the Iron Dome by firing thousands as opposed to hundreds of rockets at once. And even though rockets, some rockets have managed to slip through the defensive shield of Iron Dome, the system is performing, at least by public accounts, very, very well," said Zipperstein.
In an ink illustration, two siblings clutch their worldly possessions  a few bags and suitcases bearing the label 13660. The same digits are pinned to their clothing, denoting the number their family was assigned at the detention camp they are about to enter.

Elsewhere, a watercolor painting shows rows of army-style barracks in the dead of winter, detainees trudging between them through the snow.

These are just two of almost 20 works by Japanese American artists incarcerated in the United States during World War II displayed in Tokyo earlier this month. As well as shining a rare light on prisoners experiences, the exhibition  and its location, at the official residence of US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel  was symbolic of growing calls to better acknowledge a controversial chapter in American history.

A tranquil watercolor by imprisoned artist Kango Takamura depicts a winter's day at the Manzanar camp in California's Owens Valley. - Courtesy Japanese American National Museum

The detention of Japanese Americans, most of whom were US citizens, was enacted by Franklin Roosevelt via executive order following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. It was the largest single forced relocation in US history, with around 120,000 people of Japanese descent incarcerated around the country.

While the US government formally apologized in 1988, granting $20,000 in reparations to each surviving prisoner, the trauma of that time shaped generations of Japanese and Asian Americans.

For Robert T. Fujioka, vice chair of Californias Japanese American National Museum (JANM), which lent all of works in the exhibition, highlighting this history is more important than ever as racism and xenophobia toward people of Asian descent continue to surge in the wake of Covid-19.

This whole racist situation has never been as bad, I think, since (World War II), he told CNN at the exhibition reception.

If we dont keep telling this story, and if we dont have people hear about it, do their research and learn about it, then we might as well just lay over, he added. You have to constantly remind people what democracy is all about.

An illustration from Mine Okubos graphic memoir, "Citizen 13660," depicts the artist and her brother with the only belongings they were allowed to take into the camp. - Courtesy Japanese American National Museum

The artworks, some of which are now showing at the Museum of Modern Art in Wakayama, Japan, also serve to preserve disappearing first-hand memories of the camps. All the artists whose works were displayed have now passed away.

Its gratifying that this exhibit is being shown in Japan by a prominent US official because it demonstrates a commitment to remembering and sharing this history outside of the US, said Alice Yang, chair of the history department at the University of California Santa Cruz, who has extensively researched the legacy of Japanese American detention and the subsequent struggle for reparations.

It also draws attention to the role of artists in documenting a visual record of the camp experience, (as) cameras were not allowed, added Yang, who was not directly involved in the exhibition.

Depicting incarceration

The art spans a range of media, from oil paintings to pen drawings. The themes are just as diverse. Providing everyday snapshots  from women doing laundry in open troughs, to men killing time with a game of cards  many of the works depict people continuing life as normally as possible.

Other pieces offer a glimpse into the inner lives and private turmoil of those incarcerated. Prominent artist Hisako Hibi, who moved to the US as a child before being imprisoned in California and Utah, painted several portraits of her children at the camps  including Study (pictured top), which shows them sitting at desks and writing on paper.

As a mother with two young children, Hibi knew all too well about the challenges these women suffered as she painted and taught painting (in the camps), Yang said. The fact that Hibi produced over 70 paintings and numerous sketches while raising two kids at Topaz (a camp containing thousands of prisoners in Utah) is remarkable in itself.

Hisako Hibi's "Laundry Room" depicts everyday life in a Utah prison camp that held thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II. - Courtesy Japanese American National Museum

Yang added that the collections diversity reflects the varied experiences of detainees  perspectives that were overlooked by US officials at the time.

For instance, Hibi and fellow artist Mine Okubos depictions of female prisoners lives, such as a lack of privacy in shared bathrooms, contrasts with government accounts that portrayed women as gold-star mothers and camp employees, Yang said.

Detainees attitudes toward the war and Roosevelts executive order also varied greatly. Fujioka said his grandfather declared the United States is the greatest country in the world as he was being sent to Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas  despite the fact he had tears just streaming down his face, the JANM vice chair added, describing his familys account. Visibly emotional as he spoke, Fujioka said that many of those incarcerated, including his mother, hoped their cooperation would prove their Americanness to their captors.

Others pushed back against the executive order  perhaps most famously Fred Korematsu, who resisted incarceration and went into hiding before being captured and imprisoned. He later sued the US government, although the Supreme Court ruled against him in 1944, an infamous decision that was eventually rejected by the same court in 2018.

Vice chair of the Japanese American National Museum, Robert T. Fujioka, stood beside Henry Sugimoto's "Fresh Air Break from Fresno to Jerome Camp," a painting depicting the camp where Fujioka's own mother and grandfather were incarcerated. - Emiko Jozuka/CNN

Through it all, incarcerated artists documented what they could, using whatever materials were available. One artist, Henry Sugimoto, even painted on pillowcases, bedsheets and canvas mattress covers.

I think everybody realized they had to capture the moment, just to preserve the unconscionability of the whole situation, said Fujioka. They just knew there would come a time where this was important, (that) they were recording history.

Preserving a legacy

The location of the exhibition within the US ambassadors residence was as symbolic as the venue itself: The artworks hung in the very room where General Douglas MacArthur held his historic meeting with Emperor Hirohito after Japans surrender in 1945.

It was selected for all the history thats in this (drawing room and) in this building, Ambassador Rahm Emanuel told CNN.

The detention of Japanese Americans, Emanuel said, was a shameful chapter in American history. But the American story is owning that shame, being accountable for it. And part of democracy, and part of America, is learning from our past, he added.

"This lovingly painted domestic scene could be anywhere  but it was in an American detention camp," reads an exhibition note accompanying Tokio Ueyama's painting, "The Evacuee." - Courtesy Japanese American National Museum

JANM President and CEO Ann Burroughs told CNN at the exhibition that the event offered an opportunity to educate Japanese people about this extraordinarily dark period in American history because its as much Japanese history as it is American history.

The artworks also serve to highlight the difficulties the incarcerated generation faced upon release after the camps were closed. Many had lost their homes and businesses while imprisoned, leaving them little to return to.

The artist Sugimoto, known for his emotive oil paintings, was practically destitute when he left camp, said Yang. Many of Sugimotos pre-detention paintings, which he had put in storage, were auctioned off during the war and he received none of the proceeds. Another detainee, Henry Fukuhara, set aside his art career upon his release, as his family tried to recover and start a business, only resuming his drawing, painting and printmaking in the 1970s.

An untitled watercolor produced by artist Henry Fukuhara on the former site of the California camp in which he was incarcerated with his family during World War II. - Courtesy Japanese American National Museum

Some juggled their art with more pressing responsibilities  like Hibi, who single-handedly raised her two children after her husbands death by working in a garment factory, all while painting and attending art classes. Others went on to dedicate themselves to activism and community service, including the fight for reparations.

The exhibited artists and their art tell you that you can never squash and turn off the human spirit, and theres an act of resilience, Ambassador Emanuel said. Theres a lesson from that, too.

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Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, is leading two potential 2024 Democratic opponents by a significant margin, according to new polling released Thursday.

Hawley, who is running for reelection next year, beat both former Marine Lucas Kunce and St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in a survey of 491 Missouri voters conducted last week by Emerson College Polling. Kunce and Bell are both campaigning for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

In a matchup with Kunce, Hawley won 45% of respondents compared to 32% for Kunce. Pitted against Bell, the numbers are similar: Hawley has 44% support to 34% for Bell.

In both scenarios, 5% of respondents said they would vote for someone else and 17% said they were undecided. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4%.

The poll suggests the 2024 Senate race is less competitive than the 2022 race, when Republican Eric Schmitt, then the state attorney general, faced off against Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine. Schmitt won 55.4% to Valentines 42.2%.

Missouri state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis and December Harmon, a civil rights activist in Columbia, are also seeking the Democratic nomination. Emerson didnt poll their support against Hawley.

In the presidential race, former President Donald Trump remains the clear favorite to win the general election in both Missouri and Kansas if he wins the Republican nomination, according to Emerson, which also conducted a survey of 487 Kansas voters last week.

Trumps lead comes as he is fighting multiple felony indictments, including over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, his actions in the lead up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, his handling of classified documents after leaving office and allegations related to hush money payments in New York.

Trump leads President Joe Biden, 50% to 33%, in Missouri. That result would reflect an erosion in both Trump and Bidens support since the 2020 election, when Trump won 56.8% of the vote and Biden won 41.4%.

In Kansas, Trump leads Biden 47% to 31%. In 2020, Trump won 56.2% of the vote and Biden won 41.6%.

In Kansas, Trump leads across all educational levels, except among voters who have a postgraduate degree. These voters break for Biden, 51% to 33%, Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a statement.

Trump leads Biden by 12 points among women, 44% to 32%, whereas his lead nearly doubles to 21 points among men, where he leads 50% to 29%.

Even as Trump maintains a clear hold on Kansas, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly enjoys a 39% approval rating, with 30% of respondents disapproving and 31% neutral on the second-term governor.

In Missouri, 36% of respondents approve of the job Republican Gov. Mike Parson is doing, with 28% disapproving and 36% neutral.
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been charged with conspiring to act as an agent for the Egyptian government while serving as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Democratic senator  who already stepped aside last month after being accused of bribery and fraud  has been further indicted on new charges that he, his wife Nadine, and co-defendant Wael Hana  plus others known and unknown  wilfully combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with each other to have him act as an agent of the government of Egypt and Egyptian officials.

The latest indictment also states that Mr Menendez and his co-conspirators committed two overt acts to further their conspiracy by meeting at a Manhattan restaurant on 30 June 2018 and on 21 September 2019, with the latter meeting including an unnamed Egyptian official.

Mr Menendez is accused of taking bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz convertible used by his wife, in exchange for intervening to make sure foreign military aid was directed to the Egyptian government.

At a news conference last month, he said he firmly believes that he will be exonerated and remain New Jerseys senior senator after all the facts are presented.

Authorities who searched Mr Menendezs home last year said they found more than $100,000 worth of gold bars and over $480,000 in cash  much of it hidden in closets, clothing and a safe.

Larry Lustberg, Wael Hanas lawyer, said: The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian Government is as absurd as it is false. As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this baseless allegation.

Bob Menendez denies any wrongdoing (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The new charge against Mr Menendez comes as more than 30 Senate Democrats  including his home state colleague, Cory Booker  have called on him to resign. Mr Menendez has remained defiant, telling colleagues he will not leave the Senate.

Mr Menendez has not said whether he will run for reelection next year. At least one Democrat, New Jersey Republican Andy Kim, has already jumped into the primary, and the head of Senate Democrats campaign arm, Michigan Senator Gary Peters, has called on Mr Menendez to resign, signalling that he may not receive campaign assistance traditionally available to incumbents.

The Justice Department in recent years has stepped up its criminal enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a law enacted in 1938 to unmask Nazi propaganda in the United States that requires people to disclose to the Justice Department when they advocate, lobby or perform public relations work in the US on behalf of a foreign government or political entity.

The statute made headlines during Donald Trumps administration when federal prosecutors accused multiple aides close to the Republican, including the chairman of his 2016 presidential campaign, of failing to register as foreign agents.

Last year, Trumps inaugural committee chair, Tom Barrack, was acquitted of using his personal access to him to secretly promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates. And in 2019, lawyer Greg Craig, a Democrat, was acquitted of making a false statement to the Justice Department about work for Ukraine's government.
Hurricane Lidia made landfall on Mexicos west-central coast on 10 October (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

After a Category 4 hurricane swept Mexico earlier this week concerns over the safety of travel to Mexico and the risk of further natural disasters have risen.

Hurricane Lidia made landfall on Mexicos Pacific Coast, barrelling the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, on Tuesday night (10 October).

Amid Mexicos June to November hurricane season, popular beach resorts such as Puerto Vallarta and Colima were hit with up to 140mph winds.

Although hurricane warnings have now been lifted, a risk of landslides, mudslides and flash flooding remains a threat to holidaymakers with trips booked to the ocean-flanked country.

Heres the latest travel advice for Mexico, plus all the key questions and answers.

What does the Foreign Office say?

On Wednesday the Foreign Office (FCDO) updated its advice on travel to Mexico to read: The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Mexico.

Areas to avoid include:

Tijuana  except airside transit through Tijuana airport

Chihuahua  except the city of Chihuahua

Colima  except the city of Manzanillo

Guanajuato  including all areas southwest of road 45D

Guerrero  except the city of Acapulco, the town of Zihuatanejo and the town of Taxco

Tamaulipas  except the border crossing at Nuevo Laredo accessed by federal toll road 85D from Monterrey

Zacatecas

Jalisco  including all areas south and southwest of Lake Chapala to the border with the state of Colima

Sinaloa  except the cities of Los Mochis and Mazatlan

Michoacan  except the city of Morelia and the town of Patzcuaro

The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to these northern municipalities:

Bolanos

Chimaltitan

Colotlan

Hostotipaquillo

Huejucar

Huequilla el Alto

Mezquitic

San Martin de Bolanos

Santa Maria de los Angeles

Totatiche

Villa Guerrero

What do the Mexican authorities say?

Jalisco governor Enrique Alfaro posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the effects of Hurricane Lidia to assure that the state was in the final stages of the clear-up with very positive results, and stressed that the area was fortunate to get off quite lightly in the aftermath of the Category 4 hurricane.

Are Mexico flights continuing?

Yes. All international airports are operational as usual.

Puerto Vallarta International Airport in impacted Jalisco cancelled several flights on Tuesday (10 October) and Wednesday morning (11 October) but has now resumed its regular arrival and departure schedule.

What if I have booked a package holiday to Mexico?

Travellers who have booked package holidays to Mexicos west or central coast including Puerto Vallarta as advised by the FCDO can cancel without penalty for a full refund, although other popular tourist resorts of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are a fair distance from the affected areas as they sit on the Gulf of Mexicos east coast.

The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so its best to contact them. Be aware that your travel insurance could be invalidated if you choose to travel to an area against FCDO advice.
Deborah Matias and her husband Shlomi died protecting their son from gunmen who broke into their home. They are among 31 Americans and six Canadians known to have been killed in the Hamas attacks.

"She was so full of life," said her father, Ilan Troen in a BBC interview. "She could have become a doctor but she once said to me 'Dad, I have to do music because it's in my soul."

His daughter, a 50-year-old musician from Missouri, and her husband fell on top of their 16-year-old son Rotem after their kibbutz near the border with Gaza came under attack.

They were shot and killed but the teenager lay hidden and injured for hours while his grandfather Ilan texted him reassurances.

Hamas, which is labelled a terrorist organisation by the US, has abducted up to 199 people, according to Israel. A number of them are from North America.

It says it has hidden them in "safe places and tunnels" within Gaza, and threatened to kill hostages if civilian homes are bombed by Israel without warning.

These are the stories of Americans and Canadians confirmed by the BBC or credibly reported as missing or dead.

Last updated on 20 October 2023 at 15:00 ET

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Missing

Judith and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from the Chicago area, were released by Hamas on 20 October after they were taken from the Nahal Oh kibbutz in southern Israel on the day of the attacks. They hid in a bunker when the attack started and neighbours said they saw Hamas militants escort both Judith, 59, and Natalie, 19, out of the house.

Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie were in southern Israel when the attacks began

Itay Chen, 19, is serving with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and had elected to work at his base on the Gaza border last weekend to get time off for his brother's upcoming bar mitzvah. On Saturday he told his family that base was under attack. They soon lost communication. "No one has been able to physically locate him - he is not in hospital, not on the deceased list," his father Ruby Chen, who grew up in New York, said at a press conference, adding that Itay is considered Missing In Action.

Omer Neutra, 21, from Long Island in New York, also served with the Israel Defense Forces. His parents told the New York Times that he told them things seemed calm at first from his post in southern Israel. But they have not heard from him since the attack began and believe he was kidnapped by Hamas.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, was last seen fighting off attackers at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where he lived with his pregnant wife and two daughters. He has not been heard from since. His father Jonathan. a professor at Hebrew University, is from Connecticut. He said there are only 160 known survivors out of the 400 people living at the kibbutz.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, from California, was at the Nova festival. Witnesses saw him loaded onto a truck by Hamas militants, his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was badly injured, the witnesses said. His parents told the Jerusalem Post they received two messages from him, reading "I love you" and "I'm sorry". His phone was last located on the Gaza border. His family says that told them his arm was seriously injured and he was able to fashion a tourniquet.

Edan Alexander, 19, is an IDF soldier who recently graduated from Tenafly High School in New Jersey. The office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said they believe he is classified as Missing in Action. He was serving with the Golani Brigade near the Gaza border.

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Dead

Roey Weiser, 21, served with the Israel Defense Forces and rushed to defend his military base in southern Israel with fellow soldiers when the attack started. "They managed to fend off a bunch of terrorists," his mother Naomi told the BBC. "Roey even managed to kill one or two and then he died himself." He had worked at the Kerem Shalom Gaza border crossing, where trucks entered the Gaza strip from Israel and Egypt, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Netta Epstein, 21, an Israeli-Canadian who jumped on a grenade to save his girlfriend. According to his family and friends, Hamas militants fired on and threw grenades into his apartment's safehouse. When one landed near his girlfriend, he jumped on it. She survived and was rescued by Israeli soldiers later.

Laor Abramov, 20, is a New Jersey DJ who moved to Israel during the Covid pandemic. He was attending the Tribe of Nova music festival that was attacked and took refuge in a nearby bomb shelter. His parents told CBS News that he texted them, saying "I have to be quiet". A few days later his father confirmed his death on Facebook.

Itay Glisko, 20, born in New Jersey who was serving in the IDF. His family says he fought for hours against the Hamas attack on his military base.

Ben Mizrachi, a 22-year-old from Vancouver, was attending the Nova music festival that turned deadly. He was remembered by an administrator at King David High School as a "caring big brother" who loved Israel.

Lotan Abir, 24, was also attending the Nova festival, with two people he knew from a Utah group for young Jewish professionals. He moved to Utah less than a year ago, and was a DJ and musician, as well as handyman.

Adrienne Neta, 66, grew up in California. She was sitting on her front porch at the kibbutz where she lived when the attack began. She took shelter while on the phone with her two sons and daughter. "The terrorist barged into her home," her son Nahal has said. "We heard a little bit of screaming and that was our last contact with her." Israel's government has confirmed her death, her family has told media outlets.

Alexandre Look, 33, of Montreal, was killed at the Nova festival. He made a video call to his mother, who could hear screaming in the background. He hid in a bunker with about 30 people and survivors told his parents that he used his body to barricade the entrance and shield them from the bullets.

Adi Vital-Kaploun, 33, a dual citizen of Canada and Israel, was killed in her home at Kibbutz-Holit, very close to the Israel-Gaza border. Her two children, said to be four months and four years old, survived. She had deep ties to Ottawa and the family released a statement confirming her death through the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, which did not provide details about how she died.

Hayim Katsman, 32, who received his PhD from the University of Washington and specialised in Israeli studies, was also killed at Kibbutz-Holit. His mother, originally from Ohio, said on Facebook he was killed immediately in his home.

Daniel Ben Senior, 34, was born in Los Angeles and a dual citizen with the US and Israel. She worked with a group of event organisers at the Nova festival. Her father Jacob told CNN he was notified by authorities that she had been killed.

Igal and Amit Wachs, brothers who were citizens of both the US and Israel. They were part of a village patrol in Israel and Igal's ex-wife, Liat, who lives in Massachusetts, said she believed they had been called upon to fend off the attack.

Shir Geory, 22, another Canadian identified to have been killed in the attacks. She went missing from the music festival.

Tiferet Lapidot, 22, an Israeli woman with Canadian parents who is being counted among the Canadian dead. She disappeared from the Nova music festival and it had originally been believed she had been taken hostage.

Carmela Dan, 79, an Israeli-American grandmother who was born in Israel to an American father. She held Israeli, US and French citizenship. She and four other family members had gone missing from the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel. Her death, along with that of her 12-year-old granddaughter, was confirmed by Israel on 19 October.
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, New Mexico  When the annular eclipse passes over North America Saturday, the sights of the Moon and the sun will not be the only features flying high above Earth - NASA is planning to launch a series of rockets to study the impacts the celestial event will have on the atmosphere.

The space agency said three rockets will launch during the mission from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The rockets will be tasked with taking observations of the sudden drop in sunlight in the upper atmosphere.

The Atmospheric Perturbations around the Eclipse Path mission, or what is commonly referred to as the APEP, is expected to find changes in electrons and atoms, that lead to sudden temperature and density changes.

"If you think of the ionosphere as a pond with some gentle ripples on it, the eclipse is like a motorboat that suddenly rips through the water," Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said in a statement. "It creates a wake immediately underneath and behind it, and then the water level momentarily goes up as it rushes back in."

5 OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROCKET LAUNCH IN THE HISTORY OF SPACEFLIGHT

Scientists said previous eclipses, such as the event in 2017, led instruments to discover atmospheric changes well outside of the total solar eclipses path.

If the mission is successful, NASA said itll be the first-time simultaneous measurements will have been taken in the ionosphere during an eclipse.

"Rockets are the best way to look at the vertical dimension at the smallest possible spatial scales," Barjatya stated. "They can wait to launch at just the right moment and explore the lower altitudes where satellites cant fly."

The rockets wont be the only instruments being used to monitor effects caused by the annular solar eclipse, researchers in the Southwest are planning to release high-altitude balloons to measure changes in the weather.

SEE HOW MUCH OF THE PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE WILL BE VISIBLE IN YOUR CITY

Instruments used during the event are expected to be recovered and reused during the total solar eclipse that will travel from Texas to Maine on April 8, 2024.

To find out when the eclipse will be partially visible in your community, visit NASAs 2023 Eclipse Explorer map.





Original article source: NASA to launch a series of rockets into eclipses shadow
Several Democratic state lawmakers, responding to criticism of their decisions to not sign onto bipartisan expressions of support for Israel, said they condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas but could not support statements that made no mention of Palestinian civilians.

The N.C. House and Senate formally expressed their support for Israel on Tuesday after the Palestinian militant group, designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, launched deadly land, air and sea attacks over the weekend that had left more than 1,200 Israelis dead as of Wednesday, and between 100 and 150 Israelis captured as hostages, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Retaliatory strikes by Israel on Gaza had killed at least 1,200 Palestinians, The Journal reported.

A statement read into the record by the state Senate and a resolution adopted by the state House, which said Congress should reaffirm that the U.S. stands with Israel unequivocally, were endorsed by all Republicans and the vast majority of Democrats.

But some Democrats did not join their colleagues. Twelve in the House didnt vote on the resolution adopted 104-0, and four in the Senate chose not to sign the statement that received 45 signatures.

Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Greensboro Democrat, told The News & Observer the attack by Hamas attacking, murdering, torturing, kidnapping innocent civilians was evil and reprehensible. She said she didnt vote on the House resolution because she felt it condoned giving Israel carte blanche to do whatever it felt it needed to do in terms of retaliation or retribution.

Rep. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro, N.C. proposes an amendment to SB 749 during debate on the House floor on Tuesday, September 19. 2023 in Raleigh, N.C.

She said she was troubled by that because the resolution didnt acknowledge the 2 million people living on the Gaza Strip.

I dont know the solution is to go bomb the heck out of the Gaza Strip, when youre going to be killing thousands of innocent civilians, and it has felt like the resolution sort of seemed to green-light that, Harrison said in an interview.

GOP slams Democrats not voting as unconscionable

Republicans strongly criticized the Democrats who didnt endorse the House resolution or the Senate statement, saying it shouldve been a simple choice to back both chambers gestures of support.

Rep. Erin Pare, a Holly Springs Republican, said it was unconscionable and shameful that some Democrats didnt vote on the resolution. Pare was one of the resolutions four primary sponsors along with GOP leaders House Speaker Tim Moore and House Deputy Majority Whip Jon Hardister and Democratic Rep. Caleb Rudow of Asheville.

When I spoke on the floor, I expressed my strong hope that we could come together as a body to support Israel and stand up against the evil and heinous actions of Hamas, Pare said in a statement. Sadly, these twelve Democrats chose to turn their back and walk out in shame.

Rep. Marcia Morey, a Durham Democrat who also didnt vote on the resolution, responded to Pare on social media, saying that Pare had no idea why she walked out of the vote.

It was not shame, it was because this resolution was hollow, Morey said. I condemn violence against all civilians and children, including shutting off water, electricity and food from children in Gaza.

Rep. Marcia Morey a Durham Democrat, debates a bill that would prohibit transgender females from playing on womens athletic teams, prior to veto override vote in the House at the General Assembly in Raleigh on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023.

Morey had told The N&O earlier in an email that she condemned the attack by Hamas and the brutal taking of civilian hostages, but didnt support the resolution because it did not go far enough because it urged Congress to support Israel but said nothing about the safety for all Israeli and Palestinian civilians and children who live in the region.

GOP Sens. Danny Britt, Warren Daniel and Buck Newton, chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also criticized the four Senate Democrats who didnt sign the chambers statement, saying that Democratic leaders Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton should swiftly denounce the silence of these Democrats, and make clear where the Democratic Party stands on this issue.

Cooper and Stein both declared after the attacks they stand with Israel, with Clayton sharing Coopers post on X, formerly Twitter.

Hillsborough Sen. Graig Meyer, one of the Democrats who didnt sign the statement, said that as a state legislator, he was elected to govern on state and local issues, not weigh in on foreign affairs, which are not our expertise nor our jurisdiction.

But as a human, what I see is the toll of hatred and war on real people, and its horrible, Meyer said in an email. I condemn the recent attacks by the terrorist group Hamas and all forms of violence. I pray for peace. What it will take to find peace in this situation is beyond me, but I will not put my energy or my very limited influence into encouraging war.

Sen. Graig Meyer, a Caswell, Orange and Person County Democrat,debates the state budget bill Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 on the Senate Floor of the General Assembly. Sen. Meyer raised numerous concerns with public records language in the budget bill.

On Thursday morning, Meyer and the three other Senate Democrats who didnt sign onto the statement supporting Israel  Sens. Julie Mayfield of Asheville, Mujtaba Mohammed of Charlotte and Natalie Murdock of Durham  released a joint statement in which they condemned the attack by Hamas.

We note that innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians are suffering and dying due to the decisions and actions of those beyond their control, they said. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to these families and to everyone impacted by these tragic events.

The four senators also said that Republicans had tried to make the false and politically motivated assertion that they supported the terrorist attacks.

What other Democrats have said

Democratic Rep. Gloristine Brown of Bethel said in a statement that she is a strong supporter of the people of Israel and said the U.S. should stand with Israel and continue to defend its liberty. She also said that terrorism is always a morally repugnant act.

However, I believe strongly that the collective punishment of millions of civilians in Gaza is wrong as well, and this belief should be echoed in the actions of our body, Brown said.

Rep. Renee Price of Hillsborough echoed what other Democrats said about the resolution not mentioning Palestinians, saying in an email that she condemned the attack by Hamas but didnt vote for the resolution because it falls short of considering all aspects or dimensions of the situation.

Rep. Renee Price

My concern is for the Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering the consequences and sacrificing their lives because of extremism, she said. My prayer is for the cessation of violence, humanitarian aid to all innocent people, and a resolution of peace throughout the land.

In an interview, Rep. Nasif Majeed of Charlotte said he had a problem with the resolutions wording, and the fact that it was treating the war in the Middle East as a black and white situation. He said the carnage that was going on hurts my heart, but added that right-minded people want peace.

Nasif Majeed

Rep. Kanika Brown of Winston-Salem said in an email that she strongly condemned the attacks by Hamas, saying that there is never an excuse for such acts of terror and urging both sides to work towards a ceasefire and de-escalation.

The House resolution did nothing to achieve that goal, she said, and was done purely for political showmanship rather than genuine care for Israeli and Palestinian people.

Rep. Kanika Brown

Rep. Amber Baker, also of Winston-Salem, said in a statement that she didnt believe she had the authority as a state lawmaker to weigh in on a foreign policy situation as complex as the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Rep. Amber Baker

Other Democrats in the House said they didnt vote for the resolution because they thought Republicans had introduced it as a distraction.

Rep. Julie von Haefen of Apex said on social media that she condemned the attacks by Hamas but called the resolution an effort by Moore to distract from earlier votes Republicans had taken on Tuesday to override Coopers vetoes on five bills taking away powers from the governor, changing the structure of election boards and loosening environmental regulations for a controversial pipeline project, among other changes.

Rep. Julie von Haefen

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after the House session, Moore touted the fact that the days five veto overrides had brought the legislatures total to 19 vetoes defeated this year.

Rep. Terence Everitt of Wake Forest, on the other hand, said Republicans were trying to cover up their silence over antisemitic remarks made by members of their party. He specifically mentioned Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the partys frontrunner for governor, whose remarks have been criticized by Democrats, and Republicans who are running against him.
By Maggie Fick and Ludwig Burger

(Reuters) -Novo Nordisk warned on Thursday of a surge in counterfeit versions of its weight-loss drug Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic offered online, as German authorities gave more details of complex European trades in a fake drug case.

"Novo Nordisk has seen a significant increase in illegal online sales," the company said in a statement, referring to products that contain the active ingredient semaglutide.

Amid a global obesity crisis, Novo became Europes most valuable company this year on soaring demand for weekly injection Wegovy and its lower-dose version Ozempic, but this has attracted illegal traders who may put users' health at risk.

Novo's words of caution, earlier reported by Danish publication Finans, amounted to the first detailed comments from the group on the counterfeit issue since a mid-June statement about fake Ozempic pens found at a U.S. retail pharmacy.

The warning came after Germany's federal drug regulator on Wednesday urged pharmacies and drug distributors to be vigilant following the discovery of wholesale batches of fake Ozempic.

Prosecutors in the southwestern German town of Loerrach, near the Swiss border in Basel, said on Thursday 199 packages had been identified as fake at a British drugs distributor who had purchased the lot from a company near Loerrach in September.

That company in turn had received the consignment from a peer in Austria, the prosecutors said, adding that investigators are trying to find out whether more fakes had been sold in Germany.

Novo said the fake U.S. batches had a different serial number from the ones found in Europe. It would not comment further on the case investigated in Germany.

It said that, in principle, it was reporting every counterfeit case it comes across to relevant authorities, and in some cases was working with "specialized firms to identify the perpetrators of these crimes", without naming the countries where it was doing so.

The Danish drugmaker also said it was working with a third party specialized in monitoring and taking down illegal online offers. It scaled up this work in 2023 to ensure a broader reach, it said, declining to name the firm it was working with.

In a further sign of illicit activity taking advantage of the hype around weight-loss drugs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday ordered two online vendors to stop selling unapproved versions of Novo and Eli Lilly drugs.

In September Lilly filed lawsuits against U.S. medical spas, wellness centres and compounding pharmacies for selling products claiming to contain tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its diabetes drug Mounjaro which is expected to be approved for weight loss later this year.

Novo took similar legal action in July.

Compounding pharmacies combine or alter ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient. The FDA has warned patients to refrain from using a compounded drug if an approved drug is available.

Demand for Wegovy and Ozempic is exceeding Novo's supply of the drugs in the United States, Germany and Britain, leading the company to restrict supplies of certain doses of Wegovy to the U.S. market.

Though only Wegovy is approved for obesity, the fact that Ozempic for diabetes also leads to dramatic weight loss has led people in the United States and Europe to use the drug "off-label", meaning not for its approved use.

(Reporting by Maggie Fick and Ludwig Burger; Editing by Jan Harvey and Susan Fenton)
President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Thursday to sternly respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats through a firm South Korea-U.S. alliance, as he marked the anniversary of a key battle in the 1950-53 Korean War.

Yoon attended a ceremony commemorating the Battle of Jangjin Reservoir at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, along with some 2,800 Korean and American veterans, and military and government officials, including Veterans Minister Park Min-shik, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Philip Goldberg.

During the two-week battle that started on Nov. 27, 1950, in South Hamgyong Province in the North, South Korean troops and the 1st Marine Division of the United States fought fiercely against Chinese forces, paving the way for the famous Hungnam evacuation, in which U.N. troops helped pluck some 100,000 Korean civilians out of harm's way.

"The South Korea-U.S. alliance, which was forged in blood during the Korean War, has developed into the most successful alliance in the world over the last 70 years, and the South Korea-U.S. alliance today is stronger than ever," Yoon said during remarks at the ceremony.

"Our government will respond sternly to North Korea's provocations, and nuclear and missile threats, which are becoming increasingly explicit, based on the firm South Korea-U.S. alliance," he said.

Yoon promised that the South Korean people and government will never forget the noble sacrifices of the heroes killed in the Battle of Jangjin Reservoir.

"Also, while strengthening security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and banding closely together with partner nations, we will contribute to freedom, peace and prosperity in the world," he said.

Yoon was the first sitting president to attend the annual commemoration ceremony for the Battle of Jangjin Reservoir, according to his office. This year also marks 70 years since the establishment of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. (Yonhap)
A Texas pastor has been arrested after investigators say he repeatedly sexually assaulted a family member when she was a child, news outlets report.

The 40-year-old man was arrested Oct. 9 on charges of sexual assault of a child and continued sexual abuse of a child, according to court records.

McClatchy News is not identifying the suspect to protect the identity of the victim.

When he learned of the charges, he turned himself in, so he can clear his name, defense attorney Eric Davis said after the hearing, according to KHOU. And wed ask before theres a trial, that he be presumed innocent, that people can keep an open mind and hold to them the Constitutional presumption of innocence.

McClatchy News reached out to Davis but did not immediately hear back.

An arrest warrant accuses the Houston area man of sexually assaulting a girl beginning when she was 7 years old, according to KPRC. Court records say the abuse continued for years and happened over 600 times.

The victim told police the assault happened when family members were sleeping and sometimes in a vehicle on the way to school, KTRK reported. She also told police he would take her to a church where he worked to rape her.

Too often people in positions of power abuse and take advantage of people that trust them. I look forward to allowing the complainants voice to be heard, the prosecutor told KHOU in a statement.

The victim told police that when she was 16 years old, she secretly gave birth to the mans baby in a closet. She said he dropped the baby off at a fire station, KHOU reported.

The victim is now in her 20s and working to get the child back, according to KPRC.

The man is currently being held in the Harris County Jail on a $200,000 bond, court records show.

Doctor pressured patient into phony medical exams to sexually assault her, lawsuit says

Social worker engaged in sex acts with 13-year-old she was counseling, Ohio cops say

Officer sexually assaults 16-year-old driver involved in car crash, Georgia police say
A new poll of Pennsylvania voters has put former president Donald Trump nine points ahead of President Joe Biden in the state.

The Emerson College 11 October poll revealed the former president had 45 per cent of the vote compared to Mr Bidens 36 per cent. Eleven per cent of the participants said they would vote for someone else while eight percent remained undecided.

Mr Biden won the state in 2020 by a slim margin, which prompted Mr Trump to challenge his loss, which ultimately was rejected in the courts.

According to the poll, 50 per cent of Trump voters said they cant think of anything the former president might do in the near future that would make them choose not to support him in 2024.

Meanwhile, 22 per cent said they can think of something he might say or do to sway their vote away from Mr Trump.

Even more Biden voters  53 per cent  said they cannot think of anything that would make them not support the presidents re-election, compared to 17 per cent who said there could be something that could change their vote.

The poll participants were also asked about the rivals previous elections.

In this same voting group, 61 per cent said they think the former president won fair and square in 2016, while only 52 per cent say the same about Mr Bidens win in 2020.

Another poll this week showed Mr Biden and Mr Trump as head-to-head in Nevada. The CNN poll found that 46 per cent of voters back the current president while 45 per cent prefer his predecessor.

Despite facing federal and state legal challenges including four separate sets of criminal charges, Mr Trump has remained at the top of the GOP polls. He is vying for the Republican nomination in a crowded field, which also includes entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen Tim Scott, former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum, and former Arkansas Gov Asa Hutchinson.

Earlier this week, former Texas Congressman Will Hurd dropped out of the race, and endorsed Nikki Haley.
Vladimir Putins forces have launched the largest-scale offensive action in eastern Ukraines Avdiivka town since the start of Russias invasion.

The major push on the battlefield comes after Avdiivka witnessed two days of intense fighting as Russian tanks and equipment were seen moving towards Ukrainian lines. Major attacks, including hundreds of rocket and artillery strikes on the town, have been underway since Tuesday.

This is the largest-scale offensive action in our sector since the full-fledged war began, said Vitaliy Barabash, the head of Avdiivka administration.

Russia is pouring in a large number of troops and equipment in the region as they look to wrest the town from Kyiv, Ukrainian military officials said.

The flare-up comes as drone attacks killed three people, including a child, in Russias Belgorod region and injured another two, regional officials said. The Russian defence ministry blamed Ukraine for carrying out the attack. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said debris from a drone downed by Russias anti-aircraft units damaged several houses and cars in the region.

Mr Barabash said while the situation in Avdiivka on Wednesday was not quite as heated as the day before, battles have continued.

Nearly two dozen attacks were made on the towns old district and others in the city centre.

A group of up to three Russian battalions with tanks and armoured vehicles support intensified operations near Avdiivka, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said.

It said 10 enemy attacks on the town had been repelled. Russian accounts of the situation in Avdiivka also suggested fighting had intensified, but claimed its forces had improved their position in the immediate outskirts around Avdiivka.

Avdiivka was retaken by Ukraine last month in a successful counteroffensive push in the east, but is facing the same fate as Bakhmut as it remains under siege for months now. Most of the town has been reduced to rubble.

Russias gains around Avdiivka have been limited to the southwest of the town and its troops have not managed to complete an operational encirclement of the settlement, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.

Mr Putins forces will likely struggle to encircle the town if that is their intent, said the US-based think-tank monitoring the war.

It said Avdiivka is notoriously well-fortified and defended Ukrainian stronghold, which will likely complicate Russian forces ability to closely approach or fully capture the settlement.

Any hypothetical capture of the town will not offer Russia new routes to the rest of the Donetsk oblast as Russian forces already control critical segments of the nearby highway and routes, it said.

The territorial control of the region, however, could be a bonus for Ukraine.

Russian forces likely intend attacks in the Avdiivka area to fix Ukrainian forces and prevent them from redeploying to other areas of the front. However, Ukrainian officials have already identified the Avdiivka push as a Russian fixing operation, and they are unlikely to unduly commit Ukrainian manpower to this axis, the ISW said in its latest assessment.

Ukrainian gains elsewhere along the frontline and on the battlefield continued on Wednesday as the General Staff said its forces were successful in the east of Klishchiivka and Andriivka near Bakhmut.

The tactical positions held by Ukrainian forces were improved in the west of Robotyne, another critical battlefield zone in Zaporizhzhia oblast, the Ukrainian general staff and Tavriisk group commander Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said.

In southern Ukraine, Russian forces were pushing their attacks sometimes using infantry and in some areas deploying quite a lot of vehicles into battle, said Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraines southern group of forces.

Now in its fifth month, Ukraines counteroffensive has two major battle zones as Kyivs troops look to secure areas around Bakhmut.

They aim to retake the town and recapture villages in the south in a drive towards the Sea of Azov to sever a Russian land bridge between positions Moscow holds in the south and east.
RAF fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a plane heading towards Heathrow airport after an alert was raised over a potential security threat.

A large emergency response, involving police and eight fire crews, was launched at Stansted Airport, to which the Boeing 787 from Kenya was diverted.

Kenya Airways said its headquarters had received an alert of a potential security threat on board KQ100 operating from Nairobi to London Heathrow.

KQ management, in conjunction with the security authorities of the government of Kenya and the United Kingdom, carried out a thorough risk assessment of the threat, it said.

The crew onboard were briefed, and all safety and security precautions were taken to ensure the safety and security of our crew and passengers on board.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the typhoons were launched as a precaution this afternoon to investigate a civilian aircraft which was approaching the UK.

The ministry said the plane remained in contact with air traffic controllers throughout.

The plane, which was diverted just before 3.45pm, landed at Stansted and was escorted to a remote stand where Essex Police were waiting.

The aircraft landed safely at Stansted Airport, London for security clearance by UK government security personnel, the MoD said.

Essex Police later said officers had established there was nothing of concern aboard the plane.

Flights were still operating as normal but photographs on social media showed the plane on the tarmac at Stansted, alongside fire service vehicles.

Stanstead is used for flights when there are security incidents because of its distance from London.
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -When star witness Caroline Ellison first took the stand on Tuesday at Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial, she needed longer than previous witnesses to point out the 31-year-old former billionaire - her onetime boss and boyfriend - at the defense table.

That may have been because the indicted founder of now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, once known for his mop of unkempt curly locks and trademark shorts and T-shirts, had trimmed his hair and donned a suit for his trial on charges of stealing from FTX customers to prop up his Alameda Research hedge fund.

On Wednesday, Ellison - who ran Alameda - grew emotional in describing why she wrote Bankman-Fried a message on social media in November 2022 as FTX and Alameda were collapsing, saying she was relieved because she did not need to lie anymore. She was handed a box of tissues by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan's deputy.

"I didn't feel like there was anyone else I could talk to about these feelings," Ellison, 28, said. The Stanford University graduate has pleaded guilty to fraud and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors.

Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty.

Ellison wore a gray blazer and carried a Poland Spring water bottle to and from the witness stand. She did not look at Bankman-Fried in any of the instances when she passed him at the defense table.

Bankman-Fried spent much of Ellison's testimony typing on a laptop or whispering to his defense lawyers. During sidebar discussions with Kaplan where lawyers debated legal issues outside the jury's earshot, Bankman-Fried watched a live transcription feed of their conversation on screens at the defense table.

At one sidebar, prosecutor Danielle Sassoon said Bankman-Fried had "laughed, visibly shaken his head, and scoffed" during Ellison's testimony, according to a transcript. Defense lawyer Mark Cohen called that statement "ridiculous." Kaplan instructed Cohen to "have a word with" Bankman-Fried.

Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried's parents, the Stanford Law School professors Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, took notes on legal pads which they occasionally showed to each other. They sat directly behind two courtroom sketch artists drawing their son, and two rows in front of Ellison's lawyers from law firm WilmerHale.

Some of the 12 jurors and six alternate jurors took notes, while others shifted their gaze between Ellison and Sassoon during questioning. Three of the jurors appeared to close their eyes at times as Sassoon quizzed Ellison about spreadsheets showing Alameda's assets and liabilities.

"We'll be out of the spreadsheet thicket soon," Sassoon said during a break.

"I'm just tickled to hear that," Kaplan replied.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York;Editing by Noeleen Walder and Matthew Lewis)
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace says she will not vote for Majority Leader Steve Scalise for House speaker, citing his past involvement with a white supremacist conference.

Mace was one of eight Republicans who voted Kevin McCarthy out of the speakers role. Since, Mace has generated national news and has been anything but quiet about her decision.

Mace, the Isle of Palms Republican, previously considered supporting Scalise, but ultimately has said she will instead support Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan.

I personally cannot, in good conscience, vote for someone who attended a white supremacist conference and compared himself to David Duke, Mace said on CNN Wednesday. I would be doing an enormous disservice to the voters I represent in South Carolina if I were to do that.

Scalise served as a state lawmaker in Louisiana before being elected to Congress. When he was a state lawmaker he attended the European-American Unity and Rights Organization  a white supremacy group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

Scalise eventually apologized for speaking to the group, and said he hadnt been aware of any of its controversial history.

However, his past has come back to haunt him again, and this time it may affect his chances for speaker of the House.

In a secret ballot vote Tuesday, Scalise beat Jordan for the GOPs speaker nomination 113-99, where some members didnt vote at all. Now, Scalise needs to secure 217 votes to officially win the speakership.

Scalise is far off from 217 votes, and Associated Press reported that some members are still set on voting for Jordan or even McCarthy, even though Jordan has dropped out and McCarthys not running.

Mace has made national headlines the past two weeks with her vote to oust McCarthy, and then showing up to congress wearing a scarlet letter T-shirt, claiming she had been demonized for her vote and voice.

Other South Carolina Republican congressmen who previously said they backed Jordan have thrown their support behind Scalise after Tuesdays GOP Caucus vote.

U.S. Reps. Russell Fry, of Surfside Beach, and Jeff Duncan, of Laurens, both initially tweeted they endorsed Jordan. However, after Scalise won the nomination, Duncan and Fry tweeted that they will now vote for Scalise.
South Carolinas environmental agency has fined the state-owned Santee Cooper power company $99,000 for allowing harmful air pollution to escape multiple times from an aging coal-fired power plant on the coast.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Controls enforcement action against Santee Cooper centers on the companys failure to control sulfur dioxide, a pollutant that can irritate peoples lungs and cause hazy skies if not kept within federal and state limits.

All told, sulfur dioxide exceeded government limits on more than 130 days, beginning in early 2021, according to an Aug. 7 enforcement order made public this week.

The action brings to at least $144,450 the amount of fines levied by DHEC against Santee Cooper for air pollution violations involving its Georgetown County coal plant since 2005, according to information released by the environmental agency Wednesday evening.

In 2021, DHEC fined Santee Cooper $22,950 over a failure to control particulate matter, another type of air pollutant, records show. Particulate matter, or soot, can be embedded in peoples lungs and make it harder to breathe.

The agency in 2018 hit Santee Cooper with a $8,500 air pollution fine for monitoring violations. A 2005 fine of $14,000 involved failed tests for particulate matter, DHEC said.

All of the problems involved the companys Winyah coal-fired power plant, a more than 40-year-old Georgetown County facility that Santee Cooper said it will eventually close.

It was not clear whether Santee Coopers past problems at Winyah contributed to the hefty $99,000 fine, which is a lot for DHEC. But in a statement Wednesday evening, the agency said The potential harm to public health and the environmental (sic) is a key factor in determining civil penalties.

The department went on to say sulfur dioxide, depending on the concentration and a persons exposure, can negatively impact peoples health and the surrounding environment.

The agency found the sulfur dioxide violations in March 2022 after reviewing a series of company reports, according to the most recent enforcement action.

Santee Cooper blamed the excess sulfur dioxide pollution on a computer error from two years ago. Software programming from 2021 omitted a key calculation that would have flagged rising air pollution levels, the companys Mollie Gore said in an email. Unknown to the company, a software vendor inadvertently switched off a key calculation, meaning the air pollution went unnoticed, the email said.

Santee Cooper takes any violation seriously and strives to achieve compliance at all times, according to the email from Gore. We are confident we have addressed the circumstances that led to the 2021 issue. We have created additional tests and controls to ensure compliance with the emissions rule, and we have received DHEC approval to use a different compliance strategy.

The company has paid the $99,000 fine. Gore said the issue involving the previous fine of $22,950 occurred during a test and was not related to the most recent problem.

Despite the assurances from Santee Cooper, one leading environmental attorney said the pollution violations show why its important to shutter the Winyah plant as soon as possible and move to cleaner forms of generating energy, such as solar. Coal plants are known for fouling the air and polluting rivers and groundwater.

This is an old coal-fired plant that has been struggling for a long time, said Frank Holleman, a Greenville attorney who has fought Santee Cooper in court over pollution from coal plants.

This plant is expensive to operate and it has been polluting for years. Its time to move on. The latest DHEC findings indicate that it is polluting the air that people in the surrounding area are breathing.

According to DHECs most recent enforcement action against Santee Cooper, the company failed for 137 days in 2021 to meet government limits on the amount of sulfur dioxide that can be released from the Winyah power plant.

All told, the company failed to meet the limits for 97 days in the first six months of 2021 and for 40 days in the second half of 2021, the enforcement order said.

In addition to the $99,000 fine, DHECs most recent action against Santee Cooper requires the company to maintain compliance with all applicable emission limits.

Santee Cooper, founded in 1934 to bring electricity to rural parts of South Carolina, provides power to more than 2 million people, many in the eastern part of the state. The company, also a regional water provider, operates lakes Marion and Moultrie.

At one time, it operated multiple coal plants across eastern South Carolina, but it has moved to close many of them.

Those include the now shuttered Grainger power plant in Conway. The more than 1,000 megawatt Winyah plant is scheduled to close by 2030, but Santee Cooper indicated earlier this year that it may delay the closure as it looks for alternative power sources.

This story has been updated with information from DHEC.
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town.

SNOW SHOE TOWNSHIP  When Cris Dushs state Senate district was redrawn to include part of Centre County last year, the Republican went door to door to connect with new constituents.

Dush met with residents at a pizza shop in Snow Shoe, located just off Interstate 80, to hear more about how the rural community has lost critical businesses in the past few years, including its only grocery store, pharmacy, and medical center.

An electrical fire in 2020 destroyed Halls Market, True Value Hardware, Jersey Shore Bank, and a Subway. Then, the only pharmacy closed. Later, the lone medical center also left, citing a decline in patients and revenue. And a local restaurant followed suit earlier this year.

After years of hardship in the Mountaintop region, Dush, R-Brookville, and first-term state Rep. Paul Takac, D-Rush Township  who vowed to prioritize the community despite winning roughly 30% of the vote in Snow Shoe  are helping to deliver aid from the state.

Brought together by the overlap in their districts, the pair have put partisanship aside. They see their position as lawmakers as an opportunity to secure development grants, lobby for state money to buy new equipment, and find ways to bring new businesses to the area.

We work together as a team, Dush told Spotlight PA of his relationship with Takac. Weve got to get this stuff done, and we got to take care of our people  when people are suffering from not having proper health care and not having access to food, especially when theyre elderly and have to travel long distances.

With a population of roughly 3,000, the Mountaintop region includes Snow Shoe borough, Snow Shoe Township, and Burnside Township. Snow Shoe borough is contained within the township of the same name. All have individual local governing boards.

The new representation in Harrisburg has given local leaders hope that their community is finally a priority.

Weve hoped somebody would come here to try to do something, Rodney Preslovich, who chairs the Snow Shoe Township Board of Supervisors, told Spotlight PA.

Before redistricting, the once-a-decade process to redraw political lines, Mountaintop residents were represented by state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, a Republican who now represents Clinton and Union Counties, and now-retired state Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, also a Republican.

Through a spokesperson, Borowicz cited a grant for drinking water infrastructure as something she helped bring to the area. She added that she worked to recruit someone into buying the grocery store to reopen it, but so far, no one has stepped in, she told Spotlight PA.

The township supervisors said that calls to Borowicz went unreturned. Corman would help, they said, but only if the township reached out first.

Corman told Spotlight PA that he was always there to help in Snow Shoe, citing his involvement in trying to bring more reliable medical care to the area after the center closed.

Obviously, its a big district, he said. Sometimes they reach out; sometimes we reach out.

Snow Shoe Fire Chief Beau Martin said he never had a problem reaching Borowicz, who secured funding for Snow Shoes fire and ambulance companies, but added that he sees the new lawmakers in the community more often.

Dush and Takac have helped obtain funding for local infrastructure projects, including repairs at the Snow Shoe Township building, upgrades at the Moshannon Community Center, and a new leaf collection truck for Snow Shoe borough.

For me, this is an enormous opportunity and a privilege to be able to show that there are people who are interested in wanting to help, that there are programs, there is funding, there are opportunities to improve the quality of life for the residents in those areas, Takac told Spotlight PA. And I dont think that sense of optimism was there.

Mountaintop residents have dealt with water infrastructure issues for years, specifically having to conserve water and operate under boil advisories due to poor quality.

In the past five years, the water authority has used state funding to install additional meters for monitoring water flow. But elected leaders said continued improvements are crucial for recruiting new businesses.

Ronald Bucha, a township supervisor, thinks an industrial park would thrive in Snow Shoe.

Still in the works  and a top need for residents  is access to fresh food. Since the fire, people have had to travel at least 30 minutes to access essentials not sold at Dollar General.

Officials at every level of government, including U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard, are working to launch a food co-op to fill the void left by Halls Market closing.

Co-ops can help fill in gaps in the food system, a need that is especially important in rural areas where residents are typically older and might struggle to travel long distances for groceries and other necessities. Theyre typically managed and used by community members.

The Keystone Development Center, a Lancaster County-based agricultural co-op, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are also involved in the Snow Shoe development plans.

The planned co-op doesnt have a definite timeline or distribution plan yet, but the next step is forming a steering committee of local leaders, Takac said.

A meeting to discuss the committee is scheduled for later this month.

We are there to assist and to help, but this is going to be a community initiative, he said.

Local officials decide and direct most community development. Theyre particularly responsible for zoning decisions and applying for grants, which can be a lengthy and complex process for local governments that are run primarily by volunteers.

Snow Shoe is no exception, but Dush and Takac have alleviated some of the burden.

Sandra Reiter and Tauni Bowling, who serve on the Snow Shoe Borough Council, said their latest elected officials in Harrisburg have brought a new level of communication to the region by sharing grant opportunities and other resources.

Takac, in particular, has established office hours, where he or a staff member sets up shop at the township building, usually every other week, to help constituents with taxes, renew drivers licenses, and answer questions.

Weve never had that before, Preslovich said.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate/statecollege. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.
Rishi Sunak left thousands of Afghans eligible to come to the UK stranded in Pakistan hotels in a bid to save money, the High Court has heard.

Around 2,300 Afghans who worked alongside British armed forces have been stuck in hotels in Islamabad for months after the UK stopped chartering flights last November and insisted families must find their own place to live in Britain before relocation.

Two of those stranded in Pakistan are taking legal action against the prime minister, home secretary, defence secretary and foreign secretary over the governments failure to relocate them. In a hearing at the High Court on Thursday, lawyers for the pair said they had been living with their families in UK government-funded hotels in Islamabad for seven months and 11 months respectively.

Pakistan police have already stormed one of the hotels housing the UK-bound Afghans, arresting several whose visas had run out. The authorities have also issued an ultimatum to Afghan asylum seekers in the country without legal documents, saying they must leave by 1 November.

Tom de la Mare KC, representing the Afghan refugees, said the prime minister halted the use of hotels for Afghans coming to the UK in late November 2022 in a bid to save money by keeping them out of hotels. The decision prompted the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to stop flights bringing people to the UK from Pakistan  leaving families stranded, at risk of deportation back to Afghanistan and subsequent retaliation from the Taliban.

A November email from the prime ministers office said Mr Sunak wanted to manage the flow of people eligible to come to the UK under the Arap scheme for those who have worked with British forces, so they could move straight into MoD accommodation instead of hotels.

It continued: The expectation is that this should represent an overall net saving to the taxpayer. Concerns were then raised that there was not sufficient accommodation for all the Afghans eligible to come to the UK.

Since that decision was made, very few families have been brought to the UK because there is no accommodation for them.

Mr De La Mare said they had not been made privy to what material, if any, the prime minister had before him before he made the decision. He added: The prime minister is in fact the central decision maker and we know nothing at present of the material before him. We can only infer that it did not consist of the consequences on those who are living in Pakistan in hotels.

The British armed forces work with the US military to evacuate eligible civilians and their families out of the country on August 21, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (MoD Crown/Getty)

He added: The direction was to the MoD initially, and reached the home secretary by internal Chinese whispers.

The government told the court that it was a high-level policy decision relating to the proper expenditure of public funds.

Mr De La Mare said his clients could not leave the hotel they were living in for fear of arrest by Pakistan police and attack. He said the government was requiring somebody to live effectively in a comfortable prison  but without the things a prison would provide with, exercise, education or diverting things to do.

The Afghans also need money while they are waiting, such as help to buy childrens clothes, he argued. Over a third of the children living in the hotels have been living without education for six to twelve months, lawyers said.

The government argued that cash payments were not needed and said it had no obligation to deliver education to the children who were waiting.

Following the Pakistan governments crackdown on Afghan refugees, the UK government has started matching eligible families to MoD accommodation in Britain. Since 2 October, 59 people have been brought from Pakistan and the government anticipates around 470 will be relocated by the end of the month.

That would leave around 1,900 people still in Pakistan when the authorities 1 November ultimatum passes, Mr de la Mare said.

The court also heard that home secretary Suella Braverman made a decision on 26 June to resume the issuing of visas to Afghans eligible to come to the UK. The government admitted that it was not ideal for [Afghans eligible for UK] to be living in hotel accommodation in the long-term but said they were adequate to occupy in the exceptional circumstances.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer told parliament in March that the governments priority was to ensure that they can enter suitable accommodation, which is the right thing for families.

We have a duty to end the practice of Afghan families living in hotels in the UK. That is in the best interest of families and individuals, he said.

Judge Mr Justice Chamberlain agreed the remainder of the case would be heard at a later date.
Texas paid over $75m to a private company over one year to transport migrants out of the state and into sanctuary cities across the country.

From August 2022 through August 2023, the state paid Wynne Transportation $75,561,032.72, according to transaction data provided by the Texas Department of Emergency Management, reported ABC13.

Among other services, the companys website says, Wynne Transportation provides services to businesses, corporations, academic clients, municipal, and government agencies who are interested in contract services, custom transportation services, and more.

The outlet obtained a statement from Texas Gov Greg Abbotts office on Wednesday.

Mr Abbotts spokesperson, Andrew Mahaleris, told ABC13, Governor Abbott launched the border bus mission in April 2022 to provide support to our overrun and overwhelmed border communities as the Biden Administration dumps thousands of migrants in their towns. Texas has since bused over 54,000 migrants to self-declared sanctuary cities, providing much-needed relief.

He added, In recent weeks, border officials and NGOs in border communities have requested additional support to respond to the unprecedented surges enticed by President Bidens reckless open border policies. Until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to help our local partners respond to this Biden-made crisis.

Gov Abbotts office boasted the number of migrants sent to each city in a press release last week as part of Operation Lone Star, a multi-agency effort  to respond to a rise in illegal immigration, according to Texas Indigent Defense Commission.

The release stated that Texas has bused at least 12,500 migrants to Washington, DC since April 2022, 18,500 to New York City and over 13,500 migrants to Chicago since August 2022, over 3,200 migrants to Philadelphia since November 2022, over 3,200 migrants to Denver since May 18, and over 940 migrants to Los Angeles since 14 June 2023.

While sanctuary cities have offered many migrants a place to stay, some cities are strained for resources. New York Gov Kathy Hochul last month warned that Places like New York really are at capacity.

She added, We have large hearts, we want to be generous and supportive to people who are experiencing a humanitarian crisis. But there is a limit to what we can do.

On 2 October, Illinois Gov JB Pritzker wrote a letter to President Biden, asking for federal assistance as the migrant crisis in his state is overwhelming. Without calling out Texas or Gov Abbott by name, but in an apparent reference to both, Mr Pritzker penned: Allowing just one state to lay the burden upon a certain few states run by Democrats is untenable.
The operator of Everland, the nation's largest theme park in Yongin, south of Seoul, disclosed its twin baby pandas' names on Thursday, three days ahead of their 100-day celebration.

One is named Rui Bao, which means wise treasure, and the other Hui Bao, which means shining treasure, Samsung C&T said in a media event in the morning after selecting their names through public competition.

About 20,000 people proposed some 40,000 names for the baby pandas in the public competition held from Aug. 24 to Oct. 6, and 10 finalists were put to online and offline voting that drew about 700,000 participants, the company said.

The twins, which weighed only 180 grams and 140 grams, respectively, at birth, have gained more than 30 times their weight in about 100 days, both exceeding 5 kilograms, it said, adding they have been growing well according to the panda's growth stages.

Everland's zookeepers and veterinarians and panda experts from China have together cared for the baby twins and their mother named Ai Bao. The mother panda is currently regaining her pre-birth weight and maintaining a healthy condition through intensive post-natal care by the zookeepers and others.

Everland plans to consider opening the twin baby pandas to the public early next year. (Yonhap)
The Texas woman charged in the killing of an elite cyclist last year tried to escape custody Wednesday, officials said.

Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 35, is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson, 25, in Austin in May 2022. She has pleaded not guilty to charges.

Armstrong was transported to a doctor's appointment Wednesday, and as she was being escorted out afterwards "she ran," Travis County Sheriff spokesperson Kristen Dark said.

"She made it about a block and a half. Our corrections officers never lost sight of her," she said. Two corrections officers caught up with her and Armstrong was restrained. The incident unfolded in about 10 minutes.

She was taken to a local hospital to be checked out, was deemed to be in fine condition and was returned to the jail.

Dark said she'll face additional charges for trying to escape. As of Thursday morning, her online booking information hasn't been updated with the new charges.

Kaitlin Marie Armstrong. (U.S. Marshals)

NBC News has reached out to Armstrong's attorney for comment.

Wilson, a mountain biking and gravel racer, was found shot multiple times in an Austin home on May 11, 2022. She had traveled to Texas for a race in Hico, southwest of Fort Worth.

A week after Wilson was found dead, Armstrong fled the country on a fraudulent passport. She was captured in Costa Rica and brought back to the U.S. to face charges.

Authorities have said that Armstrong and Wilson were romantically linked to the same man, professional cyclist Colin Strickland.

Armstrong had been in a relationship with Strickland for about three years, before the couple went on a break, an arrest affidavit said. In that time, Strickland and Wilson began seeing each other.

Strickland told the Austin-American Statesman last year that he and Wilson had a brief romantic relationship from late October to early November last year while Wilson was visiting Austin. They had both recently ended previous relationships, Strickland said. He and Armstrong reconciled one month later.

An unnamed friend said they were with Armstrong in January when she learned of the relationship between Strickland and Wilson, according to the affidavit. The friend said Armstrong became furious and was shaking in anger.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

STUDY SHOWS FLIGHT OF ELECTION OFFICIALS IN RECENT YEARS

A new report says that election officials have been leaving their posts in large numbers, resulting in a loss of institutional knowledge and increased costs in recruiting and training replacements.

IssueOne, a Washington, D.C cross-partisan political reform group, surveyed 11 western states, including California. It found that more than 160 chief election officials have left since November 2020. That represents about 40% of the leadership in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

The report attributes the wave of retirements and resignations in part to the lies spread by former President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election that it was rigged or stolen.

The brain drain associated with this exodus is real. IssueOne said, finding that officials took with them more than 1,800 years of combined experience.

In California, 41% of election officials left their post, taking with them 252 years of combined experience. And in 2024, 44% of California residents will see someone new running their elections. Thats 24 out of Californias 58 counties.

Turnover is costly in many ways, and while election officials have a track record of rising to the occasion and performing heroically despite limited resources, Congress can help remedy this crisis by providing more funding and protections to these dedicated public servants, the report said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

A very simple question  should Republicans dine with a holocaust denier? It takes Ron DeSantis 4 questions, 3 attempts at a pivot, and over a minute to give an even semi-coherent answer.

- California Gov. Gavin Newsom, via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Best of The Bee:
Donald Trumps campaign defended the former presidents remarks calling the militant group Hezbollah smart during a rally this week, arguing smart does not equal good.

Trump has faced backlash from several political figures for comments made during a speech with supporters Wednesday in Florida, in which he criticized Israels lack of preparedness for the widespread attacks from the militant group Hamas. He slammed the Israeli defense minister for issuing a warning to Hezbollah against attacking Israel in the north, saying that Hezbollah is very smart and would do so.

On Thursday, the campaign and a Trump adviser sought to defend and clarify Trumps remarks, saying he was not praising Hezbollah.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good, read a tweet from the campaigns War Room account.

It just proves Biden is stupid. And now you look stupid, Ron, the tweet continued, referring to President Biden and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.

Both Biden and DeSantis had previously chimed in to denounce Trumps comments.

Our nations support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never, Biden said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A Biden campaign spokesperson called Trumps comments sickening rhetoric that show Trump is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage.

DeSantis said Trumps comments were absurd in the aftermath of the deaths of more than 1,000 Israelis and with numerous Americans being held captive by Hamas.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, DeSantis said on X.

Trump senior adviser Jason Miller said on X that the Biden administration is continually highlighting weaknesses and project incompetence. He quoted a statement from a senior U.S. defense officials press briefing from Monday, in which they said, We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict.

Hezbollah is a Lebanese militant group that has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, United Kingdom and many other countries.

In the aftermath of Hamas launching its surprise attack on Israel and Israel responding with airstrikes and a counteroffensive in Hamas-controlled Gaza, concerns have been raised about Hezbollah getting involved in the conflict and attacking Israel from the north.

An Israeli Military spokesperson has warned Hazbollah of very severe consequences if it gets involved in the conflict.

Hezbollah has fired rockets into Israel in recent days.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trump hit out at a groggy Joe Biden in yet another rambling speech, during which he appeared to accuse the president of taking drugs to stay awake while giving press conferences.

The former president once again compared his own mental capacity to that of Mr Biden, telling a crowd in Palm Beach, Florida, that he had no problem exiting the stage at his own events.

Speaking about upcoming presidential candidate nominations, Mr Trump said: Were inches away and we have a man that literally cant speak. He cant get off the stage.

The other day he tried to get off the stage and look, Im up here and theres a lot of people, theres a lot of television going crazy. Theres so much.

Im up here, but you know when Im finished Im gonna look over there. Im gonna see the exit. Im gonna look over. I can take that one. What I cant do is walk through the back wall

Mr Trumps remarks appeared to reference an incident last year at the UN Global Fund event in New York, in which Mr Biden appeared confused about which way to exit the stage following a speech.

The president also raised eyebrows last month at a press conference in Vietnam, during which he told reporters he was going to go to bed and had his microphone cut off by his own team.

In Florida, Mr Trump continued: Did you see the other day?  You know what happens after about 20 minutes, the stuff that hes taking wears off so he gets a little groggy, he gets a little bit groggy.

They say get him off the stage, that s*** is wearing off... 

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on his efforts to curb so-called junk fees, from the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 11, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (REUTERS)

Referring to a White House scandal earlier this year, he added: And Im sure that the cocaine that they found in the White House I feel certain it had nothing to do with Hunter and Joe, by the way. Here dad have a little of this stuff its gonna liven you up a bit.

Can you imagine they found a stash that you wouldnt believe and nobody laid claim to it.

Mr Bidens team has hit back multiple times against accusations that the presidents age is affecting his capacity as president.

Following the incident in Vietnam, White House Deputy Communications Director Herbie Ziskend posted Mr Bidens busy schedule, which included meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, before flying to multiple locations in the US.
By Andrew MacAskill and William James

LONDON (Reuters) -The British government on Thursday said it would organise flights to get its citizens out of Israel and ordered families of its diplomats to leave in the wake of the war with Hamas.

The first flight is expected to leave Tel Aviv on Thursday with more planned in the coming days subject to the security situation.

"Vulnerable British nationals will be prioritised," the foreign office said. "We will contact those who are eligible for the flights directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they are called."

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip in retribution for the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, when hundreds of gunmen poured across the barrier fence and rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday.

The repatriation flights would be open to British nationals and dual-nationals, the foreign office said. Their dependents would also be eligible if travelling with a British national normally resident in the UK.

The flights will be commercial, with tickets costing 300 pounds ($369.12). The foreign office declined to say which airline would operate the flight.

Earlier, the British government ordered families of its diplomats in Israel to leave as a "precautionary measure", but said would remain on active duty and keep offering consular services.

Britain has advised against all non-essential travel to Israel, and the foreign office said it had made its decision about the dependents of diplomats "in line" with that advice.

A British Airways plane on Wednesday was forced to turn around shortly before it was due to land in Tel Aviv. A spokesperson for Israel's airports authority said rockets were flying around Tel Aviv at the time of the diversion.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have since joined easyJet in suspending flights between the United Kingdom and Israel, citing security concerns.

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; editing by William James and Andrew Heavens)
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ushered in front of the press by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Wednesday, his smile quickly faded and his look turned somber. It was Zelenskys first time at the alliances headquarters in the Belgian capital since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On this occasion, however, the Ukrainian president was forced to address a crisis currently drawing more attention than Moscows invasion of his country: the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel.

We are in the war, we understand what it means (to suffer) a terrorist attack, Zelensky told journalists, putting Russia and Hamas in the same basket.

I remember the first days of the war so many dying people, so many deaths, it was very important not to be alone, Zelensky added. So my recommendation for the (NATO) leaders is that they go to Israel, and support the people.

Zelenskys visit to Brussels coincided with the latest gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a bloc of 54 countries who are providing military support to Kyiv. It was the first time the Ukrainian president had attended the meeting in person, underscoring how pressing it is for Kyiv to keep supplies flowing in.

Its now several months into a slow advancing summer counteroffensive that will likely continue into the winter  a time of year Russia has tried to exploit in the past by targeting energy facilities and using the cold in an attempt to force Ukrainians into submission.

This is a critical moment for Ukraine, especially as international fatigue starts to set in and the worlds attention shifts to the Middle East.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike that has been going on for five days in Gaza City, Gaza on October 11. - Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images

Hamas surprise attack on Israel Saturday sent shockwaves around the globe  its impact felt all the way in eastern Ukraine.

An uncomfortable silence seemed to have taken hold in the Donbas on Saturday morning. After the deadly missile strike on the village of Hroza last Thursday, which decimated a fifth of its population, this couldve been just an expected lull in this war, but something felt different.

According to Ukraines General Staff, clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces were still ongoing on Saturday and Sunday, but the constant artillery barrages and the contrails from multiple rocket launch systems were absent. The usual reports of shelling along the front line also seemed muffled, unable to break through.

For the first time since the war had begun, more than a year and a half ago, little to no attention was being afforded to Ukraine.

These days, our attention is focused on the Middle East, Zelensky told the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in a video address on Monday. No one can ever forget what the terrorists did in Israel, he added, his words a graceful yet difficult acknowledgement that Ukraine was not dominating headlines.

In his nightly address Monday, posted on social media, Zelensky also suggested Moscow saw an advantage in the Israel-Gaza war. 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, he said.

But if Ukraine had already been left somewhat nervous by recent events in Washington  with Republicans refusing to include funding for the war-torn country in a 45-day short term spending bill to avert a government shutdown  the United States sudden focus on Israel has only fueled fears American aid could slow down soon.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to fire a M109 self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine September 11, 2023. - Anna Voitenko/Reuters

After the funding bill was passed, US President Joe Biden tried to reassure leaders in Kyiv, vowing military aid for Ukraine would continue. The White House also said Biden would make a speech specifically addressing those concerns  those remarks have now been shelved in light of the situation in Israel.

Ukraine, however, has since clawed back some attention, reminding the world of Russias war crimes in places like Bucha, a town northwest of Kyiv which it occupied early in the invasion, and equating its forces brutality with the atrocities committed by Hamas.

The Israelis themselves  Israeli journalists who were here in Ukraine, who were in Bucha, are now saying that they saw the same evil where Russia came, Zelensky told NATO lawmakers. 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.

The intentions declared are different, but the essence is the same, he added.

Russia has denied any involvement in the mass killings in Bucha, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

In this photo taken on April 2, 2022, bodies of civilians lie on Yablunska street in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, after the Russian army pulled back from the city. - Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

Zelensky delivered a similar message to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, led by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, on Wednesday.

We are in a special situation on the front line, where it is important to put pressure, and without any pauses  its very important, without any pauses, Zelensky explained as he thanked allies for their continued support.

The Ukrainian president acknowledged Russia was putting up some stiff resistance to Kyivs counteroffensive but said his country remained on the offensive.

It is still Ukraine, it is still our soldiers who determine the course of events, he said. But Ukrainian men and women are just one variable in this wars complicated equation.

On the front lines in both the east and south, as well as in offices in Kyiv, Ukrainians know that Western support, especially from the United States, remains key.

Terrorists like Putin, or like Hamas, seek to hold free and democratic nations as hostages and they want power over those who seek freedom, Zelensky said. The terrorists will not change, they just must lose. And that means we must win, it requires patience, it requires steady and continuous support.

Austin said that support would continue for the long haul, announcing another $200 million military aid package for Ukraine.

Were here to dig deep for Ukraines most urgent needs, especially for air defense and ammunition, the US defense secretary insisted. Were here to deliver what it takes, for as long as it takes so that Ukraine can live in freedom.

That freedom may be increasingly costly for US taxpayers, especially as Israel calls on Washington for additional military support ahead of an expected ground offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Despite Austins vow of support for Ukraine, the new package was one of the smallest provided by the United States. While the issue remains contentious in Congress, and with the conflict in Israel only likely to demand more resources, it may yet dwindle further.

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NEW YORK  The Democratic Socialists of America is coming apart at the seams.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman let his membership lapse. Colleague Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped the New York chapter over a pro-Palestinian rally Sunday. And others on the left are struggling to reconcile their views with the group  even disavowing it amid criticism from across the political spectrum.

The reckoning for the DSA in the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel could mark a realignment at the extreme end of the Democratic Party. Progressive politicians looking for an endorsement from the DSA have long faced a Middle East litmus test , answering questions about whether theyll boycott Israel and if they back Palestinians living under occupation.

The brutality Saturday  violence of a greater scope and intensity than earlier Israeli-Palestinian clashes  has shaken some who had been boosted by the DSA. And the blowback has been felt across Congress, statehouses and city halls where the party has made inroads.

In Michigan, Rep. Shri Thanedar officially renounced his DSA membership, saying in a statement Wednesday that he wont associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in all its forms.

In Los Angeles, DSA-endorsed City Council member Nithya Raman rejected the groups rhetoric late Tuesday, saying a national DSA statement on the attacks failed to reckon with the horrors committed by Hamas and was unacceptably devoid of empathy for communities in Israel.

In New York, the DSA lost one of its most prominent members in Bowman, a vocal critic of the Israeli government. His spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that he let his membership expire last year following disagreements on funding Israels missile defense system.

The bloodshed and budding war in Israel are shining a brighter spotlight on tensions between the often younger, left-leaning DSA-backed politicians and their mainstream Democratic colleagues.



The disagreement, which mirrors disputes breaking out on leading college campuses in recent days, could serve as an indicator of broader divisions within the Democratic Party.

And the debate over how to respond to the declared war between Israel and Hamas has caused the beginnings of a major rift within the DSA, a group thats viewed the Jewish state as an oppressor of Palestinians and has tried to link the issue to racial justice causes in the United States.

Theres an inflection point thats happening now, said David Greenfield, a former Democratic New York City Council member who now works with the Met Council, a Jewish nonprofit.

The core membership of the DSA has not shown any sympathy at all for innocent victims of Hamas barbaric terrorism, where the adults in the room have realized that thats not a viable path forward for any political party in the United States, Greenfield added.

In New York, several far-left Democrats boosted to elected office by the DSA condemned a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan that the New York City DSA had promoted but later distanced itself from. Attendees had chanted resistance is justified when people are occupied and one was shown displaying a swastika in a widely circulated photo.

A day later, the NYC-DSA toned down its rhetoric, apologizing in a statement .

But the DSA has still held firm to its core beliefs about Israel: Its statement went on to call for a cease-fire and the end of Israels occupation of the West Bank, the end of the 16-year siege on the open-air prison that is the Gaza Strip and the end of U.S. military aid for occupation and apartheid.

The local DSA chapter noted it didnt organize or sponsor the rally, which was not attended by any elected officials.

No. 1 is that the DSA is anti-war and pro-peace organization that stands for the full thriving of all human beings, Jeremy Cohan, a co-chair of NYC-DSA, said in an interview, adding: The idea that we would celebrate or glorify any death I find absurd.

He dismissed the notion that the party is in peril.

I dont see it as an inflection point because I think, in part, unfortunately, Americans are going to see a war coming, Cohan said of the DSAs stance against war.



The tensions are highest in New York, a state with the most Jewish residents in the world outside of Israel and also the place where the DSA has made its greatest electoral gains. But the divisions are playing out across the country.

DSA-affiliated elected leaders reactions to the war have been seized upon by political opponents, moderate Democrats and Republicans.

In Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker, who is Jewish, has declared full support of Israel. But there are divisions within the General Assembly and the Chicago City Council, whose Jewish members have written supportive statements about Israel while more left-leaning members have carefully walked a line to say they support peace.

The sides were even at odds over a resolution supporting Israel , with Chicago Alderman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez, a member of the Councils DSA caucus, saying the situation is more nuanced than what this resolution expresses.

In Los Angeles, City Council candidate Ethan Weaver posted Monday of his rival, Raman: 24 hours has passed since her biggest endorser, Democratic Socialists of America  Los Angeles, sided with terrorists who violently murdered innocent Israeli civilians  Nithya Raman still has not condemned DSA-LA or rejected DSA-LA endorsement.

After Raman criticized the national DSA's rhetoric, Weaver pushed her further still to disavow the party.

In Massachusetts, DSA chapters in Boston and Worcester have called for an end to U.S. military aid for Israel.

But even the most left-leaning members of the states all-Democratic congressional delegation, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, have refused to go that far. Both have called for de-escalation on both sides of the conflict, and Pressley called for an immediate ceasefire.

Markey was booed at a stand with Israel rally in Boston on Monday for saying exactly that  showing the competing pressures on Democrats in the deep-blue state.

He was also swiftly rebuked by a fellow delegation member, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Jewish military veteran who offered full-throated support for Israel and said de-escalation is not possible when [Hamas is] taking hostages.

Sara Forman, executive director of the New York Solidarity Network, which promotes the American alliance with Israel, said candidates should reject a DSA endorsement going forward.

Are you going to be a candidate, in New York, especially, who understands that New York Jews increasingly see the DSA as explicitly an antisemite organization?" she asked in an interview.

Republicans have sought to link DSA members to mainstream Democrats.

In New York, GOP state senators urged Democratic leadership to strip its handful of DSA members of their committee and leadership posts  a move that will put pressure on moderate Democrats to address.

At City Hall in New York City, Republicans and Democrats who run on the GOP line told their DSA-aligned counterparts in statement: There is no equivalency. There is no both sides argument. There is no moral relativism. This is pure evil.



Some DSA members continued to push back against the Times Square rally.

We were disturbed to hear reports of statements from individuals who attended which minimized or justified civilian deaths, state Sen. Julia Salazar and state Assemblymember Emily Gallagher said in a joint statement.

But Salazar, 32, said in an interview she has seen a political shift among younger voters and activists in their views toward Israel, especially given its right-wing government, she said.

Naturally, as young Americans and young American Jews adopt a more progressive ideology, theyre going to adopt a more sympathetic view of the Palestinian cause, she said.

The younger generation is going to continue to become actively involved in the Democratic Party and over time sort of reshape the partys position on this to make it more nuanced, Salazar said.

Still, some Democrats see greater room for nuance in the wake of the attacks.

Amy Spitalnick, a former press aide to the progressive Democrat Bill de Blasio, recalled a trip to Israel in 2015 when the then-New York City mayor visited a school for both Israeli and Palestinian kids.

His appearance at the school was no-brainer even if it stirred criticism at the time.

This weekend has made a few things enormously clear: Israel has a right to defend itself from brutal attacks, and this conflict requires a long-term peaceful solution, said Spitalnick, now the CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Spitalnick said Ocasio-Cortezs denunciation of the rally struck the right tone.

Its important to acknowledge that she actually did the right thing there and called out this rally, whether its a DSA rally or whoever sponsored it, Spitalnick said.

She added, There are definitely some voices that have not been able to express that moral clarity this weekend.

Lisa Kashinsky in Boston, Dustin Gardiner in Sacramento and Shia Kapos in Chicago contributed to this report.
Universities in Florida are tightening security measures as tensions continue to mount over the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas.

The University of South Florida Police sent out an emergency alert to students and staff on Wednesday over a suspected bomb threat on social media related to the USF Hillel building, where the Jewish student organisation resides.

Following an evacuation and search of the Tampa campus building, authorities found nothing of concern.

An update from the university later clarified that there was never any legitimate threat but that the social media post came from a spat between two people.

Despite the false alarm, USFPD said that there will be an increased police presence on the college campus for the foreseeable future.

As a result of the events in the Middle East, this week there has been, and there will continue to be an increased visible presence of USF police officers on campus, the department said in an email, seen by the Tampa Bay Times.

Students, faculty and staff are urged to remain vigilant and contact the campus police if they see anything concerning.

The incident comes at a time of heightened concerns among Jewish communities  as well as heightened tensions between some student groups across the US.

Days earlier at the University of Florida in Gainesville, chaos broke out at a vigil dedicated to the Israeli victims of the weekends attacks.

Israel vigil at the University of Florida before a stampede on Monday (Ashava)

The incident unfolded after a woman fainted in the crowd, causing a stampede of desperate attendees who fled the area in a panic.

Multiple people suffered injuries in the crush.

Campus police at the college said that they are also increasing security there following the incident.

UF has the highest number of Jewish students out of all public universities in the US, according to the colleges public broadcasting station WUFT.

The station said that it also has a high number of students who have been protesting Israels treatment of Palestinians.

Meanwhile, 33 student groups at Harvard University are coming under fire for signing a joint letter saying that Israels apartheid regime was the catalyst for the war.

I have been asked by a number of CEOs if @harvard would release a list of the members of each of the Harvard organizations that have issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for Hamas heinous acts to Israel, so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their https://t.co/7kzGOAGwp9  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 10, 2023

Todays events did not occur in a vacuum, the letter, led by the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, said.

For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison.

The apartheid regime is the only one to blame, the group added, describing Israels subsequent campaign in Gaza as colonial retaliation.

The letter sparked an instant backlash from Harvard alumni and lawmakers, while university officials distanced themselves from the comments.

An explosion on a residential tower caused by Israeli raids in the northern Gaza strip (Getty Images)

Now, some of Americas top CEOs and business leaders including hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman are calling for the names of the signatories to be made public so that they can be blacklisted from future employment opportunities on Wall Street.

The Israeli military has said that more than 1,200 people have been killed since Hamas militants stormed across the Gaza border into Israel in a surprise attack on Saturday.

At least 25 Americans are among the dead, while an unknown number of people are believed to have been kidnapped and are being held hostage back in Gaza.

At least 1,400 Palestinians, including 447 children, have also been killed during retaliatory strikes carried out on Gaza by Israeli forces, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
By Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. on Thursday imposed the first sanctions on owners of tankers carrying Russian oil priced above the G7's price cap of $60 a barrel, one in Turkey and one in the United Arab Emirates, in an effort to close loopholes in the mechanism designed to punish Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

The U.S., other G7 countries and Australia imposed the cap last year, seeking to reduce Russia's revenues from seaborne oil exports as part of sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.

The cap bans Western companies from providing maritime services, including insurance, finance and shipping, for Russian seaborne oil exports sold above $60 a barrel, while seeking to keep oil flowing to markets. Caps also were imposed on Russian fuel exports.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration placed sanctions on Turkey-based Ice Pearl Navigation SA, owner of the Yasa Golden Bosphorus, which the Treasury said carried Russian ESPO crude priced above $80 a barrel after the cap took effect in December last year.

The U.S. also imposed them on UAE-based Lumber Marine SA, owner of the SCF Primorye, which the Treasury said was carrying Novy Port Russian crude above $75 per barrel.

"Because of the actions we're announcing today, and the further actions we will take in the coming weeks and months, these costs will continue to rise and Russia's ability to sustain its barbaric war will continue to weaken," a senior Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters in a call.

The measures identify and block access to all property and interests owned by the companies in the U.S.

The price cap coalition also issued recommendations for the maritime industry including: a requirement for "appropriately capitalized" protection and indemnity insurance, agreed protocols on the use of Automatic Identification Systems and enhanced checks of high-risk ship-to-ship cargo transfers.

Both tankers, which conducted port calls in Russia, used U.S.-based service providers while transporting the Russian origin oil, the Treasury said without answering questions about those providers.

The U.S. service providers would not be at risk of sanctions if they had been provided false or misleading information by others in the shipping chain about the price of Russian oil, said a price cap coalition official on condition of anonymity.

Turkey's Yasa Holding, operator of the Golden Bosphorus, said it had necessary documentation from major London insurers for it to carry Russian origin cargoes and that it has been company policy for more than a year to not carry Russian crude.

Yasa said the vessel is currently under time-charter for three to five months with Exxon Mobil.

The U.S. oil major said it does not trade Russian oil or oil products. "These deliveries are certified products of Canadian origin," Exxon said about the chartering.

A price cap coalition official speaking on condition of anonymity said Exxon was not a target of the sanctions and that the company had chartered the vessel after it had carried Russian oil.

GHOST FLEET

Global oil prices have risen to around $85 a barrel in recent months on production cuts and thin world spare production capacity. That has helped to limit the efficacy of the cap, but the coalition can toughen enforcement to make it more effective, according to people who advised the Treasury.

Russian crude oil exports last month stood at 4.9 million barrels per day, down about 100,000 bpd from the May-June average, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated on Thursday. But it also said Russia's total exports of crude oil and products in September rose by 460,000 bpd to 7.6 million bpd, with crude accounting for 250,000 bpd of the increase.

The cap has forced Russia and traders to invest in what the industry refers to as a ghost fleet of old tankers vulnerable to leaks and oil spills. Those vessels are undertaking long voyages to deliver crude to refiners in China and India, which have become the largest buyers of Russian crude. Neither country has imposed sanctions on trade with Russia.

The cap forces Russia to pay about $36 a barrel for those non-Western maritime services, expenses that go to "tankers not tanks" in the Ukraine war, the U.S. Treasury official said.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday said the price cap had sharply reduced Russian revenues over the past 10 months, and that it was critical to keep imposing severe and increasing costs on Russia.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, said on the Telegram messaging app the sanctions resulted from studies by an international working group he helped create and that violations of the Russian oil price cap will be punished.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis; additional reporting by David Lawder, Sabrina Valle in Houston and Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk; Editing by Will Dunham, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy)
By Park Gi-hyun

A few days ago, we celebrated the traditional holiday, Chuseok, the Korean version of Thanksgiving Day. Extended families visit their ancestral hometowns, spend time together and share a feast of traditional Korean cuisines.

To be honest, I had been reluctant to travel all the way to North Jeolla Province, where my in-laws live, during the holiday period. I have literally not been patient enough to endure the horrible traffic jams during the extended holiday period. The average driving time typically doubles during the festive season. According to the Korea Expressway Corp, traveling from Seoul to Busan, 395 kilometers away from the capital by road, was expected to take about eight hours, which usually only takes around four hours.

Unlike my parents home where a maximum of 10 people gather, at least two dozen of our family members assemble in my husbands hometown in a hugely festive family reunion.

But it all stopped when the pandemic hit. Initially, not visiting an elderly relative's house was primarily driven by the fear of spreading or being infected by the virus. I justified not heading to relatives homes by saying I was uneasy with meeting groups of people. I stuck with this behavior for three years even after I became less fearful of COVID-19. As society puts the pandemic aside, I decided to ditch this behavior because I thought it was time to move on. So, this year, I headed back to visit family.

After many hours of driving, I finally reached Gochang, North Jeolla Province. Initially, I felt a little distant from relatives after not seeing them for such a long period. However, my awkwardness with them went away very quickly after we shared our recent life stories, offered condolences for disheartening news and celebrated some accomplishments.

In fact, cooking Korean cuisine, making a hundred "songpyeon," a half-moon shaped rice cake for Chuseok, and doing the dishes for roughly two dozen people were indeed physically demanding. Yet, upon reflection, that time allowed me to reconnect with other family members as I spent a lot of time talking to them and empathizing with them.

I felt a sense of belonging after a long time. I learned how a family gettogethers work. They involve closeness and encourage attachment. Our stories are valued and respected. Yes, it has always been great to get together.

On the day we left, we took bags fully packed with locally harvested farm produce and my unskillfully made songpyeon on the journey home. It seemed my kids truly enjoyed the time spent with relatives. A positive family environment is vital to kids development, leading them to become happier people. In this regard, I was glad that I took them to the gathering.

I slpet in for two days after I returned home. My back still hurts due to long hours of cooking. However, I am pleased that we have resumed a family gatherings after the pandemic. I have forgotten the huge gratification that derives from family. Yes, I am now convinced of Mitch Alboms remark: Sticking with your family is what makes it a family.

The writer (faith0906@gmail.com) is a freelance English translator based in Korea.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) will end its partnership with the UFC in January after Conor McGregors return to its testing pool this week, claiming that the saga has made the organisations relationship untenable.

Usada announced on Wednesday (11 October) that McGregor had re-entered its testing pool, as the former champion prepares for his first fight since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a second straight loss to Dustin Poirier.

In order to compete in the UFC, athletes must have been in the pool for six months while returning zero positive test results and at least two negatives. That means McGregors earliest possible return date is in April, but Usada admitted that it would not be able to ensure that the Irishman serves the full six months, because it will not be renewing its partnership with the UFC in January.

Usada clarified that the move was the result of its discomfort with the McGregor saga, after the UFC and the fighter suggested earlier this year that Usada might grant the 35-year-old an exemption to facilitate an earlier in-ring return.

We can confirm that Conor McGregor has re-entered the Usada testing pool as of Sunday 8 October 2023, said Usada CEO Travis Tygart in a statement. We have been clear and firm with the UFC that there should be no exception given by the UFC for McGregor to fight until he has returned two negative tests and been in the pool for at least six months. The rules also allow Usada to keep someone in the testing pool longer before competing based on their declarations upon entry in the pool and testing results.

Unfortunately, we do not currently know whether the UFC will ultimately honor the six-month or longer requirement because, as of 1 January 2024, Usada will no longer be involved with the UFC Anti-Doping Program.

Despite a positive and productive meeting about a contract renewal in May 2023, the UFC did an about-face and informed Usada on Monday 9 October that it was going in a different direction. We are disappointed for UFC athletes, who are independent contractors who rely on our independent, gold-standard global program to protect their rights to a clean, safe, and fair Octagon. The UFCs move imperils the immense progress made within the sport under Usadas leadership.

The relationship between Usada and UFC became untenable given the statements made by UFC leaders and others questioning Usadas principled stance that McGregor not be allowed to fight without being in the testing pool for at least six months.

Fighters long-term health and safety  in addition to a fair and level playing field  are more important to Usada than short-term profits at the expense of clean athletes. Usada is proud of the work weve done over the past eight years to clean up the UFC, and we will continue to provide our unparalleled service to UFC athletes through the remainder of our current contract, which ends 31 December 2023.

As always, we will continue to uphold the rights and voices of clean athletes in all sport.
The raging war between Israel and the militant group Hamas is reigniting debate on Americas college campuses, where emotions are running high and officials are feeling the pressure not to stay silent.

And for some students, speaking out has proven to be problematic, underscoring the real-world consequences for young people who choose to exercise their free speech rights or showcase their identities amid such a divisive dispute.

Follow live updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict

Never in my life have I seen the tension like this, said Jacob Miller, a junior mathematics major at Harvard University who is president of the schools chapter of the Jewish student organization Hillel.

Harvards leadership has been accused of having failed to urgently respond after a statement from Palestinian solidarity groups blamed Israel for the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, remarks that drew condemnation from Jewish groups and supporters.

Miller, 21, described some Hillel members crying in hallways and struggling to focus on their schoolwork.

Elsewhere, fallout has been swift. At New York University, the student president of the schools student bar association lost a job offer after having made pro-Palestinian comments in an online newsletter.

And at California State University, Long Beach, a day of resistance in support of the Palestinian cause was dog-piled by critics on social media, leading a student association to make its Instagram account private for the safety for our students.

As in years past when the region has been roiled in conflict, the complex discussion  steeped in historical nuance and an intense fervor  has caught college students attention, with many expressing horror at the hundreds of deaths among Israelis and Palestinians since the weekend. In turn, some students in the U.S. worry about backlash here.

A closeup of a kippah showing the flags of Israel and the United States. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

I wear a kippa as a Jewish garment, and today was the first time that I ever questioned whether or not I should go out wearing one just to go to class, said Ari Kolb, a senior at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, who is president of the schools Hillel.

American students such as Kolb say the images of the bloodshed overseas have generated anxiety where they live, as well, with some communities stepping up security at synagogues and mosques as a precaution against potential violence.

At the University of Vermont, the schools Hillel group said campus police would increase patrols and station a car outside its offices this week.

Rama Darayyad, a junior at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, has sought solace among fellow Palestinian American students who may feel unfairly maligned by baseless accusations of antisemitism when they show support for the Palestinian people, she said.

The violence and rhetoric does not escape Palestinians no matter where we are, Darayyad, 20, said, adding: I dont go a second without thinking and worrying for the people of Gaza. My heart hurts for Gaza, and I never thought I had room to hurt more for Palestine than I already do.

While nonconformist and opposing viewpoints are typically tolerated within the bounds of free speech on many college campuses, students who weigh in on the war are finding their positions are being tested.

A member of the NYU Student Bar Association had an employment offer rescinded Tuesday after having said in an online publication that Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life and I will not condemn Palestinian resistance.

In a statement on social media, the Chicago-based law firm Winston & Strawn LLP said the students comment conflicts with its values.

Winston stands in solidarity with Israels right to exist in peace and condemns Hamas and the violence and destruction it has ignited in the strongest terms possible, it said.

Saed Atshan, an associate professor of peace and conflict studies and anthropology at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, said speaking out in support of Palestinian human rights has always been a fraught topic on and off school campuses.

In some cases, Atshan said, there is a calculated effort to silence voices who speak in solidarity with Palestinians.

He pointed to Canary Mission, an anonymous online site that seeks to identify people and groups that promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews. The site lists students and professors it considers on the far-right, far-left or anti-Israel activists.

Image: Lightning strikes as smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 9, 2023. (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images)

Atshan, who is Palestinian American, said it is important to recognize antisemitism, adding that hatred against Jewish people can also spark reprisals against those who are vocal about supporting the Palestinian cause. However, criticism of the Israeli state must not be conflated with antisemitism, he said.

Its absurd to just, in a knee-jerk fashion, malign people as bigots and antisemites just because they have thoughtful critiques of one of the most powerful spaces in the world thats committing some of the most egregious human rights violations in the world, Atshan said.

For now, U.S. higher education institutions are balancing how best to respond to the immense interest without alienating members of their student populations.

Northwestern junior Sama Ben Amer, a journalism student and former board member of the schools Students for Justice in Palestine organization, said there is a clamor for university officials to acknowledge the war as student groups hold vigils in honor of those killed.

The school put out statements in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the war in Ukraine.

The default for Northwestern is to ignore any kind of demonstrations by students at all costs, Ben Amer said. If we dont acknowledge it, its not a problem.

Northwestern did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Larry Summers, a former president of Harvard and U.S. treasury secretary, took aim at Harvards current leadership for not having initially condemned the statement by Palestinian solidarity groups, writing on social media that Harvard appears at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.

Harvard President Claudine Gay distanced the school in a statement Tuesday, saying 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.

Summers told NBC News on Wednesday that he hopes the university learned a lesson to speak quickly  not on complicated and subtle issues that require thought, but on matters that are very clear, as this one was.

Others are offering support to students who may experience adverse reactions.

The Associated Press fired Emily Wilder, 25, in 2021 after she violated the APs social media policy during her time at AP, a spokesperson for the AP told The Washington Post at the time. Although Wilder was not told what tweets violated the APs policy, she believes she was fired because of posts she made in support of Palestinians.

Wilders firing was also spurred on by a campaign shared by far-right personalities on social media. On Wednesday, she said she felt like she was watching her own story play out again  this time among college students who were being punished for voicing their support of Palestinians, too.

Im heartbroken and Im not surprised, she said.

Wilder said that it is rare that institutions know how to handle things like bad faith social media campaigns and that they often do not stand by those who are subjected to them. She said support often comes only from those who have experienced retribution themselves.

You know, once youre in this club, its a really weird club, but we have your back, Wilder said.
Kaitlin Armstrong faces charges of murder, first degree felony, and theft of service (Travis County Jail)

The woman who police have accused of fleeing to Costa Rica after allegedly killing an elite professional cyclist in Texas has reportedly attempted to escape custody.

Kaitlin Marie Armstrong has been accused in the 2022 fatal shooting of Anna Moriah Wilson. She allegedly fled to Costa Rica in June 2022 and was deported several days after her arrival at the behest of the US government. Ms Armstrong was received by the US Marshals Service and charged with first-degree murder.

She has pleaded not guilty.

Ms Armstrong has been in custody since then, but allegedly tried to change that fact during a recent visit to a doctor.

On Wednesday, Ms Armstrong was scheduled to undergo an examination at a physicians office. The trip required her to be transported by a corrections officer to a medical building. On her way out of the building, Ms Armstrong reportedly attempted to escape.

As she and two corrections officers were exiting the medical building after the appointment, Armstrong ran, Travis County Sheriff's Office spokesman Drew Knight told CNN. The officers pursued her on foot for approximately 10 minutes without ever losing sight of her.

In a video that captured her escape attempt, Ms Armstrong could be seen running across a lawn toward a brown wooden fence. A corrections officer pursued but slipped as she gave chase. Ms Armstrong leaped onto the fence, but was eventually caught by the corrections officers.

Ms Armstrong's trial is scheduled to begin on 30 October, according to court records. She will face a jury trial.

Her attorney, Rick Corfer, said last year that his client "wants her day in court" and wants "a trial."

All I can ask of the press here is that you not consider everything told to you by law enforcement as confirmed and reportable facts. Simply put, theres a lot more to the story than has yet been heard," he said at the time.

He previously said a fair trial would be impossible due to existing biases in the case.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Corfer for comment.

The cyclist, Ms Wilson, was found dead on 11 May 2022, with multiple gunshot wounds. Her body was found at a friend's home in Austin, Texas, after she had reportedly gone to swim with Ms Armstrong's boyfriend, Colin Strickland. Mr Strickland is also a professional cyclist.

Mr Strickland said the pair swam together, had dinner, and then he dropped her off at the home where she would later be found dead.

Investigators believe romantic jealousy may have motivated the shooting.
After Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he was leaving the Democratic Party to instead seek the White House as an independent candidate, he drew immediate criticism -- from conservatives, not Democrats.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel quickly released a statement billing the 2024 hopeful as a "Democrat in Independent's clothing" and a "typical elitist liberal."

"Voters won't be fooled," she said.

In tandem with the committee's response, the GOP's national research team, which focuses on highlighting potentially negative information about rival politicians, released its own dossier on Kennedy pointing to dozens of his prior statements and policy positions of his, such as his opposition to fracking and his desire for the country to wean off plastics.

Former President's Donald Trump's campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung also had similar criticism to share.

"Voters should not be deceived by anyone who pretends to have conservative values. ... An RFK candidacy is nothing more than a vanity project for a liberal Kennedy to cash in on his family's name," Cheung said in a statement.

President Joe Biden's campaign and the national Democratic Party, however, said nothing. In fact, the Democratic National Committee is, for now, not planning on sounding off on Kennedy at all. The party has instead stuck with rallying behind Biden, who still faces a long shot primary challenge from author and speaker Marianne Williamson.

MORE: RFK Jr. launches independent bid for president, leaving Democratic race against Biden

PHOTO: In this Nov. 15, 2019 file photo Robert Kennedy Jr.is seen in Washington, D.C. (John Lamparski/Getty Images, FILE)

In announcing before a large crowd on Monday that he would run as an independent in 2024, Kennedy invoked America's own history.

"I'm coming 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. But to do that, I must first declare my own independence, independence from the Democratic Party," he said.

He acknowledged how his switch was a twist in the election, though it remains unclear from polling how much support he might draw away from the traditional two-party split. No independent candidate has ever won a modern presidential election.

"The Democrats are frightened that I'm gonna spoil the election for President Biden. The Republicans are frightened that I'm gonna spoil it for President Trump. The truth is they're both right," Kennedy said Monday. "My intention is to spoil it for both of them."

The rapid and robust response he got from conservatives rather than leading Democrats could reflect his closer association with parts of the Republican base -- or, as 538 has noted, his relatively strong favorability among the GOP versus his now-former party.

Since his initial launch earlier this year Kennedy has sought to reach out to the right, even when campaigning as a Democrat. As ABC News previously reported, he has attracted a notable number of GOP-friendly donors in the past.

Trump, before his campaign attacked Kennedy this week, had called him a "a very smart person."

Congressional Republicans also previously invited him to testify before a House panel on the alleged "weaponization" of the federal government, believing he was a target of censorship over his controversial views on public health and attacks on vaccines.

PHOTO: Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives on stage to speak during a 2024 presidential campaign rally, Sept. 20, 2023, in Dubuque, Iowa. (Scott Morgan/Reuters)

In his speech on Monday, Kennedy said that he had opened his mind to a broader array of political perspectives since running for president.

"As I've surrendered my attachment to taking sides over the past six months, I've been able to listen with new ears to people with whom I disagree and to see solutions that would otherwise have been invisible," Kennedy said, referencing issues like border security.

For his first broadcast TV appearance post-announcement, Kennedy appeared on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" where he discussed his break with Democrats and the future of his campaign, which will also require him to satisfy the various state requirements to appear on the 2024 ballot.

"We need somebody who's going to find those areas of agreement, those values we agree on, rather than focus on these little issues that have us at each other's throats," Kennedy said.

When asked if he was ready for Trump to potentially come after him, Kennedy replied simply that he hoped Trump would "dispute me on the issues" and "talk about the issues that affect America."

"I think people are tired of the vitriol, and I'm not going to engage in that," Kennedy said.

Geoffrey Skelley, a senior elections analyst at 538, told ABC News it's still difficult to discern which party is more vulnerable to losing voters to Kennedy's independent bid, given Kennedy's popularity with some Republicans despite being the scion of perhaps the country's most famous Democratic family.

"The handful of horse race polls that test the three candidates tend to show Trump's margin improving slightly in a three-way race, but Kennedy also is more well-liked by Republicans than Democrats. Early polling puts Kennedy's support in the mid-teens, but such figures seem unlikely to hold up as the campaign progresses," Skelley said.

And some Democrats, like Democratic National Committee member Carol Fowler, think their base will be turned off by some of the positions highlighted by Republicans, like Kennedy's skepticism of vaccines.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden at Farmleigh House, in Dublin, April 13, 2023. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, FILE)

"Maybe some of his anti-vax positions will make Trump voters. ... I just don't know. He clearly was not making any inroads as a Democrat," Fowler said.

Larry Cohen, another DNC member and longtime ally of independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and also the chair of Our Revolution, a Sanders-aligned political organization, said his concern with third-party bids this election cycle is due to what he sees as the stakes for whomever wins. Cohen singled out areas like abortion policy.

"We're living in a period where we're fighting a real threat," he said.

RFK Jr.'s switch to independent campaign draws criticism from Republicans -- not Democrats originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said he encouraged Democratic Sens. Cory Booker (N.J.) and Mark Warner (Va.) to challenge President Biden for the partys 2024 presidential nomination.

Deseret News reported on Romneys remarks at the E2 Summit in Park City, Utah, this week. The former GOP presidential candidate said Booker and Warner were not receptive and that Democrats wanted a more progressive heir to Biden, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) or Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Romney also invited four GOP candidates for 2024 to his donor summit: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Vice President Mike Pence.

During his conversation with former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Romney said hed be happy with any of the four candidates winning the nomination over former President Trump.

Booker, who became a senator in 2013, ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 among a crowded field of candidates, including Biden. He announced in January 2020 that he was suspending his campaign, and he eventually endorsed Biden for the nomination.

Warner was sworn into the Senate in 2009 after shutting down speculation that he would run for president in 2008. He previously served as the governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006.

The Hill has reached out to the offices of Romney, Booker and Warner for comment.

The only current Democratic challenger to Biden is author Marianne Williamson, after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday he is now running as an independent.

Romney is not the only lawmaker to encourage others to run against Biden in the primary. Last week, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.)  who has sparked some speculation of his own for 2024  said that an open Democratic primary would make Biden a stronger candidate.

Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips (Minn.) has not yet ruled out a primary challenge to Biden for next year, arguing the party needs a competitive primary.

Earlier this month, Phillips stepped down from his Democratic leadership role, fueling speculation that he could make a late entry into the race.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The White House on Thursday condemned former President Donald Trump for describing Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, as very smart.

In a statement, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said that although it doesnt typically comment on the 2024 presidential race, Trumps remarks were dangerous and unhinged.

Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel, Bates said. Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history.

This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil, he added. Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

In remarks at a Club 47 event in West Palm Beach, Trump blamed President Joe Biden for the deadly Israel-Hamas war by baselessly claiming that the Biden administration had funded the attacks with the $6 billion in oil revenue it recently unfroze as a result of a prisoner exchange with Iran, which has historically funded both Hamas and Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been exchanging fire across the border with Israel since Hamas's surprise attack last weekend.

Follow live updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict

Trump said: And then two nights ago, I read all of Biden security people  can you imagine? National defense people and they said, Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack from the north because thats the most vulnerable spot. I said, 'Wait a minute. You know, Hezbollah is very smart. Theyre all very smart.'

In a statement Thursday, the Trump campaign said, President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack. Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid.

Trump also went after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in his speech, saying that he "has been flying around the country setting fire to his reputation and destroying the reputation frankly of Florida.

DeSantis on Wednesday night also took aim at Trump for describing Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, as very smart" in a post on the X platform that included a video of the former presidents remarks: Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.

As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are, he added.

DeSantis has sharpened his critiques against Trump in recent days, arguing that Democrats have a better chance of winning the White House in 2024 if Trump wins the GOP presidential nomination during an interview on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Tuesday.

I think a referendum on Joe Biden means we win, if Im the candidate. I think a referendum on Donald Trump, if thats it, then I think the Democrats would win, DeSantis said on Morning Joe.

He said although there are millions of voters who disapprove of Biden, believe the country is heading in the wrong direction and want to vote for a Republican, Trump is just a dealbreaker for them. They just wont do it.

Since Hamas launched its attacks against Israel last weekend, Republican 2024 presidential candidates have blamed the Biden administration for the attacks that have prompted war. Several of the contenders have insisted, without evidence, that the U.S. funded the attacks as a result of the prisoner exchange deal with Iran.

Biden has repeatedly stressed his administrations support for Israel amid its war with Hamas and efforts to free American hostages this week. His administration has also pushed back against the GOP criticism, insisting that the $6 billion in oil revenue that Iran recently regained access to did not come from U.S. taxpayer dollars.

The U.S. and Qatari governments have agreed to block Iran from accessing any of the $6 billion, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo communicated to House Democrats Thursday, according to three sources familiar with the remarks, two of whom were in the room.

Adeyemo said the money isnt going anywhere anytime soon, per two of the sources.

Israel has launched airstrikes into the Gaza Strip and Hamas has fired rockets toward Tel Aviv as the war stretches into its sixth day. Israels military said it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza, a densely populated strip that is home to more than 2 million Palestinians, half of whom are children. The Israel Defense Forces preparations come after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a wartime unity Cabinet and vowed to crush and destroy Hamas.
By Mark Trevelyan

(Reuters) -Russia's parliament will vote next week on withdrawing Moscow's ratification of the global treaty that bans nuclear tests, lawmakers said on Thursday.

At a time of acute tension with the West over Russia's war in Ukraine, the move could provide Moscow with legal cover to conduct a test involving a nuclear explosion for the first time since 1990, even though it says it has no such intention.

Parliament's lower house, the State Duma, said it would hold a first reading on the bill next Tuesday. Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma's international affairs committee, said he expected it to complete its passage two days later.

All 450 members of the Duma would sponsor the motion, Slutsky said, a sign that its unanimous approval is guaranteed. He said Russia would then notify the United Nations Secretary-General of the move.

Russia ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 2000; the United States has signed but never ratified it. The Duma is acting on a cue from President Vladimir Putin, who said last week that the point of de-ratifying would be to "mirror" the U.S. position.

Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said: "For 23 years we have been waiting for Washington to ratify the treaty. What is this? Double standards, meanness and an irresponsible attitude. There is no other name for it.

"In this situation, we must be guided exclusively by the interests of the citizens of our country, our state."

MILITARY POSTURE

Russia has placed repeated emphasis on the role of nuclear weapons in its military posture, at a time when its conventional forces have struggled in Ukraine.

Its shift on the CTBT follows its suspension earlier this year of the New START treaty that limits the number of Russian and U.S. nuclear warheads, another key pillar of nuclear arms control in the 21st century.

While nudging the Duma to implement the CTBT move, Putin said last week he was not ready to say whether Russia should actually resume tests involving nuclear explosions.

A test could dramatically escalate tensions with the West, already at their highest levels for 60 years because of the war in Ukraine, and prompt the United States, China and others to resume their own tests for the first time this century, security analysts say.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the United States on Tuesday of carrying out preparations at its nuclear test site in Nevada, but said Russia would not resume testing unless Washington did.

The State Department rejected his allegation as "a disturbing effort by Moscow to heighten nuclear risks and raise tensions in the context of its illegal war in Ukraine".

(Editing by Gareth Jones)
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough tore into former President Trump over his comments Wednesday praising the terrorist organization Hezbollah.

Out of his mind, I mean, praising Hezbollah, just like he praised [Russia President] Vladimir Putin, said he was brilliant  after the invasion of Ukraine, Scarborough said on his program Thursday morning. All the praise that hes had for President Xi [Jinping] and China always talking about what a brilliant man he is. Same thing, of course, with the tyrannical leader of North Korea.

You know, out of his mind, he added.

Trump, during a stump speech Wednesday, said Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, is very smart, theyre all very smart.

The former president also questioned intelligence failures in Israel that led to the massacre carried out by Hamas militants in the country over the weekend.

So when I see sometimes the intelligence,  you talk about the intelligence or you talk about some of the things that went wrong over the last week, theyve got to straighten it out because theyre fighting, potentially a very big force, Trump said.

Scarborough, a frequent Trump critic, said the fact that Republicans are embracing this guy is just absolutely crazy.

Thats your Republican Party right there. Thats thats your Republican Party, he said. Thats the guy who is in first place in the Republican contest to be the next presidential nominee for the GOP.

While you have two people that are the leaders running for Speaker and who still cant tell you who won the 2020 election, he added. Its absolutely crazy.

Trump also took flack from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), seen as one of his closest rivals in the 2024 presidential race.

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart, DeSantis wrote Wednesday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Members of President Bidens team also condemned Trumps comments.

Fighting in the Gaza region continued Thursday between Hamas militants, who launched a surprise attack over the weekend, and Israel, which has vowed retaliation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Herald-Leader asked the two candidates for state treasurer to tell voters about themselves, and how they would approach the role of treasurer if elected.

Democratic candidate Michael Bowman and Republican candidate Mark Metcalf will seek to win the office in this years election on Nov. 7.

Kentuckys treasurer has several formal bookkeeping roles, including depositing state revenues, monitoring the states bank accounts, managing unclaimed property and withholding the proper taxes from state employees. The treasurer also sits on several boards in the state, including those that oversee the Teachers Retirement System of Kentucky and the Kentucky Lottery.

Bowman worked as special assistant to Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman in the education and labor cabinet. Hes also worked as a bank officer for U.S. Bank, which he said gives him the financial background needed as treasurer. He ran for the office in 2019 and lost to current Treasurer Allison Ball. He would focus on accountability and transparency of our tax dollars if elected, Bowman said in an interview with the Herald-Leader.

There are a lot of policies that the treasurer, in respect to fiscal matters, can drive in a positive direction for the Commonwealth, and how we deal with things like education, how we invest our money with businesses, to make those types of decisions, Bowman said.

Metcalf has a background in law, working as the Garrard County attorney since 2010 (and previously in the 1990s). Hes also worked in private practice as an attorney and holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army reserve after serving as a judge-advocate. During a debate with Bowman on KET, Metcalf said Kentucky needs to focus on paying down its debts.

Kentucky spends too much, it taxes too much, it borrows too much, and it saves too little, Metcalf said. We need to be looking out for the taxpayers of the state and holding Kentucky accountable on the spending side of the ledger so we spend out money wisely, and we look for opportunities to save money.

The following answers are written as the candidates responded to a survey from the Herald-Leader.

What would be your top priority as treasurer?

Bowman: As Treasurer, I would be the fiscal watchdog for the Commonwealth and increasing transparency in our government, expanding financial literacy, and advocating for innovative policy solutions that grow our economy and create jobs are critical priorities.

Metcalf: Job number one is to save taxpayer dollars. I want to do this by reducing the size of government. Ive done more with less as a county attorney and Ill continue to be a fiscal hawk as Kentuckys Treasurer. I also want to reduce Kentuckys direct indebtedness (which presently stands at $15.5 billion). Reduce the unfunded portions of Kentuckys pension funds through statutorily required investments from the state that should continue to include enhanced catch-up payments. Stand up to liberal activist money managers who have adopted ESG investment strategies for management of state pension funds. Enhance financial literacy. Significantly increase return of unclaimed funds to their rightful owners through incentives that reform estate administration and identifying next of kin.

Why did you decide to run for this office?

Bowman: Governor Beshear has lead us through remarkably difficult times, including a global pandemic and natural disasters, but consistently finds politicians who do not act in good faith. Im running because we need partners in Frankfort, not adversaries, who work together to tackle our most pressing problems and provide solutions for the people of the Commonwealth.

Metcalf: To make a difference. I believe more needs to be done to save and return taxpayer dollars to the people who paid them. I believe Kentuckys families are facing challenging times and I am passionate about utilizing this office to help.

What makes you the best candidate for treasurer?

Bowman: Its been nearly 40 years since weve elected a Treasurer with any professional training or formal education in finance. My experiences in both local and state government, coupled with my background as a former bank officer for a large financial institution give me the skills to be successful as Treasurer and a strong advocate for smart investments.

Metcalf: The breadth and depth of my experience as a judge, a prosecutor, private practitioner, and a soldier and my leadership experience at every level of private and government service.

Is there anything that falls under the state treasurers office that you think needs improvement or more focus on? If so, what would that be and why?

Bowman: Financial Literacy is a key component to the success of our economy by teaching the next generation of Kentuckians how to be financially secure and make smart financial decisions. Expanding those programs by providing for a consistent curriculum and providing the support to local school districts to ensure that they- and our children- are successful.

Metcalf: 1. Kentuckys unclaimed property totals $800 million. I will use the latest technologies to return these properties to their rightful owners and adopt incentives that reform estate administration and identifying next of kin. 2. The poor, low-wage earners, and middle-income earners have utility bills they often cannot pay without choosing among necessities. I will urge the greater use of clean, abundant, and cheap energy found in Kentuckys fossil fuel inventory. 3. Reduction of Kentuckys indebtedness is essential so that investments in our future generations (chiefly in education and health care) will be more affordable for both the individual and government.

How would you work with other state agencies in your role if elected?

Bowman: I would commit to work as a partner to ensure that we are operating effectively and efficiently in service to the people of the Commonwealth through maintaining open lines of communication and holding all branches of government accountable in the management of our tax dollars.

Metcalf: I will work creatively and collaboratively with other state agencies without regard about party or who gets the credit for accomplishments.
By Emanuel Pastreich

A successful unification of the Korean Peninsula must be based on a vision for the nation rooted in both universal values and the distinct traditions of the Korean people.

If the establishment of a unified Korea as a constitutional republic is to follow the model offered by the United States, the critical step would be the drafting of a constitution that lays out the contours for that new nations government and the principles undergirding it.

That means selecting the best practices and policies, and the most relevant to the needs of the current age, from models for good governance found in the collective wisdom of mankind, and doing so in a manner that is inspiring for the Korean people, and that serves as a model for the nations of the world.

In this respect, the Korean dream advanced by Dr. Hyunjin Preston Moon, a visionary plan for a new nation on the peninsula that brings together the best of West and East, will inspire the drafting of this constitution.

The constitution for a unified Korea will serve as the foundation for the republic, describing concretely the institutional structures and the principles of governance that govern them, thereby establishing a common understanding of the legal process to be followed going forward, while setting limits on the authority of each branch of government that will be essential for stability over the long term.

The constitution should assure a process for understanding the needs of society, the principles of morality and the best way to implement those solutions in policy, while guarding against creeping tyranny by assuring a logical separation of powers.

The United States Constitution is a blending of varied strands of political philosophy. We can observe in the Constitution institutional precedents taken from Greece and Rome, but also from medieval and enlightenment governance in England, France and Germany. A trained eye can detect bits of the Iroquois Great Law, and even of Confucian practice as it was introduced into the Enlightenment debate in Europe on governance.

The constitution of a united Korea should also be a creative work with roots deep in our common past, a text that appeals to universal human values and morals, and that sends out sparks of inspiration to all Koreans, and to all the world, as did the American constitution in 1787.

The intellectual dynamic animating the American Constitution is powered by the synthesis of the political philosophy of the ancient Greeks and Romans with practical precedents in later history for deliberative democracy such as the Magna Carta of 1215, or the Roundheads defense of the democratic Parliament in seventeenth-century England.

We can imagine a constitution for a unified Korea that will derive its power from a further synthesis, this time between the tradition of the constitutional republic without a monarch that is put forth in the U.S. Constitution, Koreas own traditions of good governance and ethical behavior, and the larger mansions of moral philosophy in East Asia, mainly those of Confucianism and Buddhism.

A Korean Constitutional Convention

All of the models for good governance in the Western and Eastern traditions will not mean much if Koreans are not able to hold a constitutional convention in which the greatest ethical and intellectual minds of the age come together for an open debate dedicated to addressing the spiritual and material needs of the people, not personal gain, and if the consensus of those great minds is not written up in powerful and clear language that can inspire citizens for the ages.

The constitution produced by the constitutional convention for a united Korea must have cultural depth and moral power on both the Western and Eastern sides so that it will be accepted by Koreans of the North and the South (and around the world) assuasive, authoritative and universal.

First, we need individuals who are morally upstanding, intellectually informed, dedicated to the public good, and who have a keen sense of their role in long arc of history. That moral stature must be accompanied with an openness to new potentials and eternal creativity.

They need not, should not, be individuals with identical concepts of what government should be. The convention should be a symphony in which different themes and melodies are blended together in the give and take, the debate, and the resulting harmony produced in debates, for example between those favoring a strong central government and those opposed, between those favoring individual rights and those favoring the common good, serves to create a balanced conception of the whole that will rise above the capacity of any one author.

We know that in the American case those at the convention, James Madison, George Mason, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams (by correspondence), and Alexander Hamilton, articulated profoundly different perspectives on how government could realize the potential of humanity.

The Constitutional Convention went on in Philadelphia from May 25 to Sept. 17 of 1787, bringing together a group of visionary political figures who were devoted to an honest debate on the strengths and weaknesses of previous traditions of governance. It took months of concentrated debate, draft after draft, to come up with a vision for how the United States of America would be governed in a democratic, transparent, and accountable manner so as to represent the needs of the people and to protect the rights of the minority and to express that vision in a manner that was accessible to citizens.

In the Korean case, it should be a select group of committed Koreans, from North and South Korea, and from the Korean diaspora, who are ready to devote themselves to the drafting of this constitution based on ideals and profound contemplation of the needs of the people, a group that includes people with different perspectives on governance who are capable of creative dialog and compromise.

The constitution will be accepted by the people, not on the basis of how famous its drafters are, or how much money and coverage in the media they receive, but rather on the basis of their vision of what humanity is capable of, and how they express that potential in an inspiring manner.

It is essential that the planners of the convention make room for the organic meetings of minds, take the time to read through classic books on governance and to discuss them in an unpressured environment, while at the same time avoiding imposing on the natural process by which the constitution takes form and is then drafted.

Emanuel Pastreich is president of Asia Society, researcher at Council on East Asian Studies, Yale University and senior fellow at Global Peace Foundation. The views expressed in the above article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.
The U.S. State Department will be arranging chartered flights for American citizens who are currently in Israel, the White House announced Thursday.

The details on the flights are still being worked out, but those citizens will be flown out from Israel "to sites in Europe" starting Friday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

PHOTO: White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby joins White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for the daily press briefing at the White House, Oct. 12, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

"I would add that we're also exploring other options to expand the capacity of doing this, including exploring whether it's possible to help Americans leave by land and by sea," he said.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the administration expects "these initial travel options to facilitate the safe departure of thousands of U.S. citizens per week."

"The overall security situation, availability and reliability of commercial transportation, and U.S. citizen demand will all influence the duration of this departure assistance," he said.

Miller added that "senior State Department officials are actively working with airline carriers and international partners on how best to provide additional options to U.S. citizens seeking to depart Israel or conduct onward travel to the United States."

PHOTO:The US embassy complex in Jerusalem, Sept. 27, 2023. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. Embassy in Israel sent a message to Americans alerting them that "it will take some period of time to schedule everyone seeking to depart."

The message indicated that the expatriates would be transported by air to Athens, Greece, or Frankfurt, Germany, or by sea from Haifa to Cyprus.

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates

"You will not be able to choose your destination. We will assign you to the next available flight or ship," the embassy said.

Pets will not be permitted on the flights, the embassy said.

MORE: Hamas attack in Israel: State Department issues Level 3 advisory for travel to Israel

The ex-pats will have to "sign an agreement to repay the U.S. government prior to departure," as required by U.S. law, and make their own arrangements for lodging in whatever country they arrive in, according to the embassy.

PHOTO: Passengers look at a departure board at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Oct. 7, 2023, as flights are canceled because of the Hamas surprise attacks. (Gil Cohen-magen/AFP via Getty Images)

Delta Airlines said it's partnering with the U.S. government to help set up flights.

United Airlines said it's "in close touch" with the State Department as it looks to add charter flights for Americans in Israel.

On Wednesday, the airline announced it would add flights from Athens to Newark to help travelers in the region. United said Thursday it added extra flights and capped fares between Athens to Newark, and will also use larger aircraft for its Athens to Washington flight.

American Airlines said it was also working with the State Department.

"At this time, we have seats available from European airports that offer capacity for connections from Israel and will continue to coordinate with the U.S. Department of State on any additional capacity needs  either through operating larger aircraft or adding flights," the airline said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the State Department elevated its advisory for travel for Israel and the West Bank to a Level 3, "reconsider travel," due to "terrorism and civil unrest," and it currently has a "do not travel" advisory for Gaza.

ABC News' Matt Gutman and Amanda Maile contributed to this report.

State Department announces plan to fly Americans out of Israel originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The US Supreme Court is once again faced with the issue of racial gerrymandering as states wrestle with Republican-drawn congressional boundaries ahead of 2024 elections that could reshape control of Congress.

In the case of Alexander v South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, plaintiffs argue that the states legislature adopted a congressional map that discriminates against Black voters by moving hundreds of thousands of voters out of one of the states seven districts, while lowering the Black voting population in all but one of them.

A federal court already tossed out the map in January, finding that the states First Congressional District  currently represented by Republican US Rep Nancy Mace  violated the Constitution by using race as a determining factor when drawing its boundaries.

But during two hours of oral arguments on 11 October, the courts conservatives appeared sceptical of the lower courts decision, arguing that the evidence supporting it was merely circumstantial and that Republicans goals in drafting a map to benefit them were merely political, not racially driven.

Disentangling race and politics in a situation like this is very, very difficult, Chief Justice John Roberts said. This would be breaking new ground in our voting rights jurisprudence.

Conservative Justice Samuel Alito claimed there was virtually no direct evidence that would allow the plaintiffs to disentangle race and politics from their argument.

At the heart of the case is whether protections exist for Black voters in a state where ones race and political affiliation are closely aligned, blurring the line between racial or partisan gerrymandering. An overwhelming majority of Black voters in the state vote Democratic. Only seven per cent vote Republican.

Thats the whole point, isnt it, said liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor. If you cant reach a goal  no matter how laudatory it is  if the only way you can satisfy yourself, for whatever your political reasons are, is by using race, thats illegal.

Assistant US Solicitor General Caroline Flynn replied: You cant use race as a proxy for a political goal.

If youre asking whether there is direct evidence that the legislature admitted in the 21st century that they sorted voters on the basis of race as a means to achieve their political goal, said Leah Aden, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. No, we do not have that.

Chief Justice John Roberts, left, and associate Justice Samuel Alito, pictured in October 2022 (Getty Images)

Even after the maps reshuffling, the states First Congressional District maintained the same Black voting age population of 17.8 per cent. How could Republican lawmakers not be thinking about race in that case, plaintiffs and the courts liberal justices argued.

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked whether they would need a smoking gun.

The move shaped the district into a Republican stronghold, with congresswoman Mace winning re-election by 14 percentage points last year.

South Carolinas case is similar to the Alabama gerrymandering case before the court last year, which ultimately tossed a GOP-drawn congressional map and ordered a new one that preserved a Black majority district and added another with a Black voting age population of nearly 50 per cent.

While that case fell under the Voting Rights Act, the case in South Carolina hinges on the Constitutions equal protection clause.

A federal court approved a proposal for Alabamas new congressional map last week. That map, which will be in place through at least 2032, could also reduce the GOPs attempts to hold its slim majority in the House in next years elections.

Similar legal battles over the future of other gerrymandered congressional districts are playing out in several states, including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Wisconsin.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court's conservative majority on Wednesday appeared skeptical that Republicans in South Carolina unlawfully considered race when drawing a congressional district in a way that removed thousands of Black voters.

Conservative justices, who hold a 6-3 majority, questioned whether civil rights groups that challenged the district had sufficient evidence to show that lawmakers were focused predominantly on race when drawing the map. The state says its sole goal was to increase the Republican tilt in the district.

With Black voters tending to vote for Democrats, the case raises the question of whether Republicans were primarily targeting them for racial or partisan reasons.

The case sees the justices grapple with the impact of their own ruling from 2019 that effectively gave the green light to so-called partisan gerrymandering when it said federal courts have no role in assessing such claims.

Republicans led by South Carolina Senate President Thomas Alexander are contesting a January ruling that said that race was of predominant concern when drawing one of the seven districts.

The district, which includes the city and county of Charleston, is represented by Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican.

After the 2020 census, Republicans redrew the boundaries to strengthen GOP control of what had become a competitive district.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts said the plaintiffs' case rested solely on "circumstantial evidence" and was in that sense different to other racial gerrymandering cases the court has decided.

"This would be breaking new ground in our voting rights jurisprudence," he said of a decision against the state.

Fellow conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett likewise noted that the plaintiffs have an "exceedingly heavy burden" to show that the state acted inappropriately, with the court generally adopting the presumption that legislatures act in good faith.

Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch was among those who probed the difficulty of disentangling race from partisanship.

"Here there's no evidence the legislature could have achieved its partisan tilt, which everyone says is permissible in any other way," he said.

Of all the conservatives, Justice Samuel Alito was most persistent in questioning the plaintiffs' theory of the case, asking a series of questions digging into the facts and how the lower court reached its conclusions.

It is not the Supreme Court's role to merely "rubber-stamp" the lower court's findings, he said.

The court's three liberal justices were more sympathetic to the plaintiffs, pointing out that the Supreme Court should overturn the lower court only if grave errors were identified in its handling of the case.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pushed back on the notion that plaintiffs did not have sufficient evidence, saying that under court precedents they are not required to produce a "smoking gun" that race was the state's primary consideration.

On a similar theme, Justice Elena Kagan said that there are "good reasons to use race as a proxy for politics" instead of election data, which was limited to the 2020 presidential election, because race can be "more predictive of future voting behavior."

Republicans had a "clear incentive" to look at race because "everybody can tell you that if you really want to draw a stable partisan gerrymander, you do not rely on single presidential year election data," she added.

Democrat Joe Cunningham won the seat in 2018 and narrowly lost to Mace in 2020. The new map was used in the 2022 midterm elections, in which Mace won by a wider margin than she had two years previously.

The roughly 30,000 Black voters who were moved out of the district were placed into the district held by Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., who is Black. It is the only one of seven congressional districts in the state held by Democrats.

Although the plaintiffs won in the lower courts, a revised map has not been drawn, with the litigation on hold until the Supreme Court issues its ruling. Both sides have asked the justices to rule by Jan. 1 so that, if required, a new map can be put in place for the 2024 elections.

A win for the plaintiffs would likely make the district more competitive but would not necessarily mean that a Democrat would win.

Lawyers for the Republican legislators said in court papers that the three-judge panel should have acted on the presumption that the Legislature was acting in good faith. They also said there were obvious political reasons that legislators wanted to move predominantly Democratic voters out of the district to cement a Republican majority.

Civil rights groups, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, alleged that Republicans not only unlawfully considered race when drawing the maps, but they also diluted the power of Black voters in doing so.

The claims were brought under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, which requires that the law applies equally to everyone. As such, although it is a racial gerrymandering claim, it arises under a different legal theory to the major ruling earlier this year in which civil rights advocates successfully challenged Republican-drawn maps in Alabama under the Voting Rights Act.

That case featured mirror-image legal arguments, with Alabama Republicans arguing that the state should have been allowed to use race-neutral line-drawing principles even if that meant there was only one Black-majority district, instead of two. The plaintiffs meanwhile, unlike in the South Carolina case, argued that race was required to be a consideration under the Voting Rights Act.
By Ben Blanchard

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan was waiting for a decision by the U.S. government on whether Taiwanese chipmakers will be allowed a waiver extension to supply U.S. chip equipment to their factories in China, Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Thursday.

Last October, the Biden administration published a sweeping set of export controls, including a measure to cut off China from certain semiconductor chips made anywhere in the world with U.S. tools, vastly expanding the reach of a bid to slow Beijing's technological and military advances.

South Korea's government said this week that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will be allowed to supply U.S. chip equipment to their China factories indefinitely without separate U.S. approvals.

"Whether it will be the same treatment as Samsung and SK Hynix, it's up to the announcement from the U.S. government," Wang told reporters in Taipei.

TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said last year it had been granted a one-year authorisation by the United States that covered its factory in Nanjing, China, that makes less-advanced 28 nanometre chips.

"TSMC has already received a one-year waiver, and now we'll have to see whether the U.S. government will further loosen the measures," Wang said.

TSMC did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.

The United States 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.

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.

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.

(This story has been refiled to fix a typo in the headline)

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
BANGKOK (AP)  The first group of Thai workers evacuated from Israel after the past few days bloody events in southern Israel and Gaza arrived Thursday in the Thai capital of Bangkok, greeted by anxious relatives and senior officials.

Hamas militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival. The Israelis have responded with punishing airstrikes and preparations for a possible ground invasion. The conflict has claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides, including some Southeast Asian workers living in Israel.

The 41 Thais who returned home on a commercial flight of the Israeli airline El Al included two men wounded in the violence who had to use wheelchairs to exit the aircraft.

Farm laborers from Thailand seek work in more developed countries where there is a shortage of semi-skilled labor  at wages considerably higher than they can earn at home.

Tens of thousands of workers in Israel from nations including Thailand and the Philippines send their earnings home to support their families. That money also helps to fire up their native countries economies.

But the appearance of Thais and Filipinos on the lists of dead, wounded and missing in the past few days is a reminder that foreign workers toil in peril of their lives.

About 30,000 Thais are working in Israel, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry, and about 5,000 of them live in the southern area near the border with Gaza.

One of them, Katchakorn Pudtason, said his employer at the farm where he worked initially herded all his workers into a bunker when Saturday's attacks took place, but after they left it for lunch they could still hear shooting.

As they were being driven back to their workplace, Katchakorn heard more gunshots and felt something hit his knee, he said.

I thought it was a rock but it went through. So I hit the truck and told the driver to drive away, he said. He added that he was one of four people in the vehicle who suffered injuries that day. He was one of the two returnees who had to use a wheelchair.

Thailand's Cabinet ministers for labor, defense and foreign affairs were at Bangkok's international airport for the evacuees' arrival. The government has vowed to look after the evacuees' physical and mental well-being.

Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said 5,990 Thais have registered to be evacuated and officials are working around the clock to accommodate them.

We need a Plan B to take out as many people as possible, said Defense Minister Suthin Klangsaeng. We will use military aircraft to evacuate people from the high-risk area to a third country, such as (the United Arab Emirates).

The number of Thais affected by the tragedy stood out in lists of non-Israeli nationals affected by the violence: Thailands foreign ministry Thursday said 21 Thais are believed dead and 14 wounded. Sixteen were believed to have been taken hostage.

Survivor Chatree Chasri left his home in northeastern Thailand in 2019 to work in Israel as an agricultural laborer to pay off debts and provide for his wife and two children back home in Nakhon Phanom. Foreign work is a common path for Thais from the countrys economically disadvantaged rural areas, especially the northeast.

Working under a government-to-government agreement, the 38-year-old has been farming tomatoes and cauliflower for the past four years in the southern Israeli town of Mivtahim, less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) away from Israels border with Gaza.

Despite the occasional shelling and rocket attacks that sent him running for cover, his life at the farm had been OK until Saturday, he said from Israel in a phone interview with The Associated Press. Now he says he wants to come home, and never go back to Israel.

Chatree was shot several times in his hip shortly after Hamas launched its rocket attacks and shock ground offensive into southern Israel, killing hundreds of people and capturing more than 100 who were hauled back to Gaza as hostages.

Chatree was using a toilet at the farm where he works with other foreign laborers when he suddenly heard gunshots.

The sounds came closer and bullets went through the wall of the toilet, he said, recalling the moment he was hit. He then saw two gunmen making their way into the workers' living quarters and open fire, so the workers fled outside to hide.

Vibhavadi Vannachai, a Thai expatriate who has lived in Israel for nearly two decades and is coordinating with Israeli authorities to help the Thai workers, fears the number of victims may rise.

Vibhavadi, originally from Nong Bua Lamphu province in Thailands northeast, works as an interpreter in a legal office whose cases mostly involve resolving disputes between Thai workers and their employers.

She said abuse and violations of their rights are common, with many bound by years-long contracts but cheated of their wages. Many are forced to work long hours and are beaten if they refuse. Some have to live in quarters that are not fit for human beings, she said.

Vibhavadi helped find temporary accommodations for Chatree and Padoong Bootmo, a 26-year-old Thai worker shot on Saturday who said the potato and yam farm where he works in Yesha was raided twice by gunmen and then burned down. Padoong said in a phone interview he had been able to send 40,000 baht ($1,100) home each month. He might under the best of circumstances make less than half that doing the same job in Thailand, but he said he doesnt want to stay in Israel anymore.

The killing of at least two Filipino foreign workers underscored the threats also faced by those workers in Israel.

About 30,000 Filipinos live and work in the country many as caregivers who look after the elderly, the ill and those with physical disabilities, according to the Philippines' foreign ministry. The huge income they send back home, which last year amounted to an all-time high of $36.14 billion, has helped keep the countrys fragile economy afloat.

One of the two Filipinos killed Saturday was a caregiver who was shot with her employer inside their house by Hamas gunmen, according to the Philippines Embassy in Israel. The other was killed under still-unclear circumstances.

At least three Filipinos remain missing, embassy officials have said.

Still, Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Wednesday that no Filipino has asked to be repatriated from Israel.

Jeremiah Supan, a 34-year-old Filipino caregiver in Israel, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday that he made it clear to Philippines officials he did not want to return home. As the family breadwinner, he sends his earnings home to enable his 10-year-old son to remain in school and sustain other loved ones.

"The rocket firings continue Supan said. But if I leave, all that assistance that I send to my family back home will be lost.

___

Gomez reported from Manila. Associated Press writer Grant Peck contributed.
For foodies who like a little Caribbean spice in their dishes, this is a common question: Where can I get Haitian food in Miami?

Well for one day this Saturday, the answer will be simple: from any number of the chefs who will be part of Goute Peyi M or Taste My Country: A Culinary Tour of Haiti hosted by Ayiti Community Trust, a local grant-making foundation working to support sustainable development in Haiti.

The centerpiece of the groups annual gala at 7 p.m. Saturday at Level Three Miami, 19565 Biscayne Blvd., will feature not just a taste of Haitian cooking but a lesson in the countrys Creole cuisine.

Its an opportunity for us to think of the narrative of the country, which is not just a single story, said Guerda Nicolas, co-founder of Ayiti Community Trust along with Pierre Jonas Imbert.

Founded seven years ago, Ayiti Community Trust supports organizations in rural communities in Haiti that are focused on sustainable development. While the event seeks to raise funds for its support of Haiti-based grassroots organizations involved in civic education, the environment and entrepreneurship, organizers also want to use it as an opportunity to bring together Haitians and non-Haitians around a cultural experience.

It allows us the opportunity to expose Haitians and to expose friends of Haiti to the cultural aspects of Haiti that they oftentimes may not be paying attention to, Nicolas said.

Haitian cuisine, she said, emerged as a theme this year because its such a significant part of our culture.

Nicolas said often people think of Haitian cuisine as being only about griyo, the fried pork chunks that are a staple of almost every Haitian party, or rice and beans, the countrys national dish. Most of people, including Haitians themselves, dont realize that the different regions of the country not only cook different things, but also have a different approach to cooking common dishes, she said.

For example, in the GrandAnse, coconut milk is a common ingredient thats used in the cooking of rice. The region is also known for its Tomtom, which is made from breadfruit and is the Haitian version of West Africas Foofoo, which is made with cassava, also known as yuca. Nicolas also notes that there are reasons why soup or fish are only eaten on certain days in Haiti, and rice, despite its popularity, is not an everyday meal for some.

This gives us an opportunity to educate people about the different foods in the various regions and also the links of those foods to Africa, she added. By hosting these different cultural events, it allows us to connect people to the larger aspects of the culture, and also to show the link between who we are and our African roots, but also it allows us the opportunity to celebrate folks who we dont oftentimes pay attention to, our chefs.

Griyo or griot is a dish of deep-fried pork chunks that is typical of Haitian cuisine.

Throughout the event, attendees will be able to visit the different regions, get a tasting and also see live cooking demonstrations from the chefs. Among the dishes on the menus: Djondjon, the black rice thats flavored and dyed with Haitian mushrooms; Diri ak pwa, rice and red beans; and of course griyo, the popular fried pork. But if one thinks, theyve had the dish before, Nicolas warned be ready to be surprised.

For instance, the popular mouthwatering vegetable stew known as Lalo isnt cooked the same way in Haitis Central Plateau as it is in the GrandAnse.

Tickets for the event start at $300, and include access to a cocktail reception, live auction, open bar with premium spirits, dinner, an awards program and after party with live performances and DJ. For $150, attendees can just enjoy admission to the after party starting at 9 p.m. There will be live performances and musical selections by a DJ, complimentary Haitian desserts, and an open bar with premium spirits.

The event also will feature performances by Tafa mi-Soleil, Lakou Mizik, DJ Nicky Mix, NSL Dance and JQues Alamod, a hip hop artist who is flying in from Australia.

A dozen Haitian chefs from Haiti, Canada and South Florida will be honored during the evening. They include Chef Jerry Dominique of North Miami and celebrity chef Ron Duprat of Bravo TVs Top Chef competition.

One chef in particular, Joseph Gerard Therilien, will receive the grand award. Born in Petit-Goave, a rural town just south of Port-au-Prince Therilien, studied at both Cornell University in New York and Haitis famed hospitality school, Ecole Hoteliere. Several of the nights honorees trained and worked under him, Nicolas said.

We cant honor all of the chefs, but this gives us an opportunity to shed light on what it means to be a Haitian chef, she said.

Helping to celebrate them will be a dozen locally elected officials as well as representatives from 20 community organizations including eight that are based in Haiti that will be coming to the event.

Elissa Vanaver, a member of the host committee who became involved with Ayiti Community Trust when she served as national chief executive officer of the Breakthrough Collaborative, said given the ongoing multidimensional crisis in Haiti, she believes its important to support those who continue to do the work inside the country, despite the gang violence and dysfunctional government bureaucracies.

Ayiti Community Trust, said Vanaver, who is also a former managing editor of the Miami Herald, is able to funnel money to rural communities that are doing quality of life projects, she said. They are continuing the work even as Haiti goes through this chaotic time.

Vanaver said she also values the fact that the foundation is working to help build a national community of Haitians in the diaspora so that when times are better and the strategy for major investment is clear, the diaspora in this country will already be unified and be able to act, perhaps in a more coordinated way.

IF YOU GO

What: Goute Peyi M: A Culinary Tour of Haiti

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Level Three Miami, 19565 Biscayne Blvd.

Cost: $150 or $300
WASHINGTON  The U.S. and Qatari governments have agreed to block Iran from accessing any of the $6 billion it gained access to as part of a prisoner swap deal between the Biden administration and Tehran last month, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats on Thursday, according to three sources familiar with his remarks, two of whom were in the room.

The two sources in the room said Adeyemo did not give any timeframe for how long the U.S. and Qatar agreed to block Irans access to the money.

Follow along with lives updates on the Israel-Hamas war here.

Punchbowl News was first to report Adeyemo's comments.

The administration has faced bipartisan pressure to block Irans access to the money as U.S. officials continue to investigate whether Iran had any direct involvement in Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel. The Biden administration has said Tehran could use the $6 billion only for humanitarian assistance.

The money was transferred last month from a South Korean bank to a bank in Qatar. Iran could access the money only through a series of steps, including oversight by the Treasury Department, administration officials have said.

Wally Adeyemo speaks. (Jordan Vonderhaar / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

Administration officials have said over the past several days that Iran has not accessed any of the money and that the U.S. could re-freeze it at any time. But there was growing pressure on the White House to send a clearer message that Iran would not access the money.

Critics of the White Houses decision to give Iran access to the $6 billion have said that the money is fungible and that any funds Iran receives, regardless of whether they are for humanitarian assistance, would free up more money for it to fund terrorism.

It's unclear how halting Iran's access to the $6 billion might affect the administrations efforts to negotiate future deals to release other wrongfully detained Americans.
Editors note: This story contains graphic descriptions of violent acts that some readers may find disturbing.

A series of shocking reports have spread horrific claims of baby beheadings by Hamas militants across social and mainstream media in recent days, adding a particularly incendiary element to an already violent and bitter war. But the reports are still unconfirmed, and in some cases have been retracted.

The most high-profile claim came Wednesday night when President Joe Biden said that he had seen photographic evidence of terrorists beheading children. The White House later clarified that Biden was referring to news reports about beheadings, which have not included or referred to photographic evidence.

Photos have been published by Hamas showing beheaded soldiers and the X account belonging to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted pictures on Thursday of babies killed and burned by Hamas. No photo evidence had been made public as of Thursday morning corroborating claims that babies had been beheaded.

Unverified and false information spreads quickly on social media, particularly around breaking news events, reaching even larger audiences when it is shared by mainstream news outlets, politicians and people with large followings. Follow-ups that retract or add context are less likely to be repeated or reach the same audience.

Bidens statement followed a series of news reports and comments from Israeli officials, most of which have since been softened or walked back entirely. Easily debunked misinformation like fake press releases have circulated widely since the start of the war, but such stories often die down quickly once proven false. The claims about beheadings, difficult to verify or debunk, have continued to spread thanks in part to the lack of clarity.

Alexei Abrahams, a disinformation researcher at McGill University in Montreal, said that even without the allegations of beheaded babies, just the facts themselves are horrifying enough to have the kind of effect you expect.

It may turn out that the slaughter was done in a particularly barbaric way. But one way or another, this is an absolutely shocking, unprecedented event of violence, Abrahams said. The general concern, of course, is that its going to exacerbate what is already a very fraught situation.

An Israeli troop stands among the rubble of buildings Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza (Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP via Getty Images)

Many of the reports appear to have originated from Israeli soldiers and people affiliated with the Israel Defense Force (IDF).

An IDF spokesperson told Business Insider on Tuesday that soldiers had found decapitated babies, but said Wednesday it would not investigate or provide further evidence regarding the claim. Late Wednesday, an IDF spokesperson said in a video on X that the IDF had relative confidence of the claims.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN that babies and toddlers were found with their heads decapitated in southern Israel after Hamas attack. By Thursday morning, an Israeli official told CNN the government had not confirmed claims of the beheadings.

A senior State Department official said Thursday morning that the agency was not in a position to confirm the beheading claims.

Marc Owen Jones, an associate professor of Middle East Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar who studies misinformation, told NBC News that he found that the source of the 40 babies beheaded allegations largely stemmed from a viral Israeli news broadcast clip that did not specifically refer to the allegation.

Nicole Zedeck, a correspondent for the privately owned Israeli news outlet i24NEWS, said in the video that Israeli soldiers told her theyd found babies, their heads cut off. The video has been viewed more than 11 million times on X, according to its view counter. In another tweet, Zedeck wrote that soldiers told her they believe 40 babies/children were killed.

Somehow those two bits of information were connected, the story became 40 babies were beheaded, and in the British press today, about six or seven newspapers had it on their front pages, Jones said.

An IDF spokesperson, Doron Spielman, told NBC News on Tuesday that he could not confirm i24NEWSs report.

Yossi Landau, the head of operations for the southern region of Zaka, Israels volunteer civilian emergency response organization, told CBS News that he saw the bodies of beheaded children and babies, parents and children who had been tortured and had their hands bound, and a lot more that cannot be described for now, because its very hard to describe.

By Wednesday, the claims, though still contentious, were going viral online  being used as evidence of Hamas depravity. On Wednesday, the phrase Did Hamas kill babies saw the biggest increase in search interest on Google of anything related to the war.

Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp posted the shocking claim to his 25 million Instagram followers: 40 babies were beheaded and burned alive in front of their parents by Hamas. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, mentioned beheaded babies in a post on X, and Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, echoed the allegations on CNN.

Jones found that the 40 babies beheaded claim had over 44 million impressions on X, with over 300,000 likes and more than 100,000 reposts. The main accounts propagating the claims were i24NEWS and the official Israel account, Jones data showed.

Baby stories are very emotive. Historically, theyre stories that can be used to rationalize a very brutal response, Jones said. Its such a volatile information environment that such claims will inevitably be taken out of context, both deliberately and accidentally.
By Sandip Kumar Mishra

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration in South Korea appears to be giving a befitting reply to North Koreas uncouth and provocative behavior. After coming to power, the new administration has taken a tough stance and a tit for tat approach in its dealing with North Korea. The most recent example has been a large-scale military parade of South Korea on Sept. 26. It was interesting to see the South Korean military parade passing through the heart of the capital city and displaying domestically developed tanks, self-propelled artillery and the participation of American soldiers based in South Korea also.

Several pictures and videos are being shared on social media and elsewhere in which people were seen cheering as troops, tanks, missiles and drones pass by them. Actually, the whole day, from the Seoul Air Base to the streets of Seoul, Hyunmoo missiles, L-Sam missile interceptors, reconnaissance drones and several jets demonstrated the military strength of South Korea. The parade was not held for the last ten years and earlier parades were more symbolic and at a smaller scale.

It is true that North Koreas notoriety has gone forward in leaps and bounds in recent years. Despite sincere efforts of the Moon Jae-administration which led to the Panmunjeom Declaration, establishment of a liaison office in Kaesong, the Pyongyang Declaration, and even two summit meetings of the North Korean leader with the U.S. president, North Korea has remained recalcitrant. After an unsuccessful Hanoi summit, North Korea has become more aggressive in its posturing. Though they have not conducted any nuclear tests in the last six years, they have destroyed the liaison office at the Kaesong, made sharp personal remarks on South Korean leaders and tested almost 150 missiles in under two years.

In response to North Korea's belligerent, non-compromising and unpredictable behavior, South Korea feels that enough is enough and Yoons North Korea policy reflects such a mood in South Korea. In less than one and half years, Yoon has proposed a preemptive strike on North Korea, redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons and at the popular level there has been demand for South Korea develpoping its own nuclear weapons. South Korea has released its own Indo-Pacific strategy while Yoon has participated in the two NATO summits, had outreach towards Japan and strengthened relations with the U.S. with the Washington Declaration as well as the Camp David trilateral meeting. South Korea went to the extent that when North Korea tested missiles in October 2022, South Korea also did the same and the South Korea military openly said that South Koreas air to surface missile tests are in reaction to a barrage of North Korean missile tests.

Yoon administrations choice of appointments in the unification and defense ministries has also been indicative of this trend. In June 2023, Yoon appointed his unification minister Kim Yung-ho, who wrote in 2019 that unification would happen when the Kim Jong-un regime is overthrown and North Korea is liberated. He appointed a new defense minister Shin Won-sik who has been critical of the Sunshine Policy and engagement with North Korea and wants the Pyongyang Declaration of September 19 to be abolished.

Overall, it may appear quite satisfying for South Korea that it has been responding to North Korea in its own language but at the same time, there must be a rethink as it may further divide South Korea and North Korea. Actually for decades, the international community understood the Korean issue as a contest between the two political entities of the Korean Peninsula who are rivals and in contest with each other. However, with the democratization and economic success of South Korea along with its rise as a responsible middle power in the Indo-Pacific, a big shift could be clearly seen. The international community started realizing that the problem is not a contest between the two Koreas but only North Korea. South Korea has taken itself out of the conundrum. South Korea's economic success, democratic vibrancy and cultural resurgence place it in a different light. South Korea began to provide developmental aid to many developing countries and its "transformative power" is considered a model to be imitated. Contrary to this, North Korea is considered a "failed state," "rouge state" and a source of potential instability in the region.

Thus, it appears to be wise on the part of South Korea to keep moving on its own path, concentrating on its economic growth and democracy. It does not mean to say that South Korea has to neglect its genuine security concern and should be negligent to its defense preparedness. However, provocative statements, a narrow retributive approach and unnecessary demonstrative moves could be avoided. All of them may have potential to "re-hyphenate" South Korea with North Korea. Although it is quite premature to say that such re-hyphenation would happen in the near future, any slide towards it must be identified early and a restraint must be put on it.

The author is associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, and can be reached at sandipmishra10@gmail.com.
The Israel Defense Forces called for the evacuation of all civilians in Gaza City early Friday, on the heels of what the United Nations said was a warning they received from Israel to evacuate 1.1 million people living in the north of Gaza within 24 hours.

The military warned civilians that the armed forces would be operating in the city in the following days. "This evacuation is for your own safety," the Israeli military said in a warning it said was sent to Gaza City civilians.

The broader order was delivered to the U.N., according to United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, who called the order impossible without devastating humanitarian consequences.

"This is chaos, no one understands what to do," said Inas Hamdan, an officer at the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza City while she grabbed whatever she could throw into her bags as the panicked shouts of her relatives could be heard around her. She said all the U.N. staff in Gaza City and northern Gaza had been told to evacuate south to Rafah.

Alarmed civilians and aid workers, who were already in distress from Israeli airstrikes and a blockade, were sent into chaos. Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza City, told The Associated Press through tears that there was no way one million people could evacuate that fast.

Forget about food, forget about electricity, forget about fuel. The only concern now is just if you make it, if youre going to live, Farsakh said.

Farsakh said many medics were refusing to evacuate hospitals and abandoned patients, which included the elderly, children, and many wounded civilians.

The Israeli military did not immediately confirm the broader evacuation order but the alert could signal an imminent ground offensive. Israel has been bombarding Gaza with airstrikes and on Thursday an airstrike killed at least 45 people in a Gaza refugee camp Thursday, the territory's interior ministry said, potentially stoking global protests a former Hamas leader has called for that have provoked fears among travelers.

Ministry spokesman Eyad Bozum told The Associated Press the late-afternoon airstrike hit the al-Shihab family house at the center of the densely populated Jabaliya camp in northern Gaza, adding that the death toll would probably rise. Dozens were wounded and the list of casualties shows more than half the dead were children.

Palestinians evacuate wounded people after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.

Israel-Hamas War newsletter: Sign up to get the latest news and analysis from USA TODAY into your inbox.

Developments:

 The Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,500 people in Gaza. A White House spokesman said Thursday the U.S. death toll from the Hamas attacks rose to 27 and 14 remain missing.

 After mobilizing 360,000 reservists, the Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but the political leadership has not yet decided on one, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters.

 About 423,000 people  more than 18% of Gazas population  have fled their homes, most of them packing into schools run by the United Nations.

 Two Palestinians were killed in the occupied West Bank when Israeli settlers opened fire at a funeral for three Palestinians who had been killed in a settler rampage the day before, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.

US death toll rises US death toll rises; lawmaker says Egypt warned Israel before attack: Updates

Israeli security forces assist a journalist taking cover during an alert for a rocket attack in Israel's southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on October 12, 2023.

U.S. citizens will have access to charter flights out of Israel

The White House said Thursday it will arrange charter flights to Europe starting Friday. On Wednesday, the State Department raised its alert level for American travelers to Israel and the West Bank, urging them to reconsider their plans. Travel advisories already are in place urging increased caution for U.S. citizens traveling to Jordan and Turkey and advising them to reconsider travel to Egypt and Lebanon because of terrorism.

"Terrorists may attack with little or no warning," the agency warns.

The uncertainty follows a trip to Israel by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Thursday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv in a show of support. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to arrive in Israel on Friday to discuss military aid.

Blinken is continuing his trip with stops in Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, seeking to prevent the conflict from escalating and pursue the release of hostages.

Israel says siege will continue until hostages are freed

The Israeli siege of Gaza has left its 2.3 million people desperate for food, fuel and medicine while hospitals get overwhelmed amid relentless bombing and lack of power. Those conditions won't improve until Hamas militants free the approximately 150 hostages captured in the weekend assault, Israel officials said. Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gaza, and Egypt has enforced a blockade. Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade, restricting the passage of people and goods in and out of the territory,

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Aids organizations are warning of a humanitarian crisis as resources become increasingly scarce, and what's available is hard to access because of airstrikes that have involved 6,000 munitions, according to the Israeli military.

We cant flee because anywhere you go, you are bombed, Khalil Abu Yahia said from a refugee camp in north Gaza. You need a miracle to survive here.

$6 billion in unfrozen funds not released to Iran for now

Iran, long a financial and military supporter of Hamas but not directly linked so far to Saturday's attacks, won't have access for a while to the $6 billion unfrozen by the U.S. as part of a prisoner exchange last month.

The U.S. has reached a deal with Qatar, where the funds are held, not to release them for the time being, a U.S. official said Thursday.

The Biden administration has being criticized for the agreement with Iran, which freed five detained Americans, and Hamas' weekend onslaught in Israel has only sharpened Republican rebukes. Administration officials say Iran will only be allowed to spend the money, which is not technically refrozen but inaccessible, for humanitarian needs.

"Funds from that account are overseen by the Treasury Department, can only be dispensed for humanitarian goods  food, medicine, medical equipment  and never touch Iranian hands, Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

Blinken meets with Netanyahu in Israel

Blinken expressed U.S. solidarity with Israel, its military operations in Gaza and its goal of destroying the militant Hamas organization during his meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

"Hamas has only one agenda, to destroy Israel and to murder Jews," Blinken said. "No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or return to the conditions that allowed it to take place."

The war has already claimed over 2,500 lives on both sides. International aid groups warn that the death toll may rise after Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, fuel and electricity to Gaza.

Blinken said victims from Saturday's attack include citizens from 36 nations. He said Hamas, instead of promoting the well-being of Gazans, rules repressively and funnels resources to "terror tunnels and rockets."

Blinken said the Israeli government shared photos and videos of Hamas' atrocities and called them "overwhelming.''

"A baby, an infant, riddled with bullets. Soldiers beheaded. Young people burned alive in their cars or in their highway runs,'' Blinken said. "It's simply depravity in the worst imaginable way.''

Social media site X says it is removing war disinformation

The social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, has removed or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of "illegal" content that encouraged violence or misrepresents the war, CEO Linda Yaccarino said. Yaccarino released a statement in response to a warning from the European Commission that X could face penalties if it did not take action against "illegal content and disinformation" since Hamas' attack on Israel.

"There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time," Yaccarino's statement said.

US brings 'massive' firepower to region as deterrent

Austin plans to meet with military and civilian leaders to signal the depth of the U.S. commitment to Israel and to assess its requests for security assistance, according to a senior Defense official.

Israel has received its first shipment of weaponry this week, according to the official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. Israel has sought missile interceptors for its Iron Dome air defense system, precision-guided munitions and artillery shells. Shipments from Pentagon supplies are expected to be continuous, the official said.

Meantime, the U.S. military continued to build a massive amount of firepower in the Middle East this week as a warning to adversaries not to attack Israel, the official said. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and the ships in its strike group are operating in the eastern Mediterranean with intelligence and long-range strike capabilities, the official said. In addition, a squadron of A-10 ground-attack aircraft arrived in the region Thursday.

 Tom Vanden Brook

Across US, families wait for news about loved ones in Israel

Gillian Kaye awoke Saturday to a nightmare: Her stepson was missing.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, was last seen by his family early that morning in Israel when Hamas destroyed his home as part of an unprecedented attack on Israeli towns near the border with Gaza. He lived at kibbutz Nir Oz with his wife, two daughters, and 400 others until it was decimated by the militant group, leaving only around 160 people alive and accounted for.

This is so unfathomable, said Kaye, a resident of Sarasota, Florida who was traveling when she learned of the assault.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, was last seen by his family in the early morning of Oct. 7 in Israel. He lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz with his wife and two daughters until it was destroyed by Hamas.

Dekel-Chen, who holds dual U.S. and Israeli citizenship, is among an estimated 130 missing Israelis following the attacks.

According to his family, he sent his wife and children to the houses bomb shelter while he confronted the attackers upstairs. Kaye and her family are urging Americans to write to their representatives in Congress to bolster search and rescue efforts. With no information about her stepson's whereabouts, Kaye said spreading the word is the only course of action.

We do what needs to get done, Kaye said. And what needs to get done is to do everything possible to get Sagui home.

 Heather Bushman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

FBI provides expertise in finding hostages

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department has been working with families of missing Americans to locate their loved ones, including those taken hostage. The department offered Israel assistance through the FBIs Critical Incident Response Group, Operational Security Division and Laboratory Division.

These highly trained hostage rescue specialists and other experts stand ready to advise their Israeli counterparts to help locate and bring home missing U.S. citizens, said Garland, whose ancestors fled religious persecution in Eastern Europe.

And, as always, we remain focused on the threat terrorism poses to our country, Garland added.

 Bart Jansen

A summary of Israel-Hamas war

Hamas has vowed to annihilate Israel and has been responsible for numerous suicide bombings and other deadly attacks since the militant group was formed in 1987. On Saturday, about 1,000 Hamas fighters stormed across the Israeli border by land and sea in an attack that caught Israel's military off-guard.

Hamas says Saturday's attack was partially a response to Israeli police activity at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam. The Jerusalem mosque is located on a holy site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. But Hamas leaders also blame unrelenting Israeli crackdowns and a 16-year blockade in Gaza and the West Bank, continued construction of settlements  which the international community considers illegal  and Israel's tight military control of Gaza.

Also, the attack came amid thawing relations between some Arab nations and Israel, the blood enemy of Hamas. The attack and Israel's harsh response could slow or derail those diplomatic overtures.

By land, sea, air and online: How Hamas used the internet to terrorize Israel

What is Hamas?

Hamas  an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, or the Islamic resistance movement  was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank by a Palestinian activist connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. The State Department designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1997. Several other nations also consider it a terrorist organization.

In 2006, Hamas won parliamentary elections, and in 2007 the group violently seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority, which was controlled by the rival Fatah movement that still governs the West Bank. There have been no elections since. The group calls for establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state that would replace the current state of Israel and believes in the use of violence to carry out the destruction of Israel.

Hamas receives financial, material and logistical support from Iran, though so far, international leaders, including in Israel, have said there is no evidence that Iran was directly involved in Hamas attack.

How large is the Gaza Strip?

Gaza, or the Gaza Strip, is a densely populated Palestinian enclave of about 2.3 million people. The narrow strip of land  about 150 square miles, or less than half the size of New York City  is about 25 miles long and six miles wide. Gaza shares a northern and eastern border with Israel and a southwestern border with Egypt while its western side abuts the Mediterranean Sea.

Who controls the Gaza Strip?

Hamas won the 2006 parliamentary elections and in 2007 seized control of the Gaza Strip from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority, controlled by the rival Fatah movement, administers semi-autonomous areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas has fought four wars against Israel since taking power.

How did the hostilities between Israel and Palestinians start?

The current war is a culmination of decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territory, which has been occupied since Israel was founded in 1948 and where Hamas rules the Gaza Strip. Jewish people and Muslims have some of their holiest sites in Jerusalem. Before Israels founding, the land was known as the Palestinian mandate, officially ruled by Great Britain. Prompted by the Holocaust, the UN United Nations adopted a resolution in 1947 that aimed to divide the Palestinian mandate into two states, Arab and Jewish.

War quickly broke out between Israel and its Arab neighbors, leading to Israeli expansion three-quarters of Palestinian mandate territory. Over half the Palestinian Arab population fled or was expelled, according to the U.N. Several conflicts between Israel and Arab states in the region followed over the next decades, and peace efforts that improved relations with other nations did not solve the issue of Palestinian self-determination.

Israel captured the Gaza Strip, east Jerusalem and the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and has since imposed restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinians there. These are all territories that had been sought by Palestinians for their future independent state. But Hamas rejects proposals for a two-state solution and believes in the eradication of Israel altogether through violent means.

Palestinian uprisings, or intifadas, brought military clashes and protests against Israeli occupation and led to crackdowns by Israels military forces, and many were killed and injured on both sides.

 Jeanine Santucci

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel war news updates: Israel orders the evacuation of Gaza City
As Israel gears up for a possible ground invasion of Gaza following the devastating terror attacks by Hamas, the U.S. is pushing for a safe passage for civilians to flee.

The Biden administration is in active discussions about the issue with Israel and Egypt, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday, though no breakthrough has been reached on a humanitarian corridor or other action.

The Rafah border crossing from southern Gaza into Egypt, the only route out, has been closed.

"Civilians are not to blame for what Hamas has done," Kirby said. "They didn't do anything wrong, and we continue to support safe passage."

PHOTO: Palestinians mourn a relative who reportedly died following his injury in clashes with Israeli settlers in Qusra village, into Rafidia hospital in Nablus city in the occupied West Bank, Oct. 11, 2023. (Zain Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: 22 Americans among the dead

On ABC News Live at 8:30 pm on Thursday, Oct. 12, ABC News' James Longman, Matt Gutman and Ian Pannell look at the horrendous toll from Hamas' massacre, the Israelis and Palestinians caught in middle and what comes next.

Kirby added, "Civilians are protected under the laws of armed conflict, and they should be given every opportunity to avoid the fighting."

PHOTO: Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters before boarding a plane, Oct. 11, 2023, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., en route to Israel. (Pool/Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via Reuters)

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: 22 Americans among the dead

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, leaving Washington for Israel to show support, said the issue of safe passage is "complicated."

"But we want to make sure to the best of our ability, and I know that Israel to the best of its ability, that civilians are not harmed," he said on the tarmac in Washington. "But Israel has to take steps to defend itself."

As the violent conflict stretched into its fifth day, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel and 2,900 injured. In Gaza, 1,100 people have died and 5,184 are injured.

The ground offensive Israel could launch is expected to result in an increase of casualties on both sides.

PHOTO: National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Oct. 11, 2023, in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden has spoken to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu four times so far, including earlier Wednesday.

With concerns mounting over civilian casualties, Biden, speaking to a gathering of Jewish community leaders, reiterated his support for Israel but also recounted what he said was his recent message to Netanyahu.

SLIDESHOW: Israel-Gaza conflict

"I've known Bibi for over 40 years and [we have a] very frank relationship," Biden said, recalling one of their recent conversations. "One thing that I did share is that it is really important that Israel with all the anger, frustration and it just cannot explain it, that exist, is that they operate by the rules of war. The rules of war. And there are rules of war."

Kirby, asked Wednesday if the U.S. has done anything to try to deter Israel from the ground offensive or if Biden has asked Israel to show restraint, deferred to the Israeli military to talk about their plans.

PHOTO: Israeli Merkava tanks are positioned in the upper Galilee in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 11, 2023. Images) (Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images)

But Kirby did briefly, and forcefully, comment on the question generally, stating, "Nobody wants to see any more innocent life lost."

"None. Nobody," he said. "No matter who you are. If you're an innocent civilian, you didn't cause this. You didn't ask for this. And you shouldn't be having to fear for your life. Nobody wants to see that happen."

"And I think it's important to remind that, especially on the Palestinian side, Hamas is directly endangering their lives. hospitals and schools," Kirby added. "They didn't ask for that either. And Hamas doesn't speak for the majority of the Palestinian people or their aspirations for peace and security."

MORE: 'No specific proof of life' of American hostages held by Hamas: White House

The White House spokesperson also stressed the importance of getting humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.

As for American citizens still in Israel, Kirby said the State Department is in touch with them to establish a connection and see if they want to leave.

US pressing for safe passage of civilians out of Gaza, including Americans originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Vermont police have released a sketch of a person of interest in the killing of a retired college dean on a popular trail in Castleton.

The individual depicted in the sketch was seen on the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail on Oct. 5 at about 4:30 p.m., near the location where 77-year-old Honoree Fleming's body was discovered, Vermont State Police said in a news release.

Witnesses described the person of interest as a 5'10 white man in his 20s with short red hair, last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, according to state police.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes the person of interest portrayed in the sketch to contact authorities or provide anonymous tips. / Credit: Vermont State Police

Composite police sketch artist Detective Sgt. Adam Temple of the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office prepared the sketch after traveling to Vermont and meeting with witnesses who reported seeing the person of interest on the trail, according to police.

"Sgt. Temple interviewed the witnesses, obtained their descriptions of the person of interest, and then spent multiple hours creating the sketch, reviewing it with the witnesses, and making revisions based on their feedback," police said.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes the person of interest in the sketch to contact authorities or provide anonymous tips.

Authorities are continuing to review potential evidence as the investigation into the killing continues, police said.

There are no other details currently available, according to police. An autopsy by the Burlington Medical Examiner's office determined Fleming died from a gunshot wound to the head, state police said. Her death has been ruled a homicide.

A witness said that they heard gunshots and saw a "possible suspect" walking northbound on the trail, police said. The suspect should be considered "armed and dangerous," the Vermont State Police said.

The Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail is a 19.8-mile-long stretch of former railroad. There are two sections of the trail in Vermont, separated by a segment of trail in New York state. The trail is open to pedestrians, cyclists and horseback riders.

The incident comes about two months after another woman was found dead on a popular hiking trail in Maryland. No arrests have been made in that case and there is a $30,000 reward.

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The exhibition of Australia's First Peoples art in New Zealand's biggest city has stirred discussion of the two nations' different Indigenous histories

In an Auckland art gallery this week, visitors gazed at the largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art ever showcased in New Zealand.

In the exhibition's final room, themed Resistance and Colonisation, observers stood back to assess a series of statements pasted on the wall by artist Vernon Ah Kee. His 2002 work, If I Was White, relays his experience as an Aboriginal Australian man in his own country:

"If I was White I could wear a suit and tie and not look suspicious. If I was White I could shop in luxury stores and not look suspicious."

"If I was White I would not have to live in a country that hates me. If I was White I would have a country."

Standing there reading the panels, Debbie May, 65, turned to her friend Wan, a 25-year-old Chinese immigrant to New Zealand, and explained that neighbouring Australia had a referendum on Indigenous people coming up, called the Voice.

"It's to give them more representation," she said. "So I think that's why this is all here," she gestured around the room. "It's connected."

Auckland locals Wan (far left) and Debbie (centre) look at a famous 1975 photograph of Australian PM Gough Whitlam pouring a handful of sand into the palm of traditional land owner Vince Lingiari

More conversations like these have been taking place this year in New Zealand - another former British colony seen as closest in character to Australia - as its neighbour embarked on its landmark vote.

If passed this Saturday, the update to the constitution will recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia's first inhabitants and also enshrine a small platform for Indigenous representation in politics.

But according to polling, the Voice to Parliament proposal looks set to fail - a scenario that many "across the ditch" find astonishing.

New Zealand is also grappling with a colonial history that has left its Indigenous population severely worse off. Like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia, Maori are disadvantaged when assessed through markers such as health outcomes, household income, education levels and incarceration rates.

But in the art gallery, Ms May, expressing dismay over the likelihood of the Voice failing, suggested: "I think maybe New Zealand is a bit more forward-thinking."

"Then again," she added, "the history of New Zealand and Australia are very different, even though people might see them as similar."

Close neighbours with a difference

She's right. The countries, while alike in many ways, are actually markedly different, experts point out.

To begin with, Australia is vastly bigger than New Zealand and much more populous - with 26 million inhabitants compared with about five million. Of those populations, Indigenous Australians make up 3.5%, while Maori are a much bigger minority, representing 16.5%.

Maori culture is seen as more widely understood than the multiple Aboriginal Australian cultures too. In particular, the Maori language has seen a resurgence - New Zealand is often referred to by locals using its Maori-language name, Aotearoa.

In Australia, meanwhile, there are more than 150 distinct Indigenous languages, reflecting the sprawling diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. None of the languages has entered the mainstream and many are on the brink of extinction.

There are also differences in government structure: Australia is a federation where many powers, such as policing and healthcare, are state responsibilities; in New Zealand - much smaller and more compact - the national government holds most powers.

"Almost from the outset of colonisation, they went down very different paths," says historian Bain Attwood, an expert on British colonisation from New Zealand, now based at Monash University in Melbourne.

In New Zealand, Maori people have long been granted a political voice, guaranteed representation in parliament, says Prof Attwood.

A girl seen at a celebration for the historic treaty that granted Maori people rights in New Zealand

"New Zealand is looking across the ditch to Australia and I think many at least Pakeha New Zealanders [New Zealanders of European descent] are probably puzzled that what is in their eyes such a modest proposal is struggling to win sufficient votes," he says.

From 1867, Maori people were granted seats in parliament and electorates where only Maori people could contest and vote.

"Even though there are numerous similarities between the plight of Maori and Aboriginal people in the sense that both were dispossessed of their land, they were displaced, they suffered enormous depopulation, they suffered discrimination Maori nonetheless had a place in the political system from very early on," says Prof Attwood.

"And despite the disadvantages, they never lost that political voice. That's been enormous."

In contrast to what happened in Australia, the British Crown saw New Zealand's indigenous people as sovereign and chose to negotiate with Maori leaders.

The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi is seen as the nation's founding document - even though the rights it gave Maori were not fully honoured until the 1970s, after a bitterly fought campaign by Maori activists.

Battles continue over its interpretation, but the treaty is regarded as a fundamental national contract that lays out Maori rights and recognition.

Associated legislation and institutions such as the Waitangi Tribunal - which hears cases claiming breaches of Maori rights as stated in the treaty - have reclaimed for many Maori people land title and fishing rights which have given them a degree of capital far beyond what indigenous Australian groups have.

In contrast, there is no treaty with Indigenous people in Australia, as the British Crown never recognised them as sovereign or having rights to property, title or land, says Prof Attwood.

Experts cite a range of reasons for this - including the nature of a colony first established as a convict settlement - but many also point out that the Crown viewed Indigenous Australians as a lesser race than Maori.

"A lot of what we get today in both countries are extensions of those early histories. So we still see that initial race hierarchy being played out in Australia," says Australian politics expert Dr Peter Chen from the University of Sydney.

It's also about how history is taught

He stresses that New Zealand's treaty "has not resolved all the 'problems' of Maori people" - but it has been a tool to organise progress and to facilitate some redress of historical grievances.

"It's also been fundamentally something about not just reconciliation and representation, but about reparations," said Dr Chen, adding Australians "haven't really begun" those discussions.

"New Zealanders have been talking about a national treaty-level debate in a realistic and legislative way since the 1970s. In Australia, 50 years later, we're having a conversation about a structure that comes before a discussion of national treaty-making."

And that discussion in the past 18 months has frayed into a divisive debate, fuelled by misinformation.

The Voice proposal asks Australians to introduce an Indigenous representative group that could offer advice to lawmakers over indigenous policies.

Polls suggest the Yes camp in Saturday's vote are on course to lose

But many polls suggest a majority of Australian voters will overwhelmingly reject the Voice.

The arguments made against it have included that the proposals will divide the country rather than unite it, create waste and inefficiency rather than reduce it, that they simply lack detail or that the Voice will be toothless and tokenistic.

Mark Kenny, a professor of politics at Australian National University, says the referendum must be seen in the context of what he describes as mainstream Australia's poor understanding of the country's brutal past.

Australian history taught in schools has been largely focused on British conquest of land and white settler achievement, rather than the impacts of colonisation on Indigenous people, he says.

Those impacts include the massacres, the cultural genocide, the policies of forced assimilation and integration which saw Aboriginal identity suppressed, Indigenous children removed from their families; policies which have led to entrenched disadvantages that continue to this day, he says.

The No campaign looks like to have the backing of a majority of voters

Compared to New Zealand, where the settlement was "much more upfront, much more open and organised", Australia's history is one of "marginalisation" and "silencing", the academic says.

"That has allowed Australia to proceed with some very comforting myths about itself, in terms of egalitarianism, and openness and fairness and so forth," Prof Kenny says.

And in the case of a national vote like the Voice, he argues, the narrative persists.

"The atrocities that occurred to the First Peoples of this country have not been properly taken into account by mainstream Australians," says Prof Kenny.

"And therefore there's no great kind of urgency or onus to atone for them, or to reach for some sort of settlement which acknowledges that traumatic history."

To Ms May, the gallery visitor, it's that complacency which is noticeable to a greater degree, she suggests, in Australia than in New Zealand.

Artist Vernon Ah Kee's work on the wall in front of her offers his reflection on this - it also included this statement:

"If I was White I could stand back, walk on by, sit on the fence, and do nothing."

Update 13th October: A section of this article outlining the debate over Australia's Voice to Parliament proposal has been amended to more precisely summarise the points at issue.
Tesla has beaten back previous efforts by workers to unionize  but the United Auto Workers hopes a successful strike against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis could help it organize at Tesla.

UAW membership has declined in recent decades, and the auto industry is moving to electric vehicles. EV battery and production plants thus far in the United States are mostly non-union. To grow, the UAW will have to make inroads at EV plants.

Tesla is the biggest threat in the long term to UAW wages and benefits. UAW doesnt have any choice but to take on [Tesla], said John Logan, a professor of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University.

Tesla controls around 60% of the electric vehicle market in the United States, and Detroit and foreign automakers in the South are racing to catch up. Tesla workers earn on average about $55 an hour in wages and benefits, compared to $66 to $71 an hour at Detroits Big Three, according to industry estimates.

In an aerial view, brand new Tesla cars sit in a parking lot at the Tesla factory on October 19, 2022 in Fremont, California. - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Workers have attempted to organize at Tesla at least three different times. But the company, led by Elon Musk, has been difficult for unions to break into because of weak protections for labor organizing in the United States; Teslas aggressive tactics; and Teslas strategy of granting factory workers stock options, a rarity in the auto industry.

Tesla will go to extraordinary lengths to prevent unions, Logan said.

Tesla did not respond to CNNs request for comment.

Unionizing in America

Unionizing in the United States is much harder than in most other countries.

European countries have sectoral bargaining, where unions and employers negotiate over contracts for entire sectors of the economy or classes of workers. In the United States, however, individual employers and unions bargain over contracts.

Its a real uphill battle to unionize in the United States, said Risa Lieberwitz, a professor of labor and employment law in the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

To unionize a workplace, labor organizers must get at least 30% of workers to sign union cards. After reaching that threshold, the National Labor Relations Board oversees a union vote. Companies often try to persuade workers against voting in favor of a union, hiring union-avoidance consultants to dissuade employees and weaken workers unionization efforts.

Even if a majority of workers casts ballots in favor of a union, negotiations on pay, benefits and other areas can drag on for years.

Employers also generally face insufficient deterrents for violations of workers rights to organize under the National Labor Relations Act, which forbids employers from interfering with workers right to organize or form a union, Lieberwitz said.

Many employees, hired at will, avoid union activities for fear of retaliation.

Under the law, companies do have an advantage. They have complete economic power over employees, she said.

Hostile to unions

Tesla has more than 120,000 workers worldwide and production facilities in the United States in Fremont, California; Austin, Texas; Sparks, Nevada; and Buffalo, New York.

The company has taken a forceful anti-union position.

The NLRB has repeatedly cited Tesla and Musk for illegal or improper anti-unionizing activities, such as interrogating employees and disciplining or otherwise discriminating against employees because they support unionizing.

Tesla this year fired more than 30 supporters of a nascent union at its Buffalo facility, just days after the organizing effort was announced.

Cars are parked outside the Tesla Inc. Gigafactory 2, which is also known as RiverBend, a joint venture with Panasonic to produce solar panels and roof tiles in Buffalo, New York, U.S., August 3, 2018. - Brendan McDermid/Reuters

The union, Tesla Workers United, filed an NLRB complaint alleging the company illegally fired its supporters. (Tesla said in a blog post allegations that it terminated employees in response to a new union campaign were false, and the company attributed the firings to poor performance reviews.)

Last year, the NLRB said it was unlawful for Tesla to prohibit employees from wearing shirts bearing union logos and insignia.

Musk has also been vocal about his opposition to unions and faced the ire of the agency when it directed him to delete a 2018 tweet saying employees would lose their stock options if they formed a union.

These are typical kinds of unfair labor practices that send a very clear message to employees that their employer is watching them. That can kill or discourage employees from engaging in union activities, Lieberwitz said.

Musk, who is the worlds richest man and owns social media platform X, SpaceX and other companies, stands as a deterrent to unions, she said.

Musk gets a lot of attention because of his bravado  that may dial up the level of fear employees have, she said. They have this anti-union activity surrounding them.

Making it harder to unionize, Tesla offers production workers stock options, which typically have a vesting period of four years, so employees must remain at Tesla to cash them in. Tesla is one of the most valuable companies in the world, and some production workers have become millionaires from their shares in Tesla, Musk has said.

Teslas stock had its worst year on record in 2022, losing 65% of its value, weakening the significance of stock options for employees. But the stock has bounced back this year, more than doubling in 2023.

A Tesla Model X is worked on a factory line with Tesla X's and Tesla S's at the Tesla factory on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 in Fremont, Calif. - Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images

Tesla tries to make it seem like if youre unionized youre not going to get stock, said Bryan Schwartz, a lawyer who has represented Tesla employees in lawsuits against the company, including an ongoing class action lawsuit for racial discrimination. (Tesla has called the lawsuit a hotbed of misinformation.)

If employees voted to be represented by a union, its clear that the valuable stock options that they had already been granted could not be revoked, experts say.

Taking on Tesla

The UAW looks poised to take another shot at organizing Tesla under new, more aggressive leadership and strong public support for unions.

Workers across the EV and battery industry, including at Tesla, are talking about forming unions to ensure that the green energy transition provides quality jobs, said Mike Miller, a regional director at UAW.

Miller declined to share more details on the effort at Tesla.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (left); United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain (right). - Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images/Paul Sancya/AP

If UAW is able to secure a strong contract at the Detroit automakers, it could be a strong recruiting tool to organize Tesla workers and the EV industry, experts say.

UAW president Shawn Fain, who frequently denounces the billionaire class, recently called out Musk in what could be a precursor to a more sustained campaign against Tesla.

Most of these workers in those companies are scraping to get by so that greedy CEOs and greedy people like Elon Musk can build more rocket ships and shoot [themselves] into outer space, Fain said on CBS. And thats unacceptable.

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Choose peaceful coexistence, not a cycle of retaliation

Half a world away, brutal killing sprees continue as blood cries out for more blood.

There have already been thousands of casualties in less than a week, with many more to come. Few can know for how long, and horribly, this military conflict, caused by Hamass bloodthirsty attack on Israel, will go on.

The international community, especially the West led by the U.S., should strive to stop this tragedy as soon as possible instead of taking sides. For humane and economic reasons, the world cannot afford two simultaneous wars as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict approaches the two-year mark.

Hamas killing of civilians, including children, women and older people, is unacceptable. The Palestinian militant group has even taken about 150 people hostage, using them as human shields of sorts. That is terrorism, not a military operation. Foremost efforts should be made to set them free. Hamas also must know such acts will not help but harm it.

One should then ponder why this group has grown so ruthless and vicious.

Hamas leaders must have known Israel would retaliate tens and hundreds of times. However, they think the hardliners, or the entirety of Palestine, will stand at the crossroads of life and death if the status quo continues. The ultra-right coalition in Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ignores Hamas and the Gaza Strip. The Two-State Solution, outlined in Oslo in 1993 to ensure peaceful coexistence, exists in name only.

The U.S. has not exactly been an impartial mediator, as Palestinians see it. In January 2020, then-U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a peace plan that was lopsided in favor of Israel, seriously eroding the two-state principle. The international community, led by the United Nations, was negative about it except for some pro-U.S. countries. South Korea, under former President Moon Jae-in, belonged to the latter group. This might be more the case now, given the tighter alliance between Seoul and Washington.

President Yoon Suk Yeol may find the ongoing developments in the Middle East somewhat perplexing. Yoon has sought a breakthrough via Saudi Arabia and the UAE so as to escape an economic impasse caused by the U.S. and China. If the conflict prolongs and expands, and Korea is forced to take sides, many agreements with these Arab partners will end up on the scrap heap.

However, the economy should not be the only reason for Seoul to stay neutral. On Wednesday, President Yoon and his aides condemned Hamas for committing inhumane acts. They should stop there and call for peace.

Hamas tactics also caused a rude awakening for Yoons national security team. These officials appear to have realized anew that North Koreas nuclear weapons are not the only threat. We have long pointed out on this page that Pyongyang does not need atomic bombs to pulverize Seoul. The Norths long-range artillery and 200,000-strong special commandos are enough to take an early edge in a hypothetical scenario. Still, the South will win any prolonged conflict with the help of the U.S.' nuclear umbrella.

However, win or lose, another Korean War, if it were to occur, would destroy this peninsula in a short amount of time.

The hawks, including Yoons new defense minister, appear to have learned the wrong lessons from the Israeli-Hamas conflict. They call for neutralizing, if not abrogating, the inter-Korean military accord of Sept. 19, 2018, saying that it only hampers the Souths ability to gather intelligence. However, any unilateral incapacitation of the agreement, the only remaining device to avoid incidental clashes, will give Pyongyang further excuses to break, not keep, it.

The hardliners must know that the latest failure of Mossad, Israels world-famous spy agency, was due to its mistakes in interpreting, not collecting, the intelligence. That and the unsuccessful performance of the Iron Dome are because of Israel's lack of internal unity, caused by divisive politics.

Peaceful coexistence, not a cycle of retaliation, is the answer. The animosity between Israelis and Arabs traces back thousands of years, culturally and religiously. The animosity between the two Koreas is less than 80 years old and rooted in an ideological rivalry no longer relevant worldwide.

Koreans, south and north, must shed the trauma of their fratricidal war.
GENEVA, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. 34 countries issued a joint statement on October 11 during the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, expressing extreme concern on the dire humanitarian and human rights crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Below is the full statement.

We are extremely concerned by the dire humanitarian and human rights crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and the situation of the population who have fled from there in the past weeks.

According to the report of the UN Mission to the region, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh has fled to Armenia  more than 100,000 people. Their report rightly notes the suffering this experience must have caused.

This massive displacement of ethnic Armenians from their homes stems from Azerbaijans military operation launched on September 19th and a nine-month long blockage of the Lachin corridor leading to dire humanitarian conditions.

We appreciate that High Commissioner Turks statement of September 26 urged safeguarding the rights of ethnic Armenians, protection of civilians, and observance of international law. We wholly agree that reported violations of human rights or international humanitarian law require follow-up, including prompt, independent and transparent investigations.

We believe the appropriate next step is for the OHCHR to closely monitor the situation of human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh, meet refugees and displaced persons and those who remain, and to keep this Council informed. We therefore urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to invite the OHCHR to provide them with such technical assistance as soon as possible.

At this time, we urge Azerbaijan to ensure the rights and security of those Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians who remain and to promptly create conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of those who wish to go home. Their cultural and religious heritage should also be guaranteed and protected.

We further urge Azerbaijan to comply with the interim measures issued by the European Court of Human Rights on 22 September and the provisional measures of the ICJ adopted on 7 December 2021, 22 February 2023 and 6 July 2023.

We urge Armenia, with the support of the international community, to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those displaced by the crisis.

International access to Nagorno-Karabakh is crucial to provide assistance and independent monitoring, including to report on the human rights situation.

Furthermore, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Armenia and Azerbaijan should be fully respected. We strongly support dialogue among all parties to secure a comprehensive and lasting peace.

We will continue to follow the situation closely and consider any and all appropriate further steps by the Council.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenian citizens in Israel who want to leave the country and return to Armenia are urged to send the copy of their passport, along with the paper verifying their entry to Israel in case of having one, to the Armenian embassy at [email protected].

The embassy said it will also gather information on the persons of Armenian ethnicity who dont have Armenian citizenship.

Additional information will be provided on the availability of flights.

Photo by TPS IL
Concerns remain over brain drain due to R&D budget cuts for next year

By Park Jae-hyuk

Korea has lagged behind other developed countries in private sector investments into artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, due to its strict regulations hindering companies' access to data, a recent analysis by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) showed Thursday.

The business lobby also pointed out the countrys shortage of data scientists and engineers, which has caused concerns among industry insiders that the governments plan to slash next years budget for AI research may prompt more experts to leave the country.

According to the Global AI Index announced in June by British data analysis firm Tortoise Intelligence, Korea ranked sixth in overall AI competitiveness, following the U.S., China, Singapore, the U.K. and Canada.

The FKI attributed its ranking to the fact that the country has obtained the third-largest number of AI-related patents, following the U.S. and China. In particular, the number of patents on hyperscale AI Samsung applied for between 2011 and 2020 was larger than those of IBM, Google and Baidu.

Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT Park Yun-kyu also told foreign correspondents in Seoul last Friday that he is optimistic about Korean AI companies competitiveness in the global market, because they will have competitiveness in non-native English-speaking countries and in professional fields.

However, Korea was only placed 18th by Tortoise Intelligence in terms of private sector AI investments. The countrys ranking stood at 20th in the number of data scientists and engineers.

The science ministrys survey also showed that Korea needed 7,481 more AI experts last year. The number jumped from 3,726 in 2021 and 1,609 in 2020.

Korea should address the shortage of experts by nurturing local experts and hiring highly educated experts from overseas through eased visa rules, said Choo Kwang-ho, head of FKI's economic research division. The high barrier to using data has also weighed on AI companies, so Korea should boost private sector investments by reforming the Personal Information Protection Act and the Credit Information Use and Protection Act.

Rep. Yang Hyang-ja of the minor opposition Hope of Korea, who previously worked as a Samsung Electronics executive, also pointed out Koreas shortage of AI experts during a parliamentary audit, Tuesday, urging the government to establish a grand plan for fostering the countrys AI sector.

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration will cut next years budget for AI-related R&D by 43 percent, the lawmaker said, expressing concerns over the possibility of an additional brain drain in the nations AI industry.

Ha Jung-woo, head of Naver Cloud AI Innovation Center, who appeared at the audit as a witness, also testified that he worries the budget cuts may discourage future generations of researchers and students.

It is important for the government to provide opportunities for the AI industrys growth, instead of imposing regulations, he said.
YEREVAN, 12 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 12 October, USD exchange rate up by 2.49 drams to 397.71 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 3.28 drams to 422.29 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.14 drams to 4.10 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.14 drams to 488.98 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 330.87 drams to 23927.06 drams. Silver price up by 6.28 drams to 282.20 drams.
Economics, possibly because of its associations with politics, money and finance has for long been dominated by men.

American economist Claudia Goldin was awarded the Nobel prize in economics. American economist Claudia Goldin, who was awarded the Nobel prize in economics, talks to the press at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 9, 2023. The Nobel prize in economics was on October 9, 2023 awarded to American economist Claudia Goldin for her research that has helped understand the role of women in the labour 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 labour market outcomes," the jury said. (Photo by Lauren Owens Lambert / AFP)

When Amartya Sen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998, I was asked by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for a briefing on him. I tried to explain about his ethical concerns about prolonged and increasing income inequality, to which Vajpayee tersely said: Sankshipt mein batao! He was happy with my next attempt which was for being a good human being! Just a few months before that, Lal Krishna Advani inquired from me whether I was familiar with his work? I gave him three books by Sen I had read till then, all of whom related to Inequality, Ethics and Economics. I could make out that Mr Advani, who is a keen reader of books -- all manner of books, was impressioned enough to ask me if I could arrange for him to meet Prof. Sen. I told him that I did not know him but would try to make a connection.

But Sens Nobel Prize took care of that. The Vajpayee government welcomed the award and honoured him with receptions and meetings. The finance ministry hosted a grand luncheon meeting at the Taj where he was awarded a Golden Pass for unlimited free flights by first-class on Air India. While giving it, the finance minister said it was to encourage him to visit India more frequently and advise the government.

But a few months later the Graham Staines incident took place and Amartya Sen commented critically about it. The government then lost its fascination with him and about his concerns for inequality.

Earlier this week my daughter asked me about why Claudia Goldin was awarded the 2023 Economics Nobel. I said it was as much for pointing out the obvious discriminations against women in all fields as it was for that in economics. Ever since the Sveriges Riksbank (Swedens central bank) instituted The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, and it has since been awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences according to the same principles as for the other Nobel Prizes, the prize in economic sciences was awarded to 90 men and just three women. Prof. Claudia Goldin was the first woman to get it alone.

The first of the three women Nobel economics laurates was Elinor Ostrom, who won it in 2009 for postulating that local communities are the best at managing their natural resources as they are the ones that use them and that all regulation on the use of resources should be done at the local level, as opposed to a higher, central authority that does not have direct interaction with the resources. The next woman to win it was Esther Duflo, jointly with her husband Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.

Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo won it ironically enough for their study in eastern Odisha of one the most spectacular development economic bombs of recent times. It was a scheme to replace open-fire cooking used by three billion of the worlds poorest people with more efficient, less polluting stoves. The $400 million project was backed by the United Nations and launched by former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in 2010. It set out to reduce indoor air pollution, which kills two million people a year, while empowering women and helping the environment. After initial success, millions of stoves built in India were largely abandoned within four years. Banerjee and Duflo studied the reasons for it and told the world why such an altruistic and even rational project flopped. The reasons were quite mundane, something which the worlds finest development economics and policy-making minds did not anticipate. The new stoves needed more attention, were prone to break down and took longer to cook food. They couldnt be moved because they were tethered to fixed chimneys, sending the smoke outside.

But Duflo did, to my mind, a more remarkable economics research in Russia as a graduate student in 1993 when she wrote a paper on how the Soviet Union had used the big construction sites, like the Stalingrad tractor factory, for propaganda, and how propaganda requirements changed the actual shape of the projects. This is exactly what Ratan Tata and Narendra Modi did with the Tata Nano car factory in Sanand, Gujarat. One wanted to refashion how the Indian middle class aspired and locally travelled and the other wanted to remake Gujarat as an industrial society, all based on an ill-designed low-cost car. Neither Duflo or Banerjee were accorded any honours by the Narendra Modi government, or even a meeting.

Economics, possibly because of its associations with politics, money and finance has for long been dominated by men. In the United States, only a fourth of the academics considered to be on tenure track are women. Even in economics, women generally tend to be drawn to the areas leaning on social issues like health, education, labour welfare, wage and gender parity. These are not attention-gathering fields. Claudia Goldin spent her professional lifetime as a labour economist and has been focused for over three decades on the gender pay gap.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday: This years Laureate in the Economic Sciences, Claudia Goldin, provided the first comprehensive account of womens earnings and labour market participation through the centuries. Her research reveals the causes of change, as well as the main sources of the remaining gender gap. To us in India, this recognition of a gender gap in policy-making is also a tribute to Elinor Ostrom for empowering local communities, to Esther Duflo for empirically analysed development policies decision-making. Our political system has recently endorsed the need for a huge change in political decision-making and power-sharing by agreeing to reserve a third of places in Parliament and the state legislatures for women. This is in keeping with the national mood. Every politician worth his and less often her salt knows that the national mood and perceptions are decisive in determining national outcomes. Speaking to reporters at her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr Goldin hailed the decision to award her the Nobel Prize as a recognition of big ideas and for a long-term change.

Claudia Goldin, who in 1990 became the first woman to get tenure at Harvard Universitys economics department, added: There are still large differences between women and men in terms of what they do, how theyre remunerated and so on. And the question is: why is this the case? And thats what the work is about.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Five years after the Manado Declaration, the Forum of Archipelagic and Island States (AIS), which brings together 51 countries from around the world, is being strengthened. Gathered in Indonesia - the country with the largest number of islands - they relaunched their commitment to increase solidarity and cooperation on major challenges such as combating ocean pollution, sustainability in fisheries and tourism, and emergency management.

Bali (AsiaNews) - 32 countries have signed the declaration of the Forum of Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) in Nusa Dua, on the island of Bali in Indonesia on Wednesday 10 October. The declaration includes a commitment to increase solidarity and cooperation in addressing the threats of climate change, including sea level rise.

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic nation in the world, made up of five main islands and around 30 smaller archipelagos, for a total of around 18,110 islets of which around 6,000 are inhabited.

For this reason, the South-East Asian country was also the most natural choice to host this crucial event for the nascent international organization AIS established with the Manado Joint Declaration in 2018, again in Indonesia, in the province of North Sulawesi. To date, the AIS Forum consists of 51 island and insular countries, including Japan and England.

AIS Forum is a platform designed to include 51 archipelagic states and high-island countries from around the world to jointly address the challenges of using ocean resources for sustainable economic growth, resilience to climate change, ocean pollution, emergency management and improved sustainable fishing.

The ocean is a source of life and for Indonesia it is not a 'divisive' element, but a 'glue' and a connector. Through the AIS Forum, our country invites all countries that like ours have many kilometers of coasts and sea, to collaboration and cooperation", said Indonesian President Joko Widodo during the first session of the AIS Forum meetings.

Widodo also explained that the threats faced by island and archipelagic countries are very real and common to all, such as rising sea levels, ocean pollution caused by waste and debris, which not only threaten the sustainability of life on land and sea, but also sovereignty and territorial integrity".

In addition to strengthening solidarity between states with common geographical characteristics, AIS member countries also want to ensure that economic development continues despite difficult challenges.

Island and coastal countries, regardless of location, size and level of development, face the same environmental and development challenges, but at different levels, which must be resolved through joint efforts and real collaboration, reads the statement issued by the international organization at the end of the work.

Also speaking during the proceedings was the chancellor of the Agricultural Institute of Bogor, Arif Satria, who illustrated the economic potential of the oceans when combined with the principles of sustainable and environmentally friendly development and gave the example of portable FADs - floating structures that create the ideal conditions to attract marine organisms (fish, molluscs, etc.) and therefore used as a fishing tool - which are now starting to be introduced to fishermen in Madagascar. It's easy, cheap and can be taken anywhere.

First we must act to mitigate the serious challenges of climate change and how we, the archipelagic nations, should adapt to these new but serious environmental challenges, explained Retno Marsudi, Indonesia's Foreign Minister. She added: Secondly, we must work together to develop international collaboration to create a sustainable economy and encourage ecotourism. Third, we need to seriously address marine litter and clean our coastal areas of any plastic debris. Finally, we are morally challenged to have clean maritime management and good maritime governance."

In the closing speech, the president of the host country also mentioned the concept of "blue economy" - an economic model dedicated to the creation of a sustainable economic system through technological innovation - supported by Indonesia to be implemented in island countries and archipelagic: The potential of the blue economy is very large and must be explored and used to become a pillar of growth and well-being for people. The sea is a source of life, sustainability and justice", concluded Widodo.
by Giorgio Bernardelli

The president of the Focolare Movement, an Arab Christian who hails from Haifa, spoke at this tragic moment for Israel and Palestine. I asked myself what am I doing here?" she said. Should I not do something else to promote peace at this time? But praying and learning to walk together even with different ideas is a sign of peace for the world too. Jewish friends I know in Israel have called me [. . .] saying that they are worried about those who live in Gaza. We should not stop at the horror. We have collective images of these two peoples that do not correspond to the reality.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Margaret Karram is an Arab Christian who grew up in Haifa and has headed the Focolare Movement for the past two years. Taking part in the Synod roundtables in the Paul VI Hall, she has been following recent events in her homeland torn by the war between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking about her own turmoil, she said: A short while ago, a Jewish friend called me. She told me: From now on I have decided that I will pray at the same time as my Muslim friends. Even if there are many things that divide us, I will do it with a deep heartbreak because I know that, at this moment, I am united with them, at least in prayer.

This morning, the ongoing tragedy in Israel and Gaza dominated the prayer that starts the day at the Synod. Cardinal Louis Sako led it. As patriarch of Baghdad, he comes from another land wounded by war over the past 20 years, where the wounds of Iraqi Christians have reopened in recent weeks.

Margaret Karram and Sister Caroline Jarjis, a nun from Baghdad, witnesses representing Eastern Churches and the Middle East, made the invocation for peace reading a passage from the Gospel in Arabic. Their testimony today was also at the heart of the daily briefing with the journalists present at the Synod.

"I asked myself what am I doing here?" said the Focolare president. Should I not do something else to promote peace at this time? But then I said to myself: Here too I can join the Pope Franciss call and everyones prayer.

With my brothers and sisters from every corner of the world we can ask God for the gift of peace. Many steps can be taken for peace, but I believe in the power of prayer. Moreover, the Gospel in today's liturgy also says so: Knock and the door will be opened to you, ask and you will receive.

Being here at the Synod also teaches me what it means to walk together. Here too we are realising that it is not easy to listen to others and understand. Yet if we manage to do it among ourselves, it becomes not only a method but a lifestyle for the Church that we can bring to many other places. Listening to others with respect, beyond different opinions, can also help us at a higher level to build bridges of peace.

Asked by a Palestinian about the political positions on Hamas that seem hard to emerge, she said: We need the help of the whole world. It is necessary to speak out to help resume negotiations between the two sides.

"I hope that all countries today, Arab and non-Arab, can feel the urgency to address this conflict. Not for partisan interests, but for the cause of peace. We must understand that there must be respect for the human rights of all peoples and renew reconciliation among everyone. This also applies to Iraq, another forgotten corner of the world.

To those who cite Patriarch Sakos decision to move to Erbil in protest over the failure of Iraqi civil authorities, incited by pro-Iranian movements, to fully recognise his authority, Sister Caroline Jarjis said that "every period brings some particular suffering in Iraq.

The patriarch is asking only for respect for our dignity as citizens, which is also respect for the blood of the many martyrs that soaked our land, she explained.

Prayer and small tokens of fraternity are the response, in Jerusalem as well, where Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballas call for a special day of fasting and prayer on 17 October to invoke peace joins other spontaneous initiatives currently underway.

"Yesterday some members of our movement in Ukraine joined in prayer via Zoom with people in the Holy Land and Italy, Margaret Karram said.

"With the schools of the Living Peace project we asked the children and young people to do three things: Join everyone in prayer at 12 noon Rome time, perform concrete acts of solidarity towards someone of another religion, and write an appeal for peace to political leaders.

Amid the ocean of suffering, these deeds look like a puny drop, but at least they are concrete acts, she said.

Even Jewish friends I know in Israel have called me, a Palestinian Arab, saying that they are worried about those who live in Gaza. For me, it is a very beautiful thing.

Everyone knows the negative stories between these two peoples, but so many people, so many organisations are working to build bridges and nobody talks about them.

We only talk about hatred, division, terrorism. We have collective images of these two peoples that do not correspond to reality. We must not forget that even today many people are working to build bridges. A seed is being sown even at this difficult hour.
by Alessandra Tamponi

South Korean President Yoon slams the "indiscriminate attack from Gaza on Israeli territory, which has reawakened fears about his own countrys national security. Similar to Israels flawed Iron Dome, South Koreas own US$ 2.6 billion interceptor system could become operational as early as 2026. South Korea might suspend the Comprehensive Military Agreement signed in 2018 with North Korea; Seoul accuses Pyongyang of violating it 17 times.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and a visiting delegation of US senators on Wednesday condemned the "indiscriminate attack" by the terrorist group Hamas against Israel.

The statement was the East Asian countrys first official condemnation of the attack and the war that has ensued, which has so far killed 1,300 Israelis and 1,200 Palestinians, as well as displaced 330,000 Palestinians.

For South Korea, the flare-up of violence in the Middle East has also awakened fears related to its own national security.

Israel's mobile air defence system, known as the Iron Dome has shown its limits despite an estimated 95 per cent effectiveness. Hamas' firing of more than 5,000 rockets showed that the system can be vulnerable to multiple attacks.

It was thought hitherto to be almost infallible and South Korea was influenced by it in developing its own defence system in the event of an attack by North Korea.

In 2021, the South Korean government, then under President Moon Jae-In of the Democratic Party, approved a plan to build a Low Altitude Missile Defence system (LAMD) to stop possible North Korean attacks, for an estimated US$ 2.6 billion.

Very similar to the Iron Dome, the system relies on guided missile launchers installed at various locations to protect the country, especially the densely populated Seoul region, from North Korean artillery - especially long-range launchers - deployed along the border.

LAMD was tested successfully for the first time in early 2022. After he took office last year, President Yoon suggested speeding up its development so that it can be in place by 2026, ahead of its scheduled deployment in 2030.

The system, especially following the 2022 test, boosted South Koreas sense of security; however, the failure of Israels Iron Dome has shown that, however strong such a shield can be, North Korean attacks cannot be stopped 100 per cent.

Given the high cost of both systems, the defending side could quickly run out of extremely expensive interception missiles, while the attacking side can launch a barrage of cheap rockets in a single blow.

Following the attack on Israel, South Koreas Unification Minister Kim Young-ho, a hardliner vis-a-vis North Korea, said that the security situation should be taken into account in deciding whether to suspend the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) signed in 2018.

That year was historic for inter-Korean relations, with the creation of some zones - maritime, land and air - between the two Koreas to limit accidental clashes and build mutual trust.

The CMA remains one of the few tangible examples of Moon Jae-In's northern policy; however, sources in Seoul argue that North Korea violated the agreement 17 times.

At the beginning of this year, the Yoon administration hinted at its possible suspension because it places South Korea in a position of vulnerability and limits its readiness to respond to threats.

The Unification ministers latest statement shows how the Hamas attack underscores South Koreas need to upgrade and diversify its strategies towards possible attacks from North Korea.
by John Ai

Deemed a rebel province, Taiwan is investigating four companies involved in the construction of a microchip plant in Shenzhen. Taiwanese authorities are also planning to establish a list of key technologies banned from export for its own national security.

Taipei (AsiaNews)  The Taiwanese government has started an investigation into four companies that allegedly helped Chinese company Huawei build a microchip plant in Shenzhen, possibly violating regulations on transactions with China and US sanctions.

Wang Mei-hua, Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, said that his ministry has asked the four companies to provide details about the plant. He did not, however, explain which regulations the four companies are supposed to have violated.

If the plant is not consistent with the plan approved by the government, the companies may be fined up to 250 million Taiwan dollars (US$ 7.8 million).

All four have been involved in projects like wastewater treatment and environmental protection, but Taiwan has strict regulations on key technologies. After a preliminary assessment, it seems none has been shared with mainland China.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's National Security Council (NSC) is planning to impose export controls on key technologies, with a list of such technologies available by the end of the year.

NSC Secretary General Wellington Koo said that the list will cover technologies from semiconductors, agriculture and aerospace to information and communication.

Koo expects the new measures to prevent mainland China from obtaining crucial technologies, while the Taiwanese government will also control investment, human resources and technology transfer in the listed areas.

China considers Taiwan a "rebel province", part of its territory, and in recent years has boosted its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, and lobbied internationally to isolate the island.

Both the United States and the European Union have strengthened cooperation with Taiwan, one of the world's leading suppliers of microchips.

The US has also imposed various constraints and restrictions on Chinese microchip manufacturers, while the EU is taking de-risking measures as well, including banning China from acquiring the most advanced microchip manufacturing lithography.

In response, Beijing has imposed export controls on some rare earths, which are crucial to the semiconductor industry, and over which China holds a quasi-monopoly.

RED LANTERNS IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE CHINA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY THURSDAY, CLICK HERE.
by Melani Manel Perera and Sumon Corraya

The Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan governments expressed sympathy for the civilians on both sides. While the Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, explained that the executive is working to repatriate compatriots stranded in the Jewish state, in the Bangladeshi capital, Islamist parties organised protests against the Israeli response to the Hamas attack.

Dhaka/Colombo (AsiaNews) - Hundreds of protesters fill the squares in many Asian cities against the war between Gaza and Israel, after the attack by the Islamic organization Hamas which reignited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The president of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, denounced Hamas' aggression, stating that he was ready to evacuate his compatriots present in the territory and that he wanted to guarantee the return home of Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka in complete safety.

Of approximately 8 thousand Sri Lankans present in Israel, it is currently known that one Sri Lankan has been injured and two have disappeared, while the Sri Lankan embassy in Tel Aviv is working with the utmost dedication to ensure the safety of the workers and tourists present.

Wickremesinghe then underlined that, despite criticism made in the past against the actions of the Jewish State, such attacks cannot be justified, sharing the concern for Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

The Sri Lankan president then called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in line with the African Union proposal, underlining the consequences the crisis will have on global fuel prices. A prolonged conflict could in fact have negative repercussions on the economies of developing countries, including Sri Lanka.

Several members of Sri Lankan civil society said the two sides should reach a compromise. There will be a future if Palestinians and Jews work for peace. Jews must leave Zionism and Palestinians must leave Islamic extremism behind. But it will be the hardest thing for both sides to do because it is the basis of their identity ", a local activist, Ramal Janith Fernando, told AsiaNews.

A Buddhist businessman, Palitha Ranabahu, added that "after this brutal attack, any religion takes a backseat to humanity, no violence should come between God and men."

In Bangladesh, a Muslim majority state, demonstrations were held against the Israeli response towards the Gaza Strip, in which various Islamist groups and parties participated. Students from the University of Dhaka also expressed their solidarity with Palestinian civilians.

In the capital, Dhaka, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh party organized the march which started from the Baitul Mukarram Mosque.

The leader of the organization, Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, said: "The United Nations speaks about humanity and various issues using beautiful language. But we cannot accept that the UN remains silent about the torture and killing of Muslims in Palestine."

Quoting the Prophet Muhammad, he added that if a Muslim is attacked anywhere in the world, standing by his side, protesting, and being saddened by his pain is a part of faith: The Israeli invasion of Palestine continues to this day. It would be a lack of faith not to protest against the oppression of Palestine."

Leaders of Gono Odhikar Parishad, another political party, also marched in support of the Gaza Strip. Israel has occupied and oppressed Palestine for the past 75 years. None of the Palestinian women and children are spared by this Jewish occupying force. The silence of the Bangladesh government shows that this government is against Palestine, accused the secretary, Farooq Hasan.

The government of Bangladesh has actually condemned the ongoing armed conflict. According to the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country "is deeply saddened by the loss of life of innocent civilians and the injuries of victims." Dhaka also believes that neither side will benefit from the clashes and violence.
Three local Jewish congregations will band together at Chabad Aspen, 435 W. Main St., at 6 p.m. today for what is billed as United for Israel: An Evening of Solidarity. The event is open to people of all faiths.
The Independence Pass gate east of Aspen is pictured. The state highway department plans to close the Highway 82 pass today at 5 p.m. due to forecasts of a winter storm.
Korean Air said Thursday it plans to deploy a temporary flight to Dubai this week to transport Koreans in Israel, who have fled to the nearby United Arab Emirates city due to the Middle Eastern conflict, back home.

The company said it will send an A330-200 aircraft to Dubai from Incheon International Airport on Friday to transport the group of Koreans who have recently traveled from Tel Aviv to Dubai by land.

The group traveled to Dubai after the company's Incheon-bound flights from Tel Aviv were canceled following the outbreak of the armed conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The Dubai-Incheon flight is scheduled to arrive in Korea early Saturday.

Korean Air has canceled its flights connecting Incheon and Tel Aviv this week amid safety concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas that broke out Saturday. (Yonhap)
Local news in brief, Oct. 12

FBO lease extension

confirmed by BOCC

A confirmatory reading of an emergency ordinance extending the lease of the fixed base operator at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport through Sept. 30, 2024, was approved 4-0 by the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday.

An emergency ordinance extending the FBO lease with Trajen Flight Support LP, doing business as Atlantic Aviation, was initially approved by commissioners on Sept. 13. The confirmatory reading and public hearing were required as a formality under the requirements of Pitkin Countys Home Rule Charter. The prior lease was set to expire Sept. 30, 2023.

Under the terms of the extended lease, Atlantic Aviation will pay the county $1.75 million in base rent and $12 million as a minimum annual guarantee for fuel flowage fees for the extension term, a memo from County Attorney John Ely to commissioners states.

The county put out a request for proposals in 2022 to award a 30-year lease to a FBO. Atlantic Aviations proposal was given the highest score in the process. The county and Atlantic are now working on terms of that long-term lease.

Due to delays in obtaining the necessary Federal Aviation Administration approval of a new Airport Layout Plan, which includes relocation of the taxiway and runway adjacent to the premises, finalization and execution of the new lease is correspondingly delayed until such time as the new Airport Layout Plan is finalized and approved or sufficient progress is made, the memo says.

The county has faced considerable community pressure to take more control of operations of the FBO in an effort to maximize revenues for the community and implement policies on issues such as greenhouse gas emissions. The commissioners vowed Wednesday that they will assess whats best for the community while considering the long-term lease.

They said extending the lease with Atlantic for one year was the best option during the assessment.

We have a lot of doors that are still open, said Commissioner Patti Clapper.

Clapper and Commissioners Francie Jacober, Steve Child and Kelly McNicholas Kury voted for the lease extension. Commissioner Greg Poschman was absent from the meeting.

Child care assistance

deadline is Nov. 1

The deadline for applications to participate in the city of Aspens financial aid program to help defray the expense of child care for working families is Nov. 1.

Assistance for qualified families will begin on Dec. 1. Only families who are not currently receiving financial aid need to apply, according to a city news release. The application deadline is for families that are new to the program.

The citys child care program, Kids First, understands how expensive child care is for working families, sometimes costing as much as housing, and is pleased to help young children and families in this way, the release says.

Applications are available at Kids First, 215 N. Garmish St., Suite 1, or online at cityofaspen.com/316/Financial-Aid. For more information, call 970-920-5363 or send an email to kristy.grau@aspen.gov.

Contractor sought for

Hanging Lake project

With the White River National Forest proceeding with plans to reconstruct the Hanging Lake Trail, the National Forest Foundation recently issued a request for proposals to complete the work and ensure the long-term sustainability of the site.

In 2021, a debris flow originating from the Grizzly Creek fire burn scar significantly damaged the Hanging Lake Trail. The debris flow covered major trail sections, swept away bridges, downed trees and buried the trail in mud, boulders, and logs. Spring flooding that occurred in 2023 caused additional damage, a U.S. Forest Service news release says.

Since the debris flows, the foundation, the Forest Service and their partners have developed detailed plans to construct a more sustainable and resilient trail. A combination of trail improvements and ecological restoration is anticipated to begin in spring 2024. The project is being funded through Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Trails Program, the National Forest Foundation, the city of Glenwood Springs and the Forest Service.

Access up the steep, rocky canyon is difficult. Trail reconstruction will require that a significant amount of rock work be completed by hand, with limits to protect sensitive resources. Experience working in other sensitive, high-visitation environments will be critical to the successful reconstruction of the Hanging Lake trail, the release states.

The anticipated construction period is approximately April through November 2024. Trail closures will be necessary when the reconstruction project gets underway.

Prospective bidders can review the RFP and additional details about the project on the National Forest Foundations website: nationalforests.org/rfp.
Minnesota Auto Part Plant Plans to Lay Off 80 Employees in December

Northern Engraving in Spring Grove is losing business, as its main buyer is discontinuing two vehicles that require the most parts from the plant.

Written by Theodore Tollefson, KAAL TV

Published Oct. 12, 2023

A longtime auto parts company in Spring Grove, MN, will see major changes this December.

Northern Engraving notified the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development it would be laying off 80 employees at their Spring Grove plant.

Northern Engraving has been producing auto body parts at this plant for nearly 50 years. But with their main buyer in auto parts discontinuing two cars that require the most parts from their Spring Grove plant, they are deciding not to find new partners.

It came to a surprise to many people in town and they are now pushing to process this potential loss of business and jobs.

Northern Engraving informed the MN DEED office just after 2 p.m. Oct. 6, telling them they plan to go through with laying off 80 of their employees at the Spring Grove plant sometime between Dec. 6 and 29 this year.

ABC 6 spoke with employees at Northern Engravings plant in spring grove about these layoffs. None wanted to speak on camera, but shared their thoughts on the news of their layoffs.

Some said Oct. 6 was a normal day that ended in shock as corporate officials called in during shift change to say a majority of them would be losing their jobs by December.

Some have new jobs lined up, but others dont know where theyll be going next. Many are concerned about the potential impacts these layoffs could have on the Spring Grove community.

That includes Chad Pierce, a former Northern Engravings employee.

I feel really bad for the people who are losing their jobs. Its bad, I dont know, I just feel bad for this community, its only 1,470 people or whatever, and it is going to hurt, Pierce said.

ABC 6 reached out to Northern Engravings corporate offices in Sparta, WI, for comment. They did not return calls in time for this story.

We thank KAAL TV for reprint permission.
The bridge, whose name is currently unknown as the local officials haven't chosen one yet, showed up on Google Maps with a surprising name. It's called "Harambe Memorial Bridge," with locals taking the name for granted (or wanting to be part of the prank) and leaving flowers, candles, stuffed toys, and framed pictures on the bridge.Harambe was a gorilla that lived at the Cincinnati Zoo and became famous after dragging a three-year-old boy who climbed under a fence right next to the animal. Harambe grabbed violently grabbed the kid, with zoo workers then fatally shooting the gorilla to save the boy. The case was overly discussed in the international press, with Harambe eventually becoming an Internet celebrity as part of memes and other viral content.While it's unclear how the pedestrian bridge got Harambe's name on Google Maps, the one responsible for the prank is an Internet user. Google allows users to suggest map edits, as the company enables netizens to contribute with data on keeping Google Maps accurate.Some of these requests are approved automatically, while others require manual revision. It's unclear if the proposed bridge name went through the automatic namecheck or if an approved map editor let it through, but the prank generated so much buzz that locals joined the memorial like it was a real deal.The city officials decided to stop the whole thing and remove the memorial, explaining that the workers must complete the bridge construction. A name hasn't been picked just yet, but city officials already have several recommendations in mind, and none has something in common with the famous gorilla. They include Mauldin Highway Overpass, Mauldin Gateway Bridge, Mauldin SkyWay, and Mauldin Archway.However, the city officials say they are open to suggestions, with more proposals to be reviewed on October 16 at the next public meeting.The Harambe Memorial Bridge is still available on Google Maps at the time of press, so the local authorities probably did not contact Google to update the listing.Any Internet user with a Google account can suggest a map edit by opening the location in Google Maps and expanding its details.The service offers a "Suggest an edit" option that allows netizens to change the name or other details, such as location and opening hours (for businesses), or mark the location as closed, non-existent, or duplicate. The feature is available for any location on Google Maps. Additionally, Internet users can also contribute with missing information, such as phone numbers and websites, to help other netizens get more information about each location.
Frank Stephenson is  without a shadow of a doubt  one of the most talented automotive designers of his generation. Born in Morocco to a Norwegian father and a Spanish mother, Stephenson made a name for himself at Ford of Europe with the iconic rear spoiler of the Escort RS Cosworth hot hatch.

39 photos Photo: Frank Stephenson / edited
There is no question about it that the largest combat deployment of American military helicopters took place during the Vietnam War. Due to the nature of the country's terrain, helos were basically the only way to get in and out of hot zones.

Records say America used no less than 12,000 various kinds of these machines during the war, and lost close to half of them during the fierce battles there. Those are numbers that are hard to forget, even by today's standards.Today, although the variety of helos America is using for combat missions is quite large, such huge deployments are no longer to be seen. Yet that isn't stopping Lockheed Martin from envisioning a future when the U.S. would have to go back to the jungle, this time flying the brand new Raider X instead of Vietnam era's Huey or Snake.The Sikorsky Raider X is planned as a successor to the Bell OH-58 Kiowa, an attack reconnaissance helicopter that left the U.S. without such a tool when it was retired about a decade ago. It will fight the Bell-made 360 Invictus to become the winner of the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program.The Raider has been designed as a compound helicopter that uses a main propulsion system and an auxiliary one meant to provide extra thrust. It comes equipped with twin, counterrotating, coaxial rigid rotors on top and a pusher propeller at the rear.The helo is powered by a General Electric (GE) turboshaft engine capable of developing up to 3,000 shaft horsepower, the same type of engine that will be deployed on the future iterations of the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache.The helicopter, just like its competitor, was scheduled to conduct its first flight test evaluation this year, but as far as we know that didn't happen, and the test seems to have been pushed for some reason well into next year.While we wait, Sikorsky's corporate overlord, Lockheed Martin, decided to give us a taste of how the Raider (in fact, a whole fleet of them) would look like in action.A short, one-and-a-half-minute-long CGI video was put together, showing clear virtual Vietnam vibes: a densely packed jungle, armies of helos flying over the treetops, and soldiers running around under the green canopy.Ridiculous as it seems, the video does give us a glimpse at the Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) the Raider will use. This is a system that should allow the helicopter to be upgraded on a plug-and-play basis.We also get to see how the helo will store weapons inside its main body and fire them, something that's quite different from how present-day attack helicopters do things today.Below is the most recent Lockheed Raider video, but for comparison we've included below that a clip of the real-world prototype in the official presentation.
It took a while for this moment to come, but now it's here  the world's first dedicated eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) factory is coming to life and gearing up for large-scale production.

Archer Aviation already kicked off construction at its site in Covington, Georgia. If things go according to plan, the facility will be ready to start rolling out aircraft as soon as next year. It's a big deal for the entire AAM (Advanced Air Mobility) industry because this is not only the first eVTOL factory in the world but the biggest one  not in size, but volume-wise.The end goal is to roll out 2,000 aircraft per year, although things will start with a smaller 650-unit annual capacity. This initial capacity will be supported by a 350,000 square feet (32,500 square meters) facility. During the second phase, the factory will be expanded to 900,000 square feet (83,600 square meters).Evans General Contractors and Synovus Bank are Archer's main development and financing partners in this $65 million endeavor (this covers most of the costs for the first phase facility).Archer doesn't just want to steal the spotlight with huge production volumes. It also claims to be able to achieve this with considerably fewer costs than its competitors. According to the manufacturer, this was possible thanks to its partnerships with the automotive giant Stellantis, top aerospace supplies (Safran and Honeywell), and with the state of Georgia.All of this leads to Archer's ultimate goal of becoming the world's number one scale manufacturer of electric air taxis.The Midnight eVTOL made its official debut at the end of last year. This four-seat air taxi equipped with an all-electric powertrain and 12 small propellers promises a top speed of 150 mph (241 kph) and a 20-mile (32 km) range on a single charge. One of its major innovations is the sustainably built cabin that integrates natural materials, such as flax fiber, and recycled materials, including plastic bottles.One of Archer's biggest customers is also one of the largest aviation operators in the world. United Airlines paid a hefty $10 million deposit for 100 units of the Midnight eVTOL. The production version of Archer's eVTOL is expected to enter commercial service in 2025.Another major US eVTOL manufacturer also has big plans when it comes to production capacity. The Californian Joby i s also building a large-scale production facility in Dayton, Ohio. The initial targeted capacity is smaller than Archer's but pretty close, with 500 units per year.However, Joby's factory will open later than Archer's Covington plant since construction is scheduled to start next year. At the same time, Joby will maintain its headquarters in California, where it also operates a Pilot Production Line.
At press time, Japans most powerful car is the Aspark Owl. Be that as it may, its not JDM because the all-electric hypercar is assembled by Manifattura Automobili Torino in Italy. As for the Japanese domestic market, the folks at Nissan reign supreme with the 2024 model year GT-R NISMO.

Photo: TTRB26 on Cars & Bids

As ever, the most performance-oriented version of the R35 makes 600 metric ponies or 592 mechanical horsepower. The R34 was capped at precisely 280 ps (make that 276 hp) due to a gentlemans agreement signed by all the automakers of Japan. The same applies to the R33 and R32 generations.Also remember that everyone sandbagged in order to keep the status quo. The RB26 used in the R32 through R34, for example, always produced more than the agreements mandated 276 horsepower. Even non-R variants of the Skyline crank out more than 276. The R34-generation 25GT Turbo and 25GT-X Turbo come to mind, with both of them packing the RB25DET NEO single-turbo I6 lump.The four-door sedan before your eyes isnt an R34, but an R33 that started life in the form of a GTS. This particular example originally sported the RB20E, a single-cam sixer with no forced induction whatsoever. Chassis number HR33005456 had its original powerplant replaced with an RB26 from a GT-R, which makes in excess of 260 pound-feet (353 Nm) at the crankshaft. The original five-speed transmission had also been swapped for a five-speed box from an R33-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R.A bit rough around the edges, this fellow exhibits a few cracks in the aftermarket body kit, some paint imperfections, wear on the driver seats outer bolsters, and scratches on the wheels. None of these flaws will break the bank, though. The R32 GT-R drivers seat does need replacing for something closer to the original driver's seat of the R33 GTS, and the bright trim on the doors really needs to come off. The same can be said about the aftermarket wind deflectors/rain guards.Currently located in Minneapolis, this blast from the not-so-distant past further sweetens the deal with a GT-R rear tower brace, front strut brace, instrument cluster, and brake calipers. The four-wheel steering system (HICAS in Nissan vernacular) is disconnected, and the bone-stock suspension is gone in favor of Fortune Auto 500-series coilovers.Equipped with a clear third brake light and clear side markers, HR33005456 was purchased by the seller in 2019. The fuel tank breather was replaced earlier this year, when the seller also performed a four-wheel alignment. Last serviced with fresh engine oil at the beginning of 2023, the GTS sings the song of its people through a Fujitsubo exhaust.Highlights also include an HKS intercooler and twin intakes, a Koyorad radiator, and a Trust engine oil cooler. Given the cars modifications, true mileage isnt known. The odometer currently shows approximately 39,000 miles (62,765 kilometers).Since the R33-gen Skyline was never sold in the United States of America, it may not pass emissions testing in certain states (looking at you, California!). At the present moment, no fewer than five offers were made on it via Doug DeMuros car auction platform. Due to be sold on October 13, the GTS is offered at no reserve. The highest bid at the moment of writing is $8k, which is peanuts for something powered by a fully operational RB26DETT mill.
Historic epitaph plaque of wife of first Korean minister to US returns to Korea
SUV

The brand just got a shakeup at the top of the pyramid  the highest levels of corner offices now have a new boss, as Jeep CEO Christian Meunier was (probably) forced to step down in favor of Antonio Filosa, the Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis South America, amid a 'nice' little sales slump. If we look at the sales charts, 2022 deliveries were down 12% compared to 2021, and after the first six months of 2023, the figures dipped another 12%.However, there are hopes for a comeback even if an increasing number of mainstream and luxury crossovers and SUVs put much pressure on the famous off-road-oriented brand. As such, Jeep just launched the facelifted 2024 Wrangler and Gladiator this year, two of its most beloved assets in the fight against the Ford Bronco and Toyota Tacoma, for example. Interestingly, since it's such a beloved name, everyone seems to try and lend a helping hand to Jeep these days.And that includes the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, where Kleber Silva, a Brazil-based virtual artist known as KDesign AG on social media, has decided to have a CGI go at imagining a posher Jeep truck that could represent a step up the premium ladder in the mid-size pickup truck sector. Thus, meet the unibody WL-series Jeep Grand Cherokee pickup truck, which is something akin to the Honda Ridgeline but with the added panache of a premium brand experience.The Jeep Grand Cherokee nameplate is one of the best-known SUVs worldwide, but how many people know that it was a unibody project from the beginning? Indeed, the mid-size crossoverdropped the traditional body-on-frame manufacturing process in an age when most SUVs were still using it like the Bible and gained a cult following by offering car-like on-road performance coupled with still great off-road capabilities.However, a Jeep Grand Cherokee pickup truck doesn't make too much sense because the company already has the Gladiator battling in the field of mid-size models with the latest N400 Toyota Tacoma, as well as the all-new 2024 Ford Ranger (plus Ranger Raptor), Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon siblings, plus the Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline. Besides, the sector is neither that large nor so in love with the unibody models like the Ridgeline to warrant a second entry from Jeep.Still, I couldn't help but share this unofficial design project with you because the pixel master worked his CGI magic based on the stylish Ram Rampage, and it turned out that making it slightly larger and adding elements from the Grand Cherokee would "create a sturdy and versatile pickup." So, while it's entirely wishful thinking, this Ram Rampage-based Jeep Grand Cherokee pickup truck is also utterly fantastic!
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is not only the largest military organization of its kind in the world, but it also is one of the most advanced. For instance, just consider the fact no other nation on this Earth has an aerial refueling capacity as large as that of the U.S.

The nation currently operates around 700 tanker airplanes, a number that is likely larger than what all the other nations have to offer combined. Even with the planned cut to just 450 of them, America will still lead the pack in this respect.But there is one thing the USAF can't brag about at the moment, and that's the ability to use automatic air-to-air refueling (A3R) across its fleet. That essentially means a fully automatic boom that doesn't require constant adjustments from an operator to keep the alignment between its tip and the receiver receptacle on the aircraft in need of fuel.The system is meant to reduce the workload on human operators and reduce the risk of errors  although to be fair, I dont remember of any major air-to-air refueling incident ever taking place.The USAF will get such an ability on a larger scale once the LMXT tanker is accepted into the fleet. The plane is a Lockheed Martin conversion of the Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).This plane has been around for a while in the service of other nations, and it even managed to recently put an aerial fighting force you rarely hear about ahead of the USAF in one key aspect.We learned this week that back in August 2023, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Airbus completed a three-week test campaign of the MRTT and the nation's fighter plane fleet in a bid to make Singapore the first Air Force in the world to have a boom automatic refueling capability with all of its receivers.Granted, the fleet of planes the RSAF operates is not as large as that of the U.S., and presently comprises mostly F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons, but the achievement is impressive nonetheless, and will also open the doors for other nations to join the A3R race.The breakthrough was announced after no less than 500 automated wet and dry contacts were performed between the MRTT and the two types of fighter planes while covering the whole operational AAR envelope in different weather conditions.As it stands the Airbus MRTT can be paired with pretty much the entire fleet of existing military aircraft, including the two fighter jets mentioned above, but also more pretentious machines like the AWACS and the Eurofighter Typhoon. As a twist, an A330 of this kind can also refuel another MRTT.The U.S. will get its LMXT version of the plane by the end of the decade.
Job applications typically struggle to make a good impression when showing up for an interview, but a 23-year-old Florida man certainly got the wrong idea about this whole concept.

If you saw a mess of traffic (more than usual) on Interstate 4 near US 27 near Davenport on Friday, October 6th, here's what happened..



Friday afternoon at around 4:30pm, 23-year old Jacob Thompson of Winter Haven stopped off at the Pilot Travel Center at 7990 State Road 60 in pic.twitter.com/hQsyP0gSaW  Polk County Sheriff ???? Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) October 8, 2023

Jacob Thompson stopped at the Pilot Travel Center at 7990 State Road 60 in Bartow specifically to discuss a job opportunity at the gas station.However, the store clerk told him to come back on Monday, as nobody was available to interview the man. He was handed a job application, which he filled out before leaving the store. It was all just a regular day with a job candidate getting information about an open spot and the store clerk scheduling an interview that was supposed to take place another day.Meanwhile, another man stopped at the gas station and entered the store without turning off the engine. When he returned to the car, he noticed Thompson behind the wheel of his 2022 Cadillac XT4 , trying to drive away. The man jumped in front of the car to stop the thief from leaving, screaming and begging to get out of the vehicle, but Thompson pressed the throttle hard and nearly ran over him.The thief eventually got away and took off on the US 27 before exiting onto I4 to begin a typical high-speed chase that never ends well for the driver. And this particular case couldnt be an exception by any means.The Cadillac was equipped with OnStar tracking, so the police officers received access to its location, eventually being able to track the thief down. While driving on Interstate 4 at speeds over 100 mph, the thief received the second piece of bad news after getting rescheduled for the job interview.OnStar was instructed to turn off the engine, so the system informed the driver accordingly, so in his desperate attempt to escape from the police, Thompson crashed the car and flipped over right on the Interstate. He exited the vehicle, as this is precisely what every driver does at the end of a high-speed chase, and tried to run away on foot. He was caught and arrested.The man is charged with armed burglary of a conveyance, grand theft of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a crash, and violation of probation because, yes, he was on probation. He suffered minor injuries following the crash, but they didn't prevent him from getting sent to prison. He is now being held at the Polk County Jail without bond.As the Polk County Sherriff said on Twitter (post embedded below), he'll probably miss the interview, so the job opportunity is still live. Just make sure you don't drive away in someone else's car when leaving the store from the interview.
Yeghishe Kirakosian, who represents the government in international tribunals, argued that virtually all ethnic Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh have fled to Armenia since the September 19-20 assault that enabled Baku to regain control over the region.

For millennia, Armenians made up an overwhelming majority in Nagorno-Karabakh, Kirakosian told the United Nations court. Today there are almost no ethnic Armenians left in Karabakh. If this is not ethnic cleansing, then what is?

It is still possible to avert the irreversibility of the forced displacement of the ethnic Armenians, he said.

Azerbaijans leadership has denied responsibility for the mass exodus of Karabakhs population and pledged to protect the rights of local residents willing to live under Azerbaijani rule.

Kirakosian spoke during court hearings on a dozen fresh injunctions demanded by his government on September 28 as part of an ongoing legal battle with Azerbaijan. Yerevan specifically asked the ICJ to order Baku to refrain from displacing Karabakhs remaining residents and preventing the safe and speedy return to their homes of the more than 100,000 other locals who have taken refuge in Armenia.

It also wants the Azerbaijani side to withdraw military and security personnel from Karabakh civilian facilities, give the UN and other international organizations access to the depopulated region and protect its religious and cultural monuments.

Another provisional measure sought by Yerevan would ban Baku from taking punitive actions against Karabakhs current and former political or military leaders. About a dozen of them were arrested and indicted by Azerbaijani authorities following the offensive. Kirakosian condemned their illegal imprisonment.

The ICJ already ordered Azerbaijan in February to unblock the sole road connecting Karabakh to Armenia. Baku ignored the order.

Meanwhile, in Yerevan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said that his government will do everything to help all refugees unable or unwilling to return to Karabakh settle down in Armenia. He said it has already proved that it treats them like citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

Speaking during a weekly cabinet meeting, Pashinian and members of his government touted financial and other assistance allocated to the refugees. It includes a one-off cash payment of 100,000 drams ($250) which is due to be given to every refugee.

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 has also pledged to pay every refugee 50,000 drams ($125) per month for housing expenses.
12 October 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The heritage and culture of faith of different nations and nationalities have always been important for Azerbaijan, and despite the rich history of mankind in hostility and discrimination towards different nationalities, it is important to hold on to what has been laid down from the beginning, that we are all from one.

The quality of Azerbaijan and its people towards others, in its respect and kindness towards every nationality, faith confession and cultural values, in its approach and responsiveness to the request that is deeply rooted in the energy field of Azerbaijan is recognised all over the world.

Azerbaijan's priority was to prove to the world not only in words but also in deeds, in response to the huge propaganda from neighbouring Armenia towards Azerbaijan, that tolerance is a specific quality of the Azerbaijani people.

The priority directions of the Azerbaijani government's policy towards religion and culture of values are directly related to tolerance, which has been formed over the millennium in preserving, developing and informing the world about the traditions of tolerance inherent in the Azerbaijani people.

The attitude of the Azerbaijani state to the principles of tolerance is clearly manifested both in its attitude to representatives of different religions, restoration of religious and historical monuments, organisation of international conferences on these issues, and in the very essence of the national legislation.

The majority of the population of Azerbaijan are Muslims - almost 96 per cent, Christians -4 per cent, and representatives of other religions, Jews and Baha'is. Almost all currents of Christianity are represented in Azerbaijan.

Thus, there are Christian members of the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Protestant churches, as well as members of the historic Albanian Church living in Azerbaijan. Most of the country's Christian population lives in the cities of Baku, Sumgayit, and Ganja, as well as in the districts of Gakh (Georgian Orthodox), Ismailli, Gadabak, Gobustan (Molokans), Gabala and Oguz (Albani Udins in the Nidj settlement of Gabala district and in the town of Oguz). Most Catholics and Lutherans live in Baku city.

Azerbaijan is an excellent example of interreligious and intercultural peaceful co-existence, said Rabbi Mark Schneier, chairman of the American Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Rabbi Schneier, who took part in the 21st meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, expressed his admiration for the country's commitment to interreligious dialogue, calling it a "second home" for him.

Azerbaijan is a great example of interreligious and intercultural peaceful coexistence.

"We have developed a special relationship with Azerbaijan. I believe that Azerbaijan is a great example of interreligious and intercultural cooperation and peaceful co-existence in the Muslim world. I have had the privilege of participating in various interreligious dialogue forums hosted by Azerbaijan for many years and look forward to visiting Baku again. I continue to support Azerbaijan and express my solidarity with your country and its leadership.

Baku is like a second home for me and I look forward to returning there," Rabbi Mark Schneier said.

With the end of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a lasting peace is high on the agenda in the Caucasus, and Azerbaijan is keen to sign a peace treaty with Armenia.

The Centre for Social Research (CSR) conducted a survey to find out the public's attitude towards this issue, taking into account the positive dynamics towards a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The question "Do you support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia?" was addressed to the respondents. Judging by the answers to the question, the society expressed high support for the signing of the peace agreement. Thus, the absolute majority of survey participants - 80.9% - supported the signing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

18.3% of respondents took the opposite position and did not support the signing of a peace agreement. 0.8% found it difficult to express their opinion on this issue. According to the analysis of results from a gender perspective, 85.1% of men and 76.7% of women supported the signing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The fieldwork (data collection) of the study was conducted from 5 to 9 October 2023. The surveys were conducted in the form of telephone interviews and 385 respondents over the age of 18 participated.

The study covered 12 economic regions, including Baku, Absheron-Khizi, Mountainous Shirvan, Ganja-Dashkasan, Gazakh-Tovuz, Lankaran-Astara, Guba-Khachmaz, Shaki-Zagatala, Garabagh, Central Aran, Mil-Mugan, Shirvan-Salyan. The sampling frame was determined in proportion to the population size while maintaining the gender equality of respondents. Taking into account the number of respondents covered by the survey, the margin of error of the results is 5 per cent with a confidence interval of 95 per cent.

Neighbours have a lot to learn from Azerbaijan on the way to finding calm and peace, and at the moment it is a very important feature in writing history, where it is possible to put an end to the suffering and hatred that lasted for 200 years. Everything is teaching us.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
12 October 2023 15:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The goal is not to stand up for the defense of the Islamic religion or the Muslim community. This time, their goal is to take advantage of the situation and pursue their ambitions.

The Israeli-Palestinian tension has caused a serious political and social crisis in and around region in the last few days. One of them is the significant activation of the radical Armenian diaspora. Since the last day, radical Armenian groups have started to create panic in the society with anti-Turkish, anti-Israeli and anti-Azerbaijani slogans in connection with the events taking place in Lebanon and western countries. In addition to resisting the local police in Lebanon, the radicals even burned the flags of Azerbaijan, Israel and Turkiye.

Radical activity continues in Washington. They allegedly tried to realize their nefarious goals under the slogan of protecting Hamas. We should remind that the tension between Palestine and Israel has been around for almost a century. However, during all these decades, the Armenian lobby's "love" for the Islamic world has not been observed in the world.

The point is simple; Armenian radical groups, which can no longer carry out traditional provocations in Garabagh, continue their activities under other political slogans. What can be done... it is another opportunity for them and they should take advantage of it. Just as the French-Armenian duo, which does not miss such opportunities through false statements. It is good that Azerbaijan gave an adequate response to France, an inseparable part of Armenia, at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council at the right time. There is no doubt that the Armenian media is actively working as one of the leading forces of this kind of provocation mechanism.

Let's take a look at the processes taking place inside France. It seems that the smoke of the volcano erupting over the heads of the Armenian separatists has not stopped yet. Catherine Colonna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France and loyal servant of Armenians, is on duty as usual. I wonder what they base their false statements on every day?

They are trying to threaten that "the crimes that have taken place will not go unanswered" - this is also interesting.

Apparently, this is already a separate topic. Because the issue of Armenian separatism has been closed for a long time. Although it may seem unusual, we would like to point out that the last 2 weeks have been the most stable period in the history of the Caucasus at the military level, this stability was made possible only by the fact that Azerbaijan neutralized legitimate military targets and put an end to the illegal junta regime without harming the civilian population.

However, some forces that want to come back to the agenda, such as France, are still interested in the emergence of a new conflict in the South Caucasus. France giving arms and ammunition to Armenia, the French Foreign Minister's speech in Yerevan, yesterday's speech in the Senate, stating that they will initiate the adoption of a resolution in the UN Security Council on the return of Armenians to Azerbaijan, etc. France is trying to prevent the establishment of peace in the region with its policy of militarism and behind-the-scenes dirty diplomatic games. The aim is to strengthen the region against the backdrop of military conflict and tension.

Certainly, one should not expect anything positive from a quasi-imperialist state prone to conflicts like France, which left its own indelible mark in Africa, New Caledonia and other colonies. Their goal was not to defend anyone or to restore justice, but rather to escalate crises and conflicts wherever they came.

Don't be surprised. Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, a member of the French Socialist Party and the French Senate: "We must support Armenia in arming itself!" Saying that we did not get tired and we will not get tired, he still talks about the democracy that never existed in "artsakh", which has been abolished for a long time. Indeed, these people are notorious politicians who wash their hands with blood instead of water.

Furthermore, opinions expressed by President Ilham Aliyev on this topic at the meeting with the participants of the meeting of the Council of Heads of Security and Special Services of the CIS Member States.

In general, Armenia is in such a situation that today there is no other choice but to feel sorry for their situation. Both the West and the lobbyists representing the West think of nothing but destroying the people to the last person with all their might. Just as today France and a number of forces in the West are still discussing the arming of Armenia. Why rearmament and not peace? Then let France and the West think about the consequences of this...

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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The 2nd Meeting of Museums of the Turkic World has started in Azerbaijan.

The event is co-organized by the Culture Ministry, International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) and the National Carpet Museum in Baku and Shusha, Azernews reports.

The meeting focuses on the discussion of new projects and innovations in the museum field of the Turkic world, as well as exchange of experience and knowledge.

Note that the first Meeting of Museums of the Turkic World was held in Bursa, Turkiye in 2022.

The National Carpet Museum hosted the international conference "Carpet as a Symbol of the Turkic World"on October 11 as part of the 2nd Meeting of Museums of the Turkic World.

Heads and representatives of museums, musicologists, TURKSOY executives and other officials participated in the conference.

The academic sessions of the international event included the following topics: Carpet: Common Turkic Heritage; Tamgas: The Language of Carpet; Methods of Preservation, Conservation, and Displaying of Carpets in Museums.

More than 30 specialists from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (Moldova) delivered their reports at the conference.

The conference participants also took part in the opening ceremony of the exhibition of the Kazakhstan Central State Museum held at the National Carpet Museum.

On October 13-14, the guests will join the First Cultural Forum of the Turkic World dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev held in Shusha, where the Meeting of TURKSOY Museums Union will be held.

The guests will visit the historical sites of the Azerbaijani cradle of culture.

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12 October 2023 11:50 (UTC+04:00)

A group of Ukrainian parliamentarians out of 20 representatives of the ruling party, via AZfront, has decided to come out in favor of Azerbaijan. It should be noted that never before have Ukrainian parliamentarians collectively spoken, especially so unequivocally, on the side of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The statement reads:

"Ukraine supports Azerbaijan!

We, Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine express our support to Azerbaijan and its people!

After the capitulation of separatists in Azerbaijani Garabagh, a media campaign was launched against Azerbaijan in order to discredit it! Radical elements of the Armenian Diaspora and some international media are increasing hate propaganda and calling for sanctions against Azerbaijan. We consider this unacceptable!

 Azerbaijan acted on its internationally recognized territory.

 A mass of weapons and heavy military equipment illegally imported by separatists are found on the territory of Karabagh after the surrender of armed formations.

 The displacement of the Garabagh Armenian population to the territory of Armenia is non-violent - this has already been confirmed by the UN mission that arrived in Garabagh on 1 October and by the representative of the US State Department Miller.

All of Ukraine supports Azerbaijan in its fight against separatism. Key figures of separatist formations in Garabagh are included in the "Peacemaker" database as accomplices of aggression against Ukraine. The exact same separatism came to Ukrainian Crimea and Ukrainian Donbass under Russian patronage. Now Azerbaijan has won and regained control over its historical territories - Ukraine is sure to win too!

Ukraine is on the side of Azerbaijan because Azerbaijan is on the side of Ukraine.

We categorically condemn the imposition of any sanctions against Azerbaijan.

Since the very beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Azerbaijani citizens through the mediation of the AZfront Telegram channel have regularly donated generators, food, clothes, and fodder for animals rescued after the Kakhovka dam was blown up.

Official Baku allocates assistance for the purchase of energy equipment for Ukraine, donates fuel and medicines, takes part in the reconstruction of Bucha and Irpen, and helps with the rehabilitation of Ukrainian children.

"No" to separatism! "No to sanctions against Azerbaijan! "Yes to mutual support between Kyiv and Baku!".

The President of the European Council has announced that the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet in Brussels at the end of October to continue negotiations on the settlement of the long-standing conflict in the South Caucasus. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan has already announced that he and Azerbaijani President Aliyev have accepted the invitation.

As a consequence, radical elements in the Armenian diaspora have begun to spread again in the Western media attacks on Pashinyan and all sorts of accusations against official Baku in connection with the full restoration of Azerbaijani sovereignty in Garabagh on 19-20 September. Their aim is to disrupt the upcoming negotiations and provoke the continuation of the conflict.

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12 October 2023 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

We strongly condemn and reject the unfounded allegations against Azerbaijan made by Catherine Colonna, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France during her speech at the French Senate on October 11, said Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azernews reports.

Contrary to the reports of international organizations and also the statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia dated September 21, the French Ministers claims that the settlement of Armenians, who were voluntarily relocated from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan without facing any force, was allegedly planned by Azerbaijan, demonstrates that France is interested in continuing its insidious and imaginary policy.

Frances narrative about justice and international law is unacceptable, taking into account its support to occupant Armenia both during its bloody colonial and mediation period.

Call for the adoption of a resolution against Azerbaijan by France, which has not taken any steps to ensure the implementation of four UN Security Council resolutions that demanded the liberation of the territories of Azerbaijan from occupation, the unconditional, complete, and immediate withdrawal of the occupying forces, and the return of IDPs to their homes for almost 27 years, is an example of hypocrisy.

If France had guided Armenia in the right direction to stop illegal activities and withdraw the Armenian armed forces from our territories for the last three years after the 44-day Patriotic War, instead of coming up with unfounded UN Security Council initiatives, this would be a real contribution to peace and security in the region.

We remind France once again that speaking with Azerbaijan in the language of threat and pressure cannot give any result, and such destructive actions must be stopped immediately.

All steps against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country will be resolutely prevented, the ministry added.

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12 October 2023 14:11 (UTC+04:00)

Russia sees attempts to promote the interests of NATO countries in the South Caucasus region through Armenia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters following a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers, Azernews reports.

"As for fuelling anti-Russian sentiments, this is done to a large extent artificially. We know about the number of non-governmental organizations that have been established in Armenia in recent years, and there were many of them before. These organizations were not created for the purpose of developing friendly relations between Armenia and the Russian Federation. On the contrary.

They are aimed at creating a ground for anti-Russian sentiments and preparing the promotion of interests of, first of all, the USA, the European Union and NATO countries in this region through Armenia. We see these attempts, they achieve certain results," Lavrov said.

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U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned Iran against getting involved in Israel's conflict with Hamas amid fears of a wider regional conflict, while Israeli leaders formed an emergency war cabinet to present a united front.

Israeli jets have pounded the Gaza Strip for days in retribution for a weekend attack by Palestinian Hamas militants who breached the border fence enclosing Gaza and rampaged through towns and villages, killing 1,200 people, injuring over 2,700, and taking scores of hostages, the Israeli military said.

Biden despatched his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, to the Middle East to show Washington's enduring support for Israel, seek to secure the release of captives, including Americans, and prevent a wider war from erupting.

Speaking to a roundtable of Jewish community leaders in Washington, Biden said his deployment of military ships and aircraft closer to Israel should be seen as a signal to Iran, which backs Islamist groups Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

"We made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful," Biden said.

Iran likely knew Hamas militants were planning "operations against Israel" but initial U.S. intelligence reports showed that some Iranian leaders were surprised by the group's unprecedented attack from Gaza, U.S. sources said on Wednesday.

Blinken was expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday and will also visit Jordan. He was not scheduled to visit the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where he ordinarily meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas-affiliated media said on Wednesday seven people were killed by Israeli air strikes on homes in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Gaza's Health Ministry says retributive bombings by Israeli fighter jets have killed 1,100 people and wounded more than 5,000. Some 535 residential buildings have been destroyed leaving around 250,000 homeless, Hamas officials said.

Most of the displaced were in U.N.-designated shelters, others huddling in shattered streets.

Israel has deployed formations of tanks and armored vehicles near Gaza in possible preparation for a ground offensive into the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.

Israel withdrew Jewish settlers and Israeli troops from Gaza in 2005 after 38 years of occupation. An Israeli blockade since Hamas seized power in the enclave in 2007 has created conditions which Palestinians say are intolerable.

"We will wipe this thing called Hamas, ISIS-Gaza, off the face of the earth," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday, likening Hamas to the Islamic State group. "It will cease to exist."

Biden said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again on Wednesday, their fourth conversation in recent days, and told him Israel should follow the rules of war in its response against Hamas.

Washington said it was talking with Israel and Egypt about safe passage for civilians from Gaza, with food in short supply.

Asked if Washington had advocated for Israel to exercise restraint in its response, Blinken said before departing that Israel respects international law and makes efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

"We know that Israel will take all of the precautions that it can, just as we would, and again thats what separates us from Hamas and terrorist groups that engage in the most heinous kind of activities," Blinken said.

Israel's leaders on Wednesday formed a unity government, promising to put bitter political divisions aside to focus on the fight against Hamas.

Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a centrist opposition leader, spoke live on Israeli television alongside Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant after forming a war cabinet focused entirely on the conflict.

"Our partnership is not political, it is a shared fate," said Gantz. "At this time we are all the soldiers of Israel."

Netanyahu said the people of Israel and its leadership were united. "We have put aside all differences because the fate of our state is on the line," he said.

Gantz's National Unity Party, which has fiercely opposed judicial reforms proposed by Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, said it will not promote any unrelated policy or laws while the fighting goes on.

Israel has put Gaza under "total siege" to stop food and fuel reaching the enclave of 2.3 million people, many poor and dependent on aid. Hamas media said on Wednesday electricity went out after the only power station stopped working.

With Palestinian rescue workers overwhelmed, others in the crowded coastal strip searched for bodies in the rubble.

"I was sleeping here when the house collapsed on top of me," one man cried as he and others used flashlights on the stairs of a building hit by missiles to find anyone trapped. (Reuters)
12 October 2023 18:11 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

"France destabilizes the South Caucasus and should be expelled from here," political scientist, and director of the Centre for Political Studies Sergey Markov said at the online conference "Development of the South Caucasus after the end of the Garabagh conflict", Azernews reports.

The political scientist noted that today one can observe attempts of some states outside the region to interfere in its geopolitical situation: "For example, France is trying to interfere in the affairs of the South Caucasus through Armenia."

According to Markov, for France, it is like taking revenge on Russia. Because they are being driven out of Burkina Faso and CAR and trying to infiltrate the South Caucasus.

"France should be forced out of the Caucasus," the expert said, adding that it is not the only country trying to interfere in the affairs of the South Caucasus. Everyone knows about the joint military exercises of the US and Armenia. Perhaps soon we will hear about the establishment of American military bases in Armenia," he added.

Speaking about the new geopolitical realities, political scientists said that the 3+3 format between the countries of the region, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Turkiye, and Iran, is very promising for the development of the region.

"The creation of the Common Economic Space of the South Caucasus countries can lead to the development of the region. But it is possible only on the basis of opening transport corridors, especially Zangazur. If the problem of opening transport corridors is solved, the possibility of creating a common economic space between the three countries will be realized," Markov underlined.

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12 October 2023 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Fuzuli continues, Azernews reports.

Another group of former IDPs consisting of 21 families or 88 people left the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in Garadagh, for Fuzuli on October 12.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Fuzuli, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Fuzuli residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Fuzuli has been provided for 208 families - 749 people.

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12 October 2023 11:38 (UTC+04:00)

The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has just kicked off in Bishkek, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X. The meeting of the Foreign Ministers is expected to focus on a range of topics that are of mutual interest and high on the agenda of the CIS. Azernews reports.

The outcome of the meeting is expected to include a joint statement on strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, a schedule of the CIS multi-level ministerial consultations in 2022, the decision to create a basic organization to study terrorism and other manifestations of extremism, as well as guidelines for drafting international treaties, and others.

The CIS Heads of State Council will also be held online on 15 October, where a number of documents are expected to be adopted, including a statement on the 30th anniversary of the CIS, a statement on cooperation in the field of biological security and migration, and two more documents related to cooperation in the field of security.

The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the CIS is an important step towards strengthening cooperation and integration between the post-Soviet states.

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12 October 2023 12:15 (UTC+04:00)

On October 11, during the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan made a statement in response to the statement delivered by France. The statement which is falsely presented in the Armenian media as a joint statement by 34 countries, has in fact been delivered on behalf of France and Armenia only, according to the official webpage of the Human Rights Council, Azernews reports.

In its statement, the Delegation of Azerbaijan rejected the groundless allegations voiced by France and condemned its undisguised attempt to interfere in political processes taking place in Azerbaijan. The Delegation of Azerbaijan stressed that France has no role in these processes due to its open disregard for the principles of international law and selective approach to the support of sovereignty and territorial integrity during the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, its failure over the last close to 30 years to act as an impartial mediator in the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from occupation by Armenia, and in the return of close to 1 million Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees to their homes of origin, including 300 thousand Azerbaijanis violently expelled from Armenia.

It was reminded that the Delegation of Azerbaijan had twice offered dialogue among other delegations to France, which has apparently refused it and continues its policy of instrumentalizing the Human Rights Council.

It was also mentioned that Azerbaijan and the region are working to consolidate peace and security and that France has zero credibility as the international partner, mediator, or permanent member of the United Nations Security Council on the part of Azerbaijan.

The delegation of Azerbaijan rejected the engagement and initiatives suggested by France simply because they were suggested by France. It was underlined that Azerbaijan is open to engagement and cooperation with partners who are reliable, and who have no neocolonial imperial ambitions or attempts to revive its lost status in this part of the world.

The delegation of Azerbaijan further reminded that the United Nations mission composed of several agencies, which had twice visited the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, reported no damage to civilian public infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and housing, or to cultural and religious structures in the city of Khankendi; the mission saw that the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan was preparing for the resumption of health services and some utilities in Khankendi; the mission did not come across any reports - neither from the local population interviewed nor from the interlocutors - of incidences of violence against civilians following the latest ceasefire; the mission did not observe any destruction of agricultural infrastructure or dead animals from the road. The Delegation of Azerbaijan recalled that these observations were also confirmed by the findings of the UNHCR Office in Armenia as well as the ICRC. In addition, there were a number of foreign journalists covering developments in the Karabakh region.

It was mentioned that Azerbaijan as a sovereign country on its sovereign territory engages in effective cooperation with many international actors, including the UN system agencies, and that this cooperation, which covers many areas and is channeled towards the reintegration of the Karabakh region back into Azerbaijan, is based on Azerbaijani resources.

The Delegation of Azerbaijan expressed expectations from Armenia to heed wisdom and common sense and utilize the chance for peace in the region.

Right of Reply made by @azmissiongeneva in response to the statement of @FranceONUGeneve during the General Debate on Item 10 at the #54th session of @UN_HRC pic.twitter.com/68RNuiThtr  Az Mission Geneva (@azmissiongeneva) October 11, 2023

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12 October 2023 11:10 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to King of Spain Felipe VI.

Your Majesty,

On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I sincerely congratulate you and through you all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Kingdom of Spain.

On this remarkable day, I extend my best wishes to you, and wish the friendly people of Spain everlasting peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 9 October 2023

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12 October 2023 14:34 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

As a UNESCO member, Azerbaijan has been actively engaged in promoting cultural diversity and heritage preservation.

The country has been constantly participating in UNESCO programs since 1992.

Through its efforts, Azerbaijan plays a significant role in UNESCO's mission to build peace, foster sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

In 2003, the parties signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, education, and communication, which allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the donors of UNESCO.

At the 217th UNESCO session, Azerbaijan has made a significant statement, reaffirming its contribution to the global agenda of peace, security and sustainable development.

"Azerbaijan attaches great importance to following the priorities and effective implementation of UNESCO programs. Our country is committed to working with UNESCO and its member states in an open, transparent and inclusive manner. Azerbaijan actively supports the organization's initiatives in the field of intercultural dialogue, as well as the fight against racism and discrimination, and consistently encourages dialogue between cultures and religions through such global initiatives as the Baku Process and Peace4Culture campaign."

These remarks are contained in Azerbaijan's statement read out by Permanent Delegate of Azerbaijan to UNESCO Elman Abdullayev, Azernews reports.

It was brought to attention that Azerbaijan continues to contribute to the global agenda of peace, security and sustainable development within its capabilities and as a chair of the Non-Aligned Movement.

However, the dangerous trends still observed in the region, such as manifestations of racism, discrimination and related intolerance, are cause for concern.

Over 30 years of military aggression, Armenia has completely destroyed, looted and vandalized the cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Cultural assets such as historical monuments, mosques, temples, mausoleums, museums, exhibits, art galleries, archaeological sites and libraries were most brutally looted and razed to the ground.

During the occupation, Azerbaijan's educational infrastructure was also seriously damaged. Armenia completely destroyed more than 2,000 educational institutions in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Armenia also pursued a policy of systematic destruction, plunder and appropriation of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan. In Armenia, traces of Azerbaijanis expelled from Erivan, West Zangazur, Vedi, Nuvedi, Goychaand many other historical lands, the lands of their great-grandfathers, were deliberately destroyed or erased.

The statement says that Armenian policy, which carried out ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis, also had a disastrous impact on Azerbaijan's intangible cultural heritage, which is an infringement of the cultural rights of all Azerbaijanis, as well as the right of every person to enjoy cultural heritage.

It is indicated that the appeals to the UNESCO Director General by the Azerbaijani government, a number of Azerbaijani NGOs and the Western Azerbaijan Community, who expressed deep concern about the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Armenia, and the call to send a mission to Armenia to establish the facts and assess the state of affairs in this area are fair demand of the Azerbaijani people.

The document notes that in three years that have passed since the signing of the trilateral Statement in 2020, Armenia has deployed illegal armed groups numbering more than a thousand people on the territory of Azerbaijan.

In addition, Armenia used the Lachin road to incite separatism on Azerbaijan's sovereign territory.

In September 2023, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, responding to numerous provocations of illegal Armenian armed groups, carried out local anti-terrorist measures.

During the anti-terrorist measures, the necessary measures were taken to prevent damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure in full compliance with the norms of humanitarian law.

The statement says about the liquidation of the so-called "regime" and the disarmament of illegal armed groups.

It also touches upon the process of reintegration of local Armenian residents, the creation of a special electronic portal for this, the formation of a favorable atmosphere for dialogue, and Azerbaijan's plan to normalize relations with Armenia.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the report of the UN mission to Azerbaijan's Garabagh, in particular, to the city of Khankandi, indicates that no damage was caused to civilian infrastructure, cultural and religious sites, no violence was committed against civilians, Azerbaijan is preparing restore the provision of health care services and a number of public utilities in Khankandi.

At the same time, the statement especially emphasizes that Azerbaijan and Armenia have a historical opportunity to establish good neighborly relations and coexist in peaceful conditions as two sovereign states.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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12 October 2023 17:47 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Uzbek-Azerbaijani Health Forum was held in Tashkent within the framework of the "Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Decade of Health" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, with support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and organization of health ministries of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Azernews reports.

Representatives of the health ministries of both countries, relevant state institutions of Uzbekistan, medical schools, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Uzbekistan, scientists, and doctors attended the forum.

The main goal of the forum was to discuss achievements in the field of healthcare and medical science of both countries, applied innovations, digitalization of healthcare, work done in the field of public health, as well as the exchange of experience between medical institutions. specialists of the two countries.

Before the start of the Forum, the Health Minister of Uzbekistan and participants of the event were familiarised with a photo exhibition and a collection of books reflecting the life and activity of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev.

First of all, a film on the life and activities of Heydar Aliyev was shown at the event.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Uzbek Health Minister Amarillo Inoyatov emphasized the close partnership between the two countries within the framework of cooperation in the healthcare sector:

"As a successful continuation of relations between our countries, the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Health Care Forum, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the genius son of the Turkic world, was held in the capital of Uzbekistan."

Within the framework of the event, medical specialists of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan together with their Uzbek colleagues conducted more than 100 surgical operations, examinations, and treatment of citizens using high-tech equipment. The forum will summarise the results of the "Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Decade of Health" and qualitatively raise relations between the two countries to a new level.

Welcoming the participants of the health forum held in connection with the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijani Health Minister Teymur Musayev said:

"2023 will be the year of two great personalities whose names are inscribed in history in golden letters. Azerbaijan's genius politician, architect, and founder of modern Azerbaijan, National Leader Heydar Aliyev "It is significant that it is the 100th anniversary of Zarifa Aliyeva, an outstanding scientist and doctor, honored figure of science, academician, who left an indelible trace in the history of science and medicine of Aliyev and Azerbaijan".

The Minister also expressed gratitude to Minister Amarillo Inoyatov and the medical community of Uzbekistan for their hard work and tireless hospitality during the 10-day decade of healthcare.

Referring to the unparalleled role of great leader Heydar Aliyev in the development of health care in our country, as well as in other spheres, the minister said:

"Thanks to special attention and care of national leader Heydar Aliyev, significant successes have been achieved in this field. The normative-legal base of health care has been improved and brought to the level of world standards. Important work has been done in the direction of the formation of national cadres of medical qualification, improvement of knowledge and experience of young cadres, and expansion of international cooperation ties.

Due to the personal reputation of Heydar Aliyev, close relations have been established with the World Health Organisation, and partnership relations have been established".

Talking about the successful cooperation between the Ministries of Health of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Teymur Musayev emphasized:

"The National Centre of Ophthalmology named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan closely cooperates with the Tashkent Institute for Advanced Training of Doctors, Specialised Centre of Eye Microsurgery.

"Memoranda of Understanding have been signed between Azerbaijan Medical University, Tashkent Medical Academy, and Ibn Sina Bukhara State Medical Institute.

Our cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals is developing: "37 names of medicines produced by Uzbek companies have been registered in Azerbaijan. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Centre for Analytical Expertise of the Ministry of Health and the Agency for Development of Pharmaceutical Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan," the minister said.

It was noted that in 2023 the development of relations in various sectors has become dynamic. Thus, in February this year, the first Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan interregional forum was held in Tashkent, documents on brotherhood between the cities of Shusha-Khiva, Ganja-Samarkand, Lankaran-Bukhara, Sheki-Kokand, a roadmap of cooperation between the cities of Baku and Tashkent, Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan Agreement on the establishment of the Investment Fund came into force.

Uzbek delegation participated in an international congress held in the Astara district of Azerbaijan within the framework of the 100th anniversary of the national leader with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

One of the priorities of the multifaceted activity of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, successfully led by First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, is health care. With the personal initiative and participation of Mehriban Aliyeva, the Foundation has implemented many successful projects in the direction of the development and progress of health care. Under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the year 2023 has gone down in history as the year of establishing the rights of territorial integrity established by the Constitution for Azerbaijan.

The great victory of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the 44-day Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist activities carried out on 19 September this year made every citizen proud.

Stating that the large-scale reforms implemented today under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, who has successfully continued the political line of wise head of state Heydar Aliyev, the Minister noted that the large-scale reforms are aimed at protecting the health of the population. population and said:

"Continuation of this approach is the fact that within the framework of the 100th anniversary of the Great Leader, professional doctors of Azerbaijan have successfully fulfilled the brotherly mission entrusted to them in Uzbekistan. The event organised with support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has further strengthened the bonds of brotherhood between the nations.

In continuation of the goodwill mission, I propose a visit of 50 doctors and 50 middle medics from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan to take part in professional training and exchange of experience.

Addressing the forum, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Uzbekistan Huseyn Guliyev said bilateral relations and cooperation between the brotherly countries are at a high level, and mutual visits of leaders of both countries are a vivid example of this friendship.

At the event, a representative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Shamil Azizov informed of the Foundation's large-scale activities, including successful projects implemented in the field of healthcare development.

Speaking at the Forum on behalf of Azerbaijani doctors, Head of the Children's Surgery Chair of Azerbaijan Medical University Ramiz Polukhov informed of new approaches in scientific and clinical practice, surgical operations performed jointly within the framework of the Health Decade, results of examinations and practical medical training.

Other participants of the event made presentations on the topics of transformations in the sphere of healthcare, new methods of diagnostics and treatment in clinical practice, and prospects of bilateral cooperation.

At the end of the forum, an award ceremony was held for medical specialists and event organizers of the Ministry of Health who have rendered important services in the development of health care in Uzbekistan and carried out operations, medical examinations, and treatment within the framework of the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Decade of Health program.

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12 October 2023 17:00 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan performs comprehensive and effective activities in the direction of protection and monitoring of the rights of migrants and attaches special importance to international partnership in this field, Azernews reports. On October 10-11, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyev visited Vienna at the invitation of the International Center for the Development of Migration Policy (ICMDP) to participate in the 8th Vienna Migration Conference.

The conference aims to hold global discussions on migration, bring together decision-makers and high-level parties on migration management from Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as representatives of international organizations, non-governmental organizations, media, and private sector active in regional and global displacement, return, reintegration, and other relevant fields. It aims to exchange ideas in the field of determining positive experiences in this field and ways to solve the difficulties they face.

Speaking at the conference, the Director General of the Education and Culture Ministry, Mikhail Spindelegger, emphasized the need for communication, cooperation between states, and the implementation of joint projects and programs for the successful implementation of migration policy, ensuring the rights of migrants, improving their well-being, and effective integration of society. Mikhail Shpindelegger, who brought the aims and objectives of the center to the attention of the participants, emphasized that the Vienna Migration Conference, which is an international platform that contributes to the further expansion of cooperation in the field of migration through the holding of inclusive discussions and face-to-face meetings, is one of the most important international events in this field, the requirements for migration policy, mutual respect.

At the event, Austrian Federal Minister for Women, Family, Integration and Media Susanne Raab, Head of the Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior of Turkiye Atilla Toros and his deputy Huseyin Kok, Special Ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the situation in the Central Mediterranean Vincent Kochetel, Greece's Migration and Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairidis, Swedish Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, Head of Main Human Rights Department of "Frontex" Jonas Grimheden and others spoke.

During the bilateral meeting with Mikhail Shpindelegger, the Director General of the Education and Culture Ministry of Education and Culture, within the framework of the conference, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva discussed the activities of the institution in the field of effective provision and protection of human rights and freedoms and the restoration of violated rights, the changes made to the Constitutional Law "On the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and informed about the extension of the powers of the Commissioner as a result. It was stated that the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan attaches special importance to international cooperation in the field of human rights, and is a member of national human rights institutions and international and regional organizations of ombudsmen.

The ombudsman noted that as a result of Armenia's occupation and ethnic cleansing policy against Azerbaijan, nearly one million Azerbaijanis have been living as refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan for nearly 30 years, and the provision of their social, economic, educational, and other rights has always been in the spotlight.

Noting the importance of expanding international partnerships in this area, the Ombudsman emphasized that the ongoing cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs serves to increase the efficiency of activities in the field of migration, and will contribute to the implementation of new approaches to the protection of the rights of migrants belonging to vulnerable population groups.

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12 October 2023 13:47 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Senator Robert Howie, who represents New Caledonia in the French Senate, voiced the following criticisms of the French government in the upper house of the parliament, Azernews reports.

He stated that the Kanak people are not enemies of the French people. They want to end 70 years of colonial history.

The government presented a draft agreement on September 6, 2023, which will be the basis for the revision of the Constitution. This document begins with Caledonian residents stating that they want New Caledonia to remain a part of France. Caledonian historian Jose Barbanson said that the Caledonian people do not exist without the Kanak people, he said.

He added that the last referendum held by the French government in New Caledonia was disputed before the UN. This was a French pretext for removing New Caledonia from the list of territories to be decolonized. Also, France's actions aim to replace the Noumea Agreement by stripping it of its Constitutional value.

"The French government is legalizing colonial settlement against the balance achieved in 1998. Lack of impartiality leads to fruitless discussions today. The state should be able to understand that the time has come for wisdom," Senator Robert Howie.

It should be emphasized that this is the first speech of the representative of New Caledonia in the French Senate. The listed fact once again proves that new processes are taking place in the struggle for independence in New Caledonia.

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12 October 2023 23:20 (UTC+04:00)

Russias Synergy University proposed opening an IT college in Kyrgyzstan, the press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic reported, Azernews reports, citing Kabar.

Representatives of the university announced the initiative at a meeting of the Kyrgyz-Russian Business Council, which took place yesterday as part of the 10th Kyrgyz-Russian interregional conference.

In addition, the chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries agreed to hold a honey and nut festival in the regions of Russia.

Following the meeting, two documents were signed:

1. Roadmap for the development of cooperation of the Business Council, which provides for the expansion of cooperation in scientific, technical, educational and cultural fields;

2. Memorandum between the office of the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Osh region, the Osh regional branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation on the creation of an Industrial Park in the region.

Cultural and business events are already planned for 2024 in Issyk-Kul.

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday as part of a Middle East tour to show Washington's solidarity with Israel after the attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants and to work to prevent the conflict from widening.

Blinken will also try to help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas  some of whom are Americans  and advance talks with Israelis and Egyptians on providing a safe passage of Gaza civilians out of the enclave before a possible Israeli ground invasion.

After Israel, Blinken will head to Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Blinken's trip comes as Israel has unleashed the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians, vowing to annihilate the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip in retribution for the attacks.

Israel has put Gaza under siege to stop food and fuel reaching the enclave of 2.3 million people.

A senior State Department official, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity, said Washington was working to advance talks on providing a safe passage to civilians, including Americans in Gaza.

"There's a community of something in the order of 500 to 600 Palestinian Americans, more or less, resident in Gaza. Some of them want to leave...and we are working to organize safe passage," the official said.

The United States is talking "intensively" with Israeli and Egyptian governments to help arrange that, the official said.

Another priority for Blinken will be to convey a message of deterrence to Iran and any Iran-backed groups to avoid getting involved in the conflict.

"We're very intent on demonstrating through this visit and through the onward visits that we're committed to keeping other parties out of this conflict," the official said.

U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking to Jewish community leaders in Washington on Wednesday, said the deployment of U.S. warships and aircraft closer to Israel should be seen as a signal to Iran, which backs Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.

"We made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful," Biden said. (Reuters)
12 October 2023 22:45 (UTC+04:00)

The Tashkent city administration signed a framework agreement with the Chinese automaker BYD on the purchase of 2 thousand electric buses, the companys press service reported, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

According to the concluded agreement, electric buses of the K9UD eBus model, 12 meters long, which can accommodate up to 90 passengers, will be delivered to the capital. The company noted that BYD electric buses will match the local climate and road conditions.
12 October 2023 21:15 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel held a meeting with Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, who led the government delegation as part of an official visit to this country, the government press service reports, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency.

At the meeting, prospects for the development of cooperation between trade-economic, energy, transport, tourism, agricultural, cultural-humanitarian, higher education and research institutions were discussed.

In general, as part of the official visit of the delegation of the government of Uzbekistan to the Czech Republic, a bilateral meeting and negotiations took place with representatives of Skoda, Omnipol, Crystal Bohemia, Primako and other leading firms and companies.

The delegation also visited a number of enterprises to become familiar with high-tech production processes.

As a result of the visit to the Czech Republic, investment and trade agreements worth more than 800 million were signed.

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12 October 2023 19:50 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye on Thursday remembered its citizen killed by an Armenian terror group in the Hague in 1979, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

"We remember with respect our martyr Ahmet Benler, son of late Ambassador Ozdemir Benler, assassinated in the heinous attack by the Armenian terrorist organizations ASALA and JCAG in The Hague on 12 October 1979," the Foreign Ministry said on X.

The attack was just one of the assassinations of Turkish diplomats and family members around the world by Armenian terror groups ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia) and JCAG (Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide).

Since the 1970s, Armenian terror groups have killed 31 Turkish diplomats and family members.

ASALA, founded in 1975, was the first Armenian terror group to wage war against Turkiye, and the JCAG was founded the same year in Beirut.

ASALA not only targeted Turkiye but also other countries and became infamous for a 1975 bomb attack on the Beirut office of the World Council of Churches.

The JCAG, which claimed that it only got support from the Armenian diaspora rather than foreign partners, only targeted Turkiye because it believed that attacking other countries would damage the so-called "Armenian struggle."

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called on Islamic and Arab countries to cooperate in confronting Israel as it wages a deadly war triggered by a surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Hamas's weekend onslaught saw hundreds of fighters cross into the Israeli border in vehicles, by air and by sea, killing 1,200 people and seizing 150 hostages under the cover of a deluge of rockets.

About another 1,200 people have been killed in thousands of Israeli strikes on Gaza, while a "complete siege" has been imposed on the impoverished Palestinian enclave of over 2.4 million people.

"Today, all the Islamic and Arab countries and all the free people of the world must reach a serious convergence and cooperation in the path of stopping the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian nation," Raisi told his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in a phone call late Wednesday.

Raisi stated that in order to stop the "genocide of the Palestinians by the Zionists," Iran will coordinate with Islamic countries "as soon as possible," the Iranian presidency website said on Thursday.

Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated the assault in Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.

During his call with Assad, Raisi also lashed out at Arab countries that have recently normalized or are in discussion to establish ties with Israel.

"Today, all those who made public their relations with the Zionist regime under the pretext of defending the rights of the Palestinians were disgraced, and it has been proven to the whole world that the Zionist regime is in its weakest state," Raisi said.

During the call, Assad similarly emphasized the "necessity of rapid action at the Arab and Islamic levels to protect the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip, and to stop the Israeli raids targeting children and women." (AFP)
VinFast is scheduled to break ground on its $4 billion EV production plant in Moncure, Chatham County next week.The Vietnamese electric vehicle maker made the announcement in a press release that it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on July 28 at Triangle Innovation Point. Covering an area of approximately 1,800 acres,VinFast's factory is designed to reach a capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year in phase 1. The factory will consist of two main areas: electric vehicle production and assembly. The complex will also house supplementary supplier businesses, according to the release.The company said the project had received basic permits to begin Phase 1 construction.said Madam Le Thi Thu Thuy, CEO of VinFast Auto in the release.The company submitted an application for a commercial zoning compliance permit to the Chatham County Planning Board on July 11 for the plant.Carolina Journal left a message with the planning board to see if the groundbreaking was contingent on the permit application being approved. No reply was received prior to the publication of this article.Plans include a 2.85 million square foot complex comprising eight buildings, including a press shop, the tallest building, at 75.2 feet, and a general assembly building, the largest at 995,900 square feet. Other buildings include a body shop, central energy plant, paint shop, guard house, pump house, and waste building.On July 13, shareholders of Black Spade Acquisition Company, the special-purpose-acquisition company (SPAC) that VinFast was supposed to merge with on July 20, decided to extend the company's lifespan by another year. The vote now gives the SPAC until July 20, 2024, to merge with the company.The merger would allow VinFast to go public through a stock offering in the U.S. It would value the company at approximately $27 billion with an equity value of $23 billion. After the transaction, existing shareholders of VinFast would hold about 99% shares of the combined company.In connection with the extension, shareholders redeemed approximately $147 million, or over 80% of their shares, leaving $28.56 million in the trust account.In addition, VinFast has only had 128 new vehicle registrations from January to May for its VF8 crossover.Although the vehicle is only currently being sold in California, Insideevs.com said the sales are abysmal considering that California is America's largest EV market, with approximately 40% of all zero-emission vehicle sales in the country.The company has been struggling with a series of issues with the vehicle, including a recall in May for all 999 VF8 2023 vehicles sent to the U.S. due to safety concerns.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the recall due to a multifunction head-unit display problem caused by a software error that may cause it to go blank while driving, increasing the chances of a crash. The error was talked about in-depth in many critical reviews in the past few months.Reviews of the vehicle sparked words like abysmal,andincluding from the highly respected MotorTrend, which said VinFast had the right idea, but the VF8 is nowhere near ready for customer deliveries that are already taking place.Original plans to open the Chatham County site were pushed back from 2024 to 2025.To attract the newly formed company, the state and Chatham County committed to spending nearly $1.2 billion in incentives over the next 32 years.Using the state's Transformative Job Development and Investment Grant program (JDIG), VinFast could get up to $316.1 million in reimbursement from the state over three decades if the company meets hiring goals.The total state appropriation is estimated at $766 million, with Chatham County giving VinFast another $400 million incentive package.
Lib Campbell: Above

From 1050 until about 1300 AD, the Latin Christian Church sent crusaders, fighters for the faith, into the Holy Land to reclaim Jerusalem and other holy sites for Christianity. They wore the breastplate of the Cross and fought thein the name of the Church. Thewere Muslims and Jews. Purification was the goal. The Moors were pushed back to Northern Africa. The Jews are still squabbling about land.To fly the Christian flag and wear the Christian symbol on anything from a breastplate to a tee shirt makes a statement about the wearer. My shirt tells you I have marked myself as Christian. When the bearer of said symbolism also carries a sword or machete, demonstrating a hate-filled spirit and angry mean words, one might think it's hypocritical at the least and self-righteous piety at the most. If my behavior is crude, demeaning, and de-humanizing it is not Christian.The Crusades of long ago not only changed landscape, they also gave cause for people to question the authenticity of the faith of those who maraud and kill to gain advantage of any kind. Being Christian is not beating people up under the banner of the Cross.Daniel K. Williams, in the Atlantic, wrote,His thesis was thatWe all know that since the 1960s, church attendance has been in decline. So, why are so manyzealous about taking Jesus with them to the fight against gays, Blacks, Muslims, immigrants, women, and any other category of persons who are not like them?Williams says thatHe concludes by saying,As I read his article, I thought about those Crusaders of a bygone era who bore the banner of Christ into war with the intent to taking back something they thought was theirs. It appears this is also the mindset of today's Christian Nationalists.Once again, the Christian faith is being co-opted by voices and actions of those who want to eliminate the most vulnerable, the most fragile modern-dayChristian Nationalists seem to want to decide who is worthy.It also seems that the Onward Christian Soldier Jesus and the great misreading of the Bible have become the justification for beating up on people. What happened to theWhat happened to the Kumbaya?The agendas of systematically taking away rights, claiming righteousness while doing it, is wrong. People are getting hurt at the expense of a few exercising power. This is a time when Christians, and people of every faith cannot afford to be silent any longer. Don't thump a Bible at me and kick me in the knees at the same time!When the tenor of the country is vitriol, and hate is spewed in the name of Christianity and aimed at a few, we are in a very dangerous place. I remember a time after 9/11 when all Muslims were painted as Jihadists. Muslims were fearful. Who wouldn't be? Hate and harm are not the way of anybody's faith.I remember sitting in a Bible Study with a sanctuary filled with women years ago. The speaker was quoting some of the Pauline letters regarding divorce. At the same time, she was extolling her own perfect marriage as the end-all and be-all of marriages. Women all over the sanctuary were walking out in tears and shame. I remember thinking teaching like this does not paint God in a very good light. It might have felt good to the teacher's self-righteousness, but in my eyes it did more harm than good.In such a hurtful culture, our children will suffer as the world loses its wonder, love, and praise. We have to claim them back from the craziness around us today. They will be stunted, shielded and sheltered from truth and fact, from inquiry and awakening. They will continue to get lost in social media. Suicide rates will likely keep ticking up.In a world where any person who is different from the self-proclaimed piousis out, and Christianity is used as a bludgeon to control others, we cannot expect good to come from this. Putting the fear of God into people is God's prerogative, not ours.Come at me with your kindness and grace. I can be molded by love. Most of us can. Perhaps we need to try it.
(Left to right) Ashley Knox, math professor; Dr. Luvon Hudson, Anthology client experience manager; Dr. Dave Loope, BCCC president; Paula Hopper, BCCC library director; Dr. Lisa Hill BCCC VP of academic affairs; and Kate Purvis, BCCC Blackboard administrator.

Course Design: the elements of instructional design, such as its structure, learning objectives, and instructional strategies.

Interaction and Collaboration: the level of engagement offered by the course and the level of student interaction and collaboration

Assessment: the evaluation of student work toward the achievement of learning outcomes and the quality and type of student assessments

Learner Support: the resources made available to students, which may be accessible within or external to the course environment.

Attila Nemecz

Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

Beaufort County Community College

5337 U.S. Highway 264 East

Washington, N.C. 27889

Ph : 252-940-6387

: 252-940-6387 Cell : 252-940-8672

: 252-940-8672 attila.nemecz@beaufortccc.edu

Beaufort County Community College is proud to announce that mathematics professor Ashley Knox was recognized by her peers with the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program (ECP) Award. The ECP recognizes faculty and course designers from schools, colleges, and universities around the world who develop engaging and innovative courses that represent the very best in technology and learning. Eight courses at BCCC have now earned the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award through the work of six professors. Knox also earned recognition through the BCCC Certified Online Instruction Program, which works in conjunction with the ECP and provides additional training for participants.Knox was selected a winner for her course MAT 171 (Precalculus Algebra). It demonstrated excellence in four areas:said Knox.For nearly two decades, the ECP has honored instructors and course designers whose courses demonstrate best practices. Since its founding, thousands of instructors, teachers, and designers have used the ECP to evaluate and improve their courses with recognized best practices. To be considered for the honor, applicants must be a user of the Blackboard Learn learning management system. Submitted courses are evaluated by other course developers, instructional designers, teachers, and professors using the ECP Rubric.said Dr. Luvon Hudson, client experience manager with Anthology.said Kate Purvis, Blackboard administrator at BCCC.To show appreciation for the time Knox dedicated to achieving certification, Dr. Lisa Hill, VP of academic affairs, and Dr. Dave Loope, president of BCCC, presented her with a $100 check.Knox will be recognized alongside other outstanding recipients on the Blackboard website as well as in the Blackboard Community, a platform where the largest organized network of Blackboard users connect, collaborate, and learn from their peers.Other ECP courses at BCCC include information technology professor Robin Lilly's CIS-110, music professor Dr. Stacey Russell's MUS-110 and MUS-112, mathematics professor Dr. Kimberly Mullis's MAT-110 and MAT-171, criminal justice professor Crystal Watts's CJC-111, and English professor Justin Littlefield's ENG-111.To learn more about the Exemplary Course Program, visit https://www.blackboard.com/resources/are-your-courses-exemplary
Medicare reimbursements for anesthesia are declining, and with a rising provider shortage and increasing demand, many leaders are concerned about how these factors will affect patient care.

"Anesthesia used to be a seemingly unlimited commodity," Jeff Dottl, principal at Ventura, Calif.-based Physicians Surgery Centers, told Becker's. "They were lucky to be invited to work at your surgery center. The tables have turned, and now if centers have anyone to cover anesthesia, it usually comes at a hefty price."

Medicare reimbursements decreased from $22.2730 per unit in 2019 to $21.1249 in 2023, according to a June report from VMG Health. Providers were further affected by the No Surprises Act and its independent dispute resolution process  payers are using the process to "reduce their required reimbursement by refusing to go in network with the anesthesia providers," according to the report.

Because of this, VMG Health has received an increasingly high number of requested subsidy arrangements for ASCs, according to the report.

VMG suggests hospitals and other ASCs partner with their anesthesia group and advocate for in-network contracts.

Some leaders are worried this trend could affect the migration of procedures to the outpatient setting.

"The shift of inpatient to outpatient cases is a given, but this trend may be slowed by the abysmal Medicare reimbursement for anesthesia cases," Andrew Lovewell, CEO at Columbia (Mo.) Orthopaedic Group, told Becker's. "When salaries, wages and benefits are higher for an outpatient total joint than the anesthesia reimbursement, we have a problem. This is a double-edged sword as the case migration needs to happen to save Medicare money on the facility side, but they [Medicare] have to step up the anesthesia reimbursement if this is going to work."
A Nashville, Tenn.-based management services organization, SurgNet Health Partners, is looking to make a name for itself in the ASC industry.

Co-founded by ASC veterans Chase Neal and John Brock, the venture capital-backed MSO has now made two acquisitions within its first 45 days.

Here are five additional things to know about the up and comingMSO:

1. SurgNet was originally founded in January 2022. In December 2022, it formed financial relationships with three private equity firms.

2. SurgNet acquired its first ASC in August 2023, followed by its second in September. Its ASC partners are in Ohio and Michigan.

3. SurgNet's goal is to be "physician-centric, nimble, and to provide hands-on expertise from the top down."

4. SurgNet currently has five staff members.

5. SurNet's financial partners include Fulcrum Equity Partners, Leavitt Equity Partners and Harpeth Capital Investment Bankers.
The Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology signed a joint research agreement with Tokyo-based medtech start-up AI Medical Service, which is focused on the development of diagnostic endoscopic artificial intelligence.

Collaborative research activities will begin Oct. 27, according to an Oct. 11 news release. AI Medical is the first Japanese company to sign a joint research agreement with IGH in the field of endoscopy and AI.

AI Medical is working toward regulatory approval in Japan for its endoscopic AI device designed to identify early-stage gastrointestinal cancers. The collaboration will facilitate joint research to test the endoscopic AI device in Vietnam, the release said.
In 2021, insurer Aetna implemented a policy requiring Medicare Advantage patients to receive prior authorization for cataract surgeries nationwide. After receiving pushback from physicians, patients and advocates, it withdrew the policy in 2022 in every state except for Florida and Georgia.

This has caused continued procedure denials in the two Southern states, and industry groups have expressed frustrations, claiming that Aetna will not disclose its reasons for keeping the policy in place in just two states.

"While Aetna refuses to disclose its reasons, physicians suspect that its because of the states large senior populations that Aetna can target to line their pockets with money," an ophthalmology group spokesperson told Becker's in an Oct. 2 email.

Ninita Brown, MD, PhD, a comprehensive ophthalmologist at Thomas Eye Group in Newnan, Ga., has been on the front lines of the industry's ongoing fights with Aetna over the past year.

Dr. Brown spoke with Becker's about how her practice, her Medicare Advantage patients and other practices within the state of Georgia are being impacted by Aetna's continuing prior authorization policies.

Question: How are Medicare Advantage patients being impacted in Florida and Georgia right now?

Dr. Brown: So in the ophthalmology space, they have created prior authorizations for cataract surgery, which we know is a highly effective surgery, standard of care, it's kind of the bread and butter of ophthalmology surgery. We're good at treating it, we're good at diagnosing it and it is creating an extra hurdle for the patients and for our team. In essence, patients usually end up getting the surgery, but there is a big delay in their care. It creates a disparity from regular Medicare patients. With our Medicare Advantage patients, we'll find out the Friday before they have surgery on Monday that even though they've taken their family out of work, prepared for surgery, they'll get denied or else we won't get paid for the surgery we do. So the insurer will find different clauses  everything from a patient needing anti-reflective glasses, which is not a solution for cataracts, to, for some patients, asking for archaic tests to check for things that we don't even have in our preferred practice patterns. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has been really diligent across the nation in fixing this for Aetna and Humana and a lot of the other Medicare Advantage programs, but it hasn't happened in Georgia or Florida. So it sucks for us. We are more or less still dealing with this.

Q: How is this worsening disparities between Medicare patients and Medicare Advantage patients?

NB: People choose these Medicare Advantage plans because they're cheaper. You already have people who are trying to find a cheaper option for their care because they may be on fixed income; they may have other challenges, so that's the first level. You are already self-selecting people who may have a smaller budget for their healthcare. On top of that, a lot of patients with cataracts don't drive, they specifically don't drive after being dilated, so they may have somebody with them. You have to find some type of social support. When we look at the social determinants of health, we can look at all the strikes people have against them and how this will create even more of a disparity between the people who are able to have the surgery and the people who aren't.

Q: Are you seeing a willingness from Aetna to work with ophthalmologists and ophthalmology interest groups?

NB: I have been on multiple calls with Aetna. We even got our state representatives involved. We've gotten the academy involved at every level. We talked to our state representatives and senators. We've been pushing at every level, state and federal, to have some type of reconciliation or change and we were on the phone with some of their physicians who review the cases and we've made a lot of headway with Humana, but Aetna, their representative more or less, promised over the phone that she would be more vested in this if they hadn't made a change, but that was months ago. I'm not really sure what the discussions are. I am on the front lines just trying to take care of my patients. I work in a very large group with staff, ancillary staff, but if you're with a small group and have to do backflips to get patients what they need, it can drain your resources. There's a doctor that's a single practitioner in Atlanta and he's been sending me all of his Medicare Advantage patients because he can't do all the paperwork and buy all the equipment that's requested.

Q: Why do you think Aetna is focused on these two states when it has withdrawn prior authorization requirements everywhere else?

NB: In terms of the south and Florida, we have a large volume of cataract surgeries down here. It's a different market than across the nation. Advocacy is something that is learned, and a lot of times in a lot of communities, relationships with insurance companies and all the different levels of government can be daunting. People are conservative, they follow the rules and do what they are supposed to do. It's a different tradition in the South. We do our best as physicians to try to get patients the best care that they need. At this point it's really a shame because these people are elderly, they've contributed to the system and they are suffering because of made up hurdles. I feel like I'm supposed to be the advocate and I have the flexibility of being at a large practice so I wouldn't be targeted compared to solo practitioners. We have been doing this for a year, if not more. I make myself available and I'm really trying to do everything I can or something that is blatantly wrong. If it was right, they would've kept it going across the nation. It makes absolutely no sense for these requirements to exist in a place where you have so many patients that are older and are challenged in getting access to care. We don't have a lot of cataract specialists, we don't have as many physicians in the South, we have fewer training programs, we're a different world than other parts of the nation. I just feel bad for patients who have done what they are supposed to do. And we are supposed to treat them in the way that is the standard of care.










Creative Dental Solutions in Bangor, Maine, was damaged after a woman crashed into the building's lobby Oct. 11, Bangor Daily News reported.

The driver reportedly went through the office's front door and partially took out another wall along the side of the building.

No one was injured at the time of the crash because the office was closed for lunch, according to Assistant Bangor Fire Chief Greg Hodge.
Valley Children's Hospital in Madera, Calif., is bringing commercial real estate on campus to increase revenue  and quality of life for employees, ABC30 reported Oct. 11.

The hospital sits on a large property with plenty of room to grow  but not necessarily the funds to do so. More than 70 percent of its patients depend on Medicaid, Todd Suntrapak, its president and CEO, told the news station.



"We have not received an increase to our Medicaid rates in over a decade, and yet, our costs go up between 8 and 9% every year," Mr. Suntrapak said.



Valley Children's has zoned 40 acres of land for the project and aims to attract business like restaurants, gyms, hotels and grocery stores. The new businesses could open on campus within the next two years.



Patients and staff could also benefit from increased services nearby, Shelbie Holden,BSN, RN, a nurse at Valley Children's, told the news station.



"We don't have a lot of options here just cause it's so far away," Ms. Holden said. "So, a lot of nurses right now are DoorDashing and trying to figure out other ways to get food options here, so having something so close to be able to grab a different variety of food and dining options, not just for the staff, but for the families around here as well."
The Rutgers AAUP-AFT faculty/graduate worker union is calling on New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to rescind RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark Manigan's appointment to the Rutgers Board of Governors.

A petition being circulated by the union alleges that Mr. Manigan has failed to uphold his oath to support the state constitution, which reads, "Persons in private employment shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively." The union is encouraging students, faculty, alumni, staff and members of the larger Rutgers community to sign.

Members of United Steelworkers Local 4-200, which represents about 1,700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., have been on strike since Aug. 4 after the union's most recent contract expired July 21.

The petition states that union members' key request is "enforceable safe staffing ratios that would guarantee the best care necessary for every patient." It also alleges retaliation by RWJBarnabas executives against the striking nurses "by misrepresenting them in the media, delaying contract negotiations, intimidating nurses who speak out, and spending $54 million on replacement nurses in hopes of breaking the union."

Additionally, the union points to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital temporarily suspending healthcare benefits, effective Sept. 1, for striking workers who would no longer be eligible since they are no longer working in the hospital.

A hospital spokesperson confirmed to Becker's on Oct. 11 that both parties continue to negotiate through mediation.

Wendy Gottsegen, a Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital spokesperson, said in a statement shared with Becker's on Oct. 6 that the hospital "has continued to offer language in support of top-of-market wages, as well as safe-staffing standards that meet or exceed levels set forth by legislation in states like California and in a number of hospital labor settlements across the country."

In another previous statement, Ms. Gottsegen also noted that the hospital agreed to the union's staffing proposal.

"It was memorialized in a formal agreement signed by both parties that also required the union leadership to recommend it to its membership, which it failed to do," she said.






Amid a shortage of nurses, California is turning to retirees to fill the gap.

On Oct. 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that creates a license for retired nurses, which allows them to volunteer with a limited scope of practice while waiving continuing education requirements. The new law states that nurses with active licenses supervise the retired nurses.

The California Board of Registered Nursing will allot the new licenses to eligible applicants, which excludes those who had restricted licenses.

The law also reduces the license renewal fee, which costs $190, according to an Oct. 11 report from The San Joaquin Valley Sun. The retired license fee is required to cost between $95 and $190.

"As this state remains desperately short of qualified nurses, this action helps those who still have a calling to serve in the medical field across California to now do so without the burden of excessive state fees," state Rep. Jim Patterson, the lawmaker who wrote the bill, said in a statement.
The American Nurses Association-Michigan released a letter opposing state legislation that would mandate patient ratios for hospital nurses.

ANA-Michigan said the proposed nurse-ratio legislation would make it difficult to safely address immediate patient needs simultaneously.

"Addressing safe staffing is a complex process that should not be handled legislatively or without the input of nurses. If that's the route, we're setting ourselves back before we can put one foot forward in the right direction," Barbara Medvec, DNP, president-elect of ANA-Michigan, said in the letter.

The association instead wants to improve workload by providing nurses with a chance to "utilize their complete expertise without the pressure of fatigue and emotional exhaustion." It cited research showing staffing levels should be individualized based on factors such as patient acuity, number of admissions and discharges, and the physical layout of the unit.

"We cannot address a long-standing problem across the continuum of care with a one-size-fits-all solution. We must come to the table together and collaboratively find solutions that meet patient and nursing needs safely and fairly," Bridget Leonard, DNP, RN, president of ANA-Michigan, said in the release.

They are the latest organization to oppose House Bill 4550 and Senate Bill 334, which would require hospitals to provide "sufficient and qualified" nursing staff at all times to ensure patient safety. In September, more than 130 hospital leaders lobbied against the bills.
A popular Mexican restaurant in Belfast has gone on the market for sale.

Acapulco arrived in Belfast in 1998 and has been bringing a vibrancy and taste of Mexico ever since.

Over that time it has been providing an authentic experience for anyone who has walked through the doors.

The property website on which it is listed describes it as a remarkable opportunity to purchase an established restaurant which is ready to start trading immediately in the heart of Ballyhackmore.

The property comprises a ground floor restaurant benefitting from a prime frontage on the upper Newtownards Road.

It is listed as 30,000 for lease, including extensive fittings and fixtures.

A new six year lease is offered at 20,000 per annum with a three-year rent reviews.
Renewable energy company rsted has announced the opening of a new wind farm in Northern Ireland as part of an agreement with ecommerce giant Amazon.

The 16MW Amazon Wind Farm Northern Ireland Ballykeel will generate renewable energy from seven turbines, bringing rsteds total operational capacity to 378MW across the island of Ireland.

Amazon Wind Farm Northern Ireland Ballykeel in Co Antrim is the first renewable energy project enabled by a corporate power purchase agreement to become operational in Northern Ireland.

In addition to the Ballykeel site, Amazon has also signed corporate power purchase agreements for rsteds offshore wind farm Borkum Riffgrund 3 in Germany, the onshore wind farm Kennoxhead in Scotland, and the onshore Amazon Wind Farm in Texas.

Read more Major NI firm to axe 150 jobs as staff told of decision

Amazon is on a path to powering its operations globally with 100% renewable energy by 2025, and last year reached 90%.

TJ Hunter, senior director, development and operations, rsted UK and Ireland, said: Were very pleased to work with Amazon and successfully deliver more renewable energy in Northern Ireland.

"Amazon Wind Farm Northern Ireland  Ballykeel is the first renewable energy project to be delivered under a corporate power purchase agreement in Northern Ireland, which demonstrates the important role that companies can play in adding clean energy to the grid.

Lindsay McQuade, director of energy, EMEA at Amazon said: Wind energy plays a critical role in decarbonising both Amazons operations and the Irish grid, and were proud to invest in renewable energy projects like the Amazon Wind Farm Northern Ireland  Ballykeel.

"Today at Amazon, we power 90% of our operations with renewable energy, and projects like Ballykeel and more than 400 other wind and solar projects around the world will help us on our path to reach 100% by 2025.

As part of the development, rsted has established a 16,000 fund for the benefit of the local community which will be replenished every year.
An evangelical church in Coleraine rocked by misconduct claims against its former leader has set aside 30,000 to cover the cost of a review and counselling for alleged victims.

Alan Scott was accused of manipulation, public shaming, spiritual abuse and narcissism by his former congregation at Causeway Coast Vineyard (CCV).

He and his wife, Kathryn, left CCV in June 2017 and moved to the US. They became leaders of Vineyard Anaheim in early 2022, but later announced they were taking the church out of the Vineyard movement.

The couple were then at the centre of a $62m (50m) fraud lawsuit in the US, though they have always denied any wrongdoing and say they have always tried to do Gods will.

Nine ex-members alleged that the pair took control of the Anaheim church and its assets, valued at $62m (50m), under false pretences.

CCV has now filed an annual report and financial statements for 2022, which show fund balances of 2.1m at the church.

A trustees report filed with the accounts includes an account of Mr and Mrs Scott. It says that the couples announcement that theyd taken the Anaheim church out of the Vineyard movement had given rise to media coverage and a legal challenge in the US, though these have no direct impact on CCV or VC (Vineyard Compassion, a charity connected with the church).

However, concerns were raised at this time about Alans conduct in the US and from his time in the UK.

The report then describes how CCV and Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland (VCUKI) commissioned a review from Trusted HR Ltd on the allegations against Mr Scott: That process is ongoing and primarily relates to Alan Scotts time as senior pastor.

The trustees have allocated 15,000 to cover the cost of the review process and the offer to counselling to those impacted. VCUKI has set aside a similar amount.

While the trustees expect some impact in terms of reputation and giving for the church in the short term, we remain confident that this will settle as the review process concludes in the autumn.

The trustees do not anticipate a significant impact on Vineyard Compassion at this time.

Kathryn and Alan Scott

The report and financial statements describe the vision of the church, based at Ballycastle Road in Coleraine, as to change the community one life at a time and to do so within our lifetime while ensuring that the work continues for generations beyond.

We do not simply want to have a great church; we want to have a great city.

We are a community who carry hope and are passionately pursuing Gods heart for his city through our ordinary, everyday lives.

It adds: Regardless of interests or life stage, we have something for everyone, and it is our desire that CCV helps people on their journey towards greater connection with the community.

In addition to morning and evening Sunday services, which draw around 1,400 people a month, the church also holds prayer on the streets and activities in some schools in the area with a focus on self-worth, identity and relationships.

It added that the churchs risk management assurance framework included safeguarding processes for children and vulnerable adults.

Vineyard has a network of 2,500 congregations worldwide, 545 of which are in the US and 120 in the UK and Ireland.

In July, CCV said that The Trusted HR review had identified themes and repeated patterns of behaviour including examples of manipulation, inappropriate comments, narcissistic behaviour and certain occurrences of public shaming and spiritual abuse.

CCV has been asked for comment on the accounts.
The airline suspended its Tel Aviv operations after the Hamas attacks on Saturday (PA)

EasyJet hopes to resume flights to and from Israel as soon as possible but cannot say when it will happen, chief executive Johan Lundgren said.

The airline suspended its Tel Aviv operations after Hamass attack on Saturday.

Flights have been suspended until at least October 17.

In the UK, easyJet usually serves Gatwick, Luton and Manchester airports from Israel.

EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren said Israel is an important route to have in place (PA)

Mr Lundgren said the carrier will continue to evaluate this on a daily basis.

He added: We are making our decisions (based) on a multiple number of sources. We are engaging with probably 10 or 12 different authorities, government authorities, security experts, alongside the expertise that we have within ourselves.

We are making then a weighted decision on what it would take for us to start up again.

We want to start up again. We believe its an important route to have in place.

But for now, when we have weighed up all the information that we have, we have decided to continue to suspend the operation.

Mr Lundgren said a number of things must happen for the airline to feel comfortable about resuming operations to and from Israel.

Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (Fatima Shbair/AP)

He added: That is obviously something that we want to do as soon as possible but we cannot say now when that is.

Mr Lundgren said the airline has not seen a reduction in demand for flights to other countries in the region, such as Egypt and Turkey.

He said: I think that this is very much a specific issue locally from the demand point of view.

On Wednesday, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic became the latest airlines to suspend flights between the UK and Israel.

British Airways flight BA165 returned to Heathrow after nearly reaching Tel Aviv before the decision was made.

There were reports Palestinian militant group Hamas fired multiple rockets towards Ben Gurion Airport.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay, when asked if there will be Government-sanctioned flights to bring back UK citizens, told Good Morning Britain: At the moment there are still commercial flights but of course the Foreign Office keeps these issues under review.
The audit giant has been handed two of the FRCs biggest ever fines over the Carillion affair. (Liam McBurney/PA)

The UK boss of KPMG has said that the firms work with collapsed outsourcer Carillion was very bad as the audit giant was handed a record 21 million fine by its watchdog.

Jon Holt said that the Financial Reporting Councils (FRCs) findings are damning and that he simply cannot defend the work that we did on Carillion.

The fine comes close to six years since the outsourcing giant, which employed 12,000 people, collapsed with massive debts.

Carillion employed around 12,000 people ahead of its collapse in January 2018 (Yui Mok/PA)

The FRC said that KPMGs audits of the business had failed to adhere to the most basic and fundamental audit concepts.

It levelled a total fine of 21 million on the business, reduced from 30 million due to cooperation.

This is on top of a 14.4 million penalty which KPMG was handed last year for handing over misleading information to the regulator. The business will also pay legal costs of around 5.3 million.

The watchdog fined two of KPMGs former auditors a combined 420,000, and banned one of them from membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a decade.

Before collapsing in January 2018 Carillion had been one of the UKs biggest construction and facilities management companies, with several major Government contracts.

KPMG audited its books between 2014 and 2016, saying each time that without qualifications the financial statements were true and fair.

But in examining KPMGs work, the FRC found an unusually large number of breaches, it said on Thursday.

For three years before it collapsed therefore Carillion was not subject to reliable audits. The 2016 audit was particularly bad and seriously deficient, the FRC said.

Former Carillion boss Richard Howson was last week banned from sitting on a UK board for eight years (PA)

It said that KPMG and its partner Peter Meehan did not respond to numerous indicators that Carillions core operations were loss-making and its cash flows were supported by short term and unsustainable measures.

The auditors did not show an adequate degree of professional scepticism and did not properly scrutinise what Carillion bosses told them, when their estimates appeared unreasonable.

They also signed off the 2016 audit report even though it would be another six weeks until some of the audit work would be completed.

KPMG UKs chief executive Jon Holt said: These findings are damning. We have co-operated fully with the investigation, and we accept its conclusions and the sanctions that have been imposed without reservation. I am very sorry that these failings happened in our firm.

It is clear to me that our audit work on Carillion was very bad, over an extended period. In many areas, some of our former partners and employees simply didnt do their job properly.

Junior colleagues were badly let down by those who should have set them a clear example, and I am upset and angry that this happened at our firm.

Since this audit work was undertaken, we have done an enormous amount to improve controls and oversight across our firm, to ensure that these failings could not take place today. But ultimately it still falls to each of us, individually, to hold ourselves and each other to the highest professional standards every day.

As an auditor, I simply cannot defend the work that we did on Carillion. As the chief executive of KPMG, I am determined that we face up to this failure, and I am absolutely committed to continuing to work with my colleagues across the business to ensure that nothing like this can happen again.

Last week, the former boss of Carillion, Richard Howson, was banned from being a director of a UK business for eight years.
Eminent media psychiatrist Frasier Crane is back in Boston some 19 years since he left Seattle for a new life in San Francisco or Chicago.

Its all about the rebooting. No, not the insatiable need for the producers of Celebrity SAS to aim a size nine in southerly regions of Matt Hancock, this is marginally less cruel.
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Derry showband legend Johnny Quigley following his death at the age of 91.

Last year Mr Quigley celebrated his 90th birthday.

He was described as a brilliant ambassador for Derry having shaped the citys cultural legacy with thrilling performances at home and abroad.

He was best known as a clarinettist and saxophonist, and carried that passion for playing into his later life.

Paying homage, Gerry Coyle, bassist with Derry band The Mindbenders, said: Absolutely devastated to hear the passing of The legend Mr Johnny Quigley tonight.

What an outstanding musician and gentleman. One of my earliest gigs as a young bass player was with Johnny many years ago and he made me feel so confident as I was terrified playing with such music greatness, but he guided me through the gig and made me feel so proud to say I actually played a jazz gig.

Such a big loss to everyone in Derry tonight but especially all the extended Quigley family.

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan also recognised the musician, saying: Saddened to learn of the passing of one of Derry's most marvellous music men, Mr Johnny Quigley.

Our thoughts are with Johnny's family and friends at this dark and difficult time but we should also be thankful for the music, the memories and the joy he brought so many of us over the years. Ar Dheis De go raibh a hanam.

Johnny Quigley was only 10 years old when he took up clarinet and joined his brother and first cousin in a concert and marching band.

Watching saxophonist Bill Ball at the Derry West End Hall would act as further inspiration years later.

Working as an apprentice baker at the time, Johnny took lessons at Bills home after work.

After practicing hard he soon began performing his own shows at the West End Hall.

He freelanced with bands such as the Columba Gallagher Band (Strabane) and The Melville Dance Band before starting his own band, The Johnny Quigley Casino All-Stars, later to become The Johnny Quigley Showband.

Quigleys band was said to have made a massive impact throughout the country.

They were different, sometimes a big band with thumping brass arrangements, sometimes a pop band, moving easily from rock n roll to waltzes, chart hits to Latin-American and Dixieland.

At the interval they changed from band-suits into yellow blazers and brown slacks and put on a show for the dancers and those who may have just come along to look and listen.

They packed capacity crowds into venues such as the Guildhall (Derry), Orpheus and Floral Hall (Belfast), Capronis (Bangor) as well as ballrooms in Dublin, Waterford, Tralee, Limerick, Galway (The Hangar) and all over Ireland.

They appeared on a live Telefis Eireann show with The Springfields (featuring Dusty Springfield) and also a live transmission on UTV called The Half-Door Club. However, the Johnny Quigley All-Stars never released a record.

Throughout the years, some magnificent musicians joined the ranks of the famous Derry showband.

They toured England, Scotland, Wales and were the first Irish band to perform at the Edinburgh Festival. In 1964 they toured the U.S.A. playing in New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco.

Read more How the Shankill Road mission hall is being brought back to life

In 1964 however, earlier than most of the top showbands, Johnny Quigley made the difficult decision to stop touring and take his band off the road.

With a wife and seven children to think of, he decided to open a small family-run hotel on Derrys Foyle Street.

Soon after he took a job with the Western Education & Library Board as a teacher of woodwind instruments, a job which he dedicated himself to for twenty years.

Evergreen Johnny was still playing with his own family band in his 70s. His daughter Sharon played alto sax while another daughter Carol focused on vocals. His sons Joe (guitar/vocals), Paul (keyboard/sax/vocals), John (bass/vocals), Gary (trumpet/vocals); son-in-law Andy Monk (guitar/vocals) and cousin George Hasson (trumpet) completed the line-up.
Piping For Health will involve sessions at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire (Iain Brown/Princes Foundation/PA)

The Kings charity has launched a health initiative promoting playing the bagpipes to improve certain lung conditions and breathing difficulties.

The Princes Foundation pilot programme, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, will offer participants the chance to learn the Scottish national instrument after some bagpipers reported it was beneficial to the cardiovascular system.

It is said to help regulate breathing, increase lung capacity and lower blood pressure, the Foundation said.

The King, then the Prince of Wales, meeting pipers in Edinburgh during the Millennium Piping Festival in 2000 (David Cheskin/PA)

The holistic programme, Piping For Health, was developed with the help of the Kings doctor, Michael Dixon, head of the Royal Medical Household, in partnership with the National Piping Centre  which promotes the music and history of the Highland Bagpipe.

The King is both patron of the National Piping Centre and a firm supporter of complementary therapies, and the sessions will also offer breathing techniques, chair yoga, hand reflexology, qi gong  a traditional Chinese healing practice- mindfulness and mindset work.

It will primarily accommodate people with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)  a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

Piping For Health will give participants an introduction to playing the chanter and bagpipes, breathing techniques, chair yoga and hand reflexology among other therapies (Iain Brown/Princes Foundation/PA)

Referrals are being co-ordinated by East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, and in-person weekly two-hour workshops will launch at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire on November 1.

Fiona McManus, health and wellbeing co-ordinator at The Princes Foundation, said: This new holistic approach is geared to help people live better with COPD.

With the National Piping Centre and East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, we are delighted to pilot a unique healthcare programme introducing techniques based on bridging bagpiping and holistic therapies.

The aim is to provide participants with a range of self-management tools to empower them to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

The late Queen talks to the Royal Regiment of Scotland Pipe Major Richard Grisdale (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The late Queen was a fan of the bagpipes and was woken each morning by her personal piper playing.

She was so attuned to the music that she could tell when it was her piper playing or a replacement.

Her piper played a moving lament as the finale to her state funeral in Westminster Abbey.

The King has continued the tradition of having a Sovereigns Piper, a post currently held by Pipe Major Paul Burns of The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The tradition was started by Queen Victoria in 1843, and bagpipes have marked times of both celebration and sorrow for the royal family.

Former spin doctor Alastair Campbell has told how he plays the bagpipes to relieve stress.

He performed a rendition of Three Lions on Good Morning Britain ahead of an England semi-final at Euro 2020.

The Duke of Sussex wrote in his autobiography about the power and emotional memories he associates with the instrument.

Alastair Campbell playing the bagpipes (Niall Carson/PA)

Harry described hearing bagpipes playing at Balmoral the morning after he was told of the death of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, saying: With bagpipes its not the tune, its the tone. Thousands of years old, bagpipes are built to amplify whats already in the heart. If youre feeling silly, bagpipes make you sillier.

If youre angry, bagpipes bring your blood to a higher boil. And if youre in grief, even if youre 12 years old and dont know youre in grief, maybe especially if you dont know, bagpipes can drive you mad.

Piping for Health is the brainchild of Lady Oona Ivory, founder and chairwoman of the National Piping Centre.
A Co Antrim man accused of demanding 10,000 from the father of a cocaine addict told him big boys would burn his house down if he didnt settle the drugs debt, it was claimed in court today.

A detective said Reece Carley allegedly told the terrified father: The big boys want paid by Friday or the house is getting burnt.

Ballymena Magistrates Court heard claims that Carley (22), who police believe is a member of a large organised crime gang, telephoned the victim and called at his house to issue blackmail demands.

It was also claimed that Carley had been paid 13,000 two months beforehand to cover an earlier drug debt.

Carley, from Adair Manor in Ballymena, appeared in the dock handcuffed and wearing a police-issue grey tracksuit.

He confirmed that he understood the four charges against him, all alleged to have been committed between September 30 and October 6 this year.

Read more Larne man accused of holding sex worker at gunpoint for up to three days granted High Court bail

Carley is charged with blackmail by making demands for 10,000 with menaces; harassment of the alleged victim; threatening to damage property; and being concerned in the supply of class A cocaine.

Giving evidence during a contested bail application, a detective constable said police were objecting to bail over fears of witness interference and further offences.

He said the alleged victim contacted police to report he was being blackmailed by the defendant over a drug debt owed by his son, who is a cocaine addict.

The injured party had previously paid 13,000 of his sons drug debt in July/August by using savings, borrowing from family and taking money from his pension, said the detective, adding that, at the time, he told the defendant that that would be the end of any payments.

Reece Carley

However, the complainant said Carley contacted him on October 1 to say his son had bought more cocaine and now owed another 10,000.

The officer said that when the man confronted his son, he confirmed that the defendant had provided him with 70 grams of cocaine on tick to be paid later.

During a phone call from a withheld number but with the alleged victim recognising Carleys voice, the defendant told him he had to pay 10,000.

Despite the father protesting that it was not his debt, Carley allegedly told him he had until Friday, October 6 to pay.

The officer added: Ten minutes later he got a further phone call to say that he [Carley] was at his front door.

He spoke to the defendant at the front door and he [Carley] told him [the complainant] that the big boys wont wait for the money.

The officer said Carley told the complainant that the big boys want 7,000 and 3,000 was due to him.

He said the defendant allegedly threatened: The big boys want paid by Friday or the house is getting burnt.

When Friday arrived, Carley was told there was no cash. He allegedly told the complainant he had until Monday to get 4,000, who again was threatened with the big boys.

The officer added: The injured party is terrified of the consequences of not paying the drug debts but felt he had no option but to come to police as he cannot pay it any more.

Read more Co Antrim man who denies sex assault charges to go on trial

Highlighting police fears if Carley were to be freed, the officer told the court theres a large amount of money owed and the accused is believed to be a member of a large organised crime gang. Due to repeated threats and demands being made of the injured party, police were concerned about witness interference and further offences.

Carley was arrested at his home on Wednesday and, during police interviews, refused to answer questions.

Applying for bail, defence counsel Seamas MacGiollaCheara said the alleged extortionist denies the charges in their entirety.

He argued Carley could be freed with a package of bail conditions to address concerns raised.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said, while the defendant was entitled to the presumption of innocence, he had to take the prosecution case, as it stands, at its height.

Describing the offences as serious and sinister, Judge Broderick said he was not satisfied that conditions would address the genuine concerns he shared with the detective and so he refused bail.

He remanded Carley into custody, adjourning the case to November 9.
A man accused of imprisoning a sex worker at gunpoint for up to three days has been granted bail at the High Court.

Thomas Morgan (47) allegedly told the woman she was going to die and could only leave if she agreed to shoot him.

Prosecutors claimed she managed to escape from the house in the Greater Belfast area after he took pills and fell asleep.

A judge ruled today by a narrow margin that he is to be released from custody.

Morgan, of Walnut Green in Larne, Co Antrim, is charged with possessing a firearm and false imprisonment of the woman between December 14-16 last year.

He also faces counts of common assault, paying for sexual services, possessing cocaine, threats to kill and theft.

The court heard she went to the property after arranging a five-hour meeting on WhatsApp for a 1,000 fee.

She claimed the customer showed some cash and promised to make payment soon, but then refused to let her leave the house amid concerns that no money would be handed over.

The woman was not allowed to phone her children and threatened with having her legs broken, according to the prosecution.

When she tried to get up from the sofa she was headbutted back down again.

At one stage her customer allegedly stated: You are going to die in this house with me.

The court heard she was taken to a utility room where the man produced a firearm and made a request for her to shoot him in the head.

It was claimed he informed her that she could only leave if she shot him.

During the alleged ordeal no proper food or drink were provided.

Police were later told that she eventually managed to escape out of a window after he took pills and fell asleep, leaving behind a handbag containing hundreds of pounds in cash.

Based on her description and inquiries into the leasing of the property, a number of attempts were made to locate Morgan.

Officers 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 stated that he intended to sell the drugs to pay for his stay..

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.

Read more Trio to stand trial accused of running Belfast brothel

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.

Defence barrister Richard McConkey argued Morgan has been in custody since January and should now be released.

Lord Justice McCloskey confirmed today that he had received positive medical reports in what he described as a borderline case.

Morgans son also attended the hearing and agreed to lodge a 1,000 cash surety in support of his fathers application.

The judge declared: The applicant has been in custody for far too long, and there are risks (in) granting bail. But by a narrow margin the scales have tipped in favour of that course.

Morgan was ordered to abide by a curfew and electronic monitoring, report weekly to police and contact his GP within 72 hours of release.

Lord Justice McCloskey also ordered: He will not contact or make any attempt to contact the injured party.
Alcino Soares was denied bail last week after he appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court

This is the teenager accused of being one of two males who allegedly raped a woman in an underground car park four weeks ago.

Alcino Soares was denied bail last week after he appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court charged with rape, sexual assault, and twice aiding and abetting a male to rape.

The 18-year-old denies the charges and has said he had consensual sex with the woman.

Last Friday, a teenager appeared in the same court charged with the same offences.

The youth  who cannot be identified because of his age  appeared by video-link with his hands clasped and apparently praying while the case details were disclosed.

A detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court all charges could be connected.

During Soaress hearing, the court heard he and his co-accused both raped the woman, with a police officer telling the hearing she appeared limp and ragdoll-like on CCTV footage.

Details of the allegations were disclosed as Soares, of Braeside, Dungannon, made an application to be released on bail, which was refused.

A detective constable said the complainant reported being raped by two males on September 9.

After she had been out with friends in Dungannon, she alleges the males approached her and walked her to an empty underground car park.

The court was told she was taken to a rear corner and raped by one of the males. This court hearing took place before the youth was charged.

CCTV was trawled, which showed the unknown male with his arm around the complainants waist, before placing her against a pillar, the court was told.

The detective said Soares paced up and down, apparently keeping a lookout. He laughed on a number of occasions while the unknown male appeared to be raping the injured party.

The detective added: She was unable to hold up her head and appeared ragdoll-like.

The officer claims footage shows the woman stumbling away, but Soares is accused of approaching before allegedly raping her. The unknown male reappeared and seemingly took a photo or video of the ongoing rape on his phone.

The court was told Soares walked away, leaving the complainant lying on the ground. The unknown male helped the complainant to her feet, before allegedly subjecting her to another sexual assault.

Both males then walked her from the car park, the detective said.

Soares was arrested on September 23 and he allegedly provided officers with false details, although later corrected this, the officer told the court.

A search of his home recovered clothing police believe he was wearing at the time of the alleged sexual attack.

More than 10 mobile phones were also seized and it later emerged that DNA matching the defendant was found on the complainants trousers.

After caution, he said: I didnt rape anyone. No way, man. That wasnt me.

During interview, Soares denied rape, insisting all sexual activity was consensual and that the complainant wanted it and was 50/50 drunk.

Defence counsel said the balance in favour of bail must be tipped in favour of the accused.

Refusing bail, Judge Michael Ranaghan said: If convicted, the defendant faces a significant period in custody.

I have concerns he may abscond.
A Co Antrim man convicted of a racist attack today admitted going AWOL from jail while his father confessed to aiding and abetting him being at large.

Scott McKeown (27) was previously jailed for what a judge described as a distasteful and reprehensible racist attack on a defenceless man on the Lagan Towpath.

Today, he stood beside his father, Colin McKeown, in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court to admit offences.

Scott McKeown, of Thyme Park, Antrim, admitted being unlawfully at large from prison between January 20 and 23 this year.

Colin McKeown (age unknown), of the same address, admitted aiding and abetting his son in being unlawfully at large.

None of the facts surrounding the charges were opened in court, but a further charge of obstructing police, levied against Colin McKeown, was left in the books by the prosecution.

This was not the first time Scott McKeown has stood in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court.

Read more Carer who assaulted deaf and blind Co Antrim nursing home resident removed from register

In May 2016, he was handed a two-year sentence, split between nine months in jail and the rest on licence, for what Judge Patrick Lynch KC described as a reprehensible racist attack on a defenceless man as he walked along the Lagan Towpath.

Along with Thomas David Finn (29), then from Linenhall Street in Armagh, he had pleaded guilty to charges of behaviour intending or likely to stir up hatred, threats to kill their victim and assaulting him.

The victim, Tonderai Msonza, was walking along the towpath around 3.30pm on Saturday, May 24, 2014, when he encountered McKeown, Finn and another man, with Finn striking him [Msonza] to the right side of the face with a closed fist.

Finn shouted, N*****, we are going to kill you, and the victim pulled a branch from a tree to defend himself, before eventually extricating himself from the situation.

Judge Lynch heard Mr Msonza then ran up the towpath to a bar in Bridge Street, Lisburn, only to be pursued by his attackers and being struck with a stick outside the premises.

Mr Msonza told police he heard his attackers shout, N*****, we are going to beat you up, and, after making his way into the bar, he was struck for a second time with the stick. He was later taken to hospital to be treated for a number of minor injuries.

In court today, Judge Lynch told the father and son that he would adjourn sentencing for pre-sentence reports and put the case back to November 23.
Two men and a woman are to stand trial for allegedly running a brothel in Belfast, a judge ordered today.

Brian Gillan, 65, Florin Ghita, 38, and Cristina-Teodora Musa, 28, face prosecution in connection with police raids carried out more than five years ago.

Officers targeted a property in the south of the city suspected of being used for sex work.

Gillan, of Friendly Place in Belfast, and his two co-accused - both Romanian nationals - are jointly charged with brothel keeping.

All three were allegedly involved in keeping or assisted in managing the premises between October 2017 and April 2018.

Ghita and Musa are charged with transferring criminal property, namely sums of money, as part of the same investigation.

Read more Racist attack thug admits going AWOL from jail and dad confesses to aiding and abetting him

The couple, whose current address is unknown, were extradited from Romania earlier this year as part of the proceedings.

At Belfast Magistrates Court today they were brought from custody to appear alongside Gillan for a preliminary enquiry hearing.

Defence lawyers confirmed their clients understood the charges against them.

Each of the accused declined to call any witnesses or give evidence at this stage.

Finding that all three defendants have a case to answer, District Judge Ted Magill granted a prosecution application to return them for Crown Court trial on a date to be set.

Gillan was released on continuing bail while Ghita and Musa remain in custody.

Mr Magill instructed: They will be brought back to court for their arraignment, when they will (either) plead guilty or not guilty.
Following the Policing Boards confirmation of appointment as Interim Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher (right) takes his Attestation of Service with Justice of the Peace Adrian Huston.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) has said a "frightening in-tray awaits the newly appointed interim Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

It comes as the Northern Ireland Policing Board made an official announcement about the appointment following approval by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

It comes after the resignation of Simon Byrne last month.

PFNI Chair, Liam Kelly, welcomed the appointment saying he called for it to happen over six weeks ago.

"I hope it will start to bring some badly needed stability to a service that is on the ropes, Mr Kelly said.

We desperately need responsive, visible leadership and an ability to work through the list of very significant issues that need to be addressed at speed.

I wish Jon Boutcher well as he takes over this interim appointment. The in-tray that awaits him is frightening.

"He will have to tackle the fallout from the data breaches as well as the loss of trust and confidence from the Judicial Review which found that his predecessor and the current Deputy Chief Constable acted unlawfully in the case of the two officers involved in the Ormeau Rd incident.

An important first step towards re-building officer morale and restoring internal confidence would be an early announcement by Mr Boutcher that he will not be appealing the Judicial Review decision."

He added: As far as this Federation is concerned, he will be pushing an open door. We are fully committed to working collaboratively, positively, and constructively with him to fix whats broken.

He needs to advocate better to Government for the allocation of an effective budget so our depleted police service can start to regrow. Recruitment, remuneration and retention are vital components in bringing PSNI out of the resourcing crisis that it is in.

"The downward trajectory cannot continue as it will have serious adverse consequences for the police service that can be provided.

There is also a damaging long standing perception amongst the men and women I represent that theres a culture of unequal and disproportionate disciplinary processes and sanctions being applied to them.

"This has primarily caused a serious and worrying disconnect between the ranks and fuelled an unhealthy them and us belief.

"He needs to formulate an initial clear plan and demonstrate that all officers and staff are appreciated and valued, will be treated equitably, and will be properly supported when carrying out their functions and duties.

I will hopefully be meeting Mr Boutcher shortly and look forward to a positive and productive relationship with him as he takes up his post.

Confirming the interim appointment today, Policing Board Chair Deirdre Toner said Mr Boutcher will bring stability to the leadership of the PSNI and the Service Executive Team until the substantive appointment Chief Constable process has been completed.

The Board looks forward to working with Mr Boutcher and the wider Service Executive Team as we progress the issues and pressures currently facing policing, she added.

Former Chief Simon Byrne left his post after a string of controversies within policing in Northern Ireland.

These included a significant data breach in which the personal details of all officers and staff were mistakenly published online and a critical High Court ruling which said that two junior officers had been unlawfully disciplined.

Mr Boutcher has recently been conducting an investigation into the activities of Stakeknife, the Armys top agent inside the IRA Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

The Operation Kenova report is expected to be published soon.

Mr Boutcher has previously served as Chief Constable of Bedfordshire, a force he joined in 2014 until he stood down from that position in 2019.

He had applied for the post of Met Police commissioner following the resignation of Cressida Dick but was unsuccessful, with Sir Mark Rowley instead taking up the role.

Mr Boutcher has also worked as a former Met senior counter-terrorism detective and was the Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Rhyme, an investigation that identified and traced a group of British men who planned mass casualty attacks in Washington, New York and Newark in the USA.

His appointment was welcomed by politicians and former PSNI chief constable Sir George Hamilton said Mr Boutcher is an excellent choice as a man with a wealth of experience and a proven track record.
Irish President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti, who has been confirmed dead following an attack by Hamas on a music festival in Israel last weekend.

Ms Damti had been missing since the attack which is believed to have claimed up to 250 lives.

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.

In a statement online, her sister Laura confirmed the tragic news on Wednesday.

"With great sorrow and gloomy grief, I announce the killing of our angel, our flower, Kim my blood, who was murdered by the cursed terrorists," she said.

"The funeral will take place tomorrow (Thursday) at 5pm at the cemetery in Gedera."

Her aunt Pat Cooper, in a statement provided to RTE, said: "With heartfelt sorrow the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti. We thank all those who have supported us with love and encouragement over the past five days, she said.

"We respectfully request the media to allow us to grieve in the privacy of our family."

Politics: The Israeli-Hamas war and the NI split over it

President Michael D Higgins said he heard the news of Ms Damti's death with the "greatest sadness".

"The circumstances in which her life was taken, having travelled as she did to attend a music festival, are truly appalling," he said.

"It is not only those of us who are parents, but all of those who feel that young people should be free to attend events with their peers in conditions of safety, who will find such circumstances where a young life is taken so appalling.

"Kim's death once again reminds us what an outrageous breach of fundamental international law in conditions of conflict it is to target civilians in this way.

"May I send my deepest condolences to Kim's family, friends and all those with whom she shared her life."

Kim Damti

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Ireland is united in mourning for Kim Damti.

"This vibrant young Irish-Israeli woman was struck down in her prime, with her adult life ahead of her. Her death, and the deaths of more than a thousand other citizens of Israel and from around the world, was senseless and barbaric.

Kim gave happiness and joy to her family and those around her. As we learn of her death, we pause to think of her, her family in Israel and Ireland and of all those now grieving in countless other nations, Mr Varadkar said.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: When news reached us over the weekend that an Irish citizen was one of the many hundreds missing after the repugnant terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, we hoped against hope that she would be found safely. The news that this hope has now been extinguished is devastating.

"Anyone looking at the photo of Kim in the media over the last few days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression; a young 22-year-old woman with a whole life ahead of her, full of promise.

For anyone to lose a child is devastating. To lose a child in such circumstances is indescribable.

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP)

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.

Kim didnt realise there were seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere, her mother said.

"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.

Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow

Her father and brother had in recent days been visiting hospitals with her hair brush to check if she was among the dead.

Chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland Maurice Cohen told RTEs Morning Ireland on Thursday that Irelands entire Jewish community is in mourning following the tragic news.

I along with the entire Jewish community here in Ireland, we mourn the tragic loss of this young Irish-Israeli Kim Damti and we want to send condolences to her family and her loved ones, he said.

Though I never had the privilege of knowing her personally, the photos that Ive seen online depict a vibrant young woman, radiant with hope and joy. Her adventurous spirit comes through and her zest for life, they were evident.

It makes it all the more devastating to think of her life being cruelly taken away by terrorists.

An Israeli soldier walks by a house destroyed by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Beeri (Baz Ratner/AP)

Mr Cohen said the thought of people being targeted at the peaceful music festival where Ms Damti died is heartwrenching.

Were really traumatised by these events here in the community and I suppose Kims death, alongside so many others, it just underscores the urgent need for peace and the inherent value of life, Mr Cohen said.

The terrorists responsible for this act, driven by what can only be described as a malevolent ideology, have shown a blatant disregard for these values.

Rockets being fired from Gaza into Israel on Saturday. Pic by Fatima Shbair/AP.

He said most Irish people of the Jewish faith have family and friends in Israel and there is a growing Israeli population in Ireland.

Mr Cohen said a relative of his wife was found murdered in Israel in the last two days.

Though we try not to imagine the barbarity, we cannot always succeed. Though we try to think that we are safe in Ireland, our homeland where most of us were born, we cannot always succeed, Mr Cohen said.

Though we want to give one last hug, everybody, to those that were murdered and those that were slaughtered, we definitely cannot succeed in that.
Figures show 7.75 million people were waiting to start treatment in NHS England at the end of August, up from 7.68 million in July (PA)

NHS waiting lists have hit a new record high, with more people facing long waits, data shows.

Figures for the NHS in England show 7.75 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of August, up from 7.68 million in July.

This is the highest number since records began in August 2007 and comes despite Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying cutting waiting lists is one of his priorities.

(PA Graphics)

The Government said ongoing strikes by doctors are having a significant impact on the ability to bring down waits.

The data also shows 8,998 people in England were waiting more than 18 months to start routine hospital treatment at the end of August, up from 7,289 at the end of July.

The Government and NHS England set the ambition of eliminating all waits of over 18 months by April this year, excluding exceptionally complex cases or patients who choose to wait longer.

A total of 396,643 people in England have also been waiting longer than 52 weeks to start routine hospital treatment as of the end of August, up from 389,952 at the end of July.

(PA Graphics)

The ambition is to eliminate all waits of over a year by March 2025.

Meanwhile, the number of people waiting longer than 12 hours in A&E departments in England from a decision to admit to actually being admitted was 33,107 in September, up 15% from 28,859 in August but below the 54,573 in December 2022.

The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission has also increased, from 120,120 in August to 125,829 in September, a rise of 5%.

Some 71.6% of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, down from 73.% in August.

The NHS recovery plan sets a target of March 2024 for 76% of patients attending A&E to be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

(PA Graphics)

Professor Peter Friend, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: Increased demand, record staff vacancies and industrial action all continue to hold back recovery efforts.

Whilst NHS staff continue to work hard to reduce waiting lists, this is happening in extremely challenging circumstances  and that is before winter pressures hit.

The Governments recent financial boost to help the health service this winter is very much welcome. However, the Prime Ministers key pledge of reducing the size of the waiting list by March 2024 is looking more and more in doubt.

The Government must continue to fund surgical hubs in areas that are struggling to bring down long waits for operations.

These are physically separated from emergency services in hospitals and allow scheduled tests and planned operations to proceed, unaffected by increased pressure in other parts of the hospital.

The data also shows the number of patients in England waiting longer than 62 days since an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer was 23,809 in the week ending September 3, up from 21,016 in the week to August 6.

(PA Graphics)

Most of the patients included in this total do not have cancer and are waiting for a diagnostic test, while around one in seven do have cancer and are waiting for treatment.

The Government and NHS England set the ambition of returning this figure to pre-pandemic levels (when the weekly average was 13,463) by March this year.

The data also shows 62.8% of cancer patients who had their first treatment in August after an urgent GP referral had waited less than two months, up slightly from 62.6% in July.

The target is 85%.

Meanwhile, 71.6% of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days, down from 74.1% the previous month. The target is 75%.

However, 267,555 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in August, up 1% on 263,696 in July and up 4% year-on-year from 256,942 in August 2022.

Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: All cancer waiting time targets have once again been missed in England despite the best efforts of NHS staff.

Behind these figures are people waiting anxiously for a cancer diagnosis, and patients left uncertain about when theyll get the treatment they urgently need.

Although strike action has disrupted services, the waiting lists that we see in England today are not new.

In fact, one key target has been consistently missed since 2015.

This is a stark legacy of decades of underfunding by the UK Government.

It comes as a senior medic warned industrial action across the NHS must end before winter to avoid appalling patient outcomes and experiences.

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM), said NHS acute care services continued to be under immense strain with clinicians expecting the coming months to be as chaotic and challenging as last winter.

NHS England said it had delivered on its ambition to roll out 10,000 virtual ward beds by the end of September.

More than 240,000 patients have now been treated on virtual wards, it said, adding that research shows people who are treated at home recover at the same rate or faster than those in hospital.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: Our world-leading virtual ward programme is a huge leap forward in the way the NHS treats patients, enabling them to receive hospital-level care in their own home

We know that industrial action is also continuing to pile pressure on services and impact capacity, adding a lot of pressure to hospitals before winter, coming on top of high levels of demand, with last month seeing more 999 ambulance calls than any month this year as well as the busiest September ever for A&E attendances, up almost 8% on the same month last year.

But despite this pressure, it is clear from todays figures that NHS staff are working incredibly hard to deliver for patients, with 10% more patients coming off the waiting list in August than the same month before the pandemic.
Colonel Tim Collins (inset) says lessons should be learned from Northern Ireland in the Middle East

A globally acclaimed Belfast man who served as a Colonel in the Army during the Iraq war has cautioned that Israel should act with reason and mercy rather than unleashing a flood of Bloody Sundays in Gaza.

Originally from east Belfast, Colonel Tim Collins was Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment during the Iraq War.

Colonel Collins OBE is best known for his role in the 2003 Iraq War and his eve-of-battle speech to around 800 soldiers at Fort Blair Mayne desert camp, a copy of which is said to have hung in the White House's Oval Office.

Writing for the Daily Mail Colonel Collins said he believes a full-scale invasion will lead to a bloody quagmire and destabilise the region, saying that lessons should be learned from the Northern Ireland conflict.

He wrote: In 1972, soon after the Troubles had been rekindled, support for the IRA soared after the Bloody Sunday massacre, when British paratroopers opened fire on a Catholic protest march through the city of Derry.

"Fourteen innocent people were killed and there was to be no peace in the province for another three decades.

The decision is Israel's. Do they, in a spasm of vengeance, unleash a flood of Bloody Sundays in Gaza? Or could they, dare they, act with reason and mercy?

Politics: The Israeli-Hamas war and the NI split over it

The world first heard the ominous shock and awe phrase in 2003, at the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq  a doctrine that emphasises overwhelming force at the outset of a military action to terrify and crush the enemy.

Colonel Collins said that in the wake of the merciless assault by Hamas, Israel seems to be planning the same approach.

All the signs are that its government is preparing to retaliate on a massive scale, mobilising the country's formidable armed forces against Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared: 'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate for generations.'

His defence minister Yoav Gallant has added: 'We are fighting human animals  and we act accordingly.

Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (Fatima Shbair/AP)

He described Iraq as a calamitous error, fuelling a lasting cycle of violence and fears any attempt by Israel to exact its vengeance with a savage display of military might could be just as disastrous.

Since his retirement from the military Mr Collins has visited the region many times, including a trip to the West Bank earlier this year.

And I am certain that a policy seeking to pulverise Gaza, with the aim of permanently destroying Hamas, would be utterly counter-productive, he wrote in the Daily Mail.

It would cause civilian casualties on an epic scale, as well as a huge loss of life among the Israeli forces, while also building a cult of martyrdom among the terrorists that would affect all of us.

As far as the terror group is concerned, he said, civilian Palestinians are nothing more than human sandbags to be sacrificed at will.

He added: The group's goal is not to defeat its enemy in traditional combat, but to ensure enough innocent Arab lives are taken, over a sufficiently long time, that the screams of protest from the international community become deafening.

Israel will then be forced to make a humiliating retreat, having failed to reach a single one of its objectives.

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (Fatima Shbair/AP)

He predicts intense battles with Hamas fighters taking advantage of the hidden labyrinth of tunnels and bunkers underneath the city.

Likening it to Vietnam, he said Hamas would keep their enemy close at all times making it difficult for Israel to use artillery or air power without killing its own.

Hamas would be sure to adopt the same simple but highly effective tactic in Gaza  while, once again, sacrificing civilians to worsen the 'optics' further for Israel, Mr Collins said.

A full invasion, such as Israel's generals are surely discussing today, would be a bloody quagmire.

For Jerusalem, it would mean a conveyor belt of tired soldiers fighting day and night, resupplying with food, water and military hardware, rotating and evacuating casualties, for months on end.

Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow

A barrage of air strikes has already caused heavy civilian casualties, he said, unsurprising with more than two million people are living in a strip the size of the Isle of Wight.

He questioned what victory looks like for Israel. The answer, he fears, is the breakdown of civil society, a gargantuan body count, mountains of rubble and Israel's return to a pariah status in the Middle East.

A man walks down a destroyed street in Rafah (Ben Curtis/AP)

An alternative approach, he posits, is one that could strengthen Israel's standing on the international stage.

Instead of slaughtering the 'human animals' inside Gaza, Israel should adopt a dual tactic: launching limited ground incursions at specific targets and, crucially, encouraging the Palestinian political party Fatah, which previously ran Gaza, to take back control from the terrorists of Hamas.

Most Gazans are fed up with Hamas's vicious paramilitaries, whose fanatical anti-Semitism and corruption have left the territory in a state of devastated economic neglect.

Hamas's supporters, including on the British Left, like to claim that Gaza is 'the world's largest open-air prison'  but their own foot soldiers are the guards.

The overthrow of Hamas by Fatah, backed by Israel, would be a step forward for democracy in Palestine  and would isolate the theocratic Iranian regime which has long bankrolled and armed Hamas.

Israel should not play into Iran's hands. And as an Irishman, I know why.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Thursday with a pledge of unwavering support from America.

Following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Blinken said: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to. We will always be there by your side.

Addressing journalists in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu praised Mr Blinkens visit as a tangible example of Americas unequivocal support of Israel.

Antony Blinken listens to Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint news conference (Jacquelyn Martin, pool/AP)

President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil, Mr Netanyahu said, referring to Saturdays unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel.

The pair shook hands after Mr Netanyahus remarks.

Mr Blinken said that he came before journalists not just as secretary of state, but also a Jew, while recounting his own familys history of surviving the Holocaust.

So prime minister, I understand on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamass massacres carry for Israeli Jews, as well as Jews everywhere, Mr Blinken said.

Mr Blinken also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Antony Blinken shakes hands with Israels president, Isaac Herzog (Jacquelyn Martin, pool/AP)

A statement from the US secretary of state after their meeting touched on the same themes as his earlier message.

There really are two paths before countries in this region and in many ways, countries in this world, Mr Blinken said.

But here in the Middle East, theres the path of integration, co-operation, normalisation and equal measures of justice, opportunity, dignity for all peoples, including the Palestinians.

He added: Or theres the path that Hamas has shown to the world these last few days  terror, destruction, nihilism, a path that leads to nowhere for anyone except to the darkest places in our souls.
The following short article by Karl Marx, published in the New York Daily Tribune in 1857, comments on the Indian Rebellion that broke out against the British East India Company the same year. In a few short lines, Marx skewers the hypocrisy of respectable English society reeling in horror at the violence of the rebels; the product of decades of oppression. His words bear great relevance today given events in Israel-Palestine.

In the course of the revolt, which lasted for over a year, the rebels responded to the brutality of British colonialism by killing 6,000 soldiers and civilians, including women and children. This bloodshed was avenged many times over by the British, who left 800,000 Indians dead, including both those killed in the rebellion, and in the famines and epidemics that followed.

As Marx points out, not only did the cruelty of British rule provoke bloody retribution by the rebels, but the ruling classes of Britain and Europe were guilty of far worse atrocities over the course of their history. John Bull is to be steeped in cries for revenge up to his very ears, he writes, to make him forget that his Government is responsible for the mischief hatched and the colossal dimensions it has been allowed to assume.

This exact same statement could be levelled squarely at the reactionary Israeli government today (along with its imperialist benefactors), who for decades oppressed, murdered and humiliated the Palestinians, denying them their basic rights, and prepared a violent backlash.

Marx also notes the exaggerations and outright lies circulated in the London press (i.e. the propaganda of the British ruling class) about the horrors of the rebellion, intended to whip the populace into a furious frenzy and rally them behind a vengeful response. Now, Israel besieges and pounds the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, with the full support and connivance of the west, while the press abounds with all manner of lurid details of Hamas brutality (real and invented), and actively cheers on Israels murderous and indiscriminate revenge.

We reproduce Marxs article in full, and invite all our readers to observe the parallels with today.

The Indian Revolt

The outrages committed by the revolted Sepoys in India are indeed appalling, hideous, ineffable  such as one is prepared to meet  only in wars of insurrection, of nationalities, of races, and above all of religion; in one word, such as respectable England used to applaud when perpetrated by the Vendeans on the Blues, by the Spanish guerrillas on the infidel Frenchmen, by Servians on their German and Hungarian neighbours, by Croats on Viennese rebels, by Cavaignacs Garde Mobile or Bonapartes Decembrists on the sons and daughters of proletarian France.

However infamous the conduct of the Sepoys, it is only the reflex, in a concentrated form, of Englands own conduct in India / Image: public domain

However infamous the conduct of the Sepoys, it is only the reflex, in a concentrated form, of Englands own conduct in India, not only during the epoch of the foundation of her Eastern Empire, but even during the last ten years of a long-settled rule. To characterize that rule, it suffices to say that torture formed an organic institution of its financial policy. There is something in human history like retribution: and it is a rule of historical retribution that its instrument be forged not by the offended, but by the offender himself.

The first blow dealt to the French monarchy proceeded from the nobility, not from the peasants. The Indian revolt does not commence with the Ryots, tortured, dishonoured and stripped naked by the British, but with the Sepoys, clad, fed, petted, fatted and pampered by them. To find parallels to the Sepoy atrocities, we need not, as some London papers pretend, fall back on the middle ages, not, even wander beyond the history of contemporary England. All we want is to study the first Chinese war, an event, so to say, of yesterday. The English soldiery then committed abominations for the mere fun of it; their passions being neither sanctified by religious fanaticism nor exacerbated by hatred against an overbearing and conquering race, nor provoked by the stern resistance of a heroic enemy. The violations of women, the spittings of children, the roastings of whole villages, were then mere wanton sports, not recorded by Mandarins, but by British officers themselves.

Even at the present catastrophe it would be an unmitigated mistake to suppose that all the cruelty is on the side of the Sepoys, and all the milk of human kindness flows on the side of the English. The letters of the British officers are redolent of malignity. An officer writing from Peshawur gives a description of the disarming of the 10th irregular cavalry for not charging the 55th native infantry when ordered to do so. He exults in the fact that they were not only disarmed, but stripped of their coats and boots, and after having received 12d. per man, were marched down to the river side, and there embarked in boats and sent down the Indus, where the writer is delighted to expect every mothers son will have a chance of being drowned in the rapids. Another writer informs us that, some inhabitants of Peshawur having caused a night alarm by exploding little mines of gunpowder in honour of a wedding (a national custom), the persons concerned were tied up next morning, and received such a flogging as they will not easily forget.

News arrived from Pindee that three native chiefs were plotting. Sir John Lawrence replied by a message ordering a spy to attend to the meeting. On the spys report, Sir John sent a second message, Hang them. The chiefs were hanged. An officer in the civil service, from Allahabad, writes:

We have power of life and death in our hands, and we assure you we spare not.

Another, from the same place:

Not a day passes but we string up front ten to fifteen of them (non-combatants).

One exulting officer writes:

Holmes is hanging them by the score, like a brick.

Another, in allusion to the summary hanging of a large body of the natives:

Then our fun commenced.

A third:

We hold court-martials on horseback, and every nigger we meet with we either string up or shoot.

From Benares we are informed that thirty Zemindars were hanged on the mere suspicion of sympathising with their own countrymen, and whole villages were burned down on the same plea. An officer from Benares, whose letter is printed in The London Times, says:

The European troops have become fiends when opposed to natives.

Actual accounts of Delhi evince the imagination of an English parson to be capable of breeding greater horrors than even the wild fancy of a Hindoo mutineer / Image: public domain

And then it should not be forgotten that, while the cruelties of the English are related as acts of martial vigour, told simply, rapidly, without dwelling on disgusting details, the outrages of the natives, shocking as they are, are still deliberately exaggerated. For instance, the circumstantial account first appearing in The Times, and then going the round of the London press, of the atrocities perpetrated at Delhi and Meerut, from whom did it proceed? From a cowardly parson residing at Bangalore, Mysore, more than a thousand miles, as the bird flies, distant from the scene of action. Actual accounts of Delhi evince the imagination of an English parson to be capable of breeding greater horrors than even the wild fancy of a Hindoo mutineer. The cutting of noses, breasts, &c., in one word, the horrid mutilations committed by the Sepoys, are of course more revolting to European feeling than the throwing of red-hot shell on Canton dwellings by a Secretary of the Manchester Peace Society, or the roasting of Arabs pent up in a cave by a French Marshal, or the flaying alive of British soldiers by the cat-o-nine-tails under drum-head court-martial, or any other of the philanthropical appliances used in British penitentiary colonies. Cruelty, like every other thing, has its fashion, changing according to time and place. Caesar, the accomplished scholar, candidly narrates how he ordered many thousand Gallic warriors to have their right hands cut off. Napoleon would have been ashamed to do this. He preferred dispatching his own French regiments, suspected of republicanism, to St. Domingo, there to die of the blacks and the plague.

The infamous mutilations committed by the Sepoys remind one of the practices of the Christian Byzantine Empire, or the prescriptions of Emperor Charles V.s criminal law, or the English punishments for high treason, as still recorded by Judge Blackstone. With Hindoos, whom their religion has made virtuosi in the art of self-torturing, these tortures inflicted on the enemies of their race and creed appear quite natural, and must appear still more so to the English, who, only some years since, still used to draw revenues from the Juggernaut festivals, protecting and assisting the bloody rites of a religion of cruelty.

The frantic roars of the bloody old Times, as Cobbett used to call it  its, playing the part of a furious character in one of Mozarts operas, who indulges in most melodious strains in the idea of first hanging his enemy, then roasting him, then quartering him, then spitting him, and then flaying him alive  its tearing the passion of revenge to tatters and to rags  all this would appear but silly if under the pathos of tragedy there were not distinctly perceptible the tricks of comedy. The London Times overdoes its part, not only from panic. It supplies comedy with a subject even missed by Moliere, the Tartuffe of Revenge. What it simply wants is to write up the funds and to screen the Government. As Delhi has not, like the walls of Jericho, fallen before mere puffs of wind, John Bull is to be steeped in cries for revenge up to his very ears, to make him forget that his Government is responsible for the mischief hatched and the colossal dimensions it has been allowed to assume.

London, Sept. 4, 1857
A bird-eye view of the Payra Thermal Power Plant in the southern district of Patuakhali, Bangladesh, Sept. 4, 2023.

Bangladesh  a country that often suffers from blackouts  has capacity to produce electricity that far outpaces demand, and pays tens of millions of dollars monthly to power plants when they are idle, government officials say.

Thats because the government has spent more than U.S. $9 billion since 2009 to subsidize power firms using an overly upbeat forecast for economic growth  resulting in a bloated electricity capacity that the government has committed to paying for, government documents show.

Its like a wedding party where you expected 10,000 guests, but in the end, only half showed up, said Khondaker Golam Moazzem, an industrial economist at the Center for Policy Dialogue, a prominent think-tank in Dhaka. Since you already committed to paying the costs for hosting those guests, you will have to pay the money even if much of the venue remains unused.

In September, Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy, and mineral resources, told Parliament that the government had paid 7.5 trillion taka (about $7.5 billion) to 82 large private producers as a capacity charge and 2.8 trillion taka (about $2.8 billion) to smaller oil-fired power producers as rental payment over 14 years.

In Bangladesh, in this context, capacity charge and rental payment are understood as subsidies awarded to private power plants in the event that the government doesnt need to buy electricity from them.

In a 2022 study, researchers at SOAS University of London and the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) who reviewed Bangladeshs contracts with private power companies found that the subsidy is calculated at 60% of the revenue a plant would get for supplying its total capacity to the government, the only buyer of electricity in the country.

It was introduced more than a decade ago to encourage private companies to make what were considered at the time to be risky investments in the power sector.

The incentives worked  too well. The country currently has capacity to produce 28,000 megawatts daily  about 40% more than peak demand.

Yet, the country often suffers from blackouts, including in recent months, because the government is rationing U.S. dollars by limiting the import of fuel needed to generate electricity.

Currently, our country faces a shortage of fuel resources like gas and coal. The Ukraine war has caused a rise in prices, hampering fuel supply. This is why we cant produce and supply electricity as per demand, Mohammad Hossain, a senior official at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Natural Resources, told BenarNews.

A garment factory at night in Dhaka, Feb. 12, 2014. [AP]

However, per agreements with some private producers, the government has kept paying subsidies for excess capacity that today has reached more than 40%.

A country can at best have a 20-25% surplus capacity, but it should never be double whats needed, Professor Badrul Imam, an expert on energy and power in Bangladesh, told BenarNews. We are forced to compensate for the excess capacity, yet we have not been able to escape the cycle of power blackouts.

Overestimating needs

In 2009, when the Awami League returned to power in Bangladesh, the country was undergoing frequent and chronic power blackouts. At that time, the country could produce only 4,000 megawatts of electricity every day.

Earlier governments were severely criticized for failing to produce enough electricity to power the countrys increasing economic growth.

In its 2008 election manifesto, the Awami League pledged to use all means necessary to increase power production as it projected that the country would require 21,000 megawatts of electricity a day by 2021.

It was unclear how the party reached that conclusion at the time, but a subsequent government document finalized in 2013 and that reached a similar conclusion, explained the rationale by drawing equivalences from other countries.

In a typical developing economy, a one percent increase in GDP leads to a 1.5 percent increase in electricity demand, said the document, titled National Sustainable Development Strategy.

It forecasted that the demand for electricity would rise significantly in coming years because the economy would have an annual growth rate of 8% by 2015 and 10% by 2021.

But in reality, the countrys economy grew 6.4% in 2015 and 6.9% in 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Garment employees work at Arrival Fashion Ltd. in Gazipur, Bangladesh, March 13, 2021. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/AP]

The government itself quietly acknowledged that its projections were overestimated.

In 2016, the governments master plan for the power sector, a 137-page study funded by Japan, contradicted the hypothesis that Bangladeshs electricity demands would keep rising at 1.5 times its GDP growth rate.

The document acknowledged that per capita energy consumption in Bangladesh was smaller than in peer economies of Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, used to produce past projections.

It noted that Bangladesh consumes a smaller amount of energy than the other three countries to create the same economic value, and that the economy in Bangladesh has grown with relatively small energy input.

Moazzem, the industrial economist, said Bangladeshs growth was mainly fueled by a boom in its service sector, as opposed to the industrial sector.

Without an increase in the industrial sectors share in the economy, the demand for electricity will not rise, he added. The service and agricultural sectors will not increase electricity demand.

How much electricity is needed for a beauty parlor?

Collusive contracts

The subsidies to private power producers have long been the subject of controversy in Bangladesh  more so because the government has gone to great lengths to provide legal and regulatory protections to the companies.

In 2010, the government enacted a law to boost power production that shielded government employees and private producers from future legal liabilities and even barred courts from considering any challenge to the laws validity.

The law also allowed the government to purchase electricity directly from companies without any competitive bidding, bypassing public procurement rules.

While these incentives are credited with helping the country meet rising electricity demands, the relaxed regulatory environment fostered profiteering, two research papers suggested.

A 2017 paper by researchers including Thomas Nikolakakis, who was with Columbia University and the World Bank at the time, found that Bangladesh purchased more electricity from expensive oil and diesel-fired plants than cheaper gas-run ones.

Even when accounting for the countrys limited gas supply, the paper found, the practice alone cost Bangladesh $1.4 billion in a single year.

The paper by the researchers at SOAS and BIGD published last year found that non-competitive collusive contracts cost Bangladesh an additional $1 billion a year.

In his budget speech in June, Bangladeshs Finance Minister Mustafa Kamal promised to phase out the subsidies when existing contracts with private power companies expire.

He said that was because the government wanted to reduce the cost of supply and strengthen stability in the power sector.

But when addressing Parliament in September, Nasrul Hamid, the state minister for power and energy, pledged to increase the capacity to 40,000 megawatts by 2030 and 60,000 megawatts by 2041, by which time the country aspires to be a developed nation.

The Department of Power always had the national data about demand and supplies, Moazzem said. Yet, they continued to increase power production capacity. The reason is to favor certain companies. Nothing else.
Construction workers chat in front of a billboard for state investment fund 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) at the fund's flagship Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 14, 2015.

A Malaysian taskforce said Thursday it was surprised by the Goldman Sachs Groups premature initiation of arbitration proceedings amid a settlement dispute over the banks role in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB investment fund scandal.

Goldman Sachs sued the Malaysian government on Wednesday, opening a new chapter in a disagreement that centers on a U.S. $3.9 billion settlement the Wall Street firm agreed to pay Malaysia in 2020 over its part in the embezzlement scheme.

Though the faltering pace of discussions has increasingly frustrated both sides, Johari Abdul Ghani, the chairman of the 1MDB Taskforce Committee, said he was caught off guard by the conduct of Goldman Sachs.

At this juncture  parties are still considered to be in the amicable good faith discussions stage and therefore as an aggrieved party, the 1MDB Taskforce views Goldman Sachs initiation of arbitration proceedings as premature and without due consideration of necessary prerequisites, Johari said in a statement.

On Aug. 18, 2020 Goldman Sachs announced an agreement with the Malaysian government guaranteeing the return of at least $1.4 billion in 1MDB-related assets and proceeds seized worldwide to resolve criminal and regulatory proceedings.

The settlement additionally mandated a one-time $250 million interim payment by Goldman Sachs if Malaysia had not recovered a minimum of $500 million in assets and proceeds by August 2022, the bank said in a press release that year.

The two parties disagree on whether the bank has provided those assets.

On Thursday, Goldman Sachs said it was suing Malaysia for failing to recognize its payments.

We filed for arbitration against the Government of Malaysia for violating its obligations to appropriately credit assets against the guarantee provided by Goldman Sachs in our settlement agreement and to recover other assets, a Goldman Sachs spokesman said in a statement.

The arbitration has been filed with the London Court of International Arbitration, Bloomberg News reported.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends the East Asia Summit at the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Sept. 7, 2023. [AP]

The Attorney Generals Chambers denied all allegations in the lawsuit and said it mischaracterized the conduct of the government.

[We] will prepare its response within the confines of the law and reiterate that the interest of the Malaysian people is paramount, it said in a statement.

The latest development is only likely to add to enmity between the two sides.

In August, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim raised the possibility of suing Goldman Sachs for its lack of cooperation in negotiating the settlement, according to local media.

Johari said the banks lawsuit appeared to be an attempt to divert attention away from its obligations.

The Malaysian government had agreed to four payment extensions since August 2022, with the last one on Aug. 8, 2023  and this was set to expire on Nov. 8 this year, he said.

Investigations continue

The 1MDB scandal, in which at least $4.5 billion was looted from the fund, brought about the downfall of former Prime Minister Najib Razak in a historic election in 2018, and was one of the most embarrassing episodes for Goldman Sachs in recent memory.

In July 2020, the ex-prime minister was convicted of massive corruption in connection with the scandal and was sent to prison in August 2022.

In March, a Malaysian Federal Court panel denied Najibs final effort to be freed from prison over his 12-year sentence following his conviction on charges linked to 1MDB affiliate SRC International. The former prime minister faces additional trials linked to 1MDB.

Malaysia is still trying to bring the alleged mastermind of the scandal, Low Taek Jho  the fugitive financier better known as Jho Low  to justice. He is the subject of an international manhunt  Interpol has filed a red notice against him  and faces charges in the U.S. as well.

Last week, Roger Ng, ex-Goldman Sachs banker convicted in the U.S. for his role in the corruption scandal, was extradited to Malaysia to assist with investigations.

Malaysian authorities this week said they were depending on Ngs cooperation to recover as much losses as possible from the fund.

Ng, who is a Malaysian citizen, had been scheduled to begin a 10-year prison term on Oct. 6, but U.S. authorities granted a postponement, allowing him to return to Malaysia, after being granted temporary surrender by the country in 2019.

Apart from Ng, Tim Leissner, a former Goldman Sachs senior executive, has also pleaded guilty to money laundering and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in connection with 1MDB. He is cooperating with prosecutors and is free on $20 million bail pending sentencing, as the Department of Justice investigates.
Toy figures are seen in front of TikToks logo, in this illustration picture taken March 15, 2021.

Efforts by TikTok to reduce the spread of fake news in Malaysia have been woefully inadequate and the Chinese-owned online platform has not abided by the countrys laws, the communications minister said Thursday.

Fahmi Fadzil didnt specify which laws the short-video sharing app was violating, but said he had warned TikToks top management during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur a day earlier that it needed to start following them right away.

In the discussion, I emphasized that TikTok needs to operate in accordance with Malaysian guidelines and laws.  I emphasize TikTok's compliance with Malaysian laws is still not satisfactory, and this must be corrected immediately, Fahmi wrote in a Facebook post.

TikTok must also be more proactive in controlling the spread of fake news and slanderous materials spread on the platforms in question.

The minister said TikTok acknowledged its shortcomings, and attributed them to the absence of a Malaysia representative.

TikTok has assured to increase cooperation with the Malaysian government. In light of that, they committed to holding further meetings at the earliest [time] to resolve these issues, Fahmi said.

BenarNews contacted ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Fahmi didnt give many details in his Facebook statement, but several analysts had noted an increase in hate speech from the time leading up to the Malaysian general election last November  much of which arose from the spread of fake news.

A lot of this was disseminated online, with TikTok being a preferred platform, according to Mohamed Irshad, a member of the group ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.

A worker finishes signage before the TikTok Southeast Asia Impact Forum 2023 in Jakarta, June 15, 2023. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP]

On Tuesday, lawmakers from the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) met with several Malaysian lawmakers to urge oversight on social media platforms such as TikTok, because their extensive reach had worsened the hate-speech problem, they said.

We believe that governments throughout the region, including Malaysia, must be firm in holding these tech giants or social media companies to act more responsibly and to take ownership and account for their role in facilitating the spread of hate and division, Irshad said at a press conference.

In fact, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police summoned the management of TikTok to explain certain incendiary online posts after the November 2022 polls.

These posts had implied that race riots may occur if a largely ethnic-Chinese party became part of the government, after the election produced a hung parliament.

And they did not end  some say they increased  after the king later in November invited Anwar Ibrahim to head a coalition government, which was multiethnic and multireligious.

The Anwar government in June said it would take legal action against Facebooks parent company, Meta Platforms, for its failure to remove harmful content from the social media site despite repeated requests.

A month later, the government said it may not need to go so far as to take legal action, because Meta had committed to dealing with such content on its platforms.

In July, Anwar issued what he called a final warning to anyone exploiting issues related to race, religion or royal institutions with the motive to spread hate and disaffection.

He said that any such incident would be thoroughly investigated without exception.

Apps such as TikTok need human monitors to better understand the nuances of content, said Wathshlah Naidu, executive director at the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).

For this TikTok has to invest in human resources to review content. Now the reliance is on AI [artificial intelligence] and bots, she told BenarNews.

TikTok should be transparent with the public [on] how these algorithms are used to create content. This transparency is intended to make users more aware of how TikTok creates, alerts, and delivers content on the platform.

Ad purchases on TikTok

The app has been under pressure in Southeast Asia recently, a region where its chief executive had said the firm planned to invest billions of U.S. dollars over the next few years, because analysts said it was increasingly under scrutiny elsewhere in the world.

Last week, Vietnam said TikTok Inc. did not effectively block content that violated the countrys laws, news agencies reported.

Last month, TikTok had to end product sales via its app in Indonesia, as Southeast Asias largest economy banned social media platforms from selling products online. TikTok Shop had been accused of unfair competition and hurting small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia.

Now, Malaysia has raised a similar issue with the short-video app company.

Minister Fahmi said he emphasized to TikTok that it needed to find a solution to the issue of ad purchases on its platforms.

This follows complaints from business buildings, public and media agencies who were deeply affected by ads booked directly with social media platforms, he said.

Earlier this week he had explained that traditional media was losing advertisements to social media.

Many companies no longer spend on advertising through the [traditional] media but through the social media platforms, so it affects the media and I am very concerned about this issue, Fahmi said at an event on Monday, according to a report by state news agency Bernama.

Commenting about content distribution, Fahmi had said last month that content producers saw their work being picked up by social media platforms but they were getting very low returns for it, Bernama reported.
Former Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is pictured as he left Suva Magistrate Court on Sept. 7, 2023 following a hearing in his abuse of power case. Bainimarama was found not guilty on Thursday.

A Fiji court on Thursday found former strongman Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama not guilty of perverting the course of justice, cauterizing a potentially divisive case in a Pacific island country that has suffered four coups since the late 1980s.

Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho had been accused of stopping a police investigation into complaints of financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific, which is headquartered in Fiji.

I want to thank the many prayers from relatives and friends that have been said on our behalf, a relaxed and smiling Bainimarama said as he left a Suva courthouse surrounded by supporters following the ruling. Truth will prevail, he said in a video livestreamed by his political party.

Qiliho, who stood next to Bainimarama outside the courthouse, was found not guilty of abuse of office.

Bainimaramas 16 years in power ended in December after his Fiji First Party dropped below 50% of the vote in national elections, allowing opposition parties to form a coalition government led by former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Both men are former coup leaders  Rabuka in the late 1980s and Bainimarama in 2006.

A purge of Bainimarama appointees from important public positions followed the first change in government in Fiji since Bainimaramas coup, along with a slew of investigations into alleged abuses of office and the removal of restrictions on the media.

A senior minister in Bainimaramas government, former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, was charged in May with abuse of office.

State prosecutors had alleged that Bainimarama and Qiliho, who was suspended in January, had arbitrarily and in abuse of the authority of their respective offices, terminated an active police investigation in 2020.

However, the judge, Seini Puamau, said prosecutors failed to make a compelling case that Bainimarama had advised Qiliho to end the police probe.

He never made any suggestions to Commissioner Qiliho for him to stop the investigation, she said. He simply thought the commissioner had more important things on his plate than personally handling the university investigation while Fiji was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

Puamau also said that a state witness, former acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, had an axe to grind following his dismissal from the Fiji Police Force for a reason unrelated to the court case.

Nothing in his evidence pointed to Bainimarama directing him or anyone else to stop the investigation, she said. Qiliho, meanwhile, had not been aware the investigation had ended until he was questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department in 2022, Puamau said.

Fiji, a linchpin nation in a region increasingly contested by major powers, had a burgeoning relationship with China under Bainimarama. Ties have been strained under Rabuka, who put a police cooperation agreement with China under review and reasserted the importance of maintaining a close security relationship with the United States and countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

Fijis ties with China had blossomed after New Zealand, Australia and other countries sought to punish Bainimarama and his government for the 2006 coup.

Bainimarama left office grudgingly and stayed in the official prime ministers residence for several weeks after Rabuka was confirmed as Fijis new leader by a vote in parliament.

He was suspended from parliament in February for three years after accusing the countrys president of failing to follow the constitution, which gives the military a guardian role over the nations politics, but remains leader of FijiFirst.
Katchakorn Pudtason, who was shot in the knee while trying to flee Palestinian Hamas militants in southern Israel, greets relatives after arriving at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Oct. 12, 2023.

Thai national Katchakorn Pudtason was thankful to be back home and alive as he recounted how he was shot after hiding out for hours at an Israeli kibbutz during an attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.

He took a bullet to the leg as his boss tried to move him and other farm workers to safety, he recalled after he and 40 other Thais arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on Thursday aboard a commercial flight from Israel.

I thought I could not make it out alive until today. They fired salvos, not one round followed by another round, Katchakorn told journalists as he described those tense hours on Saturday, when Hamas fighters raided the Moshav Mavkiim kibbutz as part of a devastating wave of rocket attacks and ground strikes into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.

When the violence broke out, the kibbutz boss sheltered him and other workers, he said.

At noon time, he [the boss] said it was calm so he took us to change our clothes and have lunch. On the way to the residence, gunfire was heard from the roadside  a bullet struck my knee, said Katchakorn, who sat in a wheelchair.

We told the boss to flee while we were ducking on the car floor. Bullets pierced through the car, injuring four out of eight of us, he said, adding, one was shot in the cheek.

The bosss relatives helped shelter me and called a rescue unit that took me to a hospital.

An unidentified Thai citizen hugs a child after arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Oct. 12, 2023. [Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP]

Katchakorn was one of 15 Thai workers from the kibbutz whose flight home on El Al, Israels flag carrier, was sponsored by Thailands government while 26 others purchased their own tickets, according to government officials.

Another Thai, who identified himself as Boy, said because he feared for his life, he left his job and booked a ticket home, adding he did not want to be one of the thousands waiting to be airlifted out of Israel.

When the attack erupted, I saw the visions of my wife, children and family  I didnt know what was going to happen. My workplace was next to Gaza, Boy told journalists at the airport.

They sent me over to an evacuation camp in Haifa and asked me to work in another place. If a bomb landed, we could die, so I picked up my only bag, headed to Tel Aviv by taxi and bought a ticket home, he said.

21 Thais killed

Thai officials estimate that about 30,000 citizens are in Israel, including nearly 5,000 living near flash points along the border with the Gaza Strip.

At dawn on Saturday, Hamas launched thousands of rockets and hundreds of its fighters infiltrated southern Israel to attack civilians and Israeli security forces, reports said.

As of Thursday afternoon, 21 Thais had died in the violence, another 14 were injured, and 16 had been abducted, according to the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv. In addition, nearly 6,000 Thais had signed up for evacuation.

During an airport ceremony welcoming the first group of returnees, Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said the government had asked Israel to assist in efforts to release the hostages as soon as possible and to find a way to return the bodies of those Thais who had been killed.

There are 16 hostages. We are discussing with [partners] around there and the Israeli government to come to the rescue of the hostages as soon as possible, Parnpree said, adding he believed they were alive and safe.

We have no conflicts with any countries. I dont see any motives to harm Thais, he said.

Hamas leaders have threatened to kill one hostage for each unwarned attack by Israel on the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave that is home to more than 2 million people, according to media reports. Since Hamas launched the attacks on Saturday, fierce fighting has followed between both sides and Israels military has been bombarding the territory, reports said.

An Israeli soldier looks out from a tank as an artillery unit gathers near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Oct. 12, 2023. [Ronen Zvulun/Reuters]

Thai Defense Minister Anutin Klangsang told reporters at the Bangkok airport that military officials were working on efforts to repatriate all of the Thais who had registered with the embassy in Tel Aviv.

The air force could not fulfill the mission in time even with full aircraft unless we charter commercial airlines. We are looking into a Plan B by using air force transport planes to first move them to nearby countries such as the United Arab Emirates, he said.

In the fighting at least 2,600 people on both sides have been killed as of Thursday, according to the Associated Press news service, which noted that the death toll was expected to climb.

Palestinian officials said at least 1,417 Palestinians had been killed and more than 6,200 injured. The dead include 450 children and 250 women, the AP reported.

An Israeli military spokesman reported that 222 of its troops had been killed.

On Thursday, according to an AP report, former Israeli Gen. Yaakov Amidror called on the military to bombard the Gaza Strip as long as militants remain in the territory, even if it incurs massive casualties to Israeli soldiers.

Palestinians leave their homes following Israeli airstrikes in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 12, 2023. [Hatem Ali/AP]

Israel has called on more than 300,000 reservists into action.

In a separate story, the news service reported that a high-ranking Hamas official had warned that any Israeli invasion would prove catastrophic for the Israeli army.

Foreigners killed

A Thai who returned from Israel and asked to not be named said Israelis who had been killed were identified and buried following religious ceremonies, while the bodies of foreigners were being kept in morgues pending identification so they could be repatriated.

Among the dead are two from the Philippines  a 42-year-old man from the northern province of Pampanga, and a 33-year-old woman from the northern province of Pangasinan. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promised to give the victims a decent burial.

Marcos said he spoke by telephone Wednesday evening to the mans widow and assured her that his government would provide all the necessary assistance and give a proper burial once the security situation subsided.

I just want to talk to you to offer my sympathies. What happened was a major conflict. Nobody thought that war would break out in Israel, Marcos told the widow, according to his office.

Tell us what you need. The government is here to help you. I just wanted to speak with you to let you know that we are thinking of you and sympathize with the whole family. The entire Philippines grieves with you, Marcos said.

Nava Sangthong in Bangkok and Jason Gutierrez in Manila contributed to this report.
We republish here the editorial for issue 43 of Socialist Revolution, the magazine of the International Marxist Tendency in the United States. Subscribe now to get your copy!

This issue marks a rebirth of Socialist Revolution.

In our inaugural editorial six years ago, we proclaimed: No longer is it a matter of defending the basic ideas of socialism. The task before us is nothing less than the struggle for worldwide socialist revolution in our lifetime. This set a tone of bold optimism and urgency in our task, and charted a course for our work. But the pace of history has since accelerated even further.

Decades of crisis, broken promises, and extreme inequality amidst plenty have profoundly transformed mass consciousness and led to a revival of the class struggle. No single shock is responsible for this change; it is the result of countless accumulated pinpricks, injustices, and betrayed expectations. The post-2008 economic reality, intensifying climate crisis, the rise and fall of Bernie Sanders, Trumps election, the pandemic, and the colossal potential revealed by the George Floyd uprising all pushed a massive layer of the population over the edge.

For the first time in living memory, the idea of communism resonates with wide layers of society, providing an answer to the burning problems of world capitalism: war, hunger, homelessness, isolation, alienation, oppression, and discrimination. Polls show that millions of American workers and youth now see communism as their ideal economic system, and many thousands have already concluded that we need a mass communist party to bury capitalism forever.

Decades of crisis, broken promises, and extreme inequality amid plenty have profoundly transformed mass consciousness and led to a revival of the class struggle / Image: Joe Piette, Flickr

The extraordinary success of the International Marxist Tendencys Are You A Communist? campaign has struck a nerve and revealed the reality behind the polls. It confirms that our task is no longer to patiently preserve and nurture the flame of Bolshevism, but to spread it as rapidly and widely as possible, right here and now. The truth is that America is crawling with communiststhough as of yet, the majority of them remain atomized and unorganized.

The task facing serious communists is to transform these millions into a united and cohesive political force. Already, thousands upon thousands are ready to get active and organized in the real world. They have realized that the power of workers flows from our numbers and that, as isolated individuals, we are impotent. No longer are they content to sit on the sidelines, passively scrolling through Twitter, listening to podcasts, or binging on leftist YouTube. The popularity of this online communist subculture is a testament to the changing consciousness. But in the final analysis, it offers no real solutions or outlet for organization. The duty of communists is not to debate or discuss our ideas in the abstractbut to act now and with a sense of urgency to build an organization that can actually carry the ideas of communism into the class struggle.

We are building that organization. Socialist Revolution is not just a publication. It is the political face of an established communist network with active branches from coast to coast. Based on our implementation of the Are You A Communist? campaign, hundreds of communists have joined our ranks in recent weeks. These comrades are getting active in existing branches and building new cells in cities, neighborhoods, campuses, and workplaces, both large and small. By simply asking a direct question, they are finding that their co-workers and classmates, and even their garbage collectors and delivery drivers are communists too!

This is the golden layer of communist revolutionaries, and we are still only scratching the surface. As they grow increasingly aware of their real numbers, potential power, and the need to get organized, thousands more will join the fight in the coming months and years.

The burning desire of these comrades to overthrow capitalism is pregnant with possibility and promise. The millions of communists represent a potentially mass force in society, the basis for a new kind of party that could topple the parties of the status quobut only if they are organized and active in the movement. Their efforts are still largely atomized, chaotic, and amateurish, and require professionalization and organization.

The precondition for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism is to bring the new generation of American communists together in a highly disciplined and professional organization, with roots in every workplace, union, campus, and working-class neighborhood. In other words, we need to build a mass communist party.

The first step is to build a rock-solid foundation of thousands of trained and active Marxists, organized in hundreds of branches across the country. For this, we need a collective organizer to form the ideological and programmatic backbone of this political and organizational network, linking the party to the most advanced layers of the working class. Following in the footsteps of Lenin and the Bolsheviks, who led the Russian working class to the victorious overthrow of capitalism in 1917, our media and publications must serve as a kind of nerve center to disseminate our ideas, and to coordinate and report on our activity.

Socialist Revolution is not just a publication. It is the political face of an established communist network with active branches from coast to coast / Image: Socialist Revolution

As Lenin explained:

A newspaper is not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator; it is also a collective organizer. In this last respect, it may be likened to the scaffolding around a building under construction, which marks the contours of the structure and facilitates communication between the builders, enabling them to distribute the work and to view the common results achieved by their organized labor.

Building the scaffolding of a future mass communist party is our most pressing task. Unlike in Lenins time, we now have the internetand by extension, podcasts, YouTube channels, our website, and moreto aid us. By revolutionizing our press and other media, we can give voice to the new communist layer and penetrate ever more deeply into the living struggles of the working class. The economic and political context may differ from Lenins time, but our fundamental tasks remain the same.

We, too, must settle accounts with our modern-day reformists, opportunists, and Economists, as some of the pseudo-Marxists of Lenins day called themselves. Our historic task is to win both the battle of ideas and the battle of organization against those who advocate any form of collaboration or association with the capitalist parties, refusing to recognize that the interests of the workers and the capitalists are irreconcilably opposed.

Against those who would have us believe that the Democratic Party can somehow be transformed to offer a way out for the working class. Against the reformists who reject the need for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism, and lull the workers with false promises about a gradual evolution into socialism. Against the trade union officials who seek to rein in the movement and subordinate the workers to the bosses and their parties. Against those who forget that communists, other left radicals, and militant class-struggle methods are what built the labor movement in the first place. Against those who spread the poison of identity politics and divert class anger into left and right populism and the ruling classs divide-and-conquer culture war. Against the base builders and workerist labor activists who actively reject political struggle in favor of small deeds and micro-reforms. And against those who confuse the crimes of Stalinism with the true legacy of Lenin and the magnificent achievements of the USSR.

We stand for nothing less than the complete overthrow of capitalism in the US and internationally, as the first step towards humanitys transition to a stateless, classless, and moneyless communist society. Before us lies an unprecedented epoch of worldwide instability, class struggle, revolution, and counterrevolution. Events will continue to shock and transform the consciousness of billions around the planet.

While others on the left sleepwalk through the transformed political landscape, cower under rocks, or look for panaceas, the IMT offers something completely different: genuine communist ideas and real-world organization. Turning our backs on the vacuous wasteland of petty-bourgeois pessimism and burnout, Socialist Revolution injects unapologetic class-struggle politics and revolutionary optimism into the movement. With our program as a fulcrum, we raise clear demands that aim directly at the foundations of capitalist exploitation. We cut across the noise and division of the culture war and consistently reframe issues on a class basis.

The economic and political context may differ from Lenins time, but our fundamental tasks remain the same / Image: public domain

Only the IMT has identified the vast potential of this new generation of communists. Only we have recognized the coming of the Spring and fully embraced its significance. Over the past few decades of patient and difficult work, we have successfully preserved the Marxist theory, ideas, and methods that can now be applied to efficiently train genuine communists and help them recruit thousands more. And we are showing this in practice.

History is returning with a vengeance, and in this period of intensifying class struggle, colossal opportunities are opening up for communists worldwide. By refusing to capitulate to the many pressures we were subjected to after the fall of the Soviet Union, the spark of the IMT grew into an ember, and the ember has now burst into a small but white-hot flame. With capitalism scattering combustible material everywhere, it is only a matter of time before that flame grows into a raging inferno of revolutionary class struggle.

So, if youre a communist worker or student ready to dedicate your life to ending capitalism once and for all, we invite you to join thousands of other active communists who are hellbent on bringing millions together into a mass communist party. The IMT is your organization, and our press and media are the platforms for your voice. With your help, we will build our forces into a household name and a collective clearinghouse for revolutionary theory and action. The material basis for a world of superabundance and plenty for everyone already exists. In the coming historical period, we can and will end the nightmare of capitalism and allow the human species to reach its fullest potential.

September 28, 2023
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This composite police sketch depicts a person of interest in the Oct. 5 killing of Honoree Fleming, 77, in Castleton, Vermont. The sketch was prepared for the Vermont State Police by Detective Sgt. Adam Temple of the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office in Bath, Maine, and released by VSP on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.
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The Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground invasion in Gaza as it pounds the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas
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PITTSFIELD  Elisa Schindler Frankel of Great Barrington has been glued to the news the last few days. Her focus has been singular, trying to learn all she can about the people taken hostage by Hamas militants during recent attacks in Israel.

For days she wasnt sure if it was better to hope that her cousin, Tomer Moshe Segev, was among those taken. Segev, 30, spent the weekend at the Supernova music festival, the site of one of Hamas' first attacks.

For days there was no word about where Segev was, or what had happened to him. That changed two days ago, when Israeli military members visited his family in Ra'anana and told them Segev had been killed in the attack.

On Wednesday evening, in the midst of her mourning, Frankel joined hundreds of others from around the Berkshires in Park Square in Pittsfield. The community vigil for Israel brought together people from a variety of faith backgrounds and communities who were struggling to comprehend what theyve been seeing in recent reports.

Along with the attacks on the music festival, Hamas carried out attacks and kidnappings at communities around the Gaza Strip and fired thousands of rockets at Israeli targets. During those attacks 1,200 Israelis were killed and 150 people were kidnapped, according to The Associated Press.

Israel has since mounted intense airstrikes and a siege on Gaza, declaring war on Hamas. Gaza is a Palestinian territory that is home to 2 million people and has been under a 16-year blockade. The airstrikes have resulted in the death of more than 1,100 people, The Associated Press reported.

At the vigil on Wednesday, rabbis from local congregations and synagogues offered up their prayers for those killed in the fighting, those still held hostage and the millions of people caught in the crossfire.

To our friends and family from the windswept Golan to the sands of the Arabah, we hold you in our hearts, we hold your children in our hearts, Rabbi Scott Saulson from Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield said. Our faith is bound up in yours.

To the parents and children from Ramallah to Gaza City, who also do not wish for war, we love this land with you, Saulson added. We pray for better with you and we yearn for shalom, salaam, peace with you.

Frankel, the former president of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, cried along with the crowd as they lifted their voices in song. Her voice joined with dozen others who recited the names of the loved ones, family members and friends they are praying for in Israel.

It was empowering, if felt very cathartic, it felt  it was the first time I really cried a lot, Frankel said. Id been holding back and it made it real.

Despite the autumn chill, Park Square was warm in the kind of way that comes only from huddled masses holding one another through their tears, their prayers and their heartbreak.

Jane Perlman of Pittsfield said she really hasnt stopped crying since she learned of the attacks. Shes worried sick over the safety of former Pittsfield resident Susan Peled, a lifelong friend. Peled, who visited Perlman when she was a student studying in Jerusalem and fell in love with and married an Israeli man, lives in Israel with her children and grandchildren.

I call her every day to make sure she and her children are alive, Perlman said. I cant even express how devastated we all are. When she doesnt answer that phone I panic because she could be dead at any moment.

Perlman says she wishes she could rush to her friends side. She said she feels helpless a world away and unable to force the peace she so desperately hopes for. Perlman said the vigil stands as a small bright spot in her sadness.

This is the best Ive been  being with other people, Perlman said. Ive been able to stop crying.

I just felt like youre surrounded by hope.
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GREAT BARRINGTON  A town official testified Wednesday at the Statehouse about the need for legislation that would allow the town to tax expensive real estate deals to pay for affordable housing initiatives.

Leigh Davis, vice chair of the Great Barrington Select Board and chair of its Housing Subcommittee, told the Joint Committee on Revenue about the lack of available and affordable housing in the Berkshires, and her proposal for a real estate transfer fee.

In Great Barrington, Davis is proposing a 1-percent fee on purchases over $1 million that would be split by buyer and seller, then added to the town's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The proposal would first have to be approved by voters at annual town meeting in May.

Davis, who is also a newly-appointed steering committee member of the Local Option for Housing Affordability, testified in support of a home rule petition that grants the town a local option for imposing the fee. So far 18 Local Home Rule Petitions across the state are pending. Stockbridge is also considering enacting the tax.

Local Option for Housing Affordability is a coalition of leaders from across the state. It's working to promote bills in both the House and Senate that would give cities and towns the choice of whether to enact a fee of between 0.5 percent and 2 percent.

Davis, who also works for a nonprofit that creates affordable housing, told the committee that Great Barringtons housing is locked up. She said second homeowners are pushing residents out; that all-cash home sales made up about half of all sales in 2022. There arent any available motel rooms for shelter, either, she added.

And service workers, Davis added, are only making $19 an hour when they need to make $28 to qualify for fair market housing.

We're doing as much as we can but we just lack the resources, Davis said. The struggle is real.

Enter two separate bills that would allow towns to tap this new revenue source. One is sponsored by state Sen. Jo Comerford D-Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, and the other by state Rep. Mike Connolly D-Middlesex.

Leaders from other communities also testified in support of the fee. Wages in Boston also dont appear to be cutting it in the current housing market.

Were hearing the same thing from every corner of Massachusetts, said Rishab Ramamurthy, community organizer at Boston-based Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance. Graduates with steady jobs, great credit and adequate down payments simply cannot find a home they can afford.

Cindy Rowe, President and CEO of Boston-based Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, also supports the transfer fees, adding that the faith-based group views "housing as a civil right.
LENOX  Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

The barbaric terror campaign imposed on Israel by Hamas  the rulers of Gaza, one of the worlds most overcrowded, impoverished enclaves  has sent shock waves not only through the Middle East but worldwide.

The rampage by Hamas assailants included atrocities that surely will meet the test of war crimes  mass execution of 260 concertgoers at a weekend music festival; entire communities of settlers wiped out; bodies left in the streets.

The devastation has fueled outrage leading to an understandable desire for vengeance as the cycle of Mideast violence dating back to the establishment of the Jewish state 75 years ago reaches unimaginable levels of atrocity.

Now, a wartime emergency unity government has been formed, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opposition politician Benny Gantz and other officials.

The war drums are beating with frightening ferocity  360,000 Israeli troops and an array of tanks seem poised to invade Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians are crowded into a narrow coastal strip wedged between Israel and Egypt. The land  141 square miles  is much smaller than Berkshire County's 926 square miles, and half the size of New York Citys five boroughs.

Sealed off by Israel and Egypt, theres literally no escape. Gaza is an open air prison under a severe land, sea and air blockade imposed by the two bordering nations for 16 years, limiting what can go in, including medicines and medical equipment.

Now, with water, food, fuel and electricity cut off in a complete siege, missiles devastating neighborhoods, and a death toll soaring well past 1,000, including many women and children, Gaza is a humanitarian disaster already. Israel may be violating international law, even before a potential invasion.

The desire to wipe out Hamas as a political and military force is an appropriate strategy, but since its forces are embedded within the civilian population, the concept of "military targets" is irrelevant.

Netanyahu has labeled Gaza as a "wicked city," and back in 1992, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin said, "I would like Gaza to sink into the sea, but that wont happen, and a solution must be found."

President Joe Biden acknowledged to Netanyahu that international law must be respected. But Israelis are shell-shocked, following losses equivalent to at least 10 Sept. 11 massacres, given the nations population of 9.4 million and an inexplicable breakdown of the nations intelligence services.

No longer deeply split over their leaders alleged corruption and efforts to whittle down its supreme courts authority, the nations bedrock of democracy, the vast majority of Israelis are dead-set on retribution, and who can blame them?

But its hard to imagine how a military invasion would save the 150 hostages seized and still held captive by Hamas since last weekend (including up to 20 Americans). The terrorists threat to execute them one by one on live television if civilians in Gaza are attacked without warning must be taken seriously.

Gazas population includes about 1 million children age 15 and younger. Most of the people are descended from refugees created by the creation of Israel with no homeland for the Palestinians. And the goal of a two-state solution has long been abandoned.

Eighty percent of Gaza residents live in poverty, and over 90 percent do not have access to clean water.

Its hard for us here in the Berkshires not to feel helpless or, in some cases, totally disconnected from this unfolding disaster of epic proportions.

The ripple effects here have included Wednesday afternoons Community Vigil For Israel  Solidarity through Prayer and Song at Park Square in Pittsfield, planned by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires with other organizations and congregations.

Chabad of the Berkshires has been taking donations for support of Israeli victims, specifically for the Israeli family based in the Berkshires that lost two members in a massacre last Saturday, as reported by The Eagles Jane Kaufman on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes flattened mosques over the heads of worshipers. At least two hospitals, and two centers run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, have been hit. So have two schools run by the U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees, The New York Times reported.

Few warnings have been given before strikes and entire families have been killed in their homes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel said it believes Hamas members are hiding in homes, schools and hospitals. Hamas members are Palestinians from Gaza, so they live among the community.

You wanted hell  you will get hell, Israeli general Ghassan Aliyan said Tuesday. His nations death toll has topped 1,200 as of late Wednesday.

Gaza was part of the Ottoman Empire before being occupied by Britain from 1918 to 1948 and Egypt from 1948 to 1967. Nearly 20 years after Israel declared its statehood in 1948, the country captured the Gaza Strip from Egypt and the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war. Palestinians claim these territories and see them as part of a future state. Hamas came to power in Gaza after winning a 2006 election. No elections have been held since then.

With no "end game" in sight, where are the leaders with bold vision and imagination to call a halt to this mutual destruction that could lead to an even wider war in the Middle East?
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Midnight, a business innovation agency has announced the appointment of industry veteran Nick Liatos as its first associate partner, creative innovation.

Nick Liatos has been appointed as the first associate partner of creative innovation. Source: Supplied.

With nearly three decades of experience in the creative sector, Nick brings a wealth of creative leadership to this exciting role, where he will blend creative thinking with business innovation to help Midnights clients participate and win in the digital economy, says Naeem Seedat, managing partner at Midnight.

Global impact

Liatos kick-started his career at McCann Ericsson and spent the next 28 years making an enduring impact on both global and local creative landscapes. He has led creative thinking on a global scale, working on campaigns and strategies spanning various industry segments.

Liatos journey includes instrumental roles in launching some of South Africa's most successful agencies, including the prestigious Financial Mail - Ad Agency of The Year 2015, M&C Saatchi Abel, where he co-founded the Johannesburg operation and eventually assumed the role of executive creative director in 2014.

Innovation projects

Before his tenure at M&C Saatchi Abel, Nick founded the local independent agency 'Mick&Nick,' which was recognised as Ad Focus - hot shop agency of the year in 2009. From 2002 to 2007, he co-founded RMG: Connect, a part of the JWT group with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. RMG became the fastest-growing company in the JWT network.

Liatos most recently served as the executive creative director of Wunderman Thompson, overseeing JWT and Global Team Blue, the holistic offering for Ford South Africa, before embarking on his journey as ECD of Publicis Communications SA within the Publicis Groupe.

Liatos added: After a fulfilling career in advertising, Im excited to join Midnight, a next-generation business innovation agency. Im eager to direct my creativity towards sustainable innovation projects, moving beyond traditional brand communication. This shift empowers me to create purpose-driven solutions and to contribute to shaping the future of technology-driven creativity.

His extensive experience and visionary leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing creative-led business strategies that leverage innovative thinking and modern technology to help businesses thrive in today's ever-evolving Digital Economy, concludes Naeem.
Ornico, a leading media intelligence company, in collaboration with esteemed researcher Dr. Tersia Landsberg, Strategic Communications Specialist (PhD), is excited to announce the launch of the 2nd annual South African PR Measurement Landscape report survey.

Building on the success of the inaugural edition, this comprehensive research aims to track the evolution of PR measurement practices in South Africa. By participating, PR practitioners will contribute invaluable insights into the industrys progress towards embracing global best practices, including adherence to the Barcelona Principles and other best measurement and evaluation practices.

The survey encompasses a wide range of topics, from key performance indicators and metrics to emerging trends in PR measurement. The findings will not only offer a holistic view of the current PR landscape in South Africa but will also serve as a vital resource for professionals seeking to enhance their strategies and demonstrate the tangible impact of their PR efforts.

"We are thrilled to launch the second edition of this vital research initiative," said OrnicoGroup CEO Oresti Patricios. "The input from PR practitioners and brand communicators are crucial in understanding how the industry is evolving and where we can collectively strive for excellence in measurement practices."

PR practitioners, brand and government communicators across South Africa are encouraged to participate in the survey and be a part of this pivotal research effort. The results will be compiled into a comprehensive report that will be made available to all participants.

The research and findings will be discussed by a panel of industry experts (including international guests) during a launch webinar towards the end of November 2023, forming part of AMECs annual Measurement Month. AMEC (International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication) is the global trade body and professional institute for agencies and practitioners who provide media evaluation and communication research.

For more information and to participate, please visit https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/wfB37m.

About Ornico:

Ornico is a leading media intelligence company with a track record of providing cutting-edge solutions for monitoring, analysis, and reporting on brand performance in the media landscape.

About Dr Tersia Landsberg:

Dr Tersia Landsberg, Strategic Communications Specialist (PhD), is a respected researcher and strategic communications expert with a focus on public relations and communication management. Her expertise contributes significantly to the advancement of industry knowledge and best practices.
When #TheSkyIsYourCanvas, flying kites becomes a colourful expression of freedom, creativity, and joy. With each kite soaring high, dreams take flight, painting the heavens with vibrant hues of hope and imagination.

This October, Cape Mental Health is inspiring children, youth, and the young at heart to soar high by flying kites, raising awareness for mental health. Feel the wind's embrace, the tug of the string. Let your kite dance among the clouds, and explore the limitless possibilities that await when you let your spirit soar.

Thi October, Cape Mental Health's annual flagship event - the 29th Cape Town Kite Festival - comes together to raise funds that fuel the vital mission of providing essential, cost-free mental healthcare services and interventions to those who require it most. By investing in children and youth, Cape Mental Health lay the foundation for the prevention of mental health disorders, empowering young people to unleash their full potential and pursue their dreams without limitations.

In October, the sky which has no limits, will become a beautiful canvas adorned with messages of hope and encouragement. In times of trouble and adversity hope, support and kindness help us to hold on. Hope is the anchor that supports our mental health and gives us the courage to take one more step. It reassures us of better days to come  hope removes fear. As kites soar against the adverse winds, it helps us to dream about a future filled with possibilities, holding on and never giving up, saysDr Ingrid Daniels, Cape Mental Health CEO.

Cape Town Kite Festival - Pop-Up Fly

Age is no barrier to dreaming; everyone from the youngest to the oldest and every age in-between is invited to view and fly kites at Melkbosstrand beach in Cape Town on Sunday, 29 October 2023. The annual Pop-Up Fly enjoys wonderful support as hundreds of people flock to the beach on this family day to enjoy viewing the show kites flown by South African kiters Mari Ware-Lane, Bradley Ware-Lane, Bobby Gathoo, Brian Skinner, Wesley Beales, Frans Marais and others.

EduKite Competition

The Cape Town Kite Festival again hosts its EduKite Competition - a kite-decorating and kite-making competition for learners from mainstream primary school schools and schools for children with special educational needs, with monetary prizes to be won by the winning teams.

Unite with kite enthusiasts worldwide and take part in the 29th Cape Town Kite Festival, wherever you are, throughout October 2023. Soar high with your kite, capture the magic in photos and videos, and spread messages of inspiration. Share your kite-flying journey by tagging #TheSkyIsYourCanvas and @CTKiteFest, and standing a chance to be featured on the official CTKiteFest social media channels. This is an opportunity to unite to create a global celebration of the joy and beauty of kite-flying and mental health awareness.

Explore the captivating content on the CTKiteFest website, featuring an array of activities, and embark on a virtual journey to ignite your creativity and foster an appreciation for the art of kite flying.

Let's unite in support of mental health and create a brighter future for generations to come.
Crude oil prices are set to skyrocket after the attack on Israel. Israel is going to retaliate with full force. The attack has massive global implications.

Bertie Jacobs

On Saturday, 7 October, southern parts of Israel suffered a surprise attack on an unprecedented scale by Palestinian military group Hamas, leaving a wake of destruction, with more than 700 dead, thousands of injuries and a host of civilians taken hostage.

Israels response has been swift, with targeted air strikes in Gaza and talk of a ground incursion into the disputed region abounding.

Professor Andre Duvenhage, political analyst at the North-West University (NWU), explains how the attack and its consequences will affect South Africa. He gives context on the escalating situation and looks at what the future for the geo-political situation in the boiling pot of the greater region holds.

On the effect on South Africa

The implications for South Africa are many and far-reaching. We know that the ANC immediately gave their support to the Palestinian people and their right to attack Israel. The position of the government was a bit softer, asking for negotiations between conflicting parties  very similar to their position of non-alignment in terms of the conflict in the Ukraine. The South African context is a very complicated one. I believe that, ideologically, the ANC is closer to the Palestinian people, and to Iran and Russia in the background, than to the West, although the government will follow a non-alignment approach for economic and financial reasons. I think one very important implication is the price of crude oil, which is going to skyrocket. This may have a very negative impact on the South African economy, as it will in the rest of world. I know the Russians are cutting their production of crude oil by some 20 000 barrels, and the crisis in Israel is going to put more pressure on oil production. We know that Iran and Saudi Arabia are also playing a role, so we can expect this, explains Prof Duvenhage.

What to expect from Israel... and Iran

Israel is in a state of war, and they are going to take drastic action. I am expecting Israel to not only take on the Hamas and Hezbollah groups through air attacks, but I think there is going to be a ground invasion. Israel was not expecting the attack. They were completely unprepared and are now on the defensive, but that will not stay so for long.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has his own internal problems, and I will not be surprised if the lack of flow of information can be attributed to internal sabotage. There may be questions, because there are huge internal political fights involving corruption cases against Netanyahu, but it is clear that Israel is united at the moment. I am expecting a long, escalating war that may rocket to the level where world actors will become involved, says Prof Duvenhage.

I am expecting Israel to retaliate with all its power on all levels from the sea, from the land, from the air  even from space if possible. It means the region will be very destabilised in many ways.

According to him, one of the actors that may be activated is Iran  which has been accused from numerous corners as having helped to orchestrate the attack  as well as the USA.

We have already seen that the Americans are repositioned close to the coast or in the vicinity to support Israel where possible. There are also other forms of support coming from the West, and from a Western perspective, this is seen on the same level as the 9/11 attacks for the Americans. We also know what type of action the Americans took after 9/11 against Al-Qaeda and with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am expecting that the Israelis  with the support of the West  will follow a similar path, but then I am expecting very strong counter moves coming from the side of Iran and Lebanon.

What does the future hold?

We are currently living in a very unstable world, especially if you look at the greater Middle East. Think about Syria and what is happening there. Think about a nuclear Iran and the Russian-Ukrainian war that is going negatively for Russia, the close connections between Russia and Iran, and then we also know that Iran is in many ways supporting both the Hezbollah and Hamas. The conflict has definitely been internationalised and I will not be surprised if the attack on Israel is a deliberate attempt to take attention and support away from the Ukraine. I do not have any precise evidence to support that, but I think that may be the case, Prof Duvenhage concludes.
As businesses navigate the complexities of the post-pandemic world, the concept of purpose-driven leadership has gained significant traction, making it more than just a buzzword.

Source: Supplied. Lindi Monyae, head of Liberty Corporate.

Yet, this phrase embodies different meanings across industries, hierarchies, and geographies. For some, it's about aligning personal and company goals, while for others, it's a quest for meaning, fulfilment, and genuine impact.

This multifaceted idea: its nuances and implications for the modern workforce, will form the crux of Libertys second-annual Leading-Edge Symposium which kicks off at Sandton today.

The Liberty Leading Edge Symposium curated in partnership with Standard Bank  will provide a platform for renowned industry leaders to share their unique perspectives on the role of purpose in today's corporate landscape.

"The demand for purposeful leadership has never been more paramount. In an age where employees, especially the younger generation, are seeking more than just financial compensation, understanding, and harnessing the power of 'purpose' is integral. It's not merely about business growth; it's about shaping a holistic business ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders, said Lindi Monyae, head of Liberty corporate benefits.

Hosted by the renowned broadcast and financial journalist, Alishia Seckam, the symposium will feature an impressive line-up of keynote speakers, guest contributors, business owners, HR professionals, and technical experts  who together will share insights on how purposeful leadership, innovation, and viewing human capital as an invaluable asset can drive businesses forward.

Liberty's vision for business transformation

This year's theme, "Leading with purpose requires everyone to embrace purpose as the foundation of leadership. It encapsulates the current ethos of the business landscape. Its not just about making profits and reaching margins, but rather about pursuing the entrepreneurs dream; partnering with employees, and about building collaboratively on their businesses and implementing innovative solutions.

Solidifying this theme is Liberty's collaboration with Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking. Standard Bank brings with it a wealth of expertise and insight to the table, ensuring attendees have access to unparalleled financial acumen and a holistic view of the current business landscape.

As we delve deeper into the realms of purposeful leadership, our objective remains clear: to provide actionable insights that go beyond traditional thinking. With Liberty Corporate Benefits, it's not just about offering employee benefits solutions it's about understanding the evolving needs of businesses and their employees by demonstrating that when it comes to navigating the future of employee well-being and growth, we truly are in it with our customers, emphasises Monyae.

Liberty has long advocated for comprehensive employee benefits solutions that underpin the human-capital development programmes of its employer-customers. Last years symposium unpacked how small businesses can unlock the value of comprehensive employee benefits solutions without alienating their most important asset  their skilled and experienced employees.

Those keen to be a part of this groundbreaking event can find the details here.
Nepotism is not limited to isolated cases in Africa, but a trend throughout the continent. Allowing nepotism practices through family, friends and those least qualified to occupy leadership positions is tantamount to stealing Africa's future from its young generation. The liberation movement of the 1960s has not succeeded in addressing nepotism successfully as we see today that the post-colonial project has failed to resolve many socio-economic issues.

Prof Kedibone Phago

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently raised eyebrows  and elicited no shortage of criticism  when he appointed his son, David Mnangagwa, as deputy finance minister. What further irked opposition parties was the appointment of his nephew Tongai Mnangagwa as deputy tourism minister, with a number of claims that neither possess the necessary skills or experience for their respective positions.

In 2020, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, appointed his son Felix Tshilombo Tshisekedi as the head of the state-owned mining company, Gecamines. In Equatorial Guinea, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema have long been accused of nepotistic practices, and the same can be said of Cameroon President Paul Biya. These are not isolated cases, but a trend throughout the continent. South Africa is not exempt from this, with nepotism rearing its ugly head from the root to the top of the public sector tree.

According to Prof Kedibone Phago, director of the North-West University (NWU) in South Africas School for Government Studies, Africas needs to buck this trend, and it needs to do so with haste.

Allowing nepotism practices through family, friends and those least qualified to occupy leadership positions is tantamount to stealing Africas future from its young generation. This is because if resources are not properly managed to benefit Africans, but are only used to serve the interests of small political elite groups, the trap of a vicious cycle would remain intact and perpetual.

According to Prof Phago, there are a number of reasons for why nepotism is so prevalent in Africa.

Nepotism is a form of spoils system that rewards elections winners and their associates. It is closely associated with a system of cadre deployment and are both ideal to help us realise who is getting rewarded and who is not especially after a favourable election outcome (or even military take-over). This is indeed prevalent in most African countries and appears in various forms because there is a need to reward loyalty over competence.

In most cases this is not done based on a political ideology but merely based on loyalty and greed to plunder resources for individual gain. We also need to remember that this is a historical problem which was one of the modus operandi of the colonial project which sought to put pliant leaders and their families in positions of power. The liberation movement of the 1960s has not succeeded in addressing this successfully as we see today that post-colonial project has failed to resolve many socio-economic issues, bar only political emancipation, he explains.

This has dire consequences for Africas growth.

The issue of Africas economic growth or a lack thereof is imperative to be considered on this conversation because this is required to ensure that Africas Agenda 2063 is achieved along with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The AU Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals 2030 need to be some of the critical guiding instruments to ensure that African governments remain focused on critical developmental initiatives. This is because without any meaningful progress and development, these problems would be perpetual and difficult to address, says Prof Phago.

What then is the cure for this infection that is severely affecting the continents health?

Since this is a historical matter and many leaders are highly insecure, nepotism is considered a soft landing for them. This is because it rewards loyalty to the leader and help them to evade accountability from the relevant governance structures in place such as Parliament. There have been many attempts in the past that were directed towards addressing this matter and it remains an albatross on our governance systems because it is propped up by political and even military power.

This requires a strong mobilisation of the various sections of the society to get involved in influencing public policy in an active manner. Sectors such as civil society, academia and media need to join hands in setting an agenda which could exert an additional pressure and bring such matters on a spotlight as a way of making a case of ethical conduct as a basic requirement among leaders within the public sector. Perhaps we should consider continuous revision and provide better protection to whistle blowers and other citizens that report these malpractices to law enforcement agencies. The other problem here is also that some of the institutions lack capacity to investigate and lead to prosecution of these cases as they are usually pitted against political power.

Change is needed, and until accountability is prioritised, progress will remain more of a hope than a reality.
The 2024 Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards (BOWTA) winners have been announced, marking the 25th anniversary of the awards. The award ceremony took place at the Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in Hermanus on 11 October.

The awards recognise wineries in each of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network's member cities for their excellence in seven different categories, including art and culture, sustainable wine tourism, and wine tourism services, with the goal of celebrating innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the Western Cape.

Source: Supplied

The Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards, which were also announced, celebrate ongoing transformation, innovative sustainable practices, and authentic experiences in the South African wine tourism sector.

A total of 81 wine estates across the Western Cape entered the Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards 2024, all showcasing how they are elevating their wine tourism experiences for visitors, illustrating their region's rich culture, history, and wine heritage, and demonstrating their innovation and sustainability efforts.

Judging process

The judging process entailed an in-depth review process, with applicants being evaluated and shortlisted based on their submitted application forms. The final decision was then made by a total of thirteen judges - a panel of seven wine tourism expert judges, three Wine Tourism Ambassador Award judges and three roving judges.

To ensure a fair and thorough assessment, the expert judges conducted ghost site visits to all shortlisted wineries, allowing for an unbiased evaluation of the wine tourism experiences offered by each nominee.

At the end of September, the panel of expert judges and roving judges convened to present their findings and determine the winners in each category.

The process involved a careful consideration of various factors, including the quality of wine offerings, visitor experiences, sustainability initiatives, and overall excellence in wine tourism.

The winners in the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards for 2024 are:

Accommodation - Winner: Brookdale Estate

Wine Tourism Restaurants - Winner: Jordan Wines

Wine Tourism Services - Winner: Creation Wines

Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices: Winner: Vergelegen Wine Estate

Architecture & Landscape: Winner: Ernie Els Wines

Art & Culture: Winner: Creation Wines

Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences: Winner: Benguela Cove

Recognising excellence in the wine tourism industry is the Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards. The awards are designed to celebrate ongoing transformation, innovative sustainable practices, and authentic experiences in the South African wine tourism sector.

The following awards reflect South Africa's unique history and its evolving wine industry:

The Wine Tourism Diversity Award - Winner: Van Loveren

The Authentic South African Experience Award - Winner: Leopards Leap

Conservation Pioneer Award - Winner: Delheim Wine Estate

"The Western Capes wine tourism industry exemplifies the spirit of innovation, sustainability and commitment to excellence, making the province a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts from around the world," commented Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro CEO.

Not only are the Cape Winelands some of the most breathtakingly beautiful in the world but they go beyond conventional practices to produce our internationally acclaimed wines, from picturesque landscapes to organic farming methods and a commitment to environmental stewardship.

I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the 2024 winners for their exceptional efforts in providing outstanding experiences to our visitors and leading the charge in wine production integrity," added Stander.

Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said: Western Cape wine tourism continues to be recognised globally as some of the best in the world. More than this, our wineries strive to embrace sustainable practices as well as celebrate their diverse heritage, adding exciting elements to their product offerings.

'I would like to congratulate each and every nominee and winner of this years Best Of Wine Tourism and Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards, who raise the bar and push the boundaries of wine tourism excellence in this incredible province.

Year after year, the Best Of Wine Tourism and Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards continue to demonstrate the continuous growth and evolution of the wine tourism industry in the Western Cape and around the world.

"Wineries across the province have showcased their dedication to innovation and excellence in wine tourism by participating in these awards, and I wish to convey my sincere congratulations to all the winners and the industry at large for their continued dedication and support, said Monika Iuel, Wesgro executive responsible for tourism and BOWTA ambassador.

Wesgro, the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, is the custodian of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network membership on behalf of the wine tourism regions of the province.
Anglo American PLC has announced the appointment of Matt Walker as the new CEO of its marketing business. Walker will be stepping into the shoes of Peter Whitcutt, who has decided to step down after a commendable 33-year tenure with the company. Walker's appointment will be effective 1 December 2023.

Walker, a seasoned professional in the finance sector, joined Anglo Americans finance team in 2007. He has been serving as the group head of corporate finance since 2021, following a three-year stint as Group Treasurer. His diverse experience includes holding senior finance roles across Anglo American and serving as CFO of the copper business in Chile.

Duncan Wanblad, chief executive of Anglo American, expressed his delight at Walkers appointment. "I am delighted that Matt will be joining our executive leadership team as CEO of our Marketing business - an increasingly important value driver for Anglo American as our primary interface with our major industrial customers."

"Matt's financial and commercial experience gained across both corporate and business roles stands him in excellent stead to continue to develop our marketing platform to match our wider strategic ambitions for Anglo American."

Wanblad also acknowledged Whitcutts outstanding contribution to Anglo American over more than 30 years, including his role in building their marketing business over the last decade.

Whitcutt reflected on his rewarding career at Anglo American and expressed confidence in Walker and his team to continue growing the value of their marketing business. "Anglo American has brought me a fabulous variety of experiences throughout my career and I've been privileged to always work with such diverse and talented colleagues who have a real sense of purpose and commitment to our values. A real highlight has been developing the full breadth of marketing and trading capabilities and customer-centric services from our commercial hubs around the world."

"After ten years in role, I feel this is the right time to hand over the baton and I wish Matt and the team every success in continuing to grow the value of our Marketing business and its increasingly significant contribution to Anglo American."
While meetings play a valuable role as a forum to communicate, collaborate and innovate, most meetings today no longer serve a strategic purpose. They have, instead, become reflexive diary entries that contribute little and can, indeed, hurt more than help, a leadership expert says.

Companies would do well to consider the impact and the cost of meetings, and in particular recurring meetings, on various areas of the business, says Advaita Naidoo, Africa MD at Jack Hammer, Africas largest executive search firm.

Meetings have become so ingrained in the daily operations of most businesses, that we have stopped thinking about whether any particular meeting actually adds value. A meeting that doesnt add value cant merely be dismissed as an hour or two of wasted time, as there are additional hidden costs that need to be taken into consideration, she says.

A 2022 survey done by Microsoft, which polled 31,000 people in 31 countries, showed that more than two-thirds of them felt they didnt have enough time to focus at work.

The number one disruptor cited was inefficient meetings. It also showed that there had been a 190% rise in the number of meetings people were required to attend since 2020 - likely a direct result of increased remote working and managers seeking to keep tabs on the team.

But the time has come to take stock of the value of meetings and ensure that each meeting serves a purpose for all attendees, Naidoo says.

She says meaningless meetings amount to:

A waste of time and resources, which could have been used for other productive activities. Consider that it is not only the time spent in the meeting that is wasted, but also the time ahead of the meeting, which is spent on planning, as well as the interruption of flow to switch over from productive work to the meeting headspace, and back again thereafter.

Costly exercises in the case of in-person meetings, where funds are allocated to travel expenses, venue rental, catering and equipment.

A reduction in employee engagement and satisfaction, particularly for non-essential attendees. Meetings can be boring, frustrating and demotivating for employees if they are not relevant, interactive and meaningful. An extreme frustration for many, is sitting in an endless meeting from which nothing of value arises, all the while knowing how much real work awaits at the end.

A block on creativity and innovation, if they are too structured, rigid or formal. In large meetings, where only a handful of people make the bulk of contributions, divergent thinking, risk-taking and experimentation may be discouraged.

A delay in action and results, for two reasons: Firstly, if a decision needs to be made and can be made quickly and efficiently between the relevant parties via immediate communication, but is delayed until a meeting date in the future; and secondly, if decisions are not followed by effective execution. This can happen because meetings create a false sense of progress if they are not linked to concrete actions, responsibilities and deadlines.

Superfluous meetings dont only damage productivity and morale, but also have an impact on a companys bottom line by way of wasted hours which couldve been spent more productively, as well as direct expenses related to the meeting itself, Naidoo says.

Couple that with data that shows that most people have about four optimally productive hours a day, and it makes little sense to spend some of that time in meetings unless they are absolutely essential.

Defining the purpose

Of course not all meetings are pointless and a waste of time and resources, but determining whether one is necessary or not, is key. For a meeting to be purposeful, it should ideally seek to decide something, be used as an opportunity for a group to learn something, be an opportunity for a team to bond, or a chance to work collaboratively.

Naidoo says to eliminate the hidden cost and impact of meetings, companies should do an audit of all recurring meetings within teams, and eliminate unnecessary ones. Then, they should adopt clear policies for future meetings, which will incorporate best practices of meaningful meetings and effective meeting management. These include setting clear objectives and agendas for each meeting, inviting only relevant participants, facilitating active participation and feedback, documenting key points and action items, and following up on deliverables.

Some meetings are without question time well spent for a company and employees, and support growth and innovation. By all means, keep these meetings and fine-tune them so that they are a good return on investment. But for all the other meetings, which contribute little except annoyance for employees and hidden cost to the company, consider letting them go, and freeing up time and other valuable resources.
In celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child , the Cape Town Science Centre has partnered with Google to provide training in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to South African girls. The training, which took place at the Cape Town Science Centre, was attended by girls aged 10 to 13 years old, many of whom had little or no prior exposure to AI and robotics.

This initiative aims to bridge the gender gap in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), providing a supportive and empowering environment to inspire the participants. The girls are encouraged to explore and foster their interest in potential STEM careers, particularly those related to AI and robotics. The training offers insights into the real-world applications of AI and robotics, and includes practical, interactive workshops that allow the participants to experiment in the captivating realm of AI and robotics.

It is essential to make a conscious effort to give South African girls the opportunities and support they need to develop an interest in and pursue careers in STEM. We are particularly excited with the partnership between The Cape Town Science Centre and Google, which is a promising step in bridging the gender gap in STEM, says Theresa Ely-Felino, coding and robotics manager, at Cape Town Science Centre, says.

Career guidance

The training programme covered a range of topics, including the basics of AI, introduction to coding, and how to build and program simple robots. STEM projects from other girls were also showcased to inspire the participants, and there were sessions on STEM career guidance.

The outcome expected from the STEM training is an increased awareness and interest among girls about AI and robotics, enhanced confidence and motivation to pursue STEM-related education and careers, building a supportive community of girls interested in STEM, and encouraging hands-on learning and creative problem-solving.

In Southern Africa, even though the enrolment of girls in secondary education is higher than for boys, many of them drop out before completing their secondary education. Moreover, most of those who complete secondary education lack the required proficiencies in numeracy, science and the digital skills necessary to enrol in STEM related programs at the tertiary education level.

According to UNICEF, with only 28.5% of young women in South Africa graduating tertiary institutions in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related careers, the widening gender gap in schools must be addressed.

Inclusion can drive economic growth

Inclusion in technology is not only a matter of equity but also a significant economic growth driver. Partnering with the Cape Town Science Centre (CTSC) is in line with Googles commitment to support digital skills and create sustainable structures for tech education and inclusivity in South Africa, says Siya Madikane, Communications and public affairs manager, Google, South Africa.

This collaboration between Google and The Cape Town Science Centre to train girls in STEM is not about creating a quick fix to the complex issue of tech inclusivity, but it's about consistent, progressive efforts to ensure that the technology sector in South Africa is more inclusive, and diverse.

Google is committed to diving inclusion in the tech industry, ultimately supporting gender parity in the digital economy in South Africa.
Tripplo, a Johannesburg-based logistics software platform, has secured a $1.8m (R34m) equity investment to close out its seed funding extension round.

Source: Supplied

The round was led by Futuregrowth Asset Management (representing Old Mutual Life Assurance Company South Africa) and followed by Galloprovincialis. The two investors join Standard Bank of South Africa, Founders Factory Africa and Digital Africa Ventures.

This capital injection is said to further enhance Tripplo's vision of becoming the best logistics platform globally and its mission of revolutionising the logistics industry, driving innovation and efficiency in the movement of goods.

Tripplo helps businesses across multiple sectors streamline their road-freight supply chains, manage rates with contractors, process trips end-to-end electronically, optimise routes, track in real-time, process documents, facilitate working capital for trucks and make data-driven decisions that reduce costs and enhance overall efficiency.

"We are thrilled to welcome Futuregrowth Asset Management and Galloprovincialis as strategic partners on our journey to reshape the logistics sector," says Victor Chaitezvi, founder and CEO of Tripplo

Amrish Narrandes, head of private equity/capital at Futuregrowth Asset Management, expressed his excitement about the investment, saying:

"The movement of goods is the lifeblood of the South African economy. This investment in Tripplo not only underscores the importance of logistics in our nation's growth but also emphasizes the critical role of innovative management in driving such endeavours.

"We're not just investing in a platform; we're investing in a vision and a team that can truly make a difference."

"This funding round is a testament to the faith our investors have in our vision and our ability to disrupt the industry for the better. We are excited to accelerate our growth and continue delivering innovative solutions to our clients," adds Chaitezvi.
The Advertising Media Forum's (AMF) second edition Project Mentor workshop for the AMF Young Minds in the media industry was held recently.

Image supplied. the host of 94.7s Night Pulse, Bolele Polisa speaking at the AMF Project Mentor

The initiative forms part of AMFs commitment to upskilling and connecting the next generation of media strategists, buyers, and planners.

The workshop, which gathered media graduates, interns, and juniors from across Johannesburg, offered the AMF Young Minds a complimentary day of panel discussions showcasing industry heavyweights like Thulani Sibeko and Paulo Dias and expert-led training sessions covering emotional and physical wellbeing, EQ, and leadership.

Media professionals are crucial

The AMF is committed to playing a role in the career guidance and success of all the young minds joining our industry. We established Project Mentor to create a platform to promote peer-to-peer engagement, networking, and mentorship of future media professionals from across the industry, says AMF Chairperson, Koo Govender.

Media professionals are crucial in advertising and marketing; they have a significant impact on what consumers experience daily yet are often overlooked.

They influence consumer perceptions of various brands across industries and collaborate with all marketing and communication disciplines to present brands effectively to the public.

This is why initiatives such as this are so important in fostering a more engaged and well-connected industry filled with peer-to-peer engagement and long-standing open relationships.

Empowering young media professionals is essential in injecting the industry with fresh perspectives and creative ideas, says Govender.

She adds, Acknowledging and nurturing these budding talents not only cultivates a vibrant and dynamic industry culture but also ensures a continuous stream of innovative strategies that resonate with our diverse and constantly evolving audiences.

Importance of continual learning

The workshop speakers emphasised the importance of continual learning. Keep learning to keep growing, there is too much change happening in the industry to stop learning, shares visionary brand builder, Thulani Sibeko.

Additionally, the workshop featured a talk on navigating a career in media, presented by Bolele Polisa, the host of 94.7s Night Pulse, who encouraged Young Minds to not give up on their dreams. It is important to invest in your dream and everything you do in your career should be aligned with your dream and where you are headed.
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez transformed his country into a de facto narco state, stealing elections with drug money and stacking state security services with crime lords. A Department of Justice motion against the jailed politico shows the US knew of his shocking crimes all along.

Just weeks after the 2014 inauguration of former Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernandez, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) learned the countrys new leader was deeply embedded with the countrys mammoth narco trafficking network. Yet months after the ostensibly anti-drug agency obtained video evidence demonstrating that Hernandez effectively authorized drug trafficking in Honduras, the DEA rolled out the red carpet for the Honduran president at their Northern Virginia command and control center.

The commitment in these matters is impressive, and to see the work that this government has done in these last monthsit is incredible, declared Commander of US Southern Command, John Kelly, touting Hernandezs dubious anti-narcotics campaign during the June 2014 meeting.

As established in the first part of this series, Hernandez came to power in Honduras following a US-backed coup that placed his Washington-aligned National Party at the helm of government in Tegucigalpa. The coup triggered an explosion of crime and poverty, which in turn unleashed a succession of migration waves towards the US-Mexico border. And as US officials watched, Hernandez transformed Honduras into a de facto narco state.

Since then, Honduran cartel leaders have come forward to confess to US Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors that they paid bribes to install Hernandez and his predecessor, Porfirio Lobo, as president. Prosecutors allege that throughout the National Partys reign, Lobo and Hernandez fueled their respective political careers with drug money, and directed the resources of the Honduran state into the service of narco lords.

Juan Orlando wielded incredible influence and partnered with some of the most notorious narcotics traffickers in Honduras, allowing them to flourish under their control, states a May 1, 2023 prosecutors motion in the case.

The DOJ case against Hernandez raises serious questions about whether the DEA has played a double game in the illegal drug industry. The case reveals that while officials at the agency were well aware of Hernandezs status as a narco kingpin, Washington continued to lavish his administration with US taxpayer dollars and weapons. Eventually, US officials went so far as to rubber-stamp Hernandezs dubious reelection victorydespite a constitutional one term limit on the Honduran presidency.

Raul Pineda is a Honduran lawyer and analyst who worked in his countrys Council to Fight Drug Trafficking. He told The Grayzone that Hernandezs main achievement was to create a fourth estate of drug trafficking within the republican model of governance.

Hernandez began to replace [the old narco kingpins] with institutional trafficking, where military personnel and police were used [for protection], along with the cover of prosecutors and judges Pineda said. He tried to replace narcos with elected military personnel, with police officers, with elected politicians accompanied by an entire structure of media, opinion leaders, and organized political groups.

According to Pineda, Hernandez transformed Honduras into a pivotal transit center for the drug trade: He built six airports in a country of nine million inhabitants. And each airport, some of which have recently had three plane accidents in one year, had the sole function of being a logistical platform for drug trafficking. So instead of the plane landing on a dirt road, it landed on a paved runway and they paid for using it.

All along, the DEA worked with Hernandez to provide the illusion of an anti-narcotics policy. The DEA has very little credibility in the world of interdiction agencies, Pineda said. After all, the DEAs highest decoration was awarded to Manuel Noriega. And the head of the Southern Command repeatedly came to Honduras to praise the virtues of Don Juan Orlando Hernandez.

The story of Honduras narco-state is largely a tale of fraternal ties  Javier and Leonel Rivera of the Los Cachiros cartel; Miguel Arnulfo and Luis Antonio Valle of the Los Valles cartel; Alex and Hugo Ardon of the AA Brothers cartel; and Tony and Juan Orlando Hernandez of the Honduran government, which, while not a cartel per se, effectively operated as one. The saga came to life in US court documents filed with the US Southern District of New York, where former president Hernandez currently faces trial for weapons and drug trafficking charges. His brother, Tony, was convicted of nearly identical charges in October 2019 and ultimately sentenced to life in prison.

Much of the proceeding investigation is based on first hand witness testimony supplied by the Rivera, Valle, and Ardon brothers  all of whom have since surrendered to US authorities and cooperated as witnesses against Tony and Juan Orlando Hernandez.

According to Pineda, Hernandezs ambition to formalize the business of drug trafficking within the countrys political structure generated enemies among some drug traffickers who had protection, or had their agreements with the United States government and who began to denounce and inform on some clumsy activities that Mr. Hernandez got involved in. But, the Honduran lawyer maintained, this was not just an individual case, but a system-wide problem.

Eliminating the barriers between state, family, and the drug trade

Among the leading architects of the Honduran narco regime was Victor Hugo Diaz Morales, a cartel operative known as El Rojo who worked intimately with Tony Hernandez until 2017, when the US authorities captured the latter in Guatemala. Now cooperating with the US government, Diaz Morales has since admitted to committing or participating in 18 murders, shooting his own wife in the face, ordering a hit on the three-year-old daughter of a rival trafficker, contributing $100,000 in bribes to Porfirio Lobos presidential campaign, and to forking over $40,000 to Juan Orlando Hernandez in 2005.

According to a May 1, 2023 motion filed with the US Southern District Court of New York, between 2004 and 2016, with the protection of Juan Orlando, Diaz Morales and Tony Hernandez transported approximately 140,000 kilograms of cocaine through Honduras.

Though US prosecutors trace Juan Orlandos financial links with Diaz Morales as far back as 2005, they maintain it was during his time as President of the National Congress, between 2009 and 2014, that his ties with local cartels truly cemented. As explained in part one of this investigative series, Hernandezs ascent began after a US-backed coup in Honduras removed its democratically-elected government and installed the passionately pro-Washington National Party in power with the help of local drug traffickers, whom have since confessed to bribingand even terrorizingvoters into supporting the party.

Juan Orlando was elected President of the National Congress in January 2010, after local drug boss Alex Ardon of the AA Brothers cartel paid influential lawmakers to endorse his candidacy. With their National Party ally, Porfirio Lobo, in the presidents office and Juan Orlando in place as chief of the national legislature, Tony Hernandez and his ally, Diaz Morales, expanded their presence in the highly profitable underworld of the regional drug trade.

US prosecutors assert that as of January 2010, Tony began collaborating with Ardons AA cartel and another local drug gang called Los Valles to run narcotics through Honduras and into Mexico. There, they provided the infamous Joaquin El Chapo Guzman and his Sinaloa Cartel with mass quantities of cocaine and with heavily armed security for the transport of those shipments, to the United States.

Having officially eliminated the barriers between state, family, and illicit business, the Hernandez brothers embarked on a mission to convert Honduras into a de facto narco regime. Around the time of Juan Orlandos January 2010 assumption of the National Congress presidency, a five-star General named Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares began rising through the ranks of Honduras national police force. That same year, Tony would tell Diaz Morales that he and his exceptionally powerful brother had helped Bonilla advance his position within the Honduran National Police and that in return, Bonilla protected their drug-trafficking activities.

According to US prosecutors, Tony also confessed that Bonilla was very violent, admitting that he and his brother had entrusted Bonilla with special assignments, including murders.

Once accused of running death squads in Honduras, Bonilla was the perfect figure to serve as liaison between local law enforcement and the Hernandez brothers nascent criminal empire. By 2012, Juan Orlando had leveraged his influence to install Bonilla as Chief of the National Police, where he worked to ensure that law enforcement did not interfere with Tony and Diaz Morales narcotics operation, even offering sensitive information about law enforcements aerial and maritime interdiction operations to help them avoid seizure. Bonilla would also assist in eliminating the Hernandez brothers industry competition, orchestrating the murder of a rival drug trafficker on behalf of Tony and his business partner, Alex Ardon, in 2011.

By 2013, Bonilla had become the U.S. governments go-to man in Honduras for the war on drug trafficking, in the words of the Associated Press.

Bonillas elevation represented only the surface level of Juan Orlandos corruption of the National Congress. When the Supreme Court ruled against his effort to assert more authority over the National Police force in November 2012, Juan Orlando promptly fired four judges and moved to replace them with his own allies. The powerplay succeeded that December, when Juan Orlando ordered the military into the street and surrounded Congress with dozens of police officers as lawmakers swore in four new justices that were loyal to him.

Though he had yet to officially secure the presidency, by 2013 Juan Orlando was easily the most powerful political figure in Honduras. He and his brother were so confident in their clout, in fact, that Tony and Ardon began stamping kilos of cocaine with their initials TH and AAa brazen act that flaunted their impunity. US prosecutors assert that between 2010 and 2012, Tony and the Ardon brothers distributed approximately two or three cocaine shipments per month using helicopters, planes, boats, and trucksshipments that amounted to roughly 40,000 kilograms of cocaine bound for the United States.

El Chapo finances the Juan Orlando election campaign, US officials legitimize the victory

As Portofino Lobos term wound to a close in 2013, Juan Orlando geared up for his own presidential campaign. Court documents filed with the US Southern District Court in New York in Juan Orlando Hernandezs case detail a meeting his brother, Tony, convened in Mexico to prepare for his brothers run that year. His primary cohort in Mexico would be none other than the notorious El Chapo Guzman of the Sinaloa cartel, who offered to finance Juan Orlandos campaign to the tune of $1 million.

After Juan Orlando accepted the generous donation, Tony and his business partner, Alex Ardon, headed to meet one of the worlds most notorious narco traffickers  this time accompanied by a high-ranking, machine gun-toting officer in the National Police who flanked Tony. There, they counted out the massive cash sum at a table alongside El Chapo.

Having secured their Sinaloa reserve fund, the Hernandez brothers turned their attention back home, appointing Alex Ardon and his brother, Hugo, to lead the National Partys re-election campaign in the northwestern Departamento de Copan. Alex later confessed to distributing roughly $1.5 million in drug proceeds to politicians throughout Copan, bribing nearly every mayor in the region into supporting Juan Orlandos campaign. Hugo, meanwhile, accompanied two other Hernandez brothersAmilcar and Marcosas they traveled between towns with low National Party support to financially woo local election officials.

In the event their bribery scheme failed, Hugo even confessed to contracting an engineer tasked with shutting down Honduran government servers on election day so that the vote count could be manipulated in Juan Orlandos favor. Juan Orlando would obtain a second million dollar cash injection from a high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member later in his campaign, as well as a $300,000 bonus US prosecutors describe as a final push delivered hours before election day.

El Chapo and the AA Brothers cartel were not the only international drug kingpins who viewed Juan Orlandos campaign as a worthwhile investment. Brothers Javier and Lionel Rivera of the Los Cachiros cartel have also since confessed to paying bribes on behalf of Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Yankel Rosenthal, a Honduran lawmaker and member of one of the handful of ultrarich family dynasties that controlled the countrys economy, gifted the Hernandez campaign $250,000 in drug trafficking proceeds. (Hernandez subsequently appointed Yankel Rosenthal Minister of Investment Promotion in 2014, months before US authorities arrested the oligarch in Miami on money laundering and drug trafficking charges).

In addition to the corruption of Honduras 2013 presidential campaign documented by US prosecutors, local media recorded multiple instances of vote buying as well as voter and poll worker intimidation on election day, including an incident in which 50 individuals tasked with tallying ballots were held captive by armed and masked gunmen until the national vote count had ceased. At least 18 opposition activists were assassinated in the lead up to the vote, while two election observers were murdered the night before polls opened.

Seen in the context of this rampant electoral corruption, its no surprise that 59 percent of Hondurans went into the November 24 vote operating under the assumption that it would be fraudulent.

Though his challenger, a popular sportscaster named Salvador Nasralla, challenged the votes outcome, Hernandez declared victory on November 24, the night of the election and immediately appointed a transition team.

I recognize the announced results and what our observers saw during the process, then-US Ambassador to Tegucigalpa, Lisa Kubiske, told local media on the morning of November 25even as over half of Honduran ballots remained uncounted.

There were no major incidents, so in that sense everything went well, she added.

Then-US Secretary of State also chimed in to legitimize the victory by Hernandez, which had been bought and paid for by narco traffickers. The Honduran people turned out in record numbers to vote on November 24, Kerry stated on December 12, 2013, and we commend the Honduran Government for ensuring that the election process was generally transparent, peaceful, and reflected the will of the Honduran people.

When Hernandez was inaugurated weeks later, the regions most vicious cartels consolidated their grip on the Honduran state.

Narco traffickers infiltrate the Honduran security services

US officials had been made aware of Hernandezs criminal activities within weeks of his swearing-in ceremony. Throughout February and March 2014, Leonel Rivera of the Los Cachiros cartel began surreptitiously recording conversations with Honduran officials and other drug traffickers as part of his cooperation with the DEA. On February 6, he rendezvoused with Tony Hernandez and other business associates at a restaurant in Tegucigalpa. After Rivera forked $50,000 over to the presidents brother, the men discussed Juan Orlandos administration making payments to the Cachiros through government contracts issued to a front company operated by former president, Porfirio Lobo.

Weeks following his reunion with Tony, Rivera met up with drug trafficker and former Yoro city mayor, Arnaldo Urbina Soto, to discuss tactics to avoid US sanctions on the Cachiros cartel. Soto assured Rivera that he had discussed the issue with Juan Orlando, who advised him to conduct his business affairs with caution.

The problem will arise when people dont exercise discretion, Juan Orlando told Soto in a recorded conversation.

By the time Rivera formally surrendered to the DEA in January 2015, he had provided the agency with ample evidence of the double life President Hernandez led as a narco boss.

But even as the US gathered shocking testimonies of Hernandezs transformation of Honduras into a narco state, the president enjoyed a whirlwind of meetings with high-profile Obama Administration officials and business leaders during his first year in office.

On February 11, 2014  less than a week after Rivera recorded Tony Hernandez discussing his brothers cartel activity on behalf of the DEA  Juan Orlando met with then-Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, William Brownfield, and then-Commander of US Southern Command, John Kelly. According to posts on Juan Orlandos social media accounts, their discussion focused on cooperation we seek to strengthen the fight against what he described as the scourges of organized crime and drug trafficking.

That April, President Hernandez accompanied US Ambassador Kubiske on a US military tour of an anti-trafficking facility at the Soto Cano military base just South of Tegucigalpa. The facility would be operated by an elite unit of the Honduran police known as the TIGRES, formed under the directive of Juan Orlando during his time at the helm of the legislature. Trained by US Special Forces, TIGRES would ultimately answer to the Chief of the Honduras National Police  the dirty cop and Hernandez drug trafficking co-conspirator, Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares.

Within months of their inaugural graduation in June 2014, a TIGRES unit assigned to the US embassy in Tegucigalpa was suspended for stealing $1.3 million during a joint DEA raid on a Los Valles cartel compound. The botched operation was meant to capture the brothers that led the gang and extradite them to the United States. The missing cash was later discovered on mountainous land central to the Los Valles operation, split between 19 bags.

As explained above in this report, Los Valles had been collaborating with Tony Hernandez and his business associate, Alex Ardon, to run drugs to El Chapo and his Sinaloa cartel in Mexico since 2010. That was the year that Juan Orlandos ascent in the National Congress cemented their illicit conspiracy with Bonilla, the police commissioner.

Honduran authorities arrested the brothers at the top of the Valles operation, Miguel and Luis, in October 2014 and extradited them to the US to face drug trafficking charges two months later. Juan Orlando approved the crackdown on Los Valles in retaliation for the Valle brothers having organized an assassination plot on the presidents life, according to US prosecutors.

Juan Orlando prioritized his relationship with US officials throughout the months leading up to the Valle brothers extradition, meeting with Southcom Commander Gen. Kelly at least six times. He also continued to butter up Kubiske, the ambassador, attending a US Independence Day celebration at her official residence to deliver a rousing tribute to Americas role in the region.

Later that month, Hernandez arrived in the US capital for a junket that featured summits with the US government and defense contractor-funded think tank, CSIS; Democratic Party leader Nancy Pelosi and a bipartisan group of lawmakers; and a tour of Chick-fil-A. Finally, he was joined by fellow leaders of Northern Triangle states to meet with then-Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama.

Kubiske retired from her post in Tegucigalpa the following month  but not before Hernandez awarded her the Order of Francisco Morazan, named for Central Americas anti-colonial liberator, for her outstanding work on behalf of the Honduran people.

(Today, Kubiske boasts on her LinkedIn page that she actively supported free, fair, transparent 2013 elections. Helped strengthen counternarcotics and anti-money laundering systems. Supported sustainable economic reforms.)

Hernandezs 2014 charm offensive also included an April excursion to Panama City for a regional summit with the World Economic Forum; a bipartisan meeting with US Senators in November; and an encounter with then-Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, that same month. He also participated in multiple gatherings convened by the Alliance for Prosperity, a failed initiative Biden launched to promote security in Latin America via neoliberal development.

Though Juan Orlando would remain in Washingtons good graces for several years, the Hernandez brothers narco empire suffered a severe blow on November 3, 2015, when local media reported that TIGRES special forces had surrounded a compound housing their premier co-conspirators, Alex and Hugo Ardon of the AA Brothers cartel.

US prosecutors later revealed the Ardon brothers then decided to negotiate only with representatives of the DEA  a request US officials immediately granted.

Washington tightens embrace of Hernandez following another stolen election

Hernandez began distancing himself from his little brother in 2016, as local media homed in on Tonys drug trafficking operations. Having stacked the Supreme Court with loyalists while heading the National Congress, Hernandez then moved to amend the constitutional one-term limit on the Honduran presidency and set the stage for his re-election on November 26, 2017. According to US government prosecutors, by then Hernandez and his National Party controlled all aspects of the Honduran government.

Juan Orlandos drug trafficking co-conspirators again provided millions of dollars of drug money to Juan Orlandos campaign to ensure that Juan Orlando would remain in power and their massive cocaine operation would remain protected, states a May 1, 2023 filing by prosecutors.

As ballots were counted on election night, the national electoral tribunal suddenly announced technical difficulties were preventing them from finalizing a tally. Though Hernandezs opponent was ahead at the time of the mysterious shut down, the incumbent managed to inch out a victory once government servers were up and running again. According to US court filings, cartel operative and Hernandez ally, Hugo Ardon, was told that an engineer purposely made [the] computer system fail to help Juan Orlando.

They shut down the system 466 times until they started winning again, Geraldo Torres, today the countys Vice Minister of Foreign Relations, told The Grayzone in 2019. We went to the streets and we were on the streets for a month, fighting

When then-US ambassador to Honduras, Heidi Fulton, appeared before the nation to in December 2017 to declare Washingtons formal recognition of Hernandezs victory, however, the movement had been crushed.

Then [Washington] provided the support of the United States military forces and continued giving money to Hernandez, Torres recalled in 2019. People are aware that the United States embassy is the only reason why Juan Orlando Hernandez is still the president of Honduras. The United States would give more than a half a billion USD to the government of Juan Orlando over the course of his second term, according to ForeignAssistance.gov.

At the time of Hernandezs 2017 triumph, some among the Western corporate Western establishment were already turning against him. An op-ed by Bloombergs editorial board that December urged US officials to support new elections in the country, blasting the deeply flawed ballot-counting process that included long delays, after which Hernandezs early deficit mysteriously disappeared. Even so, the New York Times continued to hail Hernandez as an ally who has cooperated on issues that concern Washington in Central America  including stemming the flow of illegal drugs.

US officials similarly maintained their embrace of Hernandez. The former Southcom Commander, John Kelly, who once described Hernandez as a good friend was by then President Trumps White House Chief of Staff. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, meanwhile, thanked Hernandez for targeting drug traffickers after an April 2018 meeting.

Back in 2019, before she replaced X as Honduras president, the leftist politician Xiomara Castro lamented to this reporter that the US came in here and forced a president on us who won through fraudulent elections. They came in and said this is the one, like an emperor coming down from his throne, choosing whoever he wants.

And who do they choose? Castro continued. Someone who has skeletons in his closet, because thats how the United States works  they pick someone who has legal problems or is involved in drug trafficking so they can control them for their own interests.

A DEA informant meets a gruesome ending

Within months of the Honduran presidents summit with Rubio, the Hernandez narco empire began to crumble. In June, Honduran military police recovered multiple firearms, grenades, a large amount of US currency, and drug ledgers bearing Juan Orlandos initials.

They discovered the cache while arresting a local narcotics trafficker named Nery Lopez Sanabria.

Next, on November 23, 2018, US authorities picked up the presidents kid brother, Tony, during a visit to Miami. He was convicted on weapons and drug trafficking charges in October 2019.

Just over a week later, Lopez Sanabria  the local trafficker connected to Tony Hernandez  was savagely assaulted by knife wielding assailants inside a Honduran supermax prison, then shot multiple times as his motionless body bled out on the floor. The grisly gangland-style murder occurred shortly after Lopez Sanabria received an unauthorized visit from Jose Amilcar Hernandez, a brother of Tony and Juan Orlando.

Nery Orlando Lopezs ledgers were used to convict Tony Hernandez  brother of US-backed Pres. Juan Orlando Hernandez  for drug trafficking. This shocking video shows Lopez being murdered days later in prison in Honduras. Warning: extremely gruesomepic.twitter.com/mzyMa19Rpp  Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) November 10, 2019

Lopez Sanabrias lawyers maintained their client was preparing to cooperate with the DEA against the Hernandez narco empire. Just over a month after his killing, one of his legal representatives, as well as the warden operating the prison where the killing occurred, were also assassinated.

Despite Tonys arrest and October 2019 conviction, Juan Orlando remained in office until the official end of his term, on January 27, 2022. Nineteen days later, Honduran authorities arrested Hernandez and extradited him to the United States on drug and weapons trafficking charges.

Meanwhile, back at DEA headquarters in Washington, the so-called war on drugs continued apace.

Read part one of this series, Trial of Honduran ex-president reveals Washingtons protection of narco-state.
The European Commission frequently plays up the digital wallets convenience, with messaging boasting that users will be able to use the Wallets to check into hotels, file tax returns, rent cars, and securely open bank accounts. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the following in a 2020 State of the Union address, where she proposed the concept of a secure European e-identity:

Every time an App or website asks us to create a new digital identity or to easily log on via a big platform, we have no idea what happens to our data in reality. That is why the Commission will propose a secure European e-identity. One that we trust and that any citizen can use anywhere in Europe to do anything from paying your taxes to renting a bicycle. A technology where we can control ourselves what data is used and how.

Certainly, von der Leyen is correct that we have no idea what happens to our data when we create online accounts or log in to private services, positing that Digital ID can work to solve a core problem many people have when using the internet.

But critically, the European e-identity, and digital identification methods generally, pose a bevy of new issues for civilians in both the short and long term. Namely, while Digital ID can provide users access to services, a 2018 WEF report on Digital ID admits the tools propensity to exclude; [f]or individuals, [verifiable IDs] open up (or close off) the digital world, with its jobs, political activities, education, financial services, healthcare and more.

And indeed, within the control of a corrupted state or other governance structures, Digital IDs propensity to close off the digital world appears ripe for misuse or abuse. Researcher Eve Hayes de Kalaf, for example, writes in the Conversation that states can weaponise internationally sponsored ID systems against vulnerable populations. She highlights an example from the Dominican Republic, where long-term discrimination against Haitian-descended persons manifested in the stripping of their Dominican nationality in 2013, rendering them stateless.

Meanwhile, its not difficult to imagine others falling through the digital cracks as Digital ID systems become mainstream and interconnected with, if not a prerequisite for, accessing critical social and financial services and supports.

As Jeremy Loffredo and Max Blumenthal elucidate in 2021 reporting for the Grayzone, for example, the 2017 introduction of Aadhaar, Indias biometric ID system, which tracks users movements between cities, led to a spate of deaths in rural India as difficulties accessing the Aadhaar system functionally blocked goods and benefits recipients from accessing the countrys ration stores, leaving them to even starve. Indias Scroll reported that, in a random sampling of 18 villages in India where biometric authentication had been mandated to access government-subsidized food rations, 37 percent of cardholders were unable to obtain their rations.

Despite the devastation it has caused, Aadhaar has ultimately been promoted as a success, and Rest of World reports that Indias setting up international partnerships to export its popular Unified Payments Interface (UPI), an instant payment system which uses the Aadhaar biometric ID system as its base, elsewhere.

Clearly, Digital ID poses significant possible societal harms if implemented hastily. Despite these possible harms, as I note for Unlimited Hangout, a near-universal adoption of Digital ID systems increasingly appears inevitable, with Juniper Research [estimating] that governments will have issued about 5 billion digital ID credentials by 2024, and a 2019 Goode Intelligence report [suggesting] digital identity and verification will be a $15 billion market by 2024.

Further, legislative strides have been made towards the digital wallets interoperability across the EU. In other words, key services are being hyper-centralized across borders and digitized in ways more traceable than paper counterparts could have been  all at the authorities fingertips.

Critically, the EUDI Wallet is apparently slated to connect with or otherwise include financial services, where EU citizens will be able to use their EUDI to open bank accounts and even apply for loans. Further, language from a European Central Bank policy brief on the European Digital Identity Framework suggests that the EUDI wallet will bring benefits to all the stakeholders of the payment ecosystem even including foreseen support for the digital euro.

While the European Commissions keen to spotlight the EUDIs alleged benefits for the stakeholders of the payment ecosystem, it appears less eager to discuss the dangers surrounding the plausible, if not likely, linkage of digital identity with money, and especially digital currencies, where elite capacities to track, or even manipulate or block civilians abilities to accept or make payments, could be unprecedented.

In short, EU Digital Identity Wallets are slated to be convenient for everyday civilian use. At the same time, these wallets, and other adjacent digital ID systems budding elsewhere, could also be convenient for governments and governance structures looking to surveil, monitor or otherwise manipulate or control critical aspects of citizens lives en masse.

The DIIA Connection

Despite its lack of EU member status and war on its hands to boot, Ukraine is involved in the EU Digital Wallet pilots. Namely, as I reported on my Substack, DIIA, Ukraines hyper-centralized state-in-a-smartphone app, is assisting the EU Digital Wallets rollout. In fact, Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov highlighted in a Telegram post from July that DIIA representatives had even showed off the DIIA apps capabilities at the POTENTIAL (Pilots for European Digital Identity Wallet) Consortium this summer.

Notably, many of the EU Digital Wallets use cases being tested in the pilots are already reality with Ukraines DIIA app. Indeed, Ukrainians use DIIA for a range of day-to-day activities, including to verify their identities to use banking services, hold a variety of digital IDs (such as drivers licenses and biometric passports) and even pay certain taxes and access social services for families. Ukraines Ministry of Digital Transformation has emphasized its intention to make all public services available online: DIIA is to be the one-stop-shop for these services.

And, as Ive mentioned before in previous reporting for my Substack and Unlimited Hangout, DIIAs scope creep continues as conflict deepens, with the app providing war-adjacent services. Ukrainian civilians affected by war have received stipends through the app, for example, and can also verify their identities through DIIA to sign into e-Vorog (e-enemy), a chatbot that allows Ukrainian citizens to report information about Russian military whereabouts to the state.

All together, these conditions suggest DIIA may serve as a kind of blueprint for or precursor to Europes adjacent Digital Wallet, where the EU Digital Wallet, already a centralized application slated to assist citizens in a number of critical day-to-day services, could take on a growing number of government services across the European Union. While it remains to be seen what happens with the Digital Wallet rollouts in Europe, the wallets EU-wide implementation and smartphone app format, where features can be easily introduced, removed, or edited at will, means that scope creep on a comparable scale cannot be ruled out.

Conclusion

Many people are understandably interested in digital documents and other easy ways to access public services and complete tasks in a digital age. But these services and tools, when facilitated by states and adjacent governance structures, and unaccountable members of the private sector, come with significant ethical and surveillance concerns that should be extensively discussed and debated by the public. In this respect, it appears the prospective EU Digital Identity Wallet is no exception.

But debate or not, Digital Wallet pilot rollouts and EU member states respective Digital ID adoption is ongoing, with an EC press statement explaining that everyone will have a right to have an EU Digital Identity accepted in all EU Member States.

And while the European Commission communicates there will be no obligation to use an EU Digital ID Wallet, EC report Communication 2030 Digital Compass: The European Way for the Digital Decade elucidates that a 2030 target for the EU is for 80 percent of citizens to use an electronic identification solution. Ultimately, the mixed messaging leaves room for speculation that, even if Digital IDs are not obligatory when introduced, the general population could somehow be nudged or eventually even mandated into adopting Digital IDs to access key public services.

While Digital ID proponents emphasize the tools capacity for convenience and security in an increasingly online world, the ethical and privacy issues Ive highlighted here signal that, if rolled out hastily, the EU Digital Identity Wallets could ultimately have disastrous and lasting consequences for privacy and civil liberties. And, once implemented, it seems Digital IDs could be difficult to roll back even if unpopular, ultimately nudging people into a technocratic nightmare they cannot easily escape.

In short, the dangers posed by emerging Digital ID systems like the EUDI Wallet cannot be discounted as Europe grows into its digital decade.

Stavroula Pabst is a writer, comedian, and media PhD student at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Athens, Greece. Her writing has appeared in publications including Propaganda in Focus, Reductress, Unlimited Hangout and The Grayzone


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NEW DELHI (PTI): India and China held two days of military talks in an "open and constructive manner" for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh and agreed to maintain peace on the ground.



A statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the 20th round of military talks on October 9 and 10 provided no indication of a breakthrough to end the lingering standoff in the remaining friction points.



It is learnt that in the talks, the Indian side strongly pressed for resolution of the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.



The MEA said the two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms.



The latest round of the Corps Commander level talks was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).



"The two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector, in accordance with the guidance provided by the national leadership of the two countries, and building on the progress made in the last round of Corps Commanders' meeting held on August 13-14," the MEA said.



"They agreed to maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms," it said in a statement.



"They also committed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in the interim," it added.



The government refers to eastern Ladakh as the Western Sector. It was the second such occasion when the talks panned two days.



In the 19th round of talks too, both sides agreed to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh in an expeditious manner.



The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.



The Indian delegation at the talks was headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, the Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps while the Chinese team was led by the commander of the South Xinjiang military district.



India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.



The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.



The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.



As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.




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Postal Code
Budget 2024 did not do enough to secure the future economy of the country, according to a representative of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec).

Ibec's executive director Fergal OBrien told RTE radios Today with Claire Byrne show that while Budget 2024 was balanced and appropriate for the current economy, not enough is being done to really secure the sustainability of the economy for the long term.

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Corporate tax had grown from 5 billion seven years ago to 25 billion, Mr O'Brien noted, but not enough was being invested in the future, he claimed.

He said the infrastructure fund announced in the budget was really positive for Ibecs members, but not enough was being invested in things like education, research and science, upskilling and competitiveness issues, particularly in the experience economy, such as hospitality and related sectors.

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"There are a lot of costs coming on to business, and I think the one-off measures are good."

However, he warned: "I think businesses are really going to feel the economy becoming a higher-class economy over the next number of years, and we would have concerns about a lot of business viability and ultimately employment in that sector."

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Mr O'Brien said measures such a minimum living wage, statutory sick leave and pensions will mean extra costs for businesses, some of which would have tight margins and will not be able to survive.

"I think some of those won't be able to survive without proper support in the indigenous sector.

"I think you'll probably see less employment. I think businesses will be desperately looking at ways to reduce their employment levels, but also you're just going to have to see that passed on to the consumer.

"So the consumer will have to pay for a large amount of this as well," he said.

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He added: "We have two or three more years of these labour cost increases to come through, and we need to figure out how we want to manage the transition.

"We want to move to a higher value economy, better quality jobs, and that's all super, but right now we're not investing enough in the education or the research, the science and the upskilling that we really need to.

"We still have [1.5 billion] surplus sitting in a national training fund that employers are paying into. We can't seem to find a way to get that money out, but they're the kind of things that would help you build a more sustainable economy.

"So lots of good things, but probably things that we need to start planning much more strategically for the long term as well."

Mr OBrien pointed out that recommendations from the Commission on Taxation and Welfare have still not been implemented, adding that ultimately more is going to have to be paid in taxes to maintain the quality of public services.

He warned the tax base needs to be broadened so the State is not so reliant on corporate tax receipts.
The High Court has been urged to overturn a finding that Web Summit pays 20,000 to a landlord for damage caused to a house in Dublin that the company rents for its staff.

A Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) tribunal awarded the landlord 20,000 after it found that the damage from flooding was caused by non-normal use of the kitchen sink due to coffee granules, grease and other food waste blocking the drain pipe.

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Web Summit Services has rented Strathmore, a five-bedroom house in Dartry since July 2015 to provide accommodation for new and visiting staff who work for the Dublin-based global tech and business conference organiser. The rent was 3,900 per month.

Landlord Aidan Hall brought a case before the RTB last year seeking damages for flooding in the property in 2021.

Web Summit had to move out for two weeks to allow work to be carried out. The damage from flooding meant replacing all the ground-floor tiles, joinery, skirting boards, water-damaged plasterboard, timber-flooring and the underfloor heating system, the landlord claimed.

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A drain cleaning company said a blockage was caused to the kitchen sink by coffee granules, grease and other food being put down the drain The landlord claimed the cost of the repairs was some 100,000 although he accepted the maximum the RTB could award was 20,000.

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Web Summit, which claimed the flooding was caused by structural defects in the property, said the landlords figure was extraordinary and extortionate. It estimated the repairs cost was between 8,000 and 12,000.

An RTB adjudicator awarded Mr Hall 14,633, having deducted 5,310 for the cost of Web Summit's alternative accommodation while repairs were done.

Web Summit appealed this finding to a RTB tribunal which upped the award to 20,000 after finding the company was responsible and that the damage was caused by non-normal use, in breach of tenant obligations and of the lease.

Web Summit then further appealed to the High Court which heard the case on Thursday.

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Normal wear and tear

Colmcille Kitson BL, for Web Summit, said it was their case the tribunal erred in law by finding the damage was not normal wear and tear over a six-year period since the tenancy began.

No reasonable tribunal could have concluded there had been a blockage in the kitchen sink drain because of abnormal use, he said.

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Such blockages could be caused by small deposits of food waste over six years and that was found by the adjudicator to be the case, he said.

On appeal, the tribunal made no determination as to whether the sink was used in a normal or abnormal fashion, he said. Where the tribunal cannot make a decision either way, the benefit must go to the tenant, he said.

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In its statement of opposition, the RTB denied there was an error in its interpretation of the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act relating to normal wear and tear during a tenancy.

Micheal OConnell SC, for the RTB, said the adjudicators finding did not have any status because once it went before the tribunal it was a fresh hearing.

While the Web Summit counsel accepted certain actions, like pouring a pot of paint down the drain, were not normal use, it was also effectively an acceptance that pouring the contents of a deep fat fryer into it was also not normal, he said.

There were reports provided by the landlord from plumbers about why there was a drain blockage but there was never any explanation from the tenant, he said.

There was no explanation, for instance, to say the tenants had used a compost bin to dispose of the coffee grounds.

The tribunal, he said, was entitled to infer in the absence of contrary evidence that it was abnormal use.

Mr Justice Cian Ferriter said he would give his decision next week.
Amy Dowden has said the support of fellow dancers and staff at Strictly Come Dancing allowed her to feel liberated when she returned to the show not wearing a wig.

During an appearance on the BBC dancing show on Saturday, the 33-year-old Welsh dancer emerged from behind a golden fringe wall, sporting a shaved head and white glittery dress to read voting terms and conditions.

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Dowden has had a mastectomy after discovering she had stage three breast cancer, and would be unable to have a celebrity partner on the show this year.

She told Wednesdays Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two: So my wig wasnt ready for the dress run because the last time Id worn it, I had hair at Strictly.

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Dianne (Buswell) was just going on all day at me saying You know you look so beautiful, dont wear your headscarf.

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I went out and did it in dress run and I just realised like the Strictly family treated me no different they just give me so much love and support.

I spoke to production beforehand, the hair and make-up girls were going dont wear the wig  and I just felt really liberated and I didnt tell anyone, I didnt tell my husband, my parents because I wasnt quite sure. I was nervous.

(Husband and dancer) Ben (Jones) said to me when I went home I could tell you were nervous but Im so glad I did it (because) now it doesnt matter if Ive got my wig or not.

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On Sunday, she also went without her wig during the Pride of Britain awards and wore a pink breast cancer awareness pin.

The Caerphilly-born dancer also spoke about how showing herself being shaved on social media was inspired by other people she had met through raising awareness of cancer.

Amy Dowden has been raising awareness of breast cancer since being diagnosed. (Jake Morley/BAFTA)

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She also said: I found losing my hair really traumatic I couldnt even brush my own hair in the end my husband had to I couldnt look in the mirror in the end because I was bald on top.

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One night I told my family that Im shaving it tomorrow. I hope to use my platform to help others and give them the courage and the strength they need. And actually, the response I got was just so overwhelming.

She also gave an update on her health treatments saying that she is over halfway through chemotherapy with another session on Thursday.

Dowden added: Im not going to lie it is tough but Im staying strong and positive. I just want to raise as much awareness as I possibly can and get everybody to check (for cancer).
A Kilkenny man wanted over the killing of another Irishman at a Costa Blanca villa in Spain has died.

Spain had just issued a new international arrest warrant against Simon Fahy after declaring him in contempt of court following an earlier failed bid to have him extradited from Ireland over the alleged love triangle killing.

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The 30-year-old was one of six people, including prime suspect Wayne Walsh, facing trial following a long-running investigation sparked by the January 2019 discovery of Carl Carrs body in a shallow grave by a motorway. The 38-year-old Dublin man had been reported missing by his British hairdresser girlfriend around five months earlier.

It emerged overnight that Fahy, from Loughboy, Co Kilkenny, died last Friday.

Fahy was first made a wanted man as the suspected co-author of Carr's death by Spanish authorities four years ago before their initial extradition request was rejected by Ireland.

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A death notice on RIP.ie carried his photo and said he would be sadly missed by his heartbroken mum and dad and other relatives and friends.

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It added a funeral would take place privately for family and close friends only.

The circumstances surrounding his death have not been made public, although it is understood it is not being treated as a crime.

Trial

A start date for the trial to which Spanish authorities wished to add Fahy has not yet been set. However, sources said prosecutors have issued indictments against the other suspects, adding it is likely to be scheduled for sometime next year.

All five suspects arrested in connection with the investigation into Carr's death are on bail, including 35-year-old Walsh, who was one of Carrs flatmates at a residential estate in the Costa Blanca town of Torrevieja.

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Among the three female suspects are a part-time model and a bar manager to whom Walsh had been romantically linked. They face lesser charges, including concealment.

A court source said: The investigating judge decided a trial could take place last month following a lengthy criminal probe.

Indictments against the accused have been presented and the case has been sent for trial at a higher provincial court.

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Another source added: Fahy was investigated in this case and the investigating court asked the Irish authorities to locate him after deciding the case should go to trial and inform him of the decision and his legal obligations.

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The Irish authorities replied saying they couldnt find him at an address they had for him and the Spanish judge issued an international arrest warrant against him.

That is still in place and will remain so until the courts here have proof of his death.

Discovery

Mr Carrs body was found in January 2019, buried by the AP-7 motorway between the Costa Blanca towns of Benijofar and Algorfa.

He had last been seen in September 2018 after a night out in nearby Cabo Roig.

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Spanish police said they believed he was killed in a fight with a knuckle-duster before his body was driven to woods 20 minutes north of his home and buried alongside bleach used to clean up the scene.

Investigators suspected Walsh saw red after being told his former partner Mily Leonard, who is also facing trial, had become romantically involved with his flatmate.

Locals said at the time Walsh had started seeing Mily again after a split, but was also sleeping with bar manager Natalie Edwards.

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After the discovery of Carrs body, his mother Marie said: I believe he was killed because of a romantic triangle, by a man he knew who accused him of dating one of his girlfriends.

He told me twice in the last conversation we had that he loved me. Those were his last words, I love you Mam.

Saying he spoke regularly to his two young children in Ireland, she added: I knew this was never a voluntary disappearance. He talked to his children every day and he talked to me every second day.

Whoever did this to my son must pay the consequences.

In March, it emerged Walsh had been re-arrested in Spain as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking organisation.

He had been released on conditional bail in August 2020 while he continued to be investigated over Carrs death.

Spain's Civil Guard subsequently held him on suspicion of leading a gang based in the Costa Blanca resort of Torrevieja, which was using parcel and courier companies to send drugs to Ireland, the UK and the US.

The judicial investigation into the drug allegations is still ongoing, but sources said Walsh had also been released on conditional bail in that case.
Spanish judges have approved Kinahan mobster Liam Byrnes extradition to the UK.

They rejected his extraordinary claim at a court hearing last month Britains request to hand him over should be refused because of the risk of inhumane and degrading treatment there.

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But they did scupper the UKs plans to put the Irishman in the dock for conspiracy to pervert the court of justice, which can carry a life sentence, by rejecting his extradition on that charge because his alleged actions wouldnt have constituted a crime in Spain.

The conspiracy accusation relates to Britains claim Byrne was part of a plot orchestrated by Thomas Bomber Kavanagh in a bid to get a reduced jail sentence on drugs charges he was facing which involved planting weapons in the North and directing authorities to find them.

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The trio of judges who ruled against Byrne following his hearing at the Audiencia Nacional, Spains Madrid-based High Court, said they were happy to send the 41-year-old back to the UK for trial on the other 12 firearms and ammunition offences included in its extradition request.

The Drumlin-born criminals fate now hangs on an appeal against the decision his lawyer Jaime Campaner is expected to lodge in the coming days which will be ruled upon by more judges.

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It was not immediately clear today whether Bombers son and suspected Kinahan gang member Jack Kavanaghs extradition had also been approved.

His separate Audiencia Nacional hearing took place straight after Byrnes on the same day.

It later emerged Kavanaghs legal representative is Chilean Gonzalo Boye, who was jailed for 14 years for helping terror group ETA kidnap a Spanish businessman and qualified as a lawyer while he was still behind bars.

Kavanagh, arrested at Malaga Airport on May 30th while transiting from Dubai to Turkey, watched the proceedings from a prison on the Costa del Sol.

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Byrne, held on June 4th on a UK-issued international arrest warrant at a restaurant in the Majorcan town of Alcudia as he ate dinner with his children, will remain in custody at a prison near the island capital Palma while his appeal is decided.

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Extradition expert Mr Campaners insistence his clients wellbeing could be at risk in jail in Britain was rejected on the grounds it wasnt specific enough and he would have recourse to an internal complaints system if he suffered mistreatment.

His argument the Irishmans extradition would also violate his human rights because the only evidence against him is hacked messages on encrypted communications network Encrochat was also turned down.

The Spanish extradition judges said it was up to a UK court to decide whether it was admissible as evidence and it didnt constitute a reason for rejection of Britains request.

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Bryne, who flew to Majorca for a family holiday from his hideout in Dubai, is said to have taken over from Bomber Kavanagh after his recent conviction for drugs and money-laundering offences resulted in him getting a 21-year jail sentence.

Britains National Crime Agency has accused both Jack Kavanagh and Liam Byrne of being involved in the alleged weapons conspiracy to get Jacks father a reduced sentence before his conviction.

Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency said in June after the pairs arrests in Spain: This investigation is part of the NCAs ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group.

"Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.

We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.
Former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson has described the Hamas attacks, such as that on a party in which Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti was killed, as serious war crimes.

They were not justified by what had been happening to the Palestinian people under occupation, she told RTE radios News at One.

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It does not justify the horrific killings and the kidnappings which are war crimes. And we must be very, very clear on that and we must not be ambivalent. And there is no question we have to treat them separately. These are war crimes. And I want to talk about accountability.

Mrs Robinson said she had been very glad to hear US President Biden say that Israel must comply with the rules of law.

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There are rules of law, international humanitarian law, international human rights law. And already, sadly, Israel is in serious breach of its obligations. It is carrying out a massive, indiscriminate bombing of Gaza. So civilians are suffering, 1200 have been killed already in the last few days. And I don't know how many are injured. And on top of that, there is the siege and blocking food and fuel and electricity and water. That is a war crime.

When it was pointed out that the Israelis were claiming the blockade was to ensure the release or recovery of their citizens who had been taken hostage, Mrs Robinson, said the situations could not be compared.

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This is collective punishment against a whole population, many of whom don't support or don't like Hamas. It completely has to be dealt with on its own, cannot be in some way a bargaining chip or something. We also need much more protection of civilians.

We should be talking about at least if the bombardment continues, safe havens, if the ground troops go in, safe havens for civilians, and also we must have humanitarian aid go in. And I am very glad that the EU has spoken very clearly about this and spoken about continuing to support UNRWA and humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian.

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Mrs Robinson pointed out that there is a UN permanent commission on the occupied territories, Israel, which issues reports from time to time. It has just announced it is examining the war crimes on both sides and in relation to what happened since the 7th of October, since last Saturday, and the ICC, the International Criminal Court, has jurisdiction.

"And yesterday, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Imran Khan, acknowledged that he has jurisdiction over what is happening now over the war crimes by Hamas, over the war crimes by Israel in not being proportionate, in not having safe havens and having collective punishment, and above all else, in a siege that's cutting off water and food to an undernourished population.

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"Of the two million (in Gaza), a million are children. I mean, it's inconceivable. And the point I want to get across, and Ireland may be able to play a role here, unfortunately, because Israel doesn't want to be accountable.

"The United States has not supported the International Criminal Court in relation to Israel. It does in relation to Ukraine, but not Israel. And Western countries have been, to say the least, ambivalent and have not supported it.

Now is the time to support accountability. There's also an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which would be looking at the legality of the whole occupation. So these are steps that can help us with. We can't go back to the status quo.

Both Ban Ki-Moon and myself saw it was just boiling point. We have to move forward. And now is probably not the time. We've got to try and contain the present calamitous situation. But Ireland, I think, by talking more about accountability, could help.
Opposing funding for the redevelopment of Casement Park is incomprehensible, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has said.

Ms McDonalds comments came after DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted there would be no extra money from Stormont for the project.

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Ms McDonald addressed the media in Belfast alongside vice-president Michelle ONeill and party colleague Conor Murphy.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (centre) addressing the media at Belfast City Hall alongside vice-president Michelle ONeill and party colleague Conor Murphy (Claudia Savage/PA)

Ms McDonald said the project would benefit all communities in Northern Ireland.

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I find it incomprehensible that anybody would be against something that brings so much obvious good for everybody, she said.

This is a good news story for everybody right across the North, for sport, for the economy, for relationships between Britain and Ireland, north and south.

So I think rather than complaining about or looking a gift horse in the mouth, we need to grab this now with both hands, make it happen, and, of course, get the executive back up and running.

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As well as a series of legal challenges, the redevelopment has also been hit by rising costs, with an original projected price tag from almost a decade ago of 77.5 million now believed to be well above 100 million.

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The GAA is part-funding the project but has yet to reach an agreement with Stormont on how to cover a multimillion-pound shortfall.

The derelict Casement Park in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA)

Ms McDonald said the Casement Park redevelopment would be receiving a substantial investment from the Irish Government.

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There will be a contribution from Dublin, its not a confirmed figure, it would be a substantial investment from Dublin and rightly so, she said.

Its a very, very important part of sporting infrastructure, particularly for Gaels in the North, but beyond that Im sure the GAA will confirm, but it will be open for use by other sporting codes and for other purposes.

So Dublin will be a partner in this, equally British government and, of course, the GAA itself.

She added: It can happen now and the Euro 28 gives that impetus and that context for this incredible project to be finally taken over.

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Uefa confirmed on Tuesday that Ireland and the UK will jointly host the tournament and as part of that successful bid, Casement Park has been listed as one of the stadiums where games will be played.

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The redevelopment would give the now-derelict stadium a 34,000-person capacity.

Ms McDonald said politicians should follow the example of sporting associations backing the Casement Park redevelopment.

I think that everybody in politics should take their lead from the sporting associations themselves, she said.

Because what I know is that the IFA and the IRFU, along with the GAA, are very much behind this project, and I think theyre leading from the front.

And I want to commend them for their collaboration, for their sense of what is good collectively for everybody across the north.

And I think everybody in politics, lets just take note of that and follow that example.

Ms McDonald said the Euros being held in Ireland and the UK in 2028 was great news, not just for the north, but for all Ireland and indeed, Britain.

Casement Park is a flagship project. Its been agreed and its been delayed for 10 years, she said.

Its been agreed, and its going to happen, and I think thats a fantastic news story for everybody concerned.
President Michael D Higgins has led the tributes to Kim Damti, a 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman who has been confirmed dead after an attack by Hamas at a music festival in southern Israel.

In a post on social media, her sister Laura said: With great sorrow and gloomy grief, I announce the killing of our angel, our flower, Kim, my blood, who was murdered by the cursed terrorists."

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Her funeral will take place on Thursday at 5pm at the cemetery in Gedera, south of Tel Aviv.

The surprise attack by Hamas started at daybreak on Saturday with thousands of rockets fired into Israel and militants entering Israeli villages and murdering civilians.

Ms Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site.

In an interview with ABC News on Monday, Kim's mother Jennifer Damti, who is originally from Portlaoise, said her daughter had phoned them shortly after.

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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.

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Kim Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site.

"The circumstances in which her life was taken, having travelled as she did to attend a music festival, are truly appalling," President Higgins said.

"It is not only those of us who are parents, but all of those who feel that young people should be free to attend events with their peers in conditions of safety, who will find such circumstances where a young life is taken so appalling.

"Kim's death once again reminds us what an outrageous breach of fundamental international law in conditions of conflict it is to target civilians in this way.

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"May I send my deepest condolences to Kim's family, friends and all those with whom she shared her life.

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"Suaimhneas siorai da hanam.

Statement by President Higgins on the death of Kim Damti https://t.co/7gir8nnSSe  President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) October 11, 2023 Advertisement

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "As a nation we are united in mourning for Kim Damti. This vibrant young Irish-Israeli woman was struck down in her prime, with her adult life ahead of her. Her death, and the deaths of more than a thousand other citizens of Israel and from around the world, was senseless and barbaric.

"Kim gave happiness and joy to her family and those around her. As we learn of her death, we pause to think of her, her family in Israel and Ireland and of all those now grieving in countless other nations."

Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen said: It is, of course, devastating news for Kims immediate family in Israel. And her extended family here in Laois in Ireland. We're thinking of them and were respecting their calls for privacy and sending them our prayers.

They are in our thoughts at such a horrible time for them and for the nation there in Israel, impacted by such a terribly brutal and revolting act of terrorism by these jihadist terrorist Hamas organisations. And just hope that peace will eventually prevail.

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Mr Cowen told Newstalk Breakfast that it was hard to comprehend that some TDs had not condemned the attack by Hamas on the music festival. Its hard to comprehend, to be quite honest. You know it's no different than the Electric Picnic being massacred and there's no whataboutery or justification that could be contemplated for such an act of total barbarism.

There are issues that have arisen as a result, of course, of that. The first priority of international reaction is to ensure that all those impacted within the Gaza Strip presently. And I would hope that the powers that be within the UN and the EU will act and insist on that being the case."

The chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, Maurice Cohen has extended condolences on behalf of the Jewish community in Ireland with the family of Kim Damti.

Kim's mother Jennifer Damti is originally from Portlaoise.

Although I never had the privilege of knowing her personally, the photos that I've seen online depict a vibrant young woman radiant with hope and joy. Her adventurous spirit comes through, and the zest for life there were evident. And it makes it all the more devastating to think of her life being taken away by terrorists, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

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Kim, along with countless others, lost their lives during the Peace Music Festival in Israel and in nearby kibbutzim. And the thoughts of now 1,300 individuals, I understand, including men, women and children being targeted while enjoying a music event, observing religious traditions is just heart-wrenching. This was the Sabbath, a day of rest for many Jews and also the last day of such a joyous festival.

We are traumatised by these events here in the community, and I suppose Kim's death alongside so many others. It just underscores the urgent need for peace and the inherent value of human life. The terrorists responsible for this act, driven by what can only be described as a malevolent ideology, have shown a blatant disregard for these values. And their actions and beliefs are in stark contrast to the principles of peace and coexistence. And it's imperative, really imperative that our leaders of the Dail and Seanad unequivocally condemn such acts; anything less could be perceived as tacit approval.

Mr Cohen said that most Irish people of the Jewish faith will have family and friends in Israel. We have also a large growing Israeli population here, too. My wife's cousin, whose mother lived here in Dublin, Terenure, until she was in her twenties, her and her son, my wife's cousin, his sister in law, was found murdered in the last two days.

Even though we try not to imagine the barbarity, we cannot always succeed. And though we try to think that we are safe in Ireland, our homeland, where most of us were born, we cannot always succeed. And though we want to give one last hug everybody to those that were murdered and those that were slaughtered. We definitely cannot succeed in that. - Additional reporting from Vivienne Clarke
The new interim chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said there is a big list of things which need to be sorted in the force.

Jon Boutcher, the former police chief of Bedfordshire in England, said he wanted the PSNI to get back to what it does best, which is policing and keeping people safe.

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The PSNI vacancy arose with the resignation of Simon Byrne after a number of controversies.

These included a significant data breach in which the personal details of all officers and staff were mistakenly published online, and a critical High Court ruling that said two junior officers had been unlawfully disciplined for their actions at a Troubles commemoration event.

The Police Federation said that the temporary chief constable has a frightening in-tray.

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Mr Boutcher confirmed when he spoke to the media in Belfast that he has stepped down from his position as head of Operation Kenova, which has been investigating the activities of Stakeknife, the British Armys top agent in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

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Simon Byrne resigned as PSNI chief constable following a number of controversies (Liam McBurney/PA)

He would not comment on whether he has applied for the permanent chief constable position.

Mr Boutcher said: Having worked in Northern Ireland for a number of years now, I am aware of the challenges the organisation faces and how distracting and frustrating recent events have been for everybody.

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The PSNI needs a period of stability and to simply be allowed to get on with doing the job they do best, which is policing.

The staff should know they have my full support in doing that.

Northern Ireland is a unique operating environment for policing in the United Kingdom and everybody should be immensely proud of the PSNI and the commitment, professionalism and the bravery of its staff.

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Asked about the challenges he faces, Mr Boutcher said: There is quite a big list of things that need to be sorted.

I think we all know the officers and staff have been through a really difficult time.

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My immediate position is to reassure them that they have got my confidence and that they are doing an outstanding job.

So lets get back to doing what we do best, which is policing and keeping people safe.

There is a big list that we could go into about various things which need to be addressed and I will start tackling that next week.

Police Federation chair Liam Kelly said he hoped Mr Boutchers appointment would bring some badly needed stability to the PSNI.

He added: The in-tray that awaits him is frightening.

He will have to tackle the fallout from the data breaches as well as the loss of trust and confidence from the Judicial Review which found that his predecessor and the current deputy chief constable acted unlawfully in the case of the two officers involved in the Ormeau Road incident.

An important first step towards re-building officer morale and restoring internal confidence would be an early announcement by Mr Boutcher that he will not be appealing the judicial review decision. 

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The new interim chief constable has said he would make a decision very quickly on any appeal against the High Court ruling.

Policing Board chair Deirdre Toner joins Jon Boutcher in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Boutcher previously applied to become PSNI chief constable in 2019 but lost out to Mr Byrne.

The job advertisement for the temporary role said the successful candidate will be in the post for a minimum of three months, with the potential for further extension.

The salary is 219,894 a year.

Applications for the permanent chief constable role will close on October 16th.

Northern Irelands new police chief will have a number of issues to deal with, including a budget crisis.

Senior officers have estimated that security and legal costs from the major data breach could potentially cost the force 240 million.

Last week the Supreme Court issued a ruling on a long-running legal claim over holiday pay, which could see the force having to make back payments of tens of millions of pounds.
Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip after the Islamist militant group Hamas sent its fighters across the border early Saturday, where they killed more than 1,300 Israeli civilians and soldiers.

The Palestinian Gaza Strip has been a frontline of conflict with Israel for decades and cut off from much of the outside world for 16 years. Here's a primer on the coastal enclave's recent history, and its long-running economic isolation.

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Modern Gaza emerges through conflict

The Gaza Strip's boundaries were established in the wake of the 1948 war between the newly declared state of Israel and Arab countries, when Egyptian forces seized the sparsely populated 40km-long territory including Gaza City.

Egypt held Gaza for most of the following two decades, until Israel seized it during a 1967 war. It became a focal point of Palestinian uprisings that kicked off in 1988 and again in 2000.

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An aerial view shows the southern Israeli town of Sderot with Gaza City in the distance. Photo: AFP via Getty

With a comprehensive peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians seemingly out of reach, Israel evacuated all its settlers and soldiers from Gaza in 2005.

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The blockade starts

After its unilateral exit, Israel imposed a temporary land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza, imposing curbs on exports and severely restricting who could access the territory.

Citing security concerns, the blockade became permanent from 2007 onwards after Hamas, which seeks the destruction of Israel, took control of the Gaza Strip, defeating fighters loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas in a brief civil war.

Palestinians in front of the concrete wall that separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt. Photo: AFP via Getty

Egypt, which shares a 12km border with Gaza, has largely supported the blockade, viewing Hamas as a threat to its own stability.

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Living conditions

Human Rights Watch has said Israel turned Gaza into "open-air prison", with Egypt's help, for the enclave's fast-growing population, which is currently put at 2.3 million people.

In a 2023 report, UN agencies estimated that 58 per cent of Gaza Strip residents required humanitarian assistance with 29 per cent of Gazan households living in extreme or catastrophic conditions, the top two tiers of severity, against 10 per cent in 2022.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says food assistance is required by 1.3 million people. More than 90 per cent of water in Gaza is unfit for drinking, the Palestinian Water Authority says.

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A volunteer cook distributes food prepared with ingredients obtained from donors, to help needy families in an impoverished neighbourhood in Gaza. Photo: AFP via Getty

Very few Palestinians get permits to visit relatives or friends in the West Bank, but Israel had recently increased the number of work permits for Gazans. For most Gaza residents, the Rafah crossing to Egypt is the only gateway out, but travellers must register weeks in advance, and the waiting list is huge.

In August, Egypt allowed 19,608 exits from Gaza, the highest number since July 2012, according to UN data. Israel allowed 58,606 exits, mainly for day labourers, 65 per cent above the monthly average in 2022, but 88 per cent below 2000 levels.

The economic impact

The long-running restrictions have severely limited Palestinian access to the Israeli labour market that had been a big source of employment prior to the 2000 uprising.

Gaza's unemployment rate is among the highest in the world, according to OCHA. The jobless rate stands at 46 per cent, and is higher still among youth at around 70 per cent, latest data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says.

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Gaza City. Photo: AFP via Getty

Per capita income is around a quarter the level in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to IMF estimates.

Israel has applied restrictions on imports into Gaza of goods which it has deemed could be put to military use, including concrete and iron bars. Ironically, ahead of the Hamas assault, this year saw a rise in imports. Likewise, Gaza's export market had looked set to record its highest level since 2007.

Total siege

On Monday, Israel announced a total siege, blocking the entry of food, fuel and water into Gaza and shuttering all crossing points. Egypt has also sealed its crossing into Gaza.

The enclave's only power plant has been switched off and hospitals are running out of fuel for emergency generators.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has appealed for fuel to be let in for the hospitals, but Israel has ruled this out unless hostages seized by Hamas are freed.

The UN emergency food agency has called for the creation of humanitarian corridors to bring food into Gaza, warning supplies could rapidly run out.
A tri-spine horseshoe crab gliding along the bottom of the sea has helped Laurent Ballesta win the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year for a second time.

Horseshoe crabs have survived for more than 100 million years, but they now face habitat destruction and overfishing as they are caught for food and for their blue blood, which is used in vaccines.

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The French underwater photographer and marine biologist Mr Ballesta found the creature, which dates from prehistoric times, in the protected waters of Pangatalan Island in the Philippines  a haven for the crabs. It is accompanied in the winning shot by three golden trevally fish.

The golden horseshoe, a a tri-spine horseshoe crab moving slowly over the mud at Pangatalan Island, Palawan, the Philppines (Laurent Ballesta/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

Kath Moran, chairwoman of the judging panel, described the winning photo as luminescent.

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She said: To see a horseshoe crab so vibrantly alive in its natural habitat, in such a hauntingly beautiful way, was astonishing.

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Barn owls resting in a roadside block were caught on camera by Carmel Bechler as he used his family car as a hide (Carmel Bechler/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

We are looking at an ancient species, highly endangered, and also critical to human health.

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Mr Ballesta is only the second person in the Natural History Museums 59-year-old competition to have won the prize twice.

Whales making waves, a pod of orcas as they prepare to wave wash a Weddell seal at Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, (Bertie Gregory/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

His first award was in 2021 for a shot of camouflage grouper fish in a swirl of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia.

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The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year award went to Carmel Bechler from Israel, for snapping several barn owls in a hollowed-out concrete building by a roadside.

The parasol mushroom spreads its spores on air currents in search of new places to grow (Agorastos Papatsanis/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

He used his familys car as a hide with long exposure times to capture the light trails of passing traffic.

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The 17-year-old said: I hope to share with my photography that the beauty of the natural world is all around us, even in places where we least expect it to be  we just need to open our eyes and our minds.

The tadpole banquet, of toad tadpoles feast on a dead fledgling sparrow at Ojen, Malaga, Spain (Juan Jesus Gonzalez Ahumada/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

The winning photographs were selected from 49,957 original entries from 95 countries and were announced at an awards ceremony in South Kensington on Tuesday.

Among the 17 other category winners was a beached orca in the Netherlands photographed by Lennart Verheuvel which was later found to be malnourished and sick, likely from PCB contamination.

The bioluminescence of fireflies was captured with long exposure camera shots (Sriram Murali/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

Poisoning from this industrial chemical is common in European waters despite the chemical being banned decades ago. Its unique properties mean it builds up through the food chain.

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Agorastos Papatsanis revealed how the parasol mushroom releases its spores for them to drift on air currents in search of new places to grow in his home country of Greece, on Mount Olympus, capturing the colourful refraction of light through the rain.

Male Nubian ibex fight during the mating season with their long horns (Amit Eshel/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

An illuminated forest in Tamil Nadu, India, won the Behaviour: Invertebrates award, with Sriram Murali showcasing how fireflies attract mates by combining 50 exposures of 19 seconds with 16 minutes of the beetles bioluminescence.

Two Nubian ibex locking horns in a cliff-side clash in Israel was captured by Amit Eshel as he crept up to the battling males, which ram their heads together during the mating season in a competition of physical prowess.

Hippo nursery, a hippopotamus and her two offspring resting in the shallow clear-water lake, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa (Mike Korostelev/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA)

Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said: Whilst inspiring absolute awe and wonder, this years winning images present compelling evidence of our impact on nature  both positive and negative.

Global promises must shift to action to turn the tide on natures decline.

Next year, the Natural History Museum will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award with new prizes and waiver fees for more than 100 countries. Submissions are open from October 16.
The Israeli military pulverized the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, prepared for a possible ground invasion and said on Thursday its complete siege of the territory would remain in place until Hamas militants free some 150 hostages taken during a grisly weekend incursion.

A visit by US secretary of state Antony Blinken, along with shipments of US weapons, offered a powerful green light to Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas deadly attack on civilians and soldiers, even as international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

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Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gazas 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt.

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single tap will be turned on and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli energy minister Israel Katz said on social media.

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Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters that forces are preparing for a ground manoeuvre should political leaders order one.

A ground offensive in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas militants and where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 25 miles long, would be likely to bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Hamas assault on Saturday killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers, a toll unseen in Israel for decades, and the ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,530 people in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides.

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Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel.

Amid concerns that the fighting could spread in the region, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday put two Syrian international airports out of service.

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Mourners attend the funeral of Israeli soldier Abraham Cohen at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem (Francisco Seco/AP)

The relentless barrage on Gaza  6,000 munitions dropped since the conflict began, the military said  left Palestinians running through streets with what belongings they could carry, looking for safety

A strike on Thursday in the the Jabaliya refugee camp collapsed a residential building on families sheltering inside, killing at least 45 people, Gazas interior ministry said.

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At least 23 of the dead were under the age of 18, including a month-old child, according to a list of the casualties.

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Ministry spokesman Eyad Bozum said dozens were wounded, and the death toll was likely to rise as rescue workers pulled more bodies from the rubble.

The home belonging to the al-Shihab family was packed with relatives who had fled bombing in other areas.

Neighbours said a second house was hit at the same time, but the death toll was not known.

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a building levelled in an Israeli airstrike on Al Shati refugee camp (Fatima Shbair/AP)

We cant flee because anywhere you go, you are bombed, one neighbour, Khalil Abu Yahia, said. You need a miracle to survive here.

By Wednesday night, the number of people who fled their homes reached 340,000 people  roughly 15% of Gazas population.

Most crowded into UN-run schools while others stayed with relatives or even strangers.

Families were cutting down to one meal a day, said Rami Swailem, a 34-year-old lecturer at al-Azhar University, who has 32 relatives sheltering in his home.

Water stopped coming to the building two days ago, and they were rationing what is left in the tank on the roof.

Alaa Younis Abuel-Omrain has been staying in a UN school after a strike on her home killed eight members of her family  her mother, aunt, a sister, a brother and his wife and their three children.

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Mourners at the funeral of Danielle Waldmann and her partner Noam Shai in Kiryat Tivon (Ariel Schalit/AP)

She said food supplies were running out. Most bakeries stopped producing bread for lack of electricity.

Even if there is food in some areas, we cant get to it because of strikes, she said.

On Wednesday, Gazas only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

Hospitals, overwhelmed by a constant stream of wounded and running out of supplies, have only a few days worth of fuel before their power cuts off, aid officials say.

Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, said Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Newborn incubators, kidney dialysis machines, X-ray equipment and more are all dependent on power, he said.

Bodies of the Abu Rayash family killed by Israeli shelling at Edwin Hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP)

Ambulance crews carrying bodies to the morgue at Gazas biggest hospital, Shifa, found no space left.

Dozens of full body bags were lined up in the hospital parking lot. Fourteen health facilities have been damaged in strikes, health officials said Thursday.

With Israel sealing off the territory, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah, but Egypts foreign ministry said Thursday that airstrikes on Rafah have prevented it from operating.

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Egypt has been trying to convince Israel and the United States to allow aid and fuel through the crossing.

Israel is employing a new tactic of levelling whole neighbourhoods, rather than just individual buildings.

Hecht, the military spokesman, said targeting decisions were based on intelligence on locations being used by Hamas and that civilians were warned.

  ?     ,             .   .      .    Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 12, 2023

Right now, we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, he said.

The military said strikes have hit Hamas elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters in Saturdays attack, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative used to store weapons.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Hamas after the militants stormed into the countrys south on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people, including killings of children in their homes and young people at a music festival.

Mr Netanyahu said Hamas atrocities included beheading soldiers and raping women, descriptions that could not be independently confirmed.

Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Four previous conflicts ended with Hamas still firmly in control of the territory it has ruled since 2007.

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Palestinian children wounded in Israeli strikes cry outside a hospital in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP)

Israel has mobilised 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

A new war Cabinet, which includes a long-time opposition politician, was sworn in on Thursday to direct the fight.

A high-ranking Hamas official, Saleh Al-Arouri, warned Thursday that any Israeli invasion of Gaza will turn into a disaster for its army, saying the group was prepared to respond.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in a 1967 war.

The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state, but there have been no peace talks in over a decade.

The Palestinian health ministry says more than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and two in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem since Saturday, most when police fired on stone-throwing protesters.
British judges have been told not to send some convicted criminals to jail due to prisons nearing capacity, according to a report.

Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has ordered, during a meeting with senior judges, that sentencing of convicted criminals who are currently on bail be delayed from Monday, The Times reported.

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The newspaper said those spared being put behind bars could include those found guilty of burglary and rape.

The Times quoted an anonymous senior judge as saying that they had been ordered/strongly encouraged not to send to prison a defendant who appears before them on bail due to concerns that the prison system is at capacity.

The Judicial Office, which supports the judiciary, said it would not comment on what was said during an internal meeting.

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The independent body said it could not confirm whether new guidance on sentencing had been issued to judges.

Labour, responding to the report, said it was a damning indictment of the state of our prisons under the Conservative UK government.

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UK security minister Tom Tugendhat said the report was new on me so could not comment without speaking to the justice secretary.

He told Sky News Politics Hub programme that a wave of prosecutions and therefore a wave of detentions were coming through the system following delays caused by coronavirus and the barristers strike.

The senior Tory said: Were making sure that those who commit the most sexual acts are not able to get early release and that is putting extra pressure on our prison places.

Weve already got 2,500 more prison places now and we are increasing that to 20,000 more.

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The UKs prison population has grown substantially since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and, according to the latest figures, there are now 88,016 prisoners locked up.

As of October 6th, capacity across the whole prison estate stood at 88,667.

Andrea Albut, president of the Prison Governors Association, recently told The Daily Telegraph that jails in England and Wales are bust of space and may run out of places to house offenders this week.

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She said male jails are running at more than 99.6 per cent of capacity and womens prisons are 96 per cent full.

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It comes after UK justice secretary Alex Chalk told the Conservative Party conference last week that the British government plans to rent prison spaces from foreign countries in order to address the increasing demands on the UKs prison system.

UK justice secretary Alex Chalk is looking at renting prison space abroad to ease the capacity crisis (Peter Byrne/PA)

The Tory administration plans to create 20,000 extra prison places by the mid 2020s, but those proposals are reportedly delayed due to planning disagreements.

UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) officials said the numbers of people on remand  when a defendant is held in custody while awaiting trial  has soared from 9,500 before the pandemic to 15,000 as of June.

A spokesman for the department said: Our first priority is to keep the public safe from dangerous criminals.

That is why we have ended automatic halfway release for serious sexual and violent criminals and increased the average time spent in prison by three years  cutting violent crime by nearly 50% since 2010.

However, the criminal justice system has seen unprecedented growth in the prison population, following the pandemic and barristers strike, particularly among those awaiting trial, with 6,000 more prisoners on remand than pre-pandemic.

The Prison Service has already put in place measures such as rapid deployment cells and doubling up cells to help manage these pressures, and the Government is carrying out the biggest prison building campaign since the Victorian era to build 20,000 new places, making sure we always have the places we need.

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The Times also reported that some prisoners will be released early as of next week under proposals from justice ministers to lower the prison population.

PA news agency understands that, while early release measures are an option to ensure legal obligations on safe prison capacity are met, no decision has been made by ministers on triggering such an order.

Shabana Mahmood, Labours shadow justice secretary, said: It is an absolutely damning indictment of the state of our prisons that this Tory government is unable to either get criminals locked up or keep them there.

The prison estate is a mess. Prisons are overcrowded and have become breeding grounds for more crime.

The Government has been warned time and again about the challenges with prison population and conditions.

It is an abject failure on their part that after 13 years in Government, they have done nothing to address this problem  in fact, they have made it worse by driving it into the ground.

The Tories are unable to keep criminals behind bars and unable to lead this country.

Refuge, a charity supporting domestic abuse survivors, tweeted: There is no way a convicted rapist should be allowed out on bail.

There is no way a convicted rapist should be allowed out on bail. This undermines the seriousness of this crime which already has an abysmal conviction rate.https://t.co/TOjVVGkEAl Advertisement  Refuge (@RefugeCharity) October 11, 2023

This undermines the seriousness of this crime which already has an abysmal conviction rate.

Tackling violence against women and girls is meant to be a Government priority  what message does this send to survivors who may already have experienced a lengthy and traumatic wait for justice?

Alex Chalk must make sure that this does not happen.

Richard Miller, head of justice at the Law Society of England and Wales, said: The prison spaces crisis is a consequence of the Governments approach to justice including over a decade of underfunding of our criminal justice system, which also sees chronic shortages of judges and lawyers, huge backlogs of cases and crumbling courts.

Where the courts have decided it is appropriate and necessary to imprison a defendant, it is essential in a civilised society that there are adequate, humane and hopefully rehabilitative facilities to accommodate them.
A fugitive due to be extradited from Scotland to the US has been arrested in connection with an alleged rape in Essex.

Nicholas Rossi, 36, was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with reports of an alleged rape which took place in Chelmsford in 2017, according to the BBC.

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Rossi previously claimed he was an Irish orphan called Arthur Knight.

Following a lengthy extradition hearing earlier this year, an order was signed last week to have Rossi sent back to the US.

Rossi initially came to the attention of the authorities after he became ill with Covid-19 and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: Officers investigating a non-recent allegation of rape in Chelmsford, which was made to us in April 2022, have arrested a 36-year-old a man.

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After liaising with the appropriate authorities, Essex Police officers arrested the man on suspicion of rape this morning.

He remains in custody for questioning.
Romanian authorities said they have found a crater from a suspected drone that may have exploded on impact on its territory near the border with Ukraine.

The find revives concerns about a possible spillover of Russias war in Ukraine on to a Nato member country.

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The pre-dawn discovery of the crater 1.8 miles west of the village of Plauru, which sits across the Danube River from the Ukrainian port of Izmail, was made after the Romanian Defence Ministry said it detected a series of drones heading towards Ukrainian river ports.

The ministry said the drone had possibly exploded on impact but it was not immediately clear when or from where the drone was launched. An investigation is under way.



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Heinous Russian attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure had again serious consequences on Romanias territory, foreign minister Luminita Odobescu wrote on X, the social medial platform formerly known as Twitter, adding that new evidence of impact was found on Romanias soil.

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We call on Russia to stop these war crimes, she said.

Romanian authorities have previously confirmed drone fragments on its soil in recent weeks, and said the parts resembled those from drones used by the Russian army.

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Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg told The Associated Press on Thursday that the alliance has increased the number of aircraft monitoring Romanias skies after the drone findings.

But he said there are no indications the drone incidents were deliberate attacks on Natos allies, but more a consequence of the unjustified attacks on Ukraine.

Asked if any member countries had talked of activating official consultations under Article 4 of the Nato treaty, which is the process for when members are worried about their security or territorial integrity, Mr Stoltenberg said that so far there hasnt been any need for that.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis called the drone fragment discoveries an absolutely unacceptable violation of the sovereign airspace of Romania, a Nato ally, with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area.

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The recurring incidents over the past month have left some residents living near the border nervous that the war could spill into their country, and the village of Plauru erected prefabricated concrete shelters for residents last month.

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Separately on Thursday, the governor of Russias Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine said three people, including a child, were killed and two others injured overnight after drone debris fell on a private house, setting it on fire.

The drone was shot down by air defence systems but the debris effectively destroyed two private houses on the outskirts of the city of Belgorod, the regions capital, and damaged several more, said Vyacheslav Gladkov.





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Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  11 October 2023.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/l4CTSZAZZG



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/YfOYXinFu3  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) October 11, 2023

The Belgorod region has been a regular target of cross-border shelling and drone attacks. Ukrainian officials have never acknowledged responsibility for attacks on Russian territory.

In Ukraine, the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least 10 civilians were killed and 18 people were injured over the past 24 hours, including from a missile strike on the southern city of Nikopol that hit a school, killing four and injuring two.

A total of 50 homes, infrastructure facilities and power lines were damaged in the city on the Dnipro River.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted 28 of 33 Shaheed drones that Russia launched overnight across the country.

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Governor Oleh Kiper, of the southern Odesa region  in which Izmail is located, said Russian forces had targeted Danube port infrastructure in the region, wounding one person.

In recent weeks, Russia has carried out sustained attacks on Ukraines Danube ports as part of Moscows attempt to disrupt Ukraines ability to export grain to world markets.

In the eastern Donetsk region, intense and incessant fighting continued near the city of Avdiivka, said Vitalii Barabash, the head of the citys military administration.

A very tense situation for the third day. The battles around the city do not cease, and the shelling, both at positions and within the city itself, does not stop, Mr Barabash said on Ukrainian television.



Volodymyr Zelensky has made a personal pitch for more military aid (Yves Herman, pool photo via AP)

President Zelensky posted on Telegram that we are holding our ground in the city.

A day earlier, the Ukrainian leader joined a meeting of more than 50 defence leaders from around the world and made a personal pitch for more military aid for his country in the face of the Russian onslaught.

The Czech Republic and Denmark on Thursday pledged to send Ukraine more western weapons.

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The Czech Foreign Ministry said the package, to be sent in coming months, will include 50 infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks, 500 heavy machine guns, 280 self-propelled howitzers, 7,000 anti-tank weapons, 60 mortar systems as well as anti-drone systems.

In its latest report, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Russian offensive action near Avdiivka is ongoing.

Footage from Tuesday and Wednesday showed Russian troops advancing in areas south-west and north-west of the town.

The think tank said such tactical-level adaptations and successes by Russian forces were not likely to bring wider operational and strategic gains.

Avdiivka is also a notoriously well-fortified and defended Ukrainian stronghold, which will likely complicate Russian forces ability to closely approach or fully capture the settlement, it added.

The Interior Ministry said the death toll from last weeks missile attack that levelled a cafe in the village of Hroza, in the northern Kharkiv region, has risen to 59, following the identification of more victims.

The Hroza attack is one of the deadliest strikes by Russian troops in Ukraine since the invasion in February last year.
Labour would look to eradicate the NHS waiting list in England in a single term, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The Opposition leader said the plan is there to cut the numbers waiting for treatment by two million per year, potentially resetting it by the time a four-year term in Downing Street is over.

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Some 7.7 million people are currently on waiting lists for treatment in England, the highest since records began.

Mr Starmer set out in his speech to the Labour conference in Liverpool on Tuesday how the biggest challenge for the NHS was to cut waiting lists and vowed to get the health service working round the clock to clear the backlog.

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Labour, in a commitment made earlier this year, has said it plans to meet the target of 92 per cent of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks from referral within the first term of a Starmer premiership, should the party win power at an election expected next year.

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Asked in an interview with ITV News on Wednesday whether he could commit to eliminating waiting lists within the course of a Labour government, he replied: That is our ambition and that is why weve said two million a year.

That is a huge ambition  40,000 a week.

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The money is there, the plan is there and we need to drive those waiting lists down.

Labour unveiled its NHS staff overtime plan ahead of its autumn conference, a blueprint it says could create an extra two million operations, scans and appointments in the first year.

The party also vowed to provide extra scanners for the health service and bring in dental reforms if it wins the next UK general election.

The policies would be backed by 1.6 billion, with 1.1 billion of that footing the overtime bill.

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During his speech, Mr Starmer promised to end non-dom tax status to funnel money into the health service as part of a bid to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer conducted interviews on Wednesday after his conference speech the day before (Peter Byrne/PA)

He said it would help pay for staff overtime and fund more operations, appointments and diagnostic tests, pledging that people would be seen more quickly if his party was in charge.

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Told in his interview with ITV that the proposed change to non-dom status would bring in 1 per cent of the NHS current budget, Mr Starmer said reforms would be needed as well as extra investment.

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He said reducing the waiting list was crucially important because it was causing the NHS to overheat and was a big drag on our economy.

He continued: But, yes, we do need reform as well and that is why after saying were going to spend this money, I also said, but there is the hard road of reform.

We need to reform the NHS. It has been a sickness service for the last 75 years.

Because of the nature of society, it needs now to be a preventative service.

Mr Starmer also gave more details about his plans to meet his commitment of building 1.5 million homes.

The plan would replicate the policy of Clement Attlees government that built 10 new towns during the 1950s.

Speaking to ITV, Mr Starmer said he envisaged certainly more than  four new towns being built as part of his proposals.

It's time to get Britain building again. pic.twitter.com/1vm83q0pYY  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 11, 2023

He declined, however, to say whether the new communities would be focused in the north or south of England, saying that a bidding process would be installed to ensure that we get the right towns in the right places.

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The first wave of new towns, built between 1946 and 1950 to alleviate post-war housing shortages in London, included Stevenage, Crawley and Harlow.

Two new towns in Scotland  East Kilbride and Glenrothes  and Cwmbran in Wales were also established during the 1940s.

Subsequent Conservative and Labour governments have built two more waves of new towns in England.

Mr Starmer has said he plans to get tough with Labour MPs that fail to back his housing ambitions.

Having promised to bulldoze his way to a new Britain, he said he would stand up to so-called Nimbys in his own party in order to achieve his goal.

Asked by the BBC if he regarded himself as a Yimby  a Yes, in my backyard person  Sir Keir said: I am, yes.

Its time to get Britains future back. pic.twitter.com/QbWk1My5VL  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 11, 2023

I think that it is very important that we build the homes that we need for the future, hugely important for the aspiration of young people desperately wanting to get on the housing ladder  a massive failure for the last 13 years.

He vowed to take the tough decisions to push through building reforms and prevent local objections curtailing new housing.

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Mr Starmer added: We need to ensure the planning goes up a level so it is not so localised.

Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out substantial tax increases as the party looks to appeal beyond its traditional base.

With the tax burden at a 70-year high under the Tories, Sir Keir hinted that Labour aspires to cut taxation.

He told GB News: I would like the overall burden, particularly on working people to come down, but obviously we will operate of course and always within our fiscal rules.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies, a respected think tank, has said it would be very hard to improve public services without additional tax rises.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Thursday with a pledge of unwavering support from America.

Following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Blinken said: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to. We will always be there by your side.

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Addressing journalists in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu praised Mr Blinkens visit as a tangible example of Americas unequivocal support of Israel.



Antony Blinken listens to Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint news conference (Jacquelyn Martin, pool/AP)

President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil, Mr Netanyahu said, referring to Saturdays unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel.

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The pair shook hands after Mr Netanyahus remarks.

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Mr Blinken said that he came before journalists not just as secretary of state, but also a Jew, while recounting his own familys history of surviving the Holocaust.

So prime minister, I understand on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamass massacres carry for Israeli Jews, as well as Jews everywhere, Mr Blinken said.

Mr Blinken also met Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

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Antony Blinken shakes hands with Israels president, Isaac Herzog (Jacquelyn Martin, pool/AP)

A statement from the US secretary of state after their meeting touched on the same themes as his earlier message.

There really are two paths before countries in this region and in many ways, countries in this world, Mr Blinken said.

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But here in the Middle East, theres the path of integration, co-operation, normalisation and equal measures of justice, opportunity, dignity for all peoples, including the Palestinians.

He added: Or theres the path that Hamas has shown to the world these last few days  terror, destruction, nihilism, a path that leads to nowhere for anyone except to the darkest places in our souls.
Crystoria releases "Rush" to Christian radio | INOV8 PR

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE  Independent Christian recording artist, Crystoria, has officially released her single, Rush, to Christian AC, Christian Hot AC, and Christian CHR formats today.

Written by Crystal Victoria Hott and Katelyn Rose Doyle, the song is an earnest reflection of an individuals journey through lifes challenges, seeking Gods guidance amidst the chaos. With heartfelt lyrics like Help me not to rush, Help me to be strong, Bring me though the chaos of my life song, the song promises to resonate with many listeners.

Crystoria, originally from Ohio, is now a Nashville resident. A devoted mother of four, she juggles her family, a full-time job, and her deep-rooted passion for music. The artist name Crystoria is derived from the names Crystal, symbolizing purity, and Victoria, representing victory - together signifying the PURE VICTORY we have in Jesus.

After years of waiting for Gods sign to chase her musical aspirations, Crystoria began releasing her own songs in 2021. Recently, she made top 10 in The Pro Connect Event by Songwriter Pro and had a co-written song accepted by a publisher. 2023 marked a bold venture for her into the Christian Alternative Rock genre. Shes currently collaborating with Andrew Stanton (from Disciple) on a project set for 2024.

The track was crafted under the proficient production skills of Jonathan J. Jackson. Given Crystorias inspiring background and her passion for music and ministry, Rush is anticipated to be a notable addition to Christian radio.

Connect with Crystoria:

https://crystoria.godaddysites.com/

https://www.facebook.com/crystoriamusic

https://www.instagram.com/crystoriamusic

https://www.youtube.com/Crystalofficial421

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lXDmlfe4a4vts979yUCSt
The banks researchers found evidence of some on-shoring, but what was more striking was the lengthening of supply chains. The greater distance between suppliers in China and customers in the US, they say, suggests that companies from other countries have interposed themselves in that supply chain. Companies from South-East Asia now are a bigger proportion of suppliers to the US and customers of Chinese suppliers, indicating that they are taking a share of what used to be the direct trade between China and the US. Meanwhile, the share of Chinese firms that are direct suppliers to the US has fallen. It is too early to tell whether the ugly flare-up in the Middle East will add to the prospect of a de-globalisation of trade and geopolitics. Since the trade war started with the US, Chinese companies have directed some new investment to countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, and even Mexico, to avoid the tariffs that the Trump administration imposed and which the Biden administration has maintained. There have also been reports of Chinese firms simply re-directing their exports to the US through third countries, using them as transit stations rather than as manufacturing hubs, again to dodge the tariffs.

The massive incentives being offered by the US and Europe for the re-shoring or friend-shoring of the manufacturing of products seen as strategic, and the rational decisions of companies to diversify and secure their supply chains after the experience of the pandemic means that global supply chains will continue to change. Separate analysis by the International Monetary Fund has found that global cross-border flows of goods, services and capital have slowed markedly since the 2008 financial crisis, well before Trump launched his trade wars, reversing a half-century or more of increasing globalisation. Containers piled up in Hamburg harbour: The pandemic exposed the vulnerability of individual economies to the lengthy and complex supply chains that had been built during the period of peak globalisation. Credit: AP A rise in populism and scepticism of the benefits of globalisation, coupled with geopolitical rivalries that have fuelled greater protectionism and the use of cross-border trade restrictions on national security grounds, were cited by the IMF as the reasons for that slowdown, which it describes as geonomic fragmentation. The trends away from globalisation as we used to know it trigger a number of flow-on effects.

The most obvious is that adding complexity to supply chains by interposing third parties, or shifting parts of them from low-cost jurisdictions to higher-cost locations, reduces their efficiency and increases costs. Loading Globalisation has also over decades been a force for reducing inequalities between developed and developing countries and improving the living standards in the latter, whether it is from locating manufacturing facilities in low-cost economies or directing foreign capital towards them. Workers in developing economies have benefitted, as have consumers in developed economies, although globalisation has probably contributed to the increased inequality within those developed economies as blue-collar jobs have gone offshore. Geoeconomic fragmentation is also a threat to multilateralism and multilateral institutions such as the IMF, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation, complicating the ability to create consensus around global issues like climate change or, heaven forbid, another pandemic.

The prolific use of financial sanctions by the US has caused something of a backlash that could also threaten its role as the dominant currency for global trade and financial transactions, adding a new element to that fragmentation and the efficiency and effectiveness of international financial flows and regulation of financial activity. Capital follows trade, and its already apparent that the tensions between the US and China are producing significant changes in the flows of international capital. Globalisation has been a force for reducing inequalities between developed and developing countries and improving living standards. Credit: iStock Foreign direct investment into China has dried up as US companies have shifted the focus of their incremental investment to politically more friendly allies such as India, Vietnam and Thailand, while private equity and other institutional investors have been scared off by Chinas toughening of espionage laws. The changes in supply chains might make them more resilient and less vulnerable to the next pandemic, the next war, or an escalation of tensions between the US and China. But by adding costs and complexity, they also subtract from the value added from efficient sourcing and detract from global growth.

The geoeconomic fragmentation is still too immature to draw definitive conclusions about its lasting impact, and the degree to which companies in developed economies are willing to trade efficiencies for supply chain resilience. Loading The US has said, for instance, that its ambition is not to decouple from Chinas economy, but to de-risk the relationship  to build, in US national security adviser Jake Sullivans terms, a high fence around a small yard and limit Chinas access to key technologies. If it is true to that intent and its new relationship with China stabilises, the impact on global supply chains and the global economy would be relatively modest and the globalisation of trade and finance would remain largely intact, given that the ties between China, the US and its European allies are central to world trade. Even though global supply chains would be rearranged, trade and finance would stay largely global in character. If the relationship were to deteriorate further, of course, trade and capital flows would continue to fragment. The efficiency with which global capital is allocated would be reduced, and geopolitical relationships would probably also be more polarised, adding even more volatility and risk to an already volatile world.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Last month, within 24 hours, I travelled from the Sydney Contemporary art fair to two fairs in South Korea: KIAF Seoul and Frieze Seoul. The contrast was striking, as are most cultural contrasts between Australia and South Korea. Sydney Contemporary, celebrating its 10th anniversary, was held at Carriageworks over four days. It featured 96 galleries, with Australian dealers in the overwhelming majority. It attracted 25,000 visitors and generated sales of approximately $21 million. KIAF  the Korean International Art Fair, which has been running since 2002, was held at the huge COEX centre in Seoul, alongside the inaugural edition of a second art fair, Seoul Frieze, a prestigious boutique event launched in London in 2003, and New York in 2012. The Koreans won the bid for the right to host the first Asian Frieze, as part of an ambitious campaign to become the centre of the Asian art market, a title usually assigned to Hong Kong. The 2023 Korean International Art Fair. KIAF, which featured 210 galleries, attracted 80,000 visitors over five days, while Frieze Seoul, with 121 galleries, managed 70,000 over four days. Combined sales were estimated at AUD $70 million. Whoever coined the phrase, comparisons are odious, obviously had much to lose in this process. Comparisons between South Korea and Australia are enlightening because they show what can be achieved by an aspirational country with a strong commitment to art and culture. Australia can learn a great deal from South Koreas investment in creativity as a soft power strategy that has raised the countrys international profile and generated billions in revenue. When we consider South Korea has a population of 52 million against Australias 26 million, we might consider ourselves successful if we produce and earn half as much as they do. Its obviously not a simple division by two because history, geography and other factors play significant roles in determining a nations character and productivity. Nevertheless, in allowing for Australias wealth and natural resources, alongside the Koreans we look like underachievers.

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Its not merely that the respective art fairs in Seoul attract 3-4 times as many visitors as Sydney Contemporary or enjoy 3-4 times the volume of sales. Whats notable is that South Korea is seen as a rapidly emerging centre of the international art market, whereas Australia remains on the margins. Frieze Seoul, for instance, had the full complement of Uber galleries that dont find it worthwhile to travel to Sydney. Sam Jinks Iris - The Messenger at Sydney Contemporary. Credit: Kate Geraghty The Koreans have artists such as Do Ho Suh  recently featured at Sydneys Museum of Contemporary Art  who is a much bigger star than any Australian artist, living or dead. Or Nam June Paik, recognised as the father of video art. Or Lee Ufan, whose work is being avidly collected by museums all around the world. Or Park Seo-bo, whose paintings are appearing in every international art fair. Kim Soo-ja has a huge installation at Sydney Modern, while Haegue Yang is being featured at the National Gallery of Australia. South Korean galleries such as Hyundai, Kukje and Arario are fixtures at leading art fairs, in a way that no Australian gallery can match. Earlier this year, a massive survey called Hallyu! The Korean Wave was featured at Londons Victoria and Albert Museum and given a very positive reception. Australias last foray into London was the shambolic exhibition imaginatively titled Australia, at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2013, for which responses ranged from lukewarm to scathing. Korean artist Do Ho Suh recently had an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer, Daniel Dorsa The comparison extends across the board, to the fields of cinema and literature. Australia currently has no director so widely celebrated as Bong Joon-ho, who won the 2020 Academy Award for Best Picture, with Parasite; let alone directors such as Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave, 2022) (or Lee Chang-dong (Burning, 2018).

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There were 11 Australian feature films released in 2022, as opposed to 58 Korean features. This is not counting those movies that were funded and completed, but never got a theatrical release. In Australia, this is the common fate of most local productions, in Korea it describes a small minority. Last year, the Literature Translation Institute of Korea supported the publication of 150 works in 27 different languages. One of them - Bora Chungs collection of gothic tales, Cursed Bunny, was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize  a prize won by Koreas Han Kang in 2016, for The Vegetarian. Artist Gwon O-sangs painted sculpture Untitled G-Dragon, A Space of No Name on display during the V&A exhibition. Credit: Untitled Perhaps the biggest Korean successes have been in the realm of popular culture, with TV series and pop music dominating the massive Asian market and reaching large audiences in other parts of the world. Australia has had its pop culture export highlights. Soap operas such as Home and Away have been phenomenal, long-running successes, and there have been any number of bands and solo artists who have achieved big international followings, from AC/DC to Kylie Minogue. Indeed, one of Tony Burkes first initiatives as Minister for the Arts has been a $286 million commitment to the local music industry over four years. The visual arts are allegedly still on the drawing board. Bong Joon Ho accepts the Oscar for best international feature film for Parasite. Credit: AP

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This may sound like a huge investment, but in July last year, the incoming South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, announced a $5.82 billion fund for the arts. It was a resounding endorsement for a cultural sector that allegedly generated $159.8 billion in sales in 2021, including exports to the value of $19.5 billion. In the same year, the entire Australian arts and recreation sector was valued at $15.2 billion by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Its worth noting that South Koreas wholehearted investment in pop culture hasnt had a negative impact on its traditional museums and art galleries. There are more than 100 in Seoul alone. In Sydney, there are less than 40 museums, with most being so small and obscure I defy anyone to name them all. In a city that is crying out for more, and more diverse, museums, we have watched the previous state government systematically undermine one of the leading institutions, the Powerhouse. Both the Powerhouse and Sydney Modern nowadays seem less interested in exhibitions than in hosting parties, functions and music events. The lesson from Korea is that new initiatives do not have to arise at the expense of existing policies. Museums devoted to social history, applied arts, science and technology do not have to transform themselves into party venues to raise revenue  or simply be hip. Another feature of Korean culture is the respect paid to senior artists. There is a museum in Seoul devoted to Kim Whanki (1913-74) a leading modernist who was one of the originators of the Tansaekwha or Monochrome school of painting, which was South Koreas first distinctive contribution to 20th century art. South Korean drama Squid Game. Credit: Netflix In the Ho-Am Museum of Art at Yongin I saw a large retrospective of Kims work, charting his progression from small still lifes and landscapes to large abstract canvases. In the Busan Museum of Art there is a special wing devoted to the work of Lee Ufan (b.1936), incorporating paintings and sculptural installations. Lee is forever associated with the Mono-ha (ie. School of Things) movement that originated in Japan in the late 1960s. Today he is one of the top 10 artists in the world, with at least one Australian art museum currently planning a survey exhibition. At the Art Sonje Center in Seoul, another large exhibition, My Name is Red, celebrated the work of Suh Youngsun (b.1951), an artist who represents the opposite pole of modern Korean art to the Minimalists. Suh is an expressionist, whose powerful paintings engage with people, cities and history. One might relate Suhs work to the Minjung (Peoples) movement that grew up after the notorious massacre in Gwangju in 1980, when the military government fired on protesters.

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Environmental groups have welcomed the NSW governments decision to legislate greenhouse gas emission targets, but say it flies in the face of recent energy decisions.

Under the rules, announced on Thursday, the government will enshrine in law its emissions reduction target of at least 50 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050, as well as create a stand-alone Department for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.

NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy and the Environment Penny Sharpe said climate change is already costing the state through more frequent and more extreme weather events. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The announcement, which was initially flagged during the election cycle, comes weeks after the government said it could draw on taxpayer funds to keep Eraring, the nations largest coal power station, open longer than its owners intended.

Head of advocacy at the Climate Council, Dr Jennifer Rayner, said extending Eraring made it impossible to ensure emissions targets would be met.
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RecipesCookbook extracts Adam Liaw makes cabbage taste amazing with these family-friendly fritters Columnist and TV host Adam Liaw shares four easy, everyday recipes from his new cookbook 7 Days of Dinner. Adam Liaw October 13, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

This recipe appears in the most popular recipes of October 2024 collection. See all stories .

Photo: Steve Brown No-mix potato salad I made this salad one Christmas years ago only because we didnt have a bowl large enough to toss everything together. It was a revelation. Keeping the dressing separate from the mustard cream allowed each element of the salad to have its own character. INGREDIENTS 1.5 kg new potatoes

1 tsp salt, plus extra to season

 cup (60m) olive oil

100g speck, in a block, cut into lardons

4 spring onions (scallions), sliced

 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 red onion, cut into thin rings

3 dill pickles, sliced

2 tbsp baby capers, drained

 cup finely shredded dill

2 tbsp finely shredded parsley

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Mustard cream  cup (185g) sour cream

 cup (185g) mayonnaise

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

black pepper, to season METHOD Place the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water and place over a medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until tender (a small sharp knife inserted into a potato should be able to go in and come out easily). Drain and allow to cool slightly, then cut into halves or quarters, depending on how large your potatoes are. To make the mustard cream, mix the ingredients together and season well with plenty of black pepper. In a small non-reactive frypan, heat half the olive oil and fry the speck until crisp. Add the spring onion and cook for about 1 minute until softened. Add the remaining olive oil and the apple-cider vinegar. Remove from the heat. Spoon the mustard cream onto a serving plate, add half the potatoes, then scatter with the red onion, sliced dill pickles and capers. Add remaining potatoes, then pour over the dressing. Scatter with the dill and parsley to serve. Tip: Keep the potatoes and the dressing slightly warm when you pour the dressing over, as it will help the vinegar to soak into the potatoes. The salad can cool down or be chilled after that, but combining them when theyre still slightly warm is quite important.

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Serves 8 Photo: Steve Brown Cabbage and cheese fritters I originally wrote this recipe as mini okonomiyaki (the Osaka-style fritters smothered in a thick barbecue-like sauce), but they are really delicious served just with a little sour cream and chives. INGREDIENTS

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 medium white cabbage, cut into large pieces (about 800g in total)

1 brown onion, grated

 cup (35g) self-raising flour

1 egg

1 cup (150g) grated cheese

 tsp salt, plus extra to season

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp finely chopped chives, to serve

freshly ground black pepper, to serve

 cup (125g) sour cream, to serve

lemon wedges, to serve METHOD Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the cabbage and cook on high for about 3 minutes, until softened. Drain well, squeeze out excess moisture and finely chop. Combine with the onion, flour, egg, cheese and salt and mix to a thick batter. Heat a large frypan over medium heat and add a little of the oil. Spoon about  cup (125ml) of the mixture into the shape of a small patty and fry for about 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining mixture. Serve scattered with chives, a little extra salt and freshly ground black pepper, with the sour cream and lemon wedges on the side. Tip: For the okonomiyaki version, replace the sour cream and lemon wedges with Otafuku sauce (available from Asian grocers and some major supermarkets) and Japanese mayonnaise. Serves 4

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Photo: Steve Brown Beef nachos with guacamole Ballpark. Trashcan. Tex-Mex. There are so many different kinds of nachos today, but the original only dates back to 1940, in the Mexican city of Piedras Negras, just west of the Texan border. They were named for Ignacio Anaya, the maitre d of the restaurant that created them, and the rest is history. INGREDIENTS 2 cups (500ml) vegetable oil, for deep-frying

20 corn tortillas, cut into triangles

salt and black pepper, to season

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Meat sauce 1 tbsp olive oil

1 brown onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

1 kg minced beef

1 tbsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp ground cumin

2 tsp dried oregano

 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp soy sauce

400g tinned diced tomatoes

 cup (60g) sliced jalapenos, to serve

sour cream, to serve

Guacamole, to serve

Tabasco, or hot sauce, to serve

lime wedges, to serve Cheese sauce 340ml evaporated milk

2 cups (300g) shredded cheese Fresh salsa

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3 roma tomatoes

 brown onion, finely diced

6 coriander sprigs, roughly chopped

juice of  lime

salt, to season METHOD Heat the vegetable oil to around 180C in a medium saucepan or wok. Fry the tortilla pieces in batches until golden brown. Season with a little salt and set aside. To make the meat sauce, heat a large frypan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and fry the onion and garlic for a few minutes, then add the beef and fry until browned. Add the paprika, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, salt and pepper and fry for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the soy sauce and tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat. To make the cheese sauce, pour the evaporated milk into a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure it doesnt burn on the bottom, and add the cheese, stirring for about 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts and creates a smooth, thick sauce. To make the salsa, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and toss together. Place the corn chips on a serving platter and spoon over the meat mixture. Pour over the cheese sauce, scatter with the salsa, and top with dollops of sour cream and guacamole. Scatter with the jalapenos and serve with Tabasco and lime wedges. Tip: Use store-bought corn chips to save a step. Serves 6-8

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Photo: Steve Brown Salmagundi A salmagundi is a mixed-platter dish that dates back to 17th-century Britain. This here is less of a recipe and more of a permission: your Sunday roast can absolutely be a pre-roasted chicken from the supermarket, lovingly assembled into an eclectic platter, all tied together with a simple vinaigrette. INGREDIENTS 300g new potatoes

6 eggs

150g green beans, stalks removed

 bunch broccolini, trimmed

 bunch asparagus, trimmed

 pre-roasted chicken

150g sliced smoked salmon

80g mixed salad leaves

1 Lebanese cucumber

1 cup (approx. 200g) mixed cherry tomatoes

60g sharp cheddar

salt, to season

Savoury herb vinaigrette (see below), to serve

Japanese mayonnaise, to serve

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METHOD Add the potatoes to a large pot and cover with water. Place over medium heat, bring to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender (a small sharp knife inserted into a potato should be able to go in and come out easily). Remove from the water and set aside, leaving the water in the pot. Carefully lower the eggs into the water, then bring the water to boil. Let the eggs cook for 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of iced water to cool, then peel. Place the beans, broccolini and asparagus in a heatproof tray or bowl and cover with boiling water. Allow to stand for about 1-2 minutes, then remove the asparagus and beans and let the broccolini sit for 1-2 minutes longer, checking for doneness. Drain, then trim the broccolini if you like. Season with a bit of salt and drizzle with olive oil. Slice the potatoes into rounds and the eggs in half. Joint the chicken. Take a large platter and arrange all the ingredients in separate piles. Dress with the savoury herb vinaigrette and serve with a bit of mayonnaise on the side. Tip: As you can probably tell, there are no fixed ingredients for this. Just take whatever you have and build it into a plate. The potatoes and eggs are a personal favourite of mine, but its the dressing that really ties everything together. Serves 6 Savoury herb vinaigrette

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Combine  cup (125ml) olive oil with  cup (60ml) red-wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, a good pinch of sugar, and 1 tablespoon each finely chopped parsley, dill and chives or other herbs, to taste. Salt, to season. Photo: This is an edited extract from 7 Days of Dinner by Adam Liaw, Hardie Grant Books, RRP $45. Photography: Steve Brown. Buy now

Appears in these collections The 20 most popular recipes of October (starring your new go-to spud salad)

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A sleepy coastal village near Byron Bay will almost triple in size over the next 20 years under a council plan to solve the regions housing crisis.

The state government wants Byron Shire to come up with 4522 new homes by 2041  a 25 per cent increase in its housing stock  and the council has honed in on Brunswick Heads as the answer, saying the village and surrounding rural area could host another 1990 properties over the next 20 years, on top of the 1125 dwellings that are already there.

Housing in the Brunswick Heads area is set to triple in size in the next 20 years, under a council proposal.

In particular, it has identified for investigation about 130 hectares of elevated agricultural land southwest of Brunswick Heads, known as Saddle Ridge, which boasts million-dollar views from Cape Byron to Mount Warning and is home to a couple of dozen lifestyle and farming properties.

Saddle Ridge is deemed regionally significant farmland, which makes it more difficult to develop, but in a new housing options paper, the council says rezoning the land for residential use would allow for another 1500 medium-density homes to be built there. The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation also identified part of the ridge site for future housing in its draft Resilient Lands Strategy.
Its an almost imperceptible shift.

Over the course of a few weeks, specks of colour begin to filter through the branches of a certain tree, replacing the leaves that have surrendered to the changing season.

Brisbanes jacarandas are in full bloom, signalling a significant seasonal shift. Credit: Cathy Sies

Then, as if overnight, it happens. Jacaranda trees all around the city erupt, lining footpaths and roads with purple flowers, bringing a new energy into parks, homes and streets.

Bit flowery? Sure. But its hard not to feel sentimental about Brisbanes deciduous trees. The Central and South American native was first introduced to Brisbane in 1864 and is now entrenched in our identity and cityscape.
A man was killed and two others were injured after an explosion and industrial fire at a chemical manufacturing plant on Thursday morning.

Paramedics were called after reports of an explosion just after 9.45am at a warehouse on Swann Drive in Derrimut, about 18 kilometres west of the Melbourne CBD.

Firefighters rushed to the scene. Credit: Justin McManus

Earlier on Thursday, Ambulance Victoria said two patients were being monitored  one in a stable condition and another who was trapped.

Victoria Police later confirmed a 44-year-old Hoppers Crossing man was discovered dead in the building. Two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
It would have been easy for Alister Ferguson to do nothing a decade ago when his country town was confronted with crime rates that were said to make it one of the most dangerous places on earth. But Ferguson, a Ngemba man whose great-grandfather campaigned for Indigenous citizenship in the 1930s, chose to attempt a new way of tackling entrenched disadvantage.

Ferguson and other leaders in Bourke, a town in western NSW, set up a new forum that gave Indigenous people a seat at the table with government officials and police. They felt they had to do something about the fact that their town had the highest crime rates in their state for things like assaults, break-ins and car theft. Compared to United Nations data, the crime rate per head of population was worse than any country in the world.

Illustration by Simon Letch Credit:

The result was Maranguka, an initiative set up to reduce crime, tackle racism and ensure safety for children. The group was named after the Ngemba word for caring for others and backed by the 24 tribes and families of the area in an extremely ambitious goal: to build a consensus and break out of a cycle of blame with the local authorities.

It was hard to get everyone together, Ferguson told me this week when we discussed the experience in Bourke and the lessons for the debate over the Indigenous Voice when voters are about to cast the final ballots in the referendum.
On Fridays episode of Please Explain, senior writer Jacqueline Maley sits down with chief political correspondent David Crowe and columnist Sean Kelly to discuss Saturdays referendum.

What happens after the Referendum? Where to next for reconciliation? And what did the Voice debate reveal about Australia?

Jacqueline Maley begins the wide-ranging conversation asking if, and how, the horrendous events in Israel this week impacted the last week of campaigning.

Sean Kelly: We live in an attention economy. The Yes campaign is going into this final week behind  they needed to persuade as many people as possible, they needed to change minds ... There is a great deal of indifference towards the outcome of this referendum. There have been weeks at a time when it has not felt like there has been much attention going towards the campaign.
Sometime over the past year, I learned a crucial travel fact about myself: I prefer to sit at the back of the plane.

Id been leaning in that direction for years - and not because of data that suggests the back of the plane is the best in the event of a plane crash.

Some of the best seats on a plane can be found at the back. Credit: iStock

But as someone who flies thousands of kilometres per year  primarily in economy  my choice of seat matters almost as much as where Im travelling.

I dont expect to have many supporters but sitting at the back of the plane can be better than the front of economy.
A white Ford van sits undamaged  but coated with a thin layer of soot  within the smouldering remains of Luton Airports car park.

But this is small comfort to its owner, who says he would be unable to retrieve it even if he could get past the police cordon and fire engines.

The burnt out shells of cars, buried amongst debris of a multi-storey car park at Luton Airport. Credit: Getty

Theres no floor in front of it, said Chris Meacey, 57, a former policeman and ex-soldier.

The van sits just metres from where three levels of the car park collapsed under the pressure of the blaze. Up to 1500 vehicles are believed to have been parked there at the time.
Paris: French prosecutors are investigating a suspected poisoning on Thursday of a Russian journalist who fled after denouncing the war in Ukraine on live TV.

Marina Ovsyannikova called emergency services and was hospitalised after suddenly falling ill as she left her Paris apartment and said she suspected she was poisoned, the Paris prosecutors office said.

Marina Ovsyannikova was a Russian TV editor who interrupted a Channel One news broadcast with a sign protesting against the war in Ukraine, leading to her arrest.

Police were examining her apartment and an investigation was under way, the prosecutors office said.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, which helped Ovsyannikova escape Russia and settle in France, said its team has been at her side since she sought medical attention.
Palestinian casualties, already more than 1000 people, will soar further because Hamas is embedded within the Gazan population, making it difficult to minimise civilian casualties. Blaxland says we could see a similar situation to when Russia took brutal control of the Chechen city of Grozny, later described by the United Nations as the most destroyed city on earth because of the extensive damage it suffered. Such a response, he says, is part of Hamas game plan to damage Israels international reputation: They want Israel to overreact. Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at Kings College London, wrote this week that Hamas will be well prepared for a ground war and will put up a tough fight. Israeli troops, including hundreds of thousands of reservists who have been called up for the mission, will be at far greater risk than while aerial bombardments are conducted. Unlike in past conflicts, Hamas is equipped with cheap drones that can be highly deadly, as seen in the war in Ukraine. Fighting in built-up areas advantages the defender, says Shanahan. It negates some of the Israelis technological strengths: troops have to get out of their vehicles and clear the area building by building.

Destruction caused by bombing in Gaza City. Credit: AP John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute, noted this week that the Israel Defence Forces lost 66 soldiers during their last ground assault on Gaza, in 2014. Given the scale of the attacks Hamas has launched in recent days, Israeli objectives are likely to be even more comprehensive than they were nine years ago, he wrote. As such, a ground operation into Gaza that aims not only to clear portions of dense urban terrain but to destroy Hamas military capability could lead to significant numbers of IDF casualties. Former US defence secretary and CIA director Leon Panetta told Bloomberg Television this week: The problem is that its basically house-to-house fighting once you get into Gaza, and so it could be a heavy price. But on the other hand, I think its very clear that Israel has made the decision that they have got to crush Hamas in Gaza. Despite Netanyahus hawkish persona, Blaxland notes that the Israeli prime minister has been reluctant to put Israeli troops in harms way throughout his career. Unlike the population in Gaza, many Israeli reservists and their families are used to relatively affluent and comfortable lives. The Israeli public is currently demanding payback for Hamas attacks, but Blaxland says high IDF deaths risk domestic political blowback.

Loading Shanahan disagrees, arguing that the broad acceptance of Israeli military casualties is as high as it has been for some time ... Theres a whatever it takes attitude. Complicating the calculus further for Israel, just as Hamas intended, is the issue of hostages. Rescuing those who were kidnapped is a reason to enter Gaza. On the other hand, doing so risks provoking Hamas militants to execute hostages in revenge attacks. The hostages are believed to be scattered throughout Gaza, making the recovery effort highly challenging. Freedman argues there is a risk a ground war could prompt a broader regional conflict by convincing Hezbollah in Lebanon to become directly involved.

Loading While Hezbollah has already fired rockets into Israel this week, Shanahan says the militant group is unlikely to put troops on the ground. They wont die in a ditch for the Palestinians, he says. Then comes the problem of what happens if Israel takes effective control of Gaza. Experience warns that once these territories are entered, other than for a quick raid with a specific objective, it can be very hard to get out again and it is unlikely that much would be achieved, Freedman notes. Until the weekends attacks, Hamas had in many ways been a useful and predictable foil to Netanyahu and his allies despite the groups virulent opposition to Israel. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, which is controlled by the more moderate Fatah party, have been divided, cruelling hopes of a two-state solution.
Australia has long had one of the highest concentrations of Jewish Holocaust survivors outside of Israel, and federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is the son of one of them.

He told the crowd at a vigil for Israel in Melbourne tonight that there was no excuse or justification for the atrocities of Hamas.

Australia stands as one with Israel and the Jewish people, he said, speaking of the strong bond of friendship between Australia and Israel.

Dreyfus was flanked by a strong contingent of federal politicians from both sides, including Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil, Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie and Liberal senator James Paterson, as well as Victorian MPs.

As the sun set in Melbourne, Israel was waking up.

Many at the Caulfield rally spoke of family back there  children sheltering from rockets in bunkers, relatives snatched or killed in their beds or soldiers called up to fight as the Netanyahu government declared war on the terrorist organisation Hamas.

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and state Opposition Leader John Pesutto with the crowd at the vigil on Friday. Credit: Eddie Jim

However, there is also concern for the 2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza where Hamas rules, now cut off food, power and other supplies under heavy Israeli bombardment.

Hamas must be destroyed, Paterson said, stressing the group was now putting both Palestinian and Jewish lives at risk and said hostage-taking should not weaken Israels resolve.

You can feel safe and proud of your Jewishness, he told those gathered tonight.

While the rally on Friday evening was peaceful, police on horseback and in plain clothes kept a close watch.
TOKYO, Oct 10 ( NHK ) - The opposition Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party has decided to expel Suzuki Muneo, who recently visited Russia without submitting a prior notification and is believed to have made controversial remarks there.

The party's executive board made the decision on Tuesday after its ethics committee said Suzuki's behavior disturbed party discipline.

Suzuki, an Upper House lawmaker, visited Russia and met with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Moscow on Monday of last week.

Participants at the party's executive meeting last week pointed out Suzuki failed to present a notification for the travel.

They also said they confirmed the existence of a video taken during the visit in which Suzuki said he is confident about Russia's victory in its invasion of Ukraine. Some of the attendants called for a strict punishment on him.

The party appears to have decided to expel him because Suzuki has shown intent to visit Russia again despite its leadership's instruction of refraining from traveling there.

But the party says his controversial remarks are not included in the reasons for the expulsion.

Suzuki previously said the notification was delayed due to a clerical mistake and that he would accept a punishment. He also indicated he might file a lawsuit if he were punished for his remarks.
The head of the Israeli military, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, said lessons would be drawn from the security failures around Gaza that enabled the attack. Loading The IDF is responsible for defending the country and its citizens, and Saturday morning, in the area around Gaza, we did not live up to it, he said. We will learn, investigate, but now is the time for war. The International Committee of the Red Cross said fuel powering emergency generators at hospitals in Gaza could run out within hours. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni said. The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.

Egypt, which has a single border crossing with Gaza, said it was trying to allow in aid there. Thank you, America In the biggest sign yet of the conflict potentially spilling across borders, Syria said Israeli air strikes had hit the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, putting both out of service. The Israeli military said it does not comment on such reports. Syria is a close ally of Iran, which sponsors Hamas and has celebrated the attacks while denying a direct role. Standing beside Netanyahu, Blinken said: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side.

Netanyahu said: Thank you, America, for standing with Israel, today, tomorrow and always. Blinken also offered an emotional, personal aside, recounting how his own grandfather had fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived Nazi concentration camps. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to a dual US-Israeli citizen, as he visits a donation centre for victims of the Hamas terror attacks. Credit: AP I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere, he said. We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when its difficult. Thats why its so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.

Blinken will visit Jordan to meet King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority which operates limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Abbas, whose Fatah faction is a longstanding foe of Hamas, condemned violence against civilians on both sides on Thursday. We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying. Scores of Israelis gathered in Jerusalems Mount Herzl military cemetery to bury their dead.

When you didnt take my call, I knew you were fighting with all your power. When I realised you were missing, I could not imagine this is how it would end, one mourner said. Loading In Gazas main southern city Khan Younis, where cemeteries were already full, dead were being buried in empty lots, like the Samour family, killed on Wednesday night in a strike that hit their house. Relatives and friends found eight bodies at the morgue, with 10 more still believed to lie under the rubble. The bodies were driven from the hospital in a truck covered with flowery blankets, and lined up in white shrouds at a lot down the street from their destroyed home. Hundreds of men prayed nearby. In Gazas Al Shati refugee camp, residents were sifting through rubble with their bare hands looking for survivors and bodies. Rescue workers say they lack fuel and equipment to dig.

While Washington has strongly backed Israel, Blinkens plan to meet Abbas shows it is still mindful of Palestinian grievances, strongly felt by Arab allies. Gazans, mainly descendants of refugees who fled or were expelled from homes in Israel at its founding in 1948, have suffered economic collapse and repeated Israeli bombardment under a blockade since Hamas seized power there 16 years ago. Palestinians evacuate wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip. Credit: AP Palestinian anger has mounted in recent months, with Israel carrying out the deadliest crackdown for years in the West Bank and its right-wing government talking of seizing more land. A peace process meant to create a Palestinian state collapsed a decade ago, which Palestinian leaders say left the population with no hope, strengthening extremists.

Infant death pictures The Israeli government has posted images that appear to show babies murdered and burnt by Hamas militants, which have emerged as a point of debate days after the massacre at Kfar Aza kibbutz on Saturday. The distressing images appear to show a bloodstained infant body, as well as small, entirely burnt bodies. The photos appear to confirm multiple deaths of infants at the hands of Hamas terrorists.

This is the most difficult image weve ever posted, Israel posted on social media platform X. As we are writing this we are shaking ... We went back and forth about posting this, but we need each and every one of you to know. This happened. Loading Earlier this week, as news broke of the Hamas attack on civilians at the kibbutz of Kfar Aza, an Israeli journalist, citing the Israeli Defence Force, described bodies of babies with their heads cut off. A figure of 40 then began circulating. The IDF this week said in a statement: We cannot confirm any numbers. What happened in Kibbutz Kfar Aza is a massacre in which women, children and toddlers and elderly were brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action.

The uncertainty around the report has fuelled debate online. Since then, voices on social media have both amplified and in some cases denied the report. US President Joe Biden cited the images, before the White House clarified that the leader had based his comments on what hed been told by Israeli officials. More coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Surprise attack: Hamas terrorists fired up to 5000 rockets from Gaza into Israel on October 7, triggering a declaration of war. Read our guide to the militant group and why its at war with Israel.

Hamas terrorists fired up to 5000 rockets from Gaza into Israel on October 7, triggering a declaration of war. Read our guide to the militant group and why its at war with Israel. The Iron Dome explained: How did Hamas breach Israels sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system? And why didnt Israels intelligence services see these attacks coming?

How did Hamas breach Israels sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system? And why didnt Israels intelligence services see these attacks coming? Tragedy in Israel: A 66-year-old Sydney woman has been killed and is the first known Australian casualty. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says the womans family in Israel and Australia is receiving consular assistance.
The Israeli airforce has launched intense bombing raids on Gaza over the past five days and is massing tens of thousands of troops along the border ahead of a possible ground invasion. Gaza authorities said more than 1400 Palestinians, mainly civilians, including children, have already been killed and more than 6000 wounded. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Credit: AP A land invasion in the densely populated territory could send the toll much higher. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant played a video to his counterparts at NATOs Brussels headquarters that he said showed horrific scenes from the surprise Hamas attack.

Children were tied up and shot. Yes, I repeat, children, tied up and shot, he told fellow ministers by video link according to a text of his address sent to Reuters. Horrific pictures In a message on the social media site X, Netanyahus office released what it said were horrifying photos of babies murdered and burnt by the Hamas monsters. It added: Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS, comparing the Palestinian group to the Islamic State, which was notorious for its brutality and gory execution videos. The images of the dead infants were included in the video played to NATO. It was not released to the public, but was later seen by Reuters in Jerusalem.

Reuters could not independently verify the material. They were horrific pictures of the attacks and the victims of the attacks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters, saying it confirmed the brutality of the attacks. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Lior Gelbaum (left), a dual US-Israeli citizen, and her boyfriend Klil Valiano. Credit: AP The White House said it had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the images. Hamas has denied its militants harmed civilians, accusing Israel and the West of spreading false reports to incite violence against Palestinians.

Deputy Hamas chief, Saleh Al-Arouri, said the groups fighters had only aimed to attack the Israeli military and had been surprised by the swift collapse of army units. The plan was to target the armys Gaza team and fight occupation soldiers only, Arouri said in quotes published by Hamas. Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant. Credit: AP The video shown to NATO, apparently taken from a mix of social media published by Hamas and unidentified phone videos, showed the bodies of scores of dead civilians, as well as the body of an Israeli soldier in uniform with his head missing. There were no images to suggest militants had beheaded babies  a particularly explosive accusation that first emerged in Israels media and initially confirmed by Israeli officials.

Loading US President Joseph Biden had suggested on Wednesday that he had seen images of children beheaded by militants. The White House later clarified that US officials had not seen any evidence of this. Netanyahu has not repeated a claim by his office earlier this week that Hamas had indeed cut off the heads of children, nor did Gallant repeat that accusation to NATO ministers. But medics, international human rights organisations and journalists have documented that militants killed women, children and the elderly as well as young men and soldiers in their rampage. Foreign reporters shown sites targeted by Hamas, witnessed ruins of burnt-out houses and streets scattered with dead residents and militants.

Loading NATO officials said they did not expect the alliance to be directly involved in the conflict. But multiple NATO states, above all the United States, have offered Israel military aid. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said after the NATO meeting on Thursday that Washington was not placing any conditions on its security assistance to Israel and expected Israels professional military to do the right things. Difficult news can bring up difficult feelings. If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 More coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Surprise attack: Hamas terrorists fired up to 5000 rockets from Gaza into Israel on October 7, triggering a declaration of war. Read our guide to the militant group and why its at war with Israel. The Iron Dome explained: How did Hamas breach Israels sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system? And why didnt Israels intelligence services see these attacks coming? Tragedy in Israel: A 66-year-old Sydney woman has been killed and is the first known Australian casualty. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says the womans family in Israel and Australia is receiving consular assistance. Whats next: International editor Peter Hartcher joins the Please Explain podcast to analyse the escalating conflict in the Gaza Strip - and explain why a much bigger conflict is afoot.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The conflict started with thousands of unguided rockets launching into Israel, air-raid sirens signalling for many citizens to shuffle into safe rooms. A first wave of Hamas gunmen, meanwhile, were slipping into Israel from the Gaza Strip, breaching a fortified barrier. They unleashed a brutal attack that killed Israeli civilians and security forces indiscriminately. Israelis were caught dazed at the end of a religious holiday. Within hours their government had declared it was at war with Hamas-controlled Gaza. The retaliation has included a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. Israel and Egypt have controlled the Gaza Strips land, sea and airspace since 2007 under a permanent blockade. The Gaza Strip is home to more than two million people, 1.7 million of them Palestinian refugees, according to the UN. Deaths from the conflict, now in its sixth day, are numbering more than 1100 on each side. Here is a visual representation of how the war has unfolded so far.

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Where did the violence begin? Hamas started launching the first of thousands of rockets into Israel on the morning of October 7. Analysts say Israels Iron Dome defence system worked to repel many of these projectiles. Some damaged targets such as a hospital in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon while others were directed towards Tel Aviv. That day, the European Space Agencys Sentinel-2 satellite captured smoke plumes east of the Israel-Gaza border, indicative of multiple assault zones. Hamas gunmen pushed into Israel, mostly after bulldozing and exploding through sections of a fortified 65-kilometre barrier. Further east, the satellite images show fires burning in built-up areas including the kibbutz of Beeri where footage showed Hamas militants ambushing people driving in cars. More than 100 people were killed. The Hamas gunmen reached the Tribe of Nova open-air music festival, approximately five kilometres from the Israel-Gaza border, where they opened fire, killing hundreds of festival-goers and abducting others.

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People were shot dead in the village of Kfar Aza and the city of Sderot, according to The New York Times which has verified the sites of several mass killings. Others were taken into Gaza as hostages. The Israel Defence Forces say Hamas has killed more than 1200 Israelis and injured more than 3000. How has Israel retaliated? The Israel Defence Forces report that they have struck more than 2500 targets in Gaza since the attack, reducing high-rise buildings to rubble where it believes Hamas fighters were active, as well as bank branches and an underground tunnel. The strikes have killed more than 1100 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. On Wednesday, Israel released footage of explosives destroying buildings at the Islamic University of Gaza, which the IDF said was being used as a Hamas training camp and for weapon production. A mosque in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip, was destroyed days earlier.

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Gazas power plant has also shut after running out of fuel. Israel said it had regained control of an area surrounding the Gaza Strip and allocated it as a closed military zone. The Egyptian government has reportedly rejected any proposal to establish corridors out of Gaza for Palestinians fleeing Israels bombardment. An Egyptian official told the Associated Press they were talking to Israel and the US about establishing safe corridors inside Gaza and allowing humanitarian aid to besieged Palestinians. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus said, in a briefing posted on the X social media platform, Israel was making preparations for the next stage of the war, which will come when the time is opportune and fit for our purposes.
Dubai: Hospitals in war-ravaged Gaza will run out of fuel powering vital generators within three days, as the full force of Israels total blockade kicked in and the sole power station in the strip shut down.

Life-saving medical equipment in the emergency rooms, intensive care wards and operating theatres will stop working if urgent fuel supplies are not permitted into the troubled enclave, while stocks of critical medicine and supplies are fast depleting.

Doctors at overrun hospitals in Gaza fear hospitals will soon run out of fuel and supplies. Credit: Getty

Doctors based in the densely populated strip have described catastrophic conditions in hospitals overrun with Gazans killed, injured or seeking shelter from Israels aerial bombardment in retaliation of the weekends surprise Hamas attack.

The Israeli death toll from the militant groups attack has surpassed 1200, while 150 hostages remain in the grip of the Palestinian group.
At an Israeli army base in Tel Aviv, Australian Gabrielle Briner is working 12-hour shifts, struggling to comprehend the violence that has erupted since the weekend.

Australian-born Gabrielle Briner was working as a journalist in Israel before she was called up to its military as a reservist. Credit:

She moved to Israel seven years ago as a journalist but has now been called up to her military reserve unit  one of more than 300,000 reservists called up in 48 hours across Israel and the world.

Its the largest draft in Israels history, says Briner, who is serving in a non-combat communications role.

I use words every day, but I dont have the words for the shock and the trauma of the last few days. The mood on the street is desolate. The country has been ripped to shreds.
Washington: The White House has been forced to clarify comments by Joe Biden after the US president incorrectly claimed to have seen photos of Hamas terrorists beheading children as he spoke on the atrocities in Israel.

As the Israeli-Hamas war entered its fifth day, Biden joined a round table of Jewish leaders at the White House, where he also pushed back against antisemitism in America, as tensions between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian supporters escalate on US universities, city streets and the halls of power in Washington.

A house is destroyed after being burnt by Hamas militants during the attack at Kibbutz Beeri, near the border with Gaza. Credit: Getty Images

We must all do our part and forcefully speak out against antisemitism and push back against any attempts to deny or distort the facts, to make clear there is no place for hate in America, he said.

Not against Jews, not against Muslims, not against anybody.
Housing Minister Julie Collins has announced that legislation to establish a permanent statutory body, the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, will commence in late December, with the council to be appointed shortly after.

The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council will give independent, evidence-based expert advice on matters that materially affect the supply and affordability of Australias housing.

An interim council was set up on Jan. 1, and was already providing the government with expert advice to help with its housing agenda, including the interim councils first report on how Australians can overcome barriers to institutional investment, finance, and innovation in housing.

Read the interim council's Barriers to Institutional Investment, Finance and Innovation in Housing Report.

The announcement follows the recent passage of the governments housing legislative package, which according to Collins, didnt just help to make the council a permanent body, it also enshrines the independence of the council.

This will mean the council provides full and frank advice on the issues across the housing spectrum, the minister said in an address to the National Housing Conference, Brisbane. Our government is very serious about addressing Australias housing challenges and I know this new permanent, independent body will be critical to this work.

Collins said that creating the new institution showed that the government was set about doing things differently to address the housing crisis and serious about ensuring that the countrys housing agenda is underpinned by expert advice.

She cited a recent Intergenerational Report which found that homeownership for Australians aged between 30 and 24 years fell 18 percentage points from 1981 to 2021. The census also showed that an estimated 122,000 people were homeless. And 46.7% of low-income earners who rent spend more than 30% of their weekly income on housing costs.

Collins said she will be working closely with the council to deliver the National Housing and Homelessness Plan.

Earlier this year, the government launched the consultation on the new plan, which was designed to identify the short-, medium- and long-term steps that can be taken to help address housing issues in Australia.

My goal is for the plan to provide a better understanding of the current state of housing and homelessness in Australia, Collins said. It will look at the drivers of homelessness and housing insecurity throughout urban, regional, rural, and remote Australia. It will also look at housing supply and homeownership.

And most importantly, my ambition is for the plan to set out a clearer strategy for how all levels of government can work together, and with the private and community sector, to better support people facing housing challenges.

She strongly encouraged everyone to provide feedback to the issues paper to help the government understand areas of focus for inclusion in the plan.

It is with the insights and opinions of experts, industry leaders, state and territory governments, and those on the front line that together we can deliver a well-informed plan, Collins said. So, if you havent already, I encourage you to visit the DSS website and contribute your views using the issues paper as a guide.

Read the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Issues Paper.

Responses to the issues paper close on Oct. 20, 11.59pm AEST.

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The Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia has appointed Stefania Riotto as senior policy specialist, in a move MFAA CEO Anja Pannek said bolsters the already significant advocacy firepower of the MFAA.

Riotto (pictured above left) brings to the organisation more than two decades of senior leadership and business development experience across aggregators, non-banks, and major banks, having worked at companies such as NAB, Loan Market Group, and NAB-owned Advantedge Financial Services. She was also heavily involved with the ASIC Broker Remuneration Review in 2016, and the industrys response to the Financial Services Royal Commission.

Im looking forward to working with the team at the MFAA, and its members, to drive policy positions that acknowledge the work of brokers, the industrys commitment to compliance and positive consumer outcomes, Riotto said. Joining the MFAA is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the industry and influence continued positive change.

Pannek (pictured above right) said Riottos appointment supports a broadened policy and advocacy remit at the MFAA.

A relatively stable regulatory environment for the industry, the MFAA continues to expand its remit to advocate on a broad range of issues that are important to our members, she said.

In the 20222023 financial year, the association proactively took part in a significant number of government and regulator consultations, resulting in the development of a record 24 submissions  the highest number of submissions in MFAAs 40-year history.

This includes advocating on social and economic policy that impacts our members and their clients, she said. For example, in January this year we made our inaugural Pre-Budget submission to the Federal Government detailing five key areas we believe are critical for investment including competition in the home lending sector, digital innovation and diversity and inclusion.

Pannek said MFAA is always ready to defend the industry when needed, armed with a forward-thinking approach to policy and advocacy.

We represent the entire industry  97% of our members are mortgage and finance brokers, and we also represent lenders, aggregators, and other service providers to the industry, she said. So, we take a whole-of-industry approach to our advocacy to ensure the ecosystem works to benefit all our members and their clients.

The MFAA is seen as the trusted voice among government and regulators, and weve been instrumental in shaping policy discussions, promoting industry best practices, and safeguarding the interests of all our members.

A clear example of this, she said, was the significant advocacy and lobbying work MFAA did that led to the cancellation of the review in mortgage broker remuneration in March 2022.

As changes are contemplated in the regulatory and policy environment in which our members operate  whether in relation to credit regulation or regulation that changes how our members operate their businesses  we are here ensuring that any change is fit for purpose and continues to promote choice and competition, Pannek said.

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TikTok said the removed profiles accounted for fewer than 1% of its international users. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake/file photo)

In a move that has garnered national attention, Montana's decision to ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok is now under judicial review. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy of Missoula is set to hear arguments from both TikTok and five Montana-based content creators who are challenging the state's decision. The primary contention is the potential infringement on free speech rights and the economic implications for local businesses that rely on the platform.

Montana's decision to ban TikTok, which is slated to take effect on January 1, 2024, was based on concerns regarding user data privacy. The state argues that the Chinese government could potentially access user information from TikTok due to its parent company, ByteDance, being headquartered in Beijing. This move made Montana the first U.S. state to impose a complete ban on the app.

However, TikTok and the content creators argue that the ban is a violation of free speech rights and could have detrimental economic consequences for those who use the platform for business. In their court filings, TikTok stated that Montana's law was based on "unsubstantiated allegations." They further argued that the state could have opted for less drastic measures, such as mandating data collection limits or requiring parental controls, instead of a complete ban.

The broader international context cannot be ignored. Western governments have long expressed concerns about TikTok, fearing that the platform could be used by the Chinese government to gather sensitive data or spread misinformation. Chinese legislation does permit the government to direct companies to assist in intelligence collection.

TikTok, which is currently in negotiations with the U.S. federal government regarding its operations in the country, has consistently denied these allegations. Despite their denials, concerns persist. A report from the U.S. State Department last month alleged that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has been actively seeking to suppress critics of the Beijing government, even those outside China. The report cited evidence from 2020 that ByteDance maintained an internal list of individuals who were restricted or banned from its platforms, including TikTok, for advocating issues sensitive to the Chinese government, such as Uyghur independence.

While Montana's move is unprecedented at the state level, it's worth noting that over half of U.S. states and the federal government have already prohibited the use of TikTok on official devices. TikTok has labeled these bans as "political theatre" and argues that additional restrictions are unwarranted given the measures they've taken to safeguard U.S. user data, including storing it on Oracle servers.

The Montana legislation was introduced following an incident where a Chinese spy balloon flew over the state. The proposed law would not only prohibit TikTok downloads but would also impose a fine of $10,000 per day on any entity that offers access or downloads of the app within the state. Notably, individual users would not face penalties.

Several organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, its Montana chapter, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital privacy rights advocacy group, have expressed support for TikTok's challenge. On the other hand, 18 attorneys general from predominantly Republican-led states are backing Montana's decision, urging the judge to let the law take effect.

As the legal battle unfolds, the broader implications for digital privacy, free speech, and international relations remain at the forefront of the debate.
TOKYO, Oct 13 ( NHK ) - Japan's education and culture ministry has requested a court order to remove the religious corporation status of a group formerly known as the Unification Church.

The ministry filed the request at the Tokyo District Court on Friday, saying the group's practices are illegal and significantly harmful to public welfare.

The ministry interviewed more than 170 people connected to the organization. Nearly 5,000 pieces of evidence were submitted to the court.

Education and Culture Minister Moriyama Masahito told reporters on Thursday that collecting donations and soliciting new members were part of the group's operations. He said the group's practices violated civil law, and caused significant damage.

This is the third case for an administrative body to seek the dissolution of a religious group for violating the law. Previous cases included the Aum Shinrikyo cult in 1995.

The latest request is the first case based on violation of civil law. The court will hear arguments from the ministry and the group before making a decision on the dissolution order.

If the court order is granted, the group would lose its religious corporation status which allows tax benefits, but would still be able to conduct religious activities.

Officials of the group said on Thursday that they are confident they do not deserve a dissolution order.
U.S. and Qatar Block Iran's Access to $6 Billion Funds Amid Hamas Attack Concerns (Photo: United States Department of the Treasury/Public Domain)

The U.S. and the Qatari government have reached an understanding to prevent Iran from accessing $6 billion in humanitarian aid. This aid, funded by Iranian oil sales, was unfrozen by the United States earlier this year as part of a prisoner swap agreement. The decision comes amid rising concerns and backlash over alleged ties between Iran and Hamas' attacks on Israel.

The funds, which were unfrozen in September, became a focal point of contention in recent days. Republicans, in particular, expressed fears that the money could potentially be used to aid Hamas, a group that Iran has backed for years. The direct connection between Iran and the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas, however, remains unclear.

Wally Adeyemo, the U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary, communicated this understanding to House Democrats in a closed-door meeting. He emphasized that the $6 billion "isn't going anywhere anytime soon." This sentiment was echoed by White House national security spokesman John Kirby, who stated that "the regime was never going to see a dime of that money."

The decision to unfreeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets was part of a broader agreement made last month. This deal involved the release of five Americans who had been imprisoned by Iran. In return, the U.S. released five Iranian prisoners. It was stipulated that the unfrozen funds could only be used by Iran for humanitarian purposes, such as purchasing food and medicine. However, Iran's president had previously mentioned that the country would decide how to utilize these previously frozen assets.

Republicans have been vocally critical of the Biden administration, especially since the onset of the conflict between Hamas and Israel over the past weekend. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee was among the first to call for the Biden Administration to refreeze the $6 billion in assets. She expressed concerns about the "significant risk" that the funds could be used to further efforts by Iran or Hamas against Israel.

The timing and specifics of the understanding between the U.S. and Qatar were not immediately disclosed. However, even before this agreement, the mechanism for Iran to access the funds was heavily scrutinized and deemed complex. This made it unlikely for Iran to access the funds swiftly, even for legitimate humanitarian efforts.

The recent developments underscore the complexities and sensitivities surrounding international agreements, especially when they intersect with geopolitical tensions and concerns about potential misuse of funds. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this understanding impacts U.S.-Iran relations and the broader dynamics in the Middle East.
Violence between the Jews and Arabs in Israel and Gaza has flared up. (Photo: REUTERS/Suhaib Salem)

The Israel-Palestine conflict continues to intensify, with various regional militias voicing their readiness to join Hamas in its operations.

On Tuesday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Houthi militia, cautioned the U.S. against direct intervention in the conflict during a televised speech. He warned that they would join Hamas and respond with drones, missiles, and other military actions, hinting at the possibility of the conflict escalating regionally.

Al-Houthi stated that the decision to launch the "Al-Aqsa flood" operation was entirely up to the Palestinians and expressed his readiness to deploy hundreds of thousands of fighters to stand with the Palestinian people against their adversaries.

The Houthi militia, believed to be backed by Iran, has been at war with the Saudi-supported Yemeni government since 2014. Despite their differences, both sides in Yemen have shown a rare united front against Israel's actions. Large numbers of civilians from territories controlled by both factions have taken to the streets, expressing their strong dissatisfaction with Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

Iraqi Militias Issue Warnings

Several Iraqi militias have also issued threats. On Monday, Hadi Al-Amiri, the leader of the Badr Organization in Iraq, warned the U.S. against interference, stating that they would target all U.S. interests if the U.S. intervened. The Badr Organization is a Shiite political group in Iraq that includes the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-sanctioned paramilitary force with many Iran-backed factions.

Another PMF faction, Kataib Hezbollah, threatened to target U.S. bases and Israeli positions if the U.S. military intervened in the "Al-Aqsa flood" operation.

Currently, there are approximately 2,500 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. Over the past few years, U.S. forces and the U.S. embassy in Baghdad have been frequently attacked, with many of these attacks believed to be carried out by Iran-backed Iraqi militias.

Lebanon's Hezbollah Enters the Conflict

Lebanon's Hezbollah militia has already taken action. They fired artillery at three locations in the disputed Shebaa Farms area bordering Israel. Israel retaliated. On Wednesday, Hezbollah launched another missile attack on Israeli targets, describing it as a "firm response" to previous Israeli attacks. Israel subsequently struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

U.S. Military Buildup in the Middle East

Meanwhile, U.S. military forces are amassing in the Middle East. On Tuesday evening, the USS Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, arrived near Israel with its battle group. The USS Eisenhower is also expected to arrive in about two weeks. The Israeli Defense Forces announced that the first plane carrying U.S. weapons landed at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel on Tuesday evening. The U.S. has also promised to quickly supply Israel with more ammunition.

The Pentagon stated that these actions are a clear demonstration of U.S. support for Israel's defense, not just in words but in action. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his visit to Israel and Jordan, expressing support for Israel.

As the conflict escalated since last Saturday, by Thursday morning, over 2,500 people have died and nearly ten thousand have been injured on both sides. Additionally, about 339,000 Gaza residents have been displaced due to Israeli airstrikes.

The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson confirmed that 12 employees of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, all locals from Gaza, were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Furthermore, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that three Chinese citizens were unfortunately killed in the conflict, two are missing, and several others were injured.
The Bombay High Court has refused to grant default bail to realtor Sanjay Chhabriaa in the Yes Bank money laundering case, observing that money laundering involves intricate processes to make illegally-obtained money appear legitimate and hence require in-depth investigation.

A single bench of Justice M S Karnik on October 9 dismissed Chhabriaa's petition seeking default bail on the ground that though the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted its prosecution complaint against him within the mandatory 60-day period, it had also sought permission from the special court to carry on further probe in the case.



The ED's case was that while the probe against Chhabriaa was complete, the investigation regarding the case was still on. The high court in its order agreed with the agency and said the offence of money laundering involves multiple interconnected transactions and the same demands cumbersome investigation, and that the ED in the present case was investigating an economic offence which demands in-depth and detailed investigation.



"The accused undoubtedly has the right to a fair trial which is a dimension of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Likewise, it is also the duty of the respondent (ED) to conduct a comprehensive and complete investigation as regards the offence," the order said. "Money laundering refers to the process of making illegally-obtained money appear legitimate or clear in order to disguise its illicit origins. The ultimate goal of money laundering is to integrate illicit funds into the lawful financial system, making it challenging for authorities to trace and seize the proceeds," the court said.



Money laundering involves intricate processes designed to obfuscate the origin of illegally-obtained funds, Justice Karnik said, adding the complexity of a money laundering case is determined by the intricacy and sophistication of the methods used to disguise the illicit funds. "Complex money laundering cases, such as the one at hand, encompass multiple levels of transactions.



These cases typically involve intricate schemes and techniques aimed at creating numerous layers of obfuscation, making it challenging for investigators to unravel the true nature of the illicit funds," the HC said in its order.



The ED's case is that Chhabriaa had played a crucial role in diverting funds procured illegally by Yes Bank's founder Rana Kapoor and Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoter Kapil Wadhwan. Justice Karnik said further investigation was on with regard to the larger offence of money laundering in the case. "There is no embargo for conducting any further investigation in the case by the respondent to bring any further evidence, oral or documentary, against any accused person involved in the offence, against which the complaint has been filed," the HC said. Chhabriaa's lawyer Vibhav Krishna said since the investigation in the case was incomplete even after 60 days since Chhabria's arrest in the case, the accused stands to get relief of default bail.



Chhabriaa was arrested by the ED on June 7, 2022 in connection with the Yes Bank-DHFL money laundering case. On August 4, 2022, the ED submitted its prosecution complaint (chargesheet). Krishna argued that the complaint was filed by the ED without completing its investigation only to scuttle the indefeasible right accrued in favour of the accused to claim default bail.



He submitted to the court that Chhabriaa was granted default bail in the CBI's corruption case related to the same offence by the Supreme Court in April this year.



Chhabriaa moved the HC seeking bail in the ED's case after a special court rejected his plea in August last year. Additional Solicitor General Devang Vyas opposed the plea and argued that the investigation with respect to Chhabriaa is complete but the probe in the whole case is still on.
A group of US-based companies in areas such as semiconductors, aerospace and defence, electric vehicles, space, precision manufacturing and health tech have shown interest in cumulatively investing over $3 billion in Karnataka, according to the office of Karnataka Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Minister M B Patil. Some of the global companies are already in the process of investing around $1 billion in the state.

During the recent visit to the US, a Patil-led delegation held as many as 36 meetings and discussions, comprising 27 one-on-one meetings and nine interactions with various companies. They explored investment opportunities in electronics and semiconductors, aerospace and defence, auto, electric vehicles, precision manufacturing and med-tech sectors.

The delegation held meetings with global companies like Applied Materials, AMD, Juniper, Global Foundries, Lam Research, Boeing, Krypton and Dell. Other such firms include MKS Instruments, GE Healthcare, Intelsat, RTX, Terradyne, Texas Instruments, Apple and Waters Corp among others. The delegation also met with a few top start-ups like Leolab, Fictive and T-Seconds.

"We have met some of the prestigious companies in the United States during our visit," said Patil. "We have tried to understand their requirements and have invited them to Karnataka for expansion or collaboration. There is a renewed beginning for the state."

The purpose of the visit to the US was to highlight Karnataka as a promising destination for investment. The government said this visit to the US was necessary and important considering the fast-changing geopolitical dynamics as a large number of global companies are looking at India as an attractive, safe destination for new investment or expanding their existing presence.

The new government took charge in May this year. The delegation led by Patil wanted to reassure the investors that Karnataka is an attractive and favoured destination. It talked about industry-friendly policies, lucrative incentives and the availability of a technically qualified and skilled workforce, as well as abundant availability of natural resources.

Minister for IT and BT and Science and Technology Priyank Kharge, and Secretary to the Government, Department of Electronics Information Technology Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Dr Ekroop Caur joined Patil during the second leg of the visit to the US between September 25 and October 6, 2023.

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The central themes of discussions with industry leaders centred on joint skilling initiatives and the expansion of the supplier base. It also included strengthening the existing R&D ecosystem and collaboration on establishing centres of excellence with the state government.

As the delegation traversed from the East Coast to the West Coast, spanning states such as Washington D.C., Boston, Texas and the Bay Area, "a consistent theme emerged: India stands out as the top choice for American companies," said the government. The government said Karnataka, in particular, is favoured for its robust industrial ecosystem complemented by world-class social infrastructure, improved ease of doing business, a highly skilled and trained labour force and investor-friendly policies. These policies, which include multiple financial incentives, contribute to creating a favourable cost-economic environment, further solidifying Karnataka's status as a preferred destination for businesses.

"We have offered all possible support to the companies to invest in Karnataka," said Patil. "We have briefed the senior executives of global companies about the state's ease of doing business, favourable policies, sectorial incentives and industrial infrastructure built in the state."
Amid a diplomatic row, Speaker of the Canadian Senate Raymonde Gagne has decided to skip the Presiding Officers' Summit of Parliaments of G20 nations that began here Thursday.

Gagne had earlier confirmed her presence at the Parliament-20 meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

"The Canadian Speaker is not attending the Summit. Schedules keep changing," Parliamentary sources said.

Earlier, Birla had said he would raise "several issues" in his informal talks with the Speaker of the Canadian Senate.

India, Canada relations have nosedived after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations last month linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India had dismissed the allegation as "absurd".

The P20 meeting got underway on Thursday with Parliamentarians of G20 nations participating in the Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), a movement proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Brazil taking over the G20 presidency in 2024 and India joining South Africa as the G20 troika was an excellent opportunity to provide positive momentum and elevation to the issues of the Global South, much like the G20 Finance Track had done under the Indian presidency, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday in Marrakech, Morocco.

The minister met with Brazil's economy minister Haddad Fernando on the sidelines of the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting.

"The two ministers discussed issues of mutual interest, including strengthening MDBs, mobilising finance for climate change, crypto assets, Financing Cities of Tomorrow, advancing financial inclusion, managing global debt vulnerabilities, and BRICS expansion," the finance ministry said in a tweet.

Sitharaman also met Jeremy Hunt, chancellor of the exchequer, United Kingdom, to discuss issues of mutual interest, including the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).

Sitharaman also met Mulyani Indrawati, finance minister of Indonesia, on the sidelines of the FMCBG to discuss issues of common interests under G20 India, including on areas like sustainable finance, international taxation and crypto, among others, finmin said in a tweet.

Both the ministers noted the G20 Independent Expert Group's important guidance for the MDBs reform agenda and resolved to ensure that progress achieved this year on the MDBs is leveraged going forward.

In respect of climate action, the ministers shared views on how unilateral measures may not be effective and may have adverse effects on addressing climate issues.

The finance ministry's tweet also said the ministers agreed to finalise the areas of cooperation and modalities towards the 1st Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between the two countries at the earliest.
A massive fire broke out at a shoe factory in Delhi's Peeragarhi area in the early hours of Thursday, said officials.

The fire brigade got information about the incident around 4:00 am.

Since then over 30 fire brigade vehicles have been trying to control the fire.

The factory, located near Peeragarhi metro station, is engaged in shoe-related work.

Further details are awaited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to hold a summit before the end of this year, India's ambassador to Moscow was quoted as saying by Russian news agency RIA.

"This is being discussed. Discussions are ongoing at a high level," India's ambassador to Moscow Pawan Kapoor said.

RIA Novosti, also referred to as RIAN or RIA is a Russian state-owned domestic news agency.

The Indian diplomat, however, did not give any other details, according to RIA Novosti.

Speaking at an event last week, Putin termed India as a "powerful country", which it is growing stronger and stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia-based RT News reported.

"...India, more than 1.5 billion of population, more than 7 per cent of economic growth...that's a powerful country, mighty country. And it's growing stronger and stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi...," Putin said, according to a video shared by RT News.

The Russian President had not attended the September 9-10 G20 Summit in New Delhi and the country was represented by its foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.

The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand in Uzbekistan in September 2022.

During the Samarkhand meeting PM Modi had urged Putin to put an end to Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine and stated "I know that today's era is not the era for war.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue between India and France on Wednesday with late evening talks with his French counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu (Minister of the Armed Forces), in Paris.

Underscoring Frances emergence as one of Indias closest strategic and defence partners, the two ministers discussed a range of topics, including their assessments of the regional situation, ongoing military-to-military engagements, and enhanced defence industrial cooperation, according to a media release from Indias Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Indo-French strategic ties

The ministers reviewed ongoing defence projects and discussed ways to deepen collaboration between the defence industries of both countries. They also explored potential collaboration in niche domains such as space, cyber, and artificial intelligence (AI), stated MoD.

Safran engines

An example of a crucial project on the Indo-French cooperation agenda is the agreement signed between Frances Safran Helicopter Engines and Indias Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to establish a new joint venture for developing helicopter engines to meet Indias future needs.

One such engine, known as the Shakti, is the only power plant with the thrust required to propel HALs indigenous helicopters, including the light utility helicopter, the Dhruv advanced light helicopter, the Rudra attack helicopter, and the light combat helicopter, to the challenging heights of Kargil or the Saltoro Ridge, where the Indian Army is deployed at altitudes exceeding 20,000 feet in posts like Sonam and Bana Top.

Earlier on Wednesday, Rajnath visited the Safran research and development centre near Paris in Gennevilliers to witness the latest developments in aero-engine technology.

Rajnath highlighted the advantages of co-development and co-production in India, including the possibilities for exports to third countries. He underlined the inherent advantages of the Indian market, such as a large, skilled human resource base, world-class infrastructure, and a strong legal architecture, noted the Indian MoD.

Shipbuilding

Indo-French military cooperation is also venturing into the realm of strategic shipbuilding. While India is constructing almost all of the 40 warships for its Navy domestically, an agreement was signed in Brest, France during Sea Tech Week 2022 to collaborate on joint research aimed at improving the analysis of data collected by underwater sensors using neural systems and AI.

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Submarines

In partnership with French shipbuilder Naval Group, the defence electronics giant Thales is competing to supply the Indian Navy with underwater systems, such as sonars and the heavyweight F21 torpedo, which will arm Indias six Scorpene-class submarines.

In July, Rajnath approved the construction of three additional Scorpene submarines with air-independent propulsion (AIP) by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders under the Buy (Indian) category, with these submarines procured from French shipbuilder Naval Group.

Naval Group could also potentially secure another Indian tender for six AIP-driven submarines to be built in India. France may offer India six nuclear-powered submarines instead of AIP-driven boats, considering Naval Groups experience in building nuclear-powered submarines for the French Navy and conventional-powered boats for the export market.

Rafale-Marine fighters

In the same month of July, the MoD announced the procurement of 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft, including ancillary equipment, weapons, simulators, spares, documentation, crew training, and logistic support for the Indian Navy, from Frances Dassault.

This selection represents the Indian Navy's choice for its tender for 26 multi-role carrier-based fighters, which had seen a request for information sent to two vendors: Dassault for the Rafale-Marine and the US firm Boeing for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Joint exercises and strategic ties

Upon arriving in Paris on Tuesday, Rajnath interacted with the Indian community there.

During the first leg of his two-nation tour in Rome, Rajnath held talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. After discussions on security and defence policy, they signed an Indo-Italian agreement on defence cooperation.

Indo-French defence cooperation has steadily grown in recent years. Since 1993, the two navies have conducted a bilateral naval exercise each year, which was named Exercise Varuna in 2001.

In January, they conducted the first phase of the 21st edition of Varuna, and last week, the second phase of Varuna 2023 took place in the Arabian Sea, involving guided missile frigates, tankers, maritime patrol aircraft, and integral helicopters.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed Go First lessors to deploy security personnel for the grounded aircraft and directed the Resolution Professional (RP) of the airline to share documents related to the maintenance of aircraft, engines, and airframes with the lessors within two weeks.

However, the RP will continue to maintain the aircraft.

The order was passed on the lessors' plea to allow them to maintain their aircraft. The next hearing is on October 19.

Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju also told the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), acting through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), to grant lessors access to technical documents, maintaining records of airworthiness of the aircraft.

The lessors had earlier told the court that the RP was not maintaining the aircraft as per court orders and there were 'greenish deposits,' 'corrosion,' and 'rusting' on the leased planes.

DAE (SY 22)13 Ireland, who has leased two aircraft to Go First, said that protective covers around the leased aircraft were also removed. The lessor's counsel told the court that if the Resolution Professional (RP) of the airline says the airline should fly, they should demonstrate that. "If the RP, in good faith, says we should be able to fly, you should be able to demonstrate that. It is the duty of the RP to demonstrate that," the lessor told the court.

The Delhi High Court reserved its orders on three applications filed by aircraft lessors of the airline seeking permission to maintain their aircraft.

The lessor's lawyer also alleged that the condition of the leased aircraft deteriorates every time it is inspected. "It is the duty of the RP to ensure that the maintenance is carried out in a correct manner," he said.

The lessor added that the RP is not giving them access to key documents of the aircraft, such as maintenance records, which are essential to discern if the aircraft are being 'maintained in a fly-worthy condition'. "Aircraft should be in flyworthy condition. If the RP is carrying out maintenance, it is their duty to show that to the court," he said.

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Other lessors, such as BOC Aviation Ireland and ACG Aircraft Leasing, have also filed similar applications. ACG Aircraft Leasing told the court that critical parts, such as fan blades, escape slides, and other parts are missing from at least two planes.

Another lessor has meanwhile sought directions to Go First to replace "robbed" parts of its leased aircraft. They have also sought round-the-clock security for their grounded aircraft.

Meanwhile, the RP's counsel had questioned why the lessors were moving both the Delhi High Court and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for the same relief. He said that the division bench order of the Delhi High Court had modified the single judge's order on July 12, so the lessors should now go to the division bench for relief.

This comes as a second blow to the airline after the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on October 3 exempted all transactions and agreements related to aircraft and their engines from the moratorium under Section 14 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The MCA's notification will allow lessors to promptly take their planes back from airlines.

Go First had filed for insolvency in May, after which the moratorium period kicked in, meaning that the aircraft could not be taken back by the lessors. The lessors had then moved the NCLT as well as the Delhi High Court to access the leased aircraft.
TOKYO, Oct 13 ( NHK ) - A local family court in central Japan has ruled in a case involving a transgender man that the requirement of surgery to remove reproductive functions for gender registry changes is unconstitutional.

A lawyer for the person says this is the first court ruling in the country that finds the surgery requirement unconstitutional.

Under current law in Japan, gender on a family register can be changed only if certain conditions are met, including undergoing the surgery. Family courts will then judge whether the requirements are met.

Suzuki Gen filed a petition with a family court in Hamamatsu City demanding that gender change be allowed without surgery. The 48-year-old is registered as female but goes about daily life as a man.

Suzuki argued that the law provision is a human rights violation and unconstitutional as it effectively forces transgender people to undergo the surgery. He asked for legal recognition as a man without surgery.

On Wednesday, Presiding Judge Sekiguchi Takehiro said that the provision violates the Constitution and is invalid, allowing the petitioner's gender on the family registry to be changed from female to male.

Japan's Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the provision requiring the surgery does not violate the Constitution, saying that a possible birth of a child with retained reproduction ability could bring confusion to society.

But two of four judges stated at that time that the provision could be a violation of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court has been examining a case over the surgery requirement filed by another transgender individual at its 15-member Grand Bench since September.
At least 11 United Nations staff and personnel, as well as 30 students at UN schools have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel, reported The Times of Israel.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, "11 United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff and personnel have been killed since Saturday", referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees which also runs schools in Gaza.

"30 UNRWA students have also been killed and another eight have been injured," she said.

The victims include five teachers, a gynaecologist, an engineer, a counsellor and three support staff, UNRWA's deputy director Jennifer Austin said in a statement.

She further said, "UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families. UN staff and civilians must be protected at all times during conflict. We call for the fighting to come to an end to spare more civilian lives lost."

Reportedly, over 250,000 people in Gaza have fled from their homes, the UN said.

However, most of these people have crowded into schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, The Times of Israel reported.

Marking the sixth day of the fatal rocket fire attack by Hamas, over 1,200 people have been killed, more than 3000 injured and an estimated 100-150 were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Air Force's chief of staff, Brigadier General Omer Tishler said that the Israeli Air Force was not targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip, but that the strikes were no longer "surgical".

"We do not act like the other side, we do not attack the civilian population. Behind every attack there is a target," he said. "We act precisely and professionally but not surgically. I'm not talking about single, tens, or hundreds [of strikes]. We are talking about thousands of munitions," Tishler said.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said that he has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip.

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"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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on to protect civilians, and for international humanitarian law to be upheld.

"About 220,000 Palestinians are now sheltering in 92 UNRWA facilities across Gaza," he said, adding that UN premises, hospitals, clinics and schools must "never be targeted."

The Palestinian envoy also mentioned Israel's Defence Minister's statement in the letter, which said, "We are fighting human animals... We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza. There will be no electricity, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed".

He claimed that "Israeli occupying forces (IOF)" continue attacking civilian areas across the Gaza Strip, firing missiles, bombs and artillery by air, land and sea. Violating all rules of international humanitarian law, Israel is deliberately targeting homes, including apartment buildings, refugee camps, hospitals and other medical facilities, UNRWA schools, mosques, and other civilian properties and infrastructure, including roads, hampering the passage of emergency vehicles and access of humanitarian personnel to aid the wounded.

The letter mentioned that the casualties are estimated at 849 Palestinians killed, including families in their entirety throughout Gaza, and over 5,350 wounded by lethal IOF attacks in the days since Israel began its onslaught on 7 October. The toll is rising by the minute.

He emphasised that the harm being done to children and women is unspeakable. Children are being traumatized and terrorized, orphaned by the hundreds as their parents are murdered before their eyes, displaced as their homes are blown up and reduced to rubble, and are among the dead and wounded, with reports of over 140 children killed. As of this writing, it is estimated that more than 80 women are also among the dead, with casualty figures still rising.

Giving details about the destruction, the Palestinian envoy sought the stop the bloodshed and save civilian lives and reiterated that the targeting of civilians must be halted immediately.

Meanwhile, earlier, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the US was "actively discussing" with Israel and Egypt to ensure safe passage for civilians from Gaza, according to The Times of Israel.

"We support safe passage for civilians. Civilians are not to blame for what Hamas has done. They didn't do anything wrong, and we continue to support safe passage," Kirby said during a press briefing.

As of Wednesday, the coastal enclave, home to 2.3 million people have been dealing with deteriorating condition as entire city blocks were reduced to rubble and residents searched for places to go.

Moreover, the power plant in the Gaza Strip ceased operations on Wednesday afternoon after running out of fuel, the Gaza Energy Authority announced, The Jerusalem Post reported.

In an update posted on X, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that dozens of warplanes attacked more than 80 targets throughout Beit Hanon during the night.

"Dozens of warplanes attacked over 80 targets throughout Beit Hanon during the night. Among other things, the planes attacked two bank branches used by the terrorist organization Hamas to finance terrorism in the Gaza Strip, an underground terrorist tunnel in the territory of the Gaza Strip and two operational headquarters used by the terrorist organization Hamas to direct terrorism to the State of Israel," IDF posted on X.

Gaza's Civil Defense Department has warned that there were only a few rescue teams to search for survivors buried under rubble and that teams were unable to reach many places owing to the damaged roads and constant bombardments.

"There is no safe place in Gaza right now," said journalist Hasan Jabar after three Palestinian journalists were killed in the bombardment of a downtown neighbourhood home to government ministries, media offices and hotels. "I am genuinely afraid for my life.
The number of Israelis murdered during Hamas' invasion of southern Israel over the weekend rose to 1,200 on Wednesday morning, as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) continued to pummel Palestinian terror assets in the Gaza Strip.

Overnight Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force hit more than 200 targets in Gaza's Al Furqan neighborhood, which it called "a terror nest for Hamas," from which "many activities against Israel are carried out."

It was Israel's third strike in the area in the past 24 hours, according to the military.

The IDF "will continue to act powerfully against the infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hamas, which aim terror against Israel, and continues extensive waves of attacks in the Gaza Strip," it added.

Among the Hamas targets hit across the Strip were weapons storage facilities, command and control centers, naval assets and more, the military said.

The operational headquarters used by the rocket force of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization was also hit.

"We have released all restraints, regained control of the [border] area and are moving to full offense," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops during a visit to the south on Tuesday night.

"You will have the ability to change reality here. You have seen the prices paid. Hamas wanted a change in Gaza. It will change 180 degrees from what it thought," the minister said. "They will regret this moment. Gaza will never return to what it was. Whoever comes to decapitate, murder women, Holocaust survivors--we will eliminate them with all our might and without compromise."

On Wednesday, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that over the past 24 hours, Israeli forces had killed 18 Palestinian terrorists who had infiltrated Israeli territory during Hamas's Oct. 7 assault.

"These are the same terrorists who did not flee back to Gaza. They are in hiding places near the border. That's why the scans are being conducted, and there are tens of thousands of troops in the area surrounding the Strip," said Hagari.

The IDF said on Tuesday that some 1,500 Palestinian terrorists had been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its cross-border raid on Saturday morning.

Hagari added that Hamas has fired some 5,000 rockets at Israel since the war broke out, targeting the south and center of the country.

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He defined the elimination of senior Hamas terrorists as the military's "top priority."

The military is simultaneously reinforcing Israel's northern frontier, after Lebanon's Hezbollah terror group took responsibility on Tuesday evening for firing anti-tank missiles at the Jewish state.

An IDF attack helicopter responded by striking a Hezbollah post.

"The IDF is prepared for all scenarios in all arenas, and will continue to operate in order to protect Israeli civilians," stated the military.

Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF attacked two Hezbollah observation posts in Southern Lebanon with artillery fire after terrorists there fired rockets into Israel.

"Around 15 launches were detected from Lebanese territory. Air-defence systems successfully intercepted four launches, 10 launches fell in Lebanese territory," the IDF confirmed.

Mortar shells were also fired at Israel from the Syrian side of the Golan Heights on Tuesday evening.
The US will never falter from its support for Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday but underlined the importance of taking "every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians" as the Israeli military prepares for a "next stage" of the war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

"No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again," Blinken told reporters while speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Blinken also reiterated that respect for civilian life is what distinguishes democracies from the likes of Hamas, saying, "As the Prime Minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters."



Blinken also stressed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.

"This was just one of Hamas' countless acts of terror. It brings to mind the worst of ISIS," he said, referring to the Islamic State terror group.

An unprecedented attack against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli retaliation has left more than 2,600 people dead in Israel and Gaza.

"The message I bring to Israel is this, you may be strong enough to defend yourself but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to, we will always be there by your side.

He said the US has started delivering arms and ammunition to Israel.

"Shipments of military support have already arrived in Israel and more is on the way. As Israel's defence needs evolve, we'll work with Congress to make sure they're met," he said.

Blinken also noted that President Biden has issued a crystal clear warning to any adversary of a state or any state thinking of the current advantage to attack Israel, as the US has Israel's back.

He said there's no excuse, there's no justification for these atrocities. "We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people or legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity, and dignity.

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"Hamas has only one agenda, to destroy Israel and murder Jews. No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right or the obligation to defend itself and ensure it never happens again," he said.

"We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists for striving for a different standard, even when it's difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short..".

"The value we place on human life and human dignity, that's what makes us who we are and we count them among our greatest strengths. That's why it's so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians and that's why we mourn the loss of every innocent life, civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed," Blinken said.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the US for its incredible support for Israel in his country's "war against the barbarians of Hamas."



Blinken's visit, Netanyahu said, was "another tangible example of America's unequivocal support for Israel.

Hamas should be crushed, Netanyahu said, just as ISIS had been crushed.

Hamas is ISIS, and just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed and Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated, Netanyahu said.

They should be spat out from the community of nations. No leader should meet with them, no country should harbour them. And those that do should be sanctioned, the Israeli prime minister said.

The number of people killed in Israeli has now risen to 1,300 people. These were mostly civilians killed by Hamas gunmen in their homes and at a dance festival.

At least 1,354 people have been killed in Gaza since Saturday, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and 6,049 have been wounded.
By Bobby Ghosh

Why dont they just leave? As Israels furious retaliation for last weekends Hamas attack devastates large swathes of the Gaza strip, killing hundreds and maiming thousands of Palestinians, it is not unreasonable to wonder why the 2.3 million civilians living in the tiny enclave dont flee to safer ground. The question will acquire greater urgency in the days ahead, given the high likelihood of a ground invasion by the Israeli Defence Forces  which will mean days, weeks and even months of grueling street-by-street, house-by-house battles.



The short answer to that question is: They cant. Before I explain why, consider the lay of the land and the situation in which Gazans find themselves right now.

At 139 square miles, the Gaza Strip is approximately the size of Philadelphia, with a third more people. There is very little open space within the enclave where 2 million people can hunker down and wait for the fighting to end. The siege imposed by Israel is designed, in the words of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to leave Gaza with no electricity, no food, no water, no gas - its all closed.

The Israeli Defense Forces say the bombing campaign that is currently reducing entire Gazan neighborhoods to rubble is targeted at known Hamas hideouts, control centers and weapons caches. But the terrorist group deliberately hides out in densely populated areas, using the large numbers of Palestinians there as human shields. Bombs and rockets  and collapsing buildings  make no distinctions between combatants and civilians.

Many Gazans are being forced out of their homes and neighborhoods, but theres nowhere safe for them to go.

Under normal circumstances, every human instinct would be to get out of the strip. And youd expect Gazans to take heart from reports of the US and Egypt discussing so-called humanitarian corridors through which they might be able to escape.

But none of the circumstances prevailing in Gaza is normal, and not just because of the current war. Since Hamas took control of the enclave in 2006, a few months after Israel withdrew its forces from the strip, most of the Palestinians living there have essentially been penned into what human-rights groups call the worlds largest open-air prison.

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Now, back to the question: Why dont they just leave?

The first thing to consider is whether they want to. The vast majority of people living in Gaza are already refugees from towns and villages now in Israel and in the West Bank. Although there is little optimism they will return to their ancestral homes, most are keenly aware that the strip is the only place where they can cling to their identity as Palestinians. They fear that if they leave this last patch of homeland, they may not be able to  or allowed to  come back. To become a refugee twice removed is a fate few would welcome.

War shakes convictions and changes priorities, so it is conceivable that many Gazans would now be open to leaving to save their families and themselves from injury or death. Some reports say many are heading southward to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

But that journey is perilous and may be pointless. Not only do the Palestinians fleeing south run the gauntlet of Israeli bombs, but they also risk the wrath of Hamas. The terrorist group has closed the border in the past, and although it handed over control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority five years ago, its gunmen keep an eye on comings and goings and are not above exemplary executions to frighten the populace.

Those who brave the risks to get to Rafah cant be sure of any rewards. The Egyptian authorities have closed their side of the crossing to prevent the Palestinians from breaking out. Although the Biden administration is pressing for it to be reopened, the regime of General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is loath to take on the responsibility of hosting thousands of refugees.

If this sounds cruel, it is consistent with longstanding policy: Egypt is solicitous about the problems of Palestinians but doesnt want them on its soil. Cairo is already trotting out its usual excuses of poverty and security: Egypt cant afford to host refugees, and they might cause trouble.

Other Arab nations offer variations of those lines. Jordan already has too many Palestinians (they make up more than half the population of the kingdom) and too many refugees from other places, such as Syria. Turkey, which is sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, likewise has its hands full of refugees from other parts.

The Gulf Arab states have plenty of land and no shortage of money; Saudi Arabia is currently spending hundreds of billions of dollars building a city it doesnt really need. Their traditional excuse for not taking in Palestinians is that it would let Israel off the hook.
Many poor countries in Africa face the harshest effects of climate change: severe droughts, vicious heat and dry land, but also unpredictable rain and devastating flooding.

The shocks worsen conflict and upend livelihoods because many people are farmers work that is increasingly vulnerable in a warming world.

Climate challenges are at the root of vulnerabilities faced by conflict-ridden countries in Africa's Sahel region, such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and northern Nigeria, experts say. Adapting to these challenges could cost up to USD 50 billion per year, according to the Global Commission on Adaptation, while the International Energy Agency estimates the clean energy transition could cost as much as USD 190 billion a year overwhelming costs for Africa.

Countries have limited space in their budgets, and borrowing more to fund climate goals will worsen their considerable debt burdens, argue African leaders, who are seeking a rapid boost in financing.

Some leaders suggested that this week's meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco, would be a good place to start a conversation about Africa's financial challenges and its ability to handle climate shocks.

It comes amid criticism that the lending institutions are not taking climate change and the vulnerabilities of poor countries enough into account in their funding decisions.

The global financial system is now outdated, dysfunctional and unjust, said a New York Times opinion column by Kenyan President William Ruto, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki and Patrick Verkooijen, chief executive of the Global Commission on Adaptation.

It's outdated because international financial institutions "are too small and limited to fulfil their mandate. Dysfunctional because the system as a whole is too slow to respond to new challenges, such as climate change. And unjust because it discriminates against poor countries, the leaders wrote.

In recent years, climate funding to Africa has increased, with recognition that the continent is least responsible for emissions but most at risk from climate change because of a lack of financing and ability to cope. Major development banks have increasingly recognised climate change as an economic threat.

During a panel in Marrakech this week, IMF economist Daniel Lee said the organization is mainstreaming climate change in policy advice, capacity development and lending. He did not detail the size or breakdown of funding.

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Lee pointed to an IMF programme that launched last year to help poor countries address problems like climate change. Only one African country Rwanda has gotten financing from the programme: USD 319 million over three years.

Like African leaders, experts say climate financing to the continent has been insufficient and particularly difficult to get for countries in the Sahel that lack stable and recognized governments, with many of them led by military juntas.

The reality has fallen short of expectations, said Carlos Lopes, a professor at the Mandela School of Public Governance of the University of Cape Town, South Africa. A significant portion of funding goes toward mitigation efforts, while adaptation, a top priority for the continent, receives less attention and support."



In Niger, whose leader was ousted in a coup in August, as well as northern Nigeria, thousands of hectares of arable land is being lost to soil erosion and dry conditions. It's led farmers and livestock herders to battle for resources and reduces economic opportunities, helping armed groups recruit, said Idayat Hassan, senior Africa programme fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

Irrigation projects are among the ways to adapt to climate change, but violence is eroding those gains as it leaves farmers, who are already facing lower yields, struggling to access their farmland.

Apart from extreme heat levels and unpredictable rainfall, insecurity also is affecting us because many times we will not have the chance to go to our farms, said Ibrahim Audi, 58, a wheat farmer in Nigeria's far northern Katsina state.

Femi Mimiko, a professor of political economy and international relations at Nigeria's Obafemi Awolowo University, called the climate money heading to Africa rather negligible and it is not what we should celebrate at all.

He added that the challenges are enormous because of strict conditions to get IMF and World Bank funding.

Plus, climate financing for Africa needs to address persistent debt crises in many countries, Lopes said.

Africa's debt repayments are estimated to reach USD 62 billion this year, exceeding the continent's costs of adapting to climate change, the African leaders said in their column. They reiterated a call made at the Africa Climate Summit in Kenya last month for a pause on foreign debt repayments.

Another issue is leaders underestimating how climate change feeds violence and economic problems, experts say.

The national policy to address climate change is lax little or no focus is on climate change and the nexus between climate change and conflict in the Sahel is underappreciated, Hassan said. Go beyond the conflict itself to start prioritising climate change as the root cause of the problem affecting these countries."



In Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which are all ruled by military juntas, 16 million people need humanitarian assistance, a 172 per cent increase since 2016, and more than 5 million are experiencing high levels of food insecurity, according to the International Rescue Committee.

The humanitarian group blames conflict and climate change for driving an ever-deeper crisis affecting agriculture, which is the primary source of livelihood for most of the population in the three military-led countries.

That fact alone illegitimate governments would constrain their ability not just to meet the requirements set by IMF and the World Bank for funding, but indeed, to access such support, Mimiko said.

And so, what we must do is to persuade or arm-twist the juntas, who at any event have no capacity to run those countries, to commit to what I call, timely redemocratisation," he added.
By Bloomberg News



Israels ambassador to China called on Beijing to leverage its close relationship with Iran to rein in Hamas, saying the Asian giant needed to be engaged in talks around the conflict. Israels ambassador to China called on Beijing to leverage its close relationship with Iran to rein in Hamas, saying the Asian giant needed to be engaged in talks around the conflict.

We really hope China can be much more involved in talking to its close partners in the Middle East and particularly Iran, Irit Ben-Abba told Bloomberg TV in an interview Thursday. Iran is definitely very much involved in what has happened.

Ben-Abbas remarks come as Chinas willingness to entangle itself in some of the regions most intractable conflicts has come under scrutiny. A US senator confronted President Xi Jinping this week about his governments failure to condemn the surprise Oct. 7 strike by Hamas on Israel that killed hundreds of civilians. While Chinas Foreign Ministry later said it was saddened by the casualties, Beijing hasnt criticized Hamas in its statements only saying that the Asian country is a friend to both sides of the conflict.

While Tehran is a known backer of Hamas, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has denied his country was involved in the strike.

China until recently didnt have a record of negotiating peace deals. That changed when in March it helped broker a tentative detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia, after years of diplomatic deadlock between the historic rivals. The deal marked a departure from Beijings long-stated reluctance to involve itself in foreign disputes.

First Contact



Zhai Jun, Beijings special envoy on Middle East issues, is expected to speak to Israeli officials on Thursday, according to Ben-Abba. That will mark Chinas first public contact with the Israelis since the conflict broke out.

The Chinese official on Wednesday pushed for a cease-fire in a phone call with a foreign affairs official from the Palestinian Authority, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

That meeting followed a call between Zhai and an Egyptian counterpart on Tuesday, during which he called for humanitarian support for the Palestinian people.

Chinas complex history with the Israel-Palestine conflict dates back decades. During Communist Party founder Mao Zedongs rule, China recognized the Israeli state, but was more sympathetic toward the Palestinians as Mao saw them as victims of imperialism.

Beiings relations with Israel remained tense through the Cold War, as the latter emerged as a key US ally. That began to change, though, as China opened up and showed economic interests in Israels developments in technology and defense. Now bilateral trade with Israel totals some $22.1 billion, according to 2022 statistics from the International Monetary Fund.

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More than half of Israels exports to China are electric components including microchips, according to a June paper by Tel Aviv Universitys Institute for National Security Studies.

That trade with Israel is crucial as the US urges its partners to implement curbs on Beijings access to cutting-edge technology. Intel Corp. abandoned a $5.4 billion deal in August to acquire Israels Tower Semiconductor Ltd. after failing to win Chinese regulatory approval in time as rising geopolitical tensions slow down that process.
NASA is going to launch its first interplanetary spacecraft to space on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The Psyche mission is also the first such mission to explore an asteroid suspected to principally consist of metals other than iron and nickel.

Part of the organisation's low-cost Discovery Program, the $1.2 billion mission's planned October 2022 launch was postponed in June 2022 because of the late delivery of the spacecrafts flight software and testing equipment.

Here's everything you need to know about NASA's Psyche mission and precisely when, where and how to watch the launch this Thursday and precisely what occurs if the launch is postponed.

When will the NASA Psyche Mission launch?

NASA's Psyche asteroid mission launch has been postponed until 10:19 a.m. EDT (1419 GMT) on Friday (Oct. 13) due to severe weather conditions that are coming in from the Gulf of Mexico.

Psyche, NASA's probe to discover a metal asteroid of a similar name, was planned to launch on Thursday morning (Oct. 12) on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Pad 39A here at NASAs Kennedy Space Center. Although, during a pre-launch press briefing on Wednesday (Oct. 11), it has been an expectation for the next morning's forecast that there will only be a 20% opportunity of ideal weather conditions.

As Wednesday night's storm blew in, the choice was made to cancel Thursday's launch to take advantage of the better weather conditions anticipated for launch windows on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 14).

What is the Psyche Mission?

Founded in 1852, Psyche is viewed as the most captivating object in the primary asteroid belt, and researchers can only study it distantly. Researchers think the asteroid is made out of the exposed core of a planetesimal, a small body that was created during planet formation as gas and dust around a star collapsed in dense patches.

A planetesimal could ultimately proceed to assemble more mass and in this manner become a planet. However, Psyche is thought to have failed to arrive at planet status since it crashed into other bigger bodies as the solar system was shaping to 4.5 quite a while back, conceivably stripping the metal-rich asteroid of its outer rocky shell and revealing its iron-rich core.

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By studying these little bodies planetary researchers can find out about the origin and evolution of our solar system and the cycles that are currently working today.

All you need about NASAs Psyche Mission

In 1992, NASA started planning its Psyche mission in 2017 to explore the past unexplored metallic asteroids of a similar name as a part of the agencys Discovery Program.

The mission is a first to an asteroid with significant measures of metal instead of those made generally of rock or ice, and is a result of the collaboration of several institutions, which include Arizona State University,which provided the spacecraft's multispectral imager; NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California which is responsible for the mission's general operations, management and navigation.

One of the most critical aspects of the Psyche mission is to get the spacecraft to this distant asteroid and afterward fixing it in place so its scientific instruments can take care of their responsibilities.

What will be the consequences of the Psyche Mission delay?

If weather conditions postpone the launch in that case, there are a lot of multiple other chances. Its launch period runs from Thursday, October 5 through Wednesday, October 25. " The launch window for Psyche is 21 consecutive days with one instantaneous launch window each day beginning October 5," said Serkan Bastug, mission manager, Launch Services Program, NASA Kennedy, in a press briefing.

He added, Everyone here at the NASA Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center is very excited to be a part of this incredible scientific mission.

What is the complete duration of the Psyche's journey?

The spacecraft will travel nearly six years and 2.2 billion miles utilizing a solar electric propulsion system and a gravity assist at Mars.

The spacecraft will begin sending pictures to Earth when it recognizes the asteroid. Furthermore, when it will show up in 2029, the spacecraft will orbit and mark the asteroid for approx 26 months utilizing its store of instruments.

How to watch the Psyche Mission launch?

NASA will give upcoming pre-launch coverage and launch activities for the mission, which has been focused on for launch at 10:19 a.m. GMT on Friday.

Live launch coverage will start around 9:15 a.m. on NASA TV, with commentary starting after approx 15 minutes.

Moreover, that coverage of the broadcast will stream on the space agency's YouTube channel, Twitch, X (Twitter) account, Facebook page and the NASA mobile app.
Blue Yonder, a leading supply chain solutions provider, today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Doddle, a leading first and last mile technology business that was co-founded by Tim Robinson and Sir Lloyd Dorfman. Once completed, the deal will allow Blue Yonders already robust suite of supply chain management and commerce offerings to expand with full-circle expertise encompassing final mile, returns management and reverse logistics solutions.

With Doddles capabilities, Blue Yonder will be able to offer retailers and logistics service providers such as carriers not only a transformed yet simplified experience for their own customers, but also enhanced growth potential as they look to strengthen their businesses and build more sustainable supply chains. In addition, Doddles self-service return kiosks and pick-up, drop-off (PUDO) networks offer retail and logistics businesses an efficient, much-needed solution to todays returns management challenges.

Doddle has achieved what so few other companies have been able to accomplish: it has cracked the code of first- and last-mile together with omni-channel returns, said Duncan Angove, CEO, Blue Yonder. The beauty of Doddles solution is that they solve the returns problem end-to-end. From returns initiation, to returns rules, from in-store returns processing to self-service kiosks, right through to warehouse returns handling and back into stock. The proliferation of e-commerce  and, therefore, returns  has placed increased pressure on carriers, muddied the waters of inventory management, and created frustrations for shoppers. Doddles capabilities unlock a differentiated, superior customer experience and will help us to further our mission to transform the supply chain.

While once an afterthought, companies are now recognizing the tremendous importance of robust and optimized delivery and returns offerings, and Doddles solutions offer customers a seamless way to reduce costs and inventory waste. In 2022, according to the National Retail Federation, consumers returned over $816 billion worth of products, and some estimates suggest only about 50% of returned products make it back on store shelves. Returns, in particular, are a huge pain point for retailers, carriers and consumers alike and returns management is among the biggest focal points of e-commerce globally in 2023 as the industry becomes increasingly aware of the impact returns can have on customer experience and overall profitability.

With Doddle, Blue Yonder will be the only company with a comprehensive suite from planning and execution to fulfillment and returns to build more sustainable and profitable, end-to-end supply chains. At close, Blue Yonders Warehouse Management (WMS), Order Management (OMS), and Transportation Management (TMS) customers, including retailers, logistics service providers, and postal carriers, will be provided with the potential for growth in both scale and cost reduction, with a full-circle logistics experience. Doddle extends Blue Yonder offerings to fully orchestrate the network from customer engagement to stores, fulfillment centers, and logistics, completing the ecosystem needed to support reverse logistics, shipment consolidations, and inventory circularity.

Today over 900 retailers and logistics providers worldwide work with Doddle to help manage the growing challenges in the first and last mile, said Tim Robinson, founder and CEO, Doddle. We knew, however, that in order to find the perfect solution to meet these challenges we needed to integrate our offerings with a strong supply chain planning, orchestration and execution solutions provider. Blue Yonders scale and deep expertise is the perfect alliance, and were looking forward to helping more businesses tackle these challenges  together.

This deal is indicative of Blue Yonder's momentum in the supply chain management space and will allow the company to continue to showcase its strength in the retail and logistics industries. The acquisition agreement was signed by Blue Yonder and Doddle on Oct. 11 and the transaction is expected to close in Q4 2023. The intent to acquire Doddle was announced jointly by Angove and Robinson at ICON London, Blue Yonders premiere supply chain conference.

About Doddle

Doddle was founded in 2014 by Tim Robinson and Sir Lloyd Dorfman, founder of Travelex. Doddle is the first and last mile technology platform for leading businesses in ecommerce logistics. Our solutions power delivery and returns for brands from Amazon to Australia Post, covering end-to-end returns management, drop-off automation and out-of-home network operation and management. Our goal is to make ecommerce more efficient and sustainable for parcel carriers and retailers, as well as a better experience for consumers. Each solution has been continually innovated upon and updated based on our learnings in the market with partners, so our user journeys are highly optimised and our technology is battle-tested.

Our expertise and technology is trusted by the worlds biggest and best logistics businesses, such as Australia Post, Yamato, Amazon and 100s of retailers worldwide. Headquartered in London, U.K., Doddle also has regional teams in the US, Australia, Europe and Japan.

About Blue Yonder

Blue Yonder is the world leader in digital supply chain transformations and omni-channel commerce fulfillment. Our end-to-end, cognitive business platform enables retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers to best fulfill customer demand from planning through delivery. With Blue Yonder, youll unify your data, supply chain and retail commerce operations to unlock new business opportunities and drive automation, control and orchestration to enable more profitable, sustainable business decisions. Blue Yonder  Fulfill your Potential blueyonder.com

Blue Yonder is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name Blue Yonder is a trademark and/or property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011291733/en/
TOKYO, Oct 13 ( News On Japan ) - A third-generation Korean woman living in Japan who sought compensation from a man who had posted discriminatory comments such as "Go back to your homeland," on his blog, has won a court battle which ruled the posts illegal.

This case dates back to June 2016 when a man in his 40s from Ibaraki Prefecture posted comments on his blog, such as "Enemy nationals who are hostile to Japan, go back to your homeland," directed at Ms. Choi Gangee (50) of Kawasaki City. She claimed to have suffered psychological distress due to these comments and sought 3.05 million yen in compensation from the man.

In Thursday's ruling, the Yokohama District Court's Kawasaki Branch determined that the posts constituted "unjust discriminatory behavior that incites exclusion from the local community and illegally infringes on personal rights." They also noted that the posts were "malicious" and ordered the man to pay 1.94 million yen in compensation.

Ms. Choi Gangee stated, "Foreign residents in Japan have endured the words 'Go back to your country' for a long time. I believe this judgment shows that we are all fellow human beings."

The man's posts were removed by the blog's hosting company after the Justice Bureau recognized them as a human rights violation in September 2016. However, the man continued to make similar posts on social media and elsewhere, including accusing Ms. Choi of engaging in "victim business" until October 2020.
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World Students' Day is celebrated every year around the globe recognizing the dedication and significant contributions of students to society. This day, observed on October 15 annually, particularly honors the birthday of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India. He was genuinely devoted to students and sought great possibilities in them.

World Students' Day: Legacy of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, fondly known as the 'people's president' and the 'missile man of India,' was a great scientist and an extraordinary teacher. He dedicated his entire life to learning and teaching. His love for students and his unwavering belief in their capability to bring remarkable social change was unparalleled. The man's ideology was rooted in empowering the young minds of the nation through quality education. To commemorate his tireless efforts, the United Nations declared his birthdays as 'World Students' Day' in 2010.

Significance of World Students' Day

World Students' Day is a significant occasion that highlights the crucial role students play in shaping the progress of the world. Celebrated annually, it serves as a reminder of the power of knowledge and encourages young individuals to embrace learning and understand their responsibilities towards society. The day acts as a catalyst for fostering educational initiatives around the globe, with the ultimate aim of nurturing students into responsible adults who can make positive contributions to their communities.

Furthermore, World Students' Day pays tribute to the remarkable dedication of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam towards education. Dr. Kalam, a renowned Indian scientist and former President of India, understood the transformative influence of learning and its potential to bring about societal change. His unwavering commitment to education has inspired countless students worldwide to strive for excellence and to utilize their skills and knowledge for the betterment of society.

Theme of World Students Day 2023

Exams may include questions on the theme of World Students Day 2023. The theme for World Students Day 2023 has not yet been announced for this year. We will update the World Students Day 2023 theme after the official announcement.

Celebration and Activities on World Students' Day

On this day, several activities and events emphasizing the importance of education, leadership, social responsibility, and life-building skills are organized across various institutes globally. These activities are designed to inspire students and nurture the leaders of tomorrow. The day is also marked by sharing Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's inspiring quotes, thoughts, and his invaluable contribution to Indian science and technology.
The offshore campus of IIT Madras in Tanzania's Zanzibar is slated to open in early November, according to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The declaration was made by the minister during an occasion to award an honorary degree to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is on a four-day visit to India.

''I am delighted that Zanzibar will host the first offshore campus of any IIT (Indian Institute of Technology). The Zanzibar campus of IIT Madras is expected to open early next month,'' the minister added.

''This institute will be a watershed moment in educational cooperation between two nations and continents, providing students from Tanzania and other African countries with access to world-class engineering and technology education, which will aid in nation-building and drive economic growth, technology, development, and research and innovation in Africa,'' Pradhan added.

The final procedural step that paved the way for the campus was the signing of an MoU between India and Tanzania in July.
Honda is launching their first-ever EV for the ASEAN region , and it could be this: the Honda e:N1. For those whove been waiting and clamor...
Photo: Contributed Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas

Words cannot adequately describe the horrifying acts of terrorism this past weekend in Israel.

Our hearts are filled with sadness as we hear about the daily recovery of numerous bodies, including those of Canadian citizens.

The federal government and the official Opposition stand together in condemning these brutal and senseless acts of violence perpetrated by the terrorist organization Hamas.

As you may have heard, the government has faced criticism from Canadians currently in Israel who have been unable to contact the Canadian Embassy and receive services or information.

At the time I am writing this, the government has expressed its intention to explore the use of Canadian military aircraft to help those Canadians in Israel who cannot return to Canada, due to a suspension of commercial flights.

My office, and other MPs, have already received feedback from families affected by this unfortunate situation. Please note that the contact number listed at the bottom of this report is available 24/7, 365 days a year. If you or a loved one requires assistance, I will provide information and support to the best of my office's ability.

On a personal note, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to those affected by these cowardly acts of terrorism. I also condemn those individuals who celebrated these terrorist actions by Hamas in several Canadian cities. The killing of innocent civilians by terrorists is a horrific and brutal act that will only result in further loss of lives and increased conflict.

Here in Canada, we have always aspired to embrace our differences while sharing many of the same values. These attributes have long been what sets us apart as Canadians.

My question for you this week is:

Are you concerned about celebratory rallies in Canadian cities that support the terrorist acts of Hamas? Why or why not?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll-free at 1-800-665-8711.

Dan Albas is the Conservative MP for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: The Canadian Press Delegates meet at the Exxon Mobil booth during the LNG2023 conference, in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, July 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Exxon Mobil Corp.'s acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources in a US$59.5 billion mega-deal is being seen by some as a massive vote of confidence in fossil fuels that also bodes well for the Canadian oilpatch.

Dan Tsubouchi, principal and chief market strategist with SAF Group, says Exxon is clearly confident that global demand for oil will remain strong in the immediate future.

He says while the energy transition will mean declining demand for oil in the long-term, Exxon likely believes it has at least a 15-year window before that effect is significant.

Tsubouchi says Exxon's bullish view on fossil fuels is shared by many in the Canadian oilpatch, adding he wouldn't be surprised to see an uptick in merger and acquisition activity here  particularly among producers using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Montney region of northeast B.C. and northwest Alberta.

Exxon's blockbuster deal announced Wednesday is the U.S. super-major's largest buyout since acquiring Mobil two decades ago, and will create a colossal fracking operator in West Texas.

Once the deal closes, Exxon's production volume from the Permian basin oilfield is expected to more than double to 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, based on 2023 volumes.
Photo: The Canadian Press Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Sunday, February 5, 2023. The mayor of Vancouver has set out a foundation to address the housing crisis in the city, while reducing barriers to building and streamlining regulations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The mayor of Vancouver has set out a foundation to address the housing crisis in the city, while reducing barriers to building and streamlining regulations.

Ken Sim released a seven-point motion going before council that would direct city staff to prioritize new housing construction, allow for increased density around transit hubs, speed up a plan for 26 village areas and increase enforcement of short-term rental regulations.

Sim says residents are expected to see more "bold motions" coming from council in the upcoming weeks, that include cutting delays to increase delivery of more homes in Vancouver.

While there's no estimate of how many homes could be built with the changes, Sim says accelerating the implementation of the villages from the Vancouver Plan will bring more homes, ranging from single-family townhomes to multi-plexes and three to six-storey apartment buildings.

City Councillor Lenny Zhou says he's had conversations with provincial government officials and believes legislation will be coming soon to further enforce the short-term rental restrictions.

Sims announcement came on the same day the city released a digital process that helps applicants navigate the construction of laneway homes, and help homeowners fast track the permit process if their projects are under $95,000.
Photo: The Canadian Press Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research founded by Sam Bankman-Fried, exits Manhattan federal court after testifying, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Sam Bankman-Fried s former top executive, testifying in Manhattan federal court Wednesday, blamed the FTX founder for corrupting her values so she could lie and steal and got emotional when describing the cryptocurrency empire's final days, saying the collapse of his businesses resulted in a relief that I didn't have to lie anymore.

Caroline Ellison, who eventually was made chief executive of Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency hedge fund, Alameda Research, blamed the man she was entwined with romantically for several years since 2018 for creating justifications so that she could do things that she now admits were wrong and illegal.

Testifying for a second day, she recalled that Bankman-Fried said he wanted to do the greatest good for the most people and that rules like don't lie or don't steal must sometimes be set aside.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon asked Ellison how she was affected by Bankman-Fried's philosophy.

I think it made me more willing to do things like lie and steal over time, she said.

After several hours on the witness stand, Ellison got choked up as she described the final days of FTX and Alameda, saying that the early November period before the businesses filed for bankruptcy was overall the worst week of my life.

Still, she said she felt bad for all the people harmed when there wasn't enough money left for all of FTX's customers and Alameda's lenders.

When the end arrived, Ellison said it left her with a sense of relief that I didn't have to lie anymore.

Earlier in her testimony, Ellison revealed that she doctored balance sheets to try to hide that Alameda was borrowing about $10 billion from FTX customers in June 2022, when the cryptocurrency market was falling dramatically and some lenders were demanding that Alameda return their investments in full.

She said she once created seven different balance sheets after Bankman-Fried directed her to find ways to conceal things that might look bad to Alameda's lenders.

I didnt really want to be dishonest, but I also didnt want them to know the truth, Ellison said.

She said a few years earlier, she would never have believed that she'd one day be sending false balance sheets to lenders or misallocating customer money, but I think it became something I became more comfortable with as I was working there.

Ellison said she was in a constant state of dread at that point, fearful that a rush of customer withdrawals from FTX couldn't be met or that what they had done would become public.

In June 2022, we were in the bad situation and I was concerned that if anybody found out, it would all come crashing down, she said.

The crash came last November, when FTX couldn't fulfill a rush of customer withdrawals, forcing it into bankruptcy and prompting investigations by prosecutors and regulators.

I was terrified, she said. This was what I had been worried about the past several months and it was finally happening.

Ellison, 28, pleaded guilty to fraud charges in December, when Bankman-Fried was extradited to the United States from the Bahamas.

She was expected to be cross-examined on Thursday.

Bankman-Fried, 31, has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges. His lawyers say he was not criminally to blame for what happened to his businesses.

Initially confined to his parents' Palo Alto, California, home under terms of a $250 million bond, Bankman-Fried has been jailed since August after Judge Lewis A. Kaplan concluded that he had tried to improperly influence potential witnesses, including Ellison.
Meet Jason Arday, Cambridge Universitys youngest-ever Black professor who defied all odds in pursuit of his academic ambitions. Jason's remarkable journey begins with a diagnosis of Global Developmental Delay and Autism during his early years. He didn't start speaking until the age of 11 and didn't learn to read and write until he turned 18. Yet, at the age of just 37, he achieved the esteemed title of Professor of Sociology of Education at the prestigious University of Cambridge. Jasons story is not just one of academic triumph but a testament to his unwavering determination and spirit. It serves as a powerful reminder that potential knows no bounds and we can achieve the seemingly impossible. Prepare to be deeply moved, inspired, and reminded that the power to conquer lifes biggest challenges lies within us all.
I want to thank Castanet first for actually fact checking and correcting statements made by (Conservative Leader Pierre) Poilievre while he was in Kelowna.

I have noticed most of the media, whether online, in person or in print have started to become unbalanced.

What do I mean by that? Well, they have given way more coverage to Poilievre over our current prime minister. They never ask (Poilievre) the tough questions as they do the prime minister, never push back against his misinformation, and never fact check or correct him.

He is criss-crossing the country, campaigning two years before an election has even been called. He holds news conferences where the media hang on his every word, ask the token, pre-scripted five questions then Poilievre leaves after ranting and rage farming against (Prime Minister Pierre) Trudeau with such hate. How are we to respect him as the potentially the next prime minister?

Meanwhile Trudeau is out there, or behind the scenes, working hard at his job running the country. He has a lot on his plate and certainly does not have time to dignify this assault on him, his character or his governing.

A case in point, Trudeau was in Hay River, Northwest Territories meeting with the mayor and wildfire victims. He also made a housing announcement.

Trudeau stands in there every time, takes unlimited tough questions and does not attack the opposition with such hate as we see from Poilievre. He has, however, pointed out some failings by the Conservative Party and rightfully so.

You may not like Trudeau or his policies, but that is what elections are for. At least give him the respect of balanced reporting until that time.

Carole Kormendy
CEMEX supplies Vertua to the world's largest medical complex

12 October 2023

CEMEX is providing more than 20,000 cubic yards of Vertua lower-carbon concrete for Houston Methodists Centennial Tower, the newest addition to the largest medical complex in the world. The 26-story tower, expected to begin a phased opening in 2027, will house a new and expanded emergency department, enhanced imaging services, and space for additional hospital beds. CEMEX has already supplied 11,000 cubic yards for the towers foundation.



CEMEXs purpose of building a better future comes to life when we participate in projects that improve peoples quality of life, particularly in the area of health services, in the communities in which we serve, said Jaime Muguiro, president of CEMEX USA. Not only are we providing expert logistics and resilient materials, but we are also providing an alternative to lower the carbon footprint of the project with our more sustainable solutions.



Supplying concrete for the towers foundation had several logistical challenges that CEMEX collaborated with contractor Vaughn Construction to solve. The massive pour had to happen in the middle of the busy medical centre without interrupting surrounding emergency services. CEMEX was able to pour safely for 20 continuous hours without affecting access to the medical centre.



Vertua is a specialised portfolio of sustainable, high-quality construction products designed to have a significant positive impact on the planet. Vertua allows builders to tailor their projects' sustainable characteristics through its five specific and measurable attributes: lower carbon, energy efficiency, water conservation, recycled materials, and design optimisation, says CEMEX.

Published under
Auckland Airport today announced Chief Financial Officer Phil Neutze has resigned after more than 13 years with the organisation.

Mr Neutze joined Auckland Airport in early 2010 as Head of Business Intelligence, before being appointed Chief Financial Officer in December 2015.

Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui said Phils tenure at the airport had been marked by a time of enormous change at Auckland Airport.

Phil has been key to Auckland Airport delivering on its ambitions and strategy, particularly the past few years as we managed the financial impact of the Covid pandemic.

Auckland Airport is a very different place to what it was when Phil joined. We are now underway with the biggest infrastructure programme since the airport was built, and Phil has been pivotal in getting to this point.

Mr Neutze will remain in his role until 22 December 2023 before taking up a new role as Group Chief Financial Officer at Datacom in March. Auckland Airport will begin the process of appointing his replacement, with Head of Strategy, Planning and Performance, Stewart Reynolds, stepping into the role of Acting Chief Financial Officer from 22 December.

ENDS

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EQS-Ad-hoc: Stabilus SE / Key word(s): Merger/Acquisition

Stabilus SE sings agreement to acquire DESTACO



12-Oct-2023 / 04:07 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Stabilus SE sings agreement to acquire DESTACO

Koblenz, October 12, 2023 - Stabilus SE (WKN: STAB1L, ISIN: DE000STAB1L8) signed an agreement to acquire the business of DESTACO, which supplies industrial automation components, from Dover Corporation, a global diversified industrial manufacturer headquartered in the USA. The transaction volume amounts to US$680 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments, and will be paid in cash by Stabilus. The closing of the transaction is expected in the first half of calendar year 2024 and is still subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the finalization of certain local transactions.

DESTACO is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. It is active in the development and manufacture of automation, workholding and remote handling components and solutions, thus complementing Stabilus' offering in the industrial sector. The companys products for equipping production areas and lines serve industries such as consumer goods, packaging, aerospace, automotive, life sciences, and nuclear. In 2022, DESTACO generated revenues of US$213 million. It employs approximately 650 employees across 13 locations in the USA, Europe, India, China and Thailand.

At the Group level of Stabilus, the acquisition is expected to significantly increase sales with an immediate positive impact on its adjusted EBIT margin[1] after closing of the transaction and full consolidation of DESTACO. The acquisition has no impact on the business figures and the forecast for fiscal 2023.

At closing, Stabilus will finance the transaction with c. 150 million of its own cash, 250 million from a currently unused revolving credit facility and 250 million from a bridge facility.

____________

[1] The adjusted EBIT margin is calculated as adjusted EBIT divided by revenue. Adjusted EBIT is EBIT, i.e., earnings before interest and taxes (profit from opeRating activities), adjusted for non-recurring items (e.g. restructuring expenses or non-recurring consulting expenses) and depreciation / amortization of fair value adjustments from purchase price allocation (PPA).

End of ad hoc announcement

Investor contact:

Andreas Schroder

VP Investor Relations and External Communication

Tel.: +49 261 8900 8198

E-Mail: anschroeder@stabilus.com

Web: www.ir.stabilus.com

Press contact:

Peter Steiner

Tel.: +49 69 794090 27

E-Mail: stabilus@charlesbarker.de

Charles Barker Corporate Communications

Important note

This ad hoc release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Stabilus Group management and other information currently available to Stabilus. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here.
Earlier in the year Ukraine revealed that it planned to spend over half a billion dollars on UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), but what was not revealed was the extent of efforts to add more capabilities to commercial UAVs as well and the growing number being manufactured by Ukrainian companies. These developers and manufacturers are often small groups of civilian hobbyists that proved capable of creating new features for UAVs, both commercial and hobbyist-created models. The Russian invasion spurred a lot of innovation, mainly among Ukrainian developers. Among the items available to commercial customers are a lot of digital video camera items as well as lighter, miniaturized computer components that can be assembled and programmed by users to perform essential tasks, like using AI apps and data from onboard video cameras enemy forces, even if they are camouflaged or in underground bunkers. Constant combat use of these systems enables developers to address shortcomings and continually improves the hardware and software carried on these hunter killer UAVs. Earlier in the war two UAVs were needed for this but now all that tech and weapons, can be carried and used by one UAV.

Wartime developers are able to improve their tech and hardware more rapidly because there is continuous feedback from users. Ukraine has an edge here because many of these developers are hobbyists who know little about peacetime development, its bureaucracy and counter-productive over-supervision. Ukrainian developers are often creating these new UAV techs for friends or family members who are now in the military and eager for whatever help they can get. The Ukrainian military sees this entrepreneurial spirit as an advantage, not some form of insubordination or recklessness the way the Russian military does; it considers those unauthorized innovations. Despite that, some Russian innovations appear

and are put to work. Most Russian commanders and civilian officials are less willing than their Ukrainian counterparts to encourage individual initiatives. Another problem is that the economic sanctions have made it more difficult for Russians to obtain the commercial tech that Ukrainians use.

That free access to Western or Chinese components means Ukraine can build very capable and lethal UAVs that are designed to carry out one or a small number of missions. That is why Ukraines and Russia are each losing thousands of UAVs a month. Cheap, useful and expendable is now the rule with most battlefield UAVs.

This innovation explains the greater success of Ukrainian UAVs against Russian targets on the battlefield or deep inside Russia. Despite all the innovation, the majority of these UAVs are basically loitering munitions that can be sent out to areas where there is known or suspected enemy activity and kill it. In the past a separate surveillance UAV was needed to spot targets, usually enemy troops and vehicles. These UAVs have video cameras and a link to operators who view the video on a tablet or via goggles containing small video screens while the operators have a form of handheld game controller to maneuver the UAV and select a target for the UAV to collide with and explode. The video comm link was a vulnerability the Russian exploited as they developed new types of electronic jammers that could disable these comm links. The new Ukrainian UAVs that combine finding and killing capabilities on one UAV that can also detect that destroy these Russian jammers, which are usually ground based and expensive.

Loitering munitions are a relatively new development and have one tremendous advantage over earlier forms of firepower. Compared to bullets or artillery shells, a single loitering munition is much more likely to hit a target. In wartime it takes hundreds of artillery shells to cause one casualty. For rifle and machine-gun bullets, the number of bullets fired per casualty caused can be up to 100,000. Loitering munitions are much more effective because the operator scans the terrain below looking for a target. When one is found, the loitering munition attacks and almost always kills or wounds at least one soldier. Loitering munitions can be lost to enemy action. While UAVs are small targets for riflemen or machine-gunners on the ground, they UAVs can be hit by ground fire. A more effective, and increasingly common way to defeat loitering munitions is EW (Electronic Warfare), specifically electronic jamming of the munitions control signal. As is common in combat, a jammer is not always available when you need it.

In some ways, loitering munitions are not as useful as artillery or bullets. Many artillery shells and bullets are not fired at a specific target or with the intent of causing casualties. This is what happens with suppressive fire, artillery or rifle fire is directed at an area to discourage the enemy from entering or moving into position to fire at your troops. You can consider a loitering munition overhead as a form of suppressive fire on the troops below. In this respect loitering munitions do what snipers have been doing for over a century, forcing troops to stay out of sight or the enemy sniper will get you. This was common during World War I, when trench warfare made snipers useful for keeping enemy troops from observing the terrain between the trenches of opposing forces. In the 21st century more troops had access to affordable and very effective scopes for their rifles or even machine-guns. The American marines officially recognized this as a combat specialty and designated most snipers as scout-snipers' ' because their more useful skills involved observing as well as accurate shooting.

In armies with a lot of well-trained troops, about ten percent are designated and equipped to be snipers or sharpshooters. The latter is a soldier with a talent for accurate shooting but is not trained and equipped as a sniper. Professional soldiers in general are more likely to use individual, well aimed shots versus automatic fire, also known as spray and pray (that you hit something).

You can see how this works in Ukraine, where the Ukrainian troops are better trained in the accurate use of rifle fire. It was Ukrainian troops who frequently used commercial quadcopters equipped with grenade or small bomb carry and release mechanisms. The Ukrainian soldiers often bought commercial UAVs for this and spent hours at a time sending out their quadcopter to search for targets. The quadcopter would have to frequently land to recharge. That demonstrates another 21st century development; the proliferation of electronic devices an infantryman can and often will take with him into combat.

NATO nations learned from these Ukrainian experiences and have sent Ukraine what the Ukrainian say they need. For example, a month after the Russians invaded, the United States agreed to send Ukraine a large quantity of weapons, many of them specifically requested. One of these was called Phoenix Ghost, a system that was rapidly developed and built in the United States by Aevex Aerospace for the U.S. Air Force from specifications supplied by Ukraine. The air force revealed that the Phoenix Ghost UAV was a project already in development before the Russians invaded. Ukrainians had already developed and built some innovative new weapons or modifications for existing ones the Americans were working on. The air force does not develop ground-based loitering munitions but

does develop ones carried by aircraft. The Ukrainians made some suggestions which were included in the existing air force design and that resulted in the Phoenix Ghost, which went into production and combat in Ukraine quickly.

In other words, Phoenix Ghost is a bespoke (custom made to user specifications) UAV developed and manufactured in record time. The primary new feature of this loitering munition was its longer (six hour) flight endurance. The U.S. sent Ukraine over 1,200 of these loitering munitions in the first year of the war. For a long time, all the public knew about Phoenix Ghost was that it was similar to the American Switchblade loitering munition that was also being sent to Ukraine. The input from Ukrainian engineers was essential because many of the most effective Soviet-era weapons engineers were Ukrainian. That meant Ukraine had a tradition of pragmatic and innovative weapons development that was mobilized after the 2014 Russian seizure of Crimea and part of Donbas. The capabilities of the Ukrainian engineers were not exactly a state secret, it just wasnt newsworthy. Foreigners familiar with weapons development knew about the Ukrainian skills and those who visited Ukraine for whatever reason, like American and other NATO military advisors, got a closer look at what those Ukrainian engineers, as well as civilian hobbyists, could do. Those skills became even more important after the invasion began and suddenly engineers and scientists in other fields began applying their skills to rapidly develop new weapons and equipment to protect Ukraine from the Russians. After the invasion began the capabilities of the Ukrainian engineers became part of the reporting on how the Ukrainians stopped and turned back the Russian attack. That enabled the Ukrainian proposal for Phoenix Ghost to be taken seriously and rapidly implemented. The Ukrainian specified COTS (Commercial Off the Shelf) components and kept in touch via the high-speed Internet links provided by Starlink. The rumors of Phoenix Ghost indicate it is an improvement over Switchblade and mainly meant to be a more effective loitering munition. The Russians eventually experienced what the Ghost could do by examining the damage and reports from their troops.

Aevex Aerospace, the firm that developed and built Phoenix Ghost is itself a recent development, founded in 2017 and specializing in projects very similar to the Phoenix Ghost. Another American firm, AeroVironment, developed the Switchblade loitering munition and similar systems. Aevex is similar to AeroVironment, which has been around since 1971 and created many innovative commercial and military UAV designs.

Switchblade is little-known to the general public but extremely popular with American troops fighting in small units, especially in remote areas. Switchblade was first revealed in 2005 and the Ukrainians are

receiving at least a hundred of the Switchblade 300 plus some of the larger Switchblade 600s, which appears to be closer in weight-class and performance as Phoenix Ghost.

Switchblade 300 is a small UAV fired from its storage container. Switchblade was sent to Afghanistan in 2009 for secret field testing. This was very successful and the troops demanded more, and more, and more. Switchblade completed development later in 2009 and was initially thought useful only for special operations troops. In 2011, after a year of successful field testing, the army ordered over a hundred Switchblades for troop use and since then has ordered a lot more.

While Switchblade was developed for the army, the marines apparently noted the success that soldiers and SOCOM (Special Operations Command) had with this system and ordered them as well. Switchblade was very popular with troops in Afghanistan and with SOCOM in all sorts of places they wont discuss in detail. Switchblade is still used and thousands have been ordered and many of them used. There have been several upgrades

The original 2009 Switchblade was a lightweight and expendable (used only once) UAV that could also be equipped with explosives. The Switchblade is launched from its shipping and storage tube, at which point wings flip out, a battery-powered propeller starts spinning and a vidcam begins broadcasting images to the controller. The Switchblade is operated using the same controller as the larger (two kg) Raven UAV. A complete Switchblade system (missile, container, and controller) weighed 5.5 kg (12.1 pounds).

Moving at up to a kilometer a minute, the original Switchblade can stay in the air for 20-40 minutes, depending on whether or not it was armed with explosives. Switchblade can operate up to ten kilometers from the operator. The armed version can be flown to a target and detonated, having about the same explosive effect as a hand grenade. Thus, Switchblade enables ground troops to get at an enemy taking cover in a hard to see location.

Technically a guided missile, the use of Switchblade as a reconnaissance tool encouraged developers to refer to it as a UAV. But because of the warhead option, and its slow speed, Switchblade also functions like a rather small cruise missile. The troops were particularly enthusiastic about the armed version because it allowed them to more quickly take out snipers or a few enemy gunmen in a compound full of civilians.

Switchblade has been so successful that the army ordered several upgrades and the updated original Switchblade was renamed Switchblade 300. The new version appeared in 2016. It is heavier (2.7 kg) with 15 minutes endurance and a 10-kilometer range. The sensor has night vision and is stabilized. The 300 can lock onto a target and track it. The 300 comes with optional accessories, like a six-pack launcher that is used as part of base defense. This was first used for base protection in 2019 and proved effective. One or more of these six packs are placed near the base perimeter and power is maintained with a solar panel. The base security commander can order a Switchblade to be launched from the six-pack and then control it in search for potential targets. Switchblade 300 is also capable of being used from a helicopter or larger UAV and controlled from the helicopter or by the operator of the larger UAV (like a Reaper).

The fact that there were American troops operating in combat zones justified development and production of new tech like loitering munitions.

In 2020 AeroVironment, the company that developed the unlikely, but popular, Switchblade loitering munition, introduced a third version; Switchblade 600. While the original Switchblade weighed one kilogram (2.2 pounds), the latest Switchblade is ten times heavier at 23 kg (50 pounds), can stay in the air for 40 minutes and be controlled up to 80 kilometers from the operator. Top speed is 180 kilometers an hour and more economical cruise speed is closer to 150 kilometers an hour. The heavier warhead can destroy most tanks, although some modern tank designs include protection from top attack.

Switchblade 600 was requested by the U.S. Army for longer range surveillance missions and the option to hit specific small targets, like a building or enemy position. Unlike the earlier Switchblades, the 600 uses a tablet controller with more options, including manipulating the more powerful vidcam. Video transmitted back to the operator can be saved and passed on. The operator also has a wave off feature in which a quick tap on the controller screen can cause the 600 to abort an attack and be available for another try. The 600 can also be programmed to carry out a mission without operator control. This means there is no control signal for enemy electronic warning systems to detect or jam. In this case when time is up, the 600 self-destructs. The 600 can be carried into a remote area and used quickly. It's most likely use in the Ukraine is against the locomotives of Russian military supply and troop transport trains operating near the border or inside Ukraine.

The U.S. Navy also requested a version of Switchblade, for reconnaissance only, that is launched from ships or submerged (at periscope depth) submarines. In this case the sub would have a

communications mast on the surface to receive data from what is now called the Blackwing. This version is a little heavier, at 1.8 kg (four pounds). The size of the Blackwing is designed to fit into existing navy countermeasure launchers. Without a warhead, Blackwing has endurance of about an hour and uses encrypted digital communications compatible with current navy systems. When released from a submarine countermeasures launcher, the Blackwing container pops to the surface and the Blackwing is ejected into flight like the other Switchblades. The U.S. Navy has bought at least 150 Blackwings, starting in 2016. Armed versions of Blackwing are available but these have shorter endurance. For subs, reconnaissance is the most important item.

Switchblade is not a unique concept, as these loitering munitions have been around for decades. What Switchblade provided was a design that met the needs of combat troops, especially special operations personnel or small groups of Ukrainians seeking to halt Russian supply trucks. Since Switchblade entered service and its popularity became widely known, similar systems have appeared, trying to provide features that Switchblade lacked but the troops would appreciate.

Ukraine had already developed a loitering munition of its own, but these are not as efficient as Switchblade. The Ukrainians ended up developing and building many different loitering munitions, a process that continues.

At the same time Ukrainian neighbor and ally Poland also developed the Warmate loitering munition and sent them off to Ukraine. Warmate is a 5.3 kg (12 pound) conventional UAV that carries a 1.4 kg (three-pound warhead). Warmate has an endurance of 70 minutes and top speed of 150 kilometers an hour and can be controlled 15 kilometers from the operator. While portable, Warmate requires five minutes to assemble and needs a road or catapult device to be launched.

Ukraine developed its own loitering munitions early on. For example, Silent Thunder showed up in 2019. This is a 9.5 kg (28 pound) UAV with a variety of different 3.5 kg (7.7 pound) warheads. It takes fifteen minutes to ready Silent Thunder for use and it has a flight duration of 60 minutes and top speed of 150 kilometers an hour. It can be controlled up to 30 kilometers from the operator. Silent Thunder is reusable if no warhead is carried. Silent Thunder is complex to use and that limits its effectiveness.

Israel is another country that is constantly attacked and always has troops in action. In 2019 an Israeli firm introduced the Firefly, a loitering munition UAV, which is portable enough for infantry to carry and

continually reuse. There is also the option to replace one of the two batteries with an explosive warhead and turn Firefly into a guided weapon. Another major advantage of Firefly is that it operates like a helicopter, not a fixed-wing aircraft. Being able to hover is a major advantage for loitering munitions used by infantry. Firefly seems to have addressed all (or most) of the user criticisms of earlier lightweight loitering munition systems.

Firefly was developed by Rafael, the same firm that developed and builds the Spike family of ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles). Much of the tech in Firefly was based on what is already used in Spike systems. In particular, Firefly has a guidance system that can track and attack a moving target. This can be critical for infantry using such a weapon because these targets are elusive in the first place and, without a UAV, the infantry would not have spotted dangers like snipers or moving troops at all.

Firefly is a dual rotor miniature helicopter and those dual (on top of each other) rotors make it stable in winds that would make a similar-sized fixed-wing or quad-copter UAV unusable. The 0.4 kg (one pound) warhead replaces the second battery to halve the normal 30 minutes of flight time. The operator uses a small tablet device that is mostly a touch screen and a Firefly controller. Firefly can be controlled up to 500 meters in a built-up (or forested) area or up to 1,500 meters in line-of-sight (nothing between Firefly and operator) mode. Firefly returns to the operator and explosives are deactivated if the control signal is lost. The operator can press an icon on the screen to get Firefly to return immediately, abort an attack or carry out a high speed (19 meters/62 feet a second) attack on a target. The target can be moving, as in a sniper changing firing positions out of sight of the operator. This is accomplished using the ability of the Firefly guidance system to remember the shape of a target and follow it. The Firefly warhead would be most often used against troublesome targets like snipers or hidden machine-guns. Even without the warhead Firefly would be able to locate such lethal adversaries and enable the infantry to avoid them. Firefly can also be launched and operated from a moving vehicle.

The big advantage Firefly has over similar loitering munitions like the 40mm Pike and GLAUS, as well as Switchblade, is reusability. Carry one Firefly and just use it as a UAV for a dozen or more times. The relative simplicity of Firefly compared to Switchblade, and to similar designs like GLAUS and Pike based on 40mm grenade shells, makes it a better system that is also cheaper when you take into account the reusability.

Russia is also using its new Zala loitering munition in Ukraine. Zala carries a two kg (4.4 pound) explosive charge. Zala is a delta shaped (1.2 meter/3.8 feet wingspan) UAV with a three kg (6.6 pound) p

used mainly for explosives plus a vidcam to locate the targets and dive on it. It is carried and launched from a catapult on a truck. Endurance is 30 minutes and top speed is 130 kilometers an hour. Zala has been available since 2017 and has apparently been tested in Syria.

With the recent history of loitering munitions, the appearance of Phoenix Ghost and many other new similar weapons is not surprising. As the Israelis have discovered, when you are facing constant threat of attack, innovative and rapidly developed weapons are a necessity.
Criminal Court Judge Amanda Dunn on Wednesday sentenced 30-year-old Morgan Nicole Copeland to 20 years in prison for the overdose death of 39-year-old Nicholas Jackson.

Prosecutor Chris Post said the sentence for second-degree murder must be served at 100 percent under state law.

She had faced between 15-60 years.

Judge Dunn noted that Ms. Copeland did not speak at the hearing and there had been "no acceptance of responsibility."

She said Ms. Copeland knew when she sold the drugs that people had been dying of overdoses - especially around that time period in March 2018.

Prosecutor Post said, "She wasn't selling Girl Scout cookies. She was selling heroin." He said it turned out that the drug she sold to Mr. Jackson contained deadly fentanyl. He said it was not generally known at the time about the dangers of fentanyl, but he said, "It's a horrible problem now."

It was found that the victim in the case had a fentanyl level more than twice a fatal dose.

The prosecutor said Ms. Copeland was selling drugs belonging to her then boyfriend, "Q Tip" Howard, to get money to bond him out of jail.

Attorney Charles Dupree asked for a 15-year sentence. He said a probation report showed her to be of low risk to reoffend. He said in recent years she had married Daniel Hall and lived with him on a farm at Rogersville, Tn. He said they have two young children. It was testified earlier that Ms. Copeland has eight children in all, with "drug dealer" Howard being one of the fathers.

Det. Larry Posey said Ms. Copeland had made over 1,000 phone calls since being incarcerated. He said he listened to up to 250 of them. Some excerpts were played at the hearing.

On one, Ms. Copeland's in-laws said they had not known her at the time of the overdose. Prosecutor Post said the defense during the trial had sought to show that Ms. Copeland was with the family at Rogersville riding horses the day of the overdose.

In other excerpts, Ms. Copeland told of buying illegal pills from another inmate and laughingly told a family member on a call from the Silverdale Jail, "Don't tell anybody, but I smoked crack today."

Steve Jackson said Nick Jackson was their only son. He said his death "has ruined my life." He said he had "spent 40 years working two jobs" to set up a business that his son could continue.

He said Nick Jackson had a bad auto accident when he was 19 and had trouble getting a job afterwards. He said he had three back surgeries. He said he had gotten into drug use from all the pain medication.

Mr. Jackson said, "You think you've been through some bad times until you lose a child. There's nothing worse."
Area residents looking for an opportunity to brighten the lives of hospitalized children this holiday season can celebrate the return of the Childrens Hospital at Erlanger Tiny Trees program coordinated by CHEs Child Life and Erlanger Volunteer Services.CHE is collecting miniature Christmas trees to decorate the rooms of our young patients in December. These small decorated trees will add a little brightness during difficult times for children and their families. Child life specialists will deliver the trees to childrens rooms, and when patients leave the hospital, they may take their trees home.Those wishing to contribute miniature trees may drop them off either Thursday, Dec.7 or Friday, Dec. 8, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., at the table near the main entrance of the CHE Emergency Room on Blackford Street.Limit the donations to two per organization. If your group would like to make a large donation, contact Emilia Jones prior to starting.Instructions for trees are as follows: Trees must be three feet tall or smaller. No live trees; they must be artificial. Pick a theme for a child or teenager. Ornaments may be purchased or handmade. Toys, such as dolls or cars, may be wired onto trees. No food items on trees. Securely tie or wire ornaments onto trees; no loose ornaments. Please be sure ornaments do not include glass, sharp objects or anything that could be a choking hazard. Lights are great, but battery-powered lights are best.For more information, call Ms. Jones at 423-778-7892 or email emilia.jones@erlanger.org.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is seeking information related to a bull elk that was illegally poached in Anderson County on Sunday, Oct. 8. TWRA was notified on Sunday of a bull elk that had been killed. Upon investigation, the entire carcass was located with what appeared to be a bolt wound.The elk head was taken into custody by officers as evidence and the carcass was taken in for processing to support the Hunters for the Hungry program. Processing was donated by the Campbell Outdoor Recreation Association.Poaching is a serious offense in Tennessee, said TWRA Officer Caleb Hardwick The TWRA has been working diligently since 2000 to restore the elk population to a huntable size.Poaching is not only illegal, but it threatens restoration efforts that ensure Tennesseans have the opportunity to legally hunt these animals.A $3,000 reward was donated by CORA, The Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the National Wild Turkey Federation Pine Mountain Longbeards Chapter to support the investigation. Rewards are available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the poacher. Information, such as the individuals name or description, vehicle tag number or description and location of the offense greatly assist the TWRA in apprehending wildlife poachers. All information received by TWRA is kept in strict confidence. Individuals with information about the poacher can contact the East Tennessee Regional Poaching Hotline at 1-800-831-1174.Elk harvest is regulated by a quota permit system. The next application period for elk quota hunts is Feb. 7-28, 2024. Nineteen quota permits are issued in designated Elk Hunt Zones. A legal deer hunter may harvest an elk incidental to deer hunting on private and public lands open to deer hunting except in Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Scott and Morgan Counties, and except for Big South Fork River Recreation Area.For more information about legal elk hunting opportunities in Tennessee, including quota hunt application dates and elk hunting units, visit www.TNWildlife.org.
China developing SCO demonstration area into new Belt and Road cooperation platform

Xinhua) 08:23, October 12, 2023

QINGDAO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, has grown into a new and promising platform for Belt and Road cooperation.

This aerial photo taken on May 31, 2023 shows the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

First proposed in June 2018, the SCODA is becoming an important link in international industrial, supply and trade chains, boosting economic and trade cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries.

It is also a zone for industrial cooperation, having attracted more than 70 projects with a total investment of over 200 billion yuan (about 27.9 billion U.S. dollars).

LOGISTICS CORRIDOR

Recently, 110 standard containers of used automobiles and auto parts transported by a ship from Incheon, the Republic of Korea, were reloaded onto a train in the SCO demonstration area bound for Almaty, Kazakhstan, a rail trip lasting 16 days.

Customs staff inspect an international freight train at a multimodal transport center in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, June 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

The express railway service is an epitome of how the SCODA has been building a new logistics corridor to facilitate regional economic and trade cooperation.

Zang Yuanqi, a SCODA management committee official, said the demonstration area has set up a multimodal transportation service platform covering railway, sea, air and land ports, and customs and other government departments, ensuring speedy logistics for SCO and Belt and Road partners.

Based on the transport advantages of Qingdao, a coastal city, the multimodal transportation service is quickly making the demonstration area a gateway to Asia Pacific for SCO countries.

Apart from sea, air and road transport, the demonstration area operates 31 international freight train routes, reaching 54 cities in 23 Belt and Road partner countries.

This aerial photo taken on June 1, 2023 shows a multimodal transport center in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

With an efficient multimodal transportation network and simplified cross-border trade settlement and customs clearance, the demonstration area is building a Silk Road e-commerce base, said Zhang Dong, deputy director of the SCODA management committee.

WIN-WIN

Earlier this year, several Kazakh enterprises reached a cooperation intention with the demonstration area to set up a trading center in Qingdao for specialty agricultural products from Kazakhstan.

"We chose to cooperate with the SCODA because of its good geographical location, which offers huge sea, rail and air transport advantages," said Manarbek Tulegenov, chairman of EUROLOG LLP, a Kazakh logistics company. He added that entering the Chinese market is in the company's strategic plan.

The SCODA is an important platform for logistics, trade, and investment cooperation between Central Asian countries and China, providing huge opportunities for Central Asian countries, said Botakoz Yelshibek, head of the Kazakhstan exhibition area at the SCO International Investment and Trade Expo held in Qingdao in June.

This aerial photo taken on May 22, 2023 shows the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center in the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

"China's economic growth momentum is strong, and I hope that more Kazakh businesspeople will continue to deeply integrate into China's new development paradigm and achieve win-win results through cooperation," Yelshibek said.

The demonstration area has set up a comprehensive economic and trade platform to offer one-stop services covering trade, customs clearance, logistics, and finance. Nearly 5,000 enterprises have registered on the platform.

Said Saydakhmedov, a business specialist from Uzbekistan working for the platform, said many businesspeople from Belt and Road partner countries hoping to explore the Chinese market consult on issues related to laws and regulations, finance and tax, and subsidy policies.

The platform provides facilitation for pine nuts trading company Alhaj Mohammad Nazi Sadat Ltd of Afghanistan, which exports 70 percent of its products to China, helping the Afghan company to find Chinese clients, which means it is not solely reliant on expos and intermediaries.

With one-stop services on offer, pine nuts exported by the company can now reach Chinese warehouses in 15 days, cutting up to two-thirds off the delivery time.

HUGE POTENTIAL

The demonstration area has also either introduced or nurtured 10 trading platforms, linking more than 2,000 trading companies in doing so.

The SCO expo in June this year attracted 330 enterprises and institutions from 34 countries and regions, displaying more than 10,000 kinds of commodities from SCO countries, making it a big stage for Belt and Road cooperation.

This photo taken on June 15, 2023 shows the Iran Pavilion during the 2023 SCO International Investment and Trade Expo in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Thanks to appropriate measures, the area's trade with SCO countries had surged to 8.1 billion yuan in 2022 from 850 million yuan in 2019.

Further expanding overseas cooperation, the SCODA also signed a cooperation agreement with Kazakh logistics company DAMU in September.

The Chinese side can provide advanced experience and solutions as well as financing support, which is of great significance and attractive to the foreign partner, said Mayra Jumagaleeva, director of DAMU.

Seventy percent of DAMU's imports come from China and Chinese vehicles are popular in Kazakhstan and have bright market prospects there, Jumagaleeva added. DAMU is planning to further build a platform selling China-made vehicles to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.

The company expects that the cooperation agreement will activate further trade and investment cooperation and in the long term promote the construction of relevant free trade zones within the SCO framework, said Jumagaleeva.

As a unique economic and trade zone for SCO countries, the SCODA has massive potential and plays a key role in promoting new technologies and technology conversion in SCO countries and boosting international economic and trade cooperation, said Hakimov Masum, an official of Uzbekistan's Tashkent State Transport University.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Washington, Oct 12 (UNI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed on Thursday that the United States will always be by Israels side as he arrived to Tel Aviv in show of support amid the escalating war with Hamas.

"The message that I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself but as long as America exists, you will never ever have to, we will always be there by your side," Blinken said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Israel has "the right, indeed an obligation to defend itself and to ensure that this will never happen again," the secretary reiterated.

The US is supplying ammunition and interceptors to replenish Israels Iron Dome, alongside other defense materiel. The first shipments of US military support have already arrived in Israel, and more is on the way, Blinken said.

The US also continues to work closely with Israel to secure the release of people taken hostage by Hamas, he stressed.

The US is pursuing intensive diplomacy throughout the region to prevent the conflict from spreading, Blinken said.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
Andy Smith, executive director for the YMCA YCAP Program in Chattanooga announces they are gearing up for the 14th Annual Chattanooga Guns and Hoses "Battle of the Badges" boxing event that raises funds for The Forgotten Child Fund and the YMCA YCAP Program.This is the 14th year local first responders from Chattanooga FD, Chattanooga PD, Hamilton Co. EMS, Hamilton Co. Sheriff's Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol and other local first responders box it out for a shot at the title and earning the Mayors Cup.This is a fun and family friendly social event for all. Both mayors usually attend, as well as many elected officials, along with the chiefs and sheriff.The event will take place this Friday at Camp Jordan Arena. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the bouts beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Windows were knocked out on dozens of vehicles overnight Wednesday at a riverfront hotel.

Guests at Springhill Suites at Cameron Harbor awoke to find the shattered windows.

Some guests also had items taken from their cars.

There were also cars broken into at a nearby residential property.
Second Missionary Baptist Church invites the community to join them in person or virtually on Sunday, Oct. 15, at 10:45 a.m. to celebrate Rev. Dr. Ernest L. Reids eighth pastoral anniversary.

Dr. Reid is a native of Suffolk, Va. He answered the call to serve as pastor of SMBC in 2015 after previously pastoring in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Once they arrived, Dr. Reid along with his wife Sherelle, and sons, Ernest III, and Noah became an integral part of SMBCs 157-year history. Under Dr. Reids leadership as the 21st pastor, SMBC has been blessed with steady growth in membership, a renovated sanctuary, and most importantly, a biblically based relevant and stirring weekly worship service, bible study and inspirational devotionals. His dedication to having a positive and supportive impact on his members locally, the Chattanooga Community at large and through foreign mission work in Kenya is intentional and inspiring. His ministry is characterized by the celebratory theme of Eight Years of Being Better Together.



As the guest speaker, SMBC welcomes Dr. Charles F. Lomax, Jr., senior pastor, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Alcoa, Tennessee. Dr. Lomax is a native of Knoxville, and currently serves as the director of community empowerment for the City of Knoxville. He is a member of the Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals, the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.



SMBC is at 2305 E. Third Street. The service may be viewed online at www.mysmbchurch.org and live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook (@2ndMBChurch). For more information, you may call 423 624-9097 during weekdays after 9 a.m.


The Federal Highway Administration has awarded $1.1 million for research to enhance detection of vulnerable road users within the Smart City Corridor overseen by the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.In addition to the funding awarded through the FHWA Exploratory Advance Research program, UTC and research partners will invest $300,000 to enable additional technology along the M.L. King Boulevard site to detect vulnerable road usersessentially, anyone not traveling inside an enclosed vehicle.Its basically bicyclists, people on scooters, pedestrians, wheelchair userseverybody thats not in a car or inside a vehicle, said Dr.Mina Sartipi, founding director of CUIP, executive director of the UTC Research Institute and principal investigator on the funded research project. The project title is Advanced AI Research for Equitable Safety of Vulnerable Road Users, and we are working on fundamental research to develop advanced artificial intelligence algorithms for traffic management systems that take the movement of vulnerable users into account.The grant funds the addition of thermal cameraswhich detect objects by infrared energy, or heat emittedto a diverse array of existing sensors already installed at intersections along the Smart Corridor. Based on the combined data yielded by this technology, along with connected vehicles, Sartipi and her research team will develop algorithms for traffic management systems that incorporate prediction of movement by vulnerable road users, whose movements vary greatly depending whether on foot or on wheels.The major element that goes to the fundamental research part is sensor fusion, Dr. Sartipi said. That part, or the (artificial intelligence) part, is depending on the time of day, the natural light, the installed lighting, the weather and all of that, a camera or LiDAR (ultraviolet light detector), or radar or a thermal camera might be a better option. As part of this, we actually get data from more than one source and we infuse that data into the algorithms.This will ensure we have the most accurate observation of all road users at any given time and space and under any conditions.The algorithms developed will be tested and analyzed toward an accurate and real-time observation of intersections and prediction of traffic patterns that benefit urban mobility and improve safety.Installation of thermal cameras funded by the federal grant begins this fall and will include some placed mid-block, Sartipi said, noting that movement by road users between intersectionssuch as crossing the streetalso is a factor in traffic safety. Testing of sensor fusion-based algorithms is expected to be underway within 12 to 18 months.The work is the latest in a continual sequence of research that began with the founding of CUIP in 2018.We are chipping away at it, working for four or five years on detection, and now working to make sure there is a system that can be applied under any weather condition, any road geometry condition and able to classify it. Thats what were going to be focusing on with this one, Dr. Sartipi said.We have been working on detection and now we are saying, OK, for this to be really applicable everywhere and generalizable, it should work under many, many different scenarios. This project is going to be working on that, and then we just keep enhancing.The University of Arizona and the University of San Francisco are collaboration partners and contributing funding along with UTC on this research project.
An 84-year-old Heritage Landing resident has died after being rescued after her car went into a pond.

Chattanooga Police and other agencies responded to the 1500 block of Heritage Landing Drive for a traffic crash and water rescue. Responders were advised a vehicle was in a pond after crashing through a wall of a residence. When officers arrived, the vehicle was already submerged in the water.





Chattanooga Fire, Hamilton County EMS, Dallas Bay Fire & Rescue, and Hamilton County Special Tactics and Rescue Service ("STARS") responded to the scene to assist with the water rescue operation.



Chattanooga Fire worked to stabilize the vehicle. STARS divers extracted the woman from the vehicle and Hamilton County EMS transported her to a local hospital. She died at the hospital.





The preliminary traffic crash investigation indicates the driver placed the vehicle in drive then traveled through a garage wall and approximately 35 feet to a pond behind the residence. The vehicle began to take on water and drift towards the center of the pond. Bystanders attempted to make it to the vehicle in an attempt to rescue the victim, but were unable to successfully extract her. After she was extracted from the vehicle by STARS, the vehicle was removed from the pond.





CPD's Traffic Unit will continue to investigate the circumstances of this incident.




The International Market & More series is returning, starting with Dia de los Santos, on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in Patten Square. It is presented by Art 120 in partnership with River City Company, the city of Chattanooga, ArtsBuild, the ZC Patten Fund, and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

The goal of the International Market & More series is to connect Chattanooga with its beautifully diverse communities by highlighting a particular culture or group around a holiday of importance for them. International Market attendees can expect a celebration filled with live cultural performances, food and art.

As Dia de los Santos celebrates the Latin community, Art 120 is looking for artists and small businesses in the Latin community who would like to participate. Registration is open to all in the Latin community and requires a refundable deposit of $25 to reserve a space. Click here to register (available in English and Spanish).
A federal district judge has ordered Ringgold doctor Charles Adams and his medical practice to pay more than $27 million for violating the False Claims Act (FCA).

In June, a federal jury in Rome found that the defendants violated the FCA by submitting false claims to Medicare for chelation therapy reimbursements. Chelation therapy involves the use of drugs to remove heavy metals from the body. The jury found that Medicare reimbursed the defendants more than $1.1 million for these unnecessary treatments. In a post-trial ruling, the federal district judge added penalties to the jurys verdict, bringing the total amount owed to more than $27 million.

The Courts judgment emphasizes the serious consequences that face healthcare providers who submit false claims to Medicare, said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. On behalf of those healthcare providers who faithfully bill for medical procedures, and for their patients who rely on the safety net of Medicare, our office will continue to work vigorously with our federal agencies and law enforcement partners to pursue providers who engage in misconduct.

Physicians who fraudulently submit unreasonable, medically unnecessary claims put their personal profits over their obligations to both federal health programs and their patients, said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). With our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG is committed to investigating potentially fraudulent billing that can compromise the integrity of our federal health care programs and the well-being of beneficiaries.

Providers who undermine the integrity of the health care system will be held accountable for their actions, said Sean Burke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "Actions like this impact every taxpaying citizen, in particular, those who rely on federally funded programs for their health care needs.

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the civil complaint, the courts final order, and other information presented in court: Adams operated a medical practice in Ringgold known as Full Circle Medical Center. As a part of his internal medicine specialty, Adams administered the drug edetate calcium disodium to address a wide range of conditions, including atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, headaches, GI ailments, fatigue, and other generalized symptoms. But these symptoms are not recognized as being treatable using EDTA, it was stated.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, EDTA is recognized as a treatment only for lead poisoning and lead encephalopathy. Because Dr. Adams patients did not have lead poisoning or lead encephalopathy, Medicare would not reimburse his use of EDTA. To receive reimbursement for the EDTA, Dr. Adams falsely claimed to Medicare that his patients suffered from heavy metal poisoning.

In August 2018, the Government filed a civil complaint alleging that between November 2008 and September 2015, Adams and Full Circle knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary and alternative chelation therapy that Adams administered using EDTA. The complaint also alleged that in connection with this scheme, Adams and Full Circle unlawfully received approximately $1.1 million in Medicare reimbursements.

The case proceeded to a jury trial in Rome in June before presiding U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II. The jury found Adams and Full Circle liable for submitting more than 4,400 false claims to Medicare. The jury awarded more than $1.1 million in damages. Under the FCA, Judge Ray was required to treble the jurys award and to add penalties based on the number of false claims submitted. Judge Ray issued his final decision, ordering the defendants to pay a total of $27,567,729 in damages and penalties.

The FCA is the primary authority used by the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorneys Office to redress fraud, waste, and abuse within federal programs, including Medicare.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The case is being litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony DeCinque and Akash Desai. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paris Wynn also worked the case before his departure.
James Michael Mike Holden, passed away unexpectedly at his home Tuesday morning, October 10, at the age of 77.

Mike was born in Salisbury, NC and grew up in Charlotte, NC. He was a proud and decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War, receiving the Bronze Star Medal with V device, while serving as a Platoon Sergeant from 1968-69. He was a proud and active Life Member of Chattanooga's Post 203, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). Upon returning to civilian life, he embarked upon an outstanding career as a leading figure in the furniture industry in both the United States and European markets. He demonstrated industry wide leadership during his 40 years that resulted in many friendships. This was exemplified by the countless calls from friends and former coworkers across the country and overseas. With these calls came condolences along with expressing their warm and abundant memories of their mutual friendships with him. Over the course of his extensive career, he served as vice president of Sales and Marketing for furniture industry leaders including "Action Recliners", "Benchcraft", "Catnapper" and "La-Z-Boy Furniture"--serving with the latter for over thirteen years as a manufacturer's representative.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Thomas Holden, and his mother, Margaret Virginia Brandt, of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Survivors include his wife, Anita Cookie Holden, son, Kyle Holden, daughter-In-Law, Donna Smith-Holden and sister, Billie Wilson, of Tega Cay, South Carolina.

Interment will take place at the Chattanooga National Cemetery on Monday, Oct. 23, at 12:30 p.m. Friends are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
What does it take to establish and maintain sustainability as a measurable value for companies? What conditions need to be created for ideas in sustainable chemistry to flourish? And which start-ups worldwide promise the greatest impact in this field with their innovations? These and other central questions about innovations for Sustainable Chemistry were answered at the Investor Forum 2023 of the International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3). The fifth edition took place live as part of the 5th World Chemicals Conference ICCM5 in Bonn. International representatives from politics, industry, NGOs, science, environmental associations and investors met 18 international start-ups to talk about meaningful cooperation and to award the most innovative ideas and solutions in the field of Sustainable Chemistry at the finals of the ISC3 Innovation Challenge, which is endowed with a total of 25,000 euros.

The Innovation Challenge is an integral part of the Investor Forum. The 2023 Award on the topic of "Sustainable Chemistry and Agriculture" won Indian start-up Schutzen with bio-based, biodegradable textiles, paints and varnishes, body care products and household chemicals made from the seeds of the tamarind tree. In the "Special Impact" category, Makabi (Croatia) convinced the international jury with its development of 3in1 capsules to reduce agrochemicals in agriculture. Molepse Bioresources (Kenya) won the "Special Regional Impact" category with multitarget pesticides to protect stored grain and the Audience Award went to Natupla (Colombia) for developing bio-based, biodegradable materials and adhesives. The founder of the German start-up ClimEtSan-OnTheGround received an honourable mention from the jury as best female founder for her business idea and contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For the 2024 Innovation Challenge, ISC3 is looking for start-ups from around the world with the best ideas in the field of "Sustainable Chemistry and Textiles". "Sustainable solutions such as those presented here show the potential of innovations for combating environmental pollution," State Secretary Dr Christiane Rohleder noted in her speech at the official opening of the Investor Forum. Representing the BMUV, she spoke about the role of Sustainable Chemistry in international chemicals management, the BMUV's German sustainability agenda and the role of the ISC3. Finally, she addressed the start-ups presenting at the Investor Forum directly: "Your ideas inspire more innovations in the chemical sector that meet the requirements of Sustainable Chemistry."

"With the Investor Forum, ISC3 brings together selected international start-ups from the field of Sustainable Chemistry with investors every year. Financing is still one of the biggest challenges for the development of start-ups. Especially in the pre-seed and seed phase, many start-ups struggle to find an investor. As part of the ICCM5, we had a great political framework to bring the topic of innovation in Sustainable Chemistry as a central field of activity into the discussion on sustainable chemical management with concrete solutions. The finals of our annual Innovation Challenge and the award ceremony was again a highlight. Also this year, I was deeply impressed by the sustainable solutions presented by the start-ups, which motivates us at ISC3 to continue promoting them," says Dr Thomas Wanner, Managing Director of ISC3.

At the Investor Forum 2023 panel discussion, international experts spoke about the role of investors and governments in supporting start-ups, the importance of Sustainable Chemistry and the cooperation between business and science: Not least because of the need for action, societal pressure and political commitments, I am convinced that in the next 30 years we will witness a sustainability revolution that will make sustainable investments the most profitable investments imaginable, said Fabian-Domenic Meier (Groon IO, Germany). Marcelo E. Cobrol (Chief Scalability, Knowledge and Impact at IDB Labs, USA) concluded that the highest impact projects must also be profitable.

In his final statement, Melvin Kizito encouraged the start-ups: "Very often in the journey of building a new venture you will have to do something nobody has done before. Maybe its developing a new business model, or an engineering process. When you get to this point, you must be brave and take the step forward and trust in yourself that you will achieve what you believe in. If it's important you must do it even if the future is uncertain".

The second part of the Investor Forum was dedicated to the final pitches of the ISC3 Innovation Challenge Finalists and the Award Ceremony.

The winners of the Innovation Challenge 2023 In the pitch of the 8 finalists of the Innovation Challenge 2023, SCHUTZEN, won the first prize of 15,000 euros. The start-up from India produces bio-based and biodegradable textiles, paints and varnishes, personal care products and household chemicals. The company's goal is to replace fossil chemistry with C-12 isotopes and toxic groups with C-14 chemistry. SCHUTZEN mitigates climate change, reduces the toxicity of pollutants and ensures high biodegradability.

The Croatian start-up MAKABI was awarded 5000 as the winner in the "Special Impact" category. The start-up has developed a smart 3in1 capsule containing a formula of microparticles with a 3in1 effect for nutrition and protection of plant parts. They focus on the application of green encapsulation of bioactive components isolated from nature in agricultural products. This approach is expected to reduce the use of agrochemicals by 30% and reduce the negative impact on the environment. The start-up also offers collaboration in research and development for new products.
Archaeologists with the Czech Institute of Egyptology, a department within the Charles University in Prague, have rediscovered a lost tomb containing a mummy.

The tomb belonged to an ancient Egyptian official named Ptahshepses, who lived around 4,400 years ago during the 24th and 25th centuries BCE. The tomb was found near the archaeological sites of Abusir and Saqqara with the help of detailed satellite imagery and some old maps.

Nearly 160 years ago, the tomb was partially uncovered by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette. She came across a huge false door that was intricately decorated and a lintel, which is a type of supporting beam.

The items were extracted and are currently on display in Londons British Museum. However, the tomb became swallowed up by the deserts sands once again shortly after her discovery.

The false door tells the story of the life of Ptahshepses. He received his education at the court of Menkaure, an ancient pharaoh who died during the Old Kingdom era of Egypt.

Ptahshepses married the daughter of Userkaf, a pharaoh who ruled for a short period in the early 25th century BC. Evidence suggests that he was the first known official from non-royal lineage in Egyptian history to marry a member of royalty.

Toward the end of Ptahshepses life, the kingdom suffered a series of crises. Among the ruling elite, the legitimacy of some leaders was questioned. The cost of living also soared upward, and climate change caused a decline in the annual flooding of the Nile River, which was the main contributor to the economys growth.

According to Miroslav Barta, the head of the archaeological work at the site, good floods meant rich grain harvests. Grain paid for many things, from taxes to workers wages. The decrease in the annual flooding during a time when expenses were rising was part of what led to the downfall of the Old Kingdom.

The search for the tomb has been a long and difficult one, but finally, researchers efforts have been rewarded. At the excavation site, a 137-foot-long and 72-foot-wide structure of the tomb was uncovered. It includes a well-preserved chapel with a painted, decorated entryway and a long corridor.

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Ernest Hemingway was one of the most iconic American authors for his outstanding works of fiction from the 20th century.

Most people recognize his biggest titles like The Old Man and The Sea or For Whom the Bell Tolls, but besides what he wrote, Ernest also had a fascinating life story.

For instance, did you know he survived two life-threatening plane crashes just one day apart?

At the end of August, a letter from 1954 written by Ernest to his lawyer Alfred Rice describing his horrible injuries and condition after surviving the two plane crashes with his wife Mary Welsh was sold at auction for $237,055.

The letter and auction have had everyone reminiscing on the story of the tumultuous plane crashes, and if you didnt know about them, this is a glimpse of what went down.

In January 1954, while Ernest was 54 years old, he and his wife Mary took a sightseeing plane tour of the Belgian Congo in Africa, which was his Christmas gift to her. While flying near the Murchison Falls, the plane struck a telegraph wire and crash-landed near crocodile-infested waters.

Ernest, Mary, and the pilot had to manage their injuries themselves and camp in the wilderness overnight until a tourist boat found them the next morning. The boat took them to a nearby town, where they boarded a second plane they hoped would take them to safety.

However, shortly after the second plane took off, it exploded, crashed, and caught fire. This is the flight where Ernest suffered the most injuries, as the pilot was able to kick open one of the planes windows and quickly escape with Mary, while Ernest was too big to fit through the frame.

Ernest had to force the plane door open with his head, and once he was finally out, he had horribly intense injuries, including a skull fracture, third-degree burns on his arm that would affect his writing, and injuries to his liver, kidney, and spleen.

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The horrific attacks on Israel on October 7 came almost 50 years to the day since the start of the Yom Kippur War. Then, hostilities began after the surprise invasion of Israel by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan on October 6, 1973. This time, the violence began with a brutal onslaught by the terrorist group Hamas.

Comparisons between the two can be overwrought. But tracking how evangelicals (and especially American evangelicals) responded to these crises 50 years aparthow our reactions changed, but also what stayed the sameis revealing. Evangelicals are paying closer attention to the Middle East now than we were then, and were doing so from a wider range of perspectives.

Just days into the conflict, weve already seen prominent, public evangelical responses to Hamass unprecedented acts of violence and hostage-taking. CTs own Russell Moore called for Christians to stand with Israel under attack, and the National Association of Evangelicals statement condemned violence on both sides.

Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, declared on Twitter/X, Hamas is the new ISIS and must be stopped! Shane Claiborne, the evangelical pacifist and activist, criticized both Israel and Hamas for doing things that do not lead to peace. Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California, speculated that the attack by Hamas was prophetically significant.

These responses are unsurprising. Today, we take it almost as a given that dozens, if not hundreds, of evangelical associations, parachurch organizations, churches, and leaders will weigh in on this tragic situation, and that those statements will vary in their stances.

But that wasnt always the caseand certainly not before the Yom Kippur War. Over the last 50 years, a veritable ecosystem of ministries and lobby groups has grown around Israeli-Palestinian relations, including some with explicitly Christian Zionist and pro-Palestinian commitments.

Of course, missions agencies dedicated to the Middle East have been around for more than two centuries. The same goes with evangelical leadership and support for humanitarian efforts in the region amid numerous wars in the modern era. But the single-issue advocacy devoted to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a more recent historical development in the evangelical world than many realize.

This phenomenon reflects a confluence of trends and factors unique to evangelicalsas well as the way evangelical attitudes have been shaped by our wider political and geopolitical context.

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In 1973, a relatively small circle of leaders commanded most of the institutional and media influence when it came to speaking for evangelicals on the Middle East. That media environment centered on a small and fledgling Christian Zionist network forged in the early years of Israeli statehood. This network grew in prominence after the seismic Six-Day War in June 1967, wherein Israel decisively defeated its Arab neighbors.

Many of these spokesmen had one or two degrees of separation from CT founder Billy Graham, the proverbial sun around which much of postwar evangelical-Jewish relations orbited. Graham played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in October 1973 (during the Yom Kippur War), encouraging President Nixon to greenlight the largest airlift in US history to aid Israel.

And outside of Graham, the evangelical responses in 1973 represented a much narrower band of opinions than we see today. American evangelicals quickly and consistently came to Israels defense. Arnold T. Olson, a then-recent president of the NAE and longtime president of the Evangelical Free Churches of America, described the attack on Israel as further evidence of the depths to which the human mind can fall.

G. Douglas Young, the Canadian founder of the American Institute of Holy Land Studies (now Jerusalem University College), a graduate school in Jerusalem, compared the wartime challenges Israel faced to Jews in Germany in the 1930s, alleging that the relative silence by Christians in the second week of the war was reminiscent of the silence of the churches during the Holocaust.

For all his work with Nixon, Grahams Christianity Today had probably the least passionate analysis, denouncing the invasion but acknowledging that an unwillingness to let go of any substantial part of its Six-Day acquisitions meant Israel had left behind the seeds of another conflict.

In the following decade, an entire class of Christian Zionist organizations would emerge and eclipse, at least in numbers, those evangelical authorities of 1973. The movement started by figures like Olson and Young, who were relatively closely aligned with Graham, would soon be displaced by a new crop of fundamentalist and Pentecostal-run organizations.

These were more ideologically (and eschatologically) driven conservatives who commanded far more resources and members than Olsons denomination and Youngs grad school. Not only that, but their alignments would extend beyond theological stancesand prescriptions for US policy regarding Israelto support emerging right-wing Israeli politicians like Menachem Begin.

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Jerry Falwell Sr., Pat Robertson, and a young John Hagee engaged in dedicated pro-Israel activism beginning in the late 1970s. In 2006, Hagee founded Christians United for Israel, a lobbying organization, with Falwell serving on the board of directors.

By then, American Christian Zionists, most of them evangelicals, were ready for a single-issue umbrella organization to speak for them as a voting bloc. Today, Hagees organization claims more than 10 million members.

While the advent of organized Christian Zionism is a defining development in how evangelicals now engage with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is not the whole story. A parallel, if smaller, movement also emerged after the 1973 war, giving voice to the fledgling evangelical Lefts critique of Christian Zionism and identification with Palestinian Christians.

Magazines like The Post-American (now Sojourners) began to critique the theological and political motives of pro-Israel evangelicals. And by the 1980s, international figures like John Stott encouragedthrough the Lausanne Movement and elsewhereevangelical organizations to combat Christian Zionism and forge relationships with Palestinian Christians.

Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding formed in 1986, and Sabeel, a theology center headquartered in the West Bank, was founded in 1989 by Palestinian Anglican liberation theologian Naim Ateek. In recent years, Bethlehem Bible College, the related Christ at the Checkpoint conference, and a growing network of pro-Palestinian organizations have also emerged.

Today, the balance between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian advocacy is nowhere near equalChristian Zionists have never been more organized and unified than in the last decade and a half. They indisputably contributed to former president Donald Trumps move of the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in 2018, a long-held Christian Zionist goal.

After this months Hamas terrorist attacks, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a Jewish-led organization supported primarily by evangelical Christians, immediately pledged $5 million in relief. Hagees Christians United for Israel also promised to confront and overcome any elected official in Washington who would try to undermine Israels ability to defend herself in the war with Hamas.

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And yet, it seems younger evangelicals are either more sympathetic to Palestinian political arguments (which does not mean support of Hamas) or disengaged entirely from the issue. Pro-Israel organizations like Passagesinspired by the popular Birthright Israel tours for American Jewish studentsseek to halt this shift, but polling results continue to show a generational gap. The landscape has shifted significantly in 50 years.

Some of that has less to do with the situation in the Middle East than with political changes here in the US. Partisan realignment on foreign policy is a major part of this story, as is the growth of domestic lobby groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Support for Israel, while still broadly bipartisan among most Americans, has increasingly become a culture war skirmish, pitting conservatives against progressives and young against old.

The introduction of the internet and social media, meanwhile, means American evangelicals are more aware of the daily lives of both Israelis and Palestinians than ever before. Of course, what we know is shaped by the filters of the organizations and outlets we follow. A faithful viewer of the Christian Broadcasting Network (consistently pro-Israel with a dedicated Israel broadcast) will have a strikingly different understanding of current events than a fellow Christian who gets updates from Sabeel or BTselem, a Jerusalem-based peace organization.

Levels of evangelical tourism to Israel have remained high, giving thousands of visitors firsthand (if not necessarily representative) experiences of life in Israel and the disputed territories. In addition, the growth of Pentecostal leadership in conservative evangelical circlesfrom Hagee to Messianic Jewish activist Mike Evans to popular author Joel Rosenberghas paved the way for Christian Zionism to grow beyond America and into a global movement.

But changes in the Middle East matter too. This includes the long-term political presence of Israeli prime minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu (a Christian Zionist favorite), the widening footprint of Jewish settlements in disputed Palestinian territories, the rising regional influence of Iran, and the violent and despotic acts of Hamas and ISIS, among other bad actors in the region.

This first week of fresh conflict in Israel has made indisputably clear how much evangelicals Israeli-Palestinian conversation has changed since 1973and how it has come to command far more of our attention. The present Israel-Hamas war may well see it evolve further still.

Daniel G. Hummel works at Upper House, a Christian study center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of Covenant Brothers: Evangelicals, Jews, and U.S.-Israeli Relations.

[ This article is also available in Francais. ]
Two-thirds of Americans 65 and older admit they wish theyd taken their health more seriously when they were younger, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 U.S. seniors looked at how they meet their fitness and health goals and found that 46% admit they don't have any in place.

Even so, 86% of seniors take their health more seriously now than when they were younger.

While almost two in five (39%) say they tend to take a proactive approach to their health, only 32% will seek out their doctor as soon as they start to feel unwell.

Others tend to wait out the storm and hope to feel better (22%) or try to remedy themselves (42%).

Conducted by OnePoll for ClearMatch Medicare, the survey showed that a whopping 81% of seniors polled admit their health could be better, despite the average respondent exercising about five times per week.

While 42% exercise most frequently inside their homes, 24% head outside and 15% go to the gym.

Most seniors (71%) are getting their steps in and walking to stay in shape. Others lift weights (25%), bike (20%), run (20%) or even do yoga (19%).

Half (51%) of seniors do have health or fitness-related goals and, over the past 12 months, have been successful in meeting goals pertaining to exercising more often (43%), drinking more water (34%), taking vitamins (28%) and even getting more sleep (15%).

Result also found that while most seniors tend to follow their doctors orders (79%), 14% will stray from their advice.

The most common advice seniors ignore from their doctors is to exercise frequently (21%), followed by eating nutritious foods (16%).

Others ignored being told to attend doctor appointments regularly (13%) or even to take medications regularly (12%).

Many seniors have expressed regrets about not prioritizing their health in their younger years. However, the data unequivocally demonstrates that it's never too late to start. said Ben Pajak, CEO of ClearMatch Medicare, a part of HealthPlanOne, LLC. Everyone should consider setting fitness goals to maintain their optimal health, and it's worth noting that the majority of Medicare Advantage plans currently provide fitness benefits to support older Americans in their self-care efforts and active lifestyles.

Currently, the average senior visits their doctor about three times a year.

In the past, barriers like a fear of what the doctor will tell them (20%) and lack of motivation (18%) have stood in the way of actually attending the visit.

But today, almost one-third (30%) believe that they would visit their doctor less frequently now if they had taken better care of their health when they were younger.

Despite the availability of fitness benefits through Medicare Advantage plans, its surprising that 53% of enrollees acknowledge not utilizing these offerings, says Vice President of Sales, Jennifer Girdler. It's important to take advantage of every opportunity and maximize the extra benefits that Medicare Advantage plans provide."

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans aged 65+ was commissioned by ClearMatch Medicare between August 31 and September 9, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
My first encounter with the Rothschild name happened in a thrift store. I was maybe nine years old and ran across a little wool dress coat just my size. The tag said Rothschild, and when I showed my find to my mother, her eyes lit up. The Rothschilds are very famous and wealthy, I remember her saying. Thats probably a very nice coat.

I dont remember how nice it was, and at the time I didnt know enough to wonder whether the Rothschilds, whose company made my coat, were connected to those Rothschilds, the remarkably successful banking family whose name is a longstanding byword among conspiracy theorists and antisemites. I think I wore it under the impression that the child in Rothschild was a family tribute (Roths child), or perhaps a nod to their sale of childrens attire.

But the seam in the word is not after the S but before it: roth-schild, from the German for red shield. Its a reference to a marking on the home where Mayer Amschel Rothschild lived as he founded the family dynasty in the 18th century. By day, he served in the court of the princely House of Hesse, and at night, he returned to the cramped quarters of the Judengasse, Frankfurts prison-like, one-street ghetto in which Christian authorities literally locked the local Jewish population every night and every Lords Day.

Thats but one small piece of the history covered in Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories, a new release from journalist Mike Rothschild, who isas the delightfully clever cover notesno relation of those Rothschilds. The subtitle undersells the scope of the work, which traces the familys history from 1565 to present and examines the global development of Jewish tropes, legends, and conspiracy theories along the way.

The Rothschild allure

It is a sprawling story, told over centuries and continents, as Rothschild writes in his introduction, replete with fake Russian counts, Parisian pamphlet wars, lizard people, and so much more. Thus does Jewish Space Lasers cover everything from the Judengasse to the Battle of Waterloo to the titular lasersthe idea, pitched in a 2018 Facebook post by Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene before she ran for Congress, that a California wildfire was the result of a Rothschild-involved conspiracy to advance green energy projects and, of course, make gobs of money.

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Rothschild promises early on that his book is not a biography of the Rothschilds, nor is it a deep archival study of their various business ventures, nor an examination of the political and societal forces at play in the many ways the Rothschilds have affected world history. Its a promise he doesnt quite keep and perhaps couldnt have: To effectively reject the idea that Jews control everything, and that the Rothschilds are the Kings of the Jews requires quite a lot of biography, archival study, and examination of the political and societal forces. And if Jewish Space Lasers bogs down in detail, this, too, is encouraged by the subject matterthe book is repetitive, but so are the conspiracy theories.

But negative perceptions of the Rothschilds are not all Rothschild has in view. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of Jewish Space Lasers was its peek inside Jewish culture around the storied family. For many Jews, the Rothschilds have been a beacon of hope in dark times, a reminder that anything is possible with unity and a steadfast devotion to family and tradition, Rothschild explains. They were heroes who fought tenaciously for the freedom of other Jews, while never giving in to the temptations of conversion and assimilation.

The Rothschild allure was as much about their faithfulness and generosity as their aspirational wealthbut the wealth was part of it too. For example, the source text for Tevyes If I were a rich man refrain in Fiddler on the Roof originally read If I were a Rothschild. And Tevyes goals there are bigger than three staircases. If I were Rothschild I would do away with war altogether, he muses. You will ask how? With money, of course.

I knew going into Jewish Space Lasers that money would be a big part of the story. Its impossible not to anticipate that, if you have any knowledge of our cultures stereotype of Jewish people asin the phrase of the first chapters titlegreedy, cheap, and blessed. And I knew, too, that centuries of gross and officially sanctioned antisemitism would come into it; the history of how some European Jews came to be bankers was already familiar.

But much of what Rothschild recounts was new to me, supplying a remedy for an ignorance both happy and untenable: happy because it came from a lack of exposure to explicit antisemitism; untenable because antisemitism is persistent and pernicious, and because it is difficult to push back against evil if you fail to recognize it when you see it.

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New extremists and old tropes

One place we see the evil of antisemitism, of course, is in church history. Though Rothschild has a light touch in connecting antisemitism with Christianity, never painting with too broad a brush, the bulk of his tale is set in Christendom Europe. Even outside overt misuses of our faith to oppress Jewish people, then, the story of the Wests antisemitism is undeniably a story about people who at least professed Christianity, whatever was in their hearts.

This historyof expulsions and pogroms, blood libel and other slanders, forced conversions and baptismsis galling and repulsive. Its also absurd, because the core of our faith is that God became man and, as Rothschild observes, that man was Jewish.

Christian antisemitism can only exist through blatant rejection of Gods commands (Eph. 2:1122) and scandalously stupid misreadings of Scripture (Rom 1:16, 3:29, Gal. 3:28). But theres no escaping the fact that it has existed, and not only in centuries past. Greene, the space-lasers theorist and a sitting member of Congress with a large, popular following, professes an evangelical faith, having been baptized at the Atlanta-area North Point Community Church in 2011. In his 1991 book The New World Order, the late Pat Robertson, erstwhile head of the Christian Coalition, cited explicitly antisemitic worksbooks with chapter titles like The Real Jewish Perilto posit a conspiracy of malevolent global domination, with the Rothschilds in on the scheme.

Are things getting any better? Considering the present and future state of antisemitism, Rothschild takes a dim view in the book and online, where he greeted this weeks news of war in Israel with worry for how it will affect Jews worldwide, because, [h]istorically, whatever can be blamed on Jews will be, no matter their nationality.

This century has seen a disturbing resurgence of public and unapologetic antisemitism, he argues in Jewish Space Lasers. Today, new extremists are espousing the same hateful tropes that were once relegated to being fodder for fringe pamphlets and whispered accusations. But now they arent fringe, and they arent whispering, Rothschild contends. They are a danger to everyone. And theyll never stopbecause they never have.

I hope hes wrong in that prediction, and I wonder if he hopes it too. After all, why write a book-length debunking of hundreds of years of antisemitic theorizing unless you have some hope that it will help? Not, perhaps, to the point of persuading confirmed antisemites, but at least to educate the rest of us and shock us well away from a hateful path that too many have trod.

Bonnie Kristian is the editorial director of ideas and books at Christianity Today.
Regina Hum was an 18-year-old student at Singapore Polytechnic when she began experiencing symptoms of depression.

I started withdrawing from friends and family, feeling no need to share with them what I was feeling, and they also did not seem to notice, said Hum, who worships at Faith Community Baptist Church. Waking up feeling there was no purpose, having a sense of dread whenever I got up  It was unusual since I had finally started my dream arts course.

An adult she trusted had once told her that if she was experiencing mental health problems, she would be treated differently by society. As a result, Hum did not tell anyone what she was going through for fear of being ostracized.

Hums experience of mental health struggles is an increasingly common one in Singapore. Students often contend with their mental health and well-being in an extremely competitive, success-oriented climate, which is often defined by clinching high academic results in nationwide exams like the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) and pre-university exams like the O, N, and A levels.

And while academic stress can cause an adverse impact on mental health, conversations about the latter are rare in the Southeast Asian country and, until recently, even rarer in churches.

Many youth feel like they have to live a victorious Christian life to be accepted in church as blessings and successes are celebrated, but failures, struggles in faith, and doubts about God are usually shunned, said Wei Hao Ho, who led a nationwide study that identified and discussed generational gaps in churches.

Nearly nine out of ten (86%) Singaporean students expressed worry about poor grades at school, according to an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) survey in 2015. A growing number of students from top Singapore schools have sought help for school-related stress at the countrys Institute of Mental Health. And almost 90 percent of undergraduates pinpoint study and work commitments as their greatest sources of stress, another survey by Singapore university unions revealed.

Despite these sobering statistics, change is burgeoning in churches across the country. More Singaporean Christians are opening up about their struggles. Pastors and ministry leaders are providing people with safe spaces to speak up and seek help, while also scrutinizing ways in which Christians may better respond to the pressures of the education system.

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Under pressure

Cindy Chua has a firsthand glimpse of how academic stress affects her childrens well-being. Her seven-, eight-, and ten-year-old daughters have been experiencing mental health struggles in the form of angry outbursts.

The countrys overemphasis on the importance of studies [is] hurting the mental health of our young people, said Chua, who attends a nondenominational church in eastern Singapore. Instead of rote learning from textbooks and worksheets, I hope that students can enjoy and love learning from real-life experiences.

Recognizing and rewarding talents on a broader spectrum of development, rather than basing it only on academic results, is one way that Singapore could have done better as a nation, says Guo Yi Hor, a lecturer at the Biblical Graduate School of Theology.

Yet Hor thinks that Singapores rigorous education system cannot be regarded as the only cause of academic stress and the mental health challenges that arise from it, because students often carry self-inflicted expectations to score good grades or face pressure from their peers and family to excel.

Each family and studentonce they are old enoughneeds to make a principled decision based on their values and priorities on how they want to live in this society. And, of course, many choose to exit the system if they can, he added.

Lois Kwans family is one thats chosen to do just thatan anomaly in Singapore, as public school fees are kept extremely low. Along with her husband Kuo Yong Lam, who pastors Katong Presbyterian Church, Kwan homeschooled their three children from ages 6 to 12 and sent them to an online Christian homeschooling program, The Potters School, for secondary-level education (equivalent to high school in the US).

The couples main motivation for homeschooling was to inculcate Christian virtues in their children and help them grow spiritually through going on mission trips and outreach efforts. But Kwan made it a point to create room for creativity, flexibility, and more opportunities for sleep and rest compared to other school-going children she observed.

She also made a conscious decision not to emphasize test scores. While most students begin preparing for the PSLE a few years before it takes place at the primary-six level (seventh grade in the US), she only did so in her childrens final year of school to prevent them from experiencing burnout, which she noticed often happened to students of the same age group.

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Breaking barriers

While the government is taking steps toward education reform, such as scrapping mid-year examinations in schools this year, church leaders and pastors recognize the accompanying needs for greater pastoral support and care of young believers.

Singaporean Christians need to have a better theological understanding of mental illness and mental health challenges, say the pastors CT interviewed. We need to have a healthy theology of suffering and brokenness. Jesus did not promise complete deliverance from our problems on this side of eternity, said Zhi Wen Ng, a pastor at Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church.

Seng Lee Chua, senior pastor of Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Church, holds a holistic view of mental health. Those who think its a spiritual issue think that praying and reading your Bible will fix it, but thats too simplistic. Others who believe its purely physical think that just going to the doctor will fix it.

But its actually more than that. Its also about renewing your mind. My recommendation is that we need to approach this from the medical, social and spiritual, because we are holistic beings, Chua said.

Chua has been advocating for mental health care in Singapore churches since 2010, when a youth leader he knew died by suicide. Mental health is never a comfortable subject in Asia and certainly in churches too, Chua told CT. But we are seeing the trend changing, with many churches speaking on this subject now. Many have asked for training for their leaders and members in recent years.

Chua has set up various nationwide initiatives that equip pastors to address the topic in their congregations. They include Christian Mental Health Advocates, a group established in 2018 that meets monthly to pray over Singapores mental health landscape, and the yearly Christian Mental Health Conference, which connects mental health professionals with churches.

Since 2020, hes also initiated a survey that assesses the mental well-being of those serving in ministry and examines how church leaders respond to mental health issues.

This years survey revealed that churches are becoming more equipped to respond to congregants mental health struggles. Over two-thirds (72.8%) of respondents said they know of at least three health professionals they can refer someone to, a slight increase from the 2020 figure (64.1%). Just over one-third (38.4%) agreed that their church has sufficiently equipped them to help a person who is facing mental health issues, up from one-quarter (27.7%) in 2020.

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Awareness and understanding of mental health challenges among Singaporean Christians have also improved. A majority (83.3%) said that they could discern if someone was living with a mental health issue based on visible signs and symptoms, compared to around three-quarters (77.8%) of respondents in 2020.

Life together

Apart from organizing and participating in larger, inter-denominational events, local churches are recognizing that creating arenas for conversations on mental health within their congregations is equally crucial.

The first step toward healing is acknowledging whats happening to you  sharing and asking for help lets other people who care know whats going on and how to better serve you in the struggle, Hum said.

Chua, the mother of three daughters, asked her church community to pray for her family. Her pastor visited them, while friends sent gifts to her children and offered to babysit.

Nevertheless, although people are increasingly able to distinguish mental illnesses without simply stigmatizing a person as mad or insane, it is still not easy for a person to come forward, be vulnerable, and talk about their mental health struggles, said Ng, the pastor.

So the burden is on church leaders, so to speak.  The pastor has to go first and model authenticity and vulnerability, he said.

Ngs church offers a peer support program for church members in crisis and keeps a reference list of mental health practitioners, psychiatrists, and church counselors. Chua, the senior pastor, has brought in psychiatrists and occupational therapists to teach fellow pastors in his church about various types of mental health conditions and appropriate responses to them. His church also holds seminars to educate members and non-members alike on topics such as how to identify common signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and addiction, and how to help people without burning out.

Theres also IDMCi|uni, a three-month course run by Covenant Evangelical Free Church that Hor, the lecturer, helped to create. The course aims to provide Christian students with tools to equip them in the broad aspect of self-care, of which mental health is a major part, he said.

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As part of the program, young adults from the church go through mentorship, a four-day listening retreat, and a full-day mental health workshop where they can discuss principles relating to mental health, spot warning signs and coping mechanisms, and learn how they can help friends in university who may be facing mental health challenges.

Nevertheless, Singapore churches need to improve in how they integrate the physiological and psychological with the spiritual and theological to better serve those in need, Hor asserted.

Rather than focusing on resiliencewhich is the term I tend to hear most oftenI would love to hear more conversations on building capacity and tenacity, Hor said.

Using the metaphor of a battery, he likens building capacity to increasing the battery size and building tenacity to improving the rate at which the battery recharges. Resilience, meanwhile, is the rate at which the battery drains, Hor said. To him, this is a more comprehensive framework of tackling mental health issues, where people are provided with necessary resources so that they are not at risk of having their batteries be too low for too long.

Church leaders also need to be willing to acknowledge that a youths perception of the world may be very different from theirs, and they need to pair that with loving counsel and physical help, Hor added.

We need a robust theology, we need a spiritual community, and we need that personal element of being willing to sit in the trenches with them as a stabilizing, godly presence.

Additional reporting by Isabel Ong
This week, Heather sits down with Viral Jesus Hall of Famer Esau McCaulley to discuss his powerful new book, How Far to The Promised Land? Esau explains why it is important to reexamine the idea of Black excellence, and he encourages us to remember that we are a part of a story that started long before us and will continue long after.

In this episode Heather also taps into a lighter conversation with her best friend and co-blogger Scarlett Longstreet in Safe Space, a new segment in which Heather and Scarlett discuss social media, popular culture, and other random topics. Today they discuss what its like to maintain a close friendship with someone who possesses different values.

Heather and Scarlett are very different. They dont share the same religion or ethnic background, but theyve done a good job of creating a Safe Space for both meaningful and casual conversation.

Guest Bio

Esau McCaulley is associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and theologian in residence at Progressive Baptist Church, a historically Black congregation in Chicago. His latest book, How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Familys Story of Hope and Survival in the American South, released in September 2023. He is also the author of the award-winning book Reading While Black and the childrens book Josey Johnsons Hair and the Holy Spirit. He is a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. His writings have also appeared in The Atlantic,The Washington Post, and Christianity Today.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including Ill See You Tomorrow and Its Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Additional Links

Get Heathers weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 PM EDT. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper
At least 30 Christians kidnapped from farm in Nigeria, residents say

ABUJA, Nigeria  Terrorists on Saturday kidnapped more than 30 Christians in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria, residents said.

The assailants ambushed and took the Christians away at gunpoint at about 11 a.m. as they worked on a communal farm in Chikuri, Chikun County, said area resident Victor Dabo in a text message.

Over 30 Christian farmers who were cultivating a farm have been abducted in one fell swoop, Dabo told Morning Star News. Please pray for the Chikuri Christian community.

Another resident, Dogara Peter, said his mother and sister were among those kidnapped as they worked on the farm.

The terrorists kidnapped 30 of our Christian villagers as they were working on a farm which belongs to Mr. Maikudi, an elderly member of our community, Peter told Morning Star News. My mother and sister are among those kidnapped by the terrorists. This incident has thrown our community into confusion. The terrorists are yet to contact us more than 24 hours after the abduction of our family members.

The abductions marked the third time the terrorists have invaded their traumatized community, he said. Saying the communitys last hope lay with police, other security agencies and the Nigerian government, he issued an appeal for them to rescue those held captive.

We make this appeal because we have nowhere to raise money for payment of ransom if these terrorists eventually ask us to do so, as has been the norm in the other two attacks on our community, Peter said.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people.

In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year.

Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation.  Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.
David Jeremiah: Christians have biblical mandate to 'stand with Israel,' issues prayer amid 'chaos'

Pastor and author David Jeremiah has issued a prayer in support of Israel, asking Christians to join him in praying for a spiritual hedge of protection for the Jewish state after the Iranian-backed terror group Hamas launched a surprise attack, leaving at least 1,200 Israelis dead and thousands more injured.

In a statement Tuesday, Jeremiah, head of Turning Point Ministries, said he was grieved by the attacks that have besieged the nation of Israel over the last few days.

Israel is God's chosen people, and her borders are the boundaries of the Promised Land, he said. The loss of life, the bloodshed, and the destruction of property are heartbreaking.

The pastor and author said that amid the chaos and terrorism, he is reminded of God's words to Abraham when He chose him to be the father of this great nation: "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you," (Genesis 12:3).

As Christians, we recognize God's purpose for Israel, and we must stand with her, he wrote, asking Christians to join him in petitioning the Lord on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Israel.

The psalmist tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, reads Jeremiahs prayer. So I pray for peace for Your chosen people, Israel, and their beloved city today. You have planned for Israel, provided for Israel, and protected Israel for thousands of years.

"But as in days of old, there are those today who seek to harm, even destroy, Your people. So I ask you to keep Israel in Your loving care. Put a spiritual hedge of protection around Your people and their land. Watch over this nation as a Good Shepherd watches over His flock, and may Your chosen people find their ultimate safety and security in You.

"While You watch over Your people, may Your Spirit awaken in them a hunger to embrace their Messiahthe One who died for themuntil they see His face to face. We pray this in His name, Amen.

On Oct. 7, armed Hamas militants broke through the Gaza border into Israel, launching attacks on residences, causing havoc in agricultural areas and local communities. The Islamic extremist group reportedly killed 1,200 people in the attack, and took up to 150 individuals hostage, including women, children and the elderly. The Biden administration said American citizens are among the hostages.

On Wednesday, the president told a group of Jewish leaders at the White House that he has not given up hope on bringing American hostages home from Gaza.

In response to Hamas' attacks, Israel launched airstrikes that have killed at least 1,000 Palestinians and displaced more than 200,000 people, in addition to cutting off electricity, food and fuel supplies. The IDF says access to supplies is cut off to encourage civilians to flee Hamas targets in Gaza. The Israeli government has also said Hamas puts civilians in danger by placing weapons and missile launchers in public buildings like mosques and hospitals and ordering civilians not to flee.

Some, like California-based Pastor Greg Laurie, have suggested the escalation of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in recent years could be the start of a series of events predicted centuries ago in Scripture.

Thousands of rockets rained on Israel from multiple directions, and Hamas gunmen invaded by land, sea and sky, he said in a recent sermon.  ... They went literally home to home and door to door, looking for the young and for the elderly.

Laurie cited Irans stated objective of destroying the state of Israel, adding: Interesting how it always comes back to Jerusalem. The Bible predicted, thousands of years ago, that the End Time events would revolve around Jerusalem. Not San Francisco. Not Los Angeles. Not Moscow. Not Paris.

But Jerusalem, this tiny little city, in this tiny sliver of land, will play a key role in the events of the last days. Its the focal point of End Times events.

In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Jeremiah urged Christians to be ready for the return of Christ, suggesting the world is seeing the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Theres no excuse for us, if we read the Bible, to be surprised. Because the Bible tells us that this is going to happen, The World of the End author said. He talks about the upheaval in the world that's going to take place before the Lord returns. Theres no sign of the return of Christ and the rapture, but there certainly is a prediction of the kind of season it's going to be, and I think we're living in that season right now. I believe that Christians really need to stay glued to the Scripture and not get too far away from the truth because it's pretty precarious right now.

Though the rapture is a signless event, there are some signs outlined in the Bible that point to the tumultuous season ahead of Christ's return including the prevalence of deceitfulness, wars, and rumors of wars as well as the recent global pandemic, he said.

The Bible says, Be careful that no man deceives you. Well, we live in a time when the truth is almost gone, and nobody knows what to do with that, he said. And then the Bible talks about wars and rumors of wars and all kinds of sickness and pestilence, and we just went through the COVID experience. It's the first worldwide pandemic that I've ever been a part of, and maybe the first one that was totally worldwide.

Those things get your attention, and we read about those in the Bible, he said. And when you start seeing some of those things happening in the world where you live, you should sit up and take notice.
Like a revival: UMC bishops talk of a future with hope after over 6K churches depart

United Methodist Church bishops have expressed optimism over the direction of their denomination after more than 6,400 congregations have voted to leave, with some saying the aftermath of the separation within their conferences has felt like a "revival."

The Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, a UMC megachurch headed by the Rev. Adam Hamilton, held a panel of three bishops at its Leadership Institute late last month.

Moderated by Hamilton, the panel included East Ohio Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, Florida Bishop Tom Berlin and Bishop Mande Muyombo of the Congo Central Conference.

The event comes as thousands of UMC congregations have disaffiliated in the past couple of years amid the ongoing debate within the denomination over whether to change its rules to allow for the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals. Although efforts to change the UMC Book of Discipline's stance on these issues have failed, many theological liberal leaders in the denomination have either refused to follow or enforce the denomination's rules.

Hamilton, known for his support for changing the UMC Book of Discipline, began by noting that he had heard from people whose conferences had lost between 20% and 30% of their churches, yet they were joyful and said it felt like a revival.

Malone, whose conference had 36% of its member churches (237 congregations) leave, said it did truly feel like a revival after they left the regional bodys annual meeting earlier this year.

There was a different spirit in the place, Malone recounted. It felt like everyone could breathe. There was a renewed sense of hope and excitement, and really believing that we are ready to forge ahead.

We were tired of the fighting, tired of all of the conversations being dominated by separation, disaffiliation.  People were tired, and the conference was ready and is ready and has already forged ahead.

Malone believes God is doing a new thing in the East Ohio Conference, saying that she is hearing the same things from colleagues that there is a renewed sense of hope about the UMC.

Berlin, who recently became bishop of the Florida Conference, began his remarks by quoting an elder in his regional body who told him, were going to be smaller and were going to be better.

Berlin, whose conference saw more than 100 churches leave since 2019 and is battling a lawsuit from another 71 churches over the disaffiliation," said, we finally have people who love being United Methodists all together in one place.

We have been able to release people who just werent aligned to what we desire to be, he continued. We are not in tatters, but we do have some tattered edges.

Healing can come if we will focus on what made Methodism a wonderful movement to begin with, and that is that our strength is that we taught people how to love God, how to love neighbor, and how to love themselves.

Berlin believes that the UMC has a future with hope."

"Being in a complicated church doesnt bother me," he said.

Muyombo was asked about the situation in Africa, where the UMC is growing quickly. The Congolese bishop predicted that 80% of those in his province are going to stay United Methodist.

Describing his recent conference meeting as a revival, Muyombo saw the changes of the UMC in the United States as an opportunity for the global denomination to be decolonized.

There are individuals who think that they are entitled to speak on behalf of Africans, he said. Africans have brains, Africans are educated, and Africans believe in Jesus and they read the Bible.

It is easier to write on social media, to write articles, but it is very difficult live reality.  What you have seen today is, it is not about biblical orthodoxy, it is about colonialism. It's about demeaning people. You know, the same thing you write about an African bishop, Im not sure if you can write about an American bishop.

The panelists also spoke in support of regionalizing the global UMC, pointing to such things as the Christmas Covenant, which seeks to advance legislation at UMC General Conference that would, among other things, allow different regions to hold different standards on LGBT issues.

There was also a general rejection of the claim that if the UMC changes its rules on LGBT issues, theologically conservative clergy would be forced to bless same-sex unions.

Malone saw the likely future removal of the rules as advancing freedom and reason of conscience and choice and that no one will be forced to do anything.

Berlin also rejected the notion that changing the rules would result in pastors being forced to celebrate gay marriages, stating that we dont require anybody to do any wedding.

I mean, do we really want to micromanage weddings? he said, getting a few laughs from the audience. Id quit before that happens.

According to numbers compiled by UM News, as of Wednesday, 6,410 congregations have disaffiliated from the UMC, representing about 20% of the U.S. membership of the denomination.

Of the congregations that have left, around 3,000 of them have opted to affiliate with the Global Methodist Church, a recently launched theologically conservative denomination.
Church of England House of Bishops agrees to commend prayers for same-sex couples

The Church of England's House of Bishops has agreed to commend Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples.

The controversial prayers ask for God's blessing for same-sex couples.

The Church of England is moving forward with plans to introduce the prayers after they were backed by its parliamentary body, the General Synod, in February.

The bishops met in London to discuss next steps and also agreed that structures for special services for same-sex couples based on the prayers should go forward to be formally authorized under canon law.

The proposals are to be considered at the next Synod in November, as is new pastoral guidance on how the system will operate.

Once approved, the proposals will pave the way for a process leading to the authorization of the services under Canon B2.

Dioceses will be consulted on this process before it is put to General Synod, most likely in 2025, with the plans requiring a two-thirds majority to pass.

The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, who co-chaired the steering group which has brought the proposals forward, said: "The House of Bishops' decisions today continue to implement Synod's vote to recognize publicly the commitment of same-sex couples and to pray God's blessing for them.

"They have agreed to commend Prayers of Love and Faith and also considered the best way to authorize special standalone services. Having carefully considered the legal, theological and pastoral implications of possible approaches, the bishops concluded that it would ultimately be clearer to proceed directly to consideration under Canon B2.

"We acknowledge that there are some who would like this process to move faster, however, the move to full authorization will provide clarity and wide consultation ahead of a final decision by synod in 2025.

"I know that for some, these measures go too far and, for others, not nearly far enough and the bishops discussed the need for pastoral reassurance, and for some the need for formal structural pastoral provision.

"But the heart of the gospel is reconciliation  our desire is to remain together as one Church in our uncertainty, finding ways to live well with our different perspectives and convictions."

Originally published at Christian Today.
John Piper lists 8 ways the Old Testament doesn't apply to Christians

Noted theologian and preacher John Piper recently listed eight ways he says the Old Testament doesn't apply to modern Christianity while also believing that the promises of the Hebrew Bible largely apply to the Church.

In an episode of the podcast Ask Pastor John posted last week, a listener named Maureen asked Piper, Which Old Testament verses are for me, as a Christian, today.

Sometimes I select a verse that is meaningful to me from my Bible reading in the morning. But then later in the day, as I further reflect on it, it feels like Ive lifted the verse out of context and misapplied it to myself. How, Pastor John, do I know which Old Testament promises are for me? Maureen asked.

Piper responded that, while he believed all of the Old Testament is for those who are in Christ Jesus, there were still differences between the people of God  the Church  today and the people of God  Israel  in the Old Testament, and how God relates differently to each.

Piper listed eight specific differences, beginning with how Old Testament Israel was an earthly, political nation-state, while the modern Church is a people whose citizenship is in Heaven and who are sojourners and exiles here, scattered among all the nation-states.

The second difference Piper pointed to was that Israel was a theocracy to carry out Gods punishments for those who broke His law, including capital punishment for idolatry and various other sins.

The Church is not a civil government and is not authorized as a church to carry out Gods punishments. Excommunication from the church through church discipline replaces execution through the judicial processes, Piper said.

A third difference is that Israel was basically one ethnicity while the Church is made up of all ethnicities. Piper added that practices that were designed to separate Israel from the surrounding peoples and ethnicities are done away with as requirements for Gods people.

The fourth difference Piper laid out was that while Israel had defined geographic borders and a geographic religious center, the New Testament Church has no geographic borders or religious center.

A fifth point of difference, according to Piper, was that individuals were born into ancient Israel, while people are born again into the Church.

The new covenant is entered by the miracle of Gods forgiving sins through faith and through Gods writing the law on our hearts, he explained.

Difference number six was that Israel did not have a great commission, specifically a call on members to evangelize, whereas the New Testament believers are called to evangelize.

The Old Testament religion was mainly a come and see religion, while the New Testament religion is mainly a go and tell religion, Piper said.

A seventh difference, according to Piper, was that ancient Israel had a sacrificial system in place, but that entire system was done away with when Jesus fulfilled it by becoming the final sacrifice and by acting as the final High Priest.

As a final point of difference, Piper pointed to the Holy Spirit, with the theologian saying that the people of God in the Old Testament did experience the working of the Spirit of God, but they did not experience or know the Spirit as the indwelling Spirit of the risen Christ.

Today, we know the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Christ. He works in His Church, therefore, in a way that he did not work in the Old Testament, because the Church is His body, the body of the risen Christ, he added.

Despite the key differences, Piper added: We can take any text in the Old Testament and make it our own by treating it as fulfilled in Christ, with the necessary changes implied in those points.

In May 2018, megachurch Pastor Andy Stanley garnered controversy when said in a sermon that Christians needed to "unhitch" the Old Testament from their faith.

Stanley referenced Acts 15, in which the leaders of the early Church decided that Gentile converts did not need to strictly observe Jewish law to become Christians.

"[First century] Church leaders unhitched the Church from the worldview, value system and regulations of the Jewish Scriptures," said Stanley. "Peter, James, Paul elected to unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish Scriptures, and my friends, we must as well."

Critics, among them Messianic Jewish author and radio host Michael Brown, argued that throughout the New Testament, Gentile believers were called to live holy lives, based on Old Testament teaching.

Pastor Stanley forgets that the Old Testament also tells us the story of Israel, including Israels blessed future, wrote Brown at the time.

Cut out the Old Testament, and you cut out much of Israels destiny, which all believers should understand. Cut out the Old Testament, and you also cut out the destiny of the nations.

For his part, Stanley told Brown in an interview in July 2018 that he still considered the Old Testament inerrant, and that his comments were centered more toward an audience that does not trust the Bible.

I told my kids growing up, if anyone ever asks you, 'Do you believe Adam and Eve are real people?' here is how you are to answer: do not say 'yes' because the Bible says Adam and Eve were real people, Stanley said.

"You say this: 'I believe Adam and Eve were historical characters because Jesus did. And when somebody predicts their own death and resurrection and pulls it off, I go with whatever they say.'"
Police officer involved in death of deacon returning home from Bible study is fired

Kiran Kimbrough, a police officer who used a Taser that triggered the death of 62-year-old Johnny Hollman, who served as chairman of the deacon board at The Lively Stones of God Ministries Church in Atlanta, Georgia, in August, has been fired as the ministers family and supporters continue to demand his prosecution.

The decision to fire Kimbrough comes just days after an autopsy report concluded that the deacons death was a homicide.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum announced in a statement Tuesday that Kimbrough was fired because he violated standard operating procedure when he failed to have a supervisor on the scene prior to proceeding with the physical arrest after the deacon refused to sign a citation after causing an accident.

Every single person and life in the city of Atlanta matters to me, Schierbaum said. Part of my job is to assess, evaluate, and adjust how this police department is carrying out its sworn mission to serve and protect the citizens of this city. I understand the difficult and dangerous job that our officers do each and every day throughout the city. I do not arrive at these decisions lightly. Only after a diligent review of all of the facts, while ensuring the due process of our officers, do I arrive at my decision."

The APD previously reported that Hollmans death stemmed from a motor vehicle accident on the night of Aug. 10, at Cunningham Place and Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. in Southwest Atlanta. Investigators say an officer who was later identified as Kimbrough was dispatched to the scene at approximately 11:20 p.m.

After he arrived at the scene, Kimbrough determined that the deacon was at fault for the accident and attempted to issue a traffic citation to him. Hollman, who was reportedly on his way home from a Bible study at his church, became agitated and uncooperative. When Kimbrough then tried to arrest the deacon, a struggle erupted on the scene. After a few minutes of struggling with the deacon, Kimbrough fired his Taser and then placed the 62-year-old in handcuffs with the help of a witness.

Kimbrough later realized that the deacon had become unresponsive after he was placed in handcuffs and called EMS to the scene. Hollman was later taken to Grady Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

With Kimbroughs firing, Hollman's family and their lawyers are now lobbying Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to release the footage from the officers bodycam showing the moments leading up to the deacons death.

"We believe that what we witnessed in that five minutes that we were shown was murder, that it was unjustifiable homicide," Mawuli Davis, an attorney for Hollman's family who viewed the footage, told USA TODAY.

Hollman's daughter, Arnitra Hollman, who also saw the video, says she wants the world to see what happened to her father.

"I want it to be known. I want the world to see it," she told the publication.

Kimbroughs attorney, Lance LoRusso, told USA TODAY that his client maintains he did nothing wrong.

"Officer K. Kimbrough vehemently denies any wrongdoing or policy violations in connection with the investigation, detention, and arrest of Mr. Johnny Hollman, LoRusso said. He will appeal his termination reportedly predicated upon his failure to call for a supervisor when Mr. Hollman refused to sign a lawfully issued citation as he was legally obligated to do."
SBC leaders spearhead Evangelical statement in support of Israel, condemn Hamas attacks

Southern Baptist Convention leaders took the lead in releasing a statement backed by dozens of Evangelical leaders condemning attacks by Hamas that have killed hundreds of Israelis and expressed their support for Israel's "right and duty to defend itself against further attack."

On Wednesday, the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission released a statement condemning the terrorist attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead since Oct. 7 and prompted Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 1,055 in Gaza.

"In the wake of the evil and indefensible atrocities now committed against the people of Israel by Hamas, we, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the violence against the vulnerable, fully support Israel's right and duty to defend itself against further attack, and urgently call all Christians to pray for the salvation and peace of the people of Israel and Palestine," the statement began.

"While our theological perspectives on Israel and the Church may vary, we are unified in calling attacks against Jewish people especially troubling as they have been often targeted by their neighbors since God called them as His people in the days of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)."

Since the inception of the modern state of Israel in 1948, "it has faced numerous attacks, incursions, and violations of its national sovereignty," the statement notes.

"The Jewish people have long endured genocidal attempts to eradicate them and to destroy the Jewish state. These antisemitic, deadly ideologies and terrorist actions must be opposed," it reads, calling Israel a unique democratic presence in a region largely governed by authoritarian regimes.

The leaders believe the attack emphasizes the need to support Israel's existence.

"In keeping with Christian Just War tradition, we also affirm the legitimacy of Israel's right to respond against those who have initiated these attacks as Romans 13 grants governments the power to bear the sword against those who commit such evil acts against innocent life," the statement continues.

The leaders urged U.S. policymakers to address terrorism and governments to act against it to safeguard the innocent.

Signatories include SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Brent Leatherwood, SBC President Bart Barber, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, SBC Executive Committee Interim President Jonathan Howe and ERLC President Emeritus Richard Land, who is also executive editor of The Christian Post.

The statement was also backed by former SBC Presidents Ronnie Floyd, Jack Graham, J.D. Greear, Steve Gaines, Ed Litton, Fred Luter, James Merritt and Bryant Wright.

Evangelical leaders outside the SBC also signed the statement, including California megachurch Pastor Greg Laurie, Awana President Matt Markins, Colorado Christian University Chancellor Don Sweeting, Alliance Defending Freedom CEO Kristen Waggoner and Institute for Religion and Democracy President Mark Tooley.

Land, who strongly encourages others to sign the statement, commends the ERLC for taking the lead in producing the statement.

"It was important to swiftly release a statement condemning the attacks given the barbarism and the savagery of the terrorist organization's actions," he said.

Land, who served as head of SBC's policy arm from 1988 until 2013, voiced his solidarity with the Jewish community, which he said had been distressed by the lack of global outrage.

"I've been contacted by several of my Jewish friends. And they're disturbed," Land said. "They're very concerned that there hasn't been more outrage and there hasn't been more condemnation of these atrocious acts."

"Hamas is a terrorist organization," he continued. "They don't want to negotiate with the Israelis. Hamas wants to drive the Jews into the sea and eradicate them. They are promoting genocide. They're even worse than the Nazis because at least the Nazis tried to hide what they were doing. Hamas is promoting what they're doing. Israel has every right to defend itself against the savagery.

"We've heard people talking about the clash of civilizations between Islam and Christianity. This is not a clash of civilizations. This is a clash between civilization and barbarism," he said.

Land, who is also president emeritus of Southern Seminary in North Carolina, criticized attempts by some to draw a moral equivalency between Israel and Hamas, stressing that such equivalences are misplaced and indicate a "demagnetized" moral compass.

He called upon U.S. policymakers to provide Israel with the necessary means to defend itself.

"They're not asking us for any troops," he said. "They're just asking us for the means with which to defend themselves against these atrocious kinds of attacks."

"It's important that we stand in solidarity with our Jewish friends," he added. "This is barbarism, as low as it gets. Civilization just must not put up with it."

The statement also highlighted the plight of Jewish and Palestinian believers in Christ who find themselves caught in the conflict's crossfire and encouraged them to stay faithful in the face of persecution.

"[W]e recognize the dignity and personhood of all persons living in the Middle East and affirm God's love for them as well as His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ to all people," it said.

"We also recognize the difficult ministry of Jewish and Palestinian believers who labor for the Gospel. We pray for their protection and for God's blessing on their gospel ministry."

Land cited Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

"We all want our brothers and sisters in Christ to know that we are praying for them, whether you're a Palestinian Christian or you're a Jewish Christian," he said. "We're praying for you as brothers and sisters in Christ."
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We just continually kept praying: Tennessee church group arrives home safely from Israel

A group of about 50 people who traveled to Israel on a trip hosted by a Tennessee church and were in the country as the Hamas attack began last weekend has safely arrived back home in the United States.

Sunnyside Baptist Church of Kingsport welcomed the group this week, with local media outlet WCYB covering the reunion of the travelers when they met family and friends back home.

Angie Baker, a member of Sunnyside Baptist who was on the Middle East trip, told The Christian Post that the trip had been planned for almost a year with the hope of seeing where "Jesus lived and walked."

"We wanted to see, experience and learn more about those places. Our biggest intent for the trip was to help us better visualize and understand the context of our scriptures," Baker said.

When the Hamas attacks on Israel's southern border began last Saturday, her tour group was at the historic of Masada, the ancient stronghold near Jerusalem where, in the first century, a group of Jewish rebels were besieged by a Roman army and eventually committed mass suicide.

"We were gathered together listening to our tour guide explain some of the things we were seeing in relation to King Herod and the buildings he had built on the grounds," she recounted.

"During this time, we heard a single, loud boom. Our tour guide's phone began to get text messages immediately. Another tour guide came up, and they spoke to each other in their native language."

After having lunch and boarding the tour bus, the group learned that something "unprecedented in nature" had happened and that they were returning to their hotel pending more information.

"The national parks, the Dead Sea entrance and other sites were closing all over the area. People were leaving their businesses and returning to their homes," said Baker. "Over the next two days, we were very limited in where we could go and how long we could stay."

Comparing the "atmosphere" to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Baker said they were primarily confined to the hotel and instructed to be ready to leave immediately, noting that everyone around her was "somber, worried and unsure."

"Our tour guide and travel company kept consistently communicating that they thought we would be able to keep our scheduled flight on Oct. 10. We just continually kept praying for that to be God's will for our group," said Baker.

"Under the supervision of our tour guides, we left our hotel for the Tel Aviv airport a little before 3 a.m. We were able to keep that scheduled flight, flying Turkish Airlines from Tel Aviv to Istanbul and then from Istanbul to Atlanta, where our chartered bus was waiting to take us all home to Kingsport."

Baker told CP that she and her group "were relieved and very thankful" for their safe journey.

"We were amazed to find out how many people had been involved in praying for us," she said.

When they pulled back into their church parking lot, Baker said there were people there who welcomed them upon their return.

"[T]he joy we felt was overwhelming," she said. "While we were never really afraid because we knew that God was faithful, we were anxious and stressed, and when we got on the bus to Atlanta, we were all very joyful to be in our bus seat bound for home."

Last weekend, the Palestinian Islamic terrorist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war and Israel engaged in ongoing retaliatory strikes, killing over 1,000.

The attack on Israel drew widespread outrage from Western powers. The Biden administration released a joint statement, along with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, denouncing the "appalling acts of terrorism" committed by Hamas.

"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 joint statement reads.

"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."
White House walks back Biden remarks about seeing images of beheaded Israeli children John Kirby unaware of any 'proof of life' for 17 missing Americans

The White House has retracted President Joe Biden's earlier statements about having seen images of Israeli children beheaded by Hamas terrorists, and a White House spokesperson said there is no "proof of life" for Americans unaccounted for in Israel.

President Biden told a roundtable of Jewish leaders at the White House on Wednesday that he never thought he would see or have "confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children."

"It matters that Americans see what's happening. I've been doing this a long time. I never really thought that I would see, have confirmed, pictures of terrorists beheading children," Biden said in his remarks.

The White House later clarified that neither Biden nor any other U.S. officials had independently verified such images, The Times of Israel reported Wednesday.

The White House said the president based his comments on claims from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman and media reports from Israel.

This clarification comes on the heels of reports of a massacre of children in the Israeli Kfar Aza settlement near the border with Gaza, with an on-the-ground reporter from i24News reporting that Israel's military discovered the bodies of over 40 babies killed, some of whom were beheaded.

Dozens of dead civilians were found in the village; some burned beyond recognition. Another kibbutz, Kerem Shalom, also reported the killing of children, with the Israel Defense Forces releasing photographs of a child's bed covered in blood, according to The Telegraph.

Biden described the attack, which has claimed at least 1,200 Israeli lives, as the "deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust." Israeli soldiers at the scene compared the murders to the Nazi pogroms of the Second World War.

While live on CNN Monday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby struggled to speak, stating, "These are human beings. They're family members. They're friends."

Biden also expressed his emotional turmoil, stating that the core of every human being has a spark of decency that needs to be touched and spoken to.

The White House confirmed that 22 Americans had been killed since Hamas attacked Israel last Saturday. At a press briefing Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that 17 Americans remain unaccounted for.

"We know that these numbers are likely to increase in the days ahead," she said.

When asked about the condition or whereabouts of the American hostages, Kirby told reporters he was unaware of "any specific proof of life on any individual hostage."

Biden also said he was doing "a lot" to free hostages held by Hamas, including Americans, but did not reveal any details, according to ABC News.

The U.S. is reportedly in discussion with countries like Qatar that have lines of communication with Hamas. Kirby indicated that there was not enough information to make decisions like sending American forces into Gaza to secure the release of hostages.

According to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter, allies and partners in the Middle East in communication with Hamas are being helpful in advocating for the release of the hostages, ABC News reports. However, despite these diplomatic efforts, Hamas has shown no willingness to negotiate up to this point.

Biden also emphasized the importance of Israel operating by the "rules of war," adding that he had spoken over the phone with Netanyahu and pledged U.S. support.
Christians, let's vote for educational changes in 2024

People are beginning to understand that education is the most critical domestic policy issue facing our country. This is why education policy decisions both past and promised could shape the 2024 presidential election.

Much like the promises to end Common Core in the 2016 presidential election, this years Republican candidates are promising to end indoctrination in government schools. I think we will see all 2024 presidential candidates promise to fix education, but some of us wonder if government schools are redeemable.

During the first Republican presidential debate, the candidates had stern remarks regarding education, with DeSantis leading in his defense of parents and highlighting the Nations Report Card being the worst in history. Ramaswamy said education was the civil rights issue of our time, while Scott and Christie had vicious remarks about teachers unions. Four candidates called for closing the U.S. Department of Education, as has former president Trump, which is the mission of the organization I lead.

During the second topic-packed debate, education came up again. Haley reminded people that 67% of our children are not ready for the next step in their lives. Christie, Pence, Haley and Burgum all repeated the need to move education out of the federal government back to the states. DeSantis, Pence and Christie all promoted school choice. Notably, Tim Scott promoted the idea proposed by U.S. Parents Involved in Education of increasing the federal child tax credit, letting parents keep their own money if their children are not enrolled in government schools.

Even Democrats are beginning to see the writing on the wall, evidenced by a new Democrat poll that shows Democrats lost their historic lead on education in battleground states. Democrats for Education Reform released polling results last month showing that Democrats ceded trust on education to Republicans as voters note concerns over lingering pandemic learning loss. This trust is likely misguided whereas Republicans failed miserably to address the ongoing education crisis in America when they had control of the White House and Congress.

Both parties like to blame COVID shutdowns for the continued downward spiral in academic achievement that began in 2014 as seen in test scores by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Experts and informed parents battled from 2010 through 2013 to strip states of the faulty Common Core Standards pushed on states by the federal government. Common Core opponents predicted the academic decline we have witnessed from the time the standards were fully implemented, which aligns with the steady waning shown in NAEP scores. The dramatic decline of test scores didnt start with COVID shutdowns (although it certainly exasperated the problem).

Common Core destroys a childs foundational education with K-3 standards that are developmentally inappropriate; it frustrates students and parents with unproven fuzzy math and shifts reading from classic literature to informational text (dry, boring technical documents and liberal propaganda). When you add the recent sexualization of children causing them to doubt their biological sex, (often without parental knowledge or consent), the anti-American ideology that is teaching children to hate themselves, others and their country, and the false history that stems from the notion that our country is systemically racist, the reality of American education becomes very clear. Government schools have become untenable.

Voters  not just parents  want to restore parental and local control of education. They are fed up with those who have an intentional agenda to change our countrys form of government through the minds of American children. The liberal takeover of colleges of education now spills over into K-12 classrooms and has destroyed Americas government schools.

United States Parents Involved in Education is sounding the alarm for freedom-loving Americans. You can no longer sit on the sidelines and wish our country was like it used to be when we could trust local schools to reflect our values and kids were taught patriotism. Americans must join the fight and educate themselves about how their tax dollars (hundreds of billions) are being spent to turn children against this nation. The first step is to access reputable resources that expose the insidious pedagogies being propagated on young children. The next step is connecting with the future leaders of America and others who want to end the use.

It is vital that Americans become aware of what is going on in Americas school system and are ready and able to make educated votes in the upcoming elections. Our freedom  and the countrys future  depends on it.
Thoughts on leftwing support for Hamas and radical Islam

Have you ever wondered why leftists, including radical feminists and LGBTQ+ activists and their allies, support Hamas? The reality is that radical feminists protesting for their rights in Gaza would either be jailed on the spot or killed. As for a gay pride event in Gaza, the very thought of it is ludicrous. That would likely be the last public event of the participants lives.

Why, then, the great support for Hamas? Even an immodestly dressed woman in Gaza would be subject to immediate punishment, potentially including a beating on the spot.

In contrast, Israel has a very strong feminist base, while Tel Aviv was voted the worlds most gay-friendly city. As for immodesty, Israel has plenty of it. (Im not proud of this. Im just stating the facts.)

A 2019 article in Haaretz was titled, Pride and Prejudice: The Hellish Life of Gazas LGBTQ Community. Four gay men and one woman tell Haaretz what life is really like in a homophobic society where pretending to be straight is often a matter of survival.

Yet so many on the left demonize Israel and glorify Hamas. Why?

The top panel of a meme shows four people standing proudly behind a Queers for Palestine flag, representing the Sydney based USYD Queer Action Collectiv [sic]. The bottom panel is titled Queers in Palestine, showing a stripped man being dragged through the street by a motorcycle.

Why, then the queer support for Palestine, let alone for Hamas?

Kylie Jenner had the temerity to share a pro-Israel post following the unprecedented barbaric slaughter on Saturday, but she took it down within the hour. How dare she be so one-sided. How dare she show friendship with Israel when her friend Bella Hadid was Palestinian. She crossed the forbidden line.

But ask the question of where Kylie and millions of her followers would prefer to live if they were given the choice in real life circumstances, and Israel, not Gaza and not the West Bank would be their overwhelming choice.

Why, then, so much leftwing support for terrorists like Hamas?

The simple answer is that Hamas is antisemitic, and antisemitism is part of the spirit of the age, the mentality of what the New Testament calls the world. Darkness is drawn to darkness.

And this is the primary thing that unites the leftwing supporters of Hamas: latent (or flagrant) antisemitism, often disguised as staunch anti-Zionism. This shared hatred (or, at the least, severely critical, totally unbalanced attitude towards Israel) overrides all the other issues.

Thats why it is no surprise that, as reported by the Daily Mail, 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.

Yes, as the nation of Israel grieves the most horrific slaughter of Jewish people on any one day since the Holocaust, 31 (count them!) Harvard organizations give shade to the murderers and, on some level, blame the victims.

As for the Islamist supporters of Hamas (and, more broadly, those maligning Israel at this moment as they side with the Palestinians), its not long before the Hitler connection manifests itself.

A sickening video from Australia shows a crowd of pro-Palestinian Muslims chanting Gas the Jews as they stand on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

A Muslim woman at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York on Sunday (while the corpses of slaughtered Israelis were still being discovered) held up a picture of a swastika on her cell phone. And while not all protesters shared these sentiments, all too many did.

Notice also that the crowd in Sydney was not shouting, Gas the Israelis, which would have been horrific enough. They were chanting, Gas the Jews, since in their mind, all Jews are guilty. Sound familiar? (They also chanted F--- the Jews.)

But this should come as no surprise.

After all, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, became a confidant of Hitler, united largely by their shared hatred of the Jews. Israel was their common enemy, uniting a Middle Eastern Muslim and an Aryan supremacist German.

Hatred can bring unity too  a unity that destroys.

An August 2022 report on Mediate noted that The New York Times has come under fire for hiring freelancers who praised Adolf Hitler and the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas.

A videographer, Soliman Hijjy, has a history of praising Hitler, who was responsible for the deaths of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust.

In 2012, Hijjy posted on Facebook, How great you are Hitler.

In 2018, Hijjy posted on Facebook, And Im in tune like Hitler during the [H]olocaust  May Allah have mercy on you 

Also in 2018, Hijjy lauded Hamas firing rockets from Gaza toward Israel as resistance.

A photographer, Hosam Salem, has a history of praising terrorism against Israel.

In a 2011 Facebook post, he applauded a bus bombing in Jerusalem.

But of course. The demonic spirit that impelled the Nazis impels radical, Jew-hating Muslims as well.

Clear enough?
When being affirming isn't loving

Two events of the last week witness to a significant shift in the times in which we live. The first is a sermon by megachurch Evangelical pastor Andy Stanley that seemed to concede ground to gay partnerships within the Church. The second is a worryingly ambiguous comment from Pope Francis on the possibility of blessing same-sex unions.

In his Sunday sermon at North Point Community Church, Stanley responded to criticism that he had held a conference that featured gay-affirming speakers. He stated that North Point continues to teach that marriage is between a man and a woman, but that if gay Christians choose to marry, in response, we draw circles, we dont draw lines. In a letter published Monday, the pope reaffirmed that the Church does not recognize gay marriages, but added that we cannot be judges who only deny, reject, and exclude, and that 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.



While it is inappropriate to speculate on the motives in each case, one thing both Stanley and the pope appear to share is a commitment to the therapeutic anthropology that pervades modern Western society and the implicit assumption that any significant challenge to this from a traditional Christian perspective is unloving or bigoted. Affirming people in their sexual and gender identities seems to be the order of the day and, as with the pope and Andy Stanley, pastoral strategy must therefore be developed in isolation from (and, arguably, in opposition to) traditional Christian teaching. The ethic of love as feeling rather than love as directing to the truth is strong.

Two things stand out at this point. First, Stanley and the pope seem to have missed something very basic: Christian pastoral strategy cannot be developed in isolation from Christian anthropology. Both the question of sexual identity and the politics that surround it are not primarily concerned with sexual behavior. They are actually about what it means to be a human being. For Christians, far more is therefore at stake in this debate than the question of which sexual acts are moral and which are immoral. Once sex becomes recreation and once it is detached from the bodys own sexual script, what it means to be human has fundamentally changed. Sexual complementarity, the telos of marriage, and the analogy between Christ and the Church all lose their significance.

In a society like ours, therefore, how we think about what it means to be human has undergone a significant change. The anthropology of modern Western society is fundamentally incompatible with a Christian doctrine of man. Failure to see this and then try to argue that codes of sexual morality are negotiable and can be subordinated to pastoral strategies of love and affirmation is to contradict central tenets of the Christian faith.

Second, the emergence within the orthodox church of voices prepared to identify Christian teaching and practice as the problem in this area may seem edgy and prophetic to those involved  Didnt the Church get slavery wrong?  but in reality it is as unprophetic as is possible. The Church has always had  and needed  prophets because she is a fallible institution made up of fallible people. And yes she has made some terrible mistakes, not least with the matter of slavery. But what is interesting today is the inverted role of the modern prophet. While Isaiah and his colleagues saw their task as calling the people away from the anthropology of the wider world and back to that of the covenant God, todays prophets seem to see their task as being religious mouthpieces for the priorities of the wider culture, calling the Church away from a Christian anthropology and toward that of the world around. It is one thing to have The New York Times, The Atlantic, and MSNBC pointing to the Churchs teaching as problematic because it will not recite the liturgy of the world. It is quite another thing to have Christians effectively proffer precisely the same criticism of brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prophets warn the Church when she is too close to the world. They do not go to the world to tell the pundits that the Church is not worldly enough. The popes ambiguity and Stanleys casuistry serve only to embolden the representatives of the pseudo-prophetic industry of Christian leaders who delight in telling the world that, yes, the Church really is the problem.

The rhetoric of the Christians who blame the Church for our current problems will likely become more pungent, encouraged by these recent moves of Francis and Andy Stanley. And it will no doubt prosper in an environment where the term culture warrior is now routinely applied by those same pseudo-prophets only to those who wish to maintain standards of public behavior and decency at previous levels and not to those who have initiated an active war against them.

The Churchs track record on framing its theology in terms of the anthropology of the surrounding culture is a tragic one. It led many of her branches to support slavery in the 19th century. That should stand as a warning to those who would place the tastes of the day at the heart of their pastoral and theological strategy. Today, the therapeutic anthropology of sexual identity and authenticity dominates the culture. It is worrying indeed that influential voices within the Church are helping to create the rhetorical and pastoral approach that will serve only to further marginalize those who seek to minister faithfully to this generation.

For all her faults, the Church is ultimately the solution. Conforming her to the world can only be part of the problem.

Originally published at First Things.
I weep for Israel but no tears will be shed for truly evil Hamas

Jewish academic and Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster comments on the despicable terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas on Israel.

On Tuesday November 6, 2007, in my home at the top of Mt Carmel, Haifa, Israel, I reviewed an article on Telos Journal about Jew hatred by a little-known German author, Matthias Kuntzel.

Why on earth should I be doing such a thing? I had heard from English journalists and others that Leeds University had just rescinded their invitation to this German writer when he arrived on the premises to give his invited talk. The subject? The direct and indisputable relationship between Hamas and Hitler.

Leeds University, at that time (but certainly not now) one of the only three universities that were not complete hell-holes for Jewish students in the UK, had invited the German author and knew the subject matter beforehand, before suddenly cancelling their invitation. When I contacted them from the top of Mount Carmel, they prevaricated: first, it was supposedly two Muslim students who had made vague objections on no grounds whatsoever. Then it was that there was apparently a security risk. So, in fact, nothing at all. Just a panicked reaction to a nothing situation.

As a result of my blog posting and the fact that I posted his entire article on my blog - as apparently no media outlet would - the German author gained recognition and won a prestigious prize. No doubt Telos Journal was overjoyed and we all slept more safely in our beds that night.

And now the editor of the Jewish Chronicle has published his new book on hatred of Israel, making full use of Kuntzel's findings, which had been in the public domain for a long time before that in any case. Everyone in the field knew the facts, but for some reason suppressed the truth. 'Community cohesion' and all that, of course.

And now, 16 years later, what is the state of play when the Jewish people have suffered not only their second Shoah, but also their second Kishinev pogrom? As Israel's national poet, Chaim Nachman Bialik, wrote in his masterpiece, 'In the City of Slaughter' (1903), on viewing the aftermath of the Kishinev pogrom which drove the Jews of Russia to the USA, Israel and England (where the English Chief Rabbi at the time tried to prevent their entry):

'Arise and go now to the city of slaughter,

Into its courtyard wind thy way.

There, with thine own hand touch, and with the eyes of thine head,

Behold on tree, on stone, on fence, on mural clay,

The spattered blood and dried brains of the dead.

Proceed thence to the ruins, the split walls reach,

Where wider grows the hollow, and greater grows the breach;

Pass over the shattered hearth, attain the broken wall

Whose burnt and barren brick, whose charred stones reveal,

The open mouths of such wounds, that no mending

Shall ever mend, nor healing ever heal .....'

Yes, our greatest modern poet, writing in Hebrew, got it in one. Bialik anticipated the Simchat Torah War by exactly 120 years.

For doesn't it state in Kohelet (Ecclesiastes in English), which we read last Saturday in its entirety on Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah in Israel, as babies were being decapitated and burnt alive by an animal enemy:

'Everything has an appointed season and there is a time for every matter under the heaven.

A time to give birth and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot that which is planted

A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break and a time to build.

A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time of wailing and a time of dancing.

A time to cast stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to seek and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to cast away.

A time to rend and a time to sew. A time to be silent and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.'

But this is mere therapy, a very English pursuit, where everything is down to your mood and if only you reshaped your perspective, things would get better. Sadly, that is the Oxford and Cambridge way of looking at things. It is the condescending BBC-speak and the condoning and encouragement of the destruction of the world as we know it.

As someone with an extensive network of friends, family - including both my daughters and grandchildren - and associates in Israel, I am well aware of what is going on and it must be said that there are some aid agencies, church charities, and broadcasters that are spreading disinformation.

I can't speak for Israel as I'm not there at present and I can't speak for the Jewish people, because no-one would dare at such a moment, but what I can do is speak truth to power and tell this readership that if you are praying in any way that is supportive of Hamas or what it is doing, it is the same as praying for Hitler, ISIS or for the Tohu and Bohu of the first lines of Genesis that we read this week, for the formlessness and void that we are currently experiencing.

And no, as Rabbi Angel of New York has put it so succinctly, we may all be made in the image of G-d, but that is in potential only. This does not mean that every single person develops their potential, and Hamas is definitely not in the image of G-d. Their actions are a crime against humanity and of Amalek, forces of evil who have to be wiped out altogether. Not doing so would be cowardly and, I believe, a sin against G-d.

Furthermore, some Christians reading this article must come to terms with the fact that their theology is sadly lacking in this area and damaging to the G-d whom they worship because the so-called even-handed approach (just like the Pope in the Shoah) is actually going against G-d's law and the law of the universe at this moment in time, and is actually destroying the Jewish people as we speak.

Despite Biden's speech - the best and most sincere I have heard in person since Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' - yes, despite what can only be called the leader of the free world's true Churchillian moment and a great leap forward, rest assured that there is still the Iran option. Hamas is simply, like Hezbollah, a proxy of Iran, and that country must surely have provided the intelligence that led to Hamas in Gaza, on the most joyful day of the Jewish year, decapitating Jewish babies and burning them alive. Iran is in receipt of billions of dollars to do with as it will, and the UK and Europe are part of the problem.

It must also be recognised that certain media organisations, together with parts of the Church, universities, the Left, unions and chattering classes are in general, by their actions, destroying the entire world. There is no choice, no option. Evil does exist; it is in the world, sin does crouch by the door, as it says in Genesis chapter 4. It desires to have us, but we must rule over it.

I am among those who feel that the BBC is no longer fit for purpose and should be shut down or else replaced with something else. And I would caution against donations to projects based in Gaza unless you can be certain that the money is not going to end up propping up Hamas, be it directly or indirectly, and therefore inadvertently Iran.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams sent me these thoughts following Hamas' attack:

'There should be no ambiguity about describing Hamas's incursion into Israel as a calculated act of terror, long-planned and tied in with Iran's regional ambitions. The taking of hostages, along with the random slaughter of Israeli civilians, is a barbarity. It is one thing to long passionately for a durable and just settlement for Palestinians, quite another to pretend that Hamas's action is anything but a cynically calculated outrage that will bring more suffering to those who most need hope. Attacking and undermining Israel with this kind of savagery is a disastrous strategy for the region  as well as for Jews throughout the world. A future determined by Hamas and its allies would be a nightmare for all.'

The former Archbishop and so many other Anglican clergy and dialogue group members have told me that they dedicated their church services at the weekend to the people of Israel. And I received this warming message:

'Dear Irene

'I am shocked and saddened and horrified, by turns, by what is now happening in Israel - and I know that our colleagues and fellow-campaigners are as well.

'I wanted to write to say how much we are all thinking of you. We are worrying in particular because of your family members who are there, as well as, of course, your many friends and acquaintances and other loved ones who have found themselves on a 'front line' through no fault of their own.

'We also know just how intensely you must feel the attacks on the land and nation of Israel and how powerless we all feel to influence what is a pointless, meaningless and unbearable situation.

'Our best wishes and deepest commiseration.'

It meant a lot as it was sent on behalf of a group of people with whom I'm working at present on a project close to all our hearts. I have never met them and they are all top in their fields, without probably having ever visited Israel.

To finish, funds to Israel would be much appreciated, because the normal aid agencies here and other organisations sadly discriminate openly and brazenly against the Jewish community on the ground. My daughter and son-in-law in the north were doing what they could to help, opening the synagogue to refugees and running around providing food, drink and packages for soldiers stationed there, despite having temporarily to go into a bunker for their own safety. Rabbis have opened their arms to all Israel, irrespective of who they are, observant or not, have visited the front lines, and of course those in hospitals, as well as grieving families.

Incidentally, as I finish this, a message has arrived informing us that security has had to be increased around our synagogue here in Greater Manchester due to the present risk to Jews. At what price interfaith dialogue now?
Orthodox Anglicans grieved over 'disastrous decision' to commend same-sex blessings

Orthodox Anglicans have voiced dismay over Monday's decision by the House of Bishops in the Church of England to agree in principle to commending Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples.

In a statement, the network said that the House of Bishops had "betrayed their office" and their consecration vows to protect the flock.

The bishops "are not fit for office" and "stand under judgement", they said.

The statement was issued jointly by Bishop Andy Lines, of the Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE); Bishops Stuart Bell and Ian Ferguson, of the Anglican Convocation Europe (ACE); and Bishops Tim Davies and Lee McMunn, of the Anglican Mission in Europe (AMiE).

"This action is offensive to the God of love. It replaces his wonderful gospel of grace with a distorted message, blessing what God calls sin. This is heart-breaking, wicked and outrageously arrogant," the statement continued.

"Together the House of Bishops have embraced heresy by departing from the clear teaching of Scripture on matters of sexual conduct. As a result, they have betrayed their office."

The bishops added that it was "seriously misleading and distorted" to appeal for reconciliation among Anglicans without repentance.

"To appeal to the cross as the grounds to 'remain together as one Church in our uncertainty', and, as a reason for embracing sin and failing to call for repentance, is an astonishing and blasphemous corruption of the grace of Christ and an entirely different gospel," they said.

The statement called for repentance from the House of Bishops and urged orthodox bishops to "publicly dissent and distance themselves" from other bishops backing "these dangerous prayers".

"We continue to pray for our faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England as they weep, resist this apostasy and trust our Sovereign Lord," the statement ended.

Eleven members of the House of Bishops have since expressed their dissent. They are the Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North; the Bishop of Chichester, Martin Warner; the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Rob Munro; the Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson; the Bishop of Hereford, Richard Jackson; the Bishop of Islington, Ric Thorpe; the Bishop of Lancaster, Jill Duff; the Bishop of Oswestry, Paul Thomas; the Bishop of Rochester, Jonathan Gibbs; the Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox; the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, Paul Williams.
The CEEC responds to bishops' dissent on Prayers of Love and Faith

A response from Rev Canon John Dunnett, National Director of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), to the letter by 11 Church of England bishops dissenting from the House of Bishop's announcement on Monday commending Prayers of Love and Faith for same-sex couples and a process towards their authorisation under canon law:

I am very grateful to these bishops for critiquing the process by which the House of Bishops is pursuing their agenda for change.

It is not very often that bishops from the House of Bishops express their dis-ease at something being proposed by the rest of the House. The statement is significant because of what it says.

First, they name the deep disagreement that exists within the House of Bishops. To publicly acknowledge that is significant, given the seismic changes the House of Bishops is pursuing.

Second, they raise a question about the legitimacy of these proposals and the possibility that they are indicative of a departure from Church of England doctrine.

A specific point they make is that the legal and theological advice that the House of Bishops has received may not support the employment of these prayers.

In other words, they could be indicative of a departure from the doctrine in the Church of England. That's a massively significant concern.

Third, they talk about the bishops needing to have 'due regard to the obligations of good and proper governance'. In other words, this letter is saying that how the House of Bishops makes decisions matters as well as the decisions made.

One of the things we've been talking about for several years in the Church of England is the need to 'pay attention to power'.

There must be proper and fit use of power, not misuse and abuse of power. I wonder if there's a hint here that good process in respect of the use of power has not always been at the top of the agenda.

I share with the signatories the deep desire that we remain true to the gospel as entrusted to us.
Microsoft is planning to appeal a claim of $28.9 billion in back taxes that it has received from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the company said on Wednesday.

The Notices of Proposed Adjustment were received on September 26, related to intercompany pricing or transfer pricing, Microsoft said in a regulatory filing. The IRS is seeking an additional tax payment of $28.9 billion, plus penalties and interest for the period between 2004 and 2013.

As of September 30, 2023, we believe our allowances for income tax contingencies are adequate, the company said. We disagree with the proposed adjustments and will vigorously contest the Notices of Proposed Adjustment (NOPAs) through the IRSs administrative appeals office and, if necessary, judicial proceedings.

Intercompany pricing or transfer pricing is a way for companies to allocate their profits between their operations in different countries and jurisdictions.

The IRS claims that Microsoft may have breached its prescribed regulations for transfer pricing.

Many large multinationals use cost-sharing because it reflects the global nature of their business. Because our subsidiaries shared in the costs of developing certain intellectual property, under those IRS cost-sharing regulations, the subsidiaries were also entitled to the related profits, Daniel Goff, Microsofts corporate vice president of worldwide tax and customs, wrote in a blog post that was attached to the SEC filing.
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The chair of the Charity Commission, Orlando Fraser, has criticised those who demonise international development charities who work lawfully.

Fraser was speaking at the Charity Law Association annual conference, and said many aid charities do great work to promote universal values of kindness and compassion around the world.

He said: Some wish to demonise those charities and their work but so long as they are furthering their purposes in line with the regulators guidance, based on the law, the Commission, and I, are behind them.

Fraser appeared to refer to the Commissions recent inquiry into Care4Calais , which backed the charitys decision to issue judicial review proceedings to challenge the UK governments migration and economic development partnership with Rwanda.

He said: Some may disagree with the charity's decision, but we examined if it was lawful, and we said so loud and clear.

Fraser also said the Commission must remain free from undue influence from any outside party, including party politicians, who often take a close interest in its work.

Regulator should not be weaponised in debates

Fraser said charities and the Charity Commission often work in some of the most sensitive areas of contentious debates.

In that context, I will continue to encourage charities themselves to engage in public discourse in a way that is tolerant and respectful of different views and perspectives, he said.

The Commission chair also said the regulator must avoid being weaponised in polarising debates.

He added: But just as charities should be mindful to engage with others, with respect and tolerance, so the Commission itself needs to be mindful of the atmosphere and culture within which we operate.

It'll be all too easy for us to become swept up and weaponised in polarising debates, to be used or misused by parties intent on pursuing ideological aims by regulatory outcomes.

He said: There are times when the Commission comes under intense public pressure to take a certain approach or make a particular decision.

My ambition is not to be popular today, but to ensure the Commission is respected into the future and to ensure its role as independent regulator remains recognised, valued.

It is right that regulators are held to account for the exercise of their statutory powers. And it is necessary in a free society that public bodies are open to criticism of their work.

We may not always agree with or accept the arguments put forward in the courts or elsewhere. But reasonable checks and balances are ultimately both a sign and a guarantor of a healthy, accountable system.

Fraser said it is his view that the law is a safe harbour in a volatile world as we live in an increasingly divided society in which public discourse is becoming evermore polarised and coarser.

He said charities are free to campaign robustly in furtherance of their purposes, despite some calling on the regulator to challenge supposedly woke charities.

To them I've said that 'wokeness' is not a term that has any legal or regulatory meaning and that for this reason, I really wouldn't know where to start.

We will exercise leniency where appropriate

Fraser said the Commission will exercise leniency where appropriate when trustees make honest reasonable mistakes from which they are learning.

But we will take robust action where we consider a charity or its purposes to be exploited or harmed by abuse or negligence, he said.

He added he is aware that some charities are having issues onboarding with the new My Charity Commission account service, and therefore with filing electronic documents.

Most are successfully onboarded, I think we're well over 100,000, but some are experiencing problems. I would like to use this opportunity to make clear that the Commission will ensure that no charity is disadvantaged because of issues in accessing a service.

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Charities including British Red Cross, Oxfam and Islamic Relief have begun fundraising campaigns this week in response to the humanitarian crisis in Israel and Palestine.

Since 7 October, more than 2,000 people have been killed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with thousands more injured.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has not opened its own fundraising campaign but is closely monitoring the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation and assessing it against our criteria for launching a DEC appeal.

It ran a Gaza Crisis Appeal in 2014 , which raised 19m including 2m of match funding from the British government.

Three DEC members  British Red Cross, Oxfam and Islamic Relief  have opened campaigns in response to the escalating conflict.

Oxfam  Gaza Crisis Appeal

Oxfam, which has been working in the OPT and Israel since the 1950s and established a country office there in the 1980s, announced its fundraising appeal yesterday .

Aleema Shivji, Oxfams chief impact officer, said: The violence perpetrated on Israeli civilians by Hamas was appalling and Oxfam condemns those attacks in the strongest possible terms.

Yet innocent communities are trapped in Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on earth, with no safe place to escape the Israeli airstrikes.

Over 250,000 people have had to leave their homes, more than two-thirds are now crammed into UN schools with little access to drinking water, food or toilets. We urgently need to raise money so that our team can deliver life-saving essentials.

British Red Cross  Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal

British Red Cross opened its fundraising appeal on Monday to support people affected people affected by the conflict.

Staff and volunteers from Magen David Adom, Palestine Red Crescent Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross have been working round the clock to respond to urgent needs, including treating casualties, its appeal says.

The ICRC are ready to provide further humanitarian assistance as required on both sides.

Islamic Relief  Gaza Appeal

Islamic Relief said it has invested 109m in humanitarian and development programmes to support the Palestinian people since 1997.

Its new appeal says : Our focus is now on priority health needs; such as the provision of medical supplies and equipment including medicines, disposable items, medical kits and food for patients and medical staff.

Should the conflict get worse and people become displaced, we will be supporting affected households and internally displaced people.

Well provide food, hygiene kits and other essential non-food items.

It adds: By supporting both medical staff and households across Gaza, were working to support as many people in crisis as possible.

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Three years ago, a House of Representatives subcommittee on antitrust released a four-hundred-plus-page report that detailed the allegedly anticompetitive practices of the four major digital platformsGoogle, Amazon, Apple, and Meta (then known as Facebook)and called on the Department of Justice to take action. A few weeks later, the government did exactly that, filing a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Google in which it alleged that the company engaged in various anticompetitive practices, including a multibillion-dollar deal that made Google the default search engine on Apple phones. As I wrote for CJR at the time, some observers saw the suit as an attempt by William Barr, then the attorney general, to make the Trump administration look tough on tech; others saw it as correcting what many believed to be the antitrust failures of the past two decades. But many analysts also foresaw a legal quagmire, arguing that the case was likely to be substantially weaker than the federal governments landmark antitrust action that put the brakes on Microsoft in 1998.

The Justice Department continued to build its case against Google under the Biden administration, and last month the case arrived in court. According to the suit, Googlewhich has a market value of almost two trillion dollarscontrols more than 90 percent of the online search market. (Its dominance of the search advertising market is the subject of a separate lawsuit that has yet to reach trial.) The Justice Department intends to prove that Google has abused this search monopoly in order to harm its competitors and that the company has maintained the monopoly through illegal means. (For more details of the arguments, read my newsletter previewing the case just as it was getting underway.)

Observers have compared the Google lawsuit and the 1998 case against Microsoft on various substantive grounds. But legal experts have pointed to one striking difference between the two: whereas the Microsoft trialincluding video testimony and other documentswas open to the public, the Google trial has been shrouded in a high level of secrecy. As Caitlin Vogus described it for the Freedom of the Press Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, Amit Mehta, the judge hearing the Google case, has already imposed measures limiting transparencyincluding the sealing of documents and testimony, asking the Justice Department to remove exhibits that were presented in court from the public internet, and the refusal to provide the kind of audio broadcast used in the Microsoft trial.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation and other advocacy groups, such as the American Economic Liberties Project, argue that the court has caved to the demands of Google, Apple, and other tech companies, claiming that they have convinced the judge that greater transparency could reveal their trade secrets or otherwise embarrass them by generating clickbait. Because of the restrictions that Mehta has imposed, information about the proceedings is now limited to a small group of reporters, as well as a few bloggers and other interested observers, including a law student whom the AELP hired to write for Big Tech on Trial, a newsletter dedicated to the case that was started by Matthew Stoller, the director of research for the AELP.

The lack of public information about the trial has already created some confusion about the specifics of the case. In addition to bloggers writing for tech newsletters, Megan Graya former official with the Federal Trade Commission and former executive with DuckDuckGo, a search engine that competes with Googlehas also been a regular observer of the case. Last week, Gray wrote an op-ed for Wired magazine based on a slide from an internal Google presentation that was put forward in court. According to Gray, the slide proved that Google inserted brand names into users search queries, in order to generate more advertising revenue for itself. Google, however, complained that the article was inaccurate, and Wired ultimately took Grays piece down and added a note saying that after reviewing relevant material provided to us following its publication, the editors decided that the story did not meet Wireds editorial standards. (An archived version of the op-ed still exists.)

In a series of recent posts on X (formerly Twitter), Gray acknowledged that she might have misinterpreted the Google slide, in part becauseas she put it in her now-deleted op-edspectators like myself have only a few seconds to scribble down the contents of exhibits shown. However, in her X posts and in comments to Charlie Warzel, of The Atlantic, Gray stood by her central argument, which is that the Google Search team and Google Ad team are working together to turn non-commercial queries into commercial queries, which hurts users and advertisers. Googles rebuttal, she argued, isnt a slam-dunk. She added, citing her experience at the FTC, that no one should ever take Google at face value.

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Whatever the specific facts around the slide that Gray wrote about, Warzel noted that the blurring of search and advertising, and the way that this affects our online behavior, is at the heart not just of the Google case, but of other federal antitrust actions. For most of us, evidence about Big Techs products tends to be anecdotal or fuzzymore vibes-based than factual, Warzel writes. Google may not be altering billions of queries in the manner that Grays op-ed suggested, he adds, but the company is constantly tweaking and ranking what we see, while injecting ads and proprietary widgets into our feed, thereby altering our experience. While the Justice Department still needs to prove that such behavior is illegal, as Warzel sees it, the fact that a case has been filed at all reinforces the sense that we are all being taken advantage of by dark patterns of Web design.

Google isnt the only current target of the Biden administrations antitrust regulators: last week, the FTC and seventeen states filed a similar case against Amazon, alleging that the company uses anticompetitive tactics in order to preserve its market power and profit margins. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the suit alleges that an Amazon algorithm called Project Nessie monitored the prices of goods across the Web, in an attempt to determine whether competitors were matching Amazons prices. If they were, the complaint says, Amazon would then hike prices in the hope that its competitors would do likewise. An anonymous source familiar with the program told the Journal that the company made more than a billion dollars in revenue by using the algorithm. An Amazon spokesperson told the Journal that the lawsuit grossly mischaracterized the tool, and that Nessie was merely intended to keep prices from falling to unsustainable levels.

Warzel, paraphrasing the FTCs allegation, wrote that Nessie demonstrates the sheer scope of Amazons power in online markets; the project, he added, arguably amounted to a form of unilateral price fixing, where Amazon essentially goaded its competitors into acting like cartel members without even knowing theyd done so. Such behavior would betray an astonishing form of influence, powered by behind-the-scenes technology, Warzel wrote. It could also help the FTC get around one of the defenses that tech giants typically rely on in antitrust cases, which is that their services are either free or cheap, and that, as such, consumers are not harmed by using them. As I explained recently, antitrust law in the US is based not on whether a company has a monopoly, but whether it obtained or maintained that monopoly by anticompetitive meansand the primary measure of harm has traditionally been whether such behavior resulted in consumers paying higher prices. In 2018, for example, the Supreme Court found that American Express engaged in anticompetitive behavior but was innocent under antitrust laws, because consumers benefited from its actions.

The Journal writes that the lawsuit against Amazon marks a milestone in the Biden administrations aggressive approach to enforcing antitrust laws, and credits that approach to Lina Khan, the chair of the agency, a longtime critic of Amazon who wrote in the Yale Law Journal in 2017 that both federal regulators and the courts have dropped the ball when it comes to prosecuting monopolists. The Journal also notes, however, that Khan has had some difficulty convincing the courts of the validity of her arguments: the FTC tried to block recent acquisitions by Meta and Microsoft and failed to meet the burden of proof in either case. Not to be dissuaded, the FTC sued Meta in 2021, claiming that the company has a monopoly on social media and should be forced to sell WhatsApp and Instagram. A trial date in the case hasnt been set, but it is expected to begin next year.

Whether the Amazon and Meta cases will involve the same kind of secrecy as the Google case remains to be seen. But the lack of transparency in the Google case has rubbed some seasoned legal observers the wrong way. Tim Wu, a law professor at Columbia University who has also worked as an antitrust adviser to the Biden administration, told the New York Times that there is an irony in Googles attempts to limit disclosure. Its ironic for a company to suck up all our information and know everything about us and we cant know a damn thing about them, Wu said. We deserve a better look at them.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Renee Bracey Sherman on the history of abortion coverage

Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
LONDON (AP)  Thousands of travelers faced disruption as all flights were suspended Wednesday at London`s Luton airport after a fire tore through a newly built parking garage, destroying vehicles and partially collapsing the structure.

Four firefighters and an airport employee were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after the fire, which broke out on Tuesday evening.

Officials at the airport, which is located about 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of central London, said emergency crews remained at the scene Wednesday as a precaution but travelers were starting to return to the terminal. It said flights were expected to resume departures at 3 p.m.

London Luton Airport is a hub for easyJet, Ryanair and other budget airlines running flights to destinations in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Investigators think the fire started with a diesel vehicle, according to Chief Fire Officer Andrew Hopkinson of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. The recently opened parking garage did not appear to have sprinklers, he said.

And then that fire has quickly and rapidly spread, Hopkinson told reporters. More than 100 firefighters were deployed to tackled the blaze, he said.

Authorities said they dont believe someone started the fire intentionally.

Some passengers had to sleep on the floor in the airport or wait at the nearby railway station because their flights were canceled or delayed.

Nikodem Lesiak, a university student trying to return to Poland, said he spent the night at the station.

When we got here, we found out Luton is burning and everything is closed, and we were supposed to have our flight at 7:50 today but it was canceled, he said.

Video posted on social media and on the websites of British news outlets showed police and fire department vehicles gathered outside a multi-story parking structure where the top level was engulfed in flames.

Russell Taylor, 41, an account director from Kinross in Scotland, saw the flames after flying in to Luton from Edinburgh. He told the PA news agency that he first saw a couple of fire engines with a car on fire on an upper level of the garage, which served Terminal 2.

A few minutes later, most of the upper floor was alight, car alarms were going off with loud explosions from cars going up in flames, he said. The speed in which the fire took hold was incredible.

The garage partially collapsed.

Top photo: The burnt out shells of cars, buried amongst debris of a multi-storey car park are seen at Luton Airport in Luton, England, Wednesday Oct. 11, 2023. A massive fire has torn through a newly built parking garage at one of Londons international airports. Four firefighters and an airport employee were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. All flights at Luton Airport are suspended until 3 p.m. Wednesday. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ORANGE, Ohio  Safety of residents was seen as the most pressing issue facing the village by several candidates who are running for Village Council at a recent candidate forum.

Safety has got to be the No. 1 priority for us across the board, said Councilwoman Staci Adelman Vincent, one of two incumbents vying with three challengers for three four-year seats on council in the Nov. 7 election.

Its a crazy world out there right now, not just locally but in all of Northeast Ohio and all around the country and certainly all around the world, said Vincent, who is seeking her second four-year term on council.

We need to make sure that our residents are safe and have the wherewithal so that they can work through some of the mental health issues  really, theyre so scared right now because of the things going on.

Vincent noted that in addition to increasing its number of police officers, the village has taken many other steps to combat the increase in violent crime it has experienced in recent years. Those include adding Flock safety cameras and streaming cameras, along with body cameras and dashboard cameras for police officers, she said.

We will continue to (increase safety measures) as needed to make sure that we all feel safe and are safe here in Orange Village, she said.

Political newcomers Jeff Gerckens and Kim Ullner and former councilman Marc Silberman are opposing council members Vincent and Ryan Bilsky for the four-year seats.

First-time candidate Philip Madden is unopposed for a two-year seat on council. All six candidates took part in the forum.

A capacity crowd of about 100 people attended the event Tuesday (Oct. 10) at Village Hall. It also included a segment to meet and learn about the two candidates for mayor  Councilman Judson Kline and Council President Amanda Kurland  who seek to succeed Mayor Kathy U. Mulcahy on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Mulcahy will step down after 28 years as mayor when her term expires Dec. 31.

Barbara Greenberg, a magistrate for Bedford Municipal Court and a former 45-year resident of Orange, served as moderator.

All of the questions she asked the candidates were submitted by members of the community through the mayors office. All six candidates for council were asked the same questions and were given the same amount of time to respond.

Bilsky, who was appointed last September to fill a vacancy on council, agreed with Vincent that safety is a very important issue, as well as development.

Weve done a great job with the safety, and weve done a lot over the past year in our police force, he said.

The development is another pressing issue. We just need to be very conscious and cognizant of what it is were looking at including (in the village).

Silberman, who previously served on council from 1987 through 1994, said he sees development as the No. 1 issue facing the village, followed by safety.

I think our safety forces are absolutely outstanding, but we have to position them in the right place, so thats something we need to address and consider, he said.

Kim Ullner, center, a challenger for a seat on Orange Village Council, says the villages most pressing issue is the mental health of its residents. Listening are challenger and former Councilman Marc Silberman, left, and Councilwoman Staci Adelman Vincent. (Ed Wittenberg, special to cleveland.com)

Ullner said she believes the villages most pressing issue is the mental health of its residents.

I think that we cannot ignore that, she said. I know that its a big deal for the kids in schools, but it affects adults, as well.

The pandemic has had terrible consequences for many people related to mental health, and I do think that we need to address that and help build our community for all of our members.

Gerckens said the most pressing issue for him is to learn more about the state of the villages deeper infrastructure, particularly related to septic systems.

I know that the general Cleveland area has issues with pollution and the risks that go along with that, and thats something that Im looking forward to learning whether or not we have safety risks related to that, he said.

Madden said he sees the most pressing issues as being safety and expansion of the facilities for the police and fire departments at Village Hall, noting theyre not large enough.

The other thing would be defining how our economic development is moving forward, he said.

Meet the candidates

Bilsky, 38, noted he has lived in the village for eight years after growing up in Solon. A relationship manager at Key Private Bank, he said he and his wife have three young children, and they love it here.

Its been wonderful for me and my family, and I want to keep it that way, he said. I feel really grateful to have a seat at the table, to be part of the decisions for the good of the village going forward.

Ive been in banking for the past 17 years of my career, and I plan to continue to bring my business acumen and my investment and asset acumen to Orange Village as well, to help us through all of these things that we want to do and plan to do.

Gerckens, 61, has lived in the village for six years. The former software engineer, architect and technical program manager said he and his wife have one child, a senior at Orange High School.

Weve enjoyed living here so far, and I look forward to doing what I can to try to maintain the character and keep the village going as a pleasant, welcoming place to be, he said.

Im an engineer by trade, and I generally look for opportunities to avoid problems and look for the root cause as a way to solve them.

Madden, 63, moved to the village with his wife and child 21 years ago. He worked in the finance department at KeyBank for the past 10 years.

I decided to run for a couple of reasons, he said. One is I think we should all participate in democracy if we can.

Also I just retired from KeyBank in June, so I have the time. I think things are going very well (in the village), and I hope to help continue that.

Silberman, 69, noted he served three years as council president in his previous stint on council. The real estate agent graduated from Orange High School in 1972 and has lived in the village since 1985.

I previously practiced law, so I think having a legal background can help as a member of council, he said. Im very interested in this community, and I loved serving before.

Im a consensus builder. I believe that working together, especially due to the fact that were non-partisan, in this community will be a big benefit.

Ullner, 54, moved to Orange with her two children 14 years ago. Shes a self-employed attorney, mediator and arbitrator.

Ive been a volunteer in the community pretty much since we moved here, and I saw the opportunity to serve on council as a natural extension of volunteerism, she said.

I love Orange, I think there are a lot of positives, but I would like to build our community with a sense of community more.

Vincent, 57, has worked in the Orange City Schools communications office for 14 years. A 1983 graduate of Orange High School, she has lived in Orange for 23 years.

My connections to Orange started early as a K-12 Orange student, she said. After (earning) a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern (University) and 13 years as a national television news correspondent, my connections pulled me back home to raise our sons, now thriving Orange High School graduates.

Vincent has served as president of the Orange Alumni Association and as a liaison to the Kiwanis Club of Lander Circle and Orange Senior Center.

Four years ago, I promised to listen to you and be your connection and passionate voice, she said. I hope to do that for another four years.

Barbara Greenberg, a magistrate for Bedford Municipal Court, asks a question while serving as moderator of a candidate forum Tuesday (Oct. 10) at Orange Village Hall. (Ed Wittenberg, special to cleveland.com)

Looking at villages future

The candidates were asked, Should you be elected or re-elected, what do you see immediately for Orange in the next 12 months and what do you see over the course of your term as the future of Orange?

Silberman said he believes the villages development issues will definitely be addressed within the next year.

I believe that some expansion with respect to either this facility or the police department and-or fire department is necessary, due to the fact that we (council), in the mid-80s and early 90s, didnt project exactly what our safety forces would need going into the mid-2000s, he said.

With Pinecrest and development on that end of town, I think that we might need to expand or have a sub station for police and-or fire, depending on how the safety forces feel.

Ullner said she hopes, in this time of turmoil in the world, to see all of us come together more in the immediate future.

We can all respect each others differing opinions and have civil conversations when we disagree, and to me, thats an extremely important part of the immediate future, not just for Orange but frankly for our country, she said.

With respect to the long term, anything we can do to build a strong community will have strong dividends for all of us.

Anything we can do to help our youth reach their full potential and become contributing members of our society will be long-term benefits for our community, as well.

Vincent said she believes a community-wide survey, which has been discussed, is a necessity.

I think 2014 was the last survey, so its time to get to see what you want and what youre looking for, and thats when well move forward, she said.

I started Trail Talks four years ago, and then we ran into a pandemic. Its a chance to use our beautiful trails to walk around together and discuss ideas and explore our village together. I want to see that happen again.

Vincent added she wants to complete a residential project at Pinecrest with upscale units that are an asset to our town and work together to ensure that the Orange Place south property maintains its green space but we still keep the bucolic nature of our village. Bilsky said he foresees development in the Pinecrest area and the expansion of Village Hall to accommodate the service, fire and police departments as top priorities for the village.

The job that they do is extremely important for us, and we need to make sure that were providing them the space that they need, he said. Thats really one of the top issues in my mind in the years to come.

Gerckens agreed that attention to the police and fire department facilities is needed.

Those I believe are going to need very rapid attention, he said. As far as the (recreational) trails go, those are wonderful, and theyre particularly good for young people.

Madden said he expects development of the area south of Orange Place will be addressed soon and added expansion of the facilities at Village Hall to make sure we have adequate space for police and fire is also important.

Mulcahy has endorsed Vincent and Bilsky in this race.

Councilman Brandon Duber, former council president, is not seeking re-election in November. He will have served 12 years on council when his term expires Dec. 31.

The candidate forum was live-streamed on the villages YouTube channel and can be viewed on its website, orangevillage.com.
ORANGE, Ohio -- Village Council has authorized the mayor to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the Orange Division of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 57.

Council passed the ordinance on second reading Wednesday (Oct. 11).

Mayor Kathy U. Mulcahy said the agreement calls for the villages police officers to receive salary increases totaling 10.5 percent over a three-year period.

The increases break down to 3 percent for this year, 3.75 percent for next year and an additional 3.75 percent for 2025.

The agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2025.

Local liquor options on ballot

Also on Wednesday, Councilwoman Staci Adelman Vincent said she had received a letter from a resident asking about two issues that will be on the Nov. 7 ballot.

They are Issues 60 and 61. Both are described as local liquor options on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website.

Both issues ask voters whether the sale of wine and mixed beverages should be permitted by MA Gas Inc., which does business as Orange Shell and operates a carry-out/grocery store at 28021 Miles Road.

Issue 60 requests a C-2 liquor permit for the applicant. Issue 61 requests a D-6 liquor permit.

According to the Ohio Department of Commerce website, a C-2 liquor permit allows for carry-out sales of wine and pre-packaged, low-proof mixed beverages until 1 a.m. A D-6 liquor permit is required for Sunday sales of intoxicating liquor, meaning everything other than beer.

Vincent asked how these issues came about.

This didnt come from council, Mulcahy said. The people from the gas station did it by petition referendum.

Village Law Director Stephen Byron explained the petition process.

You go to voters in the precinct and get them to sign a petition that they want to have it on the ballot, he said.

Trick-or-treat is Oct. 31

Also on Wednesday, Mulcahy reminded residents that trick-or-treat will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 in the village.

Dress in clothes that are visible, wear reflective clothing, bring a flashlight, be safe and have fun, she said.

Council President Amanda Kurland also asked that motorists drive extra slow that day and watch out for small children in costumes.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
BEREA, Ohio -- A wanted Deer Park man, 24, was arrested and released at about midnight Oct. 6 outside Tower in the Park apartments, 55 Barrett Road.

A Berea man, 35, had called police at about 11:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and said that people were attacking him and destroying his car in the Tower in the Park parking lot.

When police arrived, the Berea man was with a 27-year-old Parma Heights woman. He said she had invited him to hang out. When he arrived, she pushed him several times and summoned three friends, including the Deer Park man, to rough him up.

The Berea man wanted to drive away, but found that the license plate was missing from his car. He said he didnt want to press charges against anyone, that he only wanted to go home.

The woman told police that it was the Berea man who pushed her around. She said she called three men, friends of hers, for help.

One of the three men said he saw the woman shoving the Berea man, who had blood on his teeth.

Two of the men friends, including the Deer Park man, denied attacking the Berea man. Police then learned that the Deer Park man was wanted in Olmsted Township, North Olmsted and Butler County.

Butler County was outside the perimeter in which police turn over wanted fugitives. Olmsted Township and North Olmsted police didnt want to pick up the Deer Park man, so Berea police released him and advised him to turn himself in where hes wanted.

Read more from the News Sun.
AKRON, Ohio  An Akron woman was sentenced Wednesday to six-to-nine years in prison after she drove the wrong way down an interstate while drunk, crashing head-on into another car and killing the 41-year-old driver.

Jessica Skinner, 22, was sentenced in Summit County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty in August to one count of second-degree aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of third-degree aggravated vehicular homicide, and to operating a vehicle while impaired. Judge Alison McCarty also issued a lifetime suspension of Skinners drivers license.

This tragedy was completely avoidable, Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a statement. Jessica Skinner made the decision to get behind the wheel drunk and unfortunately killed an innocent person.

Prosecutors say that just before midnight on May 12, 2022, Skinner drove east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 76 near South Arlington Road in Akron. She collided head-on into a vehicle driven by Lisabeth Dayton of Canton, killing Dayton.

Skinner was seriously injured in the crash and now is confined to a wheelchair, prosecutors say. Her blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .248, three times over the legal limit of .08.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Bedford Heights police continue to investigate the shootings that killed two brothers outside of a restaurant last week, authorities said. No one has been arrested.

Dominic and Joshua Cunningham of Solon were fatally shot about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, police said. Dominic Cunningham was 22, and his brother was 21.

Ken Hatcher, the assistant police chief in Bedford Heights, said officers are searching for a person of interest.

Police said there was a disturbance at A Touch of Italy, 23333 Aurora Road, early Saturday morning, where the brothers were often disc jockeys.

People were arguing before the shots were fired, police said. The Cunningham brothers were struck by bullets and later taken to MetroHealth Medical Center, where they died.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to several family members and friends of the brothers. A person close to the family said its members were too distraught to discuss the case with a reporter.

The restaurant announced on social media Sunday afternoon that it would be closed for several days in honor of the brothers. It will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, with all proceeds going to the Cunningham family. The restaurant is also providing candles to be lit at 7 p.m. Thursday in memory of the brothers.

A fundraiser is expected to take place at 8 p.m. Friday at Southgate Lanes in Maple Heights. The entry fee is $10, with proceeds going to the Cunningham family.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah this week became the latest state to sue TikTok, contending the company is baiting children into addictive and unhealthy social media habits.

TikTok lures children into hours of social media use, misrepresents the apps safety and deceptively portrays itself as independent of its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, Utah claims in the lawsuit.

We will not stand by while these companies fail to take adequate, meaningful action to protect our children. We will prevail in holding social media companies accountable by any means necessary, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in state court in Salt Lake City.

Similar lawsuits have been filed in Arkansas and Indiana. In May, the state of Montana enacted a law banning the video sharing app. Tik Tok sued, challenging that the ban is unconstitutional.

TikTok, owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance, argues in its suit that the law is based on unfounded speculation that the Chinese government could access users data.

Against this backdrop the U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to decide whether state attempts to regulate social media platforms such as Facebook, X and TikTok violate the Constitution.

The Utah lawsuit cites public health concerns raised in research that has shown that children who spend more than three hours a day on social media double their risk of poor mental health, including anxiety and depression, the lawsuit alleges.

Utah has attempted to address the use of social media by children, The Associated Press said. It was the first state to enact laws that aim to limit children and teen use of apps such as TikTok. The laws are set to take effect next year.

They will impose a digital curfew on people under 18, which will require minors to get parental consent to sign up for social media apps and force companies to verify the ages of all their Utah users.

TikTok designed and employs algorithm features that spoon-feed kids endless, highly curated content from which our children struggle to disengage. TikTok designed these features to mimic a cruel slot machine that hooks kids attention and does not let them go, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said at the news conference.

Utahs lawsuit seeks to force TikTok to change its destructive behavior while imposing fines and penalties to fund education efforts and otherwise address damage done to Utah children, Reyes said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  In 2015, a campaign group trying to convince voters  unsuccessfully  to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio spent more than $20 million doing so, flooding the airwaves with TV ads and even sending an anthropomorphic cannabis plant mascot on a statewide bus tour.

An opposing group spent $2 million in response, warning of the dangers of marijuana and critiquing how the measure would grant a monopoly to the business interests that funded it.

Eight years later, the campaign surrounding the latest marijuana legalization proposal couldnt be more different.

With early voting beginning this week, groups supporting and opposing State Issue 2, which would legalize marijuana for adults 21 and older, have yet to spend a single dollar on traditional TV ads, typically the largest expense for any political campaign.

More coverage: What to know about Issue 2, recreational marijuana legalization, as voting begins

In contrast, groups supporting or opposing State Issue 1, an abortion-rights measure thats also appearing on the Nov. 7 ballot, have spent or reserved more than $9.2 million on these types of ads, with more than two-thirds of the spending coming from the yes side, according to Strategy Group for Media, a Republican political firm near Columbus. The $9.2 million is on top of the $37 million groups spent on both sides of the campaign leading up to last Augusts election, when voters rejected a related measure that would have made it harder to amend the state constitution.

The result is a below-the-radar Issue 2 campaign thats unusual for a controversial issue with potentially dramatic ramifications for the state.

State Issue 2 would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years and older, tacking a regulatory scheme for growing, distributing and selling products onto the states existing medical marijuana program and taxing sales at 10%. Adults could grow up to six cannabis plants, although no more than 12 could grow in a single residence.

The Issue 2 campaign is backed by marijuana business interests, including those with a stake in the states current medical system, some local Democratic parties and advocates who equate marijuanas legal status to alcohol prohibition. The opposition includes hospitals, business groups, law enforcement, social conservative groups and Republicans, who say theyre concerned about the potential health effects and other dangers posed by more widespread marijuana consumption.

Traditionally, campaign groups begin advertising for a November election after Labor Day, increasing their spending as the election approaches. Another key milestone is the start of early voting, which in Ohio began on Wednesday.

But days into the early voting calendar, the only Issue 2 group thats bought traditional TV ads is a new anti-Issue 2 group calling itself Weed Free Kids. Its reserved around $300,000 in ads, operatives following the race said.

The campaign groups themselves are tight-lipped about their strategies.

Were not going to talk details and strategy publicly, said Scott Millburn, a spokesperson for Protect Ohio Workers and Families, the primary anti-Issue 2 campaign group. But we are and will continue to be competitive, especially in the ways that matters.

Tom Haren, a spokesperson for the pro-Issue 2 Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol wouldnt concede his campaign is keeping a low profile. He said the group is running campaign ads, although theyre airing on streaming devices, a harder to track medium, while participating in voter forums and other media events.

But, Haren also said the vibe surrounding this years race is much different than in 2015. He said he thinks that reflects shifting public attitudes, since states like Michigan and Illinois have passed legalization proposals since then.

I think at this point adult use marijuana quite frankly is not the novelty it was back in 2015, Haren said.

What available information there is suggests a tight budget for the pro-Issue 2 group  it began running Facebook ads just this week, spending less than $10,000, according to the social media platforms ad transparency site.

The campaign group also has made few yard signs available, charging $20 a piece, in contrast to the free signs being handed out by the Issue 1 campaign groups. A campaign finance disclosure in July said the group had raised $3 million this year and spent nearly the same amount paying a firm that specializes in collecting the hundreds of thousands of voter signatures the group needed to qualify for the ballot. It reported having $9,400 left over, as well as $42,000 in outstanding bills to a Columbus law firm.

Political observers theorize that the low-visibility marijuana campaign could be a product of the overwhelming attention thats being paid to State Issue 1, an abortion-rights measure, or an intentional strategy to try to fly under the radar.

The business environment surrounding marijuana also has changed, as some of the exuberant projections of huge profits have failed to materialize. The current marijuana issue also lacks the monopoly component that enticed the groups in 2015 to spend so much money in the first place.

Bill Burges, a political operative in Cleveland, said he suspects the pro-Issue 2 campaign isnt running ads because its confident theyll win, absent a sudden rush of attack ads from the other side.

Both sides have got to think that unless something changes dramatically, its done, Burges said.

Ryan Stubenrauch, a Republican operative who worked to defeat the 2015 ballot measure, said that some of the typical activist groups likely are preoccupied dealing with Issue 1, since abortion is a higher priority issue for groups across the political spectrum.

He also speculated, like Burges, that each side could feel confident in their chances and is trying to prolong spending money for as long as possible. Public polling in the race has been scant, although a July poll  which accurately forecast the results of the August election  found it had support from 58% of voters.

Its a poker game. Each side has a good hand and theyre thinking, throw it down and lets see whos got what, he said.

Stubenrauch also had a joke about what may have happened to the pro-Issue 2 campaign: I think the yes side on Issue 2 probably planned to do a much more extensive advertising campaign. But then they got high.

Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer
Spooky season is here and were all entitled to one good scare.

Haunted houses, hayrides and skeletons are all the craze during Halloween season, but what about visiting haunted roads? For those seeking a fall fright in Ohio, one of the most haunted roads in America is located right here in the Buckeye State.

Dead Mans Curve in Cleveland, Ohio, is the third-most haunted road in the United States, according to rankings from SIXT, an international car rental company.

Dead Mans Curve is a nearly 90-degree turn on Interstate 90 near downtown Cleveland, just south of Burke Lakefront Airport, which legend holds is haunted by a faceless hitchhiker ghost. The sharp turn has also led to a number of semi-truck rollovers over the years.

As the ominous name indicates, this road outside of Cleveland, Ohio, is host to several ghost sightings. Most notably, a chilling tale of a hitchhiker who died on this turn, causing numerous other fatal traffic accidents, SIXT writes in its rankings. When it comes to Ohio, this state has reported more than 500 ghost sightings along their roads so be wary when traveling in Ohio.

RELATED: Cleveland drivers among the worst in U.S., report says

SIXT compiled its rankings of the most haunted roads in the U.S. by measuring which haunted road had the most views on TikTok. The rankings measured the number of views per hashtag and the most popular haunted roads video on TikTok to rank. SIXT also utilized ghost sighting data from GhostsOfAmerica.com.

The top 10 most haunted roads in the U.S., according to SIXTs rankings, are:

1. Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey (8.7 million views on TikTok)

2. Riverdale Road between Thornton and Brighton, Colorado (5 million)

3. Dead Mans Curve in Cleveland, Ohio (4.3 million)

4. Resurrection Mary in Justice, Illinois (721.7K)

5. Route 375 in Rachel, Nevada (534.8K)

6. Highway 666 (now U.S. Route 491) in Gallup, New Mexico (433.1K)

7. Sandhill Road in Las Vegas, Nevada (225.7K)

8. Boy Scout Lane in Stevens Point, Wisconsin (202.2K)

9. Shades of Death Road in Warren County, New Jersey (89.6K)

10. Bragg Road in Hardin County Park, Texas (86.8K)

RELATED: Ohio trail makes 10 Most Historical Trails to Hike in U.S. list
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Backers of a redistricting reform amendment are set to begin collecting voter signatures soon after a state panel determined Thursday that the proposal is a single issue.

The Ohio Ballot Board, led by Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, cast a unanimous, bipartisan vote at the Statehouse Thursday morning without debate. The development is a win for the amendments backers, since the Republican-controlled board could have split the proposal into multiple issues, which would have required the campaign to collect hundreds of thousands of valid voter signatures for each one.

Making it past the Ballot Board is the second legal step that citizens must clear when proposing amendments to the state constitution. The amendments backers cleared their first legal hurdle earlier this month, when Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost approved language summarizing the measures effects that will appear on the petitions the group must circulate to voters around the state.

Next, the campaign must collect roughly 413,000 signatures from 44 of 88 Ohio counties before a deadline in July to qualify for the November 2024 ballot. Voters then would decide whether to approve it.

Citizens Not Politicians issued a statement following Thursdays Ballot Board meeting, saying the group plans to begin circulating petitions around the state soon, once Yost certifies the Ballot Boards vote.

For Ohioans of all political persuasions, this is a big day because the citizens are one step closer to taking the drivers wheel and putting the politicians in the back seat, former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen OConnor, a Republican who is one of the leaders of the statewide nonpartisan coalition backing the measure, said in a statement. This amendment will end gerrymandering in Ohio by putting citizens  not politicians  in charge of drawing legislative districts.

The proposed constitutional amendment would create a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up equally of Democrats, Republicans and voters who are not affiliated with any party. It would replace a seven-member panel of elected officials who oversee the process.

In addition to removing current politicians from the redistricting process, former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists would also be barred from sitting on the commission. The proposal would require fair and impartial districts by making it unconstitutional to draw voting districts that discriminate against or favor any political party or politician. It also would require the commission to operate under an open and independent process.

Many Democrats, meanwhile, have signaled support for the proposal, although the campaign describes itself as nonpartisan.

Republicans, who control the states redistricting process thanks to their victories in the 2022 election, are likely to oppose the amendment, arguing that the commission wouldnt truly remove politics from the redistricting process, which must occur at least every decade to reflect population changes. They already began rallying around a message that Ohios redistricting process works as is after the commissions two Democrats joined Republicans recently in approving bipartisan state legislative maps.

However, LaRose, when asked about the proposal following Thursdays meeting, said he is undecided. LaRose, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in the primary election in March who also sits on the Redistricting Commission, is a longtime proponent of redistricting reform. Privately, he was sharply critical of how redistricting played out under the current system, records released as part of a lawsuit showed.

Im curious to learn more about it at this point. I think there are some interesting proposals therein, LaRose said. My question is one of accountability. How are these commission members held accountable? How are we sure theyre held to the same kind of ethical standards public officials are accountable and that kind of thing. But I just look forward to seeing this play out.

Another top elected Republican, Gov. Mike DeWine, also has been noncommittal about the proposal while saying he generally supports the idea of removing elected officials from the redistricting process.

If approved, the amendment would require Ohio to draw new state legislative and congressional districts in 2025.

Ohio used its current redistricting system, approved by voters in 2015 and 2018, for the first time last year, leading to a dysfunctional process that saw the Ohio Supreme Court reject numerous sets of maps as illegally gerrymandered in favor of Republicans, and Republicans in turn eventually ignoring the courts orders. OConnor, the former Ohio Supreme Court justice whos a leader in the redistricting amendment campaign, was a key swing vote in rejecting the maps.

Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer
Rotunda Rumblings

Back of the class: Ohios tumultuous redistricting process got an F grade from Common Causes National Redistricting Report Card, a new report released Wednesday. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, the left-leaning good-government group concluded that despite some successes on the margins, the process and results were unmitigated disasters. Senate GOP spokesman John Fortney shot back that Its unsurprising that Uncommon Cause is uncommonly unhappy, arguing that the group is pushing for gerrymandered districts that unfairly help Democrats.

Whos the boss: The schism among Ohio House Republicans has turned litigious. Pelzer reports that state Rep. Derek Merrin and two allies are suing Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens and others over control of the House GOPs campaign fund. The lawsuit, filed Saturday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, seeks nearly $400,000 in reimbursements and damages from Stephens, of Lawrence County, and state Rep. Jeff LaRe of Pickaway County, Stephens pick to head the Ohio House Republican Alliance (OHRA), the caucus campaign arm. Merrin and his allies argue that they should control the account because they had more support within the House GOP despite Stephens winning the speakers race with Democratic support.

Speak up: Ohios conservative firebrand, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, was passed over by the Republican conference in the U.S. House of Representatives as the GOP instead nominated Louisianas Steve Scalise. Sabrina Eaton reports that Jordan had support from 99 House Republicans, but not even former President Donald Trumps endorsement was enough to help Jordan overcome Scalise, who was No. 2 to ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy and who has spent years in House leadership. Attention now shifts to the House floor, where Scalise will need to get 217 votes to become speaker.

Rethinking the Iran deal: Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, on Wednesday called on the Biden Administration to refreeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets it recently agreed to release as part of a prisoner swap deal, in the wake of the attack last weekend by Hamas on Israel. Per Andrew Tobias, Brown said his committee will investigate how Hamass attack was financed, including whether cryptocurrency was involved. In the meantime, Brown said, the administration must freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets. While not directly critical of President Joe Biden, Browns statement offers a somewhat rare example of Brown, Ohios top Democrat whos running for reelection next year, being at odds politically with the White House.

Aid to Israel: U.S. Rep. Max Miller, a Rocky River Republican, on Wednesday called for swift aid to Israel and pledged to fight anti-Semitism in Congress after attending a classified briefing for Congress members following Saturdays Hamas attack on Israel and Israeli retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip. Eaton reports that Miller, who is one of two Jewish Republicans in the House of Representatives, said he doesnt want to see a repeat of the Holocaust that killed millions of Jews in Europe.

Banking support: Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague announced Wednesday that he had ordered the purchase of $20 million of Israel bonds, debt backed by the countrys government, in the aftermath of the attacks on civilians by Hamas last weekend thats led to hundreds of deaths and the outbreak of war. Tobias reports that once its complete, the purchase would bring Ohios total holdings in Israel bonds to $187.5 million. Sprague said in a statement that its time to stand with Israel. For 30 years, Israel Bonds have been - and continue to be - a strong investment for the Ohio Treasury. Were proud to make this $20 million purchase and provide desperately needed liquidity to Israel as they fight against these heinous acts of terrorism.

Whats your sign?: With abortion rights and legalized marijuana on the Ohio ballot next month, supporters and opponents of the two ballot measures are each posting yard signs to advertise their stances on the issues. Pelzer has more information about how to get a sign for both sides of the two statewide issues.

So it begins: The first voters to head to the polls in Cuyahoga County opened one of the most contentious elections in years by casting ballots on two statewide issues that have grabbed national attention. Residents on Wednesday morning took stances on abortion rights and recreational marijuana, as well as a long list of local races and taxes, weeks ahead of the Nov. 7 election. Olivia Mitchell spoke to voters about what motivated them to turn out on the first day of early voting.

Culture club: The Ohio Board of Pharmacy awarded a certificate of operation to Culture Cannabis Club, 1568 E. Archwood Ave., Akron. Now 107 medical marijuana dispensaries have received clearance from state regulators to open their doors.

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.

Election Day... 27 days (Nov. 7)

Heres how you can get more information on in-person early voting and absentee voting.

Lobbying lineup

The Senate on Wednesday passed SB96, which allows employers to post notices about workers rights (prevailing wage, minimum wage, workers compensation, etc.) online instead of in a conspicuous spot in the workplace. Here are some of the organizations that registered to lobby on the bill.

1. Insurers: Allstate Insurance, Association of Ohio Life Insurance Companies

2. Unions: Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio, Affiliated Construction Trades of Ohio

3. Government: Department of Commerce, the governors office

4. Business: National Foundation of Independent Business of Ohio, Ohio Bankers League,

5. Associations: Ohio Manufacturers Association, American Petroleum Institute

Birthdays

Daniel Slaybaugh, legislative aide to Ohio House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz

Ex-state Rep. Thomas West

Straight From The Source

In the past, this issue has been seen, a lot of times, as a white, Caucasian issue. But here in Ohio, were not going to leave any stone unturned. Were going after every pro-life person we can and we know that African Americans are pro-life  those are our roots.

- Ruth Edmonds, a Black leader in Ohios anti-abortion movement, in a Politico article about the political strategies being employed by conservatives to defeat Issue 1 on Nov. 7.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  What do you want to be when you grow up?

For Barbie, the choices are almost endless  a teacher or a doctor, a beekeeper or fashion designer.

Americas favorite doll has had more than 200 careers throughout her 64-year life, from nurse to pilot to president.

Theyre on display in Columbus, at a new special exhibit, Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience, at COSI, the citys highly acclaimed science museum.

The exhibit, which opened last week and runs through early January, arrives in Columbus at the perfect time to capitalize on the hype from Barbie the movie, released in July and currently the top-grossing film of 2023.

Developed by the Childrens Museum of Indianapolis in partnership with Mattel, the exhibit bears little resemblance to the film  except, perhaps, for the numerous career Barbies featured in the movie, including President Barbie (Issa Rae), Judge Barbie (Ana Cruz Kayne), Physicist Barbie (Emma Mackey) and Writer Barbie (Alexandra Shipp).

Related: Exploring the Junto, Columbus new hip, high-end hotel in the citys fast-changing Franklinton neighborhood

Kids who visit COSI will find that they have even more choices than the Barbies on the big screen. Dozens of career options are introduced inside the exhibit, from veterinarian to violinist, firefighter to film director.

The exhibit is highly interactive, and geared for younger children, up to perhaps age 10. Kids can jump inside a (toy) jeep and pretend to be a wildlife photographer, test out their balance on a surfboard and get behind the podium and pretend to be president (I am honored to have been elected as your leader, reads the acceptance speech. Please know that I recognize the importance of this responsibility.)

They can pilot an airplane, design an outfit, and pick out the ingredients for an interesting pot of soup.

In addition, there are plenty of dolls to play with, plus dozens on display.

Kristy Williams, director of communications at COSI, said that while the exhibit is designed for kids, its likely to appeal to many parents, as well.

We really hope that both children and parents can take a spark of curiosity away from this exhibit  whether it be nostalgic curiosity, remembering the great Barbie dolls they had in childhood or eagerness for a future career, she said. What does every kindergartener get asked at some point during the year - What do you want to be when you grow up? And this exhibit really helps kids get a feel for what they like or what theyre good at, be it nurturing, problem-solving, creating  the sky is the limit.

The exhibit features a variety of older and rare dolls, including a reproduction of the first Barbie, created in 1959 by Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler, who came up with the idea for an adult doll after watching her young daughter, Barbara, assign grown-up roles to her paper dolls.

Other historic dolls on display: a nurse from 1961 (yes, wearing open-toed high heels), a flight attendant from 1973, and an astronaut from 1985 (decked out in all pink).

An exhibit on role models features several dolls from the Barbie Inspiring Women Series, including plastic re-creations of pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart, NASA scientist Katherine Johnson, musician Ella Fitzgerald, nurse Florence Nightingale and gymnast Laurie Hernandez.

As an adult, Im loving all the different Barbies and the history, said Elisabeth Drinnen, who traveled from Nashville with her 6-year-old daughter Magdalena, in part to tour the new Barbie exhibit. I saw some that I know my mom and my aunt had.

Samantha Skidmore from Pickerington enjoyed the exhibit nearly as much as her 3-year-old daughter Bennett. I had so many Barbies when I was young, she said. I always liked the Teacher Barbie best.

Nine-year-old Lily Adolf, visiting the exhibit with her 7-year-old sister Gwen and mom Katharine Brutz, said she liked the exhibits message.

Im thankful for this exhibit, she said. Its a nice way to introduce girls to the fact that they can do anything,

She paused and added, Boys also need to know that girls can do these things.

And then she ran off to scale the rock climbing wall one more time. Because yes, Barbie can be a rock climber, too.

Behind at the presidential podium at the Barbie exhibit in Columbus. (Courtesy COSI)

A reproduction of Mattel's original 1959 Barbie at COSI in Columbus.

An exhibit on female role models features Barbie versions of Florence Nightingale, Amelia Earhart, Katherine Johnson and others.

Barbie of NASA scientist Katherine Johnson at new COSI exhibit.

If you go: Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience

Where: The Center of Science and Industry (COSI), 333 W. Broad St., just across the Scioto River from downtown Columbus

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; the Barbie exhibit runs through Jan. 7.

How much: The exhibit is included with regular admission; online tickets are $30 for adults, $25 ages 2-12; $5 more if purchased onsite. Online reservations are strongly encouraged.

Coming in March: Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, with more than 350 artifacts and full-scale recreations of the doomed ship. It opens on March 9.

More information: cosi.org

Stay overnight: The Junto, a new hotel across the street from COSI, has outfitted one of its guestrooms in all-pink Barbie splendor; overnight rates start at about $240. Information: thejuntohotel.com

Read more: Exploring the Junto, Columbus new hip, high-end hotel in the citys fast-changing Franklinton neighborhood

Barbie room at the Junto, which overlooks COSI.

Dolls from the Barbie Fashionistas line, with looks designed by Barbie fashion designer Judy Choi.

New Barbie exhibit at COSI, which explores career opportunities.
JERUSALEM  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with a top political rival Wednesday to create a wartime Cabinet to oversee the fight to avenge the gruesome weekend attack by Hamas militants. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip, Palestinian suffering mounted as Israeli bombardment demolished neighborhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas. Every Hamas member is a dead man, he said in a televised address.

The new Cabinet establishes a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics and at a time when the Israeli military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza. The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

The prime ministers allegations could not be independently confirmed and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

The Cabinet, which will focus only on issues of war, will be led by Netanyahu; Benny Gantz, a senior opposition figure and former defense minister; and current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Still, Israels political divisions remain. The countrys chief opposition leader, Yair Lapid, was invited to join the Cabinet but did not immediately respond to the offer. It appeared that the rest of Netanyahus existing government partners, a collection of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, would remain in place to handle non-war issues.

Palestinians evacuate the wounded Wednesday following an Israeli aerial bombing on Jabaliya, near Gaza City. (Mohammad Al Masri, Associated Press)AP

Israels increasingly destructive airstrikes in Gaza have flattened entire city blocks and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath debris. A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a tiny, coastal strip, would likely result in a surge of casualties for fighters on both sides.

The death toll in Gaza rose to 1,200 early Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said, including 51 people killed in what the Israeli military called a large-scale attack in the hours before daylight.

Hamas on Wednesday launched a fresh barrage of rockets into Israel aimed at the southern town of Ashkelon.

The UN said late Wednesday the number of people displaced by the airstrikes had soared 30 percent within 24 hours, to 339,000, two-thirds of them crowding into U.N. schools. Others sought shelter in the shrinking number of safe neighborhoods in the strip of land only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.

After nightfall, Palestinians were plunged into pitch blackness in large parts of Gaza City and elsewhere after the territorys only power station ran out of fuel and shut down. Only a few lights from private generators still glowed.

Israel on Monday halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. The sole remaining crossing from Egypt was shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit nearby.

The Gaza Strips biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, has only enough fuel to keep power on for three days, said Matthias Kannes, a Gaza-based official for Doctors Without Borders. The group said the two hospitals it runs in Gaza were running out of surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies.

Ghassan Abu Sitta, a reconstructive surgeon at al-Shifa, said he had 50 patients waiting to go to the operating room.

Were already beyond the capacity of the system to cope, he said. The health system has the rest of the week before it collapses, not just because of the diesel. All supplies are running short.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said other hospitals generators will run out in five days. Residential buildings, unable to store as much diesel, likely will go dark sooner.

Egypt and international groups have been calling for humanitarian corridors into Gaza. Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, but were unable to enter Gaza, an Egyptian security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

In Gazas Jabalia refugee camp, rescue workers and civilians carried men covered with blood and soot toward ambulances after strikes toppled buildings. Streets were left blanketed with metal, chunks of concrete and thick dust.

Medical teams and rescuers struggled to enter other areas where roads were too damaged, including Gaza Citys al-Karama district, where a large number were killed or wounded, according to the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. Strikes have killed at least four Red Crescent paramedics, the organization said.

The risk of the war spreading was evident Wednesday after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops.

The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Saturdays Hamas attack the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but pure cruelty against the Jewish people, Biden said at a meeting with Jewish community leaders at the White House.

On Tuesday, he warned other countries and armed groups against entering the war. The U.S. is already rushing munitions and military equipment to Israel and has deployed a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean as deterrence.

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked a village south of Nablus, opening fire on Palestinians and killing three, the territorys health ministry said. More than two dozen Palestinians have died in fighting in the West Bank since the weekend.

Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

Toppling Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, would likely require reoccupying Gaza, at least temporarily. Even then, Hamas has a long history of operating as an underground insurgency in areas controlled by Israel.

Hamas said it launched its attack Saturday because Palestinians suffering had become intolerable under unending Israeli military occupation and increasing settlements in the West Bank and a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza.

Israeli tanks are stationed Wednesday near the border with Lebanon. (Ariel Schalit, Associated Press)AP

In the kibbutz of Beeri near Gaza, Israeli troops were still removing the bodies of dead Hamas militants who stormed the community and killed more than 100 residents, then battled soldiers for nearly three days.

Major General Itai Veruv told visiting journalists that the military found evidence of Hamas militants cutting throats of bound captives, lining up children and killing them and packing 15 teenage girls in a room before throwing a grenade inside.

Shock, grief and demands for vengeance against Hamas are running high in Israel.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate whole Gaza neighborhoods, rather than just individual buildings, then leveling large swaths in waves of airstrikes.

Israels tone has changed as well. In past conflicts, its military insisted on the precision of strikes in Gaza, trying to ward off criticism over civilian deaths. This time, military briefings emphasize the destruction being wreaked.

Even with the evacuation warnings, Palestinians say some are unable to escape or have nowhere to go, and that entire families have been crushed under rubble.

Other times, strikes come with no notice, survivors say.

There was no warning or anything, said Hashem Abu Manea, 58, who lost his 15-year-old daughter, Joanna, when a strike late Tuesday leveled his home in Gaza City.

Israeli airstrikes late Tuesday struck the family house of Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, killing his father, brother and at least two other relatives in the southern town of Khan Younis, Hamas official Bassem Naim told The Associated Press. Deif has never been seen in public, and his whereabouts are unknown.

The Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.
NANCHANG, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the city of Jiujiang in east China's Jiangxi Province on Tuesday.

Xi inspected a section of the Yangtze River National Cultural Park located in the urban area of Jiujiang and also Sinopec Jiujiang Company, where he learned about local efforts in the construction of the park, the ecological restoration along the Yangtze River shoreline, and the petrochemical company's transformation and upgrading toward green development.
Randy Boyagoda in the New York Times:

I have for years been an evangelist for Fosse, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday. And evangelizing is an apt word, given the vibrant, mirror-dark religious feeling of his books. Fosse converted to Catholicism in 2012, when he was already a well-established playwright and fiction writer in his native Norway, which celebrates Fosse with a biannual festival dedicated to his work. (The most recent took place this past summer, over 12 days.) His international stature and popularity in a generally secular country is a strong indicator that Fosses books arent just for the faithful: Indeed, many religiously minded readers of the Chesterton, Lewis and Tolkien club may be put off by Fosses formal and stylistic demands, and also by his obscure, at times even willfully inchoate writing about human and divine life.

The Nobel announcement comes only a few weeks before his latest novel, A Shining, will be published in English (beautifully and brilliantly translated, as was Septology, by Damion Searls), and it affords an excellent occasion to make a stronger case for why reading Fosse is a singular and transporting experience. In the words of the Nobel committee, he received the prize for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.

More here.
Adam Aron, chairman and CEO of AMC Entertainment, listens during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, on Oct. 18, 2021.

AMC CEO Adam Aron confirmed Thursday he was the victim of a blackmail attempt by a New York woman last year.

The case had been previously publicized, identifying the victim in legal documents only as a CEO of a publicly traded company. News outlet Semafor reported Thursday that Aron was the unnamed CEO, which he later confirmed in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Unfortunately, last year I became the victim of an elaborate criminal extortion by a third party who was unknown to me related to false allegations about my personal life," Aron said.

"Rather than give in to blackmail, I personally engaged counsel and other professional advisors and reported the matter to law enforcement," he said. "I did so knowing I risked personal embarrassment. But with my access to resources, if I did not stand up against blackmail, who could?"

The New York woman behind the blackmail attempt, Sakoya Blackwood, pretended to be a former romantic partner of Aron using an anonymous online account beginning in March 2022. She then attempted to extort Aron of $300,000, threatening to expose Aron's online behavior to the AMC board.

Blackwood was charged in a Manhattan federal court for her extortion attempts and was sentenced in July to time already served in jail.

Aron said Thursday he was asked by law enforcement to keep the matter confidential during the investigation and legal proceedings, and that he informed AMC's board after Blackwood's sentencing.

"This indeed was entirely a personal matter, and the matter is closed," Aron said.
Joe Kaeser delivers a speech during the Siemens Annual Shareholders' Meeting on February 3, 2021 in Munich, Germany. Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images

The results of two state elections in Germany sent "a clear message" to Berlin that the government needs "to get their act together," Joe Kaeser, chairman of the Supervisory Board at Siemens Energy, told CNBC. "While I believe there is a lot of good intent obviously to make the economy work ... The execution I think is something which has potential for improvement," Kaeser, the former CEO of Siemens, said in an interview with CNBC's Annette Weisbach Tuesday.

watch now

The comments come after Conservative parties came first in state elections Sunday. Angela Merkel's former party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), won in Hesse, and its sister party, the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, took the most votes in Germany's largest state Bavaria, which includes Munich. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gained votes in the two key regions. The AfD beat all of the parties that currently make up the main coalition government, the Social Democrats (SDP), the Greens, and the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP) in both states. The AfD's candidate in Hesse, Robert Lambrou, had anticipated that voters would swing toward his party, saying that people were "heavily disappointed by the policy of the government."

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'Structural reforms are a must'

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva has also suggested that Germany needs, and is, making changes to adapt to the current climate, saying that structural reforms "are a must" in an interview with CNBC on Oct. 5.

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a meeting in Athens, Greece, July 26, 2022. Louiza Vradi | Reuters

Closed-door negotiations, seductive offers of weapons deals, requests for U.S. security guarantees, and even talk of supporting the Saudis with their own nuclear energy program: these were all on the table as the Biden administration worked toward clinching a Saudi-Israeli normalization agreement in recent months. Achieving a diplomatic deal between two of America's most important allies in the Middle East  whose ties have never formally existed  was one of President Joe Biden's top foreign policy priorities, something he'd be able to highlight when running for re-election in 2024. Since Saturday Oct. 7, however, and as fighting rages between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the likelihood for such a deal seems to have all but evaporated. The rapidly intensifying war is shaping up to become the worst violence of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict in decades.

Follow our live updates Israel-Hamas war and the latest news from the Gaza Strip

More than 2,000 people in both Israel and the Palestinian territory of Gaza are dead after five days of fighting, which began with a brazen terror attack carried out by Hamas into southern Israel on Saturday morning. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and a total siege of Gaza, cutting off water, food and electricity to the already impoverished and blockaded territory.

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This puts Saudi Arabia's ambitious Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a complicated position. Saudi-Israel cooperation in areas like security and intelligence has long been an open secret, and the crown prince in September said in an interview that "every day we get closer" to a normalization deal. But a major sticking point, he said, was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United Nations classifies Israel as an occupier state over the Palestinian territories, whose occupations and annexations following the 1967 Six-Day War remain in violation of international law. "For us, the Palestinian issue is very important, we need to solve that part ... We hope that it will reach a place that it will ease the life of the Palestinians and get Israel as a player in the Middle East," he said in an interview. Palestinians themselves express worry and skepticism over a Saudi-Israel deal, stressing that their representatives have not been involved in any negotiations about the potential future of their status.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu give statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Defence Ministry, after their meeting in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2023. Jacquelyn Martin | AFP | Getty Images

Saudi Arabia is home to Islam's holiest sites, Mecca and Medina, giving it a crucial role in the Muslim world where Palestinian statehood is deeply cared about. Israel's current government led by Benjamin Netanyahu had previously expressed no intention of giving major concessions to the Palestinians; Netanyahu in early August told Bloomberg TV that any minor gestures on his part toward Palestinians would essentially be "just a box you have to check to say that you're doing it."

A "big victim" of the escalating Israel-Hamas war "is efforts at Saudi and Israel normalization," Fred Kempe, CEO of the Atlantic Council, told CNBC. "U.S. officials have been spending a lot of time in Israel and in Saudi Arabia. There was the prospect of a deal, maybe if not by the end of this year, by the beginning of next year, people were giving a 50-50 chance," he said. "Right now, you have to give it zero chance. The Saudis just won't be able to go forward with this right now. Part of the deal would have been Netanyahu reaching some sort of accommodation with the Palestinians. That's not going to happen right now." Israel is currently pounding the Gaza Strip with retaliatory airstrikes pursuing Hamas targets and is carrying out a "total siege" against the densely-packed Palestinian territory of 2.3 million people. Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007, and Israel has kept it under a blockade since then, most of its population unable to leave. All of its borders have now been sealed.

A Palestinian man rushes past rubble carrying a child in his arms, following an Israeli military strike, as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day in Gaza City on October 12, 2023. Bashar Taleb | Afp | Getty Images

Netanyahu compared Hamas to IS for its brutal tactics and attacks against civilians, and has vowed a heavy response. But the U.N. and other bodies have warned of the mounting civilian toll and stressed that "crucial life-saving supplies  including fuel, food and water  must be allowed into Gaza." The Saudi Foreign Ministry, in response to the Hamas attack on Israel, said in a statement: "The kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities." And the crown prince said in a statement Tuesday: "The kingdom will continue to stand by the Palestinian nation in its quest for its legitimate rights."

A win for Iran

One clear winner of the latest developments is Iran, regional analysts say. "The leadership in Iran will no doubt be applauding an attack inside Israel," Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, told CNBC. "This allows Tehran to inadvertently benefit and challenge Israel in the same way that Israeli security has attacked inside Iran's borders." Iran is the primary backer of Hamas, having provided it financial and military support for years. Iran's mission to the United Nations has denied Tehran's involvement in the militant group's attack on Israel on Saturaday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that the U.S. had "not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship." "More timely for Tehran is that it is looking to slow down Israeli Saudi normalization and through the attack, it might have achieved that," Vakil said. With the Hamas attack on Israel, "it's very clear that Saudi Arabia will take a more gradual approach to normalization," she said. "The kingdom certainly does not want to be dragged into a broader regional war. And Iran is consistently messaging to its Gulf neighbors that any attack on Iran from Israel will lead to a domino attack on the Gulf. So they're looking to prevent that kind of kinetic activity."

A destroyed pickup truck mounted with machine guns, used by Hamas militants in their attack on Kibbutz Be'eri, lies in the rubble after the Israeli army regained control. Ilia Yefimovich | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
Israel supporters hold flags as they protest, following Hamas' biggest attack on Israel in years, in Bogota, Colombia October 9, 2023.

Hackers accessed two smart billboards in or near Tel Aviv for a few minutes on Thursday and "managed to switch the commercials into anti-Israeli, pro-Hamas footage," Gil Messing, chief of staff at Check Point Software Technologies, a cybersecurity firm based in Tel Aviv, told CNBC, adding the footage featured "mainly the Israeli flag under fire ... footage from Gaza, things like this."

Cybersecurity threats in Israel are mounting amid the Israel-Hamas war , including two hijacked smart billboards that briefly showed pro-Hamas content, and a cyberattack on a college that published hundreds of thousands of personal records.

"We had to open the network for a few minutes, and they must've immediately penetrated it in that moment," Eilon Rosman, CEO of CTV Media Israel, the company that owned the two billboards, told the media outlet Geektime on Thursday, according to a CNBC translation.

Most cyberthreats that Check Point has seen since Saturday involve either defacement of websites or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks for a brief period of time, Messing told CNBC, adding the billboard incidents are "very marginal ... when you compare it to everything else that's been going on here."

Check Point tracks hacking groups on the dark web or on their Telegram pages, and the firm has seen threats of attacks on critical infrastructure, such as water utilities, according to one Telegram group message viewed by CNBC that threatens Mekorot, Israel's top water management agency.

More than 40 groups are currently attempting, or say they're attempting, cyberattacks, Messing said, adding these threats aren't uncommon.

"These people are threatening, not necessarily executing. ... The motivation is more about creating fear and discomfort, not so much about creating damage that is significant."

The biggest cyberattack so far this week involved Ono Academic College near Tel Aviv, Messing said. On Monday, a hacker group claiming to be from Jordan breached the private college's system and published about 250,000 records of employees, students, former students and more on Telegram. The college subsequently had to take its systems offline.

"Cyberattack experts investigated and discovered that information was leaked from our computer system. We are dealing with the issue and are in touch with the national cyber authority and have also informed the authority responsible for privacy protection," the college said in a statement translated by CNBC. "We estimate that our IT systems will be fully operational in the next few days."

"This is a significant attack," Messing said.
Sen. Robert Menendez is trailed by reporters after attending a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on federal judge nominations on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4, 2023.

Menendez and his wife received thousands of dollars in bribes "in exchange for Menendez's acts and breaches of duty to benefit" Egypt and others, "including with respect to foreign military sales and foreign military financing," the indictment says.

The indictment also alleges that Menendez, who is up for reelection next year, "provided sensitive U.S. government information and took other steps that secretly aided" Egypt's government.

For more than four years through June 2022, Menendez, D-N.J., along with his wife and others, "willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together and with each other" to have the senator act as an agent for the Egyptian government, the indictment alleges.

Sen. Bob Menendez has been accused of accepting bribes and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt, according to a superseding federal indictment filed Thursday.

Sen. Bob Menendez allegedly meeting with Egyptian officials at a Washington, D.C., steakhouse where Menendez, his wife and "Egyptian Official-3" allegedly requested Menendez's assistance to counter USDA's objections to IS EG Halal's monopoly.

It's the latest federal criminal accusation against Menendez. The longtime New Jersey lawmaker and his wife, Nadine, were previously indicted in New York on federal charges related to their alleged "corrupt relationship" with three businessmen from their home state to protect those men and benefit the nation of Egypt.

A spokesperson for Menendez did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. A representative for the Egyptian embassy did not respond to CNBC's email seeking comment.

Later Thursday, Menendez issued a statement criticizing the new allegations.

"The government's latest charge flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt and in challenging leaders of that country, including President El-Sisi on these issues. I have been, throughout my life, loyal to only one country  the United States of America, the land my family chose to live in democracy and freedom," he said.

"Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true. The facts haven't changed, only a new charge. It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic. I again ask people who know me and my record to give me the chance to present my defense and show my innocence," he added.

Menendez has denied wrongdoing and has rejected calls to resign from the Senate. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and many of Menendez's Democratic colleagues in the Senate have also called on him to resign, including fellow New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has stopped short of demanding Menendez to step down, however.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said in a statement after the superseding indictment that it was time for the Senate to expel Menendez. "We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate," Fetterman said. Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who said he will run for Menendez's Senate seat, echoed Fetterman's call for an expulsion.
The United Auto Workers' unexpected strike at Ford Motor's (F) biggest factory could result in a major blow to the automaker's profitability if the facility remains shut down for a prolonged period. Still, this is not a time to drop Ford, as we expect an eventual agreement between the union and the Big Three Detroit automakers. Around 8,700 Ford workers Wednesday evening walked off the job at the automaker's Kentucky truck plant  its largest and most profitable globally  after the UAW said Ford refused further concessions in contract bargaining. The union had last month ordered strikes at two other Ford assembly plants, as well as factories operated by Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLA) and General Motors (GM). Shares of Ford tumbled roughly 2.4% Thursday afternoon, to just below $12 apiece. The situation has "taken a very bad turn," Jim Cramer said Thursday. "If Ford takes the deal that Fain wants, there'll be thousands of layoffs," he argued. At the same time, Jim urged investors to stick with the automaker. "I still believe that there will be a resolution." The Club also thinks the company could become more profitable if it doubles down on hybrid vehicles and internal-combustion-engine trucks, as Ford continues to see losses at its electric-vehicle unit . "Ford has not gotten the message," Fain said Wednesday in a statement . "It's time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three," he added. Fain, who since March has declared "war" on the Big Three automakers, has called for a 46% increase in base salaries, pension increases and a 32-hour work week. Ford was apparently caught off guard by the strike at its Kentucky plant, which generates $25 billion in annual revenue, roughly a sixth of the company's global automotive revenue. The factory produces Ford Super Duty pickup trucks and the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVS. For its part, Ford called the UAW's decision "grossly irresponsible but unsurprising," according to a statement released Wednesday. The UAW strikes have now impacted 35.5% of Ford's total production, according to Bank of America. The bank said that work stoppage at the Kentucky truck plant could dent Ford's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by $247 million a week, or 5 cents-per-share. The firm's 2023 EBIT estimate is $10.7 billion, with earnings-per-share of $1.96. "We see this move from the UAW as concerning given that Ford gave the largest concessions to the union among the Detroit Three," analysts at BofA wrote in a research note Thursday. "It is possible, however, that since Ford has been the most accommodating, the UAW might believe it can obtain additional concessions by increasing the pressure," they added. Ford, in its statement Wednesday, said it has already offered hourly workers 15% guaranteed combined wage increases and lump sums, and "improved benefits over the life of the contract." Meanwhile, Wells Fargo on Wednesday predicted that the "escalation is a sign that the UAW could be close to a contract proposal with Ford in the next 1-2 weeks." (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long F . See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Factory workers and UAW union members form a picket line outside the Ford Motor Co. Kentucky Truck Plant in the early morning hours on October 12, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. Luke Sharrett | Getty Images
Ryan Petersen, chief executive officer of Flexport, participates in a panel discussion during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.

Supply chain software startup Flexport plans to cut approximately 20% of its global workforce as part of a new round of layoffs that's expected to begin on Friday, CNBC has learned.

Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen sent a note to staffers Thursday afternoon informing them of the job cuts, according to a copy of the memo viewed by CNBC. The company will inform employees of whether they're impacted or not via email beginning Friday morning, Petersen wrote.

"Today I have a difficult decision to share: We will reduce the size of our global team by approximately 20% with the process starting tomorrow, Friday, October 13," Petersen wrote.

A Flexport spokesperson pointed CNBC to a company blog post from Petersen confirming the layoffs. The spokesperson declined to share Flexport's total headcount. The company employed approximately 3,500 people as of late September, according to Pitchbook data.

The layoffs add to recent turmoil at the company since Petersen returned as CEO last month after abruptly ousting his hand-picked successor Dave Clark. Petersen claimed repeatedly that Clark, a 23-year veteran of Amazon , overspent and overhired during his tenure at Flexport. But documents viewed by CNBC, and sources close to Clark, showed that Petersen and members of Flexport's board helped implement decisions that Flexport has suggested were ill-advised.

Since taking back the helm, Petersen quickly overhauled the company's top ranks, ousting several of Clark's key recruits, as well as its CFO and HR chief. He also rescinded 55 offer letters and moved to lease out unoccupied office space across the country.

In the blog post, Petersen said following the cuts Flexport will be "in a great position to take advantage of the opportunities in front of us to return to profitability as soon as the end of next year." The move will "not impact the customer experience," Petersen added. He said the company is focused on the quality of its services like quote to invoice accuracy and shipment milestone accuracy.

"Today is a tough day, but we are a resilient, purpose-driven team that will overcome this setback and deliver on the promise of our mission of making global commerce so easy that there will be more of it," he said.

Petersen wrote in the memo that employees in the U.S. and Canada are being directed to work from home on Friday unless they work out of a Flexport warehouse. Staffers based in Asia will be contacted about the layoffs on Monday, according to the memo.

For U.S. employees, the company is offering nine weeks of severance, health care coverage through the end of the year, immigration support and job recruiting assistance, Petersen said in the memo. Staffers located outside of the U.S. will receive information about their separation packages at a later date.
Members of the United Auto Workers union picket outside the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, on Sept. 26, 2023.

DETROIT  Ford Motor is "at the limit" of what it can offer the United Auto Workers union in terms of economic concessions, an executive said Thursday as contract negotiations continue for roughly 57,000 U.S. workers.

Kumar Galhotra, president of the company's traditional operations, said that while the company is willing to shuffle money around within the existing offer to meet the union's priorities, any added costs would hurt the automaker's ability to operate in the future and invest in emerging areas such as electric vehicles.

"We've been very clear that we are at the limit. We stretched to get to this point," Galhotra said Thursday during a media and analyst call. "Going further will hurt our ability to invest in the business like we need to invest."

Galhotra declined to disclose how much the company's current offer to the union would cost the company.

His comments come a day after the union unexpectedly launched a strike at the automaker's highly profitable SUV and pickup truck plant in Kentucky.

"We're surprised by the escalation last night," Galhotra said. "Kentucky Truck Plant is one of the most important manufacturing plants of any kind in America."

UAW President Shawn Fain said Wednesday night that the strike escalation was a result of the company repeating its previous offer instead of offering additional economic benefits.

"This offer was the exact same offer they gave us two weeks ago. In our position, they're not taking it seriously," Fain said during a pre-recorded online video. "We've been very patient working with a company on this. At the end of the day, they have not met expectations. They're not even coming to the table on it."

Ford's most recent proposal included 23%-26% wage increases depending on classification; retention of platinum health care benefits; ratification bonuses; reinstatement of cost-of-living; and other benefits.

In the past several days, Ford said, it had been negotiating outstanding issues such as retiree benefits and potential options for future battery plant workers, in line with guidance from the union.

Electric vehicle battery plants have been a major point of contention for the union in bargaining with all three of the Detroit automakers. Ford, General Motors and Stellantis have all formed joint ventures with battery makers to manufacture EV batteries in the United States. Officially, because they're owned by joint ventures, the battery plants aren't and won't be covered by the automakers' agreements with the union.

The union has characterized the joint-venture arrangements as a plan to shut it out of the new factories, many of which are under construction now. But the UAW said last Friday that GM had agreed to place the workers at those battery plants under its national agreement with the union  a strong hint that it now expects Ford and Stellantis to do the same.
Jes Staley, former CEO of Barclays, arrives at the offices of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP in New York on June 11, 2023.

LONDON  Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley on Thursday was fined and banned from holding any position of influence in the U.K. financial services industry for misleading the regulator over his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

U.K. regulator the Financial Conduct Authority announced Thursday that it had decided to fine Staley 1.8 million ($2.21 million) and ban him from holding a senior management or significant influence function in the sector.

The FCA found that Staley "recklessly approved" a letter sent by Barclays to the regulator that contained two misleading statements about the nature of his relationship with Epstein and the point of their last contact.

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said in a statement Thursday that a CEO "needs to exercise sound judgment and set an example to staff at their firm."

"Mr Staley failed to do this. We consider that he misled both the FCA and the Barclays Board about the nature of his relationship with Mr Epstein," Chambers said.

"Mr Staley is an experienced industry professional and held a prominent position within financial services. It is right to prevent him from holding a senior position in the financial services industry if we cannot rely on him to act with integrity by disclosing uncomfortable truths about his close personal relationship with Mr Epstein."
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Google has opened its first west coast visitor Experience" center which is located by its Mountain View headquarters. Mark Wickens

Google is opening a sliver of its main campus to the general public starting this week. The company opened its doors to what it's calling its "Visitor Experience" center the public Thursday, following a ceremony where Google executives and local leaders gathered hear its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. "We've always been focused on the experience of Googlers and their friends," said Google's head of real estate Scott Foster. "But this project was designed intentionally for the general public." Ruth Porat, Google's President and Chief Investment Officer, was also in attendance and helped cut the celebratory ribbon to the space.

Google's new Mountain View "Visitor Experience" center features a Google store.

Although the public can't walk into Google's actual office space, the new visitor center features a room where a community group or nonprofit can request to reserve the space for meetings or events. It also includes a cafe and retail Google store, which comes two years after the company opened its first public Google retail store in New York's Chelsea neighborhood. The center's cafe features dishes like sandwiches, soup, and desserts from local eateries. It's Google's first cafe open to the public, but has a lighter selection than a typical large campus cafeteria. It also features an outdoor "plaza" for events as well as a small craft space and a small local shop that will feature a rotation of local retailers.

Google's new visitor center feature a space where a community group or nonprofit can request to reserve the space for meetings or events. Mark Wickens

Executives said that the center, which has been in the works for several years, comes at a time when technology is moving quickly and a post-pandemic need for more in-person spaces. "Innovation is moving so fast that having a place to be together is even more important," campus research and design director Michelle Kaufmann told CNBC, referring to artificial intelligence and cloud computing. "It's a step in not being an ivory tower and hopefully it can be a blueprint for how community can be more involved."

Google's new visitor experience includes an outdoor event space for the public.

It comes amid a trend of Silicon Valley tech companies like Facebook (now Meta) and Google departing from the traditional style of campus designs, which have historically been closed off from the general public. The trend comes as companies face pressure to appease both top talent and their non-tech neighbors. Facebook re-worked its big Menlo Park campus plans for a similar model that would include affordable housing, a full-service grocery, and pharmacy among other amenities. Google was approved for plans for an even larger 80-acre mixed-use campus 10 miles down the road in downtown San Jose to house 25,000 employees. Executives have maintained it is still committed to doing a project in the area long-term after CNBC found that it halted project plans after the first demolition phase, due to economic concerns and cost-cutting this year.
While pay may have been an off-limits subject just a decade ago, over half of American workers now feel that people should be more open about what they make, according to a recent LendingTree survey.

But just 13% say they'd be willing to share their pay with co-workers, even if their co-workers would be the ones to benefit the most from salary transparency.

Pay transparency has been gaining traction since 2020, and eight states and several cities now have laws that require employers to disclose salary ranges. Roughly 26.6% of the U.S. labor force lives in a state that requires employers to practice salary transparency, according to the National Women's Law Center.

"As recently as 20 years ago, virtually zero employers were providing pay [transparency], and it was really hard to figure out what fair pay looked like in a specific job," says Scott Dobroski, a career trends expert at Indeed. "It sounds prehistoric almost, because pay really influences how we live our lives."

While proponents of salary transparency say the practice can lead to more equitable and productive workplaces, talking about money with your co-workers is still no small feat.

"It's a scary way to be vulnerable, because how much money you make is a very personal thing," says Matt Schulz, LendingTree's chief credit analyst. "It's easy to see why people would be a little reluctant to share that, because they might think that it could lead to people making certain judgments or assumptions about them."

But discussing pay with co-workers can provide crucial information that employees can then use to negotiate salaries, especially when transparency is widespread throughout a company. "The old saying of knowledge is power is absolutely true when it comes to negotiating salary," says Schulz.
An aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City on Oct. 11, 2023. Yahya Hassouna | AFP | Getty Images

The unprecedented outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas this week has led many geopolitical experts to question when the conflict will end and, ultimately, whether peace can ever be achieved between the sworn enemies. Israeli forces appear to be preparing to launch a ground operation on Gaza, having massed at the border of the Hamas-run territory. Israel has already blockaded the region, cutting off water, electricity, fuel and food supplies to its 2.3 million impoverished inhabitants, after Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel at the weekend.

Follow our live updates Israel-Hamas war and the latest news from the Gaza Strip

Middle East experts believe the conflict is about to enter a more destructive phase, and say the outcome of the war is uncertain. There is widespread pessimism at the prospects of a near-term de-escalation in the violence between Israel and Hamas, with civilians expected to bear the brunt of the fighting. "There's no doubt in my mind, sadly, that it will get worse before it's get better," Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, told CNBC Wednesday. "We don't know [for sure] but there's likely to be a ground campaign, this is the reality right now. Israel took time to regroup and mobilize its reservists and now they are ready on the borders with Lebanon, more to contain, and with Gaza, ready to attack," he said.

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Oct. 11, 2023. Jack Guez | AFP | Getty Images

Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel on Oct. 7, killing hundreds of Israeli civilians and taking around 130 more hostage. An initially stunned Israel responded by mobilizing reservists and launching relentless airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Israel's border communities have since been evacuated and the military said Tuesday it had regained control of the Gaza-Israel border, through which Hamas had launched its surprise offensive. In the meantime, however, the al-Qassam armed wing of Hamas launched hundreds of missiles at the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, saying the attack was "in response to the displacement of civilians." Amid the ongoing violence, an accurate death toll is difficult to ascertain but the figures as of 7:30 a.m. ET Thursday indicate that the total number of people killed is over 2,600 and the number of injured is approximately 9,500. Experts agree that the next week will be critical in determining the wider risks that could arise from the Israel-Hamas war, and warn that a wider, regional conflict drawing in Israel's neighbors and nemeses is a distinct risk. Here, CNBC looks at a number of possible outcomes of the conflict, ranging from a degraded and potentially destroyed Hamas to an international intervention and a cease-fire.

A degraded Hamas, at any cost?

Israel has vowed to "wipe out" Hamas once and for all, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising to "defeat them to death." Having pummeled Gaza with airstrikes for days, the expectation is that the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, will launch a ground invasion of the territory imminently, with analysts believing little to no mercy will be shown as Israel pledges to "crush and destroy" what it says are Hamas strongholds.

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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, speaking to soldiers near the Gaza fence, said Tuesday: "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," he added in the comments reported by Reuters.

People mourn at the graveside of Eden Guez, who was killed as she attended a festival that was attacked by Hamas gunmen from Gaza that left at least 260 people dead, at her funeral in Ashkelon, in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. Violeta Santos Moura | Reuters

Analysts say the language being used by Israeli authorities indicates that there will no return to the status quo of sporadic violence, rocket attacks, skirmishes and short-lived but intense fighting between Israel and Hamas that have characterized the last 18 years. Hamas took full control of Gaza in 2007 following Israel's withdrawal from the territory in 2005. "The rhythm of the Israel-Hamas conflict had become increasingly routine, with regular Hamas terrorism followed by predictable Israeli reprisals ... This routine is no more," William F. Wechsler, senior director of the Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council, commented in analysis this week. "The Israeli military response will reflect that reality, with ground operations accompanying air strikes. The likely result will be a significantly degraded Hamas and substantial destruction within Gaza," he noted. "And just as 9/11 proved to be a long-term strategic mistake for Al Qaeda, 10/7 will likely prove to be a similar strategic mistake for Hamas." Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak told CNBC's "Squawk Box" Wednesday that Israeli ground forces would take over the Gaza Strip in a matter of days. However, he did acknowledge that seizing Gaza City could be more complicated given the likely need for ground forces to go building to building to gain complete control of the city, which could take several weeks.

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Barak conceded that it was uncertain what would happen to Gaza after the operation, mooting the possibility that another Arab nation could take over the territory's administration temporarily. For now, he said, the main aim was to "paralyze" Hamas' military capabilities. The human cost of Israel's attempt to eradicate Hamas  given that Palestinians are currently unable to leave Gaza  is of grave concern to humanitarian organizations and observers like Chatham House's Mekelberg. "Many civilians have already been killed on the Palestinian side and if you are using this amount of power, if there's a ground campaign, there will be many more," Mekelberg said. "How many? Nobody will be able to tell you. I just hope they are able to minimize it. I hope there's real understanding that no one can benefit from dead civilians or the destruction of infrastructure, but sadly in war, that's going to happen and everyone is going to have to live with the consequences." "I think it's important to realize that we are in a completely new situation after what happened in Israel. The level of tolerance is now below zero," he said. Whole neighborhoods have already been flattened in Gaza and water supplies running low. The U.N. said Wednesday that 263,000 men, women and children have been displaced across Gaza with thousands of homes damaged or destroyed.

Escalation, within limits

One possible outcome of the current war that is far harder to predict is whether Israel's neighbors, many of whom are latently or overtly hostile to the Israeli state, will get involved. Hamas has allies in Syria and Lebanon, for instance, and Iran is its de-facto paymaster.

Israeli soldiers gather near Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) near Israel's border with Lebanon, northern Israel, October 9, 2023. Ammar Awad | Reuters

Israeli forces have already launched rockets into southern Lebanon, targeting sites it said belong to Iranian-affiliated armed group Hezbollah which, like Hamas, has the explicit aim of destroying Israel. Syria, on Israel's northern border, is also an unpredictable entity, although there are hopes it can be largely kept in check by Russia, with whom Israel has warm(-ish) relations.

Some other nearby countries, like Saudi Arabia, have been put in an awkward position by the conflict. Saudi Arabia and Israel  bound by a mutual disdain and distrust of Iran and Hamas, if not much else  were exploring a rapprochement ahead of Hamas' attack, but Riyadh is now under pressure from its Muslim population to support the Palestinian people. In any case, Israel is counting on, and has received, an outpouring of support from Western nations, with its allies stating that they are ready to provide the state with moral and material support. The U.S. has already sent a shipment of weapons. Visiting Tel Aviv Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered reassurances of ongoing U.S. support to Netanyahu on Thursday, stating: "We're here, we're not going anywhere."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin in March 2023. Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Experts agree that Israel has a window of opportunity to act but that some international partners might back off if the conflict escalates to engulf neighboring countries, or causes a humanitarian crisis on a massive scale. "The coming days and weeks are likely not only going to drive the future of Israel's security, but they may well also drive the future of its place in the region," Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative in the Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council, said in analysis this week. "Israel, as is often the case, will have some bandwidth from the international community in the coming days to launch a retaliatory strike. But the longer a war goes and the more carnage there is, the international community will begin to call for all sides to de-escalate," he noted. "Jerusalem is unlikely to accede to that request unless it views that it has achieved at least some of its objectives," he noted. He noted that while Saudi Arabia may be "privately supportive" of Israel's efforts to quash Hamas, the Arab world is unlikely to be, "especially as images from television, print, and X (formerly Twitter) highlight death and destruction in Gaza and potentially Lebanon."

Peace a distant prospect

Some countries, namely China and Russia, have called for a cease-fire in Israel, saying only diplomacy and a two-state solution  which envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel  will bring about peace and stability. For now, however, a cease-fire looks nigh-on impossible, with the conflict likely about to enter a "hot" phase of active operations on the ground.

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Demonstrators call for immigration reform near the White House on Feb. 14, 2022. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images

As the U.S. fertility rate continues to fall, there are growing concerns about the long-term economic impact: A smaller population means less tax revenue, which could reduce funding for programs such as Social Security and Medicare. But immigration policy reform could be one solution, some experts say. Lea este articulo en espanol aqui. The U.S. birth rate fell slightly in 2022 compared with 2021, with roughly 3.7 million babies born nationwide, and the birth rate still hasn't recovered to pre-pandemic levels, according to an initial analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A growing concern for economists, the U.S. fertility rate has generally been below the replacement rate  which is needed to maintain the current population  since 1971 and has consistently been below the replacement rate since 2007.

"The tax base is shrinking, and allowing immigrants to come in lawfully is an easy solution to that," said Jackie Vimo, senior economic justice policy analyst at the National Immigration Law Center. "It's the answer hiding in plain sight." In 2022, foreign-born U.S. residents  including legally admitted immigrants, refugees, temporary residents and undocumented immigrants  represented about 18% of U.S. workers, up from 17.4% in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants would offer eligible workers better education and employment opportunities while boosting federal tax revenue, Vimo said.

Reform could offer 'huge benefits' to tax base

Depending on the scope of changes, immigration policy reform could provide "huge benefits" to the U.S. tax base and economy, said Silva Mathema, director for immigration policy at the Center for American Progress. In a 2021 report, the organization modeled the economic impact of four scenarios involving a pathway to legalization and citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The most comprehensive option  a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants  would increase the U.S. gross domestic product by a total of $1.7 trillion over 10 years and create 438,800 new jobs, according to the report. Eligible workers would earn $14,000 more annually after 10 years.

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"Immigrants currently without a pathway to citizenship pay billions in taxes, even though they don't benefit from many of the programs they pay into," such as Social Security and Medicare, Vimo said. Undocumented immigrant-led households paid an estimated $18.9 billion in federal taxes and $11.7 billion in combined state and local taxes in 2019, according to the American Immigration Council. However, other experts caution that growing the U.S. population through expanded immigration may not boost tax revenue as expected because there's little control over the ages of new residents.

Immigrants currently without a pathway to citizenship pay billions in taxes, even though they don't benefit from many of the programs they pay into. Jackie Vimo Senior economic justice policy analyst at the National Immigration Law Center

"You will have a bigger economy, and you will have more tax revenue, but you will also have more people," said Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies. "There's no evidence your per capita GDP will go up."

The challenges of 'common-sense policy'
An Israeli army officer walks on July 25, 2014 during an army-organised tour in a tunnel said to be used by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip for cross-border attacks. Israel launched its military offensive aiming at destroying tunnels used by Gaza militants.

Israeli troops are massing on the border of Gaza following Saturday's surprise attack inside of Israel, but their orders are still unclear.

What is clear, however  according to Israeli troops who've fought inside Gaza before  any invasion is going to be difficult, dangerous and bloody.

Gaza  with more than 15,000 people per each of its 139 square miles  is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Inside military circles in Israel, there are two Gazas to contend with: Upper Gaza, which is everything above ground, and lower Gaza, where bombs and drones can't get to, and sophisticated satellites can't see deep under the ground.

"You have babies and terrorists in the same house," said one reserve soldier who declined to give his name due to his role in Israel's security service. The soldier has fought in Gaza several times over the last 15 years.

Israel believes Hamas is trying to draw soldiers into territory the militant group knows much better. Officials expect the tunnels and ground throughout the area to be booby-trapped with explosives.

"Nobody really knows what's underground," said Harel Chorev, a Palestinian historian at Tel Aviv University's Moshe Dayan Center for Middle East and African Studies.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with Tom Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, seated left, on a C-17 aircraft and they depart Tel Aviv, Thursday Oct. 12, 2023, en route to Jordan.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed Tel Aviv after reassuring U.S. support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Blinken said there had been discussions with Israeli officials about how to protect civilians in Gaza and provide them with safe passage.



"We also talked about possibilities for safe passage for civilians who want to leave or get out of the way in Gaza," Blinken said. "And that's a conversation, a discussion that we will pursue in the coming days, including with some of the countries that we'll be visiting. So, this is this is important. And this is an area for focus."

Blinken said he had discussed ways to address the humanitarian needs of people living in Gaza to protect them from harm, "while Israel conducts its legitimate security operations to defend itself from terrorism and to try to ensure that this never happens again."

He added: "On the humanitarian situation in Gaza, I think it's first important to remember the fundamental issue that makes this complicated. Hamas continues to use civilians as human shields, something that's not new, something that they've always done, intentionally putting civilians in harm's way to protect them to try to protect themselves or protect their infrastructure or protect their weapons. So that's one of the basic facts that Israel has to deal with."

"And of course, civilians should not be used in any way as the targets of military operations. They are not the target of Israel's operations," he said.

 Riya Bhattacharjee
Truist Securities on Thursday made a "thoughtful" argument in support of Exxon Mobil 's (XOM) decision to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD), CNBC's Jim Cramer said.

The analysts at Truist upgraded their rating on Exxon's stock to buy from hold and boosted their price target to $131 per share from $110. The firm expects Exxon to experience long-term benefits from owning Pioneer, including improved well productivity.

"This is a very thoughtful piece, which really, I think, would be ammo against" a potential challenge from U.S. antitrust regulators, Cramer said Thursday on "Squawk on the Street."

Exxon's all-stock deal announced Wednesday values Pioneer at nearly $60 billion. The tie-up, which is expected to close in the first half of next year, would make Exxon the largest producer in the Permian Basin, an oil-rich region in West Texas and New Mexico.

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Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club, owns Pioneer  but Cramer intends to sell the entire stake in the coming days. He said he wished Exxon paid a larger premium for Pioneer and will redeploy elsewhere the cash raised from the expected sale.

"I'm not saying I was against [the acquisition]," Cramer explained Thursday. "I was hoping for more. But if you like Exxon, if you like the combination, you're going to get more."

Cramer's Trust also owns Coterra Energy (CTRA), a Houston-based oil and gas producer.
The Goldman Sachs logo is seen on at the New York Stock Exchange on September 13, 2022 in New York City.

The Malaysian government on Thursday denied allegations by Goldman Sachs that it had breached a settlement deal over the U.S. bank's role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB corruption scandal, after the firm sued Malaysia in a British court.

Goldman Sachs in 2020 had agreed to pay $3.9 billion to settle Malaysia's criminal probe over its role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB corruption scandal.

But the parties are now in disagreement over the settlement, which stipulates that Goldman should make an interim payment if Malaysia did not recover at least $500 million from the firm by August 2022.

Malaysia's Attorney General Chambers said in a statement that the allegation of breaches mischaracterises the conduct of the government and it would prepare its response, adding that "the interest of the Malaysian people is paramount."

Earlier, Malaysia's 1MDB task force said Goldman Sachs' move to sue in a London arbitration court was "premature".

"At this juncture... parties are still considered to be in the amicable good faith discussions stage and therefore as an aggrieved party, the 1MDB Taskforce views Goldman Sachs' initiation of arbitration proceedings as premature and without due consideration of necessary prerequisites," 1MDB task force chairman Johari Abdul Ghani said in a statement.

The bank had requested several extensions to a deadline for discussions to settle the dispute, with the latest deadline coming up on Nov. 8, he said.

Johari accused Goldman of trying to distract from the interim payment, and said the Malaysian government would respond to the matter accordingly.

Goldman Sachs lodged its suit less than two months after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim threatened to take the company to court.

Malaysian and U.S. authorities estimate some $4.5 billion were stolen from 1MDB between 2009 and 2014, in a globe-spanning scheme that implicated high-level government and banking officials in Malaysia and elsewhere.

Goldman had helped 1MDB raise $6.5 billion in two bond offerings, earning itself $600 million in fees, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
SAG-AFTRA members hold "Rock The City For A Fair Contract" rally in Times Square on July 25, 2023 in New York City.

Negotiations between the studios and the union representing thousands of actors on strike in Hollywood have been suspended, both parties announced.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said in a statement late Wednesday that the gap between it and the union known as SAG-AFTRA "is too great."

"Conversations are no longer moving us in a productive direction," the alliance, known as AMPTP, said. (The trade association represents NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.)

SAG-AFTRA, which stands for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has been on strike since July 14.

It said in a message to members early Thursday that "it is with profound disappointment that we report the industry CEOs have walked away from the bargaining table after refusing to counter our latest offer."

The actors union went on strike weeks after writers did so, on May 2. The Writers Guild of America strike ended almost five months later, on Sept. 27. Members of that union ratified its agreement this week.

The actors union and the AMPTP said in late September that they were resuming negotiations.

SAG-AFTRA said in its statement Thursday that "We have negotiated with them in good faith, despite the fact that last week they presented an offer that was, shockingly, worth less than they proposed before the strike began."

The trade association for studios singled out a viewership bonus that it said was sought by SAG-AFTRA and which the studios say "would create an untenable economic burden." It said the measure could cost $800 million a year.

SAG-AFTRA accused the studios of "bully tactics" including having "intentionally misrepresented to the press the cost of the above proposal  overstating it by 60%."

SAG-AFTRA says it needs "a modern contract that addresses modern issues" and wants pay raises, protections surrounding use of artificial intelligence and greater participation in streaming revenue, which has eroded traditional residual payments.

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC. NBCUniversal is a member of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Storage drums stacked in the Keihin industrial area of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The International Energy Agency on Thursday said that oil markets are likely to remain on edge as the Israel-Hamas war persists, with investors closely monitoring the potential for output disruption in the Middle East. The world's leading energy watchdog said in its latest monthly oil market report, that while the conflict had not yet had a direct impact on physical supply, energy market participants would "remain on tenterhooks" as the crisis unfolds. "The Middle East conflict is fraught with uncertainty and events are fast developing," the IEA said in its report. "Against a backdrop of tightly balanced oil markets anticipated by the IEA for some time, the international community will remain laser focused on risks to the region's oil flows," the energy agency added.

Follow our live updates Israel-Hamas war and the latest news from the Gaza Strip

Noting a "sharp escalation in geopolitical risk," the IEA said it would continue to closely monitor oil markets and "stands ready to act if necessary to ensure markets remain adequately supplied." In the event of an abrupt oil supply shortage, the IEA's response includes member countries releasing emergency stocks and/or implementing demand restraint measures. Israel is not a major oil producer and no major oil infrastructure runs close to the Gaza Strip. The IEA notes, however, that the Middle East accounts for more than one third of global seaborne oil trade, and the Israel-Hamas conflict has ratcheted up fears the fighting may affect regional energy production.

The IEA report comes as the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its sixth day and follows a devastating and coordinated assault from Palestinian militant group Hamas on southern Israel over the weekend. Israel has since pulverized Gaza with airstrikes and is expected to launch a ground offensive against Hamas in the region in the coming days. Israel has also ordered the "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip, seeking to stop the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel to the already blockaded population of roughly 2.3 million people. As a result of the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war, at least 1,200 Israelis have been killed, with more than 2,700 injured, according to Israel's military. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health says 1,203 people in Gaza have been killed, with 5,763 injured.

'A major concern to the market'

"The conflict has certainly raised geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and this is something that we at the IEA are watching very closely," Toril Bosoni, head of the oil markets division at the International Energy Agency, told CNBC's "Street Signs Europe" on Thursday. "For now, there has been no direct impact on supplies. We're watching this. If it spills over and spreads to the wider Middle East this is, of course, a great concern," Bosoni added. "This is something that is a major concern to the market." Asked whether the IEA was worried about the prospect of OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia or other oil producers weaponizing oil exports in support of Hamas, Bosoni replied, "What we're hearing from the OPEC+ alliance is that they stand ready to do what they can to stabilize the market, and this is really reassuring."

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Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) waits to speak during a news conference after a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill May 10, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Republican lawmakers remained divided Thursday after nominating Rep. Steve Scalise as their candidate for speaker of the House of Representatives, raising the prospect that the lower chamber will once again face a drawn-out election with multiple rounds of voting.

The GOP majority leader from Louisiana does not appear to have the 217 Republican votes needed to win the speaker's gavel at this time given the tight margin in the closely divided House.

Scalise secured his party's nomination Wednesday after defeating Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio in a narrow 113-to-99 vote during a closed-door meeting.

"The conversations we've been having with my colleagues over the last few days leading up to this show that there's a resolve that we need to get back to work," Scalise said after winning the nomination Wednesday.

But the party remained divided after the internal ballot and the House adjourned Wednesday evening without a full floor vote on Scalise's candidacy. It is unclear when Scalise will face the House.

The GOP held an hours-long, closed-door meeting Thursday to discuss a path forward, but several Republican lawmakers told NBC News they do not know what the next steps are to resolve the impasse.

The House has been leaderless for more than a week, after a faction of hard-right Republicans engineered the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California.

McCarthy said Thursday that Scalise faces an uphill battle in securing enough votes from Republicans on the House floor to take the gavel.

"It's not an easy task," McCarthy said. The California congressman also said Scalise is running out of time to rally the party behind him. Scalise has been meeting with holdouts Thursday in an effort to win them over.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, one of the GOP lawmakers who remains opposed to Scalise, said the Louisiana congressman should face a floor vote Thursday rather than another closed-door party meeting.

Greene teased the prospect that Scalise will have to face multiple rounds of voting. McCarthy faced 15 ballots before he was elected speaker in January due to opposition from hard-right Republicans.

"If Kevin McCarthy had to go 15 rounds then the next Speaker should be able to do the same or more if they have to," Greene said.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Walgreens Boots Alliance  Walgreens Boots Alliance popped 7% in midday trading after sharing that it has made progress in its cost-cutting program. The retail pharmacy giant on Thursday missed fiscal fourth-quarter earnings estimates , reporting an adjusted 67 cents per share, while analysts polled by LSEG, formerly known as Refinitiv, forecast 69 cents per share. Spotify Technology  The streaming stock gained nearly 1% after Morgan Stanley named Spotify a new top pick, saying it's positioned for the long term and can claim greater market share amid rising engagement levels. MongoDB  The stock dipped 0.2% after Bank of America initiated coverage of the software company at a buy rating , citing its solid footing to capture market share from competitors such as Amazon and Microsoft. ResMed  ResMed shares dropped 5.5% after RBC downgraded the medical device company to sector perform from outperform, saying it expects slowing earnings growth. Birkenstock  Birkenstock shares extended their slide Thursday with a 6.6% drop. The German shoe brand fell more than 12% in its stock market debut Wednesday. First Solar  The solar stock slipped 1.4%. The drop in shares came even after Barclays upgraded First Solar to an overweight rating . The Wall Street firm said the company's current valuation offers an attractive entry point for investors and shares trade at a discount to competitors. Ford Motor  Shares of the automaker slipped 2%. The action comes a day after the United Auto Workers union launched a strike against Ford's Kentucky truck plant, signifying an escalation in its dispute with the automaker. The plant is Ford's largest measured by both workforce and revenue. Fastenal  The industrial supplies company jumped 7.5% after beating expectations for third-quarter earnings. Fastenal posted third-quarter earnings of 52 cents per share, while analysts polled by FactSet anticipated 50 cents per share. Revenue was in line with expectations at $1.85 billion. Hormel Foods  Shares dropped 9.8% in midday trading. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union on Thursday said it ratified a "historic" contract with Hormel Foods that includes hourly wage increases of $3 to $6 an hour. The UFCW represents 1.3 million workers in grocery, meatpacking and other industries. Separately, Hormel Foods also held its investor day on Thursday.  CNBC's Brian Evans, Lisa Kailai Han, Hakyung Kim, Samantha Subin and Darla Mercado contributed reporting.
Here are Thursday's biggest calls on Wall Street: BTIG upgrades Warby Parker to buy from neutral BTIG said the eyewear company has the "right playbook." "We are upgrading WRBY to Buy from Neutral and establishing a $17 price target, as our proprietary survey work shows significant untapped opportunity, and we believe the company has the right playbook in place to capitalize on this potential." Goldman Sachs reiterates Amazon as buy Goldman Sachs said it's standing by its buy rating ahead of earnings later this month. "We reiterate our Buy rating on AMZN and continue to point to the shares offering an attractive risk-reward within the eCommerce sub-sector and our broader coverage as we slightly lower our 12-month PT to $175 (from $180, on higher CapEx) but still see an attractive 2:1 upside/downside skew in the shares." Citi reiterates Netflix as buy Citi said it's standing by its buy rating on the stock heading into earnings next week. "First, the good news: Netflix continues to take share of video viewing and the ad tier still has significant upside potential. Second, the neutral news: We expect Netflix to report results in line with the Street on all key metrics. Third, the bad news: consensus estimates for 4Q23 and 2024 may need to come down for revenues and margins." Barclays upgrades First Solar to overweight from equal weight Barclays said it sees a compelling entry point for the solar stock. "We upgrade FSLR to OW as we think the risk/reward at this price offers an attractive entry." Read more about this call here. Morgan Stanley names Spotify as a top pick Morgan Stanley named Spotify as its new top pick and said the stock is well-positioned for the long term. "When combined with our differentiated earnings outlook and an increasingly rational competitive environment, we reiterate our OW and elevate to our new Top Pick." Read more about this call here. Morgan Stanley names Taiwan Semiconductor as a catalyst-driven idea Morgan Stanley said it's bullish heading into the company's earnings report next week. "Any constructive commentary from TSMC with 3Q23 results about a cycle recovery could be a catalyst for the market." JPMorgan reiterates Plug Power as overweight JPMorgan said the company's recent guidance revision "could act as a clearing event ahead of multiple near-term catalysts." "From a stock perspective, PLUG has been underperforming on what we think is a risk-off environment coupled with prior missed execution on fuel margins in particular, presumably related to hydrogen production delays, and perhaps due to the company not raising margin guidance." RBC reiterates Zoom as outperform RBC said it's standing by its outperform rating on shares of Zoom . "We remain optimistic on reaccelerating growth (with solid margins), while acknowledging a lack of near-term catalysts and a challenging outlook could keep investors sidelined for a few quarters." BMO initiates Coursera as outperform BMO said it sees strong revenue growth for the education company. "We expect COUR's robust revenue growth to continue through its flywheel approach and taking advantage of key secular drivers (upskilling, digital transformation, international)." JPMorgan adds e.l.f. Beauty to the focus list JPMorgan added the stock to its analyst focus list and said it sees a "growth opportunity." "We are adding ELF to the Analyst Focus List as growth opportunity, as we believe worries about a deeper than anticipated deceleration (already embedded in guidance due to the tough comparison) seem exaggerated." Bernstein upgrades Clorox to market perform from underperform Bernstein said in its upgrade of the stock that the bad news is already priced in. " Clorox stock is down 22% over the past six weeks, under-performing the market by 19%pts. This move has been - for the most part - driven by the cyber-attack from which CLX suffered in mid-August, which has led to significant supply chain disruption, and out-of-stocks for CLX products." Bank of America reiterates Ford as buy Bank of America said its standing by its buy rating on the stock despite the strike at Ford's largest truck plant. "We see this move from the UAW as concerning given that Ford gave the largest concessions to the union among the Detroit Three. It is possible, however, that since Ford has been the most accommodating, the UAW might believe it can obtain additional concessions by increasing the pressure." Bank of America reiterates Coinbase as underperform Bank of America said it's standing by its underperform rating on the crypto company. "COIN shares in 3Q benefited from a sharp decline in short interest (today = ~14% of float vs ~30% in late June), but we see limited catalysts to drive a re-rating higher and believe top-line estimates could be cut following a potentially soft 3Q print." Wells Fargo reiterates Microsoft as overweight Wells Fargo said it's standing by its overweight rating on the stock ahead of earnings later this month. "Post our recent checks, we expect MSFT' s upcoming FQ1 results will help support an ongoing stabilization narrative, but aren't expecting meaningful upside to NT #s. We remain optimistic for AI-related tailwinds to more tangibly surface in 2H24/25." Bank of America upgrades Target to buy from neutral Bank of America said it sees an attractive risk/reward for Target shares. " TGT shares have declined 19-20% since the end of July (vs. the S & P down -5%) and with the stock trading at just 12x 2yr forward earnings, we believe the risk/reward outlook has improved and see catalysts that could drive upside to our modestly above-consensus EPS estimates as well as P/E multiple expansion." Read more about this call here. Bank of America initiates MongoDB as buy Bank of America said in its initiation of the database company that MongoDB is "best-in-class." "We believe that the stock's premium valuation is justified given a long runway for share gains in the rapidly growing unstructured database market." Truist upgrades Exxon Mobil to buy from hold Truist said it's bullish on the company's deal for Pioneer. "While we forecast moderate near-term incremental earnings/cash flow from Exxon acquiring Pioneer (PXD, Hold), we anticipate more pronounced longer-term benefits in '25+ given the notably more productive proforma US inventory." Seaport initiates Shopify as buy Seaport said in its initiation of the stock that it sees strong revenue growth. " Shopify is transitioning towards becoming the software/payments 'platform-of-choice' for a much wider range of merchants than its traditional base of SMBs, including enterprise-sized customers." RBC downgrades ResMed to sector perform from outperform RBC said in its downgrade of ResMed that it sees slowing earnings growth. "With minimal EPS growth expected over the next few years (5% CAGR), financials likely to disappoint consensus numbers and GLP-1 fears unlikely to be countered in the short term, we downgrade to Sector Perform with a revised PT of $202." Mizuho downgrades Beyond Meat to underperform from neutral Mizuho downgraded the alternative meat company over too much uncertainty. "We are downgrading BYND to Underperform (from Neutral) on category pressure, cash burn, & risk to ests, and reducing our PT on OTLY to $4 from $7." D.A. Davidson upgrades Dynatrace to buy from hold D.A. Davidson said in its upgrade of the software company that it sees rising demand. "Over the past two quarters, there has been a notable uptick in developer activity related to Dynatrace. "
A sign is posted in front of an apartment building with available rentals on June 09, 2023 in San Francisco, California.

WASHINGTON  Two federal consumer protection agencies have reached a $23 million settlement with credit reporting firm Trans Union LLC, which does business as TransUnion, and a namesake subsidiary for failing to report accurate tenant screening information  the largest amount ever recovered in an FTC tenant-screening matter, according to a Thursday release.

"Americans across the country were put at risk of wrongful housing denials because TransUnion failed to follow the law," Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra said. "We are ordering TransUnion to cease its yearslong illegal activity, clean up its broken business practices, redress its victims, and pay penalties."

The Federal Trade Commission and the CFPB said Colorado-based TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions, Inc. (TURSS) and the parent company violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act for neglecting to ensure the validity of third-party background data and for inconsistently providing tenants with the names of vendors responsible for sharing criminal and eviction records.

The FCRA protects information collected by consumer-reporting agencies.

Under the proposed order, which is pending approval by a federal court, $11 million of a $15 million settlement will compensate consumers and $4 million will go to the CFPB's civil penalty fund.

The CFPB is separately ordering TransUnion to pay $8 million for backlogging "tens of thousands" of consumer requests to place or remove security freezes and locks on credit reports while telling customers they were completed.

"We corrected associated system issues in 2020 and have processes in place to monitor and address any issues going forward," TransUnion told CNBC.

The firm also said it has worked with the CFPB and FTC over the past year "to enhance our rental-screening reporting practices, including making certain changes to how eviction records are reported."

"We believe these changes will soon become industry standard," a TransUnion representative told CNBC. "This settlement reflects the agencies' evolving regulatory objectives and our openness to join them in reasonable initiatives that are beneficial to consumers and support safe, affordable housing."

TURSS, which provides consumer background screening reports for tenant and employee selection, allowed multiple inaccuracies in tenant eviction data from third-party sources, according to a complaint filed in a Colorado federal court.

These records sometimes contained repeated instances of the same eviction case  such as a civil new filing and a civil dismissal  which TURSS often reported as separate events until April 2021, when the company began grouping events in a single case together after learning about the FTC's investigation, according to the complaint.

The agencies said TURSS also failed to accurately report the outcomes of the evictions, mislabeled the nature of monetary amounts associated with the cases and sometimes included sealed eviction records in screenings, the complaint said.

The CFPB and FTC further argued that tenants who can't access vendors that keep criminal and eviction records face challenges in correcting inaccurate background data.

"Consumers struggling to find housing shouldn't be shut out by tenant-screening reports that are ridden with errors and based on data from secret sources," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The companies must also address the violations in the complaint and provide consumers with means to dispute inaccurate information, according to the release.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures during a joint press conference with Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (not pictured) in Brussels on October 11, 2023.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his latest meeting with Kyiv's allies in Belgium on Wednesday  at which Kyiv hopes to secure more air defense systems, artillery and ammunition  could be "critical" to Ukraine's resilience this winter.

On Wednesday, Zelenskyy arrived in Belgium, where he is to take part in a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group  comprising 54 of Ukraine's international allies, including NATO members  on extra support for the country.

"I have an important appeal to all present defense ministers of the countries that are members of this powerful coalition," he said on Telegram, ahead of the meeting.

Zelenskyy is due to hold meetings with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

"We are preparing, we are ready. Now we need some support from the leaders," he told reporters, Reuters said, before meeting defense ministers from NATO and other allied countries.

Ahead of the meetings, Stoltenberg said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "preparing once again to use winter as a weapon of war" by attacking energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

"We need to prevent that, with more advanced and increased capabilities for air defense, we can make a big difference," Stoltenberg said, according to Reuters.

The meeting comes at a difficult time for Ukraine; the counteroffensive it launched in June has not made as much progress as allies hoped, given the extensive lines of defenses and fortifications laid by Russia last winter and spring.

 Holly Ellyatt
The speaker of Canadas senate wont be attending a Group of 20 event hosted by India this week as diplomatic relations between the two countries remain tense.

Raymonde Gagne wont attend the two-day parliamentary speakers summit starting Friday in New Delhi, a spokesperson for her office said Wednesday, declining to provide further information.

Two Indian officials confirmed Gagne wont be at the summit, adding that no reason was given for her non-attendance. They asked not to be identified to discuss sensitive information.

Om Birla, speaker of the lower house of Indias parliament, had told the media last week that Gagne had agreed to participate. Its not clear if Canada will have any representation at the meeting. A spokesperson for the office of Indias parliamentary speaker declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of playing a role in the assassination of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada. New Delhi has staunchly denied any involvement.

Separately, Canadas foreign minister said Wednesday the two countries are still in discussion over Indias request that Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in the country.

Diplomacy is always better when conversations remain private, and thats the approach I will continue to take when it comes to India, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told reporters on Wednesday.
Malaysian budget carrier MYAirline abruptly suspended operations on October 12, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and cited financial pressure within 11 months since taking to the skies of taking the decision. The announcement on social media caught many travellers by surprise as 40 flights were cancelled today.

The airline apologised for the "extremely painful decision", but said "significant financial pressures" forced it to suspend operations pending an ownership restructuring and recapitalisation of the company.

"We have worked tirelessly to explore various partnership and capital-raising options to prevent this suspension. Unfortunately, the constraints of time have left us with no alternative but to take this decision," the airline's board of directors said in their statement.

The move came just days after the airline said it was in advanced stages of finalising a strategic partnership. Local media reported that the suspension signalled that those talks may have collapsed.

The airline began flights last December with a fleet of nine aircraft that fly to domestic destinations and Thailand's capital, Bangkok. It is owned by businessman Allan Goh Hwan Hua. Just two days ago, CEO Rayner Teo, who has a 2% stake in the carrier, stepped down citing health reasons.

The Malaysian Aviation Commission instructed MYAirline to immediately halt sales and bookings of flights, and said refunds must be paid. It said it was investigating the airline over complaints that employees' salaries were unpaid, among other issues.

Also read:

MYAirline made the announcement on social media before dawn on Monday, after passengers on early flights had already checked in at the terminal. Angry travellers took to social media to criticise the carrier for the sudden announcement that left them stranded.

Malaysia Airports, which manages the country's airports, said some 5,000 passengers were affected on Thursday as 39 flights to local destinations and one to Thailand's Don Mueang Airport were cancelled. It said it was working to help those affected and the situation was under control.

Malaysia Airlines and low-cost carrier AirAsia and Batik Air announced discounts and special fares to help MYAirline passengers affected by the suspension.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs proposes the establishment of three sea routes for foreign ships passing through Philippine waters, Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Thursday.

"Together with our partner agencies in the executive branch, we took the effort of coming up with a unified position on the ASL (Archipelagic Sea Lane) billsthe number of ASLs would be limited to three," Manalo said during the Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones hearing.

According to the United Nations, an ASL is established by an archipelagic state like the Philippines to make way for "expeditious passage of foreign ships and aircraft through or over its archipelagic waters and the adjacent territorial sea."

"The enactment of an ASL law has significant national security, diplomatic, and practical implications for the Philippines, given its status as one of the largest archipelagic states in the world," Manalo added.

The measures tackled include Senate Bill Nos. 78, 462, 1490, 2395 and 2438 which all propose the establishment of ASLs.

DFA said the first of the three sea lanes is the one on the Balintang Channel in the north.

The second route will pass through the Celebes Sea, Cebu Sea, Sulu Sea, near Mindoro and end at the West Philippine Sea.

The last suggested lane will pass through Celebes, Basilan Sulu, Nasubata, Balabac, and also end at the WPS.

Meanwhile, other lanes may be established given that it was designated by the President as the chief executive.

The Senate special panel tackled the ASL bills after a foreign vessel rammed a Filipino fishing boat off the waters of Bajo de Masinloc.

Senator Robin Padilla, who also proposed one of the bills, said ASLs for foreign vessels passing via the county's exclusive economic zone will provide protection to small fishing vessels.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  The United Kingdom's Minister of State for Defence Baroness Annabel Goldie is in the country in a bid to further strengthen ties with the Philippines.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Thursday, Goldie said the relationship between the two countries is important as both share the same values.

"The United Kingdom and the Philippines are aligned in wanting to stand up for international law, wanting to have the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea both respected and implemented," Goldie told CNN Philippines' News Night.

She also said the relationship encompasses more than just those matter.

"We're engaging in diplomatic activity, commercial activity," Goldie said. "We're looking at where we can provide training. And I've been exploring in my visit here opportunities that may assist the United Kingdom in being able to further support the Philippines."

The minister earlier met with officials from the Philippine Coast Guard and discussed efforts to uphold maritime security.

She also met with Navy Chief Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. and talked about the Sama Sama (Together) exercises designed to enhance interoperability and fostering regional cooperation among various nations in countering "non-traditional challenges that transcend our borders."

Goldie was also met by Philippine defense officials to identify areas of expertise which can be shared by both countries.

"We want the Philippines to feel supported, and that is part of my visit here," she said.

In a statement posted on the official website of the UK, Goldie said, "The UK remains committed to our relationship with the Philippines, and I am pleased both to be visiting for the first time and to be the first UK Defence Minister to visit in many years."

RELATED: PH, UK commit to further strengthen defense, maritime cooperation, other partnerships
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  Authorities are working on bringing home the remains of the two Filipinos who were killed in the attack on Israel by the Hamas militants, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

We are not sure if the families prefer to have them here but the process is ongoing, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told CNN Philippines The Source on Thursday.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel confirmed on Wednesday that two Filipinos were killed in the ongoing war between the Jewish state and Hamas.

In a briefing on Thursday afternoon, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said the identities of the Filipinos would not be disclosed per families request.

One of the fatalities was caregiver Paul Vincent Castelvi, 42, from Pampanga. His father Nick already gave permission to disclose his son's name.

The other Filipino was a 33-year-old female from Pangasinan, who was working in Israel for six years, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan said Wednesday.

According to Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, a Filipino nurse killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict had stayed by her elderly patient's side during the attack. Netizens, including the Israeli official, honored the health worker through social media posts.

Time and again, our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), in the health and human care sector most especially, have proven themselves worthy of their craft, of their skills, said Cacdac. Its a combination of technical skill and big heart, yan ang tatak ng manggagawang Pilipino lalo na sa [thats the brand of Filipino worker, especially in the] health and human care."

The reports  although they still need to be validated, I've read the Facebook post  will come as no surprise actually, the heroic efforts of our Filipino caregivers in Israel, he added.

De Vega said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already spoken to the bereaved families and offered his condolences. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is also coordinating with them to provide financial assistance, the DFA official added.

In a separate statement, Marcos said he has assured the affected families that the government will provide them with all assistance they need.

We will provide the utmost support to these families, he said. This tragedy will not deter our spirit. We will continue to stand for peace.

Repatriating the remains will take time, especially with the current situation, De Vega said. He noted that even under non-war conditions, the process takes at least two weeks.

Cacdac said the DMW will work with the Philippine Embassy in Israel for the repatriation of the remains, and secure the proper clearances from Israeli authorities.

De Vega said another body is still being identified with Israeli authorities expected to provide more information about the deceased in the next 24 to 48 hours.

The DFA also said three Filipinos remain missing. De Vega said they were last seen in the area where Hamas launched its large-scale surprise attack against Israel last Saturday.

Meanwhile, 70 of the 137 Filipinos in Gaza have requested for repatriation, according to De Vega.

Right now, there is no immediate repatriation because Gaza is under a blockade, he said.

Latest tally showed that the war has killed at least 1,200 people in Israel and at least 1,100 people in Gaza.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have assured Filipinos scheduled for deployment to Israel that they will get assistance from the government, DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said Thursday.

In a briefing, Cacdac said the government learned about a group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in a Middle Eastern country after leaving Manila for Israel on Oct. 7 or 8, when the militant group Hamas launched its attack.

The Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel has restricted aircraft entry, Cacdac said.

"In this scenario, (OWWA) Administrator Arnell (Ignacio) and I agreed for the DMW-OWWA to provide assistance, 'yong ating (the) action fund will be mobilized to assist those who have been stranded due to the current situation," he said.

"Even those who are still here, 'yong may mga OECs (those with Overseas Employment Certificates), approved contracts, and visas, tutulungan namin sila (we will help them)," the DMW officer-in-charge said.

The policy was implemented during the conflict in Sudan in April when Filipinos were evacuated from the North African nation, Cacdac said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has placed Israel under Alert Level 2, whereby non-essential movement for Filipinos is restricted and there will be no new deployment of workers.

Cacdac said DMW is coordinating with Israel's Population and Immigration Authority to "firm up the number" of OFWs unable to leave the Philippines for Israel.

For those reportedly stranded, Cacdac said, "They are not too many, they are a handful."

He noted that the deployment for caregivers to Israel has been suspended since October, and officials believe most of the affected Filipinos are employed as hotel workers.

Meanwhile, livelihood aid, reintegration assistance, and psychosocial help will be provided to returning OFWs, the DMW official said. The specifics of assistance have yet to be announced.

Cacdac said 22 Filipinos in Israel are seeking repatriation, while foreign affairs officials said 70 Filipinos in Gaza are requesting the same. The government has raised Alert Level 3 in Gaza, which means voluntary repatriation for Filipinos working and living in the war-torn area.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged energy regulators to launch an investigation into the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines' (NGCP) 8.7-billion spending for janitorial and security services.

The NGCP claimed in a press briefing that the multi-billion spending was for 583 facilities, each costing the company 87,000 per month.

"Hindi tayo kailangang mangapa sa dilim para makita ang mga pasilidad na pinagkagastusan ng bilyun-bilyon ng NGCP. Sa katunayan ay mas madali itong makikita ng ERC o ng Department of Energy dahil physical facilities ang mga ito kung ihahambing sa mahiwagang mga proyekto na pinopondohan ng confidential funds na mahirap hanapin," Hontiveros said.

[Translation: We don't need to fumble in the dark to see the facilities that the NGCP is claiming they spent billions on. As a matter of fact, this can be easily checked by the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) or the Department of Energy because these are physical facilities, compared to the mysterious projects funded by confidential funds that are not easy to find.]

Hontiveros said she received information that the NGCP had given false information about the number of facilities it was maintaining. She said her sources revealed that were only about 260 facilities, not 583 as the company claimed.

"Such as the 77 repeater stations situated on remote mountain tops, require only a single security guard rather than janitorial staff. Similarly, over a hundred substation facilities and control centers, which are predominantly inaccessible to the public, may not necessitate around-the-clock janitorial services," she said.

On May 29, the lawmaker expressed support to a proposal seeking a refund on the uncompleted projects of the NGCP.

She said she has been pushing for the refund since the 18th Congress, when NGCPs "unconscionable greed with its reward payouts" was discovered.

READ: Hontiveros backs proposal to refund collected fees for NGCP's unfinished projects

"To validate the accuracy of these numbers and determine whether NGCP is disseminating misleading information on this issue, the ERC should conduct a comprehensive verification of the physical existence of these facilities and scrutinize the actual contracts governing janitorial and security services. This is in line with the regulator's duty to perform a performance and rate audit of the NGCP," Hontiveros said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  Immigration personnel extort around 150,000 from blacklisted people in exchange for letting them enter and leave the country, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.

May info kami na sa blacklisted persons na nakaka-travel in or out, 150,000 na ang presyo ng escort, he said in a press briefing.

[Translation: We have information that for blacklisted persons who want to travel in or out, the escort price is 150,000.]

Remulla said he met with a Bureau of Immigration (BI) official to discuss the resurgence of a scheme he likened to the pastillas scam.

The scheme was uncovered in 2020. It involved BI officials who allowed Chinese nationals to enter the country without background checks in exchange for grease money wrapped like a pastillas - a local milk-based confection rolled in a wrapping paper.

Were trying to uncover kasi nagkakabuhay na naman dyan ang mga sindikato na parang may pastillas na naman, the justice chief said.

[Translation: We're trying to uncover because the syndicates are returning, its similar to the pastillas scheme.]

Remulla said he has directed the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the syndicate.

With reports from CNN Philippines' Anjo Alimario.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11)  It's too early to discuss negotiations and a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss.

Israel has declared war on Hamas after it carried out an unprecedented attack by land, sea and air on Saturday.

Speaking on CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Wednesday, Fluss said Israel is expected to unleash its military might against Hamas in the coming days.

"This is the beginning of a war. We declared that we were in a state of war, and soon you will see the retaliation of Israel against Hamas," he said.

The ambassador said Israel will only consider negotiations once they have destroyed infrastructures and facilities of Hamas in Gaza.

He added: 'We cannot allow them to continue threatening, attacking, and killing our people."

'Civilian human shields'

On Monday, Palestinian Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Mohammad alleged that Israel soldiers were also targeting civilians, not just Hamas forces. He said the amount of destruction and lives lost in Gaza is unprecedented.

But according to Fluss, Hamas is utilizing common places such as mosques, hospitals, schools, and residential areas as their base.

"Hamas is targeting civilians, the Israeli Defense Forces is targeting only Hamas infrastructure," he clarified.

Fluss added that Israel is not waging a war against the Palestinian people.

"We advise them to keep a distance from Hamas operatives and facilities and you will not be affected," he said.

As of Oct. 11, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt Col. Jonathan Conricus said at least 1,200 people have died in Israel since the conflict erupted. The Palestinian Ministry of Health, meanwhile, said the death toll in Gaza has risen to 1,055, with 5,154 people injured.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11)  Israel said it has yet to decide on whether to open a humanitarian corridor to allow Filipinos in Gaza to return to the Philippines amid the continued Israel-Hamas conflict.

Other options, however, are still being discussed and considered, according to Israeli Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Esty Buzgan.

Buzgan was part of a virtual briefing on Thursday as the Department of Foreign Affairs raised Alert Level 3 in the war-torn Gaza, which means Filipino repatriation is now voluntary.

The DFA said at least 70 Filipinos in the Palestinian enclave are now seeking help to be flown back home.

"Right now, the country is not yet talking about the humanitarian corridor, I think it's too early," Buzgan said.

"But there are other options to leave Gaza Strip by Egypt, that's currently another possibility that needs to be coordinated with them, of course," she added. "But once we have more information on that, we will be happy to share," she added.

Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos earlier said he is working with his counterparts in Israel and Egypt to identify possible exit routes from Gaza. The embassy has jurisdiction over Gaza.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said his country is committed to ensuring the welfare of Filipino workers amid the ongoing war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel on Wednesday confirmed that two out of the total number of Filipinos reported missing were confirmed dead. It added that four Filipinos have yet to be accounted for, while 26 others, who were initially reported missing, have been transferred to safe locations.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Final Word on Wednesday, Fluss said Filipino workers in Israel receive the same safety mechanisms as any other Israeli.

Fluss added that the Israeli minister of foreign affairs told him that Israel is "fully committed to the welfare of Filipinos as we are for Israelis."

The ambassador urged Filipinos to communicate and be in touch with their families and relatives who are currently in Israel.

He added that Filipinos in Israel also have a choice to go back to the Philippines whenever they feel unsafe amid the siege.

"The airport is open. There are still flights, maybe less but there are still flights," Fluss added.

The Department of Migrant Workers on Wednesday said at least 23 Filipinos in Israel are waiting for approval from Israeli authorities to exit the Middle Eastern country and return to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Jordan said it is working with its counterparts in Israel and Egypt to identify possible exit routes from Gaza, as the number of Filipinos seeking repatriation from the Palestinian enclave continues to rise.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) should not have its own confidential funds since it can just tap security agencies to conduct its surveillance activities.

The DICT, in the first place, has a very low absorptive capacity among the agencies we have reviewed, he told CNN Philippines The Source on Thursday. We should maintain the zero allocation andthey can avail of the expert services of agencies who are having their own confidential and intelligence funds.

DICT Secretary Ivan Uy told CNN Philippines on Wednesday the agency will be vulnerable to a data breach and might end up like the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) if it will not be granted enough funds to renew and maintain its cybersecurity systems in 2024. It was one of the agencies whose confidential funds were realigned to those that focus on national security.

Lagman said the DICT can appeal this, but maintained the department can just tap cybersecurity experts of the National Bureau of Investigation and the military for their surveillance needs to prevent duplication of allocations.

Uy also told reporters on Wednesday that there are other government agencies hit by data breaches, but are not reporting it due to issues that might be uncovered.

The Philippine Statistics Authority recently revealed that it is looking into an alleged data breach that affected its Community-Based Monitoring System.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  A lawmaker on Thursday said the 981 million confidential funds realigned to national security agencies should still be reduced to prevent duplication of allocation and tasks.

The 981 million is too huge and this can be reduced to (an) amount which should be available not to all of these agencies but particularly the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) or the office of the executive director of the National Security Council (NSC), Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman told CNN Philippines The Source.

A small committee at the House of Representatives on Tuesday announced that the confidential funds of some civilian agencies, which include the Sara Duterte-led Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, have been realigned to agencies focused on national security.

Specifically, the NICA received 300 million, the NSC 100 million, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) 200 million, and the Department of Transportation 381.8 million for the development and expansion of Pag-asa Island Airport.

Lagman said the total amount should be halved and be allocated only to NICA and the office of the executive director of the NSC. Other agencies, like the PCG, can just tap their surveillance and intelligence services, so there will be no duplication of appropriations, he added.

The lawmaker also believes that no amount of confidential and intelligence funds allocated to security agencies would be enough to subdue Chinas aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

We should be able to have other means like economic sanctions to be imposed by the Philippinesin order to be able to get the implementation of the award, he said, referring to the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. The tribunal largely ruled in favor of the Philippines in areas covering its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf that are being claimed by Beijing.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12) - A supposed data breach in other government agencies based on a social media post is not confirmed, authorities said Thursday.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) said it has not received notification of compromised data from the Department of Science and Technology OneExpert system and the Philippine National Police (PNP) forensic group.

On the other hand, the Philippine Statistics Authority confirmed the data breach to its community-based monitoring system after a supposed social media post.

READ: PSA says alleged data breach limited to one system

"As of now, wala pa pong breach notification na natatanggap ang NPC from DOST and PNP," the NPC said in a statement sent to CNN Philippines.

[Translation: As of now, NPC has not yet received any breach notification from the DOST and the PNP.]

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy said the social media post claiming potential data leak in the agencies was not new.

"Matagal na rin po yan. 2022 rin. But we're checking, baka may bago," Uy said.

[Translation: That's old [in] 2022 as well, but we're checking if there are new (threats).]

In a separate statement on Thursday, Senator Win Gatchalian said the Information and Communications Technology Department and NPC should identify culprits behind the data breach in PSA and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

He said the PSA CBMS contains personal information for "assessing poverty down to the barangay level."

"This incident highlights the pressing need for the DICT to have access to confidential funds. Nakakabahala na hindi pa nga nareresolba ang hacking na nangyari sa PhilHealth, isa na namang ahensya ng gobyerno ang nakompromiso sa online security," Gatchalian said.

[Translation: ...It's alarming that we have not yet fully resolved the hacking in PhilHealth, and now another agency of the government has been compromised in its online security.]

CNN Philippines Correspondent Paige Javier and Digital Producer Kristelle Razon contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 11)  Its been days and yet overseas Filipino worker Rosielyn Aluya still cant sleep well at night as the sound of rockets and bombs randomly fill the air especially at night.

Rosielyn, who is in Tel Aviv, told CNN Philippines that while they are considerably far from the center of conflict, there were instances when rockets would hit nearby structures.

Grabe na yung trauma ko hindi na po talaga nawawala," she said. "Tuwing may giyera makakarinig ka lang ng kaunting kaluskos yung puso mo sobrang kaba.

[Translation: This has been a traumatic experience for me. In times of war, your heart is always pounding and you get nervous a lot even with small sounds.]

The OFW said the Israel-Hamas war has been the worst she has witnessed after being in Israel for the last couple of years.

She said she even witnessed how a rocket hit a neighboring bakeshop where she usually bought bread in the morning.

Nakita ko po talaga pagbagsak ng rocket. Ang laki ng butas na ginawa, at saka sa kabilang building ang daming wasak-wasak na bintana pati mga pader dahil sa impact ng rocket yun, she recalled.

[Translation: I saw how the rocket destroyed the building. Other establishments were destroyed too, there were broken windows due to the rockets impact.]

Hotel worker Rosielyn Asistores also shared her harrowing experience in the last three days.

Malapit lang po sa amin yung target area ng mga rocket," she said. "Habang nasa duty kami at ginagawa ang mga room, yung mga bintana biglang yumanig talaga pati yung pader dahil sa impact ng bomba."

[Translation: Our hotel is near one of the target areas of the rockets. While we were on duty we suddenly felt the building shake. We saw the windows and walls vibrate due to the bombings impact.]

Daily Banga, another hotel worker in Israel, said she and her co-workers decided to stay in their hotel rather than go home every day."

She said the bomb shelter in their hotel is also much bigger.

Mas mabuti na po na nasa hotel na at hindi na lumabas-labas pa," she said. "Mahirap din abutan ng sirena sa labas habang naglalakad."

[Translation: Its better to stay in the hotel for safety rather than go outside. It's also difficult if the (air raid) siren goes off while you're walking home.]

Banga also disclosed that one of their co-workers was kidnapped and killed by Hamas militants.

Ang receptionist po namin nabalitaan na lang namin na dinukot siya at pinatay ng Hamas, she said.

[Translation: We learned that our receptionist was taken and killed by Hamas.]

Despite these experiences, the OFWs in Israel still opt to stay for now.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has raised the crisis alert level in Israel to Alert Level 2 which means non-essential activities are restricted and there will be no deployment for new OFWs.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  The cyberattack on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) may be an inside job and a local hacker could be involved, the Department of Communications and Information Technology (DICT) said Thursday.

Asked by reporters if it was looking into an inside job angle, DICT Usec. Jeffrey Dy said it was possible as the affected community based monitoring system (CBMS) was only accessible internally.

READ: PSA says alleged data breach limited to one system

It [CMBS] is also web-based. Parang internal web, accessible by the regional offices. Again na we're only in the internal investigation so we cannot confirm, he added.

The PSA, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and possibly other government agencies have been hit by cyberattacks, putting government data and the personal information of millions of Filipinos at risk.

Dy said the attack on the PSA was not as sophisticated as the Medusa ransomware on PhilHealth, meaning the actor behind the breach is less complex.

In fact we already have certain leads and we will be providing those information both to PSA and law enforcement agencies so they can follow up. Perhaps we can catch the hacker. We believe the hacker to be local, he added.

As for the compromised PSA data, Dy said these were forms used for household surveys containing demographic information such as the name of the head of a family, income levels, the number of people in a given home, and the number of siblings.

Unfortunately because it is a household survey, there are also personable identifiable information there like names. Kahit hindi eksaktong [even if its not the exact] address but the barangay, and some contact details, he said, adding that these were initially uploaded to Google Drive but the data spread online.

The PSA, meanwhile, is also probing the hack into its system but said it was sure that its PhilSYS and Civil Registration Services were not compromised.

DICT needs confidential funds for cyberattack prevention

A House panel has unanimously decided to clear the confidential funds of DICT, among other agencies, amid reports of hacking on government agencies systems.

But new DICT spokesperson Aboy Paraiso explained that procuring a cyberattack prevention system without confidential funds would give hackers an idea how to wriggle into the system.

"Kung magpo-procure ho kami ng isang sistema na hindi ho dadaan through confidential funds, we will be forced, umpisa pa lang, na sabihin sa aming terms of reference ano yung ipo-procure naming system, ano yung mga requirements namin," Paraiso said.

[Translation: If we are going to procure a system that will not go through confidential funds, we will be forced, right from the start, to disclose in our terms of reference the system we are going to procure and the requirements.]

Paraiso said hackers who intend to infiltrate government agencies might easily detect the reliability of their online systems.

With reports from CNN Philippines' Daniza Fernandez.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 12)  Senators on Thursday said an investigation must be done on the recantation of a former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) official on his claims of corruption in the agency.

In an affidavit shared with the media on Wednesday, Jeffrey Tumbado, former executive assistant of now-suspended LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, said the claims were "all unintentional and misguided."

READ: LTFRB whistleblower recants corruption allegations; apologizes to Guadiz, Bautista

Tumbado said operators have to pay transport officials up to 5 million in exchange for franchises, special permits, and modification of routes.

"Kaduda-duda na nag-retract," said Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services. "Ano ang tunay na dahilan na binawi ito? Dapat imbestigahan bakit niya binawi ang kanyang salaysay."

[Translation: His retraction is doubtful. What's the real reason behind his recantation? It should be investigated.]

In her message to reporters, Poe said the whistleblower must face legal complaints if his recantation was without basis and it must also looked at if someone pushed him to withdraw his claims.

Tumbado disclosed the supposed anomaly in a news conference on Monday that led to the same-day suspension of Guadiz. The LTFRB chief was supposedly at the center of the bribery scheme and received orders from "higher-ups" in the Department of Transportation and Malacanang.

"We are not taking it for granted but we won't tolerate false testimonies," Poe said.

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel also called for a Senate probe on the matter.

"Pag walang mag-take charge [If no authority would take charge] then Senate should come in because of the public interest issue," he said, adding he is open to filing a resolution seeking the chamber's investigation.

Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will look into the corruption issue within the LTFRB.

May anti-graft desk sa NBI, Remulla told a briefing Thursday afternoon. Usually yan motu proprio. Pinupuntahan 'yan ng agents sa NBI, but we will remind them.

[Translation: There is an anti-graft desk in NBI. Usually, it would be a motu proprio (this means to act without a formal request). Agents will go to the NBI for those, but we will remind them.]

Remulla added the NBI will interview Tumbado.

In an earlier radio interview, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said he requested the NBI to conduct its own probe on the alleged corruption within the LTFRB.

On Monday, Bautista said his agency has begun an investigation into the anomalies within the LTFRB under Guadiz's leadership.

CNN Philippines senior correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13)  Authorities arrested a patrolman and a police officer declared absent without official leave (AWOL) during a buy-bust operation in Muntinlupa on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) identified the suspects as Patrolman Rey Palomar Baldonasa, currently assigned at NCRPO-Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, and AWOL member Carlos Rivera Navarro, previously assigned with the Caloocan City Police Office.

The police said they were able to seize suspected shabu weighing 10.0 grams with a standard drug price of P68,000 during the operation.

A Canik 9mm pistol, two Canik magazines, and two identification cards issued by the PNP were also confiscated.

PNP-NCRPO said Baldonasa and Navarro will be charged with illegal possession of drugs and firearms.

Last month, the PNP said 24 out of 115,000 police personnel tested positive for illegal drugs from January to August this year.

READ: 24 police personnel test positive for illegal drugs  PNP

This came a week after Mandaluyong City Chief PCol Cesar Gerente tested positive for illegal drugs. He is the highest ranking official to test positive for illegal drugs this year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13)  Israel has called up over 300,000 army reservists to fight back against Palestine militant group Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday.

On Saturday, Hamas carried out its unprecedented attack by air, sea, and land prompting Israel to declare war on the militant group.

We now have over 300,000 volunteer reservists that have joined the military in order to fight back, IDF LtCol Amnon Sheffler said in an international media briefing on Friday.

There was no mention of a plan to open a humanitarian corridor in Gaza to allow foreign nationals, including Filipinos, to return to their home country.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel earlier confirmed the death of two Filipinos in Israel as the war rages on.

READ: 2 Filipinos killed in Israel-Hamas war  PH embassy

The Department of Foreign Affairs said at least 70 Filipinos in the Palestinian enclave are now seeking help to be flown back home.

Sheffler reported that Israel has deployed a thousand battalions and have regained control of the southern border of Israel, killing over 1,000 Hamas terrorists inside Israel and hundreds on the border.

He added that a total of 5,500 rockets have been fired at civilians in Israel from the Gaza strip.

But Sheffler said the situation on the northern border of Israel remains sensitive that they have to deploy a lot of military forces.

Were keeping the high alert of readiness both for Syria and Lebanon and terrorists that are using those grounds to fire on Israel, he said.

Sheffler said they are standing ready on all fronts and determined to bring back the safety of Israel despite the ongoing tough and long war.
Today is Oct. 12, 2023, and here's what you need to know:

Colorado Republicans Ken Buck and Lauren Boebert were among GOP House members who didn't support their party's narrow nomination of Louisiana Republican Steve Scalise as speaker Wednesday as the chamber remained unable to conduct business until a speaker is chosen.

Scalise, the GOP's majority leader, was nominated in closed-door balloting by the House Republican conference but will have to win over nearly all of his fellow GOP lawmakers to secure the gavel.

Amid mounting pressure over fiscal deadlines and war in the Middle East, the House has been paralyzed since last week when eight Republicans  including Buck  joined with the chamber's Democrats to fire former Speaker Kevin McCarthy over charges the California Republican had lost the confidence of some lawmakers.

Scalise secured the nomination in secret balloting Wednesday by winning 113 votes out of 225 cast by Republicans, defeating his only declared opponent, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Jordan received votes from 99 of his GOP colleagues, with the remainder choosing someone else or voting "present."

Nearly 7,000 miles away from her family in Israel, as missiles rained from the sky and terrorists marched into Israeli towns, Colorado Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet desperately refreshed her phone.

Since the Hamas terrorist group attacked Israel on Saturday, Michaelson Jenet has relied on an online blog for updates on her family and homeland. When stress wakes her in the middle of the night and between legislative meetings, she reads the updated death count: more than 1,200 in Israel as of Wednesday, with thousands more injured and around 150 taken hostage.

In homes, streets and music festivals, the militants indiscriminately gunned down civilians of all ages. It's believed to be the largest number of Jewish people murdered in a single day since the Holocaust.

Michaelson Jenet said nine of her cousins in Israel have been called to serve. And she isn't the only state legislator with family caught in the conflict.

Rep. Iman Jodeh's family maintains a home in Palestine and she has extended family in Gaza. She hasn't been able to contact her family in Gaza since the war began, she said. Jodeh is Palestinian and Colorado's first and only Muslim state legislator.

The federal appeals court based in Denver has dismissed a man's challenge to his 2015 murder conviction for pushing his wife off a cliff in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit rejected Harold Henthorn's claim that a trial judge inappropriately narrowed his postconviction challenge to a small handful of issues, even though Henthorn argued his defense attorney was ineffective across the board in handling Henthorn's case.

During the 10-day trial, jurors heard about the circumstances on Sept. 29, 2012, when Henthorn's wife, Toni, fell to her death in Rocky Mountain National Park. Jurors also learned about two other incidents. First, the year prior to Toni's death, Henthorn threw a heavy beam off a deck he was repairing at the couple's vacation cabin, which struck Toni in the neck. In addition, Henthorn's first wife, Lynn, died in 1995 while she and her husband were changing a tire on the side of a Douglas County road. She was crushed under the vehicle and authorities ruled it an accident.

In all instances, the only witness was Henthorn, and there were questions about his behavior and his representation of events.

State Rep. David Ortiz, a Littleton Democrat, announced Wednesday he will not seek a third term in Colorado House District 38.

In a statement issued by the House Majority Project, Ortiz said: Second only to serving in our armed forces and serving with some of the most amazing humans this country has to offer, serving the people of House District 38 has been a privilege and honor."

Ableism and lack of access has made it difficult to serve but the sacrifices have been worth it," he continued, "That being said, after much reflection, Ive decided not to run for reelection so that I can enjoy some of the freedoms that Ive fought for and defended.

Ortiz was first elected in 2020 and is the first, and so far only, wheelchair user to serve as a Colorado lawmaker. That prompted the beginning of changes to make the House chambers more accessible, such as installing a wheelchair-accessible elevator so that he could preside over House sessions.

Palestinians lined up outside bakeries and grocery stores in Gaza on Thursday after spending the night surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighborhoods darkened by a near-total power outage. Israel launched new airstrikes and said it was preparing for a possible ground invasion.

International aid groups warned that the death toll in Gaza could mount after Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, fuel and electricity and the tiny enclave's crossing with Egypt is closed. The war  which was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging assault on Israel by Hamas militants  has already claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver" should political leaders order one. A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a sliver of land only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.
Nearly 7,000 miles away from her family in Israel, as missiles rained from the sky and terrorists marched into Israeli towns, Colorado Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet desperately refreshed her phone.

Since the Hamas terrorist group attacked Israel on Saturday, Michaelson Jenet has relied on an online blog for updates on her family and homeland. When stress wakes her in the middle of the night and between legislative meetings, she reads the updated death count: more than 1,200 in Israel as of Wednesday, with thousands more injured and around 150 taken hostage.

In homes, streets and music festivals, the militants indiscriminately gunned down civilians of all ages. It's believed to be the largest number of Jewish people murdered in a single day since the Holocaust.

"I am in a constant state of worry. There's no way for me to help my family," said Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, an Israeli Jew. "I never believed in my lifetime I would see a massacre of Jews like we are seeing right now. ... I didn't believe something like this would happen in my country."

The day after the attack, Israel formally declared war on Hamas  the Palestinian militant group that has controlled Gaza since 2007. Israeli jet fighters launched retaliatory strikes in Gaza within hours of the initial surprise attack, and on Monday Israeli officials began cutting electricity and blocking fuel and food from entering the Gaza Strip.

Michaelson Jenet said nine of her cousins in Israel have been called to serve. And she isn't the only state legislator with family caught in the conflict.

Rep. Iman Jodeh's family maintains a home in Palestine and she has extended family in Gaza. She hasn't been able to contact her family in Gaza since the war began, she said. Jodeh is Palestinian and Colorado's first and only Muslim state legislator.

At least 1,100 people in Gaza have been killed in Israel's retaliatory strikes as of Wednesday, including hundreds of children. Around 5,000 more have been injured, and all of the Gaza Strip's more than two million occupants are impacted by the siege on resources. Jodeh said these civilians are paying the price for the actions of terrorists.

"I'm completely heartbroken. The loss of innocent lives is happening on both sides," said Jodeh, D-Aurora. "I'm a Palestinian, I'm very proud of my heritage. But it's not lost upon me that people conflate the millions of Palestinian people with Hamas. That's very hurtful and very hard to combat."

Michaelson Jenet and Jodeh highlight two sides of the same reality playing out across the globe  and within the Colorado Capitol  as the world reckons with the war.

In the wake of Saturday's attack on Israel, dozens of state legislators and other Colorado officials offered their support in statements posted online. But legislators have been seemingly split on the nature of the conflict.

Newly-appointed Rep. Tim Hernandez received backlash for attending a rally the day of the attack on Israel advertised as "in support of Palestinian resistance in Gaza." A flyer for the event read, "resistance is justified when people are occupied," referring to territories captured and occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Hernandez later said he attended the event in solidarity with the Colorado Palestinian community, not in support of Hamas' attack. But other legislators have still expressed frustration with arguments that the attack was justified.

Rep. Steven Woodrow posted on X: "So-called progressives seriously asking 'what were Palestinians supposed to do?' as if taking hostages, beheading children and massacring concertgoers was the only option." Rep. David Ortiz responded, "This has been really disgusting and painful. Imagine fighting a whole global conflict based on global terror only to have your fellow Americans equivocate, waffle or outright celebrate it."

Michaelson Jenet said it's been difficult for her to see fellow progressives seemingly rationalizing the attack on Israel, referencing pushback she received after publicly condemning Hernandez.

"It's my own (progressive) community that is not supporting the (Israeli) community after a deep trauma," Michaelson Jenet said. "This was an attack on Jewish people and I think we don't talk about that enough. Anti-Semitism is increasing in the United States. This is an anti-Semitic attack and I don't think people recognize that."

In statements after the attack, some legislators expressed unequivocal solidarity with Israel, while others included condemnation for the Israeli government's previous actions while also condemning Hamas' violence.

Rep. Javier Mabrey posted: "We can condemn these horrible actions and we can do this while calling for an end of the oppression and occupation of the Palestine and while condemning the killing of Palestinian civilians resulting from the response." Sen. Nick Hinrichsen wrote: "The actions of the Netanyahu regime over the last 14 years have made Israel less democratic, has been unjust and oppressive towards the people of Palestine," adding, "None of that justifies the terrorist actions of Hamas."

Jodeh said this kind of nuance is important, saying she thinks people are being unfairly misconstrued as anti-Semitic or pro-Hamas for supporting self-determination for Palestinians. Palestinians and Israelis have battled for sovereignty over the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea since before Israel was created in 1948. Both groups see the land as their own and it is considered sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims.

"This is 75 years of war and conflict and occupation. This isn't something that can be distilled down to a tweet," Jodeh said. "It is perfectly fine for people, legislators or otherwise, to support basic human rights for Palestinians. That does not mean that anyone is not denouncing war, violence or the loss of life."

Jodeh said some of her legislative colleagues have been "quick to judge" and urged them to engage in discussions with one another rather than following "knee-jerk reactions."

She pointed to the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calling Palestinian fighters "human animals" as dangerous, dehumanizing rhetoric that attempts to oversimplify the conflict.

"We can't make it so black and white," Jodeh said. "I don't want people to think that as a Palestinian I condone what's happening. What's happening is deplorable and it is hurting innocent lives. ... I do want to encourage everyone to speak out against violence. Whether it's violence against Israelis or Palestinians or anyone else, I really believe we as Americans need to uphold our values."

Michaelson Jenet similarly called for the humanization of the victims of the war.

"These are real people. These are children, these are elderly, these are kidnapped young women being paraded in the streets," Michaelson Jenet said. "And on the same side of the coin, innocent Palestinians are dying as a result of this. I don't know what Hamas intended, but I have to believe they knew Israel would retaliate for such a pogrom. What else was Israel supposed to do?"
Its not as if its impossible to make a good political satire. 1997s Wag the Dog was both smart and prescient. Dr. Strangelove is an all-timer. We cant get enough of 2004s Team America: World Police. And both Borat movies are brilliantly sadistic slaps at backward politics and general stupidity. But theres probably no comedy genre more difficult to nail, one that requires both delivering in the moment and standing the test of time. Because when political satires go south, theyre supremely annoying  as these five examples insist on shoving in our faces like grating election ads on repeat

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5 Man of the Year When people reminisce about the career of beloved comic Robin Williams, you rarely hear talk about his 2006 political satire Man of the Year. Theres a reason for that. Williams plays Tom Dobbs, a late-night, fake-news comic who is so popular that he jokingly runs for president. (It wouldnt have been hard to imagine Jon Stewart getting plenty of votes in 2006.) But what could have been truth-to-power comedy turns into a stream of obvious half-jokes, delivered by a strangely subdued Williams. The Orlando Sentinel called it a nearly tone-deaf satire of American politics and the culture of celebrity, a comedy without enough laughs, a satire without enough bite. The A.V. Club agreed, saying Man of the Year ends up feeling as phony as the process it so desperately wants to skewer. Advertisement If theres anything prescient about this movie, its the idea of an entertainer running for president whos more surprised than anyone when he wins.

4 Dont Drink the Water Advertisement Advertisement Lets talk about Dont Drink the Water partly as a reminder of how much people can change over the course of 30 years. Try telling 1994 Michael J. Fox and Woody Allen what their lives would look like in 2023. The fact that Blossom is hosting Jeopardy is the least of it. Allens clunker involves a vacationing family in Eastern Europe who wanders off the beaten path and sees things that a family shouldnt see behind the Iron Curtain. Allen, wife Julie (Marge Simpson) Kavner and daughter Mayim (Blossom) Bialik are forced to take refuge in an American embassy, run by the bumbling Fox. Just for fun, Dom DeLuise wanders in from a Burt Reynolds movie doing magic tricks and setting things on fire. Despite its setup as a satire about East/West relations, Dont Drink the Water has little to say about how the world works. Its way more interested in a tepid romance between Bialik and Fox than in ambassadors and diplomacy. Allen stammers and bumbles his way through the mess, a remake of a 1969 version starring Jackie Gleason that was even worse. Advertisement

3 Primary Colors Advertisement Advertisement Just call this John Travolta is Bill Clinton! because thats exactly what Primary Colors is. Amazingly, it was released in 1998 while Clinton was still in office. Too soon? Maybe, at least in terms of getting enough distance to even know what it was trying to satirize. In the moment, Primary Colors actually got good reviews for Travolta, as well as Emma Thompson starring as, well, Hillary. Director Mike Nichols was once again collaborating with old writing partner Elaine May, so you can count on them for laughs if nothing else. But as satire, it was largely toothless. Clinton, er, Jack Stanton likes to eat fast food? He flirts with pretty gals? Thats all funny-ish fodder for a Saturday Night Live cold open, but it doesnt tell us much about the state of late 20th-century American politics. Advertisement

2 Dont Look Up Advertisement Advertisement One rationale for casting a dazzling array of stars (Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Jonah Hill and Meryl Streep  say what now?) is that were so busy recognizing famous faces that we might ignore a half-baked message. But even with an all-star cast, Dont Look Up still cant deliver on its aspirations, be they satirical, political or apocalyptic. In Dont Look Up, two scientists discover that a meteor is about to destroy the world, but theyre unable to get anyone to take the threat seriously. Its just like climate change, get it? Or maybe its just like the COVID-19 vaccine? At any rate, people just wont listen! Dont Look Up has plenty of anger directed at us, we guess, the dumb sheep who turn a blind eye to global problems, too distracted by Instagram and Netflix to care. But director Adam McKay doesnt know what he wants the great unwashed to do exactly. Theres plenty of bluster and outrage here  one can practically taste the condescension McKay feels toward his audience. But Dont Look Up flounders when it gets to the part about what McKay expects anyone to do about a seemingly unstoppable catastrophe. Maybe he believed that all those stars would at least make us look at our impending doom. Advertisement
Why are you in love or out of love? Cant you be on top of it? Under it? Its more sexual that way, if you think about it. Well, in can be taken as sexual, too, maybe. But out? Seems wrong. But you do know whats right? Jokes. Jokes like these. These jokes you might be on top of love with.

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18 George Carlin on ADD When you think about it, attention deficit disorder makes a lot of sense. In this country, there isnt a lot worth paying attention to.

17 Michael Che on Joe Biden President Biden said that he plans to run again in 2024 but wont make a final decision until early next year. Because its like his doctor told him, I wouldnt plan too far ahead.

16 Norm Macdonald on Steampunk I wouldnt call myself a fan of steampunk, but I will admit its the healthiest way to prepare punk.

15 K-Von on H&M Clothing Thats why its called H&M. Put them on, and youre like, Hmmmm Advertisement Advertisement

14 Richard Jeni on Chicago I think thats how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, Gee, Im enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isnt cold enough. Lets go west.

13 Paul F. Tompkins on Parents Lets say you know 100 percent beyond the shadow of a doubt that youd take a bullet for your child. Let me ask you this: Why are so many people trying to assassinate your baby? Advertisement Advertisement

12 Wendy Liebman on Class Reunions I went to the 30th reunion of my preschool. I didnt want to go because Ive put on like a hundred pounds.

11 Jerry Seinfeld on Beer Ads I like how the coldness thing drives the beer people crazy. The commercials are always, Frost brewed. Cold filtered. Ice bottled. We pack it in a glacier, then put it on a frozen truck driven by a polar bear. Were not transplanting a kidney. Youre just trying to get drunk. Relax, its going to work. Advertisement Advertisement

10 Bill Hicks on Motivation They lie about marijuana. Tell you pot-smoking makes you unmotivated. Lie! When youre high, you can do everything you normally do just as well  you just realize that its not worth the fucking effort. There is a difference.

9 Ron White on Cigars Ive got a great cigar collection  its actually not a collection because that would imply I wasnt going to smoke every last one of em. Advertisement Advertisement

8 Tom Papa on Apartments Im thinking of getting a dog. My parents said to me the other day, Your little apartment? Thats a horrible, terrible place for a dog. Yeah, but I live there. At least the dog doesnt have to shave in the toilet like I do.

7 Bruce Jingles on Weed You know marijuana affects the memory. Thats bullshit; I never forget to smoke. Advertisement Advertisement

6 Laurie Kilmartin on Sex My favorite part of sex is when a guy has an orgasm. Because thats the only time a man is completely defenseless. If there was an earthquake during a guys orgasm, he couldnt even save his own life. Thats why men and women never climax together; one of us has to be alert so we can pull our partner to a doorway where they can ejaculate in safety.

5 Bo Burnham on Gimmicks I can do comedy without stupid gimmicks or anything, and it can still work. So this is for all those comics out there and judge this: What do you call a kid with no arms and an eye patch? Names! (throws glitter) Advertisement Advertisement

4 Jen Kirkman on Generations Gen X wasnt filled with slackers, but they called us slackers because we didnt worship money the same way they did. It was a mean thing, and we didnt actually slack off when it came to important social justice issues. But someone young said to me, Well, prove it! Im like, I cant. I didnt have Instagram, so I cant show you my account from back then. And he was like, You mustve had pictures. No, youre not understanding. In the 1990s, if you had a camera, you were a photographer. Nobody had a camera. It was a giant thing you had to wear around your neck, and it looked dorky. And if you showed up at a party, Hey, everyone, I got my camera! theyd be like, Go away, you narc! This is a party! We dont take pictures of what were doing! We dont want any evidence of this. Go!

3 George Wallace on Jets You only hear about fighter jets. Shout out to all the lover jets out there, havin tender, intimate relations instead of blowin shit up and whatnot. Advertisement Advertisement

2 Chloe Hilliard on Student Debt I graduated 20 years ago, and I still have student loan debt. And my thing is like, I dont ever want to pay it off. Thats my FU to college. I hope this Earth burns down before I get a zero balance on my student loans. I want to see an asteroid coming. Ill be like, FUCK YOU, BURSARS OFFICE! Im never paying that debt off to the last dime. I want the balance on my tombstone.
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CRUDE OIL PRICES OUTLOOK

Oil prices extend losses for the second consecutive day, reversing most of Mondays rally

Despite the recent pullback, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East create a constructive backdrop for energy markets.

This article looks at the key technical levels for oil to keep an eye on in the coming days.

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Most Read: EUR/USD Stalls at Channel Resistance, AUD/USD Shifts Gears after Technical Rejection, Fed Minutes a Non-Event

Crude oil prices, as measured by WTI futures, extended losses on Wednesday, falling for the second consecutive session and erasing most of Mondays vigorous rally, a brief upswing that came in the wake of last weekend's events in the Middle East. To give some background, the militant group Hamas launched a deadly incursion into Israel from the Gaza Strip early Saturday, leading to the most substantial loss of civilian lives in the history of the Jewish nation.

As a response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated a military offensive against Hamas, ordering extensive aerial attacks in Gaza and imposing a total siege on the coastal enclave to eradicate the operational centers and dismantle the strongholds of the extremist group. As of Wednesday, the number of dead had topped 1000 on each side of the war.

Although Israel is not a major crude producer, the ongoing conflict's implications for oil could be substantial if major players are drawn into the crisis. For instance, should conclusive evidence emerge implicating Iran in the terrorist incidents in any way, the West could be forced to impose new economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic's energy sector, a situation that could further tighten markets.

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To stay ahead of future market trends, traders must maintain a vigilant watch over the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East. If tensions intensify and bring Israel and Iran into open confrontation, oil prices could rally violently, especially if the United States intervenes directly in the fray in support of its regional ally. The situation could get uglier if Tehran closes the vital Strait of Hormuz in response to perceived aggression. This would be very bullish for oil prices.

From a technical perspective, oil prices have fallen towards an important support near the $83.00 handle after Wednesdays pullback  a key level that aligns with the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the 2023 rally. If the bears manage to breach this floor and push prices below trendline resistance at $82.00, we could see a drop toward $77.50.

On the other hand, if WTI manages to resume its rebound, initial resistance is situated at $85.00. While surmounting this obstacle may pose a challenge for buyers, a successful breakout has the potential to bolster the bullish momentum, opening the path for a move to $87.25, followed by $88.40. On further strength, a retest of the yearly high becomes more likely.

Start your voyage to becoming a knowledgeable oil trader today. Don't let the occasion to acquire vital insights and strategies pass you by  obtain your 'How to Trade Oil' guide immediately!

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CRUDE OIL (WTI FUTURES) TECHNICAL CHART

Light Crude Oil Futures Chart Created Using TradingView
What a nice chap Sir Keir Starmer is! And so caring when it comes to the working class.

In his speech on Tuesday, the Labour leader was at pains to establish his working-class credentials. He didn't want to come across as a North London middle-class lawyer, which is what he is.

His mentioning the working classes three times was a calculated ploy. He wanted to emphasise that he will defend their interests. The implication was that the Tories aren't doing so.

He hopes that his proposal to build 'one and a half million new homes across the country' will put him squarely on the side of those working-class people who yearn to own their own house. Everyone knows the Tories have failed on this front, and that the housing crisis has got worse during their 13 years in power.

Sir Keir bullishly promised 'shovels in the ground, cranes in the sky', and undertook to 'build the next generation of Labour new towns'. In other words, if elected his party will set about concreting over great swathes of the English countryside.

In his speech on Tuesday, the Labour leader was at pains to establish his working-class credentials

Many will applaud Sir Keir's plan. It has even been welcomed in some supposedly Right-wing quarters, such as the Adam Smith Institute. There's a widespread view that Labour is connecting with people's concerns, and that the Tories are hopelessly out of touch.

May I dissent  at least so far as Labour is concerned? My complaint about Sir Keir is that he isn't telling the truth. Like so many politicians, including Tory ones, he talks about the housing crisis without ever alluding to the major contributory cause. Immigration.

This word didn't appear in his speech. Not once. Discussing the shortage of affordable homes without citing the effects of uncontrolled immigration is a bit like telling the story of Isaac Newton observing an apple fall from a tree without mentioning the effect of gravity.

Last year, net legal immigration reached an all-time high of 606,000. Illegal immigration was around 50,000. That's an awful lot of people. All have to be found somewhere to live. Most will rent in the short term, and some of these will aspire to buy their own homes.

There's no mystery about the effects of high immigration on housing. In 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published various forecasts. One of them, called the 'high migration scenario', imagined overseas net migration to England at a constant 263,000 per year, which was the actual level in 2019. This would see the number of households increase from 23.2 million in 2018 to 27.9 million in 2043  a rise of 4.7 million.

Sir Keir's shovels and cranes are going to be working very hard to fulfil that target since he envisages building a mere one and a half million new homes over an unspecified period, though this would admittedly be a spectacular achievement in comparison with what the Tories have achieved.

In fact, immigration is running at a much higher level than imagined by the ONS. The statistically impeccable Migration Watch has estimated that if immigration were to persist at existing rates  by no means an incredible prospect  between six and eight million new homes would have to be built by 2046, which is equivalent to between 15 and 18 cities the size of Birmingham. Sir Keir's shovels may never rest, while the manufacturers of concrete are likely to be rich and happy.

The truth is, of course, that no government  not even Sir Keir's imagined one  is going to be able to put up new homes at such a pace. If we want to ameliorate the housing crisis, we are going to have to bring down the rate of immigration by a significant amount. Otherwise demand will continue to outstrip supply.

Starmer didn't want to come across as a North London middle-class lawyer, which is what he is

That is why I accuse Sir Keir Starmer of dishonesty. He poses as the protector of ordinary people. He claims he will sort out the shortage of affordable homes by creating new towns. But he refuses to acknowledge the contribution excessive immigration is making to the housing crisis. In fact, he doesn't mention immigration at all, which suggests he thinks it's a problem he can't discuss, and that a Labour government would therefore be unlikely to do anything about it.

If he were honest, he would also accept that pressure on the NHS and schools is inevitably worse as a result of the unprecedented high numbers of people arriving here. But the self-proclaimed friend of the working class won't admit that either. Much easier simply to blame the Tories.

I don't, of course, believe that the strain on housing and public services are the only undesirable consequences of letting immigration run out of control. When too many people arrive too quickly, that is liable to undermine social cohesion, which is what Home Secretary Suella Braverman was getting at in her recent, widely criticised remarks about multi-culturalism.

Mrs Braverman can be abrasive. But who can honestly dismiss her statement that multiculturalism '[has] failed because it allowed people to come to our society and live parallel lives in it', and enabled them to 'pursue lives aimed at undermining the stability and threatening the security of our society'?

Home Secretary Suella Braverman was widely criticised for her remarks about multi-culturalism

The sight of protesters in London and Manchester supporting the barbaric behaviour of Hamas has been alarming. It's not merely that since 2021 Hamas has been a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, so that showing support for it is a criminal offence (not that the police seem to care overmuch). It is also because what Hamas did in southern Israel was merciless, and so far off the scale of civilised values.

I hope the majority of British Muslims find such demonstrations abominable. The fact remains that to witness British citizens celebrating mass murder is shocking. Such people don't regard British Jews as fellow citizens. According to the Community Security Trust, a British Jewish charity, anti-Semitic incidents are up threefold since Hamas's attack. This is the climate of hate in which British Jews now live  in their own country.

Suella Braverman was not entirely right. There has been a fair degree of assimilation certainly much more than in France, for example. Most Britons of all creeds and beliefs remain tolerant of one another. But more uncontrolled immigration will further imperil social cohesion.

The sight of protesters in London and Manchester supporting the barbaric behaviour of Hamas has been alarming

There's little doubt, too, that, for all kinds of reasons, many British people including immigrants and the descendants of immigrants are becoming increasingly uneasy about the huge numbers coming here. A number of polls suggest as much. Sir Keir Starmer is apparently deaf to these anxieties.

And the Tories? They have presided over record immigration. Some of them favour an endless supply of cheap labour, regardless of the social consequences. But a few wiser souls  Suella Braverman for one, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch for another  recognise the dangers of continuing mass immigration. Since they're both non-white, no one can easily accuse them of racism.

The Tories have a lot of humble pie to eat. They have made many mistakes. But there is still time before the election to show that, on this issue at least, they are closer to ordinary people than are Sir Keir Starmer and Labour.
When I was a Boy Scout, I spent a lot of time arguing about what to do if you find yourself caught in a plummeting lift.

Some said you should jump up and down, on the off-chance that when the lift hit the ground you would be safely up in the air. Others maintained that if you were up in the air, you'd be more likely to be knocked out by hitting your head on the ceiling.

Another perennial question involved the correct action to take if you are in the sea and you spot a shark heading for you.

A fellow Scout insisted you should punch it on the nose. This seemed not only provocative, but also open to error: if the shark swerved upwards at the last minute, then your fist could end up lodged in its mouth.

More than half a century later, a surfer called Mike Coots has come up with the answer. 'The safest way to be underwater with sharks is to have clear visibility and lots of eye contact. They are ambush predators and if they know you know they are there, it's much safer.'

I always find people who make too much eye contact exceptionally irritating, and there's no reason to think sharks don't feel the same (Stock Image)

Like shiny shoes, energetic use of Christian names and a strong handshake, too much eye contact is a sure sign of a conman (Stock Image)

Oh, yes? I always find people who make too much eye contact exceptionally irritating, and there's no reason to think sharks don't feel the same.

Like shiny shoes, energetic use of Christian names and a strong handshake, too much eye contact is a sure sign of a conman.

Also, it's tricky making eye contact with a shark, as each eye is flat on either side of its face, roughly where the ears should be. This means that when it faces you head-on, you can barely see its eyes at all.

Also, to make yourself visible seems counter-intuitive. Far better that the shark doesn't know you are there.

And is poor old Mike Coots really the best person to issue tips on avoiding sharks? I'm sorry to say his right leg was bitten clean off by a shark in Hawaii in 1997. Anyone seeking advice on the best way to avoid having their leg being bitten off by a shark might first start by asking someone who still has the full complement.

No doubt Mr Coots tells himself he would still have both legs if only he'd made his presence felt and made more eye contact.

But who's to say the shark wouldn't have found his bumptious, eye-catching approach irritating, and would have bitten off another leg, too, just to teach him a lesson?

'Don't splash or panic,' advises Coots, 'and if underwater, always look at the shark and make yourself seem large.'

Personally, I suspect Mr Coots is in the pay of The Worldwide Federation of Hungry Sharks.

Is poor old Mike Coots (pictured) really the best person to issue tips on avoiding sharks? I'm sorry to say his right leg was bitten clean off by a shark in Hawaii in 1997

Bears are another worry. I once read that, if you're being chased by a bear, there is only one thing to do, but I forget what it is (Stock Image)

The biggest misconception of all is, he says, 'that a shark wants to bite you as soon as you enter the water. That's the furthest from the truth.' Yet the shark in Jaws seemed very peckish indeed, and didn't seem to mind how long his victims had been in the water before he gobbled them up.

The authors Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht offer very different advice in the section of the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook called How To Fend Off A Shark. Their advice includes, 'Avoid waters with known effluents or sewage'. This means most British rivers are out of bounds. They also say 'hit back', but not at the nose, as we Boy Scouts were always taught. No: 'Contrary to popular opinion, the shark's nose is not the area to attack.' Instead, they say you should go for the eyes.

But sharks have tiny little eyes, and as the great white shark can travel at 35mph, it seems unlikely your punch would hit home. Perhaps it's best to start experimenting on a goldfish, and then work your way up.

Bears are another worry. I once read that, if you're being chased by a bear, there is only one thing to do, but I forget what it is.

It's either a) run uphill, so that he thinks you're bigger than him and is scared off; or b) run downhill, so that he thinks you're smaller than him, and feels in no danger. But for the life of me, I can't remember which.

All these worries! And I still haven't worked out what to do about the very worst-case scenario of all: what to do when you're attacked by a bear in a plummeting lift!
I am awake, but I am living a nightmare. On Saturday, the savagery and barbarism of Hamas was laid bare for all to see.

Hamas terrorists infiltrated our border, entered the towns and villages of southern Israel and went from door to door, murdering indiscriminately, setting fire to homes while innocent people sought refuge in their shelters inside.

Fleeing their burning houses, they were then either shot, kidnapped or raped. Video evidence shows how Hamas terrorists burned innocent Israeli people  slaughtering them in cold blood  and executed children in front of their parents, and parents in front of their children.

Returning to Israel this week, I heard the testimonies of families who were unable to identify the bodies of their loved ones, so damagingly evil was the brutality.

And why? Because we are Jewish. Because we are Israeli. I have not heard such gut-wrenching stories in the history of the Jewish people since the darkest days of our existence.

The savagery and barbarism of Hamas has been laid bare for all to see, writes the Israeli ambassador to the UK. Pictured: Israeli soldiers take the bodies of Israelis killed in Kfar Aza kibbutz near the border with Gaza on October 10

Israel is fighting back against the Hamas terrorists. Here, a ball of fire erupts in Gaza City after an Israeli air strike on October 12

On Saturday, October 7, more Jews were murdered than in any single day since the end of the Holocaust  more than 1,200.

More than 120 innocent toddlers, girls, boys, mothers, fathers and grandparents have also been kidnapped by Hamas, dragged back across the border into Gaza, with an elderly Holocaust survivor among them.

As a girl, she survived the horrors of the Holocaust, but as an elderly woman she is re-living the very same terror at the hands of a new enemy  Hamas.

However unimaginable this is, it is happening right now. Young festival-goers attending a music festival played dead as they helplessly watched Hamas terrorists rape their friends before shooting them. This may be difficult to read, but it cannot be ignored. We must bear witness to the stark reality of Hamas terrorism, which knows no bounds.

Terrorists. That is precisely what Israel is up against. 'Militants' do not behead babies. Terrorists do. 'Gunmen' do not rape innocent girls. Terrorists do. 'Fighters' do not burn innocent people alive in front of their families, forcing them to watch. Terrorists do.

There can be no excuse for down-playing their actions with such language. To do so would be an injustice to the memory of the victims and their families, and more than that, goes a long way towards justifying their actions.

Allow me to be clear. We are in the middle of a war for our very existence. It is a war that Hamas chose to wage. And so, Israel will be unapologetic in the defence of its citizens. We have the right and indeed the moral obligation to be so. And that means eliminating Hamas, so that never again will they be able to carry out such atrocities on our people.

The United Kingdom has been steadfast in its support of Israel. On Wednesday, I was with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Israel as we saw with our own eyes the aftermath of the massacres that Hamas carried out in Ofakim, a kibbutz in southern Israel. This just one of many, many massacres carried out by Hamas.

Cars and a stroller left behind at the scene of a rocket attack from Gaza on the weekend are pictured on a main road near the entrance of the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza

Destroyed and damaged cars are left on the side of the road at the site of the Supernova party where hundreds were killed and dozens taken days earlier by Hamas terrorists

The support of the British Government has been deeply heartening, and has given Israelis strength in our hour of need. It shows the robustness of the deep and historic friendship between our two democracies.

Seeing Israeli flags flying across Whitehall and in every corner of the United Kingdom, as well as our Israeli colours projected on to 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament, is not only symbolic but is also felt by the people of Israel at this dark hour.

The international community has stood with Israel in our fight against Hamas. It is a battle between good and evil. Between Western values and a medieval, genocidal ideology. It's an ideology, like Nazism, that calls for the mass murder of all Jewish people around the globe.

Just as the international community has stood firmly with us until now, it is a moral imperative that it continues to do so in the days and weeks ahead. I will be honest, the coming days will be tough. Israel is engaged in a mission of self-defence, and there's no knowing what the future holds. But I guarantee that Israel will continue to be guided by international law and the rules of war, as we seek to restore the security of our people and fight to remove the threat of Hamas.

Every target that Israel strikes in Gaza is intelligence-led. Be in no doubt of the fact that Israel only targets Hamas infrastructure, warning nearby residents before any strikes.

Seeing Israeli flags flying across Whitehall and in every corner of the United Kingdom, as well as our Israeli colours projected on to 10 Downing Street (pictured) and the Houses of Parliament, is not only symbolic but is also felt by the people of Israel at this dark hour

There simply cannot be any moral equivalence drawn between the barbaric actions of Hamas and the principled action of the Israel Defence Forces. The innocent Palestinian people are not our enemy; our enemy is Hamas.

Hamas fires thousands of rockets from densely populated urban areas into civilian populations in Israel. Hamas, therefore, commits war crimes against both innocent Palestinians and innocent Israelis.

I repeat this, no moral equivalence can be drawn between our actions and the actions of jihadist terrorist organisation that wants to wipe out our very essence.

In the UK, anti-Semitism is on the rise  a 324 per cent rise from this period last year  and as a mother here, it truly pains me to read that pupils of Jewish schools in this country have been told not to wear their blazers on the way to school. Just as it pains me to see that kosher restaurants have been targeted and vandalised. This is truly horrifying and is precisely why Israel and the Jewish people need you in this fight.

A fight that we simply cannot afford to lose.
Crouching down in the heat and dust of a make-shift shelter, hair damply sticking to her brow without a thought for the cameras, the Duchess of Edinburgh touched hearts on a low-key visit to Ethiopia this week.

Her visit, which took place at the request of the British Foreign Office, saw Sophie travel to civil-war-ravaged Tigray in the north of the country to meet women and girls whose gender has led them to become victims of unspeakable violence.

Sophie, 58, the wife of Prince Edward, has become an important international voice on the issue travelling around the world to bear witness to the testimonies of those whose lives have been blighted by sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Approachable yet passionate, the Duchess is rather formidable in her own quiet way - qualities well-recognised by her brother-in-law, the King. And why Sophie is a key player in the coterie of strong female advisers known as Charlies Angels.

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh touched hearts on a low-key visit to Ethiopia this week

Her visit saw Sophie travel to Tigray in the north of the country to meet women and girls, including victims of sexual violence. Tigray has been torn apart by civil war

The death of Queen Elizabeth II last year means we will not see another female monarch for at least three generations - a sobering thought given how well our late sovereign and her female ancestors have risen to the occasion.

Some of our mightiest monarchs - from Elizabeth I to Victoria and Boudica - cast off the historic constraints of their sex to earn their place in the history books and, in some cases, define an entire age.

Fortunately, Charles III is surrounded by straight-talking female figures, a theme played out behind the scenes as well.

Front and centre is the kings sister, Princess Anne, a worthy inheritor of their mothers non-nonsense mantle.

Surely it was no coincidence that in her brothers official coronation portrait she was positioned standing at the Kings right hand?

Then theres Catherine, Princess of Wales, who has steadily become the steel marshmallow of the current generation of Windsor women (a reference to the late Queen Mother, whose fluffy exterior hid a hard-boiled core) and on whose shoulders many see the future of the monarchy resting.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II last year means we will not see another female monarch for at least three generations. Pictured: King Charles III, Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne during this year's Trooping the Colour

Surely it was no coincidence that in her brothers official coronation portrait (pictured), Princess Anne was positioned standing at the Kings right hand

Many see the future of the monarchy resting upon the shoulders of Catherine

And of course there is Queen Camilla herself, once so vilified but whose quiet dignity and loyalty to the Crown has seen her transformed into one of her husbands greatest assets.

Indeed, the fact that Charles court has become so female-centric is in no small part down to his wife of 18 years, the undoubted power behind the throne.

The Queen can do more with half a raised eyebrow than many a courtier could ever hope to achieve, says one insider who knows the set-up well.

Its a power she uses wisely and because she has such common sense approach to all this business of monarchy, its brought a very welcome energy to the operation.

Given the dwindling number of working royals available, each of these women will play an ever-more important role over the next few years.

Delivering the huge number of patronages and engagements that we have come to expect from the Royal Family means the likes of hard-working Princess Anne, who still quietly carries out more than 400 duties annually, are going to be ever-more necessary.

A raised eyebrow from Queen Camilla can achieve far more than many courtiers could. She has become one of her husbands greatest assets

The fact that Charles court has become so female-centric is in no small part down to his wife of 18 years. Pictured: Charles and Camilla on a visit to Armagh in May

Given the dwindling number of working royals, the women in his 'coterie' will play an ever-more important role. Pictured: The Princess Royal, the King and Queen Camilla at the Braemar Gathering

The King with the Princess Royal by his side mourn their mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II at the St George's Chapel committal service

Is it too much to ask of a woman of 73?

Hilariously no-one would ever dare ask her, one source tells me, so they can only presume the answer is no, and just let her get on with it.

Shes an absolute chip off the old block and she, recently made clear, the Royal Family still needs her given recent departures,  one source says, referring to an interview she gave to Vanity Fair.

Princess Anne had cautioned against the younger royals determination to shake-up the system saying: Please do not reinvent that particular wheel.

The source added: She will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with her brother, with minimal fuss, and after the drama of the last few years thats exactly what he needs.

But its not just a case of sharing the Kings workload that will make these loyal lady lieutenants so invaluable.

The institution has long been a matriarchal one, regardless of who has the top job. And it is the women who ultimately manage, smooth out and improve relationships when they hit the skids,  one former courtier tells me.

Monarch and heir: Prince William with his father pictured in February 2020. We will not have another female monarch for at least three generations

The Prince of Wales kisses his father, Charles, at the Coronation. Both men are supported by loyal, capable women

Pictured: Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at the Prince of Wales's 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration held at Buckingham Palace in May 2018

It was the Princess of Wales who very engineered the first conversation between estranged brothers William and Harry after the Duke of Edinburghs funeral in 2021

The Princess of Wales and the Queen [then Consort] were the architects of the rapprochement between the King and Prince William when their relationship was somewhat rocky a few years ago. The men in this family can be quite hot-headed and stubborn at times.

And, unbelievably, given what Prince Harry had to say about her in his book, the Queen [Camilla] was instrumental in bringing Meghan into the family at the beginning and trying to make her feel welcome.

It was the Princess of Wales who very publicly engineered the first conversation between estranged brothers William and Harry after the Duke of Edinburghs funeral in 2021, an act of instinctive thoughtfulness and compassion.

Exactly, says my source.

If the King and Harry are ever to be reconciled, let alone the two brothers, it will be by the guiding hand of the female members of the family.

And let us not forget that this not just a question of ensuring that everyone gets on at Christmas. Its about the smooth running of global institution. Theres real pressure on them here.

As the two youngest working women in the family, Kate, 41, and Sophie, 58, have formed a particularly dynamic duo, perhaps strengthened by the slings and arrows thrown at the family in recent years.

The Duchess is very bright, switched on and a very safe pair of hands, while the Princess of Wales has more say than anyone gives her credit for about what goes on in that household [Kensington Palace], particularly as far as the media and their children are concerned, says another insider.

But I think it is only now that people will get to see the real influence they wield.

One former aide, who has worked with Charles for several decades, believes the influence of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in his formative years has had a lasting effect on the man he has become, particularly when it comes to women.

The two youngest working women in the family, Kate and Sophie have formed a dynamic duo

Strengthened by the slings and arrows thrown at the family in recent years, people will soon get to see the real influence they wield

He is very emotionally intelligent and is not frightened of powerful women, although occasionally pretends he is, they say with a laugh.

He has always liked a diverse set of voices around the table and I am confident that wont change.

Whether King Charles III lives up to the almost impossibly high standards set by his late mother as sovereign remains to be seen.

But with the love, loyalty and support of the wise and wonderful women around him, it seems that the House of Windsor hasnt entirely lost its feminine touch in the Carolean age.
She advised not putting suitcases on beds and keeping clothes in bags

A traveler who recently returned from bedbug-infested Paris has been sharing her top tips on how to prevent the insects from spreading.

Chicago-based Alexis Nido-Russo took to TikTok to confess that, despite the outbreak, she 'personally would not cancel' a trip to the French capital.

Instead, the content creator urged visitors to 'take precautions' in a bid to avoid 'bringing home any little critters.'

Her suggestions included not putting suitcases on beds, keeping clothes in bags, inspecting hotel rooms, checking for bites and quarantining luggage once back home.

Chicago-based Alexis Nido-Russo took to TikTok to confess that, despite the outbreak, she 'personally would not cancel' a trip to the French capital

The content creator urged visitors to 'take precautions' in a bid to avoid 'bringing home any little critters'

Turning her attention to bed bug bites, the keen traveler said they 'appear in clusters' (stock image)

Alexis' top travel tips Do not put suitcases on the bed

Keep bags closed

Place all clothes in sealed plastic bags

Fully inspect the room

Look out for 'clusters of bites'

Quarantine luggage once back home

Wash clothes on the highest heat possible Advertisement

In the clip, which has so far been viewed more than 348,000 times, Alexis explains: 'Number one, do not put your suitcase on the bed. Don't do it.

'Put your suitcase on a luggage rack - apparently bed bugs cannot climb up metal - and when you're not using your bag, keep it closed.'

'If you can, before you leave, get sealed plastic bags for all of your clothes. Seal them in there and then just take things out one by one as you need it to protect everything else that is in your bag.'

She continued: 'Number two, when you get to your room, fully inspect it.'

Alexis suggested bringing a blacklight but added that she doesn't believe it is a foolproof method for spotting the critters.

'You're supposed to inspect the entire bed.

'Take the sheets off, look all around the bedframe, look for their eggs and also look for little black streaks - you don't want to know what that is, but if you see them, leave that room immediately' the keen traveler added.

Turning her attention to bed bug bites, she said they 'appear in clusters.'

Alexis explained: 'The last thing is when you get home, quarantine your luggage.

'Keep you luggage outside. I didn't do this so it's too late for me but it's not too late for you.

And other social media users were quick to flood the clip with comments as many travel enthusiasts debated whether it was 'worth it' to go through all the precautions

'When it comes time to wash your things, wash them on the highest heat possible.

'Apparently you're actually supposed to dry it first, then wash it, then dry it again.'

She said that freezing luggage items for a week after getting back should also work - if it all fits in your freezer.

Wrapping up her recommendations, she said: 'I hope this helps and please don't cancel your trip because I think that it is highly unlikely that any of us are going be getting bed bugs but I always look on the bright side so, I'm rooting for ya.'

And other social media users were quick to flood the clip with comments as many travel enthusiasts debated whether it was 'worth it' to go through all the precautions.

One person wrote: 'Honestly, as someone who's had bedbugs, I would cancel my trip. They are no joke.'

Another commentator agreed: 'As someone who's had bedbugs, its not worth it. I mean if you've already spent the money then go have a good time. But they're no joke.'

A third chimed in about their positive experience and commented: 'I just got back from Paris. It was amazing and didn't experience bedbugs. I did leave my luggage in the garage for a few days just in case.'

'Just got back from Paris. No bed bugs, don't cancel, we had a fantastic time,' added another.

People living in France have become victims to record levels of bedbug infestations in recent weeks.

The situation has escalated to such a degree that Parisian residents have even been forced to dump their mattresses on the street out of desperation.

The phenomenon has sparked concern that the mites could spread rapidly with some having already been spotted on public transport in London.
A mother has been left enraged after her daughter was made to apologise to a boy who gave her a nosebleed.

The British mother explained her fury on the parenting forum Netmums, after her daughter, believed to be 11 or 12 years old, was told to say sorry to a boy who punched her square in the face.

She explained that her child had been involved in a dispute with the boy who had allegedly pushed her friend, and he began to prod her in the arm with a compass whilst hurling a tirade of abuse at her.

The Year Seven student pushed the boy away and tried to ignore him, but after hearing him mutter something under his breath, the child turned around only for him to 'sucker punch' her in the face.

Her mother was expecting the boy to be suspended but was outraged when the school made her daughter apologise for pushing him off - with fellow parents urging her to call the police.

The mother was left furious after she discovered her daughter was forced to apologise to a boy who had attacked her in school (stock image)

The mother alongside other parents have been left baffled by the school's lack of action regarding the incident, with some on the forum urging the mother to report it to the police.

The angry parent said the school contacted her to collect her daughter because her nose was bleeding and she couldn't get on the bus with her arms, legs and hands covered in blood.

When the mother arrived she was told by the head of year to 'trust' the school to deal with the incident, and assured her he would be filling suspension paperwork against the aggressor.

However, in a turn of events, the girl's father received a phone call from the head of year seven the following day who said that both children had been spoken to and were happy with the 'outcome'.

When queried exactly what this meant, the teacher said the father was not allowed to know because it would be in breach of GDPR.

After being pushed further on the topic, the head of year stated that if the girl was not happy then she could speak with him the following day.

The father raised concerns about his daughter being in the same class as her attacker, and the teacher explained if she was unhappy she could be moved.

Now the startled parent is concerned about other children teasing her daughter and threatening to punch her in a similar fashion to her attacker if she does not do as they say

The mother who was enraged by the suggestion, became angrier after her daughter revealed that she was told to say sorry to her aggressor for pushing him off her.

The furious parent contacted both the deputy and head teacher, who felt the situation had been adequately dealt with, urging the mother to trust them.

The headteacher reassured the mother that the boy would not be in the same class as her daughter for the entirety of the week.

But, the parent has become increasingly worried that nothing is being done for her child, and other pupils have started to torment her, threatening to punch her in the same way.

Disgusted parents took to the comments to offer their advice to the mother about the incident, one wrote: 'Absolutely phone the police NOW and remove her immediately for home schooling.'

Another added: 'I would contact the police. He won't have anything permanently damaging on record due to his age, but it will hopefully teach him right from wrong and consequences.

'Punching someone isn't a minor incident and schools only care about protecting the reputation on the school.

'If there are no consequences he can feel free to use violence whenever he wants and God forbid it escalates.'

Some users suggested urged the parent to familiarise herself with the school's complaint procedure.

A user wrote: 'If you aren't happy with how it was dealt with they should have a complaints procedure you can follow.

Users took to the comments to share their thoughts, with many advising the mother to go to the police

With a more sympathetic person adding: 'Firstly sorry your daughter has gone through this.

'Have a look on the school website and read their policy on behaviour and their policy on bullying.

'Make sure they have followed what these policies state will happen in an incident like this. Keep everything in writing.

One parent advised: 'Make sure all conversations, even if done over the phone, are confirmed via email - all black and white conversations count for more.

'I would ask the school why was she made to apologise, as all she did was defend herself.'
A couple who insist they are happily married despite a 42-year age gap have hit back at trolls who call the woman a 'gold digger'.

David Epstein, 70, from Oakland, California met his wife Jackie, 28, while he was visiting the Phillipines.

The couple have a joint TikTok account, @dave_jackie2818, where they have amassed just under 50,000 followers - and are known for sharing lots of affectionate moments with their fans.

Loved-up clips include scenes of Jackie sitting on David's lap pinching his face, in a video captioned: 'I am blessed', as well as videos of the couple dancing.

However, not everybody is supportive and the couple have defended their relationship on numerous occasions.

David Epstein, 70, from Oakland, California met his wife Jackie, 28, while he was in The Phillipines

TikTok fans weren't convinced on their pairing - with many casting doubt on Jackie's true intentions, claiming she only married David for a 'green card'

One fan commented: 'Shouldve gone to the bingo hall and picked yourself a nice old lady', while another speculated that Jackie is 'all about the green card'.

Jackie told YouTube channel Love Don't Judge: 'So many label him as my sugar daddy, say I'm a green card digger, a gold digger.

'But I'm not really affected because it's not true. I know myself, I know that I am not a gold digger'.

But fortunately for Jackie, her family and friends were keen on the union: 'My family are very supportive and my friends also.

'I won't regret marrying Dave because he's a really nice man. He loves me, he respects me, he's the best'.

David, met Jackie on the dating website Cherry Blossoms, where members actively look 'to meet Philippine and Asian women' online - while he was in her homeland.

It turned out that the two got on like a house on fire and David popped the question within only six months.

David said: 'We met when I was in the Philippines. I was using a dating site. One day I saw her profile - I practically jumped out of my chair. I was so impressed by what I saw'.

Loved-up clips include scenes of Jackie sat on David's lap pinching his face, captioning the video: 'I am blessed', as well as less intimate displays of affection where the duo are dancing

Discussing their wedding, Jackie said: 'Our wedding was fun. It was the best day of my life. My parents and siblings couldn't make it here.

After agreeing to meet with David, Jackie admitted she 'did not review his profile' and 'had no idea what he looked like'. She added: 'I could tell that he was a gentleman and was really nice'.

Jackie received her Visa 11 months after David popped the question, with the couple choosing to live in the US.

Jackie now works at a local drugstore in California but makes sure to return to the Philippines once a year to visit her family and help support them financially.
Beefy beauty 128 Grazer brought home the gold in this years Fat Bear Week competition, snagging the title from last year's winner Bear 747.

The annual competition in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve pitted the burliest bears against each other to see who could put on the most weight before hibernation.

Fat Bear Week is a bracket style contest where the public gets to vote for their favorite bear. This years champion, 128 Grazer, diminished the competition with a whopping 108,321 votes.

Grazer is a protective mother bear with a long straight muzzle and brown ears. In the late summer and fall her coat turns a light brown and she often becomes one of the fattest bears on the Brooks River.

This years runner-up was 32 Chuck, a plump male brown bear with a distinctive scar on his muzzle, received 23,134 votes.

Fat Bear Week winner 128 Grazer (pictured) is a large adult female with a long straight muzzle and blond ears

Grazer is a fierce mother bear who has successfully raised two litters of cubs and will attack much larger males to protect them

The burly mama bear was first introduced to Brooks River as a cub in 2005. She has since built as reputation as one of the best anglers on the water.

She has successfully raised two litters of cubs and is often caught on camera attacking larger bears to ensure her children's safety.

'Grazers combination of skill and toughness makes her one of Brooks Rivers most formidable, successful, and adaptable bears,' said Explore.org.

Let's take a look at 2023's finalist:

Runner-up 32 Chunk

This years runner-up 32 Chunk is described as a 'large adult male with narrowly-set eyes, a prominent brow ridge, and a distinctive scar across his muzzle.'

He has a puzzling personality and would sometimes play with other bears rather than fish. He has grown to be more confident and used his size to his advantage

Chunk is described as a 'large adult male with narrowly-set eyes, a prominent brow ridge, and a distinctive scar across his muzzle.'

First identified in 2007 at 2.5-years-old, he presented with a puzzling personality. He would play with other bears and wait to scavenge for salmon rather than challenge other males.

In 2023, Chunk packed on the pounds and became one of the most dominant males on the river. Even 2022 Fat Bear Week champ Bear 747 deferred fishing spots to him.

'Chunk has gained the confidence and ability to take advantage of opportunities not available to most other bears,' said Explore.org.

'His low hanging belly and ample hindquarters bear the fruit of his summer success.'

435 Holly

Bear 435 Holly is said to resemble the 'shape and color of a lightly toasted marshmallow' whose life has been colored by 'hardship, surprises, and success

Holly was also the 2019 Fat Bear Week champion. She raised an injured yearling cub in 2007 and adopted a lone yearling cub into her family in 2014

Holly is a large adult female who is said to resemble the shape and color of a 'lightly toasted marshmallow,' lost to Grazer in the semifinals.

She previously won Fat Bear week in 2019 and has lived a life of hardship, surprises and success.

While she is currently single, she has raised several successful cubs and even adopted two yearling cubs into her family.

'Holly has shown that experience and an ability to adapt lead to longevity and success for brown bears,' Explore.org said.

Bear 901

Bear 901 is a medium-sized adult female with 'blond-rimmed, triangular ears.' She was a runner-up in 2022's Fat Bear Week

In the summer she returned to Brooks Falls with three cubs, but in mid-September one of them disappeared

901 is a female medium-sized adult brown bear, first identified as a 2.5-year-old in 2018, who lost to Chunk in the semifinals.

This summer has not be easy for her. She returned to Brooks River with three spring cubs, but in mid-September one of them disappeared.

Explore.org said raising cubs is difficult for first time mothers and she expressed a lot of caution over the summer.

'She most often used the river mouth area where fewer bears are present instead of making frequent trips to Brooks Falls, likely to provide her cubs with more safety.'

Bear 747

2022 champ Bear 747 is a large adult male who frequently sports scars and wounds on his face and neck

At over 20 years old, he has faced competition from younger bears but remains an elite fisher

2022's champion, Bear 747 is a large adult male with a blocky muzzle and floppy ears who lost to Grazer in the quarterfinals.

First identified in 2004 as a small young bear, he has grown to become a giant on the river, once estimated to weigh 1,400 pounds.

Explore.org said: 'He is a skilled and efficient angler who is found fishing most often in the jacuzzi or near the far pool of Brooks Falls.'

Now over 20-years-old, his fishing skills still remain elite but he faced competition from a younger generation.

806 Spring Cub

806 Spring Cub (pictured) is a first-year cub with long and shaggy brown fur

On several occasions he has strayed from his mother, but the two always reunited and it has paid off for his growth

This first-year male cub with long, shaggy brown fur lost to Chunk in the quarterfinals.

While many mothers shy away from fishing near Brooks Falls, 806 did not and it paid of for her spring cub.

Although on several occasions he strayed from his mother, the two were always able to reunite.

In July, his mother fell as she caught a fish, which left the cub alone. While she was gone an adult male tried to attack him.

However, she quickly returned and was able to defend him.

'His story showcases the risk and reward that bears find at Brooks Falls,' said Explore.org.
A restaurant manager has been praised for hitting back at a one-star review which accused the staff of being 'not very friendly' and 'very inattentive'.

Atina Kitchen in Chester shared both the TripAdvisor review and their response on X, formerly known as Twitter, and won praise for their handling of the situation.

In the review, a diner named Kate complained that she had to go to the bar to get her own water 'while two members of the staff were chatting'.

She decided against tipping because the service wasn't as pleasant as previous times she'd eaten at the restaurant.

The restaurant's manager took issue with the fact that people are quick to jump on to sites such as TripAdvisor with a negative review, but never think to write something positive to support hospitality businesses, particularly during the cost of living crisis.

Atina Kitchen, in Chester, has been praised for hitting back at a one-star review which accused the staff of being 'not very friendly' and 'very inattentive'

The customer wrote: 'Service is very poor and the staff is not very friendly. Very inattentive and barely pays attention to the customers.

'I had to stand up twice  the first time asking for water at the bar. While the two members of the staff where [sic] chatting, and the second time I had to get up and go to the bar again and ask to pay the bill. One of the waitresses didn't even say thank you when I paid.

'I normally leave good tips but on this occasion I didn't as the service was poor and the experience wasn't please like the previous times I have been eaten in that restaurant. I definitely won't be back again.'

The response read: 'I'm very sorry for your experience when you last joined us.

'We value all the custom we get and I'm sorry we let you down on this visit.

'I would usually ask you to send us an email to elaborate on your visit and to ask you to return so we can make up for the last time with a discount.

'However, I noticed you said "the experience wasn't as pleasant as previous times I have eaten in that restaurant" but I also noticed this is the first time you've reviewed us.

The diner revealed she had to go to the bar to get her own water 'while two members of the staff were chatting'

The restaurant's manager took issue with the fact that people are quick to jump on to sites like TripAdvisor with a negative review, but don't think to write something positive when they have a good experience

'I'm sorry that your experience felt that truly terrible that you'd review us one star on a public forum during a cost of living crisis when so many hospitality venues are struggling to stay open.

'But you haven't taken the time to review us when you've had a pleasant experience in the past. It is such a shame you've felt a one star, which its purpose in itself is to put off other customers, was necessary.

'Especially during such a difficult time for restaurants. You've put in your review that you won't be returning, which I am genuinely disappointed as every customer that comes through helps us stay open.

'I also believe that the service you received on your visit was a one off which all staff are now aware of to make sure it doesn't happen again. I say all this, in hope that the next time you have a good experience at a restaurant you positively review them also, not just the negative.'

The restaurant was quickly inundated with messages of support from other loyal customers

The restaurant was quickly inundated with messages of support from other loyal customers.

One person wrote: 'Spot on guys. These people are so quick to complain but never so fast to compliment.

'Take solace in the reality that they are the minority, many people (including us) have you as the number one choice for food out in Chester... Don't let them get you down.'

Another said: 'Excellent reply. Your restaurant is lovely you really dont need customers like that.'

While someone else wrote: 'Atina is genuinely one of the best precocious independents we have in Chester.

'The points made in the poor review have never been experienced by me on the many visits I have made to this great restaurant. The service is always friendly and prompt, no request is too much.'
Some European countries have done it for thousands of years, and even former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was fond of one in the back of her official car en route to meetings.

Yes, were talking about taking a catnap in the middle of the day to stave off exhaustion and catch up on lost sleep.

While Brits have traditionally shunned a midday nap in the middle of the working day and are among the worst sleepers globally, followed by Ireland, Canada and the USA, a new study could challenge our ways of sleeping in relation to work.

Its findings highlight that power naps have the ability to improve productivity, boost brain health and even enhance wellbeing.

This is because large brain volume is a marker for brain health, and is linked to lower risk of dementia and other diseases.

Additionally, the study established that the difference in brain volume between those who habitually nap and those who do not was equal to 2.5 to 6.5 years of ageing.

A new study shows that power naps have the ability to improve productivity, boost brain health and even enhance wellbeing

Finding the time

So, should we all start taking a siesta in the middle of the day?

For those who work remotely for all or part of the week, scheduling some shut-eye at lunchtime is feasibleworkers in the UK spend significantly less time in the office at 34 per cent, compared to 50 per cent of worldwide workers.

Alternatively, you could ask your employer to follow Googles lead and introduce sleep pods on-site.

The other option is looking at your nighttime sleep patterns and tackling any issues that are preventing you from falling into a deep sleep.

These can be as simple as drinking caffeinated drinks too close to bedtime, scrolling through social media just before you turn out the light, sleeping in a room that is too hot and not well ventilated, or even work stress and anxiety that is causing you to toss and turn.

As the adage goes, sometimes a change is as good as a rest, and if your current job isnt working out and youre thinking of switching roles, make sure you check out the Mail Job Board.

It features thousands of openings throughout the UK in companies that are actively hiring, including the three below.

Job openings in the UK Account Executive - UK, Secureworks, United Kingdom The Role: Secureworks, a global cybersecurity platform that is part of Dell Technologies, is seeking an Account Executive. What Youll Do: In this hybrid role you will have responsibility for new client opportunities and with the support of sales engineering, security risk consulting and other areas of the business, utilise a consultative and solutions sales approach to map Secureworks service offerings to client needs. What Youll Need: The ideal candidate will have knowledge of security vendors, technologies, industry regulations and business drivers along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, have proven analytical and problem solving skills and be able to effectively establish and maintain working team relationships with all departments. Apply Now: Find out more about this role now. Executive Chef- British Airways Lounge UK, BaxterStorey UK, Hounslow The Role: BaxterStorey is recruiting an Executive Chef to lead the BA Lounge team at Heathrow. What Youll Do: Supporting the head chef, you will successfully deliver client-approved food and beverage propositions within the agreed budget, monitor and manage costs and waste consistently, employ robust product rotation and stock take practices within kitchens and utilise your experience in creating original and innovative menus. What Youll Need: Applicants should have multi-site and volume experience along with a visionary, collaborative and positive mindset. Apply Now: Learn more about this opportunity here.

Showroom Manager, CareCo UK Ltd, Croydon The Role: Mobility aid provider CareCo is looking for a Showroom Manager to lead a team of showroom advisors in Croydon. What Youll Do: You will be a motivating presence in the store, encouraging your team to meet objectives and sales targets and constantly looking for ways to improve the showroom. Youll also ensure all customers are welcomed and greeted by the showroom team and their requirements are identified, and recommendations provided. Day-to-day, youll plan staff rotas, deliver ongoing training and manage the performance of the showroom via regular performance development reviews and one-to-one meetings. What Youll Need: Previous retail management experience in a fast-paced environment is required along with the ability to meet sales targets. Youll also need to be proficient in Microsoft Office and have GCSE English and maths at GradeC/4 as a minimum. Apply now: See the full job description here.



Browse thousands of job openings and find your dream role today via the Mail Job Board
A beetle known to feast on the flesh of humans has been found living on a tiny island between England and Wales  after being absent from UK shores for three years.

According to experts, Flat Holm off the coast of Cardiff is the last stronghold for the dermestes undulatus bug.

The creature, which was discovered by ecologists visiting the island from the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, was last recorded in the UK in England in 2020. But it had not been seen since  and never in Wales before.

Flat Holm's community engagement officer, Sarah Morgan, said it was a 'mystery' how the beetle made it onto the island.

She said: 'It's not for the squeamish, but these tiny beetles feed on the skin, fur and bones of dead animals  Dermestes literally means skin eater.

'It's a preference that makes them a bit of a pain in museum collections, but incredibly useful in forensic science to help determine how long a body has been in situ.

Dermestes undulatus beetles (pictured) are known to feed on the skin, fur and bones of dead animals - as well as the flesh of human corpses

'Exactly how the beetle made it out to the island is a bit of a mystery, given that they appear to be completely absent from the mainland now, but it's possible they were brought by gulls carrying scavenged remains.

'Without the team at South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre we might never have known about the beetles, so a big thank you has to go to them.'

Cardiff council cabinet member for culture, parks and events Jennifer Burke said Flat Holm was a 'haven for nature'.

'It was the first island in Wales to achieve bee-friendly status. It's home to a colony of protected lesser black-backed gulls, as well as slow worms, wild leeks and much more,' she said.

'With recent research showing that one in six species is at risk of extinction, this new find makes it even more important that we continue our work to protect and conserve the island's unique habitat.'

The sighting comes as another bug is causing problems for Britons  the bedbug.

Landlords have urged tenants to 'put their duvets in freezers' and 'empty their hoovers' amid fears of an invasion of the creatures.

Tube passengers have refused to sit on seats, a Bedfordshire council has received an 'alarming number of calls' and bugs have been sighted on a bus in Manchester as fears grow of an outbreak similar to the one in France.

The critter has been found on Flat Holm island (pictured) a few miles off the coast of South Wales

London mayor Sadiq Khan said the issue was a 'real source of concern' and TfL officials are already in conversation with the Parisian Metro over what 'lessons could be learnt'.

Some landlords have already started to advise tenants of the steps they can take to mitigate an infestation, should one occur.

Rik Smith, director of tenancy services at Goodlord, has issued a series of tips.

If you are concerned that you may have brought the bugs into the house, Mr Smith says you should 'put affected clothes and bedding in the freezer for a few hours before washing'.

You should also take steps to 'wash bedding and clothes on a hot wash (at least 60C) and tumble dry on a hot setting for 30 minutes'.

Scientists believe that Flat Holm island (pictured) could be the last stronghold of the dermestes undulatus beetle in the UK

When that's done, it is important to hoover the house thoroughly and empty the bag  as the bugs may still be alive in there.

He explained: 'They are incredibly small  5 to 7mm long  and it's easy for them to get into a home without anyone noticing.

'Considering the bugs can live for up to six months without food, one of the most difficult problems people face is the fact they're so hard to remove  and may only be noticed when there is a full infestation.'

Meanwhile there could be evidence of another foreign invasion  from Chinese mitten crabs.

The crustaceans were seen at waterways in Cambridgeshire, including a dyke in Whittlesea and Nene Park in Peterborough.

Passer-by Stuart Selby, who saw one crossing a busy road in Peterborough, described the sight as bizarre.

An expert has said 'exactly how the beetle made it out to the island (pictured) is a bit of a mystery', but says it is possible that they were 'brought by gulls carrying scavenged remains'

The crabs, which can grow to the size of dinner plates, erode riverbanks by burrowing into them. They also affect the fishing industry by feeding on fish stocks and damaging nets.

They are among 30 non-native species listed as a concern due to their invasiveness and the ability to establish in several nations across Europe. Since 2016 they has been classed as being widely spread across the UK.

A Nene Park Trust spokesman said: They dont pose any threat to people or dogs but may give a nip if anything gets too close, so we would advise visitors to keep their distance.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the species became established in the Thames in London in 1973 and had spread further afield since then.

The species  named after its furry claws  is thought to have travelled from eastern China to Europe and north America in the sediment found on the bottom of ships' ballast tanks.
A debate broke out on GMB this morning about whether people should be showering before getting intimate with their partner amid sightings of bed bugs in London.

Blogger Carla Belucci claimed people should always 'freshen up' before getting down and dirty because you 'don't know where people have been'.

But presenter and journalist Ellie Phillips argued pressing pause on the action to have a wash can 'stop the excitement' and ruin the spontaneity.

'I don't go the gym, my only exercise it getting down and dirty so I'm like, "If I'm going to get sweaty and I'm dirty as it is, let's crack on",' Ellie said.

The debate comes after videos surfaced of bed bugs on the London underground and commuters have been avoiding sitting on the seats on their way to work.

The debate comes after news of the bed bug infestation in Paris making its way to the UK

Sparking the debate, Carla said one shower a day simply is not enough, adding: 'I don't want anything smelling - feet, breath, anything. For me it has to be clean, if not I get the ick.'

Ellie then asked how soon after showering would be an acceptable amount of time to have sex before another a shower was needed.

'How soon before the act are you having to shower, is it five minutes, is it 10 minutes?' she said.

'Because for me, if I'm going on a date night with my husband, we go out for dinner, we go to the theatre, we come home and we want to have a bit of fun time. We're just going to let it happen, we're going to go with it.'

A debate broke out on GMB this morning about whether people should be showering before getting intimate with their partner amid sightings of bed bugs in London

Blogger Carla Belucci (right) claimed people should always 'freshen up' before getting down and dirty because you 'don't know where people have been' but presenter and journalist Ellie Phillips (left) argued pressing pause on the action to have a wash can 'stop the excitement' and ruin the spontaneity

Ellie added: 'I don't want to like you know break that up, stop the excitement, be like: "Wait, hang on there just five minutes".'

But Carla said she would just make the excuse of needing the toilet so she could pop off for five minutes to 'freshen up'.

'Even if I had to sit in the sink I would do it,' she said. 'Just freshen up. I would be uncomfortable otherwise.'

As she burst out laughing, Ellie asked if Carla would expect her husband to do the same, to which the blogger replied: 'No, no I would.'

'It's a bit of a mood killer though isn't it?' Ellie asked, as Susanna Reid said five minutes is 'quite a long time in the world of spontaneity'.

But Carla doubled down and admitted she has a 'phobia of germs' and when you've been out all day a freshen up is needed.

Ellie said she would be 'concerned' about the personal hygiene of a person if she felt she had to ask them to shower before they got intimate.

She explained: 'I think if I had to tell someone to go and have a shower I'd be concerned about their general personal hygiene. Because I think if you're going to sleep with someone and you're worried about where they've been, then maybe you shouldn't be sleeping with them.'

Susanna turned to Ellie and said that with the videos surfacing of bed bugs on the tube, would she agree with asking someone to 'just hose yourself down' because 'I don't know what you might be harbouring'.

'Every circumstance is different,' Ellie said. 'For example, say if you're getting home at 5 oclock and you want to have a shower fine. But does that mean when it's 10 o clock at night and you're getting into bed with your other half, does that mean you have to have another shower because that time has lapsed?'

Sparking the debate, Carla (right) said one shower a day simply is not enough, adding: 'I don't want anything smelling, feet, breath, anything. For me it has to be clean, if not I get the ick'

People on social media were quick to express where they sat on the debate, with some siding with Carla on staying clean and others agreeing with Ellie

'The idea that you have to stop what you're doing, break that spontaneity, put pause on the fun, completely kill the mood to then go and have a shower.'

People on social media were quick to express where they sat on the debate, with one person on X, formerly known as Twitter, siding with Carla saying: 'Some of y'all are nasty... it feels so nice to have a shower/bath and put on something nice. A sweaty body on you is gross lol #GMB.'

While another wrote: 'I'm with the girl who wants to be clean... go and have a shower. Nobody wants unpleasant smells and that goes both ways.'

But not everyone agreed, with someone saying: 'You are sharing bodily fluids, I think having a 'freshen up' before getting frisky, even if I had a shower before, would completely put me off.'

And sharing a GIF of Ru Paul's drag race star Chi Chi DeVayne, another said: 'If you stay ready... you don't need to get ready!'
A man is attempting to drink 2,000 pints in 200 days, but social media users are concerned about the safety of the challenge.

Sheffield-based Jon May, 25, set himself the questionable task, which involves guzzling an average of ten pints of beer for 200 days, and is sharing the experience on TikTok.

Jon began the immense challenge after learning a man challenged himself to drink 1,000 pints in a year and predicting that he could double that figure in a shorter space of time, according to Vice.

Now, on day 191 of the challenge, Jon has spent a whopping 7,772 on cider and lager but argues that the money would have been spent on alcohol anyway.

But the beer-loving individual has worried social media users with many questioning whether the experiment is healthy.

Jon May (pictured), 25, from Sheffield has sparked a debate online after sharing his mission of drinking 2,000 pints in 200 days

Taking to TikTok, Jon answered a query from a viewer who asked for further clarification about why Jon wanted to undertake the task.

He said: 'I thought the best way I could try and give some money to the UK economy is to drink a lot of alcohol.'

As well a drinking the pints, the beer-lover told Vice that he has tracked his progress on a spreadsheet along the way.

'On the one hand, youre essentially killing your liver, and on the other youre doing something mildly impressive,' he added.

But despite drinking an average of ten pints a day, the 25-year-old claimed that he doesn't suffer from hangovers.

In a later video he said that while he 'definitely doesn't recommend' the challenge to others, it's been 'one of the best things I've ever done in my life.'

Since commencing the drinking challenge, Jon has left his full-time job in pursuit of TikTok fame, having gained nearly 80 thousand followers on the platform.

Once the challenge is over, the beer-lover has announced plans to transition into reviewing beers to social media fans.

The beer-lover must drink ten pints a day in order to successfully complete his challenge, which he is doing to 'give some money to the UK economy'

While some followers are awarding Jon with a 'legend' status, others are concerned about his health and the amount of money he's spending on the challenge.

Hundreds took to the comment section to cheer Jon on. One said: 'I aspire to be you.'

A second user simply added: 'Legend.'

A third wrote: 'Keep up the good work.'

A fourth added: 'Proud of you mate.'

However, other users took to the comment section to voice concern. One said: 'I would strongly advise you not to mate. Its really not good.'

Users took to the comment section to share their thoughts on Jon's mission, but viewers were divided

A second questioned: 'How are you affording that?'

A third wrote: 'Alcoholism innit.'

Another said: '5 beers a day is crazy unless youre drinking like a 2 percent beer.'

It comes after British beer lovers were hit by a 'double whammy' of paying more to get the 'same buzz' as brewers slash the strength of booze - while pocketing millions of pounds saved on tax.

So how much is TOO much? NHS recommendations state adults shouldn't drink more than 14 units each week. That's 14 single shots of spirit or six pints of beer or a bottle and a half of wine. They should also spread their drinking over three or more days to avoid bingeing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises Americans do not drink more than 14 standard alcohol drinks per week for men and seven for women. A standard alcoholic drink includes 12oz of 5 per cent beer, 8oz of 7 per cent malt liqour, 5oz of 12 per cent wine or 1.5oz of spirits including rum, gin, vodka or whiskey. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years is already linked to a plethora of health issues such as high blood pressure, stroke risk, and range of cancers. Advertisement

For months, major producers have been lowering the strength of their lagers to save cash as the Government prepares to raise taxes on alcohol by more than 10 per cent in August.

The move, dubbed 'drinkflation', means shoppers have been unwittingly buying weaker beer while being charged the same - or more, with Carlsberg today becoming the latest brand to cut back on the alcohol content of its lagers.

Now landlords have hit out at the plummeting strength of booze, as they warned of a fresh financial 'timebomb' that could drive punters away from pubs, potentially leaving boozers with no other option but to call last orders for a final time.

Ben Stanford, who runs the George and Dragon Inn in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, said: 'It means customers are buying more product but they feel like they're being hit with a double whammy.'

The average price of a pint has swelled 12 per cent since 2021, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, despite popular brands like Foster's, Old Speckled Hen, Bishops Finger and Spitfire lowering their alcohol by volume (ABV).

Copenhagen-based brewer Carlsberg is reducing the strength of its Danish Pilsner from 3.8 per cent ABV to 3.4 per cent, reports the Telegraph.

Cutting the strength of its beer below 3.5 per cent will allow Carlsberg to take advantage of a new lower tax for weaker drinks when alcohol duty rates change in August.

At the moment, all beers over 2.6 per cent in strength pay a 'general' rate. However, the new change will mean beers 3.4 per cent or less in strength will pay 9.27 per litre of alcohol in the product, compared to 21.01 for beers between 3.5 per cent and 8.5 per cent.
Norfolk cleaning fanatic, Anna Louisa, is 'on a mission' to keep spiders at bay

A cleaning guru has revealed three easy hacks to keep creepy crawlies out of your home.

Anna Louisa from Norfolk took to Instagram to share the simple tricks that will keep your abode spider-free and smelling phenomenal.

In a video that now has over 320,000 likes, Anna said she was 'a woman on a mission', trying and testing various methods to keep the insects at bay.

Outlining her hacks, the cleaning guru advised followers to deal with entry points of the home first.

Anna Louisa shared her three top tips for keeping creepy crawlies at bay this spider season

The mother instructed her followers to combine a cup of water with five to 10 drop of peppermint or tea tea tree oil.

This mixture should then be poured into a spray bottle, and spritzed across your windows and doors.

Anna explained this effective method will deter spiders because they 'dislike the smell of both of these oils.'

The cleaning guru told her 3.6 million Instagram followers that she was 'a woman on a mission', in her pursuit to find easy methods to divert spiders

In the tutorial, she told her 3.2 million followers to also add orange oil to their mop buckets.

Not only does adding 15 to 20 drops of the scent leave your floors smelling great, but it also deters creepy crawlies, according to Anna.

She continued: 'It's not too overpowering like peppermint and tea tree, so it's perfect for larger surfaces like your floors.'

The final piece of advice Anna imparted to ward off the critters, was to scatter cinnamon sticks around your home.

The cleaning fanatic explained that spiders aren't too keen on the smell of cinnamon either, noting: 'I was quick to pop one on my bedside table.'

'You can also do this with conkers but I chose not to do this one as it would be dangerous for my toddler,' she explained.

However, Anna did give an advisory warning, recommending pet owners always do their research before using essential oils around the house in case they pose a risk to furry friends.

People took to the comment section to give their takes on the cleaning guru's advice: with one person joking: 'I had a peppermint plant on my counter and a spider moved into it.'

Her first tip tackled windows and doors, with the cleaning fanatic advising fans to spray their windows and doors with mixture of peppermint oil and water

For tackling floors, Anna recommended using orange oil, a scent spiders still hate but it is not to overpowering for the human nose. The eight legged insect also hate cinnamon according to the cleaning guru. Anna also advised pet owners always do their research before using essential oils in the home

Instagram users took to the comments to share their thoughts on Anna's spider busting hacks, with one person branding her a 'lifesaver'

One said they would be buying '10,000 cinnamon sticks,' while another added: 'They'll still find you.'

Others labelled the woman a 'lifesaver', adding: 'I got jump scared this morning by a spider.'

One follower noted: 'Imagine how good the house would smell??'

However not everyone was convinced by Anna's spider deterring tricks, with an individual writing: 'I'm probably one of the only people who don't mind them.

'I'm always having to pick them up for friends and move them haha.'

Another continued: 'Id much rather have a few spiders than flies. I always have a few spiders in each room for pest control.'
Prince and Princess of Wales joked about emojis during interview with BBC radio

Prince William has joked about his most used emoji - suggesting that it is the rather rude aubergine.

The royal, 41, made the quip while he and wife Kate Middleton, 41, were being interviewed for BBC Radio 1's Going Home show, prompting one of the hosts to reportedly say he has a 'dirty mind'.

When host Vick Hope asked the Prince and Princess of Wales which of the characters they use most frequently, William quipped: 'Is this a clean thing? Is it a family one?'

Meanwhile Kate joked: 'It depends what group, if it's the family WhatsApp group.'

William continued: 'I've been told not to pick the aubergine, so I've got to pick something else.'

Prince William (pictured, left) and Kate Middleton (pictured, right) joked about emojis during an interview with BBC Radio 1

He added: 'It would have been the aubergine, but I'm saying now because I've got to be a little grown up that it's the one with the eyes [that] go up and down, and the mouth.'

Revealing her emojis of choice, Kate said: 'It's got to be the heart, with then the crying emoji, the sort of like hysterical laughing when things go wrong.'

Show hosts Jordan North and Vick Hope appeared both shocked and delighted at William's response. Jordan said: 'He said the aubergine emoji, this is brilliant.'

Meanwhile Vick is reported as saying: 'He knows. Hes got a dirty mind.'

The conversation then moved on to safer topics, with the royal couple discussing their dinner plans. Revealing that they were planning to enjoy a curry, William admitted he cannot eat anything too hot. He said: 'I cant do too much spice, I start sweating. Its not attractive.'

However, Kate said: 'Whereas I like the spice so I have to sort of cook the curry and then add the extra spice at the end.'

William then quipped: '[Kate] has to bring it in gently because otherwise I get too sweaty. Its not a nice sight.'

The interview took place on Tuesday, as the Wales hosted a forum, Exploring our Emotional Worlds, in Birmingham to mark World Mental Health Day.

The royal appeared to shock the radio hosts by joking about the rather rude emoji during the hilarious interview (pictured: the Prince and Princess of Wales)

They teamed up with BBC Radio 1 as well as charity The Mix, as they brought young people together to talk about mental health.

Speaking during the event, Kate told the crowd that she and her husband are 'inspired' by how open young people are in speaking about wellbeing.

She said: 'Today, more people feel empowered to talk about their mental health than ever before.

'This is a major step forward. William and I continue to be inspired to see young people, like you all here today, leading this charge - being particularly brave in having some of those conversations yourselves.

'As a generation, you value and talk more about your mental health than any before you - something we truly admire and applaud.'
Princess Leonor exuded pride as she joined her parents, Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain, at the Spanish National Day military parade in Madrid.

The 17-year-old, who is heir to the Spanish throne and holds the title of Princess of Asturias, appeared regal in the cadet uniform of the Military Academy of Zaragoza.

While King Felipe, 55, also wore military uniform, Queen Letizia, 51, looked elegant in a blue floral dress by Juan Vidal that fell to the shin.

She accessorised with delicate jewellery, a black handbag and Carolina Herrera patent leather slingback pumps.

Madrid hosts an annual military parade to mark Spanish National Day, which commemorates the country's cultural and linguistic expansion beyond the European continent.

Princess Leonor exuded pride as she joined her parents, Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain, at the Spanish National Day military parade in Madrid

Personnel from the Armed Forces, Civil Guard, National Police and Maritime Rescue participate alongside ground vehicles and aircraft.

The event begins with the arrival of the King and Queen - the King inspecting the troops and greeting members of the government.

Noteworthy moments of the parade include the descent of a parachuter bearing a large Spanish flag, the Spanish Legion marching with their pet goat, the solemn raising of the National Flag, which pays tribute to those who have died for their country, and the flypast of the Spanish Air Force.

It comes after the Princess took part in a flag swearing-in ceremony at the General Military Academy.

As per tradition, the ceremony saw Leonor kiss the Spanish flag after swearing an oath of allegiance to her King.

The monarch wore his traditional military uniform, while his wife opted for a sleeveless blue and black polka dot dress, which featured drop hem detailing and a cinched waist.

After the Spanish anthem was played, King Felipe reviewed the troops, walking in front of his daughter.

The princess, who will be 18 at the end of this month, had spent all week rehearsing for four hours a day, local media reported.

The 17-year-old, who is heir to the Spanish throne and holds the title of Princess of Asturias, appeared regal in the cadet uniform of the Military Academy of Zaragoza

While King Felipe also wore military uniform, Letizia looked elegant in a blue floral dress by Juan Vidal that fell to the shin

Queen Letizia accessorised with delicate jewellery, a black handbag and Carolina Herrera patent leather slingback pumps

Madrid hosts an annual military parade to mark Spanish National Day, which commemorates the country's cultural and linguistic expansion beyond the European continent

The event begins with the arrival of the King and Queen - the King inspecting the troops and greeting members of the government

Her sister, Infanta Sofia of Spain, 16, was notably absent from the event because she is studying at the UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan.

The school is often referred to as 'Hippie Hogwarts' thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.

Leonor's General Military Academy of Zaragoza, meanwhile, follows a strict timetable during the week, but the princess free to return home at the weekends if she's not on manoeuvres.

After training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, which is Spain's equivalent to Sandhurst, she will go to naval school, and will complete her three years at the General Air Academy.

The Princess revealed her enthusiasm for being a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona, in Catalonia, on 5 July.

She said: 'I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.

'I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces... it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.'
'My heart is heavy for anyone living in a war-torn country,' Jill explained

The 32-year-old alluded to her time doing missionary work in El Salvador

The reality TV star took to Instagram Stories to share her take on the conflict

Jill Duggar has taken to social media to share her own take on the war between Israel and Hamas - claiming that she too 'knows the feeling' of being involved in a violent conflict.

The 32-year-old posted a statement to Instagram Stories in which she compared her experience of working as a missionary in El Salvador, which at the time was overrun with gang violence, to that of the civilians caught in the burgeoning terrorist conflict on the Gaza Strip.

'My heart is heavy for anyone living in a war-torn country,' wrote Jill.

'Though vastly different, I know the feeling of living in another country, terrified at times of the very real threat that my husband and I, along with our infant baby might be murdered as our close friends were kidnapped and murdered.'

Jill Duggar has taken to social media to share her own take about the war between Israel and Hamas

The 32-year-old reality star alluded to the time she spent doing missionary work in El Salvador in voicing empathy for those 'living in a war torn country'

In a second Instagram Story, Jill then shared a quote from German theologian Martin Niemoller and emphasized she has 'both Jewish and Arab friends'

She continued: 'Our personal situation was temporary. I cannot imagine having to deal with these daily threats at home, surrounded by an inescapable, grueling war.'

'There is no easy solution. But evil brutality and terrorism cannot rule It must be stopped,' the statement concluded.

She also linked to a video from Mandana Dayani in which the lawyer and activist scolds supposedly 'liberal' protestors in America for voicing support of the reigning Palestinian political faction Hamas, which, she emphasized, is a 'terrorist organization.'

In a second Instagram Story, Jill shared a quote from German theologian Martin Niemoller and wrote: 'There is no easy answer in war but evil, heinous, terroristic actions must be stopped.

'I have both Jewish and Arab friends... neither have condoned terroristic actions.

'In fact, some of my Arab friends have even told me in tears how they have personally been affected by extremists and how they disagree with actions taken by terroristic groups and want it to stop.'

She concluded by adding the hashtag I Stand With Israel.

Back in 2015, Jill and now 34-year-old husband Derick - along with their then-newborn Israel - embarked on a mission trip to El Salvador.

As Jill wrote in her memoir, Counting the Cost, over the months they spent there: 'The gang situation in El Salvador had gotten even worse.

'There were a lot more police on patrol in the capital, San Salvador, and in our little village some of the shops and houses had started hiring armed guards.

'We'd had our own guard ever since we'd arrived, but it didn't feel like much protection anymore,' she continued, noting the gangs' tendency to target individuals known to be wealthy.

Back in 2015, Jill and now 34-year-old husband Derick - along with their then-newborn Israel - embarked on a mission trip to El Salvador

Consequently, during the trip, the threat of being kidnapped constantly loomed.

One evening, when Derick was 'off somewhere,' Jill and 'a few of the ladies on the team' were inside the church when they heard a number of gunshots ring out in the near vicinity - prompting everyone to find hiding spots.

Jill recalled how she hid in a closet with Israel, feeding him so he wouldn't cry.

It turned out to have been a false alarm, set off by one of the guards on the church property 'showing off,' who had 'let his friend fire his gun.'

Later, Jill discovered that TLC 'had decided to take out ransom insurance on us, which only made us feel even more vulnerable.'

At the time, the network was gearing up to debut the 19 Kids and Counting spinoff Counting On, which initially focused on Jill and sister Jessa.

Of the environment she witnessed in El Salvador, she wrote, 'Pretty much every male in the country was in a gang, even boys as young as seven and eight. There were only two ways of getting out - either you died, or you joined a church.

'For some reason the gangs left Christians alone, but only if the person was genuinely committed to their church,' she explained.

Jill and Derick had grown close to a family including their teenage daughter Fatima.

Fatima's boyfriend Raul had seemingly managed to leave a gang by joining the church - but, out of nowhere, he still wound up being snatched off the street - never to be heard from again.

'Not long after, Fatima and her mother, Rosa, showed up at the church in tears.

'They told us that the gang had instructed them not to ask any questions or look for Raul or his body, and that if they did, they would be next,' Jill wrote of the incident.
TikTok's 'most liked' influencer Bella Poarch broke down in tears as she candidly revealed that she was raped while serving in the Navy at age 18, while opening up about how the lasting trauma of the assault pushed her to try and take her own life.

The internet sensation, whose real name is Denarie Bautista Taylor, fought back the tears as she discussed the incident with host Alex Cooper on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast.

The 26-year-old, who is originally from the Philippines but moved to the US with her adoptive parents as a child, laid bare the trauma she faced at the hands of 'someone she knew.'

Her attacker was sentenced to four years behind bars but Bella admitted that she is 'still struggling' after the assault left her with paralyzing PTSD.

TikTok's 'most liked' influencer Bella Poarch has candidly revealed that she was raped while serving in the Navy at age 18

Bella, who now lives in Los Angeles, said that she had really wanted to move out of her childhood home due to a turbulent family dynamic but that 'the only way was to join the military.'

She explained that she grew up in an abusive household - and, after graduating from high school at the age of 16, she felt the only way for her to escape was to enlist.

Yet, during the podcast, she candidly revealed that the Navy had not been the safe haven she had hoped for.

She began: 'I've never opened up about this but something really f***ed up happened to me in the military.

'My first year in the military I got sexually assaulted. I was 18 and it was my first duty station.

'I don't know, I was very motivated. I was a motivated sailor, I wanted to pick up rank really fast so I was doing a lot of extra things like studying really hard so I could get my wings - you study aviation and its supposed to look good in uniform and on paper.

'But I was studying really hard and I wanted to pick up rank so I could make more money - and then that happened.

'At first I didn't want to speak up about it but the women that I was surrounded with knew something was wrong.'

Host Alex asked Bella if the person had been in a position of power, to which she replied: 'It was someone that I knew.'

The internet sensation, whose real name is Denarie Bautista Taylor, fought back the tears as she discussed the incident with host Alex Cooper on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast

The 26-year-old, originally from the Philippines, laid bare the trauma she faced at the hands of 'someone she knew'

She continued: 'I showed up to work and they were like "Why do you have so many cuts on your face? Why do you have bruises on your neck? What's going on?"

'I was late for work that day too and I just started crying. I didn't know if I wanted to say what really happened because I didn't want anything to change.

'I was working really hard and I just didn't want anything to change and we all knew this person. I didn't want to make things awkward.'

Revealing further harrowing details, Bella said: 'I was fighting really hard.

'I was just very grateful that I was surrounded with people that cared about me.

'They were like forcing me - actually forcing me - to go and get the rape kit because you have to go get it done in a certain amount of time.

'I was just like, "I don't want to" but they were like, "No you have to, you have to speak up, this person can't keep doing that, what if he does that to another girl?"'

Bella continued: 'I went to go get it and it was a long process - a lot of interrogation. It was like I was a suspect and they were interviewing me.

'And they were like, "Oh did this really happen" when obviously they see the physical [wounds].'

She said that it went to court and the perpetrator was sentenced to four years, Bella concluded: 'That's it.'

Her attacker was sentenced to four years behind bars but Bella admitted that she is 'still struggling' after the assault left her with paralyzing PTSD

Asked what empowered Bella to come forward, she said: 'Honestly, I just thought about what they said like what if this isn't the first time he did it - and it actually wasn't.

'He did it multiple times and I guess when I came forward those other women came forward.'

She admitted: 'I live with so much anxiety because I know he's out there. I've just been scared.

'I feel like it's so f***ed up. I feel like there should be a system where when this happens that we know where this person is at at all times because four years is not a long time.

'He could do anything, literally. I've just been scared this past few years.'

Bella said she did not seek help for two years after discovering that she had PTSD - and it was only when her fellow workers began noticing her symptoms that she made the decision to seek help.

'I would get triggered at work. My coworkers would be freaked out like, "Why are you shaking right now?" and it was scary.

'Sometimes you forget where you are, especially when you get flashbacks and whenever I see a person that looks like him my body just shuts off... it's happened multiple times.

'I also feel like that's why I try to stay away from crowded places.'

Rather than return home following the incident, Bella opted to transfer to a different duty station for a fresh start where people 'did not know what had happened.'

She explained that she ended up requesting a transfer to Japan, where her adoptive brother was stationed, explaining that - by that point - he was the 'only person' she had in her life.

It was also her sibling who encouraged her to seek treatment from a therapist.

'He was very worried and he was one of those people that pushed me to go and see a therapist,' she explained, admitting that she was initially very reluctant, recalling how she told him: 'I was like, "No, I'm fine!"'

Her biggest claim to fame is a lip-sync video to a catchy diss track now titled M to the B from British artist Millie B

However, shortly before Bella left the military in 2020, her mental health took a turn for the worse, and she revealed that she tried to take her own life.

'I tried taking my own life a few months before I got out of the military because my PTSD was getting bad,' she recalled.

'My friends actually found me. I overdosed. I just saw a bottle of Percocet... I had a roommate, she had a bottle of Percocet in her bathroom and I just took the whole thing.

'It was probably like 40 pills... I was just really depressed. I was talking to a therapist twice a week and I was still struggling very hard.'

Asked how she began to heal, she said: 'I'm still struggling with it now but it's definitely a lot better than it used to be.'

Bella explained that she was taken to the psych ward after her overdose, and it was there that she met other people who 'were struggling with the same thing' and who helped her through her own issues.

'I was basically forced to go to the psych ward and I met a lot of people there that were struggling with the same thing,' she shared. 'I guess I just needed people that understood me and I needed to talk to people that went through the same thing.

'[It] made me feel a little better and hopeful.

She also credited her ex-husband, whom she met at age 19 while they were both serving in the military and was with for seven years, for helping her to get through some of the 'dark times'.

A US Navy spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'While we cannot comment on the specific incident mentioned, we want to emphasize the U.S. Navy takes all allegations of sexual assault seriously and is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all its personnel.

'The Navy is committed to creating a culture of dignity and respect, where every member lives up to our values of honor, courage, and commitment, and can thrive in their service.

'The Navy has robust policies and procedures in place to address claims of sexual assault and ensure they are thoroughly investigated. Our priority is to support survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

'We encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed sexual assault to come forward and report it through the appropriate channels.

'An uncompromising commitment to a culture of respect and dignity is the through line in the Navy's efforts to reduce the number of sexual assaults.

'The Navy has implemented clear, frequent, and unequivocal messaging throughout the Fleet that sexual assault has no place in the Navy and is not tolerated.

'Those in leadership roles are expected to build a culture of trust and respect within their teams. When a sexual assault occurs, the Navy provides trauma-informed, gender-responsive, and culturally-competent support and resources that are victim-focused.'

The spokesperson concluded: 'We are proud of Bella Poarch's service and for speaking up about her experience.

'It takes courage to share such personal stories, and her actions align with the Navy's core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

'The Navy remains dedicated to fostering a culture of respect and accountability within our ranks.'

Since leaving the Navy, Bella has shot to fame as a TikTok icon and now boasts more than 93.1 million followers.

Her biggest claim to fame is a lip-sync video to a catchy diss track now titled M to the B from British artist Millie B.

To date, it has been viewed more than 773.5 million times and set her on a path of internet stardom - garnering a staggering 2.3 billion likes across her content.

However it was ultimately her fame that led to the end of her marriage, with Bella revealing that her former spouse struggled to get to grips with her soaring success.
READ MORE: Disney raises the cost of some tickets by 10%

Reddit users weighed in, many agreeing the wait time and cost aren't worth it

Visitor claimed there was a '20 minute [to] 1 hour' wait for everything at the park

It has been named the happiest place on Earth - but according to one very unhappy Disneyland guest, the once-beloved theme park has all but lost its magic entirely.

A Reddit user took to the website to slam the iconic park, claiming the exorbitant ticket prices and long wait times have become so 'atrocious' that visiting the tourist hot spot is no longer 'worth the effort or the money'.

'Literally everything is a queue,' the user complained in the Unpopular Opinion subreddit. 'Going to the bathroom, Queue. Want to eat? Queue. Want to buy a souvenir? Queue. Want to get a glimpse of something? Queue...'

The vexed visitor continued saying they experienced a '20 minute [to] 1 hour' wait time at the park - and that's not even for the rides.

The Reddit user took to the website to slam the theme park, claiming the exorbitant ticket prices and long wait times aren't worth it

'We purchased a genie+ pass was just enough to get us on a few rides, the one attempt we made to get on a ride without the genie pass, we waited in line for 2 hours only to have the ride break down,' they said. 'Of course Disneyland doesn't do rain checks unless you have a fast pass...'

The final straw for the unhappiest visitor on earth was the quality of the rides they did manage to go on.

'The nail in the coffin is that Disneyland doesn't really offer things that other amusement parks don't offer anymore,' they bemoaned.

'Their ride technology and themed areas are on par with places like Universal Studios (which is less than half the cost),' they continued. 'Any edge they have on quality is completely diminished by the sheer amount of people and lines you have to compete with constantly.'

The disillusioned Disney fan said they've also observed that people don't notice the detail or work that has gone into the park when there are hordes of people.

'I just don't see the money or effort being worth it anymore,' they said simply.

'Its pretty apparent that Disney's popularity just continues to soar and ticket prices continue to rise,' the user continued. 'So the park will only continue to become more expensive and more crowded.'

Thousands of Reddit users commented on the post, many agreeing the cost of the famous park has gotten out of control.

Reddit users shared their own experiences from visiting Disney theme parks, many agreeing the cost and wait times were out of control

'I took my kids last year, and the crowds were unbearable.,' one Reddit user agreed. 'We went to Knotts Berry Farm this year, and we had a much better time.'

Others said they've noticed a difference in their time visiting the park.

'Dads a career cast member, so I grew up going all the time. Im 28 and I cant anymore. Even if its not as crowded on a day you go, no one even has any interest in stopping and enjoying things or admiring the details and stuff anyway so all of the ambiance that makes Disney stand out just goes completely ignored. Its inherently frustrating.

'Honestly I think it also depends on WHEN you go,' pointed out another. 'Avoid during summer break when all the kids are out of school, probably holidays too. Going on a Monday instead of Saturday.'

However others acknowledged that although it's an expensive - and sometimes long - day out, it's worth it.

'Its for sure too expensive. But I was just there last week and we still had a blast,' a happy Reddit user admitted.

A Canadian father-of-two took to TikTok to slam the park, branding Disney the 'biggest money printing machine on Earth,' adding that the lines were too long

'Rise of the Resistance is the best non-roller coaster amusement ride ever created. Both Haunted Mansion (Nightmare edition) and Pirates have never looked better.

'The food options at the park have never been better. Like legit good food instead of just eating something and thinking at least Im not hungry anymore."'

The Reddit user isn't the only person to slam Disney for being the most expensive place on earth.

In August, Canadian father-of-two Mario Zelaya took to TikTok to reveal the eyewatering cost of visiting Disneyland Paris, slamming the theme park as a 'money grabbing machine.'

Mario revealed that he spent $1,200 just on tickets for his family, as he advised people to avoid Disneyland.

'Here are the Disney rules,' he captioned the now-viral post.

'Expect crazy long wait times. If you don't want to wait in line, expect a huge bill to upgrade to a Premier Pass,' he wrote. 'If you decide to wait in line instead because the Premier pass doesn't cover all the rides, expect a huge bill regardless.'

The uproar comes as Disney revealed that it had raised the price of some of its theme park tickets by a whopping 10 per cent.

Prices for tickets on busy days at Disneyland in California have been raised from $178 to $194, an 8.9 per cent hike.

Meanwhile, the cost of annual passes will increase by anywhere from $40 to $50, with the parks' premium Incredi-Pass now costing $1,449, up from $1,399.
Amanda Knox has teamed up with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky on a big-budget TV drama that will tell the chilling real-life story of the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher - her subsequent conviction for the harrowing crime, and her ultimate exoneration.

DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal that the two women have formed a 'close' bond while working on the project, which will see Amanda shedding new and dramatic light on the untimely death of British student Meredith, 21, who was found brutally stabbed to death in their shared home in Perugia, Italy, in 2007.

The case gripped the globe when it began to unfold - and its many gory details, twists, and turns, have since been the focus of several TV dramas.

But now, Amanda is set to put her own spin on the retelling of events that have been so closely scrutinized over the last 16 years - and all with the help of Monica, 50, with whom she has become 'very close' during the production of the series.

'Monica and Amanda have become very close and are in touch almost constantly. They find that they have a lot in common, and support each other,' a friend told DailyMail.com.

Wrongfully convicted Amanda Knox (seen in 2011) has written a new show that will tell her story for Hulu - and it's being produced by Monica Lewinsky

A source told DailyMail.com that the unlikely duo became 'very close' friends while making the project. Amanda is seen left in 2011 during her trial and Monica is seen right recently

'Monica (seen in 2020) and Amanda have become very close and are in touch almost constantly,' revealed the insider. 'They find they have a lot in common, and support each other'

Amanda was wrongfully arrested for killing her roommate, Meredith Kercher (seen), in Italy in 2007, and then acquitted of all charges eight years later

Monica, 50, who was herself thrown into the spotlight after it was revealed that she'd had an affair with then-President Bill Clinton when she was 22 years old and working as a White House intern, first hinted at the show last week.

While she didn't divulge much, she teased an exciting new project during an appearance on the Today show - revealing that she was working with 'another young woman who found her life ripped apart'.

She said, 'I wish it were announced already, but Im executive producing a series on another young woman who found her life ripped apart on the world stage, but she somehow managed to survive.

'I think its going to be really powerful and hopefully they will announce it soon.'

Monica stepped into the world of producing in 2019, when she produced the series Impeachment, which told the story of her entanglement with Bill, as well as her betrayal by one-time friend Linda Tripp, played by Sarah Paulson.

Monica was portrayed by actress Beanie Feldstein, and the show was run by Ryan Murphy - the mastermind behind other popular series like Glee and American Horror Story.

The series thrust the scandal back into the public eye and prompted much speculation over the truths that lurked within the dramatized script - something that Monica and Amanda's retelling of Kercher's horrifying murder will no doubt also face.

Amanda - and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito - were both convicted of the violent crime and spent nearly four years in prison after the murder of exchange student Meredith.

Amanda, who was 20 years old at the time, and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were first blamed for the crime, and she was sentenced to 26 years in prison

Later, a burglar named Rudy Guede was found guilty for killing Meredith after his fingerprints were found on her belongings and Amanda and Raffaele's convictions were overturned

More than a decade after the fateful day that Amanda was undeservingly found guilty of murder, she is set to retell her story for the upcoming Hulu series

She had called the police after finding Meredith's bedroom door locked and noticing blood in the bathroom, but after law enforcement officials noticed her acting odd, she became a suspect.

At the time, Amanda put the blame on her boss at a local bar she worked at, Patrick Lumumba, who had a solid alibi, which only made police more suspicious of her.

After an immense investigation and trial, Amanda, who was 20 years old at the time, as well as her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted for the crime in 2009 - and she was sentenced to 26 years in prison for faking a break-in, defamation, sexual violence, and murder.

The entire world watched on as the trial played out, and millions were divided over whether or not Amanda and Raffaele had committed the horrific crime.

Later, however, a known burglar named Rudy Guede was arrested and found guilty for killing Meredith after his bloodstained fingerprints were found on her belongings.

Amanda and Raffaele's convictions were both overturned by an Italian court in 2015. She was eventually paid nearly $19,000 in compensation for miscarriages of justice, including not being given a lawyer or a competent interpreter when she was first held in custody.

Since then, she wrote a memoir about what happened to her, and in 2018, she became the host of a series called The Scarlet Letter Reports, which focuses on the 'gendered nature of public shaming.' In addition, she runs a podcast called The Truth About True Crime.

She is now married to a man named Christopher Robinson, and together, they share one daughter.

While there have been many documentaries and movies made about Amanda's story, this is the first one she has written herself.

Monica, 50, first hinted at the show last week on the Today show. She said, 'Im producing a series on another young woman who found her life ripped apart on the world stage'

Monica had an affair with former President Bill Clinton (seen together in 1997) when she was 22 years old and working as a White House intern and he was in office

As for Monica, she spent many years out of the public gaze, telling the Today show that the fallout from the Bill scandal left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.

She took some time to focus on her education, studying at the London School of Economics, before stepping back into the spotlight in 2014 when she wrote an essay for Vanity Fair.

She has since made a few rare appearances and sat down for various interviews, and told Today that she's doing better than ever.

'It has been the best decade for me. Im incredibly grateful. Turning 40 was horrible  but turning 50 was very empowering,' she gushed to the outlet.

Monica famously had an affair with Bill from 1995 until 1997, and it eventually led to his impeachment.

On August 17, 1998, after multiple denials, the former President appeared on television and finally confessed, insisting he was 'solely and completely responsible' for the relationship.
Racegoers are prepping their fascinators in anticipation for a big day on the turf at the TAB Everest race where they will be able to sip on 'new' refreshing cocktails.

Sydney's Randwick Racecourse is set to host the world's richest race day on turf this Saturday, October 14 with the biggest crowd since before Covid expected to attend.

To celebrate, punters will be able to enjoy four delicious cocktails on tap including a pink gin spritz, mojito, margarita, and blue lagoon.

Four aqua blue Kombi vans fitted out with drink taps on the side will be spread across the grounds.

Attendees will be able to sample the cocktails for $12 each and vote for their favourite to become the Official Everest Drink.

Racelovers are gearing up to celebrate Australia's richest race the TAB Everest and Sydney's Randwick Racecourse on Saturday where four fun new cocktails will be available on tap

Four aqua blue Kombi vans fitted out with drinks taps on the side will be spread across the grounds for guests to taste either the pink gin spritz, mojito, margarita, and blue lagoon

The winning cocktail will then be crowned as the official drink of the prestigious event for years to come.

Those who vote will be put into the running to win a generous $2,000 prize with the winner selected by a random draw.

TAB Everest Day will see 12 of the best and fastest horse sprinters compete for a whopping $20million in prize money.

The glamorous event is the richest race in Australia and the richest race on turf in the world.

Off the track, guests will be rubbing shoulder with the who's who of racing while dressed to the nines.

Many expected to be donning hues of aqua and sky to fit the 'touch of blue' dress theme of the day.
The mum-of-two shared that opening the relationship 'saved' her marriage

Mischa, from Sydney, revealed how hiring an escort changed her life

Mischa's marriage was heading towards divorce after ten years and two children - but everything changed when the mum started seeing a male escort who 'changed her life' and 'saved her relationship'.

The stay-at-home mum claimed that life in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs quickly got monotonous and depressing, and that she was in 'permanent mum mode' and 'constantly anxious about everything'.

'My life was perfect on paper, but the reality was far from the truth,' the 34-year-old revealed in an episode of Samantha X's popular podcast, Xposed.

Mischa had let herself go, gained 30kg, and no longer enjoyed having sex with her husband or making an effort with her appearance.

The couple finally decided on Micha booking a session with a male escort - which lead to her getting her confidence back and falling more in love with her husband than ever.

Her husband also ended up joining in on one of Mischa's sessions and claimed it was 'the hottest thing ever' and made him feel connected to his wife.

Samantha X [pictured] spoke to a Sydney mum about how hiring male escorts saved her marriage and turned her life around

Mischa shared her relationship journey and how she came to hiring male escorts in the first place.

'I met my husband on Tinder when I was 24 and looking for a fling, but I fell pregnant soon after. We wanted to keep the child, it spiralled, we had another kid and bought a beautiful house, but there was something missing.

'I dedicated all of myself physically, emotionally, and mentally to everything and everyone else but me. I had low body confidence because I had no time to exercise.'

Mischa shared that the couple's sex life was non-existent and they would simply 'get it over with' on Fridays between changing the sheets and dirty nappies.

'I always wondered if one person could fulfill all of my needs, and I found out about male escorts by reading Samantha X columns and researching them online.

'I suggested a male escort to try and open ourselves up to other people because it's transactional, there are no expectations or risks of things going wrong emotionally.'

Mischa was shocked when her husband agreed that it was a 'great idea' and wanted her to go through with it.

'I met my first male escort in a hotel room in the city, he charged $900 for two hours. My husband knew about it every step of the way and was very supportive.'

She revealed that being with another man felt 'electric' and 'free' and that the duo had 'euphoric sex'.

'I walked away a different person, I cared a lot less about what other people thought of me, I felt liberated and appreciated for the first time in years. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for weeks.'

Mischa shared that the experience brought her closer to her husband because he allowed her to explore herself.

'I felt guilty at first because I'm in the minority of people who need to seek sex outside of marriage, I thought there was something wrong with me.

Samantha X revealed that sex isn't the number one reason why people book escorts

'But my marriage improved, we had better communication, and it gave us a new level of love and respect.

'My husband is who I want to be with for a very long time. We just need external connections for our marriage to work.'

Mischa revealed that her husband also looked into booking female escorts and dating other people - but it just didn't work as well for him.

'He only wants me, he doesn't enjoy flirting with or sleeping with anyone else,' Mischa said. 'He never freaks out or gets jealous.'

She added, 'We're not ready to close our marriage yet and have no plans to. We're going with the flow.'

Mischa shared her relationship journey with her husband of ten years and how she came to hiring male escorts in the first place [stock image]

Some slammed her for seeking a relationship outside her marriage.

'At that point just get a divorce,' one said. 'What happened to for better or for worse? Pretty sick stuff.'

But others were glad Mischa found happiness.

'This is very interesting, we should all be so understanding and accepting,' a woman wrote.
Cancer now robs Brits of 14 years of life on average, according to an analysis branded a 'wake up call'.

For comparison, this is one extra year than for patients diagnosed in the 1980s. And experts predict it could get even worse.

One leading oncologist said, on the back of the new survival data, it was time 'to put cancer right back at the top' of the Government's agenda. Another demanded it was treated 'with the same gusto' as the historic Covid vaccine programme.

But researchers who conducted the analysis said the data somewhat paradoxically demonstrated the success of Britain's cancer screening programmes.

In the first analysis of its kind, researchers discovered more than two million years of life are lost to cancer in the UK every year.

A new analysis has shown the years of life an average cancer patient in the UK is expected to lose, the amount of life lost in terms of all cancers has increased to 14.1 from 13.4 in the 1980s

Breast cancer is the UK's most common cancer with almost 56,000 cases diagnosed per year

A team at Cancer Research UK, Kings College London and Queen Mary University of London used average life expectancy and cancer death data to work out time lost.

On average, cancer patients diagnosed between 1988 and 1992 were robbed of 13.4 years of life.

And despite years of cancer breakthroughs, the experts found the disease stripped 14.1 years from patients, on average, in 2013-17.

This was a slight decrease on the previous five-year slot.

Experts told MailOnline this was likely due to a broad rise in life expectancy meaning a cancer diagnosis now is robbing people of a greater portion of their lifespan than it did some 30 years ago.

READ MORE: Staggering 2MILLION years of life 'are lost to cancer every year in Britain' Whilst the growing population has seen overall numbers of years of life lost per year to all cancers combined has risen since the 1980s rates have gone down by 15 per cent over the three decades Advertisement

But some warned the dire state of NHS cancer services  which are repeatedly failing to reach critical performance targets  may exacerbate years of life lost in the coming years.

Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with over 40 years' experience, who was not involved in the study, explained people were simply living longer rather than cancer getting worse, in theory.

He said this boost in overall life expectancy in the population left people with 'more to lose' from the disease.

'You're losing more years of life because we're all living so much longer,' he said.

Life expectancy in England and Wales has soared to about 80 for both men and women in recent years, about 10 years more than in the in 1970s.

Professor Sikora, ex-chief of the World Health Organization's Cancer Program, said the data shouldn't undermine the massive cancer breakthroughs that have occurred over the past few decades.

For instance, new drugs used to pummel tumours have been found.

As well new medications revolutionary screening programmes, credited with spotting thousands of cancers early when they are most treatable, have been rolled out.

Professor Sikora highlighted how in 'just a generation of doctors' cancer cure rates have gone from 34 per cent to nearly 51 per cent.

However, he predicted years of life lost to cancer would sadly increase due to the disruption of the Covid pandemic to the NHS and the service's repeated failure to meet treatment targets.

'People are going to present with later stages of the disease,' he said.

'All of the disruption caused by trying to successfully deal with Covid has resulted, as a side effect, with a huge loss of life years to cancer.'

Prostate cancer follows closely behind with 52,000 cases diagnosed in men each year

Lunch cancer, while not the most common form of the disease, is one of the biggest cancer killers in the Uk with a survival rate of just 10 per cent

Dr Judith Offman, of King's, and an author in the new analysis, said the increase in average years of life lost per patient was due to combination of factors.

In addition to growing life expectancy, she also pointed to the success of screening programmes for the disease like those for breast and cervical cancer as, somewhat paradoxically, contributing to the increase in average years of life lost per patient.

Dr Offman explained these programmes, like those for breast cancer where women aged between 50 and 71 are invited for mammograms, are hugely successful in detecting cancers at their earliest stage, when they are easiest to treat, in older women.

However, this had resulted in a general shift in the patient demographic of serious late-stage cancers to younger women, who aren't regularly invited to screening.

'That has caused an increase in average years of life lost per patient because the ones that we still find late are not easy to treat,' she said.

'It's a combination of mostly the success of the cancer screening programmes, improvements to treatments and an increase in life expectancy.

'It's somewhat counterintuitive - overall years of life lost going down is a good thing, but for breast and cervical cancer, the analysis showed its caused a slight increase in the average years of life lost per patient.

'But its important to remember that, at the level of the UK population, rates of years of life lost have decreased drastically in these cancers and thats something that should be celebrated.'

Cancer care was effectively ground to a halt for some patients when the pandemic first reached the UK's shores, with appointments cancelled and diagnostic scans delayed because of the Government's devotion to protecting the NHS.

Experts have estimated 40,000 cancers went undiagnosed during the first year of pandemic alone.

NHS cancer services are also repeatedly failing to achieve their targets.

Official health service data on cancer waiting times show that just six in ten (62.6 per cent) cancer patients were seen within the two-month target in July. NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be seen within this timeframe.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer and kills 16,800 Brits every year

Melanoma which primarily caused by UV damage to the skin from the sun or tanning beds is one of the most preventable cancers with Cancer Research UK estimating nearly 9 in 10 cases could be prevented

Problems in the system pre-date Covid though, with this target having not been met nationally since December 2015.

Professor Sikora called for NHS and Department of Health officials to urgently boost resourcing for both suspected and confirmed cancer patients.

'The NHS has to admit we have a problem with cancer,' he said.

'You can't snatch a workforce out of thin air, you've got to use the one you have, pay them overtime to do the scans, the endoscopies, the biopsies and so on.'

He said that staff could be offered incentives like tax breaks and childcare to work overtime.

'Treat it with the same gusto as the vaccine programme,' he said.

CRUK's head of cancer intelligence, Jon Shelton, argued there was no need to panic over the increase in years of life lost by patients to cancer.

However, he said it was still worrying and clearly demonstrated there was still room for improvement in cancer prevention.

'This is concerning, and we need to do better,' he said. 'That's why it's important to focus on cancer prevention... to bring it down in the future.'

He added measures like the HPV vaccine programme reducing the risk of cervical cancer and newly-announced plans to phase out smoking in young people as fresh sources of optimism that could reverse the trend.

However, he agreed that the NHS needed to rapidly improve cancer service delivery.

'It does need that investment, and that focus on the service to make sure we are seeing patients as quickly as possible,' he said.

'The more we can do and keep cancer on top of the agenda, and improve survival, prevent more cases where we can, diagnose as early as possible, these will help to bring down the years of life lost in the future.

While the level of progress for cancer survival for some forms of the disease has been rapid, such as for breast and prostate cancers, others, like those for lung and pancreas have only improved at a snail's pace

10-year cancer survival rates for many common cancers have now reached above the 50 per cent mark, and experts say further improvements could be made in the next decade

NHS figures on cancer waiting times showed that just six in ten (62.6 per cent) cancer patients were seen within the two-month target. NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be seen within this time-frame. This target has not been met nationally since December 2015

'Behind all these figures are people and their families who are really missing out.'

Professor Pat Price, oncologist and chair of Radiotherapy UK and co-founder of the Catch Up With Cancer, said CRUK's analysis should be a 'wake-up call'.

'Over 2million years of life lost to cancer every year and half of new cancers affecting adults aged 5074 is a national cancer crisis,' she said.

'Measuring the burden of cancer and how it really affects us individually and as a society should be the wake up call to put cancer right back at the top of the Government and Treasury's agenda.

'For every four week delay in treatment there can be a 10 per cent increase in risk of death.

'We need action to back these solutions, with investment in kit and people, to reduce the staggering number of life years lost to this devastating disease.'

The CRUK analysis estimated that around 167,000 lives are lost to cancer in the UK every year  some 460 people every day.

High diagnosis and poor survival rates mean around a fifth of the total lost years are from lung cancer, with more than 500,000 per year.

The experts also tracked how many years of life are lost on average per cancer type and how this has changed between 1988 and 2017.

Patients now typically die 14 years early from lung, liver, pancreas and stomach cancer, 17 years early from breast and ovary, 25 years for cervical cancer and shockingly 33 years from testicular cancer.

Rates of stomach cancer have fallen 59 per cent, cervical by 58 per cent and breast cancers by 39 per cent thanks to better diagnosis and treatment breakthroughs.

For example, the total number of years of life lost to cervical cancer in 1988 was around 43,600 but the cervical screening programme has seen this plummet to around 21,800 in 2017.

The analysis showed liver, melanoma and kidney cancer have seen increases in rates of years of life lost, largely because of increases in numbers of cases.

Rising obesity and alcohol consumption is blamed for the rise in years lost to liver cancer with rates up 157 per cent in 30 years.

Meanwhile, increased UV exposure from the sun or tanning beds, has been blamed for the increase in melanoma rates.

Years of life lost to lung cancer fell 24 per cent, rates of the disease have decreased since the 1990s with the percentage of adults smoking also falling in that period compared to historic levels.

Testicular cancer had a smaller number of lost years of the cancer analysed because overall because survival rates are good.

However, in rare cases where the disease was fatal the average years lost was high, at 33 years, because patients died so young.
Waiting lists for routine NHS procedures have shot up to another record high in the wake of chaotic strikes.

England's ever-growing backlog now stands at 7.75million patients  the equivalent of one in seven people.

This includes nearly 400,000 stuck in the system for over a year, often in pain.

Experts today slammed the 'alarming' lack of progress at tackling the backlog, which began spiralling during Covid because of the knock-on effects of the pandemic.

Insiders warned the dire situation will likely only get worse with winter looming and the constant threat of fresh strikes, saying the next few months could be 'appalling' for patients.

England's ever-growing backlog hit 7.75million in August  the equivalent of one in seven people. This includes nearly 400,000 stuck in the system for over a year, often in pain

Monthly NHS performance data today also showed how pressure has began ramping up on A&E units and ambulances.

More than 1,000 patients a day spent at least 12 hours in A&E in September in a trend that worsened over the course of the summer. Meanwhile, 999 crews were slower to respond to the most urgent calls.

Cancer care has also taken a hit, with fewer than three-quarters of patients seeing a specialist within two weeks  the lowest figure in a year.

Leading experts warned patients have been left 'anxiously' waiting for a diagnosis and treatment.

Today's shock catalogue of data comes after Keir Starmer yesterday pledged he would clear the backlog within five years if he became Prime Minister  a claim that was rubbished by health chiefs.

Latest NHS data shows that the overall waiting list grew by 65,000 in August (0.8 per cent).

What do the latest NHS performance figures show? The overall waiting list grew by more than 65,000 to 7.75million in August. This is up from 7.68million in July. There were 265 people waiting more than two years to start treatment at the end of August, down from 277 in July. The number of people waiting more than a year to start hospital treatment was 396,643, up from 389,952 the previous month. Some 33,107 people had to wait more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England in September. The figure is up from 28,859 in August. A total of 125,829 people waited at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission in September, up from 120,120 in August. Just 71.6 per cent of patients were seen within four hours at A&Es last month. NHS standards set out that 95 per cent should be admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour window. In September, the average category one response time  calls from people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries  was 8 minutes and 31 seconds. The target time is seven minutes. Ambulances took an average of 37 minutes and 38 seconds to respond to category two calls, such as burns, epilepsy and strokes. This is nearly twice as long as the 18 minute target. Response times for category three calls  such as late stages of labour, non-severe burns and diabetes  averaged 2 hours, 15 minutes and 59 seconds. Nine in 10 ambulances are supposed to arrive to these calls within two hours. Advertisement

It is the highest number since records began in August 2007. The figures reflect the number of patients waiting for routine procedures like hip replacements.

Rishi Sunak pledged in January that cutting waiting lists was a top priority for 2023, claiming that 'lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly'.

Some 396,643 patients were forced to wait at least one year, up from 389,952 one month earlier.

The NHS has been told to eliminate all waits of more than a year by March 2025.

Figures also show 265 had been queuing for more than two years by August, down from 277 one month earlier.

The NHS was told to eliminate two-year waits by July 2022, apart from for patients who chose to wait longer, did not want to travel to be seen faster, or for very complex cases requiring specialist treatment.

Officials today said they treated 10 per cent more patients in August compared to the same month pre-pandemic  despite six days of strikes by junior doctors and consultants that saw more than 100,000 appointments cancelled.

However, it said walkouts by medics, who are demanding a pay rise of up to 35 per cent, is reducing hospital capacity and services.

Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, said industrial action is 'continuing to pile pressure' on hospitals.

He added: 'Despite this pressure, it is clear from today's figures that NHS staff are working incredibly hard to deliver for patients.'

Thea Stein, chief executive of thinktank the Nuffield Trust, said there had been an 'alarming' lack of progress clearing the backlog ahead of winter, warning there had been 'months of stagnation with progress bogged down'.

She said: 'Bringing down record waiting times is a central pledge of both main political parties but achieving this task still looks a long way off.

'It's an unavoidable truth that whoever takes power at the next election will need to spend more on the NHS and healthcare.'

Professor Peter Friend, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: 'Increased demand, record staff vacancies and industrial action all continue to hold back recovery efforts.

'Whilst NHS staff continue to work hard to reduce waiting lists, this is happening in extremely challenging circumstances  and that is before winter pressures hit.'

Separate NHS figures released today show that A&E performance deteriorated.

Of the 2.1million attendees at emergency departments in September, three in 10 (28.4 per cent) had to wait more than four hours to be seen.

NHS standards set out that 95 per cent of patients should be admitted, transferred or discharged within a four-hour window.

Additionally, 33,107 patients waited more than 12 hours, which is the highest figure logged in six months and up 14.7 per cent compared to one month earlier. But the real figure is a lot higher because of how arrivals are logged.

Ambulance data shows that response times slumped last month.

Despite the number of category two callers  such as burns, epilepsy and strokes  remaining static, 999 crews took 37 minutes and 28 seconds to arrive on the scene.

Of the 2.1million attendees at emergency departments in September, three in 10 (28.4 per cent) had to wait more than four hours to be seen (red line). Additionally, 33,107 patients waited more than 12 hours (yellow bars), which is the highest figure logged in six months and up 14.7 per cent compared to one month earlier

Ambulance data shows that response times slumped last month. Despite the number of category two callers (yellow line)  such as burns, epilepsy and strokes  remaining static, 999 crews took 37 minutes and 28 seconds to arrive on the scene (red bars). This is six minutes slower than August and twice as long as the 18 minute target

NHS data shows that GPs made a record 267,555 urgent cancer referrals in August. Six in 10 cancer patients (red line) started treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral, meaning 5,940 people had to wait longer (blue bars)

This is six minutes slower than August and twice as long as the 18 minute target.

The average category one response time  calls from people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries  was 8 minutes and 31 seconds. This is 14 seconds longer than August. The target time is seven minutes.

Response times for category three calls  such as late stages of labour, non-severe burns and diabetes  averaged 2 hours, 15 minutes and 59 seconds.

This is more than 30 minutes longer than August. Nine in 10 ambulances are supposed to arrive to these calls within two hours.

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said NHS emergency care is under 'immense strain' and medics expect the winter to be as 'chaotic and challenging' as last year.

READ MORE: Cancer's grim chokehold on Britain: Sobering charts show how disease is robbing sufferers of up to 25 YEARS - with cases of melanoma, breast and prostate having soared since the 90s A new analysis has shown the years of life an average cancer patient in the UK is expected to lose, the amount of life lost in terms of all cancers has increased to 14.1 from 13.4 in the 1980s Advertisement

He called for the dispute between striking medics and the Government to be resolved 'before the extreme pressures of winter hit'  warning patient care will be 'appalling' if the strikes rumble on.

Dr Cooksley warned there is high absence levels, burn out and low morale among staff and many 'can't tolerate the haemorrhaging of staff'.

Cancer patients also faced longer waits in August.

NHS data shows that GPs made a record 267,555 urgent cancer referrals in August.

But fewer than three-quarters (74.8 per cent) of these patients saw a specialist within two weeks. The figure is down on the previous month, below the NHS's own 93 per cent target and the lowest since September 2022.

Some 71.6 per cent of patients with suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days. The target is 75 per cent.

Six in 10 cancer patients (62.9 per cent) started treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral.

This is the highest figure logged since March but well the NHS target of 85 per cent. It means 5,940 patients had to wait longer for surgery, chemo or radiotherapy.

Professor Pat Price, co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and leading oncologist, said the figures show a 'clear and continued failure' to meet treatment waiting times.

She said: 'Surely now, when we are so consistently at or near record poor waiting times, this should be a clarion call for the Government to take decisive action and expand treatment capacity in areas like radiotherapy.

'With every four-week delay, the risk of death can climb by 10 per cent, further contributing to the devastating loss of 2million life years to cancer each year.'

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: 'Behind these figures are people waiting anxiously for a cancer diagnosis, and patients left uncertain about when they'll get the treatment they urgently need.

'Although strike action has disrupted services, the waiting lists that we see in England today are not new. In fact, one key target has been consistently missed since 2015. This is a stark legacy of decades of underfunding by the UK Government.

'As we head into winter, the challenges facing the NHS are enormous. The UK Government must invest more money in NHS staff and equipment to end these unacceptable waiting lists. A long-term strategy to prevent, detect and treat cancer sooner is needed to help improve people's chances of survival.'

Health leaders have rubbished Keir Starmer's claim Labour could clear NHS waiting lists in one term without a substantial rise in funding. Speaking at the party's annual conference in Liverpool yesterday, Wes Streeting said a Labour government would 'turn the NHS on its head'. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting in July this year

Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the NHS data is a 'damning indictment' of the Government's record on the NHS.

She said: 'They broke their promise to recruit 6,000 GPs, broke their promise to build 40 hospitals and now they've broken their promise to bring down the NHS waiting lists.

'The Conservative party's conference was completely lacking in ideas to fix the crisis in our NHS.

'The public are tired of waiting and it seems this government have given up trying.'

'The Liberal Democrats have a plan to fix our health and care systems from top to tail, starting with improved access to GPs and dentists, and fixing social care.'

Wes Streeting, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said many of those in the queue for care are unable to work, while others will have undiagnosed conditions that are 'worsening while they wait'.

READ MORE: Health leaders dismiss Keir Starmer's claim Labour could clear 7.7 million off waiting lists in five years without a substantial rise in funding Sir Keir Starmer (pictured at the Labour Conference on Wednesday) said it is his 'ambition' to eradicate record waits, which currently stand at 7.7million after soaring during the pandemic Advertisement

He said: 'The longer the Conservatives are in office, the longer patients wait.

'Labour will provide an extra two million appointments a year so patients are treated on time. We will invest 1.1billion a year to pay staff overtime for evening and weekend working, paid for by abolishing the non-don tax status, so the NHS is working around the clock to beat the Tory backlog.'

Speaking at the party's annual conference in Liverpool yesterday, Mr Streeting said a Labour government would 'turn the NHS on its head' and impose reforms rather than 'pouring ever-increasing amounts of money into a system that isn't working'.

He said Labour would shift more care from hospitals to the community, focus on preventing ill health and quickly rollout new technology.

The party would reduce the backlog through a 1.1billion pot used to pay doctors and nurses to work overtime in the evenings and at weekends.

Labour said this would allow the health service to deliver 2million extra appointments a year.

Labour leader Sir Keir said it is his 'ambition' to eradicate record waits in one term, with the 2million target meaning the backlog could be eliminated within four years.

However, think-tanks and unions warned staff are already overworked and could earn more by taking shifts in the private sector.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said Mr Streeting's speech contained 'admirable aspirations', but added: 'Where health leaders may differ in opinion from the Labour Party is reform being more important than investment, as both are needed.'

Professor Nicola Ranger, director of nursing at the Royal College of Nursing, said: 'Any future government will not get record patient waiting lists down while the NHS is short of tens of thousands of nursing staff.'

Meanwhile, the NHS today said it has delivered on its ambition to roll out 10,000 virtual wards  treating patients at their home instead of in hospital for a swathe of illnesses, such as heart failure and lung conditions  by the end of September.

More than 240,000 patients in England have now been treated on virtual wards. Research shows people who are treated at home recover at the same rate or faster |than those treated in hospital.

NHS England medical director Sir Stephen, said: 'Our world-leading virtual ward programme is a huge leap forward in the way the NHS treats patients enabling them to receive hospital-level care in their own home.

'The NHS is embracing the latest technology, with regular check-ins from local clinicians in daily "ward rounds" while freeing up hospital beds for those that need them most.'
Government considering a raft of proposals to curb rising vaping rates in kids

Steve Barclay today pledged to stop vapes being made to look 'like sweets' amid plans to stamp out Britain's child e-cigarette epidemic.

The Health Secretary and father-of-two claimed the habit was 'wrong for children', adding: 'As a dad, I want to see it stopped.'

Officials are now planning on stopping predatory firms from selling vapes in child-friendly flavours like bubblegum.

Colourful packaging is also in the firing line, with the products  sold for as little as 5  facing being hidden behind counters to deter children from buying them.

Ministers also want to ban disposables versions amid fears trendy throwaway vapes popular amongst children are getting a new generation hooked on nicotine.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay, pictured today, said that as a father he is worried about children vaping

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

Some flavours of vapes, like those replicating types of candy, could be banned under new Government plans. Pictured here are devices MailOnline discovered mimicking Chupa Chups, Skittles, Jolly Rancher, Rubicon and Calypso (pictured), with near-identical branding to the popular sweets and drinks

Speaking on ITVs Good Morning Britain as the Government launched a consultation on the issue, Mr Barclay acknowledged vaping helps smokers quit.

But he added that 'for people that dont smoke, they shouldnt vape'.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Barclay said that he was 'alarmed' by the uptick in vaping among kids.

'Its important we get the policy right because actually vaping does have a role to play, particularly for adults that smoke.

'Vaping is better than smoking, but for people that dont smoke they shouldnt be vaping.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak is poised for a total ban on disposable vapes amid fears they risk hooking a new generation of youngsters on nicotine Disposable vapes could be banned within months under plans being published today (Stock Image) Advertisement

'And its particularly the marketing the marketing with bubblegum, the marketing of vapes like its a sweet shop. That sort of thing has to stop. Thats why were cracking down on it.

Describing the tactics as 'wrong', he added: 'Were clear it is wrong for children. As a dad I want to see it stopped.'

Around 11.6 per cent of 11-17 year olds in Britain confessed to having ever vaped last year.

This was up on 7.7 per cent last year and twice as high as rates seen a decade ago  before the UK's kid vaping epidemic blew up.

He also refused to rule out that vapes could be made prescription-only, saying that officials were 'looking at international best practice'. However he warned such a move could deter smokers from making the switch, however.

Mr Barclay's launch of the eight-week consultation follows a commitment from PM Rishi Sunak to tackle child vaping and phase out smoking.

MailOnline previously exposed the predatory tactics some sweet shops use to sell e-cigs to kids  even though it is illegal to sell them to under-18s. Many vapes are packed full of nicotine.

Ministers are seeking views on how vapes can be used by smokers wanting to quit but at the same time lessen their appeal to youngsters.

Among the options being considered are a complete ban on disposable vapes  the preferred choice among youngsters.

The proposals also include introducing plainer packaging and prohibiting the use of cartoons and child-friendly images, regulating whether vapes are on display in shops or behind the counter, and increasing the price.

On vape flavours, options include restricting descriptions to make them more generic, so words like 'blueberry muffin' cannot appear.

The UK-wide consultation will also examine whether new powers could be brought in for local authorities to issue on-the-spot fines for those selling vapes to people under age.

NHS Digital data shows the number of children who are current vapers has soared in recent years, jumping from 6 per cent in 2018 to 9 per cent in 2021

Charities, groups, individuals and industry are invited to give their opinion.

Mr Sunak, who last week unveiled plans to stop children aged 14 or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes, said: 'Our ambitious plans will reverse the worrying rise in youth vaping while protecting our children from the dangerous long-term effects of smoking as quickly as possible.'

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 A 14 year-old in England will never be able to legally smoke under proposals revealed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Advertisement

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said: 'Ensuring people do not become addicted to smoking and helping them overcome addiction to stop smoking are two of the best interventions for health.

'Vaping is less dangerous than smoking but still has risks and can cause addiction.

'Vaping can be useful for smokers to quit but should not be marketed to non-smokers and marketing them to children is utterly unacceptable.'

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: 'It is clear we must urgently act to stop children accessing vapes.

'Disposable vapes at their current pocket-money prices, with cartoons and bubblegum flavour options, are far too attractive and easy for children to access.'

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity Ash, said: 'Ground-breaking legislation to protect the next generation from smoking and vaping is needed, wanted and workable.

'This consultation will ensure all voices are heard and the balance is struck between protecting children while still helping adult smokers quit.'

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: 'The scale of the waste created by disposable vapes in the UK is shocking  industry research shows nearly five million single-use vapes are thrown away every week.'

Dr Mike McKean, vice-president for policy at the RCPCH, said he is 'pleased to see that Government is heeding our warnings on disposable vapes and is now actively considering a ban, as well as wider restrictions on flavours, packaging, and advertisement.'

David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Associations community wellbeing board, said: 'Disposable vapes are an inherently unsustainable product, meaning an outright ban remains the most effective solution to this problem.'

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

But the Independent British Vape Trade Association, which represents the industry, said its own research shows 56 per cent of regular smokers believe single use vapes help people cut down smoking.

Its chairman Marcus Saxton welcomed the consultation but said there is a risk 'policy goes too far and takes away a vital smoking cessation product when simply enforcing existing rules might be just as impactful'.

He added: 'As an industry, we recognise that youth vaping needs to be tackled and we stand ready to work with Government towards this, and have previously suggested heavier fines and more regular imposing of those fines for those who flout the rules.'
A 12-year-old girl whose vaping addiction left her in a coma has begged fellow kids to never pick up the habit.

Sarah Griffin, who has asthma, started puffing e-cigarettes when she was just nine. Eventually, she got hooked.

Sarah, from Belfast, was hospitalised in September with an infection which left her struggling to breathe.

Doctors whisked her straight into intensive care after tests showed only one of her lungs was working properly  which was blamed on her vaping addiction.

She spent four days in a coma as her body fought to overcome the illness. Sarah's mother Mary feared her daughter was going to die.

Speaking now, amid Britain's ever-spiralling child vaping epidemic, she has warned other young people about the dangers of using the devices.

Sarah Griffin was place in an induced coma for three days

Sarah, from Belfast, began vaping when she was just nine and would finish a 4,000-puff vape every few days. Pictured, Sarah with her mother Mary

Sarah's father rushed her to the Royal Victoria Hospital where medics discovered her oxygen levels were dangerously low. She spent four and a half hours in intensive care before being put into an induced coma

'Don't start doing it, because once you start doing it, you don't stop doing it,' Sarah told the BBC. 'You only stop when you basically have to, when it's a life or death situation.'

While Sarah is no longer in any imminent danger, the terrifying incident has left her with permanent damage to her lungs.

Her mother Mary urged other parents to be aware of how dangerous vaping could be.

'She's doing lung exercises and stuff you'd expect an 80-year-old to be doing, not someone who is 12,' she said.

READ MORE: Health Secretary Steve Barclay vows to stop vapes 'looking like sweets' and says habit is 'wrong for kids' Health Secretary Steve Barclay, pictured today, said that as a father he is worried about children vaping Advertisement

The girl's plea for youngsters to never start vaping comes as the Government today launched a consultation to crackdown on young people using the devices.

Measures being considered include a ban on child-friendly flavours such as bubblegum, or other sweet-shop style varieties.

Colourful branding could also be replaced with plain packaging and the products could be hidden behind counters to deter children from buying them.

In addition, ministers want to ban disposables versions of the devices amid fears the throwaway vapes popular amongst children are getting a new generation hooked on nicotine.

Discussing her daughter's terrifying ordeal, Ms Griffin 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 managed to hide her vaping habit from her mother, concealing the devices in her room, including in holes she cut in the carpet.

In the weeks before the incident that landed her in hospital, she was running through a 4,000-puff vape every few days.

She described how using the device was the first thing she did when she woke up and the last thing she did at night, sleeping with it on her pillow.

Despite it being illegal to sell vapes to anyone under-18s Sarah managed to purchase hers over the counter.

Doctors showed Ms Griffin an X-Ray of Sarahs lungs which showed one had been seriously injured and had stopped working. The other lung was working overtime, making her asthma worse, she claimed. Pictured, Mary with Sarah

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

The night before she ended up in hospital Sarah suddenly began coughing 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".'

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 stopped working.

'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,' she said.

'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.'

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

After four days medical staff were finally able to take Sarah out of the coma and remove the ventilator.

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.

READ MORE: Rishi Sunak is poised for a total ban on disposable vapes amid fears they risk hooking a new generation of youngsters on nicotine Disposable vapes could be banned within months under plans being published today (Stock Image) Advertisement

'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.'

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 warned children were being hospitalised with vaping-induced breathing difficulties amid a 'disturbing' epidemic of the habit among young people.

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.
The most elderly and vulnerable Americans are still struggling to access the new Covid booster vaccine a month into the rollout - with some clinics yet to receive a single shipment.

Cahaba Medical Care, with 26 community clinics across Alabama, has not gotten any Covid vaccines since the 2023 booster rollout started on September 12.

Veronica Ford, a nursing manager at the center, said: 'We are actually waiting with bated breath. We are checking daily to see if the state has received their supply so that we can get ours.'

Worried about catching Covid, many vulnerable Americans are taking matters into their own hands by locking themselves inside, masking and testing again.

Seven million Americans have rolled up their sleeves for the updated Covid vaccines as of Wednesday, an uptick from four million Americans earlier this week, but still only two percent of the population.

Jamie Leonardi with her two daughters, Juliet (4) and Juno (7), at Riverside Park in Oakmont, Pennsylvania on September 29, 2023. She was struggling to get Juliet her second Moderna dose

Scientists estimate there are almost nine million immunocompromised Americans and 56 million adults aged 65 and older, which makes them more likely to get severe illness.

This fall rollout is different because it has been left to private firms rather than the government. Previously, rollouts prioritized doses for the elderly by sending shots to nursing homes and clinics ahead of the wider rollout.

Vacheria Tutson, associate vice president of policy and regulatory affairs at the National Association of Community Health Centers, criticized the rollout: 'Now that we dont have that government access, it's shining the light on how we really cant afford to vaccinate uninsured and underinsured adults.'

Community health clinics treat many high-risk patients with pre-existing conditions, making them more vulnerable to severe illness.

Ms Ford told NBC she is worried people who have already received their annual flu shot at the clinics, which serve around 36,000 people, will not return to get the Covid shot once they have the vaccines.

People can get both jabs in the same clinic appointment, hoped to be more convenient for patients.

Americans can also get the latest booster from pharmacies, including Walgreens and CVS.

After the vaccine rollout was handed off to private companies, most Americans are still able to access the Covid vaccine for free under their insurance.

Seven million Americans have rolled up their sleeves for the updated Covid vaccines as of Wednesday, an uptick from four million Americans earlier this week, but still only two percent of the population

People wait in line to register for a free flu vaccine provided by the L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans at the Community Resource Center in Lynnwood on September 22, 2023. The center was not able to get Covid vaccines for the clinic

The uninsured and most of the underinsured are also able to get a free shot.

Community health centers provide these government-funded free or low-cost health services, meaning they are vital for giving care to underserved populations, such as low-income patients, undocumented immigrants and many Black and brown communities.

But because the clinics depend on federal funding, they cannot afford to cover the cost of the vaccines on their own.

During the pandemic, when the government was buying and sharing out the vaccines, this was not an issue, and Cabana Medial Care was able to give out tens of thousands of Covid vaccines.

Now the government has on the whole stopped paying, lots of community health centers are now counting on programs like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Bridge Access Program which is how uninsured and most of the underinsured can get vaccinated for Covid.

The program is delayed, and vaccine orders are backlogged with weekslong waits on deliveries, according to Ms Tutson.

She told NBC: 'I've had health centers who have only received 100 vaccines.'

The updated vaccines from Moderna or Pfizer are single-target shots aimed at the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus, was the dominant variant in the US for much of this year but has since been overtaken as the virus continues to evolve.

According to the CDC, side effects are more common after additional doses, and can include pain, swelling and redness on the arm where the shot was given, as well as tiredness, headaches and muscle or joint pain.

Luis Borja, 70, from Los Angeles, attempted to get a free Covid shot at his local community health center but was turned away.

The clinic, St. Johns Community Health, said it did not have enough vaccines and blamed shipping delays from the Bridge Access Program.

Mr Borja lives below the federal poverty line. He cannot afford to pay for his booster out of pocket, and his insurance company Medi-Cal did not cover the booster at most pharmacies.

He told NBC he felt 'frustrated'.

Meanwhile, Jamie Leonardi, a mother of two in the Pittsburgh area, told the Washington Post she was struggling to get her four-year-old daughter, Juliet, her second Moderna dose.

Ms Leonardi called her pediatric practice, which has more than 250 providers, but they did not have enough doses and could not say when it would have more.

She also tried regular vaccination clinics, pharmacies and a supermarket, with no luck.

She is anxious to get her kids vaccinated because there have already been cases of Covid in her children's classrooms.

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.
Doctors in California have been banned from putting a controversial medical condition on death certificates over fears it was enabling police brutality.

From January, 'excited delirium' will no longer be able to be listed as a cause of death under a bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on October 8, which campaigners called a 'watershed moment.'

Excited delirium is defined as a potentially fatal state of agitation, aggression, and severe distress.

It is controversial because medical professionals argue that delirium is a symptom of an underlying condition that could be caused by a number of different things, such as old age, medications or infection.

Excited delirium has been listed as a factor in at least 300 deaths since 2000, a Reuters investigation found. It was also used as a legal defense in the death of George Floyd in 2020.

'Excited delirium' has been banned as a cause of death in California under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom (pictured) on October 8

George Floyd (pictured left) died in May 2020 after a cop knelt on his neck in public for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for cigarettes. Angelo Quinto (pictured right) died after cops restrained him face down following a mental health crisis. Excited delirium was used as a legal defense in both of their deaths

California is the first state to ban coroners, doctors and medical examiners from using the diagnosis on death certificates and autopsy reports.

From January, law enforcement will also not be able to use the phrase to describe a person's behavior in any incident report, and testimony referring to excited delirium will be prohibited in civil court.

A human rights activist praised the move as a 'watershed moment' which could make it trickier for police to justify excessive force.

The concept of excited delirium has been around for decades, but it has been used more and more in the past 15 years to explain how an extremely unnerved person can all of a sudden die through no fault of the police.

The term was used as a legal defense in the 2020 deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York, and Angelo Quinto in Antioch, California, among others.

Police arrested Floyd outside a corner store on May 25, 2020, for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill to pay for cigarettes.

A panicky-sounding Floyd struggled and said he was claustrophobic as officers tried to shove the 46-year-old Black man into a police vehicle.

After officers pinned Floyd to the ground, rookie Thomas Lane can be heard on body camera video saying he's concerned Floyd might be experiencing excited delirium.

The defense for former Officer Derek Chauvin argued during his murder trial last year that the condition is real, and that Chauvin acted reasonably when he pressed his knee to Floyd's neck for about nine and a half minutes to restrain him, even as Floyd said he couldnt breathe and eventually became limp.

Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter. He pleaded guilty in December 2021 to a federal civil rights charge.

California becomes first US state to force baby food makers to test products for dangerous metals Baby food makers in California will be forced to test for toxic metals and publish the results on the products' websites, according to a new bill. Advertisement

Joanna Naples-Mitchell, a lawyer with the New York-based Physicians for Human Rights, who co-wrote a report in 2022 on the diagnosis, told KFF Health News that Newsom's new ban was 'a watershed moment in California and nationwide.'

'In a wrongful death lawsuit, if excited delirium comes up, its a big hurdle for a family getting justice if their family member was actually killed by police.

'So, now it will be basically impossible for them to offer testimony on excited delirium in California,' she added.

While California will be the first state to outlaw excited delirium as a medical diagnosis, multiple national medical associations have already made the move.

The American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association have rejected excited delirium as a medical condition since 2020, with both pointing out that the term has been disproportionately assigned to Black men in law enforcement custody.

In March of this year, the National Association of Medical Examiners spurned excited delirium as a cause of death and the American College of Emergency Physicians is due to vote this month on whether to disown its white paper on the topic from 2009.

The paper suggested that people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, particularly under the influence of drugs or alcohol, can display superhuman strength as police try to get them under control, and then die from the condition.

Angelo Quinto, from Antioch, California, had a mental health crisis two days before Christmas in 2020, leading his mother to call the police.

By the time they arrived, she had calmed him down, but officers restrained her 30-year-old son face down on the ground for several minutes while he was unconscious.

Mr Quinto died three days later in the hospital.

The Contra Costa County coroners office attributed his death to excited delirium, but the family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and hopes to get the cause of death changed on the death certificate.

A 2017 report by Reuters found that excited delirium had been listed as a factor in autopsy reports, court records or other sources in at least 276 deaths that followed taser use since 2000.

And in at least 30 of 128 lawsuits against the Taser company, the condition was cited as a factor, either by Taser, its expert witnesses or municipalities whose police used the weapon.

In all but one of those cases, Tasers defense prevailed, Reuters found, with excited delirium often one plank in the winning legal argument.

Delirium could be caused by old age, hospitalization, a major surgery, substance use, medication, or infections, said Sarah Slocum, a psychiatrist in Exeter, New Hampshire, who co-authored a review of excited delirium published in 2022.

She told KFF Health News: 'You wouldn't just put 'fever' on someone's death certificate.

'It's difficult to then just put 'excited delirium' on there as a cause of death when there is something thats underlying and driving it.'
Teenagers caught vaping at schools in Alabama will have to complete community service as part of a an unprecedented crackdown by schools on e-cigarette use.

Teachers in Cullman and Marshall counties say the situation has gotten so bad  with e-cigarettes even in primary schools  that they had no choice but to act.

A small number of counties have implemented the new program that would see them forced to complete a two-hour education class and 16 hours of community service.

If they complete the program within two months their charges will be dropped, and they wont be required to pay any court costs.

Alabama schools are cracking down on teen vaping. A small number of counties have implented a program which sees teens caught with vapes sent to court (stock image)

An MGH research team found that adolescent nicotine users who first started using e-cigarettes puffed the device for the first time at age 13. This is the same average age of first use of combustible cigarettes (top left). Nearly 80 percent of teens who use a nicotine product first got started with a vape (top right). In recent years there has been a surge of children using their vape within minutes of waking up each morning. The MGH research team found that 10 percent of users hit their device within five minutes of waking up each day in 2021 (bottom left). The number of American teens who use their e-cigarette daily has gradually increased in recent years (bottom right). A quarter of teens use their device each day, up from 20 percent in 2020 and 10 percent in 2014

Alabama school principals brought in the 'vape courts' after being overwhelmed with cases that were disrupting the school day.

In Marshall County, educators say at one point they were confiscating one vape a day from students.

Deputy Tamangi Lewis for the county told local provider WAFF: 'We've [even] gotten them from elementary children  anywhere from first grade up to third grade.

'Not even grades are separate from what we collect.'

In Cullman County, teachers complained lessons were being constantly disrupted by vapes.

Schools have also invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-tech vape sensors to catch children puffing in bathrooms and locker rooms.

Students caught with the devices could now be issued with suspensions and days at an alternative school as well as a date to appear in court.

At their appearance, watched by their parents, they are asked to plead guilty or not guilty before being handed their sentence  which includes community service and a six-hour education program to be completed within two months.

Students do not receive a criminal record, but those who fail to complete the sentence could face more community service and fines of up to $550.

The legal age for buying and using vapes in Alabama is 21 years and older, in line with most other states in the US.

But unscrupulous sellers and fruity flavors attractive to teenagers have created a tidal wave of underage users, with surveillance showing more than 40 percent of high school students have tried e-cigarettes.

Teenagers in Cullman County are being sent to this courthouse if they are caught vaping on school premises

Marshall County has now followed the policy and is sending children caught with vapes to their own schoolhouse

More than 2.5 million US children use e-cigarettes - rising a half-million from last year and reversing downward trends in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) reports that 2.55 million Americans in middle or high school admit using the device in the past 30 days. It is a jump of 500,000, or of 24 percent, from 2021. It is the first increase since the CDC started gathering annual data in 2019

At the start of this school year Marshall County brought in the 'vape courts' policy. It was following in the footsteps of Cullman County which brought in the specialist courts in 2021.

Cullman County has 10,000 children in school up to grade 12, while Marshall County has 6,000 students in its schools.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VAPING What are e-cigarettes? E-cigarettes are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapor rather than smoke. They do not burn tobacco or produce tar or carbon monoxide  two of the most harmful parts of tobacco smoke. The devices work by heating liquid that contains nicotine and flavorings. They can come as vape pens  which are shaped like a pen or small tube with a tank to store e-liquid and batteries  or pod systems that are rechargeable and often shaped like USB sticks. Are they dangerous? E-cigarettes are not risk-free but are believed to cause less harm than smoking. However, its liquid and vapor contain harmful chemicals that are also found in traditional cigarettes, but it much lower levels. These chemicals have been linked to lung inflammation, chronic coughs, shortness of breath and lung disease. Some chronic users have developed obstructions in their lung pathways that cause them to suffer 'asthma-like' symptoms. There have also been cases of e-cigarettes exploding or catching fire. Can children buy them? Like cigarettes, an American must be at least 21 years old to purchase a vape. Many physical retail locations neglect to check identification for customers, allowing children to access the devices. Around 75 per cent of Juuls in the hands of minors in the US came from physical locations, a 2018 report found. Many also get the device from a friend or family member. What has the FDA done to curb vape use? The FDA has banned the sale of flavored nicotine products in the US unless a company has received their expressed approval. All products sold by e-cigarette giant Juul were ordered to be pulled from the market in June under these new rules It found that there was not enough evidence to confirm its products did not harm public health. However, the FDA then paused its decision in July while it carries out an additional review on the company's products. Other popular brands, like Puff Bar, have received warnings from regulators about the sale of flavored devices as well. Advertisement

Kay Bell, the director of the Cullman Juvenile Probation program, told Al.com Cullman County sent 126 children to school in their first year.

But by the following year this number had dropped by 27 percent.

Youngsters given court dates are mostly aged 14 to 15 years, although there have been a few 13-year-olds.

'We actually have a pretty good success rate,' she said. 'If they have issues, they can call in and we'll help.'

Local Judge Chad Floyd added nearly every single parent supports the program for their teenagers when their child is called to court.

'I would say about 99 percent of the time, we have the parents on board with us,' he said.

'Our most successful cases are the cases where we have buy in from the parents and everyone is pulling in the same direction.'

Among those sent to the courts was 11th-grader Gracie, whose second name is not being revealed in order to protect her identity.

She was sent to court on October 3 after being found with a vape at her school.

Speaking to reporters, she said spending several days in alternative school was 'embarrassing' but had been helpful.

'I feel like it was a good thing because I might not have ever quit otherwise,' she said.

Explaining the program, Albertville District Court Judge Jay Mastin, from Marshall County, said: 'We want our kids to understand what they are doing. Understand what they are putting in their bodies and know this isn't a healthy option.

'We are going to try every level of education we can.'

The Cullman County student handbook says children caught with vapes will be sent to an alternative school for three days, a specialist school separate from the main campus where they will have to complete their work.

They will also be sent to court to receive 16 hours of community service at a non-profit organization and be sent on a six-hour education court about vapes.

Those who are found distributing vapes in schools will be suspended for four weeks.

If children complete their sentences within two months, their case is dismissed without court costs.

But if they fail to do so they can be given a $50 fine and up to $500 court costs.

Penalties get worse for repeated offenses.

The Marshall County student handbook says children caught with vapes will be given a ten-day suspension and be sent to court, where they will also receive a 16-hour community service sentence and an education course. They will have two weeks to complete this.

There are also reports that rural Coosa County has enacted a similar policy.

Alabama schools have already been cracking down on vaping in schools by installing sensors in bathrooms.

These sound an alarm whenever they detect vapor from e-cigarettes, making it easier for teachers to crack down on vaping.

Many other school districts are already showing interest in the policy, Alabama schools say. But they are also facing opposition from campaigners.

Leah Nelson, the research director at policy group Alabama Appleseed, said: 'This vape court doesn't help kids avoid anything.

'If anything, Cullman is constructing a new feeder into the school-to-prison pipeline for no good reason and without legal authority.'
The iconic marshmallow PEEP could soon look very different after its manufacturer announced it would strip a harmful dye that gives the candy its striking color.

Pennsylvania-based Just Born became the first company to announce changes to its ingredient list after California passed a law banning several potentially carcinogenic ingredients, including a food dye additive.

After Easter 2024, Just Born will no longer use red dye No. 3 in any of its products, the company said in a statement.

In a study evaluating the health impacts of red dye No. 3, research has shown lab rats exposed to high doses of the additive over a long period of time developed thyroid cancer.

Could PEEPS lose their famous color?

Around 12,000 products sold in California use the newly banned ingredients, according to the Environmental Working Group

In 1990, the US Food and Drug Administration banned the use of the dye in cosmetics based in part off of that research.

However, the ingredient is still allowed to be used in foods.

In a statement provided to Consumer Reports, Just Born said: For Easter 2024, of all our PEEPS offerings, two colors will contain Red #3  Pink and Lavender. All Just Born products, including Pink and Lavender PEEPS, comply with FDA guidelines and use only FD&C certified color.

You will begin to see the updated ingredient list on store shelves in the coming months.

Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said: Weve known for years that Red Dye 3 and the other toxic chemicals banned under Californias landmark pose serious risks to our health.

The widespread use of Red Dye #3 is particularly concerning since it is found in many products marketed to children who are especially at risk of developing health problems from exposure.

We applaud Just Born for removing Red Dye #3 from PEEPS before the California law goes into effect in 2027 and urge other companies to do the same.

California Gov Gavin Newsom signed the so-called 'Skittles ban' last week, 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.

The four newly banned additives are: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye No.3.

PEEPS is the first product to announce it will do away with one of the banned ingredients prior to the states 2027 deadline, but it is just one of approximately 12,000 products sold in California that uses at least one of the newly banned ingredients.
MYTH & LEGEND

Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth

by Natalie Haynes (Picador 20, 304 pp)

You might think Greek goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, was beyond rehabilitation. Her acts of jealous revenge were creatively sadistic.

She turned one rival lover, Io, into a cow, and another mortal she detested, Galinthias, into a weasel.

Consumed with loathing for Hercules because he was the product of one of her husband Zeus's numerous illicit affairs, she made him go so mad that he murdered his wife and children and then had to perform the Twelve Labours as a penance.

But we're in the hands of Natalie Haynes here, the great champion of women in Greek myth.

In her previous bestseller, Pandora's Jar, she did wonders for the reputations of much-maligned mortals such as Pandora, Jocasta, Medusa and Medea.

There is more to Hera (pictured), wife of Zeus, than her creatively sadistic acts of jealous revenge, argues Natalie Haynes

Now she turns her attention to misunderstood goddesses, who for too many centuries, she feels, have been dismissed as furious, power-crazed loons who wrecked mortals' and semi-mortals' lives on a whim.

She's determined to make us change our minds about them. Hera, she feels, is all too often thought of as a vicious goddess-witch, the one we love to hate. And it's true that she did attack women, babies, gods and men with 'cheerless indifference'.

But 'I genuinely like her,' Haynes protests, 'and I'm not just saying this because I don't want her to turn me into a cow or persecute me with snakes or madden me with a gadfly until I kill my dearest loves.'

With her trademark use of modern cultural examples, Haynes portrays Hera as a sort of Sybil Fawlty figure, stuck in a toxic marriage.

But this one is even worse than the Torquay nightmare because Zeus is serially unfaithful (his lovers include Metis, Themis, Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne and Leto) and husband and wife are both immortal, so the situation will go on for ever.

Haynes does her best to persuade us that Hera is pathologically jealous with good cause.

The theory that she's to blame for all the evils she unleashes is 'a misogynist narrative as old as time itself  the idea that the real problem in any bad family dynamic isn't the irascible, lecherous patriarch, but his patience-sapped wife'.

She translates Zeus's behaviour towards Hera as that of the typical coercive-controlling husband: 'You're always suspicious... but you can't do anything about it except be further from my heart, and that will be worse for you.'

Massive temples were built to Hera, so she was clearly deeply loved by the Ancient Greeks  perhaps (Haynes suggests) particularly by the women, who were similarly powerless and cheated on in their own mortal marriages.

Haynes portrays Hera as a sort of Sybil Fawlty (pictured) figure, stuck in a toxic marriage. Hera is pathologically jealous with just cause

Yes, Hera sometimes did flaunt her sexuality to get what she wanted from her husband, but she was doing this 'not to get a new conservatory' from him, but to advance the cause of her beloved Greeks at all costs during the Trojan War.

It's lively writing. Haynes clearly thinks of the goddesses as living women walking among us, who need our feminist sympathy.

You sometimes need to look up from the book and remind yourself that the characters she's defending and rehabilitating are, er, fictional.

Her agenda is just as strongly anti-god as it is progoddess. She shows us another male abuser in the chapter on Demeter, the mother of Persephone.

Poor Persephone is kidnapped and 'trafficked' to the underworld by her evil uncle Hades, who comes across as a deeply creepy rapist.

The crowning reason why Haynes loathes him is that he's so wheedling towards her, 'so needy for approval of a young woman he has kidnapped and then assaulted'.

Demeter is the heroine here  the mother who simply refuses to give up searching for her daughter. She does eventually get her back, although Persephone will have to spend one-third of her time in the Underworld.

Haynes sums up the outcome: 'A woman wins a partial reprieve for her trafficked daughter by simply refusing to do what so many women are expected to do and tolerate the abuse of a powerful man.' This kind of writing can seem like a bit of a feminist rant.

One of the delights of the book is that Haynes reacquaints us with forgotten goddesses. Hestia is the little-remembered goddess of the hearth; she was central to every Greek home.

Andrew Sachs as the hapless Manuel in Fawlty Towers

Haynes suggests the reason she's forgotten is precisely because she is 'associated with a part of the home people of status benefit from but never mention'. She's the Cinderella goddess or the literal domestic goddess, the one in charge of the chores.

Her final chapter on the Furies is great fun and, again, she makes us re-evaluate those perpetually raging figures with snakes in their hair who enjoyed nothing more than tormenting mortals.

She reminds us that the people the Furies tormented were criminals, who deserved to be tormented for the evils they'd committed. 'Furies,' she writes, 'serve a crucial role in society before the creating of formalised legal proceedings, of ensuring people maintained a civilised moral code.'

And the very real fear of torment by the Furies was an effective deterrent. Haynes describes how the Furies are depicted on various Greek vases and jars, one of them 'in mid-calf boots, looking every inch the bored teen wearing Dr. Martens'.

On another vase, two Furies are sitting side by side, 'relaxed sisters' looking 'exhausted' after pursuing a murderer.

And they could be kind, she insists. They offered prayers for the good fortunes of Athens.

Thinking of some of today's shameless politicians, Haynes can't help wishing for a return of these tormentors.

'Of all the goddesses in the book,' she concludes, 'the Furies might be the ones I would like to see restored to a modern pantheon.'
More and more people are taking up arms against their bank or insurer - with scams, high premiums and low payouts driving a 16 per cent rise in complaints.

Figures from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) today show customer complaints against financial firms rose from 79,921 to 93,114 from the last six months of last year to the first six of this one.

There were 56,690 new complaints against banks and credit card firms in in the first six months of 2023, a rise of 12 per cent, of which half were about poor treatment after being scammed.

Insurance complaints rose 26 per cent, from 19,346 to 24,496, with most of the the complaints due to slow payouts on building and motor insurance claims.

Hurry up and wait: Complaints about car repair times are rising as a shortage of parts and labour means insurers struggle to get cars fixed up and returned to their owners

Other insurance gripes include delays to the cost of repairing homes and cars and disputes about premium prices, for example where consumers are quoted a higher price and are unable to switch.

The average driver now pays 511 a year for car insurance, a record high according to figures from the Association of British Insurers trade body.

The ABI said the average premium paid by motorists renewing their cover rose by 36 to 471, while the average premium for a new policy was up 21 to 566.

Last year the Financial Conduct Authority regulator warned insurers not to undervalue cars, and said it was watching the problem closely.

The Ombudsman has also noted more complaints about valuations - the price insurers pay to the owners of damaged or wrecked vehicles.

Meanwhile FOS mortgage and home finance complaints were up by 20 per cent, from 4,160 to 5,002.

Abby Thomas, FOS chief executive, said: 'Financial complaints have risen again, with cases particularly increasing in the banking and insurance sectors.

'Given the economic challenges people are facing, its more important than ever that they feel protected.

'Whatever their grievance, consumers should expect fair and reasonable treatment from their provider.

'If consumers dont feel thats the case, they can ask our free, independent service to investigate their complaint.'

The FOS also upheld more complaints in consumers' favour, suggesting the increase in complaints is justified.

In the first six months of this year the FOS upheld 37 per cent of complaints in the consumers favour, compared to 34 per cent in the second half of 2022.

Fraud and scam complaints

The FOS said most of the complaints it gets on scams fall into four categories:

Authorised push payment (APP) scams

This is where a consumer believes they are transferring cash to a real person or firm, only to be taken in by a fraudster.

When this happens, consumers fall down the cracks of bank fraud refund rules. Only half of APP frauds are refunded by banks - except TSB, which has a policy of refunding all genuine APP scams.

Credit or debit card fraud

These are where a customer is tricked into making a payment using a credit or debit card, often to an investment that does not exist with some taken in by cryptocurrency scams.

Bank detail fraud

These scams see consumers conned into handing over their bank details and allowing criminals to steal cash from them.

Disputed transactions

This sort of fraud is where a customer sees payments from their bank account or card that they did not authorise.

Insurance complaints

As well as complaints about the value of payouts, or delays, the FOS said it frequently sees gripes such as:

The insurer wrongly claiming to have fixed a car or home

An insurer saying it can repair a damaged item consumers actually want replaced

Insurance firms deciding the value or a home or building is not fully covered by insurance

Insurers cancelling policies and claiming a customer miseld them about the true cost of a claim

Customers being offered inferior versions of items they have needed to claim for

When to complain to the FOS

The first thing you should do is contact the bank or financial firm you have the issue with.

If they do not respond, or you are not happy with the response, you can then complain to them.

If they do not send a response within 15 days, or they do but you think it is unfair, you can then turn to the FOS.
Luxury stocks across Europe tumbled after a slowdown at LVMH spooked investors.

The French giant, whose brands include Louis Vuitton and Tiffany, said sales in the three months to the end of September rose by just 9pc to 17.2bn  far lower than the 17pc increase in the previous quarter  and LVMH shares fell 6.5pc in Paris.

The figures sent a chill through the luxury goods sector with Burberry down 3.2pc, or 58.5p, to 1777p in London while Mulberry slid 2.4pc, or 5p, to 200p and Watches of Switzerland dropped 5.8pc, or 31p, to 502.5p.

Across Europe, Gucci owner Kering fell 1.3pc, or 5.8p, to 428.3p and Cartier and Montblanc parent Richemont retreated 4pc on the Swiss stock exchange.

The French giant, whose brands include Louis Vuitton and Tiffany, said sales in the three months to the end of September rose by just 9pc to 17.2bn

Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said: While luxury has been a strong sector lately, given that customers with high disposable incomes are relatively sheltered from cost-of-living pressures, results from LVMH appear to suggest that the blockbuster period for luxury is starting to fade.

Luxury brands are dealing with slower demand from the US and Europe as well as Chinas bumpy post-Covid recovery.

The FTSE 100 dipped 0.1pc, or 8.18 points, to 7620.03 while the FTSE 250 fell 0.5pc, or 91.43 points, to 17876.24.

Safestyle initially rose after the double glazing giant confirmed reports it is exploring a possible sale. The group has hired advisory firm Interpath Advisory for guidance on options such as raising fresh funds and a potential sale.

Several parties have declared their interest and further talks will be held, Safestyle added. Shares climbed to 4p but later fell back 3.3pc, or 0.08p, to 2.35p.

The firm has endured a torrid year and last month warned results will be worse than feared amid a slump in demand. The stock has fallen 90pc this year.

Stock Watch: Eneraqua Technologies Eneraqua Technologies, which advises on ways to become more energy efficient, crashed 58.3pc, or 53.9p, to 38.6p after warning on its results. Clients have asked for projects to be delayed and changed spending habits as social housing landlords face a squeeze. Revenue and profit for the year to the end of January 2024 are likely to be substantially below expectations. It said it was prudent to expect lower revenues and profits in 2025.

Mitie rose on the mid-cap index after the firm, which provides cleaning and catering services to the NHS, said an increase in projects meant its revenue jumped 11pc to 2.1bn in the six months to the end of September.

It upgraded its profit forecast for the year to the end of March 2024 to 190m  higher than the 173m analysts expect. Shares climbed 3.8pc, or 3.8p, to 102.8p.

Investors jumped aboard on First Group after the company said its profit for the year will beat its previous expectations by around 14m and 20m.

It followed stronger than expected demand in its rail division, driven by increased leisure travel in the summer.

Trading in its bus division in the 27 weeks to the end of September was also slightly ahead of expectations. The shares increased 3.7pc, or 5.4p, to 151.9p.

Strong demand for Qinetiq services and products led to the defence group raking in a record first-half order intake worth around 950m. As a result, it remains on track to meet its full-year expectations. Shares rose 1.4pc, or 4.6p, to 329.2p.

But Page Group headed in the other direction after the recruiter warned profit for 2023 will be between 125m and 130m, down from a previous forecast of 137.6m, as economic turmoil took a toll in the UK, US and Asia.

It also warned of a heightened uncertainty in the short-term following a slower end to the quarter that ended on September 30. It sank 2.3pc, or 9.8p, to 414.2p.

Developer Watkin Jones said it ran up extra costs to complete projects, meaning revenue for the year to the end of September should exceed 400m while profit should be break-even. It made 2m profit in the first half. Shares fell 7.6pc, or 2.65p, to 32.2p.
Regulators are to probe the proposed 15bn tie-up between Vodafone and Three in the UK.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has called on rivals  as well as any other affected groups  to air their concerns about the deal.

The merger, announced in June, would create the UKs biggest mobile operator, ahead of EE and Virgin Media O2.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has called on rivals  as well as any other affected groups  to air their concerns about the deal

It hopes to create a joint venture 51pc-owned by Vodafone and 49pc by Hong Kongs CK Hutchison, owner of Three.

The two groups have promised to build one of Europes most advanced stand-alone 5G networks  investing 11bn in the UK over ten years.

But the plan to bring together around 28m customers has created a backlash. Union leaders at Unite say the deal would be devastating.

Unite official Gail Cartmail said: Our research shows that across the world reducing the number of mobile network operators leads to price increases and job cuts, but no increase in investment. With potential bill increases of up to 300 per year the only guarantee will be increased corporate profits. We will be making this case very strongly.

A bid from Three to buy rival O2 was blocked in 2016 over concerns that it would stifle competition. This is likely to be a similar hurdle Three and Vodafone must pass.

Vodafone boss Margherita Della Valle has said the market had moved on since and a deal would boost the UKs mobile and digital infrastructure. But Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight, said: The only chance it has of getting over the line is whether both parties can demonstrate that this is in the genuine interests for UK plc.

Sarah Cardell, the CMA chief executive, said: We will be carefully considering how this deal may affect competition in the UK, which could affect the options and prices available to customers. We will also assess how it may affect incentives to invest in the quality of UK mobile networks. Vodafone welcomed the move to invite views from third parties.

The CMA is launching a full-scale investigation into a tie-up between the electrical and white goods giants behind Hotpoint and Beko in Europe amid worries it could reduce choice and increase prices. It will refer Turkish firm Arceliks takeover of Whirlpools European business after both failed to address its concerns. Merging would create the UKs biggest supplier of appliances.
The City watchdog has censured collapsed bond scheme London Capital and Finance (LCF) for unfair and misleading promotions  but failed to fine it.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said a fine would divert money that could otherwise go to long-suffering investors.

LCF collapsed in 2020 in a major scandal after it was unable to meet the high returns it promised bondholders. It said its funds  about 237m at the time of its crash  were invested on bondholders behalf.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said a fine would divert money that could otherwise go to long-suffering investors

But after its collapse around 11,600 people, many saving for retirement or retired, were unable to get their money back. Some were able to get payments from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but most were not eligible, causing the Government to bail out savers.

The FCA yesterday said that LCFs misleading promotion made its bonds appear a far more attractive investment than they were.

They were not told about hidden charges, and the high risk involved, the FCA said.

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said: We recognise our censure will not provide solace to those investors who lost out.

But it is important we set out what went wrong at LCF and how their promotions misled people into parting with their money.

The Serious Fraud Office is investigating whether to bring fraud charges against those who ran LCF.
Next is closing in on a deal to buy rival Fat Face for more than 100m.

The FTSE 100 clothing giant is putting the finishing touches to the takeover with a formal announcement possible this week.

Next has acquired a slew of high street brands since last year including Joules and Made.

The FTSE 100 clothing giant is putting the finishing touches to the takeover with a formal announcement possible this week

Earlier this autumn it said it was raising its stake in Reiss, a favourite of the Princess of Wales. The proposed takeover, first reported by Sky News, comes around three years after Fat Face was taken over by its lenders.

Fat Face has around 180 UK stores while Next has some 500.

Last month, Next raised profit guidance for a third time this year with sales boosted by warm weather and rising wages.

There was a 5.4pc jump in total sales over the six months to July, compared with the same period last year, and a 3.2pc rise in sales of its brands at full price.

Jigsaw swung back into the black as the return of workers to offices boosted sales of dresses and other smart clothing. It reported annual profits of 802,000 having made a loss of 1.3m the previous year.

Revenues rose 20pc to 56.8m.
House prices are continuing to spiral downwards, according to a survey from the leading membership body for estate agents.

The latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) found that buyer demand is declining, and that there are fewer homes coming to the market.

Alongside this, both sales transactions and house prices are falling as higher mortgage rates continue to impact the market.

The monthly survey takes the temperature of Rics' estate agent members, and gives a snapshot of what is happening on the ground in the property market right now.

Rics survey: Indicators on demand, sales, instructions and prices all remain in negative territory, according to member estate agents

House prices remain on a downward trajectory at the national level, according to the survey. The September net balance of -69 per cent is virtually unchanged from last month.

The net balance refers to the proportion of surveyors and estate agents reporting a rise in prices, minus those reporting a fall, and can range from -100 to +100.

For example, if 79 per cent say prices have fallen and 10 per cent are saying prices have risen, this would result in a net balance of -69 per cent. Under this scenario, it would also mean that an the additional 11 per cent of those surveyed would have stated that prices were unchanged.

While almost all parts of the UK are seeing house prices fall at present, the downward pressure appears most significant across the West Midlands and the South East of England.

In these areas, surveyors and estate agents reported respective net balances of -94 per cent and -91 per cent, meaning almost all those surveyed were seeing prices falling.

One major factor contributing to these house price falls is declining buyer demand, which will likely be largely down to higher mortgage rates.

Falling: House prices remain on a downward trajectory at the national level, according to the Rics survey

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank said: 'A sense of predictability is returning to the UK housing market, which means buyers and sellers can better come to terms with higher mortgage rates.

'House prices will continue to come under pressure but we think most of the correction will happen this year as demand hardens.

'The general election may limit housing market activity next year but modest single-digit annual growth should return from 2025.'

The latest net balance for new buyer enquiries came in at -39 per cent during September, according to those surveyed across the industry.

According to this same metric, agreed sales also remained in negative territory, with a net balance of -37 per cent among surveyors.

It's worth pointing out that these figures were slightly less downcast than what respondents were reporting in August and July - though these months typically see less activity due to holidays.

Over the coming three months, respondents continue to foresee a decline in sales volumes. However, next year they expect to see volumes pick up again.

Alongside a lack of buyer demand, Rics members also noted that the volume of new listings coming onto the sales market was in decline.

New instructions have now reportedly fallen in each of the last three months, resulting in average stock levels on estate agent books holding broadly steady at 38 properties since July.

The feedback also continues to suggest that the number of market appraisals undertaken of late is below that of last year, meaning any immediate changes in supply levels available across the market seem unlikely.

Down: Each estate agent branch was making fewer than 15 sales in the past three months on average, according to the Rics survey

What about the rental market?

The disparity between the number of homes available to rent and the number of tenants needing a home is causing rental price rises, according to the Rics report.

In the lettings market, a net balance of +43 per cent of those surveyed said they saw an increase in tenant demand in September.

At the same time, the net balance of those reporting an increase in landlords offering up new properties to rent was -24 per cent.

Given this backdrop, rents are expected to be squeezed higher, with surveyors and agents predicting roughly 5 per cent average growth in rental prices across the UK over the next twelve months.

Tom Bill of Knight Frank added: 'A proliferation of red tape and taxes for landlords has contributed to shrinking supply and fast-rising rents in recent years.

'The situation has been exacerbated by higher mortgage costs for buy-to-let owners, the prospect of further regulation and demand from tenants who are unable to become first-time-buyers.

'Measures designed to discourage landlords have had the unintended effect of causing financial pain for tenants.'
EXCLUSIVE

An outspoken academic has slammed her university for using its social media accounts and job listings to 'virtue signal' in support of a Yes vote - but the institution says people can like it or lump it.

Sydney's University of New South Wales (UNSW) has placed a yellow graphic on its social media and LinkedIn profiles that features the words 'UNSW says Yes' in a yellow circle around a red love heart with Indigenous motifs.

UNSW Economics Professor Gigi Foster says the blatant advocacy is inappropriate for a publicly funded body that should be keeping out of political activism.

However, the university defended the branding, which was designed by UNSW Fine Arts student and Wiradjuri woman Lua Pellegrini, as being 'aligned with [its] values' and even suggested those who don't like it should unfollow them.

UNSW Economics Professor Gigi Foster has hit out at the university's stand, labelling it 'virtue signalling'

The artwork is displayed on the university's Facebook page alongside a boast that UNSW 'proudly supports the First Nations Voice to Parliament'.

The image 'depicts the coming together to discuss the Voice and highlights the vibrancy and diversity of community and perspective', the page states.

The UNSW spokesperson said the decision to brand social media and other messaging 'was taken after significant consultation, which included the Universitys Indigenous leadership'.

It pointed out that UNSW has previously 'co-opted' its social media profile image for causes such as NAIDOC Week and Sydney Mardi Gras.

'The profile pictures are temporary and will revert back after the referendum,' the spokesperson said.

'Followers and LinkedIn users who feel strongly about any temporary change are welcome to temporarily unfollow or unlink the UNSW page from their profile.'

However, Professor Foster told Daily Mail Australia she didn't 'think it is the place of any publicly funded institutions to take positions on political matters'.

The University of New South Wales has adopted artwork advocating a Yes vote for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament

'The university has an obligation to promote an environment so that people are not feeling ideologically compelled because of the association of the university with a particular political position,' she said.

'Universities are supposed to be the places, if there are any places left, in civil society where one can explore freely different potential positions, philosophical positions, policy positions.

'When there is advocacy for one particular political position, or political party for that matter, that undermines the provision of that kind of environment for staff and students and even alumni.'

Professor Foster said by branding job ads with a pro-Voice message the university stance might deter potential applicants.

'It is concerning that this advocacy is appearing in the recruitment messages of the university because if I were an applicant I would see that and think, "Gee, I guess you can only have certain beliefs to work at UNSW,"' she said.

'It's a cold shower to people who are seeking an open and critical and inquisitive environment to implicitly communicate to them, even before they start work, that a particular belief that they might hold is not welcome.

'I really would hope that's not true for any university.'

The UNSW spokesperson denied pushing the Yes vote would alienate staff and students of a different view.

In August, UNSW lit up a library building in the colours of the Aboriginal flag and urged a Yes vote for the Voice referendum

READ MORE: Violent clash erupts between Yes and No voters at polling booth in Queensland - with man rushed to hospital Advertisement

'UNSW is wholeheartedly committed to free speech and our position on this issue does not compel any member of our community to vote one way or the other,' the spokesperson said.

Professor Foster accused universities of indulging in 'virtue signalling' by backing the Yes campaign.

She pointed to the Canadian parliament giving a standing ovation last month to 98-year-old former Ukrainian solider Yaroslav Hunka as an example of how this might backfire.

Canadian MPs were left red-faced when it emerged Hunka had served in the Waffen-SS, an elite Nazi force that committed numerous WWII atrocities.

'That kind of huge gaffe is emblematic of the consequences when we start signaling virtue without acting virtuously,' Professor Foster said.

'To vote yes on the Voice is being promoted as the thing to do if you care about Aboriginal people and if you care about giving voice to people and all these sorts of positive, kind of unarguable objectives,' she said.

'But thats just a surface-level association, which is accepted by some people who might not think very deeply about what is being proposed but it's certainly not the only way to view a Yes vote on the Voice referendum.'

In defending the branding, a UNSW spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia 'the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for a First Nations Voice to Parliament aligns with UNSWs values of inclusion and respect'.

Professor Foster said virtue signalling could lead to gaffes such as the Canadian parliament giving a standing ovation for former Ukrainian soldier Yaroslav Hunka (pictured right) who it emerged fought for the elite Nazi Waffen-SS, a unit linked with numerous WWII atrocities

'We are pleased to have the opportunity to reinforce our ongoing commitment to a just society,' the spokesperson said.

They said the university 'has been supporting the Voice since the early days, through the Indigenous Law Centre and the Uluru Dialogues, and UNSW academics have advised the government on the wording of the Voice referendum'.

Voice architect Megan Davis is a professor of law at the university and holds the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous.

In August, UNSW lit and decorated a library building to display the colours of the Indigenous flag with a large 'Yes' emblazoned on the structure.

Professor Foster rejected the claim that supporting the Voice should be an expression of UNSW values.

'There are some sets of beliefs that I would argue the university should uphold  certainly a belief in tolerance is very, very positive to hear from the university,' she said.

'There are plenty of things to advocate for that would show its [UNSW] values, but I don't think advocating for a particular political position is in that mix.

'Not all Indigenous people are planning to vote Yes.

'The whole notion that you can group Indigenous people into one bloc and know how they are going to vote is a bit disrespectful.'
A grieving mum who lost her son in a car crash has not been able to come to terms with the tragedy, and still dwells on his final words to her.

Professional motocross rider Cohn Evans, 22, was killed when the car he was travelling in veered off the road and ploughed into a tree near Logan, south of Brisbane on November 30 last year.

The two other men in the car were also injured, including the driver, Joshua Jordan John Boyton, who was later charged with a string of serious offences.

Cohn would have celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday.

Eleven months on, his mum Dolly Evans still ritually turns the porch light on each night, in a coda of their final conversation.

As he was on his way out to get into Boyton's car, she said she would cook spaghetti for them to share when he returned.

Dolly Evans (left) still replays in her head the last conversation she had with son Cohn (right)

'I'll be home for dinner' were Cohn's final words to his mum.

Dolly Evans (left) still turns on the porch light for her son (right) every night

'Normally he would walk in the door about 5:30pm. 5:30pm came  6pm came  I tried to message him, he didn't answer  then we got a very unusual text message that said 'I heard about Cohn's accident  I don't know if you want to talk  if you are ready to talk,' Ms Evans told the Courier Mail.

She originally thought the person was referring to the motocross accident Cohn had several months earlier and texted back to say he was 'doing well.'

She finally realised something was horribly wrong when the person replied 'I think we are talking about a different accident.'

By the time she and her husband Jason found out their son had just been in a crash and drove 17km to the scene, Cohn was already dead.

'We didn't know where we were going but I knew it was bad because he didn't answer the phone  I just kept ringing and ringing,' she recalled.

A Good Samaritan had held Cohn's hand for two hours until the arrival of his parents, who remained at the crash site in the cold rain until 2am, processing what had happened.

Dolly Evans described her son Cohn 'full of life' who always saw the the best in everyone

Cohn Evans was professional motorcross rider before his life was tragically cut short

READ MORE: Young farm worker dies in horror quad bike rollover on WA property Advertisement

Boyton was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, driving an uninsured vehicle on a road, driving a defective vehicle, driving a non-compliant modified vehicle and failing to remain at an incident and render assistance.

Police allege in court documents Boyton made 'engine modifications' to the car and that he did not make a 'reasonable endeavour' to contact emergency services following the crash

The personal trainer remains free on bail and will next appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court next week.

Ms Evans said she and husband Jason are struggling to reconcile that someone who lived with danger for his livelihood could die in what should have been harmless circumstances: 'It kills us he was with people he assumed were his mates'.

'We always knew what our sport could do, Cohn had lost mates who were killed at motocross, mates paralysed from motocross  I think Cohn would have preferred it that way,' Ms Evans said.

'I know if the shoe was on the other foot  if it was my son that was driving  he would've stayed the course  he would have rung an ambulance, he would have fronted those parents.'

Cohn Evans (pictured) was sitting in the back seat when the car he was travelling in allegedly lost control and slammed into a tree

Cohn's death last November sparked an outpouring of tributes. Pictured are flowers left by friends at the crash scene

Ms Evans described her son as 'full of life' and a positive character who always saw the best in everyone.

He was also a 'homebody' who did not celebrate a birthday party with friends until his 18th and was a father figure to his two young nephews who he adored.

Cohn grew up with dreams of following in the tyre tracks of his dad, who was also a motocross rider.

'(Cohn) was our back up plan, we weren't going into a nursing home, he was going to look after us,' Ms Evans said.

'He was a mummy's boy  he came home every night  I still wait for that  every night  the light goes on and I wait and wait.'

Cohn's death sparked an outpouring of tributes at the time with dozens of friends attending a vigil at the crash site.

Cohn Evans (pictured) should have been celebrating his 23rd birthday on Thursday

The night before the crash, close friend Renee Speare was comforting Cohn who had endured a 'rough week'.

'If I knew that was the last time I'd see you, I would have never let go,' she wrote following his death.

'You forever had my back. If someone said one bad word about me, you were there standing up for me, you told me if something ever happened, you'll make sure the boys will look after me.

'It breaks my heart to know that won't be happening anymore, you were honestly such a blessing in my life Cohn, and I'm so glad I got to spend your last weekend here with you.

'I know you'll be looking down on me, and I'll continue to make you proud and run an absolute muck for you cause all you ever wanted was for me to be happy.'

Another friend added: 'You were honestly such an amazing person and will be missed so much words can't describe the person you were not only to me but everyone! You were always so happy and we are definitely going to miss that! Don't forget to party hard up there till we meet again, love you so much.'
With white leather VIP couches, a private lap dance room and a garishly lit main stage surrounded by posters of nude women, Exotic Kitty promises to offer patrons the 'hottest girls' in Salt Lake City.

It is also one of a trio of strip clubs where anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard allegedly groomed vulnerable women auditioning for a role on his overseas missions, which he claimed would save child sex slaves, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Along the 5-mile stretch of gentlemen's clubs, nicknamed 'Sin Lake City', Ballard made budding female operatives give him lap dances and even plied his own son with drugs, while disguised as his alter-ego, 'Brian', it is claimed.

The married father-of-nine, whose life inspired the hit movie 'Sound of Freedom', is being sued over allegations he sexually manipulated, abused and harassed at least five women on foreign missions with Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), the anti-trafficking organization he founded in 2013.

A bombshell lawsuit filed Monday claims Ballard concocted a 'couple's ruse' tactic, which required his female operatives to pose as his wife during the missions.

Tim Ballard, whose supposed anti-trafficking heroics were turned into the hit movie 'Sound of Freedom', is being sued over allegations of sexual abuse and harassment

Ballard is alleged to have taken budding female operatives to Salt Lake City strip clubs, including Trails Gentlemen's Club (pictured) to 'practice' their 'sexual chemistry' as part of a 'couple's ruse' tactic he concocted that he claimed was to fool traffickers

The women claim the tactic was in fact a ploy to allow Ballard to coerce them into sexually intimate acts. One claimant said Ballard took her on a strip club crawl to Trails, Exotic Kitty (pictured) and The American Bush to 'test' how she would respond to 'intense' situations

Ballard, a devout Mormon, has claimed this allowed male operatives to turn down offers of underage sex from traffickers by claiming their wife was present and would not allow it.

But his female accusers allege it simply provided the 47-year-old with opportunities to coerce them into sexually intimate acts in 'various states of undress'.

The lawsuit, filed in Utah on behalf of five unnamed women, reveals Ballard even took budding female colleagues on strip club crawls around Salt Lake City to 'practice' their 'sexual chemistry'.

The women were allegedly made to participate in tantric yoga, couple's massages with escorts and perform lap dances on Ballard.

The extraordinary allegations, which include the claim that the OUR founder took ketamine while dictating revelations from a dead Mormon prophet that he would one day be US President, come just a month after Ballard had touted a run for Senate.

A second lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of a divorced couple accuses Ballard of sexual assault and grooming, which ultimately led to the break up of the couple's marriage.

Ballard had been riding the crest of a wave created by the surprise success of 'Sound of Freedom', a movie loosely based on his purported anti-trafficking heroics.

But he has been deserted by former high profile allies, including Utah State Attorney General Sean Reyes, since allegations of sexual misconduct were first reported by Vice News.

DailyMail.com can now reveal that the sordid strip clubs Ballard frequented to train his female 'partners' promise clients the 'most sensual, sexy dance in the world', with one describing itself as a 'mega adult club'.

One of Ballard's alleged victims, an actress known only as D.M., claims in the first lawsuit that the day she met the anti-trafficking activist and expressed interest in joining his team, he took her on a strip club crawl of Salt Lake City to 'test' how she would 'respond to certain uncomfortable and intense situations'.

She names three of the strip clubs they went to: Trails Gentlemen's Club, Exotic Kitty, and The American Bush.

The clubs are all within five miles of each other along a stretch dubbed 'Sin Lake City'

Trails bills itself as a 'mega adult club featuring Utah's most beautiful dancers'

Exotic Kitty describes itself as Salt Lake City's 'top gentleman's club', that has 'established the sexiest girls in the market'.

It invites patrons to watch its 'amazing ladies' on its stage and VIP couches, or 'treat' themselves to a private dance in its one-on-one area where they will receive the 'most sensual, sexy dance in the world'.

Its couches are set to a neon panther sign, with its bar area advertising $20 couch dances and $35 VIP dances.

Trails bills itself as a 'mega adult club featuring Utah's most beautiful dancers'.

Its social media pages are littered with pictures of its scantily-clad strippers alongside advertisements for burlesque and poker nights.

The American Bush, meanwhile, provides a DJ, pool tables, with private lap dance rates ranging from $250 for 30 minutes to $450 for an hour.

In the lawsuit, D.M., claims she first met Ballard at an OUR gym on October 28, 2021, where he briefly explained the 'couple's ruse' and self-defense tactics were practiced.

Ballard then said he would 'take it up a level' later that evening.

A group met back at the gym at 10.30pm, where D.M. was paired with another male operative and Ballard with an unnamed female colleague to practice the 'couple's ruse'.

They were then taken to the first strip club, the name of which is not specified, where Ballard and his partner 'were all over each other', with Ballard disguised in 'big glasses' as his alter-ego, 'Brian', the lawsuit states.

D.M., even claims Ballard's son joined the group at the club and at one point wandered over and said his dad had given him something to take, which D.M. states was 'presumably some type of pill'.

The son said he felt 'high', but laughed it off, an incident the woman says was 'inappropriate' and 'disturbed' her.

One of Ballard's female accusers said she first met him at the Operation Underground Railroad gym, the anti-trafficking organization he founded in 2013

From there, they went onto the trio of clubs in Salt Lake City, including Exotic Kitty (pictured) to practice the 'couple's ruse'

The American Bush provides a DJ, pool tables, with private lap dance rates ranging from $250 for 30 minutes to $450 for an hour

A Facebook advert for The American Bush's 'Blaze "Spirit"' night

She also claims Ballard told her he would also 'sometimes take something in order to deal with his stress and to help him get into character'.

At the club, D.M., says she was given the task of gathering information from random patrons, such as phone numbers and where they lived, to see how well she could elicit intelligence.

She adds that while her male partner behaved professionally, Ballard was 'extreme' in his use of the 'couple's ruse' tactic.

The anti-trafficking activist would go into private rooms and ask his partner for dances.

D.M. claims the woman was 'hesitant' about this, but ultimately acquiesced 'to show him that she could do the job'.

After hitting a number of other clubs, the group called it a night at around 4am, the lawsuit states.

The following day, the actress says she met Ballard at an OUR office, where he began to describe exactly how 'intimate' the 'couple's ruse' would get and asking 'over and over' if she would be willing to act out certain explicit sexual acts.

D.M., claims Ballard 'made it seem like it could be a life or death situation if I was not willing or able to act out certain sex acts well enough'.

He explained there would be no kissing on the lips or penetrative sex, but made it seem like 'everything else besides' could be expected, the woman claims.

She adds: 'Things then proceeded to become physical', with Ballard 'touching, rubbing and grabbing with his hands across pretty much my entire body'.

She claims he pushed her up against the office door, started grinding and that it 'was pretty obvious he had an erection'.

At one point, Ballard allegedly lifted up the woman's shirt and 'was licking and kissing' her stomach.

The alleged assault only stopped when a male colleague entered the room.

D.M. claims she was 'shut out' when she later told OUR she still wanted to help on missions but was unwilling to engage in sexual acts as part of the 'couple's ruse'.

Chris Cheney, one of the claimant's attorneys, alleged to DailyMail.com that the woman's experience at the Salt Lake City strip clubs was 'not an isolated incident'.

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, according to one source

Just last month Ballard had said he was 'seriously' considering a run for the Utah Senate following the success of Sound of Freedom

Ballard (center) allegedly took ketamine while dictating revelations from a Mormon prophet who foretold he would be the next US President. Ballard had already forged a connection with former president Donald Trump, pictured here on an episode of the anti-trafficking activist's podcast, with Jim Caviezel (right), who played Ballard in Sound of Freedom

The lawsuit alleges that OUR portrayed its overseas missions as 'paramilitary drop-ins to arrest traffickers and rescue children,' but in reality they mostly involved 'going to strip clubs and massage parlors across the world, after flying first class to get there, and staying at five-star hotels', the lawsuit alleges.

OUR members have claimed its missions have saved countless lives, but it has previously been accused of grossly exaggerating its achievements.

This helped Ballard become 'a character of mythical proportions with unquestioned legitimacy', which was bolstered by his 'enmeshment with the Mormon church' and endorsements from high-profile public figures, including Donald Trump and Attorney General Reyes, the lawsuit states.

One extraordinary passage from the lawsuit states that Ballard 'would get ketamine treatments and have a scribe come in with him while he would talk to the dead prophet Nephi and issue forth prophecies about Ballard's greatness and future as a United States Senator, President of the United States, and ultimately the Mormon Prophet, to usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ'.

The missionary, who purports to be a former CIA agent, allegedly told women his methods had been blessed by the Mormon church, who had endorsed him as a future US President and Prophet.

Most of his alleged victims were Mormon women.

Ballard is also said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear, covered in fake tattoos, and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, a source had previously told Vice News.

The lawsuit states that two marriages ended due to Ballard's actions.

In one case, Ballard offered to cover one victim's divorce attorney fees and had a henchman threaten her husband on voicemail, the lawsuit alleges.

Ballard allegedly warned the women that speaking out about their alleged sexual encounters it would endanger the lives of those on anti-trafficking operations.

The women claimants say they were given burner phones that they were told they were being tracked on, ordered to delete messages, sign NDAs and threatened with legal action if they leaked anything about Ballard's tactics.

A statement released via Ballard's new anti-trafficking venture, The SPEAR Fund, said he 'vehemently denies the allegations brought by these unnamed women' and 'looks forward to vindicating his name in the courts where evidence, and not unsubstantiated accusations in the media, decides the outcome'.

The strip clubs themselves are not accused of wrongdoing.
Bookmaker and Sydney racing identity Robbie Waterhouse is struggling to attract any bets on the Voice despite now offering extraordinarily long $20 odds.

Should Australia vote Yes - and prove the opinion polls wrong - someone betting $1 would get back $21.

Mr Waterhouse, who takes bets at Warwick Farm Racecourse in south-west Sydney, said it was extraordinary punters weren't interested in putting money on the Voice to Parliament referendum succeeding.

'Yes is on the nose as far as punters are concerned,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I can tell you, at Warwick Farm, I was $20 Yes and I couldn't find a customer - if that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what does.

'The people in the Yes case most certainly aren't prepared to back their opinion - they might feel very strong that Yes should get up but they won't put $1 on themselves.'

Odds of $20 imply the Yes case would only have a five per cent chance of succeeding.

'They won't take $20 - it's quite an extraordinary thing,' Mr Waterhouse said.

Bookmaker and Sydney racing identity Robbie Waterhouse is struggling to attract bets on the Voice despite now offering extraordinarily long $20 odds (he is pictured far right, from left to right, with his bookmaker son Tom Waterhouse, daughter-in-law Hoda Waterhouse and horse trainer wife Gai Waterhouse)

Mainstream wagering companies have also shied away from taking bets on the Indigenous Voice proposal.

READ MORE: The case for and against the Voice While support for the Voice is still trending downwards in official polls with just two days until the referendum, the reality is many Australians are still undecided about whether they'll vote Yes or No. Advertisement

But BlueBet, one of the very few taking money, was on Thursday offering $6 odds on the Yes side winning, and only $1.09 should the No case prevail, as widely expected.

This means someone betting $1 would get back $7 - or the $1 a gambler put in plus a $6 return if Australia voted Yes.

Mr Waterhouse said BlueBet would be struggling, considering he was offering $20 odds.

'How BlueBet will find a customer at $6 is beyond me,' he said.

The BlueBet odds would rate the prospect of the Voice succeeding as a 17 per cent chance, making defeat an 83 per cent probability.

Just three weeks ago, BlueBet was offering $4.75 odds for the Yes case and $1.15 for the No side.

Mr Waterhouse, whose father and grandfather were bookmakers, noted Donald Trump's odds never rose above $5 - weeks out from the November 2016 American presidential election when he was considered highly unlikely to beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

By election day, Mr Trump's odds had shortened to $3.50 - implying a 29 per cent chance of victory, compared with $5 weeks early suggesting a 20 per cent chance of winning.

'I remember it perfectly. He was never longer than about $5 - a couple of people were happy to back Donald Trump,' he said.

'I know someone who had $2million on Donald Trump two or three weeks before the election.

'There were plenty of Trump backers, there are no Yes backers.'

The racing identity said the Yes campaign stumbled badly when television journalist Ray Martin described the No campaign as 'dinosaurs and d***heads' - likening it to Mrs Clinton's 'basket of deplorables' comment to describe Mr Trump's Republican supporters.

'It was a Hillary Clinton moment,' Mr Waterhouse said.

'To say to vote No is an irrational thing to do if you don't know is absurd.

Odds of $20 imply the Yes case would only have a five per cent chance of succeeding. BlueBet is offering odds of $6 - suggesting a 17 per cent chance of victory (pictured is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Uluru with Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles)

'If someone says, sign this cheque, you don't know how much is written on the cheque, you wouldn't dream of signing it, would you?'

Mr Waterhouse also predicted no state would end up supporting the Voice, which would be a repeat of the 1999 referendum when only the Australian Capital Territory voted Yes.

'I don't think they'll get one state,' he said.

The Voice would need to win not just the popular vote but also a majority of votes in four out of six states - with the territories excluded from this count.

Tasmania was the only state where the Yes case was leading in Resolve and Roy Morgan polls taken in September and October.

Only eight out of 44 referendum questions have succeeded since 1906, with the last one carried in 1977.

Donald Trump's odds never rose above $5 - weeks out from the November 2016 American presidential election when he was considered highly unlikely to beat Democrat Hillary Clinton (they are pictured in October 2016 during a town hall debate in Missouri)

The republic referendum in 1999 only received 45 per cent support and UK polling firm Focaldata is predicting the Voice on Saturday would get just 39 per cent support, based on a survey of 4,500 Australians.

A Labor government hasn't succeeded in amending the Constitution since 1946, and that was to give the Commonwealth the power to provide social security instead of the states.

In 2016, Mr Trump narrowly triumphed in the electoral college, but not the popular vote, by winning rustbelt states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania that didn't normally vote Republican, after vowing to undo free trade deals.
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst calls Hamas terrorists barbaric 'animals' after meeting with American and Israeli victims of the bloody rampage on the ground in Israel.

'These are animals, barbarians filled with hatred toward Jewish people,' Ernst told DailyMail.com about Hamas during an exclusive interview.

Ernst, who serves as the co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan this past week to meet with top leaders in the region. The group touched the ground in Israel on Tuesday, three days since the deadly Hamas terror attack on Israel that has killed over 1,200 - including 25 Americans.

The most harrowing part of her trip was sitting down with American and Israeli civilians in Israeli who were subjected to the 'horrors' during the brutal Hamas attack.

An Israeli brother and a sister witnessed their 80-year-old elderly father being taken hostage by the terrorists. Their brother was murdered in the same event, and their mother only escaped due the 'heroic' acts of their father, Ernst recounted.

The senator said she spoke with American and Israeli witnesses who saw women being raped and babies being taken away, and their own family members brutally murdered in their own homes.

Lawmakers met with Netanyahu in Israel this week

She said that the terrorists were so barbaric that they would return to the homes of those they had just murdered looking for survivors to kill or take hostage.

One of the Americans they spoke with came directly from the funeral of his 18-year-old's best friend to meet with the lawmakers, she said.

'It was very, very emotional,' said Ernst. 'This is a horrible, horrible, tragic situation for Israel.'

As for Americans trying to escape Israel, Ernst said that she's been in touch with a group in Iowa to assist their efforts to leave.

The Iowa Gospel Assembly Church on a Bible-based tour have been re-booked on a Saturday flight.

The Biden administration has been criticized for not providing government-funded repatriation flights for Americans wishing to leave.

Ernst said that although private organizations are working to evacuate foreign nationals, Israel's government is asking that American carriers resume flights in and out of the country to ease pressure.

She also took issue with former President Donald Trump for calling Lebanon's militant group Hezbollah 'very smart' during a Wednesday evening speech.

'Israel is under attack from Iran back terrorists on all sides and it's continuing to get worse. So I'm not going to call them smart at all,' she said.

'I think they have just brought their own demise by attacking Israel. Israel is not going to stand for that America's not going to stand for that. Hamas must be decimated. They must be gone in order for Israel to be safe,' she continued.

'We stand firmly with Israel. There should be no doubt about that,' Ernst reiterated to DailyMail.com.

During the swing across the Middle East, the lawmakers met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Advisor Ron Dermer and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.

They also met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had their first-ever telephone call on Wednesday to discuss the shocking Hamas attack in Israel. During the call, they reportedly discussed the 'need to end war crimes against Palestine.'

When asked about the crown prince's recent phone conversation with Raisi and accusations that Israel has committed war crimes, Ernst called it a 'delicate balancing act.'

She said that following her meeting with bin Salman, the lawmakers felt very positive about the prospect of a Saudi-Israeli alliance in the future, but the Hamas attack set back the step forward.

'It was a very good meeting and every one of us left feeling very optimistic about a Saudi-Israel peace deal. Of course, then we woke up the next morning and found that these attacks that had happened on [October] 7th, and it was very discouraging.'

The senator said she still believes there is a path forward for a peace deal, but only in the future after Israel's victory over Hamas.

The phone call came hours after Biden warned Iran to 'be careful,' his first public warning to the country that largely funds Hamas.

'We've 'made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful,' Biden said at a meeting with Jewish leaders at the White House Wednesday.

Ernst also met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Senator Ernst met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Advisor Ron Dermer and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid

Ernst was joined by Reps. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Donald Norcross, D-N.J., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla

Ernst said Biden must be more forceful in condemning Iran for its work to fund terrorism.

Biden continues to face growing pressure to freeze $6 billion of Tehran's assets.

Earlier this year Biden unfroze $6 billion of Iranian funds in exchange for the release of a group of five American hostages.

The money has yet to be accessed by Iran and Biden is facing urgent calls from Republicans and Democrats to refreeze it.

The Iowa senator blasted Biden for his 'appeasement' of Iran, which she says directly led to the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.

She said that since 93 percent of Hamas' funding comes directly from Iran, 'there is an absolutely an indirect correlation to how weak this administration has been on Iran on these terror groups, like Hamas and Hezbollah, that does contribute to the insecurities of the people of Israel.'

'We know that Iran is a bad actor, and yet this administration has continued to appease them doing everything they can to make an easy pathway for them to fund terrorism.'

'I put that on the shoulders of Joe Biden,' she continued.

Ernst was joined on the delegation trip by Reps. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Donald Norcross, D-N.J., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.
A mother with more than 1,000 tattoos has claimed she cannot find a driving instructor who will give her lessons because they are so horrified by the mass of inkings covering her face.

Melissa Sloan said one instructor was visibly shaking when she sat in his car and could barely look at her face.

She claimed another couldnt wait to get her out of his car he was so shocked at the sight of her heavily tattooed face, bright green hair and rap style metal grills on her teeth.

The 46-year-old  who has previously been banned from her local pub and gets strange looks everywhere she goes  said she is desperate to learn to drive.

All I want is an instructor to give me lessons, said Melissa.

All I want is an instructor to give me lessons, said heavily inked mother-of-seven Melissa Sloan

Melissa Sloan, before she got more than 1,000 tattoos

Melissa Sloan said one instructor was visibly shaking when she sat in his car and could barely look at her face

I live in quite an isolated place and have to rely on my partner Will to get me around. I now have a car and just want lessons so I can take my test.

I know they are put off by the way I look, but that is victimisation and should not matter. This is something I have lived with most of my life, but it should not be happening.'

The mum of seven, from Powys, South Wales, said she lost count on the number of tattoos covering almost every inch of skin of her face.

I now have three layers on my face with tattoos over tattoos, said Melissa.

I know that I am addicted to them, but just cant stop. I still get them every week or I will get my partner Will to give me a tattoo with our own inking gun.

Melissa got her first tattoo when she was in her 20s - and has not stopped.

The inkings originally include designs of flowers and an England flag, although they have now been covered up with several crucifixes.

A row of red hearts above and below her eyes are barely visible having been inked over with other designs.

As well as her face almost her entire body is covered with inkings  many of which have been described as prison tattoos as they are crudely drawn and not performed by a professional tattoo artist.

The full face coverings has led to her being banned from attending school nativity plays for fear of upsetting other children and also barred from her local pub. She has also failed to find a job as employers turn her away.

Melissa, who has children aged from eight to 24, said she was recently given a car as part of a Government benefits scheme.

She said the car was provided as part of her claim under the Personal Independence Payment scheme and was to assist in making her more independent.

Melissa said she suffers from anxiety and depression.

The mother-of-seven (pictured) got her first inking when she was 20 years old and has since covered most of her face and body of tattoos

Melissa said she wants to learn how to drive - but is being denied the chance as all instructors are scared of her

She admits the first instructor was so appalled by her driving skills and ability to change gears he suggested she learn on an automatic.

When the instructor turned up at my house he was very shocked' she said.

'We got in the car, and I could see that he was shaking and we had not even started. I dont think he could look at me and he was making me so nervous and thats why I was driving so bad.

'He told me I should learn on an automatic, but I think that was just his way of not giving me any more lessons.'

Melissa said her appearance means she cannot find a driving instructor

The 46-year-old  who has previously been banned from her local pub and gets strange looks everywhere she goes  said she is desperate to learn to drive

Melissa said her partner got into an argument with the instructor when he cancelled the lesson.

I now cant find anyone who will want to teach me, said Melissa.

I just want to learn how to drive but have had a few bad experiences.

Melissa said her two youngest children love her tattoos but her eldest children who have left home say they are too ashamed to be associated with her.

She has told how her addiction to tattoos began as a way of coping with child sex abuse.
READ MORE: A dozen more CEOs vow not to hire Harvard students behind letter

Jo did not respond to questions about her son, but told DailyMail.com: 'We as a family... strongly condemn all forms of violence'

It backed letter blaming Israel for a massacre of Jewish people that sparked fury

Perfume tycoon Jo Malone's son helps lead a pro-Palestinian Harvard group behind a letter that blamed Israel for Hamas' massacre of Jewish people, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Josh Willcox, 22, is listed as one of three students who run the Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, according to Harvard's directory of student groups.

His mother, Jo, a British perfume giant founder who sold her eponymous company to Estee Lauder in 1999, refused to address her son, simply saying the war in the Middle East had left her 'heartbroken' as she branded the attack by Hamas as 'abhorrent'.

Earlier this week, 34 Harvard student groups signed up to a letter saying: 'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.'

The PSC group issued a further statement in which it said it was 'proud to stand steadfast against Israeli apartheid.'

Josh Willcox (left) son of perfume mogul Jo Malone (center) is listed as one of three Harvard students who run the Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee. He is also pictured with his father Gary Willcox at a ritzy London party in 2017

In a statement Josh said: I'd like to make clear my personal views in relation to the open letter released by the PSC on October 8th.

'Over the past few days, we have seen horrific massacres in Israel and as I write this, we are seeing one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises unfold in Gaza.

'In contrast to the PSC open letter, I believe that anyone who inflicts violence on civilians is solely responsible for their actions.

'I therefore do not support the letters attribution of blame for Saturdays attacks to Israel. Terrorism is never justified under any circumstances.

'I have not been on the Harvard campus this semester and was not involved in the drafting or release of the letter.

'Throughout my time at university, Ive tried to stand up for the human rights of all people even when our campus and global community seemed heartbreakingly silent.

'My organising has always been an explicit support of non-violent advocacy in the hope of achieving dignity for Palestinians living under an internationally recognised Occupation.

'May we never stop advocating for the right of every individual to live a peaceful life of dignity.'

Willcox is listed as one of the three officers in charge of the group on Harvard's official student organization directory

In a statement to DailyMail.com Jo said: 'We as a family are heartbroken by the events of recent days and strongly condemn all forms of violence.

'The abhorrent attack on innocent people on Saturday in Israel is beyond what any family should endure.

'We again strongly condemn all forms of violence and those that incite it. We have always acted with a heart for people wanting always to strive towards a peaceful solution to any conflict.

'This is an horrendous moment in our history where innocent people are paying the greatest price with their lives. It is utterly heartbreaking and must stop.

'As a family our hearts goes out to all those suffering terrible losses at this time and we send untold gratitude to all those selflessly risking their lives for others. We call upon all leaders to find a humanitarian resolution for all.'

In a further statement she added: 'Following reports about my son Josh, a student at Harvard, I want to make clear that I would never condone violence towards innocent civilians.

'The barbaric attack on Israeli civilians was an act of terrorism, sickening and abhorrent.

'Josh has himself made clear that he does not support the PSC statement that Israel was to blame for the massacre and for the avoidance of doubt nor do I.

'As his parents, we support his right to continue to campaign on behalf of innocent Palestinians.'

Willcox is pictured in a Harvard student directory photo. He is one of three members of the committee that's taken responsibility for an outrageous statement on Hamas' attacks on Israel

In its latest comments the PSC bemoaned the lack of support they were getting from the university, saying the administration 'invests in Israeli apartheid'.

'The ongoing discourse centered on Harvard diverts focus from the relentless carnage in Gaza, a dire situation which our joint statement urgently warned about,' it said.

Willcox's fellow Palestine Solidarity Committee member Sanaa Kahloon subsequently spoke to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper confirming the group had no regrets over the controversial letter - while even doubling down on it.

Kahloon said the organization 'rejects the accusation' its initial statement was 'supportive of civilian deaths'.

Speaking for the group, Kahloon, said their mission should be 'obvious', adding the 'PSC staunchly opposes violence against civilians  Palestinian, Israeli, or other.'

'The statement aims to contextualize the apartheid and colonial system while explicitly lamenting 'the devastating and rising civilian toll' in its caption,' she added in a separate Crimson story.

'It is unacceptable that Palestinians and groups supporting them are always expected to pre-empt their statements with condemnation of violence.'

The letter caused a massive backlash after 34 student societies backed the statement written by the PSC 'holding the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence'

Both his parents relocated to Dubai where they run the multi-million-dollar company. Willcox studies Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations with history at the University

Harvard student groups who signed letter African American Resistance Organization Bengali Association of Students at Harvard College Harvard Act on a Dream - RETRACTED Harvard Arab Medical and Dental Student Association Harvard Chan Muslim Student Association Harvard Chan Students for Health Equity and Justice in Palestine Harvard College Pakistan Student Association - RETRACTED Harvard Divinity School Muslim Association Harvard Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association Harvard Graduate School of Education Islamic Society Harvard Graduate Students for Palestine Harvard Islamic Society - RETRACTED Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine Harvard Divinity School Students for Justice in Palestine Harvard Jews for Liberation Harvard Kennedy School Bangladesh Caucus Harvard Kennedy School Muslim Caucus Harvard Kennedy School Muslim Women's Caucus Harvard Kennedy School Palestine Caucus Harvard Muslim Law School Association - RETRACTED Harvard Pakistan Forum - RETRACTED Harvard Prison Divest Coalition Harvard South Asian Law Students Association Harvard South Asians for Forward-Thinking Advocacy and Research Harvard TPS Coalition Harvard Undergraduate Arab Women's Collective Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo - RETRACTED Harvard Undergraduate Muslim Women's Medical Alliance Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Students Association - RETRACTED Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee Middle East and North African Graduate School of Design Student Society Neighbor Program Cambridge Sikhs and Companions of Harvard Undergraduates Society of Arab Students Amnesty International at Harvard - RETRACTED Advertisement

Willcox studies Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations with history, with his mother telling media earlier this year he specializes in Arabic.

He is a talented fencer who competes for Harvard and is the only son of the cologne and candle mogul and her husband Gary Willcox.

Malone sold her eponymous company to Estee Lauder in 1999 for undisclosed millions and no longer has any ties to it.

The serial-entrepreneur set up another successful scent company called JoLoves in 2011.

Willcox attended the elite Latymer Upper School in London, whose famed former students include Hugh Grant. Fees for the day school are around $30,000-a-year.

He spent part of his childhood in New York, with his self-made mom also owning a $9.3million apartment in a Knightsbridge square - lauded as one of London's most desirable.

His upbringing is in stark contrast to that of Malone, who grew up in public housing in a London suburb, suffered from dyslexia and left school aged just 13 to care for her mother after she suffered a stroke.

Willcox's parents now live in Dubai, where they run their successful JoLoves business.

Willcox has published at least three articles on Palestine for the Harvard Crimson, writing 'To the Editor: When Will You Stop Silencing Palestine?', in February along with a third leader of the organization, Shraddha Joshi.

The Harvard statement was widely condemned after blaming Israel for attacks that have killed at least 1,200 Israelis, including 25 Americans.

It focused heavily on the then-anticipated Israeli military onslaught in Gaza, with critics branding the missive tasteless and inflammatory.

Willcox's fellow committee member Kahloon is a sophomore and a dual-major in Molecular and Cellular Biology with Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Joshi, who penned several articles with Willcox, is an intern with Amnesty International and a social studies major.

She spent time in Palestine in 2022, and in a blog post took aim at Harvard and the media for supporting Ukraine amid Russia's invasion but ignoring the ongoing situation in Gaza.

'When the victims of violence aren't white  and when their existence disrupts American geopolitical interests  the circumstances of their murder suddenly becomes too complex to speak of,' she wrote.

'But what can possibly be 'complex' about the killing of a five-year-old child? When a Palestinian journalist is assassinated, things somehow become 'ambiguous'.'

The letter was signed by a host of Harvard student groups - but without students' signatures included. The names of the groups themselves have since been scrubbed in a move they claim will boost signatories 'safety.'

Many members of those groups have since sought to disavow it, claiming it was signed without their knowledge. Others say they regret the strident stance and have retracted their support.

The initial statement from the PSC caused a huge backlash, with a host of blue chip CEO's declaring those involved as 'unemployable', and The Anti-Defamation League denounced the statement as 'anti-Semitic'.

The group promoted their protests openly on social media, parading around the campus with banners that stated, 'Harvard Supports Israeli Apartheid.'

In its latest comments the PSC bemoaned the lack of support they were getting from the university, saying the administration 'invests in Israeli apartheid'

Students supporting the PSC marched on campus, with a host of blue chip CEO's declaring those involved as 'unemployable', and The Anti-Defamation League denounced the statement as 'anti-Semitic'

He has published at least three articles on Palestine for the Harvard Crimson, writing 'To the Editor: When Will You Stop Silencing Palestine?'

Kahloon (right) is a sophomore and a dual-major in Molecular and Cellular Biology with Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Joshi (left) who penned several articles with Willcox, is an intern with Amnesty International and a social studies major.

Two other Palestinian Solidary Committee members, Eva Frazier and Kawsar Yasin, previously spoke of their involvement with the group in September.

Frazier and Yasin, who are both involved in the Institutes of Politics Program at the university, told the Harvard Independent that they were 'disappointed' in the political engagement at the university.

The group promoted their protests openly on social media, parading around the campus with banners that stated, 'Harvard Supports Israeli Apartheid'

The PSC group issued a further statement in which it warned others to not be 'complacent and called for Harvard to do more

An aerial view shows the bodies of victims of the Hamas attack on the Kfar Aza Kibbutz on Tuesday

The death toll has topped 1,000 in Israel as the country plots a bloody revenge on the people of Gaza

Yasin also reposted an image of Palestine on Saturday, after the attacks had taken place, with a quote from Malcom X which said: 'If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people being oppressed and loving those doing the oppressing.'

Willcox started studying at the prestigious university in 2019, and is set to graduate in 2024

The university's Nepali student association said it condemned 'violence by Hamas' and said it regretted that the statement 'has been interpreted as a tacit support for the recent violent attacks in Israel'.

And the Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo, which promotes South Asian culture, said it would like to 'formally apologize'.

One student involved in the Muslim Law Students Association told DailyMail.com that they were 'angry' they had been dragged into the argument  saying the decision to sign the letter was approved by the presidents only.

'It's common that the organizations don't have a process  I'm sure that they will do now,' they said.

Wilcox, pictured riding a horse, with his father did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com over his stance on the ongoing warfare

Two other members, Eva Frazier (right) and Kawsar Yasin, (left) previously spoke of their involvement with the group in September.

Members of the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee protest for the liberation of Palestine. Since putting out the statement, the group has doubled down on the message and claimed they have received death threats

Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee set up posters with the message 'Free Palestine.' The student group claimed to have received racist death threats in the wake of their statement

'There have been a lot of complaints after the blow back, but I don't know if anyone resigned.

The student added: 'As soon as I was aware of it I resigned. I said that I cannot be a part of this. It's really fired up on campus, it's a powder keg. You can feel it. It's intense.'

Another member was forced to post on social media to say that they 'denounced Hamas' following the backlash  and again claimed that they were not aware of their group's involvement in it.

The group has since released a statement to retract their signature from the letter, telling DailyMail.com: 'It was written without our input or knowledge as to its content.'

Around 500 faculty members and 17 student organizations signed a statement in response, calling the PSC's stance 'completely wrong and deeply offensive.'

In an open letter published on Tuesday afternoon nearly 160 Harvard faculty members blasted the 'weak response' from the schools administration.

One student involved in the Muslim Law Students Association told DailyMail.com that they were 'angry' they had been dragged into the argument as the group retracted it's signature

Members of Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee pose for a group picture. The student organization doubled down on their statement blaming Israel for the Hamas terror attack

Another Palestinian Solidary Committee also reposted an image of Palestine on Saturday, after the attacks had taken place, with a quote from Malcom X

Harvard President Claudine Gay (pictured) has finally condemned the 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' - at odds with 34 student groups at the Ivy League institution who have pledged support to the militants

Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers added: '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.'

Gay, his successor, finally issued a statement on Tuesday condemning 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' and insisting the 34 student groups 'don't speak for the university or its leadership'.

Israeli airstrikes demolished entire Palestinian neighborhoods on Wednesday as hospitals struggled to treat the injured with dwindling medical supplies.

The retaliation came after Hamas' surprise invasions of Israel on Saturday morning. At least 100 people were kidnapped, with 2,700 wounded. An estimated 1,000 people have died in the counterstrike on Gaza.
The horrifying moment a two-metre crocodile leapt at a sanctuary ranger and bit him has been captured on camera by shocked tourists.

The young ranger has spent a second night in hospital after a crocodile feeding session at the famous Billabong Sanctuary near Townsville in north Queensland went horribly wrong.

Monday's afternoon feeding session started like any other, with the ranger introducing spectators to Junior.

Footage shows Junior waiting for his meal in his enclosure before he launches himself at the ranger and latches onto a finger.

The shocked ranger screamed expletives as the croc attacked, withering in pain.

This is the terrifying moment Junior the croc launched himself at a sanctuary ranger as shocked visitors watched on

READ MORE: Swimmer is mauled by a crocodile at a popular tourist spot in the NT Advertisement

'He was in shock. It seemed he didn't want to look at his hand,' visitor Kate Javie told Nine News.

'My friends ran over to reception to alert them and get some first aid supplies to help stop the bleeding.'

'He was apologising to us, but we really felt for him.'

The ranger, 25, was taken to hospital in a stable condition where he's still recovering.

Queensland Ambulance Service acting senior operations supervisor David Cole said the ranger was in 'good spirits' despite the harrowing ordeal, adding he was 'a very lucky man.'

Ms Javie hopes the sanctuary will take lessons from the incident, hoping it never happens again.

Billabong Sanctuary has described Monday ordeal as a 'minor' incident

The daily crocodile feeding session is a must-see for Billabong Sanctuary visitors

Billabong Sanctuary owner Bob Flemming said a thorough investigation will review the 'minor incident'

'This was not a 'crocodile attack'. The ranger was not inside the enclosure but in the airlock adjacent to the enclosure where feeding takes place,' a statement read.

'Jumping to be fed is the normal routine for feeding this crocodile and the incident was purely a consequence of bad timing.'

Mr Fleming added there will be no ramifications for Junior.'

'We all wish the ranger a complete and speedy recovery.'

The latest incident comes months after visitors were evacuated after a 3.8m croc escaped an enclosure and had to be recaptured.

In 2016, a 2.5m crocodile latched onto a handler's arm in front of visitors during a routine feeding session.

The daily feeding sessions are one of the most popular activities at the sanctuary.

'Rangers coax our mighty estuarine crocs out of the water in an awesome display of speed and power as our crocs enjoy their afternoon feeding session,' the website states.
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Hamas attacked Israel because President Joe Biden is a 'laughingstock' and hinted that he believed the 80-year-old president was on drugs.

Trump headlined a 'Club 47' event in West Palm Beach, over the bridge from his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate, which was attended by Rep. Matt Gaetz, who blew up House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's speakership. Comedian Roseanne Barr was seated in the front row.

'I was also proud to be the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House by far. And if the election wasn't rigged there would be nobody even thinking about going into Israel,' Trump boasted, adding, 'but we'll swamp them the next time.'

Trump said that with 'crooked' President Joe Biden 'you have chaos, bloodshed, war, terror, and death.

'Look whats happening today, because the occupant of the White House is a laughingstock,' Trump added, alluding to this weekend's Hamas terror attack in Israel.

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Hamas attacked Israel because President Joe Biden is a 'laughingstock' and hinted that he believed the 80-year-old president was on drugs

Rep. Matt Gaetz (right) waves as he was paraded onstage at former President Donald Trump's 'Club 47' event in West Palm Beach, Florida Wednesday night. Gaetz wasn't expected to make the event due to the drama he created on Capitol Hill

Comedian Roseanne Barr was seated in the front row for former President Donald Trump's 'Club 47' event in West Palm Beach, Florida Wednesday night

'All over the world, America's enemies cannot believe how lucky they got. They got real lucky,' the ex-president continued. 'Every monster, villain, dictator and terrorist - and there are plenty of them, I know most of them, I got to know a lot of them - all over the planet they are having a field day because they know they will never have it better than they have it with crooked Joe.'

Trump envisioned that Israel 'would be flourishing, they would be happy,' had he still been in the White House.

'Forty-five babies had their heads cut off today,' Trump said, prompting gasps from the audience. 'But Israel would be flourishing, they would have no problem.'

Throughout his 100-minute speech, Trump, 77, mocked Biden for having senior moments, calling him 'incompetent' and a bevy of other names.

'He can't get off a stage,' Trump said.

'The other day he tried to get off a stage. Now look, I'm up here now, there are a lot of people, there's a lot of television going crazy. There's so much,' Trump said. 'But when I'm finished I'm going to look over there, I'm going to see an exit. I'm going to look over - I can take that one, that one. But what I can't do is walk through the back wall.'

He then pushed, without evidence, that the president was taking drugs.

Eric (left) and Lara Trump (right) were seated in the front row of the audience for the ex-president's Club 47 event in West Palm Beach, Florida Wednesday night

Outside the Palm Beach County Convention were a handful of pro-Trump vehicles including a Biden-Harris truck mounted to a tow

'You know what happens after about 20 minutes the stuff that he's taking wears off,' Trump said. 'So he gets a little groggy. Gets a little bit groggy. They say, "Get him off the stage that s***'s wearing off man! Get him off!"'

'No, no, no, and I'm sure that the cocaine that they found in the White House ... I feel certain that it had nothing to do with Hunter and Joe,' the ex-president continued. '"Here dad, have a little bit of this stuff, it's going to liven you up a little bit,"' Trump said, faux quoting the first son.

Trump opened up the evening by whacking some of his GOP opponents before spending some time talking about Israel.

He gloated about being so far ahead in South Carolina despite being rivals with the state's former governor and current senator, former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott.

Signs previewing Trump's appearance at the Palm Beach County Convention Center said, 'Florida is Trump country,' despite the state's governor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, also being in the race.

'When you get somebody elected you don't run,' Trump complained of DeSantis, who he endorsed in a GOP primary in 2018, allowing the now-governor to shoot up '71 points in one day.'

DeSantis then managed to beat Democratic up-and-comer Andrew Gillum.

'He turned out to be a crackhead, but these are minor details,' Trump said cuing laughs from the crowd.

Trump then cheered DeSantis' tumble in the polls, with some surveys out of New Hampshire now showing Haley in second place.

'He didn't have a lot of political skill, to put it mildly,' Trump said of DeSantis. 'He's falling like a very badly injured bird from the sky.'

Trump then turned to Israel, but his comments about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weren't all positive.

The ex-president teased that he was about to tell the audience a story never told before, despite sharing it on a podcast days before.

'They'll say it was classified,' Trump yelled.

He then said that Israel was supposed to play a bigger role in the assassination of Iranian military officer Qasem Soleimani.

'The night before it happened I get a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack,' Trump said. 'I will never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing.'

'And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didn't make me feel too good, but that's alright,' Trump added.

Ahead of Trump's appearance, a cover band played a number of classics but with pro-Trump lyrics, like saying Biden was hiding in his basement and Hunter Biden was in jail.

A reel of Biden's spills - including his trips up Air Force One's stairs and his fall off his bike - played to the James Bond theme.

'License to Fall' the video said after the montage of spills played.

A panel discussion was moderated by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend, Right Side Broadcasting's Brian Glenn.

It consisted of a handful of MAGA personalities including former Real Housewife of New Jersey, Siggy Flicker, who was born in Israel and decried the horrendous Hamas terror attack that took place Saturday.

The panelists also called attention to the fact that Barr was in the audience.

'Where's Roseanne?' Trump called out from the stage. 'So skinny, I love her. She had the No. 1 show on television,' he added, calling it a 'monster.'

The rebooted Roseanne was canceled after Barr posted a racist tweet about Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett.

The crowd cheered when Gaetz - who wasn't expected to make the event due to the drama he created on Capitol Hill - and his wife walked onstage at the top of Trump's remarks.

Trump failed to mention that his candidate to replace McCarthy, Rep. Jim Jordan, lost the House GOP vote to gain the speakership, with the more traditional candidate, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, selected instead.

Gaetz hung around for nearly 30 minutes after Trump's speech wrapped up, taking selfies and signing MAGA merchandise for audience members.

When asked if he was disappointed Trump didn't bring up the speakership drama during his speech, Gaetz answered, 'honestly, that's a rapidly evolving situation, I'm glad President Trump is focused on regaining the White House.'

Gaetz played coy when questioned about whether he and Trump had talked about the speaker's fight backstage.

'Well, I think I'm going to keep that between us,' Gaetz told DailyMail.com.
The horrors inflicted on Israelis living at a kibbutz near the border with Gaza were laid bare on Wednesday, as the world's media was shown around the bullet-ridden and blood-stained settlement where more than 100 people were murdered.

The Israeli Defense Force took reporters including a Fox News crew to Be'eri, just three miles from the Gaza border, on Tuesday.

The kibbutz was known as an artistic and farming community of 1,200 people, but on Saturday it was overrun by Hamas terrorists who attacked with grenades, guns and knives.

IDF soldiers battled for eight hours to push Hamas out of the camp, going door-to-door to kill the terrorists inside the Israeli homes, and it was not liberated until Sunday - the last settlement to be freed from Hamas.

Trey Yingst, a correspondent for Fox News, was among reporters shown around a kibbutz attacked on Saturday by Hamas

Yingst tweeted photos of the destroyed houses inside the kibbutz

The Fox News reporter showed blood-stained floors and bullet-ridden homes

The site was not declared safe for outsiders until Tuesday: all the bodies of Israeli victims had been removed, but the burnt and mangled corpses of Hamas fighters were still lying in heaps on the outskirts of the kibbutz.

The smell was stomach-turning, reporters said, and Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst took viewers inside one of the bullet-scarred and blood-coated homes.

'You can see the floors are stained with blood,' he said.

'It was Saturday morning, around 7am, when militants stormed this village. You can see the weapons they brought with them, extra ammunition, bullet holes in the side of the house and knives on the floor.'

Yingst said the community was 'littered with bodies'.

'It is completely destroyed. It looks like some of the buildings were hit with RPGs, explosives.'

He said he came across 'beds covered in blood', where residents had been murdered in their beds.

The IDF said some of the victims were beheaded.

Yingst, 30, said it was 'hell on earth', describing the scene as the most horrifying he had witnessed in his career reporting around the world. Yingst joined Fox five years ago.

Yingst's crew filmed weapons inside the houses in the kibbutz, where Israelis were murdered

Doors were riddled with bullets - evidence of the ferocity of Hamas' attack on Saturday

This graphic (above) shows how the Hamas massacre on the Kfar Aza kibbutz unfolded

Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers walk beside the bodies of Hamas militant killed in Kfar Aza kibbutz on Tuesday

Israeli soldiers search for the bodies of Israelis killed in Kfar Aza kibbutz near the border with Gaza on Tuesday

A charred house after an attack by Palestinian terrorists on the kibbutz on Tuesday

A house left in ruins after an attack by Hamas militants on this kibbutz days earlier when dozens of civilians were killed near the border with Gaza on Tuesday

A soldier is overcome with emotion as he searches for bodies in the kibbutz

'We saw about eight bodies in body bags of the local residents who were here,' he said.

'Some may be militants. They still have to work to identify the bodies. Some are hard to identify.

'I want to just tell you what the commanding officer told me when we got here. He saw many of the families that were slaughtered in their beds, and in their bomb shelters after Hamas militants broke through the door. He told us that there were people who were decapitated here, people with their hands tied behind their backs and shot - executed.

'And you saw from inside that house: it is the most horrific thing I have ever seen.

'It is a community where there are breakfast plates out with food still on them, on dining room tables.

'There are refrigerators like you would see anywhere in the world with pictures of little kids playing sports. There are bicycles and still ceiling fans going inside the house and there are beds soaked with blood. The floor of that kitchen, as you saw, and there are weapons laying everywhere from those militants. You can see some of their vehicles just outside.

'It is a house of horror behind me and the entire neighborhood looks like this.'
An Aussie driver of a US-style truck has sparked outrage over their selfish parking at a busy shopping centre.

The massive Ram truck was seen parked inside a Westfield shopping centre in Narre Warren, in Melbourne's south-east.

An outraged shopper snapped a photo of the vehicle and shared it to Reddit on Tuesday, complaining the vehicle had taken up more than its fair share of parking.

'I know these guys need wider parking spaces butIf you come to Fountain Gate right now you'll see this fine specimen parked in the middle of the road,' the user wrote.

An Aussie motorist has been slammed after his American styled pick up truck (pictured) took up multiple space inside a parking lot at a Westfield shopping centre in Melbourne

The post was flooded with hundreds of comments from social media users who slammed the driver's selfish act.

Some claimed the truck had been taking up four parking spaces, but others said the vehicle had actually been left in the middle of the traffic lane.

'The[y] don't need wider parking spaces. They need better driving skills. It's not as if this car wouldn't fit between the lines, it's just that the driver didn't care,' one wrote.

'Should be charged for four spaces tbh [sic],' another said.

Others lashed out at the number of people driving large US-styled trucks, saying that people don't need to be driving around in the massive vehicles.

'We don't need this [sic] huge trucks in Australia. Yutes [sic] have worked for ages,' one user said.

'The yank-tank owners simply need to buy a smaller car,' another wrote.

Ram utes are almost six metres in length and 2.5m in width with the average dimensions of a ute in Australia being 5.3metres long and almost two metres wide.

The average dimensions of a car in Australia is 4.9metres long and 1.94metres wide making the size of Ram trucks significantly larger than an average Aussie vehicle.

Experts have voiced their opposition to the growing popularity of large American style utes and trucks in Australia.

Julian O'Shea who is a researcher in sustainable transport at Monash University told Yahoo these vehicles would force public parking spaces to be redesigned.

Users lashed out at the number of people driving the large trucks (pictured) with the vehicles growing in popularity over the last couple of years across Australia

Experts have voiced their opposition to the surge in number of large pick ups (picture) sold in Australia, with the size of the ute likely to pose problems for motorists and the public heavily congested spaces

'The question becomes, how do we use this space? If we want to make our carparks bigger, we get fewer of them, we lose space for bike lanes, we lose space for parks, we lose space for shops,' Mr O' Shea said.

He said the utes would disrupt traffic in heavily congested areas.

'And just making more spaces available for other groups. So saying, 'look, if these cars exist, that's fine, but it's probably inappropriate for them to be around schools, or to be inside our CBD where space is at a premium'.'

Almost 800 large pick ups were sold in Australia in August 2023 with American light utility truck manufacturer Ram selling almost 23,000 of it's vehicles since 2016 across Australia.

While popularity for the vehicle has surged in recent years across the country hatchbacks and sedans still remain the vehicle of choice among most Aussie motorists.
Former President Donald Trump has rocketed ahead of President Joe Biden by nine points in the president's home state of Pennsylvania, a new bombshell poll shows.

An Emerson College poll released Wednesday found that 45 percent of Pennsylvania's registered voters plan to back Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, while 36 percent said they'd back Biden.

While Biden represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years, he was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and brings up his ties to the commonwealth when he campaigns in the Keystone State.

Another 11 percent of Pennsylvania's registered voters said they'd like to vote for someone else, while 8 percent said were undecided.

The survey found that Pennsylvania's youngest voters were hesitant to support the 80-year-old Biden - a surprise as Democrats have had a lock on the youth vote for a number of presidential election cycles.

Former President Donald Trump has rocketed ahead of President Joe Biden by nine points in the president's home state of Pennsylvania , a new bombshell poll shows

An Emerson College poll released Wednesday found that 45 percent of Pennsylvania's registered voters plan to back Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, while 36 percent said they'd back Biden

Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, explained that while Biden leads Trump 44 percent to 39 percent among voters under 40, when voters ages 18 to 29 were broken out, they broke for Trump 45 percent to 39 percent.

About half of Trump's and Biden's Pennsylvania voters said nothing would move them to vote for someone else.

For Trump it's 50 percent and for Biden a slightly larger sum of 53 percent.

The margin of error for the poll was plus or minus 4.7 percent.

Twenty-two percent of Trump voters said they could think of something he might say or do to lose their vote, while 17 percent of Biden's Pennsylvania voters said they could be moved.

In 2016, Pennsylvania was one of a trio of classically blue states that Trump won to beat Democrat Hillary Clinton and win the White House.

But in 2020 Biden was able to pry the commonwealth back into the Democratic column, beating Trump by about 80,000 votes.

When asked about the 2016 and 2020 elections, 61 percent of Pennsylvanians said they thought Trump won fairly in 2016, while a smaller percentage, 52 percent, believed Biden's win in 2020 was legitimate.

Republicans were more likely to believe that election fraud existed in 2020 versus Democrats believing there were problems with the 2016 count.

Sixty percent of Pennsylvania Republicans believe Biden stole the election, while 24 percent think he won fair and square.

On the flip side, 53 percent of Pennsylvania Democrats believe that Trump won the 2016 election with no issues, while 32 percent thikn he stole the election against Clinton.
Millions have been warned to take action immediately with hot, dry and 'incredibly' windy conditions expected to ignite new fires bushfires across NSW.

The Coolagolite fire near Bermagui on the NSW south coast, which began on Tuesday, destroyed two houses and spread across 7,380 hectares.

The NSW Rural Fire Service had reported 59 'incidents' on Thursday morning including at least 31 fires and many more expected with temperatures set to pass 30 degrees across the state.

Extreme fire danger warnings and total fire bans were issued on Thursday for greater Sydney, the Hunter Valley, north-west NSW and the state's lower and upper central west.

Several schools have been closed as a result while residents have been urged to get up to speed with the fire danger warning systems in place.

Millions have been warned to take action immediately with hot, dry and 'incredibly' windy conditions expected to ignite new fires bushfires across NSW

Extreme fire danger warnings and total fire bans were issued for greater Sydney , the Hunter Valley, north-west New South Wales and the state's lower and upper central west

The Coolagolite fire near Bermagui on the NSW south coast, which began on Tuesday, destroyed two houses and spread across 7,380 hectares

Under the new fire danger warning system 'extreme fire danger' means to 'take action now to protect life and property'.

It also means residents should 'action your bushfire survival plan now', the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

The NSW Education Department closed six schools in the central west for the day. They are Warrumbungle National Park Environmental Education Centre, and Tooraweenah, Quambone, Marra Creek, Hermidale and Girilambone public schools.

The BoM warned of 'hot and dry with fresh to strong and gusty north to northwesterly winds,' with thunderstorms later.

'We are expecting to see some quite hot, dry and incredibly windy conditions as we start to see this elevated fire danger for most of NSW,' NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Inspector Ben Shepherd told the ABC.

'We just obviously want the public to adhere to these warnings and bans, because the last thing we need is any new fires in the landscape.'

He stressed the current conditions were likely to continue for the rest of the year and throughout summer.

He said the the bushfire risk to much of NSW 'has returned'.

Winds would turn 'southwesterly in the evening', the BoM said.

'Extreme fire danger is forecast for the following fire weather districts: Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region, North Western, Upper Central West Plains and Lower Central West Plains'.

Temperatures are set to climb to 35 degrees in Penrith, while the Sydney city and surrounding suburbs see temperatures reach 32 degrees.

All of NSW is facing a fire danger on Thursday that is either extreme or high

What the four fire danger levels mean across Australia

Six schools across NSW were closed on Thursday due to extreme fire dangers in their local communities. Pictured: Tooraweenah Public School, one of the schools shut

In addition to Sydney, the main towns facing total fire bans include Newcastle, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Singleton, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Narrabri, Walgett, Coonamble; Gilgandra, Forbes, Parkes and Dubbo.

Almost all of the upper Hunter Valley, including Newcastle, is set to reach 34 while temperatures could also top 30 degrees in the Illawarra, south coast, southern tablelands, the north west and central west slopes and plains and upper western NSW.

From Murrumbidgee north, the entire state of NSW - population eight million - is at high risk, which means residents should 'be ready to act' and know what to do if a fire arrives.

In September last year Australia's Fire Danger Rating System was simplified to include four levels: catastrophic, extreme, high and moderate.

Catastrophic means people should leave an area for their survival, while extreme - which applies to four large areas of NSW today - means residents should take action now to protect life and property.

A high risk means people should be ready to act and a moderate risk means to 'plan and prepare'.

On the updated signs, the white bar under the moderate level indicates 'no rating' for days where no action is required.

In Victoria, large areas north of Melbourne, from central to eastern and northern Gippsland were issued a severe weather warning for damaging wind gusts.

'Damaging wind gusts around 100 km/h are possible during Thursday morning.'

Marra Creek was one of the six schools closed in the NSW Central West
The Yes23 campaign has released a second TV ad in two weeks featuring an Indigenous child making a heart-wrenching plea for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament with the referendum deadline fast approaching.

The new 30-second commercial, created by advertising agency Clemenger BBDO, begins with a close-up shot of a teenage schoolgirl in uniform standing on a stage speaking into a microphone.

'Our voice is the most powerful tool we have,' she says.

'But it is only powerful if someone is there to listen.'

The ad then reveals she is standing alone and isolated in an echoing empty school assembly hall.

In the latest TV ad for the Yes23 campaign a schoolgirl is seen on stage speaking at a microphone

'This is an important moment for our country, the chance to finally recognise us, communities can advise on the issues that affect us for a better future together,' the girl continues.

The girl then looks downcast as she realises no one is listening.

However, she then spots a single classmate standing near the back of the hall.

'Imagine what could be possible if we listen,' a voiceover says.

'Yes makes it possible.'

The ad was posted on the LinkedIn account of Clemenger BBD Managing Partner Georgie Winton.

'Here we talk about how change can happenwhen we listen. Change is possible. Yes makes it possible,' Ms Winton wrote.

'Please everyone Vote "Yes",' she says.

The camera pans out to show that the girl alone on stage and is speaking to an empty auditorium

Her post had drawn 42 positive reactions by Thursday morning.

With polls showing the Voice heading towards defeat the Yes campaign has been blitzing the airwaves and the internet with emotional appeals to think about the future of Indigenous young people under the slogan 'Yes makes it possible'.

Recently, another 30-second Clemenger BBDO ad debuted featuring an Aboriginal boy asking questions which suggested a bleak future for him without the Voice.

'Will I grow up in a country that hears my voice? Will I live as long as other Australians? Will I get to go to a good school?' the boy asked.

Yes23 campaign director Dean Parkin told media and PR news website Mumbrella that the ad highlighted the yawning gap in life expectations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

'This advertisement simply points out that many Indigenous Australians live with entrenched disadvantaged when it comes to outcomes in health, education and employment,' he said.

Sky News host Andrew Bolt commented that someone 'should have told the truth' to the young boy (pictured) starring in the latest Yes campaign ad backing an Indigenous Voice to Parliament

'A Yes vote is a once in a generation opportunity to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.

'A No vote will mean no progress,' he said.

Conservative columnist Andrew Bolt slated the ad featuring the boy, saying someone in the Yes23 should have told him the 'truth'.

'Someone in the Yes23 campaign should have done a favour for the worried boy they got to star in their new ad for the Voice,' Bolt wrote.

'They should have told him the truth.'

He went onto to suggest all the boy's worried questions could be answered or were being answered positively without needing a Voice.

The boy also asked the question: 'Will I grow up in a country that hears my voice?'

Bolt said the boy already has a voice and that being in the ad, which is part of a $20million television blitz before the October 14 vote, proves it.

Over more than 2 million Australians have already cast their vote in pre-polling on whether Indigenous Australians should be recognised in the constitution and be represented by an advisory Voice body to parliament.

To pass on Saturday the proposal needs to win an overall majority of votes and also win in a majority of states.

Opinion surveys have consistently shown the Voice will struggle to achieve that with a Newspoll on Monday showing 56 per cent of respondents intended to vote no.
Australians frustrated because rescue planes are going to London

Australians hoping to catch rescue flights out of Israel have slammed the Albanese Government after realising the planes are dropping them off in London, rather than taking them home.

Anthony Albanese announced on Wednesday that his government had organised two Qantas planes to get holidaymakers out of Israel following Hamas' brutal attack on the region which began on Saturday.

For the 10,000 Australians left hiding in bomb shelters in the conflict zone and unable to escape because of cancelled commercial flights, Mr Albanese's announcement couldn't have come soon enough.

They had been feeling angry and confused about why the Australian government wasn't doing more to get them out, particularly when nations including France, Brazil and Canada had sent rescue jets to repatriate their citizens days ago.

However, some travellers say the announcement has turned out to be bittersweet.

One woman who didn't want to be named told Daily Mail Australia she's grateful the planes are available, but said people are frustrated because they're going to England and there hasn't been any communication about connecting flights.

She said there was further concern because two aircrafts have a combined capacity of about 1,200 people, which could mean 8,000 others miss out.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) announced on Wednesday that his government would facilitate rescue jets

A total of three rescue jets have been organised to get Australians out of Israel, but they will be left in London

'Does it count as repatriation if they're not brought home, but are taken five hours further away from home?' she asked.

Poll Do you think it's OK that Aussies trapped in Israel are being dropped off in London? Yes No Do you think it's OK that Aussies trapped in Israel are being dropped off in London? Yes 362 votes

No 606 votes Now share your opinion





'All we've been told is there are two flights going to London. We've called the consulate hotline and they couldn't tell us anything.

'This creates another stressful and expensive experience for travellers who are already exhausted and traumatised.'

She asked whether passengers would then have to pay for accommodation and food in London, and then fork out thousands for immediate flights back to Australia.

'I know many of these people are already maxed out with extra payments and having to pay more for hotels, and nothing is covered with travel insurance because they don't cover war,' the woman said.

The woman also pointed out that the only people who are eligible for the rescue flights are those who don't have commercial flights booked.

Pictured: Australians hiding in a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv, after war broke out across Israel

She said some people have bookings but flights continue to be cancelled, adding: 'They might not be eligible for these flights, but then their commercial flights might be cancelled and they're still stranded.

'How do they choose who will go on the two flights?'

At a press conference on Thursday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she had signed off on a third flight.

'It's a case of what availability could be arranged faster,' she said.

'We'll look at whether any further assisted departures are required.'

The first flight will depart Tel Aviv on Friday and the second will leave on Saturday.

Australians in Israel who are interested in these flights must register with the government's 24-hour consular emergency centre.
She now clarified treaty and truth must come first

Lidia Thorpe has sensationally backtracked on comments she made several hours ago that she would 'absolutely' support legislating a Voice.

The firebrand Green-turned Independent senator said about 7.45am Thursday that she would support a legislated Voice, despite her opposition to having the proposal written into the constitution.

When asked if she had any qualms about a legislated Voice, she said: 'Why not?'

'If legislation comes into that Parliament, saying that they want to set up another advisory body and it's going to be fully representative of the people, as long as we're not in that constitution, I'll support it,' Ms Thorpe said.

'We need all the help we can get in there.'

But she later clarified that her comments must be understood in the broader context of her 'consistent position that Truth and Treaty are the first steps that must be taken to bring peace to this land'.

'I do not support the Voice proposed by the government and no representative body should be established, in any form, unless it is the product of the free prior and informed consent of the First Peoples of this country,' she said on Twitter.

The firebrand Green-turned-Independent senator has been actively campaigning against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament alongside the Blak Sovereign Movement

She said: 'The Blak Sovereign Movement and grassroots mob have been consistent in their rejection of the current proposal for a powerless advisory body enshrined in the colonial constitution.

'Regardless of the outcome, the pathway forward begins with healing, Truth Telling, Treaty, implementing the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and Bringing Them Home report, and implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.'

The concept of a legislated Voice is that it would perform the same functions as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's proposed body, giving advice to the government about ways to improve Indigenous services.

But, the key difference, is that it would not be written into the constitution.

In its current form, Ms Thorpe wants no part in campaigning for a Voice. But she's also said repeatedly over the year that she has not aligned herself with the conservative No vote.

'I oppose the Voice because the voice is window dressing for constitutional recognition. And that's what we have opposed for over a decade,' she said.

But Ms Thorpe said Indigenous Australians who resisted colonisation and constitutional recognition would be able to start 'a real healing... and truth telling journey' in the course of a successful No vote

Mr Albanese has categorically ruled out considering legislating a Voice should to referendum fail, arguing it is not what Indigenous people asked for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and would go against the will of the Australian public.

Aunty Pat Anderson, an outspoken Yes campaigner and Uluru Dialogue co-chair, said the reason a legislated Voice 'does not work for us' is because it would be 'subject to the whims and fancy of the politics of the day'.

READ MORE: Thorpe unveils alternative plan to the Voice Advertisement

'Our organisations do not know whether they are funded from one government to the next and when there is a change of government we are back to ground zero.'

But Ms Thorpe said Indigenous Australians who resisted colonisation and constitutional recognition would be able to start 'a real healing... and truth telling journey' in the course of a successful No vote.

'Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want truth telling in this country that after all, was part of the Uluru statement that we're not hearing anymore as part of this debate.

'We're also not talking about treaty... so I think that there is lots to look forward to and rather than think that we've been defeated, see this as a victory.'

A successful vote in Saturday's referendum requires a majority of Yes votes in at least four of the six states.

The Indigenous senator said the referendum had given a platform to racists and her life was in danger after being targeted by a neo-Nazi video.
Tim Ballard, the anti-trafficking activist who inspired the movie 'Sound of Freedom', has been hit by a second civil lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted and abused the women he used to lure in trafficker's.

The married father-of-nine is being sued by by five women over allegations he sexually manipulated, abused and harassed them on overseas trips designed to lure and catch child sex traffickers.

The second suit, filed by two further plaintiffs allege that Ballard sexually assaulted them, with one woman claiming he drove a 'wedge' between her and her husband, resulting in their divorce.

Ballard is accused of creating a a 'couple's ruse' tactic, which he used to persuade women to pose as his wife to fool child sex traffickers into thinking he was a legitimate client.

However, some of the women allege in their lawsuit that 'Ballard soon began abusing the couple's rouse and eventually used the ruse as a tool for sexual grooming.'

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, according to one source

Ballard's wife, Katherine, has stood by her husband in the wake of the allegations against him

'Through these couples ruses, both in the office and in the field, Ballard eventually engaged in coerced sexual contact with several women and propositioned others.'

Ballard told the women, who believed they were helping to rescue children, that 'engaging in sexual play with him would improve their marriage' but told them not to inform their husbands, the suit alleges.

The suit claims Ballard threatened the alleged victims with legal action if they ever disclosed anything about his tactics, including the couples ruse.

The women also allege that Ballard kept up the ruse in private, convincing them they must engage in sexual acts short of actual penetration just in case traffickers observed them.

Ballard, it is alleged, also told his ruse partners that if his wife Katherine died, he would immediately marry them.

In turn he told Katherine that the women continued to fall in love with him on the trips, and that they wanted to kill her, the legal documents state.

One plaintiff in the second suit states that Ballard told her if she ever left him he would 'put a bullet in my brain'.

Eventually the plaintiff's husband grew angry that his wife was always away on trips with Ballard and that his communications with his wife were too familiar and unprofessional.

A lawsuit alleges the famous child-trafficking opponent Tim Ballard sexually abused five women after forcing them to pose as his wife on overseas anti-trafficking missions

The lawsuit reveals the full extent of Ballard's alleged messiah complex, presenting an oil canvas painting depicting him carrying a swaddled child along a railroad

Ballard (center) allegedly took ketamine while dictating revelations from a Mormon prophet who foretold he would be the next US President. Ballard had already forged a connection with former president Donald Trump, pictured here on an episode of the anti-trafficking activist's podcast, with Jim Caviezel (right), who played Ballard in Sound of Freedom

The lawsuit also alleges that Ballard (right) told women on his missions that his 'couple's ruse' tactic had been endorsed by senior church leader M. Russell Ballard (center), no relation

The plaintiffs eventually separated 'over the wedge that Ballard has put into their marriage' the suit alleges.

Ballard continued to be involved in the fallout, offering to pay the woman's divorce attorney fees and to use a favorite henchman to threaten her husband, the legal fillings allege.

The bombshell lawsuits come just a month after Ballard touted a run for the Senate following the global success of 'Sound of Freedom', which was loosely based on his exploits with Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), the anti-trafficking organization he founded in 2013.

The first lawsuit, filed in Utah's 3rd District Court, contains a litany of extraordinary claims against the OUR founder, including that he used a henchman to threaten one of his alleged victim's husbands and that he regularly frequented Salt Lake City strip clubs with women he planned to take on missions to get drunk, 'ingest pills' and 'practice' their sexual chemistry.

It delves into how Ballard was able to become 'a character of mythical proportions with unquestioned legitimacy' thanks to his 'enmeshment with the Mormon church' and endorsements from high-profile public figures, including Donald Trump and Utah State Attorney General Sean Reyes.

The full extent of Ballard's alleged messiah complex is also revealed, with the document citing an oil canvas painting of him carrying a swaddled child along a railroad that elevated him 'to an almost Mother Teresa altitude'.

It had previously been reported that a former OUR member told a since-closed FBI probe that 'Tim is fully convinced that he is supposed to be the "Mormon Messiah and lead people back to the church"'.

But while Ballard presented himself as a messianic figure whose overseas missions were saving countless lives, his foundation was ultimately a front for a globetrotting lifestyle of first-class flights, five-star hotels, 'strip clubs and massage parlors across the world' enjoyed by the OUR founder and his entourage of wealthy, untrained accomplices, the women claim.

Despite this, Ballard, a devout Mormon, would allegedly appeal to divine authority to justify his actions.

He did so to spiritually manipulate his female victims, almost all of whom were also Mormon, it is claimed.

One extraordinary passage from the lawsuit states that Ballard 'would get ketamine treatments and have a scribe come in with him while he would talk to the dead prophet Nephi and issue forth prophecies about Ballard's greatness and future as a United States Senator, President of the United States, and ultimately the Mormon Prophet, to usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ'.

Following its initial US release, the film hit UK and Irish cinemas on September 1

The missionary, who purports to be a former CIA agent, allegedly told women his methods had been blessed by the Mormon church, who had endorsed him as a future US President and Prophet.

Ballard also argued that a passage from the Book of Mormon, in which a man kills another man on the promptings of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated that the Holy Spirit could ask people to perform 'unconventional tasks', the lawsuit states.

The filing also reiterated reports that the OUR founder claimed President M. Russell Ballard, an unrelated senior member of the church's second-highest leadership body, had signed off on his activities.

It is alleged that the anti-child trafficking activist said the Elder Ballard had approved the 'couple's ruse' tactic 'as long as there was no sexual intercourse or kissing on the lips' - and had given Tim Ballard 'a special priesthood blessing as such'.

But this did not stop the OUR missionary allegedly engaging in other sexual acts with female colleagues, with Ballard developing a sex position that made it appear as if he was having 'full on sexual intercoursewhile not actually penetrating'.

Other sordid activities he coerced women into included tantric yoga, couple's massages with escorts and performing lap dances on him, the lawsuit claims.

Even in private: 'Ballard would claim that he and his female partner had to maintain the appearance of a romantic relationship at all times in case suspicious traffickers might be surveilling them at any moment.'

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear, covered in fake tattoos, and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, a source had previously told Vice News.

The lawsuit states that two marriages ended due to Ballard's actions.

In one case, Ballard offered to cover one victim's divorce attorney fees and had a henchman threaten her husband on voicemail, the lawsuit alleges.

Ballard allegedly warned the women that speaking out about their alleged sexual encounters it would endanger the lives of those on anti-trafficking operations.

She said the couple were in touch with their local church leaders and 'remain committed to our family and our faith'

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes appeared set to endorse Ballard for the candidacy before distancing himself from his lifelong friend after the sexual misconduct allegations emerged

Tim Ballard claimed his anti-trafficking activities had been blessed by the Elder Ballard as a means of converting more Americans to the Utah-based faith, according to a since-closed FBI investigation. The church denies Elder Ballard did so

The women claimants say they were given burner phones that they were told they were being tracked on, ordered to delete messages, sign NDAs and threatened with legal action if they leaked anything about Ballard's tactics.

It wasn't until Spring 2023 that some of the women came forward to OUR management, leading to Ballard's termination.

The Mormon church excommunicated Ballard upon learning the full details of how he was using the 'couple's ruse' tactic, the filing states, backing up evidence of his ecclesiastical axing first reported by DailyMail.com last week.

The church has not confirmed this and Ballard's wife, Katherine, has said that the couple were 'in touch' with their local church leaders, but that 'such conversations - as required by the church - are strictly confidential and extremely personal'.

She added: 'We are complying fully and remain committed to our family and our faith.'

It marks a dizzying fall from grace for the 'former CIA agent' who had looked set to secure the endorsement of Attorney General Reyes for Utah Senator.

The profile he gained from OUR's activities and the subsequent Sound of Freedom movie had meant he was well placed to replace Mitt Romney, a fellow Mormon, who had announced he would not be running again.

Ballard's wife, Katherine, has stood by her husband in the wake of the allegations against him. The couple are pictured in August

The lawsuit filed on Monday also documented how Ballard had forged strong connections with public figures, including American author Tony Robbins and conservative media personality Glenn Beck, to furnish his ambitions.

He was appointed as special advisor to Ivanka Trump in October 2017 and joined the White House Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking in 2019.

Meanwhile, his relationship with M. Russell Ballard, whom he met with in Salt Lake City to discuss OUR's work, and his authorship of three books promoting Mormon Nationalism, 'further created the myth of Tim Ballard', the lawsuit states.

OUR reported a revenue of almost $57million to the IRS in 2022, with Ballard receiving a salary of $525,958. Yet former employees claim Ballard earned more than $14million through his personal ventures, launched off the back of OUR's success.

Ballard initially angrily denied allegations of sexual misconduct against him, first reported by Vice News last month.

'It's not true, nothing you hear is true,' he said in a video filmed by one of his supporters.

The Mormon church has condemned Ballard's activities in a rare public rebuke, stating that he had used Elder Ballard's name without permission for 'personal advantage and activity regarded as morally unacceptable'.

OUR, for its part, has confirmed that Ballard resigned on June 22 this year and is permanently separated from the organization.

A spokesman added that it is 'dedicated to combatting sexual abuse, and does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anyone in its organization'.
A Texas Congressman and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wednesday that Egypt had warned Israel of Hamas' surprise attack in the weeks leading up to the assault that has killed at least 1,200.

Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican, spoke Wednesday, confirming what Egyptian intelligence has previously said and contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

'There seems to have been an intelligence failure. We're not quite sure how we missed it. We're not quite sure how Israel missed it,' McCaul said.

He had just gotten a closed-door briefing from Biden administration officials for an update on the crisis.

'We know Egypt had warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen. We know this has been planned perhaps as long as a year ago,' McCaul added.

Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican, spoke Wednesday, confirming what Egyptian intelligence has previously said and contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

"      ,        -          ":    , "      pic.twitter.com/Wbfa6nVmqW      (@ha_makom) October 11, 2023

Netanyahu's office called reports that the Egyptians had warned them 'fake news' in a tweet sent out Monday.

'The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false,' the PM's office account posted.

'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,' they added.

McCaul, when asked whom he'd been hearing from, said that the intelligence was out there.

'I don't want to get too into classifieds but a warning was given, I think the question is at what level'

In the wake of the attacks, 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 office called reports that the Egyptians had warned them 'fake news' in a tweet sent out Monday

McCaul, when asked whom he'd been hearing from, said that the intelligence was out there

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.

Israels intelligence agencies have gained an aura of invincibility over the decades because of a string of achievements.

The state 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.

Joe Biden on Wednesday said he had seen photos from Israel this weekend of 'terrorists beheading children' - confirming Israeli soldiers' stories of almost unimaginable horror, and insisting that the U.S. was working feverishly to rescue the hostages.

Biden held a meeting with Jewish community leaders in the White House on Wednesday, and said he had been shocked by the brutality of the Hamas attack.

At least 1,200 Israelis were killed in Saturday's carnage, which begun when Hamas militants crossed from Gaza into Israel and murdered people at a music festival and in their homes near the border.

'This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but pure cruelty, against the Jewish people,' Biden said.

He added: 'I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.'

And he warned Iran, which acts as Hamas' patron, not to get involved.


An Arizona dad made a bold statement when protesting a school board's decision to relax dress code rules for kids when he dramatically stripped down to a crop top and Daisy Dukes in front of stunned attendees.

Ira Latham, 39, shocked attendees at the Higley Unified School District meeting in Gilbert, Arizona, by stripping at the podium.

The father-of-four said he wanted to make a clear argument against the new dress-code policy at the school, which was more lenient and condoned anything that didn't expose the student's underwear.

He did so by taking off his shirt to reveal a black crop top that was more than a few sizes too small for him and a pair of Daisy Dukes that left little to the imagination. He said he picked up the daring ensemble at a thrift store.

Latham has three sons in 7th, 5th and 4th grade and a daughter in 2nd grade. He said: 'The dress code that they wanted to get to is just basically a dress code for a public pool. Make sure that kids cover their underwear and thats about it,' Latham told NBC.

Ira Latham, 39, shocked attendees at the Higley Unified School District meeting in Gilbert, Arizona, by stripping at the podium

The father-of-four said he wanted to make a clear argument about dress-code policy at the school - and did so by taking off his shirt to reveal a black crop top that was more than a few sizes to small for him and a pair of Daisy Dukes that left little to the imagination

He said: 'The dress code that they wanted to get to is just basically a dress code for a public pool. Make sure that kids cover their underwear and thats about it'

He found the dress-code problematic because it's main concern was making sure underwear aren't on show.

Before the clothing policy was updated students weren't allowed to expose their chest, abdomen or midriff but the new dress-code only restricts students from exposing their underwear.

He said 'As a dad, thats very concerned about my children as well as everyone elses kids in the district, I wanted to make a clear argument.'

Despite Latham's brave display of protest the board voted for the more relaxed dress code by a 3-2 margin.

The concerned father said: 'Its gonna be distracting in the classroom and its gonna have some parents that want to pull their kids out of the district,' although he didn't specify who he was expecting to be distracted by what the students choose to wear.

An X user said: 'Leave teenage girls alone Ira Latham! How embarrassing for you. Not only do these policy target girls, they target certain body types and races.'

Dress-code policies usually target girls' clothing and base the rules on not 'sexualizing' girls through their outfits. This inequality between school-appropriate clothing expectations for girls and boys begs the question of why girls at a school age are being sexualized and who they're being sexualized by.

The concerned father said: 'Its gonna be distracting in the classroom and its gonna have some parents that want to pull their kids out of the district'

Latham's wife shared a post on Facebook to show support for her husband's brave display

Parents at an Illinois high school were left outraged in 2019 after dozens of female students were told they they had violated their school's dress code policy by exposing their shoulders.

Numerous girls at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois, were allegedly ordered to change into school supplied t-shirts after a female dean claimed they were showing too much skin.

'I was told I should cover up because boys were looking at me,' student Chloe Lynch told Fox 5.

'It was very inappropriate, it made students feel uncomfortable, it made them feel sexualized and I think that was wrong,' one mom said.

Isabella Villegas, 18, from Kansas was furious after her 13-year-old sister Grace said she received negative comments from teachers for wearing an off-the-shoulder shirt to school.

The high school senior had customized a T-shirt for her seventh grade sister to wear if she ever got reprimanded for her outfits again.

The custom T-shirt read: 'Dress code: promotes the objectification and sexualization of young bodies, blames the wearer for the onlooker's perceptions/actions, perpetuates rape culture, is BS [sic].'

Despite Latham's brave display of protest the board voted for the more relaxed dress code by a 3-2 margin

After Latham's protest Tiffany Schultz, the Governing Board President of the Higley Unified School District, said: 'I understand this parents concerns. Did his removing clothing have any affect on me or the meeting? No, it didnt.

'He made his statement and we carried on with our business. We heard from other speakers and moved on. As a board we voted to ultimately let parents and families decide what it appropriate for them.

'It is the parents and familys choice and as long as it doesnt disrupt the school day it would be a non issue.'

She added: 'We want teachers to be teaching and not having to waste time measuring a girls shirt or making a girl feel uncomfortable.'

Latham said in a Facebook post: ''I made my most reasonable argument against the dress code policy, but regrettably, my attempt failed to sway the outcome'

Latham shared a post with his Facebook friends saying: 'Let me provide a little backstory to explain my new wardrobe. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at the Higley Unified School District board meeting, during which they implemented significant changes to the dress code.

'The new policy is quite minimalist, akin to a public pool dress code, rather than one suited for an educational environment.

'Its primary focus is on preventing underwear exposure and banning see-through clothing.'

He went on to say: 'The majority of parents in the audience voiced their opposition, but unfortunately, there were no attempts at compromise, and the decision was made against our wishes, This time 3:2 for the new dress code policy.

'I made my most reasonable argument against the dress code policy, but regrettably, my attempt failed to sway the outcome.'
Her mother has issued a plea for help bringing her home

She was last seen getting into a car on Wednesday

EXCLUSIVE

A desperate search is underway to find a teenage girl who has been missing for more than 24 hours in Queensland after she was seen getting into an unknown car.

Chanella Chalker, 14, from Brisbane, was last spotted getting into a large sedan at KFC Marsden, in Logan, in her school uniform at 2.30pm on Wednesday.

She was reported missing when she failed to return home from school sparking a police investigation, with family and friends extremely concerned for her welfare.

Mum Crystal Hay told Daily Mail Australia that Chanella's disappearance is 'completely out of character'.

Chanella Chalker, 14, was last seen getting into a large sedan in Marsden

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Hay issued a message to Chanella as she pleads with anyone who may know where her daughter is to help bring her home.

'Me, your brother and your sister have not stopped crying and have not stopped looking for you,' Ms Hay said.

'We will never stop looking.

'Do not let adults trick you into believing you are safe and better off anywhere then with family or living at home where you belong.'

Chanella is described as blonde, Caucasian in appearance and about 160cm tall.

Daily Mai Australia contacted the Queensland Police Service for comment.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Queensland PoliceLink on 131 444.
Hundreds of passengers waiting in line were ordered to take cover at Atlanta Airport as an armed woman stabbed three people on a rampage through the south terminal.

Video filmed by one passenger showed police and airport staff trying to reason with the woman as she ranted and swung her knife wildly just before 5pm on Wednesday.

She had already stabbed a man at the airports west crossover before moving to the security area where she was challenged by police.

During the encounter the female suspect stabbed an adult female and then an APD lieutenant as he attempted to take her into custody, Atlanta Police said in a statement.

Some passengers watched with amazement from behind the relative security of a glass barrier as the scene unfolded next to them.

But others waiting for security checks were ordered to the floor in case she had a gun or a bomb in her backpack.

Police and airport staff approach the woman who has already stabbed one man outside

Passengers waiting in line for security are ordered to take cover in case the woman is more heavily armed

Its very dynamic folks, an airport security officer warned them, so were going to get you off here as quickly as we can.

I dont believe you are in any imminent danger.

Sarah Nagem, an editor with Border Belt Independent in North Carolina, was in the queue and said staff described it to them as a domestic incident.

The police officer, reportedly a 71-year-old retiree who had returned to active service, suffered a severed artery after being stabbed in the thigh.

A female ticket clerk was also stabbed before the woman was overpowered and arrested by a second police officer, leaving a trail of blood across the booking hall.

When we did encounter her, there had already been that stabbing that occurred, said Atlanta Police Sergeant John Chafee.

Theres a little bit of moment that happened there.

It doesnt appear that theres a connection between her and them, but thats something well be looking into.

The kneeling passengers cheered as they were told she had been arrested and allowed to get back up off the floor.

Police said they did not know the motive for the attack but expected to find out by the time they brought charges.

All three victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where they were conscious and in a comfortable condition last night.

Atlanta Airport posted an all-clear about 40 minutes after the initial stabbing and it is not thought that any flights were delayed.

The areas where the crime scenes are blocked off, but theres multiple different entrances that can be used at the airport, said Sgt Chafee.

At one point she seemed to threaten passengers watching from just feet away behind a glass screen

Police eventually overpowered the woman after she had stabbed three people including an officer

Not all the passengers were so sanguine.

It aint safe even in Atlanta airport, tweeted former Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson.

Keep ya head on a Swivel. Sad situation that happen earlier. I hope people are ok.

I was on the other side. My boy was down on the floor with everyone else. They have to do something about these lines.
The Met's Counter-Terror Police is urging anyone in Britain with evidence related to the terror attacks in Israel to contact them, after a number of British citizens were confirmed dead.

Those who have footage or photos from Hamas' terror attacks in southern Israel, which began in a lethal surprise attack on Saturday, should contact the force immediately.

It said those British citizens with friends, relatives and loved ones within the war torn country will be able to share direct messages, images or videos shared by those in Israel.

The announcement comes as the war enters its sixth day, with 17 British citizens feared to be dead or missing within the country.

Family liaison officers are currently supporting families in the UK affected by the ongoing conflict, with police officers helping any repatriation of loved ones back to the UK.

The Met's Counter-Terror Police is urging anyone in Britain with evidence related to the terror attacks in Israel to contact them

Footage released following Hamas' attack on a festival in Southern Israel shows the carnage left

The bloody conflict, that has already claimed more than 2,300 lives on both sides. Pictured: Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Wednesday

A force spokesperson said: 'This appeal is directed at anyone who may have already returned from Israel in the past few days and has footage or images of the terrorist attacks.

'There may also be people in the UK who have friends, relatives or loved ones in Israel and have been sent direct messages, images or videos.

'UK nationals are among those who were killed or are missing.

'Specialist officers are in close contact with colleagues in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to act upon information about UK nationals being received.'

The police have warned against people sending footage or information they have received from social media, online sources and media reports.

Among those Brits known to have died is Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamas's attack.

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 dead.

Palestinians rescue a young girl from the rubble of a destroyed residential building following an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday

Among those Brits known to have died is Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamas's attack

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing

A post from Mr Darlington's sister Shelley on social media said he was 'murdered' at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel. His death has not been officially confirmed.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Re'im when the area was invaded by Hamas gunmen.

The bloody conflict, that has already claimed more than 2,300 lives on both sides, erupted on Saturday after terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

Since then fierce fighting has taken place, seeing Israel bombard the Gaza Strip in retaliation.

Tonight Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'crush and destroy' Hamas, warning that every member of the terrorist organsisation is a 'dead man'.

The stark message, made in a late night address, came after the Prime Minister accused the Palestinian militants of beheading soldiers and raping women.

His claims about the beheadings had not been independently confirmed but rescue workers and witnesses had described horrific scenes.

Israel has continued to pound the Gaza Strip, with residents of the enclave facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant was shut down earlier today.

The country's blockage has blocked supplies of fuel, food, water and medicines into the Palestinian territory leaving Gaza's 2.3 million residents without electricity, internet or running water.

The Israeli bombardment is said to have displaced 260,000 people from Gaza, according to the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency.
An ABC political reporter has been accused of breaching the national broadcaster's strict impartiality guidelines after sharing controversial tweets about the conflict in Israel and surrounding fallout in Australia.

Federal politics reporter Nour Haydar shared the tweets after the Palestinian militant group Hamas unleashed a horrific terrorist attack on the Jewish homeland on Saturday, killing hundreds of innocent civilians.

Following the attacks, hundreds of protesters caused chaos outside the Opera House in Sydney shouting 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** the Jews,' prompting NSW premier Chris Minns to call off an upcoming Free Palestine rally.

ABC political reporter Nour Haydar has reposted numerous tweets about the Israel-Palestine conflict in recent days

Ms Haydar did not appear to support his decision to ban the upcoming protest, and shared a message from Palestinian activist Randa Abdel-Fattah.

'How is it possible that Palestinians in Australia are being policed for their language, protests, grief, called animals, accused of supporting terrorism, framed as instigators, and an Australian Jewish organisation openly calls for genocide,' the reposted tweet states.

The comments were in response to the Australian Jewish Association supporting air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza in retaliation to the terror attacks on Israel.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the airstrikes have killed over 1,100 Palestinians. Officials have not said how many civilians are among the dead.

'Pure evil must be eradicated from this earth. Flatten it,' The Australian Jewish Association wrote.

The political journalist (pictured) has been with the ABC for six years and is based at Parliament House in Canberra

'Sometimes to eradicate pure evil, innocents die. It's sad Hamas hides among the civilian population. It's sad they don't love their own children to bring this on them. It's a double war crime.'

Ms Haydar's recent online activity caught the attention of 2GB presenter Ray Hadley.

'I don't know whether that's covered by the ABC policy on social media, but she's reposted quite a number,' he told listeners.

'So we need to check with the boss of the ABC to see whether the postings by Nour Hadar, even though they were not her own words, whether they're in contravention of the ABC and their policy on social media postings.'

Another retweet Ms Haydar shared was from The Guardian's Jerusalem correspondent, Bethan McKernan, which read: 'Initial reports surfacing that Israeli settlers indiscriminately opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians in Qusra near Nablus.'

A third retweet from Human Rights Watch states: 'Deliberate killings of civilians, hostage-taking, and collective punishment are heinous crimes that have no justification.'

Along with Hadley, some Aussies were quick to call out Ms Haydar over her retweets.

'Does Nour Haydar work for the ABC or Al-Jazeera? Thrilled to see taxpayer dollars paying the salary of a clearly biased ABC journalist.

Another person added: The TwiXter feed of ABC racist Nour Haydar makes her sound like a PR agent for Hamas terrorists. The sort of dribble she retweets, all day, on our dime. Why are ABC activists supporting the terrorists on our dime.'

An ABC spokeswoman didn't respond to questions of whether the retweets were appropriate or if any action will be taken.

'This is a personal social media account, not an ABC account or ABC content,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'All staff are required to meet the ABC Social Media guidelines.'
The eco protester who ambushed Sir Keir Starmer with glitter is a jobless ex-private schoolboy who studied at a 24,000-a-year private school in the UAE and flaunts his jetset lifestyle.

Yaz Ashmawi, who disrupted the Labour Party conference demanding 'democracy', was raised in a detached 1.5million house in Surrey and enjoys a 750,000 second home in Devon.

The Extinction Rebellion supporter breached security at the Liverpool conference by jumping on stage as Sir Keir was speaking, and throwing glitter all over him in front of a TV audience of millions.

He was bundled off stage by security officials, arrested and taken into police custody.

The 28-year-old told MailOnline that he did not intend to cause Sir Keir any harm and has apologised to the Labour leader for his actions.

Yaz Ashmawi justified his startling glitter attack because he feels the world is in 'grave danger' from climate change

Ashmawi walked free from police custody, and told MailOnline that he did not intend to cause Sir Keir any harm

An hour after he was released by police, Ashmawi said: 'I want to apologise to Mr Starmer if he felt physically in danger at any point.

'That truly was not my intention whatsoever, and I respect that MPs often face real threats to their wellbeing.

'Nonviolence is about acting to prevent further harm, not making people feel frightened or at risk.

'I hope he can recognise the need for the UK public to contribute to the big decisions that determine whether we live or die.'

Ashmawi has jetted to 13 countries across four continents in ten years, The Sun reports, showing off his holidays on Instagram.

The activist, who has his own website, calls himself 'a bit of a weird one' and has two master's degrees.

He has now justified his startling glitter attack by saying that he feels the world is in 'grave danger' from climate change.

'Many of the five mass extinctions ever to have occurred in the history of life on Earth mirror the conditions we've created on the planet today,' he said.

Ashmawi has jetted to 13 countries across four continents in ten years, showing off his holidays on Instagram

'They are huge losses in biodiversity coupled to sudden changes in atmospheric composition.

'Earth has never seen anything like us before, carbon is being emitted ten times faster than anything in the rock record and we've caused a catastrophic loss of 70% of nature in the last 50 years.

'We've left our ecosystems vulnerable to cascade of extinctions all along the food chain.

'We are in the midst of a huge combination of crises, in our climate, in nature and in our society.

'At the heart is our outdated, opposition-based political system of two parties. We deserve more. Proportional representation would make your vote actually count.

'A people's House of Citizens' would force politicians to work for you, and lead them to act independently of big money, fossil fuel companies and personal political prospects.

'We can't trust politicians to listen to us, regardless on which party you vote for. If we upgrade democracy we can lead politicians and keep them honest.'

Merseyside police confirmed he had been released without charge, but said inquiries were continuing.
Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee stood by their statement and claimed to be receiving death threats

The bosses of Sweetgreen, FabFitFun, Inspired and more chimed in online

Over a dozen business executives are joining the call to blacklist the Harvard students who put out a statement that blamed Israel for the Hamas attack, while the group whined about being persecuted in the aftermath.

CEOs from EasyHealth, Belong, FabFitFun, Inspired, DoveHill and many more joined billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman in the charge of outing the members of 31 student organizations who issued the statement on Sunday.

Ackman said, 'One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists, who, we now learn, have beheaded babies, among other inconceivably despicable acts.'

On Wednesday, the student group Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee put out a statement affirming their message - despite the outrage that they say forced them to cancel a vigil they had planned.

'In the past 72 hours, our statement has made international headlines. PSC has been flooded with racist hate speech and death threats. Hundreds of students have been persecuted both on campus and online, even people unaffiliated with PSC,' the group wrote.

Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management (pictured), led the charge to name the students in the Harvard organizations who put out a statement blaming Israel for the Hamas attack

I have been asked by a number of CEOs if @harvard would release a list of the members of each of the Harvard organizations that have issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for Hamas heinous acts to Israel, so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their https://t.co/7kzGOAGwp9  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 10, 2023

Members of the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee protest for the liberation of Palestine. Since putting out the statement, the group has doubled down on the message and claimed they have received death threats

'The targeting of Palestinian, Black, brown, Muslim and international students specifically should be extremely concerning to all parties. These threats reached such a height that we were forced to postpone our vigil, intended to mourn all innocent lives lost,' they wrote.

'We are appalled at the administration's failure to protect its students' safety. To state what should be clear: PSC staunchly opposes all violence against all innocent life and laments all human suffering.

'The ongoing discourse centered on Harvard diverts focus from the relentless carnage in Gaza, a dire situation which our joint statement urgently warned about.'

Rather than apologize, the group doubled down on their message and called on the Harvard community to reject the attacks on students in the group.

'The Palestinian death toll is only starting to mount,' they wrote. 'Loss of Palestinian lives, which has tragically become an annual occurrence, neither breaks the news nor prompts White House speeches.'

They said Harvard is 'a university that invests in Israeli apartheid,' and 'we are proud to stand steadfast against Israeli apartheid.'

Among the CEOs now vowing never to hire anyone from the 31 Harvard students was salad chain Sweetgreen's CEO, Jonathan Neman, who echoed Ackman's message and said, 'I would like to know so I know never to hire these people.'

David Duel, CEO of healthcare services organization EasyHealth replied to Neman's response with, 'Same.'

Ale Resnik, the CEO of rental housing startup Belong replied to Ackman's post, 'Share the list, please. We'll stay away.'

Tech investor Martin Varsavsky also chimed in: 'Share the list please.'

'This is a must,' comment Inspired CEO Stephen Ready. Michael Broukhim, CEO of FabFitFun, said, 'We are in as well.'

Michael McQuaid, the head of DeFi operations at blockchain company Bloq said: 'I completely agree, and have been wondering the same the last couple of days if/when the names of these students would come out.'

And CEO of DoveHill Jake Wurzak simply wrote, 'I second this.'

Other executives replied to Ackman with supportive emojis including the founder and vice president of the construction company Diligent, Hu Montague, the chief strategy officer of the payments platform Brex, Art Levy and CEO of the Classic Learning Test, Jeremy Wayne Tate.

Other business executives like Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman (left) and Inspired CEO Stephen Ready (right) have joined Ackman in wanting to know the names of the students so they will not hire them

Michael Broukhim, CEO of FabFitFun (left), and Tech Investor Martin Varsavsky (right) joined the call to blacklist the students

We are in as well  Michael Broukhim (@broukhim) October 10, 2023

I completely agree, and have been wondering the same the last couple of days if/when the names of these students would come out. Our words/statements have repercussions.  Michael McQuaid (@michaelgmcquaid) October 10, 2023

Share the list, please. We'll stay away @joinbelong.  Ale Resnik (@AleResnik) October 10, 2023

Since Tuesday, at least five of the original groups have withdrawn their signatures, and the full list of groups was taken off the statement, which they said was for their safety.

Amnesty International at Harvard, Harvard College Act on a Dream, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association, the Harvard Islamic Society and Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo all removed their names, said the Harvard Crimson.

The universitys Nepali student association said it condemned violence by Hamas and said it regretted that the statement has been interpreted as a tacit support for the recent violent attacks in Israel.

And the Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo, which promotes South Asian culture, said it would like to formally apologize.

Harvard law student Danielle Mikaelian said she had stepped down from her role as a board member of one of the student groups that co-signed the controversial statement, calling it 'egregious'.

The statement read: 'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.

'Today's events did not occur in a vacuum. For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison.'

The group said massacres in Gaza have already started and Palestinians have no shelter for refuge and will be forced to bare the brunt of Israel's violence.

'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.'

'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 statement said.

Members of Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee pose for a group picture. The student organization doubled down on their statement blaming Israel for the Hamas terror attack

Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee set up posters with the message 'Free Palestine.' The student group claimed to have received racist death threats in the wake of their statement

According to the Harvard Crimson, thousands of students, alumni and faculty have issued a counterstatement to the group.

Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers called the PSC statement sickening and was outraged by the university's slow response.

On Tuesday, Harvard President Claudine Gay finally issued a statement condemning the attacks and the student group statement.

The Israeli military has said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have died since the surprise attack on Saturday while Gaza's health ministry says 1,100 have been killed and more than 5,300 injured.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed every Hamas member is a 'dead man,' and said claims about the beheadings had not been independently confirmed but rescue workers and witnesses had described horrific scenes.
A monkey has survived for two years after receiving a pig kidney transplant in what researchers have hailed as a 'significant step forward'.

Scientists said the finding offers hope for the potential of long-term use of pig organs in humans.

Researchers at biotechnology company eGenesis and Harvard Medical School transplanted kidneys from genetically modified Yucatan miniature pigs into macaque monkeys.

The modifications, which included adding human genes and eliminating pig viruses, were designed to prevent rejection of the transplanted organs.

Some 21 monkeys were given pig kidney transplants that had received different levels of modifications.

Researchers at eGenesis and Harvard Medical School transplanted kidneys from genetically modified Yucatan miniature pigs into macaque monkeys (stock image)

The modifications, which included adding human genes and eliminating pig viruses, were designed to prevent rejection of the transplanted organs

READ MORE: Pig kidney transplanted in a human lasted for TWO MONTHS in new record that could be a breakthrough for organ donations The experiment was carried out on 58-year-old Maurice 'Mo' Miller, whose body was donated by his family after he was declared dead by neurologic criteria and maintained with a beating heart on ventilator support Advertisement

Animals which received kidneys modified to carry human genes and remove antigens saw survival rates increase seven-fold, to an average of 176 days.

One monkey survived for 758 days, according to the new study, which has been published in the journal Nature.

The researchers said their work brings clinical testing of genetically modified pig kidneys for human transplantation a step closer.

Dr Michael Curtis, chief executive of eGenesis, said the study marks a 'significant step forward in transplantation and medicine more broadly'.

'Our most recent publication outlines the achievement of an extraordinary milestone that provides hope and paves the way to better outcomes for countless individuals in need of life-saving organ transplants,' he said.

'Cross-pieces transplantation offers the most sustainable, scalable and feasible approach for delivering new sources of organs to patients.

'Our proof of concept study published this week shows for the first time durable long-term survival in the largest pre-clinical study conducted to date in this field, demonstrating success in sustaining kidney function in non-human primates for over two years.

'The results are unprecedented and signify a monumental step forward for achieving human compatibility.'

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant show that 5,562 people are waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK, which is more than three quarters of all people waiting for any kind of transplant in the UK.

When a human receives an organ, tissue or cells from an animal it is known as a xenotransplant.

Pigs are the most promising donor animals due to the availability of pig, gene-editing technology, plus their size and similarities to human organs.

Some 21 monkeys were given pig kidney transplants that had received different levels of modifications (stock photo of a genetically engineered pig kidney)

Overcoming the rejection of pig organs by the human immune system has been a complex challenge for more than four decades.

But gene-editing technology and new techniques to suppress the immune system have shown promise in several recent experiments.

Two humans have received pig heart transplants, the first, in 2022, was David Bennett who died two months after the surgery.

The second patient, a 58-year-old with end-stage heart disease, received his new heart on September 20.

University of Maryland Medical Centre in the US, which performed both of the pioneering heart surgeries, said the patient, Lawrence Faucette, 'continues to recover and has commenced physical therapy'.

And, recently, scientists in the US, from NYU Langone Health, managed to transplant a genetically modified pig kidney into the body of a 58-year-old man who was brain dead.

The kidney functioned for about two months - the longest successful transplant of its kind.
A top ranking Hamas official said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is pleased with the conflict in Israel, which was planned by terrorists for two years, because it distracts America from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka said during an interview with an Arab news channel that prior to the terrorist organization's massacre of Israelis last Saturday, fewer than five Hamas leaders knew about the attack.

Baraka said that for the last few years, Hamas projected a 'rational' image to the outside world by claiming to focus on governing in Gaza as opposed to planning terror attacks.

That image, however, was part of the organization's plan to covertly plan the massive attack on Israel that has launched the region back into war.

'It (Hamas) did not go into any war. It did not join the Islamic Jihad in its recent battle,' said Baraka.

'But all this was part of Hamas's strategy in preparing for this attack,' the interviewer jumped in to say.

Senior Hamas member says Russia appreciates their attack on Israel because it divides America's attention and thus helps Russia in Ukraine.



He also says the attack has been planned for 2 years and that less than 5 Hamas leaders knew exactly what and when it would happen pic.twitter.com/GEvbaM8ubb  Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 11, 2023

Palestinians in Gaza endure the fallout of Israeli airstrikes that began following Saturday's massive terror attack on Israel

'Of course. We made them think that Hamas was busy with governing Gaza, and that it wanted to focus on the 2.5million Palestinians (in Gaza), and has abandoned the resistance all together. All while under the table, Hamas was preparing for this big attack,' Baraka readily admitted.

'We have been preparing for this attack for two years,' he said.

His comments confirm, among other things, that Hamas' view of the Palestinian people is merely utilitarian. The terrorist organization infamously places headquarters in hospitals, near schools, and in residential neighborhoods to ensure that any retaliatory attacks will cost as many civilian lives as possible.

As the Israeli military began its onslaught against Hamas this week, the IDF and Israeli government repeatedly sent messages to civilians in Gaza to get out before the attacks begin. Hamas reportedly sent messages to those same civilians telling them to stay in place.

Baraka discussed the attitude toward human life taken by Hamas and Palestinian extremists when it comes to war with Israel.

'The Israelis are known to love life,' he said. 'We, on the other hand, sacrifice ourselves. We consider our dead to be martyrs.'

'The thing any Palestinian desires most is to be martyred for the sake of Allah, defending his land.'

He went on to say repeatedly that Russia is a country that 'sympathizes with us.' He said that following the attacks, the Russians sent Hamas leaders messages.

'Russia is happy that America is getting embroiled in Palestine. It alleviates the pressure on Russians in Ukraine,' he explained. 'One war eases the pressure in another war.'

Ali Baraka said Russia is pleased that the United States has been distracted by the war in the Middle East. The US' involvement alleviates some of the pressure on Putin for his ongoing war in Ukraine

'The thing any Palestinian desires most is to be martyred for the sake of Allah, defending his land,' Baraka said in an interview about the outbreak of the war

He explained some of the geopolitical dynamics surrounding Hamas' actions in Israel

An IDF soldier reacts and covers his face before removing the body of a civilian killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas militants on October 10, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel

Aftermath of Israeli air strikes in Gaza on October 10, 2023. Israeli air strikes hammered Gaza on Tuesday, razing entire districts in retaliation for Saturday's Hamas terror attacks

Also in the interview, Baraka explained that Iran is Hamas' primary political and financial backer, and that the terror organization plans to expand the and escalate the war so that Israel is defending itself in the South and the North.

Rockets from Syria and Lebanon began flying into northern Israel early this week.

On Saturday, Iran-backed Palestinian terrorists stormed Israel in a coordinated attack that has so far taken the lives of 1,200 Israelis, some of whom were raped, burned alive, and beheaded mercilessly by agents of Hamas.

Today, residents in Gaza faced growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down. Over the weekend, PM Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and made it clear that Gaza would feel the impact of Israel's retaliation for decades to come.

This week, Israeli airstrikes demolished entire neighborhoods and sent people scrambling to find safety. The war is only expected to escalate from here.

Netanyahu has promised that his military will ensure the deaths of every Hamas agent.
Sadiq Khan has admitted he has given up on his attempt to look at legalising cannabis.

The Labour mayor said his controversial London Drugs Commission is now 'on the back burner'.

He launched the project on a high-profile trip to the US in May 2022 in which he visited a legal cannabis factory in Los Angeles and declared he had an 'open mind' about the merits of decriminalising the Class B drug.

New Labour grandee Lord Falconer was appointed to chair the commission while a panel of eight experts from the worlds of criminal justice, public health and academia was set up to provide advice.

A year ago Mr Khan insisted at a City Hall meeting that 'work has begun' and it was intended that he would be handed the body's final report this autumn.

Sadiq Khan has admitted he has given up on his attempt to look at legalising cannabis

But asked about it in a new interview with The Spectator magazine, the Mayor revealed it is no longer a priority.

'I just think because of the pandemic and other things happening, bandwidth has been an issue, bearing in mind we've got to reform the police service,' he said.

'I think, if I'm frank, it's a bit on the back burner.' Last night his Conservative challenger for the mayoralty Susan Hall said: 'Sadiq Khan has been wasting taxpayers' money pondering about drugs, only to decide he does not care much about it after all.

'Blaming the pandemic and his failures on policing, which both predate this commission, is no excuse for this shambles.

'As Mayor, I will prioritise putting money back in people's pockets, not wasting it on nonsense like this.'

The Labour mayor said his controversial London Drugs Commission is now 'on the back burner' (Stock Image)

In the interview, Mr Khan defended his expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone to outer London - despite the 12.50 a day charge on drivers of polluting cars being blamed for losing Labour the Uxbridge by-election and likely to be the key battleground in next year's mayoral contest.

'Nobody likes to be unpopular,' he said. 'But you've got to have your moral compass. You've got to have your manifesto. You've got to know what you believe in.' He likened it to the Labour government's 2007 ban on smoking in public places, which was 'incredibly unpopular in some quarters'.

'When you're trying to bring about transformative change, sometimes there is a short-term price to pay.'

Last night a spokesman for the mayor insisted: 'The Independent London Drugs Commission is still conducting its work considering a vast range of evidence regarding the impact of cannabis on people's lives and London's communities. It will present its evidence in due course.

'Sadiq has always been clear that his main priority is keeping Londoners safe - being tough on crime and its complex causes, while reforming the Met Police so every single Londoner has confidence to come forward if they're a victim of crime.' Sources said the commission is looking at a 'huge amount of evidence' and will unlikely report back until late 2024.

Last night a spokesman for the mayor said the Commission was still 'considering a vast range of evidence'. Sources said it is unlikely to report back until late 2024.
Fanatics taunted a British woman by sending photos of her elderly mother and brother being kidnapped - before murdering her other brother.

Ayelet Svatitzky was tormented by the photos of her loved ones arriving with a chilling caption written by the gunmen: 'Hamas'.

They showed her brother Nadav Popplewell sitting with their mother Channah Peri, 79, in her living room, under armed guard.

Mrs Svatitzky had tried to call her mother, who lives near Haifa in northern Israel, when the surprise attack began.

As she attempted to speak with her family Mrs Svatitzky could hear terrorists shouting orders before the phoneline went dead, seconds before she received the images.

Ayelet Svatitzky, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has not heard from her mother or brother since they were captured by Hamas terrorists

Photos of her terrified mother Channah Peri, 79, were sent to her, along with a message that just read: 'Hamas'

The Popplewell family are from Wakefield in West Yorkshire but having been living in Israel for years.

Mrs Svatitzky, 46, said: 'Someone used my mum's phone to take the pictures of her and my brother, then sent them to me with a message saying in English: "Hamas". That was the last I heard of them. My neighbour looked outside the window and saw my mum being taken out.

'Then my 54-year-old brother Roi, who lives in a different neighbourhood, was found - he was shot dead behind his house.'

The Popplewell brothers are thought to be among the 17 Britons, including children, feared dead or captured after the Hamas attack.

Their homes on kibbutz Nirim, a mile from Gaza, were stormed by gun-toting maniacs.

They stormed into the house of Mrs Svatitzky's mother, and rounded up Nadav Popplewell, 51, who lives next door.

Then they snapped the photos and cruelly sent them to contacts in the old lady's phone, including Mrs Svatitzky's 13-year-old daughter.

Mrs Svatitzky, a mother of three who speaks perfect English and has relatives across West and South Yorkshire, said: 'We are frantic with worry. My mum and brother were taken away. They are both diabetics, and I don't know what will become of my mum without her insulin.'

She was full of praise for the British Embassy, saying: 'They have been amazing. The British authorities are the only ones who have been in touch with me.

I haven't heard from a single Israeli authority. I filed missing persons' report, and have not even had a phone call saying my information has been accepted.'

Among those Brits known to have died is Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamas's attack.

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.

Among those Brits known to have died is Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamas's attack

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing

Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared dead.

A post from Mr Darlington's sister Shelley on social media said he was 'murdered' at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel. His death has not been officially confirmed.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Nova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Re'im when the area was invaded by Hamas gunmen.

The bloody conflict, that has already claimed more than 2,300 lives on both sides, erupted on Saturday after terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
A man pulled unconscious from the waters of Queenslands North Stradbroke Island has died in hospital, with his devastated family now seeking to return his body to India.

Christo Mathew, 23, has been revealed as the victim of a horrific drowning near the popular tourist destination earlier this month.

Mr Mathew, an Indian student at University of Queensland, was swimming at Frenchmans Beach at about 2.40pm on October 1 when he began to struggle in the water.

Two witnesses swam out in an attempt to rescue Mr Mathew but were unsuccessful.

23-year-old Christo Mathew has been revealed as the victim of a horrific drowning near the popular tourist destination earlier this month

All three swimmers were pulled back to shore by Surf Life Saving Queensland volunteers though Mr Mathew was already unconscious and face down in the water.

CPR was performed on Mr Mathew and he was flown to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital in a critical condition, while one of the other swimmers was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a stable condition.

On Tuesday a statement released by the Mar Thoma Church Brisbane revealed that Mr Mathew died in hospital on October 8.

His father and uncle were beside him when his life support was turned off at about 4.20pm.

The organisation is now raising funds to have the 23-year-olds remains repatriated to his home country.

Mr Mathew, an Indian student at University of Queensland, was swimming at Frenchmans Beach at about 2.40pm on October 1 when he began to struggle in the water

The church has since organised a GoFundMe for Mr Mathews family to return his body home.

In this difficult time, we need to support the family of Christo Mathew, and this is what prompted us to organise this fundraiser to meet the repatriation expenses to take the mortal remains to Kerala, where he would be laid to rest in the family tomb, the church said.

Any donations, no matter how small or large, will be greatly appreciated, and the funds raised will be used only for repatriation.
The View's Joy Behar condemned the horrific attacks in Israel and said she was 'suspicious' of Putin and Trump's 2018 conversation in Helsinki, which she suggested was somehow related.

After labelling members of the Hamas terror group as 'monstrous people' she began to speculate who was behind the attacks.

'I would like to know whose behind this because it's very interesting that, now, I would think Putin is sitting back and saying 'wow, well they're sending their money to Israel, so maybe they wont send them to Ukraine. They won't send the money to Ukraine now.''

'I'm very suspicious of this. And what did Donald Trump tell Putin when he was in Helsinki. These are questions that need to be answered in this country,' Behar said on The View.

Joy Behar exclaimed that 'these are questions that need to be answered in this country' after rambling about Hamas terror attacks, Putin, Israel, Ukraine, Trump and Helsinki

Behar said: 'Our heart goes out to all innocent civilians, but the Israelis will warn them (Palestinians) 'we're coming in', this group did not warn them

Behar expressed that she was skeptical about Putin and Trump's 2018 two-hour-long mysterious private conversation in Helsinki, although she didn't explain how this completely separate incident was related to what's going on in Israel.

The former president, speaking at his presidential rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Saturday, condemned the attacks and used it as an opportunity to once again whack his political rival.

Trump said: '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.

'As president, I will once again stand with Israel and we will cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists on day one, he told the cheering crowds.'

Meanwhile, a top ranking Hamas official said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is pleased with the conflict in Israel, which was planned by terrorists for two years, because it distracts America from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka said: 'Russia is happy that America is getting embroiled in Palestine. It alleviates the pressure on Russians in Ukraine,' he explained. 'One war eases the pressure in another war.'

Joy Behar said on Tuesday's episode of The View: 'Does Hamas really think that the Israelis would not go back at them?'

Behar and her co-hosts were in the middle of a discussion about the outrageous terror attacks in Israel which have killed at least 1200 people since Hamas fanned out from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning.

She went on to say: 'Our heart goes out to all innocent civilians, but the Israelis will warn them (Palestinians) 'we're coming in', this group did not warn them.

'They killed teenagers, kids who were just out like our kids could be at a rock concert.'

She was referring to the Israeli music festival where Hamas originally struck their surprise attack and killed at least 260 concert-goers.

'I'm very suspicious of this. And what did Donald Trump tell Putin when he was in Helsinki. These are questions that need to be answered in this country,' Behar said on The View

Behar expressed that she was skeptical about Putin and Trump's 2018 two-hour-long mysterious private conversation in Helsinki, although she didn't explain how this completely separate incident was related to what's going on in Israel

Tuesday's episode of The View was interrupted during a conversation between the hosts and ABC News chief National correspondent Matt Gutman who was reporting from Israel during the live broadcast.

Whoopi, 67, and the rest of the panel were speaking to ABC News chief National correspondent Gutman, who was reporting from just outside of Sderot, which was one of the first settlements to come under attack by the Hamas gunmen, who moved through the city shortly after dawn last Saturday.

As Gutman, 45, explained that there had been 'small arms fire' in his exact location in 'the past hour and a half', he was approached by a man dressed in uniform who told him: 'The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has issued an immediate alert that everybody has to leave. There is some security incident just near us.'

'These armored jeeps are going towards where we've been hearing this incessant gunfire and just on the other side of that bridge, we've seen a large number of troops headed in that direction, you see the ambulances over there.'

As he continued walking and talking, Whoopi told him: 'Get in a car, Matt! Get in the car,' as her co-host Sara Haines added: 'Be careful, Matt.'

Whoopi appeared lost for words as programming cut back to the studio, and said: 'Well, that's what happens when it's live and you're in the middle of it. We got our fingers crossed that he's safe and he's going to remain safe.'
Emotional Beatles fans broke down today as they heard Now And Then for the first time - the band's 'masterpiece' new and final song sung by John Lennon and debuted on the BBC and YouTube after 45 years in the making. 43 years after Lennon 's death - and more than two decades on from George Harrison 's passing - The Beatles have come together with the help of AI and audio tech pioneered by Lord of the Rings and Get Back director Sir Peter Jackson. Sir Paul McCartney (pictured recording the bass) said finishing the lost love song Now And Then felt like the Fab Four were all back together again, declaring today: 'It's probably the last Beatles song, and we have all played on it so it is a genuine Beatles recording. Every time I thought, say I had a chance to ask John: "Hey John, would you like us to finish this last song of yours?" I'm telling you, I know the answer would have been: "Yeah".' Today at 2pm, the band's 'new' single Now And Then was released to the exultation and excitement of tens of millions of excited fans. Listening parties have been held all over the world, including in their home city of Liverpool at The Cavern Club (bottom right) and the Liverpool Beatles Museum (top right). Tears were shed as the song played. Liam Gallagher tweeted: 'Now n Then absolutely incredible biblical celestial heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time long live The Beatles LG x'. BBC Radio 2 listeners, the first to hear it in the UK, said they were in tears as it played. One, Gemma from Nottingham , said: 'Just wow. I got the shivers when I heard the one, two at the beginning of the track. That was amazing. I'm actually feeling a little bit emotional now'.
Paramedics are currently treating two people

Smoke seen in the sky and a fire in the building

One person has died and a building has been evacuated following a toxic explosion at an chemical factory.

Emergency services were called to extinguish a chemical fire on Swann Drive in Derrimut, west of Melbourne, at 9:45am on Thursday.

Thick smoke was seen billowing from the fire that had erupted in the building with the flames sending panic among the workers.

Ambulance Victoria have said that two people have received treatment and another 30 people have been assessed.

Firefighters are understood to be helping one person who is trapped inside the building.

Emergency services are responding to an explosion at a chemical factory where one person has died and dozens more have been evacuated

'Paramedics are assessing a person who appears to be in a stable condition,' the spokesperson told the Herald Sun.

One person has died while at least one other has been injured.

The majority of those assessed on the scene who were evacuated from the building, but did not require further treatment.

As many as 20 emergency vehicles responded to the incident, including two CFA tankers from Caroline Springs an Truganina.

An alert has been sent out to residents in Derrimut, Laverton North, Sunshine West and Truganina to close their windows and doors as thick smoke dominates the area.

'Smoke will be visible from nearby roads and communities, some roads in the area are closed, you will see or smell smoke in the area. Firefighters are currently responding to this fire,' FRV said in a post to Facebook.

'There is no immediate threat to the community and no action is required.'

A local resident told 7News that she assumed the explosion was thunder before she saw the smoke pluming into the air.

The Environmental Protection Agency is urging members of the community to steer clear of the area as they send specialists to evaluate air quality and waterways.

Swann Drive remains closed off to the public.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victorian police for comment.

More to come
While Taylor Swift basked in the glare of photographers' flashes last night at the blockbuster premiere of her Eras Tour film, many of her Jewish fans hoped she may use the moment to speak out about the ongoing terror in Israel.

But rather than comment on the attack by Hamas or escalating crisis, Swift - who is comfortable speaking out on US politics - stuck to self-promotion.

She posed with Beyonce, fawned in front of cameras and lapped up the closed-down Grove shopping center in Los Angeles.

On Instagram, Swift boasted: 'PREMIERE DAY. Andddd I cant really wrap my head around this but. Look what you genuinely made me do: Due to unprecedented demand were opening up early access showings of The Eras Tour Concert Film on THURSDAY in America and Canada!!'

It left a sour taste for some Swifties.

Taylor Swift shut down The Grove in Los Angeles for the star-studded premiere last night

Basking in the moment: Swift took to Instagram to celebrate the film's success

Backlash: Many were stunned by her choice of words and ongoing silence about Israel

'Terrible timing. Kids are getting raped. Innocent people are dying on both sides. Hamas!! A terrorist organization is slaughtering Israelis...but it's "launch day"???' fumed Jewish New York City jeweler Nicole Rose.

'Echo every word. Really surprised at Taylor Swift,' Meghan McCain added.

'Shocked. Mum was the word and then self promo during a time like this when she has SO MANY ISRAELI AND JEWISH FANS. Ugh the disappointment is real,' Amanda Hirsch, the influencer behind the Not Skinny But Not Fat Instagram account, chimed in.

For days, others have been calling on Swift to use her platform of 274million followers to comment on the crisis or publicize resources.

She has stayed silent.

Jewish fans have been begging Swift to acknowledge the attack. She previously spoke passionately against Donald Trump and Marsha Blackburn

Swift's film documents one of the six sold-out shows Swift performed at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California over the summer as part of her ongoing Eras Tour, which kicked off in March and serves as a retrospective of her 17-year career.

It has already amassed a whopping $100million in presale tickets alone and will be available to watch exclusively at AMC Theatres starting Friday, October 13.

Missing from the fan-packed action was Swift's rumored beau Travis Kelce, 34, as the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is scheduled to play the Denver Broncos on Thursday at his team's home stadium.

Other stars in attendance included Flavor Flav, Mariska Hargitay, Jenna Davis and Violet McGraw hit the red carpet.

Ahead of her arrival, Swift shared her excitement and announced that the 'unprecedented demand' for tickets has led to an on slot of 'early access showings' starting Thursday in the U.S. and Canada.

Emotional: The Love Story hitmaker looked emotional as she shared a moment outside the theater with her crew

Star studded: Beyonce made a surprise appearance at the premiere last night

Lapping up the love: Swift posing with fans who had queued for her arrival

'We're also adding additional showtimes Friday and throughout the weekend. All tickets will be available by 10am tomorrow morning. And it'll be showing starting Friday in 90 countries all over the world,' the star continued.

She went on to thank her devout fans and teased that she was already 'in the car' en route to the big premiere in LA.

'I can't thank you enough for wanting to see this film that so vividly captures my favorite adventure I've ever been a part of: The Eras Tour. And the best part is, it's an adventure we're still on together. Getting in the car now' she wrote.

Swift included a picture of herself in her Oscar de la Renta gown taken from the waist up with her post .

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Swift was posing with a reusable tumbler decked out with the Eras Tour poster  suggesting that the cup may be given out to event attendees.

The Grove began preparations for Swift's grand arrival earlier in the day, including setting up a massive red carpet surrounding the theater and a step-and-repeat backdrop, featuring the official Eras Tour poster.

At of an abundance of caution 'there are hundreds of security guards in place to prevent chaos from erupting,' as reported by TMZ.

A source originally told the outlet that Swift could 'get pulled if any security issues arise' or 'The Grove becomes overwhelmed' by Swifties.

Another insider added that out of an abundance of caution 'there are hundreds of security guards in place to prevent chaos from erupting.'

The upscale shopping oasis, that includes a large AMC movie theater, will be closed for the entirety of Wednesday to accommodate the high-profile premiere.

The pop superstar has already surpassed $100 million in ticket presales for the film, so there will certainly be plenty of fans clamoring to get into the world premiere screening.
MSNBC has come under fire for its coverage of the atrocities in Israel, including for its insistence on publishing a joint Israel and Gaza death toll

Woke news broadcaster MSNBC lost 33 percent of its primetime viewers during its coverage of the Israel Hamas war.

The outlet's viewer figures were down 24 percent overall for the four days between October 7 and 10 which saw the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas terrorists.

By comparison the shocking events saw a leap in Fox News's audience, up 42 percent, and in CNN's coverage, which saw a 17 percent rise in viewers.

'These numbers tell you a lot about MSNBC, which excels at Trump-era liberal therapy but cant match others during global historic events' Puck media reporter Dylan Byers wrote.

More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed by Hamas attacks, and 1,100 people have been killed by Israeli counter strikes on Gaza. Unlike other outlets MSNBC has insisted on publishing a joint death toll.

In a stunning exchange with MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell (left), Israeli mother Renana Gomeh (right), whose two sons aged 12 and 16 were kidnapped from their beds by Hamas terrorists, was visibly annoyed when asked how she felt about Israel's counterstrikes on Gaza

Trey Yingst, a correspondent for Fox News, was among reporters shown around a kibbutz attacked on Saturday by Hamas

Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

MSNBC has come under fire for its coverage of the atrocities in Israel with an an Israeli mother whose two sons were take hostage by Hamas exploding at MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday night when asked how she feels about Israel's counterstrikes in Gaza.

Renana Gomeh, whose two sons age 12 and 16 were kidnapped by Hamas, became visibly irritated when Mitchell asked her feelings on the attacks in Gaza.

'I cant be sympathetic anymore. I cant be sympathetic to animal human beings  well, theyre not really human beings  who came into my house, broke everything,' said Gomeh.

'Stole everything, took my children from their bedrooms and took them to the Gaza Strip.'

By contrast Fox News reporter Trey Yingst has won praise for his fearless coverage of the shocking scenes unfolding in the Middle East.

The Israeli Defense Force took reporters including Yingst's Fox News crew to Be'eri, just three miles from the Gaza border, on Tuesday.

The kibbutz was known as an artistic and farming community of 1,200 people, but on Saturday it was overrun by Hamas terrorists who attacked with grenades, guns and knives.

The site was not declared safe for outsiders until Tuesday: all the bodies of Israeli victims had been removed, but the burnt and mangled corpses of Hamas fighters were still lying in heaps on the outskirts of the kibbutz.

Israeli counterstrikes caused destruction in western Gaza on Tuesday. Israel has mobilized more than 300,000 reservists, tanks and military vehicles before a widely expected ground invasion

Yingst tweeted photos of the destroyed houses inside the kibbutz

Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza Wednesday morning. Over 150 Israelis have been taken hostage after Hamas surprise attack Saturday

The smell was stomach-turning, reporters said, and Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst took viewers inside one of the bullet-scarred and blood-coated homes.

'You can see the floors are stained with blood,' he said.

'It was Saturday morning, around 7am, when militants stormed this village. You can see the weapons they brought with them, extra ammunition, bullet holes in the side of the house and knives on the floor.'

Yingst said the community was 'littered with bodies'.

'It is completely destroyed. It looks like some of the buildings were hit with RPGs, explosives.'

He said he came across 'beds covered in blood', where residents had been murdered in their beds.

The IDF said some of the victims were beheaded.

Yingst, 30, said it was 'hell on earth', describing the scene as the most horrifying he had witnessed in his career reporting around the world. Yingst joined Fox five years ago.

CNN 's coverage, often anchored by Jake Tapper, has seen a 17 percent rise in viewers during the first four days of war

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

CNN's coverage, often anchored by veteran broadcaster Jake Tapper, has seen a 17 percent rise in viewers during the first four days of war.

The broadcaster's correspondent Clarissa Ward has also won plaudits for her bravery after being forced to take cover in a ditch as rockets fire overhead near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip.

Footage showed 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.

'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.
A two-metre shark that cruised the shallows - including inside the flagged swimming area - of one of Australia's busiest beaches led to a panicked evacuation of the water.

The distinctive dorsal fin and dark shape of the predator was captured on video just metres off Manly beach on Sydney's north shore at around 10am on Wednesday.

After two men almost walked into the shark the alarm was sounded and lifeguards spent an hour looking for the animal.

Failing to find the hunter the beach was declared open only for someone to spot the lurking shark again, leading to everyone being ordered out of the water for the day.

ABC TV presenter Julia Baird shared video of the visitor on social media platform X.

A two-metre shark seen only metres off Sydney's popular Many beach caused two evacuations on Tuesday

@manlyobserver Man nearly walks into shark at Manly beach. #shark #northernbeaches #closeencounters Well. Weve never seen someone nearly walk into a shark at Manly beach before. LAW-ABIDING SHARK OFFERS WATER SAFETY DEMONSTRATION  We are so delighted to see swimming between the flags- but slightly less relieved but more impressed to hear its a shark thats doing so. Theres a shark swimming between the flags at manly close to shore, reports beachgoer Kobie just now (10am). Every one is evacuating the water and shark alarm sounded. Kobie says he saw the fin but couldnt make out what breed our law-abiding visitor was. A man was literally like 2m from the shark and a lifeguard used his board to shield them as they walked into shore.  Ravi the best chiro / Manly Observe  original sound - Manly Observer

READ MORE: Bystanders rushed to save swimmer from shark attack at Beachport Advertisement

'Am told this was taken at Manly beach today which is a bit alarming,' she wrote.

'Can anyone help identify the shark - please tell me it's a dusky whaler?'

On Tuesday local news website the Manly Observer shared video that showed a surfer almost walking into the shark.

The man and another on a long surfboard were casually wading back to shore when they spotted the shark barely a metre in front of them.

They warily kept an eye on it as they walked past towards the safety of shore.

'We are so delighted to see swimming between the flags - but slightly less relieved but more impressed to hear it's a shark that's doing so,' Manly Observer commented.

'There's a shark swimming between the flags at Manly close to shore,' beachgoer Kobie said.

'Everyone is evacuating the water and shark alarm sounded.'

The predator, which a marine expert identified as a Silky Shark, was eventually herded back out to sea

Later drone footage showed the shark being shepherded away from the beach by a lifeguard on a jetski.

'He has safely moved on (passed the nets, which are busy capturing non-target species) and chasing fish farther afield,' the Manly Observer said.

Shark expert Vic Peddemors, who works for NSW Fisheries, identified the animal as a Silky Shark.

'Lots of baitfish off Sydney at the moment, but very unusual to see this species so close to the beach (2 foot of water),' he wrote.

'Its teeth do not enable it to eat large-bodied prey, so not considered potentially dangerous for humans.'

The proximity of the shark to the beach led some to question the worth of shark nets.

'Good to see this sweet pea making the most of manly!,' one person wrote on the Manly Observer Instagram page.

'Probably came in attracted to all the injured/deceased animals caught in the nets.

'Time just get these nets down, no one that wants them is going to go in the water now anyway after this.'

'The nets that are 150m long do nothing to stop targeted sharks swimming around or above. They do however trap a lot of non-target wildlife and Im sure these dying animals bring a lot of larger sharks in. Amazing footage of this beautiful shark,' another person said.
Her friend was last seen at the Nova music festival

She is fighting in the war against Hamas

A woman living in Australia will return to Israel so that she can fight and find her friend who went missing after Hamas attacked the festival she was attending.

Gal, a 25-year-old Israeli reservist, was working as a barista on Queensland's Magnetic Island when she left the country on Thursday.

She has vowed to find her friend Tiferet Lapidot, 23, who has been missing since Saturday's deadly Nova music festival which was stormed by Hamas gunmen.

Israel declared war with Hamas immediately after the attack on the weekend, and has since called upon every reservist to return for duty.

Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people and wounded more than 2,700 on Saturday alone.

Gal, 25, (pictured) has been living on Queensland's Magnetic Island and working as a barista but will now head back to her homeland of Israel to fight against Hamas in the war

Her friend, Tiferet Lapidot, 23, (pictured) has been missing since Saturday and was last seen at the Nova music festival which Hamas massacred - leaving 260 innocent people dead

Gal almost returned to her homeland once earlier in the year, but now it is not an option for her.

'It's not a choice. It's the obvious thing to do for me. I grew up in Israel. I was born in Israel It's my country. It's my people. It's the right thing to do,' she told 7News.

READ MORE: Revellers reveal how Hamas invaded the festival A survivor the of the Israeli festival massacre smeared herself in blood and pretended to be dead for three hours in order to survive. Advertisement

She described the Queensland island as her 'second home' but knows that going to fight against Hamas and look for her friend is '200 per cent' what she needs to do.

Gal met Ms Lapidot while at a music festival in Australia and is now praying for her safety.

'She is the hugest light in this world and left the biggest mark on my heart,' Gal said.

'People got murdered, girls got raped, girls got taken hostage, stripped naked and raped again. People got beheaded. I hope she's safe and alive.'

The text that Gal received said that her unit was being summoned to begin working, which she immediately realised meant that she was going back to Israel.

It is not yet known what happened to Ms Lapidot in the aftermath of the musical festival which saw 260 innocent people mowed down by militias.

Music at the deadly rave, which survivors said initially had 'good vibes', played all night until around 6.30am, when a siren began blaring warning of rockets.

Aerial footage of the festival site revealed a torched swathe of land, seemingly done by Hamas' terrorists.

Festival-goers fled as Hamas militants invaded from both land and air on October 7 as the war began

Those who tried to flee the area scrambled to their cars but it quickly became clear that the only road leading to safety was shut off on both sides by terrorist blockades.

A bouncer from the festival said that the terrorists who set up the blockades were disguised as police officers and soldiers.

'People ran into them hoping to be rescued, and then they were executed,' they said.

Israel's new unity government has since amassed 300,000 troops at their southern border against Gaza and has pledged to 'crush' Hamas.
Peter Dutton is calling on the government to track down the protesters who made vile anti-Semitic comments at a rally at the Sydney Opera House.

The Opposition Leader says if any of those protesters - some of whom chanted 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** the Jews' - are found to be in Australia on a visa, they should be instantly deported.

Speaking to 2GB's Ray Hadley, Mr Dutton said the actions of protesters on Monday evening will 'go down in our country's history'.

'If there were people there who were on visas, they should be identified and have their visas cancelled. They should be deported,' he said.

'I don't want people anywhere in the world to think those scenes represent who we are as a people.'

Peter Dutton is calling on the government to track down the protesters who made vile anti-Semitic comments toward Jewish people at a rally at Sydney Opera House

Mr Dutton said Australia politicians, and the general public, cannot 'underestimate how significantly they've been interpreted overseas'.

Rallies have been taking place around the globe since terrorist group Hamas, a pro-Palestinian extremist organisation, launched an attack on unsuspecting Israelis who were at a music festival.

At least 1,200 Israelis have died in the conflict, along with 900 Palestinians in Gaza - which has been under constant attack as retaliation in the days since the first assault.

The escalation of tensions has sparked concerns globally amid reports of atrocities committed against women, children and the elderly. Citizens have been captured and Hamas is threatening to execute them.

Regarding the rallies in Australia, Mr Dutton said: 'If they were non-citizens, and the police should be doing this now, then their visas should be before the minister, and on character grounds they should have their visas cancelled.

The Opposition Leader says if any of those protesters are discovered to be on a visa, they should be instantly deported

Mr Dutton said the actions of protesters on Monday evening will 'go down in our country's history'

'I don't even know if that work is being done by the Albanese government. This is the frustration and the inherent bias within some of the Ministers within the Labor party.

'You couldn't be assured that that process was being considered.'

Mr Dutton, who was known for his tough-on-borders stance during his time as Home Affairs Minister, has been critical of the Albanese administration's handling of the crisis.

Prime Minister Albanese revealed on Wednesday afternoon he had ordered two planes to fly into Israel on Friday and repatriate stranded citizens, as commercial airlines continue to cancel flights in and out of the under-siege nation.
The Red Cross today warned hospitals in Gaza will 'turn into morgues' as the power begins to run out in the enclave where millions of Palestinians are stranded amid Israel's total siege of the small strip of land.

With the power cut and fuel for generators blocked by Israeli forces, aid workers warned that hospitals in Gaza are 'on the verge of collapse' due to the lack of energy that is set to run out completely in the next few hours.

'As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can't be taken,' Fabrizio Carboni of the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

'Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues,' Carboni said before adding: 'The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.'

His stark prediction comes as Israel today warned it wouldn't let any food, medicine or electricity reach the 2.3million residents trapped in the Gaza Strip until Hamas terrorists release the scores of Israeli hostages they captured.

'Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home,' Israel's Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed in a sinister threat.

'Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals,' Katz added.

Israeli airstrikes continued to obliterate entire neighbourhoods today, while the IDF encircled Gaza with 300,000 troops ahead of an expected ground offensive that will see fighting in the streets.

Whilst Israel's political leaders have not yet decided on whether to launch the ground assault on the terrorists, the army said they are preparing for such an offensive that will be aimed at 'taking out ' the group's senior leadership including top government officials.

Israel's armed forces released videos showing strikes on Hamas targets

A Palestinian man rushes past rubble carrying a child in his arms, following an Israeli military strike on Gaza City on Thursday

A Palestinian man with a child shouts outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday

Palestinian children wounded in Israel strikes are brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday

view shows the ruins of a Palestinian house hit by Israeli strikes at al-Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City on Tuesday

'We are waiting to see what our political leadership decides about a potential ground' incursion, army spokesman Richard Hecht said.

'This has not been decided yet... But we are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if it is decided,' Hecht continued, while adding the possible operation 'could be from the air, it could be combined from the sea (and) air'.

Meanwhile, the airstrikes, which have killed 1,354 civilians in Gaza, and the total siege of the enclave has prompted the US to warn Israel to 'uphold the laws of war'.

US President Joe Biden said Israel had a right to respond to the attacks by Hamas terrorists, which has seen 1,300 Israelis massacred - shot dead in their homes as they begged for their lives or while they fled a music festival. But he warned that its retaliatory action must be 'according to the rule of law'.

Yet Katz's comments this morning shows that there is no sign the total siege of Gaza, which has seen Israel cut off water, food and electricity to force its residents into starvation as they are pounded by constant airstrikes, will end any time soon given that Hamas has said it wouldn't release its 97 hostages until the bombardment ends.

Indeed, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night vowed to 'crush and destroy' Hamas with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic as the airstrikes continued to pummel targets across the Gaza strip overnight and into this morning.

'Every Hamas member is a dead man,' the Israeli Prime Minister said menacingly in a televised address late last night, perhaps revealing the scale of the ground assault operation for which his Defence Forces are preparing as they encircle Gaza.

An army spokesman said today that Israel's military assault against Hamas is focusing on 'taking out' the Islamist group's senior leadership in the Gaza Strip, including chief Yahya Sinwar.

'Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, not only the military leadership (but) also their governmental leadership, all the way up to Sinwar,' Richard Hecht told journalists, referring to Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's chief in Gaza.

He said the army is preparing for a ground assault on Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip but that the country's political leaders had not yet taken a decision. The army has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the border with the Gaza Strip as it continues a withering air campaign it says targets Hamas infrastructure, commanders and operating centres in the enclave.

'We are preparing ourselves for the next stages of war... to prepare for multiple operative contingency plans,' Hecht said. He said the possible operation 'could be from the air, it could be combined from the sea (and) air'.

An Israeli soldier breaks down in tears at the sight of a family dining table on which there is still Challah bread from Friday's Kiddush at the Kfar Aza kibbutz. Hamas terrorists massacred families here on Saturday

An Israel Defence Forces source provided a photograph of a child's blood-soaked bed in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom in southern Israel following a Hamas-led attack on the home

A house is completely destroyed after being burned by Hamas terrorists during the attack at Kibbutz Be'eri, near the border with Gaza on October 11, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel

IDF Lotar unit soldiers are slowly checking the Kfar Aza kibbutz, passing from one house to another to clear them from any ammunition or threat. It was here that Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes

Israeli police and security forces assist a journalist taking cover during an alert for a rocket attack in Israel's southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on Thursday

Israeli police and security forces assist a journalist taking cover during an alert for a rocket attack in Israel's southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on Thursday

Palestinian children wounded in Israel strikes are brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday

Palestinian children wounded in Israel strikes are brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday

In a separate briefing to reporters, chief military spokesman Daniel Hagari reiterated the army's plans against the terrorists. 'We are crushing Hamas' ability to function as sovereign,' Hagari said.

'It is already failing to run Gaza in some areas,' he continued, adding that they would continue to target the group until it is no longer able to rule 'in all of Gaza'.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza said Israeli strikes demolished two multi-story houses on top of residents without warning, killing and wounding 'a large number' of people, mainly civilians. Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel strikes Palestinian civilians without warning.

Israel said today it has been able to identify 97 Israelis hostages, many of whom are women and children who were dragged from their homes on Saturday. Israel had earlier said up to 150 civilians had been abducted.

Meanwhile, ordinary Palestinians in Gaza spent the night in pitch darkness, surrounded by the ruins of pulverised neighbourhoods as international aid groups warned that deaths could accelerate as the territory runs out of supplies amid an Israeli blockade.

Israel has halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. On Tuesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators. Those will shut off as well if fuel is not allowed in.

The war, which was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack into Israel, has already claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides.

A senior Israeli Air Force officer, Brig. Gen. Omer Tishler, said on Wednesday the strikes were on an 'unprecedented scale'.

He said Israel has focused its efforts on targeting Hamas officials, and stopping them from ever attacking Israel again.

Hamas violence has killed 1,200 Israelis - many of them at a music festival, or living in small farming and artistic communities near the Gaza Strip. The terrorists in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel - soldiers, men, women, children and older adults - and have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Hamas terrorists massacred families including children at a series of Israeli settlements on the first day of their incursion. The gunmen arrived first at the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where they shot dead screaming families as they begged for their lives before setting fire to their homes.

Tishler, the Israel Air Force's chief of staff, said: 'There is an enemy here firing rockets, raiding a civilian population. We will never allow that again.'

Terror groups have fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel since Saturday, the IDF said.

Tishler said the IAF was not targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip, but that the strikes were no longer 'surgical.'

'We do not act like the other side, we do not attack the civilian population. Behind every attack there is a target,' he said.

'We act precisely and professionally but not surgically. I'm not talking about single, tens, or hundreds [of strikes]. We are talking about thousands of munitions.'

The IDF has carried out strikes against at least 2,687 targets across the Gaza Strip since Saturday, according to military data from Wednesday morning obtained by The Times of Israel.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its terrorists stormed through a border fence Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

/ People stand by the bodies of victims of Israeli air strikes outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday

A Palestinian man carries the body of a child who was killed in Israeli strikes, at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on Thursday

People stand by the bodies of victims of Israeli air strikes outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday

A woman mourns the death of Palestinians from the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house on Thursday

People dig graves to bury bodies of Palestinians from Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house on Thursday

Rescuers retrieve bodies from house targeted by Israeli airstrike

A view shows the ruins of Palestinian houses hit by Israeli strikes at al-Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City on Thursday

A person is carried from the scene of an Israeli rocket attack in the western Shati refugee camp, western Gaza Strip, on Tuesday

A Palestinian girl holds two children as she stands on a street in Gaza City on Thursday

The prime minister's allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

Opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defence minister and political opponent of Netanyahu, yesterday joined a new wartime cabinet at a time when the Israeli military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza.

'Our partnership is not political, it is a shared fate,' said Gantz. 'At this time we are all the soldiers of Israel.'

Netanyahu said the people of Israel and its leadership were united. 'We have put aside all differences because the fate of our state is on the line,' he said.

Israel has mobilised 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

The forces are preparing for an imminent ground operation as increasingly destructive airstrikes in Gaza have flattened entire city blocks and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath debris.

A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a strip of land only 25 miles long, would likely result in a surge of casualties on both sides.

The UN said late Wednesday the number of people displaced by the airstrikes had soared 30 percent within 24 hours, to 339,000, two-thirds of them crowding into UN schools. Others sought shelter in the shrinking number of safe neighbourhoods.

The Egyptian government rejected an American proposal to allow Palestinians fleeing Israel's bombardment to leave Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said early Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the press.

Egypt believes that Palestinians leaving Gaza would harm the Palestinian cause, and its state-run media reported that the Israeli offensive is part of a scheme to empty the enclave.

Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, but were unable to enter Gaza, the official said. The only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was shut down Tuesday following nearby Israeli airstrikes.

The official said Egypt was talking with Israel and the US on establishing safe corridors inside Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians, and with Israel and other foreign governments to evacuate foreigners through the Rafah crossing point.

Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden dispatched his top diplomat to the Middle East to show Washington's enduring support for Israel, seek to secure the release of captives, including Americans, and prevent a wider war from erupting.

Blinken will arrive on Thursday and will also visit Jordan, but will not visit the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where he ordinarily meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

A girl mourns the death of Palestinians from the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house on Thursday

People gather by the bodies of victims of Israeli air strikes outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday

A man comforts a woman mourning outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday

A man mourns the death of Palestinians from the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house on Thursday

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Thursday

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building leveled in an Israeli airstrike on Thursday

A man mourns the death of Palestinians from the Samour family, who were killed in Israeli strikes on their house on Thursday

Israeli howitzer fires at the Gaza Strip from the south of Israel on Thursday

Israeli soldiers stand on a self-propelled howitzer, stationed near the border with Gaza in southern Israel, on Thursday

Israeli military vehicles and soldiers from an artillery unit gather near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on Thursday

Palestinian children who fled their homes due to Israeli strikes look through a makeshift tent as they shelter at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12, 2023

Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will 'crush and destroy' Hamas and that every member of the terrorist organisation is a 'dead man'

Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Thursday,

Blinken and Abbas will meet on Friday, Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said on social media platform X, without elaborating.

Speaking to a roundtable of Jewish community leaders in Washington, Biden said his deployment of military ships and aircraft closer to Israel should be seen as a signal to Iran, which backs Islamist groups Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

'We made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful,' Biden said.

Iran likely knew Hamas terrorists were planning 'operations against Israel' but initial U.S. intelligence reports showed that some Iranian leaders were surprised by the group's unprecedented attack from Gaza, U.S. sources said on Wednesday.

Iran has said it was not involved in the Hamas attacks.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the conflict on Wednesday, in the first telephone call between the two leaders since a China-brokered deal between Tehran and Riyadh to resume ties.

Raisi and the Saudi crown prince discussed the 'need to end war crimes against Palestine,' Iranian state media said.

The Saudi crown prince 'affirmed that the Kingdom is making all possible efforts in communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation,' Saudi state news agency SPA said.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had their first-ever telephone call on Wednesday to discuss the shocking Hamas attack in Israel that has killed over 1,200 people.

The discussion was the first between the two leaders since a China-brokered deal between Tehran and Riyadh to resume ties and came just hours after US President Joe Biden told Iran to 'be careful' in the wake of the attack.

The two leaders' call came as Israel carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a deadly attack by Palestinian Hamas militants in Israel.

Raisi and the Saudi crown prince discussed the 'need to end war crimes against Palestine,' Iranian state media said.

The Saudi crown prince, for his part, 'affirmed that the Kingdom is making all possible efforts in communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation,' Saudi state news agency SPA said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Wednesday

He also reiterated Saudi Arabia's rejection of targeting civilians in any way, SPA added.

President Joe Biden sent a warning to Iran earlier Wednesday amid reports of their continued support of Hamas.

At least 1,200 Israelis were killed in Saturday's carnage, which begun when Hamas militants crossed from Gaza into Israel and murdered people at a music festival and in their homes near the border.

'This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but pure cruelty, against the Jewish people,' Biden said.

He added: 'I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.'

Biden issued his first public warning to Iran since the Hamas attack on Israel as he faced growing pressure to freeze $6 billion of Tehran's assets.

'We've 'made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful,' Biden said at a meeting with Jewish leaders at the White House Wednesday.

He also detailed a new arms shipment to Israel that includes interceptors for its Iron Dome defense system and ammunition for the Israel Defense Force.

The discussion was the first between the two leaders since a China-brokered deal between Tehran and Riyadh to resume ties and came just hours after US President Joe Biden told Iran to 'be careful' in the wake of the attack

The two leaders' call came as Israel carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a deadly attack by Palestinian Hamas militants in Israel

Following the horrific Hamas attack on Saturday, Biden made a brief statement lasting three minutes, before remaining publicly silent for three days.

In an emotional speech on Tuesday he did not specifically mention Iran, but instead issued a general warning that no country or group should try to exploit the situation.

His remarks on Wednesday were the first time he had confronted Iran, which has long supported Hamas militarily and politically, but has denied advance knowledge of its attack on Israel.

Earlier this year Biden unfroze $6 billion of Iranian funds in exchange for the release of a group of five American hostages.

The money has yet to be accessed by Iran and Biden is facing urgent calls from Republicans and Democrats to refreeze it.

Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to resume ties in March under a deal negotiated by China after seven years of hostility, which had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East, from Yemen to Syria.

Asked about Raisi's call with the crown prince, a senior U.S. State Department official said Washington, which staunchly backs Israel in its fight against Hamas, was in 'constant contact with Saudi leaders.'

The official added that the U.S. was asking its partners with channels or relations with Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah or Iran 'to get Hamas to stand down from its attacks, to release hostages, keep Hezbollah out (and) keep Iran out of the fray.'

President Joe Biden issued a stark warning to Iran  his first since the Hamas attack on Israel  to 'be careful'

A house is completely destroyed after being burned by Hamas militants during the attack at Kibbutz Be'eri, near the border with Gaza on October 11, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel. Biden has warned Iran and unnamed groups to avoid exploiting the aftermath

The two nations agreed in March to restore ties and reopen diplomatic missions in a surprise, Chinese-brokered announcement that could have wide-ranging implications across the Middle East.

In a trilateral statement, Shiite-majority Iran and mainly Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia said they would reopen embassies and missions within two months and implement security and economic cooperation deals signed more than 20 years ago.

Riyadh cut ties after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions in 2016 following the Saudi execution of revered Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr -- just one in a series of flashpoints between the two longstanding rivals.

The detente between Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, and Iran, a pariah for Western governments over its nuclear activities, has the potential to reshape relations across a region characterized by turbulence for decades.

Iran and Saudi Arabia support rival sides in several conflict zones including Yemen, where the Huthi rebels are backed by Tehran and Riyadh leads a military coalition supporting the government. The two sides also vie for influence in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
Firass Dirani has come under fire after claiming those who back Israel are 'supporting apartheid'

Underbelly star Firass Dirani has slammed Australians backing Israel, claiming they are 'supporting apartheid'.

The Australian actor shared a video on social media expressing his support for Hamas after the Palestinian militant group unleashed a horrific attack on the Jewish homeland on Saturday.

Dirani complained that Hamas - which is considered a terrorist group by the Australian government - is being 'propagated against as if theyre a terrorist militant group'.

He also compared the plight of Ukraine - which was invaded by Russia in February 2022 - with the Hamas' cause, suggesting the recent attacks which have killed hundreds of civilians was 'Palestinians resisting the oppressors'.

The now-deleted clip, obtained by The Australian, sparked outrage with viewers slamming Dirani's comments as 'demonic' and calling him out for blocking followers who challenged his stance.

Palestinian militants drive back to the Gaza Strip with a body on Saturday October 7

'Seeing some people posting about in support of the Israeli flag and in a way that Hamas has been propagated against as if theyre a terrorist militant group,' Dirani, who has 63,000 followers, said.

'Not too long ago the Ukrainian people were armed and were fighting against Russia, and they were called heroes and people that were resisting, resisting the oppressors, and now when the Palestinians resist the oppressors, that has been going on for 75 years, theyre labelled something else.

'Theyre labelled as terrorists or militants, savages.

'They have every right to defend themselves, and for those who are supporting Israel, ones that are posting the Israeli flag, you are supporting apartheid, you are supporting apartheid, period.'

Carly Shamgar, who claims she was blocked by the actor, said his comments were 'cowardly and disgraceful'.

'I was questioning whether hes actually stable, he sounded demonic, it really put the fear of God into me,' Ms Shamgar told the Australian.

'I was on a WhatsApp chat with my friends and we could not believe what we were listening to, with such a platform of 63,000 people and the ability to share on Instagram, its just not okay.

Palestinian militants brandish weapons as they pass through Israeli territory on trucks

People flee as clashes flare between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in Gaza City following the earlier air strikes

'Its cowardly and its disgraceful, if youre going to have the audacity to film yourself to camera to 63,000 followers proclaiming that Hamas is not a terrorist organisation and had every right to do what they did, then you need to engage in a civil conversation with people that actually challenge that.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dirani for comment.

Israelis were wrapping up the week-long religious holiday of Sukkot on Saturday morning when the Palestinian militant group rained around 2,200 bombs down from Gaza.

The bloodshed marked an escalation in the decades-long military and political conflict between Israel and Palestine.

In Israel, at least 900 people have died and more than 2,300 have been injured by Hamas forces - including dozens of foreigners from the US, Thailand, Nepal, France, Ukraine, the UK, Brazil and Canada.

Among those killed were young people who had travelled to attend the Supernova dance festival near Re'im kibbutz, in southern Israel near the Gaza strip.

Footage shows horrific scenes, including festival-goers fleeing for their lives and Palestinian groups celebrating as they paraded the naked body of a German woman on a truck through Gaza.

Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities estimate 560 people - including many civilians - have been killed and another 2900 injured in Gaza due to retaliatory attacks.

The murder of civilians has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say the country is at 'war'.

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday

An Israeli woman is seen being forced into a car by a terrorist before she is taken to the Gaza Strip

World leaders and diplomats - including Australian politicians - have thrown their support behind Israel.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday morning condemned the 'abhorrent attack on Israel', tweeting Australian 'stands with our friend Israel in this time'.

'This is a dreadful circumstance that people didn't see coming,' he later told ABC's Insiders.

'We of course are worried about escalation.

'There is no precedent for what is occurring here.'

The conflict has ignited tension on Australian shores as Israeli and Palestinian supporters clash.

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Sydney Opera House on Monday night to demonstrate against the iconic building's sails being lit up in support of Israel.

The incident sparked anger as pro-Palestine protesters were allowed to chant vile anti-Semitic comments while counter-demonstrators were ordered to stay home and arrested for trying to fly the Israeli flag.
He wrote that since the terror attacks began 'the issue of treating the damned and despicable Hamas terrorists' has placed a burden on the health system

The Israeli Health Minister reportedly issued a directive Wednesday afternoon instructing hospitals in his country to refuse to treat captured terrorists.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Moshe Arbel wrote in his directive that Israeli hospitals must presently prioritize victims of Hamas and IDF soldiers as the country's medical system becomes strained.

'Since the beginning of the fighting, the issue of treating the damned and despicable Hamas terrorists within the public hospitals has piled up a tremendous difficulty on the health system,' he wrote.

'In these difficult times, the health system should focus fully on the treatment of the victims of the criminal massacre, the IDF soldiers and preparedness for the next.

'The task of securing and treating the cursed and despicable terrorists within the public health system significantly harms these efforts and therefore, under my guidance, the public health system will not treat them.

Soroka hospital treats hundreds of victims: Soroka-University Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel reported on Saturday night that it had received more than 520 casualties since the beginning of the fighting

Israeli Health Minister Moshe Arbel called on Wednesday for hospitals in Israel to stop treating Hamas terrorists

'The handling of the matter should be entrusted to the IDF or the Shin Bet, and of course the Health Ministry is ready and willing to assist these bodies, as needed,' he concluded.

The minister called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has sworn that Israel will kill every member of Hamas, to issue instructions to the relevant entities to begin enforcing his directive.

On Wednesday evening, following the order, Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv announced that a terrorist who had been brought to the hospital was not admitted to the emergency room.

He was instead sent to the prison service's clinic in Ramle for medical treatment.

On Saturday, Iran-backed Palestinian terrorists stormed Israel in a coordinated attack that has so far taken the lives of 1,200 Israelis, some of whom were raped, burned alive, and beheaded mercilessly by agents of Hamas.

Thousands more have been injured and are being treated in packed Israeli hospitals.

Wednesday, residents in Gaza faced growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down. Over the weekend, PM Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and made it clear that Gaza would feel the impact of Israel's retaliation for decades to come.

This week, Israeli airstrikes demolished entire neighborhoods and sent people scrambling to find safety. The war is only expected to escalate from here.

Netanyahu has promised that his military will ensure the deaths of every Hamas agent.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited injured Israelis in the wake of the Hamas attacks

Israeli hospitals across the country have been scrambling to absorb hundreds and hundreds of terror victims and injured IDF soldiers

A victims is rushed into an Israeli hospital in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks

Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus celebrate on October 7, 2023, after terrorists from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israel

An IDF soldier reacts and covers his face before removing the body of a civilian killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas militants on October 10, 2023 in Kfar Aza, Israel

Aftermath of Israeli air strikes in Gaza on October 10, 2023. Israeli air strikes hammered Gaza on Tuesday, razing entire districts in retaliation for Saturday's Hamas terror attacks

Since Saturday, the brutality of the massive Hamas terror attack has become much clearer.

Kibbutzim in the south of Israel were massacred. Hundreds of dead bodies, some defiled and decapitated, were found by IDF soldiers strewn around the land.

IDF soldiers became overwhelmed when they discovered the bodies of 40 dead Israeli babies - some of whom had reportedly been decapitated.

The Israeli counteroffensive kicked into full-gear Tuesday and is expected to continue leveling up in the next few days.
US special forces were reported to be on their way to the Israeli war zone last night as Americas military build-up gathered strength.

The 2,400 fighters of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit quietly peeled away from their planned military exercise in Kuwait as the US stands by for a possible rescue attempt of more than 150 hostages kidnapped by Hamas.

The USS Gerald R. Ford has already arrived in the eastern Mediterranean at the head of a carrier strike group and the White House confirmed on Wednesday that the USS Dwight D Eisenhower group is set to join it to deter any intervention by Iran.

But the prospect of direct US involvement grew with the deployment of the 26th who were among the first US forces into Afghanistan after 9/11.

Hours after they arrived for their two-week deployment a corps spokeswoman confirmed to Military Times that the unit are no longer in vicinity of Kuwait as a result of emerging events.

The corps boasts command, ground combat, aviation combat and logistics combat elements

The unit was one of the first to fight in the Iraq War conducting operations in Erbil and Mosul

It's commander Colonel Dennis Sampson is a third generation United States Marine raised in Cincinnati, Ohio

As a crisis response force, we stand ready, she added.

It came as the U.S. is positioning a potent arsenal in the Middle East while Israel hits targets inside Gaza.

In addition to the two air craft carrier groups in the Eastern Mediterranean there are special forces advisors on hostage recovery, spy planes, fighter jets and tank buster aircraft.

Israel has massed an estimated 300,000 reserve forces on the border with Gaza in preparation for a possible ground invasion. Such a move would involve vicious street fighting against Hamas militants, and could bring military reprisals from outside Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who consoled Israeli terror victims and met with Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli Prime Minister Thursday that 'you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to ... We will always be there by your side.'

The U.S. has already shipped millions of round of ammunition and Iron Dome interceptors to resupply its ally amid continued rocket attacks from Gaza, where the White House said its estimates of less than a handful American hostages are being held in Gaza. They are among the estimated 150 hostages Hamas fighters took back into the territory after rampaging inside Israel.

The news broke after military officials revealed that US 'door kickers' under Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) have been put on alert in a nearby European country.

The command includes the Army's Delta Force which has previously undertaken hostage rescue missions, and the Navy's SEAL Team Six - which was dispatched to kill Osama bin Laden.

Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida warned on Monday that the group would start executing its hostages if Israel targeted people in Gaza without warning.

Another spokesman told CNN on Wednesday night that it is too early to exchange Israeli hostages while Israel continues to strike Gaza.

'We will only discuss this issue when the Israeli aggression against our people ends,' he added.

Twenty-two Americans are known to have died in the Hamas attack and 17 are still missing, but the White House believes very few are being held in Gaza.

Right now, we think the number that we are what we believe are held hostage is very small, very small, like less than a handful,' said national security spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday.

'But that could change over time. We're gonna get more information.'

Israeli officials admit they have no idea where in Gaza the 150 hostages are being held as the Palestinian enclave endures near constant air raid bombardment

The unit was due to be participating in two weeks of Marine Air-Ground task force training exercises in Kuwait

A spokeswoman said As a crisis response force, we stand ready, as she confirmed their redeployment

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 Dwight D Eisenhower group is now set to join it

The unit was given orders to 'prepare for further tasking as a result of emerging events'

But commanders refused to say where exactly they were heading out of concern for 'operational safety'

The group was deployed to northern Iraq near Makhmur in 2016 to support Iraqi forces in their eventual offensive to liberate Mosul from Islamic State

'We want to get these all the hostages back, particularly the Americans. Now where they are and in what condition sadly, we don't know. And that makes efforts very, very difficult and again in these early hours.

He said he didn't know if they were held in a single group or broken up into several.

'We don't know if they're being moved in, with what frequency and to what locations, all of those questions we're working on.

He was also non-specific about what intermediaries could get involved, but noted Qatar has 'open lines of communication' with Hamas.

'So of course, we're testing the waters as you expect,' he said.

It came after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US had also sent hostage negotiators who will assist Israeli authorities with the intelligence and planning' for potential operations involving hostage rescue efforts.

He also confirmed that the Pentagon has a 'liaison cell' in Israel working with the countrys special operations forces.

Three thousand extra US sailors and marines had already been dispatched to the Middle East weeks before Hamas militants stormed out of Gaza on October 7, killing more than 1,200 Israelis in the countrys worst ever terror attack.

The Department of Defense said the August deployment would counter recent attempts by Iran to seize commercial ships in the CENTCOM area of operations.

We've moved the US carrier fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean, and we're sending more fighter jets there to that region, and made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful, President Biden said on Wednesday.

Already we're surging additional military assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, including ammunition, interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome.
Cellphone video captured a Texas yoga teacher accused of murdering her boyfriend's professional cyclist lover running from police during a medical appointment.

Kaitlin Armstrong, 35, broke free from two correctional officers after visiting a doctor's office in Austin while they walked her back to the car on Wednesday.

The video shows her brazen attempt at freedom in her eye-catching black and white striped jail-issue jumpsuit while officers chase her up a hill and stumble before Armstrong appeared to jump over a fence.

Police said she bolted into a nearby neighborhood for about 10 minutes before she was captured. It is unclear how she escaped their clutches.

Armstrong is no stranger to spending time on the run, last year she spent 43 days evading police before her initial arrest for the murder of 25-year-old Moriah 'Mo' Wilson last May.

Cellphone video captured by a witness shows alleged killer Kaitlin Armstrong (top left) fleeing from police (bottom left) after a doctor's appointment in Austin, Texas on Wednesday

Armstrong is accused of murdering Moriah Wilson, a 25-year-old competitive gravel and mountain bike racer from Vermont (pictured) ahead of a race she was favorite to win in May 2022

'As they were leaving the facility she ran from those corrections officers and she made it in total about a block and a half. Both of the officers who were pursuing her on foot never lost sight of her,' Kristen Dark, senior spokesperson for the Travis County Sheriff's Office told CBS Austin.

'They could see her the whole time. They chased after her and ultimately caught up with her and were able to restrain her.'

Corrections officers did not draw their firearms, but Armstrong was taken to the Dell Seton Medical Center after the attempted escape.

The 35-year-old was taken out of jail for a specialized doctor's appointment that could not be done at the Travis County Correctional Complex.

Police were not able to say what kind of restraints she was wearing and it is unclear how she broke free.

Dark said, 'For someone to attempt this is very uncommon, very uncommon.'

'I am not able for security purposes to ever disclose the security measures we use with people in our custody.'

Armstrong has pleaded not guilty to murdering the competitive gravel and mountain bike racer from Vermont who was in Austin for a race when she was killed.

Wilson was shot to death when Armstrong allegedly flew into rage when she learned the racer was seeing her boyfriend, Colin Strickland, 35.

The accused killer fled Texas after she was initially interviewed and travelled to Costa Rica.

Authorities said she got a nose job and dyed her hair brown after fleeing the US. She used her sisters passport to leave the country and went by several aliases while on the run.

She was finally arrested after police received an anonymous tip she had flown into a rage months before and surveillance footage outside of Wilson's apartment supposedly showed the yoga instructor's car.

Strickland has admitted to having an affair with Wilson and said he had dinner with her the night of the murder.

The yoga teacher is pictured before the attack (left) and after fleeing the country (right). Police said she underwent plastic surgery, said to be a nose job, and dyed her hair brown while on the run

Armstrong was captured in Costa Rica after 43 days on the run. She was arrested after police received an anonymous tip she had flown into a rage months before and surveillance footage showed her car outside the victims apartment

Armstrong is alleged to have killed Wilson on May 11 2022 after learning her boyfriend Colin Strickland (pictured) was having an affair with her

Armstrong was allegedly tracking Wilson using the app for cyclists and runners, Strava.

Search warrants revealed that she visited a gun range with her sister before the killing, and was given $450,000 by Strickland, who also admitted to purchasing two firearms between the end of 2021 and start of 2022 for himself and Armstrong.

She is likely to face additional charges for trying to escape. She is currently being held in Travis County Jail on $3.5 million bond.

Court records show that three subpoena applications have already been filed by the state after the attempted escape for information from St. David's South Austin Medical Center, Travis County Sheriff's Office and St. David's Austin Medical Center.

Her jury trial is scheduled to start on October 30. She faces up to 99 years in prison if convicted.
Residents living along a busy street that has limited parking spaces are divided over the inclusion of electric vehicle charing stations in the area.

Drivers noticed the charging stations had been installed on Brown Street in Newtown, Sydney's inner-west.

The stations were rolled out recently by the local council in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the use of electric vehicles.

The move has sparked a furious response from some locals who claim the stations are taking up parking spaces that could be used by petrol cars.

Several residents took to Facebook to vent their frustration saying those who don't own an electric vehicle won't be able to use the parking space.

Residents are divided over the installation of new EV charges (pictured) in Brown Street in Newtown in Sydney's inner west with several drivers complaining the charges reduce the amount of parking spaces in the street

'I guess the warning is to not park here if you're not charging an electric vehicle. No idea how it works as I don't have an electric car,' one wrote.

'Looks like it takes two cars though.'

Others said the stations are used by a small minority of motorists as only those who can afford the expensive cost of an EV would benefit from them.

'So even if the spots are sitting there empty, we can't use them because they're reserved for the privileged?' another resident wrote.

'Maybe buy a charger for home and allow access to rock star parking spots for the rest of us plebs.'

Others however hit back at the suggestions the objects are a nuisance saying many EV drivers don't have access to charges.

'When an EV is parked there, there is another spot which it is not taking up, because people with EVs who park there do so because they cannot charge at home,' one wrote.

Some pointed out the stations are a hassle for drivers as efforts continue to be made to encourage the uptake of EV's in Australia.

'The aim is for everybody to have an EV, not just 'privileged' people,' a Sydney local wrote in response,' one user said.

'Need more in the area.' Awesome to see these round Inner West!' another wrote.

A spokesperson from the City of Sydney Council told Daily Mail Australia in a statement that the charges were put up along parts of the streets to provide those with electric vehicles a user friendly way of charging their vehicles.

'Brown Street in Newtown was selected for one pole-based charging space because of its convenient location close to King Street and in an area with a majority of terraced homes without private garages,' the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said council notified residents that the charging stations would be put up in the area.

'The parking space now dedicated for EV charging previously had time restrictions and no permit holder exceptions meaning local residents were generally unable to use this space for long periods'

We consulted with our residents on the location of this charging space before installing the low-impact infrastructure and the City has received no complaints.

Some residents argued that more EV charges (pictured) are needed as drivers who use an electric vehicle would benefit from more publicly available charging stations

The council recently partnered up with EVX, a company that manufactures the EV charging stations that have been rolled out across several parts of Sydney.

The company states on its website that public EV infrastructure needs to keep up with the demand for these technologies in order to continue to fast track the goal of reducing emissions.

'With ongoing discussion about a ban on sales of all new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, Councils need to start preparing their EV charging networks for this move now'.

Several local government areas across Sydney (pictured) have rolled out charging stations with more set to be rolled out as the councils continue to push for the uptake in EV's

Experts say there needs more EV infrastructure such as EV charging stations (pictured) that needs to be more readily available to keep up with the soaring demand for EV's.

Sydney has 187 publicly available charging stations across various parts of the city.

A 2022 report by the Electric Vehicle Council estimates there are almost 2400 EV chargers available across the county for motorists that own an EV.

Demand for EV's has grown significantly in Australia with almost 47,000 EV's sold across the country as of June 2023 according to figures by the peak electric vehicle body.
Trump told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Florida on Wednesday that 'Netanyahu let us down, that was a very terrible thing' referring to the Soleimani operation

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has slammed Donald Trump for praising 'Hezbollah' terrorists and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Florida on Wednesday that 'Netanyahu let us down, that was a very terrible thing' for not participating in the Soleimani operation in which an American airstrike killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.

The former President then stated that Lebanese Hezbollah terrorists are 'viscous and they're smart' and that Israel needs to 'strengthen itself up.'

The Republican nominee hopeful wrote on X in response: 'Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as 'very smart.''

'As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are' he added.

The former President then stated that Lebanese Hezbollah terrorists are 'viscous and they're smart' and that Israel needs to 'strengthen itself up.'

Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.



As pic.twitter.com/408e82OVDP  Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 12, 2023

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has slammed Donald Trump for praising 'Hezbollah' terrorists and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Trump said on Sunday that Hamas' bloody attack on Israel is an 'act of savagery that must be crushed' and blamed Joe Biden for being a weak and ineffective leader.

'The terror invasion of Israeli territory and the murder of Israeli soldiers and citizens is an act of savagery that must be, and will be, crushed and avenged,' he said.

Adding: 'The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader.'

The war of words comes as President Biden has pledged America's unwavering support to Israel in the wake of devastating terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.

Biden on Wednesday called the Hamas attack on Israel 'the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust,' and a campaign of 'pure cruelty', adding once again that the United States stood solidly with Israel.

The death toll now stands at 1,200 in Israel, including 14 Americans, and another 1,100 in Gaza.

Hamas is believed to have taken 150 hostages, including Americans, and is threatening to execute them if Israel launches a ground invasion of Gaza.

Biden said that the United States was working feverishly to try and secure the release of the hostages.

'As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are' DeSantis wrote on Twitter

Joe Biden is seen on Wednesday during a roundtable discussion with leaders in the Jewish community in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House

Hamas left a trail of devastation at a series of kibbutzes near the border with Gaza, including children's beds soaked in blood

Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

The body of a woman is covered with a blanket in Kfar Azza

'We're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts,' he said.

'Now, the press are going to shout to me: what are you doing to bring these folks home? If I told you, I wouldn't be able to get them home.

'Folks, there's a lot we're doing, a lot we're doing.

'I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home.

'But the idea that I'm going to stand here before you and tell you what I'm doing is bizarre. So, I hope you understand how bizarre I think it would be to try to answer that question.'

John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, was asked at an earlier briefing whether the administration is in contact directly or indirectly with Hamas about securing their release, and whether he could describe their condition.

'Now, where they are and in what condition, no,' said Kirby.

He said the White House does not know if they are being kept together, and whether they are being moved around.

A baby's seat and a child's dress are seen spattered in blood in the aftermath of the attack

Gunshots and blood stains litter the walls and door of a house in the kibbutz near the border with Gaza

'Sadly we don't know. And that makes efforts very, very difficult.'

He also told ABC White House Correspondent Mary Alice Parks he is 'not aware of any specific proof of life on any individual hostage.'

Kirby added that the U.S. is in discussion with countries that have lines of communications with Hamas, such as Qatar, to discuss working to free the hostages. Several former senior Hamas leaders live in Qatar.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said Wednesday that Hamas militants beheaded soldiers and raped women in their attack on Israel.

Netanyahu, in a late night televised address, detailed some of the atrocities that took place during the attack.

He said boys and girls were shot in the head and that people had been burned alive.

Netanyahu compared Hamas to ISIS, and vowed that Israel's retaliation against the terrorist group 'will reverberate with them for generations.'
The bronze statue of an iconic Australian pioneer was decapitated in a bizarre incident in the Western Australia city of Kalgoorlie overnight.

Locals were shocked to discover on Thursday morning that the statue of Paddy Hannan - whose 1893 gold strike led to the town's founding - was without a head.

Whoever did it cut the head in a clean line - and also tried to remove its right arm - meaning some planning had probably gone into it and it wasn't just a spontaneous act of vandalism.

Two paramedics later found the head in a rubbish tip and returned it to Kalgoorlie Town Hall which is located on Hannan St, as is the statue to the man the street is named after.

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor John Bowler said he is 'deeply disappointed by this act of vandalism', which is thought to have happened between 11pm and midnight on Wednesday.

The bronze statue of an iconic Australian pioneer was decapitated (pictured) in a bizarre incident in the Western Australia city of Kalgoorlie overnight

'It not only defaces a significant piece of our city's history but also disrespects the memory of Paddy Hannan and the hardworking prospectors who played a vital role in shaping our community,' he said.

Mr Bowler added that Mr Hannan was 'a key figure in the discovery of gold and an important part of our city's heritage'.

Police Insp Geoff Desanges said the beheading of the statue was a 'heinous' crime.

'This statue is iconic in respect to that it is a mining town and it's a statue of attraction for tourism and it's part of the Kalgoorlie community,' he told the West Australian.

'As for an I'm concerned it's a heinous act. That statue was iconic for that community in Kalgoorlie and surrounds. It's a part of the fabric of that town and the history of it.

'We're hoping to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.'

Mr Bowler also mentioned the historical significance of the statue.

'We take pride in the presentation of our city and value our beautiful historical streetscapes and monuments,' he said.

'(And) we work to ensure their historical significance is preserved.'

Though the statue's head has been returned, reattaching it to the rest of the body is likely to be a time consuming and costly exercise.

The 40-year-old statue, which doubles as a water fountain, is a replica of the original 1929 statue, which is kept in the Town Hall.

The replica was commissioned in 1983 because of regular vandalism to the original statue.
A devastated father has said he welcomed the news that his eight-year-old daughter had been killed by Hamas terrorists because it was better than her being taken hostage during the barbaric attack on the Be'eri Kibbutz.

Thomas Hand faced an unbearable two-day wait for news about his daughter Emily after Palestinian terrorists stormed their kibbutz at around 7am on Saturday, massacring at least 100 people.

Mr Hand said the kibbutz came under gunfire for about 12 hours that day, during which he did not know the whereabouts or fate of his child after she had gone to sleep at a neighbor's house - something she rarely did.

In a heartbreaking interview with CNN, Mr Hand broke down in tears as he recounted the moment he was finally told his daughter's body had been found - and said his reaction was one of relief that she had not been kidnapped instead.

'They said, "We found Emily. She's dead," and I just went "Yes!" I went "yes", and I smiled, because that is the best news of the possibilities that I knew,' Mr Hand said in a shaking voice.

Devastated father Thomas Hand tearfully recalls finding out his eight-year-old daughter was killed by Hamas terrorists

Eight-year-old Emily Hand was murdered by Hamas terrorists on Saturday at Kibbutz Be'eri. Her father said he was relieved when he found out his daughter was dead rather than a captive of the Palestinian terrorists who might have tortured her in Gaza

'She doesn't do it very often, but unfortunately that night, that particular night - Friday night - she went to sleep at her friend's house,' recounted Hand.

The next morning, the kibbutz was under attack.

Mr Hand described how he felt during the siege: 'I'm thinking, the Army are going to be here soon. Just hold on a bit longer, and longer, and longer.'

Later, when he was informed of his daughter's murder he said: 'I just went "Yes!"'

'That was the best news of the possibilities that I knew...' as his voice trailed off through tears.

'She was either dead, or in Gaza. And if you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death,' he said.

'They'd have no food. They'd have no water. She'd be in a dark room filled with Christ knows how many people. And terrified every minute, hour, day, and possible years to come. So death was a blessing. An absolute blessing.'

Beyond the estimated 1,200 Israelis Hamas butchered over the weekend, the Palestinian terrorists kidnapped scores of Israelis, including some 20 Americans whose whereabouts remain unknown.

They committed unimaginable acts of violence against innocent Israelis, including raping and dragging through the streets the bodies of women and girls, burning families alive, and reportedly decapitating babies.

On Tuesday, the Israeli Defense Force took reporters including a Fox News crew to Be'eri, which is three miles from the Gaza border.

The kibbutz was, until Saturday, known as an artistic and farming community of 1,200 people.

Pictured: Emily Hand. The eight-year-old girl had stayed the night at a friend's house on Friday, her father Thomas said. For 12 hours while the kibbutz was under siege, he did not know the fate or whereabouts of his little girl

An IDF soldier walks past body bags of over 20 dead Hamas militants with the word "terrorist" written in Hebrew, at Kibbutz Be'eri, where dozens of civilians were killed days earlier

An Israeli soldier walks past a house destroyed by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Be'eri on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023

Tarps cover the dead body inside of the kibbutz in Be'eri

A destroyed home at Kibbutz Be'eri, which sustained 12 hours of terror activity before IDF soldiers arrived to seize back the territory

The site was not declared safe for outsiders until Tuesday when all the bodies of Israeli victims had been removed. The burnt and mangled corpses of Hamas fighters were, however, still lying in heaps on the outskirts of the kibbutz.

The smells of blood and death were sickening, according to multiple reporters.

Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst brought viewers inside one of the bullet-riddled houses on the property.

'You can see the floors are stained with blood,' he said.

'It was Saturday morning, around 7am, when militants stormed this village. You can see the weapons they brought with them, extra ammunition, bullet holes in the side of the house and knives on the floor.'

'It is completely destroyed. It looks like some of the buildings were hit with RPGs, explosives.'

He said he came across rooms 'covered in blood', in which residents had been murdered in their beds. Some of the victims were beheaded, according to the IDF.

Yingst tweeted photos of the destroyed houses inside the kibbutz

The Fox News reporter showed blood-stained floors and bullet-ridden homes

A house left in ruins after an attack by Hamas militants on this kibbutz days earlier when dozens of civilians were killed near the border with Gaza on Tuesday

Cars and a stroller left behind at the scene of a rocket attack from Gaza on the weekend are pictured on a main road near the entrance of the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza

'Worse than ISIS': Photo of bloodied child's bed posted by Israeli PM Netanyahu

A baby's seat and child's dress is seen covered in blood in the aftermath of a Hamas attack

Gunshots and blood stains are seen on a door and walls of a house where civilians were killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas on this kibbutz near the border with Gaza on Tuesday

A soldier is overcome with emotion as he searches for bodies in the kibbutz

Yingst described the scene as 'hell on earth'. He said it was the most horrifying site he has been to in his career reporting around the world.

Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and made it clear that Gaza would feel the impact of Israel's retaliation for decades to come.

This week, Israeli airstrikes demolished entire neighborhoods and sent people scrambling to find safety. The war is only expected to escalate from here.

Netanyahu has promised that his military will ensure the deaths of every Hamas agent.
A good Samaritan who stopped on the side of a road to help another man who rolled his car was then allegedly murdered by the driver.

John Matta, 38, was killed on September 26 in Nambung, 200km northwest of Perth.

Mr Matta, originally from Egypt and who lost one of his legs from diabetes eight months ago, had pulled over on the Indian Ocean Road after noticing a white Mitsubishi Pajero had crashed.

Police then allege an 'incident occurred' between Mr Matta and the Mitsubishi's driver Benjamin Jack McLaughlin, 19, who then allegedly murdered the older man.

Mr Matta's body was found when firefighters were called to the scene just after midnight to find the Mitsubishi on fire.

McLaughlin is in custody after being charged with murder, aggravated criminal damage by fire and stealing a motor vehicle.

John Matta, 38, was allegedly murdered on September 26 in Nambung, 200km northwest of Perth

The teenager was found hours later behaving erratically and naked on a boat drifting out to sea before diving into the ocean.

Distressed fisherman had reported him to the police when they noticed him drifting aimlessly in the waters where he was screaming, confused and ripping his hair out.

McLaughlin had also allegedly taken off in Mr Matta's red SUV that was later found submerged in the ocean near the Cervantes jetty.

Loved ones have since set up a GoFundMe for Mr Matta.

The 38-year-old had regularly shared videos to his TikTok account encouraging viewers to stay positive and nothing was impossible, while working out in his wheelchair.

Benjamin Jack McLaughlin, 19, has been charged with murder

The Egyptian-born 38-year-old lost one of his legs eight months ago, understood to be due to diabetes

'In a world that sometimes seems filled with chaos and uncertainty, there are those rare individuals who shine as beacons of love, kindness, and compassion,' friend and fundraiser organiser Matthew Ibraheem said.

'To those who knew John, he was one of a kind. With his infectious smile, his radiating heart, and his incredible singing voice; he was taken from us too soon.

'We remember and celebrate the life of one such extraordinary soul. A true Good Samaritan who touched the lives of countless people with his selflessness and love for humanity.

'John's heart overflowed with love, and his actions spoke louder than words. An extraordinary individual who never hesitated to lend a helping hand to those in need.'

The funds raised will go towards foundations Mr Matta had cherished.

These include charities supporting amputees such as Limbs 4 Life and APC Prosthetics, Coptic Orphans which helps vulnerable children in Egypt, and to help fund diabetic treatments in his Egyptian hometown.

McLaughlin faced Perth Magistrate's Court last week where he was remanded in custody. He will appear again later this month.
A rape victim turned away by a central Queensland hospital later received an apology via text, the state opposition says.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on Thursday 'unreservedly apologised' to the woman who did not receive appropriate care at Rockhampton Hospital.

Ms Fentiman said the woman sought help at the hospital in early August, requesting a forensic examination.

'It is clear she did not receive the timely, compassionate, trauma-informed care that she was entitled to and expected,' she told parliament on Thursday.

'The hospital and health service has apologised to the young woman and I would like to also unreservedly apologise to her for the ongoing impact that this incident has had on her.'

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman 'unreservedly apologised' to a rape victim who did not receive appropriate care at Rockhampton Hospital

The woman sought help at the hospital in early August, requesting a forensic examination

Ms Fentiman also extended an invitation to meet with the woman, who has been offered support services.

The opposition says the woman has only received a text message from the hospital.

'The opposition has just been advised that apology came as a text sent by the hospital at 9.31am this morning, just moments before the health minister stood in this house,' LNP MP Laura Gerber said.

'It also advises the health minister called the hospital this morning after seeing media reports.

READ MORE: Grace Tame shares sickening details of man who raped her The former Australian of the Year revealed the man who repeatedly raped her when she was a teenager kept an envelope filled with her hair. Advertisement

'Can the minister explain how what she said in the house this morning differs so greatly from the accounts and experience of the hospital staff and the victim?'

Ms Fentiman said she understood the hospital had been trying to get in touch with the woman to apologise.

'I was made aware of the complaint late last night and of course today I have unreservedly apologised, as well,' she said.

Ms Fentiman said a number of improved processes had been implemented at the health service as a result of the woman's treatment.

They include ensuring social workers are present from the time of a patient's presentation and continuity of care by a specialised nurse and medical officer.

Earlier this week, the health minister pledged to urgently investigate opposition allegations that sexual assault victims had been turned away from hospitals due to lack of trained staff or new rape testing kits.

Ms Fentiman said the director-general had met with all 16 health services on Wednesday to ensure women at emergency departments requiring forensic examinations received timely, trauma-informed care.

She said this week new rape testing kits were available at every hospital and health service, with more than 180 clinicians trained since July to use them under Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce reforms.

A 24-hour hotline to assist clinicians about the rape kit tests has also been set up.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
The family who allegedly left a bride unconscious for days before calling for help after she 'failed to meet their expectations' have been pictured  as she continues to lie in a vegetative state.

Ambreen Fatima Sheikh was called 'smelly' and criticised by her in-laws for not cooking her husband chapatis after moving to the UK following an arranged marriage in Pakistan, a court heard.

Ambreen, who has been in a vegetative state for eight years, was also allegedly given drug-filled cigarettes to smoke by her husband Asgar Sheikh, 30, and there had been talk of sending her back to Pakistan by her new British family.

She 'wasn't meeting the expectations of her husband or family,' the court has previously heard.

A jury has been told that Ambreen was left lying unconscious for up to three days before her new family called for an ambulance in July, 2015  and she has never regained consciousness.

She had suffered a severe burn to her lower back and had ingested anti-diabetic medication, despite not being a diabetic.

Her husband Asgar, father-in-law Khalid Sheikh, 55, mother-in-law Shabnam Sheikh, 53, and brother and sister-in-law Shakalayne, 24, and Shagufa Sheikh, 29, are all standing trial charged with causing or allowing a vulnerable adult to suffer serious physical harm.

Shagufa, Shabnam and Asgar are also accused of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice.

All five defendants are accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. They deny all of the offences.

Ambreen's husband Asgar Sheikh, 30, pictured right with a face mask on and her brother-in-law Shakalayne (left)

Ambreen's mother-in-law Shabnam (left) and sister-in-law Shagufa (right)

Ambreen's father-in-law Khalid Sheikh, 55, is also standing trial

Ambreen wed Asgar in an arranged marriage in Pakistan in 2013.

Asgar and his parents returned to the family home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, soon after, but his wife, who was in her 30s, did not follow until November 2014.

Leeds Crown Court heard from Shabnam's cousin Naheela Saddiq, who speaking though an interpreter, told the jury what the family thought of Ambreen.

In January 2015 Naheela was told by Shabnam that Ambreen 'has smoked a cigarette with like a drug in it'.

'I asked Ambreen "have you smoked a cigarette with a drug in?" and Ambreen told me that Asgar has given her the cigarette.

'I said that it is not good offering a cigarette to his wife and smoking it with drugs in there.'

On another occasion, during a telephone call, Shabnam told her cousin that Ambreen was 'very smelly. She doesn't take a shower, she doesn't keep her body clean.'

Naheela advised that the family should buy her shampoo, deodorant and perfume because she was young and new to the country.

All five defendants are accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. They deny all of the offences

A jury has heard that Ambreen was left lying unconscious for up to three days before her new family called for an ambulance in July, 2015 - and she has never regained consciousness

'I told Shabnam that she is in a new environment, she has come from Pakistan and to give her time, give her six months to get used to it,' Naheela told the court.

'Shabnam was saying that Ambreen is not cooking chapatis, not doing chores for her husband, stuff like that.

'"Routine household things she does not do"  I told her to give her time to pick things up.

'I said that if you cannot get on with this girl, send her back to Pakistan.'

The court heard that Khalid wanted to send Ambreen back to Pakistan, but Shabnam refused.

The jury has been told that at around 1.12am on August 1, 2015, a call was made to the ambulance service from Shagufa who 'reported that her sister-in law couldn't breathe properly'.

It was said the ambulance arrived at 1.31am and paramedics were taken to Shagufa's bedroom where Ambreen lay unconscious.

Ambreen was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and was put onto the intensive care ward and intubated. A CT scan found swelling on her brain and staff 'took the necessary steps to try and discover the cause', the court heard.

It was the next day when a lumbar puncture  or spinal tap  was going to be performed that it was discovered she had a 'severe' burn to her lower back. The spinal tap showed no evidence of infection to the brain.

Medical professionals say the burn pre-dated Ambreen's admission to hospital and had taken place for a period of five to seven days before and was likely to have been brought about by a caustic substance.

The trial continues.
Four of Britain's top lawyers have complained to Ofcom over the BBC's refusal to label Hamas 'terrorists' after its attacks on Israel.

The corporation last night defended its decision not to describe Hamas militants as 'terrorists' in its coverage of the deadly attacks in Israel, despite receiving a huge backlash from politicians and those within the Jewish community.

The broadcaster's refusal continues despite King Charles condemning the 'barbaric acts of terrorism' while the Prince and Princess of Wales spoke of their distress following 'Hamas's terrorist attack'.

Instead, the BBC refers to Hamas as a 'militant' group and described the slaughter of civilians as a 'militant' attack.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accused broadcasters of trying to 'wilfully mislead' by not using the word terrorist, while Defence Secretary Grant Shapps called on the corporation to 'get the moral compass out' and Labour leader Keir Starmer urged the broadcaster to 'explain' its reasoning.

Lord Wolfson KC, Lord Pannick KC, Lord Grabiner KC and Jeremy Brier KC have now accused the BBC of failing to show impartiality 'beyond doubt' by describing Hamas in 'more sympathetic terms' as 'militants'.

The four senior lawyers signed a letter calling on Ofcom to investigate. In a letter shared on X, they said: 'On 7th October 2023, Hamas launched a large invasion of the State of Israel which resulted variously in the slaughter, rape and abduction of over a thousand Israeli citizens. There is nothing controversial about that. It is a fact.

Israeli soldiers patrol near burned and destroyed houses near the border with Gaza

Israeli soldiers patrol near burned houses after an attack by Hamas terrorists on this kibbutz near the border with Gaza

Lord Wolfson KC, Lord Pannick KC, Lord Grabiner KC and Jeremy Brier KC have now accused the BBC of failing to show impartiality 'beyond doubt' by describing Hamas in 'more sympathetic terms' as 'militants'

Last night Mr Simpson took to X to defend his employer's decision

'The BBC has fallen well below the standards expressed in its Editorial Values in reporting of that invasion and the consequences therefrom.'

They added that Hamas being a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK 'is not a matter of debate or discussion. It is a matter of legal fact'.

The lawyers accused the BBC of 'watering down' the way Hamas is described. They signed the letter alongside Lord Polak, honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel.

The broadcaster justified its language use in the name of impartiality, adding its job is to explain 'precisely what is happening on the ground so audiences can make their own judgement'.

BBC director of editorial policy David Jordan said not using the word terrorist was a 'very long-standing policy' which had 'stood the test of time'. He added: 'We've called them massacres, we've called [them] murders, we've called them out for what things are and that doesn't in any way devalue the awfulness of what is going on.'

The spokesperson for the BBC said: 'We always take our use of language very seriously. Anyone watching or listening to our coverage will hear the word 'terrorist' used many times  we attribute it to those who are using it, for example, the UK Government.

'This is an approach that has been used for decades, and is in line with that of other broadcasters.

Four of Britain's top lawyers have complained to Ofcom over the BBC 's refusal to label Hamas 'terrorists' after its attacks on Israel. They signed a letter alongside Lord Polak, honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel

Houses are left in ruins in southern Israel after Hamas militants shot at and killed civilians in homes days earlier near the border with Gaza

A boy walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Wednesday

'The BBC is an editorially independent broadcaster whose job is to explain precisely what is happening 'on the ground' so our audiences can make their own judgement.'

BBC editorial guidelines say terrorism is an 'emotive subject with significant political overtones' and 'terrorist' can be a 'barrier rather than an aid to understanding'.

Nick Robinson, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said on social media: 'I understand entirely why some want the word 'terrorism' used. It is, though, the long-standing practice of BBC, ITV and Sky to report others using that language rather than using it ourselves.'

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has raised the issue with BBC director-general Tim Davie and made clear her view that these were 'acts of terror carried out by a terrorist organisation'.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said that by calling Hamas 'militants', the BBC 'not only offers legitimacy to their government, but also denies the fact that they commit atrocities'.

Former BBC journalist Jon Sopel said the corporation's editorial guidelines were 'no longer fit for purpose'.

The King unequivocally condemned the 'barbaric acts of terrorism' inflicted on Israel

William and Kate were described as being 'profoundly distressed' at the 'devastating' events.

But the decision has seen a number of BBC stars rally around their employer, including the corporation's veteran foreign correspondent John Simpson defended the coverage claiming 'calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides'.

Mr Simpson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to defend his employer's decision, claiming 'British politicians know full well' why it avoids using the word terrorist.

He wrote: 'British politicians know perfectly well why the BBC avoids the word 'terrorist', and over the years plenty of them have privately agreed with it.

'Calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides and ceasing to treat the situation with due impartiality.

'The BBC's job is to place the facts before its audience and let them decide what they think, honestly and without ranting.

'That's why, in Britain and throughout the world, nearly half a billion people watch, listen to and read us. There's always someone who would like us to rant. Sorry, it's not what we do.'

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for further comment.
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Khaled Meshaal led Hamas from 2004 to 2017 and now lives in Qatar

A former Hamas chief has called for protests to take place across the Muslim world on Friday in support of the Palestinians, and for the peoples of neighboring countries to join the fight against Israel.

'[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday,' said Khaled Meshaal, who currently heads Hamas's diaspora office.

Meshaal, who is based in Qatar, said the governments and peoples of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt have a bigger duty to support the Palestinians.

'Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan... This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility,' Meshaal said in a recorded statement. 'To all scholars who teach jihad... to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application (of theories).'

Jordan and Lebanon are home to the largest number of Palestinian refugees.

Khaled Meshaal - a former Hamas chief - has called for protests to take place across the Muslim world on Friday in support of the Palestinians, and for the peoples of neighboring countries to join the fight against Israel, in a video statement recorded in Qatar (pictured)

'Hamas does not represent Palestine,' reads a sign held at a pro-Palestine protest in Lima, Peru on Wednesday

Meshaal's call for a Friday 13th uprising was reiterated by Hamas itself, according to the Israeli-run, Washington DC-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

MEMRI said that Hamas urged its supporters in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel to rise up in what he called 'the Al-Aqsa Flood' - echoing what the the secretive Palestinian mastermind Mohammed Deif calls the attack he launched on Saturday against Israel.

The phrase Israel's most wanted man used in an audio tape broadcast as Hamas fired thousands of rockets out of the Gaza Strip over the weekend signaled the attack was their payback for Israeli raids at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque.

'We declare next Friday, ''The Friday of the Al-Aqsa Flood,'' as a day of general mobilization in our Arab and Islamic world and among the free people of the world,' Meshaal's statement said, which was sent to Reuters news agency.

'It is a day to rally support, offer aid, and participate actively.

'It is a day to expose the crimes of the occupation, isolate it, and foil all its aggressive schemes. It is a day to demonstrate our love for Palestine, Jerusalem, and Al-Aqsa.

'It is a day for sacrifice, heroism, and dedication, and to earn the honour of defending the first Qibla of Muslims, the third holiest mosque, and the ascension of the trusted Messenger.'

Khaled Meshaal, the former leader of Hamas, is pictured in October 2018 in Istanbul. He has called for a 'Day of Jihad' on Friday, in a statement released from Qatar, where he now lives

Meshaal also praised those who took part on the attack in Israel. Oh my brothers and sisters, oh all my family and a quarter of this nation,' he said. 'These are your brothers and sisters who created this glory. They created this flood: Al-Aqsa Flood.'

The terrorist group said all should back their 'just cause'.

'We call upon the free people of the world to mobilize in solidarity with our Palestinian people and in support of their just cause and legitimate rights to freedom, independence, return, and self-determination,' the group said.

There have already been several protests following Saturday's attack by Hamas against Israel, including on the streets of the UK and Australia.

While some have been held in solidarity with the victims on both sides of the conflict, others have demonstrated the deep and ugly divisions that are felt around the world over the issue.

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12, 2023

Rescuers retrieve bodies from house targeted by Israeli airstrike

Israeli artillery fire rounds into the Gaza Strip from the border on October 12

Supporters of Muttahida Shariat Mahaz Pakistan conservative party during a demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Peshawar, Pakistan, 12 October 2023

In London on Monday, pro-Palestine protesters - some 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.'

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.

In Sheffield, video footage posted on social media showed two people scaling the city's town hall and pulling down an Israeli flag during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the building on Tuesday evening.

The flag was seen to be thrown from the landmark 200ft high Victorian structure and replaced with the Palestinian flag, to cheers from those gathered below.

On the other side of the globe in Sydney, a pro-Palestinian rally outside the city's iconic Opera House on Monday ignited fury in the country after a small group were filmed chanting 'gas the Jews' while waving a Palestinian flag, in sickening scenes.

In response to the protests and the escalating situation in Israel, the head of Australia's domestic intelligence agency on Thursday warned about the potential for opportunistic violence and called for calm as tensions rise ahead of another planned pro-Palestinian protest in response to the Israel-Hamas war.

In rare public statement, Mike Burgess, head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) said protests and rallies following the attacks by Hamas are likely to continue and he remained concerned about opportunistic violence.

Speaking on Thursday, a woman who hosted a press conference held by two British people whose relatives were kidnapped by Hamas gunmen on Saturday condemned those who celebrated the atrocities.

As the conference began, the host gave an impassioned speech before handing over to Noam and Sharon.

'Hamas... is a modern day death squad. They went door to door, snatched babies from their mothers and children from their beds and brutally, cold-bloodedly slaughtered them,' she said.

'Girls were raped over their friends' bodies, many survivors were kidnapped.

'These horrific acts were celebrated on the streets of Tehran, Gaza and even by some here in London. We have never before in Israel experienced such a traumatic event, which will take years, if not generations, to overcome.

'This is the biggest hostage crisis the world has faced in decades,' she added.

Meshaal's rallying call to the Muslim world came as Israel vowed to escalate its response to an attack by Hamas with a ground offensive, after Israeli fighter jets struck more than 200 targets in Gaza city overnight.

A pro-Palestine protest is held outside The Israeli embassy in London, Kensington, October 9

Palestinian and Israeli supporters clashed at a London Underground station on Monday night as police desperately tried to keep the peace

A pro-Palestine rally is held outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney on October 9

Gaza's health ministry said at least 1,354 people have been killed and more than 6,000 injured in the crowded coastal enclave.

On Saturday, Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip rampaged through parts of southern Israel, in the deadliest single attack in Israel's history.

The bodies of at least 1,300 people have been recovered, a number that could rise.

Most were civilians gunned down in their homes, on the streets or at a dance party that was attacked by gunmen who stormed across the border from Gaza.

Scores of Israeli and foreign hostages were also taken back to Gaza by the terrorists, with Israel saying it has identified 97 of them so far.

The full scale of the killings has emerged in recent days after Israeli forces reclaimed control of towns, finding homes strewn with bodies. They say they found women who had been raped and killed, and children who were shot and burned.

Israel has responded so far by putting Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, under total siege and launching by far the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, destroying whole neighbourhoods.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said fuel powering emergency generators at hospitals could run out within hours.

'The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians,' ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni said in a statement on Thursday.

'As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays canat be taken. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.'

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Thursday on a trip to show solidarity with Israel, help prevent the war from spreading and push for the release of hostages, including American citizens.

He will also visit Jordan on Friday to meet King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority that operates limited self-rule in the West Bank.

Qatar is also working with the United States to try and establish a line of communication with Hamas to try and negotiate for the release of hostages, a top U.S. official said on Wednesday.

John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, was asked at an earlier briefing whether the administration is in contact directly or indirectly with Hamas about securing their release, and whether he could describe their condition.

'Now, where they are and in what condition, no,' said Kirby.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike, ongoing on its 6th day in Gaza City on October 12

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12, 2023

Palestinians evacuate wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip

Search and rescue operations continue in the destroyed buildings and debris after the attack on Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Gaza on October 12, 2023

He said the White House does not know if they are being kept together, and whether they are being moved around.

'Sadly we don't know. And that makes efforts very, very difficult.'

He also told ABC White House Correspondent Mary Alice Parks he is 'not aware of any specific proof of life on any individual hostage.'

Kirby added that the U.S. is in discussion with countries that have lines of communications with Hamas, such as Qatar, to discuss working to free the hostages. Several former senior Hamas leaders live in Qatar.
A woman who pretended to be a doctor, dispensing medical advice on TikTok and Instagram, says she was offering 'reputable' help to those who needed it most.

In a letter of apology given to the magistrate hearing her case, Dalya Karezi explained how a white lie she told a woman she was trying to impress snowballed into a fake online alter-ego.

'As I write this letter I am crying and still struggling to see how I got to this position because this is very out of character and I never thought I would be in this position,' she wrote.

Karezi, whose photos showed her dressed up in scrubs and accessorised with a stethoscope, provided advice on social media about sexual health, ovarian cancer, HIV and fertility issues despite being completely unqualified to do so.

A woman who pretended she was a doctor when she offered medical advice on TikTok and Instagram says she was only offering help to those who needed it most. Dalya Karezi dressed in scrubs and wore a stethoscope around her neck in social media posts

As 'Dr Karezi', she was extremely popular among Iraqi and Kurdish residents in western Sydney where she worked as a community advocate.

Karezi even won awards for her work in a campaign called 'Shisha, No Thanks' to discourage the smoking of Middle-Eastern water pipes.

The 30-year-old garnered 243,000 followers on TikTok and 20,000 on Instagram as 'Dr Karezi', providing directions about serious health issues between 2019 and 2021.

Her 56 TikTok videos were liked 1.5million times.

Karezi falsely claimed to have a doctor's MBBS degree, as well as a Masters of Reproductive Medicine and used the initials OBGYN as she posed as an obstetrician-gynecologist.

She also falsely presented herself as a doctor when successfully applying for research positions with NSW Health and the Cancer Institute, despite not needing that qualification for either job.

On Wednesday, Karezi pleaded guilty in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court to impersonating a doctor and pretending to be a medical specialist.

In a grovelling letter of apology to a magistrate, Dalya Karezi explained how a white lie she told a woman she was trying to impress turned into her living a fake online life

The prosecution was brought by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the maximum penalty for each offence was $60,000 or three years in jail.

Karezi, who had no previous criminal record, expressed extreme remorse for her deceit in a 1,400-word letter of apology tendered to magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis.

'I have taken responsibility for my actions and know there is no excuse for my actions,' she wrote. 'I feel ashamed and hate myself every day.

'I look at myself and see the humiliation I have caused myself, my friends and family.

'Having to tell my family and friends about my actions was extremely humiliating. I understand the serious consequences of my actions and I am truly sorry for what I have done'.

Karezi, who came to Australia as a refugee from Iraq aged eight in 2001, said she had applied for a position with NSW Health after her friend Sheetal Chilim recommended her for the job.

She had told Ms Chilim she was studying medicine when they first met at a community event in 2017 and as time passed, let her believe she was a doctor.

Fake doctor Dalya Karezi is pictured leaving Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court where she pleaded guilty to impersonating a doctor and pretending to be a medical specialist

'I first applied for the job with NSW Health because Sheetal recommended me,' Karezi wrote.

'I included that I was a doctor because I did not want Sheetal to find out that I wasn't.'

Karezi said her initial lie got out of hand as she began signing off emails as 'Dr' and using the titles RMO and VMO, standing for resident medical officer and visiting medical officer.

'The emails that I sent from my work account using the signature of doctor were to people who Sheetal knew,' she wrote.

'I felt I couldn't say no or correct Sheetal, because I did not want to disappoint her. I know it was wrong, and I wish that I had been stronger and corrected Sheetal from the outset, and this made me feel like I was living two different lives.'

Karezi, who had a Bachelor of Health Science, then began referring to herself as Dr.Dalya.s on Instagram and TikTok as she offered medical advice to her followers.

'In doing that, I was sharing publicly available information from NSW Health Direct,' she wrote.

Karezi even won awards for her work in a campaign called 'Shisha, No Thanks' to discourage the smoking of Middle-Eastern water pipes

'I sourced the material from there because it was reputable, and I was trying to make it more accessible to those in need.

'I regret my action and understand now that it is a serious offence that could have caused harm. My intentions were never to harm anyone.'

Karezi, who completed a Masters of Reproductive Medicine in 2022, declared she would never work in the health care industry again and had deleted all her social media accounts.

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'I did not want and still do not want to do anything to do with health ever again despite having wasted so many years of my life studying and paying back student loans,' she wrote to the magistrate.

'I am so terrified of social media now that I do not even want to be on social media at all. I will never have any social media accounts ever again.'

Karezi, whose husband is a supermarket cashier, has been working for 20 months as an insurance company claims consultant but expected if she was convicted over her offending she would lose that job.

Mr Tsavdaridis said some of Karezi's social media posts 'transcended the boundaries' and her crimes were 'fairly serious matters'.

'The improprieties in holding herself out [as a doctor] were extensive, prolific and pervasive,' he found.

'[She] offered advice on ovarian cancer, Covid... for people's toddlers, for uterine fibroids, contraception, paracetamol overdose [while] wearing scrubs and seen with a stethoscope round her neck.'

Mr Tsavdaridis sentenced Karezi to a community corrections order for two years and fined her $13,300.
A convicted Hamas sympathiser told a female UK shop worker 'I'm going to cut your head off' just two days after the surprise attacks on Israel began, a court has heard.

Feras Al-Jayoosi followed the One Below staff member around the Swindon store, in Wiltshire, repeatedly shouting 'don't ignore me'.

The terrified worker retreated to the staff-only storage room on October 9 fearing for her safety and begged the 36-year-old to 'leave me alone'.

He then shouted: ''I'm going to take your head off, I'm going to cut your head off,' prosecutor Keith Ballinger told Swindon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Al-Jayoosi has previously been convicted of terror offences after wearing T-shirts supporting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the large Jewish population of Golders Green, London.

Feras Al-Jayoosi, 36, followed a One Below staff member around its Swindon store, in Wiltshire, repeatedly shouting 'don't ignore me' before he threatened to 'cut her head off'

The Hamas sympathiser's threat came just two days after Hamas terrorists launched surprise attack on Israel (Pictured: Flames and smoke billow during as Israel strikes Gaza in retaliation)

Al-Jayoosi was ushered out of the store room by another staff member who had rushed to help her colleague.

At Swindon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to a Section 4 Public Order Act offence.

In custody, he told officers that the shop worker had given him a dirty look and had been rude to him on a previous occasion.

Stephen Collins, defending, said his client 'accepts a lot of upset was caused' by his actions and confirmed that no bail application is being made due to Al-Jayoosi being recalled to prison.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court in December 2021 he was given a 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years.

The latest case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

Al Jayoosi, from Swindon, pleaded guilty in 2021 to four counts of wearing an article supporting a proscribed organisation (Pictured: Stock image of T-shirt supporting Hamas Izz al-Din al Qassem Brigades)

Al-Jayoosi was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at the same court for sentencing on 9 November.

In 2021, Al-Jayoosi admitted to wearing a Hamas-supporting T-shirt in Golders Green, which has a large Jewish population.

He was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years and banned from entering NW11 in north London.
King Charles last night condemned the barbaric acts of terrorism inflicted on Israel.

The monarch was backed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who said they were profoundly distressed at the unfolding civilian slaughter, adding: The horrors inflicted by Hamass terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling.

William and Kate went even further, highlighting the countrys right of self-defence. The royals deliberate use of the word terrorism to describe the atrocities came in sharp contrast to the BBC, which refuses to call Hamas a terrorist organisation.

It refers to Hamas as a militant group and described the slaughter of civilians as a militant attack.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accused broadcasters of trying to wilfully mislead by not using the word terrorist, saying: The murder of babies where they sleep is not the act of a freedom fighter.

The King last night unequivocally condemned the barbaric acts of terrorism inflicted on Israel.

William and Kate were described as being "profoundly distressed" at the "devastating" events. The senior royals offered their thoughts and prayers to all those suffering, with the King doing so personally in a telephone call to President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday afternoon.

The royal intervention was the latest show of support for Israel from the UK and came as Hamas launched a fresh wave of rocket attacks, destroying a childrens hospital and a supermarket.

Gaza was last night set to be plunged into darkness after its power plant ran out of fuel following Israels siege and ongoing air strikes in retaliation for Saturdays attacks, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis in acts of incomprehensible savagery.

A string of high-profile figures, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Labour leader Keir Starmer, yesterday heaped pressure on the BBC over its approach to covering the murder of Israeli civilians. Mr Shapps told LBC that it was verging on disgraceful, adding: Its time to get the moral compass out at the BBC.

BBC editorial guidelines say terrorism is an emotive subject with significant political overtones and terrorist can be a barrier rather than an aid to understanding.

Yesterday the King spoke to Israel president Isaac Herzog and King Abdullah of Jordan, whose country shares a border with the West Bank and who has endeavoured to promote dialogue in the region.

It is understood that the monarch  who acts on the advice of government  expressed his deep concern over the situation in the Middle East, as well as his thoughts and prayers for all of those suffering.

Charles has worked throughout his life to encourage inter-faith dialogue both nationally and on a global scale. An aide said he would continue to seek ways to do so in such deeply painful times.

A spokesman for William and Kate said: The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days. The horrors inflicted by Hamass terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them.

As Israel exercises its right of self-defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come.

In 2018, William became the first royal to make an official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories in 70 years, meeting the presidents of both countries and telling them: Never has hope and reconciliation been more needed. Despite a growing backlash, it is understood the BBC is not planning to review or change its guidelines over the use of the words terrorism and terrorist.

Veteran BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson defended the coverage claiming 'calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides'

Last night Mr Simpson took to X, formerly known as Twitter , to defend his employers decision

And last night it rejected criticism over its decision, despite Hamas being listed as a proscribed organisation, which means the UK Government sees it as a terrorist group.

BBC director of editorial policy David Jordan said not using the word terrorist was a very long-standing policy which had stood the test of time. He added: Weve called them massacres, weve called [them] murders, weve called them out for what things are and that doesnt in any way devalue the awfulness of what is going on.

Nick Robinson, a presenter on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, said on social media: I understand entirely why some want the word terrorism used. It is, though, the long-standing practice of BBC, ITV and Sky to report others using that language rather than using it ourselves.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has raised the issue with BBC director-general Tim Davie and made clear her view that these were acts of terror carried out by a terrorist organisation.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said that by calling Hamas militants, the BBC not only offers legitimacy to their government, but also denies the fact that they commit atrocities.

Former BBC journalist Jon Sopel said the corporations editorial guidelines were no longer fit for purpose.

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
Jacinda Ardern has urged Kiwis to vote for her old party, Labour, in this weekend's New Zealand election, but viewers were distracted by a cheeky detail in her video.

The former New Zealand prime minister posted a short clip on Thursday afternoon where she told voters the election is neck-and-neck.

'I just got off the phone to friends back home who were telling me just how close this election is turning out to be, which means your vote could be a deciding vote,' she said.

'So if you believe in reducing child poverty not increasing it; if you believe in acting on climate change, not ignoring it; if you believe in strong health and education services - then vote for Labour.

'Make sure you go out and use your voice this weekend, it could make all the difference.'

Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured with partner Clarke Gayford) told her followers to vote Labour on Thursday

However, commenters were distracted by Ms Ardern's lamp - a dinosaur they believed to be a subtle dig at National Party leader, Christopher Luxon.

A rumour has started spreading suggesting that Luxon doesn't believe dinosaurs existed, which he denied during a radio interview with Newstalk ZB's Kerre Woodham on Thursday.

'When you're talking dinosaurs for two days, whether I believe in them or not, which I do for the record. But a random question, I don't know why I get asked that,' he said.

Commenters under Ms Ardern's video wrote: 'That lamp has to be an intentional placement, surely.'

'Haha, love the dinosaur lamp,' another said.

'Excellent lamp,' another wrote alongside a winking emoji.

The NZ Herald's final Poll of Polls found there is a 99.8 per cent chance of National, Act, and NZ First being able to form a government after the election this Saturday.

Viewers believed a dinosaur lamp (left) in the background of Ardern's video was a subtle dig at National Party leader Christopher Luxon, who is rumoured to not believe in dinosaurs

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However, without the support of the NZ First Party, National and Act have just a 28.5 per cent chance of winning.

The Poll of Polls also found Labour, as well as the Greens and Te Pati Maori, have a zero per cent chance of winning.

Ardern on Wednesday tried to sway undecided voters to consider Labour.

'I haven't been very present this election,' she said.

'Part of that decision really needed to be to hand over the political mantle to others and to the wonderful team I had the privilege to work alongside the Labour team.

'Having said that, I would hate for anyone to think that simply because I have removed myself from political debate I no longer have an opinion.

'Every voter or at least the vast majority of voters have opinions, and I too am a voter.'

She said action for issues she was passionate about while prime minister, like health, children's wellbeing and climate action, will be continued by her successor, Chris Hipkins, if Labour is voted in.

Ardern said issues she addressed while prime minister will be important to her successor, Chris Hipkins (above)

'If you voted for me in 2017, then thank you for that, but it probably means you were also voting for issues of child poverty and climate change,' Ardern said.

'The Labour party has had two terms in office, long enough to make progress, but not long enough to finish the job.

'Our country needs them to finish the job.'
Have you been affected by the Luton airport car park fire?

Despair is growing among Brits who parked their vehicles inside the 20million car park that caught fire at Luton airport - as they fear they may not be able to get access to them for weeks.

As many as 1,500 vehicles were parked in the ill-fated Terminal Car Park 2 that caught alight after a diesel car, understood to be a Range Rover, exploded at around 9pm on Tuesday night.

One hundred firefighters spent 12 hours battling the inferno when the new 20million block was engulfed by flames and caved in, leaving the structure in ruins.

Have you been affected by the Luton airport car park fire? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk.

The intense heat of the blaze gutted the car park, meaning it will probably have to be demolished, sources said.

Several passengers have told how their car was either caught up in the blaze or they have been unable to get through to anyone to find out when they will be reunited with their vehicle.

Two best friends on holiday in Costa Blanca who left a Vauxhall Corsa SXi on the roof of Car Park 2 are still unsure of whether their car has been destroyed in the blaze.

21-year-old Emily and her friend Mea Digby drove to Luton airport on Monday to fly to Costa Blanca - leaving a Vauxhall Corsa SXi at 4am that morning on the roof of Car Park 2

Emily's father Matthew said: 'The insurance company (Hastings Direct) have been really brilliant today and despite not knowing for sure have accepted a total loss claim and paid out to Emily the full replacement cost'

Terminal Car Park 2 caught fire after a Range Rover exploded at around 9pm on Tuesday night

The burnt out shells of cars, buried amongst debris of the multi-storey car park at Luton airport

And one man, Alastair Whatmore, told MailOnline he does 'not hold out much hope' that his vehicle is safe after he too put his car in the multi-storey structure.

'Like many others I have a vehicle in Car Park 2 at Luton. I parked on the roof of the car park and don't hold out much hope that the car will be in any condition to use again, if there at all,' he said.

'I am returning from Portugal tomorrow and as many have indicated have had no real solid news regarding the likelihood of getting the car back or its condition.

'Whilst I appreciate this is not a clear cut situation, it looks likely that car owners will be in limbo for some time.'

Another man who parked in the same car park was relieved to discover his white Ford Custom van sits undamaged in the structure, only to realise there is 'no floor in front of it'.

Chris Meacey, 57, has learnt he will be unable to retrieve his car for some time after the blaze caused much of the parking structure to collapse.

He said the van is parked dangerously close to where three levels of the car park crumbled under the pressure of the fire.

Mr Meacey, who works for a washing machine firm, is now expecting to wait at least two weeks before the vehicle will be returned to him  if at all.

Mr Meacey, who was asleep in a hotel room when he heard the explosion, said: 'I woke up at 2.15am, went down to the reception of the Holiday Inn and they informed us of the fire.

Another driver, Thomas, parked his Mercedes in Terminal Car Park 2 - receiving a notification on Mercedes Me at 00.30am on the morning of the fire that his car bonnet had opened

Thomas told MailOnline: 'I'm currently away and I parked on the second floor. I have no info if my car survived'

People took to social media to share their fear at their cars being destroyed

'We heard several explosions of what sounded like fuel tanks. Then we heard crashing noises, which I can only assume were the floors [of the car park] for levels two and three,' he told The Telegraph.

The inferno led to travel chaos for tens of thousands of families as the airport remained shut to passengers until 3pm on Wednesday, and many were stranded without an easy way of getting home.

Matthew, his 21-year-old daughter Emily and her friend drove to Luton on Monday to fly to Costa Blanca.

The two women left a Vauxhall Corsa SXi at 4am that morning on the roof of Car Park 2 on route to a quick getaway to Spain.

Matthew said: 'The insurance company (Hastings Direct) have been really brilliant today and despite not knowing for sure have accepted a total loss claim and paid out to Emily the full replacement cost.'

Yesterday the pair were able to get on with their holiday on the Costa Blanca.

'Luton asked on twitter to contact a specific email about car enquiries. We wrote to them and had an automated response saying they try to deal with enquiries in 5 days.

'My fiance Amanda Joyce was due to join us this morning but her flight was cancelled. Ryanair offered her a flight on Friday which would be too late so she ended up paying for an additional flight from Gatwick and she has now joined us tonight.'

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service spent some 12 hours battling the inferno at the airport's Terminal Car Park 2 after the multi-storey was engulfed by flames and caved in just before 9pm last night

The charred remains of cars in the Luton Airport multi-storey following last night's devastating fire

Cars were engulfed in flames after one reportedly exploded at the short stay

They added: 'We had two cars paid for in parking - Emily's was 168 and Amanda's about 120 which we hope to get back. The flight from Gatwick was 116 and train to Gatwick 45 plus taxi to station 24. When we get back together we will need to get a cab back to Milton Keynes.'

Another driver, named Thomas, is growing anxious after he parked his Mercedes in Terminal Car Park 2 - receiving a notification on Mercedes Me at 00.30am on the morning of the fire that his car bonnet had opened.

He told MailOnline: 'I'm currently away and I parked on the second floor. I have no info if my car survived.

'At 00.30am I got a message from Mercedes Me that my car bonnet is open!'

Liz and Gary Blackmore, of Loughborough, were coming back from a five-day holiday to Portugal on Tuesday night and had parked their Mercedes-AMG CLA Shooting Brake on the top floor of Luton's new parking structure.

The couple were on a flight back to Luton when they heard about the blaze from the captain, who had to make a last minute diversion to Gatwick.

Mrs Blackmore, 57, told MailOnline: 'We're devastated. The car was less than a year old and my daughter has taken the other car so now we're left with no car. We're horrified.'

Mrs Blackmore continued: 'We parked our Mercedes on the top floor of the multi-story Car Park 2, short-stay, Luton, and we'd gone on holiday to Portugal.

'We were returning yesterday evening and then suddenly the captain of the plane told us that we were diverting to Gatwick due to a large fire that has closed the airport.

'I saw it all on MailOnline and BBC about the fire.'

Another woman, 26-year-old Chloe Roberts, parked her Ford Fiesta in the car park before going on holiday to Iceland with her husband.

They are set to land in the UK on Friday and live more than 100 miles from Luton Airport.

Ms Roberts told The Sun: 'We are devastated. We just need to know if it's completely gone.

Nikodem Lesiak, 18, said he and seven other Polish university students are 'tired' as they have been stranded since 12 am after their 7:50 am flight to Krakow, Poland, was cancelled after the fire

This morning confused and upset stranded passengers, some with small children, dragged luggage up and down the road to the airport, unsure of what to do

Burnt cars are seen at the London Luton Airport Terminal Car Park 2

A large fire caused a structural collapse at Luton airport on Tuesday night

As many as 1,200 vehicles were affected by the collapse of the car park at Luton airport last night

A witness described the speed in which the blaze tore through the car park's upper floor as 'incredible'

'We run our son's charity and we are supposed to be in Newquay by 10am on Friday to install an accessible defibrillator in his memory.'

James Davison, 37, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, was travelling back from Portugal with his partner, Sarah, 32, when they were diverted to Gatwick.

They had parked their 32,000 VW Tiguan in Car Prk 2 which they fear has been destroyed in the blaze.

James, an accountant said: 'We haven't been told for sure but we fear the car has gone. It's devastating, what with the cost of the holiday it'll cost a fortune.

'We were due to land last night and the pilot just said that we had to divert. 'It cost us money just coming back here from Gatwick.'

Nikodem Lesiak, 18, said he and seven other Polish university students are 'tired' as they have been stranded since 12 am after their 7:50 am flight to Krakow, Poland, was cancelled. The students have been in the UK for holiday for five days.

He said: 'We are tired, and we have spent the whole night here. We need to get to Poland as fast as possible.

'When we got here, we found out Luton is burning and everything is closed, and we were supposed to have our flight at 7:50 today but it was cancelled. We found another ticket to Poland from another city and then we have to take a coach to the city we live in.'

Their next flight will be leaving at 12:40 pm, however Mr Lesiak said they are taking a 'risk' as their flight might again be cancelled.

Cristina Cristea, 25, who said her car is stuck in a multi-storey car park at Luton Airport, has told how she saw a fire take hold in parking structure soon after her flight landed.

'By the time we came out of the airport it was 9.10pm and we heard more noises and saw flames,' said Ms Cristea, of Towcester, Northamptonshire.

She said her car is stuck in terminal car park one, next to car park two where the fire broke out.

'At first we thought it was shotguns or something as we couldn't see any flames, then we saw what happened,' she said.

Alex Gogosana was forced to bed down and sleep overnight in Luton Airport's terminal building with friends Cristina Ioyan and Remos and Roxana Sosoi.

Alex, 34, had parked his Ford Focus in the ill-fated Car Park 2 and then watched in horror as the building burned down an hour later.

He had only bought the car two months ago for just under 2000 and had paid 63.99 for two days parking. He fears the vehicle has been destroyed in the fire.

Factory worker Alex and his friends, who all live in Chelmsford, Essex, had planned to fly to Craiova in Romania at 9.50pm last night.
Antony Blinken has landed in Israel to meet with senior officials in the country as the violence continues to spiral following the brutal assault on the country by Hamas last weekend.

He touched down in Tel Aviv just after 3am Eastern time, 10am local time. Blinken was greeted on the tarmac by government officials who offered him a warm embrace. The secretary did not make any statements upon arrival.

Prior to leaving the US, Blinken said his simple message was that the United States has Israel's back.' The secretary is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, members of his senior cabinet as well as President Isaac Herzog.

On Friday, Blinken will also sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, left, welcomes, Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv

President Joe Biden has dispatched his top diplomat to Israel on an urgent mission to show U.S. support after the unprecedented attack by Hamas

The death toll in Gaza has nearly reached 1,200, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said last night

Blinken is being joined on his mission of peace by his Deputy Chief of Staff Tom Sullivan, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr and Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen.

He was greeted by Foreign Minister of Israel Eli Cohen, along with two other officials from the department, Michael Herzog, the US ambassador to the country and Stephanie Hallett, the head of the US diplomatic mission to Israel.

A state department official told The New York Times that Blinken planned to head straight to Tel Aviv to begin his meetings. The secretary will head to Jordan after conducting his meetings in Israel to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

The secretary of state became the most senior US official to visit the country since Saturdays Hamas terror attack that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking here at the UN General Assembly in New York City on September 23, will meet with Secretary Antony Blinken on Friday

The death toll in Gaza has also nearly reached 1,200, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said last night after four days of relentless Israeli air raids on the Hamas-controlled territory.

But Blinken insisted he would not try to restrain the Israeli counter-attack ahead of a widely expected invasion of the heavily populated enclave.

We know that Israel will take all of the precautions that it can, just as we would, and again thats what separates us from Hamas and terrorist groups that engage in the most heinous kind of activities, he told reporters as he left.

The secretary of state will offer further military support when he meets Netanyahu after a second US carrier group was ordered for the region.

But he will also be trying to stop the conflict spreading after Israeli forces again exchanged artillery fire with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants across the Lebanese border to the north.

Secretary of state Anthony Blinken promised 'the United States has Israel's back' as he became the most senior US official to visit the country since the October 7 attack

Palestinian officials said the death toll in Gaza is already nearly 1,200 ahead of an expected Israeli ground invasion

We will be reiterating the very strong message that President Biden has delivered to any country or any party that might try to take advantage of this situation, and that message is dont.

The United States has Israel's back.

We have their back today, we will have it tomorrow, and we will have it every day. And we will always stand resolutely against terrorism.

Not since Isis have we seen this kind of depravity and we will continue to stand resolutely against it.

Already significant military assistance requested by Israel is on its way, thats on top of everything weve been doing for years.

'Therell be further requests and weve already been working closely with Congress on this and we look forward to continuing to do that so Israel has what it needs.

America's top diplomat has already been working the phones in a bid to apply pressure on Hamas to release around 150 hostages it took from Israel in its deadly cross-border raid.

He has spoken to leaders in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates and is expected to visit at least some on his trip to the Middle East.

But critics claimed the unforeseen attack is a symptom of years of neglect in the region which has left the US playing catch-up.

The attack by Hamas is a reminder of the perception of an American absence or lack of commitment to the region that some actors might interpret and do things they should not be doing, said Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute.
An Israeli military spokesman this morning appeared to confirm reports that Hamas terrorists beheaded babies amid their ruthless attacks this weekend that saw hundreds of Israeli civilians killed in their homes.

Israeli Defence Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus said a coroner who visited the aftermath of the massacre at a Kibbutz close to the Gaza Strip had seen the children's bodies and confirmed how they died.

'I admit it took us some time to really understand and to verify that report, and it was hard to believe that even Hamas could perform such a barbaric act,' he said in comments carried by the BBC.

'I think we can now say, with relative confidence, that this is what Hamas did... there were bodies scattered everywhere, mutilated.'

In the immediate aftermath of Hamas attacks, reports circulated that the terrorists had raped women and children and beheaded infants but they were later decried as misinformation.

But Israeli PM Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in various atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

IDF Spokesperson Maj. Doron Spielman later told NBC News that he could not confirm how many babies had been beheaded.

But he then added: 'What I can confirm is there were enormous witness testimonies along with evidence found in the field that there were children that were grotesquely murdered and their body parts were removed.'

Then this morning, the IDF's official social media accounts published an image showing an ISIS flag they claimed had been left at the kibbutz of Sufa. The image was later circulated by the Jerusalem Post - though it is unclear whether Hamas fighters left the radical Islamist insignia at the kibbutz.

October 11, 2023 - Kfar Aza, Israel: Soldiers crying at the sight of a family dining table on which there is still Challah bread from Friday's Kiddush. IDF Lotar unit soldiers are slowly checking the Kibbutz, passing from one house to another to clear them from any ammunition or threat

An Israeli soldier comforts a member of his troop as they look at uneaten bread left on the table of a home which was invaded by Hamas

IDF units survey the terror conducted in Israeli kibbutz close to the border with Gaza

October 11, 2023 - Kfar Aza, Israel: IDF Lotar unit soldiers are slowly checking the Kibbutz, passing from one house to another to clear them from any ammunition or threat

Israeli rescuers shared a shocking image of a blood-soaked nursery in Be'eri

A nursery room is seen charred after Hamas set fire to the building

An Israel Defence Forces source provided a photograph of a child's blood-soaked bed in Kibbutz Kerem Shalom following a Hamas-led attack on the home

The IDF's official social media accounts published an image showing an ISIS flag they claimed had been left at the kibbutz of Sufa

The image was later circulated by the Jerusalem Post - though it is unclear whether Hamas fighters left the radical Islamist insignia at the kibbutz

An Israeli soldier walks past a house destroyed by Hamas in Kibbutz Be'eri on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023

A house is completely destroyed after being burned by Hamas terrorists during the attack at Kibbutz Be'eri, near the border with Gaza on October 11, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel

An IDF soldier covers his face before removing the body of a civilian killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas terrorists on Tuesday

It comes after Netanyahu yesterday shared an image of a bloodstained child's bed, with the caption 'Hamas is worse than ISIS '.

Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

When asked about the atrocities in a media briefing this morning, another IDF spokesperson Lt Col Richard Hecht said he 'could not deny' the reports of the infant beheadings but refused to confirm whether they had been proven.

He said the reports came from a journalist who spoke with IDF soldiers at the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which like Be'eri suffered horrendous atrocities and many civilian casualties.

'I want to believe if our 45-year-old reservist told a journalist what he saw, he wasn't spitting out IDF messages,' Hecht told the media briefing according to SkyNews.

'I don't know... I can't deny.'

Speaking to US President Joe Biden yesterday about the Hamas atrocities, Netanyahu said: 'We've never seen such savagery in the history of the state,' nor 'since the Holocaust,' before going on to reference scenes of Nazi brutality against Ukrainians at Babyn Yar during World War II.

'They took dozens of children, bound them up, burned them and executed them. They beheaded soldiers, they mowed down these youngsters who came to a nature festival, you know, put five jeeps around this depression in the soil and like Babyn Yar, they mowed them down, making sure that they killed everybody,' he said.

'They're even worse than ISIS and we need to treat them as such.'

Israeli PM Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in various atrocities in social media posts, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers

Remnants of a terrorised nursery are seen strewn across the road near a kibbutz

Israeli rescuers carries what appears to be a small body, possibly a child, wrapped in a cover

Hamas terrorists allegedly beheaded babies and gunned down entire families in their homes in a small kibbutz in Israel, Israeli soldiers have claimed

A soldier is overcome with emotion as he searches for bodies in the kibbutz

Israeli soldiers remove the body of a civilian, who was killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas on this kibbutz Kfar Aza near the border with Gaza

Hamas in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel - soldiers, men, women, children and older adults - and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Two Israeli kibbutz in particular - Be'eri and Kfar Aza, suffered heinous savagery at the hands of Hamas.

Kfar Aza kibbutz is thought to be the site where the worst of the atrocities against babies occurred given its popularity with young parents and was one of the first Israeli settlements to be targeted on Saturday morning by rampaging terrorists.

It was here that Hamas gunmen, wielding assault rifles and grenades, shot dead screaming families as they begged for their lives before setting fire to their homes.

The terror began just after dawn when most of the 400 residents living there were sleeping or enjoying their breakfast.

The first wave of 70 terrorists had roared towards the quiet kibbutz on motorbikes after tearing through the border wire a mile away, while others paraglided over Israel's unsuspecting defences from Gaza.

As soon as they arrived, the heavily armed fighters attacked the compound from four directions - starting with the 'baby quarter' on the west side where the young families lived.

This graphic (above) shows how the horrifying Hamas massacre on the Kfar Aza kibbutz unfolded

IDF Lotar unit soldiers are slowly checking the Kibbutz, passing from one house to another to clear them from any ammunition or threat. Fifth day to the attack of Hamas on Israel

Israeli police and security forces assist a journalist taking cover during an alert for a rocket attack in Israel's southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on October 12, 2023

Israeli soldiers walk beside the bodies of Hamas militant killed in Kfar Aza kibbutz on Tuesday

Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

The body of a woman is covered with a blanket in Kfar Azza

A baby's seat and a child's dress are seen spattered in blood in the aftermath of the attack

Gunshots and blood stains litter the walls and door of a house in the kibbutz near the border with Gaza

The terrorists were met by a frantic kibbutz guard who belonged to a small group of residents with military experience that were patrolling the perimeter when they saw the swarm of black figures racing towards them.

They - like the Israeli military and government - were not prepared for the wave of terrorists firing streams of bullets at them. The small security squad tried in vain to protect their neighbours but they couldn't hold the terrorists off and were killed.

Ruthless Hamas gunmen moved quickly through the kibbutz, first killing a 90-year-old grandmother who had been sitting on her porch. They dragged the terrified woman into her living room and shot her twice in the head.

Families were woken to the sound of gunfire and voices outside their homes. Terrified parents ran to their sleeping children and pulled them from their beds and cots before bundling them into saferooms or cupboards.

Among those parents were Itay and Hadar Berichevsky, both 30, who heard the gunmen trying to smash down their front door.

The parents frantically put their ten-month-old twin babies into a hidden shelter moments before the Hamas terrorists stormed into their home and shot the couple dead.

The terrorists then moved systematically from home to home, blowing open front doors with their rocket-powered grenades and unleashing a hail of bullets at the men, women and children living there. Entire families were handcuffed before they were shot point blank one by one, soldiers said.

Harrowing images from the scene show a baby's car seat covered with blood, her small bloodied dress lying next to it.

Hamas gunmen then set fire to several homes in the kibbutz in a sick attempt to force the families out so that they could gun them down as soon as they reached their gardens.

Meanwhile in Be'eri just a stone's throw away from Kfar Aza, sickening photos emerged of Israeli civilians lying riddled with bullet holes as they lay in their beds.

Most of the photos passed to MailOnline by the Israeli Embassy in London were too graphic to publish

Homes in the community were largely decimated by Hamas terrorists

Cars were left flattened in the middle of the road in Be'eri, which sits just a few miles from the border with Gaza

A dead body lies on the ground following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023

A mortar shell lies on grass in Kibbutz Be'eri in the aftermath of the strikes, on October 11, 2023

Horrific photos too graphic to publish showed how one woman was lying face down in the bed in a pool of blood with six gaping holes in her mottled, decomposing skin.

Next to her, a man with dark hair awkwardly slipped in a gap between the bed and a wall.

His black clothes, which appeared to be pyjamas, were still slick with his blood, which pooled in a dark red mess on the floor below him.

His body could be seen decomposing - his face has blackened with boils all over his arms. Chunks of his flesh were missing from his right arm and hand.

Outside, several cars were left flattened, while the bodies of people in everyday clothing can be seen lying in awkward positions.

The more than 100 bodies found at the kibbutz were removed by the Zaka search and rescue group, who warned that the number of dead may yet rise.

A screenshot from a video, verified by CNN , reveals the chilling moment Hamas butchers arrived in kibbutz Be'eri, where they murdered at least 100 people

At least 100 people were killed by Hamas terrorists in the early hours of Saturday morning

The number of people confirmed dead at Be'eri may rise in the coming days

Israeli soldiers mobilise on October 11, in response to the attacks on Kibbutz Be'eri

Israeli soldiers ride in military vehicles as they gather following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023

This image from video provided by South First Responders shows charred and damaged cars along a desert road after an attack by Hamas at the Tribe of Nova Trance music festival near Kibbutz Re'im in southern Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

One survivor, Haim Jelin, told local media that Hamas fighters 'walked around Be'eri like they owned the place.'

'They shot indiscriminately, abducted whoever they could, burned down people's homes so they'd have to escape through the window, where the terrorists would wait,' he added.

A woman called Miri Gad Mesika told local media that she and her husband were choking on thick smoke and gas fumes as they tried to hide.

'We soaked towels with water and covered our faces, while my husband Eli held the shelter door closed as hard as he could as the terrorists tried to break in,' she said.

'Moments before we jumped from the second floor, we assessed the situation of the fire and looked out for the terrorists and decided to jump.

'We fled to our neighbours across the street, and watched our house go up in flames before it was completely burned down. I have no idea how we survived.'
An Australian woman who was strip searched by airport staff without consent, including invasive gynaecological exams, has criticised a Senate enquiry into Qatar Airlines for leaving her and others involved as a 'footnote'.

The woman, who goes by the alias Anna, was one of 18 Australian women who were pulled off of their Qatar Airlines flight to Australia on October 2, 2020, by armed officials to undergo a thorough strip search.

The search throughout the Hamad International Airport in Doha for all women of childbearing age occurred after a prematurely-born baby was found alive after being dumped in a bathroom.

The horrifying experience was referenced as a 'footnote' in a report from a Senate inquiry into the reasoning behind the refusal of more Qatar Airlines flights into Australia.

The inquiry's report mostly centred on the relationship between the Labor Government and national airline Qantas, who lobbied the government into denying the request.

The woman, who goes by the alias Anna, was one of 18 Australian women who were pulled off of their Qatar Airlines flight to Australia on October 2, 2020, by armed officials to undergo a thorough strip search

The baby was found alive in a bin at the Hamad International Airport before flights - including one to Sydney - were delayed as officials tried to find the mother. Pictured: A Qatar aircraft is seen at Doha's Hamad International Airport

READ MORE: Qantas asks government to not review decision to block Qatar Airways Advertisement

Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King, blamed the strip search as one of the many reasons as to why the government refused the extra Qatar flights.

'This is the only airline that has something like that that has happened,' she said. 'That is context that is there.'

The minister added 'there was no one factor that influenced this decision.'

Anna described the inquiry as 'more concerned with getting cheaper flights out of Australia, rather than considering the safety of flying through Doha airport'.

She said that despite the incident being over three-years-ago, she has been left 'very, very sad' after the inquiry.

'Being referenced just literally as a footnote is beyond sad and upsetting,' Anna said.

The committee chair, opposition transport spokesperson Bridget McKenzie, said the report accurately represented the extensive evidence presented during the inquiry.

'The committee expressed its deep concern at the appalling and unacceptable incident that occurred at Hamad International Airport in October 2020,' Ms McKenzie said.

The woman, whose alias is Anna, was searched after a newborn baby was found in bathrooms the Hamad International Airport in Doha (pictured)

Speaking to 60 Minutes almost a year after the incident, Anna recounted being dragged off her plane and forced into an ambulance without being told the issue.

'I thought we were going to be kidnapped or held as legal pawns. I feared we were going to be raped and that my child is going to be taken and that we will never see family again,' Anna said

'It was the scariest moment of my life.

'I was crying and shaking and squeezing my baby. I didn't want to get on an elevator with armed guards not knowing where we were going and where we were being taken.'

An Australian woman who endured a strip search and invasive gynaecological exams in Qatar has slammed a senate inquiry into the denial of extra Qatar Airlines flight into Australia

Anna is one of five of the women involved in the strip search who are currently suing Qatar after failing to gain compensation.

'Sometimes you need to deploy a legal remedy in circumstances where either moral, or in fact even political or diplomatic pressure, is getting nowhere,' Damian Sturzaker, Marque Lawyers partner and representative for the women, said.

Qatar Airlines vice president of global sales, Matt Raos, told the inquiry they are 'committed to ensuring it doesn't happen again'.

'We have a very longstanding track record in being a leading player in safety initiatives for our customers, for our staff, for our crew on board,' he said.
India has been shaken to its core after an eight-year-old girl was gang-raped and bludgeoned to death with a rock, and a 13-year-old girl had her eyes removed in a fatal torture attack.

The attacks come amid a massive rise of violence against women and girls in India over the last decade.

Police in Rajkot, a city of two million in the western state of Gujarat, said the eight-year-old girl's body was found in an isolated spot behind a railway station on Saturday.

The force since said it arrested three people accused of kidnapping, raping and bludgeoning the unnamed child on Monday.

Police said that CCTV of the incident revealed she was lured into a bush by one of the attackers, before the other two joined them.

Police have arrested three people for the attack in Rajkot, but cops in Baerilly are still looking for the person who attacked the 13-year-old girl

The three attacked her before 'bashing her head in with a stone', according to the Additional Commissioner of Police, Vidhi Chaudhary.

Chaudhary added: 'The accused killed the girl as they were known to her father and feared that she might tell him about them.'

Two of the alleged attackers reportedly fled the city after the body was found, fearing arrest.

Over in Baerilly, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, a 13-year-old girl was found dead in a cane field after going missing on her way back home from school.

A senior police officer told the Times of India that her attacker had gagged the young girl's mouth with mud, pierced her eyes with sugarcane stalks and tortured her.

A member of the autopsy team told the newspaper that they are currently testing to see whether she was raped.

'We have seen bruises near her private parts and samples have been taken for confirmation of sexual assault through lab tests.

'There were seven deep wounds on the girl's body. She must have gone through enormous pain. She was definitely tortured before murder.'

Senior police officer Naipal Singh, said in a statement: 'The case is taken up on priority and senior officials are monitoring the investigation. Four teams are working on the leads and the forensic team is collecting evidence.

'We are taking support from the surveillance team and anti-social elements of the area under the scanner. We are hoping for a breakthrough soon.'

Violence against women and girls in India has risen dramatically in the last decade.

The National Crime Records Bureau reported a 15.3% increase in crimes against women between 2020 and 2021.

Between 2011 and 2021, there was an 87% increase in crimes against women.

Last year, it was reported that there was an average of 87 new rape cases opened every single day in India.
Rob Rinder today revealed his Jewish mother does not feel safe in Britain after the Hamas attack on Israel.

The TV judge also told Good Morning Britain that his young nephews go to school 'under risk' and may 'not come home' as he fears for the safety of all Jewish people across the country.

It comes amid fears of a surge in anti-Semitic hate crimes in Britain after Hamas terrorists slaughtered innocent Israeli civilians at the weekend - and Israel starting bombing Gaza in retaliation.

Rinder was born into a Jewish family and received an MBE in 2021 - along with his mother Angela Cohen - in recognition of their services to Holocaust education. He learned how seven of his relatives were slaughtered in Nazi concentration camps in the Second World War while delving into his family history on a 2018 episode of the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are?

Speaking to GMB, he said: 'My mum is sitting there saying she feels unsafe - there's less than 270,000 Jews in this country, and my nephew, kids as young as seven, are going to school today and they do so under risk.

TV judge Rob Rinder has revealed his Jewish mother does not feel safe in Britain after the Hamas attack on Israel

The British barrister told Good Morning Britain that his young nephews go to school 'under risk' and may 'not come home' as he fears for the safety of all Jewish people across the country

'There's a chance they're going to not come home. Sending your kids to school shouldn't be an act of courage - that's the life-lived experience of Jewish kids just going to school.

'And of shop owners in London and in other cities, we've got a lived memory of that - of what that means not to be safe because of your religion, because of being Jewish.'

He added: 'It's personal for me but it should be personal for every person, whoever you are, up and down the country.

'It's worth remembering when you think about how you're going to respond today.

'I was at a vigil outside Downing Street. What happened at that vigil was that there way no chanting, no happiness, there was prayer for peace, for every singe human life, every single human life that has value.

'Whatever happens in the Middle East should have no impact on the safety of our communities - and its your job whoever you are to stand alongside us because we need you.'

He said today: 'My mum is sitting there saying she feels unsafe - there's less than 270,000 Jews in this country, and my nephew, kids as young as seven, are going to school today and they do so under risk'

Judge Robert Rinder gave a talk to mark Holocaust Memorial Day at Exeter Cathedral in Devon in January

It comes amid the continued attack by Hamas terrorists on innocent citizens in Israel, which has so far seen more than 1,200 people killed in Gaza and a further 5,339 injured

He added: 'Be mindful of that is what I'd say before you post.'

Rinder made an emotional plea to social media users to 'think carefully' before they post following the death of two of his friends in Israel.

Speaking to Sky News at the Attitude Awards in London on Wednesday, Rinder said: 'Be kind, read and educate yourself and think carefully before you post (on social media).

'Kindness requires thought, it requires hope, it requires you to try and be as mindful as possible, as you can have to learn a little bit and we invite that from other communities and that's true of the Jewish community as well.

'Right now, our Jewish community, many of my friends, my kids who I taught, I've got friends who were killed at that dance party, for example, a couple who planned to get married, two women in Israel, they spent their lives trying to work and campaign for peace and they're gone tonight.'

Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Re'im was invaded by Hamas gunmen and hundreds of attendees were killed.

Rinder took a pause during the interview as he appeared to break down and look tearful and upset before, saying: 'Hamas doesn't speak for the people of Palestine, it does not speak for the people of Gaza, it's a tragedy and a horror for what might befall them, but be mindful of the Jewish community tonight.

'Thousands of people have died, many of whom are working for justice, for freedom, for the people who celebrate this so joyously, remember them too and don't ask them questions about whataboutery, they don't deserve that.

Rinder said today: 'Sending your kids to school shouldn't be an act of courage - that's the life-lived experience of Jewish kids just going to school'

The TV personality also lit a candle in January in remembrance of the six million Jews who were killed in the atrocity

'Hamas is a terrorist organisation. It's one that hates gay people... They do not speak of or by for the good people of the world, remember that when you post, be mindful.

'Remember all human life is a value and we as a Jewish community, just like the LGBT+ community, need you, we need you more than ever and be an ally, and think, and be kind.'

Judge Rinder gave a talk to mark Holocaust Memorial Day at Exeter Cathedral in Devon in January.

The TV personality also lit a candle in remembrance of the six million Jews who were killed in the atrocity.

The UK's Holocaust Memorial Day was first held on January 27, 2001 and has been held on the same day every year since.

The date is the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Union in 1945.

Upon receiving his MBE, Rinder said it was 'a gift to share this with my mum who has taught me always to see the best in humankind.'

In 2020, Rinder made the documentary My Family, The Holocaust and Me in which he and his mother explored Jewish families' stories and speak in schools alongside survivors.

Some three million viewers watched the documentary, which follows second and third generations of three families affected by the Holocaust.

The TV judge was told how his great-grandparents and five of their children were killed in the Holocaust, with his grandfather, Morris Malenicky, the only member of the family to survive the war.

The star discovered how Morris' parents, his four sisters and his brother all died at the Treblinka Camp in Poland in 1940, six months after war was declared.
A quadruple killer had said he would murder his girlfriend and children if their relationship 'went bad,' an inquest heard yesterday.

Damien Bendall, 33, is serving a whole-life order for the murders of his partner Terri Harris, 35, her daughter Lacey Bennett, 11, her son John Paul Bennett, 13, and Lacey's friend Connie Gent, 11, after he attacked them with a claw hammer at their home.

A probation services officer  who had just five months of experience before she was allocated prolific offender Bendall's case  told an inquest she would have prevented him from living with the pregnant girlfriend he later murdered if she had been told about the comments he made.

The inquest had earlier heard that an officer from the Electronic Monitoring Service (EMS) who was fitting Bendall with a tag for previous offences did not report Bendall when he told her he would 'murder my girlfriend and children' if their relationship 'went bad'.

Inquests into the deaths of Ms Harris, her children and Connie, at Chesterfield Coroner's Court, yesterday heard from Aisha Fatima, who was allocated Bendall's case in June 2021.

Damien Bendall, 32, (pictured) killed his partner, her two children and their friend

Lacey Bennett (left) her mother Terri Harris (centre) and her brother, John Paul, (right) were all killed

Connie Gent, 11, was at a sleepover at the home in Killamarsh, near Sheffield, when she was murdered

At the time, Bendall was subject to a 17-month suspended sentence for committing arson in Swindon in May 2020, but he was living with Ms Harris and her children in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, where the killings took place.

It was the latest in a series of serious and violent offences that Bendall had committed dating back to 2004, but he had been incorrectly classified as posing a medium risk of serious harm to the public, and a low risk of harm to partners and to children.

Ms Fatima, who worked at the probation service in Chesterfield, was asked if she had been aware that those comments had been made, just months before he went on to murder Ms Harris and the children in September 2021, to which she replied 'no'.

When asked what she would have done had she known what Bendall had said, she told the court: 'I would have taken action. I wouldn't have allowed Bendall to reside at the address with Terri Harris and her children.

'I would have spoken to my SPO [senior probation officer].'

When asked why she would have taken this action, Ms Fatima responded: 'Because it was a threat to kill them.'

The inquest also heard how Ms Fatima would not have been given Bendall's case had he not been incorrectly assessed as posing a medium risk, because of her lack of experience.

John Paul and Lacey with their father Jason Bennett

An family handout photo of Connie who was killed by Bendall while at a sleepover

Ms Fatima told the court she was 'comfortable' to deal with Bendall, even though she was 'visibly Muslim' and he had previously expressed racist views and had claimed he had been a member of a white supremacist group called the Aryan Brotherhood.

She accepted that she believed him when he mentioned he had converted to Islam, even though she admitted he did still say racist things.

She said: 'I felt that it was a case that I could learn from. I was comfortable to deal with it as long as he was comfortable dealing with me.'

Ms Fatima also told the inquest she did not feel like she had been given enough training for the role, which was mostly carried out online.

She said: 'I did feel my training was inadequate. I felt like I didn't learn as much as we were expected to have learned.

'It was really hard to concentrate and take everything in on a Teams call over a couple of days.'

She also admitted she had not taken a 'deeper dive' into Bendall's history after taking over his case and had only read two out of ten of the previous risk-assessment reports detailing his background.

An independent report by chief inspector of probation Justin Russell previously said the Probation Service's handling of Bendall was of an 'unacceptable standard' at every stage and 'critical opportunities' to correct errors were missed.

The inquests continue.
The editor of BBC Newsnight has quit the show amid rumours of huge budget cuts and dwindling viewing figures at the broadcaster.

Stewart Maclean, who took up the role just over a year ago, announced that he would be leaving the current affairs to take up a new post in Africa.

He admitted to colleagues that his departure 'couldn't be timed more badly', and admitted it was a 'stressful' time for staff working on the programme, which faces rumoured budget cuts of 5million.

The programme has been facing mounting pressure in recent months, with audience numbers reportedly shrinking from 565,000 in 2020 to 365,000.

Mr Maclean, who is taking up a role as BBC World News Content's Africa bureau chief in Nairobi, was the executive producer behind the BBC's infamous interview with the Duke of York in 2019 before being appointed editor in 2022. He replaced Esme Wren, who left to lead Channel 4 News.

Stewart Maclean has quit BBC Newsnight amid rumours of huge budget cuts and dwindling viewing figures at the broadcaster

Mr Maclean was the executive producer behind the BBC's infamous interview with the Duke of York in 2019 before being appointed editor in 2022

In an email to colleagues shared by Deadline, Mr Maclean wrote: 'I'm acutely aware of how stressful the last few weeks have been for our team amid speculation about proposed changes to the programme.

'I know there's a huge amount of uncertainty and I'm sorry to be signalling my departure at a time of such instability.'

It has been rumoured that executives are looking to cut the budget of the show from around 8million per year to 3million as part of a wider cost-cutting effort by the BBC.

But Mr Maclean reaffirmed his belief in the show, writing in his email: 'Despite the current uncertainty, it is clear that Newsnight will continue into the future and I have no doubt it will thrive.

'I will relish the chance to watch what you all do with the programme in the years going forward as we advance towards our 50th year on air.'

He has been praised by BBC bosses, with Paul Danahar, the BBC World News Content executive news editor, reportedly telling staff: 'Stewart is one of the BBC's most creative and accomplished editors in news.

'As the head, and deputy head, of Newsnight he has consistently delivered high-impact original journalism.

'He has proven editorial leadership, has managed a large team of journalists and has a track record of finding and developing new talent.'

Stewart is expected to start his new job in the coming months with a new editor for the programme being announced soon.

It comes after Ex BBC News boss Katy Searle called for the programme to be axed to save money.

She said: 'Is it really the right thing to spend 13 million on a programme that is only watched by 300,000?

'When, actually, you could do that same investigative journalism but spread it across news in different parts of the day? And remember, Panorama still exists.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle today condemned 'all acts of terrorism and brutality' following the Hamas attack on Israel, as the couple spoke out following condemnation of the atrocities by the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also revealed they were 'supporting our partners and organisations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed'.

In a message posted on their Archewell website under the title 'with heavy hearts', the couple said: 'At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

'We are supporting our partners and organisations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.'

The statement by the Sussexes was posted last night, but was first revealed on X, formerly known as Twitter, this morning by their favoured journalist Omid Scobie.

At 8.40am, Mr Scobie wrote: 'The Archewell Foundation, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan last night released a short statement on the Israel-Hamas war.'

It comes hours after Harry's father King Charles III and his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton condemned the 'barbaric acts' and appalling 'horrors' inflicted by Hamas on Israel.

The royals deliberate use of the word terrorism to describe the atrocities came in sharp contrast to the BBC, which refuses to call Hamas a terrorist organisation. It refers to Hamas as a militant group and described the slaughter of civilians as a militant attack.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in New York on Tuesday for the Mental Health Day Festival

The statement by Harry and Meghan was revealed by their favoured journalist Omid Scobie

Charles was yesterday said to be extremely concerned over the situation and is being actively briefed on developments while the Prince and Princess of Wales were described as being 'profoundly distressed' at the 'devastating' events.

What have Royal Family members said about the attack on Israel? KING CHARLES Issued by Buckingham Palace at 2.50pm yesterday: 'This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about, and he has asked to be kept actively updated. 'His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak.' 'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.' PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON Issued by Kensington Palace at 5.55pm yesterday: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days. 'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them. 'As Israel exercises its right of self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come. 'Their Royal Highnesses hold all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds. 'Those The Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope - that of a better future. In the midst of such terrible suffering, The Prince and Princess continue to share that hope without reservation.' PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE Issued by Archewell Foundation at an unconfirmed time last night, revealed by Omid Scobie at 8.40am today: 'At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality. 'We are supporting our partners and organisations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.' Advertisement

The senior royals offered their thoughts and prayers to all those suffering, with the King doing so personally in a telephone call to President Isaac Herzog yesterday afternoon.

Kensington Palace shared William and Kate's reaction to the attacks just before 6pm yesterday, saying: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.

'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them.'

They added that the couple were holding 'all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds'.

Israel has vowed unprecedented retaliation against the Palestinian militant group Hamas after its fighters stormed through the border fence on Saturday and shot hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

The Israeli government has launched a major retaliation of air strikes on Gaza and stopped the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory.

The conflict has already claimed at least 2,200 lives on both sides, with fears it could escalate further.

Concerns also remain for the safety of British citizens in the region with at least 17 UK nationals now either dead or missing, including children.

The King also spoke with King Abdullah of Jordan, whose nation shares a border with the West Bank and is home to a large number of Palestinian refugees.

King Abdullah has been striving to de-escalate the situation. Charles, who long campaigned on interfaith tolerance as the Prince of Wales, is said to be continuing to seek ways to do so amid the growing conflict.

In a statement issued just before 3pm yesterday, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about and he has asked to be kept actively updated.

'His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak.'

He added: 'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.'

Charles, as the Prince of Wales, carried out his first official tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2020.

It was the highest-level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas.

He visited the grave of his grandmother Princess Alice, who was famed for offering refuge to Jewish people during the Second World War in Nazi-occupied Athens.

Her bravery was recognised by Israel, which in 1993 posthumously bestowed the title of Righteous Among The Nations on her.

Charles visits the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during a royal visit on January 24, 2020

William stands in the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City in Jerusalem on June 28, 2018

The princess - who was the mother of Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh - is buried at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem.

William also travelled there in 2018, and he and Kate have signified their hopes of peace in the future.

The Kensington Palace spokesperson said: 'Those the Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope - that of a better future.

'In the midst of such terrible suffering, the prince and princess continue to share that hope without reservation.'

They also expressed sympathy for both Israelis and Palestinians, with the Palace spokesperson saying: 'As Israel exercises its right of self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come.'

William met separately five years ago with both the then-Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

He was urged by Mr Rivlin to take a 'message of peace' to Mr Abbas to encourage him to take the 'first step' to end the 'tragedy' between their people.

The royals' deliberate use of the word 'terrorism' came despite the BBC still refusing to call Hamas a 'terrorist' organisation.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accused broadcasters of trying to 'wilfully mislead' by not using the word terrorist, saying: 'The murder of babies where they sleep is not the act of a 'freedom fighter'.'

A string of other high-profile figures, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Labour leader Keir Starmer, yesterday heaped pressure on the BBC over its approach to covering the murder of Israeli civilians.

Buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the Gaza border in southern Israel

Mr Shapps told LBC that it was 'verging on disgraceful', adding: 'It's time to get the moral compass out at the BBC.'

BBC editorial guidelines say terrorism is an 'emotive subject with significant political overtones' and 'terrorist' can be a 'barrier rather than an aid to understanding'.

Despite a growing backlash, it is understood the BBC is not planning to review or change its guidelines over the use of the words 'terrorism' and 'terrorist'.

And last night it rejected criticism over its decision, despite Hamas being listed as a proscribed organisation, which means the UK Government sees it as a terrorist group.

BBC director of editorial policy David Jordan said not using the word terrorist was a 'very long-standing policy' which had 'stood the test of time'.

He added: 'We've called them massacres, we've called [them] murders, we've called them out for what things are and that doesn't in any way devalue the awfulness of what is going on.'

Nick Robinson, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said on social media: 'I understand entirely why some want the word 'terrorism' used. It is, though, the long-standing practice of BBC, ITV and Sky to report others using that language rather than using it ourselves.'

Palestinians walk amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has raised the issue with BBC director-general Tim Davie and made clear her view that these were 'acts of terror carried out by a terrorist organisation'.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said that by calling Hamas 'militants', the BBC 'not only offers legitimacy to their government, but also denies the fact that they commit atrocities'.

Former BBC journalist Jon Sopel said the corporation's editorial guidelines were 'no longer fit for purpose'.

Meanwhile four of Britain's top lawyers complained to communications regulator Ofcom over the BBC's refusal to use describe Hamas as 'terrorists'.

Lord Wolfson KC, Lord Pannick KC, Lord Grabiner KC and Jeremy Brier KC accused the BBC of failing to show impartiality 'beyond doubt' by describing Hamas in 'more sympathetic terms' as 'militants'.

The four senior lawyers signed a letter calling on Ofcom to investigate. In a letter shared on X, they said: 'On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large invasion of the State of Israel which resulted variously in the slaughter, rape and abduction of over a thousand Israeli citizens. There is nothing controversial about that. It is a fact.

'The BBC has fallen well below the standards expressed in its Editorial Values in reporting of that invasion and the consequences therefrom.'

They added that Hamas being a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK 'is not a matter of debate or discussion. It is a matter of legal fact'.

The lawyers accused the BBC of 'watering down' the way Hamas is described. They signed the letter alongside Lord Polak, honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel.
Britain will support Israel whatever it does in Gaza, and the blame for any civilian casualties suffered by the people there lies with Hamas terrorists, minister Steve Barclay said today.

Israeli airstrikes pummelled targets all across the Gaza Strip overnight and into this morning as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'crush and destroy' Hamas with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic.

Around 300,000 soldiers are believed to be surrounding the enclave on the Mediterranean ahead of an expected ground assault.

At least 2,300 people have been killed on both sides since Hamas militants stormed through a border fence on Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at a music festival.

Palestinians in Gaza spent the night in pitch darkness, surrounded by the ruins of pulverised neighbourhoods as international aid groups warned that deaths could accelerate as the territory runs out of supplies amid an Israeli blockade.

Israel has halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. On Tuesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

Mr Barclay, the health Secretary, was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether the UK was 'four-square behind Israel whatever it decides to do now,' replying: 'Yes we are, we stand with Israel.

Mr Barclay, the health Secretary, was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether the UK was 'four-square behind Israel whatever it decides to do now,' replying: 'Yes we are, we stand with Israel.

Israeli airstrikes pummelled targets all across the Gaza Strip overnight and into this morning as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'crush and destroy' Hamas with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic.

'They have been subject to the most appalling terrorist attacks, we are very clear that Hamas is a terrorist organisation and Israel has the right to deter future attacks and also to rescue the hostages that have been taken. That is why the foreign secretary was in Israel yesterday talking to his counterparts.

'We are also clear that civilian casualties need to be minimised but Israel has the right to defend itself, and it is the terrorist organisation Hamas that is putting the people of Gaza at risk. They are the ones embedding military operations in civilian areas, they are the ones that have taken civilian hostages and they are the ones who have committed atrocities that have triggered the Israeli action.'

Mr Netanyahu used as address last night to warn 'every Hamas member is a dead man'.

The Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons.

'Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership,' Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said.

'Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehiyeh) Sinwar. They were directly connected.'

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza said Israeli strikes demolished two multi-story houses on top of residents without warning, killing and wounding 'a large number' of people, mainly civilians. Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel strikes Palestinian civilians without warning.
An SNP MP has announced she has quit the party and joined the Tories because of toxic and bullying treatment from colleagues.

Lisa Cameron has today announced the bombshell decision to become a Conservative MP after she revealed that the deterioration of her mental health led to her being put on antidepressants.

She said that she has received support from the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in recent weeks after opening up about her mental wellbeing, but no contact from the SNP leadership.

Ms Cameron also hit out at the division caused by the SNPs pursuit of independence and revealed she will now focus on policies which benefit all four nations of the UK.

Her announcement comes on the day that she faced a selection contest which could have seen her ousted as the SNP candidate for her constituency, East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, at the next general election.

Lisa Cameron has today announced the bombshell decision to become a Conservative MP after she revealed that the deterioration of her mental health led to her being put on antidepressants

Ms Cameron's defection comes as First Minister Humza Yousaf prepares for the SNP's first annual conference with him as leader

She attributes her treatment from colleagues to her decision to speak out in support of the harassment victim of fellow SNP MP Patrick Grady.

Ms Cameron said: I do not feel able to continue in what I have experienced as a toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group, which resulted in my requiring counselling for a period of 12 months in Parliament and caused significant deterioration in my health and wellbeing as assessed by my GP including the need for antidepressants.

I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrator's interests over that of the victims and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.

It is also true that I have received no contact from party leadership in the past weeks, despite members of every other main political party contacting me to offer support and compassion during what has been an extremely difficult time.

I am particularly grateful to the Prime Minister in valuing my continued contribution to Parliament as a health professional and in taking time to listen. It is the first time I have felt heard and shows positive, inclusive leadership in contrast to that which I have encountered in the SNP at Westminster over many years.

In bombshell comments ahead of an SNP conference set to be dominated by its independence strategy, she also hit out at the division the partys pursuit of independence has caused and revealed she will focus on policies which benefit the four nations of the UK.

She said: Families like mine experienced significant division regarding the issue of Independence. This has taken its toll and I have come to the conclusion that it is more helpful to focus my energies upon constructive policies that benefit everyone across the four nations of the UK, and to move towards healing these divisions for the collective good.

Ms Cameron, who is herself a clinical psychologist, praised Rishi Sunak for 'valuing my continued contribution to Parliament as a health professional'

She added: Being in the SNP has been bad for my health. I will be taking time as advised to recuperate and will continue as always to focus upon serving my constituents.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me who wishes to see a politics where victim blaming, and abuse is never tolerated.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 'I am delighted that Lisa Cameron has decided to join the Conservatives. She is a brave and committed constituency MP.

'Lisa is right that we should aim to do politics better, with more empathy and less division and a dedication to always doing what we think is right.

'I look forward to working with her on the disability issues she has championed so passionately in parliament, and on the issues that really matter to her constituents in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow.

'Her decision is a sign that we are the party for those who will make constructive, long term decisions for a brighter future for the whole of the UK.'

An SNP spokesperson said: The people of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow will be appalled they are now represented by a Conservative and Unionist MP.

Lisa Cameron should now do the right thing and step down to allow a by-election.

Her constituents elected an SNP MP not a Tory, and they deserve to have the democratic opportunity to elect a hard working SNP MP who will put the interests of Scotland first. On a personal basis, we wish her well.
The Project's Waleed Aly highlighted how pro-Palestinian rallies could be banned in Australia following an ugly demonstration on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

About 1,000 pro-Palestine supporters protested against the famous landmark being lit up in blue and white as a show of support for Israel following Hamas terror attacks that killed 1200 civilians.

During the rally, some were seen chanting 'gas the Jews' and other anti-Semitic phrases, as well as burning the Israeli flag.

New South Wales Police have declared another pro-Palestine rally in Sydney marked for Sunday will be banned as tension between Jews and Muslims escalate.

'If the response from government ends up being, "Sorry, you cannot protest" ... that will only increase resentment among protesters who had nothing to do with that,' Aly said on Thursday's show.

'The whole point of these protests, those Palestinian marches - they were overwhelmingly fine and you get a group of people turn them rancid,' he said.

A crowd of around 1,000 including women and children gathered at the Opera House brandishing Arab flags and chanting obscenities

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 iconic harbourside venue (pictured)

He explained many pro-Palestinian protesters were peacefully seeking recognition for Israel's treatment of citizens in Gaza and the West Bank.

'The whole message they're trying to send is, they're responding to the Opera House being lit up in colours of the Israeli flag,' he said.

'Their whole thing is, "Recognise our pain, recognise our hurt, recognise our dead over how many years that haven't been recognised".'

Aly's comments follow massive backlash to The Project's controversial segment on the subject on Wednesday night.

Panellists read a statement from organisers of Monday's protest, the Palestine Action Group Sydney, in which they claimed only a small group of attendees showed anti-Semitic behaviour - despite footage showing otherwise.

The Project co-host Waleed Aly said that while they could not verify the organisers' claims, other recent protests have also seen rogue demonstrators spout hate.

About 1000 pro- Palestine supporters protested against the famous landmark being lit up in blue and white as a show of support for Israel following Hamas terror attacks that killed 1200 civilians

But commenters on the program's social media posts accused it of downplaying the anti-Semitism on display at the demonstration.

Former Married At First Sight groom Dean Wells responded to the segment on his Instagram stories with a picture of the report's headline saying, 'Rally Taken Over'.

In the caption to his story, he wrote: 'Taken over? I'll play the raw footage in the next frame. You tell me if it looks like the whole crowd is in on it or it was taken over by a small group of extremists.'

In the next story, Wells shared a clip from the protest with pro-Palestine demonstrators chanting 'f**k the Jews' repeatedly.

Aly mentioned the statement again on Thursday.

'We read out a statement on the show from organisers who said the people in question (showing anti-Semitic behaviour) were fewer than 20,' he said.

'It went for about a minute and they shut it down.

'I don't know if that's true, we can only take them at their word but if that's true, imagine what they're going through now saying, "We're losing out voice because of that group of people".

'I just don't think that's the right way to respond to it.'

Waleed Aly (above) on Thursday warned against banning Palestinian protests, saying it 'will only increase resentment among protesters who had nothing to do with that'

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The actions of the protesters outside Sydney have been condemned across the political spectrum.

On Tuesday, Mr Albanese called for conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian communities in Australia to calm.

'We need to lower the temperature,' he said.

'I don't want to see conflict here in Australia and I don't want to see the sort of scenes that I saw last night ... they certainly don't have a place.'

On Thursday, the ASIO warned the 'potential for opportunistic violence with little or no warning' in Australia.

ASIO head Mike Burgess said religious and ideologically-motivated attacks were 'possible' if tensions in the Australian Middle Eastern community didn't ease.

'I remain concerned about the potential for opportunistic violence with little or no warning. However, it is important to distinguish opportunistic violence from planned violence or acts of terrorism,' the director-general of security said.

'ASIO remains well-placed to detect threats to security including potential acts of politically motivated violence or the promotion of communal violence.'

The Sydney Opera House is seen lit up in blue and white in a show of support for Israel
Disposable vapes could be banned in the UK as part of plans set to be announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

A new crackdown on under-age smoking will include proposals for a total ban on the disposable e-cigarettes, amid fears they risk hooking a new generation of youngsters on nicotine.

So, how exactly will the new smoking ban work? Are vapes going to be banned in the UK? Read on below for a full list of changes to vape and smoking laws proposed by the UK Government.

Pictured: disposable vapes on sale in a shop in central London. Disposable vapes are set to be completely outlawed in the UK, partly on environmental grounds, with around 844million vaping devices are dumped worldwide each year  the same weight as six Eiffel Towers

How will the new smoking ban work?

Following a similar policy to that adopted by New Zealand in 2022 - which banned the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2008 in a bid to eradicate smoking - the UK is looking to adopt similar measures.

Mr Sunak will press ahead with a consultation on a radical proposal to phase out smoking by raising the legal age for buying cigarettes by one year, every year.

Should such proposals come into force, anyone born after 2008 would never legally be able to buy a cigarette in the UK.

The new smoking laws would then see the UK raise the smoking age by a year each year until it applies to the whole population, in the hope that this would result in a smoke-free population.

This follows previous measures introduced in the UK, which saw the introduction of standardised packaging in 2016 and the removal of menthol cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco from shops in May 2020.

'No parent ever wants their child to start smoking. It is a deadly habit  killing tens of thousands of people and costing our NHS billions each year, while also being hugely detrimental to our productivity as a country.

'I want to build a better and brighter future for our children, so thats why I want to stamp out smoking for good. These changes will mean our kids will never be able to buy a cigarette, preventing them getting hooked and protecting their health both now and in the future,' the Prime Minister said of his plans to eradicate smoking in the UK.

Are vapes going to be banned in the UK?

The proposals to ban disposable vapes in the UK are partly on environmental grounds, with around 844million vaping devices dumped worldwide each year  the same weight as six Eiffel Towers.

Along with environmental concerns, the proposed vaping ban could come into force because of a surge in popularity among youngsters, with one in five secondary school pupils reported to have tried vaping this year. This number has trebled in the last three years.

A huge increase in the number of children and teenagers who have taken up vaping could see the Government restrict vape flavours, regulate their packaging and change their point of sale displays. Pictured: File photo of a man vaping

A huge increase in the number of children and teenagers who have taken up vaping could see the Government restrict vape flavours, regulate their packaging and change their point of sale displays.

A Whitehall source said officials are working on a watertight legal definition of what constitutes disposable vapes.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty said: 'Vaping can be useful for smokers to quit, but should not be marketed to non-smokers and marketing them to children is utterly unacceptable.'

The consultation will run for eight weeks and measures could be introduced next year.

Although health is a devolved issue, authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have taken the unusual step of agreeing to a joint consultation.
Bernie Ecclestone has agreed to pay more than a quarter of his wealth to the taxman as he avoided jail after admitting hiding 416m from HMRC in the biggest personal fraud in British history.

The 92-year-old Formula One tycoon had previously tried to dodge facing trial by claiming the process would kill him, it can now be revealed.

He had also tried to have proceedings thrown out by claiming remarks he had made about 'taking a bullet' for Russian president Vladimir Putin were the real reason for the prosecution, rather than 'legitimate public interest.'

Ecclestone has agreed to pay almost 653m to HMRC, more than a quarter of the estimated 2.5bn wealth he has amassed since seizing control of F1 in the 1970s.

Judge Mr Justice Simon Bryan told him his offending had crossed the custody threshold, but suspended a 17-month jail term for two years at Southwark Crown Court today.

Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone today admitted fraud after failing to declare more than 400million held in a trust in Singapore to the Government. Pictured - the tycoon leaving court this morning

Ecclestone and his wife Fabiano Flosi at Southwark Crown Court today

Court sketch showing Bernie Ecclestone appearing at Southwark Crown Court, today

The judge acknowledged the impact a prison sentence would have on Ecclestone's health and his immediate family - including the elderly magnate's three-year-old son, Ace.

Ecclestone had been due to stand trial on November 15, but during today's surprise hearing he stood in the well of the court behind his team of lawyers and said 'I plead guilty' to the single charge of fraud by false representation.

The former racing driver, who wore a great three-piece suit with a grey tie and was joined in court by his wife Fabiana Flosi, then moved into the dock for sentencing.

He showed no emotion during the hearing but as he clambered into the back seat of a white Range Rover outside court he nodded when asked if he was happy with the sentence.

Sentencing Ecclestone, who heard the judge's remarks from the dock, Mr Justice Bryan said: 'Your offending is so serious that neither a fine or a community order would be appropriate.

'It is rightly acknowledged that the custody threshold has been passed.'

The court heard that the billionaire had concealed the existence of a trust in Singapore when HMRC investigators quizzed him about his tax affairs in July 2015.

Ecclestone had been asked by officers if he was a settlor or beneficiary of any trust in or outside the UK, and had answered: 'No.' Judge Bryan said this was a lie, as the tycoon was indeed linked to two complicated trust structures known as the Kinan trust and the Nanki trust.

Ecclestone's lawyer, Clare Montgomery KC, said that it was never her client's intention to avoid paying tax and he was simply unaware of the true position of his affairs at the time.

'He simply didn't know the answer to HMRC's question and he should have said 'I don't know' instead of 'no',' she added.

'He obviously bitterly regrets these events.

'We accept the offending is serious, but it is an impulsive lapse of judgement that happened now eight years ago.

'He is now in frail health; the whole process has caused immense stress to him and those who love him, and the reality is he has been living under investigation for over a decade.'

HMRC began probing Ecclestone's tax affairs following proceedings in Germany in 2011 when he was accused of paying a bribe to banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to help steer F1's ownership towards a private equity firm that would retain him as chief executive.

Gribkowsky admitted accepting a bribe, but Ecclestone denied the allegations and paid 60m to end the trial in 2014, meaning he was found neither guilty nor innocent.

HMRC opened an investigation into the tycoon's tax affairs in 2012 and Ecclestone was later offered the chance to correct mistakes in his tax and pay what was owed plus a penalty through a formal civil process known as a Contractual Disclosure Facility.

His denials about links to the trusts then led to the criminal prosecution.

And they meant he also faced the maximum penalty for offshore non-compliance, meaning that of the 652,634,836 he has repaid in respect of sums due to HMRC over the course of 18 years from 1994, more than 330m was in fines.

Speaking outside the court, chief crown prosecutor at the CPS, Andrew Penhale, said: 'All members of UK society, regardless of how wealthy or famous they are, must pay their taxes and be transparent and open with HMRC about their financial affairs.' Chief investigation officer at HMRC, Richard Las, said the billionaire had been given ample time and opportunity to be honest about his tax affairs.

'Instead of taking these opportunities he lied to HMRC and as a result we opened a criminal investigation,' he said.

Ecclestone's lawyers had previously argued in June that should he be subjected to a criminal trial he would be more likely to die during proceedings than not.

Professor Charles Knight had told judge Bryan that Ecclestone suffers from coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

His risk of death within 12 months was 30 per cent, with the stress of a trial doubling this - meaning 'on the balance of probabilities the chance of death during the period of the proceedings is over 50 per cent,' Prof Knight had said.

Judge Bryan dismissed the application but said he would allow special provisions that would make standing trial easier for Ecclestone, including removing the requirement for him to attend every day.

Ecclestone had provoked controversy in June when he said on daytime television that he would take a bullet for President Putin, who he is thought to have befriended since the now-cancelled Russian Grand Prix was introduced in 2014.

The billionaire father-of-four, now Britain's 73rd richest person, left school at 16 and was running a car dealership by 21.

Ex-Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone arrives at Southwark Crown Court today facing a charge of a 400million fraud

Bernie Ecclestone with his daughters Petra (left), and Tamara (right) at the inaugural fundraising dinner for The Petra Stunt Foundation in aid of PS Place at the Corinthia Hotel London in June 2017 in London

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone being sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London today

He entered Formula One in 1972 when he bought the Brabham team for 100,000, before using his seat on the board of the Constructors' Association to acquire the sport's global TV rights, which he sold in more than 100 countries.

How much is Bernie Ecclestone worth? The Sunday Times Rich List ranks Bernie Ecclestone, who has been married three times, as the 65th wealthiest person in the country, with an estimated net worth of 2.5billion. Ecclestone started as a manager for driver Stuart Lewis Evans before working his way up to becoming the head of the Formula One Constructors Association (FOCA) and then Formula One Management (FOM)  earning him 50 per cent of the revenue earned by F1. He eventually sold F1 to Liberty Media for 6.4billion in 2016. Advertisement

By the early 1990s, F1 was valued at 2.5billion, and Mr Ecclestone was earning an estimated 1 million a week. It was eventually sold to Liberty Media for 6.4 billion.

Mr Ecclestone has a daughter, Deborah, with his first wife Ivy, whom he married in 1952.

He has two further daughters, Tamara, 39, and Petra, 34, with second wife Slavica, a Croatian former model.

And in 2020 his third wife, Brazilian lawyer Fabiana Flosi, 46, whom he had married in 2012, gave birth to their son, Alexander 'Ace' Ecclestone.

In addition to the penalties already settled, Ecclestone was ordered to pay 74,810.09 in prosecution costs.

Mr Wright told the court that a meeting was held between Ecclestone and HMRC officers in July 2015.

He said that Ecclestone was 'seeking to a draw a line under investigations into his tax affairs.'

Mr Wright added: 'He was fed up of paying huge bills for advice.'

Bernie Ecclestone had 'ample time' to be honest about his tax affairs, the director of the fraud investigation service at HMRC said.

Addressing the media outside Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, Richard Las said: 'Bernie Ecclestone has had ample time and numerous opportunities to take responsibility and be honest with HMRC about his tax affairs.

'Instead of taking these opportunities he lied to HMRC, and as a result we opened a criminal investigation.

'This investigation has involved inquiries around the world and culminated with today's trial.

'Today Bernie Ecclestone pleaded guilty to fraud.

'As you know, he has now been sentenced. As well as the sentence he has made a payment of 650 million in relation to his tax affairs.

'Over 340 million of that amount is a penalty, so a very significant amount.'

The court heard Ecclestone had said 'no' when asked by HMRC officers whether he had any links to further trusts 'in or outside the UK'.

Prosecutor Richard Wright, KC said: 'That answer was untrue or misleading. Mr Ecclestone knew his answer may have been untrue or misleading.

'As of July 7 2015, Mr Ecclestone did not know the truth of the position, so was not able to give an answer to the question.

'Mr Ecclestone was not entirely clear on how ownership of the accounts in question were structured.

'He therefore did not know whether it was liable for tax, interest or penalties in relation to amounts passing through the accounts.

'Mr Ecclestone recognises it was wrong to answer the questions he did because it ran the risk that HMRC would not continue to investigate his affairs.

'He now accepts that some tax is due in relation to these matters.'

Bernie Ecclestone arrives at Southwark Crown Court this morning before admitting fraud

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of of former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone sitting with his team in the body of the court before being sentenced at Southwark Crown Court

Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone leaves Southwark Crown Court with his wife after admitting fraud earlier today

The charge alleged that Ecclestone 'dishonestly' made a representation to officers of HMRC 'which was, and which you knew was or might have been, untrue or misleading'.

The charge against him was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in July last year following an investigation by HMRC, which said the probe had been 'complex and worldwide'.

The CPS said today that it provided extensive early investigative advice to HMRC to help develop a joint prosecution strategy, focused on a single offence of fraud by false representation.

It said: 'Bernie Ecclestone's guilty plea was secured following lengthy negotiations under the Attorney General guidelines on plea discussions in complex fraud (2009).

'The court also heard he has made a payment of 652m in relation to his wider tax affairs, covering tax, interest and civil penalties.

'Part of the payment is a Failure to Correct (FTC) penalty for offshore non-compliance charged at the maximum rate of 200 per cent.'

Asked outside court whether he was pleased with the judge's sentence, Ecclestone smiled and nodded and said something unintelligible to reporters.
The parents of Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped at the Israeli festival massacre, have today sent their daughter a 26th birthday message in the 'hope that it will reach her'.

The student was last seen begging for her life on the back of a Hamas terrorist's motorcycle, with her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend.

She screams 'Don't kill me! No, no, no'  but the gunman speeds off. Noa hasn't been seen since.

But as the young woman marks her birthday in captivity, her family have issued a desperate plea via the official Israel account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The post read: 'This beautiful woman is named Noa. She was taken hostage by Hamas during a music festival.

The parents of Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped at the Israeli festival massacre, has sent a 26th birthday message to their daughter today in the 'hope that it will reach her'

The student was last seen in shocking footage begging for her life, as video showed her sitting on the back of a Hamas motorcycle, with her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend

Noa's father Yaacov gave an interview to Israeli television on Sunday after the attack and wept uncontrollably as he spoke about his daughter

'Today is her 26th birthday. Her parents ask that we all wish her a happy birthday with the hope that maybe somehow these messages will reach her.

'Please share. #HappyBirthdayNoa'.

Alongside the post, the account shared a photo of Noa, where she can be seen grinning at the camera in front of incredible clifftop views.

Her boyfriend, Avi Nathan, distraught and helpless, was left behind in the desert. He too is missing.

READ MORE: Haunting images reveal chilling aftermath of Nova music festival where 260 people were slaughtered, after volunteers removed hundreds of bodies Advertisement

'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.

Noa's grief-stricken father Yaacov gave an interview to Israeli television on Sunday after the attack.

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.'

Noa's family issued a desperate plea via the official Israel X account

Noa was last seen in a video shared by Hamas after the kidnapping

Noa's boyfriend, Avi Nathan (left), distraught and helpless, was left behind in the desert. He too is missing

Along with hundreds of other young Israelis, Noa (pictured) and her boyfriend Avi had been enjoying a peace festival in the desert when they were forced to flee for their lives



Along with hundreds of other young Israelis, Noa and Avi had been enjoying a peace festival in the desert when they were forced to flee for their lives from Hamas terrorists.

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.

But the festivities turned to chaos on Saturday after Palestinian terrorists began firing rockets and gunshots into the crowd.

Footage circulated on social media showed hundreds of people screaming and crying as they fled the rave site on foot, pursued by the sound of gunfire.

'I was supposed to go to the desert party but decided at the last minute not to,' said Amir.

'We last heard from her around 10am or 11am this morning when she texted us all to say that terrorists had opened fire and were chasing everyone but that they were both safe in hiding.

'We haven't heard from them since but then, unfortunately, we saw the disturbing videos of her abduction online. One of her on the back of a bike with terrorists.

'The family is OK with us posting this because they want her released and are hoping someone can help.

'Her parents are in shock and can't even speak. She's an only child.

'She is such a lovely, positive woman, always kind and loves to travel. She just got back from Sri Lanka. We can't believe something like this would happen at home.'

At least 260 people were killed at the festival in southern Israel on Saturday.

Countless more were injured in attacks as armed Hamas terrorists 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.

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

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)

The aftermath of an attack on a music festival by Hamas gunmen, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 8

Benjamin Netanyahu has since vowed to 'crush and destroy' Hamas, warning that every member of the terrorist organsisation is a 'dead man'.

During his stark late night television address, the Israeli Prime Minister accused them of beheading soldiers and raping women.

Israel has continued to pound the Gaza Strip, with residents of the enclave facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant was shut down earlier today.

The country's blockage has blocked supplies of fuel, food, water and medicines into the Palestinian territory leaving Gaza's 2.3million residents without electricity, internet or running water.

Mr Netanyahu's comments come as Joe Biden called the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday 'the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust'.

The US President, however, said he had spoken to Mr Netanyahu and had made it clear that Israel must 'operate by the rules of war'.

The lethal war has already claimed more than 2,300 lives on both sides, with thousands more left wounded.

The Israeli military has said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have died since the surprise attack on Saturday while Gaza's health ministry says 1,100 have been killed and more than 5,300 injured.
A professor who caused outrage after he criticised Welsh road signs as 'unintelligible' has refused to apologise for his comments because he says they reflect his beliefs.

Psychology expert Dr Nigel Hunt who works as a visiting professor at Wrexham University, lashed out at Welsh-English road signs on his trips across Wales as 'potentially dangerous'.

He aired his views on a Facebook group called the Department of Petty Rage where he posted a picture of a bilingual sign and said they should just be written just in English.

The university apologised for Dr Hunt's comments and promised to investigate as his remarks were met with backlash from Welsh speakers and nationalists.

But Dr Hunt has now told MailOnline that while he apologises for the way the comments emerged, 'I do not apologise for my comments, which reflect my beliefs.'

He said his comments reflect his view that the 'main point of language is communication,' that languages 'die out and transform all the time' and said 'whether people like it or not, English is the lingua Franca.'

The professor also referred to research he claimed exemplified that 'the more information drivers are meant to process the more likely it is that they miss critical information' and said drivers find signs that carry less information more readily understood.

'This all suggests that having signs in two languages is potentially hazardous,' he added.

He also said it's, 'critical that members of the university are free to express opinions' and argued 'we should not be restricting freedom of speech'.

Dr Hunt aired his views on a Facebook group where he posted a picture of a bilingual sign and said they should just be written just in English

Psychology expert Dr Nigel Hunt works as a visiting professor at Wrexham University - but the university has apologised after his comments and says they will investigate

His statement to MailOnline said: 'First, in psychology, we understand that if we increase cognitive load on a task then that task may be performed less well.

'Extrapolating this to the driving situation, if people have to process more language information on signs then that may negatively affect their driving, which may make accidents more likely.

'I have no direct evidence for this, but the nature of science is that we speculate, we extrapolate from other research, and we conduct empirical tests.'

Dr Hunt's Facebook post had read: 'Signs like this. They are confusing as they contain irrelevant and - to most people - unintelligible information.

'Road signs in two languages are potentially dangerous as it takes longer to determine the message.

'As most people even in Wales do not understand these signs (the Welsh language is declining despite the attempts to popularise it) then please just use English.'

It prompted Wrexham University to apologise for the offence caused and issue a statement which stressed the comments did not reflect the views or values of their staff.

'We are proud to be a Welsh institution and are proud of our Welsh history and heritage,' the university said, adding they were 'committed to promoting and celebrating the Welsh language' and had more bilingual opportunities than ever before.

'As an institution, we are also committed to the*Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011*and as part of the legislation - the Welsh language has equal status with English and must not be treated less favourably.'

Psychology expert Dr Nigel Hunt lashed out at bilingual Welsh-English road signs on his trips across Wales

But Mr Hunt says: 'There are the moribund languages, a category into which I put Welsh (and the other Celtic languages), that left alone are unlikely to survive many generations.

'Welsh is strongly supported by the Welsh government and other parties, but even then it does not appear to have a groundswell of support. In the last two censuses the percentage of people saying they speak Welsh has gone down from 19% to 18%, a very small, and perhaps non-significant change, but what would have happened without that support? I would suggest the numbers would be much lower.

'This is not to say people should not speak Welsh. People can speak what they like. I am just thinking about the potential future of the language. Whether people like it or not, English is the lingua Franca (sic) across much of the world and is likely to continue to be so  which means more communication will be in English, and less in other languages.

'People use language to communicate. If the language is not an effective aid to communication they stop using it.'

Dr Hunt was blasted by Welsh speakers and nationalists for his opinion on the Facebook group - with many complaining to Wrexham University over the calls.

Dr Hunt was blasted by Welsh speakers and nationalists for his opinion - with many complaining to Wrexham University over the calls

Ethan Jones tweeted: 'This is an appalling attitude from one of your professors @WrexhamUni Your staff have a duty to treat your Welsh students with respect, calling their language 'irrelevant' is certainly not the way to do this. Deeply disappointing.'

Efan ap Ifor wrote: 'This is hugely disappointing to see @WrexhamUni It highlights that not all educated people, that specialise in one field, are well informed people more generally.

'They aren't immune to lazy xenophobic tropes or possess values &/or morals that are grounded in inclusiveness.'

But Mr Hunt hit back saying he was disappointed to see the responses on the Facebook page as he sees the page as a 'place to play with controversy with good humour and a fair amount of disagreement and argument.'
Convicted killer and rapist Paul James Carr is on the run after cutting off his ankle tag

A convicted killer and rapist is on the run after cutting off his ankle tag.

Paul James Carr was released from jail last year after serving a life time for murdering a man in New South Wales, followed by eight years in prison for bashing and raping a teenage girl in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

Carr was nine years ago convicted of raping and attacking the 16-year-old at her home in March 1987.

By the time the he was charged with rape in 2013, he had already served a life sentence for murdering a man.

Carr was released from prison last year on a supervision order that required him to wear an electronic tag, but he has now removed it.

He was last seen in Fremantle at about 2.45pm on Wednesday.

He is of medium build with short hair and stubble.

Carr was released from prison last year on a supervision order that required him to wear an electronic tag, but he has now removed it

Carr was last seen wearing dark clothes with silver hi-vis stripes, a black hat and a dark backpack.

'Detectives from the serious offender management squad are urgently seeking information regarding the whereabouts of high-risk serious offender, 55-year-old man Paul James Carr,' police said.

'Mr Carr has removed his electronic ankle monitoring unit and is wanted for questioning in relation to contravening a condition of his supervision order.'
The grandson of an Italian prisoner of war who set up a 1.4million Welsh dairy farm has won a battle with his millionaire uncle over the possession of an award-winning herd of cows.

Tony Hack, 60, rowed in court with his uncle Luigi Vasami, 76, after falling out over the business set up by Tony's grandfather and Luigi's father, Italian former PoW Antonio Vasami.

Mr Vasami had worked on farms in west Wales after being captured by the Allies in Libya, before returning after the war and becoming a farmer in his own right.

The Vasami family have farmed the land ever since, growing what started as a five-acre rented holding with four donated cows near Llandysul into a thriving business set across several farm sites.

As well as selling milk to the general market, the family also supplied Luigis son Tony Vasami's Italian restaurant, La Calabria, based in a converted milking barn, which serves home-made ice cream.

Mr Vasami died in 1992 and the relatives have since been in dispute, despite being 'one big family' for years.

Tony Hack, 60, pictured with his wife Arlene, has won a battle against his millionaire uncle over the possession of an award-winning herd of cows

Luigi Vasami, 76, (pictured) fell out with his nephew over the business set up by Tony's grandfather and Luigi's father, Italian former PoW Antonio Vasami

An aerial image of the Vasami family's Glasfryn Farm in Carmarthenshire

The row spilled into court as Luigi and Tony battled over the family's 1.4million Glasfryn Farm, and mixed herd of Holsteins, pedigree Brown Swiss and Ayrshire cattle.

Following a trial at the High Court in Swansea, a judge has now ruled that Tony can keep the 80 award-winning cows and their offspring because they had been legitimately transferred to him years ago.

But Judge Milwyn Jarman KC rejected Tony's claim that he had worked long, hard hours from an early age on his uncle's farm on the promise that the 1.4million holding would one day be handed to him.

Instead, he had worked there because he 'loved' it, earning substantial profits over the years, and had no right to expect the farm.

Antonio Vasami was with the Italian 10th army when he was captured during the Second World War battle for Tobruk, Libya, and transported to the POW camp at Henllan Bridge, Carmerthenshire, where he spent the rest of the war.

He returned to Calabria, in southern Italy, after the war, but found the situation tough and headed back to Wales with his family, including young son Luigi, in the late 1940s.

While in captivity, he had worked on local farms around Llandysul and when he returned to Wales was granted a tenancy on a five-acre smallholding and given four cows by a local farmer.

The court heard Luigi Vasami was about 16 when his baby nephew Tony came to live at the family farm and that he and his father both came to look upon him as a 'son.'

Antonio Vasami had worked on farms in west Wales after being captured by the Allies in Libya, before returning after the war and becoming a farmer in his own right

The family sells milk to the general market and also supplied Luigi's son Tony Vasami, who makes ice cream at his Italian restaurant, La Calabria

When Antonio Vasami retired, the farm business was carried on by his son, with Tony helping out with milking of the cows, as well as having various other jobs.

As the business expanded, Luigi purchased 93-acre Glasfryn in 1988, transferring the milking stock there to be looked after by his nephew, who also lived in the farmhouse.

Tony went on to enjoy success, with part of the herd topping the charts in the national milk records in the 2013 annual production report.

The milk from the herd was used to make cheese and by his cousin Tony Vasami's Italian restaurant for their home-made ice cream.

Tony and his wife Arlene had become entitled to the profits of the farm, having taken over the milking business and its 80-strong herd at Glasfryn, the judge said.

But uncle and nephew fell out amid disagreements over the business and, in 2021, Luigi offered to sell Glasfryn to Tony and Arlene for 1.4million, he continued.

In her evidence, Arlene Hack told the judge that, prior to 2021, they had been 'one big family' but that changed when Luigi asked for money for the farm.

Later that year, they were served with a 'notice to quit' in which Luigi and his wife Grazia ordered Tony and Arlene off the farm.

The row then spilled into court, with Luigi and Grazia demanding possession of the farm and cows from Tony and Arlene.

A judge has now ruled that Tony can keep the 80 award-winning cows and their offspring because they had been legitimately transferred to him years ago

But Tony and Arlene defended the claim, arguing that ever since his uncle bought Glasfryn, Tony had been promised that it would be his after Luigi 'retired or died.'

He claimed that, based on that promise, he had worked long hours there and that he and his wife had been occupants under a 'family arrangement' and not as tenants.

They pointed to an exchange on a Welsh language TV programme called 'Ffermio', in which Luigi said of the farm, 'I have passed that now to Tony because I have had enough of farming to tell the truth.'

And they said Luigi had told Tony that he was going to get the farm in his will.

Delivering judgment, the judge said that telling Tony he would get the farm in Luigi's will after he died was 'a mere statement of present and revocable intention' and a not a binding promise.

And the judge also found that Tony had not acted to his 'detriment' in continuing to work on his uncle's land on the back of any assurance that it would be his.

Rather than staying because he had been promised he would become owner, he had probably done so simply because of his 'love of farming', said the judge.

Although he had given up a job to work there in 1988, his farming at Glasfryn had allowed him to pursue other careers, including as a salesman in a bovine artificial insemination business, Semex.

'When he was asked in cross-examination whether the opportunity to farm given to him by his uncle was generous, he said that 'they were getting something as well', but added when pressed that he was glad to have the opportunity, and appreciated it,' he continued.

He added: 'Until 2007 he was paid a wage, had free occupation of the farmhouse at Glasfryn with bills paid, and could and did undertake other paid employment.

'Thereafter, as well as having the opportunity to farm at Glasfryn over 15 years making a healthy profit, Mr and Mrs Hack have occupied the farm and the farmhouse without making substantial payments and without making payments for the herd transferred to him.

'He has been able to buy land and to rent land, and to develop a full-time career with Semex.

'Although he has incurred capital expenditure, and although this comes from profits generated by his hard work, the opportunity to make those profits was given to him by his uncle and aunt.'

However, the judge found against Luigi and Grazia in relation to ownership of the cows, which he said had been legitimately passed on to Tony and Arlene.

'On my finding, the dairy herd was transferred by agreement to Mr and Mrs Hack in 2008 and his aunt and uncle are not entitled to any of the herd or offspring or damages, save in respect of the cows which Mr Vasami has bought since, which remain his,' he said.

The decision means Luigi and Grazia Vasami are entitled to throw Tony and Arlene off the land, but that the cows will stay with his nephew and wife.
Furious owners of thousands of coastal holiday homes facing relocation after being told flood defences may not be renewed have accused the Environment Agency of penny-pinching.

Static homes and chalets on a five-mile stretch of the unspoiled Norfolk coast are facing upheaval after the organisation said a man-made protective shingle bank was moving.

The situation has potentially reached a 'trigger point' at which the defensive structure would no longer be repaired and properties  some owned for decades  would have to be dragged inland.

But residents said they had already been told the agency was looking to direct money elsewhere  including protecting permanent homes set further back.

Judith Jackson, 79, who owns a two-bedroom bungalow in Heacham South Beach that has been in her family for five generations, said: 'They said they might not pay for it because they're more interested in protecting the land bank behind us  which protects the permanent homes.

Coastal erosion along a five-mile stretch of the North Norfolk shoreline means static homes and chalets are facing upheaval (Pictured: coastal erosion in Snettisham)

Roy Jackson, 87, and Judith Jackson, 79, own a two-bedroom bungalow in Heacham South Beach and say they've been told the Environment Agency is looking to direct money elsewhere

'Whether it's jealousy or not, I don't know. The fear is that if nothing is done, we'll be flooded.

'We want them to keep doing the recharging [of the shingle bank]. We do contribute to the local economy. We've been here for five generations and we pay our taxes.'

Her husband Roy, 87, a retired stand-up comedian, said they came back year after year to stay between April and October for the 'big skies' and other attractions in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

'It's like living in a wildlife park. Yesterday we had a lonesome swan visit who came right up to the door,' he said.

'We have a deer who comes to the door and pheasants and partridges and a hare.'

David Bocking, 88, whose family have also owned a bungalow for generations in nearby Snettisham, accused the Environment Agency of failing to install more effective defences.

The former flood warden, who witnessed floods in the area in 1953, 1978 and 2013 and who sits on his parish council's flood committee, said: 'The shingle bank moves every day. I've told those silly old fools 'Listen to us  put up some groynes'.

The situation has potentially reached a 'trigger point' at which the defensive structure would no longer be repaired and properties (Pictured: Snettisham)

James Hoggett, 75, and Linda Hoggett, 73, have owned a static home at Heacham for 12 years and demanded the EA to keep replenishing the beach

David Bocking, 88, whose family have also owned a bungalow for generations in nearby Snettisham, accused the Environment Agency of failing to install more effective defences

The Environment Agency says the 'soft and variable' nature of the ridge has seen some locations move landward by 30ft and the height grow 3ft

Some owners spend 100 a month removing sand and silt that has blown onto their plots

'They've spent millions recharging the beach every year, picking up sand from Snettisham to Heacham. They have tractors and diggers and dumpers. It takes them two weeks or more to recharge it.

'They keep telling me groynes are unnecessary. They're wooden groynes and they go out into the sea and they would stop the shingle bank from moving as quickly.'

Linda Hoggett, who has owned a static home at Heacham for 12 years that's used as a retreat from their house in Peterborough, demanded: 'I would call on the Environment Agency to keep replenishing the beach, not to stop.

'They have got to keep an eye on things. We're not the only people here. There are hundreds and hundreds of caravans up here. I think it's a money thing.'

The retired NHS clerical worker added: 'It's just so beautiful here. The view is wonderful, even though there's nothing to look at. You can just sit here and it's mesmerising watching the tide come in and out.'

Husband James, 75, a retired engineer, branded the Agency's warning about the shingle bank possibly failing as 'vague'.

Philip Meade, 70, a retired company director whose family have owned a bungalow in Snettisham since the 1960s, said the property had been flooded in 1978 and 2013 but took it in his stride.

The Agency is meant to 'hold the front-line' until at least 2025 across a wider area of low-lying coast between Hunstanton and Wolferton under a shoreline plan drawn up in 2010

Philip Mead, 70, with his dog Boris. His property has been flooded twice in 1978 and 2013. His family have owned a bungalow in Snettisham since the 1960s

Some residents have also been accused of digging gaps in the shingle bank to improve their view, or building decking beside it in contravention of a rule that bans anything within 16 metres of the structure

But chalet owners insisted these were very much in the minority and accused the Agency of simply giving up and ignoring the devastation it will cause to those who have fallen in love with the area

Kay Wade-Gery, 57, bought a three-bedroom raised wooden cabin with a balcony in Heacham with her husband Sandy two years ago and said she's 'horrified'

'I don't think they need to do anything to the beach. The tide doesn't come up as high as it used to. If there's a surge, nothing can stop it anyway,' he said.

Shingle washed down the estuary by winter storms has previously been loaded into lorries and used to bolster the barrier between Heacham and Snettisham.

READ MORE: How villagers are going to battle across 30-mile stretch of coastline as they fight to ban wealthy townies from buying second homes Advertisement

It absorbs wave energy and protects properties during storms from spray and high winds.

But the Environment Agency says the 'soft and variable' nature of the ridge has seen some locations move landward by 30ft and the height grow 3ft.

This, it admits, 'will increase the level of protection it provides'. But it added the 'movement of the ridge onto the same footprint as existing properties creates a challenge'.

Some owners spend 100 a month removing sand and silt that has blown onto their plots.

The Agency is meant to 'hold the front-line' until at least 2025 across a wider area of low-lying coast between Hunstanton and Wolferton under a shoreline plan drawn up in 2010.

But the document also warns 'large-scale land use adaptation'  or moving dwellings out of the flood zone  might be necessary at some point. This could be imposed if officials decide a 'trigger point' has been reached. Tests are being carried out.

Some residents have also been accused of digging gaps in the shingle bank to improve their view, or building decking beside it in contravention of a rule that bans anything within 16 metres of the structure.

Many say the risks are overblown or the possibility of their home, or second home, being flooded is worth being able to stay the breathtaking location

The area in Heacham is at risk of tidal flooding as a sign (pictured) warns the area could be evacuated at any moment

An Environment Agency document warns warns 'large-scale land use adaptation'  or moving dwellings out of the flood zone  might be necessary at some point

A number of Environment Agency warning signs are dotted along the coastline. This one pictured warns of the tidal area and children must be supervised at all times

Furious owners of thousands of coastal holiday homes face relocation after being told flood defences may not be renewed

A sign warns of beach cliffing as people are warned to take care as there is the possibility they could be struck by loose falling material

One local, who didn't want to be named, claimed: 'They clear the paths so they can get their jet skis down to the beach.

'At the bottom is a caravan park and many people have dug across this path so they can get a better view of the sea and they're weakening the sea defence.'

But chalet owners insisted these were very much in the minority and accused the Agency of simply giving up and ignoring the devastation it will cause to those who have fallen in love with the area.

Kay Wade-Gery, 57, who bought a three-bedroom raised wooden cabin with a balcony in Heacham with her husband Sandy two years ago, said: 'I am horrified.

'I have waited 30 years to own this little piece of heaven and the Environment Agency has decided to pull a dirty trick. It's not about the money, it's the place that's precious.'

Many say the risks are overblown or the possibility of their home, or second home, being flooded is worth being able to stay the breathtaking location.

Peter Allinson, 65, a retired software engineer, who has a static caravan in Snettisham, said: 'They have extreme events and the last one was in 2013.

'We had an older caravan then with skirting and that helped push the flood water away.'

In the latest Heacham Newsletter, Terry Parish, leader of West Norfolk Council, wrote: 'Plans to recharge the beach seem, now, very unlikely to proceed.

'Prohibitive cost, linked to practical difficulties and uncertainty in its effectiveness, lie behind this.'

An Environment Agency spokesman said: 'We are closely monitoring the situation at Heacham and currently carrying out an assessment to understand whether our management approach may need to be adapted in the future.

'This is due to be completed in spring 2024. Following this, we will work with stakeholders and the local community to consider options for future management approaches.'
No Mayday calls were made before plane crashed, minutes after they refuelled

A British man and his Spanish flight instructor were killed when their light aircraft crashed in a national park in Spain.

The pair took off from an aerodrome in Velez-Malaga, east of Malaga, and were flying to Valencia when the tragedy occurred.

No mayday calls were made before the plane crashed, just minutes after they stopped to refuel at nearby Almeria Airport before continuing their journey.

The light aircraft crashed just after midnight yesterday around Cerro del Fraile, a peak of volcanic origin in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar nature reserve.

The pilot has been named as Rafael Ricote, 24, who worked as an instructor at the nearby One Air Diamond Flight Centre. Friends paid tribute, saying his childhood dream was to be a pilot.

His student, 26, has been identified locally only by his first name Marcus, and is described as a Costa del Sol-based man from a 'family of British origin'.

The light aircraft crashed close to midnight on Wednesday east of Malaga, Spain

No Mayday calls were made before the plane crashed, which occurred just minutes after the pair stopped to refuel at nearby Almeria Airport

The plane went down in the area around Cerro del Fraile (pictured)

Civil Guard mountain rescue experts recovered the men's bodies from the wreckage of the plane, which was captured by local media.

The mangled fuselage was searched by police and civil aviation accident investigators, who have since launched separate investigations.

Civil Guard officers in Almeria said they were not in a position to confirm the nationalities of the two men that died.

A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response co-ordination centre confirmed: 'Two people died in an air accident in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the municipality of Nijar.

'An emergency call was received around 12.30am from Valencia Airport indicating contact had been lost with a light aircraft in the area around Cerro del Fraile.

'The caller indicated the plane belonged to a flight training school in Malaga and was heading to Valencia with two people on board.

'Firefighters were immediately alerted as well as police forces including the Civil Guard and National Police, coastguards, civil protection workers and other responders.

'Fire crews subsequently confirmed they had found the bodies of two people in a difficult-to-access area around Cerro del Fraile.'

Tributes have been paid on social media to Mr Ricote, who came from the southern Spanish city of Cordoba.

One friend said: 'He'd dreamed of being a pilot since he was a little boy. He was a wonderful person.'

The park where the pair crashed which has been the backdrop for several Hollywood films including he Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

MailOnline has contacted One Air Diamond Flight Centre for comment.
Travel chaos is expected after it was announced London's Tower Bridge is to shut all weekend to undergo urgent repair works.

The work has been scheduled at short notice - taking advantage of news that TfL's planned closure of Blackwall Tunnel this weekend would no longer be taking place.

Tower Bridge will close from 7.30am on Saturday to 5am on Monday. This is on top of the overnight closures taking place all this week from 10pm to 5.30am to replace some giant components on the landmark bridge.

The City Bridge Foundation, which owns the bridge, states that a signed diversion routes will be in place via Southwark Bridge. Drivers using the signed diversion route will be exempt from paying the Congestion Charge.

City Bridge Foundation Chairman Giles Shilson said: 'We appreciate that closing the bridge at short notice will cause some inconvenience, including to local residents and businesses, and its not a decision we have taken lightly.

Travel chaos is expected after it was announced London's Tower Bridge is to shut all weekend to undergo urgent repair works

For the first time in decades, engineers will be removing and replacing the 2 metre long 'nose bolts' which lock the two bascules on Tower Bridge

An engineer inspects a 'nose bolt' which will be replaced, on a slightly elevated bascule, on Tower Bridge

An engineer climbs up to Tower Bridge as repairs are carried out overnight

A security guard stands inside a bascule chamber at the base of Tower Bridge yesterday

'However, we need to avoid a clash with the planned closures of Blackwall Tunnel which are taking place every weekend well into the spring, as Tower Bridge is the next Thames crossing along.

'As the tunnel is now remaining open this weekend, this is an ideal moment to carry out some essential work to the bridge.

'Failing to do so in good time would increase the risk that we might have to close the bridge for longer, with no notice and possibly during peak weekday hours, further down the line.'

The bridge will remain open to pedestrians except during the overnight closures, and the Tower Bridge visitor attraction will be open as normal.

Footage released by the bridge's owner, The City Bridge Foundation, shows some of the overnight work taking place.

Four two metre-long nose bolts have been removed and replaced for the first time in decades as part of a series of maintenance works taking place during overnight closures.

The bolts lock in place the moving parts of the bridge, known as bascules, when it is lowered to allow traffic and pedestrians to cross the 129-year-old structure.

City Bridge Foundation is a 900-year-old charity which owns and maintains Tower Bridge along with four other Thames crossings - London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars bridges - at no cost to the public.

Paul Monaghan, assistant director of engineering for City Bridge Foundation, said: 'The key thing we're doing as part of this quarterly closure are maintenance works to replace the nose bolts.

Assistant Engineer of the City Bridge Foundation, Paul Monaghan, conducts a media interview on Tower Bridge

Engineers install a replacement "nose bolt" on an elevated bascule, on Tower Bridge

A newly inserted 'nose bolt' (left) is seen in position on a bascule, on Tower Bridge, replacing the old one (pictured right)

The northern side of Tower Bridge is illuminated on October 11 while the bridge is closed for maintenance works

Engineers work on an elevated bascule, installing a replacement 'nose bolt', on Tower Bridge

For the first time in decades, engineers will be removing and replacing the 2m long 'nose bolts' which lock the two bascules

A tour guide pauses next to an accumulator used to store high-pressure water for use in hydraulic machinery in Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is illuminated while work on bascule "nose bolts" takes place

Engineers work on an elevated bascule, where a 'nose bolt' will be replaced, on Tower Bridge

An engineer hoists himself up to the bridge amid work to replace the 2m long 'nose bolts

'We're doing one of these [on each] night. They're being replaced because of the wear and tear on the bridge, particularly from the traffic loadings.

'It's been probably at least 50 years since these were replaced. The critical

'As well as being London's defining landmark, Tower Bridge is a key part of the capital's transport infrastructure.

'As a bridge with moving parts, it's inevitable that we will see wear and tear, but carrying out planned work like this avoids the need for more disruptive and costly repairs further down the line.

'Doing these kind of jobs at night means we keep London moving and minimise disruption to motorists, pedestrians and the many tourists who come to enjoy the visitor attraction.'

Around 40,000 people and 21,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge, which lifts around 900 times a year to let boats pass underneath.
Sir Keir Starmer squirmed as he was asked whether he regretted campaigning for Jeremy Corbyn to be prime minister at the 2017 and 2019 general elections.

The Labour leader, who replaced Mr Corbyn at the top of the party in 2020, was a senior shadow minister under his predecessor's leadership.

But in a Sky News interview, Sir Keir dodged questions about whether he actually believed Mr Corbyn should have become PM during that time.

He was quizzed about his past support for Mr Corbyn in the wake of horror attacks on Israel by Hamas.

Mr Corbyn once referred to the terror group as 'friends', while his leadership of Labour was marked by a series of antisemitism rows.

Sir Keir Starmer squirmed as he was asked whether he regretted campaigning for Jeremy Corbyn to be prime minister at the 2017 and 2019 general elections

The Labour leader, who replaced Mr Corbyn at the top of the party in 2020, was a senior shadow minister under his predecessor's leadership

'I think in 2017 and 2019, the Labour party lost its way,' Sir Keir told Sky News at the end of Labour's conference in Liverpool this week.

'And that's why my first words as Labour leader, first words were, we will rip antisemitism out by its roots.'

Asked whether he meant it when he told voters that Mr Corbyn should be PM, Sir Keir replied: 'Every Labour party member and activist always wants a Labour government.

'But I'm not going to shy away from the fact that we lost our way in recent years.'

Pressed on whether he regretted advocating for Mr Corbyn to be PM, Sir Keir said: 'I think we lost our way, and that's why I've made it my business to change this Labour party.'

Sir Keir was also challenged on whether the British public should judge him on his past support for Mr Corbyn.

He added: 'I have invited the Jewish communities to judge me on my record.

'As soon as I became leader I simply said to them, give me the space to show what I will do by my own actions.

'They did and it's never job done. But we are a fundamentally different party to the party that fought the election in 2019.'

Commenting on the Labour leader's Sky News interview, Tory minister Jacob Young said: 'This isnt a flip flop, its just a flop.

'Slippery Starmer encouraged people to make Jeremy Corbyn prime minister at the last election, and the one before that.

'He can try kid himself, but not the rest of us.'

After replacing Mr Corbyn as Labour leader in 2020, Sir Keir suspended his predecessor as a Labour MP later the same year.

It followed Mr Corbyn's response to a report by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, which said Labour had broken the law over its handling of antisemitism complaints under his leadership.

Mr Corbyn said the scale of antisemitism in the party had been 'overstated for political reasons'.

Sir Keir has since moved to block Mr Corbyn from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election.
Climber Nims Purja has paid heartfelt tribute to his friend Anna Gutu describing her as 'one of the best mountaineers' after she died in an avalanche, adding: 'Sorry I couldn't save you.'

Record breaking climber Purja wrote an Instagram post lauding her life and their friendship after fellow celebrated climber, 32, died in Tibet at the weekend.

Gutu was killed alongside her Nepalese guide, Mingmar Sherpa, and rival US climber Gina Rzucidlo, 45, and her guide Tenjen Sherpa.

The team were on the in final trek of a record-breaking attempt to reach the summit of the earth's 14 tallest mountains.

In his post Purja said: 'We were on the same mountain on the same summit push - Im sorry I couldnt save you. Thank you for being my sister, my friend. I will always remember you Anna, words cant even describe how I feel,' he added.

'The phrase "missing you" isnt enough, now you are part of my life, you will live in my memories as long as I live.'

Anna Guta and Nims Purja pictured together on Instagram

In a separate Instagram post, Purja called guide Mingmar Sherpa 'my powerhouse'

Rzucidlo (left) and her Nepalese mountaineering partner Tenjen (right) on Sunday afternoon were still missing, as all four were near the summit when the unseasonal avalanches struck

The tragedy unfolded on Tibets Mount Shishapangma - after two avalanches hit its slopes at an altitude of around 26,000 feet.

In a post about Mingmar, Purja wrote: 'My dear brother, my powerhouse, my family, my morale... you will sadly be missed.'

Gutu and her guide were initially reported missing - and on Sunday were confirmed to be deceased after their bodies were pulled from the snow.

Rzucidlo and Tenjen Sherpa, disappeared in the flows of snow too - the cause of at least 120 deaths in the region over the past two years.

in a gut-wrenching twist Rzucidlo's sister, Christy, said that Chinese officials have denied requests to conduct a helicopter search of the area from Nepal and instead advised search for bodies can resume in the spring.

Both women had been racing to become the first American women to traverse the true summits of the world's only eight-thousanders - a series of mountains located in the Himalayas and neighboring Karakorams with 8,000-meter (26,000 feet) peaks.

All of the summits, including Shishapangma, are considered 'death zones' - meaning they boast altitudes above a certain point that create a lack of oxygen insufficient to sustain human life.

That marker is generally accepted to be around 8,000 meters - roughly the altitude where Gutu and Mingmar had been when one of the avalanches seen Saturday on Shishapangma, the world's 14th-highest mountain, at 8,027 meters (26,335 feet).

Gutu was confirmed dead Sunday, after attempting to climb Tibets Mount Shishapangma

One mourner wrote of the American, who was born in Ukraine: 'We lost the most beautiful light today. The world will never be as bright without you. You are forever frozen in time as our beautiful mountain angel. I love you very much'

The avalanches struck Tibets Mount Shishapangma on Saturday afternoon at 7,600 (about 25,000 feet) and 8,000 meters (about 26,000 feet)

Their bodies were recovered by a mountaineering team Sunday, according to the Himalayan Times.

The four were among a total of 52 climbers from countries like Britain, Romania and Pakistan pushing for the summit when the avalanches hit, and were virtually there when the snow struck.

Also affected by the dueling natural disasters was Nepalese mountain guide Karma Geljen Sherpa, who was escorted down the mountain by rescuers and is now said to be in stable condition.

Tenjen, meanwhile, was one half of a duo who shattered the record for the fastest climb of the 14 mountains this past July, with a time of 92 days.

The previous record was 189 days - more than double the time it took he and 37-year-old Norwegian climber Kristin Harila.

Aged 35 himself, a successful ascent would have seen him become the youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks twice.

His partner, Rzucidlo, had been climbing with Seven Summit Tracks.

Harila, an accomplished climber with more than 160,000 followers on social media, confirmed Saturday that she and members of her mountaineering team were on a plane to Nepal to assist in the search for both climbers.

Rzucidlo's sister said that Chinese officials have refused requests to conduct helicopter searches due to adverse weather

An accompanying statement from Harila's team, citing The Himalayan Times report, insisted her 'thoughts and prayers are with [Tenjen] and his family.'

Gutu - another expert whose exploits had amassed her a more than 33,000-strong following on social media - had been climbing with Elite Exped, another respected climbing company founded by world-class Nepalese mountaineers in 2017.

The Ukrainian-born American's friends and fans have since flocked to her sprawling social media accounts to pay their respects.

One tribute, left by renowned Indian police official Gurjot Singh Kaler, read: Really miss you. Heartbroken to learn about the avalanche. You were one of the best human beings I ever came across.'

Another added: 'We lost the most beautiful light today. The world will never be as bright without you. You are forever frozen in time as our beautiful mountain angel. I love you very much.'

Experts also warn that climate change has increased the risk of avalanches in the region even during the somewhat sage post monsoon season, which the region is currently in the midst of.

Still, the mountain is known to claim lives year-round. The incident comes after at least 42 were killed after a glacial lake burst its banks and triggered floods in the region this past week.

Officials are still assessing the extent of that crisis.
The Scottish Parliament has sparked fury by refusing to fly Israel's flag in a decision involving a Green MSP who shared a 'vile' tweet defending Hamas terrorists.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) rejected a request to fly the flag in solidarity with the people of Israel. It made the decision despite previously agreeing to fly the Ukrainian flag in the aftermath of the invasion by Russia.

Four out of the five MSPs on the SPCB have previously either taken part in pro-Palestinian rallies or publicly backed sanctions against Israel  raising concerns that the parliament is not reflective of public opinion on the issue.

It comes as Green MSP Maggie Chapman yesterday finally condemned the 'reprehensible' slaughter of innocent people by Hamas after causing outrage by attempting to justify the terror attacks.

Her original social media posts after the atrocities on Saturday, which she has still not deleted, are now being assessed by police following complaints that they broke the law and may encourage anti-Semitism.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) rejected a request to fly the flag in solidarity with the people of Israel

Green MSP Maggie Chapman yesterday finally condemned the 'reprehensible' slaughter of innocent people by Hamas after causing outrage by attempting to justify the terror attacks

Her original social media posts after the atrocities on Saturday, which she has still not deleted, are now being assessed by police

Posting on Twitter, now X, on Saturday after hundreds of Israeli civilians had already been murdered, Ms Chapman said: 'What's happening in #Palestine is a consequence of #Apartheid, of illegal occupation, & of imperial aggression by the Israel state.

'Palestinian civilians have seen their homes destroyed, their water stolen & their land appropriated illegally. #GazaUnderAttack #VivaPalestine.'

READ MORE - FA unlikely to light up Wembley arch with colours of the Israel flag in show of support before England vs Australia Advertisement

The following day, she doubled down on her comments on X, adding: 'We'll never have peace in Israel or Palestine if we don't recognise why those who've been subjected to blockade, occupation & worse retaliate.

'Peace-making requires honesty. Including acknowledging awful violent acts by different actors. But we cannot erase context of occupation.'

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw, whose Eastwood constituency is home to Scotland's largest Jewish community, said in response: 'Maggie Chapman's vile comments in the wake of Hamas's appalling attack, which has killed hundreds of Israeli civilians, has rightly provoked outrage on social media.

Ms Chapman was among the SPCB members who decided to refuse the raising of the Israeli flag.

Another member was Labour MSP Claire Baker, who has taken part in rallies against previous action by the Israeli Government and also backed Fife Council's decision to fly the Palestinian flag in 2014 in condemnation of events in Gaza.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who chairs the SPCB, spoke in favour of calls for a boycott of artists who receive funding from Israel during a 2016 Holyrood debate.

It was also projected on the House of Commons in Westminster and several other buildings

The Israeli flag was projected on 10 Downing Street on Sunday evening in London

Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame signed a public letter alongside Left-wing activists including Jeremy Corbyn in 2014 condemning the BBC for suggesting that attacks on Gaza were 'being directed at militants', saying that for Palestinians 'they are an extension of military rule and collective punishment by a brutal apartheid state'.

Scottish Conservative external affairs spokesman Donald Cameron said: 'The Scottish parliament appears to be completely out of tune with the public mood, as well as offending those who have suffered so badly.'

An Israeli flag was projected onto the House of Commons and 10 Downing Street as well as key landmarks around the world.

Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood Jackson Carlaw, whose Renfrewshire constituency includes the highest Jewish population in Scotland, is thought to be the only SPCB member to support flying the Israeli flag.

It is understood the SPCB did not formally vote on whether to fly the flag, but a majority of MSPs were opposed.
A man who was arrested after a protester disrupted Sir Keir Starmers speech at the Labour Party conference has been bailed.

The 28-year-old, from Surrey, was arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance, Merseyside Police said on Tuesday.

Today, a spokesman for the force said the man had been bailed pending further enquiries.

The protester was wearing a T-shirt linking him to a group called People Demand Democracy, which named him as Yaz Ashmawi.

The Labour leader had glitter thrown over him by the heckler who shouted true democracy is citizen-led as he started his speech.

The man was wrestled to the ground by security after his protest, with Sir Keir resuming his speech saying he was not 'bothered'

Sir Keir was left rubbing glitter from his hair after the extraordinary incident

Sir Keir pushed the activist away from the microphone with his right arm before security arrived.

The protester continued to shout politics needs an update, we demand a peoples house, we are in crisis and our whole future is in jeopardy as he was wrestled to the ground.

Sir Keir, who has repeatedly highlighted how he has shifted the party since Jeremy Corbyns leadership, said protest or power, this is why we changed our party.

After removing his jacket, the Labour leader said 'if he thinks that bothers me, he doesnt know me', before beginning his speech with glitter on the shoulders of his white shirt.

Questions have been raised as to why Mr Ashmawi was able to reach the stage and put his arms around the opposition leader for several seconds before bodyguards tackled him to the ground.

Laura McConnell, chairwoman of Edinburgh East Labour, wrote: 'Worrying how long it took security to get there. Very glad it was only glitter and that Keir is ok.

The Labour leader joked about the experience, saying it would take more than one 'idiot' to derail his plan to take power at the next election.

'Unfortunately, in the world we live in, the toxic rhetoric around politics does leave you worried.'

Evie Aspinall, president of the British Foreign Policy Group think tank, is attending the conference - and echoed security concerns shared by others.

She tweeted: 'Security for Labour conference has been utterly terrible. The least officious bag searches I've ever seen. So unsuprised this (the glitter incident) happened.'

Labour downplayed the incident, with a spokesperson telling BBC News that Sir Keir leader was 'fine' and 'completely unfazed by what happened'.

The spokesperson added: 'It shows his strength of character that he got on and delivered the speech of his life.'

MailOnline has contacted the party for further comment. But the extraordinary incident will raise huge concerns about the protection for the Opposition leader.

It is the second time during this year's event that an interloper managed to get to the podium.

People Demand Democracy, a political splinter group with links to XR and Just Stop Oil, claimed responsibility for the incident, saying they are a 'new group calling for an upgrade to the UK political system using civil disobedience'.

JSO also shared footage of the stage-invasion linking it to their demand that Sir Keir 'commits to revoking the oil and gas licenses granted by this zombie Tory government'.

After being showered in glitter, Sir Keir was cheered as he took off his jacket and continued after the man was removed saying:' He also joked that he was glad it hadn't happened to his wife Victoria because her dress was 'beautiful'.

People Demand Democracy, whose Twitter account had just ten followers this morning, wrote to Sir Keir on September 4 warning they would direct action against him if they ignored them.

They demanded: 'We urge you, the leader of the Labour Party, to announce that you will hold new national elections with a proportional voting system and set up a House of Citizens within six months of getting into office.

'We encourage you to embrace this upgrade to our democracy: proportional voting so every vote counts and a permanent Citizens' Assembly made up of people from all walks of life to discuss major long term issues without party political pressures.

'If you do not do so by 30th September, People Demand Democracy will take proportionate action to get our message across to you and the Labour Party leadership. We are left with no other choice but to take a stand for what's right and take back our power as citizens'.
Sprinklers should be mandatory in all car parks, a fire safety expert said today after a huge inferno destroyed up to 1,500 vehicles at London Luton Airport - seven years after another blaze ripped through a Liverpool car park which also had no sprinklers.

A 600C (1,100F) fire at Luton's 20million Terminal Car Park 2 which broke out at about 9pm on Tuesday is said to have been started by a diesel Range Rover, which investigators believe could have suffered an electrical fault or a leaking fuel line.

Firefighters suggested the blaze then spread as a number of electric vehicles burst into flames in a domino effect  with crews in Bedfordshire working for 12 hours through the night and into yesterday morning to extinguish the fire by about 9am.

But chief fire officer Andrew Hopkinson said the car park did not appear to have any sprinklers, adding that these 'may have made a positive impact on this incident'.

It follows a huge fire that destroyed up to 1,600 vehicles in a Liverpool car park in 2017, which firefighters said at the time could have been stopped by sprinklers.

Mr Hopkinson has urged Luton Airport to install sprinklers in existing and future car parks - and said the open sides of the structure, which was only opened in 2019, meant the fire likely spread 'horizontally' before it tore upwards through the building.

Now, leading fire investigator Peter Mansi has told MailOnline that sprinklers or drenchers should be 'mandated and fitted in all multi-storey car parks'.

LUTON 2023 - Burnt cars inside the Luton Airport car park which collapsed in Tuesday's fire

LIVERPOOL 2017 - Burnt out cars in Liverpool after a major car park fire near the Echo Arena

Mr Mansi, a former borough commander in the London Fire Brigade, said: 'Due to the low level ceilings in these multi-storey car parks and the closeness of parked vehicles, any vehicle fire, whether diesel, petrol or electric, will spread to adjacent vehicles quickly.

'The fire plume impinges on the typically low ceiling and spreads laterally very quickly, radiating heat from the ceiling level onto vehicles that may be one or two car bays away from the fire vehicle.

'Sprinklers or drenchers should be mandated and fitted in all multi-storey car parks to contain a fire until the fire service arrives.'

Also today, a firefighting source passed a report to MailOnline which suggested sprinklers could have saved both the Luton and Liverpool car parks.

The Government study into car park fires published in 2010 found that sprinklers do help extinguish such blazes and 'clearly assist in reducing structural damage'.

However, they were never made compulsory in such settings.

The paper was commissioned by the then-Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in 2006, which was over a decade before the Liverpool car park fire.

On sprinklers, it concluded: 'The effectiveness of sprinklers in limiting a fire to a single car has been demonstrated.

'This supports findings reported verbally by the fire and rescue service. Sprinklers clearly assist in reducing structural damage.

The remains of London Luton Airport's Terminal Car Park 2 today following the collapse

Burnt vehicles at Luton Airport's Terminal Car Park 2 following the fire on Tuesday night

Up to 1,200 vehicles were affected by the fire and collapse of the car park at Luton Airport

Flights at Luton Airport were suspended following the blaze which broke out at about 9pm

'With regards to firefighting these benefits need to be assessed in relation to cooling and downdrag. The design parameters for fire suppression of stackers need to be developed.'

The report also analysed nine tests carried out involving 20 cars which looked at fire development in closed car parks.

The aim was to establish the effect of a fire started in one car in a closed car park - with a ventilation system operating, the sprinkler system operated and then neither system operated.

The tests investigated the chances of fire spreading to multiple cars, the temperatures reached in the air and the structural impact.

The tests found that the sprinkler system was 'effective at controlling a developing fire' and 'equally as effective at controlling a fully developed fire'.

It added that 'without sprinklers fire is likely to spread from car to car' and 'with sprinklers spread of fire is unlikely'.

The report also found that structurally, the steelwork was not affected until 30 minutes of fire exposure  and with sprinklers there, the 'steelwork remained unaffected for the duration of the test'.

MailOnline has contacted the relevant department  which is now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government  to comment on why the Government did not implement a mandatory sprinklers rule for car parks, despite the report 13 years ago stating their importance in mitigating fires.

Burnt out vehicles at the Liverpool Echo Arena car park after the fire in December 2017

The major blaze at the multi-storey Liverpool Waterfront Car Park at the Echo Arena in 2017

Yesterday, AA technical expert Greg Carter said the most common cause of car fires is an electrical fault with the 12-volt battery system.

He added that diesel is 'much less flammable' than petrol, and in a car it takes 'intense pressure or sustained flame' to ignite diesel.

And Alastair Soane, principal consultant for Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (Cross UK), a confidential industry reporting system, said: 'Fires in car parks are not uncommon, but a fire of this magnitude is rare.

'A full investigation will be required to understand what has happened. We do not yet know the reasons for this fire and structural damage to this multi-storey car park.'

Fire chief Mr Hopkinson confirmed to reporters at the scene in Luton yesterday that there were no sprinklers in the car park.

He said: 'We are already talking to the airport about ensuring that any future, and the existing, car parks have sprinklers fitted because this building is not sprinkler protected. Sprinklers may have made a positive impact on this incident.'

There is no suggestion the blaze happened intentionally.

After the Liverpool fire in 2017, Dan Stephens of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said crews would have had a 'much better' chance of stopping the fire had sprinklers been installed.

Passengers walk to London Luton Airport yesterday after a blaze at the Terminal Car Park 2

Passengers wait at Luton Airport yesterday after it was closed with flights suspended

Passengers wait for flights to resume at London Luton Airport yesterday after a large fire

In that blaze, which happened on New Year's Eve, seven floors of the multi-storey car park at the Echo Arena on the city's waterfront were engulfed in flames. An old Land Rover with its engine on fire was thought to have caused the inferno.

READ MORE Range Rover fire which sparked Luton car park collapse comes six years after Land Rover destroyed Liverpool's Echo Arena car park - and six months after 4x4 recalls Advertisement

As for Luton Airport, the site reopened at 3pm yesterday following the fire, which led to more than 140 departures or arrivals being cancelled and up to 50,000 passengers affected.

Fifteen fire appliances and more than 100 firefighters were deployed.Three firefighters and a member of airport staff were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation, and another firefighter was treated at the scene.

Yesterday, MailOnline revealed that the company which constructed the Luton car park entered administration just five weeks ago.

Buckingham Contracting Group won a 20million contract in July 2018 to build the 1,900-car site. But the company went bust on September 4.

MailOnline contacted its administrators Grant Thornton, but they declined to comment.

Also involved in the car park construction was a Lancashire-based company called Raised Floor Solutions (RFS), although it was not the builder or main contractor.

RFS confirmed to MailOnline that it was employed by Buckingham to supply and install the metal-deck flooring formwork to the designs produced by a structural engineering firm called Hill Cannon which is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

MailOnline has also contacted Hill Cannon for comment.
This is the shocking moment a knife-wielding phone thief repeatedly stabbed two Met Police officers in a horrific attack in London's West End.

Mohammed Rahman, 25, knifed a male officer five times to his head, arm and chest three days before the Queen's funeral last September.

Rahman also stabbed a police woman through the arm when she tried to tackle her assailant near Leicester Square.

The bodyworn footage shows the officers covered in blood before bare-footed Rahman is restrained with a Taser.

The officers, from Central West Command Unit, approached Rahman after he robbed a man of his mobile phone and powerbank in Shaftesbury Avenue on September 16, Kingston Crown Court heard.

Rahman, wielding a knife, refused to co-operate and suddenly lunges towards them.

Mohammed Rahman, 25, knifed a male officer five times to his head, arm and chest three days before the Queen's funeral last September

The bodyworn footage shows the officers covered in blood before bare-footed Rahman is restrained with a Taser

He then ran off pursued by the two officers as they called for back up.

When they tried to arrest Rahman he stabbed one of the female officers, named only as PC Mulhall, though her right upper arm. The wound cut through the muscle down to the bone.

Her colleagues tried to tackle Rahman as he tried to murder a male officer, named only as PC Gerrard.

He was left with five stab wounds to his head, arm and chest, while a stab to his chest punctured his lung.

A third officer received a slight wound to his finger during the struggle.

Paramedics at the scene saved PC Gerrard's life.

Rahman was convicted by a jury of attempted murder and GBH with intent in relation to PC Gerrard and PC Mulhall.

He was also convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm and two counts of threatening a person in a public place with a bladed article, relating to three other constables and possession of a bladed article.

Rahman, who attended his first court hearing clutching a prayer mat, was also convicted of robbery.

Prosecutor Rose Edwin had earlier told the court how Rahman stabbed PC Gerrard repeatedly in the neck and chest.

Police officers at the scene in the West End following the stabbing hours earlier

Police officers at the scene of the stabbing near London's Leicester Square

'PC Mulhall suffered lacerations to the back side of her right upper arm which extended right through to the bone.

'These were vicious assaults perpetrated against officers who were just trying to carry out their job.'

The two officers who were stabbed were taken to hospital where they underwent surgery for their injuries. Both returned to duty earlier this year.

Rahman, of Westbourne Park Road, Notting Hill, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on December 8.

Chief Superintendent Louise Puddefoot, in charge of policing in Westminster, said: 'Our colleagues almost certainly would have suffered more serious injuries that could have ended their careers, or worse, taken their lives, had it not been for the incredible support provided by their colleagues. The initial first aid provided by officers from Specialist Firearms Command (MO19) proved vital and may have saved the life of one of the officers.

'The incident that led to today's conviction is an important reminder of the bravery and selflessness of police officers, and highlights their willingness to face danger in order to protect others, something that takes place across London on a daily basis.

'I have nothing but admiration for all of my colleagues who were involved. My thoughts are also with their families - who will have suffered when told the news that morning - and who have supported their recovery and continue to support them as they go back to work.

The scene in Shaftesbury Avenue, central London, where two police officers were stabbed

'Our two colleagues who were seriously injured had been in the Met for only a couple of years, but they exemplify the courage that often goes unnoticed. They have only recently returned to duties, and we will continue to provide them with as much assistance as possible.

'It is clear that Rahman posed a serious threat to the public. He was carrying a knife and did not hesitate to use it.

'I would also like to thank our colleagues in the Specialist Crime Command who led the subsequent investigation and continue to engage with us throughout.

'The actions of all of the officers involved, from the initial response, to putting evidence before a jury, have helped to take a dangerous man off the streets for what I hope will be a significant amount of time.'

David Malone, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, said: 'This was a shocking and horrific incident that highlights the courage required to be a frontline police officer. My thoughts are with those officers who were injured protecting our community.

'May I also pay tribute to the Metropolitan Police Service for a meticulous investigation and to the prosecution team who worked tirelessly, building a strong case, to bring this this dangerous individual to justice.

'I hope this case and today's conviction sends out a clear message to those who carry knives and plan to harm others. You will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated America's commitment to supporting the world's only Jewish state as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

The pair met for talks at the central command of the IDF as Israel continues its counteroffensive against Hamas terrorists in the wake of the recent unprecedented attacks.

'We're here and we're not going anywhere,' Blinken told Netanyahu as the two shook hands. The secretary also said that he was sorry to be seeing the Israeli premier in such circumstances. 'Thank you tremendously,' Netanyahu responded.

Blinken said he understands on a 'personal level the harrowing echos the Hamas massacres carry for... Jews everywhere.'

'If you'll permit me a personal aside  I come before you not only as the United States Secretary of State, but also as a Jew,' the secretary said during a joint press conference where he recounted how his grandfather fled Russia and step father survived concentration camps.

The death toll among American citizens in the country reached at least 25, Blinken revealed on Thursday. It's thought there are as many 600 U.S. citizens in Gaza.

On Friday, Blinken will also sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

'We're here and we're not going anywhere,' Blinken told Netanyahu as the two shook hands

Subsequent pictures broadcast in Israel showed Blinken sitting across from Netanyahu alongside teams of aides

Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his mission of diplomacy in the country as Israel's counteroffensive against Hamas continues

The meeting comes as forces continue to bombard the Hamas stronghold Gaza as part of the country's counteroffensive, which could extend to a ground assault as troops mobilize across Israel.

Blinken touched down in Tel Aviv just after 3am Eastern time, 10am local time. He was greeted on the tarmac by government officials who offered him a warm embrace. Less than 24 hours prior to his arrival, the world's largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford, arrived in the region.

Blinken is being joined on his mission of peace by his Deputy Chief of Staff Tom Sullivan, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr and Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen.

Prior to leaving the US, Blinken said his simple message was that 'the United States has Israel's back.' In addition to discussions with Netanyahu, he will also meet with members of his senior cabinet as well as President Isaac Herzog.

He was greeted at Ben Gurion International Airport by Foreign Minister of Israel Eli Cohen, along with two other officials from the department, Michael Herzog, the US ambassador to the country and Stephanie Hallett, the head of the US diplomatic mission to Israel.

The secretary will head to Jordan after conducting his meetings in Israel to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Blinken became the most senior U.S. official to visit the country since Hamas terrorists based in Gaza first started their attacks on Saturday. Since then, more than 1,200 Israelis have died in the attacks.

Saturday was the largest single-day murder of Jewish people since the Holocaust in World War II.

The death toll in Gaza has also nearly reached 1,200 the Palestinian Ministry of Health said last night after four days of relentless Israeli air raids on the Hamas-controlled territory.

But Blinken insisted he would not try to restrain the Israeli counter-attack ahead of a widely expected invasion of the heavily populated enclave.

'We know that Israel will take all of the precautions that it can, just as we would, and again that's what separates us from Hamas and terrorist groups that engage in the most heinous kind of activities,' he told reporters as he left.

The secretary of state will offer further military support when he meets Netanyahu after a second US carrier group was ordered the region.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his mission of diplomacy in the country

Prior to leaving the US, Blinken said his simple message was that 'the United States has Israel's back'

Blinken's visit was met with intense security as the bloody conflict rages on

But he will also be trying to stop the conflict spreading after Israeli forces again exchanged artillery fire with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants across the Lebanese border to the north.

'We will be reiterating the very strong message that President Biden has delivered to any country or any party that might try to take advantage of this situation, and that message is don't.'

'The United States has Israel's back.

'We have their back today, we will have it tomorrow, and we will have it every day. And we will always stand resolutely against terrorism.

'Not since Isis have we seen this kind of depravity and we will continue to stand resolutely against it.

'Already significant military assistance requested by Israel is on its way, that's on top of everything we've been doing for years.

'There'll be further requests and we've already been working closely with Congress on this and we look forward to continuing to do that so Israel has what it needs.

America's top diplomat has already been working the phones in a bid to apply pressure on Hamas to release around 150 hostages it took from Israel in its deadly cross-border raid.

He has spoken to leaders in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates and is expected to visit at least some on his trip to the Middle East.

But critics claimed the unforeseen attack is a symptom of years of neglect in the region which has left the US playing catch-up.

'The attack by Hamas is a reminder of the perception of an American absence or lack of commitment to the region that some actors might interpret and do things they should not be doing,' said Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute.
Former Barclays boss Jes Staley was today fined 1.8million by the Financial Conduct Authority and banned from the City after 'recklessly misleading' the watchdog about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The FCA said Mr Staley approved a letter sent by Barclays to the regulator which claimed the bank's former boss did not have a close relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in a US prison in 2019.

In reality, Mr Staley had described the paedophile financier in emails as one of his 'deepest' and 'most cherished' friends.

Barclays said that following the FCA's decision, it had decided Mr Staley was ineligible for, or would forfeit, bonuses and share awards totalling 17.8million.

It had already suspended all of Mr Staley's deferred bonuses and long-term share awards while the watchdog investigated.

Jes Staley tried to hide the truth about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the FCA said today. He is seen in New York in June

Staley (far left) is seen in an undated photo with Epstein. From left: Staley, Larry Summers, Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gates and Boris Nikolic

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: 'A CEO (chief executive officer) needs to exercise sound judgment and set an example to staff at their firm. Mr Staley failed to do this.

'We consider that he misled both the FCA and the Barclays board about the nature of his relationship with Mr Epstein. Mr Staley is an experienced industry professional and held a prominent position within financial services.

'It is right to prevent him from holding a senior position in the financial services industry if we cannot rely on him to act with integrity by disclosing uncomfortable truths about his close personal relationship with Mr Epstein.'

READ MORE - New trove of Jeffrey Epstein's files entries reveals pedophile's network of power Advertisement

The FCA's decision is provisional and Mr Staley will present his case at a following tribunal.

A spokesman for the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority said: 'We support the FCA's decision announced today against Jes Staley.

'It is imperative that senior managers act with integrity and are open and co-operative with the regulators.'

An internal investigation previously revealed how Epstein invited Mr Staley to meetings with top UK Government officials.

The 22-page internal report, prepared by JPMorgan Chase after Epstein's arrest in 2019, reportedly showed how the sex offender would regularly provide business advice to Staley, then an executive at the US bank.

Epstein also offered to connect Staley with then Chancellor Alistair Darling and Peter Mandelson, the former business secretary and de facto deputy prime minister, according to the Financial Times. He is also understood to have invited Staley to meetings with senior officials in the government of Dubai.

According to the report, Epstein wrote to Staley in January 2010 seemingly inviting him to meet with high ranking officials at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

'I've set up you and peter to meet in davos with darling,' Epstein allegedly wrote.

According to an internal JP Morgan report, Epstein offered to connect Staley with then Chancellor Alistair Darling and Peter Mandelson. Mr Mandelson is pictured with Jefferey Epstein at the paedophile's 54th birthday

Barclays said that following the FCA's decision, it had decided Mr Staley was ineligible for, or would forfeit, bonuses and share awards totalling 17.8million

Staley, days later, replied: 'Peter last night. Darling in 20 minutes. Will talk again with Peter this AM.'

Mr Darling has said he has 'no recollection of meeting Staley', the FT reported, adding that he denied having dealings with Epstein and questioned: 'Why would I?'

The document in question involved JPMorgan's efforts to purchase the Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) stake in Sempra Energy and a mining deal in the Congo.

Mr Darling has claimed the Treasury was not involved in running RBS and that meetings on government business would have been attended by civil servants.

READ MORE - Emails say Prince Andrew met paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while the financier was still under house arrest Advertisement

In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, Mr Darling said he 'very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein,' and that he 'never had any kind of professional or business relationship with Epstein in any form.'

A source close to Mr Mandelson confirmed that he did meet Staley to discuss the banking crisis but said Epstein 'certainly' did not set up the meeting.

The report also alleges that Epstein and Mr Mandelson spoke and met on a 'number of occasions', including in Paris.

A spokesperson for Mr Mandelson told the newspaper that he 'very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein'.

'This connection has been a matter of public record for some time. He never had any kind of professional or business relationship with Epstein in any form,' the spokesman added.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr Darling or Mr Mandelson.

In the report unveiled in June and written immediately after Epstein's second and last arrest, JPMorgan staffers allegedly remarked how Epstein had appeared to be forming relationships with senior executives and officials from various foreign governments, before referring those figures to Staley and the bank for prospective business deals.

According to the Journal, a message penned in December 2009 saw Epstein tell Staley how to conduct himself around the Emirati businessman during these meetings - reportedly saying: 'sultan is laying the groundwork for you to establish a serious presence.'

'[JPMorgan's] reputation in the region is poor,' Epstein warned, roughly a year after he himself was sentenced to 18 months in jail for a sex ring in Florida.

The billionaire paedophile killed himself in a US prison in 2019

Staley sensationally visited Epstein in prison after his 2019 conviction for prostitution in the US Virgin Islands, after which he hanged himself before being incarcerated.

The JP Morgan report allegedly revealed a raft of correspondence between Staley and Epstein - who regularly discussed women and referred to themselves as 'family.'

In one July 2010 email exchange, Staley reportedly wrote to Epstein, 'That was fun. Say hi to Snow White.'

In response, Epstein reportedly wrote: '[W]hat character would you like next?'; to which Staley replied, 'Beauty and the Beast.'

In 2011, the pair seemed to engage in an exchange that referenced Epstein's 2008 conviction in Florida, with Staley telling his high-profile client, 'You have paid a price for what has been accused. But we know what u[sic] have done for us.

'We count you as one of our deepest friends. And most honest of people.'

The report also allegedly contained correspondence that suggested Staley shared nonpublic information with Epstein, such as prospective executive shuffles before they were officially announced and word on still-ongoing deals.

Last month, JPMorgan agreed to pay $75million (61m) to settle a lawsuit brought by the US Virgin Islands over the bank's client relationship with Epstein.

The bank confirmed the settlements in a statement to DailyMail.com, saying it did not admit liability as part of the deal, but 'deeply regrets' working with Epstein.

The bank also said it had reached a separate confidential settlement to resolve its claims against Staley, whom the bank had accused of concealing knowledge of Epstein and vouching for him internally.

Staley left JPMorgan in 2013, and later spent six years as Barclays' chief executive.
Susanna Reid described Hamas as 'terrorists' today and labelled their attacks on Israel as an 'act of terror' in an apparent swipe at the BBC's refusal to do so.

The 52-year-old presenter of Good Morning Britain was discussing the impact of the atrocities on British Jews with Rob Rinder, 45, who is Jewish.

The TV personality spoke emotionally about how two of his friends had died, adding: 'It's painful I suspect for you sitting there looking into that autocue calling these people "militants", knowing what's going to ensue, knowing where they're planting their rockets and knowing the horror that's going to be brought to innocent civilians.'

But Ms Reid firmly responded on the ITV show: 'We very clearly call them "terrorists". I mean, it was an act of terror what happened, and it was a barbaric atrocity.

'And you and I have been in contact since what happened. I didn't know that you had lost two friends in that attack. On every level, this is painful for you.'

Susanna Reid described Hamas as 'terrorists' on ITV's Good Morning Britain today

Ms Reid and Ben Shephard (left) were discussing the attacks with Rob Rinder (right)

Rinder spoke emotionally about how two of his friends had died in the Hamas attacks on Israel

Shephard, Ms Reid and Rinder appear on ITV's Good Morning Britain today

The presenter's description of Hamas comes in sharp contrast to her former employers the BBC, which refuses to call the group 'terrorists'. It refers to Hamas as a 'militant' group and described the slaughter of civilians as a 'militant' attack.

Ms Reid spent 20 years working for the BBC before joining ITV, having first joined BBC Radio Bristol in 1994 as a news producer.

She later became one of the main presenters on BBC Breakfast alongside Bill Turnbull, but left in 2014 to host Good Morning Britain, which replaced Daybreak in ITV's morning slot.

Ms Reid said months before she left for ITV that 'if you cut me open I would bleed BBC'.

Today it was revealed the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack at the weekend, had now claimed at least 2,400 lives.

As the BBC continued to avoid using the word 'terrorist', King Charles last night condemned the 'barbaric acts of terrorism' inflicted on Israel.

He was backed by the Prince and Princesses of Wales who said they were 'profoundly distressed' at the unfolding civilian slaughter, adding: 'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling.'

William and Kate went even further, highlighting the country's 'right of self-defence'.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accused broadcasters of trying to 'wilfully mislead' by not using the word' terrorist', saying: 'The murder of babies where they sleep is not the act of a "freedom fighter".'

A string of high-profile figures, including Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, also heaped pressure on the BBC over its approach to covering the murder of Israeli civilians.

People watch as a firetruck is deployed outside a burning collapsed building in Gaza City

A man reacts outside a burning collapsed building following Israeli bombardment in Gaza City

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the Gaza border in southern Israel

Buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza

Mr Shapps told LBC that it was 'verging on disgraceful', adding: 'It's time to get the moral compass out at the BBC.'

BBC editorial guidelines say terrorism is an 'emotive subject with significant political overtones' and 'terrorist' can be a 'barrier rather than an aid to understanding'.

Despite a growing backlash, it is understood the BBC is not planning to review or change its guidelines over the use of the words 'terrorism' and 'terrorist'.

And last night it rejected criticism over its decision, despite Hamas being listed as a proscribed organisation, which means the UK Government sees it as a terrorist group.

BBC director of editorial policy David Jordan said not using the word terrorist was a 'very long-standing policy' which had 'stood the test of time'. He added: 'We've called them massacres, we've called [them] murders, we've called them out for what things are and that doesn't in any way devalue the awfulness of what is going on.'

Nick Robinson, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said on social media: 'I understand entirely why some want the word "terrorism" used. It is, though, the long-standing practice of BBC, ITV and Sky to report others using that language rather than using it ourselves.'

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has raised the issue with BBC director-general Tim Davie and made clear her view that these were 'acts of terror carried out by a terrorist organisation'.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said that by calling Hamas 'militants', the BBC 'not only offers legitimacy to their government, but also denies the fact that they commit atrocities'.

Former BBC journalist Jon Sopel said the corporation's editorial guidelines were 'no longer fit for purpose'.
A Swedish girl of 16 has been accused of luring a taxi driver into a secluded forest and killing him in revenge for allegedly raping her when she was 14.

She and her four brothers, aged between 16 and 18, are on trial accused of murdering the 26-year-old man.

The four brothers deny all charges against them, but the girl admitted that she lured him to the secluded area, thinking he would be beaten up.

The girl allegedly texted the taxi driver, who has not been named, asking him to meet her with a bottle of vodka in a car park near the Hjalstaviken nature reserve in southeast Sweden in March.

After the pair met, the four brothers allegedly then strangled the man and hanged him with a noose made up of rope that they brought with them, Swedish newspaper Fria Tider reported.

Prosecutors said that this was likely to have meant he severely suffered in his final moments alive.

The taxi driver was lured to a carpark near the Hjalstavikens nature reserve in southeast Sweden

Several search parties were sent out to find the taxi driver, who was only found several weeks later when his car was found hidden in a nearby snowdrift.

Local police said they found the defendants' DNA both in the murdered man's car and on the rope used to hang him.

On top of this, records revealed they had transferred money from his bank accounts to their own.

Cops also allegedly found some of his belongings in their home, the Swedish publication reported.

Prosecutors in Sweden's Uppsala District Court said that the main motive for the alleged murder was revenge, as the girl had made a report about the driver allegedly raping her in February last year which was not followed up on.

The brothers reportedly told several of their friends that they would be killing a rapist, and later told them that they had done so.

Andreas Pallinder, head of investigations at the Uppsala police, admitted that his force should've taken the rape report seriously.

'If you take it to its extreme, theoretically we could have prevented a murder,' he said at a press conference.

Prosecutors also believed that there may have been a financial motive to the killing, as his money and belongings were missing from his person. This line of inquiry was later dropped as it was judged to be vague.

Ebru Tok, a lawyer representing the man's family, previously said: 'The family is in great sadness and shocked by the unique situation of such young people being suspected of the murder.

'They hope that the preliminary investigation will clarify the circumstances of the case.'
This is the moment two furious passers-by held a Just Stop Oil activist to account after he defaced a medieval university building with lurid orange paint.

The 24-year-old activist, who gave his name as Chiara Sarti, spray painted King's College Cambridge with reams of paint while similar scenes were carried out by the group in Manchester and Leeds today.

The young man used a fire extinguisher and hose to spread the neon pain far and wide over the building's stone walls, before a man marched up to him.

The activist sat cross-legged on the grass as the member of the public yanked the paint out of his hand and berated him.

A woman shouted over: 'That is disgusting! Do you know what people did to build that, how hard they worked?'

As the activist insisted his actions were 'non-violent', the man responded: 'Non-violent? You haven't got a clue, you are so stupid. I can see a little flea with more intelligence than you.'

A JSO activist uses fire extinguisher to spray orange paint on the exterior of the 15th century building at King's College, Cambridge

The 24-year-old activist, who gave his name as Chiara Sarti, spray-painted King's College Cambridge with reams of paint amid similar scenes in Manchester and Leeds today

The activist sat cross-legged on the grass as a member of the public yanked the paint out of his hand and berated him

The 15th century building was defaced by Sarti's actions. He sat cross-legged before police carried him away

Before being arrested, Chiara told the camera: 'New oil and gas is a death sentence.'

In Leeds, a Just Stop Oil activist was arrested after carrying out a near-identical attack on the city' iconic Great Hall, before ranting to the camera even as he is dragged away by police.

The eco protester used a Just Stop Oil-branded fire extinguisher to blitz the grade II-listed redbrick structure.

The man was filmed being detained by police on suspicion of criminal damage following the incident this afternoon amid cheers from onlookers.

Just Stop Oil later posted on social media: 'Sam Holland, a recent Leeds graduate, took action, calling out the uni's grad schemes with super-polluters like Equinor before being dragged away by police.'

Mr Holland, 21, was last year among protesters who shut down the M25 last year by climbing onto gantries. In a statement released by the climate group, he said: 'I'm taking action today because universities are lying to us.

Just Stop Oil activist Sam Holland was filmed being detained by police on suspicion of criminal damage following the incident at Leed University this afternoon amid cheers from onlookers

Mr Holland, 21, was last year among protesters who shut down the M25 last year by climbing onto gantries

'I studied Human Geography & Economics and was not told that hundreds of millions will be killed over the coming decades from famine, fire and war over resources because of the climate crisis.

'We have been betrayed by academics and university executives that are too cowardly to tell the truth, let alone take action to stop it.'

An eyewitness told how police watched on before the stunt took place at around 12.30pm.

He said: 'There were lots of police there but it didn't stop the man from splatting orange paint all over the building.

'After the stunt the protesters held banners and started chanting through a megaphone. There must have been about a hundred people watching on.

'The police arrested the lad and hauled him into a car.'

The Great Hall, which opened in 1894, is used by the University of Leeds for graduation ceremonies and student exams.

It was designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse, whose other famous works include London's Natural History Museum.

In a statement on their website after the string of protests, Just Stop Oil said: 'Students are demanding that university leaders make a public statement calling on the government to end new oil and gas projects, and make a commitment to join their students in marching on the streets of London, if the government fails to respond.'

West Yorkshire Police was contacted for comment.

A University of Leeds spokesperson said: 'While we support the right to legal protest, we are hugely disappointed that today's demonstration led to the vandalism of a University building.

'We are taking a robust approach to tackling the existential challenge of climate change, with a 174 million Climate Plan which includes our target of delivering net zero emissions by 2030.

'Our policy on responsible investment is to invest in companies that are sustainable and that purposefully set out to solve the problems of people and the planet profitably, without benefiting from causing harm to the world.

'We avoid companies that are materially engaged in certain sectors, including thermal coal, the extraction of fossil fuel from tar sands, oil and gas extraction, production and refining.

'Working collaboratively with our staff and students we will continue to gear our curriculum, research and campus activity to lead climate action locally, nationally and globally.'

Footage shows the female activist, referred to as 'Ruby' by the group, walking leisurely by the glass facade of the university's Albert Gilbert building as she sprays its windows with orange paint

Fellow protestors appear delighted after she has traverses the length of the Manchester University building - covering multiple panes of glass with paint

Just Stop Oil protestor after spraying orange paint over the Allen Gilbert Building at Manchester University

The woman staged a sit-down protest and refused to budge after spray painting the Manchester University building

The woman was led away by officers after her arrest and escorted from the scene in a police vehicle

A woman was arrested following the incident this morning and escorted from the scene by police, amid whoops and cheers from activists

This morning also saw a separate orange paint attack at the hands of Just Stop Oil - this time the Grade 1-listed King's College Cambridge.

One woman was arrested following a paint attack in Manchester this morning and escorted from the scene by police, amid whoops and cheers from activists.

Footage shows the female activist, referred to as 'Ruby' by the group, walking leisurely by the glass facade of the university's Albert Gilbert building as she sprays its windows with orange paint.

Fellow protestors appear delighted after she has traverses the length of the building - covering multiple panes of glass with paint.

This morning also saw a separate orange paint attack at the hands of Just Stop Oil - this time the Grade 1-listed King's College Cambridge.

The stunts follow similar attacks at Oxford, Birmingham, Exeter and London universities this week.

Yesterday, a 'massive crowd' formed outside University College London's library as a young man used a fire extinguisher to spray orange paint up over its stone pillars.

Footage shows bystanders cheering with delight as he squirts the neon paint high up the pillars, while two security staff attempt to restrain him.

The young man then pulls off his jersey to reveals a T-shirt bearing the Just Stop Oil slogan, while demonstrators chant 'Just Stop Oil'.

An eyewitness said the activist was shouting towards onlookers that oil is destroying the climate before security pulled him out of view.

In Birmingham, a similar fiasco was underway almost simultaneously yesterday as Just Stop Oil activists splattered dollops of orange paint and hand prints over the university library.

A male demonstrator staged a sit-down protest, sitting cross-legged beneath a Just Stop Oil banner in front of the university.

Just Stop Oil posted on its X account: 'Harrison just chucked paint over a University of Birmingham faculty building, calling on university leaders to join students in civil resistance. Why? Because the UK Government is licensing new oil and gas.'

The young man used a fire extinguisher with a rubber hose attached to paint high up the pillars of University College London

The young man pulled off his jersey to reveal a T-shirt bearing the Just Stop Oil slogan, while demonstrators chanted 'Just Stop Oil'

An eyewitness said the activist was shouting towards onlookers that oil is destroying the climate before security pulled him out of view

Just Stop Oil posted on X: 'University College London has just been painted orange by Arthur, a student who cannot stand by while our Government sells his future for profit'

In Birmingham, a similar fiasco was underway this afternoon as Just Stop Oil activists splattered dollops of orange paint and hand prints over the university library

A male demonstrator then staged a sit-down protest, sitting cross-legged beneath a Just Stop Oil banner in front of the university

On Tuesday, the eco-activists targeted Exeter University despite being invited by the institute to hold their own stall at the freshers' fair taking place that day.

The group converged on the Penny campus at the Devon site with orange paint at lunchtime on Tuesday.

In the clip, a young bearded man dressed in a white 'Just Stop Oil' T-shirt can be seen carrying the bucket over to the building.

Two fellow demonstrators film him up close as he crosses a zebra crossing and opens the bucket of neon paint.

Activists began cheering as the activist splashes paint across the wall in four heavy doses, before chanting in unison.

The man then said to the camera: 'Our government is complicit in genocidal plans to licence over 100 fossil fuel projects.

'The projects are the betrayal of our generation. We know what new fossil fuels look like. It looks like death, famine and war.

'Young people have had enough. We can't stand by and watch this happen anymore. Inaction is a death sentence but together we can force change, it's what's happened countless times throughout history and if we come together and do what's necessary, then we too can create the change that we need.'

A Just Stop Oil protester throws paint on the University of Exeter Penny campus

The activist targeted the Penny building in the University of Exeter as the group continues their demands for no new oil projects.

In another paint attack at Exeter university, the group gathered outside the glass facade of 'The Forum' and staged a separate protest - with one man sitting on the roof while orange paint was thrown at the building.

George Simonson, 23, a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Edinburgh, was responsible for the paint on the glass facade of 'The Forum' on the Exeter University campus.

Simonson said: 'Studying engineering taught me that we already have the solutions to address the climate crisis, what we lack is the political will. The politicians have been bought, and educational institutions are absolutely complicit in allowing them to continue this genocide.

'Universities are accepting tens of millions in dirty money and letting the fossil fuel companies come to careers fairs to give out free pens. Students have a duty to step up and show teaching institutions we won't stand for it anymore.'

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: 'Police were called to Exeter University on Tuesday afternoon following reports of a male on the roof of a building, which was believed to be as part of a protest.

'Officers attended and arrested a male on suspicion of criminal damage. He has since been released on police bail.'

Yesterday, the group targeted the Forum building of the University of Exeter with orange paint

Yesterday at the university, the group gathered outside the glass facade of 'The Forum' and staged a separate protest

Just Stop Oil has described the spray painting of the building in Oxford city centre as 'resistance against the UK Government 's plans to license new oil and gas projects'

Two protestors were arrested at the scene and had their orange paint seized by police

The protests in Exeter broke out on the same day as a Just Stop Oil rally in Oxford, in which protesters filled fire extinguishers with orange paint before spraying it on the iconic library - which dates to the 18th century.

Protestors Daniel Knorr, 21, and Noah Crane, 18, were later named as the activists responsible for the Oxford debacle.

It comes following the arrest of five Just Stop Activists on October 4 after they hijacked a performance of Les Miserables in London's West End.

The crowd booed and jeered as eco-activists, holding the group's orange banner, clambered onto the stage at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury.

One furious theatre-goer shouted: 'Get off you stupid people. How dare you.'

Another yelled: 'You naughty people, you naughty people.'

One man near the front of the audience snatched away one of the eco-protestors' banners.

The stage invasion occurred during the musical's famous protest song of Do You Hear The People Sing? which is often seen as a call to action and has been used all over the world in rebellions including the 2019 Jong Kong demonstrations.

The protestors are calling on staff and students to join the protest group's march in London in November.

Protestor Daniel Knorr, 21, said he was taking action to 'resist the destruction of my generation', while another said protesting 'gives me hope'.

Both Knorr, a biochemistry student and Noah Crane, 18, a recent A-Level graduate, were pictured painting the historic Radcliffe Camera building.
The anguished parents of a British man killed by Hamas during a music festival in Israel on Saturday have said their final farewell to him.

Dor Shafir, and his fiancee Savion Hen Kiper, both 30, were attending the Nova music festival near Re'im, a kibbutz in the south of Israel close to the Gaza border when Hamas terrorists soared over the fence using paragliders.

They landed and began shooting indiscriminately into the crowd, forcing the hundreds of attendees to scatter in terror. Around 270 people were killed.

Dor's parents - father Itzik and mother Miriam - attended their son's funeral on Wednesday, supported by other family members who tried to comfort them.

They were pictured weeping uncontrollably as Dor's body was carried through a cemetery in Modiin Maccabim in a tragic scene that will be all-too common as people in Israeli bury the more than 1,300 people killed by Hamas gunmen.

The anguished parents of a British man killed by Hamas during a music festival in Israel on Saturday have said their final farewell to him. Pictured: Itzik and Miriam Shafir, seen sitting in the background, mourn during their son's funeral at the cemetery in Modiin Maccabim

Dor Shafir, and his fiance Savion Hen Kiper, both 30, were attending the Nova music festival near Re'im, a kibbutz in the south of Israel close to the Gaza border when Hamas terrorists soared over the fence using paragliders. Pictured: Dor's parents on Wednesday

Dor was last heard from early Saturday morning, as the attack unfolded.

At around 7am he sent a text to his family to say he and Savion had managed to escape the initial slaughter and found shelter.

But the Shafir family told Good Morning Britain that Savion was later found dead, murdered by the terrorists who later captured hostages and fled back to Gaza.

Speaking to GMB on Monday, Miriam said at the time that Dor was unaccounted for, and that she was 'praying' that he would be found alive.

However, he was also later confirmed dead, with Miriam on Wednesday posting on Facebook in Hebrew, translated to English, to say that her son had been killed. 'The Shafir family announces with great sorrow the murder of their son Dor,' she wrote.

Speaking on Monday, before learning of her son's fate, Miriam 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.

'There were hundreds, hundreds of young people killed. We don't even know who they are or where they are.'

Ms Shafir, whose parents are from Reading and Dublin, had urged the UK Government to get involved in efforts to trace British citizens in Israel.

She had added: '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.'

Following the news of his death, friends posted tributes to Dor on social media.

'When somebody dies, the instinct is to exaggerate their good qualities and overlook their bad,' Nate Nelson wrote.

'But I genuinely cannot recall a single time Dor Shafir was anything but kind, patient, fun, deeply thoughtful, and without any judgment for anyone.'

Another, named Anat Eylam, described Dor and his fiance as 'a young couple with a whole life ahead of them'. She added: 'Today, unfortunately, we learned that both of them were murdered by the cursed Hamas terrorists.'

She said 'they only wanted to dance and rejoice' at the festival in peace.

News of Mr Shafir's death, reported by The Times, came as British authorities said on Wednesday that 17 UK nationals were either dead or missing in Israel.

Miryam Shafir, 55, with her son, Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, at a bowling alley

Dor Shafir (left) is pictured on a hike with his father, Itzik (right)

Festivalgoers at the nature party near Re'im, in the south of Israel, close to the Gaza border

Among them is Nathaniel Young, 20, who was fulfilling a boyhood dream to serve in the Israeli army when he was killed in the unannounced Hamas attack. His funeral in Jerusalem was interrupted by air raid sirens and loud bangs.

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.

READ MORE: At least 100 people have travelled from UK to Israel to join the fight against Hamas and serve in the IDF, Israeli embassy reveals Advertisement

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.'

Another Briton killed by the terrorists is Glaswegian Bernard Cowen, 57, who lived in Israel with his wife and two children. He was identified on Sunday by family members as having been 'murdered in cold blood in his home' by Hamas terrorists.

Jake Marlowe, 26, is also among those known to have died. He was originally recorded as missing but was confirmed dead by the Israeli embassy in London.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Nova music festival.

His mother told the Jewish News on Sunday that the last message she got from her son was one saying he loved her.

She said: 'He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over.

Corporal Nathanel Young, 20, from London, was a soldier in the 13th Battalion who lived in Tel Aviv and was killed by Hamas

Glasgow man Bernard Cohen (aka Cowan) killed on Saturday in Israel by Hamas

'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.'

Another British victim, photographer Dan Darlington, is also believed to be dead after a relative of his German girlfriend Carolin Bohl - also missing - was told by a man working in a 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.

Heartbreaking photographs on Instagram show the couple laughing together shortly before they vanished during the deadly attack on Israel.
The pair are due to reappear in court on October 26 to enter pleas

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon appeared in court today via videolink

Aristocrat Constance Marten and boyfriend Mark Gordon appeared in court today charged with killing their newborn daughter and leaving her body in a shed.

Constance Marten, 36, and boyfriend Mark Gordon, 49, sparked a huge police hunt after they went on the run with baby Victoria in January this year.

The infant was later found dead in a plastic bag in a shed under a heap of nappies on a Brighton allotment.

They are charged with the manslaughter of Victoria, concealment of the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.

Marten appeared via video link from HMP Bronzefield wearing a white shirt and black cardigan while Gordon appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh wearing a grey prison tracksuit.

Marten was due to enter pleas today but Judge Mark Lucraft, KC, the recorder of London, said the defendants would now enter pleas on October 26.

Constance Marten, pictured, appeared in court today along with her boyfriend Mark Gordon accused of the manslaughter of Victoria, concealment of the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice

Marten, left, and Mark Gordon, right, sketched at an earlier hearing at the Old Bailey, appeared in court via videolink today

Hundreds of officers from the Metropolitan Police and Sussex Police, as well as search and rescue volunteers, scoured 90 square miles of land in the search for the baby.

The couple were caught on CCTV wearing heavy outdoor clothing, carrying bags down the street, before they were arrested.

They were reported missing on January 5, after their car caught fire on the M61 near Bolton.

It is thought Marten had given birth just a few days before and had not been assessed by medical professionals.

Over the following days, there were sightings of them in a number of places, including Liverpool, Essex, south London and East Sussex.

The couple had been sleeping rough in a blue tent and had avoided being traced by the police by only making payments in cash and booking hotels using false names.

Marten and Gordon are due to reappear in court on October 26 where they will enter a plea. Victoria's body was later found in a Brighton allotment

Earlier prosecutor Jeremy King told the court the baby's placenta was found in an abandoned car on January 5 with Marten's passport next to it.

The trial is set for January 2, 2024.

Marten was born to a wealthy family and grew up at Dorset estate Crichel House and her grandmother was a playmate of Princess Margaret.

The promising drama student met Gordon in 2016 and they led a nomadic lifestyle after leaving their home in southeast London last September.

Marten's estranged father Napier Marten is a former page to the late Queen and her mother was the Queen Mother's goddaughter.

Marten worked as a freelance photographer before starting her drama course, and dropped out when she met Gordon.

Mr Marten and her mother Virginie de Selliers made public pleas for Constance's whereabouts through the media while police offered a 10,000 reward for information leading to the couple being found.

Marten and Gordon will return to court to enter pleas on October 26.
Hot-tempered food critic Giles Coren today launched a foul-mouthed attack on a Daily Mail journalist over a story about a parking row outside his home, declaring: 'I am f***ing coming for you. You sack of f***ing s**t'.

The combustible Times columnist, son of satirist Alan Coren and brother of TV presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell, sent Richard Eden a string of abusive emails overnight and continued his rants on Twitter this morning.

Mr Eden had written a story about how Mr Coren was publicly accused of parking his car in a bay in north London that had been suspended while it is prepared for a disabled neighbour.

In emails to Mr Eden, which the journalist shared on Twitter, Mr Coren told him: 'You are a despicable disgusting piece of s**t. You're a lying conniving c**t. I hope you f***ing rot in hell'.

Giles Coren's foul-mouthed and threatening emails to the Daily Mail's Richard Eden

Mr Coren blamed his wife for parking in a suspended bay outside their north London home

Mr Coren's abuse has been questioned online

In a second email, sent just before 1am this morning and advising Mr Eden that lawyers were now involved, Mr Coren said: 'I don't know how that will go but I am f***ing coming for you. You sack of f***ing s**t'.

Twitter users confronted him over his abuse, making clear that it was not a proportionate response.

Journalist Mic Wright said: 'I see Giles Coren is behaving in a typically Giles Coren manner'. Another Twitter user said: 'Absolutely not shocked that Giles didnt even comprehend the abusive emails were an issue or something he should apologise over'.

Richard Eden shared Mr Coren's emails with his Twitter followers

Mr Coren replied: 'Its not that. I knew what Mic was talking about. My issue was that I cannot do anything to change his (and many other peoples) opinion of me based on past offences, but that I do not want to be reviled by him for a new and terrible transgression of which Im not guilty'.

Mr Coren also replied to Richard Eden's tweets and said that 'of course I'm abusing you', accusing him of having 'knowingly published lies about me and my family'.

Mr Eden vehemently denies his claims.

Another Twitter user suggested Mr Coren had been drunk when he sent the emails.

The food critic replied: 'I appreciate your concern my friend. But I dont really drink. Maybe once or twice a week at most. This man came after my family, to the door of my very home. He sent his minions to terrify my wife, those words were all I had to throw at him in my impotent rage and fear'.

His reaction came after the Mail was told of the row over parking in his north London street.

Writing on neighbourhood website Nextdoor, a woman made a string of allegations against Mr Coren, claiming: You have repeatedly parked in a clearly marked suspended parking space on your street.

You know that the bay is suspended for a disabled neighbour of yours. Yesterday you parked in the bay again, which is stopping your disabled neighbour who also has disabled children from accessing their home safely.

Mr Coren, 54, told the Mail: It is not a disabled bay', blaming his wife.

He said: It is not a disabled bay. It is a general parking suspension. It was my wifes car  she parked there and got a ticket. I have never parked there because I dont like getting tickets.

Giles Coren (right) at the Qasr Al Sarab hotel in Abu Dhabi for the BBC show 'Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby'

His wife said she was unaware that the bay was suspended because it was designated for a disabled motorist, who had applied to the local council.

I parked there overnight, she said. This street is normally chock-a-block. I didnt look at the suspended sign because there are constantly suspensions, and you dont pay attention to every single one. So it was a total error on my part.

She added: I am baffled and really distressed at her claims that we parked repeatedly in a disabled bay, which we absolutely have not.

It was one single error. Its so important to get along with everyone and its really distressing to have my neighbours think that Im parking on purpose, repeatedly, in a disabled bay.

The woman who applied for the disabled bay declined to comment on the online post.

Mr Coren, who has earned a reputation for losing his temper over the years, then launched the email attack on Mr Eden.

And it is not the first time he has reacted in that way.

In 2008 an email he wrote to staff at The Times was leaked to The Guardian. He was angry about how a restaurant review was edited. The sub-editor had removed an 'a' before the word 'nosh', sending him into a rage.

Mr Coren said: 'Worst of all. Dumbest, deafest, s******* of all, you have removed the unstressed "a" so that the stress that should have fallen on "nosh" is lost, and my piece ends on an unstressed syllable Cant you hear? Cant you hear that it is wrong?

'Its not f****** rocket science. Its f****** pre-GCSE scansion. I have written 350 restaurant reviews for The Times and I have never ended on an unstressed syllable. F***, f***, f***, f***.'.

In 2010 he was condemned for posting violent comments on Twitter about his neighbour's 12-year-old son.

Giles Coren's tweets about a 12-year-old neighbour with a drum kit in 2010

The columnist vented his anger by suggesting the boy should be sexually assaulted and killed.

Coren tweeted from his home in north London, saying: 'Next door have brought their 12-year-old son a drum kit.

'For ****'s sake! Do I kill him then burn it? Or do I **** him, then kill him then burn it?' He then followed this up with: 'Child for sale, charred and partially ****ed. Has own drum kit.'

Later he posted a slight retraction, but not before his friends had added encouraging comments suggesting what to do to silence the neighbour's budding musical talent.

He added the next day: 'Oh hells' bells. Look, can I just say I didn't kill the kid, or have sex with him. and anyway he's not real. and I live in Vienna.' Asked whether he made the postings, Mr Coren replied: 'Yes, but I don't want to say anything about it.'

In 2021 Mr Coren's north London house was daubed in graffiti and dog faeces  24 hours after he allegedly deleted tweets apparently telling a Left-wing journalist to 'f*** off to hell' and calling her a 'troll' after she died suddenly at the age of 34.

Socialist writer Dawn Foster, who had epilepsy and a number of other health problems including a rare genetic disorder, passed away having spent time in hospital.

Earlier that week Mr Coren, whom Ms Foster accused of getting his job as a Times restaurant critic and columnist because of his father Alan, tweeted: 'When someone dies who has trolled you on Twitter, saying vile and hurtful things about you and your family, is it okay to be like, "I'm sorry for the people who loved you, and any human death diminishes me, but can you f*** off on to hell now where you belong"?'

Mr Coren's house in London daubed in graffiti paying tribute to Dawn Foster in 2021, after he was accused of telling the Left-wing journalist to 'f*** off to hell' and calling her a 'troll'

Critics concluded this could only be about Ms Foster and screenshots widely shared on Twitter indicated that his first post was deleted and replaced with a rephrased version containing laughter, only for the second message to be removed completely later.

And amid the mounting backlash, including calls for The Times to sack him, the exterior of Mr Coren's house in London was daubed in graffiti paying tribute to her, which read: 'Dawn Foster Forever'.

A red heart was also drawn underneath and a bouquet of flowers. Dog faeces was also reportedly found.
Top barristers and politicians are furious that convicted rapists and burglars may be free to walk the streets from next week because prisons are almost full.

Sex offenders and burglars could be let out on bail rather than handed an immediate custodial sentence, according to guidance issued to judges.

The most dangerous criminals will reportedly have to be held in magistrates' court cells if they are remanded in custody.

Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has ordered the sentencing of convicted criminals currently on bail to be delayed from Monday, The Times has reported.

The news has caused anger and disbelief among barristers, judges, and politicians across the country. Leading criminal barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, it was dismal, while shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper labelled it 'truly, truly shocking'.

The UK's prison population has increased substantially since the Covid pandemic in 2020 and, according to the latest figures, there are now 88,016 prisoners

Former North West Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal said it was evidence that the criminal justice system was broken

The UK's prison population has increased substantially since the Covid pandemic in 2020 and, according to the latest figures, there are now 88,016 prisoners.

As of October 6, capacity across the whole prison estate stood at 88,667 - meaning there are only 651 spaces left.

Nazir Afzal, former North West Chief Crown Prosecutor said it was 'evidence of the broken criminal justice system'.

'The fact that judges have been told to not sentence offenders, previously on bail, to jail next week because the prisons are full is all you need to know', he wrote on X.

Shadow secretary for justice, Shabana Mahmood, called it a 'damning indictment of the state of our prisons'.

The Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood said: 'The government has been warned time and again but instead of addressing the challenges, they have driven the justice system into the ground.'

Ms Hardy-Susskind has given evidence to Government committees on how to improve the legal profession. She said: 'Any competent government would have seen this problem hurtling towards them for months.

'And yet. Here we all are. Asking guilty offenders to queue nicely and wait a little longer for a prison bed to become available so that they can then be punished. Dismal. Utterly dismal.'

Barristers and politicians, including shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, have reacted with fury to the news rapist could be free to walk the streets next week

While The Secret Barrister said 'his is where our 'tough on crime' government has led us'.

'By stripping the system of funding and shovelling more and more people into our broken prisons, they have made it literally impossible for any more offenders to be imprisoned,' the popular anonymous lawyer wrote on X.

Victims' commissioner at London City Hall Claire Waxman was equally as vexed and aimed her anger towards Rishi Sunak in a message on X. She wrote: 'The justice system in this country is officially broken if judges are now told not to jail convicted criminals as prisons are full.

'A convicted rapist could be back in the community, free to re-offend, leaving victims and public at risk @RishiSunak.'

Asked on Sky News if the reports are true, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: 'It's a longstanding convention ministers don't comment on leaks. The Lord Chancellor will make a statement to Parliament on Monday.'

Pressed over whether prisons are full, he conceded 'they're under huge pressure'.

Lord Edis holds the senior administrative position in the Crown courts

But he said that is the case in 'many countries', adding it is due to the Government ensuring prisoners are in jail 'for longer' and because of 'pressures as a result of Covid'.

He also told the programme: 'We have an absolute commitment to protect the public.'

He told broadcasters the judiciary makes independent decisions on sentencing but insisted the Government is overseeing the 'fastest rollout of prison places'.

He told Times Radio: 'There is pressure on the system, as there is in Ireland, as there is in France and a number of countries, as a consequence of the fact that jury trials were delayed during Covid, and that has meant there are additional numbers on remand.

'Decisions on sentencing are taken by the judiciary independently. What the Government is doing is expanding at pace the number of prison places that we have.'

Andrea Albut, president of the Prison Governors' Association, recently told The Daily Telegraph that jails in England and Wales are 'bust' of space, saying male facilities are running at more than 99.6% capacity and women's are 96% full.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'The criminal justice system has seen unprecedented growth in the prison population, following the pandemic and barristers' strike, particularly among those awaiting trial, with 6,000 more prisoners on remand than pre-pandemic.

'The Prison Service has already put in place measures such as rapid deployment cells and doubling up cells to help manage these pressures, and the Government is carrying out the biggest prison building campaign since the Victorian era to build 20,000 new places, making sure we always have the places we need.'
Hamas terrorists 'raped girls over their friends' bodies' as they carried out 'a second Holocaust', British family members of Israeli captives seized by gunmen alleged today at a London press conference.

Two British nationals, Noam Sagi and Sharon Lifschitz, spoke of how their elderly parents were torn from their beds and forcibly deported to Gaza by Hamas along with children as young as six months old, and implored governments to help get them back while deploring the actions of the attackers.

'I shouldn't be here today, I was supposed to go to Heathrow to pick up my mum. I am here because of pure evil,' Noam said.

'On Saturday morning, the Kibbutz where I was born and grew up, woke up to a massacre - to a second Holocaust. Mostly young kids and old elderly people. They burned the place to the ground, shot the dogs. Nothing left.'

He told how the families living in the kibbutz were 'gassed, burned, slaughtered, killed and kidnapped'.

'People who survived the Holocaust found themselves facing another one. One of the hostages was on the Kindertransport,' Noam, 53, said, referring to an operation to evacuate Jewish children from Nazi Germany.

'They have taken so much from our community. These are our children, our parents. My mum was taken out, disconnected from her oxygen in order to be loaded onto a motorbike... You have to be a special sort of person to take an 85-year-old out of her bed don't you?' Sharon, 52, asked tearfully.

It was also revealed a six-month-old baby was among the captives when images of several abductees were shared at the press conference.

Six-month-old Ariel, Tamir Adar, 38, Yafa Adar, 85, Noam Elyakim, Dikla Aava, 50, Dafna Elyakim, Timer Eliaz Arava, 17, as well as Ela Elyakim, Nahal Oz, and 'Abigail', whose ages were not revealed, are known to have been dragged into Gaza.

Sharon Lifschitz, left, and Noam Sagi sit down for a press conference of British children of Israeli hostages at a hotel in London, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Noam Sagi, 53, is a London-based psychotherapist who grew up on Kibbutz Nir Oz. His 75-year-old mother, Ada Sagi, was taken hostage on October 7. Sharon Lifschitz, 52, is an artist and academic whose parents are peace activists aged 85 and 83 and were taken hostage too

Sharon Lifschitz, right, and Noam Sagi, left, sit down for a press conference of British children of Israeli hostages at a hotel in London

It was revealed a six-month-old child was among the Hamas captives when images of several abductees were shared at the press conference

A house is completely destroyed after being burned by Hamas militants during the attack at Kibbutz Be'eri, near the border with Gaza on October 11, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel

Yaffa Adar, 85, was bundled into a golf buggy at gunpoint by a group of terrorists

An injured girl reacts as she waits at the hospital to be checked, as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023

Palestinians evacuate wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023

An Israeli army M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 12, 2023

A woman shopper exits a store while armed with an M16 assault rifle in Sderot in southern Israel on October 12, 2023

Noam is a London-based psychotherapist who grew up on Kibbutz Nir Oz. His 75-year-old mother, Ada Sagi, was taken hostage on October 7.

'We didn't hear anything. What keeps us going is that my son has one grandmother and I want him to be with her for his next birthday. What keeps me going is that every one of these people are family - they teach me how to swim, they teach me one plus one. This is how we grew up. I will do everything I can for them,' Noam said.

Sharon Lifschitz, 52, is an artist and academic whose parents are peace activists aged 85 and 83 and were taken hostage too.

'I have many friends, many Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus. I don't care, let's come together, bring these children home,' she said.

'My father would say, I'm 83, I've had a great life, don't bother with me, bother with my neighbours' children, babies. I ask you to bother with them too.

'My father spent his life working for peace. I am his daughter. I ask for peace. We now need to act together to fight that hatred with love. They are not part of this war.'

As the conference began, the host gave an impassioned speech before handing over to Noam and Sharon.

'Hamas... is a modern day death squad. They went door to door, snatched babies from their mothers and children from their beds and brutally, cold-bloodedly slaughtered them,' she said.

'Girls were raped over their friends' bodies, many survivors were kidnapped.

'These horrific acts were celebrated on the streets of Tehran, Gaza and even by some here in London.

'We have never before in Israel experienced such a traumatic event, which will take years, if not generations, to overcome.

'This is the biggest hostage crisis the world has faced in decades.'

As British family members of Israeli hostages speak on the plight of their loved ones, at least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military as it mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK said it was understood those who travelled were 'reservists and active duty soldiers' in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

A statement said: 'The Embassy of Israel understands that at least 100 reservists and active duty soldiers have gone back to Israel from the UK to serve in the IDF'.

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region, with reports that 17 UK nationals are either dead or missing, including children.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that another Briton died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday. Jake Marlowe, 26, is among three known to have died. He was originally recorded as missing but was confirmed dead by the Israeli embassy in London.

Israeli rescuers shared a shocking image of a blood-soaked nursery in Be'eri

Israeli PM Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in various atrocities in social media posts, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers

Remnants of a terrorised nursery are seen strewn across the road near a kibbutz

Israeli rescuers carries what appears to be a small body, possibly a child, wrapped in a cover

Hamas terrorists allegedly beheaded babies and gunned down entire families in their homes in a small kibbutz in Israel, Israeli soldiers have claimed

A soldier is overcome with emotion as he searches for bodies in the kibbutz

Israeli soldiers remove the body of a civilian, who was killed days earlier in an attack by Hamas on this kibbutz Kfar Aza near the border with Gaza

Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes at kibbutz across southern Israel, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

Speaking to US President Joe Biden yesterday about the Hamas atrocities, Netanyahu said: 'We've never seen such savagery in the history of the state,' nor 'since the Holocaust,' before going on to reference scenes of Nazi brutality against Ukrainians at Babyn Yar during World War II.

'They took dozens of children, bound them up, burned them and executed them. They beheaded soldiers, they mowed down these youngsters who came to a nature festival, you know, put five jeeps around this depression in the soil and like Babyn Yar, they mowed them down, making sure that they killed everybody,' he said.

'They're even worse than ISIS and we need to treat them as such.'

Hamas in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel - soldiers, men, women, children and older adults - and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Two Israeli kibbutz in particular - Be'eri and Kfar Aza, suffered heinous savagery at the hands of Hamas.

Kfar Aza kibbutz is thought to be the site where the worst of the atrocities against babies occurred given its popularity with young parents and was one of the first Israeli settlements to be targeted on Saturday morning by rampaging terrorists.

It was here that Hamas gunmen, wielding assault rifles and grenades, shot dead screaming families as they begged for their lives before setting fire to their homes.

The terror began just after dawn when most of the 400 residents living there were sleeping or enjoying their breakfast.

The first wave of 70 terrorists had roared towards the quiet kibbutz on motorbikes after tearing through the border wire a mile away, while others paraglided over Israel's unsuspecting defences from Gaza.

As soon as they arrived, the heavily armed fighters attacked the compound from four directions - starting with the 'baby quarter' on the west side where the young families lived.

This graphic (above) shows how the horrifying Hamas massacre on the Kfar Aza kibbutz unfolded

IDF Lotar unit soldiers are slowly checking the Kibbutz, passing from one house to another to clear them from any ammunition or threat. Fifth day to the attack of Hamas on Israel

Israeli police and security forces assist a journalist taking cover during an alert for a rocket attack in Israel's southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on October 12, 2023

Israeli soldiers walk beside the bodies of Hamas militant killed in Kfar Aza kibbutz on Tuesday

Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

The body of a woman is covered with a blanket in Kfar Azza

A baby's seat and a child's dress are seen spattered in blood in the aftermath of the attack

Gunshots and blood stains litter the walls and door of a house in the kibbutz near the border with Gaza

The terrorists were met by a frantic kibbutz guard who belonged to a small group of residents with military experience that were patrolling the perimeter when they saw the swarm of black figures racing towards them.

They - like the Israeli military and government - were not prepared for the wave of terrorists firing streams of bullets at them. The small security squad tried in vain to protect their neighbours but they couldn't hold the terrorists off and were killed.

Ruthless Hamas gunmen moved quickly through the kibbutz, first killing a 90-year-old grandmother who had been sitting on her porch. They dragged the terrified woman into her living room and shot her twice in the head.

Families were woken to the sound of gunfire and voices outside their homes. Terrified parents ran to their sleeping children and pulled them from their beds and cots before bundling them into saferooms or cupboards.

Among those parents were Itay and Hadar Berichevsky, both 30, who heard the gunmen trying to smash down their front door.

The parents frantically put their ten-month-old twin babies into a hidden shelter moments before the Hamas terrorists stormed into their home and shot the couple dead.

The terrorists then moved systematically from home to home, blowing open front doors with their rocket-powered grenades and unleashing a hail of bullets at the men, women and children living there. Entire families were handcuffed before they were shot point blank one by one, soldiers said.

Harrowing images from the scene show a baby's car seat covered with blood, her small bloodied dress lying next to it.

Hamas gunmen then set fire to several homes in the kibbutz in a sick attempt to force the families out so that they could gun them down as soon as they reached their gardens.

Meanwhile in Be'eri just a stone's throw away from Kfar Aza, sickening photos emerged of Israeli civilians lying riddled with bullet holes as they lay in their beds.

Most of the photos passed to MailOnline by the Israeli Embassy in London were too graphic to publish

Homes in the community were largely decimated by Hamas terrorists

Cars were left flattened in the middle of the road in Be'eri, which sits just a few miles from the border with Gaza

A dead body lies on the ground following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023

A mortar shell lies on grass in Kibbutz Be'eri in the aftermath of the strikes, on October 11, 2023

Horrific photos too graphic to publish showed how one woman was lying face down in the bed in a pool of blood with six gaping holes in her mottled, decomposing skin.

Next to her, a man with dark hair awkwardly slipped in a gap between the bed and a wall.

His black clothes, which appeared to be pyjamas, were still slick with his blood, which pooled in a dark red mess on the floor below him.

His body could be seen decomposing - his face has blackened with boils all over his arms. Chunks of his flesh were missing from his right arm and hand.

Outside, several cars were left flattened, while the bodies of people in everyday clothing can be seen lying in awkward positions.

The more than 100 bodies found at the kibbutz were removed by the Zaka search and rescue group, who warned that the number of dead may yet rise.

A screenshot from a video, verified by CNN , reveals the chilling moment Hamas butchers arrived in kibbutz Be'eri, where they murdered at least 100 people

At least 100 people were killed by Hamas terrorists in the early hours of Saturday morning

The number of people confirmed dead at Be'eri may rise in the coming days

Israeli soldiers mobilise on October 11, in response to the attacks on Kibbutz Be'eri

Israeli soldiers ride in military vehicles as they gather following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023

This image from video provided by South First Responders shows charred and damaged cars along a desert road after an attack by Hamas at the Tribe of Nova Trance music festival near Kibbutz Re'im in southern Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023

One survivor, Haim Jelin, told local media that Hamas fighters 'walked around Be'eri like they owned the place.'

'They shot indiscriminately, abducted whoever they could, burned down people's homes so they'd have to escape through the window, where the terrorists would wait,' he added.

A woman called Miri Gad Mesika told local media that she and her husband were choking on thick smoke and gas fumes as they tried to hide.

'We soaked towels with water and covered our faces, while my husband Eli held the shelter door closed as hard as he could as the terrorists tried to break in,' she said.

'Moments before we jumped from the second floor, we assessed the situation of the fire and looked out for the terrorists and decided to jump.

'We fled to our neighbours across the street, and watched our house go up in flames before it was completely burned down. I have no idea how we survived.'
Pressure is growing on the BBC to finally describe Hamas as terrorists after Susanna Reid, the King and Harry and Meghan condemned its 'acts of terrorism' - and Israel's president said there should be 'no ifs or buts'.

Isaac Herzog said the press should consistently use the term in their reporting - adding that if it had murdered civilians in the West then journalists would refer to it as a 'massacre by terrorists' and not 'freedom fighters'.

Good Morning Britain presenter Ms Reid touched on the subject on today's show and made a thinly-veiled swipe at the BBC, saying: 'We very clearly call them ''terrorists''. I mean, it was an act of terror what happened - it was a barbaric atrocity.'

It followed a statement from Buckingham Palace last night which said King Charles 'condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism against Israel', while a spokesman for the Prince and Princess of Wales referred to the country's 'right of self defence' after 'Hamas's terrorist attack'.

Later, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also released a statement through their Archewell Foundation which said the couple 'stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality'.

Many of the world's leading media organisations have called Hamas terrorists in their reporting, including famously Left-wing outlets such as the New York Times and The Guardian. ITV does not have a fixed policy on the issue but has also described them as terrorists.

The BBC refers to Hamas as a 'militant' group and described the slaughter of civilians as a 'militant' attack. The decision has been criticised by senior politicians including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Harry and Meghan released a statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict last night

The statement issued by the Prince and Princess of Wales

Susanna Reid described Hamas as 'terrorists' on ITV's Good Morning Britain today

On GMB today, Susanna Reid was discussing the impact of conflict in the Middle East with Rob Rinder, 45, who is Jewish.

The number of people killed in Hamas's attacks on Israel has risen above 1,200. That includes 260 revellers gunned down at a music festival, and whole families - including children's and babies - who were massacred in a kibbutz.

Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed over 1,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's health ministry.

What do the BBC guidelines say about using the word 'terrorist'? Below is section 11.3.6 of the BBC guidelines, which covers the use of language in news reports. 'The word ''terrorist'' itself can be a barrier rather than an aid to understanding. We should convey to our audience the full consequences of the act by describing what happened. 'We should use words which specifically describe the perpetrator such as ''bomber'', ''attacker'', ''gunman'', ''kidnapper'', ''insurgent'' and ''militant''. 'We should not adopt other people's language as our own; our responsibility is to remain objective and report in ways that enable our audiences to make their own assessments about who is doing what to whom.' Advertisement

Mr Rinder spoke emotionally about how two of his friends had died, saying: 'It's painful I suspect for you sitting there looking into that autocue calling these people ''militants'', knowing what's going to ensue, knowing where they're planting their rockets and knowing the horror that's going to be brought to innocent civilians.'

But Ms Reid responded firmly, saying: 'We very clearly call them 'terrorists'. I mean, it was an act of terror what happened, and it was a barbaric atrocity.

'And you and I have been in contact since what happened. I didn't know that you had lost two friends in that attack. On every level, this is painful for you.'

As the BBC continued to avoid using the word 'terrorist', King Charles released a statement last night which read: 'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.'

He was backed by Prince William and Kate Middleton, who said they were 'profoundly distressed' at the unfolding civilian slaughter, adding: 'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling.'

William and Kate went even further that the monarch, specifically highlighting Israel's 'right of self-defence'.

Meanwhile, the Sussexes said: 'At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.'

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has accused broadcasters of trying to 'wilfully mislead' by not using the word' terrorist', saying: ''The murder of babies where they sleep is not the act of a 'freedom fighter''.'

Four of Britain's top lawyers have now complained to Ofcom about the issue.

Lord Wolfson KC, Lord Pannick KC, Lord Grabiner KC and Jeremy Brier KC accused the BBC of failing to show impartiality 'beyond doubt' by describing Hamas in 'more sympathetic terms' as 'militants'.

Ms Reid and Ben Shephard (left) were discussing the attacks with Rob Rinder (right)

King Charles released a statement last night which read: 'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel'

The Prince of Wales at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem in 2018

The senior lawyers signed a letter calling on Ofcom to investigate. In a letter shared on X, they said: 'On 7th October 2023, Hamas launched a large invasion of the State of Israel which resulted variously in the slaughter, rape and abduction of over a thousand Israeli citizens. There is nothing controversial about that. It is a fact.

'The BBC has fallen well below the standards expressed in its Editorial Values in reporting of that invasion and the consequences therefrom.'

They added that Hamas being a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK 'is not a matter of debate or discussion. It is a matter of legal fact'.

The lawyers accused the BBC of 'watering down' the way Hamas is described. They signed the letter alongside Lord Polak, honorary president of the Conservative Friends of Israel.

BBC editorial guidelines say terrorism is an 'emotive subject with significant political overtones' and 'terrorist' can be a 'barrier rather than an aid to understanding'.

Despite a growing backlash, it is understood the BBC is not planning to review or change its guidelines over the use of the words 'terrorism' and 'terrorist'.

And last night it rejected criticism over its decision, despite Hamas being listed as a proscribed organisation, which means the UK Government sees it as a terrorist group.

BBC director of editorial policy David Jordan said not using the word terrorist was a 'very long-standing policy' which had 'stood the test of time'. He added: 'We've called them massacres, we've called [them] murders, we've called them out for what things are and that doesn't in any way devalue the awfulness of what is going on.'

Nick Robinson, a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said on social media: 'I understand entirely why some want the word 'terrorism' used. It is, though, the long-standing practice of BBC, ITV and Sky to report others using that language rather than using it ourselves.'

A man shouts outside a burning collapsed building following Israeli bombardment in Gaza City

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the Gaza border in southern Israel

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has raised the issue with BBC director-general Tim Davie and made clear her view that these were 'acts of terror carried out by a terrorist organisation'.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said that by calling Hamas 'militants', the BBC 'not only offers legitimacy to their government, but also denies the fact that they commit atrocities'.

Former BBC journalist Jon Sopel said the corporation's editorial guidelines were 'no longer fit for purpose'.

Israel has vowed unprecedented retaliation against the Palestinian militant group Hamas after its fighters stormed through the border fence on Saturday and shot hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

The Israeli government has launched a major retaliation of air strikes on Gaza and stopped the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory.
A senior female executive at an investment firm has won a sexual harassment claim after her 'infatuated' male married boss called her a 'naughty girl' and suggested buying a 'love nest' for them in Cyprus.

Marc Bandemer, 59, made repeated advances towards Louise Crabtree, 49, throughout the course of 2021 and 2022, when he sent her adoring messages, referring to her as his 'second wife', and the 'Belle of the Ball'.

His 'excessive attempt to engage in a romantic relationship' included complimenting her 'fashion model' looks, as well as her 'gorgeous feet' and 'candy toes', an employment tribunal heard.

The company chairman often referred to Ms Crabtree as 'girl', 'honey' and 'naughty' and suggestively messaged her to tell her he had left his bedroom door open while away on a work trip together.

As the pair grew increasingly close, Mr Bandemer began referring to her and her three children as his his 'adopted family' - something that was strictly rejected after he kissed Ms Crabtree on the cheek in front of her daughter who 'flipped out'.

The tribunal found Ms Bandemer was in a 'subordinate' position but 'required' an income as a single mother and didn't want to 'damage her employment prospects'.

But now she is in line to receive compensation after the tribunal found she had been a victim of a 'campaign of sexual harassment'.

Louise Crabtree, a senior female executive at an investment firm, has won a sexual harassment claim after her 'infatuated' married boss made a slew of inappropriate remarks

Marc Bandemer, 59, made repeated advances towards Louise throughout the course of 2021 and 2022 and sent her adoring messages, referring to her as his 'second wife'

An employment judge ruled the use of the words 'girl' and 'naughty', in particular, were discriminatory as the boss would have never said them to a male member of staff.

The hearing in Southampton was told that Ms Crabtree joined Integer Wealth Global as executive director in April 2021.

Initially the relationship between her and Mr Bandemer was 'friendly with banter' but their 'nuanced relationship' began to involve 'inappropriate' comments.

These included him calling her 'wife', 'naughty', 'girl' and remarks made about 'whips and chains'.

In May 2021, a Teams meeting transcript revealed him asking her 'why did God make you so naughty?', followed by an admission he was 'way too arrogant' to care what other colleagues would think about his remark.

The tribunal found Ms Bandemer was in a 'subordinate' position but 'required' an income as a single mother and didn't want to 'damage her employment prospects'.

Her failure to 'strenuously object' to comments she disliked did not necessarily mean that she 'welcomed them or that they were wanted', the panel said.

It was heard that the relationship between the two 'went beyond' the normal type of manager-worker relationship - as Ms Crabtree became 'friendly' with Mr Bandemer's wife Lioni and would even get her nails done by her.

In July 2021, she messaged him to ask if another male colleague at work had 'a thing for her', to which he said yes because she was a 'gorgeous woman...any guy would be fond of'. He also said anyone 'dating, flirting or courting' her had to have his 'approval'.

Later that month, at her birthday party, Mr Bandemer pulled Ms Crabtree onto his lap - something which 'everyone found uncomfortable', the tribunal heard.

He told Ms Crabtree she had an 'infectious personality' that made her 'quite easy to become addicted to'.

When planning a meeting between the two of them, Ms Crabtree suggested a Wednesday so they could celebrate his wife's birthday, who could also do her nails.

Mr Bandemer, responding, said she had 'really gorgeous feet' and 'candy toes'.

In August 2021, Ms Crabtree received a formal warning after a sending a 'flippant' email. This lead to her saying it was 'very difficult' to communicate with someone who is 'one day her boss, another day her friend, then I am called very pretty underling'.

In September 2021, she sent another email to Mr Bandemer where she made it clear comments of a sexual nature were 'no longer welcome'.

Giving evidence, Ms Crabtree said that up until the first warning their exchanges had been 'quite friendly', but that she told him she couldn't continue as before because boundaries were getting 'over-stepped'.

The tribunal found Ms Crabtree was in a 'subordinate' position but 'required' an income as a single mother and didn't want to 'damage her employment prospects'

Nonetheless, in October 2021, he sent her a message saying she looked 'absolutely gorgeous' - something the panel said he did because he 'wanted a relationship' with her.

In an email trying to renegotiate and clarify her position at work, Ms Crabtree's 'firm email' was treated as 'unacceptable' by Mr Bandemer.

The tribunal found her response, where she said it affected her 'deeply' for him to change from 'friend to foe in seconds', was an attempt to 'tread a cautious line between not wanting to offend the him but not wanting to encourage him either'.

In December, Mr Bandemer commented on a picture Ms Crabtree posted on Instagram of a charity ball she had attended, saying she looked like the 'Belle of the Ball...in that incredibly fetching red dress - very uber beautiful'.

Mr Bandemer then texted her, questioning why she was in this line of work, 'when you could be a top ranking fashion model', after her 'unbelievably beautiful' work pictures came through.

Later, he asked her about Christmas presents, writing: 'Oh my word, Father Christmas just arrived with another present for you.'

He then offered to buy her children Christmas presents and gift them money, a gesture in which the panel heard his behaviour was 'intensifying' and she was 'helpless to do anything'.

In January 2022, Ms Crabtree was left feeling 'extremely uncomfortable' upon learning she was going on a business trip with just Mr Bandemer - who had bought her flowers - and without his wife, as previously planned.

While on their trip to Luxembourg together, Mr Bandemer messaged her saying he would leave the door slightly ajar', that she was his 'person' and called her 'honey' and 'lovey'.

He then bought her a diamond solitaire ring, which she said she has never worn and kept in a cupboard.

After referring to Ms Crabtree and her children as his 'adopted family', he bought her a Valentine's Day card in which he wrote 'thank you for being in my life. And for what you have become to me. I love you'.

However, when he kissed Ms Crabtree on the cheek in front of her daughter who 'flipped out', she asked for 'clear boundaries' to be put in place in their relationship.

He admitted he would no longer 'grab you like I do' in front of people and be 'very vigilant' in front of her children.

Despite this, when a vase of Ms Crabtree's broke, Mr Bandemer bought her another one with flowers, accompanied with a message reading 'the flowers here in will never surpass your beauty'.

In February, 2022, he told her he loved her and that he needed a break from his wife.

By March, Mr Bandemer - who the tribunal found was a 'somewhat forceful individual who expects to get his own way' - was looking to buy 'a love nest' house for the two of them in Cyprus.

In May 2022, Mr Bademer became 'much more hostile' towards her as she was frozen out of the company's plans move to Luxembourg and effectively demoted to sales director.

Ms Crabtree said a 'campaign of sexual harassment' had eventually resulted in her demotion and then dismissal on grounds of redundancy 'as punishment' for rejecting his advances.

Upholding her claims of sex discrimination and harassment, employment judge James Dawson said: 'We are satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the behaviour of [Mr Bandemer] was inextricably linked to the fact that [Ms Crabtree] was a woman.

'Not only because the behaviour reflects the fact he was a heterosexual man who was romantically attracted to her but also because of the gender specific language used on a large number of occasions such as 'girl', 'honey' 'wife' and 'naughty'.

'We have included the word naughty because, in its context, we do not think that [Mr Bandemer] would have written in a similar way to a man.

'We also think, on the balance of probabilities, that the respondent would not have described a man as beautiful and, for instance, sent him a vase saying that the flowers in the vase would never surpass his beauty.'

A future hearing will take place to decide her compensation.
At least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to fight as the Jewish nation's military mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK said it was understood those who travelled were 'reservists and active duty soldiers' in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

A statement said: 'The Embassy of Israel understands that at least 100 reservists and active duty soldiers have gone back to Israel from the UK to serve in the IDF.'

Among them is former British-Israeli soldier Alex Moeller, who said he is planning to leave the UK for Israel to join the fight against Hamas.

He told Sky News he has 'a lot of empathy' and 'he knows many who have always voiced their disgust with Hamas'.

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12, 2023

Sharon Lifschitz, left, and Noam Sagi sit down for a press conference of British children of Israeli hostages at a hotel in London, on October 12, 2023

It comes as the Government announced repatriation flights to get British nationals home from Israel, with the first flight leaving Tel Aviv tonight.

The Foreign Office said further flights were planned in the coming days subject to the security situation.

The UK has also sent a rapid deployment team to assist British citizens on the ground.

The Foreign Office, which has said family members of British diplomats are leaving Israel as a 'precautionary measure', has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The flights will be commercially operated and arrive in the UK, with vulnerable British nationals prioritised.

The Foreign Office said it will contact those eligible for the flights directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they are called.

It comes as family members of some of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza gave an emotional press conference in London.

Two British nationals, Noam Sagi and Sharon Lifschitz, spoke of how their elderly parents were ripped from their beds and forcibly deported to Gaza by Hamas along with children and young people.

They called on governments to help in their recovery while deploring the actions of the attackers.

Sagi, a psychotherapist who lives in London, told reporters he should be celebrating his mother's 75th birthday, branding the attacks a 'second holocaust'.

He said: 'These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships.

'If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.'

Former British-Israeli soldier Alex Moeller said he is planning to leave the UK for Israel to join the fight against Hamas. He said he has 'a of empathy' and 'he knows many who have always voiced their disgust with Hamas'

A tank and soldiers from an artillery unit gather near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on October 12, 2023

Palestinians evacuate wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, on October 12, 2023

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in Gaza, with reports that 17 UK nationals are either dead or missing, including children.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that another Briton died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

Jake Marlowe, 26, is among four Britons known to have died. He was originally recorded as missing but was confirmed dead by the Israeli embassy in London.

Nathanel Young, 20, from London, who served in the Israeli army was also killed during Hamas's attack on Saturday.

He was a soldier in the 13th Battalion, according to the Israeli Defence Forces.

Posting on Facebook, his family said that they are 'heartbroken'.

They wrote: 'Our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday.'

Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.

Photographer Danny Darlington was confirmed to have died after a post from his sister, Shelley, on social media said he was 'murdered' at Nir Oz, in southern Israel.

Israel and Hamas traded more heavy fire today in a war that has claimed at least 2,400 lives on both sides.

Israel's army has hammered Hamas with thousands of strikes ahead of what is widely expected to be a ground invasion of the crowded territory, after Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took about 150 hostages.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that another Briton died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday. Jake Marlowe, 26, is among three known to have died. He was originally recorded as missing but was confirmed dead by the Israeli embassy in London

The international outrage over the atrocities continued today, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex condemned 'all acts of terrorism and brutality'.

Harry and Meghan stopped short of singling out sides in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website and vowed to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region.

The Sussexes' statement came a day after the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales condemned the 'barbaric acts' and appalling 'horrors' inflicted in Hamas's attack on Israel.

Under the title With Heavy Hearts, the statement on Harry and Meghan's Archewell site read: 'At the Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.'

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted Israel has 'the right to do everything it can' to rescue hostages in Gaza, amid reports the country is preparing to launch a ground offensive.

Asked on ITV's Good Morning Britain whether he has fears over the level of Israel's retaliation in Gaza and concerns there may be breaches of international law, Mr Barclay said: 'We think international law obviously should be followed and civilian casualties should be minimised.

'But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.'

But the former head of MI6, Sir Alex Younger, urged Israel not to do 'what your enemy wants' and said its intense retaliation could end up creating more terrorists.

Sir Alex told BBC Radio 4's The Today Podcast: 'It's really obvious now that Hamas are essentially laying a trap for Israel and will be well pleased if Israel commits itself to an open-ended, full-scale ground invasion of Gaza.

'Because of the scale and intensity of conflict that that would entail and the loss of innocent life that would inevitably follow, and the radicalisation that would engender and the extent to which it would put Israel's allies and partners in the region in an impossible position.'

He added: 'You cannot kill all the terrorists without creating more terrorists.

'And military operations of this kind very, very rarely succeed outside some kind of political strategy.'

Nathanel Young, 20, from London, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamas's attack

International aid groups said deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the region's only power station ran out of fuel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi today and offered the UK's support to try to keep the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza open for humanitarian reasons, Downing Street said.
Australian journalist, former ABC television presenter and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant has told an Indigenous matters podcast he kept referring to Australia as 'mean' during a recent overseas trip.

Mr Grant is a guest on a special two-part episode of the Listnr podcast Blak Matters, with both parts released on just days before Australians head to the polls to decide the fate of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.

He told the podcast hosts, Hit Network presenter Michael 'MC' Christian and Wiradjuri/Weilwan woman and land rights lawyer Teela Reid, about his recent trip to Europe, working with the Constructive Institute in Denmark.

The former Q+A host called Australia a 'mean country' in a podcast ahead of the Voice referendum

READ MORE: Shock as alleged bullying complaint against Q+A host is revealed Advertisement

'When you're overseas, you're almost an ambassador for your own country, you have to explain your country to other people,' Mr Grant said.

'And it really saddened me that the word I kept coming back to was 'mean,' and I think we have become an increasingly mean country. I think there's an absence of kindness in our country.

'You hear it in things like 'if you don't know, vote no.' That's a mean thing to say.'

Mr Grant spoke about there being too much 'noise' around the Voice debate, criticising the poor quality of debate around the referendum.

'This is also the first referendum of the 24/7 news cycle and social media and that's elevated and amplified the noise,' Mr Grant said.

'For a lot of people, when you add uncomfortable questions of history and race, they're barbecue stoppers.

'If you want to stop the party, talk about racism, or talk about history. No one wants to go there.

Stan Grant (pictured) spoke about there being too much 'noise' around the Voice debate, criticising the poor quality of debate around the referendum (No campaigners are pictured in Brisbane)

'And we have a referendum that lands right at that point of history and race and politics amplified by 24/7 news media, and a toxic social media weaponised by 24/7 news media coverage.'

Mr Grant left his post as host of ABC current affairs panel show Q+A earlier this year following torrents of racial abuse and allegations of ABC management failing to support him.

The Voice referendum will be held on Saturday, although early polling has been open across the country since October 3.

Both episodes of Blak Matters with Stan Grant can be found here.

Still undecided? The key reasons for and against the Voice ahead of Australia's historic referendum

While support for the Voice is still trending downwards in official polls with just two days until the referendum, the reality is many Australians are still undecided about whether they'll vote Yes or No.

Not surprisingly, both campaigns are hoping to secure the lion's share of the as-yet-undecided vote.

Polling across the board has the No vote at a comfortable lead - the latest Redbridge poll has just 35 per cent of respondents voting Yes, while Essential has the Yes vote at 43 per cent.

Both campaigns have accused the other of misinformation, disinformation and division throughout the course of the debate.

Here, Daily Mail Australia lays out the reasons for and against the Voice as argued by each of the respective campaigns.

FOR

This idea came directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The Yes camp's main argument for the Voice is that it's a direct request from First Nations people.

For decades, various governments and authorities have made policies for Indigenous people, but the Uluru Statement from the Heart urges lawmakers to instead work with them to achieve better results.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a constitutionally enshrined Voice is the model that was settled upon at Uluru, and therefore is the only form he is considering.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Uluru this week for the final week of the Yes campaign

AGAINST

There are no details

The No camp's strongest argument against the Voice is that it lacks detail. The Albanese Government has repeatedly attempted to quash this narrative, but polling shows it has stuck.

The government has not provided any concrete detail about the composition of the Voice - and they argue there is good reason.

Details of the Voice are yet to be determined, and will be decided by Parliament after the government is given the mandate to proceed with the advisory body. Mr Albanese says doing so before the referendum is a waste of time for something that may not come to fruition.

But the flip side to that decision is that, without set parameters going into the vote, the No campaign has successfully argued that the scope of the advisory body is potentially endless.

FOR

A Voice will save the government money

The government says a Voice to Parliament will actually save money in the annual Indigenous Affairs spend.

An advisory body can help ensure the government is funding initiatives and programs that are directly beneficial to the communities they aim to serve.

AGAINST

This Voice will be permanent

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Coalition have peppered the government with concerns and questions about the Voice being a permanent body.

A Voice, once written into the constitution, cannot be undone. Instead, future governments will have the ability to model it as they see fit, so long as it remains an advisory body.

'We'll be stuck with negative consequences,' Mr Dutton said.

Australians against the Voice protest ahead of the referendum

FOR

A Yes vote will bring our country together

The Government says a Voice will bring the nation together and be a step toward healing the rift caused by colonisation.

Mr Albanese has repeatedly said voting Yes in the referendum is a 'modest' request which will not impact the lives of most Australians, but make a world of difference to the nation's most vulnerable.

And Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said she hopes a Voice will target the 'systemic and structural disadvantage' of First Nations, referencing the many attempts to close the gap over the years which have failed.

AGAINST

This proposal divides us

Meanwhile, the No campaign is hammering home the opposite message: that it actually further divides Australians.

Citing clashes and fights between supporters of each side, critics say the proposal alone has been enough to spark chaos in Australia, and warns that will only get worse if there is a Yes vote on October 14.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and the Fair Australia campaign have repeatedly warned a constitutionally enshrined Voice for Indigenous Australians will ensure racial division in the country forever.

FOR

Practical advice that works to ensure people have a better life

The government says a Voice advisory body will be able to explain in the best possible terms which government initiatives are and are not working in communities.

Armed with first hand insight from the Voice, the government will be able to act on the advice and tailor their response, which they say will improve the lives of disadvantaged First Nations people.

AGAINST

It won't help and there are better ways forward

The No campaign argues the Voice will not help the most disadvantaged Australians in the way the government hopes.

Instead, critics argue the Voice will be another bureaucracy which will benefit a select few but do little to help remote and rural communities.

The Coalition and No voters are calling on the government to make changes regardless of the result.

FOR

If not now, when?

While the No camp has found success with its slogan 'if you don't know, vote No', Mr Albanese has a slogan of his own: 'If not now, when?'

The PM pointed out that governments for decades have been vowing to close the gap between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians, pouring money, time and resources into efforts that simply have not worked.

All the while, he says, Indigenous communities have been calling out for a way to better communicate their needs to government: a Voice.

Mr Albanese has made an effort to frame this referendum as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix the issues that need to be targeted.

'If this isn't successful, it's not like a month later there'll be another referendum around,' he said.

'People need to recognise that, after such a long period of time and consultation, this is the opportunity that Australians will have... If not now, when?'

In March, a tearful Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the official wording of the referendum question

AGAINST

There are no limits, it is legally risky and will be another costly bureaucracy

Co-existing with the No camp's argument about the lack of details is a concern that, without set boundaries, 'no issue is beyond the scope' of the Voice.

Politicians supporting the Voice have repeatedly laughed off questions about whether the Voice would advise on parking tickets, Australia Day, interest rates, or the AUKUS nuclear subs deal.

But, critics say that without legislation and a detailed framework, the government cannot provide any assurances about what the Voice will and won't advise on.

The range of different interpretations of the Voice's powers could also spark lengthy and expensive legal battles, politicians against the Voice have warned.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said: 'Every word can be open to interpretation. Enshrining the Voice in the Constitution means it's open to legal challenge and interpretation by the High Court. Legal experts don't agree, and can't know for sure, how any High Court will interpret such a constitutional change. This opens a legal can of worms.

'Labor's proposed Voice model isn't just to the parliament, but to all areas of executive government. This gives it basically unlimited scope  from The Reserve Bank to Centrelink.'

Again, this is a concern which has been denied by the Yes campaign, who say the question was created with the assistance of constitutional experts to avoid any problems down the track.
An English teacher who called a transgender pupil an 'attention seeker' has avoided being struck off.

Claire Sweeney was speaking with a colleague at the grammar school about a request to give the child spelling sheets and help with an essay.

Making comments about the pupil's identity, the teacher 'raised her voice' and said the youngster was 'an attention seeker with a transgender identity crisis', The Times reported.

Her boss at Uddingston Grammar in Glasgow became concerned that the situation could 'deteriorate unpredictably' and the conversation was brought to a close.

Sweeney was also the subject of other concerning behaviour, including telling an S1 pupil (Year 8), that she was 'not here to wipe your a**e'.

The following day she told another class that she was 'not vaguely interested' and reiterated: 'I am not interested, when will you realise that?'

Claire Sweeney was speaking about the child with a colleague at Uddingston Grammar in Glasgow when she made the shocking comments

'For God's sake, just shut up', she told them.

Sweeney was brought before a panel of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) over the incidents from February 2018.

She claimed she had a good relationship with the transgender pupil and their parents but said they had 'communication issues'.

Sweeney, who was also qualified to teach history, left the school due to ill health caused by the incidents as well as the disciplinary proceedings against her.

She since taken up a role in another school after arguing that she was still fit to teach and should not be struck off.

The GTCS said that her behaviour amounted to misconduct but was satisfied it was 'remediable'.

In a written ruling, the GTCS said: 'Although the panel was not provided with independent medical reports or up-to-date testimonials, the panel was entirely persuaded when the teacher said that she was "chastened" by the process and had fully accepted the findings of the panel against her. In all the circumstances, the panel was satisfied that the teacher had in fact remediated her past misconduct.

'The panel was further satisfied that there was no real risk of any repetition of this or any other misconduct.'

It concluded: 'There was no current impairment of the teacher's fitness to teach. Accordingly, the teacher was found to be currently fit to teach.'
The number of Americans killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel has now reached 25, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed on Thursday.

Hamas terrorists based in Gaza first entered Israel Saturday in a surprise multi-front attack that has left at least 1,200 Israelis dead in less than a week. Thousands more are injured and there are still hostages being held in Palestinian territory.

Arriving in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday morning, President Joe Biden's State Department head told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: 'We are with you and not going anywhere.'

'Thank you tremendously,' Netanyahu responded.

On Friday, Blinken, who is Jewish, will also sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed Thursday that the American death toll in Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel reached 25

The updated death toll of 25 comes after it was revealed the day prior that the number of Americans killed in the Hamas atrocities reached at least 22 by Wednesday. There are still thousands of U.S. citizens in Israel unaccounted for.

Blinken touched down in Tel Aviv at approximately 3 a.m. Eastern Time, 10 a.m. local time in Israel. He was greeted on the tarmac by Israeli government officials who offered him a warm embrace.

Blinken is joined on his mission of peace to Israel by his Deputy Chief of Staff Tom Sullivan, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr and Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen.

The meeting comes as Israel continues to bombard the Hamas stronghold of Gaza as part of the country's counteroffensive, which could extend to a ground assault this week as troops mobilize across Israel.

Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and said during a joint press conference in Tel Aviv: 'We are with you and not going anywhere'

Meanwhile, Israel is engaged in an intense counter offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists with Hamas invaded over the weekend. The Israeli death toll is believed to be upwards of 1,200. Pictured: An Israeli army tank fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Thursday, October 12

Israel's retaliatory air strikes on Gaza have resulted in the death of 1,100 people in the region.

Less than 24 hours prior to Blinken's arrival in Israel, the world's largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford Strike Group, arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

According to a press release from U.S. Command Central, the movement to the region was to 'deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war.'

Capt. Angelica White, spokesperson for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, told Marine Corps Times that the group was given orders to return to ships and end their exercises in Kuwait early.

She said the orders for Marines and Sailors to return to their ships was in order 'to prepare for further tasking as a result of emerging events,' but did not clarify if that was in regards to the terrorist attacks in Israel.
Rishi Sunak was today engaged in a row with his own climate advisers as they warned his watering down of Net Zero measures will hike costs for families and increase the risk of Britain failing to meet its 2050 target.

The Climate Change Committee, an independent body that advises the Government on emissions targets, was scathing of the Prime Minister's recent action.

Mr Sunak last month announced he was pushing back the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2035 and scrapping plans to force landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.

The PM also promised a new exemption for around one-fifth of households from having to replace their gas boilers with low-carbon alternatives.

He claimed his action would save households up to 15,000 over the coming years, while Mr Sunak insisted Britain would still meet its Net Zero target by 2050.

But, in a new assessment published this afternoon, the CCC blasted the Government for not providing evidence for those claims.

Rishi Sunak last month announced a watering down of Net Zero measures and claimed his action would save households up to 15,000 over the coming years

The Prime Minister pushed back a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 to 2035

Mr Sunak also promised a new exemption for around one-fifth of households from having to replace their gas boilers with low-carbon alternatives

Keir Starmer 'will further scale back Labour's plans for 28bn-a-year in green spending' Sir Keir Starmer will further push back Labour's 28billion 'green prosperity plan', it has been reported. When the proposals were initially announced in 2021, Labour promised to invest 28billion a year in climate measures from the first year after coming to power. But, amid Tory attacks over the impact of increased borrowing on strained public finances, Labour scaled back its plans in June this year. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves delayed the proposals as she pointed to rising interest rates. She instead said green investment would 'ramp up' by the middle of a first parliament, if Labour were in government. According to the Financial Times, Labour could yet again scale back the promise. It said senior party figures had admitted the 28billion-a-year spending commitment may not be met until the end of the next parliament if Labour win power. The newspaper reported the 28billion pledge also now included existing Government capital spending on green schemes, worth around 8billion a year. Labour said: 'We have said that we will ramp up to 28bn of investment in the second half of the parliament. 'Government spending is chopping and changing in this area all the time. 'It will only be possible to finalise our plans once we know what projects we will inherit and the state of the public finances.' Advertisement

'Recent policy announcements were not accompanied by estimates of their effect on future emissions, nor evidence to back the Government's assurance that the UK's targets will still be met,' said Professor Piers Forster, chair of the CCC.

'We urge the Government to adopt greater transparency in updating its analysis at the time of major announcements.'

The assessment warned the PM's cancellation of some Net Zero measures was 'likely to increase both energy bills and motoring costs for households'.

'Electric vehicles will be significantly cheaper than petrol and diesel vehicles to own and operate over their lifetimes, so any undermining of their roll-out will ultimately increase costs,' it added.

'The cancellation of regulations on the private-rented sector will lead to higher household energy bills.'

The CCC estimated that, due to current high energy bills, households could be paying 325 extra a year without landlords being compelled to make properties more energy efficient.

Mr Sunak last month announced he was increasing grants for heat pumps from 5,000 to 7,500, but the CCC said this 'has not been accompanied by a larger budget and will, therefore, serve fewer homes'.

They also stated that the new exemption to the planned phase-out of gas boilers could see 'significant residual emissions from buildings in 2050'.

The CCC said it remained 'concerned' about the likelihood of Britain meeting its future climate targets, including an aim - agreed under the UN process - for a 68 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

Prof. Forster said: 'We remain concerned about the likelihood of achieving the UK's future targets, especially the substantial policy gap to the UK's 2030 goal.

'Around a fifth of the required emissions reductions to 2030 are covered by plans that we assess as insufficient.'

The CCC assessment stated that Mr Sunak's recent announcements 'increase longer-term risks to meeting the 2050 Net Zero target, primarily due to the changed policies on buildings decarbonisation'.

Prof. Forster pointed to 'renewed scrutiny' of Britain's position as a 'global leader on climate' following the PM's action.

'We urge the Government to restate strong British leadership on climate change in the crucial period before the next climate summit, COP28 in Dubai,' he added.

But the CCC did welcome some 'real and tangible policy progress' since a previous report in June.

It pointed to the Government's confirmation of strict quotas on selling electric cars.

Next year, just over a fifth of new cars sold in Britain must be zero emission, with the target increasing each year until it hits 80 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent in 2035.

'Delaying the fossil car phase-out date to 2035 is expected to have only a small direct impact on future emissions, due to the now-confirmed ZEV (zero emission vehicle) mandate, which will ensure that 80 per cent of new cars sold by 2030 will be zero-emission,' the CCC said.

But the committee did warn of 'indirect consequences' from Mr Sunak's pushing back of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles.

'The risk is that the public and automotive companies perceive a weakening of government commitment to the electric vehicle transition, which could undermine consumer confidence and/or jeopardise some inward investment relating to EV manufacturing,' its assessment added.

The CCC praised the Government's recent deal with Tata Steel to electrify the steel plant in Port Talbot.

Prof. Forster said: 'We welcome tangible positive policy progress in some key areas, most notably with the implementation of the new Zero Emission Vehicles mandate and the recent deal with Tata Steel for industrial electrification in Port Talbot.

'But the Prime Minister has also relaxed important policies to decarbonise buildings and transport and sent a message to business and the international audience that he will allow more time for the UK to transition to key clean technologies.

'These steps have countered the positive progress of other announcements.'

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero pointed to how the UK had cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50 per cent since 1990, compared to a reduction of 22 per cent in France and no change in the US.

A Government spokesperson said: 'The UK remains a global leader on climate  cutting emissions faster than any other G7 country  so we are confident that we will meet our future carbon commitments, including Net Zero, just as we have over delivered on every carbon target to date.

'We are taking a fairer and more pragmatic approach to meeting net zero that eases burdens on families  saving households up to 15,000 on upfront costs to upgrade their homes.

'We will continue to meet our international commitments under the Paris Agreement, while embracing the opportunities of clean industries  supporting thousands of British jobs, driving economic growth  while protecting national security and bringing down energy bills in the long term.'
State police released the sketch on Wednesday after witnesses reported seeing a man with 'short red hair' in the area after gunshots rang out

She was an a former dean and professor at Vermont State University as well as an accomplished cancer researcher

Honoree Fleming, 77, was shot in the head and killed on a Vermont trail

Police have released a sketch of a 'person of interest' in relation to the murder of a retired university dean who was found dead on a Vermont trail after being shot in the head.

The body of Honoree Fleming, 77, was recovered in Castleton, about a mile south of Vermont State University, where she used to serve as dean.

Vermont State Police have confirmed the shooting was a homicide, but cannot confirm whether the the surrounding community of nearly 4,500 is also at risk.

On Wednesday, officers released a composite sketch of a 'person of interest' who had been spotted on the trail around the time Fleming was shot.

The sketch depicts a clean-shaven man with short, spiky hair and light eyes.

Vermont State Police released a sketch of a 'person of interest' with a clean-shaven face and short, spiky hair who had been seen on the trail around the time of the murder

Honoree Fleming, 77, was an accomplished researcher with a long career in academia, teaching at four schools and even serving as the dean at Vermont State University

Fleming and her husband, Ron Powers, 81, settled in Vermont with their two sons before she began her decades-long career in academia

Detectives have also been interviewing people who live near the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail or were in the area between 3pm and 5pm Thursday.

One witness reported seeing a man walking northbound on the trail toward campus after gunshots sounded.

He was described as a 5'10" male with short red hair, wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack.

Fleming was killed days before what would have been her 45th wedding anniversary with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Powers, 81.

On Facebook, Powers revealed how the first people to come upon Honoree's body were a middle-aged husband and wife.

'The woman ran for help,' he wrote. 'The man stayed with Honoree. She was clearly dead, but he stayed with her anyway. He knelt beside her and, I gather, tried to communicate to her that she was not alone.'

He vowed to meet the couple along with his son Dean and 'say our thanks.'

Powers is a decorated writer whose 2000 book Flags of Our Father was adapted into a movie produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Clint Eastwood.

He also won a Pulitzer for his writing in 1973, becoming the first television critic to do so. This was followed by an Emmy in 1985.

Fleming was equally accomplished - and, as Powers alluded in the aftermath of her death, a frequent victim of sexism throughout her career.

He pled for members of the media to stop describing her as 'the wife of Pulitzer prizewinner Ron Powers,' writing: 'It is adding to my torment.'

Honoree's body was discovered on a rail trail about a mile south from the university campus. Police combed the area, interviewing witnesses - who described seeing a 5'10" male with red hair heading towards campus

Powers is a successful journalist and non-fiction writer who has received both a Pulitzer Prize and an Emmy Award - but he demands others recognize the accomplishments of his late wife

Fleming fought sexism throughout her career, Powers said, describing her as a 'visionary' who was denied tenure at Middlebury College after seven years of teaching

Before arriving at Vermont State University, Fleming was a faculty member at the now-defunct Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont; Middlebury College; and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

In addition to her role as a dean and professor, Fleming was a passionate scientist who authored many papers.

Her 40-year investigation into cell growth and movement had implications for understanding the way cancer cells divide.

Every paper she submitted to peer-reviewed journals was published, according to her husband.

'Honoree was a consummate and visionary "lady scientist" in a world that still does not recognize the worth and achievements of lady scientists,' he wrote.

'Years ago Honoree was turned down for tenure at the august Middlebury College after seven years of brilliant teaching that won her the loving respect of her students.'

Powers recalled the time he spent 'organizing her cell photographs and lab notes into papers' after he retired.

She 'composed and finished her decades-long cycle of lab investigations at our kitchen table,' he wrote, recalling an image of his wife 'in her red bathrobe...typing away.'

Powers fondly recalled his wife's dedication to her scientific craft, even completing lab work at the kitchen table in their Carleton home

Fleming's 40 years of bio research supports the theory of amitosis in cancerous cells and has important implications for our understanding of how the cells divide

Powers and Fleming met on a flight in 1976. They later married and had children - but both the boys were diagnosed with schizophrenia, and their youngest died by suicide in 2005

Fleming was raised in New York City. She was the youngest of four children.

Her mother hailed from a poor family in Ireland and her father died of alcoholism, according to Powers book No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America.

Fleming and her brothers were able to overcome the odds and earn degrees in higher education.

In 1975, Fleming earned a doctorate in biophysics from the University of Chicago.

A year later, she met Powers on a flight from New York to Chicago. The couple married and had two sons, later moving to Vermont, where Fleming started her career in academia.

In 2005, their younger son Kevin died by suicide in their home after battling schizophrenia for three years.

Their surviving son, Dean, was also diagnosed with schizophrenia and has been undergoing treatment.

He posted a tribute to his mother on Tuesday, attributing his 'strong moral compass' to 'her actions and genetics.

'I loved hearing mom laugh,' he wrote. 'She wore the cares of the world on her sleeve emotionally and grieved for tragic headlines, so it was so nice to hear her laugh with pure joy at dad or Stephen Colbert.'

Fleming's grieving husband has urged media outlets not to describe Fleming as 'the wife of Pulitzer prizewinner Ron Powers,' as this overlooks her significant achievements in academia

The couple's surviving son, Dean, warmly recalled hearing his mother laugh and described her as someone who 'wore the cares of the world on her sleeve'

In a touching message posted to Facebook, Powers wrote of his late wife: 'She has taken far more than half my own heart and soul with her'

Fleming's death has also shaken the community at large.

On October 6, Vermont State University released a statement reading: 'Scores of students benefited from Dr. Flemings teachings and research.

'This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University. Honoree will be deeply missed.'

Powers has dedicated several lengthy messages to his late wife on Facebook.

'Those of you who knew her know that she was beautifully named,' he wrote.

'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.'
Multiple tornadoes have ripped through a group Florida beach communities, sending a gutter into a car windshield and overturning cars as the weather wrecked havoc on local homes and businesses.

Large wind gusts and rain was reported early on Thursday morning in western Florida as severe storms tracked into the state due to a low-pressure system.

Damage has been reported near Clearwater and Crystal River, according to the National Weather Service.

Images taken by the Clearwater Police Department showed debris covering streets in the area, and a gutter that had pierced a car windshield.

One resident describing the event like being hit by a 'freight train', with roof damage and downed power lines also being reported near Crystal River.

Duke Energy has said that 2,000 homes are currently without power in the area.

The gutter from a property managed to pierce this car windshield during the storm

Images taken by the Clearwater Police Department showed debris covering streets in the area

Cory Jursik, pictured here, described the sound of the storm as being like a 'freight train' that managed to suck the wind out of his home in Clearwater

Homeowner Cory Jursik, who lives in Clearwater, told WFLA: 'It was like a freight train. It got really loud and it was almost like I could feel the air getting  the wind getting sucked out of the house.

'So I looked out the front window and it was like rain-wrapped and obviously looked like a tornado and it just came right up through here.'

The outlet also reported that at least two houses sustained damage but no injuries have yet been reported despite a bedroom wall reportedly collapsing on a woman.

Forecasters had warned of the threat of damaging winds in the area and isolated tornadoes.

The Weather Service this morning also said there could be more tornadoes in the Crystal River area to come.

This morning, Clearwater Police Department also said they would be restricting access to the northern part of the city due to the damage from the apparent tornado.

Images shared by the force shows how the winds managed to uproot trees and rip furnishings from inside houses out into the streets.

One storm chaser also managed to capture the water spout just offshore of Clearwater.

According to ABC Meteorologist Greg Dee, a water spout is just a tornado that is passing over a body of water.

Tornado damage is seen at the Harbor Pointe Condominiums, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 in Dunedin, Florida

Heres a looks at Birchwood Place in Palm Coast with an overturned car. All morning long weve been giving you updates as much of our areas have been under tornado warnings. More this morning on @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/QHRm1edd53  Celeste Springer (@CelesteSpringer) October 12, 2023

The Weather Service this morning also said there could be more tornadoes in the Crystal River area to come

As well as Clearwater, seen here, roof damage and downed power lines were also reported near Crystal River

5x Timelapse of massive #Wedge waterspout just offshore of Clearwater Beach, recorded from the Wyndham Grand Hotel Live Camera @NWSTampaBay #tornado #FLwx pic.twitter.com/GFwWpJCj30  Storm Tracker Mike Scantlin (@theScantman) October 12, 2023

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office also announced they would have emergency response teams assessing the damage around Crystal River.

In doing so, they announced they would be closing several highways and rerouting drivers.

The Citrus County school district also announced that all schools in the county had been canceled due to 'significant damage'

Northern and Central parts of the state could see a few more storms over Thursday, with isolated tornadoes not being ruled out.

After hitting the west coast of Florida, the storm kept tracking east across the state and eventually hit parts of Northeast Florida.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, there was 'significant damage' but no injuries in Palm Coast, on the Atlantic side of the state.

Tornado a few minutes ago that came ashore in Clearwater. Damage to homes. @NWSTampaBay pic.twitter.com/U3bCPrZqWl  Evan Occhino (@Evan_Occhino) October 12, 2023

In Palm Coast on the Atlantic side of the state, officials said the area had suffered 'significant damage' and shared this image of an upturned car

Much of Central Florida, seen in this map, is now under tornado watches until 3pm, with strong thunderstorms still ongoing

The City of Palm Coast shared images of a car on its side after the storm passed through on Thursday.

They also urged locals to stay away from the area, saying: 'The impact of the storm is in the area of Barrington Drive.

'This neighborhood is closed off to all traffic at this time due to downed trees and power lines and significant damage to properties. Please avoid the area.'

Much of Central Florida is now under tornado watches until 3pm, with strong thunderstorms still ongoing.

The storm systems will begin to move into the Atlantic during the early afternoon.

Heavy rainfall and strong thunderstorms will still be possible over the area through most of Thursday, with activity beginning to wind down into the evening.

The Florida Emergency Management said: 'Residents in these areas should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts & be prepared to seek shelter immediately if a tornado warning is issued.'
The company that owns the salvage rights to the Titanic shipwreck has axed plans to retrieve more artifacts from the site days after the US Coast Guard pulled additional human remains from the doomed Titan sub.

The decision was taken 'out of respect' for the firm's director, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was among the five people killed in the horror implosion earlier this year, according to court documents filed in a US District Court on Wednesday.

RMS Titanic said its plans now only include imaging at the wreck site and surveys to refine 'future artifact recovery.'

'Out of respect for P.H. Nargeolet and his family, and the other four people who perished so recently at the site, and their families, the company has decided that artifact recovery would not be appropriate at this time,' the firm wrote about the planned 2024 dive.

It said it 'will not recover artifacts at this time, nor conduct other activity that would physically alter or disturb the wreck.'

RMS Titanic has vowed not to disturb the Titanic wreck 'out of respect' for its director Paul-Henri who was killed in the doomed OceanGate Titan submersible implosion

Nargeolet was killed along with four others aboard the OceanGate vessel during a trip to the visit the Titanic wreck in June

RMST CEO Jessica Sanders added: ' 'Todays filing underscores that we take our responsibilities seriously.

'In light of the OceanGate tragedy, the loss of our dear colleague Paul-Henri "P.H." Nargeolet, and the ongoing investigation, we have opted to amend our previous filing to only conduct unmanned imaging and survey work at this time.'

RMST also said it will not send another crewed submersible to the Titanic until 'further investigation takes place regarding the cause of the (OceanGate) tragedy.'

It comes just days after the USCG confirmed it had retrieved 'presumed human remains' from within the Titan's debris.

The doomed submersible imploded during a tourist trip to the Titanic wreckage earlier this year, killing all on board.

Nargeolet was the director of underwater research for the Georgia-based firm RMST, which recovers and exhibits Titanic artifacts.

But RMST and other private operators repeated trips to the wreck had already drawn accusations of 'looting' and disrespect by relatives of Titanic victims.

Anna Roberts, the great-granddaughter of a bedroom steward on the vessel that was said to be 'unsinkable', said: 'I deplore the fact Titanic has become a tourist attraction. It is a graveyard and should be left in peace and respect.'

While Helen Richardson, the 40-year-old great-granddaughter of a fireman on the Titanic, previously told MailOnline: 'It should be left alone. It is a site where all those poor people lost their lives, and a tragic site even for those who survived.'

The company has also locked horns with the U.S. Government, which has been trying to stop a mission originally planned for 2024.

The company's expedition plan included possibly entering through the ship's broken hull and retrieving objects from the ships famed Marconi room, where the Titanic's radio broadcast increasingly frantic distress signals after the ocean liner hit an iceberg.

U.S. attorneys previously said the firm's original plans to enter the ship's hull would violate a federal law that treats the Titanic wreck as a gravesite.

The court case hinges on federal law and a pact between the U.S. and Great Britain to treat the sunken Titanic as a memorial to the more than 1,500 people who died.

In August, the U.S. argued in court filings that entering the Titanics severed hull - or physically altering or disturbing the wreck - is regulated by the law and its agreement with Britain.

Among the governments concerns was the possible disturbance of artifacts and any human remains that may still exist.

Stockton Rush, CEO of Oceangate, pictured right in the submersible that took his life two months ago, had faced criticism for visiting the Titanic the wreck from relatives of victims of the disaster

The US Coastguard confirmed it has recovered 'presumed human remains' from the Titan wreck after the wreckage was found. Now, the agency said more remains have been identified

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that they recovered presumed human remains along with parts of the Titan. Pictured: U.S. Coast Guard marine safety engineers conduct a survey of the aft titanium endcap from the Titan submersible

The firm has argued that only the court in Norfolk has jurisdiction, and points to centuries of precedent in maritime law.

In a filing with the court earlier this year, RMST said it did not plan to seek the government's permission regarding its original expedition plans. But those plans have changed.

Prior to the fatal dive, RMST planned to take images inside and outside of the wreck. The firm also wanted to retrieve items from the debris field as well as freestanding objects within the sunken ocean liner.

The group had talked about removing artifacts from the ship's Marconi room, which is where Morse code distress calls were sent from after hitting the iceberg.

It is unclear how the U-turn is likely to impact the firm's budding legal fight. The company's filing appears to suggest that it no longer plans to enter the ship's hull, which the government said would break the law.

A hearing was still scheduled for Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, which oversees Titanic salvage matters.

RMST's previous exhibits have displayed items ranging from silverware to a piece of the ships hull, which went down while carrying 2,208 passengers from Southampton, England, to New York in 1912.

French navy veteran Nargeolet was among the five people killed during a doomed tourist trip to the wreckage arranged by maritime company OceanGate, which has since gone bust.

The Titanic wreckage has become a tourist attraction but should be treated as a hallowed grave that cannot be disturbed, lawyers for the US government have argued

Jewelry is pictured from the Titanic site. RMST has the rights to remove artifacts from the wreckage site

RMS Titanic, Inc., recovered a doorknob from a first-class cabin that was later auctioned off

He was lending his expertise to the mission in June when the Titan submersible mysteriously disappeared.

After a tense search lasting five days during which time it was feared the vessel's occupants were running out of air, it finally emerged that the sub had imploded 1,600 feet away from the Titanic wreckage.

Nargeolet was killed along OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, who was just 19.

Some of the men aboard were said to have paid up to $250,000 each to see the wreck.

The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the probe into the Titans implosion.

Lawyers for the U.S. government did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg said he and Newsom's office have been working closely with both the city and county officials within California 's capital to get it done

The plan, announced in March, has been perpetually delayed, and it's still unclear when the community, one of two planned for the city, will be built

State and city leaders in Sacramento are building 175 tiny homes for the homeless to address an estimated 9,300 sleeping within the city's limits.

Part of a planned 1,200 temporary residences promised by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the homes will be set in a vacant park located in the southern part of the city - which, like much of the rest of the state, is littered with Level 1 homeless encampments.

The plan, announced in March, has been perpetually delayed, and it's still unclear when the community, one of two planned for the city, will be built.

Mayor Darrell Steinberg, however, said Tuesday that he and Newsom's office have been working closely with both the city and county officials within California's capital to get the project done - and 'that [it] will be a model for the rest of the state.'

News of the new project, first reported by The Sacramento Bee, came the same day that Denver said it would also break ground on the first of many planned micro-communities - with 1,000 taxpayer-funded homes set to open by the end of the year.

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State and city leaders in Sacramento are building 175 tiny homes for their homeless to address an estimated 9,300 sleeping within the city's limits. Pictured is a similar pallet shelter community constructed by the city two months ago, and began accepting tenants Wednesday

The plan, announced in March by Gavin Newsom, has been perpetually delayed, and it's still unclear when the community, one of two planned for Sacramento, will be built

Steinberg, a Democrat elected in 2016, wrote in a news release from Newsom's office: 'Residents will be embedded in a community wellness campus specializing in substance abuse disorder treatment and mental health care.

'This combination of housing and assertive treatment,' he continued, 'is the recipe for helping our unhoused neighbors and providing relief to our neighborhoods.'

Newsom, 56, added: 'The state's homelessness crisis has been decades in the making.

'While there's more work to be done, we are challenging the status quo with new, innovative solutions to get Californians off the streets and into housing.'

The joint statement added that through $179.7 million in grant money, the plan will see 710 units erected trough nine developments in Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto, San Buenaventura, San Diego, and Visalia, along with two in Sacramento.

The state conceded in its announcement that it had already spent $736million on tiny homes to address the state's now years-long homeless crisis.

Spread across cities like LA, and San Jose, the issue is a serious one - and repurposed pallet shelters made largely of aluminum have emerged as a somewhat unlikely solution.

Other efforts, like the removal of a Level 1 homeless encampment outside Stanford Park in Sacramento in July, have for the most part fallen flat, with more than 20 encampments of that class still seen across the city.

The situation is even worse in places like San Francisco, where an estimated 20,000 are said to be sleeping rough each year.

1,200 temporary residences have been promised statewide by Gov. Newsom

It comes as other efforts, like the removal of a Level 1 homeless encampment outside Stanford Park in July, have fallen flat, with more than 20 encampments of that class still seen across the city

Officials on Wednesday said the neighborhood of tiny homes will have amenities like a 24/7 crisis center, a dental center, a rehab facility, and even air conditioning

The homes will be one nine developments in Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto, San Buenaventura, San Diego, and Visalia, with two in Sacramento

Officials have expressed frustration of the 'absurd' price of building the cabins, which in San Francisco cost approximately $100,000 per cabin, not including operating costs

The state conceded in its announcement that it had already spent $736million on tiny homes to address the state's now yearslong homeless crisis

The city recently experimented with so-called tiny home funded by the state with a 70-person 'emergency shelter' on 33 Gough St - however, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, Hillary Ronen, after originally championing the idea, in February put the plans on hold after 'overwhelming opposition' from members of the community.

At the time, the city official also expressed frustration of the 'absurd' price of building the cabins, which officials estimate approximately $100,000 per cabin, not including operating costs.

She also aired skepticism about whether the village would actually improve the conditions in the neighborhood - one of many in the city that has devolved since the pandemic.

'One thing is the cost. But the other thing is the city's ability to keep the conditions around these sites acceptable,' Ronen told The San Francisco Chronicle of the proposed community, which was also delayed several months..

'The street conditions are abysmal,' she added. 'Unless I'm convinced it will improve the neighborhood, I won't approve it.'

Meanwhile, in Sacramento, a similar community to the one currently being constructed on the 13-acre patchwork of dry, grassy fields along Stockton, broke ground about two months ago, but only began to phase in residents on Wednesday.

A similar community to the one currently being constructed on the 13-acre patchwork of dry, grassy fields along Stockton, broke ground about two months ago, but only began to phase in residents on Wednesday

The transitional housing installation is comprised of sine 75 single and 25 double unit residences, but is currently only looking to fill half their capacity

The site can house up to 125 people in total, with 61 people and 16 pets living their so far, Janna Haynes, Sacramento County spokesperson, confirmed this week.

As for the new pallet shelter procession, it currently just an overgrown plot of land originally designed to house a shopping mall

Each unit will be identical to the ones already seen on Florin and Power Inn roads, located only a few miles away

On Wednesday, officials explained how the new site, which has yet to be given a finish date, has sat unused for nearly two decades

News of the new project came the same day that Denver said it would also break ground on the first of many planned micro-communities - with 1,000 taxpayer-funded homes set to open by the end of the year

The transitional housing installation is comprised of sine 75 single and 25 double unit residences, but is currently only looking to fill half their capacity.

The site can house up to 125 people in total, with 61 people and 16 pets living their so far, Janna Haynes, Sacramento County spokesperson, confirmed this week.

As for the new pallet shelter procession - currently just an overgrown plot of land originally designed to house a shopping mall - officials on Wednesday said it will have amenities like a 24/7 crisis center, a dental center, a rehab facility, and even air conditioning.

Each unit will be identical to the ones already seen on Florin and Power Inn roads, located only a few miles away.

On Wednesday, Sacramento Vice Mayor Eric Guerra explained how the new site has sat unused for nearly two decades.

'This property has sat vacant for over a decade leading to blight and a lack of investment. Today, what is exciting is a process stepping forward.'

The project was not given a completion date, but officials said they hope to start housing individuals there at some point before the New Year. Once finished, the site will stay open until at least July 2026.
Air Canada is facing allegations of 'negligence' following a $17 million gold heist near the nation's busiest airport.

The airline is being sued by Brink's, a money management firm, after allegedly allowing thieves to take off with almost 900 pounds in gold and $1.9 million in bank notes in April.

According to the reported lawsuit, Air Canada failed to place adequate security on the valuable shipment, with the daring criminals allegedly able to swipe the loot by using fake documentation.

The unsolved crime has raised questions over the security apparatus in place for high-value shipments, and it became the largest gold theft since $30 million was stolen by thieves disguised as police in July 2019 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The gold heist was pulled off near Toronto's Pearson airport, Canada's largest airport - with Air Canada accused of having 'no security protocols' to prevent thieves taking 'valuable cargo' transported to a nearby warehouse

The daring heist saw thieves take off with almost 900lbs in gold and $1.9 million in bank notes

Brink's lawsuit was filed October 6 in the Federal Court of Canada, noting that the firm was hired by Swiss bank Raiffeisen Schwiz Genossenschaft to transport the cargo for precious metals refinery Valcambi SA on April 17.

The company subsequently hired Air Canada to move the gold and cash from Zurich to Toronto, before it was moved from Pearson International Airport to a Toronto warehouse at shortly before 6pm.

Less than an hour after the depot received the gold, a still-unidentified thief used fraudulent documents to pick it up.

According to the lawsuit, 'no security protocols or features were in place to monitor, restrict or otherwise regulate the unidentified individuals access to the facilities.'

After the person pulled off the heist, cops were left scrambling for answers. So far, 'there have been no arrests or convictions and the shipments have not been recovered,' the lawsuit says.

Brink's, a money management firm, launched the lawsuit after claiming that Air Canada was 'negligent' in handling the cash and gold

Canadian authorities insist they are still looking into the crime, with the investigation described as 'very active' by Peel Regional Police spokesperson Aruna Aundhia.

'Information will be released when investigators believe it will not interfere with the investigations integrity,' they said, in a statement to Fortune.

Air Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.

Brink's is seeking $13.5 million Swiss Francs to compensate for the missing gold, $1.9 million for the stolen cash, and additional costs from Air Canada.

With no arrests in the months since, it was reported at the time by the Toronto Sun that organized criminal gangs may have been behind the theft.

The heist in Canada became the largest gold theft since $30 million was stolen by thieves disguised as police in July 2019 in Sao Paulo, Brazil

The heist in Canada became the largest such crime since thieves posing as police officers pulled off a huge $30 million robbery in Brazil in 2019.

The suspects used fake police uniforms to enter Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo to target a trove of gold as it was being transported to New York and Zurich.

In the space of less than three minutes, eight armed men disguised as agents who had arrived in two fake police vans stole the gold without firing a shot.

The thieves took two security guards hostage and the family of one of them to force their help, according to police reports.

The cargo was heavy and the thieves decided to use airport employees and some trucks to get it into one of the vans before they fled.

Hours later, the hostages were released and the vehicles were located abandoned in Sao Paulo.

Unlike in Canada, cops were able to track down three people and arrest them, all of them airport employees.
An Australian man has been arrested after a packed plane was forced to turn back to Singapore on Thursday due to a bomb threat.

The Scoot flight to Perth was escorted back to Singapore's Changi Airport by the nation's air force one hour into the flight after a bomb threat was allegedly made.

Around 363 passengers and 11 crew were on board.

The flight landed back in Singapore at 6.27pm local time (9.27pm AEDT) on Thursday night.

An Australian man, 30, was arrested by police for criminal intimidation after security checks were completed, The Straits Times reported.

'The police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm,' a police spokesman said.

The Scoot flight to Perth was escorted back to Singapore's Changi Airport by the nation's air force after a threat was made, the airline said (file picture)

Investigations continue.

'Scoot is assisting the authorities with their investigations. As this is a security matter, we regret that we are unable to provide further details,' an airline spokesman said.

'Scoot sincerely apologises for the disruption and inconvenience caused. The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority, and we will continue to provide assistance to our customers.'

The flight tracker shows the plane making a U-turn over Indonesia and heading back to Singapore.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said one runway was closed for about an hour "to facilitate ground operations", with eight arriving flights and six departures experiencing some delay because of the incident.
Cash-strapped councils in England have turned parking into a 'huge cash cow' as figures revealed they raked in nearly 1billion in a year.

Latest figures released today show local authorities nearly hit the eye-watering amount in the last financial year for 2022-23.

They made a combined profit of 962.3million, surpassing the previous year's total of 857.8million as well as pocketing more than pre-Covid levels.

Councils already admitted they were planning stealth raids on motorists by cranking up the cost of parking and now have been accused of using the service as a 'huge cash cow' to top-up their balances.

In March, MailOnline reported there would be a ten per cent rise in parking costs. But in other areas, such as Leicester, drivers were faced with a 100 per cent leap in the price per hour for off-street parking, from 1 to 2.

Cash-strapped councils in England raked in nearly 1billion worth of profit from parking fees in the last financial year, surpassing pre-Covid levels

Bankrupt Woking council increased its prices on February 6  by up to 25 per cent  while London council Hackney introduced new emission-based parking charges.

The latest statistics from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show London councils cashed in a staggering 551.3million worth of profit due to on-street parking fees alone in the last financial year.

'Once again official statistics show that councils have turned parking into a huge cash cow, not just a service to stimulate local trade and support workers and visitors,' says Jack Cousens, the AA's head of roads policy.

'However, the nearly 75 million or 20 per cent crash in the surplus from car parks must be particularly worrying for cash-strapped councils.

'While the Covid fallout, such as people working from home, and the economic downturn are factors in the decline, hikes in parking charges by councils have contributed and helped to drive more shoppers online. In effect, many local authorities are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.'

On-street parking accounted for 673.1million profit while there was a 289.2million surplus from off-street parking.

Ian Taylor is a director at the Alliance of British Drivers and accused councils of using parking to top-up their bank balance.

'Once again we have proof in front of us that councils are looking to the driver as a cash top-up to add to their revenue stream,' he said.

'This is something we have been attempting to fight tooth and nail for years.'

Local authorities have been accused of using parking as a 'huge cash cow' while the Alliance of British Drivers said drivers are being used to top-up cash

Mr Taylor said councils worried about the death of the high street are exacerbating the problem by increasing fees and closing down car parks, which meant drivers are finding it 'nigh on impossible' to park near shops.

'It's [parking] is an easy source of revenue for councils and it's like plucking the low fruit from the tree,' he said.

Some local authorities hiked parking charges in line with the council tax rises in March, leading critics to say it was an unfair plan to plug funding gaps by targeting motorists.

In some areas, councils brought in fees for sites that used to be free and extended the hours they charge for. Hertfordshire, for example, had planned to scrap its free parking on Sundays and Bank Holidays, but put the plans on hold following public uproar, reported Hertfordshire Live.

MailOnline has contacted the Local Government Association, which represents more than 350 councils across England and Wales, for comment.
A good Samaritan who went out of her way to save a 'cute little' platypus has been left hospitalised after the marsupial savagely attacked her.

Tasmanian woman Jenny Forward spotted the semi-aquatic animal trapped in a gutter on the side of a road in Kingston, Hobart.

Upon picking up the creature, she was immediately struck by the venomous spurs on his hind legs, injecting 'excruciating' venom into either side of her right hand.

Only male platypuses are armed with spurs, usually used to ward off others during mating season and to defend themselves when being attacked.

They are the only mammal that produces venom, and while not strong enough to kill a human, it causes horrific pain and swelling.

Good Samaritan, Jenny Forward (pictured) went out of her way to save a 'cute little' platypus but was left hospitalised after the marsupial savagely attacked her

READ MORE: How Britain's wartime hero Winston Churchill secretly demanded Australia send him a platypus Advertisement

Ms Forward revealed the platypus had pierced her hand so viciously she couldn't initially pull it off as it had become stuck.

Despite the pain, Ms Forward carried the platypus back to her car with plans to safely release it elsewhere.

'I don't know how I got home, the pain was so bad, I had to drive with one hand,' she told Seven.

'My head felt like it was gonna explode.'

A friend promptly rushed her to hospital, where she remained in agony for days as pain-killers do little to remedy the infection.

Hospital staff knew little about procedures to treat a platypus spurring due to incidents being so infrequent.

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary director Greg Irons told the ABC that he could only recall three or four cases of spurring in 22 years.

Ms Forward spotted the platypus (pictured) on the side of a road stuck in a gutter

The platypus' venom isn't enough to kill a human but will cause 'excruciating' pain and swelling

Mr Irons urged anyone who believes a platypus is in trouble to not pick up the animal but instead to take photos or video and send it on to wildlife rescuers.

He said that Ms Forward's situation was an opportunity to warn others not to touch a platypus.

While still feeling the effects of the spurring and having her arm in a sling, Ms Forward is now more passionate than ever to help protect the local population of platypuses.

'It's an iconic Australian animal, [this has] motivated me to do a lot more for them,' she told the ABC.

Being spurred by a platypus can have ongoing effects for decades after the incident, even for Australia's toughest soldiers.

Keith Payne, a former Australian soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, was spurred by a platypus in 1991 and continued to feel discomfort in 2006.
The family of a 19-year-old accused of shooting dead a beloved Philadelphia journalist has claimed the duo had a sexual relationship and the teen was being blackmailed over 'disturbing' videos.

Police say Josh Kruger, 39, died after being shot seven times last week inside his two-story South Philadelphia townhouse by Robert Davis, who has remained on the run since being identified as the suspected killer.

Davis's family has now claimed he had been in a sexual relationship with Kruger that involved drugs since he was only 15 years old, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The teen's mother told the outlet that Davis said Kruger had threatened to post sexually explicit videos of him online before the shooting murder. The family claims they watched Davis's life unravel with the relationship and the drug addiction that came with it.

'He was scared,' the mom said. 'He said "He wanted me to do some stuff I didnt want to do and if I didnt do it, he said he was going to blackmail me."'

Kruger was known as a journalist and activist who survived years of homelessness, sex work and drug addiction to go on to work for the mayor, the city's Homelessness Services and a reporter for outlets including the Inquirer. He was open about being a gay man living with HIV.

Police say Josh Kruger died after being shot seven times by Robert Davis (pictured), who has remained on the run since being identified as the alleged killer

Davis's family has now claimed he had been in a sexual relationship with Kruger (pictured) that involved drugs since he was only 15 years old

Kruger's two-story South Philadelphia townhouse is pictured above hours after the murder

Days after his murder, police described the pair as acquaintances, adding that Kruger, a community advocate, 'was trying to help [Davis] get through life.'

Since then, investigators have allegedly discovered 'disturbing' explicit images in Kruger's phone, a source told the Inquirer. It's not clear whether the images feature Davis. Detectives also allegedly found meth in his bedroom.

Davis's mother, Danica, told the outlet her son called her shortly after police named him as the shooter on Friday and tried to explain himself while stopping short of admitting to the murder.

The mother, and her older son Jaylin Reason, added Davis has suffered from mental health issues from a young age and started sneaking out when he was 15 and coming back high on drugs. He would also bring back expensive gifts like Gucci pants.

Davis allegedly told his family he was seeing an 'older white woman' who worked for the government. When his mom and brother would see the name 'Josh' frequently pop up on his phone, Davis claimed he was the woman's brother, who was gay.

The family claimed they even followed the teen once to Kruger's block to figure out where he was going and getting drugs after they believed he had become addicted to meth.

But on Friday, Davis told his family it was the journalist he had been seeing for years.

David's brother Reason said the teen arrived home at about 4:45am the night of the murder, two hours before police showed up with a warrant for his arrest.

Kruger - who worked for five years in his city's government from 2016 to 2021 - survived the initial encounter, and made it outside to seek help before succumbing to his wounds about a half hour later at a local hospital.

There were no signs of a forced entry at Kruger's home, and police believe the shooting happened at about 1.30am on Friday.

Kruger was known as a journalist and activist who survived years of homelessness, sex work and drug addiction to go on to work for the city's mayor

A celebration of life for Kruger is scheduled for Sunday, October 29

After Kruger's murder, many in Philadelphia's community honored him, including his former boss, Democratic mayor James Kenney.

'Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing,' Kenney said, recalling the years Kruger handled social media for him and the city's homeless humanitarian effort simultaneously.

'His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did - and his light was dimmed much too soon,' Kenney added, revealing how Kruger left city government to focus on writing projects for news and causes he deemed important.

The city's District Attorney Larry Krasner Monday remembered Kruger by praising his years of contributions to the city.

'As an openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness... Josh Kruger lifted up the most vulnerable and stigmatized people in our communities,' said Krasner.

A celebration of life for Kruger is scheduled for Sunday, October 29.

The description reads: 'Together, we will honor his vibrant spirit and the impact he had on all of our lives. This in-person (with hybrid zoom available) event is an opportunity for friends, family, and loved ones to come together and share stories, reminisce, and find comfort in each other's presence.

'Let's create a space where we can reflect on Josh's life, celebrate his passions, and remember the person he was. Join us at the William Way LGBT Community Center as we come together to honor and remember Josh Kruger.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department for comment.
Tensions at Harvard are boiling over as a right-wing group from Washington DC drove trucks onto the prestigious campus with images of students they claimed to be behind a campaign by Palestine solidarity groups.

Last Saturday, 34 Harvard student groups signed up to a letter holding the 'Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence', after the shocking terrorist attack by Hamas.

Vehicles with the faces of those studying at the elite establishment who are accused of being linked to the letter were paraded around Harvard Square on Wednesday night along with the words 'anti-Semites'.

Posters of American and Israeli hostages snatched by Hamas were also plastered across campus, with 'kidnapped' emblazoned across the top.

Israel in Boston, the Consulate General of Israel to New England, appeared to support the move, saying: 'If you are walking today through the hallways and peaceful paths of Harvard, look for the faces of babies, elderly Holocaust survivors, teenagers, and men and women who were brutally taken hostage by the inhumane Hamas terrorists.'

Posters of American and Israeli hostages snatched by Hamas were plastered across campus, with 'kidnapped' emblazoned across the top

Vehicles with the faces of those studying at the elite establishment were paraded around Harvard Square on Wednesday night along with the words 'anti-Semites'

Pro-Israel students put up the posters in the wake of the anti-Israel statement, which caused a huge backlash internationally.

Harvard's Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee took credit for pulling together the letter, and has since doubled down on its claims in a statement to the Harvard Crimson.

The PSC group issued a further statement in which it said it was 'proud to stand steadfast against Israeli apartheid.'

Pictures of several students accused of being linked to the letter have been paraded around campus with the words 'Harvard's Leading Anti-Semites' by Accuracy In Media, based in Washington DC.

The group has been forced to remove several photographs after at least six student groups retracted their support for the letter.

Each of the trucks also displayed a URL, HarvardHatesJews.com, which takes users to a webpage that encourages them to send a message to Harvard over the issues.

DailyMail.com revealed that one of the students leading the group is Josh Willcox, 22, the son of British perfume mogul Jo Malone, according to Harvard's directory of student groups.

Willcox's fellow Palestine Solidarity Committee member Sanaa Kahloon subsequently spoke to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper confirming the group had no regrets over the controversial letter - while even doubling down on it.

Pro-Israel students put up the posters in the wake of the anti-Israel statement, which caused a huge backlash internationally

I have been asked by a number of CEOs if @harvard would release a list of the members of each of the Harvard organizations that have issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for Hamas heinous acts to Israel, so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their https://t.co/7kzGOAGwp9  Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) October 10, 2023

Pictures of several students accused of being linked to the letter have been paraded around campus with the words 'Harvard's Leading Anti-Semites' by Accuracy In Media, based in Washington DC

Members of Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee pose for a group picture. The student organization doubled down on their statement blaming Israel for the Hamas terror attack

Josh Willcox (left) son of perfume mogul Jo Malone (center) is listed as one of three Harvard students who run the Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee. He is also pictured with his father Gary Willcox at a ritzy London party in 2017

Kahloon said the organization 'rejects the accusation' its initial statement was 'supportive of civilian deaths'.

Speaking for the group, Kahloon, said their mission should be 'obvious', adding the 'PSC staunchly opposes violence against civilians  Palestinian, Israeli, or other.'

'The statement aims to contextualize the apartheid and colonial system while explicitly lamenting 'the devastating and rising civilian toll' in its caption,' she added in a separate Crimson story.

'It is unacceptable that Palestinians and groups supporting them are always expected to pre-empt their statements with condemnation of violence.'

Willcox has published at least three articles on Palestine for the Harvard Crimson, writing 'To the Editor: When Will You Stop Silencing Palestine?', in February along with a third leader of the organization, Shraddha Joshi.

Joshi spent time in Palestine in 2022, and in a blog post took aim at Harvard and the media for supporting Ukraine amid Russia's invasion but ignoring the ongoing situation in Gaza.

The Harvard statement it has continued to support was widely-condemned after blaming Israel for attacks that have killed at least 1,200 Israelis, including 25 Americans.

In its latest comments the PSC bemoaned the lack of support they were getting from the university, saying the administration 'invests in Israeli apartheid'.

Each of the trucks also displayed a URL, HarvardHatesJews.com, which takes users to a webpage that encourages them to send a message to Harvard over the issues

Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management (pictured), led the charge to name the students in the Harvard organizations who put out a statement blaming Israel for the Hamas attack

The group promoted their protests openly on social media, parading around the campus with banners that stated, 'Harvard Supports Israeli Apartheid'

'The ongoing discourse centered on Harvard diverts focus from the relentless carnage in Gaza, a dire situation which our joint statement urgently warned about,' it said.

More than a dozen buisness executives have called for the students involved to be blacklisted over the letter, with billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman wanting their identities to be revealed.

Ackman said, 'One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists, who, we now learn, have beheaded babies, among other inconceivably despicable acts.'

Around 500 faculty members and 17 student organizations signed a statement in response, calling the PSC's stance 'completely wrong and deeply offensive.'

In an open letter published on Tuesday afternoon nearly 160 Harvard faculty members blasted the 'weak response' from the schools administration.

Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers added: '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.'

Gay, who entered the post in July, finally issued a statement on Tuesday condemning 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' and insisting the 34 student groups 'don't speak for the university or its leadership'.

In its latest comments the PSC bemoaned the lack of support they were getting from the university, saying the administration 'invests in Israeli apartheid'

Harvard President Claudine Gay (pictured) has finally condemned the 'terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel' - at odds with 34 student groups at the Ivy League institution who have pledged support to the militants

The PSC group issued a further statement in which it warned others to not be 'complacent and called for Harvard to do more

An aerial view shows the bodies of victims of the Hamas attack on the Kfar Aza Kibbutz on Tuesday

Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee set up posters with the message 'Free Palestine.' The student group claimed to have received racist death threats in the wake of their statement

She said: 'As the events of recent days continue to reverberate, let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

'Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever one's individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region.

'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.

'We will all be well served in such a difficult moment by rhetoric that aims to illuminate and not inflame. And I appeal to all of us in this community of learning to keep this in mind as our conversations continue.'

Israeli airstrikes demolished entire Palestinian neighborhoods on Wednesday as hospitals struggled to treat the injured with dwindling medical supplies.

The retaliation came after Hamas' surprise invasions of Israel on Saturday morning. At least 100 people were kidnapped, with 2,700 wounded. An estimated 1,000 people have died in the counterstrike on Gaza.
A man who was found dead on his kitchen floor five days after complaining of an 'agonising' toothache died from untreated diabetes, a coroner has found.

Bradley Tucek, 33, was living alone in North Sydney when he suffered a painful toothache on Friday July 13, 2022.

He'd told his mother he was in 'absolute agony' and visited the dentist the following day.

For the last year his family have wondered if he received 'inadequate' care from the dental practice that resulted in his death, but a coroner's report determined that Mr Tucek had developed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

The dangerous condition is often caused by undiagnosed diabetes when the body doesn't have enough insulin.

Bradley Tucek (pictured with his sister) died at 33-years-old after his diabetes went untreated during the Covid pandemic

Mr Tucek (right) passed just days after scheduling an appointment to remove an 'agonising' infected tooth

READ MORE: What your NAILS say about your health Advertisement

That lack of insulin means the body begins using fat instead of sugar for energy, causing acids called ketones to be released into the bloodstream.

High levels of ketones in the blood can be life-threatening.

But the report also explained the tooth infection, not caused by DKA, likely contributed to Mr Tucek's death.

'An infection can cause an increase in certain hormones that work against the effects of insulin and contribute to diabetic ketoacidosis,' it said, 7News reports.

'Infections are also more common and/or severe in patients with diabetes mellitus.'

Mr Tucek's sister, Ally Valentine, said learning her brother died from untreated diabetes 'knocked me for six'.

'As a family, we had shared our theories for 13 long months and I can certainly say diabetes wasn't on the list,' she said.

'It's devastating to know that my brother's death could have been prevented with simple diabetes management.

The family of Mr Tucek (left) said they had no idea he had diabetes after the coroner's report was released

'He didn't appear to have any notable symptoms apart from weight loss, which he attributed to a lifestyle change during the pandemic.'

Mr Tucek was living alone in Sydney while the rest of his family lived in Perth.

He had visited his dentist on Saturday and scheduled an operation to remove his infected tooth the following week.

However, concerned colleagues discovered his body inside his North Sydney apartment the following Monday.

His family said he had suffered a 'great deal of pain and suffering' before dying alone on his kitchen floor.

'The circumstances of Brad's death are heart-wrenching. Brad lived by himself in Sydney, while his parents and sister live in Perth,' Ms Valentine said at the time.

Bradley Tucek (pictured with his niece and nephew) was a talented artist according to his family

'He spent much of the pandemic alone due to border closures and working from home.

'Last week he fell ill with a toothache and was sent home from a dentist with antibiotics and an inadequate level of painkillers.

'Brad endured a great deal of pain and suffering before dying alone in his home, on his kitchen floor.'

This week, Ms Valentine said her brother had taken Covid restrictions 'really seriously' and his diabetes likely went undiagnosed because he couldn't see a doctor during lockdowns.
The SNP is to discuss a plan to give Scottish citizenship to anyone living in the country if it achieves independence.

At its annual conference this weekend, separatist delegates will vote on a motion that would widen the current plan to offer dual citizenship to current UK nationals, saying it is unfair.

The current proposal, unveiled by Humza Yousuf in July, has already been criticised for potentially opening the door for EU migrants to enter the UK by the back door if Scotland was to rejoin.

The motion, which will be discussed and put to a vote on Sunday, has been brought forward by Jeremie Fernandes, a France-born SNP councillor in Elgin who also wants to stand at the next general election.

In his motion to the event in Aberdeen, Mr Fernandes asks it to note that it 'regrets the Scottish Governments commitment to giving automatic rights to Scottish citizenship on the day of independence to British citizens only' and to demand the government 'change its policy and commit to automatically conferring the right to Scottish citizenship to all individuals residing in Scotland on the day Scotland becomes independent, regardless of their origin or current nationality'.

The motion, which will be discussed and put to a vote on Sunday, has been brought forward by Jeremie Fernandes, a France-born SNP councillor in Elgin who also wants to stand at the next general election.

Mr Yousaf in July revealed the fifth paper in a series outlining the Scottish Government's proposals for separation from the UK.

The event will also see an attempt by a group of MPs and trade union officials to add a demand to the party's next general election manifesto that the Scottish Government be given the right to call an independence referendum.

Currently the power to call a vote lies with the UK government, under devolved powers.

A motion to conference backed by Mr Yousaf and Westminster SNP leader Stephen Flynn says that if the SNP wins the most Scottish seats at the next election 'the Scottish Government is empowered to begin immediate negotiations with the UK Government to give democratic effect to Scotland becoming an independent country'.

But an amendment backed by MPs including Tommy Shepherd, Richard Thomson and Philippa Whitford seeks to take it further and 'demand the permanent transfer of legal power to the Scottish Parliament to determine how Scotland is governed, including the transfer of power to enable it to legislate for a referendum' as well as transferring some power over tax rates, immigration and the minimum wage.

Mr Yousaf in July revealed the fifth paper in a series outlining the Scottish Government's proposals for separation from the UK.

The document, titled 'Citizenship in an independent Scotland', set outs Mr Yousaf's wish to sign up to full EU membership after breaking ties with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The 38-page paper suggests an independent Scotland would adopt a citizenship model similar to that of the Republic of Ireland.

It states an independent Scotland would 'encourage people to live and work permanently in Scotland' such as through slashing citizenship fees for migrants.

And, while the document also proposed new burgundy-red 'Scottish passports' for Scots after independence, it claimed there would no need for any passport checks when Scots cross the border with England or travel to Northern Ireland.

The Scottish Government's latest independence paper claimed, even if an independent Scotland signed up to the EU, Scots would still maintain freedom of movement across the rest of the UK and Ireland due to membership of the Common Travel Area.

It also stated Scotland would not have to fully become part of the EU's Schengen zone, which abolishes passport and other types of border controls between the bloc's member states.
He has remained together with former co-host Robach, with both presenters fired from Good Morning America after their romance was revealed

The former morning show host shares a daughter with ex-wife of 13-years Marilee Fiebig, an immigration attorney

Holmes filed for divorce in December after his affair with Amy Robach exposed by DailyMail.com

TJ Holmes has settled his divorce with ex-wife Marilee Fiebig almost a year after his affair with former co-star Amy Robach was exposed by DailyMail.com.

The scandalous affair saw both Holmes, 46, and Robach, 50, lose their Good Morning America hosting spots, with the couple remaining together since.

In court records first reported by US Magazine, paperwork finalizing the split was submitted on October 11, and Holmes and Fiebig are next scheduled to appear in court on January 9.

The couple share a 10-year-old daughter Sabine, but the two have been in the process of ending their marriage since Holmes filed for divorce in December 2022 after his extramarital affair came to light.

Holmes filed for divorce from his ex-wife Marilee Fiebig in December 2022 after his affair with former co-host Amy Robach was exposed by DailyMail.com

DailyMail.com revealed Holmes and Robach's friendly relationship evolved into a full blown secret romance off-screen in November 2022. The two are pictured having flirty post-filming drinks at a New York City bar on November 10

The former Good Morning America co-hosts then spent a weekend shacked up in a cozy cottage in the Shawangunk Mountain region, checking out of their rental on November 13. Holmes was seen giving his lover a playful squeeze from behind as she packed up the car

Fiebig, an immigration attorney, and Holmes were married for almost 13 years before the affair was revealed.

The couple were reportedly separated at the time, but Fiebig was said to have been 'blindsided' by the off-screen fling.

When DailyMail.com first exposed Amy Robach and TJ Holmes' scandalous love affair to the world in November 2022, it completely captured the nation. They're seen in May 2022 at the Disney Upfronts

Robach's husband, former Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue, also reportedly separated with the presenter in August 2022, just weeks before the romance was exposed.

Holmes and Robach had been hosting Good Morning America for two years before their affair became public, and the duo won fans over with their on-camera chemistry.

The stars were often caught giggling to one another, partaking in sarcastic banter, and engaging in playful touches on the air - and their antics quickly turned them into one of ABC's most popular hosting teams.

But in November 2022, DailyMail.com uncovered their secret love affair, showing the two enjoying steamy late-night rendezvous, post-filming date nights and slipping in and out of each other's apartments.

Both presenters had been married to their respective spouses for over a decade at the time, and an inside source told DailyMail.com the unsuspecting couples were known to enjoy time together.

'Everyone knows that Amy and T.J. have been close friends for a long time now, running together and even socializing as a foursome with each other's spouses,' they said.

As recently as March 2022, the unwitting spouses were seen with the two co-hosts on Robach's Instagram, where Holmes had his arm casually draped across her husband Andrew Shue's shoulder as part of Robach's 'half marathon posse.'

Robach and her husband, former Melrose Place actor Andrew Shue, 55, (pictured in March 2022) also split up in August 2022, weeks before the affair came to light

Photographs posted on Robach's Instagram as recently as March 2022 show Holmes, 45, with his arm casually draped on her husband Andrew Shue's shoulder, with both men apparently firmly part of Robach's, 'half marathon posse'

In June this year, Robach also shared photos of the two co-hosts covering the Queen's Diamond Jubilee for GMA together in London, where their romance is believed to have first blossomed

In the divorce documents seen this week, a certificate of dissolution has been processed in New York County Supreme Court, however a settlement and divorce judgement are still pending.

Insiders said that Holmes and Robach's dalliance evolved in June 2022, if not before, when they were 'in London together filming the Queen's Diamond Jubilee for ABC and staff were buzzing about the intimacy between them.'

The duo had anchored GMA 3 since 2020, with many remarking on their close - but seemingly platonic - relationship on-screen.

But their fling emerged after they were seen enjoying flirty post-filming sessions at a New York City Bar, spending time alone in each others ritzy Manhattan apartments, and frolicking to a secluded upstate New York cottage for a weekend getaway.

The two co-anchors, whose on-screen chemistry captivated audiences after they joined GMA's third hour in 2020, can be seen laughing and cozying up to each other at the bar in November 2022 after a morning of filming

After a flirty rendezvous at O'Donoghue's Irish bar in Times Square, Holmes and Robach, who were both married at the time, were later seen walking out of the pub separately, keeping a safe 20 feet apart as they waited for their ride outside

In one instance, on November 10, 2022, Robach and Holmes finished recording their daily segment at ABC Studios before they were spotted deep in conversation in a cozy corner of O'Donogue's Irish Bar in Times Square.

An eyewitness told DailyMail.com: 'They were totally into each other. She was giggling at whatever he was saying, and they were looking at each other's phones. At one point she was kind of dancing in her chair to the music and laughing so hard she practically fell into his lap.'

Their affair sent shockwaves through the morning television roster, leading ABC News to officially part ways with the duo in January 2023.

'After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, about different options, we all agreed its best for everyone that they move on from ABC News,' an ABC News spokesperson said at the time.

'We recognize their talent and commitment over the years and are thankful for their contributions.'

Before they were officially dismissed, both Holmes and Robach had been temporarily taken off air while an internal investigation was carried out.

Robach and Holmes, both avid runners and fitness lovers, ran the New York City Marathon together in November 2022 - which the 49-year-old mom-of-two had previously run with her husband

The couple recently came back into the spotlight when they returned to social media for the first time since the news broke of their affair - sharing the same image of their legs

A week after their secret romance came to light, Robach and Holmes doubled down on their affair and were reportedly committed to 'growing their relationship.'

Despite backlash to their extramarital relationship, the couple have seemingly remained together since.

Nine months after their liaison was first reported, the fitness fanatics returned to social media by sharing the same pic together of their feet while seemingly out on a run.
There are growing fears for a young Israeli-American woman who remains missing days after vanishing from the Super Nova music festival where her young sister and fiance were both slaughtered.

Norelle Manzuri, 25, has not been heard from since Hamas militants attacked the event over the weekend.

For days, her family in Israel and the US have held out hope that she along with her sister Roya and fiance Amit may have been on the run or hiding.

Yesterday, Roya and Amit's bodies were identified as among those left at the music event but there is still no sign of Norelle.

Roya Manzuri, left, was killed at the music festival. Her older sister Norelle, right, remains missing

The girls' parents, Sigal and Menashe Manzuri, said they are 'in hell'

In an interview with NBC, the girls' mother, Sigal, said: 'It's either they're dead or were kidnapped.'

Their grief-stricken father Menashe added: 'We are in hell right now, that's where we are.'

The girls studied in Los Angeles before moving to Tel Aviv. Norelle and Amit became engaged just two weeks ago.

The family's friends have set up a GoFundMe page to support them.

'As of today, 10/11/2023, Roya Manzuri and Amit Cohen have been identified as victims who were murdered at the music festival.

@nbcnightlynews As we learn more about the victims in the Israel-Hamas war, these are some of their stories.  original sound - NBC Nightly News

Norelle's fiance, Amit Cohen, was also killed at the festival. The pair were only engaged for two weeks before he was killed

The girls' friends said they were the 'light of the room'. They are shown with their parents and younger brother

The sisters were among thousands of party-goers at the festival on Saturday

'We still have hope for Norelle's safe return. We ask that you light a candle and say their names.

'Your love and support is appreciated now more than ever,' organizers said.

The number of Americans killed in the conflict has now risen to 25, with 17 people unaccounted for.

Yesterday, John Kirby, the Strategic Communications Director for the National Security Council, said a 'handful' of the missing had been taken hostage.

It remains unclear how far the government will go to secure the hostages' release.

So far, there has been no proof of life for any of those who have been taken.

Devastated father Thomas Hand tearfully recalls finding out his eight-year-old daughter was killed by Hamas terrorists

Eight-year-old Emily Hand was murdered by Hamas terrorists on Saturday at Kibbutz Be'eri. Her father said he was relieved when he found out his daughter was dead rather than a captive of the Palestinian terrorists who might have tortured her in Gaza

The father of an eight-year-old girl killed in the conflict said it came as a relief to learn she was dead and not being held hostage by Hamas.

'They just said, "We found Emily, shes dead," and I went, "Yes." I went "Yes," and smiled because that is the best news of the possibilities that I knew.

'The best possibility that I was hoping for.

'She was either dead or in Gaza, and if you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death, that is worse than death.

'The way they treat you, they have no food, they have no water.

'Shed be in a dark room with Christ who knows how many people and terrified every minute, hour, day and possible years to come.

'So death was a blessing, an absolute blessing,' he cried.

Omer Neutra is also missing in Israel. The teenager is from Long Island

Laor Abramov, 20, is missing as is 19-year-old Edan Alexander. Both are US-Israeli citizens serving in the IDF

Oriya Ricardo, 26, was gunned down on Saturday at the Supernova festival along with more than 250 others

Daniel Ben Senior, 34, was working at Nova festival on Saturday when Hamas militants attacked

Judith Raanan was also taken hostage along with her daughter. Their family in Illinois has not heard from them since Saturday

Natalie Ranaan was visiting family for the High Holidays with her mother, Judith, when the assault began on Saturday. Since then, relatives have not heard from either woman

Lotan Abir, 24, an Israeli-native had just moved to Utah in 2022 to further his music career

Adrienne Neta, 66, is also missing. She is a nurse and midwife who moved to Israel from California in 1981

Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, texted his mother and father 'I love you. Im sorry' at 8.11am on Saturday - as Palestinian militants declared war on Israel, took dozens of people as hostage and killed hundreds during the Jewish high holiday
Council worker Ashley Dale was shot at she stood next to a bar stool in her kitchen, a firearms expert told her murder trial today.

The 28 year old was probably trying to reach her back door after coming out of her living room in her bid to flee the gunman who had burst into her home, a jury was told.

Forensic firearms scientist Andre De Villiers Horne told Liverpool Crown Court that the bullet which killed Ashley was found embedded in the bar stool in the kitchen of her home in Leinster Road in the Old Swan district of the city.

He said the measurements of the entry and exit wounds of the 9mm short calibre bullet were consistent with Ashley standing next to the stool where the bullet was found.

Mr Horne told the jury: 'This is entirely consistent with her standing next to the bar stool when the bullet struck her. She facing toward the door into her back yard.'

Council worker Ashley Dale was shot at she stood next to a bar stool in her kitchen, a firearms expert told her murder trial today

Gunman James Whitham, 41, (pictured being arrested at Glastonbury festival in June 2022) is accused of kicking down the door of Ms Dale's terraced home, chasing her through her terraced house in Old Swan, Liverpool, and opening fire on her with a Cold War-era Skorpion sub machine gun

He said the position of bullet casing and bullet found at the scene indicated that the gunman had moved through the hallway and dining room into the kitchen area.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC asked: 'What was happening in relation to the movements of these two people?'

Mr Horne said: 'We know he came through the front door . The only escape route for Ashley to exit the house was through the back door. My expectation is that she was moving toward the rear door because it was the only route of escape.

'If you have someone in the hallway, you are not going to be moving toward them. When the door was smashed in, she had moved toward the rear door and the shooter was firing in the same direction. He was firing shots in the direction that Ashley was attempting to escape.'

The court has heard that there were two bursts of machine gun fire - one with five shots upstairs and one with nine shots downstairs.

Cross examined by Mr Richard Pratt KC, for the gunman James Witham, Mr Horne admitted that he could not tell which set of shots was fired first.

The expert had told the jury that the bullets came from a Skorpion sub machine pistol which has been in production since 1961 and was capable of firing 15 shots per second when in full automatic mode.

Witham, 41, has admitted firing the shots but claims he did not know Ashley was in the house and that she was shot 'by accident'.

He admits manslaughter but denies murder.

Forensic scientist Heather McKinlay, said that Witham's DNA had been found on a bullet under a bed in the rear bedroom of the house.

Ashley's own DNA had been found on the fatal bullet recovered from the back of the bar stool in the kitchen, she said.

The expert was questioned about a jacket which was found in a flat in Pilch Lane, Huyton which the prosecution claims was the 'centre of operations' for the planned murder of Ashley's partner Lee Harrison.

Ms McKinlay said that DNA profiles of both Sean Zeisz and James Witham were found on samples taken from a pocket.

She said that the DNA of Joseph Peers, who is alleged to have driven Witham to and from the shooting, was found on a bottle top recovered from the getaway car.

The court heard that the DNA of Kallum Radford, who is accused of hiding the car after the shooting, was found a nearside interior door handle.

The prosecution claim that Witham was driven to and from the shooting by Joseph Peers, 29.

The court has heard the two men were the 'foot soldiers' in a plan to murder Ashley's partner Lee Harrison, 26, in August last year after an old feud between rival factions had been re-ignited by violent clashes at the Glastonbury music festival.

The prosecution claim that the organisers of the murder plot were Niall Barry, 26, Sean Zeisz, 28, and Ian Fitzgibbon, 28.

Forensic officers outside the address where Ms Dale lost her life in Old Swan, Liverpool, on August 21 last year

Forensic firearms scientist Andre De Villiers Horne told Liverpool Crown Court that the bullet which killed Ashley was found embedded in the bar stool in the kitchen of her home in Leinster Road in the Old Swan district of the city

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

All five men deny the murder of Ashley, conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon and ammunition.

A six man, Kallum Radford, 26, denies assisting and offender by hiding the car used in the shooting.

The trial continues.
Former President Donald Trump claimed that he would have protected Israel from attack by Hamas as he criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his country's massive intelligence failure.

Hundreds of terrorists fanned out from the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning to launch a wave of killing that left at least 1200 people dead.

Israel's armed forces did not see the attack coming and were slow to respond.

On Wednesday evening Trump told The Brian Kilmeade Show: 'We have to protect Israel. Theres no choice. And we have to do it.

'He has been hurt very badly because of what's happened here. He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldn't have had to be prepared.'

Former President Donald Trump claimed that he would have protected Israel from attack by Hamas as he criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his country's intelligence failure

Other political leaders have steered clear of criticizing Israel or its leaders while it continues to bury its dead. Soldiers are seen here carry the casket of Valentin Ghnassia, 23, who was killed in a battle with Hamas militants at Kibbutz Be'eeri near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip during his funeral on October 12, 2023 at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem

Hamas prepared for the attacks with a wave of deception. Key figures reportedly used communications channels they knew were being monitored by Israelis to suggest they had cold on the idea of attacking Israel, and also called off border protests.

In the meantime, Israeli forces were distracted by a surge in violence in the West Bank to the north.

Fighters then used drones to knock out remote-controlled surveillance systems and weapons in the first phase of their attack allowing bulldozers to crash through security fences unobserved.

'Who would've thought their intelligence wouldn't have been able to pick this up?' asked Trump, before laying the blame with Netanyahu.

'Thousands of people were involved. Thousands of people knew about it and they let this slip by. That was not a good thing for him or for anybody.'

He delivered his criticism at a time when world leaders and American politicians have gone out of their way to line up behind Israel as it buries its dead.

Trump went even further with comments in a rally speech on Wednesday night, when he accused the country's prime minister of betraying him at a crucial moment in the struggle with Iran.

The former president, who is the clear frontrunner to win the Republican Party's 2024 nomination, told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, that his prayers were with Israel.

But he could not resist describing how he felt let down by Netanyahu during his time in office as he prepared to take out a top Iranian general in 2020.

Hamas left a trail of devastation at a series of kibbutzes near the border with Gaza, including children's beds soaked in blood

Troops remove the bodies of victims, killed during an attack by Hamas terrorists in Kfar Aza, on Tuesday

'Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months,' he said about the plan to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran's Quds Force.

'We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack.'

He said he was telling the story for the first time.

'I'll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down,' he said, describing his disappointment.

The Israeli government was quick to express its anger.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has slammed Donald Trump for praising 'Hezbollah' terrorists and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Communications minister Shlomo Karhi told Israel's Channel 13 that it was 'shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel's fighters and its citizens,' according to the Associated Press.

Trump also praised the Iran-backed Hezbollah group as 'very smart' for the way it went about launching attacks on Israel.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's leading rival for the nomination, attacked Trump for his comments.

'Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as "very smart,"' he posted on Twitter.
A grandmother who phoned BT to cancel her broadband package so that she could afford to pay for her husband's care has been left furious after the landline number she has used for more than 50 years was cut off.

Brenda Rowles, 78, said 'everybody knows me' by the number she has had since December 1970 and that BT cutting it off has caused 'chaos', including when her doctor could not get hold of her.

The retired librarian had contacted BT to cancel her broadband to cut down on the 209 annual package cost because she pays for her husband Owen's stay in a care home.

However, the grandmother-of-five was stunned to find that her landline was cut off and later replaced with a new phone number she didn't want. She has not yet been provided with an explanation as to why the number was switched.

But it comes amid a backdrop of criticism over BT's digital switchover plans which will see traditional landline phones scrapped by 2025. Campaigners representing elderly people have accused BT of going 'too fast and too far' with their move to a new broadband-based connection.

Brenda Rowles (pictured), 78, was left furious after her landline number was changed when she phoned BT to cancel her broadband

This is when the change from the old copper network to a new broadband-based connection will take place across the UK

Mrs Rowles lost the phone number that she's had since she moved into her Hampshire home in December 1970

Mrs Rowles said when she moved into her home in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, before Christmas in 1970 she was given the landline number 6145, and that she has kept it ever since, although more numbers have since been added to it.

Mrs Rowles only discovered her landline had changed when she received a letter from her doctor's surgery telling her they couldn't get hold of her.

She said: 'Because of the cost of the care home, I decided to cut down and knew I didn't need the broadband.

'This is where the problem started.

'I phoned BT and spoke to three people. I pleaded with them to not take away my landline, I just didn't need the broadband.

'When the engineer came last Thursday to set my landline up again, I was given a new number.

'I had my original number for more than 50 years.'

She added: 'Everybody knows me by this number.

'It's turned everything into chaos in the last five weeks.'

The pensioner said she only wanted to cancel her broadband to cut down the costs incurred by her retired garage manager's husband's stay in a care home.

'Enough is enough', she said.

'All I wanted them to do was to remove the broadband to reduce my bill. But BT has cancelled it and given me a new number. I am not going to sit here and go around contacting everyone I know with my new number.

Mrs Rowles (pictured) only discovered her landline had changed when she received a letter from her doctor's surgery telling her they couldn't get hold of her

'And of course, it will have an effect on my husband as the care home has my old number.

'Why should I when I have had my number for more than 50 years? It's disgusting and I'm angry. I don't see why I should have all this aggravation because BT didn't listen to me.

Q&A: WHAT IS THE SWITCHOVER AND WILL IT AFFECT ME? Will I need a fast connection? Internet speeds of just one megabit per second (Mbps) should be enough for a good digital phone service. And every UK household has the right to demand a download speed of at least 10 Mbps. Will my bills rise? Customers will have to pay for the internet to use their home phone. But experts have said providers are likely to offer cheap, basic deals similar to landline-only contracts. It is not known if customers with older phones will need to buy a new handset or if they will get one for free. What if the internet goes down? If the internet crashes or there is a power cut, digital phone lines will stop working. Those who are vulnerable or do not have a mobile phone should be offered a back-up such as a battery pack, emergency phone line or mobile phone so they can still call 999 in an emergency. What do I need to do? Nothing yet. Those on landline-only deals or without the internet will hear from their providers later on. Advertisement

'I would like my old number back. Everybody knows me by this number.'

A BT spokesperson said: 'We are very sorry that Mrs Rowles' telephone number has been cut off and her experience has fallen below the high standard of service we aim to provide to our customers.

'Our complaints team have reached out to Mrs Rowles and are working to get her old telephone number reinstated as soon as possible.

'We have explained the next steps to Mrs Rowles and will be keeping her updated throughout.'

BT has said that from 2025, all households and businesses will need an internet connection to make calls, despite fears elderly people could be left at risk.

The move is part of an industry-wide shift away from analogue to digital landlines, meaning calls are made over the internet via a broadband line.

Landlines are to be run through broadband under its new service Digital Voice, and BT said the next areas to be upgraded are the North West and London this autumn.

The switch has already begun in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and Northern Ireland  while Scotland will move from analogue to digital next summer.

There are also fears over whether elderly people may not be able to make 999 calls or raise an alarm via health pendants connected to the existing telephone system.

BT have said it would not yet force the switch on those with healthcare pendants or without internet connections or mobile phones.

Industry insiders had previously compared the move to the switch to digital TV in 2012, when broadcasters stopped transmitting traditional analogue signals to household rooftop or indoor aerials.

Pensioner groups previously warned the move would leave millions of vulnerable people at risk and isolated if the system goes into temporary meltdown.

Jan Shortt, general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention, previously told The Mail on Sunday: 'What on earth was BT thinking when it decided to bring in such a huge change without properly consulting those who rely on traditional home phone lines the most?'

BT's digital changeover sees the traditional handset replaced by a new 'digital' phone (powered by electricity) that relies upon the internet for calls to be made.

Landlines are to be run through broadband under its new service Digital Voice, and BT said the next areas to be upgraded are the North West and London this autumn. (File image of BT engineer)

If there is a power cut, this digital phone line will no longer work  and a potential lifeline for elderly people will be suddenly lost.

Several concerned pensioners have shared their thoughts with the Mail over the planned changes.

Neville Withers, 84, from Acton in West London, is particularly fearful about what this will mean in the future.

He said: 'There are thousands like me who are disabled with mobility problems.

'I have a button attached to my wrist I can press in an emergency. It is routed through a traditional landline to a care centre.'

Other telecoms providers involved in the digital rollout include Virgin Media.

It has five million customers, including retired mental health nurse Trevor Bailey.

The 73-year-old said: 'I am having my landline moved from an old copper system that works perfectly well to a new fibre optic system I do not want, requiring an adaptor. My provider is Virgin Media.

'I cannot get hold of it on the phone but get connected to an 'expert chatbot'.

'All I wanted to do was speak to a human being. I shall now be cancelling my contract as soon as it is up.'

Jackie Carlton, 70, of Kilham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, was told she and husband Allan, 71, would be switching in August.

But they were not given any information about how they could delay the switch because Mrs Carlton could be classified as vulnerable, as she has cancer.

The retired librarian said: 'The hospital tried to call me at the end of August to book an appointment, but the landline had been switched to digital voice without my knowledge, so calls did not get through.

'We live in a rural area with power cuts  seven alone in the past couple of months - and terrible mobile reception.

'My experience shows just how dangerous this switchover can be  putting the lives of the vulnerable people at risk.'
A woman has been spotted carrying a M16 assault rifle while doing her shopping in Israel, days after Hamas launched its barbaric attack against civilians.

The young woman  who wore a baggy grey T-shirt, dark blue shorts and flip-flops  was seen carrying a plastic bag to her car with the rifle slung over her back.

She was also photographed clutching her phone in her hand which sported long, light-blue nails, as she walked towards her Nissan Micra parked in Sderot.

Deliberately targeting civilians, Hamas fighters killed more than 1,300 people after gunmen from the Gaza Strip on Saturday rampaged through parts of southern Israel in the deadliest Palestinian terrorist attack in Israel's history.

The assailants were able to reach deep into the country before meeting any military resistance, and even kidnapped hostages, taking them back into the Gaza Strip.

A young woman has been spotted in Israel carrying a M16 assault rifle while doing her shopping (pictured), days after Hamas launched its barbaric attack against civilians

Sderot, where the woman was photographed, sits less than a mile from the enclave and was one of the border cities that came under attack by Hamas terrorists in the early hours. Dozens of civilians and at least 20 members of the Israeli police were killed by terrorists who rampaged through the town.

While the Israeli army has since regained control of the Israel-Gaza border, the country remains on high alert for any more potential incursions by armed assailants, either by Hamas fighters from inside Gaza or Hezbollah units from Lebanon.

Since the country's declaration of independence in 1948, fixed-term military service has been compulsory for young people in the country.

From the age of 17, most Israeli teenagers  male and female  can be called up to serve a compulsory two years and eight months in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

Currently, the IDF has 169,500 active military personnel, with 465,000 reservists.

As a result, Israel has the world's third largest active military per-capita, and the world's sixth largest reserve military by the same metric.

On top of that, the country  which spends more than 5 per cent of its GDP on the IDF  has around three million people who are fit for military service.

The young woman, who wore a baggy grey t-shirt, dark blue shorts and flip-flops, was seen carrying a bag of shipping to her car with the rifle slung over her shoulder

She was also photographed clutching her phone in her hand which sported long, light-blue nails, as she walked towards her Nissan Micra parked in Sderot

What's more, Israeli soldiers are allowed to carry their serve weapons on or off duty, suggesting that the woman seen in the images is an active IDF soldier.

Civilians can also acquire a firearms license, and all citizens who have undergone combat training and qualified in Advanced Infantry Training can apply for a private handgun license. Licenses must be renewed every three years.

Most individuals who are licensed to possess handguns are allowed to carry them  while loaded  in public, either openly or concealed.

Since the Hamas attack on Saturday, there have already been calls in Israel to relax gun laws further, amid fears over growing tensions between Israel's majority Jewish population and its minority Palestinian and Muslim groups.

Israel's controversial police minister warned that tensions could grow as the conflict between the IDF and Hamas escalates in the coming days.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-Right nationalist who has faced charges of hate speech against Arabs, also said he was stepping up the issuing of firearms to licensed citizens.

'I instructed the chief of police to prepare for a "Guardian of the Walls 2" scenario, which I think is looming,' the national security minister told reporters.

Operation Guardian of the Walls was Israel's name for a 11-day 2021 Gaza war which set off sometimes violent pro-Palestinian protests among Arab citizens.

While the majority of stories to have emerged out of Israel since Saturday have been ones that ended in tragedy, there have also been stories of heroism.

From the age of 17, most Israeli teenagers - male and female - can be called up to serve a compulsory two years and eight months in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Currently, the IDF has 169,500 active military personnel, with 465,000 reservists. Pictured: Israeli soldiers stand on a road near Be'eri, Israel, yesterday

One woman, a 25-year-old named Inbar Lieberman, coordinated the defence of the community of Nir Am as the terrorists began to invade.

She led a group of residents to kill more than two dozen advancing terrorists while defending the kibbutz (community), just a mile from the Gaza Strip.

Ms Lieberman, who has been part of the security detail in the region since December 2022, heard explosions erupting early Saturday when Hamas launched the unprecedented and deadly attack on Israel.

She quickly realised that the sounds were different to those she heard during the usual rocket attacks on the kibbutz and rushed to open the armoury and distribute guns among the 12-member security team.

The 25-year-old placed her squad of kibbutzniks in strategic positions across the settlement, set up ambushes, and turned the tables on the incoming forces.

She killed five terrorists herself, while the others claimed the lives of 20 more over a four-hour period. Nir Am was turned into an impenetrable fortress, while nearby kibbutzim's suffered greatly at the hands of the terrorist invaders.

Since the Saturday attack, Israel has called up 300,000 of its reservists.

It has also rushed its forces, tanks and heavy armour to the southern desert areas around Gaza from where Hamas invaded at dawn on October 7.

Israeli soldiers have since then swept the southern towns and kibbutz communities and killed 1,500 of the militants, while making ever more shocking discoveries of large numbers of dead civilians.

'I would never have been able to imagine... something like this,' Doron Spielman, an Israeli army spokesman, said at one gated community where more than 100 residents were killed. 'It looks like... an atomic bomb just landed here.'

One woman, a 25-year-old named Inbar Lieberman (pictured), coordinated the defence of the community of Nir Am as the terrorists began to invade on Saturday

Israeli outrage has been further fuelled by Hamas's capture of at least 150 hostages  mostly Israelis but also foreign and dual nationals  now being held in Gaza.

'I know he's out there somewhere,' one of the affected Israelis, Ausa Meir, said of her brother Michael, who is among the captives. 'It's very, very painful.'

Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if Israel bombs Gaza civilian targets without advance warning  deepening the anger and fear in shell-shocked Israel.

'Everybody is impacted in Israel,' said Joana Ouisman, 38, a finance executive. 'I've been watching TV all day for the past three to four days. All I do is cry.'
He stabbed her with five knives after she said that she wanted to leave him

Jason Bell, 42, has been handed a life sentence for murdering his girlfriend Nicole Hurley, 37, at their London home

A jealous martial artist who stabbed his girlfriend to death because she wanted to leave him and drove a people carrier at a police cordon as he made his escape was branded a 'monster' as he was jailed for 22 years.

Jason Bell, 42, attacked 37-year-old Nicole Hurley with five different blades in front of her screaming children at their home in Broxwood Way, Primrose Hill, north London on October 10 2021.

Police later found two kitchen knives, a knife in a sheath, a butter knife and a small camping knife all covered in Ms Hurley's blood.

The couple had been together since Ms Hurley was a teenager and Bell was regularly violent towards her, jurors were told.

Bell was suspicious the Ms Hurley was pregnant with another man's child and Ms Hurley wanted to leave him.

Bell admitted killing Ms Hurley but claimed he lost control due to her behaviour.

When told she was dead he said 'good' and that he could go to prison for life.

He denied but was convicted of murder, false imprisonment and dangerous driving by an Old Bailey jury.

Bell appeared in court via video link from HMP Pentonville and sat with his head in his hands throughout the hearing, sometimes sobbing.

Members of Ms Hurley's family sobbed in court during the hearing.

Old Bailey judge Alexia Durran sentenced Bell to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years and disqualified him from driving for 36 months upon his release.

A jury had deliberated for three hours and 42 minutes to find him guilty of murder, dangerous driving and false imprisonment earlier this year.

Jason Bell , 42, attacked 37-year-old Nicole Hurley (pictured) with five different blades in front of her screaming children at their home in Broxwood Way, Primrose Hill, north London on October 10 2021

Previously, prosecutor Michelle Nelson KC said the couple had been in a 'difficult and volatile' relationship since Ms Hurley was in her teens.

Behind closed doors their relationship was said to be 'toxic' and Bell, who trained at a club in martial arts, would 'explode' and punch and kick Ms Hurley.

Sentencing Bell, Judge Alexia Durran said: 'On 10 October 2021 you killed your girlfriend. You did so by stabbing her with at least two knives.

'Nicole Hurley had 32 stab and puncture wounds. She sustained two fatal wounds, one to the chest and one to the neck. She had defensive injuries to her hands and arms.

'Nicole Hurley had spent some time before 10 October with her sister Michelle. It seems she had determined she was going to leave you. Your relationship had for years been turbulent with repeated arguments lasting days.

'You had a settled obsession that Nicole Hurley had been unfaithful to you. A few days before you killed Nicole you had met her in Primrose Hill Park and accused her of being pregnant with another man's child and threatening to have any child DNA tested when it was born.

'You told Nicole you were recording this conversation which I take as evidence of your controlling behaviour.

'Having killed Nicole you went to your friend Jeremy Drewitt's house and accused him of sleeping with Nicole.

'The clear inference from your behaviour was that you felt if you couldn't have Nicole no one else could.

'I am entirely satisfied that you were a jealous and controlling partner, that you realised Nicole was going to leave you and you would not let her.

'Your use of knives was an escalation of violence previously used towards her.'

Ms Hurely's father Tom Hurley said: 'Since Nicole has been gone our lives have been changed in a way we wouldn't have imagined in our worst nightmares.

'I'm not ashamed to say I cry most days for Nicole and so do her brothers and sister.

'Nicole was my darling daughter who I feel I lost a long time ago when at about 16 years of age she decided to pursue a relationship with Jason Bell.

'I knew of him and although we disapproved of her relationship there was nothing we could do.

'Nicole's mum who she adored died 18 months before she was killed. Even at that time Jason Bell had no compassion or sympathy for his partner and would tell Nicole to move on and get on with things.

'This wasn't caring advice - he just wanted her to sort her problems out so she could look after him.

'Jason Bell has caused our family trouble throughout the years and we have had to cope with threats from him as we questioned the relationship.

'Being too caring was her vulnerability and Jason Bell counted on it as far as he could.

'Although I know I couldn't have saved her from him I can't help thinking if only I did more and tired harder she would still be with us today. This is a thought that will haunt me for rest of our days.

'He has shown no remorse nor morals for what he did to Nicole that night, what he did to his friend Jeremy after and even his cold, calculated calculations after that all show that he is a true monster.

'His decision to put our family though a trial showed his true colours.

'My family and I beg the court to hand Jason Bell the harshest sentence possible.

'Domestic violence should have no place in a modern, civilised society.

'To exert control of another person by taking advantage of their vulnerability, hiding behind some twisted idea of love is one of the most abhorrent behaviours.

'This crime most perpetrated against women and girls needs to stop. We require the court to use Jason Bell to set an example to show no one should hurt any other wife, girlfriend or husband.'

Bell has 12 previous convictions for offences including possession with intent to supply cocaine, driving whilst disqualified and common assault of his brother.

Eloise Marshall, KC, representing Bell, said: 'The greatest tragedy in this case is of course the loss of Nicole Hurley- someone on whom Mr Bell relied hugely and all that is now lost to him.'

Bell had witnessed his brother being stabbed to death when he was 15, she said.

He had shown suspicions around people who mean him well but not cooperated with psychiatrists to be assessed for PTSD, the court heard.

Prosecutor Michelle Nelson, KC, had described the killing as a 'fast moving and very frightening incident, and that the attack was witnessed by two young people in the house.

She said: 'It was an attack that appears to have come in three or four parts and one in which Nicole Hurley sustained multiple stab wounds, the result of the use of more than one knife.'

The prosecutor added: 'The defendant armed himself with knives and on three occasions in a short space of time attacked Nicole Hurley.

'She a small woman, unarmed, thin framed and wearing few clothes, a vest like top and leggings, nothing that might offer any protection from the attack that she faced.'

Bell punched his girlfriend in the lip, then went to get a knife and followed Ms Hurley up to the bedroom.

'The defendant was on top of Nicole trying to stab her.

'She was saying 'Jay, what are you doing' and trying to hold onto his arm and move away.

'She screamed "stop" and the defendant replied "yeah, cool, alright, yeah" and went upstairs to a room on the top floor which he treated as his.

'He had cut her to her the chest.

'Ms Hurley said she couldn't breathe and began to scream for an ambulance.'

Bell then retrieved the camping knife and went with Ms Hurley to the bathroom, the court heard.

'Nicole Hurley was clearly subjected to a further assault in the bathroom.

'She was struggling to breathe and holding a towel.'

Bloodied handprints and a blood soaked towel were found on the bathroom walls, the court heard. Ms Hurley's body was found in the hallway.

Old Bailey (pictured) judge Alexia Durran sentenced Bell to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years and disqualified him from driving for 36 months upon his release

Despite the best efforts of paramedics and police, Ms Hurley died at the scene (file image)

Bell went downstairs and packed some things into an Adidas rucksack before making his way to the home of Jeremy Drewitt, his friend of 20 years, to admit he had killed Ms Hurley.

He accused Mr Drewitt of sleeping with Ms Hurley and left his mate fearing he would be stabbed as he refused to leave his flat in Victoria Mews.

He told Mr Drewitt not to lie to him and that things had not gone well for the last person who did.

'The defendant made accusations about a number of people sleeping with Nicole or knowing about her sleeping with others.

'Jeremy Drewitt felt he wasn't making sense, that he was rambling and going around in loops, making the same accusations, and having the same conversation. He says it went on all night.

'During it Mr Drewitt says the two fought at least twice. He described that as wrestling on the floor.

'Mr Drewitt said that he pushed the defendant away when he got close and tried to get out of the flat. He was frightened that he was going to be stabbed.

'The defendant pushed Mr Drewitt to the floor and he cut his hip on a vase that smashed when that happened.'

Bell made Mr Drewitt go to the bedroom and began guarding the door and preventing him from leaving, the court heard. He then asked for the keys to Mr Drewitt's Ford.

Bell turned the vehicle around before driving it a police cordon which had been set up after the killer's rucksack with a knife inside had been found, jurors were told.

A police officer saw him approaching and shouted at him to 'stop', but the vehicle kept going and she was forced to move behind a police car.

Bell eventually slowed down in traffic, giving Mr Drewitt the opportunity to undo his seatbelt and jump out of the moving vehicle then make his way back to the cordon.

Rather than handing himself in, Bell walked into a mental health assessment centre in St Pancras and asked to be sectioned.

Armed police went to arrest Bell at the centre and the defendant was Tasered before being taken into custody.

While in custody, Bell claimed Ms Hurley had told him she was having a baby and that he was not the father - although jurors were told she was not pregnant at the time of her death.

In a police interview, he also claimed Mr Drewitt had given him permission to stay and use his van.

On the incident at the police cordon, he said: 'I did drive the car, not fast, a speed that if she (the officer) didn't move, I could avoid her. I did not wish to harm her. I panicked.'

In a victim impact statement read to court, Mr Drewitt said he required a friend to move in with him to cope with PTSD after the incident.

'I stopped working due to a significant knock to his confidence and it was many months before I started working again.

'Before the incident I never had trouble sleeping but now on a regular basis I struggle to sleep and need medication to sleep and have nightmares waking up in a cold sweat thinking about it.'

He said he struggled with fear the dark or in crowded areas and that giving evidence at trial was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.

Bell claimed he stabbed Ms Hurley as a result of a loss of control because of the things she said to him, saying she was argumentative and taunted him.

He said he was in a vulnerable emotional state due to the loss of family members including his nephew and suffering from undiagnosed collapses and seizures.

Ms Nelson said: 'We say the attack on Nicole Hurley was an act of murder motivated by anger and jealousy in the realisation that she was planning to leave him which meant in short, he was no longer able to assert the control he had.'

Bell, of Broxwood Way, denied but was convicted of murder, false imprisonment of Mr Drewitt and dangerous driving of the Ford Toureno on Victoria Mews, Kilburn.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood, said: 'This was a frenzied, brutal attack on a defenceless woman.

'Nicole suffered a range of serious injuries including some to her forearms indicting that she tried to shield herself from the blows that Bell inflicted; at least two knives were used during this senseless attack.'

DCI Eastwood added: 'Nicole had been attempting to remove herself from the relationship with Bell. The relationship had been isolating and controlled by Bell who was demonstrating paranoia around unfounded concerns about her commitment to him.

'Bell's defence rested heavily on him having lost control 'due to Nicole's behaviour'. It is abhorrent that he has attempted to place the blame for his own horrific actions on Nicole and it is wholly right that he was convicted of her murder.

'Nicole's death has had a tremendous impact on her children and wider family. Her local community continue to question why they lost a good friend in such a violent manner.

'My thoughts are very much with them all as they continue to come to terms with their loss.

'Nothing will bring Nicole back, but I hope that today's conviction brings the family a sense that justice has been served.'
Syria said Israeli forces today launched simultaneous missile attacks on the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, a day before Iran's foreign minister was due to fly in.

'Bursts of missiles' hit the two airports - in the capital and Syria's second city - damaging the runways and putting both hubs out of service.

Footage circulating on social media purportedly shows a cloud of smoke emanating from one of the airports.

The strike was a bid to distract the world's attention from Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, according to a Syrian military source cited by state news agency SANA.

It noted that no one was hurt in the attacks, and the Israeli military declined to comment.

Entrance of the Syrian capital Damascus's airport. 'Bursts of missiles' hit the two airports - in the capital and Syria's second city - damaging the runways and putting both hubs out of service (File Photo)

Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian today accused Israel of seeking 'genocide' by enforcing a siege against Gaza, ahead of a regional tour to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict involving trips to Iraq and Lebanon.

'Today, the continuation of war crimes by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and Zionists against the civilians of Gaza, besieging, cutting off water and electricity, and denying entry of medicine and food, has created conditions where the Zionists are seeking a genocide of all people in Gaza,' Amirabdollahian said.

'The war we witness today in the Gaza Strip is not just the Zionists' war against Hamas, it is the Zionists' war against all Palestinians.'

Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on Syria, its northern neighbour, in recent years, including attacks on the Damascus and Aleppo airports, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters, as well as Syrian army positions.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes on Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow its biggest enemy Iran to expand its footprint there.

Sources have said that strikes on the airports are intended to disrupt Iranian supply lines to Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011.

On Tuesday, Israeli troops fired artillery and mortar shells towards Syria after rockets from southern Syria hit Israeli positions across the border.

Footage circulating on social media purportedly shows a cloud of smoke emanating from one of the airports.

Aleppo's airport. A Syrian military source noted that no one was hurt in the attacks, and the Israeli military declined to comment (File Photo)

The development raises fears that the violence could lead to a wider war, as Israel trades cross-border salvoes with Lebanon's Hezbollah and battles Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Israel has targeted airports and sea ports in the government-held parts of Syria in an apparent attempt to prevent arms shipments from Iran to militant groups backed by Tehran, including Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Thousands of Iran-backed fighters from around the region joined Syria's 12-year conflict, helping to tip the balance in favour of President Bashar Assad's forces.

The presidents of Iran and Syria have urged Islamic countries to reach agreement on a position in support of Palestinians.

'Islamic and Arab countries as well all free people of the world must reach a single position to stop the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian people,' Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told his Syrian counterpart over the telephone, Nournews, a news agency linked to Iran's top security agency, reported today.

On Wednesday, Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the first phone call between them since their countries agreed in a March deal, brokered by China, to resume ties.

Iran and Syria are long-time allies in the Middle East.

Iran's economic influence in war-torn Syria has grown in recent years, supplying the government of President Bashar al-Assad with credit lines and winning lucrative business contracts.

Smoke billows during an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023

Smoke billows during an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 12, 2023

Israel Iron Dome intercepts missiles launched from the Gaza strip, on October 11, 2023

As the war rages on for a sixth day, the Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its terrorists stormed through a border fence on Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, residents are facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down on Wednesday.

Without power, communication is limited and information is scarce.

READ MORE: Six-month-old baby among Hamas victims missing or dead after kibbutz massacre Advertisement

Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides today.

However, Egypt pushed back against proposals to establish corridors out of Gaza, saying an exodus of Palestinians from the enclave would have grave consequences on the Palestinian cause.

The war, which has claimed more than 2,500 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed on a visit to Israel today that the United States will 'always' back it but said the Palestinians also have 'legitimate aspirations' not represented by terrorist group Hamas.

The Islamist gunmen killed 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and took about 150 hostages in their surprise onslaught on Saturday.

Israel has retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days, claiming over 1,350 lives there.

Israeli forces have prepared for a possible ground invasion of the Palestinian coastal territory after what has been labelled Israel's 9/11.

Smoke rises from the Gaza port following an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City, on October 12, 2023

A Palestinian boy looks at a destroyed car from inside his family car following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, on October 12, 2023

'You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself,' Blinken said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

'But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side.'

Israel has levelled entire city blocks in Gaza and destroyed thousands of buildings, while Hamas has now fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel, the army said.

US President Joe Biden has vowed unwavering support for Israel and not called for restraint against Hamas, but Blinken hinted at the need for an eventual peace settlement - an idea that has long met resistance from the right-wing Netanyahu.

'Anyone who wants peace and justice must condemn Hamas' reign of terror,' Blinken said.

'We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people, or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity and dignity.'

Netanyahu voiced appreciation for US support, which includes military aid, and said that Hamas, which rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, should be treated like the Islamic State group.

'Just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. And Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated,' Netanyahu said.

Israel has called up 300,000 reservists and rushed forces, tanks and heavy armour to the southern desert areas around Gaza from where Hamas launched their unprecedented attack on October 7.

Israeli soldiers have since then swept the southern towns and kibbutz communities and killed 1,500 of the terrorists, while making ever more shocking discoveries of large numbers of dead civilians.

Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if Israel bombs Gaza civilian targets without advance warning - deepening the anger and fear in shell-shocked Israel.

Israel's war, now flaring in the south, is further complicated by a threat from the north, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group based in Lebanon.

Israel has massed tanks on the border after repeated clashes with Hezbollah in recent days, including cross-border rockets and shelling.
A 24-year-old Israeli woman recounted the horrors of the Hamas attack on an Israeli music festival last weekend and pleaded with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to help free her friends who have been taken captive.

Blinken met the woman while touring a donation center on his trip to Israel, where he stood side by side with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show U.S. support for its longstanding ally.

The trip came five days after Hamas, the Palestinian terror group, launched an onslaught against Israel killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 150 hostages.

Blinken spoke with a young woman who was at a desert music rave attacked by the terrorists.

She told him: 'We lost a lot of our friends, close friends, lots of family members. There are a lot of people that we know that are kidnapped and now in Gaza. We went through horror, really.

'I'm just like  I'm 24. And I never imaged something like this would happen ever in a dance, at a music festival. We celebrated love and we danced,' she said, laughing nervously while she described the event, and as people sang in the background.

She added: 'And it was amazing. And then the rockets started and gun shots everywhere.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had an emotional encounter with a 24-year-old Israeli woman who recounted the horrors of the Israeli music festival where Hamas militants gunned down attendees. She pleaded for help bringing her kidnapped friends home from captivity

'We managed to escape. But there were a lot of friends that didn't. And there were a lot of friends that are kept captive now in Gaza,' she said, with a crowd gathered around her.

She described both the immediate horror and the emotional trauma of those who lived through the Hamas attack on the techno festival where more than 260 were murdered with others still missing.

'We were saved by a miracle. But there are friends that we love that weren't,' she told the top U.S. diplomat, who is Jewish and who has family who lost multiple members in the Holocaust.

'Thank you for being here,' she told him . 'It's really important. If there's any way to help, like first priority  first priority  are our friends and family that are now in Gaza. we're strong here, we're powerful here,' she told him.

'We feel that,' Blinken tried to reassure her, before the two hugged.

'We want to bring them home. And i'm sorry you have to go through this,' Blinken told the woman, who was with her father and boyfriend

The described the terror of the scene at the music festival, where friends and family were killed

A picture taken on October 10, 2023 shows the abandoned site of the weekend attack of the Supernova desert music Festival by Palestinian militants near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel

The White House says it doesn't have information on hostages seized by Hamas

'We're thinking of them and trying to do everything we can. We want to bring them home. And I'm sorry you have to go through this.

'Thank you so much for being here and speaking to. It means a lot,' she told him.

Then he told her the value of sharing her trauma publicly.

'I admire your strength and also telling your story makes a big difference, too. The world needs to hear this.

They spoke while Blinken toured a facility where donations are pouring into Tel Aviv to provide relief to those impacted by the terror attack.

The encounter came after the White House said it had precious little information about the fate of hostages seized by Gaza militants during the terror attack.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said less than a handful of Americans were being held captive, out of 17 Americans unaccounted for.

He said the U.S. had sent recovery experts to advise and work with the Iraelis. But he said the U.S. didn't know where the hostages were, if they were being groups or separately, or if they had been moved. He said there had not been 'proof of life' provided.'

Appearing with Netanyahu earlier, Blinken said, 'I stand before you not just as the United States Secretary of State but as a Jew.' He told of how is grandfather Maurice Blinken fled Pogroms in Russia and his stepfather Samuel Pizar survived concentration camps.
Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is under investigation over the potential spread of disinformation about the Hamas-Israel conflict.

The European Commission said Thursday it was opening an investigation and had sent a formal request for information to X in what is a first procedure launched under Brussels' new European Digital Services Act (DSA).

In a statement, the Commission said it was responding to 'indications received concerning the presumed transmission of illicit content.' Its demand for clarification comprises a 40-page document with a raft of specific questions.

Twitter has until October 18 to respond, with a deadline of October 31 for less urgent aspects of the demand for information.

The probe comes just days after internal market Commissioner Thierry Breton fired off warning letters to Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is under investigation over the potential spread of disinformation about the Hamas -Israel conflict. Musk is pictured last month

The European Commission said Thursday it was opening an investigation and had sent a formal request for information to X in what is a first procedure launched under Brussels' new European Digital Services Act

The probe comes just days after internal market Commissioner Thierry Breton (pictured last month) fired off warning letters to Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Breton, the Commission's self-styled 'digital enforcer,' said Thursday's move is about 'protecting our citizens and democracies in offering users a safe environment and reliable sources of information - including in times of crisis.'

X has defended itself against earlier claims from the European Union that it is failing to tackle disinformation around the Gaza-Israel conflict as Brussels investigates.

The firm's CEO Linda Yaccarino wrote that the platform, formerly Twitter, had 'taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content' and removed hundreds of accounts linked to Gaza militant organisation Hamas, which attacked Israel on Saturday.

She addressed the letter, dated Wednesday, to Breton, who traded barbs with Musk on social media after accusing the platform of allowing 'violent and terrorist content' to circulate.

In a three-page letter, Ms Yaccarino said the company had 'taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content' and 'responded to 80 requests to take down content from the EU within the required timelines.'

'There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts,' Yaccarino wrote.

Breton demanded X and Meta provide details within 24 hours on how 'illegal content and disinformation' is being removed from their platforms in line with the EU's new Digital Service Act (DSA).

The CEO said that at the time Breton made his concerns public, the company had not been contacted by Europol regarding illegal content.

The legislation, which came into effect for large platforms in August, bans illegal online content under threat of fines running as high as six percent of a company's global turnover.

Thierry Breton posted this letter addressed to Elon Musk in which he demanded that the company answer in 24 hours allegations that misinformation of a 'violent and terrorist' nature was being spread

X chief executive Linda Yaccarino has responded to the European Union's concerns that the social media platform was ignoring fake news being spread through Hamas-affiliated accounts

Breton has sent similar letters of alarm to Mark Zuckerberg, boss of Facebook parent Meta, and on Thursday to TikTok and its CEO Shou Zi Chew.

The EU commissioner's letter to Zuckerberg asked him to 'urgently' ensure that moderation systems on Meta platforms were effective and to be 'vigilant' about DSA compliance in light of the ongoing conflict.

A Meta spokesperson responded that, after the Hamas attack, 'we quickly established a special operations centre staffed with experts, including fluent Hebrew and Arabic speakers, to closely monitor and respond to this rapidly evolving situation'.

The teams were working to ensure compliance with 'our policies or local law' and coordinating with fact-checkers to curb disinformation, the spokesperson said, adding: 'We'll continue this work as this conflict unfolds.'

Breton also raised the need for Meta to focus on disinformation around elections happening in the EU.

He said Brussels was taking 'extremely seriously' the risk of 'fake and manipulated images and facts generated with the intention to influence elections'.

Breton does not decide himself what constitutes illegal online content - that is defined by EU laws or legislation in EU member countries - but he plays an active role in putting attention on platforms.

The commissioner has hailed the EU rules he helped bring in as an effort to tame an online 'Wild West'.

Breton stressed that the large online platforms are now subject to the DSA legislation that came in two months ago that requires them to crack down on content deemed illegal under EU law or laws of individual EU countries.

Violations of the DSA can be met with mandatory remedial measures to halt such content, or fines that could go up to six percent of a company's global turnover, or potentially even steps to ban offending platforms from Europe.

Breton posted copies of each of his letters to his accounts on X and on an X rival called Bluesky.

Breton has sent similar letters of alarm to Mark Zuckerberg, (pictured) boss of Facebook parent Meta, and on Thursday to TikTok and its CEO Shou Zi Chew

Breton called on Mark Zuckerberg to be 'very vigilante' in taking 'proportionate and effective mitigation efforts' to ensure that Meta's platforms are in 'strict compliance' with the EU's internet laws, which are some of the strictest in the world and require platforms to fight fake content

X is especially fixed in Brussels' crosshairs because Musk, who bought Twitter for $44billion last year, has gutted its staff, including content moderators, in a bid to save money.

Yaccarino's response letter to Breton, reposted by the CEO on her X account, said the firm had taken down posts that involved 'violent speech, manipulated media and graphic media'.

She said that more than 700 notes were added to posts in the first four days after the violence erupted in Israel, and they were seen tens of millions of times.

In his letter to TikTok, Breton stressed that its users, who are mainly young, were especially vulnerable to fake and manipulated information.

'Given that your platform is extensively used by children and teenagers, you have a particular obligation to protect them from violent content depicting hostage taking and other graphic videos which are reportedly widely circulating on your platform, without appropriate safeguards,' Breton said.

To Zuckerberg, Breton noted that Meta had made some efforts at content moderation but urged it to be 'vigilant' about meeting DSA requirements in light of the current Israel-Hamas conflict.

Israeli soldiers patrol near Kibbutz Beeri on Thursday, the place where 270 revellers were killed by Hamas militants during the Supernova music festival over the weekend

Rockets fired from the Gaza Strip are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system over the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Thursday

Israeli soldiers take positions behind a destroyed car near Kibbutz Beeri on Thursday

A Meta spokesperson said in reply the company had quickly set up monitoring teams with experts speaking Hebrew and Arabic, who were working with fact checkers to curb disinformation, and that 'we'll continue this work as this conflict unfolds'.

Analysts have found several posts on X, Facebook and TikTok promoting a fake White House document allocating $8billion in military assistance to Israel.

And several platforms have had users passing off material from other conflicts, or even from video games, as footage from Israel or Gaza.

The EU recently rated X as the worst of any major platform for illegal online content based on a pilot analysis, and Musk has pulled out of a voluntary EU code of practice on battling disinformation.
The charter school admitted that some students have met with a counselor

She claims the teacher didn't stop the movie, even as students pled for him to turn it off

Michelle Diaz's twins were shown the gory flick during math class at The Academy of Innovative Education

A Florida woman claims her children were shown 20 to 30 minutes of a gory horror film during class - and says the school 'abandoned her' after hearing her complaints.

Michelle Diaz said her fourth-grade twins were left scarred after being shown Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey by their math teacher at their charter school, The Academy of Innovative Education in Miami Springs.

The horror flick was released in February and is not rated, however, it contains several torture scenes and depictions of detailed injuries, as well as nudity and swear words.

Diaz claims the kids asked the teacher to turn it off, but they were ignored.

'He didn't stop the movie, even though there were kids saying, "Hey, stop the movie, we don't want to watch this",' she told CBS News.

Michelle Diaz, the parent of two fourth-grade students at The Academy of Innovative Education in Miami Springs, claimed her children were shown a bloody horror flick in class

The film, titled Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, reimagines the classic fictional characters as bloodthirsty killers who stalk a group of female college students

Clad in rubbery masks, Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet murder their victims in various ways, including strangling and feeding them into a woodchipper

The children were shown the film on October 2 and came home distraught. Diaz promptly complained to administrators - but her concerns, she claims, were disregarded.

'I feel completely abandoned by the school,' she said after stepping out of a meeting with the principal at The Academy of Innovative Education in Miami Springs.

In the film, Winnie-The-Pooh and Piglet, angry after being abandoned by Christopher Robin, go on a murderous rampage.

The killers - bloated, rubbery depictions of the characters they are meant to represent - hunt a group of female university students using machetes and guns.

Victims are bludgeoned with sledgehammers, fed into woodchippers and strangled with chains.

Diaz claims the students selected the movie, but said: 'It's not for them to decide what they want to.

'It's up to the professor to look at the content.'

Diaz claims the teacher didn't stop the grisly movie, even as other students were telling him to turn it off

In addition to the gratuitous violence, the film makes use of swear words in nudity - in one scene, a woman's top falls off while she is being attacked

In a statement, the school admitted that a mental health counselor had already met with several students while insisting that the administration 'has taken appropriate action'

The school issued a statement in which it admitted that a mental health counselor had already met with some students.

"The Academy for Innovative Education has become aware that a segment of a horror movie was shown to fourth graders, Monday, October 2, 2023, that was not suitable for the age group," it read.

'Our administration promptly addressed this issue directly with the teacher and has taken appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of students.'

Head of School Vera Hirsh also spoke with the Miami New Times.

She said that 'as soon as the teacher realized what was being shown, the movie was turned off.'

Hirsh also denied that the students were shown any violence, adding: 'Most of the film's grisly murder scenes take place later in the movie.'

She said the issue had been 'thoroughly addressed with teachers, students, and parents,' and the affected students were 'in school and doing fine.'

Head of School Vera Hirsh told a local publication that the teacher turned the film off as soon as he realized what was being shown

Hirsh also denied that the students saw any of the violence, adding: 'Most of the film's grisly murder scenes take place later in the movie'

Diaz says she feels 'abandoned' by the school after meeting with the principal and voicing her concerns

While she admitted that the students selected the movie, she argued that the teacher should be the one to evaluate the content and deem it appropriate

Charter schools are non-profit organizations that have a contract to provide the same educational services as district public schools.

However, they operate independently of many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools.

'At AIE, learning is focused on active exploration of major concepts, ideas and theories through hands-on learning and real-life problem solving,' the school vision statement reads.

'Students will be challenged to use scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills as they take ownership of their personal academic exploration and growth.'

The Academy of Innovative Education first opened its doors in 2011, beginning as a K-3 school and adding grades each year.

In the last year, it became fully K-12 and graduated its first senior class.

The curriculum has a tailored focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or STEAM.

AIE claims that both the Elementary and Middle/High School were awarded a School Grade of 'A' by the Florida Department of Education - however, as the DOE has yet to release data from last year, this statement cannot be confirmed.

MailOnline reached out for comment.
Scotland Yard's deputy commissioner has promised London's Jewish community they will 'deal with' Hamas supporters after the terrorists attacked Israel - but won't crackdown on people waving Palestinian flags.

Lynne Owens condemned the barbaric attack by Hamas who have murdered or kidnapped more than 1,200 people.

In the 833-word open letter, Ms Owens warned those that support the terrorist group are breaking the law and will be 'dealt with', but those that wave a Palestinian flag are not committing an offence.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited Golders Green alongside Ms Owens on Monday and has written to police chiefs urging them to use the 'full force of the law' against shows of support for Hamas.

Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that supports British Jewish people, said antisemitic hate crimes had tripled in the four days after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel.

The nearly 90 incidents recorded include 'Jewphobic' schoolchildren cornering and blaming a Jewish pupil for killing Palestinians and a van driver in London's Oxford Street shouting 'you f***ing Jew I will kill you whole'.

Palestine supporters protested outside the Israel London embassy this week and clashed with Israel supporters in ugly scenes which resulted in three arrests

Scotland Yard's deputy commissioner Lynne Owens (right) has written an 833-word open letter to London's Jewish community vowing to 'deal with' Hamas supporters (Pictured: Suella Braverman with Met Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs (left) and Ms Owens in Golders Green)

Smoke billows during an Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians, have died since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel

While Israel and Palestine supporters had to be separated and police made three arrests after a protest outside Israel's London embassy turned ugly.

'Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation under UK law. Hezbollah is too. Anyone who expresses support for these organisations, waves their flag, holds up a placard or directly expresses support for them is committing an offence and can expect to be dealt with,' she said.

'The law on this is very clear, but it is also very specific and we have to act within it.

'What we cannot do is interpret support for the Palestinian cause more broadly as automatically being support for Hamas or any other proscribed group, even when it follows so soon after an attack carried out by that group and when to many the link seems indisputable.

'An expression of support for the Palestinian people more broadly, including flying the Palestinian flag, does not, alone, constitute a criminal offence.'

Ms Owens said Scotland Yard was ready to help the Government get Britons home from Israel if needed as the Foreign Office said today the UK will fly those stranded out of Tel Aviv.

'I know too that many people will be worried about their safety here, in London. Nobody should be concerned about their childs journey to school, their safety on a bus or a train, their visit to the shops, or to a place of worship,' she said.

More pro-Palestine protests are planned in the coming days - raising the prospect of clashes between activists defending Palestinians and supporters of Israel. Rival groups had to be kept apart during a demonstration on Monday in Kensington, West London.

Palestinian and Israeli supporters have clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately try and keep the peace

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

Smoke fills the air in west London as pro-Palestine protesters continue their demonstration

People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy

There was a significant police presence in the Royal borough throughout the evening

In the street outside a large crowd lit flares and chanted 'Israel is a terrorist state', 'Free Palestine' and 'Allahu akbar'.

Protesters also let off fireworks, some directed at the boarded up embassy. The Met made three arrests, one for assault on an emergency worker, another for racially-motivated criminal damage and the third for possessing an offensive weapon.

The CST said the number of 'anti-Jewish racist' incidents had rocketed by 324 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The charity said: 'Make no mistake: these are anti-Jewish racist incidents and hate crimes in which Jewish people, property and institutions are singled out for hate, including death threats and abuse.

'In many cases, the perpetrators of these disgraceful incidents are using the symbols and language of pro-Palestinian politics as rhetorical weapons with which to threaten and abuse Jewish people.'

A Jewish school in London has cancelled detentions and told pupils they don't have to wear blazers, while others in the capital and Manchester have stepped up security over fears of a rise in antisemitism.

While the Metropolitan Police has ramped up patrols in response to a 'number of incidents' of people celebrating the attack on Israel.
The California man who scaled Santa Monica Pier's famous Ferris wheel and claimed to have a bomb on him was identified on Wednesday.

Juan Gonzalez, 37, from Ocean Grove, California has been charged with making a false bomb threat to authorities, resisting arrest, and making criminal threats which is a felony.

On Monday around 2.35pm Gonzalez climbed approximately two thirds of the way up the Ferris wheel and claimed to have a bomb in his backpack.

There were around 10 riders on the wheel at the time, and the ride had to be stopped as Gonzalez was standing on the support structures.

At 4pm Gonzalez was seen speaking to police negotiators and appeared to be agitated and upset as he continued on with the bomb threats.

PICTURED: Juan Gonzalez as he climbed two thirds of the way up the famous Santa Monica Ferris wheel on Monday afternoon. He had no harness as he maneuvered around the structure and shouted bomb threats

On Monday around 2.35pm Juan Gonzalez was seen scaling the Pacific Park Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier. He made several bomb threats while he was up on the 85-foot-tall structure, but no explosives or weapons were found on him

Half an hour later, he climbed down and was detained. He did not have any explosives or weapons on him.

Gonzalez, who was dressed in jeans, a blue tee-shirt and Nike sneakers appeared to be 'in crisis' according to police.

At 6.29pm the Santa Monica Police tweeted: 'The #SantaMonica Pier is closed for police activity.

'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.

While the ride came to a halt, the passengers on board had to stay there while the rest of the pier was evacuated.

In the initial 911 call dispatchers were told that there was a 'distraught male subject' climbing the 85-foot-tall Ferris wheel.

Once Gonzalez was on the ground he was taken into custody and evaluated on scene by firefighters.

At 7.20pm the police department posted a second tweet that said: 'All media helicopters are being asked to take a higher altitude to allow the Negotiations Team to hear the subject.

'The subject is no longer on the Ferris wheel and is in police custody. Please continue to stay away from the area as the investigation wraps up. More will be shared when available,' Santa Monica Police Department posted at 7.32pm.

A police spokesperson told KTLA 5 that the pier was 'moderately busy' at the time as it was a sunny beach day.

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.

After hours of negotiation, Gonzalez came down off the Ferris wheel and was tackled by officers before he was taken into custody

Brooke Martelli from Salt Lake City was on the pier that day and told DailyMail.com she was horrified to discover people were still on the Ferris Wheel. 'We were going to go on it, but then we were told we had to leave the amusement park'

'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.'

A statement from the Santa Monica Police Department said: 'The Santa Monica Police Department thanks the members of the SMFD, Santa Monicas Office of Emergency Management, and the professionals at the Pier and Pacific Park for their coordination and cooperation in the successful outcome of yesterdays incident and subsequent arrest.'

Gonzalez has been booked into the Santa Monica Jail and his case is set to be presented to the District Attorney for filing on the threat charges.
A banned dog owner whose two XL Bullies savagely mauled a woman walking her puppy has been jailed for 18 months.

Rachael Millard, 35, was on a walk with her two dogs in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, when the 'aggressive' Bullies charged out of an open door towards her.

She dived on her puppy to protect it when the two animals sank their teeth into her, leaving her with multiple puncture wounds.

Marcus Walsh, 41, was banned from owning dogs at the time when the two beasts carried out the attack, a court heard.

Walsh, of Penydarren, pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury and received an 18-month sentence.

It comes amid a string of high-publicity attacks on people and animals by XL Bullies, often leading to life-changing or fatal injuries. Eight people have died after being mauled by dogs so far this year.

Rishi Sunak has since announced plans to ban the XL Bully breed by the end of 2023.

Rachael Millard, 35, was on a walk with her two dogs in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, when two XL Bullies savagely mauled her

Marcus Walsh, 41, was banned from owning dogs at the time when the two beasts carried out the attack, a court heard

Ms Millard said she was 'overwhelmed' when seeing two dogs approaching and would 'look for an exit' whenever she entered a park. Pictured: Wounds to Ms Millard's leg

Ms Millard suffered a horrific mauling when she was viciously attacked

XL Bully dogs have been involved in a string of attacks across Britain (File image)

Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, said the attack on Ms Millard lasted seven minutes after two girls opened the door of a property and the dogs ran out.

In a victim personal statement Ms Millard said she was 'overwhelmed' when seeing two dogs approaching and would 'look for an exit' whenever she entered a park in case she needed to escape.

She told Newport Crown Court she suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and was 'hypervigilant' when walking her own pets.

Mr Griffiths said that after the attack, Walsh went to Ms Millard's house holding flowers and begged her not to tell police because he was not allowed to own dogs.

Walsh allegedly told her he had given the dogs away and refused to say where they were.

Ms Millard dived on her puppy (pictured) to protect it when the two XL Bullies sank their teeth into her, leaving her with multiple puncture wounds

She told Newport Crown Court she suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and was 'hypervigilant' when walking her own pets

Walsh, of Penydarren, pleaded guilty to owning a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury and received an 18-month sentence

Distressing images show wounds to Ms Millard's legs after the attack

Roger Griffiths, prosecuting, said the attack lasted seven minutes after two girls opened the door of a property and the dogs ran out. Pictured: Ms Millard's boxer puppy

Victoria Maud, mitigating, said Walsh had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Walsh was jailed for 18 months and banned from owning dogs for a further 10 years.

Judge Daniel Williams told Walsh: 'You are not a fit and proper person to own a dog.'
The wife of Scotland's first minister dramatically burst into an interview he was conducting today saying she feared her family's home in Gaza had been bombed.

Both Mr Yousaf and his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, have been candid in their fears for her family - including her parents, grandmother and brother and his children - who are currently trapped in Gaza.

Her parents, Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, travelled to Gaza last week to visit his 93-year-old mother when Hamas attacked Israel, prompting reprisals and senior Israeli officials declaring a 'siege' of the territory.

The First Minister was due to speak to various media outlets on Thursday ahead of the party's conference in Aberdeen this weekend.

In the early minutes of speaking to the PA news agency in the drawing room of his official residence at Bute House, Ms El-Nakla entered the room, sobbing, telling the First Minister she could not contact her family, whom they had been speaking to just hours before.

The First Minister later said she had been watching media reports of bombing, recognising the area to be near where her parents are staying. She would eventually manage to contact her family, who verified that they were safe.

Mr Yousaf - although visibly shaken by the news - insisted the interview go ahead.

Both Mr Yousaf and his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, have been candid in their fears for her family - including her parents, grandmother and brother and his children - who are currently trapped in Gaza.

Elizabeth El-Nakla (pictured) the mother-in-law of Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, released a moving video detailing her desperate situation in Gaza where she is trapped

Nadia El-Nakla spoke to the BBC and said she is 'living in a nightmare' and is 'terrified' about what might happen to her parents

Ms El-Nakla had been watching TV reports of bombing, and recognised the area as where they were staying and feared it had been hit, although was later able to contact her mother.

When the interview resumed, he said: '(Nadia's) family live in a place called Deir Al-Balah, it's just outside Gaza City.

'Nadia was watching Al-Jazeera Live - and Nadia used to travel to Deir Al-Balah before the blockade - and she recognised the neighbourhood, it was their neighbourhood being hit.

'She couldn't get through to her mum and dad, so she was obviously very distressed.

'But she has, thank God, her mum has got a message through saying, 'our neighbourhood is being hit, we haven't been hit yet'.'

He added: 'The Israeli government know where our family is, they know the co-ordinates, to that extent, so my hope is that they won't be hit.'

Ms El-Nakla spoke to the BBC on Wednesday, saying her parents continually 'feel like they are going to die'.

Along with her parents and elderly grandmother, her brother - a doctor - has four children, the youngest of whom is just four weeks old.

Mrs Yousaf had previously described how she was 'living in a nightmare' as her parents remain trapped in Gaza while Israel pounds the region after Hamas' attacks.

They travelled from their Dundee home to the Palestinian territory to visit Maged's sick 92-year-old mother just days before Hamas terrorists launched its surprise attack on Israel.

Thousands of Israeli bombs have since rained down on the Gaza Strip in retaliation leaving them trapped with their four grandchildren in the besieged city of Deir al-Balah.

In an emotional plea for help, Elizabeth tearfully revealed they have no food, water or electricity. She added: 'I have four grandchildren in this home - a two-month-old baby, a four-year-old and, today, two nine-year-old twins. Their birthday. I ask the world to help the Palestinians.'

Mr Yousaf's wife Nadia El-Nakla said she was 'terrified' about what might happen and that it was growing increasingly difficult to stay in touch with her parents as they were struggling to keep their phones charged. Speaking to the BBC at Bute House, the First Minister's official residence, she said her mother had not slept since Monday.

She said: 'They are caught up in a war situation. My mother says there is continual bombardment from land, sea and air. They are terrified, absolutely terrified, about what is to come and what is happening right now as we speak.'

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Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was 'at war' as its military began striking targets in Gaza in response.

The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides.

Nadia added: 'At times my arms feel like lead and it feels like I am just living in a nightmare for them. So I can't understand how they feel.'

On Israeli warnings that Gaza will be 'obliterated' in response to the Hamas terror attacks, she said: 'It puts the complete fear into me that I am never going to see them again.'

On Tuesday, Mr Yousaf wrote to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, urging him to call on Israel to open a humanitarian corridor. He wrote: 'Too many innocent people have already lost their lives as a consequence of these completely unjustifiable and illegitimate attacks by Hamas.

'However, innocent men, women and children cannot, and should not, pay the price for the actions of a terrorist group. Collective punishment of innocent civilians cannot be justified and will do nothing to set the conditions for peace in the region.

Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla travelled from their Dundee home to the Palestinian territory to visit Maged's sick 92-year-old mother just days before Hamas terrorists launched its surprise attack on Israel

'As a close friend and ally of Israel, I therefore ask the UK Government to call on the government of Israel to ensure innocent civilians are protected and to put in place an immediate ceasefire to allow the safe passage of civilians through the Rafah border.

'Furthermore, it should open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow supplies, including food, fuel, water and medical supplies, for those civilians who are trapped, helpless and cannot leave.'

Mr Yousaf revealed earlier this week his parents-in-law were trapped in Gaza by the Israeli military.

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.'

Israel has continued to pound the Gaza Strip, with residents of the enclave facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant was shut down. Pictured: Smoke rises from buildings in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue

Mr Netanyahu has vowed to 'crush and destroy' Hamas, warning that every member of the terrorist organsisation is a 'dead man'.

During his stark late night television address, the Israeli Prime Minister accused the Palestinian militants of beheading soldiers and raping women as the fifth day of fighting came to a close.

His claims about the beheadings had not been independently confirmed but rescue workers and witnesses had described horrific scenes.

Israel has continued to pound the Gaza Strip, with residents of the enclave facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant was shut down earlier today.

The country's blockage has blocked supplies of fuel, food, water and medicines into the Palestinian territory leaving Gaza's 2.3 million residents without electricity, internet or running water.

The Israeli bombardment is said to have displaced 260,000 people from Gaza, according to the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency.
This is the moment two Israeli women miraculously escaped from Hamas gunmen as they ambushed a kibbutz, by hiding behind a car until IDF soldiers arrived and took them to safety.

CCTV footage taken in the early hours of Saturday show a white 4x4 pulling up to the Yachini kibbutz, less than four miles from the Gaza border, behind another white car with its boot open.

Eight armed Hamas terrorists jump out the tailgate and the car itself, and they begin to swarm the gated compound.

The two women managed to escape the kibbutz, as IDF soldiers appear to be slowly moving towards them.

The women wave to the IDF soldiers as a Hamas gunman rushes out of the gate, before firing at the four soldiers from behind the white car.

Dust is kicked up by IDF and Hamas bullets, and the two Israeli women are forced to run and use the same car for cover.

The two women were seen fleeing the kibbutz on Saturday

The Hamas gunman began firing indiscriminately on the IDF soldiers in the distance

A second gunman could be seen behind the gate, firing at the soldiers

Another Hamas shooter can be seen standing behind the gate and firing towards the IDF soldiers.

A Hamas gunman runs towards them, seemingly to get a better shot at the IDF soldiers, as the blonde woman desperately tries to look for an opportunity to get out of the crossfire.

The video, shared to the South First Responders Telegram channel, cuts to another CCTV camera, which shows the back window of the car shattered, revealing how close bullets were flying to the two civilians.

Before long, three of the IDF's soldiers run over to make sure that the area is secure, before one of them talks to the women and they are told to run away.

The video is thought to be one the first attacks by Hamas fighters inflicted on communities across southern Israel as part of its campaign against the Jewish state.

The back window of the car was smashed, showing how close bullets were flying over the women's heads

Three IDF soldiers ran over to secure the area and assist the two women

They were told to run away from the Yachini kibbutz

While Yachini was among the first kibbutz's to be attacked, the horrors witnessed there pale in comparison to what happened at during the Be'eri massacre.

Photos passed on to MailOnline by the Israeli Embassy in London, most of which were too graphic to publish, depicted several dead bodies strewn across a small room in the Be'eri kibbutz of around 1,000 people near the border with Gaza, in which at least 100 people were killed by Hamas terrorists.

Dozens of bullet holes can be seen peppered across the facade of a two-storey home in the isolated community, which was one of the first to be attacked by Hamas at around 7am, with mounds of rubble strewn in front.

Inside the bedroom of one home, three dead bodies were left to rot by Hamas fighters, who killed at least 100 people in the community on Saturday.

A woman is lying facedown in her own blood in a single bed in the cramped room, blood staining her blonde hair and the wall behind her, which has at least six bullet holes.

Next to her, a man with dark hair has awkwardly slipped in a gap between the bed and a wall.

His black clothes, which appear to be pyjamas, are still slick with his blood, which has pooled in a dark red mess on the floor below him.

His body appears to be decomposing already, as his face has blackened, while boils can be seen on both of his arms.

Chunks of his flesh are missing from his right arm and hand.

Most of the photos passed to MailOnline by the Israeli Embassy in London were too graphic to publish

Homes in the community were largely decimated by Hamas terrorists

Cars were left flattened in the middle of the road in Be'eri, which sits just a few miles from the border with Gaza

A dead body lies on the ground following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023

A mortar shell lies on grass in Kibbutz Be'eri in the aftermath of the strikes, on October 11, 2023

A third man with gray hair, lying feet away from the others on the floor, can be seen wearing jeans and a black t-shirt.

He is seen lying next to a half-packed bag, as well as a small, red-handled knife.

Nearby, a photo-frame filled with several pictures of what appears to be members of the kibbutz can be seen on top of a bedside cabinet.

Another photo shows a dead civilian, who also appears to be wearing a set of pyjamas, lying on the floor, covered in what appears to be dirt.

His eyes are still open, and are looking directly into the lens of the camera that captured the image, while his shorts appear to be soaked with urine.

Behind the blackened body is a chest of drawers painted in pastel colours, with several images of teddy bears adorning the front, while next to him lies a baby's rocker.

Outside, several cars were left flattened, while the bodies of people in everyday clothing can be seen lying in awkward positions.

One survivor, Haim Jelin, told local media that Hamas fighters 'walked around Be'eri like they owned the place.'

A screenshot from a video, verified by CNN , reveals the chilling moment Hamas butchers arrived in kibbutz Be'eri, where they murdered at least 100 people

At least 100 people were killed by Hamas terrorists in the early hours of Saturday morning

The number of people confirmed dead at Be'eri may rise in the coming days

'They shot indiscriminately, abducted whoever they could, burned down people's homes so they'd have to escape through the window, where the terrorists would wait,' he added.

A woman called Miri Gad Mesika told local media that she and her husband were choking on thick smoke and gas fumes as they tried to hide.

'We soaked towels with water and covered our faces, while my husband Eli held the shelter door closed as hard as he could as the terrorists tried to break in,' she said.

'Moments before we jumped from the second floor, we assessed the situation of the fire and looked out for the terrorists and decided to jump.

'We fled to our neighbours across the street, and watched our house go up in flames before it was completely burned down. I have no idea how we survived.'
A teenager who raped three schoolgirls in the woods and parkland  telling one of them 'it's meant to hurt'  wept and dry-retched as he was remanded in custody today.

Liam Hughes, now 18, was aged 15 and 16 during the series of incidents in the Falkirk and Grangemouth areas of Stirlingshire, Scotland, over a period of 18 months.

Two of the girls were also 15 at the time while the other was 14.

A fourth girl, also 15, was sexually assaulted by Hughes.

Hughes 'forced himself' on his youngest rape victim, the High Court in Stirling heard, in Zetland Park, Grangemouth, in October 2020.

In May 2021, he raped one of the 15-year-olds in the woods.

The court heard this incident, near Primrose Avenue, Grangemouth, had begun as consensual sex, but the girl had begged Hughes to stop because there was a rock or stone beneath her.

She said that he ignored her, however, and carried on, telling her, 'It's meant to hurt.'

A month later the same girl woke up at a party in Hallglen, Falkirk, to find her underwear had been pulled down. Hughes had raped her whilst she was asleep and went on to orally rape her afterwards.

Liam Hughes, now 18, was aged only 15 and 16 when he raped his victims in a series of incidents in the Falkirk and Grangemouth areas of Stirlingshire, Scotland over a period of 18 months

The young girl went to the police a few days later.

Hughes was quickly arrested and appeared on petition at Falkirk Sheriff Court but was released on bail.

In March last year he went on to rape a 15-year old girl  whom he'd never met before  in the woods near a primary school in Grangemouth.

The girl gave the court what prosecutor Ali Murray described as 'a graphic account of what happened to her'.

She said she was raped, there was 'a lot of blood', and she was 'in a lot of pain'.

Hughes, an electrician, of Castleton Crescent, Grangemouth, who denied the offences, said the girls had 'got together and made up stories' against him.

He said: 'They can say it, but I've never done any of it.'

After six days of evidence, a jury of eight men and seven women deliberated for almost two full days before find Hughes guilty of raping the three girls  one of them twice  and sexually assaulting the fourth.

Charges that he raped two more girls, one aged 14, the other a day after her 16th birthday, were found not proven, and he was found not guilty of sexually assaulting a sixth girl, a 14-year-old.

Hughes 'wept, sobbed and shook' as the verdicts were recorded. He was handed a wastepaper bucket in the dock after dry-retching and saying he was about to vomit.

On the public benches, his mother also sobbed.

Judge Lord Young remanded him in custody for background reports.

He told him: 'You've been convicted by the jury of charges of rape and sexual assault.

'I'm not going to grant bail  the offences are too serious for that.'

He was placed on the sex offenders' register and will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on November 21.

Edward Targowski KC, defending, reserved mitigation.

Mr Targowski said: 'He does live with his parents and I think the court will require a medical report, obtained probably by the defence.'
Bristol's mayor has been slammed by the chairman of a mosque for lighting up the City Hall with the colours of the Israeli flag.

Since the atrocity carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel last Saturday, which killed more than 1,000 people, many cities across the world have brandished the flag in solidarity.

Other examples include the Israeli flag being projected onto Parliament, as well as the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

Now Bristol has followed the trend, with Mayor Marvin Rees writing on Twitter, otherwise called X: '#Bristol's City Hall is lit up in blue and white, the colours of the Israeli flag

'We condemn these appalling attacks and continue to stand in solidarity with our city's Jewish communities.'

Writing in support of the decision, one person said on X: 'As a small Jewish community in this city we feel unsafe and unable to express ourselves at this time in Bristol.

'We truly appreciate this support.'

Abdul Malik (pictured) has criticised the lighting of Bristol City Hall in the Israeli colours and claims it is 'divisive'

Pictured, Bristol's City Hall lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag in solidarity with the victims of terror group Hamas

While many in the city welcomed the symbolic action, the chair of Easton's Jamia Masjid mosque, Abdul Malik, was against the move.

He wrote a post online in support of Palestine and criticising Israel's actions, but claimed he was blocked from the Mayor's Facebook page after posting his response to the picture of City Hall.

Mr Malik said he was the first to comment on the Facebook post of the picture but later discovered it had disappeared and he was unable to access the mayor's page.

His message read: 'I stand with all innocent lives lost in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

'It's crucial to remember that this isn't a sudden crisis; Palestinians have endured oppression for over 75 years.'

Mr Malik criticised the response from the Mayor's Office, saying: 'As someone who runs the largest mosque in the city and who has supported Marvin in the city I am totally disappointed, firstly at his divisive post, and secondly at the way he has treated me.'

Pictured, Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees wrote: 'We condemn these appalling attacks and continue to stand in solidarity with our city's Jewish communities.'

He also claimed many others are 'vocally showing their disappointment' and their comments had not been removed and that he would like the Mayor to respond to him.

But on the Mayor's Facebook page, one commenter questioned those who were critical of the City Hall lights.

They wrote: 'Israel was just attacked on its own soil, by gangs of murderers running around, butchering children, raping women and kidnapping Holocaust survivors.

'If you cannot condemn those actions, your moral compass is broken, as you believe being 'pro-Palestinian' allows unchecked crimes against Israelis.

'Thank you to Bristol council for standing for the innocent Israelis killed, and shame on those who cannot condemn Hamas for the most brutal crimes since ISIS.'

But another person commented: 'Will we ever see the College Green building lit with the Palestinians' flag?'

While another said they were 'absolutely disgusted and appalled' at the 'complete disregard of Palestinian lives lost and those suffering'.

Rana Basharat Ali Khan, chairman of a Bristol-based human rights organisation, wrote: 'Our local mayor made a symbolic gesture of solidarity by lighting the Israeli flag on the municipal committee office.

'While I respect the right of individuals to express their views, I cannot remain silent when this act seems to exemplify a troubling pattern of selective solidarity.

'Throughout my association with the local mayor, I have been a staunch supporter of their endeavours for the betterment of our community.

'However, tonight's display of solidarity with Israel, without a parallel acknowledgment of the plight of innocent Palestinians, raises serious questions about fairness, consistency, and empathy.'

The Mayor's Office declined to comment.

But not every government has flown the Israeli flag out of solidarity as Holyrood controversially made the decision not to fly the colours.

Now the Senedd has also been criticised for following their Scottish counterparts.

Presiding Officer Elin Jones, a Plaid Cymru member, refused a request to fly the flag, alleging she did not think it should be flown while both Israelis and Palestinians are suffering.

Instead the Senedd will remain unlit in 'respect for all those who are bereaved and in danger in the Middle East', BBC reported.
Disturbing video has emerged showing the sister-in-law of an Australian Underbelly star begging for her life after being kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

Moran Yanai, 40, was rounded up by Palestinian militants at the Supernova music festival on the weekend as she fled a barrage of gunfire that saw 260 helpless civilians killed.

The jewellery designer was attending the doomed rave in Israel's south near Kibbutz Re'im after being invited to set up a retail stand.

Her brother-in-law, Dan Mor, who starred in the Underbelly series The Golden Mile, revealed the family had spoken to her as she was desperately trying to flee the carnage.

A clip posted to an anonymous TikTok account, shows Moran Yanai begging for her life as Hamas militants can be heard shouting in the background

The jewellery designer was attending the doomed rave in Israel's south near Kibbutz Re'im after being invited to set up a retail stand

Her brother-in-law, Dan Mor (pictured), who starred in the Underbelly series The Golden Mile, revealed the family had spoken to her as she was desperately trying to flee the carnage

'In the morning, around 7am she rang her father, saying that they're being shot at,' Mr Mor told 9News.

'And then I think at 8.30am she spoke to her mum, saying that they're hiding, they're being shot at.

'Then we lost contact.'

Mor, who is a dual citizen and lives in Tel Aviv, said their desperate family had been trawling social media and government departments for any information about what happened to her.

Eventually they discovered a clip posted to an anonymous TikTok account, showing Ms Yanai begging for her life as Hamas militants can be heard shouting in the background.

Despite the nightmare ordeal, Mr Mor still 'has faith' his 'peace-seeking loving artist' sister-in-law will be returned safe.

Despite the nightmare ordeal, Mr Mor still 'has faith' his 'peace-seeking loving artist' sister-in-law will be returned safe

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.

Here is how the unimaginable terror unfolded.

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.'

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.'

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.'
The King today held talks with the Chief Rabbi in a private audience at Buckingham Palace after expressing his concern at the 'barbaric acts of terrorism' in Israel.

Charles welcomed Sir Ephraim Mirvis to the London royal residence this afternoon, meeting in the King's audience room to discuss the horrors of the Hamas attacks.

It follows Charles' condemnation of Hamas in a statement yesterday, with royal aides saying the monarch is being actively updated on developments in the region.

Palace sources said Charles today personally expressed his deep care and concern for the Jewish community in the UK who are suffering grief, fear and anguish.

The King, 74, and Sir Ephraim, 67, are also understood to have discussed ways to support interfaith harmony in Britain in distressing and dangerous times, and the continued hope that a path to peace can be found internationally.

The Chief Rabbi later thanked Charles for his supportive words for the Jewish community.

King Charles II receives Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis at Buckingham Palace in London today

King Charles III and Sir Ephraim Mirvis speak at Buckingham Palace today about the conflict

After the meeting, Sir Ephraim posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'At a time when Jews around the world are grieving following the unspeakable evil perpetrated against loved ones in Israel, I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III for expressing in person his deep concern, and his support for the Jewish community.

'His words of comfort and solidarity give us strength at this dark time.'

The King also spoke to Israeli President Isaac Herzog by telephone yesterday, offering his thoughts and prayers to all those suffering.

At least 100 people - reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces - are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military as it mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,600 lives.

The Government has organised flights to fly British nationals out of Israel, with the first flight set to leave Tel Aviv today.

Charles, head of the Church of England, greeted the Chief Rabbi in the King's Audience Room at the Palace.

The pair were pictured looking solemn as they stood side by side, and with the King gesturing as he welcomed Sir Ephraim to the meeting amid difficult times.

The pair have met previously through Charles' work as the Prince of Wales on interfaith tolerance, and Sir Ephraim took part in the King's coronation in May, greeting him in unison with faith leaders at the end of the service.

Charles visits the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during a royal visit on January 24, 2020

William stands in the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City in Jerusalem on June 28, 2018

Sir Ephraim is the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since the office was introduced in 1704.

He is traditionally seen as the figurehead of British Jews, but is only officially representative of the United Synagogue, the biggest wing of orthodox Judaism in the UK.

He was installed in September 2013 during a ceremony attended by Charles when he was Prince of Wales, the first time a member of the royal family was present.

Meanwhile, following the attacks on Israel, Charles has also spoken with King Abdullah of Jordan, whose nation shares a border with the West Bank and is home to a large number of Palestinian refugees.

King Abdullah has been striving to de-escalate the situation. Charles, who long campaigned on interfaith tolerance as the Prince of Wales, is said to be continuing to seek ways to do so amid the growing conflict.

Yesterday, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about and he has asked to be kept actively updated.

'His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak.'

A man shouts outside a burning collapsed building following Israeli bombardment in Gaza City

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the Gaza border in southern Israel

He added: 'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.'

Charles, as the Prince of Wales, carried out his first official tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2020.

What have Royal Family members said about the attack on Israel? KING CHARLES Issued by Buckingham Palace at 2.50pm yesterday: 'This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about, and he has asked to be kept actively updated. 'His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak.' 'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.' PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON Issued by Kensington Palace at 5.55pm yesterday: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days. 'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them. 'As Israel exercises its right of self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come. 'Their Royal Highnesses hold all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds. 'Those The Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope - that of a better future. In the midst of such terrible suffering, The Prince and Princess continue to share that hope without reservation.' PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE Issued by Archewell Foundation at an unconfirmed time last night, revealed by Omid Scobie at 8.40am today: 'At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality. 'We are supporting our partners and organisations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.' Advertisement

It was the highest-level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas.

He visited the grave of his grandmother Princess Alice, who was famed for offering refuge to Jewish people during the Second World War in Nazi-occupied Athens.

Her bravery was recognised by Israel, which in 1993 posthumously bestowed the title of Righteous Among The Nations on her.

The princess - who was the mother of Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh - is buried at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem.

Prince William also travelled there in 2018, and he and Kate have signified their hopes of peace in the future.

Kensington Palace shared William and Kate's reaction to the attacks yesterday, saying: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.

'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them.'

They added that the couple were holding 'all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds'.

The spokesperson added: 'Those the Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope - that of a better future.

'In the midst of such terrible suffering, the prince and princess continue to share that hope without reservation.'

They also expressed sympathy for both Israelis and Palestinians, with the spokesperson saying: 'As Israel exercises its right of self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come.'

William met separately five years ago with both the then-Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

He was urged by Mr Rivlin to take a 'message of peace' to Mr Abbas to encourage him to take the 'first step' to end the 'tragedy' between their people.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have condemned 'all acts of terrorism and brutality' and pledged to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region amid the war.

Under the title 'With Heavy Hearts', Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website that they support action to 'help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering'.

The statement read: 'At the Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

'We are supporting our partners and organisations on the front lines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.'
Two friends from California have been reported missing after failing to come home from a music festival in Sacramento.

Jacob Clark, 24, and Anthony Acosta, 32, attended Aftershock Music Festival at Discovery Park which began on October 5 and lasted until October 8 but never returned.

Clark's mother, Shannon Jendrock, made a desperate plea on Facebook for help to find her son, and requested people to reach out to her with any information they have.

She said the pair were long-time friends and that her son's wristband had been scanned at the festival.

She wrote: 'My son attended the festival with a friend. His name is Jacob Clark-Jendrock. His friends name is Anthony Acosta. They drove from Southern California.

The Sacramento Police Department is asking for the community's assistance with locating two missing persons.



Jacob Clark is 24 years old. He is 5'10" and 130 lbs. He has blonde hair and blue eyes.



Anthony Acosta is 32 years old. He is 5'10" and 265 lbs. He has brown hair pic.twitter.com/6dUa01aScK  Sacramento Police Department (@SacPolice) October 12, 2023

Jacob Clark, 24, is described as being five feet and 10 inches with blonde hair and blue eyes

Anthony Acosta, 32, is described as being five feet and 10 inches with brown hair and blue eyes

'They have not returned and no one has heard from them since Saturday night. He drives a black 2003 Ford F150 with California plates.

'His and his friends' phones are both dead. We live in Palm Springs so he would have been driving from Sacramento back home.

'I have filed a missing person report with Sacramento PD but have not heard anything. If you have seen him or have any information, please message me.'

She later added an update to the post and said that Acosta's parents 'have now made a missing person report'.

Jendrock also confirmed that the pair knew each other well and had previously worked together in the comment section. She also said that Clark's wristband had been scanned at the festival.

She told KCRA.com: 'My biggest fear is that, you know, the worst-case scenario is that Im going to get a call that hes at a coroners office or something.

Clark's mother Shannon Jendrock posted on Facebook about her missing son and requested people to reach out to her with any information they have

The Aftershock Music Festival in Sacramento is a hard rock and heavy metal festival that began on October 5 and lasted until October 8 this year

Aftershock Festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents said: 'We are in contact with the families and local police regarding any information we have as they investigate these potential missing persons'

'He was so excited, first kind of adult road trip with a friend type of thing, and to think that its turned into this is like my worst nightmare.

'To still not have any information is really stressful and scary, and Im just trying to be positive and hopeful that hes okay.'

Clark is described as being five feet and 10 inches with blonde hair and blue eyes and Acosta as the same height with brown hair and blue eyes.

Aftershock Festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents also told the channel: 'We are in contact with the families and local police regarding any information we have as they investigate these potential missing persons.'

California law requires no waiting period before filing a missing persons report. In 2022, the state reported 42,013 missing adults and 62,200 missing children.

The state has the highest number of missing people in the US and currently, 2,133 are missing across California.

Some of the common reasons why people go missing are mental illness, miscommunication, misadventure, domestic violence, and being a victim of crime.
Two Jewish Americans have shared their harrowing flight from Tel Aviv, narrowly avoiding Hamas missiles as rockets rained down on Ben Gurion Airport.

Dr. Nissan Levy, a resident physician, and David Usher, a physical therapist, both 28, flew from Israel to Dubai before eventually returning home to New York.

As they headed to their flight in Israel Monday, rocket sirens blared, and chaos erupted. The panic escalated as they boarded their flight, when a rocket struck nearby just as they ascended the ramp into the plane.

The aircraft and the ramp itself began to shake violently, Levy and Usher recalled, leaving them petrified and sending travelers into a frenzy. They didn't know if they would ever make it home.

'The scariest thing was on the ramp,' Levy said. 'Getting onto the plane the entire ramp started shaking. We felt the aftershock. It was very surreal,' Usher added. 'That's when we started to get nervous.'

At JFK airport Wednesday night, the two childhood friends from Nassau County, shared their traumatic journey home from the warzone in Israel, describing the panic and fear they and many other travelers experienced along the way.

Two Jewish Americans have shared their harrowing flight from Tel Aviv , narrowly avoiding Hamas missiles as rockets rained down on Ben Gurion Airport

'People were running and crying in the airport. It was really traumatic. I lived in Israel for three years, and it was peaceful during my stay,' he added.

'A rocket fell a half mile outside the airport.' Levy said. 'This was a non-stop barrage of sirens and constant booms from the Iron Dome. We were glued to social media for updates.'

The chaos at the airport only added to their stress, with extensive security measures and multiple flight cancellations.

But the traumatic ordeal began earlier in their journey, during their stay in Israel, where they were vacationing over the Jewish holiday.

Instead of celebrating, they spent their time taking refuge in a basement hiding from rockets and possible terrorist invasions.

The friends were forced to barricade themselves in the basement of the rental they were staying in due to the absence of bomb shelters in their Airbnb.

Dr. Nissan Levy, a resident physician, and David Usher, a physical therapist, both 28, flew from Israel to Dubai before eventually returning home to New York. Their plane began to shake violently as they boarded, leaving them petrified and sending travelers into a frenzy

As they headed to their flight in Israel Monday, rocket sirens blared, and chaos erupted. The panic escalated as they boarded their flight, when a rocket struck nearby just as they ascended the ramp into the plane

As observant Jews, they refrained from using their phones during the holiday when Hamas began their terror spree, which left them unaware of the severity of the situation until later.

Recalling their experience, Dr. Levy shared, 'We woke up to a siren and realized there was no bomb shelter on the bottom floor of our Airbnb. We had no phones and no minyan (a group of 10 people necessary for Jewish prayer).'

They spent hours hiding, unaware of the true horrors spreading across the nation as terrorists unleashed evil, murdering and torturing as many innocent civilians as possible.

'We thought it might be an exaggeration until we saw the deserted streets of Jerusalem,' he said.

'Nobody believed it could get this bad. We heard rumors and heard sirens but only realized how bad it was after,' Usher said. 'We thought it was an exaggeration.'

The constant sound of sirens and rumors circulating only added to their anxiety.

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

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)

Usher and Levy, who had lived in Israel for years in the past, said it was unimaginable to believe the state of the country, until they saw the empty streets of Jerusalem with their own eyes, which they described as a 'ghost town,' and the fear and panic of people with families trying to get home.

'This poor lady was freaking out, everyone was trying to scurry out. It was pure chaos and panic,' Usher said.

'It was surreal,' Usher said. 'There were people running in the airport. People were crying in the airport. It was really traumatic.'

At the same time, they noted the many people desperately trying to come back into Israel from America to volunteer their service.

Dr. Levy expressed guilt about leaving Israel during such a crisis, saying, 'I felt like I was abandoning everyone trying to get into Israel. I felt like I was abandoning my country and my people. I'm an American, my life is here, but still.'

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

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

Their journey, which began as a holiday adventure, turned into a nightmare but the two expressed the importance of still being able to enjoy life, despite the horrors.

They described their conflicted feelings about how to mourn the loss of life and suffering of Israelis without letting the terrorists rid their lives of joy.

Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel's main international gateway, was packed out by desperate travelers trying to escape earlier this week - as the Palestinian militant group launched a rocket strike close to one of the terminals.

A rocket salvo in the Tel Aviv area landed near a terminal. Video circulated online appeared to show smoke rising from 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.
Emotions ran high at JFK Airport as Jewish families broke down at the gate as they proudly watched young IDF reservists head off to wage war on Hamas terrorists.

Parents flooded terminal four to show unwavering support to all those going to the warzone - whether to fight, deliver equipment or return home to their families.

Politicians and supporters joined crowds that were dancing, singing and embracing, before the troops boarded their EL AL flight, which many spent days trying to secure due to it being the only airline still flying in and out of Israel.

Volunteers waved flags, brought food and cheered on the young soldiers, united in their support for the country during its dark days. Parents hugged their sons and daughters tightly, not knowing the next time they would see them again.

Noah Nierenberg, a 22-year-old orthodox young man from New York, stood smiling sweetly on Wednesday night while preparing to return to serve in the IDF, backed by the support of his entire family - including his parents, grandfather and sister.

Emotions ran high at John F. Kennedy Airport Wednesday night as Jewish families broke down at the gate watching proudly as they wave off young IDF reservists on their way to war with Hamas terrorists

Noah Nierenberg, a 22-year-old orthodox young man from New York, stood smiling sweetly while preparing to return to serve in the IDF, backed by the support of his family - including his parents, grandfather and sister

Amidst the crowd, Aviya Malka was in tears. She was determined to return home and help her family, especially her parents and grandparents. She emphasized the importance of the support shown by the people at the airport

He serves as a field artillery 'foot soldier' connected to a special tank unit. Additional information cannot be disclosed about his position.

He returned to Israel before being asked to as a reservist and expressed his readiness to be with his fellow soldiers.

'I feel like it's my obligation. I couldn't have them without me. I'm going to be there with my brothers and sisters. Not just the army but all Jews everywhere,' he said.

He brings with him bags filled to the brim with equipment requested by soldiers, as well as religious books to study.

As he walked to his gate, the crowd cheered for him as one supporter shouted: 'Come back home soon!' To which he replied, 'I am going home.'

His family, who was there to send him off, beamed with pride, revealing that Noah being humble, wouldn't divulge this information, but he had actually been offered an honors scholarship to Yeshiva University and deferred it to serve in the IDF.

Yoni Nierenberg, Noah's father, expressed the dichotomy of feelings as a parent, proud but concerned about his son's safety. While explaining this, the family organized bags filled with supplies for soldiers.

He explained the feeling of being pulled in two different directions. 'We love our child, we don't want to see them come in harm's way but we are super proud of him,' he said.

Yaron, a 52-year-old Israeli, stood in line with his family. His eyes welled up with tears as he explained the harrowing situation. He was vacationing in the US with his young son and mother when the terror attacks began in Israel.

Politician Bruce Blakeman, a Republican Nassau County Executive, stood offering support to his community

Groups of American students and friends spent the day at JFK with flags, posters and food, in an unwavering show of support for the young boys and girls heading to war

Many gathered and cheered as the soldiers headed to their gate, thanking them for dropping everything to fly across the country and fight against terror in the Middle East war zone

Families and supporters danced and sang songs together while sending off their family members who volunteered to return to the IDF

Politicians and supporters joined the crowd in an emotional display of dancing, singing, and embracing before boarding their EL AL flight, that many spent days trying to secure a spot on being the only airline still flying in and out of the country

Volunteers waved flags, brought food and cheered on soldiers heading off to war, united in their determination and support for Israel during these trying times

Kids drew pictures for IDF soldiers back in Israel. 'Dear soldier: I am praying for you that God should protect you and the land of Israel,' this one reads

Parents hugged their sons and daughters goodbye, not knowing the next time they would reunite

Two IDF soldiers smiling at their friends and family before heading to their gate

Supporters showed up to JFK with Israeli flags to send off the soldiers

His pregnant wife and three-and-a-half-year-old daughter were back home in Tel Aviv, navigating the danger alone - spending their days running back and forth from bomb shelters as sirens went off, signaling rockets raining down nearby.

'It's unbelievable, it's a nightmare that came through ... We are mourning,' he said, reflecting on the deep shock that has gripped the Israeli people.

With most flights canceled and limited options, Yaron's determination to return home was fueled by worry over his family's safety. He said he did everything he could to find a flight, but the airlines did not make it easy after cancelling his.

'I'm going back because I'm worried about my wife, staying in the shelters with kids,' he said. 'The kids don't analyze what's happening in the moment but they do remember it, and they will be traumatized forever.

'I'm 52 years old I've never felt the way I feel right now. None of us ever have. The people in Israel are suffering,' he added.

Atara Kresch, a 21-year-old senior at the University of Michigan, had a different mission. Originally from Detroit, her family had moved to Israel, and she felt a deep calling to assist in the crisis.

She had initiated her own fundraising efforts, raising thousands of dollars and collecting supplies for Israeli soldiers. She was single-handedly bringing four massive bags of equipment to distribute in Israel.

Among the passengers waiting to go to Israel was 18-year-old Ayelet, who displayed unwavering determination to get home

Traveling alone, she spoke of the importance of returning home and pointed to a sticker on her suitcase that read, 'I belong' in Hebrew, signifying her strong attachment to the only land she's ever known

Bags with supplies and donations that volunteers and soldier collected that were requested by the IDF in Israel

Soldiers packed their bags with specific supplies that individuals had requested

Tammy Sharon-Toledano brings pizza donated by her community to soldiers, volunteers and police at the airport

Supporters dropped everything to provide food for those at JFK

A volunteer, Tammy, thanking the police for their service and offering them pizza

An Israeli woman in tears thinking about her family back in Israel

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman talks with Aviya Malka before she takes a plane to Israel at JFK airport in New York City on October 11, 2023

Passengers are seen at JFK airport in New York City before catching flights to the Middle East

'I'm organizing equipment donations and raising money, bringing it personally,' she said. 'I'm trying to show those who donated exactly where their donations are going and ensure they made it to the correct recipient.'

Kresch said some of the equipment specifically requested by the soldiers were G shock watches, taranakites and rain gear with no glare.

'A lot of things get stuck at airport security,' she said explaining the importance of bringing the requested items only, down to the color. Some donated vests, for example, were confiscated at the airport because they were the wrong color as they appeared too similar to the ones Hamas members wear.

Atara explained, 'I want to be there for my family; they really need us. It's amazing to see everyone wanting to help.'

'It feels good to give but to be organized about it,' she added.

Not far from Atara, Politician Bruce Blakeman, a Republican Nassau County Executive, stood offering support to his community.

He handed out flags and emphasized his admiration for the courage of residents from Nassau County who serve in the IDF, acknowledging the bittersweet feeling of sending friends and community members to the front lines.

'We have residents from Nassau county that serve in the IDF,' he said. 'We admire their courage. We are here for support. We are worried but we feel like they have a mission and we support that mission 100 percent.'

'Families are sending their sons who are friends of mine, people from community. It's bittersweet,' he added.

Among the passengers waiting to go to Israel was 18-year-old Ayelet, who displayed unwavering determination to get home.

Traveling alone, she spoke of the importance of returning home and pointed to a sticker on her suitcase that read, 'I belong' in Hebrew, signifying her strong attachment to the only land she's ever known.

Flights arriving from Tel Aviv at JFK airport in New York City on October 11

Large families returning from spending the Jewish holiday in Israel when war broke out

Moria Rosenthall arrived in New York with her husband from her home in Jerusalem, and delivered a passionate message about the ongoing crisis in Israel, describing the horrific acts by Hamas and emphasizing the need for Jews to unify and strengthen in the face of this humanitarian crisis

Her brother back in Israel spent all night digging 150 graves in Har Herzl (where soldiers are buried), as a volunteer, in preparation for incoming bodies

Many passengers had to make stopovers in other countries, including Rome and Dubai in order to get back to New York

Parents with many kids looked exhausted arriving in New York after their long and traumatic journey home

There was an extra large police presence at the airport

Police cars and what appears to be a swat truck are guarding the terminal

Various law enforcement and security teams were present

EL AL is the only airline flying in and out of Israel

Ayelet had been on a religious two-week trip but changed her flight to return early, explaining that her rabbi had emphasized that despite the danger and terror Israel faces, it is still the safest country in the world, because it is the only Jewish homeland that exists.

'We need to go back,' she said. 'We have no other home. My family is there. I want to go.'

She stood next to two other young women on line, talking and laughing together. When asked if they travelled together, she said, 'Who them? No we just met two minutes ago.' The three then laughed and said, 'That's Israelis.'

Eliya, another combat infantry soldier, had his vacation cut short as he was called back to Israel when the war broke out.

He struggled to secure a flight and finally found one to make it home, accompanied by the support and cheers of those at the airport.

It took him three days on standby to secure a flight after traveling from Boston to New York in hopes of a better shot at securing a ticket.

His flight cost was courtesy of Americans across the country who have donated money to soldiers.

Rachel Sterm, and her friends came to the airport to show support for the soldiers (chayalim) returning to Israel. They waved Israeli flags, cheered, and celebrated their dedication.

Rachel shared, 'We are friends from Great Neck, but there are people here from the Five Towns, New Jersey, and high schoolers. Now everyone's back but trying to figure out how to help.'

'The Rabbi communicated that soldiers were going back. So we are here. Everyone's doing what they can.'

'Yesterday was about collecting. Today people trying to come up with different ways,' she added. 'There's so much you can do from a far.'

Tammy Sharon-Toledano, another community member, delivered boxes of pizza donated by her community to soldiers, volunteers and police at the airport - thanking them for their service.

Amidst the crowd, Aviya Malka was in tears. She was determined to return home and help her family, especially her parents and grandparents. She emphasized the importance of the support shown by the people at the airport.

'I want to go home yesterday.' She said. 'Even if you kill some of us you won't kill our spirits.'

Aviya works for a radio station in Israel where she said she lost one of her colleagues who worked for law and order segments.

'This support I can't tell you how big it is,' referring to the crowd of American Jews who showed up to send them off. 'All the people you see here' it means everything,' she added.

While some passengers were departing to Israel, others arrived from Israel to JFK on the very few flights still flying in and out

In arrivals, Dr. Nissan Levy and David Usher, childhood friends from the Five Towns in New York, shared their harrowing journey from Israel to New York, describing the panic and fear they experienced at the airport during the rocket attacks

The two were in Israel on vacation over the Jewish holiday during the attacks. They ascending the ramp to board their flight when a rocket hit so close that their plane started to violently shake

Families arriving back home from Israel

In arrivals, Dr. Nissan Levy and David Usher, childhood friends from the Five Towns in New York, shared their harrowing journey from Israel to New York, describing the panic and fear they experienced at the airport during the rocket attacks.

The two were in Israel on vacation over the Jewish holiday during the attacks. They ascending the ramp to board their flight when a rocket hit so close that their plane started to violently shake.

They emphasized the importance of not letting the terrorists win and continuing to live their lives happily.

Moria Rosenthall, arrived in New York with her husband from her home in Jerusalem, and delivered a passionate message about the ongoing crisis in Israel, describing the horrific acts by Hamas and emphasizing the need for Jews to unify and strengthen in the face of this humanitarian crisis.

She came to New York for her brother's wedding. She said she won't let Hamas stop her from celebrating life.

'Hamas is winning if we don't live our lives and celebrate the good. If we are psychologically defeated it's their win,' she said.

She discussed the comraderies of Israelis she witnessed since the war began. She said everyone's been doing their part to help out.

Her brother spent all night digging 150 graves in Har Herzl (where soldiers are buried), as a volunteer, in preparation for incoming bodies.

'It's not about Palestinian or Israel,' she said. 'It's just a humanitarian crisis.'

'The most important thing is that Jews should unify and strengthen. Jews have always survived the worst scenario possible and have always survived,' she added.
AMC CEO Adam Aron has confirmed he was the victim of a highly publicized blackmail attempt carried out by a New York woman last year.

The revelation was aired Thursday morning by the 69-year-old married exec in the form of lengthy tweet that described his experience - during which his tormenter demanded $300,000 in cash to keep quiet about their cyber trysts.

An outspoken figure known for his embracing of 2021's meme-stock craze, Aron's update came a half-hour after news website Semafor unmasked him as the CEO in the federal case, which involves a 35-year-old Bronx woman by the name of Sakoya Blackwood.

The case had already been publicized, with court documents previously identifying the woman just over a year ago - though the 'catfished' victim was named only as a CEO of a publicly traded company.

Following Semafor's report, Aron said he was 'the victim of [the] elaborate criminal extortion' plot, a little over a month after Blackwood's three-count indictment was unsealed - revealing how she texted and blackmailed Aron with explicit images.

AMC's Adam Aron, 69, has confirmed he was the victim of a blackmail attempt by a New York woman last year

It involves a 35-year-old Bronx woman by the name of Sakoya Blackwood - seen here with her 12-year-old daughter - who was recently released from a ten-month stint in jail after blackmailing Aron for $300,000 cash

Aron, who contacted the FBI when the phony, long-distance relationship fell apart, called the case 'a personal matter,' and one that is now closed.

He did not comment on the case surrounding Blackwood, who pled guilty to one count of cyberstalking in March and spent nearly a year in jail starting in September 2022.

The colorful CEO wrote to his more than 300,000 followers on X around 6:30am: 'Throughout my long career, I have successfully led many prominent companies and am proud of my impeccable reputation.

'In recent years, AMC's millions of retail shareholders have played a central role in my life,' he said. 'Your passion for our company is one of my key motivators in doing all I can to help AMC survive so that eventually we can thrive.

'Because you are so important to me, there is a matter I want to share with you,' Aron went on. 'By definition, I live my life in the public eye. Unfortunately, last year I became the victim of an elaborate criminal extortion by a third party who was unknown to me related to false allegations about my personal life.'

He added how 'rather than give in to blackmail, [he] personally engaged counsel and other professional advisors and reported the matter to law enforcement.

'I did so knowing I risked personal embarrassment,' he recalled, weeks after court documents unsealed in the Southern District of New York showed how feds were on Blackwood's trail as early as April of 2022. A month earlier, Blackwood would begin texting Aaron, pretending to be a number of different people.

'A vigorous federal criminal investigation ensued,' Aron wrote - resulting in Blackwood 'being arrested, convicted of a felony, and spending nearly a year in jail.'

'At the time of the arrest [in August 2022],' the CEO continued, 'the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York commended my having reported the matter to the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice.'

At the time of the case's unsealing in September 2022, the CEO's identity was not made public, and only described him as a Harvard-educated man in his late 60s

The case had already been publicized, with court documents previously identifying the woman just over a year ago - though the 'catfished' victim was named only as a CEO of a publicly traded company

He said he was 'asked by law enforcement to keep [the] matter confidential' during feds investigation and subsequent court case, which wrapped in July after feds sought to charge Blackwood with not only cyberstalking, but extortion and interstate communications with the intent to extort as well.

A plea deal saw the woman avoid a potential sentence of 27 years, and instead hit with time already served in jail in July, putting her time in the pen at a little more than ten months.

The terms of her deal with prosecutors also called for three years of supervised release for her catfishing and subsequent extortion - acts that were laid bare by both federal officials and Semafor Thursday at 5:59am.

One of the documents, Blackwood's criminal indictment, described how she used multiple online identities to trick Aron, and threatened to release sexually explicit photos of him in an attempt to score a pay day.

The claim, prosecutors wrote, was 'a blatant lie which [Blackwood] invented out of whole cloth,' and she would go on to '[engage] in a campaign of harassment, intimidation, and threats against [Aron], including by sending harassing, threatening, and intimidating text messages.'

At the time, the CEO's identity was not made public by the court, and only described him as a Harvard-educated man in his late 60s.

Prosecutors wrote that Blackwood - who is originally from Jamaica and may still face deportation - somehow obtained the CEO's number and used the name 'Mia', before Aron mistook her for a Russian ballet dancer he previously had a relationship with.

Aron has seen his own wealth soar by more than $200million since the start of the year thanks to the memestock surge. He has been married since 1987

A plea deal saw the woman avoid a potential sentence of 27 years, and instead hit with time already served in jail in July, putting her time in the pen at a little more than ten months

'Blackwood also used threats of economic and reputational harm from the release of the sexually explicit communications and photographs in an attempt to obtain payments from [Aron],' a September 2022 statement from the US DA's office added.

The messages, prosecutors form the Southern District said, went on for six months, during which Blackwood repeatedly threatened to 'falsely tell the world' that Aron had sex with the nonexistent minor.

Aron would then bring the extortion attempt to the attention of the FBI, who for six months probed Blackwood, and found that she used the aliases in her professional life, too.

In one court filing, prosecutors claimed the then 34-year-old used the alias Lila Cohen to apply to several jobs, while also using a plethora of different addresses and educational backgrounds on her resumes.

During her arrest at her actual home in the Bronx - which fed said she shared with her mother, brother, and then 12-yearold daughter - feds also found six different ID cards with different name, with four containing her photo on them.

One, bearing the name Jessica Bottomley, was a staff identification card into Manhattan's Mount Sinai hospital, while the other not bearing Blackwood's likeness was a heavily redacted New York State ID.

During her arrest at her actual home in the Bronx - which fed said she shared with her mother, brother, and then 12-yearold daughter - feds also found six different ID cards with different name, with four containing her photo on them

'Shortly after the extortionist's July 2023 sentencing,' Aron wrote Thursday about any prospective concerns that may have arose from his partners because of the case, 'I informed AMC's Board of Directors which... reviewed these events with independent outside counsel'

Aron, seen here with son Abbe, wife Abbe, and son Adam in 2019, said the matter is now 'closed', and that Blackwood - who threatened to tell the world he was having sex with a nonexistent minor - had just served 'nearly a year' in jail. It is unclear if she will be deported

'Shortly after the extortionist's July 2023 sentencing,' Aron wrote Thursday about any prospective concerns that may have arose from his professional partners because of the case, 'I informed AMC's Board of Directors which thoroughly reviewed these events with independent outside counsel.

'As I said above,' he continued, 'this indeed was entirely a personal matter, and the matter is closed. And now, I am reporting this to all of you.'

He went on to thank the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District and the FBI for 'their diligent, skillful, and professional handling of this unfortunate matter', before thanking his many followers 'for [their] support.'

It remains unclear if Blackwood will be deported for her actions - which would see her separated from her child. DailyMail.com has reached out to the US Attorney's office for comment.
A prolific shoplifter stole almost 11,000 worth of goods in an eight-month thieving spree.

In a case that epitomises the shoplifting epidemic blighting Britain's High Streets, Nadine Kowalski made almost daily raids on stores in her hometown  on three occasions brazenly returning to loot more goods just hours later.

A court heard the 27-year-old drug addict helped herself to as much as 504 worth of groceries at a time, seemingly confident in the knowledge of not getting caught.

Kowalski was so prolific that the courts admitted it was 'hard to keep track' of her offending.

In her latest court appearance this week she admitted 26 separate theft offences but magistrates had to adjourn sentencing as they were told there are still several more to come through the system.

Kowalski, who was also dealt with three times for shoplifting by courts in June and August, was remanded into custody.

Nadine Kowalski stole almost 11,000 worth of goods in an eight-month thieving spree in her home town

Poole Magistrates' Court in Dorset, heard Kowalski's shoplifting spree unfolded at five different Co-op stores around neighbouring Bournemouth, where she lives, as well as a Tesco and a Waitrose branch.

The Co-op recorded a 35 per cent rise in shoplifting in the first six months of this year and Paul Gerrard, the retailer's director of public affairs, said shopkeepers are 'under siege' from thieves.

Mr Gerrard told a panel at the Labour Party conference this week that the firm suffers 1,000 shoplifting incidents a day, adding that 'police don't turn up in 70 per cent of instances'.

The Mail On Sunday has launched a campaign calling for tougher penalties for shoplifters  and abuse or violence towards shop staff made a specific offence.

Kowalski shoplifted 43 times between December 6 last year and August 10, stealing goods worth 10,851.86.

In August Kowalski was given a 12-month community order after admitting nine counts of theft for shoplifting offences totalling 1,944.35 from January to May, having previously been sentenced twice in June for a total of eight offences.

This week she appeared in relation to the outstanding 26 offences committed through July and August, totalling 7,332.

Kowalski hit the same Co-op store on Columbia Road, Bournemouth, five times in four days, stealing 1,475 of stock, the court heard. In all, she stole from the supermarket 17 times on 15 different days in July, making off with stock worth 4,503.90.

On July 19, Kowalski pilfered from both the Columbia Road store and another Co-op on Queens Road, the court heard.

District Judge Orla Austin said she had come across Kowalski 'a number of times' in court, adding: 'On the last occasion when I imposed the community order, I made it very clear, the consequences of reoffending.

'Since then she has reoffended. There are so many thefts and more keep being fed through, it is quite hard to keep track of what is outstanding and what has been resolved.' She warned Kowalski she was likely to be sent to prison when she was sentenced at the end of the month.

Charlene Corbin, who works in a Bournemouth Co-op store, was left with a gaping head wound when she confronted another shoplifter in July.

Charlene Corbin, who works in a Bournemouth Co-op store, was left with a gaping head wound when she confronted another shoplifter in July

The worker had blood streaming down her hair from a blow to her head

She said she was 'familiar' with Kowalski but was not involved in her case.

Ms Corbin added that shoplifters 'know there is no justice.' She added: 'If they know they can get away with it, they strut in with confidence.

'Sometimes they go up and down the aisles five or six times before walking to the checkout to bag up their products and they then say they forgot their card and run for it.

'For big thefts, we do make an effort to report to the police but it sometimes takes weeks for a response and by that time it's past 31 days and the CCTV is gone.'

Mr Gerrard told delegates at the Labour conference that even when store staff detain shoplifters, police do not attend in 'eight out of ten' instances. He said: 'That means we have to let them go'.

He has said the issue was being driven by organised crime, with produce and alcohol sold on in pubs or at markets.

The police have been accused of decriminalising shoplifting after legislation was introduced in 2014 which allowed officers to close low-level cases with a fine rather than investigate them.

Chris Philp, the policing minister, has urged forces to investigate all thefts.

Labour this week vowed to change the law to stop shoplifters who steal goods worth less than 200 escaping with a fine.

The Office for National Statistics said shoplifting soared by a quarter in the 12 months to March, with 339,206 incidents reported to police.

The British Retail Consortium estimates the true figure to be around eight million, at a cost of nearly 1billion per year.
It is less than a month since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Joe Biden that the Middle East was on the brink of a massive realignment, and a historic peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

But on Wednesday evening in the aftermath of the devastating Hamas terrorist attack, the Middle East looked like it could be on the brink of a very different kind of realignment.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi telephoned Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in what officials said was an effort to forge a joint position of support for the Palestinian cause.

'This is what Hamas wanted,' said a senior European diplomat with knowledge of the region, who was not authorized to speak to the media.

'The Saudis and other Arab nations have been forging ahead with normalisation [of relations with Israel] as if the Palestinian cause didn't matter any more.'

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi telephoned Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday, the first time the two leaders had ever spoken

An Iranian aide said they agreed the need to end 'war crimes against Palestine.' Palestinians are seen here evacuating wounded from Rafah refugee camp in Gaza on Thursday

It reflects an extraordinary development between leaders on either side of the historic divide between Sunni and Shia Islam, a schism that fuels conflicts throughout the Middle East

The phone call was the first between the two key figures since Tehran and Riyadh restored ties seven months ago.

They discussed 'the need to end war crimes against Palestine,' Iranian presidential political affairs aide Mohammad Jamshidi said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

'Islamic unity was stressed and both believed the regime's crimes and the US green light will cause destructive insecurity for the regime and backers,' he said.

Simon Henderson, Saudi expert at the Washington Institute, said: 'It's extraordinarily interesting and extraordinarily dangerous at the same time.'

He said it might reflect efforts by Washington to use any diplomatic channels possible to urge Iran not to escalate the conflict.

'The US I think, is worried about the war, or the fighting, expanding,' he said.

'And they want to keep Hezbollah [an Iranian proxy] out of the fray. And the way to do that is to keep Iran out of the fray.'

The bodies of Palestinians killed during Israeli air strikes in response to the Hamas attacks

Smoke rises from the Gaza Strip after another round of Israeli airstrikes

Less than a month ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and President Joe Biden a agreed the region was on the brink 'of a historic peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia'

A U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal: 'With the detente of Saudi Arabia and Iran formalized in March, I assume the crown prince thought this was an apt moment.

'Were asking all our partners to work with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.'

At least 1,200 Israelis were killed when thousands of Hamas fighters, who are backed by Iran, poured out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Gaza authorities said Thursday that more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed and more than 6,000 wounded in retaliatory airstrikes. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israeli troops are gathering around the 140 square-mile territory in advance of an expected ground invasion.

Any sort of Iranian-Saudi rapprochement could undermine years of steady U.S. diplomacy in the region.

Worries about Iran's nuclear weapons program, and its support for terrorist groups, were shared by Israel and Saudi Arabia.

And under President Donald Trump a normalization push was launched, a country-by-country initiative to build ties between Arab states and Israel.

Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza to root out Hamas terrorists

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reviews a group of armed forces cadets during their graduation ceremony accompanied by commanders of the armed force

Known as the Abraham Accords, the push secured agreements in 2020 between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, states that had not recognized Israel since its 1948 founding on Palestinian soil.

Biden continued the push, with a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia as the big prize.

Last year he welcomed the Saudi decision to open its airspace to all civilian planes, including those en route to and from Israel, by flying from Tel Aviv to Jeddah.

In New York last month Netanyahu and Biden underlined the historic nature of the moment.

Biden said: 'If you and I 10 years ago were talking about normalization with Saudi Arabia, I think we'd look at each other like, "who's been drinking what?"'

But it left Palestinians feeling vulnerable, as if their decades long conflict with Israel had been written out of history. One-by-one their allies were being picked off without their claims to sovereignty being discussed or a two-state solution, giving them their own nation, moving closer.

Soon after the attacks, Saudi Arabia issued a statement that did not condemn Hamas and pointed out it had repeatedly warned that Israel's 'occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations' led to this moment.

'Were going to see a rather significant operation from air, land and sea that costs many, many, many lives,' Steven Cook, a senior fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the Associated Press.

'I think this dynamic of normalization will likely slow down or come to a halt, at least for a period of time.'
Tim Ballard has hit back at claims he sexually assaulted female operatives during overseas anti-trafficking missions by comparing his activities to saving women and children from Hamas.

Ballard, a devout Mormon whose exploits were turned into the hit movie Sound of Freedom, is facing two lawsuits in which he is accused of sexually manipulating, abusing and harassing at least five women on foreign missions that were supposed to save child sex slaves.

On Wednesday night, the married father-of-nine launched an extraordinary defense of his activities with his anti-trafficking organization, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), in which he invoked current atrocities in the Middle East.

He and his wife Katherine issued a joint statement citing Ballard's purported heroics.

'It was 9 years ago today that 120 women and children were rescued from evil and conspiring traffickers on a remote island in Colombia, as depicted in the hit movie SOUND OF FREEDOM.

Tim Ballard has denied he sexually abused female colleagues on his anti-trafficking team

He said the missions saved the lives of women and children, comparing his actions to rescuing victims from the hands of Hamas

Ballard's exploits were turned into the hit movie 'Sound of Freedom', in which he is played by Passion of Christ actor Jim Caviezel (pictured)

'These women and children have names and faces; they are real people. They tragically call to mind the innocent women and children who are pawns in the horrific events in Israel at the hands of the terrorist group Hamas,' the couple said.

Hamas has been accused of massacring Israeli communities and beheading babies and children during the deadliest attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust.

Ballard's analogy is likely to enrage his female accusers, who have claimed OUR missions largely involved flying first class to 'strip clubs and massage parlors across the world' and staying at five-star hotels.

DailyMail.com has revealed a trio of Salt Lake City strip clubs where Ballard allegedly groomed women auditioning for a role on his team promise clients the 'most sensual, sexy dance in the world', with one describing itself as a 'mega adult club'.

OUR has previously been accused of grossly exaggerating its achievements, while Sound of Freedom was criticized for mythologizing its missions.

The two lawsuits, filed in Utah, claim this helped Ballard become 'a character of mythical proportions with unquestioned legitimacy', which was bolstered by his 'enmeshment with the Mormon church' and endorsements from high-profile public figures, including Donald Trump and Utah State Attorney General Sean Reyes.

He used this status to pressure budding female operatives into engaging in intimate sexual acts with him, claiming that it was for the good of the mission, it is alleged.

The women say Ballard concocted the 'couple's ruse' tactic, which required female operatives to pose as his wife during the missions.

Ballard has claimed this allowed male operatives to turn down offers of underage sex from traffickers by claiming their wife was present and would not allow it.

But his accusers allege it simply provided the 47-year-old with opportunities to coerce them into sexual acts in 'various states of undress'.

The first lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of five unnamed women, with a second filed on Tuesday on behalf of a divorced couple who claimed Ballard's sexual grooming caused the break up of their marriage.

The claimants' lawyers have said they will reveal their identities in due course, as the legal process requires.

OUR has previously been accused of grossly exaggerating its achievements, while Sound of Freedom was criticized for mythologizing its missions

In a joint statement with his wife, Katherine (left), Ballard said the sex trafficking victims he rescued 'tragically call to mind the innocent women and children who are pawns in the horrific events in Israel at the hands of the terrorist group Hamas'

Ballard is said to have sent at least one woman a photo of himself in his underwear and to have asked another 'how far she was willing to go' to save children, according to one source

Ballard (center) allegedly took ketamine while dictating revelations from a Mormon prophet who foretold he would be the next US President. Ballard had already forged a connection with former president Donald Trump, pictured here on an episode of the anti-trafficking activist's podcast, with Jim Caviezel (right), who played Ballard in Sound of Freedom

But the Ballards' statement hit out at their anonymity.

'We regret that the five women who have come forwardthough still without names and facesare caught up in this difficult struggle we face together,' it said.

'Two of these women went on actual OUR operations. One went on a single operation, and the other woman repeatedly put herself in harm's way. Three did not go on any actual operations, as they did not make it through the training and certification process.

'We know from repeatedly speaking to this one veteran operator of her authentic concern for other operators, for Tim, and for OUR. You have assured us privately that you would bravely do it again, and aren't sure how we could have changed things in the terror of the moment. You told us that OUR, its leadership and teams were learning as they went, but that you felt that the cause was too important and urgent.'

The statement added that rescuing children from child trafficking cartels 'is an ugly and dark business and leaves unintended consequences'.

It even suggested a conspiracy against Ballard, stating: 'It's evident that those who are behind these cartels have clearly woken up to the light that is being shed on their dark activities. We had no idea how much influence they had with so many powerful people and organizations in the United States.

'But we do now.'

Sound of Freedom was criticized for fueling dangerous conspiracy theories around child sex trafficking linked to QAnon, something its director, Alejandro Monteverde, has denied.

Lead actor Jim Caviezel has repeated several of the conspiracy's talking points on conservative talk shows and at QAnon-organized events, including that he believes in 'adrenochroming'  the term for the falsehood that traffickers torture children and drain their blood to harvest an elixir of youth.

Caviezel is most famous for playing Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

It has been suggested his casting was not coincidental, with Ballard previously having stated his belief that he was directly called by God to 'find the lost children'.

The Utah lawsuits reveal the full extent of Ballard's alleged messiah complex, with documents citing an oil canvas painting of him carrying a swaddled child along a railroad that elevated him 'to an almost Mother Teresa altitude'.

Ballard allegedly took budding female operatives to Salt Lake City strip clubs to 'practice' their 'sexual chemistry' for a 'couple's ruse' tactic he had devised for overseas missions. The clubs are all within five miles of each other along a stretch dubbed 'Sin Lake City'

Ballard is alleged to have taken budding female operatives to Salt Lake City strip clubs, including Trails Gentlemen's Club (pictured) to 'practice' their 'sexual chemistry' as part of a 'couple's ruse' tactic he concocted that he claimed was to fool traffickers

The women claim the tactic was in fact a ploy to allow Ballard to coerce them into sexually intimate acts. One claimant said Ballard took her on a strip club crawl to Trails, Exotic Kitty (pictured) and The American Bush to 'test' how she would respond to 'intense' situations

Ballard would allegedly appeal to divine authority to justify his actions.

He did so to spiritually manipulate his female victims, almost all of whom were also Mormon, it is claimed.

One extraordinary passage from the lawsuit states that Ballard 'would get ketamine treatments and have a scribe come in with him while he would talk to the dead prophet Nephi and issue forth prophecies about Ballard's greatness and future as a United States Senator, President of the United States, and ultimately the Mormon Prophet, to usher in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ'.

The missionary, who purports to be a former CIA agent, allegedly told women his methods had been blessed by the Mormon church, who had endorsed him as a future US President and Prophet.

The Mormon church has denied this. Ballard has since been excommunicated, the lawsuit states.

Ballard has previously stated that he 'vehemently denies the allegations brought by these unnamed women' and 'looks forward to vindicating his name in the courts where evidence, and not unsubstantiated accusations in the media, decides the outcome'.
Five police officers have been shot while trying to serve a warrant at a home near Princeton, Minnesota.

The suspect, identified as Karl Thomas Holmberg, 64, began firing on the officers when they entered the property early Thursday morning, police said.

Officers exchanged gunfire with the man, and a four-hour stand-off ensued. Holmberg has since been taken into custody.

The 'critical incident' left five officers injured in total. Three were rushed to North Memorial Health Hospital, while two were taken to the hospital in St. Cloud.

None of the officers' injuries are understood to be life-threatening, officials said.

A man claiming to be the best friend of the first officer who was shot told FOX 9 his friend had come out of surgery after being shot twice in the chest and elsewhere on his body.

Five police have been shot and injured during a 'critical incident' in Princeton, Minnesota this morning

The suspect, identified as Karl Thomas Holmberg, 64, began firing on the officers when they entered the property early Thursday morning

Benton County sheriffs deputies were present during the incident, but were not injured.

Holmberg was also wounded during the exchange, although the cause and extent of his injuries were not immediately known, Sheriff Troy Heck said. A woman also in the house was taken to hospital for assessment and released.

'This has been a difficult day for us in Benton County. Were grateful that the incident did not result in loss of life or further injury,' Heck said, according to KSTP. 'Were also grateful for the bravery and professionalism of all those law enforcement professionals that were involved in this incident.'

He confirmed two of the officers shot were investigators with Sherburne County Sheriffs Office. The investigators were shot in their bulletproof vests and have since been treated an released.

Heck added the names of the officers involved would not be released as they were working undercover.

'Ive talked with my deputies and they are both doing well. Ive had a chance to talk to my partners and were all encouraged by what were finding from the officers right now,' Heck said.

'I think right now I would ask that you keep all of them and their families and all of our agencies in your thoughts and prayers.'

The incident took place in Glendorado Township, a small community around 15 miles from Princeton

An armed barricade was set up while officers worked to apprehend Holmberg.

The public was urged to avoid the area on 190th Avenue Northeast, but police insisted there was no wider danger.

Scanner audio from Broadcastify captured a torrent of bullets being fired just before 7.15am, KARE 11 reports. It was followed by a cry of 'shots fired' and 'officer down' seconds later.

Video from the scene shows armed SWAT teams alongside multiple police cars.
A delivery driver has been found guilty of murdering his wife and covering it up by setting fire to their home and blaming their teenage son.

Amidu Koroma, 48, had denied being responsible for the death of 46-year-old community nurse Mariam Kamara, casting suspicion on his innocent 19-year-old son Ishmael.

It was claimed the teenager was troubled and had killed his mother while re-enacting a scene from the Netflix thriller You.

But jurors heard Koroma had a 'toxic' relationship with Ms Kamara and she feared he was going to kill her.

Koroma, who had a child with another woman, was found guilty of her murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.

Mariam Kamara, pictured, was brutally murdered at her home in Brixton, south London in January 2022

Forensics teams entered the house on Railton Road in Brixton following the fire in January 2022

Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC had told how a fire broke out in an upstairs bedroom of the family home in Railton Road, Brixton, south London, in the early hours of January 24, 2022.

After getting out of the building with his father, Ishmael Koroma called the emergency services, with the fire brigade arriving at 4.12am.

As flames and smoke gushed from a first-floor window, the defendant calmly told emergency workers that his wife was trapped inside, the court heard.

Ms Kamara's badly burnt body was later found lying on her bed surrounded by the distinctive smell of accelerant.

An empty jerry can and funnel was discarded on the ground floor and the victim's blood was identified on bannisters near the bottom of the stairs.

A post-mortem examination concluded Ms Kamara had died from stab wounds to the neck and chest before the fire started.

The defendant denied going into the blazing bedroom yet had sustained a burn to his foot from close proximity to the flames.

An analysis of his clothes revealed heat damage caused by exposure to flames, jurors were told.

A kitchen knife stored in a block was examined and found to have Ms Kamara's blood on it.

READ MORE: Royal tribute to women murdered in their own homes Advertisement

Ms Johnson said there were only two possible candidates who could have been responsible for Ms Kamara's death as there was no evidence anyone had forced entry to the home, stabbed her and staged a fire before leaving unnoticed.

She said: 'This defendant denies that he is responsible for the murder but the background evidence and the scientific evidence all point to his sole involvement in Mariam's death.

'Whereas the defendant had a burn to his foot, singed hairs in his beard, flash burning to his jogging bottoms and sweatshirt, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that Ishmael did anything other than sleep in his bedroom that night until his father woke him up to get out of the house.'

In a police interview, Koroma said he had been asleep on the sofa and was woken by the smoke alarm at 3am.

He claimed he ran upstairs, noticed 'black smoke everywhere' and shouted at Ms Kamara to get out but did not try to go inside her bedroom due to the 'big flame'.

During the trial, he changed his account saying Ishmael had woken him up downstairs and he had wanted to protect him.

Under cross-examination, accountancy student Ishmael denied being unstable and killing his mother after having a bad parents' evening.

Amidu Koroma, 48, had denied being responsible for the death of 46-year-old community nurse Mariam Kamara, casting suspicion on his innocent 19-year-old son Ishmael

The court heard his parents' relationship had all but ended and Koroma had left the family home to live with another woman several times only to return pleading for forgiveness.

There were frequent rows over money and Ms Kamara only stayed for the sake of her son, who was about to go to university, the court was told.

Ms Johnson said: 'Unbeknown to her son Mariam had set up some very generous life insurance policies for his benefit.

'Mariam was known as a very kind and charitable woman who was always looking out for others in need.'

Ms Kamara had been planning a trip to Sierra Leone where she was building a house and had formed a close relationship with another man.

She told a friend she feared Koroma would kill her and he had refused to leave the house.

Ms Johnson told jurors: 'The scientific evidence, the evidence of the poor state of the marriage, the defendant's threats to kill Mariam and the defendant's inconsistent accounts of his behaviour that night all point conclusively to the defendant stabbing his wife to death.'
There has been a sharp rise in the number of small-boat migrants being removed from Britain, figures obtained by the Mail reveal.

Internal Home Office data shows 628 Channel migrants were deported in the first six months of this year, compared to 382 in the whole of 2022.

The increase has been driven by a significant rise in the number of Albanian migrants sent back to their homeland under the terms of a returns agreement signed with Tirana in December. Of the 628 removals from January to June, 512 were Albanian.

The period also saw 45 Iraqis, 17 Iranians and 54 other nationalities removed from the UK.

During the whole of 2022, 215 Albanians were sent back, along with 83 Iraqis, 31 Iranians and 53 with other nationalities.

In the whole of 2021, there were just 28 small-boat migrants removed from Britain, the data revealed.

Internal Home Office data shows 628 Channel migrants were deported in the first six months of this year, compared to 382 in the whole of 2022. Pictured: Young children amongst a group of people thought to be migrants as they board a bus in Grande-Synthe, northern France after French police officers dismantled their camp clearing their tents and shelters today

The increase has been driven by a significant rise in the number of Albanian migrants sent back to their homeland under the terms of a returns agreement signed with Tirana in December (migrants pictured in Grande-Synthe today)

Two migrants in Grande-Synthe carry bedding down a street in a shopping trolley

If returns for the second half of this year continue at a similar rate, it would see the annual total of small-boat migrants removed reach more than 1,200, a 200 per cent increase year-on-year.

READ MORE: More migrants land in Britain after crossing the Channel in small boats a day after a teenage refugee from Eritrea drowned when a dinghy carrying 60 people capsized - the fifth to die in northern France in three weeks Advertisement

Ministers will be hoping the removals rate can be maintained in a bid to show a corner has been turned in the Channel crisis.

The number of arrivals so far this year is down 27 per cent on the same point last year. Official figures show 601 migrants have reached Britain this week, bringing the annual running total to 25,931, compared with 35,604 at the same point last year.

A Home Office source said: 'We've had an uptick in removing small-boat arrivals which has been welcome and further deterred Albanians, in particular, from making the illegal journey in the first place.

'We started from a very low base last year but we need everything to stop the boats.'

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has acknowledged that a huge amount of work remains to be done in order to solve the crisis.

Last month she called for international refugee treaties to be revised. She suggested Channel migrants should no longer be treated as refugees, and attacked the cornerstone of international asylum laws  the United Nations' 1951 Refugee Convention  for helping to create an 'absurd and unsustainable' system.

Would-be refugees originally had to show they were facing 'persecution' but now only have to show they are experiencing 'discrimination', she said during a trip to Washington DC.

And she insisted that 'simply being gay, or a woman, and fearful of discrimination' should no longer amount to grounds for asylum.

Mrs Braverman has also highlighted the 'unacceptable' 8million-a-day costs to the British taxpayer of keeping Channel migrants in hotels.

Number of migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats from 2019 to 2023

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on October 2

She has overseen the introduction of tough immigration laws which will exclude 'irregular' migrants  such as small-boat arrivals  from the asylum system, severely limit their grounds for appeal and make them liable for deportation and 'swift' removal.

However, the key Rwanda asylum deal remains in legal limbo, meaning the options for returning many Channel arrivals are limited.

A Supreme Court hearing on the Rwanda deal concluded this week, with ministers hoping justices will overturn a legal block placed on it in June.

If the Home Secretary wins the last-ditch legal challenge it would open the way for Rwanda removals to finally begin. The first flights could take off by Easter, sources have said.

It follows years of Home Office efforts to tackle the Channel problem.

At the end of 2018, then home secretary Sajid Javid declared a 'major incident' when the first boats crossed from northern France.

His successor Priti Patel declared the illegal journeys would be 'virtually eliminated' by early 2021, but that year went on to see 28,500 arrivals, followed by a record 45,700 last year.

The total number to have arrived since the start of the crisis passed 100,000 on August 10.
The U.S. and Qatar have agreed to freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets in the wake of the brutal attack on Israel by terror group Hamas.

The money had been transferred to Iranian accounts in Qatar as part of a controversial US-Iran prisoner swap deal last month, which saw five US detainees released by the Tehran regime.

Iran's access to the money has now been halted as Washington seeks to punish it for its long political and military support of Hamas.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo revealed the decision in a briefing to Democrats in Congress on Thursday, the Washington Post reported.

News of the planned change came hours after Joe Biden issued his first public warning to Iran since the Hamas attack on Israel.

'We've 'made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful,' Biden said at a meeting with Jewish leaders at the White House on Wednesday.

Speaking in Tel Aviv, on a visit to Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the original prisoner swap arrangement that had seen the Iranian funds transferred from South Korea to Qatar.

He added: 'None of the funds that have now gone to Qatar have actually been spent or accessed by Iran in any way.

President Joe Biden has faced pressure from both parties in Congress to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds following the brutal Hamas attack

'We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them.'

Blinken exhibited frustration with the criticism of the original prisoner swap deal.

'It's always worth repeating the facts because unfortunately the facts get lost along the way,' he said.

At the White House, national security spokesman John Kirby on Thursday underlined that none of the funds have been accessed.

'Its still sitting in the Qatari bank  every dime of it,' Kirby said.

Asked if Iran would be able access funds going forward, he said, 'Im not going to speculate one way or another about future transactions,' adding that 'We are watching every dime as you would expect we would.'

Biden's remarks on Wednesday marked the first time since the Hamas attack that he had confronted Iran, which has long supported Hamas militarily and politically, but has denied advance knowledge of its attack on Israel.

Earlier this year Biden unfroze $6 billion of Iranian funds in exchange for the release of a group of five American hostages.

The White House and the Treasury had no immediate comment.

The money has yet to be accessed by Iran, which under the terms of the deal can only use them for 'humanitarian' purposes, and Biden was facing urgent calls from Republicans and Democrats to refreeze it.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the arrangement that transferred the $6 billion in Iranian funds, but did not announce any policy to refreeze the money

Despite top administration officials openly calling Iran 'complicit' in the attacks, the administration has not said Iran was directly involved in planning the attacks or had knowledge of the plan.

Still, they face complex choices as they interact with regional powers. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held his first ever phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Wednesday to discuss the swirling events, after renewing ties.

He did not specify in his comments what he would do if Iran took any action to support Hamas in the coming days and weeks - but refreezing the money could be an option.

Meanwhile, Israel has been bombing Gaza following the Hamas atrocity and Israeli troops are gathering on the border for a ground invasion.

Influential Democratic senators had publicly pressed the Biden Administration to try to find a way to freeze the $6 billion in Iranian funds over Tehran's support for Hamas.

The pressure from within the president's own party came as the White House said there was no confirmation of Iran's support for the gruesome Hamas attacks  even while acknowledging Iran's longstanding support for the group.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), a Democratic centrist who is up for reelection in 2024, was among those calling for the funds to be refrozen.

'As American intelligence officials continue to investigate the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, we should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided,' he said.

'At a minimum, we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial tools we have at our disposal,' he said, the Hill reported.

Also weighing in was Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who is also facing reelection. 'I wasnt supportive of the initial $6 billion transfer. We should absolutely freeze Iranian assets while we also consider additional statements,' he said.

The administration negotiated the unfreezing of the funds in a deal last month that bought the release of five Americans held hostage in Iran. The then-frozen funds got transferred from South Korea to Qatar, where they are now being overseen.

Under the terms of the deal, the money must go for 'humanitarian' purposes, but Republican critics have raised concerns they could still get used to subsidize terror by freeing up other funds.

Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) is among a group of Democrats calling for $6 billion in Iranian assets to be frozen

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he wasn't for the original deal that freed up $6 billion in Iranian funds and won the release of five Americans

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) cited Iran's 'long-standing support for Hamas'

It all comes as Israel prepares for a possible ground invasion of Gaza after bombing numerous targets there since Saturday's attack inside Israel.

The White House says it is examining prior intelligence and seeking to determine whether Iran provided direct support for the attack, but has not been able to establish this so far. Israel has also said there is no 'smoking gun.'

Sen. Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.) isn't waiting for more information, based on what Hamas has already done.

'In light of Hamass violent and horrific terrorist attack on Israel and Irans long-standing support for Hamas, we should freeze these assets,' she said in a statement to Politico.

'This was clearly an attack that was planned for months or longer, the notion that somehow there is a relationship there doesn't pass the smell test,' said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the Senate Intelligence Chairman.

President Biden in his Tuesday speech didn't mention Iran or the $6 billion.

'Let me say again, any country, any organization anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: don't,' Biden said.

Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan has said 'not a dollar' of the $6 billion has been spent yet.

'We've said since the beginning, that Iran is complicit in this attack in a broad sense, because they have provided the lion's share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas,' Sullivan said at the White House Tuesday.

'They have provided training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement in contact with Hamas over years and years.'

But he added: 'Whether Iran knew about this attack in advance or helped plan or direct this attack, we do not, as of the moment have confirmation of that.'
The Welsh Parliament has sparked fury as it joins Scotland in refusing to fly Israel's flag in support after the deadly attack by Hamas terrorists.

Presiding Officer Elin Jones, a Plaid Cymru member, refused a request to fly the flag, alleging she did not think it should be flown while both Israelis and Palestinians are suffering.

Instead the Senedd will remain unlit in 'respect for all those who are bereaved and in danger in the Middle East', BBC reported.

Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Conservative Senedd leader who had asked for the flag, has said he is 'extremely disappointed' by the decision.

It comes as the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) rejected a request to fly the flag in solidarity with the people of Israel. Both governing bodies made their decisions despite previously agreeing to fly the Ukrainian flag in the aftermath of the invasion by Russia.

The Welsh Parliament has sparked fury as it joins Scotland in refusing to fly Israel's flag in support after the deadly attack by Hamas. Presiding Officer Elin Jones, a Plaid Cymru member, refused a request to fly the flag, alleging she did not think it should be flown while both Israelis and Palestinians are suffering

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) rejected a request to fly the flag in solidarity with the people of Israel

The Senedd will be dimming its lights until the end of the week as a mark of respect.

Ms Jones said the 'brutality' inflicted by Hamas is 'abhorrent and unjustifiable', but added: 'Despite the horror of the escalation of attacks and killing in recent days affecting Israeli and Palestinian citizens, this conflict, as we know, is longstanding and complex.

'I do not consider that the Israeli flag should be flown at the Senedd when people in both Palestine and Israel are now suffering.'

Mr Davies, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, argued: 'The decision not to fly the Israeli flag does not reflect well on the Senedd.

'I very much hope it will be reconsidered.'

The UK Government has asked that its own buildings to fly an Israeli flag until Friday, if they are able to do so.

In another post, Mr Davies stated the he was 'disappointed' by the decision, adding: 'Let's be clear: this was an unprovoked terrorist attack by Hamas on the Israeli people.

'The Senedd should follow precedent and fly the Israeli flag in a gesture of solidarity.'

The Welsh Parliament has flown the Ukranian flag in solidarty since Russia's invasion began in February last year. The building has also been lit up with the flag's colours at night.

Green MSP Maggie Chapman yesterday finally condemned the 'reprehensible' slaughter of innocent people by Hamas after causing outrage by attempting to justify the terror attacks

Her original social media posts after the atrocities on Saturday, which she has still not deleted, are now being assessed by police

Four out of the five MSPs on the SPCB have previously either taken part in pro-Palestinian rallies or publicly backed sanctions against Israel  raising concerns that the parliament is not reflective of public opinion on the issue.

It comes as Green MSP Maggie Chapman yesterday finally condemned the 'reprehensible' slaughter of innocent people by Hamas after causing outrage by attempting to justify the terror attacks.

Her original social media posts after the atrocities on Saturday, which she has still not deleted, are now being assessed by police following complaints that they broke the law and may encourage anti-Semitism.

Posting on Twitter, now X, on Saturday after hundreds of Israeli civilians had already been murdered, Ms Chapman said: 'What's happening in #Palestine is a consequence of #Apartheid, of illegal occupation, & of imperial aggression by the Israel state.

READ MORE - FA unlikely to light up Wembley arch with colours of the Israel flag in show of support before England vs Australia Advertisement

'Palestinian civilians have seen their homes destroyed, their water stolen & their land appropriated illegally. #GazaUnderAttack #VivaPalestine.'

The following day, she doubled down on her comments on X, adding: 'We'll never have peace in Israel or Palestine if we don't recognise why those who've been subjected to blockade, occupation & worse retaliate.

'Peace-making requires honesty. Including acknowledging awful violent acts by different actors. But we cannot erase context of occupation.'

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw, whose Eastwood constituency is home to Scotland's largest Jewish community, said in response: 'Maggie Chapman's vile comments in the wake of Hamas's appalling attack, which has killed hundreds of Israeli civilians, has rightly provoked outrage on social media.

Ms Chapman was among the SPCB members who decided to refuse the raising of the Israeli flag.

Another member was Labour MSP Claire Baker, who has taken part in rallies against previous action by the Israeli Government and also backed Fife Council's decision to fly the Palestinian flag in 2014 in condemnation of events in Gaza.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, who chairs the SPCB, spoke in favour of calls for a boycott of artists who receive funding from Israel during a 2016 Holyrood debate.

It was also projected on the House of Commons in Westminster and several other buildings

The Israeli flag was projected on 10 Downing Street on Sunday evening in London

Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame signed a public letter alongside Left-wing activists including Jeremy Corbyn in 2014 condemning the BBC for suggesting that attacks on Gaza were 'being directed at militants', saying that for Palestinians 'they are an extension of military rule and collective punishment by a brutal apartheid state'.

Scottish Conservative external affairs spokesman Donald Cameron said: 'The Scottish parliament appears to be completely out of tune with the public mood, as well as offending those who have suffered so badly.'

An Israeli flag was projected onto the House of Commons and 10 Downing Street as well as key landmarks around the world.

Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood Jackson Carlaw, whose Renfrewshire constituency includes the highest Jewish population in Scotland, is thought to be the only SPCB member to support flying the Israeli flag.

It is understood the SPCB did not formally vote on whether to fly the flag, but a majority of MSPs were opposed.
The 63-year-old was released the same day after she paid a $4,000 bond

A Florida teenager and his grandmother have been arrested for allegedly harboring a 16-year-old girl after she went missing last month.

Aliyah Duncan was reported missing on September 5 in Lake County and since then, police had interviewed multiple family members and people known to the missing juvenile.

But on October 9, Duncan was found at a home in Lake County where her boyfriend, Damion Anderson, and his grandmother, Debbie Myers, lived.

The duo are being charged with interference with child custody, providing false information to law enforcement and contributing to the delinquency of a minor by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The 63-year-old was released the same day after she paid a $4,000 bond. It is unknown if Anderson, also a juvenile, was held in jail.

Aliyah Duncan was found at her boyfriend, Damion Anderson and his grandmother, Debbie Myers's house in Lake County

The 63-year-old was released the same day after she paid a $4,000 bond. It is unknown if Anderson, also a juvenile, was held in jail

The Sheriff's Office has not revealed why Duncan was at Anderson's house. During the early stages, Lake County Sheriff's Office told News 6 that the missing juvenile had 'left on her own accord.'

In an Instagram post, the Sheriff's Office detailed that they met the arrested nearly twelve times over three weeks and each time, Anderson and Myers gave little to no information.

'Both parties provided little information, as they were adamant about having no knowledge of the juvenile's whereabouts.

'Anderson and Myers were made aware of the multiple resources being utilized to locate the juvenile.

'In addition, they were both informed of the criminal charges they could face if they had knowledge of the juvenile's location and chose to withhold that information from law enforcement.

Neither one of Duncan's parents nor any of her family members have made any statements at any point in her lost-and-found case

Officials have confirmed that Duncan had been at the duo's house the entire time she was missing

'Myers response to that was that she believed the extensive search was becoming 'ridiculous' and that whoever is responsible for assisting the juvenile should be charged,' the Office wrote.

Officials also confirmed that Duncan had been at their house since she went missing.

'At the conclusion of utilizing multiple different investigative strategies and extensive resources, the juvenile was ultimately located at the residence of Myers and Anderson.

She was staying there during the entirety of the time, she was reported missing,' they said.

At the time of disappearance, Duncan was described as a five feet seven inches tall, 120 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. She had last been seen in the area of the 36800 block of Sundance Drive in Grand Island, Florida.

Neither one of Duncan's parents nor any of her family members have made any statements at any point in her lost-and-found case.
The Israeli army has dropped leaflets into the Gaza Strip telling Palestinians to leave their homes or risk being killed as Israel continues to rain down missiles on the Hamas-controlled territory.

Pictures of the leaflets, which residents told foreign news outlets had been dropped in the northern city of Beit Lahia, have circulated online.

Translated from Arabic, one read: 'For your safety, you must leave your homes immediately and go to shelters.

'The IDF is not interested in harming you or your family members. Anyone who is near Hamas terrorists or terrorist targets will put their lives in danger.'

The IDF said it has bombarded the Gaza Strip with approximately 6,000 bombs containing a total of 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday.

The IDF today dropped leaflets over Beit Lahia in the Gaza Strip calling on people to leave their homes and go to shelters

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Hundreds of people have been killed by bombs since Saturday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday vowed to 'crush and destroy' Hamas, warning that every member of the terrorist organsisation is a 'dead man'.

A constant barrage of bombs has hit the Gaza Strip since the terrorists crossed the border into Israel on Saturday, which the IDF says is aimed at Hamas targets.

The morgue at Gaza's biggest hospital has overflowed today, with bodies coming in faster than relatives could claim them amid Israel's heavy aerial bombardment.

Officials have reported 1,354 people have been killed in Gaza since Saturday, where buildings have been entirely levelled by Israeli bombs.

Beit Lahia is home to roughly 62,000 Palestinians, according to population the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

Residents hoping to flee for safety have very few options as airstrikes continue to pound the Gaza Strip, with borders to and from the territory closed.

Almost half of those killed in the relentless bombing are women and children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

At least 447 children and 248 women were among the estimated 1,417 people who have lost their lives so far, according to the ministry.

It added on Thursday that more than 6,000 have been injured since the regional tensions erupted into all-out war over the weekend.

Hamas claimed that 18 Palestinians died in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in the heart of Gaza.

Palestinian search the rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike

The 25-mile long enclave is home to 2.3 million people, and is among the most densely populated places on Earth, with more than 65 per cent of its population estimated to live below the poverty line.

It has been the subject of a blockade by Israel since 2007, with electricity and water supplies cut off since Hamas' attack on Saturday worsening the horrific situation.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that crucial supplies were running perilously low after Israel imposed the total blockade.

'It's a dire situation in the Gaza Strip that we're seeing evolve with food and water being in limited supply and quickly running out,' said Brian Lander, the deputy head of emergencies at WFP.

Around 340,000 Palestinians have fled their homes seeking refuge in schools, the UN said yesterday.
Two Jewish schools in London are to close their doors until Monday to keep pupils safe in the wake of Hamas's terror attacks on Israel, it emerged tonight.

Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware and Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale informed parents this evening they would not reopen until next week.

In a letter to parents, reported by Sky News, Rabbi Feldman, of Torah Vodaas, said while there was 'no specific threat to our school' it was 'not a decision that has been taken lightly'.

It came as Rishi Sunak vowed to 'do everything in our power' to keep British Jews safe in the wake of the violence in the Middle East and a surge in antisemitic incidents in Britain.

The Prime Minister announced 3million in extra funding to protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings.

It came after Mr Sunak held a roundtable meeting in Downing Street with Home Secretary Suella Braverman and other senior ministers.

They were joined by police chiefs and the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity who works to provide safety, security and advice to the Jewish community in the UK.

The CST have recorded 139 antisemitic incidents in the last four days. This represents an increase of 400 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

Rishi Sunak today held a roundtable meeting in Downing Street with Home Secretary Suella Braverman and other senior ministers

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister announced 3million in extra funding to protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in west London on Monday night, which saw parts of the building boarded up.

Amid protests and vigils in central London, the Metropolitan Police made three arrests for assault on an emergency worker, racially-motivated criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

Fresh protests and marches are expected to take place across Britain this weekend.

According to local media, more than 1,300 Israelis have been killed since Saturday when Hamas militants launched attacks.

Israel has also identified 97 hostages taken by the terror group. It has responded with airstrikes and a siege of the Gaza Strip, with a ground invasion also expected.

Gaza authorities have said more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed and more than 6,000 wounded.

Mr Sunak said: 'This is now the third deadliest terror attack in the world since 1970. The UK must and will continue to stand in solidarity with Israel.

'At moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe.

'That is why we must do everything in our power to protect Jewish people everywhere in our country.

'If anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. You have our complete backing.'

The PM stressed to police chiefs that they have the Government's total backing in ensuring that any glorification of terrorism is met with the full force of the law.

Examples of recent antisemitic incidents given by the CST included a Jewish person walking to synagogue in London on Sunday morning being called a 'dirty Jew' by a stranger, who said 'no wonder you're all getting raped'.

In north east London, the CST said a car slowed down outside a synagogue before the occupants of the vehicle shouted 'kill Jews' and 'death to Israel' while waving a Palestinian flag.

Sky News reported that two Jewish schols in north London are closing their doors 'in the interests of the safety of our precious children'.

Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware and Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale both informed parents on Thursday evening they would not reopen until Monday.

Rabbi Feldman, of Torah Vodaas, said while there was 'no specific threat to our school' it was 'not a decision that has been taken lightly'.

Mrs Braverman said: 'Hamas terrorists have carried out barbaric attacks on the people of Israel. They massacred civilians, raped women and kidnapped the most vulnerable.

'This terrorism is an attack on all of our values. Whenever Israel is attacked, people use legitimate Israeli defensive measures as an excuse to stir up hatred against British Jews. The UK stands unequivocally with Israel.

'I have been clear with police chiefs in England and Wales that there can be zero tolerance for antisemitism, and that they should act immediately to crackdown on any criminality  both in our streets and online.

'I have been in close contact with the Community Security Trust whose work helps enhance the security of the British Jewish community.

'To further support their work, we will be providing them 3 million in funding for additional security guards at Jewish schools, synagogues and in Jewish communities.

'This is in addition to the 15 million of annual funding provided by the Government.'

The Home Secretary used today's meeting in Downing Street to urge police chiefs to use their powers, where appropriate, to prevent assemblies blocking roads - including outside Jewish monuments and buildings such as the Israeli embassy.

Mark Gardner, chief executive of the CST said: 'We are grateful to the Government for providing extra funding for security guards at Jewish community buildings, following the horrific Hamas terror attack on Israel.

'The support that we and the Jewish community are receiving from across Government and policing is greatly reassuring and welcome at this difficult and worrying time.

'We will work with the Home Office to ensure that this extra funding is used in the most effective way to enhance the existing security that is in place and provide the Jewish community with the protection that they need and deserve.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer visited a synagogue in north London and met with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis

Sir Keir said it was 'vital that we stand alongside our Jewish friends and neighbours' at a 'time of great trauma'

Sir Keir met with rabbis and senior members of the local Jewish community at the South Hampstead Synagogue

The Labour leader was pictured saying goodbye to Rabbi Eli Levin following his visit

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today visited a synagogue in north London and met with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis.

He said: 'At this time of great trauma for the community, it is vital that we stand alongside our Jewish friends and neighbours.

'That is why I visited a local synagogue this morning, to pledge my support and the support of the entire Labour Party to the Jewish community in the United Kingdom and to the Israeli people.

'These despicable, ongoing terrorist attacks by Hamas have set back the prospect of peace in the region. They can only lead to yet more violence and suffering which has taken so many Israeli and Palestinian lives. I utterly condemn them.

'We stand with Israel and support her right to rescue hostages and defend herself within international law.

'We must also talk honestly about the impact this has had in our own country. Since these attacks, we have seen an appalling spike in antisemitic incidents in London and across the UK. Any harassment or intimidation towards Jewish communities in Britain is utterly unacceptable.

'There must be zero tolerance for it. I was touched to learn of the action being taken to maintain and cement interfaith relationships: work which serves as a reminder that hate will never be allowed to divide us.

'It is also important to say that Labour MPs stand ready to support any constituents who are worried about family members in Israel or Palestine or who are affected by travel restrictions.

'I know that Jewish people and communities in Britain are feeling great fear, loss and upset.

'But I want to send them a simple message. You are not alone. We share your pain. We are with you during this dark hour.'
Friedman struck the victim - identified only by the initials I.A. - on the hand with a wooden stick. She was arrested and charged with assault

Police arrived on scene and were told she and the victim were engaged in a dispute that had become physical

The suspect has been named as Maxwell Friedman, 19, of Bushwick, Brooklyn

A Brooklyn teenager has been arrested after she allegedly struck an Israeli Columbia University student with a stick on Wednesday night, police have confirmed.

Maxwell Friedman, 19, was charged with one count of assault following an altercation with a 24-year-old School of General Studies student in front of Butler Library.

A NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com that around 6.10pm on Wednesday, officers responded to an assault in progress.

On arrival, they were told that the victim - identified only by the initials I.A. - was engaged in a dispute that had become physical.

The victim accused Friedman, of Bushwick, of striking I.A. in the hand with a wooden stick. She was taken into custody.

The victim refused medical attention, the spokesperson said. The incident is not being investigated as a hate crime.

NYPD responded to an assault in progress around 6.10pm on Wednesday, October 11. The argument arose after 19-year-old Maxwell Friedman was confronted for tearing down posters of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas

The attack happened by Butler Library on the Columbia University campus. Friedman has been arrested and charged with assault after striking another student with a wooden stick

The incident came one day after members of the school community gathered to honor the Israeli lives lost in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict

I.A. spoke with the Columbia Spectator, a student-run paper at the university.

He said one hand was bruised and his ring finger on the other hand was broken. In the wake of the altercation, he did not plan to return to campus soon.

'This is because me being an Israeli these days. Not me because being myself,' I.A. told the paper.

'It is because me being an Israeli who is under a certain kind of threat.'

A friend of I.A. also spoke to the Spectator, remaining anonymous. He said Friedman approached him and other students as they were putting up posters with names and photos of Israeli hostages reportedly taken by Hamas.

Friedman told the students that she was Jewish and asked to join them.

Around 5.30pm, I.A. said he was outside Butler with friends and saw Friedman, now hiding her face with a bandana, tearing the flyers down.

I.A. claims that Friedman screamed obscenities at the group when they approached her.

He says Friedman hit him with a stick before trying to punch him in the face - which is when he 'defended himself.'

'We were all kind of shocked that this stuff can happen on our own campus, which should be a safe haven,' I.A. said.

'We dont know how to handle the situation, let alone that our families and friends are going through the worst nightmare, and we are mentally in the same ship with them.

'And, now, we have to handle the situation that campus is not a safe place for us anymore.'

The victim in the attack - identified only by the initials I.A. - is an Israeli student whose family and friends are back home. He said: 'We are mentally in the same ship with them'

A smoke cloud rises during an Israeli strike on Gaza City. Casualties on both sides have exceeded 1,000 as of Thursday, including hundreds of children

However, other narratives have emerged since Wednesday.

On October 12, an alleged friend of Friedman's - who is also a student at Columbia University - posted an account of the events to Twitter.

He claimed Friedman had been putting up flyers for a pro-Palestine demonstration at the school when a large group of students began 'harassing her, calling her a terrorist, provoked and pushed her, and recorded her.'

Friedman grabbed a flyer back from one of the students, he said, causing the student to get a papercut, 'which would later constitute an arrest for assault by the NYPD.'

He claimed university public safety was called, while the other students laughed as she was escorted away.

Friedman herself is Jewish, according to the friend.

'This event has had significant misinformation surrounding it, with people online and in the largest university news publication claiming things from her punching a student, acting as an unprovoked aggressor, hitting a student with a stick, giving people cuts on their face, and assaulting multiple students,' he wrote.

He slammed the author of the article that had appeared in the Spectator, claiming she 'did not reach out to anyone who knows (Friedman) who was witness to the event.

'I am working with her friends and family through the legal processes of her arrest, but I think it is important right now for people to understand the truth of the situation,' the friend wrote.

The charred cars of festival-goers were left discarded after Hamas fighters stormed Nova Festival near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel to be at war. Israel has cut off electricity and blocked the entry of food and fuel into Hamas-run Gaza

One night earlier, students held a vigil in the middle of campus to commemorate the Israelis who had been killed in the war.

Social media video showed students holding candles while singing a prayer in unison.

The altercation between Friedman and I.A. came one day ahead of scheduled protests by members of pro-Palestine group Students for Justice in Palestine.

The national chapter deemed October 12 the 'Day of Resistance' and called on over 250 chapters at colleges across the country to mobilize.

Members of the school community pushed back, countering the 'pro-Hamas protests' a with petition that received over 3,200 signatures.

It called for the administration to condemn Hamass 'egregious acts of violence against innocent and unarmed civilians' and express its support of 'Israels need to defend itself.'

On October 9 - one day after Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel - Columbia University President Minouche Shafik issued a statement.

It read, in part: 'Since Saturday, our first priority has been to make sure everyone connected to Columbia is safe and to provide logistical support and other types of resources for students, staff, and faculty who are directly affected by the conflict.'

Shafik added: 'We must reject forces that seek to pull us apart and model behavior that shows respect for all.'

Protests have erupted across New York City. On October 9, people took part in a demonstration in front of the Consulate General of Israel in Manhattan

The two groups were separated by metal barriers and forced to stand on opposite sides of the street as some exchanged taunts and verbal spars with each other

The assault occurred a day before planned student-run protests at Columbia. Students for Justice in Palestine called for members of its 250 chapters to mobilize at campuses across the country

John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, confirmed that at least 27 U.S. citizens were among those lost in the war

Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Saturday, firing rockets into Israel as hundreds of fighters infiltrated the border.

The country was thrown off guard on Simchat Torah, a major holiday 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.

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.'

Israel has since cut off electricity and blocked the entry of food and fuel into Hamas-run Gaza, where about 2.3 million people live.

By Thursday, the Israeli death toll spiked to at least 1,200, while the number of Palestinians killed in the counteroffensive reached 1,417.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that least 27 U.S. citizens were among the dead.
Britain will send two Navy ships to the Eastern Mediterranean and fly Royal Air Force surveillance planes over Israel in a significant show of military support against Hamas.

The military package includes P8 aircraft, surveillance assets, two Royal Navy ships - Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels Lyme Bay and Argus - three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, Downing Street said.

The RAF is expected to begin patrols from tomorrow, during which they will monitor threats to regional security, including the transfer of weapons to Hamas.

The British armed forces will be on stand-by to 'deliver practical support to Israel and partners in the region, and offer deterrence and assurance,' No 10 said.

Rishi Sunak said the deployment of the British armed forces would 'support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation' in the bitter conflict.

It comes after the US sent its warships - including the world's largest aircraft carrier - into Israeli waters following Saturday's bloody assault by Hamas terrorists, which has so far seen over 1,200 Israelis killed.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels RFA Argus (pictured) and RFA Lyme Bay will reportedly be sent to the region

The RAF is expected to begin patrols in the next 24 hours, during which they will monitor threats to regional stability. Picture shows service personnel getting ready to deploy

File image shows Royal Marines testing amphibioius capability on RFA Lyme Bay, which will now be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean

Rishi Sunak has repeated the UK's steadfast support for Israel and the government's condemnation of Hamas terrorists.

He said tonight: 'We must be unequivocal in making sure the types of horrific scenes we have seen this week will not be repeated.

'Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation.

'Our military and diplomatic teams across the region will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the thousands of innocent victims of this barbaric attack from Hamas terrorists.'

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'The monstrous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas in recent days have proven why the UK must support Israel's absolute right to self-defence and deter malign external interference.

'No nation should stand alone in the face of such evil and today's deployment will ensure Israel does not.

He added that the Royal Navy Task Group, RAF operations and 'wider military support' would act as 'an undeniable display of the UK's resolve to ensure Hamas's terrorist campaign fails, whilst reminding those who seek to inflame tensions that the forces of freedom stand with the Israeli people.'

It comes after the Prime Minister tonight vowed to 'do everything in our power' to keep British Jews safe in the wake of Hamas's attack on Israel and a surge in antisemitic incidents domestically.

The Prime Minister announced 3million in extra funding to protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings.

Israeli tanks head towards the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel on Thursday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that 'every Hamas member is a dead man', with reports suggesting a ground offensive into Gaza is being prepared - a move likely to increase the death toll.

Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has written to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly pushing for 'urgent action' to deliver humanitarian access to Gaza following similar calls by the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.

Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy also urged 'for food, water, medicines and electricity' supplies to be made available.

Alicia Kearns, Conservative chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, told LBC that Tel Aviv has 'a duty under international humanitarian law' to ensure those in Gaza have access to medical aid and water.

'We can get the humanitarian aid in but no-one else can switch back on water apart from the Israelis,' she said.

Israeli Iron Dome intercepts missiles launched from the Gaza strip on, 11 October 2023

The Foreign Office published a video on social media on Thursday of Mr Cleverly speaking during his visit to Israel.

The Cabinet minister said the UK supported Israel's 'right to defend itself' and 'right to recover the people who have been kidnapped'.

He made no mention of the situation in Gaza during the 30-second clip.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also reiterated America's commitment to supporting the world's only Jewish state as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Israeli Prime Minister.

Benjamin Netanyahu's government has also asked Germany to send ammunition for ships as the country's defence minister said 'We stand by Israel's side.'

Berlin will allow Israel to use two of its air force's Heron drones, defence minister Boris Pistorius said today ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels.

'We will provide two drone the Israelis had asked for. In addition, there are first requests for ammunition for ships that we will now discuss with the Israelis,' Pistorius said.
Democratic Senator Bob Menendez has now been indicted for trying to act as an agent of the Egyptian government after allegedly trying to use his position to protect and benefit his shady business associates and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

A new, superseding indictment was filed today against Menendez and his wife Nadine, who pleaded not guilty to a slew of bribery and corruption charges earlier this month.

According to the new charges, Menendez tried to influence President Trump to nominate a US Attorney in New Jersey who he felt would protect Fred Daibes, one of Menendez's associates who was under criminal investigation.

A new, superseding indictment was filed today against Menendez and his wife Nadine, who pleaded not guilty to the other charges earlier this month

Two of the gold bars found during a search by federal agents of Sen. Bob Menendez's home and safe deposit box

Democrat Philip Sellinger was appointed by Biden in December 2021.

Menendez is said to have met with Sellinger - referred to in the document as 'the candidate' and then the 'official' after he was nominated the previous year.

Prosecutors say Sellinger told him he would have to recuse himself from any case involving Daibes, with whom he'd dealt in the private sector.

In exchange, Menendez said he would not recommend him as a candidate for US Attorney to the President.

It's unclear if he ever did recommend Sellinger as a candidate.

Daibes is said to have paid Menendez in cash and gold bars, luxury vehicles and mortgage payments.

Bob and Nadine Menendez attend an event in Italy on Sept 1, 2023

Fred Daibes arrives for his court appearance alongside Senator Bob Menendez at Manhattan Federal Court on September 27, 2023 in New York City

He is said to have accepted bribes including the gold bars and cash in exchange for acting on their behalf in US government.

It's unclear why he was not originally charged with acting officially for Egypt.

Despite his mounting legal woes, he has repeatedly refused to leave office.

In addition to the federal charges filed in the Southern District of New York, the New Jersey Attorney General is also investigating police handling of a 2018 crash involving Menendez's wife.

In that incident, she killed a man who she claimed had been jaywalking by plowing into him in her Mercedes.

She did not have to take a field sobriety test and was allowed to walk away from the scene after a retried New Jersey police chief from a different jurisdiction showed up to support her.

The family of the man who was killed have long called for the case to be reopened. Menendez and Nadine were not yet married at the time.

The AG is now looking into whether it was thoroughly-enough investigated.
The University of California at Berkeley's 'Bears for Palestine' group expressed their support for Hamas' actions and 'denounced the framing of Israel as a victim' hours after the terrorist organization's attack left more than 1,000 dead, including 25 Americans.

Now, the group will host a vigil for 'martyrs in Palestine' on Friday, and have promoted Student for Justice in Palestine (SJP) calls for a 'Day of Resistance' on Thursday across college campuses in support of the Hamas attacks.

Bears for Palestine, named after the school's mascot, issued the statement on Saturday, saying it 'unequivocally denounces the occupation and its military rule' and supports 'the resistance, the liberation movement, and indisputably supports the Uprising.'

'We invariably reject Israel's framing as a victim. Whereas to demonize and condemn indigenous resistance is to overshadow the decades of oppression, ethnic cleaning, and destruction of the Palestinian people,' their letter, signed by 50 other groups, read.

'We echo the call to action for all Arabs and Palestinians in the diaspora to rise up to support the liberation of our occupied people. From the River to the Sea, we will continue to support resistance until we are able to return home to a unified Palestine. Glory to Palestine, glory to the resistance, and glory to our martyrs.'

The University of California at Berkeley's 'Bears for Palestine' group expressed their support for Hamas ' actions on Saturday

Bears for Palestine , named after the school's mascot, issued the statement on Saturday

Organizations from other schools in the state that also signed the letter include various groups at UCLA

The statement was signed by several other groups in the notoriously leftist campus, including Koreans for Decolonization and Central Americans for Empowerment

The group will host a vigil for 'martyrs in Palestine' on Friday, and have promoted SJP's calls for a 'Day of Resistance' on Thursday across college campuses in support of the Hamas attacks

The statement was signed by 51 students organizations in total, from colleges across the country, including several other groups in the notoriously leftist campus, like Koreans for Decolonization, Jewish Students for Palestine, the Iraqi Student Union and Central Americans for Empowerment.

Organizations from other schools in the state that also signed the letter include various groups at UCLA, such as the Arab Student Union and the Asian Pacific Coalition.

Various SJP chapters from other schools in California and other states also supported the statement. Students for Justice in Palestine was founded at UC Berkeley in 2001 and counts over 200 chapters across the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

UC-Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ sent a letter saying on Wednesday saying she was 'heartbroken by the terrible violence and suffering in Israel and Gaza,' as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.

'As a moral matter, we condemn all terrorism and mass atrocities. This includes the deliberate attack on civilians this weekend by Hamas,' she wrote.

DailyMail.com has reached out to UC Berkeley for comment about the group's plans.

American elite universities have found themselves in hot water after Hamas' horrific attack on Israeli civilians was met with praise by various student groups, particularly by SJP chapters.

Tufts' Students for Justice in Palestine group called the terrorists 'liberation fighters paragliding into occupied territory,' adding they had 'especially shown the creativity necessary to take back stolen land.'

The group's statement was first shared on Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League New England chapter, who called it 'obscene'

The first space of the statement released by the Students for Justice in Palestine and a Jewish Voice for Peace out of Columbia University

The message added: 'It has not been without cost, as hundreds of Palestinians have been martyred in the past days, fighting to liberate themselves and their land.'

Similar statements have been made by other pro-Palestinian groups from universities including California State, Harvard, Columbia, and NYU, sparking fury.

Harvard University faced massive backlash after 31 of its student societies issued a joint statement holding the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.

In their statement on Sunday the groups said the attack which left more than 1,000 dead 'did not happen in a vacuum', and claimed the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman claimed that fellow CEOs want to know who they are so none of us inadvertently hire any of their members.

The CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management said he has been approached by a number of CEOs, adding: One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists, who, we now learn, have beheaded babies, among other inconceivably despicable acts.

Columbia University's Students for Justice in Palestine also released a statement blaming Israel for the terrorist attacks, claiming that Hamas' actions were a 'counter-offensive against their settler-colonial oppressor.'

The Ivy-League schools were also joined by a group from Northwestern University named Justice in Palestine who said that they 'stand unwavering in our commitment to highlighting the profound injustices faced by the Palestinian people.'

The Harvard statements were widely condemned including by former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers who wrote on X: 'In nearly 50 years of @Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today.'

Meanwhile, the president of New York University's Law School Bar Association president had a job offer from a pro-LGBTQ+ law firm rescinded after she stated that Hamas' slaughter of children in Israel was 'necessary.'

Ryna Workman, 24, a non-binary student at NYU's School of Law sent a weekly newsletter saying the murder of innocent Israeli children, women, and citizens this past week was is Israel's 'full responsibility.'

On Tuesday, the law firm Winston & Strawn - which regularly highlights its legal work representing the LGBTQ + community - told DailyMail.com in a statement that their offer of employment to Workman has been rescinded.

The number of U.S. citizens confirmed to have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war has risen to at least 25. U.S. citizens are among the estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas militants during their shocking weekend assault on Israel, President Joe Biden confirmed on Tuesday.

The war has already claimed at least 2,200 lives on both sides.
He reportedly lied to police who had come to her Punta Gorda home on May 5 to check on her

Disturbing bodycam footage shows the moment a Florida man was confronted by police after they discovered the decomposing body of his mother in her home during a wellness check.

Justin Carver, 36, was arrested for failing to report the death of his mom Layni Carver, 55, who had filed a no-contact order against her son in the weeks before she died.

Cops were called to Carver's home in Punta Gorda on May 5 to conduct a welfare check after Layni's family became concerned they could not get in touch.

When cops arrived, they found her son living at the property and asked him if he had seen his mother lately.

After initially denying that he knew where she was and claiming he had locked himself and the officers out, Carver eventually allowed cops into the home.

Justin Carver was arrested by police in Florida after they discovered the decomposing body of his mother in her home when they went for a welfare check

Once inside, officers found the bloated and decomposing body of his mother. The police later confirmed they had detected a 'foul odor' coming from the property, which roused suspicions.

In the video, officers from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office can be seen approaching the Carver home.

After repeatedly knocking, they leave the scene and come back as Carver exits the home, shutting the door behind him.

An officer asks: 'Did you hear us knocking before or were you knocked out?'

Carver replies that he was sleeping before sitting down and taking a drink out of a glass he has brought with him.

The cops inform him they are looking for his mother and he claims not to have seen her for a few weeks.

As they continue their questioning, Carver sits hunched over, with his arms folded and gaze averted.

One of the officers says: 'I just want to make sure that mom is not stowed away in a closet or something bad.'

Justin Carver lied to police and told them he hadn't seen his mother for a few weeks and did not know her whereabouts when he had been living next to her corpse, according to the footage

Police became suspicious after they smelled a 'foul odor' coming from the home and Justin Carver became evasive under questioning

Carver says he can't stop police and begins to lead them in before claiming he has locked the door behind him and doesn't have keys.

The officer asks him, 'You understand how this looks right?'

Carver eventually discloses that he is not meant to be at the property due to the no-contact order, but police assure him he is not in trouble and they just want to check on his mom.

Finally, he relents and begins to lead the police to another door which he removes from its hinges to allow access.

The moment the officer lays eyes on the body is redacted in the footage and it cuts to the other officer talking with Carver outside and asking if he is sure his mom is not in the house.

His colleague who found the body then emerges in disbelief and asks: 'Are you going to tell me you didn't know mom was in there?'

He motions to Carver who stands up and immediately submits to being handcuffed.

They then begin questioning Carver who tells them he discovered his mother two days ago.

Layni Carver had taken out a no contact order against her son in the weeks before her death

'I smelt her before you were even outside and you're going to tell me mom is not in there when you know damn well where she was, so you were lying,' one officer says.

His colleague adds: 'Why wouldn't you just tell us the truth, we told you from the beginning we weren't there for you we just wanted to make sure mom was good that's all, so what prompted you to lie to us?'

They ask if he realized his mother was dead when he discovered her and he nods.

When asked why he didn't call law enforcement at that point Carver replies: 'I don't know'.

Carver was arrested and charged with Failing to Report a Death to Medical Examiner and Resisting Officer Without Violence.

Details of the circumstances of his mother's death are pending an autopsy and toxicology report.

'The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office takes incidents of this nature seriously and is committed to ensuring that justice is served,' Sheriff Bill Prummell said. 'We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time.'
Princess Nahienaena Elementary will house students from King Kamehameha III Elementary as FEMA helps to build a temporary campus for them

Students in Lahaina have had a delayed start to the school year due to the disastrous wildfires that swooped through their homeland in August

Three schools in Lahaina that remained standing after the devastating Maui wildfires are scheduled to reopen next week.

Teachers have had to scramble to start all over again after the fires, which claimed the lives of 97 people have left members of the community eager for a sense of normalcy.

Each school is set to re-open their doors consecutively, starting with Lahaina High School on Monday, Lahaina Intermediate School on Tuesday and Princess Nahienaena Elementary on Wednesday.

Though these schools were safe during the blaze, King Kamehameha III Elementary School wasn't as lucky as it was engulfed by the fires on August 8.

Robert Livermore, former teacher at King Kamehameha III lost his entire classroom in the fires.

Lahainaluna High School's re-opening will be on Monday and is part of the phase one of the Board of Education getting students back to the classroom after the devastating wildfires happened in August

With the announced re-opening of the schools a heightened sense of uncertainty and panic has flooded families as they've had to adjust to a new normal since the blaze. Educators are just as worried for the students as they fear for their mental health, new learning environments and the gap in learning time

Teachers in Lahaina have had to scramble to start all over again after the fires, which claimed the lives of 97 people have left members of the community eager for a sense of normalcy. Princess Nahienaena Elementary is set to re-open on Wednesday

'I didn't get to take anything with me. I'm going to start all over again from scratch,' Livermore told Honolulu Civil Beat.

Students from King Kamehameha III Elementary will be able to attend classes in 'tent-like' structures on the Princess Nahienaena campus until their temporary school is built next year.

FEMA will be fronting the cost of new construction for the demolished King Kamehameha III Elementary School.

An approximate $5.36million from FEMA will be used to house a temporary campus on 10.2 acres in Honokowai below the Kapalua Airport.

The estimated build time for the site is expected to be around 95 days.

With the announced re-opening of the schools a heightened sense of uncertainty and panic has flooded families as they've had to adjust to a new normal since the blaze.

Educators are just as worried for the students as they fear for their mental health, new learning environments and the gap in learning time.

Teachers also fear just how stable they can be for the students when their lives have also been drastically interrupted by the grueling disaster.

King Kamehameha III Elementary was burned down in the Maui wildfires as the flames engulfed the school on August 8. Students from that school are now being relocated to tents on the Princess Nahienaena Elementary campus until a new building is built

FEMA will be fronting the cost of new construction for the demolished King Kamehameha III Elementary School. An approximate $5.36million from FEMA will be used to house a temporary campus on 10.2 acres in Honokowai below the Kapalua Airport. The estimated build time for the site is expected to be around 95 days

A decrease in students is also expected as parents are hesitant about safety measures at the schools after the fires left lasting air quality problems and debris behind.

The Department of Education has assured that each school is environmentally safe and ready as they've conducted tests of the air, drinking water and soil on the school's properties.

Being that the three schools were barely harmed by the fires, they are considered to be outside of the 'burn zone'.

Justin Hughey, a former teacher at King Kamehameha III has chosen to relocate to Kahului Elementary because he doesn't want to work close to the destruction site.

'Maybe the water is fine right now. Maybe the air is fine right now. Maybe the soil is OK right now, but it's only a matter of time,' Hughey told Honolulu Civil Beat.

Hawaii state Legislator Senator Angus McKelvey has felt the same way as he has tried to delay the re-opening of the Lahaina schools.

'We're talking about people's children here, their number one possession they have left in the world. So that's even more of a reason why they should be moving cautiously,' McKelvey said as he thinks further testing needs to be done.

Since the fires, some students have turned to online learning, or they have attended in-person classes in Central and South Maui.

Lahainaluna High School teachers have already entered the new school year as they have been prepping their lesson plans since September at Kulanihakoi High's campus.

One teacher from Lahainaluna High, Jarrett Chapin has decided to gear the curriculum more toward the mental needs of the students as they try to navigate a new school year after the wildfires.

Chapin has worked in meditation exercises, along with making his English language arts lessons about nature to engage the students in a therapeutic environment.

'Generally, it did look like high school work. It was maybe just not as rigorous,' Chapin said.

Following the massive wildfire that just swept through Maui a little over two months ago, Hawiian residents were just allowed to return back home gradually as part of a program based on phases of re-entry.

The wildfires resulted in deaths of at least 97 people and the displacement of 11,000.

The blaze that swept into centuries-old Lahaina destroyed nearly every building in town of 13,000 people.

Around 86 percent of the roughly 2,200 ruined buildings were residential, and the value of wrecked property has been estimated at more than $5 billion.

Hawaii's Department of Education has assured that each school is environmentally safe and ready as they've conducted tests of the air, drinking water and soil on the school's properties. Being that the three schools were barely harmed by the fires, they are considered to be outside of the 'burn zone'

Governor Josh Greene has encouraged tourist to come back to Hawaii. Only Lahaina, the town at the epicenter, will remain out of bounds as travel restrictions are lifted across the rest of the island

Hawaii public schools closed 12 Maui campuses on August 23 due to ongoing power outages that were affecting the island. Lahaina High, Lahaina Intermediate School and Princess Nahienaena Elementary were on the list of closed schools at the time

Maui County officials have alleged in a lawsuit that the 'intentional and malicious' mismanagement of power lines by Hawaiian Electric had allowed flames to spark which caused the fires to spread.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green has begged tourists to return to Maui after its devastating fires and promises it will be open for business by October 8.

'This difficult decision is meant to bring hope for recovery to the families and businesses on Maui that have been so deeply affected in every way by the disaster,' said Green.

'People from Hawaii and around the world can resume travel to this special place and help it begin to recover economically.'

Only Lahaina, the town at the epicenter, will remain out of bounds as travel restrictions are lifted across the rest of the island.

Science teacher Jacquelyn Ellis has had mixed feelings about the kids coming back to school on Monday.

Ellis is the senior class advisor and there are homecoming events planned to welcome students back for their first week of school.

Ellis said: 'There's little reminders all around. It's a big mixture I would say of, excited to be back here but also just still mourning everything.'
Antony Blinken explained that the sheer size and devastation of Hamas' attack on Israel is equivalent to the small Jewish State as if they experienced the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks 10 times over.

The U.S. Secretary of State was somber when recounting on Thursday the images he witnessed of 'evil' committed against Israeli people by Palestinian terrorists during a press conference in Tel Aviv.

When meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken was shown grueling images of the terror the people of Israel are facing after five days of conflict with Hamas terrorists.

'I could speculate but not give you any kind of clear definitive answer,' Blinken said when asked whether Palestinian terrorists achieved their goals with the invasion over the weekend. 'There are a number of possible explanations  we have not heard from [Hamas] what their goals are.'

He concluded: 'In many ways, the simplest explanation may be the most compelling  this is pure evil.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that the Hamas atrocities in Israel are equivalent to ten September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

So far, 27 Americans are confirmed dead in Israel, as well as 1,200 Israelis. There are still thousands unaccounted for, a it's presumed that hundreds of Israelis are held hostage in Gaza, as well as a 'handful' of Americans

The images Blinken was shown include babies' bodies riddled with bullets, people burned alive in their cars or on the side of the roads and soldiers beheaded.

Many of these images and videos have been shared to social media.

'This is a moment for moral clarity,' Blinken said during his press conference. 'This is a moment where everyone needs to make clear that there is revulsion, disgust, determination  a determination not to allow this to go forward.'

'So images are worth 1000 words, these images may be worth a million.'

Just shortly after this press conference, reporters pressed National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby during a White House briefing on how the administration is working to confirm the authenticity of these images.

Hamas' inhumane violence has been equated to the 9/11 terrorist attacks  but Blinken, who is Jewish, says that doesn't go far enough to explain the extent of the damage.

'We say this with regard to 9/11  if you look at this in proportion to the size of Israel's population, this is the equivalent of ten 9/11s,' the State Department head explained. 'That's how big and how devastating this attack has been.'

Blinken reiterated that Israel is not targeting civilians  but that Hamas terrorists are.

'I think it's first important for another fundamental issue that makes this complicated  Hamas continues to use civilians as human shields,' Blinken said when a reporter asked if any humanitarian work is being done in Gaza where Palestinian civilians are caught in the counterattacks from Israel.

He added: 'That's something that's not new, something that they've always done intentionally  putting civilians in harm's way to try to protect themselves or protect their infrastructure or protect their weapons.'

During a somber press briefing in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday, Blinken said of the motives and goals of Hamas: 'In many ways, the simplest explanation may be the most compelling  this is pure evil'

'So that's one of the basic facts that Israel has to deal with,' Blinken said. 'And of course, civilians should not be used in any way as the targets of military operations. They are not the target of Israel's operations.'

National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby r revealed Thursday that the number of Americans killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel has now reached at least 27.

The death toll of Israelis, Palestinians and Americans continues to rise five days after Hamas attacked the Jewish state. But Kirby assured there are only a 'handful' of Americans thought to be held in hostage in Gaza currently.

Hamas terrorists based in Gaza first entered Israel Saturday in a surprise multi-front attack that has left at least 1,200 Israelis dead in less than a week - equating multiple 9/11-scale events. Thousands more are injured and there are still hostages being held in Palestinian territory.

Arriving in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday morning, Blinken revealed that at least 25 Americans were killed in the Hamas attacks.

By later in the day, two more were confirmed dead by Kirby during the White House press briefing.
The number of Americans killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel has now reached at least 27, National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby revealed on Thursday.

The death toll of Israelis, Palestinians and Americans continues to rise five days after Hamas attacked the Jewish state.

But Kirby assured there are only a 'handful' of Americans thought to be held in hostage in Gaza currently.

Hamas terrorists based in Gaza first entered Israel Saturday in a surprise multi-front attack that has left at least 1,200 Israelis dead in less than a week - equating multiple 9/11-scale events. Thousands more are injured and there are still hostages being held in Palestinian territory.

Arriving in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday morning, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that at least 25 Americans were killed in the Hamas attacks.

By later in the day, two more were confirmed dead by Kirby during the White House press briefing.

NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby revealed Thursday afternoon that 27 Americans are confirmed dead in Israel after Hamas launched terrorist attacks on the Jewish nation on Saturday

Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and said during a joint press conference in Tel Aviv: 'We are with you and not going anywhere'

Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: 'We are with you and not going anywhere.'

'Thank you tremendously,' Netanyahu responded.

On Friday, Blinken, who is Jewish, will also sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The updated death toll of 25 comes after it was revealed the day prior that the number of Americans killed in the Hamas atrocities reached at least 22 by Wednesday. There are still thousands of U.S. citizens in Israel unaccounted for.

Blinken touched down in Tel Aviv at approximately 3 a.m. Eastern Time, 10 a.m. local time in Israel. He was greeted on the tarmac by Israeli government officials who offered him a warm embrace.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed earlier on Thursday that the American death toll in Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel reached 25. Just hours later, two more were confirmed dead

Meanwhile, Israel is engaged in an intense counter offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists with Hamas invaded over the weekend. The Israeli death toll is believed to be upwards of 1,200. Pictured: An Israeli army tank fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Thursday, October 12

Blinken is joined on his mission of peace to Israel by his Deputy Chief of Staff Tom Sullivan, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr and Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve Gillen.

The meeting comes as Israel continues to bombard the Hamas stronghold of Gaza as part of the country's counteroffensive, which could extend to a ground assault this week as troops mobilize across Israel.

Israel's retaliatory air strikes on Gaza have resulted in the death of 1,100 people in the region.

Less than 24 hours prior to Blinken's arrival in Israel, the world's largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford Strike Group, arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

According to a press release from U.S. Command Central, the movement to the region was to 'deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war.'

Capt. Angelica White, spokesperson for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, told Marine Corps Times that the group was given orders to return to ships and end their exercises in Kuwait early.

She said the orders for Marines and Sailors to return to their ships was in order 'to prepare for further tasking as a result of emerging events,' but did not clarify if that was in regards to the terrorist attacks in Israel.
Hamas assessed the threat posed by Kibbutz civilians, Israeli Defence Force response times and assigned tasks to individual gunmen, alleged discarded raid plans have revealed.

An Israeli emergency responder unit, in a Telegram channel, said the alleged 14-page operational plan was found in an field unit that was inspecting Hamas bodies found in a pickup truck.

The 'top secret' document, dated October last year, includes a raid plan on Mefalsim, a Kibbutz with '1,000 civilians', of which 20 are part of a rapid response team.

The plan involved the use of 'artillery' and instructed a team member to 'open a hole' in a fence. The plan also indicated that Hamas forces should 'take prisoner soldiers, residents, and take hostages for negotiations,' the responder unit posted.

It comes as, nearly a week after Hamas militants crossed through Israel's heavily fortified separation fence and killed over 1,200 Israelis in a brutal rampage, Israel is preparing for a possible ground invasion of Gaza for the first time in nearly a decade.

The 'top secret' document, dated October last year, includes a raid plan on Mefalsim, a Kibbutz with '1,000 civilians', of which 20 are part of a rapid response team, according to an Israeli emergency responder unit. A page in the plan detailing tasks to specific Hamas members is pictured above

An Israeli emergency responder unit, in a Telegram channel, said the alleged 14-page operational plan was found in an field unit that was inspecting Hamas bodies found in a pickup truck. Pictured: An Israeli soldier patrols near Kibbutz Beeri on Thursday, the place where 270 revellers were killed by Hamas terrorists during the Supernova music festival

The discarded plan reportedly involved the use of 'artillery' and instructed a team member to 'open a hole' in a fence. Pictured: Armoured vehicles travel along a dirt track near the border with Gaza on Thursday

A page in the plan, with the Israeli emergency responder unit branded as the 'most important page', laid out 'tasks' of what is designated as the 'basic force'. The tasks allegedly included taking hostages.

The battle plan also detailed that the attack would consist of a commander and two squads of five people.

Hamas warned that an attack on Mefalsim could see additional Israeli forces arrive from the Nahal Oz area 'within three to five minutes'. The plan suggests these forces would arrive in two to three Jeeps along a specific road.

The emergency responder unit is seemingly still reviewing the plan. The group also said is working to determine the significance of the October 2022 date.

It comes as the Israeli military says it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but that political leadership has not yet decided on one. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday that forces 'are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if decided.'

Israel's government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. Israel has called up some 360,000 army reservists and has threatened an unprecedented response to Hamas' wide-ranging incursion over the weekend.

The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel - a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

The Israeli military said it is currently targeting Hamas' senior military and political leaders, whom it blames for the weekend attack.

A page in the plan, with the Israeli emergency responder unit branded as the 'most important page', laid out 'tasks' of what is designated as the 'basic force'. The tasks allegedly included taking hostages. Pictured: Members of the security forces continue to search for identification and personal effects at the Supernova Music Festival on Thursday

The battle plan also detailed that the attack would consist of a commander and two squads of five people. Hamas warned that an attack on Mefalsim could see additional Israeli forces arrive from the Nahal Oz area 'within three to five minutes'. Pictured: Destroyed cars near Kibbutz Beeri on Thursday

The emergency responder unit is seemingly still reviewing the plan. The group also said is working to determine the significance of the October 2022 date. Pictured: Israeli soldiers patrol on near Kibbutz Beeri on Thursday

The Israeli military says it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but that political leadership has not yet decided on one. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday that forces 'are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if decided.' Pictured: Israelis arrive at a weapons distribution point for people allowed to carry arms, at the Ayyelet HaShahar Kibbutz, in northern Israel on Thursday

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Amid concerns that the fighting could spread in the region, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday put two Syrian international airports out of service.

The barrage on Gaza - 6,000 munitions dropped since the conflict began, the military said - left Palestinians running through streets with what belongings they could carry, looking for a safe place.

A strike Thursday afternoon in the the Jabaliya refugee camp collapsed a residential building on families sheltering inside, killing at least 45 people, Gaza's Interior Ministry said.

At least 23 of the dead were under the age of 18, including a month-old child, according to a list of the casualties.

Ministry spokesman Eyad Bozum said dozens were wounded and the death toll was likely to rise as rescue workers were still pulling bodies from the rubble.
The United States is launching an airlift of charter flights to get thousands of Americans out of Israel to avoid missile strikes by Palestinian terror group Hamas.

Commercial airlines will provide the planes starting on Friday but Americans who want to flee will only be taken as far as Europe.

It came after Biden faced pressure to follow the lead of other nations including the U.K. who are flying their citizens home.

U.S. officials estimate 160,000-170,000 Americans are in Israel, as residents, tourists. or in other capacities.

There will be at least four charter flights per day taking Americans out of the country.

The U.S. Embassy in Israel said: 'It will take some period of time to schedule everyone seeking to depart. Transportation will be by air to Athens or Frankfurt, or sea from Haifa to Cyprus. You will not be able to choose your destination  we will assign you to the next available flight or ship.

'You should be prepared to depart within 8-12 hours of receiving notice of your booking. Each traveler may bring one small carry on item no more than 22 pounds (10 kg) and one suitcase no more than 35 pounds (16 kg),' according to the embassy.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said: 'The president has asked his team to ensure that we are assisting US citizens who do want to leave Israel and providing them with a safe means of doing that.'

The Biden administration is organizing charter flights and sea trips that will ferry Americans out of Israel, which continues to come under rocket bombardment by Hamas as it gathers forces on the border with Gaza

Kirby said the administration was still 'working through the details' to help U.S. citizens and their 'immediate family members' who have not been able to find commercial transit.

He mentioned ways to get Americans out 'by land and by sea.'

The announcement comes as Israel continues to fall under daily rocket fire from Gaza, even as multiple other nations have begun running flights to bring their people home.

American, Delta, and United airlines are among the carriers who have suspended flights to Israel's Ben Gurion airport outside Tel Aviv, leaving Americans and other foreign nationals scrambling to get out of the country.

House Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) is among those who have been pushing the administration to begin organizing an airlift to bring home Americans and dual citizens who want to return to the U.S.

'You already see other governments, including Poland, sending military aircraft to get their citizens out of Israel given the war. And I think we need to take all actions to help get people home as quickly as possible, both between commercial flights and military aircraft,' he said.

President Biden faces pressure to organize an airlift to get Americans and dual citizens out of Israel amid continued missile attacks and a rising death toll after the Saturday Hamas attack

In addition to Poland, the U.K., France, and Germany are among nations organizing flights home.

A Portuguese C-130 military transport has ferried 160 foreign nationals to Cyprus who had been trapped in Israel.

'This is going to escalate very quickly,' he told CNN. 'And I stand 100 per cent shoulder to shoulder with Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. They need to take Hamas out they need to destroy them. They are a terrorist organization, hell bent on wiping Israel off the face of the earth sponsored and backed by Iran. And we must take this threat seriously.'

At the White House on Wednesday, national security spokesman John Kirby said there were still commercial flights and 'viable ground routes out, while indicating 'acting conversations' on organizing a way out.

'The State Department is an active touch with American citizens in Israel -many of them, as you well know, are dual nationals  to try to make sure that a) we've got the connection, and b) that we know if they have any concerns in the case that they want to leave,' he said.

'I think we need to take all actions to help get people home as quickly as possible,' said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.)

'So, we're in active conversations with Americans on the ground there. Right now, there are still commercial carriers  not all, some  flying in and out of Ben Gurion every day. There are still now viable ground routes. If you wanted to leave safely out of Israel, that is also an option to you,' he said.

'But neither of those options may necessarily be feasible or affordable to certain Americans. And so, we are exploring actively a range of other options to assist if Americans want to leave. I'm just not at liberty now to go into more detail about that.'

The administration hasn't yet reserved plans to activate the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, where the Pentagon organizes private carriers to bring Americans home during a security crisis. The program was used during the frenzied U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Americans remain trapped in Gaza, as Israel has massed a reserve force of 300,000 on the border amid a possible ground invasion.

The administration says it is working on establishing a possible humanitarian corridor to allow civilians to leave, but there are tremendous logistical challenges.

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A Nigerian man has been extradited to Nebraska for a $6million fraud where he tricked business employees into wire transfers and preyed on others by masquerading as a love interest.

Alex Ogunshakin, 40, who was at the top of the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted List after a fraud indictment in 2019 filed in Omaha, Nebraska, was arrested in Nigeria and ultimately surrendered to the U.S.

Acting U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced Tuesday the successful extradition of Ogunshakin, who made his first court appearance on September 29 and has been detained pending trial.

Ogunshakin allegedly defrauded more than $6million from more than 70 businesses in Nebraska and across the U.S. through a business email compromise (BEC) scheme between 2016 and 2017.

He and his co-conspirators were accused of posing as the chief executive officer, president, owner, or other executives of the targeted companies.

Using spoofed email accounts, they directed business employees to complete wire transfers. Two unnamed companies in Nebraska lost more than $530,000 in the scam.

Alex Ogunshakin (pictured in 2017), 40, has been extradited from Nigerian to Nebraska

Ogunshakin (pictured in 2015) participated in a $6million fraud, targeting more than 70 businesses

Ogunshakin was at the top of the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted List after a fraud indictment in 2019

Ogunshakin provided his co-conspirators, including Richard Uzuh who led the BEC scheme, with bank accounts that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers.

He also assisted in sending spoofed emails to businesses used to solicit fraudulent wire transfers, according to the indictment.

Learning from Uzuh and others, Ogunshakin allegedly conducted his own BEC and romance schemes later.

The FBI's report on BEC shows more than $2.4billion was lost in nearly 20,000 BEC-related complaints it received in 2021. BEC and email account compromise (EAC) losses surpassed $43 billion globally.

'His indictment, arrest, and extradition should send a message to his co-conspirators and other cyber criminals,' said Eugene Kowel, the FBI Omaha special agent in charge in the press release.

Some of his co-conspirators have been arrested and behind bars.

Adewale Aniyeloye, who sent the spoofed e-mails to the target business, was sentenced in 2019 to 96 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,570,938.05 in restitution.

Pelumi Fawehinimi, a bank account facilitator, was sentenced in 2019 for 72 months and ordered to pay $1,014,159.60 in restitution.

Onome Ijomone, a romance scammer, was sentenced in January 2020 to 60 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $508,934.40 in restitution after his successful extradition from Poland.

Richard Uzuh (pictured), who led the BEC scheme, used spoofed email accounts and directed business employees to complete wire transfers

Uzuh (pictured) and his co-conspirators were accused of posing as the chief executive officer, president, owner, or other executives of the targeted companies

Ogunshakin, Uzuh, and other four Nigerian nationals were sanctioned by the department of treasury in 2020

Department of Treasury release sanctions against Ogunshakin, Uzuh, and four other Nigerian nationals in 2020, blocking their property and interests possessed by U.S. persons and prohibiting people from dealing with them.

In the documents, prosecutors allege Uzuh often would target more than 100 businesses in a day and got at least $6.3 million from American businesses that way.

Uzuh, Felix Okpoh, Abiola Kayode, and Nnamdi Benson remain unlocated or unfound.

'The FBI will remain vigilant in their pursuit of criminals both domestic and abroad. Disrupting these cyber criminal groups and their victimization of U.S. persons and businesses is a priority for the FBI,' Agent Kowel said in the statement.

'The FBI wishes to thank its partners in Nigeria, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and National Central Bureau, Abuja  INTERPOL (Nigeria Police Force), for their past and continued assistance in pursuing those that engage in Business Email Compromise and other fraud schemes. '
Water cannon and tear gas were used to disperse a banned pro-Palestine rally in Paris tonight as French police moved to arrest its organisers.

It followed the country's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin saying there was 'no place' for such protests against the Gaza War following Saturday's terrorist atrocities.

Crowds built up around Republic square in the French capital on Thursday, chanting 'Free Palestine', 'End the Siege of Gaza', 'Israel murderer' and 'Macron accomplice' - in reference to the French President's backing of Israel.

Hundreds gathered brandishing Palestinian flags, and other symbols showing their support for one side in the Arab-Israeli conflict, which erupted when Hamas terrorists launched a violent attack on Israeli civilians on Saturday.

Soon after 8pm a water cannon soaked many of those in the crowd of around 2,000, sending them running for cover. Tear gas was then unleashed, as CRS riot patrols moved in to clear the area.

Water cannon and tear gas were used to disperse a banned pro-Palestine rally in Paris tonight

Protestors hold Palestinian flags during an unauthorized demonstration in support of Palestinians

French Gendarme Police Officers tackle a protestor during a banned demonstration in support of Palestinians at Place de la Republique in Paris

'Our orders are to prevent the protest continuing,' said a police chief at the scene. 'People are asked to leave the area.'

The French police have routinely banned any demonstrations in favour of Palestine since the Israel-Gaza War of 2014.

They have always cited 'threats to public order' as a reason, but opponents have accused them of ignoring principles of freedom and free speech.

Two groups - the Association France Palestine Solidarite, the other by the Collectif National Paix Juste Durable Palestine - organised the Thursday evening protest.

The ban was again implemented 'taking into account the risk of disturbance to public order', said a spokesman for the Paris police prefecture.

Protester Charlotte Vautier, 29, an employee at a non-profit, said: 'We live in a country of civil law, a country where we have the right to take a stand and to demonstrate.

'(It is unfair) to forbid for one side and to authorise for the other and that does not reflect the reality of Palestine.'

Soon after 8pm a water cannon soaked many of those in the crowd of around 2,000, sending them running for cover

A protest in France's second city of Lyon scheduled for Wednesday evening has also been banned by local police.

It came as French President Emmanuel Macron vowed 'steadfast support' for Israel after the attacks.

In a live TV address on Thursday evening he called for national unity and try to prevent any spillover of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in France, where there has been a rise in antisemitic acts.

Hundreds gathered brandishing Palestinian flags, and other symbols showing their support for one side in the Arab-Israeli conflict

France has Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities, and there are sometimes tensions between the two.

Antisemitic acts have risen in France since Hamas attacked Israeli towns on Saturday, killing more than 1,300 people, Interior Minister GMr Darmanin said.

Israel has responded by launching the most powerful bombing campaign on Gaza, ruled by Hamas, in the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The bombardment has killed more than 1,417 according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and destroyed whole neighbourhoods.

Mr Darmanin said France had seen a spike in online hatred but also more direct threats.

'Since Saturday and the terrorist massacres in Israel, there has been over a hundred antisemitic acts, mainly tags and swastikas,' said Mr Darmanin.

Eleven French citizens are confirmed dead in Israel, and more than a dozen are missing.
A baby red squirrel which was found close to death has been nursed back to health by rescuers who even fashioned a pintsize hammock for the animal.

The 'almost-lifeless' animal was discovered in a woodland 'shivering, soaked and sodden' after it was thought to had been blown out of a tree during high winds last week.

Two boys found the poor creature, who they named Stormy, near the Necessity Brae area of Perth, Scotland, on Saturday and carefully wrapped it in tissues and a plastic doggy bag before calling local wildlife volunteers.

Katie McCandless, from Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, said he is thought to be only eight weeks old.

She and volunteers swiftly arranged a 'little cave' for the animal - with a squirrel-sized hammock, and daily snacks consisting of nuts, broccoli and apples.

A baby red squirrel which was found close to death has been nursed back to health by rescuers who even fashioned a pintsize hammock for the animal

The 'almost-lifeless' animal was discovered in a woodland 'shivering, soaked and sodden' after it was thought to had been blown out of a tree during high winds last week

Katie McCandless (pictured), from Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, said he is thought to be only eight weeks old

Katie said: 'We received a phone call and our volunteer Christine Faulds Quinn was straight on the case.

'It was essential to get him warmed up - so when Christine first got Stormy, she put him down her top to get him all dried up from the rain as it's the quickest way!

'We always would want to help any animal, but as a protected species, him being so young, and the condition he was found in, we wanted to make sure he had the best chance of survival possible.

'Stormy is doing extremely well and is living is the best life in squirrel paradise.'

Christine added: 'He was literally in a poo bag and tissue and he was just absolutely drenched.

'I just sat with him down my top and cuddled him and dried him off with a towel. We then took him to the house of one of our volunteer's for him to look after him.'

The animal is now under the care of another volunteer who is experienced in rehabilitating red squirrels, Judith Hogg - and is being 'spoiled with love'.

The team have confirmed Stormy will be released back into the wild in two to three weeks - in a countryside location with lots of woods, no main roads and with others of his kind.

A selection of squirrel boxes are being made by the team, which will be placed around the new area for him to move into.

Two boys found the poor creature, who they named Stormy, near the Necessity Brae area of Perth , Scotland, on Saturday

Wildlife rescue volunteers swiftly arranged a 'little cave' for the animal - with a squirrel-sized hammock, and daily snacks consisting of nuts, broccoli and apples

The team have confirmed Stormy will be released back into the wild in two to three weeks

A selection of squirrel boxes are being made by the team, which will be placed around the new area for Stormy to move into

Red squirrels are classed as endangered on The Mammal Society's Red List for Britain's Mammals due to their overall population decline.

Scotland supports 75% of the UK population, yet even there they are classed as near threatened.

About 150 years ago, grey squirrels from America were introduced in the UK.

This has led to competition between the two species for food, with grey squirrels coming out on top and red squirrels being 'starved out', the trust says.

Grey squirrels also carry diseases which can kill red squirrels.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust encourages the public to report sightings of squirrels, to allow populations to be monitored.

Updates on Stormy and the other animals in the care of Missing Pets in Perth and Kinross can be found on the group's Facebook page.
The animals have been listed as endangered in the state since 1980, largely due to hunting by humans

Rep. Dan Newhouse introduced legislature that would block a move to reintroduce grizzlies to North Cascades National Park

A Washington state Republican has proposed legislation that would block a federal proposal to release grizzly bears in a state park - even as their numbers dwindle.

The legislation introduced by Representative Dan Newhouse would force the Department of the Interior to withdraw a proposed rule that would lead to the release of grizzlies in North Cascades National Park.

There has not been a confirmed grizzly sighting in the North Cascades since 1996, and the bears have been listed as endangered in the state since 1980.

However, some of the most suitable habitat remains in the North Cascades, according to the National Park Service.

While habitat loss likely played a role in their decline, killing by trappers, miners and bounty hunters in the 1800s decimated the population in the area - and it has yet to recover.

There has not been a confirmed grizzly sighting in the North Cascades since 1996 - but a Washington state Republican is trying to block a federal plan to reintroduce them

The grizzly population in the state continues to dwindle after direct killing by trappers, miners and bounty hunters in the 1800s nearly wiped the species out

Rep. Dan Newhouse has persistently blocked measures to reintroduce the species in his state, citing their role as an 'apex predator' with 'a bite force capable of devastating a human body'

'Central Washingtonians have consistently voiced their concerns and opposition over the introduction of grizzly bears into the North Cascades Ecosystem, yet unelected bureaucrats from the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service continue to try to force these predators upon our communities,' Newhouse wrote in a op-ed.

He urged the agencies to withdraw their proposed rule 'so members of the region can rest safely knowing that an 800 pound apex predator is not going to enter into their backyard.'

Under the plan, up to seven grizzly bears would be released annually into the North Cascades ecosystem over the course of the next five to 10 years.

These would be mostly female bears, typically between two and five years old, with no history of human conflicts.

The federal government's goal would be to establish a grizzly bear population of around 200 bears in the coming decades.

'Grizzly bears are an apex predator recognized to be over twenty times more dangerous than black bears. They possess a bite force capable of devastating a human body within seconds and are infamous for breaking into homes and inflicting fatal maulings,' Newhouse wrote.

A 2019 paper in the scientific journal Nature reported a global bear attack rate of approximately 40 brown bear attacks per year - with more than half occurring in Europe.

The Biden administration's proposal includes three options.

Two entail restoring populations of the threatened apex predator species, while an alternative simply maintains current management practices.

The bears would be gradually reintroduced to the North Cascades National Park, starting with up to seven mostly female grizzlies over the next seven to ten years

The Biden administration's proposal includes three options: two would restore populations while an alternative would maintain current management practices.

Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposed actions through mid-November.

Newhouse urged his constituents to attend both virtual and in-person meetings 'to ensure your voices are heard.'

'And rest assured, I will use every means at my disposal to put a stop to this ill-advised proposal in Congress,' he wrote.

Plans to bring this endangered species back to the North Cascades have been batted around since the Obama administration.

In 2020, the Trump administration said grizzlies would not be restored - following dogged pressure from Newhouse.

The commissioners of Chelan County wrote to the NPS last December, citing a history of 'extensive comments opposing grizzly bear reintroduction into our local communities.'

They reiterated their steadfast opposition 'given the likely negative impacts to public safety, economic development, recreation opportunities and the overall livelihood of our rural communities.'

The closest town to North Cascades National Park is Marblemount, a handful of hotels and restaurants located just over five and a half miles away. The population is estimated at around 121.

Chelan County is close to 200 miles away from the park, but male grizzlies tend to roam in ranges up to 1,000 square miles.

The range of females is far smaller, at around 100 square miles.

Bears are more than just 'apex predators' - they are 'keystone species' that serve an indispensable role in the ecosystem as population managers and pollinators

Environmental organizations have spoken out in support of the reintroduction plan, citing ways local communities have managed to peacefully coexist with grizzlies for years

Newhouse has remained steadfast in his opposition since before 2020, when the Trump administration declared that grizzlies would not be restored

On the opposing side, environmental justice organizations have voiced their support for the reintroduction of grizzlies in the North Cascades.

In a 2022 letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, a coalition of more than a dozen groups highlighted the proven ways people could coexist with animals.

This included the use of bear-resistant trashcans and electric fences in nearby locales.

"Fortunately, communities in the Rocky Mountains and elsewhere have demonstrated how humans can live successfully alongside grizzly bears, utilizing the many effective nonlethal tools to prevent conflicts between people and bears,' they wrote.

Grizzlies' role in the ecosystem is often misunderstood.

They serve as more than just 'apex predators,' but as a keystone species - so-called for their impact on other creatures that rely on them.

These bears maintain healthy populations of their prey, including salmon and deer.

They are unlikely pollinators, dispensing seeds and berries through their feces. They are also known to fertilize trees by catching salmon and bringing into wooded areas.

A popular campaign known as Fat Bear Week has attempted to shift the public perception of brown bears.

In a bracket-style competition, voters pick the burliest bear - as the animals frantically try to gain weight for the winter.

This year's winner was 128 Grazer, a defensive mother and first-time holder of the title.
An SNP councillor is under investigation after claiming a Sri Lanka-born Labour opponent might not understand Scottish politics because she was a new Scot.

During an Aberdeen City Council meeting, Nationalist councillor Kairin van Sweeden said: I realise as a new Scot, councillor Tissera maybe doesnt know about the mitigations that the SNP Government have had to put in, for example the bedroom tax. Maybe you are not aware of the bedroom tax.

Deena Tissera said she was shocked by the absolutely racist verbal attack.

She shouted back: I would like to be respected and I do not appreciate those comments. I have taken the Life in the UK test to become a citizen, I probably know more than you do.

Her colleagues then leapt to her defence against what they branded discrimination.

Ms van Sweeden later referred herself to the Standards Commission.

Deena Tissera said she was shocked by the absolutely racist verbal attack

The Labour councillor has now written to Humza Yousaf to demand that racist Ms van Sweeden is suspended from the party.

In the letter, Ms Tissera said: The situation I write to you about is racism from one of your members, councillor van Sweeden. Her comments shocked me and shocked the council. The innuendo of her comments were that I had just come off the boat and as a new Scot  her words  I am not as Scottish as others.

Apologising for his colleagues remarks, French-born SNP council co-leader Christian Allard said: Word choice matters to people who have made Scotland their homes.

Ms van Sweeden subsequently told the meeting: I would like to apologise to councillor Tissera unreservedly.

An SNP spokesman said: Councillor van Sweeden has taken the decision to refer herself to the Standards Commission and requested the SNP national secretary investigate comments she made. She has stepped back from her SNP party membership.
Humza Yousaf faces the threat of an exodus of politicians from his party after the bombshell defection of one of his MPs to the Tories.

Lisa Cameron yesterday quit the SNP to become a Conservative MP, citing the toxic and bullying treatment to which she was subjected by her Nationalist colleagues.

She revealed that her mental health has deteriorated through her ordeal in the SNP Westminster group and that she had been prescribed antidepressants.

Senior party figures warned Mr Yousaf of the threat that more parliamentarians will follow her out the door unless he changes course and ditches daft policies.

The East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP said she had been offered support by Rishi Sunak in recent weeks after opening up about her mental wellbeing, but had no contact from the SNP leadership.

She also hit out at the division caused by the SNPs pursuit of independence and said she would now focus on policies which benefit all four nations of the UK.

Dr Cameron said she felt unable to continue in the SNP after she was subjected to 'toxic and bullying' treatment

Lisa Cameron winning her SNP seat on election night with her husband (left)

The Prime Minister yesterday hailed her as a brave and committed MP and said she was right to look for more empathy and less division.

The First Minister dismissed her comments, claimed she probably never supported independence in the first place and called for her to quit and trigger a by-election.

Dr Cameron attributes the treatment she received to her decision to speak out in support of the harassment victim of fellow Nationalist MP Patrick Grady.

In an explosive statement given exclusively to MailOnline yesterday, she said: I do not feel able to continue in what I have experienced as a toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group, which resulted in my requiring counselling for a period of 12 months in Parliament and caused significant deterioration in my health and wellbeing as assessed by my GP, including the need for antidepressants.

I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrators interests over that of the victims and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.

She said she has had no contact from the SNP leadership in recent weeks after telling how she was ostracised by colleagues for speaking up for Mr Gradys victim, but said members of every other party offered her support and compassion.

I am particularly grateful to the Prime Minister in valuing my continued contribution to Parliament as a health professional and in taking time to listen, she said.

It is the first time I have felt heard and shows positive, inclusive leadership in contrast to that which I have encountered in the SNP at Westminster over many years.

In comments ahead of the SNP conference, she hit out at the division the partys pursuit of independence has caused and revealed she will focus on policies which benefit the four nations of the UK. She said: Families like mine experienced significant division regarding the issue of independence.

The Prime Minister yesterday hailed Dr Lisa Cameron as a brave and committed MP and said she was right to look for more empathy and less division.

Im delighted Lisa Cameron has decided to join the Conservatives. She is a brave and committed constituency MP. Lisa is right that we should aim to do politics better, with more empathy and less division. PM Rishi Sunak

This has taken its toll and I have come to the conclusion that it is more helpful to focus my energies upon constructive policies that benefit everyone across the four nations of the UK, and to move towards healing these divisions for the collective good.

Dr Cameron added: Being in the SNP has been bad for my health. I will be taking time as advised to recuperate and will continue as always to focus upon serving my constituents.

Veteran Nationalist MSP Fergus Ewing yesterday condemned the way his partys leadership had handled the issue  and warned others may desert the SNP unless Mr Yousaf changes course.

He told the Mail: Whatever the rights and wrongs on the situation, on a human level it doesnt sound as if the SNP leadership did right by this lady.

Mr Ewing said there is general malcontent in the SNP and said he and others are demanding radical change before Christmas, including ditching the Greens. Asked if there is a danger of more politicians walking away from the SNP, he said: Of course there is because they are put off by the dangerous and daft alliance with the Greens and have been scunnered and frankly punished by daft policies.

Dr Cameron announced her defection hours before her local branch selected party staffer Grant Costello to be the SNP candidate for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow in the next general election.

She is the first ever parliamentarian to switch from the SNP to the Tories.

Mr Sunak said: I am delighted that Lisa Cameron has decided to join the Conservatives. She is a brave and committed constituency MP.

Lisa is right that we should aim to do politics better, with more empathy and less division and a dedication to always doing what we think is right.

Mr Yousaf yesterday failed to address Dr Camerons claims of bullying by colleagues. When asked about her announcement, he said: Its the least surprising news Ive had as leader of the SNP, I must confess. Lisa Cameron should do the honourable thing, she should resign her seat.

He added: To see somebody who claims to have supported Scottish independence cross the floor to the Conservative and Unionist Party betrays the fact that she probably never believed in the cause in the first place.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: Lisa took a principled stand in supporting the victim in the Patrick Grady case, when her party took the side of the disgraced MP.

For doing so, she has been shamefully and inexplicably mistreated by the SNP.

Labours Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: This bizarre move shows that the SNP is falling apart before our eyes.
The United Auto Workers union has escalated its strike against Detroit's three automakers with 8,700 members walking off the job at Ford's largest factory and threats of further action against Jeep maker Stellantis.

In a surprise move, thousands more UAW members joined the general strike to down tools at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, truck plant, which rakes in around $25 billion in revenue each year.

The factory makes some of the brand's most lucrative products, including its F-Series pickup trucks and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs.

The action is estimated to cost Ford roughly $30 million per day, UAW leader Todd Dunn told the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer itself warned the 'grossly irresponsible' strike action means possible layoffs and closures at more than a dozen Ford facilities, including parts supply plants that employ over 100,000 people.

8,700 UAW members at Ford's Kentucky truck plant decided to strike in a surprise move likely to cost the manufacturer $30 million per day

The action, which has raised the stakes for all the manufacturers, came after negotiations between the UAW and Ford broke down on Wednesday. On Thursday, union President Shawn Fain hinted at further action against Stellantis.

'Here's to hoping talks at Stellantis today are more productive than Ford yesterday,' he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Fain said the union has waited long enough 'but Ford hasnt gotten the message' to bargain for a fair contract.

'If they cant understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it,' he added.

The strike came nearly four weeks after the union began its walkouts against the three Detroit automakers - General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

It brings the total number of autoworkers on strike to around 33,700 after 4,000 workers at Mack Trucks voted to join the general strike earlier this week.

The UAW is seeking 40 percent pay raise over four years, as well as a four-day work week, paid at five, and better retirement and health benefits.

The latest action unfolded after Ford executives failed to produce a significantly different economic proposal.

The UAW is seeking 40 percent pay raise over four years, as well as a four-day work week, paid at five, and better retirement and health benefits

At a meeting at Ford's headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, Fain was told the company put a strong offer on the table, but there wasn't a lot of room to increase it and keep it affordable for the business.

Fain responded by saying, 'if that's the company's best offer, "You just lost Kentucky Truck Plant,"' a senior executive said. 'The meeting only lasted about 15 minutes,' he added.

In a video, Fain said the union moved because Ford didn't change its offer. 'We've been very patient working with the company on this,' he said. 'They have not met expectations, they're not even coming to the table on it.'

However, executives did say they are working on possibly bringing electric vehicle battery plants into the UAW national contract, essentially making them unionized.

Local union recording secretary Anthony Spencer, who has worked at the Ford truck plant for eight years and helped organize the walkout, said the surprise action would get Ford's attention.

'We know its going to hit them. We lose a lot of millions of dollars every day that we dont run,' he said. 'This is a historic moment.'

Spencer said: 'Weve got people thats got 30, 35, 40 years - theyve never been on strike. So the morale is good.'

UAW President Shawn Fain threatened further action towards Stellantis in a post on X, formerly Twitter, unless negotiations progressed today

Workers at the Kentucky truck plant, which manufacturers some of Ford's most popular vehicles including F-series pickup trucks and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs, arrived early in the morning to join the picket

He said there were a few sticking points with negotiations that prompted the strike, including the unionization of Fords electric vehicle workers and employee raises.

'We all know if we ever go EV, were going to lose a lot of members that build engines, transmissions, and they got to have a place to go,' Spencer said.

Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, who follows labor issues, said the union is turning up the pressure on Ford.

But the automakers have made concessions, raised wage offers and 'may have reached their resistance points to varying degrees.' Executives, he said, have bottom-line positions they cant cross in terms of staying competitive with other automakers.

The unions move doesnt leave him optimistic for a quick end to the strikes, Masters said: 'I think the issues that remain on the table are quite thorny,' and pointed to union demands that all workers get defined benefit pensions and health insurance when they retire.

The UAW expanded its strikes on Sept. 22, adding 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Assembly plants from Ford and GM were added the week after that.

Thus far, the union has decided to target a small number of plants from each company rather than have all 146,000 UAW members at the automakers go on strike at the same time.

Last week, the union reported progress in the talks and decided not to add any more plants. This came after GM agreed to bring joint-venture electric vehicle battery factories into the national master contract, almost assuring that the plants will be unionized.

The Stand Up Strike just hit Ford's biggest plant. Here's how it went down, and why 8,700 members at Kentucky Truck Plant took action.#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/mzO0AZGMKS  UAW (@UAW) October 12, 2023

The UAW general strike has been rumbling since September 15 and has seen almost 5,000 workers laid off as the manufacturers desperately try to cut costs

Battery plants are a major point of contention in the negotiations. The UAW wants those plants to be unionized to assure jobs and top wages for workers who will be displaced by the industrys ongoing transition to electric vehicles.

In its first two weeks, the strike was estimated to have cost the US economy $4 billion, according to a report by the Anderson Economic Group.

And since the beginning of the industrial action the three Detroit automakers have laid off roughly 4,800 workers at factories that are not among the plants that have been hit by the UAW strikes.

Striking workers are receiving $500 a week from the unions strike pay fund. In some states, laid-off workers could qualify for state unemployment aid, which, depending on a variety of circumstances, could be less or more than $500 a week.

Separate companies that manufacture parts for the automakers are likely to have laid off workers but might not report them publicly, said Patrick Anderson, CEO of the Anderson Economic Group in Lansing, Michigan.

A survey of parts supply companies by a trade association called MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers found that 30 percent of members have laid off workers and that more than 60 percent expect to start layoffs in mid-October.
Shocking video shows the moment two women tear down posters of innocent Israeli children who were taken hostage by Hamas - with one saying 'this is for Palestine!'

The British-Israeli woman who filmed the encounter has revealed how she received verbal abuse from other members of the public while putting the fliers up in north London.

Neta Fibeesh, who knows someone who was abducted by Hamas, told MailOnline that she was sworn at and intimidated by members of the public as she put the fliers out to 'advocate for human rights'.

The 23-year-old said some of her Jewish friends have been 'scared' on the streets of Britain since the conflict broke out, being sworn at and even trying to hide their religion to avoid abuse.

The PhD student came back to the UK on one of British Airways' final flights out of Tel Aviv this week, and said things have been 'unpleasant' and 'upsetting' since she returned.

Neta Fibeesh, 23, a British Israeli student who came back to the UK on one of British Airways' final flights out of Tel Aviv this week

One of the posters shows four-year-old Ariel, whose kidnapping alongside his months-old baby brother Kfir and their mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas horrified the world

Asked by an onlooker 'why don't you do something for Palestine?' one of the women replies furiously 'this is for Palestine!'

The posters, designed by kidnappedfromisrael.com, show images of Israelis abducted by Hamas terrorists

Neta was born in Israel but came to the UK with her family when she was three, before recently moving back to study a PhD in neurobiology at Tel Aviv University.

'On Saturday morning I woke up to the rockets, heard the sirens and saw the story unfold in the news,' she said.

'When we saw that tensions had escalated my parents managed to get me on a flight, pretty much the last flight going back to the UK.'

Neta got one of the last BA planes leaving the Israeli capital, and said the plane had to wait on the tarmac as Israel's Iron Dome took down missiles overhead.

Neta said that all of her friends back in Israel are sheltering from the missiles and that people her age are being called up as combat reserves.

She said she has been 'restless' since returning to the UK and wanted to do something to help, so printed off the fliers to distribute.

One of the posters shows four-year-old Ariel, whose kidnapping alongside his months-old baby brother Kfir and their mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas horrified the world.

Neta and her mother were putting out the posters around Mornington Crescent, north London, when people came to rip them down.

Two women then approached them and started 'aggressively tearing off the flyers', with Neta filming the moment she confronted them.

Asked by another onlooker 'why don't you do something for Palestine?' one of the women replies furiously 'this is for Palestine!'

Neta then tells the pair that the issues are 'not mutually exclusive', before adding in reference to the missing posters 'it's children, it's innocent people.'

Clutching the posters, the woman then shouts back: 'How about the children in Palestine?'

Neta told MailOnline in the aftermath of her experience: 'This past week has been just devastating.

'Innocents have been kidnapped - a close family friend of mine, her grandma is one of those who has been abducted.'

Neta and her mother were putting out the posters around Mornington Crescent, north London, when people came to rip them down

Two women then approached them and started 'aggressively tearing off the flyers', with Neta filming the moment she confronted them

She added: 'I feel safer in the UK because it's not a warzone, but it is still really unpleasant here. It's just really upsetting.

'I know a lot of people who are scared about being Jewish now in the UK.

'One of my friends is more religious than me, he wears a kippah and has been walking around for several days with a hat, and my dad saw someone wearing a kippah get sworn at.'

Neta said that while her parents' home is in a predominantly Jewish community, she is still worried about people knowing the family's faith.

'We have a small symbol - a mezuzah - on my house, indicating we are Jewish. I told my parents to take it down because I'm stressed.

'We live in a Jewish area but I don't know if it will be safe still.'

Her testimony comes as Rishi Sunak last night told police chiefs to get a grip on anti-Israel hate, with two Jewish schools in London closing until Monday for the safety of their pupils.

Shocking video shows two women tearing down posters of innocent civilians taken hostage by the terrorists shortly after they were put up in north London

Neta Fibeesh's mother puts up posters of kidnapped Israeli civilians in north London

Neta said that when leafleting she had been 'advised to go in groups for safety reasons', but that she had started initially without her parents.

While out putting up posters alone, Neta said she was approached by a man who told her: 'I don't understand why you are doing this, this is karma, they brought this upon themselves.'

'I replied "It's children, it's innocent civilians" and they said "it's karma for what their people are doing''.

She said a man then came right up to her and swore at her, giving her the middle finger as he shouted 'free Palestine'.

Neta said: 'It's outrageous that in other places in the world where terror attacks are happening you don't have to justify to people why its wrong.

'It's not a political view, it's just advocating for human rights.'

Pictured: Photographs of some of the Israelis who have been captured by Hamas on display in London

Pictured: Armed Hamas terrorists taking a man hostage at the Supernova music festival, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel

Hamas terrorists launched a bloody raid on villages near the Gaza border, killing at least 260 festivalgoers and countless more.

They took around 150 people hostage, including mothers and children and a Holocaust survivor.

Israel declared a war on Hamas in response, and has been bombarding the heavily-populated Gaza Strip since.

Israel has reported at least 1,300 deaths since the conflict broke out, while the Palestinian Health Ministry has said 1,417 people have been killed in Gaza.

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in northern Gaza City on October 12

Israel amassed tanks near the Gaza Strip ahead of a planned ground invasion to annihilate Hamas

Blinken urged Israel to show restraint in its retaliation, but also reiterated America's support, saying: 'We will always be there by your side'

Israeli Iron Dome intercepts missiles launched from the Gaza strip on, 11 October 2023

The death toll is set to rise much further, with airstrikes continuing to bombard the small, Hamas-controlled enclave which is home to 2.3million people.

Israel's military chief last night said, 'Now is the time for war' as his country amassed tanks near the Gaza Strip ahead of a planned ground invasion to annihilate Hamas.

Israel has vowed to retaliate for the attack launched on October 7, the deadliest by Palestinian terrorists in Israeli history.

Seeking to raise support for its response, Israel's government released harrowing images of babies they said were murdered and burned in their own homes by Hamas terrorists.

Pictured: An Israeli soldier walks among abandoned tents at the site of the Supernova music festival on Thursday. More than 260 people were killed and an unknown number were taken hostage

An Image released by IDF shows reserve forces as they deploy in in the settlements near the border with Lebanon in the north of Israel

One appalling image shows the small body of a baby, who couldn't be more than a year old, lying on a bloodied white body bag intended for an adult.

Graphic images were shown to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Nato defence ministers graphic images of children and civilians they said Hamas had killed in its weekend rampage.

Blinken said they showed a baby 'riddled with bullets', soldiers beheaded and young people burned in their cars.

'It's simply depravity in the worst imaginable way,' he said. 'It's really beyond anything that we can comprehend.'

Like others across the globe, Blinken urged Israel to show restraint in its retaliation, but also reiterated America's support, saying: 'We will always be there by your side.'

The RAF is expected to begin patrols in the next 24 hours, during which they will monitor threats to regional stability. Picture shows service personnel getting ready to deploy

Rishi Sunak also repeated the UK's steadfast support for Israel and the government's condemnation of Hamas terrorists as he announced Britain would be sending two Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean.

The military package will also include P8 aircraft, surveillance assets, two Royal Navy ships - Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels Lyme Bay and Argus - three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, Downing Street said.

The RAF is expected to begin patrols from Friday, during which they will monitor threats to regional security, including the transfer of weapons to Hamas.
One Northern California high school student was shocked to receive rejections from 16 of the 18 colleges he applied to and has since been offered a position at Google.

Stanley Zhong, 18, of Palo Alto had a 3.97 grade point average and a 4.42 weighted GPA along with a 1590 on the SATs going into college application time.

Despite his above-average test scores and GPA, the teenager did not get into 88 percent of his desired colleges, including MIT, Stanford, and several state schools.

'Oh, well, some of them were certainly expected. You know, Stanford, MIT, you know, it's, it is what it is, right?...Some of the state schools I really thought, you know, I had a good chance and turns out a bit of a chance I had, I didn't get in,' he told ABC 7.

His two acceptances came from the University of Texas and University of Maryland.

Stanley Zhong, 18, was offered a job at Google as a software engineer after being rejected from 16 of the 18 colleges he applied to

Two of the more prestigious schools to reject Stanley were Stanford (left) and MIT (right)

Zhong is a 2023 graduate of Gunn High School in Palo Alto.

Talking with ABC, he said he was excited to start applying to college after staying busy in high school, launching an e-signing startup business in sophomore year.

It was his test scores, GPA, and commitment to his chosen field - software engineering - that he thought would give him an edge in the application process.

However, despite this factors, his overall application failed to impress most of the schools that he applied to.

In total, Stanley was rejected by: MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cornell University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, Caltech, University of Washington and University of Wisconsin.

Several schools the teen was rejected from have lower average GPA and test scores than Stanley's own stats, including California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo which has a middle 50 percent GPA of 4.13-4.25 for admitted engineering students.

He admitted that he knew many of the colleges he had applied to were difficult to get into, he assumed he had a fair shot at a good portion of them and was shocked when the rejections began rolling in.

Ultimately, the teenager decided to enroll at the University of Texas - one of the only two schools that immediately accepted him.

Shortly after accepting, however, Stanley received the shock of his life: a full-time job offer from software and tech giant Google.

He ended up deciding to put his enrollment at the Texas school on hold and try his hand on Google's campus rather than a college campus.

'Oh, well, some of them were certainly expected. You know, Stanford, MIT, you know, it's, it is what it is, right?...Some of the state schools I really thought, you know, I had a good chance and turns out a bit of a chance I had, I didn't get in,' Stanley told ABC 7

ACCEPTED! Stanley got into the University of Texas (left) and the University of Maryland Iright)

The University of California Los Angeles (left) and the University of California at Berkeley both rejected Stanley

While Stanley is choosing to focus on his new job, his father told ABC 7 they decided to talk with local media to bring transparency in the college admissions process.

The story has since gone viral and sparked outrage from parents and average Americans who cannot understand how this could happen to an extraordinary candidate.

Thousands have commented on social media reports sharing Stanley's story, congratulating on overcoming the rejections and scolding the schools.

'I feel like this will be the eventuality. There are in fact a lot of really smart young people out there. How will we stand out in the future? Time will tell!'

'Dang! What's a kid gotta do to be accepted?! Well it looks like he'll have a bright future no matter!'

'How did they reject him, glad google picked him up, best of luck to him.'

'That's insane, back when I was his age he would have his picking of any school he wanted. How times have changed.'

'Good for him!! These colleges now in days ask for an arm and a limb just to apply !!'

'Eff these colleges!!! Nothing but money grabbing schemes!!! So happy for this young man. Congrats to him & his family.'

'Not every career field requires a college degree. If you have the brains, you're hired and paid. Congratulations to him.'

Stanley is pictured in his graduation cap and gown in a photo shared with ABC 7

In a follow up story, one college admissions expert told ABC 7 they see several reasons why Stanley may have been rejected despite his qualifications.

Allen Koh is CEO of Cardinal Education. Families pay his educational consultants to help students compete against other very well qualified college applicants out there.

Koh is not surprised colleges rejected Zhong's application.

He said it's possible that Stanley's intense commitment to the computer sciences could have come off as 'too unidirectional for most universities.'

Additionally, he said that the sciences are one of the hardest fields to get into.

'All the sciences are much harder to get into. In particular, engineering is much harder to get into than the other majors,' Koh said..

;An Asian male, computer science, the probabilities are Darwinian - much worse than for any other demographic,' said Koh.

According to Zippia, 18.8 percent of computer scientists are Asian while the majority - 64.2 percent - are considered Caucasian.

Additionally, race could not have factored into many of the decisions for Zhong as California has race-blind policies in place for college admissions.

Schools like UC Berkeley have spent millions working to cultivate diverse campuses despite the affirmative action ban, which Golden State voters passed in 1996.

Some programs have included schools targeting low-income students and admission guarantees to more students.

Those programs, however, have failed to significantly increase racial diversity but have helped to increase geographic diversity and increase enrollment.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court banned colleges from using race as a factor when admitting students in a landmark ruling on affirmative action.

The justices decided in a 6-3 vote that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)'s race-based affirmative action admissions policy was unconstitutional.

They also ruled 6-2 that Harvard's admission policy should also be struck down.

The ruling ended the decades-old 'affirmative action' policy that was designed to boost the number of black and Hispanic students in colleges.

Now universities will have to look to new ways to better incorporate minority groups and ensure representation among student bodies.

'Because Harvard's and UNC's admissions programs lack sufficiently focused and measurable objectives warranting the use of race, unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful end points, those admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause,' states the majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts.
A 68-year-old woman from Omaha, Nebraska, sent $15,000 to a man who claimed to be Johnny Depp after he told her he needed money to pay for a wedding planner.

The woman reported to the police that 'Depp' first contacted her through Messenger, the Meta app, and continued the communication through multiple phone numbers.

According to the woman, the scammer explained that he required $10,000 for a wedding planner because 'he had his money tied up in different things'.

Moved by his request, she provided her credit card information and sent $10,000 to the individual, who promptly appeared to repay the amount.

But the woman sensed that she might be a victim of a scam, and decided to stop talking to the man.

A 68-year-old woman from Omaha, Nebraska, sent $15,000 to a man who claimed to be Johnny Depp (pictured), claiming that he needed money to pay for a wedding planner

Johnny Depp warned fans last year that 'quite convincing' scammers are still using fake social media accounts pretending to be him and offering to meet or speak to them for money

Subsequently, the alleged scammer canceled the supposed $10,000 repayment and proceeded to extract an additional $5,000 from the woman.

The woman gave police an email address and phone numbers that the man called from, which could help investigators retrieve phone logs and other information.

She also contacted her credit card company in an effort to retrieve the money.

Another Nebraska woman became a fraud victim earlier this month when she found an unauthorized withdrawal from her account.

A scammer sent her a series of texts with numbers she was supposed to read back. She thinks that may have given them the authorization code for a wire transfer.

'I turned around to my husband and I said, "I think weve just been hacked or something has happened to that $20,000 that was in your account",' Jackie File told 6 News.

The money wire transfer came after Jackie answered a call.

'It said on my phone, it said "Wells Fargo",' said Jackie.

Johnny Depp warned fans last year that 'quite convincing' scammers are still using fake social media accounts pretending to be him and offering to meet or speak to them for money.

In a statement on his Instagram story, the American actor's team wrote: 'We have been made aware that there continues to be fraudulent imposters pretending to be Johnny or those on his team, offering meetings or promising time with him, often for payment.

The woman gave police an email address and phone numbers that 'Depp' called from, which could help investigators retrieve phone logs and other information

Depp took to social media to warn fans of fake accounts on various platforms pretending to be him

'Some of these attempts appear to be quite convincing, for example by digitally mimicking his voice and using other forms of communication that appear to be authentic.

'Please be aware that these are scams. It is not Johnny or anyone from his team. These people are criminals trying to make money off of vulnerable, kind people.

'If you are aware of this happening, or have been targeted yourself, please report it to the online fraud teams at your local police forces.'

The statement went on to explain that Johnny does not communicate with fans by email, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, text, fan sites or phone calls.
DeSantis said stranded citizens were asking him for help after receiving none from federal government or US Embassy

Governor Ron DeSantis launched mercy flights to bring stranded Jewish Floridians back to the US from war-torn Israel.

DeSantis signed an executive order today to launch the effort, which he says is to benefit the '20,000' American citizens who remain in Israel as the conflict rages on.

He hopes to charter jets from Israel to Europe, where citizens can then fly home safely.

In his reasoning for the order, DeSantis slammed the Biden administration for failing to launch its own rescue flights sooner.

The Biden administration finally announced its plan to bring Americans home this afternoon - days after other countries like Bulgaria, Mexico, Germany and Thailand launched repatriation flights for their citizens.

DeSantis signed an executive order today to launch the effort, which he says is to benefit the '20,000' American citizens who remain in Israel as the conflict rages on

A woman welcomes children upon arrival at Frankfurt International Airport, Frankfurt am Main, western Germany on October 12, 2023, after a first flight by German airline Lufthansa from Tel Aviv, Israel, repatriated German nationals, as a full-blown war has erupted since Hamas militants launched their attack on Israel

Republican Congressman Cory Mills has already rescued 32 Americans who were stranded in Israel.

His office tells DailyMail.com he intends to return to bring more home.

'Floridians stranded in Israel are requesting help from the Executive Office of the Governor and from nearly every member of Florida's congressional delegation, because they are not receiving timely assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Israel and are not receiving any follow-up after enrolling in the U.S. Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program,' DeSantis rages in his letter.

His efforts on Wednesday came as the White House continued to ponder its plan for getting any stranded Americans out.

Rep. Cory Mills evacuated 32 Americans from Israel after flying to the region overnight

It's unclear if Mills and the group are now back in the US

Mills, shown on a bus with some of the group, is a vocal critic of the Biden administration

John Kirby, Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, said there were 'active conversations' about how to bring Americans and dual citizens home, but no specifics had been decided upon.

'We're in active touch with American citizens in Israel, many of them are dual nationalities... there are still commercial carriers flying in and out and there are viable ground routes.

'Neither of those options may necessarily be feasible or affordable, so we are exploring a range of other options to assist if Americans want to leave, I'm just not at liberty to go into that.'

At a briefing this afternoon, John Kirby, Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, said there were 'active conversations' about how to bring Americans and dual citizens home, but no specifics had been decided upon

Mills previously rescued Americans from Kabul during the disastrous withdrawal of American troops in September 2021

The exact number of Americans or dual citizens living in Israel remains unconfirmed by the State Department.

So far, 22 Americans have been killed and 17 remain missing, including a small number who are feared to have been taken hostage by Hamas.

The White House has not yet decided whether or not it will negotiate with Hamas to secure their release.

There is yet to be any proof of life for those who have been taken.

Among the unaccounted for are dual citizens including young, Israeli-American teenagers who are fighting in the IDF.

The casualties include husband and wife Deborah and Shlomi Mathias, who were shot dead in front of their son, Rotem, on Saturday.

Rotem, 16, survived by playing dead. Today, he told of the horror he witnessed.
If you thought the idiotic bile, the bizarre rationalizations, the inane whataboutism from the Left over the Hamas slaughter of Israelis had run its course  think again.

None other than Democratic Socialist hero Senator Bernie Sanders has joined the chat.

In a dizzying statement full of equivocation and gross omissions on Wednesday, Sanders demanded that Israels response to the terrorist massacre be reigned in.

He accuses the Jewish State of a war crime and serious violation of international law by cutting off its supply of food, water and power to Gaza. Children and innocent people do not deserve to be punished, he writes.

Of course, they dont, Senator. And neither does Israel target civilians.

But whats so strange about his statement is that he doesnt say much about the Israelis indiscriminately killed.

Theres nothing of the credible reports of children beheaded by Hamas savages, women raped and burned to death, threats to execute hostages, including defenseless elderly, young festival-goers and the disabled.

If you thought the idiotic bile, the bizarre rationalizations, the inane whataboutism from the Left over the Hamas slaughter of Israelis had run its course  think again. None other than Democratic Socialist hero Senator Bernie Sanders has joined the chat. In a statement, Sanders demanded that Israels response to the terrorist massacre be reigned in.

Theres scant recognition of the undeniable mass slaughter of Jews.

Its outrageous. Sanders accuses Israel of war crimes but soft-pedals on Hamas?

What must be shouted  loud and clear by all  is these terrorists can never again be allowed to walk this Earth. But in Sanders nauseatingly cautious prose, he fails to even come close to saying that.

President Joe Biden mustered an outright condemnation of these barbarians. Why cant he?

This moment demands moral clarity  not confusion, caveats and obfuscation.

Now, it may be easy to dismiss the scribblings of a wild-haired, 82-year-old, Soviet-sympathizer from Vermont as the raving of a fringe lunatic. But Sanders is no backbencher.

He won nearly 30 percent of the Democratic electorate in the 2020 primaries. In 2016, he came even closer, with almost 45 percent of the vote against Hillary Clinton.

Sanders is the face of raging Left-wing progressivism and America must now admit that a large part of that movement is viciously anti-Israel and possibly even worse.

You need look no further than Sunday's rally of the Democratic Socialists of America in New York Citys Times Square.

Holding signs that read When people are occupied, resistance is justified, they marched through the streets of the city with the largest Jewish population in the world.

One protestor waved a swastika displayed on his smartphone.

Up until this week, six Democrat members of Congress were DSA members. So far only one has resigned from the organization and it took their most prominent member, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortes, two whole days to condemn this disgusting display of hatred.

But will she now step down from the DSA, too?

Sanders is the face of raging Left-wing progressivism and America must now admit that a large part of that movement is viciously anti-Israel and possibly even worse. You need look no further than Sunday's rally of the Democratic Socialists of America in New York Citys Times Square. One protestor waved a swastika displayed on his smartphone.

Up until this week, six Democrat members of Congress were DSA members. So far only one has resigned from the organization and it took their most prominent member, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortes, two whole days to condemn this disgusting display of hatred. But will she now step down from the DSA, too?

Witness the social media postings of the Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter on Tuesday.

They tweeted an image of a paragliding soldier with a message of support for the Palestinians  an obvious reference to the murder on Saturday of 260 innocent people at the Nova music festival, after armed Hamas terrorists had flown in from across the border.

Pure filth also continues to pour from the most elite American universities.

At Harvard, 31 student groups signed on to an outrageous statement holding Israel 'entirely responsible for all unfolding violence', while similar sentiments have been expressed at Columbia, the University of Virginia and other so-called institutions of higher-learning.

How did we reach this point where the most educated stare into the face of evil and somehow fail to see it?

The college students that regularly denounce Trump supporters and everyday run-of-the-mill conservatives as Nazis wont condemn the actual killers of Jews.

Is this what the progressive movement has become?

To switch on television is to witness the unbelievable: Liberal American news anchors and guests defending terrorists.

Barely before the bodies had gone cold, CNN's Fareed Zakaria invited a Hamas apologist on his Sunday show to spew incredible lies, utterly unchallenged.

Hamas mainly attacked military establishments, military installations, the flak for rapists and kidnappers said, and most of the people they have arrested and taken as war prisoners are military people. I do not accept [they are] attacking any civilian.

How ridiculously, insultingly untrue.

That interview remains on Zakarias Twitter feed even today.

Witness,too, the social media postings of the Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter on Tuesday. They tweeted an image of a paragliding soldier with a message of support for the Palestinians  an obvious reference to the murder on Saturday of 260 innocent people at the Nova music festival, after armed Hamas terrorists had flown in from across the border.

The New York Times refers to Hamas savages in its copy as fighters or militants.

The cowardly Gray Lady cannot bring herself to call those who executed possibly the most gruesome terror attack in history what they clearly are  terrorists.

Meanwhile, MSNBCs Ayman Mohyeldin took things a bit further, arguing Monday that the brutal slayings were the fault of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for running a Jewish supremacist government.

It was so bad on the Lefty news channel that the Anti-Defamation League's Jonathan Greenblatt, who spends most of his time attacking Republicans, scolded MSNBC live on MSNBC.

Who is writing these scripts  Hamas? he asked, When we say this was an escalation, that it was bound to happen, Im sorry, this was a massacre.

Again and again  we heard the rationalizations.

Only when the horrific details  the beheadings, the child murder  became too terrible to ignore did some of the anti-Israel fanatics move off their talking points and concede the terrible truth.

But, not all of them.

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was followed through the hallways of Congress by journalists and peppered with questions.

Congresswoman, Hamas terrorists have cut off babies heads and burned children alive. Do you support Israels rights to defend themselves against this brutality? a reporter asked.

Silence.

You cant comment about Hamas terrorists chopping off babies heads?

Silence.

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was followed through the hallways of Congress by journalists and peppered with questions. Congresswoman, Hamas terrorists have cut off babies heads and burned children alive. Do you support Israels rights to defend themselves against this brutality? a reporter asked. Silence. You cant comment about Hamas terrorists chopping off babies heads? Silence.

Congresswoman, do you have a comment on Hamas terrorists chopping off babies heads? You have nothing to say about Hamas terrorists chopping off babies heads?

Tlaib  clearly uncomfortable  kept walking.

But the answer should have been simple: I condemn Hamas. They must be destroyed.

Why couldn't she say it? Why cant they all say it?

There is evil in this world, even when it is committed by those the Left views as victims of capitalism or Western progress or colonialism. Anyone who cannot or will not call it out for what it is has no place in our public discourse.

Hamas wants one thing  to exterminate Jews.

Anyone who tries to rationalize or overlook their atrocities belongs in the dustbin of history along with the Nazis.

It is that serious. It is that terrifying.
The U.S. is positioning a potent arsenal in the Middle East as Israeli Defense Forces continued to pound targets inside Gaza six days after the Hamas terror attack on its soil.

With President Biden and his security team warning Iran and other state and non-state actors not to try to take advantage of the situation, the Pentagon is dispatching air and ground capabilities in addition to the two air craft carrier groups that will soon be operating together in the eastern Mediterranean.

The capabilities include special operators and advisors to the Israelis on hostage recovery, special surveillance aircraft, and aircraft carrier groups armed with modern fighter jets  as well hospital facilities with dozens of medics and doctors.

It comes as Israel massed an estimated 300,000 reserve forces on the border with Gaza in preparation for a possible ground invasion. Such a move would involve vicious street fighting against Hamas militants, and could bring military reprisals from outside Israel.

The military is also taking precautions, with a highly trained special operations Marine Corps unit turning away from planned training exercises in Kuwait 'as a result of emerging events.' Exercises were to have begun the day after the Hamas attack.

As a result the amphibious ship USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall, which were set to take part, are 'are no longer in vicinity of Kuwait,' the Marine Corps Times reported, and were recently off the coast of Bahrain.

The USS Gerald R. Ford arrived off the coast of Israel Wednesday. A second carrier group departs Norfolk Friday. The Ford is sean in Halifax Oct. 28

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who consoled Israeli terror victims and met with Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday, told the Israeli Prime Minister Thursday that 'you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to ... We will always be there by your side.'

The U.S. has already shipped millions of rounds of ammunition and Iron Dome interceptors to resupply its ally amid continued rocket attacks from Gaza.

The White House said its estimate that less than a handful American hostages are being held in Gaza remains unchanged, with little information on their condition or whereabouts. They are among the estimated 150 hostages Hamas fighters took back into the territory after rampaging inside Israel.

The following firepower is already on its way to the region:

A Marine Corps special operations unit nixed exercises and has reported to be off the coast of Bahrain

USS Gerald Ford arrived off the coast of Israel Wednesday; USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group departs Friday

Within hours of the horrific attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needs to respond.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the 'world's largest warship, arrived in the area Wednesday.

A second U.S. carrier strike group departs from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday. Scores of aircraft are heading to U.S. military bases around the Middle East. And special operations forces are now assisting Israel's military in planning and intelligence.

The buildup reflects U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel could escalate into a more dangerous regional conflict. So the primary mission for those ships and warplanes for now is to establish a force presence that deters Hezbollah, Iran or others from taking advantage of the situation. But the forces the U.S. sent are capable of more than that.

The U.S. is also expediting the shipment of munitions and interceptors for Israel's fight against Hamas.

A look at what weapons and options the U.S. military could provide:

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is headed to Israel Friday

The U.S. is providing some personnel and much-needed munitions to Israel.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that a small cell of special operations forces was now assisting Israel with intelligence and planning. They have not been tasked with hostage rescue, contrary to some reporting, a defense official said, but could if they were requested to do so.

Austin is headed to Israel, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The U.S. is also getting U.S. defense companies to expedite weapons orders by Israel that were already on the books. Chief among those is getting munitions for Israel's Iron Dome air defense system sped along.

The Gerald R. Ford The Ford carries F-18 fighter jets that could fly intercepts or strike targets

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that resupplying Iron Dome munitions and air defense systems was an immediate priority.

"Were surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome," Biden said. "Were going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens."

Iron Domes missiles target rockets that approach one of its cities. According to Raytheon, Israel has 10 Iron Dome systems in place to protect its cities. Beginning with Saturday's attack, Hamas has fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel, most of which the system has been able to intercept, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Raytheon produces most of the missile components for Iron Dome in the U.S., and the Army has two Iron Dome systems in its stockpile.

One of the most visible examples of the U.S. response was the announcement Sunday by the Pentagon to redirect the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to sail toward Israel. The carrier had just completed an exercise with the Italian Navy when the ship and its crew of about 5,000 were ordered to quickly sail to the Eastern Mediterranean.

E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes to warn of missile launches and 'manage' airspace

The carrier provides a host of options. It's a primary command and control operations center and can conduct information warfare. It can launch and recover E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes, recognized by their 24-foot (7-meter) diameter disc-shaped radar. The planes provide early warnings on missile launches, conduct surveillance and manage the airspace, detecting not only enemy aircraft but also directing U.S. movements.

The Ford carries F-18 fighter jets that could fly intercepts or strike targets. The carrier also has significant capabilities for humanitarian work, including an onboard hospital with an ICU and emergency room and about 40 medics, surgeons and doctors. It sails with helicopters that can be used to airlift critical supplies in or victims out.

On Friday, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group will leave its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, and sail for the Mediterranean, potentially doubling the Navy's Israel response.

The Eisenhower had already been scheduled to deploy to the Mediterranean on a regular rotation, and the Ford is near the end of its deployment. But the Biden administration may decide to extend the Fords deployment and keep both strike groups out there, White House spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday.

A-10s, F-15s and F-16s will bolster existing squadrons throughout the Middle East

The Pentagon has also ordered additional warplanes to bolster existing squadrons of A-10, F-15 and F-16 aircraft at bases throughout the Middle East and is ready to add more if needed.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Tuesday at an Atlantic Council event that the service was doubling up by directing units that were about to come home to remain in place and stay there along with their replacements.

The U.S. Air Force already has significant airpower in the region to conduct manned and unmanned operations, most notably in Syria where an Air Force F-16 last week was ordered to shoot down a Turkish drone that was posing a threat to U.S. ground forces operating there.

The U.S. has also positioned A-10 Thunderbolt's, known as 'Warthogs' in the region. They were used during Operation Desert Storm

Military transport taking personnel OUT of Israel

Kendall also said U.S. Air Force C-17s have landed in and departed from Israel since the attacks. The transport planes were picking up U.S. military personnel who were there for a military exercise that hadn't started yet when the attacks began, the Air Force said in a statement.

Neither the Air Force nor Central Command would comment on what additional missions U.S. airpower might take on in response to the conflict.
READ MORE: Qld woman returns to Israel to fight Hamas and find missing friend

Said it sparked hate incidents against Muslim community

Religious representatives have condemned the response to violence in Israel and Gaza by Australia's political leaders, accusing them of fomenting hate against the local Muslim community.

In a statement, the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network (AMAN) decried Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his affirmation of Israel's bombing campaign on the Gaza strip.

'We stand by Israel and its right to protect itself,' the PM previously told ABC radio.

The network said through his comments Mr Albanese had sided with the occupying power and showed no support for Palestinians.

'Hundreds of Palestinian civilians also lost their lives,' they said.

'(He has) denied many grieving communities public empathy or support'.

Muslim leaders say Australia's strong support for Israel has put their community at risk (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)

They also called out Opposition Peter Dutton after he said the government should support Israeli retaliation without restraint, saying his stance was extreme and 'outside the bounds of international norms and the rule of law'.

'It also devalues Palestinian lives, putting them and anyone that is associated with them in danger in Palestine and Australia,' the group wrote.

Mr Dutton also called for non-citizens who preached anti-Semitic speech at the pro-Palestinian protests to be deported.

'People with that hate in their minds in their hearts - they don't have any place in our society,' he told 2GB.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Sydney Opera House on Monday (pictured), with Opposition Peter Dutton calling for non-citizens who participated in preaching anti-Semitic speech to be deported

Monday's 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 (pictured)

READ MORE: Pro-Palestine protest planned for Sydney will be banned by Chris Minns after vile scenes on the steps of the Opera House where activists chanted 'gas the Jews' Premier Chris Minns said protest organisers had already shown they were not peaceful Advertisement

Such responses had sparked hate incidents against the Australian Muslim community and had detrimental effects for members' health, wellbeing and safety, AMAN wrote.

More than 1200 Israelis have been killed and more than 2700 wounded in a continuation of a 75-year-long conflict after militant group Hamas breached the fence enclosing Gaza on Saturday.

More than 1000 Palestinians are believed to have died and more than 5000 were wounded in retaliatory air strikes on Gaza.

Among those killed in Israel was Australian grandmother Galit Carbone, 66, who died at the hands of the Hamas militants who attacked her village near the Gaza border.

With an estimated 10,000 Australians resident in Israel and even more there as tourists, repatriation flights will begin bringing the stranded home from Tel Aviv on Friday.

But the Muslim community said this would not help Australians stuck in Gaza after the closure of border crossings and ongoing Israeli airstrikes made it effectively impossible to travel to Tel Aviv.

'The planned repatriation should include real support to those that are stranded in Gaza and the West Bank,' Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Rateb Jneid said.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess said the national terrorism threat level remained 'possible' but raised concerns about pro-Palestine protests set to go ahead in Australian cities,

A woman breaks down in tears during a vigil organised by Sydney's Jewish community for Israeli victims on Wednesday (pictured)

'I remain concerned about the potential for opportunistic violence with little or no warning,' he said on Thursday.

Mr Burgess said ASIO was well positioned to detect threats to security such as politically motivated violence and would carefully monitor the situation.Premier Chris Minns announced any upcoming Pro-Palestinian rallies were 'unauthorised' due to the anti-Semitic behaviour demonstrated by protesters during Monday night's rally.

Minns said organisers had already shown they were not peaceful with protesters chanting 'gas the Jews' and 'f*** the Jews'.

Premier Chris Minns apologised to the Jewish community on Wednesday for not giving them a space to grieve (pictured, vigil)

'The protest organisers have already proven they're not peaceful,' he said on Wednesday.

'Shouting racial epithets is not the definition of a peaceful protest.

'The idea they're going to commandeer Sydney streets is not going to happen, and I am sure NSW Police will make that clear this morning.'
President Joe Biden would narrowly beat Donald Trump by one-point if the 2024 election were held today, according to a poll published Wednesday, but he would lose to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Trump is the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination making a repeat of the 2020 election the most likely match-up.

But Haley has gained ground in primary polls as some Republicans look for a candidate with less baggage than the former president.

The new national poll for Fox News found that Trump would take 48 per cent of the general election vote to Biden's 49 percent.

In contrast, DeSantis would win by 49 percent to 47 percent, while Haley would take 49 to 45 percent.

For the first time, the Fox News poll has President Joe Biden ahead of former President Donald Trump, if only by one point in a survey with a margin of error of +/- three points

The poll of 1007 registered voters carries a margin of error of three points either way, showing just how close a contest it would be if held right now.

'A Biden-Trump rematch starts at pressure-cooker level and keeps Democrats highly united,' said Chris Anderson, a Democrat who conducts Fox News surveys with Republican Daron Shaw.

'If Republicans somehow pick someone other than Trump, the pressure immediately drops, and some Democrats might toy with backing the Republican  that doesnt happen if Trump's the nominee.'

Other polls have shown that Trump's history  his denial of the 2020 election results, the string of court cases, and chaotic time as president  could be a key factor in turning out the Democratic vote.

And it is the first time in the Fox News poll that Trump has fared worse than his GOP rivals in a matchup against Biden.

One note of caution is that the numbers reflect national share of the vote, when presidential elections are decided on a state-by-state basis with an electoral college.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would both beat Biden if the election were held today, according to the poll

However, Trump retains a strong grip on his party base and looks unstoppable for the 2024 Republican nomination.

The pollsters also asked Republican primary voters who they wanted as their candidate next year, and 59 percent said Trump.

DeSantis remains an extremely distant second with 13 percent.

Haley registers her best showing yet with ten percent support (up five points from a month earlier), while biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, whose appeal had grown after two strong debate performances, falls back into single digits with seven percent (down four points).

None of the other runners breaks five percent.

Republicans will hold their first nominating contest in January with the Iowa caucuses. New Hampshire will hold a more traditional presidential primary shortly thereafter, followed by Nevada, South Carolina and Michigan.

Some Republican donors are pushing for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to enter the contest, seeing him as the sort of moderate figure with the best chance of uniting the party against Biden.
Sunrise host Matt 'Shirvo' Shirvington has fired some tough questions at Anthony Albanese after new research revealed that Aussies are more worried about issues like the cost of living than the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Millions of Aussies will head to the ballot box on Saturday to vote in the referendum, with polls suggesting the Yes campaign is headed towards defeat.

But the Prime Minister has insisted the Voice can still get over the line as he blasted the No campaign, accusing it of arrogance and spreading misinformation.

Mr Albanese delivered a last-minute pitch on breakfast television on Friday as new research revealed the most important issues being faced by Australians.

Healthcare and wellbeing were ranked as Aussies' highest priority, followed by housing and soaring energy and household costs.

The Voice was way down the ranking in 17th place, prompting Shirvo to suggest the referendum was not an important issue in the lives of Australians.

Matt 'Shirvo' Shirvington and co-host Nat Barr grilled the Prime Minister on Friday

'How do you feel about that?' he asked the prime minister. 'The idea that you've been trying to show the importance of this and what it means as a reflection of Australia, but Australians don't see it as important as other things in their lives.'

Mr Albanese admitted that the Voice won't impact on the lives of 97 per cent of Aussies.

'Shirvo, that is exactly the point that I've been making. This is a change that won't impact most of your listeners,' he said.

'For non-Indigenous Australians this will have no impact at all. Because it is such a modest change.

'(It is) just recognition of the First Australians in the Constitution and a non-binding advisory committee from Indigenous Australians about Indigenous Australian issues so that we can get better outcomes.

'So this won't impact 97 per cent of Australians' lives at all. And it might, though, make a difference and might make things better for the three per cent of Australians who are amongst our most disadvantaged who have an eight-year life expectancy gap.'

Anthony Albanese spent Friday morning doing breakfast TV interviews and issuing a 11th hour pitch to Aussies to vote Yes on Saturday

The Prime Minister said he believes the Yes campaign can win, adding that most Australians haven't voted yet.

'There's been an arrogance I think from the No campaign with some of the misinformation that's out there,' he said.

'I'm hoping that Australians can find it in their heart but also in their head to say we need to do things better.'

Mr Albanese earlier told the Today show the Voice was a request from First Nations Australian after years of consultation with thousands of Indigenous communities.

'This is not my campaign. This is a request from the first Australians... and it's a gracious request.

'We're just asking fellow Australians to walk with them on the journey towards reconciliation.

'This is a once in a generation opportunity for recognition.'
A letter written by a Yes voter is being widely shared by supporters as the perfect argument in favour of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Gillian Upton, from Balaclava in Melbourne's southeast, wrote a letter to her local newspaper arguing that there will be greater division in Australia if the referendum is voted down, saying she feared 'the biggest message' about the Voice was being lost.

Ms Upton wrote that while many No voters had claimed the advisory body would create division, she explained First Nations Australians would feel a much greater divide if they believed their voices were not being heard.

She warned that 'settlers, who have been here at most 10 generations', saying No to the referendum would carry are significantly harsher meaning to Indigenous people, 'who have had connection here for 2,600 generations'.

'(It would mean) ''No'', we won't hear you, we don't want to listen to your advice on how to better your lives,' Ms Upton wrote.

Gillian Upton, from Balaclava in Melbourne 's southeast, recently wrote a letter to her local newspaper saying she feared 'the biggest message' about the Voice was being lost

'''No'', we won't even see you, you will not be recognised in the constitution.

'''No'', we reject your longstanding efforts for constitutional recognition and we decline your open-hearted invitation to "walk with us  for a better future".

'''No'', we don't want that, for you or us.'

Gillian Upton's letter encouraging Aussies to vote Yes I too am appalled by the public discourse leading to the Voice, (see John Hewson's letter 'Missed Voice Messages Saturday Paper 12-18 August 2023) but fear the biggest message is being lost. The most common complaint I hear, as a campaigner for the 'Yes' vote, is the Voice is 'divisive'. I'll tell you what will be divisive. If the nation wakes after a 'No' vote and it sinks in that we, the settlers who have been here at most 10 generations, have said to Australia's First Nations, who have had connection here for 2,600 generations, that: 'No', we won't hear you, we don't want to listen to your advice on how to better your lives; 'No', we won't even see you, you will not be recognised in the constitution; 'No', we reject your longstanding efforts for constitutional recognition and we decline your open-hearted invitation to 'walk with us  for a better future'. 'No', we don't want that, for you or us. Now that will be divisive. Not all 'No' voters would intend to deliver such a brutal, ugly message to First Nations people, but all 'No' voters must realise that this will be the actual meaning and impact of their vote. Gillian Upton, Balaclava, Vic Advertisement

Ms Upton said that would be significantly more divisive.

'Not all "No" voters would intend to deliver such a brutal, ugly message to First Nations people, but all "No" voters must realise that this will be the actual meaning and impact of their vote,' she said.

Her letter has been widely shared on social media by fellow Yes voters, with many applauding Ms Upton's argument.

Polling across the board has the No vote at a comfortable lead - the latest Redbridge poll has just 35 per cent of respondents voting Yes, while Essential has the Yes vote at 43 per cent (pictured is Anthony Albanese at Yes campaign)

'The No vote is what is really divisive. Please Australia, don't let us wake up to this shameful position,' one said.

'Sums it up beautifully. I'm scared of the country we'll realise we live in on Sunday,' said another.

Polling across the board has the No vote at a comfortable lead - the latest Redbridge poll has just 35 per cent of respondents voting Yes, while Essential has the Yes vote at 43 per cent.

Australians are expected to learn by Saturday evening whether the referendum was successful.
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has inspired ridicule and changes in policy over his notoriously casual attire in Congress, said Wednesday that American voters are not 'sending their best and brightest' to Washington.

Fetterman, wearing his trademark hooded sweatshirt and shorts on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, didn't mince words when the CBS liberal host asked him if he was glad the Senate wasn't the most dysfunctional branch of government.

'It's a low bar,' cracked Fetterman, who was using a second screen to caption after suffering a debilitating stroke that has led critics to accuse of him seeming incoherent, and conspiracy theorists of saying he has a body double.

He saved his harshest criticism seemingly for Republicans who he felt held the government at risk of shutdown.

'You all need to know that Americans are not sending their best and brightest to Washington DC,' the Senator said. 'Sometimes you literally just can't believe these people are making the decisions that are determining the government here, it's actually scary.'

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has inspired ridicule and changes in policy over his notoriously casual attire in Congress, said Wednesday that American voters are not 'sending their best and brightest' to Washington

'I always tell people, dont worry, please dont worry. Its much worse than you think.'

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer relaxed the chamber's dress code in September, something Fetterman - who dressed down while presiding over the Senate to jokes from colleagues - told Colbert he 'never asked for.'

'When I knew that this was gonna' be announced I was like, oh boy, here it comes,' he said. 'But I was really strike by... 'oh my God, the world is gonna burn because he's gonna' wear a hoodie on the floor!'

Colbert, as a joke, presented Fetterman with a tuxedo t-shirt so that the Senator could be formal and casual at the same time.

Fetterman has previously been forced to vote from the wings after refusing to dress appropriately. He said the clothes made him feel more comfortable and he had received goodwill following treatment for depression earlier this year.

He discussed his mental health and recovery from the stroke with Colbert as well, attempting to hit back at people who have found him incoherent at times, including at a heavily-hyped debate with opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz.

'The better I get, the sad Fox News becomes, because they love... every word I miss was like candy for Fox News. They even started thinking, there's a conspiracy that I have a body double now.'

Schumer's dress code rule change - which applies to Senators and not staff - now means the 54-year-old self-confessed 'slob' is free to wear whatever he likes on the Senate floor.

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer relaxed the chamber's dress code in September, something Fetterman - who dressed down while presiding over the Senate to jokes from colleagues - told Colbert he 'never asked for'

Since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer decided to drop the 'business' dress code, Fetterman has taken it quite literally

On Wednesday Fetterman offered to 'save democracy' as he has vowed to wear a suit on the Senate floor next week, but only if House Republicans 'stop trying to shut our government down'

Schumer has said that he will continue to sport a suit, despite his prerogative to change the dress code

The move has infuriated Republicans who believe that the Democrats are debasing the hallowed institution.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine joked: 'I plan to wear a bikini tomorrow.'

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said it's a 'sad day in the Senate' and that the people who Fetterman and Schumer represent should be embarrassed.

'I represent the people of Kansas, and much like when I get dressed up to go to a wedding, it's to honor the bride and groom, you go to a funeral you get dressed up to honor the family of the deceased,' Marshall said. Senators should have a certain level of decorum, the Republican added.

Fetterman previously made light of the controversy as he offered to 'save democracy' by wearing a suit next week - but only if Republicans 'stop trying to shut our government down'.

Schumer later clarified in a statement that senators can now choose their attire on the Senate floor, though he said he personally intended to continue wearing a suit.

As he went along with the joke, Fetterman took to X and posted: 'Senator Guy Incognito (D-PA),' as he referred to a plot line in The Simpsons where the character learns he has a mustachioed doppelganger

He has still managed to have a bit of fun with the backlash he's gotten as he's added to the conspiracy that his body double is Homer Simpson

'There has been an informal dress code that was enforced,' Schumer said in a statement. 'Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will continue to wear a suit.'

It's unclear if the rules for more formal attire were actually written down anywhere, but Schumers directive means that staff will no longer scold senators for their choice of clothing or ask them to vote from the doorway.

Schumer has said that he will continue to sport a suit, despite his prerogative to change the dress code, but Fetterman has clearly taken this change seriously.

He has still managed to have a bit of fun with the backlash he's gotten as he's added to the conspiracy that his body double is Homer Simpson.

As he went along with the joke, Fetterman took to X and posted: 'Senator Guy Incognito (D-PA),' as he referred to a plot line in The Simpsons where the character learns he has a mustachioed doppleganger.

Fetterman also took to the Senate floor in casual clothing on Monday night and made sure to avoid any cameras that could give away his new fashion sense

Other members of the Senate have gone on to mock him for his lax clothing choices, like Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine who said: 'I plan to wear a bikini tomorrow to the Senate floor'

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota took advantage of the new dress code to wear black pants, running shoes and a casual jacket; she talks to Senator Mitt Romney on the Senate floor Monday night

In the past, if a Senator was not meeting dress code requirements, they would have had to shout 'Aye' or 'Nay' from the doorway to make it clear that they couldn't be visible to the cameras.

Though many have not listened to the change in rules, some have decided to join in on the casualness with Fetterman.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar - traveling from Minnesota - and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski - traveling from Alaska - wore black pants, running shoes and casual shirts on Monday.
The lawyer for a Tennessee fourth-grade teacher accused of raping a pre-teen says her children have been withdrawn from school after being ridiculed over their mothers arrest.

Alissa McCommon, 38, was arrested last month at her home in Covington where she allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old boy when he spent the night there in 2021.

Multiple underage victims came forward to say they were 'befriended' by their former teacher - who invited them to play video games with her and connected with them on social media apps.

She was rearrested on September 28 after telling the 12-year-old she was pregnant and warning he would regret testifying against her.

She's a human and she has a family, too, her attorney Jere Mason told Fox News.

Alissa McCommon, 38, was arrested last month at her home in Covington, Tennessee, where she allegedly had sex with a 12-year-old boy when he spent the night there in 2021

Multiple underage victims came forward to say they were 'befriended' by their former teacher sending nude photos and requesting sexual relationships with the victims

She was re-arrested after allegedly harassing the 12-year-old and telling him he would 'regret' going to the authorities

And there are victims, arguably, on both sides of this case, regardless of her guilt or innocence.

She's got two minor children herself.

They've had to pull them out of school, and they're experiencing some ridicule.

Covington Police say the Charger Academy teacher admitted communicating inappropriately with former students, sending nude photos and requesting sexual relationships with the victims via social media.

Released on bail after her first arrest she allegedly called the 12-year-old to tell him: I'm going to raise this baby. I can do this.

This was a mistake, this is my burden, the caller told him in a text message.

OMG delete this number, please don't get me in trouble.

Another message read: I'm just really scared, I don't even know if it's you or not.

I will never text you again. You will never hear from me again, just please don't say anything.

Authorities then charged her with coercion of a witness, aggravated stalking, tampering with evidence and harassment.

Police continue to hunt for more victims 'be-friended on social media'

She has since been charged with charged with coercion of a witness, aggravated stalking, tampering with evidence, and harassment

McCommon's lawyer Jere Mason knows her family and said 'my perception had always been they were good folks'

Tipton County Court ordered a psychiatric report on McCommon, and she remains in jail ahead of her next scheduled court appearance on November 27.

'The evidence indicates McCommon texted a victim, using a specific code word known to the juvenile as a code word McCommon would previously utilize to confirm that the juvenile was alone, often before sending nude photographs on SnapChat,' the Covington Police Department said in a statement.

'After using the code word on September 28, the evidence indicates McCommon sent multiple text messages to victim indicating he would "regret doing this".

McCommon, using the same number, also admitted to a sexual encounter with the victim.'

The mother-of-two had been a fourth grade teacher at Charger Academy - an elementary school in Covington, Tennessee.

She taught English and Language at the school until the district suspended her without pay on August 24 - although she ultimately resigned.

Tipton County Director of School John Combs said: 'A parent brought forth allegations of misconduct on the morning of Thursday, August 24, and the teacher was suspended without pay later that same morning pending the outcome of the investigation.'

The threatening phone call to the 12-year-old was recorded, and played aloud in court at a hearing on October 3.

But her lawyer insists the voice is not hers and that the text messages could have come from anyone.

It's not a registered phone, it's just some random number, Mason told Fox News Digital.

Someone in the text thread claims they're Alissa, and then they tried to infer that there were some code words used that had previously been used by her in communication with some of the juveniles.

Mason, who bills himself as The Kickin Lawyer on his law firms website, admitted knowing McCommon's husband very well after they worked as sheriff's deputies together.

My perception had always been they were good folks, he added.

And so regardless of her guilt or innocence, any person in this situation would be under extreme mental stress.

And I just have to defend her properly. I have to know that my client is understanding everything and in the right mind of everything.

McCommon was a fourth-grade teacher of English and Language at Charger Academy - an elementary school in Covington, Tennessee.

Tipton County Court ordered a psychiatric report on McCommon, and she remains in jail ahead of her next scheduled court appearance on November 27.

This is a very difficult case for everyone, the attorney added.

These allegations are heinous, especially someone that we're trusting with the care and instruction of our children.

But I just wish that the public would be patient and let the justice system take its course, and in due time, evidence will either come out or not. And justice will be served one way or the other.
More than half of Generation Z won't pick up the phone to their parents and a quarter decline all calls, a study reveals.

Seven in ten parents (71 per cent) consider calls the best way to connect with their kids, researchers found.

But almost two-thirds (64 per cent) complain that they only ever hear from their children through messages.

And six in ten say that they think the younger generation is scared of answering phone calls.

But 18 to 25-year-olds say they regard calls as a relic of the past, with 57 per cent routinely refusing to answer when their parents phone.

Kids most commonly cringe when their parents reply 'OK' to everything, cited by 41 per cent (stock image)

More than a third (34 per cent) find calls 'awkward', with 32 per cent saying they rarely make any and a fifth finding it 'weird' when they receive one.

Similarly, 36 per cent of this age group say they would only resort to a call to locate their friends on a night out and 19 per cent would only do so in an emergency.

WhatsApp, texts and Snapchat are the way Gen Z'ers prefer to communicate, with 24 per cent saying a phone call is an 'absolute no-go'.

Parents have more chance of children answering their call if they are pre-warned, with 47 per cent preferring a text in advance.

Sky Mobile polled 1,000 parents of children aged 13 to 25 and 1,000 Gen Z'ers aged 18 to 25.

Researchers also found that it is not just parents' calls that Gen Z'ers often ignore with four in ten - 41 per cent - having muted a group chat with them.

Meanwhile, a quarter of mums and dads (24 per cent) believe their children deliberately use confusing slang in messages to keep them in the dark.

Nearly three in ten parents (28 per cent) have to look up slang and acronyms their children use before replying.

But despite their best efforts to engage, they all too often have awkward messaging mishaps that make their kids cringe, the survey found.

Kids most commonly cringe when their parents reply 'OK' to everything, cited by 41 per cent.

Their messages also apparently miss the mark if they sign off with lots of 'xxx' as kisses (30 per cent) or reply to good news with a thumbs-up emoji (29 per cent).

Other parental pitfalls include autocorrect blunders (28 per cent), sending random photos or jokes (22 per cent) and use of proper punctuation in messages (21 per cent).

Over a third (35 per cent) of Gen Z'ers find it amusing how clueless their parents are about emojis

The survey also found that 37 per cent of parents pay for their child's phone contract after they leave home in the hope it will keep them connected

Gen Z'ers also frown upon writing 'haha' as 'ha ha' (19 per cent), incorrect use of emojis (19 per cent) and images with motivational quotes (17 per cent).

Completing the top ten parental messaging mishaps is signing off with 'LOL' as lots of love rather than laugh out loud (15 per cent) - a mistake infamously made by former PM David Cameron.

Four in ten parents complain that trying to use emojis is like learning a new language, with 38 per cent hardly ever bothering.

Over a third (35 per cent) of Gen Z'ers find it amusing how clueless their parents are about emojis.

But 27 per cent say they are embarrassed when their parents try to use slang in their messages and one in six get frustrated by their howlers.

Slang terms that often confuse parents include 'roadman', meaning a young man or boy who hangs out on the street, 'peng' (attractive), 'bare' (a lot of), 'OMG' (oh my God) and 'boujee' (classy or fancy).

Sky Mobile enlisted TV presenter Jeff Brazier, 44, to ask students at the University of Hertfordshire how they prefer their parents to communicate with them.

Several admitted to blanking their parents when it comes to calls. One said: 'I do it all the time but I don't tell them that.' Another said: 'I remember I blocked my mum because she kept calling me.'

Mr Brazier, who has sons Bobby, 20, and Freddie, 19, from his relationship with Big Brother contestant Jade Goody, said: 'I used to think I was up to speed with all the texting tricks of the younger generation. But I've officially been schooled.

'Keeping connected to my kids is super important, particularly as they embark on the big challenges in their lives.

'So, I'm glad I've been given the opportunity to learn from some of the digital natives of our time.'

The survey also found that 37 per cent of parents pay for their child's phone contract after they leave home in the hope it will keep them connected.

Sky Mobile offers shareable data plans for families. Managing director Paul Sweeney said: 'All unused data rolls into one Sky Piggybank that can be shared, meaning students can get a data top-up whenever they need it to stay in touch - by message, not phone call.'
Rishi Sunak last night told police chiefs to get a grip on anti-Israel hate  as two Jewish schools in London said they were closing to protect their pupils.

The Prime Minister and Home Secretary Suella Braverman summoned commanders to Downing Street to tackle them over the softly-softly approach towards provocative pro-Palestinian marches after the barbaric Hamas attacks on Israel.

No10 said it wanted no repeat of the 'distressing scenes' at demonstrations this week, at which protesters called for the destruction of Israel and screamed 'let there be bloodshed'.

Mr Sunak told police he expected them to take a 'proactive and robust' approach and pledged they would have the Government's 'total backing in ensuring that any glorification of terrorism is met with by full force of the law'.

The Prime Minister and Home Secretary Suella Braverman summoned commanders to Downing Street to tackle them over the softly-softly approach towards provocative pro-Palestinian marches after the barbaric Hamas attacks on Israel

Pro-Palestinian protester holds a flare and a flag as demonstrators gather outside the Embassy of Israel in London last Saturday

In other developments:

The PM said RAF surveillance planes would begin patrols in support of Israel today as part of a military deployment to the region;

Police chiefs agreed to use powers to force demonstrators to remove masks, amid concerns about a major pro-Palestinian protest in London tomorrow;

France imposed a ban on pro-Palestinian demonstrations  and warned that foreign nationals breaking the prohibition would be 'systematically' deported;

Footage emerged last night showing two young women ripping down posters of missing Israelis outside Mornington Crescent Tube station in north London, as one of the pair shouted: 'This is for Palestine.'

Israel's army conceded last night that it had failed to protect its citizens when Hamas carried out its attacks on Saturday;

Ministers announced 3 million funding for the Community Security Trust, which has recorded a 400 per cent rise in anti-Semitic attacks this week;

Education minister Robert Halfon warned of an outbreak of 'disturbing' incidents at universities, including Palestinian flags being draped over the cars of Jewish students;

The Government started repatriation flights for 'vulnerable' citizens in Israel;

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to 'crush' Hamas, warning: 'Every Hamas member is a dead man';

Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal urged Middle East states to join in a 'jihad' against Israel and called for a global day of protest in support of the terror group;

Israel insisted its siege on Gaza would continue until Hamas releases dozens of hostages, despite warnings of a humanitarian disaster as supplies of fuel, food and water run out.

Two Jewish schools in north London announced yesterday they were closing temporarily 'in the interests of the safety of our precious children'.

Torah Vodaas Primary in Edgware and Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary in Colindale told parents they would be closing until next week. Jewish students elsewhere have been warned to disguise their uniform.

A man and a police officer stand next to a vandalised Kosher restaurant near a bridge with 'Free Palestine' painted on it, in Golders Green in London, Britain, October 9

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gather outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington last Saturday

Mr Halfon said it was 'unbelievable in 2023 in a great country like Britain, a Jewish school can't even open its doors. I mean, this is where we have come to'.

Ministers have been frustrated by the reluctance of police to tackle anti-Semitic flare-ups at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including a mass protest outside the Israeli embassy in London which was announced by hard-Left groups just hours after Hamas launched its deadly assault.

There are also fears that community tensions will worsen as Israel steps up action against Hamas strongholds in Gaza  and real concerns about a mass protest planned in London tomorrow by hard-Left groups such as the Stop the War Coalition.

Speaking after yesterday's meeting, the PM said: 'This is now the third deadliest terror attack in the world since 1970. The United Kingdom must and will continue to stand in solidarity with Israel.

'At moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe. That is why we must do everything in our power to protect Jewish people everywhere in our country.'

One of Britain's top police officers pushed back against calls for a crackdown on anti-Israel protests, saying that waving the Palestinian flag was not a crime.

Missiles launched from the Gaza Strip toward the Israeli city of Ashkelon interrupted by the Israeli air defense system of Iron Dome, 10 October 2023

A charred house after an attack by Hamas terrorists on the kibbutz on Tuesday

A ball of fire erupts in Gaza City after a retaliatory Israeli air strike on October 12, 2023

Scotland Yard Deputy Commissioner Dame Lynne Owens said: 'What we cannot do is interpret support for the Palestinian cause more broadly as automatically being support for Hamas or any other proscribed group, even when it follows so soon after an attack carried out by that group and when to many the link seems indisputable.

'An expression of support for the Palestinian people more broadly, including flying the Palestinian flag, does not, alone, constitute a criminal offence.'

But a Government source said the police could not ignore the context of the demonstrations, adding: 'These are not just normal pro-Palestine protests  they have to be seen in the context of the cold-blooded murder of 1,200 people by a group which wants to exterminate all Jewish people.'

Mrs Braverman told police chiefs she expected them to enforce a 'zero-tolerance' approach to anti-Semitic incidents.

The Home Secretary said 'Islamists, racists and elements of the hard-Left' must be prevented from using 'legitimate Israeli defensive measures as an excuse to stir up hatred against British Jews'.

She added: 'The UK stands unequivocally with Israel. I have been clear with police chiefs in England and Wales that there can be zero tolerance for anti-Semitism and that they should act immediately to crack down on any criminality, both in our streets and online.'

Downing Street said officers would be issued guidance on dealing with masked protesters and encouraged to use powers to require people to remove face coverings.

Dispersal orders could also be used to break up protests threatening to get out of hand. And ministers urged police forces to use existing powers to ban repeated protests outside sensitive sites such as synagogues, schools and the Israeli embassy.
Former ministers have urged the BBC to 'urgently reassess' its decision to describe Hamas as 'militants' and 'fighters', rather than terrorists, in light of the conflict with Israel.

In a letter to Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC, seven former culture secretaries warned: 'The BBC's commitment is to impartiality, not indifference. This distinction is now in danger of being blurred.

'Worryingly, the imprecise language of "fighters" and "militants" also serves to conflate terrorists with the Palestinian people, who suffer more than anyone from Hamas's actions,' the letter continued.

'We therefore add our voices to the mounting concerns about the BBC's language around this terror group. It is time to urgently reassess your approach.'

The group, led by Sajid Javid, included Karen Bradley, Nadine Dorries, Matt Hancock, Maria Miller, Baroness Morgan, and Sir Jeremy Wright.

Hamas, the de facto governing authority of Gaza, has been designated a terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom since March 2001, and the proscription extended in 2021.

In a letter to Tim Davie (pictured at Westminster Abbey on May 5, 2023), Director-General of the BBC, seven former culture secretaries warned: 'The BBC's commitment is to impartiality, not indifference. This distinction is now in danger of being blurred.

Israeli soldiers patrol at the place where 270 revellers were gunned down or burnt in their cars by gunmen near kibbutz Beeri during at the Supernova music festival in the Negev desert

A mortar shell lies on grass in Kibbutz Be'eri in the aftermath of the strikes, on October 11, 2023

A dead body lies on the ground following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023

Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in northern Gaza City, 12 October 2023. More than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed and over 6,000 others injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, after Israel started bombing the Palestinian enclave

A fireball erupts from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 12, 2023

Veteran BBC foreign correspondent John Simpson defended the coverage claiming 'calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides'

Mr Simpson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to defend his employer's decision

The BBC has received criticism over the last few days of its designation for the group.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis accused broadcasters of trying to 'wilfully mislead' by not using the word terrorist, saying: 'The murder of babies where they sleep is not the act of a freedom fighter.'

What is Hamas? Hamas is the standing authority in Gaza, an enclave on the Mediterranean coast. The group has controlled the Strip since winning Gaza's 2006 parliamentary elections and toppling rival party Fatah in a power struggle during the bloody Battle of Gaza in 2007. The conflict brought an end to the 'unity government' administering Gaza and the West Bank, with the Palestinian National Authority overseeing the eastern territory independently. Hamas - which means 'Islamic Resistance Movement - has both a social service wing, Dawah, and a militant wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (IQB). The IQB has been responsible for launching attacks in Israel against both combatants and civilians, drawing condemnation from world leaders and rights groups. Writing in 1997, Professor Ilana Kass described the relationship between Hamas and its military brigades as being similar to the relationship between Sinn Fein and the military arm of the IRA. A senior Hamas leader told Kass that the IQB 'is a separate armed military wing, which has its own leaders who do not take their orders from [Hamas] and do not tell us of their plans in advance'. In 2015, Al-Monitor warned that the military branch of Hamas was 'gradually taking even stronger control of the movement's institutions' and dictating the movement's policies. Advertisement

In their letter, the seven signatory former ministers noted that 'as our Chief Rabbi has said: "This is not 'resistance' or 'struggle'. It is terrorism. To purposefully avoid that word is to mislead."'

UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also said the BBC's policy is 'verging on disgraceful'.

However, the BBC yesterday defended its decision not to describe Hamas as 'terrorists' amid ongoing coverage of recent attacks in Israel.

A BBC spokesperson said it was a long-standing position for its reporters not to use the term unless attributing it to someone else.

'We always take our use of language very seriously.

'Anyone watching or listening to our coverage will hear the word "terrorist" used many times - we attribute it to those who are using it, for example, the UK Government.

'This is an approach that has been used for decades, and is in line with that of other broadcasters.

'The BBC is an editorially independent broadcaster whose job is to explain precisely what is happening 'on the ground' so our audiences can make their own judgement.'

The decision has seen a number of BBC stars rally around their employer, including the corporation's veteran foreign correspondent John Simpson defended the coverage claiming 'calling someone a terrorist means you're taking sides'.

'The BBC's job is to place the facts before its audience and let them decide what they think, honestly and without ranting,' he said.

The United Kingdom has proscribed Hamas' military wing as a terrorist organisation since 2001, extending the proscription to in November 2021 to the group as a whole.

According to the government: 'At the time it was HM governments assessment that there was a sufficient distinction between the so called political and military wings of Hamas, such that they should be treated as different organisations, and that only the military wing was concerned in terrorism.

'The government now assess that the approach of distinguishing between the various parts of Hamas is artificial. Hamas is a complex but single terrorist organisation.'

The government's own policy paper on proscribed terrorist groups observes that 'Hamas commits and participates in terrorism. Hamas has used indiscriminate rocket or mortar attacks, and raids against Israeli targets.'

It also describes Hamas as 'a militant Islamist movement that was established in 1987'.

An Israeli army M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 12, 2023

Palestinians evacuate wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023

Earlier this week, in a letter to chief constables in England and Wales, Home Secretary Suella Braverman went so far as to suggest that waving the Palestinian flag may be a criminal offence.

She urged top cops to clamp down on attempts to use flags, songs or swastikas to harass or intimidate members of the Jewish community in Britain.

'It is not just explicit pro-Hamas symbols and chants that are cause for concern,' she wrote.

'I would encourage police to consider whether chants such as: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world, and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated section 5 public order offence.'

On Tuesday, Spain's Acting Foreign Minister urged that Palestinians are not confused with Hamas.

Urging for more aid for Palestine in the wake of Israel's devastating bombardment of Gaza, Jose Manuel Albares said: 'This cooperation must continue; we cannot confuse Hamas, which is in the list of EUs terrorist groups, with the Palestinian population, or the Palestinian Authority or the United Nations organisations on the ground.'
Bernie Sanders accused Israel of a serious violation of international law' for cutting off electricity and food to Gaza.

In a statement after the horrific attack on Israel, launched from Gaza by terror group Hamas, the democratic socialist senator said it had been turned into an 'open air prison.'

His comments came amid a backlash against left-wing Democrats who labeled Israel an apartheid state and called for the U.S. to end funding to its ally.

Sanders, said: 'The targeting of civilians is a war crime, no matter who does it. Israels blanket denial of food, water, and other necessities to Gaza is a serious violation of international law and will do nothing but harm innocent civilians.'

Bernie Sanders speaking on Oct 11, 2023

It came after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a 'complete siege' on Gaza.

He said: 'We are fighting against human animals, and we act accordingly. There will be no electricity, no food, no water. No fuel."

On Saturday Hamas launched a brutal onslaught, murdering hundreds of Israeli men, women and children, and killling at least 27 Americans.

Sanders said the Hamas attack was 'horrific'.

He added that it was a 'major setback for any hope and peace in the region - and justice for the Palestinian people."

The 82-year-old Democrat senator added: 'For many, it is no secret that Gaza has been an open-air prison, with millions of people struggling to secure basic necessities.

'Hamas terrorism will make it much more difficult to address that tragic reality and will embolden extremists on both sides, continuing the cycle of violence.'

Bernie Sanders speaking to students on Oct 11, 2023

He said he United States had 'rightly offered solidarity and support to Israel' but said 'we must also insist on restraint from Israeli forces attacking Gaza and work to secure UN humanitarian access.'

Sanders added: 'Let us not forget that half of the two million people in Gaza are children. Children and innocent people do not deserve to be punished for the acts of Hamas.'

It came after two members of the left-wing 'Squad' in Congress were heavily criticized by members of their own party over 'sickening' calls to cut off U.S. aid to Israel following the Hamas attack.

US Representative Rashida Tlaib (R-MI) walks out of the US Capitol on September 29, 2023

Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat who is of Palestinian descent, said 'dehumanizing conditions' in Gaza had led to 'resistance'.

Missouri congresswoman Cori Bush called for 'ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid.'

Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, slammed Tlaib and Bush's comments.

He said: '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.'
A Colorado jury convicted one Denver police officer and acquitted another of charges related to the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a black man who was confronted by officers as he walked home.

Randy Roedema, a police officer in Aurora, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.

Officer Jason Rosenblatt was found not guilty on all charges.

In 2019, McClain, 23, died after being placed in a neck hold by a third police officer and pinned to the ground. He was then injected with an overdose of ketamine. He died days after sustaining injuries from the incident.

The third officer and two paramedics are still awaiting trial.

McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain, who suffered through a detailed trial about the way her son died, listened from the front row for the verdict.

She exited court with her hand raised above her head in a fist.

Elijah McClain was fatally-injured while being arrested in Aurora, Colorado, in August 2019. He died days later of his injuries

Aurora officer Randy Roedema (pictured) was convicted Thursday of criminally negligent homicide for the death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain in 2019

Former officer Jason Rosenblatt (pictured left) was cleared of all charges by the Colorado jury

McClain's case gained widespread attention in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Body camera footage of his final moments resonated across the country as he said, terrified: 'I'm an introvert,' and 'I'm different.'

In 2020, Colorado Governor Jared Polis ordered the state Attorney General's office to re-open the case of McClain's death. In 2021, the officers and paramedics were indicted by a grand jury.

The officers did not testify in their own defense at trial. Their attorneys argued that McClain's death was the fault of the paramedics for injecting him with ketamine, which doctors said is what ultimately killed him.

State prosecutors, however, argued that the officers' restraint of McClain contributed to his demise.

Sheneen McClain sat with attorneys for the state in the front row of the courtroom during the trial, part of her quest to remind the mostly white jury that her son was a real person.

During testimony that stretched over three weeks, witnesses were limited to offering what they 'perceived' someone to be doing or saying in the video.

Despite the emotional weight of McClain's last words captured on body camera and a story about him playing the violin in an animal shelter, the trial did not include much testimony about him or his life.

A co-worker at the massage studio where McClain had been employed testified briefly about how he used to bike or run miles to work in an affluent suburb and then also run on lunch breaks.

Elijah McClain left, and right in hospital after he was fatally-injured while being arrested in Aurora, Colorado, in August 2019. He died days later of his injuries

Sheneen McClain (pictured), Elijah McClain's mother, burst into tears and fled a Colorado courtroom back in September after she saw videos of her son pinned down on the ground

McClain was stopped August 24, 2019, while walking home from a convenience store on a summer night, listening to music and wearing a mask that covered most of his face.

A 911 caller reported him as suspicious, and the police stop quickly became physical after McClain, seemingly caught off guard, asked to be left alone. He had not been accused of committing any crime.

The encounter quickly escalated, with Officers Nathan Woodyard, Roedema and Rosenblatt taking McClain to the ground, and Woodyard putting him in a neck hold and pressing against his carotid artery, temporarily rendering him unconscious.

The officers told investigators they took McClain down after hearing Roedema say, 'He grabbed your gun dude.'

The initial statement was heard on the body camera footage but exactly what happened is difficult to see. The prosecution urged jurors to be skeptical, saying Rosenblatt said he could not feel anyone reaching for his gun.

But one of Roedemas defense lawyers, Don Sisson, pointed out that McClain said 'I intend to take my power back,' which he argued showed intent. The officers had to act in the moment to protect themselves, according to Sisson.

'They didn't get to watch the video over and over and over for three weeks before they get to act,' he said.

Paramedics injected McClain with ketamine as Roedema and another officer who was not charged held him on the ground. He went into cardiac arrest en route to the hospital and died days later.

Rosenblat's lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, said his client, the most junior officer on scene, was a scapegoat in a prosecution driven by politics. He pointed out that Rosenblatt was not restraining McClain when the ketamine was injected.

A demonstrator carries an image of Elijah McClain during a rally and march in the summer of 2020

A makeshift memorial stands at a site across the street from where Elijah McClain was stopped by Aurora, Colorado

After the grand jury was convened to re-investigate the case, the doctor who performed McClain's autopsy, Stephen Cina, revised his opinion and concluded that he died of complications from the ketamine while also noting the forcible restraint that had been applied.

Dr. Roger Mitchell, another forensic pathologist who reviewed the autopsy and poured over the body camera video, found that the officers' actions did play a role in McClain's passing. He labeled the death a homicide.

The neck hold lowered the oxygen level in McClain's brain while his exertions during the altercation increased the amount of acid in his body, Mitchell, a Howard University medical school professor and former chief medical officer for Washington, DC, said during testimony.

The lack of oxygen and increased acid created a 'vicious cycle,' he added, causing McClain to vomit and then inhale the vomit into his lungs so it became hard for him to breathe.
The village where people melt away: Brazilian farming community made up of skin disease sufferers for whom working in the sun is a way of life... and potentially fatal

Araras has largest group of people suffering from xeroderma pigmentosum

Those with disease, also known as XP, are sensitive to ultraviolet rays



Is a burden for town in country's midwest where outdoor work is vital



Twenty people in the population of 800 are said to have genetic condition



Tucked into the tropical rolling hills of Brazil's midwest, this group of people face a daily struggle against the sun.

The city of Araras is home to what is thought to be the largest community suffering from a rare inherited skin disease known as xeroderma pigmentosum, or 'XP.'

Those with the disease are extremely sensitive to ultraviolet rays from sunlight and highly susceptible to skin cancers. It robs victims of the ability to repair the damage caused by the sun.

That's a particularly vexing burden in Araras, a tropical farming community where outdoor work is vital for survival.

Condition: Dr Sulamita Chaibub assists Djalma Antonio Jardim who has the rare inherited skin disease known as xeroderma pigmentosum, or 'XP' at the Hospital Geral de Goias in Goiania, Brazil Struggle: The doctor takes a photo of the sufferer. For years no one could tell him what was wrong with him, with medical professionals suggesting he had a blood disorder Burden: Mr Jardim said he first started developing the symptoms when he was just nine and had always worked outdoors

'I was always exposed to the sun - working, planting and harvesting rice and caring for the cows,' said Djalma Antonio Jardim, 38. 'As the years passed my condition got worse.'

Agriculture is no longer a real option for Mr Jardim. He survives on a small government pension and meager earnings from an ice cream parlor he runs.

XP shows early signs that it has taken hold of its victims.

Mr Jardim said he was just nine when a large number of freckles and small lumps started appearing on his face, the tell-tale signs that experts say signal XP is present in children and call for measures to protect them against the sun.

Reflection: Mr Jardim looks into a mirror at his home, revealing part of a mask that protects his face

Family: Alisson Wendel Machado Freire, 11, listens to his grandfather Jose Claudio Machado, 77, play the guitar inside their home in Araras, Goias state. Both of them suffer from the genetic condition Portection: Mr Jardim has undergone more than 50 surgeries to remove skin tumors that have developed as a result of the disease

Such precaution wasn't taken for Jardim, who now wears a large straw hat in an effort to protect his face. But it's helped little. He has undergone more than 50 surgeries to remove skin tumors.

In an effort to camouflage how the disease has eaten away the skin on his lips, nose, cheeks and eyes, Mr Jardim wears a rudimentary orange-tinted mask, its stenciled-in right eyebrow not matching his bushy real one that remains.

Beyond skin damage and cancers, about one in five XP patients may also suffer from deafness, spastic muscles, poor coordination or developmental delays, according to the U.S.-based National Cancer Institute.

More than 20 people in this community of about 800 have XP. That's an incidence rate of about one in 40 people - far higher than the one in 1 million people in the United States who have it.

Couple: Joao Goncalves da Silva, 80, talks with his wife Geraldina Aleixo da Silva, 75, at their home in the Araras community in Brazil's Goias state. Both have XP Respite: The 80-year-old takes off his hat n the kitchen of his home Hiding his face: Jardim talks to a receptionist at the hospital before his appointment Freckles: Deides Freire de Andrade, 44, waits for medical attention at the the hospital The pair sit in the corridor waiting for appointments wearing hats. Twenty out of the 800 residents in Araras have XP Surgery: Jardim lies on an operating table ready for medical staff to perform a procedure Recreation: Sufferers gather for a night of pool in the town. They are safer going out at night because of the harmful ultra-violet rays

For years, nobody could tell Jardim or the others what was afflicting them.

'The doctors I went to said I had a blood disorder. Others said I had a skin problem. But none said I had a genetic disease,' Mr Jardim said. 'It was only in 2010 that my disease was properly diagnosed.'

Experts say Araras has such a high incidence rate because the village was founded by only a few families and several were carriers of the disease, so it was passed to future generations as villagers intermarried.

Youngster: Rafael Freire de Andrade, eight, rides his bike with a handmade roof to protect his skin from the sun Outside: The boy cycles past a puddle with the shelter attached to his back. He also has to wear long sleeve shirts to protect his arms After dark: Deides Ferreira de Andrade, 44, takes his motorcycle out at night, the only time he can safely expose his bare skin Early morning: Alisson Wendel Machado Freire, 11, practices his horn instrument outside his home while the sun is rising

For instance, both of Jardim's parents were carriers of the defective gene that causes the disease, largely ensuring he would have it.

Gleice Francisca Machado, a village teacher whose 11-year-old son, Alison, has XP, has studied its history in the area and says she found cases of people having the disease going back 100 years. She has started an association that educates locals about XP and tries to get parents to take extra care for their children, even if they may not have outward signs of the illness themselves.

'The sun is our biggest enemy and those affected must change day for night in order live longer,' Machado said. 'Unfortunately, that is not possible.'
He has held a lifelong passion for the natural world and efforts to protect it.

Now, King Charles love of conservation and the environment have been immortalised in eight new coins unveiled by the Royal Mint which feature animals, flora and fauna that can be found in the UK.

The red squirrel, the hazel dormouse, the Oak tree leaf and the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland feature on coins ranging from the 1p to the 2 piece, and which will soon appear in peoples change.

King Charles personally approved all the designs and...he was extremely pleased with them Caroline Webb, chief marketing officer at the Royal Mint, told the Mail.

The new coins will go into circulation according to demand from banks and post offices.

King Charles love of conservation and the environment have been immortalised in eight new coins (pictured) unveiled by the Royal Mint which feature animals, flora and fauna that can be found in the UK

The red squirrel, the hazel dormouse, the Oak tree leaf and the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland feature on coins ranging from the 1p to the 2 piece

The new 2p coin features a red squirrel design as a homage to the woodland creature that is resident to the UK

The Mint expects that the first new coins will enter circulation by the end of 2023. The new designs will co-circulate for a time with the coins featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Royal Mint said the new designs - officially known as definitives - signal the final chapter of the Kings transition onto coinage.

The eight new coin designs will replace the shield formation introduced under the late Queen in 2008.

They are unified by a repeating pattern, featuring three interlocking Cs, which gives a nod to the history of coinage, while trying to be modern Ms Webb said.

She added: Other Kings and Queens throughout history have used interlocking initials - such as Charles II, who had two, and William and Mary also used interlocking in their cypher.

King Charles also chose a Latin inscription for the edge of the new 2 coin, which reads In servitio omnium meaning: In the service of all and references his inaugural speech on September 9 2022.

Anne Jessopp, chief executive officer of the Royal Mint, said: This is a rare and historic moment as the complete set of UK coins change to celebrate a new monarch on the throne.

The Royal Mint has struck Britains coins for 1,100 years and this collection will proudly take its place amongst the designs of monarchs ranging from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II.

The Mint expects that the first new coins will enter circulation by the end of 2023 (Pictured: A new 2 with a thistle design)

The new designs will co-circulate for a time with the coins featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II (Pictured: A new 1 with a bee design)

The Royal Mint said the new designs - officially known as definitives - signal the final chapter of the Kings transition onto coinage (Pictured: A new 50p with a salmon)

The eight new coin designs will replace the shield formation introduced under the late Queen in 2008 (Pictured: A new 20p with a puffin design)

All eight coin designs have been approved by the King (Pictured: A new 1p with a doormouse design)

Chris Barker, information and research manager at the Royal Mint Museum, told the Mail: This really is a watershed moment for the British coinage tradition, because if you go back in the history, it tends to be dominated by heraldry.

In this instance, youve got a complete break from that, heraldry is by and large gone from these designs and were now showing flora and fauna as a complete set for pretty much the first time in our nations history.

He added: The whole point about this series is capturing that conservation message.

We are trying to get some of those messages across and create those talking points about some of these species that are at risk. If we can do that with these designs, its an important feature.

Mr Barker added the new set of coins was very much a coinage of now and that the Royal Mint had received a direction of travel on nature from the Palace.

He added: A good set of coins, and a good coinage design should reflect the era from which theyre from. Given climate change and everything thats going on, and given that the King himself has campaigned very passionately about nature conservation throughout his lifetime, these are a coinage for our era and for now.

Gordon Summers, chief engraver at the Royal Mint, said: It takes a great deal of skill to create art on a canvas as small as a 1p or 1 coin. The Royal Mint has honed our expertise over 1,100 years and we cant wait to see the new coins in the hands of the nation.

Each coin has been created with the support of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) which helped with ensuring the depiction of the creatures and flowers on the coins was accurate.

Collectors can also buy a commemorative set of the new designs from the Royal Mints website, priced from 33.

From Monday, visitors to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant, South Wales will be able to strike their own new design 50p piece.
Major retailers in the US are already using facial recognition cameras to spy on shoppers, a campaigning group has warned.

The tech - usually associated with authoritative regimes like China - is being used both to identify shoplifters and serve personalized adverts.

Caitlin Seeley George of anti-face recognition campaign group Fight for the Future told DailyMail.com its use has been steadily spreading silently for several years.

Walgreens and Macy's are among the largest retailers to trial devices using the technology, deploying it in hundreds of stores across the country.

And it is not just America - Britain is also adopting the tech.

Stores are using facial recognition both to stop shoplifters and serve adverts (Getty)

Cameras are being used not just to catch persistent shoplifters, but also to monitor shoppers and analyze their emotions, so that stores can deliver personalized adverts on screens inside the store, George warned.

A lot of stores are saying theyre using it to identify shoplifters and as a tool to deter shoplifting, she said.

But its also being used for marketing purposes, they are gathering information on shoppers and seeing what they are buying and not buying - and using AI tools to analyse the emotions of shoppers and see what sort of ads to direct at them.

The global market for facial recognition technology is forecast to hit $7 billion by 2024, according to research by analyst Thales Group.

There is no federal law governing the use of facial recognition technology, George said - and in most US states there are no laws preventing its use.

Some states, including Washington, Vermont, and Maine have regulated the technology's use.

Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, encouraged retailers to use the technology to fight crime.

George said: There are a few states and communities who have addressed the use of this technology, but by and large there isn't a policy on it, so stores are able to move forward at their own pace.

Stores such as Walgreens have experimented with facial recognition advertising (Reuters)

ALFI boasts that its technology can 'personalise' adverts to every shopper (ALFI)

Stores are using the technology to achieve similar results to the data they get from membership cards - but without anyone signing up to a card scheme.

Companies such as ALFI boast of their ability to use facial recognition and AI to detect peoples emotions as they stand in store - and serve tailored adverts to them.

ALFI also claims that their technology, which uses AI to analyze camera images, can accurately perceive age and ethnicity.

The company said, ALFIs advertising platform can transition between ads depending on the person who is in front of the screen.

'For Digital Out of Home advertising, thats unheard of. ALFI can be installed on any device that has an internet connection and a camera, delivering personalized content and ads to any person looking at the screen.

The company claims that no data is stored in their devices, so customer privacy is maintained.

Walgreens was an early an enthusiastic adopter of the technology, with 750 stores installing fridge-door sensors from Cooler Screens, which can deliver personalized adverts based on shoppers appearance

In Walgreens, video screens over refrigerators show adverts based on user presence (the capacity to sense gender and age remained switched off, Walgreens said).

The company has since terminated its contract with Cooler Screens.

George said that cameras in stores are used to assess information about you and gather information on what advert to show to persuade someone to open a fridge.

She said, We have been working to stop use of facial recognition really broadly in terms of government and law enforcement use, as well as private corporate entities using it in public places. And we've had some success targeting individual kind of spaces in order to put a lot of public pressure on them to get them to stop.

The campaign has seen success in persuading events such as music festivals to avoid using face-recognition technology

She said, As we saw that technology spreading in stores, we thought this could be a space to be doing this. One of the problems is that because there aren't laws in most places addressing this, they don't have to tell you if they're using it.

A lot of the retailers that we reached out to we found didn't really really want to engage with us on it, because I think because they are concerned with negative public backlash, and so they'd rather be doing it quietly. Instead of publicising their use.

A Buzzfeed investigation in 2020 found leaked documents which suggested that Macys had used software from the controversial ClearView AI company which matched faces against a database scraped from the web.

Macys has faced lawsuits over its alleged use of ClearView AI face recognition technology.

George said, We reached out to Macy's and they Very adamantly said, Yes, we use facial recognition and we don't have plans to stop it. But part of the problem we ran up against is a lot of retailers don't really want to publicise their use.

For ordinary consumers, there is no chance to look up store privacy policies, George said - which is why Fight for the Future maintains a list

For anyone who is going to the grocery store, people can't go online and look up all the store's privacy policies, every time they need to run out and get something it's just absurd. That's why we are trying to raise understanding around this issue.

George said that many smaller Mom and Pop stores have been quietly buying face-recognition tech - and that she believes store owners are trying to deal with shoplifting themselves, due to a lack of support from the police.

George said, A lot of what we're seeing is that there's a lot of fear of shoplifting. A lot of these stores don't have the wiggle room to lose their profits on this. And then law enforcement also isn't doing anything.

The reality is that anytime there's mass surveillance of a society, it's used to police people.
The spread of Chinese mitten crabs across the UK has been laid bare in a map - as experts warned they are damaging British riverbanks and can give a painful nip if threatened.

The invasive crustaceans, which first appeared in the UK in 1935, have recently been seen scuttling around London and Cambridgeshire, including at a park in the south-west of the capital, a dyke in Whittlesey and a country park in Peterborough.

Chinese mitten crabs were considered to be established in the River Thames in 1973 and have spread further afield since then, including in the Tyne, Humber, Medway, Wharfe, Ouse, Tamar, and Dee rivers.

Since 2016, the species - named for its furry claws - have been classed as being 'widely spread' across the UK.

According to the Natural History Museum's 'Mitten Crab Watch,' more than 800 records have been submitted so far - which confirms that the creature is spreading across the UK.

Their interactive map shows that there have been confirmed sightings of the crab across Britain - including London, Newcastle, Manchester, Swansea, Glasgow and Brighton.

The spread of Chinese mitten crabs across the UK over the years is revealed in this map

Luana Factor (pictured), a vet specialising in exotic animal care at Hermit Crab Answers, told MailOnline that there is 'certainly the potential for further spread across the UK'

Pictured: The Chinese mitten crab that Andy Litchfield came across in Bushy Park, south-west London, while walking his dog

Luana Factor, a vet specialising in exotic animal care at Hermit Crab Answers, told MailOnline: 'Given their adaptability, migratory behaviour, and previous spread in the UK and other parts of the world, there's certainly the potential for further spread across the UK.'

Ms Factor said that Chinese mitten crabs can cause ecological disruptions, including damaging riverbanks with burrowing, competing with native species for resources, blocking water outlets and damaging fishing gear.

It comes after the invasive species was spotted on roads and in ponds in Cambridgeshire.

Footage was captured by Richard Bailey at the Kings Dyke in Whittlesey, while there were other sighting at Nene Park in Peterborough.

In a warning to visitors, the Nene Park Trust said: 'They [the crabs] don't pose any threat to people or dogs but may give a nip if anything gets too close, so we would advise visitors to keep their distance.'

The Nene Park Trust said that they were made aware of sightings of the crabs around Orton Water in Peterborough. A spokesman said there was not much action the trust could take, as '[the crabs] are spreading naturally through UK waterways'.

It comes at a time where Britons are already growing concerned about a bed bug invasion from France.

The Natural History Museum has said the invasive crabs could grow to the size of dinner plates.

Elsewhere, Andy Litchfield said he had been walking his dog in Bushy Park, south-west London, when he saw a crab last Friday.

He told the Woking News and Mail that he had seen the crabs before but 'never on land'.

The crabs erode riverbanks by burrowing into them and also affect the fishing industry by feeding on fish stocks and damaging nets. Pictured: Chinese mitten crab at a Peterborough rowing lake

The crustaceans were seen at waterways in Cambridgeshire, including a dyke in Whittlesey (pictured)

He added: 'I was walking my Labrador in Bushy Park on Friday morning when he stopped to sniff something on the ground, and I was surprised to see that it was a crab.'

He took a video of the encounter which saw the crab get defensive and put its claws in the air.

Chinese mitten crabs are among 30 non-native species listed as a concern due to their 'invasiveness and the ability to establish in several nations across Europe'.

According to the National History Museum's 'Mitten Crab Watch', more than 800 records have been submitted so far - which confirms that the creature is spreading across the UK.

Their interactive map shows that there have been confirmed sightings of the crab across Britain - including London, Newcastle, Manchester, Swansea, Glasgow and Brighton.

Since 2020 the crab has been found in the River Severn and Morecambe Bay area.

Ms Factor said that they 'dwell and flourish until their shells span about three inches', adding: 'Those furry-looking growths, almost akin to mittens, adorn their front claws, setting them apart from their crustacean kin.'

She added that their 'residence in freshwater is not eternal'. 'Come autumn, these crabs embark on a formidable journey back to the saltwater expanses, navigating challenges that even human-engineered dams present,' she told MailOnline.

The species  named after its furry claws  is thought to have travelled from eastern China to Europe and north America in the sediment found on the bottom of ships ballast tanks. Pictured: Chinese mitten crab at the Kings Dyke in Whittlesey

Chinese mitten crabs are among 30 non-native species listed as a concern due to their 'invasiveness and the ability to establish in several nations across Europe'

'Their drive is to spawn and complete the circle of life. Yet, within this journey lies a path of unintended destruction. Waterways in places like Cambridgeshire bear witness to the harm they inflict, from damaged riverbanks to interruptions in the fishing industry.'

Ms Factor said that their presence in new areas is not 'entirely new' given the recorded sightings in the 20th century.

However, she said their 'ability to naturally traverse and establish in different waterways has also contributed to their spread' - including to other parts of Europe and North America.

Chinese mitten crabs - identified by their grey-green to dark brown body and dense brown 'fur' on their white-tipped claws - are primarily found in freshwater rivers and streams but require brackish and saltwater environments for reproduction.

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs said that there is no legal fishery for the species in the UK. Therefore, if Chinese mitten crabs are caught as a by-catch they cannot be sold live for human consumption.

Since 2016 Chinese mitten crabs have been classed as being 'widely spread' across the UK

They said that it had received reports of the crab on the Cambridgeshire Fens and they encouraged people to report sightings to stop the movement of their eggs and urged people to take photos.

At the end of last month, one of the creatures was spotted at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Fen Drayton Nature Reserve, near Huntingdon.

Simon Passey was walking to the car park when he saw the creature. He told The Hunts Post: 'It was alive and had quite large pincers, I've never seen anything like that at Fen Drayton before.

'I took photos, but I didn't want to touch it.'
Artemis was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the moon in Greek mythology.

NASA has chosen her to personify its path back to the moon, which will see astronauts return to the lunar surface by 2025 - including the first woman and the next man.

Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, was the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the moon and Mars.

The uncrewed flight, which successfully launched in November last year, travelled more than 1.4 million miles on a path around the moon and back to Earth. It splashed down in the Pacific Ocean in December 2022, 25-and-a-half days after launch.

Artemis 1, formerly Exploration Mission-1, was the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the moon and Mars. This graphic explains the various stages of the mission

Orion stayed in space longer than any ship for astronauts has done without docking to a space station, while it also returned home faster and hotter than ever before.

It will now be followed by Artemis II, a manned mission which is scheduled for launch next year.

The crew will fly around the moon and back to prepare for Artemis III, which NASA is targeting as the mission to return humans to the lunar surface.

Eventually NASA seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon by 2028 as a result of the Artemis programme.

The space agency hopes this colony will uncover new scientific discoveries, demonstrate new technological advancements and lay the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy.

Who is Victor Glover? The man set to become NASA's first black astronaut to orbit the moon

Victor Glover (pictured) was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and became the first African American ISS expedition crewmember to live on the ISS seven years later

NASA is set to send the first-ever black astronaut to the moon.

Victor Glover, 46, was selected to take part in the space agency's Artemis II mission  the US' first lunar mission in a half-century.

The Pomona, California, native will be the first person of color to travel into deep space, hundreds of thousands of miles beyond the low-Earth orbiting International Space Station (ISS).

NASA officials say the diverse crew assignments signify the cultural shifts that have taken place since the original Apollo missions, which ended in 1972, at a time when white men dominated space exploration.

Glover was also the first black man to ever live on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2020 and is among 15 African Americans to be selected as an astronaut.

In his esteemed career since being selected as an astronaut in 2013, Mr Glover has logged over 3,000 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.

Artemis II - which will launch in November 2024 - will see the four-man crew orbit the moon in the Orion spacecraft but not land.

Their goal is to test new technology, including heat shields that protects Orion as it travels 24,500 mph in 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit on its way back.

If successful, NASA plans to launch an expedition to land on the moon titled Artemis III. Another success would spell out a trip to Mars for NASA.

I wanna thank God for this Amazing opportunity, Mr Glover said during a new conference Monday.

This is a big day. We have a lot to celebrate. Its so much more than the four names that have been announced. We need to celebrate this moment in human history.

'Artermis II is more than a mission to the Moon and back. Its more than a mission that has to happen before we send people to the surface of the moon. It is the next step on the journey that gets humanity to Mars.

This crew will never forget that.

Mr Glover was born in 1976 in Pomona, around 30 miles east of Los Angeles.

The city is far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, known for its high poverty rate and relatively high crime.

Mr Glover grew up in Ponoma, CA, 30 miles east of Los Angeles

He said his parents and teachers served as mentors as him growing up.

'Early on in life it had to be my parents; they encouraged me and challenged me and held me to high standards. Outside of home, I had teachers that did the same,' he told USA Today in 2017.

'They all challenged me, and they encouraged me.'

Mr Glover continued that his teachers and parents urged him to go the engineering school and eventually become a test pilot  leading to him becoming an astronaut.

He graduated from Southern California's Ontario High School in 1994, and went on to attend California Polytechnic State University, before completing his graduate education at Air University and the US Naval Academy.

'Im the first person in my family to graduate from college, and being at graduation with my mom and my dad and my stepdad and my little brothers and my grandparents,' he said to USA Today.

'That was unreal, that was cool and it was special for me.'

In 1999 he was commissioned as part of the US Navy. After completing flight training in Corpus Christy, Texas, he was 'given his wings' and awarded the title of pilot in 2001.

He then moved to San Diego to learn to fly the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, known as one of the Navy's more versatile aircraft.

After spending the next two years training in Florida and Virginia, he was deployed to Iraq in 2004 for six months.

Mr Glover was working in the office of the late Sen John McCain as a legislative fellow when he was selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 2013.

NASA only selects a handful of the thousands of people that apply to be a member of the nation's astronaut corps each year. Only 15 black astronauts have ever been selected out of 348.

A vast majority of the 41 current astronauts have a military background, like Mr Glover.

He completed his astronaut training in 2015. Three years later, he was selected to be a part of the first ever operational flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon, a reusable aircraft designed by the firm Elon Musk found in 2002.

As part of that mission, he would live on the ISS from November 17, 2020 to May 2, 2021.

The nearly six-month-long stay on the station makes him the first black astronaut to inhabit it.

Jeanette Epps, 52, who was selected to be an astronaut in 2009 is set to become the second African American, and first black woman, to live on the ISS after the launch of Boeing Starliner-1 in 2024 or later.

In 2020, Mr Glover said it was an honor to be the first black person selected to the ISS.

'It is something to be celebrated once we accomplish it, and I am honored to be in this position and to be a part of this great and experienced crew,' he said during a news conference.

'I look forward to getting up there and doing my best to make sure, you know, we are worthy of all the work that's been put into setting us up for this mission.'

In an interview with The Christian Chronicle later that year, he said there were qualified black astronauts that should have earned the honor before him.

'I've had some amazing colleagues before me that really could have done it, and there are some amazing folks that will go behind me,' he said.

'I wish it would have already been done, but I try not to draw too much attention to it.'

Who is Christina Koch? The first female NASA astronaut set to orbit the moon

Christina Koch is set to become the first woman to go around the moon when NASA's Artemis II mission takes off next year.

Christina Koch, 44, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is set to become the first woman to go around the moon

The Grand Rapids, Michigan native, 44, is already the record-holder for the longest amount of time a woman has spent in space, 328 days, and for taking part in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019.

Selected to become an astronaut in 2013, Ms Koch said she has not followed a 'checklist' in order to become an astronaut  but instead chased her passions whether this be rock climbing, sailing or even learning to surf in her 40s.

She said in 2020: 'I really don't remember a time when I didn't want to be an astronaut.

'For me, I learned that if I was going to be an astronaut, it was because my passions had turned me into someone that could contribute the most as someone contributing to human space flight.'

While she's exploring space, her husband Robert will be left taking care of housework and the couple's puppy, LBD. It is not believed that they have children.

'Am I excited? Absolutely!' she said at a news conference at the crew's announcement Monday.

The one thing I'm most excited about is that we will carry your excitement,your aspirations, your dreams, on this mission.

She also said: We are going to launch from Kennedy space center, we are going to here the words go for launch on top of the most powerful rocket NASAs ever made.

NASA has sent a total of 355 people to space so far, of which some 55 have been women  or 15 percent. It has also sent 24 people to orbit the moon and 12 to walk on the lunar surface who were all men.

Russian Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to ever leave the earth's atmosphere  setting off in 1937. American women did not get sent to space until 1983.

Ms Koch, however, will make history on the Artemis II mission when she completes her long-awaited trip around the moon.

She revealed her love of space in a video when she was announced as a member of the Artemis I team in 2020.

The astronaut said: 'I am someone who has loved exploration on the frontier since I was little.

'I used to be inspired by the night sky and throughout my career, it's been this balance between engineering for space science missions and doing science in really remote places all over the world.

'I loved things that made me feel small, things that made me ponder the size of the universe, my place in it and everything that was out there to explore.'

She added: 'I didn't necessarily live my life following check boxes of how you could become an astronaut.

'But I followed those passions and one day I looked at what I had become and the skills I had gathered and I asked "could I sit across from a table and present myself as someone who could do this well?". And I thought, I'm going to give this a shot.'

She went to North Carolina State University in Raleigh to get a bachelor's and a master's in Electrical Engineering.

She then became an Electrical Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, before becoming a research associate for the United States Antarctic Program  living an entire year in the Arctic.

Ms Koch was one of eight selected as part of NASA's 21st class of astronauts in 2013. After two years of training, she became a full-fledged astronaut.

Her first space flight came in 2019 when she was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to work as a flight engineer.

She stayed up there for 328 days, taking the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman. The previous record holder, Peggy Whitson, was in space for 288 days.

While in space she also took the record for the first all-women space walk  when an astronaut gets out of a vehicle while in space  with Jessica Meir.

The pair spent seven hours and 17 minutes on the side of the ISS as they worked to replace a power controller. The walk also included a brief call with President Trump.

Upon her return to Earth in 2020, Ms Koch said she felt 'like a baby' who was two weeks old and working hard to hold up its head.

Back on Earth, she lives in Galveston, Texas, just outside of the Houston area.

Among her interests are backpacking, running, yoga, photography and travel.

Now she will be a part of a groundbreaking mission in NASA's goal towards putting a man on Mars.

The Artemis II mission marks NASA's first trip to the moon in half a century. It says it will be performed to help test kit in preparation for getting humans onto Mars.

The agency sent an empty Orion capsule around the moon last year before it returned to Earth in a long-awaited dress rehearsal.

If this latest mission goes well, then another flight to land people on the moon will be sent in 2025  as part of tests ahead of getting people onto Mars.
Over the last 25 years, Antarctica's melting ice sheets have released a staggering 7.5 trillion tonnes of water into the ocean, a study has revealed.

Analyzing over 100,000 satellite radar images, researchers from the University of Leeds discovered a steady erosion of the continent's ice sheets, with over 40 per shrinking between 1997 and 2021.

While some ice sheets did grow in size during this time, the data revealed that a third have now lost more than 30 per cent of their initial mass - unleashing vast quantities of freshwater in the process.

Worryingly, scientists say this vast release of fresh water could threaten to destabilise ocean currents and contribute to global sea level rise.

What's more, human-induced climate change means that ice melt will continue to happen faster in the future, the experts warn.

Over the last 25 years, Antarctica's melting ice sheets have released a staggering 7.5 trillion tonnes of water into the ocean, a study has revealed

Warmer waters off Antarctica's west coast have caused ice sheets to melt at a much faster rate than in the east where they are protected by a layer of cold water

What is sea ice? Sea ice is simply frozen ocean water. It forms, grows, and melts in the ocean. It floats on the surface of the sea because it is less dense than liquid water. In contrast, icebergs, glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves all originate on land. Sea ice is estimated to cover around 7 per cent of Earth's surface and about 12 per cent of the world's oceans. The lion's share of sea ice is contained within the polar ice packs in the Arctic and Southern oceans. These ice packs undergo season variations and are also affected locally on smaller time scales by wind, current and temperature fluctuations. Sea ice is a vital habitat for the penguins and seals which call the Antarctic their home Advertisement

The scientists found that, while almost all the ice sheets on the east coast were melting, many ice sheets on the west coast stayed the same size or grew.

This is due to the patterns of ocean currents which surround Antarctica, carrying water of different temperatures.

While the Western side is exposed to warm waters which erode the ice shelves from below, East Antarctica is protected by a band of colder water close to the shore.

Overall, 59 trillion tonnes of water have been added to the continent's ice shelves since 1975.

However, this was offset by the 67 trillion tonnes that were lost.

The biggest losses took place at the Getz Ice Shelf, which lost 1.9 trillion tonnes of water.

For perspective, one trillion tones of ice would make a cube more than six miles (10 km) in every direction - more than half a mile taller than Mt Everest!

Of this loss, 95 per cent was caused by melting and five per cent by 'calving', where large chunks of ice break off into the ocean.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Antarctica, the Amery Ice Shelf gained 1.2 trillion tonnes of ice due to the colder waters surrounding it.

Dr Benjamin Davison, who led the study, says this evidence points to a distinct change in the Antarctic ice.

'We expected most ice shelves to go through cycles of rapid, but short-lived shrinking, then to regrow slowly,' Dr Davidson said.

'Instead, we see that almost half of them are shrinking with no sign of recovery.'

Dr Davidson and his colleagues believe that this change has been brought about by human-induced global warming.

If the increased rate of melting were due to natural factors such as a variation in climate patterns, there would have also been evidence of ice regrowth in the typically warmer west.

Analyzing over 100,000 satellite radar images, researchers from the University of Leeds discovered a steady erosion of the continent's ice sheets, with over 40 per shrinking between 1997 and 2021

The Getz Ice Shelf, where the worst of the ice melt has occurred, shed 1.9 trillion tonnes of water into the southern ocean over 25 years

The team behind this latest study now worry that the steady erosion of the ice sheet could have vast knock-on effects on the wider climate.

The ice sheets which float on the sea act like giant 'plugs' at the end of glaciers.

When they thin or reduce in size, the glaciers make their way to the sea faster, increasing the rate at which ice is lost into the ocean.

If the ice shelves are removed or diminished, this may disrupt the Antarctic ice system as well as global ocean circulation.

In the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, dense, cold, salty water sinks to the ocean floor.

As the water sinks, it forms the engine that drives the giant ocean 'conveyor belt' or currents which moves nutrients and heat away from the sensitive polar ecosystem.

Since the vast majority of water coming from melting ice sheets is fresh, this dilutes the salty ocean, making it less dense and taking longer to sink, weakening the ocean's circulation.

Studies already show that this process might have started to weaken the delicate balance of the Southern Pole.

Antarctica's sea-ice levels are at a 'mind-blowing' historic low for the winter, scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center have revealed. Graph shows current area of sea ice compared with the average for this time of year

Recent research revealed that the ice surrounding Antarctica, known as the sea ice extent, was at a historic low in September measuring less than 6.5 million square miles (17 million sq km), according to the US's National Snow and Ice Data Center.

While this may seem vast it is, in fact, 580,000 square miles (1.5 million sq km) less than average for September - an area equivalent to five times the size of the British Isles.

This comes after scientists revealed that a winter heatwave in March 2022 saw temperatures rise 40C above normal levels.

Had this occurred in summer, scientists say it would have been hot enough to melt the surface of the ice sheets; something that has never been seen before.

Rapid warming has already caused a significant southward shift and contraction in the distribution of Antarctic krill  a keystone species, campaigners said.

A recent Greenpeace expedition to the Antarctic also confirmed that Gentoo penguins are breeding further south as a consequence of the climate crisis.
The man at the top of iconic denim maker Levi Strauss has shared a bizarre suggestion to help save the planet.

Climate-conscious Charles Bergh has urged customers to wear their jeans while showering instead of placing them in a washing machine - to save energy and water and cut down on pollution.

He first raised eyebrows on the topic with public comments in 2014 that his own denim had 'yet to see a washing machine'  and his advice that 'real denim aficionados' should follow his lead.

Bergh has now clarified his position, but environmental science has also caught up with the idea, confirming that toxic microfibers stripped from denim during too many runs in the washing machine are building up in aquatic ecosystems.

Levi's CEO Charles Bergh told CNBC's 'Managing Asia ' last month that he wears his jeans into the shower and scrubs them with soap as you would your own legs. But only 'if they get really gross, you know, if I've been out sweating or something,' the CEO clarified

Scientists in Canada have found alarming levels of denim microfibers in aquatic ecosystems. Above, the distribution of average microfiber concentrations from the sediment samples they analyzed, including fibers found in the Canadian Arctic, the Great Lakes and rainbow-smelt fish

'If they get really gross, you know, if I've been out sweating or something,' the CEO clarified, 'I'll wash them in the shower.'

As Bergh told CNBC's 'Managing Asia' last month, he wears his jeans into the shower and scrubs them with soap as a person might wash their own legs. But only when his jeans get really dirty.

Poll Would YOU wash your jeans in the shower? Yes No Would YOU wash your jeans in the shower? Yes 125 votes

No 648 votes Now share your opinion





'If I drop some curry on my jeans, I'm gonna clean it,' Bergh said. 'But I'll spot clean.'

In 2020, researchers found that synthetic indigo denim fibers comprised almost a quarter of microfibers deposited in the Great Lakes and around the Canada-US border and a fifth of clothing fragments in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

The team's experiments, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, also determined that about 50,000 microscopic denim fragments are shed in a single run through a domestic washing machine.

'Blue jeans, the world's most popular single garment,' the researchers said, 'have a widespread geographic footprint in the form of microfibers in aquatic environments from temperate to Arctic regions.'

'In fact, these 'natural' microfibers are often more abundant than synthetic microfibers in environmental samples.'

Images of an indigo denim fiber identified as cotton found in (C) Arctic sediments, (D) Great Lakes fish, (E) wastewater treatment plants effluent and (F) a denim fiber released from blue jeans collected from wash water effluent. Scale bars are 10 micrometers

The researchers, operating from the University of Toronto, used microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to identify and count indigo denim microfibers in various water samples collected in Canada.

Raman spectroscopy scatters light from a high-intensity laser source to reveal information about chemical structure.

READ MORE: Mountain of discarded 'fast fashion' in Chile is now visible from SPACE High-resolution satellite pics (above) reveal the horrifying sweep of Chile's Atacama desert dumpsite. At least 39,000 tons of unwanted clothes end up in the desert each year - leftovers from the roughly 59,000 tons of used and unsold clothing that arrives at Chile's Iquique port each year from Europe, Asia and the United States Advertisement

But the team also detected denim microfiber in the digestive tract of a rainbow smelt, a type of fish native to the Great Lakes.

Based on the levels of microfibers found in wastewater effluent, like the kind swept away after an at-home clothes wash, the researchers estimate that local wastewater treatment plants discharged about 1 billion indigo denim microfibers per day.

'We don't know yet the impacts on wildlife and the environment.' the study's lead author, Samantha Athey, told Science News Explores.

'Even though denim is made of a natural material  cotton  it contains chemicals,' she added.

But Levi's CEO Charles Bergh had more environmentally conscious reasons to leave your jeans out of the washing machine.

The home appliance uses a lot of water for each cycle.

On top of that, washing your jeans is a major part of the clothing's carbon footprint, according to Bergh. And the denim industry already consumes a lot of water on the manufacturing side, he told CNBC.

But as a devoted denim lover who has made the fabric his career, the exec had plenty of style-conscious reasons to keep his jeans out of the washing machine, too.

Too many spin cycles, he suggested, will degrade the shape and color of jeans and lessens the risk of rips and holes.

'True denim heads, people that really love their denim,' Bergh said, 'will tell you to never put your denim into a washing machine.'
A new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report warns Elon Musk's Starlink satellites could kill or seriously injure someone by 2035.

The regulators published a 35-page analysis, predicting that 28,000 hazardous fragments from de-orbiting satellites could survive reentry over the next 12 years.

Musk plans to have at least 42,000 Starlinks in orbit in the coming years - the most of any company.

SpaceX's Starlinks would represent more than 85 percent of the expected risk to people on the ground and aviation from falling debris in the timeframe, the report claims.

Musk's SpaceX is not taking the allegations lying down - the company's principal engineer called the analysis 'preposterous, unjustified and inaccurate' in a letter to the FAA and Congress.

A new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report warns Elon Musk's Starlink satellites could kill or seriously injure someone by 2035

Here, 60 Starlink satellites can be seen stacked together over Earth before their deployment on May 24, 2019

SpaceX principal engineer David Goldstein said the report relied on 'deeply flawed analysis,' according to CNN.

'To be clear, SpaceX's satellites are designed and built to fully demise during atmospheric reentry during disposal at the end of life, and they do so,' the letter reads.

The company also criticized the Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit that compiled the data, for not contacting SpaceX for more information.

The letter also states that 325 Starlink satellites have been deorbited since February 2020, and no debris has been found.

The Aerospace Corporation issued a statement Tuesday, saying it approached SpaceX two years ago 'to do an independent assessment of collective risks associated with satellite re-entry, based upon the projection of all planned operators under U.S. regulation in 2021.

'The data included existing and planned constellations through 2035. The greatest percentage of satellites were those in Low Earth Orbit.'

Musk's SpaceX is not taking the allegations lightly - the company's principal engineer called to analysis preposterous, unjustified and inaccurate' in a letter to the FAA and Congress

NASA has said peppering low Earth orbit with a large number of satellites could 'impact science and human spaceflight missions.' But the report warns it could lead to space debris falling from orbit and surviving re-entry

Along with potential human casualties, the report states that air travel could also be threatened by falling space debris.

READ MORE: Elon Musk's satellites litter the heavens as astonishing video shows how 5,000 Starlink aircraft are whizzing around the Earth Footage posted by an X user shows thousands of little orange dots, representing the satellites orbiting the planet and illustrating the vast scale of his investment. Advertisement

'The probability of an aircraft downing accident (defined in the Aerospace report as a collision with an aircraft downing object) in 2035 would be 0.0007 per year,' the document reads.

SpaceX launched Starlink satellites in May 2019, sending over 5,000 mass-produced objects into space.

The company announced reaching over 2 million subscribers in September 2023 and plans to deploy 12,000 satellites - a goal that could be raised to 42,000.

The SpaceX Starlink is a low-orbit satellite that provides internet with unlimited data and quick broadband speeds.

The satellites offer users fixed-location or portable internet options for a hefty price.

Internet provider T-Mobile provides broadband for $50 monthly with no installation fee - while Starlink charges up to $2,500 for installation and can cost users up to $250 a month.

New research showed that low-frequency radio waves - like those produced by Musk's machines - are leaking into the sky, making it difficult for scientists to make astronomical observations.

Scientists are also concerned that Musk's 'space junk' could cause an extreme collision event.

The 'Kessler syndrome' - proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978 - said that if there is too much space junk in the Earth's orbit, then the objects could collide and make MORE space junk. This would result in Earth's orbit becoming unstable.
READ MORE: Scientist says tiny fragments are from outside the solar system

Scientists have shared new insights regarding metal fragments recovered from the Pacific that came from outside our solar system.

Alien-hunting Harvard physicist Avi Loeb and his team published a preprint study Thursday, explaining that the properties of a meteor that crashed in 2014 'can be naturally explained.'

The researchers trawled the seafloor off the coast of New Guinea in June, finding about 700 tiny metallic spheres during the expedition, and the 57 analyzed contain compositions that are not known to be in our solar system.

The paper suggested that the properties formed when the Earth-like planet deviated from a circular orbit around a dwarf star, creating a stream of debris shooting into interstellar space.

Loeb wrote that during this event, a rocky planet's crust would melt, creating an abundance of beryllium, lanthanum and uranium, which were found in the metallic spheres pulled from the depths of the ocean.

While the new analysis points to a natural origin, Loeb suggested that abundant rare elements could have served a technological purpose.

'For example, lanthanum could have been melted from semiconductors, and uranium could have been used as fuel in a fission reactor,' he explained.

Loeb told DailyMail.com that he and his team 'plan to find out the true nature of IM1 by finding large pieces of it in our next expedition within the next nine months.'

Scientists have shared new insights regarding metal fragments recovered from the Pacific that came from outside our solar system

'Does this mean that IM1 definitely originated from a natural astrophysical environment and was not a technological Voyager-like meteor manufactured by another civilization? We do not know for sure,' Loeb shared in a Medium post.

The initial analysis, released in August, revealed the rare properties of the meteor-like object called IM1.

The paper shared that while the elements are found on Earth, the patterns do not match the alloys found on our planet, moon, Mars or other natural meteorites in the solar system.

And the pre-printed paper delves deeper into their origin.

The team calculated the speed at which the rocks launched from the Earth-like planet's crust during the event known as tidal disruption.

The researchers trawled the seafloor off the coast of New Guinea in June, finding about 700 tiny metallic spheres during the expedition, and the 57 analyzed contain compositions that are not known to be in our solar system

Alien-hunting Harvard physicist Avi Loeb and his team published a preprint study Thursday, explaining that the properties of a meteor that crashed in 2014 'can be naturally explained'

Loeb wrote that 'the most abundant planetary systems launch rocks from the crust of an Earth-like planet with a characteristic interstellar speed of about 37 miles per second.

In one second, the rocks covered the same distance as a car driving along a highway for one hour.

'Their speed is higher than 95 percent of the random speeds of stars in the vicinity of the Sun,' wrote Loeb.

'Amazingly, this was the speed inferred for the first reported interstellar meteor, IM1, measured by US government satellites on January 8, 2014.'

The data from the initial analysis in August showed that the fragments are rich in Beryllium, lanthanum and uranium, along with low content of elements with high affinity to iron, like Rhenium. Pictured is the composition of a fragment found at the site

The remnants came from a meter-size object that crashed off the coast of Papua, New Guinea in 2014, which Professor Loeb claims was an alien craft

About 700 metallic spherical objects were pulled from the sea, which Loeb determined contained alloys that could only be found in interstellar space

The 'BeLaU' composition found in the fragments results from the rocky planet making many close-in passages around the dwarf star, which would cause melting of the planet's surface.

'This melting could yield differentiation of elements, allowing elements with affinity to iron to sink to the planets iron core, Loeb shared.

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Truth about my 'alien' encounter... How I found bombshell interstellar objects a mile beneath the sea - and their limitless potential for life on Earth, by scientist AVI LOEB Every scientist dreams of making a great discovery. A eureka moment when all the signs point to a conclusion that breaks new ground, that potentially changes everything. Advertisement

'The unusually high material strength of IM1 might have resulted from the hardening associated with repeated episodes of melting and crusting and enhanced elemental differentiation compared to solar system planets like the Earth or Mars, which went through a magma ocean episode only during their early formation, as a result of bombardment by other objects.'

While the new analysis suggests IM1 had natural origins, Loeb is not ruling out the idea aliens could have fashioned it.

He and his team are planning a second expedition to the Pacific Ocean to scour the seafloor for larger pieces of IM1 'and check whether it was a rock or a more exotic object,' Loeb wrote.

For years, Loeb has argued that interstellar technology may have visited Earth.

In 2017, an interstellar object named Oumuamua passed through the Solar System.

While most scientists believe it was a natural phenomenon, Loeb famously argued it may have been of alien origin.

After discovering Oumuamua in 2017, Loeb theorized - despite much criticism - that more interstellar objects had likely whizzed past Earth.

He was vindicated in 2019 when a student discovered that a high-speed fireball in 2014, the IM1 meteor, also had interstellar origins, predating Oumuamua.

The first mission to find remnants of the 2014 meteor lasted for two weeks in June.

Also known as CNEOS1 2014-01-08, the object had an estimated diameter of 1.5 feet, a mass of 1,014 pounds and a pre-impact velocity of 37.3 miles per second.

IM1 withstood four times the pressure that would typically destroy an ordinary iron-metal meteor  as it hurtled through Earth's atmosphere at 100,215 miles per hour.

Roughly two dozen people, including scientists with Harvard's Galileo Project Expedition, the ship's crew and documentary filmmakers chronicling the endeavor, set sail from the island town of Lorengau on June 14 onboard the Silver Star.

Throughout their two-week Pacific voyage, the Galileo team scoured the seabed for signs of IM1 debris, dragging a deep-sea magnetic sled along the fireball's last known trajectory and completing 26 runs along the sea floor.
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Foot pain can really ruin an otherwise perfectly good day. When every step feels worse than the last, its time to reconsider your choice of footwear.

A top New York podiatrist, Dr. Nelya Lobkova, felt the same  and it spurred her to create KLAW sneakers. These highly supportive and lightweight shoes offer exceptional arch support, shock absorption, and heel stability. Right now, you can get 10% off your first order by entering code KLAW10 at checkout.

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Dr. Lobkova left nothing to chance in designing sneakers that capture the essence of truly comfortable footwear.

To begin, theyre approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association. The Seal of Acceptance is only awarded to shoes considered beneficial to actual foot health, something that speaks volumes about these particular shoes.

A color for everyone! Step into an easy neutral that goes with everything or add a pop of sunshine to your day with a peppy yellow.

Theyre no ordinary sneakers. KLAW features outstanding arch support, which goes a long way in reducing pain while improving your balance. Plus, deep cups cushion your heels so you can stand more comfortably for longer periods.

That same plush cushioning is nestled at the forefoot, ensuring that you feel relief with each step. And because theyre so light, you wont feel that unpleasantly bulky sensation that accompanies so many popular sneaker styles. This is the antithesis of that.

Another feature thats often overlooked is the size of the toe box. Too small and you can all but guarantee your toes will feel too snug for comfort, especially as the day progresses.

With the KLAW sneakers wide toe box, though, theres absolutely no risk of that. Theres plenty of space, but it wont take away from the shoes inherent style.

That style is precisely what makes the KLAW such a serious contender for most-worn sneaker  it looks as great as it feels. Both the mens and womens styles are available in black, white, yellow, and grey, so you can round out your wardrobe with the one thats best for you.

Wear your KLAW sneakers anywhere, anytime  they're great for low-impact workouts, walking, and errand runs.

Just take it from the hundreds of reviewers who have issued the sneakers five stars for their comfort and style combined.

These shoes have been amazing, states one wearer. I am on my feet all day and these have been a tremendous help. Very little fatigue at the end of the day.

The difference is in the details, as KLAW footwear is enhanced with premium support systems that protect your feet from front to back while you're on the move.

Another shares, I have been dealing with debilitating hip bursitis, sciatica and hip tears for a couple of weeks after a bad fall. When these came in they instantly felt like clouds for your feet and I felt more balanced with every step.

There's no question that comfort is king where your shoes are concerned  this is one area where your investment truly makes a difference. Once you step into your KLAW sneakers, you'll wonder how you ever wore anything else!
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A 'haunted' jailhouse in Indiana, a dilapidated cinema in Texas and an Illinois car graveyard.

These are some of the abandoned sites that photographer Ben Geier has captured, with his nostalgia-infused photography drumming up an ever-growing following on Instagram.

The Illinois native, 42, reveals his motivation is to 'preserve or document' abandoned spaces in the U.S, with a particular focus on relics from the 1950s. He says: 'We are on the brink of that era fading away completely, so Im trying to see and document as much of it as I can while its still here.'

Ben, who also runs a marketing agency, dedicates his weekends to exploring rural areas in the U.S in the hopes of discovering subjects to photograph. In the abandoned properties he has photographed, he has discovered 'shocking things like mummified cats, body casts, [and] nude polaroids', he reveals.

But what strikes fans of his work the most, he says, is 'all the family photos, relics, and 8mm reels' left behind. 'That kind of stuff is so important to individuals and families, its confounding that anyone would leave these things behind,' he says.

Ben continues: 'I get an overwhelming response [about] how the imagery makes people feel sad, which I get to an extent, but I also find the scenes to be really pretty. I think the way I capture things is a nice memorial to the people and families that once lived in the spaces.' While the majority of Ben's work deals with abandoned spaces, he also captures retro buildings and landmarks that act as a window into America's past - scroll down to see a selection of work from his spectacular portfolio...

This picture shows the Old Whitely Jail in Columbia City, Indiana, which dates back to 1875. Ben notes that it's 'not truly abandoned anymore' as it's currently used as a haunted house attraction. It's speculated that the building is haunted by a man named Charles Butler who shot his wife to death in 1883

LEFT: This abandoned house in mid-west America is 'mostly empty and gutted now but still has an incredible exterior', Ben says. RIGHT: With ivy crawling up its walls, this abandoned house was discovered in Iowa

This image shows the abandoned Liberty Theater in Vandalia, a city in Illinois. It opened around 1910 and stopped operating in early 2008, the website Cinema Treasures reveals

LEFT: This eye-catching image, a favourite of Ben's, shows part of a recently demolished house in Illinois. The artist says he was drawn to the building 'because of the retro colours throughout'. RIGHT: This book-filled picture shows a recently abandoned house in Illinois that previously belonged to two teachers

This colourful shot shows Wallace Theatre, located in the small city of Muleshoe in Texas. It's from Ben's 'Abandoned Theatre' photo series

LEFT: This eerie picture shows an old Estonian Lutheran church on the outskirts of the Wisconsin town of Gleason. The church was founded in 1914, the website Estonian World reveals. 'In my opinion, people need to put in the work to find unique locations to capture,' Ben remarks. 'Too many photographers try to shoot the same locations, with the same angles - and things start to feel monotonous. My biggest piece of advice is to develop your own style.' RIGHT: This 'gorgeous' house in Ohio has 'sadly' been demolished since the picture was taken, Ben reveals. He says: 'I spoke to the owner a few years ago and he was talking about moving it... I think it just became too much of a liability for the owner.' Highlighting some of the challenges of his work, Ben says: 'Abandoned photography is such a popular style its over saturated. For me the challenge is creating my own style within the abandoned community, and I think I do that with my color palettes and retro elements'

This striking shot shows the Blue Whale of Catoosa, which lies east of Catoosa town in Oklahoma, along Route 66. It's one of the most popular roadside attractions along the driving route, Ben reveals. The whale was constructed in the 1970s by local man Hugh Davis as an anniversary gift for his wife

LEFT: Ben says that he was given permission to photograph the interior of this Illinois house 'before it was burnt to the ground'. He says: 'So many houses become a liability for the owners, so its easier for them to demolish or burn them down.' Asked if he ever feels frightened entering abandoned spaces, he says: 'I wouldnt say Im frightened of the spaces in terms of them feeling spooky or something. I worry more about running into rabid animals, squatters, or angry land owners. Land owners typically dont care much about the historic preservation part of what I do. They see their property as a liability and want me out.' RIGHT: This green-hued picture was captured in an Illinois car graveyard that has about 30 to 40 'really great old cars', Ben explains. He adds: 'Stuff like this is so fun to shoot because of all the retro colours'

This vibrant shot shows Red Oak II, an artificial village that was created along Route 66 by the late artist Lowell Davis, Ben explains. It lies near the city of Carthage in Missouri
Thought paradise was beyond your budget? Think again. A mum has revealed a clever hack for getting return flights to the Maldives for under 300  but there are a couple of catches.

Jenna Carr, known online as 'The Travel Mum', told her 372,100 TikTok followers they could get to picturesque Maldives beaches for a total of just 275 ($338)  by including a few stopovers on the way and turning the trip into an 18-night odyssey.

In a later blog post she updated this price, revealing how the trip could be snared for just 248 ($304).

Detailing the 'epic' journey, which includes some 'disgustingly cheap' prices, the globe-trotting mother said: 'You're going to spend two nights in Sofia, Bulgaria, six nights in the Maldives, four nights in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, four nights in Jordan, and a night in Bergamo, before flying back home.'

In addition, this itinerary involved spending a night at a hotel next to the airport in Abu Dhabi prior to flying to the Maldives.

Speaking to MailOnline Travel, the savvy mum revealed how she discovered the hack, she said: 'We are always looking out for bargain flights to get to popular destinations.'

Jenna Carr, aka 'The Travel Mum', told her TikTok followers they could get to picturesque Maldives beaches for a total of just 275 ($338). In a later blog post she updated this price, revealing how the trip could be snared for just 248 ($304). Above is Male, the capital of the Maldives

Travel Mum Ms Carr breaks down the cost-cutting itinerary to her 372,000 TikTok followers. Speaking to MailOnline, she revealed how she discovered the hack. She said: 'We are always looking out for bargain flights to get to popular destinations'

Sharing the specific details in the follow-up blog post, the travel-pro revealed that sun-seeking tourists can fly from London Luton to Sofia Bulgaria with Wizz Air for just 17 per person.

The flight takes off on November 2, at 8.45am, and arrives in Bulgaria's capital at 1.55pm, taking a total of three hours and ten minutes.

Ms Carr advised her followers to spend two nights in Sofia before taking a five-hour flight to the UAE for an overnight stay. The flight, which departs at 1.55pm and arrives at 9.05pm, costs just 43.

Then, to enjoy a six-night stay in the Maldives, Jenna noted that return flights from the UAE can be snapped up for just 133 per person.

The catch  you'll need to endure a five-hour 20-minute flight on a no-frills Wizz Air plane to and from the Maldives. The snag is that the Wizz Air A321 aircraft that flies the route isn't certified to cross the ocean directly, so it has to follow an arduous route over Pakistan and India.

The outbound flight departs from Abu Dhabi to Male, Maldives, at 11.45am and arrives at 6.05pm, while the return flights depart at 7pm and arrive at 11.40pm.

While in the Maldives, Jenna advised to stay on an inhabited island, such as Maafushi (above), rather than a resort island, to make further savings

First, travellers can fly from London Luton to Sofia, Bulgaria, enjoying a two-night stay in the capital

From Bulgaria, travellers can take a five-hour flight to Abu Dhabi (above) for a quick overnight stay before heading on their once-of-a-lifetime trip to the Maldives

While in the Maldives, Ms Carr advised to stay on an inhabited island, such as Maafushi, rather than a resort island, to make further savings. On inhabited islands, as we've reported, hotels can be snagged for as little as 38 ($46) a night.

After your stay in the Maldives, you can enjoy a longer four-night stay in the UAE and depart from Abu Dhabi to Aqaba, Jordan, for just 17 per person.

While Jordan is a popular winter sun destination for tourists, travellers should be aware it shares its borders with Israel and Syria.

The Foreign Office (FCDO) strengthened its stance on travel there this week. Its guidance reads: 'The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within three kilometres of Jordan's border with Syria.'

Meanwhile, the Jordan Tourism Board has said in a statement: 'In light of the recent developments in Gaza, we want to emphasise that Jordan continues to be a safe and welcoming destination for tourists from around the world.'

Continuing her travel advice, Ms Carr told her followers to fly from Aqaba to Milan Bergamo on November 19 with Ryanair for just 25, which takes four hours and 35 minutes.

On the way back, travellers can enjoy a four-night stay in Aqaba, Jordan  flights from Abu Dhabi currently cost just 17 ($20) per person

Finally, travellers can purchase a flight to Milan Bergamo and have a quick overnight stay in an airport hotel before heading to London Stansted

After a short one-night stay in Italy, travellers can finally find their way back to the UK with a two-hour flight from Milan Bergamo to London Stansted for just 13 per person.

Since the handy video was posted, it has garnered over 90,000 views and TikTok users are eager to try the trick.

One user declared: 'What a deal.' While another added: 'Yes please.'

Asked if she has tried the route yet, Ms Carr told MailOnline: 'Not yet! We were planning to do it this November but I am now pregnant, so we are waiting for the pregnancy to be more established before we go! Maybe in January.'

Ms Carr's plan involves enduring a five-hour 20-minute flight on a no-frills Wizz Air plane to and from the Maldives

For those who want to try the trip themselves, she advised to pack lightly to avoid extra costs such as luggage charges and said she frequently flies with just a rucksack.

She said: 'It keeps the trip super cheap and makes it really easy to move between multiple destinations.'

Adding one final piece of advice, Ms Carr said: 'Make sure you book flexible accommodation, as if a flight is cancelled or delayed and you need to alter your plans, you won't then incur additional charges. Always book travel insurance as no travel is risk free!'
An oversized traveler has revealed a hack around how 'customers of size' can get free extra seats with one US carrier.

Kimmy Garris from Nashville, who describes herself as a 'fat solo traveler' on her TikTok profile, posted a video detailing how to use Southwest Airline's unique 'customer of size policy.'

She notes that the carrier is 'the only airline that allows you a second seat at no extra cost even if the flight is FULLY booked.'

In the clip, she is seen at an airport gate asking an agent about the policy and in response she is given an extra ticket for the seat next to her so she has more room.

Kimmy Garris from Nashville, who describes herself as a 'fat solo traveler' on her TikTok profile, posted a video detailing how to use Southwest Airline's unique 'customer of size policy'

She is seen boarding the plane and putting her extra ticket on the seat next to her so no one can sit there

@kimmystyled How to use @southwestair customer of size policy. Southwest is the only airline that allows you a second seat at no extra cost even if the flight is FULLY booked. You HAVE to use it at the departing gate when you start your journey. If you dont use it going out you cant use it flying back. Go to the departing gate agent and kindly ask them to use the customer of size policy. Ive done this a dozen times and never had an issue or been denied. They will print you a new ticket + a second ticket to put down on your free seat. You will also be allowed to pre board! Enter the aircraft, get your seatbelt extender, and grab your seat! I place the ticket in the seat next to me. I always take the window seat. If anyone tries to sit it in I kindly let them know I have two seats booked. To be honest I almost never get approached because no one wants to sit in the middle seat next to a fat person on a plane . Ive heard from others sometimes southwest will just put customer of size in your account so anytime you approach the main ticket gate youll get both your tickets at once but this hasnt happened to me yet. I think this has to do with how visibly fat you are. Public airplanes are public transportation and should be accessible and comfortable for us all. I applaud @southwestair for being the only airline with a fair and humane way of flying fat passengers with dignity. We shouldnt have to pay for two seats. Seats should be larger for all people including tall and pregnant passengers. Since airlines got deregulated its been an ADA nightmare. Airlines should also allow wheelchairs in the cabin esp power wheelchairs. This is an access issue at the end of the day and discriminatory to fat and disabled customers. #southwest #southwestairlines #customerofsize #customerofsizepolicy #plussize #plussizetravel #traveltips #plussizetraveltok #traveltok  original sound - Kimmy

She is then seen boarding the plane and putting her extra ticket on the seat next to her so no one can sit there.

In the overlaid caption, the globetrotter states that this policy 'should be the industry norm.'

She adds: 'Flying in public transportation and should be more comfortable and accessible for all people including fat and disabled people.'

In the accompanying video caption, Kimmy gives more detail around how Southwest's plus size policy works.

She tells viewers: 'You HAVE to use it at the departing gate when you start your journey. If you don't use it going out you can't use it flying back.

'Go to the departing gate agent and kindly ask them to use the customer of size policy.

'I've done this a dozen times and never had an issue or been denied. They will print you a new ticket plus a second ticket to put down on your free seat. You will also be allowed to pre board!

'Enter the aircraft, get your seatbelt extender, and grab your seat! I place the ticket in the seat next to me. I always take the window seat. If anyone tries to sit it in I kindly let them know I have two seats booked.

'To be honest I almost never get approached because no one wants to sit in the middle seat next to a fat person on a plane.'

Kimmy - who regularly posts about travel and plus size fashion tips - says that she has heard from others that Southwest puts notes on plus size traveler accounts so they are automatically are given two tickets at the gate.

Kimmy regularly posts about travel and plus size fashion tips

To date, Kimmy's plus size airline seating hack video has been watched more than 550,000 times with many viewers thanking her for highlighting the policy

The TikToker says she has made use of Southwest's policy 'a dozen times and never had an issue or been denied'

However, she says she has never had this happen to her and maybe this 'has to do with how "visibly fat" you are.'

The Southwest website confirms that the 'customer of size' policy is still in place and it has been running for more than 30 years.

It states that passengers are eligible for a free second seat if they are unable to 'lower both armrests and/or encroach upon any portion' of a neighboring seat.

Instead of doing what Kimmy did and asking for a second seat at the gate, it advises booking an extra seat in advance and applying for a refund.

Explaining the reasoning behind this it states: 'Purchasing a second seat in advance allows us to account for the inventory need and greatly helps reduce the likelihood of an oversale situation.

'Also, you may not want to be approached at the airport or have a conversation with an Agent about your seating needs - you may prefer to know you have the needed number of seats, and booking two gives you these options.

'We refund all extra seat purchases for a customer of size, even if the flight oversells.'

To date, Kimmy's plus size airline seating hack video has been watched more than 550,000 times with many viewers thanking her for highlighting the policy.

One commenter wrote: 'This is excellent to know. I haven't flown for over seven years because I was so scared I would be forced to buy another seat.'

Another fan said: 'I cried when I learned about this policy. The relief I felt over having the option alleviated so much of my travel anxiety.'
The veteran actor, who also made a pit stop at a McDonald's drive-thru, had been on hiatus from filming the CBS police drama amid the writers strike

The Blue Bloods star showed off a full bushy beard - hiding his iconic mustache - as he ran errands in his San Fernando Valley neighborhood last month

Veteran actor Tom Selleck is almost unrecognizable after ditching his trademark handlebar mustache for a full beard, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show.

The 78-year-old, who made his name with his breakout role in 80s crime drama series, Magnum: PI, was seen debuting a dramatic new look last month during a rare public outing in Los Angeles.

Dressed in a black t-shirt and shorts and with a bushy gray beard on full display, the Blue Bloods star appeared scruffy and far from his famed hunky, mustachioed heartthrob looks.

Selleck's outing came amid a prolonged break from filming the hit CBS police drama due to the writer's strike.

He broke cover to run errands in his pick-up truck and made a pitstop at a McDonald's drive-thru near his San Fernando Valley home.

Tom Selleck, 78, was seen sporting a scruffy new look, far from his famed handsome, mustachioed appearance, during a rare public outing in LA last month

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the actor stopping by a McDonald's drive-thru in the San Fernando Valley as he ran errands in his pick-up truck

The actor ordered a large Coke to go with his meal at the popular fast food chain

Selleck, whose career spans over five decades, has proven his longevity as a small-screen leading man since Magnum PI.

He starred in countless other TV classics, including Friends, where he memorably played the love interest of Courteney Cox's Monica Gellar, and ABC drama Boston Legal.

The actor is now starring in his 13th season of the police drama Blue Bloods, where he has played NYPD Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, alongside Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan since 2010.

He also has a side job hawking reverse mortgages in TV ads for American Advisors Group.

Earlier this year Selleck was seen reuniting with his former Magnum P.I. co-star Larry Manetti as the latter filmed a guest appearance on Blue Bloods in February.

The outing came amid a prolonged break from filming the hit CBS police drama due to the writer's strike

The reclusive TV star broke cover on September 26 but was nearly unrecognizable

Selleck rose to fame with his breakthrough role as private investigator Thomas Magnum in the hit 80s series Magnum, PI, during which his mustache became his trademark

The two looked delighted as they posed in a cast shot shared on Instagram by co-star Donnie Wahlberg, 53.

The snap shows the actors posing with Blue Blood co-stars Bridget Moynahan, Andrew Terraciano, Will Estes, and Vanessa Ray.

It marked the first time the pair have reunited onscreen since starring in the CBS drama, which aired from 1980-1988.

The series followed Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV, a private investigator who lives in the guest house of a beachfront estate called Robin's Nest, in Hawaii, and handpicks his own cases to investigate.

Last month Selleck celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary with English-born actress Jillie Mack, 65, whom he wed in 1987.

Selleck also has a side job hawking reverse mortgages in TV ads for American Advisors Group

Blue Bloods: The 78-year-old actor has starred as Police Commissioner Frank Reagan on the drama Blue Bloods since 2010

Last month Selleck celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary with English-born actress Jillie Mack (right) 65, with whom he has one daughter, Hannah (pictured in 2010)

The pair have one daughter, Hannah, 34.

Prior to his current marriage Tom was married for ten years to another actress, Jaqueline Ray, who is mom to his son Kevin, 57. That ended in 1982.

In a 2022 interview, Selleck said he felt his three-decade marriage to Jillie Mack has become 'more satisfying' as the years have passed.

The TV icon, who married the West End performer after meeting her in London when she was starring in the musical Cats, insisted they are 'true partners' in all aspects of their lives.

'I don't' think the infatuation stage of any relationship lasts forever, but it can grow into something. It just grows more satisfying. You become true partners,' he told Closer magazine.
EXCLUSIVE

One of Australia's most notorious gangsters hopes to separate underworld fact from fiction in a major new television drama series about his life and crimes.

Retired armed robber and heroin dealer Graham 'Abo' Henry has agreed to co-produce Last Man Standing, an adaptation of his memoir of the same name.

Henry is best-known for his long association with the late crime figure Neddy Smith and was played by Peter Phelps in the award-winning 1995 mini-series Blue Murder.

But Henry has never been happy with his portrayal in that program, which concentrated on Smith's relationship with corrupt detective Roger Rogerson.

Retired armed robber and heroin dealer Graham 'Abo' Henry has agreed to co-produce Last Man Standing, an adaptation of his memoir of the same name. Henry (left) is pictured with former Bandidos national president Jason Fahey who has reportedly joined the Hells Angels

Henry was played by Peter Phelps in the award-winning 1995 mini-series Blue Murder. Pictured left to right are Gary Sweet playing hitman Chris Flannery, Phelps as Henry, Richard Roxburgh as detective Roger Rogerson, and Tony Martin as Neddy Smith

Henry appeared in Blue Murder largely as Smith's tracksuit-wearing sidekick, rather than giving him any credit for the pair's profitable partnership in organised crime.

Having gone straight in 2010, Henry now wants to tell his own story in what is initially planned to be a six-part series that producers hope will be picked up by an international distributer.

The program's title is self-explanatory: Henry is the last of his crew still standing.

'There's a couple that just died of natural causes and a couple that were put down,' Henry told Daily Mail Australia. 'Out of that team, I am the last man still walking.'

Last Man Standing is being developed by Verdict Film Group, Lone Star Productions and Daniel Scharf, who co-produced the 1992 film Romper Stomper starring Russell Crowe.

It will focus on the 35 years from the mid-1970s that Henry spent running with Sydney's heaviest crooks, but also look back on his brutal childhood.

The man Henry grew up believing was his father, a deeply disturbed World War II veteran and vicious alcoholic, bashed him and his mother mercilessly.

Henry turned into a 'violent motherf***er' himself after being sexually abused at the Metropolitan Boys' Shelter in Albion Street, Surry Hills, as a teenager.

'They're going to start when I'm about 15 when I hit the homes and some horrible things happened and we'll go from there,' Henry said.

The man Henry (above) grew up believing was his father bashed his mother mercilessly and he was sexually abused at the Metropolitan Boys' Shelter in Albion Street, Surry Hills, as a teenager

The show will feature what Henry describes as a psychic ability inherited from his mother that has helped him survive at least 20 attempts on his life over the decades.

Henry describes Last Man Standing as 'warts and all' and will participate in every part of the production process, including casting and scriptwriting.

'I need to be part of the team so I can say, "This didn't happen, that didn't happen,"' Henry said. 'Don't put me in a strip bar because I didn't go to them.'

Henry, who will celebrate his 51st wedding anniversary in November, might not have gone to strip clubs but he was one of Sydney's most feared men for most of his adult life.

Alongside Smith, he scored millions of dollars pulling off payroll robberies and dealing heroin, often under police protection, before the pair had a spectacular and permanent falling-out.

Along the way, many of Henry and Smith's associates were murdered, some allegedly by Smith, who died in Long Bay Jail in September 2021.

The show will feature what Henry describes as a psychic ability inherited from his mother that has helped him survive at least 20 attempts on his life over the decades

Last Man Standing will deal with some of those still unsolved killings, as well as the disappearance of hitman Chris Flannery, the attempted murder of undercover cop Michael Drury, and the exploits of Roger Rogerson.

'Ned, Roger, all that will be covered,' said Henry. 'A few of the killings Ned was blamed for that he never did. There'll be some cold hard facts coming out of it.'

Like his one-time comrades-in-arms, any big bucks Henry once reaped are long gone, and Henry has maintained a public profile by regular appearances on true crime podcasts.

Last Man Standing won't shirk from Henry's worst violent outrages, including him stabbing police prosecutor Mal Spence outside the inner-city Lord Wolseley Hotel.

'It'll show it all, mate.' Henry said. 'Everything I've ever been involved in. Just about everything I've been involved in.'

It was too early to speculate on who would play Henry in the show but he had already told his fellow producers he expected the actor who got the job to have one particular attribute.

'I said he's got to be able to hold his hands up,' Henry said. 'Not like Peter Phelps.'

Henry appeared in Blue Murder largely as Smith's tracksuit-wearing sidekick, rather than giving him any credit for the pair's partnership in organised crime. Henry (left) is pictured with Smith in jail

The 71-year-old grandfather of 10 is fiercely protective of his family but his home life will also feature in the program.

'I remember a bloke saying to me years and years ago, I'm talking 1983, and he said to me, "The gang comes first and family comes second, doesn't it, mate?"'

READ MORE: The day Graham 'Abo' Henry saved Harry M. Miller from being set up by three 'drag queens' in his prison cell Armed robber Graham 'Abo' Henry is pictured at Cessnock jail in 1996 Advertisement

'And I said, "Not in my f***king life it don't, buddy". Now all them blokes are divorced.'

Last Man Standing was an updated version of Abo: A Treacherous Life, published by ABC Books in 2005.

Henry had been given the offensive nickname Abo when he was a teenager but believed for most of his life that his ancestors were Spanish.

He was 65 when his sister revealed on her deathbed his real father was Aboriginal and announced that news on social media three years later.

That caught the attention of actor turned producer Aaron Fa'Aoso, who starred in the ABC's 2012 ten-part drama series The Straits, about a North Queensland crime family.

Fa'Aoso now runs Lone Star Productions, which focuses on telling Indigenous stories, and Henry insisted he remain involved when Verdict Film Group founder Cameron James Miller approached him about making Last Man Standing this year.

'We're very excited about the project,' Miller said.

'After reading his story I was just amazed about what he's gone through and as he says in his book he's still standing which is just incredible.

'I really love the story's spiritual side of things and I wanted to tell the story of what he went through as a child because we're all a product of our environment.

'Finding out he was Aboriginal when he was 65 years old - it's just a phenomenal story.'

Miller said Henry's charisma reminded him of Tony Soprano, the New Jersey mob boss played by James Gandolfini in the classic HBO series The Sopranos.

'There's more to Graham Henry than the whole criminal gangster thing,' Miller said. 'He's a real character. Whoever's going to play him has got a big job ahead of him.'

Miller said he hoped to be shooting the series by the end of next year.
Married At First Sight UK star Brad Skelly has accused TV producers of turning him into a villain as he reveals: 'I was deeply unhappy filming the show.'

The model, 27, was axed from the E4 series after displaying 'controlling' and 'coercive' behaviour towards wife Shona Manderson, 31.

However, Brad believes viewers saw unfairly edited scenes featuring the couple as footage of them 'laughing' and 'joking' failed to make the cut, and he feels producers wanted to portray a negative narrative.

And he also admits watching the series has been 'difficult' given he was in a dark place while filming but has no issue with his former wife who he describes as 'a great girl.'

Brad said: 'All they've shown is me and Shona all over each other physically or arguing, what an anti-climax that is but it's also great TV.'

Married At First Sight UK star Brad Skelly has accused TV producers of turning him into a villain as he reveals: 'I was deeply unhappy filming the show'

The model was axed from the E4 series after displaying 'controlling' and 'coercive' behaviour towards wife Shona Manderson

Brad believes viewers saw unfairly edited scenes featuring the couple as footage of them 'laughing' failed to make the cut, and he feels producers wanted to portray a negative narrative

'That aside, we had some great laughs, we had some great conversations, we were really connecting. There was a lot more depth there.

'But the narrative they wanted to play was if you jump too quickly into something this is how hard it crashes and you've got the experts there who give their guidance, that's all part of that narrative.'

He added: 'I've been portrayed as an absolute villain.'

Grimsby-born Brad's marriage appeared to be one of the strongest on the show, but fellow newlyweds didn't believe their relationship was genuine, which upset wife Shona.

In one of the series' infamous dinner parties, Brad angrily reacted to Shona's frustration regarding others doubting their credentials, telling her to 'shut up.'

And during the next episode's commitment ceremony, he was slammed by the show's experts for saying he 'allowed' Shona to feel desired emotions, leading some viewers to label him a 'bully', 'narcissistic' and 'controlling.'

He said: 'If you knew me personally, you would know I'd never ever do that. I would never control anybody. What would I get from it?'

Watching the footage back, Brad admits he was in a 'dark place' and says he was desperate to make things work with Shona, even though he now admits their connection wasn't strong.

Brad was slammed by the show's experts for saying he 'allowed' Shona to feel desired emotions, leading some viewers to label him a 'bully', 'narcissistic' and 'controlling'

Watching the footage back, Brad admits he was in a 'dark place' and says he was desperate to make things work with Shona, even though he now admits their connection wasn't strong

He claims his sudden exit from the show was down to concerns over his mental health rather than the alleged behaviour he demonstrated towards Shona

And he claims his exit from the show was down to concerns over his mental health.

He said: 'It's a struggle for me to watch me in such a down place. I'm watching these retaliations and I'm thinking 'Brad, look how unhappy you are.' I was riding with it to try and make it work.

'People ask me "why did you say you were falling in love with her?" and I knew we didn't have this deep connection but being in this environment you want to give it a go, you want to try.

'I said "I think I'm falling in love with you" because I wanted to try and kickstart and ignite that little feeling that was there.'

Referencing their honeymoon, he said: 'We were in the Maldives and if anything is going to kick off it's in the Maldives and it just wasn't, and I was really apologetic and so sorry saying "I just don't have it."

'So, as it moves forward, I'm thinking 'I'm not enjoying myself anymore, I don't think it's for me.' I was saying this to welfare, and it got to the point where they said, "we think it's best for your mental health you leave" and we went and got ourselves off.'

Brad says the level of hate he's received off the back of the show has been hard to take, especially because he believes he's been misrepresented.

And speaking to the Fully Game podcast, Brad wants viewers to know the real him and confirmed for the first time he is in a new relationship with bridal model Hollie Baldwin, as revealed by MailOnline this week.

Grimsby-born Brad's marriage appeared to be one of the strongest on the show, but fellow newlyweds didn't believe their relationship was genuine, which upset wife Shona

Brad wants viewers to know the real him and confirmed for the first time he is in a new relationship with bridal model Hollie Baldwin, as revealed by MailOnline this week

He explained: 'I've had DMs saying, 'you're a pillock' or a 'control freak.'

'People have these deep embedded opinions of me even though they've never met me, some people are that regimented they will take that to the end with them.

'If you see my socials, I'm up at 6am meditating doing some deep reflection, I'm reading a lot of self-help and mind management or spirituality books, I'm with my son, I'm with my missus, I'm with my family. I'm a very family-oriented man.

'I'm a warm-hearted guy so all of that comes across on my Insta anyway, but people are still 'he's a fake, that's all made up', even though I've been doing that for the last nine years.

'Some people I know won't change their opinions, that's fine, you're never going to get everyone to like you. At least I know the people drawn to me are likeminded people.'

On new girlfriend Hollie, he added: 'We couldn't be happier. I've never felt a connection better than what I've got with Hollie.'

Brad didn't confirm whether he is still in touch with Shona, who has yet to speak in depth about their relationship, but he speaks of her highly.

He said: 'The person I was matched with she's a great girl, I haven't got a bad word to say about her, she's such a warming light soul.

'We'd led different walks of life, I'd gone through different life challenges and then maybe she had, and I had a different perspective of the world that she had, we had clashes of heads at some points

'Bear in mind there's hours and hours of filming and they only showing snippets, some real short snippets

'Frustrations are really amplified in there, everything projected from me is trying to help, I would always help and guide, and that can come across as patronising and controlling to some people.

'It's like I've experienced more, so I can give you this wisdom but that's never how it's intended to come across.'
Bondi Sands founder Blair James and his wife Melanie have welcomed their first child - a baby boy called Holland Ray James.

The couple made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday, and revealed they welcomed Holland on October 5 via C-section, with the newborn weighing just 3.2 kilograms.

During the C-section, the couple played Coldplays Sky Full of Stars.

'Introducing Mr Holland Ray James,' they wrote in their post. 'Born 5/10/2023 at 2:19pm weighing 3.2kg with a very full head of hair!'

The couple thanked medical staff along with friends and family for their 'love, support and gifts' after Holland's arrival.

Bondi Sands founder Blair James and his wife Melanie have welcomed their first child - a baby boy called Holland Ray James

They also thanked their doctor, Joseph Sgroi.

'Thank you to my OB for taking such good care of me and putting up with weekly appointments the entire pregnancy,' they wrote.

'Your caring nature during the birth and through the tough parts was second to none.'

Bondi Sands, which James co-founded, was acquired by Japanese-owned multinational Kao Group for almost $450m last August.

The couple made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday, and revealed they welcomed Holland on October 5 via C-section, with the newborn weighing just 3.2 kilograms

Blair and Melanie tied the knot in a no-expense spared ceremony at luxury Villa Balbiano in Lake Como, Italy, that same month.

The pair were surrounded by 80 of their closest friends and relatives.

The new Mrs James wore three gowns during the festivities by designers J'Aton, Pallas Couture and Kyha Studios.

It was a fairytale moment for Mr James who has previously spoken about his tough upbringing after losing both of his parents at just 23.

The besotted couple thanked the medical staff along with friends and family for their 'love, support, and gifts' since in the birth. Pictured: Blair with Holland

Blair and Melanie tied the knot in a no expense spared ceremony at luxury Villa Balbiano in Lake Como, Italy, that same month. The pair were surrounded by 80 guests. Pictured

'I had a challenging upbringing... I look back at that time as a real turning point in my life,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr James grew up in Yea, a small country town with a population of just 1,100 people in Victoria, about 100km north-east of Melbourne.

After his family moved to the UK in 1986, his British-born dad decided to set up shop selling imported Australian products in Birmingham.

'As a seven-year-old, I would often spend time in the shop with my dad unpacking stock or merchandising the store. The business was not a success and in the late 80s every UK pound we lost meant losing $3,' he said.

'Money was tight and I started looking at ways to make my own money.'
Christian Bale was spotted on a father-son bonding excursion with his 9-year-old boy Joseph in New York on Wednesday.

The Dark Knight star, 49, and his adorable son, who goes by 'Rex', made the most of the rare outing by zipping around the Big Apple on scooters.

Keeping it casual in a light blue sweatshirt, black joggers and Ray-Ban Predator 2 sunglasses, the Welsh thespian looked like a pro handling the two-wheeler with aplomb.

Rex kept up with his superhero pops as he took over the pavement in a black hoodie and bright green pantss.

Back in August of 2014, Christian welcomed Rex with his wife, Sibi Blazic, 52. The couple, who married in 2000, also share daughter Emmeline, 18.

Bonding time! Christian Bale was spotted on a father-son bonding excursion with his 9-year-old boy Joseph in New York on Wednesday

Zip around: The Dark Knight star, 49, and his adorable son, who goes by 'Rex', made the most of the rare outing by zipping around the Big Apple on scooters

The fun scooter adventure comes after the father and son shared a rare outing to Disneyland in April.

The darling duo were joined by Sibi, as they were spotted roaming around Disney California Adventure Park (DCA), which is within the Disneyland Resort.

Christian made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut over the 2022 summer in Thor: Love and Thunder, almost a decade after he last donned the Batman suit in The Dark Knight Trilogy.

His critically acclaimed take on the villain Gorr the God Butcher was so impressive, it begged comparison to his version of hero Bruce Wayne, which is still a fan favorite.

Christian, who was born in Haverfordwest, Wales, United Kingdom, starred in three Batman films as the titular character himself.

He played Bruce Wayne/Batman in the 2005 Batman Begins, The Dark Knight in 2008 and in 2012 for The Dark Knight Rises.

The last film in the series grossed over $1 billion worldwide and it considered one of the best superhero movies ever made.

Even with so many huge flicks under his belt, Christian recently revealed Rex and Emmeline don't often get a chance to enjoy his movies.

Like a pro: Keeping it casual in a light blue sweatshirt and black joggers, the Welsh thespian looked like a pro handling the two-wheeler with aplomb.

Family affair: Back in August of 2014, Christian welcomed Rex with his wife, Sibi Blazic, 52. The couple, who married in 2000, also share daughter Emmeline, 18

'Not often, no,' he told People. 'They get to enjoy some of them. They really encouraged me to go make [Thor: Love and Thunder]. They really wanted that, and I enjoyed that and I appreciate that they did ask me to go do that.'

'What I like thinking about is that I'm hoping in the years to come they will come to appreciate these films even if they don't right now,' he added.

'But I'm not sure that any dad's kids really ever enjoy watching their dad in a film, because I'm their dad.'
His iconic Friends character was known for his comical complaints and rants.

And Matthew Perry seemed inspired by Chandler Bing on Wednesday when he took to Instagram to complain about a common outdoor annoyance.

The 54-year-old film and television star, who had previously gone silent on the platform for nearly six months, returned with a photo of what looked like a portion of his backyard to get something off his chest.

He called out to Elon Musk, latecomer co-founder of Tesla and the owner of X (recently renamed from Twitter), to help him find a technological solution to his lawn issues.

'Why can Elon Musk send a woman to the moon and not be able to invent a silent leaf blower?'

Urgent request: Matthew Perry, 54, sounded just like his Friends character Chandler Bing as he returned to Instagram on Wednesday with a plea for a new outdoors gadget; seen in November 2022 in Hollywood

Bringing in the big guns: Perry requested Elon Musk's help, though he didn't tag the Tesla CEO; seen in May 2022 in NYC

In his photo, Matthew shared what looked like a lawn-care worker caring for some of his plants and soil in a more sparsely filled area on the outskirts of his property, just above a white wall.

The photo showed off a gorgeous green section of lawn, along with towering trees and bushes that helped provide some privacy for the actor.

Surprisingly, Matthew's landscaper didn't the dreaded leaf blower, though it may have been neighboring properties that were pumping out the deafening noise.

The comic star got plenty of agreement from his fans and followers, who chimed in in the comments.

One celebrity pal, Academy Award winner Allison Janney, was on the same page.

'Seriously!!!  ,' she wrote, adding an emoji of upraised hands.

Matthew's post also referenced one of Chandler's classic lines on Friends. It wasn't clear if he remembered the reference, but his fans certainly did.

In one episode, Chandler told Joey (Matt LeBlanc) that he 'got her machine,' to which Joey replied: 'Her answering machine?'

Lawn care: Matthew asked if Elon could invent a silent leaf blower while posting a photo of someone working on his lawn

Agreed: One celebrity pal, Academy Award winner Allison Janney, was on the same page

Iconic: Matthew's post also referenced one of Chandler's classic lines on Friends. It wasn't clear if he remembered the reference, but his fans certainly did

Classic: In one episode, Chandler told Joey (Matt LeBlanc) that he 'got her machine,' to which Joey replied: 'Her answering machine?' Chandler shot back: 'No, interestingly enough, her leaf blower picked up'

Having a laugh: Others poked fun at one of Chandler's catchphrases, writing 'Could the leaf blower BE any louder?'

Someone has to do it: Another fan wrote that Perry was 'Asking the important questions tbh'

'No, interestingly enough, her leaf blower picked up,' Chandler shot back, which one fan referenced.

Others poked fun at one of Chandler's catchphrases, writing 'Could the leaf blower BE any louder?'

Another fan wrote that Perry was 'Asking the important questions tbh.'

But others were simply shocked that he had returned to Instagram at all, and that loud leaf blowers were the first thing he felt like posting about.

'My man literally posted after almost 6 months just to complain about the sound of the leaf blower!!! Just Matthew Perry Things ,' they wrote.

'EVERYONE SHUT UP MATTHEW PERRY POSTED ON INSTAGRAM,' enthused one fan.

Some also took digs at the actor for his seemingly petty complaint, especially because of its privilege, as he wasn't doing any of the lawn work himself.

'Because he has people cleaning his lawn ,' commented another person.

Elon Musk may not have been the best choice to engineer a new quiet leaf blower.

Although Musk is listed as a co-founder of Tesla  which he is also the CEO and former chairman of  the company was incorporated in 2003, a year before he became an angel investor with an investment of $6.5 million.

Odd choice: But others were simply shocked that he had returned to Instagram at all after six months, and that loud leaf blowers were the first thing he felt like posting about

First world problems: Some also took digs at the actor for his seemingly petty complaint, especially because of its privilege, as he wasn't doing any of the lawn work himself

Call for helP: Elon Musk may have been an odd choice to solve his issue. Though he's called a co-founder of Tesla, he was a latecomer angel investor, and ad revenue at X (formerly Twitter) has decreased every month in the year since he bought it; seen in October 2022 in NYC

It was only after a settlement was reached to resolve a 2009 lawsuit by one of the original two co-founders, ousted CEO Martin Eberhard, that Musk was allowed to call himself a co-founder of the company.

Last year, he acquired Twitter for $44 billion, after he tried to back out of an initial deal and then relented when sued by Twitter.

Since his takeover, Musk has laid off a large portion of the social network's employees and renamed it X.

According to third-party data provided to Reuters, US ad revenue at Twitter has declined every month in the year since Musk took control of the service.
Tom Hardy has succeeded as an actor, writer and producer in Hollywood, and now he's turning his attention to the comic book world.

The 46-year-old actor has teamed up with comic book legend Scott Snyder as part of the creative team on the upcoming comic book Arcbound, via THR.

Hardy and the rest of the creative team such as Snyder, writer Frank Tieri and artist Ryan Smallman, will be on hand at New York Comic Con to sign the 'Ashcan edition' comics on Saturday from 4:45 p.m.  5:30 p.m. at the Arcbound booth (#3063).

The creative team minus Hardy will also host a panel Saturday from 3 PM to 4 PM in Room #409 at the Javits Center in New York City.

Hardy is said to be a 'creative collaborator' whose work will focus on, 'character development for the broader Arcbound universe.'

Comics: Tom Hardy has succeeded as an actor, writer and producer in Hollywood, and now he's turning his attention to the comic book world

New comic: The 46-year-old actor has teamed up with comic book legend Scott Snyder as part of the creative team on the upcoming comic book Arcbound, via THR

Arcbound will roll out with a 12-issue series, set in a future where planet Earth has become a barren wasteland.

A 'formidable corporaocracy' known as Zynitec uses the 'umatched energy' of an element known as Kronium to maintain its dominance throughout the galaxy.

The story centers on Kai, described as, 'a resolute Mediator Captain, tasked with maintaining Zynitecs lifeline to Kronium.'

'However, as he grapples with the morality of his role, revelations about Zynitecs dubious past thrust him into a poignant quandary: to remain loyal to the empire or to confront the forces that molded him into a tool of oppression,' the description adds.

The first issue won't be available for purchase until March, though fans will be able to get the Ashcan edition at the NYCC Arbound booth.

'Ive always been drawn to the creative process in all aspects of storytelling  and with comics, I find its a fascinating playground to explore,' Hardy began in a statement.

'A place where as long as you have a great creative team and the ability to illustrate, write, and discuss  you can build epic worlds together. Worlds you have the distinct freedom to shape, modify, redefine, dismantle and rebuild without the constraints of limited budgets and resources,' Hardy added.

'The canvas is limitless, a vast expanse to explore the human condition, character depth, and boundless realms, all only limited by our collective imagination,' he continued.

Comic: Arcbound will roll out with a 12-issue series, set in a future where planet Earth has become a barren wasteland

Story: The story centers on Kai, described as, 'a resolute Mediator Captain, tasked with maintaining Zynitecs lifeline to Kronium

'Its an honor to have the opportunity to work alongside such industry legends as Scott, Frank, and Ryan in helping to bring the Arcbound universe to life,' he continud.

'They have created an epic world that is as exciting to explore for those who enjoy comics as it is for those who create them,' Hardy concluded.

Arcbound's comic distributor will be announced at a later date leading up to the March debut.

The 12-issues first series is said to be the 'inaugural season' for this story that will continue past this initial run.
Alessandra Ambrosio showcased her sculpted physique in a snap that was shared on the Instagram account of her swimwear brand, GAL Floripa, on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old supermodel wore two of her company's offerings as she showed off a considerable amount of skin as she posed for her snap.

The fashion industry figure, who recently enjoyed a getaway in Spain, opted for a Sereia bikini top that exposed her toned midsection.

Ambrosio also wore a matching bottom that gave her followers a prime look at her chiseled hips and thighs.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel accessorized with several pieces of jewelry, including a single ring and a pair of necklaces, as she posed for the shot.

Hot stuff! Alessandra Ambrosio showcased her sculpted physique in a shot that was shared on the Instagram account of her swimwear brand, GAL Floripa, on Wednesday

The runway regular's beautiful brunette locks remained free-flowing and cascaded onto her shoulders.

It was first announced that Ambrosio had launched GAL Floripa in March of 2019.

The entrepreneur started her brand alongside her sister Aline and their longtime friend, Gisele Coria.

The three have mainly focused on designing one and two-piece swimsuits, although they have also released mini bikinis and shorts in the past.

The supermodel has also taken a hands-on approach to promoting her brand and often appears in its campaigns.

Ambrosio spoke about her business interests during an interview with Forbes, where she described her approach to her professional life.

'Whatever I do, I want to feel like I'm on vacation. I want to feel like I love what I'm doing and I'm in the moment doing something for others to feel better, but also for me to feel good and feel complete,' she stated.

The model added: 'I wanted to do things that make me happy. I'm not going to promote or create something that I don't identify with.'

In the past: It was first announced that Ambrosio had launched GAL Floripa in March of 2019

Working hard: The three have mainly focused on designing one and two-piece swimsuits, although they have also released mini bikinis and shorts in the past

Doing the most: The supermodel has also taken a hands-on approach to promoting her brand and often appears in its campaigns

Ambrosio was also asked if she had any advice for any prospective female entrepreneurs.

The fashion industry figure advised her fans to 'do something that you believe in and that you enjoy because life is happening now.'

The entrepreneur went on to share her view on what constituted a worthwhile venture.

'Having a business is definitely something, if it fulfills you and if you're doing something with love and passion,' she stated.
Kim Kardashian has broken her silence on Hamas' attacks on Israel which has left at least 2,300 Israelis and Palestinians dead.

The reality star, 42, sent 'love and support to her Jewish friends and family' in an Instagram post on Wednesday in which she said she is 'particularly sensitive' to the atrocities due to her campaigning to stop another Armenian genocide.

1,200 Israelis were killed in Saturday's carnage, which begun when Hamas militants crossed from Gaza into Israel and murdered people at a music festival and in their homes near the border.

Kardashian's message read: 'A message to my Jewish friends and family. I love you. I support you. I have heard about how scared you feel during this time and I want you to know you are not alone in this.

'My heart is broken seeing the videos of these babies and families being terrorized and murdered in front of the whole world!

Speaking out: Kim Kardashian has broken her silence on Hamas' attacks on Israel

The reality star, 42, sent 'love and support to her Jewish friends and family' in an Instagram post on Wednesday in which she said she is 'particularly sensitive' to the atrocities due to her campaigning to stop another Armenian genocide

'As human beings with a heart, how can anyone not be devastated by these horrific images that we will never be able to unsee?

'Brutal terrorism has taken innocent lives and now both Israeli and Palestinian civilians are suffering and paying the greatest price there is.

'As an Armenian, I am particularly sensitive to these issues because I have been talking about the Armenian genocide for years, and now after months of blockade with minimal media coverage and no external support, Armenians are the victims of an ethnic cleansing themselves in Artsakh.

'They are in this moment also suffering from an extreme humanitarian crisis and there are still prisoners of war being held captive or missing.

'No matter whose side you are on, or how you have been triggered by the horrors of these past few days, our hearts should always have room for compassion towards innocent victims caught in the crosshairs of warring over power, politics, religion, race and ethnicity.

'Although I know there is nothing I can do to personally get rid of the pain of those who are suffering, my family and I are praying for the safe return of hostages, for those that have died and their affected families, for peace for all the innocent and for the perpetrators of this indefensible violence to be brought to justice.

'My call to action today, something that we can all do, is simply to reach out to your friends, colleagues and those in your community, those who are hurting, no matter what side they are on, check in on them and tell them you love them.

The star also urged fans to have leniency towards people who had not spoken out publicly about the attacks, writing: 'I also ask that, during difficult times like these, not to judge who is or isn't speaking out, because everyone should be allowed to deal with times of crisis in the way that they feel most comfortable whether it is privately or publicly.

Last month Kardashian urged president Joe Biden to prevent another Armenian genocide by economically sanctioning its enemy nation Azerbaijan and boycotting international events there

In 2020, Kardashian announced a $1million donation to the Armenia Fund. She is pictured with her daughter North in Armenia in 2019

'Prayers and peace always.'

Last month Kardashian urged president Joe Biden to prevent another Armenian genocide by economically sanctioning its enemy nation Azerbaijan and boycotting international events there.

In a joint essay with Dr. Eric Esrailian, the reality star, who is of Armenian descent, claimed that since December, Azerbaijan has blocked the Lachin Corridor - which she called 'the only lifeline between the indigenous Christian Armenians of Artsakh' and the rest of the world.

Azerbaijan leaders say there are established routes for food and aid to reach Christian Armenians in Artsakh, but Kardashian said those claims are 'disingenuous at best.' The countries have been involved in a decades-long conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

'WE ARE ARMENIAN. We are the descendants of Armenian genocide survivors, and we do not want to be talking about the recognition or commemoration of yet another genocide in the future,' the mom-of-four wrote for Rolling Stone magazine.

Kardashian claimed that because many countries are relying more on Azerbaijan for oil and gas since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the nation has become emboldened in its attempts to advance on Armenia.

She accused governments and organizations around the world of looking away as signs point to a forthcoming genocide in Armenia.

She noted that several organizations such as United Nations own independent Special Rapporteur have concluded that Azerbaijan is systemically starving Armenians and denying them medical care in the contested region and violating their human rights.

On Wednesday the US President said he had seen photos from Israel this weekend of 'terrorists beheading children' - confirming Israeli soldiers' stories of almost unimaginable horror

The billionaire added that American taxpayers 'are now facilitating and enabling this behavior by providing foreign aid to an oil-rich nation.'

In 2020, Kardashian announced a $1million donation to the Armenia Fund after conflict was reignited that July between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed the disputed region.

Kardashian's father's family emigrated to the United States from an area that now lies in Turkey. Kim visited the land with her kids and sister Kourtney.

However, the region is primarily populated by and governed by ethnic Armenians, who prefer the name Artsakh.

In 2021, Biden officially recognized that the the systematic killings and deportations of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by Ottoman Empire forces amounted to 'genocide'.

An estimated two million Armenians were deported and 1.5 million were killed in the events known as Metz Yeghern in 1915-16.

President Biden called the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday 'the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust'.

On Wednesday the US President said he had seen photos from Israel this weekend of 'terrorists beheading children' - confirming Israeli soldiers' stories of almost unimaginable horror.

Biden held a meeting with Jewish community leaders in the White House on Wednesday, and said he had been shocked by the brutality of the Hamas attack.

'This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but pure cruelty, against the Jewish people,' Biden said.

He added: 'I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.'

The lethal war has already claimed more than 2,300 lives on both sides, with thousands more left wounded.

The Israeli military has said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have died since the surprise attack on Saturday while Gaza's health ministry says 1,100 have been killed and more than 5,300 injured.

Earlier today in an unprecedented move, Netanyahu joined forces with key members of the opposition party, including Benny Gantz who said 'it's time for war'.

His comments end speculation about the truth of the claim of beheaded children, which was originally made by an IDF soldier, David Ben Zion a Deputy Commander of Unit 71 of the Israeli army.

Ben Zion told i24 News: 'We walked door to door, we killed a lot of terrorists. They are very bad. They cut heads of children, they cut heads of women. But we are stronger than them.'

The IDF later said they could not confirm his account.

But Biden's statement ended the debate.

Hamas terrorists are seen on Saturday morning entering the kibbutz

Nicole Zedeck, the i24 News reporter who spoke to Ben Zion, on Tuesday addressed skepticism over her reporting.

'I witnessed some of those scenes with my own eyes as we were walking through this community that may be a quarter of a mile from the Gaza border, the atrocities that were still left behind, children, cribs, baby cribs overturned on their side, splattered with blood. Horrible, horrible images,' she told The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.

She said the soldiers she spoke to told her of the horrors.

'There's no words to describe what they've seen,' said Zedeck.

'I mean, babies' heads cut off. That's what they encountered when they came there.

'So as horrible as it is and I wish that it wasn't true. And I see how those images and those words are hard to comprehend because it's hard to comprehend how anyone could commit such heinous, heinous crimes.

'But that's exactly what happened in just one of the kibbutz communities.'

The death toll now stands at 1,200 in Israel, including 14 Americans, and another 1,100 in Gaza.

Hamas is believed to have taken 150 hostages, including Americans, and is threatening to execute them if Israel launches a ground invasion of Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said Wednesday that Hamas militants beheaded soldiers and raped women in their attack on Israel.

Netanyahu, in a late night televised address, detailed some of the atrocities that took place during the attack.

He said boys and girls were shot in the head and that people had been burned alive.

Netanyahu compared Hamas to ISIS, and vowed that Israel's retaliation against the terrorist group 'will reverberate with them for generations.'

Benjamin Netanyahu. the Israeli prime minister, has said that Israel will 'crush and destroy' Hamas and that every member of the terrorist organisation is a 'dead man'

Israel has continued to pound the Gaza Strip, with residents of the enclave facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant was shut down. Pictured: Smoke rises from buildings in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday

Biden, after the call, said that Hamas' attack was reminiscent of the Holocaust.

'This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by a millennium antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people,' he said.

'And this moment we have to be crystal clear: There is no justification for terrorism, no excuse and the type of terrorism that was exhibited here is just beyond the pale. Beyond the pale.'
She hosted the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards celebrated the LGBTQ+ community alongside her friend Alan Carr on Wednesday night.

And during the evening, Amanda Holden had eye-catching three wardrobe changes as she switched up her look throughout the star-studded ceremony, which was held at the Roundhouse in Camden, London.

The Heart FM host, 52, first appeared wearing a ruffled LDB, before later undergoing two changes into a blue PVC ensemble and later a pink PVC mini dress.

At the beginning of the evening, Amanda took to the red carpet in a little black dress with a dramatic ruffled train, showcasing her toned pins.

Amanda's thigh-grazing Celia Kritharioti dress revealed her enviably toned pins, while she teamed the look with a pair of strappy bejewelled heels.

Barbiecore: Amanda Holden hosted the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards celebrated the LGBTQ+ community alongside her friend Alan Carr on Wednesday night

True blue! Amanda soon changed her outfit, later appearing in an electric blue outfit, which featured a PVC co-ord and a netted dress with a feathered hem

Alright on the night! The Heart FM host, 52, first appeared wearing a ruffled LDB, before later undergoing two changes into a blue PVC ensemble and later a pink PVC mini dress

Amanda added further glitz to her look with a pair of statement earrings and a bangle, as well as a selection of diamond rings.

The mother of two wore her blonde locks in a bouncy blown out style, while she opted to enhance her natural good looks with a pink pallet of make-up.

Amanda soon changed her outfit, later appearing in an electric blue outfit, which featured a PVC co-ord and a netted dress with a feathered hem.

She styled the eye-catching outfit with a pair of platform heels in the same hue, while keeping her hair and make-up in the same style.

For her final look, Amanda took inspiration from Barbiecore in a pink PVC mini dress, which flaunted her toned figure and ample assets.

Amanda accessorised with fingerless gloves and a tiny beret, as well as a pair of heart-shaped costume-style earrings.

The radio presenter boosted her petite frame with a pair of strappy pink heels.

This year the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, which is powered by Jaguar, was hosted by Alan and Amanda.

She's a Barbie girl! For her final look, Amanda took inspiration from Barbiecore in a pink PVC mini dress, which flaunted her toned figure and ample assets

Styling: Amanda accessorised with fingerless gloves and a tiny beret, as well as a pair of heart-shaped costume-style earrings

All eyes on me: She styled the eye-catching outfit with a pair of platform heels in the same hue

It is the 12th time the awards ceremony has been held to celebrate those in the LGBTQ+ community and the allies who support it.

The identities of the winners remained a closely guarded secret until the big night and are released in the Attitude Awards issue the next day.

As well as honouring those within the community, during the evening guests also enjoyed a series of stunning live performances.

After the ceremony they danced the night away into the small hours at an exclusive after-party for attendees.

Marking the announcement, Amanda said: 'Since being crowned an Honorary Gay in 2017 it's always been a dream of mine to host the Attitude Awards and I couldn't think of a better person to co-host with than my dear friend Alan Carr.

'It's so important right now to stand together as one and embrace this beautifully diverse world we live in and accept everyone for who they are. I can't wait to be surrounded by the community while dishing out the gongs in this year's ceremony.'

Alan added: 'It's been a mixed year for our LGBTQIA+ family, some amazing progress has been made and yet some really distressing setbacks have knocked us for six, which just makes the Attitude Awards even more important and essential.

'I am thrilled to be not only hosting this night but doing it with one of my besties Amanda! The most campest, raucous, fun night in the LGBTQIA+ calendar has just been given a bit more sparkle!'

During the Awards, a charity prize draw also took place to raise money for the Attitude Magazine Foundation which benefits LGBTQ causes.

Attitude's publisher, Darren Styles OBE said 'The twelfth annual Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar, are the biggest and brightest we've produced to date, at a time when the LGBTQ+ community needs standard bearers, role models, and icons to step up and step out like never before.

'We built this platform to celebrate and uplift, and we surely will, but  as always  there's no looking away from the realities of life around us. We will demonstrate that diversity, inclusivity, and love are not buzzwords to be spat out by an aggressive Home Secretary, but the actual, lived values of millions of real people.

'And the winners? All to be revealed, but it's fair to say we haven't invited the Prime Minister. That's common sense, just as he likes it.'

Elegant: At the beginning of the evening, Amanda took to the red carpet in a little black dress with a dramatic ruffled train, showcasing her toned pins

Leggy: Amanda's thigh-grazing Celia Kritharioti dress revealed her enviably toned pins, while she teamed the look with a pair of strappy bejewelled heels
Tamra Judge gave an update on her ongoing health crisis after she was hospitalized after dealing with an obstructed intestine.

The Real Housewives of Orange County star, 56, took to Instagram Stories with a clip in which she spoke about the progress doctors had made after she fell ill as result of the recurring ailment.

'Good morning guys, I just want to thank you so much for all the messages,' the Glendale, California-born reality star said in the clip, noting that she 'got extremely sick in Scotland' while she was filming the The Traitors.

The Bravo star said that she 'powered through it' but 'continued to have some very serious stomach cramping' when she returned to the U.S. and 'went to the hospital Sunday night' amid the ongoing illness.

Judge said that doctors 'did a CT scan and found out I had an obstructed bowel or intestine,' a condition she has past dealt with.

The latest: The Real Housewives of Orange County's Tamra Judge, 56, on Wednesday gave an update on her ongoing health crisis after she was hospitalized after dealing with an obstructed intestine

Details: Judge also shared a selfie in which she said the 'tube has been removed' but 'the contrast of the number on' her, showing off a pair of pull-up diapers she was wearing temporarily amid the stomach issues

'Ive had many abdominal surgeries for my intestinal problems Ive had throughout the years and theres scar tissue,' said Judge. 'Luckily they were able to put a tube down my nose and suck everything out for 24 hours and they didnt have to do surgery.'

Judge said that she's hoping the obstruction 'doesnt happen again,' indicating that she was able to eat and might possibly be released from the hospital Wednesday.

'I get a little bit better food today - cream of wheat and yogurt - hopefully I get to go home today thank you guys,' said Judge, who wore a pink hoodie with a multicolored graphic and glasses in the clip.

Judge also shared a selfie in which she said the 'tube has been removed' but 'the contrast of the number on' her, showing off a pair of pull-up diapers she was wearing temporarily amid the stomach issues.

She also shared a picture of her husband Eddie Judge as he visited her in the medical facility, adding the Everly Fair song I Love You Always Forever to the clip.

Judge took to her Instagram Stories Tuesday to let her fans know she was struggling with a health issue by sharing a selfie from a hospital bed.

The reality star appeared to be a bit worse for wear, as she lay with a tube up her nose and a large white bandage holding it in place.

'Praying that I won't need surgery,' she wrote over the photo.

Tamra also shared that the hospital stay would have her missing out on hosting her Two T's In a Pod podcast with former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp, as she shared, 'Im so sad @teddimellencamp miss you so much.'

Hospital update: Tamra took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to let her fans know she was struggling with a health issue by sharing a selfie from a hospital bed

Timeline: The Glendale, California-born reality star said in the clip, noting that she 'got extremely sick in Scotland' while she was filming the The Traitors

Progress: Judge said that she's hoping the obstruction 'doesnt happen again,' indicating that she was able to eat and might possibly be released from the hospital Wednesday

Support: Judge also shared a picture of her husband Eddie Judge as he visited her in the medical facility, adding the Everly Fair song I Love You Always Forever to the clip

Moving forward: Judge said, 'I get a little bit better food today - cream of wheat and yogurt - hopefully I get to go home today thank you guys'

The gorgeous mother-of-four found a great support system from her husband Eddie, who was seen alongside Tamra in the hospital room in another snap shared to her Instagram Stories Tuesday.

'Foot massages from @eddiejudge,' she captioned the adorable pic of her hubby of 10 years.

And Tamra's Real Housewives of Orange County costar Taylor Armstrong sent a message of love and support, as Tamra shared a pic of them posing together with Taylor's sweet note, which read: 'Sending love, thoughts and prayers to my beautiful friend @tamrajudge.'

However, not all the responses to the news of Tamra's incident were positive, as the bodybuilder found herself clapping back at a troll who suggested her health issues were caused by the weight loss drug Ozempic.

Sharing a screenshot of the comment on her Instagram Story, Tamra shot back, 'These comments are disgusting!

'Ive suffered from intestinal problems for years. Ive had multiple surgeries in the past 12 years.

'Remember when you all made fun of me for not having a belly button? That was due to emergency life saving surgery. Part of my intestines were being strangled.'

The star added that her own grandmother had 'died of intestinal problems'.

She ended the epic clap back by saying, 'Ive never been on Ozempic and personally wouldnt use it for weight loss!'

Health scare: Tamra Judge was hospitalized for 'intestinal obstruction' on Sunday

Husband help: The mother of four found a great support system as her husband Eddie Judge was seen alongside her in the hospital room in another snap shared to her Instagram Stories

Costar caring: Taylor Armstrong sent a message of love and support, as Tamra shared a pic of them posing together with Taylor's sweet note, which read: 'Sending love, thoughts and prayers to my beautiful friend @tamrajudge'

Clap back: The body builder found herself clapping back at a troll who suggested her health issues were caused by the weight loss drug Ozempic

Meanwhile, Tamra has been a great support system for her costar Shannon Beador, who recently was arrested in connection with a DUI in Newport Beach, CA.

According to TMZ, authorities said Beador she hit a house, parked in the middle of a street and pretended she was walking her dog.

'I feel bad for her, and I'm just happy nobody got hurt,' Judge said on her podcast.

She also posted an image of herself with Beador and Vicki Gunvalson embracing on Instagram Monday in a show of support.
Julia Fox looked ready for business when she was spotted pounding the pavement in New York City on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Uncut Gems starlet, who achieved new heights of fame for her brief dalliance with Kanye West, beamed as she dashed around town.

Her particular form of office chic included a trendily oversized checked sport coat that matched her gray skirt, which fell past the knee.

She accessorized the look with a bulging brown leather briefcase, elegantly complementing her knee-high stiletto boots.

Sharpening her features with striking heavy makeup, including a slick of deep purple lipstick, the sizzling sensation wore her dark hair down in gentle waves.

Legs for days: Julia Fox looked ready for business when she was spotted pounding the pavement in New York City on Wednesday

Mover and shaker: The 33-year-old Uncut Gems starlet, who achieved new heights of fame for her brief dalliance with Kanye West, beamed as she dashed around town

Her latest public appearance came after she claimed her break-up from Kanye resulted in her getting dropped from a lucrative fashion deal.

In another revelation from her memoir Down The Drain, the Uncut Gems actress writes how the rapper helped her secure a million-dollar deal with an Italian denim label.

Kanye suggested the collaboration in the early days of their romance in January 2022, according to Julia.

She writes that Kanye, whom she refers to as 'The Artist' throughout the book, promised to secure her a 'million-dollar deal'.

'The next day, he puts me in touch with an Italian denim company and they start negotiating on my behalf,' she continues. 'I can't believe this is my life, but I can definitely get used to it.'

The pair went on to famously wear matching denim ensembles for Paris Couture Week in January.

But with her subsequent split from Kanye, the deal fell apart. Julia explained how she moments after she asked her publicist to tell the media about their split, she learned the deal was off.

'It's contingent on you being his girlfriend,' Julia says she was told.

Dropped: Julia has claimed her break-up from Kanye meant she was dropped from a lucrative fashion deal (pictured together in January 2022)

The book contains many revelations about her brief courtship with Kanye in early 2022, including the claim that he offered to pay for a boob job during a game of Uno.

She wrote that the pair had been hanging out in a hotel room when the 46-year-old music artist made the shocking proposal.

And in a recent interview with the The Los Angeles Times, Julia spoke about it further.

Although she said she 'really understood him on a visceral level' and believed their pairing 'could be something real,' Julia said Kanye did not treat her the way she expected. 'I just felt like his little puppet,' she explained.

'I know for a fact I've been up for certain things and couldn't do it because of dating Kanye. It's kind of wild,' she told the publication.

The star also said she never had too much invested in the romance, despite the heightened media attention, noting:

'It really wasn't that big of a deal, but other people made it such a big deal.'

Deal: In another revelation from her memoir, the actress writes how the rapper secured a million-dollar deal with an Italian denim label only for her to be dropped after they split

Speaking out: Julia's book Down The Drain contains many revelations about her brief courtship with Kanye in early 2022

After splitting from Kanye, Fox said she swore off men for some time, and admitted she still doesn't 'see the point' in dating.

'That romanticized idea of men doesn't exist anymore,' she added.

The tome also reveals bizarre allegations about the first time they met back in December 2021.

As reported by Page Six on Monday, Julia writes about how Kanye romantically pursued her via text message and 'dozens of phone calls' before inviting her to join him at a New Year's Eve party in Miami.

Julia claimed she initially turned down the offer, but changed her mind when Kanye - whom she dated for one month in early 2022 - promised to fly her to the event in a private jet.

Upon meeting at the club, the Uncut Gems actress claimed Kanye hugged her tightly as she kissed his neck.

Things took a surprising turn when Kanye led her outside to a parking lot and unzipped his trousers to urinate.

'The artist [Kanye] starts peeing on the wall and I quickly jump in front of him,' Julia recalled, adding that she yelled at bystanders not to take photos.

Upon meeting at the club, the Uncut Gems actress claimed Kanye hugged her tightly as she kissed his neck. Pictured together on January 23, 2022

Things took a surprising turn when Kanye led her outside to a parking lot and unzipped his trousers to urinate. 'Once he zips his pants back up, he puts his arms around me and pulls me in close, kissing me passionately,' she claimed. Pictured together on January 23, 2022

'Once he zips his pants back up, he puts his arms around me and pulls me in close, kissing me passionately,' she added.

In an interview with the The Los Angeles Times last week, Julia said Kanye 'weaponized' her against Kim, as the famous couple's split was messy at the time, as Kanye began using social media to harass Kim and divulge her private messages.

Although she said she 'really understood him on a visceral level' and believed their pairing 'could be something real,' Julia said Kanye ultimately didn't treat her the way she expected.

'I just felt like his little puppet,' she added.
Brisbane radio host Kip Wightman has broken down in tears while discussing sharing custody of his four-year-old son Rafael with his ex-wife Amber.

He revealed on KIIS' Robin, Terry & Kip breakfast show, he was left heartbroken when his son asked him why he and Amber don't live together like his friend's parents.

'The worst thing that happened on Sunday was when I picked him up and we were going to a family barbeque and he said "Dad I know someone named Charlie from daycare",' he explained.

Rafael then said: 'Dad, you know, Charlie's got a mum and a dad. And they're in the same house. They live together.'

'And sometimes they pick him up together  I want that'.

Radio host Kip Wightman broke down live on air as he opened up about the harsh reality of sharing custody of his young son with his ex: 'I can't stand it'

An emotional Wightman broke down in tears and said: 'I just let him down. I can't stand it.'

His co-host Robin Bailey reassured him: 'You didn't let him down. Life has let him down. Things happen mate.'

'And what he's got is double the amount of people who are in his corner loving him,' she added.

The Brisbane radio host revealed on KIIS' Robin, Terry & Kip breakfast show on Wednesday, he was left heartbroken when his son asked him why he and his ex Amber don't live together like his friend's parents

Wightman split from his wife Amber Preiksa in 2021 after four years of marriage.

The couple had tied the knot in 2017 and welcomed their four-year-old son Rafael in 2019.

Following their split, the radio star moved on with Nyomie Essa.
Karlie Kloss looked runway ready as she joined fellow fashion A-listers at W Magazine's 'The Originals' dinner in New York City on Wednesday night.

The runway maven, 31  who gave birth three months ago  posed for photos inside the event in a gorgeous red wrap dress that hugged her toned waist.

It had a chic mock neckline, long-sleeves and a matching cloth belt.

The mother-of-two styled her bold dress with a pair of black boots and accessorized with dainty gold jewelry.

Kloss wore her silky brunette hair down in straight strands and she kept makeup to a minimum.

Wow! Karlie Kloss looked runway ready as she joined fellow fashion A-listers at W Magazine's 'The Originals' dinner in New York City on Wednesday night

Strike a pose: The runway maven  who gave birth three months ago  posed for photos inside the event in a gorgeous red wrap dress that hugged her toned waist

The Vogue covergirl rocked a small cateye flick, a rosy flush and a cool toned nude lip.

She posed for photos in front of a funky black-and-white checkered print wall and floor located inside the upscale Chinese restaurant Shun Lee.

Kloss looked to be having a blast as she mingled with Bumble's Chief Brand Officer Selby Drummond.

The former Senior Accessories Editor at Vogue looked stunning in a green sweater dress and black kitten heels.

Karlie also spent time with Proenza Schouler co-founder Lazaro Hernandez.

Glee star Dianna Agron looked classic in an elegant white shift dress with sheer accordion skirt.

The actress were her light brown hair off her face and slipped on a pair of white mules to complete her outfit.

Before arriving at Shun Lee, Kloss was spotted heading towards a black SUV just steps away from her NYC abode.

She turned the sidewalk into her personal runway as fans and photographers admired her from a distance.

Kloss offered a friendly smile and a wave before hopping into the backseat of her chauffeured car.

Chic: It had a chic mock neckline, long-sleeves and a matching cloth belt

Sleek: Kloss wore her silky brunette hair down in straight strands and she kept makeup to a minimum

En route: Before arriving at Shun Lee, Kloss was spotted heading towards a black SUV just steps away from her NYC abode

Sweet: Kloss offered a friendly smile and a wave before hopping into the backseat of her chauffeured car

Mingling: Kloss looked to be having a blast as she mingled with Bumble's Chief Brand Officer Selby Drummond

Leggy: The former Senior Accessories Editor at Vogue looked stunning in a green sweater dress and black kitten heels

Karlie also spent time with Proenza Schouler co-founder Lazaro Hernandez

Classic: Glee star Dianna Agron looked classic in an elegant white shift dress with sheer accordion skirt

Glowing: The actress were her light brown hair off her face

She was spotted chatting with Tom Blythe

Wednesday was a rare night out for Kloss, who gave birth to her second child, a son named Elijah, just three months ago.

She shares the little one as well as two-year-old son, Levi, with her husband of five years, Joshua Kushner, 38.

Kloss called the birth of her first child 'the most profound experience that I had no idea [about] until having a kid,' during an appearance on the last year.

She added, It's just the great joy I never knew; it's just the best.'

Sharing whether she fell in love right after Levi was born, the grateful mom told host Hota Kotb, 'The moment he was placed on my arms  I literally cry at commercials now, so I might cry right now  I just had this moment of, "Now, every woman who has a child, every parent, goes through this."'

Kloss, who has been a fixture on catwalks around the world since 2008, also got honest about how motherhood has changed her relationship with her body.

'I love my body in a way that I never have,' Kloss told Elle confessed. 'I never imagined that I would have a career [in which] my body would be so intertwined with my success or failure. That's something that I really don't like about being a model, but  it's part of the job.'

After dating for seven years, Kloss and Kushner, a businessman, heir, and investor, will be celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary on October 18.

Oh baby! Wednesday was a rare night out for Kloss, who gave birth to her second child, a son named Elijah, just three months ago

Family: She shares the little one as well as two-year-old son, Levi, with her husband of five years, Joshua Kushner, 38

After becoming a mom herself has given Kloss a newfound appreciation for her own mom, Tracy.

'I have so much respect for my mom. She has four daughters all within five, six years. I can't even imagine how she did it. I have one and I'm breathless at the end of the day,' she told Town & Country in May.

The Project Runway host went to share how hard it is now to imagine what life was like before becoming a first-time mother.

'It's an incredible part of my life that I love so much, and it keeps me on my toes every day. Just when I feel like I've figured something out or I'm on top of whatever phase we're in or stage we're at, my son is changing. Never a dull moment.'
Kaia Gerber showed off her taut midriff in a bandeau top when she surfaced on a warm day in Los Angeles this week.

The 22-year-old, who has followed her mother Cindy Crawford's footsteps into the modeling business, was walking her dog with a male pal.

She clashed her walnut brown top elegantly against a high-waisted pair of white trousers in a summery flourish in keeping with the weather.

Sweeping her dark hair back and tucking it behind her ears, the showbiz legacy warded off the rays with a sleek pair of shades.

Trotting along beside her on a leash was her rescue dog Milo, whom she adopted in 2020 during the coronavirus lockdowns.

On the move: Kaia Gerber showed off her taut midriff in a bandeau top when she surfaced on a warm day in Los Angeles this week

Kaia is currently dating Austin Butler, 32, who achieved new heights of fame last year by starring in a biopic of Elvis Presley directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Austin, who previously spent years dating Vanessa Hudgens, first became involved with Kaia in late 2021 before they went red carpet official last May.

They confirmed their romance by appearing together at last year's Met Gala and then jetted off to Cannes, where she supported him at the premiere of Elvis.

She previously dated Saturday Night Live Lothario Pete Davidson in late 2019 at a time when he was 26 and she had just turned 18.

Just before she took up with Austin, Kaia had a long-term relationship with the sizzling Australian heartthrob Jacob Elordi of Euphoria fame.

Jacob then took up with Lori Loughlin's daughter Olivia Jade, who is infamous for her role in the 'varsity blues' college admissions scandal.

Now Jacob has also assumed the same role that brought Kaia's current beau Austin international acclaim - that of Elvis Presley himself.

Jacob is playing The King in Priscilla, Sofia Coppola's upcoming Priscilla Presley biopic in which the title character is played by Cailee Spaeny.

Mover and shaker: The 22-year-old, who has followed her mother Cindy Crawford 's footsteps into the modeling business, was walking her dog with a male pal

The look: She clashed her walnut brown top elegantly against a high-waisted pair of white trousers in a summery flourish corresponding to the weather

Near the beginning of this year, Kaia responded to the then-swirling furor around 'nepo babies' in a cover interview for Elle magazine.

'I wont deny the privilege that I have,' she told the publication. 'Even if its just the fact that I have a really great source of information and someone to give me great advice, that alone I feel very fortunate for.'

Kaia, whose mother achieved international superstardom as one of the iconic Supermodels of the 1990s, said: 'My mom always joked: "If I could call and book a Chanel campaign, it would be for me and not you." But I also have met amazing people through my mom whom I now get to work with.'

However she insisted that a whole separate ethos is in effect when it comes to her burgeoning acting career, which includes the upcoming Apple TV+ series Pame Royale featuring Carol Burnett and the movie Bottoms.

'With acting, its so different. No artist is going to sacrifice their vision for someones kid. That just isnt how art is made, and what Im interested in is art,' Kaia insisted.

'Also, no one wants to work with someone whos annoying, and not easy to work with, and not kind. Yes, nepotism is prevalent, but I think if it actually was what people make it out to be, wed see even more of it,' said she.
Sean Penn has been known to go with the everyman look when it comes to his fashion choices over the years.

And on Wednesday the actor, director, activist and philanthropist continued with that philosophy when he arrived for an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

The two-time Academy Award winner was spotted making his way through to the back entrance of the studio dressed in blue jeans, a dark blue button-down shirt, a black coat and white sneakers.

For his next role, Penn appears in Gonzo Girl, which is Patricia Arquette's directorial debut, starring Camila Morrone, Willem Dafoe and Patricia Arquette, among others.

The drama film made its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7.

Late-night stop: Sean Penn, 63, opted for casual comfort in the fashion department when he arrived for his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday in Los Angeles

Penn, who's the co-founder of the Community Organized Relief Effort, also known as CORE Response, also co-directs Superpower with Aaron Kaufman, in another of his latest projects.

Initially, the Vice Studios production intended to focus on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's unique path from comedian and actor to president of Ukraine but it ended up being about an existential threat to democracy, according to CBS News.

After their meetings had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn just happened to be with President Zelenskyy when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2023.

And according to the CORE Response co-founder, when he met back up with the Ukrainian leader in the bunker of the presidential palace the following day he observed a changed man.

'I met him the day before and .. when he entered the room on the day of the invasion, to our cameras, ... it felt like he was born for this .. and it was a seamless rise,' Penn told CBS Mornings. 'It was a different person, cellularly, than the one I had met the day before. And he had  and has  as the Ukrainian people do, just complete resolve.'

Penn made seven trips to Ukraine over nearly a two-year period for the film, which premiered on Paramount+ on September 18.

While there, he said he 'finally' felt the unity and community Americans were promised in their own democracy.

'What you have in Ukraine is the most civil democracy, the tightest community, the greatest unity of any place I've ever felt in the world, and it's a direct representation of the best of the aspiration that we call our democracy,' the Santa Monica native said.

New role; For his next role, Penn appears in Gonzo Girl, which is Patricia Arquette's directorial debut, starring Camila Morrone , Willem Dafoe and Patricia Arquette, among others

Promo push: Penn has also been promoting his documentary, Superpower, since it made its premiere at the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany in February

Documentary: In Superpower, Penn offers a view of how democracy works in Ukraine, all while chatting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine; the activist and philanthropist is seen with the Ukrainian leader in Kyiv, Ukraine June 28, 2022

An avid activist and philanthropist, Penn has been outspoken in supporting numerous political and social causes over the years, including a visit to Iraq in December 2002, in protest against the Bush Administration's apparent plans for a military strike.

He first gained recognition with his first two feature film roles in Taps (1981) and Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982).

He would go on to gain critical acclaim when he starred in suck films as At Close Range (1986), State Of Grace (1990) and Carlito's Way (1993).

But Penn became known as one of the eras prominent leading actor with the drama Dead Man Walking (1995), which he earned his first Academy Award nomination.

His Hollywood resume also includes I Am Sam (2001), Mystic River (2003), 21 Grams (2003), The Interpreter (2005) and Milk (2008), among others.
Keira Maguire made a style statement as she returned to the Sydney social scene on Wednesday.

The Bachelor contestant, 37, was all smiles as she posed in a thigh-grazing pink dress during a swanky lunch at Catalina in Rose Bay to celebrate former Sunrise star-turned-beauty entrepreneur Samantha Brett's 40th birthday and the launch of her new Naked Sundays SPF product.

Keira turned heads in a Barbie-core mini dress which featured fur trim and showcased her trim pins.

She wore her brunette tresses down and opted for a glossy makeup palette.

The Melbourne reality TV contestant was joined by actress Jodi Gordon and Sydney makeup artist, Max May.

Keira Maguire made a style statement as she attended Samantha Brett's 40th birthday and the launch of her new Naked Sundays SPF product at Catalina in Rose Bay on Wednesday

Jodi looked incredible in a white bralette and matching trousers, which she teamed with a white blazer.

Max opted for a white shirt along with white pants and a designer belt.

Naked Sundays is the brainchild of glamorous news reporter turned entrepreneur, Samantha Brett.

The product has sold more than 200,000 bottles of the SPF Hydrating Glow Mist since its launch, being a runaway success.

Keira turned heads in a Barbie-core mini dress which featured fur trim and showcased her trim pins

Samantha recently launched a 'world first' sun protection lip oil, which was selling every 30 seconds after customers described it as 'revolutionary'.

The $29.95 Glow + Go Lip Oil by Australian brand Naked Sundays combines sun care and makeup with the inclusion of SPF50 and several nourishing ingredients.

The formula, which has just been re-launched to remove any hint of 'suncreen taste', had a 90,000 waitlist ahead of the release.

The Melbourne reality TV contestant was joined by actress Jodi Gordon and Sydney makeup artist, Max May. The good friends both dressed in white

Jodi looked incredible in a white bralette and matching trousers, which she teamed with a white blazer at the event. Pictured

The pair posed with Naked Sundays creator, Samantha Brett. Pictured



It is available in four flavours: cherry pie, coconut, salted caramel and watermelon.

Samantha spent two years building a makeup and skincare company that revolved around SPF.

Before stepping into the business world, Samantha worked at Channel 7 News in Sydney and left it behind for good when she sold more than 200,000 bottles of her revolutionary SPF Hydrating Glow Mist - a sunscreen designed to spray over makeup.

'It was a huge challenge to create the product as a hybrid between a sunscreen spray and a skincare product, and the manufacturers I approached laughed in my face,' she told FEMAIL.

'But as a TV reporter out in the sun with makeup on all day, I knew how important sun safety was and I was determined to get the product right, at least for myself and my daughter to be able to protect our skin.'

Real Housewives of Sydney star Sally Obermeder also attended the event. Pictured
Harry Jowsey has set the record straight after making the shock admission on The Amazing Race last week that he throws out his underwear after wearing them once.

The reality star, 26, told Yahoo on Thursday that he was just joking when he made the comments and he did not expect people to take him seriously.

'I was just being an idiot, being so dumb. I wear my undies once and I wash them, I dont throw them out,' he began.

'Like, they're Tom Ford undies, theyre $70 for a pair, I'm not throwing those out ever. I've got them on now.'

Harry stunned viewers last week on The Amazing Race when he told the cameras he hates washing clothes so much he chooses to buy new underpants instead.

Harry Jowsey (pictured) has set the record straight after making a shock admission about his underwear

The reality star, 26, told Yahoo on Thursday he was just joking when he made the surprising comments

'I wear my undies once and throw them out. I would rather pick up s**t than do my own laundry,' a defiant Harry said.

Channel Ten's latest series of The Amazing Race is once again be hosted by Beau Ryan and will feature a star-studded cast of 11 teams comprising of a celebrity and someone close to them.

Harry is partnered with his best mate Teddy Briggs and is racing the other teams across India, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Borneo, with the hopes of winning $100,000 to be donated to their chosen charity.

The pair are competing for the non-profit organisation Beyond Blue.

Former Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies, is also in the race this season, will be joined by his wife, former Real Housewives of Melbourne star Jackie Gillies.

'I was just being an idiot, I was being so dumb. I wear my undies once and I wash them, I dont throw them out,' Harry said

The pair, who are parents to two boys, will be out to win on behalf of the the Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation, a charity for needy and sick children.

Meanwhile, Bec Judd and her sister Kate Twigley have joined the real-life adventure series.

The glamorous wife of former AFL star Chris Judd and her sibling will be racing on behalf of a foundation set up by their dear friend Nicole Cooper, who lost her battle with bowel cancer earlier this year.
Sean Penn praised Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday while promoting his documentary Superpower about the president of Ukraine on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The 63-year-old Academy Award actor appeared on the ABC talk show to promote Superpower currently available on the Paramount+ streaming service.

Sean, wearing a black jacket, jeans and sneakers, told Jimmy, 55, about meeting Zelensky, 45, in a bunker. Sean said he met the Ukrainian president for the first time face-to-face to discuss his participation in filming and by the next morning he heard rockets heading towards Kyiv.

'Then we got a surprising call from the President's office that he was going to continue and have the first session of shooting,' Sean said.

'You did not go over there knowing that Russia was about to attack Ukraine,' Jimmy said. 'You went over there, and correct me if I'm wrong, to make a documentary about Zelensky.'

New documentary: Sean Penn praised Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday while promoting his documentary Superpower about the president of Ukraine on Jimmy Kimmel Live

'It was before any news of a Russian buildup,' Sean said. 'We knew that Ukraine had been at war, defensively at war, in the east since 2014.'

Sean said they had planned on doing a lighthearted look at a comic actor who had become president. Jimmy said he also heard that Sean received a warning from the US State Department telling them to get out of Ukraine because it wasn't safe. Sean said they worked with an Ukrainian production crew who had no intent on leaving their country.

Jimmy shared a clip from the bunker in which Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin hated them and he didn't know why.

'When he came in that day, in that piece that you showed, it was as though he was born for this moment,' Sean said. 'There is something incredibly genuine about him.'

Sean said his goal with the film was to give a context to the situation that you wouldn't get from the news.

'It's not a surprise to most people that I'm an opinionated person but I work very hard in the editing of this film to not hide that,' Sean said.

Sean was asked what Zelensky was like.

'Of any head of state, of any politician, of any head of a large company, there's a time you start to feel the script and the spin,' Sean said. 'There's never a moment with him that's not genuine.'

Bunker clip: Jimmy shared a Superpower clip from the bunker in which Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin hated them and he didn't know why

Always genuine: 'Of any head of state, of any politician, of any head of a large company, there's a time you start to feel the script and the spin,' Sean said. 'There's never a moment with him that's not genuine'

ABC show: Jimmy welcomed the 63-year-old Oscar winner onto his ABC talk show

Jimmy asked if Zelensky had seen the documentary and Sean said he saw a rough cut.

'He doesn't come off great in the first half-hour of the movie,' Sean said. 'When I walked into the office, he had watched it at 6:30 that morning.'

Sean said Zelensky stood up and looked at him and said 'I bet you are glad that I watched the whole thing.'

Jimmy asked him when he goes to dangerous situations if he had a schedule about checking in with his kids to let them know he is okay.

Sean said he would just lie and tell them and his assistant that 'everything's just fine.' Sean recalled when he went to Iraq in 2002 and that his kids were not happy.

'I got a sat phone and I thought this is the moment, kids are home from school, I can call real quick,' Sean said. 'Usually very quiet time of day. I went to a wall and just when both kids got on the phone, there was a war on the other side, just rap rap rap rap and my son said 'what is that dad?' So I never called them from any place again.'

Sean has son Hopper, 30, and daughter Dylan, 32, with ex-wife Robin Wright, 57.

Jimmy asked how he would feel if his kids went to war areas like him.

Checking in: Jimmy asked him when he goes to dangerous situations if he had a schedule about checking in with his kids to let them know he is okay

'We have hundreds of thousands of young men and women who are doing that to protect our country all the time,' Sean said. 'My children, I prefer they are not in dangerous places. I remember being in Ukraine and seeing what happened on television with Chris Rock at the Academy Awards and Will Smith and I thought, I didn't like them being in that dangerous place.'

Sean dedicated the film to a Ukrainian fighter pilot named Juice who he took with him to see a screening of the new Top Gun movie in Ukraine.

He said in the film when Tom Cruise ejects from his plane and makes his way through the desert and finds a diner that Juice leaned over and said to him 'That's why I always take my wallet.'

Superpower premiered in February at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper's burgeoning romance reportedly got off the ground thanks to some help from his matchmaker ex.

The 28-year-old model and the 48-year-old actor, writer and director first got in touch after Bradley's former partner Irina Shayk, 37, introduced them, a source told The Messenger on Wednesday.

'Gigi was introduced to Bradley through Irina [Shayk] and their mutual friends in the industry,' the source said.

Gigi  who was briefly linked to Leonardo DiCaprio earlier this year  and the Oscar nominee have known each other for years, so it's unclear if Irina recently reintroduced them, or if the introduction came years earlier.

'Gigi and Irina have been close over the years while working together, and Gigi and Bradley have hung out before, but it has always been friendly in social settings,' the source continued. 'Gigi and Bradley were in touch recently, and were bonding over their daughters, when Bradley asked her out.'

Mutual friends: Gigi Hadid, 28, was introduced to her new fling Bradley Cooper, 48, by his ex Irina Shayk, a source told The Messenger on Wednesday; seen October 3 in Paris

Close contact: 'Gigi and Irina have been close over the years while working together, and Gigi and Bradley have hung out before, but it has always been friendly in social settings,' the source continued; seen in 2019 in Beverly Hills

Bradley's leap of faith was apparently a big hit with Gigi.

'He pursued her and she was definitely interested and excited,' the insider said.

The catwalk star most recently casually dated Leonardo DiCaprio, but the two quickly transitioned to just being friends.

Prior to that, she had been in a relationship with former One Direction member Zayn Malik, with whom she shares her three-year-old daughter Khai.

However, the couple split in late 2021, and a physical altercation he had with her mother Yolanda Hadid seemed to end any prospect of the one onoff couple reuniting again.

As she and Bradley get to know each other better, Gigi is making sure to keep things low key.

'They have been casually seeing each other but it is extremely new,' the source continued. 'Gigi has expressed she does not want a serious relationship.

'They have a lot in common, and both relate to being parents in the industry,' they added. 'She wants to get into acting and is intrigued by Bradley's perspective and guidance. It is very casual at this point.'

In addition to helping set up his latest fling, Irina has managed to keep a strong relationship with her former partner.

The catwalk star began dating Bradley in 2015, and they went on to welcome their daughter Lea De Seine in March of 2017.

Despite their starting a family, Bradley and Irina's relationship began to show cracks in 2019, particularly as he promoted his Oscar-winning remake of A Star Is Born, which he starred in opposite Lady Gaga.

The couple split later that year, though they have maintained a friendly co-parenting relationship. Irina has even shared photos of the two enjoying time together on the beach as they vacationed with their daughter.

Thumbs up: Bradley's leap of faith was apparently a big hit with Gigi. 'He pursued her and she was definitely interested and excited,' the insider said. She most recently dated Leonardo DiCaprio

Still close: Bradley, who shares daughter Lea De Seine, six, with Irina, split from her in 2019. However, the two have remained friends and committed co-parents and have even vacationed together with their daughter since then; seen in 2018 in NYC

Perfect match: Gigi, who shares daughter Khai, three, with ex Zayn Malik, is supportive of Bradley sobriety, and her parenting skills appeal to him, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively this week; seen October 3 in Paris

Bradley seems to be as interested in Gigi as she is in him.

Insiders close to the American Sniper star told DailyMail.com exclusively that he is 'very excited' about the budding romance, and they added that Gigi is 'exactly his type.'

'He hasn't felt this excitement about a woman in a very long time,' a source added, noting that they are taking things 'slow.'

Adding to the factors making them a great match was Bradley's admiration for Gigi's parenting skills, and she was said to be supportive of his sobriety.
Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her late father Steve on Thursday by sharing a hilarious video of him successfully resolving a dispute between two kookaburras.

The conservationist, 25, posted the footage to Instagram, which shows Steve jumping into a bird pen to mediate a dispute between two warring birds.

The clip begins with Steve riding his motorbike through Australia Zoo in QLD, as he stops upon noticing the two birds furiously pecking each other.

'Hey, what's going on here? What are you two doing? Kookaburra fight,' a worried Steve tells the camera.

He then jumps into the pen and grabs each bird with a different hand and tells them they need to make up, before he begins cackling along with them in their bird language.

Bindi Irwin paid tribute to her late father Steve on Thursday by sharing a hilarious video of him successfully resolving a dispute between two kookaburras. Pictured together in 2001

The conservationist, 25, posted the footage to Instagram, which shows Steve jumping into a bird pen to mediate a dispute between two warring kookaburras

The frenzied birds are then seen to calm down after Steve gets involved, as he then places each bird in a different location to separate them.

'You be friends now,' Steve tells them.

'This flashback makes my heart happy. Dad's kindness and love for all species will live on forever,' Bindi wrote next to the footage.

Many of Bindi's family and friends were quick to gush over the adorable footage.

'Such a special moment. Steve loved every animal,' Steve's widow Terri wrote and others quickly agreed.

Bindi was just eight years old when her father, known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.

'Hey, what's going on here? What are you two doing? Kookaburra fight,' a worried Steve tells the camera

It comes after Bindi shared the first Irwin family photo to include brother Robert's new girlfriend, Rorie Buckey.

The wildlife warrior, 25, took to Instagram to share a family photo with the 19-year-old beaming while nestled into Terri Irwin.

The move did little to dampen swirling engagement rumours around Robert and Rorie, with Bindi calling her possible sister-in-law, 'gorgeous'.

Bindi married American wakeboarder Chandler Powell on March 25, 2020 and they welcomed their daughter Grace Warrior exactly one year later.

It comes after Bindi shared the first Irwin family photo to include brother Robert's new girlfriend, Rorie Buckey
Amy Dowden gave an update on her 'tough' cancer battle as she appeared on It Takes Two on Wednesday.

The professional dancer. 33. was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and underwent a mastectomy in June before doctors discovered she was also battling another form of cancer and would need further treatment.

Speaking to Janette Manrara, Amy said: 'Chemo again tomorrow, session six. I am over half way and I can see the finish line.

'But I'm not going to lie, it is tough but I am feeling strong and positive. I just want to raise as much awareness as I possibly can and get everyone to check their chest.'

Amy, who has been forced to miss this year's series, delighted viewers when she made a surprise appearance on last Saturday's show and embraced her hair loss by showing off her newly shaved head.

Brave: Amy Dowden gave an update on her 'tough' cancer battle as she appeared on It Takes Two on Wednesday

Braving the bald: Amy, who has been forced to miss this year's series, delighted viewers when she made a surprise appearance on last Saturday's show and embraced her hair loss

The professional dancer, who sported a beautiful brown wig for her It Takes Two appearance, said: 'My wig wasn't ready for the dress run so Diane was going on at me all day saying "You look so beautiful without it".

'I went out and did the dress run and the Strictly family treated me no differently without.

'They gave me so much love and support and I spoke to production, and the hair and make up girls were saying "Don't wear the wig".

'I felt really liberated and I didn't tell anyone. I was nervous but it didn't matter if I had my wig or not.'

Of her decision to show off her shaved head on the live show, Amy added: 'I want to use my platform to to help give others the courage and strength they need.

'I found losing my hair really traumatic and it didn't matter how much I prepared for it, I couldn't even brush my own hair in the end I couldn't even look in the mirror in the end because I was bald on top.

'I told my family "I'm shaving it tomorrow". We all did it together, my friends and family got together, we tried to make it as fun as possible. They inspired me and I want to use my platform to help others give others the courage and strength they need.'

Amy praised the show's bosses, her fellow dancers and fans for giving her strength, as she said: 'They have all inspired me.'

Update: The professional dancer, who sported a beautiful brown wig for her It Takes Two appearance, said 'it is tough but I am feeling strong and positive'

Strong: Amy told Janette she was set to have her sixth session on chemotherapy on Thursday

Strictly family: Janette told her: 'Fans and viewers are showing so much love and support'

'Everyone has been amazing, dancers, hair and make up, everyone but I have to give a special shout out to the execs (executives) who have been there since my diagnosis in spring.

'We have cried happy tears, sad tears. Having them and getting involved in the show has meant everything to me.

'On those difficult days has helped me push through.'

Amy singled out Dianne Buswell, who is partnered with EastEnders star Bobby Brazier, and Katya Jones, teamed up with Nigel Harman for their constant support.

Amy said of Diane: 'There's not a day goes by when she doesn't message me and send videos of her and Bobby.

'Katya and Nigel facetiming me on chemo days, I am forever grateful.'

Janette told her: 'Fans and viewers are showing so much love and support.'

Amy replied: 'Strictly has the world's best fans and gosh have I felt it - the love the support always comes on days I have really needed it and I will never ever be able to thank them enough.'

Tough time: Amy thanked her fellow dancers for their unwavering support. She singled out Dianne Buswell (pictured)

Inspiration: The professional dancer, 33, returned to the show to support her co-stars in her her first TV appearance since shaving her head

'So lovely to see the beautiful Amy Dowden': Viewers took to X - formerly known as Twitter - to say they were thrilled to see her on It Takes Two

Viewers took to X - formerly known as Twitter - to say they were thrilled to see her on It Takes Two.

One wrote: 'Seeing @dowden_amy on @bbcstrictly #ittakestwo makes my heart sing. Looking absolutely fabulous & as Craig would say Goooooorgous Darling. Hoping Chemo tomorrow goes well. Thinking of you, thank you for sharing your journey & being such an inspiration. Big Hugs.'

'Loved seeing Amy on It Takes Two'.

'seeing amy on it takes two was so inspirational and powerful for so many people !! shes incredibly gorgeous and has such a heart of gold, missing her on the dance floor endlessly' another viewer added.

'So lovely to see the beautiful, amazing @dowden_amy on #ittakestwo tonight!!!! I hope she knows how loved she is by the strictly fans and family.'
Neelam Gill flaunted her toned abs as she enjoyed a night out at Missoma's AW23 glamour collection launch on Wednesday at the NoMad Hotel in London.

The model, 28, opted for the skimpy boucle crop top which had a black polka dot design that showed off her gym-honed figure.

The midriff-baring number was teamed with a matching high-waisted midi skirt and simple white heels to boost her height.

She accessorised her look perfectly with a shiny black clutch bag and gold chain necklace.

Also at the bash was Romeo's Beckham's model girlfriend Mia Regan, 20, who cut a chic figure in an off-the-shoulder black top.

Stunning: Neelam Gill flaunted her toned abs as she enjoyed a night out at Missoma's AW23 glamour collection launch on Wednesday at the NoMad Hotel in London

Pretty: Also at the bash was Romeo's Beckham's model girlfriend Mia Regan , 20, who cut a chic figure in an off-the-shoulder black top

Pose: The model, 28, opted for the skimpy boucle crop top which had a black polka dot design that showed off her gym-honed figure

She completed the look with cropped leather trousers and a gold belt while adding strappy red heels to the look.

Sabrina Bahsoon, aka TikTok star Tube Girl, looked sensational and toted her essentials for the evening in an ultra chic Kate Spade New York Dakota Small Crossbody bag.

Emma Appleton, Naomi Ogawa and Corinna Brown were also in attendance at the star-studded bash.

Neelam has recently been linked to actor Leonardo DiCaprio after they spent time together on his yacht in the summer.

But in July, the model squashed romance rumours, telling Instagram followers: 'Just to clear up any rumours... I am not Leonardo DiCaprio's new flame.

'In fact I am in a committed relationship with his good friend, and have been for many months now.

'The only reason we have been pictured in the same vicinity is because I have been there with my partner. I hope this clears up all false stories.'

A source told MailOnline Neelam is dating Leo's best friend and confirmed: 'They are not together and have never been'.

In 2019, Neelam revealed the shocking racism she was exposed to as a child growing up in Coventry.

She recalled how being called a 'p***' on her way to school was an every day occurrence and made her hate the colour of her skin.

Outfit: She completed the look with cropped leather trousers and a gold belt while adding strappy red heels to the look

Glowing: She wore her blonde tresses in a cropped style and opted for a very bronzed makeup look

Royalty: Lady Amelia Windsor attends the launch dinner for the MISSOMA AW23 glamour collection

Style: The midriff-baring number was teamed with a matching high-waisted midi skirt and simple white heels to boost her height

Leggy: Emma Appleton wore a thigh-skimming black blazer dress and accessorised with a gold necklace

The look: She completed her outfit with trendy boots and opted for a slick of red lip

Gals: Lady Amelia Windsor, Zoe Zimmer and Mary Charteris attend the launch dinner

The activist, who was one of the first British Asian women to become the face of a major campaign when she was chosen as the face of Burberry in 2014, also called for the fashion industry to stop using ethnic minority models as 'token' faces.

In a candid interview with Stylist, Neelam said: 'I remember being a kid and walking to school and someone shouting 'Paki' out the window. That was just so normal.'

She added: 'I'd get comments like, 'does your Dad own the corner shop?' or 'Is he a taxi driver?' It makes me feel really angry. I could never imagine doing that to someone. It's not something I'd stand for now and now I'm very outspoken about it.

'When I was younger I was very insecure and I didnt think I was pretty because I thought being fair was what made you beautiful. I would always hate the colour of my skin.'

Admitting there has been a change in the representation of ethnic minorities in the fashion industry, Neelam argued that more needed to be done.

The model revealed how many brands appeared to use minority models 'just to cover their backs', and even spoke about how her model pals had been missed out on jobs because the designers 'already had a black girl in the show'.

Neelam rose to prominence after making her debut for none other than Fashion Week favourite Burberry after being scouted at the tender age of 14, and has credited them for making her a household name.

Fashion: Mia Regan, founder of Missoma Marisa Hordern and Emma Winder posed for a snap together

Lovely look: Sabrina Bahsoon looked sensational and toted her essentials for the evening in an ultra chic Kate Spade New York Dakota Small Crossbody bag

Night out: Mia looked in great spirits as she posed with Marisa

Out and about: After the bash Neelam headed to Chiltern Firehouse with Vogue's Edward Enninful

Chilly: She later added a black blazer to her look

Dapper: Edward looked smart in a dark grey suit

Flashing her abs: She opted for a skimpy display
Hugh Jackman has enjoyed an early morning sunrise in Sydney following his split from wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness.

The Hollywood star, 54, shared a poignant moment on his Instagram on Thursday, revealing a picturesque sunrise at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

In the frame, the surf is seen lapping at shore while passersby take in the iconic view across the South Pacific Ocean.

Hugh captioned the image, 'The sunrise in Bondi. 5.20am.'

It comes as Jackman is said to be preparing to release a new tell-all memoir following his breakup.

Hugh Jackman has enjoyed an early morning sunrise in Sydney following his split from wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness. Pictured in Saint Tropez in 2011

The Hollywood star, 54, shared a poignant moment on his Instagram on Thursday, revealing a picturesque sunrise at Sydney 's Bondi Beach

According to US Weekly, the Australian actor is currently in the early stages of writing his bombshell book.

His new memoir is set to feature details of his life and 'bombshell' revelations.

'Hugh is choosing to [write this book] now because he's finally [being] honest with himself [and] the divorce,' an insider said.

'The content will be Hugh speaking about his life. He'll be opening up about his life like never before.'

Hugh and Deborra-Lee shocked fans when they announced they were divorcing after 27 years of marriage last month.

'We have been blessed to share almost three decades together in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,' the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

Outing: Hugh was recently spotted on an outing in New York wearing a Wrexham FC hat, the Welsh football team owned by his friend Ryan Reynolds

Jackman is 'in the early stages of writing new bombshell memoir' following his separation

His new memoir is set to feature details of his life and 'bombshell' revelations

'Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition.'

The former couple signed the statement as 'Deb and Hugh Jackman,' adding: 'This is the sole statement either of us will make.'

The Australian couple share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18.

Last April, the pair celebrated their anniversary and Jackman had posted a gushing tribute to his wife on Instagram.

'I love you Deb. Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 years! I love you so much,' the actor wrote in his caption.

'Together we have created a beautiful family. And life. Your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humour, cheekiness, courage, and loyalty is an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart,' he shared in the heartfelt post.
Mikayla Crisp and her Collingwood star husband Jack have welcomed their third child.

The couple shared the sweet news to Instagram on Thursday evening in a joint post, alongside a gallery of intimate family images.

The proud parents looked over the moon as they posed with their newest bundle of joy, before revealing her name as Murphy Jay Crisp.

In one image, Mikayla is seen beaming from ear to ear as she holds little Murphy in her hospital bed.

In another, Jack is seen tenderly holding his little angel as she sleeps swaddled in a blanket.

Mikayla Crisp and her Collingwood star husband Jack have welcomed their third child. Both pictured

The couple shared the sweet news to Instagram on Thursday evening in a joint post, alongside a gallery of intimate family images. In one image, Mikayla is seen beaming from ear to ear as she holds little Murphy in her hospital bed

In another image, Jack is seen tenderly holding his little angel as she sleeps swaddled in a blanket. Pictured

The couple also shared several images of the newborn with her two sisters, Lilah, five, and Sloane, three.

The adoring parents also shared precious footage of AFL star Jack kissing Murphy, before placing a little beanie on her head and picking her up.

He looked every inch the doting father as he proudly posed and showed off his little angel. Mikayla captioned the clip simply with the word 'smitten'.

'Completing our family with our 3rd little princess,' they wrote beside the carousel of images, before adding the hashtags #girldad #luckiestguyintheworld.

The couple's post was soon inundated with well wishers.

'Awww congratulations!!!'wrote AFL star Mason Cox.

'So gorgeous! The girls are wrapt! Congratulations beautiful people!' added Married At First Sight star Claire Nomarhas.

'Omg I love this. Congrats legends,' wrote celebrity stylist Jamie Azzopardi.

A host of other AFL players also joined the chorus, including Adam Treloar and Chris Mayne.

The couple also shared several images of the newborn with her two sisters, Lilah and Sloane

The proud parents looked over the moon as they posed with their newest bundle of joy, before revealing her name as Murphy Jay Crisp

'Completing our family with our 3rd little princess,' they wrote beside the carousel of images, before adding the hastags #girldad #luckiestguyintheworld

The couple's post was soon inundated with well wishers

The adoring parents also shared precious footage of AFL star Jack kissing Murphy, before placing a little beanie on her head and picking her up. Pictured

He looked every inch the doting father as he proudly posed and showed off his little angel

Mikayla captioned the clip simply with the word 'smitten'

Mikayla and Jack surprised fans with their baby news back in May.

The 29-year-old AFL star took to Instagram to share the happy news alongside a photo of the couple.

In the image, Jack is seen shirtless as he hugs his wife and cradles her growing baby bump.

A second photo sees the loved-up pair holding their daughters Lilah and Sloane.

'Been keeping a precious little secret for almost 19 weeks, now it's time to share our joy with you all,' he captioned the post.

Mikayla and Jack surprised fans with their baby news back in May

A second photo sees the loved-up pair holding their daughters Lilah and Sloane
Springwatch star Chris Packham opened up about the tragedy that made him feel suicidal and reveals what saved his life.

Speaking on the Mirror's Men in Mind podcast, in association with charity Mind, Chris, 62, who has autism, spoke about his past mental health battles.

He has had a tough time of it in recent years, after receiving death threats and vicious online trolling but he said it was the death of his beloved dog which hit him the hardest.

Fish - who he got on his 40th birthday, was run over and bled to death in his arms a year later - and subsequently, Chris tried to end his own life.

He said: 'I was suicidal... but I didnt have enough pills. Thats what it came down to.'

Honest: Springwatch host Chris Packham has discussed the tragedy that made him feel suicidal and revealed what saved his life

A look back: Chris with two of his dogs. Itchy and Scratchy - pictured in 2009

Chris, scared by what had happened, went to his doctor and had therapy sessions.

He added: 'It was like I got hit by a train. It was like I was winded, I could barely breathe because of everything that was coming out and it had been locked up for so long.'

Chris admits he has suffered from other desperate moments, even while he was undergoing treatment.

He admitted: 'Id started to spend a lot of time in France, and I was on my own there for quite long periods, and on another occasion, I came very close to killing myself. And what kept me alive were the dogs, I just looked down and I thought, "I cant leave them". It was the fact that there wasnt anyone else at that point who could have loved them as much as I did.'

Chris has been vocal about his opposition of fox-hunting, and has campaigned for measures to protect birds from being shot to be put in place.

But in 2019, dead crows were strung up outside his home, and two years after that, the gates to his house were fire-bombed by masked men.

He admitted that the trolling doesn't really bother him but he is more worried about physical threats that have been made against him.

Chris appeared on Good Morning Britain last month to discuss his Channel 4 documentary, 'Chris Packham: Is It Time To Break The Law?'

Out there: Chris appeared at the latest march by Just Stop Oil eco-zealots in London last month. He is understood to be filming a documentary about 'non-violent' protests

He said: 'When the gates were blown up I made a table from their burned remains. The texture of the wood after the fire was beautifully iridescent and crinkled, and Ive had it set in resin. Im going to auction it to raise money, which Ill give to a charity in direct opposition to the people who are most likely to have blown up the gates.'

He notes that he because he is autistic, he believes this has given him the strength to cope with the situation.

He said that one of the traits that seems common in autistic people is having an 'aggravated sense of injustice' and not allowing people to get away with things.

Chris's autism was only diagnosed in 2005 but he has said he has always felt different and would spend his time rescuing animals.

He was bullied as a child at school and was relieved to go to university, but said he didn't have any friends there.

However, his pet dogs became some of his closest companions.

Conservationist Chris discussed blowing up an oil pipeline with a green campaigner in a recent documentary.

The BBC presenter also praised the 'highly intelligent' Just Stop Oil protester who was jailed for bringing the M25 to a 40-hour standstill.

The documentary, titled Chris Packham: Is It Time To Break The Law? aired on Channel 4 last month and explored the contentious issue of whether environmental activists are right to break the law in their pursuit of climate action.
Pip Edwards and her P.E. Nation co-founder Claire Tregoning were spotted together at in Sydney on Thursday, following rumours the business partners had a falling out.

The athleisure mavens cut stylish figures at The Australian Fashion Laureate 2023 as they posed for photos, with both of them opting to wear sunglasses indoors.

Pip was dressed in all-white for the occasion at the Sydney Opera House.

She put her best foot forward in a cropped jacket with cargo pants.

Pip completed her look with metallic-tipped heels and retrofuturist sunglasses.

Pip Edwards and her P.E. Nation co-founder Claire Tregoning were spotted together at The Australian Fashion Laureate 2023 in Sydney on Thursday, following rumours the business partners had a falling out. Both pictured

The athleisure mavens cut stylish figures as they posed for photos, with both of them opting to wear sunglasses indoors

Meanwhile, Claire wore white jeans, white heels, and a P.E. Nation branded shirt.

She completed the look with statement sunglasses and jewellery.

The business partners' public appearance together comes after they were forced to deny rumours of a falling out between them earlier this year.

Edwards and Tregoning launched their luxury activewear label in 2015 and turned it into an international brand sold by 600 individual retailers in 95 countries.

The pair went on a business trip to the UK together in November 2022 where they promoted their athleisure company, took selfies in London, and lunched with the likes of former foreign minister Julie Bishop.

Pip was dressed in all-white for the occasion at the Sydney Opera House. She put her best foot forward in a cropped jacket with cargo pants

But Daily Mail Australia revealed rumours swirling the deep friendship at the core of the business may have crumbled during their luxury trip away.

A source with knowledge of the company's internal dealings alleged: 'Pip and Claire have had a falling out.'

The source said Tregoning took one month off in December, extended her break for another month in January, and then opted for another three months' leave.

Her office in the company's Sydney headquarters has now been cleared and repurposed as a 'creative room'.

A P.E Nation spokeswoman denied that the pair are feuding, insisting they remain 'committed and collaborative business partners'.

'Claire is taking some well-earned time off and remains an important part of P.E Nation,' the spokeswoman said.

'(She) is taking a well-earned sabbatical for a few months.'

The business partners' public appearance together comes after they were forced to deny rumours of a falling out between them earlier this year

Pip Edwards (right) and Claire Tregoning (left) started P.E Nation in 2015

Tregoning reiterated the message when contacted for comment, adding: 'The business and Pip have both been great supporters of my sabbatical and I am grateful to have this time off with my family.'

She did not respond to questions about her office at headquarters being cleared out, however the P.E Nation spokeswoman admitted it has been repurposed for the duration of her absence.

'Whilst Claire is not in the office, we are using her office space for other purposes, including a meeting and creative room,' they said.
Anne Price's bestselling novel Interview With The Vampire has been made into a BBC drama - but who are the star-studded cast behind the magic?

While the Gothic romance was originally broadcast to an American audience, British fans can now tune in through BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Another interesting element is seeing how race and sexuality plays out in 1900s Louisiana - where the show is set.

So who are the cast in the dark vampire series, which sees vampire protaganist Louis de Pointe du Lac's queer romance unfold with Lestat de Lioncourt?

American import: While the gothic romance was originally broadcast to an American audience, British fans can now tune in through BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

Jacob Anderson as Louis de Pointe du Lac

Being a gay, black man in 20th century New Orleans was difficult, but things are made easier wealthy Lestat invites Louis to join him as his vampire companion.

Jacob, who plays Louis is best known for his work across several classic British shows, appearing alongside Emilia Clarke when he portrayed Grey Worm in the award-winning fantasy drama Game of Thrones.

But the Bristol-born star has also appeared in Doctor Who as Vinder in series 13 - which saw Jodie Whittaker reprise her role as doctor.

He has also appeared in ITV mystery drama Broadchurch as Dean Thomas, and had minor roles in Outnumbered and medical dramas Casualty and Doctors.

Game of Thrones past: Jacob is best known for his work across several classic British shows, appearing alongside Emilia Clarke when he portrayed Grey Worm in the award-winning fantasy drama Game of Thrones

Sam Reid as Lestat de Lioncourt

Lestat is a wealthy French vampire who arrives in New Orleans, Louisiana and quickly sweeps Louis off his feet - in turn morphing him into a vampire.

Sam, who plays Lestat, is actually Australian but has had roles in prolific British dramas before, such as ITV's Agatha Christie's Marple and police drama Whitechapel.

But the Aussie is best known for his roles back home - he played Ray in Australian miniseries The Hunting.

He also portrayed journalist Dale Jennings in drama The Newsreader.

Aussie in England: Sam is best known for his roles back home - he played Ray in Australian miniseries The Hunting

Bailey Bass as Claudia

Claudia - a young teenage girl is turned into a vampire by Lestat, in order to save her life. As a result, she becomes pally with Lestat and Louis.

Portrayed by Bailey Bass, the American actress is from the deep south of the United States herself, making her a perfect fit for the role.

Bailey had humble beginnings, with her acting career first taking off when she landed a My Little Pony commercial at the age of 5.

But since then, the 20-year-old has starred in the recent Avatar films as Tsireya, or 'Reya' - a young Na'vi girl who is a free diver from the Metkayina Clan in James Cameron's innovative franchise.

She has also starred in American crime drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Breyona Taylor.

Avatar: Bailey plays Tsireya, or 'Reya' - a young Na'vi girl who is a free diver from the Metkayina Clan in the huge franchise

Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy

Daniel, played by Eric Bogosian is a journalist, but his job has gotten him in trouble in the past - particularly when he interviewed Louis.

Hailing from the east coast of the United States, it makes sense that we've seen Eric in numerous American shows.

These include, but aren't limited to, his roles in Succession - where he played Gil Eavis, as well as appearances in Scrubs and LAw & Order.

But his accolades aren't limited to television - he also has credits in 2003 action-comedy film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle - where he played Alan Caulfield.

Dangerous job: Daniel is a journalist, but his job has gotten him in trouble in the past - particularly when he interviewed Louis

Assad Zaman as Rashid

Rashid, a vampire older than 500 is Louis' current lover, who manages to save journalist Daniel's life.

Assad is a Geordie actor who trained at the Manchester School of Theatre, where he gained a BA in acting.

Since then, his credits include those on stage and in television - and he is no stranger to darker series, having starred as Stathnam in BBC's Apple Tree Yard.

Assad has also dabbled with ITV - where he played Lee Nadella in an episode of crime drama Vera.
Noel Gallagher has revealed that his wild parties caused his cats to have nervous breakdowns.

The former Oasis rocker, 56, was known for his star-studded bashes at his London mansion, which was known as Supernova Heights, in the 1990s.

An while he and his friends had a great time, he admitted his lifestyle took a toll on his pet moggies.

Speaking on the Take 5 podcast, the star said: 'I had a couple of cats who had a nervous breakdown. Benson and Hedges, after the cigarettes.

'They were a pair of f****** lightweights. The cats had a thousand-yard stare by the end of it.

Oh no: Noel Gallagher has revealed that his wild parties in the nineties caused his cats to have nervous breakdowns (seen in 1995)

Poor things! Speaking on the Take 5 podcast , the star said: 'I had a couple of cats who had a nervous breakdown. Benson and Hedges, after the cigarettes'

'They'd seen things that no feline should ever see.'

Noel - who has daughter Anais, 23, with first wife Meg Matthews, and sons Donovan, 16, and Sonny, 13, with ex wife Sara MacDonald - sold the house in 2005 but will always look back at that time in his life with fondness.

He said: 'They were great times, it was an open house. I look back on it as just really fun, happy, hedonistic, carefree times. I didn't have any kids. It was great.

'That period from 1998, there were a couple of years that were a bit turbulent but I enjoyed it.'

Meanwhile, the If I Had A Gun hitmaker recently revealed he wants to be laid to rest with a 'jazz funeral' after falling in love with New Orleans on a recent trip to the city, which is famed for brass bands accompanying coffins when they are paraded through its streets.

Noel told his comedy writer friend Matt Morgan on his Patreon podcast: 'I would want a jazz funeral. I went to one recently as a matter of fact  it was great.

'I think I made a mental note: 'I must have a jazz funeral.' And that would be a great name for a band!'

Noel made the remarks despite spending years hitting out at jazz as 'f****** nonsense'.

Star: The former Oasis rocker, 56, was known for his star-studded bashes at his London mansion, which was known as Supernova Heights, in the 1990s

Wild: He added: 'They were a pair of f****** lightweights. The cats had a thousand-yard stare by the end of it'

He said in 2015: 'If you've never been to a jazz club, this is what happens at a jazz club  a jazz club is like four guys on stage enjoying themselves more than the 50 people in the audience.

'That's what it is. They're all playing a different song, all at the same time, in different tempos, in different keys, and they call it jazz. It's f****** nonsense.'

It comes as Liam Gallagher is to embark on a major stadium tour to mark the 30th anniversary of Oasis's first album  with or without brother Noel.

The rocker is to reunite with guitarist Bonehead, real name Paul Arthurs, for next summer's shows, playing every track on 1994's Definitely Maybe and other greatest hits.

A source close to Liam revealed he had committed himself to the tour, and while the door would be open for Noel to join, that possibility is 'still a long way off as there are a lot of personal issues that need to be resolved'.

The Britpop band imploded in 2009 when the brothers fell out, but in recent months Liam, 51, has said he wants Noel to call him to make up. But Liam, who could net 10 million from the concerts, recently joked to friends: 'Who needs Noel?!'

Drama: It comes as Liam Gallagher is to embark on a major stadium tour to mark the 30th anniversary of Oasis's first album  with or without brother Noel

One source close to the Gallaghers confirmed: 'Liam is convinced he can recreate the magic of the first Oasis album, whether or not Noel is with him on stage.

He's played songs like Rock 'n' Roll Star with his new band and the crowd erupts.'

Wembley Stadium, Manchester City's Etihad Stadium and Newcastle's St James' Park could host the anniversary gigs.

Sources said Liam, 51, became convinced he could tour alone after he sold out two nights at Knebworth last summer.
The AGT judge has opened up with his mental health journey in a new interview

Howie, now 67, refused to seek professional help until his wife stepped in

The competition show judge was diagnosed with OCD in his late 40s

Howie Mandel revealed his wife Terry issued him an ultimatum which pushed him into getting treatment for his OCD  after years of making his family 'miserable' with his condition.

The America's Got Talent judge, 67, was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder in his late 40s, however he struggled to seek help from healthcare professionals which put a strain on his loved ones.

Opening up about his journey to self-acceptance, Howie admitted: 'I wouldn't go see a therapist. I wouldn't go see a psychiatrist. I would not talk about the word mental health at all.

'I'd have my children and my wife spray everything down and not touch things. I wouldn't take things that they were handed.

Howie Mandel credit's his wife Terry for helping him professional help with his OCD

The AGT judge admitted he made his family 'miserable' before getting his diagnosis

'I would remove some of their toys that I saw touch the ground. I was making their life miserable.'

Howie revealed that his wife Terry  whom he's been married to for 43 years and shares three adult children with  urged him to seek help.

'My wife just gave me an ultimatum,' he recalled to Today.com. 'She goes, "I can't do this anymore and I can't have the children do it anymore. And if you don't get help, that's it."

'So, it was an ultimatum that made me ultimately go to therapy, and I got diagnosed (with OCD).'

Praising his supportive wife, Howie added: 'It's important to have people around you who are there for you. That's key, but they don't know to be there for you if you don't talk about it.'

Howie's admission about his OCD journey comes as he revealed he hopes his America's Got Talent co-star Sofia Vergara quickly finds a new man following her split from her husband Joe Manganiello.

The Modern Family actress, 51, is newly single after she and True Blood actor Joe announced in July that they were going their separate ways following eight years of marriage.

'I love Sofia Vergara,' Howie praised. 'I find her incredibly, first, in no particular order, beautiful, smart, funny.'

Howie Mandel is hoping that his America's Got Talent co-host Sofia Vergara quickly finds love again following her split from Joe Manganiello

Sofia and Joe announced their divorce in February after eight years of marriage

Speaking to People, he added that Sofia 'deserves to be with somebody ASAP.'

Sofia and Howie both serve as judges on the long-standing competition series America's Got Talent.

Howie has been a mainstay on the panel since 2010, when he replaced David Hasselhoff, 71, while Sofia joined the program alongside Heidi Klum, 50, in 2020.

The trio sit beside the series creator, Simon Cowell, 64, who made his judging debut in 2011 following Howard Stern's exit.

Sofia and Joe, 46, tied the knot in Florida in 2015 but have now decided to go their separate ways.

Sources exclusively told DailyMail.com that the pair had drifted apart due to their 'different attitudes' - after first bonding over being opposites.

In a statement announcing their break-up, the couple shared: 'We have made the difficult decision to divorce.

'As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives.'

Howie enthused that newly-single Sofia 'deserves to be with somebody ASAP'

Joe cited 'irreconcilable differences' when he filed for divorce, with Sofia agreeing

Joe had previously cited 'irreconcilable differences' when he filed for divorce two days after the couple announced their split, with Sofia responding with the same reason for the separation in her filing from July 26.

In addition to requesting the court follow the terms of their prenuptial agreement, she also asked that she be allowed to keep her jewelry, artwork and 'other personal effects,' which she considered assets.

Last week, Sofia's Modern Family co-star Julie Bowen  who was among the first to show public support for Sofia following news of her split - gave curious fans an update on her friend is holding up.

The 53-year-old actress told People that Sofia, is 'doing great', adding: 'Her Instagram says it all. We have spoken, and she's doing great.

'Sofia has always had such a wonderful family that surrounds her and wonderful friends.'

Julie went on to praise Sofia as someone she looks up to, and explained: 'Sofia has always been my role model as far as embracing being a woman and womanly, and yet also being powerful and not... I always felt like you had to compromise one for the other.'

The marriage was not a first for Sofia, who was married to Joe Gonzalez from 1991 to 1993. She and her ex-husband share son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, 32.
Married At First Sight UK stars Ella Morgan and JJ Slater kiss behind the backs of their spouses and re-enter the E4 experiment as a couple.

MailOnline revealed that the show's first transgender contestant Ella, 29, cheats on husband Nathanial Valentino, 36, with a groom that enters the series at a later date.

In scenes yet to air, Nathanial dramatically leaves the process, which sees couples marry after meeting for the first time at the altar, following the revelation that Ella and JJ, 30, had been unfaithful.

After being given permission by the show's relationship experts, Ella and JJ re-enter the series as a new couple, to the shock of their fellow co-stars.

It follows the end of JJ's marriage to wife Bianca Petronzi, 30, after she gave up on their romance when he failed to show her any interest.

Married At First Sight UK stars Ella Morgan and JJ Slater kiss behind the backs of their spouses and re-enter the E4 experiment as a couple

MailOnline revealed that the show's first transgender contestant Ella cheats on husband Nathanial Valentino with a groom that enters the series at a later date

Nathanial dramatically leaves the process, which sees couples marry after meeting for the first time at the altar, following the revelation that Ella and JJ had been unfaithful

A TV source told MailOnline: 'Ella and Nathanial tried to take their relationship to the next level but agreed they were better off as friends.

'Nathanial was so disappointed by Ella's actions, he thought they had a mutual respect for each other and kissing someone else in the process went against his values.

'Ella loved the attention she received from JJ because it's what she missed in her marriage to Nathanial.

'After initially leaving the show when their marriages failed, Ella and JJ were given permission by the relationship experts to come back, which certainly ruffled feathers among the cast who have taken the process seriously from the beginning.'

On Thursday night's show, sparks begin to fly between Ella and JJ, who both choose each other as the person they would like to kiss aside from their partner.

JJ has made it clear since marrying Bianca that she isn't his 'usual type', admitting during the show's latest commitment ceremony that he prefers 'girls that have had a lot of work done.'

The couple have not even kissed, including on their honeymoon with the clothing brand owner insisting he wanted to take a new approach on the show to his using dating style.

He said: 'My normal type is slightly different to Bianca... it's been like girls that have had a lot of work done and they kind of all look the same. In this experiment I wanted something deeper and more emotional.'

JJ has made it clear since marrying Bianca that she isn't his 'usual type', admitting during the show's latest commitment ceremony that he prefers 'girls that have had a lot of work done'

On Thursday night's show, sparks begin to fly between Ella and JJ, who both choose each other as the person they would like to kiss aside from their partner

In Wednesday night's instalment, Terence Edwards quit the series and refused to give his wife Porscha Pernnelle a second chance of making their marriage work.

He opted out of the process after learning that Porscha had kissed four other men during a game of spin the bottle, which he classed as cheating and led to ruptures within the cast.

During one of the show's most explosive dinner parties, Porscha came to blows with co-star Georges Bert, with the pair even arguing in French, after he vocalised his views on her behaviour.

It is the latest drama to hit the series after Nathanial claimed that he was forced into his partnership with Ella and said he eventually quit because he felt like he was being 'strangled.'

He told the Sunday Mirror: 'I felt I was being strangled and it brought out an ugly side of me. I knew I was going to tear the place down, so I quit.'

He also branded the producers 'manipulative', alleging his time on the show was a 'complete sham.'
Jeannie Mai Jenkins has broken her silence on social media - one month after estranged husband Jeezy filed for divorce.

The View host, 44, posted a handwritten note that said: 'Sometimes, you need to take a break and disconnect, to heal,' adding a black heart.

Jeezy, born Jay Wayne Jenkins, filed for divorce on September 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia following almost three years of marriage.

Per the documents, it said they are 'currently living in a bona fide state of separation' and that there is 'no hope for reconciliation' with their marriage 'irretrievably broken,' People reported.

From the heart: Jeannie Mai Jenkins has broken her silence on social media - one month after estranged husband Jeezy filed for divorce

The way they were: The View host, 44, posted a handwritten note that said: 'Sometimes, you need to take a break and disconnect, to heal,' adding a black heart; seen May 21, 2022

Heartbreaking: Per the documents, it said they are 'currently living in a bona fide state of separation' and that there is 'no hope for reconciliation' with their marriage 'irretrievably broken,' People reported; seen September 9, 2023 in NYC

The filings show he is requesting joint legal custody of Monaco, and also seeks to enforce the prenuptial agreement they signed, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Jeannie and Jeezy first starting dating in 2018, marrying three years later.

The duo got married in March 2021, and welcome their first child together - a daughter named Monaco - in January 2022.

Jeezy, 46, is also dad to more kids - son Jadarius Dykes, 27, with Tynesha Dyke, and daughter Amra Nor Jenkins, nine, with Mahlet Gebremedhin.

Less than two weeks before he filed for divorce, Jeannie shared a touching note to him on Instagram - in honor of his memoir Adversity For Sale going on the New York Times bestsellers list.

She posted the note along with an adorable video of their daughter Monaco, one, eating spaghetti alongside her.

Jeannie's note said: 'Today I celebrate a remarkable milestone achieved by my husband, @jeezy, whose memoir "Adversity For Sale" has soared to the New York Times bestsellers list.'

Happier times: Jeezy, born Jay Wayne Jenkins, filed for divorce on September 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia following almost three years of marriage; seen with their daughter Monaco

Timing: Less than two weeks before he filed for divorce, Jeannie shared a touching note to him on Instagram - in honor of his memoir Adversity For Sale going on the New York Times bestsellers list

Former couple: The duo got married in March 2021, and welcome their first child together - a daughter named Monaco - in January 2022; pictured July 20, 2023 in NYC

Performing: Jeezy performing onstage the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta on October 3, 2023

'Your story has always been an inspiration to me, but seeing it in print has left me even more in awe of your strength and wisdom. You invited us into the most intimate corners of your life, where pain and triumph co-exist.'

'This moment isn't just a testament to your literary skills baby, but a recognition of your ability to inspire through the power of storytelling.'

'I'm endlessly grateful for your voice in this world. Honored to walk beside you my love,' she ended the note.

She shared the note and video on September 6, eight days before he filed for divorce.
Nina Dobrev and Shaun White looked like they were having a blast as they left their lunch date in New York City via electric scooter.

The Vampire Diaries alum who is 5"7' appeared to tower over her 5"9' Olympic champion boyfriend, 37, while standing on the scooter.

Dobrev, 34, rocked a houndstooth coat from designer Smythe that retails for $995 with a black t-shirt and leather leggings while smiling brightly at her partner of three years.

The Love Hard actress wore a black beanie over her dark hair and carried a black Chanel handbag.

Stylish round-lensed sunglasses protected her eyes from the sun.

Out for a ride: Nina Dobrev and Shaun White looked like they were having a blast as they left their lunch date in New York City via electric scooter

Shaun wore caramel-colored joggers with a matching shirt, which was unbuttoned to reveal a white t-shirt.

Shaun ran alongside his girlfriend as she rode down the city streets while Nina kept a steadying arm around his shoulders.

Nina's fall look was in stark contrast to the floral minidress and flip flops she wore 10 days ago when the lovebirds were also riding a scooter in New York.

The famous couple have a meet cute beginning. They met at a Tony Robbins event in Florida 2019 and the retired snowboard champion had no idea who she was - or how famous she is.

'I actually didn't know anything about her,' Shaun told People in January 2022.

After the event, during which they both gave presentations, they went to get a bite to eat at a crowded restaurant.

He saw the hostess blush and assumed it was because Nina told her an Olympic gold medalist was there.

So he sauntered over, ready to greet his fans. Only it wasn't Shaun the restaurant staff was interested in. It was Nina.

'Can we get a photo...with her?' Shaun recalled the waiters asking him.

'And I was like, 'What's happening? What's going on?' It was actually really funny,' he explained.

Lovebirds: The Vampire Diaries alum, 34, towered over her Olympic champion boyfriend, 37, while standing on the scooter

Lunch date: She rocked a houndstooth coat with a black t-shirt and leather leggings while smiling brightly at her partner of three years

The couple bonded during the COVID-19 lockdown and one event made him realize Nina was special - when his dog Steve, a French bulldog, and her dog Maverick, a border collie Australian shepherd mix  became best friends.

'Steve has a bit of an attitude, but they get along amazingly. So it was really meant to be,' he joked.

In all seriousness though, he also called Nina a 'lifesaver.'

'Nina's just been so supportive and so amazing through this whole process for me,' he says. 'Through the pandemic, she was a lifesaver - she really made that time in my life special.'
Britney Spears connected with fellow music superstars Maluma and J Balvin while in New York City on Wednesday evening.

Page Six reports the songstress, 41, had a late-night sushi dinner with the Colombian musicians at the private social club Zero Bond after arriving into the Big Apple on Wednesday.

'The guys flagged her down, and she and her group joined them,' a source told the outlet.

The insider added that the group was in 'good spirits', and that 'Britney was all smiles and so happy to be back in New York for the first time in a while.'

During their hang-out, the trio reportedly talked music and Britney's upcoming memoir, The Woman In Me.

Fun: Britney Spears has 'late-night sushi dinner' with J Balvin and Maluma at social club Zero Bond in New York City - as she prepares for memoir release (Image posted by Maluma)

Maluma gave fans a glimpse into his Wednesday night on his Instagram Stories, where he shared a snap of him and J Balvin at Zero Bond together. Britney wasn't in the snap.

The duo sat together silently as music played in the background before they erupted into laughter.

Britney is set to release her memoir, The Woman In Me, in just a few weeks.

The Woman In Me is described as a 'brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.'

In late September, Britney teased that she was putting the 'finishing touches' on her memoir  which will be released October 24.

Drinks: It looked as though the group had enjoyed some cocktails

Night out! Maluma shared a snap of him and J Balvin hanging at the exclusive hotspot Zero Bond

The Toxic hitmaker's memoir was written before her split from Asghari, 29, and hasn't been changed to include the drama between them.

He also won't get a penny of that money from book sales thanks to the former couple's ironclad prenup.

Britney's New York trip comes after she was reportedly 'pulled over and ticketed' for driving without a licence or proof of insurance in her car by California Highway Patrol.

Court documents obtained by The Blast revealed that the incident occurred on September 10, just a month after her estranged husband Sam filed for divorce.

While it is unknown why she was initially pulled over, law enforcement claim that she did not have a 'valid licence in her possession' and failed 'to provide an officer evidence of financial responsibility.'

The mother-of-two was cited a $1,140 fine and 'must pay up by October 24, which is also the date of her court appearance.'

Coincidentally, the court date is also the same date her memoir, The Woman In Me, is scheduled to hit bookstores.

Exclusive: The celebs enjoyed dinner at the private members-only club Zero Bond; pictured during the Haute Living Collectors Dinner with the Macallan last year

Having a good time! 'The guys flagged her down, and she and her group joined them,' a source told the outlet; Maluma pictured L last week in NYC, J Balvin R in Paris over the summer

Night out: The duo sat together silently as music played in the background before they broke out into laughter

New York state of mind! The insider added that the group was in 'good spirits', and that 'Britney was all smiles and so happy to be back in New York for the first time in a while'

Open book: Britney is set to release her memoir, The Woman In Me, in just a few weeks

She will not have to be physically present in court that day, but will need her attorney to 'bring proof' that her driver's license is valid and that she has insurance.

Last year, the Grammy winner was caught driving at an 'unsafe speed for prevailing conditions' and ticketed for the offence on March 10, 2022.

The citation came months after Spears was advised by doctors to be careful behind the wheel as she re-entered the world from a conservatorship which prevented her from driving for 13 years.

At the time a source told People: 'Britney is very happy the conservatorship is now allowing her to drive.'

'She is ecstatic and beyond grateful for all the help she is receiving right now,' the insider added.
Teresa Giudice and her daughters Gia, 22, Milania, 17, and Audriana, 14, defended themselves against the backlash over their partnership with controversial fast fashion company Shein.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 51, and three of her four girls announced the SHEINXGiudiceGirls collection on Tuesday and were quickly met with criticism, as Shein has been accused of unethical practices, according to TMZ.

A representative told the outlet on Thursday that the family did their 'due diligence' before signing the deal with Shein.

'The SHEINxGiudiceGirls collection follows a long list of celebrities and public figures to partner with the brand,' the rep explained. 'We acknowledge the concerns expressed about our partnership and met with the SHEIN team prior to working together.

'We 100% believe in ethical practices in all capacities and in doing our due diligence have not seen any substantive evidence definitively showing unethical practices.'

Controversy: Teresa Giudice and her daughters Gia, 22, Milania, 17, and Audriana, 14, defended themselves following the backlash over their partnership with controversial company Shein

Backlash: The star, 51, announced the SHEINXGiudiceGirls collection on Tuesday and were quickly met with criticism, as Shein has been accused of unethical practices

The campaign for the new line features Gia, Milania, and Audriana modeling their articles of clothing curated for their fan base of young adults.

The Giudice rep added: 'This size-inclusive collection was made to amplify the voices and creativity of young women and to encourage entrepreneurship at any age. The responses thus far have been overwhelmingly positive and uplifting.'

Teresa's daughter Gabriella, 19, is not participating in the clothing endeavor.

The reality star shares all four girls with her ex Joe Giudice.

Shein has been accused of 'exploiting factory workers overseas', maintaining 'awful working conditions' and even stealing designs, according to TMZ.

When the Giudices posted about their new Shein partnership on Instagram this week, their followers swarmed the comments with criticism.

'Ugh Shein has a horrible horrible history of labor abuses. Terrible,' one disapproving fan wrote.

Another shared, 'Cheap, tacky clothes, made off the slave labor industry. Seems EXACTLY like the type of business youd associate with'.

Due diligence: A representative told the outlet on Thursday that the family has kept their hands clean and did 'due diligence' before signing the deal with Shein

Keeping it real: 'We 100% believe in ethical practices in all capacities and in doing our due diligence have not seen any substantive evidence definitively showing unethical practices'

Family affair: Teresa's daughter Gabriella, 19, is not participating in the clothing endeavor

Teresa and her daughters found support from others online, however, as one fan remarked: 'Love love love this!!! Getting everything from this collection! Love the giudice girls and Tre! New generations Italian version of the kardashians! Go girls!'

On the day of the announcement, Teresa had shared a stunning carousal of glamour shots of the family in all their Shein gear.

'We worked so hard to make this special for you all, and we hope you LOVE LOVE LOVE it as much as we do! Thank you so much for supporting the Giudice Girls!'
Seth Rogen's wife Lauren Miller has revealed she had a brain aneurysm removed last year.

The actress, 42, who has been wed to Knocked Up star Rogen, 41, since 2011, detailed how the aneurysm was discovered after she decided to undergo a full-body MRI scan in 2018 following her grandmother, grandfather and mother's battles with dementia.

Speaking at the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery Visionary Ball in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Miller spoke of the 'terrifying' moment she found out about the aneurysm - which is a bulge or ballooning blood vessel that can cause life threatening bleeding in the brain if it leaks.

She said, per People: 'They found, of course, this sort of aneurysm in my head. So of course, this was terrifying information, and made me think of my great-grandmother, whose fate I certainly didn't want to mimic.

'Fortunately, it was relatively small, and I did what the doctors recommended that I do, which is have annual MRIs [to] track the size. It remained small, until it didn't.'

Health battle: Seth Rogen's wife Lauren Miller has revealed she had a brain aneurysm removed last year (pictured at the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery Visionary Ball in Beverly Hills on Wednesday)

Miller said doctors noticed the aneurysm began to grow in the spring of 2022 - with the star consulting with UCLA neurosurgeon Dr. Dr. Geoffrey Colby - before deciding to proceed with surgery to remove the aneurysm.

She said: 'I'm truly endlessly grateful to Dr. Colby, his entire team, and the entire staff at UCLA who guided us through this scary experience that I'm truly grateful to have overcome. I'm truly thankful that I won't be dying at this dinner table or any others anytime soon.'

Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm include; sudden, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, blurred or double vision, sensitivity to light, seizure, drooping eyelid, confusion and a loss of consciousness

An unruptured aneurysm may not have any symptoms and could not require treatment. The causes of brain aneurysms are often unclear.

Risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, heavy drinking and old age.

Treatment may include surgery or medication to restore blood flow and relieve pain.

Miller and Rogen formed the nonprofit Hilarity for Charity in 2012 to raise money for dementia care, research, and education.

Her mother Adele was diagnosed with genetic early-onset Alzheimer's disease at age 55. She died aged 68.

The actress, 42, who has been wed to Knocked Up star Rogen, 41, since 2011, detailed how the aneurysm was discovered after she decided to undergo a full-body MRI scan in 2018 following her grandmother, grandfather and mother's battles with dementia

Tough time: Miller said doctors noticed the aneurysm began to grow in the spring of 2022 - with the star consulting with UCLA neurosurgeon Dr. Dr. Geoffrey Colby - before deciding to proceed with surgery to remove the aneurysm (pictured 2020)

WHAT IS A BRAIN ANEURYSM? A brain aneurysm is a bulge or ballooning blood vessel. This can leak, causing bleeding in the brain, which can be life threatening. Symptoms of a ruptured aneurysm include: Sudden, severe headache

Nausea and vomiting

Stiff neck

Blurred or double vision

Sensitivity to light

Seizure

Drooping eyelid

Confusion

Loss of consciousness An unruptured aneurysm may not have any symptoms and could not require treatment. The causes of brain aneurysms are often unclear. Risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, heavy drinking and old age. Treatment may include surgery or medication to restore blood flow and relieve pain. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement

Her grandfather and grandmother both died from Alzheimers.

Seth and Lauren began dating in 2004 after meeting on the show Da Ali G Show; he appeared on six episodes of the show.

The couple got engaged on September 29, 2010 and tied the knot on October 2, 2011 in Sonoma County, California.
Kim Kardashian joked that her kids could care less when she is traveling and they are home.

The businesswoman, 42, called her two eldest kids separately - first son Saint, seven, during the latest episode of The Kardashians on Hulu - while she was in Milan, Italy.

The star, who turns 43 on October 21, chatted with her kids briefly before they both hung up on her.

'I mean, my kids could care less that I'm gone. They are having the time of their life and have completely taken over my house like they run it.'

The latest: Kim Kardashian joked that her kids could care less when she is traveling and they are home. The star, who turns 43 on October 21, chatted with her kids briefly before they both hung up on her during the latest episode of The Kardashians

Doting mom: The businesswoman, 42, called her two eldest kids separately - first son Saint, seven, during the latest episode of The Kardashians on Hulu - while she was in Milan, Italy; seen Facetiming Saint

The stunner said to her son via Facetime: 'Hi, did you have fun with Tristan?' to which Saint said: 'Yeah. I love you.'

Kim replied: 'I love you. What'd you guys do?'

'We went to the Nike store and got this,' Saint said, showing what they got.

'You went to the - he took you to the Nike store?' Kim asked him, looking surprised.

'Okay bye, I love you,' he says before Kim quickly tells him: 'He didn't tell me he was taking you shopping.'

Chatting: The stunner said to her son via Facetime: 'Hi, did you have fun with Tristan?' to which Saint said: 'Yeah. I love you'

Catching up: In the same episode, Kim calls her eldest child - daughter North, 10

North: 'Hey, how's the hot chocolate stand?' Kim asked her on the Facetime call

Call: North shows her mom she is burning sage

Energy: 'Get out of my house!' North says aloud as she waves around the burning sage

In the same episode, Kim calls her eldest child - daughter North, 10.

'Hey, how's the hot chocolate stand?' Kim asked her on the Facetime call.

North shows her mom she is burning sage.

'Oh, you're burning sage in the house,' Kim said to her.

'We both made like $300,' North told her.

'Wait, who's with you. You can't have a fire on,' Kim said.

'Get out of my house!' North says aloud as she waves around the burning sage.

North says 'Okay, bye!' to her mom.

Kim says to her 'Don't make a mess!' as North says 'Bye, I love you!'

She says afterwards: 'All my kids hang up on me.'

Striking: Kim was in Milan during the call; seen getting ready in her hotel room while in Italy

Kim shares four kids with ex-husband 46-year-old rapper Kanye West: North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four.

Kim filed for divorce in February 2021 just before what would have been the pair's seventh wedding anniversary.

Kardashian, who was represented by divorce attorney Laura Wasser, was declared legally single March 2022 while in the midst of a hot and heavy romance with now-ex boyfriend SNL alum Pete Davidson.

In November 2022, Kim and Kanye's divorce was finalized, with Kanye agreeing to pay $200,000 a month in child support and equal custody.

Kanye married Yeezy architect Bianca Censori, 28, in January 2023 in what was thought a non-legal wedding as it appeared they did not file a marriage certificate.

However in mid-October 2023, it was reported that they did in fact get legally married and that it took place last year due to 'religious reasons,' per Us Weekly.

Family is everything: Kim shares four kids with ex-husband 46-year-old rapper Kanye West: North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four

The outlet's source revealed their legal marriage license date was December 20, 2022 - one month after his divorce to Kim was made finalized.

The time of the romance is also unclear, but Bianca has been employed by Kanye's Yeezy brand since joining the company in November 2020.

She is listed as Head of Architecture and secured the position after reportedly obtaining a Master's in Building Design at Melbourne University in Australia.
Netflix have left viewers pleasantly surprised with its latest horror series The Fall Of The House Of Usher.

Viewers have given the upmost praise to the horror sitcom which soared to trending on the first day it was released, 12 October.

Horror fanatics have even branded the series the best since The Haunting of Hill House, a classic horror.

The Fall Of The House Of Usher follows the story of Siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built a pharmaceutical company into an empire of wealth, privilege and power.

However, secrets start to come light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying, leading to a fight for survival.

Praised: Netflix have left viewers pleasantly surprised with its latest horror series The Fall Of The House Of Usher

'New favourite': Viewers have given the upmost praise to the horror sitcom which soared to trending on its first date, 12 October

Less than a day out on screens, it has already achieved an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 93 percent, which matches The Haunting Of Hill House.

Fans have also thought that the sitcom has been the first series in a long time that they've been this hooked with.

Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: 'Loving the fall of the house of usher already'.

'Watching The Fall of the House of Usher as soon as I get home.'

'Almost done with episode 3 of the fall of the house of usher and this s*** is insane im literally obsessed'.

'The old bex cant come to the phone right now. why? because the fall of house of usher dropped on Netflix'.

'First two episodes of the Fall of the House of Usher are right up there with Hill House and Bly.'

'Im only one episode in and its great so far.'

Trending: Fans have also thought that the sitcom has been the first series in a long time that they've been this hooked with

Wow: Less than a day out on screens, it has already achieved an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 93 percent, which matches The Haunting Of Hill House

Horror: The Fall Of The House Of Usher follows the story of Siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built a pharmaceutical company into an empire of wealth, privilege and power

Gruesome: However, secrets start to come light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying, leading to a fight for survival

Netflix's synopsis of the eight episode horror series penned: 'To secure their fortune - and future - two ruthless siblings build a family dynasty that begins to crumble when their heirs mysteriously die, one by one.'

The Fall of the House of Usher, based on the book of the same name by renowned Gothic fiction writer Edgar Allen Poe, is created by Mike Flanagan.

It stars the likes of The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor actors Carla Gugino and Kate Siegel, Thirteen Days star Bruce Greenwood and Friday Night Light's Zach Gilford.
Shannon Beador's alcohol consumption was addressed on last night's reunion episode of The Real Housewives Of Orange County - which was filmed 10 days before her DUI arrest.

Viewers were notified of when the show was filmed in relation to her arrest with a message appearing on screen. 'The Real Housewives Of Orange County Reunion was filmed 10 days prior to Shannon Storms Beador's DUI arrest,' the statement read.

Beador, 54, drunkenly crashed her car into a home and was arrested for DUI and hit-and-run on September 17.

Her drinking was brought up by Heather Dubrow, 54, who claimed Beador, 59, had a tendency to drink and call her castmates.

'Please don't get angry with me, but you tend to drink and call some of us,' Dubrow said.

Topic of discussion: Shannon Beador's alcohol consumption was addressed on last night's reunion episode of The Real Housewives Of Orange County - which was filmed 10 days before her DUI arrest

Disclosure: Viewers were notified of when the show was filmed in relation to her arrest

'That's a f**ked up thing to say,' Beador fired back.

'It's not!' Dubrow exclaimed. 'You're the town crier!' she insisted.

'Do I go out and drink sometimes? For you to say I need rehab, for you to say like, paint a picture, so that I'm calling people every single night,' she said.

'I didn't say every single night,' Dubrow clarified.

She then turned to her co-star Emily Simpson, who once jokingly suggested Beador put a breathalyzer on her phone. 'For you to say I need to breathalyze,' Beador said.

But Emily didn't back down: 'You should! I think it's a good invention! You need to put it on the phone!' she insisted.

'You say its my truth serum,' Beador continued firing off to Dubrow.

'You don't wanna look at that? You don't want to look at that at all though, Shannon? You don't want to look at it at all,' Gina Kirschenheiter said.

Raising the issue: Beador's drinking was brought up by Heather Dubrow, who remarked that Beador had a tendency to drink and call her castmates

Showdown: Dubrow and Gina Kirschenheiter were among those commenting about Beador's drinking

'You don't know anything about my personal, in-depth life,' Beador fired back before declaring her dislike for Gina. 'Let me re-iterate Gina, I don't like you!' Beador said.

'She doesn't like the truth so, she don't like me,' Gina said.

Gina had also previously spoken about Beador's drinking, saying in a confessional on the August 30th episode: 'Shannon says s**t, and then she wants to pretend that she didnt do it, and if you can say things that are that f***king hurtful and not even remember you said it, you need to go f***king check yourself into rehab.'

Beador is in the early steps of moving forward amid the fallout of her DUI crash in Newport Beach last month, in which she drunkenly crashed her car into a home and was arrested for DUI alcohol and hit-and-run.

Beador has been enrolled in an 'outpatient behavioral wellness program with an alcohol component,' insiders close to Beador told TMZ on Monday.

Beador - who was arrested in the early morning hours of September 17 - will continue performing with her RHOC colleagues Tamra Judge, 56, and Vicki Gunvalson, 61, in their Tres Amigas comedy shows, which involve alcohol.

Beador will refrain from 'drinking onstage' at the shows, which include a a pre-show cocktail party, according to the insider.

The next Tres Amigas show is scheduled for November 16 at the Phoenix comedy venue Stand Up Live! Phoenix, where attendees are required to purchase a minimum of two drinks inside of the venue's showroom.

'You need to put it on the phone!' Emily Simpson was unwavering about a past comment she made about Shannon needing to put a breathalyzer on her phone

Beador last month said she will pay for the damage she caused in the incident, which occurred after she was seen at a Newport Beach, California establishment called A Restaurant.

Beador's attorney Michael Fell has touched base with the owner of the Newport Beach property the reality star damaged while drinking and driving, insiders told TMZ last month.

Beador is looking to 'help make things right' in compensating the property owner for the damage caused, the source said, and has said she will pay for any necessary repairs stemming from the incident.

Beador at the time was also looking at different options to receive treatment, but had not yet committed to a course of action, the source told the outlet.

While the situation remains 'very fresh to her,' the source told the outlet, Beador is focused on receiving professional help in the wake of the dangerous incident.

According to TMZ, Beador's vehicle was seized by authorities, and she was was subsequently released without bond.

The Newport Beach Police Department told People that Beador had been 'arrested at 1:17 a.m. on Sept. 17 after fleeing the scene from a collision that caused property damage.'

Face off: Shannon also quarreled with Gina, who insisted Beador was unwilling to actually face her own problems

Concerning: Beador is in the early steps of moving forward amid the fallout of her DUI crash in Newport Beach last month, in which she drunkenly crashed her car into a home and was arrested for DUI alcohol and hit-and-run

She was 'booked for two misdemeanors - hit-and-run and DUI alcohol;' and 'released on a citation.'

Fell told DailyMail.com last month: 'Shannon is extremely apologetic and remorseful.

'We will be awaiting the official information on this case as it becomes available, and Shannon is prepared to accept full responsibility for her actions.'

Beador on September 19 was seen visiting with her ex-boyfriend John Janssen, who told DailyMail.com September 20, 'We are friends, I care about her.'

Bravo personality Jeff Lewis, who is a friend of Beador's, said that Beador 'was injured' and is 'going to be recovering' in the aftermath of the incident.

'Shannon and I have been friends for a very long time,' Lewis said on his SiriusXM show last month. 'I was shocked - she called me yesterday and we talked for awhile - and I was shocked because I've never known Shannon to ever, ever drink and drive.

'I will tell you she's accepting full accountability. She is ashamed, she's embarrassed. I personally, as her friend - cause people are like, "Oh she needs rehab," "Oh she's an alcoholic" - I don't think Shannon is an alcoholic.'

He added: 'I think she's been going thorough a lot of personal struggles right now, and I think she has been leaning on alcohol - but I don't think she's an alcoholic.'

Lewis said that Beador is 'going to be entering counseling' following the accident and arrest.
Love Island's Jess Harding has jetted off to Dubai for a boozy girls' trip just a week after her shock split from Sammy Root.

The stunner, 22, appeared to put her personal problems behind her as she flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a slew of skimpy bikinis with a huge smile on her face.

The former couple won the latest series of the ITV2 dating show but decided to go their separate ways after their 'relationship changed since leaving the villa'.

Jess posed up a storm in the steamy Instagram snaps as she slipped into a strapless black two piece which barely contained her ample assets.

She later stunned in a white look which accentuated her golden tan and showed off a serious amount of under boob.

Stunner: Love Island's Jess Harding has jetted off to Dubai for a sun-soaked girls' trip just a week after her shock split from Sammy Root

Fun in the sun: The stunner appeared to put her personal problems behind her as she flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a slew of skimpy bikinis with a huge smile on her face

Jess was then joined by fellow Love Island finalist Samie Elishie, 22, as they enjoyed cocktails at a wild pool party, before nursing a hangover the morning after.

Jess, who recently enjoyed a trip to Ibiza, captioned her post: 'Im back on holiday x'.

It comes after Jess and Sammy arrived separately to the Pride of Britain Awards 2023 at Grosvenor House in London on Sunday.

The pair split just two months after scooping the 50,000 Love Island prize.

A source close to the pair told MailOnline that they have mutually decided they're 'better off as friends' after struggling to make their romance work outside of the show.

In July, Jess and Sammy beat favourites Whitney Adebayo and Lochan Nowacki to the title, which came as a shock to many of the voting public.

A source confirmed this week: 'Jess and Sammy have called it quits.

'Things have changed since leaving the villa and Jess has realised they're better off as friends.'

Busty: Jess posed up a storm in the steamy Instagram snaps in swimwear which barely contained her ample assets.

Party girls! Jess was then joined by fellow Love Island finalist Samie Elishie, 22, as they enjoyed cocktails at a wild pool party

The morning after: Jess looked a little fragile the next day and said she had 'retired' from partying

Not a match: Love Island 2023 winners Jess and Sammy split just two months after scooping the 50,000 prize (pictured in the Love Island villa in July)

The couple have made red carpet appearances together in recent weeks at the Who Cares Wins Awards as well as the NTAs, but insiders say they were struggling to get on behind the scenes.

Throughout their time on the summer series of Love Island, presented by Maya Jama, Jess and Sammy faced difficulties in their relationship.

In one episode during the Casa Amor loyalty test, Sammy kissed two girls including Amber Wise, who he eventually coupled up with until Jess returned to the villa, and he realised his feelings towards her.

Viewers questioned Sammy's intentions with Jess after he admitted that she wasn't his type while the aesthetics practitioner said on occasion, she felt like men took 'advantage' of her kind nature.

Despite the odds, they won Love Island, beating show favourite Whitney and her boyfriend Lochan to the cash prize.
John Carpenter has revealed the patriarchal plot for blockbuster Barbie went 'right over his head' in a candid new interview.

The legendary director, 75, known for genre-defining classics including Halloween and The Thing, told the LA Times he 'can't believe' he watched the film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

Although fans couldn't get enough of the record-breaking film, there has been a wave of criticism - particularly from conservative figures - over what some describe as the film's 'anti-man' agenda.

Carpenter said: 'I dont go out. I havent been to a movie in a while, but I see them at my house. Ill see it there. I watched Barbie. I cant believe I watched Barbie. Its just not my generation. I had nothing to do with Barbie dolls.

'I didnt know who Allan was. I mean, I can sum it up. She says, I dont have a vagina, and then at the end, Im going to go to a gynecologist! Thats the movie to me. I mean, theres a patriarchy business in there, but I missed that whole thing. Right over my head. But I think shes fabulous, Margot Robbie.'

Didn't get it: John Carpenter has revealed the patriarchal plot for blockbuster Barbie went 'right over his head' in a candid new interview

Film: Although fans couldn't get enough of the record-breaking film, there has been a wave of criticism - particularly from conservative figures - over what some describe as the film's 'anti-man' agenda (pictured Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the film)

Back in July, billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk, who is known for being outspoken and often aligns himself with conservative viewpoints, hinted he wasn't a fan of the message of the film, which was created by director Greta Gerwig.

'It [sic] you take a shot every time Barbie says the word "patriarchy", you will pass out before the movie ends,' Musk said on Twitter in response to a meme.

Conservative commentator Lauren Chen has shared a barrage of content, slamming what she called the film's 'insidious man-hating message'.

The BlazeTV host also accused studios of hiding how 'INSUFFERABLY WOKE' the film would be in its promotional material.

The wife of Florida Representative Matt Gaetz also called for a boycott of the movie over its disappointing 'feminine empowerment' and a 'lack of faith and family'.

Ginger Gaetz attended a launch party at the British embassy in Washington DC on Monday, walking the pink carpet and sipping on pink cocktails.

Her husband Mr Gaetz, 41, even got into the spirit of Barbie, choosing to wear a pink sport coat.

But, despite being a self-professed Barbie fan, after watching the film she said she was disappointed by the values it promoted.

Plot confusion: Carpenter said: 'I mean, theres a patriarchy business in there, but I missed that whole thing. Right over my head'

Nightmare fuel: Elsewhere in the interview, Carpenter also weighed in on the critically panned Exorcist reboot, The Exorcist: Believer, directed by his friend and Halloween reboot director David Gordon Green

She also slammed actor Ryan Gosling's 'beta energy', despite the actor being widely-lauded for his performance.

She tweeted: 'Thinking about watching the Barbie movie? I'd recommend sticking to getting outfit inspiration and skipping the theater.

'Here's why: The Barbie I grew up with was a representation of limitless possibilities, embracing diverse careers and feminine empowerment.

'The 2023 Barbie movie, unfortunately, neglects to address any notion of faith or family, and tries to normalize the idea that men and women can't collaborate positively (yuck).'

Horror master: Carpenter birthed the iconic Halloween franchise (Jamie Lee Curtis seen as Laurie Strode in 1978's Halloween)

Elsewhere in the interview, Carpenter also weighed in on the critically panned Exorcist reboot, The Exorcist: Believer, directed by his friend and Halloween reboot director David Gordon Green.

He said:' I heard The Exorcist really didnt cut it. That could be a kickass movie. I dont understand how you can screw that up.'

Carpenter has returned to his director's chair with his new show, John Carpenters Suburban Screams - which fittingly hits Peacock on Friday, Oct. 13.
Jeremy Allen White treated his two young daughters to a fun beach day in Los Angeles on Thursday - after agreeing to alcohol testing in his custody arrangement with his estranged wife Addison Timlin.

The Bear star, 32, showered Ezer, 4, and Dolores, 2, with affection while they frolicked on the shores of the tiny town of Malibu.

Dressed in a simple white tank top and khaki pants, the Hollywood heartthrob hugged and kissed his daughters during the balmy day out.

In one heartwarming moment, Jeremy held onto Dolores tightly while Ezer danced around them in the sand.

The excursion comes a day after the actor agreed to several stipulations in his custody battle with his ex Timlin.

Doting dad: Jeremy Allen White treated his two young daughters to a fun beach day in Los Angeles on Thursday - after agreeing to alcohol testing in his custody arrangement with his estranged wife Addison Timlin

Family affair: The Bear star, 32, showered Ezer, 4, and Dolores, 2, with affection while they frolicked on the shores of the tony town of Malibu

Playtime: Dressed in a simple white tank top and khaki pants, the Hollywood heartthrob spent quality time with his loved ones

He signed off on daily alcohol testing in order to spend time his daughters, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

Per the terms, Jeremy will be tested when Ezer and Dolores are under his care, and should alcohol be detected in the actor's system, a retest will occur 15 minutes later.

If the retest is positive, the actor's custodial rights to the children will be revoked until further actions are decided upon.

The custody arrangement also includes Jeremy agreeing to no less than 'two alcoholics anonymous ("AA") meetings each week,' along with other therapy, per the court documents.

As reported, the superstar couple split in May after over three years of marriage.

Shortly after the breakup news broke, Addison took to her Instagram to share a message about raising the kids as a single mom.

'Being a single mom is not how I pictured it,' she captioned a series of snaps with Ezer and Dolores.

'It is so f***ing hard. It is all out covered in s*** crying on the floor kicking you in the shins screaming with no sound coming out hard. It's not the natural order of things.'

Split: Jeremy and Addison Timlin split in May after over three years of marriage.

Hugs: In one heartwarming moment, Jeremy held onto Dolores tightly while Ezer danced around them in the sand

Divorce proceedings: The excursion comes a day after the actor agreed to several stipulations in his custody battle with his estranged wife Addison Timlin

Alcohol testing: He signed off on daily alcohol testing in order to spend time his daughters, according to court documents

Legal terms: Per the terms, Jeremy will be tested when Ezer and Dolores are under his care, and should alcohol be detected in the actor's system, a retest will occur 15 minutes later

She added that single parenting can be 'exhausting' and 'lonely"' especially when 'something magical happens and you have to tell yourself 'don't forget this' because there's no witness by your side.

'It's so painful. Doing it alone has given me more strength and more empathy and more tears than anything else in my life ever has.'

Despite the hardships of single parenting, the former couple have put on a solid effort in co-parenting, as they've been spotted out and about with the kids recently.

But the reunions do not appear to be a hint at a reconciliation.

The Hulu hunk has reportedly been dating model Ashley Moore  even spotted engaging her in a passionate kiss following a dinner date.

Stipulation: The custody arrangement also includes Jeremy agreeing to no less than 'two alcoholics anonymous ("AA") meetings each week,' along with other therapy, per the court documents

Single parenting: Despite the hardships of single parenting, the former couple have put on a solid effort in co-parenting, as they've been spotted out and about with the kids recently

Single mom mayhem: Shortly after the breakup news broke, Addison took to her Instagram to share a message about raising the kids as a single mom

However, Addison has yet to be linked to anyone new  publicly, at least.

Prior to the split, Jeremy gushed about Addison while accepting a Golden Globe for his role in The Bear.

'Addison Timlin, I love you deep in my bones, thank you for all that you do, thank you for everything that you've done,' he said.

In an interview with InStyle around the same time, he waxed on about the love for his daughters as well.

'I learn a lot from them. I feel like in a lot of ways, theyre teaching me all the time how to be better: how to be better to them; how to be better to my wife, my friends, my parents, and my sister.

'I think Ive been ready to domesticate for a long time, and Im so happy to be in the house all the time with them.'
Cameron Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden, were spotted out in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The 51-year-old actress and her musician husband, 44, appeared to have enjoyed a double date with Rob Lowe, 59, and his wife, Sheryl Berkoff, 62, at Steak 48 in Beverly Hills.

For their dinner plans, the Charlie's Angels vet  who recently posed for a rare photo with her sister-in-law, Nicole Richie, as well as Sofia Richie  put on an elegant display in an all-black ensemble.

As she exited the restaurant, she was seen in a turtleneck top teamed with a midi skirt and sharp blazer.

The Mask star also sported a pair of patent leather loafers and was spotted toting around a large, tan leather handbag.

Double date: Cameron Diaz and her husband, Benji Madden, were spotted out in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The 51-year-old actress and her musician husband, 44, appeared to have enjoyed a double date with Rob Lowe, 59, and his wife, Sheryl Berkoff, 62, at Steak 48 in Beverly Hills

She left her blonde, collarbone-length hair down in a straight hairstyle that was parted heavily to the side.

She was also seen wearing a pair of classic, black-frame glasses as well as various delicate, gold jewelry pieces.

At her side, the Good Charlotte lead guitarist  with whom she has been married for nearly a decade  donned a matching black outfit.

He cut a casual figure in a denim jacket, T-shirt and comfortable baggy pants.

He was also seen wearing a Chrome Hearts trucker cap as well as black and white sneakers.

After having dinner together, Diaz and Madden were seen saying goodbye to Lowe while Berkoff was not seen joining them outside the restaurant.

The trio were spotted sharing a laugh as they waited for valet to drive their cars up.

Diaz was also seen giving her former co-star a quick hug before heading off with Madden.

Catching up over dinner: For their dinner plans, the Charlie's Angels vet put on an elegant display in an all-black ensemble. As she exited the restaurant, she was seen in a turtleneck top teamed with a midi skirt and sharp blazer

Saying their goodbyes: After having dinner together, Diaz and Madden were seen saying goodbye to Lowe while Berkoff was not seen joining them outside the restaurant. The trio were spotted sharing a laugh as they waited for valet to drive their cars up

Sharing a hug: Diaz was also seen giving her former co-star a quick hug before heading off with Madden. Previously, Diaz worked with Lowe on the 2014 comedy Sex Tape  which was one of the last films she made before taking a hiatus from Hollywood

Lowe put on a dapper display in a black button-down top teamed with a gray suit and black Chelsea boots.

The pals  who all reportedly live close to each other in Montecito  were also spotted enjoying a double date at the famed Tre Lune Italian restaurant earlier this month.

Previously, Diaz worked with Lowe on the 2014 comedy Sex Tape  which was one of the last films she made before taking a hiatus from Hollywood.

Soon, she will be making her return to the silver screen with upcoming Netflix action comedy Back in Action  in which she will star opposite Jamie Foxx and Kyle Chandler.
EastEnders viewers have been left fuming, claiming show bosses have 'ruined' Karen Taylor after news the character was to be axed after six years.

On Thursday fans were unimpressed by the laundrette employee's sudden cold hearted behaviour, after originally being introduced to the soap as comic relief.

During the episode Karen (Lorraine Stanley) encouraged son Keanu (Danny Walters) to fleece former flame Sharon (Leticia Dean) of all her money as the couple battle over custody of son Albert.

Following his mother's advice the hunky mechanic decided to fake feelings for his ex- girlfriend in a bid to leave the country with their little boy.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer said: 'The way they're writing Karen before she leaves makes me feel really sorry for Lorraine Stanley, she's truly superb'.

Unhappy! EastEnders viewers have been left fuming, claiming show bosses have 'ruined' Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley, pictured) after news the character was to be axed after six years

Who is she? On Thursday fans were unimpressed by the laundrette employee's sudden cold hearted behaviour, after originally being introduced to the soap as comic relief

While a second wrote: 'They have ruined Karen'.

A third penned: "The Taylors got off to such a good start in #EastEnders and had such high potential but over the years its the one thing I will fault EE on, I feel like theyve just made them more and more unlikeable one by one  Karen, Bernie and Keanu are all so annoying now'.

With some else adding: 'Ugh sick of Karen and Keanu'.

And: Karen and Keanu are making my head spin, enough'.

A sixth commented: 'This Karen death and Keanu storyline is boring. No one cares'.

Last week actress Lorraine broke her silence after being forced to leave Albert Square.

Speaking to The Sun, she revealed she is gutted to be leaving the EastEnders family but was excited to see what opportunities come next.

And the actress might be bagging a part on a rival soap, as she revealed: 'I think it would have to be Corrie and I would have to be the new landlady.

Drama: During the episode Karen encouraged son Keanu (Danny Walters, pictured) to fleece former flame Sharon (Leticia Dean) of all her money as the couple battle over custody of son Albert

Joker: Karen was originally the show's comic relief (pictured in 2017)

Furious: Unhappy fans took to social media to make their feelings known

'I'd be Gemma's [Winter] auntie, Bernie's sister. I'd be in there family and I'd take over The Rovers.'

Opening up about the shock moment she found out she was being axed she explained that while she was sad to be leaving it gives her the opportunity to push herself outside of her comfort zone.

Talking about the legacy of her character she said: 'I just want people to remember her as the best mum on the square, a heart of gold, she's give you her last fiver and would do anything for her kids - a bit like myself.'

The actress will exit the soap at the end of the year, and Lorraine confessed she would be furious if her character was killed off.

'I hope the door will be left open for Karen. I can't say too much but if they kill me then I would never watch EastEnders again.'

Looking to the future: Last week actress Lorraine Stanley broke her silence after being forced to leave Albert Square

Eye on the Rovers: Lorraine revealed she has her eyes on becoming the next landlady of The Rovers Return after landlady Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews, pictured) was forced to close the famous pub down in recent scenes

Since joining the soap in 2017, Lorraine has played the single mum laundrette worker who arrived in Walford with her brood Keanu (Danny Walters), Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), Bernadette (Clair Norris), Riley and Chatham  played by real life brothers Tom and Alfie Jacobs.

Lorraine will not be the only character exiting the soap in the coming months after the soap made history back in February with their epic end to a normal Monday episode as they teased a flash forward of a Christmas murder.

In the shocking scenes, Denise (Diane Parish), Kathy (Gillian Taylforth), Linda (Kellie Bright), Sharon (Letitia Dean), Stacey (Lacey Turner) and Suki (Balvinder Sopal) were seen surrounding a dead body, but the identity of the corpse and the killer were kept secret.

Discussing the who-dunnit story line she revealed that her character would like to to see Phil Mitchell meet his ends at Christmas, but confirmed that the legendary character isn't going anywhere.

She then teased who the potential victims could be as she suggested Theo, Nish or Ravi.
You have to hand it to Julia Fox: she sure knows how to shock her fans over and over again.

And Thursday was no different as she was seen arriving at The Sherri Show in New York City in what looked like a naughty spin on a Little Bo Peep number.

The 33-year-old actress wore her white underwear over her baggy slacks.

If that was not enough for a double take, Fox also had on a very skimpy bra top with billowing sleeves that showed off her tummy and shoulders. In a design marvel, her back was bare.

And that was not all. The Uncut Gems cast member, who recently opened up about missing out on a million-dollar deal with a denim company, also had on pair of 10-inch dominatrix-style platform heels with straps over the top.

She accessorized with a heart-shaped purse.

There she is: You have to hand it to Julia Fox : she sure knows how to shock her fans over and over again. And Thursday was no different as she was seen arriving at The Sherri Show in New York City. The 33-year-old actress wore her white underwear over her baggy slacks

The performer's gorgeous brunette hair fell onto her shoulders and contrasted perfectly with the light tone of her outfit.

Fox's outing took place just two days after the publication of her memoir, Down the Drain.

The model hinted that she had begun working on her book last March, although she did not officially confirm that it was in the works for a full year.

The actress's publication received much attention for its revelations about her short-lived relationship with Kanye West.

Fox and the rapper, who has been known as Ye ever since the latter portion of 2021, began seeing each other in January of last year.

The pair embarked on a high-profile relationship that lasted for just one month before they separated.

According to Insider, the actress was met with 'dozens of missed calls' from the rapper the morning after their first encounter.

She then alleged that the rapper's team later sent a 'completely fabricated' version of their first meeting to Interview Magazine, which greatly concerned her about the authenticity of their relationship.

Lady in white: The Uncut Gems cast member, who recently opened up about missing out on a million-dollar deal with a denim company, wore a bra top that exposed her toned midsection and was paired with half-ruffled sleeves

Double duty: And that was not all. The Uncut Gems cast member, who recently opened up about missing out on a million-dollar deal with a denim company, also had on pair of 10-inch dominatrix-style platform heels with straps over the top

Fancy footwear: The No Sudden Move actress accessorized with a heart-shaped purse that paired well with her clothing

Recollections: The actress's publication received much attention for its revelations about her short-lived relationship with Kanye West; they are seen in 2022

Fox also wrote that West, 46, offered to pay for her to get a 'boob job' after she tried on a shirt that could not be worn with a bra during a custom fitting, and added that his words stuck to her 'like a piece of lint on my clothes.'

The model then wrote that she felt 'powerless' as the hitmaker attempted to revamp her style over the course of their relationship.

She also alleged that she missed out on various professional opportunities following the end of her romance with the rapper.

West has not publicly responded to the claims made by his ex-girlfriend as of yet.
Ben Affleck was seen meeting up with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner at the same building in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The 51-year-old Oscar-winning Air actor was dressed casually in a navy blue sweater over a royal blue T-shirt with gray slacks and sneakers as he carried an iced coffee in a takeout cup.

His 11-year-old mini-me son Samuel was dressed for school as he pulled his rolly backpack while holding a red water bottle.

Later, Garner was seen in all black casual wear with wet hair as she guided her mother Patricia Ann Garner toward the same building.

Affleck and Jennifer wed in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2018. He is now married to his former fiancee Jennifer Lopez and Garner is dating businessman John Miller.

Together Ben and Garner have three kids: in addition to Samuel, there are teen daughters Violet, 17, Seraphina, 14.

Friendly exes: Ben Affleck was seen meeting up with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner at the same building in Los Angeles on Thursday

Ben and Jennifer have maintained a friendly relationship since their split.

And Ben's new wife Lopez has also seemed to become a hands-on stepmother as she has been seen with Ben and Jen's three kids.

Garner must like having Lopez to lean on when she needs to as it seems Garner feels bad about sometimes having to leave her children to focus on work.

Earlier this week the Alias vet said being a working mom makes her feel 'guilt' at times.

The Peppermint star, 51, admitted that it is easy to get 'freaked out' over trying to balance a career and raising a family, as she is an actress/director/producer.

'Working moms get such a bad we get all freaked out because we're told constantly "you have 18 summers,'" "you have this much time," "time is fleeting," and it makes you panic,' she revealed to Access Hollywood.

'So, if you come from a place of expansiveness instead of feeling just like "I can't be a mom because I'm also working, and I'm supposed to be guilty all the time", you better just lean into wherever you are any day exactly like right now just be here when your kids show up be there and we'll have a great time.'

Jennifer said her positive perspective came from her own mother, Patricia Ann Garner.

With papa: His 11-year-old mini-me son Samuel was dressed for school as he pulled his rolly backpack while holding a red water bottle

'My mom has always said to me "you're their mom forever, don't worry you can do your job. You're their mom forever.

'"I wish I had worked, I would have been a better mom. Your kids are going to be so proud of you,"' Jennifer explained.

'She's always given me that that kind of grounding in that sense,' she added.

With such stable footing, Jennifer has been able to be a co-parenting champ with her famous ex.

Jennifer and Ben met on the set of Daredevil in 2003 and later married in 2005. They welcomed their big brood before splitting in 2015.

Despite the divorce, Ben has also been doing his best as a working father, telling the Today show in 2019 that he tries 'very hard' to be a 'good dad' to Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

'Im lucky they got a great mom,' he added at the time.

Make it work: Ben and Jennifer have maintained a friendly relationship since their split. And Ben's new wife Lopez has also seemed to become a hands-on stepmother as she has been seen with Ben and Jen's three kids. Seen in 2020

Co-parenting: Garner must like having Lopez to lean on when she needs to as it seems Garner feels bad about sometimes having to leave her children to focus on work. Earlier this week the Alias vet said being a working mom makes her feel 'guilt' at times. She admitted that it is easy to get 'freaked out' over trying to balance a career and raising a family; seen in 2019

His new wife: Ben is now married to Jennifer Lopez; seen in May in LA

She has a busy life! JLo has two kids - twins Max and Emme, 15 - with ex Marc Anthony, and is promoting her new album This Is Me... Now. Seen here on October 3

'She helps out a great deal with making sure that we co-parent in as good a way as possible.'

As fans know, Ben would go on to rekindle his romance with Lopez, who is coping as a working mom as well, as she shares twins Emme and Max, 15, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.

Ben and JLo initially got together in the early 2000s and quickly became one of Hollywood's most talked-about couples.

However, their whirlwind romance faced intense media scrutiny, leading to their engagement in 2002 being called off.

In 2021, Bennifer 2.0 took shape and the couple wed months later.
The private Mayfair members' club Tramp was brimming with beautiful people. The music, their chatter and laughter were deafening. But as we made our way to our table across the tiny dancefloor that night, the entire room seemed to fall silent.

Every pair of eyes in the place turned to look at us. Not because among our number was a Rolling Stone. He was a regular, and part of the furniture there. It was our gorgeous blonde friend who took their breath away.

I was a presenter on a prime-time Channel 4 Saturday night music show at the time, and accustomed to socialising with DJs and rock stars. Many of them I still count as friends. Bill Wyman is no longer one of them.

I'd got to know Bill through John Entwistle, the bassist with The Who. He, his girlfriend Maxene Harlow and I were close chums. Also part of our group was Russ Kane, who went on to become a household name as Capital Radio's Flying Eye and the sidekick of Chris Tarrant on the station's Breakfast Show. Another pal worked as Bill's PA.

Bill Wyman and Mandy Smith at Sticky Fingers, Bill's new restaurant in Kensington, 9th May 1989

Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones with Mandy Smith at the opening of Vila Regina, 1986

It was 1984 and though the Stones had peaked creatively during the 1970s and early 1980s, they were still hugely popular. But the best they could manage that year was the compilation album Rewind. Worse, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had fallen out.

With time on his hands, Wyman was up for a party. He would gather his gang at London's celebrity haunts  Joe Allen, Langan's and Le Caprice  where we'd chat and drink the champagne he'd always insist on buying, despite our best efforts to pay our way. He never said much, but seemed to enjoy the banter of our lively bunch. He was 47  most of us were at least a quarter of a century his junior.

ALISON BOSHOFF: Bill Wyman is back on the new Rolling Stones album - despite teen sex shame Advertisement

In my 20s, I got on like a house on fire with the gorgeous young blonde. Over time, I grew very fond of her. Her name was Mandy Smith. Often accompanied by her older sister, Nicola, only 16 at the time but I presumed she was in her early 20s and, occasionally, by her mother, Patsy, then 37, she was the liveliest of us all.

It was Mandy who chose the restaurants we ate in, the clubs we went to. She was the life and soul. We all adored her.

It didn't occur to me at the time, but I have to ask now: was that glamorous, exuberant, mixed-age circle of friends fabricated by Bill for a reason?

Only years later could I admit to myself that it must have been. It now seems obvious to me that we were used to conceal his 'affair' with Mandy. To disguise, in other words, the relationship between a 48-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl.

The routine was always the same: a male friend of ours would drive to Mandy's home in North London to pick her up and bring her into town for our nights out. Russ  who has recently given me permission to name him in this context  would walk Mandy into venues, while Bill would walk me. This was all designed to suggest that Bill was not 'with' Mandy. But we all knew he was. At the end of the evening, we would jump in the limo or peel off in taxis to go home, leaving Bill and Mandy behind.

News that Wyman has reunited with the Rolling Stones after a 30-year absence brought it all back to me. When I heard that he had been welcomed back into the fold, I didn't sleep for days.

The release next week of the Stones' latest album, Hackney Diamonds, is a hugely significant music industry event. Wyman's bass guitar contribution, at the age of 86, on the track Live By The Sword  his first collaboration with his former bandmates since he quit the group in 1993  is being hailed as a brilliant return from exile.

Yet my skin crawls to hear him so feted. Why is the nation celebrating the return of rock's prodigal son when we should be ostracising him for his abuse of an under-age girl?

But that's not how it was, insist many of my music business friends. How was it then? What would they call it?

Back then, in 1984, I had no idea that Mandy was so young. We all thought she was about 19 or 20.

Lesley-Ann Jones pictured right of Wyman (centre) at The Prince Of Wales Theatre, London, May 29 1984

Left to right: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts

Ronnie Wood, Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards attend the launch event for The Rolling Stones' new album 'Hackney Diamonds'

I was with Bill the night he first met her. We went together as friends to the Daily Mirror Rock and Pop Awards at the Lyceum on the Strand in February 1984. We shared a table with Ultravox's Midge Ure and BBC Radio 1 presenter Andy Peebles.

Wyman was there to accept an award commemorating the life and career of his friend the great blues musician Alexis Korner, who had died the previous month.

But his eye was repeatedly drawn to two blondes on the dancefloor  Mandy and her sister Nicola. At that point, Mandy was just 13.

The argument that it's 'all too long ago' and that Mandy was her own worst enemy for being a 'wild child' doesn't wash. Multiple crimes against Mandy were committed. Her abuser should stand trial. Shouldn't he?

Perhaps rock stars are the last great untouchables. Then again, perhaps their moment has come.

For what happened to Mandy is not just a crime, but a deeply wicked one. To rob a child of her innocence is an act of extraordinarily cynical exploitation.

In my defence, it took time to compute what was happening. I knew, for example, that Mandy had moved out of her mother's council flat in North London and into Bill's apartment on the King's Road in Chelsea.

But I was unaware, because I did not know that she was still a schoolgirl, that he had removed her from her state school and enrolled her at a private establishment, only walking distance from his home.

We might never have known her real age had Bill not thrown a party at Thierry's, a restaurant just below his flat, for her birthday. The clan gathered for it, including Mandy's mum and sister. There was a single candle on her gigantic cake. Russ couldn't help himself: 'Go on, then, Mand,' he asked, 'how old are you today?'

'Fifteen,' she said.

By then, she and Wyman had been dating for two years. How did we react? With shock. We were dazed. And we were frightened.

Most of us feared we must have done something wrong, simply because we knew about it. We scarpered. The friendship group disintegrated. As Russ says now, 'you didn't see us for dust'.

We knew it was wrong, but we didn't do anything about it. We didn't dare. We never even discussed it, we simply went our separate ways. I know now that even if we had told someone, or reported Bill to the police, nothing would have come of it. They wouldn't have listened to us. Mandy certainly didn't. She seemed blissfully happy on the day of her wedding to Bill in 1989.

I have worried about her ever since. I think I always will.

British law is clear: if an individual over the age of 18 engages in sexual activity with a person under 16, he or she may be charged with a criminal offence which could result in a 14-year custodial sentence.

I knew what was going on. I didn't know how young Mandy was until that party  and the rest of the world did not find out for many years after that.

But, even when it was out there, nothing changed. Mandy never pressed charges. She did not go to the police. Nor did her mother Patsy or her estranged father.

Without a formal complaint, neither the police nor the Crown Prosecution Service did anything.

I have long believed it was because they couldn't. I now know that the police can advance an investigation if the victim declines to press charges. They do not need her consent.

Bill married Mandy when she was 18. No wedding ring could negate his crime. He insisted in his autobiography that she was 'a woman' when they met. Maybe to look at, but not emotionally or mentally, or in terms of her ability to say 'no', or understand what grooming was.

The minute he discovered her age, which must have been early on, he should have ended the relationship, controlled himself, got legal advice, and run a mile, if not moved to another country. None of which happened.

Mandy and Lesley-Ann pictured together in 1985

English rock band The Rolling Stones, UK, 4th May 1964. From left to right, they are Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts

Wyman dropped out of public view after the scandal in which he married girlfriend Ms Smith, who was 18, in 1989

In fact, in 2013, years after the marriage ended, Bill revealed to the media he had taken matters into his own hands and gone 'to the police and the public prosecutor, and said, 'Do you want to talk to me? Do you want to meet up with me, or anything like that?' and I got a message back: "No".'

In interviews since, he has described the whole thing as emotional and special, but also a 'midlife crisis'.

I was enraged when I read that. He got away with it. How? Because Mandy never went to the police.

'The older the abuser, the more serious the punishment is likely to be,' said a High Court judge I once asked about it. 'This is because age gaps in relationships can cause power imbalances, which may lead to abusive behaviour.'

People had defended him, I said, on the grounds that Mandy's mother gave her permission to have sex with Bill.

'Irrelevant,' he retorted. 'It is not up to your parents to decide if you can break the law. Regardless of whether they are happy for their child to become sexually active, it is still illegal for anyone to have any kind of sexual contact with a person under the age of 16.'

There is no limitation period in the UK for sexual offences. Does Bill lie there in bed at night awaiting the knock at the door?

Survivors of childhood abuse often suppress traumatic memories. They are sometimes unable to discuss what happened to them for years afterwards. They may not even realise until middle age or later that they've been subjected to grooming, emotional or sexual manipulation.

Only much later did I understand that Mandy displayed all the classic guilt of the abuse victim. She had been in love with him and not a 'little sex temptress', she said years later.

After her disastrous two-year marriage to Bill, she tied the knot with Belgian-born former Birmingham City and Spurs defender Pat Van Den Hauwe in 1993 when she was 23. They, too, separated after two years.

She was later engaged to a model called Ian Mosby with whom she had a son, Max but, by 2005, she was living in Manchester, and had found faith, working with abuse victims through the Roman Catholic church.

She is now 53. She stopped talking about Bill Wyman years ago. In 2010, in an interview with the Mail, Smith called for the age of consent in the United Kingdom to be raised from 16 to 18, saying 'People will find that odd coming from me. But I think I do know what I'm talking about here. You are still a child  even at 16. You can never get that part of your life, your childhood, back. I never could.'

Theirs was an immoral and illegal relationship. It was accepted, and blind eyes were turned. The perpetrator was an A-list rock star  arguably still is.

Millions of Stones fans around the world continue to insist that he did nothing wrong, because he has never been prosecuted.

As those fans, along with a gleeful music industry, hail the triumphant return of the Stones  and of Wyman  could it at last be time for him to face the music?

The Stone Age: The Explosive Truth About The Rolling Stones by Lesley-Ann Jones (John Blake/Bonnier Books) is out in paperback now.
Shannon Beador is still on the mend as she was seen sporting a cast on her arm once again on Thursday.

The Real Housewives Of Orange County star, 54, was seen out in luxe Newport Beach, California.

Shannon wore a black shirt, leggings, trainers, and had her sunglasses tucked into her blonde hair. She appeared make-up free and in good spirits.

It's not the first time Beador has been photographed with the cast around her arm - she was seen with the bandage on Tuesday as well.

Just under a month ago, Beador was arrested for DUI and hit-and-run after she drunkenly crashed her car into a home.

On the mend: Shannon Beador was seen seen sporting a cast while out in luxe Newport Beach, California on Thursday

Beador has since been enrolled in an 'outpatient behavioral wellness program with an alcohol component,' insiders close to Beador told TMZ on Monday.

Beador's drinking was a topic of discussion on last night's reunion episode of The Real Housewives Of Orange County, which was filmed 10 days before her DUI arrest.

Viewers were notified of when the show was filmed in relation to her September 17 arrest with a message appearing on screen.

'The Real Housewives Of Orange County Reunion was filmed 10 days prior to Shannon Storms Beador's DUI arrest,' the statement read.

Her drinking was brought up by Heather Dubrow, 54, who claimed Beador had a tendency to drink and call her castmates.

'Please don't get angry with me, but you tend to drink and call some of us,' Dubrow said.

'That's a f**ked up thing to say,' Beador fired back.

'It's not!' Dubrow exclaimed. 'You're the town crier!' she insisted.

'Do I go out and drink sometimes? For you to say I need rehab, for you to say like, paint a picture, so that I'm calling people every single night,' she said.

'I didn't say every single night,' Dubrow clarified.

Casual: Shannon wore a black shirt, leggings, trainers, and had her sunglasses tucked into her blonde hair

Topic of discussion: Beador's alcohol consumption was addressed on last night's reunion episode of The Real Housewives Of Orange County - which was filmed 10 days before her DUI arrest

Disclosure: Viewers were notified of when the show was filmed in relation to her arrest

She then turned to her co-star Emily Simpson, who once jokingly suggested Beador put a breathalyzer on her phone. 'For you to say I need to breathalyze,' Beador said.

But Emily didn't back down: 'You should! I think it's a good invention! You need to put it on the phone!' she insisted.

'You say its my truth serum,' Beador continued firing off to Dubrow.

'You don't wanna look at that? You don't want to look at that at all though, Shannon? You don't want to look at it at all,' Gina Kirschenheiter said.

Raising the issue: Beador's drinking was brought up by Heather Dubrow, who remarked that Beador had a tendency to drink and call her castmates

Showdown: Dubrow and Gina Kirschenheiter were among those commenting about Beador's drinking

'You don't know anything about my personal, in-depth life,' Beador fired back before declaring her dislike for Gina. 'Let me re-iterate Gina, I don't like you!' Beador said.

'She doesn't like the truth so, she don't like me,' Gina said.

Gina had also previously spoken about Beador's drinking, saying in a confessional on the August 30th episode: 'Shannon says s**t, and then she wants to pretend that she didnt do it, and if you can say things that are that f***king hurtful and not even remember you said it, you need to go f***king check yourself into rehab.'

Beador is in the early steps of moving forward amid the fallout of her DUI crash in Newport Beach last month, in which she drunkenly crashed her car into a home and was arrested for DUI alcohol and hit-and-run.

Beador - who was arrested in the early morning hours of September 17 - will continue performing with her RHOC colleagues Tamra Judge, 56, and Vicki Gunvalson, 61, in their Tres Amigas comedy shows, which involve alcohol.

Beador will refrain from 'drinking onstage' at the shows, which include a a pre-show cocktail party, according to the insider.

The next Tres Amigas show is scheduled for November 16 at the Phoenix comedy venue Stand Up Live! Phoenix, where attendees are required to purchase a minimum of two drinks inside of the venue's showroom.

'You need to put it on the phone!' Emily Simpson was unwavering about a past comment she made about Shannon needing to put a breathalyzer on her phone

Beador last month said she will pay for the damage she caused in the incident, which occurred after she was seen at a Newport Beach, California establishment called A Restaurant.

Beador's attorney Michael Fell has touched base with the owner of the Newport Beach property the reality star damaged while drinking and driving, insiders told TMZ last month.

Beador is looking to 'help make things right' in compensating the property owner for the damage caused, the source said, and has said she will pay for any necessary repairs stemming from the incident.

Beador at the time was also looking at different options to receive treatment, but had not yet committed to a course of action, the source told the outlet.

While the situation remains 'very fresh to her,' the source told the outlet, Beador is focused on receiving professional help in the wake of the dangerous incident.

According to TMZ, Beador's vehicle was seized by authorities, and she was was subsequently released without bond.

The Newport Beach Police Department told People that Beador had been 'arrested at 1:17 a.m. on Sept. 17 after fleeing the scene from a collision that caused property damage.'

Face off: Shannon also quarreled with Gina, who insisted Beador was unwilling to actually face her own problems

Concerning: Beador is in the early steps of moving forward amid the fallout of her DUI crash in Newport Beach last month, in which she drunkenly crashed her car into a home and was arrested for DUI alcohol and hit-and-run

She was 'booked for two misdemeanors - hit-and-run and DUI alcohol;' and 'released on a citation.'

Fell told DailyMail.com last month: 'Shannon is extremely apologetic and remorseful.

'We will be awaiting the official information on this case as it becomes available, and Shannon is prepared to accept full responsibility for her actions.'

Beador on September 19 was seen visiting with her ex-boyfriend John Janssen, who told DailyMail.com September 20, 'We are friends, I care about her.'

Bravo personality Jeff Lewis, who is a friend of Beador's, said that Beador 'was injured' and is 'going to be recovering' in the aftermath of the incident.

'Shannon and I have been friends for a very long time,' Lewis said on his SiriusXM show last month. 'I was shocked - she called me yesterday and we talked for awhile - and I was shocked because I've never known Shannon to ever, ever drink and drive.

'I will tell you she's accepting full accountability. She is ashamed, she's embarrassed. I personally, as her friend - cause people are like, "Oh she needs rehab," "Oh she's an alcoholic" - I don't think Shannon is an alcoholic.'

He added: 'I think she's been going thorough a lot of personal struggles right now, and I think she has been leaning on alcohol - but I don't think she's an alcoholic.'

Lewis said that Beador is 'going to be entering counseling' following the accident and arrest.
Sunset Boulevard

Savoy Theatre, London

Verdict: Buy the best ticket you can afford

Rating:

Nicole Scherzinger nails it from the off. Any doubts I had about a Pussycat Doll playing Hollywood's answer to Miss Havisham were banished pronto.

The early tune, With One Look, sees Scherzinger, as the mighty Norma Desmond, rip off her sunglasses and, in a tornado of stage haze and white-hot spotlights, roar an ear-popping showstopper.

The room leaped to its feet. Fading pop star becomes fading film icon, to dramatic perfection! I gasped  losing a full mouthful of gin and tonic to my shirt.

Forget Billy Wilder's hammy noir original, and the lavish productions of this Andrew Lloyd Webber musical we're used to. Here is a thrillingly fresh and surprisingly dark revival.

For my money (and for a good seat do bring a wheelbarrow of it) this is the show of the year.

Nicole Scherzinger plays Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard

The classically romantic score remains, melting over a slightly clunky plot about a reclusive, deluded silent movie star who ensnares a young writer called Joe, so he can polish her comeback screenplay. Over the course of two-and-a-half hours she loses her marbles, and he loses his life.

Director Jamie Lloyd, who's been toiling at his stripped-back and moody style of revival for years, has finally hit the sweet spot. No lavish costumes, no intricate set. Just live camera work, a ferociously big star, and an even bigger band.

The lighting is almost exclusively bright white, which designer Jack Knowles harnesses in the most magical way. It pulsates, hides and reveals, using the thick stage mist.

Dominating the view, though, is an enormous screen, giving us haunting, live close-up shots of the actors in front of us... melodramatic glances, fluttering lashes and big bulbous tears. Scherzinger even delivers a pouty over-the-shoulder look right down the barrel.

It's a perfect marriage of psychological trauma and camp. Think Pinter, with a bouncy brass section and expressive dance. Or opera, if it were watchable. Norma's dramatics are put in what feels like a real world.

Scherzinger will rightly get a low-loader full of awards, but so too should her co-star Tom Francis, as poor Joe. Both are vocally flawless. Both deftly balance the histrionic and the genuinely heartbreaking, the playful and raw.

They take their bows dripping in fake blood and genuine, hard-earned sweat.

David Thaxton as Max, Norma's creepy keeper, has a chilling baritone and Grace Hodgett Young, as rival love interest Betty, brings a well-sung, wide-eyed innocence.

I can see this Sunset dividing audiences. When has genius not?

Act 2 begins with the most extraordinary sequence following Joe backstage. As the symphonic entr'acte belts from the pit, he's beamed to us wandering through the dressing rooms, past Nicole, past a loaded gun... and out into the street!

Now singing the title number, he passes startled drunks and bewildered tourists, eventually returning to the auditorium for the triumphant final note. Down fell my drink again, as an Omicron wave of goosebumps ripped through the stalls.

I can see this Sunset dividing audiences. When has genius not? A few couples darted for the exit in the preview I saw. 'Cast illness' has postponed my eager return.

But, as soon as the remortgage is through, I'll probably cough up for a third go too. After all, Nicole is waiting  ready for her close-up.
Olga Kurylenko showed off her sculpted abs as she attended the D'Argent Et De Sang (Of Money And Blood) premiere in Paris on Wednesday, after coming under fire for throwing her support behind Israel during the Hamas conflict.

The Quantum Of Solace actress, 43, looked incredible as she donned a tiny black bandeau crop top, teamed with a silk rose-gold oversized jacket.

The Black Widow sensation boosted her toned figure as she toted her look with a pair of beamed peach trousers.

Olga added class to her look in a pair of conventional black stiletto heels, and accessorised with drop dainty earrings.

The Ukrainian-French beauty only donned a touch of rosy blush and peachy lipstick, flaunting her stunning features.

Toned: Olga Kurylenko, 43, showed off her sculpted abs as she attended the D'Argent Et De Sang (Of Money And Blood) premiere in Paris on Wednesday

Sensational: The Quantum Of Solace actress looked incredible as she donned a tiny black bandeau crop top, teamed with a silk rose-gold oversized jacket

Earlier this week, Olga came under fire after voicing her sympathy for Israel amid the Hamas attacks on her social media page.

However, she received so much abuse that she later deleted her post.

'I'm done with your hatred and with your blood thirst,' she said in a subsequent message.

'Those who support terrorism and people killing each other should be ashamed of themselves. I have deleted my post now and I won't ever post any peace messages.'

The former model added: 'I'm a kind person and have NEVER taken sides even though you try to interpret me that way. You won't succeed. You have NO idea how I absolutely understand every side in wars.

'And yes, my heart bleeds for both nations that are dying. But you are too angry to understand and you don't deserve my support.'

Other stars who have voiced their solidarity for Israel include Madonna, Jamie Lee Curtis, rock band U2 and Kylie Jenner.

Reality television star and make-up mogul Jenner lost one million of her 400million followers on Instagram for her now-deleted post.

Versatile: The Black Widow sensation boosted her toned figure as she toted her look with a pair of beamed peach trousers

Beauty: The Ukrainian-French beauty only donned a touch of rosy blush and peachy lipstick, flaunting her stunning features

Cast: Olga poses alongside her co-stars, (L-R) David Ayala, Niels Schneider, Judith Chemla, Ramzy Bedia, Vincent Lindon, Xavier Giannoli

Backlash: Earlier this week, the Bond girl came under fire after voicing her sympathy for Israel amid the Hamas attacks on her social media page (pictured in Quantum Of Solace)

The scale of Israel's retaliation has led to concern among the international community, including fears voiced by Pope Francis. He called on Hamas to release hostages taken during Saturday's assault, and said he was praying for those killed, injured and bereaved in the attacks.

In his weekly audience in Rome, the Pope said: 'Whoever is attacked has the right to defend himself. But I am very worried about the total siege under which the Palestinians in Gaza are living, where there are also many innocent victims.'

A prominent mosque in Egypt, Al-Azhar al-Sharif, called for Israel to be investigated for alleged war crimes against civilians in Gaza, including its 'inhuman siege'.

Israel has defended its air campaign, saying it was right to strike at the 'nest of terror' behind the Hamas attacks.

It came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against the conflict spilling over into neighbouring countries. He said: 'I appeal to all parties, and those who have an influence over those parties, to avoid any further escalation and spillover.'

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile at an Israeli military position yesterday.

The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched. Rockets have also been fired into Israel from Syria.
Penny Lancaster has revealed she's using on a pair of crutches after suffering an injury to her knee.

The model, was seen arriving at Geri Horner's Tower Of London book launch on Tuesday on a pair of crutches, sparking questions around the nature of her inury.

'Penny has suffered a torn meniscus on her right knee,' her spokesman explained to The Daily Mail's Richard Eden.

'The cause of the injury is not known; nor at this stage, is the treatment. The injury is believed to have been sustained abroad and is not connected with her activities as a special constable.'

Rod did not join his wife for Geri Halliwell-Horner's latest children's book launch party Rosie Frost And The Falcon Queen, at the Tower of London.

Injury: Penny Lancaster has revealed she's using on a pair of crutches after suffering an injury to her knee

Update: 'Penny has suffered a torn meniscus on her right knee,' her spokesman explained to The Daily Mail's Richard Eden

Despite her injury, Penny still appeared to be in great spirits as she arrived at the event wearing a trendy green suit with a white blouse.

She looked radiant in the stylish two-piece and accessorised her outfit with a beige Gucci crossbody bag and Gucci trainers.

Penny met Geri, 51, for a sweet snap inside the venue where the book launch commenced.

The Spice Girl celebrated her new children's book Rosie Frost & The Falcon Queen in the epic surroundings of the Tower of London.

She has been busy promoting her new venture for days, jetting over to the US last week for a book tour.

The story follows orphan Rosie as she is sent to a mystery island, which is home to extraordinary teenagers and also a sanctuary for endangered species.

Speaking about the book, Geri said she hope it would inspire young readers to 'find their own strength and power' in the face of challenges.

She said: 'Rosie Frost has lived in my heart for a long time and this feels just the right moment to introduce her to the world.'

Glam: Despite her injury, Penny was still in good spirits as she donned a chic green trouser suit for the launch

Rod and Penny have been married since 2007 and share two children, Alastair and his younger brother Aiden, 12.

The rocker has eight children from five different mothers and has been married three times.

Spanning over almost 50 years, his oldest child, daughter Sarah is 59-years-old and his youngest Aiden is just 12.

The star welcomed his eldest with his ex-girlfriend Susannah Boffey but the couple gave her up for adoption after he fathered her at age 18.

He then went on to have two children, daughter Kimberly, 44, and his son Sean, 43, with his ex-wife Alana Stewart.

The star fathered another daughter, Ruby, 36, with his former partner Kelly Emberg before marrying his second wife Rachel Hunter who gave birth to two more children, Renee, 31, and Liam, 29.
Emmanuel Macron, who was the first French president to visit Mongolia in May, received his counterpart Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on Thursday October 12 during a visit which made it possible to unblock a major agreement with a view to exploitation of a major uranium mine by the French company Orano.

In May in Ulaanbaatar, during an interview in the presidential yurt, Emmanuel Macron defended the cause of the French nuclear group Orano, already present in the country and candidate for the extraction of what is potentially one of the mines largest uranium mines in the world.

Despite the return of geopolitical crises in the world, we managed to build a privileged partnership throughout the year, based on the strengthening of sovereignty and the same attachment to universal values and democracy , the French president welcomed on Thursday.

Diversification strategy

This new stage will take the form of projects which aim to jointly exploit the resources identified on Mongolian territory, in particular the critical metals at the heart of the energy transition, he added, promising strict respect of the best environmental and social standards.

Under the eyes of the two presidents, Orano and the Mongolian government therefore signed a protocol with a view to exploiting the Zuuvch Ovoo mine, in the southwest of Mongolia  prior to a formal investment agreement expected by the end of the year.

The former Areva, a specialist in nuclear fuel, welcomed the rise of Mongolia, in a context of strong needs for uranium over the coming decades, to produce low-carbon energy. This project is part of "the strategy of diversifying the group's mining activities", said Claude Imauven, chairman of the board of directors of Orano, whose subsidiary Somair had to cease its production of mineral concentrate, in a press release. uranium in Niger after the military coup at the end of July.

Project LiMongolia

Another agreement was reached on Thursday: the French Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) signed a letter of intent for the LiMongolia project. This is a preliminary pre-exploration agreement over a period of six months, for the creation by next spring of mining predictivity maps based on satellite images, in the field of lithium, explained Jean- Claude Guillaneau, head of international partnerships at BRGM, mentioning a basin of several thousand square kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar. A first step, according to the Elysee, towards possible joint exploitation.

The French presidency assures that it wants to strengthen its partnership to give Mongolia the means to benefit from greater strategic sovereignty in the face of its two extremely powerful neighbors, led by authoritarian governments.

Mongolia considers France as its third neighbor and a reliable partner in Europe, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh launched Thursday, referring to the name of its strategy aimed at establishing close ties with capitals other than Beijing and Moscow.

His visit is also marked by culture: the Mongolian president is due to inaugurate an exhibition on Friday in Nantes dedicated to Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongolian empire. Emmanuel Macron visited the Genghis Khan museum during his visit to Ulaanbaatar.
The acting President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, had an informal conversation with the press at the reception after the October 12 parade in which he was once again booed. The negotiations for a possible investiture have occupied the center of this group. In it, Sanchez has acknowledged that five political groups have considerations about the amnesty, and that he is "in the midst of negotiating" his investiture with the presidents of the groups and that They are "complex".

When asked about the case of Oriol Juqueras, whom he telephoned this Friday before meeting Gabriel Rufian, he acknowledged that the relationship with ERC, with whom he has, "a base of work and conversation" and with whom he has been working for five years , is different from that of Junts.

Furthermore, Sanchez has insisted that the PSOE will present its amnesty offer when the time comes, and that it will be within the constitutional framework. Asked if he will call Puigdemont, the president does not plan to do so at this time: "I meet and speak with the groups," but he does not rule out that a call to the separatist politician may have to take place later.

Sanchez has taken advantage of the informal conversation to accuse the PP of appropriating national symbols, which he said represent "everyone" and "not just them." Spain, he has reflected, "is more diverse than 'Txapote'."

Furthermore, he has assured that the problem is not the cries of the citizens, but that the PP politicians make them their own. Faced with this, Feijoo has responded in another informal conversation that Sanchez talks about respect for institutions and then does not respect them.
Some 8,700 employees at a Ford site in Kentucky, in the central United States, stopped work on Wednesday, October 11, at the call of the UAW union, in response, according to the organization, to the manufacturer's refusal to make more concessions in negotiations on a new collective agreement.

These employees from a Louisville factory have joined the ranks of the workforce already on strike within the three major historic American automobile manufacturers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis (Chrysler), to bring them to nearly 34,000, while the The movement has been going on for almost four weeks. About 23% of unionized employees are now furloughed within the Big Three, a term that refers to the three manufacturers.

The work stoppage initiated on Wednesday and which concerns a factory manufacturing pick-ups, was decreed after Ford refused to go further in negotiations, explained the UAW in a press release, warning that this surprise decision marked a new stage in the social conflict.

We have been very clear, and we have waited long enough, said the president of the powerful union, Shawn Fain, quoted in the press release, but Ford did not understand the message. 

Salary increases

It is time to reach a fair agreement at Ford and the other members of the Big Three [GM and Stellantis], the union official continued. If they dont understand it after four weeks, the work stoppage of the 8,700 employees of this very profitable factory will help them.  The UAW indicated that its president would hold his weekly update Friday on the status of discussions.

Last week, the union decided not to mobilize more of its members, unlike in previous weeks, reporting "significant progress" in negotiations.

Discussions stumble in particular on the amount of salary increases. The UAW is demanding some 40% increase over the four years of the new contract, while Ford has only gone as far as 23%, with GM and Stellantis stopping at 20%.

In a separate statement, Ford called the UAW's announcement "grossly irresponsible," warning that the expansion of the strike "will have painful consequences" including on other sectors of the company as well as its suppliers.
He had admitted his guilt during a hearing which turned against him: the defense of Vincent Bollore, indicted for acts of corruption in Togo, asked the Court of Cassation to cancel the procedure, Wednesday 11 October, considering his presumption of innocence violated. The billionaire has been indicted since 2018 for corruption of a foreign public official in the investigation into the award of management of the port of Lome, between 2009 and 2011, and risks a trial before the Paris Criminal Court.

Seized since 2013, Parisian financial judges suspect the Bollore group of having used the political consulting activities of its subsidiary Euro RSCG (now Havas) to fraudulently obtain management of the port of Lome for the benefit of another of its subsidiaries, Bollore Africa Logistics (formerly called SDV), at the time of Faure Gnassingbe's campaign in the presidential election.

In 2021, Mr. Bollore tried to avoid a long trial before the criminal court by requesting from the investigating judge and the national financial prosecutor's office an appearance on prior recognition of guilt (CRPC, a sort of French-style guilty plea). ). The general director of the Bollore group at the time, Gilles Alix, indicted for corruption, and the international director of Havas, Jean-Philippe Dorent, indicted for complicity in breach of trust, had done the same.

During a CRPC, which lasts half a day at most, the defendant must acknowledge the facts and accept the proposed sentence. In this case, the sentence included a fine of 375,000 euros. But in February 2021, the court refused to approve the CRPC, deeming it necessary for the three men to appear in criminal court. The investigation therefore resumed, and since then the trio has been trying to have the indictments canceled. In 2022, he appealed to the investigating chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal. But in March it validated the procedure and only ordered the deletion of part of the documents relating to the CRPC. They therefore filed a cassation appeal.

A completely abnormal functioning of justice

They seek the annulment of the entire procedure on the grounds that their fundamental rights would be irreparably violated, in particular the presumption of innocence, fair procedure and the right to a fair trial, because of the consequences of the CRPC. Failing this, they want all documents related to this CRPC to be removed from the file, as well as the order validating the judicial agreement of public interest (CJIP) by which the Bollore group had paid 12 million euros of fine against the abandonment of proceedings.

Its an exceptional affair because of the importance of the person, by the novelty of these texts. Exceptional especially in the face of a completely abnormal functioning of justice, insisted Helene Farge, counsel for Mr. Bollore, before the criminal chamber meeting in ordinary formation. She notably criticizes the judge, who validated the CJIP but refused to approve the CRPC, of having inserted in the order validating the CJIP confessions covered by the confidentiality of the negotiations and the mention of a  corruption pact organized by MM. Bollore and Alix.

For Patrice Spinosi, counsel for Mr. Dorent, in the event of the appeals being rejected, the Court of Cassation risks seizing up the system. Which defendant will dare to request a CRPC if he knows that his statements will be in the file? , questioned the lawyer.

The Advocate General nevertheless concluded that the appeals should be rejected, relying in particular on the case law of the Court of Cassation  a judgment of September 17, 2008 and a second of November 30, 2010. This dispute is somewhat artificial, a- he argued, since in the event of a criminal trial, neither the public prosecutor nor the parties can report on the statements made within the framework of the CRPC: If they appear, the judges could not convince themselves of guilt than by other elements. Maintaining or removing the parts has no consequences for the rest of the procedure. 

The highest court in the French judiciary will deliver its decision on November 29.
Shortage of workers is pushing the demand for farm equipment. India can dominate the world market by leveraging its machine tools

Efficient and timely farming operations rely on a collaborative effort between man, machine, and materials. The integration of farm mechanization is crucial for achieving optimal output levels, efficient use of resources, and meeting the increasing demand for agricultural products. Transitioning from traditional to smart farming creates growth opportunities and attracts young talent to innovative agriculture, resulting in improved income and greater comfort.

Moreover, the global agricultural sector is experiencing a shortage of workers due to the migration of labourers to cities. In India, the percentage of farm workers has declined from 59% in 1991 to 54% in 2011 and 39% in 2022. To address this issue, the use of farming machinery has increased worldwide for more precise and timely field activities. India has emerged as a leading manufacturer hub and exporter of tractors, with a growing number of partnerships with Japanese and German manufacturers, and more are expected to follow suit.

The Asia Pacific region dominated the global market with a volume share of 69% in 2022. This growth was mainly driven by Indias tractor industry, followed by China and the rest of Asia Pacific. India led the regional market with over 54% share in 2022 and is known for its excellence in farm machinery exports, with tractors contributing to more than 80% of the total value. The global agricultural tractor market totalled 29.42 lakh units in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 7% from 2023 to 2030, attributed to the increased demand for farm tractors, particularly from Italy, Greece, and Lithuania. Furthermore, the market is expected to be driven by the high demand for autonomous tractors over the forecast period.

The demand for compact tractors on small farms and technical advancements, such as the integration of telematics with agricultural tractors, are expected to further drive growth. India's production share accounts for 33% of the global market of around 3 million tractors annually, with over one million units produced each year. Out of one million units, approximately 9 lakh units were sold in the domestic market, while 1.31 lakh units (4.5% of the global share) were exported in 2022. To strengthen the "Made in India" initiative, Sonalika ITL currently holds the majority share of the export market at 40% and is organizing a global partners summit, called GPS 200, from October 12th to 14th in Delhi.

India has great potential for exporting tractors to countries such as the US, Brazil, Italy, Greece, Lithuania, Argentina, Turkey, SAARC countries, and African nations, with an expected export of over 200,000 tractors by 2025.

Aside from tractors, there has been a significant increase in non-tractor agricultural machinery, such as power tillers, combine harvesters, diesel engines, and electric motors, which have improved crop productivity. Sales of these items have increased by 0.50 million, 0.05 million, 11.50 million, and 7.50 million, respectively. Despite this growth, 53% of non-tractor agricultural machinery is still imported from China, making it essential for policymakers to take strategic actions to foster the growth of non-tractor farm machinery in India and turn it into a global production and export hub.

Since 2010, precision agriculture and post-harvest processing technologies revolutionized agricultural mechanization. However, India's farm mechanization level remains low at 45%, compared to the United States at 95%, Brazil at 75%, and China at 57%. Wheat has the highest mechanization level in India at 69%, followed by rice at 50%, maize at 45%, pulses at 41%, oilseeds at 38%, cotton at 35%, and millets and sugarcane at 33%. Small land holdings and financial constraints are major obstacles to efficient mechanization in agriculture. To overcome these challenges, farmers, manufacturers, government, and non-governmental organizations recognize the need for smart farming technologies such as sensor-based embedded systems to monitor soil nutrients, temperature, fertility, and moisture gradients, as well as guidance systems enabled by GPS and automated tractors.

Challenges: Punjab produces one-third of India's tractors and a significant number of non-tractor farm machinery. Unfortunately, the state manufacturers incur over twice the logistical costs for exports compared to Southern and Western coastal states. As a result, a special freight policy for railways has been eagerly anticipated for a long time to boost Punjab's farm machinery exports.

Electricity duty, taxes and duties on petroleum products etc. are not yet refunded through the GST mechanism for the exporters. The government should offset the cost disadvantage arising out of these duties and levies.

OEMs are facing short-term challenges such as high raw material prices and semiconductor component shortages. These challenges are compounded by disruptions in the supply chain, which lead to delays in production. Additionally, the increasing popularity of autonomous tractors has prompted OEMs to adopt an inorganic growth approach to increase market presence.

No Incentives by Punjab Government: The Punjab government's goal of making the state's industrial sector an export hub is hindered by its lack of incentives for industries with "Inverted Duty Tax Structures." The Industrial and Business Development Policy-2022 fails to provide support to these industries. The policy contains the same mistake as the previous one, stating that any refund from the central government will be adjusted against the payment of state incentives. This means that if an industry pays 18% GST on input raw materials and 12% GST on the final product, it falls under Inverted Duty Tax Structures and is entitled to claim input tax credit from the central government. However, it is deprived of even a minimal incentive of 2.5% on Fixed Capital Investment (FCI) by the Punjab government. This policy dilutes the purpose of attracting new investment to the state and needs to be revisited. Clause no.12.26 of the new industrial policy needs correction.

Central Incentives to be Restored: The Central annual export incentive- the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), which amounted to Rs 51,012 crore, has been replaced by the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme. The new scheme offers a lower incentive of Rs 12,454 crore. As a result, the previous 3% export incentive on agricultural implements such as tractors has been reduced to 0.7%, and still, the disbursement of production-linked incentive (PLI) is also awaited.

Road Ahead: India has a competitive advantage in tractor-mounted machinery, which is in high demand among large farmers in both domestic and developed markets. Self-propelled and hand-driven mechanised farm machinery has a local market among small and marginal farmers, as well as in developing nations with similar socioeconomic patterns, such as Asia and Africa. India can leverage this dual structure to benefit small and marginal farmers globally, while also becoming a leading provider of non-tractor farm machinery.

(AS Mittal is vice-chairman of Sonalika Group, Vice-Chairman of the Punjab Economic Policy and Planning Board, and Sushant Mittal is ED Sonalika Group and a global business strategist. Views expressed are personal)
The Jews living in Kerala have emotional ties with the locals. Many Keralites have died due to Hamas attacks in Israel

Sufferance is the badge of all our tribe, the Jewish businessman Shylock tells his rival Antonio in the Shakespeare play Merchant of Venice when the former is insulted and humiliated by the latter. Though Shakespeare wrote the play in 1596, the woes of Jewish people continue unabated even in 2023. Theirs is a history of fighting against all odds for survival. The kind of pogrom and holocausts undergone by the Jews knows no end. While Shylock is portrayed as a villain in the play, it is not known how much effort has been taken by historians and social scientists to study the real Jews, a peace-loving and hard-working population.

The media in India has not been fully sincere while reporting about the happenings in Israel. Hamas, an Islamic terrorist outfit, has been tormenting the Jewish nation with missile attacks and suicide bombers which have claimed hundreds during the last two years. It was in May 2001 Soumya, a Kerala woman who was working as a nurse with an Israeli establishment, was killed in a Hamas attack in Gaza. The Israeli diplomats and officials based in New Delhi and Bangalore had accompanied the mortal remains of Soumya to her home and consoled her close relatives. She was described as an angel by the Israeli Government. But the secular Kerala Government and politicians stayed away from the bereaved family.

Hamas has been going ahead with the terrorist attacks against Israel for the last two years. Missile and rocket attacks have become a routine affair for the Jews. The media in India has failed to report these relentless attacks by Hamas. It is only when Hamas suffers some major casualties that the secular brigade in India wakes up condemning the Zionist hegemony and whatnot. The Communists had no qualms in portraying Ahmed Yasin, the quadriplegic chief of Hamas, who was killed in a counterattack by the Israeli Defense Forces in a counter-attack in 2004. This is the same person who ordered the Hamas soldiers to wipe out Israeli women and children from the face of the earth. The Communists described the slain man as an embodiment of all that is good and a human rights activist. The larger-than-life-size posters of Yasin adored all thoroughfares and ring roads in Kerala and nothing was surprising in the Communists winning all the seats they contested from the State in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. Hamas helped him win the polls!

Though a Left Democratic Front MLA by the name of Mani Kappen expressed his condolences in a social media message over the death of Soumya in the hands of Hamas terrorists, he was forced to take off the same within minutes. What the civil society forgets is the fact that India was always a home away from home for the Jewish community. Late historian Prof A Sreedhara Menon in his lively account of Kerala history says that Jewish settlements in the State date back to AD 68. They arrived in thousands to escape from religious persecution and settled along the Kerala coast. The ancient Jews had trade relations with the Kerala coast even in BC 1000 and this has been substantiated by the arrival of Solomons sailing vessels, Prof Menon has written in Kerala History. He also mentions that the then emperor Bhaskara Ravi Varma had presented the Jewish chieftain Joseph Rabban with special powers. The Portuguese who followed the Jews unleashed attacks on them and drove them away to places like Kochi. This is believed to have happened in 1565. The Jews who were peace-loving people established brotherly ties with the locals and this developed into an emotional bond between them and the local population.

The synagogue at Kochi built in 1567 and the Jew Street, a hub of trading are standing monuments of the love and affection enjoyed by the Jewish community in the region. With the formation of the Jewish State of Israel in 1948, the community members started their migration to the Promised Land, though a miniscule of the community chose to stay put in Kochi.

The Jew Street is almost silent and the synagogue comes alive rarely. But the thoughts about Israel enliven the conversations, especially the memories of David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan, and Ariel Sharon. The new generation is ignorant of the 1972 massacre at the Munich Olympics when Black September, the predecessor to Hamas, took 11 Israeli athletes as hostages and killed them as the entire world stood watching helplessly. It is another thing that the Israeli Army went after the Black September and finished them off once and forever.

T G Mohan Das, thinker and political chronicler thinks that Hamas, Black September and Al Fatah are the organisations that institutionalised terrorism across the world. The 2008 Mumbai Terrorist attacks (known as the 26/11 attack) also saw eight innocent Jewish community members getting murdered by the LeT terrorists at the Chabad House.

(The writer is a special correspondent of The Pioneer, views expressed are personal)
Hamas attack has jeopardised many projects and the peace in the Arab world

The terror strikes on Israel over the weekend by Hamas, have the potential of changing the geo-political equations for many nations in West Asia, with resonances felt all across the globe. Palestinian terror outfit Hamas, launched an all-out attack over mostly Israeli civilian targets including youngsters gathered for a music concert, killing many children, toddlers, and elder citizens in cold blood, besides taking hundreds hostage. Israel caught by surprise launched a defence, pounding the Gaza strip and disconnecting electricity, water and food lines, however, the Israeli hostages with Hamas, are preventing it from launching a full-fledged on-ground attack. Israel has vowed to take decisive action against Hamas, which would be a long-drawn war, and will potentially alter the regional dynamics in West Asia.

The Arab world in recent times particularly Saudi Arabia and UAE has indicated normalising relations with Israel. Former US president Trump's administration facilitated the normalisation of relations between Israel and the Arab world through a bunch of bilateral agreements, commonly known as the Abrahams Accords. The declaration read We, the undersigned, recognise the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom. We encourage efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance a culture of peace among the three Abrahamic religions and all humanity. We believe that the best way to address challenges is through cooperation and dialogue and that developing friendly relations among States advances the interests of lasting peace in the Middle East and around the world.

The Joe Biden administration doubled down on its commitment towards normalisation of relations in West Asia and spent considerable diplomatic heft for bringing the two traditional warring sides together. It went a step further and established the I2U2 a regional grouping consisting of India, Israel, UAE and USA. In July 2022, after the first leaders summit for the group, a statement released read We reaffirm our support for the Abraham Accords and other peace and normalisation arrangements with Israel. We welcome the economic opportunities that flow from these historic developments, including for the advancement of economic cooperation in the Middle East and South Asia, and in particular for the promotion of sustainable investment amongst the I2U2 partners. 

Clearly, the aim was to use the economic leverage from the private sector of each country to bring their political leaders to lasting peace negotiations. The I2U2 directly benefitted India, especially in food security and clean energy commitments. India managed to secure investments for setting up food parks to prevent food wastage and conservation of fresh water, while also

moving closer to its stated target of generating 500GW of clean energy. Most of these investments were secured from UAE while being backed by Israeli and US advanced technologies. As a next step in the recently concluded G20 leaders summit the I2U2 group along with partners from EU nations signed on one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects connecting India with West Asia, and another corridor connecting West Asia to Europe. The initiative termed IMEC ( India Middle East Economic Corridor) has a blueprint for setting up transformational railway networks inside West Asia, connecting these directly to strategically located ports facilitating the movement of goods and people from India to Europe. The group is scheduled to meet next month to draw out the roadmap for the infrastructure projects to be undertaken. Now with Israel being drawn into a long conflict, the future for many of these transformational projects seems uncertain, as does its relationship with the Arab World.

(The writer is a policy analyst, views are personal)
The Delhi High Court Thursday reserved its order on a plea by AAP MP Raghav Chadha challenging the trial court's decision of vacating an interim order which stopped the Rajya Sabha secretariat from evicting him from the government bungalow allotted to him.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, after completing the proceedings, orally asked the counsel for the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to not take any action in the matter till the high court has delivered its judgment.

I am not passing any interim order but till I decide it, nothing shall be done in the meantime, the judge said.

While the counsel for Chadha submitted he has already filed his brief submissions in the case, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat's lawyer said he will submit his synopsis by Friday evening.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Chadha, said the AAP leader has been directed to appear before the estate officer pursuant to Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act proceedings tomorrow.

He said he proposes to request the estate officer to defer the proceedings as the high court has reserved its judgment in the matter.

Chadha has challenged the trial court's October 5 order in which it observed he cannot claim an absolute right to continue to occupy the government bungalow during his entire tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP even after the cancellation of allotment.

The trial court had made the observation while vacating an interim order passed on April 18 which directed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat not to oust Chadha from the government bungalow. It had noted Chadha was granted the interim relief without the due process of law.

Chadha's counsel had contended before the high court that he was a victim of selective targeting as he was a vocal opposition member of Parliament. Chadha said he was the only sitting lawmaker in the Rajya Sabha ever to have been sought to be evicted from the bungalow allotted to him.

He had said the allotment of accommodation is an exercise of guided discretion and is made after taking into account the circumstances peculiar to the MP concerned, and in exercise of this discretion, out of 245 sitting MPs in the Rajya Sabha, 115 have been granted accommodation above their default' entitlement.

His counsel had told the high court that the MP has been provided Z+ security in view of threats, and a large contingent of security personnel was required to be deployed at his residence. The personnel cannot be accommodated in the bungalow earlier allotted to him at Pandara Park. Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has accorded Z+ security to Chadha who is a Rajya Sabha MP from there.

Chadha was on July 6 last year allotted a 'Type 6' bungalow at Pandara Park but he made a representation to the chairman of the Rajya Sabha on August 29 requesting for a 'Type 7' accommodation. He was then allotted another bungalow on Pandara Road from the Rajya Sabha pool.

However, in March this year, the allotment was cancelled.

As a first-time MP, Chadha is entitled to a Type-5 accommodation in the normal course, according to the Rajya Sabha Members Handbook released in April 2022.

The handbook says MPs who are former Union Cabinet Ministers, former Governors or former Chief Ministers, and former Lok Sabha Speakers, are entitled to Type-7 bungalows, the second largest category available to Rajya Sabha MPs.
Three months after NATO announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had agreed to let Sweden become a member of the military organisation, little sign has emerged that the Nordic country will be allowed to join its ranks anytime soon. The issue was expected to be raised on Thursday at NATO headquarters where the 31 member countries were holding their second day of talks.

Sweden and its neighbour Finland turned their backs on decades of military non-alignment after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022. Their aim was to seek protection under NATOs security umbrella, and Finland joined in April.

All 31 NATO allies must endorse Swedens membership. Turkiye and Hungary are dragging their feet. Publicly, Erdogan has said he was blocking because he believes that Sweden has been too soft on Kurdish militants and other groups that he considers to be security threats. Many allies doubt that.

At a NATO summit in Lithuanias capital in July, Erdogan said he would transmit Swedens accession protocol to the Turkish parliament for ratification, the final step for Turkiye to endorse its candidature, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

We have an agreement in Vilnius where Turkiye said clearly that they are ready to ratify, Stoltenberg told reporters on Wednesday, noting that the deal meant that the president will work with the Grand National Assembly, the parliament, to ensure ratification.

It was stated clearly that that should happen as soon as possible, meaning that when the parliament again convened, then this process should start to take place, he added. The parliament has just convened a few days ago. therefore I expect this to happen.

Erdogan had relented after the Biden administration signalled it would let Turkiye buy 40 new F-16 fighter jets and modernisation kits from the United States. Ankara also received assurances from Sweden that it would help revive Turkiyes own quest to join the European Union.

As of Thursday though, no public sign had emerged that the Turkish leader had sent the key membership document. In a statement issued on July 10 in Vilnius, Turkiye had agreed that Swedens accession is important given the imperatives of the deterrence and defence of the Euro-Atlantic area.

It had been hoped that the long-awaited ratification would come soon after October 1, when Turkiyes parliament resumed work. But on the same day, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the interior ministry in Ankara. Another would-be bomber was killed in a shootout with police. Two officers were wounded.

The attack prompted Turkiye to mount airstrikes against suspected Kurdish militant sites in northern Iraq and launch a series of raids across Turkiye in which dozens of people with suspected links to the Kurdish militants were rounded up.

Hungarys objections are not entirely clear. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has repeatedly said that his country would not be the last to endorse Swedens membership. That stance has left Stockholm and some allies perplexed, as no public demands have been made to win his approval.

Some vague allusions have surfaced. Orbans government has alleged that Swedish politicians have told blatant lies about the state of Hungarys democracy and that this has left some lawmakers unsure about whether to support the accession bid.

Last month, Orban said that he is in no hurry anyway. He told lawmakers that nothing is threatening Swedens security, and that Hungary was therefore in no rush to ratify its membership. (AP
Pakistans jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday said he will neither leave the country nor back down even an inch from his quest for real freedom for the upholding of the rule of law and the Constitution.

Khans family on Thursday posted his message to the people of Pakistan on his X account.

To those suggesting that I leave the country, know that I will live and die with Pakistan, and I will not leave my land to go anywhere. Regardless of what prison they keep me in, whatever conditions they impose upon me, I will not back down even an inch from the quest of Haqeeqi Azadi (real freedom), for the upholding of the rule of law and the Constitution of Pakistan, at the core of which is free and fair elections (sic), his X post said.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, who has been at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi in the cipher case, further said: Let it be known that theres a difference of day and night between Imran Khan of today and Imran Khan who was imprisoned on August 5, 2023. Today I am stronger and fitter; spiritually, mentally and physically, than ever before.

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 countrys embassy in Washington in March last year. The court had last week declared that Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi would be indicted during the next hearing on October 17, which would mark the official start of the trial.

Ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022, Khan 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.

Narrating his story in prison, Khan said: When I was illegally incarcerated in Attock Jail, the first few days were particularly challenging. I wasnt provided a bed and had to sleep on the floor and had insects and mosquitoes all over me. But with time I have adjusted well to the prison conditions.

In prison, he wrote that he had the opportunity to study and research the Holy Quran in-depth, along with other books which have strengthened his faith. I was also able to introspect the last few years of my political life, Khan wrote. As far as the Cipher case is concerned, Khan said the bogus case is designed to protect former Army Chief General Bajwa and US diplomat Donald Lu.

I was the elected Prime Minister of the country. Treason was committed against me and my government by General Bajwa. Instead of investigating the foreign conspiracy in orchestrating a regime change, a case has been filed against me for informing the people of Pakistan, the real protectors of this country, about this treason.

On the arrest of his party workers in the wake of attacks on military installations, Khan said: If theres one thing that bothers & pains me, is the suffering of my workers who have been illegally imprisoned, especially our women workers who have been in captivity for months, by a few people who abuse their power to satisfy their egos. I appeal to the judiciary to provide justice and order the immediate release of our workers. he wrote.

The PTI chief urged his followers not to give up their struggle and keep demanding a fair and transparent election in the country.

Khan also said he is predicting that on whatever day the election is held, the people of Pakistan will come out in huge numbers to vote for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and defeat all these parties combined. No matter how much these people cheat, their only destiny is defeat, the PTI leader said.

Khan, who served as the countrys prime minister until April last year, currently faces around 180 cases. These cases primarily stem from incidents that occurred following the attack on the Lahore Corps Commanders House on May 9. Supporters of Khan launched a series of attacks on key military installations and government properties following the arrest of their leader in an alleged corruption case.

General elections are expected to be held in the last week of January 2024.
Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR  Free Report)  Zacks Research cut their Q4 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Nabors Industries in a research note issued to investors on Monday, October 9th. Zacks Research analyst N. Choudhury now expects that the oil and gas company will post earnings of $1.00 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $1.16. The consensus estimate for Nabors Industries current full-year earnings is ($3.89) per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Nabors Industries Q2 2024 earnings at $1.79 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $8.07 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $4.05 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $16.11 EPS.

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Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The oil and gas company reported ($2.26) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($3.76). Nabors Industries had a negative net margin of 0.96% and a negative return on equity of 17.98%. The firm had revenue of $778.81 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $777.59 million.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Nabors Industries from $124.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $160.00 price target on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Monday, July 31st. Benchmark upgraded Nabors Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of Nabors Industries from $112.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $149.86.

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Nabors Industries Price Performance

NYSE:NBR opened at $116.58 on Tuesday. Nabors Industries has a 12-month low of $83.05 and a 12-month high of $190.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -19.86 and a beta of 2.74. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $118.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $109.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 1.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.23.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director John P. Kotts sold 4,975 shares of Nabors Industries stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.13, for a total value of $622,521.75. Following the transaction, the director now owns 4,787 shares in the company, valued at approximately $598,997.31. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 7.09% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nabors Industries

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Nabors Industries in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. CWM LLC increased its holdings in Nabors Industries by 132.2% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 281 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its position in Nabors Industries by 165.9% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 226 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its holdings in Nabors Industries by 193.3% during the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 305 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 201 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp bought a new stake in shares of Nabors Industries in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. 80.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Nabors Industries Company Profile

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Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells in the United States and internationally. The company operates through U.S. Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running, wellbore placement, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), equipment manufacturing, and rig instrumentation services; and logging-while-drilling systems and services, as well as drilling optimization software.

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AM Investment Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 1,327 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $201,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 99,734.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 253,081,478 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,402,583,000 after purchasing an additional 252,827,976 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 96,526.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 38,535,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,840,449,000 after purchasing an additional 38,495,676 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter valued at about $3,752,321,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 42.2% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 24,386,838 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,626,080,000 after purchasing an additional 7,235,990 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 44,320,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,717,246,000 after purchasing an additional 4,959,527 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.43% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 33,022 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.26, for a total transaction of $5,160,017.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $138,758.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 33,022 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.26, for a total transaction of $5,160,017.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $138,758.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Balaji Purushothaman sold 12,629 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.19, for a total value of $1,985,152.51. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 13,051 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,051,486.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 108,760 shares of company stock worth $16,835,914 in the last three months. 0.17% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. William Blair assumed coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research report on Friday, September 8th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. They noted that the move was a valuation call. StockNews.com raised Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Barclays boosted their price target on Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $174.00 price target on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Procter & Gamble from $164.00 to $172.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $166.94.

View Our Latest Stock Report on PG

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PG opened at $142.96 on Thursday. The Procter & Gamble Company has a twelve month low of $122.92 and a twelve month high of $158.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The company has a market capitalization of $337.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $151.84 and a 200-day simple moving average of $151.14.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.05. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.88% and a net margin of 17.87%. The business had revenue of $20.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.21 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.38 earnings per share for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Investors of record on Friday, October 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.9407 per share. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.63%. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is currently 63.73%.

About Procter & Gamble

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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Wedbush began coverage on shares of CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA  Get Free Report) in a research report issued on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage set a neutral rating and a $33.00 price target on the stock. Wedbushs price objective would indicate a potential upside of 1.38% from the companys current price.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on CAVA Group from $48.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. William Blair initiated coverage on shares of CAVA Group in a report on Monday, July 10th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of CAVA Group from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on CAVA Group in a report on Monday, July 10th. They issued an overweight rating and a $45.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler increased their price objective on CAVA Group from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $46.67.

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CAVA Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CAVA opened at $32.55 on Tuesday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $39.53. CAVA Group has a 12-month low of $29.05 and a 12-month high of $58.10.

CAVA Group (NYSE:CAVA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 15th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.03) by $0.24. The company had revenue of $172.89 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $163.21 million. The companys quarterly revenue was up 27.2% compared to the same quarter last year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CAVA Group

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Glassman Wealth Services bought a new stake in shares of CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of CAVA Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. bought a new stake in CAVA Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $74,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in CAVA Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $102,000. Finally, Cypress Wealth Services LLC bought a new stake in CAVA Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $202,000. Institutional investors own 61.83% of the companys stock.

About CAVA Group

(Get Free Report)

CAVA Group, Inc owns and operates a chain of Mediterranean restaurants. The company offers salads, dips, spreads, toppings, and dressings. It sells its products through whole food markets and grocery stores. The company also provides online food ordering services. Cava Group, Inc was founded in 2006 and is based in Washington, District of Columbia.

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Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta (NYSE:VTMX  Get Free Report) is one of 75 public companies in the Real estate industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta to related companies based on the strength of its profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and earnings.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

7.1% of Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.4% of shares of all Real estate companies are owned by institutional investors. 17.9% of shares of all Real estate companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta 0 1 1 0 2.50 Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta Competitors 232 1072 1164 29 2.40

Earnings & Valuation

Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta currently has a consensus target price of $39.00, indicating a potential upside of 17.05%. As a group, Real estate companies have a potential upside of 26.39%. Given Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vestas rivals higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

This table compares Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta $178.03 million $243.63 million 7.64 Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta Competitors $1.47 billion $59.20 million 27.04

Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vestas rivals have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta. Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta 149.56% 17.81% 9.83% Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta Competitors -282.56% -3.02% 0.14%

Dividends

Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta pays an annual dividend of $0.15 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta pays out 3.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Real estate companies pay a dividend yield of 4.3% and pay out 120.1% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Corporacion Inmobiliaria Vesta, S.A.B. de C.V., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, develops, manages, operates, and leases industrial buildings and distribution centers in Mexico. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico.

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DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 16.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 55,564 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 8,017 shares during the quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrales holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $3,691,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 71,854.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 526,000,917 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,631,900,000 after purchasing an additional 525,269,895 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at about $83,092,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,329,879 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,138,589,000 after purchasing an additional 1,235,013 shares during the last quarter. Dodge & Cox grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 28,120,054 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,453,244,000 after purchasing an additional 1,032,150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Liontrust Investment Partners LLP purchased a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,391,000. 73.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Molson Coors Beverage Price Performance

NYSE TAP opened at $60.05 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Molson Coors Beverage has a 12 month low of $46.90 and a 12 month high of $70.90. The companys 50 day moving average is $63.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.84. The stock has a market cap of $12.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 375.31, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.86.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.15. Molson Coors Beverage had a net margin of 0.31% and a return on equity of 8.17%. The business had revenue of $3.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.31 billion. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Several research firms have issued reports on TAP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $72.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $61.00 to $69.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $72.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Molson Coors Beverage presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $65.31.

View Our Latest Report on Molson Coors Beverage

About Molson Coors Beverage

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, and ready to drink beverages. It provides its products under Aspall Cider, Blue Moon, Coors Original, Hop Valley brands, Leinenkugel's, Miller Genuine Draft, Molson Ultra, Sharp's, Staropramen, and Vizzy Hard Seltzer above premier brands; Bergenbier, Borsodi, Carling, Coors Banquet, Coors Light, Jelen, Kamenitza, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian Lager, Molson Dry, Molson Export, and Niksicko, Ozujsko under the premium brands; and Branik, Icehouse, Keystone, Miller High Life, Milwaukee's Best, and Steel Reserve under the economy brands.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Free Report).

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Dorian LPG Ltd. (NYSE:LPG  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $30.52 and last traded at $30.52, with a volume of 112478 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $29.64.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LPG has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. DNB Markets cut Dorian LPG from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $26.90 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Dorian LPG from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $30.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com cut Dorian LPG from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $26.98.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on LPG

Dorian LPG Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 2.50 and a quick ratio of 2.47. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $27.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $24.86. The firm has a market cap of $1.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.23 and a beta of 1.13.

Dorian LPG (NYSE:LPG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The shipping company reported $1.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by ($0.43). Dorian LPG had a return on equity of 22.93% and a net margin of 46.96%. The company had revenue of $111.56 million for the quarter. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.56 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Dorian LPG Ltd. will post 4.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Dorian LPG Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 20th will be issued a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 19th. Dorian LPGs dividend payout ratio is presently 80.81%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Dorian LPG

In other news, EVP Alexander C. Hadjipateras sold 5,000 shares of Dorian LPG stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.05, for a total transaction of $140,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 81,853 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,295,976.65. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Alexander C. Hadjipateras sold 5,000 shares of Dorian LPG stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.05, for a total transaction of $140,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 81,853 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,295,976.65. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Thomas Jason Coleman sold 100,000 shares of Dorian LPG stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.01, for a total transaction of $2,901,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 198,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,743,980. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 220,000 shares of company stock valued at $6,103,560. 15.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in shares of Dorian LPG by 134.6% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,715 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 984 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Dorian LPG by 79.3% during the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,325 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 586 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in Dorian LPG by 43.8% in the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,412 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 430 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its holdings in Dorian LPG by 63.2% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,413 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 547 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Dorian LPG by 30.7% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,412 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 566 shares during the last quarter. 64.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Dorian LPG Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dorian LPG Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) through its LPG tankers worldwide. It owns and operates twenty-five very large gas carriers (VLGCs). The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

Further Reading

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Suzano (NYSE:SUZ  Get Free Report) is one of 17 public companies in the Paper mills industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Suzano to similar companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Suzano and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Suzano 47.44% 64.65% 17.21% Suzano Competitors 7.59% 18.89% 6.66%

Dividends

Suzano pays an annual dividend of $0.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Suzano pays out 9.4% 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. Suzano has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Volatility and Risk

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Suzano has a beta of 1.11, indicating that its share price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Suzanos competitors have a beta of 1.31, indicating that their average share price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500.

2.6% of Suzano shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.7% of shares of all Paper mills companies are owned by institutional investors. 5.5% of shares of all Paper mills companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Suzano and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Suzano 0 0 1 0 3.00 Suzano Competitors 113 718 474 49 2.34

As a group, Paper mills companies have a potential upside of 28.69%. Given Suzanos competitors higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Suzano has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Suzano and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Suzano $9.65 billion $4.53 billion 3.28 Suzano Competitors $5.61 billion $686.61 million 29.21

Suzano has higher revenue and earnings than its competitors. Suzano 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.

Summary

Suzano beats its competitors on 8 of the 15 factors compared.

Suzano Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Suzano S.A. produces and sells eucalyptus pulp and paper products in Brazil and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paper segments. The company offers coated and uncoated printing and writing papers, paperboards, tissue papers, and market and fluff pulps; and lignin. It also engages in the research, development, and production of biofuel; operation of port terminals; power generation and distribution business; commercialization of equipment and parts; industrialization, commercialization, and exporting of pulp and standing wood; road freight transport; biotechnology research and development; and commercialization of paper and computer materials. In addition, the company is involved in the business office, production packaging, and financial fundraising activities; research, development, production, commercialization, and distribution of wood-based textile fibers, yarns, and filaments produced from cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose; and research and development of wood raw materials for the textile industry. Suzano S.A. was formerly known as Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A. and changed its name to Suzano S.A. in April 2019. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Salvador, Brazil.

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Edison International (NYSE:EIX  Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Guggenheim from $74.00 to $63.00 in a report released on Monday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Several other research analysts have also commented on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Edison International from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 15th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Edison International from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Mizuho raised Edison International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $73.00 to $75.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $81.00 target price on shares of Edison International in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Edison International from $68.00 to $71.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $71.73.

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Edison International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE EIX opened at $64.96 on Monday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $67.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $69.53. The firm has a market cap of $24.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.19, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.82. Edison International has a 52 week low of $54.45 and a 52 week high of $74.92. 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 quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.06. Edison International had a return on equity of 12.69% and a net margin of 6.81%. The firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.28 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.94 EPS. The firms revenue was down 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Edison International will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Edison International Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.54%. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 118.95%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Edison International

In other news, SVP Caroline Choi sold 11,222 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.64, for a total value of $803,944.08. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 20,881 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,495,914.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 1.03% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Edison International by 36.3% in the 3rd quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 714 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the period. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC increased its holdings in Edison International by 41.7% during the 3rd quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 8,499 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $538,000 after purchasing an additional 2,501 shares in the last quarter. Pure Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Edison International by 62.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pure Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,598 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $607,000 after purchasing an additional 3,701 shares in the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Edison International by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 8,371 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $530,000 after acquiring an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI grew its holdings in shares of Edison International by 13.6% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 123,667 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,548,000 after acquiring an additional 14,830 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.17% of the companys stock.

Edison International Company Profile

(Get 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.

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NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE  Free Report) had its price objective trimmed by Guggenheim from $73.00 to $65.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. TheStreet lowered NextEra Energy from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on NextEra Energy from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $91.00 target price on shares of NextEra Energy in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on NextEra Energy from $88.00 to $72.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price target on NextEra Energy from $91.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $78.54.

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NextEra Energy Price Performance

NextEra Energy stock opened at $53.54 on Monday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $64.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $71.44. The stock has a market cap of $108.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.51. NextEra Energy has a 12-month low of $47.15 and a 12-month high of $88.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $7.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.68 billion. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 12.25% and a net margin of 30.05%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.81 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that NextEra Energy will post 3.11 earnings per share for the current year.

NextEra Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 30th were issued a dividend of $0.4675 per share. This represents a $1.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.49%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 29th. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 46.29%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other NextEra Energy news, Director James Lawrence Camaren purchased 4,000 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $67.85 per share, for a total transaction of $271,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 8,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $542,800. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, major shareholder Nextera Energy Inc purchased 3,097,524 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 6th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $24.21 per share, for a total transaction of $74,991,056.04. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,097,524 shares in the company, valued at $99,201,056.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director James Lawrence Camaren acquired 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $67.85 per share, with a total value of $271,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $542,800. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders purchased 3,111,524 shares of company stock valued at $75,941,956. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its stake in NextEra Energy by 97,599.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,317,196,332 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $97,735,968,000 after purchasing an additional 1,315,848,115 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 36,670,792 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,712,616,000 after buying an additional 1,437,501 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in NextEra Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,774,845,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of NextEra Energy by 66,613.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 30,263,816 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,530,055,000 after buying an additional 30,218,452 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 19,626,941 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,538,947,000 after purchasing an additional 315,356 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.48% of the companys stock.

About NextEra Energy

(Get Free Report)

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, coal, and natural gas facilities. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.

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Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR  Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Guggenheim from $48.00 to $45.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Portland General Electric from $46.00 to $43.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday. StockNews.com cut shares of Portland General Electric from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Sunday, October 1st. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Portland General Electric in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. TheStreet cut shares of Portland General Electric from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Portland General Electric from $44.00 to $42.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $48.13.

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Portland General Electric Price Performance

POR opened at $42.60 on Monday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $43.56 and its 200 day simple moving average is $47.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.89. Portland General Electric has a 1 year low of $38.01 and a 1 year high of $51.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.31 billion, a PE ratio of 17.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.57.

Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The utilities provider reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.49 by ($0.05). Portland General Electric had a return on equity of 8.03% and a net margin of 7.82%. The company had revenue of $648.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $571.82 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.72 earnings per share. Portland General Electrics revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Portland General Electric will post 2.67 EPS for the current year.

Portland General Electric Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Investors of record on Monday, September 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.475 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 22nd. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.46%. Portland General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 79.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Anne Frances Mersereau sold 10,891 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.16, for a total transaction of $480,946.56. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 7,071 shares in the company, valued at $312,255.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.51% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Portland General Electric

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Portland General Electric in the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. IMA Wealth Inc. increased its stake in shares of Portland General Electric by 100.0% in the second quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 786 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 393 shares during the period. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Portland General Electric in the first quarter valued at approximately $39,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Portland General Electric in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Benjamin Edwards Inc. increased its stake in shares of Portland General Electric by 150.9% during the first quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 946 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 569 shares during the period.

Portland General Electric Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Portland General Electric Company, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. It operates six thermal plants, three wind farms, and seven hydroelectric facilities. As of December 31, 2022, the company owned an electric transmission system consisting of 1,255 circuit miles, including 269 circuit miles of 500 kilovolt line, 413 circuit miles of 230 kilovolt line, and 573 miles of 115 kilovolt line; and served 926 thousand retail customers in 51 cities.

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Sylvamo (NYSE:SLVM  Get Free Report) is one of 17 public companies in the Paper mills industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Sylvamo to related companies based on the strength of its dividends, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Institutional and Insider 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. 0.5% of Sylvamo shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 5.5% of shares of all Paper mills companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Volatility and Risk

Sylvamo has a beta of 1.05, indicating that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sylvamos peers have a beta of 1.31, indicating that their average stock price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Sylvamo $3.63 billion $118.00 million 6.19 Sylvamo Competitors $5.61 billion $686.61 million 29.21

This table compares Sylvamo and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Sylvamos peers have higher revenue and earnings than Sylvamo. Sylvamo is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

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.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings for Sylvamo and its peers, as provided 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 50 2.34

Sylvamo currently has a consensus price target of $52.50, suggesting a potential upside of 24.79%. As a group, Paper mills companies have a potential upside of 30.99%. Given Sylvamos peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Sylvamo has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Profitability

This table compares Sylvamo and its peers 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%

Summary

Sylvamo peers beat Sylvamo on 8 of the 15 factors compared.

About Sylvamo

(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.

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Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) by 25.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 91,445 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 18,326 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $4,347,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 6.3% during the first quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 15,283 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $534,000 after buying an additional 901 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 8.2% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 962,574 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $29,966,000 after buying an additional 73,291 shares during the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines during the first quarter valued at approximately $431,000. KWB Wealth bought a new position in Delta Air Lines during the first quarter valued at approximately $221,000. Finally, Capital Analysts LLC lifted its position in Delta Air Lines by 674.3% during the first quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 3,639 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 3,169 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.29% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Delta Air Lines

In related news, Director Michael P. Huerta sold 3,350 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.43, for a total transaction of $162,240.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 27,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,330,129.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Michael P. Huerta sold 3,350 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.43, for a total transaction of $162,240.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 27,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,330,129.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Peter W. Carter sold 17,944 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 166,192 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,478,640. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 40,479 shares of company stock valued at $1,839,353. Corporate insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DAL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $60.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $70.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 14th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Delta Air Lines in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $58.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $64.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $54.41.

Read Our Latest Report on DAL

Delta Air Lines Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of DAL stock opened at $35.98 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $23.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.75, a PEG ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 1.32. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a one year low of $28.21 and a one year high of $49.81. The companys fifty day moving average price is $40.53 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, a current ratio of 0.46 and a quick ratio of 0.41.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 13th. The transportation company reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.40 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $15.58 billion for 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 revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.44 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Delta Air Lines Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.11%. Delta Air Liness payout ratio is 8.62%.

Delta Air Lines Company Profile

(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.

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Resonant Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 19,510 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,998 shares during the period. Resonant Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $2,960,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 99,734.1% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 253,081,478 shares of the companys stock worth $38,402,583,000 after purchasing an additional 252,827,976 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 161,843,254 shares of the companys stock worth $24,064,473,000 after purchasing an additional 2,157,319 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 46,754,131 shares of the companys stock worth $6,936,343,000 after buying an additional 510,559 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 44,320,700 shares of the companys stock worth $6,717,246,000 after buying an additional 4,959,527 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 96,526.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 38,535,557 shares of the companys stock worth $5,840,449,000 after buying an additional 38,495,676 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.43% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $174.00 price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $164.00 to $172.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $166.94.

Procter & Gamble Trading Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE PG opened at $142.96 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $337.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.23, a PEG ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $151.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $151.14. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 52 week low of $122.92 and a 52 week high of $158.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.63.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $20.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.01 billion. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.88% and a net margin of 17.87%. The companys revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.21 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.9407 per share. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.63%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.73%.

Insider Transactions at Procter & Gamble

In other Procter & Gamble news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 33,022 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.26, for a total transaction of $5,160,017.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 888 shares in the company, valued at $138,758.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 33,022 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.26, for a total transaction of $5,160,017.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $138,758.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Susan Street Whaley sold 575 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total value of $83,357.75. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 7,498 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,086,985.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 108,760 shares of company stock worth $16,835,914 over the last three months. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Procter & Gamble

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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State of Michigan Retirement System lowered its position in Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI  Free Report) by 0.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 542,345 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 900 shares during the period. State of Michigan Retirement Systems holdings in Kinder Morgan were worth $9,339,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its holdings in shares of Kinder Morgan by 0.6% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 153,572 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $2,645,000 after purchasing an additional 974 shares during the last quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC grew its position in Kinder Morgan by 2.9% during the second quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 27,970 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $482,000 after buying an additional 787 shares during the period. Alera Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Kinder Morgan by 5.0% during the second quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC now owns 32,707 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $563,000 after buying an additional 1,566 shares during the period. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its position in Kinder Morgan by 57.6% during the second quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 1,732 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 633 shares during the period. Finally, Janney Capital Management LLC grew its position in Kinder Morgan by 7.4% during the second quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 125,436 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $2,160,000 after buying an additional 8,669 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.33% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Kinder Morgan from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of Kinder Morgan in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Kinder Morgan from $20.00 to $19.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Kinder Morgan in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating and a $20.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Kinder Morgan from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $20.20.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Sital K. Mody sold 55,849 shares of Kinder Morgan stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.36, for a total value of $969,538.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, VP John W. Schlosser sold 7,500 shares of Kinder Morgan stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.00, for a total value of $135,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 12,219 shares in the company, valued at $219,942. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Sital K. Mody sold 55,849 shares of Kinder Morgan stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.36, for a total transaction of $969,538.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 12.64% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Kinder Morgan Trading Up 0.1 %

KMI stock opened at $16.84 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $37.52 billion, a PE ratio of 15.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.04 and a beta of 0.95. Kinder Morgan, Inc. has a one year low of $15.89 and a one year high of $19.35. The companys 50 day moving average price is $17.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.49.

Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The pipeline company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.24. Kinder Morgan had a net margin of 14.65% and a return on equity of 7.79%. The firm had revenue of $3.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.55 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.27 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 32.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Kinder Morgan, Inc. will post 1.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kinder Morgan Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Monday, July 31st were paid a $0.2825 dividend. This represents a $1.13 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 28th. Kinder Morgans payout ratio is 101.80%.

About Kinder Morgan

(Free Report)

Kinder Morgan, Inc operates as an energy infrastructure company in North America. The company operates through four segments: Natural Gas Pipelines, Products Pipelines, Terminals, and CO2. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment owns and operates interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline, and underground storage systems; natural gas gathering systems and natural gas processing and treating facilities; natural gas liquids fractionation facilities and transportation systems; and liquefied natural gas gasification, liquefaction, and storage facilities.

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Arlington Partners LLC increased its holdings in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 22.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,316 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,539 shares during the quarter. Arlington Partners LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $1,262,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 99,734.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 253,081,478 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,402,583,000 after acquiring an additional 252,827,976 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 161,843,254 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,064,473,000 after acquiring an additional 2,157,319 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 46,754,131 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,936,343,000 after acquiring an additional 510,559 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 44,320,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,717,246,000 after acquiring an additional 4,959,527 shares during the period. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 96,526.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 38,535,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,840,449,000 after acquiring an additional 38,495,676 shares during the period. 63.43% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on PG. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and issued a $174.00 price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $167.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. StockNews.com raised shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $166.94.

Insider Buying and Selling at Procter & Gamble

In other news, insider Balaji Purushothaman sold 12,629 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.19, for a total transaction of $1,985,152.51. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 13,051 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,051,486.69. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CEO R. Alexandra Keith sold 1,413 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.97, for a total transaction of $204,842.61. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 26,306 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,813,580.82. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Balaji Purushothaman sold 12,629 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.19, for a total transaction of $1,985,152.51. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 13,051 shares in the company, valued at $2,051,486.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 108,760 shares of company stock worth $16,835,914. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

NYSE:PG opened at $142.96 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $337.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.28 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The companys 50-day moving average is $151.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $151.14. The Procter & Gamble Company has a 12-month low of $122.92 and a 12-month high of $158.38.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $20.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.01 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 17.87% and a return on equity of 32.88%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.21 EPS. Research analysts expect that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.38 EPS for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 20th will be issued a $0.9407 dividend. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.63%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.73%.

Procter & Gamble Profile

(Free Report)

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.

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UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the seventeen analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, thirteen have assigned a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $573.52.

UNH has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. HSBC initiated coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. They set a hold rating and a $540.00 target price for the company. UBS Group boosted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $510.00 to $520.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $549.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $591.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $562.00 to $555.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 17th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $524.02 on Monday. UnitedHealth Group has a twelve month low of $445.68 and a twelve month high of $558.10. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $497.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $491.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The company has a market cap of $485.40 billion, a PE ratio of 23.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.64.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.92 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $92.90 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.97 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.72% and a net margin of 6.06%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $5.57 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group will post 24.83 EPS for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 11th were issued a dividend of $1.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 8th. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.44%. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is presently 33.65%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $506.19, for a total transaction of $2,024,760.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 78,573 shares in the company, valued at $39,772,866.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chelsea Counsel Co. bought a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. 25 LLC purchased a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC purchased a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Kalos Management Inc. acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. 85.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About UnitedHealth Group

(Get 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.

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We won the election. Labour won the election, and many of us at the BBC are adamant that Corbyn is the prime minister of Britain, Russell Owens, a devout socialist BBC comedian told the BBC in his usual smarmy, shouty way.

If it was not for the audiences of the BBC debates that were all devout socialists, or the BBC comedy shows where socialist comedians all pat each other on the back with the same old jokes rehashed over and over again, then repackaged for the umpteenth time with the same old fucking dismal catch phrases, that proves Corbyn won the election, then what else is there?

BBC producer, Bentham Marx, revealed the secret of BBC comedy shows, where the same old insipid white socialists all jerk each other off on stage to applause from socialist audiences and their rigged communist clapping in a horrific Marxist merry go round perpetual never ending nightmare.

As a left-wing biased broadcasting corporation who receives funds from the EU and UK taxpayer, it is not in our interests to deliver programming to an audience that does not comprise of anti-capitalist champagne socialist Islingtonians spewing the same old tired banal, biased, puerile, socialist shite. You may have to pay the TV license but you will damn well watch our biased left-wing socialist footage, and by the way, Jeremy Corbyn won the election.

Yes, yes, yes, Jeremy Corbyn won the election. One would think we were all cosied up socialist comedians on lucrative BBC pay packets living in some socialist utopia like Venezuela
The incident occurred today in Beverly Hills when Kim Kardashian was shopping for another set of handbags.

According to witnesses at the scene, a truck was passing when one of its valves came unloose. The valve compartment measured 3 feet across and the truck had just travelled from a toxic waste depot.

This stuff was pouring out all over the sidewalk. One womans chihuahua practically melted in front of our fucking eyes when the toxic shit splattered over it. Thats when I saw Kim, she dropped her bags, undid her leopard skin pattern leotard, and put her ass against the leakage. Many were fainting from the fumes. Kim Kardashian is my hero, her asshole saved hundreds of people today, Miles Fetnoer, 43, a witness to the accident revealed.

To plug a hole three feet across is no easy feat but Kim Kardashian managed it with ease.

Each Kardashian buttock has been carefully moulded by the best professionals in the cosmetic surgery field of Los Angeles, and they are modelled on buttocks of black women.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Phil Penrose, of Beverly Hills, was quick to assert the effectiveness of his masterpiece.

Kim and and many of the Kardashian clan only like black. They like their men black, and their asses black. I am so happy she saved the day today with her butt. The amount of sculpting that her project took was immense. I dont just do trout lips, and beach ball tit implants, I also do the Kardashian butt, and white women are queueing around the block to have me carve them up and stuff em. They actually pay for it too.

The Mayor of Los Angeles, Enrique Polantes, praised Kim Kardashian and plans on holding a ceremony honouring her heroic buttocks.

Kim saved the day with her butt. Many people would have died today if it was not for her ginormous asshole, and Im not just talking about Kanye.
Former first lady, Michelle Obama today extolled the virtues of cockroach milk, a new superfood for the health conscious champagne socialist set.

This is lactose free amino-acid rich goodness all in one. Protein rich and yummy. I pour the cockroach milk over my cereal in the morning and have a few drops with my coffee, Mrs Obama told Marie Claire magazine.

In October, Michelle Obama will be featured in her own Netflix show to promote healthy eating to Americans.

Said to be the superfood for the Millennial era, many are even harvesting their own Hawaiian Pacific Beetle cockroaches at home, then milking them daily to extract the gooey milk that holds protein crystals.

Hannah Gutter, a democratic party worker from Los Angeles has even named her cockroach brood, consisting of 240 cockroaches which she houses in her tiny apartment she shares with her girlfriend.

I love my cockroaches, I even name them, like see the one with spot on its back, thats Spot, and the other one over there mating, thats Harvey. I hope he got consent.

Milking time

Extracting the milk from a cockroach can be a tedious business, and it takes Hannah four hours a day, but its worth every minute, in her point of view.

You pick them up one by one, then I rub their crotch area gently slowly picking up the pace. When you hear this clicking agitated excited sound, you know theyre close to popping. Thats when they usually shoot their gooey milky load all over the place, so you have to catch it in a cup. Afterwards some of them get really sleepy, and I put them in a quiet place to sleep it off.
You think Obamos done some damage. Wait until I get on the scene, I dont even know what day it is today, hell, I dont even know my name, vice president, Joe Biden told ABC news.

As the calls for impeachment of the current president rise daily, the feeling is that whatever happens, the US is on a boat with no paddle, no rudder and no plugs for the shit thats flooding the boat.

Lets look at it this way, impeaching this good for nothing dog wont achieve anything because then we get Biden, the biggest loser this side of Kansas city in the White House. The only positive I can see is that Biden might get things to quieten down a little, we still got two years of this shit left. Worst case scenario, Biden starts a nuclear war, but Obamas already doing that right now by coercing the Russians. Okay, heres the deal, I say we impeach Obama, then get Biden in, shut him up in congress, then when the election comes around the country votes Republican. Has Biden done anything in six years? Exactly! The only reason Obama wants to get 5 million illegals legit is because theyll vote Democrat. He couldnt care one chicken bucket if they live or die, hes doing this for the Democrat 2016 elections, an unnamed source from Capitol Hill revealed Friday.
Even though the bombs have been raining on their territory and they have lost some ground in Iraq, the ISIS Islamic creed still lives on, and it is their puritan Sunni pseudo Wahabi spirit that endures every day making a mockery of the bombing parties spending millions on destroying empty buildings.

It is assumed they receive prior intelligence and warning before any bomb is dropped by the Americans, not so much the Russians who are bombing civilian targets indiscriminately. ISIS have a vast network of tunnels where they congregate in safety and they are highly mobile. It is only a matter of time before they wipe out the Kurd threat in the region, as there are many forces which want that particular group cleaned out and erased, a reporter on the ground revealed.

Despite the huge and expensive bombing effort by many different nations over the past year, ISIS have actually gained ground in Libya and Africa, as well as Yemen and other parts of the middle East. This sure fire steadfastness under massive adversity is a very fruitful recruitment tool for the group because it proves to many that the enduring flame of the single idea is cast in invincible diamond encrusted stone.
If one person exemplified the EU, it would have to be the nasty piece of vindictive shit, Guy Verhofstadt.

Sneering and spitting his hatred of Britain at every turn, his vile hate of the British Isles is something that will be set in European Union history. The history books of the future will write of this treacherous pustule of rotting puss, as he truly deserves to be remembered.

MEPs are set to finalise Brexit in a final vote on the Boris Johnsons Brexit deal in the European Parliament at 6pm. Of course, the shister Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt has threatened to veto the bill and stop Britain from leaving the EU.

It would be quite a farce, to have come this far to yet be stumped at the post by this repugnant resentful Belgian thug. Verhofstadt is certainly not a cultured Belgian gentleman a la Poirot, but a fanatical fascistic EU zealot who needs to be locked in a cell away from humanity for a long time.

Please let us leave the EU, to forget we ever saw this uncouth spiteful monster, Verhofstadt, let us erase his horrid sneering ugly face from our memory forever.
We cant find any horses in Europe any more. Weve eaten them all and we need to bring in horses from South America or North America, Edoardo Montelban, a conservationist for the World Wildlife Fund based in Madrid, Spain told the BBC yesterday.

There has not been a horse race in Britain for weeks as there are no horses left in mainland Britain.

Someone ate the whole bloody 2.30 Cheltenham race and now weve just got a retired John McCririck running up and down the course commentating on non-existent horses, a race punter said.

If anyone sees any horses in the UK please contact: Horse Conservation Group, Not the Findus Factory, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL2 AAA


If someone had told you that social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube would have more power than the President of the United States five years ago, you would scoff at them. The year is 2021, and Donald J. Trump has been banned/silenced/cancelled by all the left leaning social media companies. Hes fucking outta there, cancel cultured, spat out like a pepper corn, shat out like a sweetcorn infested turd.

Disgusting. Big Tech wants to cancel all 75M @realDonaldTrump supporters. If you dont think theyre coming for you next, youre wrong. Twitter bans President Trump https://t.co/4inOMm4Jth  Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) January 8, 2021

Is it conceivable that a social media site employed by a few nerds ensconced in some Northern Californian warehouse have more power than a president? Well, they do now. Protected, untouchable, above the law and any governmental official. The profits alone for some of these behemoths which are conveniently siphoned offshore to avoid taxation, are more than some nations GDP.

Mark Zuckerberg has banned the President of the United States. He should have that on a plaque or pedestal in his office. From now on Senators will be driven to Palo Alto where they will have to answer to the mighty Zuck.

The office of president is now nothing more than a laughingstock, and legislators nothing but fucking mice running around the dirty floor stomped on by social media CEOs and their now vast egos. Social media BIG Tech monopolies are now bigger than entire governments, and have the proven ability to sway elections not only with their influence, but the vast cash reserves they splash around.

Trump, a loser, can now only hold his head in shame. His cowardice exposed for the whole world to see, a disgraceful sourness permeates the atmosphere as he slinks away back to his garish Mar-a-Largo grotesque gold covered furniture laden suites. His followers abandoned to their fate, to be later hunted down and persecuted by equally vile socialist scum. These were all cannon fodder, to be used, then discarded like mere used tissues.

What does this mean for the democracy we were meant to have?

Well, its impossible to have a democratic election if only one side has a voice. Big Tech has all but silenced and cancel cultured/shadow-banned the voice of the opposition, and in political discourse in a democracy it is crucial to have two voices. We now only have one voice, and it is the Soviet left-wing Marxist voice of Wokedom, led by the Big Tech monopolies which is given overall prominence and authority.

From now on all elections will be rigged and all political discourse will be one-sided. The 2019 election was proof of the power of social media hegemony and superiority. The Democrat Party will be omnipresent from now on, it will be a one party world, and the American system is now fully edging its way to a full Soviet Chinese system, where eventually elections will be completely phased out.

In a few years the Republican party or conservatives will cease to exist in the political field. Cancel culture will make damn sure of that.

N.B. The Daily Squib does NOT subscribe to any political party, and does not belong in any way or fashion to any huma-constructed political ideologies left or right or centre. The Daily Squib is a mere mirror of any activity that is occurring in the world at any and all times, and views any scenario in an objective manner only seeing the right or wrong of any situation. The Daily Squib abhors totalitarianism and censorship from any political ideology, and we fight for the preservation of democracy/Justice/freedom of expression/speech in the West.
Black Lives Matter (BLM) fully supports the savage genocidal actions of Hamas terrorists who murdered unarmed Israeli civilians in cold blood. BLM wants Israel and its people wiped off the face of the earth, and one of its founders, Patrisse Cullors was quoted in 2015 calling for the destruction of Israel. The racist antisemitic BLM group is heavily funded and supported by US corporations, receiving millions in donations.

BLM FLASHBACK: In 2015, BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stating: Palestine is our generations South Africaif we dont step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project called Israel, were doomed. BLMs views pic.twitter.com/lebY6so6Zi  Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) October 11, 2023

We are not going to be intimidated by, stay silent when they say Hamas is a terrorist organization. The fact, it is not a terrorist organization Remarks at todays pro-Palestine rally in Dearborn, with cheers from the crowd after a speaker stated the terrorist is Benjamin pic.twitter.com/Si0tyjsjQ3  Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) October 11, 2023

According to the antisemitic BLM, Hamas is not a terrorist organization, despite the mass murders and rapes; the killing and beheading of children, women, and the elderly, often in front of their families; and the abduction of over 100 hostages to be tortured and eventually killed in the Gaza Strip.

Anyone who has ever backed or supported the racist antisemitic BLM group have blood on their hands, you are a disgrace to humanity and all that it stands for. If you support BLM you are worse than a Nazi Einsatzgruppen, a man said outside BLM headquarters.
Dalhousie University and the University of King's College have partnered with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia to host a groundbreaking meeting of the Universities Studying Slavery consortium this month  the first USS event ever to be held outside of the United States.

The conference, which runs October 18-21, will be the first of this scale to place the experience of African Nova Scotians at the heart of the discussion. Leading experts on the history of slavery and the fight for reparations from around the world will speak alongside respected African Nova Scotian voices representing academic, cultural and political circles.

Keynotes will be delivered by Sir Hilary Beckles, Dr. George Elliott Clarke, H.E. David Comissiong, Dr. Afua Cooper, Dr. Sylvia D. Hamilton, H.E. John Mahama, and Dr. Harvey Amani Whitfield. (Seen left to right in alphabetical order below)





Taking place between the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, registration for the conference is open to all and attendance by members of the community is encouraged.

We spoke with four members of the conference organizing committee to learn more.

Who is this conference for?

Russell Grosse, executive director of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (BCCNS), says the conference will offer the general public insight as to how slavery functioned in society.

You know, when we think of slavery we know  of the effects its had on marginalized communities, but do we really understand the depth of how slavery was a business? How it was  an economic driver of the time?

Grosse says the conference will also offer something unique for people of African descent, who live with the trauma of slavery. Specifically, he sees the conference offering an opportunity to know that history existed but understand that that history doesnt define them.

Theresa Rajack-Talley, vice-provost, equity & inclusion at Dalhousie, says the conference will provide a respectful space for creating collaborative links between academics, professionals, practitioners, and the community to share knowledge and engage in discussions . on how to redress the lingering effects of colonization and how we can move forward.

Why is it important to bring this conference to Halifax?

University of Kings College President William Lahey says the conference deals with a topic that is global in scope, and very relevant to Canada.

Slavery and the enslavement of Black people was part of our historical reality in Canada, and that includes connections to our institutions of higher education, here in Nova Scotia and beyond, says Lahey.

For Grosse, bringing the conference to Halifax speaks to the longevity of the Black community in Nova Scotia. The fact that the Black community in Nova Scotia spans back over 400 years, its multi-generational and its practically the birthplace of Black culture and heritage in Canada.

Rajack-Talley says that the conference provides an important opportunity to correct misconceptions about Canadas involvement in the slave trade.

What is most known about the Atlantic slave trade is that it used a system of three-way trans-Atlantic exchangesknown historically as the triangular tradeoperating between Europe, Africa, and the Americas from the 16th to 19th centuries. Depictions of the triangular trade of enslaved people, sugar, and rum on maps show a third corner touching North America but the directional arrow to North America stereotypically does not actually reach Canada. Yet, research including Dalhousie and Kings reports show that our own histories and current experiences are closely tied to the Atlantic slave trade.

What do the organizers hope to achieve through the conference?

Dalhousie Professor Isaac Saney wants to see the conference spur more research into the enslavement of people of African descent in Nova Scotia and Canada.

Hopefully [the conference] will also raise awareness of how the legacy of slaveryits continuitieshave shaped and continue in many ways to impact deleteriously, the long-established Black communities that exist here, and also how it impacts indirectly on communities of new arrivals of people of African descent.

For Grosse, the conference marks a starting point.

I think that it will be a launching pad in the region for further discovery, further research and further events, activities and programs to shine a light on the business of slavery and the effects that its had on a community and how slavery contributed to the economic wealth and growth of our country.

Lahey says one important outcome of the conference for Kings will be to highlight the findings of its 2020 report, Kings & Slavery: A Scholarly Inquiry.

Two of the panels, Institutions and Communities on October 19, and Loyalists and Enslavement at Kings College, Nova Scotia on October 20 will provide an important opportunity for scholars who worked on Kings inquiry examining its own historic connections to the slave trade to share the information their research brought to light, some of which derives from Kings historic connections to Columbia University in New York.

Lahey says the conference should lead to a deepening of our determination and commitment  to ensure that higher education is available on equitable terms to everyone, including the members of the African Nova Scotia community and other people of African descent.

Related: Lord Dalhousie Scholarly Panel on Slavery and Race

Why is it important for Kings, Dalhousie and the Black Cultural Centre to host the conference?

Grosse views the conference as a turning point for BCCNS.

I think this is an example of how communities and educational institutions can work together and Im encouraged by the fact that this partnership exists because I am confident that this partnership will mean further connections in the future on other aspects and other ways in which community can be embellished and work forward in a positive light.

You know I think that, at the end of it, we have to be able to tackle things through a process of allyship, he adds, we cant do it alone.

Kings applied for hosting rights to the conference as a first response to the findings of its scholarly inquiry into its historical connections to slavery, explains Lahey. [The conference is] part of the deliberations and conversations, that need to go on about what we should be doing in light of the findings of our scholarly inquiry

Saney points to the fact that Dalhousie recently established an undergraduate degree in Black and African Diaspora Studies, the first such program in Canada. I think this demonstrates Dalhousies further commitment and continuing leading role in looking at the Black experience in Canada and establishing the important historical stages in that development as well.

Rajack-Talley says Dalhousies involvement is yet another concrete example of a colonial-founded institution trying to transform itself.

At the same time, we acknowledge that we have more to do to redress a 200-year-old colonial structure. While the pace, intensity, range, and depth of our efforts may not be where many of us want, two things for certain, we are making progress and we are not turning back.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits an exhibition of local products and artefacts at Gunji village, in Pithoragarh district, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (PTI Photo)

DEHRADUN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India's voice is getting stronger in a world surrounded by challenges and asserted that the country's power was acknowledged internationally during the G-20 summit. Earlier in the day, he laid the foundation stones for Rs 4,200 crores of developmental projects in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.

Targeting the Opposition at a public rally, Mr Modi said, "There was a time when a mood of despair gripped the nation. Everyone prayed and wondered when the country will be pulled out of the dark shadows of scams involving thousands of crores of rupees."

"But now, when the world is surrounded by challenges, India's voice is getting stronger. Don't you feel good when India shows the world the way?" the Prime Minister asked.

Talking about Indias growing stature on the world stage, the Prime Minister said that when he shakes hands with dignitaries from around the world, he looks into their eyes. "When they look at me, they do not see me but see the 140-crore people of the country in me," he said, adding that it was evident during the G-20 summit held in Delhi.

Addressing a huge rally in Pithoragarh, Mr Modi accused the previous governments of ignoring the development of border areas because they feared enemy infiltration. He said, unlike in the past, the development of border areas is a priority for his government.

Speaking about the ongoing infrastructure developments in Uttarakhand and other border areas of the country, the Prime Minister said, "One of the priorities of the government is the development of border areas. New services are being developed at a fast pace."

The Prime Minister said that the Centres Vibrant Village scheme has turned the last villages into the first villages of the country. "Our effort is to bring back people who have left these villages. We want to increase tourism in these villages," Mr Modi said, adding that people had to leave their homes because of the wrong policies of past governments.

"Lack of development had led to migration from Uttarakhand's villages, with many of them completely deserted. With the change in circumstances, people are gradually returning to their homes," he said.

Describing Uttarakhand as the land of valour, the Prime Minister said, "Every village here produces those who protect Indias borders. It is this government that fulfilled their decade-old demand for one rank, one pension (OROP)." He added that more than `70,000 crores have been transferred to former soldiers under the OROP, benefiting more than 75,000 families.

Referring to the women's reservation law, the Prime Minister said that the issue was pending for the last three to four decades, but his government passed legislation for a 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state Assemblies.

The Prime Minister also referred to India's successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, saying it reached that part of the moon where no other country could.

On poverty alleviation, Mr Modi pointed out that past governments coined the slogan "Garibi Hatao", but I say that poverty can be uprooted by owning and taking responsibility. "Together we can eradicate poverty," he emphasised, as he pointed out that over 13.50-crore people have risen above the poverty line in the last five years alone. It shows that India can overcome poverty, he said.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple development projects in Uttarakhand worth nearly Rs 4,200 crores. He said the projects will steer the Kumaon region on the path of development.

Mr Modi became the first Prime Minister to visit Adi Kailash, located along the Nepal and China borders. Earlier, he performed pooja and darshan at the Parvati Kund.

"I always feel blessed when I am in Uttarakhand amongst you," the Prime Minister remarked.
BRS sources said that the manifesto that Rao will release on October 15 at the Telangana Bhavan would prove to be a gamechanger for the party. (Image: Twitter)

Hyderabad: After illness and rest, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is set to bare his fangs at Opposition parties, with Rao holding a long meeting on Thursday with BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and senior leader T. Harish Rao on the manifesto and campaign.

BRS sources said that the manifesto that Rao will release on October 15 at the Telangana Bhavan would prove to be a "gamechanger" for the party, which is facing incessant assaults from the Congress and BJP.

It was learnt that during Thursdays meeting at Pragathi Bhavan, Rao, Rama Rao and Harish were intermittently joined by senior leaders to discuss specific strategies to appease those denied tickets and tactics to rattle disgruntled Congress and BJP, which are yet to announce their candidates.

Sources said that BRS was anticipating a lot of anger and resentment among the Opposition leaders who are denied tickets, and to capitalise on the same to strengthen itself in multiple constituencies.

Also discussed in the meeting were plans for the trio to address public meetings. Rao reportedly discussed pointers to be given to party candidates at the October 15 meeting. "The discussions at todays meetings and the decisions that will come out from it give an enormous push to the partys campaign," a BRS source said.

Party sources said the BRS leaders also discussed the appointment of incharges for all 119 Assembly constituencies to oversee campaigns. The party is also yet to announce its nominees for five  Jangaon, Nampally, Goshamahal, Narsapur, and Malkajgiri  Assembly segments.

A clear plan of action and understanding was arrived at concerning the appointment of constituency incharges. All the 115 candidates whose nominations were announced on August 21 have more or less completed one round of campaigning in their constituencies, sources said.

"The BRS candidates have a great head-start on this front as the Congress and the BJP are still struggling to finalise their candidates," the party source said.
Pic courtesy: Nara Lokesh Twitter

Hyderabad: The meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Telugu Desam general secretary Nara Lokesh on Wednesday night triggered speculation over possible alliance between the two parties in Telangana.

Highly placed sources in BJP told Deccan Chronicle that the alliance would be certain and would be announced after release of N Chandrababu Naidu in a couple of days. "Before that minor issues like including Jana Sena in the alliance will be sorted out," sources said adding that the seat sharing and identification of seats for the poll partners will be worked out.

Lokesh met Shah along with G Kishan Reddy and D Purandeswari. TD sources claimed that the union ministers assurance that justice would prevail energised the TD cadre and gave hopes of some or the other reprieve from the ongoing onslaught of YSR Congress government in corruption cases.

A section of old guards in Telangana batted for TD alliance but their attempts were scuttled by Bandi Sanjay Kumar when he was at the helm. Several aspirants in HMDA area besides Kishan Reddy and Snajay himself were the first to condemn Naidus arrest. After flip flop BRS leadership also condemned his arrest. BRS working president K T Rama Rao however drew flak from TD sympathisers for curtailing protests in city. As damage control Minister T Harish Rao went on officially condemning Naidu arrest.

BJP leaders also argue that BRS can not invoke regional sentiment any longer after making forays into Maharashtra and AP. "Recently, KTR requested investors to set up shops in AP and offered to mediate with Jagan Mohan Reddy for land to these investors," said a BJP leader.

Jana Sena which is part of NDA agreed to the Raj Dharma and withdrew from the GHMC polls and extended support to BJP candidates. According to sources BJP informed PK of providing a road map for Telangana also but didnt materialise apparently due to differences of opinion between Bandi Sanjay and G Kishan Reddy.

Jana Sena has been trying its best forge a tripartite alliance with BJP and TDP in Andhra Pradesh and as a Jana Sena senior leader said the same could be done in Telangana also.

When contacted Nadendla Manohar said he was not aware of the developments post Lokesh and Shah meeting. While making party stand clear on entering poll fray in Telangana also, he said there was a need to recognise the raising voices in and around Hyderabad as reflected in massive protests in IT corridors and give them due recognition.

The YSR Congress upped its campaign in the social media against TD and its "opportunistic" politics by trending videos of Naidu and Lokesh going all out against Modi and Shah.

However there was no change in the official stand as orchestrated every time by its general secretary S Ramakrishna Reddy that his party will face electorate on its own and is least bothered about any other alliances being stitched out by the Opposition parties
The CID was directed on Thursday to present Naidu before the court between 10 am and 5 pm on Monday. (Image: Twitter)

Vijayawada: In a set-back to Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, the ACB special court here has rejected his anticipatory bail plea and granted permission to the state CID to issue a Prisoner in Transit (PT) warrant for Naidu in the APSFL (fibernet) case.

The CID was directed on Thursday to present Naidu before the court between 10 am and 5 pm on Monday.

Though Naidu did not get any relief from either the ACB court in Vijayawada, the AP High Court or the apex court, he can come out of the Rajahmundry central prison for a few hours. This, after almost 35 days of incarceration.

Rejecting the anticipatory bail filed by Naidu in the Fibernet case, the ACB court asked the CID to produce Naidu before the court. If the court permits, Naidu will be arrested once again and his judicial remand will be extended for another two weeks. His remand in the skill development case ends by October 19.

Naidu is accused of misappropriating funds in the establishment of AP State Fibernet Ltd.

According to CID, Naidu influenced the tender process of AP Fibernet Project worth `330 crore and the tenders were given to ineligible companies. "The tenders were awarded to Terasoft company in violation of the rules. The SIT investigation has revealed that a sum of Rs 115 crore was misappropriated in the Fibernet project scam."

The ACB court gave credence to the argument of CID counsel Vivekananda that while granting the PT warrant in the name of Naidu. Naidus counsel Dammalapati Srinivas argued that the government was acting with vengeance and was trying to prolong the incarceration of the former CM in jail.
I want to do good to the people and the poor. But, like a monster, Chandrababu creates hurdles in the form of court litigations to stall such projects, YS Jagan said. (Image By Arrangement)

Kakinada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has described Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, his brother-in-law Balakrishna and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan (adopted son) as "non-locals."

"They live in Hyderabad and are playing politics in Andhra Pradesh. These leaders are trying to loot the state's wealth and they would share it at Hyderabad along with some media barons," Jagan Mohan Reddy said at an event on Thursday.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the Jagananna Housing Colony at Samalkot in Kakinada district and addressed a public meeting. He said 7.43 lakh houses have been constructed out of 31 lakh houses sanctioned for the poor by the YSRC government in the state.

"I want to do good to the people and the poor. But, like a monster, Chandrababu creates hurdles in the form of court litigations to stall such projects," he said.

"It is written in the Puranas that in order to conduct Yajnas, monsters make attempts to spoil the sacred rituals. These leaders are like those mythological monsters, Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

Describing Pawan Kalyan as package star, Jagan Mohan Reddy said there were those who would sell their product or land to boost his business. But Pawan Kalyan wants to sell his future, his followers, his community and their votes, he said.

He said Pawan Kalyan mocked the Hindu traditional marriage system. "He keeps performing marriages at local, national and international levels. He changes wives once every three or four years."

"Pawan Kalyan doesnt have any respect for women. How can such persons inspire others? Neither Chandrababu nor Pawan Kalyan can endear themselves to castes like SCs, STs, minorities or even Kapus, but these leaders want their votes."

Jagan Mohan Reddy said Chandrababu won from Kuppam constituencies for 35 years, but he could not allot even one cent of land to the poor there.

"Chandrababu Naidu had not gone to the people. He lived in Hyderabad. Now, he has surfaced in Rajamahendravaram (jail)," he remarked.

Jagan Mohan said that the YSRC government sanctioned 20,000 houses to Kuppam constituency but there was no house for Chandrababu in Kuppam.

He said both Chandrababu and Kalyan had no credibility among the masses, but both used the platform of politics as their business for selfish gains. "Chandrababu did it previously and wants to do it again."

However, Jagan Mohan Reddy said, "During the past 52 months, the YSRC government implemented 35 kinds of welfare schemes involving a spend of Rs 2.38 lakhs crore, which was directly credited to the accounts of the welfare scheme beneficiaries without any corruption or irregularities."

"There were 13,000 panchayats in AP, but now there are 17,000 Jagananna Colonies that are like panchayats within panchayats."

The CM said that 2.07 lakh new government jobs were created by his government in the last four and half years, and 80 per cent of these went to SC, ST, BC and Minority sections. The government strived for women empowerment and social justice at every step, he claimed.

Jagan Mohan Reddy urged the people to vote for YSRC in the next elections if they felt they benefited from the policies of his government.
Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12 (IBRAHIM HAMS / AFP)

Jerusalem: The Israeli military says it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but that the nation's political leaders have not yet decided on one.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday that forces "are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided."

Israel has called up some 360,000 army reservists and has threatened an unprecedented response to Hamas' bloody, wide-ranging incursion over the weekend. It has been launching intense airstrikes on Gaza since the attack Saturday, as militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel.



Palestinians in Gaza spent the night in pitch darkness, surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighborhoods , as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "crush and destroy" Hamas, with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic.

"Every Hamas member is a dead man," Netanyahu said in a televised address.

International aid groups warned that deaths in Gaza could accelerate as the territory runs out of supplies amid an Israeli blockade. The war, which was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives on both sides.

The Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centers used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons.

"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said. "Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehiyeh) Sinwar. They were directly connected."

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Israeli strikes demolished two multi-story houses on top of residents without warning, killing and wounding "a large number" of people, mainly civilians. Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel strikes Palestinian civilians without warning.

Israel has halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. On Tuesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators. Those will shut off as well if fuel is not allowed in.

A senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that lack of electricity could cripple hospitals, as he called for Hamas to release hostages.

"As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken," said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRCs regional director. "Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues."

In Israel, opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defense minister and political opponent of Netanyahu, joined a new wartime cabinet at a time when the Israeli military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women, and beheading soldiers.

The prime ministers allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children, and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Israels increasingly destructive airstrikes in Gaza have flattened entire city blocks and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath debris. A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a strip of land only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, would likely result in a surge of casualties on both sides.

The UN said late Wednesday the number of people displaced by the airstrikes had soared 30 percent within 24 hours, to 339,000, two-thirds of them crowding into U.N. schools. Others sought shelter in the shrinking number of safe neighborhoods.

The Egyptian government rejected an American proposal to allow Palestinians fleeing Israels bombardment to leave Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said early Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. Egypt believes that Palestinians leaving Gaza would harm the Palestinian cause, and its state-run media reported that the Israeli offensive is part of a scheme to empty the enclave.

Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, but were unable to enter Gaza, the official said. The only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was shut down Tuesday following nearby Israeli airstrikes.

The official said Egypt was talking with Israel and the U.S. on establishing safe corridors inside Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians, and with Israel and other foreign governments to evacuate foreigners through the Rafah crossing point.

The risk of the war spreading was evident Wednesday after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops.

The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched.

The death toll in Gaza rose to 1,200 early Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The Gaza Strips biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, has only enough fuel to keep power on for three days, said Matthias Kannes, a Gaza-based official for Doctors Without Borders. The group said the two hospitals it runs in Gaza were running out of surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies.

Ghassan Abu Sitta, a reconstructive surgeon at al-Shifa, said he had 50 patients waiting to go to the operating room.

"Were already beyond the capacity of the system to cope," he said. The health system "has the rest of the week before it collapses, not just because of the diesel. All supplies are running short."

The Palestinian Red Crescent said other hospitals generators will run out in five days. Residential buildings, unable to store as much diesel, likely will go dark sooner.

Shock, grief, and demands for vengeance against Hamas are running high in Israel.

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked a village south of Nablus, opening fire on Palestinians and killing three, the territory's health ministry said. More than two dozen Palestinians have died in fighting in the West Bank since the weekend.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate whole Gaza neighborhoods, rather than just individual buildings, then leveling large swaths in waves of airstrikes.

Israels tone has changed as well. In past conflicts, its military insisted on the precision of strikes in Gaza, trying to ward off criticism over civilian deaths. This time, military briefings emphasize the destruction being wreaked.

Even with the evacuation warnings, Palestinians say some are unable to escape or have nowhere to go, and that entire families have been crushed under rubble.

Other times, strikes come with no notice, survivors say.

"There was no warning or anything," said Hashem Abu Manea, 58, who lost his 15-year-old daughter, Joanna, when a strike late Tuesday leveled his home in Gaza City.

The Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.
The U.S. Army has unveiled its latest cross-functional team, dedicated to addressing the complex challenges of contested logistics on the modern battlefield. With an eye on future adversaries, such as China, and the harsh realities of war in places like the Indo-Pacific, this team is tasked with revolutionizing how the Army sustains its forces, reducing logistical demands, improving supply distribution, and providing efficient power solutions.

The need for such a team became abundantly clear with Russias invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the risks associated with uncontested sustainment and logistics. The U.S. Army is taking proactive steps to adapt its logistical approach for future conflicts.

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Last year, the Army published its Multi-Domain Operations doctrine, which included a dedicated annex addressing contested logistics. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth assigned the Army Materiel Command to lead efforts in redefining how troops can be deployed with weapons and equipment when they cannot expect to move freely on the battlefield.

This spring, the Army Futures Command established the Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team, which has already achieved initial operational capability and aims to reach full operational capability by the years end. The team is headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, and is led by its first director, Col. Shane Upton.

The teams four primary lines of effort focus on data utilization, demand reduction, supply distribution, and advanced power solutions.

Looking to Data: The Army aims to track battlefield equipment usage precisely, enabling better estimates of equipment, spare parts, munitions, fuel, and battery requirements. Predictive analysis tools and data-driven decision-making have become paramount in addressing this challenge.

Demand Reduction: The Army seeks to reduce the logistical tails weight, exploring hybrid energy technology, alternative fuels, and technologies to make vehicles more efficient. Hybrid vehicles save fuel and provide a tactical advantage by running sensors and systems with the engine off.

Special Delivery: Improving supply distribution to the battlefield is another crucial area. The Army is keen on autonomous resupply capability, exploring various options, from manned-unmanned teaming to semi-autonomous ground, air, and water-based platforms.

Charged Up: The Army is investing in advanced power solutions, including rechargeable batteries and alternative power sources. The goal is to standardize battery types and eliminate the need for gas-filled generators in the field.

The Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team will be fully operational shortly, commencing the process of assessing technologies that can sustain troops in remote and challenging locations. This effort includes exploring autonomous resupply, predictive logistics, alternative fuel sources, and battery technologies.

Gen. James Rainey, Army Future Command Chief, stressed the importance of autonomous and robotic resupply, indicating that the team will leverage cutting-edge technology on land, at sea, and in the air. He emphasized the teams role in supporting watercraft plans for the Indo-Pacific region, a critical aspect of the U.S. militarys future strategy.

As the U.S. Army continues to adapt to a changing battlefield and the challenges posed by potential adversaries, the Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team is expected to play a vital role in shaping the militarys future approach to logistics in contested environments.
Paramount Group, Inc. (NYSE:PGRE  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Reduce from the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $5.42.

Several research analysts have weighed in on PGRE shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Paramount Group from $3.00 to $3.50 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and set a $4.50 target price on shares of Paramount Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Paramount Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Paramount Group from $5.00 to $4.00 in a report on Monday.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Paramount Group

Paramount Group Price Performance

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PGRE. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Paramount Group during the 4th quarter valued at $109,167,000. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Paramount Group by 1,049.3% in the second quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. now owns 8,532,443 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $37,713,000 after buying an additional 7,790,033 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in shares of Paramount Group by 1,607.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 2,103,046 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $9,590,000 after acquiring an additional 1,979,857 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Paramount Group by 14.6% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,398,448 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $103,244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,195,131 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Paramount Group by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 28,873,007 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $127,907,000 after acquiring an additional 934,130 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 59.93% of the companys stock.

PGRE stock opened at $4.52 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 4.59 and a current ratio of 4.59. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $4.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.67. The company has a market capitalization of $981.15 million, a P/E ratio of -11.58 and a beta of 1.21. Paramount Group has a 52-week low of $3.90 and a 52-week high of $6.86.

Paramount Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.035 per share. This represents a $0.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. Paramount Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -35.90%.

Paramount Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Headquartered in New York City, Paramount Group, Inc is a fully-integrated real estate investment trust that owns, operates, manages, acquires and redevelops high-quality, Class A office properties located in select central business district submarkets of New York City and San Francisco. Paramount is focused on maximizing the value of its portfolio by leveraging the sought-after locations of its assets and its proven property management capabilities to attract and retain high-quality tenants.

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Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX  Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading on Wednesday. Stock traders bought 9,431 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 73% compared to the average daily volume of 5,436 put options.

Baxter International Stock Performance

Shares of BAX stock opened at $32.73 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $16.57 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.62. The businesss 50 day moving average is $39.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $42.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54. Baxter International has a 12-month low of $32.30 and a 12-month high of $58.12.

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Baxter International (NYSE:BAX  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.59 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $3.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.79 billion. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 19.00% and a positive return on equity of 24.94%. Analysts expect that Baxter International will post 2.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were given a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.54%. Baxter Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -20.49%.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. RFP Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Baxter International during the second quarter worth $36,000. Thompson Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Baxter International during the first quarter worth $39,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Baxter International by 28.5% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,185 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC increased its stake in Baxter International by 29.2% during the first quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 1,351 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $114,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.47% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on Baxter International from $58.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 31st. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Baxter International from $54.00 to $56.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 12th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Baxter International in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on Baxter International from $53.00 to $51.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on Baxter International from $45.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $50.80.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Baxter International

About Baxter International

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Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company offers peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis, and additional dialysis therapies and services; intravenous therapies, infusion pumps, administration sets, and drug reconstitution devices; premixed and oncology drug platforms, inhaled anesthesia and critical care products and pharmacy compounding services; parenteral nutrition therapies and related products; biological products and medical devices used in surgical procedures for hemostasis, tissue sealing and adhesion prevention; and continuous renal replacement therapies and other organ support therapies focused in the intensive care unit.

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A housing association has instated 24/7 on-site security at a city centre social housing complex in Derry.

The round the clock security measures were initiated by Ballymoney-based Triangle Housing Association, at its social housing complex in Derrys Patrick Street.

The complex was recently at the centre of protests, at the City Centre Initiative office in Waterloo Place, about the escalating anti-social behaviour in and around the building.

Alcohol abandoned at Triangle's Patrick Street accommodation.

The 24/7 on-site security will be in place until 5.00am on Thursday, October 12, 2023. From then on, the on-site security will cover the period 12.00pm to 5.00am.

Triangle will review the adequacy of this cover both in timing and efficiency over the coming days and is also investigating other options of effective cover into the future, Derry News understands, as well as rigorously implementing its anti-social behaviour procedures.

Speaking to Derry Now, Caitlin McCloskey, a resident in the complex who is seven months pregnant, said she had moved in on a Friday and the halls were disgusting.

She added: There was faeces on the floor. There were blood stains up the walls. There was vomit and food thrown out the windows. The windows were all streaked.

Suspected drugs paraphernalia in the lift of Triangle's Patrick Street accomodation.

All night there was partying and loud music. Now, I gave them the benefit of the doubt because it was the weekend. I thought, Ill only have to deal with this today and then hopefully it will be over.

But the partying never stopped. It was 24/7. There was fighting. There were drugs all over the building. There was blood all spit up the lift. It was constant anti-social behaviour.

We rang the police a couple of times. The last time I rang the police was early on Wednesday morning (October 4) and the police officer accused us of making malicious calls. They said every time they had visited the flats, there had not been any anti-social behaviour, said Caitlin.

Caitlin also said Triangle was no help at all.

She added: It said our reports didnt match its reports but it had no security in the building, so there is no way it would have any reports anyway.

My health is being badly impacted by the anti-social behaviour. I can never sleep and when I first moved in, it took Triangle five days to put my heating in because the boiler was capped. The engineer sent out to fix the boiler said we should not have been given the key to move in until Triangle checked whether or not the boiler was capped or not. Capped means the boiler is turned off from the outside.

When I reported everything to Triangle, it said its duty of care to me was done once it put a roof over my head.

I just feel so defeated. I am obviously thankful that Cllr Donnelly was trying to get the situation sorted. The police were making us feel as if we were the ones who were in the wrong and we were going out of our way to make complaints. I also think Triangle just wiped its hands off us as soon as we moved in. Talking to other residents, it seems this has been going on for years, said Caitlin.

Caitlin said the tenants were trying to get a meeting with the CEO of Triangle to discuss their concerns.

A spokesperson for Triangle Housing Association stated: The Association is aware of issues relating to anti-social behaviour in and around the development at Patrick Street in Derry.

Senior staff members from Triangle recently met with a local elected representative for the area, the PSNI and the City Centre Initiative to discuss tenant and local community safety.

Security arrangements at the block have subsequently been increased.

The Association is proactively managing anti-social behaviour at the block and remains committed to working collaboratively with tenants, the PSNI, and other key stakeholders to improve community safety within the vicinity of its development, and the wider area, said the Triangle spokesperson.

A second person involved in the recent protests about the anti-social behaviour at the complex told this newspaper they could no longer cope with the amount of trouble that was coming from it.

There is a definite fear factor, they said. These apartments opened about two years ago and the problems began straight away.

There have been numerous meetings with Triangle but it says it cant choose what tenants go into its apartments. It has to take whoever is top of the Housing Executives list, regardless of their background or criminal record or anything else.

The situation was so bad at the start, Triangle put security in 24/7. It took a while but eventually a few of the residents who were causing major problems were weeded out and the situation did slightly calm down.

We are talking about everything from boys out in the street with hammers and hatchets at 7 oclock in the morning, throwing them up at the windows of the apartments, to major fights in the street, to cars and vans pulling up at all hours of the night, to police, ambulance and fire service there basically three or four times a day at the start, they said.

The person said at one of the meetings with Triangle, the association said it was building similar accommodation in Belfast, which was going to have full-time security because lessons had been learned in Derry.

That was really galling. How can Triangle find a budget for security in Belfast but it cant find it for security in Derry?

Derry News also sought comment from the City Centre Initiative and the PSNI.
According to Derry branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (DISPC) estimates, more than 1,000 people attended its recent protest Free Derry Corner in the city.

Speaking to Derry Now, Catherine Hutton, chairperson of DISPC, said the protest on Tuesday evening was " to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza who are facing a brutal Israeli onslaught.

She added: "The people attending the Derry protest, waved Palestinian flags and banners, chanted slogans and listened to speeches.

"The protest was part of a global campaign to demand an end to the repeated Israeli attacks on Gaza, which this time has killed more than 1000 Palestinians, including 100s children, and injured 4,000 plus civilians since October 7.

"The IPSC also called for the Irish government and the international community to impose economic sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel, and to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israeli apartheid."

Speaking at the protest, Ms Hutton said: We are here today to stand with our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are facing a genocidal attack by the Israeli occupation forces. We are here to say that we will not be silent while Israel commits war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

"We are here to demand that our government takes action to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law and human rights.

Ms Hutton also denounced the complicity of the US, UK and the European Union in supporting Israels aggression, saying:

These governments are not only providing Israel with diplomatic cover, but also with weapons and money that enable it to continue its oppression and colonization of Palestine.

"They are also blocking any meaningful action by the UN Security Council to stop the bloodshed and protect the civilians in Gaza. They are part of the problem, not the solution.

As the protest ended, the protesters then marched through the city centre, chanting Free Palestine and  From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free."

DISPC also asked for people to donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians Emergency Appeal at: https://www.map.org.uk/.

Catherine Hutton added: "DIPSC will continue to organize more actions and events in support of Palestine until Israel ends its occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.

"We also invited everyone who cares about justice and peace to join its efforts and become part of the global solidarity movement for Palestine."
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North West Regional College (NWRC) and local firm Gallagher & McKinney (GMck) are searching for a new Design Engineer to develop and implement a new Digital Fabrication Process at the companys premises at the Skeoge Industrial Estate.

The team from the colleges Business Support Centre (BSC) are working with GMcK as part of a new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by InnovateUK and Invest NI.

This two-year project, worth over 150k, aims to develop and implement a new Digital Fabrication Process (D-FAB) for GMcK using BIM and 3D CAD technologies.

The project funding was unlocked with the support of the Connected programme which provided funding for NWRC to scope the business and market needs and collaborate with Gallagher & McKinney Ltd to develop a business case and funding application which has now been successful.

The NWRC  Gallagher & McKinney Ltd collaboration is now looking to recruit a Design Engineer based at the Gallagher & McKinney Ltd in Skeoge Industrial Estate, to support the company and academic partnership to deliver this innovation project.

Dr Fergal Tuffy, Technology Innovation Manager at NWRCs Business Support Centre said: Gallagher & McKinney Ltd has been operational for over 40 years and are leaders in the manufacture and installation of piping systems and steel fabrication industry.

"Philip Devlin and our Product Design Centre connected with Gallagher & McKinney Ltd who mentioned that they wished to develop a revolutionary new and innovative D-FAB process, combining 3D CAD, BIM and Virtual Reality. Following an application to InnovateUKs KTP programme and support from Stephen McComb, one of the KTP advisors in Northern Ireland, the project was successful in being funded and we are now progressing to recruit a Design Engineer to lead the project.

Fergal added: Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are the UK's leading programme helping businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.

"It also enables businesses to access highly qualified people to spearhead new projects and experts to take their business forward with innovative solutions to help them business grow, and the Gallagher & McKinney Ltd is a prime example of this.

Kevin Robinson, General Manager, Gallagher & McKinney Ltd said the development of the D-FAB system, will innovatively design, demonstrate and deliver technical solutions in a very customer centric way.

He added: In addition, it will significantly streamline our internal processes, support improvements in our procurement and tendering capabilities whilst reducing our carbon footprint. A big thank you to our partners at NWRC, were delighted the funding has been secured and we look forward to continuing this mutually beneficial relationship.

Details of the KTP Design Engineer role can be viewed on the Get Got Jobs website on https://nwrc.getgotjobs.co.uk/registerJob/5a5532fa-5026-4fe3-a78f-a91b75503b2a (applications close on October 18) and for further details on how the BSC can help your business contact the NWRC BSC on businesssupport@nwrc.ac.uk or visit https://bsc.nwrc.ac.uk/

PICTURED ABOVE: Dr Fergal Tuffy, NWRC BSC Technology Innovation Manager pictured with Catherine ODonnell, NWRC Technology & Innovation Administrator, Mark Duffy, NWRC Renewable Energy Lecturer, Philip Devlin, NWRC Product Design Centre Manager, Seamus Mellon, Gallagher & McKinney Managing Director and Kevin Robinson, Gallagher & McKinney General Manager, announcing the new KTP collaboration.
Many, many warm tributes have been paid to Derry music legend, Johnny Quigley who has sadly died, aged 91.

Johnny passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday (October 11, 2023), surrounded by all of his loving family.

Late of 48 Elmgrove and formerly of 11 Eastway Road, Creggan, Johnny was the beloved husband of the late Atlantica (Paddy) and devoted father of Joe, Paul, Laura, John, Carol, Sharon and Gary. A much loved granda, great-granda, great-great granda and great grand-oupa to all of his grandchildren.

He was the precious son of the late Joe and Sadie. Dearest brother of Molly, Olive and all of his deceased brothers and sisters. Deeply regretted and sadly missed by all of his wider family circle, friends, colleague musicians and neighbours.

Breaking the unhappy news, Johnny's son-in-law, Andrew Monk said: "We have just lost another Great Music Legend and Gentleman Johnny Quigley my father in law.

"The Father of Joe, Paul, Laura, John, Carol, Sharon and Gary has just earned his wings and will now be playing with The Big Band in the sky. May he rest in peace."

In a poignant social media post, Derry Dances said: This is a sad day for Derry with the news that our own Johnny Quigley has passed away.

Johnny Quigley's All Stars was regarded by many as the best Irish Showband ever.

Brendan Bowyer of the Royal Showband was on the UTV Gerry Kelly Show years ago when Gerry asked Brendan Ok who was the best Showband of them all?, without hesitation Brendan said, Oh it has to be Johnny Quigley All Stars from Derry. Why? asked Gerry Kelly. Well for the simple reason they were all class musicians, plus the fact that there were at least five of that band who could have fronted any band. When I saw them playing in Waterford one night I was just mesmerised by the sheer enthusiasm and wonderful arrangements of classic numbers of the day. That night I made up my mind that I wanted to be in a showband, and as they say the rest is history.

God rest you Johnny you were one of a kind, a true son of Derry and a proper musical genius.

Johnny you will be sorely missed. RIP Johnny Condolences to his family and many friends.

Johnnys beautiful late wife Atlantica, the first of her name, sadly passed away in 2005.

Johnny only retired ten years ago at 80 years old after he admitted he just didnt have the energy for the sax and his voice was not as strong.

However, his retirement didn't come before he graced the music scene all over the world for more than 60 years.

Johnny and his bands toured Ireland and Britain. With the bars and lounges closing for Lent, they travelled to Scotland to play and were the first Irish band to perform at the Edinburgh Festival.

In the 1960s, they toured America playing in cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Virginia and San Francisco. They even travelled as far as South Africa.

Speaking to Derry News on the occasion of his 90th birthday, Johnny said: "We played all over the place, all over the world.

"I can't remember them all now, there were so many different gigs, we just loved playing our music to make a few bob."

Johnny started out by gracing Derry's bars and lounges at the tender age of 10 in the 1940s with his siblings, first cousin and other good friends in the concert and marching band. Ever since an old clarinet was placed into his hands at St Columb's, Johnny had found his calling.

Johnny took a break from music at 13 to be a teenager. It was not to last. It only took less than a year and he was once again besotted with music. The hiatus ended after Johnny heard saxophonist Bill Ball at the Derry West End Hall.

He recalled: "I heard Bill play the saxophone and I knew I wanted to learn how to play. There was one for sale in the window of Phillip's on Shipquay Street and my parents, bless them, they went into all sorts of debt to buy me it. They were always making sacrifices for us kids," Johnny said. "I was working at the bakery at the time but I was coming home and practising every night."

Johnny was one of 12 children and reminisced fondly of his "genius" mother who he explained never saw any of the family go without despite being a one income household and his father earning 5 a week at the time.

Johnny managed to perfect the sax and soon began picking up gigs at parties and at the West End Hall before starting his own band, The Johnny Quigley Casino All-Stars, later becoming The Johnny Quigley Showband.

The line-up of Johnnys first band included Leonora Fiorentini on piano, Liam Griffiths on drums, Dennis Fisher on trombone, Johnny Quigley singing vocals, Mike Quigley tenor and baritone sax and vocals, Edmund Quigley on alto sax and bass, Joe Quigley on trumpet and vocals with Johnny on tenor sax and clarinet.

Neil Gill from Letterkenny was the bands first manager then Johnnys brother-in-law later returned from America and took over management.

Johnny's band quickly became a fan favourite in Ireland. People travelled from all over to hear them play on Derry's music scene. This was at a time when there were 32 professional bands in Derry, large bands, a lot for a small city.

Johnny's eldest son, Joe, told Derry News: "This was also a time where bands and people were filling the bars, the Derry streets were filled with good music. Meanwhile the place was basically up in flames. It was a crazy time."

The group packed capacity crowds into venues such as Derry's Guildhall and Belfast's Orpheus and Floral Hall as well as ballrooms in Dublin, Waterford, Tralee, Limerick and Galway. They achieved incredible touring success, however, the Johnny Quigley All-Stars never released a record.

Over the years, some incredible musicians accompanied the much loved Derry band. The likes of drummer Tommy McMenamin, who was also a great drawer.

The late great Gay McIntyre also played alongside the band on occasion. Gay was a very close friend of Johnny's.

Johnny said: "Gay was such a talent, he was fantastic. When I first heard him play, I was amazed. He was a great man and a great musician. His son now plays and he has definitely got the musical genes."

Johnny's seven children are also all involved in the music scene in some way as Johnny added: "Music is in their blood, they all have their own amazing talent and skill."

Johnny continued to play with his children until he was in his 70s in a family band, a time he remembers fondly.

It was in the 1960s, with his wife at home with their seven children that Johnny Quigley made the decision to stop touring. They decided to open a small family-run hotel on Derrys Foyle Street. It was a 12-room-hotel with a bar and a lounge.

The family later sold the hotel and opened up another bar and lounge in Bridgend which now stands as a casino. His sons Joe and John have fond memories of both lounges being filled with guests and good music.

After taking his band off the road, Johnny also spent the next twenty years as a teacher for the Western Education and Library Board. "I enjoyed it," he said. "It was worth it when you had a child who wanted to learn. That was great but not all the kids were interested in playing."

Johnny's children continue his legacy as they still fill the Derry nightlife with their music, mostly their love of Jazz. Johnny added: "I still go out and watch them all. We are a very musical family and music never leaves you."

Johnnys remains will be reposing at his late home, 48 Elmgrove from 2pm this afternoon, Thursday, October 12.

His funeral will leave from there on Saturday, October 14, at 9:15am for 10am requiem Mass in St. Marys Church, Creggan. Burial will take place immediately afterwards in the City Cemetery.

Johnnys funeral requiem mass can be streamed live via: https://www.churchservices.tv/creggan.

Johnny Quigley: Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
Lecturers at Derry's North West Regional College have held a one day strike as part of their ongoing campaign of industrial action. Following an earlier week long strike, University and College Union (UCU) have been striking one day a week.

Joining the picket line, Derry City and Strabane District councillor, Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said: Staff at the North West Regional College and at all the Further Education colleges deliver a vital service. They deserve to be properly paid and respected for what they do.

Intransigence by employers and Stormont officials is hurting college staff and the education of students. Instead of listening to staff concerns and demands, employers cynically threatened redundancies during the strike.

When you take on board more than a decade of enforced pay cuts and spiralling cost of living pressures, the demands being made for better pay are modest. Employers and Department for the Economy representatives need to understand staff and UCU branch resolve is extremely strong.

There is widespread discontent at the Tories, Stormont and companies posting record profits for savage cuts and low pay. This is a battle over how wealth is distributed and more and more groups of workers are entering the field. People Before Profit stand fully with strikers and encourage a large solidarity turnout for the NWRC picket line on Friday 20 October."
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councils Estates Team is celebrating success once again this year after a County Derry town scooped an award at the annual Translink Ulster in Bloom Awards.

The winners, announced last week at an event hosted in Lisburns Civic Centre, were highlighted for their hard work and dedication to horticultural displays from towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland.

Coleraine, who already holds the large town award for 2022, once again took home first place in the same category, while neighbours Ballymoney were awarded third place in the small-town category.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Steven Callaghan who joined Councils Estates team at the awards said: This is a fantastic achievement for Coleraine and Ballymoney and I would like to personally congratulate every single person who has helped make it possible.

Our staff take great pride in their work across the Borough, and it was wonderful this year to see our local primary school children help with town centre displays in Coleraine and of course Ballymoneys main street looked fantastic.

The Boroughs floral displays create a positive, welcoming environment for the enjoyment of our visitors, shoppers and local community while increased use of wildflowers and partner working with DFI roads, has also helped provide habitat for our pollinating wildlife.

As members of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, this further recognition from the prestigious Ulster in Bloom competition is welcome news for our Borough as we continue to showcase our commitment to biodiversity and enhancing the local environment. Congratulations to all winners in Councils across Northern Ireland.

Noel Davoren from Councils Estates Team said: We are absolutely delighted with these accolades for Coleraine and Ballymoney and would like to thank the judges from Ulster in Bloom.

Our team works tirelessly in the background to ensure that all our towns and villages in the Borough look their best from our welcoming planting schemes to our work with local schools. We have also recently introduced wildlife corridors in conjunction with external partners DFI Roads to encourage pollinators and help with biodiversity.

I am pleased, that on this occasion Coleraine and Ballymoney have been recognised but I would like to thank Councils estates team for all their work across our Council area.

This recent success for both Coleraine and Ballymoney comes as Coleraine now looks forward to the Britain in Bloom results, held later this month.
Zenith Learning Ltd, a leading Health & Safety company based in Derry marks a momentous journey of growth and success as it celebrates its 10th anniversary by its current owner Theo Duffy.

Established in 2000 this anniversary signifies not only the years of hard work and determination but also the immense potential that lies ahead as they continue to grow the success of the business.

Managing Director Theo Duffy added, I am incredibly grateful to my loyal clients, dedicated employees and supportive accrediting bodies that work alongside us that has led to the companys growth and success.

After graduating, I developed a real interest in health and safety and set up my own business Site Safety Services a modest startup at home.

I became focused on identifying the occupational health and safety hazards present in many sectors that needed to be addressed to protect any workforce from injuries and harm and make workplaces healthier and safer for everyone and improve long-term business performance.

He added: Through unwavering dedication and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Site Safety became a recognised brand amongst business organisations, and I started to see my hard work was paying off which led me to take over Zenith Learning in September 2013.

Theo expressed his frustration over the excessive number of lives that are being tragically lost as a result of hazardous working conditions and inadequate safety precautions and this is what fuels his unrelenting enthusiasm and resolve.

Theo Duffy said: Consideration should be given to the families and friends of each person who is killed or severely injured and who must deal with the financial, emotional, and practical consequences. My responsibility is to inform employers on how to avoid this situation so that it doesn't happen to them.

Our consultants come from such a wide variety of backgrounds having worked as health and safety managers, all our consultants possess industry-recognised qualifications and have extensive knowledge and experience of dealing with all health and safety issues.

This pool of knowledge and practical expertise can always be utilised to ensure that you get the best available advice and support to meet your specific needs.

Zenith Learning conducts CSR training every Thursday, Friday and on a Saturday on demand This training covers the health and safety requirements for the construction sector which lowers workplace accidents. A CSR Card is a mandatory card that is essential for anyone who will come into contact with a Construction site in NI, ROI or UK., without a CSR you are not allowed to work in construction sites.

We also have a comprehensive portfolio of over twenty courses from Manual handling, Working at Heights Fire Training First aid to name a few which can be done in the classroom or online and covers everything you need to ensure a safe working environment, raising awareness and promoting a positive safety culture within your organisation.

Managing Director Theo Duffy

Mr Duffy concluded: Training can be customised to suit the specific needs of your business, ensuring that your employees have the knowledge and skills required to maintain a safe working environment in the long-term.

A NEBOSH General Certificate qualification can be completed in three months, this course is designed to provide managers, supervisors, and employees with the skills to deal with a variety of health and safety issues.

As an employer, its your legal responsibility to make sure that all your employees are taken care of when in the workplace. While you cant prevent every possible accident, you can avoid a large majority of them by putting preventative measures in place.

For more information and advice, please head to www.zenithlearning.com or get in touch with the Zenith Learning team to discuss your needs or get more information on their services.
A rally was held at Free Derry Corner to express solidarity with the Palestinian people following a recent uptick in violence in Gaza.

Over 200 people attended and heard speeches from local councillors, a trade unionist and a Palestinian woman now living in Buncrana.

Majida Al Askari, originally from Palestine, said she constantly receives calls from loved ones informing her about another death.

Thank you for coming this evening. I really appreciate you standing and I really feel whatever we do here is not enough because we need a strong voice from the government to prevent what is going on in Gaza, she said.

Every single moment I have a call from family and friends about losing children and other members of their family.

Everyone who leaves this earth to go to paradise we will have freedom for Palestine there, but also the people who are still alive, they deserve to be free.

Forgive me because I feel I'm not here. I wish that I could be in Gaza. Maybe I will give a hand to anyone who loses his life or his house.

She was unable to continue her speech and was comforted by Catherine Hutton from Derry IPSC.

Sinn Fein Councillor Emma McGinley said the international community faces a test of its 'commitment to peace, justice and self determination'.

The most recent uptick in violence came after an attack from the Hamas group, in which the group penetrated the border and attacked settlers on land currently under Israeli occupation, has led to a devastating response.

Hamas shot thousands of rockets into Israel followed by an attack by land, air and sea. The death toll among Israelis has exceeded 1,200. Hostages have also been taken.

Israel's response has already taken over 950 Palestinian lives.

According to the United Nations between 2008 and 8 October 2023 a total of 6720 Palestinians and 658 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.

Emma McGinley said the people of Gaza are being collectively punished for the recent Hamas attack.

We are here tonight to send solidarity to the besieged people of Gaza who are facing an onslaught by the Israeli military at this very moment, the Sinn Fein councillor said.

Israel's collective punishment of the people of Gaza is underway. Israeli missiles rain down on an impoverished, beleaguered population of two million people  half of whom are children.

In a chilling warning Israel's defence minister said '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.'

Hundreds gathered at Free Derry Corner for the Palestine Solidarity Rally on Tuesday night. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

This is a humanitarian crisis. The international community now faces an immediate test of its commitment to peace, justice and self determination.

She added that over 2000 people had been killed so far in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel with 'victims on all sides.

Thousands more have been wounded and more than 100,000 homes have been left in ruins.

These attacks have occurred against the backdrop of deep injustice as Palestinian self determination is ruthlessly suppressed.

To stop the cycle of violence we need ceasefires, the renewal of dialogue and the rigorous enforcement of international law equally for all. We need to see an end to the occupation and an end to Israel's apartheid regime.

Councillor Gary Donnolly called the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza 'an international war crime'.

Gaza is home to two million people. Half of that population is children. It's only 25 miles long and between three and seven miles wide. It's the third most densely populated unit in the world and its inhabitants have been caged within the world's largest concentration camp, the Independent councillor said.

Independent councillor Gary Donnelly said people in Gaza face constant bombardment by land, sea and air.

It's an international war crime. Men women and children, mostly non-combatants are bombarded constantly from the land, sea and the air. They are trapped, there's no way to escape. Before this latest pogrom thousands of men, women and children have already been killed, including whole families.

There's much to be said about civilians  and settlers are being classed as civilians. In my opinion the settlers are part of the aggressive occupation.

Stealing land, they've evicted Palestinians out of their homes. They've carried out shootings; stabbings; mowing down civilians, particularly children, in vehicles. They've destroyed property, homes and olive plantations. They openly mock and taunt the local inhabitants. They are very much part of Israeli aggression.

I think now more than ever we need to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Palestine because solidarity is very important to them. Free Palestine.

More than 187,500 people have been displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

OCHA said damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in Gaza has disrupted service for more than 400,000 people.

UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, is now hosting more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory.

Councillor Shaun Harkin said the Israeli government's actions in Gaza amount to state terrorism.

I'm glad to see so many people here. There will be people saying that the people of Derry are standing with terrorists and they're going to try to demonise us for being here tonight. Let's get something clear: The terrorists here are the Israeli state, the People Before Profit councillor said.

What we saw happened for very clear reasons. Gaza has been suffocated for 18 years and it's only going to get worse now.

We have an Israeli government that is talking openly about exterminating the Palestinian people and driving them out of the West Bank and completing the final annexation of Palestinian land and wiping out all history of the Palestinian people.

Did people not think there was going to be a response by the Palestinians to being imprisoned? Palestinians have never laid down in the face of this.

Cllr Harkin believes the United States, British and Irish governments facilitate Israeli State war crimes through financial backing and inaction.

Joe Biden is a sponsor of terrorism. Every year billions and billions and billions. There is no war crime that Israel can commit that the US government won't back up.

People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin gave a speech at the rally

Rishi Sunak: disgraceful. The British government is as bad as the US and where does the Irish government stand on this? They're not standing with the Palestinians right now. Wishy-washy statements from the Irish government are going to get us absolutely nowhere.

There's talk now about 'shouldn't Palestinians be involved in dialogue? Isn't there a peaceful way to solve this?' Well yes there is. Palestinians have been involved in dialogue for decades. What was the outcome? A peace accord that the Israelis ripped up and now there's nearly a million illegal settlers in the West Bank.

Cllr Harkin added that Palestinians have been blocked from building peaceful movements such as the Boycott Divest Sanction (BDS) movement.

Derry City and Strabane District Council has been told it cannot participate in BDS despite passing a motion in 2016 to investigate  the most practical means of implementing this BDS Campaign.

The Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill bans local councils from imposing economic sanctions on countries that are not sanctioned by the British government.

Eamonn McCann, Catherine Hutton and Damian Doherty from Derry Trades Union Council also spoke at the rally.
Northern Ireland will be involved in the UK-wide consultation on tobacco and vaping rules, the Department of Health has said.

The department said it has a long-standing strategic aim for a tobacco-free Northern Ireland.

In the last decade the region has seen a reduction in smoking prevalence, with adult smoking rates falling from 24% to 17% over the last 11 years.

Despite falling numbers of adult smokers, approximately 2,200 people die each year in Northern Ireland from smoking-related conditions.

The department has agreed that Northern Ireland will be included in the public consultation launched on Thursday by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to help inform future decision-making on tobacco policy and legislation.

The eight-week UK-wide consultation will cover proposals to make it illegal for anyone born on or after January 1 2009 to ever be sold tobacco products at any point in their lives.

The consultation will also include a series of proposals to clamp down on the sale and use of vapes by children and young people including restrictions on flavours, display, packaging and disposable vapes.

Comments in response to the public consultation can be given by anyone, of any age, in Northern Ireland.
Lessons can be drawn from Northern Ireland in international efforts to resolve the growing Israel-Hamas war, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.

The DUP leader said he stood by the right of Israel to defend its people from terrorist insurgencies.

However, he said the conflict could only be resolved with a process of dialogue.

Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise incursion into Israel on Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus administration has retaliated with a bombardment that has demolished neighbourhoods in the Gaza Strip, and halted the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory.

The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides.

Responding to the Hamas attack, Sir Jeffrey said: Like everyone in Northern Ireland I have looked on in horror at the scenes that have emerged from southern Israel with hundreds of innocent civilians, men, women and children slaughtered, some of them in their own homes, some at a music festival.

It is just barbaric. These are acts of terrorism, there is no other definition one can put.

This is not an act of war, this is not about following the rules of war, these atrocities breach international law, they are war crimes and they need to be dealt with as such.

We stand by the right of Israel under international law to defend its people, to protect its people from these kind of terrorist insurgencies.

The DUP leader said he hoped Israels response would be mindful of the need to avoid civilian casualties.

He said: There is no doubt Hamas want to put their people, their civilians, in harms way and that is wrong, that is also a war crime.

I think the international community needs to stand as one in condemning what Hamas has done. I believe it is utterly counter-productive for their own cause.

As in every conflict and war, wars and conflicts begin, but they also end. And then the question is what then?

I think there are lessons that can be drawn from our experience in Northern Ireland. Even the most seemingly intractable conflicts can be resolved but it requires dialogue, it requires a process and that has been lacking for some years in the Middle East.

We havent had a proper process, a proper dialogue, and that is something which needs to be given priority now by the international community.

I dont think we can just stand by and say the violence is wrong, and it is, but we need to help Israel and the Palestinians to get to a point where they are sitting across a table and trying to resolve their differences.

That will require an end to the violence.

It does require that organisations like Hamas embrace the principles of democracy and non-violence and recognise that ultimately it is their own people they are harming when they engage in this kind of terrorism.
The new temporary chief of the PSNI has insisted his appointment should not delay the publication of Operation Kenova.

Jon Boutcher, who has been appointed interim chief constable of the force, has spent the past five years overseeing an independent investigation into the activities of Stakeknife, the Armys top spy within the IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Mr Boutcher confirmed that the Operation Kenova report has now been passed to the PSNI, but said he would recuse himself from the arrangements of deciding upon its publication.

He also revealed that the former chief constable of Police Scotland Sir Iain Livingstone would replace him as head of Operation Kenova.

Mr Boutcher said: Regarding Operation Kenova, I have made a commitment to the families, and that undertaking remains as firm today as when I first made it.

In advance of agreeing this role, I secured an agreement with the recently retired chief constable of Police Scotland, Sir Iain Livingstone, to step into my position as the interim officer in overall command of Operation Kenova.

Sir Iain has been involved in Kenova since its very beginning as a member of the independent steering group and then chair of the Kenova governance board.

He will step down from those positions when he takes over as the officer in overall command.

He and the Kenova team will ensure the remaining work continues uninterrupted whilst I am in this interim role and that work will have, as all the families know, my unwavering support.

Stakeknife worked within the IRAs notorious nutting squad, interrogating suspected informers during the Troubles.

His alleged activities have been investigated as part of Kenova, which examined crimes such as murder and torture and the role played by the security services, including MI5.

Stakeknife was widely believed to be West Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was in his 70s when he died earlier this year.

Mr Boutcher said the report has now passed through the final phases of the legal protocol before publication.

He said: This protocol provides the legal framework that ensures the integrity, independence and legal due diligence of that report.

In accordance with that protocol, the report cannot now be changed, it is finalised for publication and it has been passed to the PSNI for that process to take place.

The report will now go through the governance structures in place within the PSNI to allow that to happen.

For propriety reasons and to protect the reports independence, I will recuse myself from that process and I will quite properly be doing that.

I would expect the logistics of arranging publication to take a number of weeks.

He added: In no way should my appointment affect that report whatsoever.

I have passed the national security tests that are required for the report to be published and it has now also passed the criminal justice review test with the public prosecutor.

The contractual agreement was that if all those legal stages were correctly fulfilled it would then be published by the PSNI.

Any report being published by any organisation needs to go through its own governance structures.

I, as the interim chief constable, will have no responsibility for that process because I think that is right, both for the optics because I wrote the report, and for the independence of the document.

In no way should it delay it and that was one of the legal considerations that I took before even applying for this job because I will not let those families down.
HIGHLIGHTS EU Commissioner said on Wednesday that Zuckerberg will have to remove all pro-Hamas content from their website.

Breton wrote a letter to Zuckerberg about all of this and even asked him to be very vigilant.

The Digital Service Act or the DSA is a strict and controversial bill thats under effect now.

Wars are the most sensitive times when misinformation can hurt the most. Sadly our social media platforms have become the biggest breeding grounds for misinformation. This misinformation needs to be taken care of as it can always become a trigger to escalate situations.

As we all know a conflict is going on between Israel and Hamas. In the wake of that, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner, warned Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta. He said on Wednesday that Zuckerberg will have to remove all pro-Hamas content from their website. It was further added that if Meta fails to do so, it will be going against the new EU moderation regulations.

Breton wrote a letter to Zuckerberg about all of this and even asked him to be very vigilant. They want Meta to remove all the content that is pro-Hamas and could promote hate speech. As per Breton, despite the EU moderation guidelines, they have noticed a surge of illegal content and disinformation being disseminated in the EU. This puts the beloved social media sites in breach of the Digital Services Act.

Eu Commissioner Thierry Breton

Also read: Mark Zuckerberg Says Instagram Will Show You More Content From Unknown Accounts

The Digital Service Act or the DSA is a strict and controversial bill thats under effect now. According to this act, if tech companies such as Facebook, Meta, Google, etc do not prevent content that is illegal in India, they will have to pay a hefty fine which could be 6% of their annual revenue.

European Commissioner Breton said in the letter to Zuckerberg, I urgently invite you to ensure that your systems are effective. Needless to say, I also expect you to be in contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities and Europol, and ensure that you respond promptly to any requests.

Also read: Instagram Threads memes are so funny it will make Elon Musk cry

Metas new transparency measures

Andy Stone, Meta spokesperson said to the Verge, Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact-checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation. Well continue this work as this conflict unfolds.

He even gave Meta a deadline of the next 24 hours. Do you think it is easy to remove so much negative content from social media websites?
HIGHLIGHTS Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro are expected to launch on October 27.

They will likely be the first phones to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro is expected to come with a titanium frame and satellite connectivity.

For quite some time, there have been rumours about the Xiaomi 14 series. This series is expected to include three models: Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 14 Pro, and Xiaomi 14 Ultra. According to rumours, these smartphones will likely be the first phones to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. Therefore, it was expected that they would be launched in November. The reason for this expectation was the fact that Qualcomms upcoming flagship mobile system-on-chip (SoC) is set to be unveiled at the end of this month. However, according to a new report, Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro are expected to launch at the end of this month.

According to a report by Gizmochina, numerous Weibo bloggers are claiming that the Xiaomi 14 series is set to be released on October 27.

Also read: Xiaomi 14 series: IMEI numbers reveal Xiaomi 14 Pro and flagship features

This news was first report by ITHome. If this information is accurate, it would mean that the upcoming Xiaomi flagship smartphones would be revealed the very next day of the Snapdragon Summit 2023. For those who are unaware, the Qualcomm conference for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is scheduled to be held in Hawaii from October 24 to 26.

Also read: Xiaomi 14 Ultra to come with a brand new 1-inch 50MP Sony Sensor

The Xiaomi 14 series is expected to include three models: Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 14 Pro, and Xiaomi 14 Ultra. However, only the vanilla and pro models are expected to launch this year, while the Ultra will likely be unveiled next year.

The Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro are expected to feature Leica-tuned cameras equipped with three distinct focal lengths. Similar to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is rumoured to come with a titanium frame and satellite connectivity.

Furthermore, its worth noting that these smartphones will likely be the first devices to ship with MIUI 15 based on Android 14. This new version of Xiaomis mobile software is also anticipated to be officially introduced alongside the phones.
So, is the OPPO Find N3 Flip the best flip smartphone on the market? The answer, unfortunately, cannot be summed down to one word. The OPPO Find N3 Flip blows the competition out of the water in multiple key areas including camera versatility, battery life, and fast charging. It is undoubtedly better than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and the Moto Razr 40 Ultra here. Then, there are some areas where it sits in the middle of the pack such as foldable UI, software updates, and display quality. Finally, there is one important area where the OPPO Find N3 Flip lags behind considerably  performance. The MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC inside the phone is being held back from reaching its full potential, allowing competitors to smoke it in terms of raw performance.

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Merely seven months after the launch of the debutant OPPO Flip phone in India, the company has come up with a refresh  the OPPO Find N3 Flip. The phone largely stays the same as its predecessor in many areas, but there are three key areas where it gets upgrades. Firstly, the cameras have got a MASSIVE upgrade. The OPPO Find N3 Flip is now the only Flip phone in the market to feature triple cameras.

Secondly, the phone has an upgraded Dimensity 9200 SoC. And lastly, the phones cover screen is now infinitely more useful with full support for 40+ Mini apps. The design sees some minor tweaks, the battery capacity remains the same, and the displays see no change. However, with the upgrades I mentioned above, OPPO stands a chance to disrupt the position of the market leaders in this category.

Is the OPPO Find N3 Flip successful in doing that? Lets find out in my detailed OPPO Find N3 Flip Review. The phone was launched in India at 94,999. So, naturally, I compared it against the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 (review) and Moto Razr 40 Ultra (review) to find out if its worth your money.

Build and design

The OPPO Find N3 Flip nearly replicates the looks of its predecessor save for the camera module which is pretty obvious when you first lay your eyes on it. It is thicker now though; possibly to incorporate the triple camera setup. Youve got an aluminium frame and a glossy rear panel made of glass.

Gorilla Glass Victus protects the cover display, which should make it pretty resistant to drops and scratches. The glossy body catches fingerprints and smudge marks pretty quickly and it is also very slippery when held or placed on a smooth surface. So, youd probably be better off using the phone with a case that OPPO has bundled in the box.

The camera modules design language has been completely altered compared to the Find N2 Flip. The triple cameras now sit in a circular camera module that features a silver metal rim around it, which looks quite stylish, in my opinion. All three cameras sit snugly inside this module and so does the Hasselblad branding. The flash is pushed outside this ring.

The sides of the device are glossy as well, and once again, attract fingerprints and smudges galore. On the right side, youve got the volume buttons and the power button. The buttons are nice and tactile. The power button, which also doubles as a capacitive fingerprint sensor, gets triggered incessantly causing the device to lock me out of using it until I enter the PIN. Not kidding, this happened to me almost every. single. time. *sigh*

The bottom of the phone houses the USB C charging port, the SIM card tray and a speaker. Lastly, the left side houses an ALERT SLIDER! Surprise, surprise! The feature has made its way over from OnePlus phones to OPPO devices and I love how convenient it is.

As a whole, I quite like how the OPPO Find N3 Flip looks  its got elegance and classiness in spades. However, there are definitely some misses such as the power button/fingerprint sensor fiasco and the lack of an IP rating. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, on the other hand, comes with an IPX8 rating, which obviously means more peace of mind for its users.

Display(s)

Lets talk about the displays. Well, theres actually nothing much new to say since not a lot has changed. Both the Find N3 Flip and Find N2 Flip have the same 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. They even have the same rated peak brightness levels of 1,600 nits. The cover display is also unchanged. The OPPO Find N3 Flip features a 3.26 AMOLED display with 382 x 720 pixels resolution and 900 nits of peak-rated brightness.

The inner display has thick bezels, as foldables usually do, but they are slightly thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5. Whats more important though is the crease, and it is barely visible on the OPPO Find N3 Flip. The Flexion hinge on the Find N3 Flip really makes a difference.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5s crease straight up looks like a relic compared to this one. I could only see it clearly when I tilted the phone or when it was at an angle. The screen is rated for a whopping 6,00,000 folds but only time will tell if this rating can be trusted *cough cough* Moto Razr 40 Ultra *cough*.

The displays on the phone are pretty good though  colour consistency is great and content watched on the displays looks vivid. I recorded a peak brightness of 1,282 nits on the inner display under direct sunlight, while the cover screen gave about 702 nits. Decent, but not great for those days when theres harsh sunlight outdoors. The phone also has a ProXDR display that allows users to view the photos clicked with enhanced and true-to-life highlights.

HDR10+ is supported on the inner display since you can only watch content when the phone is unfolded. It worked when I tried it on YouTube and Netflix. Alas, the fast refresh rate doesnt make it onto the cover screen. It is a bit jarring when you switch from the inner screen to the cover screen and scroll through Mini apps or your X (formerly Twitter) feed.

The cover screen on the OPPO Find N3 Flip is pretty useful. You get full-fledged support for 40+ apps including Google Maps, WhatsApp, Twitter, Gmail, GPay, Google Notes, Uber, and more. And these apps are fully functional on the cover screen. Since the cover screen mimics the aspect ratio of regular screens, there are no weird distortions or black bars present, which is very nice. Additionally, OPPO has even provided a full qwerty keyboard for you to type on. Very nifty.

Mini apps provide full support for 40+ apps on the cover screen

Unfortunately, though, some things just dont work on the cover display including any video-playing apps (no flak here, understandable) or the Dialer app (for some strange reason?). In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 can operate almost any app on the cover screen with Good Lock installed.

Edit (13/10/2023): The cover app now supports apps such as Netflix and YouTube. As for the dialer, the icon has shown up but it keeps crashing.

The transitions on the screens when folded and unfolded are also slightly jittery; I hope OPPO smoothens this out with a future OTA update. Additionally, there is no app continuity across the folded and unfolded state. If you fold the device when working on an app  it will shut down even if it is supported on the cover screen and you would have to unlock the cover display and then restart the app.

Camera upgrades on the OPPO Find N3 Flip are insane!

The OPPO Find N3 Flip has changed the flip phone optics game with its camera array. It is the only flip smartphone in the market to feature a triple camera setup with none of this 2-megapixel depth/macro camera baloney. Instead, youve got what I believe is a flagship-grade triple camera array consisting of a 50-megapixel primary camera with multi-directional PDAF and OIS, a 32-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, and a 48 MP-megapixel ultrawide shooter.

This gives all the current-gen Flip smartphones a serious run for their money in the camera department. Now, these cameras are not the absolute best in the overall smartphone market  no. But what this does mean is that OPPO is currently leading in the flip phone camera space by providing users with the most versatile camera setup you can get in this segment.

The primary camera clicks some stellar shots in both daylight and low-light conditions. The dynamic range is impressive, the detail retention is great, and the colours look nice and vivid. Photos taken on default settings are good enough to be shared on social media instantly. Close-up shots have a bit of fringing, but its not a deal-breaker. 2x telephoto shots provide impressive results as well with astoundingly good colour consistency between the two lenses.

Camera sample from primary camera Close up from primary camera Primary camera Another close up Primary camera Primary camera

Low light image from primary cam Low light portrait

As for portrait images, when I first tried it out, the phone would falter in tricky lighting situations and create a weird sort of halo around the subject. Since then, OPPO has pushed an update which has almost solved this issue. There are still slight remnants of it in really tricky lighting but its not nearly as jarring as before.

Portrait images as a whole could be tuned a bit better  you can get some social-media-worthy shots with this camera but if you pixel peep, youll notice some softness in the shot. Additionally, the edge detection isnt the best weve seen. Still, for the average consumer, the portrait images and perfectly serviceable and the 2x portrait shots look particularly aesthetic.

2x Portrait image 2x Portrait Image Low light portrait 2x Portrait Image 1x Portrait Image

The ultrawide lens takes excellent images  you get minimal distortion, plenty of detail, and vibrant colours. The dynamic range could be a bit better though. You can also shoot macro images on this phone. It leverages the ultrawide shooter for this. Tthe results are quite pleasing and detailed.

Ultrawide camera Ultrawide camera

As for selfies, theres a dedicated 32-megapixel shooter in a punch-hole cutout on the inner screen. While it shoots decent selfies, theres no reason to actually use this lens. You should rather be clicking detailed selfies using the main camera via the cover screen.

Selfie from primary camera Selfie from inner screen front camera

The results speak for themselves.

Performance disappoints

So far, the OPPO Find N3 Flip outclasses the market leader  the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5  in two key areas. Cameras and visibility of the crease. The Samsung also claps back with superior cover screen functionality (using Samsungs Good Lock app). The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 proves to be superior to the Find N3 Flip in the performance section as well. At least, when it comes to synthetic benchmarks.

The phone features the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC and comes in a sole 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256 GB UFS 4.0 storage variant.

Let me start with synthetic benchmarks. Be it AnTuTu, GeekBench, or PCMark Work, the OPPO Find N3 Flip gets left in the dust by its two main competitors  the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Moto Razr 40 Ultra. The same pattern repeats itself in GPU benchmarks. The OPPO Find N3 Flip lags behind in almost every test here as well.

I suspected some throttling going on since previous phones weve tested with the Dimensity 9200 SoC came back with significantly better results. I ran the CPU Throttling Test to confirm this and upon starting off the test, I immediately saw that the cores were not running at their maximum clock speed.

Even with throttled performance from the get-go, the phone further throttled down by another 32 per cent. OPPO could have done this to avoid overheating and lag, but it does hurt the end consumer in a small way where they may be expecting flagship-grade performance but wont quite get it.

I also faced some unexpected stutters and lag in day-to-day which Im not used to seeing on flagship phones. Casual users arent really going to notice these minute stutters though. The gaming experience is decent, but not as smooth sailing as other flip phones. The software is decent  you get low bloatware in the form of third-party apps and there are no ads being pushed. OPPO is also providing 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches, which is pretty good.

All in all, this is definitely not the most powerful flip smartphone on the market, but for users who value cameras over performance  what you get here in terms of power is not bad at all. Just not one of the best.

How long does the OPPO Find N3 Flips battery last?

The OPPO Find N3 Flip blew me away with its battery life. It houses the largest battery on a Flip phone. It outclasses both the Moto Razr 40 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 with its massive 4,300 mAh battery capacity. Couple this with the power-efficient MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC (and the fact that OPPO is throttling the performance) and youve got the best battery life weve experienced on a flip phone.

The phone easily provides 8-9 hours of on-screen time with regular usage. The battery also drains minimally in standby mode. In our 4K video loop test, the phone lasted a whopping 16 hours and 12 minutes before dying on us. This is longer than normal candybar form factor phones such as the Vivo X90 Pro! If battery life is your primary concern, the OPPO Find N3 Flip is the BEST flip phone option right now.

The charging speeds are one of the fastest as well with the phone supporting 44 W SuperVOOC charging. The phone charged from 0 to 100 per cent in merely 61 minutes, which is pretty impressive. Sadly, theres no wireless charging support on the OPPO Find N3 Flip though.

Should you buy the OPPO Find N3 Flip?

So, is the OPPO Find N3 Flip the best flip smartphone on the market? The answer, unfortunately, cannot be summed down to one word. The OPPO Find N3 Flip blows the competition out of the water in multiple key areas including camera versatility, battery life, and fast charging. It is undoubtedly better than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and the Moto Razr 40 Ultra here.

Then, there are some areas where it sits in the middle of the pack such as cover screen app support and display quality. Finally, there is one important area where the OPPO Find N3 Flip lags behind considerably  performance. The MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC inside the phone is being held back from reaching its full potential, allowing competitors to smoke it in terms of raw performance.

So, performance junkies would probably be better off choosing the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 or the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. Both of which are smoother and faster than the OPPO Find N3 Flip. However, if you can live with slightly underwhelming performance, the OPPO Find N3 Flip will absolutely delight you with its astoundingly long battery life and its robust and versatile camera system.

The OPPO Find N3 Flip houses the best cameras on a Flip phone. Period. And that  alongside insane battery life  is where it differentiates itself from the pack.
The Victims Commissioner has addressed families of victims of the Troubles from the Republic of Ireland.

Ian Jeffers, the commissioner for the Commission for Victims and Survivors, addressed victims families at the Tribute to Innocents Exhibition Memorial Quilts at Athlone Castle visitors museum on Thursday evening.

The event was the commissioners first address to victims and survivors of the Troubles based in the Republic of Ireland and follows the launch of the recent report which found 1 in 10 people there could define themselves a victim of the Troubles.

Four quilts will be displayed in the exhibition at Athlone Castle.

One, titled Terrorism Knows No Borders, features victims of republican and loyalist violence from the Republic of Ireland and others impacted by violence in Northern Ireland or mainland UK.

Another quilt is titled Lives That Mattered, featuring more than 70 people who were killed across the east of Northern Ireland and covering cases up to recent years including Lyra McKee.

The event is being organised by victims group South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF).

SEFF director Kenny Donaldson said the group was committed to supporting those impacted by the Troubles in the Republic of Ireland.

Across the memorial quilts which will be displayed, innocents are remembered, ordinary yet extraordinary men, women and children from across the community and who were murdered/killed in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, he said.

The key messages of the memorial quilts are, violence was futile and totally unjustified, those remembered are wholly innocent and the legacy of those represented will live on amongst those left behind.

He added: SEFFs doors are open and welcoming to all innocents, whether victimised by republican or loyalist terrorism or through criminal-based actions committed by members of the security forces.

SEFF is not defined by constitutional politics or denominational religion  its our values that unite us, consistent opposition to violence.

Mr Donaldson said SEFF has campaigned vigorously to position personnel outside Northern Ireland to support victims and survivors in the rest of the UK and in the Republic.

At the beginning of the journey there were few prepared to make that stand with us but thankfully in more recent years a new approach and willingness has evolved. Finally people are understanding that no victim/survivor should be further victimised through postcode lottery; all should have equal access to the necessary support services and interventions needed, he said.

We have worked with the Commission for Victims and Survivors in enabling them to directly engage with victims/survivors located across the Republic of Ireland, and we have confidence that the current commissioner understands the need for the southern political system to come up to the mark and provide for its citizens.
Defence lawyers for Aaron Brady had sought to show his capital murder trial jury a picture of a key prosecution witness with his penis exposed in an attempt to humiliate in the course of a "sordid" cross-examination, a senior barrister for the State has told the Court of Appeal.

Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued yesterday (WEDNESDAY) that the "shoddy manner" in which voluntary witness Daniel Cahill - who gave testimony via video link from New York - was treated "would make one wonder why anyone would ever do anything but look the other way when asked to come and give evidence in court".

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 three-judge appeals court.

Brady's trial was the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasting 122 court days.

After hearing approximately 47 grounds of appeal submitted by the appellant, the appeal will briefly continue tomorrow before Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, sitting with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Tara Burns.

On the sixth day of the hearing, counsel for the appellant Mr Justin McQuade BL said the prosecution was late in disclosing a US police report on the discovery of steroids at Mr Cahill's home until after he had given evidence.

Counsel said this contained information that was contradictory of evidence given by both a US Homeland Security officer and Mr Cahill, rendering the cross-examination unsatisfactory and the trial unfair.

DANIEL CAHILL'S CROSS-EXAMINATION AT TRIAL

Mr Cahill's lengthy cross examination over three days by Mr McQuade was among the most controversial aspects of the eighth-month trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr Cahill said he was a childhood friend of Vincent Ryan and knew his brother Alan Ryan, two dissident republicans who had been shot dead in separate attacks.

Mr McQuade put it to Mr Cahill that before he left Ireland he was a member of the "Ryan crew" or Dublin Real IRA, a suggestion the witness strongly denied.

When Mr McQuade suggested that the witness had been an active member of the Dublin Real IRA the trial judge intervened, dubbing it an outrageous question and telling the jury it should never have been put to the witness.

Mr Cahill denied that he was one of a group of four men who entered Mr Brady's apartment while the defendant was asleep on St Patrick's Day 2015 and assaulted him.

He said that he was working that night and there are pictures on Facebook to prove it. He also insisted that he was not put under pressure by Homeland Security to give evidence.

Mr Cahill had told the trial jury that he heard Brady admit to killing a garda on three occasions.

Mr Cahill said that Brady "ranted" about having shot a garda after he was punched in the eye during a bar fight. On another occasion Mr Brady was drinking heavily and "broke down" at the bar, telling Mr Cahill that he was involved in a "robbery gone wrong" that led to him shooting a garda.

Mr Cahill accepted that he hid in his attic for about two hours when Homeland Security called to his home on 25 July 2019.

Officers searched for him and found him along with a suspected cannabis plant and some steroids.

Later that same day Mr Cahill gave a statement to gardai at Yonkers Police Precinct and despite not having any legal status in the US he was allowed to continue living there.

Mr McQuade put it to him that Homeland Security told him to make a statement or be deported on the next flight to Dublin. He strongly denied this, saying he wanted justice for Det Gda Donohoe.

Two weeks after Mr Cahill gave evidence, Special Agent Mary Ann Wade testified that steroids were also found in Mr Cahill's house but that no prosecution was ever taken against Mr Cahill in relation to the steroids but she did not remember why.

The witness refused to say whether there was an investigation into Mr Cahills legal status in the US or whether she had a conversation with Mr Cahill about his status prior to him speaking to gardai.

APPELLANT'S SUBMISSION BEFORE COURT OF APPEAL

Mr McQuade for the appellant submitted before the Court of Appeal yesterday (WEDNESDAY) that the late disclosure of an important Yonkers police report referencing steroids found in the home of Mr Cahill on July 25, 2019 would have been evidence which might have been of relevance to a jury.

Counsel said the jury never got to see Mr Cahill's demeanour or his reaction if he had been confronted with the report referencing the steroids and that it was entirely a matter for the jury to consider his response and assess it.

"It was entirely a matter for the jury to decide whether or not Mr Cahill had lied to them by omitting to refer to steroids when the opportunity was put to him and he was questioned about cannabis," he said.

Mr McQuade submitted that the defence did not know anything about steroids being found in Mr Cahill's home when he was cross-examined, that they were completely in the dark at the time and that this was the witness's opportunity "to tell the whole truth".

Mr Justice John Edwards put it to the barrister that this was "a wholly collateral matter" to which Mr McQuade replied that "a lie to the jury is not a collateral matter". Counsel said it went towards the witness's credibility and "that loose thread" undid Mr Cahill's credibility.

The presiding judge told the lawyer that perhaps the steroids were prescribed for a medical issue and if it transpired that the steroids weren't illicit then the witness might have answered truthfully and it was speculative to say Mr Cahill might have lied.

Counsel replied: "This is the difficulty that the failure to disclose the report had. We had one hand tied behind our back as when Mr Cahill was cross-examined we didn't have the benefit of the report".

The report, the lawyer said, that was not disclosed to the defence in a timely fashion would have had the potential to enable their side to have something concrete and indisputable, which might have led the jury to come to the conclusion that the witness was not truthful.

"This material could have unravelled the jury's confidence in what he had said; it doesn't have to be a knockout blow," he continued.

Counsel for the appellant went on to say if the jury took the view that Mr Cahill lied on the issue of steroids then that could have had a "knock-on effect" on the jury's assessment on the entirety of his evidence.

"We had nothing with which we could lay a glove on Mr Cahill," he said.

The appellant also said that after Mr Cahill was found in the attic he was brought to Yonkers Police Precinct where a decision was made not to prosecute him and he was offered an opportunity to give a statement to An Garda Siochana, who were also present. He said a decision was made by the defence not to recall Mr Cahill as the prosecution was about to close its case.

REPLYING SUBMISSION

In reply, Brendan Grehan SC, for the DPP, said a very clear tactical decision was made by the defence not to revisit the matter with Mr Cahill.

"Mr McQuade said 'we had nothing by which to lay a glove on Mr Cahill. Wow, what a slim piece of material they now suggest would unravel Mr Cahill's evidence." Counsel submitted it was "fanciful in the extreme" to now say this issue would have "blown the case wide open".

The barrister said the height of the suggestion seemed to be that if the defence had the report at the time of Mr Cahill's cross-examination then the jury would have seen his demeanour and reaction.

At this point counsel raised his voice saying: "The jury got to see Cahill's cross-examination over three days in the most sordid cross-examination I've ever seen, where the witness was being put through the wringer in an Irish court.

"The shoddy manner in which Mr Cahill was treated would make one wonder why anyone would ever do anything but look the other way and keep their head down when asked to come and give evidence in court".

Mr Grehan said the report arose in the context of Special Agent Mary Ann Wade referring to a quantity of steroids found in Mr Cahill's home and at that point the prosecution was in pursuit of continuing their duty of disclosure.

"This was a police to police report covered by privilege attached to such documents. It was highlighted as being a privileged report and highlighted as being relevant to Mr Brady," he said, adding that these were the factual circumstances in how the late disclosure came about.

The lawyer said an offer was made by the prosecution to recall Mr Cahill but the defence didn't want him in the end and a very "dressed up explanation" was provided.

"They didn't want to go back to Mr Cahill and they had good reason for not wanting to go back to him. The defence sought to inflate this [steroids being found] to a matter of some importance yet they didn't want the witness recalled," he continued.

Mr Grehan later said he didn't exclusively lay what occurred during the cross-examination of the witness at Mr McQuade's door. "I don't think junior counsel was acting on a frolic of his own, I don't suggest that," he said.

Counsel said he wished to acknowledge Mr McQuade's professionalism notwithstanding, to which Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy replied: "I'm very glad you said that".

Mr Grehan said accusing the witness of being involved in dissident IRA activity was "unfair improper conduct" and "scandalous".

"We all conduct trials on the basis that people know the rules, abide by the rules and don't overstep the mark but I was deeply concerned," he said.

Mr Grehan told the appellate court that the defence had wanted to put a picture of Mr Cahill's penis on the screen in front of the jury "to claim he wasn't as sober as he had been back on St Patrick's Day".

Counsel highlighted that this was "as high as you can go", was "done to humiliate and embarrass a witness" and was something that should never happen to any witness who comes forward to give evidence. He said it was the duty of the court to protect a witness and all of that had been breached in Mr Cahill's case.

In summary, Mr Grehan said the jury got the fullest picture of Mr Cahill's demeanour and the submission being made that "steroids would have blown this case wide open is frankly ludicrous".

In reply, Mr McQuade rejected the suggestion that he was "put up to" cross-examine Mr Cahill in this way and said it was an unfair observation and slightly outrageous.

He said he was entirely responsible for the cross-examination, that he had overstepped the mark on one question and was correctly admonished by the judge.

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 suggestion that two jurors in the trial of Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, may have visited Crossmaglen in Co Armagh after the trial "needed clarification and couldn't be left hanging", the appellant's lawyers have told the Court of Appeal.

However, Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the law was "crystal clear" and "the long established rule" is that a jury cannot be questioned individually or together after their verdict is returned "in relation to anything pertaining to their deliberations".

On the final day of a seven-day hearing before the appellate court, the defence was seeking leave of the court to include the motion as a new ground of appeal.

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 before the three-judge appeals court.

Brady's trial was the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasting 122 court days.

After hearing nearly 50 grounds of appeal submitted by the appellant over the last seven days, in what the Court of Appeal said was "one of the longest ever" matters before it, Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, sitting with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Tara Burns said the court would reserve its judgement, remarking that "it was a difficult case for everyone".

Michael O'Higgins SC, representing Brady, submitted today (THURSDAY) that a juror had "a random meeting" with a jury minder and "a conversation ensued", where it was relayed that two jury members in the capital murder trial had travelled north of the border.

Mr O'Higgins said his solicitor had met the jury keeper on or about March 3, 2021 and subsequently by arrangement in the company of junior counsel at the Criminal Courts of Justice Building on June 16, 2022.

The jury minder confirmed at the later meeting that he had met the juror in the street approximately six weeks after the trial, who informed him that he had gone to Crossmaglen but did not say when he had made that visit.

Counsel said the jury minder's impression was that the visit may have taken place subsequent to the trial.

The jury found Brady guilty of the murder of Det Gda Donohoe by majority verdict on August 12, 2020.

Mr O'Higgins said the defence had written to the prosecution asking that the gardai make the necessary inquiries.

In reply, Mr Grehan said the law is crystal clear that a jury cannot be questioned either as a group or individuals after their verdict in relation to anything pertaining to their deliberations.

"That is the long established rule, it would have the effect of ending the finality of a jury verdict and go against the well established principle that jury deliberations should not be inquired into," he said.

Mr Grehan said for the defence to infer that gardai can "go off and take statements" would be in breach of that principle unless "there was a well founded basis for it".

The barrister said that the law operates on the basis that juries follow directions given by a judge and many directions had been given by the trial judge in the capital murder trial.

"We don't enquire as to how jury verdicts come about and a long period of time had been spent by the jury deliberating in this case," he continued.

Mr Grehan said there would have to be "some reasonably well founded basis" for the verdict in this case to be looked into. "There is a huge disconnect between the ground of appeal put forward in the case and the affidavit that seeks to support it," he said.

Counsel said nothing had happened until the eve of the appeal "when we are suddenly provided with a letter from the defence saying investigate this". Mr Grehan said he did not accept there was enough to justify the gardai locating the juror and inviting him to the garda station to see what he had to say.

The barrister suggested to the three-judge court that if there had been "any reality to their concerns" when Brady's solicitor and counsel spoke to the jury minder on either of the two dates then the point would have been agitated long before then.

He submitted that the appellant court should be extremely reluctant to suggest anybody embark on a course that involves jurors being questioned about their deliberations unless there "was a reasonably well founded and strong evidential basis".

Mr O'Higgins said that gardai and the State have as much interest in "this piece of conversation", which he submitted needed clarification and could not be left hanging.

"I don't understand how the State isn't as anxious [as us] to say why not check out what's been said but they have opted not to do that," he concluded.

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.

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.
Sinead Crowther, Founder and CEO of Soothing Solutions, was named the Enterprise Ireland High-Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Founder of the Year for 2023 at an awards event at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin, last night.

Founded in 2017, Louth-based healthcare firm Soothing Solutions manufactures a range of honey jelly pops called Tonstix aimed at providing a children's alternative to lozenges.

Crowther had previously worked as a pharmaceutical technician and had noticed a gap in the market for products to help children suffering from sore throats and coughs. It was early in the journey on Enterprise Irelands New Frontiers programme in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) when Sinead met her co-founder, Denise Lauaki.

Tonstix products are now stocked in more than 1,400 pharmacies across Ireland, and recently launched on Amazon UK.

The Enterprise Ireland Founder of the Year Awards acknowledge and celebrate the commitment that entrepreneurs and start-ups have made to build world-class companies of the future.

There were 11 nominees for the 2023 award, all of whom were voted for by their peers who have been taking part in Enterprise Irelands High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Founders Forum over the last 24 months.

Other finalists included: Brendan Staunton of Amara Therapeutics, Brian Kenneally of Bundledocs, David Duffy of The Corporate Governance Institute, Patrick McDermott of DigiTally, Jonathan Bouchier-Hayes of Endowave, Darren Sexton of GuardYoo, Kate Scott of Holotoyz, Liam Dunne of Klearcom, Evelyn Kelly of Orphan Drug Consulting, and Eamonn Costello of Patientmpower.

Enterprise Ireland and Select Strategies created the HPSU Founders Forum to give founders a platform where they can address issues, share challenges and seek support from each other and from founders who are further along in their entrepreneurial journey.

Since its inception, more than 300 founders have participated in the HPSU Founders Forum from a range of sectors including software, medical devices, food, engineering and construction.

The 2023 Founder of the Year was decided by a judging panel which included Joe Healy, Divisional Manager of Client Services at Enterprise Ireland; Helen Ryan, former CEO of Creganna Medical and James Ives, CEO and founder, XOCEAN.

Previous award winners include Mervyn OCallaghan of CameraMatics, Brian Shields of Neurent Medical, John Ghent of Sytorus and Tony McEnroe of Sirius XT.

Gavan Walsh, founder and former CEO of iCabbi, also joined the event to discuss the key lessons from the companys journey, disrupting an entire industry to become a global leader in just a few years.

Joe Healy, Divisional Manager of Client Services at Enterprise Ireland said: Start-ups are a driving force of economic growth, new talent and innovation.

"Now in its fifth year, the Founder of the Year Awards promote Irelands ecosystem of entrepreneurs who have displayed the potential and commitment to building their businesses and realising their global ambition.

On behalf of Enterprise Ireland, I wish to congratulate Sinead Crowther on winning this years Founder of the Year Award. Sinead is an excellent example of a founder with a clear pathway to scaling globally and the potential to become a world leader in her field.

"I would also like to congratulate the ten other nominees, all of whom were shortlisted by their peers. Each of todays nominees have achieved so much within their own fields of work.

"Their success is an inspiration for the next generation of founders coming up behind them who have the determination and resilience required to get their enterprises up and running.
Louth Fianna Fail senator Erin McGreehan has called on the government to implement a policy that would allow farms to be carbon audited to calculate their level of carbon sequestration (how much carbon their land is capturing and storing.)

The senator also suggested that a pilot project be carried out in Louth whereby farms would be audited and given a carbon balance sheet.

Speaking in the Seanad yesterday the senator said:

This is a very important issue, one I have been talking about for many years. I am very frustrated by the lack of clarity on the topic. We have had crazy debates, including some bullying in my opinion, over carbon budgets for agriculture.

The agricultural sector people speak about is not some sort of anonymous entity. It is the farm I grew up on. It is the farm my neighbours toil on and where they struggle to make ends meet every single day of the week. While we are trying to keep all that going, we must cut emissions, which we agree with, but why are farmers taken advantage of?

She continued:

We have big and small farm holdings. They are the carbon sink of this nation and to date there is no acknowledgement of that by the State. Trees, grass, soil and even sheep's wool sequesters carbon. The 400,000 km of hedgerows right across the country is a carbon sink and a biodiversity haven. Even the lowly common hawthorn has about 200 different insects living on it. 

Senator McGreehan gave the example of Devenish, a private agri-technology company, based in Meath that is using sustainable farming initiatives that help decarbonise global agriculture by supporting farmers to continue to produce nutritious meat and milk while improving their carbon balance.

She said that a farm knowing their carbon balance sheet could help the identification of actions that will help the wider agricultural sector to reach net-zero carbon emissions.

Welcoming increases in the national budget to research sustainable agriculture, she concluded:

I know the Department is behind me on this, but I want to ensure that money will be put into farms to make sure every farm is audited. We could start a pilot project in County Louth because we have every type of agriculture there - tillage, grain, sheep, cattle, dairy and we even have aquaculture - to ensure that every single farm has a carbon balance sheet. I am very excited about this. I hope the new research budget will assist in that regard.

In response, Minister of State Mary Butler said that:

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is collaborating with the EPA, Teagasc and other research institutions in a range of research projects to better understand the capacity of Irish soils to sequester carbon in different types of grassland or on different individual farms. It is challenging given the different soil types, crops, climatic conditions and land use to accurately measure carbon sequestration emissions as well as proving the additionality and permanence of carbon sequestration.

The Minister has provided funding for the formation of a nationwide network of best practice demonstration and research farms under the Teagasc Signpost programme. The Signpost programme is a collaborative partnership of farmers, industry and State agencies working together to lead climate action and the transition towards more sustainable farming systems.
Access to funding for retrofitting is a significant challenge for Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in Louth in meeting net zero carbon targets. Thats according to the Housing Alliance, which launched a report on how best to deliver a decarbonised housing sector that meets national climate targets.

The Housing Alliance, a collaboration of six of Irelands largest AHBs, commissioned the report, funded by the Housing Agency, to identify the issues, challenges and opportunities for delivering a decarbonised housing sector in Louth and across Ireland. The report sets out recommendations to enable the Housing Alliance members to work together to tackle climate challenges.

Key findings of the report were:

 Across all stakeholder groups, there was consensus that the top three climate-related issues for the sector are energy management, fuel poverty and retrofit finance.

 Access to finance for retrofitting older homes is a challenge for the sector due to structural issues around how the AHB sector is funded.

 There are retrofit supply chain challenges such as shortages in materials, equipment and labour.

The report was launched by Steven Matthews, TD, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, at an event in No. 6 Kildare Street, Dublin. Guest speakers at the event included Laura Heuston, co-founder at Sustainability Works; Dr. Ad Hereijgers, Director of Business Development at RITTERWALD in Amsterdam and Mervyn Jones, Consultant Director at Savills Housing Consultancy.

Commenting at the launch, Deputy Matthews said:

I wish to thank the Housing Alliance for their work on this report. It is the challenge of our time to provide public and private housing on a scale that is affordable to purchase or rent, that is energy efficient, warm, healthy and affordable to run and all this is framed in the obligation to decarbonise construction, building materials and domestic energy requirements.

This report assists us in our research, policy development and legislation; it highlights the role AHBs not only play in the provision of social housing but also in meeting this challenge while delivering homes for our communities.

Commenting on the findings of the report, John Hannigan, Chair of the Housing Alliance said:

Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) across Ireland have a central role in providing social and affordable housing in Louth and across Ireland. With over 43,000 homes, decarbonising the sector will be essential in tackling the climate crisis and meeting national targets. The main challenge lies in funding for decarbonising the current AHB stock through retrofitting. Residential energy efficiency upgrades, also known as retrofits, have been shown to deliver more comfortable homes and health benefits for the occupants as well as reduced energy bills.

We commissioned this report with the goal of identifying tangible actions to enable the Housing Alliance members to work together to tackle the challenges of decarbonisation. We are proposing that the Housing Alliance should be seen as strategic partners for Government, contractors and finance. Through collaboration and partnership, we can create an efficient and cost-saving way of achieving our housing targets.

Throughout the report, finance was a key issue raised by respondents. AHBs reported difficulty in accessing public or private debt to fund retrofits. Engaging with Government and key stakeholders to ensure there is a common understanding on how this process can be streamlined is vital.

We hope that by sharing our vision and the insights and recommendations in this report, the sector and its key stakeholders will engage and collaborate to realise our potential. The Housing Alliance is ready to lead by example and is committed to implementing the recommendations of this report.
A 51-year-old man who tried to rob a shop at a Dundalk filling station, has been sentenced at the local district court to 220 hours community service in lieu of a four month jail term.

Thomas McGee with an address at Aisling Park, Coxs Demesne, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and theft of food at Maxol, Castletown Road, on August seventh 2022 and admitted trespassing at a construction site at Patrick Tierney Crescent on October eighth 2020.

The court heard last Wednesday how two men had entered the shop at Maxol on the Castletown Road. One produced a black handgun-type weapon and demanded that the till be opened, but that wasnt possible, as money had to be placed in it first.

The defendant was subsequently identified as the man dressed all in black with the firearm.

In the other case, the court was told that when the construction site was opened at 7.50am it was believed items had been stolen overnight. Blood was found and CCTV captured an individual inside.

The court heard the 51 year old had 44 previous convictions, including for assault and attempted robbery.

The defence solicitor said his client, who had been in and out of trouble since the 80s had recently been provided with housing by the council.

He co-operated and expressed shame and regret over what happened and has been keeping himself to himself.

Judge McKiernan remarked it was a very serious matter and she was only considering community service, because hes in housing.
PUPILS from Carrigtwohill Community National School became the first to move to the much anticipated newly developed three-school campus in the town.

Principal Teresa Coughlan with pupils Harry O'Brien, 6th class and Pippa Coleman, SNA Anne Troy and Liam Ahern, board of management from Carrigtwohill Community National school Picture; Eddie O'Hare

The campus was developed as part of a project that represents the largest investment in the States history in a joint primary/post-primary school hub.

Principal Teresa Coughlan with pupils from Carrigtwohill Community National School. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Pupils moved from their temporary pre-fabs at Carrigtwohill GAA Club to their new school on Tuesday morning, marking the event with a 9am parade which saw the staff and students walk from the old school through the village to the new school on Station Road.

Rebel Brass leading the with pupils from Carrigtwohill Community National School. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Principal Teresa Coughlan said they had been in temporary accommodation for eight years and were very excited when construction work started on their new school.

We wanted to do something a little bit special around the closing of one chapter and the opening of another, because our old place served us really well, Ms Coughlan told The Echo. We went from three kids in 2015 to 381 today, so its a place where weve all grown, as students and teachers.

pre school children watch as pupils from Carrigtwohill Community National School moved from their pre-fab buildings at the GAA club to their new premises. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

The Cork principal said the staff had moved the furniture to the new facility the previous day, but rather than just tell all the kids to go to the new premises, they wanted them all to come in and see the empty school.

We wanted to make it more of a natural step for them, and for them to understand that it still exists, its just not going to be our school anymore, she said.

Pupils in the old pre-fabs before moving to their new premises on Station Road, Carrigtwohill. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

They walked up through the village with musicians leading the parade, while parents, local businesses and another school lined the street to cheer them on.

Ms Coughlan added that it was a celebration not just for the students and staff directly involved, but for everyone in Carrigtwohill.

The community has been fighting for this. Its been a long, long wait for everyone in the village, so it was not just a celebration for the children it was a celebration for the whole community, and the roads were packed. There was like a sense of joy from the general public, not just people who had a child or grandchild at the school, she said.

Pupils from Carrigtwohill Community National school who moved from their pre-fab buildings at the GAA club to their new premises. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

The principal said the new facility had surpassed all their expectations.

The new school is phenomenal  state of the art. We feel very privileged to be the first to move into the new building, but when all three schools are there its just going to be such an exciting space.
CORK City Ballet celebrates its 30th anniversary season in the Cork Opera House this year, making it the longest-running professional ballet company in Ireland.

To mark this significant milestone, the company has chosen to present Swan Lake this November, one of the most famous classical ballets of all time.

Directed by Artistic Director Alan Foley, Cork City Ballets production will enchant audiences with its opulent designs, sumptuous costumes, enchanting solos and spectacular pas de deux in this production.

The companys full-length production of this ballet lays claim to a legacy that extends back to its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1895, so the historical piece is a perfect celebration for the milestone anniversary.

Speaking at the recent launch of Swan Lake, Artistic Director Alan Foley explained that the performance will break from tradition with a slightly different ending. He said: Unlike the unalloyed tragedy most people cherish, this version ends with a fairytale twist.

Chief choreographer -Yuri Demakov and I have re-produced the original Petipa/Ivanov choreography where the prince destroys the evil sorcerer Rothbart and is joyfully reunited with the Swan Queen.

All the well-loved elements will be unchanged, however, including the magical white acts, with the famous cygnets dance for four girls; the white swan pas de deux; and the Act 3 climactic black swan pas de deux complete with thirty-two fouettes, all to the soundtrack of Tchaikovskys score.

The production will feature Katerina Petrova- Prima Ballerina of the Sofia State Ballet and her partner Tsetso Ivanov who will dance the lead roles of Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried, accompanied by soloists and a full corps de ballet.

The production opens at the Cork Opera House on Thursday, November 2 and runs until Saturday, November 4 with one matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm, with tickets ranging from 27 to 45, with the option to buy a family ticket for 120.
RUGBY player CJ Stander was among the attendees who took part in a recent event aimed at highlighting the difficulties that people using a wheelchair experience on a daily basis.

The Spinal Injuries Irelands event, A Day In My Wheels, took place at Corks County Hall.

It was attended by businesses and individuals who contributed 5,000 to take part  either fundraised or donated through company corporate social responsibility budgets  which will directly support the 2,300+ individuals in Ireland with spinal cord injury and their families.

Attendees on the day heard from Kevin Dempsey, Development Manager of the Disability Federation of Ireland who explained that there are 650,000 people in Ireland living with a disability, and 1.1 million or 22% of the population have at least one long-lasting condition, according to the most recent census.

Despite this high figure, people with disabilities are the largest untapped source of labour, he said, adding that despite studies showing the benefits of having a diverse workforce, many businesses are not accessible enough to hire people with disabilities.

Participants at A Day In My Wheels event.

Participants were then invited to borrow a wheelchair and try to navigate various tasks, such as moving around cones, then doing it in reverse, getting up and down a ramp, and even crossing the busy main road.

The aim of the event was to encourage companies to think about accessibility, and to then return to their workplace and make changes.

Several ambassadors from Spinal Injuries Ireland were on hand to advise the participants about how to navigate their way around in wheelchairs.

Among those in attendance was Richard Murray, or Rich as he is known, who was born able-bodied, but had to relearn everything after he fell on his back during a boat trip with his friends in 2021.

SII Ambassador Mark Dalton, SII Ambassador CJ Stander, SII Ambassador Richard Murray at the Day In My Wheels event.

After a week at The Mater, where he underwent surgery, Rich spent three months in Cork University Hospital, before being transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), where he first met the Spinal Injuries Ireland team, who have been in constant contact with him since.

Rich said that he got lucky as he could keep his job, which allows him to work from home. He said that because he and his fiance had just put down the foundation of their house, they were able to redesign it to be more accessible.

Despite these positives, he says there are a huge amount of things that he cant do now, due to the world not being set up for people who use a wheelchair.

He explained that though now his eye is trained to immediately register whether or not a place is accessible, it was something hed never paid any attention to before.

Almost every home is not accessible in some way  if theres two stories I cant get upstairs.

A few friends moved into new houses and wed go to visit, Id have to ask my partner to go upstairs and tell me what it was like.

Speaking about the A Day In My Wheels event, he said: Its always nice to be around other people in my situation, they know what youre going through without even having to tell them.

In the NRH especially youre surrounded by people like that, but then youre back out in the real world and youre the only one in your environment in a wheelchair.

Mayor Frank O'Flynn and CJ Stander at A Day In My Wheels event.

He said that he had observed people having to navigate and think differently about their access for the first time about things he considers on a daily basis and that he could relate to them.

If you sat me in a chair three years ago I would have struggled, he said. When we were crossing the road, there was a curb and even CJ Stander had to think twice about how to get over it properly  that curb was about an inch high and it slowed everybody down.

He commented that he noticed people who werent part of the event staring as participants crossed the road in wheelchairs, and says this is part of his daily life.

CEO of Cork Chamber Conor Healy, SII Corporate Business Development Lead Dan Kiely and other attendees taking part in a wheelchair skills course at A Day In My Wheels event.

If youre in a chair and youre the only one, everybody looks at you  man, woman, child, dog theyll all stop and look at you.

Its another thing you dont get until youre in a chair, you can hear cars slowing down when they pass to look at you, like me walking the dog at night is a fairly unique sight.

Rich said that places in Cork have very varying degrees of accessibility, but said it makes a big difference when they make changes in that regard.

Rugby player CJ Stander attempting to get up a ramp at A Day In My Wheels event.

Theres a drive-through coffee shop in Little Island called Crush Coffee that I always go to, and I noticed that theyd replaced a gravel sitting area with tiles, he said, adding that he spoke to the owner who said he is also planning to put a ramp in over a curb.

Rich said it gave him hope to see this improvement from when he first became a wheelchair user, saying: even in my length of time in a wheelchair I see a spot making these changes.

But it continues to be a source of stress for Rich and others like him, as he explains: Im going on honeymoon in two weeks and the worry that it might be inaccessible is huge - but were just going to stay positive.

He added: Theres a long way to go in that regard, but 50 or 100 years ago what chance would you have to a life? Now theres progress being made all the time.

For more information on the work of Spinal Injuries Ireland see https://spinalinjuries.ie/.
POST-PRIMARY school principals are urging Education Minister Norma Foley to immediately sign off on the roll out of an administrative officer post across all schools.

The issue is top of the agenda at the National Association of Principals and Deputies (NAPD) Annual Conference which is taking place in Galway this week.

The Irish Principals and Deputy Principals Health and Wellbeing Survey for 2023 shows that 64% of school leaders have reported stress or burnout with over 73% indicating that too much time is spent on administration.

I think the workload on principals and deputy principals has become extremely onerous, much especially over the past ten years, principal of Gaelcholaiste Mhuire AG Donal O Buachalla told The Echo.

Im 21 years in a senior management position and the workload keeps increasing every year, he added.

School leaders across the country say the administrative work they undertake decreases the amount of time they have to interact and engage with their students.

Principal of Colaiste Eamann Ris Aaron Wolfe said: Your primary role is meant to be teaching and learning, but it is not. Now it is just admin. You cant concentrate on the core business, which is teaching and learning.

Mr Wolfe believes the additional administrative responsibilities of a principal makes the role unattractive.

You can see it when schools advertise for positions, they often re-advertise several times before they can actually get someone to become a principal. An administrative officer for schools is long overdue, he concluded.
Stealing a bouquet of flowers resulted in a woman being jailed for three months.

Donna Dineen, 28, of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to stealing the flowers on the afternoon of March 2 at Tesco on Paul Street, Cork.

Now at Cork District Court she has pleaded guilty to the theft of the item valued 16.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the defendant was sentenced previously for other thefts around that time and that this offence might have been taken into consideration then but it was not before the court.

An aggravating factor for the defendant was the fact that she was convicted 13 times before for theft, Judge Olann Kelleher said as he sentenced her to three months in prison.
The album as a format has always fascinated me and like many music fans, I can map out my life according to the various albums of the day. Albums really came of age in the 60s and 70s but even us children of the 80s will remember how powerful they were culturally.

I grew up with Thriller, Purple Rain and many other great albums that I still listen to.

The big acts of the 80s all had iconic albums that many of us can remember visually as well as musically, and as my tastes evolved into hip-hop acts such as Public Enemy, De la Soul, Run DMC, N.W.A. and the Beastie Boys led the way.

The 90s was a similarly iconic era for albums, no matter what your taste, but in this century the power of the album seemed to fall off slightly.

However, many kept it alive. No matter what you say about Kanye, his albums always remained key pop culture moments, and another of my big favourites, Frank Ocean, provided us with a few classic long players already. In soul and R&B weve had many great albums over the last 25 years that continue its rich legacy of bringing long form works of art to the ear drums. Where once stood Marvin, Aretha, Curtis and Stevie, we later got Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, DAngelo, Sza and Erykah Badu. But we live in a streaming era now. How is the album doing as a format? Does it even matter?

In a word, yes. Some of those Ive just mentioned, like Sza and Kanye and Frank Ocean, continue to remain iconic in this era while many more, such as the Weeknd, Tyler the Creator and Travis Scott, definitely pay lots of attention to the composing of actual albums and not just singles.

The biggest streaming artist of them all, Drake, has a few big albums too, but on listening to his new album last weekend, I couldnt help but feel its all a bit cobbled together these days. Theres a track or two for every type of fan, but it certainly doesnt work as an album as a whole, and like the recent Travis record, it will probably be judged a disappointment. You could say the same about most of Drakes recent albums to be honest. At least Travis went ambitious on the sonics though, it works on some levels. But both albums have tracks that looked tacked on, and this happens a lot in the streaming era.

Scanning through the list of albums in the UK top 40 is depressing. Its nearly all compilations. The Weeknd is number one, with a compilation of his greatest hits, and it shows how good his catalogue is really. But even his 2016 album Starboy is in the top 30 still.

As are old albums by Arctic Monkeys and others, the only newer albums there seem to be by safe pop acts such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles. Taylor Swift isnt my thing, but she also carefully pays attention to her album profile, while Beyonce, who released the magnificent Renaissance last year, is also still there (and touring it heavily).

America is slightly more exciting. New artists such as Rod Wave and co are dominating and theres hardly a compilation in sight. Besides Taylor Swifts four or five entries, the top 20 is fairly diverse, and also features the impressive new album by Doja Cat. Doja has elected to take a slightly more left-field approach on this album, which is almost a love letter to 90s hip-hop and R&B, and which is full of samples. Her Paint the town red smash will keep her profile bubbling long enough for the rest of the tracks to soak into the mainstream, and like her pal Sza, she will marry good creativity with commercial success.

Maybe its just a bad phase for albums. If Frank Ocean or someone were to announce a new album tomorrow, it could switch things overnight. These things happen in cycles I guess. Lots of the most successful artists in the world right now are paying more attention to streaming singles and thats the way of the world. Women are dominating mainstream rap music but Megan, Cardi, Ice Spice, City Girls and Sexyy Red in this era are killing it with singles rather than albums too. The album will return, but for now, its going through a fairly mediocre phase.
Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti (22) has been confirmed dead after an attack by Hamas at a music festival in southern Israel.

In a post on social media, her sister Laura said: With great sorrow and gloomy grief, I announce the killing of our angel, our flower, Kim, my blood, who was murdered by the cursed terrorists."

Her funeral will take place on Thursday at 5pm at the cemetery in Gedera, south of Tel Aviv.

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.

Ms Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site.

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

In an interview with ABC News on Monday, Kim's mother Jennifer Damti, who is 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.

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

So many other mothers here today. Im not the only one. Everybody is missing somebody.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin paid condolences to the Damti family on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland.

"When news reached us over the weekend that an Irish citizen was one of the many hundreds missing after the repugnant terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, we hoped against hope that she would be found safely. The news that this hope has now been extinguished is devastating."

Mr Martin added: "Anyone looking at the photo of Kim in the media over the last few days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression; a young 22-year-old woman with a whole life ahead of her, full of promise."

He said for anyone to lose a child is devastating, but to lose a child in such circumstances is "indescribable".

Mr Martin said he spoke with Kims family on Wednesday evening.

"Our thoughts remain with all the families of those who have died, who are injured or who are missing in the wake of these terrible events."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "As a nation we are united in mourning for Kim Damti. This vibrant young Irish-Israeli woman was struck down in her prime, with her adult life ahead of her. Her death, and the deaths of more than a thousand other citizens of Israel and from around the world, was senseless and barbaric.

"Kim gave happiness and joy to her family and those around her. As we learn of her death, we pause to think of her, her family in Israel and Ireland and of all those now grieving in countless other nations."
By Lauren Gilmour, PA Scotland

A fugitive due to be extradited from Scotland to the US has been arrested in connection with an alleged rape in Essex.

Nicholas Rossi, 36, was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with reports of an alleged rape which took place in Chelmsford in 2017, according to the BBC.

Rossi previously claimed he was an Irish orphan called Arthur Knight.

Following a lengthy extradition hearing earlier this year, an order was signed last week to have Rossi sent back to the US.

Rossi initially came to the attention of the authorities after he became ill with Covid-19 and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2021.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: Officers investigating a non-recent allegation of rape in Chelmsford, which was made to us in April 2022, have arrested a 36-year-old a man.

After liaising with the appropriate authorities, Essex Police officers arrested the man on suspicion of rape this morning.

He remains in custody for questioning.
Claudia Savage, PA

Opposing funding for the redevelopment of Casement Park is incomprehensible, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has said.

Ms McDonalds comments came after DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted there would be no extra money from Stormont for the project.

Ms McDonald addressed the media in Belfast alongside vice-president Michelle ONeill and party colleague Conor Murphy.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (centre) addressing the media at Belfast City Hall alongside vice-president Michelle ONeill and party colleague Conor Murphy (Claudia Savage/PA)

Ms McDonald said the project would benefit all communities in Northern Ireland.

I find it incomprehensible that anybody would be against something that brings so much obvious good for everybody, she said.

This is a good news story for everybody right across the North, for sport, for the economy, for relationships between Britain and Ireland, north and south.

So I think rather than complaining about or looking a gift horse in the mouth, we need to grab this now with both hands, make it happen, and, of course, get the executive back up and running.

As well as a series of legal challenges, the redevelopment has also been hit by rising costs, with an original projected price tag from almost a decade ago of 77.5 million now believed to be well above 100 million.

The GAA is part-funding the project but has yet to reach an agreement with Stormont on how to cover a multimillion-pound shortfall.

The derelict Casement Park in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA)

Ms McDonald said the Casement Park redevelopment would be receiving a substantial investment from the Irish Government.

There will be a contribution from Dublin, its not a confirmed figure, it would be a substantial investment from Dublin and rightly so, she said.

Its a very, very important part of sporting infrastructure, particularly for Gaels in the North, but beyond that Im sure the GAA will confirm, but it will be open for use by other sporting codes and for other purposes.

So Dublin will be a partner in this, equally British government and, of course, the GAA itself.

She added: It can happen now and the Euro 28 gives that impetus and that context for this incredible project to be finally taken over.

Uefa confirmed on Tuesday that Ireland and the UK will jointly host the tournament and as part of that successful bid, Casement Park has been listed as one of the stadiums where games will be played.

The redevelopment would give the now-derelict stadium a 34,000-person capacity.

Ms McDonald said politicians should follow the example of sporting associations backing the Casement Park redevelopment.

I think that everybody in politics should take their lead from the sporting associations themselves, she said.

Because what I know is that the IFA and the IRFU, along with the GAA, are very much behind this project, and I think theyre leading from the front.

And I want to commend them for their collaboration, for their sense of what is good collectively for everybody across the north.

And I think everybody in politics, lets just take note of that and follow that example.

Ms McDonald said the Euros being held in Ireland and the UK in 2028 was great news, not just for the north, but for all Ireland and indeed, Britain.

Casement Park is a flagship project. Its been agreed and its been delayed for 10 years, she said.

Its been agreed, and its going to happen, and I think thats a fantastic news story for everybody concerned.
THROWBACK Thursday reader and Rory Gallagher fan Milo Carr has written with an interesting query.

I came across an article from November 21, 1964, about Rory Gallagher and the Fontana Showband, he says.

In the article, there is mention of an agent of the Munster Television Corporation taping the Fontana Showband. Do you remember anything about what the Munster Television Corporation was exactly?

When I Googled, I only came up with an old Biz Ireland entry, listing their location as the Arcadia Ballroom.

Milo asks: Did Prendergast record local bands there under that name? I think this would predate the London recordings that made the news a few years back, when Mr Leary got a hold of some memorabilia including tapes from the Prendergast estate.

Milo says that Rorys brother, Donal Gallagher, thinks the article is just referencing those London tapes that Prendergast helped secure, but, adds Milo: I wonder if its something earlier.

Ive attached the newspaper clipping from 1964 as well as a screen grab of the Biz Ireland listing.

Any additional info would be greatly appreciated, adds Milo.

Meanwhile, Jack Lyons says he read with interest the enquiries made by Tom Jones, now living in Key West, Florida.

Tom raised a couple of interesting questions. He had the pleasure and indeed culture shock of visiting his beloved Cork city recently and encountered friends and places he says he hadnt seen in 50 years.

Cavern ad in the 1960s.

He particularly raised the question in your Throwback Thursday as to the genesis of the old Cork beat clubs in the 60s. Which came first, he enquired, the Cavern Club in Leitrim Street or the Crypt in MacCurtain Street?

Jack continues: Although I grew up in Shepherds Bush, West London, I can assure Tom that the Crypt came first.

Based at 58 MacCurtain Street (the basement of the old Garda Siochana station), the Crypt was really a basement youth club after its army occupants vacated the premises.

The guy who ran it placed a coffin (empty, of course, and borrowed from Fordes!) in front of the tiny stage and the club was used by lots of local beat groups jamming rather than playing an authentic gig for punters.

Tom Jones, says Jack, is obviously blessed with a brilliant memory.

He can remember Rory Gallaghers brother Donal, and Dean Falvey (also known as Dennis Falvey) from Blarney Street CBS. I have enclosed an Echo ad from my archives dated Friday, May 26, 1967, announcing the Cavern Clubs Don and Deen playing records that night as two aspiring DJs.

Also in the ad is the heading: In Answer to Members Increasing Requests : The Martelles (Be there to cheer).

Jack says: My brother Patrick (Pat Lyons), apart from drumming with The Gem and later the Lucey brothers band Dawn, was a roadie with the Martelles.

My brother bears the distinction that on Sunday, September 17, 1967, he helped John Marsh, the Pink Floyd roadie / lights man (who had consumed several whiskeys, first in the KLM on the Lower Road and later Cunninghams/Handlebars) to set up the amps and speakers for the gig later at the Arcadia!

He still proudly retains his letter from the late Chris Mahon, branch secretary of the Irish Federation of Musicians at 53, South Mall, informing him that he was hereby expelled from the musicians union for unpaid arrears amounting to four pounds, ten shillings and sixpence.

They were great days. Come home again, Tom Jones - theres magical music history in Cork!

Now those are great recollections, as everyone will agree; but Jack isnt content with simply contributing from his own memory to these much-read Echo pages.

A Guinness wagon, a photo that was unearthed following our appeal last week.

Upon reading about Joan McCarthys search last week for a much-valued photograph of her father on a Guinness dray, Jack straight away went down to the city library and worked right through past issues of Throwback Thursday in The Echo until he found that picture of a man on a horse-drawn dray loaded with barrels.

In that feature, on February 2, 2023, we noted that the picture had been sent in by a Ms McCarthy. Same name as Joan!

Perhaps the mystery and the search had been solved; hooray, thanks to Jack Lyons and his determination to track down the missing photograph.

Only - it wasnt!

Now, what are the chances of two ladies called McCarthy having separate pictures of their respective fathers on horse-drawn carts in Patrick Street many years ago? One in a million, you might well say.

Well, that one in a million chance came up, mores the pity. Joan was regretful, delighted to read the article, and very, very appreciative of Jacks efforts on her behalf - but it wasnt her father in the photo!

Youre a true Agatha Christie, Jo, but unfortunately thats not the photo, said Joan.

I read the article through, had tears in my eyes about the picture of the little twins and one of them died not long after.

She says she will never miss a Throwback Thursday in future!

Well, on we go. Jack Lyons, you get my gold medal of the week for your perseverance and general good nature, and I am seconded in that by Joan McCarthy, who is still hoping for a miracle. We will continue our search. And she generously contributed some pictures that she still possesses, adding: I just thought Id send you on these photos of my Dad when he was young. It might strike a chord with people, youd never know.

The first photo is of my Dad with his father, my Granda Mac (he always called him My Father when speaking of him, he revered him so much).

The respect he had for him is both joyful and sad: joyful that such respect existed, sad that it no longer does! (well, at least I havent witnessed it in a long time).

Joan McCarthys grandfather and father on Patricks Bridge.

The photo was taken on Patricks Bridge, I wonder would anyone even recognise the man in the foreground?

Everyone knew my Granda as Danny. He worked in Brooks & Haughtons on the South Terrace . My dad was 14 in this photo, which is the age he was when he started in Guinness.

Im hoping that the other two photos may also stir some memories and hopefully someone may recognise some of my dads friends. The one with the three lads (my dad is on the left) was taken on Patrick Street, Cashs (now Brown Thomas) can be seen in the background. The one with the four lads (my dad is second from right), was also taken on Patricks Bridge.

What strikes me about all 3 photos is the very smart dress code, adds Joan.

Can you imagine a lad of 14 going around today, dressed in suit, tie and overcoat, perish the thought!

I have lots more stories and memories of the good aul days, but for now, hopefully, these photos might lead to that precious one of my dad on the pony and trap when he worked as an office boy for Guinness.

We are hopeful too, Joan, and in the meantime, thank-you for sharing those other precious images.

Come on, readers, do any of those people strike a chord in your memory? Do let us know if so. Joan is waiting!

Tom Jones, whose memories of a recent trip home to Cork we have featured, writes to say he enjoyed reading about them in The Echo.

Just wanted to thank you for the shout out of the people and places I mentioned. On the mention of Marla, as expressed by your readers, ah yes, I remember it so well. I always thought it was called Moola, or later Play Doh. But then again, I suppose Mallow, Co Cork back then was pronounced as Malla.

(PJ Coogan on Red FM would agree with you there, Tom. While a posh teacher might call it Mowrla (with that elegant refinement of tone), he informed me, the general schoolchilds rendering was more like Mawla. Isnt that so, PJ?)

Tom recalls that the magical playstuff came in a flat, colourful cardboard box with a clear cellophane front that let you see its contents. And, as so vividly described by everyone, it enriched their enjoyment of the simple things in life. I certainly agree with your readers that it provided hours on end of unlimited imagination.

It also once more transported me back into a time of so many years ago. Which allows me to reflect on the second-hand comic book shops, of which there were quite a few on the Shandon Street of my era. There, one could buy a hopefully recent edition of the Beano, Dandy, Topper, Beezer, Hotspur, etc, for a penny. How many people remember the content which lay within?

The Beano contained such characters as The Bash Street Kids with Plug, and Wilfrid with his jumper pulled up to his nose. Plus, Roger the Dodger, Lord Snooty, Elastic Man, amongst others. Jack Flash with wings on his ankles, saving all from their dilemmas.

The Dandy had Desperate Dan, who shaved his chin stubble with a blowtorch, and Snoop, Keyhole Kate amongst others.

I believe the 4 Marys came from another publication which I dont recall, was it Judy or Bunty, which catered for girls interests.

The Hotspur, and The Victor later became favourites of mine as I grew up, since they contained more boys sports-orientated comic strips. And, of course, who does not recall Roy of the Rovers, was that in The Tiger?

Now you could trade in the current edition of any of the above, if you were lucky enough to have had one, and bargain or barter for whatever you could get in trade.

Tom also recalls the 64-pagers, which were smaller in size but, because of their extended content on one particular hero, went for tuppence or a thrupenny bit.

This I know, as Kid Colt Outlaw was a particular favourite of mine, and that was a 64 pager. Later we progressed to the glossier, colourful American D.C. Comics with Superman, Batman, etc. And the Marvel Comics with Captain America, and other superheroes.

Speaking of comic strips, Tom asks, do any of our readers recall Billy the Bee, and his friend Bumble, a stalwart of the Echo in the 1950s?

That comic strip, along with Mutt and Jeff (also in the Echo) was how I first learned to read.

Also just wondering how many can recall Dan Dare, Space Pilot? I recall listening to the Adventures of Dan Dare on the radio in Shandon Street all these years ago. Maybe thats why I am still a great fan of the old-time radio shows.

Tom left Cork in 1967, an Innisfallen child, on my way to Paddington Station, and beyond, but has never forgotten the city of his birth and the rich life it offered to a child.

Keep those memories coming, Tom!

And the rest of you do likewise. Email jokerrigan1@gmail.com. Or leave a comment on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/echolivecork.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced two new wildlife refuges. The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area and the Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee become the 569th and 570th refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the announcement comes amid National Wildlife Refuge Week, which started Oct. 7 and runs until Oct. 14.

Nature is essential to the health, well-being, and prosperity of every family and every community in America. National wildlife refuges help connect Americans to a diverse array of public lands, while also serving as a crucial means of protecting wildlife and conserving habitat, Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. Through locally led collaborative conservation, these two special landscapes are now protected as part of our shared natural heritage and accessible to everyone.

The waters in the new Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee provide habitat to about 100 fish species and 50 different types of freshwater mussels, some that are found only in these waters. The protected area will preserve threatened and endangered species on land and in aquatic habitats, including gray bats, Indiana bats Tennessee cave salamanders and Alabama cave shrimp.

The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area will help protect white-tailed prairie dogs, pronghorns, migratory birds and Wyoming toads, which is the most endangered amphibian species on the continent, officials shared. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Wyoming toad is considered extinct in the wild.

The conservation area was established in the Laramie Plains of southern Wyoming, and officials noted the wildlife refuge will provide public access to the Laramie River in the future.

Both of the new wildlife refuges will also double as recreational areas.

These new national wildlife refuges are the second and third units to be established under Haaland, the DOI reported. The first, Montanas Lost Trail Conservation Area, was designated in August 2022.

According to a report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the national wildlife refuge system boosts local economies by about $3.2 billion per year. As of 2022, visits to wildlife refuges in the U.S. reached about 67 million in one year.

The Service is grateful for incredible partnerships like these that lead to demonstrated successes across the country on behalf of wildlife and people, Service Director Martha Williams said in a statement. Locally led conservation efforts provide a lasting impact on our efforts to protect crucial wildlife habitat for threatened, endangered and priority species while prioritizing recreational access.




Australia acquires fresh batches of LSD vaccines

Australia has bought a supply of vaccines for lumpy skin disease (LSD), a highly infectious condition affecting cattle, as part of efforts to control the disease and maintain live animal exports, the Australian government said on October 11.

Canberra said Australia is free of LSD but infection scares in recent months temporarily halted shipments of some live cattle to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Australia exported 593,000 live cattle and buffalo last year worth $870 million, its customs data show. A little over half went to Indonesia, with China, Vietnam and Israel the next biggest destinations.

The agriculture ministry said in a statement it had signed a contract with a company called MSD Animal Health to ensure an initial supply of 300,000 doses of LSD vaccine will be available for Australia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea. It said the agreement would run for four years with the doses held in a secure overseas location.

"Access to vaccines is a longstanding part of our strategy to reduce risk offshore and build confidence in our response mechanisms," Agriculture Minister Murray Watt was quoted as saying. "The agreement means we will have priority access to a high-quality vaccine that can be used quickly to protect Australian animals if we did need to respond to an outbreak, or that can be used overseas to reduce the risk to our near neighbours."

The ministry also said an emergency use permit had been issued to allow the vaccine to be used in Australia if needed.

Indonesia halted imports from some Australian export facilities in July and August after some cattle tested positive for LSD, lifting the suspensions in September.

Malaysia also paused imports in August after the detections in Indonesia, resuming trade last month.

- Reuters




Indonesia's eFishery to leap into Indian market in Q1 2024

Indonesian aquaculture firm eFishery aims to expand commercially to India in the first quarter of 2024.

This would mark the company's first presence outside its home country. It made the announcement during its 10th anniversary event in Bandung, Indonesia, on October 11.

Gibran Huzaifah, co-founder and chief executive officer of eFishery, said the company chose India due to the market's similarities with Indonesia. The firm has conducted a pilot project in India for the past year.

"In India, the farmers are also concentrated in just one state, not scattered like in Indonesia. This makes it easier for us to scale," explained Huzaifah.

The company will also explore expansion opportunities in Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, though Huzaifah emphasised that India remains eFishery's only target for next year.

In addition, the firm launched a blockchain-based digital cooperative for fish farmers. It aims to connect players in the fish and shrimp farming industries across the supply chain.

Founded in 2013, eFishery currently has 200,000 fish farmers across 280 cities in Indonesia. In July, the company raised US$200 million in funding at a US$1.3 billion valuation.



- Tech In Asia




Bird flu's return induces fears of more outbreaks among US poultry flocks

Highly pathogenic bird flu has made its first appearances in US commercial poultry flocks this season, affecting one turkey farm in South Dakota and one in Utah, raising concerns that more outbreaks could follow.

The United States Department of Agriculture reported that avian influenza, which is deadly to commercial poultry, was confirmed in a flock of 47,300 turkeys in Jerauld County, South Dakota, on October 4 and at a farm with 141,800 birds in Utah's Sanpete County on October 6.

The outbreaks are the first reported among commercial flocks in the US since the disease struck two turkey farms in the Dakotas in April. Infected flocks are normally destroyed to prevent the flu's spread, and then the farms are decontaminated.

Before last week, the only reports of bird flu in recent months in the US in recent months were sporadic appearances in backyard flocks or among wild birds such as ducks, geese and eagles. While wild birds often show no symptoms of avian influenza, infections in them are a concern to the poultry industry as migrating birds can spread the disease to vulnerable commercial flocks.

"I don't doubt that we will have more cases," South Dakota State Veterinarian Beth Thompson said. "I would be very pleasantly surprised if we're done because migration is just starting."

Bird flu last year cost US poultry producers nearly 59 million birds across 47 US states, including egg-laying chickens and turkeys and chickens raised for meat, making it the country's deadliest outbreak ever, according to USDA figures.

Agriculture officials consider this year's cases to be part of last year's outbreak, which reached the US in February 2022 after spreading in Europe. The US has imposed periodic restrictions on poultry imports from Europe to limit the potential for spread. Thompson said the virus never completely went away, unlike in 2015, and that the type now circulating is essentially the same that spread last year.



- AP News
BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on his a set poker betfred sister sitestaking office as Iraq's prime minister.

In the message, Li noted that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of China-Iraq relations and is willing to work with the Iraqi government to continuously consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, enhance pragmatic cooperation in various fields and promote the China-Iraq strategic partnership for new progress.
Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu gestures to his bet euro 2021 winner unibet dealssupporters at his party headquarters during Israel's general election in Jerusalem, Nov 2, 2022. [Photoh/Agencies]

Polls show right-wing bloc set for victory, nation on path to 'autocracy' say analysts

Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc looks to be on course for victory in Israel's general election, but analysts said if he becomes the leader, the country may be on the course to becoming an "autocracy".

With 84 percent of votes counted for the 120 seats in the Parliament, called the Knesset, the bloc led by Netanyahu was on course to win 65. "We are close to a big victory," he told supporters of his Likud party. "We have won a huge vote of confidence from the people of Israel."

Religious Zionism's leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have been blatant in their use of anti-Arab language, with Ben-Gvir having been convicted in 2007 of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization.

Last month he was caught on camera pulling out a gun when he became the target of stone throwing during a visit to a predominantly Arab district of East Jerusalem, and speaking to reporters as election results came in, he promised to "work for all of Israel, even those who hate me".

The election  Israel's fifth in under four years  is widely interpreted as being a referendum on Netanyahu himself, who is currently in opposition but has been in power in Israel for 15 of the past 26 years.

He is currently on trial for alleged bribery, fraud and breach of trust, all of which he denies, and is a well-known backer of building Israeli settlements on the West Bank, which has been occupied since the 1967 Middle East war, and which are considered illegal under international law.

He also opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank as a way of ending the age-old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, despite the proposal having the support of much of the international community.

Early indications suggested Likud would be the largest party, with 31 seats, and Religious Zionism would be the third-largest, with 14.

Yesh Atid, the center-left party whose coalition forced Netanyahu out of office in last year's elections, would be the second-biggest party with 24 seats.

As results pointing toward a Nethanyahu victory continued to come in, current Prime Minister Yair Lapid from the Yesh Atid party insisted "nothing" was yet decided and to wait until the picture became clearer, but local media outlets reported that he had canceled his planned visit to the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, with his place being taken by Israel's President Isaac Herzog.

Gayil Talshir, a political scientist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told the BBC that if the exit polls "reflect the real results, Israel is on its way to become Orban's Hungary", referring to Viktor Orban, the leader of Hungary, which was recently branded an "electoral autocracy" by the European Union.
Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), the nations third-largest lender by market value, has confirmed that its vice president, Yang Kun (), is assisting investigations by authorities.

The brief statement, posted on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange late on Wednesday, did not elaborate on what entity is conducting the investigation or what is being investigated.

It said the banks businesses, operations and financial situation will not be affected by the goings-on.

Previous media reports claimed Yang was taken away last week to assist an investigation by the Communist Party of Chinas Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Yang, 53, holds a masters degree in economics and has been working with ABC for more than two decades.

He has been the banks vice president and executive director since January 2009, and his current tenure ends on Jan. 16, 2015.

Yang is also chairman of an ABC-controlled fund management company and a financial leasing firm wholly owned by the bank.

As the banks first vice president, Yang received an annual salary of 916,500 yuan (144,558 U.S. dollars), before tax, in 2011, second only to ABC President Zhang Yun, according to the banks annual report.

ABCs share price fell 1.86 percent to 2.64 yuan on the Shanghai bourse on Thursday, but rose 0.64 percent on the Hong Kong bourse.

Xinhua

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The international community must reject politicization of and double standard on human rights in order to tackle the challenges facing the global cause, a senior Chinese UN envoy said here Thursday.

While addressing the Third Committee of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly on human rights, Wang Min, Chinas deputy permanent representative to the UN, also called for efforts to enhance human rights dialogue and cooperation.

International human rights endeavor continues to be plagued by double standard and politicization, the envoy said to the committee, which is in charge of social, humanitarian and cultural affairs.

Some countries are keen on criticizing developing countries and interfering in their internal affairs by using human rights as a pretext, Wang added.

Certain countries, he noted, always turn a blind eye to human rights violations at home, but are enthusiastic about pressuring developing countries with country-specific human rights issues and creating confrontation in the international human rights arena.

This has undermined mutual trust among countries and impeded human rights cooperation, said the representative. China is firmly opposed to such practice and urges those countries to reflect more on their own record and stop their self-righteous lecturing and finger-pointing.

China calls on all countries to proceed on the basis of equality and mutual respect, act in the spirit of openness and inclusiveness, seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn from each others experience so as to make common progress, he said.

Wang also stressed the importance of firmly adhering to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and refraining from interfering in other countries internal affairs under the pretext of human rights.

The international community should respect the path of human rights development and model for safeguarding human rights chosen independently by governments in view of their national conditions, he said.

China, he said, also urges the international community to eliminate all forms of discrimination, protect vulnerable groups to ensure equality and dignity for all, and further improve the work of the UN in the field of human rights.

Wang further pointed out that over the past 30 years of reform and opening-up, Chinas economy has undergone rapid growth, with the Chinese peoples livelihood as well as their rights and fundamental freedom witnessing widely acknowledged improvement.

He stressed that an applicable and efficient human rights development strategy calls for combining the universal principles of human rights with specific national conditions.

In addition, he said, an effective way to improve human rights is to put peoples rights to survival and development first and fully safeguard peoples legitimate rights and interests on the basis of rapid and sound social and economic development.

Xinhua

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Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Sunday encouraged people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States.

People-to-people exchanges form a significant foundation to boost the China-U.S. cooperation,betonline survivor solopredict 1x2 and also an important part of establishing a new type of relationship between China and the United States, Xi said.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with a U.S. good-will delegation headed by the Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad and composed of Xis American friends in Iowa back from 1985.

Xi said he was glad to meet his old friends from Iowa again following his visit to the United States in February, noting that China-U.S. relations have come to a critical stage of developing a new type of relationship featuring mutual respect, harmonious co-existence and win-win cooperation between major powers.

Its not an easy job to accomplish, Xi told his American guests.

Citing the facts that about 9,000 people travel between the two countries every day and there are 160,000 Chinese students in the United States, Xi proposed that the two nations further boost their exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at various levels.

We should remain creative and innovative to explore new areas and create new forms of strengthening exchanges between the two peoples, Xi added.

He called on his American friends to contribute more efforts and help raise the relations between China and the United States to a higher level.

Branstad said Xis long-term relationship with Iowa has become a symbol of friendship between the two peoples, and it bears great significance to the future development of the U.S.-China relations.

Xi, then a local official from Chinas northern province of Hebei, visited Iowa in 1985 as a member of an agricultural delegation, and stayed at the homes of local residents.

Xinhua

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A team of 14 Chinese police officers returned to Beijing on Tuesday after finishing a year-long peacekeeping mission in South Sudan,yukon gold casino best game the Ministry of Public Security said.

The team was the first Chinese peacekeeping team to join the United Nations peacekeeping force in South Sudan.

The team accomplished all of the tasks mandated by the UN and all of its members received medals from the UN, the ministry said.

Since January 2000, China has sent 1,771 police officers on eight peacekeeping missions in East Timor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, Sudan, Haiti and South Sudan.

Xinhua

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U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke Outlines Initiatives to Strengthen U.S.-China Economic Ties before American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai

(SHANGHAI) Oct. 17  U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke outlined initiatives that will strengthen U.S.-China economic ties, increase U.S. exports and ensure the worlds two largest economies contribute toward global economic recovery in a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai on October 13.

Three years after the financial crisis, the global economy has yet to return to full strength. And too many people back home are still looking for jobs. Its at times like these when leadership really matters  and as the two largest economies in the world, the United States and China must step up, said Locke.

Locke laid out three goals for his tenure in Beijing that are designed to match the new directions China is taking in its latest five-year plan. Those goals include:

Helping to double U.S. exports by providing high-quality products and services of great interest in China,

Increasing Chinese investment in the U.S. so that both countries prosper, and

Ensuring U.S. companies compete on a level playing field in China, equivalent to the environment Chinese companies enjoy in the U.S.

The full text of the Ambassadors remarks as delivered follows below:

Remarks by

U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke

to the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai

Ritz-Carlton Portman Hotel

Shanghai, China

October 13, 2011

Thanks very much, Robert, for the introduction, and Brenda, for helping facilitate this breakfast meeting. Its great to be back and to see a lot of old friends. Ive been back here, as Robert indicated, on many occasions in a variety of different capacities  as Governor, a private citizen working for one of the law firms thats here at the Chamber and a member of the Chamber, as Commerce Secretary, and now as United States Ambassador.

Im wearing a new hat, but my fondness for the city and our friendships have not changed.

First of all I do want to congratulate the Chamber on a very successful door-knock campaign in Washington, D.C. last month. We very much appreciate your support for our efforts to increase U.S. exports, to promote greater understanding of whats happening here in China with the policymakers in Washington, D.C, and all of your efforts, quite frankly, to help improve the economy of the United States of America and to create more jobs back at home in America.

I also want to note that our Consul General, Robert Griffiths, has been here for just a few months, very much enjoying the great warm reception that you all have given him. Our principal Commercial Officer, Bill Brekke and the entire team at the Consulate here in Shanghai are absolutely committed to a robust, cooperative arrangement and partnership with the Shanghai AmCham. Our goals are the same.

Im looking forward to returning many more times over the next several months. Were looking forward to the dinner here in December. But as many of you know, my wife Monas parents live here in Shanghai part of the year, so we intend to be down here frequently, bringing the children so that they can spend time with their grandparents, but really, we want to bring the kids along to really explore China so that they get to discover the China of their fathers father.

We in Beijing, of course, always welcome more direct contact with Shanghai AmCham, and we hope that you can visit us in Beijing also whenever possible, to offer your ideas, your perspectives on trade and investment initiatives, and how we can move the China-U.S. relationship forward.

As I said last month in Beijing, the U.S.-China economic and trade relationship is of immense importance to both countries and indeed to the entire world.

Three years after the financial crisis the global economy has yet to return to full strength, and too many people back home are still looking for work. Its at times like these when leadership really matters. As the two largest economies in the world, the United States and China must step up and provide that leadership. Of course everything that happens here in Shanghai is so critical to the success of the economy of China and to the world economy.

I have to tell you, I remember very very well, still very vividly, we were chatting about this a little bit earlier at the breakfast table, my very first visit to China. It was actually to Shanghai. We came in late in the evening from the airport in 1988. We took a bus in from the airport late at night, the headlights of the vehicles, the bus, were very very dim. I think there was this thought that you could somehow save on the battery if you kept the headlights super low. [Laughter]. Everywhere around us were just millions and millions of bicycles. I remember seeing young men, teenagers and young men with their girlfriends or dates on the handlebars, a lot of parents with their children clinging tightly to their backs. Everywhere we went, bicycles. I was always afraid that the bus was going to hit people on the bicycles.

Shanghai then was an industrial city filled with low-rise buildings, although from our  I think 12-story  hotel we could see all around us all these cranes. I think the story in the headlines at that time was that all the major cranes in the world were in China.

Todays Shanghai skyline is dotted with more than 400 skyscrapers, some of the most imaginative, breathtaking examples of architecture you can find in the world. The bike paths, the roads that we saw filled with bicycles, have been replaced by elevated freeways, trains, subways, mag-levs, shuttling people and commerce at a very frenetic pace.

Shanghai and the delta region have been at the forefront of an economic transformation of historic proportions and the people here in the Shanghai region, indeed throughout China, have every right to be proud of all that they have accomplished in such a short period of time. Hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty and into a rising and ever-growing middle class.

So let me reiterate that the United States welcomes this transformation. We welcome a strong and prosperous and successful China that also plays a greater role in world affairs. Because its good for the people of China and the United States. Its good for the global economy. And its critical to creating jobs back home in America.

President Obama has made clear that creating more jobs for Americans is the foremost priority of his administration, and more jobs in America and a faster and stronger economic recovery and a strong American economy overall will mean more trade an investment opportunities and stronger economic growth and indeed more jobs for the people of China.

The United States also has an interest in a prosperous China because as more Chinese become members of the middle class the demand for American-made goods will increase. We know that America makes great products and services that are highly valued and in great demand here in China that can also help meet the needs of the Chinese people, whether its feeding its people, to environmental services, to technology, to software, to medical devices. The more that American companies can export and sell their products and services to China, the more American companies produce, and the more American companies produce, the more people they need, and that means more jobs for the people back home. These are the win/win opportunities that we seek.

In support of President Obamas leadership let me just tell you what Im here to do. Were going to continue working to meet the goals of the National Export Initiative which seeks to double U.S. exports by 2015, which will create more jobs in the United States and provide more high quality made-in-America products and services which, as I said earlier, are in great demand and highly valued here in China.

We also want to increase Chinese investment in the United States. Now is the time to invest in America. As Chinese companies do so, they will prosper, and at the same time they will create jobs in America.

The third issue we want to focus on is to ensure that U.S. companies can compete on a level playing field here in China and operate in the same open and fair environment that Chinese companies enjoy in America.

Youre all witnesses to the miracle of Chinas economic transformation. You all know that China has prospered because it has unleashed the drive and the ingenuity and the talent of its people.

Beginning with the economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping in 1979 and continuing through China joining the WTO in 2001 China has made its economy fairer, freer and more open to international competition. The reforms of course are far from complete, but the key to success is clear. The more China has opened up, the more it has benefitted from the rules-based international trading system established in the post-World War II era.

But its a different world now than 30 or even 20 or 10 years ago. Premier Wen Jia Bao has observed that with an over-reliance on low-cost exports the Chinese economy is, these are his words now, that the Chinese economy is unstable, unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unsustainable. The need for change is reflected in Chinas latest five-year plan with its focus on expanding domestic consumption, reducing energy and carbon intensity, expanding the services sector, and fostering innovation in newly emerging industries.

To be successful we believe that China will need to rely even more on what has made it successful in the past  opening up markets, welcoming foreign participation in the economy, implementing transparent rules and regulations based on accepted international norms. So we look forward to working with China as it works toward its goals and we want to make sure that U.S. companies are full participants and indeed enjoy a level playing field.

In the United States were also continuing to refine our policies to improve the long-term sustainability and strength of our economy. President Obama, for instance, has ordered a total reform of our export control system to enhance our national security, strengthening controls on some of our most critical technologies while eliminating unnecessary obstacles to the export of less critical technologies, especially those that are already readily available from around the world. There reforms will make U.S. companies more competitive within a world market and bring to the market in China new and valued U.S. products.

Were also committed to improving our visa processes. We know that if want to strengthen our commercial relationship with China and create jobs in America we need to make it easier for the Chinese to travel to the United States for business and for leisure.

Actually, foreign visitors to the United States, whether from China or from Europe is considered an export. Its considered an export because its foreign money, foreign transactions, purchases of U.S. goods and services, although the transaction occurs back home in the States. Its no different than selling that product to someone in Europe or China, its just that this is occurring in the United States when they go to a restaurant, when they book a room in a hotel, or they travel.

In fact reducing the wait times to obtain visas to travel to the United States is a top priority for me as an ambassador. Ive long heard of the concerns that many of you have had in trying to invite business folks from China to visit your operations in the States or to encourage tours in the United States. It was a priority for me as Governor; as Commerce Secretary; it will be a top priority now as Ambassador.

But we actually have done a good job in the last several years of reducing the wait times for visas throughout all of our Consulates and at the Embassy here in China. Theyre down substantially, but we can still do better. We want to work with AmCham here in Shanghai to create some new innovative approaches on how to approach these applications for visas.

I want to note that visa applications or processing, adjudications is the term, topped at one million just this last year. For the first time weve topped one million. But thats still a fraction of the potential visitors from China to the United States. Its estimated that if even one percent of the Chinese wanted to travel to the United States for study, for business or travel we would have to process some 14 million visa applications a year. Right now weve just topped one. Were not going to be able to add or multiply the staff by 14 or build enough facilities to handle that volume. So weve got to look at efficiencies, internal processes, and procedures.

We need your help here at Shanghai AmCham.

As President Obama said, our number one priority in the United States is job creation. Over the next year Im committed to leading five trade and investment missions to Chinas emerging cities. We simply cannot wait for the Commerce Department or the Energy Department and other governors and mayors to lead trade missions here to China. There is no reason why the Embassy and the Consulates here cant initiate these trade missions on our own.

For these missions, our Embassy and Consulates will recruit trade delegations with a focus on specific high growth sectors such as clean and renewable energy, transportation, health care, aviation, information and communication technologies. Our missions will provide U.S. companies, many of you are here today representing those companies, with better access to provincial and local governments and to potential buyers and customers. And needless to say, however, close cooperation with you, the U.S. companies who know how to get things done here, will be key to the success of these efforts.

Let me also mention a bit about our efforts to encourage more Chinese investment in the United States. And you may find that you would like to be part of this as well. Indeed, any sensible international investors should be looking at the United States market where they will find the richest large consumer market in the world, an educated workforce, strong intellectual property protections, and very dynamic capital markets.

Already more than five million Americans are directly employed by foreign companies in the United States ranging from Japanese carmakers to Russia steel plants to Indian energy and industrial companies, to Brazilian juice processors. Were already welcoming more Chinese companies every day as Chinas foreign direct investment in the United States increased by 400 percent between 2008 and 2010.

To help understand the variety of tax structures, tax incentives among the different 50 States, just to inform Chinese companies that we have 50 States with totally different incentives and tax structures, as well as how to navigate multiple federal agencies regarding permits and other requirements.

The White House recently announced a new initiative called Select USA. Its the first coordinated federal effort to aggressively pursue and win new business investment in the United States while cutting red tape and removing barriers to new investment.

The United States is doing everything it can to open trade and create fair opportunities for all, and to make our investment and our commercial environment as open and as appealing as possible. Were going to be doing our part to unlock the full potential of the U.S.-China relationship and we look forward to China fully joining us to realize that potential.

But we need to partner with organizations like Shanghai AmCham because we need you to be giving out the stories and relaying the stories about the successful Chinese investment in the United States. For all the misperceptions that there are, there are so many dozens more success stories, not well known. So we at Select USA and at the Embassy and the Consulate and the folks back home, in America want to partner with AmCham, and the private organizations, the private sector, to get the story out about the investment opportunities in the United States. Thats why I note that Brenda and Robert indicated to me that youre going to be creating a special program for small and medium sized enterprises. Really geared at helping small and medium sized enterprises throughout America understand the export opportunities here in China. But the Chinese government has approached Shanghai AmCham to really help provide information to the Chinese companies on how to invest in the United States. So this is great news and a great accomplishment for Shanghai AmCham. It shows the significance of your role here in the region and the great potential you have to really promote further cooperation between the commercial and trade interests of the United States and China.

Theres much to be proud of here in China. Much to be proud of in terms of the presence of U.S. companies, the millions of Chinese that U.S. companies employ in China, and the great corporate social responsibility that American companies are engaged in throughout China, spreading American values, introducing the Chinese people to what America is all about and how we operate.

So we look forward to working with all of you as you try to promote closer, stronger U.S.-China relations  economically, diplomatically, culturally, simply people to people.

We know that only by working together can our two countries not only solve the issues and the challenges facing each of our countries, but indeed working together China and the United States can provide the leadership that can solve so many of the challenges and the problems facing the entire world. We look forward to your contributions, your active engagement. Keep up the great work. Thank you very much.

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The computer giant and the Chinese Google has announced a partnership to sell tablets and smartphones.

The world number two PC manufacturer tries to rebound in China. Dell wants to sell its tablets and smartphones on the most dynamic market in the world. The Texas group has announced a partnership with Chinas Baidu to break into this market now dominated by Apple, Samsung and Lenovo. The Chinese search engine is a manufacturer of terminals and ready to support its ambitions in the phone. The two partners have not given the launch date of these new products. Dell has already launched in June a 10-inch version of its tablet Streak for the Chinese market only, while the model sold in the United States is unable to make a breakthrough.

A market of 900 million subscribers

Baidu, which dominates the market for Internet search in China is diversifying at high speed. It seeks to gain weight in mobile telephony, a market of over 900 million subscribers. It launched Friday a platform for mobile applications called Baidu Yi, which will allow third-party developers to create applications on the same model as Apples AppStore. Baidu Yi works with Googles Android mobile operating system.

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Physical and psychological wellness a key concern for young Chinese guests. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Hotels are introducing programs aimed at healing the body and mind to appeal to health-conscious guests and those looking to boost their energy levels.

Typically a lifestyle observed by middle-aged or older people,world of sport logo yangsheng has gained popularity among younger Chinese in recent years.

Yangsheng, or nurturing life, is a core component of traditional Chinese medicine that places paramount emphasis on the prevention of illness and fostering health and well-being.

In a survey of Generation Z-people born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s-conducted by Beijing-based financial information provider Rong360, 91.6 percent of respondents considered physical health the most important thing in life.

Growing stress from life and work is one of the reasons why people are seeking more ways to rejuvenate themselves.

In an online survey polling 1,000 participants conducted by Shanghai-based consultancy CBNData in June 2021, 59 percent said they had experienced work-induced pressure and anxiety in the past year. Fifty percent of 962 respondents said they would participate in healing activities, such as massage and yoga, to relieve stress.

The increased interest in wellness is driving changes in the hotel industry.

"Changes in society and the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly altered people's attitudes toward health,"Tang Min, general manager of the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain hotel in Southwest China's Sichuan province, told Jing Daily, a digital publication that focuses on luxury culture and lifestyles in China.

"People are more eager to establish contact with themselves, others and nature. Generally, they hope that when their trip is over, they can live better than before," she said.

For the hotel industry as a whole, she said the era of hotels only providing beds and meals is becoming a thing of the past.

"Hotels today are more focused on the guest experience," she said, adding that staying in a wellness hotel is a healthy experience that allows people to relax physically and mentally, change themselves and become a positive influence to people around them.

The quality of sleep is arguably one of the most important determinants of good health.

This opinion is shared by the majority of the respondents to a survey cited by CBNData. It showed that 81 percent of those polled considered "sleeping well" part of the definition of "healthy".

An increased need to improve the quality of sleep has presented new opportunities to hotels where many guests sleep in.

In January, Rosewood Hotels &Resorts introduced Alchemy of Sleep, a collection of immersive retreats designed to promote rest through sleep-inducing treatments, movement-driven activities and special amenities.

Included in the package are 60-minute rejuvenating body treatments, 90-minute relaxing spa treatments and a daily restorative breakfast.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a brand owned by InterContinental Hotels Group, announced in February a partnership with Talkspace, an online behavioral health company, offering mental health services to guests as well as employees.

But, can any hotel with a wellness program, a healthy menu, a spa and a gym call itself a wellness hotel?

The answer is no according to an article by the Ganyong hotel research institute published on meadin.com, a commercial property information provider.

A wellness hotel, the article suggests, must have the concept of wellness embedded into its DNA, philosophy, culture, system and services.

Its services must start before check-in and cover the cycle from disease prevention, detection and treatment to rehabilitation and health management. Services such as screening tests for serious diseases, genetic testing and private medical consultation should be offered.

Moreover, a wellness hotel should provide care for the guest's body, mind and spirit, and try to foster a harmonious relationship among nature, space, people and services, according to the article.

Looking into the future, Tang Min with Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain told Jing Daily that the concept of sustainable development will be a major trend in the wellness hotel industry.

Sustainability in personal health and that in the natural world are expected to complement and exert a positive influence on each other, she noted.
China has welcomed the UN special envoys visit to Syria and wishes him a positive trip,free deuces wild instant blackjack a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

At a daily press conference, Hua Chunying said, China appreciates and supports the active efforts made by special envoy [Lakhdar] Brahimi. We will pay close attention to his visit and look forward to positive results.

The comments were made as Brahimi, UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria, arrived in the country to talk with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

China is gravely concerned about the Syrian situation, Hua said,urging all Syrian parties to take into account its peoples fundamental and long-term interests and take actions to support Brahimis mediation efforts.

She also called on both the Syrian government and opposition to follow the consensus of the Action Group Geneva Communique on peacefully settling the Syrian issue, open inclusive political dialogue, negotiate and set the roadmap for political transition, establish a transitional body of broad representation, and put an early end to the Syrian crisis.

Xinhua

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Defense Minister Liang Guanglie met with delegates to the 1st China-Latin America high-level defense forum on Tuesday.

Liang hailed the increasingly close relations between China and Latin American countries in recent years,buffalo grand slot machine free play noting that the two sides have enjoyed frequent high-level visits, deepening political mutual trust, strengthening communication and cooperation, as well as effective coordination on major international affairs.

He said the forum shows that China attaches great importance to developing military relations with Latin American countries.

The forum has provided a platform for the two sides to communicate at the senior official level and will increase friendship and trust between the military leaders of both sides so as to develop future China-Latin American military relations, Liang said.

On behalf of the delegates, Pedro Siqueira, Uruguayan commander in chief of the army, said the forum has given Latin American countries more knowledge about China and it has also helped enhance communication between the militaries of both sides.

He expressed the hope that the Chinese military will pay more visits to Latin American countries in order to increase mutual understanding.

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Chinas fund industry has received the signals about more favorable policies from the Chinese regulatory authorities at the opening ceremony of Chinas first self-regulating fund association recently.

Thecraps coffee table for sale China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) will optimize the external environment and strive for a breakthrough in the fund industry, Guo Shuqing, Chinas top securities regulator, said at the inauguration ceremony of the China Securities Investment Fund Association recently in Beijing.

Although Guo believed the fund management industry is promising in China, he said that the industry is still far away from meeting the needs of the market and reputable investment companies are lacking.

It is urgent for China to establish a strong wealth management industry, said Guo.

Chinas industrial restructuring calls for the rapid development of professional wealth management services to pool private funds and channel them into the real economy, and diversified financing methods can accelerate technological innovation and boost the emerging cultural industry.

As the backbones of the fund industry, the investment management institutions and financial enterprises worthy of the trust of markets are rare, Guo pointed out.

Fund management companies should speed up their transformation into the business of providing qualified wealth management services by being customer-centric, said Guo.

He urged the fund companies to improve research capacity and study the business model and successful practices of overseas asset management companies.

The fund management companies should accelerate the transformation to modern wealth management institutions, Guo insisted.

The CSRC will continue to optimize the external environment conducive to the development of the wealth management industry and strive for a breakthrough in terms of expanding the investment objects of funds, relaxing the operational constraints of investment, optimizing the corporate governance and standardizing the industry service behaviors, the CSRC chairman said.

Author: Li Zhenyu

Source: Peoples Daily Online

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File photo taken on May 13,free roulette game online fun 2019 shows Sedat Aybar, professor of economics and finance at the Istanbul-based Bahcesehir University, posing for photos in Istanbul, Turkey.(Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), inspired by the global vision of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has bolstered the living standards of the Turkish people, according to an expert.

More and more Chinese companies have been investing in Turkey, supporting its development, especially in infrastructure, transportation, high technology and banking, Sedat Aybar, professor of economics and finance at the Istanbul-based Bahcesehir University, told Xinhua.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway linking Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, completed in 2017, has reduced cargo travel time between China and Turkey to 12 days from one month, the expert noted.

Turkey's first train loaded with goods for the Chinese market reached the northwestern Chinese city of Xi'an at the end of 2020, starting a new era in rail freight transport between Asia and Europe.

The train schedules have grown exponentially over time, boosting trade relations between Turkey and China, Aybar noted.

China has also contributed to the construction of Turkey's 1915 Canakkale Bridge, with China's Sichuan Road and Bridge Construction Group winning the steel box girder hoisting project bid.

The bridge, which spans the Dardanelles Strait and connects Europe and Asia at the western end of the Marmara Sea, was inaugurated in March.

Beyond infrastructure and transportation services, China has also invested in high technology and the financial sector, said Aybar.

Huawei Turkey launched operations in the country in 2002 to support the development of Turkey's information and communication technology ecosystem, including 5G and augmented reality.

Chinese smartphone makers, such as Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo, have also directly invested in Turkey, generating thousands of job opportunities.

The establishment of the Turkish subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has financed several major projects under the BRI since 2015, supporting Turkey's economic, industrial and social development.

Meanwhile, Aybar highlighted the breakthroughs that China has achieved in environmental protection, space, big data, global peace and stability and the fight against global poverty.

China's increased life expectancy, modern infrastructure, growing levels of education and increased access to health services are "all massive developments," he said.

"China's incredible developments would not be possible without the CPC's tremendous efforts," said Aybar. 
The500 first deposit bonus nz Chinese authorities have closed Tibet to foreign tourists until the end of July for the second time this year marking the sixtieth anniversary of the peaceful liberation of the region.

Right now we do not accept foreign tourists,  said an employee of the China Travel Service, which said they had received an instruction to do so until July 26.

Another travel agent has confirmed the closure.

To get on the roof of the world, foreign tourists usually travel in groups and get a special pass permit, in addition to the Chinese visa.

Following the 2008 riots, which had caused fires and looting in Lhasa, foreigners were not allowed to go to Tibet for over a year.

The year 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet.

Tibet Prohibits Foreigners Until Late Julyadded by chinatimesonline on

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A photo shows the Yellow River passing through Gansu province,jackpots slots winners 2020 where the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau meet. [Photo by TIAN MANCHAO/FOR CHINA DAILY]

China has invested 921 billion yuan ($130 billion) into water conservancy development in the first 10 months of this year, as it strives to tap the potential of such investment in helping maintain stable macroeconomic performance, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

That represents a rise of 63.3 percent over the same period last year, said Vice-Minister Liu Weiping at a news conference on Wednesday.

"Water conservancy construction has played a consistently important role in boosting employment," he said. "To date, 2.26 million people have been employed in water conservancy projects this year, 1.83 million of whom are laborers from rural China."

He said the ministry has made remarkable progress in broadening funding channels.

From January to October, the ministry managed to collect over 1.1 trillion yuan for water conservancy development, 53 percent more than the first 10 months last year, he said. This happened thanks to greater contributions from government bonds, bank loans and private capital.

Government bonds issued by local authorities across the country, for example, contributed almost 198 billion yuan, more than double that in the same period last year, he noted.

The vice-minister pledged persistent and intensified efforts from the ministry to ensure a total investment of over 1 trillion yuan in water conservancy development this year in a move to help boost the economy.

In September, the ministry passed its target of at least 800 billion yuan of water conservancy investment this year.

China saw about 802 billion yuan of such investment in 2021, up 4.2 percent from the previous year.
The Global Intelligence Files

http://wikileaks.org/gifiles

Twitter tag: #gifiles

OFFICAL PRESS CONFERENCE 12 hours after EMBARGO ENDS:

Monday 27 Feburary, noon, Frontline Club, 13 Norfolk Place, Paddington,

London, W2 1QJ.

LONDONToday WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files  more than five million emails from the Texas-headquartered global intelligence company Stratfor. The emails date from between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopals Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defense Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfors web of informers, pay-off structure, payment-laundering techniques and psychological methods, for example:

[Y]ou have to take control of him. Control means financial, sexual or psychological control This is intended to start our conversation on your next phase  CEO George Friedman to Stratfor analyst Reva Bhalla on 6 December 2011, on how to exploit an Israeli intelligence informant providing information on the medical condition of the President of Venezuala, Hugo Chavez.

The material contains privileged information about the US governments attacks against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks and Stratfors own attempts to subvert WikiLeaks. There are more than 4,000 emails mentioning WikiLeaks or Julian Assange. The emails also expose the revolving door that operates in private intelligence companies in the United States. Government and diplomatic sources from around the world give Stratfor advance knowledge of global politics and events in exchange for money. The Global Intelligence Files exposes how Stratfor has recruited a global network of informants who are paid via Swiss banks accounts and pre-paid credit cards. Stratfor has a mix of covert and overt informants, which includes government employees, embassy staff and journalists around the world.

The material shows how a private intelligence agency works, and how they target individuals for their corporate and government clients. For example, Stratfor monitored and analysed the online activities of Bhopal activists, including the Yes Men, for the US chemical giant Dow Chemical. The activists seek redress for the 1984 Dow Chemical/Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, India. The disaster led to thousands of deaths, injuries in more than half a million people, and lasting environmental damage.

Stratfor has realised that its routine use of secret cash bribes to get information from insiders is risky. In August 2011, Stratfor CEO George Friedman confidentially told his employees: We are retaining a law firm to create a policy for Stratfor on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. I dont plan to do the perp walk and I dont want anyone here doing it either.

Stratfors use of insiders for intelligence soon turned into a money-making scheme of questionable legality. The emails show that in 2009 then-Goldman Sachs Managing Director Shea Morenz and Stratfor CEO George Friedman hatched an idea to utilise the intelligence it was pulling in from its insider network to start up a captive strategic investment fund. CEO George Friedman explained in a confidential August 2011 document, marked DO NOT SHARE OR DISCUSS: What StratCap will do is use our Stratfors intelligence and analysis to trade in a range of geopolitical instruments, particularly government bonds, currencies and the like. The emails show that in 2011 Goldman Sachs Morenz invested substantially more than $4million and joined Stratfors board of directors. Throughout 2011, a complex offshore share structure extending as far as South Africa was erected, designed to make StratCap appear to be legally independent. But, confidentially, Friedman told StratFor staff: Do not think of StratCap as an outside organisation. It will be integral It will be useful to you if, for the sake of convenience, you think of it as another aspect of Stratfor and Shea as another executive in Stratfor we are already working on mock portfolios and trades. StratCap is due to launch in 2012.

The Stratfor emails reveal a company that cultivates close ties with US government agencies and employs former US government staff. It is preparing the 3-year Forecast for the Commandant of the US Marine Corps, and it trains US marines and other government intelligence agencies in becoming government Stratfors. Stratfors Vice-President for Intelligence, Fred Burton, was formerly a special agent with the US State Departments Diplomatic Security Service and was their Deputy Chief of the counterterrorism division. Despite the governmental ties, Stratfor and similar companies operate in complete secrecy with no political oversight or accountability. Stratfor claims that it operates without ideology, agenda or national bias, yet the emails reveal private intelligence staff who align themselves closely with US government policies and channel tips to the Mossad  including through an information mule in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Yossi Melman, who conspired with Guardian journalist David Leigh to secretly, and in violation of WikiLeaks contract with the Guardian, move WikiLeaks US diplomatic cables to Israel.

Ironically, considering the present circumstances, Stratfor was trying to get into what it called the leak-focused gravy train that sprung up after WikiLeaks Afghanistan disclosures:

[Is it] possible for us to get some of that leak-focused gravy train? This is an obvious fear sale, so thats a good thing. And we have something to offer that the IT security companies dont, mainly our focus on counter-intelligence and surveillance that Fred and Stick know better than anyone on the planet Could we develop some ideas and procedures on the idea of leak-focused network security that focuses on preventing ones own employees from leaking sensitive information In fact, Im not so sure this is an IT problem that requires an IT solution.

Like WikiLeaks diplomatic cables, much of the significance of the emails will be revealed over the coming weeks, as our coalition and the public search through them and discover connections. Readers will find that whereas large numbers of Stratfors subscribers and clients work in the US military and intelligence agencies, Stratfor gave a complimentary membership to the controversial Pakistan general Hamid Gul, former head of Pakistans ISI intelligence service, who, according to US diplomatic cables, planned an IED attack on international forces in Afghanistan in 2006. Readers will discover Stratfors internal email classification system that codes correspondence according to categories such as alpha, tactical and secure. The correspondence also contains code names for people of particular interest such as Izzies (members of Hezbollah), or Adogg (Mahmoud Ahmedinejad).

Stratfor did secret deals with dozens of media organisations and journalists  from Reuters to the Kiev Post. The list of Stratfors Confederation Partners, whom Stratfor internally referred to as its Confed Fuck House are included in the release. While it is acceptable for journalists to swap information or be paid by other media organisations, because Stratfor is a private intelligence organisation that services governments and private clients these relationships are corrupt or corrupting.

WikiLeaks has also obtained Stratfors list of informants and, in many cases, records of its payoffs, including $1,200 a month paid to the informant Geronimo , handled by Stratfors Former State Department agent Fred Burton.

WikiLeaks has built an investigative partnership with more than 25 media organisations and activists to inform the public about this huge body of documents. The organisations were provided access to a sophisticated investigative database developed by WikiLeaks and together with WikiLeaks are conducting journalistic evaluations of these emails. Important revelations discovered using this system will appear in the media in the coming weeks, together with the gradual release of the source documents.

Public partners in the investigation:

More than 25 media partners (others will be disclosed after their first publication):

Al Akhbar  Lebanon  http://english.al-akhbar.com

Al Masry Al Youm  Egypt  http://www.almasry-alyoum.com

Bivol  Bulgaria  http://bivol.bg

CIPER  Chile  http://ciperchile.cl

Dawn Media  Pakistan  http://www.dawn.com

LEspresso  Italy  http://espresso.repubblica.it

La Repubblica  Italy  http://www.repubblica.it

La Jornada  Mexico  http://www.jornada.unam.mx/

La Nacion  Costa Rica  http://www.nacion.com

Malaysia Today  Malaysia  http://www.malaysia-today.net

McClatchy  United States  http://www.mcclatchy.com

Nawaat  Tunisia  http://nawaat.org

NDR/ARD  Germany  http://www.ard.de

Owni  France  http://owni.fr

Pagina 12  Argentina  http://www.pagina12.com.ar

Plaza Publica  Guatemala  http://plazapublica.com.gt

Publico.es  Spain  http://www.publico.es

Rolling Stone  United States  http://www.rollingstone.com

Russia Reporter  Russia  http://rusrep.ru

Ta Nea  Greece - http://www.tanea.gr

Taraf  Turkey  http://www.taraf.com.tr

The Hindu  India  http://www.thehindu.com

The Yes Men  Bhopal Activists  Global http://theyesmen.org

Nicky Hager for NZ Herald  New Zealand  http://www.nzherald.co.nz

WikiLeaks begins publishing 5 million emails from STRATFORadded by chinatimesonline on

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A J-10CE fighter jet conducts test flight and hosts training for its pilot shortly before it is delivered to the Pakistan Air Force on March 11, 2022. Photo: Courtesy of AVIC

China is displaying many advanced weapons and equipment, including drone and anti-drone systems, at an ongoing defense expo in Pakistan, a move analysts said on Wednesday indicates that the two countries' defense cooperation will continue to deepen under their ironclad friendship, with Pakistan's armed forces already operating advanced main battle equipment of Chinese origin.The 11th session of the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) kicked off on Tuesday at the Karachi Expo Center in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, with seven Chinese defense trade companies participating under the delegation "China Defence" led by the country's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.Exhibits of the Chinese delegation include the Wing Loong series drones, CH series drones, the WJ-700 drone, a comprehensive anti-drone system, a type of multi-role drone ship, the Y-9E transport aircraft, the LY-70 air defense system, the VT4 main battle tank, the SR5 multiple launch rocket system, the YLC-2E multi-role radar, a command information system, an electronic warfare defense system and a communications navigation system, Xinhua reported.Delegates from more than 50 countries and regions are attending the four-day show, and the Chinese delegation is one of the largest national delegations at the event, the report said.China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said that the Chinese delegation's participation in international defense expos aims to display the country's advanced military equipment and technologies, promote international cooperation and communication in science, technology and industry for national defense, and build a defense security community to safeguard regional peace and stability, according to Xinhua.Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the opening ceremony of the IDEAS and visited the Chinese delegation. A Pakistani defense official was quoted as saying that China's military equipment and technologies are famous internationally, and defense cooperation between Pakistan and China is exemplary.The armed forces of Pakistan have commissioned many advanced weapons and equipment of Chinese origin, including the VT4 main battle tank, the SH-15 self-propelled howitzer, the Type 054A/P frigate, the JF-17 fighter jet, the J-10C fighter jet and the ZDK-03 early warning aircraft, according to official announcements and media reports.China and Pakistan are expected to continue to deepen their defense cooperation, as Chinese weapons and equipment have boosted Pakistan's national defense as a system, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.With China-Pakistan defense cooperation as an example, the expo is also a chance for China to have more defense cooperation with other countries in the region, the expert said.The Russia-Ukraine crisis has highlighted the importance of drones and anti-drone systems, and Chinese defense firms have answers to that, the expert said.Pakistan has consistently held the biennial event since 2000, except in 2020, when the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IDEAS has become a defense expo of key influence in Asia, Xinhua said.
Hundreds of people clashed with police and destroyed vehicles in the city of Chaozhou () after an assault at knifepoint of a worker claiming his vpfree2 downtown grandsalary, reported today the authorities and official Chinese media. Eighteen people were injured and nine arrested Monday when police intervened to quell a demonstration by about 200 migrant workers.

Protesters gathered outside a government building to demand that the authorities punish three people suspected of attacking a migrant worker whose family name is Xiong, June 1st. Mr. Xiong was assaulted after requiring two months of unpaid wages, according to the Global Times.

Three suspects, including the head of the ceramics factory where Mr. Xiong works, were arrested and their cases were forwarded to the local judicial authorities, according to a statement from the municipality of Chaozhou.

From the images of a video posted on Sina.com.cn , hundreds of people gathered in the streets of the city, and some threw objects or given a stick on a van. According to the press release of the authorities, a car was burned, three were destroyed and 15 damaged.

The number of labor disputes has increased in recent years in China, where migrant workers, who form the bulk of the industrial workforce in coastal regions, demanding frequent pay raises and improvements in their working conditions.

Unrest in Southern Chinaadded by chinatimesonline on

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France Telecom announces the acquisition of Congo China Telecom, the fourth operator in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

France Telecom Group Orange has formalized the acquisition of Congo operator China Telecom (CTC) on Thursday, October 20, for about 143 million euros. The company was previously held by the Chinese company ZTE (51%) and the Congolese state (49%). With the presence of ZTE, France Telecom also benefits from an advantageous refinancing for the debt of CTC (about 120 million euros) by the China Development Bank.

Good opportunity

In 2011, CTC, fourth operator in its market (15% of subscribers) behind Vodacom, Tigo and Airtel, is expected to achieve a turnover of 68 million euros. To observers, the agreement is nevertheless a good opportunity for France Telecom, whose ambition is to reach 7 billion euros of revenue in emerging markets by 2015. DRC, the fourth country on the continent by its population, is an important source of growth given the low penetration of mobile phones (17%) and the potential of its economy.

For its arrival in the DRC, France Telecom has also negotiated the extension of 2G license and licensing 3G (mobile internet) for a deal of $52 million, partly funded by CCT.

DR Congo: Congo China Telecom will merge to the Orangeadded by chinatimesonline on

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SHENYANG,ffos las oddschecker betfair s Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- As the moon rose and night fell, visitors flocked to Mukden Factory, a three-story red brick historical building in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The popularity of this venue stemmed not only from its distinctive industrial architecture and expansive expanses for viewing the starry night sky, but also from a digitized version of Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" projected onto its floors and walls.

The 3D and AR technologies offered visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the deceptive world of swirling and spiraling motifs from the artist's masterpieces, but in reality, they were surrounded by the two chimneys of a nearly century-old equipment factory.

"I never expected I could appreciate the beauty of my favorite painting in such an immersive dreamscape," said Li Dayong, a 70-year-old retiree, with visible excitement.

Projectors worth over 1 million yuan (about 138,509 U.S. dollars) infused new life to the once-abandoned structure by illuminating its walls with works by prominent artists from around the world.

Industrialization has played a crucial role in the development of China's economy and people's living standards while shaping the lifestyle and mindset of the Chinese.

However, the emergence of other modern industries has accelerated the demise of heavy industries in recent decades. China has made enormous efforts to protect industrial heritage and relics by raising public awareness and through diversified repurposing.

Since 2017, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has successively released five national industrial heritage protection lists of nearly 200 sites.

Shenyang's Tiexi District was the center of the former industrial powerhouse and once a byword for the country's industrial spirit, boasting a wealth of industrial sites after industrial upgrading and relocation.

Within 3 km of the Mukden Factory, a batch of industrial sites has been repurposed into post-industrial parks, forming a creative industry cluster.

Among them is the 1905 creative industry park, a former metal workshop, with its saw-shaped roof and steel beams that supported the gantry crane still intact.

The rusty and out-of-use industrial sites separate the enormous space of nearly 10,000 square meters into numerous cubicles, an ideal incubator for the start-ups of young artists, where coffee shops, galleries and restaurants are located.

In 2019, it was inaugurated as the national entrepreneurship incubation demonstration zone for the creative industry, encouraging many musicians, dramatists and designers to launch their own businesses.

Besides the avant-garde artists, an increasing number of Gen Z'ers have relocated to the heartland of China's heavy industry, impelled by legions of industrial heritage and the spirit of enterprise behind the sites.

Outside the 1905 creative industry park stood the enormous, gleaming metal letters "Tiexi" that were cast in the last furnace of molten steel of Shenyang Heavy Machinery Group prior to its relocation.

Guo Zhongxiao, head of the Tiexi district government, said the district represents a number of firsts in the country's industrial history, and boasts a pronounced industrial wealth and the glorious memory of the city.

The integration of creative sectors with industrial sites across the nation prevents the loss of a beloved place that was a homelike atmosphere for numerous industrial workers as well as a community for many in the industrial zone.

In Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, the former Pearl River brewery has been transformed into a beer culture and creative art park, where young people gather to enjoy the Pearl River's beautiful nightlife with a beer.

In central China's Wuhan, the establishment of the Hanyangzao creative industry park has brought about new possibilities for the once-famous Hanyang ordnance factory. Its industrial aspect combined with modern art made it a popular tourist destination.

"Industrial heritage is not about cold steel and masonry," said Zhang Sining, a researcher with the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. "With China's urbanization entering a new phase of quality improvement, cities have focused on the richness of the industrial spirit. The historical memory and the humanistic spirit behind the old factories and workshops will inject new impetus into urban renewal and upgrading." 
China and Russia have not agreed to any plan for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power, this was announced by the U.S. leader Barack Obama at the G20 summit in Mexico. He admitted that he failed to persuade Vladimir Putin and Hu Jintao to change their position.

I wouldnt suggest that at this point the United States and the rest of the international community are aligned with Russia and China in their positions, but I do think they recognize the grave dangers of all-out civil war, said President Obama.

The conflict continues in Syria. the victims, according to the UN, were about 10,000 people. The U.S. State Department regularly calls Bashar Assad a dictator who has hands stained with blood.

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In meetings held on the sidelines of the summit, Premier Wen Jiabao has urged developed nations to contribute more in aid to the worlds least developed countries.

Premier Wen says that developed nations should honor their commitment to increase development aid and help reduce the debt burden on least developed countries. Wen noted that 40 years ago, the UN confirmed a list of 24 least developed countries. The number has now doubled, with one-point-three billion people living under the poverty line. He says China will continue to provide aid to these countries, as should countries with advanced economies.

Yet the Chinese Premiers calls are not easily put into practice, just as other great ideas discussed at the summit, which have later been treated with little enthusiasm by western countries.

Even certain principles of the Rio Declaration have been challenged. Some western economies struggling with debt crisis now believe the common but differentiated responsibility has become too heavy a burden to shoulder.

And where the green economy is concerned, developing countries are hoping to receive aid in the form of technology from richer nations, while the latter will use patents and copyrights as a shield.

Yet this is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the Third World Network, the only NGO allowed to publish daily reports of the summit, two thirds of the negotiation documents are in dispute.

The Rio+20 summit is one of the largest meetings to be hosted by the UN. Up to 50 thousand delegates have attended the summit. It comes two decades after the landmark 1992 Earth Summit which put sustainable development on the global agenda. But making pledges is easier said than done.

WWF Representative, said, We have seen the text that the best diplomat that the planet can rally presented to the heads of states. And there are no commitments. So after 2 years of sophisticated UN diplomacy we arrived at something that will give us nothing more but more poverty. More conflict. And more environmental destruction.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon says its very difficult to reach an agreement on a final document due to differences in interests and concerns of the members. But he still hopes that whatever is committed to paper will be put into practice.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Thusday. They emphasized the decision to upgrade bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

CNTV

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Premier Li Keqiang (center) and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Chea Sophara (left) visit an exhibition of achievements in China-Cambodia cultural heritage exchanges and cooperation in Siem Reap,www slot online shiba inu coin new Cambodia, on Thursday. HUANG JINGWEN/XINHUA

Premier Li Keqiang underlined on Thursday the importance of exchanges and cooperation in the development of state-to-state relations as he attended a ceremony marking the handover of the Ta Keo Temple restored with Chinese assistance in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Li, who is paying an official visit to the Southeast Asian country, said in an address that both China and Cambodia have time-honored histories and splendid cultures, and mutual learning has contributed to the vibrant growth of bilateral relations.

The Chinese and Cambodian people's understanding and knowledge of each other's country and culture have laid a solid foundation for bilateral friendship, he said.

People-to-people interactions not only bring together diverse cultures, but also people's hearts, Li said, adding that this has a crucial role to play in keeping international industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded.

The premier reiterated China's commitment to the fundamental national policy of opening-up, saying that China is ready to draw strength from all fine achievements of human civilization and engage in practical cooperation with all countries in economic, social, cultural and other areas.

The Ta Keo Temple is one of hundreds of stone monuments that make up the Angkor World Heritage, which contains the magnificent remains of different capitals of the Khmer empire.

In the early 1990s, the site was under major threat. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has since set up a wide-ranging program to safeguard the site and its surroundings.

Over the years, many countries from both the West and the East, have actively participated in the protection and restoration of Angkor.

The Ta Keo Temple Restoration Project that China handed over on Thursday is the second restoration project undertaken by China under the auspices of UNESCO's ICC-Angkor, an international coordinating mechanism to assist Angkor.

Li said Angkor encapsulates the splendid Khmer culture and is a source of national pride of Cambodia.

The project is good for Cambodia, good for China-Cambodia friendship, and good for inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning, Li added.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Chea Sophara, who also attended the ceremony as the representative of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, thanked China for its assistance to Cambodia in promoting economic and social development, and preserving its national culture.

Cambodia is ready to carry forward its long-standing friendship with China, and have even closer cultural and personnel exchanges with the Chinese side, he said.

Gu Jiayun, director of Beijing Foreign Studies University's Center for Cambodian Studies, said that Chinese experts have shown a high degree of pragmatism and professionalism in Angkor's restoration work.

The Chinese team started its first restoration project in Angkor in 1998. The members spent four years restoring the Chau Say Tevoda Temple from very bad shape with only remnants of the bases, according to Gu.

"Besides the cultural significance, the restoration work will also deliver more economic benefits to local residents by attracting more tourists to Siem Reap, a major tourist hub of Cambodia," Gu added.
The six countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in which China and Russia play a leading role, have concluded their annual summit Thursday, stating their opposition to the use of force against Iran and Syria.

Member states have opposed any military intervention, the imposition of a regime change or unilateral sanctions in the Middle East, said heads of state of countries SCO after their summit in Beijing.

The leaders of the SCO (Russia, China and four former Soviet republics: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan) have endorsed the statements.

Specifically on Syria, SCO said in its final statement the need to stop all forms of violence, whatever its origin and advocated a peaceful solution through political dialogue.

The SCO also noted Thursday its opposition to the use of force against Iran, accused by Western countries of trying to develop atomic weapons. Any attempt to solve the Iranian issue by force would be unacceptable and would lead to unpredictable consequences, threatening the stability and security in the region and worldwide, noted the six countries.

Iran is among the countries having the status of observers at the SCO and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was in Beijing Thursday, was to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later in the day, while uncertainties on the nature of Tehrans nuclear program continues to cause concern.

Founded in 1996, the SCO with its observers represent 43% of the world population.

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A worker works at the practical skills training center at a vocational school in China. [Photo/CHINA DAILY]

Local governments should further improve the conditions of vocational schools so more than 80 percent of them reach set standards by the end of next year and more than 90 percent by the end of 2025,casino online con bonus di benvenuto a new notice said on Wednesday.

Schools that are of low quality and social recognition and fail to meet standards should be merged or closed, the notice said, which was released by the Ministry of Education and four other departments.

For schools that remain, local governments should work hard to deal with inadequacies, such as shortages in land, dormitories, classrooms and laboratories.

Local governments should also improve the quality of teachers, build more high-quality training bases for vocational students and equip schools with enough books, computers and training equipment.

Vocational schools need to make good use of funding tools such as special bonds for local governments and foreign government loans.

More investment from private sectors and other channels is encouraged so the conditions of vocational schools can be improved without new implicit debt.

The progress of local governments in the sector will be announced starting next year and it will be important for the selection of national vocational education reform programs.

An official from the Ministry of Education's department of vocational and adult education said government investment for secondary vocational schools has been low for a long time, so it is common for schools to not meet standards.

Meanwhile, higher vocational schools have increased enrollment by 4.13 million in the past three years, with total enrollment this year up by almost 40 percent from three years ago, so there is a shortage of education resources, the official said.
China on Friday called on the international community to continue to support Kofi Annans mediation efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a daily press briefing that the international community should maintain confident and patient regarding the former UN secretary-generals mediation efforts.

Annan, the joint UN/Arab League special envoy for Syria, told the UN General Assembly earlier Thursday that his six-point plan is not being implemented and that the situation in Syria is deteriorating.

China believes Annans role should be enhanced, Liu said, adding that international support for Annan should be increased.

The international community should provide full support to Annan in a variety of ways, the spokesman said.

China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in ending the violence in Syria, Liu said.

Liu reiterated Chinas strong condemnation for the barbaric actions in Syria, especially the killing of women and children, stressing that the murderers should be brought to justice as soon as possible.

Liu said both the Syrian government and the opposition bear responsibility for ending the violence.

China holds an open attitude toward all proposals that may help to alleviate tensions and promote the early start of a political process, the spokesman said.

Xinhua

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BALI,pi mining worth wolff masters odds Indonesia, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefed the media here on Monday on the closely-watched meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, and answered questions of journalists in this regard.

During the in-person meeting between Xi and Biden held earlier on Monday ahead of the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia's resort island of Bali, the two heads of state had candid, in-depth, constructive and strategic communication on major issues concerning China-U.S. relations as well as the prospects for global peace and development, Wang said.

Noting the great significance of the meeting, Wang said it was the first in-person meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States in three years, the first in-person meeting between Xi and Biden since the latter became the U.S. president, and also the first interaction between the top leaders of the two countries after China and the United States fulfilled their respective major domestic agendas this year.

Noting the in-depth communication between Xi and Biden, Wang said that the meeting lasted more than three hours, longer than previously agreed, and that the exchange of views between the two heads of state was comprehensive, deep, candid, constructive and strategic.

Noting the rich content of the meeting, Wang said the two heads of state discussed five topics, including the domestic and foreign policies of their respective countries, China-U.S. relations, the Taiwan question, dialogue and cooperation in various fields as well as major global and regional issues, covering the most important aspects of China-U.S. relations and the most pressing regional and global issues of the moment.

Calling the meeting a guide for the future, he said the two heads of state have, in their meeting, set the course and made plans for China-U.S. relations.

In the meeting, President Xi expounded on the key outcomes and great significance of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and stressed that the domestic and foreign policies of the CPC and the Chinese government are open and transparent, with clearly stated and transparent strategic intentions and great continuity and stability, Wang noted.

The meeting not only bears great practical significance, but will also have an important and far-reaching impact on China-U.S. relations in the next stage and even longer period to come, he said.

Wang particularly mentioned Biden's remarks concerning the Taiwan question that the United States is committed to the one-China policy, does not support "Taiwan independence," does not support "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and does not seek to use the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China.

During the meeting, the two presidents agreed to maintain regular contact, and agreed that their respective diplomatic teams should maintain strategic communication so as to implement the common understandings reached during the meeting, Wang noted. 
As a representative product of Chongqing on the Television Festival of Cannes held in October 2011, the Earth Crisis in Summer Vacation, a cartoon developed by Mengku Animation, reaches an agreement of intent with the TV stations of Australia, America and Italy.

The insider reveals that according to the situation of European market, this 264-minute animation TV series with 22 episodes will receive transfer fee for broadcasting right of about 3 million yuan from a TV station. The production cost of only about 3 million yuan will be recoverable soon after it is broadcast in one station. The following transfer fee of broadcasting right will bring net profit.

In fact, Mengku Animation, the developer, is a micro enterprise established for less than six months. It is the first one among those micro enterprises that sell the product abroad.

Currently the enterprise has twelve employees. It achieved sales income of 90,000 yuan in the first quarter of 2012. It plans to realize sales income of 1.2 million yuan, 10 more employees, and profit and tax of over 80,000 yuan by the end of 2012.

Zhang Yingling

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President Barack Obama has announced new sanctions on Iran, just as the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate are preparing to introduce their own legislation.

President Obama has signed an executive order that imposes new sanctions on Irans energy and petrochemical sectors to prevent the country from getting around existing sanctions.

The deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, Ben Rhodes, said the Obama administration is sharpening the choice for the Tehran government.

Iran has an opportunity through diplomacy to come in line with their international obligations with respect to their nuclear program; however, we have also made it clear that if Iran fails to meet its obligations, we will steadily ratchet up the pressure, Rhodes said.

The United States and several other Western countries have united to impose sanctions on Iran, saying they are concerned that Irans nuclear program is in reality an effort to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says that its programs to enrich uranium are solely for civilian purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also voiced concern about possible military applications of Irans nuclear program.

The U.S. Treasury Department also announced sanctions Tuesday against two financial institutions, the Bank of Kunlun in China and Elaf Islamic Bank in Iraq, for facilitating transactions for Iranian banks that are already subject to international sanctions.

Todays action exposes these banks continued business with designated Iranian banks, and effectively cuts them off from the U.S. financial system, said David Cohen, the under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence with the U.S. Treasury Department.

Cohen said the banks had been helping Tehran to finance its nuclear program and international terrorism.

Senior Obama administration officials rejected suggestions that the international sanctions against Iran are not having a real impact on that countrys nuclear program. National Security official Ben Rhodes says the impact is significant, and will continue to be felt even more severely in Tehran over the coming weeks.

Frankly, several years ago it was the international community that was divided about how to deal with Iran, whereas the Iranian leadership was very united. What we see today is not just a unified international community, but you see sharp divisions within the Iranian political system, he said.

The White House sanctions come just as both houses of Congress work to introduce their own sanctions against Iran this week before leaving for a five-week recess. Some lawmakers have grown impatient and criticized President Obama for not being tough enough on Irans nuclear ambitions.

Cindy Saine

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says Moscow and Beijing are close to resolving a long-running dispute about the price of Russian natural gas to be exported to Chinas energy-hungry economy.

In an interview with Chinese media published Wednesday as he ended a two-day visit to Beijing, Putin said pricing negotiations between Russian gas giant Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation are close to the final stage.

China is the worlds top energy consumer, while Russia is the biggest energy producer. The two neighbors reached an initial deal on Russian gas deliveries in 2009, but have failed to agree on pricing, with Russia pushing for a higher fee and China demanding a lower one.

The Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday the state-owned energy companies of both nations will continue to negotiate in accordance with principles of fairness, friendliness and mutual accommodation.

Putin also said Russian cooperation with China should be much broader than the gas industry. He said both nations should make hi-tech cooperation a priority in industries such as aircraft manufacturing, nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Chinese President Hu Jintao praised the Russian prime minister as an old friend of China as they met on Wednesday. In a separate meeting with Chinese National Peoples Congress leader Wu Bangguo, Putin said relations with China affect the wellbeing of Russian citizens.

Putin began the Beijing visit by meeting his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on Tuesday. The two leaders pledged to expand bilateral trade from $70 billion this year to $100 billion by 2015 and $200 billion by 2020.

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China has welcomed the Libyan National Transitional Councils peaceful handover of power to its newly elected national assembly.

A press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted spokesman Qin Gang as saying the move on Aug. 8 marked an important step in the countrys political transitional process.

Qin said the Chinese side hoped Libya will achieve stability and prosperity as soon as possible. China is mohegan sun casino blackjack rulesready to join hands with Libya to promote continuous development of the two nations bilateral friendly relationship of cooperation.

After the handover, the national assembly elected former opposition leader Mohammed Maqrif as its president on Aug. 10. He is scheduled to pick his government, pass laws and steer Libya to full parliamentary elections after a new constitution is drafted next year.

Xinhua

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Monday,sun palace casino no deposit bonus codes free spins June 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi for Italian opposition to the recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN, during a joint press conference in Rome.

Peace can only be the result of negotiations, it can not be imposed from outside or by a UN resolution, said Benjamin Netanyahu.I want to thank you for your clear position against the attempt to bypass the peace negotiations.

Silvio Berlusconi for his part said: We do not believe that a unilateral solution can bring peace to the Palestinian side or the Israeli side. I believe that peace can be achieved only through negotiations.

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Editor's note: Despite the stern warnings of multiple parties,pascoop 2021 foxwoods play online the United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi still completed her visit to Taiwan. She's the first US speaker and the highest-ranking American official to go there in 25 years. And everyone is asking: what is she doing? What's the root cause that led to her trip? Readers share their opinions.

MarkWu

Pelosi is the personification of US foreign policy - reckless, self-serving and ex-communicated by its own double standards.

She rooted for the HK rioters yet scooted away from her own Capitol Hill rioters. Would she at anytime be writing in her memoirs that a US rioter sitting legs up in her office chair is a 'beautiful sight', her own exclamation on seeing what was happening in HK?

Her tour has been described in Asia as a "junket trip, a publicity-seeking excursion and a propaganda exercise".

Instead of bellyaching about some pretentious notion of 'democracy' whilst her own 12th district voters in democratized California languish homeless, drug-addicted, assaulted and polluted, she should have stayed back in her constituency to revive the tattered remains of her day by helping to solve those domestic problems, perhaps after consulting Beijing on the best methods to use.

[Cai Meng/China Daily]

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A Chinese icebreaker continued its Arctic voyage on Sunday while sailing along a high-latitude seaway, the first by a Chinese vessel in the Arctic Ocean.

The icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, started to head northward from the west of Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic, and reached the edge of ice sea 81 degrees north latitude Friday.

There are, till now, two sea routes through the Arctic: the Northwest Passage and the Northeast Passage, both connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Whether and when the high-latitude route could be used depend on the melting pace of the sea ice in the region.

The Xuelong has completed its first trip through the Northeast seaway after channeling through five marginal seas of the Arctic from July 22 to Aug. 2: the Chukchi Sea, the East Siberian Sea, the Laptev Sea, the Kaka Sea and the Barents Sea.

It is the first such voyage by a Chinese vessel which opened an Arctic route connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic for future Chinese science expeditions.

The Xuelong, an A-2 class icebreaker capable of breaking ice 1.2 meters thick, will travel 17,000 nautical miles (27,000 km) before returning to Shanghai on Sept. 29.

Xinhua

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The Chinese ambassador to Zambia said Chinese nationals working for the Collum Coal Mine located south of Lusaka are staying out of the public eye for fear attacks by Zambians.

Last week, the Chinese mine manager, Wu Shengzai, was killed over what Zambian workers say was the companys delay in implementing a new government minimum wage law.

Labor Minister Fackson Shamenda described the killing as a criminal act and said Zambia is safe for all investors.

Ambassador Zhou Yuxian said he hopes the arrest of suspects will prevent further violence at Chinese-run mines.

I am pleased to see the series of quick measures that have been taken and I hope that it will produce very positive results and that measures will be taken to ensure that it will not spread to other Chinese, he said.

The Zambian government recently raised minimum wages for maids to $100 and $220 for shop workers.

The protesting workers claimed the Collum Coal Mine management had been delaying implementing the new minimum wage policy.

But, Zhou said the violence could have been the result of miscommunication as the company had already announced its willingness to implement the new policy.

Actually, I would say that the company is the first company that made a formal agreement with the union after the decree of the new minimum wage initiative. So, maybe not enough information was passed on to the workers. Beyond that, the unionized companies are not covered by this decree. The new decree basically targets nonunionized employees, he said.

Collum Coal Mine has had other labor problems. In 2010, the government charged two Chinese managers with attempted murder after they allegedly opened fire on a group of protesting miners wounding 11.

Zhou said the industrial relations between the workers and the mines owners needs to be improved. But, he said the Chinese employees may have acted in self-defense.

The Chinese employees there were telling me in the last couple of days that, if we did not do something previously in self-defense, we could have been killed, he said.

Zhou said he understands the new governments efforts to improve the wages of its citizens, but he said the key is when to introduce such a policy.

The result of these new policies will have [an] effect on the investment environment. According to my experience with the Chinese companies here, some are still making active investments next year, some may be taking a wait-and-see attitude, Zhou said.

James Butty

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Top Chinese security official on Saturday made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, the first one by a Chinese leader in nearly half a century.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, arrived at Kabul airport late in the afternoon.

The four-hour visit had not been announced by Beijing due to security concerns. It followed a two-day trip of Zhou to Singapore, where he met Singaporean leaders on bilateral ties.

Zhou, who is in charge of security and justice affairs, had planned to go to Turkmenistan.

It marked the first time in 46 years that a Chinese leader set his foot on the soil of Afghanistan, a war-torn country neighboring China.

The last visit was made by late Chinese leader Liu Shaoqi in 1966 when he was the President of China.

During the past half century, Afghanistan was afflicted with series of military coups and two major wars commenced by the former Soviet Union and the United States respectively.

The country is still the front line in the U.S.-led war against terrorism and undergoing daily bombing and bleeding.

In Kabul, Zhou held a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

It is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples for China and Afghanistan to strengthen a strategic and cooperative partnership, which is also conducive to regional peace, stability and development, Zhou was quoted as saying in a written statement released by the Chinese delegation upon his arrival.

Zhou said the Chinese government fully respects the right of the Afghan people to choose their own path of development and will actively participate in Afghanistans reconstruction.

China and Afghanistan established diplomatic relations in 1955.

The two countries decided in June to upgrade their ties to the level of a strategic and cooperative partnership at a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Karzai in Beijing, marking a new step for the development of bilateral relations.

Xinhua

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China on Wednesday reiterated its opposition to sanctions on Iran over Tehrans controversial nuclear program.

The Chinese side has long been opposed to any unilateral sanctions on Iran, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei.

He added that sanctions cannot ultimately help to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, but will only further worsen and escalate the issue, which will do no good in regional peace and stability.

All sides concerned should increase dialogues and boost cooperation to seek an appropriate solution to the issue through negotiations, said the spokesman.

Major Western powers have long suspected that Tehran is secretly developing nuclear weapons, and they are planning to impose new sanctions on Iran.

Xinhua

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BEIJING,get bedding Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A public prosecution has been initiated against Sun Guoxiang, a former senior legislator of northeast China's Liaoning Province, over suspected bribe-taking.

The Langfang Municipal People's Procuratorate in Hebei Province recently filed a lawsuit against Sun with the Intermediate People's Court of Langfang, an official statement said Tuesday.

The lawsuit comes following the conclusion of an investigation by the National Commission of Supervision into Sun's case. He was formerly vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress.

Previously, Sun had served as acting mayor and mayor of Panjin City, and secretary of the Panjin Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

The procuratorate charged Sun with taking undue advantage of his official authority or position to seek gains for others and illegally accepting a huge amount of bribes in money and valuables in return.

Public prosecutors said that Sun should be held criminally responsible for committing the crime of bribe-taking. 
A containership is add metamask to edgeseen berthing in Qingdao Port, Shandong province, in September. [YU FANGPING/FOR CHINA DAILY]

Promoting international shipping cooperation is of great importance in ensuring the smooth flow of global logistics supply chains and boosting the global economy amid an increasingly complex market environment, officials and industry players said at the second World Maritime Merchants Forum in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Delivering his speech at the opening session of the two-day event, Dai Dongchang, vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport, equated transport with the artery of an economy and a bond between civilizations, saying the shipping industry, as an important part of transportation, plays an irreplaceable role in serving world economic development and global trade.

Dai said China stands ready to work with other countries to promote global shipping cooperation as well as strengthen connectivity in both infrastructure and systems to keep industrial and supply chains secure and smooth.

China has become the most connected country in shipping, boasting the world's second-largest maritime team, Dai told the forum. "China cannot develop itself in isolation from the rest of the world while the world also needs China for its prosperity," he said.

Last month, the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center was established as the country's key move to support the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Dai said the country will give full scope to the center's functions as an international think tank, cooperation showcase and people-to-people exchange platform to promote the sustainable development of global connectivity.

Addressing the same event, China Merchants Group Chairman Miao Jianmin said variables such as macroeconomics, geopolitics, the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain restructuring have greatly increased the difficulty of controlling the shipping market's current operating rhythm.

It is crucial to promote the upstream and downstream of transport, trade, ports and other industry chains to give full play to their respective advantages and carry out long-term, stable and effective cooperation to jointly build an "open, inclusive, cooperative and win-win" shipping ecosystem, Miao said.

He also suggested that stakeholders make full use of digital applications and promote green shipping to look for new opportunities in the process of restructuring the global supply chain.

On top of geopolitical tensions and unpredictable markets, decarbonization is also a "grand challenge" that compounds the maritime industry's transformation path, which requires collaboration across the value chain to find solutions, said Knut Orbeck-Nilssen, chief executive officer of DNV Maritime  a Norway-headquartered classification society and advisor to the shipping industry.

Decarbonization, the process of reducing carbon emissions, is defining not only the industry's regulatory agenda but also the environmental, social and governance revolution, he said.

"It is a task that not one player nor even one industry can resolve in isolation. We simply can't do it alone," he said. "China is crucial in this transition. We expect to see many initiatives originating and developing here."

Themed "Together for a Brighter Future", the maritime forum was hosted by China Merchants Group and other organizers, featuring four parallel sub-forums for the shipping market, ports, logistics, and shipbuilding and repair, as well as over 50 livestreaming panel discussions.

Some 120 industry organizations and companies from more than 50 countries and regions spanning the maritime and commercial sectors joined the forum.
The humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality need to be strictly complied in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Chinas UN envoy said Thursday.

The statement came as Li Baodong, Chinas permanent representative to the UN, addressed an open Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

The effort to abate the humanitarian crisis in Syria must be based on strict compliance with the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality and respect for Syrias sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, he said.  Politicization of humanitarian issues must be avoided. Humanitarian relief efforts should never be militarized.

Li noted that the UN should especially guard against and oppose any act of interfering in Syrias internal affairs or military intervention under the pretext of humanitarian issues.

According to the statistics released by the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 220,000 people have fled Syria to seek safety and security as refugees in neighboring countries, and their number is rapidly growing. At present, more than 2.5 million people are in great need of humanitarian assistance and protection inside Syria, and their most pressing need is water, sanitation, food, shelter, blankets and health care.

Li said that the United Nations should play a leading role in coordinating international humanitarian relief efforts for Syria.

China calls upon all parties in Syria to observe relevant international laws, maintain cooperation with UN and other humanitarian relief agencies and ensure timely delivery and distribution of humanitarian supplies, he said. Given the rather big financial shortfalls for international humanitarian relief efforts for Syria, China calls upon relevant countries to timely and fully honor their assistance pledges.

Li stressed that in resolving the humanitarian crisis in Syria, both symptoms and root causes should be addressed.

Failure of all parties in Syria to make good their commitment to a cease-fire and cessation of violence and frequent attacks and sabotage by the third element constitute the direct reason for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, he said.

The top priority now is to cease all forms of terrorism and violence in Syria as soon as possible, said the ambassador. The fundamental way out is to achieve immediate cease-fire and cessation of violence and launch a political transition process led by the Syrian people.

Xinhua

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Chinas top legislator Wu Bangguo said here on Tuesday that China has always held a fair and objective stance on the Iranian nuclear issue and is opposed to the research, development and possession of nuclear weapon by any Middle East country.

Meanwhile, China believes that a countrys right for the peaceful use of nuclear power should be guaranteed according to relative regulations, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of Chinas National Peoples Congress, said when meeting here with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

China has always believed that dialogue and cooperation are the right way to properly settle the Iranian nuclear issue, Wu said, adding that China opposes indulging in slapping sanctions, mounting pressure and even intimidating with force in dealing with the issue, and that it is willing to continue playing a constructive role in the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue.

China hopes Iran stick to peaceful negotiations and continue to be flexible and pragmatic, so as to push for substantial progresses in its talks with the six countries (P5+1: the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany), Wu noted.

On bilateral relations, Wu said that developing the Sino- Iranian friendly and cooperative ties is not only in accordance with the fundamental benefits of the two countries and their peoples, but also conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

For his part, Ahmadinejad briefed Wu Tehrans standpoint regarding the nuclear issue. He said that Iran hopes to settle the issue through dialogue and cooperation and will stay in touch with all concerned sides.

He also said that Iran is ready to deepen its ties with China and continue to expand its practical cooperation with China in economy, trade, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.

Wu, who is on a four-nation tour, arrived here Sunday for a four-day visit. He will also go to Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Fiji.

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The British Hospitality Association is bringing together industry leaders for the first-ever Tourism and Hospitality Summit at the InterContinenmtal London Park Lane on June 1.

The Summit will explore the breadth and vitality of the industry and draw on investors and high-level speakers to help shape its future. Leaders of the sector, which supports over 2.5 million jobs and contributes over 34bn to the UK Exchequer, will discuss strategies to realise the full potential of hospitality and tourism as a source of growth and job creation.

The Hospitality & Tourism summit, taking place on the Friday of the Queens diamond Jubilee weekend and just weeks before the 2012 Olympics and paralympic games begin, represents a seminal moment to showcase the breadth and depth of the UKs hospitality and tourism industry.

The summits Objectives

1. Ensure that hospitality and tourism is recognised as a leading industry of the UK

Tourism is the UKs third largest employer accounting for nine per cent of total employment. Hospitality alone accounts for 2.4m jobs (one in every 13 jobs). The tourism industry has an estimated turnover of ?115.4bn and directly contributes ?68bn to the UK in gross Value added. The core hospitality industry alone is estimated to contribute directly ?34bn in gross tax revenues to the Treasury, equivalent to six per cent of annual exchequer receipts.



2. To demonstrate the dynamism of our industry, as well as its reach

2012 is an exceptional year for UK tourism. during the London 2012 Olympic and paralympic games, the UK will play host to visitors from all over the world including over 30,000 journalists and reaching out to over 4bn viewers worldwide. This is an unprecedented opportunity to celebrate the strength and dynamism of UK hospitality and tourism. The UK government too has recognised this and embarked on the greaT campaign, signalling its intent in the tourism strategy. The summit will demonstrate that the industry is also seizing the opportunity.



3. To showcase the UK hospitality and tourism industry

Hospitality and tourism touch the lives of almost everyone and every industry in the UK  bringing together friends, family, visitors  on business or leisure travel  or participating at events ranging from the Farnborough air show, to Wimbledon, the proms, British Fashion Week, the diamond Jubilee, and the Olympic and paralympic games. Hospitality & tourism is the ambassador of British culture, heritage and spirit across the world.



4. To facilitate a platform for dialogue among businesses, government and the media

Maximising the economic and social contribution of hospitality and tourism requires the active engagement of government on a broad front, from infrastructure and planning to education, fiscal and health policy. effectively coupled with the enterprise and experience of industry, a proactive public and private partnership will support a competitive and successful hospitality and tourism economy.

The summit brings together leaders of the industry to explore improved links and partnership, not only between the public and private sectors, but also between sport and leisure, media and the arts, hospitality and tourism.

 Tourism is another industry we should get behind. The rewards for growth here are immense. If you just consider this: for every half a percent increase in our share of the world tourism market we can add 2.7 billion to our economy and an extra 50,000 jobs. We have the Royal Wedding, the Olympic Games and the Diamond Jubilee. I think now is the time to really go for it and increase our share. Just yesterday I met with businesses who are helping to create a ?100 million marketing campaign to roll out the welcome mat and say to the world, Come on over to Britain.  The Rt. Hon David Cameron MP, Prime Minister  taken from the speech on Economic Growth, January 6th 2011

The tourism industry has the potential to become one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy. But creating  and sustaining  these higher rates of wealth and job creation wont just happen automatically: it will need plenty of hard work and entrepreneurialism from the sector itself. John Penrose MP, Minister for Tourism and Heritage, DCMS



The summit Theme

Ready, Set, Go

What is growth? All too often we focus merely on expansion and, more specifically, on increasing volume within existing structures. What if we focused on new partnerships, reaching across conventional boundaries between hospitality, tourism, sport, media, arts and culture? What would we stand to gain?

Beyond economic growth, improved links for success offer the potential to embrace learning and advancement, new thinking and innovation, win-win strategies, improving as well as maximising output, being smarter and doing things better. This Summit, under the theme Ready, Set, Go, will focus on all aspects of growth and explores the potential for improved links in one of the worlds most diverse industries  hospitality and tourism.

Attendance at the Summit, and the Gala Dinner in the evening, is limited. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Philippa Brady at BHA  [email protected]

Miles Quest

Wordsmith and Company

01753 645636

[email protected]

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The rise of Chinas middle class will change every aspect of the Australian economy, James Packer, billionaire businessman said Wednesday at the Leadership 2012 Tourism, Aviation and Transport Infrastructure Summit in Canberra.

According to his analysis, the Chinese middle classes want luxury travel, quality hotels, signature restaurants and high-end retail.

Packer said Australia must build relationships with Asia through languages, culture, education, sport and commerce and called for a new view of China.

We need to stop viewing China like its the Cold War and start viewing it as a modern member of the industrialised world, he said.

Packer said those who had not been to China did not appreciate how much it had changed and how much the country was doing to lift its people out of poverty.

It should be almost compulsory for all senior executives and government officials to make the trip to China and gain appreciation of how the country has changed.

Xinhua

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The Chinese PLA Navy's hospital ship Ark Peace arrives in Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 10. Photo: Huanqiu.com

The Chinese PLA Navy's hospital ship Ark Peace arrived at the port of Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Indonesia, at 10 am on November 10, for an eight-day goodwill visit as part of "Mission Harmony-2022." The Ark Peace was warmly welcomed by the Indonesian navy and local people, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia and representatives of Chinese institutions and overseas Chinese.The Ark Peace was received by Rear Admiral Agus Haryadi, Commander of Indonesian Military Sealift Command, and Rear Admiral Yayan Sofyan, Chief of staff of Indonesian Fleet Command. Rear Admiral Agus Haryadi welcomed the visit of the Ark Peace, saying that the two countries and the two navies enjoy profound friendship. He wished the visit a complete success.This is the second visit of the hospital ship Ark Peace after its visit to Jakarta in September 2013.The crew member will continue to uphold the Red Cross spirit of "humanity, fraternity and dedication", and serve the Indonesian people with excellent ability and superb medical skills, said Qiu Wensheng, a Chinese Rear Admiral and the commander of "Mission Harmony-2022", adding that China is ready to work with Indonesia to implement the global development Initiative and the global security Initiative, meet global challenges and create a better future for mankind.During the visit, the Ark Peace will provide free medical services from November 11 to 17, by setting dockside outpatient clinics and on-board diagnosis and treatment. They will also carry out in-depth medical exchanges with local hospitals through online seminars and remote video consultations on intractable diseases.An Indonesian Chinese in a wheelchair drove 100 kilometers to the site to attend the welcome ceremony, and looked forward to the visit of the Chinese Navy to treat her heart disease as soon as possible."I am grateful to the Chinese PLA Navy's hospital ship Ark Peace for its visit to Indonesia, which gave overseas Chinese in Indonesia the opportunity to take professional medical treatment," she said.Counsellor Pan Yonglu, Counsellor Zhou Bin and Deputy Defence Attache Chen Xiongmin of the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, together with more than 200 people including staff of the embassy, representatives of Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese, also attended the welcoming ceremony.Global Times
Chinas railways carried nearly 25 million passengers during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 7.5 percent year-on-year, statistics from the Ministry of Railways showed Sunday.

At least 7 million passengers traveled by rail on June 22, marking the daily high during the holiday, according to the figures.

Most of the passengers were students heading for hometowns or holiday travelers to scenic spots, the ministry said.

To cope with the travel rush, the railway authorities arranged 894 additional trains and stepped up measures to ensure safe transport.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, is traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.

The festival commemorates the famous ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan. Chinese people prepare and eat zongzi, or leaf-packed glutinous rice dumplings, drink wine and race dragon boats on the day. The festival fell on Saturday this year.

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First herring haul in over 20 years

Following new UK quotas, local fishermen have started to catch herring in Manx waters which could enable a commercially viable Manx fishery for the first time in 25 years.

The agreement between the Isle of Man and UK governments allows Manx boats to catch up to 100 tonnes of herring in 2023, and could quadruple by 2026.

Manx fishermen had been free to catch herring for centuries before the EU Common Fisheries Policy introduced quotas in the 1980s. But by the time stocks had recovered the island had been excluded  driving most fishermen to focus their efforts on scallops.

Adie Kinrade was the first fisherman to successfully apply for funding from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) to kit out his vessel Our Sara Jane.

He said: Today is a little piece of history. When I was a kid the herring fishery was huge in the Isle of Man and then obviously it died out for one reason or another.

Its just nice when the fish are literally a mile off shore that we can go out of Douglas and come back with what we have caught today.

Kinrade, and his five-strong crew, completed a series of trials with their new equipment before successfully hauling their first large catch of 12 tonnes on Tuesday.

Skipper Melvin Reid said: This is my 44th year fishing, but all I have ever done is scallops and queenies. We were like kids today, when we saw a full net of herring come in. It was amazing!

David Beard Chairman of the Manx Fish Producers Organisation expressed how special the herring fishing is for the industry, however he assured that they will manage the fishery sustainably to ensure lasting results.
Former Gov Press Officer claims Wind Farm Project has no Tynwald approval

Former Isle of Man Press Officer, Alistair Ramsay says that the Council of Ministers gave the political go-ahead for an onshore wind farm in the Isle of Man without permission from Tynwald.

Ramsay, who has more than 40 years experience of Island politics, claims that this was an unprecedented breach of the Island's democratic process and a major mistake by Ministers.

According to Ramsay this means there is no proper political authority for erecting wind turbines at Earystane, or anywhere else.

He said: Without Tynwald support, in my view, the government's onshore wind policy is stranded and the project cannot continue.

In February this year the Council of Ministers decided that the Manx Utilities Authority (MUA) should progress plans for an onshore wind farm, and since Earystane has been names as the preferred site.

However, Ramsay says that the Council of Ministers had no authority to sanction this project, saying: Tynwald has never voted to allow onshore wind farms in the Isle of Man, there has been no parliamentary debate on the proposal and no public consultation.

Ramsays statement carries on to say: The appearance of giant wind turbines, each one the height of Peel Hill, would be the biggest change to the Manx landscape for many centuries.

"The Island could only move towards that transformation with the approval of its highest authority, Tynwald, and with the consent of its people. Yet the Council of Ministers bypassed both parliament and public in starting the process to bring wind turbines to the Isle of Man. That leaves it politically exposed and its policy without legitimacy. Tynwald must ask why it was left out of the loop on an issue with such serious implications for local communities, the environment and the public purse.

He urges all members to back a motion from Jason Moorhouse MHK at next weeks October Tynwald.

Moorhouses motion requires the Council of Ministers to reconsider its support for a wind farm in the Manx hills, noting that they are not permitted in similar areas of natural beauty in UK national parks.

Ramsay adds: The MUA wind turbine project has been progressed under the auspices of the government's Island Plan, which was approved by Tynwald but does not contain the phrase 'onshore wind.

Even if it did, a change this big and controversial clearly requires a separate political workstream, with a public consultation followed by a specific Tynwald motion, debate and vote.

About Alistair Ramsay:

Alistair Ramsay has more than 40 years experience of Island politics, as a journalist and as a government press officer. During 18 years in government he worked with five Chief Ministers and regularly attended meetings of the Council of Ministers.

Alistair contributed a chapter on Manx politics to the New History of the Isle of Man, volume five, published by the Liverpool University Press.

He retired from government six years ago, returning to journalism as a freelance political commentator. He lives in Douglas.

Photos
Manx Care using tech that allows for automatic escalation of deteriorating patients

Manx Care is reflecting on improvements including the launch of technology that allows for automatic escalation of deteriorating patients.

In May 2023, Manx Care became the first trust in the UK and crown dependencies to integrate their e-observations software, which has been used across adult inpatient areas since 2015, with hard alerting (also known as auto-escalation), to support clinical teams in responding quickly to deteriorating patients.

Patientrack records vital signs at the bedside with automatic calculation of the RCP National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and SmartPage aids communication between ward clinicians and responding teams.

This software has been put in place to help Manx Cares compliance with the NEWS2 escalation pathway, which ensures the right clinicians are contacted at the right time when a patient starts showing physiological signs of deterioration.

Patientrack detects the deterioration, and SmartPage ensures a timely trigger - providing an extra layer of patient safety, and supporting responding teams by providing a safeguard against human error.

In addition, functionality has been built in to prevent bleep fatigue  ensuring that responding teams are not paged unnecessarily, as this could impact response time.

Not every high-scorer will be for full escalation, and not every low-scorer will be stable, which is why clinical oversight is crucial, and the software has been configured to support Manx Cares specific workflows and processes.
Thursday, October 12, 2023

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Starting Time: October 15, 2023, 10:00:00 (GMT+8)

Ending Time: October 25, 2023, 10:00:00 (GMT+8)

Open Trading: October 30, 2023, 15:00:00 (GMT+8)

Token Sale Period:

Subscription Price: 0.05 USDT

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Project Name: Movo Smart Chain Mainnet

RPC: https://msc-rpc.movoscan.com/

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Token Symbol: MOVO

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Join the Movo Smart Chain revolution today and be part of a dynamic, sustainable, and groundbreaking ecosystem.

Consequently, Movo Smart Chain provides public RPC nodes to ensure seamless connectivity. People can join the Movo Smart Chain network by clicking the ."Add Movo Network." button on MovoScan.com.

About the Company - Movo Smart Chain

Movo Smart Chain is a decentralized ."Proof of Stake." blockchain supported by the MOVO token, providing a range of services including network fees, DPoS validator staking, governance, and original assets. With a strong presence in both the United Kingdom and the United States, Movo Chain is committed to pioneering advancements in the blockchain industry.

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Media Details:

Company Name: Movo Smart Chain LLC

Contact Email Address: admin@movo.uk

Contact Person Name: Nolan Kuhlman

Companys Website: https://movo.uk/



Office address: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3AX

Company Information

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency.
The US Internal Revenue Service is asking that Microsoft pay a whopping $29 billion in unpaid taxes from 2004 to 2013, the company said in an official filing on Wednesday.

The case puts further focus on the international tax practices of major multinationals that have been accused in recent years of shifting revenue to lower tax jurisdictions in an effort to avoid higher taxes in their major markets.

"We disagree with the proposed adjustments and will vigorously contest the (demand) through the IRS's administrative appeals office and, if necessary, judicial proceedings," the company said in its filing to the US markets authority.

In a blog post, Microsoft said the issue with the IRS was with its transferring of revenue across international jurisdictions during the period.

The practice, called cost-sharing, is used by "many large multinationals...because it reflects the global nature of their business," the company said.

"We strongly believe we have acted in accordance with IRS rules and regulations and that our position is supported by case law," the blog post added.

Reached by AFP, the IRS said it was against US law for it to either confirm or deny an ongoing tax case.

Microsoft said that the appeal process with the IRS would take years and if it failed, the company would fight the claim in the courts.

The Windows maker said the demand emerged out of a decade-long discussion with the IRS "about how we allocated our income and expenses for tax years beginning as far back as 2004."

"We have changed our corporate structure and practices since the years covered by the audit, and as a result, the issues raised by the IRS are relevant to the past but not to our current practices," it said.

Microsoft added that "since 2004, we have paid over $67 billion in taxes to the US."

The accounting practices of US big tech companies have long posed a problem for authorities.

Governments have accused companies such as Apple, Amazon or Microsoft of shifting revenue through low or zero tax jurisdictions in order to escape taxation in their main markets and maximize profits.

This spurred a major international agreement among 140 countries brokered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that is designed to better share and regulate the tax revenue of the giants.

The OECD on Wednesday published a draft agreement implementing a major part of that deal with hopes of having it ratified by the end of the year.

In the EU, authorities in 2016 ordered Apple to pay 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in back taxes over similar accounting practices, but Brussels lost an appeal to Apple and is awaiting the outcome of a further appeal.

arp/md
When on the morning of October 7th, Hamas launched a coordinated and devastating terrorist operation against Israel, the country was celebrating Shabbat, and its defense forces were caught totally unaware and unprepared for a swift response. How the much-celebrated Israeli intelligence may have missed such an attack  needing huge resources, coordination, planning?

The question is puzzling people beyond the experts community, and while certainties about that may be established only afterwards, intelligence theory and history may provide some first, plausible, explanations.

The historical parallel with the last big trauma of intelligence failure  the 1973 unforeseen attack starting the Yom Kippur War  sounds even more compelling, as Saturdays Hamas attack to Israel happened exactly on the 50th anniversary of those events.

But while some factors are classics of intelligence failure, that can be traced to the Yom Kippur precedent and to other such historical instances, recent times introduced a novelty. A new scope of intelligence vulnerabilities which is the massive employment of AI.

The causes behind the tactical surprise achieved by Hamas are substantially three.

Hubris.

Hubris strikes when a state and its security apparatus are extremely successful. When everyone has wonderful things to say about you, you start to believe them. Due to Israel seeing off the Arab states in 1848, 1956, and 1973, they believe their own press. The problem is that Hamas and Gaza are a vastly different issue than the Arab states. Israel thought that walling Gaza off and getting rocket/missile defense was sufficient to contain Hamas. Of course, Hamas saw this as a challenge and worked with their IRGC/Quds Force handlers in Iran to solve their challenge. Every few years Hamas will have built up enough munitions and trained enough replacements to be able to mount an operation. The Israelis smack them down and Hamas goes back to nurturing their grievances and rebuilding an offensive capability. The three differences this time is that 1) Hamas got even more rockets/missiles than before and 2) the international situation is more unstable, and 3) internal factions rive the Israeli population and government.

Internal divisions

Internal factionalization is inherent in heterogenous democracies like the U.S. and Israel, however currently more of an issue. The political process is that of prioritizing approaches/policies and apportioning resources; heterogenous states are more difficult because each in group seeks to prioritize their policies and resources as compared to the other groups. Russia,China,North Korea, and Iran are pressing on the democracies that seek to contain them, including the U.S. and Israel. The current situation combines both external efforts to generate internal frictions (led by Russian information confrontation operations) together with hard core right wing and left wings politicians seeking to put forth their own agenda. One example is the current efforts by the Netanyahu government to disempower the Israeli Supreme Court. This effort has driven a major wedge into Israeli society. This could be perceived by adversaries such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as their sponsor Iran, as an opportunity.

Overreliance on Artificial Intelligence

The massive employment of AI, Big Data, and Machine Learning that characterizes Israel defense system may have constituted a blinding factor. First, because the enormous amount of data that is collected, necessarily needs an AI operated analysis to process them. This results in a process that can only partially be supervised by human brains, which would be in turn overwhelmed by this data dumping. Secondly, as in the case of Iron Dome, the air defense system operating since 2011 in Israel  that has in the last attack failed at intercepting a number of initial strikes against the country  Israeli defense systems have been carefully studied by Hamas since the 11 days war of 2021, the last instance of big scale confrontation.

Old New Mistakes

In the case of the 2021 11-days war - dubbed as the first AI enabled conflict of history  it followed a five-year Israeli effort to overhaul and upgrade its defense capabilities, combining changes in the field of organization, doctrine, tools. Hamas, or any attacker, would not know how to hit Israel defense capabilities.

But after the much publicized successes of the AI war of 2021, Hamas - likely properly helped by the IRGC - has done its homework, understanding how to deceive the artificial intelligence collection system, and consequently manipulating it into flawed analysis. Not going dark, as the system would be alerted by such an abrupt change but feeding the panopticon with tons of misleading business-as-usual information, which would not alert about any intentions of attack.

After the traumatic Yom Kippur War intelligence failure, Israel got rid of its previous approach deriving from a postulate - the concept that the enemy would never start a conflict engendering a stark destructive response from Israel  that made its analyst overlook the several warnings collected about imminent attack.

Here, the question is upside down. Massive collection and analysis may have not been handled properly for the very reason they were just too much.

Therefore, overconfidence, overreliance, and underestimation of the enemys capabilities are the old new mistakes in the much reputable, new generation, defense system of Israel.

Adding to it to that the probable focus on threats from the West Bank, rather than Gaza; the conflictual internal situation in the country; and not least the moment of religious celebration  thats how it has been possible one of the much celebrated intelligence of the world to be caught by surprise.

Claudia Palazzo is a Post-Soviet area analyst and Ph.D. candidate in Intelligence Studies.

G. Alexander (Alex) Crowther is a Non-resident Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis.
One of the last giants of the 1960s and 70s Green Revolution, M.S. Swaminathan, died at his home in Chennai, India, on Sept. 28. He was 98.

Swaminathan was to India what Norman Borlaug, the Iowa farm boy turned Nobel Peace Prize winner, was to the rest of the hungry, post-war world: a brilliant, hands-on scientist whose work saved untold millions  maybe billions  from lives of poverty and starvation.

If Borlaug was the way, I wrote in this space after a 2004 visit to Chennai, Swaminathan was the means because he had turned Indias centuries-empty begging bowl into an overflowing breadbasket 

It didnt happen overnight. Swaminathan invited Borlaug to India in 1963 to tour farms. Shortly thereafter, the two collaborated to develop wheat and rice varieties to replace less hardy, more vulnerable varieties used by Indian subsistence farmers at the time.

By 1974, noted the New York Times in Swaminathans obituary, India was self-sufficient in wheat and rice. By 1982, wheat production had reached almost 40 million metric tons, more than triple the harvest in the early 1960s. (By comparison, U.S. wheat production this year will total around 47 mmt.)

Another important U.S. link was Swaminathan being named the first World Food Prize Laureate in 1987, an award envisioned by Borlaug. The already-famous Indian used the then-$200,000 prize money to establish the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai to assist women and rural development.

But its impact was intended to go even deeper, the welcoming Swaminathan explained in our visit almost two decades ago. The foundation hopes to harness science and technology for an environmentally sustainable and socially equitable job-led economic growth of Indias rural areas.

People first, technology second, he said, adding First the Green Revolution, then an Ever-Green Revolution.

Always the searcher, Swaminathan asked almost as many questions as were asked of him. Many centered on the relatively-new genetically modified corn and soybean seeds sweeping American farms at the time.

Surprisingly, the renowned geneticist wasnt a big supporter. Like many others  especially the Europeans  Swaminathan worried about food safety, intellectual property rights, and if the technology [will] increase the rich-poor divide. His point was short and sharp: Technologies that compound social problems are not needed.

That didnt mean all GM technology was bad, he added; it did, however, mean there was a division to maintain. GM seeds that did not make an investment in the livelihoods of the poor, he said, are unwelcome.

For example, his foundations researchers had isolated the gene that allows mangrove trees to thrive in salt marshes. That gene was then introduced to rice because he believes salt-tolerant crops will play an increasingly important role as global warming impacts developing nations future food supplies.

He, like Borlaug, wasnt aiming for sainthood. Indeed, his detractors say his list of sins was far too long to earn him a halo. The biggest, say environmental groups both here and in India, was his encouraging industrial farm practices that relied on expensive and polluting fertilizers and pesticides, and for supporting the development of genetically modified crops, explained The Times obituary.

Guilty as charged, I suspect the easy-to-smile scientist might plead for two clearly redemptive reasons.

First, Swaminathan came of age amid one of the worst disasters to strike India in the 20th century, noted the Washington Post Sept. 28, the Bengal famine of 1943, estimated to have killed  3 million people.

The youth, who had planned to follow his father into medicine, set aside those plans to study agriculture after witnessing the agony of the famine.

So forget the hardened critics, that is proper sainthood material.

And second, Swaminathan  like Borlaug and every farmer whose ag roots reach back even one generation  are swimming in the same vat of 1960s techno-guilt because no one, not even the venerable Borlaug, could know just how much environmental and cultural change accompanied the genius of those magical, life-saving crops.

We do know now, however, and the moral challenge we face is to stop blaming Borlaug and Swaminathan for yesterdays sins and start accepting responsibility for ours today.
DENVER, Colo.  Ohio farmers recently visited export markets in South Korea and Japan with U.S. Meat Export Federation Board member representatives from the Ohio Corn Marketing Program and Ohio Beef Council. The visit was part of a trade mission to expand U.S. corn and beef export markets in South Korea and Japan with the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Karyn Forman, a corn grower from Goshen, Ohio, and Erin Limes Stickel, a beef producer from Bowling Green, Ohio, spent several days in Seoul, Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, as part of a delegation of U.S. farmers, ranchers and USMEF representatives learning about different market opportunities for U.S. beef.

The U.S. Meat Export Federations mission is to enhance demand in export markets for U.S. beef, pork, and lamb, through funding from a variety of sources, including beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs. The organization has offices in strategic markets across the globe with staff working locally to increase demand for U.S. meat.

Supporting export market development for corn in all forms, the Ohio Corn Marketing Program, Ohios corn checkoff, surpassed the one million dollar milestone in 2021 for dollars invested with USMEF since it started in 1989.

Korea is the number one destination for U.S. beef and consumers there prefer corn-fed beef, said Forman. Learning about those export opportunities first-hand is an encouraging reminder that our checkoff is working hard in this market through USMEF to, ultimately, increase demand for U.S. corn.

The group met with local food companies, toured retail locations and hosted a grilling event to interact with social media influencers in Japan.

From everything we saw and learned, there is exciting opportunity for additional market penetration of U.S. beef in Korea and Japan. They value more of the beef carcass, using cuts that Americans dont normally use, said Limes Stickel. USMEF makes extremely good use of the checkoff dollars invested in this work. Their boots-on-the-ground approach in those markets makes a huge difference for Ohio producers.
LEBANON, Pa.  The Penn State Extension of Lebanon County will host an in-person workshop, Grazing Sheep under Utility-Scale Solar Arrays, Oct. 19 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at 2120 Cornwall Road.

This workshop is being offered free of charge and will provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages of utilizing sheep grazing as a means of land management beneath large-scale solar arrays.

Sheep grazing beneath large-scale solar arrays can provide a valuable source of income for both current and future sheep farmers, as they can offer vegetation management services and access to additional pasture.

Registration is required by Oct. 18 For more information or to register, visit extension.psu.edu/grazing-sheep-under-utility-scale-solar-arrays.
Farmers will protest at more than 30 retailer sites across the country as part of new coordinated action against low prices and unfair treatment.

Proud to Farm, a newly formed protest group, has confirmed it will undertake the action at over 30 retailer distribution sites on Friday (13 October) at 7pm.

The group said it wanted fairer pay and more support for farmers, many of whom are seeing low prices, surging input costs and an uncertain policy direction.

They are appealing to more farmers, as well as members of the public, to join the protests at sites owned by Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury's.

"British farmers, British people - it's time to unite, let's take on supermarkets, let's show the government - enough is enough", Proud to Farm said on its TikTok page.

"We all want the same Great British produce for the Great British public, only we can make it happen.

"13 October, 7pm - national blockade of distribution centres. Public and farmers stand together - our future defined by us."

The group has also shared a video showing where the protests are set to take place.

It follows a new survey showing that half (49%) of fruit and vegetable farmers are likely to go out of business in the next 12 months, with many blaming supermarkets as a leading threat to their livelihoods.

Retailers and their buyers are accused of not paying on time, pursuing cheaper food alternatives from overseas, and cancelling or changing orders at the last minute.

In the survey, undertaken by organic farming company Riverford, three quarters (75%) said the behaviour of supermarkets was a leading concern within the industry.

Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic, warned that British agriculture was 'on its knees'.

"From the backing of our open letter, it is abundantly clear that this is an urgent issue which needs to be addressed," he said.

However, the silence from supermarkets is deafening. British agriculture is on its knees, with research showing that many farmers attribute their fear of closure to the behaviour of supermarkets.

"And yet not one of the Big Six has responded to our calls for better business practices, to safeguard the future of fruit and veg farmers in this country.

The supermarkets must act now. This marks a critical moment where we can take a stand against harmful practices, and create a better, fairer future for British food and farming. "
Farmers are being reminded of the disease risks associated with importing live animals from overseas, as numerous disease continue to spread in Europe.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) has called on farmers to know the risks of importing livestock following reports of fatal livestock diseases spreading at a rapid rate.

A new strain of bluetongue virus (BTV-3) has recently emerged in the Netherlands, where it is spreading rapidly.

As of early October, the virus has been reported on more than 700 farms in the Netherlands.

Just this week, a new case has been reported in Belgium, meaning BTV-3 is now in two European countries.

The last outbreak of bluetongue in the UK was in 2007, meaning it has been officially free of the virus since 2011

Meanwhile, epizootic haemorrhagic disease has been detected in southern France, having spread from Spain and Portugal.

Authorities in the UK say they are "closely monitoring" the spread of a disease, which can be deadly to cattle.

More than 150 outbreaks have been recorded since November last year.

Commenting, UFU deputy president John McLenaghan said it was vital for farmers to help safeguard the UK's livestock industry.

Whilst imports from Holland and Belgium are no longer possible as export conditions cannot be met due to the diseases circulating, local farmers need to be aware that animals originating from neighbouring jurisdictions could carry a significant risk.

"Should farmers buy in livestock from Europe, they need to be extremely cautious and report any possible signs of disease immediately."

He added: Farmers must also bear in mind that should their imported animals be infected by bluetongue or epizootic haemorrhagic disease, there is no compensation for animals that must be removed from the farm.

"This stresses the importance of protecting the herd and the farm business.
The Scottish government has raised concern over the possible UK-US trade partnership, particularly surrounding its potential impact on food and animal welfare standards.

The UK government is negotiating a 'foundational trade partnership' with the United States, as reported recently in the media.

This would cover subjects such as digital trade, labour protections and agriculture, according to documents first revealed by Politico.

The partnership would not guarantee any levels of access for service providers to offer their products in each others countries, which means it wouldn't be a full trade deal.

However, Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and Trade Minister Richard Lochhead have written jointly to the UK government to voice concern about the partnership and what it would mean for agriculture.

In the US, the use of antibiotics per animal in farming is on average 5 times higher than in the UK.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also allows steroid hormone drugs for use in beef production, which has been banned in the EU since 1989.

The ministers' letter highlights the Scottish governments opposition to any derogation of food safety and animal welfare standards.

It asks that Scottish Ministers are fully involved and engaged in the UK governments activity in relation to trading arrangements with the United States.

Ms Gougeon commented: The interests of Scottish agriculture, and other sectors, must not be traded away in order to secure a quick deal with the US, or any country.

"Specifically, any relaxing of our opposition to hormone treated beef, GM crops and chlorine washed chicken would be especially egregious.

"The UK government should not be trading away the interests of Scottish agriculture, and other sectors, in order to secure a quick deal with the US, or any country.

"If the Prime Ministers commitment made to farmers earlier this year is to be honoured, we would not expect to see any concessions like this in agriculture."

A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: The UK and US are rapidly expanding the work we do together across the full spectrum of our economic, technological, commercial and trade relations through the Atlantic declaration.

"Discussions with the US on next steps under this first-of-its-kind agreement are ongoing.
A grassland farm in Wales is researching whether rock dust sourced from a local quarry can provide sufficient nutrients to grow grass.

Finely ground basalt rock produced at a quarry in Builth Wells has been applied to one half of two fields covering 2.4 hectares at Upper House, in Powys.

Growth will be compared to land where basalt and fertiliser only has been applied and to a control area which has received no treatments.

Sward composition of both fields was assessed at the start of the project and growth will now be monitored over the coming months.

This exercise will be repeated in the spring, on fields earmarked for silage or hay, and the response also measured.

Soil samples pre and post application will also be assessed to establish any differences.

Gareth Davies, who farms beef and sheep at Upper House, says if the project results are favourable, it would reduce his reliance on oil-based fertilisers.

I had not heard of basalt rock dust until six months ago," he admits. It costs around 40 a tonne delivered and spread.

As well as financial gains to his business, he says there could also be a benefit to the environment as adding rock dust to farmland is believed to remove and lock up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The research will be funded by Farming Connect's 'Try Out Fund', which offers up to 5,000 to help fund on-farm trials that experiment with new ideas.

Non Williams, who is overseeing the basalt rock dust project, said Farming Connect had developed the fund to help improve efficiencies and profitability within farm businesses whilst protecting the environment.

She said the results of this project will be shared with other producers in Wales after it concludes at the end of 2024.

Other projects awarded funding include growing lucerne to increase the resilience of lamb finishing systems to summer drought and establishing the most suitable crops for under sowing brassicas.

Ms Williams said: Funding can be used for technical assistance, sampling, testing and other reasonable expenses such as those relating to short term hire of specialist equipment or facilities directly relating to the project."

The new application window for the fund opened on 9 October and will run until 20 October.
Scarlett Johansson has praised Pamela Anderson for going makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week.

Scarlett Johansson has praised Pamela Anderson for her makeup-free stint

The 56-year-old model decided to go au naturel for her appearances at the glitzy event earlier this week and now Hollywood star Scarlett, 38, has praised the "powerful" move for other women to see.

She told Popsugar: "I think it is definitely different to see somebody that's in the public eye, a woman in the public eye, go to a fashion show or big event with no makeup on. It's just very different from what we're used to. It's a powerful message for women to see that, whether they follow suit or whatever the effect is, in the zeitgeist. It's powerful for women to see other women rejecting standard beauty norms."

The 'Black Widow' star recently revealed that she suffered with acne as a teenager and and suffered from "painful memories" when looking at old pictures of herself.

She told Stylist: "I struggled with acne forever. My brother actually just showed me photos of myself at a family thing when I was probably 19 or 20, and my skin quality is completely different. When I saw that photo it just, you know, it brought everything back. All those painful memories. I just struggled with my skin for such a long time. I used to wear concealer to work in the morning, even though somebody was about to put make-up on my face.

"But that was when I was younger and the messaging around acne back then was that your skin was grimy and dirty, and youd get rid of the blemishes by washing it. It was all so negative  and also incorrect. At that point, I was using every product I was prescribed and that I saw in the media. I would go through these cycles of drying out the acne and then having all this redness and irritation. It was a non-stop cycle. Then, when I was in my mid-to-late 20s, I just couldnt do it anymore. I started using gentle products consistently, I began moisturising, and within a week my skin was completely different."
Red carpets of recent years have been adorned with middle aged celebrities sporting baby bumps under their ball gowns. Although the likes of Nicole Kidman have made having babies after 40 appear effortless, doctors warn that these images may be giving women false hope.

Babies

For some women, it just makes sense to be an older mother. Sometimes, the right relationship doesnt come along until later in life, as in the case of Hilary Swank.

Swank announced that she was expecting twins last year aged 48 after 4 years of marriage to the man of her dreams. She revealed to Us Weekly that she was so excited to be starting a family, continuing that Its a total miracle. Its unbelievable. Later, she expressed gratitude that she had waited for things to align in a candid interview with ExtraTv.

Its no small feat to carry a baby at nearly 50. Swank acknowledged the troubles that many pregnant women (especially older women) experience, commenting on The Late Late Show that she feels women are superheroesI have such, like, a whole newfound respect. Like Swank, many older celebrities turned mothers champion the view that motherhood is timeless.

Even so, choosing to have babies after 40 comes with risks and there can be a long, hard road to successful conception. As an older mother, youre more likely to experience birth complications, miscarriage and problems such as high blood pressure. Whats more, the babies of older mothers are more prone to birth defects. It comes as no surprise, however, that the most widespread hardship of hopeful older mothers is infertility; it is highly unlikely for women over 45 to get pregnant naturally.

Despite the swathes of stars having babies after 40, many have remained vocal and honest about their fertility struggles, opening up a wider conversation of female empowerment and sisterhood in Hollywood. One such celebrity is Gabrielle Union, 50, who revealed in her tell- all book Were Going to Need More Wine that she had eight or nine miscarriages when trying to conceive with her husband at 44. She described her body as a prisoner of trying to get pregnant for years, adding that during her 40s she had either been about to go into an IVF cycle, in the middle of an IVF cycle, or coming out of an IVF cycle.

On top of Unions battle with IVF, she shared that she was diagnosed with adenomyosis in 2018, a condition most prominent in women aged 40-50. Adenomyosis causes abnormalities in endometrial tissue in the womb, which can impact fertility.

The risks associated with pregnancy later in life for both mother and baby have led many stars to consider and use surrogates. Celebrities including Nicole Kidman, 56, and Sarah Jessica Parker, 58 have opted and advocated for surrogacy. Perhaps the most well-known instance of a celebrity using surrogates is Kim Kardashian, in choosing to have her daughter Chicago and son Psalm via surrogate.

Kardashian, 42, has never shied away from disclosing the myriad of complications she has suffered as a result of birthing her first two children, sharing that she has a condition called placenta accreta in an interview with C Magazine. This serious condition is most common in women over 35 and is thought to promote abnormal implantation, infertility and miscarriage. Nonetheless, Kardashian remains grateful for her experiences of both pregnancy and surrogacy, describing surrogacy as the best experience in an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Though it is clear that having babies after 40 has its risks, there are many older celebrity mothers who are happy, healthy and willing to speak frankly about the trials they have faced in a bid to encourage women to make their own choices, whilst erring on the side of caution.

Its good to be realistic about what your body can handle, but thats not to say that being an older mother is impossible or any less fulfilling.

Are you in your 40s and trying to get pregnant? Whether you're considering getting pregnant using your own egg, donor eggs or a surrogate, the good news is that trying to find a fertility clinic in London that meets your needs should be straight-forward. There is more choice than ever before when it comes to choosing a fertility doctor that is a good fit for you.




He captioned the post, To a life well lived!



Vicky also shared a second close-up poster. Take a look:





In Sam Bahadur, Vicky Kaushal is set to play Sam Manekshaw, who was the Chief of the Army Staff during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The film is a biopic that chronicles his life and times.



Sam Bahadur is set to be released on December 1. The teaser will arrive on October 13, 2023.



SEE ALSO: He captioned the post, To a life well lived!Vicky also shared a second close-up poster. Take a look:In Sam Bahadur, Vicky Kaushal is set to play Sam Manekshaw, who was the Chief of the Army Staff during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The film is a biopic that chronicles his life and times.Sam Bahadur is set to be released on December 1. The teaser will arrive on October 13, 2023.SEE ALSO: Vicky Kaushal completes filming for Sam Bahadur: "So much I got to live, so much I got to learn"

Ahead of the much-anticipated teaser, a new poster from Sam Bahadur is out. The Meghna Gulzar directorial is led by Vicky Kaushal who plays the titular character. The film also features Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra and others.The new poster of Sam Bahadur sees Vicky Kaushal in uniform. He is seen standing with his back turned. Vicky took to his social media handle to share the new look. Check it out here:
Dibyendu Bhattacharya On Working With Akshay Kumar: Actor Diybendu Bhattacharya has been entertaining the audience for over 23 years now. Known for his work in Dev D, Mirzapur, and others, Dibyendu has carved a niche for himself in the film industry with the various types of roles he has performed.

The prolific actor takes his job seriously and keeps in mind that he leaves the character behind when he is off duty. Recently seen in Mission Raniganj, starring Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra, Diybendu, in an exclusive interview with Filmibeat, spoke about working with Akshay Kumar and the film.

Dibyendu Bhattacharya talked about Mission Raniganj

During a conversation with Filmibeat, Dibyendu talked about his latest release, Mission Raniganj. He said, "The film has a very good and pertinent story. Aaj ke time mein real-life hero ke upar picture bani hai, jo bhaut zaruri hai. Dil se banai hui film hai, Tinu Suresh Desai is a fantastic director and has a huge ensemble cast."

Ent LIVE Blog: Tiger 3 Promotion During Ind vs Pak Match; Akshay Kumar On OMG 2 Being Called Adult Movie

Dibyendu Bhattacharya about Akshay Kumar

When asked about his experience working with Akshya Kumar in the film, the Mirzapur actor said, "He's very professional. He is one of the most professional and disciplined actors I have ever worked with. And I knew about it."

"I had a good time working on the sets. Because when I work on a project, it's an everyday thing for me. Mission Raniganj ke sets par toh Akshay ke sath hasi majak chalta rehta tha. Kabhi woh joke marte toh kabhi hum, bahut acha tha," he further added.

Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue debuted in theatres on October 6, 2023. The film is based on true-life events inspired by the life of an engineer, the late Jaswant Singh Gill, who led India's first successful coal mine rescue mission in November 1989.

On the work front, Dibyendu Bhattacharya was recently seen in a thought-provoking short film, Ghuspaith Between Borders, which premiered at JioCinema Fest.

Mission Raniganj Review: Akshay Kumar Is Back With A Bang In This Film Which Is Filled With Goosebumps Moments
Erica Robin To Represent Pakistan At The 72nd Global Miss Universe Pageant: In what can be called a historic moment for Pakistan, the country is set to be represented at the Miss Universe beauty pageant for the first time ever.

Erica Robin, the 24-year-old model hailing from Karachi will represent the country at the prestigious 72nd Global Miss Universe Pageant, after winning the inaugural 'Miss Universe Pakistan' pageant in a dazzling ceremony held in the Maldives on Thursday.

Erica was crowned as the winner after competing against a lineup of talented contestants, including Hira Inam (24), Jessica Wilson (28), Malika Alvi (19), and Sabrina Wasim (26). She will now carry the hopes and dreams of her nation as she prepares to participate in the 72nd Global Miss Universe Pageant. The global pageant is scheduled to take place in El Salvador this November.

As Pakistan gears up to represent at the global pageant, here are five interesting facts about Erica Robin:

Early Life and Education: Erica Robin was born on September 14, 1999, into a Christian family in Karachi, Pakistan. She pursued her education at St. Patrick's Girls High School and furthered her studies at the Government College of Commerce and Business Administration in Chandigarh.

Modeling Career: Her journey into the world of modeling began in January 2020 when she embarked on her professional modeling career. Same year in July, she graced the DIVA Magazine Pakista. Her big modeling break came when she caught the eye of renowned model and actor Vaneeza Ahmed, who played a pivotal role in launching her modeling career.

Fashion Industry Presence: Erica Robin's modeling portfolio includes an impressive array of shoots and runway appearances for prominent Pakistani fashion brands such as Khaadi, Zara Shahjahan, Sania Maskatiya, Elan, and Sana Safinaz.

Professional Career: Beyond her modeling pursuits, Erica Robin also has a professional side. In August 2020, she joined Flow Digital, an IT consulting firm in Karachi, where she holds the position of Assistant Manager.

Passion for Travel: The 24-year-old beauty queen has a profound passion for travel. She has explored multiple countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and the Maldives, among others.
In what came as one of the shocking news from the Malayalam film industry, renowned actor-comedian Binu B Kamal has been arrested for sexual assault allegations. According to media reports, the television actor was arrested by Vattapara police after a 21 year old woman filed a complaint against him for sexually assaulting her in KSRTC bus.

Reportedly, the incident occurred on Wednesday at around 4:30-5 p.m. when the bus was travelling between Thampanoor and Nilamela. As per a report published in Malayalam News 18, Binu was sitting next to the victim on the bus and allegedly behaved rudely with her. While the woman created a ruckus, Binu reportedly tried to escape the scene as the bus stopped at the Vattapara junction. Though Binu B Kamal ran away, he was chased by the passengers and locals and was arrested from Sheemulamuk.

It is reported that he will be produced in the court today.

Earlier, actor Shiyas Kareem, who became a household name post his stint in Bigg Boss Malayalam as a wild card contestant, was also arrested in a sexual assault case after a gym trainer levelled serious allegations against him. It was reported that the victim had accused Shiyas of committing multiple acts of sexual assault on the pretext of getting married. The reports also claimed that Shiyas impregnated her and forced her to have an abortion.

This isn't all. The victim also accused Shiyas of duping her of Rs 11 lakhs. The case was registered at the Chandera police station under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 376 for rape, Section 313 for forced abortion, and Sections 420 and 417. Although Shiyas dismissed the claims, he was arrested at Chennai airport earlier this month as he returned from Dubai. Reportedly, he was granted interim bail in the case last week.
Bigg Boss Tamil 7: Netizens are making fun of Jovika and Vijay Varma due to their poor knowledge in mathematics. Their video memes related to this are now going viral on social media.

Vichithra's Free Advice For Jovika

Some of the contestants who have participated in the Bigg Boss show being aired on Vijay TV this time have not completed their schooling. Among them, Jovika who is just 19 years old was given a free advice about basic education by her fellow contestant Vichithra a few days back in the show.

Jovika just exploded like a firecracker when Vichitra told her that she should study at least till 12th. It has become controversial when she spoke without respect even for Vichitra's age.

Following this, a long discussion about studies took place in the Bigg Boss house. Kamal Haasan especially said that there may be a rule to study but education should not be compulsory. Many people expressed their opinion in favor of Vichithra. The reason is that few people might have achieved big and become popular in life without studying, but majority of people have reached a good position in the society only after studying. Ambedkar, Gandhi, Radha Krishnan, and many others were cited as examples for this.

Vijay Varma Says '800'?

In such a situation, Bigg Boss fans have released a video of Jovika on social media, in which Jovika is trolled due to her poor mathematics knowledge and the video is going viral now. When Jovika is shopping, she is asking herself "400 multiplied by 4.. how much will come?" Vijay comes there and says 800. Jovika also said acknowledged it and statrted concentrating on her task based on Vijay's answer.

Netizens are sharing this video as a meme material along with a scene from the movie Dheeran Adhigaram Ondru where the importance of education is portrayed in a funny way. They are also saying "Thank god.. Vichitra didn't see it.."

DISCLAIMER: The particular article is a compilation of thoughts shared by social media users on the subject. Ideas expressed do not reflect the view of Filmibeat.
Katha Ankahee New Entry: Helmed by Sunjoy Waddhwa's Sphere Origins, Sony TV's Katha Ankahee turned out to be a dark horse as it premiered on the channel in December last year amid low buzz and expectations. However, the show has made a mark with its realistic storyline and relatable characters. Featuring Adnan Khan and Aditi Sharma as Viaan and Katha respectively, the romantic drama owns a loyal fanbase and is undoubtedly the most popular show on Sony currently.

KATHA ANKAHEE LEAP & KAVIAAN SEPARATION

As Katha Ankahee is set to cross the one-year milestone in the coming December, the makers are set to introduce a leap in the storyline. As per the current track, Katha's family members and son are finally aware of Viaan forcing her into marrying him.

His actions have left everyone irked and the makers have planned an interesting track in the coming months.

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai | TV Star CONFIRMS Being Approached To Replace Harshad As Hero Post Leap But...

Bhagya Lakshmi TWIST: Malishka's BIG MOVE Against RishMi; Will Rishi And Lakshmi DIE After Wedding?

Post the much-awaited leap, Viaan and Kathaa will be separated and a new guy will enter as the support system of the latter. As reported earlier, Sasural Simar Ka star Manish Raisinghan is set to enter Katha Ankahee as the parallel lead. In a recent interview, Manish finally confirmed his entry as a doctor who'll help Katha's son.

MANISH RAISINGHAN CONFIRMS ENTRY AS THE NEW GUY IN KATHA'S LIFE

Talking about the same, the actor told ETimes, "It's an interesting role because I am playing a doctor for the first time in my career. My role is instrumental in bringing Katha and her son's life out of a situation. I will be playing the parallel lead. It is important to move away from the usual roles and do something different. And this one was very different from what I have done on TV."

KATHA ANKAHEE NOT GOING OFF-AIR; TO GET A NEW TIME SLOT

Recently, there were rumours that Katha Ankahee going off-air and Sony TV's Dabangii taking its place. However, Adnan Khan and Aditi Sharma's show is only going to suffer slot change.
ArmorPoint Joins Select Group of Technology Partners in New Alliance with the Strategic Technology Provider

PHOENIX AZ / ACCESSWIRE / October 11, 2023 / ArmorPoint, LLC, a leading cybersecurity services provider, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Softchoice, a leading North American software-focused IT solutions provider.



ArmorPoint Joins Softchoice Preferred Technology Provider Program

ArmorPoint Joins Select Group of Technology Partners in New Alliance with the Strategic Technology Provider

With nearly 140,000 endpoints under their management, ArmorPoint has achieved substantial market momentum and industry leadership in the cybersecurity sector. Featuring a comprehensive solution portfolio and a team of over 100 employees, the organization serves a rapidly growing customer base across North America, Latin America, and Europe.

As organizations increasingly face sophisticated and evolving cyber threats, robust cybersecurity measures have become more important. ArmorPoint has built a reputation for delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity services, while Softchoice is a trusted advisor in technology solutions that drive digital transformation. Together, they will provide businesses with security expertise and forward-thinking technology solutions to safeguard their digital assets.

The partnership between ArmorPoint and Softchoice will bring several key benefits to their mutual clients:

Overcome the Skills Gap: IT teams face challenges in meeting the growing complexity of security demands due to a shortage of skills and resources. ArmorPoint's extensive cybersecurity expertise takes a comprehensive approach to address both technological and human aspects of cybersecurity program management.

Support Business Goals: Prioritizing the need for growth-focused security initiatives, ArmorPoint crafts an effective security strategy using a tailored approach that aligns with a client's existing technology infrastructure, workflow requirements, and growth objectives.

Proactive Threat Mitigation: Organizations require visibility into an increasing number of endpoints to protect against targeted attacks. ArmorPoint consolidates an organization's current security tools to enhance visibility and expedite the detection of potential compromises.

About ArmorPoint

ArmorPoint, LLC is a managed cybersecurity solution that combines the three pillars of a robust cybersecurity program - people, processes, and technology - into a single solution. Designed by cybersecurity experts, ArmorPoint's cloud-hosted SIEM technology, risk management and strategic advisory services enable organizations to implement a highly effective, scalable cybersecurity program. With customizable pricing available, every ArmorPoint product offers a dynamic level of security services that support the risk management initiatives of all companies, regardless of available budget, talent, or time. To learn more about ArmorPoint, visit www.armorpoint.com.

About Softchoice

Softchoice is a software-focused IT solutions provider that equips organizations to be agile and innovative, and for their people to be engaged, connected and creative at work. For more information, please visit www.softchoice.com.

Forward-looking statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which reflects ArmorPoint and Softchoice's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond either company's control. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news release is provided as of the date of this news release and neither ArmorPoint nor Softchoice undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.

Contact Information:

Ashley Capps

Chief Marketing Officer

acapps@armorpoint.com

(602) 282-3090

SOURCE: ArmorPoint

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792081/armorpoint-and-softchoice-partner-to-deliver-future-ready-cybersecurity-program-management-solutions-across-north-america
Ongoing growth investments in the overseas business sector

Reaffirming commitment to the company's 'Global Top-tier' vision

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KT&G Corporation ("KT&G") (KRX:033780) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new state-of-art manufacturing plant in Kazakhstan on October 11, 2023. The new Kazakhstan factory is expected to serve as the company's Manufacturing Innovation Hub in Eurasia and accelerate the company's long-term vision of becoming a 'Global Top-tier' company.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site of the new factory in Almaty Province, Kazakhstan, and was attended by over 70 key figures, including KT&G CEO Bok-In Baek, Governor of Almaty Marat Sultangaziyev, Korean Consul General in Almaty Nae-cheon Park, and others.

KT&G's new Kazakhstan factory, spanning approximately 200,000m2 , will function as a hybrid production facility, accommodating both Next Generation Product("NGP") and conventional cigarette("CC") production and addressing export demands across the Eurasian region.

KT&G positions Kazakhstan as a key growth hub for strengthening its global export competitiveness. KT&G has been committed to building a strong local business presence in Kazakhstan by establishing local sales and manufacturing subsidiaries in January, 2023. Moving forward, KT&G plans to increase its global business capabilities and profitability by managing the entire value chain locally, from production to marketing and sales.

The construction of the new Kazakhstan factory is part of KT&G's long-term growth investment plan, which was unveiled at its Future Vision Declaration Ceremony held in January, 2023. At the ceremony, KT&G outlined its growth strategy to develop NGP, overseas CC, and Health Functional Food as its three core business areas. The company also shared its plans to increase the proportion of its overseas sales revenue to over 50% of its total sales revenue by 2027.

KT&G has also executed growth investments in Indonesia in September, 2023. The company conducted an investment support ceremony with the Indonesian Ministry of Investment and obtained an investment support letter with respect to the establishment of its new manufacturing plant in East Java province, Indonesia.

With this contemplated investment, KT&G strives to strategically position Indonesia as an export hub for the Southeast Asian market. In addition to having the Indonesian factory serving as an export hub for the Southeast Asian market, the company will utilize the Kazakhstan factory as a pivotal gateway for its Eurasian business expansion. The establishment of these two global production hubs is anticipated to strengthen KT&G's presence in both Southeast Asian and Eurasian markets, aligning with the company's 'Global Top-tier' vision.

KT&G CEO Bok-In Baek stated, "We expect the new Kazakhstan factory to serve as a core global production hub that encompasses the Eurasian market and become a frontline base for realizing our future vision of leaping forward to the 'Global Top-tier' status. We will continue to capture new business opportunities and increase our competitiveness through continued vigorous investments in our core business areas."

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ktg-to-establish-a-new-factory-in-kazakhstan-that-will-serve-as-a-global-manufacturing-innovation-hub-301954341.html
Regulatory News:

POXEL SA (Euronext: POXEL FR0012432516), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for chronic serious diseases with metabolic pathophysiology, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and rare metabolic disorders, today announced that it will participate at two upcoming investor conferences.

7 th Annual H.C.Wainwright NASH Investor Conference virtual conference

Date: October 24, 2023



Thomas Kuhn, Chief Executive Officer, and Pascale Fouqueray, Executive Vice President, Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs, will present the NASH related programs of Poxel during a dedicated virtual presentation, and will be available to investors for one-on-one virtual meetings.



Thomas Kuhn, Chief Executive Officer, and Pascale Fouqueray, Executive Vice President, Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs, will present the NASH related programs of Poxel during a dedicated virtual presentation, and will be available to investors for one-on-one virtual meetings. Healthtech Innovation Days Paris, France in-person and virtual conference

Date: October 24-25, 2023



Thomas Kuhn, Chief Executive Officer, and other members of the management of Poxel, will be available to investors for one-on-one in person and virtual meetings.

About NASH

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic disease with no clear disease origin that is quickly becoming a worldwide epidemic. It is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver causing inflammation and fibrosis. The disease can be silent for a long period of time, but once it accelerates, severe damage and liver cirrhosis can occur, which can significantly impact liver function or can even result in liver failure or liver cancer. Typical risk factors for NASH include obesity, elevated levels of blood lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) and type 2 diabetes. Currently no curative or specific therapies are available.

About Poxel SA

Poxel is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for chronic serious diseases with metabolic pathophysiology, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and rare disorders. For the treatment of NASH, PXL065 (deuterium-stabilized R-pioglitazone) met its primary endpoint in a streamlined Phase 2 trial (DESTINY-1). In rare diseases, development of PXL770, a first-in-class direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, is focused on the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). TWYMEEG (Imeglimin), Poxel's first-in-class product that targets mitochondrial dysfunction, is marketed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Japan by Sumitomo Pharma and Poxel expects to receive royalties and sales-based payments. Poxel has a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Pharma for Imeglimin in Japan, China, and eleven other Asian countries. Listed on Euronext Paris, Poxel is headquartered in Lyon, France, and has subsidiaries in Boston, MA, and Tokyo, Japan.

For more information, please visit: www.poxelpharma.com

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not endorse or is not otherwise responsible for the content of external hyperlinks referred to in this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011367166/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations Media

Aurelie Bozza

Investor Relations Corporate Communications Vice-president

aurelie.bozza@poxelpharma.com

+33 6 99 81 08 36

NewCap

Nicolas Fossiez, Aurelie Manavarere Arthur Rouille

poxel@newcap.eu

+33 1 44 71 94 94
Regulatory News:

Following its decision to disengage from Russia as communicated on January 25, 2023, and after examining various options, Legrand (Paris:LR) announces the sale of its Russian operations to a local industrial player, effective October 4, 20231

Following this divestiture, Legrand will no longer have any operations in the Russian market.

Key financial dates:

2023 nine-month results: November 8, 2023

"Quiet period 2 " starts October 9, 2023

"Quiet period " starts October 9, 2023 2023 annual results: February 15, 2024

"Quiet period 2 " starts January 16, 2024

"Quiet period " starts January 16, 2024 General Meeting of Shareholders: May 29, 2024

About Legrand

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and responsible growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings-including products with enhanced value in use (faster expanding segments: datacenters, connected offerings and energy efficiency programs). Legrand reported sales of 7.0 billion in 2021. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is notably a component stock of the CAC 40 and CAC 40 ESG indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819).

https://www.legrandgroup.com

1 As a reminder, Legrand's activities in Russia represented about 1.5% of the Group's annual sales in 2022, with an impairment charge of approximately 150 million recorded on December 31, 2022.

As of June 30, 2023, remaining net balance exposure mainly included conversion reserves (a latent loss of 46 million).

2 Period of time when all communication is suspended in the run-up to publication of results.

Readers are invited to verify the authenticity of Legrand press releases with the CertiDox app. Learn more at www.certidox.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011421744/en/

Contacts:

Investor relations

Legrand

Ronan Marc

Tel: +33 (0)1 49 72 53 53

ronan.marc@legrand.com

Press relations

TBWA Corporate

Tiphaine Raffray

Mob: +33 (0)6 58 27 78 98

tiphaine.raffray@tbwa-corporate.com
BOSTON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

What is the Megawatt Charging System (MCS)?

A new high-power charging solution is required to meet the market need of the truck and bus industry to charge electric heavy-duty vehicles in an acceptable amount of time. As a result, the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), a charging system for large battery electric vehicles, is now being developed. The MCS is capable of charging at a maximum rate of 3.75 megawatts (3,000 amps at 1,250 volts DC), which is the highest rate. MCS is expected to enable fast and efficient charging not only for trucks, but also for marine vessels, aeronautics, and mining. The final publication of the standard and commercial rollout is expected in 2024.

Significance and use case of MCS

The increased charge rate offered by MCS will allow customers to drive more distance per day by utilizing the mandated break time from the hours-of-service regulations. These regulations state that drivers must occasionally take a break during their drive cycle. For example, the European Union requires 45 minutes of break after every 4.5 hours of driving; the United States mandates 30 minutes after 8 hours. It is well understood that reducing charging times to fit into normal breaks in the duty cycle is an enabler for improved electrification for commercial vehicles and long-distance haulage. However, not every commercial fleet owner will require MCS as some may find that slower, overnight charging at depots fits their duty cycles best. Site design will optimize for the lowest power solution that meets use case requirements. The recent report from IDTechEx finds that Level 2 AC chargers provide sufficient power to recharge light and medium-duty vehicles overnight, but larger battery capacity long-haul trucks will require DC fast charging. MCS is best suited to enable rapid charging of batteries when they are operating out of range of their home base; in other words, a BEV version of a stop-and-fill forecourt.

Challenges in implementing MCS

MCS is designed for a 6-fold higher current and up to 10-fold higher power compared to CCS. Commercializing chargers with rated power of 1 MW will require significant investment, as stations with such high-power needs will incur significant installation and grid upgrade costs. The need for on-site energy storage and solar-supplemented solutions is also emphasized to reduce demand charges.

Fleet operators and OEMs must work together with utility providers to ensure proper capacity for this new technology is in place. Furthermore, truck OEMs do not manufacture their own packs but buy them from third parties, so they need to make sure that the voltage requirements meet the specifications of MCS, as well as the battery density and the spacing between the cells. They must design for the cooling aspects, different connectors, and the battery management system. All of these changes contribute to the cost. Infrastructure deployment is also another limiting factor in MCS, as securing large grid connections can take up to 5 years. IDTechEx research finds that MCS infrastructure needs to be in place between 2025 and 2030 to support the long-haul electric trucks entering the market.

MCS player landscape

Bringing MCS to market is a cross-industry effort with various players along the value chain. IDTechEx research finds that leading EVSE hardware suppliers are now developing their own megawatt-capable charging stations. Component suppliers like cable and connector manufacturers are following suit and designing products that can support MCS specifications.

It was expected that the Tesla Semi would use the MCS connector. However, according to the Executive Director of CharIN, Tesla is not using the MCS connector. The first Tesla Semis in the US are instead using a dedicated, proprietary connector, which IDTechEx speculates is an earlier version of MCS. The Megacharger from Tesla uses an immersion-cooled thicker cable than their newly released V4 Superchargers to handle the high amperage required for multi-megawatt loads.

Non-Tesla electric trucks will likely utilize MCS exclusively or a combination of both MCS and CCS technology. In July 2022, a joint venture between Daimler Truck, TRATON GROUP, and the Volvo Group called Milence was formed, aiming to deploy 1,700 DC public charge points (including CCS and MCS) in Europe by 2027. IDTechEx forecasts that DC chargers capable of MW charging will exhibit a CAGR of 43% in the coming decade, with more granular power class split forecasts available in "Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles and Fleets 2024-2034."

Can MCS put the nail in the coffin for hydrogen?

The fact that businesses who have supported MCS, like Daimler Trucks, are now also investing in hydrogen fuelling is perplexing to many. A dual-track strategy is being pursued in the electrification of its portfolio, with both battery-electric and hydrogen-based drivetrains being developed. However, IDTechEx research finds that the adoption of MCS for electric trucks can potentially reduce the need for hydrogen fuel cell trucks for several reasons.

MCS can achieve a high charging efficiency, which means that a large portion of the electricity fed into the vehicle's batteries is converted into usable energy, minimizing waste. In contrast, hydrogen production, transportation, and conversion in fuel cell trucks involve multiple energy conversion steps, leading to greater energy losses. Moreover, hydrogen fuelling infrastructure is complex and costly to establish, requiring dedicated hydrogen production, storage, and distribution facilities. MCS can also draw power from various sources, including renewable energy such as wind, solar, and hydropower. This flexibility allows for a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix as compared to hydrogen production, which often relies on fossil fuels.

Finally, IDTechEx research also finds that the current high price of hydrogen significantly impacts fuel cell trucks' total cost of ownership (TCO) and fleets' willingness to adopt this technology. MCS will be the factor that pushes electric to be the first choice for trucks. The IDTechEx report on the EV charging market includes a detailed coverage of megawatt charging that will support the deployment of electric trucks to markets globally.

For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/EVCharge, or for the full portfolio of EV research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/EV.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - A beacon of excellence in the medical aesthetics industry, Fourth Avenue Medical Aesthetics, under the masterful leadership of Jacqueline Goit, has been honored with the distinguished 2023 Global Recognition Award. This accolade is a reflection of the company's laudable business expansion and its unwavering dedication to client care, manifesting through its innovative and client-centric practices.







Unparalleled Expansion and Accolades

Under Goit's visionary leadership, Fourth Avenue Aesthetics has witnessed a stellar growth curve, validated by a staggering revenue hike of 150 percent this year, solidifying its stronghold in the market. Beyond impressive financial figures, the company has also achieved notable recognition, securing 'Diamond' status in both Readers Choice and Flamborough Choice awards. The NYC Journal also spotlighted the company and its dynamic leader in the 'Top 50 Entrepreneurs under 50', highlighting its significant industry impact.

A Standard-Bearer of Care and Ethical Business Practices

The company, under Jacqueline's principled guidance, has set itself apart with more than just its high-quality medical services. Fourth Avenue Aesthetics is synonymous with impeccable business ethics and a steadfast commitment to prioritizing client well-being. The company, rather than solely chasing profits, stands firm on providing only the most appropriate and ethical care - often going to the lengths of refusing client requests if deemed unsuitable, thereby becoming a symbol of integrity in the medical aesthetics realm.

Revolutionary Services and Client Satisfaction

Fourth Avenue Aesthetics is not only celebrated for its pioneering services such as Botox/Dermal fillers and laser therapy but also for a customer-oriented approach championed by Goit's belief in providing essential medical services and continuous client education. With a thriving network of over 4000 clients, the company, while basking in its success, maintains a steadfast commitment to its foundational client service values.

Conclusion and Commentary

Alex Sterling from Global Recognition Awards remarked, "Fourth Avenue Aesthetics exemplifies unmatched dedication to delivering quality care to their clientele. The remarkable growth trajectory and the maintenance of ethical business practices affirm them as a truly meritorious winner."

About Global Recognition Awards:

Global Recognition Awards is an international organization that recognizes exceptional companies and individuals who have significantly contributed to their industry. Their awards are highly regarded and sought after by businesses across the globe.

Contact Details:

Alexandra Sterling

Global Recognition Awards

Email: contact@globalrecognitionawards.org

Website: https://globalrecognitionawards.org/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183381
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!

CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Thursday. The yen fell to nearly a 1-month low of 158.61 against the euro and more than a 1-month low of 165.85 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 158.35 and 165.32, respectively. Against the pound and the U.S. dollar, the yen edged down to 183.82 and 149.28 from yesterday's closing quotes of 183.62 and 149.15, respectively. Against the Australia and the Canadian dollars, the yen dropped to near 2-week lows of 95.81 and 109.81 from Wednesday's closing quotes of 95.65 and 109.70, respectively. The yen edged down to 89.84 against the NZ dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 89.76. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 160.00 against the euro, 167.00 against the franc, 186.00 against the pound, 151.00 against the greenback, 97.00 against the aussie, 111.00 against the loonie and 91.00 against the kiwi. 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.
The time and attendance software market is driven by the increasing adoption of automated workforce management solutions by businesses of all sizes.

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Time and Attendance Software Market by Component (Software and Services), Deployment Type (On-premise, Cloud, and Hybrid), Organization Size (Large Enterprises, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), and Industry Vertical (BFSI, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Government, Retail and E-commerce, IT and Telecom, Education, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global time and attendance software industry generated $2.7 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $8.3 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 12.1% from 2023 to 2032.

Time and attendance software is an essential element in today's evolving workforce structure. It is designed to track as well as optimize the hours that employees spend on the job and keep records of salaries and wages paid.

Prime Determinants of Growth

The time and attendance software market's growth is due to the global shift towards remote and flexible work arrangements, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spurred demand for time and attendance software. Organizations need tools to monitor remote employees' hours, ensuring accountability and efficient remote work management. Furthermore, regulatory compliance, especially regarding labor laws and overtime regulations, acts as a significant determinant. Companies are compelled to invest in time and attendance software to avoid legal penalties and ensure accurate wage payments. Integration capabilities with other HR and payroll systems are another growth factor. Seamless data sharing between time and attendance, payroll, and HR software improves efficiency and reduces administrative burden. Moreover, the emergence of cloud-based solutions offers scalability and cost-effectiveness, making these systems accessible to a wider range of businesses.

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Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $2,714.98 million Market Size in 2032 $8,270.55 million CAGR 12.1 % No. of Pages in Report 330 Segments Covered Component, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Industry Verticals, and Region. Drivers Increasing financial stress among individuals Employee Retention and Productivity Increasing Growth in Early Wage Access Opportunities Leveraging technology such as AI-driven financial tools and mobile apps Restraints Budget Constraint Lack of Employee engagement

COVID-19 Scenario

The COVID-19 pandemic had an intense impact on the time and attendance software market. With remote work becoming the norm for many businesses, there was a surge in demand for digital solutions to track employee hours and productivity. As companies adapted to remote and hybrid work models, traditional punch-card systems and manual attendance tracking became obsolete. This led to a significant expansion of the time and attendance software market as businesses sought more flexible, cloud-based solutions.

In addition, pandemic-related safety protocols prompted the need for touchless attendance tracking methods, such as biometric recognition and mobile check-ins, further boosting the adoption of advanced time and attendance software.

Moreover, the pandemic highlighted the importance of accurate workforce management, leading companies to invest in software that not only tracked attendance but also provided data for scheduling, labor compliance, and workforce optimization.

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The software segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on component, the software segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global time and attendance software market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, this was attributed to the catering to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses, offering user-friendly interfaces, and adapting to evolving workforce trends. In summary, time and attendance software is in demand because it simplifies how companies manage their employees' working hours, offering efficiency and compliance benefits in an increasingly automated and remote work-oriented world. However, the services segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the market players actively introducing automated time and attendance software solutions with enhanced deployment, integration, support, and maintenance capabilities, further fueling the market growth.

The cloud segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on deployment mode, the cloud segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global time and attendance software market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, this was attributed to a paradigm shift in the deployment methods from on-premise to cloud-based models. In addition, cloud-based time and attendance software do not involve capital cost as well as low maintenance requirements and hence can be preferred by mid-sized organizations and some large-scale organizations. However, the hybrid segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2032, As businesses increasingly embrace remote and flexible work arrangements, the need for efficient time tracking and attendance management has surged. Hybrid work setups, combining in-office and remote work, demand versatile software solutions to monitor employee hours and productivity across diverse locations, which is expected to positively impact market growth.

The large enterprises segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on organization size, the large enterprise's segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global time and attendance software market revenue, owing to the number of market players providing time and attendance software with customizable configuration that makes it ideal for larger organizations to simplify staff member's unique needs. Moreover, the integration of biometric authentication and AI-driven analytics is enhancing the accuracy and security of these systems, attracting further interest. However, the small and medium-sized segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 13.9% from 2022 to 2032, SMEs are adopting time and attendance software to properly handle the time and attendance records, boost the morale of the employees, avoid overpaying or underpaying an employee, optimize their business growth, and eliminate a considerable amount of time when integrated with payroll.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, this can be attributed to the surge in demand for time and attendance software has been steadily increasing in North America. Employees are more aware of the importance of financial well-being, and they expect their employers to provide resources and support to help them manage their finances effectively. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 15.5% from 2023 to 2032 and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, this growth can be attributed as the Asia-Pacific region is witnessing a digital transformation in financial services. Fintech companies are playing a significant role in delivering time and attendance software. Mobile apps and online platforms are increasingly being used to provide financial education, budgeting tools, and access to investment options.

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Leading Market Players: -

ADP, Inc.

Ceridian HCM, Inc.

Interflex

Oracle

Paychex Inc.

SAP SE

UKG Inc.

Workday, Inc.

WorkForce Software, LLC.

Zebra Technologies Corp.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global time and attendance software market. These players have adopted different strategies such as expansion, merger, and product launches 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

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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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.
ICEYE's collaboration with ESA will develop the next generation of Earth Observation insights for stronger community resilience.

HELSINKI, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ICEYE , the global leader in persistent monitoring with radar imaging satellites and an expert in natural catastrophe solutions, has been selected as a partner by the European Space Agency (ESA) to participate in the Civil Security from Space Programme (CSS) to revolutionize disaster and crisis management from the vantage point of space. This is the first CSS Partnership contract to be signed under the CSS program and aims to develop an advanced suite of natural catastrophe monitoring services.

Under the three-year partnership, ICEYE and ESA will collaborate on the "Disaster Management from Space" project to develop a comprehensive suite of Disaster Management Solutions for effective natural catastrophe management, and an imaging service underpinned by ICEYE's fleet. The partnership will drive the evolution of ICEYE's state-of-the-art hazard insights, while designing and testing the next-generation of Earth observation technology.

Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA, said: "I am delighted to sign the first ESA Partnership Project with ICEYE under the Civil Security from Space Programme, supporting European efforts to use space to monitor, mitigate and resolve civil security and crisis events to keep people, infrastructures and resources safe on Earth. We look forward to working with our Finnish partner on this project."

"This partnership is an opportunity to test the boundaries of natural catastrophe monitoring solutions, alongside ESA. The CSS programme demonstrates ESA and the European Space Sector's commitment to building community resilience," said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-Founder at ICEYE. "We are proud to have been selected to participate in this programme, and to be at the forefront of the new space-based crisis observation and management era."

The CSS programme is a new ESA multi-disciplinary programme started in November 2022 to propel the integration of Europe's competencies and assets into monitoring, mitigating and resolving civil security and crisis events. The programme offers European industry the opportunity to maximize the use of space capabilities in addressing challenges in civil security and crisis management. The CSS programme fosters innovative concepts and solutions through collaboration between civil security stakeholders, participating states, and consortiums of users, service providers, and the space industry. These innovative ventures encompass research and development activities leading up to on-ground or in-orbit validation and testing. This project is the first ESA partnership with a Finnish prime and will be executed with the delegation support from Finland, Poland and Spain.

ICEYE owns and operates the world's largest constellation of SAR satellites, providing a vital source of insights for government and enterprise needs in sectors such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, maritime, national security, humanitarian relief, and climate change monitoring. The company has now deployed 27 satellites since 2018, including both commercially available and dedicated customer missions.

ABOUT ICEYE

ICEYE delivers unmatched persistent monitoring capabilities for any location on earth. Owning the world's largest synthetic-aperture radar constellation, the company enables objective, data-driven decisions for its customers in sectors such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring and finance. ICEYE's data can be collected day or night, and even through cloud cover. For more information, please visit: www.iceye.com

ABOUT ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe's gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organization, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with five Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. The Civil Security from Space programme (CSS) aims to foster the use of space-based solutions during civil security events and crisis response, which help save lives and livelihoods and enable civil security players to act swiftly to support humanitarian responses, law enforcement, safety, and emergency events, anywhere, at any time and for the benefit of everyone.

Learn more about the Civil Security from Space programme at the ESA website.

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Latest version strengthens data integration and data hub capabilities, enables more comprehensive real-time analysis and decisioning

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Oct. 12, 2023, provider of a leading unified real-time data platform, today announced the release of GridGain Platform v8.9 , strengthening its data integration and data hub capabilities. This latest version helps enterprises make their increasingly disparate, diverse, and distributed data more accessible for real-time processing and analytics, all at ultra-low latencies.



GridGain Platform v8.9 includes several new or enhanced integrations, including deeper support for Apache Parquet, Apache Iceberg, CSV, and JSON. These integrations enable enterprises to deliver highly performant real-time analysis across complex data workloads by making enterprise data in data lakes and semi-structured data in non-relational/NoSQL databases more easily accessible for processing. The ability to handle these complex workloads in a single platform helps enterprises simplify and optimize their data architectures to drive the extreme speed, massive scale, and high availability they require.

"GridGain has provided leading enterprises with the capabilities of a unified real-time data platform for years," said Lalit Ahuja, Chief Product and Customer Officer at GridGain. "With each release of our platform, we strengthen our ability to exceed the high expectations of our enterprise customers in supporting the increasing complexity of modern data use cases such as traditional and generative AI, fraud detection, smart decisioning, operational analytics, and customer 360. With version 8.9, GridGain continues to raise the bar for durable, ultra-fast data processing and analytics at scale."

New in GridGain Platform v8.9

Expanded ecosystem: Includes deeper integrations for Apache Parquet, Apache Iceberg, CSV and JSON to easily support more complex datastores, including enterprise data lakes and NoSQL/semi-structured document databases.

Enhanced data management: Enables more storage- and read-efficient management of massive data tables, with support for high performance, ACID-compliant queries and diverse document data types, helping developers to build new and more complex applications faster.

Support for more data types: Takes its distributed, colocated, memory-centric computing capabilities to NoSQL and data lake technologies, enabling faster analytics.



These new and enhanced integrations - together with GridGain's unique ability to seamlessly combine streaming data in-motion and historical data at-rest with compute functionality - enable enterprises to handle complex analytical and transactional data workloads at unmatched speed and scale.

Availability

GridGain Platform v8.9 is available now. Visit the GridGain website to download.

Additional Resources

GridGain blog: What's New in GridGain 8.9 (https://www.gridgain.com/resources/blog/whats-new-gridgain-8-9)

(https://www.gridgain.com/resources/blog/whats-new-gridgain-8-9) GridGain eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Unified Real-Time Data Platforms (https://www.gridgain.com/resources/ebooks/ultimate-guide-unified-real-time-data-platforms)

(https://www.gridgain.com/resources/ebooks/ultimate-guide-unified-real-time-data-platforms) Gartner report: Gartner Market Guide for Event Stream Processing (https://www.gridgain.com/resources/papers/reports/gartner-market-guide-event-stream-processing)



Connect with GridGain

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gridgain-systems)

(https://www.linkedin.com/company/gridgain-systems) Twitter (https://twitter.com/gridgain)

(https://twitter.com/gridgain) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/GridGainSystems)



About GridGain

GridGain is a unified real-time data platform. It enables a simplified and optimized data architecture for enterprises that require extreme speed, massive scale, and high availability from their data ecosystem. GridGain's distributed memory-first architecture and colocated compute deliver data processing and analytics at millisecond latencies, with configurable disk-based persistence for added durability. Horizontally scalable clusters can be deployed both on-premises and natively in public or private clouds, empowering companies to handle even the most demanding workloads in multi, hybrid, and inter-cloud environments. GridGain is trusted by companies like Citi, Barclays, American Airlines, AutoZone, and UPS to accelerate their existing applications, speed operational analytics and fraud detection, train machine learning models for AI, and provide fast-access data hubs. To learn more, please visit www.gridgain.com .

CONTACT:

Brigit Valencia

For GridGain Systems

Brigit@compel-pr.com

360.597.4516

GridGain is a trademark or registered trademark of GridGain Systems, Inc. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.
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!

LONDON (dpa-AFX) - U.K.-headquartered recruitment services provider Hays plc (HAS.L) on Thursday said that fees for the first quarter ended September 2023 declined 7 percent on a like-for-like basis. The company said that the decline was in line with the company's expectations in the context of a record quarter in the prior year. The actual decline in revenue during the period was 9 percent. It expects Group net fees to decline year-on-year in first half of fiscal 2024, in part due to the FX and the fewer working days. The company also said that the strengthening of sterling versus its main trading currencies of the euro and Australian dollar remains a headwind to Group operating profit in fiscal 2024. Operating profit is seen declining. 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.
Tap Global Group Plc - Director/PDMR Shareholding

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 12

12 October 2023

Tap Global Group Plc

("Tap" or the "Company")

Director/PDMR Shareholding

Tap Global Group Plc (AQUIS: TAP), the regulated cryptocurrency app bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology, announces that David Carr, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, and Arsen Torosian, Chief Strategy Officer and a director of the Company, acquired 220,798 and 4,735,000 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") respectively on 11 October 2023.

Mr Carr acquired 220,798 shares at an average price of 2.26 pence per share and Mr Torosian acquired 4,735,000 shares at an average price of 2.31 pence per share.

As a result, Mr Carr's total beneficial interest in the Company is 34,160,798 Ordinary Shares, representing 4.98% of the Company's issued share capital and Mr Torosian's total beneficial interest in the Company is 393,985,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 56.82% of the issued share capital.

Further disclosures follow in the appendix below.

The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

Enquiries:

Tap Global Group Plc

David Carr, Chief Executive Officer Via Vigo Consulting

Peterhouse Capital Limited (Aquis Growth Market Corporate Advisor)

Guy Miller / Narisha Ragoonanthun +44 (0)20 220 9795 Vigo Consulting (Investor Relations)Ben Simons / Kendall Hill / Peter Jacob +44 (0)20 7390 0230tapglobal@vigoconsulting.com

About Tap Global Plc

Tap's group of companies provide an innovative and fully integrated fiat payments and crypto settlement service. A single regulatory registration, via the wholly owned operating business Tap Global Limited, provides Tap customers with access to several major crypto exchanges through the Tap App allowing them to purchase over 40 cryptocurrencies and store them directly in the customer's wallet. The wallet can also store fiat currency denominated in Sterling, Euros and/or USD.

Through the single app, Tap's over 200,000 users can access several major cryptocurrency exchanges and, utilising Tap's proprietary Artificial Intelligence middleware, customers benefit from best-execution and pricing in real time. Through the Tap card (EU only), users can also convert their cryptocurrencies to fiat to spend at more than 37 million merchant locations worldwide.

Tap is one of only a handful of unified solutions operators fully regulated to provide DLT services and was the first cryptocurrency FinTech company approved by Mastercard in Europe.

Learn more: www.withtap.com

Appendix

1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name David Carr 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Chief Executive Officer b) Initial notification /Amendment Amendment 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name Tap Global Group Plc b) LEI 213800BF6GRJEOAQNP31 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Ordinary Shares of 0.1 pence each in TAP Global Group Plc Identification code GB00BMVSDN09 b) Nature of the transaction Share purchase c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 2.26p 220,798 d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume 220,798 - Price 2.26 pence per Ordinary share e) Date of the transaction 11 October 2023 f) Place of the transaction Aquis Growth Market Access Market
GlycoConnect High DAR technology extension enables ADCs with increased loading, while retaining drug substance homogeneity SYN-PNU represents a potency-attenuated version of PNU-159,682, the latest addition to the toxSYN linker-payload portfolio

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Synaffix B.V., a Lonza company (SIX:LONN), focused on commercializing its clinical-stage platform technology for the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with best-in-class therapeutic index, today announces that its Founder and head of R&D, prof. Floris van Delft, will present data on the launch of two new technologies during a plenary session at the World ADC conference in San Diego, at 8.15 am PDT on Wednesday 18 October 2023.

GlycoConnect High DAR Technology

GlycoConnect enables any antibody to be converted into a stable conjugated ADC in a non-genetic fashion, by modifying the native antibody glycan using Synaffix's efficient enzymes and metal-free click chemistry approach. The extension of GlycoConnect with High DAR Technology enables ADCs with high drug loading (6, 8 and above), while retaining high drug substance homogeneity and therapeutic index.

SYN-PNU Linker-Payload

Synaffix's proprietary toxSYN linker-payloads provide multiple options to maximize efficacy by matching the best mechanism of action with the tumor biology specific to the ADC target. The newest proprietary linker-payload, "SYN-PNU" is part of the established and expanding toxSYN linker-payload portfolio. SYN-PNU represents (based on pre-clinical models) a significantly potency-attenuated and better tolerated version of PNU-159,682, to enable enhanced administered dose levels and competitive therapeutic properties versus ADCs prepared using the original molecule. The reference compound (PNU-159,682) is metabolite of the anthracycline Nemorubicin and represents a highly potent DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor.

Prof. Floris van Delft, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Synaffix, said: "I look forward to presenting the underlying data supporting our new High DAR and SYN-PNU technologies at the World ADC conference, announcing the addition of a new and powerful Mode-of-Action (MoA) to our tox-SYN linker-payload toolbox and demonstrating how we can achieve higher drug loading on any antibody without departing from our 'engineering free' approach that all our clients love. We are excited by the potential of these new technologies to further enhance the ability of our licensees to discover, develop and commercialize ADCs with best-in-class therapeutic properties."

About Synaffix

Synaffix B.V. is a biotechnology company that enables ADC product candidates using its clinical-stage, site-specific ADC technology platform based on GlycoConnect, HydraSpace and toxSYN, that together enable any company with an antibody to develop proprietary best-in-class ADC products under a single license from Synaffix.

The Synaffix platform enables a rapid timeline to clinic due to the established supply chain of technology components. Granted patents covering Synaffix' technology provide end-to-end protection of the manufacturing technology as well as the resulting products through at least 2039. The business model of Synaffix is target-specific technology out-licensing, as exemplified through its existing deals with ADC Therapeutics, Mersana Therapeutics, Shanghai Miracogen (acquired by Lepu Biopharma), Innovent Biologics, ProfoundBio, Kyowa Kirin, Genmab, Macrogenics, Emergence Therapeutics (acquired by Eli Lilly), Amgen, Hummingbird Biosciences, Chong Kun Dang Pharma, Sotio Biotech and ABL Bio.

Synaffix was fully acquired by Lonza in June 2023.

About The Synaffix ADC Platform Technology

Synaffix's proprietary ADC technology platform consists of GlycoConnect, HydraSpace and toxSYN technologies. These technologies are aimed at enabling best-in-class ADCs from any antibody, with significantly enhanced efficacy and tolerability.

GlycoConnect is a clinical-stage conjugation technology that exploits the native antibody glycan for site-specific and stable payload attachment and is tunable to DAR1, DAR2 or DAR4 formats. HydraSpace is a clinical-stage compact and highly polar spacer technology that is designed to further enhance therapeutic index, particularly with hydrophobic payloads. toxSYN is a linker-payload platform that spans key, validated MOAs for ADC product development. This includes potent topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (SYNtecan E), DNA damaging agents (SYNeamicin D and SYNeamicin G), ?-Microtubule (SYNtansine) and -Microtubule (SYNstatin E and SYNstatin F) inhibitors as well as several unlaunched proprietary linker-payloads that were generated through the ongoing innovative efforts of the Synaffix R&D team.

The combination of these three technologies provides developers with a "one stop" and easy-to-use ADC technology platform, allowing any antibody developer to develop its own proprietary ADC and any ADC developer to expand its pipeline further and increase its competitive position.

About Lonza

Lonza is a preferred global partner to the pharmaceutical, biotech and nutrition markets. We work to enable a healthier world by supporting our customers to deliver new and innovative medicines that help treat a wide range of diseases. We achieve this by combining technological insight with world-class manufacturing, scientific expertise and process excellence. Our business is structured to meet our customers' complex needs across four divisions: Biologics, Small Molecules, Cell & Gene and Capsules & Health Ingredients.?Our unparalleled breadth of offerings across divisions enables our customers to commercialize their discoveries and innovations in the healthcare industry. Lonza's ambition is to improve the lives of patients by supporting and enabling our customers on the path to commercialization.

Founded in 1897 in the Swiss Alps, today, Lonza operates across five continents. With approximately 17,500 full-time employees, we comprise high-performing teams and individual talent who make a meaningful difference to our own business, as well as to the communities in which we operate. The company generated sales of CHF 3.1 billion with a CORE EBITDA of CHF 922 million in Half-Year 2023. Find out more at www.lonza.com

Follow @Lonza on LinkedIn

Follow @LonzaGroup on Twitter

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Apollo Global Management, Inc. (APO) announced on Thursday that it will acquire The Restaurant Group plc (RTN.L) or TRG through a special purpose vehicle, Rock BidCo Limited or Bidco in an all-cash transaction. The deal is valued around 506 million pounds with an enterprise value of 701 million pounds. In September Restaurant Group's Chairman Ken Hanna had announced his intention to step down for personal reasons. Apollo is buying TRG as it believes that the restaurant group is a high quality and leading company in the casual dining market with an attractive portfolio of concepts and brands along with an experienced management team. Under the acquisition terms, each TRG shareholder will receive 65 pence in cash for each scheme share held. This represents 34 percent to TRG's closing share price of 48 pence per TRG Share on October 11 and 49 percent to the volume-weighted average price of 44 pence per TRG Share for the six-month period ended October 11. 'The Acquisition values TRG's entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital at approximately 506 million pounds on a fully diluted basis, and implies an enterprise value of 701 million pounds and a multiple of approximately 9 times TRG's Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended 2 July 2023,' the company said in a statement. On Wednesday, Apollo shares closed at $89.29, down 0.56% on the New York Stock Exchange and Restaurant Group are currently trading at 66.12 pence up 36.77% in London. 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.
- Revenue reached 15.2 million (+51% vs. Q3 2022)[; increased gross profit to 11.4 million (+140% vs. Q3 2022)]- Renewable energy delivered doubled to 25.6 GWh (+86% vs. Q3 2022), avoiding an estimated 24,718 tonnes of CO2- Handled more than 998k charging sessions in the quarter (+68% vs. Q3 2022)- Active customers in the period increased to almost 329k (+73% vs. Q3 2022)- Opened 8 new stations during the quarter, reaching a total of 280 operational stations with 1,557 chargers and acquired 10 new high-traffic locationsFastned, the European fast charging company, grew revenue related to charging by 51% in the third quarter of 2023. During the third quarter, one million charging sessions took place across the network, enabling more than 128 million electric kilometres and avoiding an estimated 24.7 thousand tonnes of CO2. This positive impact will keep growing as Fastned builds more and bigger stations. During the quarter, Fastned made strong progress in expanding its network across Europe. The company announced its entry into two new markets, Denmark and Italy, and won two prime lots in the important German Deutschlandnetz tender that will triple the number of Fastned's stations in Germany in the next four years."Fastned continues to grow in all aspects, financially and operationally, as more and more electric vehicles enter Europe's roads and charge at our stations. How thrilling to see the exponential increase in the number of charging sessions: while it took around 6 years before we reached our first million charging sessions, we reached the second one two years later, and the third million in the seven months that followed. I'm very proud to see that this quarter, for the first time in our history, we handled one million sessions in just three months!Fastned is now a team of close to 200 talented people. Together, we are accelerating the transition to electric driving in Europe as we keep winning major tenders in our existing markets and in new countries, getting us closer to our goal of 1,000 stations by 2030.As we enter the fall with record-breaking temperatures all over the world, the need to reduce CO emissions to curb climate change is undeniable. Fastned is playing an important role in cleaner mobility as we enable EV drivers to drive millions of electric kilometres, without burning fossil fuel." Michiel Langezaal, CEO FastnedMore customers and EVs to serve at our stations- Charging revenue reached 15.2 million in Q3 2023, up 51% compared to Q3 2022. The results were driven by strong battery electric vehicle (BEV) market momentum. Compared to Q3 2022, the BEV fleet across our markets grew this quarter by 33% in the Netherlands, 59% in Germany, 81% in Belgium, 37% in France, 72% in the United Kingdom, 46% in Switzerland. Fastned revenue continues to outgrow the average charging market growth.- This quarter, active customers increased to almost 329k (+73% vs. Q3 2022). Together, they charged at Fastned more than 998k times, 68% more than in the same period a year ago. The amount of energy delivered almost doubled to 25.6 GWh (+86% vs Q3 2022).- Our brand new station "Baraque de Fraiture" in Wallonia shows how successful our location strategy is: only a few weeks after its opening, at the peak of the holiday season, 159 customers charged their cars at this station located in a so-called charging desert, in only one day.- Fastned selects large locations on high-traffic roads to build big stations with expansion potential so we can welcome more EV drivers as demand for fast charging grows. The Kreuz Hilden station in Germany is the perfect example: this quarter, the station was expanded with new 400 kW chargers. 22 electric vehicles can now charge at this station simultaneously, making it the largest station in the Fastned network.- The average utilisation rate at our stations grew from 10.8% in Q3 2022 to 11.4% during Q3 2023, ensuring we have enough capacity to welcome the growing number of EV drivers. Without capacity expansion over the last 12 months, like-for-like utilisation would have grown to 14.3% in Q3 2023.We opened new stations and secured new locations in new and existing markets- In Q3 2023, the company added 8 new stations to its network. Fastned opened 4 stations in the Netherlands, 2 in the UK and 2 in Switzerland. This brings the total number of stations to 280 in six countries at the end of Q3.- In addition to opening new stations, Fastned expanded existing stations to prepare for growing demand, adding 64 chargers to its network. Delivering up to 400 kW per charger, with a network of more than 1,550 chargers in total, Fastned continues to be one of the preferred fast charging networks for EV drivers.- In Q3 2023, Fastned secured 10 high-traffic locations to build new stations, bringing the total number of acquired locations to 406.- In July, Fastned announced yet another tender win for three high-traffic locations in Denmark and in September- signing a partnership with A4 Holding Group, one of the major Italian motorway operators, marking the entry of Fastned into Italy. - After the closing of the period, Fastned won two lots in the Deutschlandnetz tender. These lots consist of 92 so-called "search areas" for the construction of fast charging stations, with the potential to triple the number of stations in Germany over the next four years.About FastnedFastned has been developing fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across Europe since 2012. Fastned's mission is to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility by giving freedom to electric drivers. Founded in Amsterdam, the company has built more than 280 fast charging stations in the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, France and Switzerland. It will open its first station in Denmark by the end of 2023 and its first stations in Italy by the end of 2024. The company specialises in developing and operating fast charging infrastructure where drivers can charge their electric vehicle with up to 300 km of range in 15 minutes before continuing their journey. Fastned is listed on Euronext Amsterdam (ticker AMS: FAST).
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gyeonggi Province together with the Gyeonggi Content Agency (GCA) will form a Gyeonggi Province Pavilion at the '2023 Frankfurter Buchmesse', the world's largest book fair to support the participation of 10 story IP content companies in Gyeonggi-do.

Gyeonggi Province's 10 content companies participating in the Gyeonggi-do Pavilion of the 2023 Frankfurter Buchmesse are - Woorinabi (publishing), - Dear architect (Education), - TOONPLUS (Webtoon), - Goggas (Publishing), - Gesunamu (Publishing), - Sodong Publishing House (Publishing), ?Arukah Books (Publishing), ?Story Company (Webtoon), ?Chum Education (Education), and ?MUNHAKDONGNE (Publishing).

Hosted by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Borsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels), The Frankfurter Buchmesse, the world's largest book fair, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. In 2022, more than 93,000 publishers from 121 countries and about 180,000 visitors participated in this fair. It is the world's leading book trade event in terms of copyright transaction volume, accounting for approximately 25% of annual copyright business.

GCA stated, "This is an important opportunity to promote the excellent content of Gyeonggi Province's story IP companies such as publishing and webtoons worldwide as well as identify the trends in publishing culture content. We will continue to strive to provide more participation opportunities in the future."

In order to promote the excellence of Gyeonggi Province content companies and continue to support their entry into foreign markets, GCA also aims to establish another Gyeonggi Province Pavilion at the Asia TV Forum & Market event in Singapore on December 6-8, 2023.

https://www.gcon.or.kr/bms/section/board/bbs_view.html?PID=REPORT&atc_sno=768&bbs_cd=report

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Everlaw's cloud-native platform will support litigation, investigations and compliance work

LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Everlaw , the cloud-native investigation and litigation platform, has been chosen by Vodafone , a leading telecommunications company in Europe and Africa, to automate digital workflows to help facilitate efficient and effective response to litigation, investigation and compliance in support of its business goals.

"As legal teams continue to evolve from a traditional role as the company's legal risk manager, we are driving greater organisational impacts," said David Dunn, Head of Litigation, Vodafone. "Everlaw's cloud platform will help us collaborate across our organisation to ensure compliance, control of corporate data and efficiency of our legal efforts."

Vodafone chose Everlaw because they recognised that to drive effective workflows across litigation, investigations and compliance they needed a scalable technology platform that facilitates repeatable risk mitigating workflows, and reduced administration and process work to a minimum, thus allowing the applicable teams to focus on the value they provide for the wider organisation.

"Vodafone's focus on operational excellence means giving its legal team the technology and processes to scale its work efficiently and deliver on overall organisational goals of digital transformation," said AJ Shankar, Founder and CEO, Everlaw. "Taking more control of corporate data on a common platform is a hallmark of a proactive and impactful legal department."

Vodafone will have access to Everlaw's artificial intelligence software such as clustering and predictive coding. As the amount of discoverable data increases with the expanding digital universe, Vodafone can tap into Everlaw's cloud-native platform to quickly ingest data across millions of documents, review responsive documentation in a centralised location, analyse data with AI, then distribute the findings as needed for collaboration with outside counsel or across the company.

About Everlaw

Everlaw helps legal teams navigate the increasingly complex ediscovery landscape to chart a straighter path to the truth. Trusted by Fortune 100 corporate counsel, FTSE 100 corporations, and 100% of Silver Circle firms, Everlaw's combination of intuitive experience, advanced technology, and partnership with customers empowers organisations to tackle the most pressing technological challenges-and transform their approach to discovery and litigation in the process. Founded in 2010 and based in Oakland, Calif., with offices in London, Washington, D.C., and New York City, Everlaw is funded by top-tier investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, CapitalG, HIG Growth Partners, K9 Ventures, Menlo Ventures, and TPG Growth.

Learn more at https://www.everlaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn .

Everlaw Media Contact:

Colleen Haikes

press@everlaw.com

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On October 23rd, Uzbekistan, Central Asia's most exciting market for opportunities in the IT sector, will host ICT Week 2023 in Tashkent.

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 region's most exciting investment opportunities and potential partners.

The development of Uzbekistan's 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 country's natural advantages. The total volume of services exported by IT Park residents 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 Uzbek national 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 Uzbekistan's 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 Uzbekistan's IT sector, please visit centralasia.tech.

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Press Release

Atos is awarded a "Platinum" EcoVadis Medal for its commitment to sustainability for 4th year running

Paris(CSR) with the score of 84 points out of 100.

Atos therefore confirms its position in the top 1% of companies assessed by EcoVadis in its Industry (Computer programming, consultancy and related activities).

EcoVadis evaluates across four categories: Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Atos has achieved excellent results in all four categories, particularly in Environment.

After 8 years of having been awarded the EcoVadis Gold Medal, Atos has been awarded a Platinum medal since 2020, in recognition of its sustainable commitment. This medal, together with an excellent score in the Environmental category confirms Atos' role as the global leader in digital decarbonisation and reflects the Group's commitment to meet its ambitious climate targets.

Atos' environmental program and climate leadership have been recognised year after year by international organisations. In respect to ESG ratings, Atos has a leading position in the IT sector in the DJSI indexand an 'A' rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project.

***

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 107,000 employees and annual revenue of c.  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), and listed on Euronext Paris.

The purpose of Atosis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contact

Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net| +33 6 73 64 04 18

Attachment
The fintech company amplifies its commitment to social and environmental causes.

CYBERJAYA, Malaysia, Oct. 12, 2023with a global presence spanning 20 offices, is strengthening its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Through its CSR programme 'Deriv Life', the company is dedicated to making a real difference in society and the environment, driven by its collective sense of purpose.



In its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Deriv recently sponsored a prosthetic limb for Malaysia's youngest elephant amputee. Seema Hallon, Chief Human Resources Officer at Deriv, emphasised, "Our approach to CSR goes beyond financial contributions. It's woven into who we are as an organisation. We envision Deriv Life as a platform for championing causes that resonate with our values and the personal beliefs of every member of the Deriv family. It's about collective action, making a real difference."

Over the past year, Deriv has embarked on various impactful initiatives, including sponsoring a team in the 4L Trophy rally , which raised funds and provided essential school supplies to underprivileged children in Morocco. These initiatives reflect Deriv's unwavering commitment to CSR as an integral part of its identity and purpose.



In collaboration with a Malaysian prosthetics firm, Deriv engineered a state-of-the-art artificial leg for Ellie, a 7-year-old elephant who lost her front leg at the age of one. Crafted with precision from durable carbon fibre and featuring a robust ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) base, this innovative prosthetic not only supports Ellie's considerable weight but also significantly enhances her natural gait. Designer Yarham Hadeng remarked, "Deriv's sponsorship made this vital upgrade possible, and we're proud to be part of Ellie's remarkable journey to recovery."



Deriv's dedicated workforce is actively engaged in expanding CSR efforts across the company's global offices, with a specific focus on addressing local needs and fostering positive social and environmental impacts. The company recognises that effective CSR is an ongoing and evolving journey, mirroring Deriv's own path of innovation and growth. In the words of Jean-Yves Sireau, Deriv CEO, "CSR at Deriv represents a long-term commitment to social responsibility and global betterment. Our aim is to drive sustainable change as we progress forward, guided by our shared purpose."

To learn more, visit Deriv Life and the company website.

About Deriv

For over two decades, Deriv has been committed to making online trading accessible to anyone, anywhere. The company offers an expansive range of trade types and boasts over 200 assets across markets like forex, stocks, and cryptocurrencies on its intuitive trading platforms. With a workforce of more than 1,300 people globally, Deriv has cultivated an environment that focuses on employee well-being, celebrates achievements, and encourages professional growth.

PRESS CONTACT

Aleksandra Zuzic

aleksandra@deriv.com



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CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Aerosol Cans Market by Material (Aluminium, Plastic), Product Type (1-piece cans, 3-piece cans), Type (Liquefied Gas, Compressed Gas), End-use Sector (Personal care, Healthcare, Household care), & Region-Global Forecast to 2028", size is estimated to be USD 11.2 billion in 2023, and it is projected to reach USD 13.6 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 4.0%.

Rising population, improving living standards, and rising urbanization led to an increase in demand from end-use sectors such as personal care, household care, healthcare, automotive, and others, which drives the market of Aerosol Cans during the forecast period. Apart from this, technological advancements and increasing awareness towards sustainability also help in driving the market of Aerosol Cans during the forecast period. The availability of alternatives in terms of packaging and price is becoming the main restraining factor in this market. However, growing opportunities in emerging economies and the development of eco-friendly packaging provide lucrative opportunities for aerosol cans producers. Stringent government regulations are the major challenge of this market.

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By Material, Aluminum accounted for the largest share in 2022

The aluminum material segment held the largest market share in the global aerosol cans market throughout the forecast period. Aluminum is a highly favored material for packaging due to its extensive array of advantageous properties. It boasts attributes such as being lightweight, shatterproof, impermeable, flexible, corrosion-resistant, and recyclable. Aluminum aerosol cans effectively contain volatile components within the contents and maintain the product's integrity over an extended period, contributing significantly to its substantial market dominance in the global aerosol cans industry.

By Type, Liquefied Gas Propellant accounted for the largest share in 2022

The segment of liquefied gas propellant type held the dominant position in the global aerosol cans market for the duration of the forecast period. With liquefied gas propellants, the advantage lies in their ability to ensure a consistent pressure remains in the space above the product, even as the product level decreases. This unique feature contributes significantly to sustaining the spray's performance throughout the entire lifespan of the aerosol can, thereby underpinning the substantial market share of liquefied gas propellants.

By Product Type, 1-piece aerosol cans accounted for the largest share in 2022

Within the global aerosol cans market, the 1-piece aerosol cans product type segment secured the largest market share throughout the forecast period. This segment is experiencing an upward trajectory in its growth due to the array of benefits it provides. These advantages encompass leak-proof, airtight, and lightweight properties, the capacity to withstand elevated pressures, resistance to corrosion and heat, as well as the seamless and unbreakable nature of the cans.

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By End-use Sector, Personal Care accounted for the largest share in 2022.

During the forecast period, the personal care end-use sector segment took the lead in the global aerosol cans market. Within the personal care end-use sector, aerosol cans play a crucial role in packaging various products, including deodorants, facial and body creams, shaving foams, and perfumes. The growing disposable income in emerging economies has led to increased spending on personal care products, which, in turn, has fueled the growth of the aerosol cans market.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for the Aerosol Cans market

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market during the forecast period. The robust growth of the aerosol cans market in the APAC region can be attributed to multiple factors, including the rising disposable income levels in developing economies like China and India. Key drivers encompass industrialization, the expansion of the convenience food industry, increased manufacturing activities, elevated disposable incomes, heightened consumption levels, and a surge in retail sales. Furthermore, heightened spending on packaged foods and beauty care products has contributed to the escalating demand for aerosol cans within the region.

The Aerosol Cans chemicals market comprises major players such Ball Corporation (US), Trivium Packaging (Netherlands), Crown (US), Mauser Packaging Solutions (US), Toyo Seikan Co. Ltd. (Japan), Nampak Ltd. (South Africa), CCL Container (US), Colep Packaging (Portugal), CPMC Holdings Ltd. (China), and Guangdong Sihai Iron-Printing and Tin-Making Co., Ltd.(China). 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 Aerosol Cans market.

Browse Adjacent Market: Packaging Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Aerosol Valves Market - Global Forecast to 2022

Aerosol Propellant Market - Global Forecast to 2020

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LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecologis, a leading owner of last mile and big box logistics assets within Portugal, has announced the platform's latest acquisition of Estrada Velha, a 7,200 sq m last mile logistics asset in Matosinhos, Porto. This is the first acquisition within the Porto area for the expanding Ecologis platform.

The asset is well located between Porto city centre and Porto airport, with easy access to the A4 highway providing further connectivity through the North of Portugal. The site is occupied by an international medical equipment manufacturer.

The acquisition further grows the Ecologis portfolio, which now comprises 11 assets totalling 160,000 sqm. The strategy is primarily focussed on high-quality last mile and big box warehouses with good technical specifications, enabling a broad range of uses in addition to ensuring high operational efficiency for occupiers. All assets are strategically located close to major motorways and metropolitan centres, with the majority of the portfolio being located in Lisbon's most sought after logistics zones. Present tenants include top-tier Portuguese and international logistics companies, food distributors and e-commerce players.

The Ecologis JV was founded in 2021 with a clear ambition to build a portfolio of sustainable big box and last mile logistics assets of scale, meeting the increasing needs and requirements of conscious tenants in a rapidly evolving market. Key strategic initiatives include upgrading the assets' ESG credentials, for example installing solar panels on the roofs of the assets, providing renewable green electricity to occupiers and the surrounding local communities.

The platform continues to seek opportunities to grow through further acquisitions of existing assets with ESG improvement potential, in addition to selective developments of state of the art sustainable logistics facilities.

Savills/Predibisa advised Ecologis on the acquisition.

Joao Tenreiro Goncalves, Executive Partner at Bedrock Capital Partners, commented:

"We are delighted to continue our work with Europi Property Group on the growing Ecologis platform in Portugal. This transaction gives us particular satisfaction, as it represents the geographic expansion of the platform to the North of the country."

Jonas Fink, Investment Director at Europi Property Group, added:

"It is exciting that the Ecologis portfolio continues to grow, and to a significant scale now within the Portuguese market. The acquisition of Estrada Velha will be complimentary to the existing assets under management, and we continue to seek further opportunities to strategically add assets to the platform."

For further information please contact:

Jonas Fink, Investment Director, Europi Property Group, info@europi.se

Joao Tenreiro Goncalves, Executive Partner, Bedrock Capital Partners, info@bedrockcapital.pt

Ecologis in brief:

Ecologis is a joint venture between Europi Property Group and Portuguese Investor Bedrock Capital Partners. The company is a leading owner and developer of high-quality last mile and big box warehouses in Portugal, primarily focusing on the greater Lisbon metropolitan area. Sustainability is an integral part of Ecologis as a 'conscious logistics' real estate owner and our commitment to ESG is a core focus for the portfolio, our investment strategy as well as a key impact driver for our tenants and communities.

Europi in brief:

Europi Property Group is a pan-European real estate investment company with offices in London and Stockholm, investing across all sectors with a flexible investment strategy. Europi has completed public and private transactions with a gross value of over EUR 500 million since inception, together with its network of local operating partners. Through its investment strategy, Europi generates long-term value by combining an entrepreneurial approach with an active ownership approach to social and environmental sustainability issues, generating a positive impact for its shareholders.

Bedrock Capital Partners in brief:

Bedrock Capital Partners is a Lisbon-based investment and asset manager which partners with institutional investors in the implementation of real estate investment strategies in Portugal, acting as a local operating partner and co-investor.

For further information please see:

https://ecologis.eu/

https://europi.se/

https://bedrockcapital.pt/

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/europi-property-group/i/bedrock-leca-estrada-velha-6,c3224854 BEDROCK LECA ESTRADA VELHA-6

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EQS Newswire / 12/10/2023 / 17:08 UTC+8

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Delivers Strong Sales Growth in Second Quarter FY2024, On Track in Transition to Higher Value Growth

Results Highlights The Group's Retail Sales Value ("RSV") registered positive growth of 5.8% during the Quarter. This was driven by Hong Kong and Macau of China and other markets which was up 54.1%, thanks to the progressive return of Mainland tourists. RSV of Mainland China (the "Mainland") was up slightly by 0.6%, despite a higher base last year. Mobility and retail activity in the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau continued to improve during the Quarter. The influx of Mainland tourists continued to drive positive impact with Same Store Sales ("SSS") increased by 55.7% in Hong Kong and Macau. SSS recorded strong growth of 43.0% and 116.7% for Hong Kong and Macau respectively. Despite current market conditions, the Group continued to witness resilient jewellery consumption during festive and holiday periods. The sales during Qixi and National Day holiday were in-line with management's expectations, with teens RSV growth in the Mainland. The Group launched new designs for the HUA Collection during the Quarter, marking the first-ever partnership with Shaanxi History Museum and Northwestern Polytechnical University. The HUA Collection was well received by targeted younger audiences and registered sustained growth under the centralised marketing efforts and global campaign. The Group is focused on the execution and delivery of the five strategic priorities to sustain growth trajectory in the ongoing transition to a new phase of higher value growth, committed to enhancing earnings quality with margin expansion and improved returns to equity and capital. KEY OPERATIONAL DATA For the three months ended 30 September 2023 (% change compared to the same period last year) Group Retail Sales Value(1) growth +5.8% Mainland China Hong Kong & Macau of China and other markets RSV growth +0.6% +54.1% Contribution to Group RSV 85.9% 14.1% Mainland China Hong Kong & Macau of China Same Store Sales(2) growth -12.5% +55.7% SSS volume growth -20.3% +52.0% SSSG by product - Gem-set, Platinum and K-gold jewellery -27.7% -4.3% - Gold jewellery and products -9.6% +89.0%

(1) "Retail Sales Value" measures the sales at the ending price (VAT inclusive, if any), in respective functional currencies, of products sold to customers in the POS network and other channels. (2) "Same Store Sales" for the Second Quarter is the RSV from the self-operated POS of

CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELLERY existing as at 30 September 2023 and which have been opened prior to 1 April 2022. RSV from franchised POS and other channels are not included. (Hong Kong, China, 12 October 2023) Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited ("Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group", the "Group" or the "Company"; SEHK stock code: 1929), today announces certain unaudited key operational data of the Group for the three months ended 30 September 2023 (the "Second Quarter", or the "Quarter" or "2QFY2024"). Positive RSV Growth Driven by Continued Improvement in Mobility and Retail Activity During 2QFY2024, mobility and retail activity continued to improve in the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau. The Group's RSV registered positive growth of 5.8% during the Quarter, driven by Hong Kong, Macau and other markets. RSV in the Mainland was stable with a slight increase of 0.6%, despite a higher base last year. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the number of Mainland visitors in July 2023 reached about 70% of the pre-pandemic level and further jumped to over 80% in August 2023. Hence, the average daily customer traffic at the Group's stores in Hong Kong and Macau increased significantly during the Quarter. The influx of Mainland tourists has been supportive to the business in Hong Kong, Macau and other markets, with RSV rising 54.1% during the Quarter, reaching approximately 77% of the corresponding FY2019 levels. On SSS, Hong Kong and Macau registered an increase of 55.7% during the Quarter. SSS grew by 43.0% and 116.7% for Hong Kong and Macau respectively. SSS in the Mainland nonetheless dropped by 12.5% year-on-year during the Quarter due to the high base of comparison. Resilient Jewellery Demand Evidenced during Festive and Holiday Periods Despite current market conditions, the Mainland market has seen solid recovery in mobility and retail activity during festive and holiday periods. According to The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Mainland tourism market surpassed the pre-pandemic level during the National Day holiday period. Meanwhile, the Group continued to observe resilient jewellery consumption in the Mainland during Qixi and National Day holiday (25 September - 5 October). Sales were in-line with management's expectations with teens RSV growth in the Mainland. Centralised Marketing Efforts and Global Campaigns to Maximise Impact The Group launched new designs for HUA Collection in July, marking the first-ever partnership with Shaanxi History Museum and Northwestern Polytechnical University. The teams spent 16 months collaborating closely to develop products that blend the traditional culture of the Tang Dynasty with contemporary innovation and design. The centralised marketing efforts and amplified global campaign ensured consistency and maximised impact and synergy across the Group's channels. The HUA Collection received overwhelming support from the younger customers. This was evidenced most notably in Hong Kong and Macau where RSV recorded significant growth in excess of 450% during the Quarter, encouraged by the rebound of Mainland tourists. Underpinned by the Group's strategic priorities, it is expected that the enhanced product portfolio, new signature collections and the refreshed marketing campaigns will also provide strong impetus to the gem-set jewellery sales. Sustained Momentum of Consumer Spending on Luxury and Gold Products Building on the trend seen in the first quarter, the Group continues to observe a shift in consumer spending and mindset towards luxury and gold products. Consumers' demand for gold jewellery remained solid despite the increase in gold price in the Mainland. In Hong Kong and Macau, SSS of the gold jewellery and products category surged by 89.0%, benefitting from the Mainland tourist influx. Its Average Selling Price ("ASP") also ascended to HK$8,700 (2QFY2023: HK$7,900). In the Mainland, SSS of the product category was down by 9.6% during the Quarter owing to high base of comparison. ASP was further elevated to HK$5,600 (2QFY2023: HK$5,200). Amid the current macro environment, SSS of gem-set, platinum and k-gold jewellery category in Hong Kong and Macau decreased by 4.3% during the Quarter. In the Mainland, SSS of the product category declined by 27.7% whereas its RSV dropped 17.9% during the Quarter. The trend of Same Store ASP remained resilient, benefitting from the continued pricing strategy optimisation. In the Mainland, ASP was lifted to HK$8,200 (2QFY2023: HK$7,300), while that of Hong Kong and Macau was HK$16,900 (2QFY2023: HK$16,200). Sustain Growth Trajectory through Execution of Five Strategic Priorities Despite market uncertainties and externalities beyond our control, the Group adopts a bottom-up approach and focuses on the five strategic priorities to sustain our growth trajectory. Transitioning into a new phase of higher value growth, the Group will focus on enhancing earnings quality with margin expansion and improved returns to equity and capital. The Group will be actively monitoring the dynamic and fast-evolving market conditions. Staying vigilant and nimble to the ground with the extensive network, the Group has the financial and operational resources to effectively calibrate resources to dial-up expansion as needed. ### Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited



Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 1929) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. The Group's vision is to become the most trusted jewellery group in the world. Founded in 1929, the Group's iconic brand "CHOW TAI FOOK" is widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and is renowned for its product design, quality and value. A long-standing commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has contributed to the Group's success, along with that of its iconic retail brand, and has been embodied in its rich heritage. Underpinning this success are our long-held core values of "Sincerity  Eternity". The Group's differentiation strategy continues to make inroads into diverse customer segments by catering to a bespoke experience for different lifestyles and personalities, as well as customers' different life stages. Offering a wide variety of products, services and channels, the Group's brand portfolio comprises the CHOW TAI FOOK flagship brand with curated retail experiences, and other individual brands including HEARTS ON FIRE, ENZO, SOINLOVE and MONOLOGUE. The Group's commitment to sustainable growth is anchored in its customer-centric focus and strategies, which are in place to promote long-term innovation in business, in people and in culture. Another asset underpinning sustainable growth is a sophisticated and agile business model. This supports the Group by fostering excellence and extending opportunities along the entire value chain to communities and industry partners across the world. With an extensive retail network in China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, the United States and Canada, as well as a fast-growing smart retail business, the Group is implementing effective online-to-offline ("O2O") strategies to succeed in today's omni-channel retail environment. ________________________________________________________________________________ Media Enquiries: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

Danita On Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 2138 8501 Email: danitaon@chowtaifook.com Vicky Lau Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 2138 8502 Email: vickylau@chowtaifook.com Acky Chan Senior Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 2138 8338 Email: ackychan@chowtaifook.com



File: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Delivers Strong Sales Growth in Second Quarter FY2024, On Track in Transition to Higher Value Growth



12/10/2023 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Media archive at www.todayir.com


ING appoints Sjoerd Miltenburg as Head of Investor Relations

ING today announced the appointment of Sjoerd Miltenburg (40) as its new Head of Investor Relations. He succeeds Mark Milders, who was made responsible for ING's Wholesale Banking activities in the Netherlands on 1 October.

Sjoerd Miltenburg is currently the global Head of Compliance People and Functional Processes, part of ING's risk department. He is a seasoned banker who began his career as an ING trainee in Wholesale Banking in 2007. He went on to hold a number of senior management roles within Wholesale Banking, including Head of Capital Structuring & Advisory for Asia Pacific in Singapore. Since 2019, he's been responsible for managing organizational development of ING's global Compliance function.

As Head of Investor Relations he will report directly to ING's chief financial officer Tanate Phutrakul.

"Sjoerd's experience of working with our Wholesale Banking clients will be of great value in communicating with our investors. His years in Compliance have given him the necessary insight into the increasing regulatory demands on banks, while at the same time delivering value for our shareholders and strengthening our reputation as a leading European Universal bank," said Tanate Phutrakul.

"I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mark for his significant contributions to improving our financial communication and shareholder dialogues over the past six years, which were marked by several unprecedented events that affected the entire economy. Despite this dynamic environment Mark was instrumental in building ING's reputation as a compelling investment."

Note for editors

For further information on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroomor via the @ING_newsX feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

Press enquiries Investor enquiries Christoph Linke ING Group Investor Relations +31 20 576 5000 +31 20 576 6396 Christoph.Linke@ing.com Investor.Relations@ing.com (mailto:Investor.Relations@ing.com)

ING PROFILE

ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank's more than 59,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

Sustainability is an integral part of ING's strategy, evidenced by ING's leading position in sector benchmarks. ING's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating by MSCI was affirmed 'AA' in September 2022. As of August 2022, Sustainalytics considers ING's management of ESG material risk to be 'strong', and in June 2022 ING received an ESG rating of 'strong' from S&P Global Ratings. ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell.

Important legal information

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014.

ING Group's annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ('IFRS- EU'). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2022 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation:.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING's control.

Any forward looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason. This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment
SEOUL, Korea, Oct. 12, 2023, the leading Asia Pacific centred biotech CRO with global execution capabilities, announced today that Dr. Yooni Kim, Vice President of Clinical Services at Novotech, served as a keynote speaker at the Veeva Korea Summit this week in Seoul, Korea.



Novotech has been utilizing Veeva's technology for over a decade and was an early adopter of these cutting-edge solutions to enhance drug development programs for its biotech clients.

According to Dr. Kim, "The customized Novotech Veeva Suite Ecosystem offers our biotech clients state-of-the-art streamlined procedures and enhanced data visibility, along with advanced trial planning and predictive capabilities."

During her keynote address, Dr. Kim underscored several key advantages that the Novotech Veeva Platform, including the Vault Suite, is providing to clients. These benefits include:

Master trial, site, and investigator data shared across systems

Shared workflow and reporting - multiple on platform workflows, task assignment, PD escalation, document review/authoring

One application means one login to access reporting across TMF, start-up, CTMS, feasibility

Auto-filing of study start-up documents and monitoring content into TMF, on platform TMF review and document QC

Reuse documents across countries, trials

Regulatory and IRB/IEC submission milestone tracking/ package review on platform

Site Greenlight

Automated visit tracking

Payments tracking



Dr. Kim further elaborated, noting that the Vault Clinical Suite facilitates faster trial execution and provides up-to-the-minute insights.

She added, "The platform enhances efficiency and ensures high quality by promoting shared data and content, resulting in improved accuracy in trial planning and reporting." Among the other advantages, she pointed out were:

Scalability to support support harmonized clinical trial delivery across Novotech.

Improved project delivery for our clients including expediting start up timelines.

Reporting - empower real time, end user driven and on-platform reporting capabilities providing robust data to both Novotech and our clients, to enable active management of our trials and maintain effective trial and portfolio oversight.

Have one single-source to manage feasibility information and process including on-platform survey creation and dynamic reporting capabilities.

Simplified, cost effective future integrations.

Enable Clinical Systems support services under one platform, provide rapid study set-up, and one set of accounts and contacts.

Novotech has more than 3,000 employees operating across 25 geographies with 34 office locations, including the US, Greater China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

The global CRO offers biotechs a unique and unparalleled suite of early to late-phase services across the US and Europe, with a foundation in Asia Pacific where the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality expedited clinical trials.

Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023 and the Best Cell & Gene Therapy CRO 2022 and 2023 awards. Additionally, the company was honored with the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023. Its commitment to collaboration is evident in the 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements it has signed over the past three years.

About NovotechNovotech-CRO.com

Founded in 1997, Novotech is internationally recognized as the leading Asia Pacific centred Contract Research Organization (CRO) with global execution capabilities. The Company has established itself as a clinical CRO with labs, phase I facilities, drug development consulting services and regulatory expertise. It has experience in over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. Novotech employs over 3,000 staff globally across 34 office locations. Novotech is positioned to serve as a partner and ally to small and medium-sized biotech, biopharma and pharma sponsors seeking to conduct clinical trials in Asia Pacific, the US and Europe.

For more information visit Novotech CRO
SINGAPORE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consultancy Kearney and LUXASIA, the leading omnichannel brand-builder in Asia Pacific, recently released a whitepaper titled "Unlocking hyper-growth in Asia's luxury beauty landscape", highlighting the opportunities, challenges and solutions for luxury brands in Asia. It reveals that Southeast Asia (SEA) and India are poised to be the next "gold rush" in luxury beauty, reaching a market potential of US$7.6 billion by 2026, with a projected 11% CAGR between 2021 and 2031.[1] This strong growth is expected to continue, with the market size almost tripling in 10 years.

In contrast to China, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, other markets in SEA and India are relatively unsaturated, with limited presence of both international luxury beauty brands and compelling local ones, and significant upside potential for luxury beauty spend per capita. As these economies mature, the upper- and middle-classes are projected to surpass 1 billion people in 2026[2], with more consumers expected to trade up from mass to luxury. Thus, this presents a limited but golden window of opportunity for luxury beauty brands to enter now and flourish.

However, harnessing growth remains tricky in SEA and India due to diverse market ecosystems. Luxury brands today face six major challenges in this fragmented region, which include multidimensional omni-retail networks; heterogeneous local product preferences; divergent marketing approaches; challenging regulatory frameworks; costly and idiosyncratic supply chain landscapes; and partner selection amid information asymmetry.

Correspondingly, the report outlines six execution imperatives to effectively tackle these challenges. These include optimizing the retail footprint to create multi-touchpoint experience hubs; harnessing continued e-commerce growth unique to each market; forging capabilities to ride social commerce acceleration; building deep local consumer understanding through data aggregation and analytics; leveraging logistics partners to build a robust and flexible network; and winning with the right omnichannel brand-building partners.

Siddharth Pathak, Senior Partner, Head of Consumer Industries and Retail for Asia Pacific at Kearney, said, "Southeast Asia and India should be on the agenda of every global luxury beauty CEO as these markets are poised to lead the next stage of growth in luxury beauty. To emerge successful in a competitive landscape, brands should have a cohesive strategy to cut through the noise and tap on the power of digitalization, data analytics, and ecosystem support to improve their offerings and overall resilience."

Dr Wolfgang Baier, Group CEO, LUXASIA affirms this and adds, "This golden window to capture accelerated growth cannot be missed. New-entry brands need to act urgently to secure the platform to grow. Existing market brands ought to rejuvenate their omnichannel presence, adding greater operational agility, to better navigate market developments. Backed by our track record, deep omni-network, and brand-building expertise, LUXASIA stands ready to partner all luxury beauty brands for long-term growth and success in Southeast Asia and India."

[1] According to Euromonitor and Kearney-LUXASIA analysis [2] According to World Bank, Euromonitor, and Kearney-LUXASIA analysis

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245303/Whitepaper_unravels_opportunities_challenges_solutions_luxury_brands_Asia_revealing_Southeast.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245304/Southeast_Asia_markets_Malaysia_Thailand_Indonesia_Philippines_Vietnam_India_reaching.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/southeast-asia-and-india-slated-to-be-luxury-beautys-most-lucrative-growth-markets-in-asia-pacific-latest-report-by-luxasia-and-kearney-finds-301954736.html
WITNEY, England, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Champagne tops the list of the ten most popular wines in the UK, according to a recent analysis of Google search results by Audley Travel. Chateauneuf-du-Pape comes in at second, followed by Pinot Grigio. The same research uncovered a 56% increase in searches compared to 2022 for "vineyard tours," indicating Britons' desire to explore the regions where these wines are produced.

"Champagne is popular because it's like happiness in a bottle," says Audley's France specialist Samantha Sutherland. "A glass evokes the bubbly joy of special occasions like weddings and New Year's Eve. Even the sound of that popping cork makes me smile.

"I think one of the things driving the desire for more vineyard tours is a desire for a more authentic experience of wine. Britain's love of wine is on the rise and with it comes a desire to connect to the people and the land behind the bottle," she continues.

The second-most popular option is also very expensive: Chateauneuf-du-Pape. However, number three is more affordable: Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris. You can find vineyards growing this popular style in Italy, of course, but also in Croatia, California, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as western Canada and even India.

"In the USA, the best place to explore Pinot Grigio is the Wiliamette Valley in Oregon. If you're staying in Portland, I suggest a privately guided tour that will take you to all the small vineyards there," says Emily Summer, senior product executive.

Top ten most popular wines in the UK:

Champagne Chateauneuf-du-Pape Pinot Grigio Cava Sauvignon Blanc Sherry Barolo Amarone Chardonnay Malbec

Note to editors:

Audley Travel provides award-winning tailor-made holidays and private tours for discerning travellers seeking authentic experiences around the world. Their experts listen to your interests, share their advice, and then handcraft a personalized itinerary based on what you want and nothing more.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/research-by-audley-travel-reveals-the-10-most-popular-wines-in-the-uk-301954739.html
PUNE, India, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinium Global Research, a leading provider of market research insights, has published a comprehensive report on the Digital Health Market, offering an in-depth analysis of global and regional segments. The report explores the influence of drivers, restraints, and macro indicators on the short-term and long-term growth prospects of the digital health market. With the global digital health market valued at USD 209.63 billion in 2022, it is projected to surge to a remarkable USD 770.26 billion by 2030, registering a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.30% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030.

To Know More Request a Sample of this Report: https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/market-reports/sample-request/1299

Revolutionizing Healthcare Through Digital Innovation

Digital health is poised to revolutionize healthcare by preventing diseases, reducing costs, and empowering patients to manage chronic conditions effectively. It has the potential to deliver personalized medicine and provides healthcare providers with a comprehensive view of patients suffering from chronic or other diseases. Leveraging big data analytics, digital health has empowered both patients and healthcare providers, breaking free from traditional data processing methods. This transformative shift grants patients' greater control over their health and enhances efficiency and medical outcomes. The escalating global incidence of cardiovascular disorders stemming from unhealthy lifestyles is a key driver of the digital health market.

Furthermore, in an increasingly interconnected world, digital technologies have become an integral part of daily routines. Cloud-based digital health systems, mobile devices, and applications have gained popularity among end-users, including government hospitals, patients, clinics, and other healthcare institutions. Patients can now engage with healthcare professionals remotely via smartphones or telehealth platforms. These innovations converge, on individuals, information, technology, and connectivity to improve healthcare and overall health outcomes. The rising penetration of smartphones and the internet among the population is driving the digital health market.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the tremendous potential of digital health, the rapid adoption of the internet and smart devices in healthcare has given rise to cybersecurity concerns. Data security issues related to healthcare information have created hesitancy in adopting digital health solutions, which could potentially hinder market growth. However, government policy amendments and the adoption of blockchain technology to enhance data security offer consumers opportunities to embrace digital health platforms. These advancements are anticipated to drive market growth during the forecast period.

Regional Dominance and Growth Prospects

North America commands the largest share of the global digital health market. The region's advanced healthcare infrastructure, technological innovation, and substantial investments in digital health initiatives are key factors contributing to its leadership in the digital health sector. The United States, in particular, is a frontrunner, with widespread adoption of electronic health records, telemedicine, and mobile health applications. A robust regulatory framework and support for healthcare IT further bolster North America's position in the digital health market. The region's aging population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and demand for efficient healthcare solutions underscore its role as a driver of digital health innovation and market expansion.

The Asia-Pacific region is poised to witness the fastest growth in the digital health market. Countries like China, Japan, and emerging nations such as India and Indonesia are expected to experience significant growth due to their high adoption rates of technology. Supportive initiatives undertaken by the Chinese government to promote eHealth are also contributing to this growth.

Enquire Here Get Customization & Check the Discount for the Report @ https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/market-reports/enquiry/1299

Market Segmentation

The global digital health market is segmented based on service and end-user:

Service: Sub-markets encompass mobile devices, cloud-based solutions, big data analytics, and healthcare mobility.

Sub-markets encompass mobile devices, cloud-based solutions, big data analytics, and healthcare mobility. End-User: Sub-markets include clinics, government hospitals, specialty hospitals, and general hospitals.

Competitive Landscape

The report provides profiles of the companies in the market such as Cisco Systems, Inc., Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Merative, Epic Systems Corporation, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, GE HealthCare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., IBM Corporation, Allscripts/ Veradigm, and Oracle/ Cerner.

More Insights on This Report, Speak to Our Analyst: https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/market-reports/enquiry/1299

Table of Content

Chapter 1. Preface

1.1. Report Description

1.2. Research Methods

1.3. Research Approaches

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Digital Health Market Highlights

2.2. Digital Health Market Projection

2.3. Digital Health Market Regional Highlights

Chapter 3. Global Digital Health Market Overview

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Drivers

3.2.2. Restraints

3.2.3. Opportunities

3.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.4. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis

3.4.1. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Service

3.4.2. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by End User

3.4.3. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Region

3.5. Value Chain Analysis of Digital Health Market

Chapter 4. Digital Health Market Macro Indicator Analysis

Chapter 5. Company Profiles and Competitive Landscape

5.1. Competitive Landscape in the Global Digital Health Market

5.2. Companies Profiles

5.2.1. Cisco Systems, Inc.

5.2.2. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

5.2.3. Merative

5.2.4. Epic Systems Corporation

5.2.5. Siemens Healthcare GmbH

5.2.6. GE HealthCare

5.2.7. Koninklijke Philips N.V.

5.2.8. IBM Corporation

5.2.9. Allscripts/ Veradigm

5.2.10. Oracle/ Cerner

Chapter 6. Global Digital Health Market by Service

6.1. Mobile Device

6.2. Cloud Based Solution

6.3. Big Data Analytics

6.4. Healthcare Mobility

Chapter 7. Global Digital Health Market by End User

7.1. Clinics

7.2. Government Hospitals

7.3. Specialty Hospital

7.4. General Hospital

Chapter 8. Global Digital Health Market by Region 2023-2030

8.1. North America

8.1.1. North America Digital Health Market by Service

8.1.2. North America Digital Health Market by End User

8.1.3. North America Digital Health Market by Country

8.1.3.1. The U.S. Digital Health Market

8.1.3.1.1. The U.S. Digital Health Market by Service

8.1.3.1.2. The U.S. Digital Health Market by End User

8.1.3.2. Canada Digital Health Market

8.1.3.2.1. Canada Digital Health Market by Service

8.1.3.2.2. Canada Digital Health Market by End User

8.1.3.3. Mexico Digital Health Market

8.1.3.3.1. Mexico Digital Health Market by Service

8.1.3.3.2. Mexico Digital Health Market by End User

8.2. Europe

8.2.1. Europe Digital Health Market by Service

8.2.2. Europe Digital Health Market by End User

8.2.3. Europe Digital Health Market by Country

8.2.3.1. Germany Digital Health Market

8.2.3.1.1. Germany Digital Health Market by Service

8.2.3.1.2. Germany Digital Health Market by End User

8.2.3.2. United Kingdom Digital Health Market

8.2.3.2.1. United Kingdom Digital Health Market by Service

8.2.3.2.2. United Kingdom Digital Health Market by End User

8.2.3.3. France Digital Health Market

8.2.3.3.1. France Digital Health Market by Service

8.2.3.3.2. France Digital Health Market by End User

8.2.3.4. Italy Digital Health Market

8.2.3.4.1. Italy Digital Health Market by Service

8.2.3.4.2. Italy Digital Health Market by End User

8.2.3.5. Rest of Europe Digital Health Market

8.2.3.5.1. Rest of Europe Digital Health Market by Service

8.2.3.5.2. Rest of Europe Digital Health Market by End User

8.3. Asia Pacific

8.3.1. Asia Pacific Digital Health Market by Service

8.3.2. Asia Pacific Digital Health Market by End User

8.3.3. Asia Pacific Digital Health Market by Country

8.3.3.1. China Digital Health Market

8.3.3.1.1. China Digital Health Market by Service

8.3.3.1.2. China Digital Health Market by End User

8.3.3.2. Japan Digital Health Market

8.3.3.2.1. Japan Digital Health Market by Service

8.3.3.2.2. Japan Digital Health Market by End User

8.3.3.3. India Digital Health Market

8.3.3.3.1. India Digital Health Market by Service

8.3.3.3.2. India Digital Health Market by End User

8.3.3.4. South Korea Digital Health Market

8.3.3.4.1. South Korea Digital Health Market by Service

8.3.3.4.2. South Korea Digital Health Market by End User

8.3.3.5. Australia Digital Health Market

8.3.3.5.1. Australia Digital Health Market by Service

8.3.3.5.2. Australia Digital Health Market by End User

8.3.3.6. Rest of Asia-Pacific Digital Health Market

8.3.3.6.1. Rest of Asia-Pacific Digital Health Market by Service

8.3.3.6.2. Rest of Asia-Pacific Digital Health Market by End User

8.4. RoW

8.4.1. RoW Digital Health Market by Service

8.4.2. RoW Digital Health Market by End User

8.4.3. RoW Digital Health Market by Sub-region

8.4.3.1. Latin America Digital Health Market

8.4.3.1.1. Latin America Digital Health Market by Service

8.4.3.1.2. Latin America Digital Health Market by End User

8.4.3.2. Middle East Digital Health Market

8.4.3.2.1. Middle East Digital Health Market by Service

8.4.3.2.2. Middle East Digital Health Market by End User

8.4.3.3. Africa Digital Health Market

8.4.3.3.1. Africa Digital Health Market by Service

8.4.3.3.2. Africa Digital Health Market by End User

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=> Comprehensive analysis of global as well as regional markets of digital health.

=> Complete coverage of all the product types and application segments to analyze the trends, developments, and forecast of market size up to 2030.

=> Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in this market. The company profile includes an analysis of the product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis, and the latest developments of the company.

=> Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus on to invest, consolidate, expand, and/or diversify.

For detailed insights into market dynamics, drivers, challenges, and opportunities, please refer to the complete report available from Infinium Global Research.

About Infinium Global Research:

Infinium Global Research is a business consulting and market research firm; a group of experts that caters to fulfilling business and market research needs of leading companies in various industry verticals and business segments. The company also serves government bodies, institutes, and non-profit/non-government organizations to meet their knowledge and information needs.

Through our information services and solutions, we assist our clients to improve their performance and assess the market conditions to achieve their organizational goals. Our team of experts and analysts are engaged in continuously monitoring and assessing the market conditions to provide knowledge support to our clients. To help our clients and to stay updated with the advances and inventions in technology, business processes, regulations, and the environment, Infinium often conducts regular meets with industry experts and opinion leaders. Our key opinion leaders are involved in monitoring and assessing the progress in the business environment, so as to offer the best opinion to our clients.

Contact:

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY)(OTCQX:CPPKF) is pleased to announce the initiation of its Phase III drill program at its Copper Creek project in Arizona, USA ("Copper Creek").

Phase III Drill Program

An estimated 20,000-metre diamond drill program commenced on October 11, 2023, with the primary objectives including: Making a new economic discovery on the property; Growing the open pit resource; and Expanding the high-grade areas of the underground resource.

The Company will also be installing additional piezometers in certain drill holes for ongoing groundwater monitoring.

Assay results for completed drill holes will be released as they are received, analyzed and confirmed by the Company.

About Faraday Copper

Faraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek project, is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with open pit and bulk underground mining potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY".

For additional information please contact:

Stacey Pavlova, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications

Faraday Copper Corp.

E-mail: info@faradaycopper.com

Website: www.faradaycopper.com

To receive news releases by e-mail, please register using the Faraday website at www.faradaycopper.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the exploration potential of the Copper Creek property.

Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of mineral resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

SOURCE: Faraday Copper Corp.

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PUNE, India, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinium Global Research, a leading market research firm, has recently unveiled an extensive report on the In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market, offering a comprehensive analysis of market segments and sub-segments on both a global and regional scale. The report not only delves into the impacts of drivers, restraints, and macro indicators on the global and regional in vitro toxicology testing market but also provides insights into the short and long-term market dynamics.

The in vitro toxicology testing market has been experiencing remarkable growth in recent years. In 2022, the market was valued at USD 25,962.7 million. Infinium Global Research's latest findings project that it will surge to an impressive USD 64,094.9 million by 2030, accompanied by an outstanding Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.4% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030.

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Driving Factors for Market Growth

The burgeoning in vitro toxicology testing market is fuelled by several pivotal factors:

Government and Organizational Support: Governments and organizations worldwide are lending strong support to the movement to avoid animal testing. Additionally, funding, grants, and financial backing have been provided to bolster research and development in alternative testing methods. This support aims to advance the field of in vitro testing, enhance its capabilities, and encourage industries to adopt these humane and innovative methods. Rising Demand for Toxicology Testing Products: Industries spanning pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, and consumer products are actively seeking reliable and efficient testing solutions to ensure the safety of their products. The increasing demand for toxicology testing products propels the growth of the in vitro toxicology testing market.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the market shows immense promise, it faces certain challenges:

Shortage of Skilled Workers: A shortage of skilled professionals is a major constraint for the global in vitro toxicology testing market. This field requires a wide range of skills, including technical skills, analytical skills, and observational skills.

Nonetheless, technological advancements in in vitro toxicology testing products create opportunities for companies operating in the market. Innovations such as 3D cell culture models and high-throughput screening enable companies to develop cutting-edge products and services for consumers.

Geographical Insights

Among the geographical regions, North America is poised to retain a significant share of the market. Factors such as technological advancements and government support have accelerated the development of innovative and cost-effective testing methods in North America. The region has witnessed substantial investments in research and development, driving the adoption of in vitro toxicology testing for assessing the safety of drugs, devices, chemicals, and cosmetics.

Conversely, the Asia Pacific region is projected to exhibit the highest growth rate in the market. Government incentives for technology and development, coupled with rising healthcare expenditure, are pivotal drivers of market growth in this region. Government organizations in the Asia Pacific actively promote in vitro toxicology testing methods and encourage their adoption. The growing focus on safety assessments and the increasing demand for reliable testing methods in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemicals contribute to the market's robust growth in the Asia Pacific.

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Market Segmentation

The comprehensive report on the global in vitro toxicology testing market covers various segments:

Technology: Sub-markets include cell culture technology, high throughput technology, molecular imaging, and omics technology.

Sub-markets include cell culture technology, high throughput technology, molecular imaging, and omics technology. Application: Sub-markets encompass systemic toxicology, dermal toxicity, endocrine disruption, ocular toxicity, and others.

Sub-markets encompass systemic toxicology, dermal toxicity, endocrine disruption, ocular toxicity, and others. Method: Sub-markets include cellular assay, biochemical assay, in silico, and ex-vivo.

Competitive Landscape

The report provides profiles of the companies in the market such as Charles River Laboratories, SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance SA., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Eurofins Scientific, Merck KGaA, Cyprotex, Gentronix, Abbott Laboratories, Evotec SE, and Agilent Technologies, Inc.

The global in vitro toxicology testing market is primed for substantial growth, driven by increasing government support, rising demand for toxicology testing products, and technological advancements.

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Table of Content

Chapter 1. Preface

1.1. Report Description

1.2. Research Methods

1.3. Research Approaches

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market Highlights

2.2. In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market Projection

2.3. In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market Regional Highlights

Chapter 3. Global In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market Overview

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Drivers

3.2.2. Restraints

3.2.3. Opportunities

3.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.4. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis

3.4.1. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Technology

3.4.2. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Application

3.4.3. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Method

3.4.4. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Region

3.5. Value Chain Analysis of In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market

Chapter 4. In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market Macro Indicator Analysis

Chapter 5. Company Profiles and Competitive Landscape

5.1. Competitive Landscape in the Global In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market

5.2. Companies Profiles

5.2.1. Charles River Laboratories

5.2.2. SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance SA.

5.2.3. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

5.2.4. Eurofins Scientific

5.2.5. Merck KGaA

5.2.6. Cyprotex

5.2.7. Gentronix

5.2.8. Abbott Laboratories

5.2.9. Evotec SE

5.2.10. Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Chapter 6. Global In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market by Technology

6.1. Cell Culture Technology

6.2. High Throughput Technology

6.3. Molecular Imaging

6.4. OMICS Technology

Chapter 7. Global In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market by Application

7.1. Systemic Toxicology

7.2. Dermal Toxicity

7.3. Endocrine Disruption

7.4. Ocular Toxicity

7.5. Others

Chapter 8. Global In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market by Method

8.1. Cellular Assay

8.2. Biochemical Assay

8.3. In silico

8.4. Ex-vivo

Chapter 9. Global In Vitro Toxicology Testing Market by Region 2023-2030

9.1. North America

9.2. Europe

9.3. Asia Pacific

9.4. RoW

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Reasons to Buy this Report:

=> Comprehensive analysis of global as well as regional markets of in vitro toxicology testing.

=> Complete coverage of all the product types and application segments to analyze the trends, developments, and forecast of market size up to 2030.

=> Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in this market. The company profile includes an analysis of the product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis, and the latest developments of the company.

=> Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus on to invest, consolidate, expand, and/or diversify.

About Infinium Global Research:

Infinium Global Research is a business consulting and market research firm; a group of experts that caters to fulfilling business and market research needs of leading companies in various industry verticals and business segments. The company also serves government bodies, institutes, and non-profit/non-government organizations to meet their knowledge and information needs.

Through our information services and solutions, we assist our clients to improve their performance and assess the market conditions to achieve their organizational goals. Our team of experts and analysts are engaged in continuously monitoring and assessing the market conditions to provide knowledge support to our clients. To help our clients and to stay updated with the advances and inventions in technology, business processes, regulations, and the environment, Infinium often conducts regular meets with industry experts and opinion leaders. Our key opinion leaders are involved in monitoring and assessing the progress in the business environment, so as to offer the best opinion to our clients.

Contact:

Infinium Global Research

2nd Floor, Ganadish Empire,

Rahatani Chowk, Pimple Saudagar,

Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra 411027

Phone: +918999930634

Email: Info@infiniumglobalresearch.com

Website: www.infiniumglobalresearch.com

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PUNE, India, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinium Global Research has recently released a report on the IoT in Healthcare Market. This report offers an in-depth analysis of both global and regional segments and sub-segments within the IoT in healthcare market. It also examines the impact of drivers, restraints, and macro indicators on the market's short-term and long-term prospects.

Furthermore, the report provides a comprehensive presentation of the market's trends, forecasts, and monetary values. Notably, the IoT in healthcare market generated USD 227.33 billion in revenue in 2022, and it is anticipated to achieve a substantial growth trajectory, reaching USD 787.17 billion by 2030. This remarkable growth is expected to be driven by a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.70% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030.

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Growing Demand for Technological Advancements in the Healthcare Sector are Poised to Create Numerous Opportunities

The rising prevalence of chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart conditions, and respiratory ailments among middle-aged and elderly populations, has spurred the demand for IoT devices in healthcare. These devices, such as smart wearables, pulse-oximeters, electrocardiograms, thermometers, fluid level sensors, and sphygmomanometers, enable real-time monitoring of vital signs, medication adherence, and patient behaviors. As a result, the demand for IoT technology in healthcare is on the rise, driven by the necessity for improved chronic disease management.

Furthermore, the integration of Information Technology (IT) within healthcare systems, including electronic health records and telemedicine, is fueling the demand for IoT applications in healthcare. IoT solutions, from remote patient monitoring to smart medical devices, streamline healthcare delivery, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce costs. This synergy between IT and IoT is transforming the healthcare industry, making it more accessible, efficient, and patient-centric.

However, one of the significant challenges posed by IoT in healthcare is data security and privacy. While IoT security devices capture and transmit data in real time, many lack adequate data protocols and security requirements. This issue is expected to hamper market growth. Nevertheless, ongoing improvements in healthcare infrastructure, increased investments in research and development, and the growing demand for technological advancements in the healthcare sector are poised to create numerous opportunities for IoT in the healthcare market in the coming years.

North America Dominates the Market with a Strong Emphasis on Healthcare Innovation

North America commands the leading market share in the IoT in the healthcare sector, driven by several factors. The region boasts a highly developed healthcare infrastructure, a tech-savvy consumer base, and a strong focus on healthcare innovation. The presence of major IoT and technology companies like GE Healthcare and Medtronic in North America contributes to the rapid adoption and development of healthcare IoT solutions. Additionally, favorable government policies, substantial investments, and increasing awareness of the benefits of IoT in healthcare are propelling market growth. North America's commitment to addressing healthcare challenges through technology solidifies its position as a dominant force in the global IoT in the healthcare market.

Asia-Pacific Emerges as the Fastest-Growing Region

Asia-Pacific emerges as the fastest-growing region in the IoT in healthcare market. The region's healthcare industry witnesses strong growth due to the increasing demand for cloud-based management systems. Furthermore, the presence of numerous hospitals, surgical centers, and expanding healthcare infrastructure is expected to further boost market growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Segmentation Overview

The report on the global IoT in healthcare market covers various segments, including technology, application, and end-user categories:

Technology:

Wi-Fi

NFC (Near Field Communication)

Zigbee

Bluetooth

Others

Application:

Clinical Operations

Telemedicine

Workflow Management

Connected Imaging

Inpatient Monitoring

Medication Management

Others

End User:

Hospitals

Surgical Centers and Clinics

Clinical Research Organizations (CROs)

Government

Defense Institutions

Research and Diagnostics Laboratories

Competitive Landscape

The report provides profiles of the companies in the market such as Medtronic, Cisco Systems, Inc., IBM Corporation, GE HealthCare, Honeywell Life Care Solutions (acquired by Clear Arch Health), Royal Philips, Microsoft Corporation, SAP SE, Francisco Partners (acquired Qualcomm Life), and STANLEY Healthcare (acquired by Securitas Healthcare).

The IoT in healthcare market continues to evolve and innovate, offering a wide range of applications and solutions that promise to revolutionize the healthcare industry. With the market projected to reach new heights by 2030, stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem are gearing up to harness the potential of IoT technologies to improve patient care and outcomes.

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Table of Content

Chapter 1. Preface

1.1. Report Description

1.2. Research Methods

1.3. Research Approaches

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. IoT in Healthcare Market Highlights

2.2. IoT in Healthcare Market Projection

2.3. IoT in Healthcare Market Regional Highlights

Chapter 3. Global IoT in Healthcare Market Overview

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Drivers

3.2.2. Restraints

3.2.3. Opportunities

3.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.4. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis

3.4.1. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Technology

3.4.2. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Application

3.4.3. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by End User

3.4.4. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Region

3.5. Value Chain Analysis of IoT in Healthcare Market

Chapter 4. IoT in Healthcare Market Macro Indicator Analysis

Chapter 5. Company Profiles and Competitive Landscape

5.1. Competitive Landscape in the Global IoT in Healthcare Market

5.2. Companies Profiles

5.2.1. Medtronic

5.2.2. Cisco Systems, Inc.

5.2.3. IBM Corporation

5.2.4. GE HealthCare

5.2.5. Honeywell Life Care Solutions (acquired by Clear Arch Health)

5.2.6. Royal Philips

5.2.7. Microsoft Corporation

5.2.8. SAP SE

5.2.9. Francisco Partners (acquired Qualcomm Life)

5.2.10. STANLEY Healthcare (acquired by Securitas Healthcare)

Chapter 6. Global IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

6.1. WI-FI

6.2. NFC

6.3. ZigBee

6.4. Bluetooth

6.5. Others

Chapter 7. Global IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

7.1. Clinical Operations

7.2. Telemedicine

7.3. Workflow Management

7.4. Connected Imaging

7.5. Inpatient Monitoring

7.6. Medication Management

7.7. Others

Chapter 8. Global IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

8.1. Hospitals

8.2. Surgical Centers and Clinics

8.3. Clinical Research Organization (CRO)

8.4. Government

8.5. Defense Institutions

8.6. Research and Diagnostics Laboratories

Chapter 9. Global IoT in Healthcare Market by Region 2023-2030

9.1. North America

9.1.1. North America IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.1.2. North America IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.1.3. North America IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.1.4. North America IoT in Healthcare Market by Country

9.1.4.1. The U.S. IoT in Healthcare Market

9.1.4.1.1. The U.S. IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.1.4.1.2. The U.S. IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.1.4.1.3. The U.S. IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.1.4.2. Canada IoT in Healthcare Market

9.1.4.2.1. Canada IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.1.4.2.2. Canada IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.1.4.2.3. Canada IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.1.4.3. Mexico IoT in Healthcare Market

9.1.4.3.1. Mexico IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.1.4.3.2. Mexico IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.1.4.3.3. Mexico IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.2. Europe

9.2.1. Europe IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.2.2. Europe IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.2.3. Europe IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.2.4. Europe IoT in Healthcare Market by Country

9.2.4.1. Germany IoT in Healthcare Market

9.2.4.1.1. Germany IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.2.4.1.2. Germany IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.2.4.1.3. Germany IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.2.4.2. United Kingdom IoT in Healthcare Market

9.2.4.2.1. United Kingdom IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.2.4.2.2. United Kingdom IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.2.4.2.3. United Kingdom IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.2.4.3. France IoT in Healthcare Market

9.2.4.3.1. France IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.2.4.3.2. France IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.2.4.3.3. France IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.2.4.4. Italy IoT in Healthcare Market

9.2.4.4.1. Italy IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.2.4.4.2. Italy IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.2.4.4.3. Italy IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.2.4.5. Rest of Europe IoT in Healthcare Market

9.2.4.5.1. Rest of Europe IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.2.4.5.2. Rest of Europe IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.2.4.5.3. Rest of Europe IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.3. Asia Pacific

9.3.1. Asia Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.3.2. Asia Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.3.3. Asia Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.3.4. Asia Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market by Country

9.3.4.1. China IoT in Healthcare Market

9.3.4.1.1. China IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.3.4.1.2. China IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.3.4.1.3. China IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.3.4.2. Japan IoT in Healthcare Market

9.3.4.2.1. Japan IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.3.4.2.2. Japan IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.3.4.2.3. Japan IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.3.4.3. India IoT in Healthcare Market

9.3.4.3.1. India IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.3.4.3.2. India IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.3.4.3.3. India IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.3.4.4. South Korea IoT in Healthcare Market

9.3.4.4.1. South Korea IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.3.4.4.2. South Korea IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.3.4.4.3. South Korea IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.3.4.5. Australia IoT in Healthcare Market

9.3.4.5.1. Australia IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.3.4.5.2. Australia IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.3.4.5.3. Australia IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.3.4.6. Rest of Asia-Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market

9.3.4.6.1. Rest of Asia-Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.3.4.6.2. Rest of Asia-Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.3.4.6.3. Rest of Asia-Pacific IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.4. RoW

9.4.1. RoW IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.4.2. RoW IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.4.3. RoW IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.4.4. RoW IoT in Healthcare Market by Sub-region

9.4.4.1. Latin America IoT in Healthcare Market

9.4.4.1.1. Latin America IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.4.4.1.2. Latin America IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.4.4.1.3. Latin America IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.4.4.2. Middle East IoT in Healthcare Market

9.4.4.2.1. Middle East IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.4.4.2.2. Middle East IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.4.4.2.3. Middle East IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

9.4.4.3. Africa IoT in Healthcare Market

9.4.4.3.1. Africa IoT in Healthcare Market by Technology

9.4.4.3.2. Africa IoT in Healthcare Market by Application

9.4.4.3.3. Africa IoT in Healthcare Market by End User

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=> Comprehensive analysis of global as well as regional markets of IoT in healthcare.

=> Complete coverage of all the product types and application segments to analyze the trends, developments, and forecast of market size up to 2030.

=> Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in this market. The company profile includes an analysis of the product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis, and the latest developments of the company.

=> Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus on to invest, consolidate, expand, and/or diversify.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Cabral Gold Inc. (TSXV: CBR) (OTC PINK: CBGZF) ("Cabral" or the "Company") is pleased to announce drill results from the initial six RC holes which form part of the ongoing drill program currently being conducted at both the MG and Central gold deposits within the Cuiu Cuiu gold district in northern Brazil.

Highlights

Notable drill intercepts from the initial six RC holes testing the MG gold-in oxide blanket and saprolite include; RC343 which returned 27m @ 1.9 g/t gold from surface and RC342 which returned 28m @ 1.8 g/t gold from surface including 6m @ 7.1 g/t gold





from surface and RC342 which returned from surface including The objectives of the current drill program are to 1) better define and expand the higher-grade portion of the oxide resources within saprolite and blanket material, particularly closer to surface, 2) to improve confidence in the gold-in-oxide resources, and 3) to aid in the mine planning and sequencing as part of the ongoing prefeasibility study on trial mining of the gold-in-oxide resources





Drilling is ongoing with a total of 42 RC holes and 9 shallower auger holes completed to date as part of the current drill program. Assay results are pending on 12 RC holes and 9 power auger holes at MG, and 24 RC holes at Central

Alan Carter, Cabral Gold's President and CEO commented, "We are very pleased with the initial drill results from the near surface gold-in-oxide blanket and saprolite at the MG gold deposit. The results clearly show the presence of higher-grade zones of gold mineralization extending from surface, and occurring in areas which were previously considered to be much lower grade. These new drill results will allow us to optimize the resource model of the known gold-in-oxide resources at Cuiu Cuiu with a greater degree of confidence over the next few months. The prefeasibility study on trial mining of the oxide resources will consider the exploitation of these higher-grade zones in the initial years of production utilizing existing trial-mining permits. We look forward to receiving additional drill results in the coming weeks from both of the near surface gold-in-oxide blankets and saprolite at the MG and Central gold deposits."

MG Drill Results

The MG gold deposit is one of the two main gold deposits that have been identified to date at Cuiu Cuiu. As with the nearby Central gold deposit, the upper portion of the MG gold deposit is extensively weathered resulting in a vertical profile of approximately 60m of highly weathered basement saprolite. The weathered mineralized basement saprolite is overlain by mud, soil and colluvium material which forms a blanket. All of the blanket material contains gold and is derived from the chemical and physical weathering the underlying saprolite basement gold mineralization.

Whilst the bulk of the gold resources at MG are contained within the underlying primary (unweathered) basement material (see the NI 43-101 report dated effective July 31, 2022), the overlying oxide material currently contains Indicated Resources of 5.78Mt @ 0.5 g/t for 88,300oz, and Inferred Resources of 1.19Mt @ 0.3 g/t for 12,300oz. A significant amount of higher-grade material (greater than 1.75g/t gold) is contained within these resources and the current drill program at MG is designed to expand these resources within the near-surface saprolite and blanket material. This should also improve confidence in the current oxide gold resources, and thereby aid in mine planning and sequencing as part of the ongoing prefeasibility study regarding trial-mining of the oxide resources, which would most likely involve open-pit mining and heap-leach processing.

It is important to note that the most recent resource estimate prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. used a cut-off gold grade for the near surface oxide material of 0.13 g/t gold which represents the value above which material would have reasonable expectation of being economically viable.

Holes RC342 to RC348 were all drilled within the overall outline of the oxide resource at MG to a maximum depth of 60m (Figure 1).





Figure 1: Map showing MG gold resources in weathered basement saprolite, existing drill holes and new drill holes with results. Much of this area is also unconformably overlain by blanket resources which are not shown.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3900/183739_3d7380a2e410f9d2_002full.jpg

Hole RC342 was drilled on section E553250 and intersected 28m @ 1.8 g/t gold from surface including 6m @ 7.1 g/t gold from 5m depth, in an area which was previously assumed to be much lower grade material (Figure 2, Table 1). This zone is interpreted as the up-dip extension of a significant zone of high-grade mineralization which has been traced on strike and to depth within the underlying primary (unweathered) basement rocks. RC342 also encountered higher-grade blanket material from surface, which can be traced horizontally continuously from RC342 to DDH289A. All of the unconformable blanket shown on the section is mineralized with gold grades above the resource cut off. This blanket material is predominately soil and colluvium.





Figure 2: Section E553250 through the MG gold-in-oxide blanket and underlying oxidized saprolite showing existing drill holes and higher-grade zones (with gold values contoured at 0.15 g/t, 0.3 g/t and 0.9 g/t gold) from existing resource model. Note that drill intercept in RC342 is located 50m south of known high-grade zone intersected in DDH289A

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3900/183739_3d7380a2e410f9d2_003full.jpg

Hole RC343 was drilled on section E553210, 40m to the west of RC342, and intersected 27m @ 1.9 g/t gold from surface including 15m @ 3.3 g/t gold from 15m depth (Figure 3, Table 1). Whilst a higher-grade zone was known to exist within the oxide material at this location, the grades returned from RC343 are higher than anticipated. As is the case on section E553250, the blanket is continuously mineralized across the section, but is much higher grade from RC343 to RC204 where it directly overlies weathered basement saprolite mineralized zones.





Figure 3: Section E553210 through the MG gold-in-oxide blanket and underlying oxidized saprolite showing existing drill holes and higher-grade zones (with gold values contoured at 0.15 g/t, 0.3 g/t and 0.9 g/t gold) from existing resource model. Note location of RC343 with intercept up-dip of previous drill hole RC205

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3900/183739_3d7380a2e410f9d2_004full.jpg

Hole RC344 was drilled on section E553150. It is the westernmost hole drilled at MG in this program and intersected several zones of mineralization including 9m @ 0.8 g/t gold from surface (predominately in blanket material), 9m @ 0.5 g/t gold from 15m depth and 7m @ 0.7 g/t gold from 38m depth.

Hole RC346 was drilled on section E553610, which is located within a gap between the current saprolite basement resources as defined in the most recent SLR resource estimate. The overlying blanket mineralization is much thicker in this area than further to the west. RC346 intersected several zones of mineralization including 26m @ 0.4 g/t gold from surface in the oxide blanket, and in the saprolite basement 9m @ 1.2 g/t gold from 53m depth (Figure 4, Table 1). This hole indicates the presence of higher-grade basement saprolite mineralization beyond the known higher-grade resources (Figure 1).





Figure 4: Section E553610 through the MG gold-in-oxide blanket and underlying oxidized saprolite showing existing drill holes and higher-grade zones (with gold values contoured at 0.15 g/t, 0.3 g/t and 0.9 g/t gold). Note location of section showing RC346 between higher grade bodies. The flat-lying higher-grade zone within the blanket is also shown.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3900/183739_3d7380a2e410f9d2_005full.jpg

Hole RC346 also intersected a zone of moderate grade (10m @ 0.5 g/t gold) in the colluvial blanket from 11 to 21m depth. This sub-horizontal blanket zone is interpreted to extend from at least RC153 to DDH202 on section E553610 (Figure 4), and has been now traced continuously from west to east more than 250m from section E553508 to section E553750. Grades and widths tend to be highest to the north and to the west. This may prove to be an important zone for the trial-mining operation.

Drill Hole Weathering From to Width Grade # m m m g/t gold RC342 Blanket/Saprolite 0.0 28.0 28.0 1.8 5.0 11.0 6.0 7.1 EOH 50.0 RC343 Blanket/Saprolite 0.0 27.0 27.0 1.9 incl. 0.0 15.0 15.0 3.3 EOH 51.0 RC344 Blanket/Saprolite 0.0 9.0 9.0 0.8 15.0 24.0 9.0 0.5 38.0 45.0 7.0 0.7 EOH 48.0 RC346 Blanket/Saprolite 0.0 26.0 26.0 0.4 53.0 62.0 9.0 1.2 EOH 78.0 RC347 Blanket/Saprolite 3.0 25.0 22.0 0.2 31.0 35.0 4.0 1.5 incl. 33.0 34.0 1.0 4.7 EOH 60.0 RC348 Saprolite 6.0 21.0 15.0 0.3 EOH 30.0

Table 1: Drill results from near surface MG gold-in-oxide blanket / saprolite zone regarding holes RC342 to RC348

These drill results and those that are pending will allow the generation of a more accurate resource model of the oxide resources at MG and Central which will form the basis of a proposed mine plan. The prefeasibility study on trial mining of the gold-in-oxide resources will consider the exploitation by open-pit mining and heap-leach processing of the higher-grade zones in the initial years of production.

Drilling is ongoing with a total of 42 RC holes and 9 shallower auger holes completed to date as part of the current drill program. Results are currently pending on 12 RC holes and 9 power auger holes at MG and 24 RC holes at Central.

About Cabral Gold Inc.

The Company is a junior resource company engaged in the identification, exploration and development of mineral properties, with a primary focus on gold properties located in Brazil. The Company has a 100% interest in the Cuiu Cuiu gold district located in the Tapajos Region, within the state of Para in northern Brazil. Two main gold deposits have so far been defined at the Cuiu Cuiu project which contains National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated resources of 21.6Mt @ 0.87 g/t gold (604,000 oz) and Inferred resources of 19.8Mt @ 0.84 g/t gold (534,500 oz) as per the 43-101 technical report dated October 12, 2022.

The Tapajos Gold Province is the site of the largest gold rush in Brazil's history which according to the ANM (Agencia Nacional de Mineracao or National Mining Agency of Brazil) produced an estimated 30 to 50 million ounces of placer gold between 1978 and 1995. Cuiu Cuiu was the largest area of placer workings in the Tapajos and produced an estimated 2Moz of placer gold historically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

"Alan Carter"



President and Chief Executive Officer

Cabral Gold Inc.



Tel: 604.676.5660

Guillermo Hughes, MAusIMM and FAIG., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct.

Notes

Gold analysis has been conducted by SGS method FAA505 (fire assay of 50g charge), with higher grade samples checked by FAA525. Analytical quality is monitored by certified references and blanks. Until dispatch, samples are stored under the supervision the Company's exploration office. The samples are couriered to the assay laboratory using a commercial contractor. Pulps are returned to the Company and archived. Drill holes results are quoted as down-hole length weighted intersections.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183739
Expand North Star 2023 accelerates global VC investment revival as deep tech game-changers choose Dubai as launch-pad for global growth

Record number of Indian start-ups to converge at four-day event's new iconic Dubai Harbour venue

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- India's burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit and proliferation of next-gen deep tech talent will take centre-stage next week in Dubai, as the world's largest start-up event prepares to host the biggest showcase of Indian start-ups ever seen outside the south-central Asian nation.

Hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, Expand North Star 2023 together will feature more than 1,800 exhibiting start-ups from 100-plus countries at its new Dubai Harbour venue from 15-18 October. This includes 200 breakthrough Indian companies choosing the emirate as their launchpad to scale up globally.

From international award-winning Google accelerated gaming innovators, to producers of de-carbonised protein for the US$500 billion animal feed industry, game-changers from the world's third-largest start-up ecosystem are gathering in Dubai to woo investors and secure customers for global expansion.

Sustainable Agri-tech the formidable foundation of future commerce

Among the pioneering start-ups at Expand North Star's new India Central feature is Noval Sustainability, which is launching DE-Carbon, an animal feed protein recycled from waste that, according to Founder Siva Sankar, is formulated to substantially reduce the environmental footprint of the carbon-heavy feed and meat industries.

"We will showcase the tech behind recovering protein from waste," said Sankar, who will demonstrate at Expand North Star how Noval Sustainability's manufacturing process decarbonises one of the world's largest and most-polluting industries.

"The world wastes more than 30 percent of the food that is produced, and the same ratio holds for the amount of proteins wasted from meat consumption. We are bridging the gap with a solution, and there's a humongous untapped economic value in this waste. With an inclusion of just one percent of alternative proteins in animal feed, we're looking at a US$500 billion industry."

Scaling-up through deep tech immersive gaming

Elsewhere, investors in the US$300 billion gaming industry will see a fresh injection of deep tech gaming platforms, spearheaded by Tuttifrutti Interactive's Sophia's Adventures fantasy themed game that uses cinematic quality Unreal 5 Nanite technology.

Ajish Habib, CEO of Tuttifrutti Interactive, a Google-accelerated, Epic Games Mega Grant recipient, and winner of 15 international awards, said Sophia's Adventures alpha version will redefine the female gaming market, propelling the company, and potential seed angel investors, to exponential growth.

"With its official launch for Sony PlayStation and VR2 market, Tuttifrutti will grow a minimum four times by 2025, and with an upcoming half a dozen IP games, we'll scale-up over 165 times by 2028, targeting revenues of US$80 million," said Habib.

"Immersive game tech coupled with AI and deep tech will revolutionise the gaming market, and we're leveraging AI in all aspects in our product development, from designing game emotions, and fine-tuning design, to marketing, and customer acquisition."

Unveiling growth roadmaps

Manifested through its power-packed conference programme, Expand North Star will present key Indian unicorn founders will unveil the critical global growth path to unstoppable success.

Headliners include Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO & Co-Founder of Ola Cabs & Ola Electric, India's largest ridesharing company with over 1.5 million drivers; and Abiraj Singh Bhal, CEO & Founder of Urban Company, a Series F $2.8 billion company offering the largest home services platform in India and UAE.

Expand North Star's 10X Stage will also feature Rajan Anandan, Managing Director of Peak XV and Surge, a rapid scale-up programme for start-ups in India and Southeast Asia. Anandan is focusing on developing Surge into the world's top scale-up programme for start-ups by acting as an investment advisor and mentor to the programme's founders. He will share his visions for India's booming start-up ecosystem for 2023 and beyond.

Forging deep cross-border economic ties to accelerate growth

Ballooning to nearly double that of the previous year, Indian participation at Expand North Star 2023 comes as the UAE and India continue to amplify bi-lateral trade and investment opportunities.

Under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UAE and India plan to double the value of non-oil trade from 2023 to 2030, reaching US$100 billion. According to Dubai Chambers, 30 percent of the emirate's start-ups are Indian-owned, while 83,000 Indian companies are registered in Dubai. Indian firms and non-resident Indian owned entities have also created more than one million UAE jobs.

Expand North Star 2023 will intensify these achievements, convening more than 1,000 tech investors and Venture Capitalists from 70 countries with US$1 trillion of capital to inspire, and scale-up the world's most sought-after start-ups.

Expand North Star is the powerhouse start-up event inspired by GITEX GLOBAL, the world's largest tech show, which takes place from 16-20 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The blockbuster duo, organised by DWTC, are spearheading the world's biggest tech takeover in Dubai, spanning 2.7 million sq. ft. of exhibition space - a 40 percent increase over the previous year.

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About Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC):

A global business facilitator since 1979, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is home to region's leading purpose-built convention and exhibition centre. DWTC provides a platform for connecting people, products, innovation and ideas from around the world through a dynamic calendar of international trade exhibitions and its own roster of sector leading mega events. As a designated free zone, complemented by award-winning commercial real estate, DWTC plays an integral role in Dubai and the region's growth story with an estimated total economic output of AED 200 Billion, attracting over 30 Million business visitors to Dubai over the past four decades.

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Trends and technical developments in the field of youth film and media on the agenda during Cinekid Festival 2023

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cinekid for Professionals presents its extensive international industry programme. As a crucial part of Cinekid Festival 2023, world's largest media and film festival for children, they welcome over three hundred professionals in the children's film industry annually. The Cinekid for Professionals industry programme starts on October 24, at the main location of Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam Noord. On the agenda are an exclusive view of the project Sam & Julia, a special keynote from the Animation Art Director at Pixar Animation Studios, Deanna Marsigliese, and the celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of the talent development programmes, Cinekid Script LAB.

Heleen Rouw, Director of Cinekid: "At Cinekid Festival, we connect the creators with our young audience in all activities. In addition, in our Cinekid for Professionals programme, we ignite the imagination of international professionals and facilitate scriptwriters, directors and producers in their creative process. As an integral part of the Cinekid Festival programme, CfP serves as a catalyst for the entire project development from idea to curation and education. This is how we enrich the children's films and media industry."

Cinekid for Professionals

Cinekid for Professionals (CfP) provides comprehensive year-round industry programming for film professionals, targeting the entire life cycle of a film. Writers develop scripts in the Script LAB, teams pitch at the JCM for international partnerships and funds, and the Directors LAB supports pre-production. Works-in-progress projects can be pitched at the JCM, and finished films are showcased in the ScreeningClub. CfP also fosters knowledge exchange through Producers LINK and expert sessions in the Industry Forum. The film Kiddo, directed Zara Dwinger, exemplifies CfP's holistic support, leading to a premiere in the Berlinale's Generation section. This continuous nurturing of talent makes CfP an important incubator for independent children's filmmaking.

Over three hundred industry professionals are set to attend this edition of CfP. Guests will network with international colleagues, discover the latest trends in CfP's conference, the Industry Forum, and catch a glimpse of the best new projects in development at the Junior Co-Production Market, such as Sam & Julia - a work-in-progress project directed by Regis Vidal.

Exploring coexisting realities at the Industry Forum

This year, the previously announced Deanna Marsigliese, Animation Art Director at Pixar, will share her insights on finding creativity and following intuition during the Industry Forum. CEO and co-founder of Neon Wild Matt Weckel will also join the panel during the international conference. Neon Wild, focusing strongly on game representation, is collaborating with DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal to bring their extraordinary library of family content to life. The expert panel delves into the question: 'What is real, and for whom?'. Moderated by Isabel Sheridan, the panel discussion addresses the complexities of understanding the needs of various young audiences. The afternoon features ten interactive thematic roundtables led by various artists, researchers and educators, in addition to directors, producers, and screenwriters of the films and series screened at the Cinekid Festival.

Cinekid Script LAB turns 10 years

The Cinekid Script LAB celebrates its 10th edition, a distinctive programme for scriptwriters that provides tailored sessions for developing children's film and series projects. Participants bring the total number of projects to 110 (102 feature films, eight series) by 138 writers, representing 31 production countries that have followed the six-month trajectory over the last decade. Head of Studies Esther van Driesum has overseen the LAB's development of festival hits, including the opening film of Cinekid Festival Jippie No More! In the 'Ask your Audience' sessions in Amsterdam, writers receive feedback directly from their target audience, while in Berlin, actors bring scripts to life during guided sessions. These residencies coincide with two children's media festivals, Cinekid Festival and the Berlinale, providing a platform for networking and international industry engagement alongside script development.

Further highlights of the extensive industry programme

The Producers LINK programme, which started earlier at the Young Horizons International Film Festival in Poland for invited participants, has an extended programme at Cinekid for Professionals in the Netherlands. Together with industry experts, they will explore the significance of audience awareness in the highly competitive youth content audio-visual landscape and brainstorm about the sector's future for children. Accredited guests will also have access to Cinekid's online video library, the ScreeningClub, featuring films from Cinekid's competitions. The overall comprehensive schedule promises a rich educational experience for industry professionals in media and film.

Cinekid Festival 2023

Cinekid for Professionals is part of Cinekid Festival, world's largest media and film festival for children. Cinekid Festival takes place in over 40 theatres throughout the Netherlands and on Curacao. The festival screens premieres of (inter)national films and series, organizes daily masterclasses, workshops and hosts other activities such as meet & greets with actors. The theme of Cinekid Festival 2023 is 'Is this real?' is inspired by the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI). With a strong focus on storytelling, Cinekid Festival, together with children, explores the impact of AI on media, film, visual language, storytelling, interaction, and creativity within the scope of the theme.

The complete programme of Cinekid for Professionals is available via the website. You will find more information about how to attend here.

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LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Talos, a provider of institutional digital assets trading technology, announced its integration with Coinbase International Exchange, a licensed digital assets exchange that launched earlier this year. The integration allows mutual clients of Talos and Coinbase International Exchange based in eligible jurisdictions outside of the US to trade perpetual futures on Coinbase International Exchange directly from the Talos platform.

Perpetual futures account for nearly 75% of global crypto trading volume. As a result of this integration, institutions will be able to access Coinbase International Exchange via a user interface for the first time. By connecting to Coinbase International Exchange's capabilities-including access to BTC, ETH, LTC, and XRP perpetual futures contracts, real-time 24/7 risk management, and dynamic margin requirements-Talos expands its clients' access to an important means of exposure to digital assets.

"We are excited to collaborate with Coinbase International Exchange to achieve our shared goal of driving institutional adoption of digital assets globally," said Dan Packham, VP of EMEA Operations at Talos. "This integration underscores our commitment to expanding our network of high-quality exchanges and liquidity providers. Coinbase International Exchange's focus on transparent and robust risk management aligns with our objective to deliver to our clients the tools and liquidity they need to trade with confidence."

Both Talos and Coinbase International Exchange uphold rigorous standards of regulatory compliance and security. Coinbase International's recently approved regulatory license from the Bermuda Monetary Authority reinforces its commitment to partnering with high-bar global regulators. Talos's platform, known for securely integrating institutional clients with their preferred exchanges, OTC desks, custodians and other digital asset providers, stands as a strong complement.

"The need for trust, security, and transparency in global crypto markets has never been stronger," said Emmanual Goh, Head of Coinbase International Exchange. "We are pleased to integrate with Talos, known for their trading technology for digital assets, to bring our perpetual futures offering to a broad institutional clientele. Together, we are expanding institutional access to digital assets."

Eligible mutual clients can seamlessly connect to Coinbase International Exchange either through Talos's graphical user interface (GUI) or application programming interface (API). This integration expands on the ongoing collaboration between Talos and Coinbase as the companies work towards their shared goal of increasing institutional access to digital assets.

To learn more, please contact intx.enquiries@coinbase.com or media@talos.com

About Talos

Talos provides an institutional-grade technology infrastructure that supports the full lifecycle of digital assets trading and procurement including liquidity sourcing, price discovery, trade execution, settlement, lending, and borrowing. Engineered by a team with unmatched experience building institutional trading systems, the Talos platform connects the diverse group of participants involved in today's crypto-asset market structure - institutional investors, prime brokers, exchanges, OTC desks, lenders, and custodians - through a single point of entry. This streamlines the entire trading process, eliminates unnecessary intermediary risk, and provides institutions a clear path to best execution. For additional information, visit www.talos.com.

Disclaimer: Talos offers software as a service products that provide connectivity tools for institutional clients. Talos does not provide clients with any pre-negotiated arrangements with liquidity providers or other parties. Clients are required to independently negotiate arrangements with liquidity providers and other parties bilaterally. Talos is not party to any of these arrangements. Services may not be available in all jurisdictions. For information about which services are available in your jurisdiction, please reach out to your sales representative.

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Finavia is delighted to announce the successful completion of the most extensive development programme in the history of Helsinki Airport. With the investment of over one billion euros over a ten-year period, Finavia ensures Finland's global accessibility and Helsinki Airport's position as one of the top airports in Europe, which is now ready to welcome 30 million passengers annually.

Helsinki Airport is the first point of contact for many passengers arriving in Finland. The airport's design aims to showcase Finnish design and expertise, not only in terminal architecture and material choices but also in its service offerings. Passengers, businesses operating at the airport and airport personnel were extensively involved in the planning.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012320499/en/

Finavia is delighted to announce the successful completion of the most extensive development programme in the history of Helsinki Airport. With the investment of over one billion euros over a ten-year period, Finavia ensures Finland's global accessibility and Helsinki Airport's position as one of the top airports in Europe, which is now ready to welcome 30 million passengers annually. In June 2023, the international airport organisation ACI (Airports Council International) awarded Helsinki Airport the recognition of the best airport in Europe in its size category. Photo by Finavia.

As a result of the development programme, the terminal's floor area has increased by 45%, allowing for new, modern airport facilities to be introduced for passengers. The departure and arrival halls were completely renovated, and the airport transitioned into a single-terminal model. Additionally, the security control, shops, restaurants, services and parking and public transportation arrangements were comprehensively updated.

Helsinki Airport's selection of shops and restaurants has significantly improved due to the development programme. During summer and autumn of 2023 alone, nearly 20 new commercial units opened at the airport, increasing the terminal's retail space to a total of 29,000 square meters (+ 3,000 m2).

The new travel centre conveniently connects various modes of transportation and provides seamless connections to Helsinki city centre as well as other parts of Finland. The travel centre links local and long-distance bus services, the Helsinki metropolitan area commuter train service, a taxi station and the airport's various parking areas. For the planning and implementation of this transportation hub, Finavia received approximately 9.6 million euros in EU funding.

Finavia approached the development programme with its airline customers strongly in mind. With the expanded terminal level, new aircraft parking spots, passenger boarding bridges and increased baggage handling capacity, airlines can operate smoothly at Helsinki Airport and service their customers even better than before. Currently, around 50 airlines operate at Helsinki Airport, offering direct flights to 130 destinations worldwide.

"Helsinki Airport, opened for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, was constructed piece by piece over decades, with different parts of the terminal representing the design and architecture of different decades. Now, all functions and services have been brought under one roof. This enables a world-class customer experience, keeps distances within the airport short and makes all services easily accessible," says Kimmo Maki, CEO of Finavia.

The decade-long development has earned international recognition

In June 2023, the international airport organisation ACI (Airports Council International) awarded Helsinki Airport the recognition of the best airport in Europe in its size category. Criteria for selection included sustainability efforts, operational efficiency, innovation and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Helsinki Airport has also been chosen as the best airport in Northern Europe five times (2016-2023). In addition, the airport has received numerous international awards and recognitions for project management, construction, BIM (Building Information Modeling) implementation at various project stages, architecture and design, restaurant services and certifications for responsible construction.

"In addition to the massive construction project, we have also achieved our ambitious customer satisfaction goal. The airport's operations continued as usual throughout the development programme, and at the same time, the passengers' positive customer experience improved amidst the construction. Customer satisfaction with Helsinki Airport was already at a high level before the start of the development programme, and I am very pleased that it has continued to rise," Kimmo Maki continues.

In addition to customer experience, the projects included in the development programme comprehensively considered climate and environmental aspects in material choices and energy solutions. The development programme had a significant impact on Helsinki Airport becoming carbon neutral as early as 2017.

"Sustainability is a prerequisite for the future of the entire industry and, through that, for Helsinki Airport's renovated facilities to serve passengers for decades to come," Maki summarises.

Images and other material of Helsinki Airport for media use are available to download from Finavia's media bank.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012320499/en/

Contacts:

Additional information and interview requests:

Finavia Media Desk, tel. (+358) 020 708 2002, comms@finavia.fi
The extension demonstrates shared objective of creating impactful digital transformation and investing in digital talent in Singapore

BENGALURU, India and SINGAPORE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a five-year extension of its successful joint venture collaboration with Temasek, a global investment firm headquartered in Singapore. Infosys Compaz ("iCompaz"), the Infosys-Temasek joint venture (JV) company, has collaborated with large corporations in Southeast Asia on their digital transformation journeys, leveraging its deep technology expertise across cloud, data and analytics, cybersecurity, digital, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, among others.

This extension underscores iCompaz's commitment to growing its presence in Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian market. The region is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is a key market for growth. iCompaz, which was formed in 2018, has collaborated with Temasek on its technology transformation initiatives such as deploying new digital architecture, data applications and security infrastructure. This announcement further deepens the commitment that Infosys had made in 2018, to invest in advanced technologies and capability-building, with the aim of delivering high-quality professional services and supporting the growth and development of its workforce.

iCompaz is powered by Infosys' deep capabilities in business innovation through Infosys Cobalt, a set of services, solutions and platforms for enterprises to accelerate their cloud journey. Leveraging Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions and platforms using generative AI technologies, iCompaz will enable clients to create value from unprecedented innovations, pervasive efficiencies, and connected ecosystems.

Dennis Gada, EVP, Head of Financial Services, Infosys, said, "We deeply value our collaboration with Temasek, and it has helped us scale both technology capabilities and talent base in the region. Our journey over the last 5 years has demonstrated shared aspirations of amplifying human potential. We look forward to further building on the strong foundation we have laid together to provide differentiated value to all stakeholders across the region."

Rao Baskara, Chief Technology Officer, Temasek, said, "We look forward to extending our collaboration and the next phase of growth of iCompaz as it continues to provide quality digital services to companies in Southeast Asia. This engagement also enhances Temasek's capabilities, and enables us to harness the potential that digital transformation brings."

Manohar Atreya, CEO, Infosys Compaz, said, "iCompaz has proven its expertise in the sphere of large-scale digital and IT transformation. We are delighted to extend this collaboration with Temasek, as we continue to leverage the global scale and depth of Infosys in intelligent AI platforms and data solutions, to help clients navigate their next journey in business transformation."

About Temasek

Temasek is a global investment company with a net portfolio value of S$382 billion as at 31 March 2023. Our Purpose "So Every Generation Prospers" guides us to make a difference for today's and future generations. As an active investor, forward looking institution and trusted steward, we are committed to deliver sustainable value over the long term. Temasek has overall corporate credit ratings of Aaa/AAA by rating agencies Moody's Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings respectively.?Headquartered in Singapore, we have 13 offices in 9 countries around the world: Beijing, Hanoi, Mumbai, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Singapore in Asia; and London, Brussels, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Mexico City outside Asia.?

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, our ability to attract and retain personnel, our transition to hybrid work model, economic uncertainties, technological innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, and our corporate actions including acquisitions. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

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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!

INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) announced Thursday that mirikizumab in Phase 3 VIVID-1 trial met the co-primary and all major secondary endpoints compared to placebo in adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. With these data, Lilly plans to submit a marketing application for mirikizumab in Crohn's disease to the Food and Drug Administration, followed by submissions to other regulatory agencies around the world, in 2024. Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD that can cause systemic inflammation, and can lead to intestinal obstruction, fibrosis and other complications. In the trial, Mirikizumab, an investigational interleukin-23p19 antagonist, demonstrated clinical remission and endoscopic response for patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease through 52 weeks. VIVID-1 is a double-blind, treat-through Phase 3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of mirikizumab in adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. The trial included mirikizumab, placebo and active control (ustekinumab) arms. Lotus Mallbris,senior vice president of immunology development at Lilly, said, 'I'm excited by these results, which showed more than half of patients on mirikizumab achieved clinical remission as measured by CDAI at one year. Furthermore, mirikizumab demonstrated robust efficacy across subgroups and particularly in patients for whom prior biologic therapy had failed.' The company plans to disclose full data from the Phase 3 VIVID program in publications and at upcoming congresses. Mirikizumab is currently indicated for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis or UC in Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada. For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com 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.
Including: 0.9 m grading 720.3 g/t Ag, 12% Pb, 0.1% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 1,133.6 g/t AgEq)

And: 60.7 m grading 69.8g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 175.2 g/t AgEq)

To view a summary of today's press release by Ridgeline CEO Chad Peters, click HERE

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Ridgeline Minerals Corp. (TSXV: RDG) (OTCQB: RDGMF) (FSE: 0GC0) ("Ridgeline" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from the first two core holes of its proposed five (5) hole, 3,000-meter ("m") drill program at the Selena ("Selena") project, Nevada (Figure 1). Results from the Upper Chinchilla zone returned continuous intercepts of shallow-oxide, silver ("Ag") - lead ("Pb") - zinc ("Zn") - gold ("Au") containing high-grade including intervals that are consistent with nearby reverse circulation ("RC") holes. Notably, deeper drilling beneath the Upper Chinchilla zone in hole SE23-048 also intersected localized antimony-rich ("Sb") breccia intervals averaging 1-2% Sb, which are the first of its kind at Selena.

Chad Peters, Ridgeline's President, and CEO commented, "This year's drill program has two primary objectives. The first is to upgrade previously drilled, shallow-oxide RC intercepts in the Upper Chinchilla zone, and the second is to make a high-grade CRD discovery at depth. Hole 47 drilled between 2021 RC holes 13 and 14, materially upgrading both the thickness and overall grade of both holes, which includes a significant oxide gold component. This zone is shallow and projects up-dip through hole 48 to surface and is open for expansion. These intercepts confirm our belief that there is significant potential to delineate a shallow-oxide resource at Chinchilla that may be amenable to low-cost heap-leach processing methods."

Mr. Peters continues, "The highest priority holes of the program are holes 49 and 50, which are in-progress and will drill to depths of 700 meters or more to test for stacked zones of CRD mineralization beneath the Upper Chinchilla Zone. These holes are targeting both sides of the known chimney structure that is believed to be a primary feeder to the Upper Chinchilla zone, which returned bonanza grade CRD intercepts in our 2022 program."

Chinchilla Zone results summary

SE23-048: 0.9 m grading 720.3 g/t Ag, 12.0% Pb, 0.1% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 1,133.6 g/t Silver Equivalent) ("AgEq") within 10.9 m grading 94.1 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.2 g/t Au starting at 85.3m true vertical depth ("TVD") (Figure 1 & Figure 2) And: 0.6 m grading 3.6 g/t Ag, 2.4% Sb, 0.1 g/t Au starting at 240 m TVD And: 3.6 m grading 0.5 g/t Ag, 1.2% Sb, NA g/t Au starting at 247 m TVD

within 10.9 m grading 94.1 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.2 g/t Au starting at 85.3m true vertical depth ("TVD") (Figure 1 & Figure 2)

SE23-047: 4.6 m grading 55.2 g/t Ag, 1.2% Pb, 7.2% Zn, 0.2 g/t Au (or 421.1 g/t AgEq) and 2.8 m grading 205.8 g/t Ag, 1.4% Pb, 0.3% Zn, 1.4 g/t Au (or 386.1.1 g/t AgEq) within 60.7 m grading 69.8 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 175.2 g/t AgEq) starting at 93.8 m TVD (Figure 2) The 60.7 m composite calculation includes a combined 7.3 m of unrecovered core (typically in 1-2m intervals) due to collapsing hole conditions through the mineralized zone. These intervals were assigned an assay value of 0.0 across all metals, resulting in an estimated dilution of roughly 12% to the overall composite value

within 60.7 m grading 69.8 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 175.2 g/t AgEq) starting at 93.8 m TVD (Figure 2)

Both intercepts are hosted within 10 m to 60 m wide zones of strongly oxidized carbonate replacement ("CRD") style alteration and are open for expansion up and down-dip.

Holes SE23-049 and SE23-050 are in progress and located ~500 m west of SE23-047 and SE23-048 (Figure 2). Both holes will test for stacked mineralization beneath the high-grade Upper Chinchilla zone intersected with holes SE22-039 and SE22-045 in 2022 (see January 24 press release HERE) SE23-049 has ~250 m of prospective host rocks remaining to test before moving to SE23-050 and has intersected multiple zones of fugitive calcite breccias or "BBQ Rock" beneath the Upper Chinchilla zone, a proximal indicator of CRD alteration and mineralization (see BBQ Rock core photo HERE)



For a complete table of all Chinchilla Zone assay results click HERE

Figure 1: Plan view map showing SE23-047 and SE23-048 results on the eastern edge of the Chinchilla zone as well as select historical drill intercepts. SE23-049 and SE23-050 are in progress





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/183736_0169cd1654a36af3_002full.jpg

Silver Equivalent Calculation: Metal Prices ($20 Ag, $0.90 Pb, $1.25 Zn, 1800 Au, no recovery factor applied)

Silver g/t + (Gold g/t * (Gold Price/ Silver Price)) + ((22.0462* Lead Price)/ ((1/31.1035) * (Ag Price)) * Lead %) +

((22.0462* Zinc Price)/ ((1/31.1035) * (Ag Price)) * Zinc %)

Figure 2: Chinchilla Long-Section C-C' highlighting SE23-047 and SE23-048 drill intercepts with the interpreted geometry of high-grade "chimney" and stratabound "manto" horizons shown with silver equivalent grade contours





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/183736_0169cd1654a36af3_003full.jpg

To view Chinchilla X-Section D-D' Click HERE.

To view property-wide long-section A-A' click HERE.

Picture 1: Shortwave ultra-violet photo of SE23-049 drill core starting at 293 m depth showing fugitive calcite veins or "BBQ Rock" within previously untested host rocks beneath the Upper Chinchilla Zone





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/183736_0169cd1654a36af3_004full.jpg

Selena Project

Selena is located in White Pine County, Nevada, approximately 64 kilometers ("km") north of the town of Ely, NV. The Project shares a property boundary with the Butte Valley project, a US $33M earn-in agreement between Freeport-McMoRan and Falcon Butte Minerals. The 100% owned project is comprised of 39 square kms of highly prospective exploration ground including Ridgeline's shallow-oxide 2020 Ag-Au  Pb-Zn Chinchilla discovery. Subsequent drilling has continued to highlight the potential for high-grade CRD type mineralization (Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Cu) between Chinchilla and the Butte Valley Cu-Au-Ag porphyry located directly west of the property. (View the Selena VRIFY Deck Here)

QAQC Procedures

Samples are submitted to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) of Sparks, Nevada, which is a certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Independent check samples are sent to Paragon Geochemical Labs (PAL) of Sparks, Nevada. Samples are prepared using industry-standard prep methods and analysed using FA-PB30-ICP (Au; 30 g fire assay) and ICP-5AM48 (48 element Suite; 0.5 g 5-acid digestion/ICP-MS) methods. AAL also undertakes its own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. Ridgeline's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results completed by the Company's Qualified Person, Michael T. Harp, Vice President, Exploration.

Technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael T. Harp, CPG. the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is Ridgeline's Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and responsible for technical matters of this release.

About Ridgeline Minerals Corp.

Ridgeline Minerals is a discovery focused precious and base metal explorer with a proven management team and a 204 km2 exploration portfolio across six projects in Nevada and Idaho, USA. More information about Ridgeline can be found at www.RidgelineMinerals.com.

On behalf of the Board

"Chad Peters"

President & CEO

Further Information:

Chad Peters, P.Geo.

President, CEO & Director

Ridgeline Minerals Corp.

+1 775 304 9773

cpeters@ridgelineminerals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated benefits of the Earn-In Agreement and the transaction contemplated thereby. The words "potential", "anticipate", "meaningful", "discovery", "forecast", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "plan", "historical", "historic" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, Ridgeline has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that TSX Venture Exchange approval will be granted in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions; the current objectives concerning the Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; and that all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Ridgeline to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to dependence on key personnel; risks related to unforeseen delays; risks related to historical data that has not been verified by the Company; as well as those factors discussed in Ridgeline's public disclosure record. Although Ridgeline has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Ridgeline and may cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Ridgeline does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183736
The role of collaboration between emerging and G20 markets, the GCC as a clean energy hub, and smart living technologies in the energy transition all on the agenda

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With the UAE all set to host the United Nations' 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in November, next week's inaugural SuperBridge Summit Dubai - taking place at the Museum of the Future in Dubai on 16-17 October 2023 - will bring together diverse thought leaders and visionaries from around the interconnected world to discuss the role that countries can play in envisioning and contributing towards a more sustainable future for all.

Driving the world's energy transition

"The Earth's future is at stake, and it needs emerging economies to transition to greener and cleaner energy systems," according to Dr. Nasser Saidi, Founder and Chairman of the Clean Energy Business Council, a non-profit, non-governmental association that brings together leading local and international organizations in the MENA clean energy sector from both the private and public spheres.

He continued, "I am a firm believer that the GCC can take centre stage in the global energy transition. As the GCC undertakes massive investments in renewable energy and moves towards achieving its NZE goals, not only can the GCC leverage its advantageous location at the heart of the global sunbelt and secure pole position as lowest cost producer of solar power, but the region's experience with developing and using climate tech could also help export technologies such as desalination, district cooling and desert agriculture."

"The region's financial centres have the resources and expertise to become international centres for climate, green and blue finance - investment with positive impacts on the oceans. This will[not only] accelerate the GCC's energy transition and economic diversification plans [but also] build on existing and growing trade and investment relations that the GCC has with emerging nations, especially Africa & Asia," said Dr. Saidi.

Role of technology in promoting sustainable urban development

Consumers today are increasingly conscious of their purchasing choices and their impact in the long-term. A reflection of this can be seen in the trends related to smart living technologies. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI), touchless technology, smart thermostats, and health tech, smart living technologies not only offer convenience but also contribute to a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.

At the Summit, Dr. Chao Wang, Founder and CEO of Ambilight, a world-leading electrochromic technology developer will share insights into "how our electrochromic technology is at the forefront of shaping the future of urban living by making it more comfortable, efficient, sustainable, and user-centric."

"Our vision is to usher in a new era where technology harmoniously integrates with urban life, creating environments that are not just smarter but also more enriching and enjoyable for everyone," he continued.

Touching on his outlook for smart living, Dr. Wang shared that, "The smart living industry and sustainable urban planning in 2024 will be characterized by the integration of smart glass solutions into urban landscapes. These solutions not only enhance comfort and well-being but also contribute significantly to environmental sustainability, aligning perfectly with the principles of ESG. As more glass becomes an integral part of cities, it is imperative that it becomes smarter and greener, ensuring that people can enjoy comfortable, natural environments while upholding a commitment to a more sustainable and eco-conscious future. We hope everyone can enjoy natural light."

Looking further ahead, Dr. Wang added, "In the next 5-10 years, smart living technologies are expected to undergo significant development, transformation, and innovation, which will also bring about changes to urban areas. Smart living technologies will shape urban areas in the next 5-10 years by creating smart cities, transportation, homes, and agriculture. These technologies will also help to promote economic development for different regions by reducing costs, improving efficiency, creating new businesses and markets, improving people's living standards and quality of life, and promoting sustainable urban development."

Michael Sheren, President of MVGX, a leading green fintech group, and Former Chairman of G20, is a Summit speaker on transforming the energy landscape through alliances in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He believes that "there should be an ongoing conversation between the G20 countries and emerging markets on how to provide them [emerging markets] with a just, fair and deserving climate resilient economy led by key infrastructure projects starting with renewable energy."

"At the SuperBridge Summit Dubai, I'm looking forward to interacting with a collection of conviction driven experienced professionals and experts looking to provide ideas and solutions on the important issues of our time," he continued.

Exploring transformative opportunity at the summit

With 2023 declared as the Year of Sustainability in the UAE, the SuperBridge Summit Dubai will aim to dive deeper into similar trends that are driving developed and emerging economies on their green energy transition journeys, while advancing climate finance opportunities. This will be an important area of focus for us as the Summit will ignite, connect and unite future-minded, action-oriented leaders from the world's fastest growing economies to explore transformative opportunities across the world.

The inaugural SuperBridge Summit, taking place from 16-17 October 2023 at Dubai's iconic Museum of the Future will be a unique platform converging more than 500 investors, business, government, policy and cultural leaders from 20 countries to accelerate investment and co-creation opportunities in hitherto untapped and under-explored markets.

A pioneering initiative by KAOUN International, a subsidiary of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), and the SuperBridge Council, the SuperBridge Summit Dubai will be held in partnership with the 43rd edition of GITEX Global, the world's largest and most influential tech event hosted in Dubai, attracting tech executives and investors from 170 countries.

More information is available at www.superbridgedubai.com

Website:

http://superbridgedubai.com/

Press Registration:

http://event.superbridgedubai.com/MediaRegistration

On social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superbridgesummit/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superbridgesummit/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/superbridgedxb

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/superbridgesummit/about/

Hashtag:

SuperBridgeDubai

Media Contact:

Four Agency Worldwide

SuperBridgeSummit@four.agency

Ben Bladon - Associate Director - Tel: +971 58 850 5026

Claudia Dalton - Account Director - Tel: +971 58 850 5420

Gareth Wright - PR Director

Tel.: + 971 50 273 3832

Gareth.Wright@dwtc.com

Tayce Marchesi - PR Executive

Tel.: + 971 58 552 3994

Tayce.Marchesi@dwtc.com

About KAOUN International

KAOUN International is the independent events company and wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) established to organize and manage events internationally. Derived from the Arabic word 'universe', KAOUN International's mission is to 'Create Limitless Connections' for the industries and markets in which it operates. Created to leverage the 40-year legacy of DWTC's events management business and drive future MICE sector opportunity in the MENASA region. KAOUN International delivers game-changing live experiences that build robust business connections, create opportunity, and stimulate economic growth, building on DWTC's extensive portfolio of business and consumer events spanning multiple sectors, including technology, food and hospitality, sustainability, broadcast and satellite, automotive, talent development and leisure marine.

About the SuperBridge Council

The SuperBridge Council was established to synergize and bring together a new non-political platform for global leaders from fast-growing economies. It bridges the old and the young, tradition and modernity, the north and the south, the east and the west, to inspire new strategies and forge sustainable solutions for the next generations to thrive. The inaugural edition of the show will take place from 16-17 October 2023, at the Museum of the Future in Dubai, UAE. More information: http://superbridgedubai.com/

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BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSX-V:NOAL) ("NOA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has recently expanded it's land position in two of its projects, by acquiring two new mining claims. The first acquisition covers 4,351 hectares (" ha ") at the Arizaro salar (" Arizaro Claim ") and the second acquisition covers 1,124 ha at the Salinas Grandes salar (" Salinas Claim "), both properties are located in the Province of Salta, Argentina. These property acquisitions will be subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange, as applicable.

The Arizaro Claim (known as Tenement 23,614/18), provides the Company with a new exploration area, adding significant surface to the mining blocks already controlled by NOA in the Arizaro salar. With this acquisition, NOA now controls an area of approximately 39,028 ha at the Arizaro salar with the potential to further expand it with new concessions already applied for and still pending to be granted.

The Salinas Claim (known as Yacones Salinas V), is close to the Company's northern claims in the Salinas Grandes salar, in an area the Company believes has high potential for exploration. This new claim will form part of the Company's Salinas Grandes project which, inclusive of this acquisition, brings the Company's total controlling position to approximately 10,247 ha at the Salinas Grandes salar.

Gabriel Rubacha, Chief Executive Officer of NOA, stated, "These acquisitions strengthen NOA's position on both projects in the Arizaro and Salinas Grandes salars, two of the most exciting and underexplored lithium salars in the Lithium Triangle. These two claims will provide further exploration potential beyond our flagship Rio Grande project, where we are currently focusing our exploration efforts. Our current drilling campaign at Rio Grande is fully funded and on schedule to be completed before the end of the year, which plan to follow up with a published maiden resource estimate in early 2024".

Terms of the Agreements

Arizaro Claim

Pursuant to the terms of the definitive agreement for the Arizaro Claim, the Company will acquire 100% title over the Exploration Permit registered under Tenement n 23.614/18 from an arm's-length vendor (the " Arizaro Vendor ").

Total consideration for the Arizaro Claim (all figures in this release in $USD) shall be $115,000, and paid to the Arizaro Vendor, as follows:

$15,000 on execution of the definitive agreement; and $100,000 40 days after signing the definitive agreement.

The Company paid no finders' fees or commissions in connection with the acquisition of the Arizaro Claim.

Salinas Claim

Pursuant to the terms of the definitive agreement for the Salinas Claim, the Company will acquire 100% title over the Mina Yacones Salinas V claim from an arms-length vendor (the " Salinas Vendor ").

Total consideration for the Salinas Claim (all figures in this release in $USD) shall be $500,000, and paid to the Salinas Vendor, as follows:

$7,000 to be paid monthly for 12 months starting on October 1, 2023; $15,000 to be paid monthly for 12 months starting on October 1, 2024; and $152,000 to be paid on or before October 15, 2025.

The Company paid no finders' fees or commissions in connection with the acquisition of the Salinas Claim.

Maps showing the land holdings at both salars, including the acquired claims, can be found below.

About NOA Lithium Brines Inc.

NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by some of the largest players in the lithium industry. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars (Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes) and totalling over 100,000 hectares.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Gabriel Rubacha

Chief Executive Officer and Director

For Further Information:

Website: www.noalithium.com

Email: info@noalithium.com

Telephone: +54-9-11-5060-4709

Alternative Telephone: +1-403-571-8013

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements including, but not limited to NOA's future plans and objectives regarding its projects, which constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although NOA believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. NOA does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792218/noa-lithium-acquires-new-claims-at-arizaro-and-salinas-grandes-salars
Cross-Border Commerce Europe, the platform that drives cross-border e-commerce in Europe, launches a study that maps the 100 best global marketplaces in the sector with a zoom on their cross-border performance in Europe.

In 2022, the total cross-border e-commerce market in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway, amounted to a turnover of 265 billion (excluding travel). Of this total, 167 billion, or 63%, was generated by marketplaces. Leading the charge were industry giants Amazon and eBay, with an expected combined GMV/turnover of 55 billion and 23.2 billion in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the marketplace-driven trade.

The TOP 100 Cross-Border Marketplaces generate 140 billion in turnover throughout Europe. After the Covid-19 pandemic, marketplaces continued to grow by 9.3%, supported by hybrid B2C and pure C2C marketplaces. This growth is expected to continue in 2023, reaching 65% of cross-border online sales in Europe by 2025. HYBRID Marketplaces, due to an increasing share of third party (3P) often China-based sellers, will empower GMV-growth, outperforming PURE Marketplaces. A study conducted by CBCommerce with the support of FedEx Express and Poste Italiane.

The "TOP 100 Cross-Border Marketplaces operating in Europe" is a compilation of cross-border data of European marketplaces websites. The ranking is based on four primary parameters

Cross-border online sales in Europe (28 countries in Europe including the UK, Switzerland and Norway)

SEO indicators for cross-border performance

A cross-border score determined based on the number of covered countries

Number and percentage of cross-border visits

Five additional weighted parameters refine the ranking:

Type of marketplace business models (B2B B2C P2P C2C,)

Pan-European brand strategies

AI Big Data strategies

Types and numbers of services offered to customers

HYBRID or PURE marketplaces, in reference to third party sellers

The TOP 10 Global Cross-Border Marketplaces operating in Europe

TOP 1: AliExpress (China)

- TOP 2: Etsy (USA)

- TOP 3: Amazon (USA)

- TOP 4: eBay (USA)

- TOP 5: Discogs (USA)

- TOP 6: OLX (The Netherlands)

- TOP 7: Bandcamp (USA)

- TOP 8: Uber Eats (USA)

- TOP 9: Temu (China)

- TOP 10: Vinted (Lithuania)

Infographic: https://docs.cbcommerce.eu/press-releases/marketplaces/top100-marketplaces-2023-infographic.pdf

Full article: https://www.cbcommerce.eu/blog/2023/10/09/top-100-cross-border-marketplaces-europe-2023/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012361682/en/

Contacts:

Carine Moitier, Founder

Cross-Border Commerce Europe

Mobile: +32 473 26 05 61

E-mail: carine.moitier@cbcommerce.eu
According to Hazeltree data, Airbnb, American Airlines, Carnival Co, and Deutsche Lufthansa hit the top 10 most shorted securities in their respective regions

Hazeltree, a leader in active treasury and intelligent operations technology for the alternative asset industry, today published its Shortside Crowdedness Report for September. The report is a monthly listing of the top 10 shorted securities in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions in the large-, mid-, and small-cap ranges.

The data contained in the report comes from Hazeltree's proprietary securities finance platform data, which tracks approximately 12,000 global equities across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. The data is aggregated and anonymized from the contributing Hazeltree community, which includes approximately 700 asset manager funds.

During the month of September, the travel sector stood out globally with several stocks among the 10 most shorted in their categories based on their Hazeltree crowdedness score. In the Americas, this included Airbnb (82) and Carnival Co (77) in the large-cap category, Norwegian Cruise Lines (86) and American Airlines (79) in the mid-cap section, and Pebblebrook Hotel (94) in the small-cap group. In the EMEA mid-cap category, this included International Consolidated Airlines Group (69) and Deutsche Lufthansa (69).

Other highlights from the September 2023 report include:

Americas

In the large-cap category, Tesla was the most crowded security (99). This was Tesla's fourth consecutive month as the top shorted security in this category. Ford Motor Co. and Rivian Automotive were also among the top ten shorted stocks in this category, at 79 and 72, respectively. Rivian Automotive also had the highest institutional supply utilization at 28.26%.

In the mid-cap category, SOFI Technologies was the most crowded security (99). Bloom Energy had the highest institutional supply utilization (44.88%).

In the small-cap category, Sunnova Energy was the most crowded security for the second consecutive month, with a score of 99. Also notable, Bowlero made its way into the Shortside Report series with the highest institutional supply utilization (100%) and highest community borrow fee (3.53%).

EMEA

In the large-cap category, LVMH was the most crowded security, with a score of 99. Global transport and logistics company, Kuehne Nagel Intl had the highest institutional supply utilization at 14.78%.

In the mid-cap category, Alstom SA was the most crowded security, with a score of 99. Also notable was another new entrant to the Shortside Report series, Telecom Italia, which had the highest institutional supply utilization (38.64%).

In the small-cap category, NEL ASA was the most crowded security (99) for the second consecutive month. Mayer Burger, the second most crowded security with a score of 86, led in institutional supply utilization (78.24%).

APAC

In the large-cap category, Advantest and Nidec Corp were the most crowded securities, each with a score of 99. Advantest also led in institutional supply utilization (44.40%).

In the mid-cap category, Yaskawa Electric was the most crowded security (99), rising from a crowdedness score of 94 in August. Aozora Bank stood out with the highest institutional supply utilization (90.45%) and community borrow fee (2.13%).

In the small-cap category, Money Forward was the most crowded security, with a score of 99, for the second consecutive month. Flat Glass Group led in institutional supply utilization (60.81%) and community borrow fee (1.37%).

The Shortside Crowdedness Report tracks shorting activity in three different metrics:

Hazeltree Crowdedness Score: This score represents securities that are being shorted by the highest percentage of funds in Hazeltree's community in a pre-defined category. The securities are graded on a scale of 1-99, with 99 representing the security that the highest percentage of funds are shorting.

This score represents securities that are being shorted by the highest percentage of funds in Hazeltree's community in a pre-defined category. The securities are graded on a scale of 1-99, with 99 representing the security that the highest percentage of funds are shorting. Institutional Supply Utilization: This figure represents the percentage of the institutional investors' supply of a particular security that is being lent out. The institutional supply utilization rate is an indicator of how "hot" a security is in terms of the supply-demand dynamic. It is possible to see 100% utilization of a security's availability, making it difficult to establish new short positions.

This figure represents the percentage of the institutional investors' supply of a particular security that is being lent out. The institutional supply utilization rate is an indicator of how "hot" a security is in terms of the supply-demand dynamic. It is possible to see 100% utilization of a security's availability, making it difficult to establish new short positions. Hazeltree Community Borrow Fee: This figure is the average weighted fee for what funds in the Hazeltree community are paying to borrow a security. The fee is represented as the annualized cost calculated as a percentage of the price of the security.

To view Hazeltree's September Shortside Crowdedness Report and past reports, click here.

Note to editors: If you are a member of the media/press and would like to be included on the distribution list for this report, please contact hazeltree@backbaycommunications.com

About Hazeltree

Hazeltree is a leader in active treasury and intelligent operations technology. Purpose-built for the alternative asset management ecosystem, Hazeltree's modular platform aggregates internal and external data, providing a comprehensive view of operations and counterparty relationships while proactively highlighting opportunities to extract more value from every transaction. Hazeltree is headquartered in New York with offices in London and Hong Kong.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012725539/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

BackBay Communications

hazeltree@backbaycommunications.com


JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - The United States has indicated that a second aircraft carrier will be placed in the Eastern Mediterranean 'if any actor hostile to Israel considers trying to escalate or widen the war in the Middle East.'



At a White House news conference, the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its strike group will be leaving for the European Command area of responsibility in the coming week. 'They will be going initially across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, where they will be available if needed.'



He made it clear that though 'no operational decision' has been made to deploy the war ship in the Eastern Med, 'she will be heading in that direction, her ships will be with her, and she certainly will be an available asset if needed.'



'The bottom line is, as I said, we're sending a loud and clear message: The United States is ready to take action should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to escalate or widen this war,' the top U.S. security official told reporters.



The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group have already arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel military.



Kirby's warning comes at a time Israel is forced to open more war fronts.



The Lebanese militia Hezbollah fired missiles on an Israeli army post. Israel retaliated by shelling an area in southern Lebanon.



As the Middle East conflict entered sixth day, Israel stepped up its retaliatory attacks in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday that it is 'conducting a large-scale strike' on Hamas targets in the enclave.



The death toll increased to 1,354, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.



The casualties include hundreds of women and children.



An equal number of people in Israel lost their lives in attacks by Hamas. In addition, around 150 hostages are in the custody of the militants.



Kirby said 22 Americans lost their lives and 17 remain unaccounted for. 'We know that these numbers are likely to increase in the days ahead'.



Israel said it won't end the siege of Gaza unless Hamas release Israeli hostages that they are holding. 'No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter,' Energy Minister Israel Katz said.



Meanwhile, the Department of State raised the Travel Advisory Level for Israel and the West Bank to Level 3, which says, 'Reconsider Travel'.



The Travel Advisory for Gaza remains Level 4 - 'Do Not Travel.'



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Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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In Duke Energy's pilot project, panels float in a cooling pond at a Florida power plant

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In Bartow, Fla., there's a buzz around Hines Energy Complex. Not from the hum of machinery, but from a new kind of solar array. Instead of sprawling over fields, 1,872 solar panels float effortlessly on a 1,200-acre pond, creating clean power as the pond keeps the power plant cool.

"It's an efficient use of space," said Don Keyes, Duke Energy construction supervisor. "No need for land, no offsetting crops. We're just making smart use of what we've got. And solar is growing like crazy. If there was ever a time to ask where to put all this stuff, it's now."

The nearly 1 megawatt (MW)-array will generate enough zero-carbon electricity, on average, to power about 100 homes. It's not Duke Energy's largest solar installation in Florida. But it is the first one that floats.

Also unique, said Project Manager Shayna White, is the type of solar panels used to construct it.

Traditional (monofacial) solar panels capture sunlight on one side, while the rest is reflected away. Floating in Bartow's cooling pond are bifacial solar panels that absorb light from both sides, which can produce 10%-20% more power than their single-sided counterparts.

"We're looking at all sorts of creative ways to be more sustainable," White said, "and reliably meet customer energy needs."

Floating solar, or "floatovoltaics," is used extensively in Asia but has yet to make a big splash in the U.S. where it makes up about 2% of all solar installations.

Understanding its potential for expansion is the goal of Duke Energy's Vision Florida program, which explores emerging clean energy technologies like microgrids, battery energy storage and now, floating solar.

"We're shaping the energy future with cleaner, smarter solutions that our customers value," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "That means looking for ways to manage costs while making strategic investments to expand renewables and cut emissions without compromising reliability."

Electricians mounted the bifacial solar panels on buoyant structures, aptly named "floaters," that are durable enough to withstand the Florida wind and weather. It was assembled on land, floated into position in segments, and anchored to the bottom of the pond by cables.

It's a clever system, Keyes said of a lattice-like structure that's firmly in place, but also flexible enough to adjust to water movements. And every other row of panels is a walkway for crews to do electrical maintenance or inspections.

"The electricity it generates will power customers in the Bartow area," White said. "And it gives us an opportunity to assess how efficient this technology is. That's a big part of this pilot project, understanding the benefits of floating solar as compared to land-mounted solar."

Like solar farms on land, floating panels generate electricity from the sun's rays. But the bodies of water that these farms rest on also help to cool the panels, which research shows can make them up to 15% more efficient.

Conversely, by shading water that would otherwise be exposed to sunlight, floating arrays help reduce water evaporation and limit algae growth. Make that 2 acres of shade at the floating array in Bartow. And the resident alligators? They carry on, unperturbed, beneath this new canopy.

"Alligators, fish, even the birds - we're not just engineering for people," White said. "We're considering every living thing that calls this place home."

The pilot is Duke Energy's second floating solar project. The company collaborated with the U.S. Army in 2022 to build (what was then) the largest floating solar installation in the Southeast. Paired with a 2-MW battery energy storage system, the 1.1-MW array supplies power to Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, in Fayetteville, N.C.

Companywide, Duke Energy has a total of 7,500 MW of solar connected to its grid, enough to power about 750,000 homes. And that continues to grow.

By 2024, Duke Energy will have about 1,450 MW of solar power in the Sunshine state to serve customers in west-central Florida and the Panhandle.

"We believe solar will play a significant role," Seixas said, "in how we deliver more diverse, affordable clean energy to our Florida customers, now and into the future."

Expanding solar and other renewables is an essential step on Duke Energy's path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As will improvements to energy infrastructure, strategic investments that support the growth of renewables while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers.

Ensuring customers have the power they need has been central to Keyes' 38 years with Duke Energy. From building and maintaining power lines to the frontlines of renewable energy, his journey reflects the broader trajectory of the industry.

"Seeing where technology will lead us," he said, "it's nothing short of fascinating."

View original content here.





View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Duke Energy

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Duke Energy

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792322/a-new-way-to-harness-the-suns-power-floating-solar
Global c ollaboration will enable clients to align carbon footprint and financial data for streamlined reporting and enhanced operational performance, as well as to navigate rapidly changing tax regulations and leverage incentive opportunities

Expanded alliance plans to have a focused go-to-market approach to help drive rapid adoption

LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The EY organization today announced an expanded alliance with SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) to help organizations accelerate value-led sustainability action. Teams of EY professionals are advising SAP and customers on the core design and blueprint of the next generation of software solutions to create more impactful climate, nature and social impact strategies.

Together with SAP's leading software technology, this collaboration supports organizations by extending sustainability functionality into offerings tailored to specific needs, enhancing operational performance. They include:

The SAP Sustainability Control Tower solution: Leveraging expertise in sustainability, assurance and reporting, with a broader focus on supply chain, EY teams are working with SAP to define the capabilities needed for the next generation of sustainability solutions. EY solutions leveraging SAP Sustainability Control Tower help enable organizations to progress from Record to Report to Action, report against multiple regulatory frameworks and embed sustainability metrics in their internal performance management processes.

Leveraging expertise in sustainability, assurance and reporting, with a broader focus on supply chain, EY teams are working with SAP to define the capabilities needed for the next generation of sustainability solutions. EY solutions leveraging SAP Sustainability Control Tower help enable organizations to progress from Record to Report to Action, report against multiple regulatory frameworks and embed sustainability metrics in their internal performance management processes. SAP S/4HANA Cloud transformation with sustainability at the core: EY teams and SAP are helping companies embed environmental considerations in business processes across finance, tax, supply chain, manufacturing and human resources as part of their digital transformation with SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

EY teams and SAP are helping companies embed environmental considerations in business processes across finance, tax, supply chain, manufacturing and human resources as part of their digital transformation with SAP S/4HANA Cloud. Carbon accounting and the green ledger concept: EY teams are bringing market-leading climate change consulting and carbon accounting experience to help realize the green ledger concept envisioned by SAP. Both organizations will collaborate with select clients to further develop the requirements and analytics needed to move greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting from estimates to a more accurate reflection of a company's footprint, allowing companies to manage GHG performance across the enterprise and accelerate climate action.

EY teams are bringing market-leading climate change consulting and carbon accounting experience to help realize the green ledger concept envisioned by SAP. Both organizations will collaborate with select clients to further develop the requirements and analytics needed to move greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting from estimates to a more accurate reflection of a company's footprint, allowing companies to manage GHG performance across the enterprise and accelerate climate action. SAP's Responsible Design and Production: The EY organization is providing real-time legal and regulatory updates on sustainability incentives, carbon regimes, environmental taxes and tax exemptions across the globe, to support SAP's Responsible Design and Production solution.

Steve Varley, EY Global Senior Advisor, says:

"Organizations need to shift from talking about pledges and promises to showcasing evidence of what they have achieved, actions taken and progress. Leveraging accurate and comparable sustainability data, at the same level as financial data, can help accomplish this.

"This expanded alliance will allow both EY and SAP to provide clients with services, capabilities and technology needed to create and protect value."

Gunther Rothermel, Co-General Manager and Chief Product Officer for SAP Sustainability, says:

"Together, SAP and EY can achieve even greater market and planetary impact by working together on a joint sustainability ambition. Customers want the ability to track sustainability metrics the same way they do financial data, and we're focused on helping them do that. Leveraging our already strong collaboration, we will help customers advance their sustainability journey by embedding sustainability data into business processes and decisions."

In addition, the EY organization and SAP plan to continue with go-to-market activity to support SAP S/4HANA, the RISE with SAP solution and the GROW with SAP solution with sustainability use cases and accelerators.

For more information about the EY and SAP collaboration and their respective solutions, please visit ey.com/sap.

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ey-collaborates-with-sap-to-innovate-and-enhance-transformations-that-drive-value-led-sustainability-and-climate-action-301954264.html
The exclusive event will be held between the 10th and 12th of January 2024 in the Suvretta House St. Moritz, with speakers Chris Giancarlo, Sheila Warren, Anthony Scaramucci, Meltem Demirors, Erik Vorhees, and more confirmed

ST. MORITZ, Switzerland, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The CfC St. Moritz , a highly curated digital assets and blockchain conference for investors and decision-makers, returns to the Suvretta House, St. Moritz, Switzerland, from the 10th to 12th of January 2024. Set in the breathtaking scenery of the Swiss Alps, the CfC St. Moritz facilitates education, connection and collaboration amongst leading industry players. The Algorand Foundation , the group developing the Algorand blockchain ecosystem, returns as the conference's premier sponsor.

The annual event which caters to an audience of prolific finance and crypto industry investors and decision-makers will host a selection of speakers, opinion leaders and high-ranking representatives from across varying sectors. Thus far, the confirmed speaker line-up includes Chris Giancarlo, former chairman of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Sheila Warren, CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, Anthony Scaramucci, founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, Meltem Demirors, CSO of CoinShares, and Erik Vorhees, CEO of ShapeShift.

Nicolo Stohr, CEO of The CfC St. Moritz, said, "The central goal of The CfC St. Moritz is to bring together the brightest minds from both the traditional finance and crypto industries and provide an unrivaled setting for education, connection, and collaboration. During the conference, attendees organically exchange views and insights on industry developments, connect with fellow high-net-worth individuals, and fuel impactful collaborations. Deep in the heart of the Swiss Alps, guests are granted an opportunity to recalibrate and prepare for the year ahead. As the first major industry conference for the year, the CfC St. Moritz will set the agenda for what is to come in crypto and finance in 2024."

Each year, through an extensive array of panels and bespoke activities, the CfC St. Moritz addresses the most pressing topics impacting the world of digital assets and finance. Last year, on-stage conversations covered trending developments such as DeFi, the metaverse, and brand adoption of web3. This year, industry leaders will discuss key themes such as institutional adoption, industry regulation, sustainability, and breakthrough technologies impacting the space.

Staci Warden, CEO of the Algorand Foundation, said, "Facilitated by the CfC St. Moritz, the convergence of many of the industry's most influential individuals prompts meaningful collaboration at the outset of the new year. We are delighted to return as the premier sponsor for the CfC St. Moritz, furthering the advancement of this uniquely influential event. The collection of minds in such a picturesque setting matched with unparalleled networking opportunities encapsulates the spirit of collaboration that is central to the convergence and benefit of the traditional and decentralized economies."

Each year, the CfC St. Moritz attracts a maximum of 250 carefully selected international investors, family offices, funds, and decision-makers from both the traditional and the new world of finance in the picturesque Swiss Alps. For three days, opinion leaders and high-ranking representatives from governmental and supranational bodies, the private sector, academia and decentralized organizations exchange their knowledge on digital assets, blockchain and traditional finance.

For more information, please visit: www.cfc-stmoritz.com

About the CfC St. Moritz

The CfC St. Moritz is an intimate circle of hand-picked opinion leaders and investors in the private and unique setting of the Swiss Alps. The yearly application-only conference fosters a culture of genuine connection and deliberately admits a maximum of only 250 international UHNWI, family offices, funds, and institutional investors, uniting the traditional finance sector and the crypto industry. The CfC St. Moritz was founded in 2017 and has since conducted five in-person conferences in St. Moritz, one in Half Moon Bay, California, two virtual conferences during the pandemic and several smaller events. The conference employs three people throughout the year with that number rising to 45 during the conference and is led by CEO and President of the Board, Nicolo Stoehr.

www.cfc-stmoritz.com | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

About The Algorand Foundation

The Algorand Foundation is dedicated to helping fulfill the global promise of the Algorand blockchain by taking responsibility for its sound monetary supply economics, decentralized governance, and healthy and prosperous open-source ecosystem. Designed by MIT professor and Turing Award winning cryptographer Silvio Micali, Algorand achieves transaction throughputs at the speed of traditional finance, but with immediate finality, near zero transaction costs, and on a 24/7 basis. For more information, please visit https://algorand.foundation

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-cfc-st-moritz-announces-return-to-idyllic-swiss-alps-january-2024-301954973.html
140 universities in Japan have expressed interest in this agreement

Tokyo, Japan--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Japan Alliance of University Library Consortia for E-Resources (JUSTICE) and Elsevier have established a transformative agreement in a major step forward in advancing global access to Japan's scholarly publications through open access publishing. The three-year agreement will take effect from 2024 to 2026.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The agreement, the largest of its kind to date in Japan and Asia, aims to openly share and amplify Japan's world-class research for the benefit of society.

To respond flexibly to the diverse needs of Japanese universities, JUSTICE and Elsevier held consultative discussions on ways to provide Japanese researchers access to quality academic journals and support them in publishing open access. The read-and-publish agreement will be made available through JUSTICE to Japanese universities.

57 member universities from the JUSTICE consortium were amongst the team that participated in the discussion of the proposal, whose collective input contributed to the development of this unique framework tailored to the specific needs of Japanese institutions.

140 universities, including those that participated in the discussions, have already expressed interest in the transformative agreement and will benefit from preferential terms if each university decides to opt into it.

Sawako Kojin, JUSTICE Steering Committee Chair who is also Director of the Administrative Department at Osaka University Library, said of the agreement: "For the first time, JUSTICE invited member libraries to participate in forming a negotiating team to hold discussions with Elsevier. We are deeply encouraged by the level of interest expressed by so many member libraries, which exceeded our expectations. We thank Elsevier for developing such a flexible framework that offers choice and helps address the needs of individual universities. While universities need to consider various factors and make adjustments before settling on a final contract, JUSTICE, in collaboration with Elsevier, will continue to work towards our shared goals of promoting open access publishing through the implementation of this transformative agreement and enhancing the global dissemination of Japanese research capabilities."

Dr. Osamu Watanabe, Executive Vice President responsible for research at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and a negotiating team member of the JUSTICE consortium, said: "In line with the global trend gravitating towards open access publishing, my university is actively pursuing a transformative agreement to enhance the dissemination of our university's research. We are positive that this agreement with Elsevier will not only increase the research visibility of my university, but also the research results of Japan, especially those of early career researchers."

Gemma Hersh, Senior Vice President of Global Academic and Government Sales, Elsevier, said: "Elsevier is thankful for the deep collaboration with JUSTICE and its member universities, and excited about reaching a transformative agreement to serve both reading and open access publishing needs of Japanese institutions at scale. The agreement will help to accelerate global access to Japan's cutting-edge research through open access publishing, benefitting both the Japanese and global scientific community. We remain committed to our longstanding partnership with JUSTICE and look forward to this next chapter in our journey to support Japanese research institutions."

Notes for editors

The following is a list of the 57 JUSTICE member universities who participated in the proposal discussion with Elsevier, and unanimously concurred on the terms of the transformative agreement as JUSTICE members: Hokkaido University, Muroran Institute of Technology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Kitami Institute of Technology, Iwate University, Tohoku University, Akita University, Yamagata University, Utsunomiya University, Saitama University, Chiba University, University of Tokyo, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ochanomizu University, Yokohama National University, University of Toyama, Kanazawa University, University of Fukui, Shinshu University, Gifu University, Shizuoka University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Osaka University, Kobe University, Nara Women's University, Okayama University, Tokushima University, Kyushu University

Kyushu Institute of Technology, Saga University, Nagasaki University, Kumamoto University, University of Miyazaki, Kagoshima University, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Yokohama City University, Osaka Metropolitan University

University of Hyogo, Kochi University of Technology, International University of Health and Welfare, Aoyama Gakuin University, Keio University, Sophia University, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Toyo University, Tokyo City University, Waseda University, Teikyo University, Kanagawa University, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, and three other universities who declined to be identified.

The actual execution of the contract will be administered independently for each university, and not every university that has expressed interest in this agreement will opt in immediately. The contract commencement date for each university is yet to be determined at the time of this announcement.

Only the identity of the universities is listed, and not the libraries associated with the universities.

A transformative agreement is intended to gradually transform the fees paid by universities and other institutions to publishers for access to academic articles (subscription fees) into fees paid to publish academic articles via open access (article publishing charges).

About JUSTICE

Japan Alliance of University Library Consortia for E-Resource (JUSTICE) promotes activities for providing academic information stably and continuously including e-journal that is essential for education and research activities of universities in Japan.

JUSTICE was formed on April 1, 2011 as a new consortium through an alliance between the Japan Association of National University Libraries (JANUL) and the Public and Private University Libraries Consortium (PULC). In line with the purpose of the "Agreement on Promotion of Collaboration and Cooperation" concluded on October 2010 between the Japanese Coordinating Committee for University Libraries and National Institute of Informatics (NII), various activities are being carried out with the primary objective of promoting the securing of electronic journals, including backfiles, and the establishment of a permanent access assurance system.

About Elsevier

As a global leader in information and analytics, Elsevier helps researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. We do this by facilitating insights and critical decision-making for customers across the global research and health ecosystems.

In everything we publish, we uphold the highest standards of quality and integrity. We bring that same rigor to our information analytics solutions for researchers, academic leaders, funders, R&D-intensive corporations, doctors, and nurses.

Elsevier employs 9,000 people worldwide, including over 2,500 technologists. We have supported the work of our research and health partners for more than 140 years. Growing from our roots in publishing, we offer knowledge and valuable analytics that help our users make breakthroughs and drive societal progress. Digital solutions such as ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath support strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and health education. Researchers and healthcare professionals rely on over 2,800 journals, including The Lancet and Cell; 46,000+ eBook titles; and iconic reference works, such as Gray's Anatomy. With the Elsevier Foundation and our external Inclusion & Diversity Advisory Board, we work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to advance inclusion and diversity in science, research and healthcare in developing countries and around the world.

Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

Media contact

Japan Alliance of University Library Consortia for E-Resources (JUSTICE) Secretariat Office

justice-help@nii.ac.jp

Elsevier

Jason Chan, Director

Elsevier Communications, Asia Pacific

j.chan@elsevier.com

Shuji Uraguchi, Regional Director

Elsevier Japan KK

s.uraguchi@elsevier.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183627
Topcon Positioning Systems and SOCOTEC have announced an agreement for Topcon to provide its specialized monitoring technology to SOCOTEC within Europe, for the infrastructure projects applying in France, the Netherlands, Spain, and in the UK.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011004797/en/

Pictured from left: Hamza Belkofsi with SOCOTEC, Bruno Fileno and Michel Grenut both with Topcon, Arnaud de Pracomtal with SOCOTEC, and Guillaume Devismes with Topcon, at the agreement signing in France. (Photo: Business Wire)

SOCOTEC is globally recognized as a testing, inspection and certification (TIC) leading company with more than 200,000 clients across 26 countries. The organization will employ Topcon robotic total stations from the MS Measuring Station series and several additional geopositioning portfolio resources.

"SOCOTEC has an impressive reputation as a trusted expert across the building, real estate, infrastructure, and industrial sectors. An ongoing commitment to the integrity, sustainability, and performance of built assets enables the group to support private and public sector clients to strengthen their environmental credentials throughout the lifecycle of their buildings, infrastructure and equipment," said Ian Stilgoe, vice president of Emerging Business at Topcon.

Topcon monitoring technology will be used on high-profile European projects to survey construction sites and infrastructure for stability and risk. The integrated products comprise total stations, GNSS, and third-party geotechnical sensors, which are powered via Delta Link hardware and monitored, managed, and evaluated via Delta Link software.

"The turnkey solution Topcon provides will offer SOCOTEC complete control and reliability when it comes to surveying projects," Stilgoe said.

"Being familiar with Topcon technology on the major Grand Paris Express project, for example, the teams know they can trust Topcon to deliver the complete precision and accuracy required on future work. Like Topcon, SOCOTEC is dedicated to excellence to clients, and we're proud to work with such a reliable and reputed organisation. I have no doubt the agreement signals the start of a future of successful project deliveries," said Arnaud de Pracomtal, managing director of SOCOTEC Monitoring and SOCOTEC Infrastructure in France.

He added, "For 70 years, SOCOTEC has been dedicated to work for the sustainability of built assets. As a trusted third party, the company relies on 6,000 engineers whom are all engaged to accompany the green and energy transitions, so that the built environment becomes more performant and sustainable in time. With Topcon solutions we are building trust for a safer world."

The announcement is made at Intergeo 2023, the international event for geospatial applications, held in Berlin.

About Topcon Positioning Systems

Topcon Positioning Systems is an industry-leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial and agriculture markets. Topcon Positioning Systems is headquartered in Livermore, California, U.S. (topconpositioning.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram). Its European head office is in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. Topcon Corporation (topcon.com), founded in 1932, is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (7732).

About SOCOTEC

Accompanying companies for 70 years, the SOCOTEC Group, chaired by Herve Montjotin, has built its reputation as an independent trusted third party in the fields of risk management, compliance, safety, health and environment in the Building, Real Estate, Infrastructure and Industry sectors.

As a guarantor of the integrity, sustainability and performance of built assets, SOCOTEC is developing a range of services in testing, inspection and certification, from technical control, the group's historical expertise, to technical consulting and risk management services related to construction, infrastructure and industrial facilities. Its expertise enables it to support its private and public sector clients throughout the life cycle of their buildings and equipment in order to strengthen their sustainability.

No. 1 in construction inspection in France, No. 1 in geotechnical services and construction quality control in the United Kingdom and Italy, the group is a major player in TIC (Testing Inspection Certification) services in the Construction and Infrastructure sectors in Europe and the United States. The SOCOTEC group has consolidated revenues of 1.2 billion in 2022 (50% of which generated outside France) with 200,000 clients. With a presence in 26 countries and 11,500 employees, it has more than 250 external accreditations, enabling it to act as a trusted third party in many projects.

More information on www.socotec.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011004797/en/

Contacts:

Press Contacts:

Topcon Positioning Systems

Staci Fitzgerald

corpcomm@topcon.com

+1 925-245-8610

Tangerine Communications

TEP@tangerinecomms.com

EMEA: +44 161 817 6600
NAUGARD BIO-XL Rubber Curing Accelerator is Meeting the Performance Needs of Today's Rubber Formulator

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SI Group, a leading performance additives company, announced today it will feature its NAUGARD BIO-XL ultra-accelerator for tires and technical rubber goods at the upcoming International Elastomers Conference (IEC). This important event for the rubber industry will be held on October 16-18 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, in Cleveland, Ohio.

NAUGARD BIO-XL offers enhanced sustainability without compromising performance in key rubber applications such as tires, belts, rubber hoses, footwear, and rubber-based medical devices. This cutting-edge product is formulated with over 85% bio-based content, free from substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH and does not generate harmful nitrosamines as listed in TRGS552. It was designed to address the rubber industry's increased demand for materials that support improved sustainability goals. Customers have also found it to be an excellent alternative to DPG, or Diphenylguanidine, in rubber formulations.

NAUGARD BIO-XL has been well-received by the rubber industry since its introduction at Tire Tech in Hannover, Germany in March 2023. "We are extremely happy with the industry's response to NAUGARD BIO-XL," said Robert Kaiser, VP Polymer Solutions and Managing Director, EMEA at SI Group. "It is the most recent of many innovations that we have planned to improve the sustainability of the rubber industry."

SI Group's John Kounavis, Sr. Technical Service Manager for Rubber & Adhesives will be presenting at IEC and will highlight performance data and benefits of NAUGARD BIO-XL for the tire and technical rubber goods markets "Bio-sourced Rubber Curing Ultra-Accelerator for Tires & TRG Applications". Be sure to attend this presentation on Tuesday, October 17 at 1:55 PM EST in Room 26B, Ballroom Level.

SI Group representatives will also be available at booth #750 during IEC. Visit www.siigroup.com to read more about SI Group's growing portfolio of innovative rubber solutions.

About SI Group

SI Group is a global leader in the innovative technology of performance additives, process solutions, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and chemical intermediates. SI Group solutions are essential to enhancing the quality and performance of countless industrial and consumer goods within the plastics, rubber & adhesives, fuels & lubricants, oilfield, and pharmaceutical industries. SI Group's global manufacturing footprint includes 20 facilities on three continents, serving customers in 80 countries with approximately 2,000 employees worldwide. In 2021, SI Group received a gold award for corporate social responsibility by EcoVadis and is ranked among the top five percent of more than 50,000 worldwide companies. SI Group innovates and drives change to create value with a passion for safety, chemistry, sustainability, and extraordinary results. Learn more at www.siigroup.com

Media Contact:

Joseph Grande

ph: + 1.413.684.2463

joe@jgrandecommunications.com

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BOUNTIFUL, UT / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / OneMeta Inc. (www.onemeta.ai) (OTC PINK:ONEI). OneMeta Inc. announces it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Gregory-Portland Independent School District ("GPISD") to begin a pilot program with the OneMeta translation and transcription software. GPISD contains six schools with 4,720 students of which 60% is comprised of minority enrollment.

On September 27, 2023, Saul Leal, CEO of OneMeta made a formal presentation at the Texas Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents ("TALAS"). Mr. Leal's presentation showcased the OneMeta translation and transcription technology for use by teachers and school administrators with students and their families that do not speak English as their native language.

"There was standing room only in my presentation as I showed how the OneMeta technology will create a fully understandable communication between the teachers, personnel, and the students and families that do not speak English as their primary language," said Saul Leal.

"These K-12 schools have a high number of non-proficient English-speaking students. With OneMeta the schools will hold productive parent-teacher meetings and if needed, communicate with families on an as-needed basis regarding the educational development of their child.

Based upon the high level of interest from the Superintendents we expect many additional school districts in Texas and other states to sign pilot program LOI's and begin pilot programs to use the OneMeta technology during the current school year so it can be fully utilized for the 2024-2025 school year."

About OneMeta Inc.: We Create a More Understanding WorldTM

OneMeta Inc. is a Multilingual Enablement company focused on breaking down the communication challenges of a world with over 7,100 languages. Its proprietary, end-to-end natural language processing (NLP) architecture was developed using generative artificial intelligence tools (AI) and allows the spoken and written word to be synthesized, translated, and transcribed in less than one second. OneMeta's products support near-real-time web-based and mobile phone-based conversations, discussions, meetings, and online chats in over 150 languages.

OneMeta Inc.: Speak. Hear. Read. Understand.

For more information, please contact:

OneMeta Inc.. Email: info@onemeta.ai

SOURCE: OneMeta Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792114/onemeta-inctm-signs-its-first-pilot-program-letter-of-intent-in-texas-with-the-gregory-portland-independent-school-district
Transparent risk analysis designed to build greater confidence among insurance and investment communities as well as governments to support national recovery efforts

Ukraine today launched a data platform allowing insurers, investors and governments to analyze war risks in the country. Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), the world's leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people, supported the Government of Ukraine in designing and testing the platform to support the nation's recovery and transformation.

The data platform brings together detailed maps of war-related incidents in Ukraine (defined as individual events relating to Russian hostilities such as missile, drone, or shelling attacks) since the Russian invasion in February 2022. This includes granular insight into the frequency and type of attacks by location over time, with further insight into the types of assets targeted as well as damage levels sustained. In doing so, it enables transparency about the impact of the conflict to date and the degree of war risk.

The platform shows that 76% of communities had no war-related incidents in 2023 up to 1 October. The equivalent figure since the invasion began on 24 February 2022 is 66%, demonstrating the progress made by Ukraine over the past year. A further 9% of communities were low-incident communities in 2023, having experienced only one war-related incident. The analysis shows that hostilities have been concentrated on a focused set of Ukrainian communities: 9% of communities have been subject to intense shelling; 6% are communities away from the frontline that have been targeted by Russian attacks. It also shows that 101 once-occupied communities have been recovered from Russia by Ukraine since the invasion began.

Today's launch follows June's announcement in which Marsh McLennan committed to provide services on a pro-bono basis to create a platform for Ukraine to consolidate and analyze data for a transparent assessment of war risks in Ukraine. The platform aggregates data received from the police, military, security services, rescue services, transport services, and government institutions, among other sources.

Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine which operates the platform said: "76% of communities in Ukraine have had no war related incidents this year. This demonstrates that much of Ukraine is open for investment now."

John Doyle, President and CEO of Marsh McLennan, added: "Today marks a milestone in Ukraine's road to recovery and reconstruction from the ongoing effects of this brutal conflict. Ukraine's data platform the first of its kind empowers the global insurance and investment community as well as governments with data to evaluate risks much more accurately to create greater confidence for investment."

The platform will be accessible at www.promo.war-risks.com.ua from October 13, 2023.

About Marsh McLennan

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is the world's leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company's more than 85,000 colleagues advise clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $20 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market-leading businesses. Marsh provides data driven risk advisory services and insurance solutions to commercial and consumer clients. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities. Mercer delivers advice and technology-driven solutions that help organizations redefine the world of work, reshape retirement and investment outcomes, and unlock health and wellbeing for a changing workforce. Oliver Wyman serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients. For more information, visit marshmclennan.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012789026/en/

Contacts:

Jason Groves

+44 (0)7733 325587

jason.groves@marsh.com

Marsh McLennan

Anastasiia Liieva

+380 95 837 34 90

lieva@rnbo.gov.ua

National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
The online campaign offers followers a chance to experience the award-winning NXTPAPER devices, celebrated for superior eye comfort.

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL, a global leader in display technology across smartphones, tablets, and connected devices, today, launches the 'NXT Eye Opener' social media campaign in observation of World Sight Day. Celebrating the theme LoveYourEyes, this campaign is part of TCL's broader initiative to promote eye health, emphasizing the unique NXTPAPER technology in a world increasingly dependent on digital screens.

The 'NXT Eye Opener' social campaign, which runs until October 29, invites users to post a selfie or video with the TCL eye filter, an interactive feature available on the official TCL Mobile Global Instagram and Facebook pages. Select participants by a lucky draw stand a chance to be among the first to experience the unmatched digital eye comfort offered by the award-winning TCL 40 NXTPAPER smartphone.

As a leader in display design and manufacturing, TCL recognizes the increase in daily screen-time for all users and is proactively raising awareness about better choices to improve eye comfort, not least of which is the innovative NXTPAPER technology solution. It serves as a platform for TCL to introduce their NXTPAPER technology to a wider audience, emphasizing its role in enabling extended screen time with minimal impact on eye health.

Stefan Streit, CMO at TCL Communication, shares, "The NXTPAPER technology is a transformative step towards providing digital screen experiences with default eye comfort. Our NXTPAPER smartphones not only offer a full-color paper-like visual experience, reducing harmful blue light emissions and realizing reflection-free visual experience, but also provide the highest level of performance and functionality. As we celebrate World Sight Day, we invite everyone to experience the difference with TCL's NXTPAPER technology."

This innovative display technology significantly reduces harmful blue light emissions, and provides a reflection-free viewing experience, offering unmatched digital eye comfort. TCL's NXTPAPER technology has garnered media attention, earning praise for its unique combination of tablet, smartphone, and e-reader functionalities. To date, NXTPAPER has been successfully incorporated across a range of devices, including the TCL NXTPAPER 11 tablet, and the TCL Book X 12 GO laptop and will soon be available for the first time in a smartphone with the TCL 40 NXTPAPER smartphones.

Announced in August, the TCL 40 NXTPAPER and the TCL 40 NXTPAPER 5G, soon to be available to consumers, bringing the revolutionary full color paper-like feel and experience of NXTPAPER to smartphones. This makes TCL the world's first and only brand to deliver a vivid color, paper-like experience to the global smartphone market.

For more information about the TCL NXTPAPER technology, please visit the recent published White Paper: https://tcl-eu.com/global-launch2023/tcl_innovation_nxtpaper_white_paper

For more information about the 'NXT Eye Opener' social campaign, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/tclmobileglobal/

https://www.facebook.com/tclmobile/

About TCL Communication

TCL Communication specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of smartphones, tablets and connected devices. On a mission to deliver 5G for all, TCL Communication helps its customers 'Inspire Greatness' in their lives through industry leading technology and solutions. TCL Communication is a wholly owned subsidiary of TCL Electronics. For more information on TCL mobile devices, please visit: https://www.tcl.com/global/en/mobile.

Alcatel is a trademark of Nokia used under license by TCL Communication.

About TCL Electronics

TCL Electronics (1070.HK) is one of the world's fastest-growing consumer electronics companies and one of the world's leading television and mobile device manufacturers (TCL Communication is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TCL Electronics). For more than 40 years TCL has operated its own manufacturing and R&D centers worldwide, with products sold in more than 160 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. TCL specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of consumer electronics ranging from TVs, mobile phones, audio devices and smart home products as part of the company's "AI x IoT" strategy. For more information on TCL mobile devices, please visit: http://www.tcl.com/global/en.html.

TCL is a registered trademark of TCL Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tcl-kicks-off-world-sight-day-celebrations-with-nxt-eye-opener----a-social-media-challenge-featuring-nxtpaper-301954947.html
HGV debuts on acclaimed list for outstanding workplace culture and team member satisfaction

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV), the industry-leading global vacation ownership company, has been named to Newsweek's "Top 100 Most Loved Workplacesin the U.K. list in recognition of the company's commitment to the needs and values of team members while promoting career growth and collaboration. This is the first year HGV has been recognized on the U.K. list, ranking No. 13 overall and is the highest-ranked timeshare company.

"At HGV, we're deeply committed to cultivating a positive environment where every team member feels empowered, inspired and connected to their work," said Mark Wang, president and CEO at Hilton Grand Vacations. "Thank you to Newsweek for honoring our exceptional workplace culture and team members in the U.K."

"We strive to create a supportive culture where individual aspirations and collective goals can harmoniously coexist," said Pablo Brizi, executive vice president, chief human resources officer corporate affairs. "Whether from across the desk or across an ocean, HGV strives to bring the same level of strong support and empathetic encouragement to every team member in our organization."

HGV team members enjoy frequent access to opportunities for professional growth and advancement including valuable mentorship from seasoned colleagues and the ability to explore diverse roles and new responsibilities to facilitate skill development. The company has continually demonstrated its commitment to fostering collaboration and creating an atmosphere in which team members can learn from one another, share ideas and develop a strong sense of community.

The 2023 Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces list is the result of a collaboration with the Best Practice Institute (BPI), a leadership development and benchmark research company. The results were determined after surveying more than 2 million employees from businesses with workforces varying in size from 50 to more than 100,000. The list recognizes companies that have created a workplace where employees feel respected, inspired, and appreciated and are at the center of the business model.

HGV's Most Loved Workplace profile can be found on Newsweek's Official Certification page. The full Newsweek list ofthe "Top 100 Most Loved Workplacesin the U.K. for 2023 is currently available online here.

To explore available openings at HGV's U.K. locations, visit hgv.com/careers.

About Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) is recognized as a leading global timeshare company. With headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations develops, markets and operates a system of brand-name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations. As one of Hilton's 22 premier brands, Hilton Grand Vacations has a reputation for delivering a consistently exceptional standard of service, and unforgettable vacation experiences for guests and more than 520,000 members. Membership with the Company provides best-in-class programs, exclusive services and maximum flexibility for our Members around the world. For more information, visit corporate.hgv.com.

About Newsweek

Newsweek is the modern global digital news organization built around the iconic, over 85-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people each month with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia.

About Best Practice Institute

Best Practice Institute is an award-winning leadership and organization development center, benchmark research company, think tank, and solutions provider. BPI is the certifying body for Most Loved Workplace and conducted the original research to create the model and criteria for becoming a Most Loved Workplace. BPI's research proves that Most Loved Workplaces produce 3-4 times better customer service, employee performance, and retention than companies not loved by their employees.

For more information on how to apply to become a certified Most Loved Workplace in 2024, go to: http://www.mostlovedworkplace.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009385405/en/

Contacts:

Lauren George

407-613-8431

lauren.george@hgv.com
The "Global Biomaterials Market Size By Product, By Application, By Geographic Scope And Forecast" report has been published by Verified Market Research. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global Biomaterials Market, including its growth prospects, market trends, and market challenges.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Biomaterials Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.80% from 2022 to 2030, according to a new report published by Verified Market Research. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 112.74 Billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 361.45 Billion by the end of the forecast period.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample?rid=24165

Browse in-depth TOC on "Biomaterials Market"

202 - Pages

126 - Tables

37 - Figures

Innovations in Biomaterials Market Transform Medical Landscape: A Paradigm Shift in Healthcare

In a groundbreaking stride towards revolutionizing the medical and technological sectors, biomaterials have emerged as essential components for restorative and diagnostic purposes within biological systems. Metals, ceramics, plastics, glass, biological cells, and tissues, meticulously engineered into various forms such as molded parts, coatings, fibers, films, and textiles, are at the forefront of medical innovations. This paradigm shift in healthcare, fueled by ongoing innovations, regulatory challenges, and emerging technologies, has given rise to a complex yet promising global biomaterials market.

Market Dynamics: Driving Forces of Growth

The biomaterials market is experiencing remarkable growth propelled by innovations in drug delivery systems and the rising popularity of porous-coated orthopedic implants. Cutting-edge techniques including powder metallurgy, 3-D printing, and additive manufacturing are reshaping the landscape, making biomaterials increasingly adaptable in medical devices. The surge in elderly populations, prevalence of cardiovascular and orthopedic disorders, amplified funding, and heightened awareness are the driving forces behind this market expansion.

Market Challenges: Navigating the Complex Terrain

Challenges abound in the biomaterials market, especially concerning implantable devices. Stringent regulatory and clinical processes pose hurdles for market players, demanding meticulous precision and adherence to the highest quality standards. Corrosion, wear and tear, nutrient absorption, and limited interactions between biomaterials and the human body further compound these challenges, impacting market growth.

Regional Insights: Asia-Pacific Leads the Charge

Asia-Pacific stands as the epicenter of the biomaterials market, its growth underscored by Japan's robust healthcare industry, a surge in cosmetic surgeries, and an increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Europe, claiming the second position, is witnessing significant growth in the implantable biomaterials sector due to an influx of market players and their innovative product launches.

Key Players: Pioneering Excellence

Major players spearheading the global biomaterials market include Zimmer Biomet, Corbion, Royal DSM, Wright Medical Technology, BASF SE, Celanese Corporation, Evonik Industries, CeramTec, Berkeley Advanced Biomaterials, and Cam Bioceramics B.V. Their pioneering efforts and dedication to innovation are instrumental in shaping the future of biomaterials.

Conclusion: A Future of Possibilities

The global biomaterials market is dynamically evolving, presenting both opportunities and challenges for industry stakeholders. Continuous research, technological advancements, and strategic collaborations are pivotal for sustainable growth and market leadership in this rapidly changing sector. As biomaterials redefine the boundaries of medical science, the world anticipates a future of unparalleled possibilities in healthcare.

To get market data, market insights, financial statements and a comprehensive analysis of the Global Biomaterials Market, please Contact Verified Market Research.

Based on the research, Verified Market Research has segmented the global Biomaterials Market into Product, Application, And Geography.

Biomaterials Market, by Product Natural Biomaterials Metallic Biomaterials Polymeric Biomaterials Ceramic Biomaterials

Biomaterials Market, by Application Cardiovascular Dental Orthopedic Plastic Surgery Wound Healing Ophthalmology Tissue Engineering Neurology Others

Biomaterials Market, by Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa Latin America



Browse Related Reports:

Implantable Biomaterial Market By Product (Metals and Metal Alloys, Synthetic Polymers), By Application (Cardiovascular, Orthopedic Application), By Geography, And Forecast

Orthopedic Biomaterials Market By Material-Type (Ceramics & Bioactive Glasses, Polymers, Calcium Phosphate Cements), By Application (Orthopedic Implants, Joint Replacement/Reconstruction), By Geography, And Forecast

Dental Biomaterials Market By Product Type (Metallic Biomaterial, Ceramic Biomaterial), By Application (Orthodontics, Implantology), By End-User (Dental Laboratories, Dental Hospitals And Clinics), By Geography, And Forecast

Hearing Implants and Biomaterials Market By Product (Metal, Polymer, Ceramic), By Application (Hospital, Hearing Recovery Center), By Geography, And Forecast

Top 10 Dental Implant Companies shaping perfect smiles of millennials

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LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hepatitis C is a viral infection caused by the HVC virus. It leads to severe liver damage if not treated before its too late. According to an epidemiology study by the WHO, nearly 58 million people are living with this condition. This growing disease burden has raised concerns across various regions creating a need for hepatitis c prevention.

Hepatitis C is a dreadful liver disease that is highly contagious in nature. It can range from mild illness to a long-term infection. Hepatitis C transmission occurs through contact with infected blood, such as sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia, unprotected sex, and receiving contaminated blood transfusions or organ transplants. Early detection of this disease is crucial since it paves the way for fast Hepatitis C prognosis and treatment plans.

Disease Landscape Insights has been providing valuable disease overview and drug insights to the Hepatitis c market players. Apart from that, they are also leveraging DLI's healthcare consulting services to accelerate activities like clinical trial feasibility analysis, treatments gaps identification, product portfolio extension, and the formulation of ideal price and market access strategies. DLI also offers new product launch services, post launch services, drug launch strategies, and product pipeline analysis services.

Price and Market Access

Hepatitis C- A silent killer

Many people affected with this ailment do not witness noticeable symptoms in the initial stage. That is why it is termed as silent killer. The HCV continues damaging the liver silently and it gets too late until the symptoms appear. Late hepatis c diagnosis results in fatalities or at least severe complications.

The primary symptoms of this ailment are chronic fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, pale stools, jaundice, dark urine, and flu like symptoms, among others. It's important to note that these symptoms are not unique to hepatitis C and can be caused by various other health conditions. Furthermore, many people with hepatitis C may remain asymptomatic for years, and the infection may only be discovered through routine blood tests or when complications develop.

Learn More About the FDA NDA & BLA Approval (NME) Drugs for Hepatitis C Disease @

https://www.diseaselandscape.com/requestsample/postid/5

Diagnosis and Treatment:

This ailment is predominantly diagnosed through HCV antibody tests, HCV RNA tests, liver function tests, and liver biopsy. Early diagnosis can significantly improve health outcomes. It has to be kept in mind that once the virus completely damages the liver, there are less chances of recovery.

There is no permanent cure for this ailment. Also, as of now no effective hepatitis c vaccine has been developed. Hence, doctors streamline a treatment plan aimed at alleviating the symptoms and weaken the impact of the virus.

Hepatitis c antiviral drugs are the primary treatment for this condition. These drugs target the virus itself and have a high cure rate (often over 95%). Treatment duration and specific medications depend on various factors, including the genotype of the virus.

Some other hepatitis c medications are also prescribed to keep the symptoms like fever and fatigue at bay. Government bodies and pharma organizations have also joined hands to introduce affordable hepatitis c drugs so that people from weaker economic backgrounds do not stay deprived of the essential treatment.

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Summing Up:

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver and can lead to serious liver-related health issues. Some common symptoms include flu-like symptoms, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and chronic fatigue. DLI has been empowering the players with a holistic approach that spans clinical research, drug development, commercial strategy analysis, and product launch services. This comprehensive approach is vital in improving the management and treatment of hepatitis C, ultimately benefiting individuals affected by the disease and public health as a whole.

Browse Through More Infectious Diseases Research Reports.

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A case study involving the cooperation of a pharmaceutical business with CDMOs and SMOs

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.?

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / South Pole:

As part of our 'Climate Talks' series ahead of COP28, we chatted to Ermenegilda Boccabella, who recently joined South Pole as Director of Public Affairs, to discuss her background, the global stocktake and her anticipations for COP28.

You have just joined South Pole - welcome and so nice to have you! Give us a little bit of backstory on yourself: where did your passion for working in climate originate and what has led you here?

I have just come from a tech company, also based here in Berlin, where I was the global head of corporate responsibility. I led a team developing robust sustainability reporting, including greenhouse gas GHG inventories, net zero, and emission reduction targets, and company-wide product alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Before moving to Berlin, I was based in Brussels where I worked with leading energy and tech companies on their approach to emissions and sustainability. On the side, I advised on international emissions reduction conventions for a variety of stakeholders, including Pacific Small Island Developing States. I was a negotiator at the Paris Agreement and have worked on the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention.

Though I have lived in Europe for the past decade, I was born and raised in Australia and started my career as a lawyer in Brisbane many, many years ago. My passion for climate action was ignited by the approval of a large-scale coal mine in my home state of Queensland.

Recently, the UNFCCC released the first report of the global stocktake which will culminate in Dubai at COP28. What do you see as its key insights?

The global stocktake is a mechanism of the Paris Agreement which reviews the level of ambition and implementation underway in each country. Along with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), it makes up much of the "transparency toolbox" embedded in the Paris Agreement. In many ways, the NDCs set the intention of country-level action and the global stocktake assesses their effectiveness and achievements.

Overall, we know we aren't doing enough. All countries are now having to deal with the consequences of extreme climates, whether it be hot and dry summers, cold and wet winters, fires, floods, or drought. The cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of action. We need to intensify efforts, and particularly focus on transforming critical parts of the global economy that support those who are most vulnerable to climate change. Practically, that means decarbonising energy use as quickly as possible and protecting biodiversity by halting land degradation.

And what does this mean for the future of climate governance and the private sector specifically - what is the global call to action, in your opinion?

Several regulatory sustainability requirements are coming into force across the world. They increase the non-financial reporting obligations of private companies, in some cases requiring them to disclose sustainability impacts and risks. In the next few years, regulators will have a much clearer picture of how their economies are contributing to climate action, where emission reductions are needed, and how to achieve the SDGs. They will be able to identify the sectors lagging behind and begin to regulate them.

Over the past five years, my advice to corporations has been this: you have until the end of this decade to decide how you decarbonise. As we get closer and closer to 2050, companies without a viable decarbonisation pathway will be regulated.

To stay ahead of the curve, companies must ensure they have developed annual greenhouse gas inventories, invest in decarbonising their processes, review their sustainability risks, and fund climate action - especially within their supply chains.

With the context of this - what are your anticipations for COP and the implementation of the Paris Agreement?

The focus of COP28 will be on fine-tuning Article 6 rules, the first global stocktake, and just transition mechanisms. I think there will be many discussions around NDCs and about political agendas in countries with significant national elections.

I hope we will make strides forward in our investment commitments, especially in the Global South. This year, we heard clear calls to action from the UN Africa Climate Week and Climate Week in New York, rooted in ambition and finance, which can be built on at COP28. 2030 is just around the corner, so governments, projects, and stakeholders need to be practical. Phasing out fossil fuels, tripling renewable energy capacity, and closing the gap between the Global North and the Global South are no less than crucial.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from South Pole on 3blmedia.com.

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Spokesperson: South Pole

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SOURCE: South Pole

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Regulatory News:

Orano signed a Protocol for the development and operation of a uranium mine project in Mongolia The signing took place at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace on 12 October 2023 in the presence of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and of Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, President of Mongolia, as well as of Claude Imauven, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orano, and of Sanjaagiin Narantsogt, CEO of Erdenes Mongol LLC.

This Protocol sets out the framework for an investment agreement that will be mutually beneficial to both partners. The envisaged investment agreement will lay the foundations for a relationship between Orano, and the Mongolian Government set to span several decades, in the development and industrial operation of the Zuuvch-Ovoo uranium mine project located in the Southwestern part of Mongolia, in Dornogovi province. The investment agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the year.

With a 25-year long presence in the country, responsible mining player Orano successfully deployed an industrial pilot in 2021 and 2022, confirming the economic, environmental and societal feasibility of operating the Zuuvch-Ovoo site, a project developed by Badrakh Energy, the joint venture between Orano Mining and the Mongolian state-owned company MonAtom.

The joint Franco-Mongolian project will be based on international standards and best practices in terms of safety, security and the environment, setting a benchmark for the development of the industry in Mongolia.

Through this project, Orano is committed over the long term, alongside communities for responsible mining with a development and cooperation program in favor of local populations.

With the prospect of high uranium demand worldwide over the next few decades, Mongolia is positioning itself as a strategic player and a significant contributor in the global climate effort.

Claude Imauven commented: "I am very proud to sign this protocol today, which extends a relationship we have had with Mongolia for over 25 years. The signature marks a decisive step in this historic partnership. This cooperation will enable us to develop the uranium sector in Mongolia while furthering the Group's strategy of diversifying its mining activities."

About Orano

As a recognized international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano group's 17,000 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.

Orano, giving nuclear energy its full value.

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Contacts:

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PUNE, India, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinium Global Research, a leading provider of market research and analysis services, has released a comprehensive report on the Telehealth Market, offering in-depth insights into global and regional segments. The report explores the impact of drivers, restraints, and macro indicators on the short-term and long-term growth prospects of the telehealth market. With the telehealth market valued at USD 97.61 billion in 2022, it is projected to soar to an impressive USD 627.19 billion by 2030, with an extraordinary Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22.86% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2030.

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Revolutionizing Healthcare Through Telehealth

Telehealth represents a ground-breaking shift in healthcare delivery, enabling the provision of medical services, including consultations, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring, through digital communication technologies. It facilitates the remote connection of healthcare professionals with patients, breaking down geographical barriers and significantly increasing access to medical care. Telehealth encompasses various communication modalities, including video conferencing, phone calls, mobile apps, and secure messaging, allowing patients to consult healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes.

Furthermore, it has transformed healthcare delivery by improving access to medical expertise, particularly in underserved and remote areas. Telehealth is invaluable in emergencies, chronic disease management, mental health support, and preventive care. Additionally, it enhances healthcare efficiency, reduces costs, and alleviates the burden on physical healthcare facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth as a safer way to deliver care while adhering to social distancing measures. As technology evolves and regulatory frameworks adapt to accommodate telehealth, its scope continues to expand, revolutionizing the healthcare landscape and enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality for millions worldwide.

Driving Factors and Challenges

The growth of the telehealth market is propelled by the increasing demand for remote healthcare services and improved access to medical care. These factors are reshaping healthcare by enabling individuals to receive timely and convenient healthcare services, particularly in underserved or remote areas, thereby driving market expansion. Additionally, the telehealth market experiences growth driven by the rise in healthcare costs and advancements in telecommunication infrastructure. Escalating healthcare expenses has incentivized the adoption of cost-effective telehealth solutions, while enhanced communication networks facilitate seamless and accessible remote healthcare services, contributing to market expansion.

However, the widespread adoption of telehealth solutions faces challenges related to data privacy and security concerns. These apprehensions, primarily driven by the need to safeguard sensitive patient information, must be addressed to establish trust and ensure the secure use of remote healthcare technologies. Nevertheless, the growing global aging population, coupled with the demand for cost-effective healthcare solutions, presents significant growth opportunities for the telehealth market. These dynamics underscore the need for accessible and affordable remote healthcare services, positioning telehealth as a viable solution to address evolving challenges.

Regional Leadership and Growth Prospects

North America commands the largest market share in the telehealth market. The region's dominance is attributed to its well-established healthcare infrastructure, high technology adoption rates, and increasing demand for remote healthcare services, particularly in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated telehealth adoption in North America. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to experience the highest growth in the telehealth market. This growth is driven by several factors, including rising healthcare expenditures, the expansion of digital infrastructure, and increased awareness of telehealth benefits across countries such as China and India. Governments in the region have also promoted telehealth to enhance healthcare access, especially in remote or underserved areas. The pandemic underscored the importance of telehealth in Asia-Pacific, further amplifying its growth potential.

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Market Segmentation

The global telehealth market is segmented based on components, mode of delivery, applications, and end-users:

Components: Sub-markets include software, services, and hardware.

Sub-markets include software, services, and hardware. Mode of Delivery: Sub-markets encompass cloud-based delivery mode, on-premise delivery mode, and web-based delivery mode.

Sub-markets encompass cloud-based delivery mode, on-premise delivery mode, and web-based delivery mode. Applications: Sub-markets include general consultation, pathology, cardiology, surgery, gynecology, and others.

Sub-markets include general consultation, pathology, cardiology, surgery, gynecology, and others. End-Users: Sub-markets include payers, providers, patients, and others.

Competitive Landscape

The report provides profiles of the companies in the market such as Vidyo, Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Medtronic, Center for Care Innovations, Tunstall Integrated Healthcare group, Aerotel Medical Systems (1998) Ltd., GlobalMedia Group, LLC, Teladoc Health, Inc., and AMD Global Telemedicine.

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Table of Content

Chapter 1. Preface

1.1. Report Description

1.2. Research Methods

1.3. Research Approaches

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Telehealth Market Highlights

2.2. Telehealth Market Projection

2.3. Telehealth Market Regional Highlights

Chapter 3. Global Telehealth Market Overview

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Drivers

3.2.2. Restraints

3.2.3. Opportunities

3.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.4. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis

3.4.1. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Component

3.4.2. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Mode of Delivery

3.4.3. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Application

3.4.4. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by End User

3.4.5. IGR-Growth Matrix Analysis by Region

3.5. Value Chain Analysis of Telehealth Market

Chapter 4. Telehealth Market Macro Indicator Analysis

Chapter 5. Company Profiles and Competitive Landscape

5.1. Competitive Landscape in the Global Telehealth Market

5.2. Companies Profiles

5.2.1. Vidyo, Inc.

5.2.2. Koninklijke Philips N.V.

5.2.3. Siemens Healthcare GmbH

5.2.4. Medtronic

5.2.5. Center for Care Innovations

5.2.6. Tunstall Integrated Healthcare group

5.2.7. Aerotel Medical Systems (1998) Ltd.

5.2.8. GlobalMedia Group, LLC

5.2.9. Teladoc Health, Inc.

5.2.10. AMD Global Telemedicine

Chapter 6. Global Telehealth Market by Component

6.1. Software

6.2. Services

6.3. Hardware

Chapter 7. Global Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

7.1. Cloud-based Delivery Mode

7.2. On-premise Delivery Mode

7.3. Web-based Delivery Mode

Chapter 8. Global Telehealth Market by Application

8.1. General Consultation

8.2. Pathology

8.3. Cardiology

8.4. Surgery

8.5. Gynecology

8.6. Others

Chapter 9. Global Telehealth Market by End User

9.1. Payers

9.2. Providers

9.3. Patients

9.4. Others

Chapter 10. Global Telehealth Market by Region 2023-2030

10.1. North America

10.1.1. North America Telehealth Market by Component

10.1.2. North America Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.1.3. North America Telehealth Market by Application

10.1.4. North America Telehealth Market by End User

10.1.5. North America Telehealth Market by Country

10.1.5.1. The U.S. Telehealth Market

10.1.5.1.1. The U.S. Telehealth Market by Component

10.1.5.1.2. The U.S. Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.1.5.1.3. The U.S. Telehealth Market by Application

10.1.5.1.4. The U.S. Telehealth Market by End User

10.1.5.2. Canada Telehealth Market

10.1.5.2.1. Canada Telehealth Market by Component

10.1.5.2.2. Canada Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.1.5.2.3. Canada Telehealth Market by Application

10.1.5.2.4. Canada Telehealth Market by End User

10.1.5.3. Mexico Telehealth Market

10.1.5.3.1. Mexico Telehealth Market by Component

10.1.5.3.2. Mexico Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.1.5.3.3. Mexico Telehealth Market by Application

10.1.5.3.4. Mexico Telehealth Market by End User

10.2. Europe

10.2.1. Europe Telehealth Market by Component

10.2.2. Europe Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.2.3. Europe Telehealth Market by Application

10.2.4. Europe Telehealth Market by End User

10.2.5. Europe Telehealth Market by Country

10.2.5.1. Germany Telehealth Market

10.2.5.1.1. Germany Telehealth Market by Component

10.2.5.1.2. Germany Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.2.5.1.3. Germany Telehealth Market by Application

10.2.5.1.4. Germany Telehealth Market by End User

10.2.5.2. United Kingdom Telehealth Market

10.2.5.2.1. United Kingdom Telehealth Market by Component

10.2.5.2.2. United Kingdom Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.2.5.2.3. United Kingdom Telehealth Market by Application

10.2.5.2.4. United Kingdom Telehealth Market by End User

10.2.5.3. France Telehealth Market

10.2.5.3.1. France Telehealth Market by Component

10.2.5.3.2. France Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.2.5.3.3. France Telehealth Market by Application

10.2.5.3.4. France Telehealth Market by End User

10.2.5.4. Italy Telehealth Market

10.2.5.4.1. Italy Telehealth Market by Component

10.2.5.4.2. Italy Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.2.5.4.3. Italy Telehealth Market by Application

10.2.5.4.4. Italy Telehealth Market by End User

10.2.5.5. Rest of Europe Telehealth Market

10.2.5.5.1. Rest of Europe Telehealth Market by Component

10.2.5.5.2. Rest of Europe Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.2.5.5.3. Rest of Europe Telehealth Market by Application

10.2.5.5.4. Rest of Europe Telehealth Market by End User

10.3. Asia Pacific

10.3.1. Asia Pacific Telehealth Market by Component

10.3.2. Asia Pacific Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.3.3. Asia Pacific Telehealth Market by Application

10.3.4. Asia Pacific Telehealth Market by End User

10.3.5. Asia Pacific Telehealth Market by Country

10.3.5.1. China Telehealth Market

10.3.5.1.1. China Telehealth Market by Component

10.3.5.1.2. China Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.3.5.1.3. China Telehealth Market by Application

10.3.5.1.4. China Telehealth Market by End User

10.3.5.2. Japan Telehealth Market

10.3.5.2.1. Japan Telehealth Market by Component

10.3.5.2.2. Japan Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.3.5.2.3. Japan Telehealth Market by Application

10.3.5.2.4. Japan Telehealth Market by End User

10.3.5.3. India Telehealth Market

10.3.5.3.1. India Telehealth Market by Component

10.3.5.3.2. India Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.3.5.3.3. India Telehealth Market by Application

10.3.5.3.4. India Telehealth Market by End User

10.3.5.4. South Korea Telehealth Market

10.3.5.4.1. South Korea Telehealth Market by Component

10.3.5.4.2. South Korea Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.3.5.4.3. South Korea Telehealth Market by Application

10.3.5.4.4. South Korea Telehealth Market by End User

10.3.5.5. Australia Telehealth Market

10.3.5.5.1. Australia Telehealth Market by Component

10.3.5.5.2. Australia Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.3.5.5.3. Australia Telehealth Market by Application

10.3.5.5.4. Australia Telehealth Market by End User

10.3.5.6. Rest of Asia-Pacific Telehealth Market

10.3.5.6.1. Rest of Asia-Pacific Telehealth Market by Component

10.3.5.6.2. Rest of Asia-Pacific Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.3.5.6.3. Rest of Asia-Pacific Telehealth Market by Application

10.3.5.6.4. Rest of Asia-Pacific Telehealth Market by End User

10.4. RoW

10.4.1. RoW Telehealth Market by Component

10.4.2. RoW Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.4.3. RoW Telehealth Market by Application

10.4.4. RoW Telehealth Market by End User

10.4.5. RoW Telehealth Market by Sub-region

10.4.5.1. Latin America Telehealth Market

10.4.5.1.1. Latin America Telehealth Market by Component

10.4.5.1.2. Latin America Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.4.5.1.3. Latin America Telehealth Market by Application

10.4.5.1.4. Latin America Telehealth Market by End User

10.4.5.2. Middle East Telehealth Market

10.4.5.2.1. Middle East Telehealth Market by Component

10.4.5.2.2. Middle East Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.4.5.2.3. Middle East Telehealth Market by Application

10.4.5.2.4. Middle East Telehealth Market by End User

10.4.5.3. Africa Telehealth Market

10.4.5.3.1. Africa Telehealth Market by Component

10.4.5.3.2. Africa Telehealth Market by Mode of Delivery

10.4.5.3.3. Africa Telehealth Market by Application

10.4.5.3.4. Africa Telehealth Market by End User

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Reasons to Buy this Report:

=> Comprehensive analysis of global as well as regional markets of telehealth.

=> Complete coverage of all the product types and application segments to analyze the trends, developments, and forecast of market size up to 2030.

=> Comprehensive analysis of the companies operating in this market. The company profile includes an analysis of the product portfolio, revenue, SWOT analysis, and the latest developments of the company.

=> Infinium Global Research- Growth Matrix presents an analysis of the product segments and geographies that market players should focus on to invest, consolidate, expand, and/or diversify.

About Infinium Global Research:

Infinium Global Research is a business consulting and market research firm; a group of experts that caters to fulfilling business and market research needs of leading companies in various industry verticals and business segments. The company also serves government bodies, institutes, and non-profit/non-government organizations to meet their knowledge and information needs.

Through our information services and solutions, we assist our clients to improve their performance and assess the market conditions to achieve their organizational goals. Our team of experts and analysts are engaged in continuously monitoring and assessing the market conditions to provide knowledge support to our clients. To help our clients and to stay updated with the advances and inventions in technology, business processes, regulations, and the environment, Infinium often conducts regular meets with industry experts and opinion leaders. Our key opinion leaders are involved in monitoring and assessing the progress in the business environment, so as to offer the best opinion to our clients.

Contact:

Infinium Global Research

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Rahatani Chowk, Pimple Saudagar,

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Phone: +918999930634

Email: Info@infiniumglobalresearch.com

Website: www.infiniumglobalresearch.com

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Kyoto, Japan--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - The Shirakawa Community Design Company has announced the launch of an exciting travel package, inviting travelers to embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Japan. From September 1, 2023 to February 3, 2024, the "SHIRAKAWA DEEP-DIVE into Japanese Food Culture" package will immerse participants in the vibrant world of Japanese cuisine, offering an authentic experience like no other.

Knife Sharpening

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The "SHIRAKAWA DEEP-DIVE into Japanese Food Culture" package promises an unforgettable adventure for food enthusiasts and culture seekers in the heart of the enchanting Furukawacho Shopping Arcade. Participants will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide throughout their journey, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience.

The package includes a choice of two workshops from the following five options:

Knife Sharpening (90 minutes): Learn the art of knife sharpening from a seasoned artisan with a 26-year career. This unique experience is exclusive to Furukawacho Shopping Arcade and aims to elevate culinary skills.



Ramen Making (120 minutes): Dive into the world of Gion Shirakawa Ramen, renowned for its miso-flavored soup. Guests can craft hearty ramen, starting with stir-frying selected miso paste in an iron wok.



Obanzai Making (120 minutes): Discover the secrets of "Obanzai," a term exclusive to Kyoto, representing generations of home-cooked recipes. Join the chef-owner of Kyo-gohan Nishimura in preparing traditional dishes with ingredients from the shopping arcade.



Shirakawa Walking Tour (120 minutes): Explore the picturesque Furukawacho Shopping Arcade, Chion-in Temple (a National Treasure), and surrounding areas while immersed in the cultural tapestry of Japan.



Japanese Sake Lecture (90 minutes): Uncover the world of Kyoto's renowned sake brewing. Gain insight into the history, brewing methods, and unique characteristics of sake brewed in Kyoto.

Obanzai Making



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Japanese Sake Lecture



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The Furukawacho Shopping Arcade, with its enchanting blend of retro and modern aesthetics, serves as the backdrop for this culinary adventure. The arcade's lanterns hanging from its roof create a unique atmosphere, offering travelers a glimpse into Japan's nostalgic pop culture.

Furukawacho Shopping Arcade



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Situated near Chion-in Temple, the head temple of the Jodo Sect Buddhism established in 1175, Furukawacho Shopping Arcade boasts a rich historical heritage. Visitors can explore nearby historical sites such as Heian Jingu Shrine, Yasaka Jinja Shrine, and Kodai-ji Temple, making it a hub for cultural exploration. Today, the shopping arcade is home to approximately 40 stores, both old and new, offering a diverse range of experiences and products.

Shirakawa River



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The Furukawa Shuzo (Shirakawa Community Design Company) is the proud management organization behind this immersive travel package.

Visit the following link for details of the package:

https://kyoto.tourism-pg.com/detail/bokun/774037/?ac=tc

About the Shirakawa Community Design Company

The Shirakawa Community Design Company is a dedicated community development organization committed to fostering growth and vibrancy in the Furukawacho Shopping Arcade and Shirakawa area. For more information, visit the Shirakawa Community Design Company at https://www.instagram.com/furukawashuzo/.

Contact

JTB Corp. Kyoto Branch

TEL: +81 75 365 7730

Email: link_kyoto@jtb.com

Business Hours: Weekdays, 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM JST

Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays

All images in this press release are for illustrative purposes only.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183748
The global battery storage inverter market growth is attributed to the rise in demand for sustainable power supply, and increasing demand for grid-connected solutions.

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Battery Storage Inverter Market by Type (Single-phase electric power and Three-phase electric power), By End-use Industry (Residential, Commercial, Utility-scale, and Others), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032." According to the report, the global battery storage inverter industry was valued at $2.8 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $6.5 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.8% from 2023 to 2032.



Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/7976

Battery storage inverters, also known as battery inverters or hybrid inverters, are devices used in energy storage systems to convert direct current (DC) electricity from batteries into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is the type of electricity used in most electrical systems. They are an essential component of battery energy storage systems, allowing for the efficient use and integration of stored energy. Battery storage inverters perform several key functions. First, they manage the charging and discharging of batteries, ensuring that energy flows in the appropriate direction and at the desired rate. When electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines is generated and stored in batteries, the inverter controls the charging process, converting the DC electricity produced by renewable sources into AC electricity for use in homes, buildings, or the power grid.

Prime Determinants of Growth:



The global battery storage inverter market growth is attributed to the rise in demand for sustainable power supply and increasing demand for grid-connected solutions. However, the high initial cost of battery storage inverters restricts the market growth. Moreover, the growing focus on rural electrification globally will create lucrative opportunities for the growth of the market.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $2.8 billion Market Size in 2032 $6.5 billion CAGR 8.8 % No. of Pages in Report 221 Segments covered Type, End Use Industry, and Region Drivers Rise in demand for sustainable power supply Increasing demand for grid-connected solutions Opportunities Growing focus on rural electrification worldwide Restraints The high initial cost of battery storage inverter

The three-phase electric power segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period-

Based on type, the three-phase electric power segment held the largest share in 2022, contributing to more than three-fifths of the global battery storage inverter market revenue, and is expected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. The same segment would also display the highest CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period. Owing to three-phase battery storage inverters help manage the variability of these sources by storing excess energy during peak production and releasing it when demand is high, or production is low. This enhances grid stability and reduces the reliance on fossil fuels.

Procure Complete Report (221 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ http://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/battery-storage-inverter-market

The utility scale segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on end use industry, the utility scale segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global battery storage inverter market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The same segment would also cite the highest CAGR of 9.0% during the forecast period. Battery storage inverters play a crucial role in enhancing grid stability and reliability. They provide fast response times to changes in demand and supply, helping to balance the grid and mitigate fluctuations caused by the integration of renewable energy sources.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032-

Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in 2022, holding nearly half of the global battery storage inverter market, and is likely to maintain its dominance by 2032. The same region would also portray the fastest CAGR of 9.3% from 2023 to 2032. This is because many countries in the Asia-Pacific region have ambitious renewable energy targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy security. Battery storage inverters play a vital role in integrating intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind into the grid.

For Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/battery-storage-inverter-market/purchase-options

Leading Market Players: -

KACO new energy

SMA Solar Technology AG

Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Ingeteam

SolaX Power

Poweroneups

GOODWE

Eaton

SUNGROW

Guangdong Zhicheng Champion Group Co., Ltd.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global battery storage inverter market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Modular Inverter Market: Global Opportunity Analysis, 2022-2031

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Solar Energy and Battery Storage Market: Global Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2032

Solar (PV) Inverter Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Forecast, 2021-2030

String Inverter Market: Global Opportunity Analysis, 2023-2032

About us:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- M42, a global tech-enabled healthcare network, has unveiled an impactful advancement in healthcare technology with the launch of Med42, a new open-access Clinical Large Language Model (LLM). The 70 billion parameter, generative artificial intelligence (AI) model is poised to transform the future of AI across the healthcare sector and create a direct impact on patient care outcomes.

Med42 provides high-quality answers to short and long-form medical questions. The model has been developed to exponentially enhance clinical decision-making and increase access to synthesized medical knowledge for healthcare professionals, patients, and medical researchers through to regulators.

Med42 was trained using M42's industry-leading curated dataset of medical knowledge. When tested on multiple healthcare-relevant datasets, the model outperforms larger closed models, like ChatGPT 3.5, and achieves a 72% score, in a zero-shot evaluation, on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Sample Exam questions.

Developed by M42's Abu Dhabi-based team, Med42 was trained and fine-tuned with Cerebras in collaboration with Core42, a G42 company focused on enabling the delivery of national-scale AI and Enterprise AI programs. A team from Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) further evaluated the accuracy of the model.

Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of M42, said, "Med42 will accelerate global access to healthcare knowledge and embodies our commitment to making a transformative impact across the healthcare sector. M42 is pushing the boundaries of healthcare innovation and charting a path towards more personalized, patient-centric care. The unique combination of M42's world-class healthcare expertise and cutting-edge medical technologies allows us to impactfully contribute to the future of AI in healthcare - a future where AI is accessible to all while being rooted in ethics and prioritizing the safety of users."

Al Nowais continued, "The launch of Med42 firmly establishes and demonstrates the United Arab Emirates' prominent standing in the global generative AI space. We are grateful for the support from the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and Abu Dhabi's wider technology ecosystem."

Med42 has the potential to revolutionize the pace of clinical decision-making, acting as an AI assistant for healthcare professionals. The capability of the model extends to developing personalized treatment plans by analyzing a patient's medical history to identify the best course of treatment. Other use cases include helping doctors access insights faster, pharmacists decide on correct dosages, and supporting scientists studying treatment options to review literature efficiently.

To further promote collaboration and enhancement of the generative AI model, Med42 is available for download on Hugging Face, allowing widespread testing, review, and assessment by the scientific and developer community. Licensed on terms similar to Meta's Llama 2 model, Med42 is free for non-commercial use and research - with appropriate controls on use, given the obvious risks that could arise when deploying AI in a healthcare context.

Ashish Koshy, Group Chief Operating Officer of M42, emphasized, "Innovation isn't just about leading technologies. It is rooted in delivering impactful and safe solutions for real-world challenges. Med42 is not just a tool; it's a platform for collaboration. M42 aims to catalyze global innovation in AI for healthcare, empowering experts across the globe to refine and expand the model's applications in various medical domains. Our partnerships with technology leaders, including Cerebras, enable us to bring this vision to life and achieve our long-term transformative objectives."

The full-parameter fine-tuning of the largest Llama 2 model was successfully accomplished on Cerebras and G42's Condor Galaxy 1 (CG-1) AI supercomputer. Rapid setup and reduced training time was made possible by the 82 terabytes of memory and the 54 million AI cores in the 64 Cerebras CS-2 systems inside of CG-1.

Andrew Feldman, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cerebras Systems, said, "Our strategic partnership with G42 and its portfolio companies is designed to change the AI landscape. Our collaboration has already delivered Condor Galaxy 1, the largest AI supercomputer in the world, as well as Jais, the leading Arabic LLM, to the community. Today, we helped bring another state-of-the-art LLM to the world, Med42, with huge benefits for the healthcare landscape."

M42 is uniquely positioned to spearhead the transformation of the healthcare industry due to its unrivaled access to medical and data-centric technologies, including genomics and AI, paired with its extensive portfolio of world-class patient services and network of state-of-the-art facilities to provide the highest level of personalized, precise, and preventative care.

About M42

M42 is an Abu Dhabi-based, global tech-enabled healthcare company at the forefront of medical advancement. The company is seeking to transform lives through innovative clinical solutions that can solve the world's most critical health and diagnostic challenges. By harnessing innovative solutions, and unique medical and data-centric technologies, including genomics and AI, M42 is impactfully transforming the traditional healthcare ecosystem and delivering the highest level of precise, patient-centric, and preventative care.

M42 has over 20,000 employees and more than 450 facilities in 25 countries. Established in 2022, following the coming together of G42 Healthcare and Mubadala Health, M42 is a first-of-its-kind integrated healthcare company that combines unique medical and data-centric technologies with state-of-the-art facilities to deliver world-class care.

www.m42.ae

Contact details:

Halima Islam

Account Director

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

+971 52 302 0784

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12 October 2023

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Article 53 of SIX Exchange Regulation Listing Rules

ONE swiss bank SA convenes an Extraordinary General Meeting and notifies of the agenda

The Board of Directors of ONE swiss bank's (ONE) has received a request from HPF Holding de Participations de Famille SA (HPF), holder of 4,916,490 ONE shares and representing 31.54% of the voting rights, to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting in November 2023 to vote on the delisting of ONE shares from the SIX Swiss Exchange and the payment of a dividend paid from ONE's reserves.

HPF who represents more than 5% of ONE's share capital or votes is entitled to request the convening of a General Meeting and the inclusion of items on the agenda in accordance with Article 14 of ONE's Articles of Association.

Following this request, ONE convenes today its shareholders and notifies of the agenda for the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on 16 November 2023.

AGENDA AND PROPOSALS PUT TO THE VOTE

Delisting of ONE shares from the SIX Swiss Exchange in accordance with Article 698 para. 2 no. 8 of the Swiss Code of Obligations Distribution of an extraordinary dividend of CHF 0.23 per share paid from ONE's reserves



The invitation to the Extraordinary General Meetingand is also available on oneswissbank.comin the Investor relations section.



For further information, please contact:

Julien Delecraz

Investor Relations

investorrelations@oneswiss.com

+41 58 300 78 13

ONE swiss bank SA

Attachment
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 12

For immediate release

12 October 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 100,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 832.29 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 21,271,869; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 203,719,434.

The figure of 203,719,434 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES

HERZLIYA, Israel and CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Innocan Pharma Corporation (the "Company") (CSE: INNO) (FSE: IP4) (OTCQB: INNPF) is pleased to announce that it has closed the first of two tranches (the "First Tranche") of its previously announced private placement offering (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units"), pursuant to which the Company issued 1,420,200 Units at a price of $0.30 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of $426,060. The Company expects to complete a second and final tranche of the Offering in the following week.

The Offering is led by Research Capital Corporation as sole agent and sole bookrunner (the "Agent").

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.36 for a period of 36 months from the closing of the First Tranche.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund the Company's pre-investigational new drug meeting with the United States Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") regarding the human application of the Company's products (the "Pre-IND Meeting"); the investigational new animal drug meeting with the FDA regarding the veterinary application of the Company's products; and (iii) for the expansion of the Company's derma-cosmetic product distribution.

The Units issued under the First Tranche were offered to purchasers pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"). The Units are not subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The Broker Warrants (as defined below) are subject to a statutory four-month hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the First Tranche, the Agent received an aggregate cash fee equal to $34,084.80. In addition, the Company issued to the Agent 113,616 non-transferable broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Unit at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 36 months following the closing date of the First Tranche.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Corporate Update

The Company wishes to express its strong support of the State of Israel. Our heart goes out to all of the families that have been affected by the events of the past few days. We send strength to our soldiers, families and loved ones in these terrible times.

Despite the horrific situation in Israel, the Company continues to be full operational and active. All of our staff continue to work remotely while adhering to safety precautions and instructions from local authorities. We wish to thank all of our investors and partners for their continuing warm support.

We will continue with our growth and innovation, focusing on completing our preparation for the Pre-IND Meeting and the expansion of the Company's derma-cosmetic product distribution.

About Innocan

Innocan is a pharmaceutical tech company that operates under two main segments: Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Wellness. In the Pharmaceuticals segment, Innocan focuses on developing innovative drug delivery platform technologies comprises with cannabinoids science, to treat various conditions to improve patients' quality of life. This segment involves two drug delivery technologies: (i) LPT CBD- loaded liposome platform facilitating exact dosing and the prolonged and controlled release of CBD into the blood stream. The LPT delivery platform research is in the preclinical trial phase for two indications: Epilepsy and Pain Management. (ii) CLX CBD-loaded exosomes platform that may hold the potential to provide a highly synergistic effect of regenerating and anti- inflammatory properties targeting the Central Nervous System (CNS). In the Consumer Wellness segment, Innocan develops and markets a wide portfolio of innovative and high-performance self-care products to promote a healthier lifestyle. Under this segment Innocan has established a Joint Venture by the name of BI Sky Global Ltd. that focuses developing on advanced targeted online sales. https://innocanpharma.com/

For further information, please contact:

Iris Bincovich, CEO

15162104025+

+972-54-3012842

+442037699377

info@innocanpharma.com

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the completion of a second tranche of the Offering and the timing and pricing in respect thereof; the use of proceeds of the Offering; and timely receipt of all necessary approvals, including any requisite approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of the Company. Such statements can generally, but not always, be identified by words such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "forecasts", "schedules", "prepares", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. All statements that describe the Company's plans relating to operations and potential strategic opportunities are forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and are reliant on assumptions made by the Company's management, and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking information, actual results could materially differ from those currently projected, and there is no representation by the Company that the actual results realized in the future will be the same in whole or in part as those presented herein. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Readers are referred to the additional information regarding the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements and information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, other than as required by law.

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Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 12

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

12 October 2023

REDDE NORTHGATE PLC

("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 12 October 2023 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 75,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 324.5 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 324.5 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 324.5 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 15,940,071 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company is 230,151,352 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchase - Individual Transactions (as at 12 October 2023)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 75,000 324.50 10:26:40 00067331718TRLO0 LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden.

Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals.

Further information please visit the Company's website:
New back-support exoskeleton for logistics, new business unit, new umbrella brand

EMERYVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Today "SUITX by Ottobock" launches the IX BACK AIR exoskeleton: The new back-support exoskeleton combines the power of rigid systems with the comfort of soft models. This makes it the exoskeleton to be used across the board in the logistics industry.

suitx_backair_exoskeleton

With the IX BACK AIR, the new "SUITX by Ottobock" business unit also presents itself for the first time under the corresponding umbrella brand. "We are combining the innovative strength of both companies, both structurally and in terms of our brand, in order to further expand our market leadership," explains Martin Bohm, Chief Experience Officer at Ottobock. "With this step, we are strengthening our exoskeleton business worldwide, especially in the core market of the United States. More than 2,000 customers are already using the solutions from 'SUITX by Ottobock', including leading automotive manufacturers such as Toyota North America and logistics service providers such as DB Schenker. We will actively shape the working environment of the future and provide sustainable relief for people with physically demanding jobs."

Exoskeletons for more health-oriented and efficient logistics

In the logistics industry, employees are exposed to particularly high levels of physical stress, such as lifting and carrying bulky or heavy loads. This stress often causes musculoskeletal disorders such as back problems, thereby leading to sick leave and high associated costs. Exoskeletons are a key to overcoming these challenges: They significantly relieve the physical strain during heavy work, boost motivation and reduce costs by increasing the number of productive days.

"The new IX BACK AIR is a groundbreaking technology for the widespread use of exoskeletons in logistics," says Samuel Reimer, Managing Director of SUITX by Ottobock North America. "Some companies in the industry are already using exoskeletons, but most are still in the testing phase. The daily application under changing working conditions still poses a challenge for many companies, but now we have come up with a suitable solution in cooperation with our stakeholders."

A significant relief for the lower back

In cooperation with logistics partners, SUITX by Ottobock has further developed the successful BackX exoskeleton. The successor model IX BACK AIR is more effective, comfortable and lighter. It reduces the load on the lower back by up to 56% without compressing the spine, as studies[1] with the BackX have shown.

The back-support exoskeleton is specifically designed for people involved in dynamic work processes in the logistics industry who have to move loads manually while operating industrial trucks, for example. A built-in mode automatically detects when the wearer needs support and when they need freedom of movement. Due to its reduced and ergonomic design, the IX BACK AIR is also ideally suited for working in confined spaces, for example inside a container.

Powerful and comfortable

Weighing just under 7lb, the new back-support exoskeleton is particularly light and comfortable. Its innovative technology redistributes forces in the body, storing and releasing them as needed. By using the body's own energy, the exoskeleton can be worn all day without the need for batteries.

The IX BACK AIR can be put on and taken off in less than 20 seconds. It can be easily adapted to different user heights ("one size fits all") and is particularly comfortable. The exoskeleton has intuitive closures and removable pads as well as reflectors for improved user visibility. Thanks to its slim and body-hugging design, the IX BACK AIR can also be worn under safety vests.

The new exoskeleton for the logistics industry will be commercially available worldwide from October 9, 2023. The IX BACK AIR can be tested in the working environment as part of the company's discovery program (from USD 2,990). Ergonomics experts from SUITX by Ottobock will accompany the test phase from training to evaluation. The team will present its exoskeleton product range at the ErgoX Symposium in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2023.

[1] Kazerooni, H., Tung, W., & Pillai, M. (2019). Evaluation of Trunk-Supporting Exoskeleton. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 63(1), 1080-1083. Link

About "SUITX by Ottobock"

Since 2012, SUITX has been developing body-worn support structures, so-called "wearables", to facilitate the everyday work of people performing physical labor. SUITX originated from the Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. The founding team included Dr. Homayoon Kazerooni, Professor for Mechanical Engineering and exoskeleton visionary.

At the end of 2021, Ottobock and SUITX joined forces to develop groundbreaking exoskeletons under the name "SUITX by Ottobock". These exoskeletons are highly efficient and very light, preventing musculoskeletal disorders caused by heavy physical work.

Ottobock has more than 100 years of experience in orthopaedic technology and brings invaluable expertise in biomechanics to the table. With over 9,000 employees worldwide, the health technology company empowers people in 135 countries to live their lives to the fullest. Ottobock offers solutions and services in the fields of prosthetics, orthotics, neuromobility and patient care.

Photos are available for download here. ( SUITX by Ottobock)

Contact Information

Samuel Reimder

Managing Director, SUITX by Ottobock

samuel.reimer@ottobock.com

SOURCE: SUITX by Ottobock

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792437/suitx-by-ottobock-sets-new-standards-in-exoskeleton-technology
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Marvel Discovery Corp. (TSX-V:MARV)(Frankfurt:O4T)(OTCQB:MARVF); ("Marvel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement to acquire the Costigan Lake Uranium project, which covers 5,518ha located on the eastern side of the Athabasca Basin. The acquisition enhances Marvel's land portfolio of uranium holdings at Key Lake, which is adjacent to Cameco, F3 Uranium, Skyharbour, and Abasca Resources. This acquisition increases the Company's footprint to 4 distinct projects covering over 23,130ha and is in line with Marvel's aggressive approach to project generation and exploration. The company is utilizing the same innovative techniques that have led to some of the largest discoveries in the Athabasca Basin including radon surveys, ground geophysics, underwater spectrometer analysis, and airborne radiometric surveys.

Costigan Lake Highlights

Strategically located 25km southwest of Cameco's Key Lake Mine and mill complex and is perfectly situated along the Wollaston-Mudjactic Transition Zone ("WMTZ"), which hosts the highest-grade uranium mines in the world.

Infrastructure: proximal to or within 8kms to the Highway 914 - a primary year-round maintained road servicing the operational Key Lake Mill.

Prospective Geological Setting: within the "WMTZ" Zone - the same basement rocks that host all of the major uranium deposits on the east side of the Athabasca Basin.

On trend with some of the world's largest Uranium Mines: Key Lake, Cigar Lake and McArthur River.

Adjoins F3 Uranium's (TSXV:FUU) Hobo Project who just announced a $15 million investment from Denison Mines (see press release dated Oct 6, 2023).

Adjoins Abasca Resources (TSXV:ABA) Key Lake South Project, who just completed a 4,959 m drill program with 9 of the 11 holes intersecting anomalous uranium (see press release dated May 24, 2023)

Several high-merit exploration targets: over 16 km of subsurface conductors lying within a magnetic low within the "WMTZ".

Additional targets include anomalous radioactive boulder trains, first discovered in 1978 by Rainbow Oil Limited.

The Property has limited systematic modern-day exploration, which presents blue sky potential.

Mr. Karim Rayani, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Marvel has completed an almost impossible task of acquiring key ground in the prolific Key Lake Corridor. The addition of the Costigan Lake Property is within the WMTZ and the Key Lake Shear Zone, which represents tremendous opportunity. We are active in the richest uranium belt in the Basin and on trend with world class discoveries. Marvel's approach is nothing short of Marvelous: going after multi commodity- large scale projects that mimic the success of basement-hosted uranium deposits found on the western side of the Athabasca Basin, such as NexGen Energy's Arrow Deposit. We look forward to a very busy winter season of exploration in the Basin."

Figure 1. Marvel's Costigan Lake Project location along the Key Lake Fault in the eastern Athabasca Basin.

Figure 2. Location of Marvel's Costigan Lake, Walker, KLR and Highway Uranium Projects in the "WMTZ" Zone, host to the highest-grade uranium deposits in the world.

The Transaction

As consideration, the Company has agreed to pay the vendor a total of $1,000,000 and complete $2,000,000 in exploration expenditures over a 5-year period. In addition, the Optionee will retain a 1.0% net smelter royalty, which Marvel can purchase for $1,500,000.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The QP has not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the additional acquired ground particularly regarding historical exploration, neighbouring companies, and government geological work.

About Marvel Discovery Corp.

Marvel, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:

Newfoundland (Slip, Gander North, Gander South, Victoria Lake, Baie Verte, and Hope Brook - Au Prospects )

) Atikokan, Ontario (BlackFly - Au Prospect )

) Elliot Lake, Ontario (East Bull - Ni-Cu-PGE Prospect)

Quebec (Duhamel - Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium Prospect)

Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements Prospect)

The Company's website is: https://marveldiscovery.ca/

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Marvel Discovery Corp.

"Karim Rayani"

Karim Rayani

President/Chief Executive Officer, Director

Tel: 604 716-1036 email: k@r7.capital

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the proposed Arrangement. Actual future results may differ materially. 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. There is no assurance any of the conditions for closing will be met. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Marvel Discovery Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792442/marvel-acquires-costigan-lake-uranium-property-athabasca-basin
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Student Leadership Network (SL Network) will host its annual (Em)Power Breakfast on October 19th at Cipriani, honoring extraordinary alumni innovators in technology, law, and education. The signature event celebrates SL Network's collective impact on nearly 17,000 students every year across its college access and girls' education programs. The event also recognizes business and philanthropic leaders for their continued commitment to creating cycles of prosperity through equalizing education.

Event Honorees Talia Scott, Cori Grainger, and Manny Salazar

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Victoria Saha, on-air anchor and reporter in Las Vegas and an alumna of SL Network's The Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS), will serve as Emcee. Special friends of the network will join us to honor three exceptional alumni who have gone on to do impactful work in their communities and industries nationwide.

Honoree Talia Scott is a JD/MBA candidate and the founder of Legally BLK Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting aspiring Black women attorneys. She is an alumna of TYWLS East Harlem, a public school for girls and gender-expansive youth launched and supported by Student Leadership Network. Crystal McCrary McGuire, a lawyer, New York Times best-selling author, and filmmaker, will present her award.

is a JD/MBA candidate and the founder of Legally BLK Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting aspiring Black women attorneys. She is an alumna of TYWLS East Harlem, a public school for girls and gender-expansive youth launched and supported by Student Leadership Network. Crystal McCrary McGuire, a lawyer, New York Times best-selling author, and filmmaker, will present her award. Honoree Cori Grainger is a program manager at Google, expanding computer science research and mentoring opportunities for students from historically marginalized groups. She is an alumna of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, an affiliate school of our Young Women's Leadership Network. Kayla Conti, head of Black Media Communications at Google, will present her award.

is a program manager at Google, expanding computer science research and mentoring opportunities for students from historically marginalized groups. She is an alumna of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, an affiliate school of our Young Women's Leadership Network. Kayla Conti, head of Black Media Communications at Google, will present her award. Honoree Manny Salazar is an AP high school teacher at LION Charter School in the Bronx and a graduate of our CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) program from Mott Hall High School. David C. Banks, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, will present his award.

"This year's (Em)Power Breakfast will be the first time we bring together and honor alumni across our girls' education and college access programs," shared Yolonda Marshall, CEO of Student Leadership Network. "Our alumni's stories exemplify the range of what success can look like when we remove barriers to higher education. As we look ahead to writing our next chapter, we are excited to capitalize on the power of our full national network to champion educational equity for the next generation of young people."

The (Em)Power Breakfast is made possible by support from generous donors, including The Estee Lauder Companies, The Tisch Families, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Richard Cohen & Patricia Duff, Clive Davis, Gruber Family Foundation, Proskauer, Lisa & Jonathan Pruzan, Robin & Jack Ross, and Warburg Pincus.

About Student Leadership Network

Now in its 27th year, Student Leadership Network supports young people growing up in diverse underserved communities to gain access to higher education, helping them fulfill their dreams. The organization impacts students at 33 New York public schools and 18 girls' affiliate and partner schools across the country, with students graduating college at nearly four times the rate of their national peers. SL Network supports over 37,000 students nationally every year through its three pillar programs:

The Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS) is a high-performing network of six NYC public schools for girls and gender expansive youth.

CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) is a comprehensive college access and success program for young women and men in 33 schools across New York State.

Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN) is a national network of 18 girls' schools sharing the TYWLS model, including affiliate schools in Atlanta, California, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Nevada, and North Carolina, and a partner network of girls' schools in Texas.

Contact:

Jheramis A.H. Collado

Director of Marketing and Communications

jcollado@studentleadershipnetwork.org

Phone: 646-677-8322

Visit us on social media:

LinkedIn

Instagram

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183756
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTCQB: SNANF) (the "Company" or "Sona"), a nanotechnology life sciences company with proprietary manufacturing technology for biocompatible gold nanorods ("GNRs"), is pleased to provide an update on the status of its current operating activities, notably the development of its Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy ("THT") therapy and its rapid bovine tuberculosis prototype test.

Sona CEO, David Regan, commented, "Earlier this year, Sona developed a plan to secure the FDA Investigational Device Exemption necessary to permit human trials for our THT therapy, which is the strategic priority for the Company. Thanks to our purpose-built, strengthened team, Sona has made significant advancements towards this goal and has reduced the number of 'unknowns' in our development program by working with leading, experienced advisors and partners. With these accomplishments, including the completion of a prototype of our next generation THT light device by Minnetronix Medical and the securing of a THT efficacy study in murine breast, melanoma and colorectal models, we now look forward to reporting back in the coming months on study results, preclinical and manufacturing partner selections, and regulatory updates. All of these deliverables will advance our mission to develop a treatment therapy for colorectal cancer sufferers with less collateral damage than happens under the current standard of care."

THT Program First Six-Month Accomplishments

Retained team of expert medtech consultants and experienced advisors

Engineered next generation THT light device which will be incorporated with a newly acquired Fujifilm Healthcare endoscope

Assembled a panel of leading medical experts to guide THT development strategy and preclinical study plan

Devised the preclinical safety and biocompatibility study plan needed to support an IDE application, including NCL assessments of Sona's GNRs

Secured an efficacy study of THT in multiple murine cancer models with initial results expected by year-end

Published White Paper on "Hyperthermia" photothermal therapy

Enhanced GNR manufacturing process and implemented an eQMS system

Received several unsolicited orders for nanoparticles following the release of NCL results

Hosted regular webinars to explain THT strategy and report on progress

Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy

The Company continues to progress the development of preclinical stage THT across four streams of activities. First, the Company now aims to initiate multiple preclinical studies with leading partners to build the comprehensive data set necessary to support any future regulatory applications. Among them, Sona is pleased to have secured the collaboration of the Giacomantonio Immuno-Oncology Research Group to assess THT's efficacy and the impact of associated intralesional immunomodulation in mice cancer models, with initial data expected by the end of this year. Other third-party studies will assess biocompatibility, stability, shelf life, histology, clearance and usability/human factors, amongst others, including the previously announced data provided from the multiple assessments received from the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory ("NCL").

Second, Sona anticipates receiving a prototype of its next generation infrared light device from medical device engineering partner Minnetronix Medical in time for its use in the Giacomantonio study. The newest version of Sona's light device has been engineered to enable the delivery of infrared light through a newly acquired Fujifilm Healthcare endoscope with real time tracking of tumor temperatures.

Third, EXCITE International has secured on Sona's behalf a panel of six experts from leading medical institutions across the U.S. and Canada to validate that the target indications and intended use statements for THT, as well as its preclinical study plan, will have THT serving the purposes that both gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons, and health care insurance providers value and will pay for, respectively. This feedback, together with guidance from its regulatory advisors, will be used in a pre-submission meeting with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Fourth, as part of its continuing QA/QC enhancements, Sona has implemented a Greenlight Guru eQMS quality management system and is in the process of narrowing down the list of prospective good manufacturing practice ("GMP") designated manufacturing partners to provide the materials needed for preclinical and clinical in vivo trials.

Diagnostics Division Update and bTB Study Results

While Sona has strategically chosen to focus its current resources on the development of THT as it believes it can achieve a better return on investment there, work continues in its Diagnostics Division where it has rapid screening assay prototypes for both bovine tuberculosis ("bTB") and traumatic brain injuries ("TBi", "Concussions"). Sona uses its own proprietary bTB antibodies in its bTB prototype test which has recently been assessed against clinical samples of known status. Samples from cattle deemed positive for bTB, via the tuberculin skin test ("SICCT"), and samples from a bTB-free herd were both assessed in a recent study. Results show that the test generated a Positive Predictive Value ("PPV") of 80% (24/30 samples) and a Negative Predictive Value ("NPV") of 96% (29/30 samples). While the Company is pleased with these confirmatory initial results, it cautions that further clinical assessments will be required to validate the results to date. Sona intends to pursue this work with relevant institutions in order to provide the evidence necessary to support a successful commercialization of the test.

Dr. Ben Swift, a lecturer in antimicrobial resistance at the Royal Veterinary College in the UK, commented on these results, "Bovine TB detection methods are often labor-intensive, and require further confirmatory tests, increasing costs and processing times needed for diagnosis. Using a rapid screening assay could help minimise that burden and assist with the goal of reducing and eradicating bovine TB infections in the UK. The initial results of the Sona rapid screening assay are very promising and if proven to be successful in the field, could be an excellent addition of the toolkit that vets and farmers can use in the fight against bovine TB."

The Company has paused the development of its TBi test pending the procurement of clinical sample materials appropriate for an assessment beyond the positive assessment conducted with contrived samples and to focus resources on the advancement of its THT therapy. Sona's rapid test commercialization strategy is to identify the best risk/return profile, which may include partnering and/or licensing, or other transactions.

Sona Chair, Mark Lievonen, CM, commented, "I'm proud of the progress our strengthened team has made in its development of Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy. Our strategy has been to progress each of the THT work streams by reducing the number of unknowns, thereby de-risking our further development of THT and creating momentum towards our goal of achieving an IDE."

Finally, Sona announces the engagement of the Investor News Network ("INN") for investor relations services. The Company will also provide ongoing monthly investor webinars, such as the one done with Dr. Carman Giacomantonio earlier this month, which can be accessed at the following link: https://youtu.be/nZ-kjLoORwM?t=4

Contact:

David Regan, CEO

+1-902-536-1932

david@sonanano.com

About Sona Nanotech Inc.

Sona Nanotech, a nanotechnology life sciences company, is developing Targeted Hyperthermia, a photothermal cancer therapy, which uses therapeutic heat to treat solid cancer tumors. The heat is delivered to tumors by infrared light that is absorbed by Sona's gold nanorods in the tumor and re-emitted as heat. Therapeutic heat (44C) stimulates the immune system, shrinks tumors, inactivates cancer stem cells, and increases tumor perfusion - thus enabling drugs to reach all tumor compartments more effectively. The size, shape, and surface chemistry of the nanorods target the leaky vasculature of solid tumors, and the selective thermal sensitivity of tumor tissue enables the therapy to deliver clean margins. Targeted Hyperthermia promises to be safe, effective, minimally invasive, competitive in cost, and a valuable adjunct to drug therapy and other cancer treatments. Sona's initial clinical target is colorectal cancer.

Sona has developed multiple proprietary methods for the manufacture of gold nanoparticles which it uses for the development of both cancer therapies and diagnostic testing platforms. Sona Nanotech's gold nanorod particles are cetyltrimethylammonium ("CTAB") free, eliminating the toxicity risks associated with the use of other gold nanorod technologies in medical applications. It is expected that Sona's gold nanotechnologies may be adapted for use in applications, as a safe and effective delivery system for multiple medical treatments, subject to the approval of various regulatory boards, including Health Canada and the FDA.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the anticipated applications of Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy, Sona's preclinical study plans, the potential impact of the planned studies and its product development plans. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions or estimates that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the risk that Sona may not be able to successfully obtain sufficient clinical and other data to submit regulatory submissions, raise sufficient additional capital or develop the envisioned therapy, and the risk that THT may not prove to have the benefits currently anticipated. 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. Sona disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183774
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - West Vault Mining Inc. (TSXV: WVM) (OTCQX: WVMDF) ("West Vault" of the "Company") is pleased to announce it has been granted a 1% Net Smelter Return Royalty on claims and other lands owned, leased, or to be acquired by the grantor, subject to certain conditions, within the area shaded in green on the map below (SIN Claims & Area of Interest).

In exchange, West Vault has provided the grantor with a copy of West Vault's geological and metallurgical data-set (the "Data-set") on the Tonopah Divide Mining Company property (the "TDMC Property") that lies immediately to the east of West Vault's Hasbrouck Project (red-shaded area in map below). The Data-set will be used by Americas Gold Exploration Inc. ("AGEI"), a related party to the grantor, to explore its recently-leased TDMC Property.





1% Royalty Area (Green Shaded Area)



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Sandy McVey, CEO, commented,

"West Vault had compiled various geological data-bases covering the TDMC Property in 2018. Providing the Data-set to the grantor should accelerate the exploration of their properties. Exploration success by AEGI on both the TDMC Property and the SIN Claims & Area of Interest may be positive to the Hasbrouck Project, both in terms of the 1% royalty and in terms of demonstrating the prospectivity of lands adjacent to Hasbrouck."

About West Vault Mining Inc.

West Vault owns 100% of the Hasbrouck Gold Project, Nevada, which is a permitted, ready-to-build gold mine with strong economics (51% after-tax Internal Rate of Return, US$206 million Net Present Value, US$877/oz All-In Sustaining Cost, and US$66 million initial capital - see News Release March 8, 2023 for additional details and required disclosure).

West Vault is committed to maximizing shareholder value through its low-risk gold-in-ground strategy, which involves acquiring, advancing, holding, developing, and selling high-quality development gold projects in the best mining jurisdiction.

On behalf of the Board

of West Vault Mining Inc.

Sandy McVey, P.Eng., MSc, PMP

CEO & COO

(778) 388 2464 / smcvey@westvaultmining.com

For further information please see the Company's website at www.westvaultmining.com or contact us by email at info@westvaultmining.com.

Qualified Person for This News Release

Sandy McVey P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Company, as a non-independent Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "has", "will", "ready", "strong economics", "maximizing shareholder value", "should accelerate", "will be positive", "demonstrating the prospectivity of our area", and similar expressions, and those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this email include, without limitation, statements regarding the potential economic performance of the Project based on the 2023 Technical Report, the Company's ability to obtain any additional permits required to commence and complete construction and perform operations, the Company's ability to obtain required funding on reasonable terms, and the potential identification, execution, and realization of accretive opportunities. Although West Vault believes that such information as set out in this email is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and estimates will prove correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from forward-looking information as a result of various factors. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Compliance with NI 43-101 and Cautionary Statement on Mineral Resources and Reserves

The information in this news release has been summarized from the Technical Report and Updated Preliminary Feasibility Study: Hasbrouck and Three Hills Gold-Silver Project, Esmeralda County, Nevada - RESPEC, January 2023, currently being prepared by Thomas L. Dyer, P.E., and Jeff Bickel, C.P.G. of RESPEC, Reno, with contributions by Mark Jorgensen, SME, of JE&TS (metallurgy), Ryan Baker, P.E., of NewFields (civil and heap leach) and Carl Defilippi, SME, of KCA (process design). Each aforementioned person is a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, is independent of West Vault and has reviewed and approved the information in this presentation, as of the time that the Technical Report was produced and as relevant to the portion of the Technical Report for which they are responsible. For readers to fully understand the information in this news release, they should read the Technical Report which is available on www.sedarplus.ca or at www.westvaultmining.com in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions, and exclusions that relate to the information set out in this news release that qualify the technical information contained in the Technical Report. The Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon when taken out of the context of the full Technical Report. The technical information in this presentation is subject to the assumptions, qualifications, and exclusions contained in the Technical Report.

Non-IFRS Reporting Measures

"Cash Costs", "All-in Sustaining Costs" and "All-in Costs" are not Performance Measures reported in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). These performance measures are included because these statistics are key performance measures that management uses to monitor performance. Management uses these statistics to assess how the Project ranks against its peer projects and to assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the contemplated mining operations. These performance measures do not have a meaning within IFRS and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

Note to US Investors

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. The terms "Mineral Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource" and "Inferred Mineral Resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101. However, these terms are not defined terms under SEC S-K 1300 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. In addition, the terms "Mineral Reserve", "Probable Mineral Reserve" and "Proven Mineral Reserve" are also defined in NI43-101 and not S-K 1300. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "Indicated Mineral Resource" or "Inferred Mineral Resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher category or converted into Mineral Reserves in accordance with S-K 1300. "Inferred Mineral Resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimates of Inferred Mineral Resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a Mineral Resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "Reserves" by SEC S-K 1300 standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information contained in this News Release contains descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183765
The clock is ticking for competitors accepted into the third annual competition celebrating empowered women and supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Colossal, known as the global leader in fundraising through online competitions for charities, is thrilled to announce that voting has officially commenced for the highly anticipated Fab Over 40 Competition. At the end of the online competition, one 40+ woman will be 'crowned' the winner and receive $40,000, a two-page featured profile in NewBeauty Magazine, and a luxurious getaway to one of the best spa resorts in Scottsdale, AZ.

Colossal | Fab Over 40





Colossal presents the Fab Over 40 Competition as a fundraiser benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). "Because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we thought it the ideal time to show our continued support. Last year, we raised an astounding $8.2 million in support of NBCF. They were able to put the associated grant into providing invaluable assistance to women battling a disease that, in one way or another, has affected every single one of us as moms, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, and through personal experiences. We are excited about the 2023 competition and look forward to making a profound impact this year and in the future," said Colossal CEO Mary Hagen.

The aforementioned grant generously presented to NBCF by Colossal's dedicated partner, DTCare, a 501(3)(c) charity, enabled the foundation to channel resources into critical programs and services, encompassing education, detection, navigation, and inspiration for individuals battling breast cancer and their loved ones. The grant enabled NBCF to provide assistance, including navigation support for 51,047 patients, breast health education for 16,137 women, 9,771 mammograms, 6,745 HOPE Kits, outreach to 1,721 women through community programs, and more.

This year's competitors can look forward to a guest appearance by Dolores Catania of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and guidance from over-40 powerhouse actress, musician, and competition host Cathy Rankin.

Fab Over 40 is sponsored by TestTube, NewBeauty's editor-curated subscription box, and BeautyPass, an invite-only free membership that provides exclusive offers, gifts, and access to VIP events for its members.

By harnessing the power of technology and community engagement, Colossal brings together women worldwide to share their stories, root each other on, and ultimately help support NBCF and its mission. To cast your vote and learn more about the competition, please visit votefab40.com.

About Colossal

Colossal is the global leader in online competitions, with one of the most effective fundraising platforms available for charities that lack the bandwidth to operate large-scale campaigns. Bar Boss serves as a fundraising campaign for DTCare, a United States 501(c)(3) public charity organization, which will grant donations to the Kind Campaign at the completion of the competition. Click here to learn more about the donation process, and visit colossal.org for more information on everything Colossal.

Contact Information

Anne-Marie Pritchett

COLOSSAL

anne-marie@colossal.org

SOURCE: Colossal

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792471/colossal-news-voting-is-officially-open-in-the-fab-over-40-competition
BARCELONA, SPAIN / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / The 2023 OMP Conference, a global gathering of over 300 forward-thinking supply chain professionals, convened in the vibrant city of Barcelona on September 27 and 28. Under the banner of "Be bold. Be agile. Be green.", the event provided an interactive platform for industry leaders, customers, prospects, and alliance partners to exchange innovative strategies for building resilient and sustainable supply chains within today's dynamic business landscape.





OMP Conference Barcelona

The 2023 OMP Conference, a global gathering of over 300 forward-thinking supply chain professionals, convened in the vibrant city of Barcelona on September 27 and 28.

In an era defined by supply chain disruptions and environmental imperatives, attendees were eager to explore strategies for achieving agile and sustainable supply chain excellence. Recognizing the pivotal role of digital transformation investments, industry leaders sought insights into how to leverage intelligent automation for enhanced decision-making processes.

Agility and sustainability at the forefront of supply chain innovation

The 2023 OMP Conference zeroed in on the critical need for supply chains to adapt swiftly to fluctuating market conditions while prioritizing sustainable practices. This theme was underscored by a series of live product demos, inspirational keynotes, and insightful customer testimonials.

Innovation emerged as a central theme, showcasing state-of-the-art technologies and visionary approaches, essential in making agile and green planning a success. The conference spotlighted OMP's dedication to co-innovation with customers, as well as exploring emerging trends and best practices in the field. For example, OMP's co-innovation project with BASF was celebrated for its impactful co-innovation tracks in light of its 'New Planning Landscape' program.

Inspiring keynotes and testimonials

Renowned speakers took center stage at the conference. Mark Gallagher, famed for his insights into Formula 1, captivated the audience by demonstrating how AI is revolutionizing racing and shared the sport's ambitious carbon footprint reduction targets. OMP customers Nestle and Beiersdorf delivered sustainability keynotes, highlighting how the supply chain is a catalyst for transformative sustainability initiatives.

Other esteemed customers including, AkzoNobel, AstraZeneca, BASF, Bekeart, Corrugated Supplies Company, General Mills, Goodyear, Johnson & Johnson, MM Group, Nestle, Roche, Saica, and tesa, shared their experiences and successes in achieving supply chain excellence through powerful testimonials.

Innovative solutions and collaborations in the Solution Space

Another highlight of the conference was the Solution Space, a hub of energy featuring interactive demos and expert best practices. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with OMP's technology and business alliance partners, including bluecrux, Deloitte, EY, Nulogy, Rulex, and Systemiq, to discover synergetic services and solutions.

Anita Van Looveren, CEO of OMP, expressed her satisfaction: "We believe in the transformative power of collaboration. By engaging with our customers, we not only build better solutions but also amplify their positive impact on society. This conference was a testament to this belief, providing a platform for fruitful discussions, valuable insights, and active participation. Together, we are forging more agile and sustainable supply chains."

Learn more about OMP

Contact Information

Philip Vervloesem

Senior Vice President OMP USA

pvervloesem@omp.com

+1-770-956-2723

SOURCE: OMP

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/792327/2023-omp-conference-pioneering-agility-and-sustainability-in-the-global-supply-chain-landscape
BEIJING, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of young people, six Indonesian and six Chinese, visited representative enterprises of China Energy from September 22 to 26 as part of the "We Are Together: Silk Road Youth's China Energy Tour" organized by the company. The young delegation learnt about these enterprises' achievements in areas such as digital transformation, sci-tech innovation, and development of green and clean energies, and held a roundtable dialogue of in-depth discussions, building a bridge for the friendly communication and exchanges between Chinese and Indonesian youths.

During the five-day trip, young representatives from both countries visited Beijing Guoneng Gas-fired Cogeneration Power Plant, where they learnt about its fully intelligent, high-reliability operation and maintenance processes, and the green power generation technology featuring ultra-low emissions of dust, SOx, NOx, and CO2. They went to Hangjin Energy Co., Ltd., where they observed the automatic, intelligent coal mining process at a coal mine, and visited a CCUS (post-combustion CO2 capture, sequestration and utilization) demonstration project that develops a new-generation technology that captures CO2 from the flue gas with independent IPR. The captured CO2 can then be injected underground for oil recovery or sold to nearby chemical plants for production. They went to the Skyway Chongli Wind Farm, where they found out how new energy technology helped achieve a carbon-neutral Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022, and observed how the HICMS (holographic integrated condition monitoring system) monitors the wind turbine blades, tower barrel and foundation. They came to the Huanghua Port, the world's first dry bulk port realizing full-process intelligent operation, which impressed the Indonesian guests deeply with its efficient, intelligent, and clean production. They also visited the Cangdong Power Plant, where the seawater desalination demonstration project that processes seawater to be potable amazed the Indonesian youths.

The youths from both countries had a roundtable dialogue in Beijing on September 26, at which they talked about their visits to China Energy and a number of other topics including energy digitalization, technological innovation, ecological progress, new energy development, and cultural blending between China and Indonesia. They agreed that the extensive cooperation between the two countries in such areas as energy development, application of new technology, and green and low-carbon development has offered more opportunities for the growth of young people. Youths from both countries work together in sci-tech innovation, technological transformation, and industrial upgrading, through which they come to understand each other better and jointly promote cultural exchange and mutual learning between the two countries.

China Energy announced the establishment of an Indonesian branch of the China Energy Young Makers Alliance during the roundtable dialogue. The alliance is aimed to cultivate young, innovative talent, and the formation of the Indonesian branch will provide a platform for Indonesian youths to enhance their expertise and skills and become more innovative and efficient.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. In the past ten years, China Energy has made consistent efforts to align the China-proposed BRI with Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy by investing in and building three safe, eco-friendly, clean and efficient power plants, ensuring stable power supply in the local areas and acting out the vision for building the China-Indonesia community of shared future. China Energy plans to turn the "We Are Together" cultural program into a regular platform for promoting the communication, mutual learning and friendship between Chinese and Indonesian youths.

Contact: Cao Yuanyuan

Tel: 008610-58685336

Email: 16010168@chnenergy.com.cn

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2246073/China_Energy.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2246072/China_Energy_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-energy-promotes-friendship-between-chinese-and-indonesian-youths-301955449.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) -Hypercharge Networks Corp. (NEO: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) (the "Company" or "Hypercharge"), a leading, smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider, is pleased to announce the following equity compensation for its directors, officers, employees, and consultants.

The Board has approved the following issuances:

A total of 850,000 stock options (" Options ") to directors, officers, employees, and consultants at an exercise price of $0.54 for a 5-year term;

") to directors, officers, employees, and consultants at an exercise price of $0.54 for a 5-year term; A total of 1,050,000 restricted share units (" RSUs ") to directors; and

") to directors; and A total of 1,485,000 performance share units ("PSUs") to officers, employees, and consultants.

The Board has also approved annual compensation to directors, with issuances commencing November 16, 2023, at exercise prices based on the close of trading on each anniversary as follows:

A total of 200,000 Options for a five-year term; and

A total of 70,000 RSUs for a five-year term.

Each RSU and PSU entitles the holder to receive, once vested, one common share of the Company. The number of common shares earned upon the vesting of the PSUs will be determined by the performance of each holder.

"The Company is pleased to incentivize those working closely with the Company in this manner, and greatly appreciates the hard work and performance of our team", said David Bibby, President and CEO of Hypercharge.

-##-

About Hypercharge

Hypercharge Networks Corp. (NEO: HC) (OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) is a leading provider of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions that offers turnkey technology to multi-unit residential and commercial buildings, fleet operations, and other rapidly growing sectors. Driven by its mission to accelerate EV adoption and enable the shift towards a carbon neutral economy, Hypercharge is committed to providing seamless, simple charging solutions by offering industry-leading equipment and a robust network of public and private charging stations. Learn more: https://hypercharge.com/.

On behalf of the company,

Hypercharge Networks Corp.

David Bibby, President & CEO

Investor Relations:

invest@hypercharge.com

Media Contact:

Kyle Green | Senior Marketing Manager

kyle.green@hypercharge.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding equity incentive issuances. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither NEO Exchange Inc. nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of NEO Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183779
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSX:MAW)(Frankfurt:MXR)(PINKSHEETS:MWSNF) announces results from 12 diamond drill holes for 2,367 m from regional drilling located between 4 km and 8 km along the same mineralized structure as the main drill area at the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Project in Victoria (Figure 1). The drilled mineralized footprint at Sunday Creek has now been extended for more than 8 km in east-west strike representing an 8-fold increase.

Sunday Creek is 100% owned by Southern Cross Gold ("SXG"), which is an ASX listed company owned 51% by Mawson. Four rigs continue to drill in the main drill area where 21 holes (SDDSC079-99) are currently being geologically processed and chemically analyzed, with four holes (SDDSC092, 97A, 100, 101) in drill progress (Figure 5).

Highlights:

The drilled footprint at Sunday Creek now extends for 8 km and remains open, representing an 8-fold increase in the previously drilled host to gold mineralization, demonstrating the district scale opportunities that exist for the project.

in the previously drilled host to gold mineralization, demonstrating the district scale opportunities that exist for the project. High grade gold, with anomalous and broad (150 m) mineralized halo discovered in first drill holes ever drilled outside main drill area.

in first drill holes ever drilled outside main drill area. Highlights include: SDDLV003: 0.5 m @ 15.7 g/t Au from 87.0 m (including visible gold) SDDLV004: 0.3 m @ 5.6 g/t Au from 73.4 m and 0.3 m @ 19.4 g/t Au from 100.7 m

Mineralization is the same style as the Sunday Creek main zone.

Mawson owns 93,750,000 shares of SXG (51%), valuing its stake at A$74.1 million (C$64.6 million) based on SXG's closing price on October 11, 2023 AEST.

Noora Ahola, Mawson Interim CEO, states: "Today's results from SXG's 100% owned Sunday Creek project confirms the proof of concept that the property is host to an extensive mineralized trend with significant upside beyond the excellent results the company has been producing at its main drill area 8 km to the southwest.

"The results released today are commensurate with the very early drilling undertaken in what is now the core drill area at Sunday Creek and adds another layer of confidence, in our opinion, that the project is one of the best new discoveries in the market today.

"SXG's focus returns to the main drill area where they have a further 22,000 m of drilling to go in their fully funded and permitted drill campaign to April 2024. We look forward to further exceptional results from Sunday Creek."

Results Discussion

A total of 12 holes for 2,367 m were completed at the Leviathan, Consols and Tonstal historic mining areas, located 5.0 km, 6.9 km and 7.9 km along strike respectively from the most westerly end of main project area (Figure 2). All holes hit anomalous gold, except SDDTS002 which hit an underground historic stopped out area. These prospects are all contained within EL6163 that is 100% owned by SXG.

Mineralization is the style same as Sunday Creek main zone with disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite mineralization in NW-oriented veins that cut across a steeply dipping zone of intensely bleached, sericite-albitic siltstones, and sericite-carbonate-albite altered dyke rocks (the "host"). When looked at from above, in plan view, the host resembles the side rails of a ladder, where the mineralized veins are the rungs. The host was intersected across the three drill areas that range from 50 m - 75 m wide. No significant antimony was intersected, and arsenic appears more common than in the main zone, perhaps suggesting drilling has tested a deeper level of the epizonal system in regional drilling.

Leviathan

Four holes for 567.8 m were drilled at Leviathan (Figure 3). Two intersected high-grade gold with visible gold noted in SDDLV003. Highlights included:

SDDLV001: 20.0 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 43.0 m

SDDLV002: 0.9 m @ 0.9 g/t Au from 47.7 m

SDDLV002: 4.8 m @ 0.4 g/t Au from 66.0 m

SDDLV003: 1.4 m @ 1.3 g/t Au from 71.4 m, including 0.8 m @ 1.9 g/t Au from 71.4 m

SDDLV003: 7.0 m @ 1.6 g/t Au from 85.0 m including 0.5 m @ 15.7 g/t Au from 87.0 m

SDDLV004: 0.3 m @ 5.6 g/t Au from 73.4 m and 0.3 m @ 19.4 g/t Au from 100.7 m

Tonstal

Seven holes for 1,598.6 m were drilled at Tonstal (Figure 4). Drill hole SDDTS002 missed the mineralized host as it intersected an old stope with wooden support mined during from the early 1900's, located 90 m vertically below surface in drillhole SDDTS002 (from 103.0 m to 107.6 m). This suggests further high grades at depth remain to be found.

SDDTS001: 2.8 m @ 0.6 g/t Au from 99.4 m including 0.8 m @ 1.2 g/t Au from 99.4 m

SDDTS003: 4.8 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 99.9 m

SDDTS004A: 5.1 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 133.6 m

SDDTS005A: 0.4 m @ 1.0 g/t Au from 170.0 m

SDDTS006: 1.0 m @ 0.6 g/t Au from 255.3 m

SDDTS006: 13.5 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 277.5 m including 0.7 m @ 1.2 g/t Au from 277.9 m



Consols

One hole for 200.5 m was drilled at Consols. The mineralized structure appears to dip to the south and therefore was not intersected in the drillhole. Float with visible gold was found around the old mine shafts at Consols while drilling was ongoing (Photo 1). Upcoming field mapping will provide further understanding.

Pending Results and Update

With four diamond drill rigs operating at site, the company has stated that it will drill an additional 22,000 m by April 2024, with 23,034 m drilled so far in 2023.

Demonstrating Volume: Twenty-one holes (SDDSC79--99) are currently being geologically processed and chemically analysed, with four holes (SDDSC092, 97A, 100, 101) in drill progress (Figure 5).

Demonstrating Scale: Twelve holes (SDDTS001-7, SDDCN001 and SDDLV001-4) for 2,383 m (including two redrilled collars) are reported here from the Leviathan - Consols - Tonstal regional area between 4 km to 8 km along strike from the main drill area (Figures 2-4).

Demonstrating Grade: Preliminary visual geological logs of SDDSC082, SDDSC091, SDDSC092 and SDDSC094A at Rising Sun and hole SDDSC097A from Apollo have intersected multiple zones of mineralization with visible gold noted in certain restricted zones. Assays are pending (Figure 5).

Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project by Southern Cross Gold is available on the SXG website at www.southerncrossgold.com.au.

Figures 1-5 show project location, plan, longitudinal and cross-sectional views of drill results reported here and Tables 1-4 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported are interpreted to be approximately 60-70% of the sampled thickness. Lower grades were cut at 0.3 g/t Au lower cutoff over a maximum width of 3 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t Au cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width, unless otherwise stated.

Technical Background and Qualified Person

The Qualified Person, Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman and a director of Mawson Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.

Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process.

MAW considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Mandalay Resources Ltd contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony.

SXG considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its Mandalay Technical Report, 2022 dated 25 March 2022. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using recoveries achieved at the Costerfield Property Brunswick Processing Plant during 2020, using a gold price of US$1,700 per ounce, an antimony price of US$8,500 per tonne and 2021 total year metal recoveries of 93% for gold and 95% for antimony, and is as follows: ???????? = ???? (??/??) + 1.58  ???? (%).

Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, SXG considers that a ???????? = ???? (??/??) + 1.58  ???? (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek.

About Mawson Gold Limited (TSX:MAW),(FRANKFURT:MXR),(OTCPINK:MWSNF)

Mawson Gold Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic exploration company with its 100% owned flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland, and right to earn into the Skelleftea North gold project in Sweden. Mawson also currently owns 51% of Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG) which in turn owns or controls three high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields covering 470 km2 in Victoria, Australia.

About Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG)

Southern Cross Gold holds the 100%-owned Sunday Creek project in Victoria and Mt Isa project in Queensland, the Redcastle and Whroo joint ventures in Victoria, Australia, and a strategic 10% holding in ASX-listed Nagambie Resources Limited (ASX:NAG) which grants SXG a Right of First Refusal over a 3,300 square kilometer tenement package held by NAG in Victoria.

On behalf of the Board, "Noora Ahola"

Noora Ahola, Interim CEO Further Information

www.mawsongold.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary

+1 (604) 685 9316info@mawsongold.com

Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, Mawson's expectations regarding its ownership interest in Southern Cross Gold, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current pandemic known as COVID-19 on the Company's business, risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; exploration potential being conceptual in nature, there being insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the Australian-projects owned by SXG, and uncertainty if further exploration will result in the determination of a mineral resource; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Photo 1: Float from the Consols prospect located 6.9 km from the main drill area, showing visible gold with quartz. The single hole at Consols failed to reach the predicted south dipping mineralised horizon. Scale of view 3 cm.

Figure 1: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with SXG's other Victoria projects and simplified geology.

Figure 2: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas tested in the reported 2,367 m diamond drill program. The regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4 - 7.5 km along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo.

Figure 3: Leviathan prospect plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and diamond drill results.

Figure 4: Tonstal prospect plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and diamond drill results.

Figure 5: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north showing mineralised veins sets. Preliminary visual geological logs of SDDSC082, SDDSC091, SDDSC092 and SDDSC094A at Rising Sun and hole SDDSC097A from Apollo have intersected multiple zones of mineralization with visible gold noted in certain restricted zones.

Table 1: Drill collar summary table for regional drill holes. Projection and datum GDA94_Z55.

Hole_ID Depth (m) Prospect East North Elevation Azimuth Plunge Comment SDDTS001 179.75 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 156.0 -50.0 SDDTS002 182.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 111.0 -42.0 SDDTS003 197.8 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 111.0 -73.0 Hit stope from 103.0 m to 107.6 m. SDDTS004 62.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 79.0 -60.0 Abandoned SDDTS004A 170.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 79.0 -60.0 SDDTS005A 257.05 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 70.0 -42.0 SDDTS006 368.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 48.0 -50.0 SDDTS007 179.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.2 230.0 -50.0 SDDCN001 200.5 Consols 336270 5870700 507.0 220.0 -60.0 SDDLV001 152.6 Leviathan 334240 5869962 552.2 190.0 -60.0 SDDLV002 131.75 Leviathan 334240 5869962 552.2 240 -50 SDDLV003 140 Leviathan 334240 5869962 552.2 90 -60 SDDLV004 143.4 Leviathan 334428 5870014 553 242.5 -40

Table 2: Drill collar summary table for unreported drill holes from the main drill area.

Hole_ID Depth (m) Prospect East GDA94_Z55 North GDA94_Z55 Elevation Azimuth Plunge SDDSC079 700.7 Rising Sun 331254 5868098 353.7 210.0 -65.0 SDDSC080 374.6 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 185.0 -71.0 SDDSC081 338.5 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 210.0 -60.0 SDDSC082 1158.7 Rising Sun 330484 5867895 289.0 74.0 -68.0 SDDSC083 347.5 Golden Dyke 330461 5867922 285.4 196.0 -54.0 SDDSC084 323.4 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 210.0 -53.0 SDDSC085 827.4 Apollo 331254 5868099 353.8 222.0 -64.0 SDDSC086 298.8 Golden Dyke 330461 5867922 285.4 208.0 -33.0 SDDSC087 286.7 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 214.0 -43.0 SDDSC088 360.0 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 214.0 -33.0 SDDSC089 390.0 Golden Dyke 330461 5867922 285.4 214.0 -48.0 SDDSC090 427.2 Christina 330461 5867922 285.4 226.0 -31.0 SDDSC091 530.4 Gentle Annie 330871 5868064 305.6 210.0 -69.0 SDDSC092 In progress plan 830 m Rising Sun 330537 5867882 295.5 79.0 -60 SDDSC093 610.9 Rising Sun 331291 5867823 316.8 271 -47.5 SDDSC094 23.3 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.2 68.5 -56 SDDSC094A 359.6 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 68.5 -56 SDDSC095 368.3 Apollo 331291 5867823 316.8 271 -53 SDDSC096 347.9 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 68 -63.5 SDDSC097 62.3 Apollo 331291 5867823 316.8 276 -50.5 SDDSC097A In progress plan 550 m Apollo 331291 5867823 316.8 277 -50 SDDSC098 278.5 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 72 -48.5 SDDSC099 284.7 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 71.5 -58.5 SDDSC100 In progress plan 1200 m Rising Sun 330482 5867891 289.5 74.5 -64 SDDSC101 181.5 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 63 -37 SDDSC103 In progress plan 200 m Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 53 -53

Table 3: Tables of mineralised drill hole intersections reported from regional holes using two cut-off criteria. Lower grades cut at 0.3 g/t lower cutoff over a maximum of 3 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m.

Drill Hole from (m) to (m) width (m) Au g/t SDDLV001 43.00 63.00 20.0 0.2 SDDLV002 47.70 48.60 0.9 0.9 SDDLV002 66.00 70.75 4.8 0.4 SDDLV003 71.40 72.80 1.4 1.3 including 71.40 72.20 0.8 1.9 SDDLV003 85.00 92.00 7.0 1.6 including 87.00 87.50 0.5 15.7 SDDLV004 73.40 73.65 0.3 5.6 SDDLV004 100.70 100.95 0.3 19.4 SDDTS001 99.35 102.15 2.8 0.6 including 99.35 100.12 0.8 1.2 SDDTS003 99.90 104.65 4.8 0.2 SDDLV004 73.40 73.65 0.3 5.6 SDDLV004 100.70 100.95 0.3 19.4 SDDTS004A 133.60 138.65 5.1 0.2 SDDTS005A 170.00 170.45 0.4 1.0 including 170.00 170.45 0.4 1.0 SDDTS006 255.28 256.30 1.0 0.6 SDDTS006 277.54 291.00 13.5 0.2 including 277.88 278.60 0.7 1.2

Table 4: All individual assays reported from regional drilling >0.1g/t Au.

Drill Hole from (m) to (m) width (m) Au g/t SDDLV001 25.00 26.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 26.00 26.60 0.6 0.1 SDDLV001 26.60 27.14 0.5 0.5 SDDLV001 27.14 27.55 0.4 0.2 SDDLV001 32.70 33.48 0.8 0.1 SDDLV001 34.18 34.62 0.4 0.5 SDDLV001 36.00 37.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 38.20 39.20 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 43.00 43.80 0.8 0.4 SDDLV001 43.80 44.70 0.9 0.6 SDDLV001 44.70 45.50 0.8 0.5 SDDLV001 45.50 46.50 1.0 0.4 SDDLV001 46.50 47.50 1.0 0.4 SDDLV001 47.50 48.00 0.5 0.3 SDDLV001 48.00 49.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 49.00 50.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV001 50.00 51.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV001 51.00 52.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 53.00 54.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 54.00 55.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 55.00 56.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 56.00 57.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 57.00 58.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 58.00 59.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 59.00 60.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 60.00 61.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 61.00 62.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 62.00 63.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 123.80 124.00 0.2 0.1 SDDLV002 30.70 31.70 1.0 0.1 SDDLV002 41.30 42.50 1.2 0.1 SDDLV002 47.70 48.60 0.9 0.9 SDDLV002 53.70 54.40 0.7 0.1 SDDLV002 56.40 57.00 0.6 0.1 SDDLV002 61.00 61.35 0.4 0.6 SDDLV002 61.35 62.00 0.6 0.1 SDDLV002 66.00 66.50 0.5 0.4 SDDLV002 66.50 67.00 0.5 0.7 SDDLV002 67.00 68.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV002 68.00 68.40 0.4 0.4 SDDLV002 69.60 70.40 0.8 0.7 SDDLV002 70.40 70.75 0.3 0.9 SDDLV002 85.80 86.32 0.5 0.2 SDDLV002 86.32 86.70 0.4 0.3 SDDLV002 86.70 86.76 0.1 0.5 SDDLV002 102.00 102.40 0.4 0.1 SDDLV002 102.40 102.68 0.3 0.1 SDDLV002 102.68 103.20 0.5 0.2 SDDLV002 103.20 103.50 0.3 0.1 SDDLV003 62.70 63.40 0.7 0.1 SDDLV003 63.40 63.88 0.5 0.1 SDDLV003 63.88 64.68 0.8 0.1 SDDLV003 64.68 65.00 0.3 0.1 SDDLV003 65.00 65.36 0.4 0.1 SDDLV003 65.36 65.70 0.3 0.2 SDDLV003 66.45 67.30 0.8 0.1 SDDLV003 70.50 71.40 0.9 0.1 SDDLV003 71.40 72.20 0.8 1.9 SDDLV003 72.20 72.80 0.6 0.6 SDDLV003 72.80 73.50 0.7 0.1 SDDLV003 73.50 74.00 0.5 0.1 SDDLV003 79.65 80.40 0.8 0.3 SDDLV003 80.40 81.00 0.6 0.1 SDDLV003 83.00 84.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 85.00 86.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV003 86.00 87.00 1.0 0.8 SDDLV003 87.00 87.50 0.5 15.7 SDDLV003 87.50 88.10 0.6 3.2 SDDLV003 88.10 89.00 0.9 0.2 SDDLV003 91.00 92.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 93.00 94.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 94.00 95.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 96.00 97.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 102.80 103.20 0.4 0.5 SDDLV003 104.00 105.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 105.00 106.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV003 107.00 108.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 112.00 113.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 114.00 115.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 122.70 124.00 1.3 0.1 SDDLV003 124.00 125.10 1.1 0.1 SDDLV004 67.50 68.10 0.6 0.2 SDDLV004 68.10 68.90 0.8 0.2 SDDLV004 68.90 69.10 0.2 0.7 SDDLV004 72.00 73.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV004 73.40 73.65 0.3 5.6 SDDLV004 73.65 74.30 0.6 0.2 SDDLV004 75.00 75.70 0.7 0.1 SDDLV004 77.70 78.04 0.3 0.1 SDDLV004 78.04 79.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV004 81.60 82.00 0.4 0.1 SDDLV004 85.30 85.60 0.3 0.4 SDDLV004 87.40 88.00 0.6 0.3 SDDLV004 95.00 95.40 0.4 0.1 SDDLV004 100.00 100.70 0.7 0.1 SDDLV004 100.70 100.95 0.3 19.4 SDDLV004 105.00 105.50 0.5 0.2 SDDLV004 110.40 110.70 0.3 0.2 SDDLV004 110.70 111.30 0.6 0.4 SDDLV004 113.00 113.50 0.5 0.2 SDDLV004 114.00 115.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV004 115.00 116.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV004 120.65 121.10 0.4 0.2 SDDLV004 121.10 121.35 0.3 0.2 SDDLV004 121.35 121.95 0.6 0.1 SDDTS001 99.00 99.35 0.3 0.1 SDDTS001 99.35 100.12 0.8 1.2 SDDTS001 100.12 100.55 0.4 0.6 SDDTS001 100.55 100.95 0.4 0.9 SDDTS001 100.95 101.30 0.3 0.4 SDDTS001 101.30 102.15 0.9 0.1 SDDTS002 111.90 112.55 0.6 0.1 SDDTS002 116.40 117.00 0.6 0.1 SDDTS002 117.00 118.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS003 99.90 100.90 1.0 0.2 SDDTS003 100.90 101.65 0.8 0.2 SDDTS003 101.65 102.14 0.5 0.3 SDDTS003 102.14 102.72 0.6 0.4 SDDTS003 102.72 103.45 0.7 0.2 SDDTS003 103.45 104.20 0.8 0.2 SDDTS003 104.20 104.65 0.5 0.2 SDDTS003 118.00 119.00 1.0 0.3 SDDTS004A 119.60 120.60 1.0 0.1 SDDTS004A 123.40 124.20 0.8 0.2 SDDTS004A 133.60 134.60 1.0 0.2 SDDTS004A 134.60 135.00 0.4 0.2 SDDTS004A 137.60 138.65 1.1 0.7 SDDTS005A 159.43 159.64 0.2 0.1 SDDTS005A 165.00 165.45 0.4 0.1 SDDTS005A 170.00 170.45 0.4 1.0 SDDTS005A 178.00 178.25 0.3 0.1 SDDTS005A 194.22 194.78 0.6 0.1 SDDTS005A 195.62 196.30 0.7 0.1 SDDTS005A 196.30 197.00 0.7 0.1 SDDTS005A 197.00 198.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS005A 198.00 198.79 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 226.80 227.18 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 227.18 227.67 0.5 0.1 SDDTS006 227.67 228.43 0.8 0.2 SDDTS006 228.43 229.30 0.9 0.1 SDDTS006 255.28 256.30 1.0 0.6 SDDTS006 257.30 258.00 0.7 0.1 SDDTS006 258.00 259.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 259.00 260.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 260.00 261.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 261.00 261.49 0.5 0.1 SDDTS006 261.49 262.17 0.7 0.3 SDDTS006 262.17 262.80 0.6 0.2 SDDTS006 275.60 276.05 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 276.90 277.54 0.6 0.1 SDDTS006 277.54 277.88 0.3 0.4 SDDTS006 277.88 278.60 0.7 1.2 SDDTS006 278.60 279.00 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 279.00 279.76 0.8 0.6 SDDTS006 279.76 280.72 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 280.72 281.23 0.5 0.1 SDDTS006 281.23 282.03 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 282.03 282.76 0.7 0.2 SDDTS006 282.76 283.35 0.6 0.2 SDDTS006 283.35 284.00 0.6 0.2 SDDTS006 284.00 285.00 1.0 0.2 SDDTS006 285.00 286.00 1.0 0.3 SDDTS006 286.00 287.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 287.00 287.75 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 287.75 288.65 0.9 0.1 SDDTS006 288.65 289.20 0.6 0.1 SDDTS006 289.20 290.00 0.8 0.2 SDDTS006 290.00 291.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 293.60 294.56 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 294.56 295.17 0.6 0.1 SDDTS006 313.87 314.27 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 339.25 340.09 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 340.09 341.10 1.0 0.2 SDDTS006 341.10 342.00 0.9 0.3 SDDTS007 108.50 109.00 0.5 0.3 SDDTS007 112.00 112.50 0.5 0.1 SDDTS007 112.50 113.00 0.5 0.1 SDDTS007 122.80 123.20 0.4 0.1 SDDTS007 124.00 124.35 0.3 0.1

SOURCE: Mawson Gold Limited

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Dollar General Corporation (DG) on Thursday announced that Todd Vasos, current Board member and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), has been appointed CEO effective today. Vasos, who previously served as Dollar General's CEO from June 2015 to November 2022, has agreed to return to lead the company for the foreseeable future. Vasos succeeds Jeff Owen, whose separation from the company and resignation from its Board is effective today. 'The Board has tremendous respect for Jeff and greatly appreciates his many contributions to the Company, especially during his long tenure leading our retail operations,' said Michael Calbert, Chairman of Dollar General's Board of Directors. 'However, at this time the Board has determined that a change in leadership is necessary to restore stability and confidence in the Company moving forward.' 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Vext Science, Inc. (CSE: VEXT) (OTCQX: VEXTF) ("Vext" or the "Company"), a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio, today announced that it has completed the previously announced non-brokered private placement of $11.5 million (the "Offering") through the issuance of 67,647,058 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of $0.17 per Common Share, including the full exercise of a $1.5 million over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option") as outlined in the Company's news release of October 2, 2023. Unless otherwise noted, all currency references used in this news release are in U.S. currency.

Proceeds from the Offering, including the Over-Allotment Option are expected to be used to fund part of the purchase price for the recently announced Ohio Expansion Transaction and certain other obligations of the Company in connection with the Ohio Expansion Transaction. For further details regarding the Ohio Expansion Transaction, please refer to the Company's news release of October 2, 2023.

The securities issued pursuant to the Offering, including the Over-Allotment Option, are subject to resale restrictions, including a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws and certain securities are subject to further restrictions set forth in the Shareholders Agreement (as defined below). In connection with the Offering, the Company has paid a cash finder's fee to certain registered dealers consisting of approximately $3,285.

In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into a shareholders agreement (the "Shareholders Agreement") with certain management shareholders and other subscribers under the Offering (collectively, the "Subject Shareholders"), pursuant to which the Company and the Subject Shareholders agreed to a number of rights and restrictions applicable to the Company and the Subject Shareholders. For further details regarding the Shareholders Agreement, please refer to the Company's news release of October 2, 2023, and the full text of the Shareholders Agreement, which will be filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Execution of the Shareholders Agreement constitutes applicable shareholder approval in respect of the Offering and the Shareholders Agreement for the purposes of the requirements of the Canadian Securities Exchange, as, immediately prior to the Offering and the execution of the Shareholders Agreement, the Subject Shareholders held greater than 50% of the outstanding votes associated with shares of the Company.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, "U.S. persons" (as those terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Mark Opzoomer, a director of the Company, Trevor Smith, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Sopica Special Opportunities Fund Limited, an insider shareholder of the Company (collectively, the "Participating Insiders"), collectively purchased 42,798,529 Shares under the Offering. The Participating Insiders' participation constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Such transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of any securities issued to, nor the consideration paid by, such persons exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The participants in the Offering and the extent of their participation were not finalized until shortly prior to the completion of the Offering. Accordingly, it was not possible to publicly disclose details of the nature and extent of the related party participation in the Offering pursuant to a material change report filed at least 21 days prior to completion of the Offering.

Advisors

McMillan LLP acted as legal counsel to Vext and LodeRock Advisors provided capital markets communication services to Vext.

About Vext Science, Inc.

Vext Science, Inc. is a U.S.-based cannabis operator with vertical operations in Arizona and Ohio. Vext's expertise spans from cultivation through to retail operations in its key markets. Based out of Arizona, Vext owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, fully built-out manufacturing facilities as well as dispensaries in both Arizona and Ohio. The Company manufactures Vapen, one of the leading THC concentrates, edibles, and distillate cartridge brands in Arizona. Its selection of award-winning products are created with Vext's in-house, high-quality flower and distributed across Arizona and Ohio, as well as through Vext's partnerships in other states. Vext's leadership team brings a proven track record of building and operating profitable multi-state operations, with the Company having operated profitably since 2016. The Company's primary focus is to continue growing in its core states of Arizona and Ohio, bringing together cutting-edge science, manufacturing, and marketing to provide a reliable and valuable customer experience while generating shareholder value.

Vext Science, Inc. is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol VEXT and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol VEXTF. Learn more at www.vextscience.com and connect with Vext on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.

For more details on the Vapen brand:

Vapen website: VapenBrands.com

Instagram: @vapen

Facebook: @vapenbrands

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in Vext's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will, could, plan, estimate, expect, intend, may, potential, believe, should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements related to the Offering including the use of proceeds of the Offering, statements regarding the Ohio Expansion Transaction, and other statements regarding future developments and the business and operations of the Vext, and the Company's business plans in Ohio, all of which are subject to the risk factors contained in Vext's continuous disclosure filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Although Vext has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; being engaged in activities currently considered illegal under U.S. Federal laws; change in laws; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; hindered market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and; regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Because of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. Vext disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and Vext does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

Eric Offenberger

Chief Executive Officer

844-211-3725

For further information:

Jonathan Ross, Vext Investor Relations

jon.ross@loderockadvisors.com

416-244-9851

SOURCE: Vext Science, Inc

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183481
TitanML, a London, UK-based AI company which allows Machine Learning teams to deploy large language models (LLMs), raised $2.8M in pre-seed funding.

The round was led by Octopus Ventures alongside deep tech-focused angel investors.

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its development efforts.

Founded by Dr. James Dborin, Dr. Fergus Finn and Meryem Arik, TitanML enables machine learning teams to efficiently deploy large language models (LLMs). The team is publicly launching Titan Takeoff, their solution that makes large language model (LLM) deployment faster, cheaper and easier for machine learning teams.

To date, the teams achievements include the real-time deployment of state-of-the-art Falcon LLM on a commodity CPU. TitanML has also secured key strategic partners including Intel and AWS, alongside a series of enterprise clients after demonstrating up to 90% reductions in compute costs and 20x latency improvements within just hours of deployment.

FinSMEs

12/10/2023
IT support specialist working with hosting server using tablet in professional data center, planning web digitalization. Male database admin inspecting system hardware in networking industry.

In the ever-evolving world of financial technology, organizations consistently seek ways to improve their services, streamline operations, and enter new markets efficiently. One such avenue that has gained significant traction is white-label fintech software. But what exactly is it? And is it more advantageous for businesses to have their IT department or leverage a BaaS platform like Crassula? Lets dive in.

What is White Label Fintech Software?

White label fintech software refers to a ready-made software solution developed by a third-party company and rebranded and sold by other businesses as their own. This software is designed to be fully customizable, allowing the purchasing company to imbue it with its branding, identity, and other specific requirements without building a system from the ground up.

Advantages of White Label Fintech Software

Speed to Marke: Developing a financial software solution from scratch can be time-consuming. White labelling allows businesses to quickly launch their services, seizing market opportunities faster than their competitors. Cost Efficiency: White labelling can be more cost-effective than developing in-house, as businesses can avoid the extensive costs of R&D, software development, and testing. Focus on Core Competencies: Companies can channel their resources and expertise into areas they excel at, such as marketing, customer service, or product enhancement, rather than the technical intricacies of software development.

In-House IT vs. BaaS Platforms: The Dilemma

When deciding between developing an in-house IT solution or opting for a BaaS platform like Crassula, businesses need to consider the following:

Scalability: BaaS platforms are typically designed to be scalable, accommodating the growth of the business without requiring major system overhauls. Maintenance and Updates: The service provider usually handles system updates and maintenance with BaaS solutions. This ensures the software is always up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. Customization: While white-label solutions offer customization to a certain extent, businesses with highly specialized needs might find an in-house solution more appropriate. Cost: While in-house solutions might have higher initial costs (development, staffing, infrastructure), BaaS platforms often involve recurring subscription fees. Businesses need to assess the long-term financial implications of each option. Data Security: Relying on third-party solutions raises questions about data security and compliance. Businesses must ensure that the SaaS provider adheres to industry-standard security protocols.

Spotlight: Crassula

Crassula is an example of a SaaS platform offering white-label fintech solutions. It provides businesses the infrastructure to launch financial products swiftly, from banking platforms to payment gateways. Companies leveraging platforms like Crassula can benefit from a comprehensive suite of tools and services without significant upfront investments or the need for extensive technical expertise.

Conclusion

The choice between in-house development and leveraging white-label fintech software hinges on a businesss specific needs, financial considerations, and long-term goals. While in-house solutions offer a high degree of customization and control, white-label SaaS platforms, like Crassula, provide quick market entry, scalability, and reduced developmental responsibilities. Each business must assess its unique situation and decide which path aligns best with its vision and objectives.
Akshay Kumar will next be headlining the third installment in the popular Welcome series, Welcome To The Jungle. The project is even more special as it will mark Akshay Kumars reunion with Raveena Tandon after a long gap of 20 years.

During a recent interaction with ANI, the OMG 2 actor revealed that he is looking forward to working with Raveena Tandon yet again. He further added that he has delivered the maximum number of hit films with the actress.

Raveena Tandon to reunite with Akshay Kumar after 20 years for Welcome to the Jungle

Akshay Kumar said, We are doing a film called Welcome to the Jungle for which we will begin shooting soon. We have done maximum hit films together and I am looking forward to starting the shoot after a long long time and we will be together on the same screen. He further revealed that they were a hit pair back in the day.

When asked about his broken engagement with the actress, Akshay Kumar added, Everyone moves on, people have divorces, they move on, whats the big deal.

Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandons professional association

Refreshing your memory, Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon have previously shared the screen in multiple movies including Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Mohra, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Keemat, and Barood. These two have also worked together on popular tracks such as Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani.

Aside from their professional association, Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon have also created a lot of buzz due to their off-screen relationship.

All about Welcome To The Jungle

Made under the direction of Ahmed Khan, Welcome to the Jungle enjoys an ensemble cast with Suniel Shetty, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh, Rahul Dev, Mukesh Tiwari, Sharib Hashmi, Inaamulhaq, Zakir Hussain, Yashpal Sharma, Jacqueliene Fernandez, and Vrihi Kodvara in significant roles. The much-anticipated drama is in the pre-production stage at the moment.

For the unaware, the primary installment of the series, Welcome released in 2007. Meanwhile, the sequel, Welcome Back came in 2015.

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Saurabh Sachdeva, fresh off the success of Bambai Meri Jaan and Jaane Jaan, and wholl be next seen in Animal with Ranbir Kapoor, spoke to Times of India about the actors he admires and looks up to.

The actor revealed, There are many actors who I look up to and one of them is Manoj Bajpayee. I believe that he is a very versatile actor. Even Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a very powerful actor. Ranbir Kapoor is also very good. I even look up to Alia Bhatt as an actor. Her performances really move me because I feel shes really worked her way into the character she plays. I like Kangana Ranaut a lot. The way she brings her strength and boldness on the screen is amazing. Shes not scared of anything.

On Ranbir Kapoor

While talking to News18, Sachdeva revealed, Ranbir Kapoor is a very impulsive actor. He is so impulsive that he is always ready to shoot. And most importantly, he is always respectful to his co-actors, he takes care of them, really sees what the co-actor is going through. If an actor is not in his comfort space or is dealing with something, he is always standing there for them. He knows that two people can make a scene and he cannot do it all by himself.

On Animal

Initially, I didnt understand the world of Animal. I was taking to Sandeep Reddy Vanga again and again and I was meeting him. And I had these conversations about the world I was getting into. I did ask him if it was Sacred Games kind of world or Taish kind of world. He did draw a picture in front of me and he showed me some visuals where I could understand what it was all about.

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As heartbreaking as it may sound, the actor who immortalized the character of Aquaman, Jason Momoa, is planning to bid adieu to the role and move towards James Gunns DC Universe as Lobo.

The story was reported by Variety, and it was always a part of the actors plans going by his past interviews.

Four years ago I was screaming, wasnt I? Momoa shared in an Instagram video earlier this year. Four years again. Its a mystery, baby. I got some really good news, great news with Warner Bros. Wish I could tell you!

The star also told ET Canada, One of my dreams come true will be happening under their watch, so stay tuned.

When Jason Momoa turned Aquaman, distributed water to flight passengers

Last year, Jason Momoa surprised passengers of a flight in Hawaii as he took on the duty of a flight attendant. The video of the incident was shared on social media platforms soon after one of the passengers uploaded it. The video showed the Aquaman actor handing over bottles of water to the passengers and charming them with his smile. The 43-year-old actor was also seen wearing a red flower behind his ear to give off a warm Hawaiian vibe to the passengers.

Jason Momoa posed as a flight attendant and surprised passengers aboard Hawaiian Airlines to celebrate his water company Mananalus partnership with the airline  pic.twitter.com/QhAwcXW7SX  NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 4, 2022

Momoa, who is the founder of a water company called Mananalu, stepped on the flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines became the first airline to partner with Momoas Mananalu Water company. In a video shared on Instagram, the actor showed how he ended up becoming a flight attendant. Momoa took the viewers into the flight and showed off the water bottles from his company that are made of aluminium.

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Amber Heard and Jonny Depps defamation case has been a hot topic of discussion among movie buffs for a long time. Now, a new detail regarding the much-hyped celebrity separation has come to the limelight. Ever before the trial ended in favour of the Pirates of the Caribbean actor, Amber Heard claimed that this trial had led to several problems for her. Now, if a Variety report is to be believed, Jason Momoa tried to get the actress fired during the shoot of Aquaman 2.

When Elon Musk tried to burn the house down

According to the sources, Amber Heard was almost removed from Aquaman 2 because of her lack of chemistry with co-star Jason Momoa. However, ignoring their issues with Amber Heard, the studio did not remove the actress from the movie, all thanks to Elon Musk. Yes, you heard it right!

Going by a source, the Tesla CEO supported the actress by sending a threatening letter to the makers, Warner Bros. In the letter, he had threatened to burn the house down if Amber Heard was not a part of Aquaman 2.

When Johnny Depp blamed Elon Musk for his failed marriage with Amber Heard

Refreshing your memory, sometime before this, Elon Musks father Errol Musk had shed light on his sons short-term relationship with Amber Heard. He even called the actress a perfect match for his son. It must be noted here that Elon Musk and Amber Heard were reportedly dating each other for a brief period between 2017 and 2018. At that time, The Danish Girl actress was in the middle of her divorce proceedings with Johnny Depp.

As per Errol Musk, Johnny Depp blames Elon Musk for his failed marriage with Amber Heard.

Amber Heards forthcoming projects

On the professional front, Amber Heard will next be seen in the superhero drama, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Made under the direction of James Wan, the venture will star Momoa as Arthur Curry or Aquaman, along with Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman in crucial roles. The movie is a sequel to the 2018 drama Aquaman. Both these films are part of the DC Extended Universe.
In Israel, the death and devastation continues.

Day six of the conflict saw the Israeli Air Force target the homes of senior Hamas leadership including its elite Nukhba forces  who they say led Saturdays horrific attack.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday released photos of dead babies allegedly murdered by Hamas  claims that were echoed by US president Joe Biden.

This in the backdrop of Netanyahu forming a war cabinet.

In Gaza Strip, things are going from bad to worse. A day after Gazas sole power plant shut down after running out of fuel, its citizens spent the night in complete darkness.

It looks the conflict, which has already claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides, will only escalate.

Here are some key takeaways from the war:

How bad are things in Gaza?

As the Israeli military retaliates for the Hamas attack, Palestinians say civilians are paying the price in strikes on Gaza, a small coastal strip of land packed with 2.3 million residents.

Near-constant airstrikes that level entire neighborhoods have forced some 340,000 people to flee their homes, according to the UN, most crowding into UN schools. Others sought the shrinking number of safe neighborhoods. Gaza is only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Israeli strikes demolished two multistory houses without warning, killing and wounding a large number of people, mainly civilians.

While Israel has insisted that it is giving advance notice of its strikes, it is employing a new tactic of leveling whole swaths of neighbourhoods, rather than just individual buildings.

The UN said that the Israel siege has also resulted in dire water shortages for over 650,000 people. Israel has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza, plunging many Palestinians into pitch blackness after the only power station ran out of fuel and shut down. Hospitals supplies of medicine and fuel for emergency generators are also expected to run out within days.

At least 1,417 people have been killed in Gaza, according to authorities there. Israel says hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

Is ground assault inevitable?

The Israeli military says it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but that political leadership has not yet decided on one. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided.

Israels government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. Israel has called up some 360,000 army reservists and has threatened an unprecedented response to Hamas bloody, wide-ranging incursion over the weekend.

The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel  a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

The Israeli military said it is currently targeting Hamas senior military and political leaders, whom it blames for the weekend attack.

Four previous rounds of Israel-Hamas fighting between 2008 and 2021 all ended inconclusively, with Hamas battered but still in control. Removing it from power would likely require reoccupying Gaza, at least temporarily. Even then, Hamas has a long history of operating as an underground insurgency in areas controlled by Israel.

A ground offensive would also likely result in a surge of casualties on both sides.

The risk of the war spreading beyond Gaza was evident Wednesday, when the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched.

On Thursday, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes hit the international airports of the Syrian capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, damaging their runways and putting them out of service.

Whats the response abroad?

Biden on Wednesday called the attack by Hamas the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust as the number of U.S. citizens killed in the fighting increased to at least 25 on Thursday.

This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty  not just hate, but pure cruelty  against the Jewish people, Biden told Jewish leaders gathered at the White House.

Signs of US support for Israel were seen across the administration, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken meeting with Netanyahu and later Israeli president Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly arrived in Israel on Wednesday to express unwavering solidarity with the country following the attacks by Hamas, while Britains King Charles III condemned the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel, a palace official said Wednesday. The German government held a minute of silence Wednesday in parliament for the Israeli victims of the Hamas attacks.

Malaysian foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir slammed Israels outrageous acts of cruelty in cutting off food, water and fuel to the Gaza Strip and said Malaysia will provide an emergency fund to help Palestinians.

Turkey is holding negotiations for the release of civilian hostages held by Hamas, a Turkish official said Wednesday.

Egypt has engaged with intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point. However, it pushed back against proposals to establish escape corridors out of Gaza, saying an an exodus of Palestinians from the enclave would have grave consequences on the Palestinian cause.

What about foreign citizens in Israel?

Dozens of citizens of other countries were killed or abducted in Saturdays attack, who were in Israel for reasons ranging from raves to agricultural work.

The number of US citizens confirmed to have been killed in the latest Israel-Hamas war has risen to at least 25, Blinken said Thursday during a visit in Tel Aviv with Netanyahu. Thats an increase from 22 the day before. The State Department has said at least 17 more Americans remain unaccounted for.

The Chinese government said Thursday that three of its citizens were confirmed dead, and two others were missing. The Chinese Embassy in Israel had reported earlier this week that a young woman of Israeli and Chinese heritage was among the scores of hostages taken by Hamas fighters.

Two Brazilian citizens were killed as the result of the Hamas attack on Israel, according to that countrys foreign ministry, which also said that three people with dual Brazilian-Israeli citizenship were missing after they disappeared at a music festival outside of Kibbutz Reim.

The Estonian government confirmed the death on Thursday of an Estonian-Israeli man after Hamas attack on Israel.

Turkish officials also announced that at least one Turkish citizen was killed in the attacks.

Why did Hamas attack?

Hamas, which seeks Israels destruction, says it is defending Palestinians right to freedom and self-determination.

But the devastation following Hamas surprise attack on Saturday has sharpened questions about its strategy and objectives. Hamas officials have said they planned for all possibilities, including a punishing Israeli escalation.

Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settlements in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

In addition to citing long-simmering tensions, Hamas officials cite a long-running dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque that 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.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians 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 blockade on the Gaza Strip and help halt a worsening financial crisis.

With inputs from AP
I no longer believe we will get out of this alive. There is not a home in Gaza that is safe. An Al Jazeera reporter wrote this on Wednesday (11 October) as Israel continues its heavy bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation to Hamas attacks over the weekend.

Many residents of the Gaza Strip are of the same opinion and add that if its not an Israeli airstrike that will kill them, it will be the lack of fuel and electricity that will. After all, Gazas sole power plant stopped working after the fuel needed for generating electricity ran out on Wednesday.

Gaza is currently without power, the head of the Gaza power authority, Galal Ismail, told CNN.

What will it be like to live without electricity and fuel? How are Gazans, who have no way out, coping with this life-threatening situation?

Gaza goes dark

On Wednesday, the Gaza Ministry of Energy announced that the enclave had lost all electricity after the only power station ran out of fuel and had to shut down. The only power plant in the Gaza Strip stopped functioning at 2 pm (4.30 pm IST), Gaza Energy Authority chief Jalal Ismail said.

The move comes after Israel on Monday ordered a complete siege of Gaza as part of their retaliation against the Hamas attacks carried out over the weekend. This means that Israel has blocked supplies of food, water, fuel to the area, effectively cutting off the residents from the rest of the world.

The Strip, which is inhabited by 2.3 million people, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world, has now plunged into darkness as the mains electricity has shut down. And even though Gazans use power generators, the fuel needed for them is running out. This means that there will only be a few hours of electricity left in them too.

This threatens to plunge the Strip into complete darkness and make it impossible to continue providing all basic life services, all of which depend on electricity, and it will not be possible to operate them partially with generators in light of the prevention of fuel supplies from Rafah Gate, said a statement issued by Gazas authorities on Wednesday.

This catastrophic situation creates a humanitarian crisis for all residents of the Gaza Strip, it added.

A humanitarian crisis

Israels complete siege to Gaza has made living almost impossible for its people. And with the power plant shutting down, the situation in the hospitals will only exacerbate.

Hospitals are already struggling to cope with the influx of patients owing to Israels heavy bombardment in the area. As of Day 5 of the war, the toll in Gaza had breached the 1,000-mark, with the number only climbing further in the days to come. Also, another 5,000-odd people have been injured and rushed to hospitals.

However, medical personnel in hospitals are worried about tending to patients without any electricity. At the heart of the crisis are the intensive care units, where thousands of injured people are struggling for their lives. A significant number of them rely on electricity-powered oxygen generators to breathe and survive.

Hassan Khalaf, the medical director of Al-Wafa Hospital in Gaza City told Al Jazeera that the generators have a life of only maximum: a few days, and may be as short as a day or two. The doctor said there were about 1,100 patients who rely on dialysis machines for survival in Gaza.

Medical-humanitarian teams from the international Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) echoed the remarks. Guillemette Thomas, MSFs medical co-ordinator of Palestine, told Sydney Morning Herald, The situation is catastrophic. Many of our staff who have been working in Gaza all say that this situation is the worst that they have ever seen.

But it goes beyond just hospitals. Without electricity, refrigerated food  which has been a lifeline until now for the people  is on the verge of expiration. With no food being allowed into the region and the area being levelled in airstrikes, Gazans will soon be left with no food, forcing them to go hungry.

The loss of the power plant will also have an impact on clean water supply and sanitation, according to Israeli rights groups Gisha. With no electricity, the desalination plants wont be able to work, leading to a shortage of drinking water. Sewage disposal will also not work.

Moreover, accessing money through ATMs will also cease, owing to the lack of power. Also, communication lines will cease to function, cutting off the people of Gaza from the rest of the world.

Foreign and local journalists in the region are also facing troubles as they are unable to charge their equipment. Many are relying on personal power banks, which too will soon run out of battery.

Help needed, now

Doctors at hospitals in Gaza lamenting the situation have called on Israel to allow for emergency supplies to be directed into the region.

Humanitarian organisations have also called for international aid for Gaza. Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), urged the international community to intervene urgently to stop the aggression, allow the entry of relief materials, and restore electricity and water, because the Gaza Strip is facing a major humanitarian catastrophe.

Reacting to the situation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volcker Turk said Israels refusal to supply food, fuel and other essential commodities to the Gaza Strip was prohibited under international law.

Even the European Union has criticised the total siege on Gaza. Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, on Tuesday said Israel was violating international law.

The United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday, Citizens need protection, adding, We want to see a humanitarian corridor.

The United Nations also said on Thursday that more than 338,000 people have been displaced in Gaza.

And even though voices for a humanitarian corridor to let Palestinians leave the conflict zone have grown louder, the reality is that they have nowhere to go. This is because the only crossing, the Rafah Gate, is closed as of now. In fact, Reuters reported on Tuesday that Israeli bombardments had hit the area of the Rafah border crossing between the strip and Egypt.

With inputs from agencies
Benjamin Netanyahus government had divided Israel with its controversial judicial reforms, but he now presides over a country which is united in its demand for a definitive reprisal against Hamas.

This sudden change in politics stems directly from the collective trauma caused to Israeli society by the bloody and unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday, in which it killed at least 1,200 people and kidnapped dozens more.

After spending most of his entire career sidelining, short-changing, and underestimating the Palestinians, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu now finds himself in the midst of a lengthy, violent battle with them.

Regardless of the outcome of the furious conflict against Hamas, the war will very certainly define Netanyahus legacy.

Under pressure, Netanyahu struggled on Tuesday to form a unity government with some of his main rivals, the majority of whom were veteran military officers. However, disputes remained over their proposals for a smaller security Cabinet to oversee the battle, which would exclude some of Netanyahus most divisive ministers.

Netanyahu has his back against the wall. Everyone is pressuring him, including his own party Likud, Akiva Eldar, a veteran political commentator, told AFP.

No blank cheque

According to Eldar, even the support offered by US president Joe Biden is not a blank cheque.

Bibi (Netanyahu) has to destroy the infrastructure of Hamas, for certain. But if that comes at the cost of children dying of starvation in Gaza, then global opinion, currently favourable to Israel, will quickly change, he said.

Also Read: Horror of Hamas: Inside the Israeli kibbutz where children and women were beheaded

The response has to be proportional to the horrors committed by Hamas. But Netanyahu cannot afford to have on his hands the deaths of 1,000 more (Israeli) soldiers or the hostages.

Already in Gaza, Palestinian officials have reported more than 1,200 people killed by Israeli strikes, while the United Nations says 338,000 have been displaced.

Another source of pressure on Bibi, Israeli economists have warned, is the extended paralysis of the country in response to the attack, as was the case after the 34-day war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006.

That problem could be even worse, according to one Israeli military source, because Israel is not well prepared for a conflict that could expand to a second and third front, in the north against Hezbollah and in the east if there is an uprising in the West Bank.

Also Read: They took my wife and daughters: The horror stories of Hamas violence

On Wednesday, Netanyahu and one of the leading Opposition figures, Benny Gantz, announced an agreement to form an emergency government for the length of the war.

Netanyahus days are numbered

The presence of Benny Gantz in the government will slightly alleviate the pressure on the prime minister, said Daniel Bensimon, an Israeli political expert and former Labour Party MP.

It will reduce the tension but it wont do anything to alter the fundamentals: Netanyahus days are numbered and he knows it. He will not survive this crisis. His political career is finished.

What happened (on Saturday) is unprecedented since the creation of the state in 1948.

There will be an inquiry. It will be terrible. After that, he will be thrown into the dustbin of history with this shameful stain on his record, Bensimon said, and he knows it well. Thats why his back is against the wall.

Nor have Netanyahus pre-war problems gone away.

Once the fighting is over, the protests against his judicial reforms that divided Israeli society for the past 10 months are expected to be even more widespread than ever.

According to Reuven Hazan, professor of political science at the University of Jerusalem, that is because Netanyahus entire approach towards Hamas has failed.

Also Read: 10 questions that explain Israel-Hamas war and where it stands

Public opinion will make him pay a price when this is all over.

His approach was flawed. Hamas has been in power in Gaza since 2007, Netanyahu was elected in 2009, they have been in charge almost simultaneously. And its during that period that the Islamist threat has grown so much, Hazan told AFP.

A huge mistake

Israel has fought multiple wars against Hamas since it withdrew its forces from the Palestinian enclave in 2005, but these have all proved futile said retired general Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser.

We have made a huge mistake in thinking that a terrorist organisation could change its DNA, he said.

Also Read: How Israel was lulled into a false sense of security as Hamas launched never-ending war

If previous strategies have been proved wrong, what might Israel do instead?

The Jerusalem Post newspaper raised a question that is on many Israeli minds: Is this Israels moment to re-occupy Gaza?

The answer is far from clear cut, said the analyst Akiva Eldar.

When you enter Gaza, you never know in what condition youll come out. Its Netanyahus whole dilemma. So, will he be rational enough to make the right decision?

With inputs from AFP
Its Day 6 and the stench of death and destruction permeates in the Israel-Palestine region as fighting continues; Israel is pounding the Gaza Strip with one of its fiercest airstrikes, with the Palestinian militant group also unleashing rocket after rocket.

In the days since Hamas surprise assault, images are pouring in from both regions of helpless children running through the streets and cowering in bomb shelters after airstrikes.

In Gaza, images are emerging of parents holding on to the bodies of their dead children while UNICEF and other organisations decry the indiscriminate airstrikes in the area. At the kibbutz of Beeri and Kfar Az, the Israel Defense Forces have alleged Hamas of butchering children and beheading them. Israeli children have also been among those reported kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.
Israel has hit back at Palestinian militant group Hamas for its horrific attacks over the weekend by launching strike after strike at the Gaza Strip where they are believed to be holed up. As of today (12 October), the fierce bombardment by Israel has led to the deaths of over 1,200 people.

But even as Israel continues pounding the Gaza Strip causing death and destruction, long-time ally and supporter, the United States, has urged them to follow the rules of war. On Wednesday, US president Joe Biden told Benjamin Netanyahu to abide by the rules of war after the Israeli prime minister vowed to destroy Hamas following the Palestinian militants brutal attack.

Speaking to a gathering of US Jewish community leaders at the White House, Biden said: The one thing that I did say (to Netanyahu) is that it is really important that Israel, with all the anger and frustration  that exists, is that they operate by the rules of war, Biden said.

And there are rules of war.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken before boarding his plane to Tel Aviv  hes been dispatched to Israel  also echoed his presidents statement. It is our respect for international law and the laws of war that separates Israel, the US and other democracies from Hamas and terrorist groups that engage in heinous activities.

But what exactly are these rules of war? In fact, the more pertinent question is: Are there any rules of war?

We give you the answer.

What are the rules of war?

The modern rules of war, popularly known as the Geneva Conventions, can be traced back to ancient civilisations and religions. However, the process of codifying these customs into international humanitarian law was first undertaken by Henri Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. The move came after he witnessed the aftermath of a bloody battle between French and Austrian armies in Solferino, Italy in 1859.

In 1864, he helped establish the first Geneva Convention, an international treaty that required armies to care for the sick and wounded on the battlefield. At the time, it provided for: the immunity from capture and destruction of all establishments for the treatment of wounded and sick soldiers and their personnel; the impartial reception and treatment of all combatants; the protection of civilians providing aid to the wounded, and the recognition of the Red Cross symbol as a means of identifying persons and equipment covered by the agreement.

It was then adopted by 12 European countries.

In the years to come, countries debated and adopted additional amendments to address the treatment of combatants at sea and prisoners of war.

Following the horrors of World War II in 1949, diplomats gathered again in Geneva to adopt four treaties that reaffirmed and updated the previous treaties and expanded the rules to protect civilians. Theyre now collectively known as the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and contain the most important rules of war.

The four conventions followed even today are:

> The Convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field

> The Convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea

> The Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war

> The Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war

These were then ratified by 196 countries across the globe and are meant to curb the brutality of war by setting limits on the weapons and tactics that can be employed.

Israel-Hamas War: Related coverage

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How a drawn-out Israel-Hamas war could hurt the Indian economy

The rules of war demand that battling armies protect the wounded and sick soldiers and refrain from targeting civilians. It also prohibits torture and other forms of cruel, degrading or ill treatment to detainees. Attacking medical and air workers are also a complete no-no, with the rules adding that if combatants see a red cross or red crescent, symbols of the national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, they should know that person or place should not be attacked.

The rules of war also demand that parties to a conflict must take all reasonable steps to evacuate civilians from areas where there is fighting. Civilians must never be blocked from fleeing.

Apart from trying to reduce the impact and the horrors of a conflict, these rules are also used in domestic and international courts to determine if a government or non-governmental militant group is guilty of a war crime.

However, as seen often, enforcing these rules amid a conflict is hard.

Are rules of war being flouted in the ongoing war?

Hamas actions in Israel over the weekend, which saw the killings and taking of over 150 hostages does amount to flouting of the rules. Termed as barbaric, the Palestinian militant group has been accused of beheading people and indiscriminately killing civilians  at the Supernova music festival as well as the Kfar Aza kibbutz.

In turn, the Benjamin Netanyahu government has vowed to wipe off Hamas from the face of the earth and launched a counter-offensive in the Gaza Strip on Monday. It simultaneously also announced a total siege of Gaza, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant saying on Monday: There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.

Its actions in Gaza, however, are now being questioned by human rights activists, with some stating that they even amount to violation of the Geneva Conventions. Francoise Bouchet-Saulnier, legal director of Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders, MSF), told Le Monde: The law of war is very clear: when you place an area under siege, you must allow supplies to reach the civilian population.

You cant stop the supply of goods essential to the survival of the population. You cant punish an entire population for hostile acts committed by an organised armed group based there. Humanitarian law forbids interrupting the passage of goods, particularly those of a medical or food nature.

New York-based Human Rights Watch has also stated that indiscriminate rocket attacks and collective punishment are heinous crimes that have no justification.

Human rights expert Fernando Travesi told NPR in a detailed interview that Israels actions in Gaza can be questioned. He said that a military siege should allow at any moment that basic necessities like food or water or medical care is accessible to civilian population. Otherwise it can be a war crime.

Moreover, he added, Indiscriminate bombardments are a war crime if you dont take all necessary precautions to distinguish civilian and military targets. When you attack medical facilities, thats another war crime, no matter if there are soldiers there.

As of today, the Israeli strikes in Gaza have led to the deaths of over 1,200 people and a further 5,339 have been injured. Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says more than 338,000 people have been displaced  most are sheltering in hospitals and UN schools.

The death toll in Gaza also includes 11 UN relief workers, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which said two of the school buildings where civilians were sheltering have been hit by Israeli airstrikes.

The total blockage has also led to Gazas sole power plant shutting down, exacerbating the situation at hospitals, already overwhelmed with patients and trauma.

However, reacting to claims of breaking war rules, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said Israel will fight according to the laws that we are committed to. What we have been doing is striking Hamas targets with great power and severity.

I want to be very clear: The IDF remains committed to the law of conflict and we conduct ourselves according to it. Despite the fact that we are furious, angry, frustrated, and appalled by the atrocities of Hamas that has done against us, we still keep our morals and we still make sure that we fight according to the laws that we are committed to. And thats how we will continue.

With inputs from agencies
Iran isnt the only one standing to benefit from the war between Israel and Hamas.

The conflict could also benefit Russia which is currently entangled in a special operation in Ukraine.

This, even as defence secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday announced that the United States would provide a new $200 million military assistance package for Ukraine.

The package includes air defence munitions, artillery and rocket ammunition and anti-tank weapons, among other items, the US defence chief said.

But how could the Israel-Hamas war help Russia?

Lets take a closer look:

The conflict could distract the Wests focus from providing Ukraine with weapons and funding.

Bloomberg quoted two people in the know, speaking on condition of anonymity, saying that the Kremlin knows what the war in Israel will be of service to Russia.

Though Moscow is itself concerned about the war further intensifying, the Kremlin says it might at a minimum take away the Wests attention from the situation in Ukraine.

Washington has committed more than $43 billion in military assistance to Kyiv since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022  more than half of all international security assistance for Ukraine.

Zelensky himself has expressed concern about support for Ukraine possibly waning.

I want to be honest with you, of course it is a dangerous situation for people in Ukraine, Zelensky was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Zelensky, who visiting NATO headquarters, added, If there are other tragedies in the world, there is only a certain amount of military support to share, and Russia hopes that support will be divided.

Though the United States has already begun delivering munitions to Israel, Ukraine need not worry about their supply of weapons being interrupted  for the moment at least.

Experts say there is little overlap between weapons needed by both countries to fight their wars.

However, Israel launching a ground invasion of Gaza could result in the depletion of its arms and ammunition.

Mark Cancian, a former US Marine colonel who is now an adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told Bloomberg, Thats when theyll start using munitions in a big wayprecision munitionsand theyll probably use a lot of them

They may not have enough for a long campaign, Cancian added.

Though Israel needs precision weapons to deal with the urban warfare setting rather than unguided munitions, Ukraine also needs sophisticated arms to hit Russian bases behind enemy lines.

The problem is we cant manufacture any more in a short period of time, Cancian added.

He mentioned that US inventory of such munitions has already been depleted and that shipments to Ukraine, while not halting may slow down.

TASS earlier quoted Russias foreign minister Sergey Lavrov as saying Vladimir Putins objectives would be attained quicker if fewer Western weapons found their way to Ukraine.

Lavrov added that the tasks would be accomplished in any case.

It could also boost Russias coffers thanks to an increase in oil prices.

As oil prices go up, this enables them to continue spending on arms production and it also helps them cover some budget deficits, Ann Marie Dailey, a policy researcher at Rand Corporation was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. Russia absolutely gains an advantage from this in the short-term.

What do experts say?

Euronews quoted the Institute for the Study of War as saying Russia could use the Israel-Hamas war to further its narratives including that Western support for Ukraine will inevitably decline.

Russia already seems to be hard at work doing so.

A piece in The Telegraph pointed out that the Kremlin is already pushing the line that the West is responsible for the Israel-Hamas war.

It noted Russian Security Council chairman Dmitry Medvedevs social media post that the West should have been focusing on the Israel-Palestinian issue rather interfering in Russias affairs.

A piece in The Conversation noting that Washingtons attention has been refocussed diplomatically, noted that the flow of weapons being stymied to Ukraine would be a great gift for Putin.

The conflict could also divert military equipment to the Middle East rather than to Ukraine. How large the diversion of arms is depends upon whether Israel chooses to try to reoccupy Gaza or not, the piece noted.

The piece also contended that the conflagration in Israel may also reduce the willingness of Ukraines friends to keep spending big to support it.

It might do so because the implications of a wider Middle Eastern conflict, or China opportunistically attacking Taiwan, would outweigh the consequences of continued hostilities in Ukraine, the piece added.

It also stated that Putin will not be upset if the conflict further devolves in the weeks and months ahead.

A Politico article said the Russian president would be happy to add fuel to the fire.

The Kremlins crowing propagandists are already spreading a narrative that a Middle East war is a win for Russia and the money for Ukraine will dry up, the piece stated.

A piece in The Telegraph UK noted that part of Putins strategy is to drain Ukraine of Western support and sow discord in its allies.

Moscow sees violence in the Middle East as an effective way to divert US political bandwidth from the Ukraine war, as well as military resources, the piece noted.

The US, meanwhile, has insisted it will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes as Opposition from hardline Republican lawmakers puts future aid for Kyiv in doubt.

Im proud that the United States will announce its latest security assistance package for Ukraine, valued at $200 million, Austin said alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky at the opening of a meeting of Kyivs international supporters in Brussels.

This is the first package announced since Congress dropped new funding for Kyiv earlier this month from a bill to avert a US government shutdown  a move that called into doubt Washingtons continued commitment to aiding Ukraines fight against invading Russian forces.

The Politico piece stated that the conventional wisdom in Washington is that the Hamas attack coupled with the race to succeed Kevin McCarthy as Speaker will take away the US attention from Ukraine.

The race to succeed McCarthy is unfolding now, making it more difficult for the Biden administration to gain congressional approval for any additional aid it may want to give Israel, the piece noted.

Zelensky himself seemed to strike a more downbeat tone.

There will be challenges with the American elections, and I talked to our partners and they said the support will stay, but who can tell that the support will stay, nobody knows, he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Am I scared assistance will decrease? There are risks because of all those reasons you described, but thats not just a risk for Ukraine, he said. If you dont help Ukraine, Russia will gain power and the war will not end, Russia will move forward in EU countries. The cheapest option for everyone is stop warfare in our country and to get them out of our territory, he added.

Zelensky claimed Russia would make use of the Israel war to achieve its goal of permanent destabilisation and decreasing assistance to Ukraine.

Others say the US may be forced into a stark choice in the future.

Given a choice between Israel and Ukraine, the US wouldin a heartbeatchoose Israel, Chatham House CEO Bronwen Maddox told Bloomberg TV.

I can understand why President Zelenskyy might be worriedand he was already battling to retain American attention.

Then theres the X factor  Trump being re-elected in 2024.

The Conversation piece astutely noted that a new president taking office, along with Republican leadership raising a furore about backing Ukraine monetarily and Washingtons focus on Israel will all be factors in how the Ukraine war plays out.

If the war in Ukraine is still raging in 2025, it will be Russia with the upper hand, the piece predicted.

With inputs from agencies
Gaza is staring at a dire crisis after its only power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday(11 October). A power blackout envelops the enclave as Israel continues its relentless airstrikes on the blockaded Strip.

Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, with wounded people waiting for emergency rooms. Now, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that hospitals risk turning into morgues as Israeli missiles bombard the crowded enclave.

Lets take a look at how the recent conflagration between Israel and Hamas is taking a toll on Gazan hospitals.

No humanitarian aid

Israeli warplanes have pounded Gaza over the last five days at a scale never before seen by its war-weary residents.

Israel declared a complete siege on Gaza after the Palestinian militant group Hamas which rules the enclave pulled a surprise attack on the West Asian country on the weekend. Israeli restrictions and attacks are also preventing critical medical supplies from reaching the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Power Plant remains shut down after it ran out of fuel yesterday. Besides escalating problems for medical centres, the power shortage is also impacting efforts to provide humanitarian aid across the Strip, as per an Al Jazeera report.

People in Gaza are finding it hard to access money through ATMs and banks. Families wishing to reach out to relatives abroad have no means of communication to do so, the report added.

Israels energy minister Israel Katz vowed on Thursday (12 October) that his country would not allow humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas released the hostages it took from Israel during its stealth attack on Saturday.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, he tweeted.

There are at least 130 captives, including non-Israelis, being held across the Strip.

ALSO READ: Mom died on top of me: Heartbreaking tales of survival from the Israel-Hamas war

Impact on Gazan hospitals

According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli bombings have killed 1,417 people and wounded 6,238 others since Saturday. These casualties include 447 children and 248 women.

Terming the latest flare-up between Israel and Hamas abhorrent, ICRC, a medical charity, on Thursday urged both sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRCs regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement, as per Al Jazeera.

Families in Gaza are already having trouble accessing clean water. No parent wants to be forced to give a thirsty child dirty water, he added.

Ashraf Al Qidra, spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, said on Wednesday in a statement that Israels blockage and refusal to allow fuel into Gaza is putting our medical operation into a precarious situation.

If prompt actions were not taken to restore power in hospitals, it could lead to a huge loss of these lives, Al Jazeera quoted him as saying. The Palestinian health ministry said that hospitals in Gaza have run out of beds, with injured lying on floors as Israeli aggression intensifies.

The ICRC has said that hospitals were running on generators, but the fuel would only last for a few hours.

Many injured patients admitted to intensive care units in Gazan hospitals rely on critical oxygen generators, which need electricity to run.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Ahmed Sheikh Ali, whose family is being treated at a hospital after surviving the attack on their home, said, My brother, two sisters and parents are slowly fading away right before my eyes, and its heart-wrenching that I cannot do anything to save them.

Children, some with serious injuries like shrapnel wounds, are in hospital beds crying, waiting for treatment, reported BBC. Amid low fuel supplies, doctors are forced to carry out only life-saving treatment in several cases.

Yamen Hamad, a father of four, told Reuters after his home in the northern town of Beit Hanoun was ravaged by Israeli strikes, I lived through all the wars and incursions in the past, but I have never witnessed anything worse than this war.

As per Associated Press (AP), Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent, said, In previous escalations, there would always be some time, even a half-hour, without airstrikes.

But now, there is not a single minute. Thats why the casualties keep going up and up.

Many Palestinians are also rushing to hospitals believing they would be safe there from Israeli strikes.

Dr Justin Dalby, who is in Gaza working with the humanitarian charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told BBC that the number of injured was just absolutely immense amid constant violence.

If you are taking out the electricity supply of a hospital, it means that lights go off. Monitoring equipment, oxygen delivery, mechanical ventilators, operating theatres and surgical equipment that require electricity will no longer be able to function, he explained.

Richard Brennan, regional emergency director of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that Gazan hospitals do not have adequate supplies even during normal times. With the latest escalation, the hospitals are facing shortages of everything from beds to essential drugs, bandages to intravenous fluids, reported AP.

Its almost as bad as it gets. Its not just the damage, the destruction. Its that psychological pressure. The constant shelling  the loss of ones colleagues, Brennan added.

Human rights groups respond

Human Rights Watch (HRW), a global rights organisation, has said Israel and Hamas must ensure that the basic needs of the population are met.

Instead, they have since 2007 run Gaza as an open-air prison, imposing sweeping restrictions on the movement of people and goods. In the wake of the weekend attacks [by Hamas], authorities are now closing those prison walls in further, it said.

HRW also called Israels energy minister using Hamas attacks to justify why we decided to stop the flow of water, electricity and fuel as war crimes tactics, as is using starvation as a weapon of war.

This is an unprecedented scope of destruction, Miriam Marmur, a spokesperson for Gisha, an Israeli human rights group, told AP. Israeli decisions to cut electricity, fuel, food and medicine supplies severely compound the risks to Palestinians and threaten to greatly increase the toll in human life.

With inputs from agencies
Hamas wants an independent Palestinian state. It has been violently pushing for it in the past three and half decades since it first started as an underground militant group  it has launched several rockets at Israel, taken hostages, and killed people.

Its most daring attack came on Saturday. So far, it has claimed 1,200 lives, including 222 soldiers. Israel is retaliating to the Hamas assault with relentless airstrikes on Gaza Strip. The death toll in the enclave has climbed to 1,354 and in a siege that could only add to the woes of 2.3 million Palestinians, they will have no electricity, water or fuel until hostages are freed. Death and destruction are everywhere and the people of Gaza have nowhere to flee.

Also read: The Business of Terror: Who funds Hamas, how does it get weapons?

Hamas knew when its assault would have a deadly fallout. And the already unprecedented response from Israel threatens to bring an end to its 16-year rule over the Gaza Strip.

Hamas officials say they are prepared for any scenario, including a drawn-out war, and that allies like Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah will join the battle if Israel goes too far. But will the Palestinian militant group survive this conflict? How will it end?

I dont think anyone really knows what the endgame is at the moment, Tahani Mustafa, a Palestinian analyst at the Crisis Group, an international think tank told The Associated Press (AP). But given the amount of planning involved in the assault, its difficult to imagine they havent tried to strategise every possible scenario.

According to Shaul Shay, an Israeli researcher and retired colonel who served in military intelligence, Hamas miscalculated Israels response and now faces a far worse conflict than it had anticipated. I hope and I believe that Israel will not stop until Hamas has been defeated in the Gaza Strip, and I dont think that this was their expectation before the operation, Shay said of Hamas.

How Hamas rose to power in Gaza

From its establishment in the late 1980s, on the eve of the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising, Hamas has been committed to armed struggle and the destruction of Israel. At the height of the peace process in the 1990s, it launched scores of suicide bombings and other attacks that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians. The violence only intensified with the breakdown in peace talks and the far deadlier second Palestinian uprising in 2000.

Hamas attacks were met with massive Israeli military incursions into the occupied West Bank and Gaza that exacted a far heavier death toll on Palestinians. But as the violence wound down in 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its soldiers and some 8,000 Jewish settlers from Gaza, while maintaining tight control over access to the enclave by land, air and sea.

Hamas claimed the withdrawal as vindication for its approach, and the following year it won a landslide victory in Palestinian elections. In 2007, after bitter infighting, it violently seized Gaza from the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority.

Over the next 16 years, through four wars and countless smaller battles with Israel that rained devastation upon Gaza, Hamas only grew more powerful. Each time it had more rockets that traveled farther. Each time its top leaders survived, securing a cease-fire and the gradual easing of a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. In the meantime, it built a government  including a police force, ministries and border terminals with metal detectors and passport control.

And what of the thousands of Palestinians killed, the flattened apartment blocks, the crumbling infrastructure, the suffocating travel restrictions, the countless dreams deferred in Gaza, a 40-kilometre (25-mile) coastal strip sandwiched between Israel and Egypt?

Hamas blamed Israel, as did many Palestinians. The Hamas government has seen only sporadic protests over the years and has quickly and violently suppressed them.

Mahmoud Abbas, the powerless president

If Hamas armed struggle against Israel looks like a failure  or much worse  consider the alternative.

The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank recognised Israel and renounced the armed struggle over three decades ago, hoping it would lead to a state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, territories seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.

But the talks repeatedly broke down, partly because of Hamas violence but also because of Israels relentless expansion of settlements, now home to more than a half million Israelis. There have been no serious peace talks in well over a decade, and the Palestinian Authority has become little more than an administrative body in the 40 per cent of the occupied West Bank where it is allowed to operate.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, an 87-year-old moderate, has been powerless to stop settlement expansion, settler violence, home demolitions or the unravelling of longstanding arrangements around a sensitive Jerusalem holy site. He has been sidelined during every Gaza war  including this one  and the Palestinian Authority is widely seen as a corrupt accomplice to the occupation.

Palestinians have tried everything from elections to boycotts to the (International Criminal Court) to engaging in a supposed peace process, said Mustafa, of the Crisis Group. Youve had one of the most conciliatory leaderships in the entire history of the Palestinian national movement, and that still hasnt been enough.

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How a drawn-out Israel-Hamas war could hurt the Indian economy

Hamas in unchartered territory

Still, the scale of last weekends attack takes Hamas approach into uncharted territory.

It is unclear what Hamas endgame is beyond either fighting to the death or liberating Palestine, said Hugh Lovatt, a West Asia expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

The latest attack marks a complete strategic rupture, he said.

Despite conducting attacks against civilians in the past and fighting previous wars against Israel, (Hamas) did also simultaneously engage in political tracks, including negotiations with Abbas Fatah movement and even tacit coordination with Israel, Lovatt said.

Now it appears to have fully embraced open-ended violence as its long-term strategic choice.

No win for Israel?

Israel appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive in Gaza. It could reoccupy the territory and try to uproot Hamas, in what would surely be a long and bloody counterinsurgency. But even that might just drive the group  which is also present in Lebanon and the West Bank  back underground.

And Hamas has a horrifying trump card that could give Israel pause.

Hamas and the more radical Islamic Jihad militant group are holding some 150 men, women and children who were captured and dragged into Gaza. Hamas armed wing claims some have already been killed in Israeli strikes and has threatened to kill captives if Israel attacks Palestinian civilians without warning.

Hamas may succeed  as it has in the past  at trading them for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in a lopsided deal that Palestinians would see as a triumph and Israelis as agony.

Israel has faced virtually no calls for restraint in the wake of the Hamas attack, but that could change if the war drags on.

In the end, the two sides could find themselves returning to the status quo: An internationally mediated truce, with Hamas ruling over a devastated and aid-dependent Gaza, and Israel redoubling security along its frontier.

That too, for Hamas at least, would look like a victory.

With inputs from AP
The war between Israel and Hamas raged for the sixth day, with the Palestinian groups military wing reportedly firing rockets at Tel Aviv. Hamas said this was in retaliation to Israeli airstrikes targeting civilians in two refugee camps in the Gaza Strip.

Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to (Israeli bombing) targeting civilians in Al-Shati and Jabalia camps, Hamas was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

The latest flare-up began after Hamass surprise multi-front assault on the West Asian country on the weekend. The militant group also infiltrated Israels territory near the Gaza border and has taken dozens of hostages, including non-Israelis.

Israeli authorities have notified the families of 81 hostages held by Hamas across the Gaza Strip, Israels army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, as per Al Jazeera. Commanders of the Hamas military group have claimed they have at least 130 captives.

There are reports that Israels elite special forces unit, Sayeret Matkal, is on standby to rescue the hostages in Gaza.

What is this special forces unit? Lets take a closer look.

What is Sayeret Matkal?

Established in 1957, Sayeret Matkal, also known as the Unit, is among the worlds most efficient counter-terrorism forces.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) website, Sayeret Matkal is chiefly a field intelligence-gathering unit, conducting deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines to obtain strategic intelligence, which is also tasked with counter-terrorism and hostage rescue beyond Israels borders.

This highly secretive special operations unit is modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS) regiment, as per The Telegraph.

Also known as the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit or Unit 269, this special forces unit of the IDF has successfully completed several missions including in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and most famously at Entebbe, a city in Uganda.

In 1976, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Red Army Faction  a German radical leftist group  hijacked a French airliner and flew it to the Entebbe airport. The Palestinian/German hijackers held 94 Jewish passengers and 12 Air France crew members hostage, most of whom were rescued by the Sayeret Matkal commandos.

Dubbed Operation Thunderbolt, the Israeli forces stormed the terminal building and killed the terrorists. Three hostages also lost their lives.

The older brother of Israels current prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yonatan Netanyahu  who was a commander of the Sayaret Matkal  was shot dead on the tarmac during the Entebbe raid. He is a celebrated national hero.

Harsh training, famous leaders

As per a Vanity Fair report, Sayaret Matkal operates from a secret base deep in the Negev Desert in southern Israel.

The candidates have to go through a harsh camp known as Gibbush which includes going without sleep for several days, before even being selected for basic training, reported The Mirror. Only those who are cleared by doctors and psychologists are admitted to basic training.

Many elite Israeli politicians have served in Sayeret Matkal, including former prime ministers Ehud Barak and Naftali Bennett. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also a veteran of the Unit and took part in several missions, including the 1972 rescue of hijacked Sabena Flight 571 during which he was shot in the shoulder, reported The Telegraph.

ALSO READ: How cheap drones helped Hamas ambush Israels sophisticated weaponry

How Sayeret Matkal can help now

According to The Telegraph, experts say Sayeret Matkal will be called upon for the hostage rescue in Gaza because of its expertise, along with the Yamam special forces unit of Israels national police.

Israel has perfected the counter-terror hostage rescue mission these units have been collecting intelligence and working closely with the Mossad and Israels Shin Bet service, Aaron Cohen, an Israeli special forces expert, told the British newspaper.

However these missions are extremely dangerous, he added.

It is believed captives are being held in tunnels, apartment buildings, and military bases in Gaza. Hamas has reportedly said the hostages are kept in all areas of the Strip and has threatened to kill its captives if Israeli airstrikes do not stop targeting the sealed-off enclave.

There are also fears of casualties during the rescue operations.

Avner Avraham, a former officer with Israels Mossad intelligence service, told The Telegraph: When you have 100 to 130 hostages, its not easy to hide them.

I believe we will find information about locations. But its very complicated, very difficult. It will take time and we will lose people, unfortunately.

Speaking to The Mirror, Dr Andreas Kreig, senior lecturer at the school of security studies at Kings College London, said: Sayeret Matkal are really the only battle-hardened unit [the Israeli Defense Forces] will be using. And theyve been operating in the West Bank and behind enemy lines in Gaza. They are special forces. They have autonomy to pursue their own targets.

However, the rescue mission would not be easy as hostages are a key bargaining tool for Hamas, he added.

I suspect the hostages will be used as human shields, to limit Israeli operations. The hostages are a key bargaining tool. Hamas wont want to give them up, Dr Krieg told The Mirror.

Experts believe the special forces could be deployed for hostage rescue, as the Israeli military distracts Hamas with a ground invasion.

The operations that were gonna be seeing in Israel in my opinion will be conducted via the smokescreen which will be connected to the major offensive Israel is preparing for right now, Cohen, the Israeli special forces expert, told US Fox News.

With inputs from agencies
Israel is targeting Hamas political leadership as well as its elite unit which participated in Saturdays attacks.

The Israeli Air Force posted on X:

Overnight (Thursday), the IAF conducted a wave of strikes targeting the Nukhba elite forces of the Hamas terrorist organization, by striking operational command centers used by operatives who infiltrated the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip last Saturday.  Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 12, 2023



The Israeli Air Force account stated that the Nukhba elite forces were among Hamas troops that infiltrated the state of Israel in order to carry out murderous acts of terror against its citizens.

But what do we know about the Nukhba forces?

Lets take a closer look:

In Gaza, the Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas elite Nukhba forces, including command centers used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons.

Attached is the footage of the overnight strikes in the Gaza Strip pic.twitter.com/S6p93GBrMg  Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 12, 2023

As per India Today, the fighters get their name from Al-Nukhba  meaning elite in Arabic.

The group is the top fighting unit of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades  Hamas military wing.

These fighters have received extensive training.

They have access to the latest weapons and technology and know how to use them.

They are also trained to take hostages  a frequent tactic of Hamas.

They are trained to handle weapons and explosives, to scuba dive and also have a thorough knowledge of hand-to-hand combat.

The units previously fought in the 2014 conflict in which they managed to pull off many attacks against Israeli troops.

However, many of its members also died in Israels 2014 Operation Protective Edge.

Hamas also lost a higher number of its elite troops to the Islamic State..

But in recent years, their numbers have grown again, as per India Today.

Will get every one of them

Bloomberg quoted Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht as saying that the Nukhba forces let Saturdays attack.

Hecht said these forces are personally handpicked by the Hamas leadership to do the most violent work  raids, stakeouts, infiltration and abduction. You cant disconnect them from the leadership.

Hecht added that the Israeli military was looking to take out the Nukhba command centres in Gaza.

He vowed that we will get every single one of them.

As per the Israeli Air Force, these terrorists are also involved in firing anti-tank missiles, rocket, and sniper fire.

As per NDTV, these forces also protect top Hamas leadership.

Other airstrikes killed commanders from two smaller militant groups, according to media linked to those organizations.

Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, Hecht, the military spokesman, said of Hamas. Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehia) Sinwar.

Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver should political leaders order one.

Drone footage filmed by The Associated Press revealed extensive damage at the Shati refugee otecamp, in the north of Gaza, following overnight airstrikes. Residents picked their way through the rubble as fire and rescue crews looked for survivors.

While Israel has insisted that it is giving notice of its strikes, it is employing a new tactic of leveling whole neighborhoods, rather than just individual buildings.

Hecht said targeting decisions were based on intelligence and civilians were warned.

With inputs from agencies
The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets, and at an outdoor music festival.

The war, which has claimed more than 2,500 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate.

Over 150 people are abducted by the Hamas militants during sweeping raids on Israeli towns and villages. They include Brazil nationals, Britains, Italians, the Philippines nationals, and Americans, among many Israelis.

Killed at point-blank range

Sahar Ben Sela, one of the survivors of the Hamas militant attack on Nova Nature Party at Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert close to the Gaza Strip, has recounted his experience of the horrible incident while he is recovering in a hospital.

Speaking to Israels Channel 12, he shared, They stopped the music, we were told that there were emergency sirens, and after a few minutes, the producers of the party screamed there are terrorists, adding that he along with his 10 friends got into cars and tried to escape, and were led to a concrete bomb shelter by a policeman.

There were about 30 of us. After a few minutes, the terrorists started shooting at us and neutralised the policeman right in front of us, he said, adding, They threw a first grenade that exploded at the entrance of the shelter. After a minute of shouting, praying, and screaming from pain, 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.

After half a minute, a friend tried to get out of the shelter because she was suffocating inside. Her partner and I tried to grab her, but we didnt manage to. She ran right into a terrorist and was shot from point-blank range, he added.

More on Israel-Hamas war

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Operation Ajay: How is India evacuating citizens from Israel? What about other nations?

How the Israel-Hamas war will imperil Benjamin Netanyahus hold on power

Death Everywhere: Life inside Gaza amid airstrikes and no power

How cheap drones helped Hamas ambush Israels sophisticated weaponry

Who can broker peace between Israel, Hamas? Can India help?

When parents became shields for their children

According to The Associated Press, an Israeli-American teenager survived a siege on his home by Hamas attackers over the weekend after his parents shielded him from the gunfire but were killed themselves.

The family lived on a kibbutz in southern Israel near the border with Gaza. They had less than a minute to seek safety after being alerted to the attack.

As the fighters invaded their home, they scrambled into a tiny room meant to protect them from rocket attacks. Shlomi Mathias had his arm blown off trying to keep the fighters out of the room, relatives said. As fighters peppered the room with gunfire, Debbie Mathias yelled at her son, Rotem, to get down. Then she was shot dead; the bullet traveled through her and hit him in the stomach.

Rotem Mathias, 16, stayed underneath his mother and played dead for about 30 minutes before running for shelter under a bed and eventually hiding under a blanket in an adjacent laundry room, relatives told AP. Twice, Rotem Mathias managed to elude the fighters  some of them laughing  before he was rescued by Israeli soldiers.

The last thing my dad said is he lost his arm. Then my mom died on top of me, Rotem Mathias told ABC News in an interview from the hospital where he was being treated for gunshot and shrapnel wounds. He was released Tuesday. I just stopped my breathing. I lowered it down as much as I possibly could. I didnt move and was terrified, he said. I didnt make any noise. I prayed for any god. I didnt really care which god. I just prayed for a god that they wont find me.

The familys ordeal unfolded on group chat early Saturday morning, starting with the couple messaging that they had heard voices in Arabic, breaking of glass, and gunfire. Then they went silent for 20 minutes before Rotem Mathias responded: Mom and dad r dead sorry. Call help.

For the next 10 hours, relatives including Deborah Mathias brother-in-law Eran Shani, his wife, and daughters supported Rotem. At one point, they managed to get a doctor to join the call to ask Rotem Mathias about his level of bleeding and to assess the situation.

Two other daughters of the Mathias, 21-year-old Shir, and 19-year-old Shakked, were hiding separately in their own safe rooms in the kibbutz just minutes from their parents. They got a message from their mom that fighters were in the kibbutz and that they shouldnt open the door. All we could hear were gunshots and people screaming and bombs going off, cars exploding, Shir Mathias said, recalling how she hid for more than 12 hours before both sisters were rescued by soldiers.

In Kfar Gaza, just three miles east of Gaza, another young Israeli couple hid their 10-month-old twin babies before Hamas operatives broke into their home and shot them both dead.

Taking to X, Deputy Ambassador of Israel in Cyprus, Rotem Segev wrote, Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky, 30 years old. They hid the ten-month-old twins in the shelter while terrorists broke into their home. They were brutally murdered after fighting fiercely with the terrorists.

The babies were left alone for over 12 hours until they were rescued unharmed by Israeli forces. According to the New York Post, they were later handed to their grandmother.

Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky, 30 years old. They hid the ten-month-old twins in the shelter while terrorists broke into their home. They were brutally murdered after fighting fiercely with the terrorists. The babies were left alone for over 12 hours until they were rescued. pic.twitter.com/QrNHC2Y7d3  Rotem Segev (@RotemSegev) October 9, 2023

Families wait in agony for loved ones

Noam Sagi, a psychotherapist who lives in London, believes his mother, Ada, who turns 75 next week, is among those taken hostage. He hasnt heard from her since early Saturday morning when she called him from a panic room at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a communal settlement near the southeastern border with Gaza.

Ada Sagi, the daughter of Holocaust survivors from Poland, was born in Israel in 1948. As a member of a kibbutz built on the ideals of equality and humanity, she learned Arabic and taught the language to others in southern Israel as a way to improve communication and build a better relationship with Palestinians living nearby, her son said.

Sagi hopes his mothers language skills will help her negotiate with the hostage takers. But she has severe allergies, and has recently had a hip replacement. He is desperately worried.

The only hope I have now is almost like for humanity to do something for me to see my mother again and for my son to see his grandmother again, Sagi told The Associated Press.

Nir Oz is also home to Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, a married father of two daughters who is awaiting the birth of his third child. Neighbors reported that he helped fight off the militants who stormed the kibbutz, but he hasnt been heard from since, according to his father, Jonathan.

Israel-Hamas war

The war began after Hamas militants stormed into Israel Saturday during a major Jewish holiday, killing people and abducting others.

In response, Israeli warplanes have hammered the Gaza Strip, destroying buildings and sending Palestinian residents scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory.

The war, which has claimed more than 2,500 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The death toll in Gaza rose to more than 1,350 killed, the Palestinian health ministry said. The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Palestinians escaping airstrikes were spotted scurrying through the streets with their possessions while looking for a safe place to hide. Thousands of people have crammed into UN-run schools, while others are staying with friends, family, or even random strangers who have allowed them in.

People sought to stock up on food before the shelves were cleared, so lines developed outside bakeries and grocery stores during the few hours they dared open. On Wednesday, Gazas sole power plant ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only sporadic private generators to power the remaining lights. Hospitals might be destroyed by a lack of electricity, a senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken, said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRCs regional director. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.

Israeli energy minister Israel Katz said nothing would be allowed into Gaza until the captives were released. Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, he tweeted.

With inputs from The Associated Press
As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, governments around the world are scurrying to bring home their citizens who are caught up in the fighting or trying to flee the conflict region.

India also declared on Wednesday that it has launched Operation Ajay to evacuate its citizens from Israel on Thursday.

There are currently about 18,000 Indians living in Israel, according to the External Affairs Ministry. A sizable portion of them are caretakers, but there are also roughly 1,000 students, a few IT professionals, and diamond traders among them.

Taking to X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced, Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. The minister added, Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.

Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 11, 2023

Operation Ajay

To assist Indians in safely returning to their home country, special charter planes and other arrangements are being arranged.

The first group of Indians is anticipated to be transported back from Israel on a special flight on Thursday.

Notably, the Indian embassy in Israel has already sent an email to the initial group of Indian nationals who have registered for the special flight on Thursday. It stated on the microblogging website, Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights.

The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights.@MEAIndia https://t.co/Qz4ieVd5l4  India in Israel (@indemtel) October 11, 2023

EAM Jaishankar added that he is in touch with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, and they spoke comprehensively about the matter.

Spoke to Foreign Minister @ABZayed of UAE this evening. Discussed the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Agreed to stay in touch, the external affairs minister posted on X.

Spoke to Foreign Minister @ABZayed of UAE this evening. Discussed the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Agreed to stay in touch.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 11, 2023

After Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, this was his first interaction with a foreign minister of an Arab country. Hamas has received criticism from Bahrain and the UAE for the assaults.

Officials earlier on Wednesday told The Indian Express that India had set up contingency measures to evacuate its citizens from Israel. The Ministry of External Affairs initially established a 24-hour control room with the aim of aiding in situation monitoring and providing information and assistance.

The control rooms phone lines are 1800118797 (toll-free), 91-11 23012113, 91-11 23014104, 91-11 23017905, and 919968291988. The control rooms email address is situationroom@mea.gov.in. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv also established a round-the-clock emergency helpline, which is reachable via +972-35226748, +972-543278392, and cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in. Additionally, the Indian Embassy in Ramallah established a 24-hour emergency hotline at +970-592916418 (also WhatsApp), rep.ramallah@mea.gov.in. It urged Indian citizens living in Israel to register with it by visiting the following link: https://indembassyisrael.gov.in/whats?id=dwjwb.

The control rooms will determine the number of Indian citizens living in Israel and Palestine, their current whereabouts, and whether or not they intend to leave those countries.

Other countries repatriating their citizens from conflict-hit nations

Australia

According to Reuters, Australia organised two special flights on Friday and Sunday to bring back citizens from Israel, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.

Austria

Austria said its armed forces started to evacuate Austrians from Israel on Wednesday. A transport plane with a capacity of about 60 passengers took off from Horsching airbase in Upper Austria for Cyprus. From there, the Austrians will be picked up from Israel, as per the report.

Brazil

According to the Brazilian government, the first rescue plane left Tel Aviv on Tuesday, carrying 211 passengers back to Brazil. There are more than 1,000 Brazilians stranded in Israel. Anadolu Ajans reported over 2,200 Brazilians in the Benjamin Netanyahu-led country have contacted the embassy to leave the region.

Canada

Canada plans to operate evacuation flights for Canadians stranded in Israel, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Tuesday. About 1,000 Canadians in Israel want to leave, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said.

Cyprus

A Cypriot ministerial committee on Tuesday activated a repatriation scheme known as Estia, which offers temporary accommodation and assistance to European Union and third-country nationals fleeing areas of crisis.

It said in a statement that a crisis management team made up of its ministries for foreign affairs, defense, interior, and justice determined to set a plan into action to assist Israeli evacuees in traveling to their home countries via Cyprus.

Aviation officials said 11 extra inbound and outbound flights to Israel were arranged on Monday. It included the scheduled repatriation of about 150 Cypriot pilgrims from Israel on Monday.

A Portuguese air force plane took 85 Portuguese and Spanish citizens on the first evacuation flight early Tuesday from Israel to Cyprus, according to a representative for the foreign ministry.

Cyprus has historically served as a handy transfer point for refugees from war-torn nations due to its close proximity to the Middle East and Africa, according to The National News.

Czech Republic

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky brought 34 Czech citizens back from Israel with him on his government plane after he stopped in the country on his return from a conference in Oman.

The minister, who was the first foreign official to visit Israel since the attacks, the Czech government said, did not rule out sending another repatriation flight to Israel. Lipavsky arrived in Israel on Tuesday and landed in Prague early on Wednesday.

Firstpost explains:

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Who can broker peace between Israel, Hamas? Can India help?

How Gaza is on the verge of total destruction

Gaza has one exit route and Israel is bombing it. Where do its people go?

Why Israelis living abroad are desperate to return home

Denmark

The Danish government made available a C-130 Hercules cargo plane, which can carry around 120 passengers, for the evacuation of its citizens, a foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters.

The ministry said, however, that the flight would not happen before Friday.

Finland

Finland will offer to evacuate its citizens and holders of permanent Finnish residency from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, the daily Iltalehti reported on Wednesday, citing Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

France

French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna said there would be a special Air France (AIRF.PA) flight on Thursday to help repatriate the most vulnerable French nationals.

Unaccompanied minors, pregnant women in particular, people with disabilities or in medical situations presenting a particular emergency are considered priorities, the government said, according to CNN.

An Air France spokesperson said a commercial flight will leave at 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) local time on Thursday from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CGD). The return will be a non-commercial flight with a passenger list handled by the French embassy and will depart at 4.40 p.m. (1340) local time from Tel Aviv.

The French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also said on Wednesday that the government was working with Air France to ensure enough flights for all French citizens who want them.

Germany

Five thousand German citizens have registered to leave Israel, a German Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, adding the ministry could not say how many have left so far.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the government evacuated 17 school classes from Israel.

Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) will carry out special flights on Thursday and Friday to bring German citizens in Israel back to Germany, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Iceland

As per Reuters, the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday a plane with 126 Icelanders, five Faroese, four Norwegians, and a group of 12 people from Germany, as well as the flight crew and representatives from the ministry, was leaving for Keflavik. The plane was expected to land early on Monday, it said.

A foreign ministry spokesman said the flight was chartered and paid for by the Icelandic state.

Italy

Italy has arranged for seven flights between Tuesday and Wednesday, the Italian foreign ministry said late on Tuesday, as part of efforts to repatriate about 1,000 Italian citizens from Israel.

In a briefing to the Lower House on Wednesday, Tajani stated that the governments priority has been the Italians in Israel since the beginning of the crisis and added that there has been no update on the missing dual-citizenship Italian-Israeli couple.

They are probably hostages, we will do what we can, he said.

According to Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Antonio Tajani, there are about 1,000 Italians present in the conflict-hit nation in addition to the 18,000 Italian residents in Israel, and the government is working to repatriate them all, according to Azernews, quoting ANSA.

Norway

Norwegian Air (NAS.OL) said on Wednesday it was organising an extra flight from Tel Aviv to Oslo for Norwegian and other Nordic citizens still in Israel.

The tentative departure time for the flight  which was set up on behalf of Norways foreign ministry  was late on Wednesday, the company added, as per news agency Reuters.

Poland

Poland will send military planes to evacuate its citizens from Israel, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Sunday. Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Poland was sending two C-130 Hercules planes to evacuate some 200 Poles from Ben Gurion Airport, according to Reuters.

Portugal

A plane landed in Lisbon early on Wednesday carrying 152 Portuguese citizens, plus 14 citizens from other European countries, including nine from Spain, Portuguese foreign minister Joao Gomes Cravinho said on Wednesday.

He added that the last four Portuguese citizens who wanted to be repatriated would arrive early on Thursday, along with 20 foreign citizens who have been brought to Cyprus and will be returning to Portugal on a C-130 overnight.

Romania

596 Romanians were flown back to their country from Israel on four planes on Monday night, according to the foreign ministry of Romania. Over the weekend, over 600 people were flown back to Romania.

South Korea

A plane carrying 192 South Koreans from Tel Aviv arrived on Wednesday at Incheon Airport, just outside the capital Seoul, after Korean Air (003490.KS) sent an empty plane to bring them home.

Spain

Spain has sent two military aircraft to Israel to evacuate some 500 Spaniards, Acting Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Tuesday, reported Reuters.

An Airbus A330 of the Spanish Air Force with more than 200 Spaniards, EU citizens, and nationals from third countries residing in Spain, landed early on Wednesday in Torrejon de Ardoz military base on the outskirts of Madrid, the defense ministry said.

A second military plane was heading to Tel Aviv to evacuate the remaining Spaniards in Israel on Wednesday and is expected to land in Spain later in the day.

Sweden

The Swedish government will offer to evacuate Swedes from Israel and the Palestinian territories, news agency TT reported on Wednesday, citing Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom.

This is being organised in close collaboration with other Nordic countries, the ministry said.

It said it had taken the decision because the security situation has not improved, there is a risk of the conflict escalating and the capacity of regular flights is reduced.

Switzerland

Swiss citizens were being brought back from Israel to Zurich on Tuesday on a flight operated by SWISS airline, the foreign ministry in Bern said on Monday.

According to Daily Sabah, there are approximately 28,000 Swiss nationals and their families legally registered as residing in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Thailand

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday, said evacuations would begin immediately, adding that the first group of 15 Thais, some of them injured, would arrive home on 12 October on a commercial airliner.

United States

Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) said on Monday it was working with the U.S. government as needed to assist with the repatriation of U.S. citizens who want to return home.

The US government is in discussions with its partner countries, including Egypt and Israel, about ensuring safe passage for Americans and other civilians out of Gaza, US officials said.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on CNN This Morning Wednesday, We do think its important that American citizens who are in Gaza be allowed to leave and its an issue that we are working on. Were doing that quietly, like a lot of the diplomatic efforts we undertake. Its not something that is productive to speak about publicly, but we do it is something were trying to achieve.

The number of US citizens who have died in the Israel-Palestinian war has risen to 22, a White House official said Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.

White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby said he did not have details on where exactly the Americans were killed. He said there are at least 17 missing, and of those a handful are believed to be held hostage.

United Kingdom

As scores of Britons attempt to travel back home, the UK is in discussions with the aviation sector to maintain service to Israel.

James Cleverly, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, claimed that a significant number of dual citizens who are British and Israeli have been affected by the fighting, according to The National News.

The government, he said, is standing ready to assist any British people who are worried or whose loved ones have been injured in any way.

Cleverly said that ministers are working with the aviation sector to maintain the availability of commercial flights for Britons wishing to depart Israel.

However, on Tuesday, several airlines services were suspended, making it difficult for people who wanted to fly home to book flights. Booking a seat on the next flight out on Wednesday will cost you 1,204, more than three times what it would cost you to fly the same trip a week later, which costs just 385.

According to the report, the UK Foreign Office has advised its residents to declare their presence in Israel and Gaza. If you are in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, you are advised to register your presence with the FCDO, it said, adding, The FCDO continues to advise against travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to advise against all but essential travel to all other parts.

Israel-Palestine war

Gun battles raged Sunday between Hamas militants and Israeli forces a day after the Islamist group launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, in a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides, according to AP.

The death toll in Gaza rose to 1,200 early Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said, including 51 people killed in what the Israeli military called a large-scale attack in the hours before daylight.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children, and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with a top political rival Wednesday to create a wartime Cabinet to oversee the fight to avenge the gruesome weekend attack by Hamas militants. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip, Palestinian suffering mounted as Israeli bombardment demolished neighborhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas. Every Hamas member is a dead man, he said in a televised address.

With inputs from Reuters and The Associated Press
Donning a traditional attire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Parvati Kund in Uttarakhands Pithoragarh district today (12 October). Parvati Kund is a significant holy site for Hindus. Modis day-long visit to the hill state also included darshan of the Adi Kailash peak, believed to be Lord Shivas abode.

PM Modi regularly visits famous shrines and sites and has also opened up about his spiritual awakening previously. As the Indian premier again grabs headlines with his latest holy trip, lets dive into his spiritual journey.

Pithoragarh visit

PM Modi keeps returning to Uttarakhand where he ensures to practice spirituality.

Today, he performed aarti at the Shiva Parvati temple along the banks of Parvati Kund in Jolingkong. A white turban and a ranga (upper body garment) completed his outfit. He also meditated briefly in front of the Adi Kailash peak, seeking blessings from Lord Shiva.

Modi shared pictures of his visit on X and tweeted, I am overwhelmed with the darshan and worship at the holy Parvati Kund of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand. The mind is also happy with the darshan of Adi Kailash from here. From this place of spirituality and culture nestled in the lap of nature, I wished for a happy life for all the family members of the country.

                                                pic.twitter.com/iIEpO0Cta0  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2023

He then headed to the Gunji village, where he interacted with the locals and personnel of the Army, BRO and ITBP.

Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several projects worth Rs 4,200 crore in Pithoragarh.

Kerala

PM Modi paid obeisance to saint-philosopher Adi Shankaracharya in his birthplace at Kalady village in Keralas Ernakulam district last September.

Seen in the traditional attire of Kerala, Modi said he felt blessed after his visit. I feel very blessed to be at the Sri Adishankara Janmabhumi Kshetram. It is indeed a special place. Generations to come will remain indebted to the great Adi Shankaracharya for his rich contribution towards protecting our culture, the prime minister tweeted along with his pictures.

I feel very blessed to be at the Sri Adishankara Janmabhumi Kshetram. It is indeed a special place. Generations to come will remain indebted to the great Adi Shankaracharya for his rich contribution towards protecting our culture. pic.twitter.com/5VCwxcEbFq  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2022

According to a PTI report, addressing a public rally during his two-day visit to the southern state, Modi had said the legacy created by Adi Shankaracharya, who was known for the philosophy of Advaita, was spread from Kerala by various spiritual leaders and social reformers like Sree Narayana Guru, Chattampi Swamikal and Ayyankali.

Modi was also honoured to visit Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in Kochi.

Uttarakhand

Days ahead of Diwali, PM Modi offered prayers at the famous Kedarnath temple in October 2022. He wore Chola Dora, a handmade dress gifted to him by the women of Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, which he paired with a chudidaar pajama, a red and yellow pahadi cap, a kamarband and black shoes.

The Chola Dora featured a swastika and peacock feathers on the back. Modi was presented with the outfit when he had visited the then-poll-bound Himachal.

PM Modi is wearing a handmade dress made by the women of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. The dress is popularly called Chola Dora. This dress was gifted to PM during his recent visit to the state. pic.twitter.com/71FLZUdJv1  ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2022

PM Modi also prayed to Bhagwan Nandi outside the Shiva temple and visited the Adi Guru Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal in Kedarnath.

He also performed puja at Badrinath Dham wearing a white kurta-pajama and a black winter jacket. He remembered his pitra (ancestors) and prayed for their mukti at the temple, reported Indian Express.

During his visit to Kedarnath in November 2021, Modi had unveiled a 13-foot-tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya at his reconstructed samadhi. In his address last year, the PM said there was a time when spirituality and dharma were connected only with stereotypes and wrong morals but today our culture, our tradition and religious centres are seen with the same sense of pride it should have been seen, according to Indian Express.

Uttar Pradesh

In December 2021, PM Modi said the Kashi Vishwanath (KV) Corridor project will augment the spiritual vibrancy of Kashi or Varanasi. He made a remark a day before inaugurating the project.

Spread over 5.5 lahks (550,000) square feet area, the KV Corridor connects the Ganga river with the Kashi Vishwanath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi.

Modi unveiled the redeveloped Corridor last February. He was also seen taking a dip in the river Ganga in Varanasi during his visit to the holy city.

The famous cave visit

On the eve of the final day of voting during the 2019 general elections, PM Modi was meditating at a cave 11,700 feet up in the Himalayas. He spent the night at the now-famous Rudra meditation cave that May, which is a little over a kilometres trek from Kedarnath, reported The Hindu.

As per Indian Express, the Rudraprayag District Magistrate revealed that the cave has electricity, a heater, a simple bed, mattress, a small bathing area, an attached toilet, an electric geyser for hot water and even a telephone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditates at a holy cave near Kedarnath Shrine in Uttarakhand. pic.twitter.com/KbiDTqtwwE  ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2019

The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) took special permission for the visit from the Election Commission as rules prohibit any campaigning 48 hours before voting, reported PTI.

The meditation cave has become a tourist attraction since then. According to The Hindu, there are a total of three caves offering a view of the picturesque Kedarnath valley. Authorities said the caves were booked 103 times in 2019, only 36 times in 2020 due to COVID-19, and none the following year.

Last year, 64 people booked the caves. The bookings again jumped from April this year, as the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand began.

The main cave, where the PM meditated, costs Rs 3,000 per night, while the others are available at Rs 1,500 plus GST, reported The Hindu.

When PM Modi spoke on spirituality

In an interview with Humans of Bombay in January 2019, Modi recalled how he left his home when he was 17 years old for the Himalayas.

I was undecided, unguided and unclear  I didnt know where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it. But all I knew, was that I wanted to do something.

He spoke at length about his two-year journey and how he woke up early, took baths in the freezing waters of the Himalayas, and lived with sadhus who taught him to align himself with the rhythm of the universe.

I went wherever God wanted to take me  it was an undecided period of my life but still, gave me so many answers, Modi was quoted as saying by India Today.

I aligned and experienced revelations that help me till today. I realised that were all tied down by our thoughts and limitations. When you surrender and stand in front of the vastness  you know that youre a small part of a large universe. When you understand that, any trace of arrogance you have in you melts and then life truly begins.

Thats when it all changed, Modi said. After two years, I returned home with clarity and a guiding force to lead the way.

The prime minister, who has amplified efforts to promote yoga since he first came to power in 2014, had said in 2017, Yoga is the entrance point to ones spiritual journey. One should not consider it as the last point, as it is simply the entry gate to the spiritual world, reported Times of India (TOI).

Modi also said that spirituality was Indias strength, and lamented that people tend to link it to religion, emphasising that the two are different.

With inputs from agencies
After Saturdays devastating Hamas attack, US president Joe Biden vowed to offer its closest ally in the Middle East rock-solid and unwavering assistance.

President Biden, his voice gripped with emotion, condemned the attack by calling it an act of sheer evil.

In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the Hamas attack a massive terrorist attack, while adding, We have immediately engaged our Israeli partners and allies. President Biden was on the phone with Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu early yesterday to assure him of our full support.

As a show of support following the attack, Washington, which gives Israel approximately $3 billion (more than Rs 249 billion) in annual military aid, began moving warships and aircraft closer to Israel in order to be ready to provide the war-torn nation with whatever it needs to respond.

Scores of aircraft are heading to US military bases around the Middle East. And special operations forces are now assisting Israels military in planning and intelligence. According to The Associated Press, a second US carrier strike group departs from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday.

The buildup reflects US concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel could escalate into a more dangerous regional conflict. So the primary mission for those ships and warplanes for now is to establish a force presence that deters Hezbollah, Iran, or others from taking advantage of the situation.

But the forces the US sent are capable of more than that. Washington DC is also expediting the shipment of munitions and interceptors for Israels fight against Hamas.

Heres the US military support for Israel:

Weapons and special operation forces

The US is providing some personnel and much-needed munitions to Israel. Early on Monday, as Biden administration officials briefed congressional leaders and the heads of security-focused committees on the unexpected attacks by Hamas, Israels demand for more weapons came into sharper focus, according to two people familiar with the meeting.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that a small cell of special operations forces was now assisting Israel with intelligence and planning. They have not been tasked with hostage rescue, contrary to some reporting, a defense official said, but could if they were requested to do so.

The US is also getting US defense companies to expedite weapons orders by Israel that were already on the books. Chief among those is getting munitions for Israels Iron Dome air defense system sped along.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that resupplying Iron Dome munitions and air defense systems was an immediate priority. The American leader said, Were surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome. Were going to make sure that Israel does not run out of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens.

Iron Domes missiles target rockets that approach one of its cities. According to Raytheon, Israel has 10 Iron Dome systems in place to protect its cities. Beginning with Saturdays attack, Hamas has fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel, most of which the system has been able to intercept, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Raytheon produces most of the missile components for Iron Dome in the US, and the Army has two Iron Dome systems in its stockpile.

According to Politico, Israel was also looking for more small-diameter bombs and artillery shells made in the United States, according to one of the persons aware of the conversation.

An Al Jazeera report stated Israel has six distinct locations with pre-stocked US bombs worth $2 billion that can be utilised in an emergency.

Also read:

Operation Ajay: How is India evacuating citizens from Israel? What about other nations?

How the Israel-Hamas war will imperil Benjamin Netanyahus hold on power

Death Everywhere: Life inside Gaza amid airstrikes and no power

How cheap drones helped Hamas ambush Israels sophisticated weaponry

Who can broker peace between Israel, Hamas? Can India help?

Navy ships and jets

One of the most visible examples of the US response was the announcement Sunday by the Pentagon to redirect the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to sail toward Israel. The carrier had just completed an exercise with the Italian Navy when the ship and its crew of about 5,000 were ordered to quickly sail to the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to AP, the carrier provides a host of options. Its a primary command and control operations center and can conduct information warfare. It can launch and recover E2-Hawkeye surveillance planes, recognized by their 24-foot (7-meter) diameter disc-shaped radar. The planes provide early warnings on missile launches, conduct surveillance, and manage the airspace, detecting not only enemy aircraft but also directing the US movements.

The Ford carries F-18 fighter jets that could fly intercepts or strike targets. The carrier also has significant capabilities for humanitarian work, including an onboard hospital with an ICU and emergency room and about 40 medics, surgeons, and doctors. It sails with helicopters that can be used to airlift critical supplies in or victims out.

On Friday, the USS Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group will leave its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, and sail for the Mediterranean, potentially doubling the Navys Israel response.

The Eisenhower had already been scheduled to deploy to the Mediterranean on a regular rotation, and the Ford was near the end of its deployment. But the Biden administration may decide to extend Fords deployment and keep both strike groups out there, White House spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday.

Air Force warplanes

The Pentagon has also ordered additional warplanes to bolster existing squadrons of A-10, F-15, and F-16 squadrons at bases throughout the Middle East and is ready to add more if needed.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Tuesday at an Atlantic Council event that the service was doubling up by directing units that were about to come home to remain in place and stay there along with their replacements.

The US Air Force already has significant airpower in the region to conduct manned and unmanned operations, most notably in Syria where an Air Force F-16 last week was ordered to shoot down a Turkish drone that was posing a threat to US ground forces operating there.

Kendall also said US Air Force C-17s have landed in and departed from Israel since the attacks. The transport planes were picking up US military personnel who were there for a military exercise that hadnt started yet when the attacks began, the Air Force said in a statement.

Neither the Air Force nor Central Command would comment on what additional missions US airpower might take on in response to the conflict.

The overlapping needs and other concerns

Questions have been raised regarding whether Washington can enhance security assistance to Israel without compromising aid to Ukraine. This was in light of the ouster of House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy by Republican lawmakers and the failure to appoint a replacement so far.

Officials in the Biden administration are sure that Washington can achieve both, however, they do admit that there will be challenges.

Reuters explained Biden must persuade the Senate and House to approve legislation authorising additional funding because the US Congress controls spending. The majority partys elected leader, the Speaker, decides which proposals are submitted for a vote in the House, where most of these spending bills are first introduced.

McCarthy was removed from office this week due to a narrow Republican majority in the House (221-212), which allowed just a few of its members to do so. It is unclear whether Representative Patrick McHenry, who is functioning as the temporary speaker, can call a vote on any aid measure.

To add more trouble, many of the hard-right lawmakers who forced McCarthy out of office, including Representative Jim Jordan, the front-runner for Speaker, oppose aid to Ukraine. House Republicans refused to include aid to Ukraine in a last-minute spending bill passed last month to avert a government shutdown, according to Reuters.

Republicans, who are closely associated with conservative Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have far stronger support for Israel. The Biden administration is also thinking about linking a request for aid for Ukraine to increased money for Israel.

Since World War II, Israel is a major long-term recipient of US military assistance and enjoys a steady stream of US aid. The two countries agreed in 2016 on a 10-year deal with $38 billion covering annual grants to buy military equipment and a $5 billion missile defense appropriation.

Ukraines major needs are ammunition, missile defense systems, and ground vehicles as it fights to take back territory from Russian invaders who launched an offensive in February 2022.

The United States has sent $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the invasion started, asking Congress for several tranches of assistance, the last one approved in December 2022.

If Congress approves financing to increase the long-term manufacturing capacity of American defense contractors, the two nations and Taiwan would profit. Additionally, this would alleviate worries that exports of American weapons endanger national security by potentially reducing American inventories.

Israel-Palestine conflict

The push to extend additional aid for Israel comes after the nation had a serious intelligence and military failure over the weekend, which led to a Hamas terrorist invasion of Israel on many fronts via land, air, and sea.

The militants invaded kibbutzim in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip, brutally attacking civiliansincluding by beheading infantsand robbing hundreds of people of their lives.

The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides, according to AP. Over 22 Americans were killed in the attack and others were taken hostage.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children, and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with a top political rival Wednesday to create a wartime Cabinet to oversee the fight to avenge the gruesome weekend attack by Hamas militants. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip, Palestinian suffering mounted as Israeli bombardment demolished neighborhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas. Every Hamas member is a dead man, he said in a televised address.

With inputs from The Associated Press and Reuters
An abortion case has left Indias Supreme Court divided.

The apex court on Thursday ordered doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to put the abortion of a 26-week pregnancy on hold.

This comes just days after another bench of the apex court allowed the woman to terminate her pregnancy.

The top court had on 5 October asked the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi to constitute a medical board to assess the medical condition of the woman, who was then over 25 weeks pregnant.

But what changed?

Lets take a closer look:

Recogise right of woman over her body

On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed the woman to proceed with aborting the foetus.

This, despite the AIIMS Medical Board certifying the pregnancy as viable.

The woman had moved the apex court seeking its approval to terminate her pregnancy citing medical grounds, including that she was suffering from postpartum depression.

As per Outlook, the woman also told the court she has been receiving psychiatric treatment for the past year.

Indias upper limit for the termination of pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act is 24 weeks for married women, special categories including survivors of rape, and other vulnerable women such as the differently-abled and minors.

As per The Wire, Section 3(2) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act allows abortion on the grounds of the risk of grave injury to the mothers physical or mental health or on the ground that there is a substantial risk that the child would suffer from physical or mental abnormalities to be seriously handicapped.

The apex court bench of justices Hima Kohli and BV Nagarathna held twin hearings on Monday over the matter  speaking to the petitioner and her husband.

The bench noted that the couple already had two children  a four-year-old and a one-year-old. The court, saying it was more concerned about the health of the mother, said the woman must have the willpower and emotional strength to have and raise the child.

The court also noted that the state would be of no assistance after she gave birth to the baby.

The two-judge bench, keeping in view the medical boards opinion of the foetus being viable, told the Centre  represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati  that it could not force the petitioner to give the baby up for adoption.

The court, noting that woman is suffering from depression and is not in a position to raise a third child emotionally, financially and mentally, passed the order giving the go-ahead.

This court does recognise the right of a woman over her body and the fact that if an unwarranted pregnancy results in a child being brought into the world, a large part of the responsibility of rearing such a child will fall on the shoulder of the petitioner, which at this point she doesnt consider herself fit for, the bench stated as per Outlook.

The court in its verdict said took the womans mental health into account while passing its order.

Live Law quoted the bench as saying This court has recognized the fact that one of the grounds on the basis of which pregnancy may be is when continuing with the pregnancy could impair the mental health of the woman as observed in the case Xv. Principal Secretary. The expression grave injury to her physical and mental health as used in Section 3(2) of the MTP Act is used as an overarching and in an all-encompassing sense.

It added, Courts have been expansively interpreting Section 5 of the MTP Act that permits termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks in circumstances where it is considered imperative to save the life of the woman. This Court has also recognised the fact that mental health has a broad connotation beyond what is ordinarily considered as mental illness in common medical parlance. The different categories carved out in Rule 3 (B) on the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2023 show that women can seek abortion even after 20 weeks, which could be on account of a delay in recognizing their pregnancy or a change of their life circumstances to the point that the pregnancy becomes unwarranted and unviable Conceptions in Lactational Amenorrhea period has also been considered as of the circumstances by the expert committee constituted to draft the MTP Rules, and draw up categories of women who qualify for Rule 3(B).

Doctors in very serious dilemma

Then, on Tuesday, an apex court bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered AAIMS to put the termination of the pregnancy on hold.

This after the AIIMS medical board cited its inability to terminate the pregnancy.

As per Outlook, ASG Bhati, again representing the Centre, claimed that the AAIMS doctors would have to conduct a foeticide as the medical board said the foetus had a viable chance of being born.

As per Indian Express, the AIIMS doctors told the ASG, As the baby is currently viable (will show signs of life and have a strong possibility of survival), we will need a directive from the Supreme court on whether a feticide (stopping the fetal heart) can be done before termination. We perform this procedure for a fetus which has abnormal development, but generally not done in a normal fetus.

If foeticide is not performed, this is not a termination, but a preterm delivery where the baby born will be provided treatment and care. A baby who is born preterm and also of such low birth weight will have a long stay in the intensive care unit, with a high possibility of immediate and long term physical and mental disability which will seriously jeopardise the quality of life of the child. In such a scenario, a directive needs to be given as to what is to be done with the baby? If the parents agree to keep the child this will take a major physical, mental, emotional and financial toll on the couple, the doctors added.

Outlook quoted the bench as stating, Can you come with a formal application for recall? We will place before the bench which passed the order. The AIIMS doctors are in a very serious dilemma I will constitute a bench tomorrow morning. Please ask AIIMS to hold for now.

Which court will say stop foetal heartbeat?

On Wednesday, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court pronounced a split verdict on the Centres plea for recall of its 9 October order granting permission for the woman to end her pregnancy.

One of the judges voiced her disinclination to allow abortion and the other asserted that the womans decision must be respected.

While Justice Hima Kohli wondered which court would say stop the heartbeat of a foetus and made it clear she was not inclined to permit the 27-year-old woman to terminate her pregnancy, Justice B V Nagarathna said the court should respect the decision of the woman who has remained determined to abort it.

In view of the disagreement between them, the two judges of the bench, who had passed the 9 October order, decided to place the Centres application before Chief Justice D Chandrachud for being marked to an appropriate bench for adjudication.

Justice Kohli observed the top court had permitted the woman to terminate her pregnancy after considering the 6 October report submitted by a medical board of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

During the hearing, the bench took exception to an October 10 e-mail addressed by one of the members of the medical board about the strong possibility of survival of the foetus, and asked which court would say stop the foetal heartbeat.

If the doctor could be so candid in two days short of the earlier report, why was not the (earlier) report more elaborate and more candid? the bench asked, adding, Why were they being ambiguous in the earlier report?.

Justice Kohli wondered which court would say stop the heartbeat of a foetus which has life.

Speaking for myself, I would not, she said.

In her order, Justice Kohli noted the application filed by the Centre seeking recall of the order was premised on the e-mail dated 10 October.

The bench said it was rather unfortunate that the e-mail was addressed the very next day of the order being passed. It said what has been stated in the e-mail ought to have been mentioned in the 6 October report of the medical board so the court could have a correct and clearer perspective of the matter.

The report itself was fairly ambiguous on aspects which are now sought to be elucidated, Justice Kohli said. She noted when the matter was taken up for hearing in the morning session, the bench had asked the petitioner woman to file an affidavit clarifying her stand in the wake of the e-mail.

Justice Kohli said the woman filed her affidavit stating she has made wilful and conscious decision to medically terminate her pregnancy.

Having regard to the information contained in the e-mail dated October 10, 2023 addressed by a professor of  AIIMS, one of us is not inclined to permit the petitioner to terminate her pregnancy, she said, adding, My sister judge (Justice Nagarathna) is of a different opinion.

Justice Nagarathna said she respectfully disagrees with Justice Kohli. Justice Nagarathna observed the womans plea was disposed of by the court by a detailed order on 9 October and the petitioner has remained determined about her decision to not proceed ahead with her pregnancy.

Having regard to the concrete determination made by the petitioner, I find that her (woman) decision must be respected. his is not a case where the question of viable baby being born or unborn is to be really considered when the interest of petitioner has to be given more balance and preference, she said.

Referring to the socio-economic condition of the petitioner, the fact that she already has two children and has reiterated that her mental condition and medicines which she is taking do not permit her to continue with the pregnancy, I find that her decision must be respected by the court.

In these circumstances, I find that the order dated 9 October which is a well-considered order authored by my sister Justice Hima Kohli, does not require any recall, Justice Nagarathna said while dismissing the Centres application.

Having regard to the concrete determination made by the petitioner, I find that her decision must be respected. The court is here not to substitute its decision for the decision of the petitioner, Nagarathna added as per Indian Express.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, referred to the medical opinion which has now come in the matter.

Once there is a viable baby on the other side, my respectful submission would be that your lordships may not give absolute primacy to her choice and her autonomy of exercising her reproductive rights, she said.

During the hearing, the bench said it did not appreciate the way the Centre had mentioned the matter on Tuesday before a bench headed by the CJI. When one bench of this court decides a matter, without any pleadings whatsoever, how can you move an intra-court appeal before a three judge bench of this court, Justice Nagarathna said.

If the Union of India starts doing this, tomorrow, a private party will also do this, she said.

Every bench of the Supreme Court is Supreme Court. We are one court sitting in separate benches. Speaking for myself, I would not appreciate this on the part of Union of India.

Bhati explained to the bench the circumstances leading to mentioning of the matter on Tuesday before the CJI-led bench.

Since the courts direction was to carry out the termination yesterday only, I had to mention (the matter), she told the bench as per Indian Express.

Whats being said now is entirely much wider. This is not what was being said (earlier). If they wanted, they could have done all of that then, and the court would have taken notice of it because we are relying on the report We ourselves asked for it How is it that they decided to go this way only after the order was passed and not earlier? Kohli asked.

To which Bhati replied, These questions had arisen in our minds during the hearing of the matter.

Justice Kohli said, That is you as an individual. We are laypersons Why do we rely on the medical report? Because we dont know and they know better. And we are relying on a report because there is a whole team that is part of that interaction with the patient After giving us an ambiguous report and saying yes, the lady does have that problem, it could go up, the mental issues and she could have then postpartum also, to say now And which court will, pray, say stop a heartbeat of a foetus which has a life? We are wondering! Which court would do that? Speaking for myself, I wouldnt. So why werent they not so candid we are very curious to know. Why were they hedging?

Now to say there is a strong possibility of survival and that we will stop the heartbeat if the court says. For heavens sake, which court will stop the foetal heartbeat? If this was the stand they had to take, they should have said all of it at that point in time, that though there is a financial, physical, mental, emotional thing on the lady, if you keep the child a bit longer, and we persuade her, the option of adoption could have been considered. Because if you remember, the parents did say that if we have no option, we will like to continue with the pregnancy and retain the child with us, Justice Kohli added.

Cannot kill child

On Thursday, the Supreme Court bench led by CJI Chandrachud said, We cannot kill a child.

While making it clear that the top court has to balance the rights of the unborn child, a living and viable foetus, with its mothers right of decisional autonomy, a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked the Centre and her lawyer to talk to the woman about the possibility of retaining the pregnancy for a few weeks more.

Do you want us to tell the doctors at AIIMS to stop the foetal heart? the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, asked the counsel appearing for the 27-year-old woman.

When the counsel responded with a no, the bench responded that the woman had waited over 24 weeks and asked if she cant keep the foetus for some more weeks so there is the possibility of a healthy child being born.

NDTV quoted CJI Chandrachud as saying, What was she doing for 26 weeks? She already has two children? Why come now? Do we issue an order for the childs death through a judicial ruling?

Bhati, referring to the AIIMS report, told the bench, The child is ready to be born. It wont be right to abort because the foetus shows signs of life. The order to abort must be recalled, she said.

Bhati also noted that the petitioners lawyer has cited a court ruling in a rape suvivors case.

She (petitioner) is no rape survivor. She is not a minor. What was she doing for 26 weeks? Bhati added.

We have to look into the rights of the unborn child, Chandrachud added, as per NDTV.

The Supreme Court is now set to hear the case again tomorrow at 10.30 am.

With inputs from agencies
At the most difficult times, some Israeli residents residing abroad are rushing to the battle rather than from it.

From Athens to Peru, Los Angeles to Vietnam, Israelis are answering the call of duty and going home to join the reserves, exhibiting unshakeable dedication to protecting their country from Hamas.

They are rushing to airports and diving into online chat groups for help, desperate to make their way to the country after Hamas militants attacked.

Some have been sent up to the reserves, while others have volunteered to help the Israel Defence Forces and families who have lost loved ones.

Ready to fight

Some of these Israelis abroad are yearning to serve, whether that means fighting in a military reserve unit or volunteering to shuttle supplies to those in need, even as the war has already claimed at least 1,800 lives and shows no signs of abating.

On Tuesday, Israels military expanded its mobilisation of reservists to 360,000, according to the countrys media, as it ramped up its retaliation for the surprise attacks.

Also Read: Israel-Hamas war: What we know so far

Yaakov Swisa, a 42-year-old father of five, said nobody called and asked him to return to Israel to fight, but he feels he has no choice. He served for 15 years, and he said he learned his army roommate was among at least 260 killed at a music festival.

Swisa wants to rejoin his reserve unit, even if that means leaving his family and his construction-business job in Los Angeles.

Ive been crying for two, three days. Enough. Thats it. I am ready to fight, he said. What else would I do  while my friends are being buried in Israel?

Some of the Israelis living, working or just traveling abroad who were trying to make it back said their reserve units were among those called up. Others said they hadnt yet been called or couldnt reach their commanders but expected to be asked soon.

In other cases, Israelis who are too young to serve in the military, as well as non-Israelis with close ties to the country, have been trying to travel to assist family members or volunteer.

Adam Jacobs, an 18-year-old community college student in New Jersey, said he was born and raised in the US and for years travelled every summer to visit family in Israel. He said he learned his cousin was among those killed, and he wants to make his way to Israel to take on volunteer work, possibly shuttling supplies.

I couldnt live with myself if I stayed here, Jacobs said. Its never been this bad.

Also Read: Horror of Hamas: Inside the Israeli kibbutz where children and women were beheaded

Eric Fingerhut, a former US congressman who now leads The Jewish Federations of North America, said hes not surprised by how many people want to help.

As soon as we can possibly enable that, we certainly will, he said from Tel Aviv, where hed arrived just before the weekend attacks. There are many Israeli reservists who are abroad. And so, getting them back home to join the fight, you know, has been a priority. And it should be a priority. So, people are just scrambling.

In pictures: Israel-Palestine war rages on: The countries rushing to evacuate its citizens

The war began after Hamas militants stormed into Israel Saturday during a major Jewish holiday, killing people and abducting others. In response, Israeli warplanes have hammered the Gaza Strip, destroying buildings and sending Palestinian residents scrambling to find safety in the tiny, sealed-off territory.

Well do the best we can

Travel has been challenging, with major airlines suspending flights in and out of Israel. The US State Department issued travel advisories for the region. Some reservists in the United States, home to more than 140,000 people born in Israel, were trying to get on charter flights.

Ofer Cohen, a New York businessman, said he learned there were more than 200 reservists traveling through South America on vacation at the time of the attacks. Theyve been called back to base but unable to get there, thanks to cancelled flights. So, Cohen is trying to cobble together hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire a plane to pick them up, as WhatsApp messages describing their troubles keep rolling in.

I just saw one after another, he said, and I thought about this idea of getting a charter plane and get them back to Israel.

In Greece, hundreds of people waited hours to board emergency flights at Athens International Airport, many without a ticket and most traveling from other European destinations after cutting holiday and work trips short. As officers patrolled the area to provide security, volunteers handed travellers apples, bananas and bottled water.

Nir Ekhouse, a 19-year-old from near Nazareth, had been in the Maldives with family. They reached Athens via Istanbul as they tried to make it home. Once there, Ekhouse said, he plans to volunteer for an organisation that supports the military.

This is the first time in the history of Israel that something like that has happened. Its very shocking, he said, standing in line with his parents and younger siblings.

Also Read: They took my wife and daughters: The horror stories of Hamas violence

Israel Lawrence, 27, was born in Israel and grew up in London. He said that although he hasnt been formally called up, hes making the trip to join his fellow soldiers, many already on the front lines, and help his family members, who are living in terror and chaos.

I want to be honest with you, Im scared, said Lawrence, a trained rifleman who was on his way to Israel via Cyprus. All the guys Im with are terrified, but we are trained, and well do the best we can.

With inputs from AP
The security cover of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been upgraded from the Y category to Z, official sources said on Thursday.

The Union home ministry has asked the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to take charge of his security, currently provided by the Delhi Police, they said.

Jaishankar, 68, was being guarded by an armed team of the Delhi Police under the Y category security cover.

He will now be protected by the CRPF under the larger Z category security cover which entails about 14-15 armed commandos moving with him round the clock in shifts across the country, the sources said.

The CRPFs VIP security cover has 176-odd protectees at present, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The first chartered flight under Operation Ajay, launched to facilitate the return of Indians stranded in Israel, is expected to bring back 230 passengers.

The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, on Thursday said: A chartered flight will reach Tel Aviv today (October 12) later in the evening. It is expected to get 230 passengers onboard.

The charter flight is expected to bring back stranded Indians from Israel on Friday (October 13) morning.

We have all options, but the role of IAF (in evacuation) cant be ruled out, Bagchi said.

Operation Ajay was announced by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday. It has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to come back.

VIDEO | Yesterday, operation Ajay was launched to facilitate our citizens who wish to come back. The first flight will reach Tel Aviv tonight and is likely to reach India tomorrow, says @MEAIndia spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. pic.twitter.com/s6lheOAgHC  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 12, 2023

How many Indians are there in Israel?

Bagchi, in the weekly media briefing, said: "Around 18,000 Indians, including students, are in Israel."

"There is conflict going on and it is a matter of concern. Indians have been advised to follow advisories issued by our mission," he said.

VIDEO | "Our focus is to bring back Indians who want to come out of Israel. There are 18,000 Indians including students," says @MEAIndia spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. pic.twitter.com/xymp1lpY14  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 12, 2023

On reports of a Kerala woman injured in Hamas attack in Israel, Bagchi said: "We are aware of that case. The person is in hospital and improving. Thankfully, we have not heard of any casualty so far."

#WATCH | "We are aware of that case. The person is in hospital and improving. We havent heard of any casualty so far," says MEA spox on Kerala woman reportedly injured in Hamas attack in Israel pic.twitter.com/Iunyp1MfQ3  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

Indians in Palestine

The MEA spokesperson said, in Gaza there are only a few Indians in Gaza and West Bank.

"A dozen odd people are in West Bank, three or four in Gaza. If they require assistance, we will offer, but that number is very small and we will see what needs to be done. For now, we have not received any requests."

With inputs from agencies
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the preparations of Operation Ajay.

India launched Operation Ajay yesterday to bring back citizens from the war-torn country of Israel. At least 18,000 Indians currently live in Israel.

EAM @DrSJaishankar chaired a meeting today to review preparations for #OperationAjay. #TeamMEA stands ready to assist our citizens to return home. pic.twitter.com/zK0iTKFjob  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 12, 2023

The first batch of Indians who had registered to return has been notified and they will be brought back on a first special flight today to India.

Meanwhile, the MEA also set up a 24-hour Control Room yesterday to monitor the situation & provide information & assistance.

The contact details of the control room are:

1800118797 (Toll-free)

+91-11 23012113

+91-11-23014104

+91-11-23017905

+919968291988

Apart from this, people can send a mail to situationroom@mea.gov.in.

Special chartered planes will be used to bring back Indians stuck in the country as the war between Israel and Hamas rages on for the sixth day.

The Indian Embassy in Israel has already emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens who will travel back to the country on Thursday.

According to Israels Consul General in Mumbai Kobbi Shoshani, so far, there is no information of any Indian citizen dying or being injured in the ongoing war.

There are around 18,000 Indians in Israel who are primarily employed as caregivers by elderly Israelis, diamond traders, IT professionals and students.

Apart from this, there are approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel.
Israels Consulate General to Midwest India, Kobbi Shoshon Thursday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching Operation Ajay, under which India is planning to bring back around 18,000 Indian in Israel.

Wishing all the Indians settled in Israel to reach their homes safely, we promise that after ending the terror of Hamas-Isis, we will welcome all the Indians again. Jai Hind Jai Israel! #OperationAjay, Shoshon wrote on X.

   ,              , -            .    ! #OperationAjay pic.twitter.com/r5xeiQeJjJ  Kobbi Shoshani  (@KobbiShoshani) October 12, 2023

I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching Operation Ajay to bring Indian citizens back from Israel. There are around 18 thousand Indian citizens in Israel, including 1 thousand Indian students whom we love very much, he said.

Shoshani further emphasized that Israel loved and respected the Indian business community in Israel as it contributed a lot to their economy.

The Indian business community that we love and respect so much contribute to our economy in a big way, he added.

Additionally, Israels Consulate General stressed that the Israeli government is doing its best to assist the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv in Operation Ajay.

Indian nurses and caregivers have become part of our families. The Israeli government is doing the utmost to assist the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv in Operation Ajay. We look forward to welcome all of you back in Israel once we win the war against Hamas ISIS terrorists, he said.

India on Wednesday launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of citizens from Israel amid a full-blown war with the Hamas group in Gaza. There are at least 18,000 Indians in Israel.

Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad, tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 11, 2023

With inputs from agencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Uttarakhands Pithoragarh on Thursday on a day-long visit during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 4,200 crore and address a public meeting, PMO said in a statement.

As soon as he landed in Uttarakhand, PM Modi visited Adi Kailash peak at Jolingkong and also offered prayers at Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh. pic.twitter.com/HRIZmblZ92  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

He is later expected to visit the border village of Gunji where he will interact with local people, along with the Army, ITBP and BRO.

In a post on X, Modi had said, Our government is committed to the welfare of each and every individual of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and the states rapid development. To impart more speed to it, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects in Pithoragarh.

I will also get the good opportunity of interacting with the people of Gunji village. I also look eagerly forward to a darshan of the spiritually significant Parvati Kund and and a puja at Jageshwar Dham during the tour, he said.

Cultural troupes from Uttarakhands Kumaon region will welcome Modi at several points of a renovated six-km road which has been decorated with murals and paintings as he travels from the Naini Saini airport to a public meeting venue.

He will then offer prayers to Lord Shiva at the Jageshwar Dham and address the public meeting in Pithoragarh.

With inputs from agencies
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held a meeting with the French Armed Forces minister Sebastien Lecornu in Paris, and emphasized that the India-France partnership has deepened over the years.

Sharing on his social media X, formerly known as Twitter, he said, Had an excellent meeting with the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr Sebastien Lecornu in Paris. India-France strategic partnership has deepened over years and is more relevant today than ever.

Union Minister further stressed that both nations look forward to taking this partnership to newer heights.

We look forward to taking this partnership to newer heights, the post read.

Earlier on Wednesday, Rajnath Singh met with the CEOs of the top French defence companies with a focus on their plans for collaboration with India in France.

During the interaction Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault; Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group; Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus; and Olivier Andries, CEO of Safran Group were present.

Union Minister visited the Safran Engine Divisions R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris, France during the second and final leg of his two-nation tour.

During his visit to the R&D Centre, he witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology.

Later in the day, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will be holding the fifth Annual Defence Dialogue with the French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu.

Rajnath Singh reached Paris late on October 10 and also interacted with the Indian community.

While addressing the sizeable Indian community at the India House, he highlighted the various achievements of India in the defence sector such as increased defence exports, increasing indigenous production of defence equipment, concerted efforts on co-development and co-production in India and an enhanced outreach in the region.

The Defence Minister spoke about the tremendous progress achieved in India in the last nine years, an assessment that was heartily supported by the Indian community.
We cannot kill a child, the Supreme Court observed on Thursday while hearing the Centres plea seeking recall of its order allowing a married woman, a mother of two, to terminate her 26-week pregnancy.

While making it clear that the top court has to balance the rights of the unborn child, a living and viable foetus, with its mothers right of decisional autonomy, a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asked the Centre and her lawyer to talk to the woman about the possibility of retaining the pregnancy for a few weeks more.

Do you want us to tell the doctors at AIIMS to stop the fetal heart? the bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, asked the counsel appearing for the 27-year-old woman.

When the counsel responded with a no, the bench said when the woman has waited for over 24 weeks, cant she retain the foetus for some more weeks so there is the possibility of a healthy child being born.

The bench has posted the matter for resumed hearing at 10.30 AM on Friday.

The matter came up before the CJI-led bench after a two-judge bench on Wednesday gave a split verdict on the Centres plea for recall of its October 9 order granting permission to the woman to terminate her 26-week pregnancy.

The apex court had on October 9 allowed the woman to proceed with medical termination of pregnancy after taking note that she was suffering from depression and was not in a position to raise a third child emotionally, financially and mentally.
Under President Xi Jinping, China has become increasingly predatory. Beijing uses propaganda to project power. Its Confucian Institutes number several thousand globally.

Why did China pick the Indian web portal NewsClick to spread misinformation about Indian politics, questioning for example whether Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir were an integral part of India?

NewsClick was an inconspicuous website founded in 2009 with local funding. It caught the eye of the Chinese before the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The facts are now well known. The FIR filed by Delhi Police against NewsClicks founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha alleges: Since April, 2018crores of rupees have been received by M/s PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt Ltd. through illegal means during a short span of five years from M/s Worldwide Media Holdings LLC, USA and others. Such foreign funds have been fraudulently infused by Neville Roy Singham, resident of Shanghai and active member of the Propaganda department of the Communist Party of China, through a complex web of several entities.

NewsClick has denied these allegations, saying they are an assault on media freedom. It believes it is being targeted for running stories critical of the Narendra Modi government.

Its statement claimed the allegations were absurd and a blatant attempt to muzzle the free and independent press in India. The allegations in the FIR are ex-facie untenable and bogus. NewsClick has not received any funding or instructions from China or Chinese entities. Further, NewsClick has never committed or sought to encourage violence, secession or any illegal act in any manner whatsoever.

It took an expose in The New York Times in August 2023 to wake Delhi Police up to a pending 2021 NewsClick case. Even then, nearly two months elapsed before a fresh FIR against NewsClicks Purkayastha was filed.

In this, the usual suspects were named: Gautam Navlakha, who remains under arrest since 2018 in the Bhima-Koregaon case, and Teesta Setalvad, who is out on bail in the Gujarat riots forgery case.

The FIR links the three: It is learnt that Navlakha, a shareholder in PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt. Ltd. since its inception in 2018, remained involved in anti-Indian and unlawful activities such as actively supporting banned Naxal organisations and having an anti-national nexus with Ghulam Nabi Fai, an agent of the ISI of Pakistan. It has also been learnt that such illegally routed foreign funds have been siphoned by Purkayastha and his associates(and) distributed to Navlakha and associates of Teesta Setalvad

Secret inputs also revealed that Purkayastha, Singham and some other Chinese employees of a Singham-owned Shanghai-based company StarStream exchanged mails which expose their intent to show Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as not part of IndiaTheir attempts amount to an act intended towards undermining the unity and territorial integrity of India.

Money laundering or terrorism?

Does all this add up to an act of terrorism? Obviously not. It amounts at most to money laundering. By employing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the authorities have given NewsClick and its cabal of sympathisers a pretext to change the discourse from criminal money laundering through China to the absurd charge of terrorism.

NewsClick deserves to be charged  but not for terrorism, simply for criminal activities of money laundering and spreading misinformation that could incite violence and public disorder. There are sufficient sections in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to charge NewsClick. Resorting to UAPA weakens the argument. It was used by the police only to strengthen the case for detention. When the court next hears an appeal, it could in fact weaken the case.

The NewsClick episode is only one symptom of an affliction that will be increasingly visible in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Web portals like NewsClick are minor proxies in a concerted effort to target the Modi government.

Indias geopolitical ascent has attracted the ire of not only China. The West sees India as a useful ally against China but also as a potential independent global power centre that could erode the Wests pre-eminence.

A group of Islamist countries too eye India with trepidation. Sunni Turkey and Qatar see Modis Hindu nationalist government as a challenge to the spread of global Islam. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) votes routinely to condemn Indias occupation of Kashmir.

Thus an unlikely coalition of China, the West and the Sunni Islamic world would prefer the secular Congress-led Opposition to wrest power from Modi in 2024.

China already has an MoU with the Congress signed by Rahul Gandhi when he and mother Sonia Gandhi were guests of then Vice-President Xi Jinping during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

Elements in the US-led West would also like a less globally assertive Indian Opposition to take charge in 2024. For the West, Indias rise, if it is too rapid, is unwelcome.

Finally, the Islamic world, while it supports India as a global economic power, remains uncomfortable with the Modi governments strong support of Israel. It noted that Modi was among the first to unequivocally condemn the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

NewsClick, like many other propaganda media organisations in India, is a pawn. It is used to mould a narrative ahead of 2024.

As always, Indias external enemies have faithful allies within India and among Indian-origin journalists and academics employed in the West.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is aware of this. He said recently in Washington that a rules-based world order applies to all, including the rule-makers. He added pointedly: But for all the talk, it is still a few nations that shape the agenda and seek to define the norms. This cannot go on indefinitely. Nor will it go unchallenged.

The writer is an editor, author and publisher. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
A week is not supposed to be a long time in international relations. At the end of September, the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had listed out an inventory of positive developments in West Asia and said, The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.

On 07 October, a shocking multi-dimensional attack in south Israel by Hamas, who are reportedly funded by Iran, has churned the region once again, shattering the fragile peace that existed by launching Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

Though war has been a perpetual concern in Israel, but it has been decades since Israelis have had to wonder whether this would be the day that their borders would be overrun and their enemies would roam the streets with slaughter as their aim.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned his citizens that they are at war; civil reservists have been called up, and videos are showing hand battles on the streets. The country is in lockdown, with the potential for future strikes in the south by Hamas and new ones by Hezbollah in the north. The country has been torn apart by domestic divisions. No doubt further death and destruction will follow.

Current conflict

We can take a stand on the conflict from two sides: one is based on the current episode, and the other is based on a continuum of events that took place nearly 75 years ago and the events that have followed with alarming regularity. While bids have been made for peaceful resolutions, unfortunately, as the ground beneath the feet is not firm, these have only led to an uneasy silence and not to an enduring and lasting peace.

While both sides have resorted to force and violence over the decades as a means to settle the issue of a Palestinian homeland within or without the state of modern-day Israel, what also stands out is the psyche of both their populations in conditioning themselves to live within this overhang and be ready to resort to brutal means in their bids to attack each other. The reasons for Palestinian anger and Israeli aggression can be debated endlessly, with both sides having strong arguments to support their cause and case.

Can one draw parallels with the drawn-out conflict in Ukraine? The issue depends on the extent of Hamas arsenal in terms of rockets and the ability to replenish them. Firing four thousand rockets in a matter of hours will be difficult to sustain in the long run, and building up a coalition of open support as is being done by NATO is not feasible or likely in the current geo-political context.

Need to focus on localising the conflict

The earlier wars were fought in a larger context described as Arab-Israeli Wars with conventional forces dominating. The Intifada saw the Israeli troops in Lebanon though they finally had to withdraw but Lebanon continues to remain at the precipice bitterly divided with its economy in dire straits. Will Hezbollah now risk retribution by directly supporting Hamas?

The main issue of concern is being able to localise the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The principal challenge for President Abbas of the Palestinian-led authority is how to insulate the West Bank from this bloody onslaught by the jihadis. Sucking the West Bank into the conflict will lead to more ordinary people suffering from the untold consequences of conflict.

Not just an intelligence failure

Intelligence failure on the part of the Israeli state and the famed Mossad is being attributed as one of the main reasons for Hamas to have been able to unleash themselves fifty years after Israel was caught by surprise during the Yom Kippur War, when on 06 October 1973 a joint Arab Coalition launched the attack on them. How Hamas was able to get the weapons, train, prepare, organise themselves, and moreover carry out this attack, which is being live streamed with gruesome images all over the world, speaks of intent. Capability, the ability to use that capability, and the will and resolve to execute this attack would not have been developed overnight, and being able to discern the intent is what intelligence is all about. Eliminating the threat from the base from where it originates comes next.

It cannot just be seen as an intelligence failure but is a monumental failure of a system. How were Hamas able to accumulate and fire five thousand rockets in less than an hour without triggering alarms? The Gaza border reportedly has sensors, cameras and thermal imaging to detect movement and is patrolled regularly and this is backed by quick reaction teams who can then arrive at the point within minutes. Was there some sort of cyber-attack that preceded the attack resulting in immobilising these assets and rendering the surveillance grid virtually ineffective? What about space-based surveillance systems? There is always redundancy built in as far as these networked systems and other monitoring mechanisms are concerned.

Images show tank crews being pulled out of cupolas, women being trampled upon and innocent civilians being shot in their cars. The path the returning pickup trucks could have been tracked and targeted to prevent hostages being taken. The murderous spree continued for over four hours and military garrisons were overrun but there seemed to be no response.

Thousands of rockets, which must have been obtained and hidden, were launched by Hamas. Hamas used drones to strike at Israeli targets. It sent its fighters on foot, by boat, and by air on motorised paragliders on the streets of Israeli towns unleashing barbaric acts against innocent citizens. As much a physical attack as a performative one delivering a sinister message.

Though images may suggest a spontaneous action on the part of Hamas it was without doubt a pre-planned and well-coordinated and executed operation. The Israelis were confident they knew exactly what the Palestinians were doing by their sophisticated means of spying. They built a wall between Gaza and the communities on the Israeli side of the border. They felt that Hamas wouldnt dare launch an attack because they would get crushed, and that the Palestinians would turn against Hamas for causing another war. They believed that Hamas was focused on a long-term cease-fire in which each side benefited from a live-and-let-live arrangement with nearly 20,000 Palestinian workers going into Israel every day from Gaza, that was benefiting the economy and was generating tax revenues. But it turns out that this was a lull before the storm.

As per the Atlantic, commentators are already describing this as Israels 9/11, but that comparison is a crutch9/11 was about, in the words of the commission that reviewed it, a failure of imagination to understand what could happen in America, a nation that had not encountered foreign terror threats of any significant magnitude. Israel has existed, still exists, with that very imaginable prospect as part of its national being.

Disturbing images

Hamas fighters targeted the main settlements and communities close to the Gaza Strip border with the aim of holding them hostage for releasing Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and to use as human shields to prevent a retaliation.

There are images showing old women at a bus stop, their possessions still next to them, and their blood leaking from their corpses. Othersare even worse, gunmen going from -to-door killing indiscriminately while residents are huddled in fear. More and more videos are emerging of civilians beaten and sometimes soaked in blood, either their own or others. They appear to have been transported to Gaza as hostages. The dead are not spared this fate. Two videos also suggest that Hamas took corpses of Israeli soldiers to Gaza and encouraged crowds to desecrate them. A womans body is stripped partly naked and spat upon.

The tactics of taking and parading hostages, the spectrum of which extends from the Chief of Israels Depth Strike Force Major General Nimrod Eloni to women who have been stripped, has no doubt enraged millions around the world.

Reasons that led to the counter terrorism failure

What is more important is the reasons that have led to this counter terrorism failure. Internal bitterness, political instability and acrimony within Israel. In July this year serious cracks were visible in the IDF. The IDF comprises mainly reservists. Military service is compulsory for all Jewish males and females of certain ethnicities for up to three years after which they are absorbed as reservists. They form a critical pool of manpower and report every year for training in order to maintain the operational readiness of the IDF. However, a large number of them refused to serve or be mobilised in wake of the nation-wide protests against the judicial reforms initiated by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Some of them even participated in street demonstrations.

Israels counterterrorism efforts are extensive, they infiltrate terrorist groups and pay off members for intelligence. They destroy infrastructure as a deterrence. Israel has long utilised assassination against its enemies in Iran and elsewhere. Their signal intelligence and technology in gathering information is renowned. Bombing raids and military excursions against Hamas are part of Israels counterterrorism mission. However, there is no doubt that the tools at their disposal failed them.

Israel regularly tests its response and evacuation systems. It recently built an extensive technology wallincluding radar, cameras, and sensorson 65 kilometres of the Gaza barrier. Its emergency-management capabilities are mature. Still, Hamas was able to storm Israel. Hamass drones seem to have penetrated parts of Israel without reports of counter-drone efforts. Iron Dome, Israels famous counter-weapons system, seems to have been no match for this multifaceted attack.

There is no doubt that the current political gridlock has resulted in damaging Israels security. It has to introspect and place national security above its internal political bickering.

There are many analysts who are saying that one of the reasons for Hamas to carry out this attack was the Abrahms Accord. They felt abandoned by the fact that Saudi Arabia and Israel were improving ties and thereby abandoning their cause, while a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia would have led to stability in West Asia, leading to a greater irrelevance of the Palestinian cause.

The Arab world was coming to terms with Israel, the US was also pressing Israel to make concessions to the Palestinian Authority, Hamass enemy. So this was an opportunity for Hamas to disrupt the whole process.

Hamas also has its backers, Iran and Syria being foremost among them and they would have had plenty of time to think through how the war will unfold. Its unlikely that Hamas would have jeopardised its sponsorship by launching the attack without consultation.

Conclusion

Israels response may be disproportionate in a bid to divert attention away from their failure to gauge such an attack. But an uncalibrated retaliation also has its pitfalls. While they do hold the moral high ground this time given the brutality of attacks on innocents. Resolving a centuries old issue is challenging but this escalation in violence will have far reaching regional and global implications. Israel will have to answer its citizens as to how, in the modern era, it has suffered a massive security failure. Finding the answer is essential to its future security.

The parties led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have long argued that they were responsible for the relative peace that has prevailed for the past decade or so. That peace now seems to be over. They thought the problem was under control. But now all their assumptions have been cast aside, and they are going to have to come to terms with that.

While one of the lessons that emerged from the Ukrainian War is the need to build deterrence in the form of hard power and that violence still remains the currency for settling disputes, the current conflict in Israel not only reinforces that but also shows the impact on a country where its internal issues have consumed its people and polity, resulting in them taking their eyeballs off as far as external threats are concerned.

The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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The propensity of Hamas to indulge in terrorism is no surprise. An outfit pursuing the worst of Islamist ideology will resort to violence at the time and place of its choosing. Whats surprising is the level of Israeli unpreparedness when Hamas unleashed its terror via land, air and sea. Israel, it seems, not just believed in its own invincibility but also, sadly, managed to convince itself about deterring Hamas from resorting to violent acts.

Israel, in that way, is the latest victim of the wokeness sweeping across the world. A phenomenon that makes one look for the root cause of any and every incident taking place on the earth. Unfortunately, that search for the elusive root cause never goes beyond economic reasons. So, Israel was made to believe  maybe out of its war fatigue, or perhaps the top leadership genuinely felt Hamass terror DNA could be changed by putting in place progressive policies on the ground  that once the living standard of people in Gaza was improved, once they were mainstreamed, once the poor Palestinians were allowed equal, non-partisan access to Israeli resources, the countrys jihadi problem would largely be resolved.

This was a pipedream, as the Saturday attack on Israel reveals: Hamas remains a fanatical Islamist outfit not averse to resorting to the worst form of terrorism that may give ISIS and Al Qaeda a run for their money.

It was Israels mistake of convincing itself of being in control of the Hamas narrative that divorced it from the ground reality. Given the scale of violence, Hamas must have prepared for a long time for the Saturday assault. The fact that a deeper Iranian involvement is suspected makes the Israeli intelligence failure even bigger and graver. Israel was lulled into a false sense of security.

The enemies of Israel, Hamas included, would not have got a more opportune time to target the country. Israel has been rocked by unprecedented protests against the judicial reforms initiated by the Benjamin Netanyahu government, and the US-led Wests attention is currently diverted towards the Ukraine war.

What further provoked Hamas and their hidden masters to resort to violence was the shifting geopolitical scenario in the region. Had one examined the details of the Abraham Accords, which under the aegis of the United States endeavoured to bring Israel and the Saudi-led Arab world closer to each other, it wouldnt have been so difficult to foresee such an attack on Israel. The attack hurts Israel as much as it corners the US and Saudi Arabia in the region. As things stand today, Iran and China are expected to gain the most out of it.

If wokeness has stopped Israel from anticipating an attack from Hamas, a phenomenon that afflicts most democratic nations across the world, theres another aspect that makes an outright victory over terrorism, especially of the Islamist variety, an almost impossible proposition. Its the phenomenon of neo war  as Italian writer Umberto Eco calls the modern-day warfare in Turning Back the Clock, a book on wars and media populism  which doesnt have a front and which never reaches its logical end.

In todays world, the enemy is as much outside the gate as he is inside. The presence of the barbarians inside the countrys boundaries makes the war difficult to fight. For, unlike in the past, when the assault was a frontal one with set territories involved, and the enemies found themselves in two separate boxes, the ongoing war is a fluid one. The identity of the enemy, which was more or less certain in the past, is far more convoluted today.

To add to it is the fact that the very nature of warfare has changed, especially since the 1991 Gulf War. Writes Eco in Turning Back the Clock, The Gulf War established two principles: One, none of our men should die. And two, as few enemies as possible should be killed. This shift in the nature of warfare, along with the complexities introduced by the advanced stage of globalisation, has ensured that most of the military campaigns are inconclusive today. For, how can one fight decisively against an enemy who is hidden, and against whom the response would at best be restrained, short-termed and apologetic.

Just imagine the nature of the Israel-Hamas warfare in the coming days: As of today, the world largely stands with Israel. But already the players of neo-war are in place: The media has reached the war zone. While there are no direct, running footages of Hamas atrocities, except a few isolated ones such as the heartbreaking video of a tattoo artist joyfully dancing at an Israeli music festival before being stripped naked and paraded by Islamist terrorists, the acts of Israeli retaliation are duly recorded and displayed on a daily basis: The photos of charred bodies being pulled out of bombed buildings; the close-up images of wailing mothers; the tears flowing through the eyes and cheeks of young kids; and stunned Palestinian men looking at the debris where once stood their houses.

Not before long, one after another, the source of sympathy would start drying up for Israel. There would be a call for truce. Israel would continue to defy world opinion for a while. A few Hamas leaders would be killed. A fresh sanction would be imposed on Iran. China wont even face that, except occasional blow hot, blow cold reactions from the West. But sooner than later, wokeism would make a comeback, asking the Israeli government to look for the root cause of terrorism. And Israel  and the world  would be back to square one.

A dispassionate look at history often puts things in perspective. Why did Germany, for instance, react in a diametrically opposite manner after the two World Wars  the first war saw the rise of the Nazis, while the second led to the emergence of a flourishing democracy? Maybe because in the first case Berlin was let off the hook too easily, with no collateral damage suffered by the erring Germans, while in the second instance, the retribution was overwhelming enough to utterly shock the entire system.

Its no ones contention that human rights should be ignored, or that civilians should be targeted. War, as such, isnt desirable. It should not be resorted to, until all options are exhausted. But when it became imminent, there should be no second thoughts about waging it. The war against terrorism, Hamas in this particular case, requires a similar single-point attention. Unfortunately, in the age of neo-war, this doesnt seem to be the case. We are already seeing a comparison being made of Hamas terror act with Israels retaliatory action. It is reprehensible.

But then this is why neo-wars are mostly a never-ending affair. The era of stalemates is here. And it is here to stay.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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We know the supporters of Hamas  the likes of Qatar, Iran and the Hezbollah. But in the 1960s and 70s this list included another country  Israel. We know it sounds surprising, but its true. Many experts say Hamas is Israels creation. Allow us to explain.

Gaza wasnt always under Hamas rule. Until 1966, it was ruled by Egypt. Back then, there was no place for radical Islamists, some of them were executed by Egypt. But in 1967, Gaza changed hands. The Arab-Israeli war was fought that year and Israel gained control of Gaza. There Israel encountered a wheelchair bound Islamist, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He would go on to found Hamas.

Watch:



Israel meets a charity worker

In 1967, Israel didnt make much of him. They thought he was interested in running schools and hospitals, sort of like a charity worker. But they did like one thing about him  Sheikh Yassin hated the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO). The PLO, led by Yasser Arafat, was a coalition that officially represented the Palestinian people. Israel couldnt stand the PLO and Arafat. Their charter called for the destruction of Israel, and they carried out attacks and hijackings. So, Israel wanted to weaken the PLO.

Enter Sheikh Yassin. He too couldnt stand the PLO, but his reasons were different. While Arafat claimed to be secular and nationalist, Yassin wasnt. He was an Islamist. So the classic equation was at play here  your enemys enemy is your friend  and Israel helped Yassin and company.

The birth of Hamas

What happened next is detailed by a former Israeli official. Yassin had created a group called Mujama and Israel recognised it, that too as a charitable group. They also allowed him to create the Islamic University of Gaza. Today, its considered a hotbed of radicalism. In fact, Israel attacked the university yesterday. They called it an important Hamas military centre.

So, when did Israel realise its mistake? When it was too late. In 1984, Israel arrested Yassin. He was found storing weapons, which should have been a red flag, but Israel ignored it. They considered him to be the lesser threat. So the next year Yassin walked out of jail. And in 1987, he formed Hamas.

The setting was perfect for him because 1987 was also when the first intifada started  a major Palestinian uprising. He used those sentiments to try and gain popularity and by the 1990s he succeeded.

The PLO had signed deals with Israel. They tweaked their charter to recognise the country. They also dropped the demand for Israels destruction. Some Palestinians were unhappy with this and said the PLO was going soft.

The rise of Hamas terror

Who courted these people? Hamas. By then, Hamas was organising attacks on Israel, even killing Israeli soldiers. Many former officials have expressed regret for this. One Israeli commander admitted to funding Hamas himself. Imagine that  Israeli taxpayers giving money to Hamas. It was a gross miscalculation  one that is now costing Israel.

Yassin himself was killed in 2004 in an Israeli air strike but his organisation was very strong by then. Hamas came to dominate the Gaza strip and in 2007 they took total control.

We know about Israels intelligence failures leading up to Saturdays attack, Hamas too is one such mistake, a grave error of strategic judgement.

Israel isnt alone though. Many countries have made such mistakes like the Taliban and the U.S, Pakistan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban. Its a lesson for governments around the world: you cannot control or leverage radicals, because in the end, you will pay.
Hamas is brutal. They are terrorists who dont care about people  neither Palestinians, nor Israelis. After Saturdays attack, you would think there is agreement on that. Well, think again. People are lining up to support Hamas, to blame Israel for what happened.

Now, lets be clear about two things here. One, we sympathise with Palestine. They have become refugees in their own land. It is wrong. But whose fault is that? Was it the fault of the 260 youngsters who attended the Reim music festival? Was it the fault of the children in Kfar Aza? Was it the fault of the grandmother abducted from Beri? We dont think so. Killing innocent Israelis does not advance the Palestinian cause. It is not activism, it is bloodlust.

Point number two: Hamas is not Palestine. They are a terror group that rules over Gaza. The last elections in Gaza were in 2006. Its been 18 years without another election. If the Hamas is so popular, why not hold elections? Why not prove their popularity?

Heres what an opinion poll found in July 2023: 62 per cent Gazans wanted Hamas to uphold the ceasefire, to not start a war with Israel. And what did Hamas do? The exact opposite. The same poll revealed more interesting data  50 per cent Gazans wanted Hamas to stop demanding Israels destruction, 70 per cent wanted the Palestinian authority to take over Gaza. The Palestinian authority rules over West Bank and most Gazans prefer them over Hamas. So clearly Hamas is not Palestine.

Who are Hamas supporters?

Most of us understand this difference, even major world powers do. The Palestinian authority is our partner. We dont deal with Hamas. but yes, we support, and we deal, and we work together with the Palestinian authority. And not all the Palestinian people are terrorists, says European Unions foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Its as simple as it gets.

But tell that to some so-called activists. A student organisation at Harvard has released a statement on Saturdays attack. They say: Todays events did not occur in a vacuum the apartheid regime is the only one to blame. This is the message from Americas elite university. 1,200 Israelis are dead, but the whole thing is Israels fault.

You also have pro-Palestine rallies across the world. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone is free to organise rallies but look whats happening at these events  in New York, people are holding up the swastika, the Nazi symbol; in Sydney, they are chanting anti-Semitic slogans; in London, Jewish eateries are being attacked. How is any of this helping Palestine?

It isnt, but it exposes their true colours. By all means protest against Israel, express solidarity with Palestine, but at the same time condemn what happened on Saturday. Whats wrong is wrong, you cant justify that by pointing at the past.

Some habitual offenders like Iran and Hezbollah are openly supporting Hamas. Some mainstream politicians like the liberal democrats in America are doing so behind the scenes. You may have heard about these people  Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. They are members of the US Congress. Neither of them has condemned Hamas. Instead, they are asking the U.S. to stop helping Israel. There is clear anti-Semitism here.

Take Ilhan Omar for example. In 2012, she accused Israel of hypnotising the world. To give some context, hypnotism is linked to an offensive Jewish stereotype. In 2019, she did it again. She accused Israeli lobbies of using Benjamins baby. Again, to give you some context, Benjamins baby refers to 100 dollar bills. When confronted about this, she said she wasnt aware of the stereotype around Jews and money. How believable!

The point is a simple one: you can support Palestine without celebrating the murder of innocent people.

Similar things are happening in Indias neighbourhood as well. In Pakistan, Israeli flags are being burnt. Some Pakistanis are praising the Hamas attack, calling it historic. Rallies were held in Bangladesh as well where thousands marched with Palestinian flags demanding an end to Israeli air strikes. Protests were also held in Muslim-majority Indonesia.

Where does money come from?

But this is political support. Where does the financial support for Hamas come from? Where do they get their money? A number of places. Like taxes, for example. Hamas collects tax on goods imported from Egypt. In 2021, this was worth $12 million per month. Iran also gives a lot of money  around $100 million annually. Then you have Qatar. Their total financial assistance to Gaza stands at $1.8 billion. Their yearly aid is $360 million.

And who handles it? The Hamas. The terrorist group has not released Qatari aid to Gaza strip officials, due to an ongoing dispute over the sum of money received, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan. There are reports of Hamas holding onto this money. In 2016, a World Vision official in charge of its Gaza aid activities was arrested and charged with diverting $50 million to Hamas. Also, of diverting the aid funds. This is money meant for Palestinians, for their progress and welfare. But who uses it? The Hamas.

So, cutting off funds is a top priority. You need money to carry out the kind of attack they did on Saturday. You need money to fire thousands of rockets. Does that mean aid should be totally cut off? Of course not. Most Palestinians, including in Gaza, live on aid. If you cut that off people starve to death. But blank cheques should end. The aid should be delivered and monitored by global agencies. The likes of Hamas should not be able to touch it. If not, the money will never reach the people and the attacks wont stop.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Status after Day 5 of the Israel-Hamas war: a lot more escalation. The death toll is now increasing rapidly. It was around 1,600 on Tuesday. It is now more than 2,100. Israel has put its death toll at more than 1,200. Over in Gaza, its 900, and chances are this will keep increasing.

Last morning, Gaza woke up to more air strikes. The Israeli air force struck 200 targets in Gaza city and theyre not done yet. All these strikes could be building up to the most important operation  a ground invasion of Gaza.

According to Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, preparations are on. We started the offensive from the air, later on we will also come from the ground. Weve been controlling the area since day 2 and we are on the offensive. It will only intensify, he said.

Yesterday, talks between Israels ruling coalition and the opposition resulted in the announcement of an emergency unity government. Thats more insurance for Benjamin Netanyahu, more political capital to escalate. So dont expect a let-up.

And whats the other side doing? Well, Hamas did launch some rocket attacks. They struck the southern city of Ashkelon.

But the big picture is clear. Hamas cannot sustain this war. Its exactly like how the Israeli prime minister put it  Hamas may have started the war, but now Israel will end it.

The cost of war

The question is, at what cost? The situation in Gaza is getting worse. A total siege has been imposed there  no food, no fuel and no water. Gaza has just one power plant, which reports say, has stopped working, which means  no electricity for hospitals, for shelters and for refugee camps.

Israel has already asked Palestinians to flee Gaza. Just one problem though: there is nowhere to go. You cant go to the Israeli border, so the only option is the Egyptian side, the Rafah border crossing. Only 400 people are allowed to cross this border per day. Even that is tough now.

This is the reality of war. The fallout of Hamass barbaric and thoughtless attack. Children are now playing with these, where should they sleep, these are our mattresses, pillows. What is that? Where are we living, this is not a life, we are living surrounded by rubble. Gaza is destroyed. everything is destroyed, says Gaza resident, Mohamed Najar.

There are calls to create an evacuation corridor, sort of like an exit route from Gaza. The United States is mediating this effort. Israel and Egypt are also involved. But time is of the essence, because the next stage could be worse, and Hamas knows this.

What happens now?

If Israel throws its might at Gaza, its game over. They cant withstand it. So, Hamas is now appealing for help. They are asking Arab nations to join the fight. I call firstly the surrounding countries, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, all of its sons and daughters, officially and popularly, your duty is bigger, because you are closer to Palestine, said former Hamas chief, Khaled Meshaal.

Some like Syria and the Hezbollah in Lebanon have responded. The Hezbollah have fired precision rockets into Israel. They have also used anti-tank rounds. In response, Israel is shelling southern Lebanon. Its a very volatile situation right now. At least three Israeli soldiers have been killed at the northern border. On the other side, around eight Lebanese militants have been killed.

Now, Israel and Hezbollah are sworn enemies. So, if the war spills over, expect Hezbollah to join. And its not just them. Israel is dealing with fire from Syria as well. Unidentified projectiles landed in Israeli territory. In response, they fired back.

So, heres what Israels war effort looks like. To the south, its all-out war  Israel versus Hamas. To the north, there is sporadic fighting against the Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria. Plus, there is action in the West Bank. Palestinians are mobilising and protesting there. Israel is cracking down on them. Reports say around 21 Palestinians have been killed.

All set now?

So, anything is possible. This single-front war could turn into a two-front war, or even a three-front war and Israel and its allies know this. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to US President Joe Biden. The phone call was on camera. Netanyahu told Biden:

Weve had hundreds massacred, families wiped out in their beds in their homes, women brutally raped and murdered, over 100 kidnapped, including children. And since we last spoke, the extent of this evil, its only gotten worse. They took dozens of children, bound them up, burned them and executed them. They beheaded soldiers.

That was the brutality of Hamass attack. It was violence and brutality beyond imagination. President Biden realises this. Hes had his differences with Netanyahu in the past, but now, he is supporting the Israeli leader. Biden said: In this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse.

The US military aid has already arrived in Israel. Aircraft carrier Gerald Ford is also in place. It is the largest carrier in the whole world as well as the most advanced US warship. There is now talk of sending a second carrier, the USS Dwight D Eisenhower. It was supposed to head towards Europe, but the Pentagon is considering a new plan  to deploy this carrier in the eastern Mediterranean. Thats a lot of firepower as these carriers dont sail alone, they sail as an armada. We are talking about cruisers, destroyers and fighter jets. So the message from Washington is clear  we have Israels back.

Netanyahu was likely waiting for this go-ahead. Hes got everything in place to invade Gaza. Around 300 thousand reserve soldiers are on stand-by, dozens of tanks and artillery vehicles are ready. Its either a grand invasion plan or a very good bluff. But considering what Israel has just been through, the invasion seems more likely.

It will be costly, it will be violent and brutal, but Netanyahu may not have an option. His intelligence failures have already boxed him in. He may see the invasion as redemption.

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The European Union has issued a stern warning to Mark Zuckerbergs Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, regarding the proliferation of disinformation on its social media platforms in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel. Meta has been given a tight 24-hour deadline to respond and align with European law.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has prompted a surge in misleading and false information across social media, with manipulated images and mislabeled videos adding to the problem. The EU previously warned X about the presence of such content.

Thierry Breton, the EUs industry chief, emphasized that Meta must demonstrate its commitment to timely, diligent, and objective action. In a letter, he insisted that the company had a mere 24 hours to outline the proportionate and effective measures taken to counteract the spread of disinformation on its platforms.

A spokesperson for Meta informed the BBC that, in response to the recent terrorist attacks by Hamas, a specialized operations centre was rapidly established. This centre is staffed with experts, including those proficient in Hebrew and Arabic, to closely monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving situation.

The European Commission has reminded all social media companies of their legal obligation to prevent the spread of harmful content linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas,

The Commission underlined that online content associated with Hamas qualifies as terrorist content and is subject to removal under both the Digital Services Act and Terrorist Content Online Regulation.

In response to instances of fake and manipulated images and facts being widely reported on the social media platform, Elon Musk, CEO of Twitter (X), has called for immediate action to ensure the effectiveness of their systems and has requested a report detailing the crisis measures implemented. Musk shared this letter on social media, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

The European Unions (EU) digital safety laws are beginning to exert influence on major technology companies. The EUs Digital Services Act (DSA) was enacted in November, granting companies a transitional period to align their systems with the regulations. Since August, the DSA applied to very large online platforms, including Twitter (X), which has over 45 million EU users.

Under these more stringent rules, larger companies are mandated to assess potential risks they may pose, report these assessments, and implement measures to address any identified problems. Failure to comply with the DSA can result in EU fines equivalent to 6 per cent of a companys global turnover, or potentially, the suspension of their services. Musk emphasized the principles of openness and transparency and urged the EU to list the alleged violations on Twitter (X) to make them visible to the public.

The dialogue underscores the EUs commitment to ensuring compliance with digital safety regulations and its resolve to hold tech giants accountable for content-related issues.
Emails written by Sundar Pichai in 2007, years before he became Googles CEO, have come to light in the Justice Departments ongoing antitrust case against Alphabet Inc.s Google.

The emails reveal concerns about Googles agreement with Apple Inc. to be the default search engine on the Safari web browser. At the time, Pichai was in charge of Googles Chrome browser.

In these emails, Pichai expressed unease about the optics and user experience of Google being the sole search engine provider without offering users a choice. He wrote, I know we are insisting on default, but at the same time I think we should encourage them to have Yahoo as a choice in the pull-down or some other easy option.

The Justice Department and state attorneys general have alleged that Google paid Apple and smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung, substantial sums in revenue-sharing agreements to prevent rival search engines from gaining users.

These deals involve Google paying a percentage of the revenue generated from search-based advertising in exchange for becoming the default search tool on browsers and smartphones.

The Justice Department asserts that Google pays over $10 billion annually for these contracts, although the exact figures remain confidential. Google, however, denies that these agreements stifle competition, contending that users can easily switch to alternative search engines if they wish.

Joan Braddi, Googles vice president for product partnerships and the primary negotiator of the Apple agreement, was one of the executives copied on Pichais emails.

She testified in the case, and prosecutor Adam Severt questioned her about the emails, asking whether the benefits of Google search justified the cost of supporting Apple, its chief competitor in mobile operating system software.

Braddi responded that Google had never examined the situation in that manner. She also clarified that the agreement between Google and Apple imposed no restrictions on how Apple could use the money. Braddi expressed confidence that Apple had used the payments to enhance its iOS product, which competes with Googles Android operating system.

The original agreement between Google and Apple to make Google the default search engine on the Macs Safari browser was established in 2002 with no financial exchange. However, in 2005, the companies amended the agreement to include a revenue-sharing component. The deal was later extended to the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010.

Over the years, Apple proposed amendments in 2007, 2009, and 2012 that would have given them more flexibility in selecting the default search engine. In 2014, the two companies signed another amendment that permitted Apple to use alternative search engines in certain countries. Currently, Safari employs non-Google search engines in Russia, China, and South Korea.

Braddi revealed that the 2014 amendment took 17 months to negotiate, as it encompassed aspects related to intellectual property and mapping services.

At the time, Google was concerned that Apple might redirect queries to other companies like Amazon or Yelp, in exchange for a greater share of revenue from those companies, rather than sending searches to Google.

This led to the inclusion of a clause requiring Apple to use the search engine in a substantially similar manner to its previous usage, which was intended to protect against such a scenario and was not aimed at limiting Apples own services.
It looks like the suppliers of Taiwans major semiconductor companies are lining up for the EU and are betting big on upcoming industries and next-gen factories in the continent.

Suppliers to Taiwans leading semiconductor manufacturing industry are coming up with strategies to expand their presence into Europe, capitalizing on the construction of advanced chip factories on the continent, marking a significant shift in its supply chain dynamics, as per a Financial Times report.

Vincent Liu, the President and CEO of LCY Group, a provider of cleaning agents and solvents to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the worlds largest contract chip manufacturer, stated, We are currently planning investments in Germany, and we aim to establish a significant presence in the European market. Three other Taiwanese chemical suppliers to TSMC also expressed their intentions to explore opportunities for investment in Europe.

These plans underscore the substantial structural changes triggered by global governmental initiatives aimed at reshoring chip manufacturing, and safeguarding critical technology supply chains from geopolitical tensions and other potential disruptions.

Liu highlighted that European chip manufacturers have faced inefficiencies in their manufacturing processes and dwindling supply chains due to their prolonged reliance on mature technology. He explained, Companies like Infineon have not utilized high-quality chemicals because their suppliers capabilities are decades old. They lack awareness of how state-of-the-art chemicals could significantly enhance their yield rates.

In response to these transformations, global chip manufacturers are actively increasing their production capacity in Europe, benefiting from incentives provided under the European Chips Act. This act seeks to mobilize 43 billion Euros in investments for the industry and aligns with similar state support initiatives in the US and China.

TSMC, for instance, plans to construct a fabrication plant valued at over 10 billion Euros in Dresden, Germany, in collaboration with European chipmakers Infineon and NXP, as well as auto supplier Bosch. The facility is scheduled to commence production in 2027. Intel has also committed to investing 30 Euros billion in two cutting-edge semiconductor fabrication plants in Magdeburg, northwest of Dresden. Additionally, multinational contract chipmaker GlobalFoundries and European chip company STMicroelectronics are planning a 5.7 billion Euros fabrication facility in France.

Nevertheless, experts in the industry have raised concerns about Europes capacity to support such substantial increases in production. An executive at a European petrochemical company explained, Europe has not experienced significant capacity growth for over a decade. All chip manufacturers in the region still employ mature technology with transistor gates measuring 28 nanometres wide or older, while the most advanced chips in production measure 10nm or smaller.

The executive emphasized that the existing ecosystem and quality of electronic-grade chemical manufacturing assets in Europe are ill-equipped to supply advanced technology nodes, such as those targeted by TSMC in Dresden or Intel in Magdeburg.

TSMCs CEO, Mark Liu, acknowledged the gaps in Europes chip supply ecosystem as a pressing concern. However, he noted that the German government had promised assistance in addressing the issue. GlobalFoundries also voiced concerns from chip companies in Europe regarding the availability of essential supplies for manufacturing, emphasizing the need for more readily available bulk materials.

For instance, sulphuric acid, used in significant quantities for cleaning and etching in chip production, must be sourced from Asia because Europe lacks an adequate supply of the required quality. Similarly, isopropyl alcohol, essential for wafer cleaning during chip manufacturing, often faces shortages. European fabs currently operate with relatively low-grade IPA, and the most significant supplier, Ineos, has factories in Germany constructed in 1959 and 1936.

After decades of concentrated cutting-edge chip production in East Asia, only LCY and Japans Tokuyama are currently manufacturing the necessary chemicals for the most advanced semiconductors. Tokuyama indicated that it might consider entering the European market in 10 to 20 years, with its current focus solely on Asia.

Liu from LCY recently visited Germany to seek government support for chip supply chain companies. He pointed out that European chipmakers had lacked incentives to modernize their manufacturing processes in the past, primarily generating profits from chip design. In contrast, TSMC specializes in chip production and has a keen focus on reducing defect rates to enhance profitability.

The European chemicals executive added that the deficiency in advanced supply capabilities extends to nearly all materials and chemicals in the semiconductor value chain for Europe. Addressing this issue and becoming competitive will require substantial capital expenditure over the long term.

Infineon did not respond to inquiries regarding the impact of TSMCs Dresden fab on its manufacturing efficiency or supply chain. Ineos indicated that it is actively involved in the development of ultra-high-purity chemicals and continues to reinvest in its production facilities to meet the demands of the semiconductor industry both domestically and globally.
NASA has revealed that samples retrieved from the asteroid Bennu by its OSIRIS-REx probe are brimming with water and carbon-containing compounds.

This exciting announcement comes after the probe successfully completed a return journey of 1.4 billion miles (2.3 billion km) from the asteroid last month, safely delivering a collection capsule, bearing approximately 8.8 ounces (250g) of material which it gathered from Bennu in late 2020, to the Utah desert.

NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston has taken custody of these precious samples, which will soon be distributed to researchers worldwide for in-depth analysis. Scientists are keenly interested in the potential of this material to shed light on the origins of life on Earth.

Many scientists speculate that carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu may have deposited essential elements for organic life, making these samples invaluable.

Dante Lauretta, a planetary scientist from the University of Arizona and NASAs principal investigator on this mission, expressed his perspective on Bennu, dubbing it a time capsule that offers us profound insights into the origins of our solar system.

Bennu had already surprised researchers with its unconventional characteristics. When the OSIRIS-REx probe initially approached the surface to collect a sample, after orbiting the asteroid for 22 months to select the ideal location, they anticipated a rigid rock.

However, the surface proved to be remarkably porous. Instead of encountering resistance, the spacecraft started to sink into the surface, a daunting moment described by Lauretta as frightening.

The probe narrowly escaped being consumed by Bennu by activating its thrusters, resulting in a massive 26-foot (8m) crater  a stark contrast to the anticipated small indentation.

This anomaly indicated that Bennus exterior particles were so loosely packed and lightly bound to each other that they act more like a fluid than a solid. This observation could have significant implications for deflection strategies in case an asteroid similar to Bennu threatens Earth.

Following the capsules return to Earth, the OSIRIS-REx probe has embarked on an extended journey to the asteroid Apophis, slated to reach its destination in 2029. Although no samples will be collected during this mission, the probe will spend 18 months capturing images and mapping Apophis.

Initially considered a potential threat for an Earth impact in 2068, Apophis is no longer regarded as a credible danger. Nonetheless, scientists aim to gain valuable insights into other asteroids of a similar type, which could potentially pose a collision risk to our planet.
The US Space Force has temporarily halted the use of web-based generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, for its workforce due to concerns related to data security.

A memo, dated September 29, and directed towards Space Force personnel, who are referred to as Guardians, has issued a prohibition against the use of these AI tools, including large language models, on government computers.

This restriction will remain in place until these tools receive formal approval from the Chief Technology and Innovation Office within the Space Force.

It said the temporary ban was due to data aggregation risks.

Uses of generative AI, powered by large language models that ingest huge troves of past data to learn, have exploded in the past year, underpinning ever-evolving products such as OpenAIs ChatGPT that can swiftly generate content like text, images or video off of a simple prompt.

Lisa Costa, Space Forces chief technology and innovation officer, said in the memo that the technology will undoubtedly revolutionize our workforce and enhance Guardians ability to operate at speed.

An Air Force spokesperson confirmed the temporary ban, which was first reported by Bloomberg.

A strategic pause on the use of Generative AI and Large Language Models within the US Space Force has been implemented as we determine the best path forward to integrate these capabilities into Guardians roles and the USSF mission, Air Force spokesperson Tanya Downsworth said in a statement.

This is a temporary measure to protect the data of our service and Guardians, she added.

Costa said in the memo that her office had formed a generative AI task force with other Pentagon offices to mull ways to use the technology in a responsible and strategic manner.

More guidance on Space Forces use of generative AI would be released in the next month, she added.

(With input from agencies)
In a first mission of its kind, NASA, and Elon Musk-led SpaceX are planning to go to a rather unique asteroid, called Psyche and conduct several studies and research on it.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch NASAs mission to the asteroid Psyche on later today. The launch will take place from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, utilizing SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket.

The mission, named Psyche after the target asteroid, was selected by NASA in 2017 as one of two missions within its Discovery Program. This program supports relatively cost-effective missions within the solar system. Originally slated for launch on October 5, NASA later announced a one-week delay, with the Psyche mission now set to launch at 7:46 PM IST on October 12.

NASA explained that the postponement was necessary to complete the verification of parameters for controlling the Psyche spacecrafts nitrogen cold gas thrusters. These thrusters will be crucial for manoeuvring the vehicle, changing its orientation, and managing momentum.

Psyche is a particularly unique asteroid as it is only the 16th asteroid ever to be discovered, according to Arizona State University. Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis discovered it in 1852 and named it after the ancient Greek goddess of the soul.

What makes Psyche especially intriguing to astronomers is its high metal content. There is a possibility that it consists of metal from the core of a planetesimal, which are essential components in the formation of a planetary system.

The asteroid Psyche is located over 500 million kilometres away from Earth, which means it takes approximately 31 minutes for light to traverse that immense distance. NASA anticipates that the Psyche mission will reach the asteroid in approximately six years.

Scientists estimate that the surface area of the Psyche asteroid spans about 165,800 square kilometres. By way of comparison, the Indian state of Tamil Nadu covers a land area of approximately 130,058 square kilometres.

The Psyche missions spacecraft will undertake its journey to the asteroid by employing low-thrust solar-electric propulsion. Along the way, it will utilize a Mars fly-by and gravitational assist manoeuvres. Upon its arrival at the asteroid, the spacecraft will conduct scientific observations from four staging orbits around the celestial body. With each orbit, the spacecraft will progressively approach the asteroid, allowing for increasingly detailed study and analysis.
Qualcomm has recently announced the Snapdragon X series, which will complement its existing Snapdragon 8cx processors. In a blog post, the tech giant revealed that the forthcoming Snapdragon X series will be powered by a customized version of the existing Oryon CPUs, promising a substantial boost in both performance and power efficiency.

For those not familiar with it, the Oryon CPU was initially unveiled last November, with Qualcomms plan to integrate it into a wide range of products, including PCs, smartphones, digital cockpits, extended reality, and advanced driver assistance solutions.

The press release also mentions that Qualcomm will modify the well-known Snapdragon fireball logo with the Snapdragon X branding, making it easier for users to distinguish between mobile and desktop processors.

Historically, Qualcomm licensed architecture for its CPUs from ARM, making some adjustments and branding it as Kryo. However, Qualcomms acquisition of the chip design startup Nuvia may empower the company to create its own chips from the ground up.

This development could position Qualcomm to compete with System-on-Chip (SoC) manufacturers like Apple, which has been designing its own chips for several years now. While the existing Snapdragon 8cx chips already challenge Intels i5 offerings, it appears that the Snapdragon X series will aim to deliver even better performance, potentially competing with performance-oriented chips like the Apple M2 or Intels i9 series.

Qualcomm is expected to introduce the Snapdragon X series alongside its upcoming mobile chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, at the companys annual Snapdragon Summit on October 24.
Over 3,600 targets were hit in the Gaza Strip as Israel vowed to continue its war against Hamas until the terrorist group freed all hostages.

The military claims to be assaulting all of Hamass resources throughout the Gaza Strip, including war rooms, military installations, facilities for manufacturing weapons, and locations connected to the terror organisations top leadership, according to The Times of Israel.

Issuing a stern warning to the Hamas terror group, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday, said that 2023 is not 1943 and in an indirect reference to the persecution of Jews under the Nazi regime in Germany, adding that todays Jewish people possess different capabilities.

In retaliation for the bloodiest attack on civilians in its history, in which hundreds of militants crossed the border and rampaged through Israeli territory, Israel has pledged to completely destroy the Hamas movement that administers the Gaza Strip.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, stated on Thursday that Hamas should be destroyed and that it should be dealt with similarly to the Islamic State, or ISIS.

Hamas should be spit out from the community of nations, he warned, and those who host Hamas would face penalties.

Hamas is ISIS and just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated. They should be spit out from the community of nations. No leader should meet them, no country should harbour them and those that do should be sanctioned he said.

After the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to stop overburdened hospitals from turning into mortuaries, Israel declared on Thursday that there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its embargo of the Gaza Strip until Hamas freed all hostages.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Tel Aviv to express support for Israel, stop the crisis from getting worse, and attempt to liberate hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked America for supporting Israel today, tomorrow, and always while standing next to him.

Antony Blinken assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington was on Israels side and that he personally understood the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews.

In his most direct appeal to date, Blinken asked Israel to exercise prudence in its reaction and to take all feasible measures to preserve civilian life from a podium next to the Israeli prime minister at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

(With agency inputs)
Rocket sirens were sounded in a number of towns Thursday in central Israel and the West Bank, IDF said in a post on X.

A report by The Times of Israel said sirens were heard in localities including Even Yehuda, Tayibe, Ariel and Kfar Yona.

Sirens sounding in central Israel  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 12, 2023

The rocket fire came after a lull of about 10 hours. However, there were no reports of injuries at the time of filing this report.

Explosions were heard from either impacts or interceptions.

Meanwhile, Hamas claimed that it had fired rockets at Tel Aviv after Israel conducted airstrikes on Gazas civilians. Israeli air force conducted a large scare strike on Hamas locations, moments after the countrys military announced a large-scale strike, targeting Hamas locations in Gaza.

There were, however, no specific details about the operation, underscoring the intensifying situation in the region has been told by the military. This coincides with Israels formation of an emergency unity government, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu collaborating with centrist former defence minister Benny Gantz in a joint war cabinet.

Israeli military said the death toll mounted to 1,200, more than have been 2,700 injured, and scores have been taken hostage. The death toll in Gaza has risen to 1,200, with around 5,600 wounded, Palestinian media reported, citing Gazas health ministry.

With inputs from agencies
Canadian speaker Raymonde Gagne wont be attending P20, the two-day parliamentary speakers summit that is being hosted by India this week.

The P20 Summit will begin on Friday (13 October) in New Delhi.

The information of Gagne not attending the parliamentary speakers summit in Indias capital was given by a spokesperson of her office.

Canada gives no reason for opting out from P20

A Bloomberg report said, two Indian officials, in condition of anonymity, confirmed Gagne wont be attending the P20 Summit, adding that no reason was given for her non-attendance.

Last week, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian Parliament), Om Birla had announced that Gagne had agreed to participate in P20 Summit.

It, however, remains unclear whether Canada will have any representation at the meeting. Also, the spokesperson for the Speakers office declined to comment.

Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have deteriorated following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus public accusations of the Indian governments involvement in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

India had outrightly denied any role in the incident.

Amid this, Canadas foreign minister, Melanie Joly, Wednesday said discussion was underway between both the countries over Indias request that Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in the country.

Talking to reporters, Joly said: Diplomacy is always better when conversations remain private, and thats the approach I will continue to take when it comes to India.

With inputs from agencies
In a show of solidarity after Hamass surprise weekend onslaught in Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Blinken, who under unusually tight security with guards in camouflaged military gear, was received at the airport by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

Blinken is likely to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington closes ranks with its ally that has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

The top US diplomat will also try to help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas  some of whom are Americans  and safe passage of Gaza civilians out of the densely-populated enclave ahead of a possible Israeli ground invasion.

The United States has Israels back. We have their back today, tomorrow  we will have it every day, Blinken told reporters just before departure.

Were determined to make sure Israel gets everything it needs to defend itself, he added.

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he made another phone call to Netanyahu and he also reiterated unshakeable US support.

The State Department, meanwhile, said that the death toll of US citizens in the violence had risen to at least 22. An unspecified number of American hostages are also believed to be in the hands of Hamas.

In a departure from usual US calls for restraint when violence erupts overseas, Biden and his administration have made clear they support Israels right to an overwhelming response.

With inputs from agencies
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to Israel on Wednesday on a Middle East mission to prevent a wider war from erupting after an attack and hostage-taking by Palestinian Hamas militants and an Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

In a show of solidarity with Washingtons closest Middle East ally, Blinken was due to meet senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss further boosting military support.

Im going with a very simple and clear message  that the United States has Israels back, Blinken told reporters before boarding a plane bound for Israel.

He will work with regional U.S. allies to try to secure the release of more than 100 people that Israel says Hamas holds captive, some of whom may be American citizens. A senior State Department official said Blinken will visit other countries in the region after making stops in Israel and Jordan.

The top U.S. diplomat, Blinken flew out as Israel was forming an emergency unity government. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hamas gunmen rampaged through Israeli towns over the weekend, killing 1,200 people and taking scores of hostages to Gaza.

At least 22 Americans were killed during the attack, Blinken said.

That number could still go up, and it probably will, Blinken said, adding that U.S. officials were working with Israeli counterparts to determine the fates of other U.S. citizens who remained unaccounted for.

Israel has retaliated with air strikes that have killed more than 1,100 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The Israeli military said its troops had killed at least 1,000 Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated from Gaza.

Asked if Washington had advocated for Israel to exercise restraint in its response, with a ground operation in Gaza expected, Blinken said that Israel respects international law and makes efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

We know that Israel will take all of the precautions that it can, just as we would, and again thats what separates us from Hamas and terrorist groups that engage in the most heinous kind of activities, Blinken said.

A top priority for Blinken will be to convey a message of deterrence, largely aimed at Iran and Iran-backed groups such as Lebanons Hezbollah, to stop a wider war from erupting.

Hezbollah has moved carefully since Hamas and Israel went to war, keeping Israeli troops busy with attacks at the Lebanese border but not opening a big front, sources familiar with its thinking say.

Violence on the border between Israel and Lebanon flared up for a fourth day on Wednesday with Israeli shelling hitting southern Lebanese towns in response to a fresh rocket attack by Iran-backed Hezbollah.

NO WEST BANK VISIT IN BLINKEN TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT

Since Saturday, Blinken has spoken on the phone with his counterparts from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. U.S. officials said Washington was pushing regional countries with influence on Hamas and others hostile to Israel to help stop the conflict from worsening.

The attack by Hamas is a reminder of the perception of an American absence or lack of commitment to the region that some actors might interpret and do things they should not be doing, Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute said.

Biden on Wednesday called the Hamas attack sheer evil, reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel and issued an apparent warning to Iran and Iran-backed groups against exploiting the conflict: I have one word: Dont.

Blinkens trip announcement did not include the Israeli-occupied West Bank. On previous trips to the region, Blinken has visited the West Bank, controlled by the Palestinian Authority and its President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel has also tightened its siege in Gaza, which it has kept under a blockade since Hamas seized power there in 2007, saying it will keep out food and fuel while vowing to further escalate with a ground offensive.

Washington said it was talking with Israel and Egypt about the idea of safe passage for civilians from Gaza, another key topic that Blinken may be discussing with his counterparts during the trip.

Biden has stopped short of an overt plea to Israel to show restraint to avoid Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza. It was unclear whether Blinken might make such an appeal when he meets Israeli officials behind closed doors.
Brazil, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, called a Friday meeting of the body to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, its foreign affairs ministry said Wednesday.

Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira has interrupted an Asia trip to travel to New York to participate in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, called by Brazil to address the situation in the Gaza Strip, the ministry said in a statement.

Brazil previously called an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday, the day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

Israeli forces say 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the onslaught  the worst in the countrys history.

As Israel pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip  a densely populated enclave of 2.3 million people  in response, the death toll there has also reached 1,200 people, including a high number of civilians, according to Palestinian authorities.

More than 338,000 people in the enclave have been displaced, according to the United Nations.

At Sundays Security Council meeting, members were divided over policy concerning Israel and the Palestinians.

Earlier on Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for urgent international action to protect both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, especially children.

Children must never be held hostage, anywhere in the world, Lula wrote on social media platform X.

Hamas needs to free the Israeli children who were kidnapped from their families. Israel needs to stop its bombing so Palestinian children and their mothers can leave the Gaza Strip via the Egyptian border, he said.

There needs to be a minimum of humanity in the insanity of war.
The traversing of a US Navy patrol aircraft into the sensitive Taiwan Strait within international airspace on Thursday led to China sending its fighter jets to monitor the situation.

China asserted its sovereignty over Taiwan, which is governed democratically, and said jurisdiction over the adjacent narrow waterway. In contrast, Taiwan and the United States contest this claim, saying that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.

Earlier on Thursday, the U.S. Navys 7th fleet said the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance plane, which is also used for anti-submarine missions, flew through the strait in international airspace.

By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations, the Navy said, adding that the aircrafts transit demonstrates the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.Chinas military described the flight as public hype, adding it had sent fighters to monitor and warn the U.S. plane.

Troops in the theatre are always on high alert and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability, the Eastern Theatre Command of the Peoples Liberation Army said in a statement.

Taiwans defence ministry said the U.S. aircraft had flown in a northerly direction through the strait and stuck to its median line. Taiwans forces kept watch the situation was as normal, the ministry added.

China stages almost daily military activities of its own in the Taiwan Strait and seas and skies around Taiwan. The United States last announced a Poseidon mission through the strait in July.

With inputs from Reuters.
General Liu Zhenli, the head of the military body responsible for Chinas combat operations and planning, has emerged as the top contender to replace the countrys defence minister, who has not been seen in public for more than six weeks, according to five people familiar with the matter.

The appointment of Liu to replace Defence Minister Li Shangfu  which one of the people said was likely to happen before Beijing holds an international security forum later this month  could boost military engagement with the United States amid regional tensions, three military analysts told Reuters.

Li was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2018 for an arms deal he secured with Russia in an earlier role. China has demanded the curbs  which include a visa ban and prohibitions on conducting U.S. financial transactions  be lifted. Liu, 59, is not under Western sanctions.

Currently the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Liu was described as Lis likely replacement by a person with direct knowledge of the matter, as well as two people close to the military and two regional officials with close knowledge of Chinese politics. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information.

Chinas defence ministry and State Council information office did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to reach Liu himself for comment.

The U.S. Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lis absence has not been officially explained, though Reuters reported last month that he was under investigation for corrupt procurement of military equipment in a previous role.

If his departure is confirmed, Li will be the second senior minister to lose his job in recent months.

Qin Gang was removed as foreign minister in July, one month after he was last seen in public.

It is unclear whether Li will retain his position as one of Chinas five state councillors, a post outranking a regular minister. Qin has not been officially removed from his post as state councillor.

Any decision to improve military-to-military ties  frozen by Beijing when then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in August 2022  would be made by President Xi Jinping, who has the ultimate say in all important policies and appointments.

Xi is also Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and chair of the CMC, Chinas top defence decision-making body, on which Liu already sits.

The person with direct knowledge of the matter said Lius appointment would likely be announced before foreign defence officials visit Beijing on Oct. 29-31 for the Xiangshan Forum, a major international security seminar.

Procedurally, the appointment and removal of high-level officials is announced by the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, which takes guidance from the Chinese Communist Partys elite Politburo. The politburo is expected to meet at the end of this month.

If Xi Jinping is indeed intent on re-engaging in top-level military engagement with the U.S., this could well present an opportunity for the Pentagon to finally reconnect with the (Peoples Liberation Army) high command, said James Char, a scholar at Singapores S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Reuters reported Wednesday that Washington has accepted an invitation to the Xiangshan Forum, though it is unlikely that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will personally attend.

PUBLIC FACE OF THE MILITARY

Chinas Minister of National Defence has a largely diplomatic role with no direct command authority. The post is subordinate to a handful of other officials from the CMC, including the two vice chairmen under Xi.

Lius appointment could elevate the profile of the job, five analysts and military attaches told Reuters.

His recent experience leading the Joint Staff Department would allow foreign counterparts to deal with a figure at the centre of Chinas military operations and war planning, rather than a mere technocrat.

U.S. defence officials have long wanted to reestablish routine communications with counterparts directly involved in command decisions.

This could really help breathe some oxygen into Chinas military diplomacy, said Singapore-based defence analyst Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow at the Pacific Forum, a foreign policy research institute in Honolulu.

Finally, the U.S. might have someone they would really want to talk to, he said.

Liu is also one of the few recent Chinese military leaders with combat experience, having been involved in intense border fights with Vietnamese troops in 1986  part of years of skirmishes that followed Beijings invasion of northern Vietnam in 1979, according to Chinese media reports.

ONE-MAN RULE

Defence diplomacy is seen by diplomats and analysts as an important part of Xis push for a modernized military that can support Chinas growing international interests.

Chinas ships and planes will need greater access to ports and bases internationally to achieve Xis goal of becoming the dominant world power.

The removal of two senior ministers in such quick succession highlights the severe limitation of Xis one-man rule, said Willy Lam, senior fellow at U.S. think tank Jamestown Foundation.

He prioritised loyalty over capability and honesty when choosing who to put in power. Look how they turned out?

Xi has made combating corruption a priority, particularly within the military, since he first became president. His defenders say the centralisaton of power is needed if China is successfully to navigate global tensions.

Qin was made foreign minister in Dec. 2022 and Li became defence minister in March. State news agency Xinhua reported in October 2022 that Xi decided on the senior appointments after personally conducting interviews with all the prospective candidates.

Air Force commander Chang Dingqiu is set to take over from Liu as Chief of the Joint Staff Department, according to three of the people familiar with the situation.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Former American President Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unprepared for a Hamas attack that left more than 1,300 people dead and dozens more held hostage in Israel.

Netanyahu has been hurt very badly as a result of the incident, according to Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, who was speaking to Fox News on Wednesday.

He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldnt have had to be prepared, he said, drawing criticism at home and abroad.

He called the Lebanese terrorist organisation Hezbollah, which, like Hamas in Gaza, is supported by Iran, very smart when addressing supporters in Florida.

You know, Hezbollah is very smart, Trump said. Theyre all very smart.

Israel was still burying its dead on Thursday from the devastating Hamas attack on Saturday, one of the worst in its 75-year history. In retaliation, it launched airstrikes on Gaza that resulted in the deaths of at least 1,400 Palestinians.

Andrew Bates, a spokesperson for the White House, described the remarks as dangerous and unhinged, while several of Trumps Republican rivals criticised him for criticising a U.S. partner during a crisis.

Trumps words, according to Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, demonstrated his lack of dependability.

It is shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens, Karhi told Israels Channel 13.

Trump claimed in his address that he was revealing for the first time that Israel had abruptly decided not to participate in the American assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed on January 3, 2020, in an Iraqi drone strike on Trumps orders.

The night before the operation, Israel, according to Trump, informed the United States that it had decided not to take part. Trump claimed that Israeli officials had not given a justification for their choice.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing, Trump said, using Netanyahus nickname.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, one of Trumps rivals in the Republican primary, criticised the outgoing president.

(It) is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel, DeSantis wrote on social media late on Wednesday.

Trump and Netanyahu were tight during Trumps tenure as president, but rifts have emerged in their formerly unbreakable bond.

(With agency inputs)
On Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron will meet with party leaders and deliver a TV speech to the nation to appeal for unity and try to stop the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from spilling over into France, where there has been an increase in antisemitic incidents.

The greatest Muslim and Jewish communities in Europe live in France, and historically, tensions between them have been exacerbated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, anti-Semitic incidents have increased in France since Hamas assaulted Israeli cities on Saturday, killing more than 1,300 people.

In response, Israel launched the most intense bombing campaign against Hamas-run Gaza in the conflicts 75-year history, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the destruction of entire neighbourhoods.

According to Darmanin, internet threats and online hatred have both increased in France.

Since Saturday and the terrorist massacres in Israel, there has been over a hundred antisemitic acts, mainly tags and swastikas, Darmanin told France Inter radio, but also insults  and people arrested with a knife at the entrance of a school or synagogue  and a drone flying over a Jewish place of worship.

24 persons have been taken into custody. To guard some 500 sites, the government has allocated 10,000 police officers.

Darmanin claimed that while intelligence agencies did not perceive any specific terrorist threats against the French Jewish community, threats may come from either individuals or organised organisations.

Darmanin stated that protests would be approved  or not  on a case-by-case basis. Two pro-Palestinian protests slated for Thursday were prohibited but are anticipated to take place.

The Palestinian cause is an absolutely respectable one, France has always considered that we need two states, an Israeli one and a Palestinian one  but if it is a demonstration of support for Hamas  its no, he said.

Over a dozen French nationals are still missing, and eleven have been proven killed in Israel.

Esther, the grandmother of missing 12-year-old Eitan, pleaded on Macron to intervene.

I am begging you as a grandmother, she said on BFM TV. He is a French citizen, Im sure you want to help me ensure he comes back.

Since the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948, more Jews have emigrated to Israel from France than at any other period. Many attribute this migration to rising antisemitism.

(With agency inputs)
Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, declared a crackdown on organizations that support Hamas and blamed Iran for allowing the organization to develop to the point where it launched the weekend attack on Israel.

While we have no firm proof that Iran operationally supported this cowardly attack, it is clear to us all that without Iranian support Hamas would never have been able to launch this unprecedented attack, he stated on Thursday.

Sadly, we can foresee the suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza strip likely growing further  but that too is the fault of Hamas and its attack on Israel, he stated.

At home, he said Germany would ban all fundraising and other support activities for Hamas and ban Samidoun, an international activist group that says it supports Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, but which German authorities says promotes hate speech and calls for Israels destruction.

He added that it was important to try and avoid a further regional escalation of violence, warning Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed militant group, in Israels neighbour Lebanon not to risk an attack on Israel.

I am in close contact with Egypts President Sisi, who has channels to Gaza. I will speak with Turkeys President Erdogan today and receive the Emir of Qatar, he added. All three can play an important role in de-escalating the situation.

(With inputs from agencies)
Germany has offered military assistance to Israel and promised to take measures against support for Hamas within its borders. Chancellor Olaf Scholz underlined Germanys historical responsibility for Israels security on Thursday.

The Defence Ministry has approved an Israeli request to utilize a maximum of two out of the five Heron TP combat drones currently leased by the German military, which were already in Israel for the training of German personnel. Additionally, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced in Brussels that Israel has requested ammunition for its warships, a request that will now be discussed.

The statement came in response to the recent attack by the terrorist group Hamas group on Israel.

Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the countrys south through air, land and sea on October 7.

On the sixth day, the Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, were killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks. In Gaza, at least 1,200 people have been killed, according to authorities there.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007.

Scholz told the German parliament that he has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to inform Germany of any needs, for example the treatment of wounded.

At this moment, there is only one place for Germany  the place at Israels side, he told lawmakers. Our own history, our responsibility arising from the Holocaust, makes it a perpetual task for us to stand up for the security of the state of Israel.

Scholz noted that thousands of people have demonstrated in support of Israel in recent days, but said that there were also other, shameful pictures from Germany last weekend.

On Saturday, a small group handed out pastries in a Berlin street and dozens of people later demonstrated in celebration of the Hamas attack.

Scholz said that Germany will issue a formal ban on activity by or in support of Hamas, which is already listed by the European Union as a terror group. He said groups such as Samidoun, which was behind the weekend pastry action, will be banned.

Scholz said there will be zero tolerance for antisemitism.

The chancellor also questioned the lack of a clear condemnation of the Hamas attack by the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying that their silence is shameful.

Germany has suspended development aid for the Palestinian areas, though it is keeping up humanitarian help.

Scholz also assailed Irans role in the region. We have no tangible evidence that Iran gave concrete and operative support to this cowardly attack by Hamas, he said. But is clear to us all that, without Iranian support in recent years, Hamas would not have been capable of these unprecedented attacks on Israeli territory.
Uttar Pradeshs two industrial districts Firrozabad and Kanpur are fearing significant setbacks due to ongoing war between Israel and Hamas as businessmen from both cities complaining about order worth millions have come to a standstill ever since the war broke out.

Firozabad is known worldwide for its glass production. Industries here craft glass products on orders from foreign countries and ships them overseas. While Kanpur, a city known for its leather and leather product exports, is also grappling with the repercussions of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The war has disrupted their business, causing orders worth millions to come to a standstill. Consequently, local traders are incurring substantial financial losses, and foreign trade is suffering.

Santosh Aggarwal, a prominent figure in the glass industry, emphasized that Firozabad produces various glass items, with a surge in orders, especially during festive seasons. These orders come from both India and abroad.

Regrettably, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has taken a toll on foreign trade. Orders worth crores of rupees from foreign clients have been halted, leading to substantial losses within the glass industry.

This has even affected the shipment of previously prepared orders, with an estimated loss of 10 to 15 thousand crores.

These products are supplied not only within the country but also globally. As a considerable number of leather products find their way to Israel from Kanpur, the sudden disruption in global trade is causing severe concerns for Kanpurs businesses. Many exporters have seen their goods stuck in transit, with payments delayed, and outstanding orders remain unfulfilled, amounting to approximately 4 to 500 crores in total.

Yashveer Singh, a safety shoe manufacturer, shared his experience of shipments ready for Israel but stalled due to the conflict, leading to a considerable loss. This issue is not isolated to one exporter; many are grappling with unfulfilled orders and delayed payments, intensifying worries about significant financial losses, especially with the holiday season approaching.

Alok Srivastava, Assistant Director of the Indian Export Organization of the Federation, stressed that the war between Israel and Hamas has exacerbated the export crisis to European countries. Many businessmen are dealing with stalled goods and unpaid invoices, causing significant anxiety. This situation also severely impacts business during the Christmas season, as there is a notable drop in market activity. Traders face around 400 crores in losses, and if the situation persists, these losses could escalate to a substantial degree in the future.

(With inputs from local18)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that US State Secretary Antony Blinkens visit to the war-torn country is another example of Americas unequivocal support for Israel.

Blinken reached Tel Aviv earlier today following which he held meetings with the Israeli leader and extended solidarity to Israel after the Islamic militant organisation Hamas launched an all-out offensive against it on Saturday (7 October).

Mr Secretary, your visit is another tangible example of Americas unequivocal support for Israel. Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilisation, Netanyahu said in a joint press briefing with Blinken.

He added, The massacring of young people at an outdoor music festival, the butchering of entire families, the murder of parents in front of their children and the murder of children in front of their parents, the burning of people alive, the beheadings, the kidnappingsthe sickening display of celebrating these horrors, the celebration and glorification of evil  President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil.

Antony, my friend. I say to you, I say to all of us. There will be many difficult days ahead. But I have no doubt that the forces of civilisation will win. The reason that is true is because we understand what is the first prerequisite of victory  moral clarity. This is a time that we must stand tall, proud and united against evil the Israeli prime minister continued.

#WATCH | Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu says, Antony, my friend. I say to you, I say to all of us. There will be many difficult days ahead. But I have no doubt that the forces of civilisation will win. The reason that is true is because we understand what is the first prerequisite pic.twitter.com/w0WY5qNkTb  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

Meanwhile, Blinken said, I come before you not only as the United States Secretary of State, but also as a Jew. My grandfather fled pogroms in Russia. My stepfather survived concentration camps, AuschwitzSo, I understand on a personal level harrowing echoes that the Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews and indeed for Jews everywhere.

#WATCH | Tel Aviv, Israel | US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says, I come before you now only as the United States Secretary of State, but also as a Jew. My grandfather fled pogroms in Russia. My stepfather survived concentration camps, AuschwitzSo, I understand on a pic.twitter.com/DNbmR7Ge5T  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

During his visit, Blinken held a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Brigadier General Gal Hirsch and other Israeli officials. After concluding his visit to Israel, Blinken will meet with Jordans King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abbas in Amman.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, stated on Thursday that Hamas should be destroyed and that it should be dealt with similarly to the Islamic State, or ISIS.

Hamas should be spit out from the community of nations, he warned, and those who host Hamas would face penalties.

Hamas is ISIS and just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated. They should be spit out from the community of nations. No leader should meet them, no country should harbour them and those that do should be sanctioned he said.

Further stressing that Hamas strikes civilians on purpose, PM Netanyahu reiterated US President Joe Bidens description of Hamas as sheer evil during a news conference with US State Secretary Antony Blinken.

Highlighting the brutal acts committed by Hamas, PM Netanyahu said, Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilisation. The massacring of young people at an outdoor music festival, the butchering of entire families, the murder of parents in front of their children and the murder of children in front of their parents, the burning of people alive, the beheadings, the kidnappings of a young boy.

He said further, Not only kidnap, molest the kidnapped and the sickening display of celebrating these horrors, the celebration and glorification of evil  President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil.

Netanyahu also praised the United States for its continuous support during these trying times and boldly predicted that Israel would win its fight against Hamas.

He added, Antony, my friend. I say to you, I say to all of us. There will be many difficult days ahead. But I have no doubt that the forces of civilisation will win. The reason that is true is because we understand what is the first prerequisite of victory  moral clarity. This is a time that we must stand tall, proud and united against evil. America is taking that stand, thank you America for standing with Israel, today, tomorrow and always.

Israeli Defence Forces claimed that when Hamas penetrated several areas of South Israel last weekend, they brought ISIS flags with them.

In a post shared on X, Israeli Defence Forces stated, Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization. Hamas is worse than ISIS.

Israeli Defence Forces claimed that when Hamas penetrated several areas of South Israel last weekend, they brought ISIS flags with them.

(With agency inputs)
US President Joe Biden called the attacks by Hamas in Israel a campaign of pure cruelty, and said he saw confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.

Speaking to the Jewish community leaders at a roundtable in the White House, Biden said, I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.

Watch:

Meanwhile, a White House spokesperson said that the US officials and President Biden havent seen pictures or confirmed such reports independently.

The spokesperson added that the President alleged the atrocities on the claims from Netanyahus spokesman and media reports from Israel, reported The Washington Post.

In his speech, Biden also said, We moved the US carrier fleet to the eastern Mediterranean and we are sending more fighter jets to that region, and made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful. When terrorist groups like Hamas, brought not only a sheer evil, sheer evil to the world, evil that echoes the worst matches in some cases exceeds the worst atrocities of ISIS.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US president spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu, marking the fourth known call between the two. Biden also assured Netanyahu that the United States is sending more military assistance to help Israel fight Hamas militants.

The United States has Israels back and I have yours as well  both at home and abroad, the president said.

On Tuesday, Biden confirmed that US citizens are among those who have been taken hostage by Hamas. The White House said on Wednesday that 17 Americans are unaccounted.

Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined with a top political rival Wednesday to create a wartime Cabinet to oversee the fight to avenge the gruesome weekend attack by Hamas militants. In the sealed-off Gaza Strip, Palestinian suffering mounted as Israeli bombardment demolished neighborhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas. Every Hamas member is a dead man, he said in a televised address, reported The Associated Press.

Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

The prime ministers allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

With inputs from agencies
The situation in Israel has taken a grim turn, with reports of daily acts of terrorism making headlines. In the midst of this turbulent period, a research couple from Kolkata has found themselves stranded in the throes of wartime conditions.

Back in Uttarpara, their elderly parents anxiously count the days, yearning for the safe return of their children and the return of peace.

Somoday Hazra and his wife, Jayita Dutta Hazra, hailing from Uttarpara in Hooghly dsitrict, are currently engaged in research on neurology in Haifa, Israel, along with their three-year-old daughter, Sindhura.

Just a fortnight ago, their visit was marked by no hint of conflict in the air. However, within this short span of time, the situation has taken a drastic turn, leaving the Hazra couple in Israel fearful of impending terror.

Meanwhile, their anxious parents in Uttarpara fervently pray for the safety of their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.

Somodays father, the former professor Uday Shankar Hazra, and his mother, a homemaker named Soma Hazra, had no inkling of the looming crisis when they visited their son. The city of Haifa, where their family resides, has not yet experienced direct warfare, although the impact of the conflict is apparent through the closure of all educational institutions. Somodays university remains open for research, but the situation is precarious.

In a recent video call from Israel, Somoday recounted the unsettling experience of being directed to seek refuge in a bunker when sirens blared. They were also advised to stock up on water, food, and clothing for a potential seventy-two-hour ordeal.

The Hazra couple is affiliated with the Israel Institute of Technology and had initially planned to return to Uttarpara on November 9, just before Kalipuja. However, they are now making every effort to expedite their return before that date.

(with inputs from local18)
India declared on Thursday that it considers the Hamas attack on Israel to be a terrorist attack and that it has always favoured the restarting of direct discussions to create a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine that coexists peacefully with Israel.

Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, responded to inquiries during the weekly media briefing about the circumstances surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict by stating that everyone has a responsibility to uphold international humanitarian law and that terrorism must be eradicated.

Designation of terrorist organisation under Indian law is a legal matter. I would refer you to relevant authorities. I think we have been very clear that we see this as a terrorist attack. On designation part (concerned) authorities are best placed to respond to it, Bagchi said answering queries about Hamas attack on Israel.

The spokesperson said Indias position concerning the Palestine issue has been longstanding and consistent.

India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. That position remains the same, he said.

In response to inquiries regarding the circumstance, Bagchi stated that everyone has a responsibility to uphold international humanitarian law.

Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, responded to inquiries during the weekly media briefing about the circumstances surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict by stating that everyone has a responsibility to uphold international humanitarian law and that terrorism must be eradicated.

There is also global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its manifestations, he said.

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported.

According to the report, it is still unknown what became of the 150 persons who were reportedly kidnapped and transferred to the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attack.

According to CNN, more than 1300 people have died and 5,000 more have been hurt in Gaza as a result of Israels fierce reprisal against a surprise attack by Hamas.

It claimed that the strikes in Gaza had resulted in the deaths of 950 Palestinians and the injuries of 5,000 more.

Operation Ajay was started by India on Wednesday to rescue its people who were caught up in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on X.

The first batch of Indian citizens who had registered for the special flight on Thursday had been emailed, according to the Indian Embassy in Israel.

The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights, Indian Embassy posted on X.

(With agency inputs)
A prominent Indian diaspora group has extended solidarity to the people of Israel, and said that the attack by Hamas militants against innocent civilians in the country is a crime against humanity.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left over 2,300 people dead.

The Israeli authorities said more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, while the Palestinian side put the death toll in Gaza at 950.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and condemn these unprovoked and barbaric attacks, said Khanderao Kand, director of Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS). Hamas and Jihadi terrorists goal is to destroy Israel, and its attacks on innocent civilians are a crime against humanity, he said.

FIIDS welcomed the US House bipartisan resolution, introduced by Congressman Michael MaCaul and Gregory Meeks, and supported by 392 House of Representatives, condemning the attack and supporting Israel in the ongoing war.

FIIDS compared Hamas attacks to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. This is a 9/11-like attack on Israel, he said.

It is a cowardly and barbaric attack on innocent civilians. The world should not allow Islamic Jihadi extremists to succeed in its goal of destroying Israel and peace. We must stand with Israel and make sure that other Islamic countries do not help Jihadi terrorism, Kand said.

These attacks are a setback for peace in the Middle East with a global implication, he said. They are also a threat to Israels peace and prosperity initiatives under the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Arab countries, he added.

Indian Americans across the country are joining Israeli events and groups to express their solidarity with them in this hour of crisis.

An Indian scholar at the Harvard University slammed canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for not being part of a joint statement by several heads of state condeming Hamas.

Observing that India, as a repeated target of terrorism fuelled by radical Islam, can empathise more deeply with Israel at all levels, Mrinalini Darswal, from the Harvard School of Public Health, said.

I was not surprised to find Mr. Trudeaus name missing from the heads of state who signed the joint statement against Hamas and in favor of Israels right to defend herself, Darswal said.

He might risk sounding duplicitous as he wears the cause of Khalistani terrorism as a badge of honour on his chest. But Mr. Trudeau would do well to remember that terrorism in any form is the blight that will eventually bite the very hand that nurtures it, she said.

India and Canada are in the midst of a diplomatic row that erupted following Trudeaus allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India strongly rejected the charges. Nijjar was shot dead by two masked gunmen. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

Indians, Darswal said, stand in steadfast solidarity with Israel and condemn Hamas perpetration of a pre-planned butchery of innocents on Israels soil unequivocally.

Even more condemnable is the glee and celebration by supporters of Hamas across the globe, who are not shying away from celebrating the massacre of small children, women, and old people, she said.

India, as a repeated target of terrorism fueled by radical Islam, can empathize more deeply with Israel at all levels, Darswal added.

The Harvard scholar said Israel had every right to defend her sovereignty, peace, and borders.

In fact, unlike other nations, we recognise that terrorists compel Israel to fight for her very existence, and its a fight for survival Civilized nations can share some of the cost by standing unwaveringly with Israel in her hour of need, she said.

Darswal also slammed the Harvard University students organisations who in a statement have held Israel entirely responsible for all the unfolding violence.

We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence. Todays events did not occur in a vacuum. 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, a statement signed by several student organisations at the university said.

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 Israels violence, said the 30 student organizations from the university. The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years, it said.

From systematised 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, it added.

Darswal said a handful of Harvard student organisations have misleadingly supported the cause of Hamas.

While it is a pointer to the fact that Harvard tolerates variegated opinions, it in no way indicates that crimes against humanity, the barbarity of which is unprecedented in the Hamas attack on defenseless citizens of Israel, can ever hope to find even a smatter of legitimacy among the larger Harvard community. she said.

Its time we call a spade a spade and condemn Hamass vulgar, vicious, and brutal acts in the harshest of terms, she said, she added.
Israeli airstrikes reduced entire neighborhoods in Gaza to rubble on Wednesday (11 October), as the West Asian nations war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas entered its fifth day. The recent conflagration has claimed more than 2,200 lives on both sides.

Israelis were left shocked on Saturday morning as Hamas militants fired a barrage of rockets and infiltrated their territory from Gaza. Gregg Roman, director of the Middle East Forum think tank, has dubbed the multi-front assault by Hamas the largest operational and intelligence failure in the history of the Israeli military and Israeli government.

Videos circulated by Hamas show a slew of drones aided the group in its shock attack on the weekend. Lets take a look at how the militant group deployed cheap drones to smother Israels highly advanced security systems.

Rocket strikes

Hamas claimed it had fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from Gaza on Saturday. Notably, the strikes were not limited to just border areas but also reached across southern and central Israel, including the suburbs of Tel Aviv, reported The Conversation.

Hamas rocket barrage is believed to have been a distraction to help its militants carry out the ground assault.

The militant group appeared to have charted the location of Israels key surveillance system and used weapons specifically to take them out in the open stages of the assault, effectively blinding Israeli intelligence as to exactly what was going on and where, according to Forbes.

As rockets are too inaccurate to hit small targets, Hamas used a fleet of armed drones to further its attack. Also, Israels Iron Dome systems, which can track and intercept thousands of rockets, are greatly effective.

According to NDTV, small drones usually cost a fraction of an armoured personnel carrier (APC) and are capable of can taking out military vehicles and even neutralise troops.

Hamas uses drones

According to The Conversation, this was possibly the first time that Hamas successfully used armed drones.

Cornell University drone expert James Patton Rogers told Insider that cheap drones were a key tactical element in the Palestinian militant groups broader attack against Israel.

Many footages shared online suggest drones were extensively used by Hamas. Some videos depict quadcopters, which can be operated via remote control, attacking people, a watchtower and even an Israeli military tank, reported The Conversation.

According to an analysis by private drone intelligence outfit DroneSec, Hamas deployed two main types of drones against Israel  cheap FPV drones and a new fixed-wing drone, reported Insider.

The outfits analysis found that the militant group ruling Gaza used multicopter drones armed with explosives on Israeli security towers, border posts and communication towers, as per a Forbes report.

Video of how Hamas started the operation by attacking and destroying strategic positions using Iranian drone technology and then blew up holes in the fence allowing Hamas members to infiltrate inside Israel. pic.twitter.com/OZWZ9q2QHC  Asaad Sam Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) October 8, 2023

Hamas looks like theyve very carefully scoped out exactly the points at which the guard towers, the security towers, the border posts, the communications towers, the CCTV cameras  which have facial recognition  are at, Patton Rogers told Insider.

And then the drones have been sent in earlier on to take out a number of these key targets, he added.

ALSO READ: Israel shuts major offshore gas field near Gaza: Will this drive up global gas prices?

Zouari drones

Hamas claims it launched 35 Zouari kamikaze drones towards Israel, reported Forbes. Once seen as a reconnaissance drone, it has been revised for an attack role, the report added.

The fixed-wing drone is named after Mohamed Zouari, a Hamas-linked Tunisian aviation engineer assassinated in 2016.

Patton Rogers told Insider that Zouari, which is equipped with only a fire and forget GPS system, is similar to Americas Switchblade and Russian Lancet drones, but far less technically sophisticated.

According to Forbes, these drones were launched simultaneously to overwhelm Israels advanced air-defense system  the Iron Dome interceptors.

Hamas publishes scenes of the Al-Zawari suicide drone that entered service and participated in the crossing of the troops into occupied territories pic.twitter.com/LQNlunhhUh  War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 8, 2023

Patton Rogers said that the Iron Dome may have been occupied by thousands of rockets fired by Hamas, leading to at least some drones evading the defences and getting through to strike targets, reported Insider.

Irans government-controlled news service IRNA reported that Zouari drones had facilitated the crossing of gunmen from Gaza. It also shared a purported training video of the drone.

Targeting tanks

A video shared online shows a multicopter drone dropping a munition on the Israeli Merkava Mk4 main battle tank. As per Forbes, Hamas claimed one of the Israeli tanks it captured had been taken out by a drone.

DroneSec said that footage also showed an armed DJI quadcopter drone striking an ambulance near a group of soldiers, according to the Insider report.

Experts observed that deploying these drones helped Hamas militants to cross the border and spread across southern Israel during the unprecedented attack, the report added.

Similar use of inexpensive drones to strike important targets has been seen in the Ukraine war, with both Moscow and Kyiv taking advantage of the tactic.

With inputs from agencies
Saudi Arabias de facto ruler and Irans president spoke by phone about the war between Israel and Hamas, Saudi state media said early Thursday, their first call since a surprise rapprochement in March.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a call on Wednesday from the Iranian leader, Ebrahim Raisi, during which they discussed the current military situation in Gaza and its environs, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Prince Mohammed told Raisi that Riyadh is communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation, SPA said.

He also stressed the kingdoms firm position towards supporting the Palestinian cause, it said.

Iranian state news agency IRNA also reported on the call, saying the two men discussed the need to end war crimes against Palestine.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday that Israeli forces say killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

In Gaza, officials have reported more than 1,000 people killed in Israels retaliatory campaign of air and artillery strikes.

As war rages on, fears have mounted over the fate of at least 150 hostages  mostly Israelis but also including foreign and dual nationals  held in Gaza by Hamas.

Analysts say the war has dealt a heavy blow to a possible landmark normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, and Israel.

That process has been driven by US President Joe Bidens administration, with Riyadh bargaining hard for benefits from Washington including security guarantees and help developing a civilian nuclear programme.

Iran has long financially and militarily backed Hamas but insists it had no involvement in Saturdays assault.

Saudi Arabia and Iran announced in March they had agreed to restore ties, ending a seven-year rupture in a deal brokered by China.

Prince Mohammed also spoke by phone on Wednesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during which the 38-year-old Saudi leader said he was exerting unremitting efforts through regional and international communication to achieve coordination that pushes for a halt of the current escalation.
Israel reportedly attacked Syrias main airports in the northern city of Aleppo and the capital Damascus on Thursday, according to the countrys state television.

Syrian air defences were fired in reaction to both assaults, according to local media outlet Sham FM. The Aleppo airport was reported to have suffered damage but no casualties, but no information was provided regarding the effect of the strike on Damascus Airport.

On such incidents, the Israeli military typically stays silent, and on Thursday, there was no immediate remark.

Israel has been attacking targets in Syria that it claims are connected to Iran for years, including the airports in Aleppo and Damascus.

Attacks against the airports, according to sources, are meant to cut off Irans supply lines to Syria, where Tehrans influence has increased since it started backing President Bashar al-Assad in the civil conflict that broke out in 2011.

The bombings occurred the day before Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Iranian foreign minister, was scheduled to visit Syria.

According to Syrias transport ministry, technical teams went to both sites on Thursday to assess the extent of the damage.

(With agency inputs)
Ground reports suggest that the Israeli Health Minister on Wednesday issued an order telling hospitals in his country to not priorities the treatment of apprehended Hamas terrorists over civilians.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Moshe Arbel stated in his directive that due to the burden on the nations healthcare system, Israeli hospitals must currently give priority to Hamas victims and IDF soldiers.

The problem of treating the damned and disgusting Hamas terrorists in the public hospitals has piled up a significant challenge for the healthcare system, he said.

In these trying times, the health system should give its full attention to the care of the criminal massacre victims, the IDF soldiers, and the readiness for the next.

Under my direction, the public health system will not treat the cursed and disgusting terrorists since doing so would seriously undermine our efforts to combat terrorism.

The Health Ministry is, of course, prepared and eager to assist these bodies, if needed. The handling of the matter should be entrusted to the IDF or the Shin Bet, he said in conclusion.

The minister urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed that Israel will execute every Hamas member, to give the necessary instructions to start enforcing his order.

Following the directive, Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv reported on Wednesday night that a terrorist who had been taken to the facility had not been admitted to the emergency room.

Instead, he was directed to the Ramle prison service clinic for medical attention.

1,200 Israelis have died as a result of a coordinated attack on Israel on Saturday by Palestinian terrorists supported by Iran, some of whom were brutally raped, burned alive, and murdered by Hamas operatives.

In Israels overcrowded hospitals, thousands more people are being treated for injuries.
Amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, a disturbing video has resurfaced across social media platforms.

Hamas Commander Mahmoud al-Zahar can be seen in a viral video claiming that Israel is merely the initial target and that they aim to extend their influence over the entire world.

Israel is only the first target. The entire planet will be under our law, Zahar said in the video. The clip was translated and published by MEMRI TV in December 2022.

He added, The entire 510 million square kilometers of Planet Earth will come under a system where there is no injustice, no oppression, and no killings and crimes like those being committed against the Palestinians and against the Arabs in all the Arab countries, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and other countries.

Need any more proof that Hamas is a barbaric terrorist organization? WATCH | Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Zahar, warns #Israel is only the first target: The entire planet will be under our law; there will be no more Jews or Christian traitors.

pic.twitter.com/u52HlyMRhH  Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) October 11, 2023

Firstpost cannot verify the authenticity of the video

Meanwhile, people in Gaza spent the Wednesday night in darkness, surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighborhoods as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas, with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic.

At least 1,200 people have been killed in Gaza, according to authorities there. Israel says hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

The Israeli military says, according to The Associated Press, it is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but that the political leadership has not yet decided on one. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided.

Israel has called up some 360,000 army reservists and has threated an unprecedented response to Hamas bloody, wide-ranging incursion over the weekend. It has been launching intense airstrikes on Gaza since the attack by Hamas on Saturday, as militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday called the attack by Hamas the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust as the number of US citizens killed in the fighting ticked up to at least 22.

This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty  not just hate, but pure cruelty  against the Jewish people, Biden told Jewish leaders gathered at the White House.

With inputs from agencies
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military has so far notified families of 97 hostages who were being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported.

Coordinator for the Captives and Missing Brigadier General (Ret.) Gal Hirsch said that forces during the fighting are making three efforts which include intelligence-operational effort, an effort to formulate an assessment of the situation regarding the captives and missing and the effort to assist the families of the people who have been kept captive or are missing.

In a statement posted on X, Israeli Prime Minister office said, Coordinator for the Captives & Missing Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Gal Hirsch : Dear families, even during the fighting, we are making three main efforts: 1. The intelligence-operational effort 2. An effort to formulate an assessment of the situation regarding the captives and missing.

Israeli PMs office in the post on X stated, Government effort to assist the families of the captives and missing The searches in the field are continuing and the difficult work of identifying the bodies continues. Many of those who were injured are being treated in hospital and we are investigating every piece of information that could assist us in locating the missing.

Brigadier-General (Ret.) Gal Hirsch said he spoke with US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and deputy Steven Gillen, who is specially travelling to Israel.

Hirsch said, I spoke with US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and today I will meet his deputy, Steven Gillen, who is specially coming to Israel. The warm ties, the heartfelt concern and American commitment to assist in every way possible is very important to us.

He noted that many Israelis are contacting the military with offers to help and volunteer. He stated that he was moved by the strong spirit of Israelis during the fighting. Hirsch noted that he and his staff are working round the clock for the missing, captives and their families.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Yaov Gallant has briefed the 31 Defence Ministers at the NATO meeting of Defence Ministers held this morning in Brussels, Israel-based i24 News English reported. He spoke about the atrocities committed by Hamas against children, women, men and the elderly.

We have been hit hard. Yet make no mistake  2023 is not 1943. We are the same Jews, but we have different capabilities. The State of Israel is strong. We are united and powerful Gallant said in his briefing, i24 News English reported.

At the briefing, Gallant also showed an uncensored video of some of the attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers as well as foreign nationals to NATO Defence Ministers.

Israeli Defence Forces has said that Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men.

In a post shared on X, Israeli Defence Forces stated, Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization. Hamas is worse than ISIS.

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media reports. The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.
Chinas special envoy on Middle East issues is expected to speak with Israeli officials on Thursday as the war between Israel and Palestine reaches Day 6, Israels Ambassador to China, Irit Ben-Abba, told Bloomberg News.

The planned talks come after Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip.

China will officially announce the meeting later in the afternoon, during a regular briefing held by the foreign ministry.

Earlier this week, Zhai Jun, the Chinese special envoy, condemned acts that harm the citizens of a country and called for an immediate ceasefire.

China has previously worked on Israel-Palestine issues and has engaged officials from Israel and the Palestinian Authority  which governs in the occupied West Bank  as well as the Arab League and EU in the last year to discuss a two-state solution and recognition for Palestine at the United Nations.

Meanwhile, the multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday (October 7, 2023) and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left over 2,300 people dead.

The United Nations said that 338,934 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hours after forming an emergency government and wartime Cabinet, also vowed to keep fighting Hamas, and for the first time, on Wednesday, clearly expressed his countrys intention to destroy the Palestinian terrorist group.

With inputs from agencies
Hospitals in Gaza are at risk of turning into morgues as continue to remain stripped of resources like electricity, water and food, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Thursday.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, Fabrizio Carboni, said in a statement.

Gaza is reeling under a humanitarian crisis, with over 38,934 Palestinians being displaced in the region according to the United Nations.

Meanwhile, the head of the Gaza power authority told CNN that its main power station has stopped operating after running out of fuel. Locals in the region are scrambling through little electricity and using power generators to fulfill their needs.

The Palestinian health ministry has warned of healthcare disruption across the Gaza Strip as hospitals do not have enough beds to accommodate wounded people.

Hospitals have run out of bed capacity. The injured and ill people are on the floor as the Israeli aggression intensifies, the ministry said in a statement.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz, on the other hand, has announced that Gaza will not get any basic resources until Hamas releases all captives.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, he said.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday (October 7, 2023) and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left over 2,300 people dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hours after forming an emergency government and wartime Cabinet, also vowed to keep fighting Hamas, and for the first time, on Wednesday, clearly expressed his countrys intention to destroy the Palestinian terrorist group.
Israel has claimed that it has struck and killed a senior member of Hamass naval force Muhammed Abu Shamala in the Gaza Strip overnight.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) said aircraft struck Muhammed Abu Shamala, a senior operative in the Rafah Brigade.

Abu Shamalas residence was also used to store naval weapons intended to be used in terror operations against Israel, the IAF added.

The Israeli Air Force further informed that it conducted a wave of strikes targeting the Nukhba elite forces of the Hamas terrorist organisation, by striking operational command centres used by operatives who infiltrated the communities surrounding the Gaza strip last Saturday.

The Nukhba elite forces consist of terrorists selected by senior Hamas operatives, designated to carry out terrorist attacks such as ambushes, raids, assaults, infiltration through terror tunnels, as well as anti-tank missile, rocket, and sniper fire. The Nukhba elite forces were one of the leading forces that infiltrated the State of Israel in order to carry out murderous acts of terror against its citizens, the IAF said on X.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, while speaking to reporters, said the military also killed Mustafa Shahin, a Hamas operative who filmed and broadcast the terror groups murderous attack on southern Israel on Saturday.

We will close the account with everyone who was involved in the horrors of the war. We take videos from the internet and identify them with the help of facial recognition, Hagari said.

According to Hebrew media reports, the Israeli death toll since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Saturday has reached 1,300.

Around 3,300 people have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run health ministry said 1,203 Palestinians have been killed and another 5,769 have been wounded in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF has said it has killed some 1,500 Palestinian terrorists in Israeli territory.
After the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to stop overburdened hospitals from turning into mortuaries, Israel declared on Thursday that there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its embargo of the Gaza Strip until all of its detainees were freed.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Tel Aviv to express support for Israel, stop the crisis from getting worse, and attempt to liberate hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked America for supporting Israel today, tomorrow, and always while standing next to him.

In retaliation for the bloodiest attack on civilians in its history, in which hundreds of militants crossed the border and rampaged through Israeli territory, Israel has pledged to completely destroy the Hamas movement that administers the Gaza Strip.

Israels public channel Kan reported that more than 1,300 people have died there. Most of them were innocent people who were shot dead in their homes, on the streets, or while dancing. Israeli authorities claim to have recognised 97 of the several Israeli and foreign hostages who were transported back to Gaza.

After Israeli soldiers regained control of communities and discovered homes littered with victims, the entire scope of the killings only recently came to light. They claim to have discovered infants who had been shot and burned, as well as women who had been raped and slaughtered.

In response to the Hamas attack, Israel has so far completely besieged Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people, and launched the most intense bombing assault in the conflicts 75-year history, obliterating entire cities.

According to Gazan authorities, the bombing left more than 6,000 Palestinians injured and 1,354 dead.

The fuel fueling the emergency generators at Gazas hospitals could run out in a matter of hours, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni said. The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.

There would be no exceptions to the blockade, according to Israels Energy Minister Israel Katz, without the release of the Israeli hostages.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals, Katz posted on social media platform X.

Following their discussion in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu applauded Joe Biden for calling the Hamas attacks sheer evil in his Wednesday speech. Netanyahu was standing next to Blinken. Furthermore, according to Biden, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust was the day of the attacks.

Blinken praised Netanyahus choice to form a wartime unity government with some of his political rivals and asserted that the US is aware that Hamas does not accurately represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

On Friday, Blinken will travel to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in the West Bank that Israel occupies. The attacks against Israel on Saturday were not explicitly denounced by Abbas, a rival of Hamas, who instead blamed the escalation on the failure to address Palestinian grievances.

To bury their deceased, a large number of Israelis gathered Thursday at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem.\

(With agency inputs)
US Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday said that she dialed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning and restated US commitment to stand with Israel and the Israeli people.

Expressing her complete outrage over the Hamas attack on Israel, the Vice President said that the extreme acts of terrorism must be condemned in no uncertain terms.

#WATCH | On Israel-Palestine conflict, US Vice President Kamala Harris says, Im completely outraged by what has taken place. We are looking at extreme acts of terrorism that must be condemned in no uncertain terms. There is absolutely no justification for terrorism. The pic.twitter.com/sbqiVsgu1G  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

Im completely outraged by what has taken place. We are looking at extreme acts of terrorism that must be condemned in no uncertain terms. There is absolutely no justification for terrorism. The President (Joe Biden) and I take very seriously our commitment to Israel to support them and to give Israel what it needs to defend itself, said Kamala Harris.

She said one of the highest priority for the US is the safety and well-being of American citizens.

It is also critically important that we stay in constant communication and contact with our allies, Israeli partners and members of Congress This morning I was on a call with PM Netanyahuto restate our commitment to stand with Israel and the Israeli people, added the Vice President.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed to Israel on Wednesday as Washington underscores support for the Jewish state in a war that has seen the death toll spiral into the thousands

Just ahead of Blinkens trip, Washington urged its ally to show restraint in its response to Hamass surprise attack  the worst in the countrys 75-year history  which Israeli forces said killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

In Gaza, officials have reported more than 1,200 people killed in Israels uninterrupted campaign of air and artillery strikes, while the UN said more than 338,000 people have been displaced.

Every Hamas member is a dead man, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Wednesday, likening the militants to the Islamic State group and promising: We will crush them and destroy them as the world has destroyed Daesh.

For days, black smoke has billowed into the sky above the impoverished Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people, where entire city blocks have been razed.

As the war rages on, fears are growing over the fate of at least 150 hostages  mostly Israelis but also foreign and dual nationals  held in Gaza by Hamas.

The militants claimed that four captives died in Israeli strikes and threatened to kill the others if civilian targets were bombed without advance warning from Israel.

Hamas claimed Wednesday to have released an Israeli woman and her two children who it said had been detained during fighting with Israeli forces, but Israeli television networks rejected the announcement.

With inputs from agencies
NATO countries on Thursday told Israels defence minister they stood by his country after the attack by Hamas, but urged his forces to respond with proportionality, the alliance said.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefed his counterparts from the US-led military alliance via videolink as his countrys military carries out a bombing campaign after Islamist militants killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO condemned the terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms, adding: Israel does not stand alone, NATO said in a statement.

Allies expressed solidarity with Israel, making clear that it has the right to defend itself with proportionality against these unjustifiable acts of terror.

NATO countries called for Hamas to immediately release all hostages, and for the fullest possible protection of civilians. Allies also made clear that no nation or organisation should seek to take advantage of the situation or to escalate it.

The statement added that a number of NATO allies made clear that they are providing practical support to Israel as it continues to respond to the situation.

In Gaza, officials have reported more than 1,200 people killed in Israels uninterrupted campaign of air and artillery strikes, while the UN said more than 338,000 people have been displaced.

US President Joe Biden  who has strongly backed Israel and started sending military aid  has cautioned that Israel must, despite all the anger and frustration  operate by the rules of war.

British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps insisted Thursday that Israel was going after the terrorists in Gaza.

They are not by design attacking civilians, he told journalists at NATO headquarters.

Thats a very, very important, critical difference that I think the whole world needs to understand.
Nigers military leaders have ordered the United Nations coordinator to leave the country within 72 hours, blaming the world body for hindering international recognition of the post-coup regime.

The expulsion order comes a day after the United States cut off more than $500 million in assistance to Niger and as France begins withdrawing its troops after they were also ordered out.

The Nigerien foreign ministry said in a statement, seen by AFP on Wednesday but dated Tuesday, that the government was expelling Louise Aubin, the UNs resident and humanitarian coordinator, instructing her to take all necessary measures to leave Niamey within 72 hours.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deeply regretted the order, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, confirming that Aubin had been given 72 hours to leave.

Dujarric said the decision would disrupt the world bodys work in Niger, but reiterated the unwavering commitment of the UN to stay and deliver for the people in Niger through continued humanitarian operations.

Aubin, a Canadian, was appointed to the job in January 2021.

Obstacles

At last months UN General Assembly in New York, Nigers military leaders said obstacles had prevented their full and complete participation in the meeting.

Bakary Yaou Sangare, who before the coup was Nigers ambassador to the UN and is now its foreign minister, was the new leaders chosen representative for the assembly.

But, according to a diplomatic source, there was also an application by the ousted government to represent Niamey.

Because of the competing credentials, the matter was deferred and no representative from Niger was added to the speakers list.

Sangare did not address the General Assembly.

Previously, Nigers coup leaders had said the perfidious actions of the UN chief were likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country.

In December, neighbouring Burkina Faso expelled its own UN coordinator, with the military leaders there taking issue with the UNs decision to withdraw non-essential staff from the capital.

French troops withdraw

Separately, Nigers military regime said it had escorted the first convoy of French soldiers from their base in the western town of Ouallam headed towards Chad.

According to a report on Nigers national television on Wednesday evening, a total of 116 French soldiers and equipment left Niamey for NDjamena in Chad on Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday, a plane with a first contingent of 49 soldiers took off from Niamey, reported Tele Sahel.

The following day, there were reportedly three flights from Niamey, and on Wednesday another plane took off with 14 soldiers aboard.

The evacuations were said to have been carried out by A400M military transport aircraft travelling from Niameys Diori Hamani airport to Chads capital NDjamena.

NDjamena, about 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) from Niamey, is the base for French forces in the Sahel command.

Around 1,000 French troops were stationed in Niamey, with another 400 deployed at two forward bases in the northwest, near Mali and Burkina Faso, an area known as a hotbed of insurgent activity.

Nigers military leaders, who ordered the troops withdrawal and assured the operation would happen with complete safety, said the disengagement would continue on a timetable agreed to by both parties.

Sent packing

It is the third time in 18 months that French troops have been sent packing by a former African colony, dealing a severe blow to Frances influence on the continent and prestige on the international stage.

Frances ambassador to Niger was also given his marching orders by the soldiers who toppled the French-backed president on July 26.

The United States formally acknowledged on Tuesday that Nigers ousting of democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum had been a military coup detat.

Any resumption of US assistance will require action to usher in democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

The United States, along with West African nations and former colonial power France, has pressed the military to restore Bazoum.

Washington is keeping about 1,000 military personnel in Niger, but is no longer actively training or assisting Niger forces, another US official said.
As Washington pushed Israel to safeguard civilians and the Red Cross spoke of a humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave, Israel declared on Thursday that there would be no respite in its siege of the Gaza Strip for aid or evacuations until all of its hostages were freed.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that America would always support Israel and provide security assistance, but he urged Israel to exercise restraint even when its difficult as he arrived in Tel Aviv on a solidarity visit.

In retaliation for the bloodiest attack on civilians in Israeli history, when hundreds of militants breached the barrier and rampaged through cities on March 30, Israel has pledged to completely destroy the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, head of the Israeli military, warned that the attacks security lapses in the vicinity of Gaza would serve as a lesson.

The IDF is responsible for defending the country and its citizens, and Saturday morning, in the area around Gaza, we did not live up to it, he said. We will learn, investigate, but now is the time for war.

Israels public channel Kan reported that more than 1,300 people have died there. Most of them were innocent people who were shot dead in their homes, on the streets, or while dancing. Israeli authorities claim to have recognised 97 of the several Israeli and foreign hostages who were transported back to Gaza.

In response, Israel has so far completely besieged Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people, and launched the most powerful bombing assault in the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, obliterating entire neighbourhoods.

According to Gazas authorities, more than 6,000 Palestinians have been injured in addition to more than 1,400 fatalities.

The fuel fueling the emergency generators at Gazas hospitals could run out in a matter of hours, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni said. The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.

There would be no exceptions to the blockade, according to Israels Energy Minister Israel Katz, without the release of the Israeli hostages.

No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals, Katz posted on social media platform X.

Egypt, which has a single border crossing with Gaza, said it was trying to allow in aid there.

Syria claimed that Israeli air attacks had targeted the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, rendering both of them inoperable, in the clearest indication yet that the fighting may spread across international boundaries.

According to the Israeli military, it makes no comments on such rumours. Iran, which supports Hamas and has praised the assaults while denying a direct role, is a close friend of Syria.

Standing beside Netanyahu, Blinken said: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side.

Netanyahu said: Thank you, America, for standing with Israel, today, tomorrow and always.

Blinken also offered an emotional, personal aside, recounting how his own grandfather had fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived Nazi concentration camps.

I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere, he said.

We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when its difficult. Thats why its so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.

On Friday, Blinken will travel to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in the West Bank that Israel occupies.

On Thursday, Abbas, whose Fatah movement has long been Hamas adversary, denounced violence against civilians on both sides.

We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying.

Scores of Israelis gathered in Jerusalems Mount Herzl military cemetery on Thursday to bury their dead.

When you didnt take my call, I knew you were fighting with all your power. When I realised you were missing, I could not imagine this is how it would end, one mourner said.

The Samour family, who were slain on Wednesday night in a strike that damaged their home, were buried on vacant areas in Khan Younis, Gazas main southern city, where cemeteries were already filled.

Eight dead were discovered by family members and friends at the mortuary, and 10 more are thought to be under the wreckage. The victims were taken from the hospital in a truck draped in floral blankets, and they were then deposited at a property across the street from their demolished home, lined up in white shrouds. Nearby, hundreds of men prayed.

A woman at the adjacent hospital made an effort to comfort a crying young girl whose home had been damaged. My mother, I want my mommy, the girl kept yelling. The woman embraced the young girl.

Residents of the Al Shati refugee camp in Gaza were using their bare hands to dig through the debris in search of remains and survivors. According to rescuers, they lack fuel and digging tools.

Although Washington has supported Israel forcefully, Blinkens proposal to meet with Abbas demonstrates that Washington is still aware of Palestinian grievances, which are keenly felt by Arab friends.

Since Hamas took control of Gaza 16 years ago, its residentsmostly relatives of refugees who left or were evicted from their homes in Israel upon its foundinghave endured economic collapse, continuous Israeli bombardment, and a blockade.

Due to Israels recent deadly crackdown in the West Bank and promises of annexing additional land by its right-wing administration, Palestinian rage has increased. Palestinian authorities claim that the collapse of a peace effort intended to establish a Palestinian state a decade ago left the populace without hope and strengthened extremists.

(With agency inputs)
According to Israeli media, the Israel Defence Forces have used at least 6,000 rounds of ammunition to attack over 3,600 targets in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF claims that recent assaults were directed against a senior Hamas operative as well as other terrorist group members.

The Times of Israel reported that the military asserts to be attacking all of Hamass assets in the Gaza Strip, including war rooms, military outposts, factories for producing weapons, and areas associated to the terror groups top leadership.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned the Hamas terror organisation on Thursday that 2023 is not 1943 and, in an apparent allusion to the persecution of Jews under the Nazi dictatorship in Germany, added that modern Jews have different capabilities.

At a meeting in Brussels, he addressed 31 NATO allies during a briefing.

We have been hit hard. Yet make no mistake  2023 is not 1943. We are the same Jews, but we have different capabilities. The State of Israel is strong. We are united and powerful, he said.

Gallant also briefed them about atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against children, women, men and the elderly.

He further asserted that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will destroy Hamas and will hunt down every last man with the blood of children.

Hamas is the ISIS of Gaza, a savage organization, funded and supported by Iran. Hamas is ISIS, he says. The ISIS of Gaza will not exist, on our borders. The IDF will destroy Hamas. And we will hunt down every last man, with the blood of our children, on his hands, Gallant said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces also said that Hamas brought ISIS flags to Israel when they had infiltrated various parts of South Israel last weekend.

In a post shared on X, Israeli Defence Forces stated, Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organisation. Hamas is worse than ISIS.

Since the Hamas attack, Israel has had 1,300 fatalities and 3300 injuries, including 28 people in critical and 350 people in serious condition.

According to the report, it is still unknown what became of the 150 persons who were reportedly kidnapped and transferred to the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attack.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), reported that the military has already informed the families of 97 captives who were being held prisoner by terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

(With agency inputs)
In an effort to bolster its reputation as being anti-immigrant before of a national election, Polands prime minister claimed on Thursday that refugees affected by the violence in Israel will include Islamic jihadists.

Migration is at the centre of the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) partys effort to secure a third term in office on October 15.

In this great wave of migration there will be Islamic fighters, terrorists, thousands of young men will migrate to Europe, Mateusz Morawiecki told a press conference.

A European Union agreement for a quota system between member states for moving illegal migrants, who have been entering Europe in greater numbers, has been challenged by Poland and its neighbour Hungary.

In a referendum that will be held concurrently with the election, voters will be requested to express their opinions on that system.

The opposition would tear down a fence on the border with Belarus and accept migrant quotas, according to PiS, who has framed the election as a choice between a government dedicated to curb illegal immigration and the opposition.

The European Commission dismissed Warsaws allegation that it would be compelled to accept more migrants under the new guidelines, stating that Poland would be excluded owing to the enormous number, while opposition parties said they would not tear down the border.

The opposition has also questioned whether PiS is as strict on immigration as it claims to be, pointing to a rise in immigration from outside of Europe while it was in power and a scandal involving the payment of visas in cash.

The government, according to opposition parties, was involved in a scheme whereby migrants acquired permits quickly and without adequate checks after paying middlemen.

According to PiS, the scope of the issue has been inflated, and its roots go back to the oppositions rule.

(With agency inputs)
After her parents got stuck in Gaza, the first minister of Scotlands wife claimed she felt as though she was just living in a nightmare.

Nadia El-Nakla stated that her parents, Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, continually tell her they feel like they are going to die in an interview on Wednesday.

The El-Nakla family visited a senior cousin and El-Naklas brother, a physician in Gaza, last week while on their trip.

After Hamas moved fighters across the border and launched thousands of rockets on Saturday in what it claimed was a new operation, they found themselves stranded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel declared that the nation was at war as its military started retaliatory strikes against targets in Gaza.

At least 2,300 people have already perished in the conflict on both sides.

Elizabeth El-Nakla stated in a video clip that was shown during the interview We have no electricity, we have no water, and the little food we do have will not last because there is no electricity and it will spoil.

Ms. El-Nakla told the BBC that it was incredibly difficult right now while clearly emotional.

There is no electricity starting at 2pm their time, which was just a few hours ago, she declared. Without electricity, you cant even maintain the food that you do have, let alone get medical supplies or food.

I have no idea what it will imply for them in the long run or what will happen to them next.

My familys safety is the most important thing to me.

According to Ms. El-Nakla, her parents are now discussing how to preserve their phone batteries because of the absence of power, which means they must minimize contact.

Im seeing things, and Im calling my parents every few hours, she continued.

However, right now, were talking about the need to protect their phones battery. There is no electricity, so we are unable to continue speaking with them.

They wrote down all of our numbers, and we took the numbers of our neighbors.

If I cant get in touch with them, can I contact a neighbour to find out if theyre still alive?

These are conversations we need to have.

At times my arms just feel like lead.

It feels like I am just living in a nightmare. For them, I just cant understand how they feel.

In a letter to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Tuesday, El-Naklas husband Humza Yousaf pleaded with Israel to allow for the opening of a humanitarian corridor.

I am writing regarding the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas over the weekend, as well as the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza, he said in his letter.

Too many innocent lives have already been sacrificed as a result of these utterly outrageous and illegal strikes by Hamas.

However, men, women, and children who are innocent cannot and should not be made to pay for a terrorist groups acts. Collectively punishing defenseless civilians is inadmissible and will not provide the conditions for regional peace.

As a close friend and ally of Israel, I, therefore, ask the UK Government to call on the government of Israel to ensure innocent civilians are protected and to put in place an immediate ceasefire to allow the safe passage of civilians through the Rafah border.

Furthermore, it should open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow supplies, including food, fuel, water and medical supplies, for those civilians who are trapped, helpless and cannot leave.
In light of the situation in Gaza, police patrolling has been increased at events and locations in Singapore, and the security of potential target attack locations has been reviewed, according to Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam on Thursday.

In light of the unexpected Hamas attack on October 7, Shanmugam stated that Singaporean security services are actively watching the situation, and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has also increased its security measures.

According to Shanmugam, terrorist organizations may attempt to take advantage of such situations, thus Singaporeans must exercise care.

According to Shanmugam, this includes strengthening the security presence in areas that are thought to be at higher danger.

For operational reasons, I cannot tell you the exact plans, but additional measures have been taken, the Indian-origin minister told reporters.

Singapores move comes as other countries have taken similar measures following the developing conflict in the Middle East.

Britain, Canada, France and Germany are among nations stepping up security around potential Jewish targets and pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupting in cities.

Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the countrys south through air, land and sea on October 7.

On the sixth day, the Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, were killed in Israel while in Gaza, at least 1,200 people were killed in Israels counter-strike.

Noting that some groups have already issued calls for followers to join in a wider jihad against Israel, and there have been reports of anti-Semitic attacks overseas, Shanmugam said: This is a period everyone has to be more alert and careful because Singapore is an attractive target.

Singapore will act against anyone who promotes or espouses extremism and terrorism  a stance the Republic has made clear over the years, he stressed.

He said the government had detained Singaporeans under the Internal Security Act as they fell for the pro-Hamas narratives and wanted to fight against Israel, he said.

They include a 20-year-old man detained in March 2021 who had wanted to travel to Gaza to fight alongside Hamas. He had also planned a knife attack against Jews at a synagogue here.

The minister highlighted some local cases involving the radicalisation of Singaporeans.

Amirull Ali, who was a full-time national serviceman in the Singapore Armed Forces when he was arrested in February 2021, had planned to target three Jewish men after their Saturday congregational prayers at the Maghain Aboth Synagogue in Waterloo Street.

Another man, Mohamed Khairul Riduan Mohamed Sarip, 38, was detained in November 2022 following his plans to travel to Gaza to fight alongside Hamas after watching videos online.

Khairul, a teacher with the Ministry of Education, had been self-radicalised and had watched videos by radical foreign preachers which discussed the concept of armed jihad in defence of Islam.

To avoid security scrutiny, Khairul had planned to travel to Gaza under the guise of providing humanitarian aid.

The Singapore government has also detained individuals who intended to attack Muslim targets here, said Shanmugam.

These individuals include a 16-year-old boy who was detained in December 2020. The boy had planned to launch knife attacks against Muslims at two mosques in Singapore after he was influenced by the 2019 Christchurch attack in New Zealand.

The boy had made detailed plans and preparations to conduct terrorist attacks at the Assyafaah Mosque in Sembawang and Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands, both of which are near his home, on the second anniversary of the Christchurch terror attack.

So far, we have managed to avoid letting international events like these destabilise us within Singapore, the Singapore daily quoted Shanmugam as saying.

This is going to be quite a tough period, but our fundamental attitude cannot change: We are all Singaporeans, we have a precious peace within Singapore, and we must never let external events affect that, said the minister.
Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday hit the international airports of the Syrian capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, damaging their runways and putting them out of service.

State news agency SANA quoted an unnamed military official as saying that no one was hurt in the attacks.

The Israeli military declined to comment.

They would be the first Israeli strikes on Syria since the militant Palestinian group Hamas carried out its deadly attacks in southern Israel.

The airstrikes came a day before Irans foreign minister was scheduled to visit Syria to meet officials over the volatile situation in the region.

Israel has targeted airports and sea ports in the government-held parts of Syria in an apparent attempt to prevent arms shipments from Iran to militant groups backed by Tehran, including Lebanons Hezbollah. Thousands of Iran-backed fighters from around the region joined Syrias 12-year conflict helping tip the balance in favour of President Bashar Assads forces.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, including attacks on the Damascus and Aleppo airports, but rarely acknowledges or discusses the operations.
Three Chinese nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, Beijings foreign ministry said on Thursday.

To my understanding it has currently been confirmed that three Chinese nationals were unfortunately killed in the conflict, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters.

In addition, he said, two people are uncontactable and a number were injured.

We express our deepest condolences for the dead, and express our sincere sympathies for the families of the dead and for those who were injured, Wang said.

Chinas relevant diplomatic organisations abroad are currently engaging in all-out efforts to coordinate the rescue and treatment of those injured, and making arrangements for those who died, he added.

We urge external parties to put full effort into searching for and rescuing the uncontactable people, and take all effective measures to safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel and organisations, Wang said.

Israel has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the blockaded Gaza Strip after the Islamists carried out a massive assault on Israel on Saturday that killed more than 1,200 people.

Around another 1,200 people have been killed in the Palestinian coastal enclave in Israeli air strikes, according to Hamas officials.
World Tourism Day, celebrated every September 27 under the auspices of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), embodies the limitless potential and dynamism of the global tourism industry. This year, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, playing host, focused on the theme of Investing in People, Planet, and Prosperity. The event aimed to realign tourisms trajectory, merging traditional appeal with progressive undertones and sustainability.

World Tourism Day 2023 Themes & Messages

The Investing in People, Planet, and Prosperity theme dictated the narrative. For People, the stress on education and skill enhancement was paramount, especially given that many young aspirants in emerging destinations remain excluded from the sector due to lack of opportunities. The discussions moved beyond the confines of mere hotel management.

Planet saw the green transition in tourism take centre stage, with data showing a 131 per cent year-on-year (YoY) surge in global hotel investments, leaning heavily towards sustainable edifices. For Prosperity, the limelight was on the pivotal role of digitalisation and its promise to rejuvenate the industry post-pandemic.

Amidst this, the Tourism Opens Minds initiative was launched. In an era where tourists lean towards well-trodden paths, this endeavour seeks to alter travel inclinations, championing lesser-known locales. More details about Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality were also unveiled at the event.

First announced in 2021, the larger aim behind the school remains  becoming the first student-centric academy to unite all the different aspects of tourism. The academy also intends to emerge as a platform to empower the next gen of tourism and hospitality leaders and bridge the global tourism skills gap.

His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, said: The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality is Saudis gift to the worldAs we invest in the next generation of tourism professionals, we are not only securing the industrys future but also fostering a legacy of excellence that will drive prosperity, stimulate individual growth of citizens and foster cultural exchange for years to come.

State of Tourism in 2023

The backdrop of optimism was palpable. UNWTOs data reflected a promising trajectory, with tourism expected to reclaim 80-95 per cent of its pre-pandemic glory by end-2023. However, a concurrent YouGov survey pointed to existing inertia, with many favouring familiar terrains.

66 per cent of tourists prefer traveling to familiar countries

67 per cent tend to travel to destinations that they have previously visited or have heard from their network

This contrast only bolstered the need for transformative initiatives like Tourism Opens Minds.

Initiatives and Actions

Tourism Opens Minds transcended the rhetoric, promising holistic growth with its comprehensive approach, roping in government stakeholders, the private sector, and travellers. The crux of this initiative was to combat over-tourism, promote environmental conservation, and ensure equitable growth.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvilis vision resonated deeply, championing tourism as a bridge to global understanding and unity.

Pledge and Symbolism

The days zenith was the unveiling of a new emblem for Tourism Opens Minds, amalgamating the myriad colours of global flags, symbolizing unity, and the pledge announcement by Winston Duke as UNWTO ambassador during the gala dinner in At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accompanying this was a Pledge to champion accessibility to lesser-known destinations, foster welcoming environments, and endorse an open mindset.

Investment in Tourism Education

Education took centre stage with the announcement of the Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality, a collaboration between UNWTO and Saudi Arabias Ministry of Tourism. Beyond the prevalent focus on hotel management, this institution promises a comprehensive curriculum, aiming to sculpt future industry leaders.

Qatar Tourisms Presence and Achievements

At the heart of the event stood Qatar Tourism (QT), demonstrating its vigorous strides in the tourism domain. Their delegation not only actively engaged with regional tourism ministers and luminaries but also fortified strategic alliances. Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were inked with renowned Saudi tour operators, Al Matar and Al Mosafer, aiming to position Qatar as the go-to for families and leisure-seekers from Saudi Arabia. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Deputy Chairman of Qatar Tourism, underscored Qatars unwavering drive towards its visionary 2030 tourism strategy.

A Legacy for the Future

World Tourism Day 2023, in Riyadh, has undeniably sowed the seeds for a brighter, more inclusive, and sustainable future in global tourism. With the roadmap illuminated by the initiatives and collaborations birthed, the world looks forward to a harmonious and interconnected tomorrow in tourism.
Over 2,000 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides.

The Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command said in its appeal on Wednesday evening that specialist officers are in close contact with the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to act upon information being received about British nationals.

The UK police have a role in assisting with the repatriation of loved ones back to the country and the Met Police said it had started gathering information that may assist any subsequent coronial process.

This appeal is directed at anyone who may have already returned from Israel in the past few days and has footage or images of the terrorist attacks, the Met Police said.

There may also be people in the UK who have friends, relatives or loved ones in Israel and have been sent direct messages, images or videos. We would ask that people dont report footage or information that they have come across through open source research  media reports, online or on social media, it said.

The appeal came as a charity that helps Jewish people in the UK reported that antisemitic incidents in the country had tripled since the conflict began last Saturday.

The Community Security Trust (CST) said it recorded 89 anti-Jewish hate incidents since October 7, which marked a 324 per cent rise on the 21 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year. Earlier this week, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman had written to police chiefs of the country to take tough action against such hate crimes.

Context is crucial. Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example, the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism.

Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at, reads her letter.

Meanwhile, the royal family joined senior political figures to express their deep shock at the developments in the Middle East while Foreign Secretary James Cleverly travelled to Israel in a show of UK support.

Today Ive seen a glimpse of what millions experience every day. The threat of Hamas rockets lingers over every Israeli man, woman and child. This is why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel, said Cleverly, after videos shared online showed the Cabinet minister running for cover as air raid sirens blared in the city of Ofakim.

The Israeli foreign ministry said the siren was warning citizens of incoming Hamas rocket fire.

King Charles III spoke to Yitzhak Herzog, the President of Israel, and King Abdullah of Jordan on Wednesday afternoon.

His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel, the monarchs spokesperson said after the phone call.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday, to acknowledge the challenging security situation at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, Sunaks office said.

He (Sunak) offered the UKs support to try to manage this situation and keep the route open for humanitarian and consular reasons, including for British nationals, the statement on Thursday said.

Earlier, In a letter to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Tuesday, El-Naklas husband Humza Yousaf pleaded with Israel to allow for the opening of a humanitarian corridor.

I am writing regarding the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas over the weekend, as well as the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza, he said in his letter.

Too many innocent lives have already been sacrificed as a result of these utterly outrageous and illegal strikes by Hamas.

However, men, women, and children who are innocent cannot and should not be made to pay for a terrorist groups acts. Collectively punishing defenseless civilians is inadmissible and will not provide the conditions for regional peace.

As a close friend and ally of Israel, I, therefore, ask the UK Government to call on the government of Israel to ensure innocent civilians are protected and to put in place an immediate ceasefire to allow the safe passage of civilians through the Rafah border.

Furthermore, it should open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow supplies, including food, fuel, water and medical supplies, for those civilians who are trapped, helpless and cannot leave.
A United States nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived in South Korea on Thursday. This deployment was seen as a show of strength in response to North Koreas leader reaffirming his commitment to strengthening ties with Russia.

The aircraft carrier and its group docked at the port of Busan in southeastern South Korea after taking part in a trilateral maritime exercise involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan earlier in the week, as reported by the South Korean Defence Ministry.

The aircraft carrier is to stay in Busan until next Monday as part of a bilateral agreement to enhance regular visibility of US strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear programme, according to an earlier Defence Ministry statement. Its the first arrival of a US aircraft carrier in South Korea in six months since the USS Nimitz docked at Busan in late March, the statement said.

The arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan is expected to enrage North Korea, which views the deployment of such a powerful US military asset as a major security threat. When the USS Ronald Reagan staged joint military drills with South Korean forces in October 2022, North Korea said the carriers deployment was causing considerably huge negative splash in regional security and performed ballistic missile tests.

The US carriers latest arrival comes as concerns grow that North Korea is pushing to get sophisticated weapons technologies from Russia in exchange for supplying ammunition to refill Russias conventional arms stores exhausted by its protracted war with Ukraine. Such concerns flared after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russias Far East last month to meet President Vladimir Putin and inspect key weapons-making facilities.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un exchanged letters with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, vowing to advance their ties and wishing him victory over what he called hegemony and pressure from imperialists, Pyongyangs state media KCNA said.

The letters mark the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations and came about a month after Kims rare trip to Russia during which he and Putin discussed military cooperation, including North Koreas satellite programme, and the war in Ukraine.
US special forces were en route to the Israeli combat zone as the US prepares for a potential operation to free more than 150 hostages taken prisoner by Hamas.

The 2,400 fighters of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit secretly left their scheduled military drill in Kuwait, according to reports.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower group is scheduled to join the USS Gerald R. Ford group in the eastern Mediterranean in order to thwart any Iranian action. The USS Gerald R. Ford has already arrived there as the head of a carrier strike group.

However, with the deployment of the 26th, who were among the first US forces into Afghanistan following 9/11, the likelihood of direct US engagement increased.

A corps official verified to Military Times that the battalion is no longer in vicinity of Kuwait as a result of emerging events hours after they arrived for their two-week assignment.

We are prepared as a crisis response force, she continued.

Military officials disclosure that US door kickers under Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) had been alerted in a nearby European nation caused the word to spread.

The Navys SEAL Team Six, which was sent to kill Osama bin Laden, and the Armys Delta Force, which has previously carried out hostage rescue missions, are both part of the command.

On Monday, Abu Obaida, a spokesman for Hamas, issued a warning that the organization would begin beheading its hostages if Israel suddenly began attacking residents of Gaza.

On Wednesday night, a different spokesperson told CNN that while Israel is still attacking Gaza, it is too early to return Israeli prisoners.

We wont talk about this subject until Israel stops attacking our people, he continued.

Although 17 Americans are still missing and 22 Americans are confirmed to have killed in the Hamas strike, according to the White House, very few Americans are believed to remain detained in Gaza.

It came after US hostage negotiators were deployed to Israel to help with intelligence and planning for prospective hostage rescue operations, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Additionally, he acknowledged that the Pentagon has a liaison cell in Israel that collaborates with the nations special operations forces.

Before Hamas militants surged out of Gaza on October 7 and carried out the worst-ever terror attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 Israelis, 3,000 more US sailors and marines had already been sent to the Middle East.

According to the Department of Defense, the deployment in August was made to thwart recent Iranian attempts to seize commercial ships in the CENTCOM area of operations.

President Biden stated on Wednesday that the US carrier fleet had been relocated to the Eastern Mediterranean, that more fighter jets were being sent to the area, and that the Iranians had been warned to be careful.

We are already providing the Israeli Defense Force with additional military support, including ammunition and interceptors to restock the Iron Dome, the statement reads.
Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan Thursday, visiting abroad for the first time since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March.

Putin is wanted by the court over the deportation of Ukrainian children. Its ruling requires members of the ICC, which does not include Kyrgyzstan, to make the arrest if he sets foot on their territory.

Russian news agencies TASS, Interfax and RIA Novosti reported early Thursday morning that Putin had arrived in Kyrgyzstan.

He is due to meet his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov and to take part in a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States with his Belarus ally Alexander Lukashenko and other regional leaders.

The long-time leader has rarely left Russia since launching the Ukraine offensive in February 2022.

This year, he has travelled only to Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, with his last foreign trips to Belarus and Kyrgyzstan last December  a far cry from the busy international schedule he had earlier in his rule.

Now, in a sign of Russias isolation, he is planning a visit to North Korea next, as well as China.

Moscow has likened the prospect of Putin being arrested abroad to an act of war, casting the warrant as illegal.

In practice, however, it has taken precautions: in August, Russia sent Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to a BRICS summit in ICC member South Africa, instead of Putin.

Political show

While the full-scale Ukraine offensive made Putin a persona-non-grata in the Western world, the ICC ruling virtually closed the door to a large part of the globe for him.

The Rome Statute, a treaty requiring members to adhere to ICC rulings, has been ratified by 123 countries.

The ruling caused a legal headache for ICC member South Africa, which hosted the BRICS summit to which Putin was invited.

In a last-minute decision, Moscow sent its foreign minister instead of Putin.

Why should I create some problems for our friends during an event? Putin said this month, commenting on his absence from Johannesburg.

If I come, a political show will start, he added.

Putin is wanted alongside his childrens rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for the war crime of allegedly unlawfully deporting thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Moscow rejects the allegations.

Armenia PM snubs meeting

The visit comes amid some rifts among Russias allies.

Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan will skip the summit attended by Putin, host country Kyrgyzstan announced two days before the event.

Pashinyan has criticised Moscow for not intervening when Azerbaijan launched a successful offensive to take over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region last month.

His snub came after Armenian lawmakers moved to join the ICC, angering Moscow and potentially limiting Putins travel options further.

Putin is planning to meet with the leader of Armenias arch-foe, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.

Moscows Ukraine offensive has also rattled its Central Asian partners.

Putin visited all five regional countries  Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan  in 2022, portraying them as Russias core allies.

Ahead of Putins trip, Kyrgyzstan said it had ratified an agreement for a common air defence system with Russia.

Moscow has similar deals with other allied countries including Kazakhstan, Belarus and Tajikistan.

But suspicion of Russia in parts of the region has grown. None of the Central Asian countries supported Russia in a key UN vote on Ukraine last year.

In September, Kazakhstan even vowed to comply with the massive Western sanctions on Russia, with its leader saying Astana will not help Moscow circumvent them.

Central Asian countries, which have many citizens working in Russia, have warned their people not to fight in Ukraine alongside Moscows forces.
As he launched a Middle East trip aimed at controlling the crisis, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington was on Israels side and that he personally understood the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews.

In his most direct appeal to date, Blinken asked Israel to exercise prudence in its reaction and to take all feasible measures to preserve civilian life from a podium next to the Israeli prime minister at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

As Israel launches the most intense bombing campaign in the 75-year history of its struggle with the Palestinians, pledging to obliterate Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, Washingtons top diplomat set out on a multi-nation Middle East visit.

Blinken will also work to accelerate negotiations with Israelis and Egyptians on ensuring a safe exit for civilians in Gaza from the enclave ahead of a potential Israeli ground attack. Hostages held by Hamas, some of whom are believed to be Americans, are being held prisoner.

He said that the Hamas attacks resulted in at least 25 American deaths.

You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side, Blinken told Netanyahu.

Additionally, he added a touching, private aside about how his stepfather had escaped Nazi concentration camps and how his grandfather had fled pogroms in Russia.

I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere, he said.

At a subsequent news conference, Blinken said that Israeli officials had released recordings and pictures of the aftermath of the Hamas strikes, which he claimed showed young people being torched in their automobiles, a baby being riddled with bullets, and soldiers being beheaded.

Its simply depravity in the worst imaginable way. Blinken said. Its really beyond anything that we can comprehend, digest.

Blinken stated that after Israel, he will travel to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah and Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. From there, he will continue on to meet with officials in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Qatar.

Blinkens visit also attempts to prevent Iran, which supports Hamas, from interfering in the conflict.

After hundreds of Hamas gunmen stormed Israeli cities on Saturday, it was the bloodiest attack on Jewish civilians in Israeli history. Israel has pledged to exact revenge.

The region is experiencing the most dramatic surge in years.

(With agency inputs)
Israel will wipe Hamas off the face of the Earth, said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said.

I say here, to everyone  we will wipe out this thing called Hamas, Gallant said alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We will wipe them off the face of the Earth.

His statement came on the day the Israel-Hamas war entered its sixth day on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu, hours after forming an emergency government and wartime Cabinet, also vowed to keep fighting Hamas, and for the first time, on Wednesday, clearly expressed his countrys intention to destroy the Palestinian terrorist group.

Netanyahu said every member of the Palestinian terrorist group was a dead man.

Hamas is Daesh (Islamic State group) and we will crush them and destroy them as the world has destroyed Daesh, the Israeli PM said in a brief televised statement, the first delivered jointly with his war cabinet.

The statements made by both the Israeli leaders signalled that their country may be entering final preparations for what officials believe could be an invasion of the narrow strip of land, wedged between Israel and Egypt, that has been under Hamas control, a report by TIME said.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday (October 7, 2023) and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left over 2,300 people dead.

The Israeli authorities said more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, while the Palestinian side put the death toll in Gaza at 950.

With inputs from agencies
Nokias factory in Chennai has marked a significant achievement, producing seven million telecom units. This aligns with Indias Make in India initiative, promoting local production.

High-ranking government officials attended a ceremony at the Chennai factory to celebrate this accomplishment. The factory, one of Nokias largest worldwide, manufactures telecom infrastructure equipment for 4G/5G networks, serving both domestic and global markets.

It has been operational for fifteen years and plays a crucial role in bolstering telecom equipment manufacturing in India.

Diverse Telecom Products

The factory produces various telecom equipment, including 5G New Radio (5G NR), 5G massive MIMO products, 4G/LTE radios, and Fiber Broadband equipment.

Approximately 50% of the production is exported. In 2023, the factory increased component localization by up to two times in 5G equipment manufacturing, contributing to the Make in India initiative.

Commenting on the companys milestone, Teemu Toiviainen, Head of Global Manufacturing & EMS Management, said:
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. George Thomas



Civil War Union generals



George Thomas was born in Virginia in 1816 and graduated from West Point in 1840. He fought in the Mexican War and remained in the Army afterwards. Thomas stayed loyal to the Union when the Civil War broke out, alienating his family and suffering the mistrust of his fellow officers, but soon gained a reputation as a competent leader.



His stand at Chickamauga prevented a complete rout of the Union Army, and he went on to become one of the most effective commanders in the Western theater for the Union. Thomas died in 1870. Answer:George Thomas was born in Virginia in 1816 and graduated from West Point in 1840. He fought in the Mexican War and remained in the Army afterwards. Thomas stayed loyal to the Union when the Civil War broke out, alienating his family and suffering the mistrust of his fellow officers, but soon gained a reputation as a competent leader.His stand at Chickamauga prevented a complete rout of the Union Army, and he went on to become one of the most effective commanders in the Western theater for the Union. Thomas died in 1870.

2. Robert Fulton



Answer: American inventors



Robert Fulton was born in the colony of Pennsylvania in 1765. An accomplished portrait and landscape artist as a young man, Fulton moved to England in 1786 and became interested in canal building and steam powered machines. He was commissioned by Napoleon to build a submarine in 1800, which was unsuccessful, and also designed mines for the British Royal Navy. Fulton returned to the U.S. in 1806 and soon designed the first successful steamboat, the "Clermont", in 1807. Fulton died of tuberculosis in 1815.

3. Amelia Bloomer



Answer: U.S. Women's Rights activists



Born Amelia Jenks in rural New York State in 1818, Bloomer was a schoolteacher and live-in nanny until she married Dexter Bloomer in 1840. Bloomer encouraged his wife to write for his small Seneca Falls, New York newspaper. She attended the 1848 Seneca Falls convention on women's rights, and begin editing her own newspaper, " The Lily", in 1849.



She became famous as an advocate of changes in women's dress, and a fashion of loose trousers became known as "Bloomers" after her. Bloomer died in 1894.

4. William Seward



Wartime U.S. Secretaries of State



Born in rural New York in 1801, Seward became a lawyer and was elected to the New York State Senate, served two terms as Governor, and was a U.S. Senator from New York when he was appointed Secretary of State by President Lincoln. An ardent Unionist, Seward worked hard to keep Britain and France from aiding the Confederacy in the Civil War. Seward was wounded by one of John Wilkes Booth's accomplices the same night that Lincoln was assassinated. Seward later negotiated the treaty to purchase Alaska. Seward died in 1872. Answer:Born in rural New York in 1801, Seward became a lawyer and was elected to the New York State Senate, served two terms as Governor, and was a U.S. Senator from New York when he was appointed Secretary of State by President Lincoln. An ardent Unionist, Seward worked hard to keep Britain and France from aiding the Confederacy in the Civil War. Seward was wounded by one of John Wilkes Booth's accomplices the same night that Lincoln was assassinated. Seward later negotiated the treaty to purchase Alaska. Seward died in 1872.

5. Philip Sheridan



Answer: Civil War Union generals



Phillip Sheridan was born in Albany, New York in 1831 and was appointed to West Point in 1848. On the outbreak of war in 1861, Sheridan was transferred to Missouri, seeing action at the Battles of Pea Ridge and Corinth in 1862. Sheridan was promoted to Colonel in May, 1862, and Major General in October, 1862. Grant gave Sheridan command of all Union cavalry in the Eastern theater in April, 1864, and he laid waste the Confederate "breadbasket" in the Shenandoah Valley.



Sheridan went on to fight in the Indian Wars, gaining a reputation for efficiency and cruelty towards the Native American people.



Sheridan died in 1888.

6. Eli Whitney



Answer: American inventors



Born in Massachusetts Colony in 1765, Eli Whitney graduated from Yale in 1792 and went to South Carolina, where he invented the cotton gin in 1793. Whitney's machine made the growing of cotton very profitable. He also advocated, but did not invent, the use of interchangeable parts while making muskets for the U.S. Army in 1798. Eli Whitney died in 1825.

7. Susan B. Anthony



U.S. Women's Rights activists



Susan B. Anthony was born in 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts, to a family of social reformers and abolitionists. Her family moved to New York when Susan was six years old, and she was taught by her father, a Quaker, to oppose wrong and agitate for change. Anthony was friends with such reformers as Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and worked for women's rights and the abolition of slavery.



She was famously arrested for trying to vote in 1872. Susan B. Anthony passed away in 1906. Answer:Susan B. Anthony was born in 1820 in Adams, Massachusetts, to a family of social reformers and abolitionists. Her family moved to New York when Susan was six years old, and she was taught by her father, a Quaker, to oppose wrong and agitate for change. Anthony was friends with such reformers as Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and worked for women's rights and the abolition of slavery.She was famously arrested for trying to vote in 1872. Susan B. Anthony passed away in 1906.

8. Elizabeth Cady Stanton



Answer: U.S. Women's Rights activists



Born in Johnstown, New York in 1815 to a well-to-do family, Stanton was well educated for a woman of her time and was an abolitionist and women's rights advocate from her teens. She married fellow abolitionist Henry Stanton in 1840. Stanton was one of the organizers of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention on Women's Rights and wrote the Declaration of Sentiments which outlined the movement's goals for equality. Stanton died in 1902.

9. Lucy Stone



Answer: U.S. Women's Rights activists



Born in 1818 in Massachusetts, Lucy Stone was a women's rights advocate from an early age, having witnessed first hand the plight of women who were subservient to their husbands or widowed and unable to make a living. Stone was the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1847. Stone wrote and spoke extensively on both the abolition of slavery and women's rights up to her death in 1893.

10. Thomas Edison



American inventors



Born in Ohio in 1847, Edison was educated mostly by his mother, a former teacher, and only went to school for a few months. He developed hearing problems in his early teens and was almost completely deaf by the age of twenty. Edison began selling items on trains at the age of twelve, and later became a telegraph operator. Always a curious person, he set up his own laboratory in 1867.



It is estimated that he and his "invention factory" in Menlo Park, New Jersey obtained over 1,000 patents for their inventions. Thomas Edison died in 1931. Answer:Born in Ohio in 1847, Edison was educated mostly by his mother, a former teacher, and only went to school for a few months. He developed hearing problems in his early teens and was almost completely deaf by the age of twenty. Edison began selling items on trains at the age of twelve, and later became a telegraph operator. Always a curious person, he set up his own laboratory in 1867.It is estimated that he and his "invention factory" in Menlo Park, New Jersey obtained over 1,000 patents for their inventions. Thomas Edison died in 1931.

11. Samuel Morse



Answer: American inventors



Morse was born in Massachusetts in 1791 and graduated from Yale in 1810. A talented artist, Morse went to England in 1811 and met the renowned artist Benjamin West and was admitted to the Royal Society. Upon his return to the USA in 1815, Morse was one of the premier artists in the country.



In 1847, Morse improved on the design of the telegraph, making it cheaper to build and maintain, as well as inventing the code which bears his name and is still used today. Samuel Morse died in 1872.

12. James Monroe



Answer: Wartime U.S. Secretaries of State



James Monroe was born in Virginia colony in 1758. He served in the Continental Army during the Revolution, later becoming a lawyer, senator, and diplomat. Monroe served as Secretary of State under James Madison during the War of 1812, and won the Presidency in 1816.



He is most famous for the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which opposed European intervention in the Americas. Monroe was President for two terms and left office in 1825. James Monroe died in 1831.

13. John Sherman



Answer: Wartime U.S. Secretaries of State



John Sherman, born in Ohio in 1823, was the younger brother of Civil War General William T. Sherman. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1855, and the Senate in 1861. He also served as Treasury Secretary from 1877-1881. Appointed Secretary of State by President McKinley in 1897, Sherman tried to negotiate with Spain over Cuba, but his age and failing health meant that McKinley relied more on Sherman's assistant, William Day.



Sherman resigned on April 25, 1898, just days after the outbreak of war with Spain.



Sherman died in 1900.

14. James Buchanan



Answer: Wartime U.S. Secretaries of State



James Buchanan, born in Pennsylvania in 1791, became a lawyer in 1812. After brief service in the militia during the War of 1812, h was elected a Pennsylvania state representative in 1814. He then served in the U.S. House and Senate, and as a diplomat, before becoming Secretary of State under President Polk in 1845.



The size of the country nearly doubled during his term, through the negotiations with Britain over the Oregon territory and the taking of land from Mexico after the Mexican War. Buchanan served as President from 1857-1861, and his perceived inaction led many to blame him for the Civil War.



He died in 1868.

15. William S. Rosecrans



Answer: Civil War Union generals



William Rosecrans, born in Ohio in 1819, graduated from West Point in 1842. He stayed on as a professor at the Point and did not see combat in the Mexican War. Rosecrans was appointed a Major General in 1861, and fought successfully in several engagements in the Eastern theater before being assigned to the Western theater in 1862. Though victorious in several battles, his performance was criticized by many. Rosecrans career was effectively ended by his defeat at Chickamauga in 1863, after which he was sent to command in Missouri.



He left the Army in 1866. Rosecrans died in 1898.

16. George B. McClellan



Answer: Civil War Union generals



George B. McClellan was born in Philadelphia in 1826. He graduated from West Point in 1846 and served in the Mexican War, being promoted to Brevet Captain. After the war he was assigned to various scouting and engineering duties before resigning from the Army in 1857. McClellan was In executive positions with two different railroad companies and was becoming involved in politics before he Civil War.



He was given command of Ohio volunteers in April, 1861. A brilliant organizer and trainer of troops, McClellan's battlefield performance was less than stellar, and he was replaced in November, 1862.



He resigned from the Army in 1864 and ran for President but lost to Lincoln. He was elected Governor of New Jersey in 1877 and served one term. McClellan died in 1885.

Source: Author Reamar42 This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Howard Hughes



The Spruce Goose was designed and constructed during World War II under the supervision of the American aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. It was intended to be a large cargo transport aircraft capable of carrying troops and equipment across the Atlantic Ocean, bypassing the U-boat threat. It had a wingspan of 320 feet (97.5 metres), the largest of any aircraft ever built. It was massive, especially for its time.



The Spruce Goose made its first and only flight on 2 November 1947 at Long Beach Harbour, California. Howard Hughes himself piloted the aircraft for about one mile at an altitude of 70 feet (21 metres). The flight was relatively short and low, and the aircraft never entered regular service. The end of World War II, advances in land-based aircraft, and the impracticality of such a large flying boat led to the cancellation of the project. Only one Spruce Goose was built.



Today, it is on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. The Spruce Goose was designed and constructed during World War II under the supervision of the American aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. It was intended to be a large cargo transport aircraft capable of carrying troops and equipment across the Atlantic Ocean, bypassing the U-boat threat. It had a wingspan of 320 feet (97.5 metres), the largest of any aircraft ever built. It was massive, especially for its time.The Spruce Goose made its first and only flight on 2 November 1947 at Long Beach Harbour, California. Howard Hughes himself piloted the aircraft for about one mile at an altitude of 70 feet (21 metres). The flight was relatively short and low, and the aircraft never entered regular service. The end of World War II, advances in land-based aircraft, and the impracticality of such a large flying boat led to the cancellation of the project. Only one Spruce Goose was built.Today, it is on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

2. Orville Wright



The Wright Flyer was an aircraft designed and built by Wilbur and Orville Wright. On 17 December 1903, the Wright Flyer made its historic first powered flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville Wright piloted the aircraft for a 12-second flight covering a distance of approximately 120 feet (36 metres).



The plane had a biplane configuration with a wingspan of 40 feet and was powered by a 12-horsepower petrol engine that the brothers designed and built themselves. The original Wright Flyer is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

3. Alan Shepard



Freedom 7 played a crucial role in the history of space exploration by carrying Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut, on a suborbital flight on 5 May 1961. Launched by a Redstone rocket, the spacecraft reached a maximum altitude of about 116 miles during its 15-minute journey.



Although it didn't reach full Earth orbit, the mission marked a significant milestone in American manned spaceflight. It provided valuable data on human response to space conditions and the spacecraft performance. This achievement laid the foundation for subsequent space missions, particularly NASA's Apollo programme, and demonstrated the United States' commitment to advancing scientific understanding through space exploration during the Cold War era.

4. Valentina Tereshkova



Valentina Tereshkova's spacecraft was named "Vostok 6". She made history on 16 June 1963 when she became the first woman to travel into space as a Soviet cosmonaut. During her mission, she orbited the Earth 48 times over a period of almost three days, contributing to the early achievements of human space exploration.



Her successful mission made her an international symbol of women's participation in space exploration. The capsule is now on display at the RKK Energiya Museum in Korolyov near Moscow. Valentina Tereshkova's spacecraft was named "Vostok 6". She made history on 16 June 1963 when she became the first woman to travel into space as a Soviet cosmonaut. During her mission, she orbited the Earth 48 times over a period of almost three days, contributing to the early achievements of human space exploration.Her successful mission made her an international symbol of women's participation in space exploration. The capsule is now on display at the RKK Energiya Museum in Korolyov near Moscow.

5. James Lovell



Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission of NASA's Apollo space programme, launched on 11 April 1970 with the goal of landing on the Moon. However, the mission took a dramatic turn when an oxygen tank in the spacecraft's service module exploded, endangering the lives of astronauts James Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise. The explosion forced the mission to be aborted and the lunar landing cancelled.



James Lovell, the mission commander, played a critical role in ensuring the safe return of the crew to Earth. Despite facing severe challenges, including limited power and resources, Lovell and his team, with support from Mission Control, successfully navigated the crippled spacecraft around the Moon and returned safely to Earth on 17 April 1970.

6. Charles Lindbergh



The "Spirit of St. Louis" is an iconic aircraft that made history on 20-21 May 1927 when it became the first aircraft to complete a non-stop solo transatlantic flight. The aircraft was a custom-built monoplane, designed to carry a single pilot, and was flown by American aviator Charles Lindbergh.



Charles Lindbergh's historic flight departed from Roosevelt Field in New York and arrived at Le Bourget Field near Paris, France, covering a distance of approximately 3,600 miles (5,800 kilometres) in 33.5 hours. Lindbergh's remarkable achievement not only marked a significant milestone in aviation but also earned him the prestigious Orteig Prize and made him an international hero.



The "Spirit of St. Louis" is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

7. Amelia Earhart



Introduced in 1937, the Lockheed Model 10 Electra is most famously associated with the pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart. Earhart used this twin-engine monoplane in her 1937 attempt to fly around the world. Unfortunately, the aircraft and Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during the final leg of the journey, and the mystery of their fate has never been definitively solved.



The Lockheed Model 10 Electra, although linked to a tragic chapter in aviation history, remains an important symbol of Earhart's adventurous spirit and her contributions to the field of aviation. The search for answers to the disappearance of Earhart and her plane continues to capture the imagination of people around the world, making her a legendary figure in aviation history. Introduced in 1937, the Lockheed Model 10 Electra is most famously associated with the pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart. Earhart used this twin-engine monoplane in her 1937 attempt to fly around the world. Unfortunately, the aircraft and Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during the final leg of the journey, and the mystery of their fate has never been definitively solved.The Lockheed Model 10 Electra, although linked to a tragic chapter in aviation history, remains an important symbol of Earhart's adventurous spirit and her contributions to the field of aviation. The search for answers to the disappearance of Earhart and her plane continues to capture the imagination of people around the world, making her a legendary figure in aviation history.

8. Bessie Coleman



The Curtiss JN-4, commonly known as the "Jenny", was a biplane aircraft that played a pivotal role in the early days of aviation. Developed during World War I, it served as the primary training aircraft for pilots in the United States and other countries. The Jenny had a simple yet sturdy design, making it well suited for pilot training and basic flight instruction. It was constructed mainly of wood and cloth, and it was powered by a relatively low-horsepower engine.



Bessie Coleman was a pioneering African-American aviator who broke down racial barriers in the world of aviation during the early 20th century. She was the first African American woman to hold a pilot's licence and inspired future generations of black aviators.

9. Yuri Gagarin



Vostok 1 was the spacecraft used for the first human space flight, carrying cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit on 12 April 1961. The spacecraft had a spherical design with a diameter of approximately 2.3 meters and was equipped with life support systems to ensure the safety of the cosmonaut during the mission.



The main objective of the Vostok 1 mission was to study the effects of space travel on the human body, including the physiological and psychological effects of weightlessness. Yuri Gagarin's presence on board allowed scientists to monitor his vital signs and reactions throughout the flight.



During the mission, Vostok 1 completed one orbit around the Earth, which lasted about 108 minutes. Gagarin experienced weightlessness and reported on his observations, providing valuable data for early space research. The spacecraft's re-entry and landing were also essential for understanding the challenges of returning safely to Earth from space.

10. Chuck Yeager



The Bell X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager on 14 October 1947, marked a significant milestone in aviation history when it became the first manned aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. This achievement, during a flight known as "Glamorous Glennis" in reference to Yeager's wife, helped advance our understanding of supersonic flight.



The Bell X-1 was a rocket-powered aircraft designed for research purposes, primarily to study the effects of high-speed flight on aircraft and pilots. The aircraft's success paved the way for further developments in supersonic and hypersonic flight, contributing to the broader field of aeronautics and aerodynamics. Today, the Bell X-1 serves as a symbol of early experimental flight and the scientific progress that propelled aviation into the supersonic era.



The original Bell X-1 is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The Bell X-1, piloted by Chuck Yeager on 14 October 1947, marked a significant milestone in aviation history when it became the first manned aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight. This achievement, during a flight known as "Glamorous Glennis" in reference to Yeager's wife, helped advance our understanding of supersonic flight.The Bell X-1 was a rocket-powered aircraft designed for research purposes, primarily to study the effects of high-speed flight on aircraft and pilots. The aircraft's success paved the way for further developments in supersonic and hypersonic flight, contributing to the broader field of aeronautics and aerodynamics. Today, the Bell X-1 serves as a symbol of early experimental flight and the scientific progress that propelled aviation into the supersonic era.The original Bell X-1 is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Source: Author wellenbrecher This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has begged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Ohanaeze also asked the Nigerian President to withdraw all charges against Kanu.Ohanaeze, while appealing to the President, disclosed that doing that would make Tinubu a national hero.The group made this known in a statement on Wednesday by its Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro in which it reacted to the release of the embattled Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho from detention in Benin Republic after about two years.Ohanaeze while commending Yoruba leaders for securing the release of Igboho, called on President Tinubu to emulate his counterpart in Benin, Patrice Talon and free Kanu from detention.The statement reads:

Quote

Ohanaeze Ndigbo expresses its heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering contributions of Yoruba leaders such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and Pa Ayo Adebanjo towards the release of Sunday Igboho.



The organisation recalls its October 1, 2023 Independence Day plea for the release of both Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho.



Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that this is an opportune time for President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate similar gestures and drop all charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, allowing him to regain his freedom.



Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly believes that President Tinubu will be hailed as a national hero if he seizes this opportunity to release Nnamdi Kanu.



The organization acknowledges that Nigerians who felt denigrated by Kanus actions should find it in their hearts to forgive him, as his release will mark a significant step towards national unity and reconciliation.
Microsoft Owes $29 Billion in Back Taxes, as Per IRS News oi -Kabir Jain

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has delivered a staggering claim to Microsoft, asserting that the tech giant owes $28.9 billion in back taxes, accompanied by penalties and interest. This revelation, disclosed in a recent securities filing, has ignited a contentious tax dispute that harks back to the years between 2004 and 2013.

The core issue at hand is the IRS's investigation into how Microsoft allocated its profits across various countries and jurisdictions during this decade-spanning period.

Microsoft Responds to the Audit

Microsoft's Corporate VP for Worldwide Tax and Customs, Daniel Goff, didn't stay silent in the face of this audit. He took to a blog post to address the situation, emphasizing that the company's corporate structure and practices have evolved significantly since the years under scrutiny. Goff emphasized that "The issues raised by the IRS are relevant to the past but not to our current practices."

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and Transfer Pricing Controversy

According to Goff, the IRS's proposed adjustments do not account for the sums Microsoft paid under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This, he believes, could potentially reduce the final tax obligation by a substantial $10 billion.

Furthermore, Microsoft asserts that the IRS disputes how the company allocated its profits on an international scale, particularly through a mechanism known as cost-sharing, which falls under the umbrella of transfer pricing.

Microsoft's Defiant Stance

Microsoft has made it abundantly clear that it disputes the IRS's "proposed adjustments" and intends to "vigorously contest" them. This puts the company on a collision course with the IRS in a legal battle that could potentially stretch over several years.

This controversy unfolds in the wake of another major legal victory for Microsoft, where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) failed to secure a preliminary injunction against the tech giant's plan to acquire Activision Blizzard for a substantial $68.7 billion. This acquisition is set to be finalized on October 13th.

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Location of leak in Balticconnector gas pipeline identified in Finland's economic zone

Finnish Government

Government Communications Department

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

10.10.2023

Gasgrid Finland informed the authorities on Sunday that a leak causing disruption in gas transmission had been detected in the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia in the early hours of 8 October. The breach is located in Finland's economic zone. Led by Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, the authorities in Finland have launched an investigation into the matter. In terms of security of supply, the situation remains stable. Due to changes in the security environment, special attention has been paid to protecting critical infrastructure.

The location of the leak in the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was identified in Finland's exclusive economic zone on 10 October 2023. Based on information from the Finnish Border Guard, Gasgrid Finland has given its expert assessment according to which the damage was not caused by the normal gas transmission process. The breach is located in Finland's economic zone. Finland's National Bureau of Investigation is in charge of investigating the incident, supported by the Border Guard and other authorities. The Finnish authorities have been in close contact with Finland's allies and partners.

The Balticconnector gas pipeline was shut down at midnight on 8 October when gas transmission companies Gasgrid in Finland and Elering in Estonia detected a breach. Gasgrid estimates that it will take months to repair the gas pipeline.

Finland's gas supply system remains stable, with supply secured by the floating LNG terminal in Inga. The terminal has the capacity and capability to supply the gas Finland needs through the coming winter. The available capacity on the market is more than sufficient to meet the anticipated needs.

A disruption in the supply of pipeline gas will not cause immediate problems to the security of energy supply. The outage may slightly increase the price of gas, but it is not expected to have much effect on the price of electricity in Finland. The power cables between Finland and Estonia (Estlink 1 and 2) are operating normally.

Given the circumstances, companies selling and buying gas should order their supplies via the Inga LNG terminal, and ensure that they are prepared to meet the higher demand during the winter season and to secure the continuity of gas supply.

Security of supply remains stable

As the authority responsible for the security of natural gas supply, the National Emergency Supply Agency closely monitors the gas market with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and other authorities and is ready to take action if necessary. According to the Agency, the situation is stable in terms of security of supply and all services are operating normally.

Due to changes in the security environment, special attention has been paid to protecting critical infrastructure. The authorities have stepped up their mutual cooperation and exchange of information. Operators critical to security of supply are regularly provided information on the current situation so they can adjust their preparedness and security level accordingly.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is monitoring the situation as the ministry responsible for developing Finland's energy market and ensuring the security of energy supply.

Fault detected in telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia

On Sunday, the Finnish authorities were also informed of a fault detected in the telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia. Damage to the cable does not affect Finland's critical telecommunications connections and they operate normally. Critical connections have been secured through several different arrangements, and Finland has security of supply measures in place to deal with any damage to underwater infrastructure.

Depending on the exact location of the fault, the investigation will be led by the Finnish or Estonian authorities who will be working closely together. It is very likely that the fault is located in Estonia's exclusive economic zone. The Estonian Navy, which is currently in charge of investigating the incident, has not yet been able to confirm the matter.

In Finland, the telecommunications operators that own the subsea cables are obliged by law to monitor the functioning of their networks and services at all times. Telecommunications operators also report their observations to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Traficom.

Traficom and telecommunications operators have worked together over a long period of time to ensure both the functioning of communications connections and their preparedness. Traficom received information from Elisa, the company that owns the submarine cable, on damage to the cable on Sunday 8 October.

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PM Netanyahu to US President Joe Biden: "We've never seen such savagery in the history of the State. They're even worse than ISIS and we need to treat them as such."

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

10.10.2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening, spoke with US President Joe Biden for the third time since the outbreak of the war.

The President reiterated that the US stood by Israel and fully supports its right to defend itself. The Prime Minister thanked the US President for his unequivocal support and made it clear that a powerful and prolonged campaign - which Israel will win - will be necessary.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to US President Joe Biden:

"Mr. President, Joe, I want to thank you for you continued and unequivocal support and the work of your entire administration to support us. The Israeli people were deeply moved by the emotion that Admiral Kirby showed in his interview yesterday. It was deeply moving, and it represented the depth of commitment that you have, your administration have and the American people have for Israel.

Joe, I want to give you a clear picture of the difficult situation we face: We were struck Saturday by an attack whose savagery we have not seen since the Holocaust. We've had hundreds massacred, families wiped out in their beds in their homes, women brutally raped and murdered, over 100 kidnapped, including children.

And since we last spoke, the extent of this evil, it's only gotten worse. They took dozens of children, bound them up, burned them and executed them. They beheaded soldiers. They mowed down these youngsters who came to a nature festival and just put five jeeps around a depression in the soil, and like Babi Yar, they mowed them down, making sure that they killed everybody.

We've never seen such savagery in the history of the State. They're even worse than ISIS and we need to treat them as such."

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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan

October 10, 2023

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:50 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As you all know, this morning, President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke to Prime Minister Netan-  Netanyahu. This was the President's third conversation with him since this crisis began.

President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to meet with the national security team to receive updates and give direction on next steps. The President held 17 calls and meetings over Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with his national security team. The President and the Vice President have held more than three dozen meetings, briefings, and calls since the attacks  since the attacks on Israel began.

The President will continue to be relentless in ensuring that Israel and the Israeli people have what they need in support from the United States to defend themselves in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead  as you all know, you just heard directly from the President.

And I have the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, here to take any of your questions on this issue.

MR. SULLIVAN: Thanks, everybody. I'll make a few comments, and then I'd be happy to take your questions.

Like many of you, we've watched in horror and anguish the scenes of butchery against innocent civilians at the hands of Hamas terrorists in Israel. And the more we learn, the greater our grief.

More than a thousand men, women, and children were slaughtered in their homes, on their streets, in desert fields  and among them, at least 14 Americans.

We mourn for all their lives, and we're actively working with Israelis to determine the whereabouts of the missing, including missing American citizens.

As the President just said, what we've seen from Ha-  Hamas these past few days was the same evil and barbarity that we've seen from ISIS. The unspeakable horrors they perpetrated on innocent people  women, children, the elderly, babies  these were the scenes we saw in Iraq and Syria as ISIS rampaged through.

As President Biden said, this is not some distant tragedy. The bonds between Israel and America run long and they run deep. And we stand with Israel not just in these dark days but at all times.

As Karine just said, the President has been deeply engaged and giving direction to his national security team to take action to support Israel in its hour of need.

At his direction, the United States has surged ammunition and interceptors for Iron Dome. And the President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu just a little while ago to talk about additional capabilities that Israel will need. And he pledged that American planes will be landing in Israel with those capabilities in the days ahead.

And now, at the direction of the President, we are working with Congress to make sure that Israel maintains supply of these critical assets to defend its cities and its citizens, as well as the many U.S. citizens who live, work, and travel in Israel.

Also at President Biden's direction, the U.S. military has enhanced its force posture in the region to strengthen our deterrence, including the movement of a carrier strike group into the Eastern Mediterranean. And we are prepared to move additional assets as necessary.

Let me be clear: We did not move the carrier for Hamas. We moved the carrier to send a clear message of deterrence to other states or non-state actors that might seek to widen this war.

The President has also tasked us with engaging in contingency planning for any and all escalation scenarios. And we are now deeply engaged in that planning. And we are consulting with allies and partners as well about all of the potential scenarios that might unfold in the days ahead.

Let me repeat what we've now said many times and what the President said just a short while ago so that everyone, including enemies who are thinking of exploiting the current situation, hear it loud and clear: The United States has always and will always have Israel's back.

And to those families undergoing the unfathomable pain of having loved ones missing, our hearts go out to you. We cannot imagine the anguish you must be feeling right now.

We know that U.S. citizens are among the missing. And we know that U.S. citizens, as the President just said, are among the hostages.

We are working with the Israeli government and with our regional partners on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the U.S. government to advise the Israeli government and coordinate with them on hostage recovery efforts.

As the President just said, there is no higher priority than the safety and wellbeing of American citizens being held hostage overseas.

Over the coming days, we will continue to stand strongly with Israel to ensure that it is able to defend itself. And my team and I are working with our colleagues across the U.S. government every hour to keep the President updated on the latest developments, to take his direction and put it into action, and we'll continue following his direction to provide Israel and the people of Israel all the support required at this time of need.

And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions.

Yeah.

Q Jake 

Q Jake, thank you 

Q Jake  oh, sorry. MJ, go.

MR. SULLIVAN: We'll do you first, and then Steve.

Q Thank you, Jake.

Q Yeah, go ahead.

Q On the American hostages, can you, first of all, tell us how many are we talking about  several or a dozen hostages? And do you know anything about their condition at all?

MR. SULLIVAN: We do not know about their condition, and we cannot confirm the precise number of American citizens. We believe that there are 20 or more Americans who at this point are missing. But I want to underscore and stress that does not mean, necessarily, that there are 20 or more American hostages, just that is the number who are currently unaccounted for.

We will work hour by hour both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans or to confirm exactly what the number of Americans are being held hostage. And we will come back to you with that information as soon as we have it.

As you know, very sadly and tragically, the number of dead has risen with each passing hour. And that's true of the total number; it's also true of Americans, which has gone up just today from an earlier report this morning of 12, then 13, now 14.

So, I cannot give you a precise number. I can tell you that number of unaccounted for at this time. That number could change, too. But I want to underscore that that is not a statement from me that we have that many hostages. We do not know the number of hostages we have at this time.

Q And did the President discuss with the Prime Minister the possibility of a ground incursion into Gaza and also how that might affect the American hostages that are in Gaza that are now confirmed?

MR. SULLIVAN: I am not going to get into the operational discussions that the President and the Prime Minister had. That is important for them to be able to keep in its discreet channel between them.

What I will tell you is that the President and Prime Minister did discuss how the United States can deploy expertise to help work on the hostage recovery efforts. That is what the United States is in the process of doing right now.

Steve.

Q Under what circumstances would you put American forces on the ground to help out?

MR. SULLIVAN: At this point, that is not something that is under planning. What we are focused on when we talk about sending experts, it is people who can work on intelligence, who can work on overall planning, who can work on coordination with the Israeli government.

We are not currently sending forces to Israel. And I'll leave it at that for now.

Yeah.

Q Has the President spoken to any of the families of the 14 American citizens who were killed?

MR. SULLIVAN: He has not yet spoken with the families, but the State Department has been in contact with those families. And the President has been making this his highest priority as he receives briefings each day about what we are doing to try to determine both what's happening with the missing and also to ensure that we can secure the bodies of  of those who have perished and  and ensure that they get returned to their loved ones.

Q Are you also reaching out to those whose loved ones may be unaccounted for? One family member of a missing American said that there's been no formal attempt by the U.S. government to update the families of the missing.

MR. SULLIVAN: We have, in fact, updated the families of the unaccounted-for Americans that we know of. If there are Americans, for some reason, who have not yet been reached out to, that would be remedied immediately because Secretary Blinken, President Biden, everybody in the U.S. government is making this the highest priority.

So, we are in very regular contact with every family who has someone either missing or unaccounted for. And anyone who's not currently on that list, for whatever reason, we will take care of that. That is going to be our highest priority.

Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. Two quick questions, one for clarity. The Iron Dome replenishment  has that already arrived or is it on its way?

MR. SULLIVAN: Some of the interceptors have come out of stocks that the U.S. had in country, so that  those have gone over to the Israelis in short order. And then we will be flowing in additional Iron Dome interceptors so that they have the capabilities they need to sustain their Iron Dome defense systems.

We're also looking at other ways that we can help augment their air defense capabilities as well as we look ahead not just to what's happening now but to potential contingencies that could unfold.

Q And then, secondly, what can you say about Iran's role in the Hamas attack? Is that one of the actors you're worried about widening the war?

MR. SULLIVAN: Look, we have said since the beginning that Iran is complicit in this attack in a broad sense because they have provided the lion's share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas, they have provided training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement and contact with Hamas over years and years. And all of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen.

Now, as to the question of whether Iran knew about this attack in advance or helped plan or direct this attack, we do not  as of the moment I'm standing here at the podium  have confirmation of that.

We are talking to our Israeli counterparts on a daily basis about this question. We're looking back through our intelligence holdings to see if we have any further information on that. We're looking to acquire further intelligence. And if there's an update to that, I'll share it with you.

But as I stand here today, while Iran plays this broad role  sustained, deep, and dark role  in providing all of this support and capabilities to Hamas, in terms of this particular gruesome attack on October 7th, we don't currently have that information. We will continue to look for it. And if we find it, we will share that with you.

Yeah.

Q Thank you, Jake. Looking back at the last few days, how did Israel miss this attack coming?

MR. SULLIVAN: That's a question for you to ask the Israeli government. Obviously, the Israeli government has placed a high premium on its intelligence capacity as it relates to Hamas, as it relates to the West Bank, as it relates to Hezbollah. And why it is that they did not have warning from this is not a question that I can answer from this podium.

Q What about U.S. intelligence? Was there anything in what crosses your desk that would suggest that this was coming?

MR. SULLIVAN: We did not see anything that suggested an attack of this type was going to unfold any more than the Israelis did.

Q And in your meeting with  in the Situation Room today  we saw an image earlier. At some point, undoubtedly, in last few days, the President has seen the images of the dead Israelis. What has been his reaction when shown those images?

MR. SULLIVAN: I mean, you've seen him now twice. You've heard his voice. And this has been a deeply emotional time for all of us, as I'm sure it is for many people in this room who know people or know people who know people who were killed or who are missing.

And all of us have developed close relationships with our Israeli counterparts. President Biden has a decades-long relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu. And he can hear the pain in Prime Minister Netanyahu's voice when he talks to him. I hear the pain of my counterparts when I talk to them.

So, this is not just about policy or strategy. This is personal for us. And it's personal for the American people with their bonds with the Israeli people.

And so, President Biden has seen and felt the deep emotional resonance of this. But he has also held the conviction that his job as president is to make sure that he has the clarity of mind and purpose to take the actions necessary so that we are standing with Israel in its hour of need, so that we are working to deter a widening of this conflict, and so we are getting Israel the tools that it requires to defend itself.

Yeah.

Q Thank you, Jake. You just laid out all of the ways that Iran is complicit in this and facilitated it over years of support for Hamas. Is that reason enough to freeze  refreeze the $6 billion that the U.S. helped unlock for them to get in exchange for the prisoners?

MR. SULLIVAN: We have not yet s-  had a dollar of that $6 billion spent. And I will leave it at that.

Q But will you refreeze it based on this activity that  you've just laid out all of the ways that they are complicit in this? You  the administration said that if we see them going in the wrong direction, that we would stop that down.

I understand the position that you guys have that not a dollar of this has been spent. But will you prevent it from getting into their hands to allow them to, you know, do  do what they do that you just laid out?

MR. SULLIVAN: Let me just reiterate what I said, because it's unequivocal: Not a dollar of that money has been spent. And I will leave it at that.

Q Is it being considered?

MR. SULLIVAN: (Calling on another reporter.) Yes.

Q Jake, if I can ask you, will the U.S. support Israel's military attacks in Gaza for as long as it takes, until the hostages are freed, or until Hamas is destroyed? I guess, in simple terms: How much retaliation in Gaza is the U.S. willing to accept?

MR. SULLIVAN: I don't think of this in terms of retaliation. This is about providing support to Israel as it seeks to defend its territory and deal with an ongoing, imminent threat from Hamas terrorists  who, as I said before, are acting a heck of a lot like ISIS terrorists in their barbarity and cruelty. That requires going after Hamas terrorist targets in Gaza because, even as we speak is  even as I stand here, there could be rockets flying out of Gaza.

Going after those sites  that's not retaliation. That's your  Israel stepping up to defend itself and ensure the safety and security of the Israeli people.

And we're going to support them for as long as they need to ensure that Israel is safe and secure. And I can't put a timetable on that.

Q So, to be clear: Is the goal the destruction of Hamas, the guarantee that Hamas cannot launch attacks from there, the confirmation that all Americans and Israelis have been secured safely from there? What is  where do you draw the line? Is there a red line of where do you draw that line of what you need to accomplish, what 

MR. SULLIVAN: I'm not 

Q  they may accomplish 

MR. SULLIVAN: I'm not standing up here to draw red lines. What I'm standing up here to say is that in its hour of need, as Israel embarks on an operation to try to protect its country, protect the Jewish state of Israel, and to go after the threats that it faces  and also working closely with them hand in hand to try to secure the release and recovery of American and other hostages, we will do all of that.

And I'm not here to  to draw red lines or issue warnings or give lectures to anybody. I'm here to say that the President has given us direction to take a series of actions. We are undertaking those actions. And we will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.

Q Last one very quickly 

MR. SULLIVAN: Yeah.

Q  that we heard from the families of Americans who are unaccounted for right now. They spoke publicly in Israel today. You said the President hasn't spoken to them directly. What is the President's message to those families right now who said it is the responsibility of the president of the United States to make sure their loved ones come home safely?

MR. SULLIVAN: The President said in his remarks today that as president of the United States, he has no higher priority than the safety and wellbeing of Americans held hostage overseas. And he has proven in country after country his willingness to go further than any other president has gone before to se-  secure the release and bring those people home. He is going to try to do that in this case as well.

But that is a high priority for him. And that is the message that  that he is sending, along with a deep sense of understanding of the grief and hurt and pain and anguish they're feeling right now as they wait to hear news of their loved ones.

Yeah.

Q Jake, the President, in his remarks today, referred to seeking for assistance for "partners," plural. Does that suggest that you've decided strategically to ask Congress for a package that includes both Ukraine aid as well as aid for Israel? And, you know, Chairman McCaul suggested even including border and Taiwan money in that.

I'm just kind of hoping you could give a state of play of how you guys are thinking about this in your interactions with the Hill.

MR. SULLIVAN: So, I'm not going to get ahead of the President's request and  and not going to take the place of the OMB director, who will present the request that we send up.

But the President was very clear today that we will be making a request to the Congress, and it will include a request for funding for support to Israel. And he has also been equally clear that we are going to renew our request to the Congress for aid to Ukraine.

What exact form that all takes, that will be worked out and presented by others, not by me. But the notion that we're going to go up and ask for Israel aid and ask for Ukraine aid, that's unequivocal. We are going to do that.

Q Beyond Iron Dome and ammunition, were there any other requests made by Prime Minister Netanyahu today that we can expect to be part of that package?

MR. SULLIVAN: He  as I mentioned in my opening comments, he did make specific requests with respect to other capabilities. I'm not going to get into the details of that from this podium. But he and the President discussed that.

I spoke with Lloyd Austin, who was on his way to the NATO defense ministerial, about those requests. Secretary Austin is following up on that.

And as I said in my opening comments, you can expect to see American planes flying into Israel to deliver military capabilities to support Israel.

Yeah.

Q Just a follow-up on Iron Dome. How effective has it been in deterring the attacks? And I know you mentioned this a bit in terms of the interceptors. But has Israel asked for interceptors on an ongoing basis in  in light of the situation?

MR. SULLIVAN: I  you ask how effective it has been in deterring  I can't say that it has deterred, obviously, because a huge number of rockets have fired. But it has been effective, as it typically is, in taking a lot of those rockets out of the sky and saving countless lives by doing this.

Now, of course, some rockets have gotten through, to  to tragic cost. And that has been the pattern we have seen in previous conflicts as well.

Now, Israel will have an ongoing need for interceptors, because an air defense system is only as good as your ability to continue to put interceptors in that can take out the rockets that are coming to kill civilians and rain down terror on cities.

And we are committed to making sure that we are working with Israel to produce and supply the requisite number of Iron Dome interceptors so that they can keep those systems going on an indefinite basis going forward, because we cannot say how long this will be going on.

Yeah.

Q Thank you. Jake, while you support an Israel military and rightly denounced this horrific and heinous act against Israeli civilians, how can you make sure that Israel goes after Hamas and its infrastructure in Gaza, not 2 million Palestinians who are trapped with no water, with no electricity, with no medical supplies? The U.N. schools are overflowing now. They are  the number of beds is reaching 850 so far, including six member of one family of the former ambassador to Washington.

How can you make sure that this is not revenge but actually going after Hamas, who committed this horrible crime?

Q Well, as the President said today, the difference between countries like the United States and Israel is that we do not deliberately target civilians. We are strongest when we are committed to the rule of law. And we work to make sure that all military operations are conducted consistent with the rule of law and the law of war. That is something that President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu have discussed, not just in this context but in previous contexts as well. That is something the United States has always stood for and always will continue to stand for.

Yeah.

Q Can you make sure  sorry. Can you confirm that the Egyptian intelligence had passed information to the Israelis that the attack is imminent or some attack is going to happen?

MR. SULLIVAN: I cannot confirm that.

Yeah.

Q Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted on Saturday telling residents of Gaza to "leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere." Where is the idea of where people in Gaza will go?

MR. SULLIVAN: This is something also that we have been discussing with our counterparts in Israel and with our counterparts in Egypt.

And without getting into the specifics of safe passage for civilians and so forth, I will say it's something that the U.S. government is seized with in supporting how we do that operationally.

But the details of that are something that are being discussed among the  the operational agencies, and I don't want to share too much of that publicly at this time.

Q Would that happen imminently or what  what is the timing (inaudible)?

MR. SULLIVAN: I'll leave it at the fact that we are focused on this question, there are consultations ongoing, and I'll share more when I have an update for you.

Yeah.

Q Following up on that question about what the President said about talking with the Israeli Prime Minister about democracies and the laws of war, was that a warning to the Prime Minister? And why did the President feel that was necessary to bring it up in the call today?

MR. SULLIVAN: It was not a warning. The call today was not President Biden warning Prime Minister Netanyahu about anything. It was two leaders talking to one another: one who is leading a nation that has suffered an unfathomable attack, and another nation who is standing behind them four-square in the defense of their country.

And the conversation carried on in those terms. And the two leaders spoke in a collaborative fashion, as they always do.

So, no, I cannot accept the characterization of your question.

Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. I have two questions. First, some reports are saying that IRGC commander was in Lebanon  Esmail Qaani was in Lebanon few days ago, and he left to Syria. Also, you are saying that Iran is complicit in this attack. Are you trying to downplay the Iranian role here? What are you waiting for to take an action?

And my second question: What assessment do you have on where other militias, other Iranian militias stand now, whether in Iraq. We also heard the Houthis threat now. Can you give us an update?

And is there a risk on the U.S. troops in the region?

Thank you.

MR. SULLIVAN: So, I  on your first question, I laid out our view, which is the broad complicity based on the longstanding support that Hamas is giving to Iran. We don't have specific information that ties Iran to this attack. At this time, we don't have that information. We may gain that information in the hours and days ahead, but we don't presently have it. So, that's in answer to your first question with respect to the intelligence.

With respect to the question of the various militia groups across the region, we do believe that they pose an urgent threat and that it is certainly distinctly possible that they choose to try to exploit or take advantage of this situation. And we have been sending clear warnings that doing so will resort  will result in  in a firm response and consequences from the United States.

And that goes across the board. And we have been clear also in sending a message of deterrence through the movement of the carrier strike group into the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as through the assurance that we will sustain F-16s, F-35s, A-10s in theater to be able to deal with any contingency that the United States might have to deal with in the days ahead.

Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. The  the European Union says it opposes a total siege of Gaza. I mean, what's the U.S. position on that?

MR. SULLIVAN: I have seen those reports. But my understanding is that is not the  the concept of siege is not something that in fact is going to be pursued by the Israeli government.

But we are consulting with the Israeli government about their actions in this regard.

And like I said before to a previous question, President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu had the opportunity to talk through the difference between going full-bore against Hamas terrorists and how we distinguish between terrorists and innocent civilians.

Yeah.

Q Thank you so much, Jake. Just zooming out to China. Is the U.S. worried that this attention now to Israel is going to detract resources from the Indo-Pacific? Have you communicated with Beijing about this attack in Israel? And just going to Senator Schumer's comments, he said he was "disappointed" by President Xi's soft response. Has that been part of the discussions here?

MR. SULLIVAN: We were not entirely surprised by the PRC's response based on their history of commentary on these kinds of issues.

We believe that the United States is capable of supporting Ukraine in Europe, of supporting our allies in the Indo-Pacific, and of supporting our close ally, Israel, in its hour of need. And we believe we have the resources, tools, and capacities to be able to effectively do that.

And part of our job is to ensure that we are working across all of these theaters at once. And that's precisely what we're doing each day.

Yeah.

Q There have been some Republican lawmakers who have argued the U.S. can't support two wars. Could you address some of that and  and talk a little bit about how you'll make these requests to Congress and make the case that the U.S. needs to invest  maybe not with troops on the ground  but with  with military and economic aid in both Israel and Ukraine?

MR. SULLIVAN: Standing for Ukraine so that Russian aggression does not prevail in Europe  the amount of resources that we need to put into that compared to the amount of resources we would have to put in if Russia were, in fact, to conquer Ukraine and then potentially have its aggression continue across Europe, it is so much more cost-effective to take the action now, as opposed to pay the huge price later  a price that might ultimately, as it has in the past, require the actual deployment of American troops to combat.

So, better to support the Ukrainians as they stand firm against Russian aggression and do so on a sustained basis. And we have the budget wherewithal to be able to do that. We also have the budget wherewithal to be able to provide Israel what it needs.

And we firmly reject the notion that the United States of America cannot at once support the freeding  freedom-loving people of Ukraine and support the State of Israel.

Yeah.

Q Great. Thanks, Jake. Is the administration working with Israel and Egypt to open the Rafah crossing to try to ensure evacuations are possible?

And then also, I know that you said that in conversations with Israeli leaders, you don't think that a complete siege is something that they may be attempting to do in Gaza. But is there any counsel of restraint from the administration to Israel?

MR. SULLIVAN: So, on the first question, I  in reference to a previous question, I spoke about our consultations with the Israelis and the Egyptians about how to deal with the challenge of civilians who  who want to leave Gaza. I'm not going to get into the details of that about a specific crossing or so forth, only to say that that is something we are focused on and we are working on. And I want to leave those conversations in diplomatic channels, at least for the moment. When we have more to offer on that, I'll be sure that we do so.

And then we are having conversations with the Israelis, as I have described. And again, at this podium, I'm not going to go into details on them in terms of what precise messages we're passing. It's important that we be able to talk to the Israelis in the way that we always do  as good friends, as honest friends  and we will continue to do that.

Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. So, on the home front, over 150 people who are on a terrorist watchlist have been seized along the southern border this fiscal year. And we've reported that there's been a hundred  over 1.5 million known got-aways since the Biden administration took office. Is this something the American people should be worried about right now?

MR. SULLIVAN: We continue to remain vigilant about terrorist threats to the homeland from anywhere. It is something that we are very much working on, that we are consulting with the Congress on, that we are seeking to secure the necessary resources to continue to work through.

And anytime we see any threat stream involving a terrorist threat to the homeland, we mobilize every asset and resource of the U.S. government to go after that. And that includes information and analysis that we have shared with the Congress about plots emanating from the Middle East, plots emanating from other places. We'll continue to do that.

We also will continue to take steps to pursue a humane, orderly border policy. And we will work with the Congress in the weeks ahead to continue to get the resource that we  resources we need to be able to do that.

I would point out that in the last supplemental, we actually sought additional funding for the border, which was not forthcoming in the ultimate package that went through. So, the Biden administration has said to Congress already, "We're looking for more resources to be able to deal with the  the continuing challenges that we have at the border."

Yeah.

Q Jake, the President doesn't have a confirmed ambassador to Israel at this point. What are you doing to get Jack Lew confirmed, given he was nominated about a month ago, the nomination was sent to the Senate back in late September. What's the plan to get him on the ground?

MR. SULLIVAN: Well, first, the Senate is coming back into session next week. Second, when they do, we are going to work with both Democrats and Republicans  and particularly the leaders on both sides and the chair and ranking in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee  to make that happen as soon as humanly possible and then get him out to the region immediately thereafter.

Q Is that your top priority when Congress returns, apart from the aid request that you're talking about?

MR. SULLIVAN: Well, it's hard to answer top priority in the sense that our top priority when Congress comes back is going to be the full spectrum of needs that Israel has. Some of that is related to the support that we're seeking from Congress. And then, of course, having high-level diplomatic re-  representation is going to be critical as well. So, we will move urgently on that the minute that they come back.

Yeah.

Q Jake, one of the things 

Q Can you just clarify your answer from earlier  I'm sorry. Can you just clarify your answer 

MR. SULLIVAN: Sorry, it's the 

Q One  just one  just one question. Can you just give us where things stand with the normalization deal? Is that on hold now? Is there any progress? Or do you see any progress for that?

MR. SULLIVAN: So, we are right now focused on dealing with the immediate challenge that we are confronting and that Israel is confronting. And so, I'm not going to give a characterization on the state of play on normalization. It's not on hold. But, obviously, over the last four days, all of our attention with respect to our support for Israel has been focused squarely on this conflict, on this heinous, brutal attack, and on helping Israel be able to defend itself. We're going to continue to try to do that.

Yeah.

Q Jake, can you just clarify your answer  your "yes"?

Q You and  you and the President both compared Hamas to ISIS. What does that say about the U.S. approach to Hamas going forward?

MR. SULLIVAN: Well, we have labeled Hamas a terrorist group for years, if not decades. And we have consistently supported Israel in its efforts to fight back against and undermine Hamas, and we will continue to do so.

In the immediate term, what it means is working with Israel to ensure that they are able to go after that Hamas threat in Gaza effectively, relentlessly, and to the point where they feel that their security and their deterrence has been fully restored.

Yeah.

Q Does  does the 

Q Mr. Sullivan, can you  can you  can I just ask you real quick  I'm sorry  Mr. Sullivan, are you concerned at all that those who are here in the U.S.  terrorists who are here in the U.S. may be emboldened by what's happening now?

And just to piggyback on what was asked earlier, because we do know that there are people sort of lurking here: Is there a concern that there may be a flare-up?

MR. SULLIVAN: The President put out a written statement yesterday with multiple elements to it. One of those elements was about the focus that we have right now on protecting Americans here at home against anyone who would seek to exploit or piggyback on what has unfolded  these gruesome events that have unfolded in Israel.

Part of that is about protecting places of worship, synagogues, and ensuring that we don't see a kind of virulent form of antisemitism sparked by what has just happened.

And then part of that is about ensuring that any terrorist threat here in the United States or to the United States or to Americans anywhere in the world, that we are at a heightened state of vigilance to deal with that.

That's something the President directed his team. It's something he spoke to yesterday in that statement. And it's something that he will be convening his national security team on this week, because it remains a very high priority.

And I'll take the last question.

Q Does the administration regret making the prisoner swap with Iran in light of these attacks?

MR. SULLIVAN: The United States does not regret bringing home American citizens who had been unjustly detained abroad. As I said before, the President has no higher priority than to get Americans home.

Right now, we have Americans who are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. That is a high priority. Bringing those Americans home from Iran was a high priority  from Afghanistan, from Venezuela, from other places as well.

And we stand by bringing those people home because that is the duty of the Commander-in-Chief, is to get innocent Americans out of captivity in places that they are being unjustly detained.

Thanks, you guys.

(Cross-talk.)

Q Jake, if Israel strikes Iran, what level of support can they count on from the U.S.?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thanks, Jake. Okay. I know the President is going to have an event shortly, and the pool is going to have to gather. So, we'll take a few questions.

Go ahead, my friend. Go ahead.

Q Hi, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hello.

Q On the special counsel interviews, did the President answer all the questions that were asked during the interviews, and was the executive privilege invoked at any time? I know there's limits on what you can say, but any transparency will be helpful on this.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, my colleagues at the White House  my colleague at the White House Counsel put out a statement yesterday, so  providing an update of  of where we are with this particular  with this particular in-  interview in the special counsel, obviously. I'm just not going to go beyond what my colleague has shared.

If you have any further questions, certainly I would refer you to Department of Justice or the White House Counsel to ask any detailed information.

Go ahead.

All right. Go ahead.

Q For the record, though, we understand the President's interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur was scheduled long before the conflict began, at least that's what we're being told by people here at the White House and elsewhere. Did the President and his legal team ever ask for the interview to be rescheduled, given what transpired in Israel over the weekend?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, again, Ed, I'm not going to go beyond the statement from the White House Counsel. And you all know and have seen for yourself, the President spoke the second  this is the second time he's spoken about Israel in the last couple of days.

And, you kn-  so, we know how focused he's been on  on what has happened. He's shown his leadership over the h-  the horrific events over the weekend in Israel.

And look, we disclosed  we disclosed the interview. We put that out in a statement from the White House Counsel  from my colleague at the White House Counsel.

And the President is  obviously was intensely engaged. He spoke to many of our allies, whether the King of Jordan, the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, and the UK. And he met  and as I said at the top, he met with our national security team over a dozen times. And he spoke with Bibi  Prime Minister Netanyahu, to be more precise  the third time today. So, twice over the weekend.

So, he's been very much focused on the issues of the, you know, horrific events that we have seen in Israel.

And, you know, the President is able to do multiple things at once, right? As president, he has to do multiple things at once. And that's what you saw him do this weekend.

Q And did the President's need to be interviewed by the Special Counsel yesterday impede or keep him from giving the remarks he gave today yesterday? Because you know  the press office certainly knows there was a lot of inquiry and concern and criticism that perhaps he was not as publicly engaged yesterday as he possibly could have been.

It was a federal holiday. There was some respect or decision made to not hold public events on the federal holiday. But, clearly, he was doing a big thing by meeting with the Special Counsel. So, was there any reason to believe that that impeded his ability to respond publicly to what was going on in the Middle East?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, as I just said, Ed, presidents have to do multiple things at once. He spoke on Saturday  right?  when we learned  when all of you were reporting and it was incoming of what was happening in Israel. He spoke today, obviously. There were multiple statements from this President.

I just mentioned, he menti-  he met with his national security team dozens of time. He did multiple calls with heads of states, trying to make sure that we got the support, continued that support, organized support of  of other allies and partners across  across the world. And we put out a statement as well  a joint statement from those  from those allies and partners.

Look, the President was  was very much engaged in showing his  his leadership and also how we're continue  we're going to continue to support Israel. And that's going to certainly  we're going to  that's how we're going to move forward.

And again, the President has to handle many things at once, and we saw him do that over the past couple of days, since  certainly, since Saturday.

Go ahead.

Q The President said that he will urge Congress to act quickly on Israel aid. Obviously, Ukraine aid is also still outstanding. Is there a preferred pathway forward from this White House on how both of those things can happen, given the situation on Capitol Hill right now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, Jake Sullivan spoke to this a little bit about  when he was asked about the aid. Look  and he said this  he said it much better than I'm about to say it, which is how important it is to continue to support Ukraine in their time of  of  as they are fighting for freedom, as they're fighting the aggression from Russia.

It is important that we continue to do that. Because  look, doing that now  the cost/benefit of it now is so important to do it now than to allow Putin  a dictator like Putin to continue beyond Ukraine, right? It is important that we continue to focus on making sure that Ukraine has everything that they need as they [are] bravely fighting for their freedom and for their democracy.

And we're going to continue to, certainly, move forward, as you heard with the President, to ask Congress when they get back for additional  for additional assistance.

Tho-  both of those things are incredibly important. Those  both of those things need to move forward. Both of the things, as  as Jake said, we are able and can do as the United States.

I'm not going to talk about our strategy. We're going to  certainly, as Jake said, the OMB director is going to lay that out. We're going to figure out the best path forward. I'm just not going to get into details on how that's going to look from now.

Q Have White House officials had any conversations with lawmakers about potentially speeding up the House speakership race?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Not going to get involved in the House speakership race. That is something  again, as I've said many

times, as we have said many times, the House, as you know, is the  the majority goes to the Republicans. It is their  it is their path, it is their process to figure out who is going to be the Speaker.

Certainly, we want  certainly, we're  we're  we want that to get done so that we can move forward with the business of the American people. But I'm not going to get into congressional process from here.

Trying to see who has not  go ahead, Gerren. I know you haven't gotten called on.

Q Thanks, Karine. There have been some clashes across the country in demonstrations amongst protesters in the aftermath of what's  or amid what's happening in Israel. How concerned is the administration that these clashes can turn violent? And do you have a message for demonstrators more broadly?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I mean, Jake also spoke to our focus and our  the importance of making sure that the Jewish community here is protected, making sure that there aren't  there aren't acts of violence. We're always going to denounce any act of violence against any community, and, certainly, going to continue to show our support and going to be vigilant on that.

Don't have anything else to go beyond that. But we are certainly monitoring, keeping an eye on all of this. And we're going to continue to support the community here.

Yeah.

Q One other question on 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We have to start  we have to 

Go ahead, Phil.

Q What is the President's message to 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. The pool should  should start leaving, and then we're going to take this last question.

Go ahead, Phil.

Q Thank you, Karine. What is the President's message to members of Congress who seem to be equating the Hamas terror attack with actions that were previously taken by Israel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say that one more time. Everybody is moving around. I apologize.

Q What is the President's message to members of Congress who seem to be equating the Hamas terror attack with actions that were previously taken by Israel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, here's the thing  and which  which  which congressional members?

Q Well, there have been some members of Congress who have called for a ceasefire, and they have not gone as far as backing the administration's call for support for Israel.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I've seen some of those statements this weekend. And we're going to continue to be very clear: We believe they are wrong, we believe they're repugnant, and we believe they're disgraceful.

Our  our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped hundreds  hundreds of Israelis. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides.

President Biden has been clear on where he has stood. You heard him  you heard from him directly today. You heard from him also on Saturday on this. There's been multiple statements from this President. And he's taking action to provide additional support to ensure that Israel has the  has what they need to defend themselves.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right.

Q A follow-up on this question, please?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, go ahead. And then  last question. And then we'll be back tomorrow.

Q Yesterday, the President said he was putting police departments on  on high alert. Can you guarantee that members of the Muslim diaspora or immigrant communities can still feel safe, can still exercise their civil liberties and exercise their criticism of  of Israel's behavior? Was that part of the conversations? And can you assure those communities that they still have (inaudible)?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I  I don't have any details of the conversation, but, obviously, the President is  is going to be  we're always going to deno-  denounce any form  any type of violence and  certainly, to keep communities safe. That is something we'll be vigilant about. I don't have anything else to add.

Thank you so much. We'll see you guys tomorrow.

3:32 P.M. EDT

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Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Activation Ceremony

By Staff Sgt. Robert Wormley October 11, 2023

SEMBACH, Germany -- On Oct. 17, Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment will activate at Caserma Del Din in Vicenza, Italy.

Charlie Battery 1-57 will bolster Air Defense Artillery capabilities, operating in direct support of the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne). Their mission is to eliminate, neutralize, or deter low-altitude aerial threats, encompassing unmanned aerial systems, rotary wing, and fixed-wing aircraft. These capabilities play a crucial role in safeguarding the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team's ground forces during their operations.

The activation of Charlie Battery 1-57 follows the prior activations of its parent unit, the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and the establishment of the 52D Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

The planned expansion of U.S. Army air defense capabilities in Europe has been in the works for some time. This announcement was made by U.S. President Joe Biden during the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, in June 2022.

This modernization is crucial for addressing emerging threats and maintaining air defense superiority in a rapidly changing operational environment. The addition of the new 1-57 short-range air defense regiment under the 52D ADA BDE significantly strengthens the United States' contribution to ground-based air defense within the European Command (EUCOM) region.

This event has been rescheduled from Oct. 11, 2023 to Oct. 17, 2023.

For more information, please contact 10th AAMDC Public Affairs via email at usarmy.rheinland-pfalz.10aamdc.pao@army.mil or visit www.dvidshub.net/unit/10AAMDC

- 30 -



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Assisted-departure flights for Australians

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Joint media release with:

The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

11 October 2023

Today we announce the Australian Government will begin the assisted-departure of Australians affected by the situation in Israel and Gaza.

On Monday, we directed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assess all options to assist Australians wanting to leave.

Australian Government assisted-departure flights will depart from Ben Gurion Airport starting Friday for Australians who do not already have plans to leave through commercial options.

These flights will be operated by Qantas free-of-charge.

We understand many Australians are experiencing difficulties with delays and cancellations of commercial flights departing Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

Our immediate priority is to ensure the Australians who want to leave Israel are able to do so - but we are working on options for Australians who need onward support from London.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and consider whether further assisted-departure flights are required.

Australians who want to leave Israel via Australia's assisted-departure flights should register by calling the Australian Government's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

Australians in Israel and Gaza who cannot reach Ben Gurion Airport, should contact the Consular Emergency Centre for assistance.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide updates to registered Australians.

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Humanitarian Assistance in response to Afghanistan earthquake

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Joint media release with:

The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific

The Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs

11 October 2023

The Australian Government will provide $1 million to support the people of Afghanistan following the deadly earthquake which struck Herat Province.

The earthquake has exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where 29.2 million people are already in desperate need.

Australia's assistance will be directed through the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF), led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The AHF provides emergency shelter, health, food and protection for vulnerable people. No Australian funding will benefit or legitimise the Taliban regime.

Australia has already committed $50 million in 2023-24 to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

"We are deeply troubled by the loss of life and destruction in Afghanistan. "Australia's support will be delivered through independent agencies to provide basic needs such as shelter, food and medicine. "Australia stands with the people of Afghanistan."

Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development and the Pacific, The Hon Pat Conroy MP:

"This earthquake has exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where almost 30 million people are already in desperate need. "We are working closely with our humanitarian partners who have initiated relief efforts, deploying medical and trauma support to regional hospitals, as well as providing emergency shelter, supplies and food assistance to affected areas."

Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts (MP):

"Our thoughts are with the victims of this tragic earthquake, their families, and the rescue personnel. "We urge the Taliban to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities."

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Government of Canada helping Canadians affected by crisis in Israel, West Bank and Gaza Strip

Global Affairs Canada

News release

October 11, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The situation in Israel and the West Bank and the Gaza Strip remains volatile and is deteriorating rapidly. Canada's missions in the region are actively monitoring the situation and working with partners and like-minded governments, as well as with the international community, to address the situation.

Today, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; and the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport provided an update on giving assistance to Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including assisted departures.

The safety and security of Canadians abroad is Canada's top priority. Canada is actively working on starting assisted departures of Canadians, permanent residents and their eligible family members from Tel Aviv to Athens with the support of Canadian Armed Forces aircraft, then onward to Canada with the support of Air Canada flights. Canadian officials are also working on additional options for those who cannot reach the airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Canada is deploying members of Global Affairs Canada's Standing Rapid Deployment Team (SRDT) to the region to increase its ability to support our missions and to further assess needs on the ground.

The SRDT has highly trained employees on standby and ready to deploy on short notice to assist the Government of Canada when responding to emergencies. Team members provide emergency response, coordination, consular assistance and logistical support.

Consular services continue to be available to Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Officials in Ottawa are also in regular contact with affected Canadians, providing them with information and advice as the situation develops. Further, officials at Canadian missions in nearby countries are actively supporting the response to the crisis.

Canadians who wish to leave or who need emergency consular assistance should contact the Embassy of Canada to Israel in Tel Aviv at 972 (3) 636-3300, the Representative Office of Canada in Ramallah, West Bank, at 972 (2) 297-8430 or Global Affairs Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa:

telephone: +1 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted where available)

email: sos@international.gc.ca

SMS: +1 613-686-3658

WhatsApp: +1 613-909-8881

signal: +1 613-909-8087

telegram: Canada Emergency Abroad

Canadians who wish to leave should also sign up with the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service, so Global Affairs Canada officials can provide them with direct updates and share crucial information about available assistance.

Canada urges all affected Canadians to check the Travel Advice and Advisories for Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as often as possible for updates.

Quotes

"We are actively working to help Canadians at this time. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of civilian lives in Israel and the Gaza Strip, including children, and unequivocally condemn the brutal terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel." - Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

"The Canadian Armed Forces is ready to contribute to the safe return of Canadians who have been impacted as the result of the war in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. We strongly condemn the brutal terrorist attacks committed by Hamas against Israel and fully support Israel's right to defend itself." - Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

"The safety of Canadians is our top priority. We are focused on ensuring Citizens and Permanent Residents, as well as their families are on Canadian soil. This is an incredibly painful time, but we remain completely committed to keeping families out of harm's way and together. - The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

"The safety of Canadians is our top priority. We are working to get Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip back home as soon as possible." - Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport

Quick facts

Eligible family members are those of Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents who meet the definition included within the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations Specifically, this refers to the spouse or common-law partner of the person, a dependent child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or of their spouse or common-law partner, or a dependent child of a dependent child.

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Federal Council condemns terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel and enhances Switzerland's capacity to act

Swiss Government

Bern, 11.10.2023 -- At its meeting on 11 October 2023, the Federal Council discussed the recent outrageous attacks carried out by Hamas from the Gaza Strip against civilians in Israel. It condemns these terrorist acts in the strongest terms and calls for the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas. In view of the situation, Switzerland must be able to act effectively and in a coordinated fashion. To this end, the Federal Council has decided to expand the task force set up by the FDFA, and convert it into a Federal Council task force. The Federal Council takes the stance that Hamas should be considered a terrorist organisation.

The Federal Council condemns the terrorist acts carried out by Hamas from the Gaza Strip against civilians in Israel in the strongest possible terms and recognises Israel's legitimate concern for national defence and security. It calls for the immediate release of everyone who has been taken hostage by Hamas. The Federal Council calls for an immediate end to the violence and stresses that the civilian population must be protected and international humanitarian law respected at all times. It expresses its solidarity with the Israeli people and offers its deepest condolences to the families of all the victims.

In order to ensure effective and concerted action, the Federal Council has decided to expand the Middle East Task Force (METF) established by the FDFA and convert it into a Federal Council task force. The METF is led by the FDFA and also comprises representatives of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, the Federal Department of Justice and Police, and the Federal Chancellery. The METF is tasked with carrying out analyses to ensure coordinated decision-making in the context of events in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. The Federal Council takes the stance that Hamas should be designated as a terrorist organisation. It has tasked the METF to examine the legal options to this end.

The Federal Council also considers it a matter of the utmost importance that Switzerland's financial support should be put to appropriate use. In the past, the FDFA has verified the use of funds provided by Switzerland to NGOs in the Middle East and taken appropriate measures when necessary. At present, it has no indication that any Swiss funds have benefited Hamas and its activities. The FDFA will carry out a fresh, in-depth analysis of all financial flows linked to the cooperation programme in the Middle East.

Furthermore, the Federal Council stresses that the security of citizens of the Jewish faith and Jewish institutions in Switzerland is of paramount importance.

Finally, Switzerland is ready to offer support to all efforts in the region to de-escalate the conflict.

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October 11, 2023

By Jim Garamone , DOD News

Army Command Works to Engage With African Partners

Africa is a continent of potential, and service members at the Southern European Task Force, Africa work every day to help African partners turn that potential into reality, said Army Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, commander of the unit based in Vicenza, Italy.

"We are responsible for all of the Army's operations, activities and investments in support of U.S. Africa Command," Wasmund said today.

Africa is the second largest continent, with more than 50 nations and hundreds of languages. Tens of millions of people live in poverty even as the resources exist to lift up populations.

The African continent contains more ungoverned, under-governed or misgoverned areas, which attract extremist groups like Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, al-Qaida and the like, according to Defense Department officials.

It's also a continent with little infrastructure and many natural disasters.

SETAF-AF  as the task force is abbreviated  provides a scalable crisis response option to the commander of U.S. Africa Command. "It is scalable from a platoon all the way to a two-star Joint Task Force headquarters," Wasmund said. The command had to do that recently following the coup in Niger. The task force quickly stood up and managed the U.S. forces in Niger. There are about 1,000 U.S. service members in the country with a small footprint in the capital of Niamey and the most at an airfield in Agadez. The command provides the facilities for the Air Force and Special Operations Command  Africa, which had the counter terrorism mission.

Yesterday, the State Department said that the July 26 deposition of the elected president was, indeed, a coup, which limits the aid the command may provide to Niger. Restrictions under section 7008 of the U.S. Department of State's annual appropriations dictate what the U.S. can provide to Niger in foreign assistance, as well as military training and equipment.

"With the announcement yesterday of the 7008 status for Niger, there will be some things that are suspended," Waslund said. "They do require a little bit more scrutiny of how we might provide some of that partner support. That's not something we can continue without further policy decisions."

The 7008 status does not mean no communications between the militaries. The command will continue to maintain communications as the State Department establishes with the Nigerien junta a path to reestablish constitutional government, the general said.

Overall, the command's operational activities include security cooperation, exercises, key leader engagements, medical readiness exercises, and a whole host of other engagements during the course of the year.

The command also provides crisis response, which they provided when they ran a non-combatant evacuation operation from Sudan earlier this year.

While West Africa is a focus for the command  it is the most populated portion area  it engages across the continent. The biggest exercise each year is African Lion  hosted by Morocco and SETAF-AF. It brings together nations from the continent and from Europe to train together. The command also sponsors a yearly African Land Forces Symposium giving military leaders the chance to meet and exchange ideas.

SETAF-AF and U.S. Africa Command help partner militaries as many of them mount their own counterterrorism efforts. U.S. service members help train partner militaries and help as they establish new capabilities. The Africans train with U.S. Army security force assistance brigades and with civil affairs teams. U.S. military personnel participate in medical readiness exercises and more. "We have a lot to offer, but we are careful about their capacity so that we don't overwhelm them," the general said.

The command works hand in glove with the National Guard's State Partnership Program. Wasmund called the program "brilliant" and said it was a true force multiplier. The program, which started 20 years ago in Africa, pairs a State National Guard unit with an African nation. The first two partnerships were Morocco-Utah and South Africa-New York.

"These soldiers grew up together," the general said. "That gives us this depth of relationship, [and] continuity. What we're doing is ensuring everything ... we do with the African partner is synchronized and complimentary."

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TV host deported after serving sentence

08:23, October 12, 2023 By Cao Yin ( Chinadaily.com.cn

China's State security agency said on Wednesday that it had deported Australian national Cheng Lei after she served a full sentence for illegally providing Chinese State security secrets abroad.

The release was disclosed by the China's Ministry of State Security via its WeChat account.

Cheng, 48, was an employee of Chinese media platform China Global Television Network. In May 2020, she was found to have been co-opted by an overseas institution, violated the confidentiality clause signed with her employer, and illegally provided Chinese State secrets she had known at work to the overseas institution through her mobile phone, according to the release.

The security agency in Beijing detained Cheng in August 2020 for allegedly sharing the Chinese secrets with another country, and then Cheng pleaded guilty to her offense, it said.

After a trial at the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court, Cheng was sentenced to two years and 11 months for the crime of illegally supplying Chinese State secrets abroad, plus deportation. She did not appeal to a higher court, it said.

It added that Chinese judicial authorities solved the case in line with the law, with full guarantee of Cheng's legitimate rights during the process.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that the Chinese judicial authorities have also respected and implemented the consular rights of the Australian side, such as those on visitation and notification.

Responding to a question over Cheng's trial at a routine news conference in March last year, Wang cited the Chinese Criminal Procedure Law as saying that cases involving State secrets should not be heard in public, stressing that it is lawful and beyond reproach for the trial of Cheng to be held behind closed doors as it involves State secrets.

During that news conference, he also emphasized that China is a country that operates under the rule of law, and judicial organs handle cases strictly in accordance with the law, with full protection of the litigation rights to relevant personnel.

Relevant parties should earnestly respect China's judicial sovereignty and refrain from interfering in any form with China's judicial organs, he added.

Cheng was born in China and later immigrated to Australia with her parents.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Foreign Minister Tsahkna discussed the situation in Israel at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

11.10.2023

Yesterday 10 October, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attended an emergency video meeting of European Union foreign ministers to discuss the attacks launched by the Hamas terrorist organisation against Israel, and the current situation.

The EU foreign ministers affirmed their complete condemnation of the attack by Hamas and expressed their unanimous support for Israel and its right to self-defence. Planning further steps in preventing the escalation of the conflict, the ministers emphasised the need for regional cooperation, which was also discussed at Tsahkna's meeting with the minister of economy of Saudi Arabia yesterday.

The foreign ministers were in agreement on the need for continued humanitarian aid to Palestinians. A thorough discussion was held on the topic of development cooperation, noting the importance of clearly differentiating between the Palestinian Authority and the terrorist Hamas that controls Gaza.

Foreign Minister Tsahkna also spoke with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, discussing the latest developments. Tsahkna said he hoped the security forces of Israel would manage to free the hostages and trapped civilians soon.

"I affirmed the Israeli foreign minister that Estonia's support was solid and extended my condolences for the loss of life. The thousands of innocent people who have been killed, injured or taken hostage in these massive attacks are the greatest victims of this conflict and it is crucial to ensure the necessary humanitarian aid for civilians who have suffered," the foreign minister said.

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Evacuation flight from Israel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

News, 11.10.2023

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is preparing an evacuation flight for Finnish citizens and permanent residents of Finland who need help leaving Israel and the Palestinian territory.

Due to the unpredictability of the situation, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is making arrangements to evacuate Finnish citizens and permanent residents of Finland in need of assistance. Those in need of assistance will be evacuated to Finland to the extent possible, or to the closest safe area, with their consent and at their own expense. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is working on the arrangements in close cooperation with the other Nordic countries and aims to provide an evacuation opportunity in the next few days.

Travellers in the region are advised to register their travel plans at matkustusilmoitus.fi(Link to another website.) and, in emergencies, contact the Foreign Ministry's 24/7 Service Centre by email to paivystys.um@formin.fi or by phone to +358 9 1605 5555. The Foreign Ministry will contact everyone who has registered their travel plans and inform them about the evacuation flight.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs upgraded its travel advice for Israel on 8 October 2023 and advises against all but essential travel to Israel. The Ministry especially advises against travelling to the southern part of the country close to the border with the Gaza Strip and to the northern part of the country close to the border with Lebanon and Syria. The Ministry recommends exercising special caution when travelling in the West Bank.

Finland's Embassy(Link to another website.) will remain operational in Israel. It will help as far as possible anyone who requests consular assistance.

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Finland to launch review of development cooperation with Palestine

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland

Press releases, 11.10.2023

Finland unequivocally condemns the assault against Israel by the terrorist organisation Hamas. Following the escalation of the situation, Finland will review its Country Programme for development cooperation in Palestine. In this way, Finland can verify that its support is targeted correctly. The report will be submitted to Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

At the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, risk management in development cooperation involves detailed planning, careful selection of partners and regular monitoring and oversight of projects. All partners report to the Ministry on their achievement of objectives and use of funds. The Ministry also commissions independent external reviews and audits on the use of funds. In Palestine, the use of funds is monitored and overseen by Finland's Representative Office in Ramallah.

Finland finances its Palestine Country Programme with around EUR 7 million a year. In addition to the Country Programme, Finland grants EUR 5 million a year in humanitarian assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Some of Finland's support to Palestine is channelled through Finnish civil society organisations, amounting to around EUR 850,000 this year. In addition, Finland supports Palestinian civil society organisations in the West Bank with some EUR 120,000. These organisations promote non-violence among young people and advocate for the rights of women.

Hamas is a terrorist organisation, and under no circumstances are any of Finland's or of the EU's development cooperation funds allocated to such organisations. Finland has no connection to Hamas. However, the international community has a long-standing relationship with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

In Palestine, Finland promotes the two-state solution, defends human rights and strengthens the civil society.

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China calls for implementing the two-state solution to fundamentally resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Oct 11, 2023 01:14 AM

Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, had a phone call on Tuesday with an official from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Zhai said that the fundamental solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution, and that China is willing to promote an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence, and to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people.

Zhai expressed deep concern over the escalating tension and violence in the current Israeli-Palestinian situation, and said he is deeply saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict. China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians and calls for an immediate ceasefire, Zhai noted.

Zhai stressed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to cycle, and the crux of the matter lies in the failure to resolve the Palestinian issue justly. "The fundamental solution lies in implementing the two-state solution, and the international community should make practical efforts with the utmost sense of urgency to promote it."

China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Egypt, and to promote an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence between the conflicting parties, as well as to promote synergy among the international community, Zhai added. "China is also willing to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people, in order to prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening, particularly in the Gaza Strip."

During the phone conversation, Osama Khedr, Assistant minister of the Palestine Department in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly appreciates China's long-standing fair position on the Palestinian issue and emphasizes that the comprehensive and just resolution of the Palestinian issue should be based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

The international community should shoulder its responsibility and create conditions for restarting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the official said, adding that the Egyptian side looks forward to working with China to help in easing the situation.

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Norway to help citizens to fly home

Government of Norway

Press release | Date: 11/10/2023

Norway is now arranging for an aircraft to transport Norwegian citizens home from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

'We are sending a Norwegian aircraft to Tel Aviv today to bring Norwegian citizens home. We have been working on this solution with Norwegian Air over the last few days,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt.

'The security situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories is extremely volatile. This has made it difficult for Norwegian citizens to leave the region. That is why the Government is now offering this solution,' said Ms Huitfeldt.

'We have just sent out a message to registered Norwegian citizens informing them of the possibility to travel home on this flight. The flight is planned to depart from Ben Gurion Airport this evening,' said Ms Huitfeldt.

Norwegian citizens who wish to take this opportunity to travel out of the country have been asked to send an email to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those who do will be required to cover some of the transport costs. This evacuation flight is in addition to the scheduled flights that are still departing from Israel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating the evacuation operation and a team from the Ministry has travelled to Ben Gurion to assist in this effort.

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Sweden's aid to Palestine suspended

Government Offices of Sweden

11 October 2023

In response to the attacks against Israel by the terrorist organisation Hamas, the Government will suspend aid to Palestine until further notice. At the same time, Sida will be instructed to conduct a review of aid to Palestine and report on this by 1 December 2023. Humanitarian aid will not be affected by the suspension.

The Government unreservedly condemns the attacks on Israel carried out by the terrorist organisation Hamas. In response to the attacks, the Government will instruct Sida to conduct a review of aid to Palestine to ensure that no Swedish funds go to actors that do not unconditionally condemn Hamas, that commit violence, threaten or encourage violence against the State of Israel or its population, or pursue an antisemitic agenda, nor to people associated with such actors. The review will be conducted by the Government with the help of Sida and other relevant actors. At the same time, the Government will also consider how control mechanisms can be strengthened to ensure that tax funds do not go to the wrong actors.

In addition, the Government intends to bring forward the strategy report on Palestine, in which the direction of future development cooperation with Palestine will be presented. The Government will also work to ensure that similar reviews are undertaken by the World Bank, at which Sweden has a seat on the Board of Governors.

Humanitarian aid, which is guided by the humanitarian principles, will not be affected by this suspension.







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The IDF Struck an Important Hamas Operational, Political and Military Center in Gazathe Islamic University.

IDF Press Release

11.10.23

A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck an important operational, political and military center belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip - the Islamic University. The university was being used as a Hamas training camp for military intelligence operatives, as well as for the development and production of weapons. Hamas used university conferences in order to raise funds for terrorism. The university maintained close ties with the senior leadership of Hamas.

The IDF is continuing wide-scale strikes in the Gaza Strip at this time.

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Daily Recap: October 11th, 2023: 20:30

IDF Press Release

11.10.23

The Israel Defense Forces are currently operating in all arenas - in the south, in the north and on the home front. The IDF continues to conduct wide-scale aerial strikes on terrorist targets belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations in Gaza.

IDF fighter jets struck an important operational and military center belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza  the Islamic University. The university was being used as a Hamas training camp for military intelligence operatives, as well as for the development and production of weapons. Hamas used university conferences in order to raise funds for terrorism. The university maintained close ties with the senior leadership of Hamas.





Overnight, IDF fighter jets also struck over 80 targets in Beit Hanoun including two bank branches, an underground tunnel, and two operational command centers, as well as 70 terrorist targets in the Daraj Tuffah area.





The IDF continues to prioritize the targeting of senior Hamas terrorists in Gaza, following the strikes on Hamas' Minister of Economy and the head of its internal relations office yesterday (Tuesday).





There have been no successful terrorist infiltrations through the Gaza security fence or through the sea over the past two days. IDF forces are present in all towns and communities in the area surrounding Gaza. The IDF has created an "iron wall" of armored, ground, aerial and naval forces that are maintaining security in areas where the Gaza fence was breached.





Sirens sounded in northern Israel due to suspicion of a hostile UAV infiltrating into Israel's airspace from Lebanon. All civilians in the area have been asked to enter shelters and remain inside as the incident is being examined by the IDF.





IDF forces have been widely deployed in the northern arena and there is not a single community in Judea and Samaria without an IDF presence. Mortars have been launched into Israeli territory in the north, to which the IDF has responded with heavy artillery fire.





Senior IDF officers are in regular contact with their American counterparts and cooperation between the IDF and the U.S. Armed Forces is ongoing.

Key Stats

Rockets fired from Gaza: 5,000+

Over 2,600 terrorist targets struck inside Gaza

Hundreds of Hamas terrorists have been killed in Israel and dozens have been detained.

169 IDF soldiers have fallen in battle.

Dozens of Israelis are being held hostage in Gaza, with 60 having received official confirmation.

Additional Material

Morning briefing from the IDF Spokesperson, BG Daniel Hagari (Hebrew video)

Watch MG (res) Itai Veruv preparing journalists for the atrocities they will encounter as they enter the Israeli town of Kfar Aza, where Hamas massacred Israeli civilians. (Video)

Footage of IAF strikes in Gaza (Video)

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20th round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting

India - Ministry of External Affairs

October 11, 2023

The 20th round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on 9-10 October 2023.

The two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector, in accordance with the guidance provided by the national leadership of the two countries, and building on the progress made in the last round of Corps Commanders' Meeting held on 13-14 August 2023.

They agreed to maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms. They also committed to maintain peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas in the interim.

New Delhi

October 11, 2023

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Iran ready to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza: FM Amirabdollahian

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has voiced Tehran's readiness to send humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, adding that Tehran expects the United Nations to take immediate and uninterrupted action to pave the way for the shipment of water, food, and humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

As part of his diplomatic efforts to discuss the current situation in Gaza with his counterparts and officials of certain international organizations, Amirabdollahian made the remark in a phone conversation with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres on Wednesday.

The top Iranian diplomat stated what happened in the occupied territories of Palestine was completely a Palestinian initiative, which had its roots in the war, crimes and aggressions committed by the Zionist regime, in particular its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent months.

Pointing to the current situation in the Gaza Strip, he noted that Gaza is now under complete siege; thus, children, women, and ordinary people do not have access to water, electricity, medicine, and food.

Moreover, the Zionist regime continues attacking and committing war crimes against the residents of Gaza, he added.

The secretary-general of the United Nations stated that the UN has always opposed the extremist stances by Israeli authorities and hopes to be able to put an end to the crisis by recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian government.

Referring to the improper situation of hundreds of UN staff in Gaza and the fact that some of whom have lost their lives in the ongoing war, he said that we are actively negotiating to prevent the spillover of the conflict to other regions.

He further appreciated Iran's readiness to deliver aid to Gaza in coordination with the International Red Cross and the United Nations, and expressed concern about the fuel shortages at Gaza power plants, as well as the growing probability of a disaster in the besieged Palestinian land.

4208**2050

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Zionist regime's actions in Gaza war crime against humanity: Iran FM

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 11, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has termed Zionist regime's actions in Gaza as the mass punishment and systematic crimes against humanity.

Amirabdollahian and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mirjana Spoljaric Egger during a phone call on Wednesday discussed the latest developments in Palestine.

Strongly condemning the Zionist regime's intensification of the Gaza blockade, the top Iranian diplomat said that the Zionist regime is targeting residential facilities, hospitals, and schools, cutting off water plus electricity, and preventing the delivery of fuel and food, all of such actions are an example of mass punishment and systematic war crime against humanity.

The continuation of this condition will make the situation more complicated, and naturally, the responsibility lies with the Zionist regime and its supporters, he underlined.

Referring to the high number of Palestinian martyrs and wounded and the lack of food and medicine in Gaza, Amirabdollahian expressed the Iranian Red Crescent Society's readiness to dispatch humanitarian aid to Gaza in coordination with the ICRC.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked the foreign ministers of Islamic countries to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, the top Iranian diplomat added.

Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, for her part, said that the current humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, adding that unfortunately, it is not possible for ICRC workers to operate in the Gaza Strip due to security reasons.

She called on all parties and governments to help the ICRC maintain its impartial and humanitarian role and carry out its duties in full coordination.

Egger also emphasized that they are in contact with the Iranian Red Crescent Society and if the conditions improve, they will receive Iran's aid.

3266**2050

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Continuation of blockade of Gaza to only make conditions more complicated: Iran FM

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 11 October 2023 / 18:06

Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has held talks with Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), over the developments in Palestine.

Amir-Abdollahian strongly condemned the Zionist regime for intensifying the siege of Gaza, saying, "Right now, we are witnessing the continuation of war crimes in Gaza".

He added that Tel Aviv is targeting residential areas, hospitals and schools; it has cut off water and electricity to Gaza; and it is preventing the delivery of fuel and food to the region.

Amir-Abdollahian noted that all these acts are examples of collective punishment, systematic crimes and crime against humanity.

The Iranian foreign minister underlined that the persistence of this situation will only make the conditions more complicated, and that Israel and its supporters are naturally responsible for it.

Referring to the high number of Palestinians martyred and wounded, and also the lack of food and medicine in Gaza, Amir-Abdollahian announced the Iranian Red Crescent's readiness to send humanitarian aid to Gaza in coordination with the International Red Cross.

He further underscored that the Islamic Republic of Iran has asked the foreign ministers of Muslim countries to send their humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The President of the ICRC, for her part, said she agreed with Amir-Abdollahian and described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic.

"We are also monitoring the situation, but unfortunately, due to security reasons, it is not possible for our employees to move in the Gaza Strip", the ICRC president said.

She urged all influential players and governments to help the ICRC maintain its impartial and humane role and perform its duties in full coordination.

Mirjana Spoljaric Egger also said the ICRC is in touch with Iran's Red Crescent, adding that if the security situation improves, "we will receive Iran's aid."

End Item



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Iran announces readiness to host OIC extraordinary meeting on Palestine

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 11 October 2023 / 13:43

Tehran (ISNA) - The Islamic Republic of Iran's Permanent Mission in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah sent an official letter to the secretariat of the organization, announcing Iran's readiness to host an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of the organization on Palestine.

The mission also conveyed Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's gratitude to OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha for exchanging views during their constructive negotiations on the developments in Palestine.

The mission officially said the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully ready to host the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the OIC.

The following is text of the official letter by Iran's mission in the OIC:

Following the phone call on Monday, October 9, 2023, between the Honorable Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, with the Honorable Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, on the beastly crimes being perpetrated by the Zionist regime against Palestinian civilians, especially in the Gaza Strip, we would like to express Amir-Abdollahian's gratitude for the opportunity provided to exchange views with the honorable secretary general and his constructive negotiations with him on the issue.

The foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed his deep hatred and concern about the criminal actions by the Zionist regime against the Palestinian people as vivid examples of war crimes and genocide, and announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the massive military and savage moves by the Zionist regime of Israel in Palestine that have so far led to the martyrdom and injury of hundreds of children of the Palestinian nation, especially infants, kids and women.

Amir-Abdollahian thanked Hissein Brahim Taha for his timely condemnation of the regime's actions and emphasized that the apartheid and child-killing regime is responsible in this context.

He also stressed that considering the high sensitivity of the case, the OIC should swiftly deal with the important matter at the highest possible level and informed the secretary general of the Islamic Republic of Iran's full readiness to host the emergency meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Tehran, in the first agreed opportunity.

It was decided that the proposal would be submitted to the secretariat in writing.

Hereby, we would be grateful if the OIC secretariat immediately starts the necessary consultations with the member states of the organization on the proposal by the Islamic Republic of Iran's government and announce the final result to the mission in order to advance the procedures.

End Item





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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis discussed the Hamas attack in Cairo: "The Middle East region hopes that Europe will contribute to a constructive solution of the conflict between the countries"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023.10.11

On Wednesday, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis is visiting Cairo, where he met with the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. At the meeting, Lithuania's Foreign Minister said the Hamas attack on Israel was unjustified and called on the countries to actively engage, seeking to avoid expanding the conflict in the region.

"We condemn the Hamas attack on Israel that has caused immense human suffering to its victims and the threat to regional security. Israel has the right to defend itself, but this must be done following the principles of international humanitarian law," Landsbergis said.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister stressed that the war had an impact not only on regional security but also on global security.

"This could have wide-ranging geopolitical consequences in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and other ongoing conflicts," Lithuania's Foreign Minister said.

The meeting also explored the impact of Russia's war on the region and global security.

"The implications of the Russian aggression in Ukraine are not only limited to Europe, so we appreciate the Arab countries' support at the United Nations, calling for putting an immediate end to Russia's aggression, thus expressing solidarity and support for Ukraine," Landsbergis said.

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NATO Defence Ministers meet to discuss Ukraine, deterrence and defence, Kosovo and the Middle East

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

11 Oct. 2023

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg previewed the issues that NATO Defence Ministers will discuss over the next two days in Brussels, including support for Ukraine, strengthened deterrence and defence, NATO operations and missions, and the situation in the Middle East. He was joined by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy who is at NATO Headquarters to take part in the US-led Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, alongside more than 50 countries.

The Secretary General told President Zelenskyy that "your fight is our fight, your security is our security, and your values are our values. And we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes". He indicated that "we will further strengthen our relationship and help Ukraine move towards NATO membership". Allied Defence Ministers will meet with their Ukrainian counterpart, Minister Umerov, in the NATO-Ukraine Council this afternoon to discuss the situation in Ukraine and NATO's continued support.

Tomorrow's (Thursday 12 October 2023) discussions will focus on deterrence and defence. Ministers will take stock of the work underway to resource and exercise the robust defence plans that Allied leaders agreed at the Vilnius Summit. They will also address NATO's missions and operations, including in Kosovo and in Iraq, and discuss the recent damage to undersea infrastructure between Estonia and Finland. Regarding this incident, the Secretary General said that "the important thing now is to establish what happened and how this could happen. If it is proven to be a deliberate attack on NATO critical infrastructure, then this will be of course serious, but it will also be met by a united and determined response from NATO".

Defence Ministers will also discuss the situation in the Middle East in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks by Hamas against NATO partner Israel. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant will brief NATO Allies on Israel's response.

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Defence to deploy MQ-9 Reapers to protect NATO's eastern flank

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 11-10-2023 | 17:30

Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren today informed the House of Representatives in writing that next year, the Netherlands will station three MQ-9 Reaper drones in Romania to contribute to the defence of NATO's eastern flank. The unarmed aircraft will be used to gather intelligence along the eastern border of Alliance territory. It will be the first time that the Netherlands deploys the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft outside its own territory.

The MQ-9s will assist in air shielding operations. The purposes of these operations include monitoring the situation at the border of Alliance territory. The unmanned aircraft will use their sensors to gather data and information in order to build and maintain an accurate picture of the situation. This will prevent possible misunderstandings and any escalations that could ensue.

While NATO will specify the intelligence that it needs, the Netherlands will determine how it is gathered. The processing of intelligence will also remain a national responsibility.

Allied operations

In addition to protecting NATO territory, Defence will gain experience in Allied operations as a result of the MQ-9 deployment, which will last for at least six months and twelve months at most.

The total detachment will consist of 135 Defence employees. Around 40 service members will maintain the aircraft at the air base near Campia Turzii in Romania. The rest of the detachment will work at Leeuwarden Air Base. Their duties will include operating the MQ-9s and processing the intelligence gathered.

A team of army engineers will build the camp for their air force colleagues at the Romanian air base.

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A look at the Defence news 2 - 8 October

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 11-10-2023 | 17:30

The main component of the Dutch marines unit deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina has arrived in that country. This concerns 100 of a total of 150 marines. They are part of EUFOR Althea. The other 50 marines had deployed to the Balkan country at an earlier date.

Frisian Flag prepares pilots for large-scale air combat

Last week marked the start of Exercise Frisian Flag, where dozens of fighter aircraft and helicopters from seven countries are training to sharpen their deployment readiness. The exercise did not go unnoticed by residents living in the north of the Netherlands.

General Eichelsheim on the quantum revolution: "There is much at stake"

In the opening speech of the 2-day symposium Quantum Technology for Defence and Security, held in Amsterdam last week, the Netherlands Chief of Defence Onno Eichelsheim asserted that quantum technology will be disruptive and that NATO must find out which technology will contribute to enhancing security. The audience of around 300 included scientists, military personnel, policy makers and managers of ecosystems from various countries.

Fourth investigation into alleged war crimes by Forensic Investigation Team

A forensic investigation team of about 40 specialists is investigating possible war crimes in Ukraine. This is the fourth time that the team is conducting this type of investigation under the flag of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The team is mainly made up of specialists from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. Experts from other Dutch defence elements are also part of the unit, as are a number of experts from Belgium and the Czech Republic.

Government receives report by the Kabul investigation committee

In The Hague, the Ruys Committee presented its report entitled 'Reconstructie en analyse van de evacuatie uit Kaboel in augustus 2021' (A reconstruction and analysis of the evacuation of Kabul in August 2021) to the Dutch government. During the past 18 months, the committee investigated the Dutch evacuation operation in Kabul, which the Netherlands conducted in the second half of August 2021. This took place after the Taliban had taken over control in Afghanistan.

Renewed focus on anti-submarine warfare in Autumn Archer

Hunting for a submarine and launching torpedoes to eliminate the threat. It had been quite a while since the Royal Netherlands Navy had last practised this scenario. During Exercise Autumn Archer last week, all of the necessary ingredients were present to run through each step of anti-submarine warfare. The Dutch navy was supported by a Belgian frigate during the exercise.

National and international military bands steal the show during National Military Tattoo

From 29 September to 2 October, Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam was temporarily home to military music. Many Dutch military bands and brass ensembles performed during the National Military Tattoo, and this year they were joined by colleagues from Denmark and Jordan. The military tattoo drew a crowd of over 20,000 visitors.

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Gaza health ministry: 1,100 Palestinian killed in incessant Israeli bombardment

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 6:50 PM

The death toll from Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip continues to climb, with the Health Ministry there announcing that at least 1,100 Palestinians, including 326 children, have been killed in more than five days of Israeli bombardment of the besieged territory.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday that at least 5,339 others there have also been wounded, with dozens of Palestinians losing their lives in fresh Israeli attacks on Gaza over the past few hours.

Israel kept pondering Gaza's commercial zones, residential areas and refugee camps on Wednesday.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Wednesday that the Israeli warplanes bombed residential apartments as well as a port in the west of Gaza City with a large number of rockets and shells.

The bombing destroyed a large number of buildings and set them on fire, leading to injuries among citizens who were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital west of the city.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that four paramedics of the Palestinian Red Crescent were killed in Israeli airstrikes. The humanitarian organization said that three of them died when a strike "directly targeted an ambulance" of the Red Crescent north of Gaza, and the fourth in a separate strike in the east of the besieged territory.

The United Nations humanitarian relief agency that operates in the Gaza Strip said Wednesday that 11 of its workers had been killed by Israeli airstrikes on the densely packed Palestinian territory since Saturday.

"We are very saddened to confirm that 11 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since October 7 in the Gaza Strip," the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said in a statement.

It added that they included five teachers at UNRWA schools, one gynecologist, one engineer, one psychological counselor and three support staff.

"Some were killed in their homes with their families. UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families," it said.

According to UNRWA, at least 20 of its facilities in Gaza had been damaged by the strikes, including two schools.

Elsewhere in the statement, UNRWA also said nearly 175,500 internally displaced people were sheltering in 88 of its schools across Gaza.

"The numbers continue to increase as airstrikes continue from the Israeli Air Forces," it said. "UNRWA staff are working around the clock to respond to the needs of the displaced in the shelters. However, some are overcrowded and have limited availability of food, other basic items and potable water."

Gaza hospitals overwhelmed, power plant shuts down

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, warned on Wednesday that hospitals across Gaza are overwhelmed and experiencing shortages of drugs, medical supplies and electricity.

In a statement, Avril Benoit, executive director of MSF-USA, said the aid agency was "seeing shortages of water, electricity, and fuel, which hospitals rely on for their generators."

Gaza is under full Israeli siege and now the only power plant there has shut down due to fuel outage. According to health authorities, overwhelmed hospitals without electricity will have to rely on their emergency generators, which will only last two to four days.

Hassan Khalaf, the medical director of al-Wafa Hospital in Gaza City, said there are currently 100 newborn babies relying on medical equipment currently in Gaza.

"These newborns, they could not survive ... because they depend in every aspect of life on electricity and equipment," he said. "They are very tiny. They are very weak."

The doctor also said there were about 1,100 patients who rely on dialysis machines for survival in Gaza, saying the Israeli siege amounts to "mass killing."

Israel has stepped up its aerial offensive in Gaza in recent days, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced, many cut off from food and electricity.

Israel forcibly expels hundreds of Gaza workers

Thousands of Gaza workers were forcibly expelled from their workplaces across the occupied territories. Around 600 workers carrying bags arrived in Ramallah from their workplace after Israeli forces transported them to checkpoints in the West Bank early Wednesday.

The number of workers seeking aid continued to rise, with more individuals arriving at the temporary shelter.

Palestinian envoy to UN censures Israel's deadly campaign

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour, in a letter to the UN Security Council, has lashed out at Israel for its deadly campaign against the Gaza Strip and the regime's decision to impose a complete siege on the territory.

On Monday, Israel declared its decision to impose a complete siege on Gaza, cutting off the supply of electricity, food, fuel and water. The move that could leave the territory on the brink of a new humanitarian crisis has drawn international condemnations.

The UN says depriving civilians of goods essential for survival is banned under international law.

The European Union has also criticized Israel's move as a collective punishment against all Palestinians.

Iraqi groups warn US against involvement in war on Gaza

Iraqi resistance groups have warned the United States against any engagement in the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza.

Iraq's Hezbollah Brigades, also known as Kata'ib Hezbollah, said that it will hit US bases and Israeli positions if Washington gets involved in the Gaza war.

The group added that its forces, drones and missiles are fully prepared to retaliate.

Meanwhile, the al-Nujaba movement issued a similar warning, promising a decisive military response in case the US or any other country gets involved in the conflict against the Palestinian nation.

Putin accuses US of inflaming tensions in West Asia region

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the US of inflaming tensions in West Asia by sending an aircraft carrier group to the region.

Putin called the move a mistake that only exacerbates the situation.

He also blamed the violence in Palestine on Washington, describing it as a blatant example of the failure of US policy in the region.

Washington has announced plans to move a carrier strike group closer to Israel to support the regime.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also warned Washington's move would risk massacre of Palestinians.

Turkey's Erdogan calls Israeli raids on Gaza 'massacre'

Erdogan said on Wednesday that Israel's blockade and bombing of Gaza was a disproportionate response amounting to "massacre."

Speaking to his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said even war had a "morality" but the flare-up since the weekend had "very severely" violated that.

"Preventing people [from] meeting their most fundamental needs and bombing housings where civilians live - in short, conducting a conflict using every sort of shameful method - is not a war, it's a massacre," he said, referring to Israel cutting off electricity and water to Gaza and destroying infrastructure.

Erdogan has also said that Israel was trying to portray bombing civilians as a proof of its skills.

The Turkish president's comments come as Israel is massing troops and tanks near the fence that separates the besieged Gaza Strip from the occupied territories to get ready for a ground invasion.

Over two million Palestinians are trapped in the Gaza Strip which is known as the world's biggest open air prison.

The Israeli regime launched its onslaught on Saturday after Gaza-based resistance groups carried out a multi-front operation in response to Israeli crimes.

According to media, the operation has left 1,200 Israelis dead and nearly 3,000 others injured.

UN Chief Antonio Guterres has already expressed concern over the situation in Gaza, saying the clashes will deteriorate the situation exponentially. He said he was "deeply distressed" by an announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of Gaza.

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Russia fully supports establishment of Palestinian state: Putin

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 6:40 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow has always fully supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, as the Israeli regime is ceaselessly pounding the besieged Gaza Strip with barrages of missile attacks.

Speaking at the plenary session of the Russian Energy Week on Wednesday, Putin stressed that his country has always supported the implementation of the United Nations Security Council's decision on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

"We have always supported the implementation of the decisions of the UN Security Council, I mean, first of all, the creation of an independent Palestinian state," the Russian leader emphasized.

Putin's remarks came as Israel has been launching deadly strikes on the densely-populated Gaza Strip since Saturday after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group waged a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the usurping entity.

Hamas says that its operation came in response to Israel's violations at al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds and growing settler violence.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Putin called the eruption of violence between Israel and the Palestinians a vivid example of the failure of US policy in the Middle East.

He stressed that Washington's policy in the region has taken no account of the needs of the Palestinians as the White House tried to focus on financial assistance, rather than finding solutions to existing fundamental political challenges.

"It is unclear whether it will be possible to somehow calm the situation in the near future, but we must strive for this because the expansion of the conflict zone can lead to dire consequences," Putin said.

The Russian president also denounced as a mistake the Washington's move of sending a carrier strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, closer to Israel.

"I don't understand why the US is dragging aircraft carrier groups into the Mediterranean Sea. I don't really understand the point. Are they going to bomb Lebanon or what? Or have they decided to try to scare someone? There are people there who are no longer afraid of anything. This is not the way to solve the problem. Compromise solutions need to be looked for. Of course, such actions are inflaming the situation," Putin said.

More than a thousand people have been killed and thousands more have been injured in nearly five days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, a besieged territory on the Mediterranean which is home to some 2.3 million people despite its relatively small land area.

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Iranian foreign minister: Israel is accountable for Gaza humanitarian crisis

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 4:42 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian holds Israel accountable for the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip as trapped residents are cut off from food, water and electricity, voicing Iran's readiness to send humanitarian aid to the region.

During a telephone conversation with Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, Amir-Abdollahian described Operation al-Aqsa Strom as a Palestinian initiative and a direct response to the war crimes and radical measures of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right administration over the past few months.

"Gaza is currently under a complete siege. Water and electricity have been cut off, and medicine and foodstuff are not allowed to reach children, women and other civilians. All this is taking place amid the Zionist regime's attacks and war crimes," the top Iranian diplomat said.

He went on to point to the high number of women and children among Palestinian fatalities in the Gaza Strip, stating that Israel is held accountable for the adverse consequences and deterioration of conditions in the coastal territory.

Amir-Abdollahian also voiced Iran's readiness to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying the UN is expected to take urgent action to dispatch water, food and humanitarian supplies to Palestinians in the impoverished territory.

For his part, Guterres said hundreds of UN staff members in Gaza are facing dire conditions, and several of them have even been killed in Israeli strikes.

The UN chief highlighted that a large number of displaced people are taking shelter in schools run by the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), emphasizing that the world body is holding consultations with other countries to reduce attacks on Gaza and prevent a major catastrophe there.

"We have always opposed the extremist policies of Israeli officials. We believe the problems could be resolved through recognition of Palestinians' right to decide their fate and form an independent sovereign Palestinian state," Guterres said.

The UN secretary general noted that the world body is consulting extensively with various parties to prevent the spillover of the conflict to other regions.

While appreciating Iran's readiness to send water, food and medicine to Gaza in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations, Guterres expressed concern that a disaster in Gaza is very likely as fuel for power plants is running out.



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Israel bombs residential areas in Gaza for 5th day in a row

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 11:30 AM

Israel has launched a fresh round of airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip on the fifth day of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation by the Palestinian resistance groups against the occupying entity in decades.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Wednesday that the Israeli warplanes bombed residential apartments as well as a port in the west of Gaza City with a large number of rockets and shells.

The bombing destroyed a large number of buildings and set them on fire, leading to injuries among citizens who were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital west of the city.

The news agency said Israeli warplanes also bombed a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza, killing and injuring a number of people.

According to reports, Israeli jets shelled a house in the al-Hakar area in the city of Deir al-Balah in the middle of the Gaza Strip, killing three people from a family and causing several injuries while others are still under the rubble of the house.

The warplanes also bombed a house in al-Amal neighborhood, in the west of Khan Yunis, killing a number of civilians and wounding others.

The Ministry of Health said that 1055 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip and 5184 others injured in the ongoing Israeli raids against the coastal area for the fifth day in a row, with 60% of the casualties being children and women.

Since Saturday, resistance groups in the besieged Gaza Strip have fired over 5,000 rockets at the occupied territories. Israeli media outlets report that more than 1,200 settlers and troops have been killed and a lot more injured as a result.

Over 263,000 Gaza residents forced to flee

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) announced on Wednesday that the number of Palestinians who had fled their homes due to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has exceeded 263,000.

The organization said in a statement that over 175,486 people among the displaced are seeking shelter in 88 schools of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

"Mass displacement has continued over the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, with the total displacement now exceeding 263,934 people," the statement said.

"This number is expected to rise further. Among the displaced, over 175,486 people are seeking shelter in UNRWA schools, while about 3,000 Palestinians in Gaza remain displaced due to previous escalations," it added.

Hezbollah fired missiles from Lebanon into Israel

In another development on Wednesday, Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement said it fired missiles on the occupied territories in a retaliatory strike after three of its members were killed earlier this week in an exchange of fire in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah "targeted a Zionist Israeli position... with guided missiles," in a "firm response to Zionist attacks... which led to the martyrdom of a number of brothers," the movement said in a statement.

The Lebanese resistance group warned of a "decisive" response to Israeli attacks "targeting our country and the security of our people, especially when these attacks lead to the deaths of martyrs."

Lebanon's National News Agency also reported that Israeli fire on several locations along the border had been "countered by resistance (Hezbollah) machine guns."

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Hamas blasts Biden's 'inflammatory remarks' about group, Palestinians in Gaza Strip

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 10:56 AM

Hamas has condemned the latest remarks by US President Joe Biden about the resistance movement and Palestinians living in the besieged Gaza Strip, saying the "inflammatory" comments aim to "escalate the tension by the barbaric Zionist regime against Palestinian people."

"We in the Islamic resistance movement Hamas reject and vehemently denounce the inflammatory statements, which come at the time of the Zionist regime's barbaric aggression against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the occupied territories," the group wrote in a statement.

Hamas said Biden's remarks obscured the "criminality and terrorism of the Zionist regime," lashing out at the US president for not making any reference to "massacres being committed by Zionist forces against Palestinians and killing them in cold blood."

The movement said that Biden's speech "contained political and legal inaccuracies, and was heavily biased towards the most hideous, racist and hateful entity in the Middle East. It provided the regime with a cover to press ahead with its massacres against defenseless children, women, and the elderly through imposition of the ugliest forms of collective punishment against more than two million residents of the Gaza Strip."

"We view these statements as an attempt to cover up the criminality and terrorism of the Zionist regime, which has shed the blood of our people. Throughout his speech, he (Biden) did not refer at all to the massacres being perpetrated by Zionist forces against our people before the world's public opinion," Hamas underscored.

On Tuesday, Biden condemned the surprise and large-scale Operation al-Aqsa Storm by members of Hamas and other resistance groups against the Israeli-occupied territories.

He alleged that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people's right to dignity and self-determination.

"Its stated purpose is the annihilation of Israel and the murder of Jewish people," he asserted.

The US president stressed he was ready to move "additional assets" if needed to show Washington's backing for its ally and bolster its presence in the West Asia region.

He also compared Hamas's actions to those of the Daesh Takfiri terror group.

Palestinian medical authorities say more than 970 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 973 civilians and injury of 5,130 others. Many buildings, homes and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments.

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Iran rejects EU-GCC claims on Persian Gulf islands

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 10:36 AM

Tehran has rejected anti-Iran claims raised by foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU), reiterating full sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.

Speaking on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kna'ani once again emphasized the country's principled and permanent position on the trio of islands, saying they are "an integral and eternal part of the soil of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The remarks came after the 27th GCC-EU Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting, which was held in the Omani capital Muscat on October 9-10, said in a final statement that it is concerned about a lack of progress towards resolving the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the three islands.

The three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.

The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran's sovereignty over the islands was restored.

Also in their statement, the GCC and the EU ministers urged Iran to fulfill its nuclear obligations and cease the alleged "proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles and other weapons".

Kan'ani dismissed the accusations about its peaceful nuclear and defense activities.

"The Islamic Republic has always adhered to international law and commitments ... and continues its constructive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) based on the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement," he added.

He also noted that Iran's "military and defense power is in line with enhancing deterrence, maintaining national security and strengthening regional stability."

The diplomat further expressed Iran's firm resolve towards a stable, safe and prosperous region through cooperation with its neighbors and without foreign interference.

Iran has been playing a security-building role in the region by fighting against terrorism and consolidating maritime security, he asserted.

Kan'ani also referred to the destructive interference of certain European countries in the Persian Gulf region, saying they have sold billions of dollars of weapons to the regional states in an attempt to prolong tensions and gain commercial benefits.

Regional developments in recent months are "promising," he said, describing continued diplomacy and dialogue as the best way to strengthen cooperation in line with common interests.

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Palestinian resistance 100% behind decision to launch Al-Aqsa Storm: Iran FM

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 9:00 AM

Iran's foreign minister has rejected claims that countries other than Palestine are behind the "courageous" operation against Israel, saying the Palestinian resistance itself made the decision to launch it.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks on Tuesday, days after the Gaza-based resistance groups successfully conducted Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in the occupied territories.

"What happened is 100-percent a resistance decision [despite] claims that other countries are behind [it]," Amir-Abdollahian said at a meeting with senior managers at the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization and Iranian cultural counselors in neighboring countries.

They have become self-sufficient in producing missiles, rockets and drones, the top diplomat said.

He further said Iran will continue to support the Palestinian resistance spiritually, politically and media-wise.

"Four decades of fight by the resistance fighters has taught them how to provide the items needed to defend Gaza and Lebanon. We as Iran will definitely continue our political, media, international and spiritual support for the resistance of Palestine, Lebanon and the region, and consider it a legitimate measure against the phenomenon of occupation," he added.

Amir-Abdollahian also noted that Palestinian leaders want to open a new page in the path of resistance by taking "preemptive actions" rather than responding to the Zionists' systematic aggressions.

Resistance leaders, he emphasized, want to take back the lands and settlements occupied by the Zionists and defend the Palestinians' rights in those areas instead of watching the destruction of Palestinian homes and the erection of settler units.

This courageous operation was carried out in response to the aggressions, occupations, the killing of women and children, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unbalanced and criminal extremism, he said.

The Palestinian Hamas resistance group waged Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against Israel on Saturday in response to the regime's violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds and growing settler violence.

The surprise raid shook the usurping entity's security establishment, leaving 1,200 Israelis dead.

In response, Israel launched deadly strikes on Gaza Strip, killing 922 Palestinians and wounding 5,000 others.



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Iran FM: Israel seeks to raze besieged Gaza Strip, massacre its residents

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 6:59 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned that the Israeli regime is seeking to raze the entire Gaza Strip and massacre its residents.

Speaking with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the phone on Tuesday night, Amir-Abdollahian censured Israel's barbaric decision to impose a "complete" siege on Gaza and prevent electricity, food, water and fuel from reaching the strip.

He said the occupying regime is seeking to massacre resilient Gazans through such measures.

"What is happening in Palestinian territories is a direct response to [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's radicalism and extremism, and the injustice done to Palestinian people," the Iranian foreign minister told Lavrov.

Lavrov, for his part, condemned the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip and underlined the need for cessation of hostilities as soon as possible and a ceasefire between the two sides

"In recent years, lots of big achievements have been made in the region like the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, normalization of ties with Syria, and resumption of diplomatic relations between Syria and Turkey, all of which took place without the involvement of the United States," the top Russian diplomat said.

He emphasized that the Americans are trying to bring all the affairs in the region under their control while regional countries possess innovative initiatives at their disposal.

Israel launched deadly strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement waged a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying regime.

Hamas said that its operation came in response to Israel's violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds and growing settler violence.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 950 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes so far.

More than 260,000 people have also been displaced in Gaza, with over 175,000 taking shelter in 88 UN schools.

Iran ready to send humanitarian aid to Gaza: FM

Separately, Amir-Abdollahian voiced Iran's preparedness to dispatch essential medical and humanitarian aid, particularly foodstuff and bottled water, to Gaza in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations.

During a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, the top Iranian diplomat called for immediate action from Muslim countries to help Palestinians living in Gaza amid a total siege of the impoverished enclave.

"The Iranian Red Crescent Society is ready to provide necessary humanitarian aid, including water, food and medicine, to the people of Gaza with the help of Egypt and Muslim countries, through cooperation with the ICRC and Red Crescent Societies," Amir-Abdollahian said.

Shoukry, for his part, condemned the Tel Aviv regime's relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip and massacre of civilians, stressing the need for an immediate ceasefire and stoppage of attacks from both sides.

He noted that there will be coordination through the United Nations as regards the dispatch of humanitarian aid from Muslim countries to the Gaza Strip.

Iran urges Muslim states to take serious action against Israeli crimes

Furthermore, the Iranian foreign minister called for Muslim states' serious action against heinous Israeli crimes in Gaza during a telephone conversation with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah al-Jaber Al Sabah.

Amir-Abdollahian underscored the need for an emergency foreign ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), voicing Tehran's readiness to host such an event.

He also emphasized the need to send drinking water and food to the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.

Al Sabah, for his part, underlined his country's unwavering support for the Palestinian nation, saying it is important for both sides to prevent the escalation of violence and save the lives of civilians.

Kuwait supports any initiative aimed at the restoration of peace in Gaza and backs any meeting aimed at such a purpose, he added.







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Iraq's Hezbollah vows to target US bases if Washington aids Israel

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 6:34 AM

Iraq's anti-terror group Kata'ib Hezbollah has threatened to target American bases in Iraq and the entire region if the United States intervenes in the ongoing fighting between Palestinian resistance fighters and the Israeli regime.

"Our missiles, drones, and special forces are ready to ... strike the American enemy in its bases and disrupt its interests if it intervenes in this battle," Hezbollah Brigades Secretary General Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi said in a statement on Tuesday.

The positions held by the Israeli regime and its mercenaries will also be among Kata'ib Hezbollah's targets in case of US meddling, he added.

The warning came on the same day the administration of US President Joe Biden announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group had arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Hamidawi emphasized that the Iraqi Hezbollah has a duty to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians, citing religious commandments.

He further praised the resilience of the Palestinian nation and resistance groups against Israeli forces.

On Monday, the head of the Iraqi resistance group Harakat Hezbollah Nujaba said that any intervention by the US or any other country against Palestine would result in a military response.

Akram al-Kaabi also called on the Iraqi people to participate in Friday's rally in a show of support for the Palestinian cause.

Similarly, Hadi al-Amiri, the secretary general of the Badr Organization, said, "If they (the Americans) intervene, we would intervene ... we will consider all American targets legitimate."

Israel launched deadly strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday after the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement waged a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying regime.

Hamas said that its operation came in response to Israel's violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds and growing settler violence.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 950 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes so far.

Meanwhile, Basim al-Awadi, spokesperson of the Iraqi government, expressed Baghdad's support for the Palestinian people's aspirations and legitimate rights.

"Today's Palestinian actions respond to longstanding oppression by the Zionist occupation, which ignores international resolutions. We urge global intervention to restore Palestinian rights, cautioning against escalation that could destabilize the region, and call for an urgent Arab League meeting on the Palestinian situation," he said in a statement.

Similarly, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid reiterated his country's steadfast position on the Palestine issue and voiced full support for the oppressed nation.

He strongly condemned the brutal Israeli attacks and urged the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities in a bid to ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

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Palestinian envoy calls Israeli war on Gaza, threat for complete siege 'genocidal'

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 2:34 AM

The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations has issued a vehement condemnation of the Israeli regime's underway indiscriminate war against the Gaza Strip, and its threat to bring the entire coastal sliver under an all-out siege.

"Such blatant dehumanization and attempts to bomb a people into submission, to use starvation as a method of warfare, and to eradicate their national existence are nothing less than genocidal," Riyad Mansour wrote in a letter to the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

"These acts constitute war crimes," he added.

Calling up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists, the Israeli regime has declared a "long" war on Gaza in response to Operation al-Aqsa Storm. Gaza's resistance movements initiated the operation on Saturday in response to the occupying regime's decades-long campaign of bloodshed and destruction against Palestinians.

The Israeli war has so far killed 900 Palestinians, including 260 children and 230 women, and injured as many as 4,600 others.

The military campaign has seen the regime leveling entire districts and featured its using banned white phosphorous munitions against densely-populated neighborhoods.

Earlier, Israeli Minister for Military Affairs Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing a "total blockade" to stop food and fuel from reaching Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Gallant also said Israel was battling "beastly people."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he was "deeply distressed" by Israel's announcement of the complete siege. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially," Guterres said.

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Fresh 6.3-Magnitude Quake In Western Afghanistan Kills At Least One, Injures 152

By RFE/RL's Radio Azadi October 11, 2023

At least one person was killed and 152 were injured by a fresh 6.3-magnitude earthquake in western Afghanistan on early October 11, days after a series of quakes at the weekend that reportedly killed at least 2,000 people.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the latest magnitude 6.3-earthquake occurred some 28 kilometers outside Herat, the capital of the province by the same name.

Nisar Ahmad, spokesman for the governor of the province, said a number of villages had been destroyed and there was an unspecified number of injured people. He did not say anything about the number of deaths, but the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar news agency reported that one person died and 152 others were injured, citing local health officials.

Ahmadullah Muttaqi, director of information and culture for the Taliban-led government for Herat Province and the head of the earthquake relief commission, confirmed in an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that 120 people has been injured, but said this was a preliminary figure.

Muttaqi also said that the number of victims in the latest earthquake was low because many people have not returned to their homes since the previous earthquake.

The aid group Doctors Without Borders said the Herat regional hospital received nearly 120 injured from the latest temblor. The group, also known by its French acronym MSF, said it sent additional medical supplies to the hospital and was setting up four more medical tents at the facility.

"Our teams are assisting in triaging emergency cases and managing stabilized patients admitted in the medical tents," MSF said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The AFP news agency reported that patients were being treated in an outdoor courtyard at Herat Regional Hospital.

Ambulances were being sent to Herat's Rabat Sangi district, which reportedly bore the brunt of the latest earthquake.

According to the AP news agency, the new quake destroyed some 700 homes in Chahak village, which had not been affected by the tremors of previous days.

No deaths have been reported so far in Chahak as people have taken shelter in tents this week, fearing for their lives as tremors continue to rock Herat, the AP also reported.

No further details were immediately available.

The epicenter of the first earthquake on October 7 was some 40 kilometers northwest of Herat, which has 700,000 people in the city and the surrounding area. It was followed by at least three major aftershocks.

The USGS recorded the largest of the temblors at a magnitude of 6.3, with the latest aftershock coming about 30 kilometers northeast of the city of Zindah Jan, which has a population of about 70,000 people.

Taliban officials said at least 2,000 people were killed in the weekend earthquakes, but did not come up with a final official figure.

On October 11, the Taliban Public Health Minister Qalandar Ebad lowered the toll to around 1,000.

"We have over 1,000 people martyred from the first incident," Ebad told reporters in Kabul.

The World Health Organization has put the total number of people affected at more than 11,000.

Earthquakes are common in Afghanistan, where there are a number of fault lines and frequent movement among three nearby tectonic plates.

Afghans are still reeling from recent quakes, including the magnitude 6.5-earthquake in March that struck much of western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, and an earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, flattening stone and mud-brick homes and killing at least 1,000 people.

Afghanistan is already suffering a dire humanitarian crisis, with the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid following the Taliban's ousting the Western-backed Afghan government and taking over the country in August 2021.

Herat Province, on the border with Iran, is home to around 1.9 million people, and its rural communities have been suffering from a yearslong drought.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-new-earthquake- western-afghanistan/32632381.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.

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Concerns About Victor's Justice As Nagorno-Karabakh's Leaders Are Behind Bars And Facing Trial In Azerbaijan

By Joshua Kucera October 11, 2023

Up to the end, Ruben Vardanian remained defiant: Nagorno-Karabakh could not be part of Azerbaijan.

"The only way we can keep the Armenian state is if Artsakh remains Armenian," he told RFE/RL on September 19, using an alternative Armenian name for the territory. The interview took place as Azerbaijan was launching a blitz offensive to retake the territory, which Armenian forces had controlled for the past three decades. "If we lose Artsakh, we lose Armenia," Vardanian said.

Just hours later, Karabakh was in fact lost: the territory's de facto leadership surrendered the next morning. And barely a week later, Vardanian was in handcuffs, being filmed as masked Azerbaijani security officers led him into a Baku jail cell, his head forcibly bowed.

Vardanian is one of several current and former senior officials from the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic who now find themselves behind bars, facing wide-ranging charges for their leading roles in what, under Azerbaijani law, amounted to the creation and sustenance of an illegal armed formation on Azerbaijani territory. The charges mostly refer to "terrorism" -- either financing, organizing, or carrying it out -- and the acquisition and movement of firearms.

In addition to Vardanian, at least seven other top political and military officials have been arrested. They include former de facto presidents Arkady Ghukasian, Baho Sahakian, and Arayik Hartyunian.

For many Azerbaijanis, it is long-awaited justice.

Kerim Kerimli was forced to leave his home in the Nagorno-Karabakh town of Susa (Shushi in Armenian), when Armenian forces took control of the area in the first war between the two sides in the 1990s. He later formed an association advocating for the rights of the more than 600,000 Azerbaijanis displaced in that conflict.

Following the arrests of the officials, Kerimli wrote a Facebook post recalling a visit back to Karabakh in 1998 in which he met Ghukasian, who was de facto leader at the time. "The day will come, we will have you put behind bars in Baku and judge you," he recalled telling Ghukasian. "He laughed at me. It's true, it took a bit of a long time, 25 years and a month, but what I said happened in the end," wrote Kerimli. "Who is laughing now?"

Many Armenians see it differently.

"They are being prosecuted simply for protecting their own people and fighting for self-determination," wrote Artak Beglarian, a former human rights ombudsman in the de facto government, on Twitter. "All of them are now political prisoners in the hands of one of the world's top dictators," a reference to Azerbaijan's authoritarian leader, President Ilham Aliyev.

Baku and Yerevan were locked in a conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades. Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly ethnic-Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people. Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict brought little progress and the two sides fought another war in 2020 that lasted six weeks before a Russian-brokered cease-fire, resulting in Armenia losing control over parts of the region and seven adjacent districts.

With its September lightning offensive, Azerbaijan effectively regained control of the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians, virtually the entire population, have fled to Armenia.

It was among that exodus that Vardanian, a Russian-Armenian billionaire who moved to Karabakh only last year and had a short stint as state minister, was arrested on September 27 at an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Armenian border. After being ferried to Baku, he met with Azerbaijan's human rights ombudswoman, who reported that the defendant was able to phone his family and "expressed satisfaction with the conditions of detention." (A spokesperson for Vardanian conveyed a request from RFE/RL to speak to his family; they did not respond.)

Azerbaijan's State Security Service, its main domestic intelligence agency, released a slickly produced video about Vardanian's arrest, with a narrator detailing the charges he faces, against a backdrop of before-and-after images of him. In the first images, there are clips of him proudly giving interviews to the global media in Karabakh; then, being forced into a jail cell by heavily armed officers, with a grave, uncertain expression on his face.

Harutyunian, who was de facto leader during the 2020 war, was the subject of a similarly formatted video that highlighted his wartime leadership, when he visited frontline military positions dressed in combat fatigues. It also depicted scenes from the aftermath of a rocket attack on Ganja, an Azerbaijani city well outside the conflict zone; Harutyunian publicly announced he had ordered the attacks. Armenian strikes there, and in other cities in Azerbaijan, resulted in the deaths of 40 civilians. In his video, Harutyunian is unshaven and disheveled as he is led into a cell. The last image is of a key turning in a lock.

After every war, there is always a conflict between the needs for accountability for crimes that occurred in the past and for stability and forging a new future on the other, said Laurence Broers, an associate fellow at the London-based Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Program. But the indications so far about the Azerbaijani prosecutions indicate that "this is much more about the regime legitimacy and putting the whole [Nagorno-Karabakh Republic] project on trial," he told RFE/RL. "The videos that have been released, the way they're being paraded, it's very much about public humiliation."

Selective Justice

Shortly after the 2020 war, Azerbaijan's Prosecutor-General's Office made the unprecedented step of opening investigations into Azerbaijani soldiers, who were accused of committing war crimes, including executing civilians. But the cases quickly disappeared from public view.

The soldiers in those cases were ultimately convicted but were given probation rather than prison sentences, said Rasul Jafarov, a lawyer and the chairman of the NGO Baku Human Rights Club, who monitored the cases. But the convictions were never made public; Jafarov told RFE/RL he was informed about the outcomes by a military prosecutor. (Azerbaijan's Prosecutor-General's Office did not respond to requests for comment.)

"If only Armenians are tried for war crimes in 2020, it starts to look like victor's justice," Broers said. "There might be due punishment for crimes committed, but as a wider implementation of justice it loses legitimacy if one who ordered missile strikes on a city languishes in jail and one who severed civilian heads walks free."

It's not clear what punishments await the defendants. But all signs point to virtually inevitable convictions.

President Aliyev has for years referred to the ethnic Armenian leaders in Karabakh as an "illegal criminal junta," and in the Azerbaijani justice system, "judges [are] not functionally independent of the executive branch," the U.S. State Department wrote in its most recent human rights report on the country. "Credible reports indicated that judges and prosecutors took instructions from the presidential administration and the Justice Ministry, particularly in politically sensitive cases."

Jafarov, however, says that in this case political interference may be moot

"There will be control, there will be, let's say, eyes watching these hearings, not just from the government but from people around the country. Any outcome is going to be watched," Jafarov said. But there is already a preponderance of evidence supporting the prosecutions, and "if there is enough evidence and if this evidence corresponds to the charges brought against these people, there will be no questions to raise" about the politicization of the trial, he said.

Foreign Influence

Armenia's government has attempted to intervene in the prosecutions; all of the defendants are Armenian citizens. The Foreign Ministry called the arrests "arbitrary" and vowed that it would "take all possible steps to protect the rights of the unlawfully arrested Nagorno-Karabakh representatives in international bodies, including judicial bodies." Armenia has already appealed to the UN's Hague-based International Court of Justice to adopt provisional measures demanding that Azerbaijan refrain from "punitive actions against current or former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders or military personnel."

Since the 2020 war, the Armenian government's relationship with the de facto authorities in Karabakh had grown increasingly distant. According to most experts, Yerevan's focus now is on shoring up the viability of its own state and trying to minimize further threats from an Azerbaijan seeking to eradicate the last of Yerevan's levers in Karabakh. Following the Armenian Foreign Ministry's statement on the arrests, Azerbaijan's own Foreign Ministry shot back saying that the intervention "clearly displays Armenia's failure to abandon the aggressive policy and actions it took against Azerbaijan for decades" and "hinder[ed] peace efforts."

Nevertheless, the Armenian government still has a variety of reasons to stand up for the former Karabakh leaders, said Mikayel Zolian, a Yerevan-based political analyst.

For one, the former officials are Armenian citizens who are widely seen as "hostages or prisoners of war who deserve the protection of the Armenian state," he told RFE/RL. The current leadership in Yerevan is also seeking to not appear to be "selling out the Karabakhis, which would bolster the arguments to the opposition and to Russian propaganda." Yerevan also sees the prosecutions as a means of highlighting "the nondemocratic nature of the Azerbaijani regime and to mobilize additional international support," Zolian said.

Some Armenians argued that, had it wanted to, Russia could have protected the Karabakh leaders. Russia is Armenia's longtime security guarantor and has had 2,000 peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh since the 2020 war. The leadership in Karabakh maintained its orientation toward Moscow even as the Armenian government grew increasingly estranged from its Russian partners.

Nevertheless, "the 'ally' turned in the leaders of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, although it is obvious that the Russian peacekeepers could have evacuated them by helicopter," wrote Leonid Nersisian, an Armenian military analyst, on Twitter. "These people were allies of Russia for many years. A very eye-opening tragedy."

Billionaire Vardanian has been the particular source of speculation; he is a former ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and gave up his Russian citizenship only last year when he moved to Karabakh. But when Putin was asked about Vardanian's fate in an October 5 forum, he said Russia expects Azerbaijan to treat the former Karabakh leaders humanely.

As for Vardanian: "He renounced our citizenship," Putin said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/karabakh-leaders-arrested- azerbaijani-victor-justice-armenia/32633354.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.

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Finland Opens Probe Into Possible 'Intentional Damaging' Of Baltic Sea Pipeline

By RFE/RL October 11, 2023

Finland's National Bureau of Investigation said on October 11 that it had launched an investigation into "possibly intentional damaging" of a Baltic Sea gas pipeline running between Finland and Estonia.

The statement follows an announcement by Finnish authorities earlier this week that the damage to the Balticconnector pipeline discovered over the weekend was likely the "result of external activity."

The National Bureau of Investigation said that it started gathering evidence from the point of the gas leak and its surroundings on October 10, and the purpose is to find out "what kind of possible external activity caused the damage and whether it was intentional damage," it said in a statement, adding that the investigation is in its initial stage.

Estonian authorities are cooperating with the investigation, and President Alar Karis said earlier on October 11 that Estonia is demanding answers.

"We know that the cause is not nature, but probably human activity. Who, why and how? Negligence or intent? These questions have yet to be answered," Karis wrote in a post on Facebook.

The incident occurred a little over a year after the larger Nord Stream gas pipelines, a major conduit for Russian natural gas exports to Western Europe, were damaged by explosions. Denmark, Sweden, and Germany opened probes into the incident, which was deemed to be sabotage. The case remains unsolved.

Reuters quoted Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur as saying "it can clearly be seen" that the subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable running parallel to it were damaged by "external activity" and the damage was "caused by quite heavy force."

Investigators are not ruling out anything at this stage, he added.

"So what it is exactly, we have to specify yet, but at the moment it rather seems that it had been mechanical impact or mechanical destruction," he said.

There has been little comment about the telecommunications cable and any fallout from the damage. The cable is in Estonia's exclusive economic zone, and Estonian authorities are leading the investigation into its damage.

The incident was first noticed on October 8 when Finnish and Estonian gas system operators noticed an unusual drop in pressure in the Balticconnector pipeline, after which they shut down the gas flow.

The repair will take at least five months, and a restart of gas transport will at the earliest happen in April of 2024, Finland and Estonia's gas operators said on October 11.

Finnish authorities said earlier that they had identified the location of the outage in the 77-kilometer pipeline, but the cause of the damage was not yet clear and the investigation was continuing.

Estonian Navy Commander Juri Saska said the pipeline, which was encrusted in concrete for protection, looks like "someone tore it on the side."

"The concrete has broken, or peeled off, specifically at that point of injury," Saska told Estonian public broadcaster ERR.

Afterward, the Norwegian seismological institute (NORSAR) said it detected "a probable explosion" on October 8 in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia, both NATO member states, where the gas pipeline leak was later detected.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that if the damage was proven to be due to an attack, it would be met by a "united and determined" response.

"If it is proven to be an attack on NATO critical infrastructure...it will be met by a united and determined response from NATO," he said on October 11 before a meeting of alliance defense ministers in Brussels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described news of damage to the Balticconnector as "disturbing" and said Russia was awaiting further information on the incident.

The Balticconnector pipeline runs across the Gulf of Finland from the Finnish town of Inkoo to the Estonian port of Paldiski. It is bi-directional, transferring natural gas between Finland and Estonia depending on demand and supply.

Commissioned in 2019, the Balticconnector has been the only gas import channel to Finland apart from liquefied natural gas (LNG) since Russian imports were halted in May 2022 following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia stopped supplying gas after Finland refused to pay in rubles, a condition imposed on "unfriendly countries" -- including European Union member states -- as a way to sidestep Western financial sanctions against Russia's central bank.

Most of the gas that was flowing in the Balticconnector pipeline before it was closed on October 8 was going from Finland to Estonia from which it was forwarded to Latvia, Estonia's gas system operator Elering said.

Estonian consumers have been receiving gas from Latvia since the shutdown of the pipeline, Elering said.

Finnish gas operator Gasgrid said the Finnish gas system is stable and the supply of gas has been secured through a floating LNG terminal at Inkoo.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/estonia-demands-answers-gas- pipeline-damage/32632890.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.

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Serbian President Says Expects NATO's KFOR Mission to Have Impartial Stance on Kosovo

Sputnik News

20231011

BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday told Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander of NATO's Joint Force Command in Naples, that he expects the Kosovo Force (KFOR) to have an unbiased and proactive position on the situation in the breakaway region.

Last week, Vucic called on the NATO contingent in Kosovo to take over security in the region's north from local police in light of armed clashes between Serbs and law enforcers in late September. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also urged KFOR to take control in northern Kosovo to avoid violent incidents.

"I expressed serious concern about the dramatic deterioration of the already difficult situation of the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija and reiterated that Serbia supports the engagement of KFOR in the strict, complete and impartial implementation of the mandate based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244. We expect KFOR to maintain a neutral position and to be proactive to prevent any violation of the state of security on the ground," Vucic wrote on social media, as he welcomed the US admiral in Belgrade.

State Secretary of the Serbian Defense Ministry Nemanja Starovic said earlier that his country's armed forces would continue cooperation with NATO's peacekeepers after a new KFOR commander, Turkish Maj. Gen. Ozkan Ulutas, took office on Tuesday.

NATO has stepped up its presence in self-proclaimed Kosovo, with 500 Turkish servicepeople arriving there in June after the escalation of the already tense relations between Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians at the end of May, which resulted in clashes that left dozens of people injured.

Last Friday, the first group of 200 soldiers sent by the United Kingdom to reinforce KFOR arrived in Kosovo, joining the country's 400-strong contingent.

Serbia has still not recognized the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo, its former province which it continues to refer to as its Kosovo and Metohija region. A large ethnic Serb community is still residing in Kosovo's north, often bearing the brunt of diplomatic tensions between Belgrade and Pristina, and protesting what they consider discriminatory Kosovar policies.

 Sputnik

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Prevention of Possible Terrorist Attacks Key Goal of Israeli Operation - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik News

20231011

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The key goal of Israel's ongoing military operation is to prevent all possible scenarios of terrorist attacks against the country, Foreign ministry spokesman Lior Ben Dor told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"I don't know how the ground operation will develop. Its main goals are to prevent all possible scenarios of terrorist attacks on Israeli territory, eliminate any threats and ensure security in our country for many years," the spokesman said, adding that Israelis understand that the war may last for a long time.

On October 7, Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory, firing a barrage of rockets and catching the IDF (Israeli Army) off guard. Israeli government launched operation Swords of Iron and invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law which de-facto implies a declaration of war.

 Sputnik

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Slovak Government to be Led by Ex-PM Robert Fico

Sputnik News

20231011

BRATISLAVA (Sputnik) - Slovakia's opposition Smer party leader and former prime minister, Robert Fico, signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding with two coalition partners, according to the broadcast.

The Slovak government will be headed by the leader of the election-winning Smer party, Robert Fico, while the parliament will be headed by the leader of the Hlas party, Peter Pellegrini, a portal reported on Wednesday, citing a document on the terms of the coalition.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Fico, the Hlas party leader Peter Pellegrini and chairman of the Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko.

The Smer party won the September 30 elections with 22.94% of the vote. Its leader, Robert Fico, has held the post of prime minister three times and said he would seek it again. On Wednesday, the leader of the Hlas party, which came third in the parliamentary elections, Peter Pellegrini, said he would hold further coalition talks with Fico's party.

 Sputnik

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"Everyone must avoid impulsive decisions aimed at punishing the Palestinian people collectively"

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

11.10.2023

Addressing AK Party's group meeting at the GNAT, President Erdogan said: "Everyone must avoid impulsive decisions aimed at punishing the Palestinian people collectively, such as cutting off humanitarian aid. Taking a side blindly between the parties, which should both be criticized and supported given the methods they employ and their consequences, will only exacerbate the crisis."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a speech at the Justice and Development (AK) Party Group Meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye (GNAT).

"WE SINCERELY WANT TO MARCH TOWARDS A SAFE, PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS AND COMMON FUTURE WITH OUR ALLIES"

Drawing attention to Turkiye's ongoing fight against terrorist organizations, President Erdogan noted: "We give no respite to the terrorists who harass our elements in the region and prepare to attack on our country from their hotbeds in the north of Syria and Iraq."

President Erdogan said: "We are instantly crushing them with our air operations, artillery troops and land elements when need be. We will maintain our intensive air operations we have been carrying out for some time by further increasing them and by showing the members of the terrorist organization that we will wipe them out anytime, anywhere. No one should ever doubt that we will sooner or later respond to those who stand with terrorists during this fight of ours. We hope that those, who seek to maintain their calculations from the era of the Gulf War by backing the terrorist organization in Syria, will soon return to the commonsensical policies that our common national interests require. Turkiye, which respects the laws of every organization and every state that it has an alliance relationship, expects them to respect its own laws in a similar vein as well. Unless this balance can be redressed, it is everyone's legitimate right to develop their own policies and draw their own paths. We sincerely want to march towards a safe, peaceful, prosperous and common future with our allies."

"It is a must for everyone to accept that this country can no longer be directed through impositions, overt or covert political games, or insidious economic traps. We call on those, who still dream of the mandate system, to embrace a new political, diplomatic and economic relation model based on equal partnership, and to do what it requires. We have been living on these lands for a thousand years by paying the price. We are the host, not the guest, of this geography and civilization. It will be in the own interest of those, who are in the status of a guest here, to once again review their position and start acting accordingly," the President stated.

Underscoring that Turkiye is located in the world's most fragile region in terms of ethnic roots, faith and disposition differences, and political and social conflicts of interest, President Erdogan said: "The 'Geography is destiny,' judgment by Ibn Khaldun, who was considered to be the world's first political scientist and sociologist, is the simplest and the most dramatic manifestation of this picture. Since we neither can change our history, geography and our fate these two have placed on us, nor have such an intention to do so, we have to follow as best, most accurate and safest path as possible under current conditions. We address with this understanding all the incidents in our near environ, form the Russia-Ukraine war to the conflicts in Caucasus, from the disputes in the Balkans to the conflicts in the Mediterranean. Also, we follow with this approach the recent developments that are taking place on Israeli and Palestinian lands and tend to spread to Golan Heights. Our stance on both our own fight against terror and on all the conflicts and wars in our region is pretty obvious."

"WE BELIEVE THAT WAR, TOO, HAS ITS OWN ETHICS"

President Erdogan went onto say: "We do not approve of any act against civilians, or any attack on civilian residential areas. We believe that war, too, has its own ethics, and the sides should abide by them. Unfortunately, this principle is being brutally violated during the conflicts in Israel and Gaza. We strongly object to the killing of civilians in the Israeli lands. Likewise, we by no means approve of the indiscriminate massacre of innocents in Gaza by being subjected to constant bombardment. It is not a war but a massacre when you conduct a conflict using every kind of shameful methods by denying water, electricity and entrance-exit to a city, by destroying its infrastructure, by destroying its schools and its houses of worship from mosques to churches, by denying access to most basic humanitarian needs, and by bombing and razing to the ground its buildings inhabited by civilians. Israel's disproportionate attacks on Gaza that are devoid of any ethical basis may push it into an unexpected, undesirable position in the eyes of global public. Bombing civilian settlements, deliberately killing civilian people, hindering vehicles that bring humanitarian aid to the region and then presenting all this to the public as an achievement is a reflex of organizations not of states. Israel should not forget that if it acts like an organization, not as a state, it will eventually come to be regarded similarly."

"THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE LEFT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ALONE"

Warning that policies that are implemented by distorting concepts and notions, by recklessly attacking people's natural rights, and by violating promises cannot yield auspicious outcomes, President Erdogan underscored that neither the region nor the world can any longer tolerate prolonged wars and tragedies in the region.

"This is not an issue of the oppressed and innocent people in the region alone. At the current point, this is an issue of honor for the entire world, for the global governance and security structure, for all the institutions that share responsibility and authority on this issue. One of the culprits for the deadlock in the Palestinian issue is the international community, which has not kept its promises. The United Nations and other organizations have left the Palestinian people alone, not fulfilling their promises and not protecting the Palestinians' rights. We are not saying these just now. We openly said all this to the whole world from the podium of the United Nations in the past."

Criticizing the provocative approach of the influential actors in the region that add fuel to the fire instead of ensuring calm, President Erdogan called on America, Europe and the countries in other regions to take a fair and equitable stance based on the humanitarian balances between the parties. "Everyone must avoid impulsive decisions aimed at punishing the Palestinian people collectively, such as cutting off humanitarian aid. Taking a side blindly between the parties, which should both be criticized and supported given the methods they employ and their consequences, will only exacerbate the crisis. We are thus inviting the parties to act with constraint. We want the war in the region to stop immediately and the problems between the parties to be settled through negotiations."

"WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE BLOODSHED IN EITHER GAZA OR ISRAEL"

"We have held many telephone calls in this direction since Monday. We have had eight telephone conversations with heads of state and government including the Presidents of Palestine and Israel. We advised Mr. Abbas and Mr. Herzog to act with common sense and calm and with the knowledge of a statesman. Last night, we discussed this issue with President of Russia, Mr. Putin and UN Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, as well. We expressed that we are ready to provide the necessary support to prevent the escalation and spread of the conflicts. As Turkiye, we stand ready to do whatever we can, including mediation and fair arbitration, to get our region out of this maelstrom quickly. We will inshallah preserve this stance until the very end," the President said.

Noting that Turkiye will use the close dialogue it has recently forged with all the countries in the region for the establishment of peace, President Erdogan stated: "We don't want any more bloodshed and we don't want any more children, civilians and innocent people to die in either Gaza or Israel or Syria or Ukraine. The recent developments have once again reaffirmed our rightfulness in our motto that the World is bigger than 5. We will voice this objection of ours more loudly from now on."

"WE WILL NOT ACCEPT STEPS THAT DON'T RESPECT THE STATUS OF AL-HARAM AL-SHARIF"

Underlining that lasting peace in the region can be achieved only if an independent, geographically-integrated state of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with East al-Quds as its capital, drawing its legitimacy from the UN resolutions, is established and recognized by the entire world, President Erdogan pointed out that resorting to any other paths or initiatives will only cause more destruction and suffering.

President Erdogan further stressed: "We have not and will not accept steps and initiatives that don't respect the sanctity of Al-Quds, which houses the holy sites of the three heavenly religions, and the status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque." Stating that Israel can maintain its presence and ensure its citizens' security only by doing so, President Erdogan added: "Otherwise, the incidents taking place since Saturday will not be the last one and that even greater tragedies will inevitably follow them. We never want Israel, or Palestine or our region to slide into such an impasse."

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Foreign Secretary visits Israel to underline UK's unwavering solidarity in the face of terror

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and southern Israel to underline UK's unwavering solidarity in the face of terror.

11 October 2023

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly today visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and southern Israel (11 October 2023)

on first visit by a foreign minister to site of attacks, he met survivors and witnessed destruction caused by Hamas

Cleverly also met Israeli President and foreign minister to reiterate support

The Foreign Secretary visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and southern Israel today (11 October 2023), days after Hamas launched a barbaric terrorist attack on the country.

Demonstrating the UK's solidarity with Israel and its fundamental right to defend itself against Hamas, James Cleverly underlined the UK's support in meeting with President Herzog. They discussed the UK and Israel's ongoing security, military and diplomatic cooperation in the face of terror.

He also travelled with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to the southern Israeli village of Ofakim to witness first-hand the devastation caused by Hamas. On the first visit by a foreign minister to a site of the attacks, Cleverly met survivors to emphasise that the UK stands with them against terrorism.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

"I'm in Israel today to show the UK's unwavering support for Israel. " "The facts are clear. Hamas are terrorists. Israel has the right to defend itself. Hamas and Hamas alone are responsible and accountable for these appalling attacks." "Terrorism must never be allowed to prevail."

Since the attacks, the Foreign Secretary has spoken to counterparts from the United States, Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Turkiye, Oman, the UAE, Italy, the EU, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian Authority. He will continue to stay in contact with international leaders over the coming days and weeks.

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UK statement for 74th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee

This statement was delivered by the UK Human Rights Ambassador Rita French at the 74th UNHCR Executive Committee.

11 October 2023

Thank you Chair, High Commissioner, and distinguished delegates.

The UK expresses its deepest sympathies to those killed by the earthquakes in Afghanistan and the terrorist acts in Israel. We express our steadfast support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.

As you recognised, High Commissioner, the conflict in the Middle East is a 'dangerous piece in a growing mosaic of crises,' alongside rising forced displacement - now at over 110 million people.

In recognition of these rising urgent humanitarian needs, in 2024-2025, the UK intends to spend 1 billion globally. We have also sustained our core, unearmarked funding in 2023 and encourage others to likewise provide flexible contributions.

High Commissioner, I would like to express our deep gratitude to UNHCR staff for your invaluable work and we applaud UNHCR's ongoing Business Transformation efforts to make the organisation more effective and efficient.

I want to recognise the continued generosity and leadership of host nations and communities for providing sanctuary to forcibly displaced people.

We are gravely concerned about displacement globally, including the continued crisis in Sudan which has displaced 1.1 million people, with more affected by the day. The continued widespread violence across the country and significant civilian death toll are horrific. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have dragged Sudan into a wholly unjustified war, with utter disregard for the Sudanese people, and they will be held accountable.

Chad, Egypt and South Sudan have led the way in providing protection to those fleeing violence. But the impact on these generous host nations - all of whom are facing their own humanitarian or economic challenges - is immense.

In addition to 21.7 million for humanitarian assistance inside Sudan, we have committed 5 million to help meet the urgent needs of refugees and returnees in South Sudan and Chad.

We will tirelessly pursue all diplomatic avenues to press for a permanent ceasefire, allow unfettered humanitarian access, and commit to a sustained and meaningful peace process.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also displaced around 11 million people and leaves nearly 18 million in humanitarian need.

In response, we have provided 347 million in humanitarian assistance since the start of the invasion and, as of 25 September, there have been 186,600 arrivals of Ukrainian refugees to the UK.

To reiterate our Foreign Secretary's clear message, we remain steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine to recover its territory and 'win the peace'.

These are just two examples, but we are committed to using all our diplomatic, development and humanitarian levers to support all forcibly displaced people and peacebuilding globally. We will renew our commitment to doing so in our Development White Paper later this year.

The UK remains committed to the Global Compact on Refugees as the best strategy to achieve greater burden- and responsibility-sharing. We recognise the fundamental part the Compact plays in ensuring the international protection regime is fit for the 21st century, including supporting inclusion and protection of the most vulnerable, including women and girls, the LGBT+ community and those with disabilities.

Therefore, the UK aligns itself with the statement of Group of Friends on the Charter on Disability Inclusion.

The Global Refugee Forum is an opportunity for the international community to recommit to the Global Compact. And we look forward to announcing our pledges at the Forum in December.

UNHCR estimates there are 10 million stateless people worldwide with the Rohingya the single largest stateless population of two million and increasing, and the UK aligns itself with the statement of the Group of Friends on Statelessness.

Over the past six years, the UK has provided 365 million to the response in Bangladesh and nearly 30 million to Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Rakhine State.

But the situation remains desperate.

The long-term solution for this crisis must be the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of the Rohingya to Rakhine state, once the conditions allow.

We remain committed to making this a reality, and to supporting Rohingya refugees across the region until they can return home.

High Commissioner, the UK Minister for the region is pleased to be co-convening the Rohingya Conference in Bangkok next week alongside UNHCR.

On the International Day of the Girl, I want to highlight that statelessness is a gender equality issue.

There are 24 countries that do not allow women to pass on their citizenship on an equal basis to men. These laws are a root cause of childhood and multi-generational statelessness. We call on these countries to reform their nationality laws.

Statelessness can be ended. And we look forward to joining the Global Alliance to End Statelessness when it is launched in 2024 to help make this happen.

Thank you very much.

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The UK will continue to support broad and lasting peace in Colombia: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Colombia.

11 October 2023

Thank you, President,

Let me start by thanking SRSG Ruiz Massieu, Ambassador Hrvatinic for your briefings, and Mr Botero for highlighting the wider environmental challenges. I welcome the participation of Foreign Minister Leyva as well.

As we approach the seven year anniversary of the 2016 Peace Agreement, the United Kingdom commends the efforts made by successive Colombian Governments to work towards sustainable peace in the country. I'd like to highlight three particular priorities.

First, we welcome the recent progress on rural reform and the restitution of land to indigenous communities. Full implementation of the 2016 Agreement remains central to peace and reform in Colombia.

We support the Secretary-General's call for the rapid delivery of a dedicated office within the Presidency to accelerate implementation of the agreement.

Second, we strongly condemn violence against ex-FARC signatories, human rights defenders, women leaders, and members of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities. The UN Mission has verified 393 killings of ex-FARC combatants since the Final Peace Agreement was signed - this includes 18 killings since this Council last met.

We welcome progress towards rapid response plans to protect signatories of the Agreement and human rights defenders, with the adoption of a public policy to dismantle organised crime groups.

We welcome the recent opening of macro case 11 on sexual and gender-based violence by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and we look forward to the launch of Colombia's first UNSCR 1325 National Action Plan.

We commend the participatory approach taken by the Government of Colombia, as it is vital to consider the experience of all women, as well as ethnic and LGBTQ+ groups, in this development.

Third, the continued dialogue and ceasefire between the Colombian Government and the ELN is an important step towards peace in Colombia. We expect the ELN to approach its undertakings in good faith and to respect international law.

We continue to follow closely efforts to reach a ceasefire with the dissident group of the former FARC-EP that identifies itself as the Estado Mayor Central and welcome the announcement on the 8 October of a bilateral ceasefire.

President, the UK remains committed to supporting broad and lasting peace in Colombia, and welcomes a visit by the Council in 2024.

Thank you.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

11 October 2023

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

[The briefing followed a press statement by the Secretary-General.]

Alright, you heard from the Secretary-General, but I wanted to give you a few more details, updates.

** Middle East

Tor Wennesland, as the Secretary-General mentioned, is in Cairo, Egypt, where he has met with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other Egyptian officials. He remains in close contact with other key international and regional partners to discuss the ongoing situation and he continues his outreach to the parties.

The priority remains to bring an end to the ongoing devastating violence so as to avoid further loss of civilian life and to prevent any expansion to the current conflict. The Special Coordinator's Office continues to urge the international community to exert their good offices with the parties to this end. Mr. Wennesland also calls for an immediate and unconditional release of hostages in Gaza and for immediate humanitarian access and delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

** Gaza

For its part, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that the number of people displaced across Gaza has now topped 263,000 men, women and children  an increase of 40 per cent since yesterday.

More than 1,000 housing units in Gaza have been destroyed, and some 560 have been severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. An additional 12,630 have sustained lesser damage.

All 13 hospitals and other health facilities in Gaza are only partially operational due to supply shortages and fuel rationing. The Beit Hanoun hospital is also inaccessible due to damage to the surrounding area.

With water supplies cut off from Israel into Gaza, there is a severe shortage of drinking water impacting 650,000 people.

Also Israeli airstrikes have damaged seven facilities that had been providing water and sanitation services to over a million people. In some areas, sewage and solid waste are now accumulating in the streets, posing an obvious severe health hazard.

** UN Relief and Works Agency

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is telling us that 220,000 internally displaced people are sheltering in 88 UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip. The numbers continue to increase as airstrikes from the Israeli Air Forces are continuing.

Eleven UNRWA staff, personnel, have been killed since Saturday, while three teachers have been injured. Meanwhile, 30 UNRWA students have been killed and another eight have been injured.

UNRWA staff are working around the clock to respond to the needs of the displaced in the shelters. However, some are overcrowded and have limited availability of food and other basic items such as potable water.

Two UNRWA schools were affected by airstrikes, bringing the total number of installations affected by the conflict to 20 since 7 October. Sixteen internally displaced people sheltering at an UNRWA school were injured, including two critically, as a result of an airstrike nearby.

In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), bread was distributed to the displaced people in the UN shelters.

** Lebanon

Looking north, our peacekeeping colleagues in Lebanon report that the situation in southern Lebanon along the Blue Line remains tense. The peacekeeping mission observed several instances of indirect fire from both sides of the Blue Line today and yesterday, including the firing of illumination rounds and artillery shells.

The UN staff and UN peacekeepers are continuing to implement their mandate and the Head of the Mission and Force Commander, Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, remains in constant contact with his counterparts in the Israeli Defense Forces and the Lebanese Armed Forces as part of the Mission's liaison and coordination mechanism to help de-escalate this very volatile situation and to prevent any loss of life.

Earlier this morning, peacekeepers on patrol southwest of Marun Ar Ras were subjected to aggressive behaviour from a crowd, who tried to enter one of the vehicles. There were no injuries to United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel.

Despite this incident, UN peacekeepers are continuing to patrol and maintain their presence along the Blue Line to help maintain stability.

** Afghanistan

Turning to Afghanistan and the continuing work around the tragic earthquake, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that another earthquake struck parts of Herat Province just this morning; that's just four days after the same province was hit by a major earthquake affecting 17,000 people. Initial reports from humanitarian partners indicate that 140 people were injured and transported to the Herat Regional Hospital and private facilities in the latest 6.3-magnitude quake.

More than 110 new villages were affected by today's earthquake across five districts, with houses reported to be severely damaged in Gulran and Injil districts.

Our international UN colleagues, along with our local partners, are on the ground assessing the impact and the needs following these earthquakes and will continue to provide assistance.

The Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, Daniel Andres, was yesterday in the affected areas to assess himself, and on behalf of the UN, the damages and meet with affected communities.

** Ukraine

Quick update from Ukraine, where the UN team on the ground is working closely with the Government, local authorities, the private sector, and communities  including youth groups  to boost the country's monumental recovery efforts. Our team has mobilized and is currently implementing more than $1 billion in recovery and development initiatives across the country.

The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Denise Brown, this week visited some of our recovery initiatives in Invakiv, a town in the Kyiv region. There, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) are reconstructing and repairing homes, primary schools, and water systems, that were all destroyed at the start of the invasion.

Our team is also supporting a centre where residents can access a wide range of essential services, including birth certificates. According to Denise Brown, the work is essential as it aligns with the aspirations of the war-affected communities.

** Guatemala

Moving to Latin America, the Secretary-General is following closely the situation in Guatemala, where demonstrations continue over concerns about prosecutorial actions said to undermine confidence in the presidential transition process. He reiterates his call to all actors to uphold the rule of law and the democratic will expressed through the polls.

The Secretary-General appeals for restraint from all parties, for protests to be peaceful and for the respect of human rights. He also calls on all national actors to respond to the current crisis through good-faith dialogue. In this regard, he takes note of the mediation efforts by the Organization of American States.

** Colombia

And I just want to flag that this afternoon, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, will be briefing Security Council members this afternoon.

He will talk about the progress made ahead of the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement and as the halfway point nears in the 15-year timetable for its implementation. He will be speaking via videoconference.

** Yemen

Yesterday, our good friend Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy for Yemen, was in Washington, D.C. to meet with the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and other American officials. They discussed the progress of efforts to advance an agreement between the Yemeni parties on measures to improve living conditions in Yemen, and a sustainable nationwide ceasefire, the resumption of an inclusive intra-Yemeni political process under UN auspices.

Mr. Grundberg stressed that the UN mediation requires concerted regional and international support. He pointed to the need to sustain consensus and unity among members of the Security Council and the broader international community throughout Yemen's quest for peace, as well as recovery and development.

** International Day of the Girl Child

Today is the International Day of the Girl Child.

In his message, the Secretary-General says that old forms of discrimination against girls continues, while new forms of bias and inequality are emerging.

He underscores the importance of working together to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive.

** Briefing

Scheduling note, there will be no Monica Greyley on behalf of the President of the General Assembly.

Tomorrow, at 1:30 p.m., there will be a press briefing by Alice Jill Edwards, the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

** Questions and Answers

Spokesman : Pam, then Edie.

Correspondent : Thanks, Steph. I believe you said, but UNRWA announced a few minutes ago that there were 11 deaths...

Spokesman : That's what I just said.

Question : Oh, okay. Can you explain a little bit on the circumstances? In other words, how they died, from what? And also, since the UN has probably the most presence of any organization or country in Gaza, has anyone approached the UN to serve in any way to help get the hostages out? Thank you.

Spokesman : The UNRWA staff, as far as I understand it, who died, died along the same ways that their neighbours [did], because they are Palestinians who live there, as a result of the airstrikes. But whether it's in a building, I don't know the exact circumstances. I have nothing to share with you on the issue of the hostages. I can tell you that it is something that both the Secretary-General and Mr. Wennesland have been raising in their discussions with various interlocutors. Edie? Sorry.

Question : They've been raising this issue?

Spokesman : That's what I just said. Yeah. Edie, and then Ibtisam.

Question : Couple of questions. Steph, first, on Gaza and Israel. Can you tell us who the Secretary-General himself has been speaking to? And with Tor Wennesland, is he trying to get the border with Egypt to reopen and to possibly get water, fuel, food in that direction?

Spokesman : Yeah. That's exactly... I mean, that's what the Secretary-General was alluding to when he... as the Egyptians have told us, told Mr. Wennesland in their meeting that they would open up the Rafah crossing. They would make the airport, the El Arish airport, which is in the Sinai, not far from Rafah, available. Obviously, we're following up with them. Now, in order for the border to be effectively open, we also will need assurances from the Israeli side that the crossing will not be targeted. We'll need assurances that humanitarian aid can come through. Discussions ongoing on that end. In terms of phone calls, I can do a quick recap, if you'd like, of everybody the Secretary-General has spoken to.

Correspondent : Yes, please.

Spokesman : Okay. He spoke starting over the weekend with President [Isaac] Herzog. He's spoken to the King of Jordan. He's spoken to President [Mahmoud] Abbas of Palestine. He's spoken to President [Abdel Fattah Al] Sisi. He's spoken to Charles Michel. He spoke to the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mr. [Najib] Mikati. He spoke with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. He spoke with President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan. He spoke with the Foreign Minister of Iran. He's also been speaking a number of times every day with Mr. Wennesland and others of his advisors, and we do have a call pending with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu.

Question : Okay. And can you keep us updated on what's happening with the border, the Rafah crossing...?

Spokesman : Yeah. I mean, obviously, I mean, this was, you know, if humanitarian aid gets through, it is not news that we will keep under wraps.

Question : Secondly, the Niger military government ordered the expulsion of the UN Resident Coordinator today. What's the Secretary-General's reaction to this expulsion order?

Spokesman : Well, we were informed by the authorities in Niger, and I can tell you that the Secretary-General deeply regrets that the order for the departure of our Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Niger, Louise Aubin, was given, and she was given 72 hours to leave. It's important for us to underscore that Ms. Aubin has been an exemplary leader of the UN team in Niger. She has led the team and that UN team has been working impartially and tirelessly to deliver humanitarian and development assistance in accordance with the agreed development plan, which was agreed with the Government of Niger. The decision to order the departure of the Resident Coordinator will hamper the ability and hampers the ability of the UN to carry out its mandate and disrupts the essential work we do for the people in Niger, where 4.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and those are mostly women and children. The Secretary-General has full confidence in the UN system in Niger and underlines that the order to leave the country is contrary to the legal framework that is applicable to the United Nations, including with respect to the obligations under the Charter of the UN, and the privileges and immunities accorded to the UN. The Secretary-General reiterates the unwavering commitment of the UN to stay and deliver for the people in Niger through continued humanitarian operations. And just to give you... sorry, just to stay on Niger and give you some context that we are continuing, we're obviously staying and delivering. We're continuing to deliver humanitarian assistance across the country. And, you know, as I mentioned, we're distributing aid to about 4.3 million people. And we have been warning  we will continue to warn about a looming food and nutrition crisis with limited funding to sustain food response during the lean season.

Question : How many international staff are in Niger?

Spokesman : It's a very good question, and I will get that to you before the end of this briefing. [He later said that as of today, there are 1,249 UN staff members in the country. This includes 1,099 national and 150 international staff members.]

Question : And will there be somebody who will be acting?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, there will always be a head of the UN system, whether it's acting or temporary. But, I mean, every UN system needs a leader. Ibtisam?

Question : Steph, a lot of people around the world look at the Secretary-General and his position as a position with moral authority. But, yet, when we are looking at what he said today, we don't see him calling for stopping of bombing of Gaza. Why not?

Spokesman : I mean, that's the way I see it. That's the way I read it. Even on... we need to see an end to this violence. We need to see an end to the killings. I mean, he's been called... the only way out, and I think he was pretty direct about it on Monday, is that ultimately you will need a political settlement, and a political settlement cannot be reached while civilians continue to die.

Correspondent : But he did not call on stopping the bombing on Gaza.

Spokesman : He's calling for it.

Correspondent : He did not say that.

Spokesman : He's calling for the end of the violence, which clearly encompasses all of that.

Question : Okay. I have another question about settlers' attack in the West Bank. They are, again, attacking Palestinian farmers. Can you confirm that? According to media reports, three Palestinian farmers were killed today. Can you confirm that?

Spokesman : I haven't seen it, but I can tell you that we have been very clear in condemning settler violence, and especially the lethal settler violence that we've seen in the past. But I will check on those reports.

Question : Okay. Sorry, another question on Gaza. According to media reports from Gaza, the Israelis are using phosphor bombs. Can you confirm that they did use it in the past in 2008 and 2009? Yeah.

Spokesman : We know what's happened in the past. We have not... I've not seen any reports at least come to me this time. Yes, ma'am.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Cerife from Anadolu. As you've also mentioned at the beginning of your briefing, 263,000 people have been displaced as a result of the Israeli strikes and we recall that Prime Minister Netanyahu had told the Gazans to leave the region because it is said that they will operate forcefully and Gaza is known to be the most densely populated area in the world. So my question is, how will people leave these blockaded areas and is the United Nations working on a humanitarian corridor? Thank you.

Spokesman : Well, we want to see a humanitarian corridor. I mean, I think as I've just explained, Mr. Wennesland was in Cairo. He was also there with Philippe Lazzarini, the Head of UNRWA. They had a meeting together. We were very pleased to see the decision by the Egyptian Government, which we hope will lead, because more steps need to be taken, to humanitarian aid being able to get into Gaza. We're very, very, very worried about the supplies of water, the supplies of fuel, that will be to [inaudible] the hospitals and the ability of people to live.

Question : Just a quick follow-up. Eventually, do you foresee the possibility that there could be a mass exodus of Gazans and they leave and they're not able to return?

Spokesman : I cannot look into the future. Alan?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. Does the UN have the capacity to check and verify if Israel is using the bombs with the white phosphorus in Gaza?

Spokesman : As I said, we don't have any... I've not seen any report. If we see such a thing, I'm sure we will report it, but we just... let me just put it this way. I have not been told that we've seen those kinds of ammunition being used. I can only speak to that. Yes, CTV.

Correspondent : CBC.

Spokesman : CBC. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

Correspondent : It's okay. It's okay.

Spokesman : That's a major mistake. Sorry.

Question : We're all friends. [inaudible] what's happening in Gaza. We just heard word that the only power station there has run out of fuel. No water. No food going in. One, what's left of the pre-positioned supplies that the UN has in Gaza? And then two, will we hear directly from the Secretary-General about the earliest possibility that this humanitarian corridor can open, given that the world is probably looking to him more than anybody about this particular situation?

Spokesman : Yeah. I mean, we are working full steam ahead on trying to get that to happen. But as I've said in different context, in different conflicts, we are not the ones with the fingers on the trigger. So we, you know, we need to see if the Rafah crossing is to be operational, it cannot be bombed. Right? So for humanitarian corridor, we need to see the ability to have safe passage of humanitarian goods. We are working on that, but we are working on that with a number of other parties. On the supplies, they're dwindling. Yeah?

Correspondent : Steph, just sorry, a follow-up.

Spokesman : Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah.

Question : But how... is there any... I know that you can't give an exact timeline, but is  given, again, the extreme urgency of the situation, how close are you...?

Spokesman : I think we're talking about days. I mean, it's very short. Maryam, then Nabil, and then I'll go to you, Dezhi.

Question : Thank you, Stephane. You said that the Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran talked to the Secretary-General. Was that before he sent the letter to the Secretary-General to remind him of his responsibility about how to stop this conflict? And...

Spokesman : I don't know when that letter was sent. The phone call took place yesterday afternoon. That's all I know.

Question : Also about Afghanistan, people on the ground, I am from Herat, and I am in contact with a lot of people. People have been, like, sleeping and staying outside for the past five days. They are not receiving the help that they need. They need shelter. They need drinking water. And I've been hearing the assessing  that UN is assessing the need. When is the help getting there?

Spokesman : Well, my understanding is some help is already being delivered. It's... listen, if you've been impacted by an earthquake, I can only imagine that no aid can arrive quickly enough. Right? I don't have to explain to you the extremely challenging circumstances of working currently in Afghanistan. We have international staff there. They're trying to assess quickly what is needed to see what they can bring, what they already may have in country, what may need to be brought from abroad. And our humanitarian appeals for Afghanistan, like there are in the vast majority of places, are underfunded. But we're trying to help as many people as quickly as we can.

Question : Also a follow-up. I should have asked this first. Can you tell us, like, what was discussed on the phone call with the Foreign Minister of Iran and the Secretary-General?

Spokesman : No, ma'am. Regional issues. Would that cover it? It's better, no? Sorry, Nabil, then Dezhi, then Evelyn. Yeah.

Question : Thank you. So we know that Gaza has maybe seven crossings. Is the humanitarian access that the Secretary-General is working on is regarding Rafah only or other crossings?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, we know what we would like in the best of all possible worlds. We're also fully understanding of what is actually going on, the circumstances. I think the Egyptian decision is very much a welcome one.

Question : So you mean the crossings with Israel are not included at this stage?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, you know what the situation is as well as I do. I mean, but we're obviously speaking to our Israeli counterparts on that issue. But the progress has been made where it's been made.

Question : Also, if I may, we've seen in the last couple of days some calls from Israeli officials for the Palestinians in Gaza to flee or to leave Gaza Strip. And this was rejected completely by Egypt, for example. What's your position on these calls?

Spokesman : Civilians need to be protected. We do not want to see a mass exodus of Gazans and many of them who have already been displaced from other parts.

Correspondent : And one more.

Spokesman : Why not?

Question : Any update on Golan area?

Spokesman : No. Let me check. I don't think I had something on the Golan, but I will let you know. Dezhi, and then we'll...

Question : Yes. First, just now Secretary-General mentioned about the releasing of the detainees. I'm just wondering does the UN or maybe Mr. Tor Wennesland had direct contact with Hamas on this issue?

Spokesman : I'm not going to go into further detail of exactly who he's spoken to.

Question : So but basically, you are working on this. Right?

Spokesman : I've said what I've said on that.

Correspondent : Okay.

Spokesman : Okay.

Question : Second, just now, you mentioned the Secretary-General has phone calls with multiple world leaders there. Has he got any plans to talk to the leaders of Syria in Damascus? Because that's also a neighbouring country.

Spokesman : As the calls happen, I will share them with you.

Question : Okay. One last question. He talked to leaders of Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar, Iran, Turkiye. What is the sentiment he has about this spillover risk? Do you think... how much of the confidence do you have that this would be contained?

Spokesman : There's a risk. I mean, there's a high risk.

Question : It's still a high risk?

Spokesman : I mean, we're seeing... as we speak, there are reports of, I mean, I saw media reports of drone attacks. There is obviously a risk, and I think everyone can see that there is a high risk.

Correspondent : But basically, everyone is asking for containing this...

Spokesman : Well, that's what we're asking of everyone.

Correspondent : Yeah. Okay.

Spokesman : Yeah.

Question : But what about the response from everybody?

Spokesman : You need to ask everybody who we've spoken to.

Correspondent : Okay.

Spokesman : Yeah.

Question : Within the same context, the Secretary-General diplomatic efforts. Is there like, is... during those talks, is the UN, the Secretary-General proposing any to lay ground for any initiative, peace initiative? Like, what's really the aim?

Spokesman : Again, to see an end to this cycle now. Right? And then we can move it all further afield. Yes, sir. You had a question.

Question : Yeah. Thank you. My name is Alex Baluku from Uganda. I'm one of the Dag fellows. My question is one, are there any specific concerns about the impacts of the conflict on education and what measures are being taken to ensure the continuation of education for students in the region?

Spokesman : But which conflict? Unfortunately, we have a lot of...

Correspondent : Israeli and Palestine.

Spokesman : Okay.

Correspondent : Yeah.

Spokesman : It's... I mean, it's having a devastating impact on... all the UN schools are closed. I assume all of the other schools are closed. But as far as I, you know, more than 50 UN educational institutions are closed. Many of them are being used as shelters. The teachers can't teach. The students can't go to school. The trauma of these students who have no doubt already have lived through a lot of trauma is only increasing. The short answer, Alex, is that it's devastating. Okay. Yes, sir?

Question : Hi, Russia supplied weapons to Hamas terrorists. This was reported by Ukrainian intelligence and Ukraine's Ambassador to UN in last Security Council. So does the UN have any information about it?

Spokesman : No. We have no way to confirm that or deny that one way or another. Alright. Let's go to the screen before we... oh, sorry. Evelyn. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Evelyn.

Question : Okay. Thank you, Steph. In Niger, Russia seems to be gaining influence. Has the SG's office or UN staff on the ground been in touch with the Russians?

Spokesman : I'm not aware of any specific contact between the UN office and the Russian diplomatic staff in Niger.

Correspondent : Okay. Thank you.

Spokesman : Michelle, and then Abdelhamid.

Question : Thanks, Steph. A clarification first on what you said about when the Rafah crossing could reopen for humanitarian aid. You were saying that you hope or you know that that will start within days?

Spokesman : No. No. The days mentioned was in answer to your colleague's question about supplies that we have. You know, the...

Correspondent : Oh, okay.

Spokesman : Right. It's not... I'm not putting a time frame on Rafah, and I did not say it and I didn't insinuate it either. But thank you for checking.

Question : Okay. No worries. And then on the issue of safe passage for people out of Gaza. Jake Sullivan, the United States National Security Advisor, mentioned yesterday that they're in talks with Egypt and Israel about this. As has already been mentioned, Egypt is not keen. But has the United States reached out to the UN about this to discuss a possible safe corridor?

Spokesman : I mean, there have been contacts between Mr. Wennesland and his United States counterparts. I don't know if that specific issue has been broached, but we can try to figure it out. Abdelhamid?

Question : Okay. And then just one more. Sorry. A different topic; on Niger. What's your reaction to why they said they were expelling her? They said that the UN had excluded the junta from United Nations General Assembly last month. Can you elaborate?

Spokesman : Well, it depends what UN people refer to. The Secretary-General does not have the authority to exclude anyone. He has the only... yeah. I'll leave it at that. I think, again, I can't speak for other parties. Abdelhamid?

Question : Thank you, Stephane. [inaudible]. Can you hear me?

Spokesman : No. I cannot hear you.

Question : Okay. Am I now clear? Hello?

Spokesman : I cannot hear you, Abdelhamid.

Question : Can you hear me? Can you hear me now?

Spokesman : Yes. But just make the questions succinct because the sound is very bad.

Question : Okay. Yeah. I mean, the message that the Secretary-General sent when he spoke to [inaudible].

Spokesman : Abdelhamid, as other people here in this room, hopefully, are my witness, I cannot understand what you're... the exact words you're saying. Okay. Let's go back to the room and then we'll try to come back to you. Ibtisam?

Question : So I have... on the issue of the Rafah. First of all, Israel has announced a complete siege on Gaza. So they did not lift that siege until now. Is that correct?

Spokesman : That's my understanding.

Correspondent : Okay. So and they bombed the Rafah crossing...

Spokesman : Sorry. If I can ask the engineers to mute whoever's mic is opened. Thank you.

Question : And they banned the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt yesterday. The question is, is it even, like, from the infrastructure, is it even possible to bring anything inside Gaza from...?

Spokesman : It's a good question. I don't have that granularity of knowledge. So I don't want to assume anything, but it would seem to me that the first step would be to make sure it is safe. But it's a good question. I don't have... yeah, I can't answer that.

Question : And is it possible to have somebody from whether UNRWA or OCHA, who can brief us on the situation in Gaza? Thank you.

Spokesman : Will do. Pam, your microphone, please.

Correspondent : No. It's just...

Spokesman : No. No. Just your microphone, so people can hear you.

Question : So just that there was some confusion about whether Ambassador [Riyad] Mansour was going to the stakeout right now, but now he's coming here is what I understand.

Spokesman : Oh, okay. Nobody tells me anything. Again, I can only speak... I can tell you when my boss is going somewhere or other people who work, but I... Yes, sir. Please go ahead.

Question : Very quick. Is there any update on north-east Syria, Stephane? And the Turkish strikes on north-east Syria. Any update about that? And the following question is, as the President of Turkiye, Erdogan, said, cutting electricity, water to Gaza is a human rights violation, while Turkiye is bombing gas station, water stations, and power stations in Northeast Syria. What's the reaction on that?

Spokesman : Civilians need to be protected wherever they are. Right? Whether it's in Gaza, whether it's in northern Syria, whether it's in Iraq, whether it's in Afghanistan, or Guatemala, anywhere. Civilian infrastructure needs to be protected. We have seen over and over again in different parts, armed groups and others using water as a weapon of war. All these things are unacceptable. Okay. Thank you very much.

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Secretary-General's remarks to the press on the situation in the Middle East

United Nations Secretary-General

11 October 2023

I have been closely following dramatic events in Israel and Gaza.

I will never forget the images of the supercharged cycle of violence and horror.

I am in continuous contact with leaders in the region with an immediate focus on several key priorities.

We must avoid spillover of the conflict.

I am concerned about the recent exchange of fire along the Blue Line and recent reported attacks from Southern Lebanon.

I appeal to all parties - and those who have an influence over those parties -- to avoid any further escalation and spillover.

I call for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Civilians must be protected at all times. International humanitarian law must be respected and upheld.

About 220,000 Palestinians are now sheltering in 92 UNRWA facilities across Gaza. UN premises and all hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted.

UN staff are working around the clock to support the people of Gaza and I deeply regret that some of my colleagues have already paid the ultimate price.

Crucial life-saving supplies - including fuel, food and water -- must be allowed into Gaza. We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now.

I want to thank Egypt for its constructive engagement to facilitate humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing and to make the El Arish airport available for critical assistance.

There is no time to lose. Every moment counts.

Thank you.



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Israel Forms Emergency Unity Government to Better Fight Hamas

By VOA News October 11, 2023

The latest:

Israel forms national unity government to fight Hamas

Israel deploys 300,000 troops near Gaza, with Israeli and militant forces continuing to launch missiles at each other

US says 22 Americans killed in Hamas attacks

Hamas media say electricity out in Palestinian enclave

Israel says 1,200 killed in Hamas raid; Gaza says 1,055 killed in retaliatory strikes

Israel said Wednesday it has formed an emergency war-time unity government to fight Hamas militants, at the same time massing 300,000 troops near Gaza for what could be a ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave.

At the White House, President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington's support for Israel and assured a group of Jewish leaders that his administration was "working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel."

Reports say some Americans may be among them  a fact that ties Washington inextricably to the conflict. Biden refused to identify specific efforts to recover the hostages, saying, "If I told you, I wouldn't be able to get them home."

He said the U.S. is sending ammunition, interceptors and fighter jets to the region, along with significant naval resources.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu created a war cabinet with former defense chief Benny Gantz, a centrist opposition National Unity Party leader, along with current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, so they could solely focus on combating Hamas after its shock attack on Israel last Saturday.

The unusual arrangement, with other Cabinet members from Netanyahu's right-wing government apparently remaining in place, pieces together a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics.

Netanyahu has vowed to topple Hamas rule in Gaza, the densely populated strip of territory along the Mediterranean Sea, so that the militants can no longer threaten Israel.

From Tel Aviv, Yossi Yonah, a former member of the Israeli Knesset, told Alhurra, the U.S. government's Arabic language satellite TV channel, "The goals (of forming this government) are clear, but I can say the first goal is to continue the strong attacks against Hamas and its supporters in Gaza Strip. There is also a clear option, which is that Israel may carry out ground invasion in Gaza to completely bring down Hamas movement.

The toll has been staggering in five days of fighting, with Israel saying that 1,200 of its citizens and foreign nationals, including 22 Americans, have been killed inside Israel and another 2,700 wounded. In Washington, the White House said another 17 Americans are unaccounted for.

Palestinian officials say that 1,055 of its people have been killed in retaliatory strikes by Israel and nearly 5,200 wounded. A ground invasion of Gaza would surely increase the death toll on both sides.

Biden said he spoke with Netanyahu earlier on Wednesday, the fourth call between the two leaders in recent days. In an undated call with Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Biden said they asked him, 'Why do you feel so deeply about this?'

"It's not about the region," Biden said. "I truly believe, were there no Israel, no Jew in the world will be ultimately safe. It's the only ultimate guarantee. The only ultimate guarantee."

He added, "I think we have a chance to end this in a way that makes it very difficult for it to be repeated."

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 hostages it grabbed in Israel  soldiers, men, women, children and older adults. Their fate is largely unknown, with their relatives pleading in television interviews for their release.

Meanwhile, Hamas continued to fire rockets at Israel on Wednesday, including a heavy barrage at the southern town of Ashkelon, which is a short distance north of the Gaza border. Israeli airstrikes continued to rain down on Gaza.

Israel stopped sending food, water, fuel and medicine into Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. The sole remaining access from Egypt was closed Tuesday after Israeli airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

Gaza's only power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday afternoon, leaving only generators to power the territory  but they also run on fuel that is in short supply.

The U.N.'s World Health Organization said that it has run out of supplies at seven hospitals. Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.

In one, "We consumed three weeks' worth of emergency stock in three days, partly due to 50 patients coming in at once," Matthias Kannes, the aid group's Gaza mission chief, said Wednesday. He said the territory's biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, only has enough fuel for three days.

In a video message early Wednesday, Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus defended Israeli airstrikes that have destroyed residential buildings, saying those sites are legitimate military targets because Hamas intentionally locates its operations in civilian building.

Ofir Gendelman, a former spokesman for Netanyahu, told Alhurra, "If Hamas didn't attack Israel last Saturday, we wouldn't have seen such devastation and destruction. Hamas wanted to destroy Israel, but it is actually destroying Gaza Strip. It alone bears the responsibility of what is going on the ground."

The United Nations says more than 263,000 people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip since the fighting began, and that the number is expected to rise.

Conricus said 360,000 Israeli reservists were preparing to carry out the mission of making sure "Hamas at the end of this war won't have any military capabilities by which they can threaten or kill Israeli civilians."

Another spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that 169 Israeli soldiers have been killed, and that the military has contacted the families of 60 soldiers who were abducted by Hamas fighters and taken to Gaza.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters that a small group of U.S. special forces is working with the Israeli military to assist with planning and intelligence in the Israeli counteroperation against Hamas.

"We also have the ability to rapidly deploy other resources into the region," Austin said.

The U.S. also sent a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean, which Conricus said Wednesday brought a message of deterrence to ensure the conflict with Hamas does not expand into a regional war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling Wednesday to Israel to bring a "message of solidarity and support," the State Department said.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that Blinken wants to hear from Israeli leaders "about the situation on the ground and how we can continue to best support them in their fight against the terrorists who launched these horrific attacks."

VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell contributed to this report. Some information for this article came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Arab World Expresses Support for Gaza as Hamas-Israel War Enters Fifth Day

By Edward Yeranian October 11, 2023

Palestinians are receiving support from various parts of the Arab world as the conflict between Hamas and Israel enters its fifth day.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri told journalists at a press conference with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that officials from the two sides "discussed the need to stop the escalation of the conflict in Gaza" and the "seriousness of destruction and attacks on civilians."

They also called for the application of "international law regarding treatment of civilians in times of war."

Jordan, meanwhile, sent aid supplies to Egypt for the Palestinian residents of Gaza, according to Saudi-owned al Arabiya TV. It was not immediately clear how Egypt plans to distribute those supplies. The border between Egypt and Gaza is closed and there were scattered reports over the past several days of shelling near the border.

In Syria, government TV broadcast what it called a "student demonstration" in the capital Damascus, with several hundred students chanting slogans in support of the Palestinians and waving Palestinian flags. The students told the TV that they had come from universities across the country to support the Palestinian people.

One young man, who identified himself as a student leader from a university outside Damascus, told the TV that he and other Syrian students stand behind the Palestinian people's battle to free themselves from what he called Israeli occupation.

He said that the students are standing proudly in support of the Palestinian people and that they want to tell them that their cause is our cause and that they wish them victory in their struggle.

Saudi-owned Asharq al Awsat newspaper reported that Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati met with top security officials to "discuss security measures being taken across the country." U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shea met with Miqati and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, warning them Tuesday of "the consequences of [the pro-Iranian] Hezbollah militia's participation in the Gaza war," according to the Beirut daily Al Liwa.

In Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani defended the deadly weekend attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel's southern border communities and urged Iraqis to support the Palestinian cause.

He said that the Hamas attack on Israel is a normal reaction to the massive injustice that the Palestinian people have been subjected to in recent years.

Arab media broadcast a video of a crowd of a few dozen Iraqi Shiite religious leaders and their supporters demonstrating in the narrow streets of the Baghdad district of Khadimiya, chanting slogans in favor of the Palestinians and against Israel.

On Monday, influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr called on Iraqis to hold a "peaceful" million-man demonstration in favor of the Palestinian cause, while urging demonstrators to "burn Israeli flags."

In Algeria, the country's parliament speaker Brahim Boughali asked lawmakers to stand as he recited an Islamic prayer for the dead to honor Palestinians that have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas. Boughali did not mention Israeli casualties of the conflict.

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Gaza's Past and Present Explained

By Gabriel Levin October 11, 2023

A reported 1,200 Israeli civilians, including women and children as young as infants, were slaughtered in Hamas' assault on Southern Israel this weekend. Many Israelis are still unaccounted for.

In response, Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza strip. "No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel" will be let in for the more than 2 million Palestinians living there under Hamas rule, he said.

Newsreels out of Gaza have made the rounds on social media: stark scenes of Palestinians navigating bloody rubble in the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes.

Palestinian authorities have reported that 900 people and counting have been killed in Gaza since Saturday  nearly 500 women and children among them.

Understanding the chaos unfolding today in Gaza requires knowledge of its history.

Colonial rule and founding of Israel

Gaza was controlled by the Ottoman Empire until 1917. In 1922, Palestine fell under British colonial rule for the better part of three decades. During those years, Jews fleeing religious persecution immigrated to Palestine en masse, mostly from Eastern Europe, where Nazism was gaining traction.

Proponents of Zionism sought to create a national home for Jews in Palestine, citing a historical connection to the biblical land of Israel. The British government recognized Zionism and gave commitments that a Jewish nation would be founded in Palestine.

After the Nazis were vanquished, Britain handed the United Nations authority to divvy up Palestine. In 1948, the United Nations approved a two-state plan that was roundly rejected by Arab leaders. Nevertheless, Israel announced its founding.

During World War II, Allied Powers guaranteed Arab leaders independence from colonial rule in exchange for wartime support. Many Arab Palestinians saw Israel's creation as a reversal of that promise.

In May 1948, war between Israel and five neighboring Arab states broke out. Israel won and expanded its territory tremendously, including in Jerusalem  a holy city for Muslims and Jews alike.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of whom were driven from their villages, fled to Gaza, a narrow stretch of coast 25 miles long that had just been captured by the Egyptian army. Gaza's population tripled to about 200,000 as refugees flooded in.

Egypt ousted from Gaza

Egypt ruled the Gaza Strip for two decades under the command of a military governor. During that period, Palestinians were free to work and earn an education in Egypt.

For years, the fedayeen, a group of Palestinian so-called freedom fighters, carried out repeated military assaults on Israel and were met with a number of costly counterattacks.

Israel took the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Middle East war and ousted its Egyptian ruler. The Israeli military oversaw the territory as large numbers of Gazans began to work in manual labor in and around the settlements that Israelis had erected just outside of Gaza.

Seeing the land that once belonged to them now owned by Israelis pained many Palestinians  and still today "the occupation," as many human rights activists call it, is a source of bitter resentment.

Birth of Hamas

Civil unrest boiled over in 1987 after an Israeli Defense Forces, or IDF, truck slammed into a civilian car, killing four Palestinian workers. Gazans viewed the deaths as a premeditated attack, a claim that the Israeli government has denied. Strikes and stone-throwing demonstrations ensued.

Capitalizing on the unrest, the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist organization based in Egypt, created a spin-off militant group in Gaza called Hamas. In short order, Hamas became a formidable challenger to Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, or PLO.

Hamas' stated mission is the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic government in its place. The language in its original charter, which called for violence against Jews everywhere, has been widely denounced.

Oslo Accords

In 1993, Israel and the PLO agreed to the Oslo Accords, an unprecedented peace deal establishing the Palestinian Authority and giving it curbed power over Gaza and Jericho, a city in the West Bank. Arafat was even allowed to return to Gaza after a decades-long exile.

The Oslo Accords promised statehood, but in the following years, the plan fell through as the Palestinians allegedly failed to honor various conditions. As Israel continued its settlement-building, Hamas gained more sway among disillusioned Gazans.

The 21st century

The turn of the century saw the rift between Israel and the Palestinians widen as Hamas' suicide bombings and shooting sprees in 2000 were met with curfews and checkpoints all across Gaza.

Overnight, Israel virtually shuttered Gaza's fishing industry, a hallmark of the local economy. Israel's rationale was that Hamas was smuggling in weapons used in terrorist attacks on fishing boats.

By August 2005, the Israeli army had completely abandoned Gaza, having evacuated several settlements in the territory in what was billed as a land-for-peace deal. The strip, surrounded by barbed-wire fences, was stimulated by black market trade. In the absence of the warehouse jobs Israel brought into Gaza, smugglers hauled goods in and out of the area through underground tunnels to Egypt.

In a total upset, Hamas swept parliamentary elections in Gaza in 2006 and wrested control of the enclave from Arafat loyalists.

Hamas has not held a single election since, and Israel has kept a blockade on Gaza for more than 15 years. The United Nations in 2009 criticized the longstanding restrictions as "causing devastation." But Israel has argued that without tight control of what goes in and out of Gaza, Hamas could strengthen itself by acquiring more lethal weapons.

Egypt also has placed tight restrictions on its border with Gaza and has destroyed tunnels linking the two out of fears for national security.

In 2014, Hamas lobbed rockets at Israeli cities. Israel ruined neighborhoods in Gaza with retaliatory airstrikes. More than 2,100 Palestinians died, the majority of whom were civilians. Hamas often embeds itself in urban centers and has used human shields in conflicts as far back as 2007, according to NATO's Center for Strategic Communications.

What is happening today?

The bloodshed that Hamas unleashed on Israeli civilians on October 7, the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, has made headlines all over the globe.

After Hamas tore through Israeli towns, fired on a music festival and captured dozens of civilian hostages, Israel blasted Gaza with airstrikes, leveling entire neighborhoods.

Iran reportedly supports Hamas with tactical drills, instructions on how to assemble missiles with advanced guidance systems and up to $100 million per year  all of which contributed to the sheer magnitude of this attack, U.S. government officials have said.

Analysts say Israel is readying a full-scale military invasion of Gaza. Jonathan Conricus, an IDF spokesperson, said that October 7 is "by far the worst day in Israeli history ... a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbor wrapped into one."

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Chad's President Says Refugees, Host Towns Face Severe Hardship, Pleads for Help

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka October 11, 2023

Leaders in Chad say the central African nation is struggling to meet the humanitarian needs of 2 million foreign and displaced people seeking refuge there, many of them women and children fleeing violence and increasing hardship in neighboring Sudan.

More than 400,000 Sudanese refugees and nearly 52,000 Chadian returnees have arrived in towns and villages in eastern Chad since April, when Sudan descended into violence, Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby said in a state television broadcast this week.

He said Chad needs immediate assistance from the international community to help refugees and host communities that need protection and humanitarian aid, including food, shelter, water and sanitation.

Deby said that Chad residents in towns and villages along Chad's border are fighting with refugees and displaced people over limited resources.

For example, he said, several thousand Sudanese refugees entered Adre, a town in the southeastern province of Ouaddai, just within the past two weeks. That brings the number of Sudanese in Adre to more than 210,000, which is four times more than the town's population, according to the government.

Chad's 2 million refugees come from several neighboring countries besides Sudan. They include people fleeing Boko Haram atrocities and violent conflicts between fishers and herders in Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger, as well as Central African Republic citizens who fled violence as fighting erupted in their country in 2013.

Chad, with a population about 18 million, is one of the world's poorest countries. The nation has faced several institutional challenges in a region rife with conflict.

"I am urging my people, who I know live in poverty, to accept, receive and protect refugees and displaced persons who come to our country in deteriorating health situations caused by conflicts in neighboring states," Deby said.

Humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations refugee agency, say the influx puts a massive strain on already-scarce resources and engenders conflicts between displaced persons, refugees and host communities.

Amina Abu said she arrived in Adre from Darfur, a city in western Sudan, this week.

Speaking on Chad state TV, Abu said she could not bear the shock when her husband was killed in Darfur two weeks ago, so she decided to move with her two children. She said the family has been hungry since they arrived in Chad with scores of other women and children.

The United Nations estimates that by the end of the year, 600,000 Sudanese refugees will have arrived in Chad.

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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby

October 11, 2023

1:35 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just want to take a moment to address the horrifying reports that continue to come out of Israel.

I know many of us in the room and at home are moms and dads. And regardless, we're all humans. We've heard stories of parents doing their best to shield their babies from danger. These reports are devastating. We are hearing the reports of entire families, innocents, who were killed in the safety of their homes.

We know that, so far, 22 Americans lost their lives and 17 remain unaccounted for. We know that these numbers are likely to increase in the days ahead.

As the President said this afternoon, this attack has brought to the surface painful memories and the scars left by millennia of antisemitism and genocide of the Jewish people.

And so, later this afternoon, the President will stop by a roundtable with Jewish community leaders, along with the Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff; National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan; Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall; Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden; and Steve Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement.

This roundtable discussion will focus on the Biden-Harris administration's unwavering support for Israel following the Hamas terrorist attacks and the implementation of President Biden's National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which was released in May.

Today and every day, we are here to reafform  reaffirm the United States will to continue to have Israel's back.

And with that, Admiral John Kirby is here from the National Security Council to take any of your questions on the situation in Israel.

Go ahead, John.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: Appreciate that.

Good afternoon, everybody. As Karine noted, sadly, the numbers of Americans killed  murdered has climbed. And, you know, we have a better  a little bit better sense today of how many more Americans are  are unaccounted for or missing.

We know that a  a number of those Americans are being held hostage right now by Hamas. I think we all need to steel ourselves for the very distinct possibility that these numbers will  will keep increasing and that we may, in fact, find out that more Americans are part of the hostage pool.

So, as Karine said, our message to all these families affected is that, you know: We're with you. We're grieving with you. We're sorrowful with you. We're worrying with you. And we're going to do everything we can  particularly for those who don't know where a loved one is, to find out where they are and to get them home with you where they belong.

And that includes, of course, being willing to assist in advice or counsel when it comes to hostage-recovery efforts.

Now, of course, the Israelis have a very robust hostage-recovery capability of their own. Sadly, they have had  been forced to perfect that particular kind of capability. But we also have a lot of know-how too, and we're  we're offering to share that with the Israeli Defense Forces.

At the same time, we're sharing additional defense-related support. I think you saw that the Israeli military announced today, with some imagery, the first tranche of U.S. military assistance arriving in Israel. That will continue.

We also, as I think the President alluded to yesterday, were able to replenish some of their Iron Dome interceptor missiles. These were missiles that we already had in stock in Israel. We simply just transferred ownership over to the Israeli Defense Forces.

So, again, more aid, more assistance will be coming in coming days.

As you also know, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and her strike group are now in the Eastern Mediterranean. They arrived yesterday. They are there for deterrence purposes to make it clear to any would-be actor, organization, group, terrorist network, nation-state  anybody who thinks that, with hostile intent towards Israel  that this is the time to widen and expand the conflict that we will take our national security interests seriously.

I would also note that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and her strike group will be departing on a prescheduled  long-scheduled deployment to the European Command area of responsibility. They'll start that deployment in the coming week or so. They will be going initially across the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, where they will be available if needed.

No decisions have been made. I've seen some press reporting out there that  that we've already made some kind of final decision that a second carrier is going to be placed in the Eastern Med. No operational decisions like that have been made, but she will be heading in that direction, her ships will be with her, and she certainly will be an available asset if needed.

The bottom line is, as I said, we're sending a loud and clear message: The United States is ready to take action should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to escalate or widen this war. And I think Jake said that pretty well yesterday.

We're also going to continue to talk to our Israeli partners about their needs to ensure, again, that they have what they require to defend their country and their people. And that's just not going to stop. In fact, it's almost an hourly conversation that we're having with our  our counterparts.

Now, I know many of you have been asking about or expressing some interest in the idea of safe passage in Gaza for civilians.

Let me just say right upfront: We're actively discussing this with our Israeli and our Egyptian counterparts. We support safe passage for civilians. The civilians are not to blame for what Hamas has done. They didn't do anything wrong, and we continue to support safe passage.

I don't have an announcement to make today. I can't tell you a specific route or a corridor. I just want to make it clear that we are actively working on this with our Egyptian and  and our Israeli counterparts.

Civilians are protected under Laws of Arm-  of Armed Conflict, and they should be given every opportunity to avoid the fighting.

Now, if I could switch to Ukraine just quickly. Today, the Secretary of Defense announced at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting over in Europe that the United States is announcing a new aid package, which includes air defense munitions; ammunition for U.S.-provided artillery and HIMARS; counter-UAS equipment  unmanned aerial systems, sorry  to help Ukraine protect their people against Russian and Iranian drone strikes. We're also announcing additional anti-armor capabilities and more than 16 million rounds of small arms and ammunition.

As Ukrainians continue to wage a very tough counteroffensive and as winter now fast approaches, we believe it is absolutely imperative  you heard me say before time is not our friend  that we continue to do everything we can to help Ukraine succeed on the battlefield and claw back some more of their own territory from Russian units on the ground there.

This military aid package that we're announcing today is another important signal of our continued commitment to supporting the Ukrainian people, and it utilizes funding authorities that Congress authorized for Ukraine during a prior fiscal year under the presidential drawdown authority.

We're obviously going to continue to provide Ukraine with the weapons and equipment they need, but it is absolutely critical that Congress keep its commitment to the people of Ukraine by providing additional funding. We are in active conversations with members of Congress about additional funding for Ukraine and for Israel. And it's critical, again, that, we believe, Congress sends a clear message to Putin, sends a clear message to the Israeli people that  that the United States continues to have their back.

And, with that, let me take some questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Aamer.

Q (Inaudible) John, ask just a little bit of a clarification on the 22 Americans who have unfortunately been killed. Were all those Americans killed believed to be killed by Hamas? Were all of them  all the killed in Israeli territory? Or do we know  do you know how many Americans have been killed inside Gaza?

MR. KIRBY: I'm afraid I don't. I mean, we know the number is accurate as of right now, but the individual circumstances are not exactly clear.

Q So, this group  22  it was in Isra-  in Israel that 

MR. KIRBY: I  I don't have the details on every single one. You could certainly consult the State Department. They might have a little bit higher touch because they're in touch  or I know they're trying to be in touch with all the families. But we don't have that information.

Q If I can just quickly  all signs suggest that Israel will begin a possible ground invasion relatively soon. I know you talked about safe passage, but has the U.S. done anything to dissuade Israel from moving ahead with a ground offensive?

And if it does move ahead, has the President or administration officials directly asked Israel to show restraint in how it goes about such an operation?

MR. KIRBY: We're going to let the Israelis talk about their military operations, particularly in the future tense. I mean, we don't even talk about our operations in the future tense.

So, I don't want to get ahead of where things are. And I certainly am not going to talk about Israeli military planning. So, I'll let them take that.

You heard the President talk about this a little bit yesterday the  this idea of  you were asking about restraint. I mean, nobody wants to see any more innocent life lost. None. Nobody, no matter who you are. If you're an innocent civilian, you didn't cause this. You didn't ask for this. And you shouldn't be having to fear for your life. Nobody wants to see that happen.

And I think it's important to remind that, especially on the Palestinian side, Hamas is directly endangering their lives: headquartering themselves in hospitals and schools, residential buildings, using the Palestinian people as human shields. They didn't ask for that either.

And Hamas doesn't speak for the majority of the Palestinian people or their aspirations for peace and security. I think that's an important place to start this conversation.

Unlike the United States, unlike Israel  as the President said yesterday  who have respect for the rule of law and the Law of Armed Conflict and respect for human life, Hamas has none. None at all.

So, again, we'll  we'll let the Israelis speak for their military operations. Our focus is squarely right now, in these still early hours  and they are early hours  is to make sure that the Ukraine  the Israelis have what they need.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Mary.

Q I just want to clarify the numbers here. I think, Karine, you just said that 17 Americans remain missing. Is that the latest number? I think, yesterday, you had said 20. I just want to make sure we're operating off of the same thing.

MR. KIRBY: There  there is 17 that are missing and  and 22 that are dead.

Q Okay. And is there anything you can share with us about  anything you know about the condition of the hostages? And also, has there been any kind of communication with Hamas, either directly or with our allies or partners, about securing their release? Is there any kind of receptiveness that they've shown even to talking about this issue?

MR. KIRBY: So, let me take the second one first. Obviously, we're in discussions not only with the Israelis about what hostage recovery could look like, but with other allies and partners in the region. And there are some countries, like Qatar, that have open lines of communication with  with Hamas.

So, of course, we're casting the net wide, as you would expect we would. We want to get these  all hostages back with their families, particularly the American hostages. No question about that.

Now, where they are and in what condition  no, sadly, we don't know. And that makes efforts very, very difficult  and again, in these early hours. But we don't know. We don't know where they are. We don't know if they're all in one group or broken up into several groups. We don't know if they're being moved and with what frequency and to what locations. All of those questions, we're working hard to answer.

Q And I'm sure you're casting a wide net, but has any communication actually been made with Hamas? I mean 

MR. KIRBY: I'm just going to leave it  leave the answer the way I gave it to you. I think, just like in any other case when we're talking about getting Americans home overseas that have been held hostage and wrongfully detained, the less you say out there publicly, the better.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Ed.

Q Thank you. Two on this region and then one on another in this hemisphere that I know some outlets in this room have questions about.

First, on the humanitarian corridor, is it accurate that the Egyptians have rejected calls to allow for one?

MR. KIRBY: I think you'd have to talk to the Egyptian authorities on that one.

Q Have the talks continued or 

MR. KIRBY: We  we believe that safe passage is important. And we want to see safe pass-  a safe passage corridor opened up.

We also believe it's important that humanitarian assistance have a way to continue to get to the Palestinian people. And as Jake mentioned yesterday, we're in active discussions with the Israelis and with the Egyptians about that.

Q There's, of course, this ongoing intelligence assessment and now political debate over Iran: what it knew, what it may have done to support Hamas in all of this.

Even if there's no direct evidence linking Iran to this specific attack right now, does the U.S. believe Iran needs to pay some kind of a price or there be some kind of retribution for having supported Hamas all along up to this point?

MR. KIRBY: (Laughs.) I mean, the question almost  and I'm not picking on you, Ed, but it implies that  that we're just now waking up to the fact that they've been supporting Hamas and Hezbollah and other terrorist networks. That  that  Hamas is one of the most highly sanctioned terrorist networks on the planet, largely because of what we've been doing here in the United States to target them.

And Iran  my goodness, just since the beginning of this administration, we have sanctioned some 400-plus entities with more than 40 set  different sets of sanctions regimes, 30 of those just this past year alone.

We've increased our military presence in the  in the Gulf region because of their attacks on maritime shipping. We have sa-  added additional sanctions because of their support to Russia and the fact that they're still providing drones and technology to Mr. Putin so he can kill innocent Ukrainians. And now we've added our military capability. We've added to it from a naval perspective in the Eastern Med.

So, nobody has turned a blind eye to Iranian destabilizing behavior.

Now, I think what you're trying to get at is this particular set of attacks. What Jake said yesterday still holds: We obviously recognize that there's broad complicity here by the Iranians, I mean, because of the longstanding support to Hamas. Hamas wouldn't have been able to function at all had it not been for propping up by the Iranian regime.

But we haven't seen any specific evidence that tells us they were witting, involved in the planning, or involved in the resourcing and  and the training that went into this very complex set of attacks over the weekend.

Q There's one other  I mentioned an issue here in this hemisphere that there are outlets in this room, I know, are curious about. There have been several days now of protests in Guatemala that have essentially locked down parts of the country amid the ongoing protracted, difficult presidential transition.

Just curious if you can give us a sense of how the U.S. is monitoring that and whether it has any message for protesters who continue to hold up some parts of society, that have blocked gasoline and food shipments to parts of Guatemala.

MR. KIRBY: We certainly aren't going to involve ourselves in internal Guatemalan politics. We obviously believe in free and fair elections. We believe in democratic voices. And we certainly believe in the right of peaceful protest. People should have the right to protest whatever they want to do, as long as they do it peacefully and in a way that  that doesn't put others at harm. I think I'll leave it at that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Jeff.

Q Thank you. John, you mentioned wanting to avoid actors in the region taking advantage of this. Can you give us a sense of who you think might take advantage of this that you're worried about? Is it 

MR. KIRBY: I think there's a unfortunately long list of actors in the region that are hostile to Israel. Hezbollah is one of them. And  and, you know, we've been watching with concern some of the rocket attacks that have come across the northern border of Israel from Lebanon, which obviously were coming from  from Hezbollah. So, we're  we're clearly concerned about that.

Q Are you concerned about Iran as well?

MR. KIRBY: We're always concerned about Iran. And Iran's hostility to Israel doesn't need any reaffirmation by  by us. It's  it's out there plain to see. So, yeah, of course, we're concerned about Iran.

Q You mentioned the humanitarian corridor, but more  just staying on the topic of the humanitarian issue, are you  how  what can be done? Or what is the U.S. doing to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Gaza with the situation now about power, water, and food?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, as I said, we believe that humanitarian assistance is important for the Palestinian people that live in Gaza. And we are going to continue to  to pursue options to make sure that they get that humanitarian assistance.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Yeah, is  is the U.S. in conversation with the Palestinian Authority or the Palestinian community here in the U.S.?

MR. KIRBY: We have been routinely in  in communication with the  the Palestinian Authority. I don't have  or I don't  there's not meetings or discussions, you know, in recent hours that I can speak to. But we have long maintained an open line of communication with them.

Q How  does the U.S. also condemn, perhaps, potential war crimes Israelis are committing in  in Gaza against Gazans?

MR. KIRBY: Well, our focus right now is making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against these attacks.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Peter.

Q If I can ask you, first, just about something that you referred to, which is the reported incursion into northern Israel. There have been reports from the IDF. Do you have any new information to share on that? There were reports of paragliders initially. Any other additional information about that?

MR. KIRBY: I've seen the reports. We've taken a quick look at them. We are not in a position to corroborate the validity of them. We have  what I talked about with Jeff was rocket attacks that we know 

Q Understood. We've seen those. Yeah.

MR. KIRBY:  have occurred in recent days.

Q Then, if I can, I just want to ask you separately about these hostages right now. Presumably 22 dead, at least 17 held hostage  not only the number of dead could rise 

MR. KIRBY: No, 17 that we know are missing.

Q Excuse me. Excuse me. Unaccounted for.

MR. KIRBY: And that number will fluctuate.

Q That number could rise?

MR. KIRBY: It could rise; it could go down. I mean, as people may be  they're found safe and  safe and sound. So 

Q Understood.

MR. KIRBY:  it's 17 today.

Q Understood. So, about those who remain hostages right now, has the President ruled out sending any American forces of any kind into Gaza at any time to help secure their release, if necessary to get them out safely?

MR. KIRBY: We haven't made any policy options or operational decisions with respect to hostage recovery at this time. We are in active 

Q So, nothing is ruled out?

MR. KIRBY: We haven't made any decisions about hostage recovery at this time. We just don't also have enough information, Peter, to be able to make decisions like that.

But you heard Jake yesterday say and  and the President has said: We'll do everything we can anywhere around the world to make sure that Americans held hostage have a path home and to be safe with their families.

So, we're  we're keeping the  to Mary's question  obviously, we're casting a wide net. We're also keeping the options wide open right now as we get more information, but we just don't have enough granularity to be able to  to fine tune those options.

Q Has the President spoken to any of those unaccounted for or any of those Americans dead 

MR. KIRBY: I'm not 

Q  the families of them?

MR. KIRBY: I know that the State Department has been in touch with many  most of the families of those that  that we know have been killed. I don't know if they've talked to all of them. I have no conversations from the White House to speak to.

Q Thank you.

Q What's the level of concern that American troops who are stationed in the Middle East might be a target of Iran or some proxy forces? And are  are there steps being taken to secure military installations?

MR. KIRBY: Well, sadly, I mean, our troops in the Middle East are well familiar with the  the  the ebb and flow of security concerns for force protection. I mean, it's just part and parcel of being deployed there. And there's  it's never not a concern for commanders in the region, when it comes to force protection, because some other event somewhere else could absolutely have repercussions for you and your troops.

So, without speaking to specifics  I'd never do that  what the force protection measures look like, they change all the time. They certainly are adapted to the situation.

And the Defense Department will  would  will, and of course, be able to speak to what they're doing.

Q And are you seeing any evidence of potential domestic threats that people might be inspired by these attacks to do harm here  here in the U.S. to synagogues or any other places of worship?

MR. KIRBY: I know of no specific threats here domestically based on  like a spillover effect of what's happening between Israel and Hamas. I know of no specific threat streams here to  to speak to.

But  and you heard the President talk about this yesterday  we're not going to assume anything. Because of the rise of antisemitism around the world and certainly here at home, it makes perfect prudent sense that we take the kind of action we have taken with local and state authorities to increase our intelligence posture  domestic intelligence posture and to make sure that we're properly prepared to deter and disrupt any potential violent threat to the Jewish community here at home.

And I think you'll hear the President talk about this a little bit more today.

Q Admiral?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Jacqui, and then we'll go to the back of the room.

Q Thank you, Karine. John, this was a massive intelligence failure. Who bears responsibility for that?

MR. KIRBY: You know something, Jacqui, there's going to come a time when it's appropriate for us to take a look back retrospectively and see what the intel picture showed us or didn't show us, whether there's any gaps that need to be closed. There's going to be a time for that, and I suspect that our Israeli counterparts will do the same thing. Now is not that time. It's just not that time.



Q Can you  can you speak to the reports that Israel was warned by Egypt?

MR. KIRBY: I can't.

Q McCaul, from Foreign Affairs, made that allegation this morning saying that that was something that members were told in  on the intelli-  or on the Foreign Affairs Committee. So, has that been discussed at all, or is that something you're looking into?

MR. KIRBY: I can't speak to specific intelligence matters. Again, there will be a time to  to look back at this, as we always do, and we will. Right now, we're sharpening the intelligence gathering and cooperation and sharing with Israel, as we should, since they're involved in active operations. And we're making sure that they get the tools they need.

Q Can you define what the "direct link" is when you guys talk about Iran not being involved, no direct link? What is a  what do you consider to be a direct link?

MR. KIRBY: So, what I'm referring to there is any  any evidence that we have that they were knowledgeable of and aware of these particular attacks.

Now, of course, as Jake said yesterday, you know, it  that they were  obviously have been broadly aware of Hamas's hostility to Israel and to some of the broad planning that -that Hamas would do, but we haven't seen anything that tells us they knew, specifically, date, time, method, that they were  that they were witting to this.

It  we haven't seen anything that tells us they specifically cut checks to support this set of attacks or that they were involved in the training and th-  obviously, this required quite a bit of training by these terrorists  or that they were involved in any directing of the operation.

So, again  I'll get to your  I promise, I  I don't want you  I'm not trying to mot-  mon-  you know, monopolize the time here.

But we're  it's not a  you know, we're not one and done here either. We're going to continue to look at the intelligence stream and see if it leads us to a different conclusion. All I can do is be honest with you about the conclusions we're coming to today. And we just haven't seen that.

Q So, you kind of answered my follow-up, which is 

MR. KIRBY: Oh, good. (Laughter.)

Q  is it the position of the administration that, at this stage, Iran was not involved?

I guess my  my question is: How can we know that this was in the planning for over a year, and within a few short days say that Iran was not behind it?

MR. KIRBY: Because that's what we think. Because we 

Q So, it is your 

MR. KIRBY:  we've been looking at it 

Q It is the position then?

MR. KIRBY: No, what  what we think now  again, we have not seen any evidence  specific evidence that Iran was directly involved with these specific sets of attacks.

Q But it's still 

MR. KIRBY: That doesn't mean that  yeah, I mean, look, we're going to keep looking at it. I  what  the book is not closed on it. We're going to keep looking at that. But that's just where we are right now.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, we're going to move on.

Go ahead, Anita.

Q I'm sorry to yammer 

Q Thank you. John 

Q  on the Iran thing, but, just briefly 

Q (Inaudible.)

Q  was it Iran that 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I said Anita.

We'll get  we'll try to get everyone.

Q Sorry. What did Iran know and when did they know it? Where are we now? Where is the White House now on, like, what they knew, when they knew it about this attack?

MR. KIRBY: I think I'd give you the same answer I gave Jacqui.

Q Okay. Moving on to China. The Foreign Minister is coming to D.C. soon. Just wondering if you can preview what's on the agenda, who he's meeting with, and then let us know, you know, what the prospects are for a Xi-Biden meeting and whether that might be at APEC in November.

MR. KIRBY: I think we'll have more to say about the specific agenda as we get closer to it. I don't have any of the  the details for you now, and I don't have anything to announce or speak to with respect to a meeting between President Biden and President Xi.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nadia.

Q Thank you. John, I'm here.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you.

Q I  yesterday, I saw heart-wrenching stories of testimonies of Israeli families who lost their loved one, similar to the one that made you tear up on  on TV.

One of them is the story of Hayim Katsman. His sister appealed to the Israeli government  who is a peace activist. She's asking the Israeli government not to kill civilians in Gaza in his name. Is this a message that you encourage and you carry to your Israeli partners, considering that today we have 11 U.N. workers who have been killed, 4 journalists, and 1,100 civilians? How can you make sure that these people are not collateral damage?

MR. KIRBY: I  I've kind of addressed this before, but I'm happy to revisit it quickly. Again, we don't want to see any more innocent civilian life taken or lost. None. I mean, the  the number should be zero of innocent civilians killed or harmed right now. Sadly, that's not the case.

And  and I can't stand here  I wouldn't stand here before you and try to predict that in a war, which is still raging and may rage for yet some time that  that there won't be additional civilian casualties. I wish I could promise you that's not going to be the case, but I can't. We don't want to see any more, but I can't promise that.

All I can do is  is repeat what the President said that  that this is what differentiates democracies  modern democracies, like Israel and the United States  from Hamas. Hamas has deliberately  I mean, the whole  the whole purpose of the initial attacks on Saturday were to kill, to murder, to butcher, to slaughter. They weren't trying to occupy territory. They were trying to kill.

And they are the ones placing the Palestinians at greater risk by  by headquartering themselves in hospitals and schools.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Brian. Brian.

Q Thanks a lot, John. Is the White House putting forward a funding package to Congress that puts together funding for Israel with funding for the border, funding for Taiwan, and funding for Ukraine.

MR. KIRBY: We're in active conversations with Congress about additional funding that we know we need, specifically for Israel and for Ukraine. I'm not prepared to detail those conversations for you right now or  or tell you what the parameters are  are going to be because, frank-  frankly, those parameters haven't been yet arrived at or even decided upon.

But we are in active discussions about additional funding. We need it, as I said in my opening statement.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Oh, thank you. Could you give a little bit of an update on what the administration is doing to find out more about the Americans who are being held hostage and what  whatever you're able to discuss about what those efforts look like?

MR. KIRBY: Tough  tough to get more detail. We're  we're obviously talking to the Israelis about what they might know. I mean, they're on the ground. And they've, unfortunately, had to deal with this  this sort of a scenario before.

So, they've been tremendously forthcoming with the information that they have. But understanding that the information that even they have right now isn't all that specific. I mean, we just don't have a lot of granularity on where these people are or what condition they might be in or whether they're being moved.

So, I  I truly wish I had more that I could provide, because there's a lot of families out there really, really worried. And the families, quite frankly, too, for all their grief and sorrow and  and the anguish they're going through, some of them have been helpful in terms of helping us understand where their loved ones were when they were abducted. Some of them may have even seen it.

So, like, it's  it's a conversation that we're having with family members as well.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Aurelia.

Q Thank you so much. I have a question on the role tech platforms are playing right now. The EU has specifically asked Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to crack down on misleading information related to the attacks on Israel. Has the administration had this kind of engagement? Is it making the same kind of demands?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not aware of any such discussions with tech companies about that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Thank you so much. The U.S. has been warning since Saturday that hostile parties should not be escalating the conflict at this time. What evidence do you have about whether that message has been heeded?

MR. KIRBY: It's not the kind of thing that they, you know, phone in and say, "Okay, got it." We have not seen to date  we have not seen another actor intentionally try to widen the conflict. All we can go is by what we're seeing and we're not seeing.

It's important that we send that signal. With the arrival of that carrier strike group and with the rhetoric, of course, coming out from our administration, and we'll keep doing that.

Q And what variables and within what timeframe would the U.S. look to consider when making a decision about deploying additional assets to the region?

MR. KIRBY: I think it's going to depend on how things are  are going in the region. Again, we don't want to see this conflict widen any more than it already has. Israel is focused, rightly, on Hamas. Opening up additional fronts for them obviously would  would be just a horrible scenario. We don't want to see that happen.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Peter.

Q Congressman Lawler just said on TV that they're  they're expecting an announcement within 24 hours about an airlift of the U.S. citizens. Have you  can you tell us anything about that?

MR. KIRBY: I don't have any details for you on that. I would just tell you, Peter, that we're in  the State Department is an active touch with American citizens in Israel  many of them, as you well know, are dual nationals  to try to make sure that  that, A, we've got the connection, and  and, B, that we know if they have any concerns, like in  in the case that they want to  they want to leave.

So, we're  we're in active conversations with  with Americans on the ground there. And we want to make sure  right now, there are still commercial carriers  not all, some  flying in and out of Ben Gurion every day. There are still now viable ground routes. If you wanted to leave safely out of Israel, that is also an option to you.

But neither of those options may necessarily be feasible or affordable to certain Americans. And so, we are exploring actively a range of other options to assist if Americans want to leave. I'm just not at liberty now to go into more detail about that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q You said "dual citizens." Can you identify  do you know how many of the 22 Americans who have died and the 17 that are unaccounted for  how many of them are dual citizens versus just pure  you know, only American?

MR. KIRBY: The State Department might be able to give  give you that. I  I don't have that data handy. But as  again, as you know, so many American citizens in Israel are, in fact 

Q Does that mean that we 

MR. KIRBY:  dual passport holders.

Q  defer to the Israelis on decisions on what to do about them if they are, in fact, mostly dual citizens?

MR. KIRBY: I'm sorry, say that again.

Q Does that mean that we would defer to the Israelis in terms of deciding what actions to take if they're mostly  they're their citizens as well?

MR. KIRBY: A dual national with an American passport is an American. And we will take seriously our responsibilities to get any wrongfully detained or hostage  American hostage home to their families where they belong. They are Americans.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q John, you talked about the Eisenhower  I believe that it is a prescheduled deployment  to potentially be out there in case  positioned near the fort.

What about reports about the USS George Washington and also the HMS Prince of Wales. Are they also being readied?

MR. KIRBY: I don't know of any plans for them to be readied. Again, I'd refer you to the Defense Department to speak to other units.

Again, I want to remind: The Eisenhower is preparing for a long-scheduled deployment to the region. And I don't have any operational decisions to speak to.

I just thought it was important to put that into some context, because I saw some reporting yesterday that seemed to suggest it was a definite decision that she was going to join the Ford.

That could happen, I don't know, but she will be deploying into the Mediterranean and will be an available asset, as well as her escort vessels.

Q Okay. I have another follow-up here. It seems like you're  you've really been trying to  (clears throat)  excuse me  project the message that you want to contain this, you want to make sure that state and non-state actors get the message that you want to keep this contained.

So, how does it help that effort when you have statements like Senator Graham on Capitol Hill saying, "If Hezbollah in the north attacks Israel in strength, we should tell the Ayatollah we will destroy your oil refineries and your oil infrastructure"? How worried are you about statements like that?

MR. KIRBY: I'll let members of Congress speak for their comments and  and what they think should be done or should not be done.

The President is the Commander-in-Chief; the responsibility is on his shoulders. And he's also, of course, a strong supporter of Israel, has been for his entire life in public service.

We have to answer for the policy decisions that  that we make, and we're comfortable doing that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q John, over here.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you.

Q Yeah. (Laughs.) It's okay.

MR. KIRBY: Aamer's head is a big  right there. (Laughter.) Just scoot down a little bit.

Q On the humanitarian corridor 

MR. KIRBY: I'm kidding.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Are you trying to say he has a big  (laughter).

Q On the humanitarian corridor, I know you said there was conversations ongoing. Could you provide some more detail? I mean, what is  what would the U.S.'s involvement in that be? Are we talking encouraging conversations with Israel and Egypt? Would we have direct involvement in creating some kind of a humanian [sic] corridor here for the 2 million-plus people

to leave? They have  they have no option at this point.

MR. KIRBY: We  we want to see that they have an option. And Israel and Egypt are the two most significant players when it comes to trying to get that corridor open. So, I think you can understand  at least I hope you do  that I wouldn't want to get into too much of the diplomacy here and the conversations that we're having. But we are having active conversations about trying to allow for that safe passage.

So, again, the  these civilians did nothing wrong, and so, we  we want to make sure they have a way out.

Q Did the President and Prime Minister Netanyanu [sic]  Netanyahu have a conversation about this this morning or 

MR. KIRBY: I 

Q  yesterday?

MR. KIRBY: I  as I said in my first answer, I'm not going to get into too much of the diplomacy here.

Q And could you get into specifics on the aid that you said the U.S. would want to provide to the Gaza Strip. I mean, with no food, water 

MR. KIRBY: Well, we are 

Q  medications, what kind of aid would the U.S. want to provide here?

MR. KIRBY: The normal kind of humanitarian assistance we'd  we'd provide normally. I mean, we are the  the biggest contributor to humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, particularly there in Gaza. And we want to see that 

Q So, an increase in aid?

MR. KIRBY:  we want to be able to see that assistance continue.

So, it's  it's food, water, medical supplies, medicine. I mean, it's  it's the whole panoply of humanitarian assistance that we know is  are important because, again, these people are victims, too. They didn't ask Hamas to do this.

Q Is there an increase though in the amount of aid that's going (inaudible) 

MR. KIRBY: I don't have any new announcements to make in terms of increases. We want to see the  we are the greatest contributor of humanitarian assistance. We're obviously proud of that. We want to be able to see that humanitarian assistance be able to continue.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Ed.

Q Yeah. I wanted to ask you about oil, if I could, and the money that it's bringing in. So, is the amount of oil that's being brought in by Iran  specifically, records amount, 85 percent to China, more oil being sold above the price cap from Russia  giving the President any pause on changing these energy policies for fossil fuels here in the U.S.?

MR. KIRBY: I would  just let me back up a little bit. I mean, it's important to remember that Iran gets most of its oil revenue off the black market and evad-  evading sanctions, which they do. It's costly to them. In fact, our evidence is that they really only receive a fraction of the market value of the oil that they sell, because they have to sell it on the black market.

We will always, as we do in any case, typically, revisit sanctions regimes to see if they need to be changed or adjusted, specifically with respect to Iranian oil.

The President, since the beginning of the administration, has been concerned about making sure we have a viable global market for oil, working hard to keep the prices of gasoline down here in the United States. Part of that is making sure you remove some of the volatility in that global supply and

demand.

I don't have any announcements or decisions to make today with respect to any changes to the domestic oil production.

Q But isn't it a national security issue when you have countries that are profiting off of oil and the increased price of oil that don't like Israel, that don't like America?

MR. KIRBY: We don't want, for instance, Russia to be able to  to get a windfall in profits from the oil market so that they can then turn that around and  and apply that to weapons in Ukraine. We certainly don't want to see Iran do  be able to do much of the same, which is why we're  we're putting as much pressure on them as we are.

Q So, why not increase oil production here?

MR. KIRBY: I  again, I don't have any announcements to make today.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, we got to 

Q Admiral?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go  go ahead.

Q Thanks. Just to follow up on Brian's question. I know the contours of a congressional package is still taking shape. But can you provide us anything on a timeline or give us a sense of how quickly the U.S. will exhaust what it can provide to Israel before congressional action is needed?

MR. KIRBY: We have existing authorities and appropriations to support Israel in the near term. And I got asked last time, you know, what is "near term," or what's "a bit" mean? I  I can't give you a date certain on the calendar, because a lot of it's going to depend on their expenditure rate and what the replenishment ability is  or what the need is and what our ability to do it is.

But in the near term, we've  we've got appropriations and authorities for both Ukraine and for Israel. But you don't want to be trying to bake in long-term support when you're at the end of the rope.

And in Ukraine  on the Ukraine funding, we're  we're coming near to the end of the rope. I mean, today we announced $200 million, and we'll keep that aid going as long as we can, but it's  it's not going to be indefinite.

So, are we moving with a sense of alacrity? Absolutely. I couldn't give you a date certain on the calendar.

Q Admiral?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, a couple more. From this side, go ahead.

Q Can I follow up on that for a second? The lack of a Speaker in the House of Representatives, I'll venture to say, has probably not had any impact on the situation at the moment. Are there, though, coming to be immediate needs for Israel if Republicans get their act together up on the Hill?

MR. KIRBY: I mean, you  I don't need to tell you  it's Civics 101  the Speaker of the House is responsible. I mean, he's  that that position is critical in terms of bringing legislation to the floor and moving things forward, so the sooner that there's a Speaker of the House, obviously, the more comfortable we'll all be in terms of being able to support Israel and Ukraine.

Right now  you're right  because of existing appropriations and existing authorities, we've been okay. But that's not going to last forever.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, a couple more.

Q Immediate needs, at all?

MR. KIRBY: Pardon me?

Q Immediate needs at all do you  do you see?

MR. KIRBY: I think in the immediate term, right now, we can continue to support  with the authorities in the appropriations we have  Israel and Ukraine. But, you know, we're  we're certainly running out of runway.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, just a couple more. Go ahead, Phil.

Q Thank you, Karine. Two questions. Given the situation in the Middle East, will the White House lean on the Senate to move some of these military promotions more quickly and one by one if necessary? And then second, more generally, given that Hamas has killed 22 Americans and that 17 are still in hostage, I know you said the goal here is not to widen the conflict, but why has the United States only assumed a supplemental role thus far?

MR. KIRBY: Listen, on your first question, the  the

 what's going on in Israel right now just underscores how important it is that our military has the  the leadership they need in place. And it's not just the ones that are in the jobs now that are being held up. It's  it's the jobs they're supposed to go to. I mean, right now, the incoming Fifth Fleet Commander  the three-star Navy admiral who's in charge of the  the naval forces in the Gulf region is  is not confirmed for that job, so the guy who's in the job is still doing it.

So, these rotations matter. And they do have an impact on  on the military's ability to  to fleet up and to  and to  and improve the leadership capability across the force.

So, it is having an impact. And it would anyway, but I think now that you've got these moves in Israel and you have the need to provide additional military resources from the Navy in the Eastern Med all, I think, just highlights how dynamic the security environment is around the world and how much more critical it is that the leadership of the military be able to address that dynamism through the normal promotion process and the normal assignment process.

I would take issue with your comment about a supplemental role. I'm not really quite sure what you mean by that. But 

Q Previously you said that we were willing to assist and offer advice and counsel to the Israeli 

MR. KIRBY: That's right. We are. That  that's right.

And we're going to continue to have those conversations with the Israelis. If you're talking about the hostage-recovery efforts, we'll have those conversations.

But as Jake said yesterday, we'll do what we need to do for our citizens who are being held hostage. We will  we will do what we need to do. We'll do what is possible to do. But I think, as you heard in my answer to Mary, we just don't have a lot of fingertip feel. I mean, it's hard to come up with a policy option when you're not really sure where they are, how many they are, whether they're being moved.

So, we're working this very hard hour by hour. But I  I'm not going to stand up here and lie to you and say that we  we have it all figured out.

Q Thanks.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q Thank you, John. Thank you, Karine. Thank you, John. And Jews across the world are appreciative for this administration's support, both in words and in deed. I'd like to commune this message to you.

Two very quick questions. I want to follow up on the reports that Hamas was calling for a day of general mobilization on Friday, October 13th. Are there any specific proactive measures that American Jews should take, in your opinion?

MR. KIRBY: You mean here at home?

Q Here at home.

MR. KIRBY: Well, first of all, I mean, you've heard the President talk about this. We understand the anxious  the anxiety, the concern, certainly, here in the United States as antisemitism unfortunately rears its head.

But also, we know that the Jewish community is almost like a family. It's  it's big, but it's small. And everybody knows somebody. And we know that there's so many Americans in the Jewish community here who are worried about friends and family members that are  that are there. And we  we share that worry with them.

We want them to know that we know that there's fear and that we're going to do everything we can to reduce that level of fear that they should be able to worship and recreate and work in peace and safety on every street in the United States of America.

And that's why we're working so closely with state and local authorities to  to be able to identify any potential threats and disrupt those threats before  before they happen.

But mostly, we  we want the Jewish community over there and certainly here to know that we're with them.

Q I've got one more question, John. In the event Israel strikes Iran, what levels of support can they anticipate from this administration?

MR. KIRBY: I won't get into hypothetical operations that haven't happened yet or what policy options might accrue from that. I just  I just want to do it.

Q Admiral?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Mary, you have the last question.

Q Thanks, I appreciate it. I know you said that it was  it's been so hard to get any information out about U.S. hostages. But have you gotten any proof of life?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not aware of any specific proof of life on any individual hostage. And I would say that the  of the 17 that Karine talked about that we know are  are missing right now  and, again, this is going to change  but right now we think the number that we know are  or we believe are held hostage is very small  very small  like less than a handful. But that could change over time. We  you know, we're  we're going to get more information every single day.

Q You  you talked about the need to get  how the U.S. was supporting trying to get more humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The U.N. Human Rights Chief said that any siege that would cut off necessary supplies, like food and water, could also be a violation of the international law. Is that how the U.S. sees it?

MR. KIRBY: I think I'm just going to not get ahead of where we are right now, if you  if you'll just let me do that.

Q Admiral.

MR. KIRBY: Okay, thanks everybody.

Q One follow-up, Admiral?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you. All right, guys, we're a few minutes.

MR. KIRBY: Thanks, guys.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thanks, Admiral. Well, if you guys have any more questions.

Q I  I just have 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Aamer? Yeah.

Q So, the CBO yesterday said that the budget deficit totaled $1.7 trillion, which is an increase from $300 billion from last year. Why did the deficit increase if the U.S. economy is doing so well, as President Biden has said?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things. As you know, the President has  when it comes to the deficit, he has done a record amount of work in reducing the deficit, as you just laid out. And one of the things that we have seen is that congressional Democrats [Republicans] continue to do the trickle-down economics, which we know  we know it doesn't work  right?  what you've heard us call "MAGA-nomics," right?

And so, it has increased the deficit. It has  it has  it increased even more than we had  than it was anticipated. And so, this is what we believe is MAGA-nomics deficit.

And the reason why  just a couple of things to lay out here. If you think about the Republican tax cuts, they are responsible for about 90 percent of the increase in the debt as a share of the economy. And that's over the last two decades, right? This is for  for some time now. And  and that's including that one-time emergency spending.

And  and so, if you look at 2023  the increase, as you just laid out  the fall  the falling tax revenue caused 63 percent of the increase in the deficit. And the non-interest spending was not responsible for the increase in the deficit in 2023, but it's causing just 6 percent of the increase.

So, that's how we see this  the  the numbers from the CBO. That's how we kind of break it down. That's how it's been broken down and  and how we see why the deficit has increased.

Again, this is decades and decades, if you think about it, of trickle-down economics that just doesn't work. It doesn't work. And we see that in the numbers from yesterday.

Go ahead, Akayla.

Q Thanks, Karine. House Republicans are suggesting that another CR bill could be needed, potentially into next year. Would the President support such a bill in delaying this appropriations process again?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I  I'm not going to get ahead or get into the hypotheticals of how  how Congress is doing their business. Obviously, the House Republicans have to figure out who's going to be the next Leader. As the President said, he doesn't have a vote in that. They have to make that decision as they're moving forward in  in figuring that out.

But what we want to  to see is  what we want to see happening is that we want the House in Congress to  to get back to work  to get to work so that we can deliver for the American people.

I'm not going to get into hypotheticals, not going to get into their process here. But certainly, they're trying to figure it out right now in the chaos that they've caused.

Q If there is another CR bill, though, does the President want to see Ukraine and Israel aid in that package?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, we've been very clear: We want  we believe  and this is something that Jake said yesterday  like, we are capable  as the United States, right?  to be able to give funding  additional funding to Israel, to give additional funding to Ukraine. This is something that we are capable of doing.

And the importance of doing that is  is clearly important.

I'm not going to get  there is going to be a path forward that the OMB director is going to lay out and  and see the best way to move forward. I'm not going to get into  ahead of that.

You heard the President yesterday saying that he is going to  as you just iriter-  iterated  that he's going to ask for more funding as it relates to Israel. I'm just not going to get ahead of that process.

But this is something, again, that Jake said: We are capable of doing that, capable of providing the assistance that's needed.

Go ahead.

Q Just before we came out here, Republicans voted to nominate Congressman Scalise as the Speaker. He obviously hasn't been  gotten the support of the entire caucus yet. I was wondering if the White House is monitoring that and if you have any comment on a potential Speaker Scalise.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I  I hope that the House Republicans gets their affairs in order and stops the chaos so that we can  you know, they can select  they can select the Speaker that  of their choosing so that we can move forward and do the  the people's business.

We're not part of the process. We're not going to comment about the process. As the President has said, he doesn't have a vote in that process. But we want to see the chaos be done with so that the  so that we can deliver on the Amer-  for the American people.

As you heard today, the President made a very important announcement on junk fees  right?  something that Americans care about  wh-  another way to lower costs for Americans.

So, the President is continuing  even with the chaos that they're causing on the other side of  of Pennsylvania Avenue, the President every day is continuing to deliver for the American people, clearly being a leader on the world stage as we're talking about the horrific attack in Israel, as we're talking about how we're going to  the need to continue the Ukraine funding.

So, the President is doing all of that. And we're waiting. We're waiting for them to get their  their business in order.

Go ahead, Kayla.

Q How soon after House leadership gets settled is the administration prepared to send a new supplemental request?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have  I don't have a timeline for you. I think the President said next week, right? He mentioned next week  what  as it relates to Israel, and when the Senate gets back. I just don't have anything specific or any details to lay out on  on the exact timeline.

Q And how closely does it hew to what the administration put forward in August with the addition of new funding for Israel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Again, we're going to try and figure out the best path forward. I just don't have anything  specifics to lay out at this time.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Do you have a list of attendees for today's meeting on antisemitism?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we'll have a  we'll have a list for all of you  a readout of that later on. It's about, I believe, 20 leaders from the Jewish community. I laid out the  the  the staff  the senior staffers who are going to be participating on our end, and we'll certainly have a more in-depth readout afterwards.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Ed.

Q Thanks, Karine. On junk fees. Most of the fees they talked about are disclosures and don't reduce. But the ones that do reduce, isn't this just a game of Whac-A-Mole and those fees will pop up somewhere else?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look  no, not at all. These are  FTC rule covers many junk fees. And just to lay out a little bit  and I think you've heard this from  from many of our folks here in the past 24 hours why this is so important. They cost consumers tens of billions of dollars, if you think about junk fees. That's what they cost consumers.

And this FTC rule would ban many of them, as I just laid out and  including event tickets, hotels, car rentals, delivery apps, and apartment rentals. And so, this is a CF-  CF-  CFPB's crackdown. It's important.

The Pr-  the President has been very clear throughout his  when he talks about his economic plan, when he talks about how he's going to move forward to deliver for the American people in lowering costs. And this is part of that: lowering costs, making people's lives  Americans' lives a little bit easier.

So, we do not see this as a Whac-A-Mole. We believe that the junk fees will cover the  will cover many  many of the fees that we see out there, as I just listed out.

All right. Right behind you. Go ahead.

Q Thank you. This is related to the situation in the House. But is  is it the view of the White House that the Gang of Eight has  the intelligence Gang of Eight that receives the top-level briefings from the executive branch has eight members or is  is the Speaker Pro Tem Mr. McHenry getting the security briefings at the very top level or are there effectively only seven members with the Speaker being vacant?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I would  I would refer you to this  to the Speaker Pro Tem. I don't have that information for you. I would just refer you to his office.

All right. I'm going take 

Q You haven't called on me in two seasons, Karine. Why don't 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not calling on you today.

Go ahead.

Q All right, Karine 

Q You should be ashamed of that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q That shows disrespect to a free and independent media.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm going to clo- 

Q Let's blacklist one of our country's largest and most widely read newspapers, Karine.

AIDE: We have a hard out in 

Q That shows contempt for a free and independent press.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead. I'm calling on somebody who I haven't called in a long time as well. Go ahead.

Q Thanks. Why wasn't the President originally scheduled to attend this meeting with roundta-  this roundtable later this afternoon? It wasn't on the guidance from yesterday that was published.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, as you know, we  the President tends to do drop-bys on the day of. The President's schedule has been incredibly busy over the last couple of days, as you know  right?  with the  with the situation that's currently happening in Israel, with making calls, meeting with his NSC  NSC team.

And he believed because the  the leaders were coming in that he wanted to drop by and have a conversation and say that we are  we are there with them.

This happens all the time. It's not unusual for the  for us to announce a drop-by. And so, this is what you're seeing today.

And we believe this is going to be incredibly important for the President to be there with the Jewish leaders in the communities. And so, it's important. It's going to be an important moment.

Q Is there anything you can tell us about this incident that happened with Congressman Van Orden and White House staff? Apparently, he was belligerent during the briefing on the attacks on Israel, was shouting profanity at them. Is there anything you can tell us about that incident?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I don't have anything to  to share beyond what you're reporting or the reportings from out of that. All right.

Q Final question, Karine. In 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, we're going go because 

Q Final question, Karine. Just a final question about Jewish 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  we have to get ready for the Jewish leaders. Thanks, everybody.

Q Thank you, Karine.

2:31 P.M. EDT

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 5 - 10 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 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day".

By the fifth day over 1200 Israelis had been killed, 3007 wounded. At Kfar Azza, removal of the dead began only on 10 October 2023, with Army officers unable to say how many died, because finding them all would take days. Israeli forces said Hamas fighters massacred more than 100 civilians during the weekend's shock assault. Dozens more were dead and missing in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Israel's UN envoy said 100-150 were kidnapped to Gaza, including dozens of foreign nationals kidnapped. Palestinians said 1055 had been killed in Israeli airstrikes, and at least 5184 were wounded. IDF said it was holding 1,500 bodies of terrorists.

An "imminent" land attack was anticipated on Gaza as there were reports of an apparent build-up of Israeli forces on the borde, amid concerns that the situation could cause a broader regional conflict. Israel appeared to be preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, which could pose a risk to the lives of hostages being held in the area. Although the country had not officially announced ground operations, Israeli citizens were told on Monday night to prepare to stay inside a safe shelter and gather enough food, water and other supplies to last 72 hours. The Guardian reported this was a clear sign that a ground assault in Gaza is imminent, adding that Israeli tanks and military helicopters were seen on an Israeli highway that runs parallel to the Gaza Strip. Citing Israel's chief military spokesperson, the Wall Street Journal also stated that Israel has called up 300-thousand reservists, noting the number suggests preparations for a possible invasion.

Opposition leader Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White alliance will form an emergency government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,who belongs to the conservative Likud. Gantz and Netanyahu will be a part of a "war Cabinet" directing operations against Hamas, the Islamist militant organization in charge of the Gaza Strip. Hamas is deemed a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and the EU. "Following a meeting... held today, the two agreed on establishing an emergency government and war cabinet," a joint statement read. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will also be a part of the war Cabinet. Gadi Eisenkot, a member of the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, who earlier served as Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), will be an observer in the Cabinet, along with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.

Yair Lapid, a member of the centrist Yesh Atid party, has not yet signed onto the war Cabinet, but a seat will be left open for him. Lapid is a frequent critic of Netanyahu and the far-right and orthodox religious parties in Netanyahu's coalition. The decision to form a unity government and war cabinet between Netanyahu and Gantz is significant, as Gantz had previously chided Netanyahu over his judicial reform plans. The unity government means that for the duration, there will likely be no movement at all on the judicial reform issue, which had divided Israel and led to massive protests in Tel Aviv and other cities.

Nicholas Grossman wroted that "U.S. policy, especially the Trump administrations, contributed to the unsustainable situation that made an outbreak of violence more likely. Claims that Trump brought peace to the Middle East are almost an inversion of reality. He shifted U.S. policy fully in Israels favorreducing support for the Palestinians and treating their quest for statehood as something that could be ignoredand shaped the regional context by heightening confrontation with Iran without strategic benefit.... He threw Americas weight behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus squeeze-and-ignore approach to the Palestinians as if the fundamental problem of people displaced and living under occupation would just go away.... Jared Kushner put out a peace plan that mostly just proposed giving Israel what it wants and dismissing Palestinian concerns."

With the enclaves sole power plant running out of electricity, its people will now rely solely on backup fuel-run generators. However, the Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila announced that the fuel stock to operate the generators in the Gaza Strip hospitals will end tomorrow, Thursday, which will exacerbate the disastrous conditions in the hospitals.

Turkiyes President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israels blockade and bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip. Preventing people meeting their most fundamental needs and bombing housing where civilians live  in short, conducting a conflict using every sort of shameful method  is not a war, its a massacre, he said, referring to Israel cutting off electricity and water to Gaza and destroying infrastructure. We openly oppose the killing of civilians on Israeli territories. Likewise, we can never accept the massacre of defenceless innocents in Gaza by indiscriminate, constant bombardments, Erdogan said. Turkiye, which has backed Palestinians in the past and hosted members of Hamas, has been working to mend ties with Israel after years of animosity. Unlike the European Union and the United States, Turkiye does not consider Hamas a terrorist organisation.

According to local sources, the Israeli Air Force resumed its old practice of warning "knocks" with inert bombs containing no explosives on targets targeted for destruction. First, an inert bomb flies into the facility, signaling to local civilians that they should urgently leave the area, and after some time a full-fledged bomb filled with explosives arrives. And yes, of course, an inert bomb can also lead to casualties among civilians who happen to be nearby - a direct hit or secondary fragments formed after it. This method of warning only reduces the risk for local residents, but does not eliminate it altogether.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: We have taken control of the situation and are moving on to a full-scale offensive . I have given instructions to lift all restrictions in the fight against Hamas, said the head of the Israeli Ministry of Defense during a meeting with soldiers on the border with Gaza. "Those who came to behead, kill women, kill those who survived the Holocaust - we will destroy them all. We will destroy them with all our might and without pity... We will make sure that what was in Gaza no longer exists " - Gallant added.

The representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Andrei Chernyak, issued a statement that the Russian leadership allegedly knew about the impending attack by Hamas militants on Israel. Moreover, judging by Chernyaks words, Hamas was also allegedly given in advance captured weapons of the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured during the fighting in Ukraine, and Russian PMCs not only trained the Palestinians, but are also operating in the battle zone right now.

Haaretz reported that on Saturday morning, 11:31 local time, a European Space Agency satellite passed over Israel and documented how Hamas torched Israeli homes with their residents inside and slaughtered hundreds of innocent civilians. "The satellite images show smoke and fire rising from sites where rockets and mortars landed, from combat, from kibbutz homes torched with their residents inside and from the parking lot at Kibbutz Reim, where hundreds of Israelis were slaughtered while attending a rave."

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Operation Iron Swords - Day 6 - 12 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 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 36,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day".

Sources report that 360,000 reservists had been activated, the largest such compulsory mobilisation since 400,000 were mobilized for the 1973 Yom Kippur War. They will supplement an active military force of more than 150,000, giving Israel half a million men and women in uniform. Key elements that allow for such quick massing of forces include the populations awareness of the need to actively participate in defence, intensive training during compulsory military service that lasts three years for males and two for females, refresher periods in active reserve of several weeks every year, good planning, tested and proven in numerous past international and internal conflicts, and fairly small territory with short distances between even the furthest points.

Conventional military calculations indicate that whatever the final aim of the forces set against Gaza, their size will be well under 100,000, possibly just half of that number. Each military force needs a certain manoeuvring space and putting more soldiers than optimally needed into any territory does not increase the chances of success, on the contrary, often it can lead to chaos on the battlefield.

The latest death toll provided by the Gaza health ministry stood at 1,417. More than 6,200 have also been wounded. In Israel, the number of people killed in Hamass attack has reached 1,300, with more than 3,200 others wounded.

The aerial bombardment of Gaza intensified. Israel said it had dropped 6,000 bombs weighing 4,000 tonnes in six days of bombardment, hitting 3,600 targets. Just two days after Israel ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, closing off access to electricity, food, and water, Gaza has now been left without electricity, as its only power plant has shut down after running out of fuel. The head of the Gaza power authority says that people are using generators for electricity, but even the fuel needed for them is running out. Hospitals have also been affected, with a large number of patients currently relying on electricity-powered oxygen generators to breathe. With thousands of Palestinians displaced and in need of medical care in the area, hospitals are flooded with the wounded, many of them children.

More than 2,500 houses were destroyed in Gaza, about 23,000 were damaged so much that living in them is impossible, the UN reported. More than 338,000 people had been forced to flee their homes in Gaza since the outbreak began.

While the Israeli attacks on Gaza continue, Syrias state television reported that the airports in Damascus and Aleppo are out of service following what it said were Israeli strikes. It said there had been damage but no casualties at the Aleppo airport but did not give any information about the situation in Damascus. Israeli strikes repeatedly caused the grounding of flights at the airports in the capital Damascus and the northern city Aleppo. The "simultaneous" strikes "damaged landing strips in the two airports, putting them out of service", regime media said, citing an unidentified military source.

Yair Lapid, who is the leader of the main opposition party in this country, and he was actually quite critical about this emergency unity government. He had called for [far-right politicians] Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to actually be expelled from the government. That had not happened, so at the moment, Lapid was not joining the emergency unity government. Lapid had previously said he was open to forming an emergency government in a show of unity but only if far-right parties in Netanyahus coalition government were not included in the security cabinet.

Jon Alterman, the head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, addressed the strategic value of Hamass attack, saying it could change the status quo in Gaza. Hamas aimed to penetrate Israel in a way that would give it centrality and relevance for decades to come, but by killing hundreds of Israelis and taking 150 hostages in the first days, Hamas has put itself in an impossible position. Israel is united in its determination to change the status quo ante and completely push Hamas from power, Alterman wrote.

It is hard to imagine that Hamas will be able to retain power in Gaza when the dust settles. There may be hope for the Palestinian national cause, but theres very little hope for Hamas. He added that this weeks unprecedented attacks could change the status quo in Gaza.

Since Hamas took power in 2007, the Israeli military periodically would go into Gaza, fight with Hamas, and destroy some of its infrastructure. Hamas would rebuild for a few years, and then the cycle would repeat itself, Alterman continued. Israelis called this mowing the grass, an unpleasant but necessary repetitive task.

This cycle is no longer going to be acceptable to the Israeli public or political leadership. Now, the question is what kind of government will emerge in Gaza after the war. Alterman said it might entail greater control for the Palestinian National Authority based in Ramallah, some sort of new local governance, governance under the tutelage of the Israeli military, or perhaps a coalition of Arab states.

Alexander Palmer, a research associate with the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, said while Hamas has taken hostages before, this has never happened anywhere approaching this number, which remains unknown but is likely around 150.

Israel is extremely sensitive to hostage-taking, as demonstrated by its decision to trade more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in 2014 and the fact that negotiations over two Israeli civilians and the bodies of two IDF soldiers held by Hamas have remained unresolved for almost a decade. The hostages taken also include an unknown number of foreign nationals, further complicating the situation.

According to Daniel Byman, a senior fellow at the Transnational Threats Project at CSIS and a professor at Georgetown University, the legitimacy of Hamas as a political entity hinged on a combination of service provision in Gaza, where it effectively governs, and its use of violent resistance against Israel. Byman said this approach sets it apart from the Palestinian Authority (PA), which administers the West Bank. Hamas positions itself as a less corrupt alternative to the PA, a claim that isnt hard to support.

It also, he said, offers public services like waste disposal and law enforcement in Gaza. However, Israeli economic pressures have constrained its ability to enhance the well-being of Palestinians, resulting in persistently high levels of unemployment and poverty in the region. This has amplified the significance of armed resistance for Hamas political agenda, especially as PA President Mahmoud Abbas ages without a clear successor.

Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), confirmed that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which was initiated by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, came in anticipation of an attack that Israel intended to launch on the Gaza Strip immediately after the end of the Jewish holidays. He said that the defensive plan for the operation was stronger than The offensive plan that stunned Israel and surprised the world.

Al-Arouri revealed - in contact with Al Jazeera - that the Al-Aqsa Flood Plan was based on 122 Al-Qassam members storming the Gaza Strip, and attacking the Gaza Division responsible for the siege of the Gaza Strip and the assassinations and murders carried out against Palestinians in the Strip. Although the plan expected that the battles with the Gaza Division would continue for long hours, the Qassam fighters were surprised when the entire division collapsed within a few hours, and they were able to easily reach its command center, the airport, the kibbutzim, and the nearby settlements, after the surviving Israeli soldiers fled, while the Israeli soldiers were killed. Many of them were captured.

The Hamas official stressed that the Qassam fighters were instructed from the beginning to adhere to the instructions of the Islamic religion in wars, which are not to kill civilians, women, children and the elderly, not to harm peoples civil interests, and to be content only with fighting soldiers and militants. But what happened, according to Al-Arouri, was that when some of the people of the Gaza Strip heard of the collapse of the border with the Gaza envelope, they rushed to enter the envelope, and some chaos occurred there, while some Al-Qassam fighters were forced to clash with some security guards and gunmen in the settlements, which led to civilian deaths.

He stressed that the Hamas movement "cannot harm civilians or prisoners and acts in accordance with international laws of war," and that the West, which accuses the Palestinian resistance of committing crimes against humanity, ignores that the war launched by Israel against them was based on targeting civilians, stressing that the Palestinians are fighting to ensure that the world has the right to live on the lands of their country like the rest of the peoples of the world.

Sultan Barakat, a professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, outlines four scenarios that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet are contemplating for their next move against Gaza.

Number one would be to continue this bombing and siege in an effort to quench the bloodthirst, but then he risks the international public opinion. The second possibility is hell push into Gaza with a ground war. The Israelis are the most aware of the fact [that] all their military capability is not good for urban warfare, and again theyll end up with more casualties. Worst still for him, hell then have the responsibility of managing Gaza. The third  which I think is really playing on his mind  is to just try and extend this situation as far as possible to achieve his real target. His real target is not Gaza. It is the West Bank. His extremist government, their eye is on the annexation of the West Bank. And finally, I think the worst would be to continue the bombing and hope the Palestinians will simply pack and leave. Under the current call for humanitarian aid, it is quite likely some entities may put up camps across the border in Egypt, and he achieves his objective of pushing the population out.

In the summer of 2014, during Operation Protective Edge which targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad, an Israeli army memo was conveniently leaked to the press, detailing the risks of a ground offensive in Gaza. According to military intelligence, such an operation would take five years, result in a catastrophic human toll and endanger peace agreements with Egypt and other Arab countries in the region. A further complication is the network of tunnels, dubbed the "Gaza Metro" by Israeli security experts. Some tunnels are as deep as 30 or 40 metres, allowing militants a level of mobility underground while the skies rain down tonnes of explosives. Israel's army and intelligence are certain to know about a portion of the network, and bombarded it heavily in 2021, but other parts remain secret and will make any Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground operation in Gaza more difficult. In these difficult conditions, there remains the question of how to extricate hostages being held by Hamas. Acting straight away means taking into account the fact that a large number of hostages will probably be sacrificed.

Military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi said that there are difficulties hindering Israel in carrying out the ground attack on the Gaza Strip, including the lack of preparedness of its forces, and its awareness of the high cost of such an attack, describing the brutal bombing taking place in the Strip as outside all military logic.

Al-Duwairi said in statements to Al-Jazeera that the brutal and continuous Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip aims to eliminate the capabilities of the resistance factions, or at the very least cause significant damage to them, so that they are unable to attack or confront any Israeli aggression, in addition to their attempt to destroy the social incubator of the resistance factions in Gaza. By attacking civilians and destroying infrastructure and services in the Strip.

The goals of the brutal Israeli attack do not stop there. Rather, Israel wants to evacuate the Gaza Strip towards the Egyptian Sinai desert and later evacuate the West Bank of Palestinians, according to Al-Duwairi.

Regarding the possibility of Israel launching a ground attack on the Gaza Strip, Al-Duwairi saw that all data indicate that this incursion is coming, perhaps within hours or perhaps days. He spoke of 3 scenarios indicated by Israeli research centers. The first relates to the reoccupation of Gaza, and Al-Duwairi believes that Israel can do that. Theoretically, but in practice it cannot do so due to social and geographical complexities.

The second scenario relates to dividing Gaza into 5 cantons, and this is very difficult, according to the military expert. The likely scenario - in the event of a ground attack - is for Israel to control the agricultural areas and their depth to create a new negotiating card regarding the prisoners.

From the point of view of the military expert, Lebanese Hezbollah can intervene if a ground war occurs, but only after it receives a signal from its authority, referring to Tehran. However, if the fighting between the Palestinian resistance and the occupation forces continues as it is currently taking place, Al-Duwairi ruled out Hezbollahs intervention, suggesting that the Palestinian factions present on Lebanese soil and near the occupied Golan will intervene.

Al-Duwairi described the war waged by Israel in the Gaza Strip as outside all military logic, pointing out that the Geneva Conventions main axis is the protection of civilians and respect for human humanity, and in the same context, he criticized the Western countries race to provide political, material and moral support to Israel, which gives it the green light to commit massacres.

The British magazine The Economist discussed the possibility of Israel invading the Gaza Strip by land, warning at the same time of a harsh war awaiting it there. She pointed out that eliminating the Islamic Resistance Movement " Hamas " in Gaza may not be possible without direct occupation of the land. The magazine explained in a report that a third ground incursion attempt in response to the Hamas attack against Israeli civilians is imminent.

It said that Israel had penetrated into limited areas in the Gaza Strip twice before, the first was in the framework of the operation called  Cast Lead  that lasted 15 days in January 2009. The second was in Operation  Protective Edge  in 2014, where its army was killed there. 19 days. The newspaper suggested that the ground invasion attempt this time would be "larger, longer, and more violent" than the previous two attempts. The resistance called its confrontation with Israels attack in 2009 The Battle of the Criterion, while Hamas called its operations in 2014 The Devouring Storm, while the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, chose the name  Al - Bunyan Al-Marsoos for its operation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stated 12 October 2023 that officials in some countries are contacting us and asking about the possibility of opening a new front in the region. We told them that our clear answer regarding future possibilities is that everything depends on the actions of the Zionist entity in Gaza, explaining that no one in the region is asking us for permission to open new fronts.

Amir Abdollahian, who was in Baghdad, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani. During this meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and developments in the current Palestinian arena. During this meeting, Amir Abdullahian stated that he was in Baghdad to conduct consultations in view of the developments in Palestine, adding that it is no secret that we are facing war crimes committed by the Zionist entity in Gaza against the Palestinian people.

The Foreign Minister indicated that the possibilities are open and new events may occur in the region given that the United States and some parties are sending weapons to Israel and have allowed this criminal entity to brutally kill Palestinian citizens and civilians in Gaza, in light of the situation in which the Zionist entity is completely besieging Gaza and cutting it off from it. Water, electricity, and fuel, and the delivery of food and medicine is prohibited.

Amir Abdullahian also stated that officials in some countries are contacting us and asking about the possibility of opening a new front in the region. We told them that our clear answer regarding future possibilities is that everything depends on the actions of the Zionist entity in Gaza. He added that what the Palestinian resistance factions did in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was a completely spontaneous and independent Palestinian act, and the Westerners themselves confirm that it was Netanyahus extremist behavior that created these conditions.

The Iraqi Prime Minister stressed that this visit shows Irans confirmation of its firm position towards the Palestinian issue. In turn, Al-Sudani stressed that the Palestine issue is an ideological issue and not a political issue, and support for Palestine reflects the conscience of every Muslim and every free person in the world. He continued by expressing that Iraq was not surprised by the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, because the rights of the Palestinian people cannot be ignored, and it is a mistake to believe that by normalizing relations with the Zionist entity, the rights of the Palestinian people will be forgotten.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 11 October 2023 - Day 595

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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 Russian military is facing a mental health crisis. In December 2022, Russian psychologists identified approximately 100,000 military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This number is almost certainly now higher as the Russian military fails to provide sufficient rotation and recuperation from the battlefield.

This was a problem highlighted by multiple commanders, including the former 58th Combined Arms Army's General-Major Ivan Popov who was relieved of command in July 2023.

There are additional indications that doctors in Russia are sending military personnel who are unfit to fight to the front. Appeal claims against Russian military medical commissions are higher in 2023 than they were in 2022, with many cases denied or claims abandoned.

With a lack of care for its soldiers' mental health and fitness to fight, Russia's combat fighting effectiveness continues to operate at sub-optimal levels.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 11, there were 72x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 36x air strikes, more than 35x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, missile strike by Russian troops on a gymnasium in the settlement of Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast) resulted in deaths and injuries among civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in east and south of Ukraine remains difficult.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia 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. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at about 20x settlements, including Tur'ya, Bleshnya, Tymonovychi, Arkhypivka Mykhal'chyna Sloboda (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Fotovyzh, Shalyhyne, Holyshivs'ke, Novodmytrivka, Porozok (Sumy oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and 5x attacks near Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.

Lyman axis: Russian forces actively used air force and launched 10x strikes on positions of Ukrainian troops in the area of Serebryanske forestry (southwest of Kreminna, Luhansk oblast) and near the settlements of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Spirne, Vasyukivka (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x Russian attacks near Makiivka (Luhansk oblast), and another 4 in the area of Tors'ke and Serebryanske forestry (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Spirne, Rozdolivka, Dibrova (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x Russian attacks in the area of Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders launched air strikes near Min'kivka, Kindrativka, Stupochky, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, New York (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders are bravely holding the line, repelled 10x Russian attacks near Avdiivka and another 8x attacks in the areas east of Stepove and southeast of Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched more than 10x air strikes in the vicinity of Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Opytne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: during the day of October 11, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled 8x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). About 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks in the area south of Zolota Nyva and southeast of Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched an air strike near Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast). Around 25x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Charivne, Orikhiv, Novodanylivka, Stepove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Mykhailivka, Ivanivka, Antonivka, Veletens'ke, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson and Dmutrivka (Mykolaiv 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 11, Ukrainian Air Force launched 12x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot, 9x artillery systems, 1x radar system of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 10 counter-attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 32nd, 115th mechanised and 10th Mountain Assault Brigade close to Ivanovka, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), and improved the tactical situation at the forward lines.

The enemy lost up to 280 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, one tank, and two motor vehicles

In addition, in the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery howitzer were neutralised.

One ammunition depot of foreign mercenaries was destroyed close to Volchansk (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled two attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade near Serebryanskoye forestry.

In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 12th Azov Special Operations Brigade, 63rd Mechanised Brigade, and 5th National Guard Brigade south of Kuzmino, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 65 Ukrainian troops and two pickup trucks.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one French-made Caezar self-propelled howitzer, three Msta-S self-propelled artillery systems, one Akatsiya and one Gvordika self-propelled howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, as well as one Czech-made RM-70 Vampire MLRS.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems improved the tactical situation at the forward lines close to Avdeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, as a result of strikes at reserves of the AFU 31st Mechanised Brigade near Ocheretino (Donetsk People's Republic) the enemy lost up to 90 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, as well as 10 U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured motor vehicles.

The total enemy loses in this direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 330 Ukranian troops killed and wounded, one tank, 11 armoured personnel carriers, four armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

Two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems and one D-20 howitzer were neutralised during counter-battery warfare.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 110th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed close to Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

?? In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicoptes, and artillery inflicted loses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses have amounted to up to 155 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops neutralised one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin howitzer, one UK-made FH70 howitzer, two Msta-S self-propelled artillery systems, and Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.

In Zaporozhye direction, two AFU attacks northwest of Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region) were repelled by actions of the Russian Group of Forces units, air strikes and artillery fire.

Up to 20 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, as well as one D-20 howitzer were neutralised.

In Kherson direction, up to 45 Ukrainian troops, 11 motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer have been destroyed.

In addition, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery warfare radar was destroyed near Pridneprovskoye (Kherson region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 127 areas during the day.

One Mig-25 fighter jets of the Ukrainian Air Force was destroyed at the Dolgintsevo airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region).

In addition, an ST-68U radar station for the detection, identification, and tracking of aerial targets was destroyed close to Malovarvarovka (Nikolayev region).

Air defence systems have intercepted three JDAM guided bombs, seven HARM anti-radiation missiles, and four U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

Moreover, 41 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Romanovskoye, Ocheretovatoye, Ilchenkovo (Zaporozhye region), Vasilieyvka, Peschanovka (Kherson region), Paraskoveyevka, Kirillovka, Artyomovsk, Nikolayevka, Peski (Donetsk People's Republic), Ploshchanka and Novodruzhesk (Lugansk People's Republic).

In total, 488 airplanes and 250 helicopters, 7,709 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,496 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,162 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,723 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,064 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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Tigers let loose on the field

By Captain Adrienne Goode

11 October 2023

This year's Exercise Southern Tiger marked a return in scale not experienced in recent years, with a company-sized group of Malaysian soldiers joining Australian troops in major foundation warfighting activities in South Australia.

It was hosted by 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), from August 30 to September 24 at Cultana Training Area, Murray Bridge Training Area and RAAF Base Edinburgh.

The soldiers conducted foundation warfighting and combined-arms training activities, at platoon to company level, with blank and live-fire components.

Operations officer 7RAR Major Luke Murphy said the exercise was important because it enabled interoperability.

"We have achieved integration in a mechanised setting, have operated together in and out of our vehicles, conducted live-fire training, and developed a really close connection with our brothers and sisters from the Malaysian Army," Major Murphy said.

"Both of our objectives are aligned and we have a shared interest in peace and the security of our region, so it has been valuable to further develop our relationship and foster strong connections between our armed forces."

The exercise also promoted soldier-to-soldier engagement through the exchange of cultural and language awareness and provided reciprocal insights to the ethos, values and training methods employed by both.

Commanding officer 7th Battalion, The Royal Ranger Regiment (Mechanised) Lieutenant Kolonel Mohd Nazri bin Mohd Husin said Exercise Southern Tiger was a valuable opportunity for troops to enhance their skills in a new environment.

"This has been an extraordinary experience for us because not many countries have this kind of environment, and the knowledge-sharing has been good," Lieutenant Kolonel Mohd Husin said.

"This was a memorable experience for the Malaysian Army to be working hand in hand with the Australian Army, which are well known for their vast experience in the combat environment.

"The integration between the Malaysian and Australian Armies since the exercise started until now is tremendous."

Exercise Southern Tiger is an annual, non-reciprocal, sub-unit attachment from the Malaysian Army to an Australian Army unit. This year, the Malaysian soldiers were from a range of combat and combat support units within the 4th Mechanised Brigade.

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Ms Cheng Lei

Australia - Minister for Foreign Affairs

Joint statement with:

Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia

11 October 2023

We are pleased to confirm that Australian citizen Ms Cheng Lei has arrived safely home in Australia and has been reunited with her family, after more than three years of detention in China.

The Australian Government has been seeking Ms Cheng's return since she was detained in August, 2020.

Her return will be warmly welcomed not just by her family and friends but by all Australians.

Her release follows the completion of legal processes in China.

The Australian Government will continue to provide whatever consular support Ms Cheng and her family require.

As Ms Cheng reunites with her family, we ask that media respect her family's wishes for privacy.

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October 11, 2023

By David Vergun , DOD News

General Highlights China's Military Advantages, Disadvantages

There are three things that the Chinese military has that the U.S. military, allies and partners in the region do not have, said Army Gen. Charles A. Flynn, commander of U.S. Army Pacific.

"They have interior lines," he said. He noted that they're just 100 miles from Taiwan, and they have anti-access, area-denial means to keep opposing forces at a distanceasuch as missiles, aircraft and ships, as well as cyber and space capabilities.

"The second thing they have is mass," he said, meaning they have a very large military force.

"The third thing they have is magazine depth," he said, which would include large quantities of stand-off munitions.

Flynn spoke yesterday on a panel about land power in the Indo-Pacific region at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington.

The goal of U.S. forces along with allies in the region is to take time and space away from China to deny them key terrain "and to keep our physical presence forward with hard power to deter a war from happening," he said.

"The goal is no war. We already have a war in Europe. We have another war that just started this past week in the Middle East. We do not need another war in Asia. That is the land powers' contribution to the joint force to prevent that from happening," Flynn said.

The anti-access, area-denial arsenal that the Chinese military possesses "is primarily designed to defeat our air power and maritime power. And, secondarily, it's designed to degrade, deny and disrupt our space and cyber capabilities. It's not, however, designed to find, fix and finish distributed, mobile, fixed, semi-fixed, reloadable, lethal and non-lethal land power," he said.

"We present a dilemma to them that they did not design into the A2/AD arsenal that they built. And this has proven out in war game after war game after war game," he said, referring to anti-access, area-denial.

The general went on to speak about the importance of the U.S. and allied military presence in the region to deter Chinese aggression.

While air and sea power are crucial, land power is, as well, he said. Flynn added that militaries in the region are composed of anywhere from 65% to 80% ground forces.

"Land power and the armies in the Indo Pacific are an absolute central part of defending [nations'] national sovereignty and protecting their territorial integrity," he said.

Flynn highlighted steps the U.S., allies and partners are taking to deter China's aggression, including increased bilateral and multilateral training exercises, the U.S. Army's new training center in the region, and nations beefing up their defense spending and working together on improving interoperability.

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Australian TV anchor Cheng Lei deported by Chinese state security authorities after serving sentence

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Oct 11, 2023 03:42 PM Updated: Oct 11, 2023 11:16 PM

Cheng Lei, an Australian national, who had worked for a Chinese media outlet, was deported from China, after serving a sentence of two years and 11 months for illegally providing state secrets to a foreign agency, China's Ministry of State Security announced on Wednesday.

Cheng was born in June 1975, and was originally employed at a Chinese media outlet. In May 2020, Cheng was lured by a member from an overseas organization. In violation of the confidentiality agreement signed with her employer, she illegally provided the foreign organization the state secrets that she grasped during her work using her mobile phone, the ministry said.

In August 2020, Beijing State Security Bureau took criminal measures against Cheng after an investigation. Cheng confessed the facts of the crime, and voluntarily pleaded guilty. The No.2 Intermediate People's Court of Beijing, through trial, sentenced Cheng to an imprisonment of two years and 11 months, plus deportation. Cheng did not appeal, according to the authorities.

The Chinese judiciary have made judgments lawfully, and fully guaranteed the rights of the parties concerned in accordance with the law, respecting and implementing the consular rights of the Australian side, including consular visits and notifications, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday.

The No.2 Intermediate People's Court of Beijing sentenced Cheng to two years and eleven months in prison and deportation for illegally providing state secrets overseas. Cheng was deported by the Beijing State Security Bureau after finishing her sentence in accordance with the law, said Wang.

When asked if Cheng's case will help better China-Australia ties, Wang said that China's stance on China-Australia ties has been consistent. Healthy and stable bilateral relations are in accordance with the interests of both countries and both peoples, as well as regional and global stability. China is willing to work with Australia to push for the continuous improvement of bilateral ties, Wang noted.

Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University told the Global Times on Wednesday that the Chinese judiciary authorities have followed legal procedure in this case, and Western media should not make a fuss over the matter as anyone who violates Chinese laws will be dealt with accordingly, whatever his or her nationality is.

The case should not be directly linked to the improvement of China-Australia relations, Chen said, as the matter is not a "transactional deal" for mending ties, and the improvement of bilateral relations should not be based on individual events, as such a foundation would certainly not be stable. Nevertheless, Cheng's case serves as a "constructive signal" for China-Australia relations.

China and Australia should not only maintain the steady and positive momentum of bilateral relations, but also go beyond stabilization to promote a continuous improvement and development of ties, as relations are at an important moment for a new start, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said at the Asia Briefing LIVE 2023 Organized by the Asia Society Australia in Melbourne on Wednesday.

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Maintenance for Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning enters final stages

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Oct 11, 2023 07:57 PM

Ongoing regular maintenance for China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has entered the final stages as the ship has recently exited dry dock, with analysts saying on Wednesday that the carrier is expected to return to active service within the year with enhanced combat capabilities.

Docked by a pier at the Dalian Shipyard in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, the namesake carrier recently started repainting its flight deck and installing related equipment, as its maintenance entered the final stages, news website wenweipo.com reported on Tuesday.

After finishing the painting of the flight deck, a process that will likely take a month or so, the carrier is expected to start its engines and take a test voyage, the report said.

The maintenance and refurbishment of the aircraft carrier Liaoning has lasted for more than seven months since it returned to the Dalian Shipyard on February 28.

After completing about half a year's maintenance within the dry dock, the ship exited the dock shortly before the start of October looking anew, with reinstalled vessel-borne weapons and radar systems, wenweipo.com reported.

No major appearance changes to the carrier were observed, the report said.

The Liaoning, formerly the Soviet Varyag, was commissioned into the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2012 as China's first aircraft carrier. It underwent its first regular maintenance in the Dalian Shipyard in 2018.

Over the past few years, the Liaoning carrier group has conducted a number of far sea exercises in the West Pacific beyond the first island chain, hosting aircraft sorties among other training in waters to the east of the island of Taiwan and near Guam, an island in the second island chain militarized by the US to contain China.

After the current maintenance, the Liaoning will likely return to its duties this year, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.

It will rotate with the country's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, in far sea exercises and combat alert missions to boost the PLA Navy's carrier operation capabilities and safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests, the expert said.

China launched its third aircraft carrier, the electromagnetic catapults-equipped Fujian, in June 2022, and experts expect the new and more powerful carrier to hold its maiden test voyage within 2023.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on October 11, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2023-10-11 18:37

At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, will pay a visit to China and the two sides will hold the 12th round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue from October 12 to 14.

China News Service: You just announced that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell will visit China. How does China view the current China-EU relations and what does China expect to achieve through the dialogue?

Wang Wenbin: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Since this year began, Chinese and EU leaders have had frequent exchanges. Dialogue and cooperation has been carried out across the board at various levels. China-EU relations have shown a positive momentum of growth. China welcomes High Representative Josep Borrell to visit China and the opportunity to hold a new round of China-EU High-level Strategic Dialogue. This will contribute to the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations, lay the ground for future high-level interaction and invigorate joint response to global challenges and efforts for global peace and stability.

In a turbulent world and in the face of mounting global challenges, solidarity and cooperation is the only viable option for the world to better meet the challenges. China and Europe are the world's two major forces, mega markets and great civilizations. We share extensive common interests in the world's peace, stability and development and human progress. Our relations have global influence and significance. China stands ready to work with the EU to stay committed to our comprehensive strategic partnership, enhance strategic communication and policy coordination, increase mutual trust, expand cooperation, overcome disturbances, properly settle differences and deliver more benefits to our two peoples and the world.

The Wall Street Journal: The Australian Prime Minister announced that Australian journalist Cheng Lei had returned home to Australia after three years in prison in China. Could you clarify whether she was sentenced, why she was released now and any discussions between the Australian government and the Chinese government over this issue?

Wang Wenbin: Relevant Chinese authorities have released the information on this, which you may refer to. After a trial, the Beijing No.2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Cheng Lei to two years and 11 months of imprisonment and deportation for illegally providing state secrets to an overseas party. After serving her sentence, Cheng Lei was deported out of the country by the Beijing Municipal State Security Bureau in accordance with the law.a

I would like to stress that China's judicial authorities tried the case and delivered the sentence in accordance with the law. The rights of the individual concerned under the law were fully protected, and Australia's consular rights including the right to visit and the right to be notified were respected and implemented.

The Paper: During the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday, China's domestic and outbound tourism experienced significant rebound and consumer spending continued to go up. Some foreign media commented that the new record-setting boom of Chinese tourism shows the vitality of China's economy and consumer market. Do you have any comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: The Chinese enthusiasm for traveling and spending during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday reflected once again the strong resilience, potential and vitality of the Chinese economy. Statistics show that during the eight-day holiday, domestic tourist trips and tourism revenue surged year-on-year and rose by 4.1 percent and 1.5 percent respectively from the levels of 2019 on a comparable basis. Daily service retail spending on certain e-commerce platforms in China soared by 153 percent compared to the same period in 2019. During the "Golden Week" holiday, the number of passenger train trips made nationwide reached 195 million, and for the first time ever, that number for a single day exceeded 20 million.

The performance of China's holiday economy is evidence that the Chinese economy on the whole has been steadily recovering and on an upward trajectory, which is being felt by the international community. Lately, international financial institutions including J.P.Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citibank, Deutsche Bank and ANZ Bank have all revised up their forecast for China's economic growth this year to between 5 percent and 5.5 percent. A report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development says that China will remain a major contributor to global growth this year.

China is the world's second largest consumer market and a mega-market with unparalleled potential. The robust holiday spending offers a glimpse of China's promising market prospects and vast domestic demand potential. The macro economic policies that have kicked in will continue to unlock the potential for consumption. China's economy will continue to look up and serve as the world's important growth engine and source of opportunities for shared prosperity.

China Review News: We noted that the official website of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was launched today. Can you share more information?

Wang Wenbin: As you rightly said, the official website of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (http://www.beltandroadforum.org) has been officially launched today.

The website will release timely information about the forum in both Chinese and English. Its interactive section "Belt and Road: Connecting the World" provides users with an immersive experience while exploring the network of friends to the Belt and Road Initiative on a three-dimensional globe with Q&As to help people learn about the achievements of Belt and Road cooperation over the past decade.

The website of the BRF Media Center (http://www.brfmc2023.cn) has also been launched to provide information and services to Chinese and foreign journalists.

You are welcome to visit the websites and help spread information about the third BRF.

NHK: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said recently that IAEA scientists and international scientific observers will visit Japan next week to take marine samples near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. It said experts from laboratories in countries including China will participate in the sample collection. China has been calling for an international monitoring arrangement that will stay effective for the long haul. Do you think this sampling can be seen as such an arrangement? What's China's expectation?

Wang Wenbin: China remains unequivocal about our opposition to Japan's ocean discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water. As to the planned collection of marine samples near Fukushima next week and laboratories' analysis and comparison of those samples, these are again carried out by the IAEA Secretariat under its bilateral arrangement with Japan and therefore fall short of an international monitoring arrangement with the full and substantive participation of all stakeholders that will stay effective for the long haul.

It has been nearly two months since Japan began the discharge. The international community requires immediate establishment of an international monitoring arrangement with substantive participation of all stakeholders including Japan's neighboring countries that will stay effective for the long haul. The IAEA needs to play its due role and work constructively for this, and step up to its responsibility of providing rigorous supervision on Japan's ocean discharge. China urges Japan to seriously respond to international concerns and seriously establish an international monitoring arrangement that will stay effective for the long haul.

AFP: A follow-up question on the BRI summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he will visit China during that time. Will Russian President Vladimir Putin attend the BRI summit as well?

Wang Wenbin: We will release information in due course.

AFP: China has good ties both with Israel and Palestine and supports a two-state solution in the Middle East. How does China see and qualify Hamas?

Wang Wenbin: We have stated a few times China's position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. I'd like to reiterate that to end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, implement the two-state solution and seek a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestine question through political means at an early date, so that the parties' legitimate concerns can be taken care of.

CCTV: On October 10, China was elected Member of the Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. How will China promote further progress of the international human rights cause?

Wang Wenbin: On October 10, the UN General Assembly elected members of the Human Rights Council for the term 2024-2026. China was re-elected, marking the sixth time of its election to the Human Rights Council and making it one of the most frequently elected countries.

China holds a people-centered human rights philosophy and believes that a happy life for the people is the most important human right. We have found a path towards better human rights that follows the trend of the times and fits our national realities. We have made historic progress in our human rights cause. China's re-election shows the international recognition on China's human rights progress, active participation in international human rights exchanges and cooperation and important role in the global human rights cause.

We view the re-election as a good opportunity to continue China's active participation in global human rights governance and extensive exchanges and cooperation with other countries to contribute even more to the sound advancement of the international human rights cause and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Wall Street Journal: From a diplomatic perspective, the Cheng Lei case has been a major source of tension between China and Australia for three years now. Is it China's hope that with this case now resolved there's an opportunity for better relations between Australia and China going forward?

Wang Wenbin: China's position on the growth of China-Australia relations is consistent and clear. A sound and stable China-Australia relationship is in the interest of both countries and peoples. It is also conducive to peace and stability of the region and beyond. China stands ready to work with Australia to continue to improve and grow the bilateral relationship and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

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China: Belt and Road Initiative generated over $2 trillion in contracts

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 6:23 AM

China has announced that its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project has generated $2 trillion in contracts, signaling the mega project's success and popularity around the world.

According to a white paper released by China's State Council Information Office, the value of signed construction contracts with partners in the context of BRI now has totaled two trillion dollars -- roughly the size of the economy of Russia or Canada.

The different aspects of this great transnational project will become "more open" as the partners mark one decade from the mega-project's inception, the official report said.

The mega project is considered to be the favorite brainchild of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who expressed BRI as his "vision of a global community of shared future" when he was chosen as the president of the People's Republic of China in 2013.

"In the 10 years that have passed since its launch, cooperation under the BRI framework has brought remarkable and profound change to the world and become a major milestone in the history of humanity," the paper read.

"The BRI will demonstrate greater creativity and vitality, become more open and inclusive, and generate new opportunities for both China and the rest of the world," it added.

The report pointed out that the project had "succeeded in taking its first step on a long journey," however, it warned that, "In the future, the BRI will find itself confronted by new difficulties."

"As long as all parties involved combine their forces, work together, and persevere, we will be able to overcome these problems and raise our extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits to new heights," the report said, stressing China's preparedness to work with other nations under the BRI framework.

"Our goals are to pass on the torch of peace from generation to generation, sustain development, ensure that civilizations flourish, and build a global community of shared future," China's State Council said, hailing the BRI for having "delivered real gains to participating countries."

China is hosting the third BRI forum with world leaders from partnering countries taking part in the event in Beijing, next week on October 17-18.

"We welcome countries and partners actively participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to come to Beijing to discuss cooperation plans and seek common development," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said last month.

"So far, representatives from more than 90 countries have confirmed their participation. Among them are leaders, ministers, and other official representatives of Belt and Road partner countries, as well as people from various fields, including the business community, think tanks, and civil society who actively support and participate in the Belt and Road cooperation," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China this month to attend the One Belt One Road forum, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said recently, as cited by Russian state news agency TASS.

"We have received an invitation and plan to go to China," Ushakov said, according to a report from the Global Times.

Several other foreign leaders including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Argentine President Alberto Fernandez are also scheduled to attend the BRI, Chinese state media reported.

China's foreign ministry said the country has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations, according to the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

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Police round up Uyghurs from 2 villages before China's National Day

The operation focused on young people and those who previously eluded capture.

By Shohret Hoshur for RFA Uyghur 2023.10.11 -- Authorities apprehended more than 50 Uyghur villagers from two communities in northwestern China's Xinjiang region as part of a security operation in the run-up to the country's National Day holiday, local officials said.

On the eve of the Oct. 1 holiday, marking the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, authorities detained 44 people from Siyek village in KAriye county of Hotan prefecture and eight residents of TArim village in Peyziwat county, Kashgar prefecture.

The operation focused on Uyghurs who were under the age of 18 at the time of mass arrests of members of the predominantly Muslim group in 2017 and those who previously had eluded capture.

In 2017 and 2018, authorities rounded up nearly 2 million Uyghurs across the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region and detained them in "re-education" camps where some were subjected to severe rights abuses. China has consistently denied any abuse and said the camps were vocational training centers that have since been closed.

A police officer from Siyek village told Radio Free Asia that authorities arrested 44 people from the village bazaar before this year's holiday.

A local judicial officer, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said the arrests were part of a security operation to ensure a peaceful National Day.

In all, more than 200 people are currently in detention, most of whom were arrested between 2017 and 2018 when they were under 18 and considered suspects, as well as individuals arrested this year, he said.

In the month leading up to the holiday, local officials designated every Thursday as a day for political study, and residents were compelled to confess any perceived wrongdoings during meetings at the Siyek Central Middle School, the judicial officer said.

Meanwhile, authorities in TArim village detained eight people for interrogation at the local police station, said a policeman there.

"When we are on duty, we monitor live security footage for any signs of strangers or unusual activities," he told RFA.

Prior to mass arrests of Uyghurs across Xinjiang in 2017, authorities detained people during significant events such as National Day, conferences and international exhibitions in an effort to maintain stability in the restive region.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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UN 'very troubled' over mass trial of Hong Kong democracy activists

'Subversion' charges faced by 47 based on peaceful criticism of the government, organizing democratic primary.

By Cheryl Tung and Simon Lee for RFA Cantonese, and Chen Zifei for RFA Mandarin 2023.10.11 -- United Nations human rights experts have expressed concern over the ongoing mass trial of 47 democracy activists under Hong Kong's draconian national security law, while a report has emerged that Tiananmen vigil organizer and human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung is being singled out for harsh treatment in prison.

"We are very troubled about the use of mass trials in national security law cases and how they may negatively affect safeguards that ensure due process and the right to fair trial," the experts said in a statement dated Oct. 9.

"The charges appear to seek to punish statements allegedly made by each individual criticizing the Chinese government's policies and their activities in support of democracy in Hong Kong," the experts said.

More than 10,000 people have been arrested and at least 2,800 prosecuted in a citywide crackdown in the wake of the 2019 protest movement, mostly under public order charges, while at least 230 have been arrested under the national security law, which criminalizes public criticism of the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, as well as ties and funding arrangements with overseas organizations deemed hostile to China.

According to the U.S.-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, 1,618 of those defendants are classed as political prisoners - peaceful critics of the government.

The 47 defendants in the ongoing "subversion" trial include former elected legislators, activists, social workers, academics, trade unionists, and journalists who organized and stood for election in unofficial primaries in July 2020, the U.N. statement said.

Arrest warrants, disbarment proceedings

The U.N. experts also took issue with arrest warrants and bounties targeting eight prominent overseas Hong Kong activists, who are currently based in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and have been accused of breaking the law while in exile.

Professional bodies have also begun disbarment proceedings against barrister Dennis Kwok and lawyer Kevin Yam, they said.

"The complaints of professional misconduct against barrister Dennis Kwok and lawyer Kevin Yam appear to be aimed at preventing them from exercising their profession without intimidation, hindrance, harassment, or improper interference," the experts' statement said.

"China should review its National Security Law to ensure that the law is in compliance with China's international human rights obligations with respect to ... Hong Kong," they said.

"We stand ready to engage in dialogue with Chinese authorities on this very important matter," said the statement, adding that U.N. Special Rapporteurs Margaret Satterthwaite, Fionnuala NA AolAin, ClAment Nyaletsossi Voule and Irene Khan have been in contact with the Chinese government.

Australia-based exiled democratic lawmaker Ted Hui, who is one of the eight wanted activists, said the authorities have also been targeting their family members back in Hong Kong, a point that was omitted from the experts' statement.

"The families of six out of the eight of us have been badly harassed," Hui said. "Some were taken away to the police station for questioning in the early morning."

"The United Nations represents most countries, and they have the very clear and strong view that this is a violation of human rights, that it is a kind of political suppression ... silence dissenting and opposing voices," he said.

"It doesn't matter how much political propaganda it carries out in Hong Kong or China -- [the Chinese Communist Party's] lies won't deceive the whole world."

A Hong Kong government spokesman said it was inappropriate for anyone to comment on the trial while it is still under way, that the experts had "completely ignored the facts," and that the authorities had a responsibility to bring the eight activists to justice.

Chow awaits trial

In a related development, Hong Kong Tiananmen massacre vigil organizer and human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung is being held in solitary confinement while awaiting trial for "subversion" under a draconian security law, a fellow activist has said.

Chow, who has already served a 15-month jail term for "inciting" others to take part in a now-banned vigil for the victims of the June 4, 1989 bloodshed, is currently awaiting trial for "inciting others to subvert state power."

"The queen was sent back ... to solitary confinement," fellow vigil organizer Lau Ka Yee reported on her Facebook page on Oct. 7, after visiting Chow in prison.

Lau said Chow has been sent to solitary once in June, twice in July, once in August and once in September, for anything from seven to 14 days at a time, and has complained that the cell is very hot, a problem already flagged by activists earlier this year.

"What's been happening these past few months really calls into question the [Correctional Services] Department's approach to political prisoners," Lau wrote. "They get the harshest treatment."

She added: "This time has really changed her -- her lips are chapped and she has gotten so thin she looks like a Barbie doll ... but her mental state is still healthy, and her stubborn insistence on always choosing the path of good is still strong."

In solitary, Chow is denied any books except religious scriptures, Lau said, calling on supporters not to bring her snacks but news when they visit her.

Solitary confinement cells in Hong Kong's prisons are known as 'water canteens,' and measure just seven square meters. They are usually reserved for those who disturb prison order, or those who request protection from other inmates, according to the overseas-based news site Photon Media.

The report comes as official figures show that the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, one of the biggest remand centers in the city, is already full, with the government expecting a "growing penal population" in the years to come, according to an official document submitted to lawmakers in July.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Australian Cheng Lei home with family after China 'spying' sentence

'Tight hugs, teary screams' as former state TV anchor Cheng reunited with her children after three-year jail term.

By Gao Feng for RFA Mandarin and Simon Lee for RFA Cantonese 2023.10.11 -- Australian national and former Chinese state TV anchor Cheng Lei was reunited with her family on Wednesday after her release from a three-year prison sentence for "spying," according to her first social media post in three years.

"Tight hugs, teary screams, holding my kids in the spring sunshine," Cheng wrote on the @FreeChengLei X account. "Trees shimmy from the breeze. I can see the entirety of the sky now! Thank you Aussies."

Her post was in sharp contrast to an earlier statement Cheng released from prison, in which she wrote about being cut off from the natural world.

"I miss the sun. In my cell, the sunlight shines through the window but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year," Cheng wrote. "I haven't seen a tree in three years."

Cheng, 48, was detained on suspicion of "spying" in August 2020, and was held incommunicado for more than 18 months, including under "residential surveillance at a designated location."

Her detention came amid increasingly strained ties between Beijing and Canberra, which has taken steps to limit the Chinese Communist Party's influence in the country, barring Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from bidding for 5G mobile contracts.

Cheng stood trial at the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court on March 31, 2022 amid tight security, but her sentence was never publicly announced.

China's Ministry of State Security, making public the details of her case for the first time, claimed that Cheng Lei "illegally provided state secrets she acquired at work to overseas institutions," committing the crime of "illegally providing state secrets to overseas parties."

In a statement posted to its official account on Weibo, it said Cheng was sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison, then deported after completing her sentence.

"In May 2020, Cheng Lei was coaxed by personnel from an overseas agency and, in violation of the confidentiality clause signed with her employer, illegally provided state secrets she acquired at work to the overseas agency through her mobile phone," the statement said.

"Cheng ... truthfully confessed to the facts of the crime and voluntarily pleaded guilty and accepted punishment," it said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had been working for Cheng's release "for a long period of time and her return will be warmly welcomed not just by her family and friends but by all Australians."

"She is a very strong and resilient person," said Albanese, who said he has spoken to Cheng and welcomed her home on behalf of the country.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the Chinese judicial system tried the case "in accordance with the law, fully safeguarding the rights enjoyed by the person concerned in accordance with the law."

'A kind of political persecution'

Feng Chongyi, associate professor of Chinese studies at the University of Technology Sydney, said Cheng's release comes amid gradually thawing bilateral ties between Beijing and Canberra, and that her case was entirely "political."

"The information she was handling was news, and no longer confidential," Feng said of the "secrets" Cheng is alleged to have shared with someone overseas.

"Using this to incriminate her isn't in line with common sense ... it was a kind of political persecution," he said.

He said Cheng's release was a gesture of goodwill to Australia, and that she had been used as part of "hostage" diplomacy.

"[This] paves the way for improved economic and trade relations between the two countries," Feng said. "There are geopolitical pressures, because China is very isolated internationally right now."

Cheng was born in the central Chinese province of Hunan and emigrated to Australia along with her parents when she was very young.

At the time of her detention, she was working as a business anchor and reporter for the state-run China Global Television Network.

She was tried behind closed doors in March 2022.

While Cheng was reunited with her family, there has been no news of outspoken Australian writer and political commentator Yang Hengjun since his trial behind closed doors for "espionage" in Beijing on May 28, 2021.

Yang, 54, who also once held Chinese nationality, was detained on arrival at Guangzhou Airport on Jan. 19, 2019, then taken to Beijing by officers of the state security police.

Feng said Yang, who is a friend of his, is suffering from severe kidney disease, and sentencing has been postponed in his case.

Feng has previously claimed that Yang is a former agent of China's state security police, citing a letter Yang wrote to him in 2011, revealing that he had worked for China's ministry of state security for 10 years starting in 1989.

While foreign journalists have long faced challenging conditions under Chinese Communist Party rule, they are also now dealing with growing hostility and intimidation, including online stalking, smear campaigns, hacking and visa denials, journalists' groups have said in recent reports.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Report: US brands linked to Uyghur-mined gold

Authors highlight 'moral, legal, and regulatory need' for more due diligence from US companies.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA and Nuriman Abdureshid for RFA Uyghur 2023.10.11 -- Hundreds of major U.S. companies may be unwittingly producing goods using gold that was mined using the forced labor of Uyghurs in China's far-west Xinjiang region, according to a new report.

The report by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, or C4ADS, also says financial firms including Vanguard, Fidelity, JPMorgan Chase and Blackstone have led Americans to invest in Chinese companies operating Xinjiang-based gold mines through their index funds.

Amid widespread reports of forced Uyghur labor in China, there has been "insufficient attention" paid to mining in Xinjiang, says the report, which was released Wednesday. That is despite mining accounting for 43% of Xinjiang's economic output, it says, and the region itself being a leading producer of China's coal, gas, gold, copper and iron.

The report focuses on gold in particular, and says four of China's 10 largest gold companies operate in Xinjiang, a far-west region where the U.S. government says a genocide against Uyghurs is occuring through forced sterilization, assimilation, imprisonment and slave labor.

The four companies identified are Lingbao Gold Group Company, Zhaojin Mining Industry Company, Zijin Mining Group and Shandong Gold Group, which is China's second-largest gold company.

Gold produced by those mines and others in Xinjiang, C4ADS says, "may be entering the United States and global supply chains of major retailers," calling for brands "to conduct better due diligence to ensure they are not buying [Xinjiang-origin] gold or other minerals."

Goldwashing

American companies are banned by the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act from importing any goods produced in Xinjiang unless they can prove forced labor was not used, which the C4ADS report notes is "an impossibility given restricted access" to the region.

C4ADS notes that both the Good Delivery Lists of the London Bullion Market Association and Responsible Mineral Initiative have certified the companies, which trade gold on larger exchanges that expose them to global markets, as being compliant with human right standards.

But it says there is evidence they in fact use forced Uyghur labor.

For one, the companies utilize "job placement" programs for Uyghurs run by the government, which finds jobs for Uyghurs at companies run by Han Chinese that "cannot be freely refused" by the Uyghurs.

The companies also openly participate in the government's "forced assimilation practices," the report says, and have even been feted by authorities for playing a proactive role in forced assimilation.

Despite this, hundreds of American companies have reported supply-chain exposure to the four companies under laws that force companies to report to regulators the refineries from which they source gold.

Mattel, Macy's, Nordstrom, Starbucks, Home Depot, Apple and Tesla are among 397 companies that have reported exposure to Zijin Mining. American Eagle, Sony and Amazon, meanwhile, are among 399 companies with reported exposure to Shandong Gold.

There's also T-Mobile, General Motors, Hasbro and Columbia Sportswear, who are among 409 companies who have reported exposure to Zhaojin Gold, and Ford, Dolby, Best Buy and Kohl's, who are among 277 with reported exposure to Lingbao Gold.

Apple spokesperson Nick Leahy told Radio Free Asia he could not comment on the specifics of the report before reading it, but pointed to Apple's 2023 supply chain progress report, which says "Apple does not tolerate forced labor" and works with third-parties to monitor its suppliers.

Leahy added the London Bullion Market Association, which compiles the Good Delivery List, recently evaluated claims against Zijin Mining.

"They investigated them, and they didn't find anything on them, so they remain on the LBMA Good Delivery List," he said, adding Apple would not work with them otherwise. "We're very forthcoming about our zero tolerance for any forced labor anywhere in our supply chain."

RFA also reached out to T-Mobile, Mattel and Starbucks about their due diligence measures, but did not receive a response.

In their report, C4ADS notes the "exposure" to the mines in question is reported to U.S. regulators by the companies using "standardized language" that denotes the mere possibility of gold being sourced from them, and does not necessarily mean the gold was in fact used.

"However, the risk of exposure to [Xinjiang] gold for any company sourcing from China is obvious," it says. "There is a moral, legal, and regulatory need for companies to conduct better due diligence to ensure they are not buying [Xinjiang] gold or other minerals."

Investment transparency

It's also not only supply chains where gold mined by Uyghur slaves may have been financially supported by American consumers.

C4ADS also notes that while goods produced in Xinjiang are explicitly prohibited from entering the United States, "investment in companies registered in or manufacturing in the Uyghur region is not."

That means many U.S. financial institutions offering index funds that target emerging markets, or even the Chinese market specifically, have included the stocks of gold companies operating in Xinjiang.

"Many Chinese mining companies with mines in [Xinjiang] are publicly traded," it says, and investors "may be unwittingly putting their money into companies complicit in the repression and exploitation of the Uyghur region through investment products like index funds."

Zijin Mining, Shandong Gold and Zhaojin Mining, the report says, "have all been included in various investment funds offered by Vanguard, Fidelity, Blackstone, WisdomTree, USAA, JPMorgan Chase, and many others," as well as in basic retirement funds.

Call for boycott

Ilshat Hassan Kokbore, the vice president of the executive committee of the World Uyghur Congress, told RFA that Uyghurs had for decades been forced to do dangerous mining work for China, beginning with the mining of uranium he said had given many of the victims cancer.

"The U.S. government has sanctioned many Chinese companies implicated with Uyghur forced labor, but not many mining companies are among those sanctioned," Kokbore said, adding many Uyghurs are now forced to mine lithium used for batteries in high-end technology.

He called for regulatory intervention but also for brands to voluntarily increase due diligence to avoid buying Uyghur-mined minerals, which he said would reduce the profitability of Uyghur slave labor.

"If American corporations like Apple and Tesla also boycott these products made by Uyghur forced labor, it will have a huge impact on China to stop the atrocities against Uyghurs," he said.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China stages naval drills during Philippines-US exercise

Navy held an exercise in South China Sea in apparent response to Manila's increased military cooperation with West.

By RFA Staff 2023.10.11 -- China conducted a multiple-day naval exercise in the South China Sea as the Philippines held major drills with the United States and other allied nations.

A number of warships and helicopters from the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy conducted "coordinated offensive and defensive combat drills" in different sea areas, said a press release posted on the Navy's WeChat account.

The South China Sea is PLA Southern Theater Command's primary area of responsibility.

According to the release, at least two large guided missile destroyers - the Type 055 Yan'an (106) and the Type 052D Hefei (174) - as well as a submarine and a Z-9 anti-submarine helicopter, took part in the exercise that lasted several days.

A major part of the exercise focused on anti-submarine warfare, it said.

In one of the scenarios, an anti-submarine helicopter was deployed for reconnaissance in tandem with the destroyers' sonar systems. The flotilla was then switched to a tactical assault formation when a suspected enemy submarine was detected.

The press release did not specify when the drills took place but the state-aligned mouthpiece Global Times, normally well-informed about the PLA's activities, said they happened "at a time when the U.S. and the Philippines are holding the 12-day multilateral exercise, Samasama," in the waters off Luzon island.

"Since August, the Philippines has been provoking China by sending vessels to trespass into waters near Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea and hyping up Chinese interceptions," the hawkish newspaper said.

Some 1,800 troops and six warships from the U.S., Japan, Great Britain and Canada are taking part in Exercise Samasama (Together in Tagalog), which includes land phases as well as anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue operations and air defense drills.

The multilateral exercise is aimed at boosting military cooperation between the Philippines, the United States and like-minded nations amid China's increased assertiveness.

Joint activities

Beijing and Manila have been at loggerheads over some reefs claimed by both in the South China Sea.

The Philippines accuses China of blocking its access to Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal while China says Manila seeks to "stir up troubles."

The Philippine government has been discussing joint activities with foreign countries besides the U.S., especially U.S. treaty allies Japan and Australia.

In their first ever quadrilateral defense chief talks in June, the U.S., Japan, Australia and the Philippines agreed on a number of cooperation initiatives including joint four-party maritime patrols in the South China Sea in the near future.

Manila and Canberra recently signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, and are discussing "a joint sail" in the South China Sea, according to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

The joint patrol will be taking place "in an appropriate maritime location as yet to be announced," Wong said during a joint press conference with her Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo in Adelaide on Oct. 10.

The two militaries staged a large-scale anti-invasion exercise in August in Palawan, where they are to conduct another smaller exercise called Dawn Caracha 2023 in late October with focus on counterterrorism and special operations.

"Anything that can strengthen Australia-Philippines ties in the face of increasing Chinese provocations in the South China Sea is a good thing," said Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

"The Philippines is fast emerging as a key partner for Australia in ASEAN, a very big change from the Duterte years," Davis told Radio Free Asia.

"The same goes for the U.S.-Philippines relationship, so there's an important integrated deterrence dimension here, which these closer relations underpin," he added.

In February, the Marcos administration granted permission to the U.S. military to use four additional locations as operational ground in the Philippines, bringing the number of locations now accessible to U.S. troops to nine.

Manila has already visiting force agreements with Washington and Canberra and is looking to conclude the third with Japan. This would facilitate having Japanese Self-Defense Forces enter the Philippines for exercises and training.

Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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On Lu Siwei's Forced Repatriation

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

October 11, 2023

The United States condemns the forced repatriation of People's Republic of China (PRC) national and human rights lawyer Lu Siwei to the PRC from Laos, at the request of PRC authorities.

We call on the PRC to confirm Lu's current location; allow for external verification by independent observers of Lu's well-being, including access for doctors to treat Lu's chronic health condition; and enable his access to a lawyer of his choosing.

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US Looms Large Over Possible Vietnam-China Summit

By Thuc Pham October 12, 2023

A possible visit to Vietnam by Chinese President Xi Jinping would be likely to test Hanoi's balancing act between Beijing and Washington, analysts say.

Reuters reported last week that Vietnamese and Chinese officials are preparing for a possible meeting between Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and Xi in Hanoi at the end of October or early November.

The visit has not been announced by Beijing or Hanoi.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined a request for comment and deferred the question to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. VOA Vietnamese called the ministry and left a voice mail but did not receive a response.

If the visit takes place, the Vietnamese leader will have hosted the leaders of two superpowers in his country in less than two months.

Hanoi elevated its ties with Washington to a comprehensive strategic partnership, placing the U.S. on par with China in its diplomatic engagement, during U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Hanoi in early September.

Tricky balancing act

Analysts say Xi's visit would be a litmus test for Hanoi's so-called "bamboo policy" of balancing the interests of competing powers.

Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, told VOA Vietnamese this week that Beijing is not "comfortable" to see Vietnam upgrade relations with and becoming closer to the U.S.

"Xi's possible visit is part of China's efforts to at least maintain Vietnam's balance in its foreign policy towards the U.S. and China, if not trying to pull Vietnam to China's side," Hiep said.

"Beijing sees the need and seeks to rebalance its influence, as well as reaffirm its status and influence following Hanoi's upgradation of relations with Washington," Hoang Viet, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, told VOA Vietnamese.

According to the Reuters report, Hanoi and Beijing are discussing the text of a joint statement that would pair their nations in a "community of common destiny."

Xi first proposed the concept of a "community of common destiny" in late 2012, based on a millennia-old Chinese vision of a world where people would live in perfect harmony and would be as dear to one another as family, according to a report from China's official state media outlet, Xinhua.

Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, said Xi will push Vietnam to join China's "community of common destiny" to try to build a coalition to counter Washington.

"If Vietnam agrees to join China's 'community of common destiny,' this would be touted as an upgrade of the current 'comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation' between China and Vietnam," Vuving said in an email to VOA Vietnamese this week.

Joining the community would be an upgrade to Vietnam's relationship with China, and "would be interpreted by China that Beijing is always closer, or ahead of, or above Washington in relations with Vietnam," Vuving said.

Vietnam remains the only country in mainland Southeast Asia that has not joined China's "community of common destiny," according to Vuving.

Hiep said Vietnam will try to maintain its long-standing foreign policy of developing balanced relations with major powers and diversifying its foreign relations.

"China remains an important partner of Vietnam's, economically, politically and strategically, but China is just one of the major powers with which Vietnam builds relations, and the development of Sino-Vietnamese relationship does not necessarily mean that Vietnam has to abandon or lower its relations with other partners, including the United States," said Hiep.

Territorial dispute

Separate from striking a balance between Washington and Beijing, Vietnam has unresolved bilateral issues with China, according to analysts.

Nguyen Ngoc Truong, former president of the Center for Strategic Studies and International Development, a government-affiliated think tank in Hanoi, told VOA Vietnamese that Vietnam's top concerns are "promoting economic and trade relations with China" and "ensuring a peaceful, stable and secure environment, including the South China Sea issue."

Vietnam, with the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, opposes China's sweeping claims to much of the South China Sea. Since May 2014, when Beijing began building on the sea's outcroppings it controlled, there have been frequent confrontations between Vietnamese and Chinese law enforcement ships in the disputed region.

The sea is believed to be rich in oil and gas resources and vital to international navigation, with nearly $3.4 trillion of trade passing through it each year.

Carl Thayer, professor emeritus at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said Trong is expected to raise the South China Sea issue during the meeting with Xi.

Seeking ways to "properly handle emerging incidents at sea and maintain security and stability at sea" will be on the agenda if the meeting occurs, according to Thayer.

As for Xi, he is likely to announce measures that China will take to increase the value of two-way trade by removing customs bottlenecks, allowing increased market access for Vietnamese agricultural products and an expansion of Vietnamese trade promotion offices in China, Thayer said.

Xi will also promote connectivity through aviation, land and railway transport, including the development of the Lao Cai-Haiphong railway, he added. The railway will be part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, according to reports on VietNamNet and Dan Tri news outlets.

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China Frees Australian Journalist After Over 3 Years' Detention

By Phil Mercer October 12, 2023

A possible visit to Vietnam by Chinese President Xi Jinping would be likely to test Hanoi's balancing act between Beijing and China has released Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been in detention for over three years. The announcement was made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who added that Lei was already back home in Melbourne. Lei, who was accused of spying, worked for China Central Television's English-language channel.

Australian journalist Cheng Lei was tried in China behind closed doors, and any verdict has not been made public. Australian officials say she has been released after legal proceedings against her came to an end.

A high-profile anchor for China's state-run English language news service, CGTN, Lei was arrested in August 2020 and accused of "supplying state secrets overseas" a an allegation she denied.

Australian officials regularly pressed China on Lei's welfare and living conditions. A source of friction between Australia and China, her detention became part of a broader deterioration in bilateral relations over the South China Sea, Taiwan and the origins of COVID-19.

Analysts say those tensions appear to be easing. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to travel to Beijing this year for an official visit.

On Monday, Albanese told reporters Lei had returned home.

"Earlier today I was able to have a conversation with an Australian citizen Cheng Lei, who has arrived safely here in Melbourne and has been reunited with her two children and her family," he said.

Supporters of another Chinese-born Australian citizen detained in Beijing, writer and pro-democracy activist Yang Hengjun, are promising to redouble their efforts to secure his freedom following Lei's release from prison.

Yang was charged with espionage and imprisoned during a 2019 visit to China. His trial was held in May 2021, but a verdict has yet to be delivered publicly.

Australia has asked for Yang to be freed and reunited with his family.

Simon Birmingham, an opposition senator for the conservative Liberal party, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Yang's supporters will be heartened by Lei's return.

"Whilst I am sure his loved ones will very much be pleased to see Cheng Lei's release, it will also come with, well, some hope for them. Also, the tinges of uncertainty as to whether or not they will be able to see and secure the same type of outcome," said Birmingham.

Australia's left-leaning government came to power in May of last year and has sought to stabilize relations with China, while stressing that there would be areas of disagreement.

China is by far Australia's biggest trading partner.

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Central Asians Balance Benefits, Risks of China's BRI

By Navbahor Imamova October 12, 2023

Although weary of Beijing's political ambitions and concerned about over-reliance on China, some Central Asians tell VOA they also see the benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, launched in 2013 as China's global infrastructure endeavor.

Since its launch, China has funded at least 112 projects in Central Asia. Many of the projects were aimed at boosting transportation and connectivity such as the Qamchiq mountain highway.

"This mountain pass is where I make my living," said Uzbek taxi driver Majid. The highway connects Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, with the Ferghana Valley and reaches southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan. Like others that VOA spoke with Majid was unwilling to give his full name, citing concerns that authorities might retaliate.

Majid drives an Uzbek-U.S. made Chevrolet Lacetti sedan that seats four passengers. He says he usually charges about $14 per person to drive to Kokand, which is about 130 kilometers (81 miles) southeast of Tashkent.

"I aim to make two roundtrips a day, which takes eight to nine hours in lighter traffic. It's better than working for the government," he told VOA. "Since this is my own car, I keep most of what I earn in my own pocket to take care of my large family."

Driving commerce

In Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city, on the other side of the Ferghana Valley, China's economic influence is so widely felt it is common for residents to label any new infrastructure projects "Chinese."

For Muzaffar, a frequent migrant worker, Beijing is the undisputed "superpower" in this part of the world.

"No other power has as much presence as China, which it pulls off without much publicity. Perhaps China wants us to get used to seeing its influence everywhere," he wondered, adding that he wants his four children to learn Chinese alongside English and Russian.

In Tajikistan's second-largest city of Khujand, known for its Panjshanbe bazaar, traders told VOA that they buy and sell mostly Chinese goods.

"They are our lifeline. No commerce is conducted without Chinese merchandise," which is the easiest to obtain and sell and is the most affordable, according to Mohira, who commutes to Khujand from Ferghana, Uzbekistan, via the Andarkhon-Patar border crossing. "Our Chinese cargo always arrives within a day or two. Very reliable service."

Yet merchants such as Mohira are unsure about the impact on the local economy of a planned railway project that will connect China with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Officials said a feasibility study will soon be completed.

China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad

The proposed 523-kilometer (325-mile) line will carry passengers and freight between Kashgar in China's Xinjiang region and Andijan in Uzbekistan by way of Karasu, Kyrgyzstan.

Four months ago, Chinese media reported that construction would start sometime this year, citing a statement by Umidulla Ibragimov, an Uzbekistan Railways official.

Yicai Global, a Chinese state-backed English financial news site, said the railway will give countries in Central Asia the shortest and most accessible passage to global markets, describing it as a bridge between Europe and Asia.

Beijing believes that the new connection will "accelerate the West China Development Project" and "promote the development and use of oil in the Central Asia and Caspian Sea areas, open up new sources of oil imports to China, and change the country's energy development strategy"asomething highlighted at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's summit in Samarkand last year, according to China's state news agency, Xinhua.

Frank Maracchione, a Ph.D. candidate at England's University of Sheffield who is researching China's Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia, said many experts he has interviewed in Uzbekistan saw Beijing's efforts as an attempt to rebuild the Great Silk Road.

Minerals, trade and beyond

Extraction, processing and transportation of natural resources, including minerals, represent a large chunk of Chinese investment in Uzbekistan, which amounted to $3.8 billion in 2022, just behind Russia's $4.8 billion.

"A second large area of investment is transport infrastructure mostly for trade purposes to improve regional connectivity," said Maracchione. He added that China is also focusing on agriculture and technology. That will lead to investments in education and expertise, a boost to long-term development welcomed by Central Asians, said Maracchione.

China no longer regards Central Asia as just the source of raw materials. It is quickly becoming a manufacturing base, Maracchione said. Examples in Uzbekistan, where mainly locals are employed, include the Pengsheng industrial park, the SCO Center for Agriculture in Sirdarya, the Nukus Herbal Technology pharmaceutical producer, the import-export Lanextract Sino-Uzbek joint venture in Karakalpakstan, and the Uzbek-Chinese electric vehicle production cluster in Jizzakh.

Angst growing

In recent years, there has been growing public anger toward Chinese businesses and influence in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. But Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, similarly known for their poor human rights records and tight control of expression and the media, have not seen such clear expressions of anti-Chinese sentiment.

"Why curse those who invest in us? I wish more Chinese companies would come in, so that we could sell off all the stale state assets we've been struggling to privatize," said one retired government official, requesting to be identified only as Qodir.

In an expanding area emerging as New Tashkent, he pointed to a gigantic sports development, the Olympic village. Its construction site bears the logos of Sinomach and CAMCEathe China National Machinery Industry Corporation a and its subsidiary, CAMC Engineering.

Financed by Beijing's Export-Import Bank, the $289 million project is among several recent deals, including a $440 million chemical plant in Navoi, in central Uzbekistan.

Rights activists have decried poor working conditions at Chinese-owned enterprises in the Uzbek cities of Bukhara and Margilan.

"The pay was low, the working hours were long and there were chemicals everywhere," Maracchione's field research found.

In September, Sinomash reached an agreement with the local government in the eastern Uzbek city of Ferghana to produce drinking water from the Kampirobod dam on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border. The Uzbek side announced that it had signed 32 trade and investment deals with Beijing worth $1.37 billion.

Marrachione said a "controversial aspect of China's investment in Central Asia is the potential development of patterns of dependency on Chinese investment and unsustainable lending practices leading to excessive debt and a volatile financial situation."

"This is true particularly in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan," he said. "Starting from the latter, loans from the Export-Import Bank of China accounted for a bit less than half of Kyrgyzstan's external debt and exactly 42.89% in May 2021, and around 40% of Tajikistan's external debt."

China is now the largest bilateral creditor in Uzbekistan, even though last year what Tashkent owes to China accounted for only 17.6% of the external debt.

Talking to VOA at a business forum in Washington, Uzbekistan's Digital Technology Minister Sherzod Shermatov described China as a convenient investor and partner.

"I'm eager to work with any side that Uzbekistan benefits from. What matters most for us is what we stand to gain, not what America, Russia or China get. We focus on our own interests, Uzbekistan's interests," said Shermatov.

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Sends Greetings to Russian President

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, October 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Thursday sent a message of greeting to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation.

In the message, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un extended warm congratulations on behalf of the DPRK government and people to President Putin and the government and people of the Russian Federation on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, a significant common holiday.

He said that the first establishment of diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union after the foundation of the DPRK provided a firm guarantee for further consolidating the friendly ties between the peoples of the DPRK and Russia, closely united in blood and comradeship during the anti-Japanese war, and steadily strengthening and developing their traditional and strategic good-neighborly relations.

The DPRK-Russia relations, started with militant friendship and comradely cooperation by the preceding leaders, have stood all trials and tests of history and consistently advanced along the road of friendship, solidarity and good neighborliness, and are now dynamically advancing towards the stable and future-oriented new era for eternal prosperity, the message said, adding:

I am very satisfied over the fact that I recently paid an official goodwill visit to Russia and had an exchange of candid and comprehensive opinions with Comrade Putin for multiform development of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations, and express the firm belief that the bilateral friendship and solidarity and cooperation, consolidated generation after generation and century after century, will steadily develop onto a new level in the future, too.

I take this opportunity to heartily wish you good health and success in your responsible work, hoping that the Russian people out in building a powerful state would always emerge victorious and glorious in the struggle for frustrating the imperialists' persistent hegemonic policy and moves to isolate and stifle Russia and defending the sovereignty, dignity, security and peace of the country. -0-

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Receives Greetings from Russian President

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, October 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Thursday received a message of greeting from Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation.

In the message, Putin extended sincere congratulations to Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

He said that in 1948 the Soviet Union acknowledged the DPRK first and since then solid ties of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation have been provided between Moscow and Pyongyang.

And he expressed satisfaction over the fact that the Russia-DPRK relations continue to positively develop in all aspects on the basis of the glorious traditions of the past.

The recent meeting between us at the Vostochny Spaceport fully proved this, the message said, adding:

I am convinced that to implement the agreements will contribute to further expanding the constructive bilateral cooperation for improving the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and ensuring security and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia as a whole.

I heartily wish you good health and success and all the citizens of the DPRK peace and wellbeing. -0-

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh meets CEOs of top French defence companies in Paris

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Highlights the advantages of co-development & co-production in India, including possibilities of exports to third countries

RM visits Safran Engine Division's R&D Centre at Gennevilliers; Witnesses latest developments in aero-engine technology

Posted On: 11 OCT 2023 7:37PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on October 11, 2023, visited the Safran Engine Division's R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris, France during the second and final leg of his two-nation tour. During his visit to the Centre, he witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology. Mr Olivier Andries, Global CEO Safran welcomed the Raksha Mantri to the facility and, along with his team, gave a detailed briefing to him. Safran expressed interest in being a part of the Indian growth story by working with its counterparts on mutually agreed joint projects.

The Raksha Mantri also met with the CEOs of the top French defence companies with a focus on their plans for collaboration with India. Mr Eric Trappier, CEO Dassault; Mr Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO Naval Group; Mr Guillaume Faury, CEO Airbus; and Mr Olivier Andries, CEO Safran Group were present during the interaction. Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the advantages of co-development and co-production in India, including possibilities of exports to third countries. He underlined the inherent advantages of Indian market such as a large, skilled HR base, world class infrastructure and a strong legal architecture.

Later in the day, Shri Rajnath Singh will be holding the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with the French Minister of Armed Forces Mr Sebastien Lecornu.

The Raksha Mantri reached Paris late on October 10 and interacted with the Indian community. While addressing the sizeable Indian community at the India House, he highlighted the various achievements of India in the defence sector such as increased defence exports, increasing indigenous production of defence equipment, concerted efforts on co-development and co-production in India and an enhanced outreach in the region. The Raksha Mantri spoke about the tremendous progress achieved in India in the last nine years, an assessment which was heartily supported by the Indian community.

***********

ABB/Savvy



(Release ID: 1966810)

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

10 October 2023 21:04

2007-10-10-2023

On October 10, on Iran's initiative, Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov spoke by telephone with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

The two foreign ministers discussed topical issues on the Middle East agenda with a focus on the new round of the Palestine-Israeli conflict. They stressed the importance of efforts to put an end to the armed confrontation without delay and to settle the situation based on the well-known international legal documents.

The current situation in the South Caucasus was discussed. Both ministers expressed their support for the rapid resumption of the joint work in the 3+3 Consultative Regional Platform format for the South Caucasus.

Several issues of mutual interest, related to bilateral cooperation, were touched upon.

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Iranian coast guards stage large-scale naval exercise along southern shores

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 October 2023 9:12 AM

Iranian coast guards have launched a large-scale military exercise along the shores of the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

The massive drill, dubbed Mohammad Rasulullah 2 (Prophet Mohammad 2), kicked off during a ceremony in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Wednesday, with Iran's police chief Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan and several military commanders in attendance.

The drill involves naval units from the country's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan as well as the southern provinces of Bushehr and Hormozgan.

Commander of the Iranian Border Guards Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi explained that the exercise aims to strengthen cooperation and coordination among coast guards, stressing that dozens of marine units, coastal patrol teams and various border guard forces are participating in it.

It will also seek to boost the combat capabilities of Iranian border guard forces, and improve security along Iran's maritime borders in the region, he said.

Iranian military forces hold routine exercises according to a detailed schedule in various parts of the country in order to test their weaponry and equipment and evaluate their combat preparedness.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran's defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.



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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq Fuad Hussein

10 October 2023 16:01

2002-10-10-2023

On October 10, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq Fuad Hussein, who accompanied Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shia Al Sudani on his official visit to the Russian Federation.

The ministers held a detailed exchange of views on current regional and international issues with a focus on the situation in Iraq and around it. They stated that the two countries had identical or close approaches, based on the fundamental norms of international law, to responding to the crises that persist in the Middle East and that impact regional and global stability and security.

The Russian minister expressed support for the Iraqi authorities' efforts to improve the situation in the country and ensure security, stability and the rule of law. He also reaffirmed Russia's commitment to unconditional respect for Iraq's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

They focused on the Middle East settlement agenda in the context of the dramatic surge in violence in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. Sergey Lavrov and Fuad Hussein stressed the need to take urgent measures to bring about an early ceasefire, something that would make it possible to avoid new casualties and render the necessary assistance to peaceful civilians who have fallen victim to the combat operations. They called on all stakeholders to step up efforts to create the conditions for the early resumption of the full-scale negotiating process between the Palestinians and the Israelis, which is to result in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, to coexist in peace and security with Israel.

They also discussed in detail the situation in Syria and around it with a focus on promoting a comprehensive settlement in Syria based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254. In this regard, they noted the effective role of the Astana Process, in which Iraq participates as an observer, and the Arab League's Contact Group on Syria in the matter of international assistance to stabilising the situation in the SAR and overcoming the aftermath of the protracted crisis there.

In addition, they discussed a number of practical issues related to developing traditionally friendly Russian-Iraqi relations and strengthening bilateral cooperation in various areas.



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Myanmar military court sentences 2 generals to 20 years in prison

The high-ranking junta officials were removed from their positions last month as part of a corruption crackdown.

By RFA Burmese 2023.10.11 -- A military court in Myanmar on Wednesday sentenced two high-ranking generals - including a trusted confidant of junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing - to 20 years in prison for accepting bribes, illegally possessing foreign currencies and violating military regulations.

One of the generals, Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun, was arrested last month and removed from his positions as chairman of several trade and finance committees. He was the seventh-highest leader in the State Administration Council, the formal name of the military junta that took power in a February 2021 coup d'etat.

His removal was part of a crackdown on exporters and other businesspeople as the junta struggles to accumulate foreign revenue amid sanctions and soaring commodity prices, according to Radio Free Asia sources.

The generals were accused of making millions of dollars from their dealings with palm oil traders and by benefiting from the disparity between the official exchange rate of 2,100 kyats to the U.S. dollar and the market rate, Myanmar Now reported.

The other general, Brig. Gen. Yan Naung Soe, was also arrested last month. He was the joint secretary of the Central Committee on Ensuring the Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods, which is responsible for procuring U.S. dollars for trade licensing purposes and other commercial transactions.

The 20-year sentences are equal to life in prison for both men, the junta said in a statement.

'Prevents others from doing the same'

At a junta meeting in Naypyitaw on Sept. 28 - about a week after the two generals were arrested - Min Aung Hlaing reminded junta officials that the State Administration Council must be a model for all governing institutions in Myanmar.

"[Min Aung Hlaing] assigned trusted confidants to manage [the country's economy] while facing a financial crisis due to international sanctions," said Aung Myo, a military analyst and retired military officer.

"He can't forgive those who exploited such situations. That's why he takes action against them," he said. "It supports military unity. And it prevents others from doing the same."

Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun was also prosecuted for the way he treated other high-ranking military officials, according to Capt. Kaung Thu Win, who has joined the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement of individuals who quit their government-related jobs to protest the junta.

"The main causes [for Moe Myint Tun's conviction] were corruption," he said. "But he was very close with Min Aung Hlaing, and he showed disrespect to his seniors who were not in powerful posts like him."

The military court's decision was also likely aimed at showing the international community that the junta can run the country in an orderly manner, Myanmar-based political analyst Sai Kyi Zin Soe said.

The strong evidence of corruption in both cases helps in that demonstration, he said.

Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Matt Reed.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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S Korean voting system 'vulnerable' to N Korean hacking: spy agency

The agency warned Pyongyang could penetrate the election watchdog's network 'at any time.'

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2023.10.11 -- The voting and ballot counting systems at the state-run election watchdog remain susceptible to potential cyberattacks by North Korea, South Korea's spy agency warned on Tuesday.

North Korea could breach the National Election Commission's (NEC's) network "at any time" due to its weak security system, although no such infiltration has been identified, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The announcement came after the NIS and the country's internet safety watchdog, the Korea Internet and Security Agency, jointly conducted a cybersecurity audit of the NEC in response to criticism that it did not adequately secure its system against hacking attempts.

The probe found that the commission's election-management network, which oversees voter registration, ballot counting, and early voting systems, had several cybersecurity weaknesses.

These vulnerabilities could have allowed potential hackers to breach the system and tamper with registered voter data and election results, said the NIS.

The agency added that the NEC has failed to take adequate precautions against North Korean cyber attacks on the emails and other information of its officials despite its warning.

The NIS said in May that it had warned the NEC multiple times its network was exposed to North Korean hackers and should undergo a cyber security check from the agency. At that time, the election watchdog allegedly refused the request, saying such inspection from a government agency could hurt its "political neutrality."

In response to the spy agency's latest findings, the NEC said that even if it is technically possible to hack into the election system, that does not necessarily lead to a rigged election, as it is nearly impossible to manipulate the outcome of an election without the help of commission insiders.

"The inspection results prove that it is possible to hack into the NEC's internal network by using common hacking techniques widely used by international hacking organizations, including the North Korean ones," said Yoo Sang-beom, a spokesperson of South Korea's ruling People Power Party. "A thorough investigation into the gross failures of the commission's security management system should be conducted, and appropriate measures should be put in place that the public can trust."

In July, the spy agency reported that 1.37 million cyberattacks against South Korea, on average, were detected daily in the first half of the year. That's roughly 15% more than the daily average of 1.18 million last year.

Some 70% of those attacks were believed to be carried out by North Korea. China followed with 4% and Russia 2%.

Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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With Russia Mired In Its War On Ukraine, Pro-Kremlin Commentators Revel In 'Good News' From Israel

By Robert Coalson October 11, 2023

On October 7, commentator Marat Bulatov, who hosts the Day Z program on the social media channel of jingoistic pro-Kremlin television personality Vladimir Solovyov, opened his show by congratulating authoritarian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of his 71st birthday.

"We must, must support the president of our country or else what we see happening now in Israel could happen here," Bulatov said on Solovyov Live.

He then began reading messages from viewers, including one from a fan in St. Petersburg who noted that last year, an audacious Ukrainian operation that resulted in a massive explosion on the bridge linking Russia with the occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea had spoiled celebrations of Putin's 70th birthday.

"This year," the viewer wrote, "there is only good news."

"Yes, I completely agree with you," Bulatov said.

Bulatov was just one voice in a chorus of pro-Kremlin Russian commentators who found a lot to like in the Hamas attack on Israel and the militant group's violence targeting civilians. Almost in unison, they have been framing the crisis in the Middle East as an opportunity to criticize the West -- particularly, the United States -- and to attack anti-war Russians who left for Israel after Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and suddenly found themselves huddling under rocket fire.

Marat Guelman, a Russian art critic and anti-war commentator who lives abroad, said that several important similarities between Russia's war against Ukraine and the Hamas attack on Israel could be motivating the surprising reaction from the Kremlin's supporters. These similarities include "a surprise attack on foreign territory," "a war against the civilian population (and taking civilians hostage)," and "the declared intention of destroying a state (in one case Ukraine, in the other, Israel) entirely," he wrote on Facebook.

'Beneficial For Us'

During an online program called Izolenta Live on October 8, pro-Kremlin pundit Tigran Keosayan, the husband of state media executive and RT chief editor Margarita Simonyan, was blunt about the utility of the crisis in Israel.

"Any conflict in the world now is beneficial for us, particularly where the interests of the United States collide," he said.

That assessment was similar to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's. He said on October 9 that "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."

'Get Used To War'

In an October 7 Facebook post, anti-war Russian blogger Ivan Yakovina described what he called the "incredible excitement and joy of the fascist Z-channels over the attack against Israel."

"They are simply glowing with schadenfreude, totally supportive of Hamas, and even jealously asking, 'Why can't we do the same?'" he added. The Russian state and vocal supporters of the invasion of Ukraine have made the letter Z a prominent symbol of pro-war, anti-Ukrainian sentiments.

In an interview with Current Time, Dmitry Dubrovsky, a professor of sociology at Charles University in Prague, said: "Keosayan is right" in his assessment of the propaganda value of the Israel-Hamas conflict for the Russian state.

"Russian propaganda in general has begun saying openly that war has become normal, that now war is nothing extraordinary," Dubrovsky added. "The main message, I think, is: 'Get used to war.'"

That is also a message that Putin has delivered repeatedly since he ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine -- which he casts not as unprovoked aggression but as a forced move to ward off what he claims without evidence is a Western effort to weaken Russia or tear it apart.

Dubrovsky also told Current Time that pro-Kremlin commentators speak about this so brazenly because they are speaking to a limited audience of like-minded people and governments.

"There isn't really anyone left for them to be ashamed in front of," he said. "I think the moment when Russia could be ashamed in front of someone has passed. Now it is addressing only a specific group of countries and allies, most of whom are politically marginal players or openly authoritarian, aggressive regimes like Iran and North Korea."

Blaming Ukraine

Ultranationalist commentator Dmitry Steshin wrote on Telegram on October 8 that "Ukraine has quickly disappeared from the global agenda," before adding the unfounded speculation that Hamas was armed by Ukrainians "stealing Western military aid."

Such claims were later repeated in a fake video purporting to be from the BBC that claimed the open-source investigative group Bellingcat had documented corrupt weapons transfers from Ukraine to Hamas. Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins denounced the video "being pushed by Russian social-media users," in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"It's unclear if this is a Russian government disinformation campaign or a grassroots effort, but it's 100 percent fake," he wrote.

Russian state media and pro-Kremlin commentators have also given considerable oxygen to comments from hard-right Republican U.S. Senator Josh Hawley and and others calling for U.S. military aid to Ukraine to be redirected to Israel.

'Relokanty'

Pro-Kremlin commentators and propagandists saved particular spite for anti-war Russians who left for Israel, referring to them with the pejorative neologism "relokanty," or relocators.

Simonyan wrote on X on October 7: "The country that does not fight with its neighbors is again fighting with its neighbors. We are awaiting the exodus of Russian pacifists. Rather, no, we are not awaiting this."

In particular, such commentators mentioned high-profile figures who left for Israel, including legendary Russian pop star Alla Pugacheva and her husband, comedian Maksim Galkin.

In a broadcast on Channel One state television, Simonyan directly addressed Galkin "and the rest of those...who said they can't live in a country that fights with its neighbors."

Galkin released a video on Instagram on October 9 expressing sympathy and support for Israel.

"We chose Israel and have not regretted it for a minute," he said. "And today, in these difficult and heartbreaking days for Israel, we are here. We are not even thinking of leaving.... Alla and I and our children want to support the people of Israel."

Anti-war commentator Yakovina wrote in his Facebook post that the pro-Kremlin voices "want as many killed civilians as possible, particularly among those well-known Jews who recently left Russia such as [post-Soviet reformer and 1990s-era Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly] Chubais and [rock star Andrei] Makarevich.

Sociologist Dubrovsky said that "such obvious gloating, which has nothing to do with reason, has everything to do with a desire to bully others."

RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time correspondent Vladimir Mikhailov contributed to this report.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-israel-conflict-pro-kremlin- commentators-ukraine-good-news/32633318.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.

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Bulgarian Prosecutors Charge Five Foreigners With Illegal Exports To Russian Units In Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service October 11, 2023

Bulgarian prosecutors said on October 11 that five foreign citizens - three Russian nationals, a Belarusian national, and an Albanian national -- have been charged with participating in a criminal group that was illegally exporting goods for Russian units fighting in Ukraine.

The announcement comes a day after Bulgarian authorities said they had arrested 12 people who purportedly participated in an organized crime group that had allegedly exported "dual-use goods" to Russia -- products intended for civilian use that can also be used for military purposes -- in violation of the sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow because of its war against Ukraine.

Plovdiv District Prosecutor Vanya Hristeva told state broadcaster BNT on October 11 that the five people were charged with criminal responsibility in the scheme and that the district prosecutor's office has submitted a request for their permanent detention.

Hristeva said that the activities of the criminal group went through a company registered in Plovdiv, a city located about 130 kilometers east of the capital, Sofia, which purchased the goods from abroad and then repackaged them in an apartment in the city.

The goods were then transported in suitcases and bags to the Sofia airport, where an attempt was made to export them. However, a special operation conducted by the police and the national-security agency prevented them from being shipped.

The goods included optical sights, binoculars, aviation radios, and computer software worth about 4 million leva ($2.2 million).

They "were intended for Russian units involved in the war in Ukraine," including Wagner mercenaries, and for the regular Russian army, according to the head of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) Plamen Tonchev.

Tonchev also said that the criminal group has been operating in other EU member states, as well as in the United Kingdom, Serbia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, and that it has been active since 2021.

Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union had imposed sanctions on Russia following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Among the 2014 sanctions is a ban on exporting "dual-use goods and technology" intended for military end-users.

In Bulgaria, dual-use goods can only be exported with a permit issued by a commission under the auspices of the Economy Ministry. The national-security agency said the alleged criminal group acted without the necessary permission.

In the recent months, Bulgarian intelligence agencies have come under fire from the newly formed government over their lack of action in countering Russian influence. This led to a conflict between the government and President Rumen Radev, who appoints the heads of key intelligence agencies, including the State Agency for National Security.

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and NATO but has close historical and cultural ties to Russia.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-foreigner-chargd- illegal-exports-russian-units-ukraine/32633097.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.

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Russian Defence Minister inspects fulfilment of state defence order at military transport aircraft manufacturing plant in Ulyanovsk

11.10.2023

In the course of the visit to Ulyanovsk Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspected fulfilment of state defence order at the enterprise of PJSC Il - Aviastar of the United Aircraft Corporation, which is part of the Rostec State Corporation.

Russian Defence Minister inspected production of Il-76MD-90A aircraft, as well as repair and maintenance of An-124-100 aircraft.

General Director of the United Aircraft Corporation Yuri Slyusar reported to head of the Russian military department that today the Aviastar Il-76MD-90A aircraft in the production programme of 2023 are in various degrees of readiness. The aircraft scheduled for supply this year will be issued to the troops within the deadlines set by contractual obligations.

General Director of the United Aircraft Corporation briefed the Russian Defence Minister on planned work on AN-124-100 Ruslan aircraft in the aircraft repair and maintenance workshop.

Sergei Shoigu specified the type of engines that are planned to be installed on promising models of heavy transport aircraft, as well as during the repair and modernisation of the AN-124-100. Chief the Russian Military Transport aviation Lieutenant General Vladimir Benediktov reported that 'now there are two engine options - either the upgraded D-18T or PD-35'.

Following the results of the work at the enterprise, the Russian Defence Minister held a working meeting with management of the United Aircraft Corporation and the relevant central military administration bodies, during which the state and prospects for the development of military transport aviation were discussed.

'We will discuss today extremely important issues, namely the state and increasing the capabilities of military transport aviation. Taking into account the special military operation, the working capacity of military transport aviation has actually increased several times, we have exceeded the load of the military transport aviation in the most tense times of the Soviet Union by almost two times,' noted the Russian Defence Minister during the meeting.

Sergei Shoigu added that the working capacity continues to increase. The Minister drew attention to the fact that 'firstly, we need to maintain the current fleet that we have. Secondly, we need to increase this fleet by issuing new vehicles which are the latest modification of the Il-76, which we have seen today and which we already have in combat. Of course, they show excellent combat characteristics, but there are also opportunities to continue improving these vehicles, to increase their range and carrying capacity'.

'In addition, today we have to make decisions and consider all issues on the AN-124 heavy transport aircraft. By 2025, we should double their number due to the fact that we now have engines, we have the capabilities and capacity to modernize these aircraft. By 2025, the fleet should be doubled,' said head of the Russian military department.

Sergei Shoigu concluded that 'today we will discuss the most important issue that needs to be addressed for a long time. We found a solution. Now we need to decide on the timing as soon as, and as quickly as possible, we will be able to implement this decision, I mean light transport aircraft, which should replace the AN-72 and AN-26. What has been done in this part and what needs to be done'.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Beijing highlights '1992 consensus' in response to Tsai's National Day address

ROC Central News Agency

10/11/2023 09:07 PM

Beijing, Oct. 11 (CNA) Acceptance of the "1992 consensus" is a precondition for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to engage in political dialogue, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesman Chen Binhua () said Wednesday in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's () National Day address the previous day.

Should the ruling Democratic Progress Party (DPP) change its pro-independence stance, "the door for us to engage and converse with them is wide open," Chen said during a regular press briefing.

During the address, which marked the National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) -- Tsai's last before leaving office in May 2024 after two four-year terms -- she called for "peaceful coexistence" with Beijing.

"We are willing to take the Taiwan public consensus as a basis, conditioned with dignity and reciprocity, and with a process of democratic dialogue, to develop with the Beijing authorities a mutually acceptable foundation for interaction and a path to peaceful coexistence," she said.

In response, Chen accused Tsai's administration of "playing a double game," adding that the DPP is leading Taiwan into a perilous situation of potential conflict and danger as it refuses to acknowledge China's one China principle and the "1992 consensus."

The "1992 consensus" refers to a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the ROC's then-ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and Beijing that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what that "one China" refers to -- the ROC or the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Over the years, the KMT has maintained that the consensus allows each side to interpret what "China" means for itself, although Beijing has never formally endorsed that formula.

The DPP, on the other hand, has refused to accept the "1992 consensus." It has argued that Beijing never acknowledged the existence of the ROC and that agreeing to it would imply acceptance of China's claim over Taiwan.

Cross-strait relations expert Chang Wu-ueh () told CNA on Tuesday that Tsai's call for "peaceful coexistence" with Beijing was intended as a gesture of goodwill, but predicted that her remarks were unlikely to elicit a positive response from China.

Beijing has a different perspective on cross-strait relations, which have been complicated by U.S.-China competition and Taiwan's presidential election in January, said Chang, director of Tamkang University's Center for Cross-Strait Relations.

At a press conference in Taipei on Wednesday, DPP legislative caucus whip Chuang Jui-hsiung () rejected comments by some scholars that President Tsai's remarks were empty without the "one China" framework.

Taiwan hopes to peacefully coexist with any country, and accusations that Tsai or the DPP are promoting Taiwan independence or trying to eliminate the Republic of China are unfounded, Chuang said, adding that the real threat to the ROC comes from the PRC.

Meanwhile, at the TAO's press event, Chen was also asked to respond to recent comments by KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia () that the KMT is neither a pro-China party nor a party that supports unification with China.

In response, Chen said that Chinese citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with such remarks, which he said damage cross-strait mutual trust and harm the feelings of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

(By Lu Chia-jung and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/AW

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China pushing military agenda behind economic exchanges: Defense ministry

ROC Central News Agency

10/11/2023 08:35 PM

Taipei, Oct. 11 (CNA) China is attempting to erode the United States' status as the world's leading military power and largest economy by pushing "militarily-motivated" regional economic cooperation around the world, as evidenced by its plan to set up a military base in the Solomon Islands, which seeks to expand its power projection past the Second Island Chain, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).

In a report delivered to the legislature on Wednesday, the MND pointed out that China has a "covert military agenda" aimed at diminishing U.S. military dominance and economic power under its Belt and Road Initiative.

For instance, China has in recent years attempted to establish a military base in the Solomon Islands to consolidate the two countries' strategic partnership, which is a move aimed at expanding Chinese power projection past the Second Island Chain, according to the report.

The Second Island Chain refers to the archipelago that consists of Japan's Bonin Islands and Volcano Islands, the Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, and Western New Guinea.

In addition, China has adopted aggressive maneuvers in an attempt to establish control over issues relating to the South China Sea, including engaging in "gray zone" activities by deploying its naval forces and maritime police and militia to interfere with other countries' freedom of navigation in the region, the report said.

Taiwan, based on its crucial strategic location, is a target of Chinese gray zone tactics, which are adopted in conjunction with cognitive warfare to intimidate the Taiwanese people, it said.

Meanwhile, China has been ramping up military pressure in the waters and airspace around Taiwan, it said. To counter this, Taiwan will vigorously engage in official and unofficial exchanges with like-minded countries, with which it will work to uphold regional peace and stability, it said.

As the Chinese military has integrated space, internet and electronic warfare in its efforts to gain superiority on the battlefield, posing a grave threat to Taiwan's armed forces, the MND will work to bolster its command, control and communications, and computer capabilities, according to the report.

The military will tap into its multilayered early warning and reconnaissance capabilities, made possible by its joint intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance channels, to establish a C41SR system and ensure intelligence in and around the Taiwan Strait is promptly shared with its allies, the report said.

The nation will also rely on a digitized command and control system and free space optical and satellite communications to ensure joint combat command can be carried out effectively.

On weapons acquisition, the report said it expects to take delivery of about 600 military-spec and civilian drones being developed by the state-run National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and private companies this year and in 2024.

Furthermore, projects to build warships and warplanes domestically are proceeding as planned, the report said.

At the same time, about 20 anti-unmanned aerial vehicle (anti-UAV) systems are scheduled for mass production in 2024 and 2025, which is expected to help foster a domestic supply chain for such systems.

(By Matt Yu and Sean Lin)

Enditem/AW

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'Peaceful separation' a wishful thinking: Taiwan Affairs Office on Tsai Ing-wen's speech

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Oct 11, 2023 07:04 PM

In response to Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen's remarks in her "Double Ten" speech, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, pointed out on Wednesday that while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan island talk about peace and dialogue, they stubbornly adhere to the "Taiwan independence" stance and refuse to recognize the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. The DPP's two-faced approach cannot deceive the world and attempting to achieve "peaceful separation" is even more of a wishful thinking.

Tsai claimed that she's willing to develop relations with the Chinese mainland based on a mutually acceptable foundation for interaction and maintain peaceful and stable cross-Straits relations.

At the press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday, Chen stated that since the DPP came to power in 2016, they have denied the 1992 Consensus and continuously colluded with external forces to provoke "independence," undermining the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China and obstructing cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation. They are the true disruptors of the current situation in the Taiwan Straits and the biggest source of instability for peace in the Taiwan Straits, he said.

"Taiwan independence" forces and peace in the Taiwan Straits are incompatible, posing the greatest threat to peace and stability in the region. Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and any attempt to change this status quo will only intensify tensions and instability in the Taiwan Straits. Only by returning to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle can cross-Straits relations return to the path of peaceful development, Chen noted.

According to media reports, during the recent annual cross-Straits relation survey published by the island's United Daily News, the proportion of Taiwan residents worried about "Taiwan independence" has increased. In response to this, Chen stated that this result of the public opinion survey shows that an increasing number of Taiwan residents realize that "Taiwan independence" means war. The DPP authorities and the forces of "Taiwan independence" have not only become troublemakers in the region but also the biggest disruptors of peace for the people of the island of Taiwan.

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Chinese mainland's probe of trade barriers imposed by Taiwan is 'normal procedure': State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Oct 11, 2023 03:29 PM

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the Taiwan island have unilaterally restricted imports from the Chinese mainland on a large scale for a long time, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday, commenting on the mainland's extension of a probe into the Taiwan island's trade barriers on mainland products that was announced on Monday.

"The DPP authorities have been engaging in political manipulation to incite cross-Straits confrontation, which shows it is intent on its political self-interest and ignores the interests of businesses and people on the island," Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday during a press conference.

Chen noted that the announcement by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Monday to extend the investigation period on trade barriers imposed by Taiwan authorities was a decision made in accordance with relevant regulations and investigation needs, which is a normal procedure.

The mainland has long provided preferential terms for products from the Taiwan island, while the DPP authorities have adopted artificial restrictions and discriminatory measures against many mainland products, He Weiwen, senior fellow of the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times.

"The DPP authorities have attempted to obstruct normal cross-Straits business cooperation and create obstacles to cross-Straits economic and trade exchanges," Chen said.

In response to media reports that Taiwan authorities probed four Taiwan-based firms allegedly selling chip equipment to Huawei despite US sanctions, Chen said that the four companies aren't part of the semiconductor industry chain and don't produce semiconductor-related materials, equipment or products.

The spokesperson stressed that for some time, the DPP authorities have failed to take concrete measures to lift discriminatory trade measures against the mainland and have intensified efforts to obstruct and undermine cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation.

"This will only reduce the space for Taiwan's economic development and harm the vital interests of Taiwan compatriots," said Chen.

Analysts also noted that in recent years, the DPP authorities have colluded with some external forces to strengthen separatist activities and undermine normal economic and trade relations between the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan.

There are about 126,000 Taiwan-funded enterprises registered on the mainland and the actual use of capital from the island of Taiwan has reached $74.7 billion, according to statistics from the MOFCOM.

"We will, as always, continue to improve policies and measures that benefit Taiwan compatriots and enterprises, and implement equal treatment," Chen noted.

Analysts said that the mainland is always supportive of Taiwan enterprises registered on the mainland with many preferential policies, from which Taiwan enterprises have greatly benefited.

Chen said that since the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) came into effect in 2010, it has delivered tangible benefits to industries on both sides of the Straits, especially the relevant industries and people in Taiwan.

Mainstream public opinion on the Taiwan island supports the continued implementation of the ECFA, which proves that the ECFA is a good agreement for the benefit of Taiwan compatriots, said Chen.

"The keys to ensuring and improving the interests and well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan are for compatriots on both sides of the Straits to unite, firmly oppose acts of Taiwan secessionism and jointly safeguard and promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," the spokesperson stressed.

Tang Yonghong, deputy director of the Taiwan Research Center at Xiamen University, told the Global Times recently that many of Taiwan's exports to the mainland are suspected of dumping.

If the mainland expands the scope and scale of anti-dumping investigations, just like the anti-dumping measures imposed on polycarbonate imports from Taiwan in August, it will deal a huge blow to Taiwan's industry, said Tang.

He also said that since the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) came into effect, it has delivered tangible benefits to the industries on both sides of the Straits, especially the relevant industries and people in Taiwan.

It is the mainstream public opinion on the Taiwan island that supports the continued implementation of ECFA, which proves that ECFA is a good agreement for the benefit of Taiwan compatriots, said Chen.

"The key to ensuring and improving the interests and well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan is for compatriots on both sides of the Straits to unite, firmly oppose acts of Taiwan secessionism and jointly safeguard and promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," the spokesperson stressed.

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Taiwan independence ruins safe life for its people, China warns

Tsai Ing-wen says Taiwanese people will be 'democratic and freer' for generations to come.

By Elaine Chan for RFA 2023.10.11 -- China has once more warned that "Taiwanese independence" is the biggest destroyer of the peace and safety of the island's 23 million people.

"Both sides [of the Taiwan Strait] belong to one China, the historical coordinates are clear, the legal facts are clear, with no room for doubt or change. The people of both sides want peace, development, exchange, cooperation," said Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua in a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday .

"Engaging in 'Taiwan independence,' separatism goes against the common will of compatriots from both sides, severely destroys compatriots' interests, pushing Taiwan towards a dangerous state," Chen stressed.

"'The golden child of Taiwanese independence' will only destroy the sons of Taiwan," he added, referring to Taiwan's Vice President William Lai Ching-te, a strong advocate of Taiwan's self-determination and a Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate.

Chen's warning was in response to a question on Lai's stance that the January presidential elections in Taiwan were about choosing between democracy and dictatorship, not about war and peace.

The comments came a day after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the island seeks "peaceful coexistence with free, unrestricted, and unburdened interactions between people across the strait" in her last National Day address on Tuesday.

Tsai stressed that "peace is the only option across the strait," and keeping the status quo is the critical key to ensuring peace.

"Particularly, the international community has come to realize that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is an indispensable component of global security and prosperity. Neither side can unilaterally change the status quo. Differences across the strait must be resolved peacefully."

Tsai also said that the island's "democratic achievements have set a benchmark for the world," and Taiwanese people will be a "democratic and free people for generations to come."

Yet, Beijing regards the self-governed island as a renegade province and has vowed that it will reclaim sovereignty, even if it has to resort to the use of force. Taiwan has become the flashpoint between the United States and China - where relations are increasingly strained - inevitably raising its importance on the world map.

At the Taiwan Affairs Office press conference, spokesperson Chen said more and more Taiwanese people are aware that "Taiwanese independence" means war, with reference to findings from a cross-strait survey by Taiwan's United Daily News.

"The DPP and 'Taiwanese independence' forces are not only troublemakers of the Taiwan Strait area's peace and stability, but are also the biggest destructors of the Taiwanese public's peaceful and safe lives," Chen remarked.

In early October, the widely circulated UDN found in its annual survey that the approval rate for Tsai's handling of cross-strait relations was 38%, against 49% disapproval. This was despite a 5-percentage-point rise in the approval rate from last year's 33% and a 4-percentage-point drop in the disapproval rate to from 53% in 2022.

On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the highest possibility of war, Taiwanese respondents indicated a 4.5, up from 4.4 the previous year.

Also on a tension scale of one to 10, the survey found that Taiwanese people believed that tensions were most intense in political and military relations, and diplomacy with 7, 7.2 and 7.3 respectively. Conversely, moderation was felt for societal and trade relations, at 5.4 and 6.4 respectively.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content October not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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October 11, 2023

By David Vergun , DOD News

DOD Celebrates Destruction of Its Last Chemical Agents

On July 7, disposal experts destroyed the last remaining M55 rocket filled with deadly sarin nerve agent at a storage facility in Kentucky.

With the disposal, the Defense Department completed the safe elimination of all declared chemical agents amassed between World War I and the late 1960s. The U.S. stockpile once consisted of about 30,600 tons of chemical warfare agents.

Deborah G. Rosenblum, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, spoke today at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Richmond, Kentucky, where she addressed political leaders and workers from the state's Blue Grass Army Depot, where the last chemical agents were destroyed.

"With this milestone, the United States reinforces its commitment to achieving a world free of chemical weapons," Rosenblum said.

The milestone ushered the U.S. into compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, a treaty prohibiting the production and use of chemical weapons and their destruction. The U.S. ratified the treaty in 1997, joining a coalition that now includes nearly 200 countries.

In January 2020, the main plant at Blue Grass began operations using neutralization to destroy chemical agent in projectiles and rockets. The work also consisted of using an explosive destruction technology and a static detonation chamber to destroy projectiles filled with solidified mustard agent, she said.

The Bechtel-Parsons Blue Grass team designed, built, tested and operated the facility, she said, noting that the DOD agency responsible for safe destruction a Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives a also had a role in the work.

"They've exemplified a one team, one mission mentality, from the workforce to the regulators, the stakeholders, the local leaders, community, federal, state and defense leaders. It's taken all of us to get across the line, and we've done it," she said.

There's still more work to be done to close the Blue Grass plant safely, she added.

The department will continue to support the chemical demilitarization program mission, she said.

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Newark, Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 61.7 billion container homes market will reach USD 109.4 billion by 2032. Container homes are constructed from shipping containers that transport products on trains, trucks, and ships. Both brand-new, empty containers and used, abandoned containers can be used to build these homes. Architects are constructing homes of all sizes and shapes using these enormous bricks. Builders may create high-quality, inexpensive, ecological homes using shipping containers. Additionally, because these homes are created from recycled containers that conserve metal resources, they are touted as environmentally beneficial residences.



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North America to account for the largest market size during the forecast period.



North America is expected to have the essential container homes market share. The market for container homes in North America is growing due to well-established industrial sectors and developing socio-economic conditions. Furthermore, the rising disposable income and an increasing number of individuals working and living in metropolitan areas increase the demand for container homes. Furthermore, the demand for container homes in North America increases as the need for sustainable housing solutions increases.



The fixed homes segment dominated the market with the most significant revenue of USD 36.4 billion.



The fixed homes segment dominated the market with the most significant revenue of USD 36.4 billion. Fixed homes are durable and can be used for longer periods. These homes are constructed in such a way that they tolerate harsh climatic conditions, which increases the demand for fixed-container homes.



The tiny homes segment dominated the market with the most significant revenue of USD 23.4 billion.



The tiny homes segment dominated the market with the most significant revenue of USD 23.4 billion. Tiny homes are easy to maintain and less costly than other container homes. These homes are light and portable, making them a popular choice among youths in metropolitan cities.



The residential segment dominated the market with the most significant revenue of USD 25.9 billion.



The residential segment dominated the market with the most significant revenue of USD 25.9 billion. The increasing urbanization and rising demand of people to stay in urban areas increases the need for residential container homes.



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Market Dynamics:



Drivers: Reduced construction cost



Container homes are primarily cheaper as most construction companies are using old shipping containers for building container homes, making them cheaper and propelling the markets growth. Furthermore, these homes can be constructed quickly compared to regular homes, which propels the markets growth.



Restraint: Highly corrosive



The risk of corrosion is preventing the market from expanding. The climate where the sea container is located significantly impacts the lifespan of a container home. Due to the high salt concentration in the air, these homes deteriorate more quickly in coastal areas.



Opportunity: Increasing government approvals



The promotion of energy-efficient manufacturing and infrastructure projects by governments worldwide is opening up new market opportunities for the producers of modular containers. Additionally, investing in green buildings will be one of the best global opportunities over the forecast period.



Challenge: Structural issues



Container homes have structural issues which challenge the markets growth. The interior of these houses is given several architectural design options. These include glass walls, timber details, splashes of flora, vacation huts, spiral staircases, guesthouses fashioned out of shipping containers, and others. These environmentally friendly plans increase the impression of openness and style. However, their durability decreases, challenging the markets growth.



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Some of the major players operating in the container homes market are:



 Anderco Pte Ltd

 SEA BOX, Inc.

 Almar Container Group

 HONOMOBO

 Portable Space Ltd

 ELA Container GmbH

 Royal Wolf

 Supertech Industries

 Tempohousing

 SG Blocks, Inc.



Key Segments cover in the market:



By Type:



 Fixed

 Movable



By Architecture:



 Tiny Homes

 Duplex

 Apartments



By End-User:



 Residential

 Commercial

 Industrial



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About the report:



The global container homes 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 offers an in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining critical insight into the market. The study includes Porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material 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 that provides actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. They have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the client's objectives of high-quality output within a short period. They provide both customized (client-specific) and syndicate reports. Their repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Their customized solutions meet the client's requirements whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market.



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NEWARK, Del, Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global inkjet coders market size is anticipated to total US$ 3.9 billion by 2033. It is estimated to record a steady CAGR of 7.7% in the review period 2023 to 2033. It is likely to reach US$ 1.8 billion in 2023. The global inkjet coders market registered an astonishing CAGR of 9.1% in the historical period between 2018 and 2022.



The inkjet coders market is a part of the broader coding and marking industry segment. Inkjet coder is a printing device that uses inkjet technology to mark or encode products for identification, traceability, and marking purposes.

The inkjet coders market includes a variety of printers that use inkjet technology to print on various surfaces, including packaging labels, materials, and the products themselves. Industries with stringent regulatory requirements, such as pharmaceuticals and food, rely heavily on inkjet printers for accurate, compliant coding to meet security and traceability standards.

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Programmable inkjet coders are designed to work on diverse substrates, including metal, plastic, paper, glass, and more. This flexibility is a key feature of the technology. There is an increasing focus on environmentally friendly inks and sustainable encoding solutions, including solvent-free and water-based inks, to reduce the ecological impact of the encoding process.

Inkjet coders are progressively integrated into Industry 4.0 environments, incorporating IoT technology for real-time monitoring, data analysis, and connectivity with other production line gears. Industries are seeking customizable inkjet printers for unique branding and rich data printing.

The inkjet coders market is growing globally, with emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America showing noteworthy potential due to increasing industrialization. The market is competitive, with established manufacturers and new entrants offering diverse products. Differentiation is often based on technological innovation, product flexibility, and after-sales service.

Key Takeaways from the Inkjet Coders Market Report

China inkjet coders market is projected to total US$ 567.3 million by 2033.

by 2033. Japan's inkjet coders market is anticipated to hit US$ 363.4 million by 2033.

by 2033. The South Korean inkjet coders market is expected to reach US$ 201.9 million by 2033.

by 2033. In terms of type, CIJ inkjet coders are expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% through 2033.

through 2033. Based on application, the food category is projected to account for a leading CAGR of 7.3% through 2033.



Manufacturers of marking and coding systems have an upright opportunity due to the food and beverage industry's regulatory regulations regarding the display or labeling of information. The industry is growing because of acceptance and awareness of these high-quality codes and labels to print food product information quickly and efficiently. Manufacturers in the high-speed, high-performance beverage industry face changing customer behavior that can impact operational efficiency, a trend likely to hold strong through 2033. - opines Sudip Saha, managing director and MD at Future Market Insights (FMI) analyst.



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Competitive Landscape

Inkjet suppliers are focusing on developing new products, which will help strengthen their presence in the market. Creating new products and services with new qualities, including energy efficiency, high precision, exceptional electrical properties, and versatility, is another area of interest for key companies. Key companies invest heavily in extensive research and development to achieve this.

Restraints:



While the inkjet coders market holds immense potential, certain challenges and restraints need consideration. Market players must navigate issues related to technology adoption, evolving regulatory landscapes, and pricing pressures. Moreover, competition in this space is expected to intensify as new entrants join the fray, prompting established players to innovate and differentiate their offerings continually.

For instance,

In 2022, Videojet Technologies, Inc. announced the launch of the new Videojet 1580 continuous inkjet (CIJ) encoder/printer, which provides enhanced marking and encoding capabilities with improved availability and cost.

Videojet Technologies, Inc. announced the launch of the new Videojet 1580 continuous inkjet (CIJ) encoder/printer, which provides enhanced marking and encoding capabilities with improved availability and cost. In 2022, Systech technology allows its manufacturers to enhance a layer of digital protection to their goods that is not physically possible.

Systech technology allows its manufacturers to enhance a layer of digital protection to their goods that is not physically possible. In March 2022, Xaar acquired Megnajet, a company that designs and manufactures industrial ink management systems and digital inkjet supply systems.



Get More Valuable Insights into Inkjet Coders Market Report

In its new offering, Future Market Insights (FMI) provides an unbiased global inkjet coders market analysis, presenting historical demand data (2018 to 2022) and forecast statistics from 2023 to 2033.

The study incorporates compelling insights on the inkjet coders industry based on type (CIJ inkjet coder, DOD inkjet coder, TIJ coder, and other types) application (food, medical, packing, cosmetic, automobile, other applications) across several regions.

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Inkjet Coders Market Outlook by Category

Type:

CIJ Inkjet Coder

DOD Inkjet Coder

TIJ Coder

Other Types

Application:

Food

Medical

Packing

Cosmetic

Automobile

Other Applications

Author by:

Sudip Saha is the managing director and co-founder at Future Market Insights, an award-winning market research and consulting firm. Sudip is committed to shaping the market research industry with credible solutions and constantly makes a buzz in the media with his thought leadership. His vast experience in market research and project management a consumer electronics will likely remain the leading end-use sector cross verticals in APAC, EMEA, and the Americas reflects his growth-oriented approach to clients.

He is a strong believer and proponent of innovation-based solutions, emphasizing customized solutions to meet one client's requirements at a time. His foresightedness and visionary approach recently got him recognized as the Global Icon in Business Consulting at the ET Inspiring Leaders Awards 2022.

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The global Thermal & Inkjet Disc Printers Market Size revenue totaled US$ 338.4 million in 2023. The thermal & inkjet disc printers market is expected to reach US$ 632.8 million by 2033, declining at a CAGR of 6.1% in the forecast period from 2023 to 2033.

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Newark, Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 8.64 billion in 2022 global photosensitive glass market will reach USD 16.89 billion by 2032. As the medical sector continues to evolve, there is a growing need for advanced medical imaging and diagnostic equipment. Photosensitive glass can find applications in manufacturing high-performance optics for these devices. Additionally, increasing funding and research activities in educational institutions focused on optics, photonics, and related fields can drive the demand for photosensitive glass for experimental and scientific purposes. Also, the increasing awareness of environmental sustainability drives the demand for eco-friendly materials. Photosensitive glass, known for its environmental benefits compared to some alternatives, aligns well with this trend. Besides, the ability to create customized patterns, designs, and textures on photosensitive glass makes it attractive for architectural and interior design applications. Growing interest in personalized spaces and aesthetics presents opportunities in this sector.



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Key Insight of the global Photosensitive Glass market



Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest market growth over the forecast period.



Asia Pacific is home to the world's largest electronics and telecommunications manufacturers. The region's rapid urbanization and increasing consumer demand for smartphones, smart devices, and high-speed internet drive the need for photosensitive glass in producing optical components for these industries. The region is experiencing significant expansion in optical fiber networks, particularly in countries like China and India. Photosensitive glass is essential for manufacturing optical components used in these networks, including fiber optic cables, amplifiers, and transceivers. Furthermore, Asia Pacific's growing healthcare sector requires advanced medical imaging and diagnostic equipment. Photosensitive glass is used in manufacturing high-performance optics for medical devices, contributing to market growth. Besides, the region is a global manufacturing hub for various electronics, automotive, and healthcare industries. The demand for photosensitive glass in manufacturing precision optical components for these industries is rising.



In 2022, the transparent glass segment dominated the market with the largest share of 72.85% and revenue of 6.29 billion.



The type segment includes transparent glass and opacified glass. In 2022, the transparent glass segment dominated the market with the largest share of 72.85% and revenue of 6.29 billion.



In 2022, the decorative segment dominated the market with the highest share of 33.19% and market revenue of 2.87 billion.



The application segment is classified into construction, ornaments, decorative, electronic, automotive and others. In 2022, the decorative segment dominated the market with the highest share of 33.19% and market revenue of 2.87 billion.



In 2022, the offline segment held the largest market share at 71.59% and a market revenue of 6.19 billion.



The sales channel segment is divided into online and offline. In 2022, the offline segment held the largest market share at 71.59% and a market revenue of 6.19 billion.



Advancement in market



In January 2022, 3D Glass Solutions Inc., a prominent leader in glass-based 3D passive RF devices, successfully concluded its extended Series B1 funding round, securing an additional USD 4 million in capital. This funding round introduces a new investor, Menlo Microsystems Company, and sees the continued support of existing investors, Corning Incorporated and Sun Mountain Capital. With this fresh injection of funds, 3D Glass Solutions is poised to strengthen its production capabilities and accelerate the development of its products.



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Market Dynamics



Driver: Increased use in 3D printing and aerospace and defense applications.



Photosensitive glass is being increasingly utilized in 3D printing and additive manufacturing processes. Its unique properties, such as high resolution and fine detail replication, make it a preferred material for creating intricate 3D-printed objects. Also, the aerospace and defense industries are adopting photosensitive glass for its use in optical systems, laser components, and sensors. The need for high-performance materials in these sectors is driving the market forward.



Restraint: Technical expertise requirement and environmental concerns.



While photosensitive glass is considered more environmentally friendly than some alternatives, there are still environmental concerns associated with glass production, including energy consumption and emissions. Stringent environmental regulations can add to the cost and complexity of production. Additionally, working with photosensitive glass often requires specialized technical expertise in optics and photonics. This factor can pose a barrier to entry for some potential users who need more knowledge and skills to incorporate photosensitive glass into their products or processes.



Opportunity: Rising consumer electronics and additive manufacturing industry.



The 3D printing industry is growing, and photosensitive glass is finding applications due to its high-resolution capabilities. As 3D printing becomes more widespread, so does the demand for specialized materials like photosensitive glass. Besides, consumer electronics, such as smartphones and wearable devices, increasingly incorporate optical components. As the consumer electronics industry is growing rapidly, there is a rising opportunity for photosensitive glass to be used in these devices.



Challenge: Competitive landscape.



The photosensitive glass market faces competition from alternative materials, such as traditional optical glasses and polymers. These materials may offer similar optical properties at a lower cost, making it challenging for photosensitive glass to gain market share in some applications. Furthermore, the field of optical materials is constantly evolving, with new materials and technologies emerging regularly. Staying up-to-date with the latest advances can take time and effort for photosensitive glass manufacturers. As a result, it can challenge the market's growth.



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Some of the major players operating in the global Photosensitive Glass market are:



 OptiGrate Corp.

 Hoya Corporation

 Gaffer Glass

 Schott Corporation

 Invenios

 Lastek

 Corning Incorporated

 Owens-Illinois, Inc.

 Verallia

 IPG Photonics Corporation

 3D Glass Solutions, Inc.

 Sumita Optical Glass, Inc.

 Ondax Inc.

 Vitayon Fine Chemical Technology Co., Ltd.



Key Segments cover in the market:



By Type



 Transparent Glass

 Opacified Glass



By Application



 Construction

 Ornaments

 Decorative

 Electronic

 Automotive

 Others



By Sales Channel



 Online

 Offline



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)



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About the report:



The market is analyzed based on value (USD Billion) and volume (square meters). 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 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.



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Study aims to establish whether BioCaptis technology can be used to isolate cell free DNA (cfDNA) from pleural fluid samples in sufficient quantities for downstream DNA analysis

Goal is to identify tumour specific mutations to aid diagnosis of pleural disease and cancer type without requiring invasive biopsy

Study to be conducted in collaboration with University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and NHS Highland

Edinburgh, UK  12 October 2023  BIOCAPTIVA Ltd (BIOCAPTIVA), a company developing the BioCaptis  a revolutionary cell-free DNA (cfDNA) capture device designed to transform liquid biopsy testing for cancer management  announces initiation of an ex-vivo study to establish if, using its BioCaptis device, pleural fluid cfDNA can be isolated from exudative pleural fluid samples in sufficient quantities for downstream DNA analysis to improve pleural disease diagnosis. The study will involve a collaboration between BioCaptiva, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) and NHS Highland.

Jeremy Wheeler, CEO of BIOCAPTIVA said: The diagnosis of pleural disease is challenging, and fluid sampling is often inconclusive due to low tumour cell content, with further invasive biopsies often required that are themselves common causes of hospital-based admission and patient morbidity, meaning there is a need for alternative non-invasive procedures. Due to its ability to increase the amount of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) available for liquid biopsy testing, our BioCaptis device has the potential to significantly expedite pleural disease diagnosis times while at the same time reducing overall risks and costs, giving patients the best opportunity for a positive health outcome.

Pleural disease is an umbrella term defined by the presence of thickening of the lining of the lung or fluid between the chest wall and lung itself. It encompasses multiple conditions including cancer, infection, and auto-immune disease.

The occurrence of cfDNA in exudative pleural fluid samples is well established, but it is often present in insufficient concentrations for sequencing to confirm a cancer diagnosis (versus benign disease). Although many patients presenting with pleural disease will have an underlying malignancy, only 60% of these are diagnosed via routine pleural fluid sampling with the remainder having to undergo invasive biopsy sampling which carries additional risks and can also be inconclusive. This route to diagnosis is particularly challenging for frail elderly patients and therefore improving the diagnostic utility of pleural fluid has both clinical and health economic benefits.

Principal Investigator Assistant Professor Antonia Pritchard, Reader in Genetics and Immunology at UHI added: Patients with cancers affecting the lungs frequently have a large build-up of fluid around the lungs, which is drained as part of standard clinical care. This collaboration between BioCaptiva, UHI and NHS Highlands to investigate the use of the BioCaptis to isolate cell-free DNA from this fluid, has the goal of identifying tumour specific mutations to aid diagnosis of the type of cancer present without requiring invasive biopsy.

Professor Ian Megson, Head of Health Research and Innovation at UHI commented: Were delighted to have been invited by BioCaptiva to help investigate their technology in detecting a specific type of lung cancer that is currently very difficult to diagnose. Collaboration is at our core and this work that brings together clinicians, UHI researchers and a company with world-leading technology to improve early diagnosis is an excellent example of the strength of this approach.

ENDS

About BIOCAPTIVA

BIOCAPTIVA is developing the BioCaptis, a revolutionary medical device which has the potential to transform liquid biopsy testing for cancer management, by improving early diagnosis and monitoring of disease and enhancing clinical trial data of cancer patients.

The BioCaptis captures up to 100x more cell free DNA (cfDNA) than a venous blood draw, yielding cfDNA in high quality and quantity for testing, addressing the major challenge of liquid biopsy in cancer management. This will potentially allow the testing of a far greater number of cancer types and stages in a much wider range of patients.

BIOCAPTIVA was founded in 2021 when it spun out from the University of Edinburgh. BIOCAPTIVA is based in Edinburgh and backed by Archangels Scottish Enterprise, Cancer Research Horizons, the new innovation engine of Cancer Research UK and Old College Capital, the University of Edinburghs in-house venture investment fund.

For more information, please visit www.biocaptiva.com and follow us on LinkedIn

Contacts

Jeremy Wheeler

Chief Executive Officer

info@biocaptiva.com

www.biocaptiva.com

Media Relations for BIOCAPTIVA Ltd

Frazer Hall, Sandi Greenwood - MEDiSTRAVA Consulting

+44 (0)20 3928 6900

biocaptiva@medistrava.com

About University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

UHI is a regional further and higher education partnership, serving the communities of the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire. It covers the largest geographical area of any campus-based university or college in the UK and has one of the largest student populations in Scotland, with over 36,000 students studying each year.

UHI offers a range of courses, from access level to PhD. Its research and innovation activity is centred on its communities and engages with national and international projects and initiatives.

UHI contributes 560m to the economies of the Highlands and Islands, Moray and Perthshire every year and supports 6,200 jobs.

For more information, please visit https://www.uhi.ac.uk/ or follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook , or X (formerly Twitter) .

Contacts

Susan Szymborski-Welsh, Communications Officer, University of the Highlands and Islands

07920 703 886
Dublin, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market by Scale of Operation, Application Area, Therapeutic Area, and Geography: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global plasmid DNA manufacturing market is expected to grow at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~15% during 2023-2035

This report presents an extensive examination of the current landscape, market size, and forthcoming opportunities within the plasmid DNA manufacturing sector throughout the projected period. It underscores the contributions of various stakeholders involved in this rapidly emerging segment of the pharmaceutical industry.

The primary objective of this market report is to deliver a comprehensive market forecast analysis, estimating the existing market size and future prospects for plasmid manufacturers in the coming decade. Drawing upon multiple parameters, likely adoption patterns, and primary validations, the publisher has furnished a well-informed projection of market evolution from 2023 to 2035.

The plasmid DNA manufacturing market is a dynamic and swiftly expanding sector with a crucial role in biotechnology and genetic research. Plasmid DNA, a circular, double-stranded DNA molecule capable of independent replication from chromosomal DNA, is genetically engineered and plays a pivotal role in the development of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), including cell and gene therapies, as well as nucleic acid vaccines. It's worth noting that the current demand for plasmid DNA is experiencing exponential growth, driven by the expanding landscape of cell and gene therapies.

This demand surge was further amplified by the global COVID-19 pandemic, as plasmid-based delivery methods became indispensable for RNA/DNA vaccine and therapeutic development. During this period, major pharmaceutical players like Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech employed plasmid-based platforms for their mRNA vaccines, significantly boosting the demand for plasmid DNA.

However, plasmid production presents various challenges, including low yields, plasmid stability issues, and regulatory considerations, necessitating specialized facilities and adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Consequently, an increasing number of researchers and drug developers are turning to contract service providers with specialized expertise and advanced technologies to meet their GMP plasmid manufacturing needs.

These service providers offer comprehensive solutions encompassing process development and optimization, plasmid construction, plasmid design, and plasmid engineering. Moreover, specialized service providers streamline the pDNA manufacturing process, optimize resource utilization, and ensure the delivery of high-quality plasmid DNA that meets the stringent requirements of regulatory bodies and research standards.

With the rising demand for ATMPs and the growing trend of outsourcing pDNA manufacturing operations, the plasmid DNA manufacturing market is poised for substantial growth in the forecast period.

Key Market Insights

Enhanced Reliability on pDNA Manufacturing Service Providers

The development and manufacturing of plasmid DNA requires significant investment in terms of time, expertise, and resources. While a few large pharmaceutical companies have established in-house manufacturing facilities, the need for substantial capital investment and complex infrastructure to produce plasmid DNA has led many other drug developers to outsource pDNA manufacturing operations to specialized service providers.

Consequently, there has been an increased emphasis on collaboration, aimed at outsourcing pDNA manufacturing operations to experienced partners. Outsourcing offers a viable solution to overcome challenges associated with plasmid stability, ensuring the integrity and functionality of the desired DNA constructs.

Plasmid Manufacturer Market Landscape

The current market landscape features the presence of over 70 companies offering a range of plasmid DNA services, including plasmid design, plasmid engineering, plasmid construction, process development and optimization, and plasmid manufacturing.

Overall, the market seems to be well-fragmented, featuring the presence of very small, small, mid-sized, large, and very large companies having the required expertise to offer pDNA manufacturing services across different scales of operations, such as preclinical, clinical, and commercial.

Technology Trends: Doggybone DNATM is Likely to Revolutionize Gene Therapy

The plasmid DNA industry is on the verge of a groundbreaking revolution, driven by the emergence of Doggybone DNAT (dbDNA) technology developed by Touchlight. This pioneering linear plasmid technology, produced abiotically through rolling circle amplification, represents a seismic shift in this field.

DbDNAT offers unparalleled advantages, including enhanced stability, simplified purification, and cost-effective scalability, challenging conventional plasmid production methods. With its remarkable versatility in genetic engineering, gene therapy, and mRNA production, dbDNAT stands as a highly promising solution.

Leading Companies Engaged in Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market

Examples of key plasmid manufacturers (which have also been profiled in this report) offering pDNA manufacturing services include (in alphabetical order) AGC Biologics, Aldevron, Biomay, Charles River, Cytovance Biologics, Forge Biologics, GenScript ProBio, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and VGXI.

Expansion of Facilities for Building GMP Plasmid Manufacturing Capabilities

The players in this market are continuously expanding their facilities in order to accommodate the growing demand for plasmid DNA. They are vigorously advancing their capabilities to serve as a fully integrated one-stop-shop by offering a range of plasmid services, including process development and optimization, plasmid design, plasmid engineering and plasmid construct, and GMP plasmid manufacturing.

Market Trends: Partnership and Collaboration on the Rise for Plasmid DNA Manufacturing

Stakeholders in the plasmid manufacturing industry have forged several partnerships to enhance their service portfolios and augment the reach of their proprietary plasmid DNA technology. It is worth highlighting that over 55% of these partnerships have been inked since 2021.

Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Market Size: Gene Therapy Market Segment to Hold the Largest Market Share

Driven by the increasing adoption of gene therapies and rising demand for nucleic acid vaccines, the plasmid DNA manufacturing market is anticipated to grow at an annualized rate (CAGR) of ~15% during the forecast period 2023-2035. It is worth highlighting that, in terms of application area, gene therapy manufacturing is expected to capture the majority of the market share in the plasmid DNA manufacturing market in 2023.

Recent Developments

Several recent developments have taken place in the field of plasmid manufacturing. Some of these recent initiatives have been mentioned below. These developments, even if they took place post the release of the market report, substantiate the overall market trends that the publisher has outlined in the analyses.

Key Topics Covered:

1. PREFACE

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. ECONOMIC AND OTHER PROJECT SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS

3.1. Chapter Overview

3.2. Market Dynamics

4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

5. INTRODUCTION

5.1. Chapter Overview

5.2. Overview of Plasmids

5.3. Types of Plasmids (By Function)

5.4. Plasmid DNA Manufacturing

5.5. Applications of Plasmid DNA in Pharmaceutical Industry

5.6. Challenges Associated with Plasmid DNA Manufacturing

5.7 Need for Outsourcing Plasmid DNA Manufacturing

5.8 Future Perspectives

6. OVERALL MARKET LANDSCAPE

6.1. Chapter Overview

6.2. Plasmid DNA Service Providers: Overall Market Landscape

6.3. Analysis by Year of Establishment

6.4. Analysis by Company Size

6.5. Analysis by Location of Headquarters

6.6. Analysis by Type of Company

6.7. Analysis by Type of Venture

6.8. Analysis by Type of Service(s) Offered

6.9. Analysis by Key Offerings

6.10. Analysis by Grade of Plasmid DNA

6.11. Analysis by Scale of Operation

6.12. Analysis by Application Area(s)

7. KEY INSIGHTS

7.1. Chapter Overview

7.2. Plasmid DNA Service Providers: Key Insights

8. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

8.1. Chapter Overview

8.2. Partnership Models

8.3. Plasmid DNA Services: Partnerships and Collaborations

9. ACQUISITIONS

9.1. Chapter Overview

9.2. Acquisitions Models

9.3. Plasmid DNA Services Providers: Acquisitions

10. CAPACITY ANALYSIS

10.1. Chapter Overview

10.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology

10.3. Plasmid DNA Manufacturing: Global Installed Capacity

10.4. Concluding Remarks

11. COMPANY COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS

11.1. Chapter Overview

11.2. Assumptions and Key Parameters

11.3. Methodology

11.4. Plasmid DNA Manufacturing Service Providers: Company Competitiveness Analysis

12. COMPANY PROFILES

12.1. Chapter Overview

12.2. AGC Biologics

12.3. Aldevron (Acquired by Danaher)

12.4. Biomay

12.5. Catalent Pharma Solutions

12.6. Charles River

12.7. Cytovance Biologics

12.8. Forge Biologics

12.9. GenScript ProBio (a Subsidiary of GenScript)

12.10. Patheon pharma services (Acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific)

12.11. VGXI

12.12. 53Biologics

12.13. Boehringer Ingelheim

12.14. Centre for Breakthrough Medicine (CBM)

12.15. JAFRAL Biosolutions

12.16. PackGene

12.17. Acural Bio

12.18. Hanmi BioPlant

12.19. BioCina

12.20. NorthXBiologics

12.21. Xpress Biologics

12.22. Eurogentec

12.23. ESCO Aster

12.24. Southern RNA

12.25. Richter-Helm

12.26. Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services

12.27. Wuxi AppTech

13. DEMAND ANALYSIS

13.1. Chapter Overview

13.2. Key Assumptions and Methodology

13.3. Global Demand for Plasmid DNA, Historical Trends (2018-2022) and Forecasted Estimates (2023-2035)

14. MARKET IMPACT ANALYSIS: DRIVERS, RESTRAINTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

14.1. Chapter Overview

14.2. Market Drivers

14.3. Market Restraints

14.4. Market Opportunities

14.5. Market Challenges

14.6. Conclusion

15. GLOBAL PLASMID DNA MANUFACTURING MARKET

16. PLASMID DNA MANUFACTURING MARKET, BY SCALE OF OPERATION

17. PLASMID DNA MANUFACTURING MARKET, BY APPLICATION AREA

18. PLASMID DNA MANUFACTURING MARKET, BY THERAAPEUTIC AREA

19. PLASMID DNA MANUFACTURING MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY

20 CONCLUSION

21. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS

21.1. Chapter Overview

21.2. JAFRAL Biosolutions

21.2.1. Company Snapshot

21.2.2. Interview Transcript: Frenk Smrekar, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder

21.3. Aldevron (Acquired by Danaher)

21.3.1. Company Snapshot

21.3.2. Interview Transcript: Jeff Briganti, Senior Director of Global Strategic Marketing

21.4. 53Biologics

21.4.1. Company Snapshot

21.4.2. Interview Transcript: Francisco Manuel Reyes Sosa, Business Development Manager

21.5. Center for Breakthrough Medicines (CBM)

21.5.1. Company Snapshot

21.5.2. Interview Transcript: Blaine Rathmann, Client Engagement Manager

22. APPENDIX 1: TABULATED DATA

23. APPENDIX 2: LIST OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

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ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Wilmington, Delaware, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- India Electric Delivery Vehicles Market size is estimated at US$ 144.3 million in 2023 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of over 12.7% over the forecast period of 2023-2030, according to the latest market report by RationalStat





Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview

Electric delivery vehicles are commercial vehicles that are primarily used to transport goods and packages. Unlike typical delivery trucks, which use internal combustion engines powered by fossil fuels, electric delivery vehicles store energy in rechargeable batteries. These vehicles play an important role in the logistics and transportation industries.

Electricity is frequently less expensive than fossil fuels, and because electric automobiles are simpler to build, they require less maintenance. Because of this cost advantage, they are appealing to businesses trying to reduce operational costs. With the rise of e-commerce, there is a larger demand in urban areas for efficient last-mile delivery services. Electric delivery vehicles are well-suited to the frequent short-distance, stop-and-start driving found in cities.

According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including vehicle type, range, payload capacity, end user industry and geography/regions (including North India, West & Central India, South India, East India) . The report also offers global and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030.

. The report also offers global and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030. Market intelligence for the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Units) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc.

In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on the India Electric Delivery Vehicles 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.

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India Electric Delivery Vehicles Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis

On the basis of vehicle type, electric bikes and scooters are dominating the global electric delivery vehicles market. Because small electric two-wheelers ideal for ultra-local deliveries, especially in crowded urban areas.

Based on range, short range segment is dominated the market and will show its dominance during the forecast period as it is used with a limited range, typically used for short-distance deliveries within cities.

Report Synopsis

Report Metrics Details Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 144.3 million Market Size Forecast US$ 333.1 million Growth Rate 12.7% Key Market Drivers Growing E-commerce Industry

Growing food delivery Industry

Supportive government regulations

Increasing awareness about the environmental impact of transportation Companies Profiled Tata Motors Limited

Hero Electric Vehicles Private Limited

Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited

Okinawa Autotech Private Limited

Ampere Vehicles Private Limited

Bajaj Auto Limited

TVS Motor Company Limited

Kinetic Green Energy and Technology Limited

Yamaha Motor India Pvt. Ltd

Piaggio Vehicles India Private Limited

Maruti Suzuki India Limited

E-Rickshaw India Private Limited

Terra Motors Private Limited

Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited

Sahas Wheels Private Limited

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Competition Analysis and Market Structure

Some 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, partnerships and collaborations, and product launches are some of the strategies followed by industry players. Some of the key developments in the India electric delivery vehicles market include,

In October 2023, Magenta Mobility collaborated with Tata Motors to add the Ace EV to its fleet, with the goal of accelerating the adoption of electric cars (EVs) in urban delivery. The agreement is consistent with Magenta's objective of decarbonizing logistics and providing clean, sustainable mobility solutions.

Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to the India electric delivery vehicles market growth include Tata Motors Limited, Hero Electric Vehicles Private Limited, Mahindra Electric Mobility Limited, Okinawa Autotech Private Limited, Ampere Vehicles Private Limited, Bajaj Auto Limited, TVS Motor Company Limited, Kinetic Green Energy and Technology Limited, Yamaha Motor India Pvt. Ltd, Piaggio Vehicles India Private Limited, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, E-Rickshaw India Private Limited, Terra Motors Private Limited, Ola Electric Mobility Private Limited, and Sahas Wheels Private Limited, among others.

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RationalStat has segmented the India electric delivery vehicles market based on vehicle type, range, payload capacity, end user industry and region

India Electric Delivery Vehicles Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Vehicle Type Electric Vans Electric Trucks Electric Bikes and Scooters Electric Cargo Bikes

India Electric Delivery Vehicles Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Range Short Range Medium Range Long Range

India Electric Delivery Vehicles Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Payload Capacity Light-duty Vehicles Medium-duty Vehicles Heavy-duty Vehicles

India Electric Delivery Vehicles Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by End User Industry E-commerce and Retail Food and Beverages Postal and Courier Services Logistics and Freight Utilities and Services

India Electric Delivery Vehicles Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region North India West & Central India South India East India



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Key Questions Answered in the Electric Delivery Vehicles Report:

What will be the market value of the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market by 2030?

What is the market size of the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market?

What are the market drivers of the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market?

What are the key trends in the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market?

Which is the leading region in the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market?

What are the major companies operating in the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market?

What are the market shares by key segments in the India Electric Delivery Vehicles market?

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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.

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Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. -The global ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride [HCl] gas market stood at US$ 3.75 billion in 2023, and the global market is projected to reach US$ 5.7 billion in 2031 . The global ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride [HCl] gas market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.4% between 2023 and 2031.



The market for ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas is experiencing growth, primarily driven by the rising demand for top-quality chemicals across various industries. Its exceptional purity and low moisture content make it indispensable in semiconductor manufacturing and chemical synthesis processes. This ultra-high purity HCl gas plays a vital role in maintaining the quality and integrity of end products in sectors like semiconductors, electrical & electronics, pharmaceuticals, and laboratories.

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The electrical & electronics industry, in particular, heavily relies on ultra-high purity anhydrous HCl gas for applications like cleansing furnaces (quartz chambers) and selective etching of windows in microelectronic circuits. Additionally, it serves as a gaseous chloride carrier for non-volatile components, contributing to enhanced production processes. Furthermore, when dissolved in water, ultra-high purity anhydrous HCL gas serves as an efficient aqueous cleaning agent before electroplating metal surfaces.

As the demand for high-quality chemicals continues to grow across these diverse sectors, the ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride gas market is expected to thrive in response to this need for precision and purity in industrial applications.

Ultra-high Purity Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride [HCl] Gas Market: Key Players

Air Liquide has revealed that its innovative auto thermal reforming technology has been chosen for the production of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia in Japan. This selection reflects the growing importance of sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives in the global energy landscape, with Japan's strategic interest in reducing carbon emissions and embracing cleaner technologies.

Jinhong Gas has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with a partner company to strengthen its presence in the silane industry. This partnership is expected to increase silane products' availability for Jinhong Gas substantially. By collaborating with its partner business, Jinhong Gas aims to enhance its access to silane resources, a key component in various industrial processes, and thereby expand its offerings and capabilities in this sector.

Key Takeaways of Market Report

Global ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride [HCl] gas market to generate absolute dollar opportunity worth US$ 5.7 billion until 2031.

The global ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride [HCl] gas market is valued at US$ 3.6 billion in 2022.

The market value of the global ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride [HCl] gas market management from 2018 to 2022 is 4.8%.

North America is forecasted to hold a market share of 37.8%.

Asia Pacific is expected to have a value share of 45.3%.



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Ultra-high Purity Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride [HCl] Gas Market: Growth Drivers

The importance of achieving ultra-high purity in hydrogen chloride gas is underscored by its critical role in the electrical & electronics sector. Various strategies have been employed to minimize organic impurities in hydrogen chloride to meet the stringent standards required for electronic applications, particularly chlorinated compounds. This emphasizes the industry's growing demand for ultra-high-purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride gas.

Recent technological advancements have revolutionized the production of electronics and specialized gases. Innovations include unique cylinder techniques with built-in purification processes, enabling the attainment of higher purity and consistency in gases used in electronics manufacturing.

As large-scale integrated circuits become more prevalent, the need for enhanced purity standards in hydrogen chloride gas intensifies. This is particularly evident in the semiconductor industry, where increasingly strict regulations have been implemented to limit the presence of hydrocarbons and carbon oxides in wafer processing.



Ultra-high Purity Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride [HCl] Gas Market: Regional Landscape

Asia Pacific remains a key player in the ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas market, as it is poised to maintain its leading position. The region already accounted for a substantial 45.3% share in 2022 and shows no signs of slowing down. The growth in Asia Pacific's electrical & electronics sector is a major catalyst for this market's expansion.

North America is set to maintain a steady growth in the ultra-high purity anhydrous hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas market. The region benefits from a well-established electrical & electronics sector, which contributes to the market's ongoing expansion.

Ultra-high Purity Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride [HCl] Gas Market: Segmentation

By Application Industrial Electrical & Electronics

Region North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa





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Dublin, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Next Generation Drug Conjugates Market: Distribution by Type of Targeting Ligand, Type of Payload, Type of Therapy, Route of Administration, Target Disease Indication and Key Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.







The global next generation drug conjugates market is expected to experience significant growth, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% during the forecast period.

Next generation drug conjugates, which offer advantages such as targeted delivery, structural stability, limited side effects, and the ability to treat rare diseases and cancers, have emerged as promising therapeutic options.

Key Insights from the Next Generation Drug Conjugates Market:

Rising Costs of Rare Disease Treatment: The cost of medical care for rare diseases, particularly in the US, has been increasing significantly. In 2020, close to USD 1 trillion was spent on medical care for rare diseases in the US, with patients incurring twice the average cost of general patients. This growing burden of rare diseases has driven the search for alternative therapies, and next generation drug conjugates have emerged as a viable option. Advantages Over Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs): Next generation drug conjugates share similarities with antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) but offer advantages in terms of clinical efficacy and stability. While ADCs use antibodies as targeting ligands, next generation drug conjugates utilize non-antibody-based targeting ligands, such as peptides, amino sugars, lipids, and small molecules. Additionally, they employ oligonucleotides, antisense oligonucleotides, si-RNA, drugs, and radionuclides as payloads. Types of Next Generation Drug Conjugates: Various types of next generation drug conjugates have emerged, including peptide drug conjugates, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (peptide radionuclide conjugates), GalNac conjugates, peptide oligonucleotide conjugates, si-RNA conjugates, small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDC), ligand-conjugated antisense medicine (LICA), and peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMO). Clinical Success: Several next generation drug conjugates have received approval from the USFDA for therapeutic purposes. Notable examples include Lutathera and Pluvicto (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy), Givlaari, Oxlumo, Leqvio, and Amvuttra (GalNac conjugates). These approvals are indicative of the clinical effectiveness and versatility of next generation drug conjugates. Continued Innovation: The field of next generation drug conjugates is characterized by ongoing innovation, promising clinical trial results, accelerated approvals, and collaborations between industry and non-industry players. This dynamic environment is expected to drive significant market growth. Key Market Players: There are over 30 large, mid-sized, and small companies involved in the development of next generation drug conjugates. Currently, more than 200 next generation drug conjugates are either approved or in various stages of clinical research. Approximately 40% and 30% of these candidates are being investigated for oncological and rare disease indications, respectively. Peptide Drug Conjugates: Peptide drug conjugates have emerged as a promising alternative to antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). While Oncopeptides' Pepaxto was the first anticancer peptide drug conjugate to receive FDA approval, numerous clinical trials and candidates are underway in this segment. Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT): PRRT candidates, which involve antigen-targeting peptides conjugated to radioisotopes through linkers, have generated interest in the pharmaceutical industry. Novartis is a market leader in this segment, with products like Lutathera and Pluvicto. Collaborations between Novartis and other companies further highlight the potential of PRRT therapy. GalNAc Conjugates: GalNAc-conjugated oligonucleotide therapeutics have gained traction, as they enable targeted delivery through the liver cells. Companies like Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have multiple approved products in this category, with a strong pipeline. Market Growth and Regional Dominance: The next generation drug conjugates market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 20%. GalNac conjugates are anticipated to drive this growth, with rare and oncological disorders as the key therapeutic areas. North America, especially the US, is expected to dominate the market, followed by the Asia-Pacific region. Strategic Partnerships: Numerous stakeholders are entering strategic partnerships and collaborations, with over 75 such agreements signed since 2018. These partnerships often involve product development and commercialization agreements, indicating the industry's commitment to advancing next generation drug conjugates. Big pharma companies like Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Janssen are actively involved in these collaborations.

The next generation drug conjugates market is poised for significant expansion, driven by the demand for effective therapies for rare diseases and cancers, ongoing research and innovation, and increasing interest from pharmaceutical companies. Accelerated approvals and designations by regulatory authorities further contribute to the growth of this promising therapeutic modality.







Key Topics Covered:

1. PREFACE

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3. INTRODUCTION

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

5. COMPANY AND DRUG PROFILES

6. CLINICAL TRIAL ANALYSIS

7. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

8. ACADEMIC GRANTS ANALYSIS

9. PUBLICATION ANALYSIS

10. DRUG FAILURE ANALYSIS

11. SUCCESS PROTOCOL ANALYSIS

12. MARKET FORECAST AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

Companies Mentioned

48Hour Discovery

Ablaze Pharmaceuticals

Advanced Accelerator Applications (a Novartis Company)

Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Antios Therapeutics

Arbutus Biopharma

ArisGlobal

Aro Biotherapeutics

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

AstraZeneca

Asymchem

Aura Biosciences

Bicycle Therapeutics

Boehringer Ingelheim

CAMP4 Therapeutics

Captario

Cardinal Health

Case Western Reserve University

Cellectar Biosciences

Cerveau Technologies

CIC bioGUNE

Clarity Pharmaceuticals

Clearside Biomedical

Coherent Biopharma

Crescendo Biologics

Cybrexa Therapeutics

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals

DTx Pharma

Eli Lilly

Empirico

Entrada Therapeutics

Esperance Pharmaceuticals

Eubulus Biotherapeutics

Evergreen Theragnostics

Exelixis

Flamingo Therapeutics

Genentech

Genuity Science

Geron

GSK

Gubra

Hansoh Pharmaceutical

Horizon Therapeutics

Idaho State University

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Janssen

Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical (a subsidiary of Hansoh Pharmaceutical)

Kings College Hospital

LegoChem Biosciences

Mainline Biosciences

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals

Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC)

Medison Pharma

Merck

Metagenomi

Myotonic Dystrophy Clinical Research Network (DMCRN)

National Cancer Institute

Nimble Therapeutics

n-Lorem Foundation

NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes

Novartis

Novo Nordisk

OliX Pharmaceuticals

Ono Pharmaceutical

Orano Med

Oregon Health & Science University

Orsini Specialty Pharmacy

Osteros Biomedica

Ousia Pharma

Owlstone Medical

Paradigm4

PepGen

Pepscan (acquired by Biosynth)

PeptiDream

Pharmaron

Qilu Pharmaceutical

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Birmingham (UHB)

RayzeBio

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Roche

Roivant Sciences

Royalty Pharma

Sarepta Therapeutics

Sharp

Shenzhen Ascentawits Pharmaceuticals

Shionogi

Silence Therapeutics

Sirnaomics

Soricimed Biopharma

Suzhou Ribo Life Science

taiba rare

Takeda

University of Melbourne

Vaccitech

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vivo Capital

Wave Life Sciences

WuXi STA

Xinogen Pharma

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fx5qik

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.
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) ("Company" or "Kraig Labs"), the biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of spider silk, today announced that it hired key scientists from the University of Notre Dame ("UND") spider silk research lab following the retirement of Dr. Malcolm Fraser, Professor Emeritus. Onboarding their expertise and blending it with the Company's R&D operations has created significant synergies in both molecular biology and sericulture.



This merger of Kraig Labs operations with significant elements, including scientific personnel, from the UND Fraser Lab comes after more than a decade of close collaboration between Kraig Labs and the University that created the Company's first spider silk transgenics, including Monster Silk and Dragon Silk.

The core technologies initially envisioned by the Company's Founder and CEO, Kim Thompson, were first driven to practice in the UND labs, creating the first recombinant silkworms spinning spider silk. Following that success, the Company opened its R&D headquarters and has been advancing the state of spider silk transgenics utilizing the latest gene editing technologies.

Integrating members from the UND spider silk research program into Kraig Labs' R&D operations further strengthens the Company's expertise and leading role in commercializing cost-effective and eco-responsible spider silk manufacturing.

"I'm very excited to see the continuation of the groundbreaking work in recombinant spider silk that was developed in my lab at Notre Dame," said Dr. Fraser. "The merger of these two teams holds great promise for the future spider silks. Our collaborations over the last decade have created incredible advancements in recombinant spider silk and transgenic silkworms. I am delighted to see Kraig Labs beefing up its team and increasing the depth of its sericulture expertise as it prepares for larger scale production of spider silk," continued Dr. Fraser.

The Company continues to develop new and exciting spider silk technologies utilizing its readily scalable silkworm-based production model. The effect of merging these two industry-leading operations is expected to advance next-generation transgenics development rapidly and strengthen the Company's international production operations.

"From my initial development of these concepts to our collaboration with Notre Dame and the resulting scientific breakthroughs, we have had one clear vision: large-scale production and commercialization of spider silks," said Founder and CEO, Kim Thompson. "At each stage in this process we have faced unique hurdles. Now, as we work to achieve larger-scale production of spider silks, we are harnessing the opportunity to expand our team with scientists from the Fraser Lab with a proven history of success in spider silk development. We are proud to announce that we are fully integrating key members of Fraser's spider silk program into our operations. This has given us a tremendous needed boost to our operations as we prepare for the successful relaunch of spider silk production."

To view the most recent news from Kraig Labs and/or to sign up for Company alerts, please go to www.KraigLabs.com/news

About Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. ( www.KraigLabs.com ), a reporting biotechnology company, is the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk-based fiber technologies.

The Company has achieved a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology with implications for the global textile industry.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Statements in this press release about the Company's future and expectations other than historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These statements are made on the basis of management's current views and assumptions. As a result, there can be no assurance that management's expectations will necessarily come to pass. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "estimated," "hopes," "if," "develops," "researching," "research," "pilot," "potential," "could" or other words or phrases of similar import. Forward-looking statements include descriptions of the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions and goals. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security.
Dublin, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Low Cost Airlines Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global low cost airlines market reached a size of $189.1 billion in 2022, and it is anticipated to experience substantial growth in the coming years. Projections indicate that the market will reach $315.4 billion by 2028, exhibiting a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% during the period from 2023 to 2028.

Low cost airlines, also known as budget airlines or no-frills carriers, offer affordable air travel options for short-haul flights with fewer amenities compared to conventional full-service airlines. These airlines have adopted several cost-efficient strategies, such as charging separately for services like food, beverages, early boarding, carry-on baggage, and car rental, to generate non-ticket revenues.

They also operate single-type aircraft with minimal equipment to reduce weight, acquisition, and maintenance costs while increasing fuel efficiency. Additionally, low cost airlines often use less congested secondary airports to reduce airport fees, air traffic congestion, delays, and ground time between flights.

Key Market Trends and Drivers:

Rise in Domestic Travel and Tourism: The significant increase in domestic travel and tourism is a key factor driving market growth. Travelers are opting for low cost airlines to explore various domestic destinations affordably. Direct Booking and Ticketless Travel: Leading airline companies are offering tickets directly through telephone or internet bookings, eliminating the need for third-party agencies. This reduces transaction costs and services fees. The growing adoption of ticketless travel and increased internet penetration are also contributing to market growth. Point-to-Point Nonstop Flights: Low cost airlines operate point-to-point nonstop flights, reducing travel time and improving aircraft utilization. Business Travel: Business travelers are increasingly focused on minimizing travel time and costs, which is influencing the market positively. Discounted Fares: Market players are emphasizing offering discounted fares for early reservations while enhancing passenger connectivity. COVID-19 Impact: The decline in the number of commercial flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions negatively impacted the market. However, the market is expected to rebound as travel restrictions ease.

Market Segmentation:

The global low cost airlines market is segmented based on purpose, distribution channel, and destination.

Purpose Segmentation:

Leisure Travel

VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives)

Business Travel

Others

Distribution Channel Segmentation:

Online

Travel Agency

Others

Destination Segmentation:

Domestic

International

Regional Breakdown:

North America United States Canada

Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others

Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others

Latin America Brazil Mexico Others

Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:

Key players in the global low cost airlines market include Air Arabia PJSC, Alaska Airlines Inc., Capital A Berhad (Tune Group Sdn Bhd), easyJet plc, Go Airlines (Wadia Group), IndiGo, Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd (Qantas Airways Limited), Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, Ryanair Holdings PLC, Southwest Airlines Co., SpiceJet Limited, Spirit Airlines Inc., and WestJet Airlines Ltd.

Key Questions Answered:

What was the size of the global low cost airlines market in 2022? What is the expected growth rate of the market from 2023 to 2028? How has COVID-19 impacted the market? What are the key drivers of market growth? What is the breakdown of the market based on travel purpose? What is the distribution channel breakdown in the market? What are the key regions for the global low cost airlines market? Who are the major players in the market?

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 143 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $189.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $315.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.9% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bshw3o

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.

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Pune, India, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global airport services market size was valued at USD 158.71 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 179.75 billion in 2023 to USD 440.63 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 13.67% during the forecast period.



Substantial growth is anticipated in the airport services sector due to passenger traffic, infrastructure development, and congestion in developing countries. The increasing number of airports and growth in airport refurbishment are anticipated to boost the airport services industry share during the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their report titled "Airport Services Market, 20232030."

Get a Sample Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/airport-services-market-102855

List of Key Players Profiled in the Airport Services Market Report:

Beijing Capital International Airport Co. Ltd. (China)

Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (Germany)

Air General Inc. (U.S.)

dnata (UAE)

Worldwide Flight Services (France)

S.A.S. Services Group, Inc. (U.S.)

LHR Airports Limited (U.K.)

Acciona (Spain)

Signature Aviation plc (U.K.)

Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation (Japan)

Celebi Aviation (Turkey)

Airports de Paris SA (France)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 13.67% 2030 Value Projection USD 440.63 billion Market Size in 2023 USD 179.75 billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 200 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Airport Type

By Application

By Infrastructure Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Airport Services Market Growth Drivers High Investment and Increasing Population to Accentuate Market Growth Development of Advanced Airport Services and Infrastructure to Bolster Growth

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/airport-services-market-102855

COVID-19 Impact:



The Pandemic Devastated the Airport Service Industry Due to the Suspension of Airlines



The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decline in demand for airport services, with over 60% of international airlines suspended at the peak of the outbreak. The aviation and airport services industry suffered losses, with one million jobs lost and industrial aviation losses amounting to USD 126 billion.

Segments:

Increasing Number of Domestic Passengers to Push the Domestic Segment Forward

The market is classified into international and domestic based on airport type. The domestic segment is poised to lead the market during the forecast period, driven by increased travel spending by middle-class customers in developing countries and growing demand for domestic flights due to business and tourism development.

Aircraft Maintenance Services Propel Market Growth as Expanding Active Fleet Size Boosts Demand

According to application, the market is segmented into aeronautical services and non-aeronautical services. The aeronautical services is further classified into aircraft ground handling services, aircraft maintenance services, and passenger services. Non-aeronautical services include car rental, parking, food, beverage, retail, and baggage handling services. Aircraft maintenance services, including inspections and repairs, drive market growth due to the increased active fleet size of aircraft by various operators.

New Airport Projects Drive the Surge in Greenfield Airport Developments Globally

Based on infrastructure type, the market is bifurcated into greenfield airport and brownfield airport. The market for greenfield airports is expected to experience substantial growth, driven by increasing investments in new airport projects worldwide, leading to a high CAGR during the forecast period.

Geographically, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.

Get a Quote Now:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/airport-services-market-102855

Report Coverage:

The report offers:

 Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market.

 Comprehensive insights into the regional developments.

 List of major industry players.

 Key strategies adopted by the market players.

 Latest industry developments include product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Drivers & Restraints:

Rise in Population and Heavy Investments to Augur Market Growth

Growth in disposable incomes, high net worth, and increasing government initiatives are the factors contributing to the increase in the airport services market share. For instance, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Indian Civil Aviation Minister, announced in April 2022 that in the coming years, they will invest around USD 21.6 billion in near future. These investments are aimed at expanding airports and adding 200 new airports in India.

However, airports globally have various regulations that may impede the airport services market growth.

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Detailed Table of Contents:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Industry Developments  Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Airport Services Market

Global Airport Services Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Airport Type International Domestic Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Aeronautical Services Aircraft Ground Handling Services Aircraft Maintenance Service Passenger Service Non-Aeronautical Services Baggage Handling Services Car Rental Service Car Parking Service Food and Beverage Service Retail Service Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Infrastructure Type Greenfield Airport Brownfield Airport Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia-pacific Rest of the world



TOC Continued!

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/airport-services-market-102855

Regional Insights

North America Dominates the Market due to High Passenger Traffic

North America dominated the market with a valuation of USD 46.70 billion in 2022. Air General Inc. and S.A.S. Services Group, Inc. are the major players contributing to the market growth. After pandemic, the region accounted for the highest passenger traffic. These factors are anticipated to increase the markets share.

Europe is anticipated to witness significant growth. Rising infrastructure in countries, such as Germany, France, and the U.K, is the key reason for the market development.

Competitive Landscape

Major Airports Focus on New Strategies to Sustain their Position

Collaborations and expansion strategies used by key players to maintain their position in the market. Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and LHR Airports Ltd. are the largest airports globally. To build long-term relationships with Maintenance, Reports, and Overhauls (MROs), aircraft systems OEMs, and airlines, and airports are focusing on building strong partnerships.

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Key Industry Development:

April 2022 - dnata expanded its European operations by acquiring Wisskirchen Handling Services, a Germany-based service provider. This acquisition is anticipated to develop Dnatas position as a global cargo service provider.

Read Related Insights:

Reusable Launch Vehicle Market to Be Worth USD 5.41 Billion By 2030; Increased Usage of High Payload Rockets to Drive Market Forward

LiDAR Drone Market is projected to grow USD 455.0 million by 2028, at a CAGR of 17.98%

Aero Wing Market Size to grow USD 20.35 billion in 2028 with exhibiting a CAGR of 8.98%

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Irvine, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Irvine, California -

GetDandy, the revolutionary reputation automation and review removal platform powered by AI, is now available at www.getdandy.com. GetDandy is designed to help businesses automate their reputation management and remove negative reviews from popular online review platforms.

The platform is easy to use and requires no technical knowledge. Users can simply sign up for the service and start monitoring their online reputation in real-time. GetDandys powerful AI algorithms analyze customer feedback across multiple review sites and social media platforms to identify negative reviews and comments.

GetDandy provides businesses with an opportunity to improve their online reputation by identifying and addressing negative feedback. The platform can also help businesses by generating positive reviews from satisfied customers.

We are excited to launch GetDandy and help businesses take control of their online reputation, said Veronica Marin, PR Director of GetDandy. Our platform is designed to help businesses automate their reputation management and improve their overall online presence.

One of the major features of GetDandy is its review removal service. The platform has the capability to remove negative reviews from popular review sites like Google, Tripadvisor, Opentable and Facebook. GetDandys review removal service is backed by a team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to ensuring that businesses maintain a positive online reputation.

GetDandy has already been recognized by industry experts for its innovative approach to reputation management. In a recent article on Martech Series, GetDandy was hailed as a game-changer in the field of reputation management. The article praised GetDandy for its ability to remove negative reviews and generate positive feedback.

To learn more about GetDandy, visit www.getdandy.com. For more information on GetDandys review removal service, read the Martech Series article here: https://martechseries.com/technology/get-dandy-removes-bad-online-reviews/

Media Contact: Veronica Marin Email: press@getdandy.com

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from GetDandy, please visit the GetDandy Newsroom at www.getdandy.com. Web links, telephone numbers, and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact GetDandys media team at press@getdandy.com.

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~During their Vietnam Visit, the delegation from Kings University College signed an MOU with International University which is a part of Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City~



~The partnership aims to promote academic exchange and support intercultural activities and projects in several mutually complimentary fields between students, faculty and staff from Canada and Vietnam~

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- King's University College, under the leadership of President Dr. David C. Malloy, is building new academic and cultural ties between Vietnam and Canada. During their visit to Vietnam, the Kings University College delegation formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with International University which is an integral part of Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City. This collaboration aims to facilitate student and faculty pathways, exchange programs involving students, faculty, and staff from both sides as well as research collaborations and 2+2 degree pathways.

Speaking about the association, Dr. David Malloy, President Kings University College, said, Intra-institute partnerships in diverse countries are a key element of Kings internationalization objectives. This partnership will provide an exciting launchpad for further collaboration in various arenas including reciprocal mobility of faculty, staff, students, and researchers. We look forward to cooperation and development with International University to further the internationalization objectives for everyone associated. This term, 20% of Kings student body comprises of international students, and a small portion of these are originally from Vietnam. Our Vietnamese students and alumni are exceptional members of our community and we are eager to welcome more of them! We are also witnessing a steady inflow of students from Southeast Asia for courses such as analytics and decision sciences and economics and thus, the new partnership through the MoU comes at the right time for us.

The MOU signed between Kings and International University is based on organizing 2+2 transfer arrangements, future student exchanges, faculty mobility, joint research activities and collaborating on several fields, possibly economics and analytics and decision sciences between the universities. Speaking about the association, Assoc. Prof. Dinh Duc Anh Vu, Vice President of International University, said, This partnership is poised to be a significant catalyst for nurturing our students' aspirations and fostering the emergence of future leaders who will guide global communities. Collaborations of this nature serve as invaluable bridges for cultural understanding and deeper ties between our two nations, with far-reaching benefits for both our students, faculty, staff and researchers.

This partnership marks a milestone for Kings and signifies Vietnams growth in the international higher education market. Both the institutes believe that these partnerships will benefit the exchange of students, faculty, staff, and researchers involved as an opportunity to develop new perspectives, ideas, and knowledge.

As part of the initial MOU, some initial ideas were generated about 2+2 agreements, student exchanges for the purposes of internships, semester abroad mobility, and/or for other academic purposes. As per the MOU both the institutions are signifying their desire for future collaboration over the next five years.

About Kings University College

Kings is a public Catholic University College which welcomes students of all faith backgrounds. Located in London, Ontario, Canada, Kings provides a personalised and prestigious general and honours degree programs in the liberal arts, social sciences, management, and a master's degree in social work. It is regarded of institutions of higher learning in Canada for the high quality of its teaching faculty and student experience. Institutionally autonomous, Kings is academically affiliated with Western University, and Kings graduates receive a Western University degree. The Kings community is centred on the values of social justice, equality and the education of the whole person.

About International University , Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City

International University (IU) was established in December 2003 and it is the first public university in Vietnam that uses English as the primary language in teaching and research. IU currently has more than 10,000 undergraduate students, and nearly 600 graduate students and researchers.

With nearly 20 years of construction and development, IU has become one of the prestigious public universities in the Vietnamese higher education system with 16 training programs that meet the evaluation standards of the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA), 02 training programs meeting ABET accreditation standards (the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), 01 training program meets AUN - DAAD standards , 01 training program meeting ASIIN accreditation standards and many other programs are being accredited against these standards. The university is also an educational institution that meets the quality accreditation of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in 2015. In particular, in 2018, IU met the educational institution-level assessment standards of AUN-QA. And in 2022, IU is honored to be one of only 7 Vietnamese universities that met international training standards (announced by the Ministry of Education and Training).
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pastor Marc Little, a spokesperson for Concerned Communities for America, issued the following statement in response to reports that multiple Black Lives Matter chapters around the country have celebrated the gruesome terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against the people of Israel.



Both as a country and as a free people who support human rights all over the world, America should stand behind Israel in this moment of tragedy and grief. Anti-Semitism should never be tolerated, much less celebrated, and terrorism of any kind should always be condemned.

Sadly, Black Lives Matter has a track record of supporting and encouraging violence on Americas streets, and now theyre celebrating an attack that has claimed the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of innocent men, women, and children. I call on all Black leaders, especially Black clergy, to denounce BLM and other extremist groups that encourage violence, whether in America, Israel, or anywhere else in the world.

To learn more about Concerned Communities for America, please visit concernedcommunities.org. You can follow CCA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osino Resources Corp. (TSXV:OSI) (NSX:OSN) (FSE:RSR1) (OTCQX:OSIIF) ("Osino or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed a bookbuild in the amount of CAD$2,770,745 in connection with an offering (the Offering) of common shares of the Company (the Common Shares) priced at CAD$1.00 per Common Share for gross proceeds of up to US$3,000,000.



As previously announced, the Company had completed a listing of its shares on the Namibian Stock Exchange (the NSX) and was advised by Cirrus Capital (Pty) Ltd. (Cirrus Capital) in connection with such NSX listing. The bookbuild consisted of Namibian investors increasing Namibian ownership, to comply with the mining permit conditions. Cirrus Capital conducted the bookbuild and acts as Namibian financial advisor to the Company and was engaged to act in connection with the Offering.

Heye Daun, Osinos Co-Founder, President and CEO, commented: We are very pleased to confirm our first bookbuild in Namibia since listing Osinos shares on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX:OSN) in August of this year. This financing is a purposeful and strategic capital raise that will increase Osinos Namibian shareholder base as required as a condition to Osinos granted Mining License. This bookbuild was aimed primarily at formerly disadvantaged Namibian individual shareholders, and we continue to engage with Namibian pension funds with the aim of completing a follow-on financing to achieve a Namibian ownership threshold well above the required 5% under our issued mining license. The completion of this bookbuild demonstrates Osinos access to the Namibian capital markets as an additional source of capital for project development at the Twin Hills Gold Project.

The bookbuild ensures that Namibians can participate in the development of Osino and its mining operations, retain economic benefits and assist in the growth and development of the Namibia economy. It further reinforces Osinos commitment to its host nation, and the host nations reciprocal support towards the Company.

The completion of the financing to purchasers resident in Namibia will further establish the Namibian register for the stock on the NSX and is expected to facilitate further Namibian investment into Osino via the full fungibility with the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), which remains the Companys principal exchange for trading of its shares. The building of a local Namibian share register for a dual-listed mining company is a first on the NSX, and illustrates the increasing maturity and opportunity associated with Namibian capital markets.

Rowland Brown, Co-Founder at Cirrus Capital commented: We are proud to have successfully completed Osinos inaugural bookbuild on the NSX. The financing received strong support from Namibian retail and institutional investors. We view Osinos listing and bookbuild as a significant milestone for the Company, the Namibian Stock Exchange and our host nation, Namibia.

In connection with the Offering, the Company intends to file a prospectus supplement with the securities commission in British Columbia (the Canadian Jurisdiction) and has engaged Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. ("Echelon") as agent and bookrunner (the Agent) in connection therewith.

The Offering

The Offering will be completed (i) in Canada by way of the prospectus supplement to the base shelf prospectus of the Company dated May 9, 2023, to be filed in the Canadian Jurisdiction; and (ii) outside Canada and the United States on a basis which does not require the qualification or registration of any of the Companys securities under domestic or foreign securities laws.

The Offering is expected to close on or about October 19, 2023, or such other date as the Company and Echelon may agree and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for for exploration and development of its mineral properties in Namibia, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The prospectus supplement (the Prospectus Supplement) of the Company expected to be dated October 16, 2023 will be the prospectus supplement to the base shelf prospectus (the Shelf Prospectus) of the Company dated May 9, 2023.

The Shelf Prospectus is available, and the Prospectus Supplement will be available, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Osino Resources

Osino is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on the fast-tracked development of our wholly owned, Twin Hills Gold Project in central Namibia. Since its grassroots discovery by Osino in August 2019 the Company has completed more than 225,000m of drilling and has completed a suite of specialist technical studies culminating in the recently published Twin Hills Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") dated effective June 12, 2023. The DFS describes a technically simple and economically robust open-pit gold operation with a 13-year mine life and average annual gold production of over 169,000oz per annum.

Osino has a commanding ground position of over 8,000km2 located within Namibia's prospective Damara sedimentary mineral belt, mostly in proximity to and along strike of the producing Navachab and Otjikoto Gold Mines. The Company is actively exploring a range of gold prospects and targets along the belt by utilizing a portfolio approach geared towards discovery, targeting gold mineralization that fits the broad orogenic gold model.



Our core projects are favourably located north and north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek. By virtue of their location, the projects benefit significantly from Namibia's well-established infrastructure with paved highways, railway, power and water in close proximity. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continent's most politically and socially stable jurisdictions. Osino continues to evaluate new ground with a view to expanding our Namibian portfolio.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://osinoresources.com/ and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Qualified Persons Statement

David Underwood, BSc. (Hons) is Vice President Exploration of Osino Resources Corp. and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No.400323/11) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

On Behalf of The Board of Directors

Heye Daun, President & CEO

CONTACT INFORMATION

Osino Resources Corp.

Yaron Conforti, Corporate Development

yconforti@osinoresources.com

+1-604-687-2038

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 press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Offering, including the timing, potential completion and use of proceeds from the Offering, the Company's future plans or prospects of the Company, including prospects for economic recoverability of mineral resources. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions to closing, including obtaining the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange on a timely basis and that the Offering may not be completed on the terms and timeline indicated. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company does not undertake to update any forward- looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attention Generac Holdings Inc. ("Generac") (NYSE: GNRC) shareholders:



The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that an investigation has commenced into Generac and certain of its officers and directors regarding potential securities fraud. The investigation concerns, in part, the below:

On August 2, 2023, Generac announced revised downwards guidance for 2023 due to weakness in residential products. The Company blamed the downturn on a softer consumer spending environment which led to weaker-than-expected sales of the Companys residential units. Following this news, Generacs stock price fell by $37.46 per share, or approximately 25% to close at $115.95 per share.

If you suffered a loss on your investment in Generac, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.

https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/generac-class-action-submission-form/?prid=51247&wire=3

Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Vincent Wong, Esq.

39 East Broadway

Suite 304

New York, NY 10002

Tel. 212.425.1140

E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
MIDDLETOWN, Del., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Empowerment Beyond Scars, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to healing both visible and hidden scars, launched today. The organization, in partnership with international pharmaceutical companies, will provide regenerative medical aesthetic services free of charge to survivors of physical abuse and violence in interpersonal relationships.

Empowerment Beyond Scars exists to transform pain into power, said Brandi Gregge, MSN, FNP-BC, founder of Empowerment Beyond Scars and founder and medical director of Mint & Needle, a medical aesthetics practice based in Middletown, Delaware. This initiative was catalyzed by my own personal experience, and is about granting other survivors the opportunity to rewrite their narratives, revealing the beauty and strength that has always resided within, waiting to be reclaimed.

By establishing Empowerment Beyond Scars as a standalone nonprofit organization, Gregge aims to create a national network of medical aesthetic providers. Additionally, Empowerment Beyond Scars will partner with local and national healthcare, nonprofit, and government agencies to share information and educational resources about available treatments and services.

Data released in 2021 by The Safety in Beauty Campaign noted a rise in inquiries from people seeking either free or charitable help for aesthetic procedures related to domestic violence. Medical aesthetics uses minimally invasive procedures to promote healing, rejuvenation, and overall improvement in a person's appearance through injectables and lasers. It's less about big surgeries and more about helping the body do what it's good at.

According to a 2023 study by the National Library of Medicine, family and domestic health violence is estimated to affect 10 million people in the United States every year. Domestic violence can happen to anyone, although often affects those in positions of dependence, which often includes women, children, and the elderly, at a higher rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in four women and one in seven men will experience physical violence by their intimate partner at some point during their lifetimes.

Gregge formally announced the creation of Empowerment Beyond Scars on Oct. 7 in Middletown, Delaware, during an annual celebration for her company Mint & Needle . Founded in 2019, Mint & Needle has long focused on combining medical and aesthetic expertise to help clients feel empowered in their own skin. The medical spa is consistently recognized as an innovator in aesthetics, and Gregge regularly works and trains with the top aesthetic medicine companies in the world. Through her business and community outreach, Gregge has supported cancer survivors, burn victims and those with severe injuries, and individuals recovering from physical trauma. Mint & Needle is also a proud partner of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence .

Empowerment Beyond Scars invites medical professionals, legislators, charitable foundations, survivors of interpersonal violence, and all those who support this cause to join in its mission.

For more information, visit www.empowermentbeyondscars.org .

Empowerment Beyond Scars Mission Statement

At Empowerment Beyond Scars, we recognize that the impact of scars goes far deeper than the surface. Our mission is to pioneer a world where scars, both seen and unseen, become narratives of strength and resilience, powered by the artistry of regenerative aesthetics. With unwavering commitment to our core values of compassion, inclusivity, and solidarity, we are dedicated to nurturing a community where survivors of gender-based violence rediscover their strength and reclaim their power.

Our approach is personal, clinical, and compassionate, reflecting our sincere commitment to healing. We aim to educate, engage, and raise awareness, transcending scars to empower survivors. Together, we're rewriting the stories of resilience, one scar at a time.

Gregge said Empowerment Beyond Scars is committed to raising awareness and educating the public about the profound impact of scars, both seen and unseen. By raising awareness and education, the organization seeks to empower survivors to embrace their journeys toward healing. Scars of all kinds can run deep, impacting survivors of interpersonal relationship violence in profound ways. Empowerment Beyond Scars, guided by its core values of compassion, inclusivity, and solidarity, aims to foster a supportive community where survivors can reclaim their power.

Press Contact: Lauren Golt

Social Stylate

lagolt@socialstylate.com
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of investors of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) resulting from allegations that Clear Channel may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Clear Channel securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=19504 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.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On September 28, 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a press release announc[ing] that Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. agreed to pay more than $26 million to resolve charges that it bribed Chinese government officials to obtain outdoor advertising contracts in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The press release further stated that Clear Channel violated the FCPA in connection with the actions of its agent, Clear Media Limited, which, at the relevant time, was a Clear Channel majority-owned subsidiary in China.

The press release also stated that the order finds that, from at least 2012 through 2017, Clear Media bribed Chinese government officials to obtain contracts required to sell advertising services to public and private sector clients for display on public bus shelters and other outdoor displays. The press release continued to state [i]n addition, the order finds that Clear Media used sham intermediaries and false invoices to generate cash for off-book customer development consultants engaged to win advertising business from government and private customers. Finally, the press release stated that [t]he order further finds that, from at least 2012 through 2019, Clear Channel failed to ensure that sufficient internal accounting controls were in place at Clear Media.

On this news, Clear Channels stock price fell 3% to close at $1.58 per share on September 29, 2023.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. 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.

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
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/FMC

Contact An Attorney Now: FMC@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

FMC Corporation (FMC) Investigation:

The investigation focuses on the propriety of FMCs sales and inventory management practices, and on the sustainability of growth and financial results flowing from its patented diamide insect control products.

On May 1, 2023, FMC announced its Q1 2023 financial results, said Q2 2023 revenue would be flat to the prior year quarter, and maintained FY 2023 revenue outlook of $6.08 to $6.22 billion.

But, on July 10, 2023, FMC announced updated expectations for its Q2 and FY 2023 outlook. In particular, the company slashed its Q2 2023 revenue outlook by about 30%, reduced its FY 2023 revenue outlook by over 14%, and blamed the reduced guidance on reductions in channel inventory that adversely impacted the companys sales volumes in the quarter.

Then, on Sept. 7, 2023, Blue Orca published a report alleging that FMC has concealed from investors that it has suffered a recent string of defeats around the globe that have enabled competitors to now launch competing generics at prices up to 80% below the price of FMCs flagship insecticide product[] and [c]ontrary to the Companys claims, FMCs process patents do not protect its flagship product from generic competition.

Blue Orca concluded that without patent protection for its leading product in its key markets, and battling a flood of capable generics, we believe that FMCs revenues, margins and cash flows are set to collapse.

Following these events, the price of FMC shares has sharply declined.

Were focused on investors losses and are investigating whether FMC may have misrepresented its sales and inventory management practices and the strength of certain patent protections, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in FMC and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now 

If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the FMC investigation and our investigation, read more 

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding FMC Corporation 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 FMC@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens 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.
Covina, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ceiling fan is a non-portable device suspended from ceiling which help in circulating air by rotation of fan blades. It is composed of metal arms, electric motor, flywheel, rotor, blades or paddles and other components.

Rapidly growing population and increased spending on premium quality home decor across globe has fruitful the demand for target market growth. Further, growing awareness regarding convenient ceiling fans has projected to play major role in promoting importance of advanced technology and smart fans which in turn, is expected to boost the demand for Ceiling Fans market growth over the forecast period.

Key Highlights:

In March 2021, Havells launched new fans with air purification technology which has become Indias first ceiling fan with air purifier. The new launched Havells Stealth Puro Air is featured with air purification technology. The company has also launched Fanmate a table fan equipped with carbon filter for purifying air and to remove bad odors.

Before purchasing this report, request a sample or make an inquiry by clicking the following link:

https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/766

Segmentation analysis:

By type, the global ceiling fan market is segmented into standard, decorative, high speed, energy saving, and others.

By fan size, the global ceiling fan market is segmented into small, medium, and large.

By distribution channel, the global ceiling fan market is segmented into offline and online.

By region, The Asia Pacific estimated to hold major share in global ceiling Fans market. The warm weather conditions and the huge population are factors mainly responsible for the growth of ceiling Fans in this region.

Analyst View:

Global ceiling fans market is driven by growing demand for ceiling fans from developing economies owing to growth in the housing sector. Development in the commercial real estate, hospitality and retail sectors is also a key factor drives the growth of the global Ceiling Fans market.

The prominent player operating in the global ceiling fans market includes,

Hunter Fans Company

Casablanca Fan Company

Emerson Ceiling Fans

Minka, Monte Carlo

Craftmade

Litex

Fanimation

Kichler Lighting llc.

Panasonic.

Download Full Market Research Report@

https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-pdf/766

Market Trends:

Energy Efficiency: Energy-efficient ceiling fans that meet or exceed regulatory standards were gaining popularity. Consumers and businesses were looking for ways to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills. Smart Ceiling Fans: The integration of smart technology into ceiling fans continued to grow. Smart ceiling fans can be controlled remotely through smartphones or voice assistants, and they often come with energy-saving features. Customization and Aesthetics: Consumers were increasingly interested in ceiling fans that match their interior decor. Manufacturers offered a variety of blade designs, finishes, and styles to cater to diverse aesthetic preferences. Outdoor Ceiling Fans: Outdoor living spaces and patios were becoming more common, leading to an increased demand for outdoor ceiling fans designed to withstand outdoor conditions. Global Market Growth: Ceiling fans found a significant market in regions with hot and humid climates where cooling is essential. Emerging markets were showing a growing interest in ceiling fans. Innovative Materials: Manufacturers were exploring the use of innovative materials, including sustainable and recycled options, to create eco-friendly ceiling fans. Quiet Operation: Quiet operation was a key trend, with manufacturers focusing on reducing noise levels while maintaining high performance.

Market Drivers:

Energy Conservation: Rising energy costs and environmental concerns were driving demand for energy-efficient ceiling fans as consumers sought to reduce their carbon footprint. Seasonal Demand: Seasonal factors played a significant role in the ceiling fans market. Warmer months saw increased sales as people looked for ways to stay cool without relying solely on air conditioning. Government Regulations: Energy efficiency regulations and standards set by governments and organizations encouraged the development of energy-efficient ceiling fans. Cost Savings: Ceiling fans offered a cost-effective alternative to air conditioning, helping consumers save on cooling costs. Sustainability: An increasing focus on sustainable living and green building practices was driving interest in eco-friendly ceiling fan options. Improving Indoor Air Quality: Ceiling fans played a role in improving indoor air quality by helping to circulate and ventilate air. Technological Advancements: Advancements in motor technology and the integration of sensors and controls enhanced the performance and energy efficiency of ceiling fans. Urbanization and Housing Boom: Urbanization trends and a growing demand for residential and commercial properties contributed to the market's growth. Home Renovations: An increase in home renovations and remodeling projects boosted the demand for ceiling fans as homeowners sought to update their living spaces. Outdoor Living Spaces: The expansion of outdoor living spaces led to greater demand for outdoor ceiling fans, especially in regions with favorable climates.

About us:

Prophecy Market Insights is specialized market research, marketing/business strategy, analytics, and solutions that offer strategic support to clients for making well-informed business decisions and identifying and achieving high-value opportunities in the target business area. We also help our clients to address business challenges and provide the best possible solutions to overcome transform and advance their businesses with growth.

Related Reports:

CPU Fans Market - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029

Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029 Electric Fan Market - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029

Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029 Fan and Blowers Market - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2030

Blog: www.prophecyjournals.com

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NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The joint Italy-USA Commission, together with the Board of "Business Care International Award", has chosen among 10 Top World-Players, in the world of Publishing and Business, the name of Dr. Marco Maria Durante, for receiving the prestigious Special Award: Best Italian Entrepreneur in the United States of America 2023-2024.

Visionary and brave businessman starting from humble origins, Marco Maria Durante has been able along the years to lead a tiny Turin Media Company, to be one of the largest Media and Video Agencies throughout the World creating work and wealth.



The name of Marco Maria Durante has been chosen by our Joint-Commission as it meets the coordinates that we decided as fundamental for this brand new Special Prize, states Massimo Veccia, president of the Business Care Communications. Spreading the best Italian values of bravery, vision, hard working, investing and creating wealth, as well as creating a good environment for those working with the Group.

We feel very proud of this prestigious choice for our new Prize, says Massimo Veccia.



The Ceremony will be attended by a number of Media Representatives from TV and Newspapers from the US and Europe.

The Ceremony will take place at the Consulate General of Italy on Oct 26th at 5:30 pm, and will be hosted by the Italian Consul General in New York, plenipotentiary Minister, Fabrizio di Michele.

Massimo Veccia Business Care Communications by Learn Italy USA

For more information:

Press Office

businesscare@learnitaly.us



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/687bfebd-2686-4ce4-a68e-0257633db888
PLANO, Texas, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. David Stager, Jr., a highly esteemed ophthalmologist known for his dedication to exceptional eye care and improving patient lives, has announced the creation of the "Dr. David Stager Scholarship for Medical Students." This distinguished scholarship, offering a one-time award of $1,000, aims to support full-time undergraduate and graduate students pursuing medical degrees at accredited universities and colleges in the United States.



The scholarship, headquartered in Plano, Texas, places a strong emphasis on academic achievement, leadership potential, and a genuine passion for the field of medicine. It will be awarded based on an essay contest, challenging applicants to provide innovative solutions to address the most significant challenges facing the healthcare industry today.

Applicants are invited to submit creative and insightful essays of under 1000 words in response to the following prompt: "In your opinion, what is the most significant challenge or issue currently facing the healthcare industry, and how do you propose innovative solutions to address it effectively?" Dr. Stager seeks candidates who demonstrate a profound understanding of the healthcare landscape, critical thinking skills, and the ability to propose innovative ideas that can positively impact the industry.

The deadline for scholarship applications is February 15, 2024, with the winner set to be announced on March 15, 2024.

Dr. David Stager, Jr. has made significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology over his illustrious three-decade career. His journey began in Dallas, where he grew up and attended St. Mark's School of Texas. After completing his undergraduate studies at Southern Methodist University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Cum Laude, Dr. Stager expanded his horizons by studying European history in Oxford, Spain, and Paris.

Driven by his pursuit of medical excellence, he earned his medical degree and completed his ophthalmology residency at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. During this period, Dr. Stager developed a deep interest in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, leading to a fellowship at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., under the guidance of Dr. Marshall M. Parks, a pioneering figure in the field.

Throughout his career, Dr. Stager has actively contributed to the advancement of ophthalmology, serving on the Board of Directors of the Retina Foundation of the Southwest and collaborating closely with nonprofit eye research institutes. His commitment to making a difference extends globally, as he has served as a Past President and Board member of the Lighthouse for Christ Mission, a charitable ophthalmology hospital in Mombasa, Kenya.

Dr. Stager's expertise and dedication have been recognized by numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), the Texas Medical Association (TMA), the Texas Ophthalmological Association (TOA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Dallas Pediatric Medical Society. His exceptional contributions led to his acceptance into the American Ophthalmological Society in 2013.

A committed researcher and educator, Dr. Stager has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed chapters to ophthalmology textbooks. He has also been a guest lecturer in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, sharing his knowledge and expertise with professionals worldwide.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Stager plays a pivotal role in teaching and mentoring the next generation of ophthalmologists as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

"We are delighted to announce the Dr. David Stager Scholarship for Medical Students, a testament to our unwavering commitment to medical excellence, research, and education," said Dr. Stager. "This scholarship offers aspiring medical professionals a unique opportunity to receive financial support, connect with industry experts, and contribute innovative solutions to the healthcare challenges of our time."

Eligible medical students who meet the scholarship criteria and wish to apply for the Dr. David Stager Scholarship can visit the official website at https://drdavidstagerscholarship.com/. The website provides comprehensive information about the scholarship, including application instructions and submission deadlines.

About Dr. David Stager, Jr.: Dr. David Stager, Jr. is a Plano based ophthalmologist with over three decades of experience in the field. Known for his dedication to providing exceptional eye care and improving patient lives, he has established himself as a trusted authority in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus. Dr. Stager's contributions to the field, commitment to research and education, and philanthropic efforts in underserved communities make him a revered figure in ophthalmology.
Wood Dale, Illinois, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, announced today that Billy Nolen has been elected to AARs Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Mr. Nolen, 66, brings more than 30 years of aviation experience across safety, operations, and regulatory affairs. He recently served as acting FAA Administrator and is currently the Chief Safety Officer at Archer Aviation Inc., a leading air mobility company known for developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. While at the FAA, Mr. Nolen revamped certification requirements and airport-focused safety management systems and earlier served as the FAAs Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety.

Mr. Nolens aviation experience began during his service in the U.S. Army, where he was an airplane and helicopter pilot and a safety officer. Following his military experience, Mr. Nolen moved into commercial aviation, becoming a pilot for American Airlines. There, Nolen transitioned to managing the companys Operations Aviation Safety Action Partnership program before assuming a Senior Manager of Flight Safety position. He transitioned to Airlines for America, where he was the Senior Vice President of Safety, Security, and Operations, and to Qantas Group, where he was the Executive Manager of Group Safety and Health. Nolen later joined WestJet as Vice President of Safety, Security, and Quality.

Mr. Nolen brings a unique combination of commercial, government, and military expertise in aviation and a vison for the future of the industry. He will add to the breadth of experience we have on our Board and help guide the continued execution of our strategy, said John M. Holmes, AARs Chairman, President and CEO. AAR prioritizes the safety of flight in all that we do. We look forward to advancing our Quality first. Safety always. culture by drawing from Mr. Nolens strong safety background.

I admire AARs proactive approach to safety, including fidelity to its corporate safety management system program, said Mr. Nolen. Safety is paramount in aviation, and Im honored to join a Board with values tied so closely to my own.

For more information on AAR, visit aarcorp.com.

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through four operating segments: Parts Supply, Repair & Engineering, Integrated Solutions, and Expeditionary Services. Additional information can be found at aarcorp.com.

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect managements expectations about future conditions, including the continued execution of our strategy and advancement of our quality and safety culture. Forward-looking statements may also be identified because they contain words such as anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, likely, may, might, plan, potential, predict, project, seek, should, target, will, would, or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Companys control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

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Chicago, IL, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UIC Laws nationally ranked Writing Resource Center will host, "Write Chicago: Words and Power," in honor of National Day on Writing on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 12:00 -1:30 p.m. CT via Zoom. The National Day on Writing is an initiative of the National Council of Teachers of English intended to amplify and celebrate the essential importance of writing.

The 90-minute event is open to all members of the Chicago community and beyond and will feature a dynamic group of professional writers discussing storytelling as a tool for advocacy, change, and empowerment. The 2023 panel will include the perspectives of three prominent professionals who believe in the universal value of strong writing skills.

Journalist, communication consultant, and Founder of Comunicaciones VERSAT LLC., Vanesa Baerga will join as one of the featured speakers. Additionally, UIC Law professor, scholar, and Associate Director of Lawyering Skills Cynthia D. Bond will lend her expertise. Finally, Loevy & Loevy civil rights attorney, Policy Advisor, and former Director of the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity (JEO) Initiative for the State of Illinois, Quinn K. Rallins will join the panel. The discussion will be moderated by Danielle McCain, Interim Director of the Writing Resource Center.

For more information and to register for the event, please visit the UIC Law Writing Resource Center website.

###

About the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

The University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law is a part of the University of Illinois  Chicagos largest university and only public Carnegie Research 1 Institution. Its mission is to make a difference in the lives of students and the community. Located in the heart of the citys legal, financial and commercial districts, UIC Law is recognized as one of the most diverse law schools in the nation and is a leader in providing access to underrepresented students. From our nationally recognized faculty and programs to the impact of our legal clinics, we prepare students with the knowledge, skills, experience and values to change lives. For more information, visit https://law.uic.edu/.

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ATHENS, Greece, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TEN Ltd. (TEN) (NYSE: TNP) (the Company), celebrated its 30th year as a publicly listed company. TEN was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 1993 and transferred its listing to the New York Stock Exchange in March 2002.







On October 10, 2023, Dr. Nikolaos P. Tsakos, Founder, CEO and his family hosted a memorable event in New York City along with members of the executive team. The event was attended by prominent financial journalist and anchor, Mrs. Nicole Petalides from Schwab Network, who delivered introductory remarks in the presence of Mr. Chris Taylor, Vice President and Global Head of Listings & Services at NYSE, Mr. Stefan Jekel, Head of International Listings at NYSE and other distinguished guests from the international shipping industry, banking and investment communities to mark this monumental occasion.

The Company proudly celebrated its journey which began 30 years ago with a fleet of four tankers to becoming one of the largest independent transporters of energy in the world owning a versatile fleet of 68 modern crude and product tankers, shuttle tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels. TEN Ltd. is the energy transporter of choice for major oil companies and other blue chip global energy concerns.

TENs focus on fleet modernity, operational excellence and balanced fleet employment has enabled the company to produce strong results throughout the market cycles. Over its 20-year presence on NYSE, TEN Ltd. has generated net income in excess of $2.5 billion and has made uninterrupted payments of common and preferred dividends in excess of $750 million, regardless of market cyclicality.

TEN Ltd. was among the first tanker companies to embrace the double hull vessel concept in the design and today remains committed to fleet modernization and green energy transition. TEN Ltd. has implemented a $6.0 billion newbuilding program on fleet expansion and renewal underpinning its prudent sustainable growth strategy aiming at reducing the Companys environmental footprint.

On September 25, 2023, TEN Ltd. took delivery of an LNG powered Aframax tanker, Njord DF, the first in a series of four high-spec eco designed vessels built against long-term employment to a major European state-owned oil concern. The introduction of this vessel kickstarts the delivery of the Companys existing green growth program with now nine remaining vessels which are expected to be gradually introduced to TENs fleet over the next ten quarters.

As of today, TEN Ltd. has secured over $2.5 billion in fleet revenue backlog.

Dr. Nikolaos P. Tsakos, Founder and CEO of the Company commented:

"This exceptional moment represents a significant milestone in our history as a publicly traded company that not only celebrates its achievements but more importantly, it propels us to look ahead into our next chapter and continue to push forward to better our business and our practices. We are grateful and appreciative to all our associates for their efforts so far and remain enthusiastic as we embark on the next phase of the Companys development for the benefit of our shareholders.

ABOUT TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION

TEN, founded in 1993 and celebrating this year 30 years as a public company, is one of the first and most established public shipping companies in the world. TENs diversified energy fleet currently consists of 68 double-hull vessels, including four dual-fuel LNG powered aframax vessels, two DP2 shuttle tankers, two scrubber-fitted suezmax vessels and two scrubber-fitted MR product tankers under construction, constituting a mix of crude tankers, product tankers and LNG carriers, totaling 8.4 million dwt.

ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted by such forward-looking statements. TEN undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Company

Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd.

George Saroglou

COO

+30210 94 07 710

gsaroglou@tenn.gr

Investor Relations / Media

Capital Link, Inc.

Nicolas Bornozis

Markella Kara

+212 661 7566

ten@capitallink.com





Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b9376de-ac1e-40df-a3d0-6fbe72246b9e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31b1c386-1e8e-4d4a-a2fa-a5ea1f8479e0
VANCOUVER, Oct. 12, 2023 - Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or "the Company") (TSX-V: DSM) announces that it has entered into an agreement with Ferrodrill Namibia (Pty) Ltd in order to proceed with the drilling program on the Haib Copper project in the south of Namibia. Ferrodrill is a Namibian drilling contractor providing full drilling services since 2007 and has provided services to a large number companies from exploration to major mining companies. The contract provides for 5,000 meters of diamond drilling. Drilling planning and preparation is on track and we will inform our shareholders of the schedule and complete program in due course.



The specific focus of the drilling campaign is to drill the high-grade area of the deposit uncovered by Deep-South in 2019. The program was planned to drill up to 10,000 meters in the area. The first 5,000 meters were drilled in 2021. However, the program had been suspended when the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia (the Ministry) has refused to renew the Exploration and Prospecting Licence (EPL). This legal situation has been resolved and the licence was renewed on July 7, 2023. Deep-South goal is to complete the remaining 5,000 meters and then proceed with a new resource estimation.

Previous drilling programmes point to the presence of higher copper grade zones, probably associated with near vertical structures (shears and faults) within the broader mineralised areas of the project. The use of vertical drilling in the past potentially missed those structures resulting in an underestimation of the overall grade. Our drilling program is focussing to redress this through the use of inclined holes to identify and delineate these structures and test the association with higher Cu grade zones. The results of the first 5,000 meters drilled in 2021 seem to support this updated interpretation, showing substantial intersections at Cu grades considered high for Haib. Additionally, the presence of molydenum has been confirmed with high Mo grades obtained in association with structures and alterations.

About Deep-South Resources Inc.

Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company. Deep-South's growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. The Company holds the Haib Copper Project in Namibia and holds an interest in three exploration licenses in the Copperbelt in Zambia. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper projects, Deep-South embraces the green revolution.

Qualified Person

Mr. Dean Richards Pr.Sci.Nat. , MGSSA - BSc. (Hons.) Geology, is the Qualified Person for the Haib Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

More information is available by contacting Pierre Leveille, President & CEO at +1-819-340-0140 or at: info@deepsouthresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Alonso breaks ranks to condemn Hamas attacks

Fernando Alonso has broken ranks to speak out about the devastating situation unfolding in Israel and Palestine.

Fernando Alonso, Qatar GP 2023

 Aston Martin Racing

With the world of Formula 1 not too far away in Qatar at the weekend, Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israel and also launched a terrorist ground strike, involving the kidnapping, killing and butchering of Jews.

But the biggest single-day loss of Jewish life on earth since the Holocaust also triggered a furious response from the Israeli military, sparking sympathy but also anti-Semitic protests in support of the Palestinian people across the West.

Amid the complex story, F1 drivers have remained silent.

But the sport's longest-serving and oldest current driver, Fernando Alonso, broke ranks with a social media post condemning the Hamas attack.

The Spaniard's comments were apparently triggered by the news that dozens of Jewish babies were discovered dead and mutilated - and in some cases beheaded.

Children deserve to grow up protected in a safe world, Alonso, who is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, wrote.
Andretti's Renault engine deal has expired

Andretti-Cadillac's Formula 1 technical deal with Renault and Alpine has expired.

Esteban Ocon, Qatar GP 2023

 Alpine

That is the news from the French team's interim boss Bruno Famin, after the FIA green-lighted Andretti's bid to enter the sport - triggering commercial talks with Liberty Media.

But if F1 now also gives Andretti the green light, the American concern will need to negotiate a new engine deal with Renault.

We have indeed had discussions with Andretti, Famin told Canal Plus. We had already made a deal with them - a preliminary contract for the delivery of engines.

But that contract expired on March 31 this year. It was completely dependent on whether they could get entry into Formula 1, and they didn't get that at the time.

However, Famin says he is still open to a deal.
F1, circuits must resolve track limits farce says Vasseur

The unresolved track limits issue in Formula 1 is "unacceptable" and "inappropriate".

Frederic Vasseur, Qatar GP 2023

 Ferrari

That is the word from Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur, following a repeat of what he called a penalty festival in Qatar last weekend - echoing the even more farcical situation earlier this year in Austria.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is furious about the situation, warning that circuits that cannot resolve the problem of containing drivers within the white lines may result in their expulsion from the calendar.

Ferrari boss Vasseur appears to thoroughly agree.

I imagine what it must be like for the viewers on the screens, said the Frenchman. Most of them have no idea what is happening - they just see 'Gasly 5 seconds', 'Gasly 10 seconds', 'Gasly 15 seconds'.

It is unacceptable that an organiser like the one in Qatar invests so much money in modernising the race track and then we experience such a hail of penalties, Vasseur added.

For me, this is inappropriate for Formula 1. We have to do something.

He admitted, however, that the intense heat in Qatar affected the concentration and even the vision of some drivers, exacerbating the problem.
Marko backs Berger over extreme heat comments

Dr Helmut Marko has backed fellow Austrian and F1 legend Gerhard Berger's view that it is up to the drivers to be ready for extremely hot races.

Max Verstappen, Qatar GP 2023

 Red Bull

With the FIA accepting responsibility for the group of drivers who suffered with heat stroke and dehydration in Qatar last Sunday, Berger said the issue is actually simply a question of fitness .

If you're in great shape, you won't get sick, he told Servus TV.

In the increasingly safety-oriented world, 80-year-old Marko said Berger's comments are a breath of fresh air.

What Gerhard said was very refreshing, he told Osterreich newspaper. He also got to the heart of why he didn't win that much himself.

Marko also said it's notable that new triple world champion Max Verstappen made it to the end of the extreme Qatar race - with victory.

Absolutely, he said when asked if Berger was right that the best drivers in the field are also the best prepared physically.

Max was still all together at the finish. He did have the advantage of being able to drive three or four leisurely laps after the pitstops until he got the tyres up to temperature.
Spa inks new F1 deal through 2025

There's good news for Formula 1 fans out of Belgium - the fabled Spa-Francorchamps circuit will host at least two more grands prix.

Max Verstappen, Belgian GP 2023

 Red Bull

Multiple local media outlets, including the French-language Le Soir newspaper, report that Belgian GP race organisers have extended another 1-year contract extension.

That means the race will definitely take place in both 2024 and 2025, with Het Laatste Nieuws adding that Spa might then need to annually alternate with Zandvoort.

Belgian politician Willy Borsus, the Walloon economy minister, said the government also backs the deal.

This is good and important news, he told Algemeen Dagblad newspaper.
Ecobank Ghana appoints Joana Mensah as Acting MD

Suleiman Mustapha Business News Oct - 12 - 2023 , 04:20

Ecobank Ghana, has announced Ms. Joana Mensah as the acting Managing Director. She replaces Dan Sackey, who headed the bank from 2016 to August 15, 2023, when he officially retired.

Ms. Joana Mensah is expected to remain in this role until a substantive person is named later. The bank is yet to announce the timeline for the appointment of a substantive MD.

Until this appointment, Ms Mensah was the Country Chief Risk Officer of Ecobank Ghana, responsible for managing the enterprise-wide risk functions across the bank since May 2019.

In this capacity, she had direct supervision of credit risk, market risk, operational risk as well as Environmental Social and Governance, and worked through the Management Risk Committee to cover other risk areas.

Her career with Ecobank Ghana started in August 1993, when she joined the bank as a Financial Analyst with the Corporate Banking Department.

SME portfolio

She subsequently served as a Relationship Manager in charge of the SME Portfolio and was eventually appointed as the Head of Commercial Banking in 1999.

In 2005, Ms Mensah Joana was appointed as Country Risk Manager with dual responsibility as the Regional Risk Manager for the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), which is currently the Anglophone West Africa (AWA) region.

Based on her rich credit experience and expertise in exercising sound credit judgment, she was also appointed as Senior Credit Officer by Ecobank Transnational Inc., the parent company of Ecobank Ghana, responsible for approving large credit exposures and high-risk exposures for the AWA Region. She has a strong background in SME development, Corporate Banking/ Strategy and Risk Management.

The Acting MD holds an MBA in Finance and a BSc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon. She presently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Ecobank Gambia and previously served on the Boards of Ecobank Sierra Leone and Ecobank Ghana Venture Fund.

Financial performance

Ms. Mensah comes into office just as the bank has completely recovered from the dip in its financial performance, unavoidably caused by the effects of Ghanas Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which imposed a significant adverse impact on nearly all banks.

Ecobank Ghana, for long the industry leader, announced its financial performance for the first half of 2023 that showed that it is well on course to successfully navigating the treacherous terrain thrown up by the countrys debt restructuring exercise.

The bank is back to profitability after impairment charges on its holding of government debt securities, leading to huge losses for both the full 2022 financial year and the first quarter of 2023.
Over 9m Ghanaians have no form of pension  NPRA

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Oct - 12 - 2023 , 04:56

Over nine million working Ghanaians have no form pensions, the Head of Corporate Affairs, National Pensions Regulatory Authority, Nana Sifa Twum, has disclosed.

He said most of these people were in the informal sector, adding that between the next five to 10 years, a lot of people would retire into poverty if that was not checked.

Speaking to the media at the launch of Pension Sunday, he said the country was struggling to rope in the informal sector onto the pension scheme because the scheme was set up on the wrong premise, with the notion that pension was for only formal sector workers.

He, therefore, urged all stakeholders in the industry to intensify their public education advocacy for workers in the informal sector to understand that they could also benefit from the pension scheme.

Pension Sunday

The Pension Sunday was launched by the NPRA in collaboration with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to jointly educate and sensitise church members in a bid to improve pension literacy and enhance pensions coverage in the country.

Under the initiative, the first Sunday of every October would be observed in all 5000 Presbyterian congregations across the country.

Mr Sifa Twum said through initiatives such as that, the NPRA had been able to rope in about seven per cent of informal sector workers onto the pensions scheme, with plans to increase this figure to 25 per cent within the next five years.

There are two inevitable things in life, one would have to die or retire, and these require pragmatic preparations, he stated.

He said the authority was working towards replicating Pensions Sunday in all churches.

Needed awareness

Launching the programme, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Professor, Right Reverend Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, expressed optimism that the programme would bring about the needed awareness among Ghanaians, especially members of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and whip up their enthusiasm to plan for their retirement.

He said the Bible required Christians to live in dignity and be financially sound and therefore the programme had come at the right time to help members prepare well towards their retirement.

Right Reverend Mante explained that the church worked towards the holistic well-being of its members and as members were fed with the spiritual information and assistances, they must also be well educated to live lives of high repute and dignity.

He called on the leadership of the Presbyterian Churches in the country to liaise with the NPRA in the regions to make this effective and successful.

He also appealed to the government to institute every October as a pension month to create awareness of pension matters adding that pension helped one to maintain his or standard of living in retirement, and savings provided important supplemental income for unforeseen expenses.
Youth advised to create eco-friendly businesses

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News Oct - 12 - 2023 , 03:45

THE Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has advised young entrepreneurs to create businesses centred on eco-friendly products and services to contribute to economic growth.

The urge to transit from todays brown economy to an environmentally friendly and sustainable economy (green economy) imposes on us the need to develop and adapt innovative technologies that enable us to make efficient and sustainable use of the available resources.

It is these innovations and environmentally friendly technologies that create the green and circular economy, he said.

Mr Awuah said this in a speech read on his behalf at the young entrepreneurs forum organised by Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND) in Accra last Thursday on the theme: Green Innovations for Sustainable Development: Empowering Young Entrepreneurs in Ghana.

The forum presented an opportunity for young persons to wield their influence on green innovations, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.

Acquiring skills

Mr Baffour Awuah indicated that acquiring skills for opportunities in the green economy was crucial for the youth.

He said by developing these skills, young individuals would not only contribute to a more eco-friendly future but also position themselves for career opportunities in a rapidly evolving job market.

In as much as the green economy presents to us enormous potential for job creation, it is only when we facilitate people such as the young ones to acquire the skills and develop the entrepreneurial spirit to enable them to grow and manage green business that we can maximise the opportunities, he said.

He explained that his ministry recognised the need for the country to contribute to the global agenda to address the impacts of climate change and transitioning of our economy from brown to green, adding that we also recognise that the green economy presents enormous potential for job creation and we can take advantage of this, if we put in place the requisite measures.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Pius Enam Hadzide, explained that the public sector was not a sustainable way of creating the millions of jobs needed for the young people of Ghana as the government was already overburdened with expenditure.

He said addressing climate change presented numerous job opportunities in sectors such as sustainable agriculture and energy, therefore, the youth must be innovative enough to monetise solutions in climate change.

There is a challenge as far as recruiting into the public space is concerned. Expanding the tax net can be a short-term objective but a more sustainable way to deal with the issue of unemployment is to position the young people to be innovative to create employment for themselves and others, he said.

For his part, Executive Director for SYND, Chibeze Ezekiel, said the Young Green Entrepreneurs aimed at enabling the next crop of sustainable leaders, through the introduction and upscale of innovative solutions in combating the threat of climate change, supporting an effective energy transition and the creation of alternative sustainable livelihoods.
World Habitat Day: Call to sanitised living environment

Daily Graphic Editorials Oct - 12 - 2023 , 07:53

The Global Observance of World Habitat Day (WHD), held on the theme: Resilient urban economies : Cities as drivers of growth and recovery, was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on October 2, 2023.

World Habitat Day is marked on the first Monday of October each year and is recognised by the United Nations to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.

The day is also intended to remind the world that everyone has the power and the responsibility to shape the future of towns and cities.

It is also a global observance aimed at raising awareness of the importance of sustainable urban development, adequate housing, and access to basic amenities.

This annual event provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of our cities and towns and to advocate positive changes that promote better living conditions for all.

WHD calls for action to address housing challenges, urban inequality, and environmental sustainability.

Established by the United Nations to draw attention to the need for sustainable urban development and adequate housing for all, WHD serves as a reminder of the global commitment to create inclusive, safe, and resilient cities and communities.

Indeed, the commemoration of the day serves as a reminder to the haphazard development of our cities, with access to basic amenities still being a great challenge to many a city dweller.

In our capital cities, all across the country, accessing potable water, good sanitation and proper hygiene is still fraught with numerous challenges.

Challenges brought about by residents themselves as well as duty bearers who have shirked their responsibilities.

Dwellings are put up in many places, both authorised and unauthorised, not according to laid down procedure, and sometimes on water and road paths, thus obstructing water flow when it rains and also making those places inaccessible when there is an emergency.

Our towns and cities have become concrete jungles as all available spaces have been sold out for dwellings  no parks or green spaces for recreation and relaxation.

The least said about our road networks, the better, as we are very deficient in proper roads as a country.

Some of the reasons are poor construction, the government alone taking the responsibility of constructing our roads as per our current laws, the lack of maintenance and the abuse of the infrastructure by the users when they are put in place.

Slums have developed in Accra and in all our major cities, thereby resulting in sanitation challenges, inequality in living conditions, exclusive, unsafe, and non-resilient cities and communities.

Why must we abandon housing projects such as Saglemi and others while we embark on others, when many citizens are still not properly housed and are struggling to pay exorbitant rents to Shylocks who have arrogated to themselves the role of landlords.

In other jurisdictions, once a citizen attains adulthood, he or she is entitled to a well-constructed place of abode, while we still grapple with a place to lay our heads even in old age, resulting in so much inequality and desecration of the environment, because landowners will even sell water bodies for developments of any kind.

As rightly put by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, while this years World Habitat Day focused attention on Resilient Urban Economies and the potential of cities as drivers of inclusive, green, and sustainable growth, cities must confront a range of challenges  from economic shocks and escalating climate emergencies to widening inequalities, to fulfil this promise.

Building greater resilience and a better protection of vulnerable populations require far greater investments in sustainable infrastructure, early warning systems, and affordable, adequate housing for all.

At the same time, we must work to improve access to electricity, water, sanitation, transport, and other basic services  while investing in education, skills development, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Local action is vital, and global cooperation indispensable.

Let us all pledge to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements for all people everywhere and thus promote dignified living among all classes of society.
Ras Kuuku talks about economic hardship on System Freeze

Kofi Duah Showbiz News Oct - 12 - 2023 , 11:41

The talk about the current economic hardships is now a cliche, and Reggae/Dancehall artiste Ras Kuuku is expressing massive concerns on his latest song, System Freeze.

In the song recorded by IbeeOndeBeat, Ras Kuuku sings about how the youth are struggling with no jobs despite their good educational qualifications and backgrounds.

He mentioned that nobody is spared of the hell fire. However, the government is adamant about the cries of the people.

Rendered in mid-tempo, Ras Kuuku urges political authorities to not seek their welfare and close their eyes to the plight of ordinary Ghanaians.

This song is not for any political party but a message to those in charge of affairs of this country to up their game. We only have one Ghana and its time to fix it.

I dont expect any political party to use it as a campaign song because that is not my motive, since it is not a blame game.

However, if any pressure group wants to use it for demonstration to demand accountability from the government, I am all for it, he told Graphic Showbiz in an interview recently.

The one-time VGMA Reggae/ Dancehall artiste of the year is known for songs like Ade3bekye, Show Them Love, Yetali mu, Wo, Kpagbum style, Wa ye bibioo, 3 3 n 1 Me, Mpaebo and 1 2 1 2, among others.

He told Graphic Showbiz that it was about time musicians tackled relevant national issues and halted the unnecessary attention on women, love, money and partying addressed in their songs.

We do not always have to talk about women, money and parties. We should be able to sing about sensitive issues bothering everyone and it takes a bold musician to do that. If Ghana is better, it is for all of us. However, if its bad, the masses suffer. We need change now, he said.
Agricultural mechanisation gap - Leveraging local knowledge for sustainable economic impact

Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah Opinion Oct - 12 - 2023 , 07:45

Ghana has the potential to change the narrative by gradually closing the technological gap between basic and advanced levels of mechanisation.

This is where appropriate demand-driven intermediate agricultural technology comes into play, a strategy that our Asian counterparts, such as China, India, Bangladesh and others have mastered.

Through effective agricultural mechanisation, these countries have made enormous economic gains in their respective agriculture sectors.

Over several decades, the strategy was simply to improve the efficiency of existing rudimentary tools, before gradually progressing to the intermediate level with the application of relevant local knowledge.

Farmers gradually learned the operating principles of the various technologies developed, making adoption much easier.

They were then encouraged to increase their production area, resulting in the necessary upgrade to advanced agricultural mechanisation.

Farmers became the primary drivers and beneficiaries of the necessary change.

There is no better time than now for Ghana to look inward and develop its local content with reference to demand-driven appropriate intermediate agricultural technologies, giving the lessons learned from pandemics such as the novel COVID-19 and their lasting impact on world economies.

Agenda

The "Ghana beyond aid" agenda has recently included calls from the government to create local content.

The governments efforts have produced the ideal political climate for this dream to become a reality.

A dream where Ghanaian farmers can have reliable access to rice reapers, threshers, mini combines, and other agro-processing equipment made locally, free from concerns about cost, availability of spare parts, suitability for the local environment, etc.

A dream where the service of local artisans is highly regarded.

A dream in which local knowledge becomes relevant to national economic development through demand-driven research.

Institutions

The existence of a good number of agricultural research institutions and universities in Ghana, as well as their roles in the sector, have contributed to the country's development of a robust domestic knowledge based relevant agricultural technology.

Over 5,000 agricultural technology-related student research projects or thesis, with the potential to improve the agricultural sector are undertaken yearly.

The unfortunate reality is that the vast majority of this hidden gold ends up collecting dust on shelves.

These dissertations may be published in academic journals, but they rarely lead to practical solutions for the technological problems smallholder farmers face.

These college grads have the necessary background in agricultural mechanisation technologies, but they still have to attend the youth unemployment academy after school.

Statistics show that between 2009 and 2019, the youth unemployment rate in Ghana rose from 10.8 per cent to 13.7 per cent.

Intermediate agricultural technologies have been the subject of several research.

For example, a study by Amponsah et al., (2017) has proven that profit margins of over 200 per cent and a payback period of fewer than two growing seasons make intermediate mechanised rice harvesting systems the best financial bet, compared to manual and advanced methods.

There are several of such studies on various food staples available in the country's agricultural research institutions and universities.

The country has a large number of local artisans with the necessary expertise and capacity to manufacture almost any agricultural machinery.

Almost every town and village in the country has at least one welding shop.

With a little logistical and technical assistance, this group of workers can become the engines of agricultural technological advancement.

Conclusion

To sustainably revolutionise its agricultural sector and make a significant contribution to the country's economy, Ghana requires a mechanised intervention that will be accomplished through the development and adoption of appropriate intermediate technologies at the local level.

The idea is to combine current agricultural technology research expertise with local manufacturing know-how, as previously suggested.

Higher education institutions and research institutions will provide demand-driven research outcomes, while local artisans will provide fabrication expertise.

This merger is anticipated to generate a number of locally developed intermediate agricultural technologies that are applicable across food production units (crops and animals) and value chains.

Benefits

Among the anticipated benefits of this strategy are access to appropriate farm machinery and equipment, decreased youth unemployment, increased agricultural production and productivity, increased foreign exchange earnings, and sustainable food security.

The government is urged to assist in the implementation of the national agricultural mechanisation policy that incorporates suggestions made in this article.

To implement this strategy, the government, in collaboration with interested private investors, could expedite the establishment of an agricultural mechanisation research institute.

A government-led vision of this magnitude will necessitate close collaboration with key stakeholders, such as, academic institutions, research organisations, the Department of Food and Agriculture, traditional leaders, artisanal groups and others.

The implementation of this strategy won't be without its share of difficulties.

However, in the favourite quote, "if you have a mountain to climb, waiting does not make it look smaller," there is no better time to start than now.

Self-sufficiency in mechanised agricultural technologies is possible with the right mindset and commitment from all relevant stakeholders.

The writer is Senior Research Scientist,

CSIR-Crops Research Institute.
Right to fair trial, access to justice

George Bernard Shaw Opinion Oct - 12 - 2023 , 08:00

At the heart of human rights protection and the rule of law is the administration of justice.

The effective realisation depends on the existence of separate, but related factors: the existence of an independent judiciary, effective access to justice and equality of arms (both parties to litigation having equal personnel and resources in the resolution of matters).

I explore an important component to the right to a fair trial (in the criminal context) access to justice and examine its operation and effectiveness within the Ghanaian Legal System.

Existence

There can be no doubt as to the existence of the right to a fair trial in International Human Rights Law.

It is provided and recognised in a series of international and regional human rights instruments: Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights; Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

A crucial component of the right to a fair trial is the right to qualified counsel of ones choice.

Generally, what this means is that, accused persons must have access to the services of a lawyer who is qualified in the jurisdiction in which they are being tried according to the requirements set out in domestic law.

So in Ghana, the said lawyer must be on the rolls of the lawyers qualified to practice law here.

The right to a lawyer is crucial as the experience of being dragged to court is for most accused persons, unfamiliar and incomprehensible (technical).

The availability of sound legal advice and assistance is thus very necessary and pivotal in the prevention of miscarriages of justice.

Scope

Against this backdrop, we explore the scope and existence of the right to counsel in the Ghanaian context. Article 19(2)(e)(f) and (g) come to focus in this analysis.

Article 19 (2) (e) states, A person charged with a criminal offence shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence.

Also, Article 19(2)(f) provides that A person charged with a criminal offence shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or by a lawyer of his choice.

Further, Article 19 (2) (g) provides A person charged with a criminal offence shall be afforded facilities to examine in person, or by his lawyer, the witness called by the prosecution before the court, and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on the same conditions as those applicable to witnesses called by the prosecution.

Legal Aid

In a bid to make effective the right to counsel in criminal matters, the government set up the Legal Aid Commission.

Its purpose is to ensure equality of access to justice and treatment before the law by serving as a Public Defender for the poor in need of cost effective justice.

The legal foundation of the Legal Aid System in Ghana can be found in Article 294 of the Constitution and the Courts Act.

Article 294 (2) of the Constitution states that Parliament shall regulate the grant of Legal Aid and Clause 4 of the Article says that Legal Aid shall consist of representation by a lawyer, including all such assistance as shall be provided by a lawyer.

Also Section 114(1) of the Courts Act states (1) The Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court or Regional Tribunal may assign a lawyer by way of legal aid to any party, to any proceedings before the Court or Tribunal, where the Court or Tribunal is of the opinion that it is desirable in the interests of justice that the party should have legal aid and that he is financially unable to obtain the services of a lawyer.

The district and circuit courts have the same power but it is subject to the approval of the Chief Justice.

Services

The Legal Aid Commission has detailed its Legal and Advisory Services as: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Legal Representation in all matters civil and criminal, Legal Representation for Juveniles, and Legal Representation in connection with any proceedings relating to the Constitution.

On paper, the services that the Commission are mandated to perform are solid and perfect with regard to the fulfilment of the governments responsibility in ensuring access to justice but the reality is far from the truth.

My follow-up article will deal with the situation on the ground and proffer recommendations.

The writer is a lawyer.
50 SOS undergraduates undergo skill training - For job market, creating own jobs

Haruna Yussif Wunpini Education Oct - 12 - 2023 , 06:08

Fifty students of the SOS Children's Villages across the country who were sponsored by the organisation to pursue programmes at the university level have been taken through skill training in various employable areas.

The five-day training session, which was organised by the SOS with financial support from DHL Express, had the beneficiaries coming from SOS Children's Villages such as Asiakwa, Tamale, Kumasi and Tema.

The event was on the theme; "Helping young people develop the right skills for their career path".

The students, who were taken by the SOS Children's Villages in their infancy, were sponsored by the organisation from the primary, junior high, senior high schools, as well as the tertiary level.

Universities

Some of the universities they are pursuing various programmes of study are the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and other technical universities such as the Kumasi Technical University,the Accra Technical University, the Koforidua Technical University, the Tamale Technical University among others.

Students at the boot camp

Topics

At the boot camp, which was held at Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region, the beneficiaries were taken through skills such as "curriculum vitae (CV) writing, covering letter, motivational letter writing; networking, branding, communication skills, financial management, interview skills, public speaking and presentation skills".

Other topics treated were career opportunities, career skills and competence development, interviewing skills for level 300 and 400 students, networking and branding, personal management, identification of business opportunities and branding and marketing for level 100 and 200 learners.

Preparation

Addressing the beneficiaries, the National Director of the SOS Children's Villages in Ghana, Alexander Mar Kekula said the initiative was to prepare them with the needed skills for the job market.

He told the students that they would be able to take over their own lives in the future to take good care of themselves and dependants after securing jobs or creating their own jobs.

"We have to help them with the necessary skills for jobs because they will soon be leaving the universities and be establishing their families in the near future", Mr Kekula indicated.

Income generation

Mr Kekula said apart from generating income to cater for themselves and families, they would as well be contributing to the development of their communities and the country as a whole.

He said they would become future leaders as such they must have the training and skills to lead society.

According to the SOS national director, it would be good for the beneficiaries to come out with their own projects to be guided for implementation instead of being imposed on them.

Academic knowledge

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DHL Global Forwarding, Serigne Mbaye said it was not only academic knowledge that was needed for job acquisition but rather practical knowledge in terms of skill training.

"Knowledge is in the head but skills can be acquired and this is what we are taking them through to fit the job market or create their own jobs", Mr Mbaye stated.

The National Youth Development Advisor of SOS Children's Villages, Godknows Kporha said the organisation's youth development programme starts from age 14 and existing at 24.

Students appreciation

Diana Segbedzi and Frank Sam Obuobi, all from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Bernice Bonny from the University of Ghana, Legon, all beneficiaries said the boot camp had improved their chances of getting jobs after completing their courses.
GH115bn goes into education since 2017: SHSs take GHH12.96bn - Akufo Addo

Chris Nunoo Education Oct - 12 - 2023 , 06:30

The government has invested more than GH114.5 billion in the education sector since 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed.

Out of the amount, he said, GH12.96 billion had been spent on senior high schools.

At the senior high school alone, of which there are 925 schools, we have initiated a total of 1,105 projects, including accommodation and teaching and learning related projects from 2017 to date, President Akufo-Addo stated.

In an almost 40-minute speech at the 61st annual conference of the Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) at the Achimota School in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said Out of this, 406 are classroom blocks of various types, science laboratories and home economic blocks, 386 dormitory blocks, 233 toilet facilities with nine newly constructed model STEM SHSs spread around the country.

The President touted the achievements of his government in the education sector as unmatched.

He said no government in the history of the Fourth Republic had done more for the growth of the education sector than his government.

Supporting his assertion with figures, President Akufo-Addo said 280,000 laptops for teachers, 350 buses, 840 pick-up vehicles, 1,500 motorcycles and 667,470 pieces of furniture had also been distributed since 2017.

He further disclosed that 450,000 tablets, under the one-student, one-tablet policy, would also be distributed soon.

CHASS conference

The CHASS conference is an annual gathering of heads of assisted secondary schools where they take stock of their activities and stewardship in the past year.

President Akufo-Addo said together with members of CHASS, the government was shaping the future of education in Ghana for excellence and its outcomes.

That, he stated, was not just a project but a movement, a transformation and a promise for brighter digitally empowered tomorrow.

President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, educators, parents and communities who had contributed to this wonderful journey, saying, Together we are indeed shaping a brighter future for Ghana, where the people will witness a flurry of Ghanaian civilisation which will ensure that every Ghanaian child will have ready access to quality education comparable to anywhere in the world.

Touching on the welfare of educators, President Akufo-Addo said educators would continue to be a priority for his government as it remained committed to its teacher first policy.

That would ensure that teachers, who the President described as central to all our education reforms, were fully tooled, skilled and supported to deliver quality learning outcomes to support our development aspirations.

Akufo-Addo graduates

Between 2013 and 2016, President Akufo-Addo said, we had the unfortunate situation in our country where on the average 100,000 children every year passed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) but could not take up their places in SHSs because they could not afford the fees, even though they had the qualification.

He said if that situation had persisted for a decade, a million children would have dropped out of school at the junior high school (JHS) level.

He described that as an unacceptable outcome for any nation in the 21st century and said it would have been too dangerous for Ghanas stability as they would have been building a future of hopelessness for our youth.

Such a situation, the President indicated, were intolerable and my party and I were determined to end it.

He said that was one of the reasons for the introduction of the Free SHS in September 2017.

Giving a background to the Free SHS policy, President Akufo-Addo said access under the policy had gone from a population of 830,000, when he took office, to 1.4 million today.

In effect, he said, we have been able to catch and retain the annual 100,000 dropouts within the educational system, a situation, he said, was a commendable development for the nation and for the young people involved.

Furthermore, he said, the results of each batch of the graduates had surpassed those chalked up in 2016 prior to his assumption of office.

The President said in spite of the increased enrolment figures, quality had not declined but had on the contrary improved.

He, therefore, thanked members of CHASS for the impressive results in the WASSCE since the commencement of the Free SHS, pointing out that the 2022 WASSCE results of the third batch of the graduates showed 60.39 per cent students recording A1 to C6 in English as opposed to 31.6 per cent in 2016.

President Akufo-Addo said 62.45 per cent recorded A1 to C6 in Integrated Science in 2022, as opposed to 48.35 per cent in 2016, with the 2022 result being a slight regression from the 2021 pass rate of 65.7 per cent.

In Mathematics, he said 61.39 per cent recorded A1 to C6 as compared to 33.13 per cent in 2016 and 71.51 per cent recorded A1 to C6 in Social Studies as compared to 54.55 per cent in 2016, he added, saying the 2022 results was the best in the last eight years.

Surely, there could no longer be any controversy about the validity of the Free SHS policy and its consequential measures, President Akufo-Addo stressed.

Digital Literacy Project

Giving details about the Digital Literacy Project at the SHS level, he said the E-Transform Ghana Project stood as a beacon of progress.

He said for the investment of $97 million, the government was enhancing service delivery through information and communications technology (ICT).

Among its many facets, the President said, the E-education components promised to establish computer laboratories in 305 senior high schools in all the regions of the country.

These laboratories, he explained, would be equipped with cutting edge technology fostering in the environment where students could immerse themselves in the digital row.

TVET

President Akufo-Addo also spoke about how the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector had witnessed a comprehensive modernisation and expansion and added that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education had also become the cornerstone of progress and innovation in the modern world.
NSMQ 2023: St. Louis stuns Adisadel as 9 Senior High Schools book places in quarter-finals (LIST)

GraphicOnline Education Oct - 12 - 2023 , 07:50

In the opening day of the one-eighth stage of the 2023 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) yesterday (October 11, 2023), nine Senior High Schools (SHS) successfully advanced to the Quarter Finals.

To earn a seed, schools must battle their way to the Quarter-final Stage, ensuring an automatic seed. This means that a school granted an automatic seed will skip the regional qualifiers and preliminary stages. Schools that did not win a seed, will still have an opportunity to qualify.

Wesley Girls Senior High School reasserted their dominance, clinching victory with a substantial 54 points. They outshone their rivals, Archbishop Porter Girls of the Western Region, who garnered 25 points, and Ghanata SHS, finishing at 24 points.

Meanwhile, Bishop Herman College secured their Quarter Finals spot with a commendable 37 points. They faced off against Adidome SHS and Ola SHS, with Adidome SHS scoring 31 points and OLA SHS falling short with 24 points.

Mpraeso SHS emerged victorious with 43 points, triumphing over Ghana National College, who concluded with 39 points, and Aggrey Memorial Zion SHS, trailing at 25 points.

In a standout performance, Achimota School exhibited their prowess with the highest score of the day, an impressive 66 points. Their competitors, Central Regions Holy Child School, tallied 41 points, while Assin State College fell behind with 30 points.

Kumasi High School also secured a spot in the Quarter Finals, clinching victory with 40 points. They faced stiff competition from Okuapemman School, who trailed with 36 points, and Anlo SHS, finishing at 34 points.

Osei Kyeretwie SHS maintained their reputation, emerging victorious with 49 points. They faced off against St. Joseph Seminary SHS, who secured 29 points, and Notre Dame Girls, who closed the contest at 27 points.

In a compelling match-up, St. Louis Senior High School qualified as a seed in the quarter-finals after accumulating an impressive 53 points. Their contenders, Adisadel College, experienced a surprising upset, finishing with 23 points, while Abuakwa State College lagged behind at 19 points.

Wesley Grammar School secured their Quarter Finals spot after skillfully answering a tie-breaker question, ultimately earning them the much-needed win with 33 points. They went head-to-head with Tema Methodist SHS, who concluded the contest with 31 points, and Swedru Secondary School, who finished at 28 points.

Lastly, Anglican Senior High School emerged victorious with a score of 40 points, narrowly surpassing Adventist SHS, Bantama, who finished with 39 points. St. Charles Minor Seminary faced a tough challenge and concluded the contest with 16 points.

See the schools that won a seed below;

Wesley Girls Senior High School

Bishop Herman College

Mpraeso SHS

Achimota School

Kumasi High School

Osei Kyeretwie SHS

St. Louis Senior High School

Wesley Grammar School

Anglican Senior High School
Ato Essien can regain his freedom if he pays outstanding GH53million

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Oct - 12 - 2023 , 18:46

William Ato Essien, the founder of defunct Capital Bank who was on Thursday afternoon jailed for 15 years can regain his freedom if he pays the outstanding GH53million owed.

The Accra High Court has imposed a 15-year jail term on William Ato Essien, for stealing over GH90 million belonging to the bank.

He has since refunded some of the amounts and left with the outstanding sum of Gh53million which is what is left for him to pay to the state as reparation and restitution to the state.

Sentencing him on Thursday, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour ruled that Essien can regain his freedom if he pays the outstanding amount.

Essien, who was convicted in December last year for stealing over GH90 million belonging to Capital Bank, avoided a custodial sentence after the court accepted an agreement between him and the Attorney-General (A-G) for him (Essien) to pay the GH90 million as restitution to the state.

In a ruling this afternoon, the court, presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, held that Essien has failed to pay the restitution to the state per the agreed terms with the A-G.

The agreement was pursuant to Section 35 of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459), which allows accused persons standing trial for causing financial loss to the state to pay the money and possibly avoid a custodial sentence.

Essien paid GH30 million of the amount on December 1, 2022, and per the agreement as adopted by the court, was ordered to pay the remaining GH60 million in three instalments with the first instalment on or before April 28, 2023, the second on or before August 31, 2023, and the last instalment on or before December 15, 2023.

However, Justice Kyei Baffour said as of today, Essien had paid only GH7 million out of a possible GH40 million, missing the deadlines for April 28 and August 31 this year, bringing the total paid to GH37 million of the total GH90 million.

Justice Kyei Baffour, however, ruled that Essien could regain his freedom if he paid the outstanding sum of GH53 million, which is what is left for him to pay to the state as reparation and restitution.
Capital Bank founder William Ato Essien jailed 15 years for stealing

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Oct - 12 - 2023 , 14:46

The Accra High Court has imposed a 15-year jail term on the founder of defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, for stealing over GH90 million belonging to the bank.

Essien, who was convicted in December last year for stealing over GH90 million belonging to Capital Bank, avoided a custodial sentence after the court accepted an agreement between him and the Attorney-General (A-G) for him (Essien) to pay the GH90 million as restitution to the state.

In a ruling this afternoon, the court, presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, held that Essien has failed to pay the restitution to the state per the agreed terms with the A-G.

The agreement was pursuant to Section 35 of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459), which allows accused persons standing trial for causing financial loss to the state to pay the money and possibly avoid a custodial sentence.

Essien paid GH30 million of the amount on December 1, 2022, and per the agreement as adopted by the court, was ordered to pay the remaining GH60 million in three instalments with the first instalment on or before April 28, 2023, the second on or before August 31, 2023, and the last instalment on or before December 15, 2023.

However, Justice Kyei Baffour said as of today, Essien had paid only GH7 million out of a possible GH40 million, missing the deadlines for April 28 and August 31 this year, bringing the total paid to GH37 million of the total GH90 million.

Justice Kyei Baffour, however, ruled that Essien could regain his freedom if he paid the outstanding sum of GH53 million, which is what is left for him to pay to the state as reparation and restitution.

more to follow
Cecilia Dapaah: OSP petitions CJ to remove judge

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Oct - 12 - 2023 , 10:35

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has petitioned the Chief Justice seeking the recusal of Justice Edward Twum, the judge presiding over the case of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

Justice Twum inform the court today that he had received a letter by the OSP to the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo, for him to recuse himself from the case.

In view of the petition, Justice Twum adjourned the case to await the decision of the Chief Justice on the petition.

The content of the petition by the OSP was however not revealed in court.

The court was today expected to take the plea of Ms Dapaah in a case in which the OSP had accused her of failing to declare her assets during her time as a Minister.

Justice Twum is the judge who had presided over all the cases filed against the former Minister by the OSP.

Freezing motion

On August 31, Justice Twum dismissed a motion by the OSP seeking to continue to freeze the accounts of Ms Dapaah.

It was the considered view of the court that the OSP could not provide any legal basis ro freeze the account

He held that the OSP was in doubt about the true ownership of the alleged tainted property found in Ms Dapaahs house and also failed to convince the court that the alleged tainted property were used in connection with a crime.

If he (OSP) is unsure as to ownership, how did he reach the conclusion that the property is tainted? the presiding judge queried.

Background

The OSP commenced investigation on Ms Dapaah for corruption and corruption-related offences following the revelation that she was keeping more than $1 million in her house.

That was after police prosecutors had arraigned two househelps working for Ms Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, at an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing money and items worth millions of Ghana cedis from the couple's residence at Abelemkpe in Accra.
Court sets December 4 to determine Aisha Huangs fate

Justice Agbenorsi Oct - 12 - 2023 , 10:46

The High Court in Accra will on December 4, 2023 decide whether or not En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang is guilty of illegal mining charges against her.

Justice Mrs Lydia Osei-Marfo set the date after both the prosecution and the defence counsel notified the court about exchanging their final legal arguments (addresses).

Not guilty

Aisha Huang, has been accused of being in the thick of affairs of illegal mining (galamsey), especially in the Ashanti Region.

She was deported from Ghana in 2018, after the Attorney-General decided to discontinue her trial in which she was accused of engaging in small-scale mining without licence.

However, she was said to have sneaked back into Ghana to allegedly engage in the same activities for which she was deported.

The A-G, Godfred Yeboah Dame, then decided to prosecute her for the alleged crimes before her deportation and new ones committed since her re-entry into Ghana.

It is the case of the prosecution that Aisha had an illegal mining concession at Bepotenten in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region and also operated a mining support services company.
Ejura: Robbery suspects kill policeman

Graphic.com.gh Oct - 12 - 2023 , 08:45

A police officer was killed following a gun battle during an operation to foil a robbery attack on a mobile money vendor at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

The deceased, identified as Sergeant, Ahmed Kamal, with service number 42250 and another police officer, whose identity has not been made known by the Police Administration sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange of guns with the robbers.

Kamal was pronounced dead on arrival after he was taken to a hospital together with his colleague.

A statement issued by the police on Wednesday October 11, 2023 indicated that two suspected robbers who allegedly engaged the police in the gun battle during the operation to quell a planned robbery attack on the mobile money vendor at Ejura have been arrested.

The suspects have since been identified as Alhaji Wahab Suleiman and Ibrahim Abubakari.

The two robbery suspects who also sustained gunshot injuries from the exchange of gunfire with the police are said to be receiving medical attention under police protection.

One of their accomplice who also engaged in the shootout with the police officers who were on a mission to prevent the planned robbery attack on the mobile money vendor is currently on the run.

The police said it had mounted a manhunt for the accomplice to get him arrested and face justice.

The statement indicated that some weapons retrieved from the suspects at the scene include two SB shotguns, a pump-action gun, six live BB cartridges and a used B8 cartridge.

The items retrieved would be used as exhibits during the prosecution of the suspects.
Frimpong-Boateng replies A-G on decision not to prosecute officials engaged in galamsey

Getrude Ankah Nyavi Oct - 12 - 2023 , 10:05

Former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, says he is not surprised that the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame decided to down play his report on illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey and chose not to prosecute government officials mentioned in the report.

I am not surprised. I would have been extremely surprised if A-Gs opinion had been otherwise, he stated in a press statement issued on Thursday in response to an advice by the Attorney-General to the police not to prosecute some of the named officials in the report with the explanation that, Prof Frimpong Boateng failed to support his allegations with evidence.

Prof Frimpong Boateng, a former chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), in a 36-page document titled Report on the work of IMCIM so far and the way forward, alleged that some government officials and private citizens were involved in illegal mining activities - galamsey.

Persons cited in the report as being involved in illegal mining activities included Laud Commey, Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, Frank Asiedu Bekoe a.k.a. Protozoa, Joseph Albert Quarm, Charles Owusu, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Captain (Rtd.) Edmund Kojo Koda, Donald Entsuah and an unnamed former Member of Parliament for Wassa East Constituency.

But the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame in an advice dated September 12, 2023, to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service said the former chairman failed to provide the necessary evidence to back his report for the prosecution of persons indicted.

Frimpong Boateng's reaction

Reacting to the A-G's advice on the matter, Prof Frimpong-Boateng stated: I am not at all surprised with that characterization by the Attorney General. We can all close our eyes and bagatellize the destruction of the environment and its biodiversity, but the reality of these criminal actions by people who have no conscience and love for the country will be evident in the near future if not soon.

Attached below is a full copy of Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng's reponse:

RESPONSE TO ATTORNEY GENERALS REPORT Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng My attention has been drawn to a publication dated 12th September 2023 by the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice concerning the report on illegal mining that I presented to the Office of the Chief of Staff at the Presidency in March 2021. The Attorney General is of the opinion that the report dated 19th March 2021 (and not 19th March 2019 as stated by the Attorney General), contains claims that are unfounded and lack the supporting documentation necessary to bring the named parties to justice. I am not at all surprised with that characterization by the Attorney General. According to a Graphic Online report filed by Kweku Zurek as far back as 22nd April 2023, the Office of the President was said to have referred to the report as a catalogue of personal grievances and that the claims in the report were unfounded and amounted to hearsay. Attorney General, Godfred Dame, followed up and advised that little attention be given to Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boatengs report on illegal mining. This was reported in the Editorial of the Online TODAY on 12th May 2023. If the Attorney General comes back in September 2023 and reports that  we do not find any evidence in support of the allegations made against the persons cited in the Report with the exception of., I am not surprised. I would have been extremely surprised if AGs opinion had been otherwise. I guess the Attorney General, the Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II was also wrong and had no evidence when he said politicians and powerful businessmen are behind the wanton destruction of lands and water bodies, as reported by Ohemeng Tawiah on MyJoyOnline on 26th October 2022. I also believe, to the Attorney General, there are no party people involved in illegal mining; there are no government appointees churning the soils in our forests and farmlands for gold; there are no Chinese engaged in illegal mining. We are to believe that all the documentaries filed by Mr. Erastus Asare Donkor on illegal mining are untrue and fake. I wish the Attorney General would have told Ghanaians why there was no action on my report and waited for more than two years when I have been out of office to now tell Ghanaians that, there is no evidence to prosecute those implicated in the report. We can all close our eyes and bagatellize the destruction of the environment and its biodiversity, but the reality of these criminal actions by people who have no conscience and love for the country will be evident in the near future if not soon. Related article:

Frimpong Boateng failed to provide evidence to support illegal mining allegations - Attorney-General

Galamsey brouhaha: I will cooperate with OSP - Frimpong-Boateng

Frimpong-Boateng report: OSP assures far-reaching investigation into alleged govt interference in galamsey fight

Gabby sues Frimpong-Boateng for defamation, demands GH10m damages over allegations in galamsey report

Frimpong-Boateng's report vindicates our position on Prez Akufo-Addo's lack of commitment to fight galamsey - NDC

MP petitions CHRAJ to investigate govt officials named in Frimpong-Boateng's galamsey report

Frimpong-Boateng's report accuses NPP officials of involvement in galamsey
Fire at Kumasi Railways Police Station successfully contained

Getrude Ankah Nyavi Oct - 12 - 2023 , 10:54

The fire that gutted the Ghana Railways office in Kumasi which also houses a Police Station at Adum in Kumasi on Wednesday was successfully contained, the police has said.

In a brief statement the Ghana Police Service indicated that their personnel working with the Ghana National Fire Service to investigate the cause of the fire.

There are no casualties, and the cause of the fire is not yet known. Further development will be communicated, the Police said.

Attach is the statement from the police:

FIRE OUTBREAK AT RAILWAYS POLICE STATION IN KUMASI

There is a fire outbreak at the Railways Police Station at Adum in Kumasi.

The Police, working with the Ghana National Fire Service, have brought the situation under control.

There are no casualties and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Further development will be communicated.
MoH initiates programme for enhanced health outcomes

Doreen Andoh Oct - 12 - 2023 , 09:07

The Ministry of Health has begun an initiative to ensure enhanced health outcomes in the country. It is also expected to accelerate the delivery of universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).

As part of the initiative, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are holding a regional conference on health financing which is being attended by 30 African countries in Accra today.

The two-day meeting is being held on the fact that the National Health Insurance scheme, although yielding results, was still having some challenges in revenue mobilisation.

The conference will also focus on addressing inadequate health financing, low insurance coverage in sub-sahara Africa, high out of pocket health spending, access gaps and limited options for financing health care for the elderly.

Press briefing

At a press conference in Accra yesterday ahead of the opening of the conference, the Country Representative of WHO, Prof. Francis Kasolo, said a key aspect of UHC was financing.

Minimal cost aspect of the definition of UHC is critical, and this is where health financing and health insurance come in.

We should move towards systems where people have access to quality healthcare services without paying unreasonable amounts.

Also some of you will know that heads of states agreed at the Abuja Declaration to commit 15 per cent of their national budgets on health.

Most countries have not achieved this, partly because the resource cake from which governments are supposed to fund health was limited, he said.

Prof. Kasolo said that was the reason why having a health insurance policy was important because it supplemented government budget by raising additional resources.

He said a knowledge sharing platform in the form of a high-level meeting on health financing was to enable participating countries to learn from regional best practices in tackling inequalities in their respective health systems and also explore new opportunities to advance the agenda of primary healthcare reforms.

Sharing of best practices

Prof. Kasolo expressed the hope that the participants, who are also running one type of health insurance scheme or the other, would discuss issues passionately and also share ideas of best practices to be employed by their respective countries to increase resources for health financing.

We hope that the country will also share its experiences with other participating countries on how they have sustained their operations, he said.

Capacity building

The Chairman of the planning committee of the high-level meeting, who is also the Director, Innovations and Projects at the NHIA, Raphael Segkpeb, said virtual pre-conference deliberations had started to build the capacity of the NHIA staff.

He said there would be roundtable discussions, plenary sessions and knowledge sharing sessions, among others, at the meeting.
New shoe factory opens at Akosombo

Benjamin Xornam Glover Oct - 12 - 2023 , 06:27

The Paramount Chief of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, has inaugurated a $20-million local shoe manufacturing company which seeks to produce shoes from plastic materials Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).

World Shoes Limited Ghana has the capacity to manufacture annually five million pairs of EVA shoes ranging from casual boat shoes stylish brogues, smart loafers, to hiking shoes.

According to the promoters of the project, the siting of the factory in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region would create jobs for the residents in the area.

World Shoes, which operates from the premises of Akosombo Textile Limited, making use of the abandoned factory floors, has so far created 1,050 jobs for people in the Asuogyaman District, and is a classic example of the import substitution programme for rubber shoes.

Factory

The use of some of the ATL factory floors for other businesses forms part of an initiative by Akosombo Industries Company Limited, which also runs ATL, to utilise the vast infrastructure resources due to the collapsed textile business as a result of the importation of cheap textile products onto the Ghanaian market.

Speaking at the inauguration of the factory last Tuesday, the Omanhene of Akwamu commended the promoters of the factory, President and Founder of World Shoes, Emmanuel Ohonme, and Co-owner of the organisation,Benjamin Kojo Taylor, for extending their investment to his traditional area.

He said the ripple effects and acts of kindness exhibited through such an intervention would benefit the people of the area through the creation of employment, training opportunities and economic activities.

This factory represents a beacon of progress and prosperity for our community, and embodies the spirit of our Akwamu Arising agenda, he said.

The new shoes produced by the factory

Odeneho Akoto III expressed the hope that the ultimate outcome of the economic progress brought about by the factory would bring the people closer together with the aim of building a better, more prosperous Akwamuman.

More importantly, these shoes go beyond covering the feet and protecting against disease, they facilitate education, transformation, dignity and empowerment, all very important weapons against poverty, and you are all already aware that I have declared war against illiteracy and poverty in this community, he said

Vision

For his part, Mr Ohonme said the vision to establish the factory was borne out of having donated millions of World Shoes to needy children around the world through the Christian missionary, Samaritans Feet and their partners, stressing that there was the need to now establish a global brand that would not only transform lives but also uplift communities and nations.

He said World Shoe products would form part of an integrated bundle of healthcare services that addressed broader public health and environmental sustainability mandates.

He indicated that versatile designs of the footwear were intended to provide comfortable, breathable support in a variety of climates and conditions, stressing that the products, made from durable EVA foam and infused with antimicrobial and biodegradation agents, would contribute to a holistic strategy for public health, while reducing waste and the environmental impact of the footwear industry.

He expressed optimism that the company would use Ghana as its base to produce shoes for the local market, the sub-region, the African continent and the rest of the world.

Mr Taylor said they believed the new World Shoe factory was a demonstration of how African innovation could propel African development and create change on a global scale.

Model

By creating a model that provided people with affordable, high-quality, eco-friendly shoes, we can support education, health and economic outcomes while protecting the environment. he added

He said the initiative offered a chance to create manufacturing industries and jobs for the youth, stressing that for any developing country to succeed with its economic development plan, governments must focus on industrialisation to address the youth unemployment challenge, by attracting private sector investments.
Political parties urged to champion passage of Affirmative Action Bill

Yaa Kuffour Senyah Oct - 12 - 2023 , 11:23

Political parties in the country have been advised to help champion the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill to ensure an equal representation of women in all sectors of the country.

A Convenor of the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition, Sheila Minkah-Premo, who gave the advice noted that Ghana's current representation of women in key decision making spaces showed that women had been marginalised.

Hence, it was important for political parties to make women representation paramount in their spaces to ensure that women were equally represented to actively champion the passage of the bill.

It is evident that an Affirmative Action law is the only guaranteed way to achieve gender parity and ensure women's effective representation in key decision making spaces, she explained.

Women representation

Currently, there are 40 women out of 275 members in parliament, making it 14.5 per cent, which is an improvement on the previous parliament of 30 women but said there was still more room for a higher representation.

Mrs Minkah-Premo made these remarks recently at a consultative dialogue with various political parties to ensure the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill in Accra.

It was organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abantu for Development and the European Union, on the theme, "Supporting the Passage of the Affirmative

Action Law in Ghana for Increased Women's Participation: The Role of Political Parties".

A legal practitioner and advocate of the bill, Mrs Minkah-Premo, questioned the excessive delay in ensuring that Ghanaians benefitted from an Affirmative Action law.

The AA Bill Coalition believes that political parties are very critical institutions in a constitutional multiparty democracy and can immensely contribute to promoting women's increased political participation and representation in politics.

The bill is aimed at promoting a progressive increase in the active participation of women in public life from a minimum of 30 per cent to of 50 per cent by 2030 as per the SDG goal 5.

It also seeks to provide an accountability framework for measuring gender equality and empowerment of women by the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary as well as in the public and private sectors.

Although the country had completed a draft bill in response to its mandate to pass an AA Law as recommended in Article 17(4) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Articles 4 and 7 of CEDAW-1981, it was awaiting submission to Parliament.
Preparations underway for construction of new Gbewah Palace in Yendi

Zakaria Alhassan Oct - 12 - 2023 , 09:00

Preparationsare underway to reconstruct a new Gbewah Palace, seat of the Overlord of Dagbon, in Yendi in the Northern Region.

In line with that, a new site has been secured where about 19 houses, which are at various levels of completion, are being put up for residents who are to relocate to pave way for the project at the existing palace grounds.

The multi-purpose project, which fits into modern architectural trends, is being carried out in phases.

Donations

A local and foreign fundraising committees, under the auspices of the Dagbon Development Fund, had been established where corporate organisations, companies and individuals are donating various sums of money towards the realisation of the project.

The latest to donate to the fund is a group of Ghanaian Ambassadors who hail from Dagbon.

The group donated an amount of GH100,000 to the local fundraising committee as their contribution towards the construction of the project in Tamale last Tuesday.

They later travelled to Yendi where they presented a plaque with the names of members of the group, who are serving in various countries around the globe, inscribed on it.

The presentation was made on their behalf by the Consul General at the Ghana Embassy in Nigeria, Hajia Samata Gifty Bukari.

She said after learning about this laudable initiative, my colleagues and I decided to come together to mobilise some funds as a responsibility to support the construction of the new palace befitting the status of Dagbon.

Hajia Samata said it was the beginning of more of such support from the group to ensure the project was successfully carried out.

She expressed appreciation to Ya-Na Abukari II and other stakeholders who were all working hard to realise the vision of the Overlord.

Appreciation

The Chairman of the local fundraising committee, Alhaji Sheriff Mahama, who received the donation, thanked the group for the gesture.

He also expressed appreciation to all those who had so far donated to his outfit and pledged that the funds would be used for the intended purpose.

For those, who are yet to donate, our doors are always opened, the project is a worthy cause and we, therefore, entreat you to also extend a helping hand, Alhaji Sheriff added.

Initiative

In Yendi, the Ya-Na explained that upon his ascension to the skin, he decided to assemble all the chiefs under his jurisdiction to brief them about the idea of constructing a new palace befitting the kingdom.

This was later made known to the entirety of Dagbon who embraced it and a committee was subsequently set up to oversee the realisation of the project.

At the moment, work is on course and the chiefs and people are cooperating. I will like to commend all those who have supported us in this endeavour, the journey is still long, but by the grace of God, we shall get there, he said.
Rejoinder: Regional Maritime University student jailed for posing as gynaecologist

Graphic.com.gh Oct - 12 - 2023 , 13:30

Isaac Sumatu, a convict jailed for posing as gynaecologist at the Ho Teaching Hospital in September 2023 is not a student of the Regional Maritime University, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr Jethro Wilbert Brooks Jnr. has stated.

The Regional Maritime University in a rejoinder to the report published by Graphic Online has explained that Isaac Sumatu is not a student in any of the programmes of the university.

In the rejoinder to Graphic Online, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr Jethro Wilbert Brooks Jnr. wrote:

"This is to bring to your notice that the statement in your news item published on 30th September, 2023 under the caption; REGIONAL MARITIME UNIVERSITY STUDENT JAILED FOR POSING AS GYNAECOLOGIST is not factual."

"The aforementioned, Isaac Samatu, as per our records, is not a student on any of our programmes. We cannot help but to conclude that, your reporter only wanted attention drawn to his story and this was the reason he chose to bring in The Regional Maritime University as captioned."

"In this regard, the institution humbly requests for the immediate retraction of the published statement as it is giving a negative impression to the University's stakeholders locally and internationally."

"Please accept the assurances of our higher consideration," it added.

Court was told Isaac Sumatu was a student of Regional Maritime University

However, per the facts reported from the court room by Graphic Online, Isaac Sumatu was introduced to the court as a student of Nautical College, Accra [now Regional Maritime University].

In the courtroom, where the Graphic Online/ The Mirror reporter gathered the information, the prosecutor introduced the convict as a student of the Nautical College, Accra but added that the college was now known as the Regional Maritime University.

In addition to that, the court documents per which, Isaac Sumatu was convicted and fined GH12,000 captured him as a student of the Nautical College [now Regional Maritime University]. Sumatu failed to pay the fine and was subsequently taken to the Ho Central Prison to serve a two-year jail term in lieu of the fine.

Attached below are copies of the rejoinder from the Regional Maritime University and the charge sheet from the court

Read also: Student jailed for posing as gynaecologist at Ho Teaching Hospital

Facts

A 38-year-old student, Isaac Sumatu, who posed as a gynaecologist at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) and managed to extort money from a teacher by offering her a concoction of medications, was sentenced last Wednesday to a fine of GH12,000 by the Ho Circuit Court.

Sumatu failed to pay the fine and was subsequently taken to the Ho Central Prison to serve a two-year jail term in lieu of the fine.

He pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge of practising medicine without proper registration.

However, the court, presided over by Felix Datsomor, found that Sumatu's explanation was consistent with his plea and accordingly sentenced him.

Inspector Benjamin Amoako, who prosecuted, told the court that on September 15, 2023, Sumatu arrived at the hospital and approached a woman who was at the facility.

He requested a private conversation with her, but the lady declined, stating that she did not know him.

At this point, the accused introduced himself as "Dr Edward, a gynaecologist at the facility, and informed her that he had identified something highly unusual about her abdomen.

The prosecution recounted that after this false diagnosis, Sumatu informed the woman that if immediate action was not taken, her womb would become blocked, rendering her unable to conceive in the future.

The impersonator then instructed the woman to return to the hospital the next day for treatment, during which he would confirm the availability of the necessary medications.

On the scheduled day, Sumatu contacted the woman by phone, reassuring her that the prescribed medications for her condition were in stock. He asked her to bring GH200 and a bottle of water to facilitate the mixing of the prescribed treatment, the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecutor, upon her arrival, Sumatu led the teacher to the hospital's blood bank and offered her a mixture later identified as a combination of Vitamin C and paracetamol tablets to drink.

The teacher, realising that doctors do not typically conduct consultations with patients in the blood bank, enquired at the hospital and was informed that there was no gynaecologist at the hospital called Dr Edward. Subsequently, she reported the incident to the police.

The fake doctor was apprehended on September 18, 2023, while loitering at the hospital. In his caution statement, Sumatu admitted to introducing himself as Dr Edward to the woman and subsequently giving her a mixture of Vitamin C and paracetamol to drink.

The court determined that the prosecution had satisfactorily proven the case against Sumatu beyond any reasonable doubt.
Solemn Mass at Theresa Kufuors one-week observance

Chris Nunoo Oct - 12 - 2023 , 05:59

A solemn Mass was held yesterday morning to mark the one-week of the passing of Theresa Aba Kufuor, a former First Lady.

Theresa Kufuor died on October 1, 2023 at the of age 87.

The ceremony, which was held at the Peduase residence of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, was attended by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia, the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare, and a former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye.

Other dignitaries included the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, the founder of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, and a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen.

Mourners

Also among the sizeable number of mourners, who came from all over the country, were family members of the late Mrs Kufuor and her husband, former President Kufuor, other ministers of state, stalwarts of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and activists, the clergy, and traditional rulers.

From right to left: Akosua Frema Osei Opare, Chief of Staff; Prof. Mike Oquaye, former Speaker of Parliament; Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice-President; Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; President Akufo-Addo, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, First Lady, at the ceremony at Peduase

Members of the media were also present in their numbers while the security also left nothing to chance, with the police mounting barricades and consciously directing vehicles to ensure the free movement of vehicles.

The evergreen Winneba Youth Choir were also present and dished out some choral music to sooth the pain of mourners.

Homily

In a homily, the Bishop of the Koforidua Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, said as had been written in the Bible, there was time for everything and the once strong Mama Theresa was no more.

He recalled how priests visited her often to give her communion and expressed satisfaction that just before she died, she took the sacrament.

Her work is done and she will be delivered onto eternity.

Many who have known her attest to the fact that she was a mother, Bishop Agyekum added.

Paa Kwesi Nduom (right), former flag bearer of the Progressive People Party, at the one-week celebration of the late former First Lady, Theresa Kufuor

As a First Lady, Bishop Agyekum said, Theresa Aba Kufuor kept a low profile in the political space but was active in social and humanitarian service.

He said as a dedicated Christian and a committed Catholic, she was an active member of the Marian choir of the Christ the King Catholic Church at Cantonment

Bishop Agyekum described her as a very humble personality who, even as First Lady, was active at choir practice.

The Catholic bishop said even though it was a sad moment, the lord knew what he did and, therefore, urged all to be strong in faith.

Tradition, burial

Per Akan custom and tradition, after the Mass, the family continued the one week observance to continue to receive sympathisers.

Meanwhile, the burial and final funeral rites of the late Mrs Kufuor have been scheduled to start from November 16 to 19.

Per the details, as released by the family, the final funeral rites will begin with a burial service at the forecourt of the State House on November 16, 2023.

The body will then be conveyed to Kumasi for the final funeral rites and burial on November 18, with thanksgiving service to be held on November 19, 2023.

Final funeral rites will be held on the same day after the burial.

In a related development, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said a state funeral will be held for the late former First Lady.

Informing the family of the late Mrs Kufuor about the decision, the President said the late former First Lady deserved to be given all the respect of the state.

The family had gone to the Jubilee House to formally inform the President about the passing of Mrs Kufuor, which happened on October 1, as well as inform him about the date for the funeral rites.
Busia Institute eulogises Theresa Kufuor

Daily Graphic Politics Oct - 12 - 2023 , 07:26

The Busia Institute for Rural and Democratic Development (BIRDD), a think tank that promotes rural development, democracy and youth empowerment, has paid glowing tribute to the memory of the late former First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor.

A statement issued yesterday and signed by the Executive Director of the BIRDD, Anane Agyei, to mark the one-week observance of the passing of Mrs Kufuor, described the late former first lady as an exceptional lady who inspired many with her tireless efforts to help educate and improve the standard of living of Ghanaians.

Her impact, the institute said, would be felt for generations to come and she will be remembered for her legacy in the form of substantial contributions to Ghanaians, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education.

Service

Two of the notable traits of Mrs Kufuor were humility and compassion for the needy and vulnerable.

Despite having been the First Lady of Ghana for eight years, she maintained a low profile in the political arena.

However, in the background, she played tremendous roles, especially in supporting women, children and the vulnerable, the statement said.

In line with her passion for caring for children and mothers, Mrs Kufuor founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation.

It was a non-governmental organisation that worked to prevent mother-to-child transmission of diseases.

In addition, she built three primary schools at Nyanyano, Kotobabi and Kuntunse for the communities and supplied a mammogram for the Sunyani Hospital, it said.

Mrs Kufuor was a devout Catholic and was, for a long time, a member of the King Parish Choir, Accra.

The tremendous success of the Kufuor Administration is a tribute to the great support Mrs Kufuor offered her husband and the nation, it added.

The statement said the late Mrs Kufuor, the second First Lady of the Fourth Republic of Ghana (2001-2009), whose husband, Mr J A Kufuor, served as the president of the Republic from 2001  2009, distinguished herself in many ways in her services to the country and humanity.

She had a strong commitment to the plight of poor children and their mothers, adding that she was a proud recipient of the Papal Award Dame of St Gregory the Great, conferred on her by Pope Benedict XVI.

Background

Mrs Kufuor started her education at the Roman Catholic Girls School in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and continued at the Catholic Convent, OLA, at Keta in the Volta Region.

She later went to London in the United Kingdom, where she was educated as a registered general nurse in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Mrs Kufuor qualified as a midwife at Oxford University Hospital, Radcliff Infirmary.

She was also a State Certified Midwife with a certificate in Premature Nursing from the Royal College of Nursing in London.

Mrs Kufuor was the first matron of the Cocoa Clinic in Accra.

Born on October 25, 1935, Mrs Kufuor, 87, died on Sunday, October 1, this year.
Liberia election commission finalising results of Tuesday's polls

Kwamena Nyamekye Politics Oct - 12 - 2023 , 17:25

Liberians are waiting with bated breath as the National Elections Commission (NEC) slowly receives and tally results from 5,890 polling places for the October 10 presidential and legislative results.

The 15 counties have 19 magistrates for the collation.

Under Liberia electoral laws, the election management body has 15 days after voting day to declare results. However, it is expected that by the fifth day, the president-elect will be known.

The delay could be attributable to the bad nature of roads leading to hard-to-reach areas during a 6-month rainy season.

As predicted by pundits, early results pouring in indicate a straight battle between incumbent President George Weah and former Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai.

But many others insist that with 20 candidates, there is likely to be a second round.

After a day's national holiday for voting, Liberians are going about their normal daily activities, with many others glued to their radio sets listening to the results as to who out of the 20 presidential candidates leads the country for the next 6 years.

Polling Places

Each polling place results will be sent to their respective county Magistrates (regions) for collation and onward transmission to the national headquarters for declaration.

A Graphic Online team currently in Liberia covering the elections observed that the poll, which commenced at 8am and ended at 6pm on Tuesday, was generally peaceful despite the initial complaints of the slow process of voting at some centres.

No major incidents were recorded except some areas that had delayed voting.

Voting

On the voting day, voters queued as early as 4am with the old and people with disabilities given priority to vote.

Red Cross

At each polling precinct, personnel of the Liberia Red Cross in their red and white vests were at hand to provide first aid for voters.

In an interview with Graphic Onlines Kwamena Nyamekye, Mr Richards Gweh, a member of the Red Cross said, the move was part of their contribution to a successful elections and peaceful Liberia.

Caption

ECOWAS Observers

Over 500 local and international observers were accredited by the NEC for the elections.

In almost every polling precinct, observers were seen watching the processes keenly.

ECOWAS, on September 10, deployed 15 Long Term Observers to all the 15 counties to serve as detectors of challenges and others for the regional body to be able to engage in early warning mechanisms for preventive diplomacy.

About a week to the election day, the West Africa regional bloc deployed an additional 80 short-term observers for the voting process.

The entire ECOWAS Observation Team is headed by Prof Attahiru Jega, the former National Independence Election Commissioner of Nigeria.

Under the legislative elections, the country will elect 30 senators for the upper house and 73 for the lower house.
US state sues TikTok, alleging app knowingly gets children hooked on harmful content

www.nbcnews.com Technology Oct - 12 - 2023 , 14:44

Utah sued TikTok on Tuesday, saying it knowingly uses technology to keep children engaged with material that is often harmful.

"The harms to children need to stop," Gov. Spencer Cox said as he announced the suit at a news conference.

The consumer protection lawsuit, filed in Salt Lake City state court, says TikTok uses technology that aims to keep children on the app despite known mental health harms that correlate to time spent engaging with social media.

Utah has accused the app, based in Culver City, California, of using algorithms to target children with content that is sometimes violent and distressing through its "recommendation engine" to keep them looking at the app.

The company rejects Utah's allegations.

"TikTok has industry-leading safeguards for young people, including an automatic 60-minute time limit for users under 18 and parental controls for teen accounts," a spokesperson for the app said. "We will continue to work to keep our community safe by tackling industry-wide challenges."

In March, amid lawmakers' efforts to ban it, company CEO Shou Zi Chew told Congress that TikTok is safe and secure for teenagers. At the time, it reached 150 million active U.S. users  nearly half the population. Its ad revenue last year was nearly $10 billion, according to Utah's suit.

At Tuesday's news conference, state Attorney General Sean Reyes likened TikTok to "a slot machine that hooks kids' attention and does not let them go."

Among the technology it deploys is "infinite scroll," which provides fresh videos targeted at a particular user, the suit claims. Another tool is "filter bubbles" that feed a user more extreme reels of the types of videos that pique their interest, it alleges.

"TikTok directly profited from addicting children to the app and continued to capitalize on the addictive nature of the app despite knowing the harm that addiction would cause Utahs children," the suit says.

Utah has the highest percentage of children per capita in the country, more than 1 in 4 people, the attorney general's office said. Nearly 80% of the state's K-12 students spend two or more hours every day on screens, not counting learning engagement at school or for homework, it said in the suit.

In the lawsuit, Utah also alleges that claims TikTok fails to verify users' ages, does not remove all child abuse sexual material or clips dealing with self-harm and eating disorders, fails to adequately address negative mental health effects associated with teens' use of social media, does not adequately screen out child predators, fails to rein in dangerous video challenges involving asphyxiation and bone-breaking and lies to the public about its commitment to protect children and about its ties to China, where the app originated in 2017.

"TikTok has lied to parents to create a false sense of security," Reyes said.

Some of the company's actions or lack of action amount to violations of the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act, the suit claims.

It seeks corrective action and damages "well in excess of $300,000," according to the court filing.

Other states, including Arkansas and Indiana, have also sued TikTok with similar allegations. Montana was the first state to ban it; creators and the app have challenged the move.
School district hopes to improve test scores, help schools meet state expectations

While Sweetwater County School District No. 2 remains mostly above the state average in standardized testing results, a few lower-than-expected results have the district looking for solutions for future improvement.

Superintendent Craig Barringer spoke to the School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday night to go over the WY-TOPP and ACT test results for schools in the district. The state's testing system, the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP), tests students' proficiency in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science.

From the beginning of his presentation, B...
Tracy Warren recently pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance of methamphetamine and a count of fleeing or attempting to elude police officers during a hearing in the Third District Court of Judge Suzannah Robinson.

Warren was arrested May 18, one of many arrests made by the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) around the same time frame for drug-related offenses.

Warren initially appeared before Judge Robinson on July 7 for an arraignment, where he was advised that he was facing six felony charges. Warren faced three charges of conspiracy to delive...
As time passes and I have gotten older, I was thinking about back in 2015 when I gathered businesses, volunteers and community members to help me and to send care packages to our troops when the war was going on in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We were successful in sending over 8,000 letters and care packages to our Wyoming guardsmen overseas. Some of the children that helped write the cards have become young adults now. I wanted to personally take the time to tell them and the community of Green River and Rock Springs how much I appreciate all of your help through the years.

One man does not mak...
Wyoming writer Marcia Hensley will read from her new book, Away from it All: A Wyoming Love Story, on Friday, October 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the Grace Gasson Room at White Mountain Library. Locals may remember Marcia as a long-time English instructor at WWCC, and a former resident of Rock Springs and Farson, Wyoming.

Hensley's book combines the story of her personal journey of self-discovery with depictions of small-town and rural life in Wyoming from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. In her first book, Staking Her Claim: Women Homesteading the West, Hensley introduced readers to stories of pioneering women who came west on their own  in this memoir, she shares her own story.

Like the stories of pioneers who fascinated her since childhood, Marcia Hensley's story has been a westward journey. As a 21-year-old working in Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 1963 she fell in love with Wyoming, igniting a longing for the West that smoldered for twenty years until a chance encounter opened the door for her return  a job offer teaching at Western Wyoming Community College. There she meets Mike Hensley, a respected faculty member, charismatic teacher, photographer, actor, and outdoorsman. The book follows their courtship and mutual love of the Wyoming landscape, history, and lifestyle as their lives unfold. Readers will recognize the book's setting in southwest Wyoming, Rock Springs, Farson, and the Wind River Mountains.

In her preface, Marcia wrote, "This book tells how a dream can build in your heart and mind, and experiences can gather around it until that dream turns into your actual life." She continued: "This writing is my way of trying to preserve and share a time and place that will never again be like it was then. It is my way of thanking the universe for the life Mike and I lived there in the small town of Rock Springs, and the even smaller community of Eden Valley, in the high desert landscape of Wyoming with the Wind River Mountains keeping watch from a distance."

Early reader Susanne George, author of Adventures of the Woman Homesteader, praised the book for its "lyric prose and vivid details." Other authors also commented on the book: Page Lambert, The Light Shines From the West, noted that the book "reminds readers of the importance of honoring one's true and special place." Marjane Ambler, Yellowstone Has Teeth, said Hensley's "intimate story conveys the complexity of life on the modern frontier. It made me laugh and made me cry." Mary Beth Baptiste, Altitude Adjustment, commented: "Hensley's love of Western life is palpable...Away From It All shows that it is never too late to follow a deep-seated dream."

Born in Missouri not far from where Oregon Trail pioneers began their treks, Marcia moved with her family to Oklahoma where she grew up, was educated, and started her teaching career. She is a graduate of the University of Tulsa (B.A. 1964; M.A. 1966). In 1983 Hensley moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming to teach at Western Wyoming Community College. She taught courses in writing and Western American Literature, as well as creating and directing a Western American Studies program. Learning about the landscape and history of southwest Wyoming during her nearly thirty years living there with her husband Mike was an ongoing adventure that inspired her writing. Marcia and Mike especially loved their rural home in Eden Valley close to the Oregon Trail. Currently, Marcia is now enjoying small-town life and getting to know the landscape and people on the opposite side of the state in Laramie.

Marcia is the recipient of the Wyoming Arts Council's Neltje Blanchan award for writing inspired by nature. Her essays have been published in several anthologies as well as in High Country News, Wyofile, and the syndicated column Writers on the Range. In 2009, her non-fiction book, Staking Her Claim, Women Homesteading the West won awards from the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association as well as from Women Writing the West, Wyoming Writers, Wyoming Historical Society, and ForeWord Magazine.

The reading and book signing event on Friday October 13th is sponsored by Sweetwater BOCES for their Speaking of the West series. It is free and open to the public. She will also be a guest in the WWCC memoir writing class offered this fall by former colleague Barbara Smith at the Young at Heart Center.

"We are really looking forward to Marcia's visit in which she will tell us her story of how she put together this memoir set in our own part of the world," Smith said.

Away from it All was published by Deep Wild Books, an independent press in Grand Junction, Colorado. Copies will be available for sale at the reading and can be purchased on the Deep Wild website https://deepwildjournal.com/books/ and at local bookstores.
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Oppo unveiled the Find N3 Flip in China back in August, and now it is time for the global debut of the clamshell, which is already scheduled to arrive in India today. The company scheduled an event for October 19 in Singapore, but it is speaking about a series launch, meaning we will also see the announcement of the Find N3 that was spotted in some spy shots earlier this week.

The Oppo Find N3 Flip is already selling in China, and we have all the information about the phone - three cameras on the back, Dimensity 9200+ chipset and 50 MP main + 32 MP telephoto + 48 MP ultrawide camera combination.

The last unknown is how much the phone will cost, and we expect a price tag well over its $1,000 price tag in China, where the phones are traditionally cheaper.



Oppo Find N3

The Oppo Find N3 is going to be the one more thing at the event, but we already saw the device in previous leaks. It will have a huge camera island on the back with a periscope telephoto lens and Hasselblad branding.

We expect the phone to be quite similar to the OnePlus Open with a 7.8 OLED on the inside a 6.3 OLED on the outside, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

Source
Samsung was reportedly planning an Unpacked event for the Galaxy S24 launch in early January, and new reports double down on the timeframe. According to industry insiders in South Korea, the new flagships will arrive early next year, and just like the last time, the event will be in San Francisco.



Samsung Galaxy S24  Galaxy S24+ renders

The Korean source pointed out that the event will be a one-hour drive from Apples HQ in Cupertino. This is barely a surprise, as the Galaxy S23 lineup was also introduced there, and Samsung has a history of hosting its big launches in the US - the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 debuted in New York.

Samsung hosted the last Unpacked in South Korea to promote its home country and its bid for Expo 2030, which could take place in Busan, the second-biggest city after Seoul.

At the event, we expect to see a trio of Galaxy S24 smartphones - the vanilla S24 and S24+ with a mixture of Exynos 2400 and Snpadragon 8 Gen 3 chipsets and a Galaxy S24 Ultra exclusively powered by the Qualcomm platform, which was recently spotted on Geekbench.

Source (in Korean)
Remember last year when SpaceX and T-Mobile announced that they are working on a way to beam data directly to your phone from space satellites? That service will launch next year, but it will have a gradual rollout of capabilities.

This means that in 2024 only texting will be supported as a sort of trial run to iron out all the kinks. Then in 2025 the company plans to start offering voice and data service, plus IoT functions.

Note that the connection will be done over LTE and its not clear how much bandwidth will be available. The data service will be fast enough for web browsing, says SpaceX. Even basic texting will be indispensable for emergencies  Apple jumped through a lot of hoops to get that working (Qualcomm is working on a solution for Android).

Unlike Apples solution, however, Starlinks Direct To Cell service will not require any special hardware  new satellites will essentially work like cell towers (except ones that fly around in space rather than being mounted on a nearby building). This should mean that with a clear view of the sky any 4G capable phone (and other kinds of devices) will be able to connect. It will start with using whichever app you currently use for texts, but once the data service is active you will be able to use any app (WhatsApp, Skype and even iMessage).

Starlink has signed deals with multiple carriers around the world: Optus in Australia, Rogers in Canada, KDDI in Japan, One NZ in New Zealand, Salt in Switzerland and T-Mobile in the USA. More will probably join by the time the service is fully up and running.

Note that Starlink only aims to cover land, lakes and coastal waters  if you want Internet in the middle of the ocean, you will need to sign up for Starlinks maritime service. On land this will fill in gaps in the carriers coverage without them having to build out more infrastructure.

Also, its not clear if roaming will be available and to what extent since each country keeps a tight control on wireless frequencies, which is also why SpaceX is partnering with carriers (they paid a lot of money for a slice of the wireless spectrum).

Source
A little over a third of the land that the administration is eyeing for a new hospital and medical campus has an outstanding claim from ancestral landowners, according to the Guam Ancestral Land Commission.

Adelup Spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin confirmed that Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has not included the lot with claims, Lot 2481, in legislation submitted to Speaker Therese Terlaje that would let GALC negotiate a land deal with GovGuam.

Concern from lawmakers over residents who said their family previously owned or lived on property at the Eagles Field site in Mangilao, the governors first pick for a medical campus, is part of what led a deal with the Navy for the Eagles Field site to fall through earlier this year.

The land commission on Tuesday approved a license, pending review from legal counsel, that would allow GovGuam to begin surveying about six of the seven lots that the governor is now looking to turn into a new medical campus.

Total land area for the lots is about 64 acres, out of a little over 100 acres in the total property the governor originally took interest in.

The lot thats left out is 2481. We have not completed our abstract on that. Were working on it now. But because of the time limitations that  they put on us, were going to go forward with the properties that weve already cleared out that have no ancestral landowners attached to it, GALC executive director John Burch said.

GALC land agent Joey Leon Guerrero, after the meeting, clarified for the Pacific Daily News that five separate people, possibly members of a single family, had filed a claim with the Department of Land Management stating that a relative of theirs previously lived on Lot 2481.

That claim did not match up with records kept by the commission, he said, and they were now working to verify whether the claims were valid, with the hopes of getting them resolved within a week or two.

The land agent said he did not want to disclose the names of the claimants, with an investigation still underway.

GALC is tasked with dispersing the previously federally-held land in its inventory to residents with ancestral claims, though some of the property is crown land, which has passed from one government to the next since the era of the Spanish government on Guam.

According to Joey Leon Guerrero, the other six lots being eyed for the medical campus did not have any claims filed on them.

The lots are still significantly larger than the 35-acre parcel at Ypao Point in Tamuning which many members of the medical community have said they prefer as the site of a hospital.

Paco-San Agustin did not immediately respond, when asked what plans there were to resolve any issues that may arise from claims made on Lot 2481.

Once the GALC legal counsel finishes a review of the license for the remaining six lots, GovGuam will be able to begin performing various studies, Burch told commissioners, like environmental investigations and a search for any unexploded ordnance for the property.

No compensation would be required, but the government would have to turn over the results of any studies to GALC for use if the medical campus plan does not move forward. Burch recommended the license be effective Nov. 1.

Assistant attorney general Kristan Finney told commissioners that she did not see any issue with the license upon a cursory review, but would take a closer look at it before giving her approval.

The governor on Tuesday wrote Speaker Therese Terlaje, asking for lawmakers to meet in emergency session and entertain legislation that would give GALC the approval to start negotiating a deal for the six lots that have been cleared.

Terlaje, in a statement issued Wednesday, said she would instead schedule a public hearing on the governors bill, so that ancestral landowners who are the beneficiaries of the Land Bank can weigh in on removal of that property from their inventory and in order to fully vet the proposed site for a new hospital.

I do not agree with the Governors suggestion that attention be diverted from the immediate crisis at GMH, Terlaje said. Plans for a new hospital should be more fully disclosed and possible sites fully vetted.
By a vote of 8-to-3, senators on Thursday adopted a resolution asking Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero to declare a state of emergency for the Guam Memorial Hospital, while Adelup said the governor plans to use federal and local funding for the hospital.

The six Republicans led by Sen. Frank Blas Jr. were joined by Democrat Speaker Therese Terlaje and Sen. Chris Barnett in voting yes to the resolution.

Voting no were Sens. Joe San Agustin, William Parkinson and Roy Quinata, while four others were absent.

Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the governors director of communications, said the resolution does absolutely nothing alongside the hundreds of resolutions that were previously adopted by the 37th Guam Legislature. She then articulated the governors plan:

Repair GMHs most immediate facility concerns with $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Repay GMH vendors with $30 million in local funds.

Rebuild a new GMH as urgently as possible.

While every plan has opponents, wed point out that none of these opponents has proposed a plan of their own. The legislature can act, or it can continue play-acting, Paco-San Agustin said. That is the choice we have: People who complain about our problems or people who try to fix our problems, knowing there will always be complaints.

Senators went into emergency session Wednesday afternoon and recessed until Thursday, to pass Resolution 215-37.

They also discussed Bill 164-37 in the Committee of the Whole on Thursday afternoon. The Republican bill intends to use unappropriated audited excess funds from fiscal 2022 and 2023 to pay all outstanding vendor payments.

Lester Carlson Jr., director of the Bureau of Budget Management and Research, said 2022 excess funding is off the table because its over-appropriated by $19 million.

However, Carlson said preliminary September numbers indicate possibly $30 million of excess funds from 2023 that are not involved in 2024.

This would be enough to pay off GMHAs vendors that are owed a total of $28.8 million as of Oct. 6, according to GMHA chief financial officer Yukari Hechanova. Travel nurses alone are owed $8.9 million, she said.

The total debt increased by $2 million since Hechanovas last update at a Sept. 28 oversight hearing.

This debt does not account for another $20 million that is needed to address the capital improvement projects, GMHAs William Kando said. This may be paid soon by ARPA funding, the governor said in an Oct. 10 letter to the speaker.

Public Auditor Benjamin Cruz said the problems of funding may never properly be alleviated, noting that GMHA will never break even due to inflated accounts receivable or other revenues.

They think they have all this money, but theres money that is never going to be realized, Cruz told senators. You have a hospital that has to provide service for everybody that walks through that regardless of their ability to pay and whether or not they have insurance. They will always be short.

Cruz said GMHA receives only 30 cents per dollar charged to patients under the three Ms  Medicaid, Medicare and the government of Guams Medically Indigent Program. Self-pay patients only provide GMHA 26 cents per dollar charged as well, he said.

The emergency session will continue at 10 a.m. Friday.
The Guam Power Authority is back to regular operations following Typhoon Bolaven, according to the agency, with the islands power grid in good shape after the storm.

Most of the outages reported to GPA as of Wednesday evening were isolated, largely caused by vegetation, according to a statement provided by GPA communications manager Joyce Sayama.

Crews worked throughout Bolavens pass over the island, addressing outages fairly quickly.

A feeder line did trip on Tuesday, causing an outage in the Tamuning area, according to Sayama. Crews were dispatched to fix the issue, caused by a broken electrical cross arm.

Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Mayor Louise Rivera said there were no neighborhoods reporting major outages as of Thursday morning, usually, theyre very good about reporting it, she said.

A Tamuning resident with a broken weather head that needed a replacement was the one serious issue Rivera was aware of.

Heavy bamboo growth near the the Pulantat Substation in Yona had also caused an outage during the storm, according to Sayama, but causing separate outages through Yona and Pago Bay. The issue was resolved by GPA crews in about 30 minutes, Sayama stated.

GPA also had some isolated non-entire feeder outages earlier as well in Mangilao, Tiyan and Maina, during the storm, all due to issues with heavy vegetation on lines. Power has since been restored to residents in those areas, Sayama said.

Various areas in Yigo, Hagat, Talofofo, Piti, and Inalahan also saw isolated outages. GPA crews were dispatched in 12-hour rotating shifts to address any problems post-storm.

The power grid fared very well throughout the storm and GPA is back to normal operations, Sayama stated.

Power issues can be reported to the power authoritys trouble dispatch at (671) 475-1472/73/74 or by messaging GPAs Facebook page.

GPA oversight chairman Sen. Will Parkinson told the Pacific Daily News his main concern after Bolaven was at the Guam Waterworks Authority, not GPA.

GWA reported the suspension of the Ugum Water Treatment Plant on Wednesday.
The Guam Police Department is asking the publics help in locating JT Suwain, 20, who is a person of interest in a vehicle theft investigation.
While theres some minor typhoon debris and flooded streets, Guam as a whole survived Typhoon Bolaven on Tuesday without the widespread devastation that Typhoon Mawar did in May.

Power, water and telecommunications services for the most part were uninterrupted.

With President Joe Bidens Oct. 8 emergency declaration for Guam and the CNMI, more than 300 Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel were on the ground ahead of Bolaven.

I think the experience with Mawar also helped people prepare better, Yigo Mayor Anthony Sanchez said, adding that his office has so far not received reports from residents of injuries or home damage.

Down south, Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf said the village didnt sustain any major flooding or anything that caused displacement of any families.

Like Yigo, Inalahan did all the preparations long before Bolavens arrival, including clearing storm drainage, the mayor said.

In central Guam, Tamuning Mayor Louise Rivera said while theres no injuries and home damage directly as a result of the typhoon, one single dwelling home had smoke damage and their vehicle was fully engulfed in fire within the carport on Tuesday afternoon.

The affected household, she said, has nine members, including a baby and a woman turning 85 this Saturday. The mayors office is working with the Red Cross and others to get help for the family, Rivera said.

FortunateWhile Guam dodged Bolaven, it still got heavy rains, flash floods and strong winds that kept most residents indoors and businesses closed for most of Tuesday. Roads were nearly deserted that afternoon.

We are very blessed and fortunate that there are no known major damages, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said in a video message shortly before declaring a return to Condition of Readiness 4 at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Government of Guam operations resumed, along with businesses reopening.

Houses are up. Commercial buildings are intact. All RISE roofs that have been done are standing strong. FEMA tents are up. Every part of our island is pretty much safe, the governor said, hours after conducting an assessment at first daylight Wednesday.

Joint Region Marianas Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman also declared a return to COR 4 at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

At the Port of Guam, there was minimal debris damage at the marinas and in the terminal yard, the port said. The airport, meanwhile, stayed open throughout Bolaven, though nine inbound flights were canceled.

Closest approachGuam was spared the brunt of Bolaven. The Category 1 typhoons closest approach to Guam was at 50 miles around 4 p.m. Tuesday, packing maximum sustained winds of about 80 miles per hour.

In May, Mawar clipped Guams northern part as a Category 4 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 130-140 mph.

Mawar damaged homes and buildings, and killed thousands of trees.

Bolaven passed between Rota and Tinian. Its closest point of approach was about 20 miles from Rota at about 5 p.m. and 25 miles from Tinian at around 7 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

The governor thanked residents for heeding the warnings and for following requests to prepare and plan for the storm.

Without that, I think we wouldnt be in a very safe place right now. As a result of that, I am declaring Condition of Readiness 4 at 10 a.m. All government agencies will be open and operational, she said.

About half of the nearly 500 children and adults who took temporary refuge at emergency shelters were already back home by early Wednesday.

Dangerous watersBolaven may have been long gone from the Marianas but authorities warned everyone to remain out of the water due to life-threatening surf conditions.

High risk of rip currents is in effect. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from the shore into deeper water, JIC said.

Please continue to be safe. Weve been very blessed that this storm didnt hit us with damaging winds. Now our work returns to restoring this island and continue to support all our efforts in recovery, Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio said in the same video message.

Bolaven started pulling away from the Marianas late Tuesday night.

Authorities also advised residents and tourists against venturing along trails close to the water or shoreline, as high surf can knock a person down and sweep them off beaches and rocks. These waves can be deadly, even for the most experienced swimmers, JIC said.

A high surf advisory remains in effect for Guam until 6 p.m. Thursday.

Theres also a small craft advisory in effect for the coastal waters of Guam, Rota, and Tinian until 6 p.m. Thursday.
Guam Memorial Hospital made it through Typhoon Bolaven without the major damage, flooding, and electrical issues that Typhoon Mawar brought earlier this year, according to GMH administrator Lilian Perez-Posadas.

The hospital continues to make progress towards fixing the dire conditions at GMH that have sparked calls for emergency action by both the governor and senators, she said.

Anddespite a walkout at the Legislature two weeks agoPerez-Posadas said she plans to stay at the helm of the islands public hospital.

But Dr. Vincent Akimoto said things are so bad at GMH that its time to bring on the judge and have a federal receiver take over operations at the hospital, which he said has been failed by local leaders.

Leaks and flooding on Tuesday were not anything to the extent and severity of Mawar, Perez-Posadas said, adding that the hospital had pretty much dried up wet spots by Wednesday morning.

Power stayed on through the storm, a wall that blew down during Mawar stayed standing, and the kitchen did not catch fire again.

No patients had appeared in the emergency room with typhoon-related injuries as of Wednesday morning.

GMH continues to address outstanding issues caused by Mawar, Perez-Posadas said. Importantly, the two big chillers that are responsible for keeping equipment and medicine at reasonable temperatures, and preventing the spread of infection and, more recently, mold, are now 100% operational, she said, though about half the air handling units that deliver cold air from the chillers to different areas of the hospital are still awaiting replacement.

Both chillers were fried by power fluctuations post-Mawar, and regular split air-conditioning units continue to pick up the slack to keep some areas of the hospital cold.

About $20 million worth of federal American Rescue Plan funds coming from the administration will help with major structural repairs, including several windows, outstanding leaks, and a portion of the roof that is was not completely patched up.

An inspection of GMH by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was completed recently, something the hospital will need to keep getting funding from the federal government for the programs. GMH is now waiting on a preliminary report from CMS.

Bring on the judge

But its long past time for the failed leadership at GMH to be taken out and replaced with a federal receiver, said Akimoto, who has been a vocal critic of GovGuams handling of local healthcare in the past.

The doctor said hes taken to telling relatives admitted with heart issues at the public hospital to go to the Guam Regional Medical City instead. I go to extract them, he said.

In light of (the) governors acknowledgment of failure at GMH, I believe federal receivership is the only way forward, Akimoto said, referring to a Tuesday letter from Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero to Speaker Therese Terlaje.

Leon Guerrero noted in her letter the deteriorating conditions at the hospital and said, GMH can no longer meet the needs of our people, no matter how many costly renovations are performed, while asking lawmakers to push forward a parcel of ancestral land for a new facility.

On the question of a receivership, its past that time, Akimoto said.

The doctor pointed to the receivership of the Guam Solid Waste Authority over the Ordot Dump, which GovGuam was finally exitingwith Ordot as clean as its ever been.

We clearly wasted a lot of time pretending like we couldnt get our people to throw the trash away the right way. Now were pretending that we cant fix GMH and that the only hope is to build something in Barrigada. So really, what theyre saying is they cant fix GMH. And thats a sad indictment on Guam leadership, which was rife with nepotism and corruption, Akimoto said.

He said the governor was trying to shove her ideas down peoples throats, by seeking to build a multi-facility medical campus, instead of just placing a new hospital in Tamuning, as the medical community preferred. Doctors and nurses needed to call for an immediate fix to the islands public hospital, in the meantime.

Asked about the call for receivership, Perez-Posadas replied, Maybe Dr. Akimoto doesnt really understand that its going to cost us more money...look at what happened when (the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center) was put on receivership, when the Ordot Dump was put on federal receivership, it cost more money.

She said it was unclear that a receivership would even resolve the problems faced by GMH, when what the building needed was more repairs with the goal of keeping it operational as best and as safe as we possibly can.

Asked about the safety of patients at GMH, Posadas said, Maybe its best for you as in patients who come here? Do they feel safe? And do they feel confident? Because we are following  CMS standards in terms of infection control and prevention measures.

Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin, asked for comment on Akimotos statements, said the governors plan was clear.

Repair GMHs most immediate facility concerns with $20 million in ARP funds. Repay GMH vendors with $30 million in local funds. Rebuild a new GMH as urgently as possible  That is the choice we have: People who complain about our problems or people who try to fix our problems, knowing there will always be complaints, she said.

Posadas to stay on

Perez-Posadas confirmed that despite a heated exchange with Sen. Telo Taitague and an allusion to her resignation during a legislative oversight hearing late last month, she will be staying on as administrator of GMH.

After reflecting and praying much on it, and really thinking it through, I will stay on with this. This is our only public hospital and so we need to keep it operational as best we can, said Posadas, who had notified both the governor and the GMH Authority board of trustees.

On the question of the oversight hearing, she said, I went in there with the faith and the hope that we were going to engage in a constructive, healthy, meaningful dialogue so that we can together look at the issues and the concerns and come come together with resolutions.

But unfortunately, she said, thats not what happened on that day. To me, it wasnt an oversight hearing.
The Isla Center for the Arts at the University of Guam is simultaneously hosting two international traveling exhibitions featuring printed works of art.

The exhibits run from Oct. 12, at 5 p.m., and continue through Nov. 17, 2023.

We are very pleased to offer these two international traveling printmaking exhibitions for everyone to enjoy in person, said Velma Jean Yamashita, associate professor of art and coordinator, Isla Center for the Arts. Exhibitions such as these allow us to fulfill part of our mission to provide our students and the community with an international art experience.

One traveling exhibit is titled Thinking of Place III.

The other is titled Female Correspondence.

86 artists from 9 countries

Thinking of Place III is a collaborative print project that involves 86 artists, 86 prints, and 16 international print groups from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Poland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Serbia, Turkey, Guam and other parts of the United States.

The exhibit invited artists to invoke a legend, myth, story or an aspect of ancestral heritage in relation to their personal identification with geography and environment.

To learn more, click the link: https://www.thinkingofplace.com.

Prints created by two UOG alumni, Joleen Unas, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and minor in Fine Arts, 2019; and Daena Perez, Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts, 2019, are included in the exhibit.

Unas, a junior computer operator at UOG, submitted her work during the pandemic.

I wanted to spread some hope and dreamed that if people saw my work  good things would come to them, and from one person to another, I wanted this positivity to spread throughout the world, Unas said. Now, three years later, the piece has returned to Guam, and the world is finally getting back on its feet after the pandemic.

With her part-Japanese heritage, Unas said her printed art Amabie was inspired by a Japanese legend that made her hope the pandemic would pass.

Irena Keckes, associate professor of art at UOG, coordinated the printmaking group Perspectives that included the two Tritons artwork.

Click this site to see their art: https://www.thinkingofplace.com/uploads/1/3/2/9/132958293/top_iii_catalogue_22a.pdf

Pairs of artists exchanging prints by mail

The second exhibit, Female Correspondence, involves 18 artists from Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Guam, and other parts of the United States.

Participating artists had one correspondence partner with whom they exchanged prints throughout one year, the projects website added.

It is my honor to share this remarkable intercontinental printmaking project with communities in Guam, Keckes said.

If youre attending

When: The opening reception, Oct. 12, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The exhibit continues through Nov. 17, 2023. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: Isla Center for the Arts, No. 15 Deans Circle, University of Guam Campus. The exhibition will be on display from Oct. 12 to Nov. 17, 2023.

For more information, call 671-735-2965 or email islacenter@gmail.com.




Haiti - AGD : Failure to comply with the customs code can be very expensive





Julcene Edouard, Director General of the General Customs Administration (AGD) informs economic operators, importers of goods, managers of customs offices, all customs staff and the public in general that, following the instructions of the Minister of Economy and Finance when filing the detailed declaration of goods imported or to be exported at a customs office, that it is prohibited to upload unprinted documents such as only blank pages or scanned printed documents having no relation to the goods imported or to be exported.



In accordance with article 299 paragraph 10 of the Decree of March 21, 2023 on the Customs Code, for any upload to the automated customs system of unprinted documents or scanned printed documents having no relation to the goods imported or to be exported, aimed at evading or compromising duties and taxes, a fine of 10% of the customs value of goods imported or to be exported is applied on customs slips (Notice No BM/AGD/0009/ 10-2023 published on October 2, 2023)



In accordance with article 299 paragraph 2 of the Decree of March 21, 2023 establishing the Customs Code:



1- For any false declaration in the species, value, origin or quantities of goods imported, to be exported or placed under a suspensive regime, a fine of 50% of the customs value of the imported goods, to be exported or placed under a suspensive regime is applied to the customs slips.



2- Regarding false declaration of the species or origin of goods imported, to be exported or placed under a suspensive regime, if no customs duty or tax whatsoever is evaded in the compromise, no fine will be applied.



However, the customs services will correct the customs declaration before the liquidation of any duties and taxes (Notice No BM/AGD/0007/10-2023 published on October 2, 2023)



In accordance with article 299 paragraph 12, of the Decree of March 21, 2023 establishing the Customs Code, in the event of late submission of customs declarations, a fine of 10% of the customs value of the imported goods is applied on the customs slips, whether these goods are subject to or exempt from customs duties. Notice No BM/AGD/0008/10-2023 published on October 2, 2023.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2023/10/11 | Source

Actress Cha Chung-hwa will hold a wedding ceremony on the 27th.

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Cha Chung-hwa will marry a businessman younger than her on the 27th, the agency IOK Company told E-Daily on the 11th.

The company added, "We ask for your understanding that we cannot tell you about her personal information because her prospective spouse is a non-celebrity".

The wedding ceremony will be held privately somewhere in Seoul with family and acquaintances attending.

Cha Chung-hwa made her debut in 2005 with the play "Back Alley Story" and appeared in dramas "The Fiery Priest", "Crash Landing on You", "Mr. Queen", "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha", "Why Her?" and "See You In My 19th Life".
By William Schwartz | Published on 2023/10/11

New figures from FlixPatrol show that the the action film "Ballerina" is now the second most popular movie on the streaming platform worldwide. "Ballerina" is now charting in the top ten of sixty-two different countries. The charts released on October 10th, the fourth such charts available, have "Ballerina" as the most popular movie in a wide variety of territories, including Brazil, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

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"Ballerina" has had particularly noteworthy popularity across Latin and South America. "Ballerina" stars Jeon Jong-seo as a bodyguard who seeks to take revenge on the behalf of her best friend. The project is the latest from writer/director Lee Chung-hyun, who directed "The Call" in 2020 which became a major acquisition for Netflix that year as COVID-19 stalled its theatrical release indefinitely. "Ballerina" was released on Netflix worldwide this past October 6th.

Written by William Schwartz
Published on 2023/10/12 | Source

Lee Seung-yoon

New stills added for teh Korean movie "Welcome to Bongtaeri" (2020)

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Directed by Park Jung-rye

With Oh Seung-hoon, Kim Yoon-hye, Lee Sang-hee-VI, Lee Shin-seong, Kim Shin-kwang, Kim Ja-young,...

Synopsis

A delightful, fantasy, romantic comedy film featuring 'Il-woo' who became a 'fake natural person' and Bong-sook who became a 'fake farmer' in Bongtaeri, the dead end of life.

Thinking that 'a home of one's own' and 'stable and happy life' go together, Il-woo goes to the mountainous valley called Bongtaeri for the first time to save a failing pharmaceutical company and get 200% of his annual salary, in turn becoming a 'fake natural person'.

Bong-sook's parents, on the other hand, declared that their economic aid will be suspended so to achieve their dreams, Bong-sook becomes a 'fake farmer' in Bongtaeri where her maternal grandfather lives.

Seo Nam-yong
In a groundbreaking initiative , Finland is set to embark on its most extensive biodiversity project, Priodiversity LIFE, funded by a remarkable 50 million, with 30 million contributed by the EU LIFE programme. Spanning eight years, this collaborative effort aims to combat the pressing issue of biodiversity loss through innovative approaches, widespread collaboration, and the exploration of new funding methods.

The project, set to commence early next year, unites a diverse range of stakeholders, emphasizing the necessity of seamless cooperation in the fight against biodiversity loss. Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkanen stressed the importance of involving both public and private funding sources, signaling a new era in biodiversity preservation strategies.

Comprehensive Restoration and Nature Management

At the heart of Priodiversity LIFE lies a strategic focus on large-scale nature management and restoration initiatives. Targeting areas of significant biodiversity value, the project seeks to maximize impact and efficiency. Participation from landowners is voluntary, ensuring a cooperative and inclusive approach.

The project's initiatives are aligned with the Helmi Habitats Programme, a joint effort by the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This program aims to revitalize degraded habitats, including waterfowl habitats, mires, forests, grasslands, and water bodies, ensuring a holistic approach to biodiversity preservation.

Creating Employment Opportunities and New Funding Models

Priodiversity LIFE not only focuses on biodiversity but also acts as an employment catalyst. By generating work for restoration and nature management experts, the project creates 461 person-years of employment in participating organizations. Additionally, it offers learning opportunities, fostering expertise and skill development within the workforce.

Furthermore, the project pioneers innovative funding models. Over the eight-year duration, Priodiversity LIFE will explore diverse funding sources, establishing a sustainable approach to financing biodiversity initiatives. The objective is to secure funding that will have a lasting impact on biodiversity preservation efforts even beyond the project's conclusion.

Promoting Dialogue and Sharing Expertise

Priodiversity LIFE aims to enhance the competence of professionals in the natural resource sector. Through educational programs and competence-sharing initiatives, the project will disseminate best practices widely. Regional biodiversity programs, developed in collaboration with key stakeholders across eight counties, will identify relevant biodiversity sites and create effective operational models.

Additionally, the Prime Ministers Office will play a crucial role in fostering cooperation between ministries. Training decision-makers and integrating biodiversity concerns into policy-making processes are essential steps to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable approach to biodiversity preservation.

The Priodiversity LIFE project stands as a testament to Finland's commitment to environmental conservation, employing a holistic approach that engages communities, experts, and decision-makers. As biodiversity conservation becomes an urgent global priority, initiatives like Priodiversity LIFE serve as beacons of hope and inspiration, demonstrating the power of collaboration and innovative solutions in the face of environmental challenges.

HT
Finland has witnessed a substantial increase in school transport expenses, soaring by 20 million annually, following the extension of compulsory education to 18 years in 2021. The move, which led to a nearly 50% surge in costs, saw the number of recipients of school transport allowances grow by approximately 21,000 students in the 2022/2023 academic year.

In contrast, the 2022/2023 academic year saw over 70,000 students benefit from the school transport allowance, indicating a significant rise in demand.

The rise in expenses was most prominent in Kymenlaakso, where costs tripled due to a shift in students opting for the school transport allowance after Kouvola, a city in the region, ceased offering free public transport to students. Uusimaa, another region in Finland, also experienced a considerable increase in recipients, although costs doubled instead of tripling due to the integration of Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) services into the school transport allowance system.

Shift in Transport Modes and Detailed Reporting Impact Costs

A majority of school transport allowance recipients utilize public transportation, with approximately 39 million allocated to cover trips made via various public transportation modes. Notably, in the HSL area, where public transportation is particularly affordable for students, the cost threshold under previous legislation was not surpassed, leading to a surge in students applying for and receiving reimbursements, even for relatively short journeys.

Students have also become more meticulous in reporting their travel segments, resulting in increased reimbursements for combinations of multiple modes of transportation. The number of students receiving reimbursements for using various modes has increased more than tenfold compared to the period before the extension of compulsory education.

Furthermore, there has been a shift in the mode of transport, with self-arranged transportation such as private cars or mopeds constituting a reduced portion of the total reimbursements. While nearly 18 million was allocated for self-arranged transportation, this amount accounted for only a little over a quarter of the total school transport allowance expenses in the 2022/2023 academic year.

The legislation specifies that reimbursements for self-arranged trips are 30% lower than those for public transportation, contributing to a moderation in overall costs.

Public Awareness and Policy Impacts

Piia Kuusisto, Head of Benefits at Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, highlighted that the rise in school transport costs was largely anticipated following the extension of compulsory education and the introduction of free secondary education. She emphasized the importance of public awareness in ensuring that students were informed about the availability of the school transport allowance for a broader range of journeys than before.

The data underscore the necessity for continuous monitoring and adjustment of policies to align with changing travel patterns and student needs. While the increase in costs indicates a growing uptake of the school transport allowance, policymakers will need to strategize effectively to manage the associated financial implications.

As Finland adapts to the evolving educational landscape, managing these costs effectively will be crucial to ensuring the sustainability of essential support systems for students and their families. The government's responsiveness to these changing dynamics will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education and student welfare in the country.

HT
The City of Espoo and Technology Industries of Finland have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at recruiting international IT experts to Finland. By working closely with employers and the Talent Boost network, which promotes international recruitment, the partnership aims to create a comprehensive service concept covering the entire recruitment cycle. This initiative will identify the skill needs of companies and assist the recruited talents and their families in settling in Finland.

For over a decade, the City of Espoo has actively worked to connect individuals moving to Finland for studies, work, or family reasons with employers facing labor shortages. "Espoo has always attracted job and talent seekers. The readiness of companies to recruit international employees is crucial for attracting skilled labor," emphasized Mayor Jukka Makela.

The collaboration between Espoo and Technology Industries of Finland marks a significant step in addressing the shortage of experts that has been hindering the growth of Finnish companies, particularly in the IT sector. A dedicated project planner has been hired to create a service concept for recruiting experts from abroad, focusing initially on highly educated IT professionals from India. Efforts are also underway to attract experts from Vietnam.

The goal is to provide a seamless recruitment path from abroad to Finland, ensuring a positive immigration experience for the entire family. This includes access to education for children and opportunities for spouses to develop their careers in Finland. "The key to attracting international experts is to ensure a good immigration experience for the whole family. We are pleased to have support from public actors, including our partner Espoo, to make this initiative a success," stated Eero Manninen from Technology Industries of Finland.

Collaboration with associations such as the Indian Women in Finland and Vietnamese Professionals in Finland is essential. These networks facilitate peer support for individuals navigating between two cultures, making the integration process smoother.

India and Vietnam were chosen as target countries due to their substantial pool of IT experts. Both nations have a high number of higher education graduates, and there is a growing interest among professionals to work abroad. The collaboration has received support from the Finnish Immigration Service and is aligned with the Government Programme's goal of recruiting international experts to Finland.

The collaboration between the public and private sectors in Espoo not only benefits the city but also sets an example for other sectors and regions. If successful, this innovative approach to international recruitment could be replicated and expanded, strengthening Finland's position as a hub for global talent.

HT
EIGHT contemporary textile artists who formed a mentoring group seven years ago are exhibiting together in Henley for the first time.

Hazel Ryder, Terry Donaldson, Marion Robertson, Kate Findlay, Amelia Leigh, Sandra Newton, Christine Seager and Brenda Wroe have all contributed to Voices in Cloth, which opens at the Old Fire Station Gallery on Thursday.

The exhibition is the first for Hazel, from Yateley in Hampshire.

She says: Im terrified and excited in equal measure. This is a completely new body of work because it isnt a quilt, its creative textiles.

Im exploring a conversation that happened 50 years ago through the letters that my grandmother, Ivy Johnson, wrote to me every week for eight years, when I went away to boarding school.

Ive been going through them and sometimes I can be laughing out loud and other times just sobbing my little heart out. Its amazing when you go back and look. Its a little time capsule.

Hazels parents lived in the mining town of Royston in South Yorkshire and felt that their prospects were bleak.

She says: They answered an advert in the Times Educational Supplement for married teachers in the Falkland Islands and we went in August 1974. My parents wanted me to have the chance to do a degree and I had to be sent back to the UK.

She was sent to Casterton School in Kirkby Lonsdale, which the Bronte sisters had attended in the 1820s, where her grandmother would write to her.

Hazel says: She wrote about her life, her family, her neighbours, local and national news. Shed tell me the price of stamps had gone up again  she was aghast it was seven pence to post a second-class letter and nine pence first-class.

Shed tell me the army were coming out to drive the ambulances as the drivers were on strike and that the bakers went on strike and there was no bread. Im trying to work out if this one is true or its just the way she documented it. She said shed had a knock at the door and there were two policemen.

They were looking for two ladies that had got off the Ryehill bus because someone had robbed the post office and they were trying to find the ladies who had been on the bus. I think the robbers getaway vehicle was thought to be a regular bus but who robs the post office and then gets on the bus?

Hazel teaches creative textile courses at InStitches in Finchampstead with Terry, who is from Fleet in Hampshire.

Terry works with coastal landscapes to focus on the tension between the needs of people and natural processes, leading to a disconnect from nature.

Hazel says: She works with earth pigment, so she often uses soil that she has gathered from the place shes looking at, often Devon and Cornwall.

She collects the rock and grinds her own pigment. Theyre very natural colours and the work shes bringing to Henley will be on urban lakes and watercourses.

Marion, who is originally from Scotland and now lives in Marlow, took up creative textiles when she retired from teaching.

She says: I decided to do something creative and did a City and Guilds in sewing and met some lovely people.

I bumped into Kate at a group in Bracknell called Thames Valley in Contemporary Textiles and thats when I met Chrissie as well.

She likes to use hand-dyed fabrics in strong colours inspired by her surroundings.

Marion says: Ive done work on places that have a meaning for me. I come from the very north of Scotland, a place called Nairn, near Inverness.

The pieces of work for this exhibition are really on the theme From the mountains to the sea. The piece thats on the flyer for the exhibition was inspired by a calendar which reminded me of going over the Grampian Mountains.

Theres a lovely river in Nairn and beautiful beaches but when I first came here my neighbour said, You need to go along the River Thames, its a beautiful walk, which I did do.

Sandra, who also lives in Marlow, has a theme of The threads that bind  love and loss.

She has been decluttering and using up old fabric samples in the process, moving to more hand-cut piecing and machine stitch.

Kate, from Shinfield, has worked in textiles for 15 years and likes to depict wildflowers and hedgerow plants.

She uses hand-dyed and hand-printed textiles, collage and mostly machine stitched, to build up a rich, layered surface. She enjoys playing with the effects of light and shadow in her creations. Amelia is from West Sussex but has Mexican and British nationality and has lived around the world.

She is fascinated by urban architecture, both modern and ancient, and looks at how we are becoming dwarfed as buildings and cityscapes get taller.

Christine, from Devizes, makes large art wall hangings as well as small books and mixed-media

collages.

She uses hand-dyed and printed fabrics with simple stitching to integrate the work and her work is abstract and colourful.

Brenda, from Leicester, makes personal hand-dyed cloth, using the intensity of stitch to give each piece meaning.

She has found inspiration from visiting India, focusing on the restorative practices of yoga and meditation.

Marion says: Were all very much doing our own thing and there will be at least two artists at the exhibition each day to talk to people about the work.

There will be things to buy, like cards and threads and bits and pieces. We will have sketchbooks for people to look at as well.

 Voices in Cloth is at the Old Fire Station Gallery in Upper Market Place, Henley, from Thursday, October 12 to Tuesday, October 24. For more information, visit www.voicesincloth.uk
OPERA Preludes new Henley season started splendidly on Friday when baritone Jack Holton (ably accompanied by pianist Brendan Musk) delighted the audience with a lecture/recital about Mozarts operas and the Age of Enlightenment.

Mozart was composing when there were significant advances in the sciences, politics and

philosophy.

Holton illustrated his informative talk with reference to Mozarts three Da Ponte operas, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Cosi fan tutte, all considered opera buffa, which is light and amusing, and the more mysterious The Magic Flute. All were written during against the rumblings of the forthcoming French Revolution.

The Age of Enlightenment was mainly a European cultural and intellectual movement fired by such writers as Rousseau, Hegel and Leibniz and in Britain, Locke and

Wollstonecraft.

These thinkers introduced ideas of freedom, considered power imbalance such as between servant and master, the role of religion, changes in political power and the rights of women.

Holton argued that such ideas influenced composers of the time who began to write for a wider audience than just aristocrats, for example, The Magic Flute.

Mixed within the comic antics of these operas are ideas of the Enlightenment; morality (Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute), servitude and aspirations of freedom (The Marriage of Figaro), fidelity and wisdom (Cosi fan tutte) and sometimes a servant (Figaro) triumphs over his master.

Holton demonstrated how, within the wonderful music of these operas, social differences are marked musically. By highlighting parts of the score, he exemplified how musical contrasts could typify contrasts of social standing.

Once a form was recognised, a characters arrival can be noted; the initial plodding servants bass line of Leporello (Don Giovanni) compared with the higher, decorated aristocratic parts of Donna Anna and Don Giovanni.

Additionally, Holton maintained that Mozart explores underlying contemporary assumptions about class and privilege in his plots, for example, Le droit du Seigneur (The Marriage of Figaro) and fidelity (Cosi fan tutte).

Holton charmed us with his sung illustrative excerpts. All were sung brilliantly, especially Deh, vieni alla finestra (Don Giovanni), Se vuol balare (The Marriage of Figaro) and his finale, Papagena (The Magic Flute).

Holton has a strong, warm baritone voice and he portrayed each character with appropriate emotion, engaging his audience.

Musk was receptive to Holtons requirement, playing with great verve and confidence.

A very interesting and enjoyable morning.

The next Opera Prelude morning will be at the Christ Church Centre on Friday, October 27.

Susan Edwards
More than 48 million Americans are caregivers. There are 50 federal actions to help those caring for older adults, including expanded home-base care for veterans and a pilot program offering help for caregivers dealing with loved ones who have dementia.

The Florida State Office is fighting for legislation and policy changes on issues such as paid leave and tax credits for caregiving work.

AARP helps families find local resources and tools through state caregivers resource guides which note state programs, government agencies, and tools that assist caregivers. You can locate your state gui...
I have been sick for days. The criminal Islamist Iranian regime continues to threaten the world and brutalize its own people. It must be stopped. Sadly, too many Americans don't know, don't care, or are suffering delusions that the regime can be negotiated with. It cannot. America needs leaders who will not appease and enable the Iranian regime, but who will confront it, and bring it to its long overdue end.

I have been sick since watching the recent Republican presidential debate. It pains me that Iran was not mentioned, neither as a matter of foreign policy, nor as a matter of U.S. domest...
On Sunday, Oct. 1, a Sukkot Wine and Whiskey Party brought together a blend of guests at Oakmonte Village, creating a harmonious blend of culture, music, and camaraderie. With music by accomplished violinist, Adam Mendelsohn, this festive gathering proved to be a delightful celebration of Sukkot.

The event, organized by the Jewish Pavilion, was attended by 50 senior residents of Oakmonte Village and 20 board members from both the Jewish Pavilion and the Legacy Committee. The gathering was a testament to the strength and resilience of the community, as it transcended generational boundaries....
(JTA) - One, just out of the army, told his dad "I love you" and "I'm sorry" then went quiet. One who just joined the army has no family nearby, so a stranger is keeping him company in the hospital. One was a peace activist.

These are some of the stories beginning to emerge as Israel strives to identify the hundreds of people who are dead and dozens who are missing after Saturday's attack on southern Israel by Hamas. There are no figures yet on the number of North Americans killed or abducted in the invasion, but U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Americans have reportedly be...
The Israeli-American Council, the Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando quickly pulled together a rally on Sunday, Oct. 8, to show their support for Israel and where many call "home."

T-shirts stating "I Stand With Israel" were available in the foyer of the JCC as approximately 350 people gathered to stand in solidarity. Intermingled with the crowd were Representative Anna Eskamani, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Val Demings, as well as Congressman Maxwell Frost, who stated that antisemitism needs to be fought globally and domestically.

"It's not eno...
Breast cancer awareness is not merely a cause; its a movement that brings communities together. On Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, The Womens Zionist Organization of America, Inc., hosts its 2nd Annual Hadassah Walks for Breast Cancer Awareness. This event will take place throughout Florida, and promises a day filled with purpose, education, and camaraderie.

In the Hadassah Florida Central Region, the following chapters are proud to Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness:

 Tampa Ameet Chapter, Lylah Pinellas Chapter, and St. Petersburg Chapter are joining together to host a joint walk at E...
(JNS)  The Harvard Divinity School student group Jews for Liberation doesnt mince words in its description on the schools site.

The group offers warm, creative spiritual and political space for anti-Zionist and non-Zionist Jews, as well as Jews questioning their relationship with Zionism, it states.

Student groups must register annually with the schools Office of Student Life, which prioritizes anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices and reflects the rich diversity and plurality of our community, but evidently doesnt consider avowed anti-Zionists to...
(JNS)  Israeli forces killed several terrorists attempting to enter Israel from Lebanon, Army Radio reported on Monday afternoon.

The IDF forces killed a number of militants who crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a statement.

The IDF was searching the area to make sure additional terrorists had not entered the country, while attack helicopters carried out strikes near the border.

Residents near the border fence were instructed to remain in their homes, with their doors locked and lights out, until further notice.

An off...
(JNS)  As Israel entered its third day of war with Hamas, an Israeli official denied it was negotiating for the release of hostages held by the terror group via Qatar.

There is no negotiation, an Israeli official said, according to The Times of Israel, disavowing the claim of a Hamas source to the contary.

Qatari mediators have been trying to negotiate the freedom of Israeli women and children in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israels prisons, Reuters reported on Monday.

The negotiations, conducted by Qatar in coordination with the Uni...
(JNS)  Israeli forces have regained control of all the communities near the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday morning after two days of combat with Hamas terrorists.

We are in control of the Gaza envelope communities, IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told journalists during a press briefing. He warned, however, that there are still terrorists in the area.

Hagari added that the military has called up 300,000 reservists.

Early Monday morning, exchanges of fire took place at Kibbutz Beeri, Kibbutz Holit, Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Kibbut...
(New York Jewish Week)  The El Al desk at JFK Airports Terminal 4 was brimming with quiet anxiety on Monday, Oct. 9, as dozens of travelers waited to be checked in holding two documents: their passport, and their emergency summons from the Israel Defense Forces.

The military reservists were preparing to board at least two specially chartered flights to Israel, where they will join a burgeoning war effort. Since Saturdays invasion of southern Israel by Hamas, which killed at least 900 Israelis, the country has called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists for what Prime Minister B...
A major expansion of Shaynas Village programming is underway and will use the JCCs former youth wing, renamed Heller Family Grove, thanks to the generosity of the Heller Family.

Karen Duncan will continue to lead Shaynas Village programming, along with two new additions to the team: Karen Spector, senior director of Education and Engagement for Shaynas Village; and Stefani Rabideaux, Shaynas Village social media and Art director.

Shaynas Village will continue to offer parenting classes and programs, and with the expansion, the new Shaynas Village at Heller F...
(JNS) - In the days after Senator Dianne Feinstein's death, the California political community's attention has been divided between commemorating Feinstein's remarkable career and speculating about who Governor Gavin Newsom would appoint as her replacement.

The mourning had not yet concluded on Sunday night when word of Newsom's selection of former union leader and Democratic fundraiser Laphonza Butler as the state's new senator became public. But in all the commotion, an obscure but critically important aspect of California election law which could greatly impact next year's Senate race,...
Robert Wood, the alternative representative of the U.S. for special political affairs in the U.N.

(JNS) - "The era of reasoning with these savages is over," Israel's ambassador to the United Nations told an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on Sunday, referring to the Hamas terrorist organization.

Following the weekend's unprecedented terrorist assault on Israel by the Gaza-based Iranian proxy group, envoy Gilad Erdan said the time has come to "obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure, to completely erase it, so that such horrors are never committed again."

He continued: "These animal-like terrorists broke into homes, gathered entire families into rooms and shot them point-blank, a...
WASHINGTON (JTA)  The U.S. State Department confirmed that there were at least 25 Americans among the hundreds of people killed after Hamas invasion of Israel.

At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine U.S. citizens, said a State Department statement released early Monday. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected.

The front page of the State Departments website on Monday morning was headlined Israel Under Attack with a link to information. The United States unequivocally condemns the appalling attacks by Hama...
(JNS)  My neighbor doesnt work in an office. He created a niche company that offers adventure experiences to Israelis and visiting tourists. His experience in the outdoors have taught him certain life skills that are needed by the IDF during emergencies. When he drives off in a rush, especially on a quiet Shabbat, theres no need to check the news to know something has happened. We returned from prayers on Saturday and one of our children told us our neighbor had rushed off early in the morning. That was the first sign something was wrong.

This past week, Israel commemorated the 50...
On our return to Warsaw we took some time to rest from our days touring, to prepare for Kabbalat (Evening) Shabbat services at a local synagogue and Shabbat dinner at our hotel.

We were advised at the last minute that we would not be attending the local synagogue; rather Kabbalat Shabbat services would be in the hotel led by one of the guides from a companion group which had combined with our tour group for Shabbat services and dinner.

I was a looking forward to Kabbalat Shabbat services at an actual working local synagogue since all the synagogues we had visited during our week...
(JNS)  Earlier this week, ultra-Orthodox Jews parading through Jerusalems Old City passed a group of Christians bearing a large wooden cross. Some of the Jews spat on the ground in the Christians direction.

Two days later, Jerusalem police arrested five Jews involved in a similar spitting incident.

The spitters provoked widespread outrage and disgust. They were denounced by Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the chief rabbis of Israel and the U.K., and a number of ultra-Orthodox politicians too.

The rabbis and other Orthodox folk were particularly incensed by the clai...
Please note: The referenced book, compiled by Charles Jacobs and Avi Goldwasser just came to print in June. It is a compilation of Jewish thinkers and academics whose credibility warrants thoughtful consideration. It is my hope that the result will stimulate every contemporary Jew to become a proactive contributor in protecting our Jewish future.

In the recent publication of BETRAYAL, The Failure of American Jewish Leadership, authors Charles Jacobs and Avi Goldwasser, assess the reasons for Jewish leaderships ineffectiveness in combatting todays antisemitism. Compiling 21 essa...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), awarded $1.9 million to four local education agencies to partner with expert non-profit organizations and build school-wide capacity to identify and address students risk for human trafficking in their communities. This funding is part of the Biden-Harris Administrations whole-of-government response to human trafficking, as outlined in the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

We must do whatever we can, for as long as necessary, to end the scourge of human trafficking, said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. These resources will help schools increase awareness about human trafficking and empower more people to come forward and help stop it. By addressing the conditions that allow this horrific practice, we can help the individuals, families, and communities that are affected that most.

The awards are part of the Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education (HTYPE) Demonstration Program, where the ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) engages with education organizations to address the ongoing rise in online harassment and abuse and human trafficking among youth.

To protect youth from human trafficking, we must support them and the people with whom they regularly interact, added Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Jeff Hild. Caregivers, school-based professionals, and other youth-serving professionals observe and communicate with youth on a regular basis and have a deep understanding of their needs. They can recognize changes in behaviors and other potential indicators of abuse and violence. Our support for survivors, community-based service providers and school systems will increase opportunities to proactively prevent and address human trafficking among children and youth.

The HTYPE program builds skills and establishes a protocol for handling suspected and confirmed cases of trafficking in coordination with community-based providers, child welfare agencies and law enforcement. The program teaches students to recognize and respond to risks, identify recruitment tactics, and know how to access help.

We have seen how well-prepared schools have been in positions to support students and families impacted by human trafficking, stated OTIP Director Katherine Chon. Last year, a network of eight school districts trained more than 9,000 school personnel. Schools identified at least 50 victims of human trafficking and provided prevention education to more than 16,000 students.

Schools can tailor their safety program and response protocols to ensure they are responsive to the needs of their student population which factor in local trends in human trafficking. The four award recipients reflect the diversity of student populations including by geography, population size, and race, ethnicity, and other factors that heighten risk for human trafficking.

Recipient Nonprofit Partner (Subrecipient) Location Award Amount Oakland Unified School District* International Rescue Committee and Bay Area Women Against Rape Oakland, CA $500,000 Milwaukee Public Schools Love146, Inc. Milwaukee, WI $450,000 Education Service Center Region 19 3Strands Global Foundation El Paso, TX $474,296 School District 1 in The City and County of Denver Love146, Inc. Denver, CO $500,000

*Oakland Unified School District is a returning recipient, previously awarded in FY2020.

Yesterday, OTIP Director Katherine Chon participated in a fireside chat with fellows in the Human Trafficking Leadership Academy (HTLA) to discuss concrete strategies to empower youth, caregivers, and professionals to identify potentially dangerous situations and access support when needed. Fellows also discussed how technology companies can strengthen safety and response protocols by consulting with experts with lived experience and cultivating leadership among survivors throughout the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

This is the eighth time OTIP has invited individuals with lived experience and allied professionals to build leadership skills and collaborate on providing diverse perspectives for research, policy, and programs in critical anti-trafficking areas. This latest group of fellows has been addressing the project question: "What innovative, effective, and safe outreach and engagement strategies should communities, schools, and organizations implement to increase youth (ages 14 to 24) awareness and promote their resilience against online harassment and abuse related to human trafficking?"

OTIP is committed to preventing human trafficking among children and youth by developing and implementing survivor- and expert-informed programs in the spaces where they conduct their daily lives: online and in schools. Focused efforts on digital and school-based initiatives that will meaningfully advance youth safety and well-being also contribute to the work of the White House Task Force on Online Harassment and Abuse.
Yesterday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra spoke with Minister Moshe Arbel, MP, Israeli Minister of Health and Minister of Interior. Secretary Becerra offered his deepest condolences for the victims of Hamas brutal terrorist attack, and reiterated President Bidens remarks, condemning these attacks in the strongest possible terms.

During the call, Secretary Becerra reaffirmed the United States solidarity with the government and people of Israel, and asked about any potential health needs. Minister Arbel thanked the Secretary for the support of the United States, and they agreed to keep in regular communication as the situation evolves.
12:24 | Lima, Oct. 12.

since day one the Executive Branch, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and its respective diplomatic missions, has been working to provide assistance to fellow citizens in the best manner. The Cabinet chief affirmed that





The high-ranking official reported that there was an initial list of 250 Peruvians who were circumstantially in the conflict zone as tourists.





Out of the total, approximately 130 travelled to Jordan, Oman, and even Madrid (Spain). Thus, they are receiving assistance from consular service sections to get flights.





In this sense, the prime minister pointed out that there is still a group of registered citizens who remain in Tel Aviv.





these compatriots will be assisted in their return on the presidential airplane, in accordance with the announcement recently made by President Dina Boluarte. Otarola added that





In remarks to RPP Noticias, the high-ranking official pointed out that between 60 and 70 compatriots have issued said request.





He specified that the aircraft has been arranged to travel from Rome to Tel Aviv this Friday to pick up Peruvian tourists, with the aim of putting them in a safe place in Italy's capital and bringing them back to Peru.





Prime Minister Otarola indicated that the itinerary and other technical details will be defined and communicated by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, in remarks to Canal N,





"Those Peruvians who are in this conflict zone are the priority; we are in permanent contact with them () We want to extend peace of mind to families and citizens in general because the Government is making the decisions which must be made to protect the lives and integrity of our compatriots," he expressed.





The government's spokesman indicated that the list of Peruvian tourists is being completed, adding that the priority for the transfer will be vulnerable people and children.





"We are not going to spare any effort so that every citizen who needs this technical assistance is repatriated to our country," he said.





Likewise, Otarola specified that this decision was adopted with due advance notice, adding that it is time to stand united and assist those compatriots who are in the conflict zone.





"Surely there are mistakes, surely there has been a lack of logistical capacity at our Embassy (in Israel) because it has been overwhelmed by the requests of our fellow citizens, but everyone will be safe," Otarola said.





"There is already a certain number of compatriots who are going to return (to Peru), and the most important (goal) is to reunite them with their families here in Peru," he concluded.




There was a time not too long ago when most Bhutanese literary works were in local languages. But things are changing. The publishing scene in Bhutan, which ended its political isolation by joining the United Nations in 1971, has been evolving steadily in recent years. As the country continues to open up to the world, its literary landscape, once limited to oral traditions, has seen a surge in book publications, especially in English. PREMIUM A session on the publishing scene in Bhutan at the Bhutan Echoes Literature Festival held in Thimphu in August 2023 (Bhutan Echoes Literature Festival)

Bhutanese authors have been prolific in recent years. According to the Bhutan Infocomm and Media Authority (BICMA), over 900 books have been published there since 2006, with 500 being written in English and 400 in Dzongkha, the countrys official language. Thats about 53 books a year. There is a general belief across the world that publishers and books are declining over the years due to new media and the internet. Contrary to this, we are publishing more and more books every year, especially by young writers, says Kitso Pelmo Wangdi, producer, Bhutan Echoes, the three-day annual literature festival that was held in Thimphu in August. The festival that was founded in 2010 has been running its own publishing programme too and has been enabling Bhutanese writers to engage with acclaimed international authors, and learn from them through writing workshops. When the litfest began, there were very few Bhutanese writers writing in English. Over the years, it has inspired several aspiring Bhutanese writers to write in English and be a part of the mainstream writing community, said Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck in her opening speech at Bhutan Echoes 2023. Every year, young writers submit dozens of manuscripts to the festival. Our emerging writers need to have a strong support system, says Wangdi. But resources and experts are in short supply. This lack pushed Kunzang Choden (71), the first Bhutanese author to get published in English, to start a publishing house, Riyang Books. Incidentally, Riyang means melodies from the mountains.

Kunzang Choden, the first Bhutanese author to get published in English, started publishing house Riyang Books. (Courtesy the subject)

While it has now found its footing, the publisher was initially hamstrung by the absence of established literary agents and professional editors. Publishing is very new to us. Its been barely 50 years since we shifted from being a largely oral society to a literate one. We had no tradition or history of using books. Only the monks and monasteries dealt with books, says Kunzang, who graduated from Indraprastha College, Delhi University, long before the Royal University of Bhutan  the venue of the Bhutan Echoes Literary Festival  was built in 2003.

She is also the first Bhutanese author to get published in India. This year, she won the SAARC Literary Award in Delhi. India is a major hub for publishing and Bhutanese authors can never compete with other authors from the subcontinent. But we can watch and learn and also find guidance from Indian writers whom we meet at literary forums like Bhutan Echoes. In due course, I hope we will find a niche for Bhutanese writers in the region, says Kunzang who is driven by a need to take Bhutanese stories to readers around the world. Her own journey as a writer began with Folktales of Bhutan, a collection of 38 legends published by White Lotus in Bangkok in 1994. For Kunzang, it was a shot in the dark because no Bhutanese writer had yet recorded the countrys oral traditions in a book written in English. There were no role models or people with experience to turn to for guidance, she says. Since then, she has had her work published by White Lotus, Zubaan and Penguin India. However, there were no takers for Ogyen Choling: A Manor in Central Bhutan (2012), a document of the architecture of her ancestral home. Thats when Kunzang and her family decided to venture into publishing. The success of Riyang Books has inspired others.

Poet Yeshey Choden is the author of Embrace. (Courtesy the subject)

Yeshey Choden (28), Bhutans first female satellite engineer, who is passionate about poetry, represents the new generation of Bhutanese authors. She self published Embrace (2022), which features poems about discovering love in another human being after finding that love within yourself. Earlier this year, she brought out a childrens book, Rimela, the Last Star.

When it comes to self publishing, everything is toned down, everything is simpler  unlike the processes at big publishing houses. Thats how I wanted to start off. Publishing sounds very daunting especially for me as I come from an engineering background. Self publishing seemed to be my best option. Here, the process is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is get in touch with two higher authorities  BICMA, to get the book registered, and the Centre for Bhutan Studies, which provides the books ISBN number, says Yeshey, who has founded The Nyingtob Initiative Literature Fund to support young writers.

Passang Tshering is the founder of BookNese. (Courtesy the subject)

Crowd publishing guru Passang Tshering, the founder of BookNese  Bhutans well-known blogging platform  has changed how Bhutanese authors approach book marketing. His platform facilitates crowd-funding for book projects thus bringing down the financial barriers for young authors. In Bhutan, the idea of publishing is largely limited to self-publishing. Knowing the market size and the dynamics, young people are happy with vanity publishing as long as they can afford the cost of printing the book. People think printing is publishing. But thats just one small part. Even if there was a full-fledged publishing house here, the idea of 10% royalty wont attract any writer, he says.

When he published Passu Diary (2018), his debut and Bhutans first-ever blog-to-book, he gained insights into the workings of trade publishing. If you look at a book from pre-BookNese times, they are poorly designed (not sure about the content). Since BookNese came about to advise people on the process, the books look great (still unsure about the content), he says. Booknese helps archive and showcase every Bhutanese book. It assists authors in placing them through their e-commerce platform and provides consultancy services too. We sell about 2,000 copies, which is decent for the small Bhutanese market. We have also been making some profits. Since we have no concept of rejection in self-publishing, we tend to publish all the manuscripts that come to us, he says.

Solo traveller and influencer Tshering Denkar is the author of The Tourist Within. (Courtesy the subject)

Tshering Denkar (32) is a solo traveller and influencer. Her debut book, The Tourist Within, catapulted her to fame. Compared to a decade ago, we are witnessing more books getting published. Most new authors choose to self-publish because there is hardly any famous publishing house in the country, says Denkar, who began writing her book, an anthology of travel blogs, during the lockdown.

I barely knew any publishing houses and there was no one to guide me so I decided to self-publish. When my book was ready, I promoted it using social media, she says. Denkar is the first author to have organised a significant book launch event in the country. I sold copies on launch day and got the word out through my social media platform. I also organised a book tour, and meet-and-greet sessions. Within a very short time, my book was sold out, she says. How many copies must a book sell to qualify as a bestseller? And what sells the most? Fiction is the most popular genre with a print run anywhere between 1,000 to 5,000 copies, followed by non-fiction, also about the same number. Many publish poetry but its hard to sell. It usually sells about 1,000 copies. I see a potential of over 15,000 copies, but we are happy with a few thousand without a coordinated effort to promote books and reading, says Passang. I am not sure of the print-runs, but young authors are very effective on social media. Word-of-mouth is an efficient way of selling their books, says Kunzang. Other promising names are Peky Samel (a journalist-turned-poet), Tshering Wangchuk (bureaucrat-turned author), and Karma Tsering, who writes books for children. There is a general awareness that the Bhutanese publishing industry is in its infancy and that challenges persist, including limited critical feedback, financial constraints, and the publics preference for international authors. The most important challenge is the limited number of readers due to the small population. Because we have not seen the development of a conventional publishing industry, though we have the literary capability, the industry has not grown. We have no professional editors or literary agents. Many works are edited by friends as a favour. In a small society, people are very careful not to be too critical of each others work. So writers do not get real critiques to help them improve the manuscript. Often, people write in isolation because there are no book clubs and writing groups, says Kunzang. Passang believes the publishing industry hasnt really taken root. In recent times, self-publishing has boomed. Hundreds of books enter the market but only a few are done through publishing houses. Compared to how young people leverage social media to market their books, publishing houses have far less reach, he says. Thimphu, the centre of Bhutans nascent publishing scene, is going through a big transition. Major international hotels are coming up across the capital and there are many bars and karaoke clubs where youngsters groove to popular international tracks. Few of them, however, have much to do with the written word. There were very few libraries around where I was raised. Even now, its tough to find a library in the capital. In Thimphu, we have hundreds of pubs, but libraries and bookstores remain few and far between, says Denkar. Still, it is certain that Bhutan is treading new trails and that stories and a fresh literary spirit is emerging in the countrys clear mountain air. Shireen Quadri is the editor of The Punch Magazine Anthology of New Writing: Select Short Stories by Women Writers.

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New Delhi, Delhi, India  Business Wire India As the Indian markets have matured, the Indian consumer has changed, too. Higher disposable incomes and an eagerness to explore the world has made Indians keen travellers who are aware, informed and know what they want. They have become discerning consumers who will settle for nothing less than global standards in their purchases and lifestyles choices. They have seen the worlds best and seek it in Indian products. Consequently, Indian manufacturers have striven to keep pace with the demands and expectations of the 21st century Indian consumer. A clear discernment and rejection of low quality is seen in every aspect of a consumers life, including the choice of marble and natural stone in construction.



In the world of marble used in construction, it has been an intriguing story, relating to the thickness of the marble slabs. Traditionally, marble was sold in 25 mm thickness. Yet, in India and China, a short-sighted approach driven by cost-saving led consumers to settle for marble of 16 mm or 17 mm thickness, which were inferior and led to buyers regret.

Statuario Living Room

Stonex has decided to end the disparity and bring Indian marble at par with the worlds best. It has become the first Indian manufacturer to sell marble exclusively of 20 mm thickness  and buyers are delighted. Stonex marble wins hands down on every aspect  aesthetics, strength and durability.



Qualities that make 20 mm Marble the Global Standard



Greater Strength, Higher Value

20 mm marble possesses exceptional strength, boasting a 30% increase in durability compared to 18 mm thick marble. This superior strength enables versatile applications, ensuring a worry-free experience for customers, even under rigorous use.



Unmatched Beauty and Grain Quality

Reduced translucency in 20 mm marble enhances its inner lustre, creating an aura of classical elegance and subtle opulence. The superior grain quality takes the aesthetics to a new level, elevating each space to a zenith of magnificence rarely seen before.



Resilience Against Weather Extremes

India's diverse climatic conditions pose severe challenges to the longevity of marble. The 20 mm thickness ensures resilience against expansions and contractions within the stone, minimizing the risk of cracks and fractures, making it the ideal choice for any environment.



Awareness Leads to Wiser Choices

Informed decisions pave the way for lasting satisfaction. Just as airbags became a non-negotiable safety feature in cars, 20 mm marble will soon become the only choice for Indian consumers, without the slightest compromise.



About Stonex

Set up in 2001, Stonex India aimed to revolutionise the marble market in the country. Today, they offer the finest of natural stones to Indian and international markets.



Stonex is renowned for its high-quality, luxury marbles but the company's focus on challenging the paradigm is what propels it. With unparalleled expertise in every aspect of its business, from production to customer service, Stonex delivers products and services that are best in class and exquisite.



Now Stonex India is at par with global quality benchmarks enabling the brand to drive robust demand across India and key international markets of the USA, UAE, Australia, the UK and Singapore.



For more information, please visit https://www.stonexindia.com

Media Contact Details

Jayati Joshi (Public Relations & Communications), Stonex Group, +91-9717800669

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A pioneering Dubai-based edtech startup called SecureMyScholarship is on a massive quest to make higher education more accessible to millions of aspirational Indian students by helping them get scholarships for their studies at foreign universities.

In a society where education is crucial, it has become commoditized and in most cases is only available to wealthy students. This statement is especially true in India, where the huge costs associated with studying abroad have caused many people to lose hope in pursuing a higher education at the worlds top universities that might lead to a better life.

Over 500,000 Indian students across all degree levels decided to continue their higher education abroad in 2022, and even though that figure is astronomically high, it represents a tiny fraction of the 13 million students in India who reach the age of 18 each year. Statistics constantly demonstrate that the vast majority of these kids want to attend top-tier colleges in the USA, the UK, and other countries, and the fact that just 4% of them can do so is evidence that the system could be more effective.

Through its groundbreaking scholarship finder search engine, SecureMyScholarship strives to close this gap by connecting students with guaranteed scholarships and tuition waivers at its network of partner colleges. In order to provide a seamless link between students and university scholarships, SecureMyScholarship's technologically solid infrastructure is at its core.

SecureMyScholarship was painstakingly created to create a smooth link between students and university scholarships. The platform ensures accurate and thorough matching between students and potential scholarships by utilizing a sophisticated understanding of the target customer and optimizing algorithms that govern how its scholarship search finder engine operates, creating a pathway that is transparent, easy to follow, and within reach. The young edtech platform is literally transforming lives every day with its work.

Beyond just matching students with scholarships, SecureMyScholarship has extensive reach. Universities and students come together in this environment to create a prosperous educational world. Through strategic partnerships with colleges and scholarship programs, the platform makes sure that altruism reaches its true target, which are smart and ambitious young people who are only constrained by their financial circumstances.

Father-and-son team Craig and Ian Fernandes, both NRIs living in Dubai, launched SecureMyScholarship with the goal of creating a platform that would help all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, gain access to and afford higher education. The young firm, established in November 2021, has reached incredible heights and expanded to a team size of more than 25 employees located worldwide. Craig and Ian have since raised more than $500k from a network of reputable angel investors to demonstrate their product's market fit and growth.

Over 80,000 course possibilities are listed on SecureMyScholarship's website from over 300 university partners in the US, the UK, and Dubai. Each of these partners has various scholarships available for students to apply for through the platform. Arizona State University, Cleveland State University, the University of Sussex, Middlesex University, and the University of Birmingham in Dubai are a few of its most illustrious international partners. The portal claims nearly all of Dubai's private universities among its partners, and Dubai is where the edtech business is based.

To select the university that best fits his requirements, a student only needs to go to SecureMyScholarship.com and use the available filters, including program, education level, budget, location, and more. There is complete transparency in the scholarship opportunities accessible as all universities have their scholarships posted. Once a student has chosen where to apply, the student can submit their scholarship application as well as their university application through SecureMyScholarship's website. Following submission, the platform's support staff will receive your university application, who will sort through the given data and ensure everything is in order. A student might anticipate receiving their scholarship offer letter within 1 to 3 weeks of submission, assuming everything is in order.

As of August 30th, 2023, SecureMyScholarship has given out over 6.5 million dollars in scholarships to deserving students from middle class and working class backgrounds, changing thousands of people's lives in the process.

Beyond individual tales and international boundaries, SecureMyScholarship has an impact that is global in scope. It acts as a catalyst for a domino effect, where empowered students develop into citizens who raise their communities and, ultimately, India as a whole. There are still many bridges to be built as SecureMyScholarship works to clear the way for millions of students, ensuring that no student faces obstacles as they pursue their education regardless of caste, creed, ethnicity, ormost importantlyfinancial standing.

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.

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Mrs. Kalpana Shukla etched her name in the journals of glory as the first Indian to secure the first-runner up position in the 46-year journey of the Mrs. Universe Pageant. The Grand Finale of the Mrs. Universe Pageant 2023 took place on October 8th in Manila, Philippines, where Kalpana triumphantly secured the first-runner up position in a tough competition of 91 participants.

Adding to her illustrious achievement, Kalpana also earned the prestigious title of 'the Best National Costume.' This magnificent creation, crafted by the talented Designer Melvyn Dominic Noronha, paid homage to her Mrs. India UK title.

Behind this remarkable success stands Kalpana's National Director, Mrs. Urmi Boruah, who tirelessly worked day and night to ensure Kalpana's brilliance shone through in the Pageant. Urmi assembled an exceptional team, and Kalpana's victory was destined from the stars.

The dedicated team left no stone unturned in preparing for the Pageant's critical scoring areas. The forum, a pinnacle event, required all participants to address the pressing issue of domestic violence. Kalpana's presentation, titled 'Break the Silence,' was executed flawlessly, leaving a lasting impact.

This victory is a testament to the unwavering dedication of Mrs. Kalpana, Mrs. Urmi Boruah, and the entire UMB Elegant Monarch team. Its a demonstration of the incredible potential of the Indian spirit to achieve one's dreams.

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.

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New Delhi, Delhi, India  Business Wire India The 15th International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE), is being organized at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India.



The three-day event, which is one of the largest exhibitions of the rail transport industry in Asia, will see Hitachi showcase its distinctive technological capabilities for the rail sector including rolling stock, signalling, digital services, semiconductors and energy management components and systems.



Hitachis presence in India includes several businesses that span across railways, IT, energy, payments, e-education, e-healthcare, and railway components, which together cover an integral part of the urban mobility landscape. Hitachi in India has been an integral partner for over nine decades, offering its advanced solutions for urban mobility and Indian Railways helping build a seamless, safe, comfortable, and secure travel experience for billions. Hitachi will showcase its distinctive technological capabilities across Rolling Stock and Rail Control Line of Business which caters Propulsion System, Train Control and Management System, Predictive Maintenance system, electronic interlocking systems, surveillance solutions, Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) and other state of art technology for mobility solutions.



This presence has seen Hitachi supporting the nation for decongesting and decarbonizing major Indian cities, by executing digital signalling systems for metro projects in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Noida. These metro systems are providing enhanced connectivity to cities across India using globally proven green and digital rail technologies across signaling, components, and surveillance.



Other crucial projects that Hitachi India has delivered include which contribute to the Indian economy and Quality of life:

1. Western Dedicated Freight Corridor  The Golden Quadrilateral's four largest citiesDelhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkataare connected by this corridor, which unites the country. With its tried-and-true rail control technologies, including Electronic Interlocking, Train Monitoring and Diagnostic System, Train Protection and Warning System, Hitachi helps India build an efficient, cost-effective, and clean goods network.

2. Gatiman Express  Indias first semi-high-speed train powered by Hitachi Rail ETCS Level I technology, and one of Asias largest Electronic Interlocking Systems at Juhi Yard, which allows operators to set as many as 973 routes in just a few clicks.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Bharat Kaushal, Managing Director, Hitachi India Pvt. Ltd. shared  Hitachi Indias partnership with the Indian Railways is a testament to our progressive vision of ensuring and building a resilient Railway infrastructure. We have been instrumental in supporting the Indian Railways across its mission to offer a distinguished travel experience to citizens through implementing multifarious projects covering the length and breadth of India. Indian Railways, the lifeline of the nation is a catalyst bonding Humans with Humans and Hitachi India is an integral part of this voyage that is touching the lives of billions, every day. Our cosmic technological superiority spread across, signalling, communication-based traffic control solutions, Electronic Interlocking is pivotal in constituting an agile multi-modal mobility environment. Hitachi India has been mounting its footprints in India through offering a holistic framework of Railway solutions including IT, Energy, Payments for both open and closed loop ticketing system. With over nine decades of cementing presence in India and presence of more than 28 business conglomerates along with a 33,000 strong yet competent workforce, we are committed to transforming the Urban Mobility Landscape for the nation.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services - supporting our customers digital transformation; Green Energy & Mobility - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and Connective Industries - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The companys consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.



About Hitachi Rail

Hitachi Rail is connecting the future of mobility - helping every passenger, customer and community enjoy the benefits of more seamless, sustainable journeys. The company's pioneering technology enables more than 18bn passenger journeys and helps to transport millions of tonnes of freight every year. As a trusted partner to operators around the world, Hitachi Rail delivers every part of the railway, from manufacturing and maintaining high speed bullet trains to digital signalling infrastructure and more.



Hitachi Rail is delivering value for its customers through Digital Transformation. The company's new Smart Mobility and Digital Asset Management solutions are cutting costs, carbon and congestion, while offering more choice and convenience to passengers than ever before. Hitachi Rail is becoming a climate change innovator by innovating greener products with its customers - such as battery trains, and through its commitment to reduce its own CO2 emissions to net zero by 2030.



Hitachi Rails reach is global, but its business is local - with success built on investing in the people and communities that it serves. With over 14,000 employees in 38 countries, the company is growing and looking to recruit diverse talent now.



Find out about more by visiting hitachirail.com or hitachirail.com/careers/.



About Hitachi India Pvt. Ltd.

Hitachis partnership with India dates to 1930s with importing of table fans and later on went on to supply steam engines followed by Turbines for the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Since then, Hitachi has been mounting its footprints in India and solidifying its position with presence of around 28 group companies (as of March 2023) and approximately 18,000 employees (as of March 2023) fuelling the transformation of India. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.co.in.

Media Contact Details

Chhavi Sharma (Corporate Communications Group), Hitachi India Pvt. Ltd., chhavi.sharma@hitachi.co.in, +91-9205151534

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Plaza Wires Limited's Initial Public Offering (IPO) registered a robust debut on both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday. Plaza Wires Limited's Initial Public Offering (IPO) debut on NSE.(X/NSEIndia)

At the NSE, Plaza Wires' share price was listed at 80.23 per share, marking a remarkable 48.5 per cent increase over the issue price of 54. On the BSE, Plaza Wires' price debuted at 80.2 per share.

An official notice from BSE confirmed that Plaza Wires Limited's equity shares were to be listed and admitted to trading on the Exchange in the 'T' Group of Securities, effective from Thursday.

The listing proceedings commenced with a special pre-open session on both BSE and NSE, followed by the availability of Plaza Wires shares for regular trading at 10:00am. The stock will remain in the Trade-for-Trade segment for the next 10 trading days.

Plaza Wires IPO Details

Plaza Wires IPO, valued at 71.28 crores, consisted solely of a fresh issue of 13,200,158 equity shares, with no offer for sale (OFS) component.

The company has outlined its plans for the net proceeds from the offering, which include funding the capital expenses for a new manufacturing facility. Additionally, the funds will be allocated to meet the company's working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes.

Plaza Wires IPO Subscription Highlights

The Plaza Wires IPO subscription window was open for subscription from September 29 and closed on October 5. The company had set the price band for the proposed initial public offer at 51 to 54 per equity share. Investors submitted bids for a minimum of 277 equity shares, with subsequent bids in multiples of 277 equity shares.

On the first day, the IPO was oversubscribed by 4.73 times, surging to 27.90 times on the second day, and an astonishing 62.75 times on the third day.

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Toyota Motor and Idemitsu Kosan have formed an alliance to develop and mass-produce all-solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, the companies said on Thursday. A worker cleans Toyota's Electric Vehicle bZ4X, that is displayed during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia.(REUTERS)

The partnership follows an announcement in June by Toyota, the world's biggest automaker by sales, that it would introduce the high-performance batteries to improve the driving range and reduce costs of future EVs in a strategic pivot.

Toyota, which has been slow in adopting pure-battery powered EVs, trumpeted at the time a "technological breakthrough" that addresses durability problems in solid-state batteries and said it is developing means to mass produce those batteries.

Idemitsu and Toyota said in a statement on Thursday they would aim to commercialise the next-generation batteries in 2027-28, followed by full-scale mass production.

Toyota President Koji Sato and Idemitsu President Shunichi Kito will hold a press conference at 11:30 am on Thursday.

Solid-state batteries can hold more energy than current liquid electrolyte batteries and automakers and analysts expect them to speed transition to EVs.

An EV powered by a solid-state battery would have a range of 1,200 km and charging time of just 10 minutes, according to Toyota.

Still, such batteries are expensive and likely to remain so for years.

Idemitsu, Japan's second-biggest oil refiner, has been expanding into EV battery supply chains, increasing its stake in Australian lithium developer Delta Lithium to 15% earlier this year amid a global push by automakers to electrify their fleets.

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The BJP will lock the Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOM) offices and hold an agitation if the state government fails to ensure an uninterrupted seven hours of power supply in three phases to farmers, former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai warned on Wednesday. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai slammed the Congress government in Karnataka. (ANI)

Addressing a farmers' protest organised by the BJP against the "anti-farmer attitude" of the government, he said the duty of the government was to ensure the power supply and it was not doing any favour.

"The officials would tell how the Department of Energy had been functioning. The previous BJP government had given 10,000 crore to the Energy Department. However, the present Congress government has not released any grant as it did not have money to release the grant and purchase coal," Bommai said.

READ | Karnataka facing acute power shortage as demand surges due to deficit rainfall

Alleging farmers were given hardly two hours of power daily but the power tariff had been hiked twice in the last three months, he warned the government that "the BJP would lock the ESCOM offices and launch protests if farmers are not supplied seven hours of power in three phases. Against how many people you (govt) can book cases and send to jail? We will go to jail in such a large number that you will be forced to release us."

There are 1.50 lakh IP (irrigation pump) sets and all the crops are drying in Chikkaballapura district for want of power, he added.

Bommai earlier in the day said the incumbent Congress government is a 'zero-grant' administration as it has not released the grants to anyone (legislators), and claimed that the previous BJP regime did not differentiate while releasing the grants.

READ | DK Shivakumar misleading people on Cauvery water inflow: Basavaraj Bommai

He said the previous BJP government had released the grants to the MLAs of the then opposition parties, and treated everyone equally.

"...this is a zero-grant government as the money is not released for any development works," Bommai said, calling it anti-farmer, as the IP sets of scores of farmers have stopped functioning for want of power.

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Mysuru District In-charge Minister H C Mahadevappa on Wednesday formally invited Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to attend the Dasara festival in this Royal City, which is known for its regality. Elephants being brought for Mysore Dasara celebrations at Veeranahosahalli village, Mysuru district. (PTI)

The Raj Bhavan later issued a statement saying that Mahadevappa, along with Mysuru Mayor Shivakumar and Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Rajendra, extended a warm invitation to Gehlot for the Dasara Nadhabba celebration in Mysuru.

ALSO READ | Notable music director Hamsalekha to inaugurate Dasara festivities in Mysuru this year: Siddaramaiah

The festival will be held from October 15 to October 24.

The chief minister too got nostalgic after receiving the invitation. "Dasara is the festival of my town. I used to watch Dasara sitting on my father's shoulder as a child. Now again I have the good fortune to attend the Dasara event as Chief Minister of the state," Siddaramaiah said on X (formerly Twitter).

ALSO READ | Dasara celebrations set to be scaled down in Mysuru: Minister

"When the delegation led by Mysore District In-charge Minister HC Mahadevappa came to invite me for the world famous Dasara event, I accepted it with great joy and assured them that I will attend it," he added.

The Aero show will be the centre for attraction this year, sources in the Mysuru administration said.

ALSO READ | Dasara festivities in Mysuru to include air show, exhibition this year, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

The show would take place on October 23 for an hour at Bannimantapa Parade Grounds after obtaining permission from the Defence Ministry, they said.

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Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said Karnataka will appeal against the direction of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) once again recommending the state to release river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The CWRC on Wednesday recommended that Karnataka ensure the release of water from its reservoirs which would add up to 3,000 cusecs at Biligundlu (measuring station in Tamil Nadu) starting from October 16 (8 am) up to October 31. Karnataka PCC chief and DCM DK Shivakumar.(PTI)

The matter of release of water is expected to soon come up before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which will issue an order based on the recommendation of the CWRC, its assisting body. "We have an inflow of 8,000-9,000 cusecs (in state's reservoirs), but still we will protect the interest of farmers. We will appeal against it (CWRC recommendation). We find it very difficult, as still there are no rains," Shivakumar, who is also in-charge of the state's Water Resources department, said.

READ | Cauvery row: Karnataka govt committed to protect farmers interests, says DCM DK Shivakumar

Speaking to reporters here, he said there have been one or two spells of small amounts of rain in Bengaluru, but it has not reached Biligundlu yet. "We will plan it, but we will appeal against it."

Responding to a question on load shedding resulting in power cuts in many parts of the state and trouble faced by farmers unable to operate their pump sets as a result, the Deputy CM said that due to drought situation in many parts of the state, there is a deficit of power, and Energy Minister K J George has met Union Power Minister (R K Singh) and has sought for supply of power from the central grid.

READ | Karnataka obligated to release Cauvery water to TN, says CWRC

"When I was the power minister (during earlier Congress govt), I added more than 12,000 MW of power, but when the BJP regime was there, they did not plan to add any power. Normally, there will be 10-15 per cent growth every year. They just sold the power, that's all. Now there is drought, almost 200 taluks are in drought and people are finding it very difficult," he said.

Noting that to generate power a lot of water is needed, and "also the coal issue is there", he said, "but still we want to help the farmers. Our (energy) minister has met the union power minister and has sought for power from the central grid... Due to drought, there is a deficit of power, but still we are trying to manage it. Our minister is on the job, let's all pray for the rains."

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The Karnataka government on Thursday said several American companies have evinced interest to invest around 25,000 crore in the state. Jointly addressing a press conference regarding the outcome of the visit by a business promotion delegation headed by them to the US, by Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil and Electronics & IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said some of the companies are already in the process of investing around USD one billion in the state. Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge(ANI)

Also Read - Karnataka govt very casual in its approach: BJP's Tejasvi Surya on Cauvery row

During the visit that spanned from the east coast to the west coast of the US, a total of 36 interactive meetings were held. "While some companies have planned to commence their operations here some others have proposed to expand their already existing operations. Our discussions primarily focussed on semiconductors, aerospace and defence, electric vehicles, space, and precision manufacturing," Patil said. Discussions were held with leading companies like Applied Materials, AMD, Juniper, Global Foundries, LAM Research, Boeing, Krypton, Dell, MKS Instruments, GE Healthcare, Intelsat, RTX, Teradyne, Texas Instruments, Apple, and Waters Corp. The delegation also met with a few promising startups like Leolabs, Fictiv and T-Second. Noting that the purpose of the visit to the US was to underline the status of Karnataka as a promising destination for investment, Patil said the trip was necessary and important considering the fast-changing geo-political dynamics as a large number of global companies are looking at India, especially Karnataka, as an attractive, safe destination for new investment or expanding their existing presence.

"The delegation has reassured the investors that Karnataka is an attractive and favoured destination with its industry-friendly policies, lucrative incentives, availability of technically qualified skilled workforce, and abundant availability of natural resources," he said. The themes of discussions with industry leaders were centred around joint skilling initiatives, expansion of the supplier base, strengthening the existing R&D ecosystem, and collaboration on establishing Centers of Excellence with the state government. "We have offered all possible support to the companies to invest in Karnataka and briefed the senior executives of global companies about the states ease of doing business, favourable policies, sectorial incentives, and industrial infrastructure built in the state. Our main objective was to showcase Karnataka as an attractive investment destination," Patil said.

Kharge said that the purpose of the visit to the US was to attract investment at a time when not only China but other states within the country are competing with each other to attract investors. "We have come out with an innovation in our approach to reach out to the investors and went to their doorsteps in the US to convince them about the opportunities to invest in Karnataka. The state government is tying up with AMD to train engineers based on the syllabus provided by the company to meet their requirements for human resources. AMD will be hiring 800 engineers in India'', he said. Kharge also stated that the government would organise a global start-up summit in Bengaluru next year.

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: Punjab health and family welfare minister, Dr. Balbir Singh, on Wednesday reaffirmed the Punjab governments efforts to enhance healthcare infrastructure in the state during his recent visit to Ludhianas urban community health centers and the civil hospital. HT Image

The visit was aimed at reviewing the progress of ongoing up-gradation projects and bolstering healthcare services in the region.

Addressing the media at the local civil hospital, the minister unveiled the states plan to equip the civil hospital with cutting-edge healthcare facilities, bringing it on par with the recently upgraded Patiala district hospital.

The civil hospital is slated to receive a new emergency unit, an intensive care unit (ICU), and a patient facilitation center in the coming two months.

The hospital will also get patient facilitation center that will serve as a hub for patient management, assisting them in navigating their medical journeys. The centre will maintain digital records for each patient, ensuring swift and efficient healthcare delivery. The ICU would be operational within two months, with all remaining works progressing at a rapid pace. I have also instructed officials to expedite the repair and maintenance of the hospitals elevators, ensuring efficient patient movement, he said.

In a move to address the troubling state of rural dispensaries running low on essential medicines across the state, the minister revealed plans to transform these facilities into Aam Admi Clinics. This transition aims to enhance infrastructure and ensure a consistent supply of medicines.

The minister dismissed concerns about potential funding issues, asserting the states commitment to taking responsibility for these clinics. He called upon the central government to collaborate in achieving a shared goal of healthcare for all with popular phrase of central ruling party, sabka sath sabka vikas.

Turning his attention to urban community health centres, Singh revealed that specialist doctors would soon be deployed at these centres to provide specialised medical services. Patients can expect access to a wide range of facilities, including basic life support systems, minor surgeries, ultrasound, X-rays, general medicines, pediatric care, orthopedic services, cesarean deliveries, and specialist diagnostics.

This expansion of services at urban health centres aims to reduce the burden on civil hospitals while ensuring residents receive quality healthcare closer to home he added.

The minister also addressed the issue of staff shortages, announcing plans to fill approximately 1,880 vacant positions in the health department. Additional posts will be created and sanctioned regularly to bolster the staff and further strengthen urban healthcare centers. Civil hospitals will focus on treating only referral patients with severe medical conditions.

Concluding the visit, the health minister chaired a review meeting with the district administration and health department officials. During the meeting, he directed local administration to establish a four-member committee to monitor the progress of ongoing projects and address management-related issues at the district level.

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The occupants of the three vehicles involved in two horrific crashes in the city miraculously escaped with minor injuries, police said on Wednesday. HT Image

The first accident involved a collision between two cars on Ferozepur Road. In the second crash, a speeding car crashed into an electricity pole in the Model Town area after which the driver fled the scene. Both the incidents happened on Tuesday.

Two cars collided late at night on Ferozepur Road, resulting in substantial damage to both the vehicles. Fortunately, the occupants in both cars sustained only minor cuts and bruises.

The accident occurred near the M.B.D. Mall as a Hyundai Creta from B.R.S. Nagar turned towards Mullanpur, while a black Thar from Ferozepur Road was speeding from the opposite direction, resulting in the collision.

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the Thar was speeding and that empty alcohol bottles were found inside the vehicle.

The Sarabha Nagar police arrived at the scene. Both vehicles and their occupants were taken to the police station.

Jaswinder Singh, assistant sub inspector Sarbha Nagar said, We have reached the spot and both the cars collided badly and eventually both the parties have compromised.

In the other incident, a speeding car crashed into an electricity pole in Model Town area opposite Lyallpur sweet shop late evening on Tuesday. According to the officials of Model Town police station, they have registered the case under section 427 of the IPC against the accused following the complaint of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

Gurshinder Kaur, station house officer said, We have received the complaint from PSPCL officials as a speedy car damaged the electricity pole in Model Town area and the driver fled away from the spot. We are investigating the matter and tracing the accused.

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Police arrested a man with an illegal weapon and recovered a .32 bore illegal pistol, along with four live cartridges, from his possession on Wednesday. HT Image

The accused, identified as Ajay Kumar of Peeru Banda Salem Tabri, was presently residing in Jassian village. He was taken into custody following a tip-off near the Upkar Nagar Dussehra Ground. Police said he was already facing a murder charges under a case registered at the Basti Jodhewal police station in June 2018.

Sub-inspector Vijay Kumar, the station house officer (SHO) at Division number 8 police station, said the police are currently interrogating the accused to determine the source of the weapon and the intended purpose. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act.

In a separate incident, the police also apprehended two individuals suspected of snatching mobile phones. Four snatched mobile phones, a sharp-edged weapon and a motorcycle were recovered from the suspects. The accused have been identified as Malkit Singh of Nehru Vihar in Basti Jodhewal and John of Peerubanda in Salem Tabri. A case under Sections 379B (2), 34 and 411 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered.

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Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani on Thursday donated 5 crore to the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) after offering prayers at the Badrinath temple in Chamoli district and Kedarnath temple in Rudraprayag district. Upon arrival, he was greeted by BKTC chairman and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ajendra Ajay, along with the committees vice-chairman Kishore Pawar. Mukesh Ambani at Kedarnath temple on Thursday. (HT Photo)

Ambani was accompanied by Radhika Merchant, his youngest son Anant Ambanis fiance.

Mukesh Ambani today offered prayers at Kedarnath and Badrinath. He donated 5 crore to BKTC. I express my gratitude to Ambani ji for the donation on behalf of the temple committee. I also discussed with him various projects proposed by the temple committee. He assured all possible help for those, Ajay said.

In September this year, Anant Ambani donated 25 crore to the chief ministers relief fund.

Anant Ambani has been a director on the board of Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail and the Reliance groups energy and solar energy businesses. Last month, he was appointed to the board of Reliance Industries.

In October 2020, Anant Ambani donated 5 crore to Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board (now BKTC) as a gesture to help the Board manage its expenses amid the Covid-19 epidemic which impacted its revenue.

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A 23-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed multiple times by a man in south Delhi's Lado Sarai area while she was leaving for an interview around 6:30am on Thursday. The woman's mother alleged that she complained online and in person to the Delhi police to investigate the matter two to three times but no action was taken. (File)

The woman's mother Shakuntala Malik, speaking to news agency ANI, said, My daughter was going to an interview in Lajpat Nagar and was stabbed multiple times by a man in her cab.

Malik also alleged that she complained online and in person to the Delhi police about the man two to three times but no action was taken.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Chandan Chowdhary told news agency PTI that the accused was in a relationship with the victim for the last two years and she had been avoiding him. Identified as 27-year-old Gaurav Pal, the accused is a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad and works in a private company in Gurugram.

He was apprehended at the spot and an FIR was filed under IPC section 307 at the Saket Police station.

The DCP told PTI that the girl recently began ignoring the accused and he came to meet her on Thursday morning. As they were talking, the victim sat in the cab which she had booked and in the meantime, Pal attacked her with a knife.

Talking about the severity of the incident, Malik said that her daughter was hit at least six to seven times in the head. The incident took place in front of the Campa cola factory in Lado Sarai, she said.

In a viral video, which has not been verified yet, a woman can be seen in a cab with her upper body covered in blood and she is heard asking passersby to take her to a hospital.

The cab driver, who caught the accused along with several others, is also heard in the video saying that the victim and the accused were together and they sat inside the cab and a little later, he stabbed the woman.

She has been hit on her head multiple times. She was covered in blood and her condition is serious. I want my daughter to get justice. I don't want any other woman to face the same. Stringent action should be taken against the accused, Malik told ANI.

On October 10, a PCR call was made by the victim where she alleged that Pal was harassing her. The matter was found to be of borrowed money, the police said.

Malik told PTI that Pal had been harassing her daughter for the past two years and wanted to marry her but she wasn't ready for it.

She said to PTI, My daughter blocked him, but he used to call her from unknown numbers and also threatened her that if she does not marry him, then he will kill her. My daughter met him in the office where she used to work. She did not love him. She wanted to support our family as her father is no more. He asked her for a court marriage, but my daughter did not agree to it. I want the accused to get strict punishment for his act.

Malik is a single mother, who works as a cook. The victim has four siblings  two sisters and two brothers. There is no one else in the family. My mother passed away two months ago. Just me and my daughter [the victim] worked in the family.

Speaking upon the police action, Malik claimed, They keep telling me, we are working on it. But I don't feel like they will be able to do anything for women.

(With inputs from agencies)

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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 Delhi high court on Thursday commuted the death sentence given to Indian Mujahideen operative Ariz Khan in connection with the 2008 Batla House encounter case  in which decorated Delhi Police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was killed  to life in prison. The court held that circumstances in the case were not sufficient for it to fall under the category of a rarest of rare case. Indian Mujahideen operative Ariz Khan. (HT Archive)

The gunfight in question took place on September 19, 2008  six days after a series of explosions in Delhi led to the death of 39 people, with more than 150 people injured. Inspector Sharma of the special cell got a specific tip-off about Indian Mujahideen terrorists involved in the blasts hiding in a flat at Batla House in Jamia Nagar.

Also read: Fed up with sexual abuse, 14-year-old boy slits throat of tutor, say police

After Sharma and his team arrived at the spot, an encounter broke out, and two terrorists  Mohammad Atif Ameen and Mohammad Sajid  along with Sharma were killed.

On Thursday, a bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Amit Sharma was of the view that there was nothing on record to attribute the shot responsible for Sharmas death to a particular accused.

But at the same time, it is pertinent to note that there is nothing on record to attribute the fatal shot responsible for the death of late inspector Mohan Chand Sharma to any particular accused. At this stage, it is pertinent to note that this court is conscious of the fact that during the incident, the country lost a decorated police officer who sacrificed his life in the line of duty... However, the circumstances of the present case, as discussed hereinbefore, are not sufficient for it to fall under the category of a rarest of rare case, the bench said in a 105-page verdict, authored by justice Sharma.

The court, however, upheld Khans conviction under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act, opining that eyewitness testimony and corroborating material not only established his presence at Batla House, but also the fact that he fired at the police and fled from the spot.

In the present case, we have already held that the testimony of the eyewitnesses and other corroborating material establish the presence of the appellant at the place of incident and the factum of his firing at the raiding party while fleeing from the spot, the court said.

The high courts verdict came on an appeal filed by Khan against a trial courts March 2021 order, handing down him the death penalty. The trial court, while sentencing Khan to death, took note of the fact that he was involved in bomb blasts that had resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent people, and had concluded that his case fell under the category of rarest of rare case as him firing at the police party without any provocation itself showed that he was a threat to the society and also an enemy of the state.

Khans counsel advocate MS Khan submitted before the high court that the trial courts verdict suffered from legal and factual infirmity as his participation in the shootout and escape from Batla House was not proved by the state beyond reasonable doubt. He further argued that none of the eyewitnesses gave any description regarding Khans physical appearance or clothes.

However, the Delhi government, through special counsel Rajesh Mahajan, argued that the verdict did not suffer from any legal infirmity as Khans presence on the spot was built on testimonies of six eyewitnesses, who attributed a special role to him for shooting at the police.

The special counsel also argued that Khans act of firing at police personnel during the course of his duty fell within the category of aggravating circumstances that are required to be considered while handing down the death sentence.

Mahajan was referring to the case State of Punjab vs Bachan Singh (1980), wherein the Supreme Court laid down the aggravating and mitigating circumstances that are to be considered and balanced before handing down the death sentence.

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???? #AgendaPresidencial | Desde Alemania, la presidenta Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra realizara despacho virtual. pic.twitter.com/WSWw27sezv
The Delhi traffic police has issued an advisory for the P-20 summit which will be held from October 12 to October 14 in the national Capital during the morning hours. People have been advised to use public transport to help decongest roads and avoid any inconvenience. (HT Photo)

In an advisory issued on Wednesday, the Delhi traffic police has stated that the summit meetings will be held at the Yashobhoomi complex (India International Convention and Expo Centre) in Sector 25 Dwarka.

The advisory issued states that the traffic movement will be regulated from 7am to 10pm on all the three days at Akbar Road, Sardar Patel Marg to Dhaula Kuan flyover, Mehram Nagar area near the airport, Palam flyover, Ulan Batar road, Panchsheel Marg and Teen Murti Marg and Dhulsiras Chowk.

Also Read: Canada to attend G20 Parliament Speakers Summit; Germany, Argentina will skip

Commuters going to railway stations, hospitals and ISBT should leave with sufficient time in hand so as to accommodate possible delays on the route, the advisory read.

The accommodations for the visiting dignitaries have been arranged at Leela Palace near Netaji Nagar, Taj Mahal hotel at Man Singh road, ITC Maurya Hotel at SP Marg, Tal Palace hotel at SP Marg, Roseate house and JW Marriot at Aerocity.

A senior police official said that on Thursday, the delegates will proceed to Yashobhoomi in the morning from their respective hotels and will return in the evening.

On October 13, they will leave from their hotels to Yashobhoomi in the morning and will come back to their place of stay and in late evening they will leave for Parliament house and will return to their hotel. On October 14 morning, delegates will leave for Yashobhoomi in the morning and return in the afternoon. The delegations will start leaving for airport from the evening of October 14 up to October 15, the official added.

People have been advised to use public transport to help decongest roads and avoid any inconvenience.

Commuters are requested to cooperate with the police in making this summit a success, the document read.

The P20 Summit is the meeting of the speakers and heads of legislatures of G20 member countries and guest countries to explore how Parliaments might effectively advance global governance, bringing a parliamentary perspective to governance challenges and solutions towards addressing them.

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A massive fire broke out in a factory located near the Peeragarhi Metro Station in Delhi early Thursday morning. Over two dozen fire tenders from the Delhi Fire Department have been rushed to the scene to combat the blaze. Fire erupts in a factory near Peeragarhi Metro Station in Delhi.(PTI / video screengrab)

The fire brigade received information about the blaze around 4:00am.

The factory, located near Peeragarhi metro station, is engaged in shoe-related work.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and it is unclear whether there have been any casualties or injuries as a result of the blaze.

This is a breaking news story, and further updates will be provided as soon as more information becomes available.

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PRAYAGRAJ: Agreements reached during the Global Investors Summit-2023 held in Lucknow from February 10 to 12 are now finally ready to give impetus to business activities in Prayagraj. Business worth more than  80 billion is set to start in just next seven months , as per officials. (Pic for representation)

As many as 91 companies which signed agreements at the Investors Summit are now ready for the ground-breaking ceremony here, having made investments worth around 80.30 billion. The plants and units of these firms would be formally inaugurated in the proposed ground-breaking ceremony set to be held after Diwali, informed district officials.

With plants and set-ups of these companies becoming fully operational by year end, employment will be available to 13,217 people in the district. At present, the industries department had started preparations for the ground-breaking ceremony of the plants and units set up by these firms in Prayagraj, the officials added.

The work of implementing the agreements reached at the Investors Summit in February is progressing rapidly. After the agreement, business worth more than 80 billion is set to start in just next seven months and the ground-breaking ceremony of their plants and units will take place soon, said Sharad Tandon, deputy commissioner (industries), Prayagraj.

The special thing is that out of 80.30 billion worth of investments of which ground-breaking ceremony will be held soon, more than a quarter worth 23.54 billion is going to be invested in the housing sector. After that, investment of 20.53 billion is in the field of infrastructure and industrial development. Investment of 10.75 billion is in the field of alternative energy and of around 6 billion in the field of transport all of which together are expected to provide a never before fillip to the business scenario in Prayagraj region, officials maintain.

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A proposed mosque coming up in Ayodhya district of Uttar Pradesh will be named after Prophet Muhammad, an umbrella body of mosques announced on Thursday after a meeting of clerics in Mumbai. A blueprint of the proposed mosque in Dhannipur (Sourced)

The mosque to be built by the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation Trust on land allotted in Dhannipur village in compliance with the Supreme Court directives in the 2019 Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title verdict, which paved the way for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Also read: Ram Mandir Trust urges these people not to visit Ayodhya on Jan 22 consecration day

The upcoming mosque will be called Mohammed Bin Abdullah Masjid, said the All India Rabta-e-Masjid, an organisation of mosques across the country.

The mosque site is located around 22km away from the original location of the Babri Masjid, which was brought down on December 6, 1992.

On Thursday, around 1,000 clerics of various Muslim sects met in Mumbai to finalise the design of the proposed mosque.

The Dhannipur mosque will be named after Prophet Mohammed-Bin-Abdullah, and its design will be inspired by ancient Islamic architecture. Pune architect Imran Sheikh will oversee its construction, said Zufar Farooqi, chairman of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board who attended the meeting in Mumbai.

He said, The dimensions of the mosque would soon be shared, and we hope it would turn out to be one of the most beautiful mosques of the world. The best thing about the new design is its traditional looks.

Farooqi said a target had been set to collect more than 300 crore for the construction of the mosque, its hospital, kitchen and library.

We had prepared the blueprint for the collection of funds. It is hoped that the drive to collect funds will be successful. We will start construction of the mosque as soon as funds are collected, he said.

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Family first seems to have become a lasting credo for the Samajwadi Party when it comes to electoral politics and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls are unlikely to be any different despite charges of parivarvaad (dynastic politics) frequently hurled at Uttar Pradeshs principal opposition party. This time, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is likely to contest the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat (HT File Photo)

At least six members of the SPs first family  the Yadavs -- are likely to contest the parliamentary polls and the party has zeroed in on seats for four of them and is looking for suitable seats for two others. While these are considered VIP seats of the Samajwadi Party, the SP would first declare candidates for the BJPs VIP seats.

We will declare candidates on the VIP seats of the BJP by Navratri (mid-October), Akhilesh Yadav said on October 1.

Seats such as Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Lucknow are considered BJPs VIP seats.

Before this, the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019) had five members of this political family-- SP founder late Mulayam Singh Yadav, his daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav, and his nephews Dharmendra Yadav and Akshaya Yadav and grand nephew Tej Pratap Singh Yadav.

This time, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav (the MLA from Karhal in Mainpuri) is likely to contest the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat, Shivpal (an MLA) from Azamgarh, Dimple will defend Mainpuri, and former Firozabad MP Akshay Yadav, son of SP Rajya Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav, will contest the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat.

Notwithstanding all the parivarvaad criticism heaped by the rivals, family members have been the best bet for the SP in the Lok Sabha polls since 2014. The SP won five seats in the 2014 polls, all Yadav family members. In 2019, it again won five seats, of which two seats were won by Yadav family members.

The party is looking for suitable seats for former Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav and former Mainpuri MP Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, people familiar with the matter said.

The search for a seat for Dharmendra Yadav has begun as the party may or may not field him from his former constituency Badaun, where the current MP is BJPs Sanghmitra Maurya, the SP general secretary Swami Prasad Mauryas daughter.

We are working with the mindset that he (Akhilesh) will contest the polls from Kannauj. There is no official announcement yet, but he dropped emphatic hints more than once that he will contest from here, said the SPs Kannauj district president Salim Khan.

Kannauj is the only district (other than the home district of Etawah) that Akhilesh has visited so frequently since the 2022 U.P. assembly polls.

He visited Kannauj more than half-a- dozen times since then, Khan added. Akhilesh started his electoral career in Kannauj in 2000 by winning a bypoll there and then won two general elections from the seat.

Similarly, Shivpal Yadav, Akhileshs party colleague in the U.P. assembly, has hinted, more than once in Azamgarh, that he will contest Azamgarh, if the party asks, and he too visited the constituency at least five times since the 2022 assembly polls.

There is no speculation about Dimple as she will defend her Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency, which she inherited from her late father-in-law Mulayam and won it in the bypoll held in December 2022.

As for Akshaya Yadav, Shivpal Yadav had said in Firozabad last month: This time, I will ensure his victory.

It was Shivpal, according to his own and Akhileshs admission, who was responsible for Akshayas 2019 loss. Amid the Yadav family feud back then, Shivpal had contested the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat as a Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia candidate in 2019. He had bagged 91,000 votes and came third, but also caused Akshayas defeat by a margin of mere 28,000 votes. Back in the SP fold after a political reconciliation, he now has promised to undo the electoral damage.

If Dharmendra Yadav does contest the Badaun Lok Sabha again seat in an attempt to wrest it from the BJP, his chances of victory have been brightened by the fact that former Congress leader Salim Iqbal Sherwani--the four-time Badaun MP--is now in the Samajwadi Party.

As the Congress candidate in 2019, Salim Sherwani had bagged 50,000 votes and Dharmendra lost the seat by 18,000 votes to the BJPs Sanghmitra Maurya.

Samajwadi Party vice-president Kiranmoy Nanda already held a meeting in Lucknow last month to review the partys preparations for the Badaun seat in Dharmendras presence.

The party is also looking for a suitable seat for Tej Pratap Singh Yadav who had won the Mainpuri seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha bypoll when Mulayam vacated the seat to retain Azamgarh. Tej did not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when Mulayam retained Mainpuri.

Its only natural for a former legislator or a legislator to contest the next polls, isnt it? Wheres the problem? asked a senior SP leader.

Samajwadi Party secretary Rajendra Chaudhary said: The biggest parivarvaad is in the BJP.

Akhilesh Yadav, too, on several occasions had called the BJP the biggest parivarvaadi party at public events and even on his social media handles.

FACTORS FAVOURABLE FOR YADAVS

M-Y factor: All the seats that the Yadavs are likely to contest have been traditionally their strongholds with a strong Muslim-Yadav (M-Y) vote-bank in the constituencies.

PDA factor: Now that Akhilesh has attempted to scale up the M-Y factor to include the PDA (pichada, dalit, alpsankhyak--backward, Dalit, and minorities) under his social engineering formula for the 2024 polls, the party assumes that it will add to the advantage on M-Y high-density seats.

INDIA alliance: The SP is now part of the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc of opposition parties for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The party is certain there will only be a triangular contest in Uttar Pradesh among the BJP, the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party, which has chosen to remain non-aligned.

The SP will get the support of the Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal, all the Left parties, the Janata Dal (United) and a few others. None of the alliance partners will seek seats that the Yadav family members are looking to contest.

THE YADAV FAMILY IN LEGISLATURES

The 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019) had five Yadav family members: Mulayam Singh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav, Akshaya Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav. At the same time, Akhileshs uncle Ramgopal Yadav was in the Rajya Sabha, Akhilesh Yadav was in the U.P. Legislative Council while Shivpal Yadav was in the U.P. Legislative Assembly. In all, there were eight Yadav family members in Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha, besides both the houses of the U.P. legislature.

Currently, there is one Yadav family member each in the Lok Sabha (Dimple Yadav) and Rajya Sabha (Ramgopal Yadav), two in the U.P. assembly (Akhilesh and Shivpal) and none in the U.P. Legislative Council. The SP has only three members in the Lok Sabha currently.

ORIGIN OF PARIVARVAAD

CRITICISM FACED BY SP

Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav entered electoral politics in 1967, winning the Jaswant Nagar assembly seat in Etawah as a Samyukta Socialist Party member. In all, he won the same seat six times after that. After forming the Samajwadi Party in 1992, he entered national politics in 1996 and passed on his Jaswant Nagar assembly constituency to his younger brother Shivpal Yadav. Shivpal had already been Mulayams right-hand man in politics for a very long time and Mulayam did not face any criticism for initiating him into active politics. Shivpal won the Jaswant Nagar seat in his maiden assembly election in 1996. He won the seat six times in a row since then.

The parivarvaad criticism surfaced for the first time when the SP founder member Janeshwar Mishra asked Mulayam to field his son Akhilesh Yadav for the Kannauj Lok Sabha bypoll in 1999. Mulayam was apprehensive as he started facing internal parivarvaad criticism within the party. At this, Janeshwar Mishra convinced Mulayam by saying This is not political parivarvaad, rather it is parivarvaad of struggle. Trust me, he will take the SP way more forward with the struggle.

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Three people, including a Bangladesh national, were arrested by UP anti-terror squad (ATS) on Thursday for allegedly helping illegal migrants from Bangladesh get forged Indian identity documents. They were also charged with encouraging anti-national activities by providing them funds illegally by violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), said senior police officials in Lucknow. For representation only (HT File Photo)

UP Police special director general (special DG), law and order, Prashant Kumar, said that two of the three accused - arrested from Deoband, Saharanpur - were identified as Najibul Sheikh and Abu Hurayara, both residents of 24 Parganas, West Bengal, while the third accused was identified as Adil Mohammed Ashrafi alias Adil-ur-Rehman, a resident of Mirpur, Bangladesh.

He said Adil-ur-Rehman entered Indian territory illegally with the help of the two accused arrested from Deoband and was arrested from Varanasi while travelling to Delhi.

Adil-ur-Rehman was arrested first and the two others were arrested on his revelation. He said that the two had assisted several Bangladesh nationals get forged Indian identities and set up their base in UP and other parts of the country illegally and carry out their nefarious activities, Kumar said.

He further stated that the two arrested West Bengal residents had revealed the names of several Bangladesh nationals, who are staying in UP and India illegally and more arrests are likely to follow. He said the two accused also confessed their involvement in human trafficking across the porous India-Bangladesh border and helping them in their illegal stay in the country.

After sneaking into India, several Bangladesh nationals first got their forged Indian identity cards prepared on the fake address of Khanka, Assam, and thereafter, shifted to live in U.P.s Deoband town in Saharanpur district, where Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic seminary and one of the largest Islamic institutions of India, is located, said another police official privy to the development.

He said the trio has been sent to jail after booking them under multiple charges of fraud, cheating, impersonation, violations of Foreigners Act and Passports Act in the FIR lodged against them at UP ATS police station in Lucknow.

He said other central agencies like the National Investigation Agency have been informed about their arrest for further investigation.

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The special task force (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government, on the directions of the Supreme Court, has started to probe into the irregularities in the awarding of land compensation amounting to 91.81 crore in Noida. Its officials on Thursday collected records and files pertaining to the matter, besides holding a meeting at the Sector 6 office. The Supreme Court order on October 5 came in a case in which a former legal officer of Noida authority was accused of wrongfully sanctioning a compensation of  7.28 crore in a land acquisition case, 22 years after it stood paid. (Representational image)

SIT members -- chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Revenue Hemant Rao, Meerut division commissioner Selva Kumari, and additional director general of police ( Meerut Zone) Rajeev Sabharwal -- discussed the details of the case with Noida authority CEO Lokesh M and other senior officials.

The case pertains to wrongful claims for compensation, to the tune of 91.81 crore, from village Gheja Tilaptabad located along Noida-Greater Noida Expressway.

The Supreme Court order on October 5 came in a case in which a former legal officer of Noida authority was accused of wrongfully sanctioning a compensation of 7.28 crore in a land acquisition case, 22 years after it stood paid.

The top court observed that besides this case, the state government was also not probing 12 other instances of wrongful claims, which were revealed by the Noida authority in its affidavit filed before the court in April this year. The court said a probe by an independent agency would be necessary to ascertain the involvement of higher-ups in the matter.

The bench of justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta had said, Who has tied your hands? Where is your accountability? It is not a question of one case alone. We find the state is doing nothing despite Noida authority claiming that money to the tune of 100 crore has been siphoned off. After all, this is public money. It is your duty to find out if there are other cases.

The SIT has been camping in Noida since the past two days. We provided them the required files and also other information pertaining to the case. Now, we will do the needful as per the court order, said Lokesh M, chief executive officer, Noida authority.

In February 2021, the authority came to know that its two law officers -- legal officer Dinesh Kumar Singh and assistant legal officer Virender Singh Nagar -- claimed land compensation in the name of a farmer by using forged documents to siphoning off taxpayers money, said Noida officials.

Subsequently the authority had filed FIR against them but a detailed probe was not conducted.

Till the next date of hearing, the court protected the accused officers from arrest in the first information report (FIR) pending before the Sector 20 police station in Noida.

MULTIPLE CASES OF FRAUD

The acquisition of the land in question was done in 1982 and the owner was paid compensation for his 10-15 bigha land (one bigha is about 850 square metres) at the rate of 10.12 per square yard. Not satisfied with this amount, the owner approached the district court in Ghaziabad for enhanced compensation. In 1993, the court directed the Noida authority to pay the owner at the rate of 16.61 per square yard. This was done and the claim stood settled.

Much later, in 2015, Ramwati, the legal heir of the owner, filed an appeal before the Allahabad high court to reopen the compensation but the same was dismissed.

The same year, the Noida authority agreed to settle all pending claims with landowners by providing compensation at 297 per square yard. According to the police FIR, Dinesh Kumar Singh, along with the other accused, filed an appeal against the dismissal of Ramwatis compensation claim to show the appeal as pending and paid 7.28 crore to settle a claim that was never filed by the claimant in the first place. These two officials followed the same modus operandi in claiming compensation in 11 other instances.

We have questioned the legal department officials as to how this happened and also collected the files related with this scam. We will complete the probe and submit the same before the UP government that will further put it before the SC as per the direction, said a state government official aware of the probe, asking not to be named.

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50-year-old Dulubi Bibi, who was declared an illegal migrant from Bangladesh by a foreigners tribunal in Assams Silchar district in 2017 for name mismatch in multiple voters lists, has been declared an Indian citizen. The District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Cachar provided her free legal support. (HT Photo)

Bibi is a resident of Cachars Udharbond area and she was declared foreigner by the member of Foreigners Tribunal-3 of Silchar on March 20, 2017, during the hearing of a 1998 case under Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunals Act (which was later re-registered under Foreigners Tribunals Act in 2015).

The court found that her name appeared as Dulubi Bibi, Dulabjan Begum and Dulubi Bibi in different voters lists and there were mismatches in her fathers and grandfathers names in those voters lists.

She also failed to establish a connection between her parents names.

Also Read: 83-yr-old declared Indian 10 yrs after son died by suicide over citizenship case

Considering the materials and discussions, we found that these are not trustworthy. The OP (Dulubi Bibi) failed to prove that she and her father were born in India and resided in Indian territory prior to 1971. Hence, I am of the considered opinion that she is a foreigner post March 25, 1971, migrated into India illegally, wrote BK Talukdar, Member FT-3 in Silchar in his order on March 20, 2017.

The tribunal also ordered the police to arrest Bibi and keep her under detention until she is sent back to Bangladesh.

Police arrested her on April 18, 2018, and she was shifted to a detention camp in Silchar.

She was released from the detention centre in April 2020 on bail following the direction of the Supreme Court and in May 2023, she challenged the 2017 FT-order in Guwahati high court.

The District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Cachar provided her free legal support and appointed advocate Mahitosh Das as her lawyer.

Das said that the HC ordered the member of Silchars FT-3 to hear the case again.

During the FTs hearings, Bibi claimed that she had adequate evidence to prove her connection with her grandfather whose name appeared in multiple voters lists before 1965. The FT-3 member was convinced with the materials produced and argument placed before him and declared her as Indian citizen, Das said.

She was declared Indian by the same member, BK Talukdar, who declared her illegal migrant in 2017.

Talukdar in his order dated October 7, wrote that considering the facts and materials submitted and depositions in the earliest and present detailed of 1965, 1985 and 1997 along with the new documents of 1993 and 2015 voters list are to be appreciated without any doubt.

He wrote, According to the report submitted by the superintendent of police (B) with related documents including copies of NRC details of 1966, printed voters list of 1993, Gaon Panchayat Certificate, Elector Voter Identify Card and an affidavit stating that the OP Dulabjan Begum daughter of Sirai Uddin Laskar, Dulabjan Begum daughter of Sirai Mia and Dulabjan Bibi are one and the same person.

In view of that my considered opinion is the OP (Dulubi Bibi) is a citizen of India born out of Indian citizens living in Indian soil, the order stated, Talukdar wrote.

Bibi received the official order copy from FT-3 on Wednesday afternoon.

I am a Muslim woman, and my family is conservative. I used to work as a cook before going to jail. Im not sure if my husband will accept me, or if Ill get any work now. Will the government take responsibility for this damage, she said.

A social activist from Silchar, Kamal Chakrabarty helped Bibi in this process.

After six years, she has been declared Indian based on circumstantial evidence, which means the court considered the local witnesses admissible. If this was done back in 2017, she wouldnt have had to suffer this much, Chakraborty told HT.

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A Chinese cargo vessel carrying cranes was given a water salute by the tug boats on Thursday as it became the first ship to be berthed at the under-construction Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala. The ship will be given the official welcome at a function on October 15.

Though the ship was tugged and brought to the port on Thursday, it will be given the official welcome at a function on October 15 in which chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and union minister for ports and shipping Sarbananda Sonowal will take part alongside a host of MLAs, MPs and bureaucrats.

The vessel Zhen Hua 15, which began its journey from a port in Shanghai, China, at the end of August, reached the outer anchorage near Vizhinjam on Wednesday. It had made a pitstop at the Mundra port in Gujarat on its way to Vizhinjam to offload some cranes there. At the formal ceremony on October 15, the cargo atop the vessel will be unloaded at the port here.

The event on October 15 will be a milestone for the 7,600 crore mega infrastructure project which is being implemented on a public-private partnership (PPP) model with funding from the state government, Centre, and the private partner Adani Ports Private Limited.

The first phase of construction of the port is expected to be completed by May next year and once fully realised, it will be able to handle 75 percent of the countrys transshipment needs. Upon commission, the port will be able to directly compete with neighborhood ports like Colombo in Sri Lanka, Jebel Ali in Dubai and Singapore for international transshipment needs.

Vizhinjam International Seaport will attract the worlds attention on October 15 when it receives the first ship. This is a day of great happiness for both Kerala and India. The worlds biggest ships and vessels will be able to dock at Vizhinjam port with ease and comfort. There is a natural depth of 20 metres here which enables large vessels to come in without any difficulty. In other ports, large-scale dredging has to be done by spending crores of rupees, Keralas ports minister Ahammed Devarkovil had said on Wednesday after inspecting the new berthing terminal at the Vizhinjam port.

Last month, the Kerala government had said that the port would welcome three more ships in October and November.

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LUCKNOW A man in his late 20s suffering from a chronic kidney ailment, earlier this year, sought help from doctors at citys King Georges Medical University. After conducting all the necessary tests in June and July, a kidney transplant was recommended, with his father as the donor. However, the operation couldnt proceed due to an unexpected hiccup -- KGMUs kidney transplant programme had been on hold due to lack of coordination between concerned departments. This has been the situation since April 25, when the last kidney transplant operation took place at the institution. Faced with this setback, the man had to resort to a private hospital for the transplant, incurring higher costs than what KGMU would have charged. Currently, there is a waitlist of half a dozen patients in need of kidney transplants. (HT Photo)

KGMUs kidney transplant programme, which commenced in December 2022, successfully completed five kidney transplant operations by April 2023, with all patients still undergoing follow-up care. When asked about the situation, KGMUs vice-chancellor, Professor Soniya Nityanand, stated, The organ transplant programme is a top priority for us. We are actively working on restarting kidney transplants to support our patients. We have all the necessary infrastructure in place, and any missing elements will be procured for the welfare of our patients.

Currently, there is a waitlist of half a dozen patients in need of kidney transplants. While patients are ready for the procedure, the unavailability of operating theatres and post-operation ICU facilities is hindering further kidney transplants. Plans were made to provide the kidney transplant unit in the Department of Urology with two operating theatres in the Centenary Hospital building, which boasts eight operating theatres on the first floor and as many on the second floor. However, this issue remains unresolved.

KGMU holds the distinction of being the pioneering centre for cadaveric organ donations in Lucknow. Numerous organ transplants have taken place using organs retrieved from brain-dead patients at KGMU, benefiting patients both on-campus and at institutions such as PGI and medical centres in New Delhi.

In India, over two lakh people require kidney transplant operations each year, with more than two thousand patients in Uttar Pradesh awaiting such surgery at any given time. While those who can afford it seek private healthcare options, others must wait for opportunities within government healthcare setups.

Find the reporter on X -- @SaigalGaurav

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? Apenas arribo a Stuttgart, Alemania, la presidenta Dina Boluarte anuncio que ha dispuesto que el avion presidencial se traslade a Tel Aviv para rescatar a nuestros compatriotas que se encuentran en Israel. #UnidosTodo pic.twitter.com/zwSMYZ4E8e
PUNE: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made it mandatory for all higher educational institutions in the country to provide all basic information on their websites. Earlier, many such institutions were found not providing all their basic information to students and parents. Hereon however, these institutions will be required to furnish basic information on their website/s such as information and ranking of institute, course fee structure and calendar, hostel, fellowships, scholarships and various schemes. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC)

Hereon however, these institutions will be required to furnish basic information on their website/s such as information and ranking of institute, course fee structure and calendar, hostel, fellowships, scholarships and various schemes. The UGC has also instructed these institutions to update important information on their websites from time to time.

A notification issued by UGC chairman, M Jagdish Kumar, said, Be it students, parents, researchers, government officials, alumni or any other citizen, everyone wants to know some basic information about universities and educational institutions. However, we have observed that even minimal information related to the institution is not available on the websites of many universities. In many cases, the website is not working or updated. Due to this, all students and parents are facing inconvenience and difficulty.

According to the notification, all central-, state-, deemed-, and private- universities of the country and their affiliated colleges will now be required to publish certain basic information on their websites. This includes information about the institute and its ranking, syllabus, fees, calendar, hostel, fellowships, scholarships, and announcements, the notification stated.

About the UGCs decision, professor Mohan Surya, a city-based senior education expert, said, It is really important to get basic information about any university or college for students. And mostly it is noticed that colleges do not give the information properly, so the UGC instructions are appreciated.

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Indian students opt for pharma, AI, finance courses in Ireland

PUNE: Pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence (AI) and finance courses are among those preferred by Indian students in Ireland. In addition to these specialised programmes, Indian students are increasingly favouring courses in civil engineering, sociology, big data and management at prestigious higher educational institutions in Ireland, said Barry ODriscoll, regional manager - India and South Asia, Education in Ireland.

ODriscoll was delivering an address at an Education in Ireland higher education fair for students organised by the Government of Ireland in Pune. He emphasised that this educational exhibition provided a valuable platform for students to explore a wide array of academic opportunities available in Ireland. It afforded them the chance to engage with representatives from 18 Irish universities and colleges, showcasing Ireland as an attractive destination for academic pursuits, personal growth, and professional advancement. The event in Pune witnessed a turnout of more than 600 Indian students.

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Bihar DElEd 2023 Result Live Updates: Bihar School Examination Board will release Bihar DElEd 2023 Result in due course of time. The BSEB Deled results when released can be checked by all appeared candidates on the official website of BSEB at secondary.biharboardonline.com. bihar board deled 2023 result live updates: BSEB deled results, direct link, cut offs at secondary.biharboardonline.com(Santosh Kumar )

The BSEB DElEd Joint Entrance Test examination was conducted from June 5 to June 15, 2023 across the state at various exam centres.

Once the results will be announced, the Board will start the counselling process. The counselling dates and other related details will be released for candidates who want to take admission in government and private D.El.Ed colleges across the state. Follow the blog for latest updates on results, direct link, cut offs and other details.
The underlying pressure on students to always excel in their exams at times takes a mental health toll. Even after studying for long hours, managing time effectively and scoring best in their test papers, students are always under constant pressure on what will be the final result which naturally brings a lot of stress. Studying under such pressure can invariably interfere with their ability to concentrate and impact the result. (HT File Photo)

Looking at recent times, studying under such pressure can invariably interfere with their ability to concentrate and impact the result. This has incessantly given rise to the need to integrate mental wellness into the curriculum.

With competition increasing rapidly in the education sector, there is a need to focus on effective learning techniques amidst the perennially evolving curriculum and pedagogies. In the process of making learning easy and effective for students, teaching the art of staying calm can contribute a lot to elevating the mental wellness of students.

It is important to understand that inculcating calmness in students cannot be achieved overnight. It requires regular monitoring and inculcation of realistic and strategic studying plans that are aimed at steering the students to excel with flying colors, while not compromising on mental wellness. We should adopt some practices as part of our daily activities that will elevate the mental well-being of the students and contribute immensely to their productivity.

Breaking free from the pattern of comparison

Students are often susceptible to falling prey to the vicious cycle of comparison, largely due to societal pressures and expectations. It is imperative to make them understand that every person comes with their unique capabilities. '

Hence, a positive thinking attitude should be instilled in them, where they are not only taught to recognise their strengths but also encouraged to embrace their imperfections. Being cognizant of ones strengths can help in a great way to ace the exams. Working on their strengths can help students develop a strong hold on the respective topics which can increase their chances of attempting questions in any format.

Encouraging transparent communication among students

Children should be taught to speak their hearts out, no matter how small the matter is. They should be encouraged to seek help from teachers, and elders whenever they are disturbed.

Conducting regular interactive activities, and encouraging student participation can go a long way in creating the environment where students can tell even their smallest intimidation and concern without the fear of being judged. This can be the primary step in disintegrating the stigma around mental health among students.

Moreover, such interactions will give a better insight to the teachers about the regular developments of students where they can invariably keep a tap on the state of mind of students. This can help in a great way in the timely recognition of students with a vulnerable state of mind, following which an immediate plan of action can be devised to help the students.

Balancing Boundaries and Cultivating Positivity

In order to protect their mental well-being, children should be refrained from overworking themselves. They should be taught to set achievable goals and appreciate the achievement of small milestones.

Starting with lighter chapters or favorite topics can help boost their morale which can go a long way in keeping the students motivated and drive them to take the difficult topics eventually.

Taking a pragmatic approach to avoid burnout

Instead of chalking out an exhaustive study plan, one should be mindful of the achievable target. Students should break the syllabus into small parts that can be covered over a period of time. Striving to complete everything in a single go will eventually lead to nowhere.

Covering the larger topic part by part can help understand the topic better. Along with this, they should dedicate separate time for revision. Failing to revise at regular intervals of time can account for a wasted effort.

To avoid burning out themselves, students should make it a practice to indulge in light physical exercise every day or practice meditation. Even a 10-minute meditation can work wonders in keeping the mind calm and relaxed. Investing their time in a hobby can also be fruitful.

While encouraging them to be vocal about their thoughts is imperative, there is also a need to nurture a progressive environment that always motivates the students and accepts their weaknesses at the same time to help them scale their performance with time.

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Kerala's Literacy Mission poster girl Karthyayani Amma passed away at the age of 101 at her residence in Alappuzha. She was the oldest learner under the Literacy Mission in the state. Karthyayani Amma was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Learning for the promotion of distance education among 53 member countries.(PTI File)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his grief and condolences on her demise.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Karthyayani Amma, who made history by becoming the oldest learner under the State Literacy Mission. She served as an inspiring role model for many, showing unwavering determination to pursue education despite challenges. Her demise is a significant loss to our literacy movement, which helped shape modern Kerala. Heartfelt condolences, Kerala CM posted on X.

In August 2018, Karthyayani Amma took an examination alongside 40,362 other people, as part of the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority's Aksharalaksham ("Million Letter") programme and secured 98 out of 100 marks at the age of 96.

In 2020, she was the recipient of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian award for women. She was also appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Learning for the promotion of distance education among 53 member countries.

Amma, who grew up under circumstances where she could not study and became literate at the age of 96, is a symbol of determination, said Kerala's General Education Minister V Sivankutty.

Karthyayani Amma, a widow and mother of six hailing from Alappuzha's Haripad municipality in Kerala, swept the streets outside temples in her village to bring up the children. She always pushed her boundaries to keep learning and has been an inspiration to many women.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amity University Noida campus organized its 6th annual technology conference INFINITY 2023 on the theme Digital transformation for futuristic businesses: Emerging technologies leading growth and sustainability. Amity University Noida campus organized its 6th Annual Technology Conference 'INFINITY 2023'.(Handout)

According to Amity University, the conference was inaugurated by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology & Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, who interacted with the students during fireside chat and answered their queries.

For young students, who are looking at their future plans, there is no clear-cut roadmap to success and there will be many opportunities which one may get but they need to choose carefully," said Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Students have unprecedented opportunities now in the digital era, as compared to earlier times and also have great responsibility towards the country. The approach of the government is to have absolute citizen participation in policy-making," he added.

Technology is a great enabler and very important for economic development, at the same time, it has its threats and challenges since they can be misused for negative acts. Students must become technology savvy, irrespective of the profession that they choose but they must learn to use it in a productive way. Do not look only for a corporate career, create your own corporate, become entrepreneurs and do service to the nation," said Prof (Dr) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University Uttar Pradesh.

 INFINITY 2023 will showcase academic and corporate viewpoints, research work and various panel discussions. The conference will act as a platform for eminent speakers from industry, academia and government to share their experience and insights which will be of immense benefit for the participants since the distinguished speakers will be sharing their knowledge and experience with the students, said Prof (Dr) Sanjeev Bansal, Dean FMS, Director Amity Business School, the press release mentioned.

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Akshay Kumar is set to reunite with former co-star Raveena Tandon and has talked about it in a new interview. Speaking with the news agency ANI, Akshay has said he is looking forward to the shoot of Welcome to the Jungle which brings them together onscreen after almost twenty years. (Also read: Akshay Kumar reveals why he got Canadian citizenship in the first place) Raveena Tandon to reunite with Akshay Kumar after 20 years for Welcome to the Jungle.

Akshay told the news agency, "We're doing a film called 'Welcome to the Jungle' for which we will begin shooting soon. And that song is a brilliant song and even Tip Tip Barsa Paani also. We've done maximum hit films together and I am looking forward to starting the shoot (of Welcome to the Jungle) after a long long time and we will be together on the same screen."

Akshay and Raveena onscreen

Akshay and Raveena have worked together in hit films such as Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Mohra. Former costars and ex-couple, Akshay and Raveena have also featured together in popular songs Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani. They were last seen together in Police Force An Inside Story in 2004.

Akshay and Raveena

Raveena and Akshay started dating in 1995 and got engaged in the late 90s. They later parted ways for reasons that they have not talked about. While Akshay went on to date, and later marry Twinkle Khanna in 2001, Raveena married businessman Anil Thadani in 2004.

Talking about the broken engagement earlier this year, Raveena had told ANI, We were a hit pair, during Mohra, and even now, when we bump into each other socially, we all meet, we all chat. Everyone moves on. Girls have been changing their boyfriends every week in colleges, but one engagement that has broken is still stuck to my head, I dont know why. Everyone moves on, people have divorces, they move on, whats the big deal.

Akshay's new films

Most recently seen in Mission Raniganj which is currently running in theatres, Akshay has an interesting lineup of films, apart from Welcome to the Jungle. He will be reprising his role of a top cop for Rohit Shetty's next film in his hit franchise. Titled Singham Again, the film features him as Sooryavanshi in a special appearance. Ajay Devgn, Deepika Padukone, and Kareena Kapoor Khan play the lead roles in the film that will also feature Ranveer Singh as Simmba in a guest appearance.

He also has the Hindi remake of the Tamil drama Soorarai Pottru in the pipeline. The film is set to hit the theatres in February 2024. He will also be seen in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with Tiger Shroff. The next film in his hit comic franchise, Housefull, is also in the pipeline. Akshay recently announced a film on India's airstrike on Pakistan. Titled Sky Force, the film is directed by Sandeep Kelwani and Abhishek Kapur.

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Scarlett Johansson is all praise for Pamela Anderson for rejecting popular beauty standards and walking down the path of accepting her natural looks sans makeup. Scarlett Johansson(REUTERS)

Recently, 56-year-old star Anderson attend Paris Fashion Week without makeup. In an interaction with Popsugar, Johansson hailed Anderson's decision as a powerful message for women.

I think it is definitely different to see somebody thats in the public eye, a woman in the public eye, go to a fashion show or big event with no makeup on. Its just very different from what were used to, said Johansson.

Its a powerful message for women to see that, whether they follow suit or whatever the effect is, in the zeitgeist. Its powerful for women to see other women rejecting standard beauty norms, she added.

Anderson's makeup free look has stirred quite a storm. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram to applaud the model for breaking stereotypes. Curtis hailed Anderson's actions as the start of a "natural beauty revolution".

"THE NATURAL BEAUTY REVOLUTION HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN! @pamelaanderson in the middle of fashion week with so many pressures and postures, and and and, this woman showed up and claimed her seat at the table with nothing on her face. I am so impressed and floored by this act of courage and rebellion," posted Curtis on Instagram.

ALSO READ| Ryan Reynolds opens up on mental health, says his little rituals keep him grounded

Meanwhile, Anderson spoke to Vogue France and provided insight into how the makeup free look came along during her attendance at the Paris Fashion Week.

I didnt come to Paris Fashion Week and think Im not going to wear any makeup, said the supermodel.

Something just came over me and I was dressing in these beautiful clothes and I thought, I dont want to compete with the clothes. Im not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room, explained Anderson.
Around 230 people will be the first Indian nationals to fly back from Israel under Operation Ajay, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday, adding that the Indian Air Force (IAF) could also be roped in to bring Indians back home from the war-hit country. Aftermath of a scene where a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Ashkelon in southern Israel on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Also Read | Operation Ajay: First batch of Indians to fly back from Israel on Thursday

A charter flight will reach Tel Aviv today later in the evening. It is expected to get 230 passengers onboard. We have all options, but the role of IAF can't be ruled out, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters in a weekly briefing.

The flight is likely to land in India on Friday morning, Bagchi added.

On Wednesday, the government announced Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of Indian citizens who wish to come home from Israel, which is engaged in a conflict with Hamas, the Gaza-based terrorist group, since October 7, when Hamas terrorists crossed over to Israel, killing scores of citizens and taking hostages.

Also Read | What is Operation Ajay? How Indians stranded in Israel will be brought back

Bagchi, meanwhile, further stated that so far, the ministry is yet to hear about any Indian casualty arising out of the conflict.

He also urged 18,000 of his compatriots currently living in Israel to follow advisories issued by the Indian embassy, which functions out of Tel Aviv.

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In an attempt to woo Other Backward Class (OBC) voters in upcoming elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 29 candidates from other backward classes (OBCs) out of the 85 it is named so far. Candidates for five seats are yet to be declared by the party and it is likely that the number of OBC candidates could reach 32. HT Image

Of the 85 seats, 29 are reserved for scheduled tribes (ST) and 10 for scheduled castes ( SC). Interestingly, the BJP has named 30 ST candidates. In the 2018 election, the BJP fielded 28 OBC candidates and the Congress, 26. The Congress won 18 of these seats while the BJP could win only four. This time, the BJP is confident that its OBC candidates will do well.

We focusing on OBC voters since in the last election, a big chunk of OBC voters voted for the Congress. This time, they are inclined toward us, said a state BJP leader who asked not to be named.

The Congress has promised a caste enumeration exercise akin to Bihars if it returns to power in the state -- a move aimed at attracting OBC votes with the implicit promise of proportionate reservations. In Bihar, the survey showed that 63% of the population was made up of OBCs.

In Chhattisgarh, OBCs account for 43.5% of the states population, according to a government affidavit filed in the high courtin May this year in a case related to increase in reservation in jobs and admissions in higher education institutions. The number is based on a OBC survey conducted in the state in 2022, whose findings have not been declared.

In the coming elections, the BJP has given tickets to 16 upper caste candidates-- including seven Thakurs, five Brahmins, three from the Agrawal community and one Jain. In 2018, it fielded 21 upper caste candidates across all 90 seats.

Among OBCs, the highest number of tickets were given to Sahus (10 candidates ) followed by Kurmi s(8), Rajwasr (2), Yadavs ( 2), and Kalaars ( 2) . Sahus constitute about 12% of the states population and are most influential OBC group, political workers say. In the 2018 election, the BJP gave 14 tickets to the Sahu candidates.

The veracity of the politics of Chhattisgarh becoming increasingly OBC-Centric can also be checked if one takes a closer look at the leadership that is coming up in both the main parties in the state. While in the Congress, apart from the stature Baghel has attained, the second line of leaders, the likes of Devendra Yadav and Umesh Patel are gaining grounds within the party. BJP too had to respond to the changing dynamics of the CGs politics by appointing Arun Sao as the State President of the party. Sao comes from the OBC category. Another BJP leader and Ex-IAS Officer OP Choudhary has also risen quick through the ranks of the BJP. Choudhary also comes from the same category and is a known face across the lengths and breadths of the state, said Harsh Dubey , a political commentator based in Chhattisgarh.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritesh Mishra State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years. ...view detail
The Central government has upgraded the security cover of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar from the 'Y' category to 'Z', official sources said on Thursday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar(PTI)

The decision was taken by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs based on a threat analysis report from the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

The MHA, following the IB report, has directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to take charge of his security which was so far being covered by the Delhi Police.

Jaishankar, 68, is currently being provided round-the-clock security cover by an armed team of the Delhi Police under the 'Y' category.

Now, the External Affairs Minister will be protected by the CRPF personnel under the larger 'Z' security cover that includes over a dozen armed commandos during movement and stay of the protectee round the clock in shifts across the country, the sources added.

The CRPF is currently providing VIP security cover to 176-odd protectees comprising Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and 24 protectees who got the facility in the recent past on a temporary basis considering the upcoming elections. (ANI)
???? #AgendaPresidencial | En su primer dia de agenda de trabajo, la presidenta Dina Boluarte sostendra importantes reuniones con autoridades y empresarios en Alemania. ???????? pic.twitter.com/DUHO920gEV
The Delhi High Court on Thursday upheld a trial courts order challenging the conviction of Ariz Khan Indian Penal Code and Arms Act for killing inspector Mohan Chand Sharma during the 2008 Batla House encounter. Ariz Khan

A bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Amit Sharma reduced the death sentence punishment, awarded by the trial court, to life imprisonment.

In view of the ongoing discussion, Judgement of conviction is UPHLED. The sentence of death imposed by is however not confirmed. The order dated March 15 is modified to that extent. The appeal is allowed in part, the apex court said.

The trial court, in 2021 March, found Khan's offence to be under the "rarest of rare" category and hence warranted the maximum sentence of capital punishment. Khan filed a plea challenging the verdict and his punishment in the high court in 2021 July through advocates MS Khan and Qausar Khan.

Inspector Sharma, belonging to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, was killed in action on September 19, 2008, in south Delhi's Jamia Nagar during the encounter, which took place six days after serial blasts ripped through the national capital killing at least 30 people and leaving more than 100 injured. Acting on a tip-off, the police team, which included Sharma, had raided a flat in the Batla House locality.

Khan, 37, who fled after the encounter, was pronounced as a proclaimed offender (PO) in 2009, and was arrested on February 14, 2018. He was convicted by the trial court on March 8, 2021, and sentenced to death on March 15.

Additionally, the trial court also imposed a fine of 11 lakh on Khan, directing him to "immediately" release 10 lakh for the deceased officer's family. Calling his offence "despicable," the court observed that the convict "has forfeited his right to live." It also called him an enemy of the state.

Shahzad Ahmed, another convict in the case, was arrested on January 1, 2010. In July 2013, Ahmed was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and appealed against the verdict in the high court. The appeal, however, is still pending in the court. Ahmed died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in January this year after being admitted for over two weeks.

What was the 2008 Batla House Encounter?

The Batla House encounter took place in the Okhla area of the national capital leading to the death of Sharma and injuring two other officers.

Khan, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh, is also said to be the mastermind of the 2008 serial blasts across Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh in which 165 people lost their lives and 500 people were injured.

Six days after the serial blasts, an encounter took place at L-18 Batla House in Delhis Jamia Nagar between a raiding team of the Delhi Police special cell and suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives. Khan, Shahzad and Junaid fled after Sharma lost his life.

Two suspected terrorists, Atif Amin and Mohammed Sajid, were killed in the shootout and one suspected IM operative, Mohd Saif had surrendered.

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It was late, but Ramgobind (42) and Shyam Lal (48) were in their fields abutting Raghunathpur village on Wednesday night, watering the crop. At 9.50pm, they heard a bang, and there were sparks in the sky. They were afraid, and thought at first, it was a bolt of lightning. But there was no rain, and the sparks kept flying. They rushed towards the direction of the sound, the Raghunathpur railway station, to find a mangled train in front of them. Stranded passengers at Raghunathpur railway station. (PTI)

Also read: Fault in tracks likely cause of derailment, says initial probe

All we could hear was screams, and virtually the entire train had toppled. The electric wires had snapped, and there were so many sparks that they were visible from a distance. We could not understand what to do, so we called the Gram Raksha Dal (a village volunteer organisation) that arrived with whatever they could find, Ramgobind said.

Ramgobind and Shyam Lal were among the first responders to the derailment of 23 bogies of the North East Express that left four people dead and at least 30 injured.

News spread quickly, and more and more people from villages nearby streamed out to help. Some came with water, others with ladders, ropes and torches. The government rescue teams came after an hour-and-a-half. The darkness made everything difficult. We tried to help people crawl out of the bogies, some of which had completely tilted. There were children inside, and everyone was confused and in a daze. Some who were uninjured joined us in helping others, Shyam Lal said.

Dhiraj Kumar, headmaster of an upgraded high school in Raghunathpur said, Villagers from Kaithi, Rajpur, Baswar and Pokhraha all reached the spot, carried injured passengers on their bikes and rushed to a nearby community health centre. The local police, the district magistrate and superintendent of police arrived within an hour of the accident that took place at 9:51pm, he said.

Inside the train, Kartik Yadav from Satna in Madhya Pradesh said most passengers were either asleep or preparing to, but that there was some foreboding of the accident. There were jerks in the train for 10 to 15 minutes before the train stopped. They were so strong that many fell from their berths. When it stopped, it became clear that there was an accident. Many were trapped under luggages, the lights went off. It was dark and scary, he said.

Another passenger who escaped unhurt said, Everything inside the bogies  slippers, toys, edible items, cold drinks  were all thrown around. When the train jerked and wobbled, there was panic and people tried to rush out. We were afraid of what would happen next, like a fire.

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Bihar Train Accident Today Updates: Four people died and around 70 people were injured after the express train en route to Kamakhya junction in Assam from Delhi derailed in Bihar at 9.35 pm on Wednesday. The derailment took place near Raghunathpur station of the Danapur division of the East Central Railway. Five trains have been cancelled so far while several diverted as restoration of the tracks is currently underway. The Patna-Puri special, Sasaram-Ara passenger special, Ara-BBU special, Patna-DDU special and Patna-BXR trains were cancelled and 12 trains were diverted in the down direction on the mainline, including Kota-Patna express, Delhi-KYQ express, CSMT-Asansol express, Magadh express, LTT-DBRG express after the accident.

The accident came just over four months after a horrific triple train tragedy in Odisha's Balasore district in June claimed 296 lives.
Amid a diplomatic row, Speaker of the Canadian Senate Raymonde Gagne has decided to skip the Presiding Officers' Summit of Parliaments of G20 nations that began here Thursday. Canada speaker Raymonde Gagne(File)

Gagne had earlier confirmed her presence at the Parliament-20 meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

"The Canadian Speaker is not attending the Summit. Schedules keep changing," Parliamentary sources said.

Earlier, Birla had said he would raise "several issues" in his informal talks with the Speaker of the Canadian Senate.

India, Canada relations have nosedived after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations last month linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India had dismissed the allegation as "absurd".

The P20 meeting got underway on Thursday with Parliamentarians of G20 nations participating in the Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), a movement proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
NEW DELHI: Canadian Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagne on Thursday stayed away from the G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit (P20) hosted by India amid a diplomatic row between the two countries, though Ottawa had earlier confirmed it would attend the meet. Canadian Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagne (X)

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla told reporters on Friday last week that Canada had confirmed its participation in the P20 being held in the Indian capital on October 12-14. Two people familiar with developments on the Indian side said Gagne had decided to skip the meet but didnt give details.

The reasons for Canadas decision not to attend the P20 could not immediately be ascertained. When external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was asked about the matter at a regular media briefing, he only said the Canadian speaker could not attend.

The development comes amid continuing tensions between India and Canada over Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus accusation last month that Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India dismissed the allegation as absurd. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India, was gunned down by unidentified men in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey town.

Also Read: Diplomatic conversation with India remains private, says Canada foreign minister

India-Canada ties, already under strain over the activities of Khalistani elements based on Canadian soil, were taken to a fresh low by Trudeaus allegation. Both sides expelled a senior diplomat each and New Delhi subsequently sought parity in diplomatic presence through a significant reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats in India.

While inaugurating the pre-summit event of P20 on Thursday Birla said no country is untouched by the effects of climate change. Addressing the delegates, he said Indias ancient books illustrate that those who protect nature will also be protected by nature.

Referring to the impact of climate change on humankind, he said, In the changing context, there is no country in the world that remains untouched by the ill effects of climate change. We are aware of the challenges faced by the world. Therefore, firm efforts in this direction are the need of the hour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the concept of LiFe (lifestyle for the environment) to address these issues, he said. Mission LiFe inspires everyone to adopt a lifestyle that includes reducing, reusing and recycling. There is a need to adopt a lifestyle that does not harm the environment, Birla added.

The environment and climate change are related to the mutual future of the world and environment-related topics have been placed at the centre of discussions at the P20, he pointed out. I think that this summit in the mother of democracy will help in giving new directions to new parameters. Environment and climate change are related to the mutual future of the world. So we have kept the environment-related topics at the centre of discussion at the P20 summit, Birla said.

There has been extensive discussion in Parliament on lifestyle for environment, and laws have been enacted when necessary, but merely making policies and laws is not enough to address this problem. ...We all need to contribute collectively by bringing a change in our daily routine, he said.

PM Modi will inaugurate the session on Friday. The P20 is a forum of speakers and presidents of parliaments from G20 countries that discusses and shares best practices on issues of global importance.

In line with the theme of Indias G20 presidency, the theme of the P20 Summit is Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future. The event is being attended by speakers of parliaments of G20 member states and guest countries. The Pan-African Parliament will take part in this summit for the first time after the African Unions inclusion in the G20 in September.

The thematic sessions will cover issues such as transformation in peoples lives through public digital platforms, women-led development, accelerating SDGs, and sustainable energy transition.

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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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Smriti Kak Ramachandran Smriti covers an intersection of politics and governance. Having spent over a decade in journalism, she combines old fashioned leg work with modern story telling tools. ...view detail
The sharp divergence of opinion by two women Supreme Court judges on a married womans plea to abort her 26-week foetus has sparked off a serious debate on womens reproductive rights and decisional autonomy. The 2021 amendments reflected a progressive legislative outlook, seeking to remove a raft of anomalies of the old law. (Representative file image)

The split verdict came on Wednesday, virtually putting on hold the courts October 9 order, allowing the termination of the advanced pregnancy citing vulnerable physical and psychological health of the 27-year-old mother of two.

Following an extensive hearing on Wednesday, justices Hima Kohli and BV Nagarathna could not come to an agreed decision whether the foetal heart should be stopped in supreme acknowledgment of the womans reproductive right and the womans peculiar position.

The Union of India too stepped in to emphasise that reproductive rights are subject to a legal regime and that a mothers right cannot be allowed an absolute march over an unborn childs right to life when the State was obligated and willing to provide all possible medical, psychological and social assistance, including adoption.

Also Read: Supreme Court orders AIIMS to defer termination of 26-week foetus

As manifestation of these rights are intrinsically linked to a legal regime in India, which also caveats the exercise of the right to terminate pregnancy and puts an embargo on the core principle of self-determination and autonomy, an understanding of the balance that the law seeks to create in the sphere of abortion rights, dependent on a spectrum of situations, becomes imperative.

While the Supreme Court appears divided and the wait for a final word by a larger bench puts the request for termination in limbo, its pertinent to put a lens on whats at stake and the impact the ruling may have on the countrys jurisprudence on the right to abort.

The legal regime:

India has a central law called The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, which permits licensed medical professionals to perform abortions in specific predetermined situations as provided under the legislation.

Before the enactment of the MTP Act in 1971, the medical termination of pregnancy was governed by the Indian Penal Code (IPC), with Sections 312 to 318 forming a part of this segment. Most of these provisions aimed at criminalising abortions, except where the procedure was done in good faith in order to save the womans life. The IPC provisions failed to make a distinction between wanted and unwanted pregnancies, making it extremely onerous for women to access safe abortions.

In 1971, the MTP Act was enacted by Parliament as a health measure, humanitarian measure and eugenic measure, to decriminalise abortion in certain defined circumstances and under due supervision of registered medical practitioners.

Under the 1971 law, a pregnancy could only be terminated under Section 3(2) if it did not exceed 20 weeks. It laid down that the pregnancy can be terminated on the opinion of one doctor if it is done within 12 weeks of conception and two doctors if it is done between 12 and 20 weeks.

Abortion was permitted only when the continuance of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman, the discovery of foetal abnormalities, immediate necessity to save the womans life and cause grave injury to the woman mental or physical health (including rape and failure of birth control measures). The Act added that a married woman can terminate an unwanted pregnancy too, but no such procedure shall be carried out on any woman without her consent. Thus, if the mother had not crossed 20 weeks of gestation, she would have been eligible for an abortion under the MTP Act.

While Section 312 in the IPC makes intentionally causing a miscarriage a crime punishable with an imprisonment up to seven years, medical professionals carrying out abortions in accordance with the MTP Act are exempt from prosecution.

In 1994, the Indian government brought in the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act with the objective of avoiding abuse of the MTP Act for sex selection and to prohibit pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex determination leading to female foeticide. The law is also aimed at regulating pre-natal diagnostic techniques for detecting genetic abnormalities and other disorders. The violators can get up to five years in jail apart from monetary penalties under the PCPNDT Act.

The 2021 amendment to the MTP Act:

The 1971 law failed to meet the needs of the changing times and advancements in medical science as several women, including rape survivors, mentally incapacitated and women undergoing unwanted pregnancies due to contraceptive failures, started approaching courts to seek approval for terminating their pregnancy beyond the prescribed gestational period of 20 weeks.

The Act was finally amended in 2021. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill stated that womens access to legal and safe abortion should be ensured to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity caused by unsafe abortions.

The amendments permitted abortion up to 20 weeks following an opinion of one registered medical practitioner (RMP).

Abortion was allowed up to 24 weeks for certain classes of women, defined under the MTP Rules.

Rule 3B permitted abortion up to 24 weeks for women due to change of marital status during the ongoing pregnancy (widowhood and divorce), besides in cases of survivors of rape, victims of incest, and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women and minors).

Significantly, the 2021 amendment replaced the word by any married woman or her husband with the words any woman or her partner, bringing within the fold of the law pregnancies outside marriage institutions.

The Amendment Act also included unwanted pregnancies due to the failure of contraceptives as ground for abortion up to 20 weeks.

Recent Supreme Court judgments breaking new grounds:

The 2021 amendments reflected a progressive legislative outlook, seeking to remove a raft of anomalies and maladies of the old law. The amendments unequivocally increased the time-period within which an abortion can be legally conducted and also brought to its fold women outside marital relationship, extending the right to reproductive care.

Even as the new law sought to remedy various situations, the intervention of constitutional courts became indispensable because abortion cannot only be a medico-technical issue to be determined within the conspectus of law, but it is more about a decisional and ideological struggle, triggering a contest among various actors - the family, the State, motherhood and womens autonomy.

A spate of recent cases before the Supreme Court has underscored the complex labyrinth of laws and the barriers faced by women in accessing safe and legal abortions.

The Supreme Court, in Suchita Srivastava and Anr Vs Chandigarh administration (2009), asserted that a womans right to make reproductive choices is also a dimension of personal liberty, as understood under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

It is important to recognise that reproductive choices can be exercised to procreate as well as to abstain from procreating. The crucial consideration is that a womans right to privacy, dignity and bodily integrity should be respected, it held.

In Z Vs State of Bihar (2018), the top court recognised the disastrous effects of unnecessary delays and lack of promptitude in the attitude of authorities when dealing with termination of pregnancies, as it rebuked the negligence and carelessness of the authorities in failing to terminate the pregnancy as permitted by law.

In X Vs Union of India and Meera Santosh Pal Vs Union of India (both in 2017), Mamta Verma Vs Union of India and Sarmishtha Chakrabortty Vs Union of India (both in 2018), the Supreme Court permitted the termination of post 20-week pregnancies after acknowledging the risk of grave injury to the mental health of a pregnant woman by carrying the pregnancy to term.

Expanding the scope of the MTP Act, the top court in Shaikh Ayesha Khatoon Vs Union of India (2017) and Vaishali Pramod Sonawane & Another Vs Union of India (2019), ruled that a pregnancy can be terminated after 20 weeks also in situations when there is a substantial risk, if the child is born, it would suffer from such physical and mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

In XYZ v. State of Maharashtra (2021), a minor was allowed to terminate her pregnancy in the 26th week after considering her socio-economic condition, and the impact of the continuation of pregnancy on her mental health.

The predominant understanding of the concept of a family, both in the law and in society, was questioned by the Supreme Court in Deepika Singh Vs Central Administrative Tribunal (2022), noting that familial relationships may take the form of domestic, unmarried partnerships or queer relationships. The judgment highlighted the necessity of legal recognition to enable individuals in non-traditional family structures to access safe abortions under the MTP Act.

The legal regime around the abortion law in India further witnessed a watershed moment in September 2022 when the Supreme Court stamped out artificial distinction between married and single women and granted a judicial recognition to marital rape for the purposes of abortion, marshalling womens right to reproductive and decisional autonomy.

The question before the court was the distinction the rules framed under the MTP Act made between married and unmarried women.

The MTP Rules allowed married women to abort up to 24 weeks on account of mental anguish, rape and health complications, among others, but unmarried women could not do so.

The issue arose after a 25-year-old single woman, hailing from Manipur, sought termination of her 22-week pregnancy out of a consensual relationship.

Rendering a purposive interpretation to the law, the apex court ruled that rights of reproductive autonomy, dignity, and privacy under Article 21 give an unmarried woman the right of choice on whether or not to bear a child, on a similar footing of a married woman.

The landmark verdict, authored by justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, said that interpretation of the MTP Act must consider the social realities of today and not be restricted by societal norms of an age which has passed into the archives of history.

While the September 2022 judgment constructed a marker for judiciary that seemed ready to adapt and evolve to keep step with changing social norms and unfolding of new sets of rights to ascertain dignity, privacy and bodily autonomy for women, the latest stand-off in the highest court of the land tests the judicial and jurisprudential boundaries while putting the reproductive rights of women at the centre of a public disputation all over again.

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With the docking of the first ship on Sunday, the under-construction Vizhinjam International Seaport, the countrys first deepwater container transshipment terminal, near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala will mark a significant milestone. The Vizhinjam port, when fully realised, will have the capacity to cater to 75 percent of the container transshipment needs of India. (File Photo)

The first phase of the 7,600-crore mega infra project, which began in 2015, is expected to be completed by May 2024 and when fully realised, the port will have the capacity to cater to 75 percent of the container transshipment needs of India. Officials say that the port will be able to handle container vessels with up to 24,000 TEU capacity. Around 800 metres of berth and nearly 3,000 metres of breakwater is being readied as part of the first phase of construction.

The Vizhinjam port is being built on a public-private-partnership (PPP) mode with funding from the Kerala government, Centre and the Adani Ports Private Limited being the developer. In fact, it is the first greenfield port project to receive viability gap funding from the government of India.

Located just 10 nautical miles from the international shipping line and gifted with a natural depth of 18 metres, the port has the potential to give a tremendous boost to the countrys maritime trade which is currently suffering due to the lack of a major port in southern India. The depth at Vizhinjam is more than that of any competing port in the country and is either more than or equal to that of international competing ports like Singapore, Colombo and Salalah in Oman. This will enable large container vessels traversing the international shipping routes to seamlessly access the port at Vizhinjam. The strategic location of the port, being the only one in India to be so close to the east-west shipping channel, is a major asset.

Once fully commissioned, the port can directly compete with neighbouring ports like Colombo in Sri Lanka, Jebel Ali in Dubai and Singapore which handle a major share of the international transshipment needs currently. It will enhance Indias ability to handle gateway and transshipment cargo and at the same time establish a strong supply chain network in Kerala. Around 3 million TEUs of cargo containers bound for India are transshipped annually at ports like Colombo and Singapore currently, a statistic which can be cut back significantly through the emergence of the Vizhinjam port.

The port will have the capacity to handle cargo of 1 million TEUs by the end of phase-1 which will rise to 3.3 million TEUs by phase-3. It also enjoys good connectivity through the four-lane NH66 and the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram, located just 16 kms away. There is a proposal for a dedicated freight corridor on rail which will deepen the supply chain network.

Though the port is set to be realised soon, the journey for those behind it has not been easy. Initially planned to be completed in just 1,000 days when it commenced construction in 2015, the port has suffered major delays due to various reasons.

The arrival of Cyclone Ockhi on the Thiruvananthapuram coast in 2017 brought with it severe damage to the two dredgers that had been deployed as part of the port project. The very severe cyclonic storm along with the heavy rainfall in 2018 that caused massive floods in Kerala resulted in the work on the port halted for months. Subsequently, in 2021, another Cyclone Tauktae in the Arabian Sea triggered massive tidal waves that broke off a portion of the breakwater, a critical component of the port in Vizhinjam. The Covid-19 pandemic that lingered for nearly two years was also a major factor contributing to the delay.

If the natural disasters werent enough, in 2022, the port project was beset with massive protests by local fisherfolk spearheaded by the Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese of the Latin Catholic Church. The fisherfolk claimed that the breakwaters erected as part of the project resulted in sea erosion in surrounding villages, leading to loss of lives and property. For months, the agitation halted the work on the port and on November 27, it took a dark turn with a mob of locals attacking the Vizhinjam police station and its personnel. The agitation was finally called off a week later following talks between chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the fisherfolk groups.

After multiple delays, the ambitious Vizhinjam port is finally headed towards commissioning next year, promising major progress in the countrys maritime trade sector.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a platform for youth, Mera Yuva Bharat or MY Bharat, a phygital mechanism to connect youth across the country with appropriate government, private and NGO schemes for volunteering opportunities, Union minister Anurag Thakur said on Wednesday. HT Image

The platform will be launched on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

All youth-related schemes by the government will be listed on the platform and it will improve the efficiency of service delivery of the government, a government press release said. It will be a one-stop platform ... to engage with the youth, the release said, adding that through this platform, a centralized youth database can be created, which can be used in the national interest.

Addressing reporters on the Cabinet decision, Thakur, the minister for youth affairs and sports, said that about 400 million Indians are between 15 and 29 years of age.

When asked whether there will be any financial incentives or entrepreneurship opportunities available on the platform, Thakur said this is for youth who are not driven by money.

Here, no one is given money to work and the aim is to promote volunteerism, he said. MY Bharat will be used for leadership development amongst the youth.

MY Bharat platform will help fulfil the voluntary community participation aspect of the National Education Policy, 2020, Thakur said. The platform will also list opportunities for youth parliament, and national and international exchange programmes.

The minister also explained the difference between the platform and other existing youth programmes, saying: The Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan is only for rural youth. MY Bharat is for all youth across rural, semi-urban, urban, national and international areas.

The Nehru Yuva Kendras were set up in 1972 to provide personality and skill development opportunities for rural youth.

Thakur, however, did not specify how much budget has been allocated for the physical aspect of MY Bharat, and what this physical aspect would look like.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Thursday commuted the death sentence to terror group Indian Mujahideen operative Ariz Khan to life imprisonment in the 2008 Batla House encounter case in which decorated Delhi Police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma lost his life. The Delhi high courts verdict came on an appeal by Ariz Khan and a reference for confirmation of the death sentence awarded by the trial court to Ariz Khan. (HT File Photo)

A bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Amit Sharma upheld Ariz Khans conviction under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act but didnt confirm the death penalty. In view of the ongoing discussion, judgement of conviction is upheld. Sentence on death imposed by the trial court is, however, not confirmed. The order dated March 15 (2021) is modified to that extent. The appeal is allowed in part, the court said.

The high courts verdict came on an appeal by Ariz Khan and a reference for confirmation of the death sentence awarded by the trial court to Khan.

The shootout took place six days after five serial blasts occurred in Delhi on September 13, 2008 in which at least 30 people were killed and over 100 injured. Inspector Sharma of the special cell had got a specific tip-off about the Indian Mujahideen terrorists involved in the blasts hiding in a flat in Batla House, Jamia Nagar. Sharma with his raiding team of officers reached the spot where a shootout broke out. While Sharma and other police officials sustained injuries, two terrorists  Mohammad Atif Ameen and Mohammad Sajid  were killed. Sharma succumbed to his injuries later.

Ariz Khan and Shahzad Ahmad managed to flee but were later nabbed. While Ahmad, arrested on January 1, 2010, was sentenced to life in prison in July 2013, Khan was arrested in 2018 from the Indo-Nepal border and convicted in March 2021.

Additional sessions judge Sandeep Yadav, who handed out the death penalty to the 37-year-old Khan, also known as Junaid, said in the March 2021 verdict: Protection of society and deterring criminals is an avowed object of law and this is required to be achieved by imprisonment of appropriate sentence. The most appropriate sentence for a convict like Ariz Khan will be the death penalty. Interest of justice will be met if the convict is awarded the death penalty.
Referring to the Congress's resolution extending support for the "rights of the Palestinian people" amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lambasted the party on Thursday, pointing out it only mentioned Palestine, not "terrorism, Hamas and hostages". He also used Pakistan's reference to attack the Congress. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressing a BJP rally. (PTI file photo)

"It was the responsibility of the Congress party to condemn the terror activity...In the resolution of Congress, there is nothing about terrorism, Hamas and hostages. It only mentioned Palestine...Hence the question comes to our mind whether the Congress party makes its government in India or Pakistan," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Over 1300 people in Israel have died since October 7, when hundreds of Hamas terrorists attacked the country by a barrage of rockets and ground assault. According to Times of Israel, 3300 are injured. The death toll is likely to rise as 350 people are in serious condition and 28 are critical. Over 100 people from Israel are in the captivity of Hamas.

The Congress Working Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, said on Monday that it reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to 'land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect'.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's 'minority vote bank politics' attack on Congress over Palestine support

"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 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," the resolution said.

Reacting to the resolution, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said on Monday, "Congresss CWC resolution on the Israel war is a classic example of how Indian foreign policy was hostage to Congresss minority vote bank politics, until Modi happened".

Congress leader Rashid Alvi had said supporting Israel could sour India's relations with Gulf countries.

On October 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a solidarity message to Israel on X, saying he was deeply shocked by the terrorist attacks.

The resolution came a day after the Congress condemned the attacks on Israel.

The Congress on Sunday condemned the attacks on the people of Israel.

"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 leader Jairam Ramesh had written on X.

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Press Release

October 12, 2023 Bringing healthcare closer to communities, Bong Go joins groundbreaking of a Super Health Center in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat On Monday, October 9, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a Super Health Center in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. The initiative is part of his ongoing efforts to make government healthcare services more accessible to Filipinos, particularly those residing in marginalized communities. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go underscored the critical role that Super Health Centers play in delivering quality healthcare, particularly in remote and underserved areas. These centers are strategically designed to meet the basic health needs of these communities, thereby bridging the healthcare gap. "Ipagpatuloy natin na ilapit ang serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap na walang matakbuhan kung hindi ang mga government health facilities," said Go. "Para sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan, napaka-importante po nito dahil iyan po ang kanilang lalapitan po talaga. The more we should support it, the more na mag-invest po tayo sa ating healthcare system," he added. The Super Health Centers will offer a range of healthcare services, including database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray, 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, through which remote diagnosis and treatment of patients are made possible. One of the key objectives of the Super Health Centers is to enhance the early detection of diseases. Go said that timely detection is a crucial factor in effective treatment and management, and by providing accessible healthcare services in communities like Esperanza, he believes that more lives can be saved through early diagnosis and intervention. "Ang kagandahan nito early detection at magagamit ito sa pagbigay ng primary care at pagkokonsulta, and it will help decongest the hospital dahil pwede na pong gamutin dito. At ilalagay po ito sa mga strategic areas. Ilalagay nila sa isang barangay kung saan po'y makaka-access 'yung mga kababayan natin," Go pointed out. Go, who was declared an adopted son of Sultan Kudarat that day, expressed his gratitude towards the collaborative efforts of key government officials in ensuring that their constituents have access to quality health care. Specifically, he acknowledged Governor Pax Ali Mangudadatu, Mayor Charles Federic Plotena, and Vice Mayor Lalaine Villaruel-Suhanda for their leadership. Additionally, he commended the collective contributions of board members from the 1st and 2nd districts, councilors, and other community leaders. During the event, Mangudadatu praised Go's commitment to public service. The governor described him as a friend and a senator who has fully supported the people of Sultan Kudarat. "Ang ating pasasalamat, pagmamahal, at suporta ay 100% para kay Senator Bong Go," Mangudadatu emphasized. He also lauded Go's leadership qualities, describing him as a leader who serves from the heart. "Suportahan natin siya, mahalin natin siya, at pagkatiwalaan natin ang kanyang tapang at malasakit dahil alam natin na sa ilalim ng kanyang (pagseserbisyo), ang sambayanang Pilipino ay magiging masagana," he said. Plotena likewise spoke highly of Go's contributions to the local community, expressing his gratitude for the Super Health Center project, describing it as essential for the growing population of Esperanza. "Ako po at ang ating mahal na governor, kami po ay malapit sa ating mahal na Senator Bong Go. Kami po ay naging magkaibigan bago pa po naging presidente ang ating mahal na Tatay Digong," Ploteno said. "Maraming salamat, Senator Bong Go, sa patuloy mong pagmamahal sa bayan ng Esperanza," he said. The senator was instrumental in pushing for adequate funding to ensure that more Super Health Centers are established across the country. Some 307 Super Health Centers were funded in 2022 through Go's initiative and with the help of the Department of Health (DOH) and fellow lawmakers, and 322 more Super Health Centers in 2023. In addition to supporting the Super Health Center in Esperanza, Go also backed the funding for the establishment of two Super Health Centers in the city of Tacurong. Furthermore, he supported the establishment of a Super Health Center in each of the towns of Bagumbayan, Columbio, Isulan, and Palimbang. Meanwhile, Go urged beneficiaries to visit the nearest Malasakit Center located at Sultan Kudarat Provincial Hospital in Isulan if they require medical assistance for their healthcare needs. "One-stop shop, nasa loob ng hospital ang Malasakit Center. Lapitan n'yo lang po iyan, para sa inyo 'yan, para sa Pilipino 'yan, para sa mga poor and indigent patients, tutulungan kayo n'yan," he added. The Malasakit Center houses government agencies, namely, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DOH, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation that offer medical assistance programs. Since the first Malasakit Center was established in 2018, there are now 159 centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH. Go also principally sponsored and is one of the authors of Republic Act No. 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. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go has been instrumental in securing funds for a wide range of projects across various municipalities in the province. These projects include the concreting of roads in Esperanza, Bagumbayan, Isulan, Lambayong, Lebak, Lutayan, and Tacurong City. Additionally, he supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Columbio and Isulan, as well as the procurement of ambulance units for other towns. On the same day, Go conducted on-site inspections of several projects he advocated for before, including the road concreting initiative in Esperanza, which extends from Junctional National Highway-Barangay Saliao to Purok Masagana Farm-to-Market Road. Later, he extended his inspection to Makilala in Cotabato, where he checked on additional projects he has supported such as Makilala Public market and the new municipal hall. During these visits, he also distributed aid to underprivileged residents and oversaw the turnover of supplies to the 39th Infantry Battalion. Later that day, Go attended the oath-taking ceremony of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Sinaglaya Class of 2002 in Davao City.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with the US Senior Adviser for Caucasus Negotiations, OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Louis Bono.

PM Pashinyan and Bono discussed the process of normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and emphasized the need for its continuity, the Prime Ministers Office said in a readout.

The sides exchanged views on the quadrilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of France, the Chancellor of Germany and the President of the European Council held in Granada. Issues related to the humanitarian situation and the steps to solve the challenges resulted by the forced displacement of more than 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan as a result of the policy of ethnic cleansing were discussed. Issues related to the Armenian-US relations were touched upon, the Prime Ministers Office said.
The INDIA alliance has accused WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube of aiding "the communal hatred campaign of the ruling BJP" and suppressing Opposition leaders' content. In a strongly worded letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg and Google CEO Sunder Pichai, the bloc of 28 political parties alleged the social media platforms were culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India. Mark Zuckerberg and Sunder Pichai. (Bloomberg)

"You may be aware of the recent exposes by the Washington Post newspaper about the role of WhatsApp and Facebook in aiding the communal hatred campaign of the ruling BJP. Specifically, the article cites details of how this vile, communally divisive propaganda is carried out using WhatsApp groups by BJP members and supporters." the letter reads.

Citing another WP report, the letter claimed the newspaper carried evidence of what it called blatant partisanship by Facebook and Google's executives towards the government.

It is very clear from these exhaustive investigations by the Washington Post that Meta is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India. Further, we have data that shows algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders' content on your platform while also promoting ruling party content, it said.

The letter, shared by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on X, declared that such partisanship by a private foreign company "is tantamount to interfering in India's democracy".

It wrote an identical letter to Pichai whose firm Google owns YouTube.

"In light of the upcoming national elections in 2024, it is our earnest and urgent plea to you to consider these facts seriously and ensure immediately that Meta's operations in India remain neutral," it added.

In an article titled 'Inside the vast digital campaign by Hindu nationalists to inflame India', the Washington Post attributed BJP's electoral success to what it called "a massive messaging machine built on top of U.S. social media platforms".

In another article on October 8, titled 'A toxic mix of tech and hate threatens Indias democracy', it accused social media platforms of becoming "conveyor belts for hate under Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

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NEW DELHI: India on Thursday described the assault mounted by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on Israel as a terrorist attack and said it has always backed direct negotiations for establishing a sovereign state of Palestine that can exist side by side with Israel. Rockets fired from the Gaza Strip are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defence missile system over the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 12. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, after Palestinian Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack (AFP)

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi outlined Indias position on the surge in violence following the Hamas attacks last weekend in response to questions at a regular media briefing. India, he said, believes there is an obligation to observe international humanitarian law alongside a global responsibility to fight all forms of terrorism.

Bagchi provided details about Operation Ajay, Indias effort to bring back Indian nationals wishing to leave Israel, and said the first batch of citizens is expected to return to the country on a charter flight by Friday morning. More flights will be arranged as Indians register themselves with the mission in Tel Aviv and express a desire to return home.

Responding to a question on whether India perceives Hamas as a terror group, Bagchi said: As you are aware, the designation of a terrorist organisation under Indian laws is a legal matter...I think we have been very clear that we see this as a terrorist attack.

Bagchis remarks were the first official reaction from the external affairs ministry on the situation in Israel following the Hamas attacks, which killed 1,200 Israelis and injured nearly 3,000. Another 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in strikes on the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military.

Elaborating on Indias position on the Palestine issue, he said, Our policy in this regard has been long-standing and consistent. India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders, side by side at peace with Israel.

He added, There is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law. There is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had denounced the terrorist attacks and told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that India stands in solidarity with Israel.

The position initially taken by the Indian side had perturbed diplomats from several Arab countries, as New Delhi had made no reference so far to the Palestinian issue. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, which have normalised relations with Israel, were among the very few Arab countries that named Hamas while condemning the attacks.

Other Arab states such as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia didnt even refer to Hamas in their statements on the violence, which they attributed to continuing violations and attacks by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians, including repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islams third holiest site.

Bagchi said the first charter flight under Operation Vijay will reach Tel Aviv on Thursday night and is expected to return with up to 230 Indian citizens on Friday morning. Further flights are yet to be finalised as the situation is evolving, he said.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar chaired a meeting on Thursday to assess the situation and prepare to bring back citizens who wish to return. The ministry is in close touch with the mission in Tel Aviv and the representative office at Ramallah, as well as Indian missions in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Syria and Egypt.

Bagchi said all options are being kept open, including the use of Indian Air Force aircraft to bring back Indian citizens from Israel. A situation where there is a conflict going on is of concern. We request Indians to follow advisories from the mission in Tel Aviv, and be cautious, take precautions, and reach out to the embassy if they need assistance, he said.

People familiar with the matter said close to 7,000 out of the 18,000 Indian nationals in Israel had so far registered with the mission in Tel Aviv, but only a small percentage had expressed a desire to return home. There is a limited number of Indians, mainly caregivers, in the conflict zones close to Gaza. A majority of the 1,000-odd Indian students have not expressed a desire to return, the people said.

This is the situation as of now, but things can change if the situation worsens, one of the people said.

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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
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday said it will push ahead with a proposal for parity in diplomatic presence with Canada amid a row over the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, even as it dismissed Ottawas contention that the move is not in line with the Vienna Convention. Canada has more diplomats in its missions in Indian cities than India has in Canada because it operates a larger visa processing operation (AP File)

The Indian side sought parity in diplomatic presence soon after Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian government agents were linked to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, designated a terrorist by New Delhi, in Surrey town in June. India has dismissed the accusation as absurd and both sides expelled one senior diplomat each soon after the row erupted.

Media reports citing unnamed Canadian officials said India has sought the withdrawal of 41 out of 62 Canadian diplomats posted in the country by October 10. The Indian side has not confirmed these figures.

Let me stress that we remain committed to what we said  that is, ensuring parity in our diplomatic presence. We remain engaged with Canadian authorities on the modalities of achieving that, external affairs ministry Arindam Bagchi told a regular media briefing.

From our part, I can assure you that everything India is doing is in compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, he said.

Bagchi didnt deny a report in the Financial Times about a secret meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly in Washington. We have been in touch with the Canadians at various levels. Regarding any specific interaction, I dont have any particular information to share.

The Financial Times on Wednesday cited an unnamed Canadian official as saying that Ottawa hasnt withdrawn any diplomats from New Delhi before the deadline of October 10. The report added that India has cited the Vienna Convention to justify its call for parity, but this argument was rejected by Canada.

Canada has more diplomats in its missions in Indian cities than India has in Canada because it operates a larger visa processing operation that mainly caters to relatives of the roughly 1.6 million Canadians of Indian origin.

When Bagchi was asked about Trudeau raising Nijjars killing, in the context of the rule of law, during conversations with world leaders on the attacks in Israel, he replied: I dont know how this helps address the core issue.

The core issue is the space given by Canada to terrorists and criminal elements. Bagchi added, As regards upholding international conventions in conversations, we would urge Canada to take more seriously their international obligations to provide security to our diplomats and their premises.

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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
India on Thursday described the assault mounted on Israel by the Hamas militant group, which rules the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, as a terrorist attack, and said it has always backed direct negotiations for establishing a sovereign state of Palestine that can exist side-by-side with Israel. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar(PTI)

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi outlined Indias position on the surge in violence, following the Hamas attacks last weekend, in response to questions at a regular media briefing in the national capital. India, he said, believes there is an obligation to observe international humanitarian law, alongside a global responsibility to fight all forms of terrorism.

Also read: 'Seriously': Former Israeli envoy 'shocked'; Shashi Tharoor clarifies statement on Hamas

Bagchi also provided details about Operation Ajay, Indias effort to bring back Indian nationals who wish to leave Israel, and said the first batch of citizens is expected to return to the country on a charter flight by Friday morning. More flights will be arranged as Indians register themselves with the mission in Tel Aviv and express a desire to return home.

Responding to a question on whether India perceives Hamas as a terror group, Bagchi said, As you are aware, the designation of a terrorist organisation under Indian laws is a legal matter...I think we have been very clear that we see this as a terrorist attack.

Elaborating Indias position on the Palestine issue, he said, Our policy in this regard has been long-standing and consistent. India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders, side-by-side at peace with Israel.

He added, There is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law. There is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Bagchis remarks were the first official reaction from the external affairs ministry on the situation in Israel following the Hamas attacks, which killed 1,300 Israelis. Another 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in strikes on the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had denounced the terrorist attacks and told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that India stands in solidarity with Israel.

The position initially taken by the Indian side had perturbed diplomats from several Arab countries, as New Delhi had made no reference to the Palestinian issue so far. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, which have normalised relations with Israel, were among the very few Arab countries that named Hamas while condemning the attacks.

Other Arab states such as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia didnt even refer to Hamas in their statements on the violence, which they attributed to continuing violations and attacks by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians, including repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islams third holiest site.

Bagchi said the first charter flight under Operation Ajay will reach Tel Aviv on Thursday night and is expected to return with up to 230 Indian citizens on Friday morning. Further flights are yet to be finalised as the situation is evolving, he said.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar chaired a meeting on Thursday to assess the situation and preparations to bring back citizens who wish to return. The ministry is in close touch with the mission in Tel Aviv and the representative office at Ramallah, as well as Indian missions in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Syria and Egypt.

Bagchi said all options are being kept open, including the use of Indian Air Force aircraft to bring back Indian citizens from Israel. A situation where there is a conflict going on is of concern. We request Indians to follow advisories from the mission in Tel Aviv, and be cautious, take precautions, and reach out to the embassy if they need assistance, he said.

People familiar with the matter said close to 7,000 out of the 18,000 Indian nationals in Israel had so far registered with the mission in Tel Aviv, but only a small percentage had expressed a desire to return home. There is a limited number of Indians, mainly caregivers, in the conflict zones close to Gaza. A majority of the 1,000-odd Indian students have not expressed a desire to return, the people said.

This is the situation as of now, but things can change if the situation worsens, one of the people said.

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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
A father allegedly killed his elder daughter for having a relationship with a Dalit boy from Bidalur village in Devanahalli taluk of Rural District in Karnataka on Wednesday night, police said. Police said they have arrested the father and an investigation is on. (Representative Image)

According to police, the father, Manjunath (47), owns a chicken shop in Bidalur village. He was allegedly upset about his daughter Kavanas (20) inter-caste relationship and had warned her many times to end their relationship. But Kavana insisted on marrying the boy. After heated arguments at home at night, the father slit the throat of his daughter using a sickle which is used in chicken shop, police added.

It is said that Kavana, studying in second year degree course, belonged to the Nayaka caste, while her lover was from the Scheduled Caste in Yaliyur village of Devanahalli taluk.

Soon after receiving news, we arrested the accused, Vishwanathapura police station inspector Nagappa Ambigere told HT. He said a case has been registered under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and further investigation is underway

Notably, this wasnt the only romantic relationship causing strife in Manjunaths family, as his third daughter was also involved in a love affair, which had recently been a subject of police intervention. Following negotiations with the authorities, the 17-year-old daughter was sent to a government care center when she refused to go home. Police officials in the know of the developments said that she also had an inter-caste affair which was opposed by the family members.

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A 43-year-old taxi driver was killed after being dragged alongside his own car by robbers for at least a kilometre on NH-48 on Tuesday night in Delhi, said police, after a video of the horrific incident surfaced on social media, sparking shock and outrage. Two men were arrested for the murder and robbery, said Delhi Police officers, adding that they boarded the car as passengers. HT Image

Delhi Police registered a case of murder against the suspects, even as investigators were yet to piece together the sequence of events and ascertain how the man got stuck to the car.

The incident, however, triggered memories of a similar death in the Capital on New Years Day this year, when a car hit a 20-year-old woman in Kanjhawala and dragged her body around the area for nearly seven kilometres.

Police identified the victim as Birender Shah, who lived in Faridabad with his wife and five children and drove a taxi for a living. A police van took him to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The victims brother said investigators told the family the car was booked for speeding at Dhaula Kuan around 11pm. However, it is unclear who was behind the wheel, or if the man was being dragged at the time.

The suspects  identified by the police as Mehraj Salmani (33) and Mohammad Asif (24)  were arrested from their hometown Meerut on Wednesday evening and the car recovered from their possession.

The Vasant Kunj North police station was informed on 11.20pm that the grievously injured body of a man was found in a puddle of blood near the NH-48 service lane, which is 9km away from the Delhi airport.

A 51-second video of the incident shows the man, wearing what appears to be a blue uniform, stuck to the right side of a Maruti Swift Dzire bearing a Haryana registration number and being dragged down the busy highway. His right hand appears to be caught in the car. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

The car slaloms through traffic, dragging the seemingly lifeless man along. The video ends with the man being released from the car, which runs him over with its rear wheels. To be sure, it is unclear where precisely on NH-8 the video is shot, though it appears to be a spot about half a kilometre before the Mahipalpur flyover.

Another video shows the mans body lying by the side of the road  his clothes are in tatters, his skin is peeling off and he appears to be soaked in blood.

Deputy commissioner of police (south west) Manoj C said a first information report (FIR) under sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code was registered.

A further investigation is underway, he said.

Shahs two brothers, Nagender Saha and Rajesh Gupta, said the car seen in the video belonged to the victim and that he bought it six months ago. They said he had been working with cab aggregator services since 2010 and was the familys lone breadwinner.

He used to spend all his money on his childrens education and wanted them to do well in life. His eldest daughter is in Deshbandhu College and preparing for the civil services examination, said 40-year-old Nagender Saha, who lives in east Delhis Dallupura.
The National Disaster Management Authority has installed two solar-powered twin-camera, automated weather stations on two high-risk glacial lakes, South Lhonak and Shako Cho in Sikkim, (~15-16,000 feet) between September 6 and 18 this year. The solar-powered twin-camera, automated weather station installed on two high-risk glacial lakes, South Lhonak and Shako Cho in Sikkim(NDMA)

In a statement, NDMA said,"Considering the remote location, harsh climate, terrain and topography and the installation of an unmanned system, considerable preparations were needed to ensure safety and functionality of the Automated Weather Stations (AWS)".



It was a preparatory mission that succeeded in identifying appropriate locations and installing Automated Weather Stations (AWS). In addition, it identified potential locations to install an array of sensors for an end-to-end Early Warning System (EWS) during the next expedition, and suggest potential mitigation measures, the statement added.



A set of camera views and more than 250 weather observations were received daily. However, an equipment at South Lhonak ceased transmission after September 19.



An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) contingent checked the equipment on September 28 as physically stable, but it could not be revived. The Shako Cho equipment continues to transmit daily data.

This GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) Risk Mitigation Programme is sought to be extended to all high-risk glacial lakes in India, the NDMA statement added.

Sikkim floods

At least 91 people have died in the flash floods which took place in Sikkim. The floods occurred in the early hours of October 4 after a glacial lake at south Lhonak burst its banks following torrential rain. The bodies of most people who drowned were carried downstream into West Bengal by the Teesta.



Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters on Thursday evacuated 461 tourists from flash flood-hit towns in North Sikkim, a senior official told PTI.

IAF helicopters carried out six sorties from Lachen, Lachung and surrounding areas and evacuated 264 tourists and 23 locals from there, he said, adding they landed at Pakyong airport.

Another 99 people, including 85 tourists, 12 locals and two army jawans, were airlifted from North Sikkim to Libing helipad near the state capital.

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Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia this year, politician and the 32nd Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Milton Dick has said that the reception he got in Sydney was of a rockstar one. Australian Speaker Milton Dick(ANI)

Lauding the popularity of PM Modi across the globe, Australian speaker Milton Dick, in an exclusive interview with ANI on Thursday, said, "Our PM (Anthony Albanese) visited here, and indeed Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Australia earlier this year. I can't underscore just how important those visits are. We have seen our PM visit twice and a very successful visit by PM Modi to Australia. In my lifetime, I have never seen such a response or such avidly pouring support for a world leader and it was such a privilege for our country to host the Prime Minister."

READ | Australia PM calls Modi boss, US President wants his: Rajnath Singh

"The reception he received in Sydney was really one of a rockstar. Thousands of people turned out. And, if you go to Australia, there are 1 million people of Indian heritage...Not only does that make our country stronger but it makes our link even stronger between India and Australia," he said.

Speaking further on PM Modi's popularity as a world leader, he added, "I think the Prime Minister has worked hard on building those relationships... even our Prime Minister values those friendships as well. I guess it is about ensuring over the last year to year and a half where we have seen ministers visiting from here to India. This is not my first visit to India and I came to India as a newly elected member of the parliament in 2018. It was a very visit for me as a parliamentarian and it shaped my views and values about the Indian economy and the Indian community. And now as the 32nd speaker of the House of Representatives to lead a delegation to India has been the honour of a lifetime."

During his three-day visit to Australia in May this year, PM Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Albanese and also addressed a historic community programme. He also met several business leaders and eminent Australians. Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, the venue for the community event, saw thousands of overseas Indians.

READ | Want to take India-Australia ties to next level, says PM Modi: Report

At the community event, Australian PM Albanese compared PM Modi's mass appeal with that of the famed rockstar Bruce Springsteen, who incidentally is famed among his fans as "The Boss."

The Australia-India relationship is already strong, but both saw the potential for growth and an opportunity for a better future.

PM Modi also thanked the people of Australia, the Government of Australia and his Australian counterpart for the warm welcome and hospitality. PM Modi reassured that the two leaders would work together to strengthen the friendship of the two countries.

The Australian speaker also spoke about the G20 Summit which was conducted under India's Presidency this year.

He said, "I will be discussing important issues as part of presiding officers of the G20 which India has done a brilliant job by hosting this year."

On the question related to SDGs and Climate, he said, "The title of the G20 agenda is one earth, one family, one future ---and I think the unification that we have seen is a result of the G20 conversations that we could walk at the beginning to now, have really dealt with really some important issues...Australia places great importance on G20."

Emphasising on strong bilateral partnership between India and Australia, the Australian politician said that both countries share a love of Democracy, and the ties are emerging stronger than ever.

"Australia and India share a love of Democracy and our parliaments are getting stronger and stronger all the time. We will be looking forward to meeting with Speaker Om Birla-- a speaker of great respect around the region and across the globe...Our relationship has never been stronger or I believe never deeper in its engagement," he said.

Furthermore, he also said that the people-to-people ties between India and Australia are also at their best and that Australia is open to more business with India as the future is strong in the region.

"I think if you look at one specific...-- the economic agreement that was signed last year, and the ongoing work that is ongoing between the two countries around the comprehensive free trade agreement...as negotiations continue...we will see sooner rather than later...We certainly are open for more business in Australia with India...we know the future is strong here in this region and those economic partnerships continue to strengthen the people-to-people relationships," he added.

Notably, the Presiding officers of G20 member countries and invited countries have begun to arrive in New Delhi for the opening of the 9th edition of the G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20 Summit).

The Australian speaker is also in the national capital to participate in the Summit.

The P20 Summit brings together speakers/heads of legislatures of G20 member countries and guest countries to explore how Parliaments might effectively advance global governance, bringing a parliamentary perspective to governance challenges and solutions towards addressing them.
The first batch of Indians is expected to return from Israel on Thursday on a special flight arranged as part of Operation Ajay, which is facilitating citizens who wish to come home following an upsurge in violence since the Hamas attacks last weekend. Aftermath of a scene where a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Ashkelon in southern Israel on Wednesday. (Reuters)

India launched the operation on Wednesday, with external affairs minister S Jaishankar announcing that the government will assist citizens who wish to return from Israel. Special charter flights and other arrangements were being put in place for this, he posted on X.

The Indian embassy in Israel, in another post on X, said it had informed the first batch of Indian citizens who had registered to return about the special flight being operated on Thursday. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights, the mission said.

People familiar with the matter said the mission in Tel Aviv had received requests for assistance from Indian nationals who were stranded in Israel, including tourists. They said that assets of the navy and air force could also be mobilised for bringing back Indian nationals if the need arises.

The people further said Operation Ajay is not technically an evacuation as travel arrangements are being made only for Indians who have specified that they wish to return home.

The move comes at a time when several countries, including Hungary, Poland, Italy and Mexico, have operated special flights to evacuate their citizens from Israel in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and several dozen foreigners over the weekend.

There have been no reports of casualties among the 18,000 Indian nationals living in Israel. The figure includes caregivers, diamond traders, IT professionals and about 900 Indian students.

Also Read: War in the land of lost promises

Reports have said that some 17 Indians are currently in Palestinian areas, including 13 in the West Bank and four in the Gaza Strip, which is currently being targeted by Israeli forces as part of the offensive against Hamas.

Nearly 30 people from Meghalaya, including Rajya Sabha member Wanweiroy Kharlukhi, who were on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem, crossed over to Egypt via a land border crossing after the violence erupted.

Concerns about the security situation have grown after citizens of neighbouring countries lost their lives in the violence. Ten Nepalese citizens were killed at one of the locations attacked by Hamas, while four more were injured and another reported missing. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has said a Sri Lankan woman reported missing is suspected to be dead.

A 24-hour control room has been set up at the external affairs ministry to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine and to assist Indian nationals. Officials from the Indian embassy in Israel met students at Tel Aviv University and a group of caregivers on Wednesday to allay their concerns and to assure them of help.

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In the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel and retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip, two prominent Muslim organizations in India have expressed their concerns and demands for peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, a Patna-based activist group, expressed condolences to the victims of the ongoing war and said it was opposed to any kind of violence. The group further stressed that the dispute should be resolved through dialogue. A Palestinian girl holds two children as she stands on a street in Gaza City on October 12, 2023 as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day.(AFP)

All India Pasmanda Muslim expresses its heartfelt condolences to those killed. We are not in favour of any kind of violence and the organization believes that the current dispute should be resolved through dialogue, the organization said in a statement.

Since this issue is of international level, All India Pasmanda Muslims will support whatever strategy the Government of India will take in the interest of the country, it added.

The Muslim Students Organisation of India (MSO) also issued a statement condemning the attacks on civilians and the hostage-taking of women and children during the ongoing war in the Middle East. It called upon Israel and Hamas to act with restraint and avoid impulsive steps, stressing that the act of violence and associated escalations will not benefit anymore.

MSO is of view that there is a need for dialogue and for negotiations on a two-state solution to resume, and condemned recent attack by Hamas, on innocent civilians, Islam never allowed such barbaric and inhumane act. it stated.

The MSO affirmed that the Palestinian explosion is a result of the continued Israeli occupation and assault on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the annexation of Palestinian lands and provocation of Palestinian sentiments."

It also appealed to the students and youth to not post sensitive and dangerous content on social media that may lead to create communal tension and is against our national interest.

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. In the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Committees on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Migration and Monitoring held joint hearings on the topic "Human rights and humanitarian situation of Karabakh Armenians and Azerbaijan's international obligations, First Channel News reports.

During the discussion at the European Institutes of Strasbourg, Andreas Wissner has been UNHCR's Representative to the European Institutions in Strasbourg, presented facts about the displacement of the population of Nagorno Karabakh. He reminded that 100,632 refugees, including 30,000 children, received asylum in Armenia, which means that one out of every 30 people there is a newly arrived refugee. After the war in 2020, about 35,000 more refugees settled in Armenia.

"Newly arrived refugees are mostly confused and worried about their future. They don't know what will happen to their homes. They don't know if they will be able to return one day. They do not know if their children will have access to education. Most of the refugees have taken almost nothing with them and are in immediate need of basic necessities such as blankets, bedding, medicine, psychosocial support and shelter. Many, both children and adults, have been traumatized and need psychological support. Many are worried about their elderly relatives who could not or did not want to leave their homes and their pets", Wissner said.

He said, the Armenian government has made consistent and commendable efforts to register the new arrivals and meet their growing needs.

The representative of the UN office emphasized the support provided by his organization to Armenia and the Armenian refugees, at the same time, noting that there is a need to continue the support from the international community. He informed that on October 7, a "Refugee Response Program" was presented to organize the fundraising. According to the program, the international community plans to collect USD 97 million to organize support for people. The program is designed to complement the efforts of the Republic of Armenia government and other international actors to support Armenian refugees.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Pithoragarh district Uttarakhand today where he will participate in religious ceremonies at Parvati Kund, followed by interaction with the local people and security forces. Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate, dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth around 4200 crore. File Photo of PM Modi with Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Kedarnath.(@pushkardhami/ Twitter)

Our government is committed to the welfare of the people of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and the rapid development of the state. To give it further momentum, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of many projects in Pithoragarh, PM Modi said in a social media post on Thursday.

There will also be an opportunity to interact with the people in Gunji village here. During this tour, we are also eagerly waiting for darshan and worship at Parvati Kund and Jageshwar Dham of spiritual importance, he added.

Cultural troupes from Uttarakhand's Kumaon region will welcome Modi at several points of a renovated 6-km road decorated with murals and paintings as he travels from the Naini Saini airport to a public meeting venue, reported PTI.

The prime minister is expected to arrive in the village of Jolingkong in the Pithoragarh district at 8.30am. There, he will participate in religious ceremonies at Parvati Kund, seeking blessings from the holy Adi-Kailash, a site known for its spiritual significance and natural beauty.

Around 9:30am, the prime minister is scheduled to reach Gunji village in Pithoragarh where he will interact with the locals and explore an exhibition showcasing the region's art and products. He will also take the time to meet with the dedicated personnel of the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Around noon, PM Modi is expected to arrive in Jageshwar Dham in Almora district, a location perched at an altitude of about 6200 feet and famous for its stone temples.

The significant part of the visit is expected to come at around 2:30 PM when the Prime Minister reaches Pithoragarh. Here, he

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will reach Pithoragarh at around 2:30 PM, where he will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about 4200 crore in sectors like rural development, road, power, irrigation, drinking water, horticulture, education, health and disaster management, among others.

The projects that are expected to be inaugurated will include 76 rural roads and 25 bridges under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The government will also unveil 15 new buildings for Block Development Offices (BDO) in nine districts, strengthening the administrative setup.

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CHENNAI: : Puducherrys lone woman minister S Chandira Priyanga, who resigned on Tuesday, and chief minister N Rangasamy were having problems since last six months, people in the know of matter said on Wednesday. S Chandira Priyanga (File Photo/ANI)

The chief minister sent a letter to the Lieutenant Governor on October 8 seeking to remove her because he was unhappy with her administration and he was receiving several complaints against her, a senior cabinet member close to the chief minister, seeking anonymity, said. Even before she resigned, the chief minister wanted her to be removed, he added.

Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundarajan on Wednesday said the chief minister had informed her six months ago that Priyanga was not good at her job and that there have been no instances of discrimination. He wished for some action to be taken six months ago but I said lets give it time since she is the only woman minister, said Soundararajan. She held important portfolios. He [CM] requested me to remove her [Priyanga] as a minister because he was not satisfied with her work. Her resignation did not come first. What is unfortunate is that she has said caste-based discrimination and I dont see any such instances.

The LG further confirmed that she received a letter from the CM on October 8 seeking Priyangas removal. Procedurally, Ive to accept it and send it to the Centre to endorse it since Puducherry is a union territory. By the time this happened, she knew of the CMs letter and she sent in her resignation yesterday [Tuesday], the LG told HT. I spoke to her six months ago, conveying to her that the CM is disappointed with her work. Though she began her stint well, her attention got deviated. Unfortunately, she did not use this opportunity, which is hard for a woman in politics to get at such a young age.

Priyanga, a Dalit who has raised charges that she faced caste and gender-based discrimination, did not respond to HTs calls and messages.

I could not continue my fight against money power. I didnt know that pride of my Dalit identity was the problem for others. I was being continuously subjected to caste and gender bias, she said in her two-page statement posted on X. I have been targeted continuously, she added, without elaborating on instances of the caste and gender-based discrimination she had faced. She added that she would respond to the criticism by releasing a list of her achievements as a minister in the past two years. While the CM evaded questions from reporters on the purported letter sent on October 8, officials of the Raj Nivas also did not respond. Neither the CMO nor the Raj Nivas has released a statement.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Divya Chandrababu Divya Chandrababu is an award-winning political and human rights journalist based in Chennai, India. Divya is presently Assistant Editor of the Hindustan Times where she covers Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. She started her career as a broadcast journalist at NDTV-Hindu where she anchored and wrote prime time news bulletins. Later, she covered politics, development, mental health, child and disability rights for The Times of India. Divya has been a journalism fellow for several programs including the Asia Journalism Fellowship at Singapore and the KAS Media Asia- The Caravan for narrative journalism. Divya has a master's in politics and international studies from the University of Warwick, UK. As an independent journalist Divya has written for Indian and foreign publications on domestic and international affairs. ...view detail
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday requested the dignitaries who enjoy VIP status and protocols including chief ministers, governors and ambassadors to avoid visiting Ayodhya on January 22, the day of Ram Temple consecration, as the authorities would be busy in the mega event and the trust would not be able to serve them. The under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya (HT Files)(HT_PRINT)

Read here: Ram temple in Ayodhya to be built with special bricks

Trust's general secretary Champat Rai has said that those enjoying protocols and VIP status should not plan any visit to Ayodhya on the big day so that no one faces any kind of inconvenience during the ceremony, which is likely to be attended by PM Narendra Modi.

Instead, the dignitaries should plan their visit when the people from their state will come to the temple. After the consecration ceremony, people from every state of the country will visit Ayodhya from January 26 to February 22 to pay their obeisance to Ram Lalla, he said.

"Any such person who has a constitutional protocol with them is requested to not to come to Ayodhya on the day of 'Pran Pratishtha'. Chief ministers, governors, ambassadors, and anyone who has a constitutional protocol with them, we will not be able to look after them on January 22 and local administration will also not be able to do that," he told news agency ANI.

The construction of the ground floor of the Ram Mandir will be completed by December, and the inaugural ceremony is set to take place on January 22 next year. The temple will be completed in three phases by January 2025.

In an interview to ANI, chairman of Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction Committee Nripendra Misra has said that 70,000-75,000 people can have easy darshan if the temple is open for 12 hours. The temple has 160 pillars on the ground floor and each pillar has 25 iconographical works of different forms.

Read here: Ram temple trust finalises modalities for Jan event

Earlier, the trust had informed that it has spent 900 crore on the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya between February 5, 2020 and March 31, 2023, and still possesses 3,000 crore in bank accounts.

The temple trust appealed to people across the country to light lamps in front of their houses after the sunset on the day of the consecration ceremony. It has also decided to distribute sacred grain rice (akshata), offered to the deity at the Ram Janmabhoomi, to 5,00,000 villages across the country ahead of the consecration ceremony.

(With inputs from agencies)
A seven-judge bench on Wednesday expressed its doubt on the correctness of a Supreme Court ruling in April that held an arbitration clause is void and not enforceable in law if the agreement is unstamped or insufficiently stamped, observing that stamping has nothing to do with validity of an agreement. A Supreme Court bench expresses doubt on the correctness of arbitration judgment of the Court. (ANI)

The requirements under the Stamp Act have nothing to do with validity of a contract but its only on enforceability... An unstamped agreement is not invalid. The law is clear that a non-stamped or an insufficiently stamped agreement cannot be called in evidence...thats all, said the bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud. The bench also comprised justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, Bhushan R Gavai, Surya Kant, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

It added that provisions of the Contract Act will make it clear that any lacuna in stamping of an agreement does not render the document invalid but it can only impact its admissibility as evidence and consequently, its enforceability.

It will be directly contrary to the statute (Contract Act) to hold otherwise. The statute makes it clear that non-stamping wont make it invalid. The cloud on its admissibility can be lifted by paying a penalty or under the procedure prescribed under law, the bench further remarked.

The larger bench is considering a curative petition to overrule the April 25 judgment by a five-judge bench. The April verdict, by 3:2 majority, relied on the 1899 Indian Stamps Act that required certain agreements to be compulsorily registrable or chargeable to stamp duty when it held that a court could go into the aspects of stamping and other compliances before the arbitrator is appointed. According to the majority view, a court is bound to examine the instrument at a pre-appointment stage, and if it is found to be unstamped or insufficiently stamped, the instrument is to be impounded at that stage, declaring the arbitration agreement to be void.

The ruling sparked serious concerns over causing further delays in the appointment of arbitrators by adding one more layer of scrutiny, besides being contrary to Indias pro-arbitration stance.

Experts welcomed the Supreme Courts intervention. First, an arbitration agreement is not an instrument included in the Schedule to the Stamp Act as being chargeable to stamp duty. Second, insufficient stamp duty or non-payment of stamp duty is a curable defect. Therefore, if two parties have recorded in writing their intention to solve disputes by way of arbitration, it should not be blockaded solely on grounds of an alleged defect, which too is curable in nature, Divyam Agarwal, partner, J Sagar Associates (JSA), said.

Agarwal added that holding this to be the position would be detrimental to Indias push to project itself as a pro-arbitration jurisdiction, by presenting arbitration as being a faster and credible alternative to the traditional court-based justice delivery system.

On September 26, the top court preferred a seven-judge bench, citing the limitless uncertainty in the area of arbitration triggered by its April ruling. Having regard to the larger ramifications and consequences of the view of the majority in the NM Global case, these proceedings should be placed before a seven-judge bench to reconsider the correctness of the view of the five-judge bench, the order of reference to the seven-judge bench had stated.

Opening the arguments on behalf of the petitioners seeking review, senior counsel Arvind Datar on Wednesday contended that the majority in the NM Global Case erred in conflating the issue of an agreement being unenforceable with its being void.

The parliamentary mandate under the Arbitration Act is clear that a court does not need to worry about the validity of an agreement but has to only see whether there is an arbitration agreement or not. The purpose of such a provision is to expedite arbitration. Judicial pit stops have to be very limited. The court need not go into the stamping of the agreement at all. It is contrary to the legislative mandate of the arbitration law as well as the Contract Act, Datar argued.

During the proceedings, the top court also clarified that its review of the matter will confine to the stage and the correct forum for deciding the validity and enforceability of an arbitration agreement. The real issue is the stage and the forum where the question of stamping of an arbitration agreement needs to be decided. We are not on whether such an agreement should or should not be stamped, observed the seven-judge bench that will continue hearing the matter on Thursday.

The court ruling on April 24 had come while deciding a bundle of judgments since 2011, taking divergent views on the enforceability of arbitration clauses contained in unstamped or insufficiently stamped agreements.

The majority judgment cited the mandate of the Stamps Act to hold that an instrument which is chargeable to stamp duty may contain an arbitration clause and which is not stamped cannot be said to be a contract enforceable in law.

The two other judges on the bench, comprising the minority, flagged concerns that the view taken by the majority in the judgment has the propensity of frustrating the objective of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, as a scrutiny on the stamp duty at the threshold can stall the process and will lead to procedural complexity and delay in litigation before courts.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the interim bail of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik by three months in a money laundering case on medical grounds. He was earlier granted a two-month bail on August 11 which expired this week. (HT file photo)

He was earlier granted a two-month bail on August 11 which expired this week.

Malik was arrested on February 23 last year in connection with a money laundering case and had approached the Supreme Court challenging a July 13 order of the Bombay high court refusing him bail.

While admitting his appeal for hearing on August 11, the top court released him on interim bail considering his chronic kidney ailment.

On Thursday, a bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Dipankar Datta extended the earlier order for a further period of three months after going through his latest medical reports.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), represented by additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju did not object to the extension of bail purely on medical grounds.

Also Read: Former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik granted interim bail after 1.5 years

The bench said, The counsel for petitioner submits that he (Malik) is still suffering from chronic medical condition and his situation has not improved. ASG Raju does not dispute this position. In view of the same, the interim bail granted is extended for a period of 3 months.

The Court further stated that the terms and conditions earlier fixed by the trial court will continue to operate.

Senior advocate Arunabh Chaudhary appearing for Malik along with advocate Jayant Mohan informed the Court that the NCP leader is a chronic kidney patient.

Chaudhary presented medical reports to show that his left kidney is non-functional while the right kidney is functioning at optimum level.

He further indicated his other parameters showing infection in kidney were high.

In its August 11 order, the Court had said, The appellant (Malik) is in Criti Care Asia Hospital at Mumbai being treated for ailments relating to kidney and other ailments... We make it clear that we are passing this order strictly on the basis of medical condition of the appellant and we have not entered into the merit of the appellants case.

The Court admitted his appeal for hearing and asked ED to file its response to his plea for regular bail.

Malik was arrested under the PMLA in a case first registered by the NIA against gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his close associates including Shakeel Shaikh Babu Moiuddin aka Chhota Shakeel, Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razzaq Memon aka Tiger Memon.

Based on investigations conducted by the federal agency, proceeds of crime were generated through the rent and other income from the land, amounting to 15.99 crore.

According to the ED chargesheet, this money was used for terror funding in active collaboration with terror organisations.
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave 24 hours to the woman seeking an abortion of her 26-week foetus to reconsider her decision while underlining it was not in favour of terminating the pregnancy and that the rights of an unborn child must be balanced with a womans reproductive right. The court said it was not in favour of terminating the pregnancy. (HT PHOTO)

A Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud-led bench said, Today AIIMS [All India Institute of Medical Sciences] is asking us that Mr. Supreme Court, you are asking us to carry out foeticide...We cannot kill the child.

On Wednesday, another two-judge bench gave a split verdict on whether to go ahead with the abortion.The CJI-led bench, which also comprises justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said undoubtedly a womans reproductive right must trump under Constitutions Article 21. But equally whatever we do has to balance the rights of an unborn child as nobody is appearing for the child. It added the option of terminating a foetus may be exercised in case of forced pregnancy or a minor who does not realise the consequences of giving birth.

The court was considering the Union governments application against an order of a bench of justices Hima Kohli and BV Nagarathna on Monday directing abortion after considering an AIIMSs medical board report dated October 6. It passed the order on Monday respecting the womans decisional autonomy.

The woman told the court that due to her depression, her mother-in-law was looking after her children aged four and one. She added she will not be able to take care of a third child.

The application cited a fresh opinion of one of the doctors pointing out that terminating pregnancy will require doctors to stop the foetal heart. The government obtained an order from the CJI-led bench on Tuesday to defer the abortion. The matter was placed before the same bench that passed the order to terminate pregnancy. The CJI-led bench found the only change was the inclusion of the word foeticide in the boards opinion.

Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the court, told the court the recall application was filed as its order went against the law and the opinion of the board. To go against the law and medical opinion will be difficult and chaotic for the country. Bhati said that the 27-year-old petitioner has been vacillating.

The petitioners lawyer, Rahul Sharma, replied in the negative when the court asked if he wanted it to put the child to death. The bench asked the petitioner: Do you wait for 26 weeks to realise that you want to end pregnancy. Sharma said the question of the viability of foetus was being put to his client only because she is married. He added that had it been a minor or unmarried woman, this would not be an issue.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor clarified his statement on Hamas as it created a row on social media projecting an impression that Tharoor was sshying away from calling Hamas a 'terrorist' group. As Israel's former ambassador to India Daniel Carmon slammed the statement and questioned Tharoor, the Congress MP clarified that he only stated India's official position that India has never designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation. "All I said was that India has not issued such a designation, though others have. Undoubtedly Hamas conducted terrorist acts, which I roundly condemned," Tharoor replied to Corman praying for Israel's peace and safety. Shashi Tharoor replied to Israel's former ambassador to India Daniel Camron as the latter slammed Tharoor's statement on Hamas. (PTI)

"Seriously, @ShashiTharoor,can you not?After decades of terror against my people,challenging the very Palestinian Authority,especially after this weeks savage slaughter of over a thousand peaceful human beings,can you not label Hamas as terrorists? Frankly,I am shocked," Carmon tweeted sharing a clip of Tharoor interview with a television channel.

"The terrorist organisation label is one to be very careful not to follow other country's leads in this matter. The US considers Hamas a terrorist organisation, so does Israel. India has not made any such classification and I am going to stick to the Indian position," Tharoor said in the television interview.

"Dont be misled by crude headlines seeking to distort my words, @danielocarmon. I feel for you and other friends in Israel at this difficult time, and hope & pray for your continued safety," Tharoor tweeted as his clip went viral and drew a sharp response from Israel's former ambassador to India.

'PM Modi's statement incomplete...': What Shashi Tharoor said on Israel-Hamas conflict

Shashi Tharoor said Hamas' attack on Israel should be condemned but the larger issue at stake should not be missed either. Tharoor said the PM's statement expressing solidarity with Israel was incomplete as there was no mention of the 'reason behind all of this'. "While we understood the Prime Minister's standing up for Israel and showing solidarity at this time of great grief and this horror..., at the same time we felt that his statement was incomplete," Tharoor said.

"The entire situation has been provoked by the surprise attack by Hamas during a national holiday in Israel. It was done in the cruellest possible way...It was a terror operation. They killed innocent civilians, children, elderly people, youths attending a music festival. It was almost impossible to accept any justification of what Hamas did and I certainly join in on the condemnation of the terrorist act," Tharoor added.

Shashi Tharoor condemned Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu's firm hand against Palestinians and said his government made no compromise towards the Palestinians.

What is Congress's stand on the Israel-Palestine issue?

The Congress on Sunday condemned the brutal attacks on the people of Israel and said the party always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the people pf Palestine must be fulfilled through dialogues. A day after, The Congress in its statement called for an immediate ceasefire and said it always supported the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect.

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The Legal Services Authorities should ensure that a child subjected to sexual assault is counselled by a trained child counsellor or psychologist to help the survivor come out of trauma. The Supreme Court of India. (File)

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal also said that the State needs to ensure that such children continue with their education.

"Whenever a child is subjected to sexual assault, the State or the Legal Services Authorities should ensure that the child is provided with a facility of counselling by a trained child counsellor or child psychologist. It will help the victim children to come out of the trauma, which will enable them to lead a better life in future," the bench said.

The top court said the social environment around the survivor may not always be conducive to the victim's rehabilitation.

"Only monetary compensation is not enough. Only payment of compensation will not amount to rehabilitation in a true sense.Perhaps the rehabilitation of the girl victims in life should be part of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign of the Central Government.

"As a welfare State, it will be the duty of the government to do so. We are directing that the copies of this judgment should be sent to the Secretaries of the concerned departments of the State," the bench said.

The observations came while deciding a plea filed by the Rajasthan government challenging the order passed by the Rajasthan High Court reducing the sentence awarded to a convict for the rape of a girl child from life term to 12 years.

The apex court directed that the convict must serve a sentence of 14 years without remission.

"We direct the Secretary of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority to ensure that compensation under the relevant victim compensation scheme is immediately paid to the victim as per her entitlement if not already paid.

"If the respondent has already been released after undergoing punishment in terms of the verdict of the high court, he shall be forthwith arrested and sent to prison for undergoing the remaining sentence in terms of this judgment," the bench said.

The top court noted that the convict's caste has been mentioned in the case title and said caste or religion of a litigant should never be mentioned in the cause title of the judgment.

"An accused has no caste or religion when the court deals with his case. We fail to understand why the caste of the accused has been mentioned in the cause title of the judgments of the high court and the trial court.

"The caste or religion of a litigant should never be mentioned in the cause title of the judgment. We have already observed in our order dated 14th March, 2023 that such practice should never be followed," the bench said.
Three men sustained bullet injuries when armed militants opened fire in Kangpokpi district of Manipur in a fresh bout of violence in the strife-torn state on Thursday, officials aware of the matter said. In a fresh bout of violence, three men sustained bullet wounds after armed militants opened fire in Kangpkpi district of Manipur. (AFP)

According to the officials, armed militants began firing from two adjacent villages  Phaimol and Twichin  at around 3am. The three people, with critical bullet wounds, were taken to Raj Medicity and Little Clinic in Imphal where they are undergoing treatment, officials added.

Also read: Manipur: Internet ban extended by another five days

Manipur police did not confirm the status of the three men who were admitted at the two hospitals with bullet injuries.

HT spoke to family members of one victim, Shanti Khundrakpam, a resident of Nongpok Sekmai. His nephew, Reenash, said, One bullet hit him in the chin. The doctors operated on him in the evening. He has survived the incident. Police are yet to tell us how this happened. We are yet to speak to him as the surgery is just over. 

Later in the day, the militants fired at the village defence volunteers, after which the security forces who were in the buffer zone moved up towards the villages in pursuit, officials added.

By noon, the militants started firing at the security forces too... when the forces retaliated, they left behind one of their vehicles, from which arms and ammunitions being carried by the militants was recovered, an official from the Centres security forces said on the condition of anonymity.

The women protesters blocked the additional columns of Assam Rifles at Sabungkhok Khunao area, which is around 2-3km from Phaimol village..., the official added.

According to Seikholein, a resident of Phaimol village, the situation calmed down in the evening after central forces took charge of the area.

Our village was burnt by a mob on May 6. There are no villagers residing here. I am a village volunteer. Phaimol village is near the Kangpokpi and Imphal East district border so it is a buffer zone. At around 3 am, militants fired at our village from a brick farm which is near Phaimol. The militants had crossed the buffer zone and attacked our village and the one next to it which is the Twichin village, Seikholein told HT over the phone.

Phaimol village has around 60 houses while Twichin has around 70 houses. With most residents living in relief camps, the villages are guarded by village defence guards such as Seikholein.

He said that around 8 am, security forces reached the villages and started firing at the militants. The firing stopped but it again continued from 2.30 pm and lasted till 5.30 am. We have heard that around 12 militants from outside who attacked our village were injured. But we are unable to verify this because we cannot go to Imphal.

Clashes in Manipur first broke out on May 3 in Churachandpur town after tribal groups called for protests against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. At least 178 people have died and 50,000 displaced in the violence.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prawesh Lama Prawesh Lama covers crime, policing, and issues of security in Delhi. Raised in Darjeeling, educated in Mumbai, he also looks at special features on social welfare in the National Capital. ...view detail
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave a 27-year-old woman 24 hours to reconsider her plea for immediate termination of her 26-week pregnancy, a day after a two-judge bench sharply differed on the case. Supreme Court(ANI)

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said that the highest court of the land cannot overlook the rights of an unborn child when it has to deal with cases of abortion. The woman had approached the court, saying she was unaware of her third pregnancy due to a disorder called lactational amenorrhea, and suffered from postpartum depression and poor financial conditions.

Also read: Explained: Abortion laws in India

Cognisant as we are of a womans autonomy in these cases, we cannot be oblivious to the rights of an unborn child...We cannot kill the child, said the bench, as it asked the womans lawyer Rahul Sharma and additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Union government, to explain the courts preliminary views to the woman and come back with her answer on Friday.

What do you want us to tell the doctors  you stop the foetal heart? And if that is not what you want, then, if the child is born alive today, the child will have serious mental and physical deformities. We have to also balance out the rights of an unborn child. Whatever you do today is going to affect the rights of the child too, said the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The larger bench was set up a day after a bench comprising two women judges delivered a split verdict on the Centres plea to recall an order passed on October 9, allowing the married mother of two to end her pregnancy owing to her vulnerable physical and psychological conditions.

Justices Hima Kohli and BV Nagarathna had, on Monday, allowed the woman to end her pregnancy, but two days later, sharply differed on whether the abortion could go forward, after a medical report said the foetal heart would have to be stopped as part of the procedure. The split verdict came on a recall petition by the Centre.

Justice Kohli said she was not willing to proceed with the earlier decision and wondered which court would ask to stop the heartbeat of a foetus that has life. But justice Nagarathna remained firm on the October 9 order, prioritising the womans decisional autonomy in matters of pregnancy. Following the divergence of views, the matter was referred to the CJI on the administrative side to set up a larger bench.

The 2021 Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act allows both married and unmarried women to undergo termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks following an opinion by a registered medical practitioner. Certain categories of vulnerable women, such as rape survivors, minors and mentally infirm women, can undergo abortion up to 24 weeks under the law. Abortion after 24 weeks is permitted only in cases when there are serious threats to the life or well-being of a woman or for substantial foetal abnormalities. Such cases usually land up before courts that set up medical boards to help it taking a call.

When the three-judge bench took up the Centres plea on Thursday, Bhati argued that the right to decisional autonomy and reproductive rights are not absolute rights, like any other rights. They are subject to a legal regime (MTP Act), which has withstood the scrutiny of the court as well. To go against the law and medical opinion will be difficult and chaotic for the country, said the ASG, adding it could be difficult for the court to go only by the choice of a woman, who in the doctors opinion, was vacillating in her response.

Bhati suggested that the woman could be counselled because allowing her plea in such a state of mind could eventually prove detrimental to her. The law officer further said that postpartum depression was one of the most common medical conditions for women after having children.

At this point, the bench asked the womans lawyer, Rahul Sharma, if she wanted the foetusto be put to death. Today, its a viable child and not strictly a medical termination of pregnancy. The doctors are in a serious ethical dilemma because they will have to stop the foetal heart. They are asking us, Mr Supreme Court, direct us to stop the foetal heart. In plain English, what you are asking for is putting the child to the death under the orders of this court, it told Sharma.

Responding, Sharma said that she does not want the foetus to be killed. But the court said that there is an inherent danger in what the woman wants.

What your client says is  Relieve me today and do whatever you need to do. But since she does not want the foetal heart to be stopped, it means that if the child is delivered today, there are great chances of the child being born with serious deformities, it said.

The bench asked Sharma why his client would rather take the consequences of a child getting born physically and mentally deformed instead of waiting for a few more weeks when she has already waited for 26 weeks.

You leave us with two options with what you want today  either we kill the child, or we let the child be born with severe physical and mental deformities. We find it difficult to come to terms with it. A judges task is all about balancing rights and duties. The child will not be able to be given up in adoption if it is born with mental and physical deformities. Nobody will adopt such a child. In our country its a hard fact. That child will have nobody, the bench flagged.

The court asked Sharma why the woman cannot consider carrying the pregnancy for a few more weeks so that the health of the foetus is not affected and then the State could take care of the child. Also look at this way. She has postpartum depression today. But doctors say she will have the same postpartum depression even after she delivers the child prematurely today, it added.

Sharma said that the question of viability of foetus is being put to his client only because she is married, and had it been a minor or unmarried woman, this would not be an issue. The bench replied: Does it not make a critical difference that you are married? It is not a case of a minor or a rape survivor...And what about a mother who knows that if I deliver today, the child will be physically and mentally disabled. It is a Hobsons choice.

A spate of recent cases before the Supreme Court has underscored the complex labyrinth of laws and the barriers faced by women in accessing safe and legal abortions. In an array of judgments, the top court has marshalled womens right to reproductive and decisional autonomy. In September 2022, the top court ruled that the rights of reproductive autonomy, dignity, and privacy under Article 21 give an unmarried woman the right of choice on whether or not to bear a child, on a similar footing of a married woman. In August this year, the top court held that there must be a sense of urgency instead of a lackadaisical attitude in attending to the cases of termination of pregnancy, as it asked all courts to grant immediate hearing to such cases.

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The World Population Review independent international organization has ranked Armenia 9th in the list of countries with lowest crime rate, PM Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

He praised the work of the law enforcement agencies for contributing to the result.

Of course, the 9th position is a very high indicator, but our minimum plan must be to retain it and further improve this ranking, Pashinyan added.
Turmeric, the yellow rhizome crop which was responsible for the defeat of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and chief minister K Chandrashekar Raos (KCR) daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha from Nizamabad in 2019 general elections, is back in the spotlight as a major political issue for the assembly elections in the state, scheduled to be held on November 30. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public rally in Mahbubnagar district of Telangana, on October 1. (PTI)

Days before the announcement of the states election schedule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a public rally in Mahabubnagar on October 1, announced that the Centre would set up a national turmeric board at Nizamabad, a long pending demand of the farmers in the state.

Three days later, the Union cabinet approved the formation of the national turmeric board, which would focus on the entire supply chain of turmeric from value addition to infrastructure to exports, in the wake of increased demand of the crop across the world in the post-Covid-19 environment.

According to K Sai Reddy, national general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and a board member of National Council of Agricultural Research (NCAR), Telangana is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the country.

Quoting 2021-22 figures from the Union ministry of commerce, Reddy said around 45,000 farmers in Armoor area of Nizamabad, Jagtial and Nirmal districts cultivate turmeric crop in around 40,000 acres of land. Maharashtra is in the second position with around 28,000 acres of turmeric crop, followed by Tamil Nadu, he said.

In fact, it was more than 55,000 acres earlier, but the area of cultivation has come down drastically in the last two years due to lack of remunerative price. Each acre of turmeric crop yields on average 20 quintals.

The farmers are not getting even 6,000 per quintal of turmeric, which is not sufficient to meet even the production cost, which is around 8,000 per quintal. So, many farmers have left cultivation of turmeric, Reddy said.

Turmeric farmers have been fighting for setting up of a national turmeric board for a long time and during 2014 general elections, Kavitha, who contested for the Lok Sabha elections from Nizamabad on BRS ticket (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS), promised that she would fight for the board and achieve it.

When she failed to fulfil her promise, the turmeric farmers turned against her. More than 180 turmeric farmers filed their nominations in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Nizamabad. Similarly, as many as 54 farmers went all the way to Varanasi to file nominations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recalled the representative of turmeric farmers association, Kotapati Narasimha Naidu.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Nizamabad, Dharmapuri Arvind, promised during the electioneering that he would secure the much-awaited turmeric board for the farmers within a month of getting elected as MP. He also signed a bond on a stamp paper to that effect and got it registered, saying he would resign from his MP seat if he failed to fulfill his promise.

This resulted in the stunning defeat of Kavitha with a margin of nearly 70,000 votes in Nizamabad. But Arvind, too, failed to keep up his promise, as the Centre refused to create a separate board for turmeric as there is already a board for spices, which includes turmeric.

However, Arvind got a promise from the Centre that a regional office of the spices board would be set up at Nizamabad, but this did not convince the farmers. The BRS, led by Kavitha, has been extensively campaigning against Arvind, demanding his resignation for failing to fulfil the promise.

Whenever Arvind visited his constituency, he had to face the fury of the turmeric farmers. On January 25, 2022, an angry mob of turmeric farmers attacked his convoy with stones and sticks and he had to hurry back to Hyderabad.

Its time for elections again

Now with the Telangana assembly elections just few away, the Prime Minister Modis announcement of setting up of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad has gained political colour.

All these days, it has been the turmeric traders who have been minting money by exploiting the poor farmers. While the farmers have not been getting even 5,000 to 6,000 per quintal, the traders have been making money at least three times. One can see many turmeric traders turning rich and even making entry into politics, said Sai Reddy.

He said the setting up of a national turmeric board would result in farmers getting adequate remunerative price. It would help farmers adopt modern production and processing techniques, set up storage facilities, get access to direct trading and export.

In fact, such facilities were available even when turmeric was part of the spices board, but now, it will be exclusive to turmeric. The Centre can help farmers with agricultural intervention through the board, he said.

Narasimha Naidu said under the National Turmeric Board, the turmeric growers would get protection from exploitation of traders. The genuine turmeric growers would get identity cards and there would be no monopoly or cartel formation by traders to reduce the price. The board itself will take up auction of the produce, so that the farmers get a higher price, Naidu said.

Another turmeric grower Muthyala Manohar Reddy, who had, in 2014, vowed to remain barefooted till the turmeric board was formed, is sceptical about how the board would help the farmers.

It appears, the Prime Minister has announced the formation of a turmeric board hurriedly keeping in view the upcoming assembly elections. There is no one to explain how it will help the farmers. I think it will take at least a year till the board is constituted and it becomes fully operational, Muthyala Reddy said.

He said there is an apprehension that the board would procure only export quality turmeric that has high curcumin content, having high demand abroad. It may not help small and marginal farmers much, he said.

With the assembly elections round the corner, the BJP and the BRS have begun claiming credit for the setting up of the turmeric board. Soon after the announcement on the turmeric board by the Prime Minister, Arvind took to X (Twitter) and described it as a landmark decision.

Prime Minister Modis announcement of the National Turmeric Board is a testament to BJPs commitment to uplift the lives of farmers in Telangana, especially in Nizamabad. This move will revolutionise turmeric farming, ensuring fair prices and global recognition, he tweeted.

He said turmeric isnt just a crop, its an integral part of our culture, used for health, culinary, and religious purposes. Its demand surged during the pandemic for its immune-boosting properties. The Turmeric Board addresses this, supporting both farmers and consumers, the Nizamabad MP said.

BRS working president and state industries minister K T Rama Rao (KTR) wondered whether the announcement on setting up of the turmeric board would also be similar to the womens reservation bill, which had no time limit.

Modi could have done it [announcement of turmeric board] nine years ago, but he has done it now. Maybe, he will put a small yellow board now and call it a turmeric board, KTR told reporters soon after the Prime Ministers announcement.

Senior journalist of a vernacular daily from Nizamabad Bhadra Reddy said it is too early to judge which party would get benefit out of the formation of turmeric board. The turmeric farmers are still in a state of confusion about the composition and functions of the board. Maybe, there will be some clarity by the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said.

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Twelve German nationals including 11 women offered 'pinddaan' at Dev Ghat' on the banks of Falgu river in Bihar's Gaya District on Wednesday for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors. They performed pinddaan in front of Loknath Gaur, a local preacher.(Prabhat Khabhar)

All the women, attired in traditional Indian dress (saree and blouse) performed the pinddaan rituals and 'jal tarpan' at the Vishnupad temple and 'Dev Ghat' for the salvation of their ancestors' souls. The only male member of their group performed pinddaan by wearing a dhoti.

They performed pinddaan in front of Loknath Gaur, a local preacher.

The German nationals included Natalia, Svetlana, Oxana, Shasa, Irrina, Margherita, Grichkevich, Elisentra and Kevin (male).

Performing pitra puja and pinddaan during Pitru Paksha, which started from September 29, in Gaya is considered highly auspicious.

The Pitru Paksha Mela, a Hindu ritual to pray for souls of ancestors, is organised yearly at Vishnupad temple in Gaya. Every year, a large number of Hindus from across the world visit the temple during Pitru Paksha to perform the pinddaan rituals.

Soon after performing pinddaan, Elisentra told reporters, "This is my first visit to Gaya and I feel relieved after performing the ritual. It's a great place and people are very cooperative. We will never forget this moment throughout our lives".

Gaur told reporters, "The number of foreigners visiting Gaya during Pitru Paksha is increasing every year. Recently, a woman from Ukraine had offered a mass 'pinddaan' here for peace and salvation of the souls of soldiers and people who died since the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022."
The first batch of Indian passengers in Israel are gearing up to board their flight back to India under the Narendra Modi government's Operation Ajay.



The government on Wednesday launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of Indian nationals from Israel, which is witnessing fierce fighting with terrorist group Hamas.



"Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad, external affairs minister S Jaishankar had announced the launch of the operation in a post on social media platform X.



As I said yesterday, the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv has been working continuously to ensure the safety and welfare of all our Indian citizens in Israel. Yesterday, the external affairs minister announced Operation Ajay, to help those Indians who wish to return to India. And today, under Operation Ajay, the first flight is going back to India, Indian Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla told ANI. Indian Ambassador to Israel Sanjeev Singla with the first batch of Indians who would be boarding the special flight being operated under 'Operation Ajay' from Tel Aviv(PTI)

It's going to have almost 200, Indian citizens - students, caregivers, and business professionals, and we are trying to ensure that we have a similar flight in the coming days. We will have, 1 flight tomorrow...I would like to, reach out to my, fellow Indian citizens here and urge them to remain calm and stay safe by following the local safety advisories and I want to tell them that we're always there with them. We are standing with them, he added.

"I have been in Israel for a year...I want to thank the Indian government. We have got a lot of help through 'Operation Ajay, an Indian student told news agency ANI.



I had come here as my daughter is pursuing her PhD from Israel...Our flights were cancelled due to the war-like situation. We then learned about 'Operation Ajay' and contacted the Indian Embassy...PM Modi is the best, another Indian passenger said.



The fighting between Israel and Hamas continues for the sixth straight day. The Israeli military said Thursday it had dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza since the start of the war. While Israel says it is striking Hamas targets, many civilians in the pounded strip have been killed. Hospitals and U.N. shelters have also been hit, AP reported.

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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 on Wednesday launched Operation Ajay to bring back Indians from Israel as the conflict escalated with Israel retaliating against Hamas's attack that started on Saturday. Israel has declared war against Hamas and set up a war cabinet while Hamas said it is ready for a long-drawn conflict. India being a strategic partner of Israel condemned the Hamas attack and PM Modi expressed solidarity with Israel. As soon as the conflict broke out, the external affairs minister alerted Indians in Israel to exercise caution. The ministry came up with a helpline number and on the 5th day of the conflict, India launched Operation Ajay. Jaishankar on Wednesday announced Operation Ajay which will bring Indians, willing to return, back from strife-torn Israel.

What is Operation Ajay? All you need to know

1. Operation Ajay is not technically an evacuation operation. It is an operation to repatriate its citizens from Israel.

2. Special chartered flights will bring back the Indians. Indian Navy ships will be deployed if the need arises.

3. Indians in Israel who wish to return will be facilitated in this operation. There are around 18,000 Indians in Israel including students, professionals and traders. Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements (are) being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad," external affairs minister S Jaishankar tweeted on Wednesday. Jaishankar has also spoken to UAE's foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on Wednesday.

4. The first flight is on Thursday as the embassy in Tel Aviv emailed the first batch of registered Indians in Israel. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights, the mission said.

5. A 24-hour control room in New Delhi is monitoring the situation in Israel and Palestine. The phone numbers for the control room are 1800118797 (toll free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905 and +919968291988, and the email ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in. The Indian embassys 24-hour emergency helpline can be accessed on the numbers +972-35226748 and +972-543278392, and the email ID cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in

6. The first batch of Indians is expected to be brought back from Israel in a special flight on Thursday.

Israel's Consul General in Mumbai Kobbi Shoshani said he had no information of any Indian national injured or killed in the ongoing fight. Actor Nushrratt Bharuccha was in Israel to attend the Haifa International Film Festival when the conflict began. The actor was safely brought back to India.

Around 27 people from Meghalaya including Rajya Sabha member Wanweiroy Kharlukhi, were stranded in Bethlehem when the conflict broke out. The MEA arranged for their safe passage into Egypt.

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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
Kochi: A woman lawyer from the Gujarat High Court has gone missing after she boarded a train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai on Monday, her family said. Messages to lawyer Sheeja Nairs WhatsApp account have stopped being delivered and the display picture removed. (HT photo)

Sheeja Nair, a native of Kannur in Kerala and a resident of Ahmedabad, boarded the Gujarat Express from Ahmedabad on Monday at 7:10 am and was expected to reach Mumbai the same day around 4 pm, her daughter Anugraha Nair, said over phone.

She was going to Mumbai for court-related work. A few hours after boarding the train, she called me around noon and said the train had reached Vapi. She promised to call after reaching Mumbai. But in the evening, when I called, she didnt pick up. The phone kept ringing, but no one picked up. Till night, WhatsApp messages to her were being delivered, but there was no response. Shortly afterward, the phone was switched off, said Nair said.

Messages to her WhatsApp account, however, have stopped being delivered since and the display picture has been removed, she said., adding that her mother was scheduled to return to Ahmedabad the next day after finishing work.

Initially, when the family tried to lodge a complaint, neither the railway police nor the local police were ready to accept it.

When we went to the railway police, they asked us to go to the local police near where we stayed. When we went there, they directed us to the railway police. They wasted a lot of our time. Finally, the FIR was registered today at the Kalupur police station in Ahmedabad, said Nair, whose father passed away seven years ago. She has a younger brother studying in the Xth standard.

A senior officer said that the police is probing the case based on a missing persons complaint.

She was travelling for some court matter from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The last contact that she had was with her daughter from her mobile phone at Vapi. She was on board the train when she made the call. We have filed a missing persons complaint at Kalupur police station. We are trying to figure out what happened and will let you know when there is further progress, said Vishakha Dabral, DCP, Zone-3, Ahmedabad city.

(With inputs from Ahmedabad)
Chosen as Miss Universe Pakistan from among five finalists at the inaugural competition held in the Maldives, Erica Robin from Karachi is gearing up for Miss Universe finals which will be held in El Salvador in November this year to mark a historic moment, as it is the first time in the 72-year history of the Miss Universe beauty pageant that Pakistan has chosen a representative. When asked to name one thing she wanted to do for her country, Erica had replied, I would want to change this mindset that Pakistan is a backward country. Is Pakistan disowning its first ever Miss Universe contestant? Here's why Erica Robin is facing backlash (Photo by Twitter/sahil17306)

While models, writers and journalists including journalist Mariana Babar congratulated Erica as "beauty and brains" on Twitter, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami party called it shameful and caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul-Haq Kakar ordered the countrys intelligence agency to investigate the organisers of the Miss Universe Pakistan pageant and how they were able to hold the competition seemingly in the countrys name without the governments approval. This came after a scathing online chatter and critics asserting that Erica is representing a country that does not want to be represented while Kakar called the staging of the Maldives pageant a shameful act and an insult and exploitation of women of Pakistan.

Taqi Usmani, an Islamic scholar from Pakistan, tweeted, There is news that five young ladies will represent Pakistan in the international beauty pageant. If this is true, how far will we go? Let the impression disappear (sic). A tweet by Ansar Abbasi, a Pakistani right-wing commentator and columnist, read, Who allowed five Pakistani girls to represent Pakistan in Miss Universe beauty pageant? Prime Minister Kakar @anwaar_kakar, this decision of the cabinet or a ministerial advisor? Can anyone represent Pakistan without the permission of the Government of Pakistan? (sic) to which former journalist and present Federal Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi replied, The government and the state of Pakistan are represented by the state and government institutions. Our government has not designated any non-state and non-governmental person or institution for any such activity and no such person/institution can represent the state/government. the end. (sic).

Beauty pageants are rare in Muslim-majority Pakistan and Erica shared in an interview with BBC, It feels great to represent Pakistan. But I don't understand where the backlash is coming from. I think it is this idea that I would be parading in a swimsuit in a room full of men. A graduate of St Patrick's High School and Government College of Commerce and Economics, Erica started her professional modelling career in January 2020 and her pictures found their way into several magazines including Diva Magazine Pakistan.

She insisted that she has done nothing wrong and said, I'm not breaking any law by representing Pakistan on a global platform. I am doing my bit to quell any stereotypes about it. In an interview with Voice of America, she had added, I wont do anything that would harm the reputation of the country.

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Navratri 2023: Shardiya Navratri is around the corner. Every year, the festival is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur all across the country. Worshipping the nine avatars of Goddess Parvati, this nine-day festival is dedicated to the goddess. One of the largest festivals of the world, Shardiya Navratri is also known as Durga Puja in parts of the country. The nine avatars of Goddess Parvati are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kaalratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri. Each day of the festival is dedicated to an avatar of the goddess. This year, the festival will start from October 15 and will go on till October 24. The first day of Durga Puja is known as Mahalaya. As we gear up to celebrate Mahalaya, here are a few facts to keep in mind. Navratri 2023: When is Mahalaya? Know date, shubh muhurat, rituals, celebrations(AP photo)

ALSO READ: Shardiya Navratri 2023: Know the history, significance and celebrations

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Date and shubh muhurat:

Mahalaya marks the completion of Pitru paksha. This period of time is extremely auspicious for performing rites dedicated to the deceased ancestors. It is believed that there is a realm called Pitri Lok where the souls of the deceased ancestors of the last three generations stay. During Pitru paksha, the god of death  Yama or Yamaraj grants them permission to visit their families and accept gifts. Mahalaya, for this year, will be observed on October 14.

According to Drik Panchang, the Kutup Muhurat will start from 11:44AM on October 14 and will end at 12:30PM on the same day. Rohina Muhurat will start at 12:30PM on October 14 and will end at 12:16PM.

Rituals and celebrations:

On this day, people perform Tarpan and Shraddh dedicated to their deceased ancestors. Food, clothes and footwears are offered to the souls of the deceased ancestors through priests and brahmins. Brahmins are also given food and dakshina on this day. Mahalaya, on the other hand, also marks the start of Durga Puja. In West Bengal, the eyes of the idols of Goddess Durga are painted on this day. Malahaya is considered extremely auspicious.

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Navratri 2023: Navratri is one of the largest festivals celebrated all across the country. The nine-day festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. In the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam, Shardiya Navratri is celebrated as Durga Puja. This is that time of the year when the streets and homes are decked up in lights, people gift new clothes to their near and dear ones and celebrate this festival together with their family and friends. Navratri is celebrated in the southern parts of the country with a lot of pomp and grandeur, much like the rest of the country. However, Goddess Saraswati is significantly worshipped during Navratri in South India. Navratri celebrations in South India: Rituals, traditions and all you want to know(Pexels)

As we gear up to celebrate the festival, here are a few things to know about how Navratri is celebrated down south:

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ALSO READ: Shardiya Navratri 2023: Know the history, significance and celebrations

Karnataka:

Navratri in Karnataka coincides with Mysore Dasara  the festival dedicated to goddess Chamundeswari of Chamundi Hill. During this time, Mysore palace is decorated in lights and is a spectacle to behold. In other parts of the state, on this day, decorated dolls are kept, and people visit the houses of their near and dear ones and exchange coconuts, clothes and sweets.

Tamil Nadu:

In Tamil Nadu, the nine-day festival is divided with the first three days dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the fourth, fifth and the sixth day dedicated to Goddess Durga and the last three days dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. Traditional dolls that are passed on through generations depicting certain themes such as environment or mythology are placed on makeshift staircases in front of the houses. People visit the homes of their loved ones to see their dolls.

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh:

One of the most beautiful rituals practiced in these states during Navratri is Bathukamma Padunga  women make flower stacks for the nine days and then on the last day, the stacks are let afloat in a water body. Its a specular watch.

Kerala:

The last three days of Navratri are significant in Kerala. On the evening of Mahaashtami, Poojavaippu is performed. On the next day, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped, and books and instruments are submitted to the idol of the goddess. On the last day, Puja Eduppu is performed where the books and tools are removed. Vidhyarambam is performed on this day, where children between the age of two to six years are made to write alphabets on sand or rice. This marks the start of their learning journey.

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As kids grow up, it is difficult to feed them due to their altered food habits and it is a common sight at home to find kids eating meals with TV/tablet/mobile phones. As it takes time to feed kids, it becomes easy for parents to feed them with cartoons playing on the screen but various studies and research show that there are down-side to this habit. World Sight Day: Screen time and meals for kids, tips to make mealtime relaxing and enjoyable (Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle on World Sight Day, Susmita N, Clinical Nutritionist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Bangalore, Bellandur and Jayanagar, recommended, As kids grow, we should let them serve and feed themselves. This helps to know the body cues. Watching screen while eating keeps them distracted and they will not pay attention to what food is in the plate, food texture and quantity of food been consumed. It is also observed that there is an increased consumption of unhealthy junk food between meals as they are not able to remember the quantity of foods eaten for meal. Poor intake of vegetables and fruits are also seen in these children.

Revealing that children who have an increased screen time have more exposure to junk food due to the advertisements that targets the young population, the nutrition expert said, Kids get attracted to these junk food commercials and crave to eat them leading to alternation of their food habits. Making the children play outside builds up their appetite and they tend to what food is served. This can be taken as an advantage by parents by serving them healthy food options. Avoid junk food as snacks and serve fruits, milkshakes/smoothies, roasted nuts mix, makhana etc that have nutritional value. Keep healthy snacks options ready at home.

She added, Family plays an important role during meal time. Parents have to be a role models to children. Having a family meal time away from all distractions help in better eating habits, improve communication skills and help in better bonding. Studies have shown that children who eat together with family have better intake of vegetables, fruits and end up having healthy eating pattern. There is a positive correlation between eating together as a family and better cognitive skills in children leading to improved academic performances.

Susmita N suggested the following tips to make mealtime relaxing and enjoyable as possible -

Provide wholesome, acceptable foods.

Respect the childs capability. If the child says he/she is full do not force them to empty the food in plate.

Allow them to choose from 2 or more healthy foods. Give them healthy options.

Dont nag, bribe or force a child to eat. Always remember that children learn to hate the foods they are forced to eat.

Remove any kind of screened electronic devices from dining area.

Have age appropriate conversation with your kids. Ask them about how was their day, about their friends and discuss about topics of interest.

Plan for tomorrows meal keeping the childs food interest in mind.

Be a role model and follow what you preach. Parents should not be distracted while feeding the kids.

Preplan the food a day prior. 3major meals and 2 snacks filled with nutrition. Keeping in mind to include grains, colorful vegetables, seasonal fruits and protein sources.

Have limited amount of screen time post meal.

She concluded, Poor psycho-social skills, lower cognitive development are also observed in kids with increased screen time. Reduced physical activity leads to poor metabolism and causes obesity in children. Over a period of time these children grow up to become adults with eating disorders and are relatively obese.

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In the weeks leading up to the COP28 summit that begins on November 30, the headlines will be heavily peppered with terms like Paris Goals, Loss and Damage, Geo-engineering, and NDCs. Here is a glossary of terms that might help in better understanding the catastrophic path the world is on. PREMIUM FILE PHOTO: 'Cop28 UAE' logo is displayed on the screen during the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) under the theme of 'United on Climate Action Toward COP28', in Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo(REUTERS)

COP

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), made up of representatives from each country that signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 and which meets every year.

PARIS AGREEMENT

A successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the international climate treaty that expired in 2020, the Paris Agreement in December 2015 aimed to limit the rise in the average global surface temperature. Countries that signed the accord set national pledges to reduce humanity's effect on the climate.

1.5 DEGREES

The Paris Agreement legally bound signatories to limit greenhouse gas emissions to keep the temperature rise "well below" 2.0 degrees Celsius this century. The countries also promised to "pursue efforts" to keep the rise below 1.5C, which scientists say would help to avert some of the most catastrophic effects.

GLASGOW PACT

Reached at the 2021 UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, the Glasgow Pact marked the first time a climate agreement mentioned the goal of reducing fossil fuel use. The pact marked a breakthrough in efforts to resolve rules guiding the international trade of carbon markets to offset emissions. With time running out for steep emissions cuts, the pact also urges nations to come up with more ambitious climate plans.

GREENHOUSE GASES

The gases emitted as a result of the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, diesel, gasoline or petrol, kerosene and natural gas, are known as greenhouse gases (GHG) and are the main culprit for the warming of the earth as they trap the heat from the Sun. While the focus as a GHG remains on carbon dioxide, others include methane, nitrous oxide, and even water vapour.

NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTIONS

NDCs are the pledges that each country makes to reduce its emissions and adapt to climate change from 2020 onward. Countries have to update and expand their NDCs every five years. All signatories have submitted new pledges for Glasgow. While they are nowhere near enough, the main aim of COP is to use the negotiation process to increase them.

JUST TRANSITION

The term is used to describe a shift to a low-carbon economy that keeps the social and economic disruption of moving away from fossil fuels to a minimum while maximising the benefits for workers, communities and consumers.

Also Read: 2023: The year that broke climate records

CLIMATE FINANCE

Richer countries agreed in 2009 to contribute $100 billion together each year by 2020 to help poorer countries adapt their economies and lessen the impact of rising seas, or more severe and frequent storms and droughts. In 2015, they agreed to extend this goal through to 2025, but the target has yet to be met.

CBDR

The principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" (CBDR), was enshrined in the Kyoto Protocol. It says that developed countries, which produced more emissions in the past as they built their economies, should take the lead in fighting climate change. The Paris Agreement sought to bind major rapidly developing economies such as China and Brazil into the global effort to cut emissions, adding the words "in light of different national circumstances". It does not, however, require them to make any immediate pledges to cut their emissions.

'LOSS AND DAMAGE'

Although richer countries have agreed to provide them with funding to address the impact of climate change, poorer countries continue to press for an agreed basis to assess liability for the losses and damage caused by climate change and calculate compensation.

EL NINO

The term El Nino (Spanish for 'the little boy') refers to a warming of the ocean surface, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The low-level surface winds, which normally blow from east to west along the equator (easterly winds) instead weaken or, in some cases, start blowing in the other direction (from west to east or westerly winds). El Nino recurs irregularly, from two years to a decade, and no two events are exactly alike. El Nino events can disrupt normal weather patterns globally but tend to result in below-average monsoons in India. The real impact is witnessed a year after the phenomenon sets in.

TIPPING POINTS

Tipping points are conditions or thresholds beyond which changes in the climate system become self-perpetuating and can lead to abrupt and irreversible impacts. Over the years, scientists have identified 16 tipping points that would take effect on timescales varying from a few years to centuries.

SAFE AND JUST BOUNDARIES

Scientists have identified eight crucial earth systems and the guardrails to prevent them from collapsing in order to maintain a safe and just planet for all living beings. The researchers quantified these boundaries for climate, biodiversity, freshwater and different kinds of pollution. Ironically, most have been breached.

IPCC

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a body of the United Nations that prepares decadal, comprehensive Assessment Reports about the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for reducing the rate at which climate change is taking place.

GEO-ENGINEERING

Geo-engineering is the large-scale, intentional alteration in systems that control the earths climate, that developed nations and some oil companies are pushing as the save-all method to curb the effects of climate change. The effects, however, remain largely in theory.

CARBON CAPTURE

CCUS involves the capture of CO2, generally from large point sources like power generation or industrial facilities that use either fossil fuels or biomass as fuel. If not being used on-site, the captured CO2 is compressed and transported by pipeline, ship, rail or truck to be used in a range of applications, or injected into deep geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Time and again, Azerbaijan has shown not only that it is willing to mislead the international community, but also that it is willing to misrepresent the International Court of Justice orders in doing so, or even to use them to justify its own violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, Armenias agent before the ICJ Yeghishe Kirakosyan said in his opening remarks during the world court oral proceedings on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Kirakosyan said that in these circumstances, nothing other than targeted, unequivocal provisional measures protecting the rights of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will suffice to prevent the ethnic cleansing Azerbaijan has perpetrated from continuing and becoming irreversible.

Below is the transcript of Kirakosyans speech at the ICJ hearing.

Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, it is an honor to appear before you today as the Agent of the Republic of Armenia.

Less than nine months ago, I stood at this podium and warned that Azerbaijan was putting in motion a plan to ethnically cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of all ethnic Armenians. Madam President, it pains me greatly to say  that has now materialized.

After a nine-month blockade, maintained in flagrant violation of the Courts Orders and in the face of widespread international condemnation, on 19 September, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. It then cynically opened the Lachin Corridor for the first time in nine months only to let out more than 100,000 fleeing ethnic Armenians. Despite comprising for millennia the great majority of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, almost no ethnic Armenians remain in Nagorno-Karabakh today. If this is not ethnic cleansing, Madam President, I do not know what is.

I expect my counterpart will tell you this afternoon that Azerbaijan is committed to reconciliation and a peaceful future with ethnic Armenians. But if those words sound familiar to you, it is because he said the exact same thing nine months ago, after which Azerbaijan continued to deliberately interrupt vital public utilities and starve the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh for another eight months, before brutally attacking them and causing them to flee their ancestral home.

I expect my counterpart will tell you that Azerbaijan will permit those it considers its citizens to return. He promised the same thing in October 2021 when he claimed that, in areas that had been transferred to Azerbaijan in 2020, Azerbaijan was committed to the return of displaced persons, regardless of their national or ethnic origin. Two years later, not a single ethnic Armenian has been permitted to return to those areas, and instead virtually all remaining ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh have been forced to flee their homes.

I expect my counterpart will also tell you that Azerbaijan will treat any ethnic Armenian who returns in accordance with Azerbaijans obligations under the CERD. He promised treatment of ethnic Armenians in accordance with the CERD in October 2021 as well. Two provisional measures orders by the Court did not deter Azerbaijan from escalating its violations of the CERD.

Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, let me be perfectly clear: since September 2020, Azerbaijan has been taking steps to cleanse Nagorno-Karabakh of ethnic Armenians, and it has been doing so while Armenias claims under the CERD are pending before the Court. Political considerations may have prevented the international community from acting to stop it, but the reality of such ethnic cleansing is crystal clear to all.

Azerbaijans accountability for violations will be determined at the merits stage of this case. But you can still make a meaningful difference on the ground today. There is still time to prevent the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians from becoming irreversible, and to protect the very few ethnic Armenians who remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as those who have been abducted and are currently unlawfully detained in Azerbaijans prisons.

Madam President, distinguished Judges of the Court, Azerbaijans cynicism crosses any imaginable boundary. It complains that Armenias claims before this Court are contrary to the norms and principles of international law, and asserts that such actions constitute the main threat to establish peace, security and justice in the region, and alleges that Armenia is not interested in the process of peace and normalization with Azerbaijan. Such remarkable stance is in stark conflict with the very foundations of the international legal order, which is based on the premise that disputes should be resolved by peaceful means only. And it reflects the way Azerbaijan prefers to resolve its disputes, that is by resorting to the illegal use of force. Is this how Azerbaijan understands peace and security?

Before I conclude by outlining the presentation of Armenias case this morning, please allow me one final point. Time and again, Azerbaijan has shown not only that it is willing to mislead the international community, but also that it is willing to misrepresent the Courts Orders in doing so, or even to use them to justify its own violations of the CERD. In these circumstances, nothing other than targeted, unequivocal provisional measures protecting the rights of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will suffice to prevent the ethnic cleansing Azerbaijan has perpetrated from continuing and becoming irreversible; to safeguard Armenians millennia long enduring cultural presence in Nagorno-Karabakh from being eradicated, as was already done in Nakhichevan and is being done elsewhere in Azerbaijan; and to protect the abducted political-military leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh from fabricated criminal charges. If your provisional measures retain any ambiguity whatsoever, Azerbaijan will exploit them. And in so doing, it will ensure that the ethnic Armenian presence and history in Nagorno-Karabakh are permanently wiped out. While we do not do so lightly, it is in these circumstances that we approach the Court for the third time.

The remainder of Armenias presentation this morning will be structured as follows:

First, Mr. Martin will set out the facts compelling Armenias request.

Second, Professor Sicilianos will explain why Armenias requests fall within the jurisdiction of the Court, why the rights for which protection is sought are plausible, and how those rights are linked to the provisional measures requested.

Third, Ms. Macdonald will demonstrate the ongoing irreparable prejudice and urgency necessitating the indication of provisional measures.

Fourth, Professor Murphy will explain why each of the first nine provisional measures requested by Armenia is necessary to protect the rights of ethnic Armenians.

Fifth, Professor dArgent will explain why the tenth and final provisional measure requested by Armenia is equally necessary and offer certain concluding remarks about Armenias third request for provisional measures.

Finally, I will return to the podium to read Armenias final submissions.

I thank you, Madam President, distinguished Members of the Court, for your attention and careful consideration of Armenias Request. I now kindly ask that you invite Mr. Martin to address the Court.
After a cat was discovered trapped inside the base of a cellphone tower in San Antonio in the USA, animal care officials immediately rushed to rescue it. Cat trapped inside cellphone tower. (Facebook/@City of San Antonio Animal Care Services)

City of San Antonio Animal Care Services took to Facebook to detail the incident. In the post they shared, the cat named Mark was rescued by dedicated Animal Care Officer Cortez and an individual called M.

"The incident unfolded when Mr M spotted Mark trapped within the tower's confines. His discovery was made even more unsettling by the presence of animal remains beside him. Fearing for Mark's safety, Mr M urgently reached out to 3-1-1, seeking immediate assistance. Responding promptly, Animal Care Officer Cortez arrived at the scene, and together, they embarked on a challenging mission to ensure Mark's safety and extraction," wrote the page on Facebook.

They further added, With utmost care, they managed to secure the distressed feline and transported him in a secure carrier to the Animal Emergency Room. Given the uncertain circumstances and Mark's prolonged confinement, a medical evaluation was necessary. Thankfully, Mark seemed to be in good health. His physical resilience was a silver lining in an otherwise perplexing situation. Mark was then transferred to ACS, where he received the attention and support to ensure he was okay. ACS's veterinary team diligently monitored Mark, both physically and emotionally, during this critical period.

Take a look at the post shared on Facebook here:

This post was shared on October 8. Since being posted, it has been liked close to 300 times. The share has also received several comments.

Here's what people are saying about this post:

An individual wrote, "Thank you both for saving this kitty."

"Thank you! What wonderful gentlemen, and seeing a municipal shelter care for community cats is amazing," said another.

A third commented, "Thank you for all you do!"

A fourth said, "That's awesome!"

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Many people turn to social media as a platform for voicing their grievances with companies. A passenger flying with Ryanair, also took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a complaint, however the response he received from the airline has left many people in splits. Ryanair shared a hilarious response to a customer's complaint. (AP)

X user, who goes by the handle @ToldYouThusly wrote, @Ryanair I will bring my own stairs next time. Alongside the tweet he also shared a picture of the plane and the stairs attached to it for people to board. (Also Read: American and British passenger throw punches at each other for window-seat on Ryanair flight)

Soon after this post was shared, Ryanair took notice of it and replied by writing, Bring your own plane next time too.

The tweet by Ryanair was shared on October 11. Since being posted, it has gone viral with over 24.6 million views. The share also numerous likes and comments. Many took to the comments section of the post to share how hilarious they found the airlines response.

Check out what people are saying about this tweet here:

An individual wrote, Ladies and gentlemen, our winner is@ryanair.

A second said, Why hes complaining about the stairs? Everything seems okay.

This is the most savage client-to-customer response I have seen, commented a third.

A fourth added, Ryanair waited for this exact moment right here lmao.

A fifth shared, Bro was just joking, you burnt him.

I think we need a GoFundMe page here to rent an airplane to that person, where is Mr Beast? joked a sixth.

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A man from South Korea on his recent visit to India decided to embrace the rich tapestry of the countrys culture by getting a traditional mehendi design on his hand. He also recorded a video of himself getting it done and later shared it on Instagram. His clip of a mehendi-covered hand has left people amused with many saying how it looks "stunning. The image shows a Korean man who got mehendi design in India. (Instagram/@pyara_jake_kodia)

Instagram user @pyara_jake_kodia, whose bio says he is a "Korean who loves India," posted the video. Its so beautiful, he wrote while sharing the video. The user also has other videos on his page that show him visiting different parts of India.

This particular video which has been gaining traction, shows a local mehendi artist drawing a traditional design on the upper side of his hand. After she finishes drawing the design, @pyara_jake_kodia faces the camera and shows off the intricate patterns of henna adorning his hand.

Take a look at this video of the South Korean man getting mehendi:

The video was shared about three days ago. Since then, it has collected close to two million views, and the numbers are only increasing. The share has also accumulated several comments.

What did Instagram users say about this mehendi video?

Now you are not a Korean, you are an Indian, commented an Instagram user. But thats looking good on your hand! Show the result, added another, urging the user to show how the design looks after the mehendi dries. You look adorable and that henna looks so pretty on you, joined a third. I have the same design on my left hand, right now, expressed a fourth.

A few told @pyara_jake_kodia that only females can wear mehndi. However, others refuted those replies by saying that anyone can wear mehendi. Just like this individual who wrote, Don't listen to the stupid comments. Anyone can wear it, my family's males wear it all the time during festivals or pooja.

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A woman who was flying for a trip with her husband found her happy time turned into a nightmare when the planes cabin crew decided that she was unfit for flying after spotting that she was sweating. As per reports, she was flying from Newcastle to Rome when the incident took place. Jet2, the airline that deplaned her also responded to the incident. They not only apologised but also refunded her holiday as a gesture of goodwill. The woman contacted Jet2 after the incident. The airline later addressed the incident in a statement (Representative image). (Unsplash/Pascal Meier)

What happened that led to her being deplaned?

The woman, identified as 56-year-old Helen Taylor, suffers from type 2 diabetes and says she was fine when she boarded the flight, reports the Chronicle Live. She began feeling dizzy and started sweating when she went to the washroom but felt better a few moments later.

"I was desperate for the toilet so I asked one of the cabin crew while people were still boarding whether I could possibly go to the loo," Helen told the Chronicle Live. "She (the flight attendant) said, 'Yes no problem.' But when I came out I started to sweat and went a little bit dizzy. The air stewardess saw and asked, 'Are you alright?' and I said, 'I am perfectly fine, I had just eaten after not eating all day and I have Type 2 diabetes, so it is just my blood sugars releveling. All I need is to sit down and have a drink of water and I will be perfectly fine, Taylor added. She further explained that she is also going through menopause.

How did the cabin crew respond?

Once she was spotted sweating, the cabin crew decided to do a medical and also ask her about her condition. They later informed her We've made a decision that you are going to have to leave the aircraft, we think you are a flight risk.

What did the airline say?

Taylor later contacted the airline to let them know about the incident. The airline, after investigating the matter, released a statement to address the incident.

After liaising with independent medical aviation specialists, our crew took this decision as the health, wellbeing and safety of our customers is always our first priority. However, after investigating further as a matter of absolute priority, we have been in touch with Ms Taylor to apologise and to refund her holiday as a gesture of goodwill, a Jet2 spokesperson told the publication.

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Two officers were wounded Thursday in a shooting in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the gunman was killed by Israeli forces, police said, as tensions spike amid deadly fighting with Gaza militants. Israeli police secure the scene following reports of gunfire directed at Shalem police station near the Old City of Jerusalem,(REUTERS)

An armed 20-year-old man from the city's eastern sector "opened fire at police officers who were standing in front of the" Shalem police station near the Old City, police spokesman Dean Elsdunne said.

An AFP photographer saw what appeared to be a dead body outside the police station with dozens of officers in the area.

One of the officers was in serious condition and the other was lightly wounded, police said citing medics.

As the gunman "attempted to flee the scene", officers "managed to... successfully neutralise him. He was declared deceased at the scene", said Elsdunne.

At least 33 Palestinians have been killed in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank in violence related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Saturday, when Hamas militants launched a major assault.

Israel is reeling under the surprise multi-pronged attack that began early Saturday and has claimed at least 1,200 lives in Israel.

More than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes and artillery fire on the blockaded Gaza Strip since Saturday, according to official figures.

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Carlee Russell, an Alabama woman who faked her own kidnapping, has been found guilty of the crime. The nursing student, 26, has been convicted of filing a false police report and falsely reporting that she saw a baby crawling along a highway shortly before she disappeared. Carlee Russell has been convicted of filing a false police report and falsely reporting that she saw a baby crawling along a highway shortly before she disappeared (carleenichole__/Instagram)

Carlee has entered a not-guilty plea even though she had previously publicly admitted to the hoax. A Hoover judge recommended a one-year prison sentence for Carlee, as well as a restitution payment of $17,874. The judge also recommended two fines of $831 each. She is free on a bond at present.

But she has apologized for what transpired

Carlee and her team are now planning to appeal the verdict to the circuit court. Her attorney, Emory Anthony, said that the jail time is not an appropriate punishment for a Class A misdemeanour. Emory also pointed out that this was her clients first offence. She has apologized  through me but thats not good enough. But she has apologized for what transpired, Emory said, according to New York Post.

Emory also told WVTM that Carlee does not have objections against paying restitution. I think anything is fair when it comes to restitution with the expenses that were done. So we have to say that is fair. Anytime you assert restitution it has to be proven. The amount $17-thousand and some, hours spent, I would think that would be fair, Emory said.

The drama unfolded on July 13, when Carlee reported seeing a toddler in a diaper on the side of an interstate in Hoover while she was driving. Hoover is a city of around 92,000 south of Birmingham.

She then mysteriously went missing, prompting a massive manhunt. However, on July 15, she returned home and claimed that she had been abducted and forced into an 18-wheeler. About a week later, she admitted in a statement through her attorney that she had lied about the kidnapping. She also admitted that she never saw a toddler. The same month, she was charged with misdemeanor counts of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident.

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned violence against civilians on Thursday in the wake of the devastating attack by Hamas gunmen on Israel and the relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israeli jets that followed. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City,(AP)

The comments, made during a visit to Jordan, come ahead of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and mark a shift from Abbas' previous failure to condemn Saturday's attack, during which more than 1,000 Israelis were killed.

"We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying.

He said the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited governance in the occupied West Bank and which has long been opposed to Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls Gaza, stood against violence and would pursue political action to achieve its goals.

On Thursday, Blinken added his voice to international condemnation of the attack but said he knew that Hamas did not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations.

The West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of a future state, has seen a wave of violence for more than 18 months that has fuelled fears of a repeat of the two Palestinian Intifadas or uprisings of the 1980s and early 2000s.

As Israel has reeled from the impact of Saturday's unprecedented assault by Hamas gunmen, in which more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and Gaza has been subject to the most intense bombardment it has ever seen, the West Bank has been ominously volatile.

More than 30 people have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since Saturday and security forces are braced for further violence ahead of Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Both Fatah, the faction which controls the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, which has a strong presence in the West Bank, called for a "day of rage" protest on Friday.

The mosque, on a site in the Old City of Jerusalem holy to both Muslims and Jews who know it as the Temple Mount, is one of the most sensitive places in the Middle East and the trigger for repeated confrontations.

On Thursday, a Palestinian man was shot dead just outside the Old City after he apparently fired at a police station, Israeli police said.

Earlier, Israeli settlers in the West Bank killed two Palestinians when they opened fire on a funeral procession. A 37-year-old woman was also killed when she was shot by security forces near Ramallah, the main city in the West bank, according to Palestinian health services.

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A flight operated by budget carrier Scoot was escorted back to Singapore by fighter jets due to a bomb threat on Thursday, the airline said in a statement. Scoot said the flight landed safely about two hours after takeoff, and security checks were carried out.(File)

Scoot flight TR16 to Perth departed Singapore at 4:11 pm (0811 GMT).

But about one hour into the flight, "a precautionary decision was made to turn the aircraft back to Singapore due to a bomb threat", Scoot, the budget arm of Singapore Airlines, said in the statement.

"The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was activated to escort the aircraft back to Changi Airport. Emergency services were also activated," the airline added.

Scoot said the flight landed safely about two hours after takeoff, and security checks were carried out.

The airline said it was assisting authorities with investigations, adding that it was unable to provide additional details as "this is a security matter".

A 30-year-old passenger who was not named told local newspaper The Straits Times that police escorted two individuals off the plane after it landed.

The pilot then announced the bomb threat, saying he believed it was likely a hoax, the newspaper reported.

Police told AFP they were "conducting necessary checks, and investigations are on-going".

"The Police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm," they added.

Singapore's air force previously scrambled fighter jets to escort commercial airliners after bomb threats in 2022, 2019 and 2018.
A Black Lives Matter chapter in Chicago has admitted that they arent proud of a now-deleted post on X, where they seemingly supported the Hamas attack on Israel. The organisation posted an image of a person paragliding with a Palestine flag attached to its parachute. The photo had I stand with Palestine written on it. That is all that is it! the post was captioned. (Israeli soldiers take defencive positions as troops and rescuers search the scene of an attack in the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza on the border with the Gaza Strip on October 11, 2023 (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)(AFP)

The post seemed to refer to Hamas terrorists descending on communities in Israel with parachutes and gliders. The worst of the attacks, perhaps, was launched at a music festival in Israel. The party descended into chaos when the terrorists attacked the site, killing at least 260 people and abducting many more. Thousands of people attended the party, near Kibbutz Re'im close to Gaza. Palestinian gunmen attacked the site and shot people down as they tried to escape.

(@BLMChi/X)

After deleting the post, BLM Chicago wrote on X, Yesterday we sent out msgs that we arent proud of. We stand with Palestine & the people who will do what they must to live free. Our hearts are with, the grieving mothers, those rescuing babies from rubble, who are in danger of being wiped out completely.

Several killed, many held hostage

Recently, the Israeli military has planned to send out officers who would inform more than 100 families that their loved ones are being held hostage by the Hamas terrorists. Several videos have gone viral on social media, including some from the site of a music festival where the terrorists launched an attack.

One video shows a woman, Noa Argamani, being taken away on the back of a motorcycle as she screamed for help. The men were seen restraining her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. He was seen being made to walk with his hands held behind his back. They are being considered two of several Israelis who are believed to be held captive in Gaza at present.

Another bone-chilling footage has captured the moment an Israeli mother and her two young boys were abducted by Hamas terrorists during the attack over the weekend. 30-year-old Shiri Silberman-Bibas appears visibly distressed and frightened in the video as she clutches her children, three years old and nine months old, as the terrorists take them away.

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A Canadian immigration tribunal has ruled that a Sikh man who provided shelter and sustenance to Khalistani militants in India for over a decade should be permitted to enter Canada. This decision was reached because it was primarily out of necessity and fear of retaliation that he offered assistance, as reported by the National Post newspaper. File photo of Khalistan supporters stage a protest outside the Indian High Commission in London, UK.(ANI)

Heidi Worsfold, a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board tribunal, said in a recent ruling that the Canadian government lacked sufficient grounds to label Kamaljit Ram, an Indian citizen, as inadmissible for entry into Canada on the grounds that he had offered a "safe house" and "logistical support" to Khalistani militants.

The tribunal's verdict affirms that this Sikh individual, who sheltered and provided sustenance to armed Khalistani militants in India for over a decade, should be permitted entry to Canada due to his primary motivation being necessity and a fear of retaliation, according to the newspaper.

The original decision to bar Ram from entering Canada was made by the federal government after he disclosed to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers during an interview that he had intermittently harboured and fed armed Sikh militants at his farm in India between 1982 and 1992.

He also told officers that he supported the ideas promoted by followers of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Sikh militant and leading figure of the Khalistani movement, for a separate Khalistan state and other social issues, according to the report.

Worsfold concluded that the government's evaluation of Ram's support for the armed militants at that time was overly harsh, failing to acknowledge that he repeatedly stated that he agreed to host these armed individuals because he "feared the consequences" of being on the opposing side of the group.

This ruling comes amidst a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, sparked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's unsubstantiated allegations of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India has vehemently rejected these claims as "absurd" and motivated.

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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
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has presented facts of the numerous atrocities committed by the Baku regime against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh substantiating its request for provisional measures against Azerbaijan.

In his remarks to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Armenias council to the UN court Lawrence H. Martin explained that Armenians in NK had to pick up and leave and they had very compelling reasons to flee their ancestral homeland rather than risk their lives under Bakus iron fist.

Martin reminded of the grave consequences of the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan emphasizing that Azerbaijan had been pursuing anti-Armenian policy long before the blockade imposed on December 12, 2022.

To understand these reasons, we have to look back even beyond the start of the blockade last December. As we explained in Armenias Memorial, anti-Armenian hate is engrained in official State policy in Azerbaijan. It has created a society where ethnic Armenians hide their identity and to call someone Armenian is considered an insult. This deep hatred has motivated countless atrocities against ethnic Armenians, in Nagorno-Karabakh and elsewhere, Lawrence H. Martin said.

Martin reminded of the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan during the 44-day war in 2020, stating that Bakus 19 September attack was the culmination of a well-considered plan. He also reminded of the decisions of the court all of which were ignored by the Azerbaijani regime.

Last February, you ordered Azerbaijan to take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. But nothing happened. Azerbaijan refused to comply, even as it claimed with its usual up is down double-speak that it was complying. Despite wide-spread condemnation from across the international community and the intense suffering of the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan left the so-called eco-protestors in place for more than another two months. Azerbaijan sent them home immediately after it installed a government checkpoint at the Hakari border bridge at the entrance to the Lachin corridor, Armenias council to the world court said.

There is a pressing need to stop and reverse the ongoing forced exodus of the local Armenian population, which amounts to ethnic cleansing, and to ensure the conditions for their safe return to Nagorno-Karabakh, Martin said.

He also mentioned the Azeri attacks on farmers in Nagorno-Karabakh seeking to prevent harvest works, with the widespread shortages of food causing starvation.

Armenia has named the ten provisional measures it seeks the ICJ to indicate against Azerbaijan. The request was submitted by Armenias agent Yeghishe Kirakosyan during the world court oral proceedings on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

On the basis of its request for provisional measures dated 28 September 2023 and its oral pleadings, Armenia respectfully requests the court to indicate the following provisional measures pending its determination of this case on the merits:

1) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any measures which might entail breaches of its obligations under the CERD;

2) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any actions directly or indirectly aimed at or having the effect of displacing the remaining ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, or preventing the safe and expeditious return to their homes of persons displaced in the course of the recent military attack including those who have fled to Armenia or third States, while permitting those who wish to leave Nagorno-Karabakh to do so without any hindrance;

3) Azerbaijan shall withdraw all military and law-enforcement personnel from all civilian establishments in Nagorno-Karabakh occupied as a result of its armed attack on 19 September 2023;

4) Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the access of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not interfere with their activities in any way;

5) Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to address the other consequences of the recent conflict;

6) Azerbaijan shall immediately facilitate the full restoration of public utilities, including gas and electricity, to Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall refrain from disrupting them in the future;

7) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking punitive actions against the current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh;

8) Azerbaijan shall not alter or destroy any monument commemorating the 1915 Armenian genocide or any other monument or Armenian cultural artefact or site present in Nagorno-Karabakh;

9) Azerbaijan shall recognize and give effect to civil registers, identity documents and property titles and registers established by the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not destroy or confiscate such registers and documents;

10) Azerbaijan shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month, as from the date of this Order, and thereafter every three months, until a final decision on the case is rendered by the Court, Kirakosyan said.
At least six Hindu temples have been broken into in the province of Ontario since this September. A CCTV grab of the suspect entering the Hindu Heritage Centre in Mississauga on October 4. (Source: Hindu Heritage Centre)

While Durham Regional Police issued a release on Wednesday about three such burglaries this month, it has now emerged that three more temples were broken into in September.

The Durham Police release had stated that in the early hours of October 8, there were reports of consecutive break-and-enters at three temples within its jurisdiction. These have been identified as the Devi Mandir in Pickering, Sankat Mochan Mandir in Ajax and the Hindu Mandir Durham in Oshawa.

The Devi Mandir was spared from theft from the donation boxes as the priest living in the premises, Girish Khali, pulled the fire alarm which caused the suspect to flee.

The three temples in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are the Chintpurni Temple in Brampton, which was targeted on September 9, Rameshwar Mandir in Caledon, robbed on September 18 and the Hindu Heritage Centre in Mississauga, on October 4.

Police described the suspect as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. He was seen wearing a blue surgical mask, black poofy jacket with tightly zipped hood, green camo cargo pants, and green running shoes. He was observed walking with a limp. CCTV footage from the Hindu Heritage Centre, viewed by the Hindustan Times, also shows the intruder walking with a limp.

In a statement on Facebook on September 22, the Rameshwar Mandir management said, An ongoing investigation by the police is under way to apprehend those responsible for this breach of security. We are cooperating fully with the authorities in their efforts to resolve this matter swiftly.

The statement added, We would like to assure the public that we take this incident very seriously and will continue to prioritise the safety and well-being of our visitors, devotees and the security of our premises.

These burglaries follow a spate of similar incidents in the GTA in late 2021 and into early last year. There were at least 18 such break-ins. Three persons were arrested in March 2022 in connection with the burglaries that had caused concern within the Indo-Canadian community.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail
A creature that resembles Bigfoot has been caught on camera walking across a hillside in Colorado. The creature was seen roaming through the San Juan National Forest on two legs, near the New Mexico and Utah borders. The animal was captured on camera by onlookers on a train travelling from Durango to Silverton in the southwest corner of Colorado. The creature was seen roaming through the San Juan National Forest on two legs, near the New Mexico and Utah borders (bt92.travels/Instagram)

A Bigfoot, or cryptid,is an animal whose existence is unsubstantiated, like the yeti. While many people claimed to have seen the creature, there is massive scepticism around its existence.

Shannon Parker and her husband Stetson spotted the alleged Bigfoot while on the train, and the person sitting next to them recorded the sighting on their phone. Shannon, too, captured photos, which the Denver Gazette obtained. Shannon said she found it strange that most people on the train did not seem to notice the creature

Prominent Bigfoot hunter Claudia Ackley was found dead in July this year

In July this year,prominent Bigfoot hunter Claudia Ackley, who claimed to have filmed the cryptid, died at the age of 51. Claudia, who had sued the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to prove the existence of the animal, was found dead at her Tennessee home on July 3. A heart attack was suspected to be her cause of death, her partner Ed Brown confirmed to The US Sun.

Claudia claimed that she first sighted the cryptid nearly a decade ago. Since then, she devoted her life in an attempt to prove that the mythical, hairy humanoid exists, and is dangerous. Her partner, Ed, said that the Bigfoot community "lost a soldier" after her death.

According to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, there were as many as 676 alleged Bigfoot sightings or encounters in Washington state. In California, on the other hand, there were 445.

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The Israeli military prepared for a possible ground invasion in Gaza on Thursday as it pounded the tiny coastal strip in retaliation for the unprecedented weekend attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas. Palestinians look for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip,(AP)

In a deliberate show of support for Israel, a U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit on Friday, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Suffering in Gaza, meanwhile, rose dramatically with Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine and the territorys only power plant shut down for lack of fuel. Israel said Thursday that a complete siege would remain in place until Hamas freed 150 hostages taken during its incursion.

An Israeli strike Thursday afternoon in the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza collapsed a residential building on families sheltering inside, killing at least 45 people, Gazas Interior Ministry said.

Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday.

The war has claimed at least 2,800 lives on both sides.

PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ABBAS CALLS FOR END OF VIOLENCE TOWARDS CIVILIANS ON GAZA STRIP

In a meeting with the King of Jordan Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave tempered remarks calling for the end of aggression toward Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian state media reported, as Israeli airstrikes pummeled the besieged strip.

We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides, said Abbas, who is the head of Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.

In 2007, Hamas violently seized Gaza from the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority.

HUNDREDS GATHER IN ROMANIA'S CAPITAL IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

Several hundred people gathered for a rally in Romania's capital on Thursday to pledge their support for Israel in what its embassy called the country's fight against terrorism.

Held at a central Bucharest park, many attendees waved Israeli flags and some brandished signs that read: We stand with Israel.

Israel's ambassador to Romania, Reuven Azar, told reporters there that we are going to tackle this evil, because without tackling this evil, we are all in danger.

We are now in a very difficult moment in our history. We've been attacked by one of the most ferocious, barbaric, savage forces in the world that is killing innocent civilians, families, babies, children, taking hostages, (and) burning people alive," he said. It's a kind of savagery that we haven't seen before.

US DEFENCE SECRETARY SAYS ISRAEL CAN USE AMERICAN-PROVIDED MUNITIONS AS IT SEES FIT

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that the US is placing no specific conditions on how Israel uses the American-provided munitions. Israel has a professional military and we would hope and expect that they would do the right things, he told reporters at the close of the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

He was asked if the US would put conditions on the weapon, specifically that they would not be used against civilians. Austin said he would leave it to the Israelis to define their operations.

Austin also said that the US is working to provide Israel whatever it needs, even as America continues to support Ukraine. The United States can walk and chew gum at the same time.

AID CHIEF CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING DEMILITARISED ZONES IN GAZA

Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland has called for establishing demilitarised zones in Gaza amid unrelenting bombardment by Israel following last weekend's unprecedented attack by Hamas.

Writing Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter, Egeland said urgent life-saving support is needed for civilians trapped in Gaza.

The siege must be lifted, he wrote. Defined, safe, and demilitarised zones within Gaza itself must be established & respected by all parties.

Egeland also called for the international community to facilitate a deal to release all civilians held by both sides, with immediate release of children, mothers with infants, the wounded & sick.

ISRAEL'S MILITARY CHIEF ADMITS FAILURE TO PROTECT CITIZENS AROUND THE GAZA STRIP

The chief of staff for Israel's military, Herzi Halevi, admitted Thursday that the military had failed to protect civilians around the Gaza Strip from Hamas's unprecedented attack on the country.

The IDF is responsible for the security of the country and its citizens, and on Saturday morning in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, we did not, Halevi said. We will learn, we will investigate, but now is the time for war.

BLINKEN TO VISIT QATAR ON FRIDAY

After visiting Israel and Jordan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel on Friday to Doha where he will have talks with senior Qatari officials.

Qatar has ties with Hamas and has in the past served as facilitator in discussions to calm tensions in and around Gaza.

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Every Hamas member is a dead man, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said vowing to crush and destroy Hamas as at least 2,300 people were killed on both Israel's and Hamas's sides as the world witnesses a major conflict right amid the ongoing Russia and Ukraine war. In his televised address on Wednesday night, Netanyahu said Hamas militants raped young women, shot young boys and girls. We saw boys and girls bound, who were shot in the head. Men and women burned alive. Young women who were raped and slaughtered. Soldiers who were beheaded, Netanyahu said. US President Joe Biden said the US has warned Iran amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Wartime cabinet

Netanyahu created a wartime Cabinet joining hands with Benny Gantz, a senior opposition leader, to set up a wartime cabinet which would focus only on the war. Defence minister Yoav Gallant is also part of this special cabinet.

'Now is the time for war'

As Israel's opposition leader Bennt Gantz joined the wartime government, he said, "There is a time for war and time for peace. Now is the time for war."

Just as people from left and right, from the city and the village, go out to fight, decisions of the government will also be made by people from different camps. Now, we are all one camp - the camp of the people of Israel, Gantz said.

US travel advisory

The United States has advised its citizens to not travel to Gaza and to reconsider travel to Israel. The US State Department said it is exploring options to facilitate US citizens from Israel to other nearby countries.

Iran President, Saudi Crown Prince speak for the 1st time

The war made Iran President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speak for the first time. While Iran is accused by Israel of backing the Hamas, Saudi has clarified its stand against Israel. The two sides discussed the "need to end war crimes against Palestine".

'I refuse to be silent': Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden spoke to American Jewish leaders on Wednesday night and said 'I refuse to be silent' on the 'deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust'. "We are working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts," Biden said.

Biden said the US has asked Iran to be careful.

Infiltration from Lebanon?

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group said it fired missiles on Israel which was countered by the Israel side. The northers Israel was put on alert citing a suspected infiltration from Lebanon into the Israeli airspace. But later the army said it was a false alarm -- either a technical malfunction or a human error and there was no infiltration from that side.

Will there be a ground operation in Gaza?

As Israel is upping the offensive, the creation of a war-time cabinet triggers speculation about whether Israel will launch a ground assault. Israel has also started warning civilians in Gaza to evacuate and then inflicting devastation. Its also mobilized some 360,000 reservists.

Asked if Washington had advocated for Israel to exercise restraint in its response, with a ground operation in Gaza expected, Blinken said that Israel respects international law and makes efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

"We know that Israel will take all of the precautions that it can, just as we would, and again thats what separates us from Hamas and terrorist groups that engage in the most heinous kind of activities," Blinken said.

What is the situation in Gaza?

More than 250,000 people in Gaza have fled their homes, the UN said. Israel has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza, and the sole remaining access from Egypt was shut down Tuesday after airstrikes hit near the border crossing. Only private generators are running hospitals and other facilities.

Hamas denies claims of beheading children, raping women

Hamas claimed reports that its fighters beheaded children and assaulted women are baseless. Some Western media outlets continue to spread Zionist slander and lies about our Palestinian people and their resistance, which falsely and slanderously promoted allegations that members of the Palestinian resistance beheaded children and assaulted women, without any evidence to support their lies and claims," Ezzat Al Rishq, member of Hamas's political bureau, said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Justin Bieber slammed for social media post on Israel-Palestine

Singer Justin Bieber shared an image of gaza and wrote 'praying for Israel'. As he was slammed, he deleted the post.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail
Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has agreed to pay more than 652 million pounds ($800 million) after pleading guilty to tax fraud in a London court on Thursday, prosecutors said. Former Chief Executive of the Formula One Group Bernie Ecclestone (REUTERS)

The 92-year-old appeared at Southwark Crown Court and admitted one count of fraud by false representation, just over a month before he was due to stand trial.

Ecclestone, accompanied by his wife Fabiana, spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his plea. "I plead guilty," he said.

Ecclestone admitted giving a misleading answer to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at a July 2015 meeting, when he said he had established only a single trust in favour of his daughters and was not a beneficiary or settlor of any other trust.

"Mr Ecclestone did not know the true position and was therefore not in a position to provide a positive or negative answer," prosecutor Richard Wright said on Thursday.

He added that Ecclestone had agreed a civil settlement with HMRC, under which he will pay 652.6 million pounds covering tax, interest and penalties for 18 tax years between 1994 and 2022.

Ecclestone's lawyer Clare Montgomery told the court that Ecclestone "did not know the true position" about whether he was the beneficiary or settlor of any other trust.

"He should have said 'I don't know' rather than 'No'," Montgomery said. She added that Ecclestone's answer to HMRC was an "impulsive lapse of judgment".
Florida Republican Cory Mills has reportedly rescued as many as 32 Americans stranded in Israel amid the Hamas attack. A photo that has surfaced shows Mills, an Iraq veteran, leaving Israel with a large group on a bus. Cory Mills has reportedly rescued as many as 32 Americans stranded in Israel amid the Hamas attack (@RepMillsPress, AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

According to The Floridan, Mills said that he flew overnight to reach the combat zone to help. Mills had provided help in the past during withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. It is unclear if he has returned from Israel yet.

In a post on X, Mills wrote, Since the Biden admin has failed to do their job once again, I've stepped in to rescue Americans stranded in war-torn Israel. In 2021, I was part of the team that conducted the first successful overland rescue mission of Americans from Afghanistan after the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Against all odds, our team saved four American citizens, even with the Biden administration working against our efforts. While this admin has a record of leaving Americans behind, I refuse to be a part of their reckless inaction.

Meanwhile, John Kirby, Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, said at a briefing this afternoon that there were active conversations about ways to bring back Americans and dual citizens. We're in active touch with American citizens in Israel, many of them are dual nationalities... there are still commercial carriers flying in and out and there are viable ground routes, Kirby said.

Neither of those options may necessarily be feasible or affordable, so we are exploring a range of other options to assist if Americans want to leave, I'm just not at liberty to go into that, he added.

At least 14Americans have reportedly been killed during the attacks over the weekend. The Biden administration has not confirmed how many Americans are being held hostage. "While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held byHamas," president Joe Biden said in a statement. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis.

The worst of the attacks, perhaps, was launched at a music festival in Israel. The party descended into chaos when the terrorists attacked the site, killing at least 260 people and abducting many more. Thousands of peopleattended the party, near Kibbutz Re'im close to Gaza. Palestinian gunmen attacked the site and shot people down as they tried to escape.

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Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday thanked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for United States' support to the country in the war against terror group Hamas saying that his visit is a tangible example of America's unequivocal support in the time where they should stand tall, proud and united against the sheer evil. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make statements to the media.(AP)

"Thank you to the American people for your incredible support for Israel in our war against the barbarians of Hamas. Mr Secretary, your visit is another tangible example of America's unequivocal support for Israel", Netanyahu said in a joint statement after the meeting with Blinken in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv.

He further said that Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilisation but the forces of civilisation will win over the sheer evil. "Antony, my friend. I say to you, I say to all of us. There will be many difficult days ahead. But I have no doubt that the forces of civilisation will win. The reason that is true is because we understand what is the first prerequisite of victory - moral clarity. This is a time that we must stand tall, proud and united against evil."

Neatnyahu compared the Hamas with ISIS and vowed that the terror group will be crushed just as the Islamic State. "Hamas is ISIS and just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated. They should be spit out from the community of nations. No leader should meet them, no country should harbour them and those that do should be sanctioned."

Blinken vowed on a visit that US will "always" back Israel but said the Palestinians also have "legitimate aspirations" not represented by Hamas. "You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side," Blinken said in the joint statement.

Blinken arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv earlier today along with a team of officials for a solidarity visit as Israel's army takes on Hamas over weekend attacks that killed 1,200 people in Israel. Blinken also informed that at least 25 US citizens were killed in the attacks.

President Joe Biden had earlier condemned the unprecedented attacks on Israel as the "deadliest day" for Jews since the Holocaust, saying it has brought back painful memories of millennia of anti-Semitism and genocide against them. Biden added that the US continues to monitor the situation in Israel very closely.

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,200 and some 3,300 have been injured. Meanwhile, over 1,350 Palestinians have died in Gaza as Israel has levelled entire city blocks and destroyed thousands of buildings.

(With inputs from agencies)
Former President Donald Trump criticized Hezbollah, the Biden administration, and Israeli officials in his remarks on Wednesday, after the Lebanese-based terror group launched missiles at Israeli troops. Trump also claimed that Hamas would not have attacked Israel if he was still in the White House. WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a rally hosted by Club 47 USA at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on October 11, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alon Skuy / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

Trump spoke to a crowd in West Palm Beach, Fla., and blamed the Israeli and US government officials for revealing the weaknesses of Israel, which he said provoked Hezbollahs attack. He said he read that Bidens national security team hoped that Hezbollah would not attack from the north, which is Israels most vulnerable spot.

I said, Wait a minute. You know, Hezbollah is very smart. Theyre all very smart, Trump said. He also said that an Israeli defense official made the same mistake by saying the same thing on television.

So the following morning, they attacked, the former President said.

They might not have been doing it, but if you listen to this jerk, you would attack from the north, because he said thats our weak spot, he added. Whoever heard of officials saying on television that they hope the enemy doesnt attack in a certain area?

ALSO READ| I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children, Joe Biden decries Hamas atrocity in Israel

The Israeli military confirmed that Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position on Wednesday, but did not comment on possible casualties. Hezbollah claims to have killed and wounded Israeli troops in the attack.

In a clip of an interview with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade that will air on Thursday, Trump also slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he was not prepared for Saturdays incursion by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, which killed hundreds of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

We have to protect Israel, theres no choice, Trump stated.

And why do we have to do it? [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here. He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared.

Trump suggested that if he was president, the US would have detected and prevented the terrorist attack in Israel.

And under Trump, they wouldnt have had to be prepared, he said. At the Florida rally, Trump promised to stand with Israel 100% and not let them fail if he becomes president again, but also shared a bad experience he had with Israels leadership when he was in office.

He said that when he ordered the US airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq in January 2020, Israel was supposed to participate in the attack with the US, but backed out at the last minute.

He was a very bad guy, very smart guy, but a very bad guy, Trump said of Soleimani.

And Israel was going to do this with us and it was being planned and working on it for months and now we had everything all set to go. And the night before it happened. I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack, Trump claimed, saying that it might be a classified story.

ALSO READ| Why Steve Scalise hasn't assumed the role of house speaker for Republicans yet?

Trump said he did not know why Israel allegedly changed its mind and called Netanyahus alleged decision a terrible thing.

"I'll never forget  I'll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down," Trump expressed. "That was a very terrible thing."

"And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That was it. That didn't make me feel too good, but that's all right," he lamented.

The former president added that Israel must "strengthen themselves up" and "step up their game" militarily.

The comments sparked criticism from one of his 2024 GOP presidential primary rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as 'very smart,'" DeSantis tweeted.

"As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are," he added.

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The US President Joe Biden expressed his horror at the gruesome images of children being beheaded by terrorists in southern Israel, where Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday that killed over 1,200 people and abducted around 150 others. US President Joe Biden during a roundtable discussion with Jewish community leaders in theIndian Treaty Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Photographer: Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg(Bloomberg)

Biden spoke to Jewish leaders at the White House on Wednesday and said, I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children. I never thought Id ever  anyway. He did not take any questions from the reporters, but said he was working to bring home the Americans who were captured by Hamas and taken to Gaza.

I havent given up hope of bringing these folks home, he said.

If I told you, I wouldnt be able to get them home.

ALSO READ| Why Steve Scalise hasn't assumed the role of house speaker for Republicans yet?

According to reports, up to 40 babies were slaughtered in their homes near the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.

While a senior White House national security aide stated they hadn't viewed the mentioned images, another White House official cited remarks made by Tal Heinrich, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Wednesday, Heinrich quoted CNN that infants and young children had been discovered with "decapitated" bodies in the community of Kfar Aza.

An Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson also told The Intercept that they could not confirm it officially, but they believed the report.

Yossi Landau, a representative from Israel's volunteer civilian emergency response organization, Zaka, shared with CBS News that he witnessed the gruesome sight of children and infants who had been decapitated.

I saw a lot more that cannot be described for now, because its very hard to describe, he said.

Nicole Zedek, a television reporter for i24NEWS based in Tel Aviv, was the initial source to report the allegations of child beheadings on Tuesday. In a radio interview on Wednesday, she expressed her dismay at the initial public skepticism.

She stated, I mean, babies heads cut off. Thats what they encountered when they came there. So as horrible as it is and and I wish that I it wasnt true.

ALSO READ| Hamas terrorist allegedly kills woman and her boyfriend at Israel rave, sends video to the man's mom

The IDF also shared a disturbing image online on Wednesday that showed a blood-stained mattress of an Israeli child with blood spatter on the wall and the footboard.

Since Hamas' shocking attack on Israel, the US President has refrained from taking press questions in various settings. He is encountering mounting pressure from members of both parties in Congress to reconsider his decision to release $6 billion to Iran, amid reports that the funds may have been connected to the planning of the attack.

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Iran's top envoy accused Israel of seeking "genocide" by enforcing a siege against the Gaza Strip, Iranian state TV reported on Thursday, as he began a regional tour to discuss the conflict between Tehran's Palestinian ally Hamas and Israel. Smoke billows during Israeli air strikes in Gaza(AFP)

Israel said there would be no humanitarian break to its siege of the Gaza Strip, launched after Hamas militants' devastating attacks on Israel on Saturday, until all Israelis taken hostage that day were freed.

The Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed into Gaza to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from "turning into morgues".

Before leaving Tehran for Iraq, the first leg of his tour that includes Lebanon and Syria, Hossein Amirabdollahian said: "The war ... in the Gaza Strip is not just the Zionists' war against a group, it is a war against all Palestinians.

"Today, the continuation of war crimes by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and Zionists against the civilians in Gaza, besieging, cutting off water and electricity, and denying entry of medicine and food, has created conditions where the Zionists are seeking a genocide of all people in Gaza," he said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a phone call, the first contact between the two leaders since resumption of ties between Tehran and Riyadh under a China-brokered deal in March.

As part of Tehran's efforts to reach an agreement with regional countries on a position to support Palestinians, Raisi also held a phone call with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran's clerical rulers have been most vocal backing the Palestinian cause as a pillar of the Islamic Republic.

Iran has made no secret of its backing for Hamas, funding and arming the group and another Palestinian militant organisation, Islamic Jihad.

But Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Tehran was not involved in the Hamas attack on Israel. However, he hailed what he called Israel's "irreparable" military and intelligence defeat.

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia has named the ten provisional measures it seeks the ICJ to indicate against Azerbaijan. The request was submitted by Armenias agent Yeghishe Kirakosyan during the world court oral proceedings on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

On the basis of its request for provisional measures dated 28 September 2023 and its oral pleadings, Armenia respectfully requests the court to indicate the following provisional measures pending its determination of this case on the merits:

1) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any measures which might entail breaches of its obligations under the CERD;

2) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any actions directly or indirectly aimed at or having the effect of displacing the remaining ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, or preventing the safe and expeditious return to their homes of persons displaced in the course of the recent military attack including those who have fled to Armenia or third States, while permitting those who wish to leave Nagorno-Karabakh to do so without any hindrance;

3) Azerbaijan shall withdraw all military and law-enforcement personnel from all civilian establishments in Nagorno-Karabakh occupied as a result of its armed attack on 19 September 2023;

4) Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the access of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not interfere with their activities in any way;

5) Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to address the other consequences of the recent conflict;

6) Azerbaijan shall immediately facilitate the full restoration of public utilities, including gas and electricity, to Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall refrain from disrupting them in the future;

7) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking punitive actions against the current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh;

8) Azerbaijan shall not alter or destroy any monument commemorating the 1915 Armenian genocide or any other monument or Armenian cultural artefact or site present in Nagorno-Karabakh;

9) Azerbaijan shall recognize and give effect to civil registers, identity documents and property titles and registers established by the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not destroy or confiscate such registers and documents;

10) Azerbaijan shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month, as from the date of this Order, and thereafter every three months, until a final decision on the case is rendered by the Court, Kirakosyan said.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Thursday that the continuation of crimes against Palestinians will receive a response from "the rest of the axis" and Israel will be responsible for the consequences. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian(AP)

Israel has been pounding Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas rampage in Israel this week that has killed at least 1,300 people, the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history. More than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed.

The Iranian minister said the displacement of Palestinians and cutting water and electricity to the Gaza Strip are considered war crimes.

"Some Western officials have questioned if there is an intention to open a new front against the Zionist entity. Of course, in light of the continuation of these circumstances that are war crimes," he said, speaking through a translator, on television upon his arrival in Beirut.

"The continuation of war crimes against Palestine and Gaza will receive a response from the rest of the axis. And naturally, the Zionist entity and its supporters will be responsible for the consequences of that," Amirabdollahian said.

He did not specify, but the Axis of Resistance refers to an alliance among Iran, Palestinian militant groups, Syria, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and other factions.

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Israel's energy minister Israel Katz said on Thursday the country will not allow basic resources  including electricity, water and fuel  or humanitarian aid inside the Gaza Strip until Hamas released Israeli hostages. Palestinian search the rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli strike, as battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. (AFP)

Katz said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals.

As reported by AFP, more than 150 Israelis and foreigners have been kidnapped and taken to Gaza by Hamas militants since Saturday, when the group levelled an unprecedented attack on Israeli towns which has led to the death of over 2,500 people on both sides. Israel retaliated with intense air and ground strikes on Gaza.

Soon after Israel announced war with Hamas, it planned a complete siege on Gaza as it cut off water, fuel and electricity supply in the strip.

Palestine's only power plant shut down on Wednesday after it completely ran out of fuel. Three out of five water plants in Gaza have also run out of fuel and shut down.

The United Nations Humanitarian Office said that the counterstrikes by the Israeli government have led many to face shortages of water, fuel and medical supplies. Over 650,000 people in the Gaza Strip face dire water shortages because of the strikes and over 12,600 homes have sustained damages due to Israeli bombs.

Hamas terrorists on Saturday entered Israeli towns using boats, motor gliders and trucks killing and abducting Israeli citizens and soldiers. Hamas also attacked an open music festival killing over 260 attendees.

AP reported on Thursday that Palestinians lined up outside bakeries and grocery stores in Gaza as Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said that they were preparing for a ground manoeuvre, which would end up increasing the death toll further.

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Amid the Israel-Hamas blitzkrieg triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack inside Israel, the Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said they are preparing for a ground operation in Gaza but only if the final nod comes from the government. A war cabinet has been put in place on an emergency basis where Israel's opposition leader Benny Gantz joined hands with Netanyahu -- to chart out the path ahead in the war, defence minister Yoav Gallant is also part of the war cabinet. Israel now has a new war cabinet of PM Benjamin Netanyahu, opposition leader Benny Gantz and defence minister Yoav Gallant(via REUTERS)

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if decided. The war cabinet, and the mobilisation of the army reservists indicate something much bigger and likely a ground incursion into Gaza. Every Hamas member is a dead man, Netanyahu's warning; 'Won't keep silent': Biden | 10 points

What Israel's land incursion to Gaza may look like

According to experts, Israel's build-up looks familiar to what they did in 2008 and 2014. Reuters quoted one Israeli security source who said a ground offensive looks inevitable now.

In 2008, Israel lost nine soldiers during its incursion. In 2014, the number killed soared to 66, Reuters reported.

Netanyahu has vowed to avenge the Hamas attack and in a televised address on Wednesday, the Israeli Prime Minister warned that every Hamas member is a dead man. Netanyahu accused Hamas militants of beheading children, raping women which Hamas strongly denied.

I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children. I never thought Id ever  anyway, US President Joe Biden said -- a statement that was seen as a testament to Netanyahu's claim but then the White House clarified that Biden did not see images or independently confirmed reports of beheaded children.

Gaza is densely populated and a ground invasion will result in huge casualties on both sides.

According to reports, Israel's o-ground preparation hint tat they are planning something big. The Israeli military has built a base next to teh Gaza Strip for the accommodation of the soldiers.

(With agency inputs)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail
Israeli strikes targeted Syria's two main airports on Thursday, Syrian state television said, in the first such attack since a Hamas assault on Israel at the weekend triggered fierce fighting. Palestinians look for survivors after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip.(AP)

"Israeli aggression targets Damascus and Aleppo airports," the state television reported on the messaging app Telegram, without providing additional details.

Israeli strikes have repeatedly caused the grounding of flights at the airports in Aleppo and the capital Damascus, both of which are controlled by the government of war-torn Syria.

The latest strikes came as Hamas and Israel traded heavy fire for a sixth day, after hundreds of Hamas gunmen stormed across the Gaza border into Israel on Saturday and killed more than 1,000 civilians.

They also came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel, and hours after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a telephone call with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, called on Arab and Islamic countries to cooperate in confronting Israel.

During more than a decade of war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on its northern neighbour, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes it carries out on Syria, but it has repeatedly said it would not allow its arch-foe Iran, which supports Assad's government, to expand its footprint there.

Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated Hamas' assault on Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.

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The conflict between Israel and Palestinian forces since militant group Hamas' weekend assault have created a huge and rising death toll on both sides. The war falls under a complex international system of justice that has emerged since World War Two. Israeli firefighters work to put out vehicles on fire after a rocket, launched from the Gaza Strip, landed in Ashkelon, southern Israel(Reuters)

What laws govern the conflict?

Internationally accepted rules of armed conflict emerged out of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which have been ratified by all U.N. member states and supplemented by rulings at international war crimes tribunals.

A series of treaties governs the treatment of civilians, soldiers and prisoners of war in a system collectively known as the "Law of Armed Conflict" or "International Humanitarian Law". It applies to government forces and organised armed groups, including Hamas militants.

If alleged Palestinian perpetrators of atrocities in Israel and all alleged perpetrators of crimes on the occupied Palestinian territories are not brought to justice at home, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is the only international legal organ able to bring charges.

Domestic courts can apply so-called universal jurisdiction in war crimes cases, but that would be limited in scope.

The ICC's founding Rome Statute gives it legal authority to investigate alleged crimes on the territory of its members or by their nationals, when domestic authorities are "unwilling or unable" to do so.

On Tuesday, the office of the prosecutor of the ICC confirmed that its mandate applies to potential crimes committed in the current conflict and said it continues to gather information.

What is the role of ICC?

The International Criminal Court (ICC), the world's permanent war crimes tribunals, opened in The Hague in 2002. It has jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in its 123 member states or committed by its nationals.

Many of the world's major powers are not members, including China, the United States, Russia, India and Egypt. The ICC recognises Palestine as a member state, while Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction and does not formally engage with it.

With a limited budget and staff, ICC prosecutors are already investigating 17 cases ranging from Ukraine and Afghanistan to Sudan and Myanmar. The ICC budget has allocated just under a million euros ($1.06 million) for investigations in the Palestinian territories for 2023 and is seeking additional resources.

The ICC has had an ongoing investigation into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the occupied Palestinian territories since 2021.

It has not issued any arrest warrants.

Prosecutors said in 2021 there was a reasonable basis to believe that violations had been committed on all sides, including by Israeli troops, Hamas militants and other armed Palestinian groups.

What acts could violate war crimes law?

New York-based Human Rights Watch cited as possible war crimes the deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate rocket attacks, and the taking of civilians as hostages by Palestinian armed groups, as well as the Israeli counter-strikes in Gaza that killed hundreds of Palestinians.

"Deliberate killings of civilians, hostage-taking, and collective punishment are heinous crimes that have no justification," said Omar Shakir, the group's Israel and Palestine director.

The taking of hostages, murder and torture are explicitly banned under the Geneva Conventions, while Israel's response could also be subject to a war crimes investigation.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant drew criticism from U.N. officials and human rights groups by announcing a tightened blockade to prevent food and fuel from reaching the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million people.

Gallant also vowed to wipe Hamas "off the face of the earth" amid growing expectations Israel will launch a ground invasion to destroy the Palestinian militant group.

Do the Geneva conventions apply?

Israel has a right and duty to respond, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday, adding that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed how democracies like Israel and the United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law.

A siege can be considered a war crime if it targets civilians, rather than a legitimate means to undermine Hamas' military capabilities, or if found to be disproportionate.

Attacks on military objectives have to be proportional under international law which means they must not lead to excessive loss of civilian life or damage to civilian objects in relation to the direct and concrete military advantage expected.

Nick Kaufman, a British-born Israeli defence lawyer at the ICC, cited the gruesome killings by Hamas militants of hundreds of revellers at a dance rave and civilians in several Kibbutz communities near the Gaza border as an obvious focus for a war crimes case.
Israels ambassador to China called on Beijing to leverage its close relationship with Iran to rein in Hamas, saying the Asian giant needed to be engaged in talks around the conflict. Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City (AFP)

We really hope China can be much more involved in talking to its close partners in the Middle East and particularly Iran, Irit Ben-Abba told Bloomberg TV in an interview Thursday. Iran is definitely very much involved in what has happened.

Ben-Abbas remarks come as Chinas willingness to entangle itself in some of the regions most intractable conflicts has come under scrutiny. A US senator confronted President Xi Jinping this week about his governments failure to condemn the surprise Oct. 7 strike by Hamas on Israel that killed hundreds of civilians.

While Chinas Foreign Ministry later said it was saddened by the casualties, Beijing hasnt criticized Hamas in its statements only saying that the Asian country is a friend to both sides of the conflict.

While Tehran is a known backer of Hamas, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has denied his country was involved in the strike.

China until recently didnt have a record of negotiating peace deals. That changed when in March it helped broker a tentative detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia, after years of diplomatic deadlock between the historic rivals. The deal marked a departure from Beijings long-stated reluctance to involve itself in foreign disputes.

First Contact

Zhai Jun, Beijings special envoy on Middle East issues, is expected to speak to Israeli officials on Thursday, according to Ben-Abba. That will mark Chinas first public contact with the Israelis since the conflict broke out.

The Chinese official on Wednesday pushed for a cease-fire in a phone call with a foreign affairs official from the Palestinian Authority, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

That meeting followed a call between Zhai and an Egyptian counterpart on Tuesday, during which he called for humanitarian support for the Palestinian people.

Chinas complex history with the Israel-Palestine conflict dates back decades. During Communist Party founder Mao Zedongs rule, China recognized the Israeli state, but was more sympathetic toward the Palestinians as Mao saw them as victims of imperialism.

Beiings relations with Israel remained tense through the Cold War, as the latter emerged as a key US ally. That began to change, though, as China opened up and showed economic interests in Israels developments in technology and defense. Now bilateral trade with Israel totals some $22.1 billion, according to 2022 statistics from the International Monetary Fund.

More than half of Israels exports to China are electric components including microchips, according to a June paper by Tel Aviv Universitys Institute for National Security Studies.

That trade with Israel is crucial as the US urges its partners to implement curbs on Beijings access to cutting-edge technology. Intel Corp. abandoned a $5.4 billion deal in August to acquire Israels Tower Semiconductor Ltd. after failing to win Chinese regulatory approval in time as rising geopolitical tensions slow down that process.

Ben-Abba said Israel and China have a good relationship, adding that they enjoy a special partnership on innovation. The diplomat said she didnt see any direct impact on bilateral trade from the unfolding situation.

Of course, we have to see what is going to happen in the Middle East as a whole, she said. We are in a state of war at the moment.
With Israel on the verge of ordering a land offensive in Gaza in retaliation to the medieval massacre by Sunni Hamas jihadists in South Israel since October 7, the Middle East is now sitting on a powder keg as the democratic world watching the scenario unfold with bated breath for the strike-retaliation-counter-retaliation terror cycle could play out globally. Israeli armour ready for land offensive in Gaza to decimate Hamas terrorists.

While the unfolding crisis is being monitored constantly in India, there are many scenarios that can threaten global instability. Consider this:

 There is a divided opinion among the national security planners on whether the Israel-Hamas conflagration could engulf the Middle East and the world at large or stay contained in the current battle theatre. The answer to this question lies in the intentions of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group towards the Israeli retaliation. As of now Hezbollah has only fired warning shots in north Israel and confined itself to verbally standing with Hamas. If Hezbollah opens up on north Israel then it is only a matter of time before its main backer, Shia Iran, gets into the conflict and leads to both horizontal and vertical escalation of the war. Iran is a declared enemy of Jews and Israel and blames Mossad and the CIA for the assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 3, 2020. Iran also is seeking to avenge the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, its chief nuclear scientist, on November 27, 2020, by alleged Mossad agents in Absard, Iran. A highly radicalized ruling elite of Iran also believes that the US is behind the current unrest of women in their country with imprisoned activist Narges Mohammadi being awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. With propaganda active on social media, images of Israeli retaliation in Gaza now will be used by jihadists to push other states into conflict as both Hamas and Hezbollah have umbilical links with the pan-Islamic Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood runs a prominent news channel from Qatar with highly paid Caucasian anchors and has a dominating presence in Qatar as well as Kuwait. The war will only spread to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah and Syria open a front and for that, the US will have to deliver on peace in no uncertain terms as China has no skin in the complex game and Russia is bogged down in Ukraine.

 While an all-out war also depends on larger geopolitical play and on how maturely states like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt, who are totally against the Brotherhood, handle their public opinion within their own country. As of now UAE and Bahrain have at least called out the grave escalation on the part of Hamas but other countries like Qatar and Turkey, who want to project themselves as shoulders of Sunni Islam, are baying for Israels blood. While it is said that Hamas leader Mohammed Deif planned the south Israel attack in 2021 after seeing images of Israeli forces storming Al Aqsa mosque during Ramzan, the images of Israeli relations in Gaza could spawn lone-wolf attacks against Israelis and its supporters globally. These attacks could take place at a major place of the congregation or in any of the three dimensions. In this context, the sermons given from mosques in the Middle East and elsewhere tomorrow could be very important as there is a possibility of violence or lone wolf attacks or protests after Friday prayers.

Given that a new cycle of terrorism has only just begun, the democratic world will have to be on its toes as countries like Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan could use the Israeli retaliation to weaponize their own resident jihadists on political Islam to suit their own geo-political interests for the coming years. India should be on alert to this possible development.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shishir Gupta Author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel. ...view detail
The extraneous terror attack by the Hamas militant group at Israel last weekend prompted the Israeli ground forces to possibly irrupt into the Gaza Strip  one of the densely populated places in the world. The conflict between Israel and Gazan militant group, which is declared as a war, has claimed at least 2,700 lives from both sides, including those of civilians. An Israeli army self-propelled gun moves towards the border with Gaza.(Bloomberg)

Awaiting Israeli lawmakers' nod, the country's Army proclaimed its readiness to take out the ground assault to take on Hamas fighters.

"We are waiting to see what our political leadership decides about a potential ground incursion," Israeli Army's spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

However, the potential attack with Israel defence forces' mechanised infantry and air support posits a set of tactical challenges including the possible threat to lives in the area having around 5,500 persons per square kilometre as opposed to 400 persons in Israel.

What would be the possible challenges for Israeli ground forces?

Along with the dense population, Gaza Strip is packed with buildings and other constructions with little space between them, along with narrow streets trailing between them. This would turn out to be a problem for the ground forces as their armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and tanks could face difficulty navigating through Gaza Strip. There is a severe risk for Israeli troops to fall prey to booby traps possibly set up in small spaces, while hunting and neutralising Hamas operatives across the enclave. Crammed buildings also pose threat to Israeli troops as they may face sniper attacks from any direction in the Gaza's maze of buildings constituting small and dark windows. Taking lessons from the Ukraine-Russia and Syrian conflicts, larger mechanised infantry force proved ineffective in front of anti-tank guided missiles and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). Air support can also be taken down by Hamas if they poses the man-portable air defence system (MANPADS). Historically, unguided RPGs had also posed threats of shoting down choppers that were making low-lying flights. Collateral damage is inevitable amid an all-out retaliation. Limiting civilian casualties is one among several challenges the Israeli defence force is going to face.

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US President Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the weekend attack by Hamas militants on Israel and said that it was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Calling the attack an act of pure cruelty, Biden said, This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by millennia of antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people. U.S. President Joe Biden (REUTERS)

Over 1,200 people have been killed in Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, while Israel's counter-airstrikes in Gaza have killed around 1,100 people. According to reports, a total of 22 US citizens have been killed in the fighting

This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty - not just hate, but pure cruelty - against the Jewish peopleIn this moment, we have to be crystal clear. There is no justification for terrorism. No excuse. And the type of terrorism that was exhibited here was just beyond the pale. Beyond the pale," Biden said during an address at the White House.

Expressing his support for Israel, the US President said, We continue to monitor the situation in Israel very closely, and the vice president and I and the bulk of my security team spoke with the Prime Minister, Netanyahu, again this morning. My commitment to Israels security and the safety of the Jewish people is unshakeable. The United States has Israels back. We are going to be working on this all through today and beyond.

Earlier in the day, Biden stopped by a roundtable with Jewish community leaders and reaffirmed his unwavering support for Israel over the terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, the US is also extending additional military assistance to the Israeli Defence Force, including ammunition, and interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome.

We want to make it real clear. We're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery effortsI have asked members of my team, including Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland to work intensively with our Jewish community partners," Biden said.

US' travel advisory for Gaza, Israel

In view of the escalating attacks in Gaza and Israel, the United States Department of State has issued an urgent travel advisory, warning American citizens about the heightened security risks and dangers in the region. While the advisory, updated on October 11, for the West Bank has been raised to Level 3, the advisory for Gaza remains at the most severe - Level 4: Do Not Travel citing the terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists, and other violent extremists continuing to plot possible attacks.

According to the advisory, terrorists and violent extremists may launch attacks with little or no warning, targeting areas frequented by tourists, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and even local government facilities.

While Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, we are aware that several major airlines have announced that they have suspended flights. Please check with the airlines on the availability of flights and flight status. US citizens in Gaza who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the Rafah Crossing into Egypt, it added.

(With inputs from agencies)
Israel-Hamas war highlights: As the war between Israel and Hamas escalated and entered its sixth day, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant vowed to wipe Hamas off the face of the Earth. During a late-night televised address, Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu said every Hamas member was a dead man. People walk next to a sign directing for Shelter after landing in Israel at the arrivals section of Ben Gurion International.(REUTERS)

On Wednesday, Israel, which has imposed a complete siege on Gaza, carried out air strikes across Gaza overnight as a retaliatory bombing. According to Gaza's health ministry, the attack has killed at least 900 people and wounded 4,600. Israel's embassy in Washington on Tuesday said that the death toll from the weekend Hamas attacks had surpassed 1,200.

According to Hamas, they launched the attack because Palestinians suffering had become intolerable under unending Israeli military occupation and increasing settlements in Gaza. The Hamas militants are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel, reported AP.

Meanwhile, residents are facing an ever-growing uncertainty in the Gaza Strip as the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down on Wednesday.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a new resolution calling upon Azerbaijan, among other countries, to notify PACE and the Venice Commission within three months about the use of Pegasus and other similar spyware.

There is strong evidence that Azerbaijan has also used it, including during the conflict with Armenia, the resolution said.

The Assembly further notes that according to the Pegasus Project revelations, Azerbaijan has also used Pegasus, including against journalists, independent media owners and civil society activists. Recent reports have disclosed its use in connection with the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, against 12 persons working in Armenia, including an Armenian government official, in what appears to be an example of transnational targeted surveillance, the PACE resolution reads.

Citing mounting evidence that spyware has been used for illegitimate purposes by several Council of Europe member states, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has urged five governments to provide information on their use of such spyware within three months, and fully investigate all cases of abuse.

Approving a resolution on Pegasus and similar spyware and secret state surveillance, the Assembly urged Poland, Hungary, Greece, Spain and Azerbaijan to promptly and fully investigate all cases of abuse of spyware, sanction any they find, and provide redress to victims.

The resolution, based on a report by Pieter Omtzigt (Netherlands, EPP/CD), also called on other member states which seem to have acquired or used Pegasus  including Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands  to clarify their use of it, and the mechanisms in place to oversee it, within three months.

The Assembly said secret surveillance of political opponents, public officials, journalists, human rights defenders and civil society for purposes other than those listed in the European Convention on Human Rights, such as preventing crime or protecting national security, would be a clear violation of the Convention.

Given its intrusiveness, states should refrain from using such spyware until their laws and practice on secret surveillance are in line with the Convention and other international standards, as assessed by Council of Europe legal experts. In any case, they should only use it for exceptional situations as a measure of last resort, the Assembly said. They should also avoid exporting it to countries where there was a substantial risk it might be used for repression or human rights abuses.

The parliamentarians also asked for information from Israel, a PACE observer state, on how it ensures that Pegasus, which is marketed by an Israel-based company, is not exported to countries where it could be used to violate human rights. Morocco, a PACE partner for democracy state which is alleged to have used Pegasus in Spain, was also asked to provide information on and investigate its use.
A large majority of Canadians believe Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus statement in the House of Commons that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. At the same time, a majority also want Ottawa to decrease tensions with New Delhi. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (front right) greets a vendor during a stop in downtown Kitchener, Ontario, for the start of Oktoberfest, on October 6, 2023. (AP)

A poll by Nanos Research, commissioned by the outlet CTV News, found that 47% of respondents believed and another 27% somewhat believe Trudeau when he says the government has obtained intelligence that indicates India may be behind the killing of this Canadian citizen on Canadian soil.

A small percentage, below a fifth of the sample, said they did not believe or somewhat did not believe Trudeau.

At 79%, older Canadians, over 55 years of age, were more likely to believe Trudeau, than the younger cohort of those between 18 and 34, who were at 69%.

Regardless of that belief, Canadians over half, 57%, wanted Canada to reduce tensions with India and engage in diplomatic talks with relation to Nijjars killing. About a quarter wanted Canada to further investigate the allegations, while about 10% wanted Canada to be patient and do nothing.

The survey had a sample of 1,058 Canadians.

It came as friction between the two countries continues. India has sought downsizing of Canadas diplomats in the country to bring about parity with its own strength in Canada. However, Canada has yet to pull too many diplomats even as the stipulated deadline of October 10 passed. New Delhi has also continued to accuse Canada of being a safe haven for terrorists, irked by the activities of pro-Khalistan elements.

Speaking to the media in Ottawa on Wednesday, Canadas foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly said diplomacy with India would work better if conversations were kept private.

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The lives of members of the British Royal Family have always intrigued people. In a recent interview with BBCs Radio 1 Going Home show, Prince William and Kate Middleton revealed their favourite emojis. During the interview, hosts Jordan North and Vick Hope asked several questions sent in by listeners of the show. When asked to reveal his most-used emoji, the Prince of Wales said that his favourite was the aubergine emoji. Prince William(REUTERS)

Is this a clean thing or is this a family one? Ive been told not to say the aubergine, so Ive got to pick something else, said William. It would have been the aubergine but Im saying now  because Ive got to be all grown up  its the one where the eyes go up and down and the mouths out, he added.

Hearing William's replies, Hope reportedly joked to her co-host, Prince William is dirtier than anything youve ever said.

Meanwhile, Kate revealed that her favourite emoji is the heart with then the crying emoji. She said, "Mines probably going to be the heart with then the crying emoji. The hysterical laughing when things have gone wrong."

ALSO READ| Sundar Pichai expressed bad optics concerns over Google's search engine partnership with Apple

The show happened on Tuesday which marked World Mental Health Day. On the occasion, William said, "Having a laugh. Humor for me is a big deal  I love to laugh. Youve got to look at the lighter things in life sometimes to feel good."

How netizens on X(formerly Twitter) reacted to Prince William's choice of emoji

Why is Prince Williams most-used emoji the eggplant? To whomst is he texting??, posted one user.

Big Willy being a bit naughty, wrote another person.

This was hilarious, commented a third user.

What's Prince Harry's favourite emoji?

Notably, according to authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie's revelations in 2020, Prince Harry preferred to use the ghost emoji more than any other emoticon.

Harry obviously also had sort of a larger social media profile with his friends, and they also were very familiar with his emoji habits. So it was actually more than a few sources that we heard the same things from again, revealed the authors.

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Russia's foreign ministry urged Israel on Thursday to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza to allow in food and medicine and said it was unacceptable that what it called the "indiscriminate" bombing of the Gaza Strip was causing so many civilian casualties. A convoy of Israeli tanks advances near the border with Gaza (AFP)

Moscow issued the statement after Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov spoke to Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), by phone.

Israel said earlier on Thursday there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its siege of the Gaza Strip until all its hostages were freed, after the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from "turning into morgues".

The Russian foreign ministry said Bogdanov and Al-Sheikh had agreed on the need for a ceasefire and for the opening of human corridors to deliver food and medicine to Gaza's population.

Both also agreed that water and electricity supplies to Gaza should be restored, it said.

"The unacceptability of the indiscriminate bombardment leading to numerous civilian casualties was emphasised," the Russian statement said.

"The goal of preventing an exodus from the Gaza Strip, which should become part of an independent Palestinian State on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, was (also) emphasised."

In a second statement later on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry said that four Russian citizens had been killed in southern Israel which Hamas attacked on Saturday, slaughtering hundreds of civilians. A further six Russian citizens were still missing, the ministry said.

"We strongly condemn any manifestations of extremism, terrorism, hostage-taking, blockading people, deliberately creating unbearable living conditions and other violent acts against civilians, along with the indiscriminate use of force in the conduct of military operations," the same statement said.

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The Israeli military on Thursday shed light on the horrific scenes that unfolded during the attack by Hamas militants, saying the scenes in a kibbutz were reminiscent of a "zombie movie". Providing an operation update, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus, said that the mutilated bodies of women and children were scattered everywhere. Kibbutz Be'eri was overrun by Hamas militants from nearby Gaza Strip on Saturday.(AP)

"The scenes are out of a zombie movie. It is a war zone...Many body bags were evacuated from that Kibbutz, including those of children and babies. We got very disturbing reports that came from the ground that there were babies that had been beheaded. It was hard to believe that even Hamas could perform such a barbaric act," Conricus said.

"There were bodies scattered everywhere, mutilated, women and children that were handcuffed and shot, executed, houses torched and burned, and people who were either burned inside or suffocated," he added.

On the unconfirmed reports of beheading of children by Hamas, the spokesperson cited eyewitnesses and a senior official in the Israeli Coronary Service to assert that the incident occurred in Be'eri, a kibbutz in southern Israel.

After eyewitnesses came forward and after a senior official in the Israeli Coronary Service, Zaka, came forward on record and said, yes, I saw the bodies of beheaded babies, I think we can now say with relative confidence that this is unfortunately what happened in Be'eri. This is what Hamas did to Israeli civilians, he said.

Israel's death toll rose to at least 1,300 since the surprise attack launched by Hamas on Saturday, the country's public broadcaster Kan said on Thursday. Several media reports have highlighted the massacre in Be'eri, the largest of the 12 villages comprising the Eshkol regional council that runs along the border with Gaza.

A report by The Guardian has described Be'eri as a place indelibly associated with horror and tragedy after Hamas set fire to buildings to drive out the occupants who were hiding there.

It is also where the bodies of the dead, 108 in all, were brought and laid out to await collection by the emergency services, the report said.

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Sri Lanka said on Thursday it has reached an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China to cover about $4.2 billion of the island nation's outstanding debt while talks with other official creditors stall. China is Sri Lanka's largest bilateral creditor, owed about $7 billion.(Rep image)

Sri Lanka is struggling with its worst financial crisis in more than seven decades after its foreign exchange dwindled to record lows, forcing the country to default on its foreign debt last May.

China is Sri Lanka's largest bilateral creditor, owed about $7 billion.

The agreement with China EXIM Bank will assist Sri Lanka in getting past the first review of the International Monetary Fund (MF) program in the coming weeks and in securing the release of a second IMF tranche of about $334 million, its finance ministry said in a statement.

A debt rework deal between Sri Lanka and countries including Japan, India and France was also expected this week. But those countries and the IMF were surprised on Tuesday when Sri Lanka struck a deal with China. The three nations request comparability of debt treatment with China.

Sri Lanka's creditors are struggling to reach consensus on the nation's debt and finding an agreement during this week's IMF and World Bank meetings could be difficult, a senior Japanese official said on Wednesday.

Members of the creditor committee now need to see details of the agreement Sri Lanka reached separately with China - its largest single creditor - before finalizing their proposal, said a source with direct knowledge, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.

Sri Lanka started negotiating with its bondholders and key bilateral creditors including China, Japan and India last September, parallel to moving forward on a $2.9 billion bailout from the IMF.

"This agreement constitutes a key milestone in Sri Lankas ongoing efforts to foster its economic recovery, the statement added. In the next few weeks, the Sri Lankan authorities and China EXIM bank will actively work on formalizing and implementing the agreed parameters of the debt treatment.
The British government will send two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, the prime minister's office said Thursday. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak(AP)

"Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.

The maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft will begin flying in the region from Friday, the statement said, to "track threats to regional stability such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups".

The military package includes P8 aircraft, two Royal Navy ships -- the RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus -- three merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, the statement said.

The military deployments will be on standby to deliver "practical support" to Israel and offer "deterrence and assurance," the government said.

"Our military and diplomatic teams across the region will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the thousands of innocent victims of this barbaric attack from Hamas terrorists," said Sunak.

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Thursday that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in the Gaza Strip after Israel imposed a total blockade on the territory following deadly Hamas attacks. A Palestinian child carries bread as he pushes his bike amid the rubble of buildings destroyed in an Israeli air strike in Rafah.(AFP)

"It's a dire situation in the Gaza Strip that we're seeing evolve with food and water being in limited supply and quickly running out," said Brian Lander, the deputy head of emergencies at WFP, which is based in Rome.

"WFP is on the ground and is responding and we're providing food to thousands of people that have sought shelter in schools and elsewhere across the territory. But we're going to run out very soon," he told Reuters TV.

Israel announced a total siege on Gaza on Monday, blocking the entry of food, fuel and water into the coastal territory and shuttering all crossing points following Hamas's weekend rampage that killed more than 1,300 people.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (IRCRC) said on Thursday that fuel for hospital generators in Gaza would run out shortly, adding that its stocks of aid and medicine within Gaza were stranded for want of safe passage.

Besides sealing the border, the Israeli military has also launched massive air attacks on the enclave, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes.

"The people that are seeking shelter and striving to survive in this environment are only going to get into worse and worse situations as time goes on," Lander said.

He urged both Israel and Egypt to create secure corridors for the WFP to be able to bring supplies into Gaza and to make sure U.N. staff could work safely in the area.

"We've seen a number of sites that are considered humanitarian, or clinics and schools that have been hit by the strikes. So, we again, we are calling on the parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law," he said.

The UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees (UNWRA) has said 11 of its staff have been killed in the conflict so far. "(It) is a terrible tragedy and we really extend our condolences to their families," Lander said.

In normal times, the UN agency provides direct food assistance to some 350,000 Palestinians monthly, while also offering aid to nearly 1 million people in cooperation with other humanitarian partners via cash transfers.

In a 2023 report, UN agencies estimated that 58% of Gaza Strip residents required humanitarian assistance with 29% of Gazan households living in extreme or catastrophic conditions compared with 10% in 2022.

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The US is capable of backing Ukraine in Europe, its Indo-Pacific allies, and Israel at the same time, Jake Sullivan, the American national security advisor has said, at a time when there is concern about an over-stretched Washington DC struggling to cope with multiple global crises at the same time. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2023. (AFP)

Sullivan also laid out the specifics of the American support to Israel, held Iran responsible for its broader complicity and support for Hamas but highlighted that the US didnt have evidence yet directly linking Tehran to the terror attack on Saturday, and indicated that Israel wasnt going in for a siege of Hamas and the US was consulting with Israel and Egypt about the options that can be made available to civilians to evacuate Gaza.

US can work across theatres

At a press briefing in the White House on Tuesday, minutes after President Joe Biden delivered a special address on Israel, Sullivan was asked about Chinas response to the developments in Israel (in its first statement, Beijing didnt condemn Hamas and called for a ceasefire), and whether he was worried that the situation in the Middle East would distract US from its Indo-Pacific commitments.

While saying the US wasnt surprised with Chinas response, Sullivan added, We believe that the United States is capable of supporting Ukraine in Europe, of supporting our allies in the Indo-Pacific, and of supporting our close ally, Israel, in its hour of need. And we believe we have the resources, tools, and capacities to be able to effectively do that. And part of our job is to ensure that we are working across all of these theatres at once. And thats precisely what were doing each day.

Asked again about concerns among Republican lawmakers about how US cant support two wars  Republicans in the House are increasingly opposed to more funding and support for Ukraine  Sullivan said, Standing for Ukraine so that Russian aggression does not prevail in Europe  the amount of resources that we need to put into that compared to the amount of resources we would have to put in if Russia were, in fact, to conquer Ukraine and then potentially have its aggression continue across Europe, it is so much more cost-effective to take the action now, as opposed to pay the huge price later  a price that might ultimately, as it has in the past, require the actual deployment of American troops to combat.

He added it was therefore better to support the Ukrainians as they stood firm against Russian aggression, and the US had the budget wherewithal to be able to do that. We also have the budget wherewithal to be able to provide Israel what it needs. And we firmly reject the notion that the United States of America cannot at once support the freedom-loving people of Ukraine and support the State of Israel.

The role of Iran

Asked about the role of Iran, which welcomed and celebrated the terror attack against Israel, Sullivan said, Iran is complicit in this attack in a broad sense because they have provided the lions share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas, they have provided training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement and contact with Hamas over years and years. And all of that has played a role in contributing to what we have seen.

But Sullivan then nuanced his statement and said if the question was whether Iran knew about the attack in advance or helped plan or directed this attack, the US, at this moment, did not have confirmation of that.

We are talking to our Israeli counterparts on a daily basis about this question. We are looking back through our intelligence holdings to see if we have any further information on that. We are looking to acquire further intelligence. And if theres an update to that, I will share it with you. But as I stand here today, while Iran plays this broad role  sustained, deep, and dark role  in providing all of this support and capabilities to Hamas, in terms of this particular gruesome attack on October 7th, we dont currently have that information. We will continue to look for it. And if we find it, we will share that with you.

The nature of Israeli retaliation

In the backdrop of concerns about the nature of Israeli response, Sullivan was asked how much retaliation in Gaza was the US willing to accept. He said he didnt think of it in terms of retaliation.

This is about providing support to Israel as it seeks to defend its territory and deal with an ongoing, imminent threat from Hamas terrorists whoare acting a heck of a lot like ISIS terrorists in their barbarity and cruelty. That requires going after Hamas terrorist targets in Gaza because, even as we speakthere could be rockets flying out of Gaza. Going after those sites  thats not retaliation. Thats Israel stepping up to defend itself and ensure the safety and security of the Israeli people. And were going to support them for as long as they need to ensure that Israel is safe and secure. And I cant put a timetable on that.

When a reporter pushed back to ask if the goal was the destruction of Hamas or the the guarantee that Hamas couldnt launch attacks from there or the confirmation that all Americans and Israelis have been secured safely from there or if there was a redline on what needed to be accomplished, Sullivan said he wont draw red lines but reiterate American support to Israel in its hour of need.

Sullivan also rejected the characterisation of Bidens earlier reference to his conversation with Israels PM Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to respect the rule of law and the law of war as a warning. The call today was not President Biden warning Prime Minister Netanyahu about anything. It was two leaders talking to one another: one who is leading a nation that has suffered an unfathomable attack, and another nation who is standing behind them four-square in the defense of their country. And the conversation carried on in those terms. And the two leaders spoke in a collaborative fashion, as they always do.

Asked about the European Union opposing a total siege of Gaza and the American position on it, Sullivan said, My understanding is that the concept of siege is not something that in fact is going to be pursued by the Israeli government. But we are consulting with the Israeli government about their actions in this regard. And like I said before to a previous question, President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu had the opportunity to talk through the difference between going full-bore against Hamas terrorists and how we distinguish between terrorists and innocent civilians.

With Netanyahu asking residents in Gaza to evacuate now, Sullivan was asked where they could go. He said, This is something also that we have been discussing with our counterparts in Israel and with our counterparts in Egypt. And without getting into the specifics of safe passage for civilians and so forth, I will say its something that the US government is seized with in supporting how we do that operationally.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prashant Jha Prashant Jha is the Washington DC-based US correspondent of Hindustan Times. He is also the editor of HT Premium. Jha has earlier served as editor-views and national political editor/bureau chief of the paper. He is the author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine and Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal. ...view detail
In light of the recent Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent retaliatory strikes in Gaza, the United States Department of State has issued an urgent travel advisory, warning American citizens about the heightened security risks and dangers in the region. The travel advisory for the West Bank has been raised to level 3, while the advisory for Gaza remains at the most severe - "Level 4: Do Not Travel." Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. as Israeli warplanes pummel Gaza to avenge the Hamas attack,(AP)

The travel advisory, which was updated on October 11, 2023, underscores the volatile nature of the situation, with an acknowledgement that terrorists and violent extremists may launch attacks with little or no warning, targeting areas frequented by tourists, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and even local government facilities.

The agency raised its travel advisory to level 3 for Israel and the West Bank, citing the terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continuing to plot possible attacks.

"Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials," the updated travel advisory said.

"While Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, we are aware that several major airlines have announced that they have suspended flights," the advisory states, adding, "Please check with the airlines on the availability of flights and flight status. US citizens in Gaza who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the Rafah Crossing into Egypt."

Hamas, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, controls the security infrastructure in Gaza.

The U.S. government is unable to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Gaza as U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling there, the advisory stated.

The department also warned travellers to be prepared for an indefinite stay as the crossings between Gaza with Israel and Egypt can close without advance notice and for long periods during times of unrest and armed conflict.

India, meanwhile, has announced "Operation Ajay" to facilitate the return from Israel of those Indians who wish to come return from the war-torn region.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Sri Lanka, announced the launch of "Operation Ajay" in a post on X on Wednesday night.

"Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return," he said.

"Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad," he added.

The first batch of Indians is expected to be brought back from Israel in a special flight on Thursday.

According to estimates, around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel.

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Most of the civil society and people across the world are shocked at the barbarianism displayed by Hamas terrorists during their attack on Israel a few days ago. The Hamas terrorists beheaded babies, raped women, livestreamed images of death and gore, resorted to widespread arson, and blasted the residences of innocent civilians. They unleashed a phase of unparalleled terror and destruction on innocent civilians, which has been condemned in hard-hitting terms by people across the globe. Now when the Israeli Defence Forces are avenging the terror by eliminating Hamas and its hideouts in the Gaza Strip, Israel is receiving great support for its tough stance. Bill Ackman, chief executive officer and portfolio manager at Pershing Square Capital Management(REUTERS)

But in a shocking turn of events, some Harvard students and members put the blame on Israel itself for the terrorism perpetrated by Hamas. Such voices coming from Harvard University which is considered to be one of the best education centres in the world, has been met with scathing criticism. There have also been calls to boycott and name and shame such students and members from Harvard.

Joining the chorus, Bill Ackman has supported calls to not hire Harvard students who supported Hamas. Taking to X(formerly Twitter) on Tuesday(IST), Ackman demanded that the names of the signatories of the letter of support for Hamas should be made public.

"I have been asked by a number of CEOs if @harvard would release a list of the members of each of the Harvard organizations that have issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for Hamas heinous acts to Israel, so as to insure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their members," wrote Ackman.

ALSO READ| Hamas is EVIL: Sara Foster condemns barbaric attack on Israel

"If, in fact, their members support the letter they have released, the names of the signatories should be made public so their views are publicly known," he added further.

Ackman emphasised the need to blow the cover off such people who are sympathisers of terrorism and beastly acts like what Hamas has done in Israel.

"One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists, who, we now learn, have beheaded babies, among other inconceivably despicable acts," wrote Ackman.

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United and caring: ne of Armenia's largest conglomerates, Galaxy Group of Companies, together with the Armenian Red Cross Society, initiates a humanitarian initiative aimed at supporting forcibly displaced Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. In this regard, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Armenian Red Cross Society and the Galaxy Group of Companies on October 11 at the headquarters of the Armenian Red Cross Society.

October 12, 2023, 15:10 Armenian Red Cross Society, Galaxy Group of Companies unite forces for the Armenians of NK: 100 tons of aid for families

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The memorandum was signed by Dr. Anna Yeghiazaryan, Secretary General of Armenian Red Cross Society, and Aram Khachatryan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Group of Companies, believing that care and responsibility are vital for people in these hard times for the world.

"We are all united and willing to provide humanitarian relief to our fellow Armenians forcibly displaced from Artsakh. In this regard, I greatly appreciate our cooperation with the Armenian Red Cross Society that has already conducted tremendous work these days. This charitable action is not only a financial donation from the founders, but a collective support initiative from the Galaxy community, its companies and employees", said Aram Khachatryan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Group of Companies.

As part of the initiative, 5,000 families forcibly displaced from NK will receive 100 tons of food products in packages for daily needs and to withstand cold winter weather. The packages will be assembled based on the principles of selecting the best product. The delivery of the packages to 5000 families will be carried out by 300 volunteers from the Groups employees together with the Armenian Red Cross Society.

The initiative is implemented together with the companies which are part of Galaxy Group of Companies - Chronograph, Gate2, IUNetworks, Megafood, Paul Armenia, Santafe, Teryan5, Time, Ucom and Yerevan Mall with substantial financial support from the founders. Organizational activities of the initiative will be carried out by AxelMondrian and Partners, and the selection of beneficiaries and distribution of packages will be organized with the support of the Armenian Red Cross Society.

"We welcome and highly appreciate the steps taken by the corporate sector to demonstrate social responsibility aimed at relieving the hardships of vulnerable groups as much as possible. I am confident that such an exemplary, comprehensive, multifaceted and continuous cooperation between a humanitarian organization and a group of business companies is an effective format for providing humanitarian assistance and increasing the resilience of communities," said Dr. Anna Yeghiazaryan, Secretary General of Armenian Red Cross Society.



The cooperation and preparations for the package delivery for the winter season have already started, and the distribution within the regions will start from the mid-October. The parties will present transparency and accountability reports to the public.
Darryl George,18, a black junior student at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas was suspended from his school over his dreadlocks hairstyle. He will be sent to EPIC, an alternative school program from October 12 through November 29 for "failure to comply" with multiple school and classroom rules.

However, after facing more than a month of in-school suspension since August 3, on Thursday, Darryl was told that he would be removed from his high school and sent to a disciplinary alternative education program.

He will be sent to EPIC, an alternative school program from October 12 through November 29 for "failure to comply" with multiple school and classroom rules, said the principal in a letter provided to The Associated Press by Darryl's family.

The school principal Lance Murphy stated in the letter that Darryl has repeatedly violated the district's previously communicated standards of student conduct.

Additionally, the letter said that he would be allowed to return to regular classroom instruction on November 30. However, unless he's there to discuss his conduct with school administrators he would not be allowed inside the school campus.

Barbers Hill Independent School District follows a student handbook that prohibits male students from having hair extended below the eyebrows, ear lobes or on top of a T-shirt collar.

Darresha George and the family's attorney deny that the teenager's hairstyle violates the school's dress code. Last month, the family even filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency and a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state's governor and attorney general for failing to enforce a law to outlaw discrimination based on hairstyle.

Well, this is not the first time for the school. Darryl's school had previously clashed with two other Black male students over their dress codes, which led to them cutting their dreadlocks in 2020. The families of these kids also sued the school district in May 2020 and it was ruled that the district's hair policy was discriminatory.

Whether the same will be ruled in Darryl's case or not, only time will tell.

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Staff Sgt. Roey Weiser lived his life at an incredible speed, his mother says. His leadership qualities were so great that children in kindergarten would follow him. He lit up everybodys life, and everyone loved him. However, Roeys life was tragically cut short when Hamas terrorists entered Israel, launching a brutal attack. Staff Sgt. Roey Weiser, an Israeli American soldier, was stationed at the Kerem Shalom border crossing (Image provided by Naomi Feifer-Weiser)

Roey, a 21-year-old Israeli American soldier, was stationed at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. During the invasion, the terrorists entered his base, attacking Israeli soldiers in the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade. He sacrificed his life, saving his fellow soldiers.

He was born a hero, and he died a hero

Roey cared about others and until his conscription into the army he was a volunteer firefighter, his mother, Naomi Feifer-Weiser, told Hindustan Times. Even though he was only a teenager, he was the first one to jump up, ready to go, when duty called. He was born a hero, and he died a hero.

In school, when you are supposed to pick a major subject to focus on, Roey picked three so he would have options for further education and then in his professional life. He was so looking forward to starting life, and we were so excited to see what he became, and how he would change the world for the better, she added.

Naomi said that the family spoke to Roey regularly, and especially before the Sabbath. We spoke to him just a few hours before he was killed. He told us about his many plans for when he was finished with the army, which was supposed to be in a few months. He wanted to travel and then return to Israel to study, she recalled.

Roey Weiser (L) with his family (Image provided by Naomi Feifer-Weiser)

What happened to Roey Weiser?

Naomi opened up about Roeys last moments and act of bravery, which she learned about from the soldiers he saved. Roey was on a base at the Erez Crossing into Gaza, where food and goods come into Gaza, and where Gazans come and go from and to work in Israel or travel for medical care, Naomi explained. He wasnt on guard at the time, but heard the shooting and leapt into action. He saw his soldiers being pinned down by hordes of Hamas terrorists, so out of nowhere he came up with an ingenious but daring manoeuvre to outflank the terrorists.

Naomi quoted Roey as telling the other soldiers, I am no longer your sergeant, whoever wants to come with me can. Together with a few others, Roey engaged the terrorists from behind and tried to stop the attack.

Unfortunately, he was killed in the attack, Naomi said. There are around 12 soldiers who are alive today because of his heroism. Theirs was the only base not taken by Hamas on that Saturday attack because of his actions.

This is not a war of our choosing

Expressing her gratitude for the international support and sympathy her family received, Naomi said, They have seen the evil and wickedness of Hamas, who kill little babies, massacre festival partygoers, and abduct innocent civilians. The world now has its eyes open. A lot more people will sadly die, on both sides. This is not a war of our choosing, it was thrust on us by the evil Hamas terrorists.

They chose how it started, but we must be allowed to choose how and when it ends. I hope the international community will understand what we have to do to defend ourselves, remain supportive and encourage us to defeat Hamas. If we do, we can hope and pray that this is the last war, there can be peace and security, and people like Roey will not have to die defending his country and people in the future, she concluded.

Several babies and toddlers were found with their heads decapitated in Kfar Aza in southern Israel, according to Tal Heinrich, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Officials confirmed that over 1,200 have died and more than 2,000 others have been injured, while at least 100 Israelis have been taken hostage.

Meanwhile, at least 22 Americans have reportedly been killed during the attacks over the weekend. The Joe Biden administration has not confirmed how many Americans are being held hostage.

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A teenager from Palo Alto, who despite scoring 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT was rejected from 16 universities in the United States, recently received a job offer from Google. 18-year-old Stanley Zhong, a graduate of Gunn High School, California, earned a near 4.0 GPA. He started his own e-signing startup called RabbitSign in his sophomore year. Upon graduating, the brilliant teen applied to 18 universities in total, only to be turned down by almost all of them. Zhong revealed that following the rejections, Google offered him a full-time software engineering role. Stanley Zhong was hired by Google(X, formerly Twitter)

Zhong's story gained limelight after a witness testifying at the White House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing in Congress, mentioned him during the discussion on affirmative action in colleges. The goal of this hearing was to consider the impact on students of different races caused by the Supreme Court's decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions, per ABC7. His story left a profound impact on people across the world as many social media users voiced their opinions in Zhong's support.

ALSO READ: Sundar Pichai expressed bad optics concerns over Google's search engine partnership with Apple

Netizens support Stanley Zhong

After Zhong's story made headlines, netizens flocked to social media platforms to express their thoughts on the matter. One X (formerly Twitter) user said, Schools are businesses - they know that if you have high scores that youre likely to go elsewhere so they dont even want to give you a spot because youll WASTE IT.

Another user said, Colleges are fast becoming IRRELEVANT!! (And no wonder considering Harvards latest & greatest).

One more X user noted, Being an Asian male in the US is tough. You get zero Tinder matches. You get randomly beaten up or shot. Media portrays you as a nerdy loser or a stereotypical Kung-Fu guy. And you grind like an animal in school but still get rejected by top unis because they think your haircut is a bad fit for them.

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A 24-year-old Israeli man studying at Columbia University was beaten on Wednesday. The victim suffered minor injuries, including a laceration to his hand. He is a student at Columbias School of General Studies. Columbia University(columbia.edu)

According to the universitys student newspaper, the Columbia Daily Spectator, the victim alleged that he tried to stop a 19-year-old woman from tearing down flyers with names and pictures of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas. The man got involved in a heated argument with the woman, over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The argument took a turn for the worse and the woman beat the 24-year-old man with a wooden stick.

NYPD informed that the incident happened outside Butler Library in the Columbia University campus. The suspect, Maxwell Friedman has been arrested and charged with assault.

This is because me being an Israeli these days. Not me because being myself. It is because me being an Israeli who is under a certain kind of threat, said the Israeli student after being beaten.

We were all kind of shocked that this stuff can happen on our own campus, which should be a safe haven. We dont know how to handle the situation, let alone that our families and friends are going through the worst nightmare, and we are mentally in the same ship with them. And, now, we have to handle the situation that campus is not a safe place for us anymore, he added.

ALSO READ| Bill Ackman demands names of Harvard students who supported Hamas be made public

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces have launched a major offensive against Hamas and its terror network in the Gaza strip. They are bombing and destroying the arms storage units, financial centres, terror headquarters, terrorists' residences in the ongoing operation. As per reports, IDF has killed 1200 Palestinians thus far. In the hard hitting military offensive, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes. Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Israel has also stopped supplies of food, fuel, electricity, and medicine to Gaza.

The military operation by Israel comes in the aftermath of the terrorist attack by Hamas who slaughtered innocent Israeli citizens including women and children. The terrorists beheaded babies, abducted and raped women and took people hostage by unleashing an unparalled phase of destruction and violence.

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(Bloomberg) -- US Senator Robert Menendez faces a new criminal charge of conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent of Egypt, in a revised indictment that expands on criminal charges accusing the Democrat of bribery. Menendez is accused of accepting bribes of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and a Mercedes convertible.

Menendez, his wife Nadine and businessman Wael Hana face the new count in federal court in Manhattan, where they were first indicted Sept. 22 in a sweeping corruption case.

Prosecutors allege Menendez, 69, gave Egyptian officials highly sensitive information about who worked at the US embassy in Cairo. They also allege he secretly wrote a letter that Egypt sent to his colleagues, urging them to lift a hold on $300 million in US aid. Menendez had his wife tell Hana that he would approve a $99 million arms sale to Egypt, the US said.

Menendez allegedly pressured a US Department of Agriculture official to protect the exclusive right Egypt gave to Hanas company, EG Halal Certified Inc., to certify US food exports as compliant with halal standards.

Menendez is accused of accepting bribes of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and a Mercedes convertible. Menendez, his wife, Hana and two other businessmen charged with them, Fred Daibes and Jose Uribe, have pleaded not guilty.

Dozens of Democratic senators have called on Menendez to resign. He has vowed to beat the charges, although he stepped down temporarily as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The case is US v Menendez, 23-cr-490, US District Court, Southern District of New York.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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The race for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of the most powerful positions in the US government, has been decided by a secret ballot among Republicans. Republicans nominated Steve Scalise as their candidate for speaker of the US House of Representatives as they sought to heal bitter internal divisions paralyzing their domestic agenda and preventing action on the Israel crisis. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)(AFP)

Steve Scalise, a veteran party leader and fundraiser, emerged victorious over Jim Jordan, a vocal Trump ally and conservative firebrand, by a margin of 113 to 99 votes.

The vote took place behind closed doors at the US Capitol on Wednesday, after Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the Speaker role by a rebellion from the right-wing faction of the party.

Mr Scalise will now have to secure a majority of votes from the entire House, which is currently in recess, to officially become the Speaker. He needs at least 217 votes out of 435 to win the job.

Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry said that Mr Scalise had the right to put his votes together for the floor and make sure the timing is right and that he did not know when the House would reconvene for the final vote.

Mr Scalise said that he was confident that he had enough support from his party and that he wanted to send a message that the House is open in a dangerous world.

The Democrats, who are the minority party in the House, will nominate Hakeem Jeffries from New York as their candidate for Speaker, but he has little chance of getting enough votes to win.

The Republican Party has been struggling with internal divisions and conflicts in recent weeks, and Mr Scalises narrow win over Mr Jordan reflects the challenge he faces to unite his party.

Mr Jordan had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who remains popular among many Republican voters and lawmakers. However, this was not enough to sway the secret ballot in his favor.

Some Republicans who voted against Mr Scalise said they did so because of his endorsement by Mr Trump. Texas Troy Nehls said: Thats what Donald Trump wanted.

Others said they opposed Mr Scalise because of his stance on budget issues or because they felt the vote was rushed to the floor. Kentuckys Thomas Massie said he was a hard no for Mr Scalise and that he believed there were at least 20 other Republicans who would also vote against him.

ALSO READ| Steve Scalise nominated as the next house speaker by Republicans, replacing Kevin McCarthy

Mr Scalise is seen as a more conventional candidate than Mr Jordan. He has climbed up the ranks of the party leadership, cultivated relationships with various groups and interests within the party, and raised millions of dollars for Republican candidates.

Mr Jordan is known for his aggressive and outspoken style, often clashing with Democrats and establishment Republicans in congressional hearings and on television.

Mr Scalise will have to demonstrate his political skills and persuade at least 217 Republicans to back him when the House votes on Speaker. He will have to avoid the fate of Mr McCarthy, who was removed from the Speaker role by his own party members.

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(Photo : Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The Sycamore Gap tree that was allegedly cut down by a teenager in Northumberland will be cut up and later transported to a secret location for storage.

The Sycamore Gap tree allegedly felled by a teenager nearly two weeks ago is set to be cut up and then brought to a secret location where it would be stored.

Workers used chainsaws at the site to remove the massive 150-year-old tree's branches before the trunk was taken away on Thursday. The National Trust said they explored "every option" for moving the historic tree close to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.

Sycamore Gap Tree

Now, experts seek to keep the trunk of the giant tree in "as large sections as possible" to give them enough "flexibility" on its prospects. They also decided the tree was too large to move in one piece. They reassured the public that the tree's stump has also been protected.

The 50-foot tree was first made famous in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and will now be taken to an unnamed National Trust property where it will be "safely stored." According to BBC, the charity noted that specialist propagators collected the tree's seeds at its Plant Conservation Centre, which could later be used for new saplings.

A part of Hadrian's Wall was also damaged when the giant Sycamore Gap tree came down, which happened sometime between the evening of Sept. 27 and the morning of Sept. 28. In a statement, the general manager of the site, Andrew Poad, said that the tree is currently in a precarious position resting on the wall, which necessitates its removal.

He said the efforts were necessary for preserving the world-famous monument, the Hadrian's Wall, and making the area safe for visitors to visit once again. Poad also encouraged people to stay away from the site while workers were still conducting the complex and difficult operations.

The Sycamore Gap tree symbolized Northumberland and was a popular site for photographers and walkers. This was because of its location inside a dramatic dip in the land after it was planted by a previous landowner in the late 1800s.

Read Also: Campi Flegrei: Italian Authorities Plan to Evacuate Naples as Volcanic Earthquakes Increase

Historic Tree

Poad also said they were "amazed and inspired" by offers to help and good wishes from the public concerning the felled Sycamore Gap tree. He said that it was clear that the tree captured the imaginations of many people who visited the area and held a special and poignant place in many people's hearts, according to The Guardian.

The cutting of the historic tree has led to two arrests, 69-year-old former lumberjack Walter Renwick and a 16-year-old boy, both of whom have been released on bail. Forensic scientists who investigated the area said they found tiny traces of oil left on the stump of the historic tree.

One of the UK's most experienced forensic scientists, Dr. Angela Gallop, said that the traces of oil left on the stump from the chainsaw that cut the tree could help find the saw used in the incident, said Daily Mail.

Related Article: Vatican Reveals New Pius XII Documents Addressing "Jewish Brothers" Persecuted by Nazis

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(Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A group of Republican lawmakers are moving forward with an expulsion resolution against New York Rep. George Santos amid a plethora of criminal charges.

A group of six Republican lawmakers from New York on Wednesday said that they would make efforts to ask the House to expel embattled Rep. George Santos.

The decision comes a day after an unsealed indictment revealed new criminal charges against the New York lawmaker. The new accusations claim that he is guilty of stealing the identities of family members and using donors' credit cards to spend thousands of dollars.

Expulsion Resolution Against George Santos

The controversy began after Santos admitted to fabricating key parts of his biography shortly after he was elected in 2022. The new charges revealed on Tuesday came five months after the representative was charged with other financial crimes. He has continued to plead not guilty to criminal activity related to the initial charges and denied the new charges.

The expulsion plan was announced by Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, who represents a district on Long Island near Santos' district. He said the resolution would be co-sponsored by fellow New York Republican freshmen Reps. As per the Washington Post, Nick LaLota, Michael Lawler, Marcus J. Molinaro, Nicholas A. Langworthy, and Brandon Williams.

The move is seen as the latest made by New York Republicans to distance themselves from the embattled representative. A series of criminal allegations have marred Santos' brief tenure in politics. However, House Republicans, more broadly, have been less willing to penalize the lawmaker over the accusations.

In a statement on Wednesday, Santos said that if other lawmakers want to be judge, jury, and executioner, he will just let them be. His remarks came as he rushed down the hallway where Republican lawmakers met.

The New York representative later dismissed the expulsion resolution as evidence that his colleagues prioritized "their campaigns over the essential work that needs to be done." Santos also said that the expulsion before being found guilty sets a dangerous precedent and will ultimately erase the voices of the electorate.

On top of the case against Santos, his former campaign treasurer pleaded guilty to fraud last week. After that, a superseding indictment introduced ten new charges against the Republican, according to The Guardian.

Read Also: North Carolina Republicans Enact Voting Changes That Hinder Governor's Authority to Oversee Elections

Pleading Not Guilty to the Charges

Santos is now facing 23 criminal charges, and he said that he was denying every single one of them. He noted that he would not resign and still plans to run for re-election despite calls from other lawmakers to step down from his position.

LaLota said that Santos has no business in the halls of the House of Representatives, calling him an immoral person who is untrustworthy. He argued that the embattled lawmaker scammed hundreds of thousands of voters.

The motion to expel Santos would need the support of two-thirds of the members in the House, which means a minimum of 290 votes. Democratic lawmakers have also repeatedly called for the New York representative to be expelled.

LaLota said they do not yet have the support from the required two-thirds of the House but noted that they predict the resolution would "catch fire." It remains unknown when the motion would get a vote on the House floor amid the chaos brought on by the ousting of Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, said Reuters.

Related Article: GOP Nominates Steve Scalise for House Speaker; How Likely Is He To Win?

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(Photo : ANAS BABA/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Smoke billows from Israeli air strikes in Gaza City, controlled by the Palestinian Hamas movement, on May 11, 2021. - Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza exchanged heavy fire, killing at least 26 Palestinians and two Israelis, in an escalation sparked by violent unrest at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The former leader of Hamas urged Muslims to hold global demonstrations in support of Palestinians on Friday and urged Arabs in neighboring countries to arm themselves against Israel.

Khaled Meshaal, who led Hamas from 2004 to 2017, encouraged the Islamic world to participate in the protests. Meshaal is the director of Hamas's diaspora office in Qatar, where he is domiciled.

Arab Nations Aid Gaza and Advocate for Peace

As the conflict between Hamas and Israel enters its fifth day, various sections of the Arab world provide aid to the Palestinians.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri told media at a news conference with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that the two sides "discussed the need to stop the escalation of the conflict in Gaza" and the "seriousness of destruction and attacks on civilians," as per New York Post.

Gaza conflict continues escalating and the international community increasingly expresses concern and takes action. Amidst the ongoing violence, nations worldwide call for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The situation remains complex and volatile, with repercussions echoing far beyond the borders of Gaza. In response to the ongoing violence, various nations are advocating for applying international law regarding treating civilians during war.

The call for adherence to international law is a testament to the global commitment to ensuring that civilians are protected during conflicts and that human rights are upheld. Jordan's recent initiative to send aid supplies to Egypt for the Palestinian residents of Gaza is a crucial gesture of support for the besieged region.

However, the distribution of these supplies presents a significant challenge due to the closed border between Egypt and Gaza. The delivery of humanitarian aid in such circumstances is vital, and efforts to ensure its safe distribution are hoped to be successful.

In Syria, government television broadcasted what it referred to as a "student demonstration" in the capital, Damascus. Hundreds of students gathered to express their support for the Palestinians, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans.

This display of solidarity underscores the strong feelings among the Syrian youth in support of the Palestinian cause and their desire to see an end to what they perceive as Israeli occupation.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati has held discussions with top security officials to address security measures nationwide, according to VOA News.

Read Also: Conservative Firebrand Kari Lake Officially Launches US Senate Bid in Arizona

Hezbollah's Role in the Gaza War Raise Regional Stability Concerns

Meanwhile, the role of Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian militia, in the Gaza conflict has been a cause for concern, with the US Ambassador to Beirut, Dorothy Shea, warning of potential consequences.

Lebanon's delicate balance of power and influence adds complexity to the regional dynamics. In Iraq, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani defended the recent Hamas attack on Israel's southern border communities, framing it as a reaction to the longstanding injustice faced by the Palestinian people.

The sentiment expressed by the Iraqi leader aligns with the broader Middle Eastern stance in support of the Palestinian cause. In Algeria, Parliament Speaker Brahim Boughali led a symbolic gesture by reciting an Islamic prayer for the Palestinian casualties of the conflict.

This remembrance is a poignant reminder of the human toll of violence, which should be acknowledged regardless of nationality or affiliation. Khaled Meshaal emphasized the need for unity and urged the governments and peoples of Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan to join the efforts against Israel.

Meshaal's call underscores the broader Arab and Islamic solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The global community closely monitors the situation, with demonstrations taking place worldwide supporting both sides.

These protests occasionally lead to clashes between Palestinian and Israeli sympathizers, reflecting the strong emotions and opinions surrounding the conflict. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza increases, it is crucial to recognize its heavy toll on Palestinians and Israelis.

The international community's calls for peace, adherence to international law, and humanitarian aid are essential steps toward de-escalation and a peaceful resolution. The world is watching and hoping for an end to the violence and suffering in the region.

All parties must prioritize diplomatic efforts, engage in dialogue, and work toward an enduring and equitable resolution to this ongoing and damaging conflict, Fox News reported.

Related Article: [BREAKING] Israel-Hamas War: State Department Updates US Death Toll to 22

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(Photo : South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images)

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, SOUTH KOREA - APRIL 14: In this handout image released by the South Korean Defense Ministry, two U.S. Air Force B-52H strategic bombers (C) flying with South Korean Air Force F-35A (bottom R) and U.S. Air Force F-16 (top) fighter jets during a joint air drill on April 14, 2023 at an undisclosed location in South Korea. South Korea and the United States held joint air drills, involving at least one B-52H strategic bomber, a day after North Korea test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

A US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier landed in South Korea on Thursday to show might against North Korea.

The USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group arrived in Busan after a trilateral South Korean-US-Japanese maritime exercise this week, the Defense Ministry said, as per Shropshire Star.

US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in South Korea

This deployment aims to enhance the regular visibility of US strategic assets in the region, primarily in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program.

The arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan has raised tensions in the area, provoking concerns in North Korea, which views the presence of such a powerful military asset as a significant security threat.

This deployment marks the first arrival of a US aircraft carrier in South Korea since the USS Nimitz visited Busan in late March, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a robust American presence in the region.

The United States and South Korea have a long-standing military alliance to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The fact of the USS Ronald Reagan is a visible demonstration of the commitment to this alliance.

However, North Korea has consistently viewed the presence of US military assets, especially aircraft carriers, in the region as a provocative and destabilizing factor.

When the USS Ronald Reagan participated in joint military drills with South Korean forces in October 2022, North Korea responded with ballistic missile tests and strong rhetoric, decrying the carrier's presence as a threat to regional security.

The arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan is expected to enrage North Korea further and lead to similar reactions, according to Business Standard.

Read Also: Finland Blames 'Outside Activity,' Deliberate Act for Baltic Gas Pipeline Leak

North Korea's Pursuit of Advanced Weapons

Recent developments suggest North Korea actively seeks sophisticated weapons technology from Russia, potentially in exchange for supplying ammunition to replenish Russia's conventional arms stores depleted by its protracted conflict with Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia's Far East, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and inspected critical weapons-making facilities, raised concerns about the proliferation of advanced weaponry in the region.

In a message exchanged to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between North Korea and Russia, Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction over his discussions with President Putin during his visit to Russia, and he conveyed his belief that bilateral ties would continue to strengthen.

Kim also hoped the Russian people would resist imperialist policies aimed at isolating and suppressing Russia. President Putin reciprocated these sentiments, stating that he was satisfied with the positive development of bilateral ties between the two countries.

This exchange of messages underscores the significance of Russia's role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia and its influence on North Korea's quest for advanced weaponry.

The USS Ronald Reagan and its accompanying battle group arrived in Busan after participating in a trilateral maritime exercise with South Korea and Japan-the training aimed to enhance cooperation and readiness among these countries facing regional security challenges.

The presence of the USS Ronald Reagan serves as a symbol of US commitment to its allies in the region and as a practical demonstration of the capabilities and deterrence of American military power.

While the US and South Korea assert that the deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan is meant to maintain regional stability and respond to North Korea's nuclear program, North Korea perceives it as a direct threat to its security.

As such, the aircraft carrier's arrival underscores the delicate balance of power and diplomacy in this region, where any military maneuver can have significant consequences, The Independent reported.

Related Article: US Navy Sailor Admits Conspiring With Chinese Spy Officer

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Armenia has named the ten provisional measures it seeks the ICJ to indicate against Azerbaijan. The request was submitted by Armenias agent Yeghishe Kirakosyan during the world court oral proceedings on the request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Armenia against Azerbaijan.

October 12, 2023, 16:18 Armenia submits requests for ten provisional measures against Azerbaijan at ICJ

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 12, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: On the basis of its request for provisional measures dated 28 September 2023 and its oral pleadings, Armenia respectfully requests the court to indicate the following provisional measures pending its determination of this case on the merits:

1) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any measures which might entail breaches of its obligations under the CERD;

2) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking any actions directly or indirectly aimed at or having the effect of displacing the remaining ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, or preventing the safe and expeditious return to their homes of persons displaced in the course of the recent military attack including those who have fled to Armenia or third States, while permitting those who wish to leave Nagorno-Karabakh to do so without any hindrance;

3) Azerbaijan shall withdraw all military and law-enforcement personnel from all civilian establishments in Nagorno-Karabakh occupied as a result of its armed attack on 19 September 2023;

4) Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the access of the United Nations and its specialized agencies to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not interfere with their activities in any way;

5) Azerbaijan shall facilitate, and refrain from placing any impediment on, the ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to address the other consequences of the recent conflict;

6) Azerbaijan shall immediately facilitate the full restoration of public utilities, including gas and electricity, to Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall refrain from disrupting them in the future;

7) Azerbaijan shall refrain from taking punitive actions against the current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh;

8) Azerbaijan shall not alter or destroy any monument commemorating the 1915 Armenian genocide or any other monument or Armenian cultural artefact or site present in Nagorno-Karabakh;

9) Azerbaijan shall recognize and give effect to civil registers, identity documents and property titles and registers established by the authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh, and shall not destroy or confiscate such registers and documents;

10) Azerbaijan shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order within one month, as from the date of this Order, and thereafter every three months, until a final decision on the case is rendered by the Court, Kirakosyan said.
(Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

The national flags of India (R) and China are seen at the Delhi World Book fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on January 9, 2016.

According to the Chinese defense ministry, China and India started their 20th round of military chief-level discussions on October 9 and 10.

Based on the ministry, the two sides engaged in "active, in-depth, and constructive" communications regarding the "early and acceptable" resolution of the remaining issues in the western section of the China-India border, as per to Reuters.

India and China Maintain Commitment to Peaceful Resolution in Border Talks

In the ongoing effort to resolve border disputes and maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector, India and China have continued their diplomatic and military negotiations.

While no explicit breakthrough was reported, both nations affirmed their commitment to a mutually acceptable resolution and preserving peace in the border regions. The recent round of Corps Commander-level talks took place at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side of the LAC.

These discussions build upon the progress made during the last round of talks held on August 13-14, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the momentum of dialogue. In a statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the discussions' frank, open, and constructive nature.

The two sides engaged in candid exchanges of views to expedite a resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC. These dialogues adhere to the guidance provided by the national leadership of both India and China.

The MEA's statement further underlined the commitment of both countries to sustain peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas while negotiations continue.

This commitment to peaceful coexistence is critical, given that Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in a standoff in specific friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years.

Although some disengagement has been achieved in various areas, these discussions are integral to achieving a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the conflict, according to Outlook.

Read Also: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Visits NATO HQ To Request for Military Assistance From Global Security Leaders

Complex Diplomatic and Military Talks in China-India Border Dispute

The ongoing border dispute has prompted both nations to engage in extensive diplomatic and military talks to de-escalate tensions and disengage from sensitive areas.

These negotiations have been marked by their complexity, with both sides demonstrating a solid commitment to safeguarding their national interests while seeking a mutually acceptable solution.

The recent dialogue has focused on the Western Sector, a point of contention in the China-India border dispute. Both sides are willing to engage in active, in-depth, and constructive communications to address the remaining issues.

While the talks did not produce an immediate breakthrough, the fact that India and China maintain their dialogue is a positive sign. Diplomatic and military channels remain open, providing a platform for ongoing negotiations. This consistent engagement underscores the desire of both nations to find a resolution that is acceptable to both parties.

The border dispute between India and China is a complex and long standing issue. Still, it is encouraging to see that they are committed to peaceful negotiations and dialogue as they work towards a resolution.

Maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas is a shared goal, and continued efforts in this direction will be vital for regional stability.

Although no significant breakthrough has been reported, the fact that both countries keep the lines of communication open is an important step forward in resolving the border issues along the Line of Actual Control, Bloomberg reported.

Related Article: Israel's Gaza Blockade Criticized by Sen. Bernie Sanders

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(Photo : Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 7: UAW members protest in support of the union strike at the Ford Assembly Plant on the South Side on October 7, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. UAW president Shawn Fain later joined members in solidarity with the ongoing strike at Union Hall 551.

The Big Three automakers, namely Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, have reportedly laid off approximately 5,000 workers since the commencement of the significant United Auto Workers (UAW) strike.

However, these layoffs could have potentially been more substantial if it weren't for the strategic stand-up strike approach adopted by the union, as per Investopedia via MSN.

UAW Strikes Escalate as Ford's Kentucky Plant Joins Walkout

Amid a protracted strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) against major automakers, tensions escalated as the UAW expanded its strikes to include Ford's highly profitable Kentucky Truck Plant. This sudden move has intensified the challenging negotiations between the UAW and the Big Three automakers - Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis.

"We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message," declared UAW President Shawn Fain.

"It's time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three. If they can't understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it."

Ford officials confirmed that the UAW had requested a negotiation session, but discussions ended abruptly. The union has expressed their desire for an alternative proposal, differing from the one previously put forth by Ford.

In a statement, Fain expressed his disappointment, conveying a clear message to the company, stating, "If that's the extent of your offering, it appears that KTP (Kentucky Truck Plant) is no longer in your hands."

The UAW had been on strike against Ford, GM, and Stellantis since September 15. This expansion to the Kentucky Truck Plant, which generates about $25 billion in annual revenue for Ford, marked a significant development in the ongoing strike.

While it doesn't produce the best-selling F-150, the plant manufactures larger versions of the truck, the Ford Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Until this point, the UAW's strike at Ford had targeted the Wayne, Michigan plant, producing the Ford Ranger and Bronco, and the Chicago Assembly plant, which manufactures Ford Expedition and Lincoln Aviator SUVs.

However, these vehicles are more critical to Ford's profitability than heavy-duty and full-size pickups. The company believed its economic terms offer was the best among the Big Three, focusing on wages and benefits, according to Fox2 Detroit.

Read Also: Israel Attack: Biden Tightens Security to Protect Jewish Communities in US

UAW Strike Creates Concerns, Layoffs in Auto Industry

A statement from Ford expressed concerns over the strike's impact on its workforce, suppliers, dealers, and commercial customers, stating that shutting down the Kentucky Truck Plant would also jeopardize other operations.

The UAW's move was a surprise, as earlier discussions indicated that progress was being made toward ending the strike. For example, GM had recently agreed to the union's demand to include workers at a joint venture battery plant, a key bargaining demand for the UAW.

The UAW is particularly concerned about the automakers' shift toward electric vehicles, fearing it could lead to job losses at union-represented engine and transmission plants. Negotiations have focused on battery plants and retirement benefits in recent weeks.

The strike's impact extended beyond Ford, as related layoffs occurred at Livonia Transmission Plant and other facilities. Stellantis also announced layoffs at the Trenton Engine Complex in Michigan and the Kokomo Casting plant in Indiana, affecting 640 represented employees due to the UAW strike action.

GM laid off an additional 200 workers due to the ongoing strike. The UAW strike has now affected 43 facilities nationwide. With UAW President Shawn Fain continuing to add plants to the strike as negotiations progress, it remains uncertain when the strike will conclude.

GM recently outlined an offer that includes substantial wage increases and other concessions to address the union's concerns, but negotiations have yet to result in a resolution, CNN News Reported

Related Article: Alabama Judge Orders Carlee Russell To Pay $18K in Restitution for Faking Own Kidnapping

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Advocates for human rights have voiced concern about information of a tightening crackdown on climate rallies across Europe.

Reportedly, authorities have reacted to climate demonstrations in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom by making mass arrests, adopting harsh new laws, issuing heavy punishments for non-violent rallies, and labeling activists as hooligans, saboteurs, or eco-terrorists.

Is the UK Leading This Crackdown?

Following a summer of record-breaking heat in southern Europe, which is ascribed to the consequences of climate breakdown, appeals for civic space by leading human rights activists and environmental campaigners to enable the right to non-violent protest have been met with crackdowns.

Experts believe the UK has been at the forefront of this crackdown, with judges recently rejecting appeals from climate campaigners who were given lengthy terms for blocking a bridge over a highway in east London. A British court handed down the longest prison sentences ever for peaceful protest -- three years each to Marcus Decker and Morgan Trowland, according to Evening Standard.

Protesters in the UK are trying to figure out how to operate in a new legal environment that places significant limits on their right to protest. This includes two sweeping new laws passed in the last two years that give police the discretion to ban protests deemed "disruptive" and criminalize a wide range of protest tactics.

United Nations special rapporteur on environmental defenders, Michel Forst, called the situation in the UK terrifying. He said the impact on Europe would be terrible since other nations were studying the UK's legislation with an eye toward implementing similar legislation.

See Also: UN Advances Policies on Women to Combat 'Gender-Biased' Climate Crisis

Continent-Wide Crackdown on Climate Rallies?

Since his appointment, Forst has visited several European nations. "There is a clear trend," he told the Guardian. "We can see an increasing number of cases by which these climate activists are brought to court more and more often and more and more severe laws being passed to facilitate these attacks on defenders."

Forst is convinced that European police forces cooperate against these actions. Concerns arise when governments label the climate activists eco-terrorists or employ defamation, which may greatly damage public perception and the cause they are fighting for.

According to Amnesty International, the organization is looking into reports of a continent-wide crackdown on protest. Senior activist on civil space and the right to protest in Europe Catrinel Motoc stated, "There's alarming evidence of criminalization, harassment, stigmatization and negative rhetoric towards environmental defenders."

She added that as a result of European nations' lack of action in the face of the climate catastrophe, peaceful protestors have no choice but to engage in public demonstrations and other forms of non-violent direct action.

Motoc said that European governments should instead focus on having an open discussion with activists and organizations to find solutions to the difficulties posed by the climate catastrophe rather than criminalizing and otherwise silencing non-violent environmental defenders.

See Also: Pope Francis Opens Vatican Synod on Catholic Church's Future; Publishes New Document on Environment, Climate

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday (October 12) as part of his two-day Middle East tour to convey Washington's support for Israel after the attacks of Palestinian Hamas militants, as well as to prevent the conflict from spilling over.

VOA reported that Blinken would try to help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas, including some Americans, and advance talks with Israelis and Egyptians on providing a safe passage of Gaza civilians out of the enclave before a possible Israeli ground invasion.

The total death toll of the war between Israel and Hamas has increased to over 2,600, including 25 Americans, up from yesterday's tally of 22, Blinken added.

Blinken Tells Israeli PM Netanyahu of US Continued Support

Upon landing in Tel Aviv, Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a military facility on Thursday, Reuters reported.

In a public conversation, Blinken urged the prime minister - who has since formed an emergency war cabinet - to exercise some form of restraint in its retaliation and take every possible precaution to protect civilian life.

At the same time, he also assured Netanyahu that the US would continue its support for Israel.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself," he said. "But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side."

He also shared his personal perspective about last weekend's onslaught, recounting how his grandfather fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived Nazi concentration camps.

Blinken has also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Read Also: Biden Warns Iran Over Israel-Gaza Conflict as Democrats Call on POTUS to Refreeze Tehran Funds

Blinken Plans to Visit Jordan to Keep Civilians Out of Fighting

After his trip to Israel, Blinken would head to Jordan, where he would meet both King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Blinken's trip came after Hamas conducted a coordinated attack on October 7 across southern Israel, which Israelis and foreign observers reckoned as the country's version of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor combined, as well as the bloodiest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

In response, Israeli defense officials have put Gaza under siege, depriving 2.3 million civilians of food, water, fuel, and other essential supplies.

A US State Department official told reporters on the condition of anonymity that Washington was working to advance talks on providing a safe passage to civilians, including Americans in Gaza.

"There's a community of something in the order of 500 to 600 Palestinian Americans, more or less, resident in Gaza. Some of them want to leave...and we are working to organize safe passage," the official said, adding that the US was talking "intensively" with Israeli and Egyptian governments to help arrange such.

The official also stated that Blinken's other priority was to convey a message of deterrence to Iran and any other Iran-backed groups to avoid getting involved in the conflict.

"We're very intent on demonstrating through this visit and through the onward visits that we're committed to keeping other parties out of this conflict," the official added.

Related Article: Blinken Leaves for Israel, Jordan on 2-Day Solidarity Trip

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Israel has cut off the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip and is refusing to let in water and gasoline until all of Hamas' captives are released. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that every terrorist will soon be "a dead man."

Fuel and Power Run Out in Gaza

On Wednesday, October 11, the Israeli government took a tough position in anticipation of an impending ground strike in reaction to the horrendous terror assault over the weekend. The attacks of Islamist militant movement Hamas killed over 1,200 people -- the vast majority of whom were civilians.

Israel Katz, Israel's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said on X (formerly Twitter), "Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," as translated by The Statesman. Katz also reportedly tweeted in Hebrew, "Humanitarian for humanitarian."

Hamas has previously threatened to release a live broadcast of executions of the approximately 150 persons they have held hostage, including women and children.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu collaborated with a major political opponent to form an emergency unity government and war cabinet to direct the battle, promising to "crush and destroy" the terrorist group responsible for the killings. According to his broadcast statement, "Every Hamas member is a dead man."

Benny Gantz, head of the opposition, said that he was united with his opponent and ready to "wipe this thing called Hamas off the face of the Earth."

In punishment for the terror assault, the Israeli government shut off food, gasoline, and water supplies to the territory of Gaza. This reluctance to assist occurred at a time when the United Nations was putting pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian relief to Gaza, as reported by the New York Post.

On Wednesday, the lone power plant servicing Gaza ran out of fuel, worsening the already dire situation. Now, hospitals must depend on generators that their administrators worry will not last more than a few more days.

The head of Gaza's power administration told CNN that the whole Gaza Strip has lost electricity, leaving local authorities worried about how to provide for their citizens.

Israel has called up 360,000 reserve soldiers, amassed more troops around Gaza, and evacuated tens of thousands of people from the area.

See Also: Biden Warns Iran Over Israel-Gaza Conflict as Democrats Call on POTUS to Refreeze Tehran Funds

Biden Warns Iran

In one of the most recent updates on the ongoing war, US President Joe Biden has advised Iran not to become involved in Israel's confrontation with Hamas out of fear of a regional conflict.

The US has information that top Iranian officials were stunned by the multi-pronged attack. The White House has maintained that it has not observed clear Iranian participation in the Hamas assault, but conversations and investigations continue.

An unidentified US official said Iranian intelligence influenced White House claims.

The Hamas attack was condemned by Biden in talks with Jewish leaders and nationally broadcast statements. He openly denounced terrorists beheading children as inhumane.

See Also: Ex-Hamas Chief Urges Neighbors To Join War Against Israel, Calls for Stronger Action From Arab World

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A rare white deer was spotted roaming around in England. Specifically, the albino hoofed mammal was seen in the Gloucestershire countryside.

It was spotted by 19-year-old Esha Patel while on a recent fishing trip with her father. The student even posted a video of the deer she spotted on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Rare White Deer Spotted in England!

According to Fox News' latest report, Esha Patel-originally from Cheltenham, England-is studying at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales.

She was having fun with her father during their fishing trip. Little did she know that her vacation would be more enjoyable as she was about to witness a rare animal.

Esha said that on Oct. 8, she spotted not only one but three deer; and one of them was completely white.

"We have never seen one before, and my dad was like, 'Are you sure it was a deer and not a goat?'" said Esha.

The student said that she had to re-watch the videos she recorded to confirm if what she saw was really a white deer.

"Apparently, it's really good luck to see them - so I was going to buy a lottery ticket," explained Esha.

The lucky girl described her experience as "something out of a fairytale." She said that these beautiful creatures should be loved and protected by everyone.

Read Also: Chinese Archaeologists Discover First-Ever Intact Panda Remains in Han Dynasty Tomb

Fun Facts About Albino Deer

Via Yahoo News, the British Deer Society explained that albino deer are commonly part of the fallow deer species. White deer sightings in England and other parts of the U.K. are extremely rare.

Animal experts said that albinism is estimated to only appear in 1 in 30,000 deer. Seeing a white deer is definitely exciting.

However, albino deer are not really lucky since most of them have health issues due to a lack of melanin. These include shortened jaws, arched spines, deformed hooves, and other health problems.

Another problem with white deer is they are more vulnerable to predators. Unlike normal hoofed animals, albino deer can't easily hide because of their white color, unless they are living in a place where there's lots of snow.

What It Means to Spot White Deer

In European cultures, many people believe that spotting a white deer brings good things because it stands as a symbol of humanity's spiritual quest and the world's spiritual knowledge.

Meanwhile, Asians believe that white deer brings longevity and prosperity. These are just some of the beliefs that people have about white deer. You can click this link to learn more.

Related Article: Nearly 41% Or Over 2,000 Amphibian Species in Danger of Becoming Extinct, Experts Claim

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The German government, seeking to defuse what has become a significant political headache, has drafted laws to facilitate the deportation of failed asylum seekers and wants to discuss steps to address migration with the opposition.

A Heavy Political Burden

Refugee camps have been overflowing in recent months, with new arrivals of asylum seekers joining the more than a million Ukrainians who have fled their country since the conflict broke out.

It is a nationwide problem. Therefore, state and regional governments all around Germany have asked the federal authorities for extra money to address the problem.

The numbers of individuals arriving in Germany illegally as refugees are "too high," Chancellor Olaf Scholz told ARD television earlier this week. This coming Friday, October 13, he hopes to meet with opposition leader Friedrich Merz and two major state governors so they can all work together.

In two state elections last weekend, the three ruling parties fared poorly, with rising immigration anxiety seen as a contributing factor. ABC News reported that the votes resulted in significant gains for the far-right Alternative for Germany party and two victories for Merz's conservative opposition alliance, which has attacked Scholz's administration on the matter.

Despite her own crushing loss in her candidacy for governor of her home state, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser underlined on Thursday, October 12, that she intends to continue in her role as Germany's top security officer in charge of the response to migration. "What is very important is that everyone [recognizes] that there is no one single measure that will help us at the moment to reduce illegal migration, but a package of measures," she stated.

Also Read: Germany Launches Inquiry Into Hamas Over Murders, Kidnappings

Simplified Deportation of Illegal Immigrants

This week, Faeser unveiled a proposal to make it simpler to deport those without legal status in Germany.

The proposed law would, among other things, increase the maximum pre-deportation detention period from 10 to 28 days. It also makes it easier to expel those who have been convicted of a felony and sentenced to a year or more in jail or are members of a criminal organization. Moreover, the government will be permitted to conduct warrantless house searches for identification papers.

The government has previously drafted laws to deem Moldova and Georgia "safe countries of origin," allowing for easier rejection and deportation of asylum seekers from those countries.

In the previous month, Faeser mandated increased surveillance of Germany's eastern borders with Poland and the Czech Republic.

This week, the AP News traveled with a federal police patrol to the Polish border town of Forst. Two groups of migrants were spotted by police; one of them had allegedly been dropped off on the opposite side of the bordering Neisse River and walked across a railway bridge.

The head of the federal police force in charge of the patrol, Frank Malack, has reported a continuous rise in arrests since the summer, with groups of up to 30 persons being identified.

Also Read: Germany Orders Checks on Borders With Poland, Czech Republic To Address Migrant Surge

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[Source]

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing Florida for anti-Asian housing discrimination over SB 264, a law aimed at restricting Chinese nationals from purchasing property in the state.

The lawsuit: The lawsuit was filed by a group of Chinese citizens living in Florida and a real estate brokerage firm serving clients of Chinese descent to challenge Floridas SB 264, which was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in May.

The legislation restricts most Chinese citizens and other citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia and North Korea from purchasing homes in the state. The plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU and their partners, argue that the law is not about national security and perpetuates anti-Asian discrimination.

Violating the constitution: In the lawsuit known as Shen v. Simpson, the ACLU accuses the state of violating both the Constitution and the 1968 Fair Housing Act. They contend that it unfairly targets Chinese individuals and hinders the dreams of Chinese families, students and business owners looking to establish a life in Florida.

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Floridas discriminatory property law is unfair, unjustified, and unconstitutional, said Ashley Gorski, senior staff attorney with the ACLUs National Security Project. Everyone in the United States is entitled to equal protection under our laws, including citizens of other countries. If SB 264 goes into effect, it will profoundly harm our clients and countless other immigrants in Florida.

All Asian Americans will feel the stigma and the chilling effect created by this Florida law, just like the discriminatory laws did to our ancestors more than a hundred years ago, added Clay Zhu, attorney with DeHeng Law Offices PC and co-founder of the Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance. We shall not go back.

About the bill: The bill received a 95-17 House vote and a 31-8 Senate vote. It reached DeSantis desk in early May and was signed just days afterward. Homeowners in Florida are required to register their properties with the state starting January 2024. Failure to do so will result in a fine of $1,000 per day.

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Press Release

October 12, 2023 In support of local infrastructure development, Bong Go leads ribbon-cutting of public market and turnover of new municipal building in Makilala, North Cotabato Senator Christopher "Bong" Go attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a new public market, and the turnover of a new municipal building in Makilala, North Cotabato on Monday, October 9. The projects were advocated for by Go during the Duterte administration and supported their completion as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance. In his speech, Go highlighted the vital role of government in pushing for various infrastructure initiatives, which play an important role in improving the lives of the people and propelling local economies forward. "Masaya ako ngayon na mabisita ang bago n'yong tinayo na municipal hall at mayroon na rin kayong bagong public market dito. Masaya ako na makatulong sa inyo sa pagpapaganda ng serbisyo publiko sa inyong lugar at pati sa market vendors. Sana ay makakatulong talaga ang mga ito sa inyong mga pamilya," cited Go. "Ang importante talaga sa akin ang mabigyan ng magandang pamumuhay ang mga vendors kagaya nitong pagtitinda. Maganda at marangal na trabaho ang pagtitinda. Kami po dito sa gobyerno tutulong po kami sa abot ng aming makakaya," he added. He was joined by Governor Lala Talino-Mendoza, Vice Governor Efren Pinol, Mayor Armando Quibod, and Vice Mayor Ryan Tabanay, among others. In late 2019, a series of earthquakes affected various communities in North Cotabato. Go visited the affected areas then numerous times to provide assistance to LGUs including Makilala town in coordination with the Office of then President Rodrigo Duterte and concerned agencies. "Una sa Tulunan, tapos sa Makilala at Kidapawan, na nag-motor ako," he earlier recalled when he distributed financial and relief assistance then. "Masaya ako na nakabangon na ang Makilala mula sa lindol noong 2019. Dito ako galing nu'n para makatulong sa mga kababayan natin. Masaya ako na naka-recover na kayo at masaya ako na maging parte o instrumento ng inyong napakagandang municipal hall," he likewise expressed in an interview after the event. The newly constructed public market promises a fresh beginning for the local business community. With modern amenities and facilities, Go expressed confidence that it will not only improve the daily lives of local vendors and consumers but also attract more businesses and entrepreneurs. The turnover of the new municipal building is another milestone that signifies the commitment of the government to providing better public service. Go commended the collaborative efforts of all the local government officials, and said such projects would not be possible without the support and cooperation of all levels of government. Aside from the public market and municipal building, Go also supported the construction of bridges, a liga ng mga barangay office, and the concretion of two farm-to-market roads, one of which was briefly checked by the senator also that day. In line with his advocacy to provide more accessible healthcare, Go championed the establishment of more health infrastructures, such as Super Health Centers in strategic areas nationwide. Go emphasized the critical role that Super Health Centers can play in decongesting hospitals, facilitating early disease detection, and providing essential healthcare services such as primary care and medical consultations directly to the community. "Ito pong Super Health Center ninyo na itatayo ngayon ay sa pakikipagtulungan ng ating mahal na gobernador at mga kapwa mambabatas... pwede nang magpakonsulta diyan, diyan na po dyan gawin ang Konsulta program ng PhilHealth. Diyan na po ang primary care, magpacheck-up na po para hindi lumala ang sakit. Early detection of diseases, meaning mas maaagapan natin ang paglala ng sakit. Pwede na po sa Super Health Center," Go explained. Super Health Centers shall provide convenient access for basic healthcare delivery, offering a wide range of medical services to communities. These Super Health Centers provide services such as database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation units, diagnostic services (including laboratory, X-ray, and ultrasound), pharmacies, and ambulatory surgical units. Additional services include eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, as well as telemedicine for remote diagnosis and treatment. In North Cotabato, in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH), LGUs and fellow lawmakers, Go supported the construction of Super Health Centers in Arakan, Banisilan, Libungan, Aleosan, Magpet, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, President Roxas, San Isidro and Tulunan. Meanwhile, there will be two Super Health Centers in Kidapawan City. Moreover, Go highlighted the recent passage of Republic Act No. 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate. The said law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. In Cotabato City, there are two existing specialty centers, including cardiovascular care and trauma care, located at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center. There is also a plan to establish renal care and transplant center, lung care, brain and spine care, orthopedic center, physical rehabilitation medicine, mental health, burn care, cancer care, infectious disease and tropical medicine, geriatric care, eye care. Lastly, Go highlighted the continuing operation of the Malasakit Centers. A brainchild of Go, these one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. To date, 159 operational centers, including the one at Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City, have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH. After the event, Go personally provided assistance to the town's indigents and attended the ceremonial turnover of goods to the 39th Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division. Go also attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Super Health Center in the Municipality of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. Later that day, Go was in Davao and witnessed the oath taking of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Sinaglaya Class of 2022.
(Guardia Civil)

A British student pilot has died in an air accident in Spain, according to reports.

The 26-year-old lost his life along with the Spanish pilot after their light aircraft crashed in a natural park in the Andalucian province of Almeria.

The pair had taken off from an aerodrome in Velez-Malaga east of Malaga and were heading to the east coast city of Valencia when the tragedy occurred just after midnight on Wednesday .

The pilot has been named as 24-year-old Rafael Ricote, who worked as an instructor at a Malaga-based aviation school.

His student, a 26-year-old identified locally only by his first name Marcus, has been described as a Costa del Sol-based man from a family of British origin.

The crash happened around 12.30am yesterday in the area around Cerro del Fraile, a peak of volcanic origin in the stunning Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park where popular Western movies including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly were shot.

Its two occupants had just stopped to refuel at nearby Almeria Airport before continuing their journey. No Mayday calls were received before the plane went down.

Civil Guard mountain rescue experts recovered the mens bodies from the wreckage of the plane.

Police and civil aviation accident investigators have now launched separate investigations.

Civil Guard officers in Almeria said they were not in a position to confirm the nationalities of the two men that died.

It was a national Bank Holiday today in Spain and no-one could be reached at One Air Diamond Flight Centre, the flight training school Rafael Ricote is said to have worked for and the planes owner.

A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response coordination centre confirmed: Two people died in an air accident in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the municipality of Nijar.

An emergency call was received around 12.30am from Valencia Airport indicating contact had been lost with a light aircraft in the area around Cerro del Fraile.

The caller indicated the plane belonged to a flight training school in Malaga and was heading to Valencia with two people on board.

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Firefighters were immediately alerted as well as police forces including the Civil Guard and National Police, coastguards, civil protection workers and other responders.

Fire crews subsequently confirmed they had found the bodies of two people in a difficult-to-access area around Cerro del Fraile.

Tributes have been paid on social media to lawyers son Mr Ricote, who came from the southern Spanish city of Cordoba.

One friend said: Hed dreamed of being a pilot since he was a little boy. He was a wonderful person.
Landmark partnership with MMS Land brings world-renowned brand to island paradise and gateway to Komodo National Park UNESCO Heritage Site.

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announced a landmark partnership with MMS Land - the property and hospitality arm of MMS Group Indonesia.

The new-build Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will be the IHG's premium brand third property in Indonesia, and mark IHG's entry into an exciting new destination as it continues its strategic growth in the country.

Located next to Komodo International Airport and just 15 minutes from the waterfront on the most western tip of Flores Island, the hotel will provide the ideal base for guests to explore the area's many world-class wonders. These include the spectacular Komodo National Park - anointed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 - comprising volcanic islands that are home to more than 5,000 rare, giant 'Komodo Dragons' lizards.

On top of attracting leisure travellers, Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo is also being developed as a leading MICE destination, with its facilities - including more than approximately 600 square metres of meeting space - set to cater for the needs of domestic and international business guests.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics of West Manggarai Regency, the number of hotels in Labuan Bajo increased by 50% between 2016-2018, rising from 64 hotels with 1,030 rooms to 98 hotels with 1,462 rooms, making it one of Indonesia's highest-growth territories in terms of hotel development.

More recently, the Central Bureau of Statistics of East Nusa Tenggara, the province where Labuan Bajo is located, reported that star hotels in the region have shown a strong growth in demand, with a 36% increase in first quarter of 2023 as compared to 2022.

Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will offer guests a choice of 199 WorkLife rooms and suites across seven stories. In addition to its expansive meeting space, facilities will include the Plaza Workspace, three restaurants & bars, a fitness centre, spa and swimming pool.

Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will contribute to the development of the national tourism sector in West Manggarai Regency and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province. As a gateway to the area's scenic islands, the hotel will appeal to adventure travellers, with water activities, including snorkeling and diving, island hopping and cave exploration nearby.

As the world's fourth largest market by population - and biggest in South East Asia - Indonesia is a key market for IHG. It's home to one of its largest portfolios in the region with 24 hotels across six brands - Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express - and 15 hotels in a pipeline that includes the upcoming brand debuts of Regent Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection and voco hotels.

Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will be the third Crowne Plaza hotel to open in Indonesia, following Crowne Plaza Bandung and Crowne Plaza Jakarta Residences - a testament to its unfaltering potential as an attractive business and travel destination.

The Crowne Plaza brand continues to expand rapidly across Asia Pacific where it has quickly become the ideal accommodation choice through a purposeful design that offers flexible spaces to work, meet and relax, while satisfying and inspiring the needs of its guests both personally and professionally. Its Plaza Workspace, a new take on the traditional hotel lobby, offers agile work and relaxation areas that promote connections and encourage informal gatherings, while the brand's patented WorkLife Room offers guests a combination of comfort, connectivity and flexibility with distinct zones for work, relaxation and sleep.

Asia Pacific is the future home of more than 90 Crowne Plaza hotels including Thailand's Crowne Plaza Bangkok Grand Sukhumvit, Malaysia's Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Crowne Plaza Penang Straits City and Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu Waterfront and across Australasia, Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton, Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina and Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa.

These outstanding properties will follow recently-opened Crowne Plaza Vinh Yen City Centre and Crowne Plaza Phu Quoc Starbay in Vietnam, and four Crowne Plaza openings in Australia, comprising two in Sydney in Darling Harbour and Burwood, and others in Adelaide and Tasmania. IHG's renowned portfolio already includes Crowne Plaza Changi Airport - a eight-consecutive year winner of the Skytrax World's Best Airport Hotel award - the elegant Crowne Plaza Paris - Republique, and Crowne Plaza Hamburg.

*As of 30 June 2023

Hotel website
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Raffi Torikian as general manager of Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina.

In his new position, Torikian will oversee day-to-day hotel operations, leading the team in delivering operational growth and guest experiences.

Torikian is a seasoned hotelier known for his prowess in team development, cost control, revenue growth, high guest satisfaction ratings and establishing robust training programs. His people-oriented approach has led to successful team achievements.

Bringing over 22 years of commercial and operational experience in the hospitality industry to Dubai, Torikian held various leadership roles across multiple disciplines . He joins the team from Voco Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia where he was the general manager. Before that served as hotel manager at IHG in Kuwait.

Torikian embarked on his professional journey with IHG Hotels & Resorts at InterContinental Le Vendome in Beirut in the commercial team. His experience also extends to roles in the UAE as director of hotel operations at Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH), where he oversaw operations for a portfolio of seven properties and sales and marketing roles in Dubai. He spent eight-years at InterContinental Le Vendome, refining his skills and industry knowledge. A Lebanese-Armenian national, Torikian holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Marketing from Notre Dame University.
As part of the strategy undertaken since Stephane Valeri became Chairman and CEO, Monte-Carlo S.B.M. Group purchased the Palace des Neiges in Courchevel 1850 on Tuesday, October 3rd.

The strategy thus gets underway in the prestigious French Alps resort, at the heart of the Jardin Alpin district that boasts several leading luxury hotels, with the acquisition of the Palace des Neiges and with a major renovation in view to bring to life all the know-how and expertise of S.B.M in the field.

To identify the property and provide optimal support throughout this specific mountain acquisition, S.B.M Group approached the Vallat group which shares the enthusiasm to develop a luxury hotel project. This reputable partner boasts highly advanced knowledge of the real estate market in the Northern Alps, particularly in the Courcheval Valley, where the family of Mr. Joffray Vallat, the group's president, has lived for decades.

The Palace des Neiges will continue to be operated throughout the 2023/2024 winter season by the Alp'Azur group. Renovation work will begin in April 2024.

For Stephane Valeri, Chairman and CEO: "It is a great satisfaction for our group to succeed for the first time in its history in finalizing an international hotel acquisition project, which moreover is next to some of the biggest names in luxury hotels in the Alps. The future renovated establishment will be a new growth relay for us, with complementary seasonal human resources. "

For Pascal Camia, International Development Director: "I would like to thank all the teams that worked so professionally to bring this project to fruition. From now on, we want to offer an exceptional hotel, allowing us to export our know-how to a place highly sought-after by our customers and by those we wish to attract to our group's global offering. "

About Monte-Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer

Monte-Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer embodies a new Art de Vivre that is unique in the world with a taste for what is beautiful, fine and good. Its Resort offers Luxury Gaming in its casinos, "haute couture" experiences in its iconic palace hotels and their Diamond Suites and gourmet dining at the cutting edge of modernity, combining Michelin-starred restaurants, international concepts and our own creations, as well as a top flight artistic and cultural selection. The Resort also offers a fantastic range of sport and well-being activities, shopping and partying. And because the new Art de Vivre Monte-Carlo must evolve towards increasingly ethical and responsible luxury, Monte-Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer has been committed since 2007 to a pro-active policy in terms of energy transition, consumption of resources and waste, local fine dining and preservation of the natural heritage. The number 1 private employer in the Principality of Monaco, in 2023 the Group launched its 4th ethics charter to uphold its values of integrity and responsibility in conducting its professional business.
The federal government has been urged to take a fresh look at Australia's long-standing one China policy.

The policy is a position that does not recognise Taiwan as an official nation but as a province of China, operating under different governance.

Australia follows the United States' strategic ambiguity policy when it comes to Taiwan, not saying what it could do if Beijing tries to forcefully reintegrate the island under its control by force.

The policy came about to protect the status quo and safeguard against conflict in the region.

But former prime minister Scott Morrison says this needs a rethink with the current arrangement being inadequate to protect the status quo against an increasingly assertive and authoritarian communist government under President Xi Jinping.

Beijing's "incessant threatening of Taiwan" coupled with the island nation's successful pathway towards democracy puts pressure on the one China policy, Mr Morrison said.

The Taiwanese people would never willingly choose to subjugate themselves to China's controlling tactics with Beijing strengthening its stranglehold on freedom since the initial policy was agreed to 50 years ago, he said.

Any violation or subjugation of Taiwan would "obliterate" the balance in the region, "radically altering the security environment within the Indo-Pacific," he said.

Any occupation would allow China to project its military might beyond the first island chain and deeper into the Pacific.

"One can reasonably ask, if Taiwan, then what and who is next?" Mr Morrison said in a speech to the Yushan Forum in Taipei.

Coupled with Russian aggression, it would also "reset the balance of the international order in favour of autocracy and authoritarianism".

As such, "the future of Taiwan is inextricably linked to all our futures and the peace, security and freedom of the world we live in," he said.

Under its one China policy, Australia does not recognise Taiwan as an official nation.

Mr Morrison said his call to provide aid to Ukraine after Russia's invasion was as much a decision to protect Kyiv as it was to resist authoritarianism, "especially given the tacit endorsement of the invasion by Beijing".

Story continues

"I was as concerned about Beijing as I was about Moscow," he said.

Preserving the status quo and avoiding conflict would include adding Taiwan as a non-state member to international forums and treaties such as the Pacific free trade agreement, Interpol and the World Health Organisation, Mr Morrison argued.

Having Taipei engage with multilateral forums such as the Quad could also enhance its autonomy "without crossing the threshold of national statehood".

The scope and nature of unofficial Canberra-Taipei relations also needed to be broadened as it was clear "Beijing is not for changing".

Mr Morrison said boosting Taiwan's ability to protect itself both militarily and economically was increasingly urgent.

"This includes not only to ward off an invasion but to survive a blockade," he said.

"Peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of freedom."
Amsterdam - Katanox, the travel accommodation distribution and fintech platform, announced today its deal with leading serviced-apartments provider YAYS Group.

YAYS Group will leverage Katanoxs streaming distribution capabilities to connect travel management companies with its growing range of serviced apartments. As a mid-size accommodation provider, they will be able to easily tap into a new source of high-value demand.

YAYS Group manages 16 properties in Amsterdam, The Hague, Paris, and Antwerp and is set to expand to the likes of Madrid and Berlin. The Groups award-winning, lifestyle brand platform includes YAYS (fully serviced aparthotels) and by YAYS (self-serviced apartments).

This partnership allows us to have complete control and transparency in offering our inventory to Travel Agents and TMCs. In the distribution landscape characterised by traditional and complex connections, often with numerous commissions and fees for each booking, Katanox is a real game changer. Onboarding our properties to Katanox was very easy and quickly done. Lisanne Doensen, Head of Commerce, YAYS Group

This comes as Katanox grows its supply of short and long-term apartments and private places, an increasingly demanded type of accommodation among business travellers.

This deal with YAYS Group is the latest in our efforts to bring both short and long stay apartment accommodation to travel management companies, which is quickly becoming a preferred way of travelling for business travellers. YAYS Group is a great addition because of the exceptional serviced apartments the company provides its guests. Were excited to grow this partnership as YAYS Groups quickly expands its range of properties. Mendel Senf, co-founder, Katanox

About Katanox

Katanox is a travel accommodation distribution and fintech platform bringing together travel sellers and travel accommodation providers. Katanox facilitates distribution of travel accommodation inventory and payments. The platform is unlocking the programmatic era for B2B distribution in hospitality. The team is led by Mendel Senf, Georgios Georgiadis, Imre Vogelezang and Paul Beukers and supported by a group of experienced industry professionals.

LinkedIn: Katanox

About YAYS Group

YAYS Group is a leading, Amsterdam-based serviced apartment operator, managing 16 distinct properties and a growing pan-European pipeline spanning Benelux, France, Spain, and Germany. The Groups award-winning, brand platform includes YAYS (fully serviced aparthotels) and by YAYS (self-serviced apartments). Every YAYS apartment is stylish, spacious, fully equipped, and perfectly located.

A turn-key living space ready for comfortable short to long stays for leisure and business guests alike, a YAYS serviced apartment is a base for urban exploration made easier by its Insiders. With outstanding local knowledge and a talent for sharing it, the YAYS Insiders are in-team experts ready to help every guest explore off-the-beaten-track and unlock the treasures hidden in the neighbourhood.

A YAYS serviced apartment is a home away from home that sets you on the inside track to local living.

#unlocktheneighbourhood

Yays.com

Instagram: @yaysapartments

LinkedIn: YAYS Group

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Capture holiday travel-buying demand

As Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday quickly approach, its time for travel advertisers to plan now to ensure they dont miss this e-commerce opportunity.

Expedia Groups first-party data reveals that search volume remains steady and traveler interest in European cities is on the rise. Our findings also show that for the second quarter of 2023, traveler enthusiasm remains strong with the return of seasonal trends like quick trips tied to events and spring and summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere. Long-haul destinations outside of home regions also rose in popularity, indicating that international travel demand continues to grow.

These insights offer an opportunity to target travelers with deals this holiday season.

Cyber travel deals

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are well-known deal days for consumers, and the most recent newcomer to this bargain shopping week is Travel Tuesday, which comes on the heels of Cyber Monday.

This is a unique opportunity for advertisers to run promotions on their properties, showcase their destination, and connect with travelers who are ready to buy now for future travel.

Get the TravelAds guide

To understand the different stages of the buying journey to ensure youre reaching the right traveler at the right time, our with Luth Research, The Path to Purchase: Uncovering How Travelers Plan and Book, explores the online path to purchase and traveler behavior insights in seven countries  Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Mexico, the U.K, and U.S.  and provides actionable insights to help travel advertisers reach, inspire, engage, and convert travelers during their shopping journey. Theres no better time than Black Friday, Cyber Monday or Travel Tuesday to engage with travelers at any step in their booking journey.

Consumers willingness to spend during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday

Travelers remain cost-conscious, which means its a great time to pull out show-stopping deals and promotions to grab their attention. And as Travel Tuesday gains wider recognition with consumers as a time to book bargain flights, hotels, cruises, and more. Online travel agencies

Data reveals the holiday season is a prime opportunity to reach consumers willing to spend. Adobe reported that $9.12 billion in online revenue was reported for Black Friday in 2022 while Cyber Monday sales reached $11.3 billion. As these numbers show, this seasonal window offers a key advertising opportunity to reach travelers.

Hotel advertising that can reach any traveler, anywhere

Travelers looking to book a hotel use multiple channels to find their ideal place to stay, from social media to travel websites, and more. This is why its imperative that you know when  and where  to reach the right traveler. Whether youre trying to reach early-bird or last-minute bookers, our targeting capabilities can help you connect with the right traveler at the right time.

Connect with your target audience

Convert travel shoppers this holiday season

What can you do to reach travel shoppers this holiday season? Expedia Group Media Solutions offers a full-funnel suite of solutions to help you inspire, engage and convert highly qualified travel shoppers across the Expedia Group family of brands. Here are a few ways to reach them:

TravelAds Sponsored Listings : Use this cost-effective visibility booster to get your hotel in front of travelers you want to connect with.

: Use this cost-effective visibility booster to get your hotel in front of travelers you want to connect with. Native Advertising: Inspire and influence travelers with contextually relevant ads that are seamlessly integrated into our travel shopping experience.

Inspire and influence travelers with contextually relevant ads that are seamlessly integrated into our travel shopping experience. Passport Ads Audience Extension : Stay top of mind with travel shoppers browsing the web, even after theyve left Expedia Group sites.

: Stay top of mind with travel shoppers browsing the web, even after theyve left Expedia Group sites. Flight Sponsored Listings: Reach highly qualified travel shoppers actively searching for their next flight on Expedia Group sites.

Reach highly qualified travel shoppers actively searching for their next flight on Expedia Group sites. Co-op campaigns: Partner with other brands in a collective effort to achieve shared marketing goals.

Partner with other brands in a collective effort to achieve shared marketing goals. Social media: Inspire millions of travel enthusiasts by tapping into our social network communities.

To learn how our partners are using our products to achieve their marketing goals, see our success stories. You can also contact us to learn how we can help market your brand on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Travel Tuesday, and beyond.

Get started

About Expedia Group Media Solutions

Expedia Group Media Solutions is a global travel advertising platform that connects marketers with hundreds of millions of travelers across the Expedia Group brands. With our exclusive access to more than 70 petabytes of Expedia Group traveler search and booking data, we offer advertisers actionable insights, sophisticated targeting, and full-funnel results reporting. Our suite of solutions includes display, sponsored listings, audience extension, co-op campaigns, and custom creative campaigns  all designed to deliver on the objectives of our advertising partners and add value for travel shoppers on our branded sites globally. With a consultative approach and more than 20 years of travel and media experience, we help our advertising partners inspire, engage, and convert travelers for meaningful results. For more information, visit www.advertising.expedia.com.

 2022 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50

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The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) has named Sarah Churchill of Benjamin West as the recipient of the annual Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting. Churchill was honored at the ISHC annual conference held October 5-7 at the Park Hyatt in Washington, D.C. As the winner, Churchill received a one-year associate membership to the ISHC to further professional relationships and experience all that the Society has to offer through planned events and networking with top hospitality industry consultants from around the globe.

Churchill holds a bachelors degree in interior design with honors from East Carolina University. She started in the industry as a Project Coordinator at a hospitality purchasing firm in 2014. From 2014 to 2020, at two different firms, she was promoted to the positions of Project Manager and Senior Project Manager. In March of 2020, she joined Benjamin West as Sr. Manager of Business Development, reporting directly to Alan Benjamin. Sarah is currently serving as Benjamin Wests Director of Business Development, traveling throughout the USA, providing direct advice to owners, project managers, asset managers, and other stakeholders in establishing key budget and schedule metrics for millions of dollars of CapEx investments.

Sarah serves on the Board of NEWH Rocky Mountain Chapter as Past President and NEWH Delegate. During her time on the NEWH board, Sarah has assisted in mentoring and awarding numerous scholarships to local students studying in a hospitality or design-related field.

It is an honor to receive the prestigious Lori Raleigh Award for Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting from ISHC. As an organization that fosters growth and development opportunities for the hospitality industrys most respected consultants, I truly appreciate the opportunities that the members of the Society have offered me and other young professionals in the industry. As ISHC celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, I look forward to being a part of the next generation of rising industry leaders within ISHC and leaving a lasting impact on our industry. Sarah Churchill of Benjamin West

Sarah has a drive to succeed and a commitment to excellence and hard work that is extraordinary; her drive is anchored by a foundation of integrity. Sarah has a true desire to win. For Sarah, "good enough" is never good enough; she is always striving for the next level. Sarah is literally pushing me to be better at what I do, so she can be better at what she does in order for our company to deliver better service to our clients. Sarah is a person who chooses the positive and lives in what is possible. We can all learn from and be inspired by her. Alan Benjamin, ISHC, President at Benjamin West, and Churchills Lori Raleigh Award Sponsor

For more information on ISHC Awards, please visit www.ishc.com/awards.

About ISHC

The International Society of Hospitality Consultants is truly The Leading Source for Global Hospitality Expertise, represented by over two hundred of the industry's most respected professionals from across six continents. Collectively, ISHC members provide expert services in over fifty functional areas and have specialized skills in virtually every segment of the hospitality industry. ISHC is dedicated to promoting the highest quality of professional consulting standards and practices for the hospitality industry. Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, ensuring that all ISHC members have a reputation of integrity and are qualified by their experience, training, and knowledge to develop and express sound judgment on industry issues. Additional information about the organization, along with a directory of ISHC members, is available on the ISHC website at ishc.com.

Jennifer Castellarin

Director of Membership & Marketing

+1 413 563 6449

ISHC
In the hospitality industry, providing excellent service is crucial to success. However, achieving this goal is not easy, as the industry is complex and requires a high level of dedication and skill. One of the most significant challenges faced by hospitality businesses is high staff turnover rates.

The average 2021 turnover rate in the USA in the leisure and hospitality industry was 84.9% compared to the overall rate of 47.2% nationally.

This trend has been a longstanding challenge for hospitality businesses, but what is causing it? One important answer to consider is: neglected training. When employees are not given sufficient training, they struggle to perform their duties, which leads to low morale, dissatisfaction with their jobs, and ultimately, attrition. Providing comprehensive training programs is essential to equip employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the industry.

In this blog post, we will explore the impact of high turnover rates, the importance of proper training, and effective training strategies to help reduce turnover rates in the hospitality industry.

The Impact of High Turnover Rates

Some major impacts of high turnover rates include reduced productivity, increased costs, decreased customer satisfaction, and elevated stress levels among employees. To help reduce the impact of a high turnover rate, businesses must recognize the warning signs and take steps to address the issue.

1. The Effects of High Turnover Rates on Businesses

The primary effect of a high turnover rate on a business is financial strain. It is estimated that it costs nearly double the annual salary of an employee to recruit and train a replacement. As the number of employees vacating their posts increases, companies are forced to spend more money for recruitment and training. Additionally, a high turnover rate has the potential to reduce the companys overall productivity, as current employees are forced to take on more tasks until the new recruit is fully trained to handle his or her duties. A company with a high turnover rate can also encounter issues with morale and reputation. Often, residents in the community are aware of the turnover rate, arousing suspicions that something is amiss in the establishment, which can drive down sales.

2. The Effects of High Turnover on Employees

When a business has a high turnover rate, employees tend to become overwhelmed with the workload. Employers expect current employees to take on additional responsibilities, frequently forcing them to work more hours. This increases stress and fatigue levels among employees, creating an environment that is not conducive to productivity or job satisfaction. Furthermore, a high employee turnover rate can be damaging to an employee's morale. Experiencing long-term job instability has a detrimental effect on mental wellbeing, leaving them feeling uncertain about their future and security.

3. The Effects of High Turnover on Customers

A high turnover rate can also have an impact on customer satisfaction. As new employees are constantly being trained, there can be gaps in the service that customers receive. This has the potential to damage the companys customer relationship, as customers may feel as if they are not getting the same level of attention and treatment that they once did, or they expect. Businesses with high turnover rates are also more likely to experience a lack of continuity in customer service, resulting in customer complaints and frustrations.

Success in hospitality requires more than the energy and enthusiasm of a few; it takes the collective drive and commitment of all staff for long-term sustainability. It is only with a long-term view that companies in this industry can address high turnover and keep their service quality consistent. Investing in training for employees is essential to improving customer satisfaction and loyalty, and ensuring job satisfaction and retention. A well-trained workforce will be not only better equipped to meet customers needs, but also provide the organization with better cost-management, increased productivity and enhanced customer satisfaction. Companies in the hospitality industry need to recognize that employees are their strongest assets and provide them with the education and tools needed to be successful. Ultimately, this commitment to training will lead to higher satisfaction for both employees and customers, and greater long-term success for the company.

DISCOVER OUR SOLUTIONS FOR L&D IN HOSPITALITY

The importance of training

Insufficient training and development in hospitality play an undeniable role in high turnover rates. Low retention rates leave management with fewer choices, and often leads to under trained and ill-prepared employees placed into critical positions without the necessary skills and knowledge.

1. Reduced Staff Turnover

In todays competitive job market, employees are increasingly seeking ways to differentiate themselves from their peers. By investing in staff training, organizations can take the lead in helping employees progress and enhance their career prospects. The results are clear to see; training programs have been proven to make employees feel more appreciated and valued, thereby increasing staff loyalty and retention levels.

2. Improved Employee Job Performance

By offering in-depth training and access to the relevant resources, employers can ensure that staff members are comfortable and confident in their role. This in turn leads to higher quality performance and enhanced job satisfaction. Providing staff members with the right training can also help to reduce errors and accidents in the workplace, saving the organization both time and money in the long run.

3. Increased Guest Satisfaction

Training is also vital for customer-centric businesses because it greatly increases guest satisfaction. This is because training enables staff members to become familiar with the products and services offered by the organization in much greater depth. In addition to this, employees will also be able to provide an enhanced level of service to guests by being able to answer their questions more accurately and confidently.

4. Improved Employee Morale and Engagement

In addition to the other benefits outlined above, training programs also have the potential to improve employee morale and engagement levels. By giving staff members the opportunity to learn new skills, gain new qualifications, and progress in their careers, employers make them feel more motivated and valued. This in turn leads to increased employee engagement, which is a vital part of building a high-performing team.

Neglecting training can lead to a host of problems for an organization, including high turnover rates. Organizations should be aware of the dangers associated with not prioritizing training, and should dedicate the necessary resources and time to ensure that their employees are adequately trained and supported. Failure to do so could have serious financial repercussions, as well as a negative impact on employee morale.

DISCOVER OUR SOLUTIONS FOR L&D IN HOSPITALITY

Neglected Training: Deeper Causes of High Turnover

Training is often ignored, overlooked, or deprioritized as organizations make decisions on how best to allocate limited resources.

1. Failure to anticipate role changes

Without a focus on anticipating role changes, organizations are at risk of not providing the necessary training to employees when they move into new roles. If employees dont understand the tasks and key responsibilities of their role, they might feel frustrated and incompetent. This lack of training can eventually result in employees feeling like they are not appreciated or valued by the organization, which can lead to resentment and a greater likelihood of turnover.

2. Lack of communication

Without proper communication or information dissemination to employees, it is very difficult to ensure that employees are receiving all the necessary training and development they require to be successful in their role. Poor communication can lead to a lack of knowledge transfer, as well as a lack of understanding of the purpose and value of training. Failure to communicate about training can cause employees to feel like their input and their development is not important to the organizational culture.

3. Lack of incentives and motivation

If employees have the impression that they are not being rewarded or recognized for their performance, they may be less likely to devote their time to training. Organizations should consider implementing reward and recognition systems to help incentivize employees to take part in training.

4. Lack of resources

Since organizations try to allocate resources based on where the highest returns can be achieved, training may become an area of low priority if it is not seen to have direct returns. In such situations, the organization should prioritize their resources to ensure that training still gets the necessary resources allocated to it, and that employees still receive the training they need.

5. Shortage of time

Training is often seen as a luxury more than a necessity, and without proper time management, training can be put on the back-burner while other tasks and activities are prioritized. It is important that organizations make time for training, and have a system in place to indicate which tasks and activities take higher priority.

6. Poor management

Employees working with poorly rated managers are four times more likely to change jobs.

If managers and supervisors are not providing adequate training, employees start to believe that their employer doesnt care about their professional development. This lack of support and guidance can sour the employee/employer relationship, sending workers headed to the door.

7. When training isnt a priority

Organizations should be aware of the value of training, and how it can lead to increased productivity and employee satisfaction. Without this awareness, training may be seen more as a cost rather than a benefit, which can lead to it being deprioritized in favor of other activities.

Employee training programs play a critical role in reducing staff turnover rates and improving employee job performance. When employees receive proper training, they feel confident and prepared to take on their responsibilities, leading to increased job satisfaction and engagement. This, in turn, leads to improved guest satisfaction and a better reputation for the business. Neglected training is a common concern in the hospitality industry, as managers frequently prioritize other aspects of their business over employee training. However, investing in training programs is a necessary expense that pays dividends in the long run.

EHL Hospitality Business School

Communications Department

+41 21 785 1354

EHL

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In the dynamic world of hospitality, where guest experiences and operational efficiency are paramount, the integration of technology has been instrumental in shaping the way hotels operate and cater to their clientele.

The advent of the digital age has brought forth a phenomenon known as "Big Data," a term used to describe the massive volumes of structured and unstructured information generated by individuals, systems, and devices.

Hotel commercial teams have recognized the potential of harnessing Big Data to gain insights that will enhance their strategies and ultimately drive additional profit for their properties. This massive amount of information also leads to the question of how to translate that data into meaningful trends, ignoring the noise and anomalies, as well as avoiding "analysis paralysis". In this article, we delve into the age of Big Data in hotel revenue management, exploring how leading-edge algorithms, machine learning, business analytics, data visualization tools, and geographic information systems (GIS) are transforming the industry.

Utilizing Leading-Edge Algorithms and Machine Learning

One of the key pillars of the age of Big Data in hotel management is the integration of leading-edge algorithms and machine learning techniques Revenue Management Systems (RMS). These advanced systems such as Ideas, Duetto, OneYield and others, empower Directors of Revenue to extract valuable insights from the vast amounts of data generated daily from their property management systems, competitor rate shops, reservation and distribution systems, etc. By analyzing historical guest behavior, booking patterns, and other relevant data, algorithms can predict future trends and preferences. To be accurate, the RMS needs human direction.

No matter how sophisticated the system, revenue professionals need to adjust for citywide conventions, concerts, and special events. At the recent Hotel Data Conference, there were many references to the "Taylor Swift impact". Her Era Tour combined with the James Beard awards and ASCO meeting set record demand levels in Chicago. Algorithms are powerful but I don't think they understand the impact of "Swifties". This predictive analysis aids in optimizing pricing strategies, but ultimately, it is the hotel commercial team that determines success.

Machine learning algorithms are also pivotal in personalizing guest experiences. By analyzing individual guest preferences and behaviors, hotels can tailor their services to cater to specific needs. With Loyalty programs such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors and even independent programs like Stash and Lassie, property teams have greater insights and feedback from their guests than ever before. This level of personalization not only enhances guest satisfaction but also fosters guest loyalty, thereby increasing repeat bookings and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Business Analytics and Data Visualization Tools

Business analytics, another crucial component of the age of Big Data, involves the exploration of data to discern meaningful insights. Hotel managers are leveraging business analytics tools to gain deeper insights into various aspects of their operations. These tools enable them to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), track revenue trends, and identify areas for improvement.

Data visualization tools play a pivotal role in making complex data comprehensible and actionable. While Directors of Revenue may spend the majority of their day immersed in Excel spreadsheets and BI tools, General Managers, Directors of Sales and Marketing Managers may not have the same level of expertise. Visual representations such as graphs, charts, and dashboards enable all managers to quickly grasp trends and patterns that might not be apparent in raw data. We have all been in meetings where a huge workbook appears on the screen, eyes glaze over and the only person talking is the DORM. The data needs to be presented a way all stakeholders can understand. A pie chart with 37 slices is as bad as a workbook with 37 columns! For example, a hotel manager can visualize the occupancy rates over the past year and compare it with external factors such as local events, holidays, and marketing campaigns. This visualization aids in strategic decision-making, such as adjusting room rates or planning marketing initiatives.

Transforming Decision-Making through Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

The integration of geographic information systems (GIS) into hotel management represents a significant advancement in leveraging Big Data. GIS involves capturing, storing, analyzing, and presenting spatial data. In the context of the hospitality industry, GIS allows hotel managers to incorporate geographic information into their forecasting and decision-making processes.

One of the key advantages of GIS is its ability to provide a visual representation of data on a map. This enables decision-makers to identify trends and correlations that might not be apparent through traditional data analysis methods. For example, a hotel manager can use GIS to analyze the geographical distribution of their guests and tailor marketing campaigns based on the major feeder markets. The marketing manager can also determine differences between drive and fly markets and adjust their media spending accordingly. Partnering with third parties such as Buxton Analytics can offer insights into preferences, travel behaviors and tendencies. Combining geographical information with outside data sources, you can get an aggregate picture of your guests. Is there opportunity with retirees, families, couples, business travelers, etc.?

Moreover, GIS can be used to enhance ancillary revenue within the hotel premises. For instance, by analyzing foot traffic patterns, managers can optimize the layout of facilities such as restaurants, spas, and conference rooms. This data-driven approach ensures that the physical space is designed to maximize guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Enhancing Customer Experiences

The age of Big Data has ushered in an era of hyper-personalized customer experiences within the hospitality industry. By analyzing guest preferences, behaviors, and feedback, hotels can create tailored experiences that resonate with individual guests. For example, if a guest frequently orders room service for breakfast, the hotel can proactively offer breakfast package deals, food and beverage credits and other incentives to enhance the overall stay experience.

Furthermore, sentiment analysis, a subset of machine learning, allows hotels to gauge guest satisfaction and sentiment from online reviews, social media mentions, and survey responses. This information helps managers identify areas of improvement and address concerns promptly. Conversely, positive sentiments can be highlighted and shared as testimonials to attract new guests. As technology improves, hoteliers can decern qualitative feedback instead of simply focusing on numerical ratings.

Operational Efficiency and Cost Optimization

Big Data is not only revolutionizing the customer-facing aspects of hotel management but also the back-of-house operations. Accurate forecasting is the key to cost containment. Predicting occupancy levels allows the operations team to be more efficient. From housekeeping schedules to preventative maintenance from engineering to F&B purchasing, an accurate projection of occupancy percentage, length of stay and guest count can translate to real dollars on the bottom line. Analysis of data related to resource utilization, energy consumption, and supply chain management enables managers to make informed decisions that optimize operational efficiency and reduce costs and ultimately drive profit for hotel owners.

Challenges and Considerations

While the age of Big Data presents numerous opportunities, it also comes with its share of challenges. Privacy concerns, data security, and ethical considerations are critical factors that hotel managers must address. Safeguarding guest data and adhering to privacy regulations are paramount to maintaining trust and credibility.

Translating the data into effective strategies is the goal of all commercial leaders. Testing involves systematically evaluating hypotheses derived from data insights. By conducting A/B tests-where different pricing models are tested simultaneously-hotels can determine which strategy yields the best results. It is extremely important to choose time periods with similar demand patterns. Another best practice is to only change one variable at a time. DORMs often make the mistake of changing pricing, altering restrictions and / or launching a package or promotion. It becomes much harder to determine which change is driving the results. Memorializing the changes and the results are often overlooked during the process. Recordkeeping will assist with future decisions including budgeting and long-term forecasting. Documentation also prevents loss of knowledge if team members depart the organization.

These strategies can also be applied to marketing efforts. Through data analysis, hotels can identify which promotional campaigns resonate most with their target audience. By running controlled tests, such as comparing different messaging or imagery, hotels can allocate resources effectively to campaigns that yield the highest returns.

Additionally, the implementation of Big Data technologies requires a skilled workforce capable of interpreting and leveraging the insights generated. Hotel managers need to invest in training and development programs to equip their teams with the necessary skills to navigate the intricacies of data analytics and interpretation. In the quest for efficiencies, the industry has increasingly complexed Directors of Revenue and reduced the number of entry level analysts. In order to meet future needs, developing the next generation of leaders must be a priority for the brands and management companies.

Conclusion

The age of Big Data has ushered in a new era of possibilities for hoteliers, enabling them to make data-driven decisions that enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and drive both Total RevPAR and Gross Operating Profit. The integration of leading-edge algorithms, machine learning, business analytics, data visualization tools, and geographic information systems has transformed the way the hospitality industry operates.

By harnessing the power of Big Data, the commercial team can anticipate trends, personalize guest experiences, and make informed decisions that propel their establishments toward success in an increasingly competitive landscape. However, as the industry continues to evolve, it's crucial for DORMs, DOSMs and Marketers to work together to interpret Big Data without getting lost in the sea of information.

Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from http://www.hotelexecutive.com/.
Interview - FedeGroup: Excellence and Innovation in the F&B Sector - By Beatrice Odelli

We are pleased to have had the opportunity to interview Mirko Sanna, Sales Director at FedeGroup.

FedeGroup is a renowned company, not only in Italy but throughout Europe, in the hospitality F&B industry. The key pillars of their success include the high level of professionalism of their team and the ability to create unique relationships with client facilities. Other differentiating factors include the vast experience accumulated over more than 15 years of activity, and the presence of a centralized and integrated structure between the different divisions, which allows constant monitoring and prompt response to sudden market changes.

B: Hi Mirko, tell us what FedeGroup is all about.

MS: Certainly, currently FedeGroup operates three main business areas:

Our historical core business is hotel F&B services, which makes up more than 60% of our total revenue. This component is crucial because hoteliers are increasingly seeking excellence and quality. FedeGroup offers its support in hotel F&B management, adapting to each type of client and their needs. We also help with staff recruitment, a crucial aspect for the industry now.

The second area concerns the direct management of hotel facilities, as in the case of Villa Barbarich and Punta Molino in Ischia. We actively engage in operational and administrative management.

Finally, the third area is retail or roadside F&B, which represents a new challenge faced by our group.

In summary, FedeGroup's strength comes from its versatility and the extensive experience we have accumulated in different sectors.

B: What is your previous experience? How long have you been active in the restaurant industry?

MS: My background in the restaurant industry is somewhat atypical. Before taking this path, I worked in various industries, including telecommunications, private equity, and even fashion. Only later did I discover my passion for the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry through my entrepreneurial experience and the opening of three restaurants in Padua and its province.

B: What is your current view of the restaurant industry?

MS: The world of F&B services has transformed considerably. Today, it can no longer be managed superficially; combining passion with business management is essential. A business approach is needed to deal successfully with the many complexities of the industry.

B: Speaking of excellence, what are the critical success factors within FedeGroup that make it possible to keep the standards high? Do you have any new goals?

MS: Within FedeGroup, we maintain standards of excellence through several critical aspects. First, we are known for our maniacal attention to detail, ensuring every aspect is taken care of with precision. In addition, we aim for sophistication, both in the dishes and in the overall experience offered to our customers. Caring for the customer and the environment in which we operate is another essential element. Finally, the professionalism we offer our partners is a key pillar of our success.

Were looking forward to many new things: internationalization and expansion in the Middle East, where we already boast of our facilities, retail development with our Baessato, Nabucco, and Golocious formats, and finally, further expansion in the world of hotels where we already support more than 50 facilities.



Some of the FedeGroups projects. Source: @fedegroup_

B: In the current environment, research and staff training pose a significant challenge. How do you manage your resources?

MS: Starting September 2023, we launched our Academy project, a school dedicated to training all industry professionals, ranging from chefs to assistant chefs to waiters. We will enthusiastically welcome those who wish to learn and especially those who are passionate about this industry. Upon completion of the training, they will be ready to join our team in the various facilities.

We are proud that we have created a strong sense of belonging among our employees, which goes beyond mere economic remuneration. They feel they are part of a project with shared goals and show a remarkable willingness to learn. At FedeGroup, we offer not only job opportunities, but also a life path that allows them to travel, discover new places and take on new professional challenges.

B: How do you ensure customer satisfaction and consistency in quality?

MS: Since joining FedeGroup, I have become familiar with TrustYou. This tool offers tremendous potential, allowing us to conduct internal and external analysis of customer reputation and satisfaction easily and efficiently. Thanks to this software, we are able to meticulously analyze those details that really make a difference and, most importantly, get a direct view from the customer's perspective and our position in the market.

It is of crucial importance for us not to disappoint the customer's expectations: we want them to perceive the extra effort we put in everything, so that they want to return. Therefore, managing any issues that may arise and actively gather feedback on the service we provide is a number one priority for us.

B: How do you integrate TrustYou for the accommodations contracting F&B services from FedeGroup?

MS: TrustYou is a key resource in our operations and is used for several purposes. First, we employ it on a daily basis to monitor the performance of the facilities in our portfolio, focusing in particular on F&B performance and evaluating the overall performance of the facility accordingly. In addition, we often compare the performance of an individual hotel against the chain, by conducting a performance analysis that is critically important in our relationships with our partnerships.

In addition, TrustYou is a valuable tool for evaluating our competitors and mapping potential partnerships, especially in specific periods or geographic areas. Finally, the data we gather through TrustYou is used as KPIs to monitor goals and results, both for our internal team and for our partner accommodations.

Beatrice Odelli





Beatrice has been a part of our reseller team in Italy since November 2020. Despite the challenges of the pandemic she has found her true purpose in TrustYou and believes that online reputation is the key to success in hospitality, now and always. Before starting at RES HDB in Milan she worked in the Netherlands and Germany, and she travelled Latin America solo.

About TrustYou

TrustYou is on a mission to make communication and feedback simpler and more productive. All communication channels, together in one place, is the new way of doing business. Today, customers expect instant responses on their preferred communications channels. As a subset of communication, feedback is the foundation to build better products, services, and companies.

TrustYou helps companies win through the power of listening and provides a Guest Experience (GX) Platform that makes listening to customers easy, powerful, and actionable. The platform unlocks the potential of guest feedback and helps to:

Create unlimited opportunities to listen and respond to guests needs.

Understand all reviews across the web and make better business decisions.

Publish hotel reviews on the website and on Google and allow positive feedback to influence bookings.

TrustYou empowers companies to earn trust, make better decisions, and ultimately, win.

Find more information on TrustYou and our GX platform on www.trustyou.com.
Crowne Plaza Hotel Announced for Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

IHG Hotels & Resorts today announced a landmark partnership with MMS Land  the property and hospitality arm of MMS Group Indonesia.

The new-build Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will be the IHGs premium brand third property in Indonesia, and mark IHGs entry into an exciting new destination as it continues its strategic growth in the country.

Located next to Komodo International Airport and just 15 minutes from the waterfront on the most western tip of Flores Island, the hotel will provide the ideal base for guests to explore the areas many world-class wonders. These include the spectacular Komodo National Park  anointed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991  comprising volcanic islands that are home to more than 5,000 rare, giant Komodo Dragons lizards.

On top of attracting leisure travellers, Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo is also being developed as a leading MICE destination, with its facilities  including more than approximately 600 square metres of meeting space  set to cater for the needs of domestic and international business guests.

Chris Anklin, Senior Director, Development, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: Its truly exciting to introduce a fantastic Crowne Plaza hotel at Labuan Bajo in partnership with MMS Land. Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is one of the worlds largest premium hotel brands and ideally-suited for guests who visit this island paradise for leisure, business or blended travel.

We know there is a big hunger for experiential travel now, and were working closely with our owners to develop forward-looking hotel experiences that bring our destinations to life and support their overall development. Labuan Bajo is an enchanting harbour town that has been earmarked as one of Indonesias five super-priority destinations. The signing today underscores IHGs commitment to further expand its footprint in Indonesia and grow our portfolio in strategic destinations across the country.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics of West Manggarai Regency, the number of hotels in Labuan Bajo increased by 50% between 2016-2018, rising from 64 hotels with 1,030 rooms to 98 hotels with 1,462 rooms, making it one of Indonesias highest-growth territories in terms of hotel development.

More recently, the Central Bureau of Statistics of East Nusa Tenggara, the province where Labuan Bajo is located, reported that star hotels in the region have shown a strong growth in demand, with a 36% increase in first quarter of 2023 as compared to 2022.

Mr. Andre Chandra Biantoro, CEO, MMS Land said: We are excited to be working with IHG  a truly internationally-renowned operator  on this landmark project. We have seen IHG have great success with the worlds best airport hotel, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in Singapore, and are confident that together well emulate that outstanding level of achievement with Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo.

The Crowne Plaza brand appeals to modern business travellers for many reasons, including how it offers thoughtful, multi-functional zones and spaces for guests to switch between work and leisure. Its also the market leader when it comes to hosting meetings, and a globally trusted choice for businesses everywhere.

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Labuan Bajo is an up-and-coming MICE destination and recently hosted the ASEAN Summit in May 2023. With its strategic location, Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will quickly become the hotel of choice for visitors to this idyllic town, boosting visits to Labuan Bajo to at least the pre-pandemic level of 250,000 tourists per year, while greatly strengthening its tourist eco-system, promoting economic growth and supporting local communities.

Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will offer guests a choice of 199 WorkLife rooms and suites across seven stories. In addition to its expansive meeting space, facilities will include the Plaza Workspace, three restaurants & bars, a fitness centre, spa and swimming pool.

Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will contribute to the development of the national tourism sector in West Manggarai Regency and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province. As a gateway to the areas scenic islands, the hotel will appeal to adventure travellers, with water activities, including snorkeling and diving, island hopping and cave exploration nearby.

As the worlds fourth largest market by population  and biggest in South East Asia  Indonesia is a key market for IHG. Its home to one of its largest portfolios in the region with 24 hotels across six brands  Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express  and 15 hotels in a pipeline that includes the upcoming brand debuts of Regent Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection and voco hotels.

Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo will be the third Crowne Plaza hotel to open in Indonesia, following Crowne Plaza Bandung and Crowne Plaza Jakarta Residences  a testament to its unfaltering potential as an attractive business and travel destination.

The Crowne Plaza brand continues to expand rapidly across Asia Pacific where it has quickly become the ideal accommodation choice through a purposeful design that offers flexible spaces to work, meet and relax, while satisfying and inspiring the needs of its guests both personally and professionally. Its Plaza Workspace, a new take on the traditional hotel lobby, offers agile work and relaxation areas that promote connections and encourage informal gatherings, while the brands patented WorkLife Room offers guests a combination of comfort, connectivity and flexibility with distinct zones for work, relaxation and sleep.

Asia Pacific is the future home of more than 90 Crowne Plaza hotels including Thailands Crowne Plaza Bangkok Grand Sukhumvit, Malaysias Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Crowne Plaza Penang Straits City and Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu Waterfront and across Australasia, Crowne Plaza Melbourne Carlton, Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina and Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa.
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Comrades of French-Israeli soldier Eli Valentin Ghenassia, who was killed in combat at Kibbutz Beeri during an attack by Hamas militants, mourn during his funeral on Thursday (AFP via Getty Images)

The state of siege in Gaza is going to get worse, according to the Israeli government. Electricity has been cut, and this affects the already collapsing water and sewage systems. Food can only get in if the UN manage to arrange safe supply corridors.

Gaza has been in more or less a state of siege, natural or political, for most of the lifetimes of most of its citizens  well over half being under the age of 30.

After nearly a week of bombing, in reply to the strategic shock of the massacre of Israeli settlers in villages and kibbutzim neighbouring Gaza, Israel is planning a ground operation. The aim is twofold, to destroy the Hamas leadership and their offensive weaponry, and liberate the 200 or so Israeli and international hostages taken since Saturday.

Its going to be hard to manage the two aims at the same time. A hard fighting attack will endanger the prisoners. It will be easy to conceal them in such an overcrowded space.

The Israel Defence Forces is now in its sixth hot war in and around Gaza since Israel gave up control of the Gaza Strip in 2005. The army mounted big ground incursions in 2009, Operation Cast Lead which lasted 15 days, and in 2014 they mounted Operation Protective Edge which halted after 19 days. Neither went particularly well, and the militants of Hamas and Islamic Jihad continued to flourish.

This time 330,000 reservists have been called up. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, now supported by opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former Army chief now back in government, appears to be preparing for a long operation.

He also needs to watch for flareups by militants in the communities of the West Bank. He also has the prospect of attack by the Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah into Northern Israel. Apart from sporadic volleys of mortar and artillery, Hezbollah hasnt really shown its hand yet.

A state of siege seems to beset thinking on all sides. Israel continues to threaten ground attack and cutting of all supplies until the hostages are free.

Story continues

There is little hint, however, of a serious plan for what happens after the ground attack. The Arab allies of the Palestinians blame everyone from the UN, to the US, the Western Powers, and the EU and Nato. The arguments on social media and broadcast stations resemble the dramatic surrealism of an MC Escher etching of endless staircases that never go anywhere and never quite connect.

The aims seem maximalist: to destroy Hamas on the one hand, and to destroy the state of Israel on the other. Israel has been trying to destroy the militants since Hamas became armed in 1987. They targeted the founders, the crippled Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Yassin and his aide Dr Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi. In January 2020 the Trump administration killed with a drone strike in Baghdad one of their stalwart sponsors, Qasem Soleimani the driving force of the Irans al-Quds force.

A man mourns the death of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on their house in southern Gaza (REUTERS)

And yet Hamas thrived in Gaza, building and launching rockets, training commandos  not difficult to recruit in community with well over 50% unemployment. In Gaza Hamas and allies have run a militia police state since being elected in 2007. Even with their total control, it is surprising the Israeli intelligence services had no inkling that Hamas in Gaza was training a peculiarly psychopathic breed of fighters, for whom the status of civilians and the innocence of children counted for nothing. Its a dystopian world almost beyond the creations of Margaret Atwood and George Orwell.

The Hamas militias live and recruit from the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, and the 3 million or so on the West Bank. They do not work for them, primarily, as their main fantasy aim is the destruction of Israel. The objective of the present Operation Iron Swords by the Israeli command is the destruction of Hamass assets and command in Gaza. This is likely to lead to disappointment  so impacted, camouflaged and well concealed are the command centres, bunkers and tunnels.

Moreover Hamas has dispersed its command, political and fundraising operations as well as programmes for weapons across the Gulf region. A main centre is in Doha, where it has morphed from the culture of the Muslim Bortherhood. It trades in Bitcoin  raising, according to some sources a billion dollars by these means for the attacks of the past ten days. It has access to the know-how and sponsorship of the regime in Tehran. More specifically it gets weapons and training advice from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and its al Quds commando force.

It also channels ideas, training and rocketry from Hezbollah , the Shiite militia of Lebanon, and partner in government there. Though united in hatred of Israel, the politics and ideology of the two are not entirely aligned, Hezbollah being Shia and Hamas predominantly Sunni.

The Gaza Strip has been a refugee twilight zone since Israels independence in 1948. In 1956 the Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion tried to hand it over to the UN, with the proviso that Israel would exercise demands for tough security.

In a Ford Foundation survey in the early 1980s the population was around half a million, the large proportion being refugees. Today there are 2.3 million in an area about a third that of London, and with almost no natural resources.

Welfare comes from the mosques, and from the UN Relief and Works Agency, whom Trump tried to defund.

Today UNRWA sponsors more than 80 schools, now affording what shelter it can to thousands flowing from the air attacks. UNRWA reported on Wednesday 383,000 Palestinians had been uprooted. Aid is now at a trickle. Habitually the agency feeds some 112,000 family units  more than half a million mouths. Across all territories some five million Palestinians require aid.

Gazans have been invited to leave the Strip by the Israeli government  but Egypt would accept only a few, and those would need full clearance certification.

For the rest, there is nowhere to go except the Mediterranean Sea  but even that is patrolled by Israeli gunboats.

Gaza is also a victim to the crisis in nature  the inroads and erosions of climate change into natural water supply, the excessive heat through most of the year, and the new phenomenon of Mediterranean hurricanes.

Studies by the UN Environment Agency ten years ago predicted that the deteriorating natural conditions as well as overcrowding would make living circumstances intolerable, and even unsustainable from 2023 onwards. One suggested remedy was a wholesale population shift or swap to new areas in the Negev or Sinai  but even the authors of the reports seemed to realise that in the political turmoil of the Middle East such schemes were totally impractical.

The airwaves and media are full of deafening shouting matches  across the media of the Gulf and the usual ports of call such as X, WhatsApp, Telegram, SnapChat, Tik Tok, Facebook there is a distinct impression that the fake news industry itself is finding it hard to keep up. The usual trolls from Eastern Europe, Russian and beyond have been surprisingly low key.

The extremes of either side are now in denial of the others existence, or right to exist. Today there 9 million Israeli citizens, or whom just under two million are Arabs with Israeli citizenship. On the West Bank the Palestinians number roughly three million, and in Gaza around 2.3 million. In the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan there are now just over seven million Israeli Jews and almost the same number of Arabs  a strange demographic parity.

For all the killing and retribution and the rhetoric of revenge and justification, there will still be Jews and Arabs across the region. And whatever the apocalyptic claims and denials, they will still be neighbours.
Hudson, NY (12534)

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Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 57F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

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Makers, Martha and Music: A Fall Afternoon at the Bidwell House

MONTEREY, Mass.  From 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 visitors can experience early Berkshire history through craft, music and performance; while also enjoying local cider and donuts at the Bidwell House's Makers Martha and Music.

Activities that day will include:

Historian Dennis Picard demonstrating traditional broom making, a craft he has been exploring for over 40 years.

Blacksmith Chris Templin will demonstrate and explain the process he uses for working and shaping iron.

Artisan Lynne White will share her skills in bobbin lacemaking while her husband Harold White will share his skills in molding and painting redware. Both will have hands-on examples for visitors to try out.

Beginning at 1:30 in the Carriage Barn, singer Diane Taraz will perform her show "Come to the Fair" using historic instruments and wearing period clothing.

Reenactor Sandy Spector, will present her portrayal of Martha Washington throughout the afternoon as she enjoys the gardens and talks with visitors about Martha's life and times.

In addition to all of these activities, there will be free cider and donuts, while supplies last.

This event is free and open to the public. The demonstrations will take place outside, on the property, which is open all day, free of charge. The house will not be open for tours on this day. Donations are greatly appreciated.
West Street was closed for three hours between Tor Court and Roberta Road after a worker was struck and killed.

Worker Struck and Killed on West Street



The work site was in the eastbound lane of West Street. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A worker died Thursday after being struck by a vehicle in a construction zone on West Street.

Police say Shane Cassavant, 49, of Lanesborough was working in the roadway when he was struck by an eastbound 2015 Chevrolet Colorado operated by Edward Ladouceur, 87, of Pittsfield, who entered the construction zone.

Cassavant was taken to Berkshire Medical Center where he later died of his injuries.

The crash was reported at about 7:52 a.m. in the area of 777 West St.; police, fire, and Action Ambulance responded.

Prior to the crash, the eastbound lane was closed to traffic for construction and vehicles were being directed into the westbound lane by a flagger just west of Tor Court. Police did not provide what work Cassavant was doing or who he was working for.

The area of West Street between Roberta Road and Tor Court was closed to traffic for about three hours while the investigation and roadway cleanup was underway.

Police posted the road closure to Facebook on Thursday morning, reporting a serious motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. Berkshire Community College students were urged to seek alternative routes.

The incident remains under investigation by Police Officer David Hallas of the Traffic Unit. Any witnesses or individuals who drove through the construction zone prior to 7:50 a.m. are asked to contact Hallas at 413-448-9700.

Conversations on pedestrian safety have been centered on the West Street corridor this year after Pittsfield resident Shaloon Milord was struck and killed while crossing in front of Dorothy Amos Park in January.




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The owners of a new music school in Auburn will showcase their own skills at a recital Sunday afternoon at Willard Memorial Chapel.

Husband and wife Rintaro and Ritsuko Wada, who opened the Wada Music School in June at 80 E. Genesee St., will perform classical pieces on cello and piano in the historic Tiffany-designed space.

Originally from Japan and educated in music there, the Wadas came to America about 25 years ago, Ritsuko told The Citizen on Tuesday. Rintaro continued to study cello at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, and married her after graduating. He went on to teach at public schools and colleges in the Southern Tier for more than 20 years. He also performed with several orchestras in the region, and together the Wadas founded the Chamber Music Society of Olean. In 2020, he released a cello bow grip aid that he invented, which Ritsuko said is particularly helpful for musicians with joint pain.

Living in the Finger Lakes has long been a dream for Rintaro, his wife said, as he loves to fish. So he began teaching at the Ithaca City School District, and in June the Wadas moved to Auburn. They have two children: Their daughter, Karino, plays violin in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and works at a museum there, and their son, Yuki, plays violin and is studying business at Binghamton University.

Ritsuko, having left behind many of her own piano, violin and cello students, decided to open the new school in Auburn. It teaches the basics of classical music, with a strong focus on biannual recitals.

"Witnessing the moment when students, especially those learning these joys for the first time, connect reading and understanding with producing music is truly gratifying," she said. "There are moments during recitals when students, as if blooming right before my eyes, deliver a fantastic performance on stage. Being present in those moments is truly enjoyable. I might be most excited about recitals!"

While Rintaro and Ritsuko won't be blooming on Sunday, they will be sharing their passion for music by performing Bach, Haydn, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Ravel and more for their new hometown.

"We chose these pieces to complement the grand and beautiful ambiance of Willard Memorial Chapel," Ritsuko said. "Our aim is for the audience to enjoy the music in this splendid venue."

If you go WHAT: Cello and piano recital by Rintaro and Ritsuko Wada WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 WHERE: Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson St., Auburn COST: Admission $10 INFO: Visit willard-chapel.com or visit wadamusicschool.com
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A redevelopment plan for Fingerlakes Mall suggests radical changes there, but a mall official and the owner of a business that would be affected by those changes stressed that the plan is far from final.

Released by mall leasing broker Cushman & Wakefield and Pyramid Brokerage Co., the plan includes a conceptual drawing that reimagines the mall outside of anchor store Bass Pro Shops. The area where the Cafe Square food court and Track Cinema currently stand would be replaced by public space and greenery, and behind that would be a recreational area and four residential or lodging developments.

The plan, which advertises opportunities for "retail, medical office, multifamily and hospitality" development at the mall, would also reduce the number of parking spaces there from 2,129 to 1,837.

Asked by The Citizen for comment on the plan, Vice President Linda Charles of mall property manager Sutton Real Estate Co. in Syracuse said it's meant to market the property to new tenants.

"I believe a lot of what is shown on the flyer is conceptual at this point to give potential tenants a point of view of how a redevelopment could look," said Charles, who declined further comment.

Track Cinema owner Randy Currier, whose movie theater lies in the middle of the public space shown in the plan, also stressed to The Citizen that it is "conceptual." He doesn't believe the mall will be redeveloped as it suggests, he continued, particularly the four residential or lodging spaces. When a plan is finalized, he said, he expects mall ownership will reach out to tenants about potential impacts.

However, "anything is possible" for Track Cinema, Currier said, due to the downturn movie theaters have experienced starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing with the SAG-AFTRA strike.

"Our lease is up the end of July," he said. "While it is our hope to be a part of any redevelopment, we have not even had a profitable quarter since COVID so the future at this point is unknown."

Sutton Real Estate Co. manages Fingerlakes Mall on behalf of new owner Vachi Fingerlakes LLC, which purchased the 492,592-square-foot development for $3.6 million in September 2022. While the specific nature of the LLC is uncertain, last year's property transfer lists the buyer as Dean Davidov, of Los Angeles, who is a partner at commercial real estate development firm Misuma Holdings.

According to the firm's website, its redevelopment and "repositioning" portfolio includes shopping centers The Linc and The Crescent in Austin, Texas, and Myrtle Beach Mall in South Carolina.

One Google review for The Linc said "the transformation of this place over the years has been amazing!" while others criticized its security. The Crescent was praised for its collection of Asian businesses, going from "almost dead" to "so popular that finding parking is a challenge," according to one reviewer. The majority of reviews of the Myrtle Beach Mall are negative, with some calling it "a ghost town."

The Citizen contacted the chambers of commerce in several cities where shopping centers developed or redeveloped by Misuma are located, but did not receive any responses to requests for comment.

Fingerlakes Mall: A timeline of significant events and memorable moments 1. Announcement 2. Opening day 3. Kmart opens 4. Car lift 5. Interskate 90 opens 6. Chappell's opens 7. Sale to First Union 8. Sears opens 9. Santa Claus arrives 10. All quiet on Christmas Eve 11. High occupancy 12. Ferret shopping 13. From the air, 1991 14. Chappell's closes 15. Kmart closes 16. Peebles opens 17. Sale to Jager Management 18. Sale to Gregory Greenfield Associates 19. Black Friday, 2002 20. Bass Pro ceremony 21. Bass Pro Shops opens 22. Gina Speno 23. Baiting the hook 24. Sale to Sam Abram 25. No tricks, just treats 26. Book Bonanza 27. Theater closes 28. Produced in New York 29. Track Cinema opens 30. Sears closes 31. Santa visit 32. MMA in the mall 33. J.C. Penney closes 34. COVID-19 vaccine clinic 35. Out the door 36. Sale to Vachi Fingerlakes LLC
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When a film is sold on the premise of watching Ed Sheeran take a dump in public or Jeremy Corbyn tell someone to allow it, wasteman, there may not be anything else to add. Theyre only two of the many cameos in Adam Deacons Sumotherhood, a follow-up to 2011s Anuvahood, which parodied his own star-making turns in the west London-set dramas Kidulthood (2006) and Adulthood (2008).

Curiosity alone will undoubtedly tempt some people. But, really, theres a limit to what you can do with celebrity faces and on-the-nose references. And theres only so much Denise Van Outen, Gogglebox, and Fruitella (a badman sweet) one person can take before the nods of recognition start to hurt their neck.

Sumotherhood is, at times, so overstuffed that it starts to wear on the nerves. Yet, Deacon has also found a wholesome, and funny, heart to his film, circling back to the awkwardly desperate performance of masculinity that drove its prequel, and simply doubling it up. Sumotherhood is a true bromance comedy, as best friends and wannabe players Rico (Deacon) and Kane (Jazzie Zonzolo) try to pay off their debts with hapless attempts to rob rapper Lethal Bizzle, and then a local bank.

Deacons film starts, as Anuvahood did, with tightly held close-ups of lips engaged in hushed conversation, as deals are done and the goods are delivered, only to step back and reveal that Kane mistakenly interpreted the request for a strap (gun) as the request for a strap-on phone. He beams, like a little child, as he points out that hes also brought along some protective screen wipes. Kane is the sweetheart in this Dumb and Dumber duo, who says please when he mugs people and insists on paying the parking ticket for his getaway vehicle.

Zonzolo has a real knack for physical comedy. When handing over an empty duffel bag to the bank teller, urging her to fill it with cash, he ever-so-gently sets his guns down on the counter. Hes also exactly the counterweight needed to balance Deacons Rico and his livewire bundle of insecurities  this is a guy so determined to be taken seriously as a tough, roadman type that hes even programmed his Alexa to respond with fam, click clack. Deacon, who co-wrote his script with Zonzolo and Michael Vu, has also tried to work in some of his own experiences with bipolar disorder. (When allegations of sexual misconduct against his Kidulthood director, Noel Clarke, surfaced in 2021, Deacon took to social media to show his support for the accusers and to make his own allegations of bullying and sabotage, adding that the experience took a severe toll on his mental health.)

In reality, theres not that much room here for Deacon to really get his intended message across. Rico mostly worries about whether hes taken his meds, while Jennifer Saunders turns up to deliver a brief, slightly superficial speech about misogyny, internalised racism, and abuses of authority. While Deacon and Zonzolo are a highly watchable duo, the same cant be said for the majority of the films supporting characters, who come across as outsized, sometimes manic stereotypes. Its Rico and Kane who make Sumotherhood worth the ticket  everything else is just noise.

Dir: Adam Deacon. Starring: Adam Deacon, Jazzie Zonzolo, Richie Campbell, Eddie Kadi, Jennifer Saunders, Peter Serafinowicz, London Hughes, Ed Sheeran. Cert 15, 97 minutes
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China-born journalist Cheng Lei extended gratitude to the Australian government in her first comments on being freed from a Chinese detention centre after three years.

Speaking to prime minister Anthony Albanese by phone after setting foot in Melbourn airport, Ms Cheng credited his government for her return in one piece from China.

The video of her conversation with Mr Albanese was released by Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"Hello, prime minister. Its because of you and all the team at DFAT that Im able to make it here in one piece," a visibly ecstatic Ms Cheng was heard saying on the call.

Tight hugs, teary screams, holding my kids in the spring sunshine, Ms Cheng said on X on Wednesday evening. Trees shimmy from the breeze. I can see the entirety of the sky now! Thank you Aussies.

Her comments apparently contradicted the Chinese governments version of her release which said that she was deported in accordance with the law after serving her sentence of two years and 11 months in prison.

The 48-year-old woman, who worked for the international department of Chinas state broadcaster CCTV, was held under murky espionage charges since August 2020.

Mr Albanese suggested that she had recently been sentenced after being convicted in a closed-court trial last year on national security charges, straining bilateral relations between the two countries.

She was born in China and migrated to Australia with her family at age 10.

Ms Cheng denied the allegations and Canberra had complained that her case lacked transparency and judicial fairness.

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong welcomed Ms Cheng in Melbourne, where her two children, 11 and 14, were being raised by their grandmother.

Ms Wong said improved bilateral relations between Canberra and Beijing had paid dividends since her centre-left Labor Party government was elected last year after nine years of conservative rule. Ms Wong said she had promised the children she would do everything needed for their mothers safe return.

"Weve made clear since we were elected that we wanted to stabilize our relationship with China, we wanted to engage and I think youve seen some of the benefits of engagement," Ms Wong said.

The breakthrough in the case came ahead of Mr Albaneses planned visit to Beijing this year. He will become the first Australian prime minister to visit the Chinese capital in seven years amid strained ties.

It has marked the removal of another blockage in testy ties with Beijing which has lifted several official and unofficial trade barriers on Australian exports.

Mr Albanese called her a strong and resilient person, adding When I spoke to Cheng Lei I welcomed her home on behalf of all Australians.

Ms Wong said Ms Chengs reunion with her children was a moving moment to witness.

It was really moving to meet Cheng Lei yesterday and to speak to her kids, who are not much older than mine. I made them a promise some time ago we would do everything, I would do everything I could, to bring her home, and it was wonderful to see them together.

The Australian government has not shared what the conditions of her release were. But Ms Wong said the government appreciated the arrangements which were made to bring her home.
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Kim Jong-un wrote to Vladimir Putin promising to boost ties as North Korea and Russia marked the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations.

The North Korean leader congratulated the Russian president on his victory over what he called hegemony and pressure from imperialists. He also wished his Russian ally luck in resisting pressure from their common nemesis West over Ukraine.

The exchange of letters comes nearly a month after Mr Kim made a six-day visit to Russia, his first known foreign trip since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, where the two isolated leaders met to discuss ways to prop up each others regime.

In his letter, Mr Kim wrote that he was extremely satisfied with their candid, comprehensive talks during his recent visit to Russias far east last month, and that he wanted to further develop the countries relations to reach new heights.

"I hope that the Russian people, who have set out to build a strong nation, will always achieve only victory and glory in their struggle to protect the countrys sovereignty, dignity, security and peace by crushing the imperialists persistent hegemonic policy and anti-Russia scheme to isolate and stifle it," the North Korean leader said, as reported by Pyongyangs state media KCNA.

He expressed the firm belief that the bilateral friendship and solidarity and cooperation, consolidated generation after generation and century after century, will steadily develop onto a new level in the future, too.

Mr Putin also sent a letter to Mr Kim and said their latest meeting was more evidence of developing ties.

"I am convinced that to implement the agreements will contribute to further expanding the constructive bilateral cooperation for improving the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and ensuring security and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia as a whole," the Russian president said.

During last months talks the two leaders discussed military cooperation, a speculated weapons deal and North Koreas satellite programme.

Foreign officials suspected that the North Korean leader was seeking sophisticated Russian weapons technologies in return for the munitions to boost his nuclear programme as recent satellite photos showed a sharp increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border.

A minimum of 73 rail cars with packages covered in tarpaulin left for Russia in the first week of October, sparking wide speculation that North Korea was now aiding Russia in military equipment.

Officials in the US and South Korea warned that North Korea and Russia would face consequences if they went ahead with the reported weapons transfer deal in violation with UN Security Council resolutions that ban all weapons trade involving North Korea.
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The founder of Humans of Bombay (HOB) said she, her family, and her team were subjected to a slew of personal attacks, including death and rape threats, after she sued a similar social media page for copyright infringement.

While we did not expect to be vilified to his extent it will not deter us from continuing to tell important stories ..., said Karishma Mehta, the founder of HOB  an Indian version of the popular storytelling platform Humans of New York (HONY).

Ms Mehta faced major backlash last month for filing a copyright suit against People of India and seeking to restrain the page from appropriating what it claimed was its unique format of storytelling.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed both the "storytelling platforms" to not use each other's copyrighted work such as commissioned images, literary works, original pieces, and commissioned videos.

The judge, however, added that there could be no copyright claims for photographs provided by individuals from their private collection.

Ms Mehta was called out online for a host of reasons, including monetising her content for profit and reluctance to recognise her privilege.

Creator of HONY Brandon Stanton called out Ms Mehta for copying his own original initiative.

Ive stayed quiet on the appropriation of my work because I think Humans Of Bombay shares important stories, even if theyve monetised far past anything Id feel comfortable doing on HONY, he said. But you cant be suing people for what Ive forgiven you for.

Following the court ruling, Ms Mehta in a statement said her legal action was about "substantial imitation", necessitated after the other page "didn't stop the plagiarism" despite 16 of their posts being taken down by Instagram.

"The outcome of this case will set a precedent for the creator community and will hopefully go a long way in safeguarding the original content that creators work so hard to build," Ms Mehta wrote.

Ms Mehta justified the monetisation of the page's content, saying: "While some may choose to monetise stories through mediums like books and subscription platforms, we have chosen to do it primarily through meaningful campaigns with partners."
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India and Canadas foreign ministers reportedly held secret back-channel talks in Washington last month after a bitter diplomatic feud erupted between the two countries over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.

The reported back-channel meeting between the top diplomats in September would be the first instance of high-level face-to-face discussions taking place between the two sides after Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations of the Indian governments involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly held a secret meeting after Mr Trudeau went public with the allegations, government sources familiar with the meeting told the Financial Times. Officials in Ottawa and Delhi have not confirmed the meeting took place.

Mr Jaishankar had gone to Washington DC on an official visit in the last week of September to meet US secretary of state Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

India and Canada have been embroiled in one of their worst diplomatic rows in recent history. Canada ejected an Indian diplomat who it identified as heading the intelligence wing of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, while India ordered a similarly high-ranking Canadian diplomat in Delhi to leave within five days.

India then suspended visa services in all categories for all Canadian nationals, citing security threats to its consulates.

In more retaliatory moves, the Indian foreign ministry also told Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in New Delhi by 10 October citing parity in an attempt to downsize the countrys diplomatic presence.

Government officials in Ottawa told the Financial Times that they were trying to resolve the situation and that Delhi had warned the loss of diplomatic immunity for Canadian diplomats staying in India beyond the deadline.

Indian and US diplomats said they discussed Canada issue during their meeting (Getty Images)

Canada has reportedly not withdrawn any of its diplomats yet, despite the deadline passing, as talks about the future of the Canadian mission in Delhi continue.

During his visit to the US last month, Mr Jaishankar said the Canada issue did come up during his talks with the US officials. Mr Blinken said he urged India to cooperate fully with Canadian investigations into the murder.

While at the Hudson Institute in Washington, Mr Jaishankar was asked about discussions of the Canada issue.

To your question... Yes, I did [discuss it] with Jake Sullivan and Tony Blinken... They shared US views and assessments on this whole situation and I explained to them at some length... a summary of the concerns I had. I think hopefully we both came out better informed, he said.

He added that the Canadian prime minister had made allegations initially privately and then publicly.

Our response to him, both in private and public, was that his allegation was not consistent with our policy. And if he had, his government had anything relevant and specific, we would look into, he said. We were open to looking at it now. Thats where that conversation is at this point of time, he said.

Earlier this month, Ms Joly said she would continue to engage with India privately as the Canadian government believes in having a strong diplomatic footprint in India.

We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats safety very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we think that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private, she had said.

She acknowledged that tensions between the two countries are more than ever, while saying it is necessary for diplomats to be present on the ground. That is why Canada has a strong diplomatic footprint in India, she said.
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A woman in India has approached the countrys top court seeking permission to medically terminate her 26-week pregnancy citing her vulnerable physical, financial and psychological health.

While on Monday the countrys top court granted her permission to abort the baby, it eventually recalled the order two days later and passed a split verdict, sparking off a serious debate on reproductive rights in the country.

The matter is now being considered by Indias top judge, chief justice DY Chandrachud, who held his first hearing on the matter on Thursday.

The 27-year-old mother of two approached the court earlier this week saying that she was suffering from depression and lactational amenorrhea and therefore wants to terminate the pregnancy.

On Thursday, the top court criticised the woman for not making a pregnancy termination request within the legally permissible limit of 24 weeks, asking if she can wait a few weeks instead of going ahead with caesarian delivery right away.

Why doesnt she do it a few weeks later? asked Justice Chandrachud. Then the child would have a chance of survival. Because its a viable child, he was quoted as saying by Live Law.

Her counsel, however, tried to explain her fragile mental state saying she tried to [die by] suicide.

"This is not a case where she is a minor victim...she is a married woman. What was she doing for 26 weeks? She has two children, she knows the consequences also," responded the judge.

Informing her that if the child is delivered right now it will be born with physical and mental deformities, the court said this would also impact the babys adoption chances in the country.

The judges task is all about balancing rights and duties... Today if the child is born deformed, no one will adopt the child. In our country, its a hard fact. That child will have nobody, said Justice Chandrachud.

She will not be able to take care of herself also! the womans counsel responded. Her mother-in-law is taking care of the other two children.

The court has listed the matter to be taken up again on Friday.

Earlier this week a two-judge bench of the supreme court gave permission for doctors to carry out the abortion, based on a medical report that said the woman had mental health issues that would likely increase if she kept the baby.

Yet after that judgement doctors produced a new report that said the foetus appeared viable and had a strong possibility of survival. To go ahead with the abortion, they said, we will need a directive from the supreme court on whether a foeticide (stopping the foetal heart) can be done before termination adding that such foeticides are generally only performed when the foetus has abnormal development.

The judges then gave a split judgement on whether the abortion should go ahead, with one  Justice B V Nagarathna  saying the 27-year-old womans decision to terminate must be respected.

The other judge, Justice Hima Kohli, said my judicial conscience does not permit the request.

She criticised the apparently ambiguous earlier medical report, and said: Which court will, pray, say stop a heartbeat of a foetus which has a life?

Which court would do that? Speaking for myself, I wouldnt.

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Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that comedian Chris Rock once asked her out on a date when he believed she and Will Smith were getting a divorce.

The Hollywood couple, who were married in 1997, have long been fielding speculation that they were calling it quits.

Speaking to People, Jada detailed how her and Wills relationship with Rock goes far beyond the infamous Oscars slap in 2022. I think every summer all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce. And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce, she recalled.

So he called me and basically he was like: Id love to take you out. And I was like: What do you mean? He was like: Well, arent you and Will getting a divorce? I was like: No. Chris, those are just rumours. He was appalled. And he profusely apologised and that was that.

The Girls Trip star, whose memoir Worthy is out 17 October, revealed that she hasnt spoken to Rock since the Oscars incident in March 2022, when her husband struck him onstage after he made a joke about Jadas shaved head.

[Do I have] any desire to talk to Chris? Heres my desire: I just hope that all the misunderstanding around this can be cleared up and that there can be peace, she told People. I talk about this in the book, I think that there might be some misunderstanding between Chris and I as far as the 2016 Oscars. I think that he mightve taken offense, which I meant no harm in offending. That wasnt my intention. But I do think that theres a big misunderstanding there.

The actor, 52, was referencing the 2016 Academy Awards ceremony, when no actors of colour were nominated for an Oscar in any acting category. Jada became a vocal supporter of the #OscarsSoWhite movement and called for a boycott of the award show, which Rock just so happened to be hosting that year.

Rock claimed in his recent Netflix stand-up special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, that Jada told him he should quit the hosting gig out of solidarity. However, she now admits to not really recognising the level of pressure [Chris] mightve been under at the time.

I probably should have called him and gone: Hey, are you okay? And just know that although Im speaking out about the Oscars, I do wish you the best and I just want you to know that, Jada said. Me taking the time to have called him and said that, just to touch base, but his feelings mightve been hurt.

Jada went on to reveal that Rock had called her after their brief spat in 2016, and she thought theyd moved on from their disagreement. He apologised and I apologised to him as well, she said. So I actually thought that we were good, that the hatchet was buried between us. And we hadnt talked since then, until 2022 came.

During the awards ceremony, Rock was presenting the Oscar for Best Documentary when he made a joke about Jadas appearance. Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, cant wait to see you, he quipped, in an apparent reference to her shaved head. Will then walked onstage and slapped the comedian, yelling keep my wifes name out your f***ing mouth.

When asked whether she was offended by Rocks joke about her shaved head, given that shes been open about her experience with alopecia, Jada brushed off the comedians criticism about her appearance.

I mean, thats what comedians do, she said, adding: I would just have to say that I am not really here to make any judgement on how people decide to express themselves and express their art. Ill say that several times Ive had my feelings hurt, for sure. Ive had my feelings hurt a lot by Chris. But at the end of the day, too, being in the spotlight, it comes with the territory.

In 2018, Jada first revealed that she was diagnosed with alopecia, a hair loss condition. She shaved her head in July 2021 because it was time to let go.

The Independent has contacted representatives for Chris Rock for comment.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

GAC AIONs Hyper brand releases preview images of Hyper HT electric SUV

GAC AIONs Hyper brand recently teased its upcoming mid-sized electric SUV, the Hyper HT. This vehicle is set to feature distinctive gullwing doors and boasts an impressive 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 5.8 seconds. The model is scheduled to make official debut and kick off pre-sale in November, and hit the market by the end of this year.

Photo credit: Hyper

BYD SEAL hits market in Macau, China

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2024 VOYAH Dreamer hits market, starting at 339,900 yuan

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Haomo.ai unveils affordable map-free NOH solutions at HAOMO AI DAY



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Chinas new energy vehicle population reaches 18.21 million units by Sept. 2023

In a recent report by China's Ministry of Public Security, as of the end of September 2023, the total number of motor vehicles registered in China has reached a staggering 430 million units, with 330 million being automobiles.

Banpu NEXT to acquire 40% stake in SVOLTs Thailand subsidiary

On October 10th, SVOLT Energy Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. ("SVOLT Thailand"), a subsidiary of the Chinese power battery maker SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. ("SVOLT"), forged a strategic partnership with Banpu NEXT, a subsidiary of the international energy giant Banpu, marking a significant milestone in the international expansion of SVOLT.

Autonomous driving tech firm Nullmax nabs around 780 million yuan in Series B funding

On October 12, autonomous driving technology firm Nullmax announced the successful completion of its Series B financing, amassing a total of around 780 million yuan.

First AVATR 12 electric sedan's mass-produced units roll off production line

On October 11, AVATR, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly backed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, celebrated the first mass-produced AVATR 12 vehicles rolling off the production line.

Changan Automobile plans to set up new energy vehicle-dedicated fund

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VOYAH opens showrooms in Finland

VOYAH, the premium new energy vehicle brand under Dongfeng Motor, continues its global outreach with another successful expansion in the European market, as the brand recently forayed into Finland.

CATL, Zhaoqing city forge partnership in new energy applications, green power development fields

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Chinas power battery installed capacity in Sept. grow 15.1% YoY, 4.4% MoM

In September 2023, China's installed capacity of power batteries reached 36.4GWh, marking a year-on-year increase of 15.1% and a month-on-month growth of 4.4%, according to data by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA).
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Emily Ratajkowski has donned double denim and Clueless-inspired matching sets as the new face of Self-Portrait.

Ratajkowski, 32, follows in the footsteps of fellow model Gigi Hadid by appearing in a campaign for the London-based brand.

Titled At Home With Self-Portrait, it aims to capture the joy of getting dressed up for a night at home.

The news comes after Ratajkowski hosted the Self-Portrait summer party with British Vogues Edward Enninful and Han Chong, the fashion houses founder and creative director, earlier this year.

The campaign is inspired by Chongs childhood. British visual artist Nick Waplington captured Ratajkowski wearing various looks from Self-Portraits latest eveningwear collection, posing alongside a group of children in its kids collection.

Ratajkowski is seen wearing a beige and navy grid cropped jacket and skater skirt set  perhaps inspired by the iconic yellow matching set from 1995 film Clueless  a chic denim waistcoat and flared jeans two-piece, and a lime green sequinned and embellished bralette paired with washed-out denim jeans.

The fashion brand was established in the UK in 2013 and is dedicated to using responsibly sourced fibres.

I grew up in a household that took great pride in dressing up for any and every occasion. This has fuelled my work at Self-Portrait, Chong said.

For this new campaign, I wanted to reflect the wonderful memories I have of seeing strong women celebrate life in all its forms, and I loved the idea of injecting a sense of occasion into the everyday.

We knew Nick would be able to translate this spirit perfectly  his eye and aesthetic are unparalleled, and I think we have captured Emily at her most comfortable and chameleonic.

Ratajkowski added: I loved working with Nick  hes a truly amazing photographer and it was a delight to get into character. Self-Portrait brought together a very special team and Im thrilled to be a part of their campaign.

The model has appeared in ad campaigns for Versace, DKNY, Miu Miu and more, and launched her own brand, Inamorata, in 2017  originally dedicated to swimwear, it now offers everything from dresses to accessories.

Waplingtons work, which is praised for capturing the way people live their lives, has featured in exhibitions at the Tate Britain, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
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Some restaurants in California are charging an additional fee to customers who throw up in the public space after drinking too many mimosas during bottomless brunch.

A restaurant based in San Francisco, Kitchen Story, first made customers aware of the cleaning fee with a sign in the bathroom, as reported by SFGate. In its message, the popular brunch spot  which offers bottomless mimosa for 60 minutes  encouraged customers to drink responsibly, before describing the rules they should follow if they dont want to be charged extra.

Dear all mimosa lovers, the sign reads. Please drink responsibly and know your limits. A $50 cleaning fee will automatically be included in your tap when you throw up in our public areas. Thank you so much for understanding.

Speaking to SFGate, Kitchen Story owner Steven Choi specified that the sign has been up for nearly two years, after staff members had to spend a lot of time cleaning customers vomit.

This was still during the pandemic and it became a very sensitive issue for customers and staff having to clean up, he said. But this is not unique. Its there to make the customers stop and think about other people.

Chaiporn Kitsadaviseksak, the co-owner of Kitchen Story, said that the sign has successfully prevented customers from getting sick in public spaces of the restaurant. Although he couldnt recall the last time that someone was charged with a clean-up fee, there were multiple instances of customers throwing up before the sign went up.

People were scared with Covid. And this was happening a lot. My workers dont want to do that, he said. It got better. Now [customers] know they have to pay. They understand.

Another restaurant in San Francisco, Home Plate, had a similar sign as Kitchen Story, warning customers about the cleaning fee if they vomit. The sign on the wall of the eatery read: Please Drink Responsibly. $50 Cleaning Fee for any incident incurred as a result of intoxication.

Speaking to SFGate, owner Teerut Boon said that customers vomiting after drinking was an issue in 2021, which is why he instituted pretty much the same policy as Kitchen Story.

While customers complained about the sign, prompting it to be taken down in July, the fee still applies. In fact, the same warning from the sign is on the bottom of Home Plates menu, right under the price of bottomless mimosas per person. The menu also specified that customers can only do bottomless mimosas for 75 minutes.

Although its not the same rule as Home Plate and Kitchen, a gastropub in San Francisco, The Sycamore, has its own way of making sure that customers drink responsibly. Speaking to SFGate, restaurant co-owner Liz Ryan said that although the eatery doesnt charge a fee to customers who throw up in the restaurant, there is one staff member who keeps an eye on how much people drink.

We have a staff member who is a mimosa fairy. They bring a pitcher around that they use to refill glasses, she said. Theres a [mimosa] station and it says this is for staff use only so please do not help yourself,

She also noted that during the two-hour brunch, the mimosa fairy goes to the dining area every 15 minutes or so to pour more of the drink for customers. Throughout the time, workers also examine how customers are behaving.

Our staff is trained to make sure our customers dont overdo it. Nobody wants to see people throwing up. That sort of spoils the party vibe that were trying to create, she said, referring to a Responsible Beverage Service training from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

As noted by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the service teaches servers to responsibly serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption and mitigate alcohol-related harm in California communities.

During the interview, Ryan also claimed there have been ways to cut people off from drinking without them realising it.

This is the kind of thing they teach you. We practice eye contact and engagement, we come by with a pitcher of water, she said, before acknowledging that there have been people who step outside to throw up and then come back into the restaurant after drinking too much. People can get carried away.
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It was a not-so glamourous end to Paris Fashion Week, as a widespread outbreak of bedbugs caused panic and disgust in the French capital.

Paris authorities sent out a public warning that no-one is safe, with the small insects making their way through the city. In recent weeks and months, there have been numerous sightings on public transport and other locations.

No one is safe. You can catch them anywhere and bring them home, and not detect them in time until they have multiplied and spread, deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregoire, told French TV.

Videos posted on social media show insects crawling over seats on the Paris Metro as well as appearing in huge numbers on cinema seats.

Some users have also shared their experiences of being bitten by the critters.

So, how can you help protect yourself against a bedbug infestation? Heres everything you need to know.

How do you know if you have bed bugs?

Bedbugs cause cause itchy welts aroud the body (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

To find out if you have bedbugs, its best to keep an eye out for two things:

1. Bites on your body  these look like little red marks that cause itchy welts. These welts usually appear in a zigzag pattern, the American Academy of Dermatology Association says.

2. You should always keep an eye out for signs of bedbugs, this includes odour, specks of blood on bedding, exoskeletons, tiny blackish specks and eggs.

 Odour: If you notice a sweet or musty smell in your sleeping area, there might be a heavy infestation in the room, the AADA says.

 Specks of blood: Look at your bedding, mattress and furniture  if you notice specks of blood anywhere, the insects might have made their way into your home.

 Exoskeletons: The small insects have an outer shell that they shed and leave behind. Check for remains on your bedding, mattress and cushions.

 Tiny blackish specks: The blackish specks are a sign of beg bug excrement.

 Eggs: After mating, female bedbugs lay white, oval eggs in cracks and crevices, the AADA says on its website. These will be in the size of an apple seed, so keep your eyes peeled.

These small creatures can be found in your mattress as well as other spaces around your home (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

How do I treat bedbug bites?

The NHS says bedbug bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so but there are a few steps you can take to help you during your recovery process:

 Put something cool, like a clean, damp cloth on the affected area to help with the itching and to ease off any swelling.

 Be sure to keep the affected area clean to prevent any further infection.

 Try your best not to scratch the affected area.

You can also get steroid creams like hydrocortisone cream to ease bedbug bites. However, children under 10 and women who are pregnant should get advice from a doctor before using this cream.

Another option would be to use antihistamines, these may help if the bites are very itchy and youre unable to sleep, the NHS says.

How to get rid of bedbugs  the dos and donts

You might have to call pest control to help you get rid of the insects. (Getty Images)

It can be hard to get rid of the small insects on your own, so you might need to contact your local council or pest control service to get rid of the pesky creatures.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce bedbugs:

 Remove the affected bedding and clothing  wash on a hot wash of 60c and tumble try on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes.

 You can also put the infested bedding and clothing in a plastic bag and place It in your freezer for 3 to 4 days.

 Its time to up your cleaning game  bedbugs are found in both clean and dirty places, but regular cleaning will help you spot them early, the NHS adds.

Heres what you should avoid doing:

 Do not keep clutter around your bed, try to keep your space as clean as possible.

 Do not bring second-hand furniture indoors unless you have cleaned and carefully checked it.

 Do not take luggage or clothing indoors without checking it properly  especially if you have come from somewhere where you know there are bedbugs.

What are the causes of bedbugs and where do they live?

The wingless parasitic insects are found all around the world and may be linked to, more frequent travel, changes in pest control practices and insecticide resistance.

Bedbugs can be found in:

 Clothing

 Luggage

 Bedding

 Boxes

 Box springs

 Mattresses

 Headboards

 Objects near beds

According to the Mayo Clinic, they can also be found:

 Under peeling pain or loose wallpaper

 Under carpeting near baseboards

 In upholstered furniture seams

 Under light switch plates or electrical outlets

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Can bedbugs reach the UK?

The short answer is yes

Bedbugs have a lifespan of between four to six months and are known to cling onto dirty suitcases  so it is possible that they may hitch a ride on the Eurostar which is just two hours away from London.

The Independents Barney Davis asked David Cain, founder and MD of Bed Bugs LTD and a qualified microbiologist, whether the bugs could survive the journey.

Easily, yes, without a shadow of a doubt, he responded.

Read the latest on the bedbug infestation in Paris here.
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Prince William revealed his favourite emoji in a recent radio interview with BBCs Radio 1 Going Home show.

When the Prince and Princess of Wales were asked about their favourite emoji by hosts Jordan North and Vick Hope, William joked that his favourite was the aubergine emoji. William quipped, Is this a clean thing or is this a family one? Ive been told not to say the aubergine, so Ive got to pick something else.

It would have been the aubergine but Im saying now  because Ive got to be all grown up  its the one where the eyes go up and down and the mouths out, the royal heir added.

Prince William is dirtier than anything youve ever said, Hope reportedly joked to her co-host, adding later on that she hopes the future King of England has a dirty mind.

Meanwhile, Kate for her part made a less risque choice and admitted that her favourite emoji was the heart with then the crying emoji. The Princess of Wales explained, The sort of like hysterical laughing when things have gone wrong.

For years, royal emoji use has been put under the microscope, with headlines around the world analysing Prince Harrys unconventional preference for the ghost emoji.

In 2020, authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie - royal Editor-at-Large at Harpers Bazaar - reportedly discovered that Harrys texts were full of emojis, in particular the ghost emoji, which he often used instead of a smiley face while writing the bombshell royal biography Finding Freedom on the Sussexes.

While the authors werent sure why the ghost emoji was his favourite, the Duchess of Sussex reportedly found his texting etiquette funny and adorable, just like the prince.

The Harpers Bazaar editor justified their reporting on the princes emoji use, Harry obviously also had sort of a larger social media profile with his friends, and they also were very familiar with his emoji habits. He added, So it was actually more than a few sources that we heard the same things from again.

You know what I heard that was very funny about the ghost emoji is someone said that if you type in boo on your iPhone, it turns into the ghost emoji, Scobie continued. I would love to imagine Harry using the word boo to describe Meghan, but I cant see a world in which that happens.

Scobie is slated to release another royal book called Endgame, which follows the upheaval and power struggle within the royal family after Queen Elizabeth IIs passing in 2022. According to Harper Collins, the new book will reportedly explore how her death dismantled the protective shield around the worlds most famous family and saw a long-simmering crisis of confidence in the British monarchy begin to resurface.
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Scarlett Johansson has praised Pamela Anderson for going makeup-free and rejecting beauty norms during Paris Fashion Week.

In an interview with Popsugar, Johansson lauded the Baywatch star's decision to go barefaced during one of fashions most important events of the year.

The Academy Award, 38, nominee told the outlet: I think it is definitely different to see somebody thats in the public eye, a woman in the public eye, go to a fashion show or big event with no makeup on. Its just very different from what were used to.

Its a powerful message for women to see that, whether they follow suit or whatever the effect is, in the zeitgeist. Its powerful for women to see other women rejecting standard beauty norms, she continued.

It wasnt just Johansson who sang Andersons praises in Hollywood. Jamie Lee Curtis posted a lengthy mesage on Instagram in support of Andersons choosing an understated look instead of her famous glam.

THE NATURAL BEAUTY REVOLUTION HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN! the Knives Out actor wrote on 1 October. With so many pressures and postures  this woman showed up and claimed her seat at the table with nothing on her face. I am so impressed and floored by this act of courage and rebellion.

Anderson recently explained to Vogue France about her decision to forego makeup, saying it felt like freedom and like a relief.

I didnt come to Paris Fashion Week and think Im not going to wear any makeup, she told the outlet. Something just came over me and I was dressing in these beautiful clothes and I thought: I dont want to compete with the clothes. Im not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room.

In another interview with Elle, the Baywatch star said that since the death of her makeup artist Alexis Vogel - who passed away from breast cancer in 2019 - her perspective on makeup has shifted. Without Vogel, Anderson said she believed there was no point in wearing makeup anymore.

She was the best, Anderson said of Vogel. And since then, I just felt, without Alexis, its just better for me not to wear makeup.

With makeup trends having gone maximalist in recent years, and elaborate eye looks inspired by HBOs Euphoria reigning over social media, Anderson says her decision to eliminate makeup altogether is typical of her.

I did notice that there were all these people doing big makeup looks, the former model reflected. And its just like me to go against the grain and do the opposite of what everyones doing.

Anderson added that her new minimalist aesthetic feels freeing, and fun, and a little rebellious too, especially in light of the societal pressure on women to look a certain way as they age.

I think we all start looking a little funny when we get older, the actress noted. And Im kind of laughing at myself when I look at the mirror. I go: Wow, this is really ... whats happening to me? Its a journey.
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A police chief in Alabama has apologized for his department giving "inaccurate information" about what was said before officers shot and killed a homeowner during a dispute with a tow truck driver.

Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion wrote in a statement Wednesday that the department gave an inaccurate description of officers' commands in our initial rush to release information about the Sept. 29 shooting of Steve Perkins. The department inaccurately said officers ordered Perkins to drop his weapon and that he refused to do so. Pinion said what actually happened is the officers identified themselves as police and ordered Perkins to get on the ground.

I apologize for the inaccurate description of the encounter in our initial statement, and we have already taken steps to improve our public information sharing process, Pinion wrote.

Perkins, 39, was killed by police in front of his home in a confrontation that began with a tow truck driver trying to repossess Perkins truck. The driver reported that Perkins flashed a gun, so officers accompanied the driver when he went back to the home where Perkins was shot and killed by officers.

Video from a neighbor's home surveillance camera video, published by WAFF, captured the shooting. An officer is heard shouting police, get on the ground and shots are then immediately fired in rapid succession. Police have not released body camera footage of the shooting.

Lee Merritt, an attorney representing the Perkins family, said last week that officers did not announce their presence when they arrived on the property and opened fire within a second of telling Perkins to get on the ground. He said Perkins did not appear aware of their presence. The family has asked for charges to be filed against the officers.

Perkins family issued a statement saying that the truck payments were up to date so the truck shouldn't have been towed.

There have been daily protests in the north Alabama city following Perkins death. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating the shooting. Pinion said the department is doing its own internal investigation into what led up to the shooting, the use of force itself, and officers actions afterwards to determine if there were any violations of department policy.

In the statement, Pinion promised transparency in providing any information we are able to share as soon as it is able to be released.

There is understandably much public conversation about the shooting of Stephen Perkins. Any time a police officer uses deadly force, questions should be asked, and answers provided, Pinion wrote.
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The European Union on Thursday ordered U.S. biotech giant Illumina to undo its $7.1 billion purchase of cancer-screening company Grail because it closed the deal without approval of regulators in the 27-nation bloc.

The EU already slapped a $475 million fine on Illumina over the summer for jumping the gun on the acquisition without its consent. Now, the order to unwind the deal restores competition in the development of early cancer detection tests, EU antitrust Commissioner Didier Reynders said.

By ordering Illumina to restore Grails independence, we ensure a level playing field in this crucial market to the ultimate benefit of European consumers, he said.

Illumina said it is reviewing the order to sell Grail. The company also has previously asked the EUs highest court to rule on its challenge to the bloc's ability to review the merger.

Allowing the deal to stand would have undermined the credibility of EU regulators. Companies almost invariably play by the rules and wait to complete an acquisition or merger until antitrust authorities have cleared it, according to the European Commission, the EUs executive arm and top antitrust enforcer.

Illumina announced the acquisition of Grail in 2020, but the commission said the company broke EU merger rules by completing the deal without its consent. The commission prohibited the deal in September 2022.

The EU accused Illumina and Grail of knowingly and deliberately merging before getting clearance in what amounted to a vital infringement of the rules.

Illumina must restore the situation prevailing before the acquisition, regulators said, and how Illumina divests itself of Grail also needs EU approval.

Regulators worldwide have targeted the deal. The Federal Trade Commission ordered Illumina to sell Grail earlier this year after finding the merger would stifle competition and innovation in the U.S. market for life-saving cancer tests.

The EU said the acquisition would squeeze out competitors and give Illumina too dominant of a position in the market.

San Diego-based Illumina is a major supplier of next-generation sequencing systems for genetic and genomic analysis, while Grail is a health company developing blood tests to try to catch cancer early.
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The German government has drawn up legislation to ease deportations of unsuccessful asylum-seekers and plans to discuss measures to tackle migration with the opposition as it tries to defuse what has become a major political problem.

Shelters for migrants and refugees have been filling up in recent months as significant numbers of asylum-seekers add to more than 1 million Ukrainians who have arrived since the start of the war in their homeland.

Its an issue across Germany, and local and state officials have been demanding more funds from the federal government.

It is a challenge that so many people are coming to Germany irregularly  the numbers of those who are coming as refugees today are too high, Chancellor Olaf Scholz told ARD television late Wednesday. He said he plans to meet opposition leader Friedrich Merz and two leading state governors on Friday so that we all pull together in the same direction.

Rising concern over migration was one factor in poor performances for the three governing parties in a pair of state elections on Sunday. They brought two wins for Merz's conservative opposition bloc, which has assailed Scholz's government on the issue, and significant gains for the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser herself suffered a heavy defeat in a bid to become governor of her home state, but reiterated Thursday that she plans to remain Germany's top security official in charge of the response to migration.

What is very important is that everyone recognize that there is no one single measure that will help us at the moment to reduce illegal migration, but a package of measures, she said.

Faeser this week announced a plan to ease the deportation of people who don't have a right to stay in Germany.

Among other measures, the draft legislation foresees raising the maximum length of pre-deportation custody from 10 days to 28 and specifically easing the deportation of people who have been sentenced to a year or more in prison or are members of a criminal organization. It also will enable searches of residences for documentation allowing officials to firmly establish a person's identity.

The government already had drawn up legislation to declare Moldova and Georgia safe countries of origin, meaning that asylum-seekers from there can be rejected and deported more easily.

Last month, Faeser ordered border checks on Germany's eastern frontiers with Poland and the Czech Republic strengthed.

On Wednesday, The Associated Press accompanied a federal police patrol near Forst, on the Polish border. Officers found two groups of migrants, one of which apparently had been dropped off on the other side of the Neisse River, which forms the border, and walked over a railway bridge.

Members of one group raised their hands when asked whether they came from Syria. The migrants were searched in an effort to find any IDs and taken to be registered.

Frank Malack, the federal police officer overseeing the patrol, said there has been a continuous rise since the summer in the number of people being picked up, with groups of up to 30 people at a time being found.

While trying to reduce new arrivals and ease deportations, the government also aims to make it easier for refugees to work, Scholz said. He added that it also would support local authorities enabling community work by migrants.

___

Associated Press writers Volkmar Kienoel and Markus Schreiber in Forst, Germany, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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The Government has organised flights to help British nationals leave Israel.

The first flight is expected to leave the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Thursday, the Foreign Office said, with further flights planned in the coming days subject to the security situation.

The UK has also sent a rapid deployment team to assist British citizens on the ground.

The Foreign Office, which has said family members of British diplomats are leaving Israel as a precautionary measure, has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The flights will be commercially operated and arrive in the UK, with vulnerable British nationals prioritised.

The Foreign Office said it will contact those eligible for the flights directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they are called.

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

At least 17 UK nationals are reported to be either dead or missing, including children, with Jake Marlowe, 26, the latest to be named among three known to have died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

Children and other dependents of British diplomats are expected to fly out of the country on the Government-arranged flights.

It is understood that British nationals, including dual nationals, and dependents travelling with a British national normally resident in the UK, will be invited to take up seats, and that tickets will cost 300.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK has said at least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military.

The embassy said it is understood those who travelled are reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces.

On Thursday family members of some of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza gave an emotional press conference in London.

Noam Sagi told reporters he should be celebrating his mothers 75th birthday but she had been kidnapped by Hamas, branding the attacks a second holocaust.

He said: These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships.

If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also spoken out about the violence, condemning all acts of terrorism and brutality.

Harry and Meghan stopped short of singling out sides in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website and vowed to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region.

The Sussexes statement came a day after the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales condemned the barbaric acts and appalling horrors inflicted in Hamass attack on Israel.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted Israel has the right to do everything it can to rescue hostages in Gaza, amid reports the country is preparing to launch a ground offensive.

Asked on ITVs Good Morning Britain whether he has fears over the level of Israels retaliation in Gaza and concerns there may be breaches of international law, Mr Barclay said: We think international law obviously should be followed and civilian casualties should be minimised.

But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.

But the former head of MI6, Sir Alex Younger, urged Israel not to do what your enemy wants and said its intense retaliation could end up creating more terrorists.

International aid groups said deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the regions only power station ran out of fuel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday and offered the UKs support to try to keep the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza open for humanitarian reasons, Downing Street said.
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A SNP MP Lisa Cameron has announced she is quitting the party and defecting to the Conservatives over the toxic and bullying treatment from colleagues at Westminster.

The backbencher will now sit with the Tory party in the Commons rather than spark a by-election in her East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow seat.

The furious SNP leader Humza Yousaf accused Ms Cameron of betrayal for switching to the Tories  demanding that the MP do the honourable thing and resign her seat.

Coming just days before the SNP conference, Mr Yousaf said: To see somebody who claims to have supported Scottish independence cross the floor to the Conservative and Unionist Party betrays the fact that she probably never believed in the cause in the first place.

Ms Cameron blamed her SNP colleagues in parliament for the deterioration of her mental health and being put on antidepressants  revealing that she had received support from Rishi Sunak.

The defecting MP said she had been badly treated over her decision to support the harassment victim of fellow SNP MP Patrick Grady. She also lashed out at the division caused by the partys push for Scottish independence.

In a statement, the MP said: Families like mine experienced significant division regarding the issue of [Scottish] independence. She added: I have come to the conclusion that it is more helpful to focus my energies upon constructive policies that benefit everyone across the four nations of the UK.

Labours Ian Murray MP, the shadow Scottish secretary, said Ms Cameron had had let down her constituents and shown her true colours by defecting to the Tories.

Mr Sunak said he was delighted that Ms Cameron has decided to join the Conservatives. Lisa is right that we should aim to do politics better, with more empathy and less division and a dedication to always doing what we think is right.

Lisa Cameron fell out with ex-SNP Westminister leader Ian Blackford (PA Wire)

She had spoken out over Mr Grady and challenged how the leadership handled sexual harassment allegations against her colleage. The former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford had reportedly said in a group meeting that the party should offer absolute full support to Mr Grady.

The Commissioner for Standards concluded last year that Mr Grady had breached sexual misconduct policy  upholding a complaint that he had made an unwanted sexual advance to a junior member of staff.

Announcing her decision to quit on Thursday, Ms Cameron said: I do not feel able to continue in what I have experienced as a toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group.

She said it had resulted in my requiring counselling for a period of 12 months in parliament and caused significant deterioration in my health and wellbeing as assessed by my GP including the need for antidepressants.

Ms Cameron said she would never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year  but had lost faith in the partys leadership.

Rishi Sunak said he was delighted by the SNP MPs decision to join the Tories (PA Wire)

Ms Cameron was set to be challenged soon for the SNP nomination in her East Kilbride constituency at the next general election.

The MP said only last month that she cant entirely rule out forcing a by-election immediately if she was not nominated to stand again by the party.

But she is not thought to be willing to call a by-election after her exit from the party, and will instead sit as a Tory MP until the general election expected in 2024.

Andy Maciver  the Scottish Tories former media chief  said the SNP would be delighted, when they think about it.

The host of the Holyrood Sources podcast said it meant SNP get to engage their base by complaining about the Tories without the need for the bruising by-election Ms Cameron had threatened. The Tories get another MP and a bit of fun. Labour get to say were the alternative. Everyones happy.

Conservative MP John Lamont posted a warm welcome to his new colleague on Twitter, while Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said it was a sign that the SNP was imploding. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: Its great to have Lisa Cameron on board.

Ms Cameron praised Mr Sunak and said she was particularly grateful to him for reaching out to her after receiving no contact from party leadership in the past weeks despite her mental health struggles.

The new Tory MP added: It is the first time I have felt heard and shows positive, inclusive leadership in contrast to that which I have encountered in the SNP at Westminster over many years.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On October 12, autonomous driving technology firm Nullmax announced the successful completion of its Series B financing, amassing a total of around 780 million yuan.



Photo credit: Nullmax

Leading the round was Shanghai Stonehill Technology Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Stonehill), with Stonehill Technology Limited, an existing shareholder, participating in the additional investment, along with other investors.

This financing follows an announcement made by Shanghai Stonehill on August 30, outlining its plans to inject capital and acquire a portion of Nullmax (Cayman) Limited's equity. The plan detailed Shanghai Stonehill's subsidiary's intention to inject approximately 1.98 billion yuan as a pre-investment valuation and increase Nullmax (Cayman)'s capital by 675 million yuan or the equivalent amount in USD, giving it a 26.12% stake post-investment.

In parallel, the company aimed to transfer a total of around 1.88 billion yuan as a pre-transfer valuation and, using its own funds, acquire shares from Nullmax's founder, Desay SV, and other shareholders, resulting in a 13.08% stake post-investment. Following the completion of these transactions, Shanghai Stonehill will hold 39.20% of Nullmax's equity and, with the exercise of 11% voting rights, will command 50.20% of the voting rights.

Nullmax was founded in Silicon Valley in 2016 and began its expansion into Shanghai in early 2017. Nullmax currently offers two product lines, MaxDrive and MaxVision, delivering complete intelligent driving systems and customized visual perception modules to customers. It's worth noting that Nullmax has secured projects from various industry clients, with partners including SAIC Motor, Chery, and JMC. This recent Series B funding marks a significant milestone in Nullmax's growth.
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The King laughed and joked as he presented the 2022 and 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Engineering at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QE Prize), first presented in 2013 by the then-Queen to the creators of the world wide web, recognises engineers responsible for groundbreaking global innovations.

This is the first time Charles has presented the prize since his coronation. He presented it three times as the prince of Wales.

Wearing a blue striped suit with black shoes, the King on Thursday presented the 2022 QE Prize to Dr Masato Sagawa for the discovery, development and commercialisation of the worlds most powerful permanent magnet, NdFeB, which is a crucial component in smartphones, cars and robots.

The 2023 QE Prize laureates are Professor Martin Green, Professor Andrew Blakers, Dr Aihua Wang and Dr Jianhua Zhao for the invention and development of passivated emitter and rear cell (Perc) solar photovoltaic technology, which has lowered the cost of solar panels by 80% over the last decade.

The breakthrough has helped solar power to become a reliable source of electricity around the world.

Professor Green said the King genuinely knew about the technical aspects of solar technology.

He told the PA news agency: He was interested in the details of technology. He wanted to know what a passivated emitter is. He genuinely knew what he was talking about.

This award being associated with the British monarchy, my mum is a big fan of the monarchy, particularly the late Queen Elizabeth, so she would have been delighted to know Im here at Buckingham Palace.

Dr Sagawa said he was more honoured than ever to receive the prize in the presence of the King.

He said: Many years ago, experts in my field were convinced that magnets could not have been made with rare earth metals and iron, but I remained curious and today have been recognised for effort and perseverance in this idea.

Dr Wang, the first female QE Prize laureate, accepted the prize with her husband Dr Zhao. She said: Achievements in engineering can have a remarkable impact all over the world and we are very grateful that the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering has selected Perc technology among many global innovations.

Professor Blakers said: It is an honour to be presented the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering alongside academic colleagues and friends at a venue that is as renowned as Buckingham Palace.

All winners got unique trophies designed in a competition; the 2023 trophy was designed by 25-year-old Anja Brandl from Switzerland and the 2022 trophy was designed by 19-year-old Anshika Agarwal from India.

The inventor of the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, attended the ceremony, as did the ambassadors of Japan and Australia, and spoke with the King.
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Antisemitic incidents in the UK have increased by more than 300% since Hamas attack on Israel, according to a Jewish security group.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which represents British Jews on issues of racism and policing, said it had recorded 89 incidents between October 7-10 that it classed as anti-Jewish hate.

It said that marked a 324% rise on the 21 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat said he was very concerned at reports of an increase in antisemitism in Britain since the assault by the Palestinian militant group started on Saturday, which saw fighters massacre hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at a music festival.

What the Nazis were doing is exactly what Hamas is doing today Security minister Tom Tugendhat

CST said six of the 89 incidents recorded were assaults, three referred to damage to Jewish property and 66 were related to abusive behaviour, with 22 taking place online.

Examples of an assault given by the organisation included a Jewish person walking to synagogue in London on Sunday morning being called a dirty Jew by a stranger, who said no wonder youre all getting raped.

In north east London, the CST said a car slowed down outside a synagogue before the occupants of the vehicle shouted Kill Jews and Death to Israel while waving a Palestinian flag.

In a blog post on Wednesday, the Jewish security group said: Make no mistake: these are anti-Jewish racist incidents and hate crimes in which Jewish people, property and institutions are singled out for hate, including death threats and abuse.

In many cases, the perpetrators of these disgraceful incidents are using the symbols and language of pro-Palestinian politics as rhetorical weapons with which to threaten and abuse Jewish people.

Mr Tugendhat, a senior minister, said the UK Government took the rise in antisemitism extremely seriously as he voiced support for the CST and the police in cracking down on the spreading of hate.

The security minister, who has Jewish ancestry and whose family members were murdered in Europe during the Holocaust, drew parallels between the ideology of Hamas and that of the Nazis in the 1930s and 40s.

What the Nazis were doing is exactly what Hamas is doing today. It is preaching a blood libel, preaching a hatred for Jews and preaching a hatred that extends around the world, he told Sky News Politics Hub programme.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it had made arrests while hundreds of people gathered in St Peters Square on Wednesday evening to take part in a vigil for those who were killed in Hamas terror strike.

The force said four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace.

In a social media post that was later deleted, GMP said the arrests were not for supporting Palestine, saying people had a right to express their support for both Israel and Palestine.

The force draws a clear distinction between support for Palestine and support for the proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas, it said in a post on social media.

GMP later said one person had been de-arrested following further investigation, with three remaining under arrest.

It comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman wrote to police chiefs this week saying that waving a Palestinian flag and chanting pro-Arab songs could amount to a public order offence if it could be deemed to be in support of terror atrocities.

With the war between Israel and Gaza escalating, officers from the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command has issued an appeal for anyone in the UK who has direct evidence related to the terrorist attacks in southern Israel to contact them.

The Met said the appeal is directed at anyone who may have already returned from Israel in the past few days and has footage or images of the terrorist attacks.

On Wednesday it was confirmed that another Briton had died in the incursion by Hamas fighters.

Jake Marlowe, 26, is among three known to have died. He was originally recorded as missing but was confirmed dead by the Israeli Embassy in London.

Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was invaded by Hamas gunmen, reportedly killing at least 260 people.

Concerns remain for the safety of British citizens in the region, with reports that 17 UK nationals are either dead or missing, including children.

The war has already claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy every member of Hamas in a televised address on Wednesday.

In the sealed-off Gaza Strip ruled by Hamas, Palestinian suffering has mounted as Israeli retaliation bombardment demolished neighbourhoods and the only power plant ran out of fuel.

British aid charity Oxfam announced it has started a fundraising appeal, warning that unless Tel Aviv  which put Gaza under siege following Hamas deadly assault on the weekend  eases its complete blockade, then food is likely to run out within a week.

Aleema Shivji, Oxfams chief impact officer, said innocent communities are trapped in Gaza, one of the most densely populated places on earth, with no safe place to escape the Israeli airstrikes.
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Ex-Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has been spared prison after agreeing to pay 652m to HMRC for failing to declare 400m of overseas assets to the government.

The billionaire was sentenced to 17 months in prison suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to fraud on Thursday.

On 7 July 2015, Ecclestone failed to declare a trust in Singapore with a bank account containing around $650m.

Bernie Ecclestone arrives at Southwark Crown Court (PA Wire)

The court heard Ecclestone had said no when asked whether he had any links to further trusts in or outside the UK in a meeting with HMRC officers who were investigating his tax affairs. That answer was untrue or misleading, prosecutors said.

The tycoon had been due to stand trial for fraud in November, having previously pleaded not guilty in August. But he admitted the charge at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday.

The 92-year-old arrived wearing a dark suit and grey tie supported by his third wife, Fabiana Flosi. He told the hearing: I plead guilty.

The court heard the former racing driver has agreed a civil settlement of 652.6m in respect of sums due to HMRC over the course of 18 years, which includes a penalty of more than 340m. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of 74,000.

Sentencing the F1 supremo, Mr Justice Bryan said: Your offending is so serious that neither a fine or a community order would be appropriate. It is rightly acknowledged that the custody threshold has been passed.

However, he said that he had taken into consideration a number of mitigating factors, including Ecclestones health, age, and that he has no previous criminal convictions.

Before his guilty plea, Ecclestone made a bid to dismiss proceedings by claiming unpopular remarks he made about Russian president Vladimir Putin on daytime television were the reason for the prosecution, rather than legitimate public interest.

Ecclestone was seeking to a draw a line under investigations into his tax affairs, the court heard (PA)

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Bryan said the elderly billionaire had lied to HMRC investigators. He told the defendant: Towards the end of the meeting you were asked if, since the conclusion of the previous investigation in 2008, and excluding the trusts referred to so far in the course of the meeting, whether you were linked as a settlor or beneficiary to any other trust in or outside the United Kingdom.

You replied no. That was a lie. You were in fact linked to a trust structure known as the Kinan Trust and another known as the Nanki Trust.

He added that the prosecution had given careful consideration to the public interest in pursuing the fraud case, given Ecclestones age and health, including considering evidence from the businessmans cardiologist.

The judge also said he accepted that the sizeable settlement figure agreed with HMRC reflected remorse and showed Ecclestones determination to address his offending.

Ecclestones defence barrister, Christine Montgomery KC, said her client bitterly regrets the events that led to this criminal trial.

In 2014, Ecclestone agreed to pay 60m to bring an end to a bribery trial in Germany. As a result of that investigation, HMRC opened a tax fraud investigation into the former racing chief, who has three grown-up daughters, Deborah, Tamara and Petra, and a young son, Ace.

Before his guilty plea, Ecclestone claimed unpopular remarks he made about Vladimir Putin were the reason for the prosecution (Getty)

Ecclestone enjoyed a career as one of the most prominent people in global motorsport after he ran Formula One from the late 1970s until 2017. His current net worth is estimated at $2.9bn (2.1bn), according to Forbes.

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC told the court that Ecclestone was seeking to a draw a line under investigations into his tax affairs at the meeting with HMRC on 7 July 2015, adding: He was fed up of paying huge bills for advice.

The court heard Ecclestone had answered no when asked by HMRC officers whether he had any links to further trusts in or outside the UK.

Mr Wright added: That answer was untrue or misleading. Mr Ecclestone knew his answer may have been untrue or misleading.

As of July 7 2015, Mr Ecclestone did not know the truth of the position, so was not able to give an answer to the question. Mr Ecclestone was not entirely clear on how ownership of the accounts in question were structured.

He therefore did not know whether it was liable for tax, interest or penalties in relation to amounts passing through the accounts.

Mr Ecclestone recognises it was wrong to answer the questions he did because it ran the risk that HMRC would not continue to investigate his affairs. He now accepts that some tax is due in relation to these matters.

Ecclestone, pictured with Lewis Hamilton (Getty)

Investigators said Ecclestone had ample time to be honest about his tax affairs.

Speaking outside court after the tycoon was sentenced, Richard Las, director of the fraud investigation service at HMRC, said: Bernie Ecclestone has had ample time and numerous opportunities to take responsibility and be honest with HMRC about his tax affairs.

Instead of taking these opportunities he lied to HMRC, and as a result we opened a criminal investigation. This investigation has involved inquiries around the world and culminated with todays trial.

Today Bernie Ecclestone pleaded guilty to fraud.

As you know, he has now been sentenced. As well as the sentence he has made a payment of 650m in relation to his tax affairs. Over 340m of that amount is a penalty, so a very significant amount.

Leaving the court, Ecclestone was asked for comment, but his response was unclear as he smiled and nodded and climbed into a waiting white Range Rover.
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A Holocaust denier arrested in Scotland can be extradited to France where he is wanted by authorities, a court has ruled.

Authorities in France issued a domestic warrant for Vincent Reynouard over alleged offences relating to online videos some of which contain statements denying that the Holocaust happened.

The alleged offences include public trivialisation of a war crime and public challenge to the existence of crimes against humanity committed during the Second World War.

Reynouard, 54, was arrested in Fife in November last year and was remanded in custody after crossing the Channel to evade French authorities who had been pursuing him for two years.

Sheriff Christopher Dickson said that statements in the videos are beyond the pale of what is tolerable in our society and grossly offensive.

He ruled that the alleged offences constitute an offence under Scots law as they would amount to a breach of the Communications Act, and that there was therefore no bar to extradition.

In a written ruling he said: I have found that the conduct set out in the accusation warrant constitutes an extradition offence; there are no bars to extradition; the respondents extradition would be compatible with the convention rights within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998; and the respondents extradition would not be disproportionate.

In such circumstances I order the respondent to be extradited to France.

Holocaust denial has been a criminal offence in France since 1990 and Reynouard has been convicted on previous occasions, including being handed a four-month jail term in November 2020 and a further six months in January 2021.

Sheriff Dickson said that Reynouard was arrested in November 2022 on a conviction warrant concerning a 12-month jail sentence which was upheld in the Court of Appeal in Caen, Normandy, on June 17 2015.

The single offence he had been convicted of was disputing the existence of a crime against humanity and involved him publishing two videos online which, amongst other things, disputed the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz and described the Holocaust as a myth, the sheriff said.

However, at a previous hearing the court heard that the conviction warrant had been withdrawn by French authorities due to the amount of time Reynouard had spent on remand in Scotland.

This left the domestic warrant which was issued by French authorities in November 2022, in relation to which Reynouard now faces extradition.

Sheriff Dicksons ruling was published following a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday and Reynouard was remanded in custody.
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A Virgin company has won a High Court fight with an American train operator which pulled out of a deal after alleging the Virgin brand had stopped being a brand of international high repute.

Virgin Enterprises said Brightline Holdings was in breach of a trademark licence agreement.

Brightline disputed Virgin Enterprises claim.

A judge on Thursday ruled in favour of Virgin Enterprises.

Judge Mark Pelling said, in a written ruling, that Brightline had failed to prove issues it had to prove.

The judge, who oversaw a High Court hearing in the Rolls Building, in London, in July, indicated that decisions about damages would be made at a later date.

He was told that Virgin Enterprises wanted around 200 million damages.

The deal meant that Brightline would rebrand its rail services in the US as Virgin Trains USA, Judge Pelling heard.

He heard that Virgin Enterprises was part of the Virgin Group, founded by businessman Sir Richard Branson, and managed intellectual property relating to the Virgin brand.

Virgin Enterprises had alleged that Brightline had breached a 2018 trademark licence agreement, said the judge.

He said Virgin Enterprises had agreed to license the Virgin Brand to Brightline for use in connection with its rail services business on the east coast of the USA.

Brightline argued that it was entitled to terminate.

The judge said Brightlines defence was that a clause entitled it to terminate if the Virgin brand had ceased to be a brand of international high repute.

Lawyers representing Brightline, which, the judge said, was registered in Delaware and operated a train service between Miami and Orlando, had outlined concerns about Virgins train and airline businesses, at the hearing.

They said by the end of 2019, Brightline was becoming concerned about the reputation of the Virgin brand.

In April 2019, Virgin Trains was disqualified from bidding for a renewal of the West Coast mainline train franchise; it operated no trains in the UK after December 7 2019, they said.

Not long after the announcement that Virgin Trains had been disqualified, investors started to express concerns about Brightlines links with Virgin.

Lawyers representing Virgin Enterprises had said Brightlines allegation  that the Virgin brand had stopped being a brand of international high repute  was cynical and spurious.

Judge Pelling said: I conclude that Brightline has failed to prove any of the issues it had to prove if it was to succeed in its defence and for that reason the claim succeeds.

Judge Pelling said Brightline had failed to prove that the brand had ceased to be a brand of international high repute on relevant dates.

He added: Although it was suggested by Brightline that its standing with consumers was damaged by its continued association with Virgin, there is no evidence that is so.

The judge said there was no evidence which demonstrated Brightlines brand equity had been damaged.
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The King has held talks with the Chief Rabbi at Buckingham Palace to discuss the horrors of events in Israel and how to support interfaith harmony in Britain in distressing and difficult times.

Charles welcomed Sir Ephraim Mirvis for a private audience in the London royal residence on Thursday afternoon as the Israel-Hamas conflict continued to gather pace.

The King personally expressed his deep care and concern for the Jewish community in the UK who are suffering grief, fear and anguish.

Their conversation is said to have covered the horrors of recent events in Israel, ways to support interfaith harmony in Britain in distressing and dangerous times, and the continued hope that a path to peace can be found internationally.

Following the meeting, Sir Ephraim said the Kings words offer strength to the Jewish community at this dark time.

In a statement, he said: At a time when Jews around the world are grieving following the unspeakable evil perpetrated against loved ones in Israel, I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III for expressing in person his deep concern, and his support for the Jewish community. His words of comfort and solidarity give us strength at this dark time.

It comes a day after Charles condemnation of Hamas barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel attacks at the weekend, with the Palace saying the King is being actively updated on developments.

The King also spoke to Israeli President Isaac Herzog by telephone on Wednesday, offering his thoughts and prayers to all those suffering.

At least 100 people  reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces  are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military as it mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,600 lives.

The Government has organised flights to fly British nationals out of Israel, with the first flight set to leave Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Charles, head of the Church of England, greeted the Chief Rabbi in the Kings Audience Room at the Palace.

The pair were pictured looking solemn as they stood side by side, and with the King gesturing as he welcomed Sir Ephraim to the meeting amid difficult times.

The pair have met previously through Charles work as the Prince of Wales on interfaith tolerance, and Sir Ephraim took part in the Kings coronation in May, greeting him in unison with faith leaders at the end of the service.

Sir Ephraim is the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since the office was introduced in 1704.

He is traditionally seen as the figurehead of British Jews, but is only officially representative of the United Synagogue, the biggest wing of orthodox Judaism in the UK.

He was installed in September 2013 during a ceremony attended by Charles when he was Prince of Wales, the first time a member of the royal family was present.
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Rishi Sunak left thousands of Afghans eligible to come to the UK stranded in Pakistan hotels in a bid to save money, the High Court has heard.

Around 2,300 Afghans who worked alongside British armed forces have been stuck in hotels in Islamabad for months after the UK stopped chartering flights last November and insisted families must find their own place to live in Britain before relocation.

Two of those stranded in Pakistan are taking legal action against the prime minister, home secretary, defence secretary and foreign secretary over the governments failure to relocate them. In a hearing at the High Court on Thursday, lawyers for the pair said they had been living with their families in UK government-funded hotels in Islamabad for seven months and 11 months respectively.

Pakistan police have already stormed one of the hotels housing the UK-bound Afghans, arresting several whose visas had run out. The authorities have also issued an ultimatum to Afghan asylum seekers in the country without legal documents, saying they must leave by 1 November.

Tom de la Mare KC, representing the Afghan refugees, said the prime minister halted the use of hotels for Afghans coming to the UK in late November 2022 in a bid to save money by keeping them out of hotels. The decision prompted the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to stop flights bringing people to the UK from Pakistan  leaving families stranded, at risk of deportation back to Afghanistan and subsequent retaliation from the Taliban.

A November email from the prime ministers office said Mr Sunak wanted to manage the flow of people eligible to come to the UK under the Arap scheme for those who have worked with British forces, so they could move straight into MoD accommodation instead of hotels.

It continued: The expectation is that this should represent an overall net saving to the taxpayer. Concerns were then raised that there was not sufficient accommodation for all the Afghans eligible to come to the UK.

Since that decision was made, very few families have been brought to the UK because there is no accommodation for them.

Mr De La Mare said they had not been made privy to what material, if any, the prime minister had before him before he made the decision. He added: The prime minister is in fact the central decision maker and we know nothing at present of the material before him. We can only infer that it did not consist of the consequences on those who are living in Pakistan in hotels.

The British armed forces work with the US military to evacuate eligible civilians and their families out of the country on August 21, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (MoD Crown/Getty)

He added: The direction was to the MoD initially, and reached the home secretary by internal Chinese whispers.

The government told the court that it was a high-level policy decision relating to the proper expenditure of public funds.

Mr De La Mare said his clients could not leave the hotel they were living in for fear of arrest by Pakistan police and attack. He said the government was requiring somebody to live effectively in a comfortable prison  but without the things a prison would provide with, exercise, education or diverting things to do.

The Afghans also need money while they are waiting, such as help to buy childrens clothes, he argued. Over a third of the children living in the hotels have been living without education for six to twelve months, lawyers said.

The government argued that cash payments were not needed and said it had no obligation to deliver education to the children who were waiting.

Following the Pakistan governments crackdown on Afghan refugees, the UK government has started matching eligible families to MoD accommodation in Britain. Since 2 October, 59 people have been brought from Pakistan and the government anticipates around 470 will be relocated by the end of the month.

That would leave around 1,900 people still in Pakistan when the authorities 1 November ultimatum passes, Mr de la Mare said.

The court also heard that home secretary Suella Braverman made a decision on 26 June to resume the issuing of visas to Afghans eligible to come to the UK. The government admitted that it was not ideal for [Afghans eligible for UK] to be living in hotel accommodation in the long-term but said they were adequate to occupy in the exceptional circumstances.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer told parliament in March that the governments priority was to ensure that they can enter suitable accommodation, which is the right thing for families.

We have a duty to end the practice of Afghan families living in hotels in the UK. That is in the best interest of families and individuals, he said.

Judge Mr Justice Chamberlain agreed the remainder of the case would be heard at a later date.
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One of Europes largest package holiday operators has been caught up in a worldwide scandal that grounded hundreds of planes  and could ground hundreds more.

The case of a London-based company that allegedly supplied jet-engine parts using forged paperwork has already grounded almost 100 aircraft as regulators and airlines scrambled to assess the scale of the issue that involves potentially thousands of airline parts sold by AOG Technics.

On Monday last week, Delta Air Lines became the fourth major US airline to have found a small number of components supplied by the little-known firm on its planes.

And now the contagion has spread to Europe, as Tui confirmed that a component on one of its aircraft supplied by AOG Technics has been removed. They are no longer on the airlines supplier list.

A spokesperson for the company said: Were aware of the issue surrounding parts being supplied by a particular agency and we would like to thank the CAA for their swift notification and support. We can confirm that one installed component was identified and quickly removed, and the company in question has been removed from our approved supplier list.

We would like to reassure customers that a full audit has taken place and no other parts supplied by the named company are present in the TUI Airways fleet.

Since the alleged forgery was discovered in June by a Portuguese repair shop, European and UK regulators put out warnings in August to airlines about suspected unapproved parts distributed by AOG Technics.

The parts allegedly supplied by the firm without valid certificates have been found inside CFM56 engines, which power several older Airbus and Boeing jets.

Now the company faces a legal battle, as jet engine maker CFM International met them in the High Court in London two weeks ago, saying the company have engaged in a deliberate, dishonest and sophisticated scheme to deceive the market.

The court heard that the claimants had compelling documentary evidence that thousands of jet engine parts had been sold to airlines operating commercial aircraft.

Court filings state that the sale of these engine parts without genuine documentation potentially puts aircraft safety in jeopardy and renders it impossible for operators who have purchased these parts to verify the airworthiness of their engines.

After the scandal was first broken in September by Bloomberg, the company has deleted its website and LinkedIn profiles.

Court filings accuse the company of creating several fake LinkedIn profiles claiming to be company executives, with searches revealing their pictures to be model stock photographs and people who dont appear to exist.

TUI confirmed that a component on one of its aircraft supplied by AOG Technics has been removed (PA)

The company is registered on Companies House, with a sole director Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, who does not appear to have any online footprint.

Upon its founding in 2015 the business originally listed its address in Hove, West Sussex, at what appears to be a residential property, before moving a few more times in that same area and to parts of London before finally settling in its current office.

The Independent visited the offices last week to try and speak to Mr Yrala, a Venezuelan national, about the controversy that has engulfed his company.

AOG Technics is currently located at the Nova Building at 11 Bressenden Place, a plush high-end office space nestled close to London Victoria station.

It is the home of high-flying consultancies and private equity firms and is just minutes away from restaurants and bars replete with suited executives having business lunches and drinks.

Delta Air Lines became the fourth major US airline to have found a small number of components supplied by AOG Technics on its planes (AP)

However, AOG Technics arent there. We were told by staff at the premises they have a virtual office, meaning they have paid to register the business name but have no physical presence.

The mystery over AOG Technics and its owner could soon be revealed as at the High Court Judge Richard Meade ruled that AOG and Zamora Yrala should disclose invoices, release certificates, memos of shipment and purchase orders for 230 transactions.

CFM welcomed the court order, which it said would help the industry identify unapproved parts more rapidly.

The statement read: We applaud the courts ruling compelling AOG Technics to release documentation that will aid the industry in more rapidly identifying parts sold with fraudulent documentation so they can be promptly addressed.

Safety is our first priority and we are taking aggressive legal action against AOG Technics for selling unapproved aircraft engine parts with falsified airworthiness documentation. We remain united with the aviation community in working to keep unapproved parts out of the global supply chain.

A UK Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson said: Were supporting the Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency to look into the supply of unapproved parts by UK-base company AOG Technics.

We notified UK organisations of this issue recommending all CAMO, operators, owners and maintainers and distributors should investigate their records thoroughly to determine the source of any parts acquired either directly or indirectly from AOG Technics.

A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said: Delta has been informed by one of our engine service providers that a small number of engines they overhauled for us contain certain parts that do not meet documentation requirements.

Working with the overhaul provider, we are in the process of replacing those parts and remain in compliance with all FAA guidelines  because safety is always our priority.

AOG Technics was approached for comment.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. ("Changan Automobile"), one of China's legacy automakers, unveiled on October 9 its plans to venture deeper into the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector with a dedicated investment fund.



Photo credit: Changan Automobile

The company announced its intention to establish a fund, temporarily named as the Changan Changfu Private Equity Investment Fund Partnership Enterprise (Limited Partnership), in cooperation with several other companies. The fund, with an impressive capital scale of 15 billion yuan, is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting Changan's journey into the evolving NEV industry.

Among the contributors to the fund, Changan Automobile will commit 3.48 billion yuan, while China Changan Automobile Group will invest 1 billion yuan. Additionally, Chongqing Industrial Investment Parent Fund Partnership Enterprise (Limited Partnership) pledges 4.5 billion yuan, Chongqing Liangshan Industrial Investment Co., Ltd. allocates 6 billion yuan, and Anhe (Chongqing) Private Equity Investment Fund and Chongqing Yufu Equity Investment Fund will each bring 10 million yuan to the table.

The newly established fund will be managed by Anhe Fund ("Anhe" is Chinese Pinyin), focusing on investments within the NEV industry chain and related ecosystem projects. Its primary targets are projects in the growth and maturity stages that align with the ever-evolving trends in the NEV industry. The fund's ultimate goal is to not only foster Changan Automobile's role in the NEV ecosystem but also secure meaningful investment returns.

This move underscores Changan Automobile's commitment to accelerating its transition to new energy vehicles. At the "2023 Changan Auto Tech Ecosystem Summit" in September, the company unveiled its "New Vehicles, New Ecosystem" strategy. This strategy involves a significant investment of 200 billion yuan, the establishment of a technology innovation team of over 10,000 members, and an ambitious sales target of 5 million vehicles by 2030.
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Beavers have been returned to west London for the first time in around 400 years in an attempt to improve the capitals biodiversity.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, helped release the herbivorous rodents at Paradise Fields in Ealing on Wednesday.

The project is supported by the Mayors Rewild London Fund, which aims to create new green spaces and encourage wildlife, as well as Amazons Right Now Climate Fund.

It is hoped the beavers will help turn the location into a flourishing wetland, making for an improved ecosystem in which plants and animals can thrive.

We are facing climate and ecological emergencies worldwide, but we have the power to make a difference, and I am committed to ensuring that London is at the forefront of reversing the trends of declining biodiversity and the destruction of nature, Mr Khan said.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan helps release a family of beavers at Paradise Fields in Ealing (PA) (PA Wire)

Im proud that we are turning London into a wildlife haven, as well as making the city more resilient to the effects of climate change, as we work to clean up our city, re-establish lost species and reconnect people and nature, building a greener, fairer city for all Londoners.

Beavers were hunted to extinction in England around 400 years ago but thanks to reintroduction efforts their colonies can now be found in Kent, Cornwall, Devon, Derbyshire and Oxfordshire.

The presence of beavers can be beneficial to other species, with their behaviour  dam building, canal digging and creating deadwood  helping create habitats for birds, amphibians, fish and others.

The Mayors Rewild London Fund has provided 2.3 million to projects across the city, creating or restoring around 350 hectares of wildlife habitat.

Zak Watts, director of Europe sustainability at Amazon, said: Bringing nature back to the communities where we live and work is a core purpose of our Right Now Climate Fund.

Reintroducing a family of beavers to the capital will not only help Londoners discover and reconnect with nature but also help improve our citys biodiversity challenge.
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Goodnight, sleep tight, dont let the bedbugs bite was once the playful prevail of parents sending their children off to bed at night.

But now as fears grow that the creepy crawlies could come to infest London in the way they have done Paris, commuters are beginning to spot the insects on the Underground.

Isolated sightings have begun popping up all over social media since The Independent were told they could easily survive the two hour Eurostar journey.

One skin-crawling clip, viewed more than 1.7m times on TikTok, shows a small brown insect crawling up the trouser leg of somebody sitting on the Victoria line.

The terrified passenger wrote in the caption: Minding my own business on the Victoria line, a f*****g bedbug is on my leg.

Said hed got a great deal on the Eurostar and wondered if I could take him home. No!! Sort it out, Transport for London.

Another woman films herself stamping on a suspected bed bug after spotting it waiting on the platform at Kennington.

Londoners shared how they have not sat down on the tube for over a week with one user positing the horrifying notion that: That single one has laid like 400 eggs on those jeans already!

One itchy and paranoid Londoner jumped out of her bus seat at a sighting of a huge insect before being informed it was just a cockroach.

Sadiq Khan was asked about the issue by Joe Politics at Labour conference where he moved to reassure Londoners that TfL were taking steps to control any potential infestations.

Bed bugs are seen in hiding in seat material in Paris (REUTERS)

He said: I want to reassure those listening TfL have one of the best regimes to clean our assets on a nightly basis and were speaking to our friends in Paris to see whether there are any lessons to be learned.

We dont think those issues will arise in London, but no complacency from TfL.

GPs have been offering advice to returning Irish and Scottish rugby fans who had been in Paris to watch their teams.

Dr Trish Horgan from Cork posted on X: You did a super job supporting our boys in green. Now we ask you to do something to support the team at home.

She urged anyone who is coming back home from France to ask a family member or a friend to put two large bin bags, one ziplock bag, and a towel in front of their house.

The next step is taking a scalding hot shower and scrubbing. After doing so, the contents of the toiletries bag should be washed in hot water. The bag should also be turned inside out and cleaned under hot water.

Footage of the blood-sucking insects has horrified TikTok users in Paris, leading to some avoiding the infested Parisian metro, or posting warnings about the creepy critters swarming all over their Airbnb rentals.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have condemned "all acts of terrorism and brutality" during the escalating Israel-Hamas war that has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

Prince Harry and Meghan stopped short of singling out sides as they vowed to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region in a statement on the Archewell Foundation website.

It comes a day after King Charles condemned Hamas attacks as barbaric acts of terrorism, as he held telephone calls with President Isaac Herzog of Israel.

Under the title With Heavy Hearts, the Sussexes wrote in a statement on Thursday: At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

We are supporting our partners and organizations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.

Prince Harry and Meghan have promised to provide urgent aid to those affected in Israel (Reuters)

The war was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, with the IDF launching retaliatory strikes on Gaza. At least 2,400 have died in the conflict so far and thousands more injured.

On Wednesday, a palace spokesman said the monarchs prayers were with all of those suffering, especially those who had lost loved ones. Charles, as the Prince of Wales, carried out his first official tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2020.

Buckingham Palace said: This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about and he has asked to be kept actively updated. His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak.

His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.

A man reacts outside a burning collapsed building following Israeli bombardment in Gaza City (AFP via Getty Images)

It comes after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation on an unprecedented scale as air strikes demolished neighbourhoods and halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. Israel has said it will not restore supplies until all hostages are released.

The UN has called for a ceasefire, while its general secretary Antonio Guterres warned that Gazas pre-existing humanitarian crisis as a result of a 16-year Israeli blockade will deteriorate exponentially.

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City (AFP via Getty Images)

While the King and William, the Prince of Wales, have travelled to Israel on official visits in the past, Prince Harry, who previously served in Afghanistan, hasnt yet. Last year he donated to HIAS, the largest Jewish non-profit for refugee assistance in the world.

Kensington Palace shared William and Kates reaction to the attacks on Wednesday, saying: The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.
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Former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley has been fined 1.8m by the Financial Conduct Authority for misleading the watchdog over the nature of his relationship with billionaire convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Staley, an American, has also been banned from holding senior roles in the City.

The FCA said Mr Staley recklessly approved a letter sent by Barclays to the regulator that claimed the banks former boss did not have a close relationship with Epstein, a financier who was convicted in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution and faced a new sex-trafficking trial in 2019.

In reality, in emails between the two Mr Staley described Epstein as one of his deepest and most cherished friends, the FCA found.

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: A CEO needs to exercise sound judgment and set an example to staff at their firm. Mr Staley failed to do this.

We consider that he misled both the FCA and the Barclays board about the nature of his relationship with Mr Epstein.

Mr Staley is an experienced industry professional and held a prominent position within financial services.

It is right to prevent him from holding a senior position in the financial services industry if we cannot rely on him to act with integrity by disclosing uncomfortable truths about his close personal relationship with Mr Epstein.

The FCAs decision is provisional and Mr Staley will present his case at a following tribunal.

Barclays said that following the FCAs decision, it decided Mr Staley was ineligible for, or would forfeit, bonuses and share awards totalling 17.8m.

The banking giant had already suspended all of Mr Staleys deferred bonuses and long-term share awards while the watchdog investigated.

Mr Staley has previously said he deeply regrets his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in a federal jail in 2019; he faced federal charges accusing him of paying under-age girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them at his homes in Florida and New York.

Mr Staley said he had no contact with Epstein once he joined Barclays in December 2015; earlier that year, he and his wife sailed to Espteins private island in the Caribbean for lunch.

Last month, JP Morgan Chase said it had agreed to pay $75m (61m) to the US Virgin Islands to settle claims that the bank enabled the sex-trafficking acts committed by Epstein. The Virgin Islands had sued the American banking giant, arguing that it was complicit in the billionaires behaviour. The settlements averted a trial that had been due to start this month.

JP Morgan also reached a confidential settlement with Mr Staley, whom it had sued for allegedly concealing his personal activities with Epstein from it.
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A number of Jewish schools in north London have reportedly closed for a day over fears for childrens safety amid a rise in antisemitism.

Fears have grown of street protests in support of Palestinians as Gaza comes under bombardment from Israeli air strikes. And a former head of Hamas has called for protests across the Muslim world on Friday.

According to the BBC, Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale, Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware, and Menorah High School in Neasden all told parents on Thursday they would not reopen until Monday.

The head teacher of Menorah High School for Girls, a state secondary school with 389 pupils, said the decision was made in view of the planned protests.

The BBC said it had seen a letter in which Esther Pearlman told parents: Please be aware that this difficult decision has been reached because the [sic] of the risk of violence on the streets.

The police are concerned that as the girls are not in school, they will venture outdoors and have asked us to advise you that it is incumbent on you as parents that your children remain indoors.

Schools have advised Jewish pupils to disguise their uniforms because of a fear of retaliatory attacks.

One father told Sky News he had been advised by his childrens school to alter their uniform so they are not signalling in any way they are Jewish.

He said: And in 2023 for my kids to go to school and it not be OK for them to wear uniform, a kippah, star of David on their blazers, to have to hide their identity in 2023, its very scary.

I am scared for myself and my family. Its a scary situation.

(Getty Images)

Their mother said there have been at least three policemen waiting outside her childrens school every day.

Nearly a week after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, Benjamin Netanyahus unity government is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced 3m in extra funding to protect schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings in the UK in response to Hamass attacks in Israel.

The money will be given to the Community Security Trust (CST) after the group, which acts on the behalf of British Jews on matters of policing and racism, said it had recorded a 400 per cent spike in antisemitic incidents in the UK since the weekends assault.

They included six assaults, 14 direct threats and 66 cases of abusive behaviour.

The letter to parents at Ateres Beis Yaakov, a small primary school, referred to the call for protests across the Muslim world on Friday.

The letter said the decision was made in the interest of the safety of our precious children.

Rabbi Chaim Pinter, the principal of Yesodey Hatorah, said certain measures had been put place, including extra patrols, and therapists and counsellors for children.

Pupils who normally travel in on public transport were now taking taxis, he said.
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Prison governors say it is now inevitable that jails will run out of space, as judges were reportedly ordered to delay sentencing criminals to avoid overwhelming the system.

Justice secretary Alex Chalk was scrambling on Thursday to find ways to alleviate the crisis, as he met with criminal justice representatives to ensure that we can continue to strengthen public protection by locking up the most dangerous criminals.

But the Prison Governors Association (PGA) told The Independent it believed without a shadow of a doubt that prison spaces are going to run out, with so little slack in the system that the tipping point could be one minor event somewhere and that space  its gone overnight.

It said it would be reckless of any government to get to a position where they have run out of space and are no longer able to accept serious offenders into prison custody.

However unpalatable the thought of an early release scheme may be, it would probably be inevitable that, at some stage in the future, government would have to introduce such a programme for certain offenders, said Carl Davies of the PGA, himself a former acting governor.

It comes after The Times reported that Lord Justice Edis, the most senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has ordered the sentencing of convicted criminals currently on bail to be delayed from Monday  with ministers also reported to have drawn up plans for some prisoners to be released early.

Former victims commissioner Dame Vera Baird told The Independent that moves to delay sentencing wont be short term, adding: This same government said at the start of the pandemic that they would release bottom-level prisoners but were incapable of it. About 10 were ultimately released a few days early.

And low-risk criminals suitable for release wont be vacating high-security cells needed to hold the dangerous, said Dame Vera, adding: Bail is no control over someone who knows whatever they do, they cant be locked up.

The PGA warned that the tipping point in overcrowding could be one minor event somewhere (Getty/iStock)

While the Times report has seen Labour produce a new attack advert warning that, under the Tories, rapists and burglars will be spared jail, a leading barrister told The Independent that most people found guilty of rape will still be remanded in custody while awaiting sentencing.

Criminal practitioners are given guidance as to what judges will and wont take into account when setting sentences, said Mary Prior KC, vice chair of the Criminal Bar Association. But none of us expects people who have been convicted of rape or very serious violent offences to be walking around just because the prison estate is near full capacity. That is not what is going to happen.

Whats going to happen is that people will wait a little longer to be sentenced if theyve been on bail for a very long time, and when a court is making a decision on whether custody is absolutely essential or not, they are entitled to take account of all manner of things, and [Lord Ediss reported comments] will be one thing  but it wont be decisive or conclusive.

Claims that the most serious suspects remanded in custody will be housed in magistrates cells instead of prisons have also raised fears of further delays in courts already dealing with record backlogs.

Our concern is that any use of magistrates courts cells in this way could have a knock-on effect on magistrates business, Mark Beattie, chair of the Magistrates Association, told The Independent.

It could create a higher backlog of cases in magistrates courts, meaning longer delays in justice for victims, witnesses and defendants. The government needs to devise a longer-term solution that delivers adequate prison capacity for those being sentenced.

In 2018 prison staff staged an unofficial protest over overcrowding and violence (Getty)

The number of free spaces across the entire prison estate has this week fallen to 651, down from 768 a week earlier, over which period the male prison population has increased by 211 to hit 84,412. The Telegraph reports that there are fewer than 150 places left in mens prisons.

PGA president Andrea Albutt told The Independent less than a fortnight ago: We are reaching the critical point. The point of no return. In the adult male estate, there are only a few hundred spaces left, and that will be consumed in the next couple of weeks.

Overcrowding in prisons has led to prisoners being kept in harrowing conditions, with some doubled up in cells and others only able to leave their cell for one hour a day, forced to choose between exercising, showering or calling loved ones, with little access to rehabilitation programmes.

Warning that its not if, its when that prisons will run out of space, Mr Davies said: Speaking candidly, its a game of brinksmanship  whos going to blink first.

It will be a very unpopular, unpalatable decision for any government to say weve got to let prisoners out early to maintain space in the system. So if you can avoid having to make that decision right up to the 11th hour, then thats what youre going to do.

Warning of the dangers of operating even within the traditional buffer of 1,400 prison spaces, he added: It doesnt make for a hospitable system when youre forever running hot, and thats what were doing.

All the time weve been in that buffer, operating in an environment we shouldnt be operating in, were seeing more and more prisoners being transferred, being transferred late at night, the impact of having to use safeguard cells. This is all stuff which shouldnt happen save in an absolute emergency.

Claims that the most serious suspects remanded in custody will be housed in magistrates cells instead of prisons have also raised fears of further delays in courts already dealing with record backlogs (PA)

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We are categorical that the most serious offenders should be sent to prison and that anyone deemed a risk to public safety is remanded in custody while awaiting trial. Reports to the contrary are false.

This government has done more than ever before to protect the public and keep sex offenders locked up for longer, ending automatic halfway release for rapists and serious violent offenders and sending rapists to prison for three years longer than in 2010.

Following the pandemic and barristers strike, the criminal justice system has seen a significant spike in the prison population, with 6,000 more prisoners on remand than before the pandemic. While we are carrying out the biggest prison-building programme since the Victorian era, and have taken decisive action to expand capacity further by doubling up cells in the short term, the prison estate remains under pressure.

The lord chancellor will be meeting criminal justice partners later today and setting out a programme of reform in the coming days to ensure that we can continue to strengthen public protection by locking up the most dangerous criminals.
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Defendants convicted of some of the most serious crimes including rape and burglary will reportedly face delays in going to prison from next week because jails are full.

Crown Court sentencing hearings are set to be delayed to keep down prison populations, leaving anyone on bail either free in the community or held in cells in magistrates courts.

Figures uncovered by The Independent last week show overcrowding in prisons is nearing breaking point.

Most jails are dangerously full, with some holding 70 per cent more inmates than they should, including Wandsworth, from which terror suspect Daniel Khalife is accused of escaping.

Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, has ordered judges to delay sentencing from Monday, The Times reported.

And justice ministers are understood to have proposed some prisoners be released early.

The chief of prison governors, former home secretary Jack Straw and former Tory prisons minister Rory Stewart all warned last week that early release may have to be considered to tackle the crisis.

Nearly two-thirds of jails in England are officially overcrowded, with the number of free spaces in the prison estate falling from just 768 last week to 651 this week, over which period the male prison population has increased by 211 to 84,412.

A prison union threatened to take legal action if the Ministry of Justice asked governors to find extra capacity in already packed prisons.

Andrea Albutt, president of the Prison Governors Association (PGA), said: If the government further overcrowd our prisons, if they say to our members you will put more people in your already overcrowded prison, we will take legal action.

One senior judge said that from Monday, judges have been ordered/strongly encouraged not to send to jail defendants on bail so as not to add to the prison population.

In 2018 prison staff staged an unofficial protest over overcrowding and violence (Getty Images)

The judge said: We have been told that this is a short-term measure, but nobody knows what that means.

The judge added that the biggest concern was defendants charged with historic rape or rape of a child under 13 or other sexual assault.

What am I going to do if a jury finds someone guilty [of rape], asked the judge, adding: Do I release that person who is now convicted back into the community, where the victim might see them? What will the victim think?

The UKs prison population has been steadily rising since 2020 and as of last Friday, it was 88,016, compared with a total capacity of about 88,670.

HMP Wandsworth is at 170 per cent occupancy, according to August statistics from the Ministry of Justice. HMP Durham is at 171 per cent.

The government estimates these figures will only worsen, with the prison population expected to increase to between 93,100 and 106,300 by 2027.

At his speech to the Conservative Party conference this month, Alex Chalk, the justice secretary, announced plans to rent prison spaces in foreign countries to reduce the pressure.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: Our first priority is to keep the public safe from dangerous criminals. That is why we have ended automatic halfway release for serious sexual and violent criminals and increased the average time spent in prison by 3 years  cutting violent crime by nearly 50 per cent since 2010.

However, the criminal justice system has seen unprecedented growth in the prison population, following the pandemic and barristers strike, particularly among those awaiting trial, with 6,000 more prisoners on remand than pre-pandemic.

The Prison Service has already put in place measures such as rapid deployment cells and doubling up cells to help manage these pressures, and the Government is carrying out the biggest prison building campaign since the Victorian era to build 20,000 new places, making sure we always have the places we need.
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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
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The cause of a huge blaze at Londons Luton Airport that damaged up to 1,500 cars and sparked travel chaos has been revealed.

More than 100 firefighters battled through the night to extinguish the car park inferno, which left tens of thousands of passengers facing cancelled or diverted flights.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed on Wednesday morning the cause of the blaze was a diesel car.

We dont believe it was an electric vehicle, Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said.

Its believed to be diesel-powered, at this stage all subject to verification. And then that fire has quickly and rapidly spread.

Up to 1,500 vehicles may have been damaged by the fire, which broke out on the third floor of the newly-built Terminal 2 car park at around 9pm on Tuesday. The car park partially collapsed as a result of the fire.

Firefighters battled through the night to bring the car park fire under control (PA)

Speaking to reporters at the scene, Mr Hopkinson said: On arrival my officers were faced with a severe and rapidly spreading fire involving a large number of vehicles that ultimately spread to multiple floors and involved a partial collapse of the car park.

The major incident was stood down after the fire was brought under control on Wednesday morning.

Flights resumed on Wednesday afternoon as the delayed 1pm Ryanair flight to Cork finally took off at 3:30pm - 18 hours after the last plane left on Tuesday evening.

AA technical expert Greg Carter said the most common cause of car fires is an electrical fault with the 12-volt battery system.

He added that diesel is much less flammable than petrol and in a car it takes intense pressure or sustained flame to ignite diesel.

There were no reports of injuries to members of the public, but five people - four firefighters and an airline official - were treated in hospital.

There is no suggestion the blaze happened intentionally.

Aftermath of the blaze which damaged up to 1,500 cars (PA Wire)

Between 40,000 and 50,000 passengers are thought to have been affected by 273 suspended, cancelled or diverted flights.

A Polish family on holiday in London told how they slept on the floor at Luton Airport as a result of the fire.

Gregorz Szmit, 46, said their flight to Gdansk should have departed at 9.50pm on Tuesday and is now scheduled to leave at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

Mr Szmit, speaking from the terminal building where he is waiting with his wife and their two sons, aged seven and 15, said: We were on holiday for five days to visit London  British Museum, Trafalgar Square. This is difficult, I must say.

This is our first journey to England, to London. Its been an adventure.

Airport hotels nearby Luton have reportedly all been fully booked, as passengers remain uncertain of their travel plans.

No room at the (Holiday) Inn  or any other hotels in the Luton area (Independent)

The fire service posted on Twitter/X on Wednesday morning: The fire service have now scaled back at Luton Airport and this is no longer a major incident. A number of agencies have been released from the scene and we continue to work with colleagues from the airport and police.

They added that the fire service would continue to be on the scene for the rest of the day after extinguishing the fire.

Mr Hopskinson also revealed to reporters at the scene that there were no sprinklers in the car park.

He said: We are already talking to the airport about ensuring that any future, and the existing, car parks have sprinklers fitted because this building is not sprinkler protected.

Sprinklers may have made a positive impact on this incident.

(REUTERS)

People with cars affected have been advised to refer to the Luton Airport website for further information.

Mr Hopkinson told reporters that a ramp is being installed into the unaffected car park because the normal exit route is not safe to take vehicles out.

He went on: Weve currently got four fire appliances and a couple of other specialist crews but we are very much focused on getting a handover and getting this airport open as quickly as we can.

There is a substantial number that are not damaged and our focus as well is can we remove those vehicles safely without causing any danger to the responders.

A senior fire officer told The Independent that the fire inside the car park was so intense that the whole structure may need to be demolished.

Theyll probably fly a drone around to assess the damage, they said.

But once steel gets above 600 degrees [C] it become brittle. It was a lot more than 600 degrees in there.

Passengers wait at Luton Airport after flights cancelled until Wednesday afternoon (Simon Calder)

While the airport reopened at 3pm on Wednesday, airlines have issed statements warning their customers of further disruption.

An EasyJet spokesperson said: While the airport has now partially reopened there are restrictions in place which means that like other airlines we are operating a significantly reduced flying programme for the remainder of the day so some flights are unable to operate as planned.

Meanwhile, Ryanair say that affected passenfers will be advised via email, Push and SMS as soon as possible but regret to advise passengers of possible delays or cancellations on flights to/from Luton.

Wizz Air similarly told customers that they would be provided updates on their flight via email and SMS and apologised for the situation that was beyond our control.
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At least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military as it mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK said it was understood those who travelled were reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

A statement said: The Embassy of Israel understands that at least 100 reservists and active duty soldiers have gone back to Israel from the UK to serve in the IDF.

The announcement came as family members of some of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza gave an emotional press conference in London.

Noam Sagi told reporters he should be celebrating his mothers 75th birthday but she had been kidnapped by Hamas, branding the attacks a second holocaust.

He said: These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships.

If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

At least 17 UK nationals are reported to be either dead or missing, including children, with Jake Marlowe, 26, the latest to be confirmed among three known to have died in the incursion by Hamas fighters on Saturday.

And the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which has said family members of British diplomats are leaving Israel as a precautionary measure, has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The international outrage over the atrocities continued on Thursday, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex condemned all acts of terrorism and brutality.

Harry and Meghan stopped short of singling out sides in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website and vowed to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region.

The Sussexes statement came a day after the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales condemned the barbaric acts and appalling horrors inflicted in Hamass attack on Israel.

Under the title With Heavy Hearts, the statement on Harry and Meghans Archewell site read: At the Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

Its really obvious now that Hamas are essentially laying a trap for Israel and will be well pleased if Israel commits itself to an open-ended, full-scale ground invasion of Gaza Sir Alex Younger, former MI6 head

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted Israel has the right to do everything it can to rescue hostages in Gaza, amid reports the country is preparing to launch a ground offensive.

Asked on ITVs Good Morning Britain whether he has fears over the level of Israels retaliation in Gaza and concerns there may be breaches of international law, Mr Barclay said: We think international law obviously should be followed and civilian casualties should be minimised.

But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.

But the former head of MI6, Sir Alex Younger, urged Israel not to do what your enemy wants and said its intense retaliation could end up creating more terrorists.

Sir Alex told BBC Radio 4s The Today Podcast: Its really obvious now that Hamas are essentially laying a trap for Israel and will be well pleased if Israel commits itself to an open-ended, full-scale ground invasion of Gaza.

Because of the scale and intensity of conflict that that would entail and the loss of innocent life that would inevitably follow, and the radicalisation that would engender and the extent to which it would put Israels allies and partners in the region in an impossible position.

He added: You cannot kill all the terrorists without creating more terrorists.

And military operations of this kind very, very rarely succeed outside some kind of political strategy.

International aid groups said deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the regions only power station ran out of fuel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday and offered the UKs support to try to keep the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza open for humanitarian reasons, Downing Street said.
Photo credit: TBS

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Lance Lynn is a big guy. Actually, according to renowned broadcaster Bob Costas, Lynn is bigger than big.

Costas has built a hall-of-fame sportscasting career, in part for his ability to adequately describe a game with appropriate adjectives and action verbs. And that ability was on display Wednesday night to the tune of burly.

With the Dodgers facing elimination against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 36-year-old Lynn, who is listed at 270 pounds, was on the mound as their last hope in salvaging their third consecutive 100-win season.

To say that Lance Lynn is a big guy understates it. pic.twitter.com/BabNsfw1Wl  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 12, 2023



To say that Lance Lynn is a big guy understates it, Costas surmised during the third inning of Wednesday nights NLDS Game 3 on TBS. I think burly is an appropriate adjective.

And on cue, Lynn gave up a homer to Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. It would be the first of four solo homers hit off Lynn in that inning, and in that game. He would go on to garner the loss, with Arizona winning 4-2 and ending the Dodgers season in disappointing fashion for the third-straight year.

The performance was on brand for Lynn, who we know two things about. Hes burly and he gives up dingers. 44 of them during the regular season.

This wasnt the first time a broadcaster made note of Lynns physique. Earlier this season, Chicago White Sox analyst Steve Stone apologized to Lynn after suggesting the pitcher try eating a salad during a radio interview. The obvious implication from Stone was that Lynn, then a pitcher for the White Sox, would benefit from shedding a few pounds.

Costass blunt choice of adjective to describe Lynn, who is a big guy, doesnt warrant a public apology. Although Stones relatively innocuous dig from earlier this season probably didnt either.

[TBS]
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UK holidaymakers and travellers who left their cars at Luton Airport have been left in limbo after a vehicle fire caused a car park to collapse.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received a report of a car fire on level three of the airports Terminal Car Park 2 at 8.47pm on Tuesday.

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said up to 1,500 vehicles were inside the car park at the time of the fire.

Katie Forbes, 42, who lives on the outskirts of Coventry, had travelled to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands with her husband, daughter and her daughters boyfriend, due to return on Friday.

Having parked their car in Car Park 2, the group have been forced to hire a car for their return, with no information regarding the state of their vehicle.

Ms Forbes told the PA news agency: Ive had no joy with Luton. Ive heard nothing back, Ive been tweeting them, everything, and nothing.

I get it, theyre getting other people that are going to the airport, but to me theres been no apology, not once has anybody said were sorry about the situation.

Were kind of left in limbo.

Ms Forbes added her daughter had left her own car keys in the parked car as well, and said the incident had had a negative impact on their holiday.

Its hard to do anything, you cant relax around the pool because youre constantly looking at your phone to see have they emailed, have we got an update? Theres just been nothing.

An apology goes a long way, its not an admission of guilt, its an Im sorry youre in this situation even if they cant help.

Thomas Willett, 29, a content manager for a real estate firm, from Essex, had travelled to Gran Canaria with his partner, arriving on Tuesday evening.

Having parked their car on the third floor of Terminal Car Park 2, he said he believes others are being taken care of instead of those looking to confirm the state of their vehicle.

I received an email from Luton Airport Parking on Wednesday at 2am telling us to email them to get information about our car, Mr Willett told PA.

I have since emailed them three times and contacted them on Twitter over the course of Wednesday and (Thursday) but have heard nothing.

We dont know if our car has been damaged or not, or how we will be getting home from the airport.

Their duty of care should be to those whose vehicles have been impacted, but they seem to be replying to everyone else with other queries instead.

Mr Willett is due to return home on Sunday but said: Currently, we have no means of getting back home.

Lucy Lynam, a 42-year-old accountant from Hertfordshire, said she is none the wiser about the state of her car and is expecting the worst.

Ms Lynam parked her car on Tuesday morning, as she had to attend a conference in Majorca, and first heard about the fire on Tuesday evening.

However, she praised Luton Airports communication, adding she had been emailed a couple of times with updates.

She told PA: Im parked on level 2 against the perimeter fence (facing row C), nearest the apron, which, from the videos, seems where the bulk of the damage has happened.

However, Im still none the wiser as to the state of my car. I would appreciate more information as to where the fire started based on a map view, maybe with a plan of row letters etc so I can estimate the likelihood of the level of damage to my car.

Im expecting the worst.

She said she regularly uses her car to transport her two children, but added that Luton Airport has been good at communicating with her about updates.

I can only imagine theyre operating in crisis mode behind the scenes, she said.

Theyve emailed me a couple of times with updates and whilst theres little specific info around my individual vehicle, theyve kept me up to date.

Izabela, a 34-year-old beauty therapist in Willenhall, told PA she felt massive shock upon learning that Luton car park was on fire as she believes her car has been burnt.

Izabela had boarded the plane to return from a holiday in Lanzarote with her husband Dawid when the pilot announced that there was an incident at Luton Airport and the flight had been cancelled.

Izabela, who did not wish to share her surname, said we dont know nothing about our car, which contained a laptop, house keys and other items.

She said the situation was a nightmare and added: Without the car, what are we supposed to do now?

A London Luton Airport spokesperson said: We understand the distress this incident has caused for our car parking customers, and we recognise many are anxious for answers.

We are working hard to provide those answers as quickly as possible, though this will take some time.

We would like to thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.
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Eye-opening messages sent between Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings about the governments handling of the start of the pandemic have been released for the first time.

In a WhatsApp exchange between the former prime minister and his then chief of staff, released by the Covid inquiry, Mr Cummings described the Cabinet Office as terrifyingly s***, and said it had no proper plans in place for lockdowns.

The messages also revealed that Mr Cummings told his boss that some civil servants wanted to delay ordering people to stay at home as they havent done the work and dont work weekends.

The shocking messages also reveal Mr Johnson thought it was wrong for the prime minister to meet Scotlands leader Nicola Sturgeon and Waless first minister Mark Drakeford regularly during the pandemic.

Mr Drakeford had been frustrated by what he saw as a lack of meetings with Mr Johnsons government, but the PM believed working closely with the heads of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would leave the UK looking like a mini-EU of four nations.

That is not, in my view, how devolution is supposed to work, he said.

In his witness statement to the Covid inquiry, Mr Johnson added that he often left Michael Gove to chair four-nation Cobra meetings, partly because he was a target of nationalist ire and did not want to provoke the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Mr Johnson said: It is optically wrong, in the first place, for the UK prime minister to hold regular meetings with other DA [devolved administration] first ministers, as though the UK were a kind of mini EU of four nations and we were meeting as a council in a federal structure.

That is not, in my view, how devolution is meant to work. More importantly, I am afraid I was conscious that I tended to be a particular target of nationalist ire. Rather than provoking the SNP, I wanted to mollify and gain consent. I believed Michael would do a good job.

As well as claiming civil servants wanted to delay the government making a stay-at-home announcement, Mr Cummings said the then civil service chief Sir Mark Sedwill hasnt a scooby what was happening.

The then prime minister Boris Johnson with his senior aide Dominic Cummings (PA)

Mr Cummings said: Mark is out to lunch  hasnt a scooby whats going on and his own officials know he doesnt. We must announce TODAY  not next week  if feel ill with cold/flu stay home.

Some CABOFF want delay cos havent done the work and dont work weekends. We must force the pace today. We are looking at 100-500 thousand deaths between optimistic/pessimistic scenarios. 1918 was 250k for comparison.

In a message on the morning of 12 March 2020, the day Britain moved from a contain phase to a delay phase in the fight against Covid, Mr Cummings said: We got big problems coming. CABOFF is terrifyingly s***, no plans, totally behind pace.

He added that political advisors including Lee Cain and James Slack were having to drive and direct the response.

The comments on civil servants working patterns sparked a row, with the head of the FDA union for senior civil servants hitting back. Dave Penman said: The only lazy thing here is Cummings tired old tropes, self-aggrandising as the only saviour of the country.

Our evidence shows a quarter of senior civil servants work more than 16 hours unpaid every week and more than 80 per cent work an extra day unpaid each week.
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Britain is to deploy Royal Navy vessels and RAF surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean to "ensure regional stability" and support Israel, Rishi Sunak has announced.

The prime minister said UK military teams would help "re-establish security" and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid after a Hamas attack and Israeli retaliation left thousands dead.

A Royal Navy task group will arrive in the region in the coming days to help mitigate humanitarian crisis, while surveillance aircraft will begin flights on Friday to help track treats, No.10 said.

Mr Sunak this morning told Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi that the UK stood ready to help keep the Rafah crossing out of Gaza open for humanitarian purposes amid expectations of an exodus of refugees from the Palestinian territory.

Israel says over 1,300 people were killed after a raid by Hamas gunmen into its territory, while officials in Gaza say retaliatory airstrikes have killed 1,400 people and wounded 6,000. The UN says 12 aid workers have died in the fighting so far.

We must be unequivocal in making sure the types of horrific scenes we have seen this week will not be repeated," Mr Sunak said in a statement issued on Thursday night as he announced the deployment.

"Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation.

Our military and diplomatic teams across the region will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the thousands of innocent victims of this barbaric attack from Hamas terrorists.

No.10 says the forces sent to the region will include P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft and two Royal Navy ships  the Royal Fleet Auxilary (RFA) Lyme Bay and RFA Argus.

Three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines will also be on standby to deliver "practical support" to Israel and partners in the region, and "offer deterrence and assurance".

Mr Sunak will travel to Sweden where he will speak to European leaders at the Joint Expeditionary Force summit. The meeting will discuss the situation in the Middle East and the war between Ukraine and Russia.

During the trip he will also visit a Royal Navy warship patrolling the Baltic.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Thursday announced that the UK government would help facilitate commercial flights to help vulnerable British nationals wanting to leave Israel. Some airlines including EasyJet have suspended flights in light of the fighting.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: The monstrous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas in recent days have proven why the UK must support Israels absolute right to self-defence and deter malign external interference.

"No nation should stand alone in the face of such evil and todays deployment will ensure Israel does not.

The Royal Navy Task Group, RAF operations and our wider military support will be an undeniable display of the UKs resolve to ensure Hamass terrorist campaign fails, whilst reminding those who seek to inflame tensions that the forces of freedom stand with the Israeli people.
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JK Rowling has criticised Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy for her views on transgender issues  describing her as one of the biggest reasons many women on the left no longer trust Labour.

The writer made the outburst on X, formerly known as Twitter, after the shadow international development secretary vowed during her Labour conference speech to stand up for womens rights.

The Harry Potter author questioned that support, raising previous comments Ms Nandy has made and a letter she signed backing the expulsion of Labour members who hold bigoted, transphobic views.

Ms Rowling has been highly critical of Labours stance on trans issues after Sir Keir Starmer said trans women are women.

The latest row came as Ms Nandy tweeted words from her speech stating: Womens rights are human rights and human rights are non-negotiable. My absolute priority will be to embolden and empower women and girls in every part of the world.

A furious Ms Rowling tweeted: You said rapists should be transferred to womens prisons if they self-identify as women. You called Womans Place UK a hate group.

She added: Given that youre one of the biggest reasons many women on the Left no longer trust Labour to defend their rights, do you stand by these comments?

The comment referred to remarks made by Ms Nandy at the 2020 Labour conference. I believe very fundamentally in peoples rights to self-ID, and I believe the Gender Recognition Act strikes the wrong balance in relation to that, she said.

The Labour frontbencher added: So crimes I think that are recorded should be recorded as that person wishes, who has been through that process, received support and self-identified. I think trans women are women and I think trans men are men so I think they should be in the prison of their choosing.

Shadow international development secretary Lisa Nandy (PA Archive)

Ms Nandy also signed a pledge card organised by the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights that said party members who hold bigoted, transphobic views should be expelled.

It also called Womans Place UK  a group that opposes gender self-identification for transgender people  as a trans-exclusionist hate group.

But the senior Labour MP also said: Do I think that women in the Labour party who raise questions about it should be expelled? No I dont.

When asked about the issue on Sky News on 2020, Ms Nandy said: I have to say, that was the part of the pledge that gave me pause for thought about whether to sign it.

I decided to sign it in the end because I think that the sentiment of the pledge about protecting trans rights and about accepting that trans men are men and trans women are women is really important, especially at the moment with the level of discrimination that people face.

She added: I dont think that proscribing organisations is actually the right way to deal with disciplinary issues in the Labour party.

Sir Keir was attacked by Ms Rowling for saying existing UK law meant that transgender women can already be considered women.

Asked to define what a woman is, Sir Keir told The Times: A woman is a female adult, and in addition to that trans women are women, and that is not just my view  that is actually the law.

Rowling took to Twitter to claim Sir Keir publicly misrepresents equalities law, saying it was yet another indication that the Labour Party can no longer be counted on to defend womens rights.
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The former editor of Daily Telegraph Max Hastings has said he will be voting for Labour as he attacked the dreadful Rishi Sunak government and described the prime minister as a loser.

In the latest sign senior Conservative backers are giving up on Mr Sunaks party and switching focus to a likely Labour government, Mr Hastings said he would back Sir Keirs Starmers party.

The influential Mail columnist revealed his utter dismay with the Tory push to the right  calling the Tory membership a bunch of Flat Earthers who are almost without exception fantasists.

Mr Hastings described home secretary Suella Bravermans policies are grotesque, attacked the malign influence of both Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage on the party and called Brexit a disaster.

I think Sunaks fate at the back end of this dreadful government is deeply unenviable, but there he is. And, of course, hes always going to be remembered as the tail ender  the loser, he said in an interview with the New European.

Mr Hastings said Mr Sunak was a decent person, before adding: But is he a leader? Im afraid not. Ive always been sceptical whether people who are school head boys are likely to be good leaders.

Mr Johnsons former boss at the Telegraph said the man kicked out by his party last year was responsible for dragging the country into a madly reckless and irresponsible mood over Brexit.

The former editor said Mr Johnson was the most selfish and irresponsible human being I think Ive ever met who had helped leave the Tory party as a group of factions of the right.

Attacking the membership, he said: These people thought Liz Truss was the answer to the nations problems. As long as these 200,000 Flat Earthers around the country have a decisive voice, then Im very gloomy about the Conservative Partys prospects.

Hastings gloomy about Tories after push to right under recent PMs (Getty)

Mr Hastings went on to say that fear of Farage, who now threatens to rejoin the Tories, has made cowards of much of the partys leadership.

It comes as former Tory business minister Anna Soubry, who left the party to help form the anti-Brexit centrists in Change UK, announced she would be voting Labour at the next election.

With Keir Starmer as leader they have the values and competence to deliver the change our country desperately needs, she tweeted.

A major coup at this weeks Labour conference in Liverpool saw former Bank of England governor Mark Carney endorse the party in a video played for shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves speech.

The respected Canadian economist, in charge at the Bank from 2013 to 2020, said it was beyond time we put her energy and ideas into action.

A series of top Tory donors have denounced the party and pulled financial support, with some major backers even defecting to Labour as Sir Keir and Ms Reeves continue to woo big business.

Gareth Quarry, a former Conservative donor who defected to Labour, previously told The Independent that dozens of leading business figures  including Tory backers  had approached him asking how they could help to put Sir Keir Starmer in No 10.

John Caudwell, the Phones4U founder, told The Independent that he will not back Mr Sunak after his U-turn on net zero pledges  and revealed he was thinking of giving to Labour instead.

Recommended Judges told not to jail rapists due to overcrowded prisons

Iceland boss Richard Walker quit the Conservative party over Mr Sunaks flip-flopping on net zero and HS2, and said he was open to persuasion on who to back at the next election.

Sir Rocco Forte  who gave 100,000 to the party to help fund the last general election  accused the party of reaping what it had sowed, claiming that incompetence had driven donors away.
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Labour has accused Rishi Sunak of letting rapists and burglars walk free in a new hard-hitting attack ad on the prime minister.

A graphic produced by the party features Mr Sunak's face and warns: "Under the Tories, rapists and burglars will be spared jail".

It comes amid reports that Crown court judges have been told to delay sentencing hearings for serious crimes in an attempt to manage the surging prison population.

The opposition party posted the advert on social media with the warning: "Rishi Sunak has lost control of the prison system. He is letting violent criminals walk free. He is letting Britain down."

Labour was criticised in April after the party launched a controversial advert claiming that the prime minister did not want child sexual abusers jailed.

But Keir Starmer stood by the graphic and Labour's media operation has repeatedly re-sued the template on other issues, most recently in September in response to the scandal over unsafe schools built from Raac concrete.

The latest row over prisons comes after The Times reported that Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge for England and Wales, has ordered courts to delay sentencing from Monday.

Figures uncovered by The Independent last week show overcrowding in prisons is nearing breaking point.

Most jails are dangerously full, with some holding 70 per cent more inmates than they should, including Wandsworth, from which terror suspect Daniel Khalife is accused of escaping.

And justice ministers are understood to have proposed some prisoners be released early.

The chief of prison governors, former home secretary Jack Straw and former Tory prisons minister Rory Stewart all warned last week that early release may have to be considered to tackle the crisis.

Nearly two-thirds of jails in England are officially overcrowded, with the number of free spaces in the prison estate falling from just 768 last week to 651 this week, over which period the male prison population has increased by 211 to 84,412.

A prison union threatened to take legal action if the Ministry of Justice asked governors to find extra capacity in already packed prisons.

Andrea Albutt, president of the Prison Governors Association (PGA), said: If the government further overcrowd our prisons, if they say to our members you will put more people in your already overcrowded prison, we will take legal action.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: We are categorical that the most serious offenders should be sent to prison and that anyone deemed a risk to public safety is remanded in custody while awaiting trial. Reports to the contrary are false.

This Government has done more than ever before to protect the public and keep sex offenders locked up for longer, ending automatic halfway release for rapists and serious violent offenders and sending rapists to prison for three years longer than in 2010.

Following the pandemic and barristers strike, the criminal justice system has seen a significant spike in the prison population, with 6,000 more prisoners on remand than before the pandemic. While we are carrying out the biggest prison-building programme since the Victoria era, and have taken decisive action to expand capacity further by doubling up cells in the short-term, the prison estate remains under pressure.

The Lord Chancellor will be meeting criminal justice partners later today and setting out a programme of reform in the coming days to ensure that we can continue to strengthen public protection by locking up the most dangerous criminals.
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Royal Navy vessels and surveillance aircraft are being sent to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, the Prime Minister has announced.

Rishi Sunak said the deployment of the British armed forces would support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation in the conflict between Tel Aviv and Gaza.

The flare-up of violence in the Middle East, ignited by a wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives.

Downing Street said maritime patrol and surveillance planes will begin flying in the region from Friday to track threats, including monitoring activity such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups.

A Royal Navy task group will be moved to the eastern Mediterranean next week as a contingency measure to back humanitarian efforts, it added.

Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world-class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

The military package includes P8 aircraft, surveillance assets, two Royal Navy ships  Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels Lyme Bay and Argus  three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines.

The British armed forces will be on stand-by to deliver practical support to Israel and partners in the region, and offer deterrence and assurance, No 10 said.

The deployment appears to represent a shift in approach to Britains military involvement, with the Prime Ministers official spokesman earlier this week saying there were no plans to redeploy UK military assets to Israel.

Mr Sunak said: We must be unequivocal in making sure the types of horrific scenes we have seen this week will not be repeated.

Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world-class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation.

Our military and diplomatic teams across the region will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the thousands of innocent victims of this barbaric attack from Hamas terrorists.

The Prime Minister has also asked for all British military teams in Israel, Cyprus and across the region to be bolstered.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: The Royal Navy Task Group, RAF operations and our wider military support will be an undeniable display of the UKs resolve to ensure Hamass terrorist campaign fails, whilst reminding those who seek to inflame tensions that the forces of freedom stand with the Israeli people.

John Healey, Labours shadow defence secretary, said his party backs these military moves as part of the UKs response to Hamass incursion that left hundreds of Israelis dead.

We stand in solidarity with Israel at this dark hour, he tweeted.

The military deployment comes ahead of Mr Sunaks trip to Sweden for the Joint Expeditionary Force summit where he is due to speak with northern European leaders about the situations in Israel and Ukraine.

The Prime Ministers attention has also been focused on the conflicts impact on British communities, having announced an additional 3 million to provide extra security for the UKs Jewish population.

The money will be given to the Community Security Trust (CST) after the group, which acts on the behalf of British Jews on matters of policing and racism, said it had recorded a 400% spike in antisemitic incidents in the UK since the weekends assault.

No 10 said the additional funding will enable the CST to place additional guards at schools it supports and allow for additional security staff outside synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings when Jews are marking the sabbath.

The King held a private audience with the Chief Rabbi at Buckingham Palace to personally express his concern for the Jewish community in the UK, the palace said.

Following the meeting, Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the Kings words offered strength at this dark time.

Sir Ephraim also met with Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday.

Sir Keir, in a statement released afterwards, said the rise in antisemitic incidents was appalling and that harassment or intimidation towards Jewish communities was utterly unacceptable.

With the conflict between Israel and Gaza worsening, the UK Government has organised flights to help British nationals leave Israel.

The first flight was expected to leave the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Thursday, the Foreign Office said, with further flights planned in the coming days subject to the security situation.

The UK has also sent a rapid deployment team to assist British citizens on the ground.

International aid groups have warned that deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the regions only power station ran out of fuel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out.

There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out as Israel continues to fire retaliatory strikes on the 25-mile strip, which is ruled by Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that every Hamas member is a dead man, with reports suggesting a ground offensive into Gaza is being prepared  a move likely to increase the death toll.

Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has written to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly pushing for urgent action to deliver humanitarian access to Gaza following similar calls by the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.

Labours shadow foreign secretary David Lammy also urged for food, water, medicines and electricity supplies to be made available.

Alicia Kearns, Conservative chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, told LBC that Tel Aviv has a duty under international humanitarian law to ensure those in Gaza have access to medical aid and water.

We can get the humanitarian aid in but no-one else can switch back on water apart from the Israelis, she said.

The Foreign Office published a video on social media on Thursday of Mr Cleverly speaking during his visit to Israel.

The Cabinet minister said the UK supported Israels right to defend itself and right to recover the people who have been kidnapped.

He made no mention of the situation in Gaza during the 30-second clip.
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Alex Chalk is to meet senior officials from the justice system and will set out a programme of reform following reports that sentencing could be delayed in some cases due to prisons nearing capacity.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said he was taking the step to ensure that we can continue to strengthen public protection by locking up the most dangerous criminals.

Lord Edis, the senior presiding judge in England and Wales, has ordered the sentencing of convicted criminals currently on bail to be delayed from Monday, The Times has reported.

Rapists and burglars could be among those whose sentencing is put off, the newspaper said.

People up and down will be asking: if this Government can't fulfil the basic duty of keeping criminals locked up, why are they still the Government? Shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood

An MoJ spokesperson said: We are categorical that the most serious offenders should be sent to prison and that anyone deemed a risk to public safety is remanded in custody while awaiting trial. Reports to the contrary are false.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay acknowledged there is huge pressure on the prison system as he toured broadcast studios on Thursday morning, but he refused to confirm or deny reports that judges have been told not to jail some criminals due to prisons nearing capacity, saying ministers do not comment on leaks.

Decisions on sentencing are taken by the judiciary independently. What the Government is doing is expanding at pace the number of prison places that we have, he told Times Radio.

Mr Barclay said the Justice Secretary will address the issue in a statement to the Commons on Monday.

Figures show the number of people held on remand is up by more than 60% on pre-pandemic levels, from 9,500 then to 15,500 at the end of June.

The MoJ spokesperson added: This Government has done more than ever before to protect the public and keep sex offenders locked up for longer, ending automatic halfway release for rapists and serious violent offenders, and sending rapists to prison for three years longer than in 2010.

Following the pandemic and barristers strike, the criminal justice system has seen a significant spike in the prison population, with 6,000 more prisoners on remand than before the pandemic.

While we are carrying out the biggest prison-building programme since the Victoria era, and have taken decisive action to expand capacity further by doubling up cells in the short-term, the prison estate remains under pressure.

The Lord Chancellor will be meeting criminal justice partners later today and setting out a programme of reform in the coming days to ensure that we can continue to strengthen public protection by locking up the most dangerous criminals.

The UKs prison population has increased substantially since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and, according to the latest figures, there are now 88,016 prisoners.

As of October 6, capacity across the whole prison estate stood at 88,667.

Andrea Albut, president of the Prison Governors Association, recently told The Daily Telegraph that jails in England and Wales are bust of space, saying male facilities are running at more than 99.6% capacity and womens are 96% full.

The Times quoted an anonymous senior judge as saying they had been ordered/strongly encouraged not to send to prison a defendant who appears before them on bail due to concerns the prison system is at capacity.

The Judicial Office, which supports the judiciary, said it would not comment on what was said during an internal meeting.

The independent body said it could not confirm whether new guidance on sentencing had been issued to judges.

Labours shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said: After 13 years of failure with the Conservatives, we are now seeing the serious repercussions of continuously ignoring the warnings on the broken criminal justice system and a prison estate in chaos.

The Tories are unable to get rapists behind bars and now the public know why.

People up and down will be asking: if this Government cant fulfil the basic duty of keeping criminals locked up, why are they still the Government?

Tana Adkin KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said judges would still follow sentencing guidelines for serious offences like violence or sexual violence that require immediate custody.

But she warned that prison overcrowding has reached a critical point in terms of judges managing ongoing cases.

The current crisis is symptomatic after more than 15 years of disjointed central planning and underfunding for those tasked with delivering justice in our courts and keeping the public safe within our prison estate, she said.

Judges, barristers and solicitors continue working hard to ensure justice is delivered and safe outcomes for victims despite the acute strains on the prison and courts system.

The overriding duty of any government is to safeguard its citizens from harm. Judges will continue to uphold that basic principle when faced with the current challenges our criminal justice system is experiencing.

The management of cases, however, is especially difficult with diminished resources and with prison overcrowding that has reached a critical point.

If we want prison sentences to work, we must have the capacity to punish wrongdoers, deter others and rehabilitate offenders who are imprisoned at great cost to the taxpayer as well as themselves and their families.
Senate Public Assistance Office, Mabuhay Shriners International empower PWDs

In a testament to the power of collaboration, the Senate Public Assistance Office (SPAO) and Mabuhay Shriners International joined hands in providing vital mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers and crutches for persons with disability in the City of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

In a turnover ceremony on October 11, 2023, Director General Lino S. Ong, Calapan City Mayor Marilou Morillo, and Mina De Oro Shrine Club First Vice President Edmundo Casanova unveiled the generous donation, comprising of 10 adult wheelchairs, 5 pediatric wheelchairs, 5 quad canes, 5 crutches, and 5 walkers. Mina De Oro Shriners Club is a chapter of Mabuhay Shriners in Oriental Mindoro.

A deeply moved Mayor Morillo expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and the Senate Public Assistance Office, stating, "We are very thankful at napagbigyan n'yo po kami. Thank you so much."

In his message, Director General Ong said the turnover was made possible through the guidance of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and upon the initiative of SPAO in accordance with its functions to effectively, efficiently and expeditiously provide assistance to the constituents of the senators.

He said the partnership was entered into in June 2022 during the tenure of former Senate President Vicente Sotto III. He emphasized, "Bilang institution, limitado po ang ating kakayahan at ating budget. Kaya sa ilalim ng konsepto na 'One Help, One Nation' na aming isinusulong sa SPAO, layunin namin na magkaroon ng collaboration at partnership sa iba't ibang institution, pampubliko man o pribado, para magtulung-tulungan sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan."

Director General Ong also stressed the significance of working in unity. "Itong turnover natin ngayon ay patunay sa power of collaboration. Mas marami tayong matutulungan at maaabot kung tayo ay magsasama-sama," he added.

Director General Ong said he hopes the event can set a precedent for other institutions, highlighting what can be achieved when organizations, whether public or private institutions, come together with a shared vision.
The supper scenario can be daunting. There is more drama than drive, more demands than day, and yet, there is that overriding aim to eat well. We have good intentions, but the time it takes to Read moreMatters of Taste: When Personal Chef Nicholas Di Paolo is in the kitchen, everyone is on vacation
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The family of an Atlanta church deacon whose death was ruled a homicide after a police officer shocked him with a stun gun has demanded that murder charges be brought.

An autopsy report ruled that 62-year-old Johnny Hollmans death was a homicide, with his history of heart disease, as well as the electrical shock from the Taser, contributing to his death.

Our position is that it was an unwarranted, unjustifiable assault that led to a death, Hollman family lawyer Mawuli Davis said. And in my book, that is murder.

The fatal incident took place on 10 August, when Hollman was being arrested after a minor car crash. Authorities say that Officer Kiran Kimbrough stunned him with a Taser and handcuffed him because he refused to sign a ticket he had been given.

Body camera footage has been a point of contention in the case, as it has not been made publicly available, perhaps contributing to differing accounts of what happened from there on.

According to Mr Davis, who has watched the body camera footage, Hollman reached for the ticket and repeatedly agreed to sign it, but the officer, ignoring his willingness to comply, does a leg sweep and takes him to the ground.

And Deacon Hollman is saying, I cant breathe. My asthma is acting up on me, I cant breathe, he told NBC News.

A physical altercation allegedly ensued. Mr Davis told the outlet that at one point during the struggle, Officer Kimbrough is on top of Hollman and strikes him with a closed fist. He said he counted Hollman saying I cant breathe, 16 times.

Minutes into the altercation, the officer used the stun gun, reports said. The medical examiner wrote earlier this week that, after looking at the footage, she believed that Hollman was unresponsive from the time that the energy device (Taser) is deployed.

We believe that what we witnessed on that video is murder. It was an unjustifiable homicide, the attorney told the outlet.

Arnitra Fallins, Hollmans daughter, told NBC News that the footage was disturbing, adding that it literally made me sick to my stomach to watch.

She told the outlet, I dont want people to get distracted by what the APD and the City is putting out about him, about being combative, about being aggressive, thats not in my daddys character. Thats not who he was and thats not what he was presenting that night he was killed.

Law enforcement tells a slightly different version of the story.

An August release from the Atlanta Police Department said: The officer attempted to issue a traffic citation to the at-fault driver. However, the driver became agitated and uncooperative.

The release added, The officer attempted to take the driver into custody, but he resisted, and a struggle ensued. Thats when a Taser was used, and a witness helped the officer place Hollman in handcuffs, officers explained.

Once the driver was in handcuffs, the officer realized he was unresponsive and requested EMS to the scene, the release said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was asked to look into the incident.

Officer Kimbrough was fired from the department earlier this week.

Regardless of the differing accounts, the footage in question will not be released until the investigation concludes, Atlanta police said last week. Its not a question of if it will be released, Mr Davis said earlier this week. Its now a question of when and how soon.
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A man in Minnesota suspected of shooting five police officers has been arrested.

The suspect was still on the scene near Princeton, Minnesota when police responded to the incident, according to WCCO.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning near the intersection of 190th Avenue Northeast and Glendorado Road Northeast in Glendorado Township, according to the publication.

Police dispatch radio messages revealed that officers were executing a warrant at the suspects home when the shooting began, according to the Star Tribune. Officers reportedly were intending to search the suspects home, though the purpose of the search is currently unknown.

One officer was reportedly shot in the chest and the pelvis, according to police radio messages.

All of the officers were involved in the Sherburne County Drug Task Force, according to police.

The suspects criminal history includes a felony drug conviction in 2006 as well as another conviction on the same charge in the mid-1980s, according to court records.

The suspect was reportedly wounded in the exchange with police.

A heavy police response vehicle and officers in tactical gear wait near a Princeton, Minnesota property where five law enforcement officers were shot (screengrab/ Fox9)

The suspect was injured in the incident and was transported for treatment, Benton County Sheirff Troy Heck told the Star Tribune in a statement. The cause and extent of his injuries are unknown at this time.

According to WCCO, three officers were being treated at North Memorial Hospital and the other two were being treated at St Cloud Hospital.

They were all suffering from non-life-threatening injuries, the outlet added.

Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said that while there is currently no danger to the general public, he warned locals to avoid the area for the time being, according to the Star Tribune.
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The White House said it was running out of runway on supporting both Ukraine and Israel as US Republican lawmakers warned they would protest any funding request for military aid from the Biden administration for the two crisis-hit nations.

I think in the immediate term, right now, we can continue to support  with the authorities in the appropriations we have  Israel and Ukraine. But, you know, were ... certainly running out of runway, said John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council.

Mr Kirby was answering a question at a daily briefing on the administration meeting the immediate needs of Ukraine and Israel along with the continuing fight to elect a House Speaker.

Mr Kirby said the US administration had the means to support both Israel and Ukraine in the near term. But you dont want to be trying to bake in long-term support when youre at the end of the rope, he said on Wednesday.

And on the Ukraine funding, were coming near to the end of the rope. I mean, today we announced $200mn, and well keep that aid going as long as we can, but its not going to be indefinite, he said, adding that the US is moving with a sense of alacrity.

He added a certain date could not be put on near term because it hinged on Ukraines expenditure rate and replenishment ability.

The National Security Council coordinator also said the House Speaker position was critical in terms of bringing legislation to the floor and moving things forward.

So the sooner that theres a Speaker of the House, obviously, the more comfortable well all be in terms of being able to support Israel and Ukraine, he said.

The White House has been considering a budget request tying money for these two conflicts together to increase the chances that the heavily-debated assistance for Ukraine will be approved.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday called the attack in Israel an act of sheer evil and said that the US military assistance was being sent to help Israel in its fight.

Saturdays Hamas attack was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, he said.

He told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US will send more military assistance to help Israel fight Hamas.

On Tuesday, he warned other countries and armed groups against entering the war. The US is already rushing munitions and military equipment to Israel and has deployed a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean as deterrence.
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Vladimir Putins forces have launched the largest-scale offensive action in eastern Ukraines Avdiivka town since the start of Russias invasion.

The major push on the battlefield comes after Avdiivka witnessed two days of intense fighting as Russian tanks and equipment were seen moving towards Ukrainian lines. Major attacks, including hundreds of rocket and artillery strikes on the town, have been underway since Tuesday.

This is the largest-scale offensive action in our sector since the full-fledged war began, said Vitaliy Barabash, the head of Avdiivka administration.

Russia is pouring in a large number of troops and equipment in the region as they look to wrest the town from Kyiv, Ukrainian military officials said.

The flare-up comes as drone attacks killed three people, including a child, in Russias Belgorod region and injured another two, regional officials said. The Russian defence ministry blamed Ukraine for carrying out the attack. Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said debris from a drone downed by Russias anti-aircraft units damaged several houses and cars in the region.

Mr Barabash said while the situation in Avdiivka on Wednesday was not quite as heated as the day before, battles have continued.

Nearly two dozen attacks were made on the towns old district and others in the city centre.

A group of up to three Russian battalions with tanks and armoured vehicles support intensified operations near Avdiivka, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces said.

It said 10 enemy attacks on the town had been repelled. Russian accounts of the situation in Avdiivka also suggested fighting had intensified, but claimed its forces had improved their position in the immediate outskirts around Avdiivka.

Avdiivka was retaken by Ukraine last month in a successful counteroffensive push in the east, but is facing the same fate as Bakhmut as it remains under siege for months now. Most of the town has been reduced to rubble.

Russias gains around Avdiivka have been limited to the southwest of the town and its troops have not managed to complete an operational encirclement of the settlement, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.

Mr Putins forces will likely struggle to encircle the town if that is their intent, said the US-based think-tank monitoring the war.

It said Avdiivka is notoriously well-fortified and defended Ukrainian stronghold, which will likely complicate Russian forces ability to closely approach or fully capture the settlement.

Any hypothetical capture of the town will not offer Russia new routes to the rest of the Donetsk oblast as Russian forces already control critical segments of the nearby highway and routes, it said.

The territorial control of the region, however, could be a bonus for Ukraine.

Russian forces likely intend attacks in the Avdiivka area to fix Ukrainian forces and prevent them from redeploying to other areas of the front. However, Ukrainian officials have already identified the Avdiivka push as a Russian fixing operation, and they are unlikely to unduly commit Ukrainian manpower to this axis, the ISW said in its latest assessment.

Ukrainian gains elsewhere along the frontline and on the battlefield continued on Wednesday as the General Staff said its forces were successful in the east of Klishchiivka and Andriivka near Bakhmut.

The tactical positions held by Ukrainian forces were improved in the west of Robotyne, another critical battlefield zone in Zaporizhzhia oblast, the Ukrainian general staff and Tavriisk group commander Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said.

In southern Ukraine, Russian forces were pushing their attacks sometimes using infantry and in some areas deploying quite a lot of vehicles into battle, said Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraines southern group of forces.

Now in its fifth month, Ukraines counteroffensive has two major battle zones as Kyivs troops look to secure areas around Bakhmut.

They aim to retake the town and recapture villages in the south in a drive towards the Sea of Azov to sever a Russian land bridge between positions Moscow holds in the south and east.
 Close Aftermath of Russian missile strike on Ukraine mail depot that killed six

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Russian forces are trying to regroup and recover their losses near the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, where heavy fighting has been ongoing since mid-October.

This comes after Putins troops bombarded 118 Ukrainian towns and villages over the course of 24 hours, the most intense day of shelling this year, Kyiv said.

Communities near the front lines in the east and south were targeted, with 10 out of 27 of Ukraines regions coming under attack.

Vladimir Putins warplanes have dropped explosive objects into the paths of civilian shipping lanes in the Black Sea, the regions military command said.

The occupiers are continuing to terrorise the paths of civilian shipping in the Black Sea with tactical aviation, dropping explosive objects into the likely paths of civilian vessel traffic, it said.

There were three such drops registered in the last 24 hours. However, the navigation corridor continues to function under the watch of the defence forces.

Ukraine is trying to build up a new shipping lane without Russian approval to revive its vital seaborne exports. But Russia said it would consider any vessel a potential military target after it quit UN-brokered deal allowing Ukrainian goods to pass through.
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British families have described the scale of the atrocities committed in Israel by Hamas as a second Holocaust as the UK prepares to send military support to the region.

At least 17 British citizens are feared to be dead or missing after the unprecedented attack last weekend during which 1,200 Israelis were killed while some 1,400 Palestinians have died in retaliatory strikes.

Noam Sagi and Sharon Lifschitz, both from London, said their elderly parents had been forcibly taken from their homes into Gaza and had not been heard from for five days.

Mr Sagi, a psychotherapist, said he last spoke to his mother Ada when she texted him to say she was entering her safe room. She should be celebrating her 75th birthday, he said.

On Saturday morning, the kibbutz woke up to a massacre, a second holocaust, said Mr Sagi at a press conference in Westminster on Thursday, adding that there had been reports of people being burned, butchered, slaughtered and kidnapped.

These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships. If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.

Sharon Lifschitz and Noam Sagi say their parents have been taken hostage by Hamas militants (PA)

His desperate plea for information about his mother came as Rishi Sunak announced UK military support would be sent to the area to support Israel.

The package includes surveillance aircraft, helicopters, P8 aircraft, and a company of marines, which will be dispatched on Friday.

Israel-Hamas war  follow live updates here

The development came as:

:: The Foreign Office announced it would arrange flights for stranded British citizens who want to leave, while the families of diplomats will be leaving Israel as a precautionary measure. British Airways has cancelled all its flights to Tel Aviv

:: The office of Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, released horrific images on social media showing babies murdered by Hamas  adding that the siege of Gaza wouldnt end until the 150 hostages were released

:: The Israeli air force said it had pummelled Gaza with 6,000 bombs since it started its retaliation on Saturday. The UN warned that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in the Gaza Strip

:: US secretary of state Antony Blinken visited Israel on Thursday and told Mr Netanyahu he understood the harrowing echoes that Hamas massacres carry for Israeli Jews and that Washington was at Israels side

Standing at a podium next to the Israeli prime minister at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Mr Blinken urged Israel to show restraint in its retaliation, in his most direct plea so far, asking that it take every possible precaution to protect civilian life.

You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, he said. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US secretary of state Antony Blinken hold a joint press conference (EPA)

Later, Mr Blinken said at a news conference that Israeli officials had shared videos and images of the aftermath of the Hamas attacks, which he said showed a baby riddled with bullets, soldiers beheaded and young people burnt in their cars.

Its simply depravity in the worst imaginable way. Its really beyond anything that we can comprehend, digest.

In Gaza, there were desperate scenes as health authorities had to make agonising decisions as medical supplies ran critically low and footage showed a city reduced to rubble in many areas.

The UN warned that crucial supplies were running dangerously low in the Gaza Strip (AFP)

Lt Colonel Richard Hecht, international spokesperson of the Israeli military, said the scale and scope of their operation will be very severe. He also confirmed the military was continuing its ferocious bombardment of Gaza.

Israel has been massing troops at the border with Gaza, with expectations a ground invasion will follow. Lt Col Hecht said: We are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if it is decided.

In London, Mr Sagi and Ms Lifschitz showed reporters photographs of people who remain unaccounted for in Israel, including a six-month-old baby.

Mr Sagi and Ms Lifschitz said their elderly parents are without their medication and described the situation created as the biggest hostage crisis the world has faced in decades.

The Hamas attacks were described as a second Holocaust by Sagi and Lifschitz (AFP)

Ms Lifschitz, an artist and academic, who also grew up on the kibbutz where her mother disappeared, said: My mum was taken out, she was kind of disconnected from her oxygen in order to be loaded onto a motorbike or whatever it is, I dont know.

Also feared missing is Emily Damari, a dual Israeli-British national whose mother is originally from Kent.

Her brother Tom told The Independent: We all miss Emily, looking forward for her coming back soon. She has been missing from Kfar Azza since Saturday. Her last message at 10am was that the terrorist is in her apartment and shooting at her.

Shes missing so we presume she is in Gaza taken as hostage. There are 10-15 missing young people from the kibbutz Kfar Aza .

I was also at the kibbutz with my wife and two daughters and with a little bit of luck we survived. I dont want to talk to about it, Im still processing it, he said.

Pictures of loved ones who have been captured by Hamas on display during a Defend Israeli Democracy UK press conference (PA)

Abbey Onn, a US citizen, was one of those to meet Mr Blinken in Tel Aviv. The last message she received from the family of her cousin, Carmella Dan, 80, also a US citizen, was that Hamas militants were inside their house, and that we are afraid we wont get out [of] this. Ms Onn was in Herzily, a city 120km (75 miles) north of the kibbutz in her own bomb shelter as air raid sirens were blaring.

Ms Dan was with three of her grandchildren aged between 12 and 16 years old and her son in law, Ofer Calderon, 50. They texted that they were desperately tyring to make it to the bomb shelters in two locations in a kibbutz, Nir Oz, which is just a few kilometres from the border with Gaza. It is hard, Ms Onn said, swallowing her words with a sob, as she described how Erezs favourite things are lego and video games.

The family have confirmation two of them were kidnapped because they appeared in video footage shared online. They dont know what happened to the others. She is worried about Ms Dan who has a heart condition. It is a 400 person kibbutz, there are only 160 survivors, the rest were killed or believed kidnapped, Ms Onn said.

On Mr Blinkens visit, she added: We are beyond grateful for the support of the US government. We are asking for the secretary of state and the president and the media to secure their immediate release.

In London, Ms Lifschitz said the distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people must now be absolutely clear and that she cant imagine how Palestinians cope under their rule.

She added: This is the defining moment of our life. We are going to spend the rest of our lives dealing with this atrocity.

We have yet to really comprehend what took place. Now, we are still in this event and we are not up to date and, in this event, these children and elderly must come back.

This is people with cancer, this is people with dementia, this is people with Parkinsons.

In Israeli communities in south Israel they went door to door and snatched babies from their mothers and children from their beds, handcuffed them and brutally and cold bloodedly slaughtered them, a spokesperson for the British-Israeli families claimed in a short statement.

On Wednesday, Jake Marlowe from north London was confirmed as the fourth British citizen to have been killed in the shock incursion, with his family left heartbroken.

Jake Marlowe was killed while working at a music festival (Facebook)

He had been working as a security guard at the Supernova music festival near the border with Gaza, which was overrun with gunmen. Emergency workers retrieved 260 bodies from the site, while a number of festival-goers remain missing.

Also confirmed dead is Scottish grandfather Bernard Cowan, photographer Danny Darlington and IDF soldier Nathanel Young.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Cowans friend Craig Budden, who worked with him in Eilat, said he died defending the community he loved.

His hobby was recreational scuba diving and he was passionate about it, regularly driving down to Eilat on the Israeli Red Sea coast even just for the day, he said. There was a day when he took a camera in the water and that was it  passion on steroids, he became the most avid underwater photographer, travelling the world always looking to dive.

He loved his family, Israel, the Kibbutz and scuba diving. We all loved him back and miss him. Mr Cowan, who had only recently become a grandfather, is survived by his wife and three children.
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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 more than 1,400 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.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike (AFP via Getty Images)

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.

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 and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, signalling a bloody battle is ahead after the unprecedented assault by Hamas.

In the early hours of Saturday, October 7, as many as 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.
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Dramatic aerial images of Gaza shows the extent of damage caused by deadly Israeli airstrikes, that have caused terror and devastation across the region.

Residential buildings, markets and mosques have been destroyed in retaliation for the attack launched by Hamasterrorists on Israels territories on Saturday.

The Gaza energy authority has warned that they only have only 10 to 12 hours of fuel left, while hospitals are said to be at capacity with thousands injured and awaiting treatment.

Aerial image shows an airstrike over the Gaza Strip (Maxar )

Following the attack upon its citizens by Hamas, Israel has announced a complete siege and has cut off water, food, fuel and electricity supplies to the region, which is home to 2.3 million people.

One image taken by Maxar shows smoke rising above buildings in Gaza, which has so far killed at least 950 people, with more than 2,700 wounded.

Follow our live blog for all the latest updates

Israeli military officials have warned that they have created an iron wall of tanks, helicopters and aircraft around the enclave, with airstrikes continuing for the fourth day.

Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities have accused Israel of targeting the entire neighbourhood around the Al-Sousi mosque, which was razed to the ground by an airstrike on Monday. .

A view over Gaza City in August, before the latest conflict erupted with Israel (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The mosque is located inside Gaza Citys Shati refugee camp, with three other mosques targeted in the area, with its population running low on medicine and food.

Dozens of Palestinians are said to have been killed in the camp, with images showing survivors clambering over rubble and piling bodies onto stretchers.

The Al Sousi mosque in Gaza Citys Shati refugee camp has been completely destroyed (Maxar )

Palestinians seen inspecting the damage at the Al-Sousi mosque (AFP via Getty Images)

Gaza Citys Yassin mosque has also been destroyed in an airstrike, with satellite imagery showing the structures dome to be obliterated.

The Rimal neighbourhood has also suffered deadly bombardments, with residential buildings and shops destroyed, with rescue officials reporting that large numbers of people were still trapped under the rubble.

A number of residential buildings have been destroyed with at least 900 Palestinians killed (Maxar )

The Israeli military said it had struck undreds of targets in Rimal, which is home to universities, media organisations and ministries of the Hamas government, who first gained control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

The latest conflict has now claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 people, with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating on Monday that their bombardment of Gaza had only started.

It began after an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Saturday morning, which saw armed groups open fire on Israeli civilians and launch rockets towards major cities including Tel Aviv.

Smoke rises above Watan Tower after it was destroyed in an aerial bombardment (Maxar)

Families were killed in their own homes, while gunmen killed 260 partygoers at a festival near the border before taking an estimated 100 people hostage.

Following aerial bombardments, Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for the armed section of Hamas, said that they would begin to execute civilian hostages if innocent civilians are targeted.

As well as the siege, Israel have also called up 300,000 of its reservists, with Netanyahu warning: What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres later said he was deeply distressed by Israels decision to impose the siege, while the UN are attempting to accommodate 200,000 refugees in Gaza.
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A former head of Hamas has called for protests across the Muslim world on Friday in support of Palestinians.

Khaled Meshaal also called on the people of countries neighbouring Israel to join the fight against the country.

[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday, said Meshaal, who in 1997 survived an assassination attempt by Israel in retribution for Hamass suicide bombings.

Nearly a week after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people, Benjamin Netanyahus unity government is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza.

The besieged enclave, which has been targeted by 6,000 Israeli Air Force bombs, is on the brink of running out of food, water and electricity after supplies were cut off, the UN has warned.

Follow our live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here

Meshaal, who now heads the diaspora office in Qatar of the group considered a terrorist organisation by most of the West, said the governments and peoples of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt had a duty to support the Palestinians.

Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan... This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility, he said.

Jordan and Lebanon are home to the largest numbers of Palestinian refugees.

Meshaal, who became the Hamas leader and its central figure in 2004, has previously defended the groups use of violence.

In 1997 while he was head of the groups military wing, undercover Israeli agents attempted to spray him with poison in the street as he got out of his car.

It was reported that a phone call led him to turn his head just as one agent sprayed the poison, and a bodyguard rushed him away.

Following pressure from Jordan, Israeli officials provided an antidote to enable Meshaal to recover.

Under his leadership, Hamas has refused to recognise Israel but indicated that it would accept a long-term truce if the country withdrew to its pre-1967 borders.

At least 2,500 people in Israel and Gaza have been killed and thousands of others injured since Saturdays attack.
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Israel is laying siege to Gaza after a deadly attack by Hamas left hundreds of people dead.

The country is drawing on its huge military capabilities to hit back at the terrorists and say they have already killed around 1,500 militants following Saturdays incursion.

We are going to go on the offense and attack the Hamas terrorist group and any other group that is in Gaza, Israeli Brigadier General Dan Goldfus said. We will have to change the reality from within Gaza to prevent this from happening again.

An Israeli tank drives toward the southern border with the Gaza Strip (Getty Images)

The surprise Hamas attack is by far the deadliest by militants in Israeli history, with Goldfus telling reporters on Tuesday the death toll had topped 1,000.

In response, the military has mobilised 300,000 reservists, with speculation a ground invasion of Gaza is imminent. Below we look at the significant resources Israel can call on in its war on Hamas.

How big is the Israeli military?

Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel (REUTERS)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the national military. It has three branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.

Fixed-term military service has been compulsory in the country since the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.

All citizens over 18 years of age, regardless of gender or ethnicity, are required to serve for at least 24 to 32 months. There are a few exceptions, such as religious women, married individuals, and those with disabilities.

There are currently 173,000 active soldiers in the Israeli army, including 8,000 commanders.

Soldiers and a civilian take cover as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets (AP)

The military has also called up 300,000 reservists to prepare for its largest ever mobilisation, with special flights being organised to bring reservists from abroad to join its efforts.

Israel is also drawing on its special forces from the Sayeret Matkal unit to fight against Hamas. It is believed that they will be aiming to neutralise high-ranking fighters within the terrorist organisation and rescue Israelis who have been taken hostage.

In 2021, the Israeli military spend was $24.34 billion.

What weapons does the Israeli army have?

Soldiers with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) near Israels border with Lebanon (REUTERS)

Israeli forces have already used 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to strike the Gaza Strip.

The ground troops are also drawing from Israels arsenal of 300 military tanks, with a further 2,000 available for use.

Israels Merkava tank is similar to the German Leopard 2 battle tank that has been widely used in Ukraine. The tank has a thick front armour plate to provide maximum protection for its crew and is armed with a 120mm main gun.

On Monday the Israeli Air Force said it had dropped around 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 tonnes of bombs on Gaza aimed at over 10,000 targets in less than 24 hours. The air force is known for its Kfir fighter jets and also has a number of F-35 Lightning II jets obtained from the USA.

The IDF is believed to have maintained a nuclear weapons capability since 1967, with an estimated 90 warheads according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NFI), although Israel does not officially confirm this.

Fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (AP)

What is the Iron Dome?

The Iron Dome is an Israeli mobile air defence system and Israel is the only country in the world operating such a system on a national level.

The system is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells whose trajectory would take them to a populated area.

The missile defense system is one of Israels most important tools and has saved many civilian lives since it became operational in 2011.

The IDF said the system had a 95.6% success rate during a missile raid fired by Islamic Jihad in May.

There are 10 Iron Dome batteries across Israel and each one can carry 11 kilograms of explosives.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip (REUTERS)

The USA contributed to the construction and maintenance of the Iron Dome, spending $1.6 billion on the system from 2011 to 2021.

Each missile costs around $40,000, so intercepting thousands of incoming Hamas rockets can become costly.

The IDF says the Iron Dome is a purely defensive system and has no attacking capabilities.

Israel has now asked the US to assist in restocking the defence system after suffering large missile barrages during Hamas attacks.
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Anafa Ifshitcl was in Kathmandu when the news of the attack by Hamas in Israel broke last Saturday. With no direct flights to her home country, she took a 22-hour bus travelling around 1,100km from Nepal to Indias capital Delhi.

I just got a flight back to Israel, [almost] all of the flights got cancelled, she tells The Independent, standing in a dingy back street near Chabad House, a Jewish community centre in the heart of the city. I hope I make it to Israel because a lot of my friends were kidnapped in the [Supernova] party or died.

Ifshitcls brother, who is serving in the Israeli army, is among those who disappeared in the weekends fighting and has possibly been taken hostage, she tells The Independent. We dont know what happened with him or with his team  This is just a terrible situation.

Having already served two years in the Israeli army, she is now racing to return in the hopes of serving again.

I plan to come back to Israel and do whatever I can, she says. If its not in the army and they dont need me because they have enough people, then there are so many other things to do.

The killing of more than 1,200 people in the carnage by Hamas on 7 October was followed by Benjamin Netanyahus declaration of war against Gaza as he vowed to exact revenge.

It has been followed by hundreds of retaliatory Israeli strikes from air and sea, leading to the death of over 1,400 people in Gaza.

Israel has also announced a complete siege on Gaza, cutting off water, food and power to the enclave that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, until the hostages are freed. A ground offensive by the Israeli military is widely expected to follow.

Israeli police and security forces assist a journalist taking cover during an alert for a rocket attack in the southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

The Israeli military says it has seen a huge response to its call for 360,000 reservists to mobilise, with men and women like Ifshitcl flocking back to their home country from all over the world.

At least 100 people are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the military. The Israeli embassy in London said it was understood those who travelled were reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

We have had a 150 per cent attendance of reservists, IDF spokesperson Major Nir Dinar tells The Independent. That means people who havent been called up came. I saw an 80-year-old who served in the IDF spokesperson unit during 1973 [the Yom Kippur war] turn up for duty, he said no one called him  I just came.

Israelis living abroad are trying to respond to the aftermath of the attack in other ways as well. Those who cannot return are raising contributions to buy military gear, clothing, food and household supplies for families back home.

A young boy walks past felled trees and destroyed structures in Gaza City on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

Rabbi Jonathan Leener told the Reuters news agency that he received a total of $5,000 within an hour of putting out a call for donations among his small Brooklyn synagogue community.

It was enough to buy supplies including sleeping bags and toiletries that he aims to donate to the IDF.

"I think people here feel somewhat helpless being so far away, so the response from people has been really dramatic in the best way possible," the rabbi said, noting that many community members have immediate family in Israel.

Philanthropists and members of the business community have pledged monetary donations to support humanitarian efforts in the country.

A woman mourner reacts outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

Billionaire investor Yuri Milner said on Tuesday that his philanthropic foundation would donate $5m to the Jewish Agency for Israel, a non-profit organisation, to provide emergency aid and long-term rehabilitation.

Mike Bloomberg promised to match all donations to Magen David Adom, an Israeli disaster relief and emergency medical service organisation. Bloomberg had matched $7.5m of donations as of Wednesday, a spokesperson said.

The Israeli army has said it is ready for a ground incursion into Gaza as soon as it gets the political green light, even as the United Nations warned of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Danielle Alarme (left) and Achana Chasnao cut short their six-month-long trip to India to return to Israel (Namita Singh/The Independent)

Tamara al-Rifai, spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency, said nearly 180,000 displaced people, fleeing airstrikes, had taken shelter in 88 UN schools in Gaza in just two days.

No humanitarian aid has been getting in because of Israels total siege and the fact the border with Egypt had been closed. It is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding, she said.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Israel is preparing to launch a ground invasion of Gaza as thousands of troops amass on its border with the conclave.

Over the past few days, the countrys air force has launched near continual and ferocious bombardments of Gaza, levelling whole neighbourhoods and reducing city blocks to rubble after Hamass brutal massacre of 1,200 Israelis at the weekend.

Gaza has already been sealed off and its water, fuel, electricity and food supplies cut off and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, has vowed to ruin all the areas where Hamas operates and hides in.

The modern facility is nicknamed Baladia which is the Arabic for city (AFP via Getty Images)

The operation is likely to eclipse all previous offensives in scale and result in hundreds more civilian casualties.

Israeli soldiers involved in the operation are likely to have trained at the Tzeelim army base in the Negev Desert, just east of the Gaza Strip.

The 7.4-square-mile facility, costing $45 million, was built in 2005 to address the changing nature of conflicts between nation-states in open spaces to small units of soldiers fighting guerrillas and in often congested, urban settings.

Built with help from the US military, the modern facility is nicknamed "Baladia," which is Arabic for "city, and was established as a response to the challenges of the Second Intifada - a major uprising by Palestinians in occupied territories.

It includes a warren of 600 structures including, streets, storefronts, schools, houses, shacks, high-rise apartment blocks, and mosques and the muezzins call blares from the minarets, which are illuminated with green Islamic lights.

Washington helped build facility, where US troops and UN peacekeepers have trained (Getty Images)

Murals and graffiti are painted across walls, with one showing Islamic Jihad fighters firing RPGs.

A salon in a private home, decorated with family photographs, flowers, and recent newspapers are among the other buildings in the base

Mortar strikes and explosions are simulated in an apparent bid to show soldiers what they might witness outside a living room window.

UN peacekeepers and US soldiers have also used the base for urban warfare training, with the site being updated in response to evolving terror strategies.

Israel military officials have warned that every option was on the table in response to the unprecedented attack by Hamas militants who breached the border fence in dozens of locations at the weekend, when dozen of people were also taken hostage.

Site includes a warren of 600 structures including, streets, storefronts, schools, houses, shacks, high-rise apartment blocks, and mosques (AFP via Getty Images)

We are preparing our forces for the option of a ground operation. I believe that they are ready, the forces want to do that, IDF spokesman Major Nir Dinar told The Independent.

The British government on Thursday ordered families of its diplomats in Israel to leave the country in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

All diplomats would remain on active duty and keep offering consular services, Britains foreign office said in a statement.

"We are temporarily drawing down dependants of staff at our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate in Jerusalem as a precautionary measure," it added.

The UK has also advised against all non-essential travel to Israel, and the foreign office said it had made its decision about the dependents of diplomats "in line" with that advice.
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Two of Israels cabinet ministers were heckled during hospital visits to see the wounded as anger mounted in the country amid an escalation of the ongoing war between prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus government and Hamas militants.

Israels environment minister Idit Silman was forced to return from a hospital after anguished residents accused the government of ruining the country.

Ms Silman had come to visit those who were receiving treatment at the Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Tzrifin in central Israel after the deadly attack by Hamas and was seen talking to a family member outside when the situation became heated, forcing her to return.

Youve ruined this country! Get out of here! an unidentified person told her.

Another person in scrubs said: "Its our turn to stand together  left and right  and help without you. Youve destroyed our country. Leave!"

How are you not ashamed to wage another war? he added.

Economy minister Nir Barkat also faced angry crowds when he visited the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv to meet the injured.

Mr Barkat was seen standing and listening as frustrated family members confronted him. You understand where you brought us to? a man asked. Can you see what is happening to us?

He was also heckled during the funeral of the son of former economy minister Izhar Shai. The brother of Yaron Shai said the government should be ashamed for opening the doors with its debased actions to Hamas, according to The Times of Israel.

The death toll in Israel has crossed 1,200, including 189 soldiers, and more than 1,100 people have been killed in Gaza in Israels retaliatory air strikes.

More than 2.3 million Palestinians who live in the densely packed Gaza City were plunged into darkness after the territorys only power station ran out of fuel and shut down.

Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip on Monday (AP)

The Israeli government on Monday even halted the entry of food, water, fuel, and medicine into the territory where nearly half of the population is children.

Pressure was mounting on Israeli authorities to confirm the fate of those missing following Hamass attack on an Israeli settlement after breaching the borders.

Iris Haggai Liniado, who lives in Singapore, told Israeli newspaper Haaretz that her parents have been missing since Saturday and it is believed that they were kidnapped by Hamas militants. But they have received no word or confirmation on their whereabouts from the authorities.

She expressed frustration with the Israeli government and said: "It feels very crazy to me that the Israelis who are hurt and broken right now are doing all the work.

We all gave to this country. We all served in the army, we all pay a crazy amount of taxes, and we live in our country where our paychecks dont support the cost of living, she said.

The only thing we believed that our government was good for was keeping us safe and helping us when we were in distress. But even that wasnt true.

Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to crush and destroy Hamas and said every member of the organisation was a dead man.

He issued the dire warning in a televised address and said atrocities took place during the Hamas attacks. He claimed boys and girls were bound and shot in the head, people burned alive, women raped, and soldiers beheaded.

Mr Netanyahu joined with a top political rival on Wednesday to create a wartime cabinet to oversee Israels retaliation against Hamas, with hundreds of thousands of Israeli troops amassed at Gazas border in preparation for a potential ground attack on the besieged enclave.
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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.

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President Joe Biden said he had taken every single one of his children and grandchildren to the Nazi concentration camp Dachau when they reached the age of 14, to educate them about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Mr Biden raised his voice and slammed his hands down on the lectern as he spoke to Jewish community leaders about the profound impact it had had on his young family members.

He earlier said that he refused to be silent on the attacks perpetrated by Hamas on Israel, saying silence is complicity.

It comes as Israels military said 1,200 Israelis have died since terror group Hamas first launched its attack on Saturday  with more than 2,700 injured in the violence.

The number of Palestinians killed in the conflict has risen from 1,055 to 1,100, according to Gazas health ministry, with a total of 5,339 people injured.

During an event to discuss the White Houses strategy to counter antisemitism on Wednesday, Mr Biden said that the attack by Hamas was a campaign of pure cruelty against the Jewish people.

I would argue it is the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust one of the worst chapters in human history to remind us all that that expression I learned from my dad early on: silence is complicity, he said.

Silence is complicity. It really is. And I want you to know, I think youve already figured it out, I refuse to be silent and I know you refuse to be silent as well.

US President Joe Biden (REUTERS)

He later continued, becoming louder and more impassioned: Thats why I took my kids  every one when they turned 14 years old, one at a time, I put them on a plane and took them to Dachau.

I wanted them to see that you could not not know what was going on. Walking through those gates, you could not fail to understand as a country what was going on. Thats a fact.

It had a profound impact on my children and my grandchildren.

Some thought taking a 14-year-old grandchild does not make sense but I took them one at a time  Ive got three more to go. Folks, its important.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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The Israeli army is making preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza that will likely eclipse all previous offensives in scale, ferocity and civilian harm.

Following the brutal massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis by Hamas this weekend, Israels army has moved masses of tanks and soldiers to the perimeter of the densely populated Gaza Strip, evacuated its own civilians from border areas and called up 300,000 reservist troops.

All the places that Hamas hides in, operates from, we will turn them into ruins," Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said .

The Israeli government announced a total siege on the 42-km long territory, vowing to cut off power, water, fuel and food to the more than two million people who live there. The sole remaining access from Egypt shut down Tuesday after Israeli airstrikes hit near the border crossing.

Israeli officials have made clear that due to the severity of the Hamas attack, this incursion will strike deeper and harder than previous invasions of the territory. During a visit to the area near Gaza on Tuesday, Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he has released all restraints for Israeli troops in the coming fight against Hamas.

They will regret this moment  Gaza will never return to what it was, Gallant added.

Massive aerial bombardment

Israel has already begun preparing the way for its ground invasion with heavy aerial bombardment of Gaza, destroying entire city blocks and killing hundreds in the process. As of Tuesday evening, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed and 5,339 others injured by the strikes, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The ministry has accused Israeli forces of deliberately targeting civilian neighborhoods, health facilities, and notably, medical and rescue crews, as well as ambulance vehicles.

Israel army spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said that civilian buildings could be targeted if they are being used by Hamas. In buildings where people are living there could be a weapons store there could be a Hamas kingpin living there, he said Tuesday.

The Associated Press reported that civilians in Gaza struggled to find any safe area on Wednesday as strikes demolished entire neighbourhoods, hospitals ran low on supplies and the territorys only power plant ran out of fuel.

The bombardment has caused mass displacement within Gaza, according to the UN , with the total displacement now exceeding 263,934 people. Some 170,000 are seeking shelter in UN schools, it added.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza (Anadolu/Getty)

Prominent British-Palestinian plastic surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta said Gazas largest hospital al-Shifa is already at capacity  and they are being forced to improvise. He said he had to clean a teenage girl with 70 per cent surface burns using regular soap because the hospital is out of chlorhexidine, an antiseptic.

Ive been in Gaza during the 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2021 [wars] and this is the worst, he told The Independents Bel Trew from Gaza City.

The sheer number of wounded in the last 72 hours has completely overwhelmed the system. Al-Shiafa is at capacity, he added.

Tunnels and urban fighting

Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, Hamas will likely stick to the hit-and-run tactics is has deployed in previous assaults. The group has used underground tunnels to surprise and attempt to outmaneouvre Israeli forces. It will deploy suicide bombers and IEDs to slow Israels advances.

The best clue for what Israels ground offensive will look like comes from its previous two incursions into the territory, in 2008/9 and 2014.

The Israeli army will continue to use heavy bombardment to clear a path for its ground forces entering the strip in the coming days. In 2008, when Israel invaded the Strip to end Hamas rocket fire, Israeli intelligence had a list of more than 600 major Hamas targets. On the first day, it launched airstrikes against 100 targets in a matter of minutes . The airstrikes were followed by the incursion of three infantry brigade task forces and one armoured task force.

The last time Israeli forces invaded Gaza, in 2014s Operation Protective Edge, they faced the most severe resistance in Shujaiya, a densely populated neighbourhood of Gaza City with some 90,000 residents. The Israeli army faced heavy urban fighting as Hamas fighters sprung up from tunnels and alleyways. In one battle, the Israeli army lost 13 soldiers in the space of eight hours.

As Israeli leaders warn that they will go further into Gaza than they have before, it is likely this conflict will feature the same kind of urban battles. It is also likely that in the years since 2014, Hamas has been able to rebuild some of its capacity and, as evidenced by the brutal operation last weekend, improved its tactics.

The 2014 operation lasted for two weeks and penetrated only a few miles into the strip. During that time more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed mostly civilians, as well as 66 Israeli soldiers, six Israeli civilians .

Hostages

Israels ground operation will no doubt be complicated by the more than 100 hostages taken during the Hamas attack and currently held by the group in unknown conditions  among them women, children and the elderly .

Israel has so far given no indication that it will negotiate with Hamas over their fate, and insisted the presence of captives in Gaza would not slow down their efforts.

"We have an unprecedented number of hostages," Israeli Ambassador to the US, Gilad Erdan told CNN , estimating the number was between 100 and 150.

"We expect the Red Cross, we expect all international organizations to focus on these hostages and how they are treated and that they receive treatment according to international law, but its not going to stop us, prevent us from doing what we need to do in order to secure the future of Israel.

But if Israel receives specific information about the location of hostages in certain areas, it may be forced to hold back.

Hamas, meanwhile, has threatened to kill hostages if Israel targeted civilians without prior warning.

An already dire situation

Amid the mass of unknowns about how the coming war will play out, one thing is certain: Civilians in Gaza will pay a heavy price.

Hundreds have already been killed before the battle has even begun. In 2008, more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed in Israels 22-day invasion. The 2014 invasion saw the death of 2,000 civilians in Gaza over two weeks of heavy fighting and bombardment  half that number of Palestinians have already died in just a few days and the ground invasion has yet to begin.

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip was already dire before the latest outbreak of hostilities. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on Monday that he was deeply distressed by the announcement from Israel that it will impose a full siege.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially, he said.
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Described as the worlds largest open-air prison by human rights groups, the Gaza Strip is facing its biggest humanitarian crisis yet as airstrikes rain down on its civilian population.

Since the conflict began six days ago, more than 1,500 people have been killed by Israels retaliatory airstrikes, while a further 6,000 have been wounded with hundreds of children and families affected.

A 25-mile long enclave which has been the subject of a blockade since 2007, more than 65 per cent of its 2.3 million inhabitants live below the poverty line, with conditions for children previously described as hell on earth.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have now ordered roughly 1.2 million residents in northern Gaza to evacuate southward in what the United Nations has called an impossible task that will have devastating humanitarian consequences for the region.

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With the last power plant turned off and hospitals at capacity, the latest complete siege of the strip has blocked all electricity, food and water with no escape route available for its desperate citizens.

A brief history

A narrow wedge of land on the Mediterranean Sea that had once been part of the Ottoman Empire, the Gaza Strip was controlled by Egypt for two decades after Israel declared its statehood in 1948.

However, after Israels victory in the 1967 Six-Day War against its Arab neighbours, it came under their control for the next 38 years.

Over this period, Israeli troops oversaw the territory and the construction of 21 Jewish settlements began, causing tension and resentment to rise between both populations.

Smoke rises from Gaza City after Israeli airstrikes decimate buildings (Anadolu/Getty)

In 1993, a historic agreement was reached with the signing of the Oslo Accords, with Palestinians given limited control in Gaza and in the West Bank with envisaged statehood after five years. This never happened due to ongoing tensions, with Israel accusing the Palestinians of reneging on security agreements.

Facing international pressure, Israel eventually withdrew around 9,000 Israeli settlers and military personnel from the strip in 2005, leaving it to be governed by the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority.

Just one year later, Hamas led a surprising victory in the Palestinian election, and have controlled Gaza since 2007. Regarded as a terrorist organisation by the international community, Israel imposed a land, air and sea blockade which has crippled its economy.

Despite the devastating effect on Palestinian civilians and condemnation from the United Nations and human rights groups, Israel has maintained the blockade is necessary to protect their citizens from Hamas.

Can people leave and enter the Gaza strip?

Israels blockade has prevented people and goods from freely entering or leaving the strip, a move which has also been enforced by Egypt.

Palestinians in Gaza have been under a 16-year blockade (AFP via Getty Images)

The Israeli government forbids Palestinians from entering or leaving Gaza except in extremely rare cases, which include urgent, life-threatening medical conditions and a very short list of merchants, according to BTselem, an Israeli human rights group.

Israelis, Jewish settlers and tourists are not subject to these restrictions and are free to travel in and out. Egypt also periodically closes its land-border crossing at Rafah, which is often the only way Palestinians in Gaza can access the rest of the world.

The International Committee of the Red Cross deems the blockade illegal and says it violates the Geneva Convention while the UN and various human rights groups consider the Gaza Strip to still be under military occupation by Israel.

Israel reserves the right to enter Gaza at will with its military and maintains a no-go buffer zone within the Gaza territory.

What are the living conditions in Gaza?

With over two million Palestinians living within roughly 140 square miles, Gaza is one of the worlds most densely populated territories, with half of its occupants under the age of 19.

Last year Save the Children reported that 80 per cent of Gazan children suffer from depression (AP)

Described as an open-air prison by Human Rights Watch and bordered by walls and fences, conditions in Gaza have long since been difficult with 95 per cent surviving without access to clean water.

Eight recognised refugee camps span the strip with its exhausted economy struggling to create job opportunities and its population reliant on international aid.

Despite these challenges, life has continued in the besieged enclave, with a number of universities providing educational courses and markets sellings locally crafted goods. Catering to around 16,000 students, Al-Azhar University provides courses in agriculture, medical scientists and dentistry while the Al-Quds Open University operates six centres across Palestine.

A number of residential buildings have been destroyed with at least 900 Palestinians killed (Maxar )

Recent airstrikes have targeted the Islamic University of Gaza since Saturday, with Israel describing it as a training institution for the development and production of weapons.

Along the coast, fishermen who are able to work within the 15 nautical mile fishing limit continue to sell their produce, while small restaurants along the coast sell fresh sardines and watermelons.

Speaking to The Independent, Dr Nathaniel George, a lecturer in Middle East Politics at SOAS University said: that a ground attack from Israel will likely be the most extensive of all that have come before now.

What they are doing now is bombing 2.3 million people trapped in 140 square miles with very little ability to defend themselves. Half the population are children. Israel is levelling entire city blocks, cutting off electricity and gas, and endangering medical provisions for the injured. A ground attack will lead to more civilian deathswhich is not a political solution to the crisis.

There must be international pressure for a ceasefire and political negotiations to settle all the outstanding issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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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.
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As the Israeli army mounted its response to the massacre of hundreds of civilians by Hamas this weekend, it sent tanks and troops not only to the scene of the atrocities, but to its northern border with Lebanon.

It was a recognition, borne from experience, that an all-out offensive against Gaza is unlikely to be contained there. To Israels north lies a much more formidable foe, and ally of Hamas, the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.

Recent skirmishes on the border have heightened the possibility that Hezbollah could enter the fray and widen the conflict beyond Israels borders. The group is significantly better equipped than Hamas, with an arsenal of tens of thousands of sophisticated rockets, according to Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute and expert on Iran-backed militias.

Israel says the Hamas attack involved about 1,500 commandos entering Israel: Israel has assessed that Hezbollah has a 45,000-strong regular army, he told The Independent. Hamas fired about 3,300 missiles and drones so far: Hezbollah has around 150,000 munitions ready to fire.

The entry of Hezbollah into the conflict would mark a dramatic escalation in an already devastating war between Israel and Hamas, which has seen the death of more than 1,000 Israelis and 800 Palestinians as of Tuesday.

Such an eventuality would ensure a regional war that would almost certainly cause massive civilian casualties in Lebanon and Israel, and potentially draw in other Iranian-backed groups throughout the region.

At stake is the balance of power in a regional proxy war between rivals Israel and Iran. The Islamic Republic has spent years building a network of allied militant groups opposed to Israel, which it collectively calls the resistance. Those groups  Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Houthi rebels in Yemen and various Shia militant groups in Iraq and Syria  have been furnished with military training, financial support, missiles, and the ability to make their own missiles.

The consequences of that alliance were demonstrated in 2006, when Hezbollah and Israel fought a 34-day war that led to the deaths of 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers. In that confrontation, which was sparked when Hezbollah fighters attacked an Israeli army convoy patrolling the border, killing three soldiers and taking two hostages, Israel pummelled civilian infrastructure across Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut. Hezbollah fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel, killing dozens of civilians.

The 2006 war ended with a United Nations-brokered ceasefire in August of that year. In the aftermath, despite suffering significantly more casualties, Hezbollah claimed a strategic victory because it maintained its ability to continue firing rockets.

Since then, Israel claims Hezbollah has drastically increased its stockpile of missiles, most of them unguided , which could wreak havoc across Israel. The group also gained valuable battlefield experience by sending thousands of its fighters to join Syrian government forces in that countrys civil war.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Anticipating that Hezbollah may be preparing for such a move, the US, Israels most staunch ally, sent an aircraft carrier strike force to the Eastern Mediterranean in what a defence official described as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who were weighing joining the conflict, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, US president Joe Biden appeared to reinforce that signal. Although he did not mention Hezbollah by name, he issued a warning to any country, any organisation, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation.

The question that now lingers over the residents of Lebanon and Israel is what precisely would initiate Hezbollahs entry into the conflict? The answer depends on a complex cat-and-mouse game played out with missiles and artillery in the restless border region.

Despite intermittent skirmishes, both sides have gone to great lengths to avoid another widespread outbreak of hostilities in the intervening years. Firas Maksad, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC, told The Independent that an unwritten understanding has developed between the two sides, which determines which actions are permissible without sparking an escalation.

In terms of the delicate rules of engagement between Israel and Hezbollah, I think its important to remember that the two parties have had a 40-year history of confronting each other across both sides of that border, which has also lent itself to a better understanding of each others intentions and objectives, he said.

The big question here, in the coming days, is whether there is going to be room for misunderstanding and miscalculation. Tensions are definitely very high, Maksad added.

And will Hezbollah flat out come to the rescue of Hamas, should Benjamin Netanyahu make good on his threat to commence a total ground invasion of Gaza? Maksad asked. My educated guess is that itll be very difficult for Hezbollah and Iran, their regional sponsor, to sit idly by and watch the Palestinian leg of the Iranian axis be dismantled.

These established rules of engagement between Hezbollah and Israel have been tested in recent days. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired at three Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms area. Monday was the deadliest day on the Israel-Lebanese border since the 2006 war. Fighters from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which has a presence in Lebanon, attempted to infiltrate Israel, resulting in the death of two of its members and the killing of an Israeli officer. Hezbollah fired at two more Israel military posts near the border, and the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanons south also said a number of rockets were launched near the Lebanese city of Tyre. Hezbollah said three of its fighters were killed in Israeli shelling that came in response.

An Israeli army Merkava tank blocks one of the entrances to the northern Israeli kibbutz of Misgav Am near the border with Lebanon on 10 October 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Hezbollah maintains tight control of the border region with Israel, making it almost impossible that the actions taken by Palestinian groups in Lebanon were carried out without its approval.

As Israel stepped up its bombardment of Gaza on Tuesday, another barrage of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, and Hezbollah fired a guided missile at an Israeli military vehicle.

Hezbollahs aim, according to Maksad, is to dissuade Israel from carrying out a full ground invasion of Gaza.

I think we can expect more of that in the coming days, he said. I think [Hezbollah] will use third parties like Palestinian militant groups on Lebanese land to have them claim these operations, but with the understanding that theyre operating with Hezbollahs approval.

They will find creative ways to try and harass and deter Israel from an all out operation, Maksad said.

But this delicate game of deterrence carries with it risks of an explosion. Should Israel invade Gaza, as it has promised, and Hezbollah enters the war from the north, the US may also be dragged in.

The messaging is that Israel, together with the United States, might retaliate not only against Hezbollah, but also against their ally, the Syrian regime in Damascus. The message is we are going to exact revenge from Irans Palestinian arm, and should Iran and Hezbollah try to come to the rescue, we will also then destroy your Syrian arm, Maksad said.

Were seeing a game of attempted mutual deterrence. Its dangerous because while both sides are arguably trying to deter each other and dont want to see a full-scale regional conflict, that kind of posturing might lead to that regional conflict that all sides dont want to see.

As Israeli forces continued to count the dead from the brutal killings by Hamas on Tuesday, it intensified its bombing of Gaza, reducing a large part of Gaza Citys Rimal neighborhood to rubble overnight. Israel has imposed a strict blockade of the territory by air, land and sea for 16 years, a measure that the UN has described as collective punishment of its 2.3 million inhabitants, and which has caused a completely collapsed economy, devastated infrastructure and a barely functioning social service system.

Knights, meanwhile, believes the massacre of hundreds of civilians by Hamas may alter the previously set rules of engagement.

Both sides are fairly careful and have well-understood parameters that have been exercised and tested hundreds of times in real life, he said. But one aspect has changed: Israels risk acceptance and emotional state. This could lead to over-reaction and escalation.
Rob Rinder has revealed his Jewish family do not feel safe in the UK amid rising tensions of the Israel-Palestine war as he made a plea for peace.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, he said his mother feels unsafe, while his nephew and other Jewish children and shopkeepers are going to school and work in fear.

He made an emotional plea to social media users to think carefully before they post following the death of two of his friends in Israel.

He said: Whatever happens in the Middle East should have no impact on the safety of our communities.
Steve Irwins daughter, Bindi, paid tribute to her late father on Thursday by sharing a hilarious video of him breaking up a fight between two kookaburras.

In the footage, the iconic conservationist jumps into a pen to mediate a dispute between two birds.

Stop it! You guys need to make up, Irwin says, holding the two kookaburras.

He then mimics their call to calm them down, before returning the birds to separate parts of their pen.

This flashback makes my heart happy. Dads kindness and love for all species will live on forever, Bindi wrote, sharing the video on Instagram.
BBC Reporter Noah Abrahams says he resigned from his job over the corporations decision not to describe Hamas militants as terrorists in its coverage of the recent attacks in Israel.

In an interview with Peter Cardwell on TalkTV, Mr Abrahams said: As with everyone in the Jewish community, I am not amazing. British Jews are terrified, as am I, and I have just made a really monumental career decision and life decision.

He is then asked about his decision to leave the BBC.

He replies: I have morals and I stick by them. I think the words justified and unjustified have been thrown around a lot since the weekend and I think the BBCs refusal to use the correct terminology is unjustified.
Antony Blinken said he was overwhelmed after Israeli officials showed him new photos of people killed in Israel by Hamas.

The US secretary of state said: I think for any human being to see this its really behind almost anything that we can comprehend, digest.

You cant help but imagine yourself your family, your loved ones, your friends in that situation, in that predicament and maybe the best word for it for me is overwhelming.

He will travel to Jordan on Friday 13 October, for meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II.
Drone footage from Gaza City has shown the devastating aftermath of Israeli bombs as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy every member of Hamas.

Footage shot on 10 October shows the neighbourhood of ar-Rimal flattened, with the remnants of destroyed apartment buildings stretching out as far as the eye can see.

The United Nations has warned of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged trip, whose population is majority children under the age of 15.

Palestinian civilians in Gaza told The Independent that they were running out of water and food and had nowhere to hide.
Israeli families held funerals to bury their dead at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Thursday 12 October, as the country reels from last weekends Hamas attack.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said in an update on Wednesday that at least 1,200 people have died as a result of last weekends assault and the days-long conflict.

The nations prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has alleged that the Hamas attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

Netanyahu joined with a top political rival on Wednesday to create a wartime cabinet to oversee Israels retaliation against Hamas.
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At least Steve Scalise didnt start measuring the drapes in the speakers office.

As of Thursday afternoon, the House Republican conference appears far from picking a speaker of the House, nine days after the motion to vacate that deposed Kevin McCarthy.

Republicans spent much of the first part of Thursday in the basement of the Capitol once again deliberating about whether to promote Mr Scalise from House majority leader to speaker. If that sounds familiar, its because they spent much of Wednesday in the Longworth House Office Building before they nominated Mr Scalise.

That did little to assuage frustration, particularly from many supporters of Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH). But all of the discontent  both from opponents and supporters  seems to betray the fact that nobody really knows why they are doing what they are doing or how exactly how to do it. Rather, conversations with members gives the impression that Republicans are winging it.

Steve Scalise thanks House Republican for nominating him for Speaker

Perhaps the angriest, and loudest, voice in the House GOP conference right now is Rep Chip Roy (R-TX). A member of the House Freedom Caucus who initially opposed Mr McCarthy before he flipped his vote in January, he had initially proposed an amendment that would require that any nominee receive 217 of the 221 votes in the conference. Republicans tabled the motion, which enraged Mr Roy.

I will not be voting for Steve on the floor, so they better not force this to the floor, Mr Roy told reporters. I've got strong disagreements in the way things were carried out yesterday and we're going to figure this out here.

Mr Scalise and Mr Jordan hold almost identical policy views and both supported Mr McCarthys bid for speaker in January. Both voted to object to the 2020 election results on January 6 (Mr Roy, meanwhile, voted to certify the election). Their major split is that Mr Scalise voted for the continuing resolution to keep the government open, which is unsurprising since hes a member of leadership, while Mr Jordan opposed it.

If Mr Roys simple opposition boils down to whether the rest of the conference opposed his amendment, his rationale for opposing Mr Scalise is thinner than his reasons for blocking Mr McCarthy. The inverse, of course, is it might be harder to get him to yes this time.

On Wednesday, we reported that Rep Ken Buck (R-CO), who voted to boot Mr McCarthy, said he voted present after he asked Mr Scalise and Mr Jordan whether they believed the 2020 election was legitimate. Mr Buck is correct that the House GOP should have to deal with reality  if not for virtuous reasons, then to realise that election denial prevents them from making the right moves to keep and expand their majority.

But Mr Buck had such deeply seated convictions, those should have prevented him from opposing Mr McCarthy, who also voted to object on January 6 and flew to Mar-a-Lago to patch things up with Donald Trump in the days after January 6, rather than voting for Mr McCarthy from the beginning. (Mr Buck likely also voted to vacate the chair partially because Mr McCarthy gave Rep Thomas Massie of Kentucky a subcommittee chairmanship Mr Buck was in line to receive).

The evasiveness is (almost) enough to make this dispatcher admire Rep Marjorie Taylor Greenes answer that she supports Mr Jordan and opposes Mr Scalise because of the latters cancer treatment. It is a cruel and mean-spirited answer that doesnt take into account the fact Mr Scalise largely continued leading the House GOP conference after he was shot in 2017. But at least she gives a reason.

But Mr Scalises apologists give answers that are just as half-hearted as his critics. Rep Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) initially backed Mr Jordan but got behind Mr Scalise after Wednesdays vote.

No one has gotten up and given a reason that I believe is like a valid reason, she told reporters. So I can't I can't tell you what the reasons are because I haven't heard anything that warrants what we're doing

But she could not really give a sufficient case for Mr Scalise on Thursday afternoon except that Mr Scalise is a nice guy.

Steve Scalise is a good person, she said. He's a he's a good man. He's is a person who I think can be a good communicator and leader for this conference.

That all may be fine, but it doesnt list which traits make him a good communicator or leader for the GOP.

Of course, there are the ones who give even worse answers, such Rep Troy Nehls of Texas, who has reiterated his initial idea of nominating Mr Trump to be the leader of the House. But Mr Nehls seemed to admit the conference was in trouble and nobody could get enough votes.

We're dysfunctional, we're disorganised and we're broken, he told me. One of the members said in there, you know, I don't think the Lord Jesus Himself could get 217.

And no miracle is coming for House Republicans as of right now.
In a long (some say overlong) political career, Joe Biden has built up a formidable reputation as a deal-maker. Its what he did in Congress, what he did as VP to Barack Obama, and its what hes still doing now.

Its a useful skill. Hes sent his secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, over to Israel, to be a cool-headed presence, and there can be little doubt that Biden will be offering a deal to Israel. What might it be?

First, unequivocal public support. Put at its simplest: The United States has Israel's back, and we're going to be working on this through the day and beyond.
A landmark Dublin city centre property, 19-21 Aston Quay, Dublin 2, is being offered for sale with potential for a gastro pub, hotel or hostel.

Earlier this year, website The Currency reported that UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon declined to comment when asked if it was selling the Aston Quay building. It also reported that it had paid 9m for it.

Now Savills is handling its sale, but declined to quote a guide price for it.

A feasibility study had indicated that it has potential for a 35-bedroom boutique hotel or could accommodate even more beds if it were to receive planning permission for a hostel.

The entire property is being offered with full vacant possession and comprises a four-storey over basement retail/office property extending to 1,762 sqm (18,985 sqft). That floor area includes a fifth-level mezzanine extending to 1,448 sqft.

Each floor is serviced by two separate stairwells and passenger lift, with separate loading and secondary fire escape access available off Prices Lane located to the side of the property.

Stephen McCarthy of Savills describes it as in good condition throughout, but requiring some refurbishment. It offers potential for a variety of alternative uses subject to planning, including hospitality and/or leisure use, he adds.

Formerly occupied by USIT Student Travel as its head office, the building is close to OConnell Street Bridge, Westmoreland Street, Temple Bar, College Green, Dame Street and Henry Street.
The CDC has just released a new report on the infant mortality rate in the US and the news is grim. According to their findings, that number has actually gone up for the first time in twenty y Read moreU.S. Infant Mortality Rate Has Gone Up for the First Time In Two Decades According to the CDC
Aimee Connolly says shes building and building because I absolutely adore the company

Expansion costs at the award-winning Sculpted make-up brand owned by 30-year-old Dubliner Aimee Connolly last year contributed to pre-tax profits declining by 21pc to 2.39m.

In another buoyant year for Sculpted by Aimee Connolly Cosmetics Ltd, the firms pre-tax profits of 2.39m follow pre-tax profits of 3.03m in 2021.

The sizeable profits of the past two years resulted in the company having accumulated profits of 6.55m at the end of last December.

Ms Connolly only established her cosmetics business in 2016, having previously worked as a freelance make-up artist and it continues to expand.

The business mixes bricks and mortar stores and engaging in-person brand experiences along with its thriving e-commerce business.

Following the opening of a store on Dublins Grafton Street in September 2022, the brand last month opened a store at Victoria Square in Belfast. The Sculpted by Aimee brand also has an outlet at Kildare Village.

In 2021 Ms Connolly  who has 190,000 followers on Instagram  won the Emerging Category at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

The Sculpted business sells a range of make-up brushes, lipsticks, palettes, eye lashes, foundations and instant tan. A limited range is available at pharmacy chain Boots.

With the Grafton Street flagship store opening, the business continued to expand last year as numbers employed increased from 15 to 26. The headcount count continued to increase this year as the brand has launched in the UK and the Middle East.

The firm recorded post-tax profits last year of 2.089m after paying corporation tax of 307,647. The post-tax profits of 2.089m follow a figure of 2.65m in 2021. Directors pay for Ms Connolly totalled 80,000.

Last year, the companys cash funds increased from 1.57m to 2.65m while the amount owed by debtors to the business last year increased from 2.27m to 4.01m.

In an interview on RTE earlier this year, Ms Connolly said: I have 100pc global ambitions for this brand and I fully believe that we can achieve it.

She added: I am very much building and building because I absolutely adore the company I think there is so much left that we have to do. Right now, selling or exiting is nowhere near my line of sight and I am very much in it for the long haul to see where we can take the brand.
Sam Field and Jacob Anderson in the new series Interview with the Vampire. Photo: BBC/AMC

Sam Field (left) as Lestat and Jacob Anderson as Louis in the new series Interview with the Vampire. Photo: BBC/AMC

Poor old Tom Cruise. He always seems to be at the centre of casting controversies.

OK, were exaggerating a little. Its only happened twice  but with extremely high-profile roles. There was fan uproar a decade ago when Cruise, whos 5ft 7ins (same as me, so dont accuse me of heightism!), decided to play Jack Reacher, the 6ft 5ins hero of Lee Childs bestselling novels, in two films.

Back in 1994, it was author Anne Rice kicking up a storm when Cruise was cast as aristocratic French bloodsucker Lestat de Lioncourt in Neil Jordans film of her novel Interview with the Vampire.

Rice complained that Cruise Is no more my vampire Lestat than Edward G Robinson was Rhett Butler.

Once Rice saw the finished film, however, she changed her opinion, saying: From the moment he appeared, Tom was Lestat. She even phoned Cruise to apologise and tell him she was wrong.

Nevertheless, Jordans film still came in for criticism from fans of the book, who said it played down the homoerotic aspect of Lestats relationship with Louis de Pointe du Lac (Brad Pitt), the young plantation owner he turns into a vampire. Theyll have no such cause for complaint with the TV series version of Interview with the Vampire (BBC2, Thursday).

It foregrounds the sexual nature of the partnership. The subtext, which wasnt buried all that deep in Jordans movie anyway, has become the text and the result is something a bit more explicit, though never gratuitously so.

Showrunner Rolin Jones, who worked on the excellent, sadly cancelled Perry Mason, adds a few new twists of his own. The framing device remains the same: Louis (Jacob Anderson) tells his life story to journalist Daniel McEvoy, only now its from the comfort of his plush penthouse in Dubai, where the shaded windows protect him from burning daylight.

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in Neil Jordan's 1994 film Interview with the Vampire. Photo: Warner Bros

The other difference is that McEvoy, played here by Eric Bogosian, is no longer a young man but a grizzled, cynical, twice-divorced old hack whos overcome his drug addiction but is succumbing to Parkinsons disease.

McEvoy interviewed Louis 50 years earlier. Back then, the meeting ended in violence; McEvoy still has the bite mark on his neck to remind him of it.

Louis has summoned him because he wants to set the record straight. He didnt tell him the full story back in the 1970s  that he and Lestat were not just companions, they were lovers  and hopes age and wisdom, though Louis hasnt physically aged at all, and changed attitudes will finally allow him to put the truth out there.

If this seems like a clumsy way into a story thats already been told, thats because it is. But the scene-setting first episode (there are seven, with a second season already in production) mostly justifies its existence.

The story of how Louis, whos been reimagined as an affluent, black, closeted gay man, became a vampire has been relocated from the 18th century to New Orleans in the 1910s. The family plantation, which had slaves, was run into the ground by his late father, an alcoholic.

Louis turned to brothel-keeping to maintain his family in the style to which theyre accustomed and owns a string of houses of ill repute, as they say, in the Storyville area of the city. Louis mostly shields his family, and particularly his disapproving mother (Rae Dawn Chong, who its always great to see), from the realities of what he does.

Sam Field and Jacob Anderson in the new series Interview with the Vampire. Photo: BBC/AMC

Making the character black allows the series to look at the horrors of racism in Jim Crow America. In slightly more liberal New Orleans, Louis wealth means hes tolerated by white society, but only up to a point.

His white business associates will never regard him as their equal. They call him by his first name; he always addresses them as Mr, usually with a deferential sir appended.

The arrival of the mesmerising Lestat, played with a mixture of languor and simmering menace by Sam Reid, stirs all sorts of repressed feelings, including anger, in the guilt-ridden, self-loathing Louis.

A tragedy involving Louis disturbed younger brother sees his family turn on him, which makes Lestats seduction of him easier.

The series, which is beautifully designed and shot, doesnt stint on the gore. In a truly startling moment, Lestat drives his fist through the back of a priests head, turning it to pulp. Yuck!
You have to be so perfect as a poor person to live the American dream  Martyna Majok on her play Ironbound at the Abbey Theatre

The Pulitzer winner on drawing on her mothers immigrant experience in Ironbound, and the plays star Olga Fedori on being asked to prove herself constantly because of her nationality

Olga Fedori and Martyna Majok. Photo by Mark Condren

Eithne Shortall Thu 12 Oct 2023 at 03:30







Martyna Majok was five when she left Poland for America. She travelled across the Atlantic with her mother, no English and less money. Her mother worked any and every job she could get  in factories, cleaning houses, caring for the elderly  and still they struggled to get by. They lived with domestic violence for 12 years; Majoks stepfather threatened to blackmail his wife for working under the table and said he would take away Majoks younger half-sister, who was born in America.
Gardai have launched a full review into the killings of teenager Una Lynskey and 20-year-old Martin Kerrigan from Ratoath in Co Meath more than 50 years ago after their families raised questions about the initial garda investigations surrounding the case.

Una Lynskey got a bus home from work on October 12, 1971, with her cousin and both got off the bus close to the junction of the Fairyhouse Road and Porterstown Lane approximately 3km from Ratoath village just before 7pm.

The two girls spoke briefly before parting company, and Una walked towards Porterstown Lane and her home.

Una's family became concerned by 7.25pm when she had not arrived home, and shortly after 9pm Una's boyfriend reported her as missing at Dunshaughlin Garda station.

Over the coming days, searches were conducted in the area of Porterstown Lane by Gardai supported by Civil Defence, Army and local volunteers

A number of witnesses reported having observed a car described as a Ford Zodiac or Zephyr on Porterstown Lane around the time Una went missing. Varying descriptions were provided of this vehicle and its driver, by witnesses.

On the October 25 local men Martin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey were arrested interviewed over a period of time at Trim Garda station before being released without charge.

On December 10 that year, human remains were found at Glendoo, close to Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains and identified as the body of Una Lynskey.

On December 19, Martin Kerrigan was abducted in Ratoath and forcibly put into a car. In the early hours of the following day his body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin close to where Una Lynskey's body was recovered.

Unas brothers John and James Lynskey, and cousin John Gaughan were subsequently charged with murder and convicted of the manslaughter of Martin Kerrigan and each sentenced to three years imprisonment.

In March 1972, Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were charged with the murder of Una Lynskey. Both were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Dick Donnelly appealed this conviction and was found not guilty.

Martin Conmey served the three-year sentence, and in November 2010 his conviction for manslaughter was successfully appealed.

In 2014, the Court of Appeal later ruled Martin Coney's conviction for manslaughter as a miscarriage of justice. He has since received a state apology.

The arrests of Conmey, Donnelly, and Kerrigan, and their treatment in garda custody has come under intense scrutiny after allegations that they were assaulted by investigating gardai and that alleged strong-arm tactics were used in instances to force the signing of confessions.

The Garda Commissioner has directed that the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) carry out a

'full review' of the investigation into the murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan.

Detective Superintendent Des McTiernan has been appointed as the Reviewing Officer and the SCRT will assist the local investigation team in reviewing this investigation.

Today he told a press conference that a Senior Investigating Officer from Meath Garda Division has been appointed to oversee the local investigation team.

The Garda investigation into the murder of Una Lynskey remains an open investigation, and the future course of the investigation will be determined by the findings of the Serious Crime Review, said Set Supt McTiernan.

He, along with members of the local investigation and review team in the Meath Division, have met with the families of Una Lynskey, Martin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey.

"The murder of Una Lynskey on October 12, 1971, and the subsequent murder of Martin Kerrigan on December 19, 1971, has devastated the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Donnelly and Conmey families. Both murders still have an impact on the community in Ratoath, he explained.

Una Lynskey was 19 years old and was the fifth eldest of a family of 12. Martin Kerrigan was 20 years old and was the second youngest of a family of six.

The family of Una Lynskey are seeking clarity on matters relevant to the murder of their sibling 52 years ago. The subsequent prosecutions taken against Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey have had a significant impact on them and their families. Martin Conmey and the families of Dick Donnelly and Martin Kerrigan have questions as to the Garda investigations that took place in 1971, he added.

I as the Reviewing Officer have been appointed to carry out a 'Full Review' of the investigation into the murder of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan. A 'Full Review' involves the independent examination of all material gathered in the course of all relevant current and past investigations.

My intent is that this 'Full Review' will hopefully answer all questions highlighted by the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Donnelly and Conmey families and bring the events at the end of 1971 to some conclusion for all those involved, he added.

"I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan to please come forward to either the investigation team at Ashbourne Garda Station at 01 8010600, your local Garda Station or the Garda Confidential telephone line 1800 666 111.

I appeal to any person who have information on these murders not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision, he said.
John Paul Duncan quizzed over death of 20-year-old Paul Frank Byrne

A career criminal was caught with a large haul of cocaine last January, just hours after being questioned by gardai over a gangland murder from 14 years ago.

Gangster John Paul Duncan (39), from Tallaght, Dublin, was jailed yesterday at Dublin Circuit Court for two and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing 8,500 of cocaine in six condoms at Store Street garda station last January 31.
A doctor who forged a document from the Blackrock Clinic in order to stay at an upmarket boutique hotel in Dublin for essential purposes during the Covid-19 pandemic has been found guilty of professional misconduct.

An inquiry by the Medical Council found three allegations proven that the doctor, Milan Minic, had engaged in disgraceful and dishonourable behaviour through the forgery of the letter and misrepresenting his need for accommodation at the Mayson Hotel on North Wall Quay in Dublin as an essential healthcare worker.
GARDAI investigating allegations a well-known entertainer engaged in sex acts with an underage girl seized nine mobile phones at his apartment when they searched it, a court heard.

Detectives went to the Irish entertainers Dublin home with a warrant in 2021, after the complainant first came forward alleging she had sexual contact with him eleven years earlier.
Modern morals: Our friend is a terrible godfather to our daughter. Can I change my mind and ask my brother to be godparent instead?
Teen drove over 150kmph in stolen car during M50 pursuit, court told

Garda said boy (17) was weaving in and out of traffic

Stock image

Tom Tuite Thu 12 Oct 2023 at 13:57







A TEENAGE boy hit speeds in excess of 150kmph in a stolen car weaving in and out of traffic during a pursuit on the M50 in Dublin, a court heard.
Latest | Spanish judges approve extradition of Kinahan Cartel chief Liam Byrne to UK

The trio of judges said they were happy to send the 41-year-old back to the UK for trial on 12 firearms and ammunition offences

Liam Byrne

Gerard Couzens Thu 12 Oct 2023 at 14:34







SPANISH judges have approved Kinahan gangster Liam Byrnes extradition to the UK.
President Michael D Higgins leads tributes, saying her death has evoked great sadness

The funeral of Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti who was killed by terrorist organisation Hamas during an attack on a musical festival in Israel has heard she was the best of both of our communities.

Mourners, including Jennifer Damti, her heartbroken Laois-born mother, broke down in tears prayers were said and stories were shared about the 22-year-old's life by family at the traditional Jewish funeral in Gedera, 40km from Tel Aviv in Israel.

Goodnight, my little sister, her sister Laura, who had confirmed that Kims body had been identified yesterday following a five-day appeal for her whereabouts, said in her tearful eulogy.

Family and friends, including her four siblings, gathered around the young dual citizens casket, reflecting on the light she had brought to all of their lives, before her tragic murder on Saturday.

Sonya McGuinness, the Irish Ambassador to Israel, took to the altar to say on behalf of the Irish people and Government that we are appalled at the loss of this beautiful young woman.

Ms McGuinness said that Ms Damti was the best of the Irish community, the Israeli people and who we are as a shared community.

Our sincere condolences to you, your entire community and to Kims family and friends. We stand with you, she said, looking towards Kims inconsolable mother Jennifer who was wrapped tightly in one of her daughters arms.

Kim Damti

Her broken heart, and that of other family members present, was symbolised in the cutting of the Kriah, a Hebrew custom at Jewish funerals, where the front of the shirt is cut with a scissors, to represent the tearing of the heart at the loss of a loved one.

Mourners were led out with Kims casket as a family member played Bob Dylans Blowing in the Wind, a 1962 classic about peace, war and freedom, as well as the senseless loss of life in war.

Tributes were paid to the young woman back home in Ireland, where family members said they were devastated following the news of Kims death on Wednesday.

Her aunt, Pat Cooper, told RTE on Wednesday: With heartfelt sorrow, the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti.

Asking for privacy during the day of her nieces funeral in Gedera, Ms. Cooper added: "We thank all those who have supported us with love and encouragement over the past five days.

Only last summer, sisters Jennifer and Kim had visited her mothers birthplace Coolrain and Portlaoise, in Co Laois, for almost two weeks, to celebrate a cousins wedding.

President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to Ms Damti today, saying the news of her death has been met with great sadness.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described Ms Damti as a vibrant young Irish-Israeli woman who was struck down with her adult life ahead of her.

He added: Kim gave happiness and joy to her family and those around her. As we learn of her death, we pause to think of her, her family in Israel and Ireland and of all those now grieving in countless other nations.
A 90-year-old woman from Connemara who has sailed the Mediterranean and settled down at 84, has told how important it is to fill life with adventure.

Mary Lamb Waugh is the focus of Viva Mary, a new documentary that follows her from the small village of An Ceathru Rua to London  where she emigrated at 19  to the coastal town of Spain and back to England, where she settled down at 84.

"I can put myself anywhere and call myself home, she said. Isnt that what they say? Home is where the heart is.

At 19, she travelled to Liverpool on a cattle boat. From there, she hitchhiked to London in a lorry driven by a man from Roscommon.

On whether life at this time was ever lonely, she said the new-ness of any unfamiliar place works as a distraction. "Life was so exciting then  it still is.

Mary went on to study Montessori teaching and worked with children with disabilities  also driving the minibus that brought them on days out.

It was a time when there were young Irish men arriving in England only able to speak Irish, where they were welcomed by signs that said No Dogs, No Blacks, No Irish.

On what advice she would offer her younger self  that 19-year-old who landed in London and slept beneath the hostel bunk rented by a friend  she paused for a moment.

I would say to keep going, to keep having adventures and to do it all again if you have the chance. Of course you have regrets, but you have to move on from them. You didnt do it, other things got in your way but life was good. I did what I did and I am glad.

"You cant turn back the clock.

Ms Lamb Waugh spent 10 years sailing Spain and the Mediterranean with her husband Kevin. When he passed away in Torrevieja in 1997, she was still young at 64.

Mary in London.

She gathered her family to sail together, arriving at Stiges where she fell in love with the coastal Spanish town and lived there for years.

I was 84 when I came back to England, she laughed. "I was 84 and I thought it was time I settled down.

She now lives independently, next door to her friend Olive. Every week, they get dressed up, put some lippy on and go out for cocktails.

Mary Lamb Waugh and her friend Olive.

It is a question often fielded at people in their 90s: What is the secret to a long and happy life?

"Its an attitude of mind, Mary said. You need to keep learning. Its looking on the bright side of things, its not always doom and gloom. You also dont have to be climbing mountains, but keep exercising."

At her own 90th birthday party, she performed an impressive display on the harmonica.

When she underwent a knee replacement, Mary took up the instrument to distract from the pain. "I drove everybody mad, she laughed.

She is grateful for her good health, adding that her key to life is other people.

"People are my main thing. Its so important to listen to others, to what they say, to listen to their aches and pains.

Ireland has changed so much since her childhood and her parents time, she said. Her father was the artist Charles Lamb.

One photo shows her mother Katharine Hueffer  the daughter of novelist Ford Madox Ford  and her classmates when she had finished first in Ireland in her final exams. She was the only woman in the photograph.

"She was amazing. She was very strong, but she was a very shy woman too. A very courageous woman too. She believed there is no such thing as impossible.

Viva Mary airs on Thursday, October 12, 10.15pm on RTE One and RTE Player.
Family say Mayo woman is talking, but a lot of damage was done and she faces long road to recovery

Eileen Gibbons was shot in the abdomen and is in a critical condition

An Irishwoman who suffered serious injuries after being shot by her Australian ex-partner has been reunited with her one-year-old child for the first time since the attack.

Social care worker Eileen Gibbons (38) remains in a critical condition after she sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen at a house in Millner, a suburb of the northern city of Darwin, last week.

Her ex-partner, Ralph Donald (35), is believed to have taken his own life after shooting Ms Gibbons last Tuesday evening.

Ms Gibbons, who emigrated to Australia 11 years ago, is originally from the Castlebar area of Co Mayo and has a daughter, Sylvia.

Her cousin, Enda OBrien, said she is still in critical condition, but has been able to speak and is responding well to treatment.

Sylvia has been taken in to see her and they had a reunion in hospital, Mr OBrien said.

Eileen is conscious and she is talking, but she still has a long road ahead of her.

There is a lot of damage done. She knows whats going on, but I dont know if she knows fully the extent of what happened.

Mr OBrien said his cousin had been separated from her ex-partner for several months.

They werent living together when this happened, he said. It was domestic, as far as we know. The plan is to eventually take Eileen and Sylvia home to Ireland, but she has a lot of recovering to do before that.

Ms Gibbonss mother Ann is travelling to Australia to be by her bedside.

In a short statement, she thanked those who had donated to a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to help her recover and reunite her with family.

The lovely messages, phone calls, prayers, candles and financial support we have received lifted us up and carried up along on a river of goodwill, she said.

To those by her side in Darwin, keeping her spirit alive and stepping in to care for Sylvia, we are forever grateful.

The GoFundMe page, which was set up over the weekend, has raised more than 40,000.

Ms Gibbons was stabilised by paramedics at the scene following the shooting incident before being rushed to Royal Darwin Hospital for emergency surgery.

Mr Donald was pronounced dead at the scene and a firearm was recovered.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey, of Northern Territory Police, said that multiple units were deployed to the scene and the forces Major Crime Squad is investigating.

He said other people were in the house at the time of the incident.
Mr Varadkar said cutting off civilian infrastructure was not acceptable.

People dig graves to bury bodies of Palestinians as the residents struggle to find spaces in cemeteries in Gaza. Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Israels decision to cut off electricity, water and food supplies into Gaza is not acceptable.

Mr Varadkar also said that due to Israel targeting civilians and cutting off civilian infrastructure they were in breach of international humanitarian law.

More than 6,000 bombs have reportedly been dropped on Gaza in the past six days and more than 1,500 civilians have died in the region.

This bombardment and siege of Gaza comes after the deadliest attack in Israeli history when Hamas militants crossed into Israel and killed more than 1,200 civilians while taking hostages back to the Gaza strip.

Well, I believe Israel has the right to defend itself. But Israel doesn't have the right to do wrong. What do I mean by that? Israel is a country that is surrounded by enemies, brutal savage groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, countries like Iran, often supported by Islamic fundamentalists and anti Semites around the world. So Israel is under threat.

They do have a right to defend themselves, but they don't have the right to breach international humanitarian law. And I'm really concerned about what I'm seeing happening in Gaza at the moment, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told RTEs Prime Time.

To me, it amounts to collective punishment, cutting off power, cutting off fuel supplies and water supplies. That's not the way a respectable democratic state should conduct itself.

I believe by targeting civilians and by cutting off civilian infrastructure that is a breach of international humanitarian law. And I think it's very important for us as Ireland to make sure that that voice is brought to the table at European Union level.

"So yes, Hamas should release all of the hostages immediately, Israeli citizens and dual citizens. Israel's entirely justified in going after Hamas, in Gaza and elsewhere. But operations that clearly affect civilians disproportionately are wrong, cutting off electricity, cutting off water. That's not acceptable. And one thing we definitely need to see happen now, we'll do anything we can through the UN to achieve this is the opening of the humanitarian corridor between Egypt and Gaza, Mr Varadkar said.

This corridor would facilitate the movement of aid into Gaza but thus far Egypt is refusing to accept Palestinians into its territory.

One of the most brutal attacks of the war saw 260 people killed while attending a music festival in Reim, near the Gaza border. Among those killed there was Irish-Israeli Kim Damti (22) whose funeral took place today.

"I just think we're all really shocked by what happened. I heard her mother talking about how she didn't bring her daughter up to hate anyone and just the thought of anyone having their life ended in the way it was, it's really sad and the nation is mourning, Mr Varadkar said.
A father gives water to his malnourished daughter in Yemen. Photo: AP file

Future generations will face food crises as conflict and climate breakdown play havoc with the production, transport and price of dietary essentials.

Today, 43 countries  a fifth of all nations  have hunger levels that are serious or alarming and many others are vulnerable to food shortages.

The assessment is contained in the latest annual Global Hunger Index compiled by Concern Worldwide, the Irish aid and development agency, and its German counterpart, Welhungerhilfe.

It warns that multiple over-lapping crises are impeding global efforts to tackle hunger.

Todays report spells out the scale of the impact which multiple crises  including the fallout from the Covid pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and climate disasters  are having on some of the worlds poorest people, said David Regan, Concerns chief executive.

The report was concluded in recent days, before the Israel-Gaza conflict re-erupted, which further threatens regional food security.

Countries are assessed on levels of child mortality, stunting and wasting, as well as undernourishment in the general population. The Central African Republic (CAR) emerged in the worst position, with 49pc of the CARs population undernourished.

One in 10 of the countrys children dies before their fifth birthday, four in 10 are stunted, and one in 20 are wasted.

Eight other countries that were assessed as alarming were Somalia, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Niger and Yemen.

All are plagued by conflict, population displacement, endemic poverty, climate breakdown, extreme weather events or a combination of these challenges.

Countries of particular concern this year due to worsening hunger include Afghanistan, Haiti, Nigeria, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Mali.

The report shows that progress made in tackling world hunger between 2000 and 2015 has largely stalled  and the prevalence of undernourishment has increased.

In 2017, 7.5pc of the worlds population was undernourished  but this rose to 9.2pc last year, an increase from 572 million people to 735 million.

It also says the United Nations aim of eliminating hunger by 2030 will not be achieved and 58 countries will continue to record moderate, serious or alarming levels of hunger.

The position of young people gets special attention in this years report, which shows they are particularly exposed to hunger. Currently, 42pc of the worlds population is aged under 25, the majority of whom live in Africa and south and east Asia.

Wendy Gexa and Mendy Ndlovu from the University of KswZulu-Natal in South Africa studied the position of young people for the report. In many parts of the world, young people face a set of stark realities. They are more likely than adults to be affected by extreme poverty and food insecurity, with young women particularly affected, they wrote.

They are emerging into adulthood in a context of inherently unequal and unsustainable food systems that fail to deliver food and nutrition security and are highly vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation.

Bucking the overall trend, a number of countries have made remarkable progress in reducing hunger since 2015.

They include Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Laos, Mozambique, Nepal and Timor-Leste, though all remain vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on food production.
Sinn Fein also says health service got a fraction of what it needs

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald asked the Government to explain why nurses got less in the Budget than landlords. Photo: PA

Tanaiste Micheal Martin has defended the tax breaks given to landlords in the Budget, amid furore from Opposition parties.

This is a budget of 96bn, Mr Martin said of planned national expenditure next year.

The measure for landlords is relatively modest in that context.

But opposition figures joined together to blitz the new income exemption for landlords, which will apply to the first 3,000 on rental income  in return for keeping the property on the rental market.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said: A nurse will far get less from this Budget than a landlord. Can someone explain that to me?

Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said a student who worked part-time would be paying more in tax than the owner of the property they were renting.

That tax on the student is from their labour, whereas the landlord gets passive income from a fixed asset  one that may already have its mortgage paid off, she said.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said it was incredible that there was more support for landlords in the Budget than for tenants and first-time buyers.

But Mr Martin said the renters credit has been increased by 50pc to 750. The landlord would get a lesser sum, 600 in the first year, he said  though it would rise to 1,000 in later years.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addresses Budget 2024

Recent surveys have indicated that theres a variety of reasons for landlords leaving the market, and tax is a significant factor. Regulation was another significant factor, Mr Martin said.

Weve increased the renters credit and I think that has resulted in more registrations because people are putting pressure on landlords in order to get rent credit.

Well over 250,000 people, if not more, benefited from the rental tax credit last year.

Taoiseach Leo Varadka told the Dail: For every renter, there has to be a landlord, and therefore we need landlords.

The Budget introduces some tax concessions designed to keep them in the market for longer.

He said he was increasingly confident the Government would exceed its target for new housing.

We are extending the Help to Buy scheme to the end of 2025 and extending its eligibility criteria to those availing of the local authority affordable purchase scheme. We will examine extending it to the first home scheme as well.

The new rent tax credit was a simple and direct way to put money back in renters pockets, he said.

Sinn Fein health spokesperson David Cullinane has said the Department of Healths top civil servant told him the health service would need at least 2bn in extra funding next year prior to Tuesdays Budget.

During a post-Budget briefing for journalists in Leinster House yesterday, Mr Cullinane disclosed details of meetings with Department of Health secretary general Robert Watt and his officials.

He said that while they were confidential meetings to a point, there was also information on the public record from recent Oireachtas Health Committee hearings which showed the health service needs substantially more for next year than it received in Tuesdays Budget.

My understanding, to be fair to Robert Watt in terms of what he said, was that there will be at least a billion euro of recurring expenditure that needs to go into the base to deal with the deficit for next year  it was about a billion  and another billion euro for ELS [existing levels of service]. So hes on the record as saying at least 2bn, said Mr Cullinane.

He added that whats absolutely certain is that the Department got a fraction of what it needs. It means there is a big black hole in the health budget that is going to get even bigger next year.

He was speaking in the wake of a funding increase of around 1.2bn for the health service which is projected to spend more than 21bn next year.

In response to queries about Mr Cullinanes comment, the Department of Health referred to Oireachtas Health Committee hearings last month where Mr Watt agreed with the contention that there could be the need for 2.4bn in additional expenditure for 2024.

Mr Watt told the hearing there has definitely been underfunding of existing levels of service in recent years. It is not just a problem in Ireland, but it is a problem absolutely, he said.
Managing director of Dublin Airport Gary McLean and DAA CEO Kenny Jacobs at Dublin Airport today launching the new passenger panel and rate my airport tool.

A new passenger panel will meet with the CEO of Dublin Airport operator DAA to help identify services and facilities in need of improvement.

The new panel will meet with DAA CEO Kenny Jacobs and Dublin Airport managing director Gary McLean to provide feedback and suggest what they would like to see improved at the airport.

It will be made up of members that represent Dublin Airports diverse passenger base and be chosen through a competition on Dublin Airports social media channels in the coming weeks.

Passengers are at the centre of everything we do and by listening to them on an ongoing basis we can identify ways to continually improve Dublin Airport, Mr Jacobs said.

Our new passenger panel is an exciting initiative that will enable us to connect directly with the most important people in our business  our passengers  and get a better understanding of their needs.

There has also been a new rate my airport feature introduced on the official Dublin Airport app, allowing users to give a star rating to various aspects of their airport journey in real time.

Mr Jacobs said: The panels feedback, combined with that gathered via our newly improved Dublin Airport app and other well-established feedback tools, will help identify where the airport is getting things right and where we need to improve.

We want to be the airport that listens most to its passengers, ensuring the standards at Dublin Airport are amongst the highest of any capital city airport in Europe.

Feedback collected from the passenger panel and rate my airport feature will be used in conjunction with the happy or not devices dotted across Dublin Airport.

The DAA issued an apology to passengers last April after Dublin was named the second most stressful airport in Europe in a report by the Digital PR Hub at Legacy Communications.

A statement from the DAA today said the new tools would be used to further improve passenger satisfaction levels at Dublin Airport, which have risen steadily over the past year on the back of the successful 15-point Better Dublin Airport improvement plan.
A Billings woman pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of fatally hitting a man with a pickup truck earlier this year and driving away.

Nicola Ann Beverlin, 40, has been charged in Yellowstone County District Court with vehicular homicide while under the influence. In the alternative to vehicular homicide while under the influence, county prosecutors have charged Beverlin with negligent homicide and failing to remain at the scene of the accident.

Criminal charges were filed against Beverlin about two months after county authorities found the body of 44-year-old Luis Torres in a grassy lot near Wilson Park.

Detectives with the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office began investigating the circumstances of Torres death Aug. 13, court documents said. Surveillance footage taken the night prior allegedly showed a Chevy pickup truck traveling north on King Avenue East, then veering off the right side of the road and into the lawn of a business on City Center Circle. The truck stopped briefly on the lawn and drove away, court documents said, with footage showing the man later identified as Torres lying in the grass having apparently been left behind.

After driving away, the truck came back into view of surveillance cameras, according to charging documents, and came to a stop. A woman then got out of the truck, charging documents said, who was later identified as Beverlin. Beverlin allegedly spent about 40 minutes with Torres, according to audio and video recordings taken from the scene, trying to encourage him to move. Eventually, she got back in the truck and drove away.

An autopsy performed Aug. 14 determined that Torres died of flail chest, a condition caused by trauma to the chest in which a portion of the rib cage is cracked and impeding the respiratory system. Torres, according to court documents, had a total of 12 broken ribs at the time of his death, along with a perforation to his liver.

The doctor conducting the autopsy concluded the injuries that led to Torres death could not have been caused by him just falling from a vehicle; something had to have hit Torres with enough force to break half of his ribs. Had Torres gotten to a hospital in the hours after his ribs were broken, according to charging documents, he would have likely survived.

YCSO detectives pieced together surveillance footage, court documents said, which showed Beverlin and Torres visiting three bars in the hours before Torres body was found. Beverlin allegedly drank alcohol at all three bars. During at least two interviews with detectives, Beverlin allegedly said she did not remember driving the pickup truck to the lot on City Center Circle because she had blacked out from too much drinking.

Beverlin is currently out of custody on a $50,000 bond. During her arraignment Thursday, District Judge Rod Souza forbid Beverlin from visiting bars until her case is resolved, and also required that she be monitored for alcohol consumption.

If convicted of vehicular homicide while under the influence, Beverlin could be sentenced up to 30 years in prison. A negligent homicide conviction comes with the possibility of up to 20 years in prison, per Montana law.

In September, a Lockwood man reached a plea agreement with county prosecutors in which he admitted to hitting a man crossing a Billings street in 2021 while drunk at the wheel of a pickup truck. In exchange for his pleading guilty to negligent homicide and driving under the influence, prosecutors have recommended Cooper Knutson Rude, 21, be sentenced to 20 years in Montana State Prison, with five years suspended.

In May of this year, Yellowstone County District Judge Ashley Harada sentenced a Hardin man to 30 years in prison, with 20 suspended, for vehicular homicide while under the influence. Klay Michael Wacker was driving a pickup truck in the West End after drinking at a friends house and blew through a stop sign. He crashed into a minivan, killing its driver.

Drunk driving consistently accounts for about half of all fatal crashes in Montana, according to data from Montana Highway Patrol. Intoxication is suspected to be a factor in 78 of the nearly 145 fatalities on the state's roads so far this year.
Explainer: Why is the Peter McVerry Trust under the spotlight?

THE former long-serving chief executive of the Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT) has resigned from the Housing Commission.

A spokesperson for Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien confirmed on Thursday night that he had accepted the resignation of Pat Doyle from the Government commission set up to examine housing provision in Ireland and a possible future referendum on housing.

Mr Doyle was chief executive of the crisis-hit PMVT for almost two decades until he stepped down earlier this year.

He has not responded to calls or texts in recent weeks regarding the ongoing financial crisis at the housing and homeless charity.

The Minister was informed of, and accepted, the resignation of Pat Doyle from the Housing Commission this evening," Mr O'Brien's spokesperson said.

Its understood that Mr Doyle informed Housing Commission chair John OConnor that he was tendering his resignation for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, Minister OBrien has asked the Peter McVerry Trust to confirm that accountants from PWC are to take over the day-to-day running of the crisis-hit charity in the wake of the resignation of its chief executive.

Mr OBrien wrote to the PMVT chair Deirdre-Ann Barr following the resignation of Francis Doherty as chief executive on Wednesday.

The Irish Independent understands that in his letter the minister asked Ms Barr to confirm that there will be no interruption or diminution to the services provided by PMVT.

He also asked her to confirm that PWC, which was appointed earlier in the summer to examine financial issues at the charity, will be able to manage the day-to-day running of the organisation pending the appointment of a new chief executive.

Mr OBrien is also understood to have sought clarity around the date on which Mr Dohertys resignation takes effect.

The departing chief executive, who is understood to be on leave this week, said in his resignation letter that he is required to give three months notice under his contract with the trust.

The minister also asked Ms Barr to confirm that PMVT will continue to cooperate with an investigation by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA) and with an Oversight Group put in place by his department.

The letter was sent prior to the Charities Regulator announcing on Thursday that it had appointed inspectors to PMVT.

PMVT has acknowledged Mr O'Brien's letter but has not yet issued a full response to it.

A spokesperson for the charity said this afternoon that they had been advised by its board that there would be no further comment

Earlier today the Charities Regulator announced the appointment of inspectors in a public notice posted to its website.

It follows the appointment of inspectors from the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (ABRHA), which regulates not-for-profit housing bodies in Ireland, last month on foot of financial and governance concerns at the charity.

A growing crisis at one of the States leading housing and homelessness charities, which provides services to over 2,000 people, saw the resignation of the chief executive on Wednesday.

In his resignation letter, Mr Doherty warned of the imminent financial collapse faced by PMVT. He said he had identified serious financial trouble, with insufficient funds to meet creditor, payroll and Revenue commitments.

Mr Doherty, who was previously the charitys communications chief, made a number of claims regarding his treatment by the board of the charity including being subjected to gagging order which he said made his position untenable.

PMVT said it was disappointed with his resignation but a spokesperson said that the board would not be commenting on the contents of Mr Dohertys resignation letter.

The Charities Regulator said in its public notice that its investigation follows concerns arising from correspondence sent to it from the charity in July and engagement with it since then in relation to governance and finance-related matters.

While Peter McVerry Trust has engaged with the Charities Regulator on the concerns raised regarding its governance and finances, the Charities Regulator has determined, based on its inquiries, that a statutory investigation into the charity is warranted, Charities Regulator chief executive Helen Martin said.

In order to ensure that there is no unnecessary duplication of activities, we intend to work closely with the Approved Housing Body Regulatory Authority so that our activities are coordinated in so far as is consistent with our respective statutory functions.

The Charities Regulator said in its public notice that it is important to note that the opening of a statutory investigation is not in itself a finding of any wrongdoing.

PMVT received more than 38m in state funding in 2021, which accounted for most of its 53m in income that year.

Separately the Housing Minister today paid tribute to the chief executive who has resigned.

The minister added: I have an am keeping a very close eye on the situation.

He pledged that all PMVT services would be protected for those dependent on them.

Mr OBrien said he did not believe public confidence and willingness to donate to homeless charities would be damaged for the broader sector.

But he meanwhile offered little comment on the level of tax exposure to the State  said to be at least 8m  or the implications for the 38m paid annually by the State to the PMVT.

My absolute focus is making sure those services continue for the people who need them, particularly those who not only have issues with regard to homelessness, but have mental health and addiction issues or a combination, he said today in Dublin.

I have written to the chair of the board and asked for the assurance that the services will continue, and I'll ensure that they will. They will be supported, but there is a process underway. (Accountants) PwC are there as well, within the Peter McVerry Trust. I am restricted in what I can say in that regard.

Mr OBrien paid tribute to departed CEO Francis Doherty. I know him a long time. He's a superb individual is very committed to to helping those who need it. He's done a great job until he tendered his resignation to the board.

"Im sorry to see Francis go and I wish him very well in whatever role he takes in the future. He has done a very good job over the last few months in ensuring the financial matters within the trust were addressed.

There's a process underway. I'm not being evasive, but I've got to let that work happen. "I'm watching it very closely. I'm fully briefed on it and I will make sure that for those accessing the services of the of the trust, they will absolutely continue. There is no risk to them whatsoever.

He was speaking at the launch of Thresholds Own Your Rights campaign designed to support 'Generation Rent' across Ireland.

The agency helped almost 25,000 households over the past 18 months.

The campaign, now in its third year, designed to raise renters awareness of their rights. See the website for how Threshold can provide immediate and urgent assistance in time of need.
The RTE director general was quizzed by the Public Accounts Committee over the ongoing crisis at the broadcasterTells TDs RTE could become insolvent without extra fundingRTE has not ruled out asking execs to return lucrative exit packages Warning broadcaster may have to scale back investment in major projects and independent productionsBakhurst warned position may not be tenable if he doesnt hand over key document on Tubridy payments

RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst has been warned that his position will not be tenable if RTE does not hand over a key document at the centre of the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal.

Mr Bakhurst is being quizzed by TDs this morning over the ongoing financial crisis at the broadcaster.

Mr Bakhurst has come under major pressure from TDs to hand over the note, which has been repeatedly requested by the Public Accounts Committee. In one exchange, Mr Bakhurst was warned that his position may not be tenable if the request for the note turns into a legal battle.

RTE has claimed that it has been given legal advice which restricts it from giving PAC a note of a meeting between Ryan Tubridy, his agent Noel Kelly and former RTE director general Dee Forbes. It is the meeting at which RTE agreed to underwrite a commercial deal between Mr Tubridy and Renault, which led to RTE paying the former Late Late Show presenter 150,000 that was not declared publicly.

The PAC has threatened to compel RTE to hand over the document. Chair of the Dail public spending watchdog Brian Stanley told Mr Bakhurst on Thursday that PAC had received legal advice which suggested the document could be released.

In response, Mr Bakhurst asked PAC to share that legal advice with RTE. Labour TD Alan Kelly criticised the RTE director general for being too confrontational in his response to PAC. Mr Kelly said that this was not a two-way relationship, and that RTE was not entitled to ask to see legal advice given to PAC.

This is a pivotal moment for you. Theres a moral issue here, Mr Kelly said.

Im telling you this: if it ends up in a scenario whereby this goes through where we have to compel this, it could end up legal, it could end up in the courts, your position wont be tenable.

Im sorry. I actually think youre doing a good job. I think you need to reflect.

Reports

Mr Bakhurst told TDs and senators that RTE is spending a "painful" quarter of a million euro a month on ongoing reports into issues and controversies at the broadcaster.

Three separate professional services firms - Mazers, Grant Thornton and McCann Fitzgerald - are currently carrying out reviews into different controversies and concerns at RTE. This is along with separate independent reviews ordered by the government.

Mr Bakhurst told PAC that the final costs of the reviews is not yet known as the firms carrying them out are being paid on an ongoing basis.

We are allowing approximately 250,000 a month, Mr Bakhurst said.

Which is very painful when you are in our financial position.

Presenter rules

New guidelines will ban RTE presenters from filming themselves on the broadcasters property, for the purposes of outside commercial deals.

The broadcaster has come under pressure to be stricter on the commercial deals that its stars get into with outside brands.

Mr Bakhurst said that RTE is updating its guidelines.

Presenters will not be able to make videos on RTE premises if they're for commercial reasons, he said.

In July, 2fm presenter and Dancing with the Stars winner Lottie Ryan was spoken to by bosses after filming a promotional advert for a car company on the public service broadcasters campus, without any permission.

The video plugging a 50,000 car appeared the day after the scandal of Ryan Tubridys payments from a commercial deal with another car maker was revealed.

Exit packages

RTE has not ruled out asking for former executives to return lucrative exit packages, depending on the results of a review.

Following questions from Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster, Mr Bakhurst said RTE would consider all options if ongoing reviews found that someone had benefited from an exit package that they may not have been entitled to.

Meanwhile, RTE has been asked to provide a list of all of the times that its own stars were featured as guests on flagship entertainment programmes like The Late Late Show.

Labour TD Alan Kelly rejected a previous claim from RTE that compiling such information would prove too difficult. Mr Kelly said that the public wanted to know if a cosy relationship between RTE and its stars was going to change.

Because thats a big, big issue for the public, Mr Kelly said.

Insolvency warning

The RTE director general has said that the broadcaster would need extra funding by early spring next year, or else face insolvency.

Kevin Bakhurst was speaking at the latest RTE appearance before the Public Accounts Committee. The Dails public spending watchdog heard that the broadcaster currently has 64 million, which it has estimated should fund RTE until early 2024.

Mr Bakhurst said that the financial position is that if RTE does not received promised interim funding from the government, it will become insolvent.

If we didnt get this cash, we would run out of cash, thats for sure, Mr Bakhurst said.

It is worrying.

Mr Bakhurst has also confirmed to TDs that RTE has not yet received a controversial payment of 150,000 back from Ryan Tubridy. The director general said he understands that RTE doesnt have any legal basis to recoup the money from the former RTE presenter

I have said publicly that I think there's a moral imperative rather than legal one, he said.

Earlier on Thursday morning, PAC chair Brian Stanley said that the committee may seek to try to compel RTE to provide a note from a key meeting between Tubridy, his agent Noel Kelly and former director general Dee Forbes.

It was at this meeting that RTE made the controversial decision to underwrite a deal between Ryan Tubridy and Renault, where he was expected to be paid 75,000 for three appearances at sponsorship events by the car brand.

The note of the meeting has not yet been released to PAC, despite multiple requests. RTE has refused to hand it over, citing legal advice.

Opening the meeting on Thursday, Mr Stanley told Mr Bakhurst that he believed the legal reasons for withholding the document was client confidentiality, which should be waived.

Mr Bakhurst said that he believed that other documents provided by RTE had given a very clear narrative as to what led to the single meeting where a decision was taken.

But I come back to the principle that as an organisation for me, it's extremely important that the advice that we get from our solicitors internally remains confidential. And I'm sorry, that's an important principle for me, he said.

It emerged on Wednesday that former RTE chief financial officer Richard Collins had resigned. Mr Bakhurst declined to answer a series of questions from independent TD Verona Murphy about whether or not Mr Bakhurst benefited from an exit package.

Government withholding 40 million euro in funding until RTE produces reform plan

Cutting back on investment in major projects

Mr Bakhurst said that RTE may have to cut back its investment in major projects in order to try to claw back the 21 million it expects to lose in TV licence revenue.

He said he was concerned about the broadcasters ability to continue investing in independent productions given its ongoing financial issues. Mr Bakhurst told PAC that he did not want to cut back on independent productions, because such investment was really important to the whole creative sector in Ireland.

The broadcasting chief said dropping licence fee revenue will mean that RTE will have to make tough decisions, including abandoning some significant projects.

We'll have to keep a careful lid on discretionary spend, and where there will be inevitably cuts to some content areas, he said.

No current plans for compulsory redundancies

Mr Bakhurst told PAC on Thursday morning that RTE is currently not planning compulsory redundancies in order to urgently save money.

We're not looking at compulsory redundancies, and I think even if we went if we wanted to go down that route, which I do not, we would need political sign off from the Department. And I think the Taoiseach and the minister have both made it clear that there's no appetite for that, he said.

Dramatic decline in licence fee revenue

Katherine Licken, the secretary general of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, told TDs that the department was very concerned about a dramatic decline in licence fee revenue.

Having said that there was a dramatic decline in licence fee income ever before this latter emerged. And that's why the minister set up the future media commission to look at the future of media generally, she said.

Ms Licken said that while the Government expects to see cost savings from RTE before the broadcaster benefits from extra funding, the Government will not dictate what those cost savings should be.

Montrose sale

RTE is exploring the sale of more of its Donnybrook campus to generate revenue as income from the TV licence continues to decline, Kevin Bakhurst will also tell the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today.

The RTE director general will tell the PAC today that while RTE is looking at the sale of more of its site in Dublin as a way to generate revenue, early indications are that a complete sale of the Donnybrook campus is unlikely.

He also says the repurposing of the current site will not be without challenges and significant costs.

A valuation of the campus is currently underway as part of the strategic framework plan RTE will present to government in the coming weeks. This will set out the stall for a better RTE: better for audiences and better for Ireland, Mr Bakhurst will tell the PAC in his opening statement.

The RTE boss said he hopes the reform plan will be delivered to government by the end of the month.

RTE was plunged into crisis in June when the broadcaster revealed it had not correctly declared fees to its then-highest-paid earner Ryan Tubridy. The scandal widened as a series of other financial and governance issues emerged.

"That outline plan will form the basis for consultation with the public, with public representatives, and with staff, he says.

"As we move toward delivery of that outline strategy, you should know that the focus on immediate and long-lasting reform remains sharp. As you know, I have appointed a new interim leadership team. Key decisions now come to that full leadership team, not least decisions regarding top presenter contracts, the statement says.

More to follow
SINN Fein health spokesperson David Cullinane has said the Department of Healths top civil servant told him the health service would need at least 2 billion in extra funding next year prior to Tuesday's Budget.

Mr Cullinane disclosed details of meetings with Department of Health secretary general Robert Watt and his officials during a post-Budget briefing in Leinster House on Wednesday.

He said that while they were confidential meetings to a point there was also information on the public record from recent Oireachtas health committee hearings that showed the health service needs substantially more than it received in Tuesday's Budget for next year.

My understanding, to be fair to Robert Watt in terms of what he said, was that there will be at least a billion euro of recurring expenditure that needs to go into the base to deal with the deficit for next year - it was about a billion - and another billion euro for ELS [existing levels of service]. So hes on the record of saying at least 2 billion, Mr Cullinane said.

He said that "whats absolutely certain is that the Department got a fraction of what it needs. It means there is a big black hole in the health budget that is going to get even bigger next year, the Sinn Fein TD said.

He was speaking in the wake of a budget funding increase of around 1.2 billion for the health service which is projected to spend more than 21 billion next year. But Mr Cullinane claimed the Department of Health has been given just 964 million in extra funding for next year, including 708 million to cover existing levels of service, 143 million for capital projects under the national development plan and 113 million for new measures.

He said HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster had also said publicly that the amount which is needed in core health spending to ensure no budget overrun in 2024 could be as high as 1.4 billion before provision is made for existing levels of service.

He said that what Sinn Fein had been told privately and at the health committee was that the vast, vast majority of the estimated 1.1 billion supplementary budget that Health will need for this year alone is recurring and needs to be part of core health spending for 2024. This is separate from funding needed to maintain existing levels of service.

He said this meant there is now no additional money to deliver 1,500 beds, new medicines, child and adolescent mental health services, national cancer, maternity, cardiac or other strategies, and funding to reduce healthcare costs.

He said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly probably has been thrown under a bus but said that it was reckless in the extreme that the health service has been underfunded for next year.

He said there was an issue with the competency of the Minister in relation to controlling costs in the health service but said patients would be impacted most by the shortfall.

He claimed Sinn Fein would provide for 2.656 billion - or more than 1.6 billion more in funding that the Government had provided for  to the health service if it was in government.

In response to queries about Mr Cullinane's comment, the Department of Health referred to Oireachtas Health Committee hearings last month in which Mr Watt agreed with the contention that there could be the need for 2.4 billion in additional expenditure to be provided to health for 2024.

Mr Watt told the hearing on September 27 there has "definitely been underfunding" of existing levels of service in recent years. "It is not just a problem in Ireland, but it is a problem absolutely," he said.
Interim deputy director general of RTE, Adrian Lynch and RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst arriving for the Public Accounts Committee meeting at Leinster House this morning. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst endured his latest grilling by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today, as the broadcasters payments controversy and funding crisis rumbles on.

TDs quizzed RTE executives over a number of hours today. Here are the top 10 things that we learned:

1. RTE will run out of money by the spring if it does not get a cash boost from the Government

The Dails public spending watchdog heard that the broadcaster currently has 64m, which it has estimated should fund RTE until early 2024.

Mr Bakhurst said that the financial position is that if RTE does not receive promised interim funding from the government, it will become insolvent.

If we didnt get this cash, we would run out of cash, thats for sure, Mr Bakhurst said.

It is worrying.

2. RTE is spending a painful quarter of a million euro a month on ongoing reports into issues and controversies at the broadcaster

Three separate professional services firms  Mazars, Grant Thornton and McCann Fitzgerald  are currently carrying out reviews into different controversies and concerns at RTE. This is along with separate independent reviews ordered by the Government.

Mr Bakhurst told the PAC that the final cost of the reviews is not yet known as the firms carrying them out are being paid on an ongoing basis.

We are allowing approximately 250,000 a month, Mr Bakhurst said.

Which is very painful when you are in our financial position.

3. Ryan Tubridy has still not handed back 150,000, the payment that was at the heart of this summers scandal

Tubridy was paid the money by RTE after the broadcaster agreed to underwrite a commercial arrangement between the former Late Late Show presenter and Renault.

It had emerged that Tubridy had agreed to pay the money back, as a condition of his return to RTE Radio 1 in September. But talks collapsed and Tubridy was not allowed to return to his role.

Mr Bakhurst told the PAC this morning that it was his understanding that RTE had no legal basis to recoup the money from its former star.

I have said publicly that I think there's a moral imperative rather than legal one, Mr Bakhurst said.

Ryan Tubridy. Photo: Darragh Kane

Mr Bakhurst conceded that RTE is very limited in its ability to try to get the money back, given Tubridy was entitled to it under his contract.

Meanwhile, he said that the "dominance of individual agents was a source of concern for him and he would encourage presenters to try to negotiate their salaries with RTE directly.

4. RTE will have to make tough decisions and cut some major projects because of falling licence fee revenue

It is understood that RTE will stand to lose 21m in TV licence fee revenue before the end of the year, in the wake of this summers payments scandal.

Mr Bakhurst said some tough decisions will have to be made, including abandoning some significant projects.

Well have to keep a careful lid on discretionary spend, and where there will be inevitably cuts to some content areas, he said.

He added that he was worried about the broadcasters ability to continue investing in independent productions given its ongoing financial issues.

Mr Bakhurst told the PAC that he did not want to cut back on independent productions, because such investment was really important to the whole creative sector in Ireland.

 But RTEs ongoing financial woes will not lead to compulsory redundancies.

Mr Bakhurst told the PAC that RTE is currently not planning compulsory redundancies in order to urgently save money.

We're not looking at compulsory redundancies, and I think even if we wanted to go down that route, which I do not, we would need political sign-off from the Department of [Media]. And I think the Taoiseach [Leo Varadkar] and the minister [Catherine Martin] have both made it clear that there's no appetite for that, he said.

5. RTE said that it could not go into detail on the resignation of former financial offier Richard Collins, for legal reasons

Asked by Sinn Fein TD John Brady if Mr Collins resignation was amicable, Mr Bakhurst said: It was professional.

The RTE director general said that the broadcaster has not been served with any legal papers from Mr Collins.

There was an agreement reached and his legal team were present, Mr Bakhurst said.

RTE CFO reluctant to answer when asked about his salary

6. Notes from a key Teams meeting are at the heart of a row between politicians and RTE

The PAC wants to see the notes from a remote meeting between Ryan Tubridy, his agent Noel Kelly and former director general Dee Forbes.

RTE has claimed that it cant hand the document over, citing legal advice.

Mr Bakhurst told TDs that they already had an account of the meeting from Mr Kelly, which RTE is not disputing.

Former RTE director general Dee Forbes. Photo: PA

But politicians believe that the note is crucial to understand the payments controversy. Some have suggested that RTE should not receive any interim funding from the Government. The PAC has threatened to compel RTE to hand over the document.

Mr Bakhurst was warned that if the issue escalated into a legal battle between the PAC and RTE, with public money being wasted on a court case from both sides, his position would not be tenable.

Eventually, Mr Bakhurst agreed to try to find a solution.

I would like to find a solution to this, but it's, it's tricky, but I will happily look at a possible solution, he said.

7. RTE will not put on any new theatre productions, despite scrambling to find new ways to generate revenue

Over the last number of years, RTE had started to move towards major live events as a way to make more money for the cash-strapped broadcaster. The first major venture into the live event space was last year's stage adaptation of the Late Late Toy Show.

Toy Show The Musical was a commercial disaster, losing RTE 2.2m and resulting in the sale of just 11,000 tickets.

Asked if RTE was actively examining other sources of commercial revenue in light of its ongoing funding crisis, Mr Bakhurst said we are, very much.

However, no new theatre productions.

8. RTE is being more robust about the accuracy of its top 10 presenters salaries in the wake of the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal

Mr Bakhurst said that figures for the top 10 RTE earners for 2022 have not yet been published, as they are being audited.

There's a more robust process in the light of previous events, Mr Bakhurst said. So they need to go to the individuals and make sure that those are fair representations of what they've learned.

9. New guidelines will ban RTE presenters from filming themselves on the broadcasters property for the purposes of outside commercial deals

The broadcaster has come under pressure to be stricter on the commercial deals that its stars get into with outside brands.

Mr Bakhurst said RTE is updating its guidelines.

Presenters will not be able to make videos on RTE premises if they're for commercial reasons, he said.

In July, 2FM presenter and Dancing with the Stars winner Lottie Ryan was spoken to by bosses after filming a promotional advert for a car company on the public service broadcasters campus, without any permission.

The video, plugging a 50,000 car, appeared the day after the scandal of Ryan Tubridys payments from a commercial deal with another car-maker was revealed

Mr Bakhurst singled out brand ambassador roles entered into by 2FM presenters as being difficult to regulate.

Lottie Ryan

He said that social media brand ambassador roles exist outside of RTE, and that 2FM presenters are usually hired because they have a strong social media presence.

[For 2FM] we recruit people because they have a profile, say on social media, to bring in that audience. So we need to be clear and transparent about what they're allowed and what they are not allowed to do.

10. RTE has not ruled out asking for former executives to return lucrative exit packages, depending on the results of a review

Following questions from Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster, Mr Bakhurst said RTE would consider all options if ongoing reviews found that someone had benefited from an exit package that they may not have been entitled to.
RTE is exploring the sale of more of its Donnybrook campus to generate revenue as income from the TV licence continues to decline, Kevin Bakhurst will tell the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today.

The RTE director general will tell the PAC today that while RTE is looking at the sale of more of its site in Dublin as a way to generate revenue, early indications are that a complete sale of the Donnybrook campus is unlikely.

He also says the repurposing of the current site will not be without challenges and significant costs.

A valuation of the campus is currently underway as part of the strategic framework plan RTE will present to government in the coming weeks. This will set out the stall for a better RTE: better for audiences and better for Ireland, Mr Bakhurst will tell the PAC in his opening statement.

The RTE boss said he hopes the reform plan will be delivered to government by the end of the month.

Catherine Martin answers questions about Kevin Bakhurst and RTE

"That outline plan will form the basis for consultation with the public, with public representatives, and with staff, he says.

"As we move toward delivery of that outline strategy, you should know that the focus on immediate and long-lasting reform remains sharp. As you know, I have appointed a new interim leadership team. Key decisions now come to that full leadership team, not least decisions regarding top presenter contracts, the statement says.

RTE are also in the late stages of consultation on the new Register of Interests and Register of External Activities, both of which will be key to maintaining perceptions of integrity and impartiality.

Mr Bakhurst says RTE is managing finances carefully and working to cut costs in the face of declining revenue from the TV licence.

The drop-off in numbers paying the licence fee accelerated in the wake of the Ryan Tubridy pay controversy this summer.

"Recent initiatives such as the freeze on recruitment of staff and stopping discretionary spending, alongside deferring some investment in digital and capital projects has saved several million euro. And RTEs commercial performance has been good, Mr Bakhurst says.

While cash reserves are solid for the short-term, clearly long-lasting reform of the broken funding system is urgently needed.

He will thank the Government for the 16m investment committed to RTE in Budget 2024 but will also warn, it is critical that the funding of public service media in Ireland is put on a more stable footing. This not only affects RTE, but also the independent sector, to which RTE plays a very important role in sustaining and showcasing.

Two investigations into Toy Show the Musical, and the Voluntary Exit Schemes conducted by RTE in 2019 and 2021, are nearing completion and should be finished by the end of the month, while the Mazars enquiry into the infamous Barter Account within RTE will be finished by early November, Mr Bakhurst says.

It was announced on Wednesday that Richard Collins, the former chief financial officer at RTE had resigned from his role but Mr Bakhurst will tell the PAC that due to various legal restrictions, he wont be commenting further on the matter.

He commits to hiring a new CFO, along with a new commercial director, after Geraldine OLeary retired from the role earlier this year.

In his statement, Mr Bakhurst will also declare that the new season of The Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty is highly successful.

Also before the PAC today is Katherine Licken, secretary general of the Department of Tourism,Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Ms Licken will tell the Oireachtas committee that RTE has been cooperating with information requests made to date in relation to the two independent examinations of governance, culture and contractor fees.

A detailed examination of the barter account at RTE at the centre of the pay controversy will also be delivered to Minister Catherine Martin by Mazars before the end of November. The report will take account of the detailed examination of all transactions made through the barter account for the period 2017-2022 and will also identify and set out the purpose and governance of any other off-balance sheet accounts held by RTE.

Ms Licken will tell the PAC that the first Mazars report received in August identified a number of practices and procedures regarding the governance and management of the barter account that were wholly inadequate for a public body.
Saoirse Ruane is doing 'so well' as she continues her treatment for cancer (Photo: Instagram/saoirseandmamma).

The family received some bad news back in April when Saoirse was diagnosed with a recurrent tumour.

However, she is doing much better now, and Roseanna wrote: So many of you sent us lovely messages saying its so lovely to see Saoirse so well this morning & in the uniform.

Just seven weeks ago things were very different, she was very low on energy, sleeping a lot, her appetite was so poor & she was struggling with a little cough.

I had attended a friends hen party in the previous month in the hope that we may get going to the wedding, but we didnt. Thats just the way it is & thats why we dont plan too far ahead.

Read more Dermot Kennedy shares sweet message with schoolgirl Saoirse Ruane after cancer update

A couple of weeks later Saoirse is up first thing for school, doing the full days, completing her homework, and clearing her plate again (sometimes even looking for more).

Shes continuing her treatment and tolerating it well, she added.

Saoirses story became known across the country in 2020 when she appeared on The Late Late Toy Show.

When she was aged seven, the Co Galway family received news she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and during her brave battle with the disease, Saoirse had her leg amputated.

We dont say this looking for empathy, we just say it as it is, choosing the platform we have to show someone else that might be on the same/familiar journey that theres a lot to be grateful for even if life isnt the one you dreamed off, her mother said.

If Saoirse can get up every day with such determination, then you can too!, Roseanna added.

Thank you all for your continued support on here & most importantly please keep the prayers going.

Read more Dermot Kennedy shares sweet message with schoolgirl Saoirse Ruane after cancer update

Dermot Kennedy shares sweet message with schoolgirl Saoirse Ruane after cancer update
Caviar and Pringles? Waygu and instant noodles? Top Irish chefs on their favourite wacky food pairings

We asked some of our top food connoisseurs to reveal the unlikely combinations they tuck into when nobodys looking

Some of the unlikely food pairings chosen by some of Ireland's top chefs

Alex Meehan Thu 12 Oct 2023 at 03:30

Whats your guilty secret when it comes to comfort food? Cheese and jam? Pineapple on pizza? Pickles and peanut butter? Theres no end to the accidental discoveries that can happen at home, but what would you make if you had access to a professional kitchen and walk-in fridge?
We walked along the narrow wooden jetty towards the forest in deliberate silence.

The sky was pastel grey, but the day felt mild. A fresh breeze skimmed off the Baltic, brushing the tops of the pine trees. Listening mindfully, I realised how incredibly satisfying I found the sound of the dry spindly needles and chunky cones crunching underfoot.

I like starting nature hikes quietly, to help us become instantly connected with our surroundings, said my local nature guide, Simo Peri, tying up his shoulder-length blond hair as we walked. On his back, a pack contained a surprising number of supplies for our half-day adventure, as I would realise later.

Its so easy to just start chatting or taking pictures that we dont notice whats going on around us, he explained. Seals also have incredible hearing and Im hoping well spot some.

I was in the unsung Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, a serene area in south-eastern Finland, that tourists often overlook in favour of the western archipelago.

I was also fresh from a highly invigorating 45-minute RIB water taxi ride across the inky-black Baltic from Sapokka harbour at Kotka. This port and industrial city is two hours east of Helsinki, and acts as the gateway to Finlands south-east. I was on an otherworldly uninhabited island called Ulko-Tammio, 10km from the Russian border, and nearly completely covered by forest except for the shoreline.

Ulko-Tammio island. Photo: Annika Ruohonen / Visit Kotka-Hamina

Its been dubbed the countrys first phone-free island, as part of a campaign to encourage visitors to put their phones away and experience it with all their senses. There are 100 islands and islets in the Eastern Gulf, but Ulko-Tammio is one of the most unspoiled and beautiful. No one has ever lived here, Simo told me later over lunch around the campfire, and thats what gives it a unique atmosphere.

Its only been used as a fishermens camp and a pasture for people from other islands, like nearby Tammio. Its also easy to hike around, a habitat for rare birds. You can freely pick berries, and edible mushrooms, camp out and light fires, he said.

Eventually, we emerged into the open, onto huge slabs of grey-red granite lapped by the Baltic. I felt like Id landed on another planet, or time-travelled to a prehistoric age on earth. There was no one else around. We call this rapakivi, Simo pronounced, with a pleasing Finnish roll of the letter r. What a great word, I thought, as he looked down, lightly tapping the ground with a hiking shoe-clad foot.

I looked down too, and took in the beauty of this billion-year-old-plus geology, the bedrock of Ulko-Tammio.

Here, he said, handing me a delicate, grass-like blade. I think you call them chives?

Sure enough, it tasted just like a chive. Its discovery had completely distracted me from the fact we hadnt yet spotted a seal  and, for that matter, the fact I hadnt touched my phone since my arrival.

They know better than to hang about on rocks catching a cold, said Simo of the former. Theyre probably out diving for fish, keeping warm somewhere.

My introduction to Finlands peaceful eastern archipelago had started in a glass cabin at the Santalahti Resort in Kotka the previous night. As well as hiking the paths around the resort, I spent hours at the fascinating Maritime Centre Vellamo in town, where I learned about the areas relationship to water and the weather  and icebreakers. These giant vessels clear the shipping lanes in winter, and are a vestige of Finlands long tradition of shipbuilding.

I dined like a local on Varissaari  restaurant island, as it is known  home to the Vaakku Summer Restaurant, a 10-minute ferry ride from Kotka harbour, followed by a traditional Finnish nightcap: a sundowner session in Santalahtis dreamy outdoor glass sauna, before a swift dip in the Baltic.

Ulko-Tammio island

On Ulko-Tammio, away from the shore, the island interior felt mysterious and otherworldly. The air was cool and moist, and a carpet of glistening elkhorn and reindeer lichen covered the forest floor  along with, to my surprise, wild strawberries, my favourite fruit. Theyre so much smaller than Id imagined: delicate, ruby-hued miniatures of what Im used to at home. Automatically, I reached for my phone but just as quickly stopped myself. Instead, I focused on savouring the unusual earthy-sweet flavour and juicy texture.

In contrast to Ulko-Tammios wild innocence, wartime remnants such as cannons, gun emplacements and ammunition stores are haunting reminders of its role in the Second World War as a guard post on the eastern border of Finland. Theres also an eerie 70-metre-long cave built to protect personnel, which we walked through in almost complete darkness to get to the other side.

Towards the end of our loop walk in and out of the forest, at the top of the wooden bird-watching tower  the highest point on the island  the sun emerged in full force. From here, you get a 360-degree view across the island, and  in good weather  of the distant islands of Bolshoi Tyuters, Gogland and Sommer, which belong to Russia and lie just 10km away. A stroll past a traditional red hut, complete with beds and a kitchen, that visitors can stay overnight in, and were at the end of our nature walk.

You cant be unhappy if you have marshmallows, said Simo at this point, taking out all manner of snacks and cooking equipment ready for lunch: two Bialetti coffee pots, two small gas cookers, two packets of sausages, cups and plates. He sawed some wood, swiftly made a fire and served us up barbecued sausages, which we topped with Sinappi, hot Finnish mustard, squeezed from a metal tube.

I used to be a chef in Helsinki, he told me, carving points on the ends of two sticks with a big knife from his leather case. One day I realised I wanted to step away from the high-pressure environment. We were cooking great food, and getting great reviews, but I knew I wanted to change things, so I started to investigate how I could work more in nature, and here I am.

He stopped talking and stabbed a chunky marshmallow onto the end of a carved stick and held it over the crackling fire.

My last night is spent on Kaunissaari, an inhabited island peppered with traditional red Finnish summer cabins  and home to just one hotel, Hotelli Maja, open in the summer months.

The island is also well known for its big bowls of salmon soup; I sampled a big pot of the steaming, delicate clear broth filled with chunks of fresh fish and flavoured with fragrant dill at the hotels restaurant and wasnt disappointed. It was the perfect meal after a cycle through the Kaunissaari forest to the lighthouse on the islands northern edge.

Here, I surprised myself; after my experience on Ulko-Tammio, I didnt think once about taking a photo of the idyllic scene. Instead, I paused, breathed deep, and absorbed it without the buffer of a screen in the way.

Well played, Finland.

How to do it

Finnair flies from Dublin Airport to Helsinki. finnair.com

Santa Glass Villa at the Santalahti Resort costs from 550 per night based on two people sharing, including breakfast and activities. santalahti.fi

Rooms at Kaunissaaren Hotelli Maja start from 149, based on two people sharing. kaunissaari.fi

For more information on guided adventure nature walks around Ulko-Tammio and other areas of south-eastern Finland with Simo Peri, visit retkipiste.com

Ellie Seymour was a guest of Visit Finland and Visit Kotka-Hamina
The Hamas-run Gaza Strip is a tiny enclave, measuring just 40km long and no more than 11km wide, monitored continually by Israel, surrounded by its guns. But rescuing  or even locating  more than 150 hostages hustled there by Palestinian militants who overran Israels southern border on Saturday will be a daunting task.
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., called for a major U.S. policy change along the U.S.-Mexico border after touring the boundary Wednesday.

Montanas Republican senator characterized the thousands of daily illegal crossings into the United States as a threat to national security, putting blame on Democratic President Joe Biden, while also calling for a federal policy change.

I believe our southern border, and my observations today affirm, that it is a threat to national security. It must be secured, Daines said.

These are backward policies. These are wrong policies of President Biden that have created this crisis. He suspended construction of the border wall. He ended the remain in Mexico policy. He ended Title 42. And that has created an out of control, porous southern border that is a threat to national security.

Both on the presidential campaign trail and in Congress, Republicans are characterizing border crossings and fentanyl smuggling as a national security threat justifying military escalation, including U.S. troops waging war with drug cartels in Mexico, a move the Mexican government decries as a violation of that nations sovereignty.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports 2.2 million encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico Border in the first 11 months of the just-ended federal fiscal year, with September totals remaining to be counted.

In August, agents encountered 232,972 migrants according to CBP. From October 2022 through August, agents seized more than 25,500 pounds of fentanyl, nearly doubling the amount from the same period a year earlier. Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids like fentanyl are by far the leading cause of national drug-involved overdoses, with about 80,000 in 2021, reports the Centers for Disease Control.

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has promised military force if elected. In a teased excerpt from the coming memoir of Mark Esper, the former Trump defense secretary, said Trump twice asked about launching missiles into Mexico in 2020.

The former presidents long-shot challengers for the GOPs 2024 nomination are making similar promises of military attacks. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a September interview with NBC news anchor Nora ODonnell left the door open for missile strikes on Mexico if elected president. In June, DeSantis suggested a U.S. naval blockade of China freighters bound for Mexico to stop the import of fentanyl ingredients, as well and lethal force against those trying to cut through border barriers.

Candidate Nikki Haley, Trumps former United Nations ambassador promises to send U.S. troops into Mexico to combat drug cartels. Candidates that have shied away from invading another country trail the rest of the Republican pack.

In Congress there are Republican bills to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. There are also bills authorizing the president to use the Armed Forces against foreign nations, foreign organizations, or foreign persons affiliated with foreign organizations that the President determines are involved in trafficking fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances.

There are also several resolutions mostly by Democrats affirming that Mexico is an important neighbor the United States needs to work with.

Mexico is not amused at suggestions that a U.S. war on drugs reboot involve an actual war on Mexican soil.

We are not going to allow any foreign government to intervene in our territory, much less that a governments armed forces intervene, said Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in a recorded March press conference in which he specifically responded to congressional Republicans advocating for a military assault in Mexico on cartels.

President Biden is facing pressure to do more on the U.S.-Mexico border, not only from Republicans, but also from Democratic mayors of major cities overwhelmed by migrants, including those flown into liberal communities by DeSantis.

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security published details of a 20-mile wall project in Texas, which federal regulators were waiving two dozen federal laws to expedite. The Associated Press reported that Biden described the construction as mandated by law during the Trump era and had to be built in 2023.

It took him three years to wake up. But that's a good start. But 20 miles is not sufficient. But that's a good start, Daines said. So, I support what he wants to do there. I asked the Border Patrol agents about that. And they said, Yes, they need to do that. But he needs to continue finishing the wall that was started under the last administration. We need to give our Border Patrol agents all the tools they need to secure the southern border and the wall is one of those important tools.

Biden is also losing support among red state Congressional Democrats on border issues. Montana Democrat Jon Tester, up for reelection in 2024, joined Republicans in May on a bill attempting to prevent Title 42 from expiring. Title 42 allows migrants to be expelled from the United States for public health concerns. The rule was invoked by the Trump administration, which cited the spread of COVID-19 as justification. The Biden administration moved to end the practice.

In the final eight months before the Biden administration ended Title 42, there were 549,814 expulsions along the U.S. Mexico border, reports U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In the previous fiscal year, expulsions numbered 1,054,084.

U.S.-to-Mexico gun smuggling is also exacerbating the border problem. Mexico has sued U.S. gun manufacturers, alleging that gun companies are encouraging trafficking of U.S. guns to drug cartels in Mexico.

Wednesday, a Bozeman resident pleaded guilty to smuggling guns purchased in Montana to Mexico during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, February through May 2020. The purchases involved 31 handguns. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recovered several semi-automatic handguns, assault-style rifles, and receipts of gun purchases from several Montana gun shops from the Bozeman home of Cristyan Jose Gonzalez-Carrillo.

Buying guns in Montana and taking them to Mexico to sell is illegal, said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana in a press release. Fighting gun violence remains a top priority for our office and as todays hearing showed, we will investigate and prosecute anyone who violates federal firearms laws.
A long time ago, a famous Israeli military leader delivered a funeral oration near the border with Gaza. It was 1956 and Moshe Dayan, then the top commander of the Israel Defence Forces, was at the kibbutz, or settlement, of Nahal Oz.

During his visit, a young Israeli officer named Roi Rotberg was seized and murdered by Arab militants while patrolling the borderlands on horseback, his body dragged across the armistice line into Gaza. Dayan delivered a eulogy for Rotberg that is now seen as one of the most unflinching testaments to Zionism and the need to defend Israels existence with force.

A generation of settlement are we, and without the steel helmet and the maw of the cannon we shall not plant a tree, nor build a house, Dayan said, after speaking of the hostile threats arrayed around the fledgling Jewish state. Our children shall not have lives to live if we do not dig shelters; and without the barbed wire fence and the machine gun, we shall not pave a path nor drill for water.

But Dayan, who would later take up prominent posts in government, was clear-eyed about the motivations of the fighters on the other side in Gaza, a tiny strip of territory that was then controlled by Egypt. The bulk of its population was comprised of Palestinian refugees who less than a decade earlier had been forced to flee their homes and native villages amid the bloody Israeli expulsion campaigns that followed the countrys creation in 1948.

Hundreds of Palestinian towns were wiped off the map, while thousands of Palestinians were killed in numerous documented massacres carried out by Israeli troops and paramilitary organisations. The displaced communities in Gaza already lived in a cage of trauma and grief.

Let us not hurl blame at the murderers, Dayan said. Why should we complain of their hatred for us? Eight years have they sat in the refugee camps of Gaza, and seen, with their own eyes, how we have made a homeland of the soil and the villages where they and their forebears once dwelt.

Now, Israeli steel and fire is again being brought to bear upon the population of Gaza. At the time of writing, an Israeli ground offensive appears to be preparing to roll into the Gaza Strip, a narrow, 25-mile stretch of land squeezed against the sea that is one of the most densely populated places on the planet.

Roughly half of the territorys more than two million people are children. And, for the better part of a generation, they have lived under blockade from an Israeli state in permanent conflict with Islamist militant group Hamas, which holds sway in Gaza.

On Saturday, Hamas militants based in Gaza orchestrated the single bloodiest day for Israelis since the founding of the modern-nation state, launching a brazen set of raids into Israeli territory that led to more than 900 deaths and the abduction of more than 100 Israeli hostages, including children.

Taken by surprise, Israeli authorities vowed a merciless operation to root out Hamas once and for all. Airstrikes on buildings in Gaza have already claimed more than 680 lives, including at least 91 children.

In an address on Monday, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a complete siege on the territory where Hamas first emerged and now operates. Gallant went on to invoke rhetoric that rights groups claimed was tantamount to announcing war crimes. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, Gallant said of Gaza. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.

A long, complex ground, sea and air operation is underway. Since Hamass takeover of Gaza in 2007  which came after its victory in Palestinian elections the year prior that led to a rupture with the Palestinian Authority, headquartered in the West Bank  Israel has carried out numerous major military operations against the Islamist militants, who have found ways to periodically puncture Israels sophisticated security cordon with rocket strikes, drones and other unorthodox methods, including incendiary balloons.

Each time Israel has ramped up its attacks on militants in Gaza, many Palestinian civilians die. The three-week-long Operation Cast Lead that began at the end of 2008 saw the deaths of more than 1,300 Palestinians. Operation Pillar of Cloud in 2021 led to more than 100 Palestinian civilian deaths.

In 2014, Israel launched its 50-day-long Operation Protective Edge, which involved airstrikes and a limited ground operation. According to the United Nations, seven out of 10 of the more than 2,000 Palestinians killed during the 2014 campaign were civilians.

In the parlance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israels periodic actions against Hamas have earned the bleak euphemism of mowing the grass. But each time, Hamas has shown a capability to pick itself up from the rubble, reorganise and reinforce itself, whatever the misery experienced by those living in its midst. This time may be different, and the price ordinary Palestinians in Gaza will pay is expected to be hideously steep.

In 2005, after the bruising experience of the second intifada, the Israeli government withdrew its forces from within the Gaza Strip, which it had controlled since 1967, and removed some 9,000 Jewish settlers living there.

Hamas, which, unlike the Palestinian Authority, doesnt recognise Israels right to exist, de facto captured Gaza in 2007, triggering an Israeli air, sea and land blockade. As a result, conditions in the territory have been degraded for years, with the United Nations estimating that the blockade has cost Gazas economy nearly $17billion in roughly a decade. Israels critics cast the territory as the worlds largest open-air prison.

For them, Gaza is a one-word argument for Israels brutality toward a blockaded enclave living in miserable conditions, Natan Sachs, director of the Centre for Middle East Policy of the Brookings Institution, told the New York Times. But for Israelis, he added, Gaza is a one-word argument for the danger of unilateral withdrawal and trusting in Palestinian rule.
After 14 years on the couch at ITV's 'This Morning', Holly Willoughby has officially called it a day. The shock announcement came after a tumultuous year for the breakfast show team; beginning with a public backlash over a royal funeral and culminating in British TV's golden girl becoming the target of a plot to kidnap and murder her.

When Philip Schofield stepped back earlier this year, the scandal that marked his departure meant that there was no future for the once celebrated duo. Many wondered whether 'This Morning' would survive losing its frontman of 21 years and whether his former co-host was up to the challenge of going it alone.

Tabitha Monahan is joined by Sunday Independent columnist Sarah Caden to discuss how Holly Willoughby went from talking about the news to becoming the news.
Some of the countrys top riders hit the Green Glens for the Banteer Gymkhana

Banteer Gymkhana Organiser Jerry Sweetnam and Patrick Buckley take the shade in glorious sunshine at the Banteer Gymkhana at Millstreet Green Glens. Picture John Tarrant

The end of season hosting saw trucks and boxes convene on the popular venue for a bumper programme commencing during early morning ahead of the exciting fare on parade.

Some of the countrys most prominent riders figured prominently at the North Cork venue in the destination of the top prizes where outright honours were decided.

Organising spokesperson Jerry Sweetnam indicated entries came from all over Munster and into the other provinces. Of course, the venue donated by Noel C Duggan and family won favourable comments in a picturesque setting.

The arenas were superb and boosted by the weather, everything went according to plan. And of course, we are indebted to the various sponsors and the volunteers who helped towards maintaining another successful staging, he said.

And out on the sand arenas, popular visitor Liam OMeara made the trip from Tipperary productive on capturing the feature Munster 1.35 Grand Prix League with his horse Lux Trendy owned by James OSullivan from Mallow to retain his title following a series of twelve legs throughout the province.

Proceeds from the staging benefited the Liskennett Equine Therapy Centre, part of the St. Josephs Foundation in Charleville.

Of course, the Sweetnam family are well versed in equestrian sport, USA based Shane Sweetnam part of the Irish international showjumping team.
The partial closure order at Xi'an Street Food on South Anne Street was lifted on October 2

A well-known Dublin takeaway was served with a temporary closure order by food safety inspectors after a repeated failure to cook duck spring rolls correctly.

The order was among two closure orders issued in September by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) due to breaches of food safety legislation by businesses around the country.

An inspector who visited Xian Street Food on Anne Street South, Dublin 2, observed that the core temperature of homemade duck spring rolls displayed uneven heat distribution.

This resulted in cool pockets which meant that the spring rolls were not cooked properly and when the duck meat was probed, it registered 56C.

The inspector ordered that cooking procedure must be reviewed to ensure consistent cooking temperatures as per the critical cooking limit of 75C.

The partial closure order, issued on September 29, read: Part of the activities of its establishment be ceased, specifically the cooking of duck spring rolls.

The order was lifted October 2, the FSAI confirmed, and the takeaway is now operating as normal with a full menu.

The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The one other establishment forced to temporarily close was Paul Tobin Butchers in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, specifically the production and processing of all cooked and ready-to-eat food on the premises.

The FSAI inspector found a significant build-up of food debris, spillages, and ingrained dirt in the cooked/ready-to-eat foods preparation area.

There was also an accumulation of cobwebs on the racking below the oven, dust and debris on top of the blast chiller, as well as the floor and skirting boards beneath the sinks in the washroom found unclean.

The FSAI has confirmed that the butchers, which received the closure order on September 5, has since reopened.

FSAI chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne said it is disappointing to see such disregard for consumer health related to basic food safety and hygiene requirements.

Consumers have a right to safe food. Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat, she said.

All food businesses must establish and regularly review a food safety management system to prevent instances of non-compliance and violations of food safety regulations such as these, which are only imposed when a significant risk to consumer health has been identified or when there are persistent, severe violations of food regulations.
Work begins on the Christmas lights on Dublin's South Anne Street this week

Thoughts of winter have been far from our minds with milder temperatures than usual this week, but the countdown for Dublins Christmas lights has already started.

Crews began installing the citys lighting displays on Wednesday night, with 25 streets, including South Anne Street, Grafton Street and Henry Street, due to get the festive treatment.

The task is undertaken each year by local business group DublinTown, who fully fund the cost of the energy-saving lights, which are due to be switched on from mid-November.

The DublinTown team, which has decorated the city for the last 15 years, will also be reducing the number of hours the lights are switched on to curb costs.

It takes 30 people, working through the night over four weeks and 200 hours to erect the lights, a DublinTown spokesman said.

Every single bulb and fixture is tested by DublinTowns lighting contractor in advance of going up.

The lights bring the sense of Christmas to the city centre and thousands take selfies beneath the iconic displays.

The erection of the lights is one of the biggest tasks DublinTown undertakes for its business members on behalf of the people of Dublin and beyond.

They are the major catalyst of the city centre Christmas buzz and drive a sense of joy, as well as attracting footfall, they added.

To preserve energy, all lighting used is low energy regulated by time clocks. The Grafton Street display uses one third of the electricity of a domestic shower.

In line with the practice of recent years, there will be no public switching on ceremony, but the lights will be in use from mid-November to early January.
The interior of the new Fired Up Pizza spot in Donnybrook

A Dublin pizza chain, which started during Covid, will be giving away free pizzas all day today, October 12, to celebrate the opening of their third outlet.

Fired Up Pizza is opening the doors of its location at 55 Donnybrook Road in Dublin 4 today.

To mark the occasion, Fired Up Pizza in Donnybrook will be offering free pizzas until they run out of dough, with five different options available, and one pizza per person.

Doors open at 2pm today (dine-in only), so get there early.

According to the owner of Fired Up, Bill Chawke from Blackrock, their COVID baby has finally grown up.

Fired Up Pizza emerged during the pandemic in 2020 when the country was on its knees and strives to marry the true Italian classic with the best Ireland has to offer.

The pizza company, as a part of the Chawke pub group, will now be operating out of three locations: outside the Goat Bar in Goatstown, takeway and delivery from The Little Orchard in Rathfarnham, and now in Donnybrook.
A star of RTE crime drama Kin says having to work a regular 9 to 5 job is the reality for a lot of actors.

Yazmin Seky, who plays Nikita Murphy in the hit series, says people are surprised by the fact she is still working in her day job in a bank.

Ill get recognised in Tesco when Im getting three Cadbury bars for 2. People will ask why Im there, she said.

With a show as big as Kin, theres that expectation that youve filmed, youre now in Hollywood and youll be on the next big Netflix show.

Thats not the reality for a lot of actors, especially for me, Im only starting out. Im still working in the bank, still auditioning.

Kin Season 2 trailer released

The writing strike had a bit of an effect on everybody. It was pretty quiet, a lot of auditions stopped. A lot of productions are only starting to come back now.

If youre someone who works nine to five, having the option to audition when it suits you, the only real time you have to go in person is if you get a recall.

Most of the time theyre in the UK so its only one flight over, she added.

Kin follows the fortunes of a fictional Dublin crime family, the Kinsellas, embroiled in a gangland war.

Yasmin Seky as Nikita in Kin

The first season aired in September 2021 and starred big names including Aiden Gillen, Charlie Cox, and Ciaran Hinds. Season two premiered in March and, according to Yazmin, season three is yet to be filmed.

Many have questioned whether the show represents the glamourous side of crime, a conversation Yasmin believes needs to be had.

Theres always been that question of does it represent the glamour side of crime? Thats such a privilege point of view to see it from, she said.

If you look at that show, and you only see glitz and glam then maybe the reflection should be on yourself.

Offaly star Sam Keeley with Yasmin Seky as Nikita in Kin

Its weird to see something so Irish, when people are having conversations about Irish film and TV, they talk about The Banshees of Inisherin, Love/ Hate and Kin.

I get to be a part of that conversation. Theres still a lot of the story to be told. I think people are really into it, she added.
The management of University Hospital Sligo was severely criticised at the recent Regional Health Forum West meeting where it was disclosed that it can take up to 8 months for the hospital to respond to Freedom of Information requests and to access requests under the Data Protection Act.

In a response to a formal question submitted by Cllr Declan Bree, the Chief Operations Officer of the Saolta Hospital Group, Ms Ann Cosgrove, told the meeting,Waiting times could be up to 8 months or more. We recognise that this delay is unacceptable. In order to address this a programme change management is being implemented which is looking at processes and IT solutions to address the back log within the department. she said

Cllr Bree said the issue reflected on the manner in which Sligo University Hospital is managed.

We are not talking about recruiting medical consultants, doctors or nurses. We are not talking about difficult medical procedures. We are talking about a very basic service which is provided by every public body in this country. However, it is very clear that the management of Sligo University Hospital is even incapable of providing this basic service

Under the Freedom of Information Act all public bodies including the HSE and the management of Sligo University Hospital, are required to respond to requests from the public for information they hold, and give their decision on a request within 4 weeks of receiving it.

However, according to the reply to my question today, a person will wait for up to 8 month or more before receiving a response to a Freedom of Information request to Sligo University Hospital. This can only be described as incredible and unacceptable.

The introduction of freedom of information legislation in 1998 was recognised as a milestone in terms of defining the relationship between the public administration and the citizen in Ireland. It lifted the veil of secrecy for the first time allowing information to be made available to the public.

Under the legislation people have the right, I repeat, the right, to get records held by public bodies including Sligo University Hospital, and they have a right to have a decision on their request within 4 weeks.

However, in Sligo that right is being denied to people because the management of Sligo University Hospital is either incapable of, or unwilling to provide a competent and acceptable Freedom of Information service. This is not acceptable and can only add to the stress of people who are seeking their records under the Freedom of Information Act.

To add insult to injury I note that there is a similar situation regarding the provision of material under the Data Protection Act. Under the Data Protection Act a person is entitled to access personal data held by both public and private bodies. Under legislation a Data controller must respond to a request for personal date within one month of receiving it. However, a person who seeks personal data from Sligo University Hospital must wait up to 8 months or more to receive the data.

I am at a loss to understand how the any management of a public body is allowed to provide such a slipshod service.

I am now asking the management of the Saolta Group of Hospitals to directly intervene and take the necessary measures to ensure that the rights of citizens are protected and to ensure that the management of SUH respects national legislation and provides a proper Freedom of Information service and Data Protection service. said Cllr Bree.
She was diagnosed with dementia before she reached the age of 65, but Helen Rochford Brennan from Tubbercurry didnt give in to the condition and kept fighting to uphold the rights of people like herself.

Finally that hard work paid off and Ireland recently launched the Decision Support Service (DSS).

It officially opened its doors on April 26, as an essential new service for all adults who may have difficulties with decision-making capacity.

This could include adults with an intellectual disability, a mental illness, an acquired brain injury, or those with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia.

The DSS is established under the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015. It also provides new tools for any adult who wishes to plan ahead by the way of an Advanced Healthcare Directive or a revised form of an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA).

Estimates suggest that there could be as many as 220,000 people living in Ireland who have capacity-related difficulties and who may become users of the DSS. The level of support that a person requires, if any, will always depend on their personal circumstances and the decisions they need to make.

Helen is among the nine champions of DSS who is promoting the Decision Support Service public information campaign.

She has spoken regularly about the lack of basic information when it comes to knowing how many people in Ireland have dementia and other related conditions, while also stressing the lack of age-appropriate care and the geographical disparities when it comes to the availability of services.

She believes the Decision Support Service and the associated legislation can make such a difference.

She said: Ireland up until this Decision Support Service was launched, was under the 1871 Lunacy Act. We are delighted to see that people with dementia are no longer under that archaic act. I really welcome this Decision Making Act because many people were deprived of their liberty and some still are whether physical or clinical.

It never was more clearer than in COVID when our voices were muffled. Many had no time to make any decisions, and nobody designated to help them.

So to me this decision making Act will mean that my voice is heard both as a person with Alzheimers or as an older person. My voice is heard in the decisions that shape my quality of life and my future.

Its important because it essentially delegates power and control back to the individual to decide, what I want to do in my life, and what is best for me and not what others think is in my best interest

In this way the act ensures that the lack of capacity to communicate or articulate my decisions does not take away my inner voice or personality.

As for me, my family have a framework to speak for me and uphold my wishes if I no longer can, and when I die, I want to die in peace and not have anyone come along, jumping up and down on my poor body, trying to resuscitate me.

We do have some challenges, when its fully implemented and thats what of course people like myself look at. We look at our Will and what we are expecting and whats in the system for us. The Enduring power of Attorney for example, can be costly and this wouldnt be affordable for people living with dementia.

In spite of that, we have an Advanced Healthcare Directive recorded in advance and people like myself living with dementia or an older person or people with disabilities are assisted to do so.

Helen believes that the perceptions around people with dementia or any diagnosis need to change and they are fighting for the implementation of this Act which is clear and easy for everyone.

She said: One of the difficulties with dementia like mine is called younger phase and it takes many years before the final results. So its important to be able to have an Advanced healthcare directive and an Enduring Power of Attorney while I still have full capacity.

A review to engage into future planning, of course, requires our doctors to be honest about our diagnosis and to tell us about the results, so we can make the decision.

Theres a lot of education and planning happening at the moment around implementation.

There are clear guidelines on how decision making and assistance in decision making will be required for persons with any disability. If they change their minds, they are allowed to make those changes.

We need a lot of education and awareness to make sure that everybody who needs the Act are aware of it. Its important that the families, the carers, supporters, healthcare and medical professionals, are all being educated.

We are going to have to bring into use the decision making assistance, co-decision making agreement, an enduring power of attorney and Advanced Healthcare directive. This will be happening with the Decision Support.

Also, if I change my mind about having to start another directive and I already have a Power of Attorney since I was diagnosed, there will be accountability and consequences.

The Director of the Decision Support Service will have the power to investigate complaints. We hope that people will complain and if theres something wrong they would be able to look into it and find solutions.

For me its about an easy guide to how we can take care of our lives. Everybody must remember the importance of our citizenship and the Act is designed to protect that. It provides a framework for decision making, that respect our autonomy or individuality and our dignity, and for many people with disability it is one of the most important things.

I think its a great step forward while looking at us as individuals and treating us with dignity and respect. Even when we have lost lot of capacity, even when we go into a void, we have the right to make decisions about our own lives. And if we are not able to do it, we can get the decision making assistant, someone of our choice, someone we trust.

Helen has been taking care of herself and her family support has helped her to look ahead and stay healthy. She still drives and travels internationally with her volunteer travel support, Carmel Geoghegan. She said: The Power of Attorney was suggested to me just after my diagnosis, which is now 11 years ago and I chose my son Martin. Even though he is a lawyer himself, it was a big responsibility for him because we didnt know how long it would be before I would need him to use it.

This has been a difficult journey for my family. My husband Sean, has passed away, so thats been the challenge. All the years of learning to live now without Sean, because he was an amazing husband who supported me in my decision makings while staying by my side.

The joy that it brings to be able to make your own decisions and having everything in place is amazing. You are not leaving the whole issue to your family as there can be disputes.

You just make a decision and let them know, whether you want to live at home or go to a nursing home. During the COVID period older people and people with disabilities had no opportunity to say that I dont want to go to a nursing home."
The case was outlined at the District Court sitting at Sligo Courthouse.

A man (60) who admitted handling a stolen quad bike has been given an 80 hours Community Service Order in lieu of two months in jail, at Sligo District Court.

Charlie Ward, of The Woodlands, Ballytivnan pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Honda 680 quad bike on October 1, 2020, at The Woodlands.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court gardai in Manorhamilton got a call on September 20 that a quad bike was stolen at Arigna, County Leitrim.

One witness described a suspicious green coloured van with two persons being seen in the area earlier on that date. It was described as a green-coloured Renault van.

Gardai checked for a vehicle matching that description and later found it to be registered to the defendant at The Woodlands.

When Garda Redahan called he found the van and it was seized and taken away for examination. The quad bike was found in the back of the van. The defendant was later arrested and charged. The court heard he had three previous historic convictions for road traffic matters but none for theft.

Mr John Anderson, Solicitor (defending) said there were two Probation reports before the court. He sad the defendant had been assessed as being at moderate risk of re-offending. He had suffered from a lack of education and was a 60-year-old man.

The quad bike had been recovered and there was no Victim Impact Statement. Judge Eiteain Cunningham said she was concerned at the defendants lack of openness about doing a Community Service Order.

Mr Anderson said the defendant had suffered a heart attack and also had diabetes. The solicitor said his client was prepared to do a community service order. And he would give an undertaking to the court to do so.

Judge Cunningham, imposed an 80 hour Community Service Order in lieu of two months in prison.
Jen Alderfer of St. Vincent Healthcare is leaving her position as president and CEO this month, opting for a bigger role with LifePoint Health, a health care system that works in growing rural communities.

Alderfer served as the president of St. Vs Montana and Wyoming markets for two years, seeing the hospital through the COVID-19 pandemic, a merger with Intermountain Health, a race to become a level I trauma center, and the design of a new hospital.

Her last day at St. Vs will be Oct. 20. She will assume her new role with LifePoint Health in Denver on Oct. 30 where she will oversee the operation of 18 hospital campuses in Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington, according to a LifePoint press release.

Interestingly, she will now be indirectly associated with Billings Clinic, which has a partnership with Community Medical Center in Missoula. Community Medical is part of the LifePoint Health system as is the Rehabilitation Hospital of Montana in Billings.

In an emailed statement to The Gazette, leadership at Intermountain Health expressed their gratitude for Alderfer's work.

Intermountain Health in Montana and Wyoming has made incredible progress in many areas under Jens leadership, most notably in EPIC Community Connect hosting for Cody Regional Health and St. Peters Health, launching a new ground ambulance program as well as a joint ventured flight program, and launching the design process for the new St. Vincent Hospital, the statement read.

Alderfers departure comes as the organization begins construction of a new hospital on its Billings campus and is reaching to level up its trauma services.

Leadership at Intermountain Health say the development projects will continue as planned.

We will not miss a beat in delivering on our mission and growth plans that continue to move forward.

CEO turnover in Montana

Turnover in upper-management at hospitals often results in delays for facility upgrades and postpones development of new services until new leadership arrives, according to the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

And Montana has seen a lot of CEO turnover in the years since the pandemic.

Montana has the highest annual rate of hospital CEO turnover in the whole country, according to a 2022 report by ACHE. Nationally, the turnover rate has settled at about 16% for the third year in a row, significantly lower than the 30% rate recorded in Montana.

Prior to Alderfer, Steve Loveless acted as the CEO of St. Vs for 11 years, a long time for a hospital administrator in a top management position. On average, hospital CEOs stay with an organization for about 5.5 years, according to ACHE.

Recently though, hospital administrators in Montana have vacated their positions, some voluntarily and others under pressure, right around the two year mark.

At the end of 2019, Billings Clinic fired Dr. Randall Gibb after two years as CEO following complaints of sexual harassment. Dr. Scott Ellner replaced Gibb, but after 18-months he suddenly resigned from his position.

Dr. Clint Seger has filled the position at Billings Clinic since August 2022, as interim CEO before he moved into the position permanently.

Dr. John Hill was the CEO of Bozeman Health for six years until he stepped down last October. His departure came after 28 employees were laid off from leadership positions and hiring efforts for another 25 open positions were frozen. The hospital was under significant financial strain in the early months of 2022 due to workforce shortages.

"The board of directors and I have mutually agreed that I will end my tenure as CEO of Bozeman Health, Hill said in an Oct. 2022 press release.

Interim CEO at St. Vs

The president of Intermountain Healths Western Colorado market and St. Marys Medical Center will act as the interim CEO at St. Vs until someone new is hired for the role.

Bryan Johnson previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for St. Marys and CEO of Intermountain Alta View Hospital in Sandy, Utah. He will maintain his responsibilities in Western Colorado until a permanent replacement has been established, Intermountain Health leadership said.
The world has recoiled in horror at images beamed across the globe in recent days from Gaza. The massacre of 260 festival-goers in the desert by Hamas, followed by Israels retribution, has seen tensions at an all-time high.

Given the long, fraught history between Israel and Palestine, its an incredibly emotive issue. Some of these tensions were certainly played out on the floor of Wexford County Council this week as the topic came up for discussion.
Wicklow TD Steven Matthews has welcomed the announcement that free travel passes will be provided for those who are certified medically unfit to drive, as announced in Budget 2024.

While the Green Party TD has praised the wider extension of the scheme, he added it was a key measure proposed by Epilepsy Ireland, which will be implemented as part of Budget 2024.

Following a statement confirming the allocation of funding for the measure, Deputy Matthews said: I am delighted that the Free Travel Pass Scheme will be extended to those who are certified medically unfit to drive. I have engaged with a number of individuals and families impacted by epilepsy, among other conditions, and I recently wrote to the Department of Transport in support of this measure.

"Lack of access to transport is an issue that particularly impacts those living with epilepsy and can result in difficulties in attending the workplace and participating in social activities.

This measure will help to combat social isolation in people with epilepsy and other conditions and is a step forward for disability rights. I would like to thank Epilepsy Ireland for their work in this campaign.

"There are an estimated 1,125 people living with epilepsy in Wicklow and I hope that this measure will directly benefit many of these individuals and their families. If anyone has any questions regarding the Free Travel Pass Scheme or supports for people living with epilepsy, please drop me an email and I will provide any assistance that I can, concluded Deputy Matthews.

It was announced in Budget 2024 that the Free Travel Scheme will be extended to people who are medically certified unfit to drive from July 2024.

Users will be able to avail of free travel on most Iarnrod Eireann, Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus, DART and Luas Services and on certain private bus and ferry services. Free travel is also available on Dublin Bus Nitelink, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI (Transport for Ireland) Local Link services.
Brittas Bay footpath works have been pushed back to the end of the summer.

Several safety improvement projects have taken place within the areas covered by Wicklow Municipal District, but works at Brittas Bay have been delayed.

The commencement date for the Brittas Bay footpath works have been pushed back to the end of the summer season due to the increased traffic volumes in the area. Hedge cutting of the verge area have been completed so survey works can be completed as part of design process.

Improvement works were carried out at Powers Avenue junction on the R755 to improve sight-lines. Resurfacing is due to take place within the next few weeks to improve surface and to improve vertical alignment.

Vehicle activated signage has been installed in advance of Djouce Crossroads on the R755 to warn drivers of crossroads. Similar signage is due to be completed at the railway bridge in Glenealy on the R752, with sign poles already installed.

A pedestrian crossing will be installed at Mountainview in Newtownmountkennedy in the interest of pedestrian safety. A dropped kerb and tactile pavement surfaces were completed at Newtownmountkennedy School to provide accessibility for all.

Wicklow County Council led projects include the completion of works in Roundwood on the L5061, including road widening and surface dressing. Works at the junction with the R764 were also completed.

Road widening and surface dressing works on the R756 footpath over the reservoir are completed.

Bus stop shelters with real time information have been erected in Ashford at the old Garda station and at the GAA pitch. To supplement these stops a bike shelter was to be installed at GAA pitch but has been put on hold for the moment due to a gas main,

Bike shelters have been erected at the Glendalough Upper Car Park, in Newtown opposite the Town House pub and at the Rathnew inbound bus stop.

Meanwhile, consultants are still working on the NTA funded pedestrian and cycle improvement scheme, with the initial survey completed on the Marlton Road and Rocky Road, linking to the train station on Station Road in Wicklow town.
Our beauty expert explains why exfoliating should be part of your winter skincare routine

During the summer, when more of it is on display, I find it much easier to take care of the skin on my body. Nobody wants to put on a pair of shorts when your legs have reached a scale level more suited to ocean living, thus we tend to regularly lash on the moisturiser. Sadly, as the temperature drops, so do hemlines, along with my enthusiasm for a lengthy bodycare routine.

Every winter, I try to streamline things in the hope that it might lead to greater dedication than the previous year, and this year, body scrub is an integral part of my winter routine. Once filled with microbeads, which destroyed your plughole and the planet, these days, scrubs tend to use salt or sugar to slough away dead skin.

Sugar scrubs tend to be a little gentler on the skin as the granules are less abrasive, but both dissolve as you use them, making for a much more pleasant overall experience. Aside from exfoliation, the act of scrubbing also improves blood circulation, which stimulates cell turnover.

Body scrubs are best used on clean, damp skin once or twice a week. I like to step out of the stream of the shower for a moment before using one so that my skin isnt soaking wet. Then, I scrub the skin all over my body using small, circular motions. Try to resist the urge to hoof out a handful of the product, and instead target specific areas with a small amount of product. Areas with tougher skin will require more time, product and attention, so be sure to take special care around your knees, elbows and ankles.

A body scrub isnt something you need to spend a lot of money on, but there are lots of products on the market with a wide price spectrum. Personally, Id prefer to invest my money in a cream or oil that I wont be rinsing off. With that in mind, lets start with some budget favourites.

Soap & Glorys Flake Away Scrub

Soap & Glorys Flake Away Scrub (11 via boots.ie) has been a favourite of mine for about 15 years. Its blend of shea butter, sweet almond oil, sea salt and sugar gets results, and it delivers Soap & Glorys signature scent, a combination of leafy greens, bergamot and mandarin.

Sanctuary Spas Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub

Sanctuary Spas Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub (13.50 via mccauley.ie) delivers on exfoliation, and also foams beautifully as you use it. A combination of vitamin E and almond oil leaves the skin feeling clean and hydrated, while your nose will enjoy a delicate floral scent with notes of damask rose, lily and palmarosa.

Freshs Brown Sugar Body Polish

If you do feel like spending a little more on your body scrub, Freshs Brown Sugar Body Polish (from 39.50 via cultbeauty.com) has been a cult favourite since 1991 thanks to its natural ingredients and transformative results. Theres no doubt this works, but its certainly not gentle, so keep that in mind if youre sensitive. The scent is an unusual combination of citrus and caramel, which some people absolutely adore but others arent so sure about, and is worth keeping in mind.

Sol de Janeiro's Bum Bum Body Scrub

Finally, Sol de Janeiro has attracted loads of fans via the delicious fragrance of its Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (from 21 via brownthomas.com), and its Bum Bum Body Scrub smells just as good (39 via brownthomas.com).

Sol de Janeiro's Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil

Its a lovely product, but if its the scent youre after, Id recommend the Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil (52 via brownthomas.com), which beautifully hydrates the skin and leaves a scent that lingers for much longer.

Lost in translation

The other day, a friend texted me with a beauty question. Is texture spray just hair spray? Should you have the same question, the answer is no. While hairsprays sole aim is to keep your hair in place, texture spray aims to create the illusion of life and movement with, yes, some hold. A good texture spray will absorb oil from the hairs roots while providing grip for upstyles, all leaving the hair touchably soft. When applying, shake the can well then lift the hair by section and spray in short bursts, holding it about 20cm away.

Something old

The Ordinarys Buffet Multi-Technology Peptide Serum

The Ordinarys Buffet Multi-Technology Peptide Serum (17.40 via cultbeauty.com) has been a staple of many a clever clogs skincare routine for years now. The brand itself is known for its effective products and wallet-friendly prices, along with its exceptionally wide range of products. No matter what youre looking for, its there. Many The Ordinary products focus on peptides  chains of amino acids which improve the elasticity and plumpness of the skin. Amino acids are tiny proteins, which are the foundation of collagen production, and as many of you know, the more collagen you have in your skin, the plumper its going to be, and the plumper it is, the more like tiny baby skin its going to look like, and arent we all seeking to have the skin of a beautiful baby?

... Something new

Rhode's Peptide Glazing Fluid

Hayley Bieber is one of the most influential people in beauty these days, so it should come as no surprise that she decided to monetise that via her own skincare range. Rhode launched in the US last year and promised to help those who used the products achieve Biebers much-loved glazed donut look. Now, the range has launched in Ireland, which means you can get your hands on her peptide-focused products. Peptide Glazing Fluid (35 via rhodeskin.com) promises to deliver plump skin using a blend of niacinamide, peptides, hyaluronic acid and marula oil.
Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled Russian attacks along the war front line at Avdiivka on Tuesday in a blow to Vladimir Putins forces, officials said.

I can add that our defenders on the Avdiivka front repelled all the attacks of the enemy, no losses of lines and positions were sustained, Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, Kyivs spokesperson of the joint press centre of defence forces, said.
Ukrainian leader appeals to West for more weapons

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday made a surprise appearance at Nato headquarters in Brussels, renewing his pleas for additional Western weapons to fend off Russian invaders occupying his country, likening his countrys struggle to the Hamas attack in Israel that has spiralled into a new war.

Terrorists like Putin, or like Hamas, seek to hold free and democratic nations as hostages, and they want power over those who seek freedom, Zelensky said. The terrorists will not change. They just must lose, and that means we must win.
LATEST | Gazans spend night in pitch dark as Israel levels neighbourhoods with airstrikes and masses troops on border after Hamas attack

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu forms unity government ahead of potential ground offensiveAs Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken  Red Cross chief

Israeli strikes demolish Gaza neighbourhoods as power plant runs out of fuel

Bel Trew and Dan Williams Thu 12 Oct 2023 at 07:30







Palestinians in Gaza spent the night in pitch darkness, surrounded by the ruins of pulverised neighbourhoods, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas, with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic.
Despite previously being shot down by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, legislators and a federal judge, Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, is again seeking permission for crossbow use during Montanas archery season.

The issue is on the Fish and Wildlife Commissions Oct. 19 agenda. This years archery season ends on Sunday, Oct. 15. Montana regulations specifically ban the use of crossbows during the archery-only season in the fall.

Bridger Canyon ranch owners sue Forest Service over public's use of road easement The complaint alleges recreationists have been parking and camping along Stone Creek Road and letting their dogs run onto the adjacent private property where theyve harassed livestock.

In 2021, the commission denied Molnar and three other hunters request for permission to use a crossbow during the archery season. One commissioner, Pat Tabor of Whitefish, suggested a working committee be formed to look into the issue.

The commissions ruling came on the heels of a federal judges ruling that Montanas law against crossbows during the archery season violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Crossbows can be used during other state hunting seasons.

In 2023, the Legislature voted down a bill sponsored by Molnar to approve crossbow use. It was the 10th time the issue had come before the assembly.

The latest request is for the adoption of a rule to allow crossbow use during the archery-only season by disabled hunters who are unable to use modified archery equipment.

Previous requests for crossbow use during archery season have been opposed by Montana archery groups who say crossbows are more lethal, can shoot farther and allowing their use could lead to abuse.

Also on the commissions agenda is a final action on the acquisition of 328 acres along the Lower Yellowstone River to create a new wildlife management area. The Wildcat Bend acreage is priced at $1.18 million and has received support from a coalition of Eastern Montana residents formed to search for more recreation opportunities along the river between Hysham and Sidney. The land is about seven miles east of Forsyth in Rosebud County and provides about 2.2 miles of riverfront.

The new wildlife management area would be close to another, much larger, parcel that is also being considered for acquisition. The 1,109-acre Wildcat Bend South land was purchased by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust with the idea the land would be held until FWP could arrange a buyout.

The commission meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. and will be streamed live on the FWP website and YouTube. The public can participate in person.

The commission will take public comment on agenda items for registered commenters both in person and on Zoom. Those who want to make a comment must register on the FWP website fwp.mt.gov by noon on Oct. 18.

For a complete list and more information on other agenda items, log on to https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/october-2023-meeting.
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Photo Courtesy: S Jaishankar X page

India and Sri Lanka recently launched a logo to mark 75 years of diplomatic relationship.

India External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared the logo on X and wrote: "India and Sri Lanka launched a logo celebrating the 75 Years of our diplomatic relationship today."

India and Sri Lanka launched a logo celebrating the 75 Years of our diplomatic relationship today.



Captures our deep historical, cultural and people to people bonds. pic.twitter.com/a78c8Rfj8f  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 11, 2023

"Captures our deep historical, cultural and people to people bonds," he said.

Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka on 10-12 October, 2023.

This would be EAMs second visit to Sri Lanka in 2023.

"In Colombo, EAM will attend the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on October 11, 2023, hosted by Sri Lanka, the current IORA Chair," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

At this meeting, India will assume the Vice-Chair role of IORA for 2023-25, leading to Chairship in 2025-27.

The COM will review IORAs recent activities and outline future cooperation.

Besides IORA engagements, EAM will have bilateral meetings in Colombo.
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi/UNI: The Supreme Court, in its order on Thursday, extended the interim bail of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra Minister, Nawab Malik, by three months on health grounds in a money laundering case.

The accused, Malik, was earlier granted bail for two months by the Top Court on August 11 on the same health grounds.

The Supreme Court on Thursday extended his interim bail as his health condition has not improved and his one kidney has failed.

The Apex Court's two-judge bench, headed by Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Bela M. Trivedi, passed the order today and extended the interim bail for three months to accused Malik, purely on health grounds.

The Solicitor General (SG), Tushar Mehta, appearing for the probe agency, Enforcement Directorate (ED), did not object to the grant of bail to Malik on medical grounds.

The former Maharashtra Minister and senior NCP leader, Malik, has been in judicial custody since March 2022, accused in a money laundering case. He was initially released on interim bail for the first time on August 11 of this year.

Malik sought bail on medical grounds in the Supreme Court after his plea for the same was rejected by the Bombay High Court.

Kapil Sibal, senior lawyer for Malik, had pleaded to the court that Malik's physical condition was serious as he suffers various kidney ailments and his right kidney's condition is deteriorating.

Sibal also stated that Malik has been undergoing treatment for the last 20 months due to a kidney ailment.

Mehta submitted that there is no objection to bail being granted on medical grounds for a stipulated period.

The Apex Court, after going through the submissions of all the parties and taking into record of all these, extended interim bail to Malik for three months.

The ED alleged that Malik had connived with D-gang members, Ibrahim's sister, Haseena Parker, and two others, and illegally usurped a property in Mumbai's Kurla between 1999 and 2006.

The agency, ED, has alleged that since Parkar handled the illegal business of the notorious gangster and global terrorist, the money that Malik allegedly paid her was ultimately used for terror funding, slapping charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the former legislator.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Agartala/UNI: The Supreme Court Collegium on Wednesday recommended the appointment of two judicial officers of Tripura as judges of Tripura High Court.

Law department officials here on Thursday said three members of the Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud recommended the law secretary of Tripura, Biswajit Palit, and the director of the Tripura Judicial Academy, Sabyasachi Datta Purkayastha, as high court judges, which was proposed by the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura in December last year in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues.

The SC Collegium has consulted "colleagues" who are conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Tripura to ascertain the suitability of these two names, officials stated, adding that in the SC communique mentioned, no input adverse to their reputation or integrity was placed.

The Collegium said it has also taken note of the report of the Judgment Assessment Committee and finds Palit and Purkayastha as suitable candidates for appointment as judges of the High Court.

"Views of the Chief Minister and the Governor for the State of Tripura on the recommendation have not been placed in the file," the SC statement mentioned.

The central government and Department of Justice forwarded the recommendation in terms of para 14 of the Memorandum of Procedure, which provides that if the comments of the state's constitutional authorities are not received within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of the proposal from the Chief Justice of the High Court, it should be presumed that the Governor and Chief Minister have nothing to add to the proposal and proceed accordingly.

"We have also taken note of the fact that the above proposal involves the non-recommendation of senior judicial officers. Cogent reasons have been recorded by the Collegium of the High Court for not recommending their names.
Photo courtesy: TV grab

Kolkata/IBNS: In an embarrassment for West Bengal's primary opposition camp Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), some of its workers staged a protest against the top brass outside party headquarters in Kolkata on Thursday.

In some visuals, angry workers were seen protesting against the top brass, kicking the posters of state president Sukanta Majumdar and others outside BJP headquarters near MG Road, which is close to central Kolkata.

This is the second consecutive day where BJP faced embarrassment as some workers even protested outside the party's Salt Lake office on Wednesday.

One of the protesters on Thursday claimed, "After Anubrata Mondal went to jail, the BJP state leadership is benefitting from a hefty amount of royalty."

Admitting it as a discomfort for the party, BJP state chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told a regional news channel, "The incident is unfortunate and not desirable. There might be some communication gap and BJP as a disciplined party will sort it out."

"But the incident has undoubtedly created discomfort for us," Bhattacharya added.

BJP, which had a meteoric rise in West Bengal politics in 2019 winning 18 of 42 Lok Sabha seats, failed to defeat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in the assembly elections which were held two years later.

Despite giving a call to win 200 assembly seats, the party, which has never ruled the state, stopped at 77, the figure which helped them to secure the opposition bench in the assembly.

With a few months left for the next General Elections, the protests have once again raised questions on BJP's political base in the state considering its poor run in several byelections which were mostly won by the ruling party.
Photo courtesy: UN News/Ziad Taleb A building is engulfed in flames in central Gaza.

New Delhi/IBNS: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is monitoring Operation Ajay, the evacuation mission launched by India to rescue its nationals from war-torn Israel.

Special flights and other arrangements have been made to evacuate the nationals.

The first Operation Ajay flight, which will carry 230 Indians, is ready to leave Israel on Thursday night.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters, "A charter flight will reach Tel Aviv today later in the evening. It is expected to get 230 passengers onboard. We have all options, but the role of IAF can't be ruled out."

Hamas-run health ministry has claimed Israel's overnight airstrikes have left 51 people dead and 281 hurt.

As per a report by BBC News, 1,300 people in Israel have been killed in the attack by militant organisation Hamas.

In a retaliatory air strike by Israel, more than 1,300 people have been killed in Gaza.

Over a tenth of the population in Gaza, more than 260,000 people, have been displaced since the start of the current conflict on October 7 and the numbers are rising fast.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region.

The UN chief raised alarm over clashes along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, as well as reported attacks from southern Lebanon.

I appeal to all parties  and those who have an influence over those parties  to avoid any further escalation and spillover, he told reporters at the UN Headquarters, in New York.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to kill every member of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. However, the country has been asked to conduct retaliatory action as per the rules of the war.

After the first meeting of his country's emergency government, Netanyahu said every Hamas member was "a dead man", reported BBC.

Benny Gantz, a significant member of the countrys opposition, said it was "a time for war".
Uttarakhand

Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand): Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled and laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth about Rs 4200 crore in sectors including rural development, road, power, irrigation, drinking water, horticulture, education, health, and disaster management, among others in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand today.

The projects that were inaugurated by the Prime Minister include 76 rural roads and 25 bridges built in rural areas under PMGSY; 15 buildings of BDO offices in 9 districts; upgradation of three roads built under central road fund viz Kausani Bageshwar Road, Dhari-Dauba-Giricheena road and Nagala-Kiccha road.

Uttarakhand's progress and wellbeing of its citizens are at the core of our government's mission. Speaking at inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of development works in Pithoragarh. https://t.co/JcBRkhMR0M  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2023

Among the projects inaugurated today, the upgradation of two roads on National Highways viz Almora Petshal - Panuwanaula - Danya (NH 309B) and Tanakpur - Chalthi (NH 125) are included.

Further, the new projects that will be undertaken also encompass three projects related to drinking water viz 38 Pumping drinking water schemes, 419 Gravity based water supply schemes and three tube wells based water supply schemes; Tharkot artificial lake in Pithoragarh; 132 KV Pithoragarh-Lohaghat (Champawat) Power Transmission Line.

As many as 39 bridges across Uttarakhand and Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) building in Dehradun, built under the World Bank-funded Uttrakhand Disaster Recovery Project, are also part of the new endeavors.

The foundation stones laid for the new projects include a scheme for the construction of 21,398 poly-houses, which will help in increasing the production of flowers and vegetables and improving their quality; a scheme for cultivation of high-density intensive apple orchards; five projects for NH road upgradation.

The new projects also include multiple steps for disaster preparedness and resilience in the state viz construction of bridges, upgradation of State Emergency Operation Center in Dehradun, steps for prevention of landslide in Balianala, Nainital and improvement in other infrastructure related to fire, health and forest; development of hostels and computer labs in 20 model degree college across the state.

In order to give a boost to the health facilities in the state, the PM also inaugurated health projects, including a 100-bed sub-district hospital at Someshwar, Almora; 50-bed Hospital block in Champawat.

The states sports facilities will also be bolstered with an Astroturf Hockey Ground at Haldwani Stadium, Nainital; Velodrome Stadium at Rudrapur.

He also launched the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission Scheme for infrastructure development in temples including Jageshwar Dham (Almora), Haat Kalika (Pithoragarh) and Naina Devi (Nainital) temples.
Image by Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Tollywood actress-MP Mimi Chakraborty plays a cop for the first time onscreen, courtesy Nandita Roy-Shiboprosad Mukherjee's mega Durga Puja release Raktabeej, which is based on an explosion that took place in West Bengal's Burdwan in 2014. IBNS correspondent Souvik Ghosh speaks to Mimi on the film, her acting and political careers and more at length. Read...

Q. How did you react to the massive cheer from your fans and followers for your look as a cop in Raktabeej?

A. Honestly, I can't react to these things much (smiles). A lot of my journalist friends had sent me the comments which were pouring in. I was like 'what's happening?' (laughs). I was feeling nice though. Then I posted the picture on my Instagram profile on popular demand. It was nice to see people were accepting the role in this way.

Mimi Chakraborty as Superintendent of Police, Burdwan in 'Raktabeej' | Photo courtesy: Instagram/Mimi Chakraborty

Q. How was playing a cop for the first time considering the fact we don't come across women police officers too often in Bengali films?

A. A lot of people have questioned why I work on one or two films per year. But I feel working on one or two films a year is too much. Gone are those days, when I used to work on four-five films per year with most of them turning out to be superhits. Now with the increase in scrutiny, moral and social policing, there is an added pressure. So I try to choose roles or films which I will be able to do.

I feel Sanjukta Mitra (Mimi's character in Raktabeej) was written thinking of me. Her body language matched the ones I have. I need to get opportunities to prove that I can pull off such acts as well. I am happy to explore this part of my life as an actor.

Q. Take us through the process of deconstructing your stardom and slipping into roles like the ones you played in Posto, Dhananjoy or Raktabeej.

A. Actually it was Ritu-da (late Rituparno Ghosh, iconic filmmaker whose daily soap Gaaner Oparey had featured Mimi in the lead) who got this thing called no-makeup look. It was applicable for me as well. After that, I faced it with Nandita Roy-Shiboprosad Mukherjee. I was doing consecutive commercial films as a lead back then so it was very challenging for me to play the role of a mother in Posto. So as an actor, I was not that secure back then to be sure of pulling off the role. It was a stressed part of my life to hide my facial flaws. But I don't feel it now with time and age.

Maturity comes with time and age and we embrace a lot of things in life. Now I feel like exploring the roles which will allow me to do something out of the box. Now I have reached a stage in my life where I love myself the way I am. Unlike in my 20s, when I was insecure about my flaws, now I embrace them.

Q. So you mean maturity is helping you to choose films or roles over the last few years?

A. Some films like Jawan or Pathaan or Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani demand a certain type of look. But the definitions of makeup and looking glamorous have changed with time. Going by natural instinct, an SP won't get time to do makeup. Once an actor gets that, she will start to focus on other aspects of the character and work accordingly.

Q. Don't you think a cop can also do makeup with changing times?

A. Ummm... maybe. Definitely, one can if she finds time. I haven't come across any woman cop with makeup. When I did Dhananjoy, a few people from the industry had said I could have done less makeup and changed my hairstyle. But I wondered why can't a lawyer be presentable. But thankfully, people don't talk much about these nowadays.

From my personal experience, I was trolled for becoming who I am when I walked into Parliament because people have a fixed mindset about how one looks in a particular sphere of life. Now I am not getting trolled for dressing exactly the same way in Parliament because people are used to it and a change has come. I haven't changed it but I have shown the guts to be someone who I am. So that is a part and parcel of the society, I guess. People always judge.

Q. You were also offered a role in Srijit Mukherji's Dawshom Awbotaar, which is one of the four mega releases this Durga Puja. Why didn't you opt for it along with Raktabeej? Don't you think you could have explored your two sides as an actor simultaneously?

A. See I had featured in two Durga Puja releases, Shudhu Tomari Jonyo and Katmundu, earlier. As an actor, it becomes very stressful to deal with two production houses at the same time. I remember, I had to pick up all the calls by myself in those days. The promotional tours and premieres get hectic at the end. It was too much of a trauma to handle. I don't know about others but I can't handle it anymore (laughs). There was a time in my career, I wanted to do everything which used to come my way but now I feel like avoiding the rush.

Coming to Dawshom Awbotaar, who doesn't want to work with Srijit Mukherji? But I had already committed to Raktabeej by then. It was a bit late for me to dive into a film in a scenario where I had already committed to a puja release. As an actor, I feel I would not have been able to give my entirety to the film so I didn't sign in.

Q. You have reduced the number of yearly releases, attend Parliament, visit your constituency at regular intervals, spend ample time at home. Are you now more sorted in life than ever before?

A. Oh, very much. I know what I want from life. I am no longer insecure in my life. I am in a very happy space in my life where I love and respect what I do. I am in a space where my time and mental peace are very important. I believe none of us can enjoy whatever we have without mental peace.

I spend my time at home. I do planting. Of late, I am watching YouTube videos and growing vegetables at home (smiles). I go to office and fulfill my political commitments. I meet a lot of people in my constituency, which also locates my residence. So I spend my time in my own way. Work is my passion because it has made me what I am today. The only difference is I have consciously reduced the workload and try to focus on the right projects, irrespective of the outcomes.

Q. Why do you make restricted presences in various social gatherings?

A. Honestly, it takes a lot of effort to attend social gatherings. I have to call my team members, take all the effort to be prim and proper so I feel it's better to be at home. Trust me, this is the real reason (laughs).

Q. How comfortable was it to make your Bollywood debut with Shastry Virudh Shastry, a Hindi remake of Posto, considering you had already worked with the director-duo (Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee)?

A. There was a comfort zone because I knew the directors. In Mumbai, work is not done in a rush so one gets a lot of relaxation and proper breaks. The technique of shooting is much different there as compared to Kolkata. They are very professional.

Q. Why did you opt for a lawyer's role in your upcoming debut project on OTT even after playing an advocate in the past?

A. When I heard the script, the first thing that came to my mind was that I had already played a lawyer in Dhananjoy. But this character in my OTT debut is inspired from a real life incident in Kolkata. I didn't want to leave such an opportunity. The audience will get to see a different version of mine in the series.

Q. You are set to complete your first term soon as a Lok Sabha MP. Tell us whether your outspoken nature created troubles for you in politics?

A. I have never received any kind of restrictions from our chief (Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo) because I believe I haven't done anything such. I live a very simple life. I am an actor first. She (Mamata Banerjee) also loves the fact I am who I am. I believe no one from the film fraternity, who joined politics, was restricted in any way.

Having said that, responsibility comes with posts. I am an individual first so I always remain vocal through my social media posts. But there are certain areas where I can't be politically incorrect because a lot of people from inside politics talk when an outsider, especially a woman, joins the field. So one has to avoid all those.

(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)
A Stanton woman facing a November trial on Burleigh County drug charges has entered guilty pleas in a 2022 Mercer County case and been sentenced.

Under a plea agreement, Shelby Lemer, 28, entered guilty pleas Wednesday to six charges stemming from events in Mercer County in January of last year. The most serious of those charges were possession with intent to manufacture or deliver meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia associated with meth. There also were a number of misdemeanor charges.

Had she been convicted of the most serious charges, Lemer would have faced up to five years in prison. Instead, the most serious charges were closed as misdemeanors and she was given a 360-day suspended jail sentence and three years of supervised probation.

Defense attorney Chris Redmann told South Central District Judge Pam Nesvig that the arrangement reached with prosecutors was "fair." He outlined Lemer's history of addiction but highlighted her voluntarily entering a residential treatment program.

"She has a history of addiction. It's been a persistent problem," Redmann said.

Assistant State's Attorney Todd Schwarz said he hopes Lemer makes the most of her opportunity.

"This is her one chance," he said. "If she comes back I'll be asking for substantial (prison) time."

Lemer was free on bond in the Mercer County case when she was arrested in Bismarck last July.

Officers performing a welfare check on a vehicle in a parking lot at Kirkwood Mall found a woman who identified herself as Emilee Pflinger, using a North Dakota driver's license. That woman, police later discovered, was Lemer, according to an affidavit.

A K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle, and a search allegedly revealed a small amount of heroin, meth pipes and 128 grams of meth. Authorities say a low-level user typically has no more than 3 grams.

Lemer is charged with possession of methamphetamine and providing false information to law enforcement. She has pleaded not guilty, and is free on bond. She could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Redmann is representing Lemer in the Bismarck case, as well.
Popular as the City of A Hundred Spires, Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, wakes up to an extravaganza of light and art after dark for a few days every October.

Known as the Signal Festival, this annual light and multimedia festival transforms the historic streets and landmarks of the capital city into a mesmerizing display of art and technology.

Said to be one of Europes best festivals of light, it is an amalgamation of art, technology and urban space.

For a decade, the festival has been showcasing light installations, multimedia performances, and interactive art exhibitions.

This year, to mark the completion of a decade, the festival organisers have decided to expand the vision to focus on the world and its diversity.

Nature, technology, society, culture - all of these combine to form the ecosystems in which we live and search for traces of joy, beauty and the excitement of new discoveries, the organisers mentioned on the website.

In 2023, the Signal Festival (October 12 to 15) will not only illuminate Pragues streets, public buildings and popular historical monuments but also go beyond the usual main festival routes.

How to enjoy the Signal Festival?

Plan your visit: The festival spans multiple days and venues. Therefore, chart an itinerary around the city to see the best displays.

Acquire a map: To find your way through the maze of installations, arm yourself with a festival map or download the Signal Festival app (which also contains a digital map).

Follow the paths: There are paths to direct visitors to the most captivating installations.

Culture and cuisine: There will be live cultural programmes across venues in the city (some are free while some are ticketed); in between the explorations, pay a visit to a local cafe or any of the food stalls set up on the festival route to indulge in local favourites.

Plan a tour of Czechia

If you have time in hand, you may also plan a short tour of the Czech Republic, often lovingly referred to as Czechia.

Known for over 1200 castles, 16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, thermal spas, and more, the country is an explorers delight.

Apart from Prague, Czechia has picturesque places like Cesky Krumlov, South Moravian region  Brno and the beautiful cultural Landscape the Lednice  Valtice complex, etc.

Indian passport holders can apply for a short-term (Schengen) visa up to 90 days to visit the Czech Republic.
A building collapsed into the street in Gaza. Photo Courtesy: UNRWA/Mohammed Hinnawi

Israel says it is targeting Hamas in response to the latters onslaught over the weekend that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and is aiming to completely eliminate the terror group, reports The Times of Israel.

Follow Live Blog: #IsraelAtWar: LIVE updates of Israel-Palestine Conflict

Over a tenth of the population in Gaza, more than 260,000 people, have been displaced since the start of the current conflict on 7 October and the numbers are rising fast.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region.

The UN chief raised alarm over clashes along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, as well as reported attacks from southern Lebanon.

I appeal to all parties  and those who have an influence over those parties  to avoid any further escalation and spillover, he told reporters at the UN Headquarters, in New York.

Release Israeli hostages in Gaza

Guterres reiterated the need to always protect civilians, as guaranteed by international law.

I call for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza, he said.

Eleven UNRWA staff killed

Amidst the volatile situation, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) reported that eleven of its staff members have been killed since Saturday, while 30 students at its schools died and a further eight injured.

UNRWA is a lifeline for most of the roughly two million Palestine refugees in Gaza, providing essential services such as education and healthcare. The conflict has forced the closure of its 14 food distribution centres as well as a reduction in operations.

In addition about 220,000 Palestinians have sought shelter in about 90 UNRWA facilities across the enclave.

Also Read: What is Hamas in the context of Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel

UNRWA Director of Communications Juliette Touma told UN News, on Tuesday, that many staff are still working.

We have people who are responding to the needs of the people in the shelters. They are giving them mattresses, a place to sleep, clean water, some food, in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), she said.
Photo Courtesy: YouTube Screengrab

Washington/UNI: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and Jordan from October 11-13 in a show of support for the Jewish state amid its escalating war with Hamas.

The secretary is expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday. In both countries, the top US diplomat will meet with senior officials to discuss measures to bolster Israels security and underscore the US's unwavering support for Israels right to defend itself, according to the State Department.

Blinken told reporters before boarding a plane Wednesday that he plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other senior officials, and is looking forward to seeing US embassy teams in the country.

Blinken will follow up on the discussions that he and President Joe Biden have been having with their Israeli counterparts since the launch of Hamas' attack on Israel.

"It will be a message of solidarity and support," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday during a press briefing.

"Were there to support them as they fight against these brutal terrorist attacks, to talk about what additional assistance we can provide them."

The secretary will also use this opportunity to reiterate his condolences for the victims of the attacks against Israel and condemn them in the strongest terms, the State Department said.

"We will be reiterating, reaffirming the very strong message that President Biden has delivered to any country or any party that might try to take advantage of this situation, and that message is Don't," Blinken told reporters.

The trip will also focus on the issue of American citizens who have been missing since the beginning of the Hamas attack. The number of US nationals killed in the Israel-Hamas war since Saturday has reached 22 as of Wednesday and will continue to grow, according to Blinken.

On Saturday, the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale attack on Israel, prompting the latter to declare a state of war the following day. On Monday, Israel put the Gaza Strip under full blockade, with no food, water, gas, or electricity supplies. Both Israel and Palestine have so far reported hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.

From the very beginning of the attack on Israel by Hamas, the United States declared its full unwavering support for Israel and its readiness to provide its closest ally in the Middle East with everything it needs to protect itself.

Within 24 hours of the start of the escalation, the United States decided to send the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. On Tuesday, the Pentagon confirmed it was considering sending a second carrier strike group to the region in a show of support. The move prompted criticism from Russia and Turkey, which have warned it will only exacerbate the situation in the region.

At the same time, the US underscores it does not plan to have boots on the ground or to take any military action to support Israel in repelling the ongoing attacks.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Washington: Israel was alerted by Egypt of a possible attack three days before Hamas' lethal cross-border assault, a US congressional panel chairman has said, AFP news agency reported.

House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee head Michael McCaul told reporters that a warning was given to Israel.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the report of the alleged warning as "absolutely false", reported BBC.

While Israel fights back the deadliest attack by Hamas in the countrys 75-year history, it is examining what went wrong with the Israeli intelligence services which failed to smell the well-planned, large-scale attack by Palestinian militants.

"We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen," Mr McCaul told reporters following a closed-door intelligence briefing on Wednesday for lawmakers about the Middle East crisis, according to AFP news agency.

"I don't want to get too much into classified, but a warning was given," the Texas Republican added. "I think the question was at what level."

Also Read: What is Hamas in the context of Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel

At least 150 people, including Israelis, foreigners, and those with dual nationality, were abducted to the Gaza Strip by Hamas during the Saturday attack.

According to reports, more than 1,200 people were killed in Israeli towns and neighbouring areas.

Israel has implemented a "complete siege" on Gaza in the days following, severing access to water, fuel, and electricity.
Photo Source: YouTube video Grab

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to kill every member of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. However, the country has been asked to conduct the retaliatory action as per the rules of the war.

After the first meeting of his country's emergency government, Netanyahu said every Hamas member was "a dead man", reported BBC.

Benny Gantz, a significant member of the countrys opposition said it was "a time for war".

US President Joe Biden, who earlier said that Israel has the right to defend itself, said he had conveyed to Netanyahu that Israel must "operate by the rules of war".

The death toll in Israel has reached 1,200. More than 1,100 people have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza.

While Biden acknowledged Israels anger and frustration, he urged Israel to adhere to the principles of the Geneva Conventions. He also warned Iran - which has welcomed the Hamas attack - to "be careful".

Earlier on Wednesday Netanyahu and Gantz agreed to set aside bitter political rivalry that had spiralled into widespread agitation.

In his address to Israeli citizens, Gantz said that the newly-formed government was "united" and ready to "wipe this thing called Hamas off the face of the Earth".

In addition to Netanyahu and Gantz, the interim government will also include the leader of the centrist National Unity Party, a former defence minister, along with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

While the primary opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has not yet joined the coalition, Netanyahu and Gantz have indicated in a joint statement that a position will be kept open for him in the war cabinet.

"During the war period, no bills or government decisions will be promoted that do not concern the conduct of the war," said a statement, reported BBC.

"All senior appointments will be automatically extended during the war period."

The emergency government aims to provide a wider national agreement on military operations.

It also brings two members with expertise in military strategy into the war cabinet.

Both Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who joins as an observer, are former Israeli military chiefs of staff.
Image Credit: UNI

Gaza/IBNS/UNI: Israel destroyed about 752 residential buildings in its airstrikes on Gaza since Saturday, a Palestinian official said Thursday.

In a press statement sent to Xinhua, Salama Maarouf, the head of the Hamas-run government media office, said 42 government headquarters and dozens of public facilities and establishments were also destroyed.

In addition, about 89 schools were attacked by the strikes, and nine of them became no longer operational, according to Maarouf.

He called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop the Israeli strikes on Gaza.

The Israeli airstrikes followed Hamas' surprise attack Saturday on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties during this round of conflict, with a death toll amounting to more than 2,700 as of Thursday.
Image Credit: Image tweeted by Benjamin Netanayu of his meeting with Antony Blinken

The office of the Israeli prime minister Thursday shared horrifying photos of dead babies on social media saying that they were among the pictures shown by Benjamin Netanyahu to visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Netanyahu's office claimed the photos were of babies murdered and burnt by Hamas.

Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS, the prime minister's office posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The timing of the post is significant as it comes amid a controversy over Israel's claims of Hamas beheading babies.

US President Joe Biden had said on Wednesday that the attacks by Hamas were "sheer evil" and claimed to have seen photos of the group's operatives beheading babies.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed on Thursday that the United States will always be by Israels side as he arrived in Tel Aviv in a show of support amid the escalating war with Hamas.

"The message that I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself but as long as America exists, you will never ever have to, we will always be there by your side," Blinken said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are currently holding an additional expanded meeting  with the participation of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Unity Chairman MK Benny Gantz and MK Gadi Eisenkot. pic.twitter.com/Fej0kPAicy  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 12, 2023

Israel has "the right, indeed an obligation to defend itself and to ensure that this will never happen again," the secretary reiterated.

The US is supplying ammunition and interceptors to replenish Israels Iron Dome, alongside other defense materials. The first shipments of US military support have already arrived in Israel, and more is on the way, Blinken said.

The US also continues to work closely with Israel to secure the release of people taken hostage by Hamas, he stressed.

The US is pursuing intensive diplomacy throughout the region to prevent the conflict from spreading, Blinken said.
Image Credit: UNI

Gaza/IBNS/UNI: At least 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the beginning of the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict days ago, according to a UN agency.

In a press statement sent to Xinhua, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said "218,600 internally displaced persons now reside in 92 schools affiliated with the UN agency in various areas of the Gaza Strip."

The UNRWA said many others are sheltering in government schools and other buildings, noting that the number of the displaced is increasing on a daily basis.

The UN agency added that the shelters are overcrowded, with a limited amount of food, non-food items, and potable water.

"The water crisis is looming in UNRWA shelters and throughout Gaza due to the lack of electricity needed to operate pumps and water desalination plants and the limited water supply in the local market," the UNRWA warned.

Hamas launched on Saturday a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to Gaza, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on the Palestinian enclave. The exchanges of fire have left a heavy toll on both sides.
Image: Facebook/Israel Defense Forces

Syria 's two main airports in the capital Damascus and northern city Aleppo, which were under control of the war-torn country became out of service on Thursday as the result of Israeli strikes, state media reports.

Causing frequent grounding of the flights, the "simultaneous" strikes "damaged landing strips in the two airports, putting them out of service", state media reported citing an unidentified military source, as per AFP.

The most recent attacks occurred amid a sustained exchange of fire between Hamas and Israel, which has been taking place for the sixth consecutive day.

Hundreds of Hamas militants on Saturday infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 1,200 individuals, the majority of whom were civilians.

These strikes came during the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and hours after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a telephone call with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, called on Arab and Islamic countries to cooperate in confronting Israel, reports AFP.

The Syrian state media called these strikes as a "desperate attempt" by Israel to "divert attention" away from the Hamas conflict in Gaza, reported AFP.

Over the past decade, Israel has conducted hundreds of air strikes against its northern neighbour, predominantly targeting Iranian-backed forces, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, and Syrian army outposts.

Israel has refrained from commenting on individual strikes conducted on Syria, but has repeatedly declared that it will not permit its arch-rival Iran, which supports Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, to expand its presence in the country.

On Saturday, Iran, which supports Hamas, issued a statement claiming that it was not responsible for the attack.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

People from all walks of life in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) recently took to the region's streets and demonstrated against a range of issues they have been grappling with for an extended period.

The protesters, including women, lawyers, and activists, expressed their frustration over government discrimination and oppressive policies. The region has witnessed numerous protests in recent months, with grievances ranging from wheat flour shortages to exorbitant electricity prices, ANI reported.

Faisal Jameel, Leader of Awami Action Committee told ANI, Initially the protests started in Poonch when people held a sit-in (against the administration) for around four months owing to high prices of wheat flour and after that suddenly the overbilling of electricity started. It further resented the general public leading to massive protests in Muzaffarabad and in the whole of PoK.

He added, Awami Action Committee actively participated in the movement and the protests happening today are the outcome of that movement. This movement will continue (against the administration) until our demands are met."

Working women, who are reportedly facing troubles in the region, also joined the demonstration.

Female lawyers gathered outside the Central Press Club in Muzaffarabad to denounce the injustices faced by POK residents, reports ANI.
Tolentino appeals for speedy remedy for Filipino fishermen in collision near Bajo de Masinloc

MANILA  Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino vehemently appealed on Thursday for the immediate remedy for the families of three Filipino dead fishermen and 11 survivors of the fatal maritime collision near Bajo De Masinloc.

"Mas maganda siguro mabigyan natin ng hustisya rin itong mga namatayan without waiting for the results of, for instance, the reply coming from Singapore or from the flag state." Tolentino told Senior State Counsel Atty. Fretti Ganchoon during the motu proprio inquiry on the ramming incident conducted by the Senate Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones.

The panel chairman stressed that without disregarding the international law, there is no need to wait for the resolutions of other jurisdictions to provide humanitarian help to the bereaved families and survivors.

"Huwag na natin hintayin 'yong ilang provisions ng international law na mabuksan dito. Mas maganda siguro we assert jurisdiction, 'yong criminal jurisdiction ng coastal state," he said.

Ganchoon, affirmed this by saying that there is no international law that prevents the speedy process of humanitarian remedy for the families of fatalities and survivors.

Tolentino then urged the State Counsel and other concerned authorities present at the hearing to personally talk to the families and survivors "not just to commiserate but to arrive at an amicable resolution."
A law aimed at preventing foreign adversaries from investing in North Dakota could be difficult to enforce, according to representatives from two state agencies.

Officials from the office of the North Dakota Secretary of State and the Attorney General's office said during a recent Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee meeting that each of their agencies likely lacks the resources and intelligence access to fully vet whether foreign adversaries are involved in companies that do business in North Dakota.

"We don't have anybody with boots on the ground in China," Deputy Attorney General Claire Ness told lawmakers.

Legislators earlier this year passed two laws limiting and prohibiting various foreign investments in North Dakota. Senate Bill 2371 states that companies in which a foreign adversary has significant financial interest are prohibited under most circumstances from holding property in North Dakota or entering into contracts with local governments. The bill relies on the federal list of foreign adversaries to determine what nations the law applies to. This includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.

House Bill 1135 places numerous restrictions on purchases of agricultural land by non-U.S. citizens and entities.

The meeting was held to build on a study assigned in Senate Bill 2371. The study seeks to determine the extent to which foreign adversaries are involved in businesses operating in North Dakota and ways to address the matter.

The law was passed in the wake of a dispute involving Fufeng USA, a subsidiary of a Chinese company that sought to build a corn mill in Grand Forks. The contract between the city and Fufeng was ultimately canceled after the U.S. Air Force declared the investment to be a national security risk.

The issue also came up this summer when Burleigh, Emmons, and Richland counties raised concerns about investors in Summit Carbon Solutions, the company seeking to build a multistate pipeline system which would carry carbon dioxide emissions into North Dakota for permanent underground storage. The Attorney General's office informed the counties that it would not review Summit's investors since the company began operating in the U.S. prior to Aug. 1, making Summit exempt from the recent legislation.

Many "foreign" companies doing business in North Dakota are U.S.-based, but established in other states. Of the 221 non-U.S. foreign entities registered to do business in North Dakota, 160 are from Canada, six are from U.S. territories, and none are registered in countries classified as foreign adversaries, according to North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe.

A company's registration with the secretary of state is broadly where the agency's knowledge ends, however, said Michael Monroe, director of the office's Business Services division. He said the office serves as an administrative agency to ensure that business registrations meet requirements, but if everything checks out, the office takes companies at their word.

"Whether it's Delaware, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Alaska or any other state, we have no way of verifying whether those businesses are directly or indirectly controlled by a foreign adversary," he said.

The web of operations for many businesses can be complex and span multiple states and countries, Monroe added.

"We have a foreign corporation in Grand Forks registered with our office that has a principle executive office addressed in Grand Forks, they have a Delaware domestication for their certificate of good standing, a mailing address in Cincinnati, officers and directors in Canada and France, but they're headquartered in Denmark," he said.

Any investigation of a company seeking to do business in North Dakota would involve the state Attorney General's office. But when it comes to the involvement of non-U.S. actors, much of this information is wrapped up with federal intelligence agencies, North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation Agent Lindsay Wold told the committee. This presents numerous bureaucratic and legal limits on the information that the state can access.

"Each federal law enforcement agency is going to have its own set of protocols for conducting searches of their databases, and these procedures can differ from one agency to another depending on the federal agency that we are collaborating with -- they may or may not have the capability to perform the search of their databases to aid in our investigation, they may not have an obligation to respond ... if they choose not to (respond), we do not have the authority to mandate that they respond to us," she said.

BCI Director Lonnie Grabowska said the Attorney General's office could investigate people who are doing business directly in North Dakota, but the agency's reach mostly ends there.

"What you're not going to get are those folks that are at those higher levels that (are) overseas, because I don't think we're going to know who they are nor are we going to have those vital things such as fingerprints," he said.

He added that as the law sits today, it puts too much of a responsibility on cities and counties to determine whether they are potentially entering into business with a foreign adversary.

"Right now it's tough for us to vet these entities so it's probably almost impossible for them to accomplish," Grabowska said.

State Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, asked if it would ultimately be impossible to enforce Senate Bill 2371 given the constraints that state agencies face.

Ness responded, "I don't know if anything is impossible, but I think the Legislature may want to consider that we do have limited resources without the cooperation of our federal partners."

Grabowska said the state could attempt to set up mechanisms to make it easier for the state to communicate its requests to federal agencies, but that would still likely have limits.

Rep. Paul Thomas, R-Velva who chairs the committee, said he wants to hear from federal intelligence agencies at a future meeting so the committee can get a better grasp of how much help may come from the federal government in these investigations.

"We're not throwing in the towel yet," he said.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

An 18-year-old Hindu girl has been allegedly abducted, gang-raped and murdered in Paksitan's Cholistan region, media reports said.

According to reports, the incident happened between the night Oct 3 and 4 when the victim (K) mysteriously disappeared from her hut in the desert in the area of Qasimwala Bangla in the limits of the Derawar Police Station.

The girls parents searched for her but could not trace her. After 24 hours, the family found her body in the nearby canal, reported Dawn News.

The girls father alleged that his daughter was gang-raped by four men. He identified the suspects and nominated three of them in the first information report (FIR) registered under sections of rape and murder with the Derawar Police Station, the Pakistani newspaper reported.

He alleged the suspects had abducted, gang-raped and killed his daughter because he had stopped them from being around his hut.

He told Dawn News that out of vengeance, they abducted his daughter, gang-raped her and murdered her.

The victim's body has been sent for postmortem.

Police said all three suspects in the incident, who have been named in the FIR, have been arrested.

An investigation into the incident is currently going on.
Pixabay

The All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) recently launched a sit-in outside the Civil Secretariat in Pakistan's Lahore city against the proposed privatisation of public schools, amendments to pension regulations and stoppage of leave encashment.

The All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) recently launched a sit-in outside the Civil Secretariat in Pakistan's Lahore city against the proposed privatisation of public schools, amendments to pension regulations and stoppage of leave encashment.

As many as 34 organisations of the employees of various Punjab government departments, including health, education and higher education, besides the members of the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), are taking part in the sit-in, reported Dawn News.

The protesters were seen chanting slogans against the caretaker government and Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi during their demonstration.

The Punjab government placed barricades outside the Civil Secretariat and also deployed police on the Lower Mall, the newspaper reported.

Punjab Teachers Union President Chaudhry Sarfraz told Dawn News the government was following anti-worker and labour policies and they would not allow it to happen.

He said they would not leave the sit-in until the acceptance of their legal demands while adding that no one from the government arrived at the protest for talks with the protesters.

The employees from all other cities of the province are reaching the sit-in and they will also stop working in all government offices, he announced.
Dorothy Hoffner, a 104-year-old woman from Chicago who made headlines for her recent skydiving adventure, has sadly passed away. Her close friend, Joe Conant, revealed that she was found by staff at the Brookdale Lake View senior living community on Monday morning.

As per reports, Dorothy passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday night.

Dorothy's remarkable skydive could earn her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest person to ever jump from a plane.

Joe Conant, a nurse and a close friend of Dorothy Hoffner, shared that he first crossed paths with her several years ago when caring for another senior living center resident.

At her request, he affectionately referred to her as "Grandma." Conant noted that Dorothy possessed incredible energy and remained mentally sharp throughout their friendship.

screenshot

She was not someone who would take naps in the afternoon or not show up for any function, dinner, or anything else. She was always there, fully present. She kept going, always.



Dorothy Hoffner achieved a tandem skydive on October 1, which could potentially earn her recognition as the world's oldest skydiver.

She leaped from an aircraft at an altitude of 13,500 feet (4,100 meters) at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Illinois, approximately 85 miles (140 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

Age is just a number, Hoffner told a cheering crowd moments after landing. It was not her first time jumping from a plane when she was a spry 100 years of age.

Joe Conant mentioned that he's completing the necessary paperwork to ensure Guinness World Records posthumously certifies Dorothy Hoffner as the world's oldest skydiver, although this may take some time.

Linnea Ingegard Larsson of Sweden, who is 103 years old, set the current record in May 2022.

Conant clarified that Hoffner didn't skydive to break a record; she relished the experience so much that she wanted to do it again.

She had no intention of breaking the record. And she had no interest in any publicity or anything. She wasnt doing it for any other reason than she wanted to go skydiving, he said.

Skydive Chicago and the United States Parachute Association celebrated Hoffner in a joint statement released Tuesday.

We are deeply saddened by Dorothys passing and feel honored to have been a part of making her world-record skydive a reality.

Skydiving is an activity that many of us safely tucked away in our bucket lists. But Dorothy reminds us that its never too late to take the thrill of a lifetime. We are forever grateful that skydiving was a part of her exciting, well-lived life, they said.

Hoffner worked as a telephone operator with Illinois Bell for over four decades, later becoming AT&T, before retiring 43 years ago.

She was a lifelong Chicago resident, never married, and had no immediate family members. A memorial service for Hoffner is scheduled for early November.

She was a dear friend who was an inspiration, Conant said.

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Every year, high school seniors across the United States embark on a journey of uncertainty, hope, and ambition: the college application process. This pivotal moment can determine their future trajectory, making it exciting and nerve-wracking.

Amid this rollercoaster ride, one American teenager stood out for their remarkable resilience.

Unsplash

Despite receiving rejection letters from 16 of the 18 colleges they applied to, this determined student's story took an unforeseen turn, demonstrating that sometimes the path to success can be unconventional.



Stanley Zhong, a teenager from the United States who faced rejections from 16 colleges, including prestigious institutions like MIT, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and Caltech, has been offered a job by tech giant Google.

Who is Stanley Zhong?

About | OpenBrackets

Stanley Zhong, an 18-year-old from Palo Alto, graduated from Gunn High School this year. He achieved an impressive SAT score of 1590 out of 1600 and began his startup, RabbitSign, during his sophomore year.



How did Zhong receive an offer from Google?

shutterstock

According to ABC30, Stanley Zhong obtained a position as a software engineer at Google and started his new job this week. He received admission offers from only the University of Texas and the University of Maryland, with plans to attend the University of Texas. However, his college enrollment was postponed when he received a job offer from Google.



Stanley Zhong's father posted his story on various parent chat groups and blogs, and it quickly went viral, especially during the ongoing national discussion about elite college admissions, as reported by ABC30.

His parents recognize that Zhong may have faced unusual circumstances, but they use his experience to encourage discussions about making college admissions more transparent.

Is college still an option for Zhong?

While the prospect of college remains open, Stanley Zhong finds himself at a crossroads. For now, he's savoring the unique experience of life on Google's campus rather than a traditional college campus, and only time will tell which path he chooses to explore further.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


The decarbonization of shipping, as well as the financial aid of the Greek shipowners in the affected areas of Thessaly, dominated a meeting betweenand the

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with the Union of Greek Shipowners -  
Socio-political commentator, Reno Omokri, on Wednesday posited that the 2023 Labour Partys (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will never be Nigerias President.

Omokri who described Obi as a pathetic desperado, was reacting to the former Anambra State Governors world press conference on the ongoing certificate saga of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

During the press conference, Obi said the world would see Nigerians as fraudsters, forgers, and identity thieves due to claims of Tinubu forging his certificate, hence, Tinubu should reintroduce himself.

Insisting that Tinubu attended the Chicago State University, Omokri wrote via X: Peter Obi is just a pathetic desperado. So, because of false allegations that President Bola Tinubu did not attend Chicago State University, the world now views Nigerians as fraudsters? Really?

READ ALSO: Tinubu Didnt Forge His CSU Certificate, Graduated With Hounours  BBC

So, when President Obama faced false allegations of not being born in America, the world looked at all Americans as fraudsters?

Bola Tinubu, a male, was admitted, attended and graduated from Chicago State University. I went there and verified it. It is true. Deal with it.

You made a false allegation and want to blame the person you lied against? Your proven Pandora corruption did not give Nigeria a bad name, but this does?

You will NEVER be President of Nigeria, Peter Obi. 
Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally clarify the discrepancies in his academic records.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ibe said it took Abubakar 24 hours to explain the discrepancy in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate when confronted by critics.

Recall that Abubakar whose WAEC certificate bears Sadiq has since sparked forgery allegations on social media.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate explained that he used the name Sadiq when he wrote his WAEC in 1968, adding that he later swore an affidavit to declare that Abubakar Sadiq and Atiku Abubakar are the same person.

READ ALSO: You Looked For Tinubus Certificate In US When Youre Unsure Of Your Name In Nigeria  Presidency Tackles Atiku

Reacting, Ibe said Abubakars explanation and display of the affidavit to back his claim shows an example of an upright man.

Every elementary student of Islamic civilization will not find it hard to decipher that both Siddiq and Atiku are names that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave to his bosom friend, Caliph Abubakar. Therefore, Siddiq and Atiku are names that have a historical link to one person in Islamic theology.

Atiku Abubakar, knowing full well the importance of proper documentation, went ahead in 1973, more than 50 years ago to depose to an affidavit that he would wish to be known officially as Atiku Abubakar and still keeps the original copy of that affidavit up to this day.

However, while it has only taken Atiku less than 24 hours to come out with full disclosure on his public records, President Tinubu has lived behind the veil for more than half of a century, the statement read.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bashiru Ajibola, has said that the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, could be jailed over their statements on President Bola Tinubus credentials.

Recall that Obi, during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, asked President Tinubu to reintroduce himself to Nigerians and clarify the issues of his identity.

The former Governor of Anambra state also charged the President to disclose his real names, state of origin, and where he served when he did the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Reacting to Obis press conference in an interview on Channels Televisions Politics Today on Wednesday, Ajibola said Tinubu does not need reintroduction because Nigerians are aware of his credentials.

The former Spokesman of the Senate said Atiku and Obi are suffering from the trauma of their electoral loss because they are serial losers, stressing that they need psychiatrist evaluation.

Ajibola noted that the former Vice President and Obi should be charged with treason for questioning the identity of the President.

READ MORE: Reintroduce Yourself To Nigerians, Obi Tells Tinubu

He said: Obi must know that President Tinubu does not need a re-introduction. He does not have any identity problem, except the one contrived by the Atikus and Peters of our political firmament.

As for President Tinubus academic record at the Chicago State University, the facts are clear and settled except for those political jaundiced by the trauma of electoral defeat.

I think Atiku and Obi should be charged with treason for questioning the identity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he stated.
Apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and wait for the outcome of the Supreme Court on the ongoing certificate saga involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

They also urged politicians and other stakeholders to refrain from making inflammatory statements that could further divide the country.

Ohanaezes Secretary General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in a statement to journalists in Abakaliki, however called for a thorough investigation over the alleged Chicago State University certificate discrepancy.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo appeals to Nigerians to remain calm and wait for the outcome of the Supreme Court on the ongoing certificate saga involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

READ ALSO: 17-Year-Old Caught Burying Younger Brother Alive In Kogi

Again, we urge politicians and stakeholders to refrain from heightening tensions and overheating the polity, as this will not augur well for the country.

However, the allegations of discrepancy on President Tinubus Chicago State University of the United States of America certificate are serious and must be thoroughly investigated.

But we caution against any attempt to use the allegations to cause chaos and instability in the country, the statement read.
Every four years, I wish that North Dakota could be a swing state. Its uninspiring to know in advance that a particular party's candidate will win in our presidential general election. But I suppose there is one silver lining to North Dakotas overly predictable Electoral College votes. Namely, by not being a swing state, nobody can realistically blame our states presidential election results on those who vote for third-party or independent candidates. Nationally, its quite a different story.

Lately, several prominent news outlets have been covering an emerging battle between an elite class of Biden supporters and organizations supporting third-party or independent candidates. It certainly makes sense for such Biden supporters to consider how third-party and independent candidates can shave away potential Biden votes in 2024. Any savvy political strategy wont ignore threats to a candidates vote-share.

That being said, there is a slippery slope when it comes to opposing third-party and independent candidates. Too often, it leads to widespread insults and shaming toward voters who support such candidates. Indeed, vitriol and finger-pointing directed at independents and third-party voters will predictably surface during any competitive U.S. presidential election. This is unfortunate because the reality is that it's understandably human to show interest in viewpoints beyond the two-party system.

In countries with presidential runoff elections, and in those with multiparty coalitions required for governing, it is simply understood that not every voter will feel represented by one of two parties. Nuance to political views is accepted as natural and unavoidable. And yet, in the United States, voters whose identities fall outside the national Democratic and Republican parties are unfairly maligned.

Pay no mind to U.S. elites who prevent runoff elections and ranked-choice or approval voting that could better accommodate voters nuanced preferences! Forget that elites wont allow restructuring of our institutions to accommodate anything more than two-party rule! The problem is obviously non-mainstream voters who are hungry for more than two options! (I hope my sarcasm is apparent.)

Independents and third-party voters deserve respectful outreach if you wish to persuade them to vote for your more mainstream candidate. Rather than seeing such voters as spoilers, consider that they are simply people trying to express themselves in a system that is poorly designed for authentic political expression. Of course, we cant change our political system overnight, and thats not within the scope of this current column. But we can recognize that independents and third-party voters are not to blame for our political problems.

Another reason that its silly to disparage independents and third-party voters is that they can be allies on issues. This is especially true in North Dakota where we often vote directly on policy via ballot measures. Its a waste of time to burn bridges with independents and third-party voters when you could instead join forces to propel or defeat a ballot measure. In our polarized times, we forget that forming coalitions based on issues, rather than party identity, can be very smart.

There will be several state ballot measures in 2024 to support or reject. We will find Republicans, Democrats, and independents/third-party voters on both sides of most measures. As we debate these ballot measures, lets embrace that votes for and against them will not fall on clean party lines. Well lose some of the civic enrichment of these ballot measure campaigns if were hung up on who is -- and whos not -- voting for mainstream two-party candidates.
The Lagos State High Court sitting in the Ikeja area has convicted two members of a group of pipeline vandals for the 2015 murder of seven operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the Ishawo area of Ikorodu.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi in his judgment held that the prosecution proved the offence of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and possession of firearms with intent to commit a felony against the first defendant, Clement Ododomu, while the second defendant, Tiwei Monday was convicted for conspiracy to commit murder and failure to report a felony.

The offences are contrary to Sections 223 and 298 (3) of the Criminal Law, Cap. C. A Vol. 3, laws of Lagos State 2015.

The court, however, adjourned the sentencing of the convicts to Nov. 14th.

READ ALSO: Police Foil Attempt To Steal Fuel From NNPC Pipeline In Lagos

The prosecution had told the court that in Sept. 2015, the DSS received a distress call about an alleged kidnap. They subsequently despatched a nine-man rescue team.

Saheed Adetunji, an investigation officer with the DSS told the court during the course of the trial that seven out of the nine-man rescue team were ambushed by the vandals in the Ishawo area and taken captive. The remaining two managed to escape.

The first defendant said that they took the seven DSS personnel to their hideout, into the Ishawo Creeks, called Barracks, Adetunji said.

The officer also identified the 2nd defendant, Monday, who confessed that he was a part of the group of vandals who used teargas and pepper spray on the DSS personnel.

When they got to their Barracks, the first defendant said he personally shot two of the DSS personnel with a pump-action rifle, while one Agbala shot the remaining five with an AK-47.

The dead bodies were buried in three separate graves. The first defendant said that the graves were dug by some Ijaw boys and three slim operatives were packed in one. And the bigger ones were put in twos into the other graves, he stated.

And though the defendants pleaded guilty and denied committing the offence during their trial, Justice Oshodi in his judgment, held that the prosecution was able to prove part of the charge against the two convicts beyond all reasonable doubt.

The judge also rejected the alibi of the defendants, describing it as a ruse and an afterthought as there was no credible evidence to back up their claims of being at different places when the offence was committed.

He further held that their attempts to deny their confessional statement were not convincing and that evidence before the court confirmed that their statements were made voluntarily.

The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP has urged the court to impose the maximum sentence on the defendants to send a strong message that the state will not tolerate the killing of anyone particularly officers on lawful duty. He also used the opportunity to reiterate the call for the DSS to fish out one Agbala who was said to have shot five of their officers.
Two female students of Kwara State Polytechnic, Adama Joseph and Favour Vandora have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly killing a Kwara socialite, Adeniyi Ojo, during a sexual romp.

Recall that the Managing Director of a guest hotel in Ilorin, the state capital, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, on Friday, September 29.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, while parading the suspects in Abuja, said operatives of the force apprehended the two suspects on October 6, 2023, for their involvement in the robbery and murder of Mr Adeniyi Ojo, the son of Chief Emmanuel Ojo, a prominent figure in Ilorin, Kwara State.

READ ALSO: MD Of Water View Hotel, Adeniyi Ojo Found Dead In Hotel Room

He said, Through meticulous investigative work, our officers were able to track and apprehend these suspects in Mowe Ibafo, Ogun State.

In a tragic incident, the duo tied the deceased under the guise of having a sex romp and demanded money from him. But when he was not forthcoming, they resorted to drugging and suffocating him, leading to his untimely demise.

They have been processed and will be charged to court shortly, the Force PRO added.

He said that the police remained unflinching in its determination to secure the people.

Speaking to newsmen, one of the suspects, Adanma Joseph, corroborated the account of the police about what transpired between them and the deceased.

Adama said she had been in a sexual relationship with the deceased and he wanted to have a threesome with her and her friend, Favour Vandora, so they met him with the intent to steal from him.

She said they drugged the deceased and left with his phone and other valuables only to discover that he had died later.

Adama said: We have finished our ND programme at Kwara Polytechnic before the incident happened. We didnt plan to kill him. On that particular day, we went with the intention to steal from him, so we told him that we wanted to do BDSM, and he agreed to have a threesome with me and my friend (Oreoluwa).

After Oreoluwa tied his hands and legs, I tried to gag his mouth, but he refused, and I stopped.

So, when we couldnt find any money in his pocket, my fried took his phone and showed it to his face to open it with facial lock, but he started shouting, and he loosened one of the ropes on his hands, and started hitting my friend.

We put Refnol (Rohypnol) in his mouth. So, in a bid to stop him from making noise, my friend put a pillow over his face, and when he went silent we told him that we were leaving, because we thought he was pretending, but he didnt respond, so we left.

I touched him with a dead knife used for cutting cake, but he didnt bleed as I never meant to stab him or hurt him.

We only wanted to take his money. We didnt know he died until when the police arrested us in Ogun State. We only took his phone, the knife, and the ropes with us.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Partys (LP) opinion on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needing a reintroduction of his identity.

According to the APC, the former Anambra State Governor is looking for cheap media attention.

During a press conference, Obi said Tinubu should reintroduce himself to Nigerians because the debate surrounding his academic records has worsened the countrys image.

Obi said the controversy over Tinubus academic records has made foreigners start profiling Nigerians as fraudsters, certificate forgers or identity thieves.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Felix Morka, APC spokesperson, said Nigerians who voted for the president know him and were not groggy during the polls.

Morka who said Tinubu does not need a re-introduction said: Unwilling to miss out in the orchestrated campaign of calumny against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his certificate from the Chicago State University, Obi jumped on the tailboard of Atikus bandwagon to satisfy his uncanny and insatiable thirst for cheap media attention, long after his Labour Party had dissociated itself from a bogus call to action by the former Vice-President.

READ ALSO: Kano Court Sentence Nigerien To Death For Murder

In his drivel, Peter Obi demanded that the President reintroduce himself to Nigerians, as though the 8.9 million Nigerians who voted him last February were all groggy when they made their free democratic choice.

Mr. Obi must know that President Tinubu does not need a re-introduction. He does not have any identity problem, except the one contrived by the Atikus and Peters of our political firmament.

The 8.9 million Nigerians who voted him into office were, and remain, aware of his outstanding record and accomplishments as a defender of democracy, freedom, social and economic justice for over three decades.

Nigerians know President Tinubu as a thoroughbred professional and former auditor and treasurer of Mobil Nigeria, now ExxonMobil, the statement read.

He added that Tinubu was elected lawfully.
The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday disclosed that Nigeria accounts for 15 percent of out-of-school children in the world.

This was also it stated that about 7.6 million girls in Nigeria many from the northern regions remain deprived of the opportunities to go to school.

The UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms Cristian Munduate disclosed this during an event organized to commemorate this years International Day of the Girl in Kano.

Ms Munduate who raised alarm over the worrisome figures however maintained that it is not just a statistics but a wake up call on the authorities to take steps to reverse the menace.

In her words, Nigeria, alarmingly, accounts for 15% of out-of-school children worldwide. Yet only a mere 9% of the poorest girls have the chance to attend secondary school. This is not just a statistic.its a wake-up call.

The truth is that 7.6 million girls in Nigeria, many from the northern regions, remain deprived of these very opportunities. Their seats in classrooms remain vacant, their dreams momentarily deferred. This leaves them vulnerable to early childbearing, with a soaring adolescent fertility rate.

READ ALSO: UNICEF Laments Over Spread Of Diphtheria In Nigeria, Calls For Urgent Vaccination

Kano ranks second in the number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria, revealing a harsh disparity in the access to education.

Since its inception by the United Nations in 2012, the International Day of the Girl Child has aimed to spotlight and address the challenges girls globally confront. Today, more than ever, we need to emphasize the transformative power of education, a tool that not only creates opportunities but actively breaks cycles of poverty.

However, amidst these challenges, we find glimmers of hope. Proven models like the Girls Education Project 3, supported generously by the people of UK and UNICEF, have assisted states including Kano in sending 1.5 million girls back to school in just two years. This is the path forward.a path where every girl child in Nigeria receives an education.

As we observe the International Day of the Girl 2023, my plea is straightforward. To our government, communities, traditional institutions, parents, stakeholders, and every concerned Nigerian  let us pledge to build a Nigeria where every girls dreams are within her grasp.

While education is the foundation, our girls need more. By investing in healthcare, skills training, and diverse opportunities, we can catalyze their growth into pillars of our society.

Together, let us champion the rights and empowerment of our girls. Lets dismantle barriers, extend mentorship, and curate an environment where they are poised to thrive.

UNICEF remains committed in its mission. We will continue our engagement with leaders, partners, and stakeholders to amplify our investment in the welfare of our girls, particularly as they face the brunt of conflicts, natural disasters, and the ever-looming threat of climate change, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms Cristian Munduate however maintained.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Supreme Court to reject the application by Atiku Abubakar, 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to introduce fresh evidence in his appeal.

The former Vice President who is challenging Tinubus emergence as President and the election tribunals verdict upholding the poll outcome, had alleged that Tinubus academic records were fraught with discrepancies and forgeries.

Atikus order at the United States (US) court to compel Chicago State University (CSU) to release Tinubus academic records has since been granted.

The PDP candidate is now seeking to introduce these records at the apex court.

Reacting to the main appeal, Tinubu, represented by a team of 17 lawyers comprising 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, said the allegation of certificate forgery was not introduced in Abubakars petition at the tribunal.

Note that Tinubus reply comes barely three days after Atiku and the PDP applied for permission of the Supreme Court to tender fresh evidence to establish the allegation that he submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Tinubu, the tribunal was right to strike out some paragraphs of the petitioners replies wherein they tried to introduce new issues (including that of certificate forgery) which were not contained in the main petition.

READ ALSO: Tinubus Certificate: Will They Employ Someone With Drug Trafficking Record? One With Three DOBs, Two Genders?  Atikus Camp Faults BBCs Fact Check

Tinubu further said Abubakars application which was granted at the US court is alien to the pending appeal before the supreme court.

Appellants submission under paragraph 6.45 of their brief further expose the entire attitude of the appellants before the lower court, that is, the attitude of first filing a petition and then fishing for evidence during the pendency of the petition and even up to the point of appeal to this honourable Court.

Without prejudice to our objection to this issue, we submit that the arguments regarding a purported Case No. 1:23-CV05009-th Re Application of Atiku for an Order Directing Discovery from Chicago State University is alien to this proceedings, does not arise from the record or the judgment of the lower court and cannot be countenanced by this honourable court and we urge the court to so hold.

In the final analysis, it is our humble prayer that this honourable court resolves this issue in favour of the respondents and against the appellants, the President said in a 42-paged brief of argument.

Cited as 1st to 3rd Respondents in the appeal, were INEC, Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, respectively.

The President added that the entire appeal lacks merit and should be dismissed.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the Supreme Court to commence hearing on the presidential dispute.
The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has begged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Ohanaeze also asked the Nigerian President to withdraw all charges against Kanu.

Ohanaeze, while appealing to the President, disclosed that doing that would make Tinubu a national hero.

The group made this known in a statement on Wednesday by its Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro in which it reacted to the release of the embattled Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho from detention in Benin Republic after about two years.

READ MORE: Tinubu Should Persuade Labour Not To Strike  Ohanaeze

Ohanaeze while commending Yoruba leaders for securing the release of Igboho, called on President Tinubu to emulate his counterpart in Benin, Patrice Talon and free Kanu from detention.

The statement reads: Ohanaeze Ndigbo expresses its heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering contributions of Yoruba leaders such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Banji Akintoye, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and Pa Ayo Adebanjo towards the release of Sunday Igboho.

The organisation recalls its October 1, 2023 Independence Day plea for the release of both Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo believes that this is an opportune time for President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate similar gestures and drop all charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, allowing him to regain his freedom.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo firmly believes that President Tinubu will be hailed as a national hero if he seizes this opportunity to release Nnamdi Kanu.

The organization acknowledges that Nigerians who felt denigrated by Kanus actions should find it in their hearts to forgive him, as his release will mark a significant step towards national unity and reconciliation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, have been summoned on Thursday by the House of Representatives over the maltreatment of Nigerians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

It was gathered that the lawmaker called out the two to brief the House over efforts to protect Nigerians who have been subjected to maltreatment in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The minority leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, and ten others moved a motion on the victimization, maltreatment and forced imprisonment of Nigerians, including air travellers, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that along with Chinda, the others who also moved the motion include Hon.Abdussamad Dasukki, Hon. Laori Kwamoti Bittrus, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, Hon. Unyime Idem, Hon. Nkwonta Chris, Hon. Abbas Adogun, Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu, Hon. Ibe O. Osonwa, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe and Hon. Kelechi Nwogu.

READ MORE: Dabiri-Erewas Twitter Account Hacked Again  NiDCOM

Leading debate on the motion, Chinda alleged that one Paul Ezike, in a safe our soul message, circulated a message at the instance of a Nigerian allegedly arrested and put in Ethiopia prison.

The lawmaker said some Nigerians are currently serving at the Chaota Maximum Security and other prisons in Ethiopia, most of whom are travellers that use the Ethiopian Airport as a transit point where they are indiscriminately arrested at the Ethiopia Airport in Addis Ababa, taken to the hospital and forcefully injected with some substances and later taken to the prison facilities.

Chinda revealed that about 250 Nigerians are currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia as a result of frequent attacks and may die in prison if urgent steps are not taken to save them.

He added that on top they are poorly treated, poorly fed and subject to untold agonies without medications.

He explained that just like Nigeria protects foreigners who live in Nigeria, Nigerians in Addis Ababa and all over the world and their air travellers should enjoy the same protection rights.

He said that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) joined the rest of Africa to sign a remarkable Trade Agreement for the continent and the fact that Nigerians are industrious entrepreneurs and have spent years transacting business in Addis Ababa and air travellers contributing to their economy.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of violating the 1999 Constitution for failing to convene a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting since August.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that President Tinubu has not convened the FEC meeting 44 days after the inaugural cabinet session held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on August 28.

READ MORE: Atiku, Peter Obi Should Be Arrested For Treason  APC

Reacting to the development in a statement on Thursday, a media aide to the PDP candidate, Phrank Shaibu, said that Tinubu is breaking the law by presiding over just one FEC meeting since he inaugurated his cabinet.

Atikus spokesman claimed that Tinubu is breaking section 148(2) of the 1999 Constitution, adding that having presided over just one FEC meeting is an indication that Tinubu is not ready for governance.

Shaibu said that the cabinet might not be having regular FEC meetings because they are clueless and have nothing to discuss.

He said: Tinubu is obviously not ready for governance. After appointing 48 ministers, the highest in history, he has decided not to be meeting with them.

This contravenes Section 148(2) of the 1999 constitution, which expressly provides that the president shall hold regular meetings with the vice-president and ministers for the purposes of determining domestic and foreign policies of the government.

It is bad enough that a man who claimed he would hit the ground running from day one took over 60 days to name all his ministers and took 84 days to inaugurate them. Even now, he has held only one cabinet meeting since the inauguration of the cabinet.

For a man who has been gallivanting all over the place purportedly in search of foreign investors, it is laughable that he cannot even meet with his own team at home.
Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie has expressed disappointment with the high rate of jealousy among Igbos.

The controversial actor made this known in a post on his Instagram page on Wednesday where he questioned the reason for their hatred among themselves.

Yul Edochie also mentioned how some Igbos who are succeeding have their family members as their biggest critics and urged them to do better.

READ MORE: Judy Austin, Yul Edochie Get Into Heated Argument, Threaten To Expose Each Others Secrets (Video)

He said, Too much jealousy and envy amongst Igbos.

Why??, If youre doing well as an Igbo person, your biggest haters are your fellow Igbo person.

Sometimes even your family members. Igbos we need to do better. Were great.

Stop the envy. Stop the competition. Things change when we address them.
Marshmallow Peeps candy is on display at a store in Lafayette, Calif. A new law in that state bans four chemicals from food and drinks, including red dye No. 3, a food coloring used in Peeps. Read more

Peeps, the colorful sugarcoated marshmallows made in Bethlehem, will soon no longer contain an ingredient known as red dye No. 3.

The change comes as California signed into law a ban on four food and drink additives, including red dye No. 3, which is used in Pez and Ring Pops as well as Peeps. The law will go into effect in 2027, which gives candymakers time to adapt their recipes, according to the governor of California. New York also has a bill in the Senate, which aims to adopt a similar ban.

Pink and lavender Peeps will contain the dye through Easter 2024, says Just Born Quality Confections, makers of the marshmallow candies, but the additive will be completely removed after the holiday.

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Just Born, has been working on an alternative to the dye for years, according to the company. Red dye No. 3 has been shown to cause cancer in lab animals, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a partial ban on it in 1990.

Just Born has always evolved with new developments and consumer preferences. We have worked hard to develop new formulations to bring fans the colorful Peeps they know and love, said Keith Domalewski, director of marketing.

The dye provides a brilliant watermelon red color to foods, according to Just Borns website. The company has developed alternatives that could be used instead of the dye, and is deciding which one to incorporate into its Peeps recipe.

Beyond Peeps, Just Born produces several candies, including Hot Tamales, Mike and Ike, and Goldenbergs Peanut Chews. Peeps is the companys only product that still uses the red dye. In the past, the dye was also used in some of the companys jelly bean products.

The dye was removed from Hot Tamales this summer, and the updated ingredient list on the candy boxes will hit stores in the coming months.

Just Born, which is celebrating 100 years in business this year, has been making Peeps since 1953.

The father of Peeps, Ira Bob Born, who died earlier this year, helped mechanize the process of making the marshmallow candies, which once took 27 hours to make, and today take six minutes. The machines used today to make Peeps are based off of his original design.
Tech giant Microsoft owes Uncle Sam nearly $29 billion, according to the IRS. The appeals process will "take years," reports NBC News.

Microsoft said the dispute concerns the company's allocated profits between countries and jurisdictions between 2004 and 2013. It said up to $10 billion in taxes that the company has already paid are not reflected in the proposed adjustments made by the IRS. Microsoft plans to contest the notices through the IRS' administrative appeal and is willing to go to judicial proceedings, if necessary.

All those new IRS agents were a bargain, even if some of them spend their entire careers working on this one bill.
A private bus transporting 12 people on Roosevelt Boulevard and West Courtland Street is roped off by police after gunfire struck its driver's side window and injured the bus driver. Read more

Three men, including a bus driver taking older passengers to a care facility, were shot in Olney on Thursday morning.

Police were executing a search warrant on the 400 block of West Ashdale Street just before 9 a.m. when unrelated gunfire erupted two blocks away, according to D F Pace, an inspector for the Philadelphia Police Department.

Officers arrived to find one man shot in the head, bleeding heavily, in an alleyway at the 200 block of West Ashdale, Pace said. Police were unclear about what led to the shooting.

A second man, the driver of a privately owned bus with 12 older passengers, was struck by stray gunfire that came through the vehicles front window as it passed through the area, according to Pace.

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The first victim, a 32-year-old man, was shot once in the head and was listed in extremely critical condition.

The bus driver was taken to Temple University Hospital and was in stable condition.

The third victim, a man police believe is connected to the shooting, walked into Temple University Hospital with gunshot injuries, according to Pace. He was listed in stable condition.

Pace said that the van was owned by an adult day-care center that caters primarily to the Asian community and that the driver had been taking older riders to a nearby facility when the gunfire rang out.

At least 15 shots were fired, according to Pace.

Despite his injuries, the driver continued to drive the van until stopping at Ninth Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, Pace said. Based on the bullet trajectory and preliminary information, Pace believed the man had been shot in the upper body.

Shattered glass littered the street surrounding the nondescript white van, which had its drivers side window blown out from the gunfire. Police roped off the vehicle with yellow tape as cars rushed past along the busy thoroughfare.

Its always disconcerting when you have a situation like this, Pace said. We have a bus driver transporting members of the elderly community to a place where they can continue to get care, and this sort of thing happens. Its certainly intolerable, and we are going to be dedicating all resources possible to identifying who is responsible.
Jurors in West Chester deliberating for nine hours Wednesday in the murder trial of Nydira Smith, and ultimately convicted her of involuntary manslaughter and assault. Read more

After nine hours of deliberation, a Chester County jury delivered a split verdict late Wednesday night in the trial of a Philadelphia woman who stabbed three Lincoln University students last year, acquitting her of murder, the most serious charge she faced.

The jurors found Nydira Smith, 40, guilty of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault and possession of an instrument of a crime in a February 2022 fight at the historically Black university that left one student dead and two others injured.

But they spared Smith of first- and third-degree murder, as well as voluntary manslaughter.

During closing arguments Wednesday morning, Smiths lawyer, Gregory Pagano, said she believed her brothers life was in danger when she used a steak knife that she had brought with her during the melee, killing Jawine Evans, 21, and wounding two other students, Clifton Walker and Eric Dickerson.

Pagano had urged jurors to acquit Smith of the murder and aggravated assault charges, saying she was within her rights to use deadly force.

This is not a murder, Pagano said in his closing arguments. Murder requires malice, and what we have here are numerous factors that justify Nydira Smiths conduct that night.

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Hours later, Pagano called the jurys decision a thoughtful verdict, and said it was a victory for his client.

It means that the jury believed she acted in self-defense, and believed she was justified in protecting herself and her brother, he said.

But Deputy District Attorney Bridget Gallagher in her own closings had sharply disputed the defenses assertions about the case. Gallagher said that a majority of Smiths statements about the fight that led to the fatal stabbing were fabrications, part of a concocted self-defense claim to avoid a conviction.

Were not here for a fistfight. Were not here for a fight between two groups of college kids, Gallagher said, adding that Pagano was asking jurors to ignore a mountain of evidence.

Were here because of the actions of this woman, who, at 39 years of age, decided she wanted to stop the fight.

Gallagher and her cocounsel, Deputy District Attorney Justin Roberts, declined to comment on the verdict.

Smith, of East Mount Airy, testified earlier in the seven-day trial before Chester County Court Judge Nicole Forzato that she intentionally stabbed Walker and Dickerson, who were attacking her younger brother, a senior at Lincoln. But she said she did not intend to stab Evans, who was stabbed in the neck as she swung the steak knife wildly.

 READ MORE: Woman charged with fatally stabbing a Lincoln University student said she never intended to kill anyone

The knife severed a vein in Evans neck and punctured his lung, an autopsy revealed. Video of the fight played during the trial showed Smith swinging the blade down toward Evans who is then shown running away, bleeding heavily and screaming, She stabbed me.

The wound was several inches deep, and required a significant amount of force to inflict with a dull steak knife, Gallagher noted.

Pagano said that Smith had received a call from her brother, Malik Stevens, earlier that evening, saying he and his roommate had been attacked by a group of students including Walker and Dickerson, and asked for Smith to take him back to the city. The attackers had accused Stevens and his roommate of stealing another students wallet.

Malik didnt call a group of men to help him retaliate. He calls his sister to pick him up, Pagano said. This woman was not an initial aggressor, not a provoker ... . She was not a person there to start a fight.

While driving from Philadelphia to the campus, Smith was told by Stevens that during a second fight, one of the attackers had threatened to come back with a gun. Those thoughts were in her mind, Pagano said, as a third fight broke out in the hallway outside Stevens dorm room after Walker sucker punched Smith in the face.

 READ MORE: Woman arrested in killing of Lincoln University student was allowed on campus because she was family, official said

These were relentless predators, relentless aggressors who planned three attacks in the span of two hours, Pagano said of the victims. They know that but for their actions, this woman would not be put in this terrible position.

But Gallagher disputed that version of the final fight. She said the initial scrap had ended, and the victims had begun to leave, when Stevens taunted them, sparking another brawl. During that second conflict, Gallagher said, Smith pushed her way to the front of the group and pulled the knife from her pocket.

Smith and Stevens fled the campus without calling 911, driving more than an hour back to Philadelphia. On that drive, according to Smiths testimony, they disposed of the knife and did not discuss the stabbing, only doing so when they got an alert from Lincoln saying that Evans had died.

Gallagher scoffed at that statement.

You get an email saying someone is dead and you dont talk about it? she said. One year and eight months ago, she planned what she would say to you.

The prosecutor noted that Smiths behavior after the stabbing betrayed a guilty conscience: She bought a second phone, moved temporarily into a hotel and deleted messages from her main cell phone.

That fight would have ended without the defendant, Gallagher said. She was Jawine Evans judge and jury that day. And she gave him the ultimate sentence for fighting her brother.

Smith will remain in custody at the county prison until her sentencing, which will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
Parents and community members protested against leveling at Henry Houston Elementary in West Mount Airy on Oct. 4. City Council now wants to hold hearings on the practice of moving teachers a month into the school year to account for enrollment shifts at schools. Read more

City Council wants to know why the Philadelphia School District is still engaging in leveling, the practice of moving teachers a month into the school year based on schools actual enrollment.

City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced legislation Thursday calling for hearings on leveling, which she has called a troubling practice.

The district has long shuffled teachers weeks into the school year, often for financial reasons but, recently, because it cannot find enough educators to fully staff its classrooms. Though 96% of positions are filled, in a 115,000-student district that employs about 9,000 teachers, that means hundreds of teaching jobs are still open.

Leveling works this way: If one school has fewer students than projected, it might lose teachers to another school that enrolled more students than expected.

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Better-resourced districts dont use leveling, and even some urban school systems have moved away from it.

In Philadelphia, this year, 50 teachers were forced to change schools. Some schools also lost positions that were never filled, for an overall reduction of 87 positions. Fifty schools gained a cumulative total of 66 teacher positions.

Some schools were held harmless and did not lose teachers to leveling, even though their less-than-expected enrollment meant they usually would have. Officials said 46 schools fell into this category, and 94 teachers who otherwise would have been moved got to stay put.

But Gilmore Richardson said that wasnt good enough. She said COVID-19 learning loss made leveling an especially counterproductive process.

Leveling, the resolution she introduced Thursday says, disrupts classroom instruction and forces school communities to grapple with major changes on very short notice and requires teachers to move to new positions with only a week of notice, and results in some classes doubling in size overnight. It also actively interrupts the relationships teachers have developed with their students, leading to decreased student engagement in classrooms, and it takes away the opportunity for one-on-one instruction for classes that see significant increases in size.

Asked how the district might avoid leveling without adding to its teacher vacancy problem, Gilmore Richardson acknowledged the school systems hiring challenges but said we know that what were doing now is not working to increase overall student achievement and increase reading and math skills. I simply want to find a more sustainable solution, one that will help us fill the vacancies and ensure our young people are being prioritized.

Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. has said leveling is necessary to ensure equity, and cited the nationwide teacher shortage and Philadelphias decades of underfunding as reasons why Philadelphia continues to use leveling.

In order to serve our students equitably, and support all students in receiving a high-quality education from an excellent teacher, we must reassign teachers from our under-enrolled schools to over-enrolled schools, Watlington said in a letter to district staff and families this week.

Gilmore Richardson said the hearings will help Council build a roadmap so it can do our part to appropriate funds to the district and help fill any gaps that currently exist as it relates to this issue.
Bradford Montgomery Jones, 28, of East Germantown, manages two properties that have cameras and lighting installed on the outside with the help from Temple University grants. Read more

Temple University students have repeatedly said they feel safe on the schools North Philadelphia campus, which is well lit and covered by nearly 1,500 cameras.

But off-campus is where things feel more precarious.

To help, the university about a year-and-a-half ago announced a new grant program for landlords that rent to students in the universitys police patrol zone, promising to pay up to $2,500 per property for new cameras and lighting. The program is open only to landlords licensed by the city.

 READ MORE: As near-campus shootings continue, Temple announces new steps to make students feel safer

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Since then, more than 300 cameras and additional floodlights have been installed at 134 properties within the zone, university officials said recently. The zone extends from North Susquehanna Avenue to West Jefferson Street and North 18th to North Ninth Streets with an extension on Broad Street down to Girard. The university declined to say exactly how much it has spent, but said the amount is well into the six figures  if every property got the full $2,500, which it didnt, the total would be $335,000.

And the school is willing to pay for more.

We were limited as to the number of cameras and lights we could put in the community because its not our property, said Ken Kaiser, senior vice president and chief operating officer. We also felt that Temple inserting cameras in the community probably is not something that would be well received. This strategy was a way to get cameras, get lights out there while also improving the properties of the homes in our community, making the streets and the community itself safer.

 READ MORE: Temple's campus is on edge after a student was shot to death: Students are afraid

The university decided to launch the program in March 2022 in response to concerns about safety around the campus and immediately following a survey by student government and parent forums that cited the need for more cameras and lighting. The survey found that more than 80% of students living in campus housing reported feeling safe in their residence, compared with 56% of those in private housing near campus.

The decision to start the grant program came just four months after student Samuel Collington was shot to death outside his off-campus residence. It also occurred within a week of several other shootings near campus.

Lights and cameras serve as deterrents to crime and also help officers solve crimes, Kaiser said. There have been instances when the university has accessed useful footage from the cameras it funded, he said.

Plus the word spreads that there are all these cameras out there and they are visible, he said. The lights are certainly visible. It acts as a deterrent.

The cameras range from those that are basic and self-installed to more sophisticated contractor-installed systems, depending on a landlords preference.

The program started slowly, Kaiser said, as some in the community were skeptical that the university was really going to pay. But then it picked up and has been extended twice, with no end date slated, he said.

Landlords are required to provide proof of purchase and installation, and the university follows up with a visual inspection after the work is completed, said Langston Huzzy, director of administration.

Bradford Montgomery Jones opted in for two properties he manages near Temple on the 1700 block of West Diamond Street. Both properties received the $2,500 maximum and installed both cameras and lights, he said.

The property owners probably wouldnt have added the equipment without the help from Temple, Jones said.

With that assistance, it made it much easier for them, he said.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Sen. John Fetterman during Wednesday's show. Read more

Looks like Sen. John Fetterman may have an alleged body double waiting in the wings after all.

Fetterman made a guest appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday and gifted the host with his own Carhartt hoodie.

The interview segment dove into topics ranging from mental health to memes. Fettermans tablet for closed captions was propped on Colberts desk. The senator said it helped with auditory processing issues provoked by his 2022 stroke and that it has made him more empathetic.

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I never thought about captioning before the stroke, Fetterman said. But now I realize I have to be an advocate for anyone with a disability, to have the kind of technology that allows them to fully participate in society.

Colbert asked Fetterman about seeking treatment for his depression in the public eye earlier this year and leaning into mental health advocacy.

Its a privilege and its a duty to talk about this. I want anyone whos listening to this to know that if you are suffering from depression, please get help because it works, Fetterman said. When youre in the blackness, depression tricks you into thinking youve lost when you might have won. It takes you in a more dangerous direction.

He added, I beg people to please get help. Succumbing to that is not weakness. The good news is that it works  because I was the biggest skeptic ever.

The pair touched on current events, including the looming government shutdown and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which Fetterman called devastating. They also talked about the conspiracy theory that Fetterman has a body double who makes public appearances in his place. Fetterman joked he was the fake senator and that the real one was hanging out at home.

 READ MORE: No, John Fetterman doesn't have a body double

Colbert also asked about Fettermans style  both as it pertains to the Senate dress code and regarding his affinity for using memes online.

Is it awkward to be in the Capitol and then run into people that you have put up a devastating meme about? Colbert asked. Because, youve got excellent meme game, but then you have to see these people in the cafeteria.

Fetterman responded, you all need to know that America is not sending their best and brightest to D.C.

He laughed and shook his head before continuing. Sometimes, you literally cant believe these people are making the decisions that are determining the government.

The interview ended with Fetterman presenting Colbert with a very oversized Carhartt Loose Fit Midweight Logo Sleeve hoodie  presumably from the senators personal collection based on its size. The hoodie retails on Carhartts website for $54.99 to $59.99.
Few dining experiences are as intimate as the chefs counter, and Philadelphia now has a few of them. They include Zahav, River Twice, Heavy Metal Sausage Co., a.kitchen, Vernick Fish, Oloroso, and Ambra, plus Cicala, which has a table set up in the kitchen; Fiorella, where you dine at the cooking line; and the dozen omakase restaurants out there.

Chef Michael Vincent Ferreri is getting into the spirit with a four-seat counter between the bar and kitchen at Irwins, his modern Sicilian restaurant on the eighth floor of the Bok Building in South Philadelphia. Ferreri is calling it Salvatores Counter, after his late father, who taught him to cook and whose chefs jacket hangs on the wall in front of the counter seats.

Ferreri said the 10-course menus (plus surprises)  served at 6 p.m. every other Sunday starting Nov. 5  will never repeat. The tab is $180 per person, with an optional $120 beverage pairing from wine director Michael Lancaster and bar manager Kristian Fidrych.

The seats for the rest of 2023 will be sold on Resy starting 11 a.m. Oct. 18. The 2024 dates will be released on the first of the month for the following month at 11 a.m. (e.g. January 2024 dates will be released Dec. 1.)

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Ferreri plans to go weekly in 2024.

Ferreri worked at Tinto, Zeppoli, and Zahav before he joined the late, great Res Ipsa, a snug BYOB in Center City that in 2017 was named among Bon Appetits 50 Best New Restaurants. In March 2019, Ferreri cooked at the James Beard House. Everything came crashing down during the pandemic, and it closed.

During a conversation with Bok owner Lindsey Scannapieco, Ferreri agreed to take over Irwins, which had opened in 2018 as a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant. In April 2021, Ferreri inherited the former nursing classroom whose walls were still tagged with graffiti. Shortly after, Esquire named Irwins among its list of best new restaurants, followed by Bon Appetit. (Irwins, by the way, is named after long-ago school district architect Irwin Catherine.)

Few chefs in town are as artful in their treatment of produce, The Inquirers Craig LaBan wrote in his August 2021 review. He also praised Ferreris pastas, which he said should not be missed. The handmade varieties are notable for their chewy textures, especially the squiggly spirals of trofie or the dimpled gnocchi sardi rounds in chile-flecked tomato-eggplant ragu.
A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer in Los Angeles in 2010. The New Jersey health system Virtua Health is offering free mammograms at a mobile clinic through late November. Read more

Virtua Health will offer free mammograms and other cancer screenings at a mobile clinic that will stop at locations around South Jersey through late November.

In a news release, Virtual officials said it can be difficult for some women to schedule annual mammogram appointments, because of work or family commitments, a lack of transportation, or issues with insurance coverage. The clinic, housed on a 40-foot truck, aims to remove some of those barriers.

Patients must make an appointment at the clinic but do not have to come with a prescription for a mammogram. The clinics will offer 3D mammograms, clinical breast exams, gynecologic exams, and Pap tests.

The clinic can also provide take-home colorectal cancer screening kits and refer patients for colonoscopies. Men without insurance can receive blood screenings for prostate cancer.

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The mobile clinic visits include options for patients with and without insurance.

Patients without insurance can call 856-247-7388 to make an appointment for one of the following clinic dates. Eligible patients include women ages 21 to 64 and men 45 to 64. They also must live in New Jersey, have an income less than 250% of the federal poverty level, and be uninsured. The health system noted that men who have concerns about breast or chest tissue cannot be seen at the mobile clinic because they require different testing; they should contact their doctor.

Oct. 12: Christian Caring Center, 378 Lakehurst Rd., Browns Mills, N.J. 08015 Oct. 17: Bud Duble Senior Center (Winslow Township Senior Center), 33 Cooper Folly Road, Atco, N.J. 08004 Oct. 23: Tabernacle Baptist Church, 150 E. Second St., Burlington, N.J. 08016 Nov. 2: Southern Jersey Family Medical Center, 651 High St., Burlington, N.J. 08016 Nov. 15: Womens Opportunity Center, 8008 Route 130 North, Building A, Suite 216, Delran, N.J. 08075 Nov. 20: Pemberton Library, 16 Broadway, Browns Mills, N.J. 08015

Patients with insurance can call 856-246-4276 for an appointment for one of the following clinic dates. Women over 40 are eligible for mammograms, unless they have a history of breast cancer. Women over 21 can get a Pap test.
Marc Rowan, a Wharton graduate and CEO of Apollo Global Management based in New York, called on alumni and supporters to close their checkbooks until President Liz Magill and Chairman Scott L. Bok step down. Read more

A heavyweight Penn donor who chairs Whartons board of advisors has asked that Penns president and its board chair resign after their handling last month of the Palestine Writes festival, which he said was emblematic of their embrace of antisemitism.

Marc Rowan, a Wharton graduate and CEO of Apollo Global Management based in New York, called on alumni and supporters to close their checkbooks until President Liz Magill and Chairman Scott L. Bok step down, he wrote in a letter published online Wednesday.

Soon after, alumnus Dick Wolf  the namesake of the Wolf Humanities Center at Penn  endorsed Rowans call for alumni to cease donations until Magill and Bok resign.

Sadly, their leadership has inadequately represented the ideals and values of our university and they should be held to account, Dick Wolf wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penns student newspaper.

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Julie Platt, the vice chair of the board of trustees, said in a statement provided by the university that she has full confidence in Magills and Boks leadership.

The executive committee of Penns Board of Trustees has unanimously endorsed the actions taken by the university, she said.

Rowan was one of more than 4,000 people, describing themselves as alumni and supporters of Penn, who last month sent an open letter to Magill challenging Penns handling of the Palestine Writes literature festival. Philadelphia 76ers managing partner Josh Harris was also among the signers.

The fact that University of Pennsylvania academic departments are co-sponsoring the festival and its platforming of outright antisemitism without denunciation from the university is unacceptable, they wrote.

Controversy ensued on campus last month after critics complained about the festival scheduled to end just before the start of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. The conference, billed as celebrating Palestinian culture and arts, invited speakers with a history of having made antisemitic remarks, including Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd; the U.S. State Department said he has a long track record of using antisemitic tropes and a concert he gave in Germany in May contained imagery that is deeply offensive to Jewish people and minimized the Holocaust, according to the Associated Press.

Magill released a statement in response to the criticism on Sept. 12, condemning antisemitism. Then, after two acts of antisemitic vandalism leading up to the festival, Penn officials, including Magill, acknowledged their proximity to the controversial speakers and pledged the universitys commitment to the free exchange of ideas as central to our educational mission. This includes the expression of views that are controversial and even those that are incompatible with our institutional values.

The conference took place without disruption.

Rowans recent letter also cited Hamas attack on Israel, showing words and ideas matter.

It is time for the trustees to begin moving UPenn in a new direction, Rowan wrote. Join me and many others who love UPenn by sending UPenn $1 in place of your normal, discretionary contribution so that no one misses the point.

In an interview on CNBC Thursday morning, he said that he and three trustees who signed the letter were being pressured by Bok and Magill to relinquish their positions  for exercising their right to free speech.

I was strongly encouraged to reconsider my chairmanship of the Wharton board to which I told them no thanks, he said, adding that the three trustees said the same. He noted that all four of them are Jewish.

Bok disagreed that they were pressured to resign and said that the executive committee had decided it would not force anyone who signed to resign.

We did make known to two trustees pursuing that unusual step that they could consider voluntarily resigning, thereby freeing them from all the constraints involved in serving on a board, Bok said. Those individuals chose not to resign, and they remain welcome as members of Penns board.

He further said that everyone is entitled to their views but when they become a member of a board, they implicitly commit to participating in a confidential and deliberative decision-making process, where all views are welcome in the debate. Once a leadership team has done appropriate consultation and reached a decision, it is extraordinarily unusual in a corporate, university or nonprofit context for a board member to publicly oppose that decision, let alone solicit others to join their dissenting view.

Rowan also said during the CNBC interview that on Wednesday his text blew up with people sending him photocopies of a $1 check to Penn. He also said that weve already seen $150 million that would have come to the university move away from the university.

Emilio Bassini, a Penn alum who had signed the earlier alumni letter, said Penns handling of the festival certainly will affect his future giving, and he expects others will either decrease or stop altogether.

In response to that letter, Bok had said the trustees are reflecting on the range of views expressed by various members of our community.

The DP reported in 2018 that Rowan gave $50 million to Wharton, at the time the largest single gift to the school.
JERUSALEM  Israels military on Friday directed the evacuation of northern Gaza, a region that is home to 1.1 million people  about half of the territorys population  within 24 hours, a U.N. spokesman said.

This could signal an impending ground offensive, though the Israeli military has not yet confirmed such an appeal. On Thursday it said that while it was preparing, a decision has not yet been made.

The order, delivered to the U.N., comes as Israel presses an offensive against Hamas militants. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the order impossible without devastating humanitarian consequences.

Earlier, the Israeli military pulverized the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, prepared for a possible ground invasion and said its complete siege of the territory  which has left Palestinians desperate for food, fuel and medicine  would remain in place until Hamas militants free some 150 hostages taken during a grisly weekend incursion.

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 READ MORE: As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel forms unity government to oversee war sparked by Hamas attack

A visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with shipments of U.S. weapons, offered a powerful green light to Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas deadly attack on civilians and soldiers, even as international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gazas 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt.

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver should political leaders order one.

A ground offensive in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas and where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Hamas assault Saturday and smaller attacks since have killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers  a toll unseen in Israel for decades  and the ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,530 people in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides. Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

 READ MORE: Trudy Rubin | As Israel strikes back against Hamas, questions linger about the long road ahead

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Amid concerns that the fighting could spread in the region, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday put two Syrian international airports out of service.

The relentless barrage on Gaza  which the military said has so far involved 6,000 munitions  left Palestinians running through streets, carrying their belongings and looking for safety

A strike Thursday afternoon in the Jabaliya refugee camp took down a residential building on families sheltering inside, killing at least 45 people, Gazas Interior Ministry said. At least 23 of the dead were under the age of 18, including a month-old child, according to a list of the casualties.

The home belonging to the al-Shihab family was packed with relatives who had fled bombing in other areas. Neighbors said a second house was hit at the same time, but the toll was not immediately known. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

We cant flee because anywhere you go, you are bombed, one neighbor, Khalil Abu Yahia, said. You need a miracle to survive here.

The number of people forced from their homes by the airstrikes soared 25% in a day, reaching 423,000 out of a population of 2.3 million, the U.N. said Thursday. Most crowded into U.N.-run schools.

Families were cutting down to one meal a day, said Rami Swailem, a 34-year-old lecturer at al-Azhar University, who had 32 relatives sheltering in his home. Water stopped coming to the building two days ago, and they have rationed whats left in a tank on the roof.

Alaa Younis Abuel-Omrain has been staying in a U.N. school after a strike on her home killed eight members of her family  her mother, aunt, a sister, a brother and his wife and their three children. Most bakeries stopped producing bread for lack of electricity.

Even if there is food in some areas, we cant get to it because of strikes, she said.

On Wednesday, Gazas only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

Hospitals, overwhelmed by a constant stream of wounded and running out of supplies, have only a few days worth of fuel before their power cuts off, aid officials say.

Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, said Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Newborn incubators, kidney dialysis machines, X-ray equipment and more, are all dependent on power, he said.

Ambulance crews carrying bodies to the morgue at Gazas biggest hospital, Shifa, found no space left. Dozens of full body bags were lined up in the hospital parking lot. Fourteen health facilities have been damaged in strikes, health officials said Thursday.

With Israel sealing off the territory, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah, but Egypts Foreign Ministry said Thursday that airstrikes on Rafah have prevented it from operating. Egypt has been trying to convince Israel and the United States to allow aid and fuel through the crossing.

Israel is employing a new tactic of leveling whole neighborhoods, rather than just individual buildings. Hecht, the military spokesman, said targeting decisions were based on intelligence on locations being used by Hamas and that civilians were warned.

Right now, we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, Hecht said. The military said strikes have hit Hamas elite Nukhba forces, including command centers used by the fighters in Saturdays attack, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative used to store weapons.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Hamas after the militants stormed into the countrys south on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people, including killings of children in their homes and young people at a music festival. Netanyahu said Hamas atrocities included beheading soldiers and raping women, descriptions that could not immediately be independently confirmed.

Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

In a video released Thursday, civilian Hamas figures defended the groups rampage and decried the civilian deaths in Gaza from six days of Israeli airstrikes. The solemn video lacked the bravado of a recording aired Saturday by Hamass military wing that hailed the greatest battle as the massacres were still taking place.

Basem Naim, a former Hamas government minister, said that in the swift collapse of the Israeli military on Saturday, chaos prevailed and civilians found themselves in the middle of the confrontation. The claim is contradicted by countless videos and survivor accounts of Hamas militants deliberately targeting and killing civilians in Israel.

Naim added that there would be no action to free the 150 captives taken back into Gaza while Israels operation continued.

Israel was a nation in mourning. At a funeral for a 25-year-old woman killed with at least 260 other people at a desert rave, and at another service for a slain Israeli soldier, mourners sat cross-legged on the ground next to caskets, wailing or quietly weeping.

In Gaza, too, mourners buried families together in shrouds. At one funeral, they placed the battered body of a little girl in the arms of her slain father.

Brewing anger over Israeli military and intelligence failures in the surprise attack is being directed at Netanyahus far-right government, which for months advanced a contentious legal overhaul that divided the country and affected the military.

In what appeared to be a first admission of fault from a government member, Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch told Israeli news outlet Ynet: We are responsible. I, as a member of the government, am responsible. We were dealing with nonsense.

Israels public diplomacy minister quit, the first fissure in Netanyahus government since the onslaught.

Four previous conflicts ended with Hamas still firmly in control of the territory it has ruled since 2007. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities. A new war Cabinet, which includes a longtime opposition politician, was sworn in Thursday to direct the fight.

A high-ranking Hamas official, Saleh Al-Arouri, warned Thursday that any Israeli invasion of Gaza will turn into a disaster for its army, saying the group was prepared to respond.

Blinkens visit underscored American backing for Israels retaliation.

You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists, you will never have to, Blinken said after meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Blinken said he told Netanyahu that it was so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.

Blinken will also meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority is confined to parts of the occupied West Bank, and Jordans King Abdullah II. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin planned to visit Israel on Friday.
Montgomery County is moving forward with a plan to demolish the long vacant county prison in downtown Norristown. Others are trying to save and repurpose it. Read more

Saving the former Montgomery County prison from demolition could be a way to acknowledge the history of incarceration and its disparate impact on poor communities, a national penal reform advocate told an audience in Norristown Wednesday.

As you all continue on this journey, hopefully successfully, to preserve the structure and adaptively reuse it for community benefit, its an opportunity to be part of a national conversation, said Nicole Porter, a senior director at the Sentencing Project in Washington.

Porter was one of four speakers featured during a public forum at Theatre Horizon in downtown Norristown. The event, which drew about 60 people, was sponsored by Friends of the Prison.

The imposing Gothic landmark, designed by Napoleon LeBrun, the architect of the Academy of Music and the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Center City Philadelphia, is beloved by local residents, who have signed petitions and joined in the effort to preserve it.

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But it has also been described by some county and borough officials who seek its demolition as a symbol of injustice.

Montgomery County plans to spend $1.1 million to tear down the block-long Airy Street prison. It has been vacant since the 1980s and is widely considered historically and architecturally significant.

 READ MORE: In Norristown, some view a long-vacant prison as an architectural gem. Others see historic injustice.

In August, Kenneth E. Lawrence, the chairperson and first Black member of the Montgomery County Commission, released a statement saying the county is not prepared to ask taxpayers to spend millions of dollars to preserve a monument to a system of incarceration that disproportionately imprisoned people of color ... we refuse to invest in celebrating that legacy.

 READ MORE: Kenneth E. Lawrence: The former Montgomery County prison is a monument to injustice | Opinion

Commissioner Jamila Winder and Norristown borough council president Thomas Lepera also have spoken out in favor of demolition. The boroughs Historical Architectural Review Board, an advisory body, has yet to make a recommendation, but the Norristown council  which has the final authority over whether to issue a demolition permit  could take up the matter at its meeting on Nov. 8.

Porter did not cite officials by name at Wednesdays forum. She said that if status quo power brokers are using concerns about mass incarceration as a pretext to support demolition in spite of community support for preservation, I question their motivation and the framing of their views.

If they have a critique of mass incarceration, how do those views show up in [their] other work? Or is [what they are saying] just rhetoric?

In a statement Thursday, Lawrence said: Our policies match our rhetoric. Justice reform has been one of the countys highest priorities, and since 2018, our reform efforts have safely reduced our prison population by 50%.

We believe county tax dollars should be spent on keeping people out of the current prison rather than preserving the old one.

Lepera said by phone Thursday that hes just happy someone thinks someone from Norristown is a power broker, adding, my record in Norristown speaks for itself.

Besides Porter, the other featured speakers at the forum were Paul Steinke, executive director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia; Todd Poole, founder of 4Ward Planning, in Philadelphia; and longtime Norristown architect Douglas Seiler.

Collectively, the speakers questioned why the county seemed in a rush to dispose of the building, at considerable public expense, despite no current analyses of the redevelopment opportunities  and potential public funding sources  for repurposing the one-acre complex.

Has the county ever offered the property for sale? It could be leveraged for community revitalization, said Steinke, whose organization headlined the prison battle in its August Advocacy Update and urged readers to sign a petition against demolition.

They also said Phillys Eastern State Penitentiary provides a model, and attests to the potential, for the Airy Street prison to become not only a destination, but a place to educate the public about the societal impact of incarceration.

Seiler, who led earlier efforts to find a new use for the Airy Street prison, said Wednesday that one possibility would be to preserve the castle-like 1851 front portion, but not the entirety, of the structure.

 READ MORE: Turn the Norristown prison into a museum of justice | Opinion

The latest campaign features T-shirts, posters, and public events along with social media, including a Change.org petition, and has inspired locals such as Peggy Becker-Dellisanti, a volunteer at Wednesdays event.

I grew up in Philly across from Eastern State, so I know what [preserving] Eastern State has done for my old neighborhood, she said.

Calling the Airy Street edifice a beautiful gem, Becker-Dellisanti said the prison could be repurposed as a music venue and museum.

Its quite possibly the most important historic building in Norristown. It really is a community-defining landmark, said Aaron Wunsch, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Weitzman School of Design, who attended the event.

There are plenty of examples of prisons that have been well-adapted for reuse. And if the concern is mass incarceration, tearing down a building that was never part of that is not an effective way to address the issue, he said.
A Texas kindergarten teacher who was caught passing out melatonin gummies to some of her young special education students to calm them down has resigned. And the district has reported her to Child Protective Services.

An investigation by the Humble Independent School District outside of Houston found that the teacher, who worked at Pine Forest Elementary School, had acted on her own, without getting permission from parents or informing anyone working at the school. But at least some of the parents noticed the effects.

"We noticed on three different occasions when he came home he was completely lethargic, stumbling to get off the bus," said the mother of a 5-year-old nonverbal boy, via ABC7 News. "It's a breach of trust."

The boy's mom said she remembers the teacher asking her earlier in the year if her son liked gummies, but the question didn't seem like a big deal at the time.

From ABC7:

The mother, who does not want her name used, said her 5-year-old son is nonverbal, and this is her worst nightmare: something happening at school, and her son is unable to communicate. She said her son's teacher had called her before asking for advice on how to calm him down. "She called me a few times asking, 'What do you do at home? What do you suggest to calm him down?' He's very active, and we sometimes have a hard time getting him to focus back on the task at hand," she said.  According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is possible for children to overdose on melatonin. A 2012 to 2021 study revealed poison control received more than 260,000 reports of children ingesting melatonin. Roughly 4,000 kids were hospitalized during that 10-year period. Five children were placed on ventilators, and two of those children died. The children who died were 3 months old and 13 months old, according to the study. One ingestion involved medication missed, and the reason for the other is unknown.

And from CNN:
Last spring, the American Anthropological Association endorsed a statement that condemned Florida for restricting school instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity. And this fall, the association canceled a panel at its own conference that aimed to explore, yes, sexual orientation and gender identity.

That speaks volumes about why so many people distrust universities right now. We professors scream bloody murder about laws to censor American classrooms, then we turn around and censor each other. And you cant defend freedom with one hand if youre denying it with the other.

Lets start with the recent Ed Scare of state measures to muzzle American teachers, who are facing the greatest challenge to their liberty since the Red Scare of the 1950s. Dozens of states have considered or passed bills restricting instruction on divisive concepts, especially around race or gender. And 11 states have specifically banned discussion of LGBTQ-related issues.

In Florida, a law signed earlier this year by Gov. Ron DeSantis prohibits instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation through the eighth grade; it also requires schools to teach that sex is determined by biology and is binary, stable, and unchangeable. As the statement signed by the AAA correctly asserts, such restrictions inhibit teachers and students from discussing cultures, religions and societies ... that have embraced traditions of gender fluidity and homosexuality.

But the AAA inhibited that discussion, too, by rejecting a previously accepted conference panel about sex and gender. Entitled Lets Talk About Sex, Baby: Why Biological Sex Remains a Necessary Analytic Category in Anthropology, the panel featured five female scholars from four countries. One of them argued that human skeletons were binary  that is, either male or female  even though people dont always present that way; another critiqued tech companies that were counting men who identify as trans as women rather than by having more women enter the field.

In a joint statement, the AAA and the Canadian Anthropology Society declared last month that the panel violated settled science. Please. The science of sex and gender is hardly settled; instead, its a topic of vigorous debate among biologists, philosophers, and many other scholars.

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But the leaders of the anthropological discipline dont want that debate, any more than DeSantis and his disciples do. Under the new law in Florida, you have to say that sex is a binary, and under the new dogma of anthropology, you have to say that it isnt. And if you dissent from the received wisdom, youll be derided as a bigot. Thats why the anthropologists joint statement was headlined, No Place for Transphobia in Anthropology. We  always we  know that sex is mutable. Suggesting otherwise will do harm to vulnerable members of our community, especially those with LGBTQ identities.

That, too, echoes the wave of Republican-sponsored censorship sweeping our statehouses. Several legislatures have prohibited instruction that says a person should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individuals race or sex. Teachers are reportedly steering clear of difficult subjects like slavery and Native American genocide, lest anyone (read: white people) feels bad.

The creation of knowledge requires us to confront ideas and theories that are strange, discomfiting, or offensive to us.

Thats the cry of the censor, in all times and places: words hurt, so we need to blot them out. But you cant have a university  or a democracy  on that basis. The creation of knowledge requires us to confront ideas and theories that are strange, discomfiting, or offensive to us. And so does the process of democratic self-government. Once you decide that harmful speech is off the table, we cant talk at all.

Lets be clear: Theres a big difference between a state legislature prohibiting certain ideas and a professional association rejecting a panel about them. But they have the same goal: to restrict what we can say and learn.

I just dont see how professors can resist the GOP censorship machine if we are imitating it at the same time. Most of our major scholarly societies have condemned the Ed Scare laws for trampling upon our most fundamental values: dialogue, discussion, and free expression. But if we are violating those values in our own institutions, nobody will listen to us. And I dont know why they should.
Residents of the Gaza Strip survey the damage at a mosque destroyed in an Israeli air strike in the town of Khan Younis on Sunday. Read more

I am a proud Jew who believes in Judaism beyond Zionism, and who believes that everyone deserves to live in peace, including the Palestinian people. I am also a Jew who grew up in a Zionist home in Buffalo, N.Y.

As a child, I remember plunking spare change in the metal Jewish National Fund box on my kitchen windowsill, intending to send those coins to Israel, where I thought that my money would help plant trees and build a stronger Jewish state.

I understood how important it was to give tzedakah, or charity; however, now I know that this money was used to plant forests that covered the ruins of Palestinians homes. Zionism, the agenda of the Israeli government  which differs from the religion of Judaism  was woven throughout the Hebrew school I attended, and learning these principles was as natural as learning about community care or environmentalism.

My mother grew up as one of the few Jews in Chambersburg, Pa., and fell in love with the idea of Israel as a homeland. She has told me many times how she would walk home from school to the antisemitic taunts of her classmates. My pain burns alongside hers as I see how alive these memories still are for her. Her Hungarian father worked hard to give his family a safe life, and had his passport stamped with swastikas in the late 1930s, risking his life to get his siblings out of Satoraljaujhely and settled into small towns throughout Pennsylvania.

My father, a Dominican doctor, grew up under the Trujillo dictatorship in a multigenerational home in La Vega. When he fell in love with my mother, he also fell in love with Judaism through his love for science and questioning.

We are a proud family of survivors who believe in strength, family, respecting warning signs, and moving toward the possibility of a better future.

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I know that my parents investment in Zionism was in good faith. They wanted their children to know peace and to understand that there was a homeland waiting for them in Israel, full of freshly planted trees and away from the violence of those who didnt respect them. It is a terrible irony for me that this gift of a homeland came at the price of taking land from Palestinians who wanted the same thing for their children.

It is possible to hold two thoughts in tension. I love my parents, and I dont want this gift.

To be clear, I dont condone the taking of innocent life. Regardless of what many people believed Zionism was, the ultimate impact of this ideology has been oppression and conflict. The Israeli government may have just declared war on Hamas, but its war on Palestinians started over 75 years ago. Israeli apartheid and occupation  and the United States complicity in that oppression  are the source of this violence.

For the past year, the most racist, fundamentalist, far-right government in Israeli history has ruthlessly escalated its military occupation over Palestinians in the name of Jewish supremacy, with violent expulsions and home demolitions, mass killings, military raids on refugee camps, unrelenting siege, and daily humiliation.

Like many Jews of my generation, my thinking on these issues has changed dramatically in the last 16 years. I have found more direction since joining the Philadelphia chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace. Through direct action, events, and conversations, Ive gotten clear on my belief that we all deserve liberation, safety, and equality.

We all deserve liberation, safety, and equality.

Inevitably, oppressed people everywhere will seek  and gain  their freedom. The only way to get there is by uprooting the sources of the violence.

My parents and I agree that all life is holy, but struggle to find a middle ground on this issue. My belief is that the unchecked military funding, diplomatic cover, and billions of dollars flowing from the U.S. enable and empower Israels apartheid actions.

In addition to being a pro-Palestinian anti-Zionist Dominican Hungarian Jew, it may not be surprising to hear that I am also a trauma therapist. I teach my clients about trauma-informed care, which includes coming out of my own freeze state and into thoughtful responses to human suffering. It includes separating out the false binary of a victim/perpetrator narrative and instead seeking ways to empower choice, voice, and freedom.

Through many years of struggle and dreaming, my family passed down the will to survive and thrive. I understand that to be silent on Palestine is to be complicit in the erasure of a people who also deserve to survive and thrive.

Rebecca J. Alvarez is a queer mixed-race trauma therapist and a member of Jewish Voice for Peace.
Ron Tarver, an art professor at Swarthmore College, was walking his dog on the Elkins Estate in Elkins Park when he spotted a dilapidated greenhouse and came up with the idea of placing the translucent photos of gun violence victims over the panels so that in addition to nurturing plants, it would be a place for people to heal as well. Read more

Spontaneous memorials to the dead are heartbreakingly ubiquitous in Philadelphia. They come in many forms  balloon releases, stuffed animals on sidewalks, flowers lovingly placed on the exact spot where the victim of a homicide took their last breath  and are often adorned with the occasional strand of discarded yellow police tape.

But imagine if there were also a place where mourners could go and honor the lives of those who have been killed that wasnt stained by bloodshed  and that wasnt a cemetery.

That is whats driving the creation of a new memorial to the victims of gun violence. Its called the House of the Living, and its the brainchild of Ron Tarver, an art professor at Swarthmore and former photojournalist at The Inquirer.

Theres really nothing like this in the country, where people can come and be in mediation with their loved ones, Tarver told me during a recent visit to the memorial, which is still under construction in Elkins Park. This is what this is all about.

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The idea came to Tarver during daily walks that he and his wife, Kristin Winch, would take with their dog, Winston, on the grounds of the historic Elkins Estate during pandemic shutdowns.

As theyd stroll quietly, the Pulitzer Prize winner would find himself gazing at a dilapidated and badly overgrown greenhouse that hadnt been used in more than a decade. It was a scary-looking mess. Windows were missing. It looked as if a thicket of shrubbery was growing inside.

But where a pragmatist like me sees a teardown, Tarver envisions potential. One day while wandering across the property near Ashbourne Road and Juniper Avenue, he asked himself: What would happen if you inscribe portraits of gun violence victims into the glass with the idea that the light shining through the glass would nurture the plants inside? That was the root of the idea. It just popped in my head.

At first, thats all it was: a creative idea percolating in his brain. Then one day, Tarver noticed workers clearing brush away and learned that the FarmerJawn & Friends Foundation Fund had leased a one-acre plot on the estate that includes the greenhouse.

Tarver reached out to Brandon Ritter, FarmerJawns chief operating officer, and pitched his idea of cleaning out the structure and transforming it into a monument to the lives of those lost to gun violence.

Swarthmores Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility granted $18,000, which was used as seed money. The idea picked up steam as Jody Joyner, who teaches a class on monuments at Swarthmore, involved her students in the effort. Officials at the EMIR Healing Center, a Germantown-based nonprofit that serves the families of those lost to gun violence also agreed to help birth the project.

Inspired by the late African American science fiction writer Octavia Butler, Tarver named it the House of the Living, which is a reference to The Book of the Living from Butlers novel, The Parable of the Sower. At one point, while he explained the project, Tarver paused and began quoting from the book:

All that you touch

You Change.

All that you Change

Changes you.

The only lasting truth

Is Change.

God

Is Change.

The words are apropos considering the massive renovations underway to transform a tumbledown greenhouse into a community space for healing. From a distance, it looks like a small church, or perhaps a modern mausoleum. Each window pane on the front of the glass enclosure is covered with black-and-white images of a portrait along with the persons name. Instead of the windows being opaque, they are sheer to allow light to shine into the space.

The plan is that one day, the sunshine beaming inside through the etchings imposed on the plexiglass windows will nourish seedlings that can then be transferred onto the grounds nearby and grown into vegetation that will feed marginalized families. So far, 80 panels bear completed etchings. Once its finished, the structure will be covered with 410 faces, which is equivalent to the average number of annual homicides in Philadelphia over the last seven years.

Its a healing place, Chantay Love, EMIRs president, told me. It also lets you know that even though youve lost someone, your loved one will not be forgotten.

Love and I walked over to the portrait on the 1,400-square-foot building that an artist made of her late brother, Emir Greene, who was only 20 when he was shot to death on the night of March 26, 1997, by a drug dealer for whom he worked.

We say we want to help everyone without judgment, Love pointed out. Lets just care for the people who are left behind.

Another visitor, Rhonda Gore, led me to an engraving of her son, Shelton Hayes, whose March 2018 killing remains unsolved.

This way he lives on, said Gore, who now works with EMIR counseling families who have experienced similar loss.

Gore imagines the day when the greenhouse is complete and the plants inside are nurtured by the light passing through the image of Hayes face. Every time the sun shines, hes growing life, so hes still living, she said.

This project, to me, feels divinely inspired.

This project, to me, feels divinely inspired. But finishing it is going to take way more money than what organizers have raised so far.

Tarver estimates that the project will need at least $300,000 to make repairs to the buildings infrastructure and also improve the landscaping. Theres still the HVAC and other improvements that need to be done. And that doesnt take into account what the project will need to pay grief counselors to staff events or to create an endowment to fund the House of the Living in the years to come.

The hope is to create something lasting  like the memories of those it is intended to honor.
File photo of U.S. Representative Donald Norcross, shown here in 2022. Norcross was in Saudi Arabia with a congressional delegation last week. Read more

U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross went to sleep in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 6 after what he felt was a productive talk with the crown prince about the future of Israeli-Middle Eastern relations.

But the unprecedented invasion of Israel, in which Hamas militants killed hundreds of civilians and took others hostage, caused the New Jersey lawmaker and his congressional delegation to change course.

By Tuesday, Norcross and three other congressional members had met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli diplomatic officials, marking the first bipartisan congressional delegation to visit Israel since the weekend attack and ensuing war with Hamas. (A fellow New Jersey congressional member  U.S. Sen. Cory Booker  was in Israel on an unrelated trip at the time of the attack and has since returned.)

The preplanned delegation trip had been part of an ongoing effort to normalize relations between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries  an already-contentious foreign policy issue in Washington  but that mission appears to have hit an abrupt halt in light of the attack.

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The idea of having a peace conversation at this point when the wound is not only open but bleeding is not on the top of anybodys list, said Norcross, who returned to the United States on Wednesday.

In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, talks with Israeli officials focused on securing the Gaza border, quelling tensions in the West Bank, and monitoring movement from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the north, as well as requests for U.S. military aid, he said.

Norcross  who traveled alongside Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.), and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D., Calif.)  said the group also met with family members of Israelis who had been killed in a kibbutz near the southern border.

There is zero room for excuses, justification or rationale for this inhumane action, the Camden County representative said, referring to the massacre of civilians by Hamas militants.

Last week, prior to the outbreak of war, 20 Democratic U.S. senators penned a letter to President Joe Biden about the administrations efforts to normalize Israeli-Saudi relations and whether such a deal would include concessions for the Palestinian territories.

The senators argued that given the Saudi regimes distressing human rights record and reckless foreign policy agenda, brokering a security deal would break precedent, and any treaty would have to include meaningful, clearly defined and enforceable provisions for Palestinians, including preserving the option of a two-state solution with Israel.

The congressional delegation has not reapproached the Israeli security agreement with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since Friday, but Norcross said peacemaking efforts and Palestinian concessions would temporarily take a backseat in light of the war.

Asked about whether the delegation had concerns about Israels military response in the sealed-off Gaza Strip, Norcross said the response was justified after Hamas targeted Israeli civilians, including women and children.

This is war, he said. People are going to die, and [Israelis] have a right to secure their borders.

Hamas has killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including women, children, and toddlers, according to the Israeli Defense Force. The ensuing Israeli bombardment  with more than 6,000 missile strikes in five days  has killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza, about half of whom were women and children, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday.

Back in Washington, Norcross said the focus now shifts to passing another military aid package through Congress. Those efforts could prove difficult though, according to the New York Times, due to partisan division and disagreements over whether Israeli aid should be tied to Bidens request for additional military support for Ukraine.
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson speaks during an interview in Point Breeze in August. He appears well positioned to become the next Council president after securing commitments from nine of his colleagues. Read more

Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson appears increasingly likely to become the next Council president after securing commitments from a majority of members who say they intend to vote for him, according to sources familiar with the internal deliberations.

But Johnsons chief rival in the race cast doubt on Thursday that it has wrapped up, saying that even if Johnson has gained enough support now, members can change their minds before a vote ultimately takes place in January.

Johnson, a Democrat who represents parts of South and Southwest Philadelphia, has for months been locked in a battle with Democratic Majority Leader Curtis Jones Jr. for the top legislative position in the city. Three other Council members also expressed interest in the post, which will be vacated in January by current Council President Darrell L. Clarke, who did not seek reelection.

Councilmember Mark Squilla, who was seen by many as a potential consensus candidate if neither Johnson nor Jones could secure a majority, said Thursday that he is no longer running, an indication that the path to beating Johnson had become untenable.

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The City Council president wields enormous power over policy in the city and how the legislative body operates. They are typically considered the most powerful person in City Hall, aside from the mayor.

Three sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the internal deliberations, said Johnson has obtained signatures from at least nine members  enough to represent a majority of the 17-member body  on a nomination form hes circulated to colleagues.

In a brief interview after Councils public session Thursday, Johnson would not confirm the number of members who have said they are supporting him, saying he is still in the process of lobbying colleagues. Most members have been publicly mum about whom they are backing.

 READ MORE: Kenyatta Johnson and Curtis Jones Jr. are front-runners in the Philly Council president race

Jones said the race is far from over and cast reports that Johnson had secured enough votes as a rumor.

And its a smart rumor, because thats how you convince people that a race is over, Jones said. People, even if they commit, can change their mind.

Reneging on such a commitment is uncommon, and rumors have circulated for weeks that Johnson appeared close to garnering enough support to secure the presidency, even though the makeup of Council will change come January. There are competitive races for three seats in the November general election.

Councilmember Mike Driscoll, a freshman lawmaker, said he is also still seeking the Council presidency.

Squilla said he decided to end his bid this week after hearing from members that Johnson had enough votes. He said he hasnt verified thats the case, but has no reason to doubt it. He said he hasnt pledged his support to anyone, but expects Council to vote unanimously for Johnson in January.

You cant be undecided if somebody has the votes, he said. Whoever the leadership is, Council will be solidified.

He plans to meet with Johnson next week.

A three-term Council member and former state representative, Johnson hails from Point Breeze and has spent much of his career as a Council member focused on anti-violence efforts and controlling development in his district.

Winning the Council presidency would represent a significant turnaround for Johnson, who was just last year acquitted by a jury of federal corruption charges. Federal prosecutors in 2020 filed fraud and bribery charges against Johnson and his wife, Dawn Chavous, alleging they accepted bribes and used his position on Council to help a nonprofit maintain real estate in his district.

While some members said they were quietly uncomfortable with Johnsons legal troubles, the charges did not appear to play a major role in his campaign for the presidency.

Members have generally said that they have been more concerned with how the candidates would govern Council itself. Others used their Council presidency vote as leverage to jockey for leadership positions or favorable committee assignments. Some members were also lobbied by politically powerful labor unions that privately lined up behind Johnson.

Johnson has said that hed govern Council in his own style, but he would seek to continue some of the ways that Clarke has led, including his insistence that members build consensus on major policy initiatives. Clarke, who has led the body for 12 years, has worked to move Council away from factions and instead build a culture of independence for individual Council members.

Its about empowering and supporting my members that they advocate for their own policy ideas, Johnson said in July, but also its working collectively as a body to move the city of Philadelphia forward.
Israel was warned by Egypt of Hamas's planned terror attacks days before they happened, reports the BBC, quoting House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee head Michael McCaul (R-Texas). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies the claim.

"We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen," Mr McCaul told reporters following a closed-door intelligence briefing on Wednesday for lawmakers about the Middle East crisis, according to AFP news agency. "I don't want to get too much into classified, but a warning was given," the Texas Republican added. "I think the question was at what level."

It feeds conspiracy theories that Netanyahu allowed it to happen, thinking it would be on a smaller scale. The truth is that he's a "hapless" buffoon and was distracted by his own priorities. Like Haaretz, you can blame him outright for the mess without accusing him of being the chef.
We must put the pedal to the metal on road, public and active transport planning if we are to preserve SEQ's famous lifestyle, strengthen our economy, and keep our communities safe, said Dr Michael Kane, head of public policy at RACQ. In its current form, the draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update has all the right policy statements but has major gaps in transport infrastructure planning and how it will be delivered to manage the region's expected population growth.
The majority of Canadians are clearly worried about how this alarming increase in auto theft will impact the crime rate in their communities, and they are especially concerned for their personal safety and the safety of their families, she said.
With the technology thats being built now, its easy for just the regular person who wants to exaggerate their claim to do so, as well as organized crime groups that want to make a larger play across multiple companies at the same time, said Joe Stephenson (pictured), a former special investigator and current director of digital intelligence at claims technology firm INTERTEL.
Nearly three months after severe flooding inundated Vermonts capital city, Montpelier businesses launched an event Friday to celebrate how much they`ve rebuilt  and remind the public not to forget them as they struggle to make a complete comeback.

The small city of about 8,000 is celebrating its ongoing recovery with food trucks, music and street performers in hopes of drawing visitors downtown and giving shops a chance to sell their merchandise in sidewalk sales.

It`s really a way to acknowledge our progress, said Katie Trautz, executive director of Montpelier Alive, a group that holds events and promotes city businesses. It`s a symbolic kind of reopening celebration, like we`re turning a page here. . Businesses are reopening every week.

Rain will likely fall at times during the two-day event, although Trautz said a weather forecaster has assured organizers that heavy rains will likely be west of the city.

Trautz said at least 125 Montpelier businesses were damaged in the July flooding that filled basements and lower floors of businesses with water and obscured vehicles and all but the tops of parking meters downtown. Some resident canoed and kayaked along main streets, while others slogged through the waist-high water to survey the scene.

Open and Closed

Since then, 15 to 20 businesses have reopened and 10 have officially closed, Trautz said. She estimates that 80% will reopen but it will take a long time.

What were trying to do is also give businesses an opportunity to sell their merchandise and be recognized and keep the attention on Montpelier because this is not over, Trautz said. She also noted that the fall, a popular time for tourists who flock to the state to see colorful foliage, is when businesses traditionally make the money that gets them through the end of the year.

The celebration includes an art walk on Friday evening, the farmers market on Saturday morning, and the Taste of Montpelier Food Festival in the afternoon with 20 food trucks offering fare from around Vermont. A singing group will hold a benefit for Montpelier flood relief on the Statehouse lawn on Saturday afternoon and the Kellogg Hubbard Library will celebrate its own grand reopening with crafts, snacks, and the finale of its fundraising auction. A West African drumming event takes place in front of City Hall at 6 p.m. followed by a play performed at Lost Nation Theater.

Solonge Breceduong, visiting from Montreal, said Friday that she was initially surprised to see so many businesses closed, but then remembered the flood.

I think that people here are very resilient.  You can see the hope on their face, so I really like Vermont for that, she said.

Kelly Tackett, owner of the children`s clothing shop Minikin, decided just last weekend that she would reopen.

It was a rollercoaster of ups and downs of what to do, Tackett said Friday, adding that it took her two months to figure out the right way to submit a loan application to the Small Business Administration. Without any assistance, I didn`t think there was any way I could pull this off starting from scratch again. 

Trautz said many more businesses expect to open in the next couple of weeks. And in the next few months, she said, I think downtown Montpelier will look really different than it does now.

Photo: Flooding debris is stacked along State Street, near the state capital building, in downtown, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Montpelier, Vt. The mostly gutted shops, restaurants and businesses that lend downtown Montpelier its charm are considering where and how to rebuild in an era when extreme weather is occurring more often. Vermonts flooding was just one of several major flood events around the globe this summer that scientists have said are becoming more likely due to climate change. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood Vermont
Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced that Delawares workers compensation rates will decrease for the seventh year in a row, effective December 1, 2023. The voluntary market is expected to decrease 7.24%, while the residual market will see a reduction of 11.18%.

Final rates will be announced later this fall, following a confirmation of the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau (DCRB) filing by independent actuaries, and a public hearing. Actual savings will vary by policy.

Navarro said this years decrease reflects a second year of the reversal of voluntary and residual market trends. With the residual market expected to see a greater rate decrease, he said companies that previously could only obtain coverage in this last resort market can now obtain voluntary market coverage.

More than 1,100 employers are saving even more on their premiums by participating in the departments Workplace Safety Program, saving approximately $6.9 million last year. Eligible businesses can earn up to a 19% discount by successfully undergoing annual safety inspections and complying with recommendations.

Last December, the industry implemented an overall decrease to residual market rates of 16.14%, an overall decrease to voluntary market loss costs of 10.96%, along with revisions to rating values.

in December 2021, the voluntary market saw an average 20.02% reduction in loss costs and a 20.10% decrease in residual market rates.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent Pricing Trends
Airlines wrestled with the safety risk of evacuation operations in Israel on Thursday, with carriers including Dutch KLM canceling flights while sister airline Air France mounted a special relief flight chartered by the French foreign ministry.

Airlines have faced warnings over insurance coverage in the wake of the weekend attacks on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants, which have been followed by Israeli retaliatory strikes and growing concerns among some airlines and insurers over the security of airspace near Tel Avivs airport.

Ben Gurion Airport this week denied a Hamas statement that the Palestinian faction had hit it with rockets from Gaza.

Editors note: Jennifer Rubin, senior underwriting executive of Liberty Specialty Markets, discusses insurance coverage for war and terrorism with Insurance Journals Andrea Wells at the 2023 WSIA conference. Several videos of the conversation : Jennifer Rubin, senior underwriting executive of Liberty Specialty Markets, discusses insurance coverage for war and terrorism with Insurance Journals Andrea Wells at the 2023 WSIA conference. Several videos of the conversation can be viewed on Insurance Journal TV

Reports say almost all rockets fired at Tel Aviv have been intercepted by Israels Iron Dome system and none have landed at the airport itself, located just outside the city.

But airlines remain nervous about using the airport without stronger guidance and at least one foreign carrier, Norwegian Air, said its insurers had refused to provide cover, forcing it to cancel a planned evacuation flight.

The reason is that the insurance company that Norwegian and a number of other airlines use no longer cover flights to Tel Aviv, Norwegian said, without elaborating.

Norwegian later said it had scheduled a new flight on Friday from Eilat in southern Israel in cooperation with Norways foreign ministry.

Insurance industry sources say insurers are telling airlines they may review their existing policies, though one broker told Reuters they were not yet aware of any cancellations.

Israels parliamentary finance committee meanwhile approved a plan to provide a state guarantee of $6 billion to cover insurance against war risks to Israeli airlines.

The framework will grant Israeli airlines cover against war risks, thereby ensuring the continuity of air operations.

Foreign airlines have struggled to find a common approach and the head of European budget giant Ryanair RYA.I said it was up to governments to plot the way forward.

In one example, Dutch KLM said it had retracted an offer to the Dutch government for a recovery flight, because it was not sufficiently possible for a civilian airline to conduct a flight thats safe for crew and passengers.

But sister airline Air France which has canceled commercial flights, pressed ahead with an emergency evacuation flight chartered by the French foreign ministry on Thursday.

The two airlines are owned by the same parent group Air France-KLM but are operationally separate.

Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith said the mission using a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, one of the largest long-distance jets in the airlines fleet, was operating under a special exemption.

Patchy Response

Germanys Lufthansa said it was sticking to its plans for evacuation flights on Thursday and Friday, while continuing to ground commercial flights to Israel.

Responses to the surging violence between Israel and Palestinian militants have been patchy with some airlines promptly canceling flights and others, including Dubais Emirates, a major long-distance carrier, maintaining links.

On Thursday, however, Emirates said it was suspending all flights until Oct 20, after halving them a day earlier.

In the United States, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the airline was adding capacity to Europe to take out those who had ended up stranded there, but had no plans to fly to Israel, whose airspace was unsafe for a U.S. carrier.

The decrease in flights has left travelers who purchased individual insurance in case of emergencies with few options to find a way home.

Theres a ripple effect and chaos coordinating different flights to get travelers home, said Sasha Gainullin, the CEO of Robin Assist, a round-the-clock travel assistance service platform. The level of intensity of trying to figure things out reminds me of September 11th.

All airlines said they were in touch with authorities and putting safety above all else.

The International Air Transport Association said it had held a security call with global airline members this week.

We are monitoring the situation and encourage airlines to be in touch with their own governments and assess the risk. We do believe that airlines are taking all the precautions that they should, Rafael Schvartzman, European vice-president for IATA, told the AJPAE French aerospace media association.

Regulators in Israel, Europe and the United States have advised airlines to use caution when flying through Israeli airspace  avoiding a split seen in 2014 when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration briefly banned U.S. airlines from flying to Israel after a Hamas rocket fell near Ben Gurion.

The decision triggered a backlash in the United States where critics accused the then Obama administration of impeding ties with Israel, something U.S. officials strongly denied.

It also opened a rift with European regulators who issued a softer recommendation not to fly to Israel.

In the current crisis, however, some airlines and industry groups have called for more specific direction.

A senior industry source involved in security discussions said airlines wanted above all to avoid inconsistent advice.

Operators should especially avoid Tel Aviv, despite assurances from the authorities that the airspace is safe. It sure as hell isnt, OPSGROUP, a membership-based organization that provides advice to pilots, said in a weekly bulletin.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, Bart H. Meijer, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Julia Payne, Carolyn Cohn, Steven Scheer, Rajesh Kumar Singh and Doyinsola Oladipo, writing by Anna Ringstrom, Tim Hepher, editing by Terje Solsvik, Deborah Kyvrikosaios and Diane Craft)

Photograph: Israeli police retrieve weapons used by militants outside a police station that was overrun by Hamas gunmen on Saturday, in Sderot, Israel, on Sunday, Oct.8, 2023. Hamas militants stormed over the border fence Saturday, Oct. 7, killing hundreds of Israelis in surrounding communities. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Related:

Topics Aviation
An unsolved $17 million heist of Swiss gold and cash near Canadas busiest airport has led Brinks Co. to sue Air Canada for allegedly letting a thief slip away with the loot.

Miami-based Brinks accused the airline of negligence and carelessness in a lawsuit after a heist at a Toronto cargo facility netted thieves about 400 kilograms (882 pounds) of gold and $1.9 million in bank notes.

The carrier failed to ensure the shipment marked valuable cargo had adequate security and protection, Brinks alleges in the the statement of claim, which was filed at the Federal Court of Canada on Oct. 6. Air Canada declined to comment.

In mid-April, Swiss bank Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft and precious metals refining company Valcambi SA hired Brinks to move the goods from Zurich to Toronto, the lawsuit says. Brinks, in turn, arranged for Air Canada to fly the valuables between the two cities.

The shipment of gold bars and bills was hauled from Pearson International Airport to a warehouse at around 5:50 p.m. Toronto time on April 17. About 40 minutes later, someone showed up with fraudulent documents to pick them up. No security protocols or features were in place to monitor, restrict or otherwise regulate the unidentified individuals access to the facilities, Brinks alleges in the statement of claim.

The person then absconded with the cargo and, so far, there have been no arrests or convictions and the shipments have not been recovered, the lawsuit says.

This is still a very active ongoing investigation, and information will be released when investigators believe it will not interfere with the investigations integrity, Peel Regional Police spokesperson Aruna Aundhia said in an email.

Brinks is seeking the equivalent of 13.6 million Swiss francs ($15.1 million) for the missing gold and $1.9 million for the stolen bank notes, plus additional costs from Air Canada. The security company has requested the case be tried in Toronto.

Toronto-Dominion Bank, which was the consignee for the gold, declined to comment. The Vancouver Bullion & Currency Exchange, which was the consignee for the cash, did not respond to a request for comment.

Photograph: A Brinks security van beside a Boeing 777 passenger plane. Photo credit: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

Copyright 2023 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Canada
Airlines wrestled with the safety risk of evacuation operations in Israel on Thursday, with Norwegian Air and Dutch KLM canceling flights while Air France was going ahead with a special flight chartered by the French foreign ministry.

Norwegian Air said it had canceled a planned evacuation flight from Tel Aviv to Oslo due to a lack of insurance cover.

Dutch airline KLM said late on Wednesday it had retracted an offer to the Dutch government for a flight to Israel to take Dutch citizens out of the country, citing safety concerns.

Airlines Face Israel Insurance Alert in Wake of Weekend Attacks

But sister airline Air France was pressing ahead with a flight from Paris on Thursday, a spokesperson said.

The two airlines are owned by the same parent group Air France-KLM but are operationally separate.

No explanation was available for the contrasting decisions.

KLM said the most recent information on the situation in Israel indicates it is not sufficiently possible for a civilian airline to conduct a flight thats safe for crew and passengers.

The Dutch foreign ministry said it would send a military plane to Israel on Thursday instead.

Norwegian Air had been due to fly Norwegian and other Nordic citizens stranded in Israel out of the country on Thursday evening. The flight had already been postponed from Wednesday.

The reason is that the insurance company that Norwegian and a number of other airlines use no longer cover flights to Tel Aviv, Norwegian said in a statement.

Airlines have faced warnings over insurance cover in the wake of the weekend attacks on Israel by Hamas militants.

Norwegian said it was working with Norways foreign ministry to find other solutions. On Tuesday it canceled regular flights from the Swedish and Danish capitals to Tel Aviv until Dec. 19.

Germanys Lufthansa was sticking to its plans for evacuation flights on Thursday and Friday.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, Bart H. Meijer, Tim Hepher, editing by Terje Solsvik and Deborah Kyvrikosaios)

Topics Aviation
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A Minnesota county agreed to pay a $12.2 million settlement to a man who was jailed on suspicion of drunken driving but ended up losing both his hands and suffering a heart attack, a stroke and skin lesions all over his body, allegedly due to the inaction of officials in the county jail, attorneys said.

Terrance Dwayne Winborn spent about four months in hospitals, including two months on a ventilator, because Scott County jail officials failed during the 39 hours he was incarcerated to ensure he got the prompt treatment he needed, his lawyers said at an Oct. 4 news conference.

Its a case that highlights the vulnerability of prisoners who are dependent on authorities for medical care.

The attorneys said the settlement will cover the more than $2 million in medical bills Winborn has already incurred  a sum which they said the county didn`t cover  as well as the millions he`ll need for ongoing care. The county`s insurance plan will cover the settlement.

That deliberate indifference allowed a bacterial infection to run rampant within his body, leading to a heart attack  and a host of other devastating and permanent injuries, attorney Katie Bennett told reporters.

Jason Hiveley, an outside lawyer who handled the case for Scott County, said in a brief statement that the county and its insurer, the Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust, agreed to the settlement in exchange for dismissal of Winborns lawsuit and a release from his claims. The statement did not say whether the county still denies any wrongdoing.

Winborn`s attorneys played a video showing his difficulties in adapting to life without hands, including feeding himself. He said he eats two meals a day because three takes too much work.

I don`t sleep because every time I dream, I dream I have my hands, you know. And I wake up, they`re gone again, Winborn said in the video. I`d rather have my hands than anything.

Winborn, from the southwestern Minnesota city of Marshall, was arrested in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee in the early hours of Aug. 27, 2020. His blood alcohol content measured 0.13% at the jail, according to the lawsuit he filed last year. The legal limit for driving is 0.08%. Late that morning, after his blood alcohol content returned to zero, he began vomiting.

He was unable to stand up that morning when a jail nurse came by for a COVID-19 check, the complaint said. She noted that his right hand was extremely swollen,  and that he had trouble answering questions. On a second visit, around midday, the nurse was unable to measure his blood oxygen level but still did not attempt to get him emergency care. By the time a corrections officer drove Winborn to a Shakopee hospital the evening of Aug. 28, his condition was even worse.

Personnel at the suburban hospital were so concerned that they sent him by ambulance that night to a bigger hospital in Minneapolis, where he was put in intensive care, the complaint said. Doctors amputated his hand and part of his forearm two days later after necrotizing fasciitis set in, a condition popularly known as flesh-eating bacteria. It`s a rare condition in which marauding bacteria run rampant through tissue. Affected areas sometimes have to be surgically removed to save the patients life.

By the time Winborn was transferred to a nursing home that November, his weight had dropped from his normal 180 pounds to 126 pounds (82 kilograms to 57 kilograms). Another infection led doctors to amputate his left arm below the elbow that December.

The complaint also said jail videos that could have provided important evidence were destroyed after 90 days because officials took no action to preserve them  despite knowing about the severity of Winborn`s injuries and the potential for litigation. Jail officials stated in their depositions that they couldn`t remember what happened.

The County and MCIT are hopeful the resolution of this matter will help provide Mr. Winborn with the medical care and quality of life assistance he needs, Hiveley said.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Minnesota
Approximately 78% of commercial auto insurers are in the research phase of preparing for usage-based insurance (UBI) products, according to a new report from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research and SambaSafety.

This signals interest in UBI, but not much comfort or readiness to implement, said the report.

The survey results show that telematics technology has outpaced consumption, and usage falls short of full potential, said Matt Scheuing, CEO of SambaSafety, a provider of driver risk management software, including telematics. But telematics offers the opportunity for the insurance industry to break out of the cycle of reacting to the rising cost of claims by raising premiums.

Per a press release, 335 insurance professionals were polled to uncover the obstacles to telematics adoption. Commercial line respondents cited variances in data formats among telematics service providers, differing terminology and event tracking among systems as challenges.

Overall, 65% of commercial carrier respondents to the survey indicated their companies have some level of telematics adoption, with the largest share (38%) reporting they are still in the early stages. One-third of commercial auto respondents anticipate launching a usage-based insurance (UBI) product within one or two years.

Related: Commercial Auto Up Against Persistent Headwinds to Underwriting Profit

Other key findings of From Perception to Practice: An Insight into Insurer Data Strategies and Sentiments include:

72% of commercial insurance companies offer or plan to offer a telematics-based product

More than half of agents report less than 10% adoption of UBI among their personal auto customers

15% of broker respondents offer telematics value-added services

Agents and brokers said personal and commercial customers want a higher level of trust to adopt telematics

The survey also explored the benefits of telematics. Responses showed that 63% of commercial line carriers share insights on risk to help clients, brokers and agents mitigate risk and improve premiums. Roughly 55% of commercial carriers also offer on-demand training to help improve performance, while 50% of commercial insurers plan to increase the risk control resources offered to clients.

In this dynamic era, where data steers our choices, its crucial for the insurance industry to remain informed, proactive and tactical, said Paul Martin, CPCU, director of academic content for The National Alliance. The report not only captures current industry sentiments but also provides a roadmap for the future; it encapsulates the evolving storyline of insurance, fueled by data, insights and modern technology.

Just 27% of commercial auto respondents have internal, dedicated telematics or connected car teams at their organizations, and only 6.25% have robust infrastructures to handle large volumes of telematics data, according to the report.

Telematics enables an alternative approach, Scheuing said. It provides a way to focus on granular risk by offering unparalleled visibility and objectivity, leading to fair and precise assessment of mobility risk  and to profitability.

Topics Auto Commercial Lines Business Insurance
As the racketeering case against Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants proceeds in Georgia, some of those indicted are struggling with mounting legal costs. A recent New York Times article highlights how Pastor Steven C. Lee, charged with pressuring a Georgia election worker to falsely confess to election fraud, hopes to pay his lawyers through online sales of "MAGA Honey."

From Christianity Today:

Lee's indictment stems from his visits to the home of a Georgia election worker whom Trump falsely accused of pulling out "suitcases full of ballots" to interfere with the vote. He has been charged with violating Georgia's RICO act as well as conspiracy to solicit false statements and writings, criminal attempt to influence witnesses, and influencing witnesses. In the aftermath of the contentious presidential election in 2020, Lee went to Ruby Freeman's house twice, and she called the police. Reuters reported that he told the officers, "I'm a pastor, and I'm also working with some folks who are trying to help Ruby out. And also get to some truth of what's going on." He had driven to Georgia from Illinois.

According to the Times, "the Illinois Family Institute is promoting the plan to raise money for Mr. Lee with the sale of the honey bottles, which are similar to the popular "honey bear" design, only with a likeness of Mr. Trump's head near the spout." A 16-ounce bottle of "Ultra MAGA, Pure Raw Honey" sells for $20.

From The Illinois Family Institute:

You may like or dislike the bottle design, but it's filled with healthy, pure, raw honey and we hope the uniqueness of the packaging will generate awareness, prayers, and donations for Chaplain Lee, who time and time again, has put himself at risk of great physical, emotional and spiritual harm, in order to bring the love of God to victims and first responders at events like Ground Zero, Columbine, Hurricane Katrina, Mandalay Bay and tragic sites around the world. Those wanting to support Chaplain Lee can get the honey in its unique bottle by going to MakeHoneyGreatAgain.com and using the promo code "Chaplain." A large amount of the proceeds are generously being donated to the Legal Defense Fund set up by Illinois Family Institute to help Chaplain Lee.

I wonder if Trump knows that his likeness is being used to sell a product? It seems like he would insist on profiting from the sale of these bottles of honey.
Alliant Insurance Services, a major American distributor and brokerage headquartered in California, continues building its Southeastern US presence. It has named attorney Bobby Coleman of Mississippi as vice president of the Alliant Americas division, and Mike Griggs of Tennessee as senior vice president of the division, the company said in a news release.

Coleman, who lives in Jackson, Mississippi, has 27 years as an insurance defense lawyer, including workers compensation defense and real estate matters. He also operated a title company and holds a law degree from the University of Mississippi.

Coleman will design and manage insurance and risk management plans for clients in the region.

Griggs, based in Nashville, joins Alliant after almost 20 years in the insurance business, including most recently as senior vice president at a global insurance brokerage. He will focus on designing and implementing property and casualty insurance strategies, Alliant said.

Topics Leadership Mississippi Alliant
ROOPVILLE, Ga. (AP)  A driver traveling the wrong way on a four-lane Georgia highway crashed into two other cars, killing all three drivers, state troopers said.

The wreck happened Monday night on U.S. 27 near Roopville, south of Carrollton.

Investigators say a Lincoln Town Car was traveling north in the highway`s southbound lanes when it hit first a Mazda Miata and then a Chevrolet Cruze, both traveling south.

The Lincoln and the Chevrolet both caught fire, troopers said.

All three drivers died before they could be taken to hospitals. There were no passengers in any of the cars.

The Carroll County coroner has yet to release the names of people who died. An investigation into the accident was continuing.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Personal Auto Georgia
ATLANTA (AP)  Atlanta`s police chief on Tuesday fired an officer who shocked a 62-year-old Black church deacon with a stun gun during a dispute over a traffic ticket, leading to the man`s death.

Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Officer Kiran Kimbrough didn`t follow department procedures Aug. 10 when he didn`t wait until a supervisor arrived to arrest Johnny Hollman Sr. The chief said he decided to fire Kimbrough after an internal investigation concluded Monday.

Part of my job is to assess, evaluate, and adjust how this police department is carrying out its sworn mission to serve and protect the citizens of this city, Schierbaum said in a statement. I understand the difficult and dangerous job that our officers do each and every day throughout the city. I do not arrive at these decisions lightly.

Schierbaums decision comes days before video that Kimbrough`s body camera recorded of his interactions with Hollman could be released. Mawuli Davis, a lawyer for the Hollman family, said Monday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told him and relatives during a meeting that the video would be publicly released as soon as Willis concludes that all witnesses have been interviewed. That could be as soon as Thursday.

Kimbrough had been on administrative leave. His attorney, Lance LoRusso, said in a statement Tuesday that Kimbrough vehemently denies any wrongdoing or policy violations and plans to appeal his firing.

Our client is a decorated law enforcement officer and looks forward to the release of the entire investigation, LoRusso said. The loss of any life is tragic. However, Officer Kimbroughs actions in detaining Mr. Hollman and making a lawful arrest did not cause Mr. Hollmans death.

Kimbrough, who is Black, was hired as an Atlanta police cadet in March 2021 and became a police officer that October, according to Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training Council records. Those records show he had no disciplinary history.

Relatives of Hollman have seen the video and contend Kimbrough should be charged with murder. Davis said he expects any decision on criminal charges by Willis to take months.

Hollman became unresponsive while being arrested after a minor car crash. Relatives say Hollman, a church deacon, was driving home from Bible study at his daughters house and bringing dinner to his wife when he collided with another vehicle while turning across a busy street just west of downtown Atlanta.

Police didnt arrive until Hollman and the second driver had waited more than an hour.

The police department has said Kimbrough shocked Hollman with a stun gun and handcuffed him after Hollman became agitated and uncooperative when Kimbrough issued a ticket finding him at fault for the wreck. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Kimbrough and Hollman struggled physically before Kimbrough shocked Hollman.

Schierbaum said Tuesday that Hollman failed to sign the citation, but Davis has said the video will show Hollman repeatedly agreed to sign at some point, calling that a false narrative. Atlanta police officials have since ruled that officers should write refusal to sign on a traffic ticket instead of arresting someone who wont sign.

Hollmans death has contributed to discontent with police among some Atlantans that centers on a proposal to build a large public safety training facility.

Every single person and life in the City of Atlanta matters to me, Schierbaum said.

Medical examiner Dr. Melissa Sims-Stanley said that based on a review of the video and a conversation with a GBI investigator, she concluded that Hollman was unresponsive after he was stunned, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Davis said Hollman tried to tell the officer that he had asthma and couldnt breathe.

Hollmans daughter, Arnitra Hollman, has said her father called her on the phone and she listened for more than 17 minutes, eventually going to the location of the wreck.

The Atlanta City Council last week called on the city to release the video from the incident. Nelly Miles, a GBI spokesperson, described that agency`s inquiry as active and ongoing on Tuesday. She said the GBI and prosecutors work together to determine if video can be released before a case goes to court.

Photo: Mawuli Davis, a lawyer for relatives of Johnny Hollman Sr., speaks to reporters Monday. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement Gun Liability
A jury has awarded more than $228 million in damages to several plaintiffs who sued a Las Vegas-based bottled water company after its product was linked to liver illnesses, a newspaper reported.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that jurors determined Real Water and two other defendants in the case were liable for $28.5 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages.

Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Real Water and the Review-Journal said the case that resulted in Wednesdays verdict was the first to go to trial.

Plaintiffs in the case included the family of a 69-year-old woman who died from liver failure in 2020 and the family of a 7-month-old boy who was hospitalized with severe liver failure, according to the newspaper.

In the lawsuit, plaintiffs alleged faulty testing meters produced by the companies contributed to toxic chemicals found in the water.

Joel Odou, an attorney for Real Water, told jurors the company tested the water but did not know to test for hydrazine, a toxic chemical used in rocket fuel.

In May 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers, restaurants and retailers not to drink, cook with, sell or serve Real Water.

The product was sold at stores throughout the Southwest including Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and the Los Angeles area and also was delivered to homes in large bottles before being pulled off shelves in March 2021.

Affinitylifestyles.com marketed Real Water in boxy blue plastic bottles as mineral-rich, infused with negative ions and the healthiest drinking water available.

Affinitylifestyles.com was headed by Brent Jones, who served as a Republican Nevada state Assembly member from 2016 to 2018. The company did not dispute that the water was drawn from the public Las Vegas-area water supply.

Telephone calls to Jones by The Associated Press on Thursday seeking comment on the jurys verdict rang busy.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Nevada
Source: Stephane Foucaud

October 12, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Given the maintained target price on this oil and gas firm, the return potential for investors is 106%, noted an Auctus Advisors report.

Valeura Energy Inc.'s (VLE:TSX; PNWRF:OTCMKTS) oil production in Q3/23 was 19,961 barrels of oil (19.961 Mbbl), reported Auctus Advisors analyst Stephane Foucaud in a quarterly update dated October 9.

"We reiterate our target price of CA$6.40 per share," Foucaud wrote.

Compelling Gain Potential

In comparison, the price of Valeura today is about CA$3.10 per share, noted Foucaud.

The difference between the current and target prices implies a significant return for investors of 106%.

Q2/23 Performance Highlights

Foucaud presented the key takeaways from Valeura's Q3/23 financials.

As for the Canadian company's Q3/23 production of 19.961 Mbbl of oil, the total fell short of Auctus' projection, Foucaud noted, because production at Wassana was on hold during the quarter. Production at Wassana during the previous quarter was 1.6 Mbbl per day (1.6 Mbbl/d).

"The difference to our forecast mostly reflect[s] the timing of drilling," Foucaud wrote.

As for the balance sheet, Valeura ended Q3/23 with US$103.4 million (US$103.4M) in cash after having paid US$29M in petroleum income tax during the quarter.

Valeura generated US$15.7M in free cash flow in Q3/23, "including the late liftings," Foucaud indicated.

Numbers To Rise in Q4/23

Looking to Q4/23, Auctus estimates Valeura will produce about 21 Mbbl/d and, given no cash tax payment is required, about US$85M in cash flow, wrote Foucaud. Both figures reflect a quarter-over-quarter increase.

This amount of cash flow would take the company's cash at year-end 2023 to US$190M.

Royalty Payments To Start

Also, during Q4/23, specifically during the first week of November, Foucaud pointed out Valeura is expected to receive the first royalty from production at Rossukon, an oilfield in Thailand.

After the initial payment of US$5 million (US$5M) by the operator, Valeura will go on to receive an over-riding royalty of 2% on gross Rossukon production. Auctus expects production at the project will amount to 10-12 Mbbl/d to start, then increase to 15-20 Mbbl/d late next year.

"At US$80 per barrel for Brent, this represents additional pretax free cash flow of US$6-12M per year," Foucaud wrote.

More Info:

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Vancouver, British Columbia - October 12, 2023 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Golden Goliath Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GNG ) (OTC Pink: GGTHF) (FSE: GGZ) is pleased to report initial results of the exploration program at their Manicouagan Project central Quebec. The project is still ongoing.

The Manicouagan Project consists of four properties covering anomalous Rare Earth Element (REE) occurrences just to the south of the Manicouagan impact crater in Quebec. The initial program consisted of ground geophysics, geology, and geochemistry to identify the source of lake sediment anomalies and to assess previously known anomalous rock samples.

Along with highly prospective metamorphic and igneous complexes our Manicouagan project has excellent infrastructure with hydro power facilities and access. Highway 389 splits the properties and secondary access provided by recent forestry activities.

Figure 1: Manicouagan Project

The properties are all underlain by metamorphic and intrusive complexes of the Grenville geological province. The rock and till sampling program confirmed the presence of anomalous values in most of the rare earth elements along with Rubidium, Strontium, Thorium, and Zirconium. Mapping found significant thicknesses and generations of apparently prospective pegmatites intruding into the host gneiss and granites.

Figure 2: Geologist examining gneiss with pegmatite intrusions. Note sharp contact with pegmatite just to right of compass.

Figure 3: Felsic pegmatite intruding in gneiss.

Of the numerous pegmatites occurring on the properties and underlying the radiometric features recently identified by Golden Goliath, it is considered that sufficient magnetic contrast can be resolved between the various combinations of pegmatite and host rocks that a detailed, high-resolution drone magnetometer survey will allow us to reliably identify potentially mineralized pegmatite bodies under the modest local till cover.

Broad spatial correlation of radiometric features with previously known and recently identified, pegmatitic, potential REE host features is highly encouraging and validates the exploration approach used. Greater refinement of these radiometric features into well-defined REE targets is considered to be possible using the drone-mag methodology described above.

Figure 4: Geophysics covering Ernest Property

Robust multi-line anomalies were identified in the recently completed geophysics program indicating a considerable size to the highly prospective geology. This radiometric survey has allowed Golden Goliath to focus on some of the most prospective areas of the land package, and has yielded key information regarding orientations and broad distribution of potential REE target bodies.

Figure 5: (Right) Geophysics covering Victory 21 Property

Golden Goliath CEO Paul Sorbara said, "We achieved our goals with our initial exploration, and I am very pleased with the work to date and the potential it has shown. This area is underexplored and has tremendous potential for critical minerals such as REEs."

This news release has been reviewed by Gordon MacKay, P.Geo., who is acting as QP under the NI 43-101 requirements.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Paul Sorbara, MSc, PGeo

CEO, Golden Goliath Resources Ltd.

About Golden Goliath

Golden Goliath Resources Ltd. is a junior exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (symbol GNG). The Company is focused on exploring and developing the gold and silver potential of properties in the Red Lake District of Ontario. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the San Timoteo property, located in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains of northwestern Mexico, as well as NSR royalties on several other nearby properties.

To find out more about Golden Goliath visit our website at www.goldengoliath.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements". All statements included in this press release that address future events, conditions or results, including in connection with exploration activity, future acquisitions and any financing, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "must", "plan", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "think", "continue", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "anticipate" or "future" or the negative forms thereof or similar variations. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by management in light of their experiences and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those mentioned in the Company's continuous disclosure documents, which can be found under its profile on SEDAR (www.sedarplus.ca). Many of such risks and uncertainties are outside the control of the Company and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making such forward-looking statements, management has relied upon a number of material factors and assumptions, on the basis of currently available information, for which there is no insurance that such information will prove accurate. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Golden Goliath Resources Ltd.

J. Paul Sorbara, M.Sc., P.Geo

President & CEO

Phone: +1(604) 682-2950 Email: jps@goldengoliath.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Source: Streetwise Reports

October 12, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Construction at this gold mine in Fiji has been completed ahead of schedule, and the company has poured its first gold. One analyst calls it "one of the highest-grade gold mines in the world."

Lion One Metals Ltd. (LIO:TSX.V; LOMLF:OTCQX; LLO:ASX) announced that construction at its 100%-owned Tuvatu Mine in Fiji has been completed ahead of schedule and it has poured the first gold at the project.

Mill commissioning began last month, and the mill is expected to ramp up to 300 tonnes per day (TPD) by the end of October and expand to 500 TPD in mid-2024, the company said.

The gold pour was held on Fiji Day, October 10, with more than 900 people in attendance from local communities, businesses, the government, and the company. Fiji Day celebrates the country's independence 53 years ago.

"The first gold pour at Tuvatu is a landmark event in the history of our company," said Lion One Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Walter Berukoff, who witnessed the pour with Fiji's acting minister for mineral resources, Maciu Nalusima.

"We have successfully transitioned from explorer to producer and have delivered on our promise to build the South Pacific's newest gold mine in the heart of Fiji," Berukoff said.

"The future looks good for Tuvatu," Nalusima said. "The best is yet to come."

Tuvatu is just miles away from Fiji's highest-producing gold mine, Vatukoula, which means "gold rock" in Fijian.

A September 2020 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined for Tuvatu an indicated resource of 1,007,000 tonnes grading 8.48 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) for 274,600 ounces Au and an inferred resource of 1,325,000 tonnes grading 9 g/t Au for 384,000 Koz Au. The study used a cut-off grade of 3 g/t Au.

ROTH Capital Partners analyst Mike Niehuser called Tuvatu "one of the highest-grade gold mines in the world." ROTH has a Buy rating and a CA$2.50 per share target price on the stock.

The Catalyst: A Top Pick Among Explorers/Developers

Eight Capital analyst Felix Shafigullin with Eight Capital wrote that Lion One presented "a buying opportunity for investors to get exposure to one of our Top Picks among the precious metals explorers/developers."

"We view Lion One as undervalued relative to other gold developers under our coverage," he wrote in a May note. He rated the stock a Buy with a CA$2.60 per share target price.

Results released from drilling at Tuvatu have included a 6.6-meter interval of 83.47 g/t Au in the Main Zone of the project. Results also included 1,839.55 g/t, 934.91 g/t, and 300.47 g/t Au from Zone 5 of the deposit.

Two lodes, URW1a and URW1b, are currently being mined. The company said mineralization there is both higher in grade and more laterally extensive than anticipated.

A total of 83 grade-control drill holes have been sunk in zones 2 and 5. The primary target of results released last month was the URW1 lode system, which "consists predominantly of narrow, high-grade to locally bonanza-grade vein arrays and vein swarms that strike approximately north-south and dip subvertically to steeply east," the company has said.

Drilling results are categorized by the average amount of gold in the ore or its ore grade, Investopedia explained. Higher-quality mines have higher-grade ore, but mining ore with lower gold density can still be profitable depending on how it is extracted. Higher quality mines have grades of 8 g/t to 10 g/t Au or higher.

New Discovery Has 'Bonanza-Grade Gold'

The company said it also discovered a new mineralized structure with "bonanza-grade gold" 1 kilometer north of Tuvatu. The strike length of the feature, named the Lumuni occurrence, was measured on the surface as 150 meters, and samples included 66.83 g/t Au over 0.7 meters; 48.45 g/t Au over 0.7 meters, including 92.55 g/t Au over 0.3 meters; and 15.18 g/t Au over 1.1 meters, including 31.25 g/t Au over 0.3 meters.

"The discovery of Lumuni underscores the significant regional upside in the Navilawa caldera," Shafigullin wrote. "The Tuvatu resource area represents less than 5% of LIO's land claims in the caldera, and limited drilling has been done to test the previously discovered regional targets, such as Banana Creek that contains outcropping lodes similar to those seen at Tuvatu."

What makes the Lumuni discovery outstanding is "the continuity of the high-grade material," Berukoff said.

"It is not a single bonanza-grade sample, but rather a traceable lode of high- to very high-grade material that can be followed along at surface," Berukoff said. "The fact that these high-grade samples coincide with a steeply dipping resistivity low is even more compelling, as it provides us with immediate drill targets to pursue."

Ownership and Share Structure

According to Reuters, about 13% of Lion One is held by management and insiders. CEO Berukoff is the largest shareholder with 10.13%, with 20.90 million shares.

Nearly 7% is with institutional investors. Franklin Advisors Inc. has 5.6% with 11.58 million shares, Aegis Financial Corp. has 0.61% with 1.25 million shares, Gabelli Funds LLC has 0.31% with 0.63 million shares, and U.S. Global Investors Inc. has 0.24% with 0.50 million shares.

The rest is in retail.

Lion One has a market capitalization of CA$191.28 million, with 206.25 million outstanding shares. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$1.07 and CA$0.59.

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A light rail Luas system for Cork should be built immediately to encourage development along its route rather than waiting for population densities to increase first, the citys chief executive has said.

A tram system has long been mooted for Cork and work is ongoing to select a preferred route between Ballincollig and Mahon, connecting Corks universities, hospital, city centre and emerging Docklands. The 17km route will include 25 stops and will have a 45-minute journey time along its full length.

It is likely population densities along the route will be key to whether the project will be ultimately be viable and whether it can proceed.

However, speaking on Thursday morning at Cork Chambers Business Breakfast, Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty said the project should proceed in the short term and a Luas system would encourage rapid development along its route.

TII [Transport Infrastructure Ireland] are doing a non-statutory consultation on the emerging preferred route, hopefully by the end of this year, if not early next year at the latest. It has been delayed and delayed intentionally, and I make no apologies for that, because we want to make sure that every element is stress tested, she said.

My ask is why cant we build it now, rather than wait until we have the population. It is something we should all reflect upon because if we put it in early, then development will happen around it."

It is something we should all get behind collectively, getting that light rail in.

Giving an overview of developments in the city including the ongoing MacCurtain Street transportation and public realm changes, Mc Doherty said work would commence shortly on a major rehabilitation project of Corks historic core.

'Huge transformation'

This is going to see a huge transformation of Probys Quay, Crosses Green, Tuckey Street and South Main Street. This project isnt just a dream at the moment. This project is at tender, due to commence early next year and part of this also is the development of Bishop Lucey Park which we will close to the public before Christmas with the enabling works commencing.

Conor Healy, Chief Executive, Cork Chamber; Karen O'Donoghue, Managing Director, Irish Examiner; guest speaker Ann Doherty, Chief Executive, Cork City Council, Ronan Murray, President Cork Chamber, with Gillian Keating and John Cuddigan of sponsors Ronan Daly Jermyn at the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast at Cork International Hotel. Picture: Larry Cummins

She said the redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park would create a permeable space between the South Main Street and the city centre.

It's going to very disruptive but we are not any apologising for it. If you understand the context of why we are doing it, then hopefully you will bear with us while we try to improve things, she said.

Ms Doherty said talks were ongoing in relation to the long-running events centre project in the same area with talks centred on the price inflation for construction developments which has occurred in recent months.

However, she said she was hopeful the project would be developed and operational within three years and said work would start shortly on installing two new pedestrian bridges onto the site.
The New England Journal of Medicine shares the tale of a 72-year-old man in Switzerland who prepared a delicious meal with shiitake mushrooms. Little did he know that consuming these mushrooms would result in an unexpected ailment.

Two days after eating the meal, the man developed a terrible itchy rash on his back. The rash started to spread from his back to his upper buttocks, and it was so uncomfortable that it kept him awake all night. Aside from the rash, the man had no other symptoms, which left him worried about the cause of this mysterious complaint.

He visited the hospital, where doctors examined him and discovered he had a condition called "shiitake dermatitis." This condition is a skin reaction that can occur when someone eats raw or undercooked shiitake mushrooms. The rash has a unique appearance, with red, puffy lines and patches.

The doctors told the man that his condition would heal on its own, but they gave him some creams and medicines to help reduce the itchiness. They also advised him to always cook shiitake mushrooms thoroughly before eating them to prevent this from happening again.

Two weeks later, the man's itchiness had improved, but he still had some dark patches of skin from the rash. This is a common effect after skin inflammation.

I had no idea undercooked shiitake mushrooms were toxic. Next time I eat some, I'm going to cook them until they're crispy!
Hello. Youll notice I didnt say Gday, because Im, not Australian.

Im a New Zealander working in Cork and Im sick of people asking if I know Kylie Minogue.

Were two different countries, mate. I'm going to be honest with ya, I fancy this one at work and shes invited me over to her house to watch the All Blacks beat Ireland this weekend.

It will be a cracking night and I fully expect her to ask me to stay the night.

But at the party, Im going to have to put up with her Irish friends acting as if Im from Australia.

In fairness, you lot usually start out respectful of the difference, but you get a few drinks on ya, and suddenly youre calling me a flaming gallah, like Alf Stewart in Home and Away.

I know the accents sound similar to the untrained ear, but how would you like if I said you were English?

Not much judging by the last time I tried it at a party and they put the Wolfe Tones on for a solid hour, which must surely qualify as a cruel and unusual punishment.

Anyway, is there any way to educate you Paddies about the difference between Australia and New Zealand?

 Ian, Douglas and f**king New Zealand!

Hi Ian, looking forward to seeing you in my place on Saturday night! I wouldnt plan on staying the night mate  soz, but I thought you were Australian. No dice for a Kiwi!

Hello, its Rosealeen here in Ballydesmond.

This might be my last letter to you because I see that Daithi OSe is solving problems for people now in the Examiner, and we all love him up here in Duhallow, even though he is from Kerry.

I think its because hes from West Kerry and theyre much nicer than the crowd just across the border in Scartaglin.

Anyway, this is one for the city slicker like yourself.

I was inside in Cork this morning, I wanted to get a few bits from Ann Summers because Im flying to Seville for a dirty weekend with a very energetic vet from Kanturk.

I parked across the river by Douglas Street, and like everyone else, I used the bit of lipstick on an old Parking Disc so I could use it again.

W ell, when I came back to the car, wasnt there a fella who A : gave me a parking ticket and B: took one look at the Ann Summers bag and said 'dont forget to buy batteries'?

Have you ever heard anything so sleazy in your life? Probably, you get a lot of letters from Kinsale.

Can I appeal the parking ticket because of this?

 Rosealeen, Ballydesmond.

I rang City Hall Parking Department there and said, whats your policy about people with vibrators? She said 'were allowed to use them during lunchtime'.

Hello, old stock. Myself and Bunty Harrington are heading back over to Paris Saturday morning, to shout on the guys and make inappropriate comments to French women on public transport.

Youd be amazed what youd get away with as long as youre wearing an Irish shirt.

Were flying in and out for all the matches. Not because of work (were both entrepreneurs), but there is no way I want to hang around France and have myself associated with the Johnny Come Lately Irish rugby fans.

Awful people Audrey, retired teachers from Clonmel who think theyre the business because theyre following the Irish rugby team around in a camper van. Its the stuff of nightmares.

Myself and Bunty cant even enjoy a Creme de Menthe in peace without one of these tools trying to strike up a conversation about the budget, as if that makes the slightest bit of difference to our lives.

The organisers have been terrific at this tournament, with the Fan Zones theyve set up before the match.

I think you should get on to them there and suggest that there should be a roped-off area for beautifully spoken millionaires from Cork, so we dont have to listen to the knuckle-draggers who think its refined to buy wine in a box. Can you do that for me, please?

 Reggie, Blackrock Road.

I rang the French authorities there and said, do ye have an expensive area for snooty people with notions? The guy said, oui, oui, we call it Paris.

Cmere, whats the story with trending dances on TikTok?

My old doll had me driven demented last month, recording her doing a dance on the 203 bus so she could tap into the Tube dance craze that was going on.

Now she is trying to go viral by eating a snack box on a paddle board, were down in Fountainstown all week in the fog, trying to get 30 seconds of content.

I took a week off work without pay, and the old doll is refusing to sign a contract that gives me 50% of any collaboration deal she might do with Nike or IKEA, Id be minted.

Thats taking advantage of my better nature now, that is, and darkly enough she has threatened to withdraw from any bedroom activity unless I agree to be her cameraman for free, in perpetuity, which is for all time.

Do you know any solicitors?



 Dowcha Donie, Blackpool

I know loads of solicitors. So Ill give you bit of advice  dont hire a solicitor.
Chris Walley has a first holy communion journal in which he wrote about his desire to be an actor. When he was as young as seven, he and his two friends would rehearse their own plays and perform them for their classmates.

There was never anything else he wanted to do and as a child, it was born out of a desire to make people laugh. I think I just liked the attention when I was younger, making people laugh and people watching me, he says. I was kind of lucky in that way, there was nothing else I ever wanted to do. Obviously that can be a big thing for young people, trying to figure out what they're going to do with their life. I never really had that question.

The Cork actor has made us laugh many times since, courtesy of his star-making turn as the bold Jock in The Young Offenders. Peter Foots hit movie and the following TV series brought the Irish sense of mischief to a global audience - making stars of its two young leads, Walley and Alex Murphy, in the process.

Chris Walley and Alex Murphy in The Young Offenders.

For Walley, it marked the culmination of those childhood ambitions, and there were many he remains grateful to for their advice and support along the way. There were so many people who were so helpful to me, he says of family and friends.

I grew up about 100 meters away from my best pal, we live together in London, Eanna Hardwicke. We met at an acting class and discovered that we were neighbours. The two of us would always be kind of pushing each other growing up, and then went to the School of Music in Cork, the Youth Theatre. Incredible people like 9speech and drama lecturers] Trina Scott and Regina Crowley, did an awful lot for me in building my passion and preparing me to audition for drama schools. And then I actually did a year in the School of Music in Cork which was amazing, in the drama and theatre course there in CIT.

Walley went on to study at Londons Royal Academy of Dramatic art, and is still based in the city. Just this week, he began a six-week run of Marina Carrs Portia Coughlan in the citys Almeida Theatre, alongside fellow Cork native Alison Oliver. It's a different ballgame. I haven't done a play in five years [since his Olivier-award winning role in The Lieutenant of Inishmore] and I forgot how much I love it.

In a busy time for the actor, this week he returns to our screens in the period drama Lies We Tell. Lisa Mulcahys impressive feature - a new take on the Victorian mystery thriller Uncle Silas - is the dark tale of Maud, an orphaned heiress forced to fight her guardian uncle (David Wilmot) for her inheritance in what marks a terrific lead performance from Agnes OCasey, the great-granddaughter of literary legend Sean.

Chris Walley and Agnes O'Casey in Lies We Tell.

Walley plays Wilmots son, the troubled Edward, who takes a liking to Maud but is wrestling with demons of his own. He is very layered in the fact that he's grown up in a very abusive relationship with his father. He's a fairly damaged young man.

It was a very interesting character to play, because of those layers and the writing. Theres just so much there that isnt said, so much to play off of in those scenes, so much information revealed about the character through the writing. It was hard as well to go to places that were very dark. Maud is tested to the limits in her efforts to retain her inheritance in the film, which has plenty to say about power, control and the treatment of women.

Its a timeless story I think would resonate whenever, says Walley. But having it being in a period feature just makes it all the more interesting, obviously, because of the hierarchy back then. How repressed women were and to see her challenging this imposing older man. It just makes for a very interesting story - the politics of the whole thing.

In the last year, the actor had the pleasure of returning home to work. He spent several weeks in West Cork filming Bodkin, the first scripted TV series from the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama. The darkly comedic thriller revolves around a group of podcasters who set out to investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in a seaside town. He has fond memories of the experience.

My dad's from Skibbereen and there's a lot of family down there and family in Clonakilty. We were mainly down in Union Hall. It's just a gorgeous part of Ireland. It was lovely to be by the sea - lovely restaurants, pubs, people. I was living with Will Forte, we had a house there, he said, adding that he and the US star spent much of their free time sea swimming.

Hes a very funny man and a great friend as well. We shot down there for maybe three or four weeks. And then the rest was up in Wicklow in Ardmore studios.

Along with Lies We Tell, the actor is relishing the opportunities to mix up his roles as his career progresses.

You want to play those characters that are very different to what you've done before and characters that are challenging, because it's well and good to play something different, but is it challenging, you know? Sometimes you can get something that's well within your wheelhouse. They can be different but they're kind of accessible parts.

Sometimes I can be in danger of trying to manage that stuff too much and think: What's next? I think letting it happen organically and trusting your gut and doing what feels right can be the way of not trying to manage it too much.

Though Walley has been based in London for a number of years, he still travels home regularly to spend time with family and friends. You get off the train and you smell that fresh air. It's totally different to the London air. Theres a different tempo back home as well. I just love Ireland - I love seeing my pals and my family and going to the beach, getting into the sea. Lovely home cooking as well - my mam is a very, very good cook.

Lies We Told is in cinemas from Friday, October 13

Five films for the week ahead

The Miracle Club (cinemas October 13): A group of Irish women win a pilgrimage to Lourdes in this Irish-set movie starring Laura Linney and Kathy Bates.

Fair Play, on Netflix.

Fair Play (new to Netflix): This cleverly made thriller centres around a couple who work in high finance.

Tarrac (now in cinemas): A group of friends bid to win a naomhog race in this charming Irish-language drama, set in West Kerry.

The Old Oak is in cinemas.

The Old Oak (now in cinemas): British filmmaking legend Ken Loachs final film centres around the arrival of Syrian refugees to a former mining community.

Foe (cinemas October 20): Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan play a couple faced with a dilemma in Garth Daviss sci-fi thriller.
RTE would become insolvent by early spring next year without additional funding from the Government, director general Kevin Bakhurst has warned.

Ministers are withholding 40 million euro, to plug a gap created by plummeting licence fee revenue, pending the delivery of a strategic reform plan from RTE.

The Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee was told RTE is facing a loss of between 10-12 million this year.

Members were told the national broadcaster has a cash reserve of around 68 million euro and has borrowed 65 million euro of its 100 million euro borrowing limit.

RTE director of legal affairs and group secretary Paula Mullooly and RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst arrive at Leinster House in Dublin to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (Brian Lawless/PA)

However, with a shortfall in TV licence revenue projected at 61 million euro across this year and next, Mr Bakhurst warned that the organisation would run out of cash if further funding was not made available.

If we didnt get this cash, we would run out of cash, thats for sure, Mr Bakhurst told the committee. It is worrying.

He was questioned by independent TD Verona Murphy, who asked whether RTE would become insolvent by early spring 2024 if the extra funding was not forthcoming. Yes, replied Mr Bakhurst.

He said RTE would remain solvent if it received the added funding from the Government and made its own cost-saving moves.

RTE was plunged into crisis in June when the broadcaster revealed it had not correctly declared fees to its then highest-paid earner, Ryan Tubridy.

The scandal widened as a series of other financial and governance issues emerged.

Earlier this year, prior to the emergence of controversies, RTE submitted a request for 34.5 million euro in additional interim funding for next year.

In response to that, Government has now allocated 16 million in extra funding for this year.

The states financial advice body, NewERA, recommended that funding amount.

However, since the initial request for additional funding, RTEs revenues have taken a further major hit, with the broadcaster experiencing multimillion-euro losses due to a fall in TV licence payments in the wake of the controversies.

RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst was questioned about the broadcasters finances (Brian Lawless/PA)

NewERA has also recommended an additional 40 million euro in relation to the shortfall of TV licences, but that is being withheld by Government pending delivery of RTEs strategic reform plan.

The Government has also asked RTE to make 21 million euro of efficiencies to make up the gap created by the 61 million euro shortfall in licence fee revenue.

Mr Bakhurst welcomed the additional 16 million euro but stressed the need for wider reform of the funding model for public service media.

It is critical that the funding of public service media in Ireland is put on a more stable footing, he said.

This not only affects RTE, but also the independent sector, to which RTE plays a very important role in sustaining and showcasing.

I am determined that RTE will be transformed so that the public, Government and our partners can have full confidence in RTE, and its management.

We understand that in order to achieve that we need to share a compelling and credible plan as to how the organisation must change.

Mr Bakhurst said he hoped to provide an outline framework for strategic reform around the end of October, and said a more detailed and costed statement of strategy would be delivered by early next year.

Addressing the committee, Mr Bakhurst said selling parts of RTEs south Dublin headquarters was still under consideration to create new revenue but he said a full sale was unlikely.

A strategic change of this scale requires considerable levels of financial modelling and deliberation, he said.

Among the elements being explored is the sale of more of the campus  an issue that I know several of you have expressed an interest in.

We are awaiting more up-to-date valuations, but early indications are that a complete sale of the Donnybrook campus is unlikely, and the repurposing of the current site will not be without challenges and significant costs.

We must rebuild an RTE that is trusted and enjoyed, one thats relevant and loved, and one that brings the country together for important national moments and events.

Recent initiatives such as the freeze on recruitment of staff and stopping discretionary spending, alongside deferring some investment in digital and capital projects has saved several million euro

Public service content, value for money, and trust, will be at the heart of a transformed RTE, and I and my team are committed to the work required to deliver that.

Mr Bakhurst has said the national broadcaster had reached a turning point in regard to its governance standards following the series of controversies.

He told PAC members he understood the urgency of restoring trust in the organisation.

He said recent moves to drive down costs had saved millions of euros.

We are managing our finances carefully and working to cut costs in the face of declining revenue from the TV licence, he said.

Recent initiatives such as the freeze on recruitment of staff and stopping discretionary spending, alongside deferring some investment in digital and capital projects has saved several million euro.

And RTES commercial performance has been good. While cash reserves are solid for the short term, clearly long-lasting reform of the broken funding system is urgently needed.

During early committee stages, Mr Bakhurst was pressed on RTEs refusal to provide a note of a meeting between former director general Dee Forbes and Noel Kelly, who is the agent of high-profile former presenter Tubridy. A legal representative was also present.

The meeting was central to a contentious commercial arrangement with a sponsor that saw RTE underwrite payments to Tubridy  a move that ultimately led to the organisation paying 150,000 euro to him when the sponsor choose not to renew the deal after one year.

RTE has cited client confidentiality as a reason for not disclosing the note to the committee.

Prior to Thursdays meeting, committee chairman Brian Stanley warned that members could seek Oireachtas approval to compel the broadcaster to hand over the note.

Mr Bakhurst told members that as a responsible organisation RTE could not ignore the legal advice it had received on not disclosing the document to the committee.

Labour TD Alan Kelly suggested that if the committee was forced to compel RTE to disclose the note of the meeting involving Ms Forbes and Mr Kelly, and the matter subsequently ended up in court, Mr Bakhursts position as director general would become untenable.

Mr Kelly also pressed Mr Bakhurst on why RTE had not named its 100 highest-earning presenters in a list disclosing their salaries.

The director general said a legal opinion advised against naming the employees amid concerns over GDPR issues.

The resignation of RTEs chief financial officer, Richard Collins, was announced on Wednesday.

Appearing before the committee, Mr Bakhurst was asked whether RTE had sought Mr Collins resignation and whether he had received a severance package.

Mr Bakhurst declined to answer those questions, insisting he could not speak about individuals.

The director general was also asked whether the reform plan would include any compulsory redundancies.

Mr Bakhurst said there were no plans for compulsory redundancies and said, if there were, that would require political approval.

The Taoiseach and minister (Media Minister Catherine Martin) have both made clear there is no appetite for that, he added.
A Kilkenny woman says she is "hugely traumatised" after having been left without her wheelchair for four days because it was not put on her flight home to Ireland from Belgium.

When the chair was eventually returned to her, its paint was heavily scratched and its footplate was damaged. It will now require re-painting and some repair work, which could end up costing hundreds of euros.

Emily Felix flew home on a Ryanair flight from Charleroi to Dublin early on the morning of Sunday, October 8. She had been in Belgium to spend a few days with her unwell grandmother, who passed away last weekend.

Emily has a rare progressive medical condition and relies on her wheelchair to get around.

After landing back in Ireland and disembarking with two airline staff members, Emily and her mother were told the wheelchair could not be located on the plane and that it had likely not been loaded on at Charleroi.

Emily said she and her mother waited for an hour to speak to another Ryanair representative, who brought them to the airlines helpdesk. She was transported to the desk on something she described as a metal buggy.

After explaining what had happened, she and her mother were made to feel like an inconvenience, said Emily.

"My mother explained the whole situation  that we took an early flight and that we had been at my grandmothers funeral the day before, and that we had spent the week with my dying grandmother. They didnt bat an eyelid," she said.

They just saw it as a lost suitcase type of thing."

Emily said she was given a generic lost luggage form to fill out, a form that had no specific section for wheelchairs.

She asked when her wheelchair might be returned, but was given no further information.

Deeply upset, Emily was brought to her mothers car and the pair drove home to Kilkenny.

She had been due to travel to her companys office in Dublin this week, something she was then unable to do. She also missed a medical appointment. Her mother, a teacher, also had to take time off work to help Emily over the past few days.

"Its just been a major inconvenience and very traumatic for me and my family."

Emily said she was told by Ryanair that the chair had arrived back in Dublin on Tuesday. It was not returned to her until Wednesday evening.

She will be seeking compensation to help pay for the repairs to her wheelchair and to redo its paintwork.

This should not have happened, said Emily.

And when it did happen, it should have been dealt with much more professionally.

Four days without a wheelchair, it is just cruelty.

A Ryanair spokesperson told the Irish Examiner that wheelchair assistance at Charleroi, and at other airports, is provided directly to passengers by the airport, but that this is paid for by Ryanair.

"These airport wheelchair providers offer a very poor service," said the spokesperson.

"In this case, the passenger was boarded using an ambu-lift but the wheelchair service provider failed to deliver the wheelchair either to the aircraft or to Ryanairs ground handlers in Charleroi.

"We apologise sincerely for this wheelchair service failure in Charleroi."

The spokesperson said Emily's wheelchair "was flown back to Dublin on Tuesday and was couriered to her home address".

"Ryanair apologises to Ms Felix for the unacceptable wheelchair service she received in Brussels Charleroi Airport, and we have spoken to the handler to try to ensure that it does not recur."
The Land Development Agency (LDA) has partnered with one of the countrys largest homebuilders to fund the construction of 69 homes in Dublin.

The LDA and Glenveagh came together to build the homes at Wilkinsons Brook in Hollystown, west Dublin, under Project Tosaigh, the Housing For All initiative which sees the LDA kickstarting stalled construction projects.

The homes will be used for an affordable rental scheme, which will be targeted at those who do not qualify for social housing, but are struggling to afford the cost of a home themselves.

Under the Governments cost rental scheme, net household income must be below 66,000 a year for Dublin and 59,000 for elsewhere in the country, and applicants can not be in receipt of any social housing supports including rent supplement or housing assistant payment or own a property.

Locals in the area had raised questions about the use of the homes, which have not been advertised online, but the LDA and Glenveagh confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the homes would be used for cost-rental housing.

Following the successful launch in 2020 of the first phase at Bellingsmore, and the second phase at Kilmartin Grove in 2023, Glenveagh have developed 69 houses at a scheme called Wilkinsons Brook, a Glenveagh spokesperson said.

These high-quality houses were developed by Glenveagh in partnership with the Land Development Agency.

It is anticipated that these will be provided as cost-rental homes, a long-term, secure rental option where the rent paid covers the cost of the construction, management, and maintenance of the new home.

An LDA spokesperson added: Cost-rental rents are significantly lower than market rents allowing those who do not qualify for social housing, but who are locked out of the private market to have an opportunity to rent a home on a secure and long-term basis.

"The scheme at Wilkinsons Brook is one of a number of such Project Tosaigh schemes being delivered by the agency.

The LDA is currently in the process of securing a pipeline of thousands of Project Tosaigh homes and is on target to deliver 5,000 under this initiative by 2026.

This is in addition to the 3,500 planning-approved homes the LDA is currently developing directly on State-owned sites.

Further delivery announcements are expected soon.

The official launch of the application process for the homes at Wilkinsons Brook will take place later this year, the spokesperson added.
Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti, who died after Hamas militants attacked a music festival near the Gaza border last weekend, was laid to rest in the town of Gedera in Israels Central District on Thursday.

She had been unaccounted for following the surprise attack at the Re'im festival in the south of the country last Saturday. Her family confirmed her death on Wednesday evening.

More than 260 people are believed to have died in the attack. Many more are still missing, and an unspecified number are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas.

Speaking at her funeral in Gedera, Irish Ambassador to Israel Sonya McGuinness said that Ireland was "appalled" by news of Ms Damti's death.

"She was the best of your community and the best of our community and the best of who we are as a shared people," Ms McGuinness told the hundreds of mourners present.

"Our sincere condolences to you and your entire community and Kim's friends and families. We stand with you."

Kims sister Laura paid tribute to her on Facebook, calling her "our angel, our flower. Kim my blood. Who was murdered by the cursed terrorists."

The circumstances of Kim Damti's death were 'truly appalling' said President Higgins. Picture: Laura Damti/Facebook

President Michael D Higgins also paid tribute to Ms Damti, calling the circumstances surrounding her death truly appalling".

It is not only those of us who are parents, but all of those who feel that young people should be free to attend events with their peers in conditions of safety, who will find such circumstances where a young life is taken so appalling, he said.

President Higgins added that Kims death once again reminds us what an outrageous breach of fundamental international law in conditions of conflict it is to target civilians in this way.

In a statement to RTE News, Kims aunt Pat Cooper thanked everyone who had supported her family since news of the attack first broke last weekend.

"With heartfelt sorrow the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti, she said.

We respectfully request the media to allow us to grieve in the privacy of our family.

Kim Damti's mother Jennifer is originally from Co Laois but now lives in Israel with her family. They regularly return to Ireland.

Former president of Ireland and UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson said that the targeting by Hamas of civilians like Kim Damti constituted very serious war crimes that were not justified by what has been happening to the Palestinian people under occupation.

Irish people are very aware of that," Ms Robinson told RTEs News at One on Thursday.

It does not justify the horrific killings and the kidnappings which are war crimes. And we must be very, very clear on that, she said.

There is no question we have to treat them separately. Speaking in the Dail on Thursday, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin expressed his condolences to Ms Damtis family in Ireland and Israel on behalf of the Government..

Anyone looking at the photograph of Kim in the media in recent days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression, he said.

She was a young 22-year-old with her full life ahead of her only for it to be cut down in a barbaric way.

Our thoughts remain, in particular, with her family at this very sad moment.
A 15-year-old boy with spina bifida who sued over the care he received at two hospitals when he was a baby has settled a High Court action with a 4m interim payment.

High Court judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said he found the facts of John OBriens case very disturbing and he said the boys mother was failed every step of the journey.

It was claimed against Cork University Hospital that at all material times that John displayed the signs of infection and meningitis secondary to the surgical repair which had taken place related to his spina bifida, but there was a failure to treat him with appropriate or timely antibiotic therapy.

The baby who developed meningitis was later transferred to CHI Crumlin in May 2008.

Johns counsel, Liam Reidy SC instructed by Cantillons Solicitors, told the court it was sad to say from June 2008, Johns mother was begging clinicians to do something for her son who had changed from an alert smiling baby to "a baby who was screaming and roaring 24 hours" and whose head had also started to grow inappropriately.

Liability was admitted in the case.

In a statement outside court, Helen OBrien from South Kerry said when John was born in April 2008, they trusted the various medical professionals to look after him and give him the care he needed.

Sadly, that did not happen, she said.

At the time we fought for him, but we were not listened to. As a result he now lives with significant mental and physical injuries and is blind.

Her son, she said, is dependent on his family for everything. He cannot tell us when he is in pain or basic things such as when he's hungry or thirsty. He is loved beyond words and our lives centre around him," she said.

Referring to the admission of liability last month, Ms OBrien said it was bittersweet and confirms that John could and should have had a very different life.

She added: It did not need to end up this way, if only they listened to us when we pleaded with them to intervene. The money awarded will not cure any of his significant injuries but it will hopefully allow him to live a more comfortable life.

John OBrien (15) from South Kerry had through his mother Helen OBrien sued the HSE over the care he received at Cork University Hospital (CUH) when he was a baby and against Childrens Health Ireland (CHII) over the care received at CHI Crumlin.

He was born on April 11, 2008, and was transferred to CUH for repair of a defect related to his spina bifida. He was discharged from the hospital on April 26, counsel said, but was readmitted on April 29 to CUH when the site of the surgery began to leak.

Counsel said from then on there were a series of matters which amounted to negligence and breach of duty. John, he said, was not given antibiotics until late on April 30 though his mother, on the advice of a nurse, had asked about antibiotics. John, on May 2, developed seizures and was diagnosed with meningitis.

"It could have been avoided if the proper care was given at the crucial time of his admission on April 29, counsel said.

John was admitted to CHI at Crumlin on May 9, 2008.

Counsel said experts would say that with somebody with spina bifida who gets meningitis there is a high likelihood of a build up of fluid on the brain which requires treatment with a shunt.

Counsel said:

It is sad to say from June 2008 the mother was begging clinicians to do something for her son who had changed from a happy smiling baby to a child who was screaming and roaring 24 hours a day.

He said the fact that the childs head had started to grow inappropriately was also completely ignored.

In February 2009, a brain shunt was inserted at another hospital and Ms OBrien told the court at that stage her son was nine months old and had an adult size head.

The case will come back before the court in 2028 when Johns future care needs will be assessed.
A man has been arrested after gardai seized in excess of 250,000 worth of drugs in Cork City on Wednesday.

Gardai attached to the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit carried out the search of a property as part of an ongoing operation into the sale and supply of controlled drugs.
Sunday and a stroll around the city. In the words of one of my research assistants, the vibe is good.

On the stroll last weekend, though, I made a particular note as we wandered off Patrick Street at one stage. Later we wound our way along Washington Street, and eventually down North Main Street, where we had a similar experience.

Specifically, the size of St Peter and Pauls off Paul Street first, and then St Augustines on Washington Street, before eventually passing St Francis on Liberty Street. Huge churches, either dominating the landscape overtly in the case of St Augustines, or hidden by some smaller buildings alongside before suddenly looming out and above, like St Peter and Pauls.

People pray at St Augustines Church, Washington Street, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Thats not even mentioning the Holy Trinity, towering over the South Channel nearby  or a couple of others which are within touching distance of the very centre of the city. St Marys, towering over the North Channel, or St Patricks further east, which can almost tower over the North Channel.

(Or the full river, depending on the angle, but you get my meaning.)

Thats a lot of church for a small sliver of Cork, particularly when you consider the residential population theyre serving. Granted, St Marys and St Patricks draw on constituencies which might still nominally produce plenty of massgoers, but the others? Despite noises of encouragement about getting people to live in the city, are there enough residents between the two channels of the Lee to keep so many large churches open?

Those churches are interesting to someone tracking the development of the city, of course, because they mark distinct stages in that development.

Peter and Pauls, for instance, grew out of a small chapel on Careys Lane that originally served the needs of the faithful in the immediate area, but early in the nineteenth century it was clearly getting too crowded.

The development of Peter and Pauls was a long and difficult process, but when it was opened in 1866  ...early in the day the church was filled to its 1,500 capacity, double the number which used to fill the Careys Lane chapel of old. Huge crowds gathered in the street to witness the opening of a church which had been almost forty years in the making.

(I quote here and elsewhere from the superb The Churches Of Cork City by Antoin OCallaghan, the definitive work on this topic.)

Clearly, the inner island of the city was so populous in the nineteenth century that it needed a huge church to accommodate the crowds going to mass  and more churches along with it, given the number which were built or expanded all over Cork in that century.

The Church of St Francis off North Main Street.

But the demographics of the city changed significantly in the twentieth century, and there was a distinct movement of people outward  they left the centre of the city to settle in what were then distant places: Farranree, Gurranabraher and Ballyphehane.

With people being relocated to those suburbs, Bishop of Cork Connie Lucey came up with the idea of a series of churches described in this newspaper at the time as designed to meet the urgent requirements of the areas mentioned and to cater for the thousands of citizens who in recent years have been transplanted from the heart of the city into the newly developed suburban areas.

The rosary churches were duly built throughout the fifties in what were then new suburbs. Clearly, there was a boom in ecclesiastical building and those churches were soon thronged with newcomers to those areas, but it leads us to an inevitable contemporary question.

What about the enormous churches which were left behind in the centre of the city? Given the decline in attendance at mass across the board, what role is played by those inner-city churches now?

Looking at other traditionally Catholic countries, you can find a striking variety in the uses found for decommissioned churches. Recently the Associated Press reported on developments in Mechelen, a town of 85,000 north of Brussels regarded as the Roman Catholic centre of that country. And home to over twenty churches.

Mechelen Mayor Bart Somers told the AP: In my city, we have a brewery in a church, we have a hotel in a church, we have a cultural centre in a church, we have a library in a church. So, we have a lot of new destinations for the churches.

Somers is involved in repurposing about 350 churches spread across Belgium, such as the Martins Patershof hotel in Mechelen.

Built in 1863, it was converted into a hotel in 2009, retaining the ornate exterior  and many interior features such as the altar adorning the dining room, or the church arches in the bedrooms.

Or consider the former Saint-Antoine de Padoue church in Brussels. Four climbers got together and converted this into the Maniak Padoue climbing club, with hand-and footholds on the wall alongside the stained-glass windows.

Too extreme? Perhaps. A climbing club in the Holy Trinity certainly sounds like a bridge too far.

Interior view of St Peter and Paul's Church, Cork, in 1952.

But there are lessons to be learned nearer home also. Its estimated that over 2,000 Christian churches of various denominations have closed in Britain over the course of the past decade, but that doesn't mean theyve been lost to communities. The Guardian reported recently that the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, London has a homeless shelter, youth club, a childrens dance centre, hosts a lecture series, a tearoom, and a design fair. Not to mention a real ale brewery (between this and Mechelen, what is it with breweries in churches?).

Whatever about brewing a fruity IPA or setting up a luxury king suite in one of the great cathedrals now largely empty in the centre of Cork, is repurposing those spaces as homeless shelters a la Primrose Hill not a reasonable suggestion?

We have never had more people living on our streets than we do now, and the services which aim to help those people are at bursting point.

We learned last month in these pages that the Cork Simon Community, to take one example, saw an increase of one-third in the demand for its services  almost 1,400 people turned to Simon last year for help.

As its chief executive, Dermot Kavanagh, pointed out, even employment is no longer a guarantee of accommodation: A few years ago, we put a lot of effort into employment, education, and training courses, and that used to be a pathway out of homelessness. Thats no longer a guarantee. Rents are absolutely shocking.

Theres a widespread acceptance that more affordable and social housing offers a long-term solution to homelessness, but there is also an immediate, pressing need for accommodation.

The weather has been unseasonably mild in recent weeks but winter is right on our doorstep. When there are vast empty spaces available to shelter people right in the middle of the city can we really say we are doing everything to combat homelessness?
It takes courage to be a human rights defender. It takes even more courage to be a woman human rights defender. I have met many courageous women who have risked everything to defend the rights of others during conflicts.

One of the names that comes to mind is Bety Carino, from Oaxaca in Mexico, whose words have stayed with me: "Today we want to live a different history. We are rebelling and we are saying enough. The time is coming of us the peoples, the rebellious women and the people from below."

Two months later Bety was shot dead by paramilitaries.

It is hard to think of a greater threat to human rights and the dream of people like Bety than violent conflict. This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights: it is also the year in which there are more ongoing conflicts than at any time in those 75 years.

Two billion people  25% of the worlds population  live in places affected by conflict. According to data released by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, 2022 saw more people killed in conflict than in any year since the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.

When war rages it is usually women who step into the breach to provide support to the victims. Yet doing this work, women human rights defenders face overlapping and gendered risks: general violence in a conflict situation, targeted attack because of their human rights work and misogynistic attacks because they are women.

When we add the issues of sexual orientation, indigenous rights and environmental protection, the level of risk increases exponentially.

Forced out of public life

Lawyers for Justice in Libya recently informed me that women human rights defenders have been forced out of public life due to online attacks, including threats, sexual assault, physical assault and murder, as well as gendered smear campaigns designed to ostracise them.

The same is happening in Afghanistan, where women are confronting the gender apartheid the Taliban has imposed.

For years, women human rights defenders in Gaza have documented human rights violations by both Hamas and Israeli occupation forces.

The situation has long been past boiling-point, but now that fully fledged conflict seems inevitable, these defenders need support more than ever.

If they had been listened to, along with those of other women human rights defenders in the region, things may not have gone this way. Yet their voices are being drowned out and allies are abandoning them. Human rights cannot be collateral damage and nor can women human rights defenders.

Women in Afghanistan are confronting the gender apartheid the Taliban has imposed. Picture: AP /Ebrahim Noroozi

In preparing an upcoming report to the UN General Assembly, I spoke with dozens of women human rights defenders in conflict settings. In the report, I detail how women human rights defenders provide services to the most vulnerable.

Lyudmyla Yankina, a nurse, drove around Kyiv in the weeks following Russias invasion of Ukraine to deliver food and medical supplies to the disabled, the elderly and the terminally ill.

The Abductee Mothers Association in Yemen monitors the enforced disappearances of male relatives and has secured the release of dozens.

The fate of Razan Zaitouneh, who founded a centre to document human rights violations in Syria in 2011, is a reminder of the risks faced by women undertaking this work  Razan was kidnapped in December 2013 and remains missing.

Sexual and gender-based violence

Women subjected to sexual and gender-based violence, used as a weapon during conflict, are often left without adequate state support. The NGO, Sudanese Women Rights Action has been bridging this gap in Sudan since the outbreak of conflict there this year, providing medical and psychosocial support.

Women human rights defenders document human rights violations, which paves the way for a just peace post-conflict and accountability for crimes.

In Iraq, women human rights defenders collected evidence of crimes carried out by Isis against the Yazidi community and it was their advocacy that led to the passage of the Yazidi Female Survivors Law in Iraq in 2021. The law recognises Isis attacks against the Yazidi community as genocide and crimes against humanity, and provides for reparations and rehabilitation for survivors.

In conflict, it is women who hold communities together and when it comes to rebuilding a shattered country it is those women who know first hand what is needed.

Instead, they are expected to retreat into the shadows, leaving decision-making to men. In this troubling context, it is vital to protect women human rights defenders in conflict and recognise their work to build sustainable peace.

This means, in the words of April Dyan Gumanao from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers in the Philippines, food on tables, decent work opportunities and respect for human rights. Studies show where women are meaningfully involved in peace negotiations, the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years increases by 20%, and by 35% the probability of a peace agreement lasting 15 years.

One women human rights defender from Syria told me that, where women were asked to participate, it was mostly in the consultation phase, rather than directly in the negotiation phase.

Lack of protection

Another defender from Yemen noted that even when she was invited to peace talks, she was not able to obtain a visa to travel. Nearly every woman I spoke to highlighted the lack of protection they receive when they become more visible due to their peace-building work. Neither of the two women quoted above felt safe enough to have their quotes attributed to them.

In the 23 years since Women, Peace and Security became an agenda item on the UN Security Council, there has been some progress in addressing conflict-related sexual violence and improvements in the support and protection offered to potential or actual victims.

However, there must be more focus on the role of women human rights defenders as legitimate actors and the protection they require. Only when women are free to safely promote and protect human rights in conflict will we see peace overcome war.

Razan Zaitouneh, mentioned above, documented the brutality of the war in Syria and the grotesque violence inflicted by both government forces and armed opposition groups.

Her words are a constant reminder to me of the courage of women human rights defenders and a challenge to me to never give up: "Not even 100,000 deaths, a harsh siege or the betrayal of the international community can ever defeat the will of a people who has a dream and faith in the future.
Realizing that running for GOP House Speaker is a loser's game, Majority Leader Steve Scalise is dropping out of the race, reports Newsmax.

"Steve Scalise will not be able to garner the 217 votes needed to become Speaker of the House," said a Newsmax reporter today. "Scalise is expected to drop out of the race that could come as soon as today. If that does happen, we're hearing that Jim Jordan could jump back into the race." (See video below, posted by Ron Filipkowski.)

If Rep. "Gym" Jordan, who garnered even less support than Scalise this week after a vote of 99113, is dumb enough to "jump back in," he could be competing against Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Newsmax went on to report.

Yep, the same hostile gunslinger who bullied Nancy Pelosi with a post in which he fired an automatic rifle alongside "#FirePelosi" days before her husband Paul was attacked in their home. And there's more, according to Newmax, with Rep. Kevin Hern from Oklahoma as yet another possible contender. So step right up, folks! But plan to stay for awhile. 'Tis another GOP shitshow in the making.
Last weekends massacre of up to 1,000 civilians by Hamas in southern Israel has prompted an equally horrific reaction with the relentless bombing of Gaza from the air.

As civilians on both sides are bearing the brunt of this intractable conflict, many are asking how did things get this bad and is there any chance of peace.
Palestinians say civilians are paying the price as the latest Israel-Palestinian war rolls into a sixth day of fighting. People in Gaza spent the night in darkness, surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighborhoods as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas, with the support of a new war cabinet that includes a longtime opposition critic.

Hamas said it launched its attack Saturday because Palestinians suffering had become intolerable under unending Israeli military occupation and increasing settlements in the West Bank and a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza.

Israeli prime minister Netanyahu said that Hamas beheaded soldiers and raped women in their attack on Israel, but the allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details.

Egypt has engaged with intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point. However, it pushed back against proposals to establish corridors out of Gaza, saying an an exodus of Palestinians from the enclave would have grave consequences on the Palestinian cause.

The latest conflict, which has claimed at least 2,300 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate.

Here are some key takeaways from the war:

What is the situation in Gaza?

As the Israeli military retaliates for the Hamas attack, Palestinians say civilians are paying the price in strikes on Gaza, a small coastal strip of land packed with 2.3 million residents.

Palestinians collect dead from the rubble after the Israeli bombing in Gaza City on Wednesday. Picture: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair

The United Nations says 260,000 people have fled their homes, most crowding into United Nations schools. Others sought the shrinking number of safe neighborhoods. Gaza is only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.

After nightfall, Palestinians were plunged into pitch blackness in large parts of Gaza City and elsewhere after the power station shut down.

The Gaza Strips biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, will run out of fuel to keep the power on within days, said Matthias Kannes, a Gaza-based official for Doctors Without Borders. The group said the two hospitals it runs in Gaza were running out of surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies.

Israel has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza. Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing but were unable to enter Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said. The only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was shut down Tuesday following nearby Israeli airstrikes.

At least 1,200 people have been killed in Gaza, according to authorities there. Israel says hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

What is the situation in Israel?

In one kibbutz near Gaza, Israeli troops were still removing the bodies of dead Hamas militants who stormed the community and killed more than 100 residents, then battled soldiers for nearly three days.

Mourners carry the body of Mapal Adam, during her funeral in Tel Aviv, Israel on Wednesday. Adam was killed by Hamas militants on Saturday. Picture: AP Photo/Francisco Seco

Maj. Gen. Itai Veruv told visiting journalists that the military found evidence of Hamas militants cutting throats of bound captives, lining up children and killing them and packing 15 teenage girls in a room before throwing a grenade inside.

An Israeli-American teenager in a kibbutz survived a siege on his home by Hamas attackers over the weekend after his parents shielded him from the gunfire but were killed themselves.

The Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Will Israel launch a ground assault?

Four previous rounds of Israel-Hamas fighting between 2008 and 2021 all ended inconclusively, with Hamas battered but still in control.

Israeli tanks move near the Israeli Gaza border on Wednesday. Picture: AP

This time, Israels government is under intense pressure from the public to topple Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007. That would likely require reoccupying Gaza, at least temporarily. Even then, Hamas has a long history of operating as an underground insurgency in areas controlled by Israel. A ground offensive would also likely result in a surge of casualties for fighters on both sides.

Benjamin Netanyahu and a leading opposition figure on Wednesday created a war-time Cabinet.

The risk of the war spreading was evident Wednesday after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The military shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched.

What has been the response from the US and other nations?

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday called the attack by Hamas the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust as the number of US citizens killed in the fighting ticked up to at least 22.

This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty  not just hate, but pure cruelty  against the Jewish people, Biden told Jewish leaders gathered at the White House.

Signs of US support for Israel were seen across the administration, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveling there for meetings, Biden denouncing antisemitism in America and the US military moving a second aircraft carrier toward the Mediterranean Sea as part of efforts to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict.

On Tuesday, Biden warned other countries and armed groups against entering the war.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrived in Israel on Wednesday to express unwavering solidarity with the country following the attacks by Hamas, while Britains King Charles III condemned the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel, a palace official said Wednesday. The German government held a minute of silence Wednesday in parliament for the Israeli victims of the Hamas attacks in parliament.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir slammed Israels outrageous acts of cruelty in cutting off food, water and fuel to the Gaza Strip and said Malaysia will provide an emergency fund to help Palestinians.

Turkey is holding negotiations for the release of civilian hostages held by Hamas, a Turkish official said Wednesday.

What is the status of foreign citizens in Israel?

The number of US citizens confirmed to have been killed in the latest Israel-Hamas war has risen to at least 22, the US State Department said Wednesday. Thats an increase from 14 the day before.

The State Department said at least 17 more Americans remain unaccounted for in a war that has already claimed more than 2,300 lives on both sides.

Two Brazilian citizens were killed as the result of the Hamas attack on Israel, according to that countrys foreign ministry, which also said that three people with dual Brazilian-Israeli citizenship were missing after they disappeared at a music festival outside of Kibbutz Reim.

Missing Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti (22) has been confirmed dead following the Hamas attack on a music festival in Israel last weekend.

Kim Damti. Picture: Facebook/Laura Damti

Ms Damti had been unaccounted for since Hamas gunmen opened fire on festival-goers on Saturday, but in a post on social media on Wednesday night, her sister Laura confirmed that she had died.

The Austrian government has confirmed that one of three Austrian-Israeli citizens who went missing after Hamas attack on Israel has been found dead.

Spains Foreign Ministry said one of two Spaniards affected by the Hamas attacks in Israel had died.

What prompted Hamas' attack on Israel?

Hamas, which seeks Israels destruction, says it is defending Palestinians right to freedom and self-determination.

But the devastation following Hamas surprise attack on Saturday has sharpened questions about its strategy and objectives. Hamas officials have said they planned for all possibilities, including a punishing Israeli escalation.

Palestinians prayby the bodies fof al-Agha family who were killed during an Israeli airstrike on buildings, during their funeral in Khan Younis, on Wednesday. Picture: AP Photo/Hatem Ali

Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settlements in the West Bank, a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy.

In addition to citing long-simmering tensions, Hamas officials cite a long-running dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque that 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.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians 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 blockade on the Gaza Strip and help halt a worsening financial crisis.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has said Microsoft owes the US Treasury $28.9 billion (27.2 billion) in back taxes, plus penalties and interest, the company revealed in a securities filing.

The figure, which Microsoft disputes, stems from a long-running IRS probe into how Microsoft allocated its profits among countries and jurisdictions in the years 2004 to 2013.
Romanian authorities said they have found a crater from a suspected drone that may have exploded on impact on its territory near the border with Ukraine.

The find revives concerns about a possible spillover of Russias war in Ukraine on to a Nato member country.

The pre-dawn discovery of the crater 1.8 miles west of the village of Plauru, which sits across the Danube River from the Ukrainian port of Izmail, was made after the Romanian Defence Ministry said it detected a series of drones heading towards Ukrainian river ports.

The ministry said the drone had possibly exploded on impact but it was not immediately clear when or from where the drone was launched. An investigation is under way.

We call on Russia to stop these war crimes

Heinous Russian attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure had again serious consequences on Romanias territory, foreign minister Luminita Odobescu wrote on X, the social medial platform formerly known as Twitter, adding that new evidence of impact was found on Romanias soil.

We call on Russia to stop these war crimes, she said.

Romanian authorities have previously confirmed drone fragments on its soil in recent weeks, and said the parts resembled those from drones used by the Russian army.

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg told The Associated Press on Thursday that the alliance has increased the number of aircraft monitoring Romanias skies after the drone findings.

But he said there are no indications the drone incidents were deliberate attacks on Natos allies, but more a consequence of the unjustified attacks on Ukraine.

Asked if any member countries had talked of activating official consultations under Article 4 of the Nato treaty, which is the process for when members are worried about their security or territorial integrity, Mr Stoltenberg said that so far there hasnt been any need for that.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis called the drone fragment discoveries an absolutely unacceptable violation of the sovereign airspace of Romania, a Nato ally, with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area.

The recurring incidents over the past month have left some residents living near the border nervous that the war could spill into their country, and the village of Plauru erected prefabricated concrete shelters for residents last month.

Separately on Thursday, the governor of Russias Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine said three people, including a child, were killed and two others injured overnight after drone debris fell on a private house, setting it on fire.

The drone was shot down by air defence systems but the debris effectively destroyed two private houses on the outskirts of the city of Belgorod, the regions capital, and damaged several more, said Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine  11 October 2023.



Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/l4CTSZAZZG



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/YfOYXinFu3  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) October 11, 2023

The Belgorod region has been a regular target of cross-border shelling and drone attacks. Ukrainian officials have never acknowledged responsibility for attacks on Russian territory.

In Ukraine, the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky said at least 10 civilians were killed and 18 people were injured over the past 24 hours, including from a missile strike on the southern city of Nikopol that hit a school, killing four and injuring two.

A total of 50 homes, infrastructure facilities and power lines were damaged in the city on the Dnipro River.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted 28 of 33 Shaheed drones that Russia launched overnight across the country.

Governor Oleh Kiper, of the southern Odesa region  in which Izmail is located, said Russian forces had targeted Danube port infrastructure in the region, wounding one person.

In recent weeks, Russia has carried out sustained attacks on Ukraines Danube ports as part of Moscows attempt to disrupt Ukraines ability to export grain to world markets.

In the eastern Donetsk region, intense and incessant fighting continued near the city of Avdiivka, said Vitalii Barabash, the head of the citys military administration.

A very tense situation for the third day. The battles around the city do not cease, and the shelling, both at positions and within the city itself, does not stop, Mr Barabash said on Ukrainian television.

Volodymyr Zelensky has made a personal pitch for more military aid (Yves Herman, pool photo via AP)

President Zelensky posted on Telegram that we are holding our ground in the city.

A day earlier, the Ukrainian leader joined a meeting of more than 50 defence leaders from around the world and made a personal pitch for more military aid for his country in the face of the Russian onslaught.

The Czech Republic and Denmark on Thursday pledged to send Ukraine more western weapons.

The Czech Foreign Ministry said the package, to be sent in coming months, will include 50 infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks, 500 heavy machine guns, 280 self-propelled howitzers, 7,000 anti-tank weapons, 60 mortar systems as well as anti-drone systems.

In its latest report, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Russian offensive action near Avdiivka is ongoing.

Footage from Tuesday and Wednesday showed Russian troops advancing in areas south-west and north-west of the town.

The think tank said such tactical-level adaptations and successes by Russian forces were not likely to bring wider operational and strategic gains.

Avdiivka is also a notoriously well-fortified and defended Ukrainian stronghold, which will likely complicate Russian forces ability to closely approach or fully capture the settlement, it added.

The Interior Ministry said the death toll from last weeks missile attack that levelled a cafe in the village of Hroza, in the northern Kharkiv region, has risen to 59, following the identification of more victims.

The Hroza attack is one of the deadliest strikes by Russian troops in Ukraine since the invasion in February last year.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Thursday with a pledge of unwavering support from America.

Following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Blinken said: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to. We will always be there by your side.
Palestinians in Gaza lined up outside bakeries on Thursday after spending the night in pitch darkness surrounded by the ruins of destroyed neighbourhoods, as Israel launched new air strikes and said it was preparing for a possible ground invasion.

International aid groups warned that deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the delivery of supplies.

The war, which was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack into Israel, has already claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides.

Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters on Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if decided, but that the political leadership has not yet ordered one.

A ground offensive in Gaza, the first since the 2014 war, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Palestinians lrescue their belongings following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Oct. 12. Picture: AP Photo/Hatem Ali

A high-ranking Hamas official, Saleh Al-Arouri, warned on Thursday that any Israeli invasion of Gaza will turn into a disaster for its army, saying the group was prepared to respond.

In Gaza, Palestinians fleeing air strikes could be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place.

Hundreds of thousands have crowded into UN-run schools while others are staying with relatives or even strangers who let them in.

Lines formed outside bakeries and grocery stores during the few hours they dare to open, and the bakeries could soon shut down for lack of fuel or power.

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Picture: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush and destroy Hamas with the support of a new war cabinet formed on Wednesday that includes a long-time opposition critic.

Every Hamas member is a dead man, Mr Netanyahu said in a televised address.

The US has pledged unwavering support for Israels response, and secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday to meet Mr Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders.

You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to, Mr Blinken said after meeting Mr Netanyahu. We will always be there by your side.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with people as he visits a donation center for victims of the Hamas terror attacks on Thursday October 12. Picture: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, pool

The Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamass elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons.

Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, Lt Col Hecht said. Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehiyeh) Sinwar. They were directly connected.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Israeli strikes demolished two multi-storey houses on top of residents without warning, killing and wounding a large number of people, mainly civilians. Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel strikes Palestinian civilians without warning.

Israel has halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. On Tuesday, Gazas only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators. Those will shut off as well if fuel is not allowed in.

'Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues'

A senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that lack of electricity could cripple hospitals, as he called for Hamas to release hostages.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken, said Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRCs regional director.

Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.

Israels energy minister, Israel Katz, said nothing would be allowed into Gaza until the captives were released.

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, he said on social media.

In Israel, opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defence minister and political opponent of Mr Netanyahu, joined a new wartime cabinet at a time when the Israeli military appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza.

Israel has mobilised 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence on Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

Mr Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

His allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Israels increasingly destructive air strikes in Gaza have flattened entire city blocks and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath debris.

Palestinians evacuate wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza. Picture: AP Photo/Hatem Ali

A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a strip of land only 25 miles long, would likely result in a surge of casualties on both sides.

The UN said late Wednesday the number of people displaced by the air strikes had soared 30% within 24 hours, to 339,000, two thirds of them crowding into UN schools. Others sought shelter in the shrinking number of safe neighbourhoods.

The Egyptian government rejected an American proposal to allow Palestinians fleeing Israels bombardment to leave Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said Thursday.

Egypt believes that Palestinians leaving Gaza would harm the Palestinian cause, and its state-run media reported that the Israeli offensive is part of a scheme to empty the enclave.

Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food on Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, but were unable to enter Gaza, the official said. The only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was shut down on Tuesday following nearby Israeli air strikes.

The official said Egypt was talking with Israel and the US on establishing safe corridors inside Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians, and with Israel and other foreign governments to evacuate foreigners through the Rafah crossing point.

October 12, 2023 - Electricity and water are running short in Gaza after Israel stopped its supplies to the enclave until all the hostages taken by Hamas are returned.

The risk of the war spreading was evident on Wednesday after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops.

Casualties mount

The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched.

The death toll in Gaza rose to 1,417 on Thursday, according to local authorities.

The Gaza Strips biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, has only enough fuel to keep power on for three days, said Matthias Kannes, a Gaza-based official for Doctors Without Borders. The group said the two hospitals it runs in Gaza were running out of surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 247 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

- Associated Press
The Israeli military pulverized the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, prepared for a possible ground invasion and said on Thursday its complete siege of the territory would remain in place until Hamas militants free some 150 hostages taken during a grisly weekend incursion.

A visit by US secretary of state Antony Blinken, along with shipments of US weapons, offered a powerful green light to Israel to drive ahead with its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas deadly attack on civilians and soldiers, even as international aid groups warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Israel has halted deliveries of basic necessities and electricity to Gazas 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt.

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single tap will be turned on and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli energy minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Lt Col Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters that forces are preparing for a ground manoeuvre should political leaders order one.

A ground offensive in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas militants and where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 25 miles long, would be likely to bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

Hamas assault on Saturday killed more than 1,300 people in Israel, including 247 soldiers, a toll unseen in Israel for decades, and the ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 1,530 people in Gaza, according to authorities on both sides.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead in Gaza are Hamas members. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel.

Amid concerns that the fighting could spread in the region, Syrian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Thursday put two Syrian international airports out of service.

Mourners attend the funeral of Israeli soldier Abraham Cohen at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem (Francisco Seco/AP)

The relentless barrage on Gaza  6,000 munitions dropped since the conflict began, the military said  left Palestinians running through streets with what belongings they could carry, looking for safety

A strike on Thursday in the the Jabaliya refugee camp collapsed a residential building on families sheltering inside, killing at least 45 people, Gazas interior ministry said.

At least 23 of the dead were under the age of 18, including a month-old child, according to a list of the casualties.

Ministry spokesman Eyad Bozum said dozens were wounded, and the death toll was likely to rise as rescue workers pulled more bodies from the rubble.

The home belonging to the al-Shihab family was packed with relatives who had fled bombing in other areas.

Neighbours said a second house was hit at the same time, but the death toll was not known.

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a building levelled in an Israeli airstrike on Al Shati refugee camp (Fatima Shbair/AP)

We cant flee because anywhere you go, you are bombed, one neighbour, Khalil Abu Yahia, said. You need a miracle to survive here.

By Wednesday night, the number of people who fled their homes reached 340,000 people  roughly 15% of Gazas population.

Most crowded into UN-run schools while others stayed with relatives or even strangers.

Families were cutting down to one meal a day, said Rami Swailem, a 34-year-old lecturer at al-Azhar University, who has 32 relatives sheltering in his home.

Water stopped coming to the building two days ago, and they were rationing what is left in the tank on the roof.

Alaa Younis Abuel-Omrain has been staying in a UN school after a strike on her home killed eight members of her family  her mother, aunt, a sister, a brother and his wife and their three children.

Mourners at the funeral of Danielle Waldmann and her partner Noam Shai in Kiryat Tivon (Ariel Schalit/AP)

She said food supplies were running out. Most bakeries stopped producing bread for lack of electricity.

Even if there is food in some areas, we cant get to it because of strikes, she said.

On Wednesday, Gazas only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

Hospitals, overwhelmed by a constant stream of wounded and running out of supplies, have only a few days worth of fuel before their power cuts off, aid officials say.

Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, said Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Newborn incubators, kidney dialysis machines, X-ray equipment and more are all dependent on power, he said.

Bodies of the Abu Rayash family killed by Israeli shelling at Edwin Hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP)

Ambulance crews carrying bodies to the morgue at Gazas biggest hospital, Shifa, found no space left.

Dozens of full body bags were lined up in the hospital parking lot. Fourteen health facilities have been damaged in strikes, health officials said Thursday.

With Israel sealing off the territory, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah, but Egypts foreign ministry said Thursday that airstrikes on Rafah have prevented it from operating.

Egypt has been trying to convince Israel and the United States to allow aid and fuel through the crossing.

Israel is employing a new tactic of levelling whole neighbourhoods, rather than just individual buildings.

Hecht, the military spokesman, said targeting decisions were based on intelligence on locations being used by Hamas and that civilians were warned.

  ?     ,             .   .      .    Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 12, 2023

Right now, we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, he said.

The military said strikes have hit Hamas elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters in Saturdays attack, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative used to store weapons.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Hamas after the militants stormed into the countrys south on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people, including killings of children in their homes and young people at a music festival.

Mr Netanyahu said Hamas atrocities included beheading soldiers and raping women, descriptions that could not be independently confirmed.

Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Four previous conflicts ended with Hamas still firmly in control of the territory it has ruled since 2007.

Palestinian children wounded in Israeli strikes cry outside a hospital in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP)

Israel has mobilised 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

A new war Cabinet, which includes a long-time opposition politician, was sworn in on Thursday to direct the fight.

A high-ranking Hamas official, Saleh Al-Arouri, warned Thursday that any Israeli invasion of Gaza will turn into a disaster for its army, saying the group was prepared to respond.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in a 1967 war.

The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state, but there have been no peace talks in over a decade.

The Palestinian health ministry says more than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and two in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem since Saturday, most when police fired on stone-throwing protesters.
Rakhine ethnic armed group the Arakan Army (AA) has expressed solidarity with Kachin people following Mondays massacre at a camp for internally displaced people, vowing to seek justice for the victims.

The deliberate strike on an IDP camp, which is not a military target, is a war crime and crime against humanity, AA information officer Khaing Thukha said.

All of our sympathies are with families of victims. We will stand by the Kachin Independence Army/Kachin Independence Organization (KIA/KIO) and do what is necessary to pursue justice for innocent civilians who lost their lives.

Junta troops shelled the IDP camp at Mung Lai Hkyet village, 3 kilometers north of KIA headquarters in Laiza, on Monday. At least 29 people, including 13 children, were killed and 57 others were injured in the strike, said the Kachin-based armed group.

Junta artillery also pounded an AA base in Laiza on Monday, killing an AA member and wounding 10 others, Khaing Thukha told The Irrawaddy.

The regime attacks civilians whenever they suffer a military defeat. There have been similar incidents in Karenni, Karen and Rakhine states. In Laiza, they launched an artillery bombardment. Some shells hit Mung Lai Hkyet IDP camp and some hit our base.

The AA also suffered casualties when the junta shelled Laiza late last month. The Sept. 28 strike left one AA officer dead and several others wounded at its base in Mung Lai Hkyet.

The AA was established in 2009 in Kachin States Laiza with the support of the KIA. Years later, members returned to their Rakhine homeland, leading to fierce clashes with the Myanmar military in late 2018 which continued until the general election in November 2020.

After around 20 months of calm, fresh fighting erupted in August last year. But the AA has observed an informal ceasefire since November on humanitarian grounds after junta travel restrictions took a heavy toll on Rakhine civilians. The armed group now controls much of rural Rakhine.

The AA however maintains its bases in Kachin, including a temporary headquarters in Laiza. Despite the ceasefire in Rakhine, the AA is believed to be involved in fighting in Kachin, where the KIA is battling the regime.

Mondays massacre has sparked fears that fresh clashes may break out in Rakhine.

However, a military analyst said the fears may be unfounded.

The AA is unwilling to fight the regime in Rakhine while the local population is still recovering from Cyclone Mocha in May and massive flooding over the past few months, he said. On the other hand, the regime does not want to open a new front in Rakhine, he added.

My view is [the regime] attacked Laiza just to put pressure on the KIA. If they dont do so, KIA troops will come down to central Myanmar and fight the regime there. This is the reason they are attacking Laiza. Meanwhile, the AA is involved in the fighting because it has allied with the KIA. But the Laiza incident is unlikely to trigger fighting in Rakhine. People there are still struggling to overcome the impacts of Mocha and other disasters. Fresh fighting will only happen when the regime launches attacks there, he told The Irrawaddy.

Both the KIA and AA are members of the Northern Alliance military coalition.

Khaing Thukha also warned that fresh fighting may break out if the regime carries out more deliberate attacks on AA bases.

We have a temporary headquarters in Laiza, and we have clashed with the regime after their troops entered our territory. We have spread our troops to protect the Laiza headquarters. Military tensions may rise and fighting may break out if the regime deliberately attacks our bases, said the AA spokesman.

Six AA members were killed and others wounded in July last year when the junta carried out an air attack on an AA base in an area controlled by the Karen National Union.
The Chinese government has issued arrest warrants for a minister and a mayor in the Wa Self-Administered Zone (SAZ) for their alleged leading roles in telecom fraud gangs in the autonomous region of Myanmars northern Shan State near the Chinese border.

The Hanzhou City Police Department in Jiejiang province and the Kunming City Police Department in Yunnan province issued warrants for the arrests of Chen Yanban, aka Bao Yanban, and Xiao Yanquan, aka He Chuntian, on Wednesday.

Chinese police said in a statement the two are key leaders of telecom fraud gangs in Wa region, adding that they have sufficient evidence to prosecute the two.

They said they are offering a reward of 100,000 to 500,000 renminbi (US$13,700 to $71,200) for information and cooperation leading to their arrests.

According to the statement, Chen is the minister for construction in the Wa SAZ and a former head of the United Wa State Armys Brigade 468.

Xiao was identified as the mayor of Mengneng County. For months, online posts and videos have been appearing on Chinas TikTok and WeChat apps claiming to expose his involvement in the operations of industrial-scale scam compounds in the county. Both Chen and Xiao hold Chinese national ID cards with residency in Yunnan and Gaungdong respectively.

The warrants come as the Chinese government ramps up its efforts to crack down on scam syndicates operating near its border with Myanmar.

Myanmars border areas with Thailand and China have seen a rise in cyber-scam operations and related criminal activities since the coup in 2021. Chinese criminal gangs operate casinos under the protection of ethnic armed groups on the Thai border.

China this year pressured Myanmars junta to take action against cyber scams, which the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs says have seriously harmed Chinese interests.

In response, the regime handed over 24 people arrested for involvement in online scams to Chinese authorities in August and 377 Chinese allegedly involved in telecom fraud were transferred in September.

In October, the Chinese government arrested 11 businessmen and officials from Myanmars Kokang SAZ while they were visiting Yunnan. It has been speculated those detained were involved in some form of online scamming.

Jason Tower, Myanmar country director at the United States Institute of Peace with a focus on China and Myanmar, told The Irrawaddy that the arrest warrants for officials from Wa SAZ come at a time when the Chinese government is under growing international and domestic pressure to address the global crisis sparked by transnational organized crime groups from China operating criminal hubs in Southeast Asia.

Chinas moves to arrest these key players is a sign of a growing willingness on the part of the Chinese government to crack down, he said.

Asked how its possible for the Chinese police to issue arrest warrants for Wa officials in Myanmar, Tower explained that as many elites in the region hold Chinese national ID cards and passports, it is relatively easy for China to issue a warrant for their arrest.

It is striking that the Chinese warrants identify the official positions of the two wanted Wa criminals in Shan Statethis sends a strong message to the Wa that they are well within reach of Chinese law enforcement, he said.

In southern Myanmar, syndicates along the Thai border remain intact as they are protected by regime-friendly ethnic Border Guard Force groups.

Alarms have been sounded that as the crackdown on the Chinese border escalates, many scam syndicates are moving to the Thai border.

Concerns are also growing that trafficking of new victims into compounds in Karen State and eastern Shan State is on the rise, as the criminal syndicates have lost a very large number of scammers in northern Myanmar, he warned.
The regimes Labor Ministry has ordered employment agencies to submit their lists of Myanmar migrant workers to the central bank and Foreign Ministry.

The order was issued late last month in the wake of new rules requiring migrant workers to remit a quarter of their wages through the junta-run banking system.

There are 484 local and foreign employment agencies in Myanmar, according to the ministry. It threatened to take legal action against 70 agencies it said had still not submitted migrant worker lists.

Agencies were required to submit the lists every three or six months under the now ousted civilian NLD government, but the junta has changed this to the first five days of every month. Non-compliant agencies will be suspended, warned, and then dissolved if they fail to submit lists again, said the ministry.

The difference now is that we have to submit the lists to the Central Bank of Myanmar and Foreign Ministry too, an employment agency manager said.

The two junta agencies will presumably use the lists to check that remittances are being sent back home, the manager added.

They are starved of foreign currency. So, they are targeting remittances of migrant workers by putting pressure on employment agencies.

Last month, the regime demanded that expatriate workers remit at least 25 percent of their foreign currency income back home through the countrys banking system.

Migrant workers who do not comply will be barred from working overseas for three years after their current work permit expires, the announcement warned. The regulation took effect on September 1.

On September 23, the regime made changes to the tax law, forcing Myanmar migrant workers to pay a tax of at least 10 percent on incomes earned in other countries.

The top destinations for Myanmar migrant workers are Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, under memoranda of understanding between governments. Recruitment of Myanmar workers in Thailand and Malaysia is now declining, according to employment agencies.
If you want to conjure up some spirits this Halloween, why not go big and head to Salem, Massachusetts, the home of "Ouijazilla," the World's Largest Ouija Board? The Brobdingnagian masterpiece is the brainchild of Rick "Ormortis" Schreck, a tattoo artist based in New Jersey who is also the Vice President of the Talking Board Historical Society.

Ripley's Believe It or Not! explains that the board is constructed of 99 sheets of plywood, weighs 9,000 pounds, and measures 3,168 square feet. Ripley's provide more information:

Aptly named Ouijazilla, this gargantuan board was unveiled on October 12, 2019, in the heart of the Salem Common. The hand-painted wooden board and accompanying planchette are modeled after the original Parker Brother's glow-in-the-dark Ouija boardminus a few of Rick's personal embellishments. Rick even got the blessing of Hasbro, Inc. to construct this enormous version of their game!

The Talking Board Historical Society, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization "dedicated to researching, preserving and celebrating the history of talking boards." They explain that talking boards date back to around 1848 and the birth of Modern Spiritualism. They go on:

Most Americans are aware of the most famous talking board, Ouija, first introduced in 1890 by the Kennard Novelty Company and sold today by Hasbro, Inc. What they don't know is that since the beginning, the Ouija board faced fierce competition from other manufacturers who produced hundreds of different yet colorful talking board variations. These were sold, enjoyed, and eventually discarded, only to be remade and rediscovered by new generations. Therefore, these boards represent an enduring pop culture phenomenon and an important lost art form.

Check out the video below to see the board, and read more about Ouijazilla and its creator here. And to learn more about talking boards in general, check out the website for the Talking Board Historical Society.
More than 528 Chin citizens, including 311 resistance fighters, have been killed by Myanmars junta since the 2021 coup, the Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA) reported this week.

The rights groups report Human Rights Violations by the Military Regime Against the Ethnic Chin People said the junta is brazenly breaching international law and human rights agreements.

Armed Chin resistance started with an attack on a Mindat Township police station in April 2021 when the regime repeatedly broke promises to release seven anti-regime protesters.

The Chin National Army, the armed wing of the Chin National Front, and the Chinland Defense Force are fighting the regime across Chin State and in neighboring Sagaing Region. The regime maintains a grip on the Chin towns but rural areas are mostly in rebel hands.

The ICA reported 750 clashes with junta troops in Chin State by October 1.

It said 15 resistance fighters had been killed in junta airstrikes, 23 by regime landmines and 11 were tortured to death by junta forces.

The report said 217 Chin civilians, including 24 children, were killed in indiscriminate junta shelling and airstrikes, landmines and under torture.

A six- and seven-year-old were killed in Chin States capital, Hakha, on October 19 last year when a regime drone bombed the Buanlung village school, the group said.

Regime forces abducted and killed a 15-year-old and his 17-year-old sister from Haimual village in Tedim Township on August 14 last year. She was repeatedly raped by junta troops before being killed, the ICA said.

Regime forces killed five Christian pastors and three church leaders and sentenced another pastor to 23 years imprisonment.

It said 101 churches and religious buildings were destroyed by junta shelling, airstrikes and arson attacks across Chin State and neighboring townships in Kale district of Sagaing Region.

The group said more than 1,000 Chin people had been detained and 2,100 houses burned down by the junta since the 2021 coup.

It estimated that 100,000 residents had fled their homes and another 150,000 had left Myanmar.
UN member states must hold the Myanmar military junta accountable for Mondays massacre of dozens of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Kachin State, a group of former UN experts on Myanmar demanded on Thursday.

At least 29 people including 13 children were killed at the displacement camp in Mung Lai Hkyet Village in Kachins Waingmaw Township on Monday night. The site is about 3 km north of Laiza, where the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has its headquarters. The ethnic armed group is fighting the junta.

The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) said the latest junta attack on a displacement camp could constitute a war crime. Some 100 families displaced by junta violence were taking refuge at the camp at the time of the attack.

The abhorrent junta attack in Mung Lai Hyket is a result of the utter failure of the international community to act for the protection of the Myanmar people, said the SAC-Ms Chris Sidoti, a former member of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (IIFFMM).

Mondays attack is the deadliest junta attack on civilians in Kachin State so far this year and comes almost a year after a junta air strike on a music concert killed around 75 people in the village of A Nang Pa in the state on Oct. 23, 2022.

The junta has denied involvement and blamed an explosion at an ammonium nitrate store in a KIA training camp near the village. KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that the regimes account of the explosion was propaganda, saying the armed group would never position a gunpowder warehouse near civilians.

Yanghee Lee of SAC-M, former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said the Myanmar military had become so emboldened by the indifference of the international community to its decades of atrocities that it is now attacking IDP camps.

The military is flagrantly massacring the most vulnerable people in society, and yet UN entities in Myanmar will not even publicly name the military as the perpetrator. At what point will the UN decide to stand with the Myanmar people? she asked.

The SAC-M said the junta had escalated its campaign of brutal violence against civilians across the country this year in wilful defiance of UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2669 adopted in December 2022, which demands an immediate end to all forms of violence throughout the country.

UNSC demands within resolutions are considered legally binding under international law but the resolution lacks measures that would enable the council to enforce it, the SAC-M said.

Attacking a camp for displaced people is an act so utterly depraved that it defies humanity. Such depraved acts of violence are the reason the Myanmar people have been forced into a nation-defining struggle to liberate themselves entirely from the Myanmar militarys influence, said the SAC-Ms Marzuki Darusman, former chair of the IIFFMM.

The SAC-M urged the UNSC to enforce the juntas compliance with its resolution through the imposition of a global arms embargo and targeted financial sanctions, and the referral of the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

If the Security Council wont, or cant, act, UN member states must take action through the General Assembly and pass an urgent resolution during the current 78th session, it stated.
Russia has signed another agreement with Myanmars regime to build a small nuclear power plant as the junta continues to struggle to end blackouts.

On Wednesday at Russian Energy Week, Russias state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom and the juntas Ministry of Science and Technology signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on priority areas for nuclear construction.

The agreement was signed by Alexey Likhachev, director general of Rosatom, and the juntas science and technology minister, Dr Myo Thein Kyaw.

Three junta energy, electricity, science and technology ministers are in Russia, seeking Moscows help to address Myanmars fuel and electricity crisis.

Nuclear cooperation started with junta boss Min Aung Hlaings visit to Russia in July last year when Likhachev and Myo Thein Kyaw signed an initial agreement.

Two months later the junta and Rosatom signed a roadmap on a possible modular reactor project. Myanmar opened its first nuclear technology center in Yangon in February with Russian backing.

At the opening, Min Aung Hlaing and Likhachev discussed the use of nuclear technology in health, agriculture and manufacturing.

Myanmars nuclear technology graduates from Russian universities and Rosatom officials met in Yangon in August. Russias National Research Nuclear University also signed an MoU with Yangon Technological University, Yangon University of Information Technology and Kyaukse Technological University last week.

Human rights groups have said Myanmars regime cannot be trusted with nuclear technology.
BANGKOK, ThailandTwenty Thai nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas, the Thai government said Wednesday, up from the previous toll of 18.

The foreign ministry said the number of Thais held hostage had increased by three to 14, based on unofficial reports from Thai citizens in Israel.

Following the attack on Saturday, around 150 people of varying nationalities, including women and children, have been held by Hamas.

The death toll of Thai nationals has risen to 20, ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke told reporters in Bangkok, adding that the number of wounded had increased to 13.

The first repatriation flight with wounded Thais was expected to land in the capital on Thursday.

More than 5,000 Thai citizens have requested repatriation, Kanchana said.

There are approximately 30,000 Thais in Israel, mostly working in the agriculture sector, according to Thailands labor ministry.

The death toll in Israel has surged above 1,200 while Gaza officials reported 900 people killed so far, and Israels army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found.
Thursday, Oct 12th, 2023 (10:42 am) - Score 1,152

Digital infrastructure firm Boldyn Networks (formerly BAI Comms) has announced that theyre working with the Greater London Authority (GLA), Virgin Media and Transport for London (TfL) to deploy a new high-speed full fibre network across the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

The new network is intended to provide vital connectivity to 41 CCTV (camera) locations across the borough, which will record higher quality and more reliable images (i.e. deterrence of criminal and anti-social behaviour)  enabling the output to be used as evidence in court. The work will also complement their existing project with Kingston Council to deploy smart columns to boost mobile broadband (4G and 5G) connectivity, improve council services and enhance public safety.

NOTE: The smart columns build forms part of the governments Smart Infrastructure Pilots Programme ( The smart columns build forms part of the governments here and here ) to support the delivery of the governments UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy.

The network has been installed alongside delivery partner Virgin Media. The project was funded by the GLA, via TfL and it forms part of the wider Mayor of Londons Connected London programme, to improve digital connectivity across London boroughs and build the foundations for smart city applications (i.e. new sensors to monitor air quality, traffic congestion and supporting councils to enhance public safety).

The announcement doesnt contain much information on the network itself, but we assume this reflects their previously announced plan to install a 10.4km long fibre ring across the borough.

Billy DArcy, CEO of UK & Ireland at Boldyn Networks, said: Boldyn Networks is delighted to be collaborating with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to deliver a new fibre network for the borough. High-quality digital infrastructure is an essential foundation for economic growth and innovation, and we look forward to working with more boroughs across London so that they can harness the benefits of high-speed digital connectivity.

Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for London, said: Making sure that every borough in London has a robust and reliable digital infrastructure, with the support of the latest innovations in digital technology, is crucial to the Mayors commitment to making the capital a better, safer and more prosperous city for all. The introduction of the new fibre network across Kingston upon Thames, funded by the Greater London Authority and installed by Boldyn Networks, will hugely enhance public safety and connectivity throughout the borough and lay the foundations to positively transform local services in the future.

This follows the recent installation of a high-speed full fibre network in the borough of Sutton (here). These fibre networks complement Boldyn Networks 20-year concession with TfL to deliver a backbone of fibre connectivity across the capital and high-speed mobile connectivity across the London Underground.
Thursday, Oct 12th, 2023 (9:58 am) - Score 2,232

The MP for Haltemprice and Howden, David Davis, has called on ISP KCOM, MS3, Connexin and other alternative broadband network operators in East Yorkshire (England) to help resolve the unsightly mess of unnecessary street furniture (a reference to recent protests against poles) by fairly sharing access to existing ducts and poles.

Poles are a common sight across much of the UK (Openreach alone has 4 million of them), which is in no small part because theyre cost-effective to build, can be deployed in areas where there may be no space or access agreement to safely put new underground cables, are less disruptive (avoiding the noise, access restrictions and damage to pavements of major street works), can be built under Permitted Development (PD) rights with only minimal prior notice and are faster to deploy than digging trenches. The lower cost impact can often mean the difference between building gigabit broadband into an area or skipping it entirely.

NOTE: Network operators are under significant pressure from competition and rising costs (weve already seen this impact jobs and slowing builds), thus it isnt viable for all of them to deploy new trenching for underground infrastructure in areas of protest.

However, not everybody is a fan of poles, as aptly demonstrated by the recent protests against their deployment by residents of Hedon, South Preston and several other locations (here and here)  as well as more widely across the United Kingdom (here).

Over the past week, locals in Hedon have even taken to parking over the top of pole deployment sites and blocking streets to prevent more poles being deployed. Complaints often focus on their negative visual appearance, concerns about the risk of damage from major storms (example) and a lack of effective prior consultation.

Disputes like this are naturally much more likely to occur in areas that havent previously had poles, which is where most of the gripes tend to surface. In such situations, network operators often face a stark choice  continue to build against the wishes of local residents (often resulting in protests and negative headlines) or scrap that part of the build to focus on other areas. But in the case of Hedon, MS3 is currently trying to push forward.

At this stage its unclear precisely why MS3 are moving ahead, despite facing significant opposition and negative headlines, although its worth considering that the operator also has to consider those who may have registered to sign-up to their network in the area (they arent all NIMBYs). Similarly, sometimes operators need to link together different sections of a network, which can make it difficult to miss out certain critical areas without causing wider problems.

Infrastructure Sharing

One particularly complex aspect that often gets raised is the question of why the new entrants (MS3, Connexin etc.) cant simply run their new fibre via KCOMs existing ducts, most of which are underground (KCOM is deemed to have significant market power over quite a big area around Hull by Ofcom). The first thing to note here is that this might not be workable in every area, so some poles may still be required, although it is a fair argument to make.

According to the BBC News, David Davis MP has now waded in to the dispute and highlighted how the law allows operators like KCOM to share existing infrastructure, but new entrants to the areas broadband market had told him they faced obstacle after obstacle in doing so. AltNets are said to have told Davis about KCOM adopting prohibitive pricing mechanisms for the use of existing infrastructure and of procrastination and delay in the matter.

I have also asked [KCOM] to publish a clear and transparent pricing structure for access to the infrastructure it owns, added Mr Davis. But a spokesperson for KCOM itself said they absolutely refute any suggestion that we are putting any barriers in the way of other providers accessing our network  No provider has disputed any network access issues with us and we are not aware of any formal disputes lodged with Ofcom.

Ofcom doesnt strictly require KCOM to offer a regulated cable duct and pole access solution that is exactly like the one that Openreach offers via Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA). The regulator instead took an approach to remedies which focuses more on requiring access to KCOMs fibre access network (wholesale), rather than access to its physical / passive infrastructure (here). The rules also soften a bit once you get outside the core Hull area.

However, the law does still require KCOM to fairly share access to its infrastructure, but operators expecting the same level of access and affordability as PIA from KCOM will probably run into a problem with the operators commercial terms. The CEO of MS3, Guy Miller, recently offered some insight into this from the AltNets perspective.

Guy Miller, CEO of MS3, told ISPreview last month: KCOM are subject to much of the same rules and regulations as Openreach but due to vast scale differences between the two organisations and their respective footprints this clearly creates nuances. In simple terms if you are both required to offer PIA based on a Cost Plus model and your base costs, due to scale, are three times as much, then you would reasonably expect the final price to other operators to be more expensive. This may or may not make it commercially acceptable to the other operator. MS3 have utilised Openreach infrastructure in other locations such as Grimsby and Scunthorpe to great effect with >95% of our homes passed in these areas requiring no additional dig or poling. It is more cost effective and creates less disruption. Quite simply it is our preferred deployment method. Whilst I am unable to talk about confidential commercial terms with KCOM, readers can make their own minds up about our decisions (and that of our neighbouring altnets) in KCOM licensed areas. As Mark has pointed out, when it comes to deploying new infrastructure in more surburban areas with homes further apart, economics plays a factor and without the option to install telegraph poles then the rollout would simply not happen. MS3 has already dug over 400,000 metres of trenches to lay ducting and cables where it has been economically feasible to do so in Hull.

The regulator, Ofcom, has reiterated that KCOM are required to share access to their infrastructure with rivals and operators should complain to the provider first, before raising the issue with the regulator. A few operators already did this during the regulators last market review, but that was before many of the most recent projects had been announced or even started.

Ofcom has confirmed that at least one operator has already engaged with KCOM in this way and have indicated that they will raise a dispute if a suitable access agreement cannot be provided. But such things, if formally disputed, tend to take a long time to resolve, and thus wont be of much help with todays challenges.

MS3 have since confirmed that theyre considering raising a dispute against KCOM, while Connexin said the company had applied to KCOM for clarity on pricing and access to their infrastructure.

Hugh Davies, from Connexin, said: Where there is no underground ducting available at all, or where we have not been able to access KCOMs infrastructure, we have the choice between digging new ducts or using poles. Digging is not easy as there are already many utilities embedded in our streets. Often it is safer, more environmentally sustainable and less disruptive to use poles. A lot of KCOMs network also uses poles.

Overall, poles remain one of the least loved pieces of modern broadband and phone infrastructure (not unlike mobile masts), but with so many network operators now using them to deploy new gigabit broadband services then its hardly surprising that the volume of gripes has also increased.

Naturally, wed all prefer it if broadband, power and mobile infrastructure was totally invisible, but thats not always economically feasible. The government have allowed the current level of flexibility in order to support their plans for achieving nationwide (c.99%) coverage of gigabit-capable broadband by the end of 2030.

Similarly, its worth noting that many people seem happy to accept such poles if it means getting full fibre, but thats definitely not a universal sentiment. Naturally theres a general election on the horizon and, as this issue seems to be slowly becoming more of a political one, then were starting to see different sides of the political divide play into that.

Meanwhile the anti-pole protestors in Hedon recently launched a national petition to request a change in Government legislation, which called for telecommunication installations in the public realm to go through the local planning process (that was extremely broad  covering more than just poles) and hoped to gather 10,000 signatures to attract an official response from the government. But that petition closed after having gathered 7,864 responses (they might have had more success by focusing specifically on poles and notification requirements).

The hope is that a better solution can be found than one that might involve the reintroduction of greater restrictions (red tape). The risk there is that such a change could damage existing rollout plans and investment, which might have wider consequences for future fibre and 5G deployments, as well as government coverage targets. The government are thus highly unlikely to impose or re-impose any serious new restrictions on build.

Finally, we think its worth quoting Ofcoms regulatory position  extracted from their most recent market review  on shared access to passive infrastructure in the KCOM market area.
Thursday, Oct 12th, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 1,152

Infracapital-backed UK broadband ISP Ogi has this morning revealed that their new multi-Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network in the city of Cardiff (Wales) has finally started to go live. But for now the providers local deployment is largely focused upon catering for businesses (they focus on homes in other locations).

The city build, which was first announced six months ago in March 2023 (here), has initially become available in the East Moors district and that area is due to be followed by Cardiff Bay, Dumballs Road and the citys new Capital Quarter under Ogis first phase plans for the capital  expected to be completed by early 2024, with services switched on in stages.

NOTE: Ogi employs over 210 staff, is currently being backed by investment of 200m and aims to cover 150,000 premises in South Wales by 2025.

Two of the citys most established business hubs, The Maltings and Workbench, are already said to be prepared to migrate to the new network, giving over 100 independent businesses access to the new network. This follows similar builds in commuter towns like Blackwood, Dinas Powys, Maesteg and Pontypool.

Ogi added that their service is also being accompanied by a suite of managed services and business tools, which covers everything from firewall security to Microsoft licences, phone lines and consultancy services.

Ben Allwright, Ogis CEO, said: This is good news for businesses in the city at a time when everyone is looking for cost effective ways to do more for less. Fast and dependable connectivity has never been more important, and with the big data age arriving at our doorstep, were ready to equip businesses with the tools they need to not only survive but thrive. Full fibre lines capable of between 2Gbps to 10Gbps symmetrical speeds will soon be available for the very first time over the dedicated bespoke network, meaning businesses will have the option to expand where they are rather than move away from the city.

The operator has so far covered a total of 60,000 premises  most of them residential  in Wales up to July 2023 (up from 47,500 in March 2023) and have added 6,000 customers in less than a year (here). But its worth noting that they arent the only gigabit-capable broadband network in Cardiff itself.

The vast majority of the city is already covered by gigabit networks, mostly via Virgin Medias (Hybrid Fibre Coax) solutions and FTTP infrastructure from the likes of Openreach, Hyperoptic, FibreNest (Persimmon Homes) and the community orientated Michaelston-y-Fedw CIC project. Telcom has also just secured a contract to push fibre into the citys poorly served areas (here).
Forbes Senior Editor Dan Alexander is accusing Trump's CFO Allen Weisselberg of lying under oath. The reporter has long covered the Trump beat for Forbes, and has been watching the crime family's current NY State fraud trial closely.

Weisselberg was minimizing the role Trump's penthouse at Trump Tower played in the financial fraud. Weisselberg is claiming there the apartment never came up in valuing Trump's wealth or his various falsified loan applications. Alexander begs to differ.

Raw Story:

"Allen Weisselberg, the longtime chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, lied in sworn testimony on Tuesday when questioned about Donald Trump's penthouse atop Trump Tower," Alexander wrote. Weisselberg repeatedly insisted that he never focused on Trump's penthouse apartment in his eponymous high rise, which the state attorney general alleges had been listed at 30,000 square feet on financial documents when it instead was just 10,996 square feet, testifying over and over that his employer's private residence was never a particular concern of his when calculating his net worth. "But that's not true," Alexander wrote. "A review of old emails and notes, some of which the attorney general's office does not possess, show that Weisselberg absolutely thought about Trump's apartment  and played a key role in trying to convince Forbes over the course of several years that it was worth more than it really was. Given the fact that these discussions continued for years, and that Weisselberg took a very detailed approach in reviewing Trump's assets with Forbes, it defies all logic to think he truly believes what he is now saying in court."

Naturally, the Orange Menace hates Alexander and has been screaming about how awful he and Forbes are:
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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.
FILE - Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, from left, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Monsignor Hector Henao and National Liberation Army leader Israel Ramirez, alias Pablo Beltran, attend a ceremony to formally begin a six-month cease-fire as part of a process to forge a permanent peace between the National Liberation Army or ELN, and the government, in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. Colombian President Gustavo Petros commitment to transform long-marginalized rural and conflict areas and new peace efforts were the highlights of his first year in office, the U.N. special envoy for the South American country said.
The Minister for State Reconciliation and Civil Equality Tea Akhvlediani held a meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Switzerland to the Russian Federation, Krystyna Marty Lang.According to the office of the Minister, Akhvlediani thanked the Swiss diplomat for her strong support of Georgia's territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, as well as for her active involvement in the peaceful resolution of the conflict."At the meeting, the serious consequences of the ongoing illegal occupation of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia, including violations of the fundamental rights of the local population and attempts at further artificial isolation, were discussed. Akhvlediani emphasized the need for an appropriate response and continued strong support from international partners to protect the fundamental rights of the population affected by the conflict.Akhvlediani briefed the foreign diplomat on the progress and future goals of the reconciliation and engagement policy. This policy seeks to enhance the socio-economic conditions of the population affected by the conflict and foster dialogue based on shared interests, with the ultimate aim of restoring trust within the artificially divided society.Furthermore, the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Russian Federation reiterated Switzerland's firm support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders," the statement reads.Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilia Darchiashvili, emphasized that the safety of Georgian citizens is a top priority. He mentioned that the embassy has set up several hotlines and is in constant communication with Georgian citizens in Israel.Darchiashvili highlighted that the embassy facilitates communication between those who wish to return to Georgia and the airlines.When discussing the need for special flights, it arises when regular commercial flights between the two countries are not available. Currently, there are four to five daily flights operated by different airlines connecting Israel and Georgia. It's worth noting that approximately three thousand people have utilized these flights to travel from Israel to Georgia. The well-being and security of each citizen are of paramount importance to us. Our embassy has established multiple hotlines, ensuring constant communication with our citizens. Additionally, we have special groups of children who have come to Georgia for medical treatment, and we provide as much support as possible to ensure their timely transfer to other locations or their safe return to Georgia. We have already witnessed successful precedents in this regard. We remain dedicated to identifying and addressing the needs of our citizens on the ground." Darchiashvili said."We assist them in establishing contact with the airlines, and we maintain a close and constant communication with our citizens. We are committed to persisting in these efforts and aiding every citizen in their return home," the Foreign Minister added.
One night last week, around 1,000 birds died smashing into the windows of Chicago's McCormick Place Lakeside Center.

"It was just like a carpet of dead birds at the windows there," says David Willard, a former manager of the Chicago Field Museum's bird division collections. "A normal night would be zero to 15 [dead] birds. It was just kind of a shocking outlier to what we've experienced."

What happened? From Smithsonian:

At 3:40 a.m. on the morning of October 5, an unusually high number of birdsabout 1.49 millionwere in flight above Cook County, Illinois, where Chicago is located, according to BirdCast, an online tool that tracks bird migration. Poor weather conditions in the previous daysincluding heat and headwindshad largely halted migration leading up to Wednesday. "Birds like to fly in the fall when there is a north or a west wind, because they're coming from areas north of us, and that gives them a literal and figurative tailwind to travel with," Annette Prince, the director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, tells NPR. On Wednesday night, however, temperatures dropped, and the wind shifted, leading a high number of birds to take flight on their journeys south. But early on Thursday, a storm system moved through the city and forced the birds to fly closer to the ground to avoid it, per the New York Times. By morning, carcasses ranging from Tennessee warblers to hermit thrushes to American woodcocks littered the ground outside the convention center.

McCormick Place posted a statement about how they are "saddened by this incident" and "are in discussion with industry experts to look for better solutions to protecting our avian neighbors."
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Oct. 11, 2023

BY JON HARRIS







Sana offers orthopedic, pelvic health physical therapy

The story behind one of Western New Yorks newest physical therapy clinics began a couple of years ago when Brynn Patterson heard from a like-minded person she had never met.

I received a random email from this woman named Rachel, who was another physical therapist who did Pilates-based rehab, and she had somehow found me online, said Patterson, who at the time was running Southtowns Pilates.

As soon as I got that email, I just picked up the phone, and I gave her a call, Patterson said.

Those conversations, and the friendship that followed, led Patterson and Rachel Clark to start Sana Physical Therapy, Pilates & Wellness, which opened in May in a suite within a shopping plaza at 123 Grey St. in East Aurora.

As Patterson and Clark describe, Sana is not a run-of-the-mill physical therapy clinic. In addition to individualized orthopedic physical therapy, Sana also offers pelvic floor physical therapy, which they say is a much-needed service across Western New York, as well as Pilates-based rehabilitation, therapeutic Pilates and massage and group classes.

For Patterson and Clark, Sana is a reflection of what they have both learned during their roughly 20-year careers and a shared desire to bring that care to Western New York.

The back story

Patterson grew up in Albany and then attended the University at Buffalo, graduating with her doctor of physical therapy degree in 2004.

Clark, meanwhile, grew up in Chautauqua County and received her doctor of physical therapy degree from Daemen University.

But both moved away not long after college.

Patterson moved with her family in 2008 to Minneapolis for her husbands job. There, Patterson got involved in Pilates-based rehabilitation and worked as a physical therapist at a clinic similar to Sana.

Clark, meanwhile, moved to California, where she co-owned a physical therapy and wellness business, The Cypress Center, in Pacific Palisades.

Eventually, both decided it was time for a reset, drawn back to the quality of life in Western New York, where they wanted their kids to grow up.

Returning in 2019, Patterson soon started Southtowns Pilates on March 1, 2020, just as the world was about to change with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Clark also returned to the area in the pandemics early days and, as she looked to bring the same style care to Western New York that she had practiced in California, decided to search online one day for local physical therapists who did Pilates.

Pattersons name popped up, which led to that first email and a friendship in the months ahead.

Eventually, as they talked more and thought about it, the duo decided to get into business together. As it was, Pattersons business, Southtowns Pilates, needed more space, and Patterson and Clark saw a need in Western New York for the type of one-on-one physical therapy they practiced.

Its a little rare here to do the model of care that we were doing in California and Minneapolis, Clark said. So when we came back, we realized that we both do very similar things, we treat the same, were both also Pilates certified as well as pelvic health and orthopedic therapists. So we thought, Lets meet. Lets talk, and then this evolved.

Meeting the need

Among the more unique, and needed, offerings at Sana is pelvic floor physical therapy, which focuses on the basket of muscles at the base of the pelvis that affects bladder and bowel function, sexual health and support of internal organs.

And in Western New York in particular, Patterson and Clark said, there is a lack of pelvic health therapists, something they both noticed very quickly upon moving back to the area.

They said, right now, its common for patients to wait three to six months to get in to see a pelvic health physical therapist.

Our goal is to change that, and we want to let the public know that we have multiple pelvic health physical therapists who are accepting new patients today, Clark said. And we want to keep those wait times short.

Patterson and Clark believe the Sana model will work well in Western New York because patients want quality-driven care and one-on-one time with their physical therapists.

It is early now but, if things go well, the partners may eventually look to add another location in Western New York.

We have a good feeling that this model will do well, because so many of these models are doing very well across the country, Clark said.







<&rdpStrong>Five reads from Buffalo Next:</&rdpStrong>
Authorities are seeking the public's help in locating a person of interest in a fatal shooting that occurred Monday in Niagara Falls, according to a city spokesman.

The suspect, 38-year-old Juan J. Ubiles, is being sought by Niagara Falls Police and the U.S. Marshal Service in connection with the murder of a 44-year-old man who was shot multiple times in the 2000 block of 18th Street.

Ubiles, a Niagara Falls resident, also has ties to Lockport, according to the spokesman. He is described as 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 180 pounds. He is considered to be armed and dangerous.

Information on his whereabouts can be given to detectives in the Niagara Falls Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 716286-4553 or the police general information number at 716286-4711.
NEW YORK  The Lexington Candy Shop in New York City has served burgers, fries and shakes to hungry patrons for decades. Last remodeled in 1948, the diner is the definition of old-fashioned.

But that hasn't stopped it from getting a wave of new fans.

In August 2022, this old-school business met the new world when Nicolas Heller, a TikToker and Instagrammer with 1.2 million followers known as New York Nico, popped in for a traditional Coke float  Coke syrup, soda water and ice cream. Naturally, he took a video. It went viral, garnering 4.8 million likes.

The next day (after the video was posted), the lines started forming at 8 in the morning, John Philis, the diners third-generation co-owner, recalls with amazement. And it was like, huh!

When a smaller restaurant unexpectedly goes viral on TikTok or other social media, the sudden demand can be overwhelming. Owners have to adapt on the fly, revamping operations to quickly serve a crush of people. But savvy business owners who are able to adapt can parlay newfound fame into a lasting boost for their business.

Ali Elreda opened Fatimas Grill in Downey, California, in 2016, drawing in customers with an eclectic range of tacos, wraps and burgers.

He sprinkled Flamin Hot Cheetos in some of them, inspired by his daughters love of hot chips. By 2020, Elreda had worked hard to develop his restaurants social media presence, shooting videos with music. But after a TikToker dubbed @misohungry posted a video of Elredas Flaming Hot Cheeto Fusion burger that August, things suddenly just went crazy.

Lines to get into the restaurant ballooned to two to three hours  for months. At first, the store wasnt ready for the influx.

We just couldnt adjust, he said. We would stay late hours to prep for the next day and then the lines would continue and continue and continue and continue.

Opening two nearby restaurants helped relieve the pressure. Elreda now has 10 locations, including newly opened restaurants in Detroit and Brooklyn  an expansion started by one viral video.

Social media can make you or break you, he said. It catapulted us to starting to franchise and getting the name out there. Its been a blessing.

When Kevin Muccular opened Aunt Bills soul food restaurant in Katy, Texas, just last year, crowds were sparse at first. That all changed when a TikToker who goes by Mr. Chimetime posted a video in July lavishing praise on Aunt Bills brisket hot dog, waffles and customer service.

The floodgates opened and didnt stop.

People poured in from everywhere, every seat taken, the lines, down the street and around the corner, a three, four-hour wait, wait time in line in the middle of the Texas summer, Muccular said.

He rushed to prepare food and put his vendors on standby, but the demand was overwhelming. He bought all of the ingredients he could find at nearby Sam's Club and Walmart stores. The fire marshal was called twice about the crowd.

We were ill prepared for exactly what happened over the next two weeks of our business, he said. We were hiring staff on the spot. I cooked more than I ever have in my entire life."

Muccular hired a consultant to help figure out how to revamp his business Two months later, the restaurant is still bustling and now serves 800 to 1,000 people a day, up from 200 to 250. Longer term, Muccular has plans to open a food truck to serve people all over Texas.

We refer to everything as pre-Chimetime and post-Chimetime, he said. What Mr. Chimetime did for our small business changed the fabric of what we are for forever.

At the Lexington Candy Shop, Philis thought the craze of last August would die down after Labor Day, or during the holidays. But a year later, the crowds are still going strong.

For Philis, the boost in business is a welcome relief after the diner suffered from a steep drop in customers during the pandemic. Before Nicos visit, he sold 10 Coke floats a day. Today its 200 on weekdays and 500 a day on weekends. He hasnt raised his prices. A float is $12.50 including tax. Plus, people who come in for a float may order a burger, fries or other menu item.

Every day were going home and were tired, he said. But its a good tired.

One person who knows about going viral is Dominique Ansel. In 2013, before most people knew the term going viral, the French pastry chef created the Cronut, a cross between a croissant and a doughnut, at his newly opened New York bakery. The Cronut created a craze the old-fashioned way, through newspaper and TV news reports.

Ansel remembers the frantic early days, when the bakery had to hire security to control the line.

It was chaos in the morning. People were lining up at 2 a.m. in the morning, hitting each other. Neighbors were calling the police, he remembered.

Ten years later, Ansel has plenty of other bestselling pastries and store locations in Hong Kong and Las Vegas. But theres still a line outside the original Dominique Ansel bakery for the Cronut. These days the line is cheerful. The bakery even hands out umbrellas when it rains and roses on Valentines Day.

I think the most important thing is not to overreact in the beginning, he said. He was approached to do deals for mass producing the Cronut, but he declined.

You dont want to kill the idea because you want to make money," Ansel said. "You want to build something real, and you want to invest into the longevity of the product.

Cronuts, cold brew and avocado toast: 15 food trends that defined the decade Avocado toast Bone broth Cold brew Cronut Greek yogurt Hot chicken Kombucha LaCroix Macarons Meat substitutes Natural wine Nut milk Poke Ramen Smashburger
DENVER / Oct 11, 2023 / Business Wire / Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT) announced that more than 96 percent of votes cast on the proposal for the issuance of Newmont common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition of Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX, TSX, PNGX: NCM) were voted in favor of approval at todays special shareholder meeting.

Recognizing the strategic rationale to create the industrys strongest portfolio of world class gold and copper assets, Newmonts shareholders overwhelmingly voted in favor of this transformational transaction, said Tom Palmer, Newmonts President and Chief Executive Officer. This unrivalled platform, featuring the industrys best talent running the highest concentration of Tier One assets in the most favorable jurisdictions, uniquely positions Newmont to generate superior returns for decades.

Newcrests shareholder vote will be held this Friday, October 13, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

All government regulatory approvals necessary for the transaction to proceed have been secured. Newmont and Newcrest anticipate the transaction closing in early November, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

On May 14, 2023, Newmont announced its definitive agreement to acquire Newcrest. The combination would create a world-class portfolio of assets with the highest concentration of Tier 1 operations, primarily in favorable, low-risk mining jurisdictions. Upon closing of the transaction, the combined Company would deliver a multi-decade production profile from 10 large, long-life, low cost Tier 1 operations, and increased annual copper production, primarily from Australia and Canada. The combined business is anticipated to generate annual pre-tax synergies of $500 million, expected to be achieved within the first 24 months, while also targeting at least $2 billion in cash improvements through portfolio optimization in the first two years after closing.1

1 See cautionary statement for additional information.

About Newmont

Newmont is the worlds leading gold company and a producer of copper, silver, zinc and lead. The Companys world-class portfolio of assets, prospects and talent is anchored in favorable mining jurisdictions in North America, South America, Australia and Africa. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and is widely recognized for its principled environmental, social and governance practices. The Company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by robust safety standards, superior execution and technical expertise. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.

At Newmont, our purpose is to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining. To learn more about Newmonts sustainability strategy and initiatives, go to www.newmont.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Australian securities laws. Where a forward-looking statement expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition; and often contain words such as anticipate, intend, plan, will, would, estimate, expect, pending, proposed or potential. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to (i) the pending transaction to acquire the share capital of Newcrest Mining Limited, timing and implementation of the pending transaction, including receipt of required approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions; (ii) estimates of expected synergies; (iii) estimates of expected incremental cash flow generation and portfolio optimization opportunities; and (iv) other expectations regarding the combined business.

Estimates or expectations of future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Risks relating to forward looking statements in regard to the combined business and future performance may include, but are not limited to, gold and other metals price volatility, currency fluctuations, operational risks, increased production costs and variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans, political risk, community relations, conflict resolution, governmental regulation and judicial outcomes and other risks. In addition, material risks that could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements include: the inherent uncertainty associated with financial or other projections; the prompt and effective integration of Newmont Corporations (Newmont) and Newcrests businesses and the ability to achieve the anticipated synergies and value-creation contemplated by the pending transaction; the risk associated with Newcrests ability to obtain the approval of the pending transaction by their shareholders required to implement the pending transaction and the timing of the implementation of the pending transaction, including the risk that the conditions to the pending transaction are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all and the failure of the pending transaction to be implemented for any other reason; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties and others related to a scheme implementation deed dated May 15, 2023, as amended by a letter dated September 4, 2023; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the pending transaction, the response of business partners and retention as a result of the announcement and pendency of the transaction; risks relating to the value of the scheme consideration to be issued in connection with the pending transaction; the anticipated size of the markets and continued demand for Newmonts and Newcrests resources and the impact of competitive responses to the announcement of the transaction; and the diversion of management time on pending transaction-related issues. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see Newmonts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 23, 2023, as updated by the current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 20, 2023, as well as Newmonts other SEC filings, including the definitive proxy statement, filed with the SEC on September 5, 2023, under the heading Risk Factors, and other factors identified in Newmonts reports filed with the SEC, available on the SEC website or www.newmont.com. Newcrests most recent annual financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 as well as Newcrests other filings made with Australian securities regulatory authorities are available on the ASX website (www.asx.com.au) or www.newcrest.com. Newmont and Newcrest do not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any forward-looking statement, including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued forward-looking statement constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on forward-looking statements is at investors own risk.

Synergies and value creation as used herein are management estimates provided for illustrative purposes and should not be considered a GAAP or non-GAAP financial measure. Synergies represent managements combined estimate of pre-tax synergies, supply chain efficiencies and Full Potential improvements, as a result of the integration of Newmonts and Newcrests businesses that have been monetized for the purposes of the estimation. Because synergies estimates reflect differences between certain actual costs incurred and management estimates of costs that would have been incurred in the absence of the integration of Newmonts and Newcrests businesses, such estimates are necessarily imprecise and are based on numerous judgments and assumptions. Synergies are forward-looking statements subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual value creation to differ from expected or past synergies.

Portfolio optimization as used in this press release is a management estimate provided for illustrative purposes and should not be considered a GAAP or non-GAAP financial measure. Because the enhancement to cash flow estimates the differences between certain actual cash flows and management estimates of cash flows in the absence of the integration of Newmonts and Newcrests businesses, such estimates are necessarily imprecise and are based on numerous judgments and assumptions. Portfolio optimization to enhance cash flows is a forward-looking statement subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause enhanced cash flows to differ from expectations.

Tier 1 assets is defined as having, on average over such assets mine life: (1) production of over 500,000 gold equivalent ounces per year on a consolidated basis, (2) average All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) per ounce in the lower half of the industry cost curve, (3) an expected mine life of over 10 years, and (4) operations in countries that are classified in the A and B rating ranges for Moodys, S&P and Fitch. For the definitions of such terms and metrics with respect to Newmont, see Newmonts annual report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC. Such terms and metrics with respect to Newcrests assets are as calculated by Newcrest and disclosed in public filings lodged with the Australian Stock Exchange. With respect to other assets in the industry, such terms and metrics are as published in public filings of the third party entities reporting with respect to those assets. Our methods of calculating operating metrics, such as AISC, and those of third parties may differ for similarly titled metrics published by other parties due to differences in methodology.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or the Company") (TSX-V: DSM) announces that it has entered into an agreement with Ferrodrill Namibia (Pty) Ltd in order to proceed with the drilling program on the Haib Copper project in the south of Namibia. Ferrodrill is a Namibian drilling contractor providing full drilling services since 2007 and has provided services to a large number companies from exploration to major mining companies. The contract provides for 5,000 meters of diamond drilling. Drilling planning and preparation is on track and we will inform our shareholders of the schedule and complete program in due course.

The specific focus of the drilling campaign is to drill the high-grade area of the deposit uncovered by Deep-South in 2019. The program was planned to drill up to 10,000 meters in the area. The first 5,000 meters were drilled in 2021. However, the program had been suspended when the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia (the Ministry) has refused to renew the Exploration and Prospecting Licence (EPL). This legal situation has been resolved and the licence was renewed on July 7, 2023. Deep-South goal is to complete the remaining 5,000 meters and then proceed with a new resource estimation.

Previous drilling programmes point to the presence of higher copper grade zones, probably associated with near vertical structures (shears and faults) within the broader mineralised areas of the project. The use of vertical drilling in the past potentially missed those structures resulting in an underestimation of the overall grade. Our drilling program is focussing to redress this through the use of inclined holes to identify and delineate these structures and test the association with higher Cu grade zones. The results of the first 5,000 meters drilled in 2021 seem to support this updated interpretation, showing substantial intersections at Cu grades considered high for Haib. Additionally, the presence of molydenum has been confirmed with high Mo grades obtained in association with structures and alterations.

About Deep-South Resources Inc.

Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company. Deep-Souths growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. The Company holds the Haib Copper Project in Namibia and holds an interest in three exploration licenses in the Copperbelt in Zambia. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper projects, Deep-South embraces the green revolution.

Qualified Person

Mr. Dean Richards Pr.Sci.Nat. , MGSSA  BSc. (Hons.) Geology, is the Qualified Person for the Haib Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

More information is available by contacting Pierre Leveille, President & CEO at +1-819-340-0140 or at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY) (OTCQX:CPPKF) is pleased to announce the initiation of its Phase III drill program at its Copper Creek project in Arizona, USA ("Copper Creek").

Phase III Drill Program

An estimated 20,000-metre diamond drill program commenced on October 11, 2023, with the primary objectives including: Making a new economic discovery on the property; Growing the open pit resource; and Expanding the high-grade areas of the underground resource.

The Company will also be installing additional piezometers in certain drill holes for ongoing groundwater monitoring.

Assay results for completed drill holes will be released as they are received, analyzed and confirmed by the Company.

About Faraday Copper

Faraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek project, is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with open pit and bulk underground mining potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY".

For additional information please contact:

Stacey Pavlova, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications

Faraday Copper Corp.

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.faradaycopper.com

To receive news releases by e-mail, please register using the Faraday website at www.faradaycopper.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the exploration potential of the Copper Creek property.

Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of mineral resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence.
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Scottie Resources Corp. ("Scottie" or the "Company") (TSXV: SCOT) is pleased to report assays on the Scottie Gold Mine Project in British Columbia's Golden Triangle. The company continues to intercept high-grade gold over appreciable widths in the Blueberry Contact Zone. The 2023 exploration program focused on expanding the zone along strike and at depth and increasing confidence of the geological model through targeted drilling. The company drilled over 20,000 metres in 2023 and has over 15,500 metres of pending assays. The Blueberry Contact Zone is located 2 km north-northeast of the 100% owned and royalty free, past-producing high-grade Scottie Gold Mine, 35 kilometres north of the town of Stewart, BC, along the Granduc Road.

Highlights:

Drillhole SR23-247 intersected 26.9 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 4 metres (m) and 13.9 g/t gold over 2.04 m (Table 1, Figures 1,2)

(Table 1, Figures 1,2) Drillhole SR23-249 intersected 3.01 g/t gold over 9 m (Table 1, Figures 1,2)

(Table 1, Figures 1,2) Drillhole SR23-242 intersected 5.3 g/t gold over 4.05 m (Table 1, Figures 1,3)

(Table 1, Figures 1,3) Testing during 2023 of the main Blueberry Zone shows increased vein density relative to previous modelling.

President and CEO, Brad Rourke commented: "These additional robust intercepts from the Blueberry Contact Zone continue to support and enhance our current model and understanding of the orebody. Of the 20,000 metres drilled this season, almost 17,000 was directed towards Blueberry  taking the total drilling on the zone from 23,000 metres (prior to 2023) to almost 40,000 metre total. This additional information will allow for much more detailed modelling and interpretation of the structures and provide vectors to pursue additional high-grade zones."

Table 1: Selected results from new drill assays (uncut) from the Blueberry Contact Zone.

Drill Hole From

(m) To

(m) Width*

(m) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) SR23-241 229.05 235.00 5.95 1.61 0 including 233.80 235.00 1.20 3.55 0 240.50 243.13 2.63 1.01 0 248.00 249.00 1.00 1.33 3 SR23-242 338.30 342.35 4.05 5.30 8 including 340.35 341.35 1.00 14.5 13 352.00 356.00 4.00 4.90 5 SR23-245 6.05 7.50 1.45 4.21 3 38.00 39.05 1.05 1.47 10 SR23-247 including 38.50 39.50 1.00 4.60 3 240.56 242.60 2.04 13.9 3 259.00 263.00 4.00 26.9 24 SR23-249 79.00 80.00 1.00 1.44 2 98.70 108.00 9.30 3.01 3 including 107.00 108.00 1.00 19.5 3 257.00 258.11 1.11 8.7 0 *True width of the intervals has not yet been established by drilling

About the Blueberry Contact Zone

The Blueberry Zone is located just 2 kilometres northeast of the 100% owned, past-producing Scottie Gold Mine located in British Columbia, Canada's Golden Triangle region. Historic trenching and channel sampling of the Blueberry Vein include results of 103.94 g/t gold over 1.43 metres, and 203.75 g/t gold over 1.90 metres. Despite high-grade surficial samples and easy road access, the Blueberry Vein had only limited reported drilling prior to the Company's exploration work. The target was significantly advanced during Scottie's 2019 drill program when an interval grading 7.44 g/t gold over 34.78 metres was intersected in a new N-S oriented zone adjacent to the main Blueberry Vein. The drill results received from 2020 - 2023, coupled with surficial mapping and sampling suggest that the N-S mineralized trend is a first order structure that hosts an array of SW-trending, sub-parallel, sulphide-rich veins that obliquely crosscut it which host high-grade gold. AS of the end of 2022, the extent of the N-S zone, defined by the contact between andesite and siltstone units of the Hazelton and the presence of the cross-cutting sulfide-rich structures, has a drilled strike length of 1,550 metres and has been tested to 400 metres depth. The Blueberry Zone is located on the Granduc Road, 20 kilometres north of the Ascot Resources' Premier Project, which is fully financed for construction. Newcrest's Brucejack Mine is located 25 kilometres to the north.

Thomas Mumford, Ph.D., P.Geo and VP Exploration of Scottie, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information contained in this news release on behalf of the Company.

ABOUT SCOTTIE RESOURCES CORP.

Scottie owns a 100% interest in the Scottie Gold Mine Property which includes the Blueberry Zone and the high-grade, past-producing Scottie Gold Mine. Scottie also owns 100% interest in the Georgia Project which contains the high-grade past-producing Georgia River Mine, as well as the Cambria Project properties and the Sulu property. Altogether Scottie Resources holds approximately 60,000 hectares of mineral claims in the Stewart Mining Camp in the Golden Triangle.

The Company's focus is on expanding the known mineralization around the past-producing mines while advancing near mine high-grade gold targets, with the purpose of delivering a potential resource.

All of the Company's properties are located in the area known as the Golden Triangle of British Columbia which is among the world's most prolific mineralized districts.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain forwardlooking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forwardlooking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forwardlooking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date such statements were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release.
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Kainantu Resources Ltd. ("KRL" or the "Company") (TSXV: KRL) (FSE: 6J0) announces that Adam Clode has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Dain Currie has been appointed as Chairman of the Company. These appointments fill the vacancies of outgoing Chief Executive Officer and director, Matthew Salthouse, and Chairman and director, Marcus Engelbrecht.

With Mr. Clode as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Company will focus on managing its costs, allocating the necessary resources towards its business development efforts, securing further financing, and maximizing value for its shareholders.

Adam Clode has a track record of developing resource projects from defined resource through to operations, across Africa, Asia, and Australia. Graduating from the University of Western Australia with Honours; Adam started his career developing a gold asset for Newmont Mining Corporation in Ghana before moving to Site Manager for Equinox's Lumwana Copper Project in Zambia. Taking his career forward, Mr. Clode commenced and completed a master's in project management while concurrently holding the role of Deputy Project Manager developing a Platinum Concentrator in South Africa.

From here, Mr. Clode took on the role of Deputy Project Manager for RWE's 850M Pembroke Power Station in West Wales and later became Manager of Projects for African Minerals' USD $3B Tonkolili Iron Development in Sierra Leone, spending considerable time in China with key offtake partners as well as funding institutions across Asia and Europe. As a result of the team's hard work, African Minerals were able to secure over USD $2B in strategic funding.

With successful delivery of Tonkolili Phase 1 and shipping of first ore; Mr. Clode then headed off to Indonesia with J Resources to lead the development of their gold portfolio consisting of; two operations, three execution projects, and three assets in exploration.

Mr. Clode's resource experience has covered a broad base across; studies, development, execution, operations, as well as corporate management having sat on several board positions as both Executive and Non-Executive Director.

About KRL

Kainantu Resources 'KRL' is an Asia-Pacific focused gold mining company with four highly prospective gold-copper projects, Kili Teke, KRL South, KRL North and the May River Project. All projects are located in premier mining regions in PNG. Both KRL North and KRL South show potential to host high-grade epithermal and porphyry mineralisation, as seen elsewhere in the high-grade Kainantu Gold District. The May River project is near the world-renowned Frieda River Copper-Gold Project, with historical drilling indicating the potential for significant copper-gold projects. Kili Teke is an advanced development project with an existing NI43-101 compliant inferred mineral resource. KRL has a highly experienced board and management team with a proven track record.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of KRL. In making the forward-looking statements, KRL has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available, including KRL's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. KRL does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Key Highlights  Channel sampling at Reliquias

Drill Hole SMR152-23-PER (PER vein)

1.15 m @ 454 g/t Ag, 0.70% Pb, 1.41% Zn, 0.03% Cu and 2.32 g/t Au, including

0.30 m @ 1,600 g/t Ag, 2.55% Pb, 5.08% Zn, 0.10% Cu and 8.00 g/t Au

Drill Hole SMR154-23-PER (PER vein)

1.15 m @ 354 g/t Ag, 1.56% Pb, 2.82% Zn, 0.13% Cu and 1.10 g/t Au, including

0.25 m @ 1,151 g/t Ag, 4.11% Pb, 3.76% Zn, 0.27% Cu and 3.24 g/t Au

Drill Hole SMR151-23-VUL (PAS vein)

1.25 m @ 105 g/t Ag, 2.16% Pb, 1.35% Zn, 0.49% Cu and 0.24 g/t Au, including

0.35 m @ 324 g/t Ag, 6.55% Pb, 3.79% Zn, 1.53% Cu and 0.60 g/t Au

TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Silver Mountain Resources Inc. ("Silver Mountain" or "the Company") (TSXV: AGMR) (OTCQB: AGMRF) announced the receipt of results from six additional drill holes completed at its 100% owned Reliquias mine, central Peru. This is part of the Phase 2 of the 2023 drilling campaign, in which the Company has completed 12,043 metres of diamond drilling from 43 holes. So far, results have been received for 28 drill holes. Three underground drill rigs are currently in operation at Reliquias.

Alvaro Espinoza, President and CEO of Silver Mountain, expressed his enthusiasm: "The results from the Perseguida vein continue to exceed our expectations. We are seeing high grade precious metals and polymetallic values, proving once again that the Reliquias mine has more surprises under its sleeve. Our crews are working hard drilling, rehabilitating, and sampling the workings at the Reliquias Mine - having readily accessible tunnels and crosscuts will allow us to quickly restart mine production and collect additional representative data points to upgrade our resource in the future. As we move forward with our drilling, mine rehabilitation and channel sampling programs, we continue to see excellent silver grades in the known veins, as well as promising high grade polymetallic values in newly identified mineralized structures such as the Natividad vein. Reliquias continues to deliver, and our strategy of simultaneously growing the resource and working towards future production is bearing fruit."

Discussion of 2023 Drilling Results

The Company has so far received results from drill holes on the Sacasipuedes, Perseguida and Matacaballo-Pasteur vein systems from four underground drill platforms: two from Sacasipuedes, one from Perseguida and one from Matacaballo-Pasteur-Vulcano. Details on the location of the underground drill platforms and drill traces are found in Figure 1. Table 1 also shows a summary of the results announced in this news release. Details from all drill holes announced to date will be posted on the Company's website (https://agmr.ca/)

Drill holes SMR152-23-PER and SMR154-23-PER targeted the central portion of the Perseguida ("PER") vein, below the existing workings. Results confirm that the PER vein hosts some of the highest silver grades in the Reliquias mine, and confirms the lateral and verticial continuity of this mineralization. Drill hole SMR154-23-PER in particular, hit an area with little drilling coverage  approximately 80 metres from the nearest intercept  and confirms the continuity of high grades hit by earlier drilling under the old workings. Drill holes SMR151-23-VUL and SMR156-23-VUL were aimed at testing both the Pasteur ("PAS") vein, on the easternmost sector of the ENE-WSW Matacaballo vein system, and the Vulcano vein, a parallel structure located less than 100 metres to the north of Pasteur. Results from Pasteur confirm the grades seen in earlier drilling and will be incorporated in future resource estimates. Results from Vulcano ("VUL") suggest that, although the quartz vein mapped on surface extends at depth, the segment tested in these drill holes host lower silver grades. Additional drilling will test the lateral and vertical extensions to confirm if this quartz vein hosts significant ore shoots. Figures 2 and 3 show grade-thickness long sections of the PER and PAS veins respectively

The 2023 drill program consists of two phases: an initial 3,500 metre phase using BQ diameter core (now completed); and a second 12,500 meter phase using NQ and HQ diameter core. Full results from the BQ diameter drilling have now been announced (see also March 29th and July 19th news release at https://agmr.ca/news/ ). The second phase of infill drilling started in June 2023 and continues with 3 rigs working in the upper levels of the MTC (Matacaballo), MTS (Meteysaca), and SCS (Sacasipuedes) vein systems, where high grade historical resource blocks remain outside of the current resource estimate. The Company plans to incorporate these high-grade blocks in future resource estimates. Results will be announced as they become available.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Silver Mountain Resources Inc.

Alvaro Espinoza, Chief Executive Officer

Qualified Person

Antonio Cruz Bermudez, , P. Geo. Registered Member MAIG is an independent consultant of the Company and the Qualified Person (within the meaning of NI 43-101) responsible for the MRE, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Silver Mountain

Silver Mountain Resources Inc. is a silver explorer and mine developer planning to restart production at the Reliquias underground mine and undertake exploration activities at its prospective silver camps at the Castrovirreyna Project in Huancavelica, Peru.

For additional information in respect of the Castrovirreyna Project, please refer to the Company's technical report, titled NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimate for the Reliquias Mine, Huancavelica- Peru, dated March 27, 2023, effective date March 18, 2023, available at https://sedar.com.

For further information about our drill program, including cross sections of the main veins with drill hole locations, please refer to our corporate presentation, available on our website at www.agmr.ca

Silver Mountain's subsidiary Sociedad Minera Reliquias S.A.C. owns 100% of its concessions and holds more than 60,000 hectares in the district of Castrovirreyna, Huancavelica, Peru.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Sampling, QA/QC, and Analytical Procedures

Silver Mountain follows systematic and rigorous sampling and analytical protocols which meet industry standards. These protocols are summarized below.

All drill holes are diamond core holes with BQ, HQ or NQ core diameters. Drill core is collected at the underground drill site where recovery measurements are taken before the core is transported by truck to the core logging facility at the Caudalosa Grande mine camp, where it is photographed and geologically logged. The core is then cut in half with a diamond saw blade with half the sample retained in the core box for future reference and the other half placed into a pre-labelled plastic bag, sealed with a plastic zip tie, and identified with a unique sample number. The core is typically sampled over a 1 - 2 metre sample interval unless the geologist determines the presence of an important geological contact. The bagged samples are then stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample preparation facility.

Rock channel samples were collected with an electric percussion hammer and do not exceed 1.0 m in length. Channels are broken at obvious geologic boundaries to correctly separate rock types and mineralization styles. The sample bags were sealed with a plastic zip tie and identified with a unique sample number, pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample preparation facility.

Samples are sent by batch to the ALS or Certimin laboratories in Lima for assay. Silver Mountain independently inserts certified control standards, fine and coarse blanks, and duplicates into the sample stream to monitor data quality. These standards are inserted "blindly" to the laboratory in the sample sequence prior to departure from the core storage facilities. At the laboratory, samples are dried, crushed, and pulverized and then analyzed using a fire assay-AA finish analysis for gold and a full multi-acid digestion with ICP-AES analysis for other elements. Samples with results that exceed maximum detection values for the main elements of interest (Ag, Zn, Pb, Cu) are re-analyzed using precise ore-grade ICP analytical techniques, while high gold values are re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Silver Mountain's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Silver Mountain's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors set forth under "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's final prospectus dated January 26, 2022, and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Silver Mountain undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Silver Mountain to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Labrador Gold Corp. (TSX.V:LAB | OTCQX:NKOSF | FNR: 2N6) (LabGold or the Company) is pleased to announce results from recent drilling targeting the highly prospective Appleton Fault Zone. The drilling is part of the Companys ongoing 100,000 metre diamond drilling program at its 100% owned Kingsway Project.

Final results from first stage drilling at DropKick include significant near surface gold mineralization of 20.15 metres grading 1.81g/t Au from 50 metres, including 4.14g/t Au over 4.5 metres in Hole K-23-248. Several near surface intervals were also intersected in Hole K-23-245 including 1.77g/t Au over 5.15 metres from 31.85 metres downhole. Holes K-23-245 and -248 represent a 67 metre step out to the northeast. Hole K-23-254, a 136 metre step out to the southwest, intersected 2.45g/t Au over 4.1 metres from 108.9 metres, including an interval of 16.68g/t Au over 0.3 metres that contained visible gold. These latest intersections extend the known mineralization at Dropkick to over 360 metres strike length and it remains open in both directions. Twelve of the 15 holes drilled at Dropkick intersected gold mineralization with four holes containing visible gold.

During the first phase of drilling at DropKick we demonstrated the presence of near surface gold over significant widths while increasing the strike length of known mineralization which remains open along strike in both directions. Further drilling is required to demonstrate the true potential of this discovery, said Roger Moss, President and CEO of LabGold. Planning is currently underway for drilling in The Gap, between Big Vein and Pristine, and to the south of Big Vein towards the recent Knobby discovery. Drilling of targets in these areas is expected to begin before the end of the month. We are excited to start filling in the gaps between the four discoveries made along a 7 kilometre section of the Appleton Fault Zone at Kingsway.

Follow up drilling at Pristine included an intersection of 1.05g/t Au over 11 metres from 90 metres in Hole K-23-276 and 1.28g/t Au over 6.18 metres from 66.47 metres in Hole K-23-272. Mineralization drilled to date at Pristine mostly occurs above 86 metres vertical depth and extends over a strike length of approximately 160 metres.

Ongoing drilling at Big Vein intersected 2.76g/t Au over 8.97 metres from 233.56 metres, including 7.04g/t over 3.09 metres in Hole K-23-278.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Zone K-23-278 233.56 242.53 8.97 2.76 Big Vein including 236.00 239.09 3.09 7.04 K-23-276 90.00 101.00 11.00 1.05 Pristine including 92.95 97.80 4.85 1.82 K-23-272 66.47 72.65 6.18 1.28 Pristine including 68.00 70.80 2.80 2.33 K-23-260 156.57 160.00 3.43 1.06 Pristine K-23-259 67.50 68.35 0.85 1.22 Pristine K-23-254 108.90 113.00 4.10 2.45 DropKick including 108.90 110.80 1.90 4.56 including 109.40 109.70 0.30 16.68 K-23-253 nsv Big Vein K-23-252 53.00 91.00 38.00 0.55 Big Vein including 60.00 64.00 4.00 1.28 and 73.00 74.00 1.00 1.11 K-23-249 nsv Big Vein K-23-248 50.00 70.15 20.15 1.81 DropKick including 55.00 70.15 15.15 2.32 including 58.00 70.15 12.15 2.72 including 59.90 64.40 4.50 4.14 K-23-247 126.70 128.00 1.30 1.32 Big Vein 198.00 198.95 0.95 1.20 K-23-245 10.00 12.65 2.65 1.16 Dropkick 31.85 37.00 5.15 1.77 including 35.00 36.35 1.35 3.17 44.80 45.60 0.80 1.34 53.00 54.50 1.50 1.04 89.00 103.00 14.00 0.60 including 91.95 94.00 2.05 1.42 192.00 193.15 1.15 1.90 250.25 251.15 0.90 1.32 K-23-244 29.00 33.00 4.00 1.10 Big Vein K-23-243 nsv DropKick K-23-242 224.43 225.16 0.73 1.88 Big Vein K-23-241 nsv Big Vein

Table 1. Summary of assay results. All intersections are downhole length as there is insufficient Information to calculate true width.

Almost 85,000 metres have been drilled to date out of the planned 100,000 metre program. Assays are pending for samples from approximately 6,100 metres of core.

The Company has approximately $10 million in cash and is well funded to carry out the remaining 15,000 metres of the planned drill program as well as further exploration to add to the current pipeline of drill targets on the property.

Figure 1. Plan map of Dropkick drill holes showing highlights of latest results.

Figure 2. Plan map of occurrences with selected drill intersections along the Appleton Fault Zone.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Inclination Total Depth K-23-278 661736 5435392 37 130 65 420 K-23-276 661927 5436072 56 275 65 200 K-23-272 661933 5436069 59 315 65 278 K-23-260 661750 5435872 58 0 90 209 K-23-259 661845 5436001 53 300 45 191 K-23-254 663159 5438126 55 140 45 160.55 K-23-253 661554 5435459 45 20 45 160 K-23-252 661450 5435312 54 125 70 349 K-23-249 661272 5435093 62 145 65 379 K-23-248 663408 5438381 52 140 65 173 K-23-247 661553 5435458 50 125 50 233 K-23-245 663409 5438380 53 140 45 259 K-23-243 663353 5438273 58 140 65 131 K-23-244 661589 5435430 49 140 45 228 K-23-242 661321 5435111 52 145 55 307 K-23-241 661450 5435312 53 125 50 250

Table 2. Drill hole collar details

QA/QC

True widths of the reported intersections have yet to be calculated. Assays are uncut. Samples of HQ split core are securely stored prior to shipping to Eastern Analytical Laboratory in Springdale, Newfoundland for assay. Eastern Analytical is an ISO/IEC17025 accredited laboratory. Samples are routinely analyzed for gold by standard 30g fire assay with atomic absorption finish as well as by ICP-OES for an additional 34 elements. Samples containing visible gold are assayed by metallic screen/fire assay, as are any samples with fire assay results greater than 1g/t Au. The company submits blanks and certified reference standards at a rate of approximately 5% of the total samples in each batch. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are submitted to Bureau Veritas, an ISO 17025 accredited Laboratory in Vancouver, BC for check assays.

Qualified Person

Roger Moss, PhD., P.Geo., President and CEO of LabGold, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this release.

About Labrador Gold

Labrador Gold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of prospective gold projects in Eastern Canada.

Labrador Golds flagship property is the 100% owned Kingsway project in the Gander area of Newfoundland. The three licenses comprising the Kingsway project cover approximately 12km of the Appleton Fault Zone which is associated with numerous gold occurrences in the region. Infrastructure in the area is excellent located just 18km from the town of Gander with road access to the project, nearby electricity and abundant local water. LabGold is drilling a projected 100,000 metres targeting high-grade epizonal gold mineralization along the Appleton Fault Zone with encouraging results. The Company has approximately $10 million in working capital and is well funded to carry out the planned program.

The Hopedale property covers much of the Florence Lake greenstone belt that stretches over 60 km. The belt is typical of greenstone belts around the world but has been underexplored by comparison. Work to date by Labrador Gold show gold anomalies in rocks, soils and lake sediments over a 3 kilometre section of the northern portion of the Florence Lake greenstone belt in the vicinity of the known Thurber Dog gold showing where grab samples assayed up to 7.8g/t gold. In addition, anomalous gold in soil and lake sediment samples occur over approximately 40 km along the southern section of the greenstone belt (see news release dated January 25th 2018 for more details). Labrador Gold now controls approximately 40km strike length of the Florence Lake Greenstone Belt.

The Company has 170,009,979 common shares issued and outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LAB.

For more information please contact:

Roger Moss, President and CEO Tel: 416-704-8291

Or visit our website at: www.labradorgold.com

X: @LabGoldCorp

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words may, would, could, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such as actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSXV: KTN) ("Kootenay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate at the Promontorio-La Negra Project in Sonora Mexico. The resource estimate is an update of the Promontorio deposit and a maiden mineral resource estimate for the La Negra deposit 7km to the north. The two deposits are part of the Promontorio Mineral Belt and are considered a single project.

The mineral resource estimates ("MRE") have been prepared by Sue Bird, M Sc., P.Eng., Geological and Mining Engineer of by Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS") in accordance with NI 43-101 standards (May 9, 2016), CIM Definition Standards (May 19, 2014) with guidance from CIM Best Practice Guidelines (November 29, 2019).

Highlights from the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate include:

Increased Grades of the Promontorio deposit of 24% for Ag, 21% for Au and 22% and 21% for Pb and Zn respectively (see Table 1).

A resulting 68% increase in Measured and Indicated ("M+I") Ag Equivalent ("AgEq") Metal content at the Promontorio deposit (see Table 1).

Promontorio M+I mineral resources of 140.8 million ounces ("Moz") AgEq contained in 42.1 million metric tonnes ("Mt") averaging 104 grams per tonne ("g/t"),

Promontorio Inferred mineral resources of 39.8 Moz contained in 14.6 Mt averaging 84.9 g/t. These results are calculated using 25 g/t AgEq cut off and are contained within a potentially economically mineable pit shell. (see Table 2)

La Negra Indicated mineral resources of 22.0 Moz AgEq contained in 5.3 Mt averaging 129 g/t.

La Negra Inferred mineral resources of 4.6 Moz contained in 1.2 Mt averaging 115 g/t These results are calculated using 40 g/t AgEq cut off and are contained within a potentially economically mineable pit shell (see Table 3 and 4).

Kootenay's President & CEO, James McDonald states, "We are pleased to see a significant increase in metal content on the Promontorio-La Negra property that includes the La Negra discovery for the first time. Between the two deposits we see an exciting increase in grade and contained silver ounces.

On a silver equivalent basis, the project is now estimated to host 162.8 million ounces M+I and 44.4 million ounces inferred. On a silver only basis, the M+I resource for silver are estimated to total 68.2 million ounces with another 17.6 million ounces inferred.

The first ever resource estimate for La Negra Silver Deposit returned excellent overall grades, averaging 129 g/t silver equivalent in the Indicated Category and 115 g/t silver equivalent in the Inferred Category. At a cutoff of 50 g/t silver equivalent these grades increase to 146 g/t and 133 g/t silver equivalent respectively with only a modest drop in contained silver ounces.

I would like to point out our expanded resource base, on a silver equivalent basis, the estimated totals for Promontorio-La Negra plus La Cigarra are 214.2 million silver equivalent ounces in the M+I along with 54.9 million silver equivalent ounces inferred.

On a silver only basis, Kootenay's M+I silver resources are estimated to be 120.2 million ounces and 28.2 million silver ounces inferred for the Promontorio-La Negra and La Cigarra projects.

This work prepares the project for advancement in a stronger metals market. Meanwhile we remain focused on drilling Columba with the aim of defining a new high-grade resource there and will be reporting on results in the coming weeks."

Mr. McDonald adds, "The Company has also decided to proceed with a share consolidation at this time as detailed below, which the Board believes is in the best interest of shareholders. It has been an ongoing discussion point with various investors and shareholders encouraging us to proceed with the consolidation, which could lead to increased investor interest by raising the Company profile with a lower number of outstanding shares, a higher stock price and better position the Company to obtain financing to further advance its properties."

*La Cigarra resource estimate table can be found here https://kootenaysilver.com/projects/la-cigarra

The following two tables summarize the Promontorio comparison and the Mineral Resource estimate ("MRE") for Promontorio. The effective date of the Promontorio-La Negra resource estimates is August 27, 2023.

Table 1: 2023 Promontorio Resource Compared to 2013 Pit Resource

Year Class kt AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) AgEq

(koz) Ag

(koz) Au

(koz) Pb

(klb) Zn

(klb) 2023

MMTS

150% Pit Measured 12,451 111.7 37.03 0.46 0.53 0.61 44,718 14,823 183 146,033 166,620 Indicated 29,664 100.7 33.50 0.41 0.47 0.55 96,072 31,950 393 306,716 360,996 Meas+Ind 42,115 104.0 34.54 0.43 0.49 0.57 140,790 46,773 575 452,748 527,616 Inferred 14,575 84.9 27.89 0.35 0.42 0.45 39,782 13,069 163 136,241 143,632 2013

SRK Pit Measured 10,289 67.9 32.69 0.40 0.46 0.55 22,470 10,814 134 105,328 123,715 Indicated 34,215 56.0 26.30 0.34 0.38 0.45 61,572 28,926 373 287,579 335,904 Meas+Ind 44,504 58.7 27.77 0.35 0.40 0.47 84,042 39,740 506 392,907 459,619 Inferred 14,564 46.3 24.95 0.28 0.28 0.31 21,700 11,683 132 89,430 98,462 Difference

=

(2023-

2013)/2013 Measured 21 % 64 % 13 % 14 % 16 % 10 % 99 % 37 % 36 % 39 % 35 % Indicated -13 % 80 % 27 % 21 % 23 % 23 % 56 % 10 % 5 % 7 % 7 % Meas+Ind -5 % 77 % 24 % 21 % 22 % 21 % 68 % 18 % 14 % 15 % 15 % Inferred 0 % 83 % 12 % 24 % 51 % 44 % 83 % 12 % 24 % 52 % 46 %

Table 2: 2023 Resource Statement for the Promontorio Deposit

Class Cutoff In situ Tonnage, Grade and Metal Content AgEq

(g/t) Tonnage

(kt) AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) AgEq

Metal

(kOz) AG

Metal

(kOz) Au

Metal

(kOz) Pb

(klb) Zn

(klb) Measured 15 13,538 104.3 34.5 0.428 0.49 0.57 45,419 15,012 186 147,440 168,631 20 13,011 107.9 35.7 0.441 0.51 0.59 45,122 14,934 184 146,864 167,803 25 12,451 111.7 37.0 0.456 0.53 0.61 44,718 14,823 183 146,033 166,620 30 11,903 115.6 38.4 0.470 0.55 0.63 44,233 14,691 180 144,854 164,797 40 10,793 123.9 41.3 0.500 0.59 0.68 42,984 14,324 174 141,339 160,851 50 9,710 132.7 44.4 0.532 0.64 0.73 41,423 13,848 166 136,790 155,200 Indicated 15 32,225 94.3 31.3 0.387 0.44 0.52 97,728 32,439 401 311,172 366,586 20 30,993 97.4 32.4 0.399 0.45 0.53 97,033 32,235 398 309,525 364,187 25 29,664 100.7 33.5 0.412 0.47 0.55 96,072 31,950 393 306,716 360,996 30 28,179 104.6 34.8 0.426 0.49 0.57 94,756 31,564 386 302,544 355,970 40 24,961 113.6 37.9 0.461 0.53 0.62 91,133 30,447 370 291,656 342,834 50 21,907 123.1 41.3 0.497 0.58 0.68 86,721 29,089 350 278,188 326,002 Measured +

Indicated 15 45,763 97.3 32.3 0.399 0.45 0.53 143,147 47,451 587 458,612 535,217 20 44,004 100.5 33.3 0.411 0.47 0.55 142,155 47,169 582 456,389 531,990 25 42,115 104.0 34.5 0.425 0.49 0.57 140,790 46,773 575 452,748 527,616 30 40,082 107.9 35.9 0.439 0.51 0.59 138,989 46,256 566 447,397 520,768 40 35,754 116.7 38.9 0.473 0.55 0.64 134,117 44,772 543 432,996 503,684 50 31,617 126.1 42.2 0.508 0.60 0.69 128,144 42,937 516 414,978 481,202 Inferred 15 16,637 76.8 25.1 0.319 0.38 0.40 41,072 13,415 171 139,011 147,447 20 15,433 81.4 26.7 0.335 0.41 0.43 40,401 13,238 166 137,797 145,622 25 14,575 84.9 27.9 0.348 0.42 0.45 39,782 13,069 163 136,241 143,632 30 13,671 88.7 29.2 0.362 0.44 0.47 38,980 12,830 159 133,819 141,052 40 11,778 97.3 32.1 0.395 0.49 0.51 36,847 12,152 150 127,493 133,206 50 9,980 106.8 35.3 0.432 0.54 0.56 34,256 11,327 139 119,031 123,652

Notes to the 2023 Promontorio Resource Table: 1. Resources are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and were estimated using the 2019 CIM Best Practices Guidelines, as required by NI43-101 2. The base case Mineral Resource has been confined by "reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction" shape using the following assumptions:  Metal prices of US$22/oz Silver, US$1800/oz Gold, US$0.95/lb Lead and US$1.25/lb Zinc. Metallurgical recovery of 74% Silver, 70% Gold, 81% Lead and 88% Zinc  Payable metal of 95% Silver, 99% Gold in dore 95% Au in Pb concentrate, 95% Lead and 85% Zinc. Lead payable assumes a concentrate grade of 65% Pb and a 3% unit deduction. Zinc payable assumes a concentrate grade of 52% Pb and an 8% unit deduction. Offsite costs (transport, smelter treatment and refining) of US$1.5/oz Silver and gold in the Pb concentrate, US$10 oz Gold, US$ 0.15/lb Lead and US$0.31/ lb Zinc. Lead offsite costs assume 100 $US/dmt transport, 100 $US/ dmt treatment. Zinc offsite costs assume 100 $US/dmt transport, 200 $US/ dmt treatment.  Processing, General, and Administrative ("G&A") costs of US$ 12/ tonne milled. Mining cost of US$2.00 / tonne  50 degree pit slopes with the 150% price case pit shell is used for the confining shape 3. The resulting NSR = Ag*US$0.63/g*74% + Au*US$56.71/g*70% + 22.0462*(Pb*US$0.77/lb*81% + Zn*US$ 0.80/lb*88%) 4. The specific gravity of the resource averages 2.79 and is calculated from the Lead and Zinc content. Non-mineralized material is assigned an SG of 2.73. 5. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

At Promontorio the increase in M+I metal content is considered to be due primarily to the following:

Additional drilling of 89 holes ( 23,220 m ) in 2012-2013, that were not included in the previous resource estimate.

) in 2012-2013, that were not included in the previous resource estimate. Modelling of both high grade constrained mineralized shells and a lower grade mineralized halo to better limit the data used for the interpolations.

Changes to the metal prices (particularly Ag and Au) with lower Ag price and higher Au price to conform to 3-year trailing averages which caused a large increase in AgEq grade.

The following two tables summarize the La Negra total resource estimate, and the La Negra resource by Oxidation zone, respectively. La Negra is assumed to produce dore, with only Au and Ag recovered. The cutoff grades of 40 g/t AgEq more than covers the assumed cost of Processing + G&A.

Table 3: 2023 Resource Statement for the La Negra Deposit

ZONE CLASS Cutoff In Situ Grades and Metal Content AgEq

(g/t) Tonnage

(kt) AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) AgEq

Metal

(kOz) Ag

Metal

(kOz) Au

Metal

(kOz) Total Indicated 25 7,282 102.5 99.8 0.061 24,000 23,370 14.2 30 6,463 112.0 109.2 0.063 23,280 22,690 13.2 35 5,821 120.8 117.9 0.065 22,610 22,060 12.2 40 5,285 129.3 126.3 0.067 21,970 21,450 11.4 45 4,821 137.6 134.5 0.069 21,330 20,850 10.7 50 4,425 145.7 142.5 0.071 20,730 20,280 10.0 Inferred 25 1,831 88.8 86.5 0.055 5,230 5,090 3.2 30 1,607 97.3 94.9 0.057 5,030 4,900 3.0 35 1,415 106.1 103.7 0.059 4,830 4,720 2.7 40 1,257 114.8 112.2 0.060 4,640 4,540 2.4 45 1,111 124.2 121.6 0.061 4,440 4,340 2.2 50 993 133.5 130.8 0.061 4,260 4,180 2.0

Table 4: 2023 Resource Statement for the La Negra Deposit by Zone

ZONE CLASS Cutoff In Situ Grades and Metal Content AgEq

(g/t) Tonnage

(kt) AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) AgEq

Metal

(kOz) AG

Metal

(kOz) Au

Metal

(kOz) OXIDE Indicated 25 2,383 98.8 95.1 0.049 7,570 7,280 3.7 30 2,157 106.3 102.4 0.051 7,370 7,100 3.5 35 1,964 113.6 109.5 0.053 7,170 6,910 3.3 40 1,798 120.6 116.4 0.054 6,970 6,730 3.1 45 1,661 127.0 122.7 0.056 6,780 6,550 3.0 50 1,524 134.2 129.8 0.057 6,580 6,360 2.8 Inferred 25 622 93.6 90.6 0.039 1,870 1,810 0.8 30 567 100.0 96.9 0.040 1,820 1,770 0.7 35 512 107.3 104.1 0.042 1,770 1,710 0.7 40 465 114.3 111.0 0.043 1,710 1,660 0.6 45 429 120.4 117.0 0.044 1,660 1,610 0.6 50 389 128.0 124.6 0.045 1,600 1,560 0.6 MIXED Indicated 25 732 78.6 75.4 0.045 1,850 1,770 1.0 30 617 88.0 84.6 0.048 1,750 1,680 1.0 35 526 97.6 94.1 0.050 1,650 1,590 0.9 40 454 107.3 103.5 0.053 1,570 1,510 0.8 45 394 117.0 113.1 0.055 1,480 1,430 0.7 50 350 125.9 121.9 0.057 1,420 1,370 0.6 Inferred 25 105 89.9 88.5 0.020 300 300 0.1 30 83 106.3 104.7 0.022 280 280 0.1 35 71 119.0 117.4 0.023 270 270 0.1 40 61 132.6 130.9 0.023 260 260 0.0 45 51 149.2 147.6 0.024 240 240 0.0 50 47 158.1 156.4 0.024 240 240 0.0 SULFIDE Indicated 25 4,167 108.8 106.8 0.071 14,580 14,310 9.5 30 3,689 119.4 117.3 0.073 14,160 13,910 8.7 35 3,331 128.7 126.6 0.075 13,790 13,560 8.1 40 3,033 137.7 135.5 0.077 13,430 13,210 7.5 45 2,766 146.9 144.7 0.079 13,060 12,870 7.0 50 2,551 155.3 153.0 0.080 12,740 12,550 6.6 Inferred 25 1,104 86.0 84.1 0.067 3,050 2,980 2.4 30 957 94.9 92.9 0.070 2,920 2,860 2.2 35 832 104.3 102.2 0.072 2,790 2,730 1.9 40 731 113.6 111.5 0.074 2,670 2,620 1.7 45 631 124.8 122.7 0.076 2,530 2,490 1.5 50 557 135.2 133.0 0.076 2,420 2,380 1.4

Notes to the 2023 La Negra Resource Tables: 1. Resources are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and were estimated using the 2019 CIM Best Practices Guidelines, as required by NI43-101 2. The base case Mineral Resource has been confined by "reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction" shape using the following assumptions:  Metal prices of US$22/oz Silver, US$1800/oz Gold  Recovery is assumed to be as for dore. Metallurgical recovery of 82% Silver and 77% Gold in the Oxide zone, 85% Silver and 73% Gold in the Mixed zone, and 90% Silver and 31% Gold in the Sulfide zone.  Payable metal of 99% for Silver and Gold. Offsite costs (transport, smelter treatment and refining) of US$0.25/oz Silver and US$10/oz gold.  Processing, General, and Administrative (G&A) costs of US$ 12/ tonne milled. Mining cost of US$2.00/tonne  50 degree pit slopes with the 150% price case pit shell is used for the confining shape 3. The resulting NSR = Ag*US$0.69/g*Zone Ag Recovery% + Au*US$56.97/g*Zone Au Recovery% 4. Silver Equivalent (AgEq) = NSR / (US$0.69/g* Ag Recovery%) 5. The specific gravity is assigned by rock type as 2.52 in Oxides, 2.59 in Mixes and 2.61 in Sulfides 6. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Resource Estimate Uncertainty

Areas of uncertainty that may materially impact the mineral resource estimates include changes to: long-term metal price assumptions; interpretations of mineralization geometry, fault geometry and continuity of mineralized zones; net smelter return used to constrain the estimates; metallurgical recovery assumptions; input assumptions used to derive the conceptual open pit outlines used to constrain the estimate; variations in geotechnical, hydrogeological and mining assumptions and environmental, permitting and social license assumptions.

There are no other known environmental, legal, title, taxation, socioeconomic, marketing, political or other relevant factors that would materially affect the estimation of mineral resources that are not discussed in this news release.

Mineral Resource Estimate Methodology

Data

The Promontorio MRE uses 59,149 assays from 311 drill holes based on drilling up to an including 2013. The La Negra MRE uses 9,311 assays in 94 drill holes from drilling completed between 2014 and 2017.

Mineralization Envelopes

Confining shapes for the interpolations have been made using the geologic modeling shapes provided by Kootenay, the logged lithology and the metal grades. The shapes of the main mineralized zones target the breccias and a value of approximately US$15/tonne Net Smelter Return (NSR). Dilution of lower grade intercepts has been added as necessary to produce smooth shapes.

At Promontorio there are six domains modeled, as well as a low-grade halo surrounding and connecting the 2 major areas. The shapes are illustrated in Figure 1.

At La Negra one domain has been modeled and it has been split into three oxidation zones based on logging data. The shapes are illustrated in Figure 2.

Grade Capping

The grade distributions within the mineralized domains are mainly lognormal except at very high grades where outliers are evident and therefore capping of assays has been done as summarized in the following tables. For clarity, also summarized in the tables are the Outlier Restrictions which has been applied to the composites during interpolation at Promontorio. For composite grades above the Outlier value provided, and at distances greater than 5m from the data, the value is essentially capped to the outlier.

At both deposits 2m has been used for the base length when compositing, which is longer than the vast majority of the assays. The compositing also honored the domain boundaries. Assay intervals less than 1 m have been added to the previous composite to limit the number of small assay intervals.

Table 5: Capping of Assays and Outlier Restriction of Composites by Domain - Promontorio

Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%) Cap Outlier Cap Outlier Cap Outlier Cap Outlier Low Grade 1,600 500 4 2 9 3 10 3 Domain 1 1,600 500 10 7 9 3 10 3 Domain 2 1,600 500 9 2 9 3 10 8 Domain 3 600 500 6 6 4 4 7 5 Domain 4 500 1,000 4 2 5 5 6 5 Domain 5 1,000 600 3 3 4 3 6 5 Domain 6 100 60 1 1 2 2 2 2

Table 6 : Capping of Assays by Oxidation Zone - La Negra

Oxidation Zone Cap, g/t Ag Oxide 3000 Mixed 1500 Sulfide 3000 Au Oxide 0.5 Mixed 0.5 Sulfide 1



Variography

At Promontorio variograms have been made on each axis for each metal in Domain 1 and 2, which are the largest domains. The strongest correlations are steeply dipping down the major axis of the mineralization with ranges from 100m to 130m.

At La Negra the strongest correlation is at azimuth 255 dipping 15 degrees with a range of approximately 55m. The variograms have been used to aid in determining the search parameters for the interpolations, as well as distances for Classification to Measured and Indicated.

Specific Gravity

The Promontorio drilling database contains 4,510 specific gravity ("SG") measurements in total and the SG is estimated based on the interpolated Pb and Zn grade using a regression formula.

The SG at La Negra is based on 1,541 measurements within the deposit area and has been assigned based on the mean grade within each of the oxidation zones.

Interpolations and Classification.

Interpolations have been done in 5 passes using composites coded with the domain shapes for model-composite domain matching. Searches are oriented along the major axis of each domain. Inverse Distance squared (ID2) is used at Promontorio and Ordinary Kriging at La Negra.

Classification methodology at the two deposits is similar, the primary difference being the search distances used, which are based on the variography.

Classification at Promontorio is based on the distance between drillholes using the following process:

All interpolated blocks are initially classified as Inferred.

Block are upgraded to Indicated if the if the average distance to the 2 nearest drillholes is <= 50m and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= 70m , and the drillholes must be in at least two quadrants (directions).

and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= , and the drillholes must be in at least two quadrants (directions). Blocks are further upgraded to Measured if the if the average distance to the 3 nearest drillholes is <= 30m and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= 50m , and the drillholes must be in three quadrants (directions).

and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= , and the drillholes must be in three quadrants (directions). The low grade halo is classified as Inferred

Classification at La Negra uses the following process:

All interpolated blocks are initially classified as Inferred.

Block are upgraded to Indicated if the average distance to the 2 nearest drillholes is <= 30m , and the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= 50m , and the drillholes must be in two quadrants (directions).

At both deposits additional manual checking and smoothing of the results has been done to ensure continuous shapes of Classification are produced.

Metallurgy

G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd, Kamloops, BC, Canada completed preliminary metallurgical programs on drill core composites from the Promontorio property for Kootenay in 2009, 2012 and 2013. The metallurgical program investigated a standard polymetallic sequential flotation flowsheet that includes crushing, grinding, lead flotation, zinc flotation and pyrite/arsenopyrite flotation. Pressure oxidation (POX) of the pyrite/arsenopyrite concentrate is required to extract the contained gold by cyanidation to produce dore. Promontorio will also produce lead concentrate, zinc concentrate. The metallurgical recovery assumptions are listed with Table 1. Overall gold recovery is estimated at 70% and is based on 65% gold recovery into the pyrite flotation concentrate followed by 94% cyanidation gold extraction from the pyrite concentrate after pressure oxidation, plus an average 9% gold recovery into the lead flotation concentrate.

Metallurgical testing on La Negra samples has been conducted by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates of Reno Nevada in 2015 and McClelland Laboratories of Sparks Nevada in 2018. The work in 2015 did initial comparisons of flotation to cyanide leaching recovery methods on 7 composites. Silver extractions from leaching ranged from 70% to 90% based on calculated heads which ranged from 61.71 to 242.64 grams per metric tonne and did not seem influenced by sulfide sulfur content. Follow-up in 2018 tested 10 composites representing material from four oxidation zones. The composites were all amenable to whole ore milling/cyanidation treatment with respect to silver recovery, but gold recoveries varied significantly.

La Negra is expected to produce silver and gold dore. The metallurgical recovery assumptions are listed with Table 2 and are based on the average results for each oxidation type tested in the 2018 test program.

Resource Pit Limits

Lerch Grossman ("LG") pit optimization tools have been used to select a pit shape for limiting the resource. The LG pit targets Net Smelter Return (NSR) calculated in each block using interpolation results and the economic, metallurgical, and mining parameters shown with the resource tables 1 through 4.

Cut off Grade

The COG was selected using AgEq to cover, as a minimum, the processing and G&A costs and to account for the metallurgical recovery and smelter terms. For both deposits 25g/t AgEq will covers the assumed cost of US$12/tonne; however, a higher cutoff has been used for the base case for La Negra.

Block Model Validation

Several validation techniques have been utilised to ensure that the estimates are reasonable. The global grades of the model with the de-clustered composites have been compared to ensure no bias was introduced. In addition, the total metal content for each metal at various cutoff have been compared to ensure that the total metal compares well to that of data. Grade-tonnage curves have been created to ensure that the appropriate smoothing of modelled grades has been accomplished with no over-prediction of metal throughout the grade distributions. Swath plots comparing the de-clustered composite grade to the ID2 modelled estimate in Easting, Northing and Elevation were completed to ensure the model is spatially predicting grade correctly. Visual comparisons on section and plan were also done to ensure the model compares well to the assay grades.

Qualified Persons

Ms. Sue Bird  P. Eng., (resource estimate) of MMTS is the Qualified Person ("QP") who prepared the mineral resource estimate, and compiled and reviewed the resource estimate disclosed in this news release. Ms. Bird, as the Qualified Person, has approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. Dale Brittliffe, BSc. P. Geol., Vice President, Exploration of Kootenay Silver, is the Company's nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release. Mr. Brittliffe is not independent of Kootenay Silver.

Cautionary Note to Investors

While the terms "indicated (mineral) resource" and "inferred (mineral) resource" are recognized and required by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, investors are cautioned that except for that portion of mineral resources classified as mineral reserves, mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be upgraded into mineral reserves. Additionally, investors are cautioned that inferred mineral resources have a high degree of uncertainty as to their existence, as to whether they can be economically or legally mined, or will ever be upgraded to a higher category.

United States investors are advised that current Mineral Resources are not current Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Share Consolidation

The Company is pleased to announce that its board of directors (the "Board") has approved a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of the common shares (the "Shares") of the Company on a ten-to-one (10:1) basis. The Company currently has 457,669,033 Shares outstanding and if completed, the Consolidation would reduce the issued and outstanding Shares to approximately 45,766,903 Shares, subject to rounding. No fractional post-Consolidation Shares will be issued pursuant to the Consolidation. Any fractional Shares equal to or greater than one-half resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded up to the next whole number of Shares, and any fractional Shares less than one-half resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

Along with all outstanding Shares, the Company's equity incentive plan will be adjusted accordingly. The Consolidation will also affect the issued and outstanding common share purchase warrants (each, a "Warrant") of the Company, as the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant will be reduced and the exercise price will increase, all in accordance with the terms of the certificates governing the Warrants.

The Consolidation is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval. At the Company's annual general and special meeting of its shareholders (the "Shareholders") held on March 15, 2023, the Shareholders approved the replacement of the Company's articles of incorporation in their entirety with a new form of articles of incorporation (the "New Articles"). Under the New Articles, a consolidation may be implemented by the Board without shareholder approval. As such, the Consolidation is not subject to shareholder approval. The Company will announce the effective date of the Consolidation, as well as the new CUSIP/ISIN numbers for the post-Consolidation Shares by way of a future news release. The post-Consolidation Shares will continue to trade on the TSXV under the Company's existing name and trading symbol.

The Consolidation will not materially affect the percentage ownership in the Company of Shareholders even though such ownership will be represented by a smaller number of Shares. The Consolidation will merely proportionally reduce the number of Shares held by Shareholders.

Shareholders who have deposited their Shares into brokerage accounts are not required to take any action to effect an exchange of their Shares.

Shareholders with physical certificates will receive a letter of transmittal from Computershare Investor Services Inc., the Company's transfer agent. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions on how registered Shareholders can exchange their share certificates representing pre-Consolidation Shares for new certificates representing post-Consolidation Shares. Until surrendered, each share certificate representing pre-Consolidation shares will represent the number of whole post-Consolidation shares to which the holder is entitled as a result of the consolidation.

About Kootenay Silver

Kootenay Silver Inc. is an exploration company actively engaged in the discovery and development of mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of Mexico. Supported by one of the largest junior portfolios of silver assets in Mexico, Kootenay continues to provide its shareholders with significant leverage to silver prices. The Company remains focused on the expansion of its current silver resources, new discoveries and the near-term economic development of its priority silver projects located in prolific mining districts in Sonora, State and Chihuahua, State, Mexico, respectively.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release include statements about the mineral resource estimate for the Promontorio-La Negra project; the completion and filing of a National Instrument 43-101 technical report related to the Promontorio-La Negra mineral resource estimate; potential existence and size of mineralization within the Promontorio-La Negra project; and geological interpretations and potential mineral recovery processes. Information concerning mineral resource estimates also may be deemed to be forward-looking information in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Kootenay Silver and its subsidiaries have made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things: the geological, metallurgical, engineering, financial and economic advice that Kootenay Silver has received is reliable and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards. While Kootenay Silver considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will receive approval from the TSXV and complete the Consolidation in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Kootenay Silver's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the actual mineralization in the PromontorioLa Negra deposit may not be as favorable as suggested by the resource estimate; the NI 43-101 technical report that includes the resource estimate may not be filed within the anticipated timeframe, or at all; fluctuations in copper 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, and recovery rates; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Kootenay Silver is disclosed in Kootenay Silver's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Kootenay Silver disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highland Copper Company Inc. (TSXV: HI; OTCQB: HDRSF) (Highland or the Company) today announces that Denis Miville-Deschenes, President and Chief Executive Officer, will depart the Company. Barry OShea, Highlands Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed by Highlands Board as Interim CEO, effective immediately, while the Board seeks a full-time replacement.

Steve Hicks, Chair of the Board of Highland, stated, On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Denis for his contributions as Highland CEO over the past seven years.

Mr. OShea has considerable operating, capital markets and finance experience across diverse industries and countries. Prior to Highland, he was the CFO of Fiore Gold Ltd., who successfully restarted the Pan Mine in Nevada and was subsequently acquired by Calibre Mining Corp. Prior to Fiore, Mr. OShea spent eight years with New Gold Inc., initially as Vice President of Finance where he oversaw operational analytics, financial planning and capital project controls, particularly new mine construction. He then served as Vice President, Business Development, responsible for corporate development, investor relations, and strategic capital allocation. Mr. O'Shea is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has an Honours Business Administration degree from the Ivey Business School.

The Highland Board is confident that Barry has the right balance of skills to execute our business plan during this transition period, Steve Hicks further stated. His broad background across operations, business development and finance will best position the Company for future success. As well, the addition of Mike Foley continues to add to our regional Michigan team and our capacity for project execution. We look forward to progressing Copperwood to financing and development.

Highland is also pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Foley, of Ironwood, Michigan, to the position of Copperwood Site Manager. Mike has 32 years of experience as a Civil Engineer in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin. He was most recently the Director of Environment & Infrastructure at the Back Forty Mine. Prior to that, he served as a Senior Project Manager for Coleman Engineering Company (Coleman), where he had been the lead contact for a number of mining, industrial, utility and municipal clients. With Coleman, Mike was instrumental in working with the mining consulting team on the Copperwood Project to obtain a variety of regulatory permits. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, with an Environmental emphasis, from Michigan Technological University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in both Michigan and Wisconsin.

ABOUT HIGHLAND

Highland Copper Company Inc. is a Canadian company focused on exploring and developing copper projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, U.S.A. The Company owns the Copperwood deposit through long-term mineral leases. The Company also owns surface rights securing access to the deposit and providing space for infrastructure as required. Additionally, Highland Copper owns a 34% stake in the White Pine North Project, a past-producer in the Upper Peninsula. The Company has 736,363,619 common shares issued and outstanding. Its common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "HI" and trade on the OTCQB Venture Market under symbol "HDRSF".

More information about the Company is available on the Companys website at www.highlandcopper.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements about: (a) the Boards expectations with respect to the continued advancement of the Companys projects during the transition period; and (b) the anticipated hire of a full time replacement. Such forward looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Important assumptions include that management will have sufficient capacity during the transition period to meet the Companys goals, and that replacement will be identified and hired on terms acceptable to the Company in the medium term. Important factors that could materially impact the Company's expectations include unanticipated developments in the Companys business that may affect managements short to medium-term capacity and the Companys development timeline. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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.

For further information, please contact:

Barry O'Shea, Interim CEO

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.highlandcopper.com
New York State Electric & Gas customers will pay an extra $10 next month, as part of a three-year rate agreement approved by the state Public Service Commission that will increase an average customers monthly bill by around 31% over the next three years.

The Public Service Commission voted unanimously to approve the increase.

I do not take this vote lightly as the vote increases are larger than any of us would like to see, said Diane Burman, commissioner of the Public Service Commission.

The average NYSEG residential customer using 600kw now pays $96 a month. That will rise by about $10, or 10.3% to $106 in November.

In May 2024, it will go up another $9, or 8.4% to $115.

Turn up the thermostat: Heating costs expected to plummet this winter National Fuel Gas Co. said Wednesday it expects the average residential customer to pay about 30% less this winter to heat their homes.

In May 2025, it will go up by an additional $11 or 9.9% to $126.

The total bill estimates include both parts of what goes into a customers monthly bill: the cost of delivering the electricity to their homes, which is what is covered by the rates approved Thursday by the PSC, as well as the estimated cost of the electricity itself, which is passed on to NYSEG customers at cost. The average bills are based on a residential customer using 600 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month.

I do understand the frustration of many people that are customers and residents of the service area, said Commissioner James Alesi.

NYSEG argued that it needed the rate increase to modernize and upgrade the aging network of power lines and natural gas pipelines across portions of upstate New York. The additional revenue also will be used to improve customer service, cybersecurity, clean energy initiatives and tree management.

From the new revenues provided in this rate plan, we can expect better reliability, along with reduced future deferrals for recovery expenses from major storms, said Dukim Lecakes, the PSCs chief administrative law judge, in recommending the increase.

Necessary price increases were put off during the Covid pandemic, commissioners said.

At that time, there was recognition, a bill would be coming due, said Rory Christian, the PSCs chairman.

The increases will be retroactive to May 1.

The rate increase is much less than NYSEG initially sought. The company in June 2022 filed for a 22% increase in its delivery rates over one year. After negotiations with interested parties and the PSC staff, those groups in June recommended a 22% jump in delivery rates over a three-year period.

The utilities came in with a one-year proposal and the rate increase approved today stretches that proposal over approximately two and a half years, said Beth Finkel, AARPs New York State director. The PSC should have rejected one of the largest rate increases in recent memory.

The rate hike comes at a time when tens of thousands of residential customers are already having trouble paying their energy bills, and more than 41,000 of them are facing service termination notices, according to numbers from AARP New York.

The hikes are part of a broader rate agreement that included increases for natural gas and electric customers with NYSEG and its sister company, Rochester Gas and Electric. Both utilities are subsidiaries of Avangrid.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had called the original rate request from the company outrageous, said she was pleased with the reduction in the final agreement. Im pleased to see the PSC was able to cut the companies initial proposal by 50%, but I recognize the final electric rates are still likely to strain household budgets across New York, she said in a statement.
The bloody attacks against Israel by Hamas militants are "similar" to crimes against humanity, France's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Iran-backed Hamas killed Israeli civilians in their homes and on the streets in an unprecedented assault launched Saturday.

Thousands have now died on both sides, with Israel unleashing a massive bombardment of Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Asked if the Hamas attacks were crimes against humanity, Catherine Colonna told France Info radio "The legal qualification for these crimes will be given at the appropriate time, but it can be considered that they are similar to such crimes."

"Words fail me to describe the abomination which accompanied these terrorist attacks, people chased from their homes, executions, violations of human dignity, of mortal remains," the minister said.

"We have to condemn these atrocities, the inhuman behaviour of those who committed such atrocities.

"Hamas was applying its vision of things ... the destruction of Israel".

The minister said opening a humanitarian corridor to allow Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip was "possible and desirable so that women and children could leave".

"The population should not be confused with Hamas," she added.

Colonna noted that 11 French citizens have died in the fighting and that the toll was likely to rise.

Another 18 French citizens are missing, some of whom are likely to be among the 150 hostages taken by Hamas.
Nurse practitioner at Lockport clinic charged with distributing opioids

A nurse practitioner at Acacia Family Health in Lockport was arrested and charged with distributing thousands of opioid pills, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Western New York announced Thursday.

Michael Ostolski, 55, of North Tonawanda, was charged last week by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute oxymorphone, an opioid designed to relieve severe pain.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, Ostolski is accused of overprescribing oxymorphone to certain patients, who agreed to sell all or some of the prescribed pills and share the profits with Ostolski at their next office visit.

The office visits were then billed to Medicare and Medicaid.

Investigators believe that Ostolski took part in the alleged scheme between August 2021 and September 2023, making 123 such prescriptions for oxymorphone totaling in excess of 13,000 oxymorphone pills, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross.

Investigators said they conducted several controlled purchases of oxymorphone from Ostolski and made multiple visits with him during which he received cash.

Ostolski appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on $10,000 cash bond, according to court documents. Among his conditions of release were to surrender his New York State pistol permit and notifications within the medical field that he is barred from prescribing any controlled substances.

If convicted he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

- Maki Becker
Han Ji Min and Lee Yoo Bi are leading the October 2023 Drama Actor Brand Reputation Rankings as released by the Korean Business Research Institute.

Based on the data analysis of the dramas that aired between September 12 and October 12, the monthly list covers the participation, media coverage, interaction, and community indexes of 50 actors.

October 2023 Drama Actor Brand Reputation Rankings

As obtained by a media outlet, Han Ji Min jumped to first place with a total of 2,259,904 points. The actress headlines the JTBC weekend K-drama "Behind Your Touch," which concluded on October 1.

Back in last month's ranking, Han Ji Min took the third spot next to "My Dearest" stars Namgoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin.

With only a few points from Han Ji Min, Lee Yoo Bi came in in second place.

The actress garnered a total of 2,126,121 brand points, showing a close fight between the "Behind Your Touch" star.

Lee Yoo Bi currently appears in the hit Makjang series "The Escape of the Seven," made by the creators of "The Penthouse" trilogy.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'The Escape of the Seven' Star Lee Yoo Bi Reveals Interesting Story Behind Her Casting & Dealing With Haters of Han Mo Ne

In the SBS series, she takes on the role of the antagonist, a high school student and K-pop idol wannabe named Han Mo Ne.

Interestingly, "The Escape of the Seven" co-star Hwang Jung Eum, who plays as Han Mo Ne's manager, made it to the top 5.

Meanwhile, capping off the top 3 rankings is Jo Bo Ah, who stars in the JTBC fantasy romance series "Destined With You. The actress garnered a total of 1,728,737 points for this month's rankings.

Here are the top 30 stars who entered October 2023's brand value rankings.

Han Ji Min Lee Yoo Bi Jo Bo Ah Lee Min Ki Hwang Jung Eum Lee Yoo Mi Yoon Kye Sang Rowoon Kim So Hyun Lee Sang Yup Ryeo Woon Hwang Min Hyun Lee Jun Ki Uhm Ki Joon YEE Ha Joon Yuna Park Sung Hoon Lee Joon Shin Se Kyung Yura Suho Kim Jung Eun Choi Hyun Wook Jang Dong Geon Seol In Ah Shin Eun Kyung Shin Eun Soo Ong Seong Wu Kim So Hye

Lee Yoo Bi Enjoys Popularity Thanks to 'The Escape of the Seven'

From supporting and cameo roles in "Yumi's Cells," "The Penthouse" season 3, and more, Lee Yoo Bi showed off how versatile she is in acting.

Taking on the villain role, viewers were impressed to see the actress deliver an amazing performance as Han Mo Ne.

Due to this, the thriller-mystery series has continued to increase in ratings since its premiere on September 15.

According to Nielsen Korea, episode 7 scored an average nationwide rating of 7.3 percent, while the show's all-time high is at 7.7 percent for episode 4.

READ MORE: Lee Yoo Bi Hit With Bizarre Accusation About Illegal Filming, Hacking

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Images of Erin Gilmour, left, and Susan Tice are shown on a screen as Toronto Det.-Sgt. Steve Smith of the force's homicide and missing persons unit cold case section speaks during a press conference in Toronto on Monday November 28, 2022. A man charged with murdering two Toronto women 40 years ago has pleaded guilty in both cases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
A Niagara Falls man wanted in connection with a June homicide in that city has been captured by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia, extradited to Niagara County and arraigned in County Court, authorities reported.

City police four months ago asked for the publics help in finding Juan J. Ubiles, 38, a suspect in the June 19 fatal shooting of a 44-year-old man on 18th Street in the Falls. Officials had warned that Ubiles was considered armed and dangerous.

City spokesman Aaron Ferguson on Thursday announced that federal marshals had taken Ubiles into custody Sept. 12 in Philadelphia. Ubiles was returned to Niagara County and arraigned on a homicide charge Wednesday in County Court.

City officials have not identified the homicide victim nor detailed what evidence links Ubiles to the crime.

He is set to return to court Oct. 20.

 Stephen T. Watson
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I am perplexed by two different needles which, when viewed together, illustrate the irrational themes which dominate our shared humanity. They inform me that, despite being a doctor for more than twenty years, I honestly feel dumber each day about human behavior. If, unlike me, you have somehow figured out more along the way, good for you.

The first needle which vexes me was the one stuck in my arm on Saturday, December 19, 2020. My COVID vaccine came from the first batch at the Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg, WV. A beloved nurse friend, Tiffany Sommer DNP, gave me this shot and we hugged hard afterward. I was intimately aware how this vaccine offered life-saving protection and a way back to normalcy in The Mountain State.

When I learned on Monday, November 9, 2020, of the vaccines existence, I cried actual tears of joy and could not wait to get immunized. I had worked the pandemics frontline since Friday, March 13, 2020, when the governor sent my kids home for, what turned out, the rest of the school year. A vaccine against this virus was, by any way you measured it, a triumphfor science, medicine, and humanity. Despite the political and social rancor which dominated 2020, we had a robust stash of scientific R&D to access in our moment of crisis. Thank God we had this tucked in the bottom drawer. The alternative? Millions more people dead across the world. Maybe you. Or your grandmother. Or me.

After being vaccinated, I did not anticipate the hostility that dominated the next year of my life. I am a primary care internal medicine doctor in my hometown, and I spent countless hours talking to my patients about the pros (many) and cons (very few) of the COVID vaccine. I wanted my patients informed so they could make their best choice. This was done without hyperbole, judgment, politics, or shame. When done right, I employed tact, competence, and trust. There were other days I did not do a good job explaining as I was exhausted. But, make no mistake, I triedLord knowsmy best.

You probably know what happened to me, though I must say this experience was worse than you might imagine. For the first time in my career, I was called a complete idiot by patients. I was accused of being involved inget thisan international political cartel. I was told to my face that I did not understand the human body, and that this vaccine was a radical idea. I struggle to this day as to how I was stuck in this position. We knew then that the vaccine was safe and effective, and time has borne this out. For almost everyone, the COVID vaccine pros are enormous and cons are miniscule.

I had not come to terms with this needle when a second one came along, so very different than the first. As Life Under COVID slipped away and brought me to an equally strange Life After COVID, I did not, could not, dream of Ozempic. And, believe it or not, this latter needle was more surprising than the former.

I probably said the words GLP-1 agonist and injectable hormone fifty times during this past week. Patients asked for this drug by name, as it is now famous, and for good reason. The same R&D that brought us the safe and effective COVID vaccine also brought us Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. And make no mistake, these medications are a triumph. For the first time in my career, I have an option to offer my patients, one which is safe and effective at weight loss. Many of my patients ask, Sodoes this stuff really work? and I say, Yes, from what we know so far, it is very effective at helping patients lose weight. They light up with excitement and want to know (read: beg) if I will prescribe it. Almost invariably, my answer is, yes. If a patient has a substantial amount of weight to lose, these medications are likely a very good option to consider.

The contrast between the reluctance to take a vaccineoncethat could, possibly, save ones life and the giddy desire to inject a hormoneweekly, maybe for yearsfor weight loss could not be more profound. This dichotomy is not easy for me to digest, but I keep thinking there is a deep lesson here.

Both needles, and the drugs contained therein, are, as far as we know, safe and effective. Each of them was tested rigorously before being made available to the American public. And this is critical because I explain to patients what we know and what we dont know. What gets me is how people hardly care about how long Ozempic might need to be taken. And how we dont know about its long-term effectsno one does.

It is likely the near-magic effects of weight loss effectively turned off rational thoughts inside my patients as they focused on this incredible possibility. Im not criticizing because I felt the same way about the COVID vaccine. I saw the near miracle of this vaccine and immediately realized the benefits, not just for a single person, but our entire community. I knew, because I did, in fact, understand the immune system, that great outcomes were possible if we took this vaccine. Just take the vaccine, and lets all get to Life After COVID, is what my brain told me. Come on, people!

Many of my patients knew precious little about their own health, and because they were scared shitless by misinformation, they never had the opportunity to see the true benefit of the COVID vaccine on an intellectual level. This is in direct contrast to their intuitive understanding that weight loss would be profoundly beneficial to them. And because they know, deep down in their bones, that obesity is slowly killing them, a medication which can dramatically change the outcome, that is worth doing. And once I provided my blessing that I, too, believed Ozempic was safe and effective, well, Just give it to me, doctor!

The COVID vaccine and Ozempic, and their associated needles, are scientific marvels that can improve health. How you emotionally connect with their potential benefits likely determines if you take a pass or get jabbed by the sharp end. Either way, the benefits are real, whether you understand the science or believe any of it.

Ryan McCarthy is an internal medicine physician.
Steve Case, the America Online co-founder turned investor, last visited Buffalo in 2015.

Back then, the citys tallest building was virtually vacant, and Canalside was still emerging. And the 43North business plan competition was in its infancy.

Case was back in town Thursday and declared he was impressed with the progress he saw.

Theres a lot of momentum on a lot of different fronts, so thats good, Case said during a talk with 43North president Colleen Heidinger, at now-thriving Seneca One tower. One thing would be, make sure as many people in the community know that as possible, so that people know progress is being made and therefore theyre a little bit more optimistic, a little more likely to lean in.

The billionaire entrepreneur also warned his audience not to get complacent.

But also recognize: Its game on, he said. Guess what? There are lot of other Buffalos that are out there fighting to be a city on the rise. There are dozens that are fighting to be a city on the rise and trying to figure out how to win on their talent and on their capital and on the collaboration point.

Now is not the time to say, Oh, look at all the things we did in the last decade,  Case said. Instead, OK, progress, good, we should celebrate that, but the next decade is showtime. 

As CEO of the Revolution LLC investment firm, Case has focused on startups in areas outside of the tech hotbeds like New York City, Boston and Silicon Valley. He crisscrossed the country with his Rise of the Rest bus tour, and wrote a book of the same name. Revolution has invested in more than 200 companies in over 100 cities, including some past 43North prize winners.

Case shared lessons and insights about the startup scene:

Places like Buffalo have a better shot at attracting investment when they take a regional approach, Case said.

When people are thinking about Buffalo, theyre thinking about a region in New York that likely includes Rochester and Syracuse, he said. And if youre thinking of making a big investment there, youre probably thinking of it in a broader context.

He praised the joint bid by Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse to secure potentially millions in funding in the federal governments tech hub competition.

A great startup idea can emerge from a budding entrepreneur identifying a problem and deciding to do something about it, Case said.

If you see something in your daily life or work life or whatever it might be, and you say, I think theres a better way, then go do it, he said. And do it now, and do it here. Most people have that insight but they dont do it, for a whole host of reasons.

Heidinger asked Case about the key ingredients to a startup ecosystem. You have to win the battle for talent, and you have to win the battle for capital, he said.

Winning the battle for talent, he said, includes keeping more of the people you already have, but also attracting new people to the region. And its critical for a region to have sources of capital that startups can tap into to get off the ground  while remaining based there.

Regions like Buffalo should capitalize on their startup successes, he said.

That dynamic of making sure you keep your winners  dont sell your winners short, dont sell too early, which can often happen in rising cities, Case said. And when you do have a winner, what we think of as a tentpole company, you leverage that so that momentum begets momentum.
Human rights activists have called for the review of some of the laws that give the president excessive powers for governance which they say have seen him militarize the Police Force.

The activists are concerned that the laws currently allow the president to choose who becomes the Inspector General of Police, and the different heads of different departments in the force.

Dr. Adrian Jjuuko, the Executive Director Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum says, the public must push their Members of Parliament to discuss this as a matter of national importance to rid the police force of army personnel.

The situation that we see today in Uganda is that the police has basically been captured by the military. Every morning as you move to work, you find truckloads of police which are full of military men. This has become so common and so obvious that even the police are now dressed up like the military most of the time, Jjuujo said.

He was speaking during a round table conference organised by the Network of Public Interest Lawyers (NETPIL) where scholars from Makerere University unveiled the study findings entitled militarization and military capture of the Uganda Police Force, in Kampala.
The National Water and Sewerage Corporation has decried the increased theft of water by both individuals and institutions including police officers.

The Corporations Managing Director Eng. Silver Mugisha says some police officers steal water from designated fire hydrants which are meant to keep water for firefighting.

Mugisha adds that currently, 10% of the customers are on illegal water connections, which he blames for the huge losses suffered by the corporation.

You have heard that theres always pressure for us to have fire hydrants. So people go to those fire hydrants including those who sell water  some of them just go and pick water from the fire hydrants, even police. Our fire hydrants are under constant use even when theres no fire to fight, Mugisha said.

However, the police administration says this is being done by individual police officers, but not police as an institution.

As required by law, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation is required to provide water in the designated water hydrants with enough water to fight fire outbreaks and currently, there are 897 fire hydrants in the Kampala Metropolitan area alone.
By Benson Tumusiime

A total of 22 people died countrywide during the 61st Independence Day celebrations that were held in Kitgum District on Monday, police have revealed.

Addressing the media yesterday, police spokesperson Fred Enanga said 31 criminal cases were recorded that day. These included three cases of murder, five cases of murder by mob action, two cases of murder by assault, two cases of suspected suicide by hanging, one case of murder by poisoning, three cases of murder by strangulation, and three cases of murder by cutting.

As a result of the cases that were reported, 22 people lost their lives and nine suspects were arrested and detained in police stations as investigations continue, he said.

Mr Enanga added that in one incident in Busika Central, Luweero District, unidentified thieves broke into the house of Mr Moses Matovu, a taxi driver, who managed to fight them off. Mr Matovu also grabbed one of the thieves and made an alarm but the thief stabbed him with a knife and ran away.

However, neighbours captured the thief and beat him to death before setting his body on fire. Mr Enanga said the detectives visited the crime scene and the body was taken to Luweero hospital for postmortem.

He added that the area LC1 chairperson recorded a statement with the police and inquiries into the matter are still ongoing.
This year, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has raised more than three times the amount of money as his challenger, Chrissy Casilio, according to campaign finance reports recently filed with the New York State Board of Elections.

Since Jan. 1, Poloncarz, a Democrat, has raised $534,153, according to campaign finance reports. Casilio, a Republican, has raised $154,278, the reports show.

Recently, the fundraising gap between the two candidates has grown wider, with Poloncarz, a three-term incumbent, raking in donations at a 4-to-1 pace over Casilio, a Clarence business owner, since the previous filing deadline in July.

Since July 13  the most recent reporting period for the state elections board  Poloncarz raised $200,129, according to reports filed last week. He spent $449,161 and has $378,848 remaining in his war chest.

Casilio, by comparison, raised $45,022 since July. She spent $26,051 and has $130,236 remaining, though observers note that the state Republican Party could still spend big money on her behalf to buy radio and TV advertisements if she is not able to raise the funds on her own.

"We entered this campaign knowing we were going to be heavily outspent," Casilio said in a written statement. "Unlike Mark Poloncarz, who is funding his campaign by cashing in political favors, our support is coming from average citizens who are ready for a change in county government."

Poloncarz campaign manager Benjamin Swanekamp said in a written statement that the county executive's fundraising prowess shows that he has "strong support from nearly every corner of our community."

"Be it the men and women of organized labor, law enforcement, business leaders, professionals, and everyday citizens, folks are supporting our campaign," Swanekamp said.

Raising more campaign dollars doesn't guarantee Poloncarz a victory  that's up to voters  but it enables his campaign to buy more ads and signs and pay campaign consultants and pollsters.

Poloncarz's top donors

Many of Poloncarz's top donations come from unions, law firms, developers or other vendors that do business with the county, which is common for incumbent politicians.

Two entities gave Poloncarz donations of $25,000  his largest sums on record with the state elections board.

Buffalo law firm Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP and the Erie County Sheriff's PBA each contributed that amount, filings show. The county has paid Lippes Mathias hundreds of thousands of dollars to represent the county in a lawsuit over the death of inmate Richard Metcalf Jr. This year, the county has paid Lippes Mathias $2.76 million for legal work on multiple cases.

The Sheriff's PBA, the union representing sheriff's office deputies and that negotiates contracts with the county, endorsed Poloncarz for re-election last week.

Poloncarz, Casilio give divergent views at county exec candidates forum before business group Democrat Mark Poloncarz and Republican Chrissy Casilio couldn't have been more different in their answers Thursday at a forum hosted by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. Here are some highlights.

Another union, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, contributed $15,000 to Poloncarz's campaign, reports show. The New York State Laborers' PAC and the Highmark Western & Northeastern NY PAC each gave Poloncarz $10,000.

Developer Gerald A. Buchheit chipped in $20,000 to Poloncarz's campaign account, records show, and developer Douglas Jemal gave $15,000.

Accountant Philip J. Tantillo of Buffalo contributed $12,000 while Jody E. Briandi, the president and managing partner of the Hurwitz & Fine law firm, gave $11,125. A political action committee of partners at the Buffalo law office of Harris Beach contributed $10,000.

Casilio's top donors

Casilio's top backer, according to state campaign finance reports, was Patrick Hotung, president of the Main Place Liberty Group, which owns the Main Place Mall in downtown Buffalo. Hotung contributed $31,484 to Casilio's campaign, reports show.

Hotung gave $25,000 to Poloncarz's opponent, Republican Lynne Dixon, when Dixon challenged the county executive four years ago. The News reported at the time that Hotung was "at odds with Poloncarz over the county executives handling of several Main Place Mall issues."

Jason Newman of Valley Stream, a village on Long Island, was Casilio's second-largest backer with a $12,500 contribution, reports show.

Like Poloncarz, developers also came through for Casilio, though at lesser amounts. Nick Sinatra gave $5,000 to Casilio, as did Clarence developer Paul Stephen. Wargo Enterprises, a demolition, excavation and site contracting firm based in Akron, gave $5,000. Donald Hoffman of Getzville also contributed $5,000 to Casilio, reports show.

Campaign finance reports filed with the state also indicate Casilio, personally and through her business, Casilio Communications LLC, made $7,453 in in-kind contributions to her own campaign this year. Her father, Clarence Supervisor Patrick Casilio, and a business associated with her father have contributed $330, reports show.

How this compares

Four years ago, when Poloncarz was running for his third term against Dixon, he had $574,449 on hand in early October. This year, he has $195,601 less than he did in 2019, though the more than $378,000 he has in his campaign kitty is still a significant sum.

At this point four years ago, Dixon had $56,472 on hand. Casilio has more than twice that amount.

Four years ago at this juncture in the campaign, Poloncarz had more than 10 times as much money as Dixon. As of Oct. 6 of this year, Poloncarz had three times the amount of cash on hand as Casilio.
There was barely standing room in Keoghs pub on Friday, October 6 for the launch of John Fitzgeralds novel, entitled Invaders.

Joe Kennedy of Callan Society launched the novel, which consists of two volumes and described it as a work of epic dimensions.



He enlarged on the historical background to the project, recalling how the British parliamentary forces, having won the civil war against the King, turned their attention to Ireland, which had been slipping away from British domination for the previous eight years and even had a form of provisional government, with a de-facto capital in Kilkenny.



A massive invasion force disembarked at Ringsend, gradually fanning out across the country, capturing towns and cities as the Irish and Royalist alliance reeled under the onslaught.



Callan stood between the invaders and Kilkenny, because so many other towns and cities had capitulated following massacres at Wexford and Drogheda, Cromwell and his advisers didnt think for a moment that Callan would offer even token resistance.



But a brave captain, ably assisted by his warrior wife' was to prove them wrong.



Mark Gegan in the novel (based on the real-life Mark McGeoghegan) had been assigned from his native Westmeath, where he lived on a large farmstead, to take charge of a castle in Callan.



From the day he arrived in the town, he was determined to defend it from what may come.



Unfortunately the town governor, Sir Robert Talbot wanted to surrender Callan to Cromwell. When Talbot ordered the bulk of the defending soldiers to lay down their arms and walk away from Callan, Gegan refused to budge.



He gathered the remaining soldiers stationed at Skerrys Castle in West Street, and hundreds of militia volunteers, and defied the disbelieving foe that stood poised to occupy the town.

A three-day siege ensued that has been the source of great pride ever since Callan: While other towns ran up the white flag, Callan fought the invaders. It became a town of heroes.



The captains wife takes centre stage in the story.

A woman ahead of her time, she defies the norms of the age by acting as a fully fledged soldier and fearlessly challenges the restrictions and injustices imposed on women by a 'mans world'.



John first conceived the idea of a story set in that dark far-off time when he was only ten years old after hearing a teacher extolling the virtues of a brave captain whod defied an all-conquering army. Decades later he got around to writing it during the Covid lockdown.



Youd have to get acquainted with the lifestyles of the relevant time period, the clothing, the food, the layouts of towns and cities, the weaponry, and, most challenging of all, the mind-sets, he said.



Armed with information about the war strategies and weaponry of that age, he was able to better visualise the battle scenes that would form such a vital part of the novel.



He thanked Joe Kennedy for launching the book and expressed gratitude to Joe for his 1984 article in the Old Kilkenny Review on the theme of Cromwell in Callan as that provided him with vital background information for the novel.



Concluding, John expressed the hope that the book, if nothing else, would help to put Callan on the map, though it was already shaping up to be a centre of arts and culture, and had a rich heritage stretching all the way back to pre-medieval times.

Historian Philip Lynch delved further into the true history of the period. He read a series of moving poems recalling the Cromwellian conquest, including one by Alice Kennedy of Clonmel Road that records the valour of Callans defenders.



Jimmy Rhatigan regaled the gathering with his famous Patrick Kavanagh act, and sang a few verses of Raglan Road to round off the surprise impromptu performance.



Judy Rhatigan also recited a poem from her Raggedy Bush collection that was launched recently.



Peter Brabazon also obliged with a sample of his work. He recently launched a collection of his highly original, offbeat and entertaining work at Fennellys of Callan.



Mark Townsend, author of the popular biography of Brother Damien Brennan, spoke of the enormous work that goes into producing any book, whether a novel or nonfiction.



Youd have to love writing to take such a project over the line, he enthused.



Marianne Lyons-Kelly, of the Kilkenny Heritage Walkers, recalled how she often looked wistfully over her backyard wall at the Fair Green, when she lived in Callan.



She grew up in the shadow of the fairground where Cromwell had positioned his cannons to bombard the town. She was always conscious of that 'other time' in Ireland when her native Callan had been turned into a battleground in a war of epic proportions.



Marianne said she saw Invaders possibly being made into a film or adapted for a major drama. She also indicated that a guided walk taking in the areas battle sites as identified in the novel, might be organised in the coming weeks.



Invaders, volume one and two, are available from Amazon and will be in Kilkenny bookshops later this month.
The heritage and tourism gem that is Dunmore Cave has officially reopened to the public after a prolonged programme of rock stabilisation works.

Patrick ODonovan TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, was at hand in Mothel today to welcome the news.

"I am delighted to be here to reopen Dunmore Cave to the public," he said.

"I know that it has been greatly missed by locals and visitors alike, but it was of the upmost importance to both myself and the Office of Public Works to ensure safe access for staff and visitors for the foreseeable future.

"It is to the credit of all involved that the goal of the works has been achieved and that the important flora and fauna here at this most unique of OPW-managed sites have not been detrimentally affected by the works.

"From Kilkenny Castle to Jerpoint Abbey and the hidden gem of St Marys in Gowran, I hope that the re-opening of Dunmore Cave will further enhance the tourism offering here in County Kilkenny where the Office of Public Works-managed heritage sites continue to contribute greatly to the local economy of the area."

The reopening was also welcomed by local councillor Pat Fitzpatrick.

"It's great to see this fantastic amenity reopen to the public, both locals and visitors alike," he said.

"There's such great history and heritage here and the investment will safeguard Dunmore Cave for future generations."

ABOUT DUNMORE CAVE

Dunmore Cave is a series of limestone chambers formed over millions of years.

It contains some of the most impressive calcite formations found in any Irish underground structure.

The cave has been known for many centuries and is first mentioned in the ninth-century Triads of Ireland, where it is referred to as one of the darkest places in Ireland.

The most gruesome reference, however, comes from the Annals of the Four Masters, which tells how the Viking leader Guthfrith of Ivar massacred a thousand people there in AD 928.

Archaeological investigation has not reliably confirmed that such a massacre took place, but finds within the cave  including human remains  do indicate Viking activity.

Dunmore is now a show cave, with guided tours that will take you deep into the earth  and even deeper into the past.

Dunmore Cave will open Wednesday to Sunday inclusive from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Last tour will be at 4pm.
Gardai have renewed an appeal for information into the murder of a woman and a man in the 1970s.

The Garda Commissioner has directed that the serious crime review team carry out a full review of the investigation into the murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan in 1971.

Miss Lynskey, 19, went missing in October 1971 after she was last seen walking towards her home at Porterstown Lane in Ratoath, Co Meath.

She was reported missing at Dunshaughlin garda station by her boyfriend.

Searches were conducted in the following days in the Porterstown Lane area by Gardai supported by the garda dog unit, garda sub aqua unit, civil defence, army and local volunteers.

Gardai also completed house-to-house inquiries and interviewed potential witnesses.

A number of witnesses reported seeing a vehicle described as a Ford Zodiac or Zephyr on Porterstown Lane around the time Miss Lynskey went missing.

Varying descriptions were provided of this vehicle and its driver.

On October 25 1971, three men  Martin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey  were interviewed at Trim Garda station.

All three were released without charge at that time.

In December 1971, Miss Lynskeys remains were found at Glendoo, close to Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains.

Later that month, 20-year-old Martin Kerrigan was abducted in Ratoath and forcibly put into a car.

In the early hours of December 20 1971, Mr Kerrigans body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin, close to where Miss Lynskeys body was recovered.

John Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were subsequently charged with murder and convicted of the manslaughter of Martin Kerrigan.

Each were sentenced to three years imprisonment.

On March 5 1972, Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were charged with the murder of Miss Lynskey. Both were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Mr Donnelly appealed this conviction and was found not guilty. Mr Conmey served a sentence of three years imprisonment.

In November 2010, Mr Conmeys conviction for manslaughter was successfully appealed.

In 2014, the Court of Appeal later ruled Mr Conmeys conviction for manslaughter as a miscarriage of justice and he has since received a state apology.

The Garda investigation into the murder of Miss Lynskey remains open and the future course of the investigation will be determined by the findings of the Serious Crime Review.

On Thursday, 52 years after the murder of Miss Lynskey, a garda spokesperson from the serious crime review team said the murders were still felt in the community.

The murder of Una Lynskey on the 12th October 1971 and the subsequent murder of Martin Kerrigan on the 19th December 1971 has devastated the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Donnelly and Conmey families, they said.

Both murders still have an impact on the community in Ratoath.

Gardai are appealing for anyone with information in relation to the murders of Miss Lynskey and Mr Kerrigan to come forward.
Israel is engaging in collective punishment and does not have the right to breach international law in its response in Gaza, Irish Premier Leo Varadkar has said.

The Taoiseach also called for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow aid to reach Palestinians.

The war, which was ignited by a wide-ranging Hamas attack into Israel, has already claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides.

Israel has cut off food, water and electricity to Gaza in response to the attack on Saturday and has carried out airstrikes in the region.

An Israeli military spokesman said on Thursday that they are preparing for a ground offensive in Gaza, but that one has not yet been ordered.

International humanitarian law says the collective punishment of a group of persons for a crime committed by an individual is forbidden.

Mr Varadkar told RTE: Israel has the right to defend itself, but Israel doesnt have the right to do wrong.

Israel is a country that is surrounded by enemies, brutal savage groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, countries like Iran, often supported by Islamic fundamentalists and antisemites around the world.

So Israel is under threat. They do have a right to defend themselves, but they dont have the right to breach international humanitarian law.

And Im really concerned about what Im seeing happening in Gaza at the moment.

To me, it amounts to collective punishment. Cutting off power, cutting off fuel supplies and water supplies, thats not the way a respectable democratic state should conduct itself.

Israels strike on Gaza has levelled entire neighbourhoods, killing more than 1,400 people, more than 60% of them women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

More than 340,000 have been displaced, or 15% of Gazas population.

The Taoiseach said that Israel is breaching humanitarian law through its punishment of Palestinian civilians and that Ireland will endeavour to see the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow aid to reach Gaza.

I believe by targeting civilians and by cutting off civilian infrastructure that is a breach of international humanitarian law and I think its very important for us as Ireland to make sure that that voice is brought to the table at European Union level, he said.

So yes, Hamas should release all of the hostages immediately. Israeli citizens and dual citizens alike.

Israel is entirely justified in going after Hamas in Gaza and elsewhere, but operations that clearly affect civilians disproportionately are wrong, cutting off electricity, cutting off water. Thats not acceptable.

And one thing we definitely need to see happen now, and we will do anything we can through the UN to achieve this, is the opening of the humanitarian corridor between Egypt and Gaza.

Speaking in Belfast on Thursday Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald said Irelands political history and experience of peacebuilding can have an influence in the international discussion on the current crisis in the region.

In terms of the Middle East and Ireland and our historical experience of colonisation, partition, war and conflict, and then peacebuilding, I think we need to really leverage all of that experience in good faith to the very, very best of our ability and I think that we can have an influence, she said.

I dont want to overstate it, but equally I wouldnt understate the value of an Irish voice.

And were encouraging everybody right across political life north and south, and for particularly those in government in Dublin to really grasp that opportunity.

She added: We need immediate ceasefires. We need dialogue. We need a process of peacebuilding. We need the application of international law across the board.
Newpark Close Family Resource Centre has been part of the fabric of the Newpark community for almost 50 years.

Founded in 1976, the community centre was designed to provide services and support for families living in the housing estate of the same name, and the local area surrounding it.

Since its inception, the centre has prided itself on addressing the needs of children in the area, and eliminating the sense of isolation and social exclusion some residents may experience.

As the years and decades have gone by, the values the centre has held dear have remained largely the same, but as the generations change in the community, so do the personnel within the centre.

'Building an integrated and welcoming community, where families and individuals will have the opportunity to reach their full potential,' is the mission statement of the centre and newly appointed manager, Margaret Tone, hopes to capture those values during her term.

Margaret, originally from Johnstown in Co Kilkenny, holds a degree in Social Science and went on to study Community Development as a post-graduate programme.

A combination she feels will put her in good stead for her new position, stating the dual qualification will allow her to build relationships within the evolving and growing locality and put structures in place that will allow the area to continue for future generations to come.

This longevity has led to a trust being built between the centre and the community, creating a safe and supportive place.

The Kilkenny native has championed 'community' all her working life but this new venture will mark her first time working Noreside, stating her previous experiences have been a huge aid.

"I'm really delighted to be back in Kilkenny, Ive never had the opportunity to work in Kilkenny previously," she said.

"My career evolved in Limerick, really and truly I think the experience Ive received will be important."

The Kilkenny womans life took a dramatic turn in 2014, as a two hour car journey home, became 12 hours as she took a leap of faith and travelled to Western Australia.

A destination miles away but the 'community' and their needs proved to be not too dissimilar to home.

"When you look at issues impacting communities, actions are required," she said, adding local issues are not too dissimilar to Western Australia, believing matters impacting each family are universal.

The lack of resources became an ongoing battle for the Kilkenny woman and the people she met, with her experiences leading her to make comparisons to those felt in certain parts of rural Ireland.

Following her spell in the remote region, the newly appointed Newpark Family Resource Centre Manager, looks forward to teaming up with fellow staff members and the wider Newpark community.

Returning to her native parish in February, Margaret was pleasantly surprised for the opportunity to present itself, claiming a move back to Limerick appeared more likely.

The local woman now hopes the knowledge of the area she and her colleagues can provide will offer more in-depth support for families when addressing difficulties, and develop a positive relationship within the community.

The city-based community effort has grown substantially over the years.

From a small community centre to a thriving and busy centre in 2023, which aspires to achieve the highest standard of management and organisational development, an aspiration shared by the organisations newest recruit.

One of the centres most noted traits is its commitment not to discriminate and operates under the mantra of: 'partnership, empowerment, equality, openness and accountability, respectfulness and trust'.

Margaret hopes this hallmark can continue as young and old in the locality come together.

"The role of centres like these is to get to know what the community wants or needs," she commented.

"Old and young can come together, skills can be shared and connections can be made."

The Family Resource Centre, now firmly steeped in Newpark life, looks forward to a prosperous future adding to an already vast array of programmes for the local community.
The Town of Cheektowaga has reached an agreement with three local hotels and a government contractor to allow asylum-seekers sent to the town from New York City to stay, but limits how long the hotels can house them.

The settlement, approved Wednesday by State Supreme Court Justice Emilio Colaiacovo, replaces the temporary restraining order the town received in August that prevented more migrants from being sent to the hotels.

Cheektowaga feeling the strain of national immigration debate Cheektowaga did not sign up to be a focal point in Western New York for the the national debate over immigration, but with more than 500 asylum-seekers sent to the town from New York City, that is what it has become.

According to the agreement:

 The asylees staying at a hotel on Dingens Street must be relocated to one of the two Genesee Street hotels by Monday. After that, no more asylum-seekers are allowed at the Dingens Street hotel.

 The two hotels housing asylum-seekers on Genesee Street cannot accept any more single men, but can welcome new migrant families.

 DocGo  the government contractor hired by New York City to oversee the asylum-seeker program  cannot place asylees in any other hotels in Cheektowaga besides the two on Genesee Street.

 All asylees must move out of the hotels by Dec. 31, 2024.

 Seven days after the asylum-seekers are moved out of the Dingens Street hotel, the hotels and DocGo must send the town a list of the number of migrants staying at the Genesee Street hotels. That list must be updated on a monthly basis.

On Tuesday, the Cheektowaga Town Board voted to accept the settlement agreement upon court approval.

"While I feel this is not a perfect scenario, it was the best for us to get this agreement in place for the Town of Cheektowaga residents," Supervisor Diane Benczkowski said. "There were just too many ifs and unknowns if we would go to court."

Benczkowski said it was important to move the asylum-seekers staying at the hotel on Dingens Street. That location drew the most community concern because it is located near a residential area, she said.

Family seeking asylum from Ecuador thankful, optimistic about future in Buffalo "It really was hard for us to leave our country, but it was necessary in order to save the life of every person in our family," the father said.

In August, asylum-seekers living in the Dingens Street hotel were moved to a hotel in Amherst. But shortly after that, there was a sprinkler leak at one of the Genesee Street hotels and those migrants had to be moved to the Dingens Street location. The issue at that Genesee Street hotel has been fixed, Benczkowski said.

"At least going this route, we have an end date to the whole program, even though I'm not happy with that," Benczkowski said. "I would have liked it a lot sooner. But at least we have an end date and at least we're getting the migrants out of the Dingens Street hotel immediately."

Since June, more than 600 asylum-seekers were sent to Western New York from New York City because the city is running out of room for the tens of thousands of asylees sent from the countrys southern border.

They were all sheltered at three hotels in Cheektowaga when they first arrived and some residents have raised concerns about safety and questioned if the migrants were given a background check before being bused here. Two asylum-seekers have been charged with assault while two others face sex-crime charges.

Residents' concerns prompted the town to pursue legal action. In its original petition for a restraining order, Cheektowaga officials argued the three hotels being used as long-term housing for asylees were in violation of town code because they were essentially acting as homeless shelters, which are not permitted under town zoning laws.

Cheektowaga hires law firm that helped another town dealing with migrant influx As Cheektowaga continues to grapple with an influx of asylum-seekers living in hotels in the community, the town has hired a law firm that has successfully represented another community that did not want migrants living in hotels in its town long-term.

While the court settlement did not address the zoning issue, Benczkowski said it would be good for the town to "tighten up" the zoning code so this doesn't happen again in the future.

"We have to take a look at our codes and possibly do a couple public hearings to change some things," the supervisor said.

The town hired a Westchester County law firm to represent them. The firm, Keane and Beane P.C., had previously represented another state municipality in a similar case.
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(Kitco News) - Mining is "embedded in the DNA of Bolivian culture," says Andrew Williams, the newly appointed CEO of New Pacific Metals (TSX:NUAG).

Williams spoke to Kitco mid-September at the Precious Metals Summit 2023 in Beaver Creek, Colorado .

New Pacific has made three discoveries in the South American country: Silver Sand, Corangas and Silverstrike. The company recently published a resource estimate at Corangas outlining 560 million silver-equivalent ounces in the indicated category and 110 million ounces of silver-equivalent inferred.

The property is a large landholding with several geophysical targets New Pacific plans to drill-test.

Interview edited for clarity.

Kitco Mining: Why did you decide to take the CEO reins at New Pacific?

Williams: I started in January of this year as the company's president. Before joining I spent 11 years on the buy side of the industry focused exclusively on precious metals companies as a portfolio manager. I came to appreciate just how rare companies are that make big meaningful discoveries and when they do there is that transitional phase from being a successful exploration company and becoming a project developer. New Pacific had successfully made two significant discoveries and was in need of bringing on new talent as part of the broader effort to become a project developer, so I joined in January of this year as the company's president and have certainly come up to speed on the learning curve and as part of a broader succession plan became the company's CEO just yesterday.

Kitco Mining: The big news was a recent mineral resource estimate. What were the highlights?

Williams: We released our inaugural resource estimate at our Corangas project. It is a massive system, 560 million ounces of silver-equivalent resources in the indicated category, plus an additional 110 million ounces of silver-equivalent in the inferred category. It's a very substantial mineral endowment.

Kitco Mining: What's it like working in Bolivia?

Williams: Bolivia is a mining country, that's something that is really important to understand. Bolivia's been mining for 500 years since the massive Cerro Rico silver discovery was made by the Spaniards and that mine has been continuously operating since 1545, so mining is certainly embedded in the DNA of Bolivian culture. There's some major operating mines in and around our department of Potosi, which is where our flagship Silver Sand project is located. So mining is very much a part of Bolivian culture, an important part of the economy. If you look at the success we've had so far in just five short years, making our Silver Sand discovery, our Corangas discovery, we have a third project Silverstrike which we made a discovery on last year, it's certainly ripe for mineral exploration as we transition from exploration to development.

Kitco Mining: Lastly, next steps over the next 12 months.

Williams: At our Silver Sand project we've got our heads down, we've got a lot of technical work to do. We want to release a prefeasibility study early next year in the first quarter. We're also working towards obtaining our environmental permit at our flagship Silver Sand project, and then at Corangas, we released this inaugural resource. There's a lot of metal there so we want to embark on a PEA study that we're targeting for also the first quarter of next year. And then we've got to start getting more data on the metallurgy. How do we optimize this significant system, as well as progress on our baseline environmental and social work. Importantly at Corangas, we've also got a very large landholding with some exciting geophysical targets that we've outlined, and so we do want to get in and drill-test those, potentially prove out that what we've found so far at Corangas is part of a much larger minerals district.

Kitco Mining's coverage of the Precious Metals Summit 2023 was sponsored by Newcore Gold.
Oct 12 (Reuters) - A group of Japanese firms will issue a digital currency by July 2024 for the transaction and settlement of clean energy certificates, cryptocurrency exchange DeCurret said on Thursday.

GMO Aozora Net Bank will issue the yen-based digital currency, called "DCJPY", which will operate on a network launched by DeCurret.

From next July, DCJPY is intended to be used by telecommunication firm Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) for the settlement of clean energy certificates, which assign an "environmental value" to energy procured from non-fossil fuel sources.

The companies plan to make these tradable using blockchain technology.

DCJPY tokens will be backed by bank deposits and are intended to link with bank accounts to enable the seamless settlement of transactions.

DeCurret says this improves security by using banks' existing know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) practices alongside a traceable blockchain ledger and distinguishes it from stablecoins, cryptocurrencies whose values are typically pegged to fiat currencies.

DCJPY is also hoped to drastically lower payment settlement costs as compared to the existing system of direct debits and transfers.

"If cashless business entities can also become truly digital by using the DCJPY network, there will be enormous cost savings for all stakeholders involved in payment settlements," DeCurret CEO Satoshi Murabayashi said in the DCJPY White Paper.

The launch would align Japan with other countries that have seen an increase in the number of digital currencies backed by bank deposits and block-chain technology.

The DCJPY White Paper, released Thursday, says DCJPY "has a high potential for coexistence" with the central bank's planned digital currency.

DeCurret has been spearheading the launch of a digital currency by anchoring discussions at a consortium of Japanese firms keen to tap the technology.

The consortium, which includes megabanks Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (8306.T), Mizuho Financial Group Inc (8411.T) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (8316.T), has been meeting regularly to study ways to build a common settlement infrastructure for digital payments.
By Bi Ran

During the field research, African students carry out in-depth investigations. /CGTN

A China-Africa collaborative agricultural project hosted by China Agricultural University has been successfully carried out recently in Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province.

The one-week project named China-Africa Oasis along Gansu's Shiyang River Basin is the university's first project involving a joint team of Chinese and African students, who conducted practical research activities focused on agricultural technology and rural development.

Ten Chinese students and 11 African students from 10 countries participated.

Chinese and African students participate in the China-Africa Oasis project. /CGTN

During the field research, African students carried out in-depth investigations into water-saving technology, agricultural irrigation, and farming methods with teachers and students at the Shiyang River Experimental Station of China Agricultural University. They also looked at water conservation project construction and sand control measures in Wuwei City, as well as the experience of local farmers in planting, breeding and whole industry chain supply.

Through two visits to farmers' homes, the students learned about their agricultural production and the great changes in family and personal life brought by the development in China's agriculture and rural areas.

The African students said they hoped to apply some of their experience from the Shiyang River Basin's agricultural and rural development to the reform and innovation of their own country's agricultural development.

Zulu, a student from Zambia, believes that six major technologies used in the basin can be applied to his country's agricultural development, namely smart irrigation systems, water-saving technologies, desertification control, crop breeding and genetic modification, climate data analysis, and e-commerce and agricultural marketing.

A group photo of Chinese and African students in the China-Africa Oasis project. /CGTN

Agriculture is among the major areas for China-Africa cooperation, with China having actively supported the agricultural development of African countries to help them improve food security over the past decades.

The China-Africa Oasis project is a working initiative to involve more international students in China-Africa collaboration. It is also an innovative education model that brings China's education experience to the world.

CGTN Aug. 8th, 2023




Asylum-seekers from the southern U.S. border have had a negligible financial impact on the budgets of the Cheektowaga police and the Erie County District Attorneys Office, top officials in those offices told Erie County lawmakers Thursday.

But school districts are another matter. The Maryvale School District has incurred costs exceeding $400,000, though those costs may be reimbursed by New York State at a later date, the district's superintendent said.

The Legislatures Finance & Management Committee held a meeting in Erie County Hall on Thursday to hear testimony from District Attorney John J. Flynn Jr. and officials in Cheektowaga, where more than 600 migrants have been living in hotels.

Legislators argued along partisan lines, with Republicans seeking to play up the potential costs in the middle of a race for county executive, and Democrats saying almost no county resources are being used for migrants.

Flynn said out of the roughly 600 people from mostly Latin American countries who have been bused from New York City to Cheektowaga, only 12 have been arrested and nine of those 12 cases were minor offenses like petit larcenies.

Its difficult to put a hard number on the costs, Flynn told lawmakers, but the three felony cases require more work from his assistant district attorneys.

The reason I cant give you a dollar amount here is, unlike a law firm, we dont do billable hours, Flynn said. So I have no idea how much time my ADAs spent at that arraignment, for example, in Cheektowaga. It was probably like a minute  a minute long.

Flynn also said his office has gone from being underfunded to flush with resources after receiving multiple state grants.

Were getting literally millions of millions of dollars from the state that is designated for me, he said. I literally cant spend near it all, to tell you the truth. So youre going to have pots of money that youre going to be able to tap into for anything related to my office.

Since asylum-seekers began arriving, some Cheektowaga residents have raised concerns about safety. Two asylum-seekers were charged with assault while two others face sex-crime charges.

Despite that, the asylees have not had a major impact on the police budget, Cheektowaga Police Chief Brian Gould told lawmakers.

Those numbers are well within our yearly budgets for overtime and court time, Gould said. Im not going to my Town Board saying, I need to increase funding. 

Despite the allegations of sex crimes and problems the town was having with DocGo, the company managing the relocation of asylees from New York City to Western New York, things have calmed down in recent weeks, Gould said.

Today its a different story, Gould said. Were all on the same page. Our calls for service have significantly decreased regarding the asylum-seekers.

Gould said he told officials in Gov. Kathy Hochuls office in August that he needed more funds for overtime.

At this time, I wouldnt even ask for that because the calls for service arent supporting it, Gould said. Its just not a major concern as it was during the summer.

At a Sept. 21 Legislature finance committee session, Sheriff John Garcia said the two migrants charged with rape and sex abuse felonies had cost his office about $50,000 for incarceration expenses, which includes medical and translation services.

Anyone housed at the county jail costs the county between $150 and $405 a day, he said.

Maryvale Schools Superintendent Joseph R. D'Angelo said the influx of 76 asylee children into the school district has cost $413,668 to date, which includes the utilization of six aides and a teacher.

There have been no problems in the schools regarding the asylees, DAngelo said. We love having them. We have the capacity to educate them as long as we have the resources. Thats the issue  we dont have the resources.

School districts receive most of their funding from the State Education Department. It is unclear whether the state plans to reimburse districts like Maryvale when awarding funding next year, DAngelo said.

We can't do this without some kind of assistance from the state, he said.

Some of those resources are needed because many of the asylees do not speak English, DAngelo said.

But the school district does already have 199 students enrolled in an English as a second language, or ESL, program, DAngelo acknowledged after being questioned by Democratic Legislator John Bargnesi.

Our teachers are resilient. Im proud of them, DAngelo said. Theres no question theyre stressed about it. Buttheyre doing a great job.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Overcast. High 59F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds from time to time. Low 32F. Winds light and variable.
This summer our children and grandchildren enjoyed a lengthy trip in Europe, specifically France and Italy. For many years our son has shown a keen interest in World War II  especially concerning my service as an infantryman in that war.

A highlight of their trip was the fulfillment of a desire to see the beach where the D-Day landing took place and the extensive cemetery in Normandy, including both the American and the German sections. To put it mildly, they were overwhelmed by the immensity of the cemetery and the sense of sanctity they felt.

Their expressions of solemnity and gratitude caused me to reflect upon war. My thought processes took me as far back as World War I and the many men and women who gave their lives to ensure peace and stability in the world at that time. I contemplated the families who never again saw their sons, fathers and loved ones.

Our countrys ever-present commitment to those in need around the world was so great that we came to the rescue of our brothers and sisters, the people of Europe and Asia, not once but twice, at great cost to our youth.

As far as I can tell, starting in the early 70s when President Richard Nixon had to vacate the presidency due to criminal activities, there began to be an obvious change in the atmosphere in the U.S. The wonderful feeling I had growing up on the West Side of Buffalo, the feeling of neighborhood, people bound together not only spatially but socially and even spiritually for the common good, seemingly, began to erode. Respect for authority, for leadership, was slipping away.

During the Depression years, every family made an effort to look out for one another. A helping hand was there whether you asked for it or not. We were bound that close.

That warm feeling of good neighborliness and respect has continued to fade away. Our country has been riven in twain. We are bordering on brother versus brother.

As an example: As public school teachers in the 1950s, we knew for a fact that the parents in our district were rock solid in supporting our goals for their children. We saw it every day and it made us stronger and more effective in our efforts to promote the highest ideals for their children. By the time I left education 34 years later, there were too many examples of the erosion of trust in what teachers were attempting to do.

This philosophy of negativism has managed to kidnap a political party, abandoning everything that it has taken 247 years to build. Every action that they take is committed to subverting everything the U.S stands for. This party once was the party of law and order. They not only professed it, but they also lived it. They were the warriors of righteousness and ethical conduct.

To return to my initial reflections, many men and women over the years have gone to the ramparts to safeguard of our nation. Were they suckers? Has their sacrifice been in vain? Did they suffer and die for nothing? Has this dream called America been a myth, a myth broken like a reed in the wind? I, for one reject these interlopers. We have come through so much as a people. We are made of stronger stuff.
News / National

by Staff reporter

CCC legislator Joana Mamombe appeared in court today and successfully had her arrest warrant revoked. Mamombe is currently facing charges related to fabricating abductions. The warrant was issued after she failed to attend a court hearing.The background leading to the arrest of the activists is as follows: On May 13, 2020, at approximately 12:30 pm, Mamombe and her colleague Netsai Marova, who is currently on the run, joined other youth activists associated with the MDC-A party. They gathered at Choppies Supermarket in Warren Park 1 and staged a demonstration against the removal of their party's MPs from Parliament and the allocation of funds for COVID-19 response.On the same day, they informed friends, family, and their lawyer that they had been arrested at a roadblock near the Showgrounds in Harare and were taken to Harare Central Police Station. Their lawyer, Mr. Jeremiah Bamu, contacted the police CID Law and Order section and communicated with Detective Chief Inspector Chibaya, reporting the alleged arrests.However, upon investigation, it was determined that they had not been arrested. On the same day, news of their supposed arrest circulated on social media and in local newspapers.On May 15, 2020, at around 1 am, Mr. Bamu informed the police that the three were located at Muchapondwa Business Centre in Bindura. The police, along with Mr. Bamu, retrieved the trio and transported them to a hospital in Waterfalls, Harare, as they claimed to have been subjected to torture.On May 19, 2020, Marova was interviewed by Detective Chafa, where she alleged that she had been abducted and tortured by the police. Subsequently, Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri were interviewed on May 25, 2020, according to the State.The police investigation revealed that the three were not actually abducted but had staged the kidnapping.
The Mississippi River has dropped to a historic low for the second consecutive year
AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc lessened its holdings in shares of Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Free Report) by 0.3% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,824,940 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 4,642 shares during the quarter. Weyerhaeuser makes up about 1.0% of AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plcs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest position. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc owned 0.25% of Weyerhaeuser worth $61,102,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Putnam Investments LLC grew its holdings in Weyerhaeuser by 49.6% in the first quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 356,313 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $10,736,000 after purchasing an additional 118,152 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Weyerhaeuser by 93.9% during the 2nd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 4,020 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $135,000 after buying an additional 1,947 shares during the last quarter. Versor Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of Weyerhaeuser in the 1st quarter worth $669,000. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. boosted its holdings in Weyerhaeuser by 1.0% in the first quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 1,430,774 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $43,109,000 after acquiring an additional 13,540 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. grew its position in Weyerhaeuser by 5.0% during the first quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 250,781 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $7,553,000 after acquiring an additional 11,908 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.54% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Weyerhaeuser

In other news, SVP Denise M. Merle sold 7,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.29, for a total transaction of $242,175.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 147,601 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,766,036.29. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Weyerhaeuser Stock Down 2.0 %

Shares of Weyerhaeuser stock traded down $0.62 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $30.03. 1,768,317 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,930,306. Weyerhaeuser has a twelve month low of $27.65 and a twelve month high of $36.00. The company has a market cap of $21.94 billion, a PE ratio of 31.93 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.34.

Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.11. Weyerhaeuser had a return on equity of 8.32% and a net margin of 8.80%. The firm had revenue of $1.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.01 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.06 earnings per share. Weyerhaeusers revenue for the quarter was down 36.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Weyerhaeuser will post 1.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Weyerhaeuser Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.53%. Weyerhaeusers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 79.17%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

WY has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Weyerhaeuser in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Weyerhaeuser from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. DA Davidson lifted their target price on shares of Weyerhaeuser from $35.00 to $40.00 in a report on Friday, July 7th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Weyerhaeuser in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America raised Weyerhaeuser from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $34.00 to $38.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Weyerhaeuser presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $38.29.

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Weyerhaeuser Profile

(Free Report)

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY  Free Report).

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Shares of Agricultural Bank of China Limited (OTCMKTS:ACGBF  Get Free Report) rose 3.1% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $0.36 and last traded at $0.36. Approximately 24,028 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 66% from the average daily volume of 70,450 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.35.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ACGBF has been the topic of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Agricultural Bank of China from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Agricultural Bank of China from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, July 4th.

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Agricultural Bank of China Stock Up 7.9 %

Agricultural Bank of China Company Profile

The firms fifty day simple moving average is $0.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $0.36.

(Get Free Report)

Agricultural Bank of China Limited provides banking products and services. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, and Treasury Operations segments. It offers demand, personal call, foreign currency call, time or demand optional, foreign exchange call, foreign exchange time, savings, agreed term, and negotiated deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and loans, including housing, consumer, business, fixed asset, working capital, real estate, and entrusted syndicated loans, as well as trade finances, guarantees and commitments, and loans with custody of export rebates accounts.

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Mach 1 Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 1,269.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 76,497 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 70,910 shares during the period. Mach 1 Financial Group LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $2,195,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its position in Bank of America by 1.5% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 135,764 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,596,000 after buying an additional 2,013 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its position in Bank of America by 150.3% during the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 1,985 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $82,000 after buying an additional 1,192 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in Bank of America by 4.2% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 405,098 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $16,698,000 after buying an additional 16,319 shares in the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank purchased a new position in Bank of America during the first quarter worth approximately $586,000. Finally, Pearl River Capital LLC purchased a new position in Bank of America during the first quarter worth approximately $534,000. 68.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on BAC. StockNews.com began coverage on Bank of America in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on 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. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $35.00 target price on shares of Bank of America in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Bank of America from $34.00 to $32.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. 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 target price on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Bank of America currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $35.32.

Bank of America Trading Down 1.0 %

BAC traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $26.76. 27,727,741 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 48,571,340. The firms fifty day moving average is $28.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $28.88. Bank of America Co. has a 1-year low of $25.47 and a 1-year high of $38.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The company has a market cap of $212.64 billion, a PE ratio of 7.74, a PEG ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.36.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.04. Bank of America had a return on equity of 12.01% and a net margin of 19.97%. The company had revenue of $25.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.98 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.73 EPS. Bank of Americas revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. This is an increase from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.59%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is 27.59%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Bank of America news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total transaction of $2,449,332.88. Following the sale, the insider now owns 353,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,143,007.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total value of $2,449,332.88. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 353,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,143,007.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 185,108 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Bank of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. Its Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, noninterest-and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; and credit and debit cards, residential mortgages, and home equity loans, as well as direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans.

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BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY  Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Wednesday, October 4th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a dividend of 0.0345 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $0.41 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th.

BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund stock opened at $9.93 on Thursday. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund has a 1-year low of $9.73 and a 1-year high of $12.38. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $10.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.85.

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Institutional Trading of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Stifel Financial Corp increased its stake in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 43,884 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $491,000 after buying an additional 1,352 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its stake in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 40,746 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $455,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new position in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $374,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 26,652 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $295,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new stake in BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $231,000. 19.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund

BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in investment grade, long-term municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and Michigan income taxes.

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CAMBRIDGE, ON and TORONTO and VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - To better understand the impacts of climate change on vulnerable Canadians in urban environments, Gore Mutual Foundation has partnered with Social Innovation Canada (SI Canada) and York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change to launch The Climate and Equity Lab, a groundbreaking social innovation initiative.

Gore Mutual Insurance Company logo (CNW Group/Gore Mutual Insurance Company)

In Canada, climate change is imposing an increasingly disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, and factors such as poverty significantly impact the likelihood of recovering from extreme weather events.

"This year, Gore Mutual Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary by introducing the Equity Acceleration Fund, a $1M fund to support charitable organizations focusing on the inter-connection of poverty, equity, and climate change. We quickly identified a troubling lack of investment in the understanding of the impact climate change is having on vulnerable groups," said Gaby Polanco Sorto, VP & Head of Purpose and Sustainability at Gore Mutual Insurance Company. "Our partners in The Climate and Equity Lab share the same values, urgency, and vision to make our findings public and inspire others to take action alongside us. We are thrilled to embark on this journey together."

Gore Mutual Foundation will act as the lead sponsor of The Climate and Equity Lab, while SI Canada, a national charitable organization working to address complex challenges and create transformational change, will act as the Project lead, responsible for the management of the project's deliverables and leading the facilitation of the labs. As the academic partner, York University's Faculty of Environment and Urban Change will provide a postdoctoral researcher who will identify gaps through existing research and assist in developing new research to explore how the effects of climate change may exacerbate inequalities faced by Canada's most disadvantaged populations.

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Alice Hovorka, Dean of York's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, expressed her enthusiasm for this initiative, stating, "The research from The Climate and Equity Lab will serve as a crucial tool to inform policymakers, offering clear innovation and investment opportunities developed in collaboration with the communities most affected by climate change."

After a year of planning, phase one of The Climate and Equity Lab's multi-year initiative has begun, with stakeholder workshops set to take place in Vancouver, the Waterloo Region, and Toronto over the next nine months.

"This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward comprehending the complex connection between climate change and vulnerable groups. In collaboration with these communities, we will work towards creating a more equitable and resilient future for all Canadians," emphasized Andrea Nemtin, CEO of SI Canada.

Mutuals, Cooperatives, or Credit Unions interested in partnering with the Lab can reach out to purpose@goremutual.ca.

About Gore Mutual

Built on a foundation of financial strength for more than 180 years, Gore Mutual Insurance Company is one of Canada's first property and casualty insurers. With offices in Cambridge, Toronto and Vancouver, Gore Mutual is a Canadian mutual company offering competitive insurance products through trusted broker partners. Every decision and investment made is anchored in the long-term benefits to customers, members and communities.

Insurance that does good  this is our Purpose. Grounded in our purpose and guided by our core values, at Gore Mutual, we believe that being good and doing good by our employees, customers and broker partners will benefit not only them but also uswhich in turn allows us to spread good in our communities and reward the good we see in others. This is what is driving our work to become a purpose-driven, digitally-led national insurer.

About York University's New Faculty Of Environmental And Urban Change (EUC)

York University's new Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) has been created as a call to action to respond to the most pressing challenges facing people and the planet. Established in 2020, EUC brings together a critical mass of geographers, physical scientists, social scientists, humanities researchers and artists whose innovative, world-renowned research addresses natural, built and social spaces from a global perspective. Using field-based science, policy analysis, critical social theory, planning skills, geomatics, and cultural and arts-based approaches, our researchers are mobilizing knowledge to make positive change. We are a community of changemakers working to create a just and sustainable future.

About Social Innovation Canada (SI Canada)

Social Innovation Canada (SI Canada) is a national charitable organization working to address complex challenges and create transformational change. SI Canada believes the application of social innovation approaches is essential to tackling problems that no sector or solo entrepreneur can solve alone. Social innovation is made possible by the contribution of diverse teams and the inclusion of ideas and actions from those most impacted by the challenges we face.

SOURCE Gore Mutual Insurance Company

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Deer Consumer Products, Inc. (OTCMKTS:DEER  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.00. Deer Consumer Products shares last traded at $0.00, with a volume of 0 shares trading hands.

Deer Consumer Products Price Performance

About Deer Consumer Products

(Get Free Report)

Deer Consumer Products, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of small home and kitchen electronic appliances. It offers blenders, juicers, soy milk makers, food processors, popcorn makers, meat grinders, coffee machines, and hot water kettles primarily under the Deer brand name, as well as under one store brand for retailer's private label programs.

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Mach 1 Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE:TEL  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 16,047 shares of the electronics makers stock, valued at approximately $2,249,000. TE Connectivity makes up about 0.6% of Mach 1 Financial Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of TE Connectivity in the 4th quarter worth about $584,131,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 119,784.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,247,666 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $372,832,000 after buying an additional 3,244,957 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 341.4% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,305,514 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $94,846,000 after buying an additional 2,556,629 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of TE Connectivity by 19.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 14,149,636 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $1,851,648,000 after buying an additional 2,309,835 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pzena Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of TE Connectivity in the 1st quarter worth about $239,957,000. 90.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on TEL shares. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of TE Connectivity from $149.00 to $153.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of TE Connectivity from $127.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Credit Suisse Group boosted their target price on shares of TE Connectivity from $138.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of TE Connectivity in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, TD Cowen raised shares of TE Connectivity from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $115.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Friday, October 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $143.90.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Terrence R. Curtin sold 70,721 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.02, for a total transaction of $10,114,517.42. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 54,969 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,861,666.38. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

TE Connectivity Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE TEL traded down $1.54 on Thursday, reaching $123.89. 430,400 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,548,386. TE Connectivity Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $104.76 and a fifty-two week high of $146.60. The company has a 50 day moving average of $128.45 and a 200 day moving average of $129.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.89 billion, a PE ratio of 19.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.35.

TE Connectivity (NYSE:TEL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The electronics maker reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.11. TE Connectivity had a net margin of 12.63% and a return on equity of 19.55%. The company had revenue of $4 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.86 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that TE Connectivity Ltd. will post 6.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About TE Connectivity

(Free Report)

TE Connectivity Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells connectivity and sensor solutions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the AsiaPacific, and the Americas. The company operates through three segments: Transportation Solutions, Industrial Solutions, and Communications Solutions.

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Monarch Ambassador Income ETF (BATS:MAMB  Get Free Report) was down 0.1% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $20.78 and last traded at $20.81. Approximately 2,924 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at $20.84.

Monarch Ambassador Income ETF Price Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average price of $21.30 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $21.88.

Monarch Ambassador Income ETF Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Monarch Ambassador Income ETF (MAMB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Kingsview Ambassador Income index. The fund tracks an index that consists of mainly global fixed income ETFs, plus an alternative sleeve. Constituents are selected and weighted based on the economic cycle. MAMB was launched on Mar 23, 2021 and is managed by Monarch.

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Valeo Pharma Inc. (TSE:VPH  Get Free Report)s stock price fell 2.6% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as C$0.19 and last traded at C$0.19. 32,025 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 6% from the average session volume of 30,078 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.19.

Valeo Pharma Trading Down 2.8 %

The company has a market cap of C$17.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.58 and a beta of 2.58. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$0.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$0.38.

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Valeo Pharma (TSE:VPH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 13th. The company reported C($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C($0.06) by C($0.01). The firm had revenue of C$14.08 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$16.10 million.

Valeo Pharma Company Profile

Valeo Pharma Inc, a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the acquisition, in-licensing brands, and sale of pharmaceuticals and hospital specialty products for unmet medical needs in Canada. Its product portfolio includes Enerzair Breezhaler, an LABA/LAMA/ICS fixed triple dose asthma drug; Atectura Breezhaler, an LABA/ICS dual combination asthma drug; Redesca, to treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; Onstryv, Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD) as an add-on for patients on stable dose of Levodopa alone or in combination with other drugs; M-Eslon, extended-release morphine sulphate used for pain management; and Yondelis, a soft tissue sarcoma.

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Top US senator urges South Korea to support Israel

By Lee Hyo-jin

South Korea is finding itself in a difficult position as the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas escalates further. President Yoon Suk Yeol has condemned Hamas' "indiscriminate" attacks, yet he has not openly expressed support for Israel, in what is viewed as a balancing act amid fears that the ongoing war may expand to a wider Middle East conflict.

During a meeting between Yoon and a six-member U.S. bipartisan Senate delegation led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during the latter's visit to Seoul, Wednesday, Schumer urged the South Korean government to stand with Washington in supporting Israel.

Following the Palestinian Islamist militant group's surprise attack on Israel last week, the United States has been providing unwavering support for the Jewish state, including the provision of munitions and deployment of aircraft carriers near the coast of Israel.

"I urged President Yoon to continue to stand with the Israeli people and do all he can to join the U.S. by supporting Israels effort to defend itself. I described the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists," Schumer wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Thursday.

"I saw he was moved and affirmed South Koreas commitment to Israels security," he added.

But an official statement released by Yoon's office on the meeting with the U.S. Senate delegation did not mention South Korea's commitment to Israel's security.

"The president and the Senate delegation condemned Hamas' indiscriminate attacks on Israel and expressed their empathy for the need for South Korea and the U.S. to play a constructive role in bringing a swift end to the current situation, easing tensions in the region and achieving stability," read the statement released by the presidential office on Wednesday evening.

The somewhat differing tone between the top U.S. senator and the South Korean presidential office suggests that Seoul is trying to maintain a diplomatic balance in the decades-long Israel-Palestine strife, one of the world's most intractable conflicts.

For South Korea, showing explicit support for Israel could come at the risk of strained relations with some Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has stated that his country stands by the Palestinians in their war with Israel.

The South Korean government is actively working to bolster economic ties with Saudi Arabia by helping South Korean companies participate in Saudi Arabia's NEOM smart city project and secure substantial investments from the oil-rich nation.

But at the same time, South Korea is facing pressure to align with its Western allies in the context of its values-based diplomacy. In a joint statement, the U.S., the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy have labeled Hamas' attacks as acts of "terrorism" and vowed steadfast, unified support for Israel.

Wednesday's statement from the presidential office, however, is notable as it marked Yoon's first official condemnation of Hamas' attack. During a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, the president voiced concerns that the ongoing war may potentially affect South Korea's economy, although he fell short of issuing any diplomatic messages.

As the war entered its sixth day, as of Thursday, over 2,000 civilians and soldiers have died on both sides. The Hamas attack has claimed more than 1,200 lives in Israel, according to the Israeli government. About 1,100 people, including at least 326 children, have been killed in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip by Israel's retaliatory strikes, said Gaza's Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, Russia accused the U.S.' "failed foreign policy" in the Middle East of having escalated the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

China, which has been promoting itself as a regional peacemaker in the Middle East, renewed its support for a two-state solution of establishing an independent Palestinian state to achieve peace in the region. But an article published earlier this week in Beijing's English mouthpiece Global Times criticized the U.S.' decision to send weapons and warships to Israel after the Hamas attack, saying it will only fuel the tension.

North Korea has overtly sided with the Palestinians, saying through its state media Rodong Sinmun that the ongoing clash was the result of Israel's "constant criminal acts" against the Palestinian people. It also said that the fundamental way out of the war is to build an independent Palestinian state.
Estonia opens embassy in Seoul

By Kim Hyun-bin

Estonian President Alar Karis emphasized the close ties and shared values between Korea and Estonia while expressing his commitment to enhancing their bilateral relations after announcing the opening of the Estonian Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday, marking a significant step forward in fostering cooperation between the two nations.

I am very pleased to open the Estonian Embassy in Seoul to intensify our cooperation even further. For a small nation with limited resources, Karis said during an event marking the opening of its embassy here at a hotel in Seoul.

The Estonian Ambassador to Korea Sten Schwede also addressed the close and burgeoning relationship between Estonia and Korea, celebrating the fully operational Estonian Embassy in Seoul and the establishment of the Estonian Business Hub Seoul.

The decision by the Estonian government in 2020 to open an embassy in Seoul was highlighted as a pivotal step towards enhancing the bilateral relationship.

The Estonian government decided in 2020 to open an embassy in Seoul. It took a little longer to complete the task due to the pandemic, but our diplomatic mission is now fully functional and fully manned, Schwede said.

One of the primary missions of the Estonian Embassy in Seoul is to promote business ties between the two nations. In line with this goal, the Estonian Business Hub Seoul was inaugurated simultaneously with the embassy.

The Hub is supporting the embassy by reaching out to Korean and Estonian companies and replying to their inquiries, but also by providing meeting space for Estonian and Korean entrepreneurs, by organizing seminars, meet-ups, exhibitions and promotional events, the ambassador said.

These meet-ups are a good opportunity for Korean importers to meet Estonian exporters and I am happy that there are lately many successful entrances of Estonian goods into the Korean market.

Karis acknowledged the cultural and historical similarities between Estonia and Korea, emphasizing that both nations have a deep-rooted understanding of what it takes to preserve their unique identities and languages in the face of larger neighbors and challenging circumstances.

With a shared commitment to freedom and democracy, Estonia and Korea have laid a strong foundation for a robust partnership. President Karis underscored the importance of a rules-based international order and the right of each nation to determine its own path.

Karis highlighted the interconnection between security in the Euro-Atlantic region and the Pacific region surrounding Korea.

Our histories have ingrained deep in our national consciousnesses the understanding of what it takes to survive as unique cultures with our unique languages in the midst of bigger neighbors and through difficult times, he added. Both Estonia and Korea had to endure great hardships before being able to stand here today as a successful and prosperous democracy.

The Estonian president praised Korea's support for Ukraine, emphasizing that both Estonia and Korea have painful memories of wars on their soil but have successfully built prosperous economies and democracies after foreign occupation.
By Park Jae-hyuk

POSCO International and GS Caltex signed an agreement to invest a combined $210 million in AGPA Refinery Complex (ARC) established in Indonesia in March for their joint palm oil refining business, both companies said Thursday.

The trading firm will hold a 60 percent stake in the joint venture, while the oil refiner will hold the remaining 40 percent.

Based on their investments, ARC will start building a palm oil refinery in the first quarter of next year on a 300,000-square-meter site at the Balikpapan industrial complex in East Kalimantan.

The plant will begin to produce 500,000 tons of refined oil annually by the second quarter of 2025. The product will be sold in Indonesia and exported to other countries in the region, including Korea and China.

As part of efforts to become a global green company, POSCO International has sought to expand the value chain of its palm oil business. GS Caltex has also tried to secure a foothold to produce biofuel for its Green Transformation vision.

Both companies are considering building another joint plant for sustainable aviation fuel or sustainable marine fuel, which will be made with waste oil generated from ARCs palm oil refinery.

Amid the increase in global population and growing demand for biochemicals, the palm oil business has become promising, a POSCO International official said. Beyond the palm oil production, our company will engage in refining, so that we can expand the value chain to various new business sectors, such as bioenergy, foods and chemistry of fat and oil.

GS Caltex CEO Hur Sae-hong promised that his company will utilize its biofuel capability to create synergy with POSCO International.

The joint venture will enable us to enhance our competitiveness in the global market, he said.
Spiro, a startup looking to eliminate fuel-guzzling motorbikes and scooters from the roads by trading them in for electric two-wheelers, is expanding to Kenya.

Ahead of the first Africa Climate Summit, which kicked off in Kenyas capital Nairobi today, the host government announced on Friday that the e-bike and battery-swapping startup would be entering the East African country with its biggest deployment yet: 1.2 million electric vehicles.

This marks a major milestone for the company founded in the West African country of Benin in 2022, says CEO Jules Samain  vastly increasing its fleet from the 10,000 bikes currently in operation across Benin, Togo and Rwanda. This autumn, the company will also begin its five-year rollout of 140,000 bikes in Uganda.

Crushing polluters

Spiros goal is not only to reduce pollution sources, but to eliminate them, Samain tells CNN. Once an old bike has been traded in, the parts will be recycled and repurposed, he explains, adding that the company has held crushing events in both Benin and Togo, where motorized vehicles are publicly flattened before the material is reused.

The process for drivers differs between countries. In Kenya, they will be offered 50,000 Kenyan shillings (about $344)  around a third of the price of a new electric bike  to swap their existing bike for an electric one. They can then pay a daily subscription of around 255 Kenyan shillings (about $2) which repays the outstanding balance and gives drivers access to battery-swap stations, where they can quickly switch out depleted batteries for fully charged ones.

Not only does the scheme reduce the number of petrol and diesel vehicles on the road and associated air pollution, but it also cuts costs for drivers in both fuel and maintenance, according to the company. The startup notes that some of its motorbike taxi drivers have reported profits rising from around $6 to $11 a day since joining the scheme.

Spiro has hundreds of battery-swap and maintenance stations across the countries it operates in, where drivers can switch depleted batteries for fully charged ones. - CLEMENT DI ROMA/AFP via Getty Images

A 2022 report from the FIA Foundation, an international transport and road safety charity, found that while the purchase price of electric motorcycles is currently greater than that of petrol-powered motorcycles, the operating costs are cheaper. It says that in many African countries, one liter of petrol will power a bike for about the same distance as one kilowatt-hour of electricity but will cost five to 10 times more.

Story continues

The report adds that battery-swapping initiatives are key in making electric two-wheelers more affordable, because when an electric motorcycle is sold without the battery, it significantly reduces the initial purchase price.

But for battery-swapping to work, there needs to be reliable and accessible charging infrastructure, says Samain. Before distributing the first bike, we build a network of swapping stations, and they arent placed randomly: we carefully study the terrain and position our swapping stations in both urban and rural areas, ensuring extensive coverage.

Spiro has committed to building 3,000 of these stations across Kenya, meaning that drivers can rid themselves of range anxiety, while also contributing to building up the nations electric vehicle infrastructure. The company, which currently manufactures most of its bikes and scooters in China, has also agreed to establish a manufacturing base in Kenya to generate local jobs.

Kenyas president William Ruto, speaking in the coastal city of Mombasa at the launch of the initiative, said: It creates jobs and transfers knowledge, technology and skills to our market in a very sustainable way.

President William Ruto drives a Spiro electric motorcycle during the national launch of the initiative in Mombasa, Kenya. - AFP via Getty Images

Charging forward

According to the FIA Foundation, there were 27 million motorbikes registered in sub-Saharan Africa in 2022, rising from just 5 million in 2010, with around 80% of them used in the motorcycle taxi industry. The demand for two-wheelers is expected to grow even further, with a report from management consulting firm McKinsey estimating that electric and petrol motorbikes will make up over 45% of sub-Saharan Africas overall vehicle fleet by 2040.

McKinsey warns that with increased demand, second-hand motorized vehicles that dont meet emission standards in other countries around the world might end up being sold in Africa, where there is weak regulation. To avoid the continent becoming a dumping ground for unwanted polluting vehicles, enabling affordable and reliable electrification will be key, it says.

Spiro, formerly known as M-Auto, is just one of the startups fueling this transition. Swedish-Kenyan startup Roam (formerly Opibus), which converts old vehicles to run off electric motors, opened East Africas largest electric motorcycle assembly plant earlier this year, while Ampersand has a fleet of around 1,000 bikes as well as a small network of battery-swap stations across Kenya and Rwanda. Last week, US company Uber also launched an electric motorbike service in Kenya, promising to roll out 3,000 bikes within six months.

But the scale of Spiros Kenya expansion dwarfs all existing fleets. Were surpassing the symbolic but significant milestone of one million electric bikes signed with a government, says Samain. The startup has its foot on the accelerator, and by 2030, he wants it to be operating in at least 10 African countries.

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After she departed from LE SSERAFIM, Kim Garam laid low from the spotlight. However, a new update regarding the former idol has come to light.

Read on to learn about Garam's current status.

Kim Garam: Debut with LE SSERAFIM, Controversy, Departure From Group

On April 4, 2022, Garam was introduced as LE SSERAFIM's second member, which led to her debuting with the girl group on May 2, 2022, with first mini album "FEARLESS."

However, as soon as Garam's identity as a K-pop idol was revealed in the open, bullying allegations were made against the former idol. Apart from school violence, Garam was also accused of smoking and drinking while underage.

On April 6, HYBE labels denied the allegations on Source Music's official Twitter account. The company warned that legal action would be taken and that the claims were false.

However, on May 16, a document from a school violence committee went viral. The record showed Garam's name as a perpetrator in a school incident and according to the file, Garam had been found guilty by the school violence committee in 2018.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: Kim Garam's Past Conversations With Yoo Eunseo Surface Following Instagram Post

On May 19, the alleged victim who went by the name of Yoo Eunseo stepped up and shared how she was bullied by Garam.

HYBE then replied by declaring that the information was only one-sided and that the agency was in the process of making its stand. It was followed by a statement addressing another alleged victim "A," who shared bad experiences with the former idol.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam's Middle School Addresses New Bullying Allegations Against Her

On May 20, Source Music and HYBE declared Garam's temporary hiatus from LE SSERAFIM. However, despite the intense backlash, a Korean media outlet reported that HYBE had no plans to remove Garam out of the group.

On May 21, HYBE released an additional statement regarding Garam's allegations. This announcement expressed skepticism on why Garam had a degree 5 disciplinary action despite having no physical altercation.

Ultimately, on July 20, the agency announced the termination of Garam's exclusive contract and removal from LE SSERAFIM.

"Our company has decided to terminate Kim Garam's exclusive contract." "LE SSERAFIM will continue their promotions with five members and will unconditionally support the group to grow further as artists through their music and performances."

On August 10, Garam finally spoke up for the first time regarding her accusations. Garam firmly denied all the allegations, stating she had never engaged in physical violence, smoked, drank alcohol, or was forced to transfer schools.

Garam also followed up on the school violence committee's full report, which detailed her 5th-level disposition and Yoo Eunseo's involvement in the fray.

Where is Kim Garam Now? Here's What We Know So Far

On October 10, netizens found out that Garam was one of the seven students who passed the first round applications in Dongguk University's acting major department. Notable graduates from the alma mater include Girls' Generation members YoonA and Seohyun.

After the controversy, it was claimed that Garam had returned to her normal life as a student at the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA). In May 2023, the former idol graduated from the school, marking a new beginning for her.

For more intriguing K-pop news and exciting updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Recent Report About Ex-LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam Draws Mixed Reactions- Here's Why

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Riely Miller
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(AFP via Getty Images)

Calls for a humanitarian corridor to allow aid into Gaza were intensifying today despite a warning from Israel that its siege will continue until the hostages captured by Hamas are freed.

The United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres said rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access was needed to help stricken civilians inside Gaza suffering from the aerial bombardment, displacement from their homes, and shortages of food, power and clean water.

Aid agencies also backed the call along with Brazils president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in his role as the current head of the UN Security Council. He said that Israeli hostages should be freed but also urged Israel to stop bombing so Palestinian children and their mothers can leave Gaza via Egypt.

Egypt was also reported to be working to achieve a six-hour truce to allow vital supplies to be taken into Gaza across the countrys Rafah border with the tiny Palestinian territory.

But despite warnings that the main hospital in Gaza has only four days of fuel left and risks turning into a morgue and increasing reports of life-threatening hardship among the civilian population, Israel today warned that its decision to shut off all supplies to Gaza, including power and food, would not be reversed until its hostages were freed.

Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home, said energy minister Israel Katz.

Humanitarianism for humanitarianism. And no one will preach us morality.

Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Richard Hecht added that nobody was being allowed in or out of Gaza and that anyone trying to will be shot. Anyone. No ones coming in, no ones coming out.

The rebuff from Israel came as reports told of sewage building up on some streets, families struggling to find clean water, and medical supplies to treat the sick and injured running short.

Story continues

Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said: The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken.

The United Nations has said that 338,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Gaza since Israels airstrikes began in retaliation for the murderous Hamas attack which is so far known to have claimed 1,200 lives. The death toll in Gaza has also reached 1,200 with thousands more injured. Women and children are among the dead on both sides.
A Columbus man and an alleged accomplice from Oklahoma have been indicted on multiple charges for illegally bringing in hundreds of taxidermy bird mounts and thousands of eggs into the U.S. between January 2016 and December 2020, according to the Justice Department.

The Justice Department said John Waldrop, 74, of Catuala and Columbus, Ga. and Toney Jones, 53, of Eufaula, Alabama, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, smuggling goods into the United States, violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and money laundering conspiracy.

Waldrop and Jones used websites such as eBay and Etsy to buy taxidermy birds and eggs from around the world including places such as Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, and many other other countries, authorities stated.

The defendants collected many species of protected birds including canary, duck, eagle, falcon, hawk, heron, owl, parrot, vulture, woodpecker and others, according to the indictment.

The Justice Department estimated the value at $1.2 million for wildlife purchased, transported, imported and possessed by the defendants.

Waldrop and Jones allegedly made requests to wildlife dealers for particular bird species including some that were protected under CITES and the MBTA, according to the release.

U.S. law and regulations require that importers declare wildlife to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Customs authorities, the justice department said in a statement. Permits are also required for wildlife protected by the ESA, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

It is in our national and global interest to enforce federal laws and treaties that protect endangered birds from the harm of alleged profiteers like the defendants, and the Eastern District of New York will do so, said Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York in a statement.

The Justice Department said Waldrop and Jones face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
VMPL

New Delhi [India], October 12: The International Makeup event held on October 7th at Pride Plaza was an exquisite celebration of beauty and makeup artistry. Renowned Brazilian artist, Alessandro Alcantara, showcased his exceptional talent, captivating the audience with his craft. The showstopper for this grand affair was the charismatic influencer, Leena Bhushan, adding an extra layer of glamour to the event. The gathering witnessed an amalgamation of makeup artistry and glamour, attracting a multitude of VVIP GUESTS showing unwavering support for the beauty industry.

Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Too Early To Exchange Israeli Hostages, Says Hamas Official.

The event was launched in one of the esteemed magazines, Beauty and the Best, creating a buzz in the beauty industry. The grand unveiling was done by the artist Alessandro Alcantara and the founder and Co-founder of Igc, Shirin Singh, and Neha Pal Sharma.

Amidst the vibrant display of colors and skillful brushes, the spotlight turned to Leena Bhushan, a prominent influencer in the beauty sphere. Her presence on stage exuded grace and confidence, embodying the very essence of the event. As the showstopper, she impeccably showcased the fusion of talent and style, captivating the attention of everyone with her radiant charisma.

Also Read | Female Frogs Pretend To Be Dead to Avoid Sex as Mating Behavior Sometimes Result in Death for She-Frogs: Study.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/igcbyshirin_neha?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

A defining moment of the event was when Leena expressed heartfelt gratitude to the distinguished VVIP guests, including Gursewak Singh, Atul Chauhan, Ojas Rajani, Gomit Chopra, and many more, for gracing the occasion and supporting the flourishing makeup industry. Her words resonated with everyone present, emphasizing the significance of collective support in fostering growth and innovation within the industry. The appreciation was reciprocated by the guests, acknowledging the importance of unity and collaboration in driving the beauty sector forward.

The success of the event was greatly attributed to the generous support of numerous brands that sponsored the event. Brands such as Kamaali Couture, Nirakara Jewels, Forever 52, Purelle, Krelon, Recode, Vatten, Mukhi Singh, Praush, Cs Essentials, Riwayat, Herbsutra, Glammskin, The Skin Juices, Neyah Beauty, De Estilo Ropa, Madhvams, and Trinkets and Charms played a pivotal role in creating a captivating and seamless affair. Their collaboration enriched the event, adding an extra layer of glamour.

The International Makeup event was elevated to unparalleled heights by the exceptional talent of the Brazilian artist Alessandro Alcantara and the captivating presence of Leena Bhushan as the showstopper. The unwavering support of VVIPs and the valuable contributions of the sponsoring brands served as pillars of strength, elevating the event to an unforgettable showcase of creativity and elegance. This event will undoubtedly be remembered as a momentous day in the beauty industry, highlighting the power of collaboration and unity in the pursuit of beauty.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

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New Delhi/Mumbai Oct 12 (PTI) Akasa Air, which is facing headwinds due to pilot issues, has cancelled some flights from Bengaluru, sources said on Thursday, while the airline stated it has rationalised the network to ensure high operational reliability.

Bengaluru is the hub for the carrier, which operates around 700 flights daily.

Also Read | Impart Education in Mother Tongue and Local Language Till Class 8, Says Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi.

Sources said the airline, which has been flying for more than a year, has cancelled some flights from Bengaluru. However, specific details could not be immediately ascertained.

"As we have mentioned before in the July-August 2023 timeframe, when a small set of pilots abandoned their duties and left the organisation without serving their mandatory contractual notice period, we were forced to cancel a number of flights.

Also Read | Infosys Job Hiring: Not Going to Campus for Recruitment at the Moment Says Infosys CFO Nilanjan Roy.

"Since then, we have rationalised our network to ensure that we offer our customers the highest levels of operational reliability, as we did for the first 11 months of our operation," an Akasa Air spokesperson said in a statement.

The airline flies to 16 cities.

According to the spokesperson, with its advanced pilot planning and training programmes, the airline is "now squarely back in growth mode".

"As we take delivery of several additional aircraft in the remainder of this fiscal year, we look forward to opening up several domestic and international destinations within the fiscal year 2023-24," the spokesperson said, adding that the carrier is financially strong.

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Fazilka, Oct 12 (PTI) A court here on Thursday extended Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira's police remand by two days in a 2015 drugs case.

The Bholath MLA was produced in the Jalalabad court after his two-day remand ended on Thursday.

Also Read | INDIA Bloc Writes to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Demands Platforms' Neutrality During Upcoming Elections.

Khaira was arrested on September 28 from his Chandigarh residence and sent to two-day remand.

Though the police had asked for further remand, the court refused to grant it and sent him to a 14-day judicial custody on September 30.

Also Read | Impart Education in Mother Tongue and Local Language Till Class 8, Says Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi.

Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa claimed he was not allowed to meet Khaira when he was produced in the court.

"It is a public premises, it is the district court. How can you stop anyone? I hold a constitutional post, I am the leader of the opposition. How can you stop," asked Bajwa, slamming police personnel for stopping him.

Khaira was arrested on the basis of an investigation conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Deputy Inspector General Swapan Sharma in the drugs case.

The case was registered in March 2015 at Jalalabad in Fazilka. Nine people, including Khaira's close aide Gurdev Singh, were booked in the case and later convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Police had recovered 2 kg of heroin, 24 gold biscuits, a country-made pistol, a .315-bore pistol and two Pakistani SIM cards from them.

Khaira's name cropped up later during the police probe.

However, in 2017, the Supreme Court stayed the trial court proceedings against Khaira, who was summoned as an additional accused in the matter. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2021 on the charge of money laundering linked to the 2015 drugs case. He was granted bail in 2022.

In February this year, the apex court quashed the summoning order against Khaira in the drugs case.

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New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) The two persons arrested in the Delhi carjacking case posed as passengers to hire the four-wheeler for Rs 450, and on the way to the airport snatched the driver's phone and wallet, and pushed him out of the car leading to his horrific death, the Delhi Police has found in its preliminary investigation.

The 43-year-old Bijender Shah was dragged for more than a kilometre under the rear wheels of his own vehicle as the accused sped away on a busy road in southwest Delhi's Vasant Kunj area. His body was found lying at the side lane of National Highway-8 by the Delhi Police around 11.30 pm on Tuesday.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2023: From Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Narottam Mishra, List of Key Candidates of BJP and Their Constituencies.

Hours after the incident came to light, the Delhi Police said it nabbed Mehraj Salmani (33) and Asif (24) and recovered the stolen vehicle.

After initial investigation, police said on Thursday that the accused posed as passengers and hired Bijender Shah's taxi for Rs 450 around 10 pm on Tuesday to take them to the IGI Airport from Saket.

Also Read | What Is Hamas? What Does Hamas Want? Know All About Pro-Palestine Group That Rules Gaza Strip and Has Fought Several Rounds of War With Israel.

"As the cab reached the Delhi Cantonment area, the duo snatched away his mobile phone and wallet on gunpoint. They also forcefully pushed him out of the car," said a police officer.

Bijender Shah made a desperate attempt to cling onto his vehicle, but Salmani took driver's seat and sped away, dragging him to death.

Special Commission of Police (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda told PTI that the accused drove the car towards Alipur from where they fled towards Meerut in Western Uttar Pradesh.

"The combination of CCTVs and technical intelligence helped us to nab the accused persons," Hooda said.

According to sources, a total of 170 CCTVs were scanned by the team of police officials.

DCP (southwest) Manoj C said five teams of Delhi Police worked continuously to pinned down the accused.

Police sources said the two accused belong to a carjacking gang of Meerut. The gang quickly sell parts of vehicles they steal.

The Uttar Pradesh Police also helped the Delhi Police in tracking down the accused.

Police said both the accused are residents of Meerut.

Salmani was previously involved in four criminal cases in Uttar Pradesh and two in Delhi, while Asif has seven criminal cases in UP and two in Delhi, police said.

The Delhi Police will produce both the accused in a court to get their custody for further interrogations.

"Both will be produced at Patiala House court on Friday afternoon," an officer said.

Bijender Shah, the sole breadwinner of the family, was survived by his wife and their five children. They live in Faridabad.

On the night of the incident, he had last talked with his family at 7.30 pm on phone.

Police said he had dropped a passenger at Saket where he met with the accused.

Bijender had taken a loan to buy the car in March and ran it as a cab on hire to earn a livelihood but the robbers on Tuesday snatched his car and the family's only earning member, they said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
According to Israel Katz, the Energy Minister of Israel, neither electricity nor fuel and water would be delivered to Gaza until hostages captured during Hamas's surprise attack are released. Meanwhile, Israel carried out air raids across Gaza overnight and into Thursday, October 12, while retaliatory bombardment continued to obliterate neighbourhoods in the crowded coastal enclave, killing at least 900 people and injuring 4,600, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the operation against Hamas in Gaza has "just begun." Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Military Says It Is Preparing Ground Assault in Gaza, but No Decision Has Been Made.

Israeli Energy Minister on Electricity Supply to Gaza

BREAKING: Israeli energy minister says that electricity and fuel will not be allowed to return to Gaza until Israeli hostages are released by Hamas  The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) October 12, 2023

BREAKING: Israel will not supply water, fuel to Gaza until hostages freed, Israeli minister says pic.twitter.com/joYvBOYOqR  Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 12, 2023

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Robot cars are now officially a real business. Waymo on Wednesday launched a commercial robot ride-hailing service in Arizona called Waymo One.

Like Uber or Lyft, customers will summon a ride with a smartphone app. But in this case, the car will be driving itself.

This is a game changer. Its historical in nature, said Grayson Brulte, who heads driverless car consulting firm Brulte & Co.

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Only a few hundred customers will have access to the app and participate in the early stages, according to Waymo, which is an arm of Google parent Alphabet Inc. Although the cars will drive themselves, a Waymo engineer will sit behind the wheel in case anything goes wrong. Waymo did not say when the cars will start arriving without a human minder or when the program will be expanded.

Waymos cars, Chrysler Pacifica minivans bristling with autonomous driving technology, are available in several eastern and southeastern Phoenix suburbs, including Chandler, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert. The fares are similar to those charged by Uber and Lyft.

Waymo has ferried Phoenix-area passengers in robot cars since April 2017 in what the company calls its Early Rider program. Unlike Early Rider  which Waymo will continue  Waymo One customers wont be required to sign nondisclosure agreements and wont be expected to continually provide feedback about their experience.

Waymo One represents the beginnings of a business that could be worth a lot of money. How much, no one yet knows: Wall Street estimates of Waymos market value, should it be spun off, range from $50 billion to $175 billion.

Waymo began driverless-car development in 2009. Although dozens of companies, from small start-ups to major motor vehicle manufacturers, are developing driverless systems, Waymo is considered the emerging industrys leader  in large part because of Googles expertise in mapping and machine learning combined with the rich ample investment dollars churned out by Googles search advertising money machine.

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There appears to be far more demand for the service than Waymo is able or willing to provide at present. The Early Rider program attracted 20,000 applicants, the company said, but only about 400 were chosen.

A big reason for the slo-mo nature of commercial rollout, according to Waymo, is safety.

Self-driving technology is new to many, so were proceeding carefully with the comfort and convenience of our riders in mind, Waymo Chief Executive John Krafcik said in a statement.

The emerging driverless car industry suffered a blow in March when an Uber robot car hit and killed a pedestrian in Arizona. The experimental vehicle, with an apparently inattentive Uber employee behind the wheel, plowed into a woman walking a bicycle across a highway at night. Although the pedestrian wasnt in a crosswalk, neither the human driver nor the driverless system applied the brakes until after the woman was hit.

Deaths involving Teslas Autopilot system have also drawn headlines, although Autopilot is not intended to be used as an autonomous system.

Practically every company developing driverless cars uses a combination of radar, optical, ultrasound and lidar sensors  except Tesla, which has said expensive lidar, which uses laser light to detect objects, will not be necessary for the driverless cars it plans to deploy.

Even if robot cars prove safer than human drivers  one of the intended aims  bad publicity from freak accidents or manufacturer missteps could slow the technologys acceptance by the general public and political representatives.

The Phoenix area was chosen deliberately for its friendliness to driverless cars  and not just because of the support of Arizonas governor and local officials. (Regulations on driverless cars are less stringent in Arizona than in California.)

The flat, snow-free desert terrain, the well-kept and well-marked roads, the scarcity of trees to block street signs, and sun-blasted sidewalks on which few pedestrians tread all lend themselves to early robot car deployment.

Other companies are planning to take on more challenging environments. GM-Cruise announced plans to offer a commercial robotaxi service on the streets of San Francisco by the end of this year, but according to Reuters technical problems have delayed the rollout.

russ.mitchell@latimes.com

Twitter: @russ1mitchell
On 11 October Mexicos Presidentpresented an award to former defence minister General(2012-2018), whom the US has accused of drug trafficking.

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A sandbar in the distance is where ships have gotten stuck on Great Slave Lake near the mouth of the Hay River in Hay River, N.W.T., in 2022. Dredging work has been underway this summer to ensure there's a deep enough channel for boats to navigate. (Emily Blake/The Canadian Press - image credit)

The Northwest Territories Government has wrapped up work for the year to clear a channel to and from the Hay River harbour, where low water and sediment buildup have made shipping difficult. But more work will need to continue next summer to finish the job.

That's according to the territory's Department of Infrastructure.

The emergency channel is now 30 metres wide by 2.4 metres deep, the territory said in a news release, but most of the work focused on a few particularly difficult areas.

Work began in August, after years of complaints that the channel was becoming too shallow and difficult to navigate. A Coast Guard ship even became beached on a sand bar last fall.

Tracy St. Denis is a spokesperson for the N.W.T. Department of Infrastructure. She says the channel was so shallow and difficult to cross that smaller vessels had to taxi cargo across it before work began. She says even though the project is still ongoing, work done this fall will help.

A Coast Guard vessel appeared to run aground a sandbar in Hay River over the weekend. This is just the latest boat to get stuck in the Hay River harbour, a hub for Canadian Coast Guard operation and shipping to northern communities.

A Coast Guard vessel ran aground on a sandbar in Hay River last year. (Jane Groenewegen)

"The fact that we were able to get some work done this year, even with the challenges around the devastation around Hay River having to be evacuated back in May, and then, of course, again in August, being able to continue that work in order to get us ready for next year will be extremely helpful," she said.

The work was completed on Oct. 7, the territory says, and had to stop as winter approached.

Infrastructure Minister Diane Archie said in a news release Wednesday that finishing this project is essential to ensuring fuel and other goods can be delivered.

"Restoring and maintaining the Hay River Harbour is important for the residents and businesses who use the harbour as well as for the N.W.T.'s essential community marine resupply activities," she said.

The territory has applied under Transport Canada's Oceans Protection Plan for funding for a multi-year project to fully restore the navigability of the harbour and channel.

Story continues

The territory's Marine Transportation Services put out a release Wednesday saying all community resupplies were completed in 2023 despite challenges.

Aside from the Coast Guard and communities that rely on ships to get through with supplies  the harbour is home to the Marine Transportation Services' main terminal and a Coast Guard base  commercial fishers also rely on the Hay River harbour to be clear for safe passage. One commercial fisher told CBC last month he's nervous to put his boat in the water, lest he gets stuck.

Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson has called the issue an "ongoing" one and a "political hot potato," ever since the federal government discontinued the national dredging program in the mid-1990s, passing off the responsibility to users of ports. The current dredging project received $3 million of funding through Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

The harbour was last dredged in 1997. The current project will remove approximately 84,000 cubic metres of sediment in the Hay River and the entrance to Great Slave Lake, the territory says.
On 11 October Honduras specialised unit against corruption networks (Uferco) charged eight former top officials with corruption charges, including former president(Partido Nacional, PN, 2014-2022), his predecessor,(PN, 2010-2014), and former finance (Sefin) minister (2012-2018)

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Republicans finally have their House Speaker nominee as Steve Scalise edges out Jim Jordan, who was backed by Donald Trump. However, it does not seem that all Republicans are supporting him to replace the deposed Keven McCarthy, who himself faced opposition from other Republicans, particularly the far right. Scalise may also find resistance from his so-called allies from the far right.

Scalise is the current No. 2 Republican and he edged out Jim Jordan for the nomination via a secret ballot vote. However, as the vote now goes to the House floor itself, the vote was delayed as the Louisiana Republican does not seem to have enough votes to be the next House Speaker.

Originally, the House Speaker vote was scheduled for 3:00 PM ET on Wednesday but the hour came and went without any speakership vote because of even more Republican infighting as Jim Jordan's backers, particularly those more loyal to Donald Trump, continue to refuse to support Scalise.

This division could spell some big trouble for Steve Scalise, as Reuters pointed out. House Republicans could only afford a few defections. They only have a narrow 221-212 majority and Democrats, much like during the McCarthy ouster, are more expected to vote for their own rather than vote for any Republican.

Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry told reporters that voting could happen "as early as today." However, the Republican cracks are showing, with many of the Pro-Jordan faction saying it is not over yet. Currently, 113 House Republicans are siding with Scalise, and 99 are siding with Jordan, who had been backed by Trump.

"We're working hard to get unified. We need to get unified because the world is not waiting," admitted Steve Scalise. "Obviously we still have work to do."

READ MORE: Donald Trump Fraud Trial: Ex-POTUS Knew He Was Faking the Size of His Properties as Court Documents Show

Who Is for Steve Scalise and Who Is for Jim Jordan as the Next House Speaker?

While Scalise has a big lead over the Trump-backed Jordan, there are still some holdouts that are still supporting the embattled Ohio Republican.

As for those supporting Scalise, these include the more moderate Republicans such as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and deposed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Surprisingly, Matt Gaetz is also supporting Scalise as is Jim Jordan himself. The Ohio Republican is expected to give a nomination speech urging his supporters to vote for Scalise instead.

However, pro-Jordan holdouts include the more far-right Republicans such as Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene, as well as Max Miller.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Vowed Not To Support Steve Scalise Because of His Cancer

Before getting the Republican nomination as House Speaker, Steve Scalise was battling multiple myeloma, a treatable form of blood cancer. He took a break from Congress to battle the disease and is recovering.

However, this is also the reason why Marjorie Taylor Greene is not supporting the Louisiana congressman.

"I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in Congress," said the infamous MAGA Republican.

She explained further, "I lost my father to cancer and it's a very serious battle... We need a Speaker who is able to put their full efforts into defeating the communist democrats and save America."

READ MORE: Trump Organization Convicted of 17 Felonies, Gets Maximum Punishment

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Steve Scalise wins Republican nomination for House speaker - CBS News
Jada Pinkett Smith has disclosed in an interview with Hoda Kotb that she and her husband, Will Smith, have been living separate lives since 2016, according to ABC.

The high-profile Hollywood couple, who wed in 1997, have previously acknowledged challenges and separations in their marriage, but this revelation offers a more specific insight into the state of their relationship.

While they are not legally divorcing, Pinkett Smith revealed in a clip released on "Today" that it is essentially a separation in all but the legal sense.

This revelation has surprised many, given Pinkett Smith's history of candid conversations, notably in her "Red Table Talk" series, where she and Will addressed her extramarital relationship in a 2020 episode.

Furthermore, the incident at the 2022 Academy Awards, when Will Smith confronted and slapped presenter Chris Rock for making a joke about Pinkett Smith's hair, had already garnered significant media attention.

Representatives for Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this recent revelation.

A more in-depth interview with Jada Pinkett Smith will air during a one-hour NBC News prime-time special on October 13 at 8 PM ET. Additionally, Pinkett Smith is set to release a memoir titled "Worthy" on October 17, promising further details about their lives, relationships, and upbringing in Baltimore.

READ NEXT: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Spotted Together For the First Time Since Oscars Slap

Jada Pinkett Smith Says She Promised Herself Not to Get a Divorce with Will Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith, 52, expressed in the interview that she had made a promise to herself not to get a divorce from Will Smith, 55.

She explained that they were both trapped in their fantasies of what they thought the other person should be and acknowledged feeling exhausted by their efforts in the marriage, per BBC.

In a separate interview, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed to People that she initially believed the infamous Oscar slap was part of a planned joke.

She stated her intention to stand by her husband while allowing him to navigate this situation independently.

Meanwhile, a rumor about the state of the couple's marriage arose in 2020 when Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith appeared on Pinkett Smith's Facebook show "Red Table Talk" to discuss her "entanglement" with artist August Alsina.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

The couple has been together for over two decades, having met in the early 1990s, PEOPLE noted.

They publicly confirmed their relationship in 1995 and married in December 1997 in Baltimore, Maryland.

They have two children together, Jaden Smith (born in July 1998) and Willow Smith (born in October 2000).

Will Smith also has a son named Trey Smith from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino, whom Jada has warmly referred to as her "bonus son."

Throughout their relationship, Will and Jada have been candid about both the highs and lows they've experienced.

In a November 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith openly discussed a challenging period in their marriage in September 2011, following a heated argument at Jada Pinkett Smith's 40th birthday celebration.

They realized the importance of personal happiness and chose to present themselves back to the relationship as fulfilled individuals rather than relying on each other to fill their emotional voids.

READ MORE: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett's Family Net Worth

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Jada Pinkett Smith reveals she and Will Smith have been separated since 2016 - From TODAY
After weeks of rumors, WWE has now reportedly rejected a possible CM Punk return. This came after the former WWE and AEW World Champion was fired by AEW.

Soon after his firing from AEW after he had a confrontation with owner Tony Khan, reports of him talking to WWE have popped up. However, Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio broke the news on Tuesday night that the talks between the two sides did not result in what Punk wanted.

"They turned him down," said the famous wrestling insider. "The decision was a no. He wanted to go there and the decision was a no. I mean, it can always change and it was brought up to me that there is no such thing as no forever when it comes to WWE but it's no for now."

Meltzer also revealed that the decision to turn down the CM Punk return did not come from Triple H who has a very public beef with Punk, but Vince McMahon himself. "It's Vince's decision. Vince, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque and, obviously, they decided that the negatives outweighed the positives," reported Meltzer.

"Big Dave" also noted that WWE was already in talks with CM Punk since he was injured following All Out 2022. "About 10 months ago, they were talking again at that point but he was still under contract to AEW and I was told that that would be a no," reported Meltzer. "But it's easy to say it's a no because there's no chance they could get him because of the contract. But this time they could, and they decided to pass."

Punk has always been a popular and talented wrestler. However, his backstage attitude and fights with AEW wrestlers and management behind the scenes may have turned WWE off from hiring him again.

READ MORE: CM Punk Reportedly Tells AEW 'I Hate This Place,' Threatens To Leave Company

What is Next for CM Punk After WWE Rejection?

With his real-life feud with AEW management still happening and WWE rejecting him, questions are now circling on where "Chick Magnet" Punk will land next. WWE and AEW are currently out of the question for now, so where will he land?

Bleacher Report noted that New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is not possible as the third biggest wrestling promotion in the world has ties with AEW and they may not hire him out of respect for their relationship with Tony Khan. There is also the fact that Punk would be required to wrestle overseas.

As for other promotions, it is noted that CM Punk may have a very high asking price and promotions such as Impact Wrestling, NWA, MLW, and GCW may not be able to afford him.

Triple H Now Fully Controls WWE Creative

Meanwhile, over in WWE, Vince McMahon is now out of WWE Creative, leaving Paul "Triple H" Levesque in full control of the storylines happening on WWE programming such as Raw, Smackdown, and NXT.

With Vince McMahon's WWE return, he also took back control of Creative and inserted his own ideas into WWE programming. This included typical things McMahon would do when he was in charge, including changing storylines on a whim on the day of the show.

According to Ringside Intel, Triple H now has 99.9% control of Creative and this has boosted morale in WWE. This Creative control is evident as people associated more with Triple H, such as D.I.Y. have finally made it to the main roster, while Puerto Rican wrestling icon, Carlito, finally made his ring return to help out Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar, thus officially joining the Latino World Order (LWO).

READ NEXT: Rey Mysterio Net Worth

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: WWE Rejects CM Punk! - WhatCulture Wrestling
To tackle the growing issue of gang-related crime, El Salvador dispatched more than 4,000 security personnel to three communities located on the periphery of the capital on Wednesday, AP reports.

This decisive action comes as President Nayib Bukele contemplates seeking an extension of emergency powers to address the crime problem.

President Bukele announced this pre-dawn operation via a well-produced video shared on the X platform.

In the operation, soldiers and police officers were deployed to encircle the densely populated communities of Popotlan, Valle Verde, and La Campanera, which are situated near San Salvador, the nation's capital.

In the video message, President Bukele expressed the government's unwavering commitment to eradicating criminal elements, stating, "We are not going to stop until we capture the last terrorist that remains."

The term "terrorist" is commonly used to describe individuals associated with criminal gangs, often implicated in activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, and protection rackets.

Bukele emphasized that the government will not allow these remnants of criminal groups to regroup and jeopardize the hard-earned peace in the country.

READ NEXT: El Salvador Sends Thousands of Police and Troops To Crackdown Gangs

El Salvador Gang Crackdown

The recent crackdown on gang activities in El Salvador has paved the way for a resurgence of normalcy in public spaces within Salvadoran communities, which had previously been held under the influence of criminal gangs, ABC News noted.

However, critics argue that these arrests have been executed without proper due process, leading to the apprehension of numerous innocent individuals.

Under the umbrella of emergency powers, certain constitutional rights have been suspended, including the right to be informed about the reason for one's arrest and the right to access legal representation.

While these security measures have gained significant popularity among the Salvadoran populace, they have sparked substantial criticism from international human rights organizations and certain foreign governments.

Over the past eighteen months, security forces have conducted similar operations as part of their ongoing efforts.

These operations typically involve setting up checkpoints at community entrances, where drivers are stopped, questioned, and their vehicles inspected.

Simultaneously, other security personnel conduct door-to-door searches to identify and apprehend El Salvador gang members.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele's War Against Gangs

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador extended the state of emergency to maintain public safety, which was initially imposed in March 2022, per France 24.

Under this emergency declaration, tens of thousands of alleged gang members have been apprehended. This approach has garnered popularity among residents but raised concerns among human rights organizations.

The operation involved soldiers securing entry points to these neighborhoods, preventing potential escape routes, while police officers conducted house-to-house visits, requesting identity documents and, in some cases, rental contracts.

The identification of gang members often hinges on tattoos, official identification, or tip-offs from residents familiar with their community presence.

Elaborating on the operation, Defense Minister Rene Francis Merino stated that it was a response to community concerns indicating a resurgence of gang activities.

President Nayib Bukele echoed this sentiment, vowing to continue the effort until the last remaining El Salvador gang member is apprehended to preserve the hard-fought peace in the region.

The state of emergency, which allows for arrests without a warrant, was originally imposed after a particularly violent weekend in March 2022, during which gang-related incidents resulted in the deaths of 87 civilians.

Since then, approximately 73,000 individuals suspected of gang affiliation have been arrested, with over 7,000 subsequently released.

This recent anti-gang operation coincides with a request to Congress to extend the state of emergency.

Notably, President Bukele inaugurated a mega-prison in February, considered the largest in the Americas, with a capacity of 40,000 inmates, situated in Tecoluca.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, a prominent and controversial figure, is expected to seek re-election in February 2024.

READ MORE: Haiti Ex-Senator Pleads Guilty to President Jovenel Moise Assassination

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Inside El Salvador's gang crackdown - From BBC News
Hurricane Lidia has now dissipated after battering Mexico and leaving two people dead. However, a new storm is brewing as Tropical Storm Sean forms off the Atlantic Ocean and is seen heading westward.

Hurricane Lidia hit Mexico as a Category 4 hurricane, causing rivers to swell and knocking over trees. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta where it also blew the roofs off houses as its strong winds reached 140 mph (220 kph). It then continued moving inland.

According to the Associated Press, one of the casualties was killed by a falling tree. He died near the northern outskirts of Puerto Villarta. Meanwhile, the other casualty drowned after a river swelled up in Jalisco state. There were also several injuries reported as Hurricane Lidia hit, including two people who sustained injuries soon after the storm made landfall in Puerto Villarta.

However, Hurricane Lidia gradually weakened as its winds went down to 35 mph (57 kph) before dissipating 145 miles (235 kilometers) north-northeast of the city of Guadalajara in Jalisco state. The hurricane remained powerful as it moved inland, blocking highways and forcing Jalisco state officials to open 23 shelters as the storm passed by.

As Latin Post previously reported, Lidia hit soon after Tropical Storm Max also hit the Mexican Pacific Coast. While weaker than Lidia, Max did cause some heavy rain to fall in the area.

Hurricane Lidia Described as 'Extremely Dangerous' Before Dissipating

Before dissipating around Jalisco state, Hurricane Lidia certainly left a trail of destruction in its wake as coastal roads were washed out and trees downed in the state of Nayarit.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the storm would bring dangerous water levels, flash flooding, and swells on the Pacific coast, and Lidia certainly did so.

READ MORE: US-Mexico Relations: Experts Warn on Danger of Aggressive Stance To Curb Fentanyl, Drug Trafficking

According to the BBC, the storm was strong enough to compel Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to deploy 6,000 members of the armed forces to help residents evacuate. He also urged people living in Nayarit and Jalisco states, especially in the areas around Bahia de Banderas, Puerto Vallarta, and Tomatlan, to take precautions.

As the storm battered Puerto Vallarta, residents were forced to take shelter and shopkeepers were forced to board up their windows. They also piled up sandbags in case of flooding. The storm also forced the city's airport to temporarily close down.

Tropical Storm Sean Develops in the Atlantic Ocean

As Mexico's Pacific Coast recovers from Hurricane Lidia and Tropical Storm Max's back-to-back battering, a new storm has formed over the Atlantic and has been officially named as Tropical Storm Sean. It formed in the eastern Atlantic, near Africa, last Wednesday, and the 19th storm to reach tropical storm status during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.

According to Fox Weather, Tropical Storm Sean is centered more than 800 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. It has sustained winds of 40 mph and is moving west-northwestward at about 13 mph. It is expected to continue on this path over the next few days.

Should the forecasts be correct, Tropical Storm Sean is expected to weaken by next week and then lose its Tropical Storm characteristics.

READ MORE: Lionel Messi Height Shows Big Things Come in Small Packages

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mexico faces flooding after Hurricane Lidia, Tropical Storm Max batter coasts - NBC News
At a news conference on Wednesday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby revealed that the American death toll on Hamas attacks on Israel has reached 22, according to CBS News.

However, specific details regarding the location and circumstances of their deaths remain unclear due to the complex nature of the situation.

The toll of the attacks extends well beyond American citizens, with more than 1,200 lives claimed in Israel and at least 1,100 in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health's report on Wednesday.

Furthermore, a pressing concern is the status of 17 Americans who are currently unaccounted for. Kirby shared that some of these individuals are believed to be held as hostages by Hamas, but the exact number remains undisclosed.

In a somber tone, Kirby acknowledged the grim possibility that the American death toll may rise in the coming days, emphasizing that more Americans could become part of the hostage pool.

Addressing the families of those affected, he expressed the US government's condolences, stating, "We are grieving with you. We're sorrowful with you. We're worrying with you, and we're going to do everything we can to support you during this difficult time."

In response to these developments, the United States has offered its assistance and guidance to Israel in its efforts to recover the hostages.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Issues Statement Supporting of Israel Amid Hamas Attack

President Biden Condemns Hamas Attack on Israel

President Joe Biden strongly condemned the recent Hamas attack on Israel Wednesday, referring to it as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust as the American death toll rise.

In a meeting with Jewish leaders at the White House, he characterized the attack as a campaign of extreme cruelty against the Jewish people.

Questions have arisen regarding Iran's role, as it serves as the primary sponsor of Hamas, per 9 News.

However, the US government has received intelligence suggesting that senior Iranian government officials were taken by surprise by the multipronged assault.

Consequently, White House officials have publicly maintained that there is no definitive evidence of direct Iranian involvement in the planning or execution of the Hamas attack.

While the US has not found evidence of financial support from Iran or involvement in the training of the attackers, Kirby noted that a more comprehensive examination of intelligence data will continue to determine if any different conclusions emerge.

US Deploys Second Aircraft Carrier to Support Israel

To bolster its support for Israel during these trying times, the United States has decided to send a second aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean Sea, USA Today reports.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with its strike group, is set to depart for the European Command Area in the upcoming week, with plans to be deployed in the Mediterranean.

This deployment significantly strengthened the US's presence in the region alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which was positioned off the coast of Israel shortly after the Hamas attack.

While no final decision has been made regarding the deployment location of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, it signifies the United States' unwavering commitment to taking necessary action if any hostile actors attempt to escalate or expand the conflict.

Simultaneously, European Union foreign ministers convened in a teleconference and reached a consensus to continue financial support for Palestinians.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasized a crucial distinction between Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization, and the Palestinian Authority, which governs the smaller West Bank enclave and maintains a partnership with the EU.

Borrell underscored the need to avoid a collective punishment of all Palestinians, stating that it would be unjust and counterproductive.

The ministers reiterated their commitment to a long-term political solution, emphasizing the establishment of a free Palestinian state.

However, this commitment has encountered challenges, particularly concerning the issue of permitting Palestinians to maintain their military, a point of contention with Israel.

READ MORE: El Salvador Sends 4,000 Security Forces to Capture Gang Members

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: American death toll in Israel increases to 22 - From TMJ4 News
In a significant development, Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane has announced charges against a Michigan teen, Lamar Kemp, concerning the tragic murder of 63-year-old Theodore "Ted" Lawson, which occurred on a Sunday afternoon, according to Michigan Live.

Lamar Kemp, 15, is now facing one count each of open murder, felony firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon, marking a somber milestone in this ongoing investigation.

The open murder charge signifies that a jury will ultimately determine whether first or second-degree murder charges are more appropriate once all relevant evidence and facts have been thoroughly established.

The incident unfolded as Theodore Lawson was discovered lying on the sidewalk along Jenison Avenue with a fatal gunshot wound, ultimately succumbing to his injuries.

Notably, Lawson had been engaged in canvassing activities in the area when this tragic incident occurred.

However, Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane emphasized that there appears to be no discernible connection between Lawson's political actions and the motive behind his murder.

Dewane acknowledged an alarming trend in the region: youthful offenders have been found to illegally possess firearms and engage in fatal and non-fatal gun violence.

Despite the Michigan teen's age, the decision to charge him as an adult was reached following a thorough evaluation of the nature of the offense and Kemp's prior interactions with the court system.

Dewane reiterated the commitment to supporting community partnerships to reduce and prevent violent incidents within the community.

READ NEXT: Michigan Teenager Arrested for Failing to Do Her Homework

The Deceased Michigan Democrat Official

Ted Lawson was a well-respected figure in political circles and had actively participated in numerous Democratic campaigns both locally and statewide, per the Lansing State Journal.

He was a member of Ingham County's Board of Canvassers and served as the secretary for the Ingham County Democratic Party.

While authorities have refrained from disclosing details surrounding the shooting, Lansing City Council at-large candidate Trini Lopez Pehlivanoglu revealed that Lawson was canvassing for her when the tragic event transpired.

Lawson was a resident living just a few blocks away and had been knocking on doors in the area at the time.

John Dewane corroborated this account but emphasized that the murder does not appear linked to Lawson's political activities or beliefs.

Based on surveillance footage, the video captured when the Michigan teen approached Lawson and asked him for a dollar before fatally shooting him with a handgun.

Subsequently, the footage captured the gunshot sound and showed Kemp and two companions fleeing the scene.

These three individuals were observed on video at a Family Dollar store on North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard just minutes before the shooting.

Lansing Democratic Leaders Mourn Ted Lawson's Tragic Passing

Democratic leaders in Lansing are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting death of Theodore "Ted" Lawson, who had played a pivotal role as the Ingham County Democratic Party secretary, WKAR noted.

Lawson's untimely loss has profoundly impacted the Lansing community, and he is remembered as an influential figure by those who worked alongside him.

Michigan Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin expressed her condolences via X (formerly known as Twitter), revealing that Ted Lawson had been canvassing at the time of the shooting.

She emphasized Lawson's remarkable commitment to the community, characterizing him as one of the most engaged community members she had ever encountered.

Ted Lawson routinely volunteered his time for projects to enhance the Mid-Michigan region.

The loss of Ted Lawson is a significant blow to the Lansing community, and Congresswoman Slotkin extended her heartfelt sympathies to Lawson's loved ones and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In the wake of this tragedy, Ingham County Democrats are set to convene for their final scheduled meeting of the year on Wednesday.

This gathering is expected to be more of a commemorative event than a regular meeting, as party members come together to support one another during this difficult time.

For now, the primary focus for the party remains advocating for safer gun legislation.

Without a predetermined playbook for addressing such a loss, the party is actively working and communicating with one another to determine the best way forward while honoring Ted Lawson's legacy.

As Brian Jackson, Chair of the Ingham County Democratic Party, stressed, "We need to stop this madness," reflecting the urgent need for change in the face of escalating violence.

READ MORE: American Death Toll in Israel Reached 22

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Democratic leaders remember Ted Lawson after fatal shooting in Lansing - From CBS Detroit
Up to 40,000 passengers have been affected by flight cancellations after a large fire broke out at one of Londons Luton Airports car parks.

The airport has now suspended all flights until at least 3pm, as firefighters remain at the site of blaze that broke out just before 9pm.

The newly-built car park building at the airports Terminal 2 has partially collapsed, the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said. It was not known if any passengers were trapped on the tarmac, inside the airport or in the Terminal 2 car park.

The fire service said it was called to the incident just before 9pm and over 10 fire engines were at the scene. It added that 80 per cent of one of the car parks third floors was impacted by the blaze.

Up to 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged.

In a statement posted to X on Wednesday morning the airport added: Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time as access remains severely restricted.

Key Points

All flight services at Luton Airport cancelled till 3pm today

40,000 passengers affected at Luton

Five injured as massive fire engulfs Luton Airport

How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

40,000 passengers affected at Luton

Wednesday 11 October 2023 08:36 , Athena Stavrou

The number of passengers affected is thought to be around 40,000, Simon Calder reports.

Luton Airport have suspended all flights until 3pm, the airport said in a statement on X.

Emergency services are still at the site of the blaze, which began at 9pm last night in newly built Terminal 2 car park.

It was not known if any passengers were trapped on the tarmac, inside the airport or in the car park, but 1,200 vehicles are thought to be damaged.

Britain Luton Airport Fire (Molly Bullard)

Wednesday 11 October 2023 04:08 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Good morning and welcome to The Independents live blog where we bring you the latest updates from the fire at Luton Airport.

Firefighters among five injured as fire engulfs Luton Airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 04:21 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Story continues

Firefighters and an airline official have been taken to hospital as emergency services battle a blaze that broke out at Luton Airport just before 9pm on Tuesday.

Footage posted on social media showed flames and smoke tearing through cars parked at the airport terminal.

Vehicle alarms and loud explosions could be heard, with one witness saying the speed in which the blaze tore through the upper floor of the car park was incredible.

Joe Middleton reports.

Flights suspended at Luton Airport after fire engulfs car park

All fights cancelled till 12pm Wednesday

Wednesday 11 October 2023 04:34 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

All flight services have been temporarily cancelled after a massive fire broke out in Terminal Cark Park 2 that resulted in the partial collapse of the structure.

"All flights are suspended until 12pm on Wednesday," the airport said in an update on social media X.

It advised passengers to not travel to the airport at this time due to restricted access.

In pics | Emergency services respond to a fire at Luton Airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 04:44 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Emergency services respond to a fire in Terminal Car Park 2 at London Luton Airport (REUTERS)

People leave as emergency services respond to a fire in Terminal Car Park 2 at Luton Airport (REUTERS)

Flames are seen as emergency services respond to a fire in Terminal Car Park 2 at London Luton Airport (REUTERS)

Fire services still battling Luton Airport blaze

Wednesday 11 October 2023 04:58 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Firefighters are still battling to extinguish the blaze at Luton Airport, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has said in an update.

The fire broke out at the newly-built car park building at Lutons Terminal 2 just before 9pm on Tuesday.

At least 10 fire engines and over 100 firefighters were pressed into action to bring the fire under control, it said.We are continuing to protect surrounding airport infrastructure, vehicles and the Luton DART, it said in a statement.

According to the authorities, about 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged.

Cars going up in flames: Witness shares what he saw at Luton Airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 05:12 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Russell Taylor, 41, an account director from Kinross in Scotland, saw the flames after flying in to Luton Airport from Edinburgh.

There were a couple of fire engines with a car ablaze on the upper floor of the car park at just after 9pm, he told PA news agency.

A few minutes later most of the upper floor was alight, car alarms were going off with loud explosions from cars going up in flames.

The speed in which the fire took hold was incredible.

Simon Calder: How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

Wednesday 11 October 2023 05:20 , Simon Calder

The airport is saying: Emergency services continue to respond to a significant fire in Terminal Car Park 2, which has resulted in partial structural collapse.

All flights are suspended until 12pm on Wednesday 11 October, please contact your airline for the latest flight information.

Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time, as access remains severely restricted.

Whats the effect on flights?

Twenty-three incoming flights were diverted on Tuesday night and in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Passengers arrived as far away as Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol late at night.

Ten outbound departures were cancelled on Tuesday evening, including flights which had already been boarded.

On Wednesday morning, 85 planes are due to depart by 12 noon when the airport may re-open. With the inbound cancellations, that means a total of 170 flights  with an estimated 27,000 passengers booked. Adding in last nights cancelled and diverted flights and thats about 30,000 passengers.

Even if the airport is able to reopen at noon, more travellers likely to be affected due to knock-on effects from the closure.

What happens to those people?

Under European air passengers rights rules they are entitled to alternative flights and hotel stays as necessary, but such is the scale of this that its likely many people will need to try to find alternative flights and claim back the cash.

Presumably some people will come back and find their car has gone up in smoke?

Yes. The airport says: For passengers who have queries regarding a parked vehicle or future booking please contact luton.customerservices@apcoa.com.

Hotels around Luton Airport fully booked as passengers forced to cancel tickets

Wednesday 11 October 2023 05:39 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Hotels around Luton Airport were fully booked as passengers were forced to cancel their tickets last minute following a massive blaze at the car park.

Got last three rooms in Ibis hotel, we were lucky, there are so many cant get into any hotels. Staff at Luton very helpful, wrote a passenger on social media X.

Firefighters taken to hospital after fire at Luton Airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 05:48 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Firefighters and an airline official have been taken to hospital as emergency services battle a blaze that broke out at Luton Airport just before 9pm on Tuesday.

Five people have been admitted to Luton and Dunstable hospitals for smoke inhalation.

A sixth person was treated at the scene but did not require further medical treatment.

More here.

Firefighters taken to hospital after fire at Luton Airport

Passengers told to get off the flight amid fire at Luton Airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 05:59 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Passengers on board a plane that was due to take off were asked to get off the flight after a massive fire erupted at the Luton Airport last night just before 9pm.

We were all just told to get off the flight, that there was an incident and then we were left in the airport with no proper explanation, an unnamed passenger was quoted by the BBC as saying.

The passengers were informed two hours later that there had been a major incident and they would need to leave the airport.

It was all a little bit confusing because I dont think the staff knew exactly what they were supposed to be doing.

Another passenger told the broadcaster that some of us were very frightened because wed travelled by ourselves and didnt have anywhere to go.

In pics | Emergency services battle blaze at Luton Airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 06:09 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Firemen battle a fire at London's Luton Airport which caused a partial collapse of a parking structure (AFP via Getty Images)

Firemen battle a fire at London's Luton Airport which caused a partial collapse of a parking structure (AFP via Getty Images)

Flames are seen as emergency services respond to a fire in Terminal Car Park 2 at London Luton Airport (REUTERS)

Simon Calder: How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

Wednesday 11 October 2023 06:16 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Flights have been suspended at Londons Luton Airport after a significant fire broke out at a terminal car park, and passengers have been told to not go to the airport at this time.

Twenty-three incoming flights were diverted on Tuesday night and in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Passengers ended up at airports as far away as Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol late at night.

Ten outbound departures were cancelled on Tuesday evening, including flights that had already been boarded.

About 30,000 passengers have been impacted, adding in last nights cancelled and diverted flights.

Simon Calder has more.

Simon Calder: How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

Bus service at Luton Airport suspended due to fire

Wednesday 11 October 2023 06:26 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Buses were unable to serve the Luton Airport terminal following a fire at the multi-storey car park at the airport, Arriva Beds and Bucks said.

All services are unable to serve the airport terminal, it said in a social media post this morning.

Services A and 100 are operating up to Vauxhall, terminating at Luton bound stop on Kimpton Rd.

Significant structural collapse of car park at Luton Airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 06:42 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The multi-storey car park at Terminal 2 of Luton Airport suffered significant structural collapse following a massive fire that erupted just before 9pm last night.

Upto 1,200 vehicles were in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged, according to the fire services.

One half of the structure is fully involved in fire and the building has suffered a significant structural collapse, a spokesperson for Bedfordshire Fire Service told PA news agency.

Fire crews are working to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings and vehicles on air side of the airport.

Passengers wait at Luton Airport after all flights cancelled

Wednesday 11 October 2023 06:46 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Passengers wait at Luton Airport after flights cancelled until Wednesday noon following fire at the car park (Simon Calder)

How important is Luton airport?

Wednesday 11 October 2023 06:49 , Simon Calder

Luton airport is the fifth-busiest airport in the UK, normally with several hundred flights a day across Europe  typically carrying 40,000 passengers daily.

It is the location for easyJets headquarters, and a base for many of the flights on Britains biggest budget airline.

Luton is the main UK base for Wizz Air, which has many flights to and from destinations mainly in eastern Europe.

Ryanair has a substantial operation, with dozens of flights to destinations in Ireland and Continental Europe.

Flights suspended at Luton Airport after fire engulfs car park

Wednesday 11 October 2023 07:06 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Flights have been suspended at Luton Airport because of a large fire that has engulfed one of its car parks.

Footage posted on social media showed flames and smoke tearing through cars parked at the airport terminal on Tuesday evening.

Vehicle alarms and loud explosions could be heard, with one witness saying the speed in which the blaze tore through the upper floor of the car park was incredible.

Joe Middleton reports.

Flights suspended at Luton Airport after fire engulfs car park

Watch | Fire engulfs Luton Airport car park as all flights suspended

Wednesday 11 October 2023 07:15 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

All flights to and from Luton Airport cancelled till 3pm today

Wednesday 11 October 2023 07:22 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

All flight services to and from Luton Airport have been cancelled till 3pm on Wednesday after a massive fire broke out in Terminal Cark Park 2 that resulted in the partial collapse of the structure.

Emergency services remain on the scene following last nights fire in Terminal Car Park 2, the airport said in an update this morning.

It advised passengers to not travel to the airport at this time due to restricted access.

How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

Wednesday 11 October 2023 07:38 , Athena Stavrou

As flights are cancelled until 3pm today, Simon Calder looks at how the Luton Airport fire affects passengers:

Simon Calder: How does Luton Airport fire affect passengers?

1,200 vehicles believed to be in car park at time of blaze

Wednesday 11 October 2023 07:54 , Athena Stavrou

Up to 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged, fire service say.

In their latest update on the blaze Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: Firefighting operations were undertaken to control the blaze and protect nearby buildings, vehicles, aircraft, and the Luton DART.

They added: It is believed that up to 1,200 vehicles may have been in the car park at the time of the fire and subsequently damaged.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Simon Calder reports from a silent' Luton airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 08:03 , Simon Calder

Normally the first wave of flights would be departing from Luton airport for destinations across the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe.

The three biggest budget airlines in Europe  easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air  have substantial operations at Luton, which is one of the five busiest airports in the UK.

But no flights have arrived or departed since around 9pm on Tuesday night  after a severe fire broke out in a car park just 200m from the passenger terminal and adjacent to the main access road.

Firefighters have put out the blaze during the night, and work is now going on to drain the water used in dousing the flames.

The terminal area is completely closed to traffic, and the Dart shuttle from the nearby Luton Airport Parkway rail station has been suspended.

Some airport staff have walked into work, but for operations to restart at 3pm  as currently hoped  will require considerable coordination. Flight crew, aircraft and passengers are all out of position, and anyone booked to fly to or from Luton on Wednesday will face disruption.

Passengers wait at Luton Airport after flights cancelled until Wednesday noon following fire at the car park (Simon Calder)

Over 100 firefighters tackled blaze

Wednesday 11 October 2023 08:44 , Athena Stavrou

Over 100 firefighters tackled the car park blaze at Luton Airport, fire chief says.

He added that at the peak of the fire, firefighters used 15 fire appliances to battle the blaze, which caused the new Terminal 2 car park to collapse.

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: At its peak we had 15 fire appliances, over 100 firefighters and a number of specialist resources including the one you will see over my right-hand shoulder, with resources provided by neighbouring fire and rescue services.

He added that the car park as a capacity of just over 1,900 cars and that they estimate up to 1,500 cars have been affected.

Watch: Video shows flames engulfing terminal car park

Wednesday 11 October 2023 08:59 , Athena Stavrou

Footage shows flames raging from a fire that broke out at Londons Luton Airport on Tuesday evening (10 October).

All flight operations have been suspended at the airport after the blaze engulfed one of its car park buildings.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have said the newly-built car park, at Terminal 2, has partially collapsed.

Video shows flames engulfing Luton airport terminal car park as flights suspended

Between 40,000 and 50,000 passengers are out of position as a result of the closure of Luton airport.

Wednesday 11 October 2023 09:26 , Athena Stavrou

Around 273 flights have been either diverted, suspended or cancelled as a result of the fire at a London Luton Airport car park.

Simon Calder reports that, assuming 160 passengers were due to fly on each plane, 44,000 passengers are thought to be affected.

Ten outbound flights were cancelled on Tuesday night after being boarded and 23 inbound flights were diverted.

There were 120 flights due to depare from the airport before 3pm today, as well as 120 corresponding inbound flights.

(PA Wire)

The Luton airport blaze is out, so why arent flights already taking off and landing?

Wednesday 11 October 2023 09:30 , Athena Stavrou

The reason: a temporary water main is blocking the main access road.

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, told Simon Calder at The Independent: Weve had to do is close a number of roads in the surrounding areas in order to lay a temporary water main to supplement the on-site water supplies.

Were keen to get that released.

Its really about the access and egress of travellers getting to and from the airport. The flights can probably start to resume and I know the airport are working with the airlines to get things back up and running.

But really, its about getting the travellers to and from thats causing, you know, the delays at this time.

Fire controlled and extinguished"

Wednesday 11 October 2023 09:37 , Athena Stavrou

The blaze at London Lutons Terminal 2 car park has been controlled and extinguished, fire service says.

In a post on X, the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: Crews have controlled and extinguished the fire at Luton Airport. Four crews and an aerial appliance remain at the scene. All flights are suspended until 3pm.

If you have a flight leaving before 3pm, please do not travel. Please avoid the area owing to severe traffic delays.

Crews have controlled and extinguished the fire at Luton Airport. Four crews and an aerial appliance remain at the scene. All flights are suspended until 3pm. If you have a flight leaving before 3pm, please do not travel. Please avoid the area owing to severe traffic delays. pic.twitter.com/ji5HR1Qmug  Beds Fire and Rescue (@BedsFire) October 11, 2023

Local residents hear explosions as car park collapsed

Wednesday 11 October 2023 09:51 , Athena Stavrou

Local Luton residents have shared the terrifying sight of the airport car park as it burnt down.

A 19-year-old Luton resident, who lives close to the car park, told deputy travel editor Benjamin Parker:It was terrifying.

We saw multiple stages of the car park collapsing and there were constant loud popping sounds from what I suspect were car tyres exploding, and probably the cars too.

A few times when a large section of the building went down, a huge cloud of smoke  almost like a mushroom cloud  would form. It was crazy

Flames are seen as emergency services respond to a fire in Terminal Car Park 2 at London Luton Airport (REUTERS)

Cause of fire confirmed

Wednesday 11 October 2023 10:12 , Athena Stavrou

The cause of the huge blaze at Londons Luton Airport has been named as a diesel powered vehicle.

We have no intelligence at this stage to suggest that this was anything other than an accidental fire that started in one of the vehicles that had not long arrived at the airport. It was not an EV, Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service told reporters on Wednesday morning, The Mirror reported.

He added: This was a diesel powered vehicle.

Luton airport on course to reopen at 3pm

Wednesday 11 October 2023 10:25 , Simon Calder

Officials have confirmed to The Independent that arrivals and departures will resume at Luton airport at 3pm. By that stage 120 outbound flights are likely to have been cancelled  though some airlines may hold earlier flights to depart after operations start up.

Access for passengers and staff remains difficult, with the entire central area at Luton airport cordoned off.It is not clear when passengers will be allowed through to begin formalities.

A temporary drop-off zone will be installed at the mid-term car park, close to the Holiday Inn Express, a 10-minute walk from the airport terminal. Buses may provide a shuttle service.

The Independent understands that airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air will despatch aircraft to Luton ahead of the 3pm reopening.

No sprinklers in car park

Wednesday 11 October 2023 10:59 , Athena Stavrou

There were no sprinklers in the Luton Airport car park that collapsed due to a huge blaze, fire chief says..

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service told reporters at the scene: We are already talking to the airport about ensuring that any future, and the existing, car parks have sprinklers fitted because this building is not sprinkler protected.

He added: Sprinklers may have made a positive impact on this incident.

Ramp to be put in place for exit route

Wednesday 11 October 2023 11:11 , Athena Stavrou

A ramp is currently being installed in the collapsed car park to allow safe exit for undamaged cars.

Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire at Luton Airport has been stood down from a major incident.

He told reporters at the scene that a ramp is being installed into the unaffected car park because the normal exit route is not safe to take vehicles out.

He went on: Weve currently got four fire appliances and a couple of other specialist crews but we are very much focused on getting a handover and getting this airport open as quickly as we can.

He said there are just shy of 1,500 vehicles in the affected car park.

He added: There is a substantial number that are not damaged and our focus as well is can we remove those vehicles safely without causing any danger to the responders?

Today: Ask Simon Calder anything as Luton Airport fire disrupts journeys for 30,000 passengers

Wednesday 11 October 2023 11:30 , Athena Stavrou

The Independents travel expert Simon Calder will be answering your questions live from Luton Airport at 2pm today.

Ask Simon Calder anything as Luton Airport fire disrupts journeys

Tourists sleep on the floor amid cancellation chaos

Wednesday 11 October 2023 11:55 , Athena Stavrou

A Polish family who came on holiday to London have told how they slept on the floor at Luton Airport after a fire at a multi-storey car park caused flight cancellations.

Gregorz Szmit, 46, said their flight to Gdansk should have departed at 9.50pm on Tuesday and is now scheduled to leave at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

Mr Szmit, speaking from the terminal building where he is waiting with his wife and their two sons aged seven and 15, said: We were on holiday for five days to visit London  British Museum, Trafalgar Square. This is difficult, I must say.

He added:This is our first journey to England, to London. Its been an adventure.

Ambulance Service releases statement

Wednesday 11 October 2023 12:10 , Athena Stavrou

It went on: We assessed five people suffering from smoke inhalation at the scene.

Three firefighters and one member of airport staff were transported to Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

One firefighter was discharged at the scene.

In relation to the Luton Airport car park fire, East of England Ambulance Service said in a statement it sent two ambulances, seven hazardous area response team vehicles and ambulance officer vehicles to the scene of the Luton Airport fire.

(PA Wire)

Brand-new car park may need to be demolished

Wednesday 11 October 2023 12:43 , Simon Calder

The fire inside the car park at the heart of Luton airport was so intense that the whole structure may need to be demolished  with up to 1,500 vehicles still inside it.

A senior fire officer has told The Independent that the extreme temperatures during the blaze will have weakened the multi-storey car park so much that attempting to recover vehicles could be deemed too dangerous.

Theyll probably fly a drone around to assess the damage, they said.

But once steel gets above 600 degrees [C] it become brittle. It was a lot more than 600 degrees in there.

Some vehicles appear undamaged and were some distance from the worst of the fire damage. But if a decision is taken to demolish the structure they will be lost.

Demolition itself will prove extremely complex due to the car parks proximity to one of the busiest airport terminals in the UK, together with the main access road and live aircraft taxiways.

The scene at Luton Airport (Sam Russell/PA) (PA Wire)

Airlines release statements after car park inferno

Wednesday 11 October 2023 13:15 , Athena Stavrou

Major airlines EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have all released statements on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Luton Airports attempts to reopen.

An EasyJet spokesperson said their flights were currently unable to operate as planned and say they are doing all possible to minimise the impact on customers.

Meanwhile, Ryanair say that affected passenfers will be advised via email, Push and SMS as soon as possible but regret to advise passengers of possible delays or cancellations on flights to/from Luton.

Wizz Air similarly told customers that they would be provided updates on their flight via email and SMS and apologised for the situation that was beyond our control.

Flights are expected to begin departing from Luton Airport at 3pm today.

(PA Archive)

First passengers re-entering airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 13:17 , Athena Stavrou

Luton Airport said it expects flights to resume at 3pm and passengers are now re-entering the terminal.

They said in a statement: Following last nights car fire in Terminal Car Park 2, emergency services have now downgraded the incident but remain on the scene as a precaution.

The teams have worked hard to get the airport operational, with the first passengers now re-entering the terminal and the first flights expected to depart from 3pm.

For those arriving by car, the long and mid-stay car parks are fully operational, and a temporary drop-off area has been established in the mid-stay car park.

For those travelling to the airport by rail, the Dart shuttle remains out of service with replacement buses in operation.

Additional staff remain on hand to assist passengers across the airport.

(PA) (PA Archive)

No room at the (Holiday) Inn  or any other hotels in the Luton area

Wednesday 11 October 2023 13:40 , Athena Stavrou

Airport hotels in the Luton area are reportedly fully booked as passengers remain unceratin of their travel plans.

The Luton Airport Holiday Inn had this sign posted on their door.

No room at the (Holiday) Inn  or any other hotels in the Luton area (Independent)

Proposed strike cancelled after fire

Wednesday 11 October 2023 14:00 , Athena Stavrou

A planned strike by cleaners and parking attendants at Luton Airport has been suspended because of the fire which has halted flights.

Members of Unite employed by a cleaning contractor were due walk out for five days from Saturday, while parking attendants were due to strike for a week from Friday.

Tens of thousands of airline passengers suffered disruption on Wednesday, with Luton Airport closed after a vehicle fire caused a car park to collapse.

Woman forced to leave airport without her car

Wednesday 11 October 2023 14:21 , Athena Stavrou

A woman whose car is stuck in a car park at Luton Airport has told how she saw a fire take hold in a multi-storey soon after her flight landed.

Cristina Cristea, 25, had been at her sisters wedding in Romania and landed back at Luton at around 8pm on Tuesday, hearing sirens afterwards.

By the time we came out of the airport it was 9.10pm and we heard more noises and saw flames, said Ms Cristea, of Towcester, Northamptonshire. She said her car is stuck in terminal car park one, next to car park two where the fire broke out.

Ms Cristea, who has two jobs at a dry cleaners and at a restaurant, said she had missed a day of work and was told around lunchtime that no cars would be able to come out of the car park for the next three hours.

At first we thought it was shotguns or something as we couldnt see any flames, then we saw what happened, she said.

Slowly, slowly they blocked all the access. She said she paid to stay in a local hotel overnight. Speaking from a grass bank in view of the car park on Wednesday, she said: Thank God our car isnt affected.

Workers are constructing a new exit ramp to get cars out.

Watch: First flames of car park inferno

Wednesday 11 October 2023 14:45 , Athena Stavrou

An alleged video of the Luton Airport car park fire from inside the building has surfaced.

Originally posted to Instagram, the footage appears to show flames engulfing cars hours before the structure partially collapsed.

Watch below:

Insurance industry issues advice to drivers affected by fire

Wednesday 11 October 2023 15:04 , Athena Stavrou

In a statement on the Luton Airport car park fire, a spokesman for the Association of British Insurers said: Owners of vehicles caught up in this fire will naturally be very concerned. Comprehensive and third-party fire and theft motor insurance policies will cover fire damage.

Drivers affected should notify any claim to their motor insurer. We will continue to work with our members and Luton Airport to understand the situation, as and when more information becomes available.

They went on to say that it is too early to estimate the insured cost of the fire, and added that Some travel polices may offer limited cover for delays or any abandonment of travel.

Flights resume but tens of thousands affected

Wednesday 11 October 2023 15:44 , Athena Stavrou

Luton Airport has reopened after a vehicle fire caused a car park to collapse, sparking disruption for tens of thousands of passengers.

The Bedfordshire airport suspended flights from when the fire happened at around 9pm on Tuesday until 3pm on Wednesday.

Its thought that at least 150 flights were cancelled, with almost 30 more diverted to cities as far as Cardiff or Manchester.

Airlines including EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have all issued statements apologising for the ongoing disruption that was beyond our control.

Luton airport passenger flights resume  first in and out both on Ryanair

Wednesday 11 October 2023 15:51 , Simon Calder

The first passenger flight to leave Luton airport for over 18 hours took off shortly before 3.30pm. The Ryanair aircraft was the delayed 1pm from the Bedfordshire airport to Cork.

More than 200 flights have been grounded as a result of the serious fire in a car park adjacent to the main access road and close to the passenger terminal at one of the UKs five busiest airports.

Britains biggest budget airline, easyJet, has made more than 100 flight cancellations due to the prolonged closure of the airport. The carrier will operate only 19 Luton flights today, barely 15 per cent of its planned schedule.

The first arrival, also on Ryanair, is expected to arrive from Barcelona shortly before 4pm.

(PA Archive)

London Luton issue update as airport reopens

Wednesday 11 October 2023 16:25 , Athena Stavrou

Londons Luton Airport has issued a statement as flights resume after an 18-hour hiatus.

In a post on X, formerly twitter, the airport said the runway is now open, and flights are beginning to arrive and depart.

Update at 15:48 pic.twitter.com/9jMwcA7p5g  London Luton Airport (@LDNLutonAirport) October 11, 2023

Reminder: Cause of inferno named as diesel car

Wednesday 11 October 2023 16:45 , Athena Stavrou

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed on Wednesday morning the cause of the blaze was a diesel car.

We dont believe it was an electric vehicle, Andrew Hopkinson, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said.

Its believed to be diesel-powered, at this stage all subject to verification. And then that fire has quickly and rapidly spread.

Read more below:

Cause of Luton Airport car park inferno revealed

Simon Calder issues advice on Luton Airport fire chaos - from travel insurance to flight compensation

Wednesday 11 October 2023 17:30 , Joe Middleton

Simon Calder tackles a wide range of your questions - from what you can be compensated for and what to do if youre stranded and your flight is cancelled

Luton Airport fire: Simon Calders insurance and compensation advice

Flights return to Luton airport after dramatic car park fire

Wednesday 11 October 2023 18:19 , Joe Middleton

British Airways flight to Tel Aviv returns to Heathrow as BA and Virgin Atlantic suspend flights

Wednesday 11 October 2023 19:15 , Joe Middleton

British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv is returning to the UK after a decision not to land at Israels main airport. The Airbus A350 had flown almost all of its 2,233-mile journey before turning around.

BA has now suspended flights on the route until further notice, as has Virgin Atlantic.

A spokesperson for British Airways said: Safety is always our highest priority and following the latest assessment of the situation were suspending our flights to and from Tel Aviv.

British Airways flight to Tel Aviv returns to London as BA and Virgin suspend flights

Fire chief says lessons must be learnt from car park blaze at Luton airport

Wednesday 11 October 2023 20:15 , Joe Middleton

Luton Airport fire: Cause of car park inferno that damaged 1,500 vehicles revealed

Wednesday 11 October 2023 21:22 , Joe Middleton

The cause of a huge blaze at Londons Luton Airport that damaged up to 1,500 cars and sparked travel chaos has been revealed.

More than 100 firefighters battled through the night to extinguish the car park inferno, which left tens of thousands of passengers facing cancelled or diverted flights.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed on Wednesday morning the cause of the blaze was a diesel car.

Cause of Luton Airport car park inferno revealed
A developer proposing construction of what would be the Lehigh Valleys new tallest building announced Thursday the start of leasing and launch of the development website.

Ideal Tower is proposed as a commercial building with all-glass facade at Eighth and West Hamilton streets in Allentown.

Spanning 21 floors of 15,490 square feet each, the tower is proposed to rise 326 feet  just higher than the 322-foot PPL Building one block west of the site.

We are proud to announce the creation of a new keystone building in Allentowns City Center. It will be the tallest in the region at over 326 feet, John Pequeno, president of Ideal Tower LLC, said in a news release Thursday. We are excited to welcome the most forward-thinking organizations to enjoy all the modern amenities our property has to offer, such as flexible layouts, open air spaces including a restaurant, co-working areas, and a shared auditorium.

The developer has submitted a sketch plan to the city that is scheduled for an initial review and feedback before the Allentown Planning Commission on Nov. 8, city spokeswoman Genesis Ortega said.

The project will require the demolition of attached buildings from 801-809 W. Hamilton St., said Jim Buckley, director of building development for Ideal Tower. Pequeno acquired those properties in 2017 and 2018 for a combined $3.375 million, according to Buckley and Lehigh County property records. The records list the buyer as 801 Hamilton St Allentown PA LLC, which the Pennsylvania Department of State says has been renamed Ideal Tower LLC. The departments records list Pequeno as president of Ideal Concepts Inc., as well  an insurance company that is based at 842 Hamilton St., which is also the address of Ideal Tower LLC.

The buildings design from architectural firm Gensler harkens back to the history of Allentown, and surrounding Lehigh Valley, as one of the worlds top silk producers, according to Thursdays release: Genslers design team evolved that concept into a building silhouette inspired by the soft lines of a roll of silk fabric. The edge of the roll is represented by an offset diagonal architectural glass wall on the front of the building, while the slubs (imperfections in rolled fabric) will house external LED accents.

A green wall greeting visitors inside the buildings lobby aims for bringing the outside in, according to the concept, as do the proposed towers facade and terraces adjoining the buildings offices. An open-air market, bar and restaurant are planned.

The development follows developer City Center Investment Corp.s decade-long, $1.5 billion redevelopment of Center City Allentown thats added 14 apartment complexes and five office towers.

I am excited to welcome new partners to downtown Allentown, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk states in the Ideal Tower release. Our city is eager to include new perspectives as we embark on a second decade of redevelopment on Hamilton Street, the Lehigh Valleys central business district.

Ideal Tower is separate from Landmark Tower  a new, 33-story building proposed a decade ago at Ninth and West Walnut streets in Allentown.

Ideal Tower is proposed within Allentowns Neighborhood Improvement Zone that has fueled the redevelopment renaissance. Created by state law in 2011, this special taxing district funnels all taxes generated in the zone (with the exception of school district and city taxes) to be used to pay debt service on any financed improvements within the zone.

The Ideal Tower project has the potential to be an incredible asset for the Lehigh Valley, state Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, states in the developers release. Once again we see the benefit of the NIZ in Downtown Allentown, spurring economic development and family sustaining jobs in our urban core. We will continue to work with Ideal Tower to move this project forward.

Ideal Tower is designed to add over 308,000 square feet of leasable space, with a flexible core that allows for personalization of amenity layouts, according to the release.

Its soaring heights redefining the regions skyline, its architecture informed by the regions past and inspired by its future and its location defined by the walkable, exciting and amenity-rich environment that workers demand, Ideal Tower offers the chance to be at the core of Allentowns revitalization, stated state Rep. Joshua Siegel, D-Lehigh.

Visit idealtower.com to learn more.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
The votes are in, and the results are clear: Pennsylvania haunted houses have dominated the list of 10 best scary destinations in the nation.

A new list from USA Today has ranked the 10 best haunted houses in the US, as selected by voters in a USA Today poll. And three of those 10 are located in the Keystone State. Florida, with two entries, was the only other state to earn more than one spot on the top 10.

And when it comes to where those entries ranked, Pennsylvania has even more reason to be proud of our brand of spooky destinations.

The Halloween Nights attraction at Philadelphias famously unnerving Eastern State Penitentiary took the 10th spot, with the USA Today story noting that the crumbling ruins stand empty, but they return to life during Halloween Nights. Come each spooky season, visitors who dare can test their bravery in five haunted houses, learn about the prisons past on historic tours, and drink their fears away in themed bars and lounges.

Then, in ninth place, came the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride of Glen Mills.

Located just outside Philadelphia on Arasapha Farm, the Bates Motel offers an incredible experience of terror and mayhem, the USA Today story reads, adding that the new level of horror offered by the motel is paired with detailed Hollywood-style sets and props on the haunted hayride.

But a haunted attraction in central Pennsylvania was way up near the top, grabbing the second place spot. And that is none other than Mountvilles own Field of Screams.

At Field of Screams in Mountville, Pennsylvania, visitors can choose from four terrifying experiences: the Haunted Hayride, two haunted houses (Den of Darkness and Frightmare Asylum), and the Nocturnal Wasteland, a fear-filled forest, reads the story. If you think your heart can take it, you can try to conquer all four during your visit.

We at the PennLive office know all too well how creepy Field of Screams can be, as some of their characters usually make their way here once fall rolls around. For more info on Field of Screams, including info on hours and prices, you can check out this story for details:

And to read the full list of USAs top 10 best haunted houses, click here.
Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a two-alarm blaze Hellertown fire crews battled early Thursday, a fire official said.

Dewey Fire Co. No. 1 Chief Rickey Delmore told lehighvalleylive.com flames ignited shortly before 4 a.m. in the master bedroom of the two-story home in the 500 block of Phillip Street.

Crews were able to contain the fire to the second-floor bedroom and an attic crawl space, he said.

Delmore said one adult escaped the house. There were no reported injuries.

The blaze was brought under control in about 20 minutes, Delmore said. There was minimal fire and smoke damage.

The homeowner was able to return to the structure, Delmore said.

In addition to Dewey Fire Co., also assisting in fighting Thursdays fire were Springtown Fire Co. Station No. 40 in Hellertown; Lower Saucon Fire Rescue; Nancy Run Fire Co. in Bethlehem Township; Upper Saucon Volunteer Fire Dept.; Freemansburg Fire Co.; Palmer Municipal Fire Dept.; and Williams Township Fire Co.

A fire in a home in the 500 block of Phillip Street was contained to a second-floor bedroom and an attic crawl space, Dewey Fire Co. No. 1 Chief Rickey Delmore told lehighvalleylive.com.Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
New Jerseys Cannabis Regulatory Commission, along with several community partners, gathered in Trenton Wednesday to kick off the states first campaign promoting safe, legal weed use.

The campaigns primary goal is to equip the public with information and resources to make informed choices about cannabis consumption, according to the CRC.

These messages will be shared through over 100 digital billboards placed across the states highways, as well as in bilingual ads posted in local community hubs and on social media platforms.

The CREAMM Act, the legislation that paved the way for legal cannabis use in New Jersey, stipulates that the commission provide information for safe and responsible consumption as well as programs and campaigns to deter youth consumption, said Jeff Brown, executive director of the CRC.

At risk populations including children and teens, people who are pregnant or nursing and those using prescription medicine are the main groups being targeted in the initiative, Brown said.

Other goals of the campaign are to prevent impaired driving, promote safe packaging of edibles and to encourage people to take advantage of cannabis delivery services, which will soon be more widely available in New Jersey.

Consuming edibles can be a very different experience for some than smoking cannabis, and ensuring that consumers understand labeling information such as potency, serving size and onset of effects...is crucial, said Krista Nash, co-chair of the Commissions public engagement and education committee.

Children are especially vulnerable to accidental exposure to edibles, especially when improperly stored. This is also due to many edibles from the underground market resembling candy, according to Dr. Diane Calello, medical executive director, New Jersey Poison Center.

To prevent youth from getting their hands on these items, Calello recommended placing edibles in child-resistant containers with resealable closures Additionally, the center offers a 24/7 confidential help-line staffed by medical professionals to address questions and provide emergency support.

My 25 years in pediatric toxicology has taught me not to underestimate a childs ability to get something that they want to eat, Calello said. Accidents only take a minute but safe packaging on cannabis products can buy the time needed to prevent a child from ingesting that entire package.

Along with the states Poison Center, the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, New Jersey CannaBusiness Association and AAA Northeast also partnered with the commission to facilitate the self-use initiative.

Helen Hannigan, president of the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, a state-licensed maternal and child health consortium, highlighted that studies indicate an increase of cannabis use among pregnant and nursing individuals.

A sample advertisement that will be used in New Jersey's safe cannabis use campaign.

There is evidence that cannabis can cause harm and negatively affect fetal infant and child development, Hannigan said. And there is no proof that cannabis is effective in the treatment of morning sickness.

She added that those who are currently using cannabis and are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should stop using.

And, in collaboration with the CRC and the states Division of Highway Traffic Safety, AAA will help distribute flyers to dispensaries, educating on the risks of driving under the influence of cannabis, according to Lauren Paterno, senior government affairs advisor for AAA Northeast.

CRC members provided attendees with sample cannabis products to showcase what a legal products packaging should look like. The packaging should list the name, ingredients, serving size, usage instructions, warnings, manufacturing details and a mandated universal symbol that all legal weed products in the state must have.

To ensure youre getting safe product, Scott Rudder, president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association  the states largest cannabis trade group  encouraged individuals to obtain their edibles and other cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries.

Unlike the illicit market, when the average consumer and patients make a purchase at a licensed facility, they know exactly what they are getting, Rudder said.

Staff writer Gabby Warren contributed to this report.

Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com .

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The Harvard campus. Brooks Kraft/Corbis via Getty Images

Several Harvard student groups retracted support for an anti-Israel letter about the Hamas attacks.

The joint letter led to backlash and students from the associations being publicly named.

Five Harvard student associations have formally withdrawn their signatures.

At least five Harvard University student associations are back-pedaling on their support for a joint letter blaming Israel for the Hamas attack.

Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups released a joint statement Sunday, which has since been deleted. It said the students "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence" and added "the apartheid regime is the only one to blame" for the surprise attacks by Hamas militants.



Several Harvard University students have since said they were unaware their associations were signing a letter that held Israel accountable for the Hamas attacks on Saturday.



Harvard Kennedy School professor Jason Furman said in an X post that a former student, who graduated from the university in 2021, emailed him and said they were being targeted despite not having any involvement with the letter.

A truck drove around the university campus Wednesday with a billboard displaying the images and names of people who are thought to have signed the letter, alongside a banner that says "Harvard's Leading Antisemites", the Boston Globe reported.

One X user shared the names of students he claimed had signed the letter in a Google Doc, which appears to have been taken down by Google since it was posted. The user said in a follow-up post that the list was being rebuilt.

The Harvard Islamic Society, Pakistan Forum, Pakistani Students Association, Ghungroo, and the Nepali Student Association are among more than 30 student groups that signed the letter and have retracted their signatures.

"We would like to publicly retract our signature on the "Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine" and clarify our position," The Harvard Islamic Society statement shared on Instagram Wednesday said.



It continued: "Our initial signature was never intended as an endorsement of violence, which we reaffirm the Harvard Islamic Society as an organization which unequivocally denounces all acts of prejudice or hatred of any kind."

Story continues

The five student associations' renouncement came after the letter drew heavy backlash from critics, including Senator Ted Cruz and investor Bill Ackman . The latter even urged the university to release the names of students in the associations that supported the letter so that companies would not "inadvertently hire" them.



Former US treasury secretary Larry Summers, who previously served as Harvard's president, said in an X post, "I yield to no one in my revulsion at the statement," but added, "Many in these groups never saw the statement before it went out.

The Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo group apologized for the "insensitivity" of the statement Wednesday and "formally retracted" its signature, along with Harvard Pakistan Forum, which said it "condemns all violence against innocent civilians."



"We are committed to the cause of the Palestinian people, while reiterating that the targeting of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians in the recent violence is abominable," Harvard Pakistan Forum said .



The five student groups that retracted their signatures from the letter didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.







Read the original article on Insider
A Lancaster County man sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and her 13-year-old friend earlier this year, police said in court documents.

Nigeir O. Martinez, 24, of New Holland, was charged this month with 23 felonies, including rape, for assaults that police say took place in New Holland.

An affidavit of probable cause said New Holland police in July recovered four videos showing a man having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

The girl is heard saying her name and date of birth in the video. Martinez asked for the time and said, they need to hurry and cant have any mistakes, the affidavit said.

Police said Martinez has the same faith tattoo on his arm as the man seen in the videos. The girls mother identified her from screenshots of the videos.

The 15-year-olds 13-year-old friend told investigators Martinez forced himself on her and held her down, according to the affidavit. The court documents said she told Martinez to stop, but he refused and raped her.

Online court records show Martinez was unable to post a combined $400,000 in bail and is being held at the Lancaster County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26 in front of Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Heisse.
President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to the Israeli Irish woman Kim Damti killed during the Hammas attack on a music festival she was attending.

He issued a statement soon after her relatives in Laois confirmed her death on Wednesday.

It is with the greatest sadness that I have heard of the death of the young Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti.

"The circumstances in which her life was taken, having travelled as she did to attend a music festival, are truly appalling.

"It is not only those of us who are parents, but all of those who feel that young people should be free to attend events with their peers in conditions of safety, who will find such circumstances where a young life is taken so appalling.

"Kim's death once again reminds us what an outrageous breach of fundamental international law in conditions of conflict it is to target civilians in this way.

"May I send my deepest condolences to Kim's family, friends and all those with whom she shared her life.

"Suaimhneas siorai da hanam, concluded the statement.

Kim's mother Jennifer is a Laois woman who has lived in Israel for many years.

The mother and daughter visited Laois this year for a family wedding.
Sympathies have been extended to the family of Kim Damti by Church of Ireland Bishop Adrian Wilkinson who says Laois people where her mother hails from will be united in prayer for the family of the deceased.

The Right Reverend Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, has issued a statement on the day of her funeral.

"The news and manner of the killing of Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti, in such horrific circumstances, has been greeted with both deep shock and profound sadness by people across the country. I am aware that as her funeral takes place today in Israel, many people in Co Laois and elsewhere will be united in prayer for her family.

"On behalf of the Church of Ireland community in the Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, I extend my deepest sympathy to her relatives, the Cooper family, as they grieve for Kim and support her family in Israel at this very difficult time. We also remember all those who are suffering in this brutal conflict and pray that the principles of peace and co-existence will prevail," he said.

Ms Damti, aged 22, died at a music festival in southern Israel on the day Hammas launched a terror a attack on Saturday, October 7.

The young woman last visited Ireland this summer where she attended the wedding of one of her Laois relatives with her mum Jennifer.

President Micahel D Higgins led tributes to Ms Damti.
Skeletal remains have been found by gardai investigating the disappearance of 45-year-old Tina Satchwell at the home where she lived in Youghal, Co Cork.

The remains have not been identified but it is understood that gardai are satisfied they are human remains.

The search has been ongoing at the house for three days.

It is understood that the State Pathologist is due to arrive at the scene.

The remains are understood to have been discovered inside the property following a search of it by a cadaver dog.

According to RTE News, the bones were discovered during a search of the site yesterday evening.

A search has been underway at a property at a residence on Grattan Street in Youghal, Co. Cork for a number of days.

Members of the Garda Technical Bureau and a local divisional search team have been examining the property since Tuesday evening.

The search there followed the arrest of a man on suspicion of the murder of Ms Satchwell.

The male, in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of murder and detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in Cork County. He was later released without charge.

Gardai continue to appeal for any person who may have information relevant to the investigation to contact Midleton Garda Station on (021) 462 1550, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666111 or any Garda Station.
An Irish "activist academy" is offering aspiring activists across the country the chance to attend a free bootcamp on campaigning.

Founded by Martina Quinn, the Alice Academy for Activists is offering 20 people the chance to learn campaign skills from leading activists and communications professionals at a free bootcamp in January 2024.

Applications are now open from people across the country over the age of 18 from all walks of life who are in the early stages of their progressive activism.

Successful participants will stay at a Dublin City Centre hotel and will learn about campaigning from some of Irelands best-known activists, journalists and politicians over the course of three days.

Commenting today (October 12), Martina Quinn said, "If you are passionate about achieving positive social change, and would you like to make Ireland  and the world  a better place, then the Alice Academy for Activists is for you.

"Were eight years in business now, and  over those eight years  weve been privileged to work with leading organisations across Irelands public and charity sectors. Its our pleasure to start giving back with the Alice Academy for Activists."

Participation in the Academy is free, including a welcome reception, overnight accommodation on Thursday 11, Friday 12, and Saturday 13 January in Dublin, with breakfast at the hotel each morning.

Lunch will also be provided on Friday and Saturday, with a group evening meal on Saturday 13.

Applications are open until Friday November 3.

More information is available at www.alicepr.com.
Opposing funding for the redevelopment of Casement Park is incomprehensible, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has said.

Ms McDonalds comments came after DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted there would be no extra money from Stormont for the project in an interview with the PA news agency.

The Sinn Fein president addressed the media in Belfast alongside vice-president Michelle ONeill and party colleague Conor Murphy.

Ms McDonald said the project would benefit all communities in Northern Ireland.

I find it incomprehensible that anybody would be against something that brings so much obvious good for everybody, she said.

This is a good news story for everybody right across the North, for sport, for the economy, for relationships between Britain and Ireland, north and south.

So I think rather than complaining about or looking a gift horse in the mouth, we need to grab this now with both hands, make it happen, and of course get the executive back up and running.

As well as a series of legal challenges, the redevelopment has also been hit by rising costs, with an original projected price tag from almost a decade ago of 77.5 million now believed to be well above 100 million.

The GAA is part-funding the project but has yet to reach an agreement with Stormont on how to cover a multimillion-pound shortfall.

Ms McDonald said the Casement Park redevelopment would be receiving a substantial investment from the Irish Government.

There will be a contribution from Dublin, its not a confirmed figure, it would be a substantial investment from Dublin and rightly so, she said.

Its a very, very important part of sporting infrastructure, particularly for Gaels in the north, but beyond that Im sure the GAA will confirm, but it will be open for use by other sporting codes and for other purposes.

So Dublin will be a partner in this, equally British government and of course, the GAA itself.

She added: It can happen now and the Euro 28 gives that impetus and that context for this incredible project to be finally taken over.

Uefa confirmed on Tuesday that the UK and Ireland will jointly host the tournament and as part of that successful bid, Casement Park has been listed as one of the stadiums where games will be played.

The redevelopment would give the now-derelict stadium a 34,000-person capacity.

Ms McDonald said politicians should follow the example of sporting associations backing the Casement Park redevelopment.

I think that everybody in politics should take their lead from the sporting associations themselves, she said.

Because what I know is that the IFA and the IRFU, along with the GAA, are very much behind this project, and I think theyre leading from the front.

And I want to commend them for their collaboration, for their sense of what is good collectively for everybody across the north.

And I think everybody in politics, lets just take note of that and follow that example.

Ms McDonald said the Euros being held in the UK and Ireland in 2028 was great news, not just for the north, but for all Ireland and indeed, Britain.

Casement Park is a flagship project. Its been agreed and its been delayed for 10 years, she said.

Its been agreed, and its going to happen and I think thats a fantastic news story for everybody concerned.
A man who violently assaulted two gardai at the Mater Hospital in Dublin has been sentenced to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended.

John Paul Duncan (39) of Drumcairn Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24 pleaded guilty to possessing 8,500 of cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station on January 31 last.

Duncan also admitted assaulting two gardai who took him to the Mater hospital on the same day, after he became unwell upon swallowing cocaine.

Passing sentence yesterday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Orla Crowe refused suspend Duncans sentence in order to allow him attend residential drug treatment.

Keith Spencer BL, defending Duncan, had requested a fully-suspended sentence so that his client could take up a place in a rehabilitation centre from next week.

Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of four years for possessing cocaine, but reduced this in light of Duncans early plea, his remorse and his efforts at rehabilitation.

Duncans assaults on gardai, described by Judge Crowe as 'nasty', were taken into account.

Garda Clodagh Doyle told a previous hearing that gardai were called to Lott's Cafe Bar on Liffey Street Lower after a man was seen wrapping up white powder underneath a table.

Duncan was arrested and brought to Store Street Garda Station, where he produced six condoms from his trousers, filled with over 122 grams of cocaine.

The cocaine had a total street value of just over 8,500, the court heard.

A few hours later, Duncan complained of being unwell and said he had swallowed cocaine earlier.

Garda Doyle and two colleagues accompanied Duncan to the Mater Hospital at around 7 pm, where he became distressed and threw himself to the floor, retching.

Duncan said he needed the toilet and was brought to a private room containing a commode.

Gardai waiting outside heard him roaring and moving furniture around, and when they entered, Duncan took his hand, which had been inserted in his behind, and tried to put it in a female garda's face.

Gda Doyle told Olan Callanan BL, prosecuting, that Duncan then became extremely aggressive, leapt up from a chair and headbutted her colleague.

The three gardai sought to restrain Duncan, and he went to bite one of their legs, then bit Gda Doyle's hands so hard that he penetrated two pairs of gloves.

Medical staff sedated Duncan, but he continued his aggressive behaviour and tried to flee until he fell asleep, continuing again when he awoke.

Duncan has 139 previous convictions in Ireland and 11 in other jurisdictions, including drug offences, assault causing harm, theft and escape from lawful custody.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a 1.8 million cocaine haul in 2007.

Duncan escaped from Loughan House open prison in 2016 and fled to the UK, from where he was extradited in June 2017.

Mr Spencer BL, defending, said Duncan has a well-documented and long-standing drug addiction from the age of 15, progressing from cannabis to benzos, to cocaine and then to smoking crack.

Mr Spencer said his client's entire life has been blighted by drugs, and his attempts to set up a construction company fell asunder.

Duncan took the stand and agreed that his drug use began when he suffered domestic violence as a child and turned to drugs to 'block everything out.'

He told the court he has been drug-free for a couple of months and is now motivated to get clean for his fiancee, his five-year-old son and everybody.

"I've never been clean since I was 15. You're talking 20 years," he said.

"My client is doing very well in custody and has an opportunity now to address his addiction. He's willing to throw himself into any course that the court orders," said Mr Spencer.

Judge Crowe suspended the final six months of the sentence for 18 months, and ordered Duncan to be of good behaviour for 18 months on release and abide by the supervision of the Probation Services.
TRIBUTES have been paid to a young Limerick woman who has been described as a treasured member of her community following her untimely passing.

Niamh Berkery of Shanaclune, Cappamore passed away peacefully on Saturday surrounded by her family and friends at St. James Hospital, Dublin.

Ms Berkery was involved in a number of community groups and teams and was the PRO for Cappamore GAA and Camogie Club.

The eldest daughter of Breda and John, Niamh will be greatly missed by her siblings Siobhan, Con and Michelle, and boyfriend Pete McNamara.

Limerick Community Games paid tribute to their colleague and special needs assistant at Scoil Chaitriona.

Niamh was a member of our county committee for several years and was a dedicated, treasured and committed volunteer at area, county, provincial and national levels.

Niamh competed with Cappamore community games as a child and had many wonderful memories as a participant.

Niamh made many wonderful friends from all corners of the country through her volunteering, such friends for whom we know this loss will be exceptionally difficult.

We send our sincere sympathies to Niamh's family, extended family, community and friends.

We think especially of her family John, Breda, Con, Siobhan and Michelle and her partner Peter.

May her beautiful soul rest in peace and may God comfort all who knew and loved her so much at this difficult time.

Cappamore GAA and Camogie Club said they had no words to describe the loss of their PRO.

Niamh took on her role of PRO with the pride and passion she had for her club . She was a committed supporter of our club both on and off the field.

As a mark of respect to Niamh, our club field is closed and off the field activities will cease until further notice.

We send our sincere sympathies to Niamh's family, extended family and friends. We think especially of John, Breda, Con, Siobhan and Michelle and Peter.

Ms Berkery was also a member of Bilbao AC who confirmed their clubhouse and field would remain closed until further notice as a mark of respect.

Niamh was a beloved member of our club for many years both as an athlete and a valued volunteer at sporting events.

Niamh will be sorely missed by everyone here at Bilboa A.C., by her family and her many friends. May she rest in peace.

The young womans family was involved in the local Cappamore Show who said they were joined with her family in mourning her loss and celebrating her life.

It is always heartbreaking when someone so young passes. Niamh was involved in a number of her local community organisations.

Her work in supporting Cappamore Show from a very early age was a continuation of the years of service given by her family members, her aunts, uncles & cousins.

Niamh had a friendly & kind greeting for everyone she met no matter what her role or duty.

Ms Berkery is sadly missed by her parents, sisters and brother, their boyfriends Conor and Liam and girlfriend Jean, her boyfriend, godson Mason (Australia), aunts, uncles, cousins, grandaunts Nora & Mary, relatives, kind neighbours, a wide circle of wonderful friends and her work colleagues in Scoil Chaitriona.

Predeceased by her grandparents: Biddy and Mikie (her godfather) and Con and Brigid (her godmother), cousin Gearoid, uncle Jimmy, grandaunt Josie and other relatives.

Ms Berkery will be reposing at Lynch-Kelly Funeral Home, Cappamore on Wednesday, October 11 from 5 pm until 8 pm.

Arriving in St. Michaels Church, Cappamore for Requiem Mass Thursday morning at 11.30 am Ms Berkery will then be laid to rest in Towerhill Cemetery.

The Requiem Mass will be streamed live at https://www.churchcamlive.ie/cappamore-parish/

Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to the Bone Marrow Leukaemia Trust.

May she rest in peace.
Beijing Daily: On October 11, the Arab League convened an emergency foreign ministers meeting to discuss the situation between Palestine and Israel and adopted a resolution, calling on the two sides to exercise restraint, stop hostilities at once and reinvigorate the peace process. Whats Chinas comment?

Wang Wenbin: We take note of the Arab Leagues emergency foreign ministers meeting and resolution. We support the Arab League in playing an important role on the Palestinian question. China shares a similar position with Arab states on this question. Both sides call for an early end to the violence, condemn actions against civilians and believe it is essential to avoid further escalation of the situation which will lead to humanitarian disasters. We both believe that the international community needs to play an effective role, provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people and work for the early resumption of the peace talks.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict keeps repeating for a fundamental reason: the Middle East peace process has been off the right track, the foundation of the two-state solution has been continuously eroded and relevant UN resolutions are not followed through in good faith. China stands ready to continue communication and coordination with the Arab League and others to actively bring parties to the table and keep working to bring the peace process in the Middle East back to the right track.

Al Jazeera: Israels military actions against the Gaza Strip will inevitably affect the strategic balance of the region and even the world. Will the current crisis in the Middle East be on the agenda of the third BRF?

Wang Wenbin: China has announced that the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing next week. We stand ready to work with all parties for more good outcomes from the forum and seek greater synergy in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

Regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, we have shared our position on the issue. China calls on relevant parties to cease fire and restore peace as soon as possible. We will keep working with the international community to that end.

Global Times: The new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict has reportedly killed and wounded more than 10,000 people, including many foreign citizens. So far, 22 American citizens have been killed, and more than 10 British citizens are dead or missing. Does the spokesperson know the current situation of Chinese casualties?

Wang Wenbin: It is learned that three Chinese citizens have sadly been confirmed killed in the conflict, two are missing and several have been wounded. We offer deep condolences over those who have lost their lives and sincere sympathies to the families of the victims and the wounded.

Our embassies and consulates are making every effort to get treatment for the wounded and make proper arrangements for the deceased. They have been urging relevant parties to do everything needed for the search and rescue of missing Chinese and take every effective step to keep Chinese nationals and institutions safe.

Reuters: On Tuesday, you have mentioned that as official creditor, the Export-Import Bank of China tentatively agreed with Sri Lanka on the debt treatment. Is debt treatment a kind of debt restructuring as you have mentioned? Can you brief us on the details of the agreement?

Wang Wenbin: Im not sure if you have noticed that the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies of Sri Lanka released information on October 11 about the preliminary agreement reached with the Export-Import Bank of China on the debt treatment, saying that it will provide an anchor to Sri Lankas ongoing engagement with the Official Creditor Committee and commercial creditors and facilitate the approval process of the IMF-supported program.

I would like to reiterate that China will continue to support our financial institutions in having active consultations with Sri Lanka. We will work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development. At the same time, we call on multilateral institutions and commercial creditors to take part in Sri Lankas debt restructuring for fair burden-sharing.

TASS: It was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic have both confirmed their attendance at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Can the foreign ministry share which countries leaders will attend the event?

Wang Wenbin: China is keeping in touch with relevant parties and we will release information in due course on the specifics about participating countries.

Kyodo News: It was reported that an opinion poll jointly conducted by Japan and China shows worsening public sentiments against each other amid antagonism between Japan and China over the discharge of treated water into the ocean. What is your comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: We noted the reports. We also noted that respondents in both countries generally agree to the importance of China-Japan relations and hope to see ties improved and common efforts for peace and prosperity in the region.

China and Japan are neighbors and both are important countries in the region. To nurture and grow China-Japan friendship serves the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship Between China and Japan. We hope that Japan will work with us and use the 45th anniversary as an opportunity to improve bilateral relations and nurture friendliness between our two peoples.

Bloomberg: Can you tell me whether or not US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be attending Chinese defense forum next month?

Wang Wenbin: Id refer you to competent authorities.

Al Jazeera: Sources say that Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue will talk with the Israeli government about the current situation between Palestine and Israel. Can you confirm this?

Wang Wenbin: China is closely following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We urge relevant parties to immediately cease fire. China is in touch with relevant parties and will keep working for the peace and stability in the Middle East.

CCTV: We saw that in the recently released White Paper The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future, the word development appeared some 200 times, making it the most used key word in the document. How does the Belt and Road Initiative matter to the common development of the world?

Wang Wenbin: Development is a timeless theme for humanity. Breaking development bottlenecks, narrowing the North-South gap, and getting rid of development difficulties are pressing challenges for the world. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has paved the way for common development and prosperity for all countries in the world, demonstrating Chinas sense of responsibility as a major country.

Over the past decade, Belt and Road cooperation has followed the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and a high-standard, people-centered and sustainable approach and focused on connectivitythe lack of which is considered the biggest bottleneck for development. A large number of landmark projects, such as the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway, the Budapest-Belgrade Railway and the Piraeus Port, have been put into operation. The China-Europe Railway Express opened up new corridors for land transport on the Eurasian continent. The Maritime Silk Road shipping network provides service around the world. The connectivity framework of six corridors, six routes, and multiple countries and ports has basically taken shape. New roads, railways and airlineslike blood vesselshave greatly improved transportation, enabling a more efficient trade network and slashing the cost for accessing the global market by Belt and Road partner countries, which has boosted their own development capacity and helped build a path towards a more prosperous future.

Over the past decade, the BRI has made hope real for people in participating countries who desire common development. The initiative is aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and synergized with various countries development strategies. It has led to over 3,000 cooperation projects, including countries landmarks, livelihood projects, and milestones of cooperation. Under the initiative, new bridges are built to link up roads for local communities; new schools are set up to provide more education and hope; more wells are dug to meet local need for drinking water; Juncaoa technology for growing mushroomshas been taught as a way to help the poor better their incomes and lives; industrial parks are established which, by employing people, help lift their entire families out of poverty. And the list goes on. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investments could lift 7.6 million out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty.

The BRIs first decade has been a decade of championing the trend of cooperation and bringing benefits to the people. It is a popular initiative aimed to make the world a better place. The BRI provides not just a road to prosperity but also hope for humanity. We look forward to reviewing the experience weve gained and planning the future together with our partners at the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. We hope the BRI will serve as wings for the world on a journey towards more peace, growth, cooperation and a better future for all.

Al Jazeera: The US has sent a fleet to respond to the situation in Palestine and Israel. In face of deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, has China considered taking other steps to uphold an objective and fair position and avoid more severe humanitarian crisis?

Wang Wenbin: China is deeply saddened by the heavy casualties of innocent civilians caused by the current escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We are gravely concerned about the severe deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Palestine and worried about the serious impact of the escalating conflict on the peace and stability in the region.

The priority now is to immediately cease fire and protect civilians. The international community needs to play an effective role, work together to cool down the situation, and provide timely humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine.

To end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, the key is to return to the two-state solution as the basis, restore peace talks, establish an independent State of Palestine, and realize the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel.

China will continue to stay in contact with relevant parties to work for a ceasefire and stop of the violence, help ease the humanitarian crisis, actively promote peace talks, and work with countries in the region and the rest of the international community constructively for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.
(REUTERS)

Scotlands Euro 2024 celebrations were put on hold as Alvaro Morata sent Spain on their way to a battling 2-0 win.

Having won their opening five qualifying matches in Group A, Steve Clarkes side travelled to Seville knowing a point would be enough to seal their spot in Germany next summer.

Spain dominated the opening 45 minutes, but Scotland, who lost Andy Robertson to a shoulder injury, made it to the break on level terms and then thought they had taken the lead themselves in the second-half.

Scott McTominays brilliant free-kick from near the byline flew into the top corner, for what appeared to be his seventh goal of the campaign, but a VAR check that initially seemed to be for a foul eventually deemed Jack Hendry in the middle to be offside and interfering with play.

It proved to be a decisive moment. Jesus Navas, shortly after coming on, whipped a superb cross into the middle and Spanish captain Morata did the rest with a flicked header, before the hosts made sure of the result in the final few minutes.

Aaron Hickey slipped at the worst possible time, allowing Joselu to pounce and play the ball across the face of goal, where Ryan Porteous turned it into his own net as Oihan Sancet slid in with him.

There will be no panic in the Scottish camp though, with the Tartan Army officially progressing to Euro 2024 if Norway fail to beat Spain this Sunday. If not, Scotland will have two more chances to get the job done themselves next month.
TWO food premises were the subject of Closure Orders last month due to concerns over public health.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has confirmed the orders were served for breaches of food safety legislation - both were issued by Environmental Health Officers with the HSE.

In one case, the proprietor of a take away premises in Dublin, Xi'an Street Food, was ordered to stop cooking duck spring rolls.

In their inspection report, published this Wednesday, the EHO noted there was "a repeat failure to cook duck spring rolls thoroughly" at the premises which is located at 28 Anne Street South, Dublin 2.

The report adds: "During the inspection, it was observed that the core temperature of homemade duck spring rolls displayed uneven heat distribution, resulting in cool pockets in the core of the spring rolls as low as 36 degrees. Further investigation revealed that when the duck meat was probed, it registered at 56 degrees."

According to the FSAI, the proprietor was order to review their cooking procedures "to ensure consistent cooking

temperatures as per your critical cooking limit of 75 degrees".

The Closure Order, which was served on September 29 has since been lifted.

Separately, a butcher in County Tipperary was ordered to cease all activity relating to the production and processing of cooked and ready-to-eat food following an inspection on September 5.

According to the FSAI, Paul Tobin Butchers, which is located at 3 Abbey Road, Clonmel was previously advised about cleaning in HSE inspection reports dated in February 2023 and December 2020.

Last month's Closure Order was served after a "poor standard of cleanliness" was observed during an inspection.

The EHO inspection report states there was a "a significant build-up of food debris, spillages and engrained dirt were observed on the floor in the cooked/ready-to-eat foods preparation area."

An "accumulation of cobwebs" was also observed on the racking below the oven and "a significant build-up of food debris was observed beneath the blast chiller."

Dust and food debris were observed on top of the blast chiller and both the floor and skirting boards beneath the sinks in the equipment wash room were unclean.

The Closure Order, which did not apply to the sale of raw meats, has since been lifted.

Commenting, Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive of the FSAI, said consumers have a right to safe food.

"Under food law, it is the legal responsibility of food businesses to ensure that the food they sell to the consumer is safe to eat. All food businesses must establish and regularly review a food safety management system to prevent instances of non-compliance and violations of food safety regulations such as these, which are only imposed when a significant risk to consumer health has been identified or when there are persistent, severe violations of food regulations, she said.
THE BODY of 22-year-old woman Kim Damti has been found.

Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti, who was missing following Hama's attacks in southern Israel has died.

"With heartfelt sorrow the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti," said her aunt, Pat Cooper in a statement.

"We thank all those who have supported us with love and encouragement over the past five days. We respectfully request the media to allow us to grieve in the privacy of our family," she added.

Kim Damti spoke to her Laois mother for the last time on Saturday, October 7 just as Hamas militants launched their attacks.

When she last called her mother, Kim was running towards a car with a friend, in a bid to flee the rocket barrage, which occurred near the border of the Gaza Strip.

Kim Damti was attending a trance music festival for the Supernova Sukkot gathering.

In a statement tonight to RTE News, Tanaiste Micheal Martin paid tribute to her.

"When news reached us over the weekend that an Irish citizen was one of the many hundreds missing after the repugnant terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, we hoped against hope that she would be found safely," he said.

"The news that this hope has now been extinguished is devastating. Anyone looking at the photo of Kim in the media over the last few days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression; a young 22-year-old woman with a whole life ahead of her, full of promise."

"For anyone to lose a child is devastating. To lose a child in such circumstances is indescribable," he said.
BIRR man Darrell Lally is seeking financial assistance in order to become a priest.

Darrell is an Irish seminarian of the Institute of Christ the King.

I believe, he says, I have felt a call to the priesthood since my very early childhood years. I always pestered the priests in my parish about the priesthood, asking them when I could go to a seminary.

He said that when he entered secondary school he received much opposition from his peers on the subject of becoming a priest, however I wanted more than ever to go to a seminary. Towards the end of school I became very interested in the chanting of the divine office and the beautiful traditional liturgical ceremonies of the Church and I found as a result the Institute of Christ the King in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Limerick. The first time that I went there was to attend a solemn High Mass, and I fell in love with the traditional Latin Mass.

After he finished school he joined the Institute of Christ the King in October 2018 as a candidate by entering one of the institute's formation houses in Preston England where he learned the rhythm of apostolic life. He then spent a second year in Naples Italy, again as a candidate.

In September 2020 he was accepted to the institute's seminary known as Gricigliano in Florence Italy. After completing my first academic year in spirituality I received the holy cassock from our prior general Monseigneur Gilles Wach and I was tonsured and made a cleric by his eminence Leo Ramond Cardinal Burke. I have since received three minor Orders of Porter, Lector and Exorcist and am preparing this year to receive the final minor Order of Acolyte before the major Orders to come, God willing.

I love my studies very much and I have finished my studies of philosophy and now I am entering into four years of theology. My prayer life is also very active in the seminary especially through participation in the holy liturgy.

In the seminary, along with prayer and sacred studies, manual work also plays an important role in our priestly and human formation. I was very glad to be able to put my artistic experience to good use, in restoring many things and areas in the seminary that were once highly decorated but have since deteriorated over the years, before the institute had occupied the building. This year I finished my second major project of restoring one of the common rooms which was once richly decorated.

Unfortunately, unlike prayerful support, I do not have much financial assistance as my absence from my home country renders it difficult to find benefactors to support Irish vocations. The seminary costs are about 800 per month per seminarian. This tuition goes towards our studies, books, food, heating and other costs which concern the formation.

Darrell has set up a GoFundMe page and so far has raised 5,000 of a 30,000 target.

I ask you kindly to please support me if possible, he writes on the GoFundMe page. Ireland needs good priests and my wish is to be one for her and especially for our holy mother the Church.

Many people in Birr think highly of Darrell and see him as a sincere man with a genuine vocation, who is also gifted artistically.

On the popular Facebook page (Well Mush) Birr Memories Old and New Dickie Donnelly urges people to support Darrell. Dickie points out that There is more than Religion involved here. This is a Birr man following his dreams and beliefs for the good of all the world.

Darrell is a lovely, kind young man, wrote another person on the page, who has a special faith.

I'm delighted, wrote another, to see Darrell using his wonderful artistic talent in restoration work in the seminary.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien TD, has this week reaffirmed in a pledge the commitment made by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan, to protect 30% of Irelands marine areas by 2030.

In a new Message from Malahide the Minister addressed an audience of delegates on Wednesday evening from nine Member States attending a European Commission Seminar in Dublin.

He highlighted Irelands significant progress in meeting the targets to protect marine areas as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is hosting this three-day seminar in Malahide, Co. Dublin, together with the European Commission.

The event is one of a series and brings Member States together to assess progress on the EU Biodiversity Strategy, an ambitious, long term plan for protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems.

The strategy contains specific actions and commitments including targets for a larger EUwide network of protected areas on land and sea. This includes legal protection of at least 30% of EU terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.

The European Commission has requested Member States to supply voluntary pledges indicating their contribution to the Biodiversity Strategy 2030 protected area targets.

Minister @DarraghOBrien TD has today announced Irelands formal pledge to protect 30% of marine areas by 2030.



This pledge reaffirms the commitment made by Minister @noonan_malcolm



Read more here https://t.co/nMnH6sqk2y pic.twitter.com/PiRWNEP56Y  National Parks and Wildlife Service (@NPWSIreland) October 11, 2023

In his address, Minister OBrien said:

I would like to thank the European Commission for inviting Ireland to host this timely seminar which focuses on one of our most precious resources  our seas.

Ireland has an extensive marine area that is rich in biodiversity and provides huge benefits for health and well-being, supports a myriad of coastal communities and is an important component of climate adaptation.

We have signalled our intention to meet these targets by increasing the marine area in our Natura Network from just over 2% of our waters two years ago, to almost 10% today.

New legislation, the Marine Protected Areas Bill is also in progress which will legally underpin the designation of Marine Protected Areas. These actions, along with my Departments pledge here today demonstrate real commitment to protecting our marine biodiversity.

A number of national and European NGOs are attending the seminar. Speakers include Andrea Vettori, Head of the Nature Conservation Unit at the EUs DG Environment, EU Commission, scientific experts, and government officials from across Europe who outlined their own country pledges and approaches to meeting targets.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, who closes the seminar this Friday, said:

Ireland is proud and determined not just to play its part, but to lead in protecting our irreplaceable marine biodiversity.

Natura sites play a key role in protecting biodiversity, including large numbers of seabirds. Recently we notified new Natura sites - two large offshore reef Special Area of Conservation (SAC) sites and a large Special Protection Area (SPA) on the east coast.

In doing this, we are protecting vulnerable birds and species, and increasing our network of marine protected areas.

Reversing the decline of our biodiversity requires practical action from all of us  governments, civil society, the scientific community and members of the public. Ireland can and will lead by example.

Niall ODonnchu, Director General of the NPWS said:

We welcome this opportunity to come together with our European colleagues to address this common challenge, share experience and think creatively about our responses to protecting our marine areas.

While there is much to learn from the experience of other countries, Ireland has also shown that it has much to offer. I look forward to further engagement with partners and stakeholders in Ireland and across the EU as we build on the work we have done at this seminar.
Talamh Beo, a member-led organisation of farmers, growers and land-based workers organising for change in food and agriculture systems, are to host an event at the Landmark Hotel Carrick on Shannon this Sunday where farmers and citizens from across Ireland will come together to discuss the future of agriculture and land use in Ireland.

The event will explore the local to the global, as well as agroecology - an integrated approach that applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agriculture and food systems.

The forum will host a panel of farmers and invited speakers and will also encourage attendees to participate in round table discussions. Speakers include:

Bridget Murphy  Agroecology in Action : With over 30 years experience working on the ground with farmers around livelihoods, land use and agrarian reform, Bridget brings a ground-based approach to areas of research and policy. Agrarian reform includes transitioning from the current model, which is focused on industry and competitive growth, to an agro-ecological model that delivers for land, people and community. Bridget is the Project Manager for the Talamh Beo Soil Biodiversity Literacy and Enhancement EIP Project. She also farms 125 acres in Dromard, County Sligo.

Fergal Anderson  Food Sovereignty and Global Trade : Fergal worked in Brussels for La Via Campesina before returning to Ireland 12 years ago to establish a farm in east Galway with his partner, Emanuela Russo. The couple supply vegetables and fruits to local restaurants and manage a mixed-species woodland. A long-time campaigner for Food Sovereignty, Fergal is committed to helping transform our food systems for the better.

Janet Power  Local Food Systems : For the past seven years, Janet has been co-running an organic market on a half-acre plot in County Carlow, with her partner Jenny Watkins. She previously served as a board member of the Irish Organic Association and is currently undertaking an MSc. in Organic Agriculture. Janet is a passionate advocate of agroecology and local food.

John Brennan  Farming and Agribusiness in Ireland : John has managed Leitrim Organic Farmers Coop since 2001 and has farmed Irish Moiled Cattle and sheep in Roscommon since 1998. He is Chairman of the National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS) and the Irish Native Rare Breeds Society (INRBS). An organic advisor and general farm advisor Johns hope is for a new path for agriculture in Ireland  one that will be led by agroecology and that will ensure that those who wish to farm can do so through the tenets of Food Sovereignty.





John Brennan of Talamh Beo and the Leitrim Organic Farmers COOP said: Farmers all over Ireland are ready to meet the challenges we face, and many are tired of being manipulated by agribusinesses, industrial lobbies and poor government policies. We are well equipped for the transition, we just need the supports and the changes to happen in the right way for farmers says





Register for free tickets at eventbrite.ie (search TalamhBeo Conference 2023).
Alta Copper Announces Non-Brokered Financing





NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alta Copper Corp. (TSX: ATCU; OTCQX: ATCUF; BVL: ATCU) ("Alta Copper" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") to raise gross proceeds of Cdn. $766,645. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Private Placement for working capital and ongoing community initiatives in Peru.

The Private Placement will consist of the sale of approximately 1,533,290 common shares (the "Common Shares") at a price of Cdn. $0.50 to raise gross proceeds of approximately Cdn. $766,645. The Common Shares will be subject to a mandatory hold period ending four months and one day after issuance, in accordance with applicable securities law. There will be no warrants included in this Private Placement.

Giulio T. Bonifacio, Executive Chair, commented: " In view of the context of the current capital markets we have limited the amount raised to minimize dilution to all shareholders while also arranging our equity offering with no warrant and at a premium to the market close on October 11, 2023. We are continuing to advance discussion with several interested parties for purposes of funding our drilling program planned for 2024 while ensuring we minimize dilution to all shareholders. Our optimized preliminary economic assessment which will prove to be a significant project catalyst is advancing with results now targeted for publication by Q1-2024 in view of our desire to capture recent positive project developments both by way of metallurgical test-work and our geological modelling."

Certain directors and officers of the Company will subscribe for a portion of the Private Placement, which subscriptions will constitute related party transactions pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ? Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). It is anticipated that the Company will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements in connection with the participation of insiders in reliance on the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, as the fair market value of the insider participation is anticipated to not exceed 25% of Alta Copper's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

About Alta Copper

Alta Copper is focused on the development of its 100% owned Canariaco advanced staged copper project. Canariaco comprises 97 square km of highly prospective land located 150 km northeast of the City of Chiclayo, Peru, which include the Canariaco Norte deposit, Canariaco Sur deposit and Quebrada Verde prospect, all within a 4 km NE-SW trend in northern Peru's prolific mining district. Canariaco is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not held by a major.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, plans, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the of the Private Placement, the use of proceeds for the Private Placement, the insider participation in the Private Placement and the business plans of the Company, including the drill program and the completion and anticipating timing of the preliminary economic assessment. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the state of the equity financing markets in Canada and other jurisdictions; the receipt of regulatory approvals; fluctuations in metals prices, the actual results of current development activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; and delays in obtaining approvals or financing. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.

On behalf of the Board of Alta Copper Corp.

"Joanne C. Freeze" P.Geo., President, CEO and Director

For further information please contact:

Joanne C. Freeze, President, CEO and Director

[email protected]

+1 604 512 3359

or

Giulio T. Bonifacio, Executive Chair and Director

[email protected]

+1 604 318 6760





11 october 2023 at 18:30

News published onand distributed by:
Green Energy Park and The State of Piaui Partner for a 5 Giga-Watt Renewable Ammonia Production and Export Facility in Piaui, Brazil





Green Energy Park to establish its first upstream facility in Piaui, Brazil.

The State of Piaui to support the facility in the State's unique special economic trade zone.

Together, Green Energy Park and The State of Piaui will develop "Green Energy Park Piaui", a 5 giga-watt ammonia production and export facility.

Initial production capacity of minimum 1 million tonnes of green ammonia to Green Energy Park Krk.

ROTTERDAM, the NETHERLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / October 11, 2023 / Green Energy Park and The State of Piaui, Brazil are pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) at the World Hydrogen Congress in Rotterdam for the production and export of an initial one million tonnes of ammonia from renewable energy sources.

RENEWABLE AMMONIA AT SCALE

Green Energy Park is pleased to announce its first 5 giga-watt upstream renewable production and export facility in Piaui, Brazil.

Piaui is an emerging leader in the global hydrogen economy, producing cost-effective renewable energy from wind and solar.

Green Energy Park has chosen Piaui as the first of a minimum of eight giga-watt upstream facilities to supply its global distribution network with an initial focus on European end markets. Piaui offers cost leadership for producing and exporting renewable ammonia from Brazil to Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Bart Biebuyck (Green Energy Park, left), Tatjana Puklavec (Puklavec Family Wines, middle), Nathalia Ervedosa (The State of Piaui, right) signing the party's MOU at the World Hydrogen Congress 2023 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The World Hydrogen Congress in Rotterdam was selected as the perfect venue to sign the agreement and announce the renewable ammonia partnership.

The partnership includes, but is not limited to:

Green Energy Park Piaui will join the Green Energy Park network and supply its midstream facilities and network partners with cost-competitive renewable ammonia from Brazil.

Green Energy Park Piaui will participate in the Green Energy Park conferences to share operational experience and best practices from working with stakeholders including technology providers, EPC contractors, professional service providers, investors, and renewable energy consumers.

The parties will perform a feasibility study for exporting renewable energy via ammonia from Piaui, Brazil to various locations around the world targeting the production and export of around 5 million tonnes of renewable ammonia per year.

The renewable ammonia export destinations from Piaui will include Europe, with a focus on supplying Green Energy Park Krk, a purpose-built ammonia midstream facility at the North Adriatic Sea. Green Energy Park Krk has a total capacity of 10 million tonnes of ammonia import, storage, and distribution per year.

GLOBAL AMMONIA TRADE

With Green Energy Park Piaui, we are taking a bold step into the future. By investing in a fully decarbonized ammonia value chain, we seek to reduce the price of renewable hydrogen for downstream applications ranging from industrial heat to transport, mobility, and power.

The world of energy needs to change faster to meet its decarbonization goals, while ammonia is emerging as the global hydrogen carrier of choice. Therefore, the focus of Green Energy Park is on accelerating the energy transition through global ammonia trading and its downstream applications.

We firmly believe that cost equivalence with hydrocarbons is achievable near term, through cutting-edge technology applications and engineering know-how applied at scale. Therefore, choosing to work with cost leaders in renewable energy production like Piaui is key.

With our unique midstream facilities and an initial import capacity of up to 10 million tonnes of ammonia per year into Europe, we can pass on our cost advantages from efficient network infrastructure to our renewable hydrogen customers, harvesting synergies from numerous applications.

Our mission is to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonize energy at competitive prices. To that end, the global ammonia trade must scale up and become the industry standard for energy import and distribution to the final off-taker.

LEADERSHIP COMMENTS

Bart Biebuyck, CEO of Green Energy Park said: "Our Brand stands for a distinct set of values that we share with the Governor of Piaui. We are united in a common vision of the future development of society and the decarbonization of our economy. At Green Energy Park our objective is that each franchise member achieves bankability without public subsidies. The world needs many more private initiatives like Green Energy Park to accelerate the energy transition and have a real impact on the decarbonization pathway of our economy. Therefore, we welcome private parties to join our open franchise network and collaborate with us along the various parts of the hydrogen value chain. Our mission is to unite upstream, midstream, and downstream facilities and coordinate the timing and scale of investment activities between our network partners. Our common goal is to decarbonize energy at competitive prices for future generations to live in prosperity and in a vibrant, healthy environment."

Nathalia Ervedosa, the representative of the Government of the State of Piaui in Europe said: "The signature of this memorandum represents a step towards the fulfilment of the State's ambition of becoming an international leader in Green Hydrogen supply. The State's great potential for producing Solar and Wind energy was recognized by the CEO of Green Energy Park, Mr. Bart Biebuyck. The State's compromise is to give full support to the intents of Green Energy Park to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia, the energy carrier of the future, in Piaui. The group has projects along the entire hydrogen value chain and is betting on our State for this 5 giga-watt upstream facility. Count on our support. Green Energy Park has chosen Piaui as a strategic partner for this undertaking for exporting ammonia all over the world, with an initial focus on Europe. The State will be by Green Energy Park's side along this journey in favour of global decarbonization.

ABOUT Green Energy Park

Green Energy Park is a vertically integrated, renewable energy franchise, that shares know-how, technologies, experience, and best practices between its global network members. Its focus is on hydrogen technology applications with ammonia as the renewable energy carrier of choice.

The franchise objective is to develop, finance, build and operate renewable energy facilities under a common brand. Its goal is to unite upstream, midstream, and downstream facilities around shared values and a common mission.

Green Energy Park's mission is to positively impact society by accelerating the energy transition and providing cost-effective renewable energy to consumers and businesses around the world.

Website: https://gep-global.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Green-Energy-Park-Global

Contacts

General Enquiries:

Loreta Pacipavi?i?t?, Corporate Communications Manager | [email protected];

Mariia Popovych, Executive Assistant to CEO | [email protected]

Investor Relations:

Mario Reinisch, Director Finance and Corporate Development | [email protected]

ABOUT The State of Piaui

The State of Piaui, with its capital Teresina, is one of 26 states of Brazil, located in the country's Northeast Region and has a population of over 3 million people.

Piaui is an emerging leader in the global hydrogen economy, producing cost-effective renewable energy from wind and solar at scale.

Under the leadership of Governor Rafael Tajra Fonteles, Piaui's successful social and economic development program provides renewable energy infrastructure incentives and invests in dedicated education and professional training, creating future-orientated employment opportunities and social development for its state citizens and the country of Brazil.

Website: https://pi.gov.br

Contacts

General Enquiries: Ms. Nathalia Ervedosa, [email protected]

SOURCE: Green Energy Park

12 october 2023 at 04:40

View source version on accesswire.com:News published onand distributed by:
Spain as Invitee to the 2023 Cheongju Craft Biennale Mesmerizes Visitors with Spanish Culture Week





CHEONGJU, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2023 Cheongju Craft Biennale mesmerizes audience members with the charms of Spain, which is a host of [Invited Country Exhibition], through Spanish Culture Week.

This event, which began with a flamenco performance on October 8th (Sun), is a unique opportunity to appreciate the diverse culture of Spain, the invited host of this year's Cheongju Craft Biennale.

The flamenco dance performed by Korean dancer Lola Chang, who was awarded the Order of Civil Merit (Orden del Merito Civil), the highest honor by the Spanish government, ignited 1,500-plus audience curiosity and passion for Spain, the land of passion and the sun fast-paced rhythms, intense steps, and dynamic and enchanting stage performances.

TRUJILLANO QUISPE, Milagros Del Pilar from Peru said, "Although I've seen flamenco dance before, today's performance was really fabulous. Spanish crafts are also amazing. I think today is the best day I've had in a while."

In addition to the flamenco performance, Spanish Culture Week continues with a screening of a documentary on Salvador Dali, one of the most well-known Spanish surrealist painters in the 20th century, a Spanish culinary experiences, a special lecture on Spanish architecture, and a Gypsy guitar performance.

At the 2023 Cheongju Craft Biennale, 31 artists chosen by Fundesarte (Spanish Foundation for Innovation in Crafts) display over 150 artworks under the theme of 'Soul + Matter'. The artists include Idoia Cuesta, the creator behind the leather craftsmanship of luxury brand Loewe's runway and clothing collections, and other craft artists from Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao.

The Cheongju Craft Biennale 2023, which encompasses the Main Exhibition, the Invited Country Exhibition (Spain), the International Craft Competition, and the Open Biennale (Children's Biennale, Eoma-Eoma Festival), can be enjoyed at the Cheongju Culture Factory, Cheongju, in the Republic of Korea until October 15th

SOURCE The Organizing Committee of the Cheongju Craft Biennale(South Korea)

12 october 2023 at 05:00

News published onand distributed by:
MESA, ARIZONA IS THE FIRST CITY WORLDWIDE TO RECEIVE THE DESTINATION VERIFIED SEAL FROM WHEEL THE WORLD





Designation Furthers Visit Mesa's Mission to Become One of the Most Accessible Destinations

MESA, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesa, Arizona is the first city worldwide to receive the Destination Verified Seal from Wheel the World, an inclusive online booking platform for travelers with disabilities.

"Our goal at Visit Mesa is to empower travelers of all abilities to confidently plan their trips to our destination."

Through the Destinations Verified Program, Wheel the World sends trained Mappers to visit and assess destinations. These individuals evaluate accessibility information via WebApp, Wheel the World's Accessibility Mapping System, which amasses over 200 Data Points of accessibility-related information. Once the data is gathered, the organization provides recommendations to travel service providers on enhancing their infrastructure, along with offering them access to their E-learning platform to expand their knowledge of disabilities and accessibility.

"We are delighted to announce Mesa, Arizona as the very first destination to achieve the coveted Destination Verified Seal," said Wheel the World Co-Founder and COO, Camilo Navarro. "This milestone not only demonstrates Mesa's unwavering commitment to inclusivity but also marks a significant step forward in our collective mission to make travel accessible to all. Through our Destinations Verified Seal, we're not just verifying destinations' local partners; we're verifying experiences that prioritize accessibility by assessing, promoting them, and providing access to unlimited e-trainings, thereby empowering travelers and local communities alike. This partnership with Visit Mesa is a testament to the power of collaboration and our dedication to ensuring that everyone can explore the world with confidence and ease."

As part of Visit Mesa's on-going mission to ensure Mesa is regarded as one of the nation's most inclusive and accessible travel destinations, the organization partnered with Wheel the World to provide travelers with advanced information on accessible experiences in Mesa and connect them with suggested itineraries based on their personal requirements. Providing reliable accessibility information in advance will ensure that their upcoming travels to Mesa are enjoyable. This free service is available to all visitors and can be accessed through AccessibleMesa.com and WheeltheWorld.com.

"Our goal at Visit Mesa is to empower travelers of all abilities to confidently plan their trips to our destination," said Alison Brooks, Vice President, Destination Experience and Advocacy at Visit Mesa. "For Mesa to achieve the Destination Verified Seal shows that we are dedicated to promoting inclusive travel and showcasing practices that embrace accessibility. Partnering with Wheel the World has provided us with education, resources and guidance that will ultimately help us with our mission towards becoming one of the most accessible destinations in the country. We look forward to adding more Mesa businesses to the Wheel the World marketplace thus providing more options for visitors of all abilities."

This isn't the first partnership that Visit Mesa has established to further their accessibility initiatives. Through on-going efforts and training with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), Mesa was designated as the first-ever Autism Certified City . Visit Mesa also helped establish the Mesa Regional Foundation for Accessibility, Diversity & Inclusion to enhance and implement equity, diversity and inclusion for youth and adults within the Mesa community. Additional programs supported by Visit Mesa include Aira, a guided visual Interpretation service, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program and Threshold 360 virtual tours.

About Visit Mesa

Learn more about Visit Mesa and its mission to promote the value and vitality of Mesa's visitor economy to create a better community at VisitMesa.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Zoey Shircel, Manager, Communications, Visit Mesa

Direct: 480-682-3654, E-mail: [email protected]

Kelly Bassett, Vice President, Communications, Visit Mesa

Direct: 480-682-3638, E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Visit Mesa

12 october 2023 at 06:00

News published onand distributed by:
According to the Fraser Institute, averaged across all specialties, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island have come closest to meeting the standard of "reasonable" wait times. (Boy_Anupong via Getty Images)

Wait times for Canadians to get surgery and other therapeutic treatments increased in 2022, jumping from 25.6 weeks to 27.4 weeks compared to the previous year, according to new research from the Fraser Institute.

The Fraser Institute found Ontario had the shortest total wait in 2022, at 20.3 weeks, followed by British Columbia, at 25.8 weeks, and Quebec, at 29.4 weeks. The longest waits? Prince Edward Islanders had to wait 64.7 weeks and Nova Scotians 58.2 weeks, more than a year.

The calculations included the time it took for patients to wait from their GP's referral to see a specialist, and then added on how long it took to be treated by the specialist.

Wait times in 2022 were 195 per cent longer than in 1993 when it was just 9.3 weeks.

According to the recently published Ontario Council of Hospital Unions research, 11,000 Ontarians died while waiting for procedures including surgery, CT scans, and MRIs in 2022.

Close-up of surgeon with nurse and and assistant during operation in operating room. (Halfpoint Images via Getty Images)

Patient: I waited eight months to see my doctor again after my surgery ... That was his choice, not mine

Glenn Jones, a 70-year-old resident in B.C., has been fighting the surgical wait times for over 26 months to regain full function of his legs.

In 2021, I developed a stenosis in my back, which is a narrowing of the spinal channel. In a short period of time I lost feeling in my legs and the ability to walk," he told Yahoo Canada in an interview.

Jones says he immediately went to the Victoria General Hospitals emergency room and was in the hospital for two weeks where he had an emergency surgery.

After that, my neurosurgeon said that I needed at least one more surgery, maybe more. I waited eight months to see my doctor again after my surgery. I didn't see my neurosurgeon for another eight months. That was his choice, not mine.

After his operation, Jones regained some use of his legs, enough to do chores around the house, but he still couldnt get around freely without his electric wheelchair.

He has been on the surgical waitlist since April 2022. Currently, there are 1,529 patients waiting for spinal surgery in B.C.

Story continues

I saw my doctor and he said I'd have an operation in the Fall of 2022and the operation never happened, he says. They sent me a letter saying I'm on the waitlist and not to call anybody because they'll call you when your turn is up. So there's nothing there and the doctor will not give me any timeline now.

While Jones saw his surgeon again as well for his yearly check-up, their conversation did not spark any hope for him.

He said I still need some more surgery, but I might as well forget about any surgery. He said - I'm doing two surgeries a week, two elective surgeries a week. He said - at this rate, there's no way I can say whenever you're going to get an operation.

Right now, Jones believes hes in a waiting game with the healthcare system.

For those of us that have a problem that requires some sort of an elective surgery, - it's not like we're imminently dying or we're imminently going to get a whole lot worse - those kinds of situations seem to be overlooked, Jones says. It is important to people for their quality of life, even if they're not walking for a year because they're waiting, it's still putting people through a lot of pain and disruption.

It's still putting people through a lot of pain and disruption.

More than 1 million Canadians affected

The Fraser Institute estimates that across the ten provinces, the total number of procedures for which people were waiting in 2022 is over 1.2 million.

While not all surgeries are life or death or need immediate attention, a lot of Canadians are being forced to adjust their daily lives around surgical wait times, with no clear answer in sight.

"Research has repeatedly indicated that wait times for medically necessary treatment are not benign inconveniences. Wait times can, and do, have serious consequences such as increased pain, suffering, and mental anguish," the Fraser Institute report states.
American Lung Association Funds $13.6 Million in Research for a Future Free of Lung Disease





Organization funds 129 promising research grants on lung cancer, asthma, COVID-19 and more

CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Lung Association Research Institute announced it awarded $13.6 million in research grants to fund 129 innovative projects to advance today's science to end the burden of lung disease tomorrow. Lung research is critical because one in 10 people in the U.S. are living with a lung disease and each year, millions of people are impacted by respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza.

Through the Awards and Grants Program, the Lung Association supports trailblazing research, novel ideas and innovative approaches. The funded researchers investigate a wide range of lung health topics, including asthma, COPD, lung cancer and more.

"Research is the key to unlocking solutions to alleviate the burden of lung disease. The Lung Association's Awards and Grants Program promotes innovative research, collaboration, translation of discoveries and scientific exchange to transform today's science into tomorrow's solutions," said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. "We are honored to welcome the members of our new research team and empower them to help us find solutions to prevent lung disease and improve the lives of people living with lung disease."

Recently funded Lung Association researchers are already making an impact. In fact, one of the projects that was funded just a few years ago has already seen results and was published in a peer-reviewed journal. Miranda L. Curtiss, M.D., Ph.D., was awarded the ALA/AAAAI Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award and recently published the paper, "Chitinase-3-like 1 regulates T H 2 cells, T FH cells and IgE responses to helminth infection" in Frontiers in Immunology. This study identified the role of a protein called chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) in the immune response to infection. This is an important finding because previous studies have shown higher levels of this protein in the lungs and blood of people with asthma, and understanding how it affects immune response can lead to better treatment for asthma.

This year, awards were given in different categories addressing many aspects of lung disease: ALA/AAAAI Allergic Respiratory Diseases Award, ALA/ATS/CHEST Foundation Respiratory Health Equity Research Award, Catalyst Award, COVID-19 Respiratory Virus Research Award, Dalsemer Award, Innovation Award and Lung Cancer Discovery Award. Research projects funded by the Lung Association are carefully selected through rigorous scientific peer review and awardees represent the investigation of a wide range of complex issues.

A few of the recent grant awardees include:

Catalyst Award presented to Amanda Wilson , Ph.D. , from the Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona for her study on asthma titled, "Protecting Asthmatic Children's Health by Reducing Respiratory Viral Infections in Schools: A Novel Risk Analysis Tool." The burden of respiratory viral diseases (flu, RSV, COVID-19) is on the rise in the U.S., posing risks for children with asthma. This research aims to create a risk calculator tool for school health personnel to support real-time decision making to reduce virus spread in schools across the US.





, from the Board of Regents, for her study on asthma titled, "Protecting Asthmatic Children's Health by Reducing Respiratory Viral Infections in Schools: A Novel Risk Analysis Tool." The burden of respiratory viral diseases (flu, RSV, COVID-19) is on the rise in the U.S., posing risks for children with asthma. This research aims to create a risk calculator tool for school health personnel to support real-time decision making to reduce virus spread in schools across the US. Lung Cancer Discovery Award presented to Lucas Ferrari de Andrade , Ph.D. , from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, for his project titled, "Promoting Natural Killer Cell-driven Immunity Against Lung Cancer." Immunotherapy plays a pivotal role in the elimination of tumor cells, but many patients with lung cancer are either resistant or develop acquired resistance to the current immunotherapies available. The goal of this research is to develop an alternative, unique approach that trains white blood cells to recognize and destroy tumor cells. In the long term, researchers hope that this will help provide a new treatment for patients and could prolong their lives or even cure this disease.





, from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, for his project titled, "Promoting Natural Killer Cell-driven Immunity Against Lung Cancer." Immunotherapy plays a pivotal role in the elimination of tumor cells, but many patients with lung cancer are either resistant or develop acquired resistance to the current immunotherapies available. The goal of this research is to develop an alternative, unique approach that trains white blood cells to recognize and destroy tumor cells. In the long term, researchers hope that this will help provide a new treatment for patients and could prolong their lives or even cure this disease. COVID-19 & Emerging Respiratory Viruses Research Award presented to Mohsan Saeed , Ph.D., from Trustees of Boston University , for his project, "Deciphering the Determinants of Coronaviral Tissue Tropism." Previous work by Dr. Saeed showed that in contrast to all other SARS-CoV-2 variants that mainly infect the lungs, the recently identified Omicron variant tends to infect the upper respiratory tract, most likely because of modifications to the spike protein. The goal of their research is to determine how and why Omicron prefers to target the upper respiratory tract and use that information to improve treatment and outcomes of this disease.

The Lung Association's Research Institute includes the Awards and Grants program, and also the Airways Clinical Research Network, the nation's largest not-for-profit network of clinical research centers dedicated to asthma and COPD treatment research. The Lung Association is currently accepting applications for its 2024-2025 research awards and grants cycle. For more information about the active research funding opportunities, visit Lung.org/awards.

For more information about the new grant awardees and the entire American Lung Association research team, visit Lung.org/research-team.

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.

American Lung Association ? 55 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 1150 ? Chicago, IL 60601

1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Ste. 1425 North ? Washington, D.C. 20004

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org

CONTACT: Jill Dale | American Lung Association

P: 312-940-7001 E: [email protected]

SOURCE American Lung Association

12 october 2023 at 06:00

News published onand distributed by:
Greater Toronto Airports Authority Hosts Major Job Fair for Toronto Pearson at Toronto Congress Centre





TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - The Greater Toronto Airports Authority ("GTAA") proudly announces a significant job fair for Toronto Pearson, Canada's largest airport, taking place today at the Toronto Congress Centre.

With a vibrant workforce of almost 50,000 diverse individuals from varied backgrounds, Toronto Pearson embodies the spirit of unity and ambition. All are driven by the shared vision of shaping a premier global airport for the future. As the heartbeat of Canadian aviation, Toronto Pearson is a dynamic work environment, characterized by an unwavering sense of community pride and purpose.

In anticipation of the bustling winter travel season and with the aim to deliver an unmatched passenger experience, Toronto Pearson employers are in an active recruitment phase. A number of job opportunities await, including from roles in customer service, security, food and beverage, baggage handling, airlines, airlines and management and supervisory positions.

Today's job fair showcases the collective effort of industry partners across the aviation network, joining forces to help Toronto Pearson achieve its expansion goals. Prospective candidates can look forward to engaging with more than 25 employers who work at the GTAA, such as the GTAA, Air Canada, FedEx, HMS Host, Paladin Security, Porter Airlines, Sheraton and WestJet. The event is projected to draw approximately 400 potential employees.

"The GTAA is committed to making Toronto Pearson a sought-after destination for current and prospective employees to build meaningful careers. I encourage all of those interested who have a passion for customer service, aviation, and working somewhere that you be proud to join us at the Toronto Congress Centre with your resume ? I am confident there will be an opportunity right for you," said Karen Mazerkuwich, Vice-President of Stakeholder Relations and Communications at the GTAA.

"The past few years posed significant challenges for aviation. However, as we emerge and adapt, the industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The pandemic underscored the need for a resilient workforce and fostered deeper collaboration amongst aviation partners. This job fair is a testament to those learnings."

Event Details:

Date: October 12, 2023

Location: Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd., Etobicoke

Time: 10:00 AM ? 1:00 PM

Note: Attendees are encouraged to bring their resumes.

About the Greater Toronto Airports Authority

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority is the operator of Toronto ? Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Canada's largest airport and a vital connector of people, businesses and goods. Toronto Pearson has been named "Best Large Airport in North America serving more than 40 million passengers" for five years in a row by Airports Council International (ACI), the global trade representative of the world's airports. In recognition of its Healthy Airport program, ACI has also awarded Toronto Pearson the "Best hygiene measures in North America" award for three years running, and Toronto Pearson was the first Canadian airport to receive ACI's global health accreditation for its response to COVID-19. For our corporate X (formerly Twitter) channel, please visit @PearsonComms. For operational updates and passenger information, please visit @TorontoPearson/@AeroportPearson on Twitter. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

SOURCE Greater Toronto Airports Authority

12 october 2023 at 06:00

News published onand distributed by:
ADVANCING NOVEL CANCER THERAPIES: MOSAIC KEYNOTE PRESENTATION HEADLINES BIO-IT WORLD EUROPE, 29-30 NOVEMBER IN LONDON





OWKIN and International Partners Discuss First Learnings of Revolutionary Spatial Omics Initiative with Biopharma and IT Leaders

LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A Plenary Keynote address on the first learnings of the $50 million MOSAIC initiative, whose goal is to revolutionize cancer research through spatial omics technologies, will kick off Bio-IT World Conference & Expo Europe, taking place 29-30 November in London.

This annual gathering fosters collaboration among the United Kingdom's and Europe's medical research, biopharma and technology leaders, who are forging new frontiers in precision medicine together.

In June, OWKIN and world-leading cancer research institutions and technology companies from France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States unveiled MOSAIC, which uses spatial omics to uncover unprecedented information on tumor structures at near single-cell resolution, and map the location and molecular activity of tumor and immune cells. The project is also a milestone for its scale?examining 7,000 tumor samples?100 times larger than other datasets. Spatial omics, combined with AI/ML, will help the partners advance novel therapies for seven difficult-to-treat cancers.

"MOSAIC represents the innovations in precision medicine that are only possible when scientific and technology experts collaborate," said Cindy Crowninshield, RDN, LDN, Executive Event Director. "These partners will inspire and catalyze new discussions within the bio-IT community."

Presenters include:

Dr. Barbara Domayne-Hayman, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Francis Crick Institute

Markus Eckstein , M.D., Senior Consultant in Surgical Pathology, Institute of Pathology of FAU Medical School and University Hospital Erlangen/UKER

, M.D., Senior Consultant in Surgical Pathology, Institute of Pathology of FAU Medical School and University Hospital Erlangen/UKER Raphael Gottardo , Ph.D., Professor and Director, Biomedical Data Science Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne

, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Biomedical Data Science Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne Joseph Lehar, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Business Strategy, OWKIN

Another Bio-IT World Europe Plenary Keynote will focus on an AI-driven partnership between Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London. For more on the 60+ conference sessions and discounts (until 20 October), see bio-itworldeurope.com.

About Bio-IT World Conference & Expo

For over 20 years, Cambridge Healthtech Institute's Bio-IT World Conference & Expo has been the world's premier event showcasing technologies and analytic approaches that solve problems, accelerate science, and drive the future of precision medicine. Bio-IT World unites a community of leading life sciences, pharmaceutical, clinical, healthcare, informatics and technology experts in the field of biomedical research, drug discovery & development, and healthcare from around the world.

SOURCE Cambridge Healthtech Institute

12 october 2023 at 07:45

News published onand distributed by:
Kootenay Silver Announces updated Promontorio/Maiden La Negra Resource Estimate and Intention of Share Consolidation





VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSXV: KTN) ("Kootenay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate at the Promontorio-La Negra Project in Sonora Mexico. The resource estimate is an update of the Promontorio deposit and a maiden mineral resource estimate for the La Negra deposit 7km to the north. The two deposits are part of the Promontorio Mineral Belt and are considered a single project.

The mineral resource estimates ("MRE") have been prepared by Sue Bird, M Sc., P.Eng., Geological and Mining Engineer of by Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS") in accordance with NI 43-101 standards (May 9, 2016), CIM Definition Standards (May 19, 2014) with guidance from CIM Best Practice Guidelines (November 29, 2019).

Highlights from the 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate include:

Increased Grades of the Promontorio deposit of 24% for Ag, 21% for Au and 22% and 21% for Pb and Zn respectively (see Table 1).

A resulting 68% increase in Measured and Indicated ("M+I") Ag Equivalent ("AgEq") Metal content at the Promontorio deposit (see Table 1).

Promontorio M+I mineral resources of 140.8 million ounces ("Moz") AgEq contained in 42.1 million metric tonnes ("Mt") averaging 104 grams per tonne ("g/t"),

Promontorio Inferred mineral resources of 39.8 Moz contained in 14.6 Mt averaging 84.9 g/t. These results are calculated using 25 g/t AgEq cut off and are contained within a potentially economically mineable pit shell. (see Table 2)

La Negra Indicated mineral resources of 22.0 Moz AgEq contained in 5.3 Mt averaging 129 g/t.

La Negra Inferred mineral resources of 4.6 Moz contained in 1.2 Mt averaging 115 g/t These results are calculated using 40 g/t AgEq cut off and are contained within a potentially economically mineable pit shell (see Table 3 and 4).

Kootenay's President & CEO, James McDonald states, "We are pleased to see a significant increase in metal content on the Promontorio-La Negra property that includes the La Negra discovery for the first time. Between the two deposits we see an exciting increase in grade and contained silver ounces.

On a silver equivalent basis, the project is now estimated to host 162.8 million ounces M+I and 44.4 million ounces inferred. On a silver only basis, the M+I resource for silver are estimated to total 68.2 million ounces with another 17.6 million ounces inferred.

The first ever resource estimate for La Negra Silver Deposit returned excellent overall grades, averaging 129 g/t silver equivalent in the Indicated Category and 115 g/t silver equivalent in the Inferred Category. At a cutoff of 50 g/t silver equivalent these grades increase to 146 g/t and 133 g/t silver equivalent respectively with only a modest drop in contained silver ounces.

I would like to point out our expanded resource base, on a silver equivalent basis, the estimated totals for Promontorio-La Negra plus La Cigarra are 214.2 million silver equivalent ounces in the M+I along with 54.9 million silver equivalent ounces inferred.

On a silver only basis, Kootenay's M+I silver resources are estimated to be 120.2 million ounces and 28.2 million silver ounces inferred for the Promontorio-La Negra and La Cigarra projects.

This work prepares the project for advancement in a stronger metals market. Meanwhile we remain focused on drilling Columba with the aim of defining a new high-grade resource there and will be reporting on results in the coming weeks."

Mr. McDonald adds, "The Company has also decided to proceed with a share consolidation at this time as detailed below, which the Board believes is in the best interest of shareholders. It has been an ongoing discussion point with various investors and shareholders encouraging us to proceed with the consolidation, which could lead to increased investor interest by raising the Company profile with a lower number of outstanding shares, a higher stock price and better position the Company to obtain financing to further advance its properties."

*La Cigarra resource estimate table can be found here https://kootenaysilver.com/projects/la-cigarra



The following two tables summarize the Promontorio comparison and the Mineral Resource estimate ("MRE") for Promontorio. The effective date of the Promontorio-La Negra resource estimates is August 27, 2023.

Table 1: 2023 Promontorio Resource Compared to 2013 Pit Resource

Year Class kt AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) AgEq

(koz) Ag

(koz) Au

(koz) Pb

(klb) Zn

(klb) 2023

MMTS

150% Pit Measured 12,451 111.7 37.03 0.46 0.53 0.61 44,718 14,823 183 146,033 166,620 Indicated 29,664 100.7 33.50 0.41 0.47 0.55 96,072 31,950 393 306,716 360,996 Meas+Ind 42,115 104.0 34.54 0.43 0.49 0.57 140,790 46,773 575 452,748 527,616 Inferred 14,575 84.9 27.89 0.35 0.42 0.45 39,782 13,069 163 136,241 143,632 2013

SRK Pit Measured 10,289 67.9 32.69 0.40 0.46 0.55 22,470 10,814 134 105,328 123,715 Indicated 34,215 56.0 26.30 0.34 0.38 0.45 61,572 28,926 373 287,579 335,904 Meas+Ind 44,504 58.7 27.77 0.35 0.40 0.47 84,042 39,740 506 392,907 459,619 Inferred 14,564 46.3 24.95 0.28 0.28 0.31 21,700 11,683 132 89,430 98,462 Difference

=

(2023-

2013)/2013 Measured 21 % 64 % 13 % 14 % 16 % 10 % 99 % 37 % 36 % 39 % 35 % Indicated -13 % 80 % 27 % 21 % 23 % 23 % 56 % 10 % 5 % 7 % 7 % Meas+Ind -5 % 77 % 24 % 21 % 22 % 21 % 68 % 18 % 14 % 15 % 15 % Inferred 0 % 83 % 12 % 24 % 51 % 44 % 83 % 12 % 24 % 52 % 46 %

Table 2: 2023 Resource Statement for the Promontorio Deposit

Class Cutoff In situ Tonnage, Grade and Metal Content AgEq

(g/t) Tonnage

(kt) AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) AgEq

Metal

(kOz) AG

Metal

(kOz) Au

Metal

(kOz) Pb

(klb) Zn

(klb) Measured 15 13,538 104.3 34.5 0.428 0.49 0.57 45,419 15,012 186 147,440 168,631 20 13,011 107.9 35.7 0.441 0.51 0.59 45,122 14,934 184 146,864 167,803 25 12,451 111.7 37.0 0.456 0.53 0.61 44,718 14,823 183 146,033 166,620 30 11,903 115.6 38.4 0.470 0.55 0.63 44,233 14,691 180 144,854 164,797 40 10,793 123.9 41.3 0.500 0.59 0.68 42,984 14,324 174 141,339 160,851 50 9,710 132.7 44.4 0.532 0.64 0.73 41,423 13,848 166 136,790 155,200 Indicated 15 32,225 94.3 31.3 0.387 0.44 0.52 97,728 32,439 401 311,172 366,586 20 30,993 97.4 32.4 0.399 0.45 0.53 97,033 32,235 398 309,525 364,187 25 29,664 100.7 33.5 0.412 0.47 0.55 96,072 31,950 393 306,716 360,996 30 28,179 104.6 34.8 0.426 0.49 0.57 94,756 31,564 386 302,544 355,970 40 24,961 113.6 37.9 0.461 0.53 0.62 91,133 30,447 370 291,656 342,834 50 21,907 123.1 41.3 0.497 0.58 0.68 86,721 29,089 350 278,188 326,002 Measured +

Indicated 15 45,763 97.3 32.3 0.399 0.45 0.53 143,147 47,451 587 458,612 535,217 20 44,004 100.5 33.3 0.411 0.47 0.55 142,155 47,169 582 456,389 531,990 25 42,115 104.0 34.5 0.425 0.49 0.57 140,790 46,773 575 452,748 527,616 30 40,082 107.9 35.9 0.439 0.51 0.59 138,989 46,256 566 447,397 520,768 40 35,754 116.7 38.9 0.473 0.55 0.64 134,117 44,772 543 432,996 503,684 50 31,617 126.1 42.2 0.508 0.60 0.69 128,144 42,937 516 414,978 481,202 Inferred 15 16,637 76.8 25.1 0.319 0.38 0.40 41,072 13,415 171 139,011 147,447 20 15,433 81.4 26.7 0.335 0.41 0.43 40,401 13,238 166 137,797 145,622 25 14,575 84.9 27.9 0.348 0.42 0.45 39,782 13,069 163 136,241 143,632 30 13,671 88.7 29.2 0.362 0.44 0.47 38,980 12,830 159 133,819 141,052 40 11,778 97.3 32.1 0.395 0.49 0.51 36,847 12,152 150 127,493 133,206 50 9,980 106.8 35.3 0.432 0.54 0.56 34,256 11,327 139 119,031 123,652

Notes to the 2023 Promontorio Resource Table: 1. Resources are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and were estimated using the 2019 CIM Best Practices Guidelines, as required by NI43-101 2. The base case Mineral Resource has been confined by "reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction" shape using the following assumptions:

? Metal prices of US$22/oz Silver, US$1800/oz Gold, US$0.95/lb Lead and US$1.25/lb Zinc. Metallurgical recovery of 74% Silver, 70% Gold, 81% Lead and 88% Zinc

? Payable metal of 95% Silver, 99% Gold in dore 95% Au in Pb concentrate, 95% Lead and 85% Zinc. Lead payable assumes a concentrate grade of 65% Pb and a 3% unit deduction. Zinc payable assumes a concentrate grade of 52% Pb and an 8% unit deduction. Offsite costs (transport, smelter treatment and refining) of US$1.5/oz Silver and gold in the Pb concentrate, US$10 oz Gold, US$ 0.15/lb Lead and US$0.31/ lb Zinc. Lead offsite costs assume 100 $US/dmt transport, 100 $US/ dmt treatment. Zinc offsite costs assume 100 $US/dmt transport, 200 $US/ dmt treatment.

? Processing, General, and Administrative ("G&A") costs of US$ 12/ tonne milled. Mining cost of US$2.00 / tonne

? 50 degree pit slopes with the 150% price case pit shell is used for the confining shape 3. The resulting NSR = Ag*US$0.63/g*74% + Au*US$56.71/g*70% + 22.0462*(Pb*US$0.77/lb*81% + Zn*US$ 0.80/lb*88%) 4. The specific gravity of the resource averages 2.79 and is calculated from the Lead and Zinc content. Non-mineralized material is assigned an SG of 2.73. 5. Numbers may not add due to rounding.



At Promontorio the increase in M+I metal content is considered to be due primarily to the following:

Additional drilling of 89 holes ( 23,220 m ) in 2012-2013, that were not included in the previous resource estimate.

) in 2012-2013, that were not included in the previous resource estimate. Modelling of both high grade constrained mineralized shells and a lower grade mineralized halo to better limit the data used for the interpolations.

Changes to the metal prices (particularly Ag and Au) with lower Ag price and higher Au price to conform to 3-year trailing averages which caused a large increase in AgEq grade.

The following two tables summarize the La Negra total resource estimate, and the La Negra resource by Oxidation zone, respectively. La Negra is assumed to produce dore, with only Au and Ag recovered. The cutoff grades of 40 g/t AgEq more than covers the assumed cost of Processing + G&A.

Table 3: 2023 Resource Statement for the La Negra Deposit

ZONE CLASS Cutoff In Situ Grades and Metal Content AgEq

(g/t) Tonnage

(kt) AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) AgEq

Metal

(kOz) Ag

Metal

(kOz) Au

Metal

(kOz) Total Indicated 25 7,282 102.5 99.8 0.061 24,000 23,370 14.2 30 6,463 112.0 109.2 0.063 23,280 22,690 13.2 35 5,821 120.8 117.9 0.065 22,610 22,060 12.2 40 5,285 129.3 126.3 0.067 21,970 21,450 11.4 45 4,821 137.6 134.5 0.069 21,330 20,850 10.7 50 4,425 145.7 142.5 0.071 20,730 20,280 10.0 Inferred 25 1,831 88.8 86.5 0.055 5,230 5,090 3.2 30 1,607 97.3 94.9 0.057 5,030 4,900 3.0 35 1,415 106.1 103.7 0.059 4,830 4,720 2.7 40 1,257 114.8 112.2 0.060 4,640 4,540 2.4 45 1,111 124.2 121.6 0.061 4,440 4,340 2.2 50 993 133.5 130.8 0.061 4,260 4,180 2.0

Table 4: 2023 Resource Statement for the La Negra Deposit by Zone

ZONE CLASS Cutoff In Situ Grades and Metal Content AgEq

(g/t) Tonnage

(kt) AgEq

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) AgEq

Metal

(kOz) AG

Metal

(kOz) Au

Metal

(kOz) OXIDE Indicated 25 2,383 98.8 95.1 0.049 7,570 7,280 3.7 30 2,157 106.3 102.4 0.051 7,370 7,100 3.5 35 1,964 113.6 109.5 0.053 7,170 6,910 3.3 40 1,798 120.6 116.4 0.054 6,970 6,730 3.1 45 1,661 127.0 122.7 0.056 6,780 6,550 3.0 50 1,524 134.2 129.8 0.057 6,580 6,360 2.8 Inferred 25 622 93.6 90.6 0.039 1,870 1,810 0.8 30 567 100.0 96.9 0.040 1,820 1,770 0.7 35 512 107.3 104.1 0.042 1,770 1,710 0.7 40 465 114.3 111.0 0.043 1,710 1,660 0.6 45 429 120.4 117.0 0.044 1,660 1,610 0.6 50 389 128.0 124.6 0.045 1,600 1,560 0.6 MIXED Indicated 25 732 78.6 75.4 0.045 1,850 1,770 1.0 30 617 88.0 84.6 0.048 1,750 1,680 1.0 35 526 97.6 94.1 0.050 1,650 1,590 0.9 40 454 107.3 103.5 0.053 1,570 1,510 0.8 45 394 117.0 113.1 0.055 1,480 1,430 0.7 50 350 125.9 121.9 0.057 1,420 1,370 0.6 Inferred 25 105 89.9 88.5 0.020 300 300 0.1 30 83 106.3 104.7 0.022 280 280 0.1 35 71 119.0 117.4 0.023 270 270 0.1 40 61 132.6 130.9 0.023 260 260 0.0 45 51 149.2 147.6 0.024 240 240 0.0 50 47 158.1 156.4 0.024 240 240 0.0 SULFIDE Indicated 25 4,167 108.8 106.8 0.071 14,580 14,310 9.5 30 3,689 119.4 117.3 0.073 14,160 13,910 8.7 35 3,331 128.7 126.6 0.075 13,790 13,560 8.1 40 3,033 137.7 135.5 0.077 13,430 13,210 7.5 45 2,766 146.9 144.7 0.079 13,060 12,870 7.0 50 2,551 155.3 153.0 0.080 12,740 12,550 6.6 Inferred 25 1,104 86.0 84.1 0.067 3,050 2,980 2.4 30 957 94.9 92.9 0.070 2,920 2,860 2.2 35 832 104.3 102.2 0.072 2,790 2,730 1.9 40 731 113.6 111.5 0.074 2,670 2,620 1.7 45 631 124.8 122.7 0.076 2,530 2,490 1.5 50 557 135.2 133.0 0.076 2,420 2,380 1.4

Notes to the 2023 La Negra Resource Tables: 1. Resources are reported using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards and were estimated using the 2019 CIM Best Practices Guidelines, as required by NI43-101 2. The base case Mineral Resource has been confined by "reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction" shape using the following assumptions:

? Metal prices of US$22/oz Silver, US$1800/oz Gold

? Recovery is assumed to be as for dore. Metallurgical recovery of 82% Silver and 77% Gold in the Oxide zone, 85% Silver and 73% Gold in the Mixed zone, and 90% Silver and 31% Gold in the Sulfide zone.

? Payable metal of 99% for Silver and Gold. Offsite costs (transport, smelter treatment and refining) of US$0.25/oz Silver and US$10/oz gold.

? Processing, General, and Administrative (G&A) costs of US$ 12/ tonne milled. Mining cost of US$2.00/tonne

? 50 degree pit slopes with the 150% price case pit shell is used for the confining shape 3. The resulting NSR = Ag*US$0.69/g*Zone Ag Recovery% + Au*US$56.97/g*Zone Au Recovery% 4. Silver Equivalent (AgEq) = NSR / (US$0.69/g* Ag Recovery%) 5. The specific gravity is assigned by rock type as 2.52 in Oxides, 2.59 in Mixes and 2.61 in Sulfides 6. Numbers may not add due to rounding.



Resource Estimate Uncertainty

Areas of uncertainty that may materially impact the mineral resource estimates include changes to: long-term metal price assumptions; interpretations of mineralization geometry, fault geometry and continuity of mineralized zones; net smelter return used to constrain the estimates; metallurgical recovery assumptions; input assumptions used to derive the conceptual open pit outlines used to constrain the estimate; variations in geotechnical, hydrogeological and mining assumptions and environmental, permitting and social license assumptions.

There are no other known environmental, legal, title, taxation, socioeconomic, marketing, political or other relevant factors that would materially affect the estimation of mineral resources that are not discussed in this news release.

Mineral Resource Estimate Methodology

Data

The Promontorio MRE uses 59,149 assays from 311 drill holes based on drilling up to an including 2013. The La Negra MRE uses 9,311 assays in 94 drill holes from drilling completed between 2014 and 2017.

Mineralization Envelopes

Confining shapes for the interpolations have been made using the geologic modeling shapes provided by Kootenay, the logged lithology and the metal grades. The shapes of the main mineralized zones target the breccias and a value of approximately US$15/tonne Net Smelter Return (NSR). Dilution of lower grade intercepts has been added as necessary to produce smooth shapes.

At Promontorio there are six domains modeled, as well as a low-grade halo surrounding and connecting the 2 major areas. The shapes are illustrated in Figure 1.

At La Negra one domain has been modeled and it has been split into three oxidation zones based on logging data. The shapes are illustrated in Figure 2.

Grade Capping

The grade distributions within the mineralized domains are mainly lognormal except at very high grades where outliers are evident and therefore capping of assays has been done as summarized in the following tables. For clarity, also summarized in the tables are the Outlier Restrictions which has been applied to the composites during interpolation at Promontorio. For composite grades above the Outlier value provided, and at distances greater than 5m from the data, the value is essentially capped to the outlier.

At both deposits 2m has been used for the base length when compositing, which is longer than the vast majority of the assays. The compositing also honored the domain boundaries. Assay intervals less than 1 m have been added to the previous composite to limit the number of small assay intervals.

Table 5: Capping of Assays and Outlier Restriction of Composites by Domain - Promontorio



Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Pb (%) Zn (%)

Cap Outlier Cap Outlier Cap Outlier Cap Outlier Low Grade 1,600 500 4 2 9 3 10 3 Domain 1 1,600 500 10 7 9 3 10 3 Domain 2 1,600 500 9 2 9 3 10 8 Domain 3 600 500 6 6 4 4 7 5 Domain 4 500 1,000 4 2 5 5 6 5 Domain 5 1,000 600 3 3 4 3 6 5 Domain 6 100 60 1 1 2 2 2 2

Table 6 : Capping of Assays by Oxidation Zone - La Negra



Oxidation Zone Cap, g/t Ag Oxide 3000 Mixed 1500 Sulfide 3000 Au Oxide 0.5 Mixed 0.5 Sulfide 1



Variography

At Promontorio variograms have been made on each axis for each metal in Domain 1 and 2, which are the largest domains. The strongest correlations are steeply dipping down the major axis of the mineralization with ranges from 100m to 130m.

At La Negra the strongest correlation is at azimuth 255 dipping 15 degrees with a range of approximately 55m. The variograms have been used to aid in determining the search parameters for the interpolations, as well as distances for Classification to Measured and Indicated.

Specific Gravity

The Promontorio drilling database contains 4,510 specific gravity ("SG") measurements in total and the SG is estimated based on the interpolated Pb and Zn grade using a regression formula.

The SG at La Negra is based on 1,541 measurements within the deposit area and has been assigned based on the mean grade within each of the oxidation zones.

Interpolations and Classification.

Interpolations have been done in 5 passes using composites coded with the domain shapes for model-composite domain matching. Searches are oriented along the major axis of each domain. Inverse Distance squared (ID2) is used at Promontorio and Ordinary Kriging at La Negra.

Classification methodology at the two deposits is similar, the primary difference being the search distances used, which are based on the variography.

Classification at Promontorio is based on the distance between drillholes using the following process:

All interpolated blocks are initially classified as Inferred.

Block are upgraded to Indicated if the if the average distance to the 2 nearest drillholes is <= 50m and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= 70m , and the drillholes must be in at least two quadrants (directions).

and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= , and the drillholes must be in at least two quadrants (directions). Blocks are further upgraded to Measured if the if the average distance to the 3 nearest drillholes is <= 30m and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= 50m , and the drillholes must be in three quadrants (directions).

and if the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= , and the drillholes must be in three quadrants (directions). The low grade halo is classified as Inferred

Classification at La Negra uses the following process:

All interpolated blocks are initially classified as Inferred.

Block are upgraded to Indicated if the average distance to the 2 nearest drillholes is <= 30m , and the distance to the furthest of those drillhole is <= 50m , and the drillholes must be in two quadrants (directions).

At both deposits additional manual checking and smoothing of the results has been done to ensure continuous shapes of Classification are produced.

Metallurgy

G&T Metallurgical Services Ltd, Kamloops, BC, Canada completed preliminary metallurgical programs on drill core composites from the Promontorio property for Kootenay in 2009, 2012 and 2013. The metallurgical program investigated a standard polymetallic sequential flotation flowsheet that includes crushing, grinding, lead flotation, zinc flotation and pyrite/arsenopyrite flotation. Pressure oxidation (POX) of the pyrite/arsenopyrite concentrate is required to extract the contained gold by cyanidation to produce dore. Promontorio will also produce lead concentrate, zinc concentrate. The metallurgical recovery assumptions are listed with Table 1. Overall gold recovery is estimated at 70% and is based on 65% gold recovery into the pyrite flotation concentrate followed by 94% cyanidation gold extraction from the pyrite concentrate after pressure oxidation, plus an average 9% gold recovery into the lead flotation concentrate.

Metallurgical testing on La Negra samples has been conducted by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates of Reno Nevada in 2015 and McClelland Laboratories of Sparks Nevada in 2018. The work in 2015 did initial comparisons of flotation to cyanide leaching recovery methods on 7 composites. Silver extractions from leaching ranged from 70% to 90% based on calculated heads which ranged from 61.71 to 242.64 grams per metric tonne and did not seem influenced by sulfide sulfur content. Follow-up in 2018 tested 10 composites representing material from four oxidation zones. The composites were all amenable to whole ore milling/cyanidation treatment with respect to silver recovery, but gold recoveries varied significantly.

La Negra is expected to produce silver and gold dore. The metallurgical recovery assumptions are listed with Table 2 and are based on the average results for each oxidation type tested in the 2018 test program.

Resource Pit Limits

Lerch Grossman ("LG") pit optimization tools have been used to select a pit shape for limiting the resource. The LG pit targets Net Smelter Return (NSR) calculated in each block using interpolation results and the economic, metallurgical, and mining parameters shown with the resource tables 1 through 4.

Cut off Grade

The COG was selected using AgEq to cover, as a minimum, the processing and G&A costs and to account for the metallurgical recovery and smelter terms. For both deposits 25g/t AgEq will covers the assumed cost of US$12/tonne; however, a higher cutoff has been used for the base case for La Negra.

Block Model Validation

Several validation techniques have been utilised to ensure that the estimates are reasonable. The global grades of the model with the de-clustered composites have been compared to ensure no bias was introduced. In addition, the total metal content for each metal at various cutoff have been compared to ensure that the total metal compares well to that of data. Grade-tonnage curves have been created to ensure that the appropriate smoothing of modelled grades has been accomplished with no over-prediction of metal throughout the grade distributions. Swath plots comparing the de-clustered composite grade to the ID2 modelled estimate in Easting, Northing and Elevation were completed to ensure the model is spatially predicting grade correctly. Visual comparisons on section and plan were also done to ensure the model compares well to the assay grades.

Qualified Persons

Ms. Sue Bird ? P. Eng., (resource estimate) of MMTS is the Qualified Person ("QP") who prepared the mineral resource estimate, and compiled and reviewed the resource estimate disclosed in this news release. Ms. Bird, as the Qualified Person, has approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. Dale Brittliffe, BSc. P. Geol., Vice President, Exploration of Kootenay Silver, is the Company's nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release. Mr. Brittliffe is not independent of Kootenay Silver.

Cautionary Note to Investors

While the terms "indicated (mineral) resource" and "inferred (mineral) resource" are recognized and required by National Instrument 43-101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, investors are cautioned that except for that portion of mineral resources classified as mineral reserves, mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be upgraded into mineral reserves. Additionally, investors are cautioned that inferred mineral resources have a high degree of uncertainty as to their existence, as to whether they can be economically or legally mined, or will ever be upgraded to a higher category.

United States investors are advised that current Mineral Resources are not current Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Share Consolidation

The Company is pleased to announce that its board of directors (the "Board") has approved a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of the common shares (the "Shares") of the Company on a ten-to-one (10:1) basis. The Company currently has 457,669,033 Shares outstanding and if completed, the Consolidation would reduce the issued and outstanding Shares to approximately 45,766,903 Shares, subject to rounding. No fractional post-Consolidation Shares will be issued pursuant to the Consolidation. Any fractional Shares equal to or greater than one-half resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded up to the next whole number of Shares, and any fractional Shares less than one-half resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

Along with all outstanding Shares, the Company's equity incentive plan will be adjusted accordingly. The Consolidation will also affect the issued and outstanding common share purchase warrants (each, a "Warrant") of the Company, as the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant will be reduced and the exercise price will increase, all in accordance with the terms of the certificates governing the Warrants.

The Consolidation is subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval. At the Company's annual general and special meeting of its shareholders (the "Shareholders") held on March 15, 2023, the Shareholders approved the replacement of the Company's articles of incorporation in their entirety with a new form of articles of incorporation (the "New Articles"). Under the New Articles, a consolidation may be implemented by the Board without shareholder approval. As such, the Consolidation is not subject to shareholder approval. The Company will announce the effective date of the Consolidation, as well as the new CUSIP/ISIN numbers for the post-Consolidation Shares by way of a future news release. The post-Consolidation Shares will continue to trade on the TSXV under the Company's existing name and trading symbol.

The Consolidation will not materially affect the percentage ownership in the Company of Shareholders even though such ownership will be represented by a smaller number of Shares. The Consolidation will merely proportionally reduce the number of Shares held by Shareholders.

Shareholders who have deposited their Shares into brokerage accounts are not required to take any action to effect an exchange of their Shares.

Shareholders with physical certificates will receive a letter of transmittal from Computershare Investor Services Inc., the Company's transfer agent. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions on how registered Shareholders can exchange their share certificates representing pre-Consolidation Shares for new certificates representing post-Consolidation Shares. Until surrendered, each share certificate representing pre-Consolidation shares will represent the number of whole post-Consolidation shares to which the holder is entitled as a result of the consolidation.

About Kootenay Silver

Kootenay Silver Inc. is an exploration company actively engaged in the discovery and development of mineral projects in the Sierra Madre Region of Mexico. Supported by one of the largest junior portfolios of silver assets in Mexico, Kootenay continues to provide its shareholders with significant leverage to silver prices. The Company remains focused on the expansion of its current silver resources, new discoveries and the near-term economic development of its priority silver projects located in prolific mining districts in Sonora, State and Chihuahua, State, Mexico, respectively.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release include statements about the mineral resource estimate for the Promontorio-La Negra project; the completion and filing of a National Instrument 43-101 technical report related to the Promontorio-La Negra mineral resource estimate; potential existence and size of mineralization within the Promontorio-La Negra project; and geological interpretations and potential mineral recovery processes. Information concerning mineral resource estimates also may be deemed to be forward-looking information in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Kootenay Silver and its subsidiaries have made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things: the geological, metallurgical, engineering, financial and economic advice that Kootenay Silver has received is reliable and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards. While Kootenay Silver considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will receive approval from the TSXV and complete the Consolidation in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Kootenay Silver's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the actual mineralization in the Promontorio?La Negra deposit may not be as favorable as suggested by the resource estimate; the NI 43-101 technical report that includes the resource estimate may not be filed within the anticipated timeframe, or at all; fluctuations in copper 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, and recovery rates; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Kootenay Silver is disclosed in Kootenay Silver's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com . All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Kootenay Silver disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law.

SOURCE Kootenay Silver Inc.

12 october 2023 at 08:00

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T.D. Jakes Foundation receives $250,000 grant from Truist to support the PATHWAY Program for Economic Mobility





Grant to help drive critical programming to further connect diverse job seekers and businesses

DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- T.D. Jakes Foundation today announced it received a $250,000 grant from Truist Financial Corporation through its Truist Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Winston-Salem Foundation. The grant will support T.D. Jakes Foundation's PATHWAY program, which seeks to support individuals in their journey toward family-sustaining careers, and further support the program's economic mobility and empowering of diverse job seekers.

Grant to help drive critical programming to further connect diverse job seekers and businesses

"We often see people from underrepresented communities do not know where to begin in a job search or do not know the resources that might be available in a career transition," said Kelley Cornish, CEO of T.D. Jakes Foundation. "Grants like this allow us to facilitate job training and improve our PATHWAY program model to reach more job seekers. We are grateful to Truist for the contribution and are excited to see how it propels our PATHWAY program forward to further helping job seekers reach their full career potential."

PATHWAY's focus is on skill building, including job skills, training, and support to create competencies that close the opportunity gap and create potential for future generations. Truist's support will help this service model implement an approach that takes candidates from awareness to training to self-sufficiency. Support of this program allows T.D. Jakes Foundation to connect vetted and qualified candidates to businesses seeking diverse talent.

"Truist is proud to invest in the PATHWAY program to support avenues for career growth and economic mobility across the communities we serve," said DeVon Lang, North Texas Regional President at Truist. "By partnering with T.D. Jakes Foundation, we can more effectively work together in our shared efforts to create opportunities for prosperity and financial independence. We look forward to seeing how PATHWAY equips the next generation of leaders with the skills they need to excel in their careers."

Through programs like PATHWAY, T.D. Jakes Foundation is elevating and integrating services, including job skills, training, and support to transform lives and enrich communities. With PATHWAY, those who need employment and support do not have to navigate a maze of programs and bureaucracies independently. PATHWAY provides a helping hand, guiding those in need through intervention services, training, educational and aftercare programs ? and ultimately connecting them to living-wage employment, part of T.D. Jakes Foundation's end-to-end accountability system.

Additionally, Truist was a sponsor of T.D. Jakes Foundation's "You're Hired!" event, hosted on Saturday, October 7 at the P.L.A.C.E at The Potter's House, located at 6777 W Kiest Blvd, Dallas, TX 75236. The event, a hiring mixer, presented in partnership with Workforce Dallas, the Dallas Mavericks, and State Farm, was open to PATHWAY participants and was designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities.

About T.D. Jakes Foundation

T.D. Jakes Foundation is building bridges by unlocking the power of global competition through workforce training that prepares workers to compete in today's economy through STEM/STEAM education, financial literacy and inclusion, and a laser focus to close the racial wealth gap and support minority women in corporate leadership. For more than 40 years, T.D. Jakes has connected diverse communities across socio-economic divides. Through the work of T.D. Jakes Foundation, Chairman Jakes is harnessing decades of resources and connections to prepare people for success in the 21st-century workforce, lift underserved populations and connect corporations to new, highly skilled pools of talent amid increasing global competition. For additional information visit: https://tdjfoundation.org/

About Truist Charitable Fund

The Truist Charitable Fund ("TCF") is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives. TCF was established as a donor-advised fund and is administered by the Winston-Salem Foundation. TCF invests in local community organizations, focusing on grants that support initiatives and programs in the areas of educational equity, leadership development, career pathways, small business, and community services. To learn more about Truist's purpose, visit https://www.truist.com/who-we-are/about-truist.

About Truist

Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $555 billion as of June 30, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com

SOURCE T.D. Jakes Foundation

12 october 2023 at 08:00

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Wells Fargo Expands Advice and Planning, LifeSync Access to All Consumer Customers





Wells Fargo & Company announced today the expanded availability of LifeSync, a personalized digital approach to aligning customers' goals with their money, to all consumer customers. Available in the Wells Fargo Mobile app, LifeSync launched to all Wealth & Investment Management (WIM) clients earlier this year. This expansion comes in conjunction with a pivotal move for WIM's Advice and Planning group, which will now be an enterprisewide Center of Excellence, providing more customer segments with tailored solutions.

"Expanding availability of LifeSync to our consumer customers is the first proof point in Wells Fargo's strategic delivery of digital-first, personalized financial advice and planning offerings," said Michael Liersch, head of Advice and Planning at Wells Fargo. "Since it launched earlier this year, LifeSync has delivered on its promise to enable WIM clients to more easily share their goals with their advisor, see how they're progressing toward them in real-time, and deliver relevant content and context to better understand what's influencing those goals. We are thrilled to expand the LifeSync experience to millions of consumer customers this fall."

Through an intuitive digital experience, LifeSync can provide real-time progress on goals and track key information ? including their full Wells Fargo account summary, FICO scores, market indexes, and credit card reward balances. Timely and relevant Wells Fargo content is delivered through its "Newsfeed" feature as goals or life events change and evolve.

LifeSync will be fully integrated with a customer's branch experience, providing the option to create a multichannel experience through both digital and banker touchpoints. Customers can choose to either have a goals conversation with a banker and then track those goals in LifeSync, or articulate their goals in LifeSync first and then follow up with a banker.

As recently uncovered in Logica Research's Future of Money study, Americans report needing more help with financial decisions than ever, with Gen Z having the highest percentage of respondents indicating a desire to obtain financial advice, especially around managing their money during uncertain economic times. The consumer customer availability of LifeSync further supports Wells Fargo's digital strategy to provide customers with an intuitive banking journey that meets their individual financial needs.

"Since redesigning our mobile app, including launching new features like our Fargotm 1 virtual assistant, customer satisfaction and usage are growing exponentially," said Michelle Moore, head of Consumer and Wealth & Investment Management Digital at Wells Fargo. "This expanded availability of LifeSync builds on that momentum by providing meaningful money guidance to help our customers feel supported in reaching their financial goals."

Today's announcement marks a continuation of Wells Fargo's holistic digital transformation, as signified by the rollout of Fargo, its new virtual assistant, including Fargo in Spanish. 2 These enhanced digital capabilities represent the bank's multiyear plan to become digital-first and reinvent personal finance.

1 Availability may be affected by your mobile carrier's coverage area. Your mobile carrier's message and data rates may apply. Fargo is only available on the smartphone versions of the Wells Fargo Mobile app. 2 Wells Fargo Online and the Wells Fargo Mobile app may not be available in Spanish to all customers and some products, services, and communications may only be offered in English.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 47 on Fortune's 2023 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy.

News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo

Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements about our future financial performance and business. Because forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we do not undertake to update them to reflect changes or events that occur after that date. For information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, refer to our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Forward-Looking Statements" discussion in Wells Fargo's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as to Wells Fargo's other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, available on its website at www.sec.gov.

News Release Category: WF-IT

12 october 2023 at 08:05

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BioCT appoints David Scheer as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, welcomes new director





BioCT is delighted to announce the appointment of David Scheer as Co-Chair of its Board of Directors. With a distinguished career in the life sciences industry and extensive experience in building successful companies, David brings invaluable expertise to his new leadership role within BioCT.

Jodie Gillon, President and CEO of BioCT, expressed her excitement about David's appointment, stating, "I am ecstatic to have David as our Co-Chair. I had the privilege to first work with David while at Achillion Pharmaceuticals, the role that brought me to New Haven. It was David who spent countless hours not only ensuring the CEO of BioCT position could work for me, but training and mentoring me as a first time CEO. David has been my partner since the moment I accepted ? generous with his time, experience, gravitas, and contacts. He has been truly serving in the role of co-chair. I am overjoyed that the Board unanimously agreed to make it official."

Stanley Choy, the current Chair of BioCT's Board of Directors, who will now serve as Co-Chair alongside David and continue his role as the Board's treasurer, shared his enthusiasm, saying, "We are honored that David agreed to be BioCT's co-chairman. I've known David for many years and his life sciences experiences and knowledge are incredible. I worked with David in one of his companies and have seen first-hand the value he brings when he engages. It's my privilege to call him my "partner" as we move into the next chapter of BioCT."

David Scheer's impressive background includes serving as President of Scheer & Company, Inc. since 1981, a company renowned for building successful businesses and providing strategic and transactional advisory services in the life sciences industry. His affiliation with Oak Investment Partners as part of their Health Care Investing Team for nearly a decade has further solidified his expertise in the field.

David currently chairs the boards of four privately-held companies: BiologicsMD, Adela, Inc., Refactor Health, and OrphAI Therapeutics (formerly AI-Therapeutics). He was a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and has been involved in founding and serving on the boards of numerous other companies, both privately and publicly-held. He additionally serves as a founding member and on the Executive Committee of the Soderstrom Scholars Fund and the Board of the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund. He contributes his expertise to a number of other not-for-profit organizations, including the Rutgers Global Health Institute, NYU Grossman Medical School and Wolverine Foundation.

Reflecting on his new role as Co-Chair of BioCT's Board of Directors, David Scheer remarked, "I am honored to be asked to serve as a Co-Chair of BioCT with Stan, and to work with an exceptional staff and Board of Directors. I am a firm believer in the predictive value for success of any organization in the caliber of its leadership. In Jodie, we have a person who exemplifies a transformational leader. BioCT has a great opportunity to take our life sciences cluster in the State to a next and most important level. For this reason, I am excited about our plans, with Jodie at the helm!"

BioCT is also pleased to welcome Matt Storeygard, Senior Managing Director at Connecticut Innovations (CI), to its Board of Directors. Matt's extensive experience in venture capital and strategic consulting will further strengthen BioCT. Importantly, he brings to the Board a great deal of expertise and experience in the digital health space, which is an area of great opportunity for our State, and for BioCT to make an important contribution as well.

Matt Storeygard commented on his appointment, saying, "I am honored and eager to join the Board of BioCT. Given my role at CI leading our Life Sciences team, it will better enable a deeper collaboration between our organizations. I look forward to bringing a digital health perspective to the Board and joining an elite group of life sciences leaders in CT."

BioCT has exciting events on the horizon, including its Annual Holiday Party December 11th and an inaugural Legislative Breakfast January 22nd. BioCT remains dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within Connecticut's thriving life sciences ecosystem and the addition of key roles to the Board will enable execution of this mission.

About BioCT

BioCT's mission is to catalyze and market the growth of Connecticut's life sciences industry; fostering and promoting the state as nationally recognized for innovation and improving patient lives. Learn more at www.bioct.org.

12 october 2023 at 08:30

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Rocket Software Appoints Three Industry Veterans to its Executive Team





Rocket Software, Inc. ("Rocket Software") a global technology leader that develops enterprise software for some of the world's largest companies, today announced it has appointed Alyse Daghelian as Chief Revenue Officer, Michael Curry as President of the Data Modernization Business Unit, and Liz Fischer as Chief Legal Officer. Daghelian, Curry, and Fischer each bring more than two decades of experience to their roles and will report directly to Rocket Software CEO Milan Shetti as members of the Executive Leadership Team.

"The appointments of Alyse, Michael, and Liz reflect our dedication to growth and innovation, and our commitment to the highest ethical values," said Shetti. "Alyse's vast expertise in scaling high growth technology businesses highlights our focus on value-driven growth. Michael, with his deep experience in software and systems integration, underscores our focus on effective product strategies and data-driven solutions. With her expertise in M&A, technology licensing, and corporate governance, Liz emphasizes our commitment to upholding top-tier legal standards."

Global Sales and Tech Veteran to Drive Continued Growth

Prior to joining Rocket Software, Daghelian served as Global Vice President, Technology Workflows for ServiceNow, where she was responsible for global sales and go-to-market for the company's expansive portfolio. Daghelian also served as Global Vice President, Sales and Service, at IBM, where she was responsible for global sales and services of IBM's large-scale Data and AI business across 170 countries, all major industries, and all routes to market including field-facing, partner, and digital routes.

"As a passionate sales and technology leader, I bring an aggressive growth mindset and deep expertise driving all aspects of revenue performance," said Daghelian. "I am thrilled to bring my expertise to a company that places such an emphasis on value-driven growth and look forward to charting new milestones with this remarkable team."

Seasoned IBM Leader to Advance Data Modernization

Curry most recently served as an Executive in Residence for Great Hill Partners, a Growth Private Equity firm, where he led a detailed market assessment of the Data and AI markets. Curry has also held leadership positions in multiple software companies, including 17 years at IBM leading strategy and execution in business lines across integration, AI, data governance and analytics, and SaaS business applications. He has served as a member of the IBM Technology Team, the IBM AI Ethics Board, and the IBM Distinguished Industry Leader Board.

"Joining a company as committed as Rocket Software in empowering its customers to reimagine their interactions with data is a privilege," said Curry. "As the new leader of the data modernization business unit, I am eager to drive forward initiatives that not only enhance our current offerings but also pave the way for new innovations to help our customers to harness the full potential of their data."

Chief Legal Officer Brings Vast Experience in Tech Transactions, IP

Prior to joining Rocket Software, Fischer served as General Counsel for Perch, a technology-driven commerce company, where she was responsible for negotiating and driving strategic transactions and financings, including M&A and debt transactions. She also managed the company's extensive IP portfolio and all litigation matters.

Fischer also served as General Counsel at BitSight Technologies, a cyber risk and security ratings company, where she created the company's legal function. Prior to BitSight Technologies, Fischer held a legal leadership role at Constant Contact, a leading publicly traded email marketing SaaS solution that was taken private by Endurance International Group.

"I'm honored to be joining a company with the market influence, global reach, and growth trajectory of Rocket Software," said Fischer. "I look forward to contributing legal guidance to a team that exhibits such dedication and high ethical standards to its mission of helping customers modernize without disruption."

For more information on Rocket Software's leadership team, click here.

About Rocket Software

Rocket Software partners with the largest enterprises, in all industries, to solve their most complex IT challenges, across infrastructure, data, and applications ? with solutions that simplify, not disrupt their modernization journey. Trusted by over 10,000 customers, Rocket Software helps enterprises modernize in place with a hybrid cloud strategy, so they don't need to re-platform or build from the ground up. The company's 2,600 global employees work with customers to accelerate and optimize their modernization journey while meeting evolving market needs. Rocket Software is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in the Boston area with centers of excellence strategically located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Rocket Software is a portfolio company of Bain Capital Private Equity. Follow Rocket Software on LinkedIn and Twitter or visit www.RocketSoftware.com.

12 october 2023 at 08:35

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Green Hydrogen International and INPEX CORPORATION Agree to Advance Hydrogen City Project in South Texas





The companies will work together to develop GHI's flagship Hydrogen City Project in South Texas while evaluating large scale green hydrogen/ammonia exports to Asian and global customers.

HOUSTON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- INPEX CORPORATION (INPEX), Japan's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, and Green Hydrogen International (GHI), the world leader in green hydrogen developments, have signed a Joint Study Agreement to advance GHI's flagship Hydrogen City production hub in South Texas with the aim of producing green hydrogen and green ammonia to meet growing Asian and global market demand.

GHI's low-cost model of producing green hydrogen utilizing salt cavern storage and behind-the-meter renewable power aims to solve the cost and scale challenges of green hydrogen production. With INPEX's expertise in developing large scale energy projects around the world and extensive experience marketing LNG to international customers, the companies' partnership aims to develop one of the world's largest production and export hubs with the most cost-competitive green hydrogen in the world.

"GHI is honored to be partnering with INPEX CORPORATION on our Hydrogen City project. Their unapparelled expertise in large energy project development combined with a world-class marketing organization will provide enormous advantages to the Hydrogen City project and our goal of producing the world's lowest-cost green hydrogen by 2029," says Brian Maxwell, CEO of GHI.

INPEX Representative Director, President & CEO Takayuki Ueda said, "As we work towards the fulfillment of INPEX Vision@2022, I am excited to announce this green hydrogen project in Texas, which exemplifies our unwavering commitment to environmental leadership and innovation. This project perfectly aligns with our Vision@2022, as we strive to reshape the energy landscape by producing green hydrogen and accelerating the transition to a sustainable, carbon-neutral world. INPEX's dedication to a brighter, greener future remains steadfast, and this endeavor in Texas marks a pivotal step in our vision for a more sustainable tomorrow."

About the Project

Phase 1 of the Hydrogen City project is planned to produce 280,000 tons per year of green hydrogen, which will be used to produce 1 million tons per year of green ammonia for export. Additional volumes of green hydrogen will be available for local customers. The project will be powered by 3.75GW of behind-the-meter renewable energy and utilize salt storage to balance out the daily and seasonal intermittency of renewable energy. Construction is planned to start in 2026 with commercial operation planned for 2029. The partners plan to expand the project with additional phases as customer demand grows.

About GHI

GREEN HYDROGEN INTERNATIONAL is the world's leading green hydrogen development company with a global pipeline of large-scale projects located near low-cost renewable energy and storage-grade salt assets. The company's flagship Hydrogen City project in South Texas is planned to produce 280,000 tons/year of the world's lowest levelized cost of green hydrogen by 2029. GHI intends to play a leading role in the energy transition from a hydrocarbon world to a world powered by sustainable energy and green hydrogen. For more information, visit https://www.ghi-corp.com.

About INPEX

INPEX CORPORATION is Japan's largest exploration and production (E&P) company and is currently involved in projects across multiple continents. By thoroughly making its oil and gas business cleaner while expanding its five net zero business areas, INPEX aims to provide a stable supply of diverse and clean energy sources including oil, natural gas, hydrogen and renewables as a pioneer in energy transformation. The company plans to commercialize three or more projects by around 2030 and aims to produce and supply 100 thousand tons or more of hydrogen/ammonia per year. For more information, visit https://www.inpex.co.jp/english/index.html.

Media Contacts:

GHI

Brian Maxwell

+1-512-965-6239

[email protected]

INPEX

Yuko Mori, INPEX Tokyo Office

Public Relations Group

Tel: +81-3-5572-0233

[email protected]

SOURCE Green Hydrogen International Corp.

12 october 2023 at 08:35

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Avangrid Hosts its First Ever Supplier Diversity Summit





Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a leading sustainable energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, recently held its first ever Supplier Diversity Summit at its headquarters in Orange, Connecticut as part of the company's 2023 Diversity Week. The event proactively connected diverse suppliers with Avangrid contacts and increased the overall visibility of Avangrid's Supplier Diversity Program as the company moves to increase its supplier diversity spend to $300 million by 2025.

"This event was an excellent occasion to celebrate our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion," said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. "As a member of the Iberdrola Group, we're already a naturally diverse company made up of people with many backgrounds, stories and ideas. This makes us stronger. Our Supplier Diversity Program ensures we're building strong partnerships with diverse allies to strengthen our supply chain and ensure it truly reflects our customers and the communities that we serve."

"Our diverse suppliers are essential to our company and our mission," said Felix Morck, Vice President of Purchasing and Insurance of Avangrid. "We are strengthening Avangrid by opening our supply chain to new ideas, alternative providers, disruptive technologies, new talent, specialized insight, and local expertise. This event is another great way to interact with some of our diverse suppliers and continue to strengthen our program."

Avangrid's Supplier Diversity Summit hosted 60 suppliers from diverse backgrounds and 50 Avangrid key stakeholders from purchasing and other relevant business areas. The event included networking opportunities, a panel on Avangrid's approach and commitment to sourcing, diversity and sustainability, and guest speakers from a minority-owned business and a woman-owned business. Avangrid also presented its Supplier Diversity Awards to two of its diverse suppliers, McNDT and Pterra, for exceeding expectations in innovation, quality and service.

One of the guest speakers at the Summit was Theresa Eaton, CEO, Chair and Owner of WECS Renewables, an electrical, mechanical and hydraulic parts wholesale distributor, providing parts to the wind, solar and battery storage sectors.

"Avangrid is truly at the forefront of the industry in recognizing and awarding competent, diverse businesses in the renewables sector and helping build sustainable, long-term partnerships," said Eaton. "WECS Renewables is proud to be associated with Avangrid and their mission. This event was reflective of their significant participation in this arena."

Avangrid's Supplier Diversity Program promotes an inclusive environment through equitable and competitive business practices that strengthen the participation of ethnic minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals (LGBTQI+) owned businesses in the company's purchases of goods and services. Avangrid launched its expanded Supplier Diversity Program last year and added staff dedicated to proactively supporting diverse suppliers.

"Supplier diversity has always been something that is top of mind for me," said Dominick Manno, Director of Sustainability & Supplier Diversity at Avangrid. "When I started my career as a buyer, my first key supplier was a minority-owned business. Now my journey has come full circle as I lead the Supplier Diversity Program at Avangrid. Today was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate this personal journey as well as the great strides we've made to enhance Avangrid's Supplier Diversity Program. I'm looking forward to continuing to grow our efforts and invest in the communities where we live, work and serve."

About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies ? a ranking of America's best corporate citizens. In 2023, Avangrid ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2023 for the fifth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

12 october 2023 at 09:35

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(Instagram / @ericarobin_official)

Pakistans Miss Universe pageant entrant has been branded shameful by politicians from her country.

Erica Robin, 24, hails from Karachi and is set to represent the country at the upcoming beauty pageant after being nominated as Pakistans representative.

Its the first time in the pageants 72-year history that the country has sent a representative to the Miss Universe finals.

However, Robins nomination hasnt come without controversy. The beauty queen has faced considerable backlash from predominantly conservative voices in her country over her appearance in the show.

So why is her appearance in Miss Universe considered so controversial?

Who is Erica Robin?

Erica Robin is a 24-year-old beauty queen and fashion model who is originally from Karachi, Pakistan. According to the BBC, shes part of the Christian community, a minority religion among Pakistans predominantly Muslim population.

Prior to becoming a model, she reportedly studied business administration. Earlier this year, she was crowned Miss Universe Pakistan, securing her spot as the countrys representative in the upcoming Miss Universe competition in El Salvador.

Speaking about her nomination, Robin said: I am honored and humbled to be the first ever Miss Universe Pakistan and I want to highlight the beauty of Pakistan.

She added: We have a beautiful culture that the media is not talking about. Pakistani people are very generous, kind, and hospitable. On top of that, I would like to invite everyone to visit my country and try the most sumptuous Pakistani cuisines and explore our enchanting nature, our snow-capped mountains, our greeneries, and our progressive landscapes.

What criticism has she faced?

Despite sending a warm invite for people to visit Pakistans beautiful landscapes, Robin has faced some criticism for taking part in the competition.

The backlash has largely come from conservative male figures in Pakistan.

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, who is currently serving as caretaker PM in Pakistan, suggested that the pageant franchise was an insult and exploitation of women of Pakistan.

Story continues

He has reportedly ordered an investigation into why the Pakistani segment of the pageant was held without government approval.

Another politician called Mushtaq Ahmed Khan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Who are the organisers of this beauty pageant in Pakistan? Who is doing this shameful act?

The pageant was seemingly brought to their attention by journalist Ansar Abbasi, who also wrote: Who allowed five Pakistani girls to represent Pakistan in the Miss Universe beauty pageant? Either, it was decided by Prime Minister Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar or this decision was taken by any of his cabinet members or advisers?

A representative for Robin and the Miss Universe pageant has been approached by the Evening Standard for comment.

(Instagram / @ericarobin_official)

Why is Pakistan against the pageant?

Not everyone in Pakistan is against the Miss Universe pageant. Whats more, Robin has received considerable support on social media from her community about representing her country.

However, Pakistan is a patriarchal country, which has been a detriment to womens rights.

Although there are technically no restrictions in Pakistan over entering a beauty pageant, its believed by some to be against Islamic beliefs.

Speaking to the BBC about the backlash, Robin said: It feels great to represent Pakistan. But I dont understand where the backlash is coming from. I think it is this idea that I would be parading in a swimsuit in a room full of men.

Womens rights in Pakistan

In 1973, Pakistan became an Islamic state that would be governed in line with Islamic religious laws. In recent years, clerics have sometimes voiced opinions against giving women more protections in the country.

A report citing the World Bank highlighted that just 22 per cent of women work in Pakistan  one of the lowest percentages in the world.

While womens rights appear to have been eroded in recent years, women across the country continue to campaign for improved circumstances.

Earlier this year, thousands of women joined protests across Pakistan to celebrate International Womens Day, chanting: Women have woken up! despite trying to be shut down by police.
M&T Ranks No. 6 Among SBA Lenders Following Record-Breaking Year





Bank continues to lead small-business lending in Buffalo/Rochester, Baltimore, Delaware, Syracuse and Washington, D.C.; jumps to top spot in Connecticut during fiscal year 2023

BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB) approved more U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans in the past year than ever before and finished the SBA's 2023 fiscal year as the sixth-largest lender in the country. This marked the 15th consecutive year M&T has ranked among the nation's top 10 SBA lenders.

M&T approved 1,822 SBA 7(a) loans for a total of $224.2 million in fiscal 2023, which ended Sept. 30. That represents a 26.5% increase in SBA loans the bank approved in 2022 and a nearly $21 million increase over last year. This year's loan volume also eclipsed the previous high mark of 1,739 SBA loans M&T approved in 2016.

The average size of one of the bank's SBA loans in 2023 was $123,076 ? about $18,500 lower than M&T's average loan size in 2022.

This is the first year M&T has finished as the No. 1 SBA lender in Connecticut ? an important milestone for the bank following its 2022 acquisition of Bridgeport, Conn.-based People's United Bank. In fiscal year 2023, M&T approved 126 SBA 7(a) loans in Connecticut ? more than a 40% increase in the number of loans the bank approved in the state last year.

M&T Continues to Rank Highly Within the Communities It Serves

Once again, M&T's strong SBA performance nationally was reinforced by the bank's commitment to supporting small businesses in communities throughout its 12-state footprint. In addition to Connecticut, the bank was the leading small-business lender in several markets and ranked highly in many others, including the SBA Districts of:

Baltimore : #1 lender with 284 loans for $30.3 million ;

: #1 lender with 284 loans for ; Buffalo / Rochester : #1 lender with 184 loans for $32.8 million ;

/ : #1 lender with 184 loans for ; Delaware : #1 lender with 49 loans for $9.7 million ;

: #1 lender with 49 loans for ; Syracuse : #1 lender with 96 loans for $16.2 million ;

: #1 lender with 96 loans for ; Washington, D.C. : #1 lender with 160 loans for $24.6 million ;

: #1 lender with 160 loans for ; New Jersey : #2 lender with 179 loans for $17.3 million ;

: #2 lender with 179 loans for ; New York City : #2 lender with 447 loans for $41.8 million ;

: #2 lender with 447 loans for ; Philadelphia : #2 lender with 158 loans for $18.3 million ; and,

: #2 lender with 158 loans for ; and, Richmond, Va. : #3 lender with 41 loans for $3.4 million .

"Throughout our communities, M&T bankers helped small-business owners acquire the capital they needed to grow and thrive by approving more SBA loans than we've ever approved," said Christina Brozyna, M&T's head of business banking sales and operations. "It was a remarkable effort that reaffirms M&T's commitment to being a catalyst for the small businesses at the heart of the communities we serve."

One of those small businesses is Watershed Brewing Company. When co-owner Ken Greenwood needed funds to open a craft brewery in Geneva, N.Y., M&T approved an SBA 7(a) loan for $642,000 that allowed Greenwood to buy a shuttered brewing facility and purchase new equipment. The 10-employee brewery opened in June 2023.

"The SBA loan allowed us to purchase the property and make improvements to the business by acquiring equipment to support production and our business plan objectives, namely a canning line, a pilot brewing system and serving tanks," Greenwood said. "M&T was very helpful in guiding us to appropriate resources and information that provided direction to us with respect to structuring our financing as well as we could."

Said Brozyna: "M&T is a bank built for businesses. We understand their unique needs and challenges they face, and we care about helping small-business owners find the right banking solutions to grow and thrive. We know their success is important to the vibrancy of their communities."

Learn more about M&T Bank's lending for small businesses here .

About M&T Bank

M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com .

Media Contacts:

National Media and Trade Publications

Frank Lentini

(929) 651-0447

[email protected]

Metro NY (Long Island, New Jersey, New York City, and Tarrytown):

David Samberg

(201) 368-4515

[email protected]

Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.):

Scott Graham

(410) 244-4097

[email protected]

New England (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont):

Christopher Loh

(617) 582-2676

[email protected]

Upstate and Western New York:

Thea Pecht

(716) 512-4448

[email protected]

Equal Housing Lender.  2023 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.

According to statistics released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for total approved loans through the SBA's 7(a) lending program during the federal fiscal year ending 9/30/2023.

SOURCE M&T Bank

12 october 2023 at 10:00

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Vitalchat's Inpatient Telehealth Solutions Now Can Now Be Paired with Samsung TV Models for Healthcare Environments





With missions to define the hospital of the future, inpatient telehealth innovator Vitalchat announced today its partnership with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The Vitalchat app, which offers immediate access to the company's patented telehealth solutions, can now be paired with Samsung's healthcare displays to deliver a more informed, comfortable and personalized patient care ecosystem.

Engineered for the unique needs of patients in healthcare environments, Samsung's HCU7030 and HCF800 Crystal Hospital 4K TVs and Vitalchat's AI-enabled E-Sitter and Virtual Visit solutions provide a robust, best-in-class solution for clinicians.

"Our telehealth technology is designed to meet the needs of modern healthcare environments today and tomorrow," said Vitalchat CEO Alan Pitt, MD. "Partnering with Samsung enables us to have a greater impact in combatting some of the biggest healthcare challenges related to the patient experience, safety and workforce stabilization."

Unlike many competitive solutions, Vitalchat leverages artificial intelligence to offer industry-leading and industry-first features, including:

SmartView: Patented software that continuously scans patient rooms for movement using in-room video. Cameras monitor for irregular movement and voice cues, providing 24/7, at-a-glance monitoring of patient activities, staff rounding and visitors.

Patented software that continuously scans patient rooms for movement using in-room video. Cameras monitor for irregular movement and voice cues, providing 24/7, at-a-glance monitoring of patient activities, staff rounding and visitors. MultiView: Configurable dashboard with an intuitive interface enables providers to view up to 100 patient rooms simultaneously across a department, facility or location. Remote alerts help nurses get to patients in need faster.

Configurable dashboard with an intuitive interface enables providers to view up to 100 patient rooms simultaneously across a department, facility or location. Remote alerts help nurses get to patients in need faster. Bandwidth Conservation: Patented architecture conserves data transmitted over a network while enabling video to be activated only upon an alert, minimizing network requirements by approximately 20-fold compared to video streaming.

Patented architecture conserves data transmitted over a network while enabling video to be activated only upon an alert, minimizing network requirements by approximately 20-fold compared to video streaming. Hardware Agnostic: Solutions seamlessly integrate with any existing technology stack, further reducing overhead costs for hospitals.

The Vitalchat app leverages the Tizen platform within the Samsung healthcare TV, which enables hospitals and other clinical environments to use a lower-cost camera and still generate the same, high-quality audio and video without bogging down the network.

"Our partnership with Vitalchat illustrates our commitment to driving better healthcare by connecting patients and families with their care team," explains Chris Mertens, Vice President of U.S. Sales, B2B Displays, Samsung Electronics America. "The pairing of Samsung healthcare grade displays and Vitalchat's SmartView and MultiView software ensures patients are being monitored 24/7, as an exemplified safeguard for patient safety and quickly attending to a patient's needs."

Pitt notes that healthcare organizations have the potential to reap a near-immediate ROI with Vitalchat telehealth solutions, as they are designed to free up caregiver time and improve care delivery. With Samsung healthcare TVs, hospitals can also be fully set up with the telehealth technology within minutes versus days, negating patient room downtime.

"The hospital room of the future is here," said Pitt. "We're making it possible to deliver better care while reducing burnout with our time-saving, tech-forward solutions that actually enhance human connections."

To learn more about Vitalchat's solutions, watch a demo or request a live demo.

About Vitalchat

Revolutionizing hybrid healthcare, Vitalchat combats labor shortages and burnout while improving patient satisfaction with proprietary, hands-free telemedicine solutions that enable providers to monitor and treat up to 100 patients from a single workstation. Leveraging video AI and seamless integration with other technology partners, Vitalchat is defining the hospital room of the future ? cost effectively and at scale ? while enhancing the human experience. More at vitalchat.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

12 october 2023 at 11:50

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CORRECTION FROM SOURCE: Massachusetts' Tech Sector Doesn't Reflect the Diversity of the State's Workforce





Expanding into UMass Lowell, MassRobotics' Jumpstart Program is changing that

Correction is for an updated quote below.

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In the Massachusetts technology sector - which includes STEM and the robotics industry - only five percent of workers are Black, seven percent are Latinx, and one third are women, according to the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC).

That's why the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program was established. Created in 2021 and expanding to a second location at the University of Massachusetts Lowell this year, the program gives underrepresented Massachusetts high school girls a foundation in technical skills as well as mentors and a professional network that provides support and confidence along with direct engagement with industry professionals.

All female high school juniors and seniors, especially those who are Black and Latinx, with a passion for robotics and technology are encouraged to apply.

The program is held on Saturdays from January through May, and includes a full week of sessions and field trips to robotics companies Feb. 19-23 (the state's public school vacation week). Next, students gain real-world experience through paid internships at a robotics or technology company.

A key part of the Jumpstart program is making sure these young women feel confident and empowered to enter STEM fields. Students learn directly from mentors about the different types of robotics jobs and how to leverage their studies into a career in robotics through lab and company visits.

Students will once again experience technology sessions at the UMass Lowell NERVE Center, which develops test methods and metrics for measuring robot capabilities, human performance, and human-robot interaction.

Julie Chen, a mechanical engineer who led UMass Lowell's research enterprise before becoming the university's chancellor in 2022, praised MassRobotics and the Jumpstart program.

"UMass Lowell has worked closely with MassRobotics for years and I have seen firsthand how programs like Jumpstart can fundamentally alter students' career trajectories," Chen said. "Connecting students with mentors they can connect with creates a self-reinforcing cycle. The best way to create the strongest technology sector in Massachusetts is by ensuring it is welcoming to all."

Massachusetts Tech Collaborative, a supporter since the pilot program launched in 2021, will continue to support programming as well as the expansion to UMass Lowell.

"We have seen this program help diversify and grow the talent pipeline for robotics and tech across Massachusetts," said Carolyn Kirk, executive director, MassTech Collaborative. "Our continued dedication to uplifting a new generation of young women will not only help provide them with the experience and training they need to excel, but it will help strengthen our competitiveness as a state. It's important that we continue to support programs like Jumpstart that provide opportunities and resources to build upon the progress we have made and ensure that more young women gain experience in critical, emerging sectors."

Graduating students shared their experiences about the program:

"I found my passion in engineering and coding, and my future has never felt clearer." Helena, 2021

"Entering the professional world is not easy, but this program has worked with us to make this path a lot easier. " Tairine, 2022

"It is important for fellowships like this to exist because it creates a space for women of color to bond over their knowledge of STEM. Together, this cohort overcame their shyness and worked as one unit to successfully complete a rigorous program." Hermione, 2022

"Jumpstart was a perfect opportunity to be able to interact with other girls who had similar interests in STEM and the robotics field and pretty much anything to do with engineering." Abigail, 2023

MassRobotics' resident GreenSight, empowering creators who improve the world at the intersection of robotics, analytics, and automation, is a cofounder of the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program.

"GreenSight co-founded Jumpstart because supporting STEM education and helping foster DEI in the tech industry are core goals of our company. Jumpstart allows us to make a noticeable difference in both these areas," said Joel Pedlikin, co-founder and COO at GreenSight. "To us, the lack of diversity in robotics is an obvious sign that a lot of high-quality talent simply is not able to break into the industry. Jumpstart is a small but significant way for GreenSight to enlarge the pool of U.S. robotics engineers. Years of experience has taught our company how to make excellent use of engineering co-ops and interns, and the Jumpstart interns we've hired have made significant contributions to GreenSight."

For businesses interested in participating as an employer in the Lowell or Boston areas, or those hiring students who have gone through the Jumpstart program for summer employment, please reach out and fill out this form.

You can learn more about the program specifics and timelines here.

Jumpstart is in need of female technology professionals interested in providing expertise during Saturday lessons. Please provide your information here if interested.

About MassRobotics

MassRobotics is an independent nonprofit organization and innovation hub serving the global robotics community with a mission to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics technology companies. The organization accomplishes this by providing entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions. While MassRobotics originated and is headquartered in Boston, it is reaching and supporting robotics acceleration and adoption globally and working with startups, academia, industry and governments both domestically and internationally. See massrobotics.org for details.

MEDIA CONTACT

Alison Boghosian

Mower

[email protected]

SOURCE: MassRobotics

12 october 2023 at 13:20

View source version on accesswire.com:News published onand distributed by:
Government of Canada announces new appointment to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board





OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced a new appointment to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB). Following a merit-based selection process, Peter Moreland-Giraldeau has been appointed to the Board for a five-year term.

The Government of Canada is committed to appointing highly qualified candidates to best serve the interests of Canadians and is committed to open, transparent and merit-based processes for selecting Governor in Council appointees. Appointees play a fundamental role in Canadian democracy as they serve on commissions, boards, Crown corporations, agencies and tribunals across the country.

Mr. Moreland-Giraldeau is a lawyer with a Master of Laws: Common Law (L.L.M) from the University of British Columbia. In his current work for the Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers' Compensation, he provides legal advice to the Commission's General Counsel, Commissioners and Executive. He is also currently the Chair of the Canmore Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

The PMPRB is an independent quasi-judicial body established by Parliament in 1987 under the Patent Act. As an arm's-length organization of the government, the PMPRB protects the interests of Canadian consumers by ensuring that the prices of patented medicines sold in Canada are not excessive.

Quotes

"For more than 35 years, the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board has been charged with protecting Canadian consumers from excessive prices of patented drugs. I am very pleased to announce this new appointment. Mr. Moreland-Giraldeau's qualifications in law and his experience in the operations and decision making of quasi-judicial bodies will be an asset to the Board as it continues to deliver on its mandate in support of Canadians."

The Honourable Mark Holland

Canada's Minister of Health

Quick Facts

The PMPRB protects the interests of Canadian consumers by ensuring that the prices of patented medicines sold in Canada are not excessive.

are not excessive. The PMPRB is also responsible for reporting on trends in pharmaceutical sales and pricing for all medicines and for reporting on research and development spending by patentees.

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

12 october 2023 at 15:34

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Fifty years after the Yom Kippur War and the first oil shock, the attack by Hamas commandos on Israel on Saturday, October 7 has created pressure on the energy markets. Crude oil prices fell back slightly on Tuesday after climbing 4% on Monday. North Sea Brent (- 0.56%), the European benchmark, stabilized above $87 (around 82). The US equivalent, West Texas Intermediate (- 0.47%), was close to $86.

Read more Gaza's only power plant shuts down after running out of fuel

Geopolitical reflexes are the main reason for the turbulence in black gold prices. As Israeli bombardments intensify over a Gaza Strip now deprived of electricity, traders anticipate an extension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East.

"The Hamas attack has had no concrete impact on oil production," said Francis Perrin, director of research at France's Institute for International and Strategic Affairs. Indeed, Israel is hardly extracting any oil: just 0.001% of world supply in 2022, according to data compiled by another French organization, the Comite Professionnel du Petrole (Professional Committee on Oil).

Read more One map to understand how Hamas attacked Israel

Possible involvement

"The rise seen in the price of a barrel is better explained by concerns and pessimistic scenarios surrounding Iran," said Perrin. The Islamic Republic is still a major player (around 4% of global supply in 2022) despite sanctions imposed by the US in 2018, aimed at preventing Iranian exports. The country's crude oil production is currently estimated at three million barrels a day, part of which is destined for China, according to the Norwegian firm Rystad Energy.

The US, Israel's historical ally, may now be called upon to tighten the enforcement of existing sanctions against Tehran. The sanctions themselves could even be increased if Iran is found to have helped plan terrorist acts by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement with which it has close ties. A story in The Wall Street Journal mentions possible involvement, which Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, denies although he has welcomed the October 7 offensive.

The situation could also change if the Lebanese group Hezbollah, a Shiite formation also backed by Iran, opens a second front against Israel. "If Hezbollah, beyond a few shots already claimed, enters fully into the battle, the probability of a regional conflagration, and therefore of an Israeli-Iranian confrontation, will increase, with a major potential impact on the oil market," said Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega, Director of the Energy and Climate Center at the French Institute of International Relations.

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LIMERICK fashion designer Aoife McNamara has achieved a globally recognised certificate for her clothing brand.

The Adare-based brand owner has achieved a Benefit Corporation (B Corp) status, which awards companies for their commitment to positively impact people and the planet.

This global award establishes Aoife McNamara as Ireland's first B Corp fashion label, setting a new standard for sustainable, ethical clothing in Ireland.

To celebrate the award, Ms McNamara will host a series of events between October 27 to 29, including Transforming Irish Fashion: B Corp Community Conversation, a Cottage Sessions music event and a Circular & Zero Waste Fashion Design Workshop.

Speaking about achieving B Corp certification and choosing not to produce a new collection this season, Aoife McNamara said: Our decision to forgo a new winter collection is a testament to our belief in timeless style and heirloom quality.

We're proud to say that the pieces from our previous winter collections remain as relevant and elegant as ever. By choosing degrowth this season, we're taking a significant step towards a more sustainable and responsible future.

Founded in 2019, Aoife McNamara is a luxury sustainable fashion brand that creates garments inspired by nature to protect nature. Aoife creates her clothes using Irish tweeds, linens and natural materials, including organic pea silk, PYRATEX and Cupro.

Not every fashion label has that earth-driven fortitude, so being able to become certified for the hard work behind the scenes is testimony to the brand, Aoife and the dedicated team driving this mission, said Miriam Keegen, Head of Sustainability at Aoife McNamara.

B Corps are a global community of over 6000 Certified B Corporations in over 80 countries and over 150 industries, from food and fashion, to tech and finance.
THE TEXAS Court of Criminal Appeals has ruled that a Native American was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a Limerick priest.

After 40 years, James Reyos has been declared innocent of killing Fr Patrick Ryan from Doon. The Innocence Project of Texas (IPT), which works to free the innocent and prevent wrongful convictions, revealed the news.

Fr Ryan, aged 49, was found in a motel room in Odessa, Texas on December 21, 1981. He was beaten to death.

The savage killing of the Pallottine priest made headlines in the USA, Ireland and Limerick. A then 24-year-old Apache Indian (Mr Reyos) was sentenced to 38 years in prison for the heinous crime.

The IPT filed a lawsuit earlier this year asserting Mr Reyos innocence as a result of recently discovered evidence by members of the Odessa Police Department.

Campaigner Scott Lomax has supported the efforts of James Reyos to clear his name for almost two decades. He wrote a book, The Case of James Harry Reyos: A Wrongful Conviction Revealed.

Mr Lomax told the Limerick Leader the truly amazing news was shared with him by Allison Clayton, of IPT, who has been representing James in recent years.

"Allison shared with me the official document of exoneration. This document makes reference to a 1996 case at the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas (Ex parte Elizondo) which found that in order to be exonerated, an applicant must demonstrate that 'If newly available evidence were added to the evidentiary mix, no reasonable jury would have found the State's case to have been compelling enough to defeat the systemic presumption of innocence'.

"The court has ruled that the new fingerprint evidence, which points to three other individuals having been responsible for the murder of Fr Patrick Ryan is sufficient in meeting the burden of Elizondo and therefore the court has ruled that James is exonerated," said Mr Lomax, who couldn't be happier for Mr Reyos.

"It has been an incredibly long battle for James, who has spent the past 40 years trying to clear his name, and a battle I have been involved in for 19 years. At times I felt like this day would never come.

He said the painstaking work undertaken by Allison and IPT has been phenomenal.

They are an incredible organisation. And the Odessa Police must be given huge credit for everything they have done. It is incredibly difficult to overturn a murder conviction, let alone a conviction in Texas for a murder committed as long ago as 1981," said Mr Lomax, who also feels sad that justice was never achieved for Fr Ryan.

His killers took their secret to their graves.
THE FUNERAL details for a Limerick man who passed away in France have been confirmed.

Brian Ryan, from Farnane in Cappamore, passed away in France on October 5.

Mr Ryan was the senior partner in Mulcair Vets based in Cappamore and was well known in his locality.

Councillor John Egan paid tribute to Mr Ryan calling him an "excellent and meticulous vet".

"Two or three weeks ago I had a drink with him and we were talking about modern farming and modern veterinary practices. I used to get on very well with him both from a social and business point of view. If he came at night time to a case he would stay for a chat.

"He had fierce regard for his customers and his customers had fierce regard for him," said Mr Egan.

Mr Ryan will be reposing at his home (V94 T9RH) on Saturday, October 14 from 3pm to 7pm.

The esteemed vet's Requiem Mass will take place at St. Michaels Church, Cappamore at 12pm on Sunday, October 15.

Mr Ryan will be laid to rest in Doon Cemetery. Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to M.S.Ireland.

Mr Ryan is the beloved son of the late John and Annie. Deeply missed by his loving wife Anna, his children Aoife, Ciaran and Kevin, sister Mary, brothers Mike, Dan (Donal) and Noel, Uncle Tony, mother and father-in-law John and Alacoque Nolan, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, work colleagues at Mulcair Veterinary Clinic, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Hollywood should be jealous of what Spain is doing and our facilities allow for this, Netflix Spain and Portugal boss Diego Avalos proclaimed today.

Avalos talked up the stunt work and set design on shows such as Netflix smash Money Heist on a panel of the streamers execs at the MIA Market, explaining that sound stages have doubled to 10 since last year and there is a post-production facility with state-of-the-art technology that is leveraged by Netflix around the world.

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In Money Heist there is a big museum explosion and that was a set built entirely to last two minutes before it exploded, he added. We have built sets that I would argue are above anything you have seen in Hollywood.

Other nations are also jumping aboard these facilities, he added, flagging the likes of UK series Kaos shooting in Spain.

Speaking on a MIA panel yesterday, Mediawan boss Elisabeth DArvieu said European production has a big competitive advantage over America, as she singled out Spain, Italy and Belgium in particular.

Avalos said part of his strategy is to world-build, pointing to upcoming Money Heist spin-off Berlin, which is in fact set in Paris.

Overcoming stereotypes

Meanwhile, Netflixs Italy chief Tinny Andreatta discussed how she wants to overcome national stereotypes rooted in the 1960s.

Andreatta acknowledged that the 1960s was a successful decade for Italian cinema but that this had created stereotypes in our country.

Now the ambition is to launch a more modern, out-of-stereotype image of Italy, she said.

Story continues

In order to do this, Andreatta is commissioning shows for younger people, from the female gaze that are complex and complicated or about issues such as masculinity.

She flagged recent examples such as Matilda de Angelis-starrer The Law According to Lidia Poet, Supersex about Italian porn star Rocco Siffredi or larger than life music doc Vasco Rossi: Living It.

We want to portray societies that are changing and spotlight people that are irregular, she added.

Andreatta joined Netflix three years ago after a distinguished 25-year-long career at Italian broadcaster Rai and she said the quantity of productions in the nation has sinced multipled enormously.

This, she added, has created competition for talent with the traditional players. I love competition but the problem with competition is there is a lack of talent so we are contributing with several initiatives to support the industry, she explained, pointing to programs for intimacy co-ordinators, producers and women behind the camera.

Netflix Italy is also pushing into the unscripted space and Andreatta pointed to next years launch of a local version of hit format Rhythm + Flow.

This show, she explained, will showcase the differing culture of the nation by airing from Naples, Rome and Milan, underpinning her desire to tell stories of regionality from within Italy.

TV and film confab MIA Market is running all this week, with talks from the likes of Paramounts Nicole Clemens, Miramaxs Marc Helwig and Anonymous Content duo David Levine and David Davoli.

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THE INITIAL response of farmers to Budget 2024 is one of confusion and disappointment, said ICMSA president, Pat McCormack.

He described it as a complete non-event.

He said: Theres nothing here that shows the Government even understands the scale of problems  still less want to solve them. All we seem to have got is a rollover of existing reliefs with some minor technical adjustments, said Mr McCormack.

While noting that more announcements will be made later in the week, the ICMSA president said that the Government had again completely failed to recognise both the income and regulatory pressures on sole trader farmers.

This Budget  like so many of its immediate predecessors  was content to point at alleged agri-environmental problems while shying away from the kind of on-farm funding that would deal with them, said Mr McCormack.

The perfect example of this, according to the ICMSA president, was the absolute vacuum around the consequences of the recent nitrates decision to reduce to 220kgs of N that will, beyond any dispute, wipe out many small and medium-sized dairy farmers.

Mr McCormack said that neglect on the part of the State had been compounded by the guilty silence around any useful funding for expanded slurry storage on dairy farms.

He stated: Instead, we had been given some fanciful and missing-the-point tinkering towards providing grant aid for slurry storage to tillage farmers.

The Budget could be summarised as what the Americans call a nothing burger - there is nothing in it and certainly nothing in it for Irish farmers except a few pro forma relief rollovers, said Mr McCormack.
A SPOKESPERSON for Labour workers rights address the failure of Budget 2024 to provide early miscarriage leave means women remain disadvantaged in the workplace.

Senator Marie Sherlock said; In March 2021, Labour introduced a bill to provide up to 20 days paid time off work for women who experience an early miscarriage, and up to 10 days for workers undergoing fertility treatments. Since then, government have utterly failed to act on this desperately needed compassionate leave.

There is no legal workplace recognition of what is an immensely traumatic and upsetting time for women and families. We know that approximately 14,000 women will experience a miscarriage in Ireland each year.These women are afforded no time off to recover physically and emotionally from their loss.

In response to parliamentary questions put down by the Labour Party, Minister OGorman stated that he is awaiting the results of a survey his Department has commissioned before making any decisions on how to support women impacted. Government has been kicking the can on introducing this much needed measure for almost three years.

In Labours Alternative Budget, we called for the introduction of reproductive leave for miscarriage or threatened miscarriage. Such a measure would only cost 8.4 million annually, but would be priceless for the women who need it.

We need to support workers when they need it most. The failure to provide compassionate leave in this years Budget shows just how out of touch this Government is.
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has said the party will be watching carefully at the messaging from the DUP party conference, in the hope they will decide to return to government.

Ms McDonald said the state of inertia Northern Ireland had been left in due to an absence of government cannot go on indefinitely.

The powersharing executive at Stormont has not been operational for more than a year due to the DUPs ongoing boycott in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements.

In an interview with the PA news agency, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he would like to see a successful resolution to his partys negotiations within weeks.

Ms McDonald told reporters in Belfast on Thursday that she hopes to hear a positive message as the DUP prepares for its party conference at the weekend.

We want to hear that the DUP are going back to work with everybody else, and that the executive will be re-established, she said.

So obviously, well be listening and watching very carefully. We hope that we will hear a positive message because we know that people have waited far too long.

She said there was frustration amongst the business community, that was very clear to us, and I think thats reflected across society.

Ms McDonald added: There has been time, there has been patience and now it has to be lights, camera, action.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had discussed the possibility of plan B if a devolved government was not able to be restored.

Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein remains committed to the plan A of a running Stormont Assembly, and added that she hoped the DUP would confirm their return following their conference.

We have always sought to strike a determined and optimistic note. We were not prepared to concede that the institutions would not be up and running, she said.

But equally, were aware that this state of inertia cant go on forever.

So the ball is in the DUPs court. They have a big decision to make, and we can only hope and expect that they will make the right decision.

That this plan A, with an executive, an inclusive executive, a functioning assembly, the North South infrastructure, the East West piece. Thats the best outcome for everyone.

And we hope and expect that we will see further moves and ideally a confirmation of that at the conference itself.

She added: If it doesnt, we will deal with that. Lets have the conference happen and let the DUP arrive at the only logical and fair conclusion which has to be about going back into government, reforming the executive.

Ms McDonald visited Belfast, where she met business leaders with vice-president Michelle ONeill and party colleague Conor Murphy.

Its very clear that people at this stage are frustrated, she said.

We wish to see the executive and government back up and running, people have a real sense of the opportunities that are presenting themselves, opportunities that are being missed, and they really want to crack on with business.

Weve told them that, as ever, we are ready and anxious to get back to work.

Michelle ONeill is ready, willing, able to lead an executive for all.
HAVING worn a sequin, floor- length gown once, 10 years ago, I thought, why not wear it again for another sparkling occasion?

The annual Butterfly Ball at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick was, once again, a shining event for such a wonderful charity that is the Mid-West Cancer Foundation.

I decided to up-cycle a navy dress which I had worn to a Rose of Tralee ball over a decade ago, and it shone just as bright the second time around! Irish designer Don ONeill gifted me the glittery gown many moons ago, and I felt just as good in it now as I did then.

I attended the very first Butterfly Ball when it was established in 2007 and every year, it truly is a magical event. The charity itself is absolutely wonderful, and I look forward to attending the night when it comes around every year.

The style was show-stopping at the event, with the nurses and doctors looking stunning in their evening-wear and really putting in so much effort - what is better than getting fully glammed?

All the stops were pulled out and my heart is full of warmth as it is all in aid of a truly fantastic cause, which makes cancer patients lives much easier.

The Foundation helps so many people when they need it most, and their families.

The champagne reception and classical music upon arrival sets the tone for the night perfectly, as hundreds of guests flock to the hotel.

MC Nigel Mercier, Limerick native and well-known Fair City actor, was once again a fantastic host and kept us all entertained as we enjoyed a four-course dinner, a delightful meal.

Gifts and goodies were plentiful on the evening and, in true fashion, we struck a pose for the cameras!

I would like to congratulate Lisa Tracey, who organises the ball every year. The service, hospitality and camaraderie was out of this world.

XxCelia
Are you looking for a Project Management Assignment Help as you work part-time? Well, Workingment helps in relieving your academic stress by providing you quality assignments performed with real-life case study examples, so that it becomes clearer for you to engage in understanding the topic of interest. They perform this task at the lowest possible rate so that we get better chances of getting used to a wide range of topics providing solutions and bidding goodbye to all your personal complications in conducting the different projects on project management.

Project Management Assignment Help

Projects can be simply defined as an endeavor of the project managers to complete different tasks to achieve objectives set based on selected timelines for completion. The process of project management (#projectmanagements) involves the project manager in strategic planning, executing, monitoring, and fulfilling the different objectives of any project development process set previously by Governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, and others.

Steps in Project Management

Project initiation

The project initiation process is mainly the starting phase of the project development, where the aims and objectives of the project are developed by the project managers. At this initiation stage, after the approval of the project manager, the different project goals and scope are defined and fulfilled.

Project planning

The planning stage involves the development of project plans that involve different kinds of comprehensive project documents explaining the different aspects of the project in great detail. At this stage, discussions occur about the development of project schedules, budgeting risk management plans, resources as well as stakeholder planning for ensuring overall project management in a strategic manner.

Project execution

The execution stage of the project mentions that the project goals and objectives that had been created at the initiation section are executed. Here, the project managers oversee the different areas of knowledge where they allocate and reallocate the resources based on time adjustments for maintaining an effective team working process while dealing with the different kinds of problems and making necessary changes to it.

Project monitoring

The monitoring and control procedure involves the execution of different activities for ensuring quality control procedures for avoiding complications from the project process and guaranteeing quality assurance. The project managers keep track of the different working procedures of the project management process to keep a record of the project status, workload, resource allocations as well as different other factors for ensuring transparency and authenticity to the project management standards.

Project Closure

At the project closure stage, the final project deliverables are presented to the stakeholders where the entire set of documentation is presented in front of the investors and ultimately the project is delivered to the clients.

Challenges in the field of project management Assignment

Lack of project goal development and alignment with the objectives

Lack of clear goal development in projects is a major factor for the companies as they are misaligned with the business objectives. This is mainly the issue of the project managers and the projects fail due to not matching the scope of the project after the project completion as they have not followed a particular path or road map for a project development.

Unrealistic deadlines in projects

Setting unrealistic deadlines is also a major mistake of the project managers as it is dependent upon different kinds of improper estimation techniques as well as optimism bias. The leaders of the projects often pressure the team members to move faster and complete the project before the deadline which at certain times becomes impossible for the project managers.

Insufficient risk management and skill gaps

Lack of identification of any possible threat introduces errors in the project development process due to a lack of categorically identifying and detailing the risks to be worked on. Often the managers or the team members are unskilled and don't have the proper idea to identify the risks in project management processes. Lack of experience and improper risk identification capabilities are also major factors that can create challenges for organizations engaging in project management.

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Career and growth opportunities as a project manager

The career growth opportunities for you are of wide scale in different industries like; construction (# construction) (# construction) (#newconstruction), IT (#corporatelife) (#techjobs), biotechnology (#biology) (#chemistry) (#futuredoctor), sustainable energy (#cleanenergy) (#energytransition) (#innovation), automobile (#aurtomotiveindustry) (#aviation) (#robotics) and various other industries. Successful managers in their careers are high-level problem solvers who can analyze any kind of situation and identify the calculated risks. Full Opportunities has links with colleges and universities throughout the world as they provide scholarships to students. If you are interested in the profession of project managers, you can learn different management skills and move from the role of project managers to directors and even vice presidents in different industries. Full Opportunities is a prominent place for you, where you can seek scholarship programs as it provides facilities to the students to study across the best colleges and universities in the world without your personal investments.

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.

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Its an incendiary mix of politics, religion and economics. Modern Palestine was populated with Jews from the global diasporaa British imperial drivein 1948. Around 750,000 Palestinians were expelled as Jews captured 78% of the land. The remainder were settled in Gaza and the West Bank. In 1967, Israel annexed the remaining Palestinian land from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria, expelling more Palestinians. In time, Israel became the protector of western interests in an oil-rich region. As to religion, the holy city of Jerusalem lies in Israel. Both sides claim the Temple Mount, venerated by Muslims, Jews, and Christians.

Who are the players in this war?

There are two main players. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now in his sixth term, has been PM for more years than any other Israeli. But the right-wing politician has faced mass protests, including by military reservists, over plans to curb the judiciarys powers. Hamas, an Islamic group which governs Gaza, is opposed to the very existence of Israel. Its political wing is headed by Ismail Haniyeh and the armed wing by Mohammed Deif. Sidelined by the Hamas attack is the moderate president of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas. Globally, he remains the face of Palestine.

What happened to the two-state solution?

The closest we came to it was the US-brokered Sep 1995 Oslo pacts between the head of the secular Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, and Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin. It ended when Rabin was shot by a Jewish extremist two months later. Now US President Joe Biden looks too preoccupied with domestic challenges and Ukraine to make a move on West Asia.

What are the global implications?

It may get Biden to finally consider brokering a peace in West Asia. The likely short-term fallout is worrying though: shooting oil prices, global recession, mounting resentment in the Islamic world and galvanized militant groups, led by the Lebanon-based Hezbollah. The role of Iran, which backs both Shia Hezbollah and Sunni Hamas, will be key. Netanyahu may solidify his position; equally he could be blamed for the military failure and ousted. There have been some calls already for a government of national unity.

What does the attack spell for India?

India has to be watchful about Pakistan and its deep state drawing opportunistic inspiration. A messy country will often seize upon such chances. The economic challenges are stiff: selling pressure on Monday drove the volatility index to its biggest rise in 10 months. With soaring crude prices, Indias dependence on cheap Russian oil will increase. Plans to build an India-Middle East-Europe corridor have come under a cloud. Civilians must be repatriated from Israel. And trade with Israel, at $12 bn, is likely to be seriously impacted.

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National Eligibility Test (NET) - November 2023 https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/ugc/national-eligibility-test-ugc-net-june.htm Details of National Eligibility Test (NET) - November 2023 2023-10-12 2023-10-28 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India National Eligibility Test (NET) - November 2023 UGC

UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) - On 20th November, 2021

Category : UGC Recruitment 2023 Published : On October 12, 2023 By Webindia123 Editor

Important Dates

Submission of online application form 10.08.2021 Last date for Applying Online 5.09.2021 Last date of submission of Fee through online generated Bank challan , at any branch of (Syndicate/Canara ICICI Bank) or through credit/debit card 16.9..2021 Correction in Particulars of application form on the website 7/09/2021 to 12/09/2021 Date of Examination 20,21,22,24,25,26,29,30 November 01,03,04,05 December 2021

On behalf of UGC, the Central Board of Secondary Education announces holding of the National Eligibility Test (NET) on october 6th -11th for determining the eligibility of Indian nationals for the Eligibility for Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship & Eligibility for Assistant Professor Both in Indian Universities and Colleges. CBSE will conduct NET in 84 subjects at 91 selected NET Examination Cities spread across the country.

The award of JRF and Eligibility for Assistant Professor both OR Eligibility for Assistant Professor only will depend on the performance of the candidate in both the papers of NET in aggregate. However, the candidates qualifying exclusively for Assistant Professor will not be considered for award of JRF. Candidate appearing in NET should clearly specify in the prescribed Application Form whether they are applying for both JRF& Eligibility for Assistant Professor both OR only for eligibility for Assistant Professor. Candidates who qualify the Test for eligibility for Assistant Professor will be governed by the rules and regulations for recruitment of Assistant Professor of the concerned universities/colleges/state governments, as the case may be.

The result of the UGC-NET will be made available on the websites: cbsenet.nic.in as and when it is declared. The candidate will not be individually intimated about their result. The candidates who qualify for the award of Junior Research Fellowship are eligible to pursue research in the subject of their post-graduation or in a related subject and are also eligible for Assistant Professor. The universities, institutions, IITs and other national organizations may select the JRF awardees for whole time research work in accordance with the procedure prescribed by them.

Scheduled Caste(SC)/Scheduled Tribe(ST)/Persons with Disability(PwD)/Other Backward Classes(OBC)(Non creamy layer), as per the central list of Other Backward Classes available on National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Government of India website: www.ncbc.nic.in, candidate will be given such special concessions as may be decided by the UGC.

JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP :

Candidates qualifying for the award of Junior Research fellowship will be eligible to receive fellowship of UGC under various schemes, subject to their finding placement in universities/IITs/institutions. The validity period of the offer is three years w.e.f. the date of issue of JRF Award Letter. However, in case the candidates who have already joined M. Phil./ Ph.D., the date of commencement of fellowship shall be from the date of declaration of NET result or date of their joining, whichever is later.

CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

i) Candidates who have secured at least 55% marks (without rounding off) in Master s Degree OR equivalent examination from universities/institutions recognised by UGC in Humanities (including languages) and Social Science, Computer Science &Applications, Electronic Science etc. (list of subjects of post graduation attached at page No. 20) are eligible for this Test. The Other Backward Classes(OBC) belonging to non-creamy layer/Scheduled Caste(SC)/Scheduled Tribe(ST)/ persons with disability(PwD) category candidates who have secured at least 50% marks (without rounding off) in Master s degree or equivalent examination are eligible for this Test.

ii) Candidates who are pursuing their Master's degree or equivalent course or candidates who have appeared for their qualifying Master s degree (final year) examination and whose result is still awaited or candidates whose qualifying examinations have been delayed may also apply for this test. However, such candidates will be admitted provisionally and shall be considered eligible for award of Junior Research Fellowship/eligibility for Assistant Professor only after they have passed their Master's Degree OR equivalent examination with at least 55% marks (50% marks in case of OBC falling in Non Creamy layer/SC/ST/PwD (persons with disability)) category candidates. Such candidates must complete their Masters degree or equivalent examination within two years from the date of NET result with required percentage of marks, failing which they shall be treated as disqualified.

iii) Candidates belonging to third gender in other words transgender would be eligible to draw the same relaxation in fee, age and qualifying criteria for NET (i.e. Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professor) as are available to SC/ST/PwD categories. The subject wise cut-offs for this category should be the lowest among those for SC/ST/PwD/OBC NCL categories in the corresponding subject.

iv) The Ph.D. degree holders whose Master s level examination had been completed by 19th September 1991(irrespective of date of declaration of result) shall be eligible for a relaxation of 5% in aggregate marks (i.e. from 55% to 50%) for appearing in NET.

v) Candidates are advised to appear in the subject of their post graduation only. The candidates, whose post graduation subject is not covered in the list of subjects in item No.14 (on page 12-13), may appear in a related subject.

vi) Candidates are neither required to send any certificates/documents in support of their eligibility nor printout of their Application Form (Confirmation Page) to CBSE. However the candidates, in their own interest, must satisfy themselves about their eligibility for the Test. In the event of any ineligibility being detected by the UGC/CBSE at any stage, their candidature will be cancelled and they shall be liable for legal action.

vii) Candidates having post-graduate diploma/certificate awarded by Indian University/ Institute or foreign degree/diploma/certificate awarded by the foreign University/institute should in their own interest, ascertain the equivalence of their diploma/degree/certificate with Master s degree of recognized Indian universities from Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi. (www.aiu.ac.in)

AGE LIMIT & RELAXATION :



i) Junior Research Fellowship: Not more than 30 years as on 01.06.2021. A relaxation up to 5 years is provided to the candidates belonging to OBC (Non- creamy layer, as per the Central list of OBC available on website: www.ncbc.nic.in ) SC/ST/PwD/Transgender categories and to women applicants. Relaxation will also be provided to the candidates having research experience, limited to the period spent on research in the relevant/related subject of post-graduation degree, subject to a maximum of 5 years, on production of a certificate from appropriate authority. Three years relaxation in age will be permissible to the candidates possessing L.L.M. Degree. A relaxation of up to 5 years is provided to the candidates who have served in the armed forces subject to the length of service in the armed forces up to the first day of the month in which the concerned UGC-NET is to be held. Total age relaxation on the above ground(s) shall not exceed five years under any circumstances.

ii) Assistant Professor: There is no upper age limit for applying for eligibility for Assistant Professor.

Examination

The Test will consist of two papers. Both the papers will consist of only objective type questions in two separate sessions as under:

Paper-I shall consist of 50 objective type compulsory questions each carrying 2 marks. The questions which will be of general nature, intended to assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidate. It will primarily be designed to test reasoning ability, comprehension, divergent thinking and general awareness of the candidate.

Paper-II shall consist of 100 objective type compulsory questions each carrying 2 marks which will be based on the subject selected by the candidate.

All the questions of Paper II will be compulsory, covering entire syllabi of earlier Paper II & Paper III (including all electives, without options).

The candidate will have to mark the responses for questions of Paper I & Paper II on the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) Sheet provided along with the test booklet

HOW TO APPLY

i) Candidate seeking admission to the Test (UGC-NET, June, 2021) must apply online only on the CBSE website: cbsenet.nic.in

ii) Before applying Online, the candidates must possess the scanned images as below:-

- Passport size photograph in JPG format of minimum 4kb to 40 kb. The dimension of the photograph should be 3.5 cm (width) x 4.5 cm (height).

- Signature in JPG format of minimum 4kb to 30 kb. The dimension of the signature should be 3.5 cm (width) x 1.5 cm (height).

iii) After filling all the details for applying online for NET the candidates have to select the option of payment of examination fee either by credit/debit card or through e-challan generated during the online filling of the application form indicating your details therein and follow the process as mentioned under 6 (ii & iii) on page 6.

iv) The candidates are required to bring a photo identity card along with their printout of online admission card on the day of examination.

v) Before applying Online, candidates are advised to go through detailed notification available on CBSE website www.cbsenet.nic.in Please note that Fee submitted through any other mode like Money Order, Demand Draft, IPO etc. will be summarily rejected.

vi) In other to avoid last minute rush, the candidates are advised to apply early enough. CBSE will not be responsible for network problems or any other problem of this nature in submission of online application during last days.

More details can be available from the UGC website.

Contact Details Address : Central Board of Secondary Education

Plot No. 149, Block - H,

Sector - 63, Noida - 201309

Distt- Gautam Budh Nagar (U.P.) Phone : Fax : 0120-2427772 Mobile : 7042399524, 7042399525,7042399526, 7042399527,7042399528, 7042399529 E-mail : Contact I Website : cbsenet.nic.in

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Amid the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, there is a possibility that global technology companies operating in Israel could potentially relocate their business operations to India or other regions like the Middle East or Eastern Europe, as stated in a report by the Economic Times.

The report, which references insights from industry experts, suggests that these businesses might consider moving to areas with comparable time zones and access to skilled talent if the conflict continues to intensify.

Reportedly, Israel is host to more than 500 global companies, including prominent names such as Microsoft, Intel, and Google. Additionally, Indian enterprises like Wipro and TCS have a presence in the country. Collectively, these companies provide employment opportunities for a substantial workforce of at least 100,000 individuals.

High-tech industries, which have consistently shown rapid growth in Israel, may encounter substantial disruptions due to the shift towards a war preparedness by the Israeli military, which might encompass a potential full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip. This information is based on a report by Reuters, as per insights from investors and analysts.

The spokesperson representing Intel, the largest private employer and exporter in Israel, stated on Monday that they are vigilantly observing the situation in Israel and implementing measures to protect and assist their workforce, reported Hindustan Times.

To recall, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has reached its sixth day on Thursday and is anticipated to intensify. As per the most recent updates, the total casualties on both sides have surpassed 2,300 individuals, and there are thousands of displaced people as a result of the ongoing conflict.

During a late-night televised speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a resolute commitment to swiftly dismantle Hamas. He described witnessing distressing scenes, including the tragic killing of young individuals, both male and female, who had been bound and shot in the head. He also mentioned instances of individuals being burned alive, young women subjected to heinous acts, and soldiers who had been beheaded.

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New Delhi: The Tata Group is set to launch a rebranded Air India Express next week, promising a fresh, vibrant and visually-engaging airline targeting Indias budget-friendly aviation market, according to three people in the know seeking anonymity.

The event is set to take place on 18 October, one of the people, a senior executive, said.

Mint reported on 13 August that the fresh brand identity of Air India Express is likely to be unveiled in October. It is likely to retain its unique tail art.

This move will position Air India Express as the flagship low-cost offering for domestic travel within the group, while its parent company, Air India, will offer a premium service on international routes and connect major Indian cities.

Air India was the first group airline to undergo a rebranding effort, unveiling the vista logo inspired by windows, featuring a palette of gold, purple, and red. For Air India Express, it will be a blend of the old and new, a second executive said. The tail art will continue in the new branding. The livery was liked by flyers. The idea is to showcase the art forms, including culture and jewellery. The livery will continue to be inspired by it but the portrayal will not be traditional in nature as Air India Express approaches the idea of youth and vibrancy in its brand identity," he added.

Queries to Air India Express spokesperson did not elicit any response till press time.

As part of the Centres strategic divestment programme, the Tata group acquired both Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express in January 2022.

In November 2022, the Tata group announced the merger of AirAsia India and Air India Express. As a part of the transaction, AirAsia Bhd divested its 16.67% stake in the airline for 155.65 crore.

While the merger of the two airlines took its combined fleet to 56 aircraft, it is set to increase substantially over the next one year as the airline will induct at least 50 of the 190 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that Air India ordered in February.

At least two Boeing 737 MAX with the new livery will be inducted within two weeks, a third official said. It plans to induct two-three aircraft in its fleet every month, giving the required heft to Air India Express coverage across more destinations and increased frequencies.

Integration, growth, transformation... to-be-revealed something BIG is about this, and much more! It will mark the start of a new chapter in our journey. Over next 15 months, 50 new B737 MAX aircraft will join the LCC fleet. Our focus is the preparedness for deploying this capacity," said Aloke Singh, managing director, Air India Express and AirAsia India in an internal mail to told employees.

Tata Group seeks to garner a 30% share of the domestic market, the company said.
Birkenstock's $130 leather sandals have helped the German family behind the brand build one of the biggest footwear fortunes on the planet. Bloomberg Billionaires Index on Wednesday showed that brothers Alex and Christian Birkenstock are now worth $3.4 billion.

The German footwear brand's shares slumped around 12% in the worst opening for a New York listing of $1 billion or more in over two years, according to Bloomberg reports.

Giving private equity firm L Catterton majority control of the storied shoemaker in 2021 is a significant reward for the German cobbler heirs' wager. Christian has seen a profit of almost 100% on the minority stake he retained, while Alex is no longer listed as a shareholder.

From the 2021 transaction, together the duo collected more than $3.2 billion which set the shoemaker on the path to public markets. Shares were trading at $41.50, down 9.8% from their offering price, at 1:55 pm in New York.

Meanwhile, LVMH-backed Birkenstock was set to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday after the German luxury sandal maker notched a valuation of $9.3 billion in its US initial public offering.

The company's IPO raised $1.48 billion after its 32.3 million shares were conservatively priced at $46 apiece, positioning the 250-year-old brand for a smooth market debut.

Birkenstock is the fourth major company to launch a US IPO in the last four weeks following those of chip designer Arm Holdings, grocery delivery app Instacart and marketing automation platform Klaviyo.

Founded in 1774 in the German village of Langen-Bergheim, the company was run by the Birkenstock family for six generations, until a majority stake was sold to L Catterton, the PE group backed by France's Bernard Arnault and his luxury goods empire Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, in 2021.

The brand gained widespread attention after Australian actress Margot Robbie wore a pair of pink Birkenstocks in the final scene of the hit movie, "Barbie", which was released this summer.

L Catterton will continue to own nearly 83% of the sandal maker. The PE firm had acquired a stake at a valuation of about $4.3 billion.

(With Bloomberg inputs)

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New Delhi: In a potential setback to Go Firsts insolvency process, a single bench of the Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the airlines resolution professional (RP) to provide key aircraft documents to its lessors within seven days.

These documents include records on the removal of engines parts and airframe, besides storage, historical data, online records, and any documents relevant to the airworthiness of aircraft, including updated technical records and statements.

The court has also mandated that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, allow lessors access to pertinent documents.

That apart the court said, security arrangements must be put in place to enable lessors inspect the aircraft.

The HC also clarified that while GO First will continue to be responsible for maintaining the aircraft, lessors will have the right to inspect the aircraft as part of the agreement.

Despite the clarification on aircraft maintenance, the order is likely to impact Go Firsts plans to resume operations, as the airlines access to these aircraft may be hindered.

The airline has not been able to secure the funds needed to relaunch due to a lack of clarity regarding aircraft availability.

Lessors, including BOC Aviation (Ireland), ACG Aircraft Leasing Ireland, and DAE 13 Ireland Designated Activity had submitted new applications after finding the parked aircraft in poor condition during their inspections.

The bench will also hear a petition by lessors on deregistration of aircraft on 19 October. The case could also throw a spanner in the works of the grounded airlines plans to return to the skies. At the previous hearing, the RP had sought time to examine changes in Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) norms that exempted leased assets like aircraft from moratorium.

The three lessors had accused the resolution professional of Go First of not maintaining the lessors assets.

The RP argued against the maintainability of the plea, stating that it had reached its finality in the previous orders. BOC Aviation informed the HC that planes were in deplorable condition due to poor maintenance of landing gear and the body. It said the planes were not only dirty, but they found algae on the body due to accumulation of water because the aircraft were not covered during rains. BOC said it found scratches on the panels, and signs of subpar maintenance were evident. It further said their aircraft were in long-term storage even before moratorium.

DAE 13 Ireland Designated Activity had accused Go First of not paying salaries to maintenance staff, resulting in poor plane conditions, including a dirty fuselage and corrosion in various parts like brakes.

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New Delhi: While Jindal Power, owned by billionaire Naveen Jindal has submitted expression of interest for Go First, it may not result in a bid for acquiring the grounded airline, two people familiar with the matter told Mint.

Go First, the low-cost airline formerly owned by the Wadia family, was the first commercial airline in India to voluntarily seek bankruptcy protection.

As part of the IBC process, interested companies cant access financials and other details of a company under insolvency without expressing interest. Once EoI is approved, the interested company is allowed to access the data after payment of a fee, which is refundable. This bid is only to explore the potential of the company and the industry," one of the two people said.

The company had also expressed interest in other companies that had come through the insolvency process, the second person said.

Even now, the company is looking at smaller companies under insolvency in other sectors. Go First is in aviation, hence, it got a lot of publicity. You cannot say that the company will bid for it... chances are high that there may not be any bid, as aviation is not an easy business to be in."

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity.

This isnt the first instance of a metals company expressing interest in an aviation firm and then withdrawing. In 2019, Anil Agarwal had showed interest in Jet Airways but eventually pulled, saying his initial interest was exploratory, and later decided not to pursue it.

To be sure, a private group company houses the Jindal groups three business aircraft and two helicopters, which it occasionally lends out on a commercial basis. Even so, the New-Delhi headquartered business house apparently has no synergies with the civil aviation business, the first person said. To understand and evaluate the business, we need to submit an EOI, he added.

The group is concerned about the investors reaction to this EoI and, hence, decided to express interest via privately-held Jindal Power and not through the publicly listed Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, the second person said.

Go First filed for insolvency due to financial challenges stemming from Pratt and Whitney engines in early May. On 10 May, the National Company Law Tribunal approved its plea leading to the suspension of the airlines board. Go First grounded its fleet in the first week of May.

Since the grounding, many flight routes and slots at airports were handed over to competition, thus, making the return of the airline difficult. Go Firsts aircraft lessors have also moved court and got favourable orders from the Delhi High Court.

Naveen Jindal-owned companies are planning to expand within India and is building a steel mill in Nigeria and a power plant in Botswana to expand its presence in Africa.

Jindal Steel & Power is also investing 10,000 crore to set up a 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) steel manufacturing unit for group entity Vulcan Steel in Andhra Pradesh.

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Southern states are on a borrowing spree. In the second quarter of 2023-24, all of thembarring Karnatakahave gone way beyond their planned borrowing limits. Why is this so? And how have the other states fared? Mint explains:

Are southern states borrowing a lot?

Yes. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have borrowed much higher than what they had planned to during the second quarter of 2023-24. Karnataka is the only exceptionthe state, during this period, did not raise money at all, even though it had planned to borrow 19,000 crore. Andhra Pradesh borrowed 8,500 more than its target, while Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala exceeded their plans by 6,300 crore, 5,000 crore and 3,300 crore, respectively. Tamil Nadu, with 54,000 crore, and Andhra Pradesh which borrowed 43,500 crore, raised the most from the market.

How have other states fared?

Many states have borrowed less, and this has helped the overall borrowing of 2.1 trillion to remain below the planned 2.4 trillion. Uttar Pradesh borrowed 21,000 crore less than what it had planned. Other states that raised significantly lower funds were: Gujarat (lower by 15,000 crore), West Bengal ( 11,000 crore), Maharashtra ( 6,000 crore) and Madhya Pradesh ( 4,000 crore). Better than expected revenue flowown revenue plus devolution from the Centreis a possible reason. Also, capex-related borrowing could be lower as the Centre is offering 50-year interest-free loans for it.

View Full Image Graphic: Mint

Why have the southern states borrowed more?

For increased capex. Andhra Pradesh spent 15,884 crore on capex in the first five months of 2023-24, more than double the amount spent in the same period last year. Telangana spent 18,400 crore this year on capex between April-August, nearly 3X the year-ago amount. Higher borrowing went towards funding capex, improving the quality of expenditure.

What about Tamil Nadu and Kerala?

The story is different here. Tamil Nadus revenue in April-August rose by 6% but revenue expenditure grew faster, by 14%. Higher borrowings funded this gap. Not just that, the state has cut back on capex by 7% and had met just 22% of the 2023-24 capital expenditure target by August. Kerala, too, has borrowed to meet its rising revenue expenditure after cutting back on capex by 7.1%. The quality of expenditure of both the states has deteriorated significantly and they will struggle to meet their FY24 capex target.

At what costs have the states borrowed?

It varies from 7.31% (Gujarat) to 7.48% (Uttarakhand). It was lower for fiscally better managed states. Maharashtra (7.36%), Himachal Pradesh (7.38%), Tamil Nadu (7.39%) and Kerala (7.40%) were also able to raise funds at lower rates. On the other hand, Bihar and Manipur borrowed at 7.47% and Punjab and Madhya Pradesh at 7.45%. For Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it was 7.42%. This, according to Bank of Baroda, was higher by 17-35 bps compared with G-Sec rates and Centres average borrowing cost of 7.2%.

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The Reserve Bank has imposed monetary penalties on three co-operative banks and one NBFC for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. These co-operative banks are: Annasaheb Magar Sahakari Bank Ltd, The Jawhar Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd, Janata Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd and Finquest Financial Solutions Private Ltd.

The RBI imposed a monetary penalty of 4.00 lakh on Annasaheb Magar Sahakari Bank Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra for non-compliance with certain provisions of RBI directions on Know Your Customer (KYC) direction, 2016, maintenance of Deposit Accounts - Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, and income recognition, asset classification, provisioning and other related matters  UCBs.

The Annasaheb Magar Sahakari Bank had not conducted periodic review of risk categorization of accounts, besides not collecting the fixed penal charge for shortfall in maintenance of minimum balance in saving bank accounts, instead of proportionate to the extent of shortfall. Then bank had not adhered to the prudential norms relating to income recognition, asset classification and provisioning, the RBI said.

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The apex bank has imposed a monetary penalty of 1.00 lakh on The Jawhar Urban Co-operative Bank Limited, Palghar, Maharashtra for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on Know Your Customer (KYC). The bank had not put in place a system for periodic updation of KYC of its customers.

The RBI imposed a monetary penalty of 1.00 lakh on Janata Urban Co-operative Bank Limited, Wai, Maharashtra for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on Frauds Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism. The Janata Urban Co-operative Bank had reported cases of fraud with delay, the RBI said.

The RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of 1.20 lakh on Finquest Financial Solutions Private Limited, Mumbai for non-compliance with the directions issued by RBI on Know Your Customer (KYC) Directions, 2016 and Non-Banking Financial Company - Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016. The NBFC had not conducted the risk categorization of its borrowers, and had not make good the shortfall in LTV ratio of 50% for loans granted against collateral of shares within 7 working days. It had also not report data to all CICs as per the extant guidelines.

The actions of Reserve Bank was based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks or NBFC with its customers.

Separately, the banking regulator cancelled the Certificate of Registration of Chennai based Ind Bank Housing Ltd effective September 21, 2023. The apex bank said the Ind Bank Housing will neither transact the business of a Housing Finance Institution nor of a Non-Banking Financial Institution as defined in National Housing Bank Act, 1987 and Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, respectively.

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The conflict between Israel and Hamas has wreaked havoc on human life and ignited geopolitical worries. Against this backdrop, investors attention is on shares of defence companies. In the US markets, shares of defence companies such as Northrop Grumman Corporation and Lockheed Martin Corporation have soared this week.

What are the implications for the Indian defence sector? Analysts from Nuvama Research believe the escalation of this war may create opportunities for players such as Bharat Forge, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Advanced Systems and Adani Group in the near-to-medium term as Israel is likely to reach out to its allies (India, US, etc) to ensure ample stockpiles for the war. Nuvamas analysts note that the private sectors share in defence exports stands tall at 60-70%. In FY23, Indias total defence exports stood at 15,920 crore, up by 24% versus the previous year.

To be sure, countries such as the US, Russia, and France would capitalize on this sort of an opportunity the most and are likely to increase their share of defence exports compared to India, said Amit Anwani, an analyst at Prabhudas Lilladher. This is because India still accounts for a negligible portion of the worlds defence exports.

For India, there could also be risks on the execution front. The conflict could potentially create supply chain disruptions, which would weigh on Indian defence projects and hence impact execution. Note that Israel is one of the key defence equipment suppliers to India. As per Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 37% of Israels exports were made to India over 2018-22. Besides private companies, public sector undertakings such as Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bharat Dynamics Ltd, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd would also bear the brunt of the crisis.

On the flip side, Israel prioritizing its defence inventory for the war effort, could possibly drive greater emphasis on local production for India. The expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources has dropped to 36.7% in December 2022 from 46% of overall expenditure in 2018-19, according to the defence ministry.

If the conflict persists for an extended duration, there is the possibility of an upswing in Indian defence stocks in the interim. For now, investors in shares of defence public sector undertakings seem to be capturing the brighter picture adequately. For perspective, stocks of Bharat Electronics, Bharat Dynamics and Hindustan Aeronautics are up by 15-66% in the last one year. Improving revenue visibility has aided investor sentiments for these companies.
Q2 results 2023: After announcement of TCS results for Q2FY24, market observers and investors are eagerly awaiting for the announcement of Infosys results and HCL Technologies results today. As TCS results for Q2 2023 were in line with the market expectations, Dalal Street is abuzz about other two IT majors meeting the market expectations. They said that job creation below attretition should be seen from AI perspective instead of job losses. Experts went on to add that after the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine war, IT market is buzz with IT major moving from 'missing market expectations' to 'meeting the market expectations'.

What TCS results signal?

Speaking on TCS Q2 results 2023, Saurabh Jain, Vice President  Research at SMC Global Securities said, "TCS was able to meet the expectations but their guidance was weak. Its job creation has remained lower than the rate of attretion, which means the company came into profit at the cost of job loss, which will hit the order book of the company." However, Jain maintained that Infosys and HCL Tech results are expected to replicate the kind of results TCS has delivered in July to September 2023 quarter.

Decoding the TCS Q2 results 2023, Sandeep Pandey, Director Basav Capital said, "Indian IT companies are sitting on cash reserves and they are moving towards Air Intelligence (AI) regime. After the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine war, IT companies had been missing the market expectations on a regular basis. For the first time after Ukraine invasion, TCS has been able to meet the market expectations despite weak guidance. However, one should note that Q3 and Q4 generally remains weak for Indian IT companies and hence TCS has managed to perform well in the second quarter of the current financial year."

TCS Stock Check: Up 15% in the last 1 year, is it a good time to buy?

What market expects from Infosys, HCL Technologies

On what kind of results one can expect from Infosys and HCL Tech, Sandeep Pandey said, "Like TCS, both Infosys and HCL Tech have manged to attract business in the second quarter of current fiscal. Hence, they are expected to deliver TCS like results as their business model replicate TCS' business model. Hence, I am expecting Infosys and TCS to meet the market expectations."

TCS buyback does little to lift investor mood as outlook muted

On how long it will take for the Indian IT companies to hit the levels of beating the market expectations after this trend reversal, Sandeep Pandey said, "As I said earlier, Indian IT companies are looking set to move from missing the market expectation status to meeting the market expectations status. Now, next two quarters may not be good enough for the Indian IT companies but they are expected to continue meeting the market expectations. In that case, I am expecting trend reversal in IT segment from next financial year and the coming quarters would be an opportunity for medium to long term investors to continue bottom phishing on every dip in IT majors like TCS, Infosys, HCL Tech and Wipro."

TCS reported a rise of 8.7 per cent in its consolidated net profit at 11,342 crore in the September quarter, compared to 10,431 crore in the corresponding period last year. The board approved a buyback of 17,000 crore at a price of 4,150 per equity share at a premium of about 15 per cent. This is the company's fifth share buyback for the IT behemoth in a span of six years.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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GAZA CITY, Gaza StripMore than a quarter-million Gazans fled their homes and some tried to escape the strip for Egypt as Israeli forces launched new rounds of airstrikes in the enclave and exchanged fire with militants in Lebanon.

The bombardments following Saturdays devastating attack by Hamaswhich killed more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civiliansraised concerns about an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while skirmishes along Israels northern border threaten a regional expansion of the conflict.

Most of the Gaza Strips more than two million residents have no way of fleeing the enclave, which is about twice the size of Washington, D.C., and has been all but sealed off from the world by Israel and Egypt for years.

With Israels military having ordered a total siege on Gaza, supplies of food, fuel and water are no longer reaching the enclave, leaving Gazans in the dark with thinning supplies as explosions rock their buildings at night.

Of the more than 260,000 people who have fled their homes, more than half are sheltering in schools run by a United Nations agency that serves Palestinian refugees, the U.N. said early Wednesday. Others are seeking shelter in hotels.

The Israeli military on Tuesday urged Palestinians to leave via a border crossing with Egypt but Palestinians cant cross the border without a special permit. Israeli forces have bombed the crossing three times in recent days, According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The mass displacement in Gaza is piling pressure on Egypt to open its border with the strip to allow refugees to flee, illustrating how the situation in Gaza and Israel threatens to spill over into a broader regional crisis. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that he discussed the possible creation of a humanitarian coordinator with Egypt.

Egypts military-backed government has tightened its restrictions on both Gaza and the neighboring North Sinai region in recent years, and has shown no willingness to accept a tide of refugees.

In Gaza Citys al-Karama neighborhood, Ahmad Hassouna, a 42-year-old man wearing an orange T-shirt, a pair of glasses tucked into his collar, paused to catch his breath as he stepped over rubble in the street.

We all came out, my sister, my brother, my mother and me. We were all here on the ground and we were all injured. We called for an ambulance and when it came, they struck the ambulance," he said, describing how his family fled an airstrike the night before.

Forget human rights, we dont even have animal rights," he said.

Israeli strikes have killed at least 950 Palestinians in Gaza since Saturday, according to the enclaves Health Ministry.

Israeli forces also exchanged fire with Lebanons Hezbollah for a fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, dialing up fears that a second front could open up in the war if the Shiite Hezbollah movement chooses to enter the fray.

The Israeli military said an antitank missile from Lebanon was launched toward a military post near the village of Arab Al-Aramshe along the Lebanese border on Wednesday morning. Israel said it struck in Lebanese territory in response.

Hezbollah said it fired a missile at an Israeli military vehicle in retaliation for an Israeli attack that killed three members of the group on Monday. An Israeli military officer was also killed in the clashes.

The clashes with Hezbollah and with Palestinian armed groups in Lebanon have so far been limited in scope and within the broad rules of engagement understood by both sides, military analysts say.

If Hezbollah were to fully join the war, it could spell catastrophe for both Israel and Lebanon. The Iranian-backed group has a powerful militia of fighters who are battle-tested from the war in neighboring Syria and an arsenal of missiles capable of striking deep inside Israel.

Israeli officials have promised that the offensive in Gaza will be larger and more severe than any in recent memory.

The Israeli Air Force said Wednesday that it launched more than 80 airstrikes that it said hit weapons stockpiles, bank branches used to fund Hamas and underground tunnels used by militants. The air force also said it struck high-rise buildings in Gaza.

Palestinian residents and the U.N. said the strikes killed and injured civilians.

Several residential buildings in heavily populated areas were also targeted, resulting in casualties, including among the elderly, women, and children," said the U.N.s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The Israeli military has said that it has a reduced capacity for precision strikes because its forces are stretched thin.

The military offensive and siege are also cutting back on Gazas already limited basic services, limiting supplies of running water and cutting supplies of electricity to three or four hours a day, according to the U.N.

The strikes also destroyed two of Gazas three main lines for telecommunications, leaving Gazans with little to no internet and mobile service.

Israel imposed a strict closure on Gaza in 2007 after Hamas seized control of the strip in a military takeover that followed their victory in a Palestinian parliamentary election a year earlier. The restrictions ended decades in which many Gazans worked in Israel and moved freely throughout the country following Israels 1967 occupation of the territory.

The enclave has been in a long-running humanitarian crisis ever since, as the closure devastated Gazas economy which had once been integrated into Israels. A series of wars between Israel and Hamas has further devastated Gazas infrastructure.

Write to Jared Malsin at jared.malsin@wsj.com

View Full Image Destruction in Gaza Citys al-Karama neighborhood.

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Chitkara University Launches Sustainable Initiative "Pledge"

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India] Published : October 11, 2023



The Department of Fashion at Chitkara Design School, Chitkara University, has launched a sustainable initiative "Pledge", which aims to inspire positive change and cultivate a new generation of fashion revolutionaries. This interdisciplinary awareness event has been designed to advocate for responsible consumption practices within Chitkara University. It aims to bring about change through a variety of events, collaborations, and educational programs.



Realizing the harm done to the environment due to fast fashion, students from the Fashion Department at Chitkara University led a campaign named "Swap Don't Shop" wherein they collected garments. The term 'fast fashion' refers to a large sector of the fashion industry whose business model relies on cheap and speedy production of low quality clothing, which gets pumped quickly through stores in order to meet the latest and newest trends. This is dangerous for the planet and leads to a lot of pollution. The "Swap Don't Shop" event encouraged the participants to exchange or donate clothing items that have been worn less, fostering a culture of reuse within the community. By collecting the garments from fellow community members, this initiative promoted a more sustainable approach to Fashion Consumption and also helped them understand about the effects of fast fashion.



Lauding the event, Dr Madhu Chitkara, Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, said, "The vision of "PLEDGE" is to redefine fashion by placing sustainability at its core. This initiative recognizes that a more inclusive and creative approach with collaborative efforts and commitment can lead to sustainable fashion and responsible consumption. Through events like these, we hope to encourage individuals to make mindful choices and contribute to a more sustainable and ethical world."



The initiative, "Pledge" engaged industry designers of repute, including Nida Mahmood and Shruti Singh of Fashion Revolution India - a team which aspires for a sustainable fashion industry. The duo shared their insights, discussed the challenges and triumphs associated with sustainable fashion.



On the occasion, Nida Mahmood said, "India is one of the world's largest manufacturers of textile and apparel providing employment to around 45 million people. We are also one of the largest consumer markets in the world. As such, our voices are bound to have a huge influence on the fashion industry in terms of the ethical treatment of supply chain workers and a cleaner and safer manufacturing process. Hence, it is pertinent for the students and people to know its effects."



A workshop was also organized by Shubhi Sachan from the Material Library of India - which is focused on remodelling the use of industrial & agricultural waste materials by combining the knowledge and skills of traditional crafts with modern materials. During the workshop, Sachan talked about the Material Literacy and sustainability, which provided valuable guidance on how to incorporate eco-friendly choices into the daily lives.



The event was marked by a Grand Fashion Show organized in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs, Chitkara University. The students from the Fashion Department took charge of curating and styling looks from the collected garments, showcasing their creativity. Furthermore, the PANACHE group contributed to the event with choreography and modeling, adding a dynamic and artistic dimension to the showcase.



Chitkara University, situated near Chandigarh, has emerged as the most vibrant and high-ranking University in North India. It is ranked among the top 5% of higher education institutions in India. The University is awarded NAAC A+ accreditation and has also been ranked by NIRF (National Institute Ranking Framework).



The University offers courses in Engineering and Technology, Business Management, Planning; Architecture, Art & Design, Mass Communication, Sales and Marketing, Hospitality Management, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Law, Psychology, and Education. Students studying at Chitkara get the best start-up support, world-class research excellence, and many internationally renowned opportunities.



For more information please visit www.chitkara.edu.in.



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A fire broke out in a factory in the Peera Garhi area of Udyog Nagar early morning on Thursday, according to a report published by the news agency ANI.

Immediately, a total of 33 fire tenders were deployed at the spot. Delhi Fire Service informed that the blaze is under control now.

(This is a breaking story. More details are awaited.)

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As Navratri and Chhath Puja festivals are around the corner, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started preparations in the city. It will provide a single window for giving permission to Navratri mandals, the civic body said on Wednesday.

Mumbai's civic body also said that it will ensure cleanliness and other facilities at Chhath Puja sites here, according to a report published by the news agency PTI.

In a circular issued on October 11, the BMC mentioned the facilities it will provide during the nine-day Navratri festival which will begin on October 15, and Chhath Puja to be held next month.

The circular came after a meeting held at the BMC headquarters under the chairmanship of Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who is also Mumbai's suburban guardian minister.

The BMC will implement a single window system for giving permission for the Navratrotsav mandals, set up artificial ponds for the immersion of idols of the Goddess, provide lighting and other necessary arrangements at the immersion points," the circular read.

Mumbai has 82 Chhath Puja sites and the civic body will ensure cleanliness and other facilities at the sites. The BMC will provide changing room facilities at the puja sites, besides medical facilities and ambulances, the circular said as quoted by PTI.

Along with civic officials, the meeting was also attended by officials of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Mumbai police, city traffic police, and other departments concerned.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has also announced to set up more than 1,000 Chhath Ghats across the national capital this year.

Revenue Minister Atishi directed the officials to begin preparations for the 'Chhath Puja' festival to avoid any inconvenience to the devotees and mismanagement at the last moment.

She also said that these 1,000 Chhath Ghats will provide essential facilities such as clean water, tents, electricity, restrooms, security, medical services, power backup, and CCTV cameras to the devotees.

(With PTI inputs)

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18,000 Indians currently residing in Israel to be assisted in returning home.

India announced the launch "Operation Ajay" on Wednesday to help Indians stuck in Israel to return home as fresh tension triggered in the region as Hamas militants made a series of brazen attacks on Israeli towns over the weekend. As per the external affairs ministry, around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, took to X on Wednesday to announce, Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return." Here is all you need to know about operation Ajay: Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place to help Indians to return to the country safely. Noting the same, the minister said Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad" The first batch of Indians is expected to be brought back from Israel in a special flight on Thursday.

Notably, the Indian embassy in Israel has already e-mailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight on Thursday.

"Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights," it said on X.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, a round-the-clock control room has been set up a round and separate emergency helplines in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to monitor the situation in the war torn regions and provide information and assistance to the Indian citizens

The phone numbers of the control room in Delhi are 1800118797 (toll-free), 91-11 23012113, 91-11-23014104, 91-11-23017905 and 919968291988, and the e-mail ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in. Meanwhile, assuring that Israeli government is doing the utmost to assist the Indian Embassy in Operation Ajay, Kobbi Shoshani, Consul General of Israel in Mumbai, said "There are around 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, including 1,000 students whom we love very much. The Indian business community, whom we love and respect very much, contribute to our economy in a big way." EAM Jaishankar mentioned that he is in touch with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates and discussed the issue in detail. "Spoke to Foreign Minister @ABZayed of UAE this evening. Discussed the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Agreed to stay in touch," the external affairs minister posted on X.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left around 2,150 people dead.

The Israeli authorities said more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, while the Palestinian side put the death toll in Gaza at 950.

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Singapore-based RV Capital Managements India arm on Thursday announced the first close of its maiden performing private credit fund, having raised about a quarter of the target corpus. The alternative asset manager launched the India Credit Plus" fund in June with a target corpus of 400 crore and a green-shoe option for a similar amount. Performing credit" means lending to companies that are running their business on an ongoing basis, have a long track-record and are profitable at the Ebitda level.

For the first close milestone, the asset manager has raised about 100 crore in commitments from a mix of domestic and offshore investors including high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and family offices. It aims to mark another fund close by next month, though it did not disclose the figure at which it will hit the milestone. It is aiming to raise about half of the target corpus by the end of the year, RV Capital said.

As a global entity, we have observed a clear upward trend in the market's appetite for alternative financing options and an increasing number of private credit deals that are more attractively priced in terms of risk-adjusted returns," said Shyamal Karmakar, India head and chief investment officer, RV Capital India. The genesis of Plus" in the Funds name is from the listed bonds which have the potential to generate similar returns as private credit and help to optimise risk-adjusted returns," he added.

So far, it has made two investments from the fund. While it did not disclose the names of these companies, it said one was in a holding company of a large Indian conglomerate and the other in a solar energy platform, with marquee investors holding a majority stake.

Its investment ticket sizes range from 20-50 crore and could even be larger in case of co-investments or through offshore participation. Largely sector-agnostic, the fund focuses on private credit opportunities across the manufacturing, industrial, and services sectors, including holding companies and special purpose vehicles subject to robust, marketable collateral structure, strong visibility on exit, or backed by marquee promoter groups/investors.

It may also opportunistically invest a part of the fund in price-dislocated listed bonds and high-grade bonds. Currently, the fund is currently generating gross returns higher than its target of 14-16%.

Private credit is a rapidly growing asset class with a slew of asset managers in India and abroad offering products in this segment. In August, Mumbai-based ASK Private Wealth, the wealth advisory and family office arm of ASK Group, floated its first private credit fund with a target corpus of 1,000 crore to invest in the performing credit segment.

Other domestic asset managers that have ventured into this space include Kotak Mahindra, JM Financial, Piramal Group, Centrum Group, asset managers such as 360 One, Vivriti, InCred, Xander Group-backed Sanctum Wealth, and private equity firm PAG-backed Nuvama.

As for foreign investors, London-headquartered Apax raised about $750 million for the first generation of its dedicated credit funds as of late September. Its co-CEO said Apax sees private credit "as an important extra arrow in (its) quiver".

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New Delhi: The arrest of Hari Om Rai, co-founder, chairman and managing director of Lava International Limited, is concerning given the companys position as an Indian smartphone brand, said union minister of state for information technology (IT) Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The minister of state, speaking on the sidelines of an event in Noida, is one of the first union government officials to have commented on the matter. Two days ago a Delhi court granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to arrest Rai and three other officials, associated with China-headquartered electronics brand Vivo, in a money-laundering probe.

We are obviously very concerned about it. We do not know all the facts, but Lava as a company has been an Indian champion in the important and growing smartphone segment. As a brand, we hold Lava to be a very important participant in the smartphone ecosystem, and while I do not know all the facts of it, I hope this is rapidly looked into, and that the right thing is done by Lava and Rai," Chandrasekhar said.

On 10 October, ED officials were granted three-day custody of the four officials, including Rai, after the agency claimed they were evasive" and non-cooperative" while being questioned.

Vivo is alleged to have transferred 1.25 trillion ($15 billion) to its China headquarters from India since 2014, while not paying any taxes in India. Rai, meanwhile, is alleged to have helped set up Vivos India operations.

Lava International is a benefactor of the union governments production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for domestic smartphone manufacturing. However, the company did not meet the incremental revenue target set under the scheme for fiscal year 2023.

Chandrasekhar added that concerns around money laundering has also led to crackdowns on the online gaming sector, which has seen the influx of some bad actors".

The government sees legally permissible online gaming as an important part of opportunities before youngsters in India. However, it is clear that there were some bad actors in this sector who have misused the internet  and in that, there is absolute justification to crack down on them," he said.

He added that a consensual framework for the sector has been drawn up. The framework for permissible online gaming has been finalised and is now being gradually advocated across all government departments. In the coming months, we think there will be a much more consistent approach by all government departments to online gaming. This will keep bad actors out and permit innovation and growth of the ecosystem around online games," Chandrasekhar added.

In April, the union government notified rules for online real-money game operators, including the establishment of self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) and the need for operators to certify their games through these bodies. However, industry sources told Mint last month that concerns within the government on the undue influence of large online gaming firms on industry stakeholders has so far stalled the appointment of the SRBs.

Chandrasekhar did not offer a timeline on Thursday, only adding that the appointment of SRBs remained a work in progress". Last month a senior ministry official told Mint that the first SRB appointment for the online gaming sector may take place by October.
MARTINIS ARE once again the rage. And this time, they have backup.

The Martini was comforting during the pandemic because it could easily be made in homes," said Robert Ceraso, owner of Endless Hospitality Group, which recently launched Madelines Martini, a bar in Manhattans East Village. People were still looking for it when they came back." Only now, Martini drinkers expect something more than mere gin plus vermouth. At top bars around the U.S., the drink comes with an appetizing array of Martini snacks.

The palate-priming Martini snack is part of the ritual surrounding the drink," said Linden Pride, co-owner of the Manhattan bar Dante. Martinis do require a small bite to accompany them, much in the way Italians are sensible enough to provide cicchetti alongside their liquor."

At Dante, Pride serves Sicilian arancini with Martinis. Basque pintxos partner with the drink at many restaurants such as Miamis LEKU. At the Richardson, in Brooklyn, its good old American pigs in blankets.

Snacks are everything," said Sam Fore, chef-owner of Tuk Tuk in Lexington, Ky. In a forthcoming restaurant, Fore plans to include a backroom speakeasy shes calling a Snackeasy. Snacks are about cultivating what you enjoy. I have them out as much as I can," she added.

This trend is easy to take home, too. Start with a spin on that bartop staple, roasted nuts. Fores deviled cashews were inspired by a packaged snack from her native Sri Lanka. Warm, crisp and pungent with caramelized onions, curry leaves and cayenne, they take all of 15 minutes to prepare. Im a dirty Martini gal," Fore said. I want something with pop and zing to stand up to the blue cheese-stuffed olive in my drink."

Others move in the opposite direction, contrasting the drinks intensity with a snack that provides a subtle lift. Martinis are so dry or salty that they shouldnt be paired with the rest of a meal past snacks," declared Don Gonzalez, executive chef at Brooklyn bar Thief LES. But its a perfect first course to wash down something cool, sweet and light with some boozy, briny liquor." He suggested a citrusy fluke crudo.

At the Ivy Room, the rooftop piano bar at Manhattans Royalton Park Avenue hotel, chef Jonathan Rodriguezs riff on shrimp cocktail combines both approaches. Spiffed up with a vodka-yuzu vinaigrette, salt-cured cucumber and marinated Martini olives, it might sound fussy, but it is actually a snap to make. The result mimics the strong taste of a dirty Martini, but with a breezy elegance.

A similar sense of casual chic prevails at Madelines Martini, where a caviar sandwich on sliced white bread brings the elements of caviar service into a hand-held bite," Cesaro said. Slathered in a silky egg-yolk sauce charged with horseradish to cut through the brine," this deluxe tidbit is, according to Cesaro, the perfect combination between high and low."

5 MORE MARVELOUS MARTINI SNACKS

Bouquet of PicklesPS at Pine & Polk, New York

At this secret" bar in a culinary shop, the Martini Moment consists of the drink itself, plus an atomizer full of housemade green goddess" vermouth, served in a crystal jewel box along with pickled vegetables such as sugar snaps, peppadews and wax beans in summertime, gooseberries, radishes and jicama in autumn.

ConservasSaltie Girl, Los Angeles, Boston and London

This bar stocks 130 varieties of tinned fish to snack on. With the Saltie Martini garnished with olive, onion and caviar, the house recommends milder sardines with espelette pepper.

Sea Urchin ToastSaison, San Francisco

Midweek walk-ins are welcome at the bar, where this snacka generous lobe of uni dusted with dried sea lettuce, on brown-butter-soaked sourdoughstands up to the peppery nasturtium-and-anise Pillow Talk Martini.

Deep-Fried Gordal OliveMARCH, Houston

We love the contrast of an ice-cold Martini and a warm, crunchy olive," said chef-partner Felipe Riccio of this paean to the signature snack of Italys Marche region. The filling, a seasonal surprise, might be duxelles, minty goat cheese or fennel-and-caper soffritto.

Chips & DipTwelve, Portland, Maine

The Yukon Gold chips are brined in salt and vinegar. The creamy onion dip is infused with bonito flakes. Gild the lily with the trout-roe addition, especially if your drink order is the kelp-and-dill-infused Coastal Martini.

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Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) has forecast that a fresh Western Disturbance is expected to bring rainfall in the Western Himalayan Region starting from the night of October 13 and the plains of Northwest India to receive rainfall from October 14. IMD expects Southwest Monsoon to withdraw during the next 2 days from some parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, parts of Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha, parts of Karnataka, and remaining parts of Telangana, Maharashtra and Central Arabia. IMD further stated that a cyclonic circulation is situated over Rayalaseema and the adjoining South Interior Karnataka. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely to persist over South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the next 2 days, followed by expectation of a reduction in rainfall thereafter.

Weather Warnings for the next 5 days

South India: Light to moderate rainfall is expected at some places, with isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning likely over Kerala from October 11 to 13, over Tamil Nadu on October 11 and 12 and over South Interior Karnataka on October 11, with a reduction thereafter.

Northwest India: Light to moderate rainfall is likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad from October 13 to 17 and over Himachal Pradesh and Punjab from October 14 to 17. Light rainfall is expected at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan from October 15 to 17.

Northeast India: Light to moderate rainfall is expected at some places, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on October 11 and 12, with a reduction thereafter.

East India: Light to moderate rainfall is anticipated at a few places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal during the next 24 hours with a reduction thereafter. Light to moderate rainfall is likely over the Andaman & Nicobar Islands over the next 5 days.

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One of the iconic shots of the years biggest movie was Margot Robbies Barbie character in Birkenstocks.

She was only wearing them because of Margot Fraser.

This woman responsible for bringing the supremely comfy, seductively ugly German footwear to the U.S. was one of the most improbable business figures of her time.

She was an accidental entrepreneur who started distributing Birkenstocks from her California home in the 1960s, when nobody knew what they were or how orthopedic sandals cured foot pain. The only places that would carry them were health-food stores, where each pair might as well have come with a jar of granola. She was a dressmaker with no clue about shoes, much less crunchy ones, but she grew the company from zero to hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. She would even come to be known as Mrs. Birkenstock.

The sandals that she introduced to Americans have become more popular and the business much bigger than Fraser could have predicted. This week, when Birkenstock went public, the company was valued at $8.6 billion.

Its fitting that Birkenstocks initial public offering comes on the heels of a summer ruled by the spending power of women because this is a company whose U.S. business has always been built around their needs.

Thats in large part because of Margot Fraser, the most important woman in the companys history. She paid attention to womenand it paid off. They were her first customers. They were also her best customers. Birkenstocks financial documents credit the breakthrough of modern feminism" as a key driver of its business, and the companys private-equity backers cite the products appeal to women as one of the reasons they invested. In fact, Birkenstock says 72% of its customers are female.

Its a remarkably high number for a company that explicitly markets its products as unisex. Steve Jobs wore them. Sneaker geeks want them. They were designed by Karl Birkenstock, a son of Carl and grandson of Konrad, descendants of the man who started the familys tradition of shoemaking 249 years ago. More recently, the private-equity firm and family office of Bernard Arnault, the billionaire chief executive of LVMHs luxury empire, bought a controlling stake and took the company public.

Anyone can now own stock in BIRK because of its connection to one of the worlds richest men, but Birkenstock never would have been in this position without a pioneering woman.

It is because of Margot and the foundation she built that the brand is enjoying the success that it is today," the president of the companys American division said when she died in 2017.

She was the first to admit that she was an unlikely footwear executive and had to learn how to run the business one step at a time.

I didnt know a thing about shoes," she once said. What I did know was that my feet were always hurting."

But that was all she needed to know. She figured that millions of women across the country must have feet that were always hurting, too.

Fraser had a keen sense of the American consumer for someone who grew up in war-torn Germany. The principal of her elementary school in the 1930s taught her that girls were capable of anything and should follow their dreams," but not everyone in her life agreed. My mother thought that was all ridiculous feminist stuff," Fraser wrote in a book offering business advice. Her father wasnt exactly Betty Friedan, either. When she told him she wanted to travel the world for business and show people that not all Germans were bad," he responded: My dear, you could never do that as a woman."

She went to dressmaking school and moved to the countryside to make clothing for farmers, who paid her in eggs and butter. It was the teenagers first taste of entrepreneurship. When she couldnt see a future in Germany after World War II, she decided to leave home in pursuit of her childhood dream, and she boarded a trans-Atlantic ship with $25 in her pocket.

But it was only when Fraser returned as a tourist nearly 15 years later that she discovered the shoes that would rescue her feet and transform her life.

She was living in the U.S. when she took a spa trip back to Germany in 1966 and came across sandals that werent pretty to look at." But after years of trying anything to fix her aching feeteven standing on a phone book and gripping it with her toesshe tried on her first Birkenstocks.

She was pain-free within months.

Fraser realized that her feet were always hurting because of her painful footwear. No amount of standing on phone books would have made a difference for women in constrictive heels with pointed toes. What did make the difference for Fraser were these sandals made with leather, cork and a footbed the Birkenstock men invented. They were following in the footsteps of Johannes Birkenstock, which date back to 1774, when the cobbler was mentioned in the church records of a village near Frankfurt. The companys first sandals were released in 1963, not long before Fraser slipped them on.

They were so comfortable that she didnt care if they were ugly. Birkenstocks provided value because they solved a problem. They were basically Hokas for hippies.

Fraser took the sandals back to the U.S. and wrote to the Birkenstock family asking if she could sell them to Americans. They said yes to the dressmaker. At first, it seemed unwise. The owners of local shoe stores wouldnt talk to her, and doctors treated her like a threat to the podiatry business.

She was desperate when a friend mentioned that a group called the Health Food Association was hosting a national convention nearby, which is how she found herself in a San Francisco hotel pitching sandals to people who sold lentils.

She needed to find people who didnt mind how their shoes looked. As it turns out, they were the kind of people who owned health-food stores. Because they spent all day on their feet, they chose function over fashion. Fraser knew there would be a market for Birkenstocks when she spotted a woman at the convention shuffling around in nylons while carrying shoes that she couldnt wear.

The woman tried on a pair," she wrote, and bought them despite her husbands protests."

Once she had a foothold, Fraser began working out of her Bay Area home in 1967, calling her distribution company Birkenstock Footprint Sandals. She later renamed it Birkenstock USA.

She couldnt have picked a better time or place for Birkenstocks to come plodding into the U.S. They would have crossed the ocean eventually, but the sandals became a symbol of rebellion because they landed in the heart of the counterculture, when and where people were allergic to the mainstream and willing to wear their antiestablishment values on their feet. It was this perfect moment," said Andrea Schneider-Braunberger, the curator of Birkenstocks historical archives. The culture was ready for such modern, convention-breaking shoes."

Fraser worked closely with the Birkenstock family and shared their complete obsession with Birkenstocks. They made the shoes and decisions for the entire company based on her feedback.

The name of the funny-looking sandal that caught her eye was the Original Birkenstock-Footbed sandal," but Fraser told her German partners that American women were never going to buy something called Original Birkenstock-Footbed sandal." They took her marketing advice and branded the single-strapped sandal the Madrid." It remains one of the companys top sellers.

It took six years for Fraser to venture beyond health-food stores and move into actual footwear stores. But that timing also turned out to be advantageous. By then, people were ready to buy Birkenstocks, and she was better at selling them.

She knew they intrigued baby boomers who didnt want to look like their mothers and fathers. As it happens, their children dont mind looking like them. Now, boomers and millennials make up almost the exact same percentage of Birkenstocks consumers, and the companys Arizona sandals and Boston clogs can be found in high schools and retirement homes.

The business is also barely recognizable from when she sold Birkenstock USA to her employees and retired in 2002. It was later folded into the German parent company, which is run by Oliver Reichert, the first person outside the Birkenstock family to be the CEO. Arnaults L Catterton invested in 2021 with eyes on this weeks IPO.

Birkenstock has expanded into sneakers, boots and sandals in wool, shearling and waterproof material. Its proudly frumpy sandals meant to free women from the norms of fashion have become posh enough for celebrities, models and collaborations with Manolo Blahnik. The people who once turned up their noses at them now put their feet in them. And the companys dominant market is the U.S.

None of that would have been possible without Margot Fraser.

Neither would the final scene in Barbie."

To sell more sandals to more Americans, she was always begging her partners for more colors, so Fraser would have been delighted to see whats on the feet of another woman named Margot.

Shes wearing a pair of pink Birkenstocks.

Write to Ben Cohen at ben.cohen@wsj.com

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TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains visuals and information that may be distressing to some readers. Viewer discretion is advised.

Israel released several horrifying photos on Thursday amid an escalating war with Palestine. The pictures  purportedly of babies killed by Hamas extremists  were also shown to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to crush" Hamas after a surprise attack on Saturday left thousands dead and injured.

Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS," the Prime Minister's office tweeted.

The distressing visuals showed a dead baby in a body bag while a second image other showed the charred remains of another infant.

View Full Image Unverified reports over the past few days have accused Hamas of 'beheading babies' and executing handcuffed civilians.

Unverified reports over the past few days have accused Hamas of 'beheading babies' and executing handcuffed civilians. While the assertions came from government officials  including IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Col. Jonathan Conricus  there was extensive back-and-forth on the matter with no clear confirmation from the Israeli government.

Its hard to find the right words. Its beyond what anyone would ever want to imagineA baby, an infant, riddled with bullets. Soldiers beheaded. Young people burned alive in their cars I could go on, but its simply depravity in the worst imaginable wayEvery day, the world is seeing new evidence of the depravity and the inhumanity of Hamas," The Guardian quoted Blinken as saying.

Local media reports indicate that the death toll since Hamas' October 7 attack has now risen to 1,300 with around 3300 people injured. This includes 28 individuals in critical condition and 350 in serious condition. The fate of approximately 150 others remains unclear after they were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack.

(With inputs from agencies)

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday exchanged letters with Russian President Vladimir Putin to vow to advance their ties and wishing him victory over what he called hegemony and pressure from imperialists, said Pyongyang's state media.

The letters, which marked the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations between North Korea and Russia, came a month after Kim's rare trip to Moscow during which he discussed military cooperation with Putin, Reuters reported.

In the letter, Kim sounded extremely satisfied with their "candid, comprehensive" discussions during the visit. He pledged to further develop relations to a "new height" and wished Putin good luck in resisting Western pressure over Ukraine.

"I hope that the Russian people, who have set out to build a strong nation, will always achieve only victory and glory in their struggle to protect the country's sovereignty, dignity, security, and peace by crushing the imperialists' persistent hegemonic policy and anti-Russia scheme to isolate and stifle it," the letter read as quoted by Reuters.

On the other hand, Putin said their recent meeting was more evidence of developing ties.

"I am convinced that implementing the agreements will contribute to further expanding the constructive bilateral cooperation for improving the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and ensuring security and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia as a whole," Putin said in a message to Kim.

Kim's visit has stoked US concerns that a revived Moscow-Pyongyang axis could bolster Russia's military in Ukraine and provide Kim with missile technology banned under UN resolutions, as per Reuters reports.

Washington has accused has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, including artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets, and missiles.

However, Pyongyang and Moscow have denied any arms transactions and promised to deepen defense cooperation.

Last month, Kim ordered unspecified steps to further develop relations with Russia after his recent visit to the country as his foreign rivals warned that any cooperation on military weapons would be dangerous and bring consequences.

Experts speculated North Korea and Russia likely discussed banned arms transfer deals and other cooperation measures during Kim's six-day trip last week. They say the two countries are serious about sharply boosting their ties while they are engaged in separate confrontations with the West.

Kim underscored the need to expand bilateral cooperation in every field, making a substantial contribution to the promotion of the well-being of the people of the two countries.

(With Reuters inputs)

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Syria launched its air defences on Thursday after attacks damaged airports in its capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo. Flights were grounded after air strikes affected the runway and put both hubs out of service. Syrian state media cited military sources to attribute the missiles to Israeli forces. The development comes amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine war.

Unnamed military officials told Syrian state media that the "simultaneous" strikes had damaged the landing strips of both airports. The purported attack came less than a day before Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was slated to visit Syria.

Israel has so far declined to comment on the allegations. It is however pertinent to note that the other country has carried out strikes for several years against Iran-linked targets in Syria  including the two airports.

Sources cited by local reports described the strikes as a "desperate attempt" by Israel to "divert attention" away from the conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Others dubbed it an attempt to disrupt Iranian supply lines to Syria.

Earlier on Tuesday Israeli troops had fired artillery and mortar shells towards Syria after rockets from southern Syria hit Israeli positions across the border.

Meanwhile Iran called on Islamic and Arab countries to form a united front against Israel on Thursday. Tehran has come under scrutiny following a surprise attack from Hamas extremists over the weekend. While the other country celebrated the assault as a "success" it has insisted that it was not involved in the matter.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has since asked his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in a phone call to cooperate against Israel.

All the Islamic and Arab countries... must reach serious convergence and cooperation on the path of stopping the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian nation," he said during a call on Wednesday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As things stand today, there are three possible ways that the ongoing 1 trillion-plus Cipla family stake sale saga will unfold.

In the first scenario, interested bidders  ranging from domestic pharmaceuticals major Torrent, which in turn is in talks with CVC Capital Partners and Brookfields to raise the required capital, to private equity funds like Blackstone, KKR and Advent  sweeten their current offer and acquire the company.

In the second scenario, Cipla patriarch Yusuf K Hamied wins over family groups who are currently against cashing out and the sale goes through.

The third possibility is that neither of these scenarios plays out and Cipla continues as it currently is  a professionally run company with strong family-owner oversight and control. But with both Yusuf and his brother MK Hamied in their eighties, and with other family shareholders already sharply divided over the sale, a clear regime change looks unlikely and the dispute is more likely to carry over into the third generation of Hamieds.

All three bode ill for any long term continuation of Ciplas unique legacy as a producer of affordable lifesaving drugs for the worlds poor.

The Cipla family's efforts to sell its stake and unlock value for themselves and their shareholders is understandable. Patriarch Yusuf Hamied is keen to leverage the proceeds for charitable and philanthropic purposes. In February 2022 the promoter group had sold 2.5% stake, and in a regulatory filing with stock exchanges the family clarified that the sale was for personal and philanthropic purposes".

This impulse to do good is engrained in the companys DNA. Founded in 1935 by YK and MK Hamieds father Khwaja Abdul Hamied, a chemist trained in Germany, Cipla was started as a swadeshi venture influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. It was the first Indian company manufacturing drugs for Indians. In 1972 YK Hamied got India to change its patent law to ensure that its generic version of a beta blocker  propranolol  could be sold at a fraction of the price demanded by ICI, the patent holder.

This landmark change  allowing patents on molecules engineered through an alternative process (called process patents)  laid the foundation of Indias generic pharmaceutical industry, which is now among the worlds largest. In the early 2000s, at the height of the AIDS pandemic, Cipla reverse-engineered a three-drug antiretroviral cocktail used to treat AIDS. Priced at one fortieth of the rate charged by patent-holding Western pharmaceutical companies, Ciplas intervention transformed the fight against AIDS. It was dubbed a drug pirate by the Wests big pharma  but hailed as a saviour by the poor of Africa.

Ciplas transformation into just another pharmaceutical company  inevitable if the current ownership changes  would thus be an irreplaceable loss not just for Indias poor, but the entire global south.

This brings us to the fourth scenario, in which the Cipla family adopts the Dabur or Asian Paints model of governance where the company's promoters provide strategic guidance while allowing the organisation to be run by qualified professions. Both Dabur and Asian Paints have benefited from this model and delivered great value to their shareholders.

The owners of Dabur, a century-old maker of natural care and consumer products, decided to professionalise the company in 1998. All family members quit virtually overnight, professional executives were hired to run the business, a family council was created for family members to get updates on Dabur and discuss their own ventures, and a family constitution was created which spelt out brand usage, succession processes and just how much the promoters would extract by way of dividends. This has allowed the fourth and fifth generation of the Burman family to take wing as entrepreneurs in their own right while unlocking tremendous value for shareholders.

Likewise, Asian Paints avoided a near-inevitable split when one of the four founders exited, after the three remaining founder families reached an agreement on ownership and management. Today, Asian Paints is one of the worlds leading paint companies.

Cipla could do something similar. By moving to a family-owned but professionally run setup, it could ensure that the companys core legacy of affordable healthcare for the poor is preserved, even as family members leverage their holdings to pursue their individual business interests. Selling Cipla to a private equity firm may unlock immense immediate value for shareholders, but could impoverish the country in the long run.
The most noted aspect of Hamass attack on Israel is that its fighters on the ground explicitly targeted Israeli civilians for killing. Israelis were shot while driving along the street. They were pulled from their homes and killed. Hamas carried out the mass murder of some 260 people at the Tribe of Nova music festival.

The reaction of any normal person to these scenes, especially because the images are put on screens by the hour, is horror. President Biden called the Hamas attack sheer evil." True. But that suggests an event falling outside our daily experience, a rarity. No longer.

The moment has arrived to recognize that for the adversaries of the free world, killing innocent civilians is the new normal.

Vladimir Putin, a purported friend of Israel, has said little, other than blaming a failure of U.S. policy in the Middle East. No surprise there. What Hamas did to the Israelis is what Mr. Putin has been doing to civilians in Ukraine for almost two years.

Since the February 2022 invasion, it is estimated that about 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed. Russia has killed hundreds with missiles fired into residential areas of Ukrainian cities and towns. It has targeted schools, hospitals and food markets.

Just last week, a Russian rocket killed more than 50 people attending a funeral in the village of Hroza. The Russian siege of Mariupol last year killed thousands of civilians. Russia has shelled columns of refugees. One of the most infamous atrocities was the massacre of men, women and children by Russian soldiers in Bucha, north of Kyiv.

I want to emphasize: These civilian deathsby Hamas in Israel and Russia in Ukraineare not collateral damage from urban warfare. They are part of the war plan, thought out by calm men sitting around a table, in Moscow or Beirut, looking at maps and civilian targets.

In 2015 and into 2016, Mr. Putinand Hezbollahhelped Syrian President Bashar al-Assad implement the siege of Aleppo in northern Syria, which also targeted schools and hospitals. Some 75% of the fatalities were civilians. Thousands were children.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likened Hamass murders to the atrocities of ISIS." The Islamic State perfected the targeting of innocent civilians during the Iraq war, such as the 2016 bombing that killed 200 people on a Baghdad shopping street.

Afghanistans Taliban became synonymous with the killing of innocent civilians, culminating in the August 2021 bombing at Kabuls airport that killed dozens of civilians and 13 U.S. service members.

What few gains Mr. Putin made in eastern Ukraine were facilitated by Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner Group paramilitaries, including, as The Wall Street Journal reported, the atrocities against civilians in Bucha. The Wagner Group has been linked to hundreds of civilian killings in Mali and the Central African Republic.

Hamas and Hezbollah, whatever their ideological underpinnings, are now essentially Irans own Wagner Group. Killing Israelis is what they do, for money.

It is affecting to note there areor wereinternational rules, most prominently the Geneva Conventions, against the acts described in this grim catalog (to which add China and the Uyghurs). Such acts are called war crimes or crimes against humanity.

That is increasingly unenforced parchment paper. Crimes against humanity are becoming normalized.

Again, consider Ukraine. After two years, a numbness about Mr. Putins civilian atrocities has set in. So much so that some House Republicans, including speaker candidate Jim Jordan, and at least one GOP presidential candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, are open to defunding Ukraine. Gov. Ron DeSantis is ambivalent.

The standard argument against more funding for Ukraine is that there is no plan." Israel has a plan: Defeat Hamas. How about this plan for Ukraine: Defeat Russia.

Some, aware of the Ukraine example, are asking how long this weeks outpouring of support for Israel will last. Good question. The Hamas-Iranian strategy may be to drive the Israel Defense Forces to enter Gazas dense neighborhoods, ensuring the death of Israeli soldiers from roadside bombs, killing local civilians as well, and, as planned, eroding the worlds morale.

Another question for the were-done-with-the-world wing of the Republican Party is how many Americans would they leave on the other side. Hostage-taking, along with civilian killings, is now established in our adversaries playbook.

Hamas is holding more than 100 people hostage, including an uncounted number of Americans. Hamass paymaster and planner, Iran, just exchanged five American hostages for $6 billion. Mr. Putin, who has abducted hundreds of Ukrainian children into re-education camps inside Russia, is holding Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.

Our adversariesRussia, Iran, China and North Koreawill continue the mass killing of civilians and hostage-taking as a strategic policy until the U.S. decisively counters this awful new normal.

That means funding a credible U.S. military deterrent and ensuring that the Israelis and Ukrainians have the means to defeat uncivilized enemies. The likely alternative is another lapse into pre-9/11 complacency. The cost of that, this week has proved again, is too high.

Write henninger@wsj.com.
President Biden on Tuesday showed appropriate outrage at the wanton slaughter by Hamas this weekend, and his pledge of support for Israel is welcome. But there was a crucial word missing from his remarks at the White House: Iran. Tehran is Hamass terror master, and its assault on Israel exposes the failure of his Iran strategy.

The Journal has reported that Iran gave the approval for Hamass bloody assault at an Oct. 2 meeting in Beirut. Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has denied it, and the U.S. is saying it has no specific evidence" of Irans assent. But Iran has long been the chief benefactor of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Shiite militias in Iraq and Yemen. All have praised the Hamas assault, as has Mr. Khamenei.

This is what Iran sends Hamas guns and money to do. Hamas killed at least 22 Americans in the attack at last count, and others are now captives. Mr. Biden has a duty to get them home and avenge those deaths.

Its implausible that Hamas would have struck without Irans approval, knowing Israels response would be devastating. One question is whether the massacres were part of a deliberate strategy to court such a response. An Israeli ground assault could be the excuse for Hezbollah to open a second front in Israels north.

Hezbollah receives an estimated $700 million a year from Iran, and its missile stockpile runs to 100,000 or more with greater accuracy than rockets fired from Gaza. They could target most of Israel. A Hezbollah attack would also require Irans approval.

Mr. Biden on Tuesday warned unnamed countries not to take advantage of the war in Gaza, and his deployment of a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean is a useful show of support for Israel. But the question is whether Iran will believe this attempt at deterrence after Mr. Bidens behavior over the past three years.

***

Its worth recalling how hard Mr. Biden has tried to accommodate the mullahs in Tehran. Upon taking office, his Administration ended Donald Trumps maximum pressure" campaign. It relaxed enforcement of sanctions on Irans oil sales, which has been worth tens of billions. It also dispatched Iranian sympathizer, Robert Malley, to renegotiate the 2015 nuclear deal. (Mr. Malley has since been sidelined for unexplained reasons that may be related to security concerns.)

Iran has refused these entreaties. The latest understanding," before the Hamas invasion, was that Iran would slow or stall its uranium enrichment for a bomb while the U.S. would let Iran have billions of dollars held by Iraq and South Korea. This included the $6 billion that was part of the trade for five Americans held as hostages by Iran.

Mr. Biden has also failed to respond aggressively when Irans proxies have attacked Americans. Under questioning from Sen. Tom Cotton, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Iran or its proxies have launched 83 attacks on Americans since Mr. Biden took office, but the U.S. has responded militarily only four times.

One goal of all this seems to have been to avoid any confrontation with Iran through the 2024 election. But Iran has clearly interpreted it as a sign of U.S. weakness. The Hamas assault should finally convince Mr. Biden that Iran has no intention of abiding by his timetable. It will order its proxies to strike when it serves its purposes and sees a vulnerability.

Irans current purpose may be to blow up the emerging rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabiaat a moment when the U.S. is also assisting Ukraine against Russia. Iran is run by a revolutionary regime that wants to destroy Israel and dominate the region. It wants a Shiite crescent" of power from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean.

***

The question now is whether Mr. Biden will adapt to this reality and drop his appeasement strategy. He can start by blocking the transfer of the $6 billion and return to maximum pressure. He may also soon face a decision on whether to assist Israel militarily if Hezbollah opens a second front in the north.

Israel can defeat both adversaries, but at great cost. If Israels new unity government, which was announced Wednesday, requests U.S. help from the air or otherwise, Mr. Biden would be wise to grant it. Iran and the world will detect further American weakness if he wont help a steadfast ally. Sen. Lindsey Graham has proposed that the U.S. bomb Iranian oil facilities, and Iran has to know that its military sites, nuclear program and oil fields arent off-limits if it escalates its war against Israel.

The history of another Democratic President is instructive. For three years, Jimmy Carter sought detente with the Soviet Union. But the Soviets sensed weakness and promoted revolution around the world. When they invaded Afghanistan, Mr. Carter recognized reality and began a defense buildup that laid the groundwork for the Reagan rearmament.

President Biden now faces a similar reckoning with Iran. For three years he has tried to appease Tehran into taming its revolutionary ambitions. That hope has exploded with the Iran-backed slaughter of more than 1,000 Israelis and Americans. Can Mr. Biden make a Carter-like pivot back to reality? His legacy may depend on it.
WASHINGTONTehran likely knew Hamas was planning operations against Israel but didnt know the precise timing or scope of the surprise attack the group mounted last week, according to a preliminary unclassified assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies.

The judgment by the American intelligence community represents an initial effort to determine what role Iran might have played in an attack that has sent shock waves through the region.

The assessment also notes that U.S. intelligence agencies havent reached a definitive conclusion and will be looking in coming weeks at whether some in the regime might have had knowledge of what was being planned or helped direct the attacks.

We have not currently seen anything to suggest Iran supported or was behind the attack," said a U.S. official who shared the assessment. Our experience tells us though that it is premature to draw any final conclusion on the issue."

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack and gave the green light for it at a meeting on Oct. 2, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iranian-backed militant group.

The unclassified intelligence assessment doesnt address the October meeting.

U.S. officials have long said Iran provides Hamas with weapons and financing, and Jake Sullivan, President Bidens national security adviser, said Tuesday that Tehran was complicit" in the attacks.

They have provided the lions share of the funding for the military wing of Hamas," he said. They provide training, they have provided capabilities, they have provided support, and they have had engagement in contact with Hamas over the years and years."

A key question for western intelligence agencies is whether Iran played a more direct role, including by helping to plan or coordinate the attacks.

In addition to the unclassified assessment the U.S. has also shared classified information in closed meetings to lawmakers. That includes intelligence indicating some Iranian leaders were surprised when Hamass unprecedented assault took place, according to five officials familiar with the classified reports. The officials didnt detail the kind of intelligence or identify which leaders were surprised.

Irans role in the bloody Hamas attack, which has killed more than 1,200 Israelis and at least 22 U.S. citizens, is important because Israel has threatened to retaliate against Tehran if it was found to have direct involvement, and because such involvement would pressure President Biden to take an even tougher stance against Iran.

U.S. officials said that Tehran hasnt reached out to Washington through third parties or diplomatic channels to say that it played no role in Saturdays onslaught.

Officials familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments said the Central Intelligence Agency and other agencies issued a series of classified reports this year warning of the prospects of heightened violence between Israel and Palestinians. Those reports, which officials said were likely included in Bidens daily briefings, didnt pinpoint the time or scale of the unprecedented assault.

The U.S. remains concerned about what actions Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia group that has been long supported by Iran, and Tehran might take now, especially if Israeli forces begin a ground incursion in Gaza.

The Biden administration has warned Hezbollah and Iran not to escalate the conflict. A U.S. carrier strike force has been positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean in a step American officials have said is aimed at deterring the militant group from opening up a northern front in Israel.

Vivian Salama contributed to this article.

Write to Warren P. Strobel at Warren.Strobel@wsj.com and Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com
Heightened animosity between the two U.S. political parties and tumult in Congress are threatening to hamper efforts to respond to the attack on Israel, Americas closest Mideast ally, and to address security crises arising from emboldened adversaries.

With the U.S. House essentially frozen after the ouster of its speaker, and the two parties fighting over issues including a defense budget for the current year, President Biden is suddenly confronting both political chaos at home and volatile challenges abroad at the same time. The abduction of Americans by the militant group Hamas, as Israel prepares for a ground invasion in Gaza, show how high stakes those challenges will be.

Biden on Tuesday said the U.S. was sending military assistance to Israel, such as interceptors to replenish Iron Dome, the missile defense tasked with protecting against barrages of Hamas rockets in recent days. But Biden also said Congress would need to do more, and he urged lawmakers to unite.

Were going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the national-security requirements of our critical partners, Biden said. This is not about party or politics. This is about the security of our world, security of the United States of America.

Danielle Pletka, a former staff member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said Americas adversaries have been emboldened by events such as the turmoil in the House, the lack of consensus over additional security money for Ukraine and Bidens unwillingness, in her view, to rally Americans behind Ukraines defense against Russia.

They underscore an impression in places like Tehran, Moscow and Beijing that the United States is not the power it was, a view also fortified by Americas policy decisions to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan, she said.

I think there is a general sense among our adversaries that American politics is irretrievably broken, and that the American people are determinedly inward-looking, said Pletka, who is now with the American Enterprise Institute. And to many of them, this is a license to act without fear of American intervention.

The sand in the gears of Congress lately has affected its work on many fronts:

For the first time in history, the House voted to oust its speaker, bringing business to a standstill while the majority party, the Republicans, spends valuable time this week on an internal fight over a replacement.In a departure from tradition, a single senator, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R., Ala.) is holding up promotions for hundreds of senior military officers to protest the Pentagons abortion policies, leading defense officials to warn about operational and staff-retention problems. A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service says it would take the Senate more than 689 hours of floor time to approve the promotions individually, rather than as a group, the usual process that Tuberville has blocked.

Partisan fighting has meant that the government is funded only through mid-November, and so Congress will have to spend time in the coming weeks on a debate over full-year funding that is sure to be contentious. Also on Congresss to-do list this year: Passing the typically bipartisan defense-policy bill, which sets military spending priorities and would include a 5.2% pay raise for troops.

Foreign-policy specialists say the Biden administration can accomplish its goals in the short term. Among other steps, the U.S. military is moving a carrier strike group and several Air Force jet fighter squadrons closer to Israel to deter Iran from taking advantage of the uncertainty in the region. But the administration will soon need Congress to return to regular functioning to consider its requests, such as additional Iron Dome funding, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.

The norms of behavior have been degraded in Washington, said William Wechsler, a deputy assistant secretary of defense in the Obama administration for special operations and combating terrorism, who says both parties are at fault. We are now in a situation that makes governing challenging in the best of circumstances.Then, its doubly a problem when were dealing with questions of war."

Michael OHanlon, a Brookings Institution senior fellow who serves on a Defense Department advisory board, said that partisan fighting could be most damaging to U.S. efforts to help Israel end the conflict with Hamas, after the militant groups strength is presumably destroyed or degraded.

Anything resembling a Biden win in foreign policy could be anathema to many MAGA Republicans, especially as we get into an election year, he said, referring to Donald Trumps most ardent supporters. He also worried about foreign-aid fatigue diminishing the amount of financial assistance the U.S. will give to Israel and other nations, as well as hampering Bidens efforts to win more funding for Ukraine.

So, to me, in short, its on Ukraine and the debate over a political endgame for Gaza where I worry we could pay a price for our dysfunction, he said.

The tension in Congress comes as Americans are losing faith in the governments ability to address critical problems. Just 4% of Americans believe the government is working extremely or very well, a Pew Research Center survey found last month, while about 85% of people in each political party agreed that Republicans and Democrats are more focused on fighting each other than on solving problems.

For the past year and a half, the U.S. hasnt had an ambassador to Egypt, which has played a central role in brokering cease-fires to past clashes between Israel and the militant group Hamas. President Biden made a nomination to the post in March.

On Monday, the White House signaled that it is pressing the Senate, where Democrats hold a majority, to move quickly to confirm Jack Lew, Bidens nominee to be ambassador to Israel. While the delay in confirmation hearings hasnt been excessive, given that Biden nominated him only last month, nominations to other Mideast capitals have been pending longer. Biden nominated an ambassador to Kuwait in August, 2022. The post remains unfilled.

Sen. Ted Cruz has placed a hold on Bidens nominee to be ambassador to Lebanon, where former President Trumps selection remains in place, as well as on the State Department official who leads efforts to defeat terrorism abroad. That person has been awaiting confirmation for nearly two years, according to Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.). Cruz has said that the role is important but that Bidens nominee was insufficiently committed to fighting terrorist groups in a prior role.

Defense officials have complained for months about the blockade that Tuberville placed on hundreds of senior military promotions, saying it has had an impact on officers ability to do their jobs. Tuberville has said he wont budge until the Pentagon agrees to end its policy allowing troops leave and travel funds for reproductive healthcare, including abortion. He has said he doesnt believe his move has affected military readiness.

While senators sometimes put holds on Pentagon political appointees who have policy-making responsibilities, the Tuberville move broke with Senate tradition as it applies to career military officers who arent responsible for making policy.

Tubervilles holds and the speaker turmoil in the House risk spilling over to affect the U.S. militarys ability to counter China and arms transfers to Taiwan and, ultimately, erode confidence among allies in Washington, say analysts. Zack Cooper, a former Pentagon official now with the American Enterprise Institute think tank, said that lately he has been fielding questions from officials and experts in Asia asking whether it means Republicans are turning inward" and the U.S. less dependable.

The dysfunction in the House, however, is a much more long-term issue, amplifying worries in Asia that the United States may not be able to deliver on its past promises," he said.

Nancy Youssef and Charles Hutzler contributed to this article.

Write to Aaron Zitner at aaron.zitner@wsj.com

View Full Image U.S. efforts to help Israel end the conflict with Hamas could be damaged by U.S. partisan political fighting.

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One day, you wake up, and the power is out. You try to get information on your phone, and you have no internet access. Gradually you discover millions of people across the U.S. are in the same situationone that will bring months or years of rebuilding.

A gigantic solar storm has hit Earth.

The odds are low that in any given year a storm big enough to cause effects this widespread will happen. And the severity of those impacts will depend on many factors, including the state of our planets magnetic field on that day. But its a near certainty that some form of this catastrophe will happen someday, says Ian Cohen, a chief scientist who studies heliophysics at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

To get ahead of this threat, a loose federation of U.S. and international government agencies, and hundreds of scientists affiliated with those bodies, have begun working on how to make predictions about what our Sun might do. And a small but growing cadre of scientists argue that artificial intelligence will be an essential component of efforts to give us advance notice of such a storm.

The most dangerous of these solar storms is known as a coronal mass ejection, when a gargantuan blob of charged particles is catapulted from the Suns atmosphere by rapidly shifting magnetic fields, at speeds in excess of 8,000 times that of sound. These happen often, but were rarely aware of them because they only affect us when they happen to strike earth.

What makes these huge blasts of particles so dangerous to our power grid and electronics is that, when they collide with Earth, the interaction of the suns magnetic field with our own can induce large currents in power lines on Earth. If youve ever moved a magnet back and forth across a copper wire to illuminate a lightbulb in science class, this is the same effectbut on a global scale. A solar storm can induce currents in power lines that are strong enough to trip safety mechanismsor even seriously damage parts of our power-distribution infrastructure.

And while the undersea fiber-optic cables for internet data dont carry electricity, they do have electrical signal-repeaters within them. These repeaters boost the optical signal as it travels the length of the cable. If theyre disabled, the cable ceases to function.

Solar storms can also pose a threat for satellites in higher orbits around earthsuch as the ones that make up our GPS systemby bringing a spike in so-called killer electrons that can damage and, in extreme cases, disable the satellites. Closer to Earth, solar storms can heat the atmosphere, causing it to expand in a way that increases drag, which can cause some satellites in lower orbits to crash to the surface. This happened in February 2022, leading to the destruction of 40 Starlink satellites.

Solar storms have already struck again and again. In 1859, a now-legendary storm known as the Carrington Event hit, well before we built a civilization dependent on electronic devices that it could wreck. It caused auroras as far south as the Caribbean, made telegraph lines spark, caused fires at some telegraph stations, and shut down parts of the telegraphy network in the northern hemisphere.

Estimates vary on how often large solar storms hit Earth. Research by Delores Knipp, a professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, suggests solar storms that could cause auroras visible at the same latitudes as the Carrington Event hit about once every 60 years. Cohen, on the other hand, estimates that a major storm hits Earth every 150 years or so. These differing estimates partly reflect that we dont have a formal or even a very good definition of a Carrington-class" solar storm.

However, it doesnt take a storm of maximum intensity to do serious damage to infrastructure. In 1972, a solar storm caused as many as 4,000 magnetically sensitive mines in the waters off Vietnam to detonate, while briefly fooling a U.S. Department of Defense satellite into thinking that the Russians had just set off a nuclear bomb. In 1989, a storm knocked out power in Quebec for nine hours.

We are entering a period of peak activity for our sunthe apex of its 11-year cycle will occur in mid 2024that has already proved to be more violent than the solar cycles of the past three decades. Just as earth has hurricane seasons, its fair to say that we are entering a solar-storm season, Cohen says. When it comes to the next big one, I dont think were going to get knocked back into the Stone Age, but there are significant events that could occur," he says. We have to be ready," he adds.

At present, no warning system is capable of giving us more than a few hours notice of a devastating solar storm. If its moving fast enough, it could be as little as 15 minutes. The most useful sentinel  a sun-orbiting satellite launched by the U.S. in 2015  is much closer to Earth than the sun, so that by the time a fast-moving storm crosses its path, an hour or less is all the warning we get.

The European Space Agency has proposed a system to help give earlier warning by putting a satellite dubbed Vigil into orbit around the Sun, positioned roughly the same distance from the Earth as the Earth is from the Sun. It could potentially give us up to five hours of warning about an incoming solar stormenough time to do the main thing that can help preserve electronics: Switch them all off.

But what if there were a way to predict this better, by analyzing the data weve got? Thats the idea behind a new, AI-powered model recently unveiled by scientists at the Frontier Development Lab  a public-private partnership that includes NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Energy. The model uses deep learning, a type of AI, to examine the flow of the solar wind, the usually calm stream of particles that flow outward from our sun and through the solar system to well beyond the orbit of Pluto.

Using observations of that solar wind, the model can predict the geomagnetic disturbance" an incoming solar storm observed by sun-orbiting satellites would cause at any given point on Earth, the researchers involved say. This model can predict just how big the flux of the Earths magnetic field will be when the solar storm arrives, and thus how big the induced currents in power lines and undersea internet cables will be.

Research into how AI can be used to better predict the impacts of solar storms is still at an early stage, in part because the entire field of space weather is new, says Enrico Camporeale, a scientist at the University of Colorado who is affiliated with the Space Weather Prediction Center, the government body responsible for predicting weather in space.

Building AI-based systems to predict space weather requires lots of good data, gathered continuously, at high spatial and temporal resolution. Accomplishing that with our current sun-observing tools is a challenge, because most of the satellites and ground-based sensors we have that observe the sun are science experiments, not intended to be operationalized" as part of an early-warning system, says Tom Schad, an astronomer with the National Solar Observatory.

Continuous observation of the Sun, of the sort that could gather the volumes of data needed to build all kinds of predictive models, is coming. The Inouye Solar Telescope, where Dr. Schad works, was built atop Haleakala, the active shield volcano that forms most of the island of Maui. It began operations in 2021, and is now the worlds most powerful telescope for continuously observing the sun. That same year, NASAs Parker Solar Probe penetrated the Suns corona  the million-degree hellscape where solar storms are born.

The Parker Probe, as revealed in a just-published study, a year ago flew through a coronal mass ejection. Results from that encounter showed it to be just as violent as the 1859 Carrington Event  though fortunately it was on the other side of the Sun from the Earth.

Further key data will be gathered by other systems in space, including the ESAs Vigil craft and NASAs follow-up to its aging solar-observation satellite, and on Earth, in the form of projects like the Coronal Solar Magnetism Observatory, planned for Boulder, Colo.

Already, the first primitive ancestor of future AI-based solar-weather alert systems is live. The DstLive system, which debuted on the web in December 2022, uses machine learning to take data about the state of Earths magnetic field and the solar wind and translate both into a single measure for the entire planet, known as DST. Think of it as the Richter scale, but for solar storms. This number is intended to give us an idea of how intense a storms impact will be on earth, an hour to six hours in advance.

Unfortunately, we may not know how useful such systems are until we live through a major solar storm. But many of the scientists working on better understanding such storms are collectively trying to convince the world that preparation is in our best interest, and early prediction is an essential part of that.

To that end, in early 2024 the Applied Physics Lab that employs Dr. Cohen will be hosting a tabletop exercise" that will simulate a major solar storm hitting earth. It will bring together government agencies and outside parties, allowing them to see how well they can handle such a catastrophe. Its the same kind of exercise that generals conduct when playing war games to determine who would win, say, a battle over Taiwan.

In some ways, the stakes may be even higher.

Write to Christopher Mims at christopher.mims@wsj.com
NEW GENERATIVE-AI tools like OpenAIs ChatGPT, the fastest-growing consumer internet application of all time, have taken the world by storm. They have uses in everything from education to medicine and are astonishingly fun to play with. Although current AI systems are capable of spectacular feats they also carry risks. Europol has warned that they might greatly increase cybercrime. Many AI experts are deeply worried about their potential to create a tsunami of misinformation, posing an imminent threat to the American presidential election in 2024, and ultimately to democracy itself, by creating an atmosphere of total distrust. Scientists have warned that these new tools could be used to design novel, deadly toxins. Others speculate that in the long term there could be a genuine risk to humanity itself .

One of the key issues with current AI systems is that they are primarily black boxes, often unreliable and hard to interpret, and at risk of getting out of control. For example, the core technology underlying systems like ChatGPT, large language models (LLMs), is known to hallucinate", making up false statements. ChatGPT, for example, falsely accused a law professor of being involved in sexual harassment, apparently confused by statistical but irrelevant connections between bits of text that didnt actually belong together. After an op-ed tried to clarify what had gone wrong, Bing Chat made a similar error, and attributed it to information in USA Today that the chatbot got completely backwards.

These systems can also be used for deliberate abuse, from disrupting elections (for example by manipulating what candidates appear to say or write) to spreading medical misinformation. In a recent analysis of GPT-4, OpenAIs most advanced LLM, the company acknowledged 12 serious concernswithout providing firm solutions to any of them.

In the past year alone 37 regulations mentioning AI were passed around the globe; Italy went so far as to ban ChatGPT. But there is little global co-ordination. Even within some countries there is a hodge-podge, such as different state laws in America, or Britains proposal to eschew a central regulator, leaving oversight split among several agencies. An uneven, loophole-ridden patchwork is to no ones benefit and safety. Nor should companies want to build a different AI model for each jurisdiction and face their own de novo struggle to navigate legal, cultural and social contexts.

Still, there is plenty of agreement about basic responsible AI principles, such as safety and reliability, transparency, explainability, interpretability, privacy, accountability and fairness. And almost everyone agrees that something must be donea just-published poll by the Centre for the Governance of AI found that 91% of a representative sample of 13,000 people across 11 countries agreed that AI needs to be carefully managed.

It is in this context that we call for the immediate development of a global, neutral, non-profit International Agency for AI (IAAI), with guidance and buy-in from governments, large technology companies, non-profits, academia and society at large, aimed at collaboratively finding governance and technical solutions to promote safe, secure and peaceful AI technologies.

The time for such an agency has come, as Google CEO Sundar Pichai himself said on April 16th. What might that look like? Each domain and each industry will be different, with its own set of guidelines, but many will involve both global governance and technological innovation. For example, people have long agreed that making employment decisions based on gender should be avoided, and have even come up with some measures in earlier, more interpretable AI, such as the interpretability requirements of the AI Bill of Rights proposed by the Biden administration. But in black-box systems like ChatGPT there is a wide variety of use cases with no current remedy. People might, for example, feed in a job candidates entire file and ask ChatGPT for a judgment, but we currently have no way to ensure that ChatGPT would avoid bias in its output. The kind of entity we envision would collaboratively address what to do about such off-label" uses of chatbots and other policy questions, and at the same time develop technical tools for effective auditing.

The IAAI could likewise convene experts and develop tools to tackle the spread of misinformation. On the policy side, it could ask, for instance, how wide-scale spreading of misinformation might be penalised. On the technical side, the initial focus should be on developing automated or semi-automated tools for answering fundamental questions, such as How much misinformation is out there?", How rapidly is its volume growing?" and How much is AI contributing to such problems?" Existing technologies are better at generating misinformation than detecting it. Considerable technical innovation will be required, and of great public benefit, but may or may not be of sufficiently direct commercial interest  hence the need for independent support by an entity like the IAAI.

To take a third, very recent example, systems with names like AutoGPT and BabyAGI have been devised that allow amateurs to build complex and difficult-to-debug (or even fathom) assemblies of unreliable AI systems controlling other unreliable AI systems to achieve arbitrary goalsa practice that may or may not prove to be safe. As Marek Rosa, CEO of GOOD.Ai, put it, we need new technical ideas on how to increase security (proactive defence) in a world where there are billions of AI agentsrunning in apps and servers, and we dont know what they are talking about", perhaps necessitating a kind of antivirus [software] against AI agents". A global alliance with top experts and researchers on call would be able to give swift and thoughtful guidance on such new developments.

Designing the kind of global collaboration we envision is an enormous job. Many stakeholders need to be involved. Both short-term and long-term risks must be considered. No solution is going to succeed unless both governments and companies are on board, and its not just them: the worlds publics need a seat at the table.

Fortunately, there is precedent for such global co-operation. At the end of the second world war, for example, nuclear weapons sparked deep fears and uncertainties about how the new technology would be used. As a response, 81 countries unanimously approved the International Atomic Energy Agencys statute to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies", with inspection rights. A different, softer kind of model, with less focus on enforcement, is the International Civil Aviation Organisation, in which member countries make their own laws but take counsel from a global agency. Getting to the right model, and making the right choices, will take time, wisdom and collaboration.

The challenges and risks of AI are, of course, very different and, to a disconcerting degree, still unknown. We know in hindsight that the internet might have been designed in better ways with more forethought. Earlier decisions about how to handle privacy and anonymity, for instance, might have ensured that there was less of a culture of trolling. We also know that early choices get locked in. Our decisions now are likely to have lasting consequences and must be made thoughtfully.

Given how fast things are moving, there is not a lot of time to waste. A global, neutral non-profit with support from governments, big business and society is an important start.

Gary Marcus is Emeritus Professor at NYU and was founder and CEO of Geometric Intelligence, a machine-learning company acquired by Uber. Anka Reuel is a PhD student in computer science at Stanford University and founding member of KIRA, a think-tank focusing on the promotion of responsible AI.
The U.S. has informed three major Asian chip makers that they can maintain their current operations in China for the foreseeable future, though significant tech upgrades would prove difficult.

The Biden administration levied major restrictions on Chinas semiconductor industry a year ago, aiming to curtail Beijings military advances in advanced technologies. The effort particularly spooked South Koreas Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which dominate in memory chips, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the worlds largest contract chip maker.

The three firms are among the few foreign chip makers with sizable China-based production sites. Placing significant hurdles to their business there, the companies worried, would hurt their bottom lines and disrupt the tech supply chain.

The Biden administration in October 2022 granted one-year waivers to the three companies. But concerns persisted, with SK Hynix even floating the possibility of moving out of China in the long term if it became too difficult to continue operations there.

On Monday, South Koreas government said Samsung and SK Hynix were designated as validated end users," which will allow them to import American chipmaking equipment for their existing China-based facilities without having to seek separate U.S. approval. The designation doesnt carry an end date, South Koreas presidential office said in the announcement.

The two countries have agreed to a list of preapproved chipmaking equipment that would allow Samsung and SK Hynix to maintain their China-based facilities and carry out minor upgrades to current production technology, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

TSMC is expected to be granted another one-year waiver such as the one it received last year, according to people familiar with the U.S. governments moves. Washington has told the company that it can maintain its operations in China for the foreseeable future so long as it doesnt make significant technological upgrades.

It isnt known if TSMC will be designated as a validated end user, or if Samsung and SK Hynix will be issued a separate one-year waiver. Taiwan, unlike South Korea, hasnt publicly commented on the matter.

The U.S. Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security, which implements export restrictions and the validated end-user program, declined to comment. The Biden administrations move had been widely anticipated by the chip industry.

SK Hynix said the U.S. decision would contribute to the stabilization of the global semiconductor supply chain. Samsung said uncertainties about its China-based chip business had been significantly removed. A TSMC spokeswoman declined to comment.

South Korea and SK Hynix have collectively invested about 55 trillion won, equivalent to around $40.7 billion, into their China-based chipmaking facilities since 2010, securities firm CLSA projects.

For the South Korean firms, questions still loom over the longer-term prospects for their China-based production. Further advances in the production of one type of memory would require new machinery barred from China. Samsung and SK Hynix must also stay mindful of capacity expansions that could violate the terms of U.S. subsidies that seek to limit investment in China, said Yeon Won-ho, of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, a state-run think tank.

The latest measures lift short-term uncertainties for South Korean chip makers, as they will be able to continue with their current operations in China," said Yeon, who researches economic security. But not all restrictions affecting Korean businesses [in China] have been resolved."

For now, Samsung and SK Hynix wouldnt see a strong need to expand their China production, given the prolonged slump in the memory market that has strained finances, said Avril Wu, a Hong Kong-based analyst at TrendForce, a chip-market analytics firm.

On Wednesday, Samsung forecast a third-quarter drop in operating profit of roughly 80% from the prior year. Analysts polled by FactSet expect SK Hynix to swing to a roughly $1.2 billion loss for the quarter versus the prior year.

China is heavily reliant on Samsung and SK Hynix for the two major forms of memory called NAND flash and DRAM. Chinese rivals arent yet capable of producing at scale the types of advanced memory chips it needs for tech products. Chinas dependency only grew stronger after Beijing in May banned certain local firms in key information-infrastructure industries from buying memory chips from U.S.-based Micron Technology.

Samsung produces roughly 40% of its NAND flash memory in China, while SK Hynix produces around 45% of its DRAM and 30% of its NAND flash in the country, according to TrendForce. In the second quarter, Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron together accounted for around 96% of the DRAM market and roughly 62% of the NAND flash market, TrendForce said.

Other U.S.-led measures targeting Chinas semiconductor industry will continue to limit the future direction of the South Korean plants in China. Washington has attached so-called China guardrails to the U.S. Chips Act subsidy program that restricts those receiving the funding from expanding their semiconductor investments in China beyond a set limit.

The Netherlands and Japan, at the U.S.s urging, has placed bans on exports to China of equipment essential for making advanced chips, including some that SK Hynix uses to produce DRAM in China.

Based on the types of equipment likely approved, the two South Korean chip makers would be able to upgrade their China operations by one or two generations, according to Sanjeev Rana, a Seoul-based senior analyst at CLSA. But, he said, that would still be far from the industrys most-advanced technology.

TSMC currently operates facilities for less-advanced chips in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing. In April, the company said it was expanding capacity there for making older 28-nanometer chips.

Yuka Hayashi contributed to this article.

Write to Jiyoung Sohn at jiyoung.sohn@wsj.com and Yang Jie at jie.yang@wsj.com

View Full Image China is heavily reliant on SK Hynix for a major type of memory chip called NAND flash.

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Goldman Sachs has filed a lawsuit against Malaysia in a UK court over the terms of a settlement agreement related to the 1MDB investment fund scandal. The bank claims that Malaysia has violated its obligations under the agreement by failing to appropriately credit assets against a guarantee that Goldman Sachs provided.

The 1MDB scandal was a multibillion-dollar corruption scheme that involved high-level Malaysian officials, Goldman Sachs employees, and others. In 2020, Goldman Sachs agreed to pay $3.9 billion to settle Malaysias criminal probe into the banks role in the scandal. As part of the settlement, Goldman Sachs provided a guarantee to return $1.4 billion in assets that were allegedly stolen from 1MDB.

In its lawsuit, Goldman Sachs claims that Malaysia has failed to appropriately credit assets against the guarantee. The bank alleges that Malaysia has included assets in the credit that are not eligible under the terms of the settlement agreement. Goldman Sachs is seeking to have the court order Malaysia to comply with its obligations under the agreement.

The lawsuit is a significant escalation in the dispute between Goldman Sachs and Malaysia over the 1MDB settlement. It is unclear how the lawsuit will impact the relationship between the two parties or the ongoing recovery of stolen assets.

Analysis

The lawsuit by Goldman Sachs against Malaysia is a major development in the 1MDB scandal. It raises questions about the banks compliance with the settlement agreement and the Malaysian governments commitment to recovering stolen assets.

Goldman Sachs has been accused of helping to facilitate the theft of billions of dollars from 1MDB. The bank has denied wrongdoing, but it has admitted to failing to adequately supervise its employees.

The Malaysian government has been under pressure to recover as much as possible of the stolen money. The country is facing a financial crisis, and the proceeds from the 1MDB settlement could help to alleviate some of the pressure.

The lawsuit could delay the recovery of stolen assets and damage the relationship between Malaysia and Goldman Sachs. It is also possible that the lawsuit could lead to further revelations about the 1MDB scandal.

Conclusion

The lawsuit by Goldman Sachs against Malaysia is a major development in the 1MDB scandal. It is important to follow this story closely to see how it unfolds and what impact it has on the recovery of stolen assets and the relationship between the two parties.
7th person charged after Korean woman found dead in trunk, with 1 suspect saying he was a victim too

A seventh person has been arrested on murder charges after a South Korean womans body was found decaying in the trunk of a car parked outside a popular spa in Atlanta's suburbs
Joel Bowman appears in Judge Karen Massey's courtroom on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, Memphis. A lawyer says a Tennessee judge has ordered a mental evaluation for Bowman who is charged with trying to enter a Jewish school with a gun and firing it at a contractor there before he was shot by police.
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A man who engaged in "very nasty and sinister" texting scam activity has avoided prison because of his age at the time of the offence.

Gift Osabuehien (21), of 25 Parc na hAbhainn, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, was charged with money laundering after, at the age of 18, he allowed his account to be used to launder a total of 6,300, which was taken from the bank account of a man who followed a link in a text.

Garda Shane O'Connor gave evidence that, on February 18, 2022, he received a report from Gardai in the community engagement hub in Cork City, which included a statement from a man who had received a text message and followed a link which resulted in his Bank of Ireland account being debited a sum of 2,900 and a subsequent sum of 3,400 in April 2021.

Enquiries carried out by Gardai in Cork identified a bank account belonging to Mr Osabuehien, prompting them to send the report to the detective unit in Longford Garda Station.

Mr Osabuehien, when questioned, made full admissions to providing his own ID and documentation to open the bank account for the sole purpose of this activity and allowing it to be used by others. The account was subsequently frozen.

"He gave an account of a background into how he was involved. He'd be deemed a money mule - a lower tier of this activity," said Garda O'Connor.

"He outlined he was the lower tier, providing his bank account to a money herder who would get the details from a money mule. He was able to give details of how he fell into that trap."

Gda O'Connor added that Mr Osabuehien "entered freely" into the arrangement, with a view of being given a fee for providing his account.

"He comes within that age group who are stuck for money and this is an easy way to make a few pound, but unfortunately they are disposable," he said.

Garda O'Connor explained that the accused had no previous convictions at the time of the offence but has had subsequent convictions for affray, violent disorder and possession of an article with intent to cause harm. He has not been on the radar of the Gardai with regard to further money laundering offences.

A victim impact statement read by Garda O'Connor expressed how the injured party felt "stupid" when he realised he had inadvertently allowed his savings to be taken from him.

"The feelings of 'how could I be so stupid' were never ending," he said, "it made me feel bad, and worse, powerless."

The injured party also stated that he had "little or no expectation that the person would be apprehended" but said he was "delighted and proud" of how the Gardai had handled the situation.

The accused was due to receive a figure of 1,000 for his involvement in the scam but the court heard that, when he travelled to Dublin to take the money out, the bank card was stolen from him by "higher players".

"There's no honour among thieves," commented Judge Kenneth Connolly.

Mr Gerard Groarke, barrister for the defence, explained that his client had studied mechanical engineering and was hoping to get back to education. He also has a supportive family and was hoping there wouldn't be a custodial sentence imposed on him in court.

"It's worrying. This seems like a fine young man but he comes before me having pleaded guilty to a very serious crime that has a maximum sentence of 14 years," said Judge Connolly.

"It is very worrying that he has subsequent convictions," he added, noting that, while he will not be taking subsequent convictions into account in terms of the sentencing for this crime, those convictions do inform the court that this "was not a once off".

"It seems this is a young man very close to the edge of a precipice. He's going to have to be very careful unless he wants to spend his life behind bars."

There was a "very nasty nature" to this offence, he added.

"I appreciate he's the very lowest cog in the machine but he is part of the machine and every part is necessary for that machine to work. He played his part.

"This was a very nasty offence. It preys on vulnerability and the inexperience of using technology. It is very sinister and nasty," said Judge Connolly.

"The victim impact statement gives an insight into the self deprecation people engage in once they fall victim to these types of crimes.

"The victim did absolutely nothing wrong but is left feeling stupid and inadequate and that is the unfortunate aspect."

Aggravating factors included the fact that this was a nasty crime, into which Mr Osabuehien entered freely for personal gain.

"If it hadn't been detected, perhaps further sums would have gone through," said Judge Connolly.

However, an early guilty plea, the young age of the accused at the time, his cooperation with Gardai and the fact he was the "lowest tier" in the scam, were among the points of mitigation. A probation report was also "extremely helpful".

Judge Connolly proceeded to set the sentence at 20 months imprisonment but substituted that sentence for a total of 240 hours of community service, to be completed within 12 months.

"If the remainder of his life is not offence free, he's going to end up in prison. I hope this young man will leave the court today feeling lucky," said Judge Johnson.

"Considering the gravity of this offence, he should be going to prison and it is his age that saved him," he concluded.
A Longford man with over 100 previous convictions has told of how he is trying to turn his life around after appearing in court following a violent incident earlier this year.

Thirty-year-old Gerry Nevin, of Mostrim Road, Ballymahon was in attendance at last weeks sitting of Longford District Court on foot of a charge of using threatening and abusive behaviour at Longford Train Station on January 10 this year.

The court heard how gardai were called to the station shortly after 6pm on the evening in question in response to calls of a man acting aggressively towards another member of the public.

Sgt Enda Daly said an Irish Rail staff member provided details to officers of a man, allegedly the defendant, entering the train station to cause a disturbance in the public waiting area.

He said the accused approached a member of the public soon afterwards before beginning to kick and punch his alleged victim.

Mr Nevin, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back for much of last weeks hearing, interjected at that juncture to tell Judge Miriam Walsh: That doesnt sound right.

Sgt Daly continued giving the States evidence by revealing how gardai had to date been unable to track down the alleged injured party in the case.

Judge Walsh, in asking if Mr Nevin had come to garda attention in the recent past, was told the Ballymahon man had 104 prior convictions to his name.

The most of those, the court heard, was recorded at Cavan District Court in February for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour, a conviction that culminated in a two month sentence being handed down.

Sgt Daly proceeded to list out a number of other previous convictions for theft and handling stolen property before seeking the courts direction, saying he would be here all afternoon if he continued.

In defence, solicitor John Quinn said his client was doing his utmost to better himself and was in the throes of a stringent methadone programme to address his drug addiction problems.



Mr Nevin himself conceded he had succumbed to a heroin predilection at the time of some of his previous misdemeanours but was currently enrolled with Bridgeways Family Resource Centre.

I am on a course now and if I pass the course I will get a job, he said.

Judge Walsh adjourned proceedings and remanded Mr Nevin on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on February 6, 2024 for the purposes of a probation report.
All roads led to Moyne Community School on Wednesday, September 27 where the school hosted another Careers Expo, and those in attendance were not disappointed.

In attendance were the leading providers of third level education and training in Ireland. Students were afforded the unique opportunity to discuss their individual career paths with experts from the various institutions.

Representatives provided invaluable insights into their respective institutions. Among those in attendance were UCD, DCU, University of Galway, University of Limerick, TUS, TUD, ATU, St.Angelas Sligo, Dundalk IT , Cavan Institute, Longford College of Further Education, Agricultural Colleges from Mountbellew and Ballyhaise, LWETB Apprenticeships, ESB, King and Moffatt, Ericssons Athlone, Kiernan Steel Longford and Clarkes Machinery Cavan.

Moyne CS were also delighted to welcome five schools from around the county to their Expo, Cnoc Mhuire Granard, Ardscoil Phadraig Granard, St Mels College Longford, Carrigallen Vocational School and Templemichael College Longford.

The enthusiasm from the students was evident from the start as they relished in the vast range of expert advice on hand. All students were provided with ample prospectuses coupled with helpful and informative advice. The truly convivial atmosphere provided an excellent backdrop where career information and advice could be accessed easily and each student could explore their individual academic aspirations.

The Careers Expo was organised by Clodagh Killian and Paddy McPhillips Guidance Counsellors at Moyne CS. Afterwards they expressed their delight at the resounding success of the day. They were especially pleased that the students were afforded generous time to discuss their career options with such a varied choice of academic institutions and training centres, making informed decisions about college and course choice is such an important step on their journey to ensuring career fulfilment.

Following the overwhelming positive feedback from students, parents and teachers the school will be planning Career Expos in the coming years. Good news indeed for future students in the region.
Blue Thunder is an immersive, site-specific play written to be staged inside a parked 17-seater taxi minibus for an audience of 12 at a time.

The bus will be parked outside Backstage Theatre on Friday and Saturday, October 13 & 14. Over 16s.

Funny and frightening by turns, Padraic Walshs award-winning play examines what happens when the people who should be there for you, have nothing left to give.

A co-production from Cathal Cleary Theatre and Kelly Phelan, it is directed by Cathal Cleary (Druids Furniture).

The cast includes Gary Lilburn (Philomena), Eoin Geoghegan (Grace Harte, The Silver Tassie NT London) and Sean Doyle (Normal People, Bad Sisters).

Its 3am in small-town Ireland. The nightclub is closed. The chipper is chaotic. And down a dark, quiet side-street, exhausted taxi-driver 60-year-old Brian is sitting in his minibus, finished work for the night.

But then his two drunk sons call demanding a lift home. They arrive at Brians taxi full of booze, songs and stories.

It soon becomes clear, though, that one of the lads has a plan to do something horrendous, something unforgivable  tonight. Can his father and his brother stop him or is he about to destroy his life?

Blue Thunder is the latest work from creative team Padraic Walsh and Cathal Cleary who met while doing their Masters in Theatre in NUI Galway in 2005. Their working relationship has seen them begin their careers in Ireland, move to the UK and make the decision to return home to Ireland to create the kind of work they really wanted to see on stage. Both are from rural Ireland and moved to London for many years where their tastes developed in parallel through seeing a huge volume and variety of international work.

Padraic Walsh is a playwright, screenwriter and fiction writer. Blue Thunder sold-out its three-week run at the VAULT Festival in 2019 and won the Innovation Award.

In her review of Blue Thunder, Lyn Gardner, Stagedoor described it as, Padraic Walshs engrossing playthe audience is eyeball to eyeball with the actors. Framed Magazine said it was Rare, true, profound. Full of pathos, amazement and excitement.

Cathal Cleary is an award-winning director who has directed for Druid Theatre, the Abbey and Dublin Theatre Festival among others.

Regrettably, the bus is not adapted for wheelchair access. Duration: 45 mins. Over 16s.

Booking for Blue Thunder at Backstage Theatre on Friday and Saturday, October 13 & 14 at 7pm and 9pm now open via Backstage online www.backstage.ie or telephone 043 33 47888.
Our kids are in crisis, and the adults in the room need to step up, Governor Hochul said. The statistics are extraordinarily disturbing: teen suicide rates are spiking, and diagnoses of anxiety and depression are surging. It's critical we all stand together to address the youth mental health crisis, and I'm proud to partner with Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic to fight for our kids' future."

Governor Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assemblymember Nily Rozic today announced new legislation to regulate unhealthy social media usage by prohibiting minors from accessing addictive feeds without parental consent. Recent research has shown devastating mental health effects associated with children and young adults excessive social media use, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Children also face unique risks when their data is collected online. The two bills, both sponsored by State Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic, will protect children by prohibiting online platforms from collecting and sharing their personal data without consent and limiting addictive features of social media platforms that are known to harm their mental health and development.

Attorney General Letitia James said, Social media platforms are fueling a national youth mental health crisis that is harming childrens wellbeing and safety. Young New Yorkers are struggling with record levels of anxiety and depression, and social media companies that use addictive features to keep minors on their platforms longer are largely to blame. This legislation will help tackle the risks of social media affecting our children and protect their privacy. I applaud Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic for sponsoring this legislation, I thank Governor Hochul for her focus on this issue, and I am proud to help advance these commonsense measures to protect the next generation of New Yorkers.

State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, As a parent of two young children, taking legislative action to protect our children on social media is personal. For years weve implemented safeguards to shield youth from major industries such as tobacco, alcohol, and personal vehicles. Social media can be just as harmful, and it's crucial that big tech companies no longer circumvent sensible regulations designed to protect their youngest users. Today is a crucial step in ensuring big tech can no longer prioritize profits over children's well-being. I am proud to partner with Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, and Assemblymember Rozic in the fight to protect the well-being of children online.

Assemblymember Nily Rozic said, "Today, we take a critical step towards safeguarding the online privacy of our children and young adults. The New York Child Data Protection Act will provide defenses in an era where digital platforms often overstep boundaries. In a world where our children live much of their lives online, it's imperative that we establish clear boundaries to protect their privacy. This legislation empowers both parents and young users, giving them the assurance that their online experiences will be free from pervasive monitoring and data exploitation. We're not only protecting privacy; we're preserving the rights of children in the digital age. Thank you to Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Governor Hochul for partnering with me in this crucial effort."

Multiple studies have shown that social media can cause a wide range of negative mental health effects for children and young adults. Addictive feeds, which are designed to harness personal data to serve users content to keep them on the platform for as long as possible, have increased the addictive nature of social media platforms and heightened the risk to young users wellbeing. Ninety-seven percent of teenagers report being online daily, and research has found that frequent social media use among adolescents can be associated with long-term developmental harms. Multiple studies have found a link between excessive social media use, poor sleep quality, and poor mental health among young people. Other research has shown that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, research has found that for young girls, the association between poor mental health and social media use is stronger than the associations between poor mental health and binge drinking, sexual assault, obesity, or hard drug use.

The SAFE for Kids Act will require social media companies to restrict the addictive features on their platforms that most harm young users. Currently, platforms supplement the content that users view from the accounts they follow by serving them content from accounts they do not follow or subscribe to. This content is curated using algorithms that gather and display content based on a variety of factors. However, algorithmic feeds have been shown to be addictive because they prioritize content that keeps users on the platform longer. Addictive feeds are correlated with an increase in the amount of time that teens and young adults spend on social media and significant negative mental health outcomes for minors.

The two pieces of legislation introduced today will add critical protections for children and young adults online by restricting the collection of minors personal data and changing how young users are served content online to reduce the harms of addictive features that keep children on social media longer.

Children also face various risks to their privacy online. While other states and countries have enacted laws to limit the personal data that online platforms can collect from minors, no such restrictions currently exist in New York. This current deficiency leaves children vulnerable to having their location and other personal data tracked, shared, and sold online.

Authorize the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to bring an action to enjoin or seek damages or civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. Allow any parent/guardian of a covered minor to sue for damages of up to $5,000 per user per incident, or actual damages, whichever is greater.

Allow parents to block access to social media platforms for minors between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. and limit the total number of hours per day that a minor spends on platforms.

Provide users under 18 with a default chronological feed from users they already follow  the same way that social media feeds functioned before the advent of addictive feeds. Users may also search for specific topics of interest. Minors may opt in to receiving addictive feeds with parental consent.

This legislation will only impact social media platforms with feeds comprised of user-generated content along with other material that the platform recommends to users based on data it collects from them.

Bill #2: The New York Child Data Protection Act

With few privacy protections in place for minors online, children are vulnerable to having their location and other personal data tracked and shared with third parties. To protect childrens privacy, the New York Child Data Protection Act will prohibit all online sites from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of anyone under the age of 18, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website. For users under 13, this informed consent must come from a parent. The bill authorizes OAG to enforce the law and may enjoin, seek damages, or civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

This legislation builds on Governor Hochuls commitment to address the youth mental health crisis, and to keep New Yorkers and their families aware of unhealthy behaviors caused by online platforms. Under her leadership, the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) conducted a state-wide Youth Mental Health Listening Tour to receive direct input from middle and high school students on how their schools can better promote student wellness; and in June 2023, she held the first-ever New York State Summit on Youth Mental Health, bringing mental health experts, youth advocates, and others together to examine the relationship between social media and youth mental health. The groups findings are here.

In August 2023, Governor Hochul announced $8.3 million in funding to expand school-based mental health clinics across New York State, part of her historic $1 billion mental health plan. This school-based clinic expansion will help ensure that youth statewide can access the mental health services they need, and further incentivize the development of school-based services.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said, Children need our protection as they spend an ever-growing percentage of their time online and engaged in social media. These are common sense precautions to help parents navigate their children's online experience."

New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person said, In order to prepare our children for success in this rapidly changing world and job market, we must create conditions that allow them to navigate emerging technologies and social media platforms safely and wisely. These bills are an important step in curbing the power these platforms can have over kids and would help to keep our schools as spaces where both students and educators can thrive.

Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Henry D. Rubio said, School leaders have seen firsthand how social media can impact the wellbeing of students of all ages. The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators applauds Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Rozic for the SAFE For Kids Act, which will prevent social media from offering addictive feeds to any children under 18 years of age, and the NY Child Data Protection Act, which will protect their privacy. The safety of our children is paramount, and this important legislation will help parents and educators prevent online harm to their social and emotional development.

Middle School Teacher and Mother of Alexis Spence, Kathleen Spence said, "Social media is the silent killer of our youth. Our children are our most precious commodity on the planet, and we need to protect them from the harm and danger of social media - our children are not for sale. My daughters life was irrevocably changed at the hands of social media companies, who pushed harmful eating disorder, self-harm, and suicide-related content to her from the time she was 11-years-old. Although Alexis is in a good place now, we are choosing as a family to stand together, even though we relive our pain and suffering each time we speak out, in the hopes that we can prevent this from happening to other children and their families. This important legislation is a critical step forward to keep social media companies accountable for the harms they cause children, which has caused a nationwide youth mental health epidemic. I applaud Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, Assemblymember Rozic, and Governor Hochul for advancing this legislation and prioritizing our childrens online safety."

New York Civil Liberties Union Senior Policy Counsel Allie Bohm said, The New York Child Data Protection Act will provide much needed online privacy protections for young people, allowing kids to spend time learning and playing online without putting their personal data at risk. We all want young people to be safe when they use the internet. We commend Assembly Member Rozic, Senator Gounardes, and the Attorney General and Governors Offices for prioritizing this issue and look forward to continuing our work with them and other stakeholders to protect children  and eventually all New Yorkers  against abuse and misuse of personal information online.

New York State Parent Teacher Association Executive Director Kyle Belokopitsky said, NYS PTA continues to support educational practices and policies that support the positive mental health of students. On behalf of our 2.6 million school children, and our nearly 250,000 members, we applaud Attorney General James, Governor Hochul, and the sponsors of this legislation, in working to curb many of the harmful aspects of social media. In a recent survey of our members, 82% believe that social media is one of the top 5 issues that affect our childrens mental health. We are proud to work with National PTA on this issue through the PTA Connected program, and look forward to seeing this legislation become law.

New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert S. Schneider said, School boards share parents concerns that their childrens online data will be pirated and abused by commercial entities that may gain access to that information. The data our young people may unwittingly provide through their online activity must be protected from those who would seek to collect and use it for their own monetary gain. We thank Attorney General James for recognizing the importance of this issue and for her efforts to advance the online safety of vulnerable children and teens.

Social Work Coalition President Luisa Lopez said, For years, social workers have observed and sounded the alarm on the detrimental effects of addictive social media feeds on the mental health and well-being of our children. Studies have shown how addictive social media feeds can lead to increased incidences of depression and even suicide, especially in young girls. In an era where their lives are deeply embedded in the digital world, it becomes even more crucial to prioritize their safety and mental wellness. The Latino Social Work Coalition stands unwaveringly in support of the new legislation focused on Childrens Online Safety. This legislation, which seeks to curb addictive feeds and establish stringent data privacy measures for our youth, is not just about protectionit's about paving the way for a healthier digital future for them. Every child has the right to a secure online space to learn, grow, and connect. This legislation marks a monumental stride in that direction.

National Alliance on Mental Illness NYS Executive Director Sharon Horton said, Addressing the mental health of our children has never been more important as they are faced with a multitude of stressors compromising their well-being. Unregulated internet and social media have become leading culprits contributing to childrens poor mental health. NAMI-NYS applauds Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Rozic for introducing legislation to help keep children safe online and prevent dangerous health consequences caused by addictive social media platforms. These measures are long overdue and NAMI-NYS is proud to stand alongside the Attorney General and the legislators in taking these bold steps to improve the mental health of New Yorks children.

Executive Director of the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research Rosemonde Pierre-Louis said, The harmful impact of unregulated, predatory social media on vulnerable youth has gone on for far too long. Recent research findings have detailed the devastating results these intentional policies are having on young people, especially among teen girls. This proposed legislation introduced today by Attorney General Letitia James, State Senator Andrew Gounardes, and Assemblymember Nily Rozic is a major step in both protecting our kids and holding bad actors accountable.

Chair of the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Warren Seigel said, We strongly support the Safe for Kids Act. As pediatricians across the state, we know the potential negative impacts that the unbridled internet and addictive platforms can have on children and teens. We have seen the increases in depression, self-doubt, self-destructive behavior and health and behavioral problems directly related to lack of sleep that are the result of overuse of addictive platforms. Addictive platforms can and often do contribute to very problematic outcomes for children and youth. We look forward to working with Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Rozic to pass legislation that can help protect children from addictive platforms, increase parental involvement and knowledge of the harms that unrestricted access to addictive platforms can have on children, and incentivize the platforms themselves to design protections for children by eliminating addictive programming.

Founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center Matthew P. Bergman said, What happened to Alexis was neither an accident nor a coincidence but rather the predictable consequences of social media platforms intentionally designed to maximize user enhancement over public safety. Social media companies knowingly exploit kids emotional vulnerability and neurologic immaturity to addict them to their platforms by subjecting them to progressively more extreme and dangerous material. We applaud Attorney General James for seeking to hold social media companies legally accountable for the carnage they are inflicting on our kids.

Co-Executive Directors of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung said, As the nations only pan-Asian children and families advocacy organization, CACF has had an inside look at the current mental health crisis affecting our children and teens. Asian American girls are particularly vulnerable, with studies showing that they are both more likely to experience symptoms of depression and less likely to seek help from a school counselor. CACF is proud to support this new legislation backed by Govenor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Nily Rozic that would both protect the mental health of our young people and ensure that their personal data is safeguarded. The addictive nature of social media apps along with the lack of age-appropriate internet safeguards often create a perfect storm when it comes to anxiety, depression, body image, and mental health.

Director of New York Government Relations of Agudath Israel of America Rabbi Yeruchim Silber said, We have unfortunately seen too many instances of families falling apart due to minors addictive social media habits. It is critical to protect minors from these destructive influences. We thank Govenor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Rozic for introducing this important legislation.

President & CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council Wayne Ho said, CPC works with thousands of young people every year, and we see the detriments that social media plays on their emotional and mental well-being. We need to ensure that there are safeguards in place that protect the mental health and privacy of our youth. CPC is grateful to Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Rozic for their leadership in implementing protections and measures to hold big tech companies accountable. We look forward to working with them and the State legislature to ensure that the SAFE for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act are passed this upcoming session.

Carrie Goldberg and Naomi Leeds of C.A. Goldberg, PLLC said, As attorneys who litigate cases involving catastrophic injuries caused by tech products, children represent the majority of our most severe cases  involving addiction, eating disorders, child sexual abuse and suicide. We experience firsthand the legal challenges of litigating cases against big tech, and the emotional challenges because the damage has already been done by the time were involved. The SAFE for Kids Act and the Childrens Data Protection Act are important because they aim to stop the damage to children by social media product before its done. We thank Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Rozic for their leadership on this issue. Its high time these companies be compelled to create safe products for children, instead of seeing their youngest users as raw material to extract data from and addict.

Executive Director & CEO of Every Person Influences Children Tara N. Burgess said, Given the increased rates of poor mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety and self-harm related to social media, EPIC supports efforts to improve safeguards for children and youth. Holding social media platforms accountable to restrict youth data collection and reduce addictive content distribution is an important step in protecting children. This legislation will give families tools to protect their children in an ever-changing technology and social media landscape.

President of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island Mendy Mirocznik said, This important legislation being supported by Govenor Hochul and Attorney General James will be a big win for one of our most vulnerable population groups our children. This legislation will permit the parents and legal guardians of our children to have a greater level of control in protecting our children from the dangers of internet platforms. We applaud the Governor, the Attorney General and the coalition of legislatures who from a broad spectrum will hopefully create a much-needed safety and protection for the youth of our state.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: October 12 2023

An investigation has been opened into the death of Alan Weber, who died on October 10, 2023 following an encounter with members of the Suffolk County Police Department.

The New York Attorney Generals Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Alan Weber, who died on October 10, 2023 following an encounter with members of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD).

On the evening of October 10, two SCPD officers responded to a residence in East Northport, Suffolk County. When officers arrived, they encountered Mr. Weber allegedly wielding what appeared to be two swords. When Mr. Weber walked towards the officers, one of the officers tased him, but the taser failed to subdue him. Mr. Weber again advanced towards the officers, and the other officer fired his service weapon in response. Mr. Weber was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered two fencing swords at the scene.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSIs assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.
US and NATO allies have rebuffed concerns about their ability to continue supporting Ukraine militarily

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) looks towards Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (R) as they talk to the media during a joint press conference in Brussels on October 11, 2023

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) looks towards Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (R) as they talk to the media during a joint press conference in Brussels on October 11, 2023  Photo credit: AFP

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) looks towards Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (R) as they talk to the media during a joint press conference in Brussels on October 11, 2023  Photo credit: AFP

Russia is set to benefit from the Israel-Hamas conflict, as Israels requests for US military aid risk diverting weapons and focus from Ukraine while the rising price of oil bolsters Moscows economy.

US and NATO allies have rebuffed concerns about their ability to continue supporting Ukraine militarily in the aftermath of Gaza-based militant group Hamass attack on Israel, which already receives billions in aid from Washington every year.

Yet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Tuesday that the violence engulfing Israel and Gaza may well have a knock-on effect. There is a risk that international attention will turn away from Ukraine, and that will have consequences, he said in an interview with French broadcaster France 2.

Theres also a clear understanding in the Kremlin that the war between Israel and Hamas will work to Russias favor, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The conflict may, at the very least, work to distract US and European attention from the war in Ukraine, the people said, even while Russia has concerns about its escalation.

President Vladimir Putins objectives will be achieved faster if a US focus on the Israel conflict results in the slowdown of arms deliveries to Kyiv, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday at a news conference, after talks with Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. But they will be achieved in any case.

For the most part, there is no major overlap between Israel and Ukraines military asks, and Tel Avivs existing supplies are relatively robust in light of years of stockpiling, officials and experts say. Israel is seeking Iron Dome missiles, precision-guided munitions and artillery rounds from the US, according to a person familiar with the matter, as it readies its next response to Hamass attack.

Israeli war plans

But the pressure on supplies could increase if Israel launches a ground war into the Gaza strip, as is expected.

Thats when theyll start using munitions in a big way  precision munitions  and theyll probably use a lot of them, said Mark Cancian, a former US Marine colonel whos now an adviser at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington. While they already have big stocks, he said, they may not have enough for a long campaign.

Mass and rapid mobilization also means the Israeli military is stretched for equipment, leaving some troops with older items, Richard Hecht, a spokesman and lieutenant-colonel, told journalists on Tuesday.

The conflict in Israel is expected to be discussed on the margins of a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday where Zelenskiy is also attending. Ahead of the gathering, Kyivs allies will also discuss weapons deliveries at their monthly Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks before boarding a plane, October 11, 2023, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, en route to Israel  Photo credit: AFP

Zelenskiy will be reminding us all not only why its very important that we still maintain this battle, and show that they can so that Putin doesnt win, but also dont get distracted by the wider issues, UK Secretary of Defence Grant Shapps told ITV from Brussels. The war in Europe as well is absolutely at the forefront of our minds.

Ukraine and Russia have been burning through thousands of pieces of ammunition per day in what has become a grinding war of attrition. Those unguided munitions wont be as useful for Israel in an urban warfare setting, where theyll instead lean on precision munitions to target specific oncoming fire, according to Cancian. But Ukraine also needs more those more sophisticated weapons as it seeks to hit targets like Russian military bases behind the front lines.

The problem is we cant manufacture any more in a short period of time, Cancian said, adding that might require the US to pull them from existing inventories, which are already getting low.

Even if the US didnt stop deliveries to Ukraine, it might slow those shipments down, which means they could only shoot at the highest-priority targets, he added.

A senior US defense official said that although the US will continue to provide a significant amount of support to Ukraine, it is careful about ensuring it can also respond to other crises.

A senior western diplomat said they were not worried about the impact on the war in Ukraine, partly because the Israeli military is itself capable and well-equipped. The diplomat said they were confident the US would be able to continue to support Israel without it having a material effect on what theyre doing for Ukraine.

Putins view

Other analysts are more skeptical.

Given a choice between Israel and Ukraine, the US would  in a heartbeat  choose Israel, Chatham House CEO Bronwen Maddox told Bloomberg TV in an interview, even if its not facing such an acute decision at present. I can understand why President Zelenskiy might be worried  and he was already battling to retain American attention.

Future US aid for Ukraine was called into question after Congress dropped assistance for Kyiv from a short-term spending package passed to avert a government shutdown. Future funding could be on even shakier ground now, as the conflict in Israel emboldens Republican lawmakers skeptical of support for Ukraine.

Putin told the annual Valdai Club meeting in Russias Sochi on Oct. 5 that US and European support was keeping Ukraine afloat financially and militarily. If weapons deliveries were discontinued tomorrow, they would have just one week to go until they used up all their ammunition, he said.

Europes backing for Ukraine has also suffered perturbations in recent weeks after a spat between Poland and Ukraine culminated in a threat by Warsaw to cut off new aid to Kyiv. The blocs stance on aid for Ukraine also faces a challenge from Robert Fico, a Russian sympathizer, whos set to return to power in Slovakia.

The Israel-Hamas conflicts impact on the price of oil could also boost Russias war effort in Ukraine. The price of oil edged lower on Tuesday, after fears that the conflict could embroil major energy producers in the region such Iran and Saudi Arabia had earlier propelled US crude futures above $87 a barrel.

As oil prices go up, this enables them to continue spending on arms production and it also helps them cover some budget deficits, said Ann Marie Dailey, a policy researcher at Rand Corporation. Russia absolutely gains an advantage from this in the short-term.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
At 6pm tonight France is going on strike and the national or general strike includes air traffic control which means that flights from the UK to Mallorca and other parts of the Balearics and Spain which pass through French airspace, which is the vast majority, face disruption.

The industrial action is due to start tonight (Thursday) and run until 6am local time on Saturday so its going to be a scary Friday 13th for many only days after a fire at Luton airport led to flights being cancelled to Mallorca.

Multiple unions plan strikes and demonstrations nationwide between October 12-14.

The unions are demanding improved salaries, gender equality, and other social measures.

It will be the first major nationwide strike action in the country in four months, since the final day of protests against the French governments pension reform bill.

In a statement easyJet said: We have been advised of a national strike in France starting 18:00 local time on Thursday 12th October to 06:00 Saturday 14th October. Air Traffic Control staff are joining the strike action and therefore like all airlines, our flights to and from French airports, as well as those flying in French airspace, could be affected.

We expect that there will be delays and some disruption due to the industrial action, therefore we advise all customers to check the status of their flight on our flight tracker either on our mobile app or website: easyjet.com/en/flight-tracker

Please also be aware that public transport services may be affected by the strike. We recommend all customers allow plenty of extra time to get to the airport and consider alternative transport options where possible.

Although this situation is outside of our control, we would like to reassure customers that we are doing all we can to minimise any disruption to our flights that may occur as a result of the strike action.

What happens if my flight is cancelled?

We will contact affected customers directly via Email and SMS using the details provided at the time of booking and check in.

For cancelled flights only, we advise customers not to travel to the airport but to transfer their flights free of charge or take a refund by logging onto Manage Bookings on easyJet.com or using our Flight Tracker: easyjet.com/XXXX(yourflightnumber).

If you booked your flights through a travel agent or third party

If you made your booking through a travel agent, please contact your travel agency for help with your full travel plans. If you need further assistance and your agent is unable to help you, please contact our customer service team. Remember to let your tour operator or travel agent know about any changes you make.

Ryanair has stated: Due to the French ATC strike on Fri (13th Oct), we have been forced to cancel a small number of flights mainly overflying France. Affected passengers have been notified of their options to change flights (free of charge) or receive a full refund.

So far in 2023, there has been 64 days of ATC strikes (over 12 times more than in 2022) forcing airlines to cancel thousands of EU overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and the UK, while France uses Minimum Service Laws to protect French flights. This is unfair. France (and all other EU states) should protect overflights during ATC strikes as they do in Spain, Italy and Greece, and cancel flights to/from the affected State.

Ryanair calls on the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, to take urgent action to protect overflights and EU citizens freedom of movement during ATC strikes, and calls on passengers to join our call on the EU Commission by signing our Protect Overflights: Keep EU Skies Open petition as over 1.8m fed up passengers have already done.

Ryanair sincerely apologises to affected passengers for any inconvenience as a result of these French ATC strike disruptions, which are beyond Ryanairs control.
Randi Lowe, Superintendent of the Bennington Rutland Supervisory Union, at her office in Sunderland. Lowe said the best part of being a superintendent, particularly in a small state, is being able to make a real difference for all of the union's children.
Partly free is how Freedom House, a US-based organization supporting human rights advocates and programs, categorized the Philippines in terms of our adherence to what it calls internet freedom, or what we may also call online freedom.

The country scored 61 out of 100, down from four points from its 2022 rating, based on three categories: obstacles to access (16/25); limits on content (23/35); and violations of users rights (22/40).

The scores reflect the sharpest decline among Asia-Pacific countries in terms of online freedom because of the enactment by the government of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and the SIM Card Registration Law, the report titled Freedom on the Net 2023 said.

Freedom House said President Marcos Jr. continued policies put in place by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, that were roundly criticized for being repressive.

Among these was the enactment of a law previously vetoed by Duterte requiring mobile phone users to register their subscriber information module (SIM) cards under their real names, or face deactivation.

The group claimed this undermined anonymous communication in what remains a dangerous environment for journalists and activists.

Under this law, SIM card owners are required to register with their service providers within six months to avoid deactivation, and users who purchase new cards will need to provide their personal information and a valid photo identification document at the point of sale.

The law imposes fines for failing to register SIM cards, as well as criminal penalties of up to two years in prison for providing false information or fraudulent identification documents during registration, and up to six years for SIM card spoofing, or manipulation to commit fraud.

The current administration, Freedom House said, also retained a government order issued under Duterte that restricted 257 websites, including those of several news outlets known for critical reporting, using the Anti-Terrorism Law as the basis. The blocking order is now being challenged in court by a media outfit.

The group also noted that since the start of the Marcos Jr. administration onn June 30, 2022, to April 30, 2023, at least 10 cases of libel and cyberlibel have been filed against media workers.

Surveillance is also a growing concern in the Philippines, Freedom House said, because of the increase in budget allocations for intelligence funds and funds for surveillance activities in civilian government agencies.

Given all this, the conclusion that internet freedom in the country is only partly free is not off the mark, and underscores the need for government to uphold, rather than undermine, the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution under a democratic system.
After launching back-to-back viral smartphones, HONOR Philippines welcomed yet another big milestone following its comeback in 2022; the unveiling of its headquarters in the country.

This has been a long time coming and we are just very proud to finally open our doors for more opportunities to provide better service to Filipinos. We are equally grateful and we would like to share this feat with our loyal HONOR fans, said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

The intimate yet momentous event was officiated by HONOR Philippines Country Manager Sean Yuan, Vice President Stephen Cheng, and GTM Manager Steven Yan.

It is remembered that HONOR Philippines started the year with a bang, launching its first viral smartphone HONOR X9a 5G and the leading smart devices provider has been unstoppable since then. Powerful devices under its X series  HONOR X8a, HONOR X7a, MagicBook X laptops  were also introduced shortly after.

HONOR Experience Stores were also unveiled in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, making the brand a nationwide success.

Its flagship smartphone HONOR Magic5 Pro was also introduced in June, another viral hit with its powerful camera and IP68 water resistance rating, the highest among the smartphones available in the market now.

Who would forget also forget the massive success of HONOR 90 5G and its 200MP Flagship Camera that really captivated the hearts of many Filipinos  making it sold-out just days after its launch.

Lastly, the recently launched HONOR 90 Lite 5G with the new addition to X Series  HONOR X6a, HONOR X5 Plus, and HONOR Pad X9 really captured the students and budding professionals in the country.

All of this, you can still get at an exciting deal during the HONOR 10.10 Sale. Get over P10,000 discount on HONOR products, just head on to Shopee (bit.ly/HONORShopeeShine99), Lazada (bit.ly/HONORLazadaShine99), and TikTok (bit.ly/HONORTikTokShine99) from October 10 to 14, 2023!

For more updates and announcements, you may visit HONORs website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONORs complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.
Teen honored posthumously for bravery

08:25, October 12, 2023 By Yifan Xu ( China Daily

Ceremony hopes to promote exchange, understanding between US and China

An awards recipient will be fondly remembered on Friday by the Chinese American community during the 2023 Gold Lantern Awards Gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Peter Wang died a hero helping fellow students during a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb 14, 2018. He will receive a posthumous award from the Chinese American Museum in Washington, DC, or CAMDC, which honors distinguished members of the community for their outstanding accomplishments, leadership and service.

When shots rang out, Wang, who was only 15 years old at the time, held open a door so that other students could make it to safety. But sadly, he was fatally shot while holding the door. Wang was also posthumously admitted to the United States Military Academy West Point, his dream school.

Jenny Liu, vice-president and one of the founders of CAMDC, said the awards ceremony and gala is one of the museum's main projects to expand the visibility and influence of outstanding Chinese Americans.

The Gold Lantern and other CAMDC programs focus on telling stories of the Chinese American community through history, culture and achievement, Liu said.

"The Chinese American community is expecting continued stability and improvement in US-China relations. It would bring mutual benefits to both nations and their people. This is particularly significant for Chinese living in the United States. A good bilateral relationship will make their life much easier," Liu said.

She also pointed out that a lack of communication and understanding is among factors contributing to a downturn in US-China relations in recent years.

"The museum chose culture as the entry point, hoping to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and China, and also among different ethnic groups through various platforms," she said.

Liu highlighted that the "community day", a family-friendly event, is held once or twice yearly. The most recent activity was mooncake-making for Mid-Autumn Festival.

She said the aim is to provide opportunities for not only Chinese American children but also children from diverse communities to know more about Chinese culture.

Compared with the online award ceremony in 2021 and the inaugural award gala in 2022 at The St. Regis Hotel Washington, DC, this year's gala is grander and more colorful, Liu said.

"It is Oscar-like, consisting of award presentations as well as splendid performances."

One of the performers is Liu Hao, a blind pianist from China who has been studying at Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory in Maryland.

Prominent contributions

Gold Lantern recipients were chosen based on outstanding skills or accomplishments in a particular field, or prominent contributions to the Chinese American community, Liu said.

David Uy, executive director of CAMDC, said there will be about 500 attendees at the gala. Honored guests include invited Asian American and Pacific Islander members of Congress, US ambassadors and Asian ambassadors to the US. Prominent leaders in business, arts, culture and community will also be in attendance.

Other Gold Lantern award recipients include author and activist Maxine Hong Kingston, who is best known for her memoir The Woman Warrior and novel China Men; Yue-Sai Kan, renowned television host and successful entrepreneur; Stephany Yu, co-founder of Sunwater Capital; and Bel Leong-Hong, former deputy assistant secretary of defense.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Abbas Ganbay

The heritage and culture of faith of different nations and nationalities have always been important for Azerbaijan, and despite the rich history of mankind in hostility and discrimination towards different nationalities, it is important to hold on to what has been laid down from the beginning, that we are all from one.

The quality of Azerbaijan and its people towards others, in its respect and kindness towards every nationality, faith confession and cultural values, in its approach and responsiveness to the request that is deeply rooted in the energy field of Azerbaijan is recognised all over the world.

Azerbaijan's priority was to prove to the world not only in words but also in deeds, in response to the huge propaganda from neighbouring Armenia towards Azerbaijan, that tolerance is a specific quality of the Azerbaijani people.

The priority directions of the Azerbaijani government's policy towards religion and culture of values are directly related to tolerance, which has been formed over the millennium in preserving, developing and informing the world about the traditions of tolerance inherent in the Azerbaijani people.

The attitude of the Azerbaijani state to the principles of tolerance is clearly manifested both in its attitude to representatives of different religions, restoration of religious and historical monuments, organisation of international conferences on these issues, and in the very essence of the national legislation.

The majority of the population of Azerbaijan are Muslims - almost 96 per cent, Christians -4 per cent, and representatives of other religions, Jews and Baha'is. Almost all currents of Christianity are represented in Azerbaijan.

Thus, there are Christian members of the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Protestant churches, as well as members of the historic Albanian Church living in Azerbaijan. Most of the country's Christian population lives in the cities of Baku, Sumgayit, and Ganja, as well as in the districts of Gakh (Georgian Orthodox), Ismailli, Gadabak, Gobustan (Molokans), Gabala and Oguz (Albani Udins in the Nidj settlement of Gabala district and in the town of Oguz). Most Catholics and Lutherans live in Baku city.

Azerbaijan is an excellent example of interreligious and intercultural peaceful co-existence, said Rabbi Mark Schneier, chairman of the American Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. Rabbi Schneier, who took part in the 21st meeting of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, expressed his admiration for the country's commitment to interreligious dialogue, calling it a "second home" for him.

Azerbaijan is a great example of interreligious and intercultural peaceful coexistence.

"We have developed a special relationship with Azerbaijan. I believe that Azerbaijan is a great example of interreligious and intercultural cooperation and peaceful co-existence in the Muslim world. I have had the privilege of participating in various interreligious dialogue forums hosted by Azerbaijan for many years and look forward to visiting Baku again. I continue to support Azerbaijan and express my solidarity with your country and its leadership.

Baku is like a second home for me and I look forward to returning there," Rabbi Mark Schneier said.

With the end of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a lasting peace is high on the agenda in the Caucasus, and Azerbaijan is keen to sign a peace treaty with Armenia.

The Centre for Social Research (CSR) conducted a survey to find out the public's attitude towards this issue, taking into account the positive dynamics towards a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The question "Do you support the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia?" was addressed to the respondents. Judging by the answers to the question, the society expressed high support for the signing of the peace agreement. Thus, the absolute majority of survey participants - 80.9% - supported the signing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

18.3% of respondents took the opposite position and did not support the signing of a peace agreement. 0.8% found it difficult to express their opinion on this issue. According to the analysis of results from a gender perspective, 85.1% of men and 76.7% of women supported the signing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The fieldwork (data collection) of the study was conducted from 5 to 9 October 2023. The surveys were conducted in the form of telephone interviews and 385 respondents over the age of 18 participated.

The study covered 12 economic regions, including Baku, Absheron-Khizi, Mountainous Shirvan, Ganja-Dashkasan, Gazakh-Tovuz, Lankaran-Astara, Guba-Khachmaz, Shaki-Zagatala, Garabagh, Central Aran, Mil-Mugan, Shirvan-Salyan. The sampling frame was determined in proportion to the population size while maintaining the gender equality of respondents. Taking into account the number of respondents covered by the survey, the margin of error of the results is 5 per cent with a confidence interval of 95 per cent.

Neighbours have a lot to learn from Azerbaijan on the way to finding calm and peace, and at the moment it is a very important feature in writing history, where it is possible to put an end to the suffering and hatred that lasted for 200 years. Everything is teaching us.
The alleged alien mummies presented by Mexican UFO journalist Jaime Maussan in his country's Congress chambers was part shock and part mockery all around the world. Leading up to the unexpected unveiling, these mummies had a history after Maussan took them from Peru's Nazca Lines through local archeoligists. At no point did Maussan claim these mummies were alien in nature, all he said was that they are not human. He even invited other teams of scientists from around to world to cross examin these specimens in order to clarify what they actually are. Maussan had his own forensic team analyze them but skeptics were quick to point out that examination from outside groups was needed.

Staggering new close-up footage of alien corpses comes to light

Ufologist claims he knows what these 'alien mummies' are

According to The Daily Mail, they spoke to famosu Ufologist Will Galison about these alleged alien mummies. He claims to be close friends with French archeologist Thierry Jarmin, who studied these mummies and cross analyzed them. According to the findings, these mummies are 100% biological but they are convinced they are not from another planet. In fact, the truth is a little darker and unexpected than that. These bodies are indeed more than 1,000 years old and they were from the Inca culture. But the forensic evidence shows that these mummies may have been constructed by the Inca civilization for ritualistic purposes. Galison and Jarmin claim that the bodies were constructed by what seem like parts of other animals that contain reptilian parts.

Speaking on Nub TV, Galison said: "I'm friendly with the French archaeologist Thierry Jarmin, who is a person who is not mentioned as much as he should be. He received these mummies in 2016 from a tomb robber. Thierry was very surprised and quite upset by Jaime Maussan's press conference. They found one bone in the arm of one of the mummies that clearly was not the organic bone that was there. So that raises the question, is the rest of it fake? My thinking shifted when I was up in the friend's house in the country, north of New York. And I saw a deer skull on the mantel and the back of that deer skull, to my mind, resembled the front of this of this skull and I thought, 'Oh wow'."
Opening a new front in the fight against a region-wide teacher shortage, officials at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst have partnered with two Western Massachusetts school districts to train and license new educators.

The state university says it plans to use a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to underwrite the effort, which is specifically aimed at helping paraprofessionals, particularly those of color, at the Springfield and Holyoke schools, enter the early childhood education field.

The new effort also will provide professional development for the teachers who will mentor their new colleagues, the university said in a statement.

It is widely known that the current teacher workforce doesnt match the diversity of the student population, Ysaaca Axelrod, a UMass associate professor of children, families and schools, said.

Our goal is to learn alongside the paraprofessionals working in Holyoke and Springfield, learn from their wisdom and experiences, and build on that in our classrooms as we support them in the process of gaining their teaching credential, Axelrod continued.

Headed into the 2022-23 school year, 48% of school district leaders across the Northeast felt they were understaffed, WBUR reported in June, citing U.S. Education Department data.

In Boston, there were around 900 positions available ahead of the new school year, including 219 teacher vacancies, the station reported, citing CBS News.

But even as theyve worked to fill those vacancies, school districts also have struggled to assemble a teacher workforce that reflects a rapidly shifting student body.

While students of color comprise more than 50% public-school enrollment nationwide, nearly 80% of teachers are white, according to a February 2023 report by Future-Ed, an independent think-tank at Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy, found.

Educators, meanwhile, increasingly say its important for students of color to be taught by teachers of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, that same report found.

We are hopeful that this federal grant provides an opportunity to respond to the teacher shortage our school districts are facing, Beverley Bell, a UMass senior lecturer of teacher education and school improvement, said. Our school district partners have repeatedly expressed the need for a pathway for paraprofessionals who do not have a bachelors degree to enter the teaching profession.

According to UMass, the program will combine online and hybrid classes.

And during the final year of the program, paraprofessionals in the two school districts will be released from their daily responsibilities to participate in an immersive teaching experience before qualifying to earn their initial teaching license and subsequently being employed within their school districts, UMass said in its statement.

Springfield schools Superintendent Daniel Warwick said the Western Massachusetts district has been working for several years to diversify its workforce, noting that the school systems paraprofessionals, one of our most diverse employee groups, are dedicated and caring educators with the potential to become highly qualified teachers.

In Holyoke, some 4,000 Hispanic students are expected to benefit from the program, district Superintendent Anthony Soto said.
The A&E series Killer Cases is going to focus its attention on Western Massachusetts on Friday by centering an episode on the Brian Fanion case.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullunis office announced the news of the premiere of The Policemans Wife, as the episode is called. Its also confirmed in a DirecTV listing. Viewers looking to watch the episode can do so by using DirecTV Stream or Sling. DirecTV offers a free trial for new users and Sling offers 50% off your first month.

Judge Jane Mulqueen sentenced Fanion on March 22 in Hampden Superior Court to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was found guilty of first-degree murder of his wifes death May 8, 2018 by a gunshot wound to her head.

Amy Fanions body was found in their Westfield home and investigators initially believed her death was self-inflicted. However, prosecutors said Brian Fanion, who they claimed was having an affair, shot his wife in the temple and staged it as a suicide.

Fanion was a retired Westfield police detective who, Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Mary Sandstrom said to the jury in February, made computer searches on how divorces affect a pension, gunshot residue collection and how to delete text messages permanently from his cell phone.

Because of his appearance as an upstanding member of the Westfield community, divorcing his wife to pursue another romantic relationship was out of the question, Sandstrom contended.

He was trapped and was forced to kill his wife, Sandstrom said, before reading text messages she said Brian Fanion sent to his girlfriend in the weeks before his wifes death.

On the day he was handed his life sentence, Fanion walked into court wearing his wedding ring.

New episodes of Killer Cases air at 9 p.m. each Friday, with this episode scheduled to air on Friday, Oct. 13. To watch it, head over to Philo or DirecTV Stream and sign up to watch all episodes of Killer Cases.
At least two workers were hospitalized after a pier collapsed in New Bedford on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11, according to the New Bedford Fire Department.

The collapse at the end of Hervey Tichon Avenue was reported shortly after 2 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the department.

Read More: Edgar Nerys arrested in connection with fatal shooting of Santos Canizales

A 225-by 36-foot portion of a bulkhead that was under construction fell into the water, injuring four workers. A construction lift and loader were also involved in the collapse.

One worker was pulled from the water and later brought to St. Lukes Emergency Department by rescue boat. Another worker was also brought to the hospital, officials added.

Read More: Avon police dispatcher on leave pending special prosecutor investigation

Both had non-life threatening injuries, ABC6 reported. The other two workers were treated onsite. All other workers were accounted for, officials said.

The Fairhaven Fire Department Marine Unit, New Bedford Police Marine Unit, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and Fairhaven Harbormaster all helped with getting debris out of the water and controlling a fuel spill.

Several workers were injured after a large portion of a pier collapsed in New Bedford on Wednesday, Oct. 11 (New Bedford Fire Department on Facebook).

The U.S. Coast Guard and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection were also onsite. The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined.
An Avon police dispatcher was placed on paid administrative leave on Wednesday, the same day it was revealed during an arraignment for Aidan Kearney, known for his controversial Turtleboy blog, that he had called a police dispatcher asking her to run license plate information unlawfully through a state database.

The announcement from Police Chief Jeffrey Bukunt was posted on the Avon Police Department website, and said the dispatcher  who he did not name  would stay on leave pending an internal investigation and pending the outcome of an investigation being conducted by a special prosecutor under the Norfolk District Attorneys Office into alleged inappropriate and illegal use of law enforcement databases, which dispatchers have access to.

That special prosecutor, Kenneth Mello, told a judge in Stoughton District Court Wednesday that a civilian dispatcher with a local police department had recently helped a Holden man who runs a controversial website find information about who owned cars parked at a home in Canton, about 7 miles from Avon.

Court records indicate Jannell Webb, a dispatcher, as having worked with the blogger, Aidan Kearney, resulting in Kearney facing a conspiracy charge in addition to several witness intimidation charges at his arraignment.

Webb is listed on several Avon Police Department Facebook posts as being a dispatcher in that town.

On Wednesday, Kearney, 41, of Holden, was taken into Massachusetts State Police custody on six counts of witness intimidation of a juror, police officer and court official and one count of conspiracy.

He was arrested in connection with alleged witness intimidation of people involved in the Karen Read case, in which she, the girlfriend of Boston police officer John OKeefe, is accused of killing OKeefe.

During the arraignment, the special prosecutor read through pages of details outlining events he said led to the intimidation charges, prefaced with an explanation of Kearneys online presence through his online blog and social media accounts, including Facebook, YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Mello claimed Kearney unlawfully sought Registry of Motor Vehicle license plate information through a civilian dispatcher  named in court records as Jannell Webb  at a local police department, in order to determine whose cars were parked outside state police trooper Michael Proctors home. Proctor oversaw the criminal investigation into OKeefes death.

Earlier this month, Kearney spoke in a YouTube video of how it is illegal to run license plate information but that he thinks it shouldnt be, Mello told the judge.

On Facebook, the department has celebrated Webbs accomplishments on the job, including in a post on March 24 when she received a Meritorious Service Award. A year earlier, in an April 2022 post, she received a plaque for outstanding service as part of celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week.

Avon police added that due to this being a personnel matter, and as it concerns an ongoing criminal and internal affairs investigation, the department will not release any further information.
A 28-year-old man is facing a murder charge after he was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old in Chelsea over the weekend, Massachusetts State Police reported.

Edgar Nerys was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Santos David Canizales, state police said on Wednesday night, Oct. 11.

Read More: Avon police dispatcher on leave pending special prosecutor investigation

Canizales was found on the ground with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds in the area of Congress Avenue and Shurtleff Street around 10:20 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office said.

Canizales was brought to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was pronounced dead, the office added. A GoFundMe campaign has since been set up to help cover the cost of his funeral.

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.

Nerys is expected to be arraigned on murder and firearm charges in Chelsea District Court Thursday, state police added. The shooting remains under investigation.
A man arrested in connection with the shooting death of Santos Canizales was held without bail in Chelsea District Court on Thursday.

Edgar Nerys, 28, was arraigned in connection with Canizales death on one count of murder, which happened on Sunday, Oct. 8, at the intersection of Shurtleff Street and Congress Avenue in Chelsea, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office said.

Video surveillance showed Nerys was dropped off by a black SUV moments before the shooting and walked to the area where Canizales was shot as many as 10 times, the DA said.

Canizales was found on the ground with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds around 10:20 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8, Haydens office said. He was brought to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was pronounced dead, the office added.

A GoFundMe campaign has since been set up to help cover the cost of his funeral. So far, the GoFundMe has raised $655 with a goal of reaching $15,000.

Nerys is expected to appear in court for a probable cause hearing on Dec. 18.
A New Hampshire State Trooper was brought to the hospital after police said a Massachusetts driver crashed into their cruiser on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

The crash happened on Interstate 93 North in Londonderry, New Hampshire, around 3:40 p.m., according to New Hampshire State Police on Facebook.

Read More: Taunton woman charged with OUI after police say she crashed into police cruiser

State troopers determined that the cruiser was parked on the right shoulder of the highway while helping out at a construction site. The cruiser also had its blue lights on, police said.

It was also determined that a grey 2017 Hyundai Elantra was driving in the right breakdown lane before hitting the cruiser. The trooper was inside the car at the time of the crash, police said.

Read More: 2 workers hospitalized after pier collapses in New Bedford

The trooper and driver of the Hyundai, identified as 36-year-old Michael Shanahan, of North Chelmsford, were brought to Elliot Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Luan Sanches at Luan.G.Sanches@dos.nh.gov or (603) 227-0114.
After almost eight years, a Massachusetts man was sentenced and has to forfeit more than $120,000 following tax fraud charges.

In December 2015, Khalid Siddique, of Attleboro, was charged in a 28-count indictment with two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 10 counts wire fraud, five counts of trafficking in contraband smokeless tobacco and 11 counts of money laundering.

Officials claimed that between 2006 to 2012, Siddique didnt pay excise taxes on smokeless tobacco and cigars purchased from businesses he owned. Working with Siddique, Syed Bokhari transferred smokeless tobacco to the Attleboro business without reporting such transfers to the appropriate state tax authorities, as required under the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, officials said.

Bokhari usually accepted payment in cash, third party checks, and money orders rather than accepting forms of payment that would create records, according to court documents. The Attleboro Warehouse would make cash payments of about $10,000 to Bokhari and the Scranton Warehouse, documents state.

Over the course of five years, officials said Siddique purchased more than $18 million in tobacco products from the Dunmore Warehouse, and reported just two purchases totaling $20,232.

Siddique distributed smokeless tobacco without paying any of the required taxes, and filed false tobacco tax returns for cigars which vastly under-stated the amount of tax he owed, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

The maximum sentence for the charges related to conspiracy and wire fraud was 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. But in 2022, Siddique took a plea deal involving one year of probation, a fine and forfeiting more than $120,000.

On Oct. 11, the government listed multiple cash amounts as being forfeited. This included $42,694 seized from 1077 Washington St. in Attleboro on June 5, 2012, $16,688 seized from 8 Jason Lane in Attleboro on June 5, 2012 and at least $61,154.73 in proceeds from the sale of 9 pallets of smokeless tobacco, cigars, and other non-cigarette tobacco products.

The items will be forfeited to the government unless a person, other than Siddique, petitions to claim them.
National Guard officer and state Sen. John C. Velis has been activated to assist with the high numbers of incoming migrants in the Bay State.

Velis was among about 250 Massachusetts National Guard members activated Oct. 3 by Gov. Maura T. Healey to provide basic services for the migrant families arriving here. They are placed at hotels as emergency shelter.

In 2010, John Velis joined the U.S. Army and deployed to Zabul Province, Afghanistan, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to his campaign's website. (Velisforsenate.com photo)velisforsenate.com

Velis office said that he could not answer any questions from The Republican while deployed, but his office said it is operating normally through his activation.

Don Veitch, state public affairs officer at the Massachusetts National Guard, said Velis will serve as the general legal advisor for the mission.

In 2010, Velis joined the U.S. Army and deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to his campaign website. Since his return, he has served with the Army Reserve.

In August 2017, he spent a month near the North Korean border, where he participated in joint military exercises with the South Korean forces. On Velis second deployment to Afghanistan in 2018, he was promoted to major, his campaign states.

In his latest deployment, Velis is assisting the Guard with coordination of food, transportation, medical care and other basic needs for the rapidly rising numbers of migrant families.

In a statement issued on Aug. 8, Healey said the arriving families caused the states emergency shelter system to expand to an unsustainable level. While the administration continues to add new shelter sites to meet demand, service providers have been stretched thin.

According to the statement, more than 6,000 families are in emergency shelters across the state as of this week. Guard members were assigned to specific hotel shelter sites to make sure families placed there have access to basic services.

In addition, the Guards response teams will prep sites to open, inform migrants about placements, arrange public benefits and support partner agencies.

The Healey administration recently met with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to discuss federal support, after appealing to him in an Aug. 8 letter. Healey wrote about the number of families coming to the state with no way to find or pay for shelter.

Additionally, Healey further appealed to the federal government for assistance with streamlining work authorizations and funding.

These new arrivals desperately want to work, and we have historic demand for workers across all industries, Healey wrote.

The state of emergency stemmed, Healey wrote, from federal policies on immigration and work authorization, scarce production of affordable housing and the end of pandemic related relief programs.

According to Healey, some families drawn to the state are fleeing imminent threats, and the commonwealth has been a beacon of hope to those in need.

With more than 1,800 families already living in hotels and motels across 80 cities and towns across the state, with the new influx, Massachusetts does not have the tools needed to meet the demand for shelter.

According to Healeys letter to Mayorkas, in the last six months, the need for shelter has skyrocketed.

In March, about 68 families came to Healeys office for assistance. By July, the number jumped to 100 each day, compared to last March, when only 25 families a day who sought assistance.

Shelter entries per month are more than double the number of entries per month during the pandemic, and about one third higher than pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, the number of families leaving the shelter for permanent housing has declined by two-thirds since 2019, Healey wrote.

The state is spending $45 million a month for programs to help families, but the fear is that soon the state will not be able to keep up.

Healy said a federal crisis of inaction has been in the making for many years.
A construction worker died after they were struck by a car on West Street in Pittsfield, near Berkshire Community College, on Thursday, WWLP reported.

The crash that resulted in the death of Shane Cassavant, 49, of Lanesboro happened at around 7:52 a.m. near 790 West St., the news channel reported. Pittsfield police alerted people on Facebook that due to a serious motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian, they were closing the part of West Street between Tor Court and Roberta Road.

Read more: Dead raccoon found on car windshield in Tewksbury sparks police investigation

First responders arrived to find him unresponsive, the Berkshire Eagle said. Interim Police Chief Thomas Dawley told them it was a very unfortunate tragedy that transpired earlier this morning. MassLive reached out to the Pittsfield Police Department for comment.

Pittsfield Police Lt. Marc Maddalena told WWLP that Edward Ladouceur, 87, of Pittsfield, drove a 2015 Chevrolet Colorado eastbound on West Street. As he approached a construction area, where the eastbound side of the road closed off to traffic, he was flagged to the westbound side before hitting a construction worker, the news outlet reported.

The worker, Cassavant, was taken to Berkshire Medical Center, where he died, WWLP said.

In the same Facebook post, police told Berkshire Community College students to seek out alternate routes. The portion of the road that was closed has since reopened after a three-hour closure, WWLP reported.

The Eagle added that West Street has been the focus of local conversations about making roadways safer for pedestrians. Back in January, Shaloon Milord died after she was struck in a crosswalk along West Street while walking over to a bus stop with her child.

The city proposed multiple road changes that intend to slow traffic over a mile stretch of the road, the Berkshire Eagles reported. This includes the same area where Milord was hit, near Dorothy Amos Park and ending at Valentine Road about a half mile east of where Thursdays crash happened.
Signature Sounds today announced that it has sold the Green River Festival to leading Western Massachusetts concert promoter DSP Shows.

DSP concurrently announced that it has signed a five-year lease to keep the genre-spanning fest at the Franklin County Fairgrounds. Next year will mark the festivals 37th year.

Its been my pleasure to be involved with the festival since its inception in 1986, Signature Sounds founder Jim Olsen said in a statement. In 2013, I took over as festival director when we took ownership of the festival under the Signature Sounds Presents umbrella. The past 10 years have been a time of tremendous growth for the event including expanding to a three-day festival in 2015, adding camping in 2016 and moving to the Franklin County Fairgrounds in 2021 with additional audience capacity.

John Sanders, partner with DSP, said he looks forward to taking the helm of the annual festival and lauded Olsens work over the decades.

The Green River Festival is the premier live music event in Western Mass., and we are honored to be entrusted with ensuring it continues for many years to come, Sanders said. Ive known Jim for over 20 years and have great respect for what he has done for live music in the Pioneer Valley with Green River, The Parlor Room, Arcadia and Back Porch Festivals.

The festival has featured numerous renowned acts over the years, including names such as Emmylou Harris, Buddy Guy, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples, Arlo Guthrie, Alison Krauss and Union Station, and Taj Mahal, among many others.

The Wood Brothers performed on the Main Stage at the 2019 Green River Festival taking place in Greenfield on July 13th. (Ed Cohen Photo)

Olsen also was confident that Sanders and DSP were the right fit to take over the festival. DSP Shows, which is based in Ithaca, New York and Northampton, is a one of the leading independent concert promoters in America and has been recognized as one of the top 100 promoters in the world by trade magazine Pollstar.

The company produces more than 600 shows a year in venues throughout upstate New York and New England, including the Academy of Music, the Pines Theater at Look Park, Deerfields Tree House Brewing Co. and The Drake in Amherst.

Olsen added that Signature Sounds will remain involved as a major sponsor of the festival, and its staff will have an opportunity to be involved in the future.
SPRINGFIELD  Tracy E. Duncan was 13 when she first decided she wanted to be a lawyer. Her cousin, David, who was a lawyer in Baltimore, inspired the decision.

I just always looked up to him, she said.

Last week, Gov. Maura Healeys chief legal counsel, Paige Scott Reed, called Duncan at her home to share some news. Duncan had been nominated by the governor for a seat on the Western Massachusetts Superior Court bench.

I felt pure delight, Duncan said. Im just so proud for my city. Im the first African American woman to be from Springfield, and to live in Springfield, to be nominated for the bench. I think its amazing for the city.

Duncan was born and raised here. She attended Lake Forest College in Illinois, where she earned a bachelors degree in political science. She then went on to law school at Springfields Western New England University, where she graduated with a Juris Doctor degree.

For the last 30-plus years, Duncan has been practicing mainly criminal defense law in Springfield, but has also worked cases in landlord/tenant disputes and juvenile justice.

I think the natural next step was to become a judge for me, she said.

The process for becoming a judge varies from state to state, but in the commonwealth, judges are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of an eight-person panel, known as the Governors Council.

Next week, on Monday, Councilor Tara Jacobs, who serves the eighth district, will be hosting a public hearing to gather testimony on Duncans nomination. The hearing will be at the universitys Blakely Law Center in the Moot Courtroom, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

I am grateful to Governor Healey and her administration for recognizing the need for Western Massachusetts to be represented in our judiciary, said Jacobs in a statement.

If confirmed, Duncan would only be the second woman of color to serve on the Superior Court in Western Massachusetts in state history, Jacobs continued.

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said this week that hes in favor of Duncans nomination.

She has always been a class act with a well-tempered legal acumen and a community-based person, too, he said. I am elated that a Springfield resident has been nominated. This is extremely important, for she understands our needs and is part of our community.

Justin Hurst, Springfield city councilman and opponent challenging Sarno in the mayoral election this November, also shared his excitement for Duncans nomination.

This was an excellent nomination by Governor Healey, Hurst said. Its great to see that shes now getting the recognition for her hard work in Springfield. This will be good for the commonwealth.

Duncan also received support from retired Superior Court Justice Tina S. Page, who was the first woman of color to serve on the Superior Court.

It is Duncans trial experience, demeanor, and love of the law that make her the perfect addition to the Superior Court, Page said in a statement.

The Governors Council will be holding a formal hearing on Duncans nomination at the statehouse on Oct. 18.
HOLYOKE  In a courtroom packed with family of a defendant and a gunned down victim, a Holyoke man was arraigned on murder charges today in District Court after being picked up last month by U.S. Marshals Service agents in Puerto Rico.

Aleq J. Rodriguez, 22, who pleaded not guilty, is being held without the right to bail in connection with the June 23 gunshot killing of Edgar Soto-Irizarry, 30. He was arrested on Sept. 21.

Rodriguez will appear back in court Nov. 9 for a pretrial hearing. Judge William P. Hadley impounded the case, keeping the court documents from public view.

Family and supporters of murder victim Edgar Soto-Irizarry sit in court during the arraignment of Aleq Rodriguez in Holyoke District Court on murder charges in the June death of Soto-Irizarry. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

In June, the Holyoke Police Department received a 911 call around 9:20 a.m. for a reported shooting victim on the 300 block of Appleton Street, near the United Congregational Church and just a few blocks fro

Edgar Soto-Irizarry, 30, slain in June in Holyoke. (Submitted photo)Submitted photo

m the Holyoke Police Department.

Officers arrived a short time later and found Soto-Irizarry suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical service personnel performed lifesaving measures on Soto-Irizarry but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

After investigating, detectives received arrest warrant, charging Rodriguez with Soto-Irizarrys death.

Agents with the Marshals Service apprehended Rodriguez in Puerto Rico on Sept. 21, and the court ordered his extradition back to Massachusetts to face charges.

While Assistant Hampden District Attorney Katharine Johnston lodged a single charge of murder today, court documents show Rodriguez also has an open criminal complaint for an April 3 incident in which he racked up weapons charges, including possessing ammunition without and FID card and obstruction of a vehicle window.

The case has been investigated by the Holyoke Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorneys Office and the Hampden District Attorneys Offices Murder Unit.

Soto-Irizarry was killed on June 23, 2023. An earlier version of this story was incorrect.
With Boston and the rest of Massachusetts in a housing crisis, candidates for city-wide office have differing views on the best ways to tackle the problem.

Candidates for at-large seats on the Boston City Council spoke Wednesday about their views on the citys housing crisis during a forum hosted by Abundant Housing Massachusetts. Six of the eight candidates for four at-large seats participated; Councilor Erin Murphy and candidate Bridget Nee-Walsh were not in attendance.

The candidates generally agreed that Boston needs more affordable housing, but had differing opinions on how to get there. One policy discussed was the citys inclusionary development policy, or IDP, which requires a certain percentage of units in new residential developments with 10 or more units that require zoning relief to be affordable.

Previously, the policy required 13% of units to be affordable, but in July, the Boston Planning and Development Agency approved a measure that increased the level to 17% and also required 3% of units to be set aside for Section 8 voucher holders.

Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune said she supported the change, especially the addition of the Section 8 set-aside, but that she was concerned going any higher would prevent development.

Twenty-five percent of zero is zero, Louijeune said. If you raise it to an IDP level where developers are not able to build and you get no housing production, not only do you not get any market housing production, you get no affordable housing production.

She and fellow candidate Henry Santana said instead, the policy should be used in combination with other measures to increase production.

Councilor Julia Mejia, however, said she would support bringing the IDP level as high as 50%, saying that the city should call developers bluff that a higher level would prevent construction of more housing.

We need to build for what this moment needs instead of just trying to go along and get along and just doing what we can, Mejia said. There are other countries who are utilizing different types of materials to build, more sustainable materials, more green materials. So there is a will, there is a way ... Lets try it out and see what happens.

Candidate Catherine Vitale said the citys policies should go even further. She said the city is being overdeveloped, and that most of the projects coming online are out of reach for the majority of residents.

Why are we even allowing big developments ... to be built if your residents cant afford them? It doesnt make any sense, she said. It should be 100%. That might sound crazy, but if were in a housing crisis and this is an emergency, then why are all new units being built not 100% affordable to everybody that lives here?

The city of Boston is in the beginning stages of overhauling its 60-year-old zoning code, which Mayor Michelle Wu has said is an obstacle to creating more housing.

Vitale and some other candidates said Wednesday that the process needs to include residents from different neighborhoods, as they were worried that new zoning regulations could lead to overdevelopment or projects that did not fit in with their surroundings.

Shawn Nelson said he had heard complaints from people around the city about new housing projects that were too modern-looking compared with their neighbors. He noted neighborhoods such as the South End, which is characterized by its historic brick homes, and said many of the newer, large multifamily buildings being built in Boston would clash with this design.

Anything that is 60 years old needs to be updated. We have new materials, we have different locations. So it needs to be updated to make sure that we are planning ahead and making sure everyone is getting what they need. But we also need to respect the communities that these zoning codes are going into, Nelson said. For every community neighborhood, it needs to follow the guidelines of the community.

Louijeunes thoughts on the zoning overhaul were more in line with the mayors, as she said Boston would not be able to get out of the housing crisis by building single-family, single-lot homes, and the current zoning put unnecessary barriers in front of constructing multifamily housing.

Like the rest of the candidates, she said residents needed to be included in the process to be sure the regulations fit each neighborhood, but added a caveat that sometimes the good of the city at large needed to be put first.

Were not going to be able to single our way out of this crisis and so making it easier to build multi unit dwellings for you know, greater density. While we do need to think about trade offs, what we often hear about is, Well, this has completely changed the character of my neighborhood, the character of my street, Louijeune said. The loudest voices arent necessarily whats best for the city and whats best for everyone ... When you attend certain association meetings, its skewed towards homeowners. And we are a city thats 65% renters who have needs.

One controversial zoning change Boston has made is eliminating minimum parking requirements for residential developments where 60% or more of units are affordable.

This policy, and the idea of expanding it, was controversial at Wednesdays forum as well, with the six candidates split down the middle on whether they supported it: Louijeune, Mejia and Santana were for, while Vitale, Nelson and Clifton Braithwaite were against it.

Not everyones going to walk. Not everyones going to use the T. There are people in the city and coming into the city who may have cars ... Its not going to be realistic, Nelson said. Its going to have more people parking on the sidewalks and double parking trying to find somewhere to park even three or four blocks away.

Braithwaite said he believed it was unfair for homeowners or renters to have to pay extra money in order to park their car in a garage. He said many were unable to afford this extra expense, and it led to more people parking on the street. He proposed that developers building garage parking should not be able to charge their residents to use it.

We have to look at the neighbors that were there before, he said. Were just doing a lot of building, a lot of infrastructure, and not looking the long haul down the road.

Mejia said that as a single mother who frequently has to drive her children to activities, she understood the necessity of having transportation. But she said parking minimums were a tool that is used to keep people out.

Mejia said the city needs to look at the needs of all residents and find a balance between freeing up space for new affordable housing and not preventing people who live there from parking near their own homes.

if were really serious about our current situation, then we need to start looking at folks who are driving from outside of Boston to work in Boston, and occupy all of our parking spots, Mejia said. If were really serious about accountability, it provides an opportunity for us to say, Well, youre going to park here, you want to do business here, then who are you displacing from their parking spot?

Louijeune said that given the choice between housing someone and a parking spot, the obvious choice would be to make sure someone had housing. However, she said that if the city wants to get to the point where it can eliminate parking minimums entirely, it needed to first look at its public transit system.

Were not yet there to a place where were able to say car or Orange Line, you choose. I think that theres families or people who arent able to make that decision because of a lack of reliability, she said. I want to get us to a place where we can remove all parking minimums. I dont believe that were there.

Part of the citys problem, according to Braithwaite, is that existing affordable housing is not being preserved. He pointed out that sometimes when buildings are sold or existing tenants move out, landlords are able to remove income restrictions and allow market-rate renters to move in.

If something is put aside for people to live there and its affordable, it should remain affordable, he said.

He and other candidates also said the city needs to be working to maintain its existing public housing. Santana, who grew up in public housing and whose parents still live there, said his mother sometimes calls him to help her fix broken things in her apartment, knowing that it would take much longer to request help from the property managers.

Public housing has historically been left behind by elected officials, he said. I only had in my lifetime two elected officials knock on my door ... I want to work on fixing up the infrastructure. How do we create more units, and how do we create pathways for homeownership?

Three of the candidates, Nelson, Vitale and Braithwaite, also advocated for helping small landlords, arguing that if they were to receive tax breaks or other financial assistance, they would then be able to pass those savings on to their tenants.

Nelson, who has rented his home for 22 years, said his landlord is like a second mother.

I see her bills. When she increases the rent, (she says) I dont want to go do this, but my bills are going up, and then she has to cover it, he said. If she doesnt, shes gonna lose her home. No one ever thinks about the homeowner. We all think that theyre greedy and corrupt, and a lot of them are not.

The Boston municipal election will be held on Nov. 7.
The U.S. State Department said its pursuing charter flights to rescue American citizens stuck in Israel during the countrys deadly war with Hamas, which has now claimed thousands of lives.

I am glad and relieved that the State Department is heeding our calls to pursue chartered flights for Americans seeking to leave Israel and Gaza, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, said in a statement. This action will undoubtedly save lives and I urge the department to help ensure all Americans in the region are supported without delay. We must prioritize civilian safety and prevent further loss of Israeli, Palestinian and American lives.

Wednesdays announcement from the State Department comes after nearly 150 members of Congress including Pressley and Democratic Massachusetts Reps. James McGovern, Lori Trahan and Jake Auchincloss signed a letter urging the agency to pursue chartered flights for Americans seeking to leave Israel.

At this harrowing moment in Israels history, it is more important than ever that every American who is looking to return home has the opportunity to do so, the lawmakers wrote.

As the fighting between Israel and and the Islamic terrorist group Hamas entered its sixth day, at least 2,600 people have died on both sides. The war has taken the lives of at least 22 Americans, with 17 being unaccounted for, White House officials said Wednesday.

A number of those missing Americans are being held hostage by Hamas, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said. However, he also said that theres a possibility that that number will increase as more information becomes available.

Kirby reassured American families affected by the war in Israel that the U.S. is doing, everything we can  particularly for those who dont know where a loved one is  to find out where they are and to get them home with you where they belong.

However, the State Departments efforts to rescue Americans from the deadly war between Israel and Hamas might be harder than expected.

Most major U.S. airlines have halted flights in and out of Israel due to the extreme danger of the ongoing war. Although there are still some commercial airlines that are still flying in and out of Israel with safe ground routes, these options may not be feasible or affordable for some Americans, Kirby said.

An anonymous former senior State Department official told Politico that since people arent required to tell the State Department about their travel plans, they dont have a proper estimate on how many American citizens are looking to return home.

So when people say, Why dont you know where all these people are? Well, they didnt tell us, the official told Politico Wednesday in an interview.

Usually in crisis, situations the first action item for the State Department to do is to open up lines of communication with loved ones  and in this case the Israeli government, the former official said.

Currently, the State Department said that it is in communication with U.S. citizens seeking to return home. The Department is encouraging those Americans to book flights  that are available  with stops to other countries, before landing in the U.S.

In order to meet the high demand for flights, we are also exploring other contract options by air, land, and sea to nearby countries, the Department said.
Farmers and ranchers interested in preventing erosion, improving soil health, conserving water and wildlife, or making other natural resource conservation improvements to their property are encouraged to apply now for funding available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Those interested in receiving funding this year should sign up before Nov. 17, 2023.

NRCS accepts conservation program applications on a continuous basis but sets application cutoff dates as funding allows. According to NRCS Nebraska State Conservationist Rob Lawson, there are several options still available to producers for this year.

NRCS has a whole suite of conservation programs available to Nebraskas farmers and ranchers looking for assistance in improving and protecting the natural resources on their ag land. These programs provide funding on cropland and rangeland, as well as for establishing or enhancing wildlife habitat and wetlands. NRCS staff can help landowners and operators identify their options that best suit their operations needs, Lawson said.

Nebraska's two most popular conservation programs are the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). These programs provide financial incentives to landowners to install conservation practices that protect natural resources, resulting in cleaner air and water, healthy soil, and more wildlife habitat.

For applications to be considered eligible for IRA funding, applications need to include one or more core practices listed on the FY23 Climate-Smart Ag and Forestry (CSAF) Mitigation Activities List. Individuals interested in applying for these conservation programs may do so at any time, but applications need to be submitted by Nov. 17 to be considered for this years funding.

For more information about conservation programs and other assistance available, contact your local NRCS field office or visit nrcs.usda.gov/NE.
The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business announced the second Canada-Africa Business Conference, following the success of our first ever program at the Gaborone International Convention Centre in Botswana in 2019.

In partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the Canada-Africa Business Conference will bring together key players comprising a day-long program at the Muthaiga Country Club and a VIP Reception on 19 February, followed by a second day of site visits in Nairobi on 20 February 2024.

The event is open to all corporate members of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, as well as invited guests and sponsors  in partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).

Sectors to be represented already include medical care, infrastructure, energy, financing for Canada-Africa projects and FinTech. Additional sector focus areas are in progress, under the theme of Canadas role as a trusted partner across African markets  in the vital context of Kenya as a key gateway to the East Africa region and the continent.

We look forward to announcing program updates, as we confirm the participation of leading decision-makers, says, Garreth Bloor, President of Canada-Africa Chamber President. He added: Our previous engagements in Kenya have always been an incredible success and this is testament  in no small part  to the key role of Kenya and KEPSA in Canada-Africa trade and investment.

We are excited to collaborate with the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business and look forward to the forum that will promote trade and investment between Canada and our great continent of Africa. This forum aims to widen the scope of available opportunities in medical care, infrastructure, energy, FinTech and project financing said Ms Carole Kariuki, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).

All attendees are invited to join us for an evening reception on Monday 19 February 2024, following our conference program during the day. We are honoured that H.E. Christopher Thornley, the Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya, has graciously extended this invitation to all delegates of the 2nd Canada-Africa Business Conference.
Etain OMalley, the only daughter of the author Ernie OMalley, born in Castlebar, and American artist, Helen Hooker OMalley, who lived at various times in Burrishoole Lodge, Newport between 1938 and 1981, has made a generous donation of art works and heritage materials to County Mayo. These were items that had resided in the home of Ernie OMalley and Helen Hooker OMalley for some years. The donation was facilitated by Cormac OMalley, (brother of Etain OMalley), with Custom House Studios at Westport Quay.

Items include an important painting of imagery of Newport and Burrishoole which are by the English artist Stella Frost, donated to the Mayo County Council Art Collection.

Born in Manchester, Stella Frost is one of a number of women artists who worked in Ireland during the 1930s, 40s and 1950s. She lived in Dubin, and spent considerable time at her home in Achill. She made her Achill cottage available to artists and writers, many who made works there, including Mainie Jellett. She mixed with artists including Marie Howet, in Achill and Dublin and she was a frequent visitor to Burrishoole lodge. She painted in Achill and overseas.

She joined the Dublin Society of Painters c 1935, probably with the encouragement of her friends Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. Although not a regular exhibitor, she held her first solo exhibition at the Dublin Painters Gallery in St Stephens Green in October 1935. A review in the Irish Times called it a remarkable exhibition and noted that images of Yugoslavia, Herzegovina and the Balearic Islands were included. The southern European landscape depicted in 'Red Earth' may be inspired by the mineral-red soil on Ibiza, and other Balearic Islands, which was historically used as pigment to make paint. Frost exhibited two paintings of Ibiza in the RHA of 1935 suggesting that she had recently visited the island. An article about Andorra published in the Irish Times in January 1927 is evidence that Frost wrote as well as painted, and in 1957 she edited the book 'A Tribute to Evie Hone and Mainie Jellett' which records her admiration of and friendship with the two artists.

The donation also includes a plaster cast bust of Ernie OMalley by Helen Hooker (later OMalley) made in NYC in 1934. This is donated to Mayo County Libraries. Helen Hooker (later OMalley) later went on to execute a series of important portraits in Ireland  some now visible at the University of Limerick.

Donated to the Westport Historical Society at the Clew Bay Heritage centre at Westport Quay are a series of diary records dating from 1832-1910, from the Custom House at Westport Quay. These provide fascinating and vital first hand historical details of commerce, civil administration, employment and coastal trading, of the Custom services and the activities of the Coastguard, in Westport and Co Mayo. Ernie O'Malley and Helen Hooker OMalley had a keen interest in heritage and historical materials and artefacts in Co Mayo and across the West of Ireland, collecting and documenting and photographing historical objects and sites. The receiving organisations have expressed their gratitude to Etain OMalley for this thoughtful and important donation.

Pictured above were, from left: James Kelly, Westport Historical Society; Austin Vaughan, Mayo County Libraries; Margaret Adams, Chairperson, Custom House Studios; Ann Marie McGing, Mayo County Council Arts Officer and John McHugh, Custom House Studios, at the hand over of donated items from Etain OMalley at Custom House Studios.
THE Chairman of Westport Horse Fair is appealing to horse owners across Mayo to support one of Ireland oldest fairs this Saturday.

Paddy Joe Foy is calling on owners of horses, donkeys and ponies to support the Westport Horse Fair, which dates back to 1741.

The fair returned to the Mall last year after a three-year hiatus last year and was well-attended despite inclement weather conditions on the day.

Owners of foul, sheep, vintage cars and machinery are also welcome to lend their support to the centuries-old fair to keep the tradition going.

Without their support we wont have any fair, Mr Foy told The Mayo News.

Paddy Joe Foy, Chairman of Westport Horse Fair (Pic: Conor McKeown)

The horse fair will take place on the South Mall and will coincide with Westport Heritage Day, which will feature a diverse display of old machinery, cars and other items.

Parking will be available along the North Mall for the event, which commences at 10.30am on Saturday, October 14.

Attractions will include a threshing display, the smallest cow in Ireland, a mobile forge, basket making as well as a sheepdog demonstration from Jim Prenty. Music will be provided by Charlie Keating.

All stewards for the fair are requested to assemble at 8.30am on Saturday morning.

Mr Foy has extended his thanks to local county councillors Brendan Mulroy, John OMalley, Christy Hyland and Peter Flynn, Westport Horse Show, Mayo County Council, An Garda Siochana and local residents for their support of this historic show.

Anyone interested in supporting the Westport Horse Fair can contact Paddy Joe Foy on 087 655 3005.
Several weeks ago, Schuyler Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Audra Jedlicka was going through her emails and noticed something different: one of them was about the Latino Small Business Conference's awards ceremony.

The chamber, Jedlicka discovered as she read the email, was named collaborator of the year by the organization and its presence was requested at a Sept. 30 awards ceremony for "Unwavering dedication, exceptional teamwork and remarkable contributions." Jedlicka said it was a welcome surprise.

"It melts my heart, it makes the job and all of the hard work and effort worthwhile. To have others see the fruition of our labor come to effect, that matters to us," Jedlicka said.

Jedlicka said a lot of the credit for the award goes to the board, whose decisions she makes happen. The board doesn't get enough credit, Jedlicka added, for their part in how the chamber has changed in recent years to steer it in this direction.

"They really just let me run. I know what their goals are and I work hard to put those in place, but the unity and having everyone feel welcome walking into whoever's business or for whoever owns that business to know they're welcome and a part of it, which goes back to that word: collaboration," Jedlicka said.

Yonni Izaguirre, a board member, said that outreach into the Latino community likely played into the chamber being given this honor. Working at Cargill, Izaguirre said, he noticed that information was not reaching all the Latino population in town and he wanted to help with that. That was partially how he got involved with the chamber in the first place.

"I started bringing info from the chamber as to what I can do, what I can help with. Latinos feel comfortable with more Latinos and I'm one of those people who likes to build bridges," Izaguirre said. "What we're doing is I think getting more information to the community as a team. It's not something one person can do, it's a team effort."

The chamber board, Izaguirre said, gives Audra their plans and she makes them happen. This allows her some room to talk to people, knock on doors and make those connections to make events like the Cinco de Mayo celebration work with all the groups involved. Her social media savvy and willingness to go into the community and work with businesses one-on-one has definitely left impressions with people, Izaguirre added.

"Audra is a unique person, I've been on the chamber board about a year, I knew very little about it before, but I've never seen anyone in a chamber go door-to-door like her effort, then it goes down to her team," Izaguirre said. "She's a very welcoming person."

Through the chamber's members and board making these kind of efforts on individual and business-to-business levels, Jedlicka said, small businesses of every kind have become more of a part of their community, which is where that "collaborator" role comes in.

"We not only have some of those Latino businesses and the African store, they have been members, but now they're vocal members, where they're sharing and giving their opinions and saying what we can do to help them," Jedlicka said. "I think they're comfortable to share that voice."

Those businesses, Jedlicka said, are more involved in a lot of community events and activities as a result, she added, which pushes everyone closer to their goal. The award, she said, is an honor, especially because of the category it's in.

"I was thrilled and I love that it was collaborator of the year. Whether it's something like Cinco de Mayo or anything where we're trying to host an event, I feel like we set the tone of collaboration since day one, whether that's collaborating with businesses, the community or the cultures in our community," Jedlicka said.
Global Health Sensors Market revenue was US$ 26.0 billion in 2022 and is estimated to attain a valuation of US$ 59.4 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.91% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2031.

The global health sensors market has experienced tremendous growth in demand. This rise is due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, expanding older population, and rising fitness preferences. As healthcare organizations improve services in the present complex healthcare environment, the need for sophisticated and precise monitoring systems increases.

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The rising incidence of chronic diseases and their mounting strain on the worlds healthcare systems drive the demand for health sensors. Global health challenges include chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and neurological problems. For instance, according to the WHO, chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory ailments will be responsible for 86% of the 90 million deaths worldwide by 2050. The importance of health sensors in solving this expanding healthcare challenge is highlighted by chronic diseases being a global problem.

Growing awareness of fitness and health has led to an increase in the demand for health sensors. Globally, consumers are increasingly inclined to buy portable and wearable technology to keep track of their health. Such gadgets are increasingly in demand in hospitals, clinics, and home care settings. The abrupt global spread of the coronavirus is to blame for the increase in sales of diagnostic and monitoring tools. For instance, in April 2023, Honeywell stated that the company would develop an AI-based real-time health monitoring system. This device, which incorporates health sensors, can take and record patients vital signs inside the hospital and from a distance.

Technological Advancement: An Emerging Trend for the Market

The fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies is a significant development in the global health sensors market. Utilizing these technologies will increase the capabilities of health sensors and better patient outcomes.

The effectiveness of a smartphone app driven by artificial intelligence (AI) that can correctly detect tuberculosis, a common disease in India, was highlighted in a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. The software was an invaluable tool for early diagnosis in situations with limited resources because it had an accuracy rate of 85% when compared to conventional laboratory methods.

For instance, the Google Pixel 2 Watch has three new sensors. The multi-path heart monitoring sensor now provides readings from numerous wrist locations, enhancing accuracy by up to 40%. Additionally, stress and temperature sensors have been integrated, giving users access to information and suggestions for managing stress. The Pixel Watch 2s Fitbit app has been redesigned. The app will provide new features to improve user experience by utilizing AI.

As a result, AI-powered health sensors can recognize and adjust to unique user patterns, enabling more precise and customized monitoring. Healthcare delivery innovation and efficiency are likely to be boosted by the use of AI and ML in health sensors.

Wearable Design Healthcare Sensor Generated 44% of Market Revenue Share

In 2022, wearables accounted for over 43.9% of market revenue, and this dominance is likely to continue from 2023 to 2031. The increased focus on personal health and fitness as well as the use of cutting-edge sensor technology are driving up demand for wearable health sensors.

Due to the consumer preference for comfort, mobility, and user-friendliness, wearables dominate the industry. For instance, in September 2023, the Netherlands-based research and development company TNO announced that AIKON Health, a new digital health business, had been established. The subsidiarys primary area of focus will be managing chronic care, starting with heart monitoring.

Similarly, in July 2023, Noise introduced the first Smart Ring to solidify its dominance in the field of health wearables. Designed to spark a radical lifestyle change, Luna Ring will improve the smart wearable experience by enhancing daily performance and recording over 70 metrics with best-in-class capabilities.

As a result of these benefits, the demand for wearable sensors will increase in the coming years.

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North America Contributed 40% Revenue Share to the Market

With a 40% revenue share, North America dominates the global health sensors market. The region is anticipated to maintain its market dominance during the forecast period. This is a result of several factors, including the high frequency of chronic diseases, the use of innovative healthcare technologies, the encouragement of government programs, and increased consumer awareness of health monitoring.

In the United States, chronic diseases are a major cause for concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), four out of ten Americans and approximately six out of ten Americans have two or more chronic diseases. Health sensors are in high demand because of their capacity to offer continuous monitoring and early detection of health issues, which is a result of the increased prevalence of chronic diseases.

The demand for health sensors in North America is greatly affected by the governments policies and regulations. Through a number of initiatives and legislation, the U.S. government has been aggressively encouraging the adoption of digital health technologies. For instance, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has put in place payment plans to encourage telehealth and remote patient monitoring services, which promotes the use of health sensors in the provision of medical treatment.

A high level of healthcare spending, a tech-savvy populace, rising smartphone penetration, and a strong presence of health tech startups and firms driving innovation in the industry are other reasons contributing to North Americas supremacy in the health sensors market.

Some of the Prominent Players Profiled in the Report are:

Segmentation Outline

The global health sensors market segmentation focuses on Sensor Type, Design, Application, End-Users, Sales Channel, and Region.

By Sensor Type

Temperature Sensors

Pressure Sensors

Blood Glucose Sensors

Blood Oxygen Sensors

Others

By Design

Medical Devices

Portable Devices

Wearables

Body Worn

Others

By Application

Home Healthcare Monitoring

Point of Care Diagnostics

Chronic Illness and At-Risk Monitoring

Hospital Clinical Monitoring

Post-Acute Care Monitoring

Others

By End Users

Medical Device

Consumer Electronic

Sports/Fitness

Others

By Sales Channel

Direct

Distributor

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 ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of MEA

South America Argentina Brazil Rest of South America



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The global Non Opioid Pain Relief Device Market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2031. The global market is forecast to increase in revenue of reach US$ 10,311 million by 2031 from US$ 5,031 million in 2022.

The global non-opioid pain management devices market is witnessing significant growth possibilities during the forecast period. The aging global population that experiences chronic pain and the rising need for non-invasive, non-pharmacological pain management solutions are the major factors driving the market growth. Asia Pacific is predicted to become a rapidly expanding market owing to its sizable population, rising healthcare spending, and rising use of cutting-edge medical technology. The market future is promising with technological advancements focusing on intelligent, connected devices that offer tailored pain management.

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The global non-opioid pain treatment market is expanding as a result of an aging population and an increase in diseases like arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, dental disorders, etc., that cause chronic pain conditions. A growing global health concern is chronic pain, which affects over 1.5 billion individuals globally. This translates to a prevalence rate of more than 20% in the adult population. Among older adults, the number is even more startling, with around 50% reporting experiencing chronic pain.

The constricting regulations on the use of opioid analgesics in the treatment of pain are offering significant potential for market growth. Misuse of prescription drugs like oxycodone and fentanyl, as well as opioid addiction, are significant global issues that have a detrimental impact on peoples health as well as their economic and social well-being. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health expects that there were 46 to 48 deaths in 2022, bringing the total number of verified and anticipated opioid-related overdose deaths to around 2,357. In 2022, there were 2,310 confirmed opioid-related deaths, according to DPH data. Medical device producers are focusing their efforts and research on creating viable non-opioid alternatives in response to this crisis.

Neuromuscular Pain Attained Revenue of US$ 1,911.9 Million in the Global Market

The neuromuscular pain subsegment dominated the non-opioid pain treatment device market. The segment contributed US$ 1,911.9 million in sales alone in 2022, which is close to 38%.

This prevalence can be due to an increase in jobs that require prolonged sitting and a more sedentary lifestyle, both of which have led to a rise in occurrences of chronic back pain. For instance, 64% of workers polled in Godrej Interios Workplace and Ergonomics Research Cells Its Time to Switch research sat at their workstations for more than nine hours each day. Long hours of sitting can put a strain on the body and cause serious musculoskeletal problems, which may be the cause of back pain.

For instance, the World Health Organization estimates that 60 to 70 percent of adults in affluent countries have felt low back pain. The American Chiropractic Association, which asserts that back pain is the primary cause of disability and prevents many people from working or engaging in other normal activities, brings attention to this issue further.

Additionally, a rise in the number of prediabetics supports this tendency. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 38% of adults in the United States who are 18 years of age and olderor about 96 million peoplehave prediabetes. With these figures, it is anticipated that the market will be significantly impacted in the near future by the rise of the diabetic neuropathy pain category.

North America Contributed Over 35% to the Global Market Revenue Share

North America led the non-opioid pain treatment device market in 2022, with sales there totaling over US$ 1,898.9 million, or around 35% of total sales.

North America is predicted to maintain its dominance in this market as a result of the growing incidence of pain in the region as well, and product launches by the regions top industry players are anticipated to fuel market expansion over the forecast year.

Chronic pain is one of the key factors driving the markets rise. According to a study titled Prevalence of Pain Management Techniques Among Adults with chronic pain in the United States, 2019, which was published in the JAMA Network in February 2022, one in five people in the United States are believed to have chronic pain. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in 2021, there will be 51.6 million adults in the United States who will have chronic pain, and there will be 17.1 million who will have high-impact chronic pain.

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Given the emergence of non-opioid replacements, more government inspection of the North American countries in relation to the opioid epidemic is anticipated to be advantageous. The market is expected to grow as a consequence of the increased demand for quick and effective treatment options.

List of Prominent Players

Abbott Laboratories

Bayer AG

Bioelectronics Corporation

Boston Scientific Corporation

Medtronic plc

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Neurometrix Inc .

. Nuvectra Corporation

Omron Corporation

Stryker Corporation

SPR Therapeutics, LLC

Stimwave LLC

Thermotek Inc.

Zynex Medical

Other Prominent Players

Segmentation Outline

The global non-opioid pain relief device market segmentation focuses on Application, Technology, End User, and Region.

By Application

Neuromuscular

Musculoskeletal

Injuries

Diabetic Neuropathy

Others

By Technology

Electroanalgesia Implantable Device

Non-Implantable Device Traditional TENS Wearable TENS Others

Radiofrequency Ablation

Other Emerging Technologies

By End User

Pain Management Centers

Hospitals

Homecare

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 Saudi Arabia South Africa UAE Rest of MEA

South America Argentina Brazil Rest of South America



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by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, October 12, 2023

TVs reliance on presenting the worst in human behavior gets a new showcase Thursday on E!.

This new show, House of Villains, represents somebodys idea for taking TVs preference for conflict over amity and negativity over positivity to a whole new level.

The show, which was unavailable to preview, curates 10 contestants who the E! publicity department describes with words such as iconic and infamous.

They are participants on past reality shows on which they got along with no one and schemed against all of them. They are the villains of this new shows title.

But except for a relative handful of reality-TV addicts who are still drawn to these spectacles like moths to lightbulbs, none of these people are iconic or infamous to the vast majority of the rest of us who have never heard of them.

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All except one, however: Omarosa, who sometimes includes her last name -- Manigault -- at various times, but for this new show, she seems to have chosen just Omarosa.

The TV Blog will concede that, yes, she is famous, and also infamous. But iconic? No.

She first gained fame as the resident villain on the first season of The Apprentice in 2004.

Although she did not win, she must have campaigned over the years to maintain a relationship with the star of the show, Donald Trump.

For no reason related to talent or experience, Trump hired her years later to work in the White House as some sort of communications liaison.

She was eventually dismissed for reasons that are not 100% clear, although acute hubris might have played a part.

Or, maybe she emerged as a reality-TV villain in the White House and President Trump pointed his finger at her and said, Youre fired.

Before that, her career was checkered, characterized mainly by irresistible opportunities to appear on reality shows.

One that I have mentioned here previously was in 2005, on a season of The Surreal Life, the old show where down-on-their-luck celebrities lived together in a large Hollywood house.

In one infamous episode of the show, Omarosa and fellow resident Janice Dickinson faced off in a bowling match against a team of men and women with Down syndrome.

Cut to the present day and this one-time member of the Trump Administration is once again in a house full of villains, this time on a reality show.

One of the other villains is familiar to the TV Blog from long ago, but perhaps not to many others: Tiffany Pollard, nicknamed New York by rapper Flava Flav in his unforgettable reality series Flavor of Love, on which she appeared in 2006.

Fact is, I dont remember her as particularly villainous, but at least I remember her, which is more than I can say for any of the others living in E!s House of Villains.

In order to make up for the obscurity of this shows participants, E! is doing all it can to put them across.

For example, E! publicity insists that Anfisa Arkhipchenko from 90 Day Fiance skyrocketed to fame.

Bobby Lytes made history, E! says, as the first openly gay main cast member on Love & Hip Hop: Miami. Hes not exactly Rosa Parks, but more power to him.

Not to be outdone, E! says Brooklyns Tanisha Thomas from The Bad Girls Club on Oxygen uttered one-liners that were so catchy that they led her to becoming a cultural icon in pop culture. My goodness.

Goaded by host Joel McHale, the participants on House of Villains will be challenged to turn up the villainy in order to out-scheme and undermine their housemates in pursuit of a $200,000 prize.

NBCU seems to be so high on this show that the premiere episode will air simultaneously on E!, Syfy and USA Network.

In promos that have been running lately on various NBCU channels, the show comes across like just another unattractive slugfest featuring people youve never heard of behaving badly. It is sometimes hard to believe that TV is still making these kinds of shows.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, October 12, 2023

Driven by strong performances from its media operations and data unit Epsilon, Publicis Groupe grew 5.3% organically in the third quarter, ahead of expectations and prompting the holding company to upgrade its full-year growth guidance to between 5.5% and 6%. Thats up from earlier guidance of 5%, which was above its initial projection of 3% to 5%.

advertisement advertisement The company said the latest upgrade factors in economic and social tensions that are likely to continue to affect client spending and further delays by marketers in fulfilling digital business transformation goals. Possible downward end-of-year adjustments to advertisers budgets have also been considered.

Q4 organic growth is now expected to be between 3% and 5%. Company shares were up 5% on the strong results in morning trading on the Paris Exchange.

The firms media operations were up high-single-digits on a percentage basis while Epsilon was up 10.5%. Creative operations grew single digits and digital transformation unit Publicis Sapient was up 1.2% on top of 18% growth in the year-ago period.

All regions posted growth including the U.S., which was up 3.2% following double-digit growth in the last two years. Europe was a standout at 10.7%, while the Asia Pacific region posted a 3.8% gain.

Looking at our growth journey since the pandemic, the acceleration of our growth amid persistent macroeconomic challenges is clearly visible, stated company CEO Arthur Sadoun. Q3 was up 22% versus the same quarter in 2019, shortly before the COVID crisis hit, he noted.

For the rest of the year, we intend to lead what we believe to be the two major priorities for our industry today: Bringing our teams back together in person, and accelerating the AI-ification of our operations. Publicis Sapient will be the main driver on the artificial intelligence front.

The company also said its operating profit margin will be 18% for the full year, slightly ahead of its previous forecast, while free cash flow will total 1.7 billion euros, about 100 million euros more than the previous projection.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, October 12, 2023

In one of his oddest defenses that hes not anti-Semitic, X Corp.s Elon Musk gave an interview claiming that his entire life story is that he is pro-Semitic and that he is aspirationally Jewish."

The September 29 interview with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, oddly, was pinned to the top of X CEO Linda Yaccarino's personal account with her comment, "This is X demonstrating its absolute commitment to combating antisemitism on the platform. This open dialogue was truly historic."

Listening to it, it was hard for me to tell whether Musk was a) tone deaf, b) joking around, or c) trolling Jewish people, because among other things, his remarks included stereotypical tropes.

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At one point, he described the classic Jewish folks song Hava Nagila as not necessarily being the best  its a little rusty, but its pretty, pretty good.

The interview followed allegations that Musk is anti-Semitic, because among other things, he has threatened to sue the Anti-Defamation League for allegedly dissuading advertisers from buying ads on X.

My entire life story, in fact, is pro-Semitic, Musk told Shapiro, going on to note that he attended a Hebrew preschool as a child in South Africa, traveled to Israel, and that his first name is the equivalent of being called Bob in Israel.

I dont know if Im genetically Jewish or what  maybe somewhere  but Im aspirationally Jewish, let me put it that way, Musk said, adding that he considers himself pretty Jewish adjacent.

Oddly, neither Musk nor Shapiro pointed out that anyone aspiring to be Jewish could actually convert to the religion.

Musk went on to re-express his view that hate speech should be tolerated as a form of free speech, and that Xs policy is basically to adhere to whatever laws govern that in the markets in which it operates, with the U.S. being especially tolerant of it.

He claimed that X has been dealing with it algorithmically by minimizing the reach of users posting hate speech on X, and also restated claims that the volume of overall hate speech is down during his first year as its owner vs. the year prior to his acquisition of Twitter.

It dropped by at least 30% and I think they continue to decline, he claimed, although, unlike Meta -- which has an independent board overseeing its content moderation policies and regularly reports publicly on the steps it has been taking and how hate speech has been trending -- X now operates as a private company, effectively grading its own homework.

Speaking about advertisers pullout from X since he acquired the platform, cut its content-moderation team, and reinstated previously banned accounts, as well as reposting and amplifying other questionable ones on his personal account, Musk criticized advertisers as being rather skittish in placing X on a not safe for advertising list.

A loud noise in the room can scare advertisers, he said, adding: Theyre not sort of bold as brass.

Asked by Shapiro whether the ADL or the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA)s GARM (Global Alliance for Responsible Media) initiatives aimed at advertisers was a form of constraining free speech, Musk said he thought the problem is a binary one, because advertisers have an on/off switch when it comes to unsafe content, which is pretty silly.

He went on to suggest a market-based approach to advertising in questionable and unsafe content that he likened to the film industrys rating system.

You dont have a go/no go for movies, he said noting that movies are rated on a scale from general audiences to X-rated ones. He then chuckled to himself as if he realized an inside joke, adding, X-rated  hilarious.

In more practical terms, Musk suggested the market-based approach should be based on a cost tier in which the safest content was priced higher than unsafe content, and advertisers could make the choice about the relative ROI of advertising in each tier.

Advertisers who want the safest situation can have that, he said, alluding that unsafe content adjacencies would cost less per impression, or ultimately, less per sales of what theyre trying to sell, because that real estate is not as sought after.

Advertisers should be able to pick within four or five gradations, he said, adding that as a consumer marketer himself vis a vis advertising his Starlink service, I would say we would take it all. Who cares? That would be higher return.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 12, 2023

A federal judge on Thursday appeared unconvinced that a new Montana law banning the popular app TikTok was justified by privacy concerns.

Seems like there are a lot of things that could have been done short of an outright ban, U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy said during a 70-minute hearing over the law's constitutionality.

At the hearing, state Solicitor General Christian Corrigan argued the ban was aimed at protecting Montana residents' privacy.

But Molloy countered that TikTok users voluntarily provide data to the app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.

Your argument just confuses me, Molloy told Corrigan.

If they want to give that information ... how is it that you can protect them? Molloy said. That's sort of a paternalistic argument.

The ban, slated to take effect next year, prohibits app stores from offering TikTok to users in Montana, and prohibits people from using TikTok in the state (with some exceptions, including for law enforcement). The measure doesn't penalize users, but provides for sanctions starting at $10,000 per violation against TikTok and mobile app marketplaces.

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Lawmakers in other states have banned the app from government-owned devices or networks, but Montana is alone in prohibiting use of the app on personal smartphones.

When Governor Greg Gianforte signed the bill, he tweeted that it would protect Montanans personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party.

A group of TikTok creators and the company are challenging the statute in court. Among other arguments, they say outlawing a communications platform violates the First Amendment.

Montana's Corrigan contended that even though the ban implicates speech, it's a valid consumer protection measure -- comparable to a ban on a particular cell phone that causes cancer.

Molloy responded, "I think that's not a very good analogy, but that's your argument."

Ambika Kumar, who represents the TikTok users, argued to Molly that Montana could protect people's privacy by enforcing its separate privacy law, instead of banning the app.

At one point Molloy asked Kumar why her clients couldn't simply create content for other social platforms.

TikTok is unique, she answered, adding that the video-sharing app doesn't have profile pages, or focus on users' friends or family.

Molloy reserved decision.
A government pandemic advisor has cautioned that declining vaccine immunity is expected to lead to an increase in COVID-19 infections in Hong Kong in the upcoming months. According to David Hui Shu-cheong, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Chinese University, the positive rate of nucleic acid testing was 15 percent based on Hospital Authority data.

Potential for Third-Generation XBB Vaccines

The report said that from January to August, adults 65 and older accounted for about 63 percent of all COVID-19 hospitalizations, 61 percent of intensive care unit admissions, and 88 percent of in-hospital deaths associated with the

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"We've always known that the elderly as well as individuals with comorbidities are disproportionately affected. So this is really consistent with a lot of information that we've seen previously,: Dr. Dan Barouch, Director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, who was not involved in the new report, was quoted as saying by CNN. "The elderly and people with comorbidities really should be encouraged to get the fall booster," he added.



Reference : Pfizer and BioNTech Receive Positive CHMP Opinion for Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 Vaccine in the European Union - (https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-receive-positive-chmp-opinion-omicron-2) Source: IANS The report said that from January to August, adults 65 and older accounted for about 63 percent of all COVID-19 hospitalizations, 61 percent of intensive care unit admissions, and 88 percent of in-hospital deaths associated with the infectious disease . The report called on the elderly people to "reduce their risk for severe COVID-19 by receiving recommended vaccinations, adopting measures to reduce risk for contracting COVID-19, and to seek prompt outpatient antiviral treatment after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result"."We've always known that the elderly as well as individuals with comorbidities are disproportionately affected. So this is really consistent with a lot of information that we've seen previously,: Dr. Dan Barouch, Director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, who was not involved in the new report, was quoted as saying by CNN. "The elderly and people with comorbidities really should be encouraged to get the fall booster," he added.Source: IANS
For years, Akshay Kumar has been trolled for his Canadian citizenship. From being monikered Canadian Kumar to being called out publicly for his Canadian passport, this fact was held against the actor for a really long time until this year.

Akshay finally gave up his Canadian citizenship and showed off his Indian passport on social media, finally shutting down all his haters.

 Instagram_Akshay Kumar

In a recent interview with ANI, he finally revealed what made him take up Canadian citizenship in the first place.



"I became a Canadian because my films were not doing well at one time and I gave 13 to 14 flop films. At that time, my friend used to live in Canada and he said you come here and we will work on something. My friend had offered me that we would do cargo business together. I said okay my films are also not going well and a person has to work, no matter where he is. When I started living in Toronto, I got a Canadian passport. In between that, two films were left for release. After the two movies got released it became a big superhit. I told him that I was going back. Then I got more films and reached here today. But I never thought people got a hold of it, it was just a travel document. I just pay my taxes, and I am the highest taxpayer," he told ANI.

He added, "For 9 to 10 years I didn't go there. It's a very nice place and one of my best friends is there. I decided that I should take my citizenship. It was just a coincidence that I had received a letter on 15th August that I had got citizenship. But it is not just a passport, it is your mind, it is your heart, it's your soul that has to be Indian. What is the point if I do have an Indian passport but my soul, mind and heart are not Indian?"

Maybe this will silence his haters for good.
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I feel insanely guilty.

Matan Goldstein stood wearing an Israeli flag tied at his neck and draped down his back. Behind him, a crowd of hundreds filling the University of Virginias McIntire Amphitheatre chanted a prayer. Goldstein, a first-year student at UVa, left Israel and his entire family to study at the school.

His family is alive, but they are holed up in a bomb shelter, he said, where they must remain for the next 72 hours.

I feel like Im not sacrificing enough, Goldstein told The Daily Progress. Its very difficult to be here alone.

Israel is at war.

More than 1,900 people have been killed since Saturday, when the Hamas terror group launched a surprise attack on the country. There have been an estimated 1,000 casualties in Israel and another 900 in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian territory that Hamas controls.

October 7, 2023 saw the most Jews slaughtered in a single day since the Holocaust, according to the Times of Israels diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman.

Hamas is believed to have taken between 100 and 150 hostages of various nationalities, Americans among them, according to Israeli officials. The exact number of U.S. hostages is not known, but the Biden administration said Tuesday that 20 Americans have been reported missing in the region. After Israels declaration of war, which received full-throated support from Western powers on both sides of the Atlantic, Hamas has promised to begin executing the hostages in the coming days.

The reports coming out of Israel are violent and disturbing: at least 260 bodies found at the site of a music festival on the Israel-Gaza border; dozens of Israeli babies in the kibbutz of Kfar Aza killed, some beheaded; elderly Holocaust survivors dragged behind vehicles. Gaza is now under a full blockade on both its Israeli and Egyptian borders, Israeli missiles have reduced Gaza City neighborhoods to rubble and the Israeli government's "total siege" strategy has included a blockade that has cut off food, water and electrical supplies into the 140-square-mile territory that is home to 2 million people, nearly 50% of which are under the age of 18.

The full scale of the conflict is impossible to know, but the explosion of violence has sent shockwaves around the globe.

When news of the Hamas attacks first broke, Stephen Mull, UVas vice provost for global affairs, said the university focused on getting its students away from immediate danger. That included one UVa student who was studying in Jerusalem at the time and one who was en route to Israel for an exchange program.

The first student has been safely evacuated from the country, and the second agreed to defer travel.

The University has consequently prohibited all University-related travel to either Israel or Gaza until further notice, Mull said in a statement released on Monday.

The next day, students and university community members gathered at McIntire Amphitheatre off the UVa Lawn for a vigil honoring the lives lost in the conflict.

Roughly 300 attended the student-led event.

Jillian Golaszewski was sitting on one of the theaters stone steps as people began to trickle in. The assistant director of the UVa Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program said she was there to support the Jewish community.

I think you can already feel the sadness and the grief, she told The Daily Progress. I dont know what else I can do in this moment other than just show up and to be here. Its the least I can do.

A few rows down sat 76-year-old Tom Dufore, who only just recently moved to Charlottesville.

If I was a young man, I would go over there and volunteer to go on the line, he told The Daily Progress. But the old bones dont work real well.

Speakers at the vigil did not pretend Israel has been the only victim of violence in the war. Palestinians have died and will die as a result of the conflict, and the vigil was as much for lost Israeli lives as Palestinian ones, speakers said.

Thinking of community members here who, like myself and my sister, have woken up in horror to news of family and friends, murdered, injured, kidnapped or missing, my heart breaks, Adin Yager, a fourth-year student, told the crowd. It does too thinking of the innocent Palestinian lives lost, and I expect to speak for everyone here in saying that.

Seeing the crowd gathered in the amphitheater, Goldstein said he was on the verge of tears.

Im overjoyed. I did not expect half as many people to come today, and I am shocked by how supportive the community of Charlottesville is, he said. To say that Im pleasantly surprised is more than an understatement. I want to cry from happiness.

The vigil was not the only university gathering Tuesday evening sparked by the conflict overseas.

Steps away, in Newcomb Halls Interfaith Student Center, a prayer circle was being held behind closed doors.

The circle, organized by the Palestine Culture Club, the Muslim Student Association and Students for Justice in Palestine, was closed to the press, and students organizing the event declined to identify themselves.

I feel like a lot of us have a lot of pent-up anger and frustration from just literally being glued to the news 24/7, said one person outside of the student center who asked to remain anonymous for fear they would be targeted. Talking to each other and giving each other hope and sharing more positive perspectives could maybe alleviate some of that burden that we feel.

The organizers of the prayer circle shared only the invitation to the event as a statement:

Today, we gather not only as a religious or cultural group but as compassionate human beings, it reads in part. Let us sit shoulder to shoulder, hearts united, as we offer our collective prayers for peace, justice, and healing.

Let us engage in prayers for the ceasing of violence in Gaza, the protection of human life everywhere, and the ultimate freedom and independence for Palestine. We pray for the safety and healing for all those impacted by these recent events, it concludes.

One of the circles organizing parties, the UVa chapter of the Students for Justice in Palestine, is planning another event: a Teach-in on Gaza & Palestinian Resistance Thursday evening on the steps of the Rotunda.

That group has come under fire after issuing a statement a day after the attacks in support of the right of colonized people everywhere to resist the occupation of their land by whatever means they deem necessary.

We reject the assumption that oppressed people cannot take their liberation into their own hands, the statement reads. The events that took place yesterday are a step towards a free Palestine. They reflect the power and resilience of the Palestinian people.

The statement makes no reference to Hamas, referring to the killers as Palestinian resistance fighters.

Virginia leaders, specifically Republicans, rebuked the group in strongly worded statements.

I denounce the hateful message of the UVA Students for Justice in Palestine in the strongest terms possible, Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a statement issued Tuesday. You cannot mourn the loss of human life and hope for long-lasting peace and also cheer on the murder, rape, and hostage-taking by Hamas, a terrorist organization that exists for the destruction and murder of Jewish people. Virginia and Charlottesville witnessed firsthand the darkness and evil of antisemitism in 2017. There should be room on our college campuses for free speech and substantive foreign policy discussions, but the hateful message of the Students for Justice in Palestine is exactly the wrong approach.

Todd Gilbert, the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and a UVa alumnus, also issued a statement. Gilberts called on UVa President Jim Ryan to denounce the group.

Some students at my alma mater @UVA fully endorse the rape, murder and kidnapping of innocent people which we now know includes the beheading of babies, Gilbert posted on X, formerly Twitter. I implore the University and @presjimryan to condemn this vile statement in the strongest possible terms and to take action.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Ryan said the school remains focused on the well-being of its community members at home and abroad.

Without naming the student group, Ryan called for civility in the ongoing discourse.

"There is no question that this attack and its aftermath have stirred deep emotions within this community, including sadness, fear, grief, and anger. They have also stoked division and rancor around the world along familiar lines of religion and ideology. I trust that we as a community can and will adhere to UVAs longstanding tradition of not just allowing free speech, but promoting civil discourse, even when  perhaps especially when  we strongly disagree," he wrote.

The Students for Justice in Palestine did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Progress.

One of the anonymous attendees at Tuesdays prayer circle, however, said they felt people were misconstruing the words of Palestinian advocates, calling the reactions a slap in the face.

Obviously that makes everything harder and makes us feel like theres a target on our backs for simply trying to stand with our people, they said.

Daily Progress editor Reynolds Hutchins contributed to this story.
The Army has inked a contract with defense giant Lockheed Martin for a platoon's worth of what would be the U.S. military's most powerful laser weapon system to date, the company announced Tuesday.

Developed under the Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) prototype program and dubbed "Valkyrie," the system can generate lasers at up to 300 kW of power and was designed to offer protection for U.S. troops against incoming unmanned aerial systems, munitions and, most importantly, cruise missiles, according to the service's fiscal 2024 budget request.

The Valkyrie's 300 kW power capacity is a major increase over other laser weapons in the Defense Department's arsenal. For comparison, the Army's Stryker vehicle-mounted Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system, dubbed "Guardian," only reaches 50 kW of power. That's still enough to counter incoming drones, rotary-wing aircraft, and rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM).

Read Next: Two-Star Air Force General Faces Article 32 Hearing on Sexual Assault, Adultery After Being Fired

Similarly, the Navy's High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance system, or HELIOS, currently mounted aboard several of the service's Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, only generates around 60 kW power, just enough to knock out small watercraft but not enough to burn through the nose cones of incoming cruise missiles.

Lockheed Martin will deliver four Valkyrie systems to the Army under the new contract. According to an August 2023 report from the Congressional Research Service, the service expects to take delivery of those systems in the third quarter of fiscal 2025.

In practical terms, the Valkyrie will provide defense against a variety of incoming airborne threats to U.S. troops, from now-ubiquitous drones to fast-moving missiles, ideally with a near-unlimited magazine and intended superior precision and accuracy compared to conventional weapons like a standard-issue M4 carbine.

An artist's rendering of the Valkyrie loaded onto a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. (Lockheed Martin)

As a result, the Valkyrie is ostensibly the first laser air defense system in the U.S. military's arsenal to potentially offer reliable protection against the types of cruise missiles used by adversaries like Russia and China, concerns over which have fueled increased emphasis (and, in turn, spending) on directed energy weapons for missile defense in recent years.

The Army has requested $85.85 million from Congress for the IFPC-HEL program in fiscal 2024, according to budget documents. The service received $215.34 million for the effort in its fiscal 2023 budget after lawmakers added an additional $40 million in funding to the program.

Lockheed Martin had previously delivered a 300 kW laser system developed under the Pentagon's High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI) to the Army in September 2022 for use as an initial IFPC-HEL demonstrator, and the company is currently working under that program to eventually scale to a 500 kW system.

The Army's Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system. (U.S. Army)

The Army's contract with Lockheed Martin comes as the service pushes forward on the development of laser weapons systems across various platforms. The service fielded a platoon of four laser-toting DE M-SHORAD Strykers in September and reportedly plans on affixing a 20 kW laser weapon on its new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) assault buggy.

Currently, the Army's myriad laser systems aren't just getting a workout at testing ranges across the United States. In August, Army Maj. Gen. Sean Gainey, director of the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, revealed that the service had deployed unspecified 10 kW laser systems to U.S. Central Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command areas of responsibility for "operational assessments," as Breaking Defense reported at the time.

But despite the tactical benefits offered by mobile laser systems, recent operational testing has revealed a major challenge to their widespread adoption: Namely, they're a pain for soldiers to maintain in remote and austere locations, as Gainey told reporters at the time.

"[From a] training perspective and an organization perspective, things are proceeding relatively quickly," Gainey said of the Army's laser efforts. "But it's the sustaining aspect that we have to do better if we want to scale this across the force."

-- Jared Keller can be reached at Jared.Keller@military.com.

Related: 50-Kilowatt Laser Will Be a 'Game-Changer,' Company Says
When voters in Virginias 56th District hit the polls in November, theyll have another choice for who they send to the House of Delegates besides Republican Tom Garrett.

Thomas Jordan Miles III has launched a write-in campaign in hopes voters in his conservative district will opt to send a moderate Democrat to Richmond over Garrett, a one-time U.S. congressman attempting a political comeback and an admitted alcoholic whose bitter divorce proceedings have produced multiple allegations of spousal abuse.

But theyll have to remember Miles' full name first, including the III.

If they do Thomas Jordan Miles II theyre liable to elect my father, Miles told The Daily Progress. And if you do Thomas Jordan Miles I, well, the man has been dead 100 years, so dont do that either.

Miles campaign largely centers on education, with a desire to bring more funding to public schools to the district, which includes parts of Fluvanna, Goochland, Appomattox, Buckingham and Cumberland counties.

At Buckingham County High School where I went, up until we invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to helping the school get a new roof, every time it rained, we had water leaking in classrooms. We have schools like that all over this district, Miles said. Many of the states around us are doing a much better job investing in students and in education, and thats quite important.

Fully funding and supporting our public schools is huge right now when we see student learning has taken somewhat of a dive, he added.

Miles, who sits on the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, argues that investing in rural areas, whether it be schools or infrastructure, creates jobs and helps local economies.

As supervisor, Miles chairs two committees, including one studying economic development for the county.

He beat an incumbent in the race for his current seat in 2019, and now he thinks he can win in another tough race.

But the odds will be against him. Not only does Garrett have name recognition, but the district is a GOP stronghold. More than 60% of its electorate voted Republican in the past two elections.

Unless the sky turns upside down and hell freezes over, I do think Garrett is going to win, Tina Winkler, chair of the Goochland Democratic Committee, told The Daily Progress.

Not to mention, because Miles is announcing his candidacy well past the deadline to get on the ballot, hell need voters to literally write his name on it. Garretts name will already be listed.

Its going to take more work. Quite frankly, its a whole lot easier to fill in a little oval, Miles said. Its an uphill battle, but it was an uphill battle in 2019 for a moderate Democrat to overcome an incumbent in a red district.

In August, The Daily Progress spoke to an official with the Democratic Party of Virginia about Garrett running unopposed.

The person, who asked not to be named, said Democrats had little hope of winning in a solid red district.

The truth of it is its a Youngkin 65 district, the person said, referring to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkins 2021 victory there.

We have a zero percent chance if nobody is running. If somebody steps in theres a non-zero chance, the person said of Democratic chances of taking the district.

By that logic, Miles announcement gives Democrats at least some hope of winning the seat. And if nothing else, Miles said, he thinks voters deserve options.

He entered the race during the Democratic primary but said he dropped out because he was hoping another Democrat would step up.

I was hoping someone who has more time and more experience than I do would do it, but they didnt, he said.

I thought when he was thinking about running he had a real good shot of taking on Garrett and possibly winning, Winkler said. But as a write-in, its very difficult.

In a campaign statement announcing the news, Miles referred to options and integrity.

Options are important when voting in this cornerstone of our American process that should be protected, especially when integrity  in a major way  is on the ballot in this district, the statement reads.

The line was likely a reference to a number of scandalous accusations against Garrett, including that he abused his wife Flanna Sheridan. A court filing from his ongoing divorce proceedings outlines a number of incidents where Garrett allegedly displayed violent and volatile behavior, including strangling his wife in a New Orleans hotel room on Mothers Day in 2018.

Garretts counsel tried and failed to get the court records sealed from the public.

During Garretts one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was investigated by the House Ethics Committee for misusing government resources, including having his staffers run personal errands for him such as picking up his laundry, helping him move apartments and walking his dog.

Miles would only say that he trusts the justice system and that the allegations made in the Garrett divorce case sound pretty serious.

Garrett chose not to run for reelection after his single term in Congress after announcing that he is an alcoholic.

His campaign did not respond to requests for comment from The Daily Progress regarding Miles announcement.

Before she knew that Miles was going to run, Jenifer Strozier, vice chair of the Goochland Democratic Committee, began a write-in campaign herself.

We just wanted people to have a choice, Strozier told The Daily Progress.

But now that Miles is running, she plans to talk with the Buckingham Democrat about whether she should cede the spotlight to him.

Hes a terrific candidate, and I think hed do a wonderful job as delegate, Strozier said.
SEOUL, South Korea  A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Thursday in a demonstration of strength against North Korea, as the Norths leader reaffirmed his push to bolster ties with Russia.

The USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group came to the southeastern South Korean port of Busan after participating in a trilateral South Korean-U.S.-Japanese maritime exercise in international waters off a southern South Korean island earlier this week, the South Korean Defense Ministry said.

The aircraft carrier is to stay in Busan until next Monday as part of a bilateral agreement to enhance regular visibility of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program, according to an earlier Defense Ministry statement.

Its the first arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier in South Korea in six months since the USS Nimitz docked at Busan in late March, the statement said.

The arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan is expected to enrage North Korea, which views the deployment of such a powerful U.S. military asset as a major security threat. When the USS Ronald Reagan staged joint military drills with South Korean forces off the Korean Peninsula's east coast in October 2022, North Korea said the carriers deployment was causing considerably huge negative splash in regional security and performed ballistic missile tests.

The U.S. carriers latest arrival comes as concerns grow that North Korea is pushing to get sophisticated weapons technologies from Russia in exchange for supplying ammunitions to refill Russias conventional arms stores exhausted by its protracted war with Ukraine. Such concerns flared after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russias Far East last month to meet President Vladimir Putin and inspect key weapons-making facilities.

Many experts say Kim would want Russian help to build more reliable weapons systems targeting the U.S. and South Korea. Washington and Seoul have warned that Moscow and Pyongyang would pay a price if they move ahead with the speculated weapons transfer deal in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any weapons trading with North Korea.

On Thursday, Kim and Putin exchanged messages marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his message to Putin, Kim said he was very satisfied over an exchange of candid and comprehensive opinions with Putin during his Russia trip, while expressing a firm belief that bilateral ties will develop onto a new level. Kim also hoped that the Russian people would defeat the imperialists persistent hegemonic policy and moves to isolate and stifle Russia, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Putin, for his part, told Kim in his message that he was satisfied with the fact that bilateral ties continue to positively develop in all aspects, KCNA said.
The White House said Thursday that U.S. military combat support in Israel is for now firmly off the table, drawing a bright line as the bloody war with Hamas continues to develop and the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group remains in the region.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that "the Israelis have made it very clear that they don't want foreign troops on their soil -- that they want to prosecute these operations on their own ... and they have every right to want to do that."

As a result, "there are no intentions, no plans to put American troops on the ground in combat," Kirby said.

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Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was scheduled to travel to Israel on Friday to meet with top officials there as U.S. aid shipments have begun flowing in, a senior defense official told reporters Thursday -- a visit that comes on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to the country.

Austin is "expecting to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Gallant and the Israeli war cabinet," and he will use the trip to "underscore his unwavering commitment to Israel security" and have in-depth conversations about the leaders' "operational planning and their objectives for this conflict," the senior defense official said.

The first U.S. security aid shipment arrived earlier this week, and the Pentagon was readying shipments of Iron Dome missile interceptors. "We will continue to be responsive to Israel's requests for air defense, artillery, ammunition and precision-guided munitions," the official said.

The statement by the White House on Thursday seemed to scuttle -- at least for now -- the idea of using U.S. special operations forces to rescue hostages being held by Hamas, including what lawmakers on Capitol Hill earlier this week described as "dozens" of Americans.

Questions around the possibility of American troops engaging in combat arose again after a Pentagon official confirmed late Tuesday evening that U.S. special operations personnel were at the U.S. Embassy in Israel as part of an existing agreement and had offered to help with hostage recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, lawmakers were also telling reporters that they were willing to support Israel with whatever it needs -- including participation in raids -- should it ask.

The senior defense official said the Pentagons advice and consultations to the Israel Defense Forces on hostage rescue efforts were "a high priority" for both.

Aside from the advisers in the country, the Pentagon also moved the USS Gerald Ford, along with four destroyers and a cruiser, into the area of the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday afternoon. Additional A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft arrived Thursday.

The war was sparked on Saturday when Hamas, the militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, suddenly and unexpectedly bombarded Israel with rockets and sent gunmen into the country to slaughter civilians.

For now, the U.S. assets sent to the area are meant as a show of support and deterrence against groups such as Hezbollah on Israel's northern border or Iran getting involved in the conflict.

The defense official who spoke with the media Thursday did note that the Ford and its accompanying ships have many capabilities -- specifically highlighting their ability to conduct intelligence and maritime support, as well as long-range strike options.

When Military.com asked for more information on the possibility of long-range strikes -- typically a term associated with launching a missile at a distant, and often inland, target -- the official stressed that, while that is something the strike group is capable of, it isn't "on the table" right now.

As the Pentagon staged support, U.S. citizens were also being offered ways out of the country, should they need it.

In an emailed statement Thursday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the agency had arranged for charter flights to assist U.S. citizens and immediate family members who were unable to book commercial transit.

Miller said that those flights will start Friday, and "senior State Department officials are actively working with airline carriers and international partners on how best to provide additional options to U.S. citizens."

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on X at @ktoropin.

Related: Pentagon Can Provide Military Aid to Both Ukraine and Israel at the Same Time, Defense Secretary Says
Kathy Byron and John Cosgrove are friends of Gov. Glenn Youngkin  with benefits.

Byron and Cosgrove are veteran state legislators who announced their retirements earlier this year, probably leaving many of their constituents with the impression that they were, Cincinnatus-like, humbly surrendering power to return to the fertile fields and happy homes that they had forsaken for public life.

But a funny thing happened on the way to retirement from their part-time jobs as lawmakers: Byron, a member of the House of Delegates, representing the conservative countryside outside Lynchburg, and Cosgrove, a delegate-turned-senator from swingy Chesapeake, took political appointments from Youngkin to work in his administration full time.

Their jobs  Byron will be a deputy director of the new workforce development agency created under a bill she wrote; Cosgrove, a higher-up in the department that polices sport and commercial fishing largely in the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters  pay six-figure salaries roughly eight times what they made in the General Assembly: $17,640 a year in the House; $18,000 in the Senate.

Those legislative salaries, by the way, havent been increased since the 1980s and are among the lowest in the nation. Only six states, including nearby North Carolina and South Carolina, pay their legislators less than Virginia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The new jobs for Byron and Cosgrove have a big advantage beyond heftier paychecks and continued health insurance: fattened taxpayer-provided pensions generated with relatively little effort. Its part of an often-overlooked, time-honored tradition upheld by Democrats and Republicans that ensures comparatively outsize retirement pay for selected insiders.

Executive branch jobs  and the promise of a bigger pension  have been used as bait by governors to tip party control of a closely divided General Assembly. Thats how Gov. Jim Gilmore pushed the Senate and House to the GOP in the late 1990s. He enticed Democrats Charlie Waddell of Loudoun and David Brickley of Prince William to give up their seats in what was then Republican territory.

Sometimes, migrating to the executive branch is a matter of economic necessity.

Sen. Warren Barry, a contrarian Republican from Fairfax, quit the General Assembly after 22 years to become a full-time, $88,000-a-year employee of the state liquor monopoly  appointed by Democratic Gov. Mark Warner, whom Barry endorsed in 2001  because he needed money to support his disabled wife in long-term care.

Having taken back the statewide offices in 2021, now its the Republicans turn to shower their own with jobs and emoluments. Tending to this particular subset of patronage, at-will employees  just-retired members of the General Assembly  brings to mind a quip attributed to Woody Allen: That in sex and politics, timing is everything.

Byron, at $150,000 a year, and Cosgrove, at $137,000, arent the only Republican ex-legislators making the jump to the executive branch and, in most cases, to more generous pensions  paid for the rest of their lives, atop Social Security, savings outside their government work and retirement benefits through their private-sector employers.

Rob Bell, from Albemarle, which he represented in the House for 21 years, is now a $168,000-a-year deputy attorney general for health, education and social services. Glenn Davis, a Virginia Beach delegate from 2014 to 2023, runs the energy agency, making $173,000, though his pension could be comparatively modest because of his limited House service and changes in the legislative pension plan.

Jeff Campbell, who also quit the House after eight years, became a $183,000-a-year general district court judge in Southwest Virginia. Now eligible for the even more generous judicial retirement plan, Campbell was appointed by a higher-court judge who, like many on the bench these days, owes his position to a GOP-controlled legislature.

How former lawmakers boost their retirement is driven by several factors: That theyre enrolled in the traditional retirement program in which their pension  a fixed monthly payment, a so-called defined benefit  is largely financed by the state. Also, that the legislators are at least 50 years old and are closer, than not, to 30 years of service, helping maximize their monthly benefit.

Especially important, however, are wages, because the Virginia Retirement System  the $105 billion fund that finances the current and future pensions of 800,000 active and retired state and local government workers  calculates a pension using the average of an employees three highest years of salary.

For example, a 32-year senator whose annual salary was no more than $18,000 would average that amount over his or her three highest years. Service is combined with a 1.7% multiplier, set by law and which is slightly lower for more recent employees, to determine what percentage of the final average salary for which the senator would be eligible.

That percentage  in this case, about 54%  is then multiplied by the average salary to determine the state-issued benefit: approximately $9,800 a year.

The pension would be more  a lot more  for a senator in the defined-benefit plan with 28 years in the legislature and four in the executive branch, making, say, $150,000 annually. Length of service  again, 32 years  paired with the 1.7% multiplier and that final average salary would push annual retirement pay to nearly $82,000. Not bad for only four years of full-time government work.

This is not to suggest there is a one-size-fits-all formula for calculating pensions, which are available to lawmakers in 41 states, per the NCSL.

Local government service can push up a pension. Ditto a teaching gig. Educators, incidentally, make up the largest share of VRS-supported pensioners. But the full advantages of a big bump in pay through an executive branch job dissipate if an appointee is fired or replaced before reaching that magical three-year threshold. That might be a consideration for Byron and Cosgrove, knowing a Democrat could be governor in 2026.

Other complications: Legislators who took office in 2014 and afterward, such as Davis of Virginia Beach, are covered by a retirement plan that requires they pick up part of the cost of their pension. Its whats called a defined-contribution plan. Lawmakers who were police officers and firefighters get special health considerations. And judges can receive multiple years credit for each year on the bench.

When it comes to public service, virtue is supposed to be its own reward.

But whos going to quarrel if its followed by five or six figures?
The Blue Jays made the playoffs for the third time in the past four years but each trip resulted in a hasty 2-0 playoff sweep. The clubs president/CEO Mark Shapiro spoke to the media today, with Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet among those to relay the information. While Shapiro touched on a number of topics, the key takeaways broadly involve continuity, with the club planning to retain Ross Atkins as general manager and keep the 2024 payroll at a similar level to 2023.

The 2023 Jays club was constructed differently than the 2022 version. Offensive outfielders Teoscar Hernandez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. were traded as glove-first players Kevin Kiermaier and Daulton Varsho were brought in. This had the expected result of the club faring better at run prevention but often struggling to score runs. In 2022, they finished fourth out of the 30 clubs in terms of plating runs but fell to a tie for 14th this year. But in terms of keeping runs off the board, they went from 13th to fifth. The overall effect was close to net neutral, as the clubs win tally fell from 92 to 89 but was still strong enough to get them back to the postseason, with the aforementioned quick exit.

It seems the club is satisfied enough with the regular season results to allow Atkins to continue in his role as general manager, a job he has held since the end of 2015. The club made the playoffs in 2016, advancing as far as the ALCS, before undergoing a quick rebuild with three losing seasons from 2017 to 2019. They started pushing their top prospects to the majors in that time, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette the most highly touted.

That led to the club making the playoffs in the shortened 2020 season, narrowly missing in 2021 despite winning 91 games, before getting back to the playoffs in the two most recent years. The lack of postseason success is surely frustrating for some fans, but the regular season results have been quite strong for four straight years in arguably the toughest division in the league, making it fairly logical that the club isnt leaning towards huge changes.

Ross needs to get better, but hes done a good job, Shapiro said today, adding that offense and baserunning are areas for potential improvement, as well as communication of transparency with players and staff.

Adding offense this winter will be a challenge since the free agent class is heavy on pitching and generally lighter on impact bats, but it sounds like the Jays should have some resources to attack the problem. Roster Resource calculates their 2023 payroll at $214MM and their competitive balance tax number at $248MM, their first time paying the luxury tax. There are some notable contracts coming off the books, including those of Hyun Jin Ryu, Matt Chapman, Brandon Belt and Kiermaier, with Whit Merrifield likely to be departing as well since mutual options are rarely picked up by both sides.

RR estimates the clubs 2024 payroll at $115MM right now, though a hefty arbitration class could add about $60MM to that and put them in the $175MM range. If they are willing to spend at similar levels nest year as Shapiro suggested, that should give them roughly $40MM or so to spend, perhaps a bit more if they end up non-tendering a couple of players from their arb class.

That money gives them some the potential to pursue various avenues this winter but, as mentioned, the free agent class skews towards pitching. The Jays are in good position in that department, with Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi all still under contract next year and the departure of Ryu opening one spot. The giant unknown right now is how much the Jays believe in Alek Manoahs ability to bounce back next year, though they also have top prospect Ricky Tiedemann knocking on the door of the majors. The bullpen was also a strength this year and the club figures to retain Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson, Tim Mayza, Yimi Garcia, Genesis Cabrera and others.

But more offense is certainly required and the club will have to replace the production of Chapman, Kiermaier, Belt and Merrifield just to break even in that regard. Belt had a wRC+ of 138 this year, though in a part-time/platoon role. The other three finished with a wRC+ between 110 and 93 but each brought some speed and/or defense to the table. The Jays could get some internal help from key prospects like Orelvis Martinez or Addison Barger but its fair to expect them to pursue external options as well.

Chapman is the top free agent third baseman and could be brought back to man the hot corner, but they could also pursue someone like Jeimer Candelario at a lower price point. Merrifield is one of the best second baseman available but the club could perhaps give Davis Schneider and Cavan Biggio some run there after some encouraging results this year.

Varsho could perhaps slide over to take Kiermaiers spot in center, allowing the club to pursue a bat-first corner outfielder like Michael Conforto or Jorge Soler, or perhaps reuniting with an old friend like Gurriel or Hernandez. Belt was in the designated hitter spot most days, so theres any number of ways the club could go with that spot. Time will tell what specific targets the club has in mind but it seems they will have the ability to reload for what should be another fiercely competitive year in the American League East.
SEBEWAING, MICH. -- Some Michigan duck hunters wound up with the story of a lifetime this week when a pink flamingo flew in for a landing among their decoys on Saginaw Bay.

The sighting reportedly took place near Sebewaing River Campground, about 40 minutes northeast of Bay City. If confirmed by state birding record committees, it will mark the first time a wild American flamingo has ever been seen in Michigan.

Details were still emerging Thursday as birding enthusiasts flocked to the area for the chance to see this mega rarity, spurred by photos of the strange scene  a flamingo placidly sitting on the water, surrounded by Canada goose decoys  that had been circulating on social media. As of early afternoon the flamingo had not been found since the initial report, but people were scouring the nearby shorelines in an attempt to relocate it.

Michigan is the latest state to catch flamingo fever in a historic wave of rare sightings across the eastern U.S. in the past month, after Hurricane Idalia pushed up large flocks of the tropical birds from the Caribbean in late August.

Since then, the iconic pink waders have been the subject of surprise appearances in 17 states. Theyve even been spotted by the dozens in Florida, where theyve been locally extinct for more than a century.

Since late September, when a group of flamingos were found wading along a beach on the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan, Michigan birdwatchers have been on high alert for their states turn.

According to Aaron Cummings, who co-owns the Sebewaing River Campground with his father, Matthew, the flamingo seen in Saginaw Bay this week was in a marshy spot with approximately two to three feet of water, echoing the shallow, soggy habitat in which the birds have appeared in other states.

If the bird is relocated, it is unclear if it would stick around so far from its natural home; most of the flamingos that have turned up elsewhere have moved on within a few days.

Im not a flamingo expert, but it seems a little chilly for pink birds around here, Cummings said. You usually find them in peoples yards on stakes. Hopefully its got some thick feathers because its gonna get cold.

The Sebewaing sighting is historic in the birding world because, while there are previous accounts of possible flamingos in Michigan, including a 2005 report of an African flamingo species that broke out of a Kansas zoo, none have been verified by the Michigan Birds Record Committee, and escaped individuals dont count toward state records of wild birds.

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ONAWAY, MI  Michigan has found its 2023 official state Christmas tree.

The 60-foot spruce will be harvested in Onaway after resident Vic Ruppert and his family donated the tree in honor of his late wife Shirley Ruppert.

The spruce will arrive in downtown Lansing to grace the Capitol lawn for the holiday season on Saturday, Oct. 28, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget announced.

This is the first tree from Presque Isle County, and the 13th from Michigans Lower Peninsula since an official tree began being placed at the Capitol each holiday season in 1987.

The tree will be harvested Thursday, Oct. 26, and transported to the Capitol with help from the Michigan Association of Timbermen, the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, and DTMBs Christmas tree crew.

Once at the Capitol, local Boy Scout troops will continue the tradition of untying the tree. The HI-Ball Company of Lansing will provide a crane and crew to hoist the spruce into place near the intersection of Capitol and East Michigan avenues.

Once in place, Lansings forestry team will prepare the tree for the lighting scheme and decorations developed by the Michigan Capitol Commission and the Lansing Board of Water & Light.

The entire journey culminates with a tree lighting ceremony Friday, Nov. 17, at the 39th Annual Silver Bells in the City celebration where officials will flip the switch that turns on thousands of twinkling lights at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Silver Bells also includes an electric light parade featuring more than 70 entries, high school marching bands, horse drawn carriages, and the arrival of Santa Claus.

The lighting of the state tree, community songs and a drone holiday light show is also planned before the event concludes with a fireworks display over the Capitol.

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FORSYTH TOWNSHIP, MI -- A traffic stop over possibly stolen firewood led to the arrest of an Indiana woman wanted in connection with the death of her infant daughter. According to WLUC-6, Cheyenne Hill, 33, of Bedford, Indiana was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over after it matched the description of a vehicle seen on surveillance video where firewood was stolen from a local campground.

During the Sept. 17 traffic stop, police learned that Hill had an extraditable warrant out for her arrest on a charge of child neglect causing death. Hill was taken into custody and has been extradited back to Lawrence County, Indiana in that matter.

A Facebook post from the Lawrence County Sheriffs Office says an investigation into the matter began in November 2022 when Hills daughter, Elliaunna Plummer was brought to a hospital with injuries that were consistent with signs of abuse. Elliaunna eventually died as a result of her injuries.

Police investigated the matter for several months and after turing over their findings to the county prosecutor, a judge signed a nationwide arrest warrant in the case. Police were aware that Hill may have moved to northern Michigan and was moving from place to place, but did not know exactly where she was until she was arrested.
CLARE, MI  Police have identified two people who died after they crashed a vehicle into a Michigan auto shop.

UpNorthLive reports that Richard Arthur, 78, and Connie Arthur, 76, both of Coleman, were killed in the crash in Clare.

Police said previously that a speeding Chevrolet Impala lost control at the intersection of 5th Street and Maple Street and hit a telephone pole before crashing into Clare Auto Service.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the bereaved families during this incredibly difficult time, the Clare Police Department said in a statement.

The Clare Fire Department, Surrey Fire Department, Clare County Sheriffs Department, Michigan State Police and Mobile Medical Response responded to the scene.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Clare Police Department at 989-386-2121.

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MACKINAC COUNTY, MI  A woman whos charged with open murder related to the death of Baby Garnet has been released from jail on bond, WPBN/WGTU reports.

The infants body was found discarded in the septic tank of a vault toilet in 1997 at Garnet Lake Campground in Michigans Upper Peninsula.

Nancy Ann Gerwatowski, 58, was extradited from Wyoming and charged in 2022 after it was determined through DNA that she is the infants mother, MLive reported. Gerwatowski also confirmed she is the mother.

On Tuesday, Gerwatowski was released on a personal recognizance bond by the 11th Circuit Court in Mackinac County, WPBN/WGTU reports. Conditions of release include home confinement and a GPS tether.

When she was charged in August 2022, Gerwatowski was denied bond and remanded to jail, MLive reported.

Her next court date has not been set, the TV station reports.
FLINT, MI  A 14-year-old juvenile has been taken into custody in connection with an August homicide in Genesee Township.

Police said the suspect, whose name was not released, is one of three teens accused in the shooting death of Carlin Taylor.

Taylor, 22, was shot around 9:50 p.m. on Aug. 11 at Romas Banquet Center, 5226 N. Saginaw St., police said.

He was taken to Hurley Medical Center in Flint and was later pronounced dead.

Two other teens accused in the shooting are both 17, police said.

Brendan Marquil Wright, of Mt. Morris, and Chude Wilford Snow III, of Flint, have each been charged as adults with first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, gang membership felonies and firearms offenses.

Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Santa Claus is coming to town this year, after all.

The annual Grand Rapids Santa Parade is back on for 2023, after volunteers and event organizers stepped in to save the beloved holiday event, the city of Grand Rapids announced Thursday, Oct. 12.

The parade, planned for Nov. 18, was canceled last week due to an unplanned leadership change and capacity constraints within the Grand Rapids Junior Chamber (GRJC), which puts on the parade. GRJC said it faced significant challenges in organizing and executing the event this year, forcing the group to cancel it.

After learning of the parades cancellation, the City of Grand Rapids Office of Special Events pulled together event organizers, volunteers and business leaders who were saddened by the news and wanted to find a way to save the parade, the city said in a news release Thursday.

Evette Pittman, the citys special events manager, said several people contacted her office asking the city to do everything possible to keep this great tradition alive.

We went to work immediately to do just that, Pittman said in a statement from the city. I am very pleased with the collaborative response from our community and staff and am proud that we will celebrate a 102nd Santa Parade here in Grand Rapids on November 18.

Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss thanked all the volunteers and business leaders who stepped in to continue the parade.

I love welcoming hundreds of families downtown every year to kick off the holidays and welcome Santa back to Grand Rapids, Bliss said in a statement. I thank the JR Chamber for their years of hosting this event. Its institutional knowledge has been invaluable to help our committee plan this years event. I also appreciate those who have stepped forward to save this years event and encourage the community to support it with their attendance and participation.

The 2023 Santa Parade is scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the corner of Lyon Street and Monroe Avenue NW in downtown Grand Rapids. The parade will travel down Monroe Avenue to Monroe Center Street, then to Division Avenue, Fulton Street, and Jefferson Street.

The parade will end around 11 a.m. in the parking lot of First United Methodist Church, 227 Fulton St. E, where organizers will host a party for families. The Grand Rapids Childrens Museum and Family Promise of West Michigan will be leading activities at the event, and Santa is expected to stop by and pay a visit.

More information can be found on the events Facebook page, facebook.com/GRSantaParade.

Gentex agreed to return as the 2023 Santa Claus Parades lead sponsor. Other corporate sponsors who announced support for this years event include Meijer, Experience Grand Rapids, AHC Hospitality and WOOD TV8, according to the city.

Like everyone, we were saddened by the news of the parades cancellation, said Craig Piersma, Gentex vice president of marketing and corporate communications. But were beyond thrilled to be back as the events title sponsor, knowing that so many have stepped up to make sure our kids have a great Santa Parade again this year.

Last year, the Santa Parade celebrated its 101st anniversary, returning after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The parade began in 1919 as the Wurzburgs Santa Claus Parade and has since grown to the second-largest parade in the state, according to the events website.

The parade normally includes high school marching bands, holiday floats, special guests, reindeer, a hot cocoa station, food trucks, and performances in the Rosa Parks Circle bandshell.

Last year, organizers expected 30,000 attendees for the parade.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A 56-year-old man has been charged with open murder for allegedly stabbing another man to death earlier this month on Grand Rapids Southwest Side.

Greggory Duane Harris was arraigned on the lone charge Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Grand Rapids 61st District Court. He was denied bond and remains locked up in the Kent County Jail.

The stabbing happened around 4:30 a.m. Oct. 1 near South Division Avenue and Sutton Street SW.

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Grand Rapids police found a man  later identified as 53-year-old Larone Crenshaw  on the sidewalk with stab wounds.

Crenshaw was transported to an area hospital where he later died.

Our Major Case Team detectives work tirelessly to bring justice for every murder victim in our city, Grand Rapids police Chief Eric Winstrom said Thursday. I hope this arrest brings some measure of comfort to Larones family and friends.

Harris is scheduled to appear in court for a probable cause conference on Oct. 24, court records show.

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Ottawa County official was properly appointed but commissioners can fire her, appeals court rules
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Despite objections from the Ottawa County boards current majority, the process last year to appoint the countys director of the health department was completed properly.

Despite objections from the health director, the county commissioners do have the authority to fire her despite an ongoing lawsuit shes filed against them.

Those were the rulings handed down Thursday by the Michigan Court of Appeals. They came a day after the appeals judges heard arguments from the attorneys representing Ottawa County and the health department director, Adeline Hambley.

An appellate panel of three judges heard oral arguments Wednesday, Oct. 11, on why Hambley was never actually appointed to the role and why the court should reinstate an order barring the county board from firing her.

RELATED: With Ottawa County health officers job at stake, Michigan appeals court hears arguments

A ruling on the matter came late Thursday morning and was, in some sense, a win for both parties.

Hambley can remain in her position, and Ottawa County commissioners were given the green light to terminate the health director as long as its done so properly.

We affirm the trial courts ruling that Hambley was properly appointed as health officer of Ottawa County, the judges wrote. But we conclude that the commission nonetheless retains the authority to terminate Hambley if the commission complies with the procedures and standards prescribed in (case law).

Hambley faces an Oct. 23 termination hearing in which the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners will consider whether to fire her based on allegations of incompetence, misconduct and neglect of duty levied by Ottawa County Board Chair Joe Moss.

Hambley, along with the department she leads, has been a longtime target of the ultraconservative board majority called Ottawa Impact that took power in January. Moss leads Ottawa Impact.

The matter in court this week stems from a wrongful termination and whistleblower protections lawsuit filed by Hambley earlier this year after Ottawa Impact commissioners at their first meeting in January attempted to replace Hambley without cause or termination hearing required by state law.

Hambleys lawsuit has been paused since law firm Kallman Legal Group, the countys corporate counsel hired by Ottawa Impact commissioners, appealed rulings by a lower court favorable to Hambley.

RELATED: Rewriting history: Ottawa Countys ex-attorney calls foul on boards revision to apparently oust official

In April, Muskegon County Circuit Court Judge Jenny L. McNeill granted initial rulings in the lawsuit that were favorable to Hambley, including a judgment that Hambley is the duly appointed administrative health officer and a preliminary injunction preventing the county board from firing Hambley until the conclusion of her lawsuit.

After Hambley filed her lawsuit, Ottawa Impact commissioners in late February approved changing the resolution by the previous county board that appointed Hambley.

The revision added a third contingency for the appointment of Hambley. Ottawa Countys attorneys argued the revision meant the previous board was required to vote a second time to appoint Hambley as health officer.

But because the board didnt vote a second time, Hambley was never in fact appointed as health officer, attorneys argued. The appellate court did not agree with that argument.

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Rot in hell. Sisters of slain woman confront suspected serial killer for 1996 murder

Standoff ends with 2 in custody after suspects crashed into Ottawa County fire station

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UPDATE: Two people were taken into custody shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday.

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Police are in a standoff with two people at the Blendon Township Fire Station after the suspects crashed a vehicle into the building.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said the incident is contained to the fire station on Tyler Street and there is no danger to the community or public.

The series of incidents started to unfold around 5:18 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, when sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a suspicious incident. Police said an occupied, running vehicle was parked along the road near Baldwin Street and 64th Avenue.

Upon arrival, a sheriffs deputy tried to make contact with the two people in the vehicle, but they were non-compliant. The vehicle eventually fled from the traffic stop and a pursuit ensued until the vehicle pulled into the fire station.

Police said the suspect vehicle then struck the deputys cruiser and drove through the closed fire doors.

The two subjects remain in the vehicle and are not cooperating with deputies efforts to have them exit the vehicle.

The deputy was not injured during the incident and the subjects in the vehicle are not believed to be injured at this time. Negotiators are on scene attempting contact with the occupants of the vehicle.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Tina DeYoung and Terri Navitskas stood in tears and looked the man who killed their sister nearly three decades ago dead in his eyes and verbally released years of pain and frustration.

Youre not even a person! Navitskas shouted at the convicted killer, Garry Artman, Thursday morning in a Kent County Circuit Courtroom.

Youre a monster, DeYoung added.

A jury found Artman, 65, guilty last month of open murder, felony murder and first-degree criminal sexual conduct for the 1996 killing of 29-year-old Sharon Hammack.

RELATED: Possible serial killer convicted in 1996 Grand Rapids murder of young mother

Hammack, who worked as a prostitute, was found bound and wrapped in a blanket on the side of the road Oct. 3, 1996, near 76th Street and Kraft Avenue in Caledonia Township. She had been stabbed twice but died of strangulation.

Investigators identified Artman, who was a commercial trucker for 20-plus years, as a suspect in Hammacks death in August 2022 through DNA and genetic genealogy. He was arrested in Mississippi in August 2022 during a traffic stop.

Thursday, Oct. 12, marked judgement day, as the sisters put it, when Artman appeared before Judge Scott A. Noto who sentenced the convicted to killer to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder.

Unlike his attire for trial where he donned a dress shirt and pants, Artman appeared Thursday in green jail clad. He sat, shackled at the hands and ankles, without much of an expression on his face during the proceeding.

The two sisters expressed their hatred for Artman and demanded to know why he took their sister and unborn nephew from them. Hammack was a mother of two young children and pregnant with her third child when she was killed.

She is still in us. Thats how strong she was, DeYoung said, wiping away tears. I hope you rot in hell.

Youre not a man. Youre not a person. Youre nothing but a piece of garbage, Navitskas added.

In 1996, the Grand Rapids community saw 11 murders  still unsolved  reported in a short period of time. Kent County prosecutors allege Artman has knowledge about the killings.

RELATED: After killing goes unsolved 26 years, victims voice is being heard, judge says

Artman has lived a selfish life  free from justice, free from responsibility, Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Blair Lachman said at sentencing, noting that prosecutors hope Artman steps forward with any information about the homicides.

In an unexpected turn of events, Artman offered answers  somewhat  to those questioning his involvement in the killings.

I dont know what happened to (Hammack). Thats the truth, he explained. All these other murders, those detectives are f---ing idiots. Why? Because you keep looking at me and I didnt do it.

Artman will now head to Maryland to face trial for the 2006 slaying of 24-year-old Dusty Shuck.

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Standoff ends with 2 in custody after suspects crashed into Ottawa County fire station

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OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Two people have been taken into custody following an hours-long standoff with police Thursday morning that began when the suspects crashed into a fire station.

The suspects  a 22-year-old woman who was driving the vehicle and 18-year-old man  are being transported to an area hospital for treatment before being taken to jail, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies said.

RELATED: Police in standoff with 2 people who crashed into West Michigan fire station

The incident started to unfold around 5:18 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, when police responded to a report of a suspicious incident after a caller reported an occupied, running vehicle parked along the road near Baldwin Street and 64th Avenue.

A sheriffs deputy tried to make contact with the two people in the vehicle, but they didnt respond, police said.

The vehicle then fled from a traffic stop and a chase began. The suspect vehicle then struck the deputys cruiser and drove through the closed fire doors at the Blendon Township Fire Station on Tyler Street.

The man and woman remained inside their vehicle after the crash, which started a standoff with police. Authorities responded with less than lethal force and the two suspects were taken into custody around 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Police said the fire station, at least one fire apparatus and one sheriffs cruiser were damaged during this incident.

A sheriffs deputy was also transported to an area hospital to be medically checked. Police said the deputy was not seriously injured.

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This Grand Rapids bar serves own brand of champagne as part of inclusive bubbly experience

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Woman with 27 dogs in minivan convicted of animal cruelty
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- When Wendy Wassink set out to create a bottle of American champagne last year, she thought what better way to launch it than opening up a full bar and market to match.

I started by developing the brand and once I did, I was like, We really need a light-feeling space where people of all ages can come in and gather, the 57-year-old Grand Rapids resident said, referring to the various options of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A woman who was found with 27 dogs in her minivan was convicted of animal cruelty in a jury trial this week.

Heather Nicole Alexander, 43, was convicted of the seven-year felony charge on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in Kent County Circuit Court.

She contended that the dogs were properly cared for and being trained as emotional service dogs.

A Kent County sheriffs deputy discovered the dogs inside Alexanders 2012 Chrysler Town & Country minivan on March 25, 2022, in a parking lot on Alpine Avenue NW, north of Four Mile Road.

Related: Police find 27 dogs living in womans minivan, charge her with animal cruelty

The deputy saw dogs in stacked crates, with at least three dogs in a crate. There was urine and fecal matter in the crates, a probable-cause affidavit said.

Alexander acknowledged she had 27 dogs. They were taken to the Kent County Animal Shelter. Police said the crates were too small and not all of the dogs had access to water.

Alexander told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press the dogs were healthy and cared for. She said they were small breeds, with the largest weighing 19 pounds.

She said seven were adults, the rest puppies.

She said she came from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area to bring a dog to her daughter but high gas prices forced to her to stay in the Grand Rapids area, rather than continue south.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  A Lansing man was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 10, to three years, one month in prison for threatening a federal judge.

Kevin Cassaday, 42, threatened U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney who had dismissed one of his many lawsuits against state and federal governments, elected officials and others.

U.S. District Judge Laurie Michelson, assigned to the Eastern District of Michigan, sentenced Cassaday after a jury found him guilty of threatening to assault or murder a federal official and two counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure.

An assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case after West Michigan prosecutors reported a possible conflict of interest.

Cassaday, arrested nearly two years ago, had filed 25 lawsuits in August 2021 in federal court against multiple defendants, including elected officials, state police, the FBI, former President Donald Trump and Facebook.

He threatened Maloney in a call to the judges chambers after Maloney dismissed his case against the federal government.

The FBI had Cassadays voicemails and recorded conversations with court staff in Lansing. Maloney generally works in Kalamazoo.

Defense attorney Haralambos Mihas said the trial showed that his client suffered from mental illness.

Two things became evident from the trial  . The first was that the volume and vulgarity of Mr. Cassadays emails, filings and phone calls were one of the most extreme cases that the witnesses and law enforcement had seen. The second was the consensus that Mr. Cassaday was mentally ill and in distress when he made those threats, Mihas wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

He said his client was spiraling off an emotional cliff. He was desperate for help to alleviate his physical pain.

Mihas asked that his client, who has been held nearly two years, be released on probation. Mihas said that prisons are wrongly used to house those who need help with mental illness.

Cassaday fell apart beginning in June 2021 and began filing lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions, initially over his inability to obtain medical marijuana, his attorney said. His lawsuits were routinely rejected.

After his arrest, it took nearly a year for his competency to be restored, his attorney said. All of his threats were made by phone or computer.

Christopher Rawsthorne, a special assistant U.S. attorney, said Cassaday has refused to take responsibility for his threatening behavior.

His grievances were largely imaginary, but his threats were real. Cassadays threats disturbed and frightened those who sought only to do their jobs serving the public.

He said investigators talked to Cassaday to stop the threats but the threats continued.

There is no doubt that Cassadays mental illness contributed to this offense. But he has continued to refuse to recognize the consequences of his behavior and (Cassadays) refusal to take medication even when being restored to competency  is concerning.

He called Cassadays lawsuits that led to the threats nonsensical.

He said Cassaday also made threats to the clerk of Court of Claims and Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wrigglesworth.

Even Sheriff Wrigglesworth, whose law enforcement career spanned over two decades, had not received a direct threat of this nature before, one that promised not just to kill him but also his family, Rawsthorne wrote.

He wrote that it was unclear why Casssaday targeted the sheriff in a series of messages. One said: You want me to kill, I will start with you and your family as you all have mine ... .

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KALAMAZOO, MI  Six of the seven candidates vying for seats on the Kalamazoo City Commission shared their views on housing, public safety, climate change and more at a candidate forum Wednesday night.

The event, hosted by Western Michigan University, Now Kalamazoo, Public Media Network, the League of Women Voters and WMUK, took place Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the WMU Student Center.

Tonights event is really a commitment to fostering a strong connection with our local community, said Jeff Brenneman, WMUs Vice President of Government Affairs. Together, were trying to make all the information we can available to citizens, about our candidates, to make informed decisions for our citys future.

Related: MLive Q&A: See which issues matter most to the 7 Kalamazoo City Commission candidates

Three candidates will be elected on Tuesday, Nov. 7, to serve four-year terms on the city commission. Jeff Messer was the lone candidate who did not participate in Wednesdays forum, featuring incumbent City Commissioners Esteven Juarez, Jeanne Hess and Chris Praedel and those looking to unseat them, James Mitchell, Alonzo Wilson II, James P. Ayers.

Each candidate was given an opportunity to present opening and closing statements and answer four questions. Three of those questions were answered by each candidate present. Each candidate also fielded a fourth question that was unique to them that no other candidate answered.

Gordon Evans, content director at WMUK, moderated the city commissioner candidate forum.

One of those questions focused on whether the candidates believed if public safety services in Kalamazoo were currently adequate.

Candidate James Mitchell started the discussion by stating that public safety services are not only a matter of budget, but the ability to recruit people to serve the community.

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is currently budgeted to hire 28 officers, KDPS Chief David Boysen told MLive last week.

Recruiting, however, has been a constant issue, said Mitchell, 71.

I think we need more money, but we also need more respect for our officers, Mitchell said. Im also curious as to the turnover at the top, which has really never been fully explained by city leaders  why we went through three different leaders of police chiefs with really no explanation.

I think we need to have stability within the police department, and we have to remember its not only a police department, but its a fire department. Its a remarkable combination of services.

City Commissioner Chris Praedel agreed that it has been a challenge to recruit and retain officers.

Were in this crisis as a community, and around much of the country, where we have a record volume of calls for service, Praedel said. Meanwhile, you have real struggles in a lot of urban core communities to recruit and retain the best and the brightest people to work for us.

We want the right people to work for us and thats a challenge. ... Its heavy work. And we are expecting a lot from them. And we need to expect a lot from them.

Praedel, 38, also said KDPS officers have to be able to provide support for people and not just lock them up.

We need to make sure we are targeting the worst offenders and not just the general public, he said.

The youngest candidate, Alonzo Wilson II, said he felt like KDPS has been providing an adequate level of services, but like with all service providers theres room for improvement.

I love what they are starting to do in terms of mental health, by having mental health resources tag along on those rides that might involve a person in crisis, said Wilson, 32. It gives them the opportunity to get the appropriate level of care rather than being subjected to any unnecessary force or being jailed improperly.

Due to historical events in the community, there exists some mistrust between community members and some public safety officers, he said.

Wilson said increasing community engagement would not only build that trust but could also address workforce shortages within the department as programs could be implemented to diversify the workforce.

City Commissioner candidate James P. Ayers, 41, also addressed mistrust between community members and KDPS. He said the departments officers need to be better incentivized to live in the city.

Most of our officers do not and thats a problem, he said. If we are going to have community officers they need to live in our neighborhoods.

Currently, officers living in the city limits receive a $5,000 annual bonus. Data shared with MLive earlier this year showed that only 17 of over 230 officers lived within city limits and qualified for that bonus.

Related: 7% of Kalamazoo public safety officers live in the city limits

Ayers also said he is deeply skeptical of the idea that increased surveillance is making Kalamazoo citizens safer. He said what would help make the community safer is getting to know each others neighbors.

City Commissioner Jeanne Hess said in her four years on the commission she has seen KDPS demonstrate a great will to improve, grow and change.

Like municipalities across this country, we remain understaffed, said Hess, 65. These men and women show up every day with a heart of service. We are the largest department of public safety in the country that is combined fire, police and first responder services and they are all cross-trained ... and they are trained well.

I will continue to support the work of Kalamazoo Public Safety as we move forward.

Fellow City Commissioner Esteven Juarez said he works extremely closely with Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief David Boysen on a variety of issues, particularly with gun violence.

Related: Unlikely relationships forge in battle to end gun violence in Kalamazoo

We have a really great public safety (department), said Juarez, 37. The work they do is astronomical, having to be first responders, police and firefighters. Its a hard task to ask someone to do, so its a unique type of individual that we need.

Juarez agreed with Ayers that its important to know each others neighbors to build community. He said the community also has a social responsibility to help police.

To view the candidate forum in its entirety, please visit publicmedianet.org.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. for the Nov. 7 election.

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SAGINAW, MI  From small, local businesses opening and closing to the regions largest event center going cashless, heres some mid-Michigan business news you might have missed:

Father and son team John and Johnny Wesolek pose for a photograph outside their restaurant and bar JJs Roadhouse located at 9620 Gratiot Rd. in Saginaw on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)(Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)

New Saginaw restaurant strives to bring back the atmosphere of closed bar
LANSING, MI  The renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas has fueled debate in the Michigan House, as Republicans and some Democrats call for official support of the Jewish nation while others accuse them of trying to score political points.

Rep. Bill G. Schuette, R-Midland, introduced a resolution on Wednesday to condemn the acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas, call for the release of all hostages and support Israels right to self-defense.

I understand that this is not a simple issue, that its a complex international crisis, Schuette, a first-term lawmaker and former federal defense intelligence officer, told reporters. But we cannot equivocate on the killing of civilians, on the brutal atrocities that we witnessed in Israel.

House Resolution 146 has dozens of cosponsors in the 110-member chamber, including six Democrats: Reps. Noah Arbit of West Bloomfield; Kelly Breen of Novi; Natalie Price of Berkley; Carrie Rheingans of Ann Arbor; Julie Rogers of Kalamazoo and Samantha Steckloff of Farmington Hills.

But Democratic leadership assigned the resolution to the House Government Operations Committee, where many pieces of legislation never more forward.

I think any conversation around what is happening in Israel and Palestine that makes no acknowledgement of the 70-plus-year occupation and the mistreatment of the Palestinian people is disrespectful to the issue, Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash told reporters.

It is a disservice to the complexity and the humanity of the people that live in that region.

Republicans, said the Muslim and Democratic representative from Hamtramck, balked in June on chances to stand against hate and violence aimed at Arabs and Jews. Many Republicans voted against bills to punish institutional desecration and expand Michigans hate crime law.

House Bills 4474 and 4475 would expand Michigans ethnic intimidation law to say hate crimes can also be based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability, ethnicity or age.

Go deeper: Hate crime laws are murder prevention: Nessel, Dems argue for statute change

HBs 4476 and 4477 lay out penalties for damaging or threatening places of worship, community centers, cemeteries, schools and businesses if the attack was based on the groups race, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or physical or mental disability.

Instead, this is a cheap attempt to score political points at the expense of the humanity in respect of the Palestinian people, Aiyash said of Schuettes resolution. And Im looking forward to this getting referred to Government Operations today.

Resolutions are symbolic pieces of legislation used to send an official message from the chamber. Theyre usually uncontroversial, like naming a day in honor of someone.

Schuette said his resolution being destined to stay idle is an abdication of our duty to speak authoritatively on the important issues of our day.

The resolution, if passed, would be sent to Michigans 13 congressmembers, Israels ambassador to the U.S. and Americas top diplomat to Israel. (The ambassadorship has been vacant since July.)

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly named Rep. Kevin Coleman, D-Westland, as a resolution sponsor. The sixth Democratic sponsor is instead Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, facing possible censure for a statement issued following a terror attack in Israel which reportedly left more than 1,200 dead, said her comments have been willfully misconstrued to make her seem sympathetic to Hamas due to her faith and ethnicity.

Tlaib, D-Detroit, is Palestinian and was one of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress alongside U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota.

I do not support the targeting and killing of civilians, whether in Israel or Palestine, Tlaib said in a statement sent to MLive Thursday. The fact that some have suggested otherwise is offensive and rooted in bigoted assumptions about my faith and ethnicity.

In additional comments made to the Detroit Free Press Wednesday, Tlaib went a step further, condemning the Palestinian militant group Hamas actions over the weekend as war crimes ... just like the collective punishment of Palestinians right now is a war crime.

Despite this, members of Michigans congressional caucus have already moved to censure Tlaib for her Oct. 8 remarks, in which she said she grieved both Israeli and Palestinian lives lost yesterday, today and every day.

The Palestinian Health Ministry told the Associated Press at least 1,400 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli airstrikes, with more than 6,268 others injured. The Israeli government has cut off all food, water, electricity and fuel to the territory, which is home to roughly 2 million people.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a large scale attack on Israel early Saturday, Oct. 7, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,000 people, mostly Israeli citizens. At least 27 U.S. citizens are among the dead, with another 14 missing, according to a Thursday statement from National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, announced on social media Wednesday he had introduced a resolution to formally censure Tlaib for what he said was a statement that justified the terrorist actions of Hamas.

I dont take this action lightly, but her longstanding history of antisemitic and racist rhetoric towards Israel cannot go unchecked, he said. While we dont all have to see eye to eye on every issue, I hope we can all agree that the terrorists raping women, murdering festival goers and decapitating babies is a crime against all of humanity, and we must be able to call out that kind of unbridled evil in our world.

Tlaib issued a statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict Sunday, Oct. 8, in which she said called for working towards 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, she said. 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. As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.

In the days since that statement, she has come under fire from Republicans and Democrats at both the state and national level for what is being seen as Tlaibs inability to condemn Hamas specifically for its actions.

Among them is state Rep. Samantha Steckloff, D-Farmington Hills, who shares a portion of her district with Tlaib.

In a now deleted statement, Steckloff slammed Tlaib for being unable to even condemn the terrorist organization of Hamas. A terrorist organization that has murdered thousands of innocent Israelis and Palestinians.

Since posting the remarks, Steckloffs entire X account no longer exists.
Senator Robert Howie, who represents New Caledonia in the French Senate, voiced the following criticisms of the French government in the upper house of the parliament, Azernews reports.

He stated that the Kanak people are not enemies of the French people. They want to end 70 years of colonial history.

The government presented a draft agreement on September 6, 2023, which will be the basis for the revision of the Constitution. This document begins with Caledonian residents stating that they want New Caledonia to remain a part of France. Caledonian historian Jose Barbanson said that the Caledonian people do not exist without the Kanak people, he said.

He added that the last referendum held by the French government in New Caledonia was disputed before the UN. This was a French pretext for removing New Caledonia from the list of territories to be decolonized. Also, France's actions aim to replace the Noumea Agreement by stripping it of its Constitutional value.

"The French government is legalizing colonial settlement against the balance achieved in 1998. Lack of impartiality leads to fruitless discussions today. The state should be able to understand that the time has come for wisdom," Senator Robert Howie.

It should be emphasized that this is the first speech of the representative of New Caledonia in the French Senate. The listed fact once again proves that new processes are taking place in the struggle for independence in New Caledonia.
Thursday, Oct. 12

"Stories and Visual Narratives: Works by Marina Hajek (Herrera), Ralf Huber, Rogene Manas, Kenji Shimizu and Karen Russo," daily through Dec. 14, Memorial Union Art Gallery, 2501 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. Paintings, figurative ceramic sculpture, mixed-media assemblage, photographs and mixed-media paper wall sculptures. Information: https://mu.oregonstate.edu/gallery.

"Annularity," open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, and Monday through Thursday, Oct. 16 through 19; and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, Praxis Gallery, Fairbanks Hall, Oregon State University, 220 SW 26th St., Corvallis. Exhibition reception, 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, with an artist/curatorial talk at 6. Art exhibition bringing together works by artists who respond to the cosmos in diverse, unexpected ways. Annularity refers to the maximum phase of an annular eclipse, when the sun appears as a bright ring surrounding the moon. Community members who take a photograph of make art during the annular eclipse on Oct. 14 are invited to bring their images to Fairbanks Hall on Oct. 16. The work will be placed on display. Information: julia.bradshaw@oregonstate.edu.

Live music by Wild Hog in the Woods, 7 to 10 p.m., Old World Center, 341 SW Second St., Corvallis.

Friday, Oct. 13

The Jefferson Threadheads "Sew Many Pieces Quilt Show," 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 13 and 14, Jefferson Event Center, 1328 N. Second St., Jefferson. The Threadheads is a group of novice to accomplished quilters who gather for inspiration and friendship. The group does quilt challenges, art quilts and other activities on the fourth Friday evening of each month, plus two quilt retreats a year. The group supports ABC House, Hospice, Learning Tree Relief Nursery and Camp Attitude quilt projects. Admission: $5. Information: www.jefersonthreadheads.com.

Corvallis Volunteer Fair, 1 to 4 p.m., Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave. Drop in and visit with local agencies to see how you can support your community. All-ages, free event.

Twentieth Annual St. Anne Greek Food Fest, 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, St. Anne Orthodox Church, Lewisburg Grange Hall, 6000 NE Elliott Circle, Corvallis. In person; no drive-thru this year. Authentic Greek meals and desserts, wines and spirits, live music and dancing, books and craft items. All ages. Proceeds from the event help pay for the renovation and maintenance of the grange hall. No admission fee. Event: frsoot@gmail.com.

Live music by Joshua Phillips Band with Coastal Sunday, 7 to 10 p.m., Old World Center, 341 SW Second St., Corvallis.

"Naughty but Nerdy," 7:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 115 SW Second St., Corvallis. Standup comedy with a nerdy flair. A night of sensual-yet-sagacious comedy by acts from around the state. Featured performers include Max Brockmann of Eugene, Naomi Fitter of Corvallis, Sarah Hagen of Eugene, Litzibitz of Brownsville, Thomas Lundy of Portland and Gabby Poccia of Corvallis. Tickets: $17 at majestic.org.

C3 Open Mic Night, 7 p.m., Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave. Performers and audience members are welcome. Free.

Saturday, Oct. 14

"8 x 8 Show," Oct. 14 through Nov. 18, Brownsville Art Center, 255 N. Main St. All pieces are 8 inches square size in various media. Open to members and nonmembers.

Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, Linn County Fair & Expo, 3700 Knox Butte Road E., Albany. Family-friendly fiber arts festival; a weekend filled with classes, demonstrations, livestock shows and an expansive marketplace with an array of fiber goods and accessories. Strut your stuff at Fleece to Fashion. Free admission. Workshops on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Information: https://ablanyvisitors.com/event/oregon-flock-fiber-festival.

Artisan market, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Common Fields, 545 SW Third St., Corvallis. Local artists and artisans show and sell their work.

Second annual Dogtoberfest, 1 to 5 p.m., Deluxe Brewing and Sinister Distilling Company, 635 NE Water Ave., Albany. A celebration of the brewery's customers and their canine pets. There will be raffles, a dog costume contest, themed food and drinks, a doggie pie-eating contest, adoptable dogs and a donation drive hosted by SafeHaven Humane Society, and more. Well-behaved, people- and dog-friendly dogs are welcome. Dogs must be fully vaccinated, registered and on leash at all times (no retractable leashes). Admission: free; minors welcome.

Second Saturday Arts Day, 1 to 4 p.m., The Arts Center, 700 SW Madison Ave., Corvallis. A family-friendly chance to learn, play and make art. Free.

Live music by Jazz WRX Trio, 7 to 10 p.m., Old World Center, 341 SW Second St., Corvallis.

Sunday, Oct. 15

Sunday Brunch with Sam Holmes and the Tappet Brothers, 10 a.m. to noon, Old World Center, 341 SW Second St., Corvallis. Live music to accompany brunch.

Monday, Oct. 16

"A Peace of My Mind: Exploring Belonging One Story at a Time," 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 through Friday, Oct. 20, lobby, Student Experience Center, 2251 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. Images by award-winning photographer John Noltner.

Photography studio, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16; 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, Westminster House, 101 NW 23rd St., Corvallis. Award-winning photographer John Noltner will photograph those who drop in and give their perspective on the question "What does belonging mean to you?"

Wednesday, Oct. 18

"A Peace of My Mind: Exploring Belonging One Story at a Time," 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 through Saturday, Oct. 21, Corvallis Museum, 411 SW Second St., Corvallis. Images by award-winning photographer John Noltner.

Live music, performer to be determined, 6 to 8 p.m., Common Fields, 545 SW Third St., Corvallis.

"All The Way Open Mic Comedy," 8 p.m., Old World Center, 341 SW Second St., Corvallis. Hosted by Terry Geil. Signup starts at 7:30.

 Mid-Valley Live
BEAVER ISLAND, MI  Residents of remote Beaver Island 30-some miles offshore from the mainland in northern Lake Michigan say they want federal regulators to make sure they get better internet  specifically fiber internet.

Michigan is poised to receive $1.5 billion in federal broadband equity funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but residents of Beaver Island worry a loophole in the funding mechanism may leave them and many other rural Americans in the DSL dust.

And this could happen even as a middle-mile broadband provider just landed a $61 million federal grant to lay underwater fiber-optic internet connections from Lower Michigan to Beaver Island, and then underwater again and beyond to the Upper Peninsula.

Yet last-mile service on the island could conceivably remain stuck on DSL  aka old telephone lines.

Beaver Island in northern Michigan is home to about 600 year-round residents, and thousands of summer residents and visitors. Locals argue their internet service isnt just spotty, its archaic.

People have homes where they cant do Zoom. You know, you basically cant use todays internet because of the level of service thats being provided, so that puts us at a huge competitive disadvantage, said Kevin Boyle, chairman of the Beaver Island Joint Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

The committee last month filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission asking the agency to require broadband carriers that receive legacy federal funds to install fiber-optic cable rather than simply quickening speeds on existing DSL gear.

There is a rule that excludes an area from getting any of the available billions in federal broadband equity dollars if existing carriers can reach 100-megabits per second download by 20-megabits per second upload service. That can be achieved on existing twisted copper DSL lines.

Related: This company founded in Kansas will help bring broadband to rural Washtenaw County

Beaver Islanders worry their provider  TDS Telecom  will do just that by installing some equipment to increase bandwidth on existing DSL lines. That would effectively block the island from applying for federal infrastructure dollars to install their own fiber lines to every home, something islanders considered.

The policy is a matter of entrenched monopoly providers interfering with any attempt at locally led solutions, Boyle contends.

What happens is the bare minimum gets done and the needs of the community are not met, he said.

Whereas if that money was given to the community, the community could take the same amount of money and if they needed to throw in some tax dollars and build the level of service that the community believes that it needs, as opposed to the level of service that some distant, private provider decides that theyre going to provide so they can maximize their returns.

Beaver Island resident Pam Grassmick said the concern is her rural community wont be included in the federal infrastructure funding promise that every person in America would have access to modern, high-speed broadband.

Beaver Islands school, rural health center, library, and anyone who works from home are at risk from being left behind in the digital divide. As a geographically isolated community, our needs are unique within the state, Grassmick said.

The internet service provider for Beaver Island said it strives for faster service out there.

TDS Telecom continually advocates for opportunities to bring faster speeds to rural, high-cost locations such as Beaver Island, said Melissa Kellor, company spokesperson.

Related: Beaver Island is a pristine environmental haven. Will it last?

She said the company supported the middle-mile fiber project to Beaver Island announced in June and applied for a grant that would have enabled up to 8-gigabyte speeds to the island, though the proposal wasnt funded.

TDS will instead use its share of legacy federal funds to expand the reach of our fiber-to-the-home networks and extend the reach of fiber within the hybrid and copper network, Kellor said.

Those federal dollars come from an updated funding model to use the Universal Service Fund  the universal access fee charged for decades on every phone line in the nation  for internet access in rural areas.

Boyle said he interprets the companys response to mean they will upgrade some Beaver Island homes to fiber connections, but not all of them which what islanders want the FCC to require. It should be fiber or nothing, he argued.

Fiber is essentially future proof. Its as future proof as any technology can be.

Officials at the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office said they dont play a role in Beaver Islands petition to the FCC but are hopeful the islanders and their internet service provider reach a favorable resolution.

However, officials arent blind to the conundrum.

Michigan officials said in public comments of the new federal broadband equity funding proposal that they intend to phase out legacy copper infrastructure, said Nicole Klisch, spokesperson for the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

She said places that depend on that old technology would be deemed underserved within Michigans program using those federal broadband equity dollars.
As climate change continues to intensify and bring more frequent catastrophes, experts argue regions dubbed climate havens like Michigan should begin to prepare now for what can be expected to be a future wave of incoming climate migrants.

Housing industry researchers with national nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners studied the phenomenon of climate migration and the expected impacts on communities where people relocate. Experts argue that if climate haven communities continue to ignore the phenomenon of climate migration, it will only exacerbate the strain and perhaps even heighten conflicts when climate migrants do begin to arrive in greater numbers.

Its a warning that can be a difficult sell in Michigan, where the statewide population is overall on the decline even as the number of those living in the northern reaches of the state continue to grow.

Related: See which Michigan towns grew, shrunk in 2022

But scientists say Americans are likely to relocate in coming decades as the more chronic effects of climate change make their homes and livelihoods untenable. And the places these folks are apt to end up should get ready, starting now.

Rachel Bogardus Drew is a senior research director with the nonprofit that published a policy brief about this issue this year, which is basically a handbook for how so-called climate havens and other potential receiving communities can prepare for that future expected influx of newcomers. She co-wrote the report.

There are these big, cataclysmic events that catch the attention around the news and so forth. But there are just as many, if not more people, who deal with chronic flooding, who deal with chronic drought, or maybe theyve been hit by just too many of these cataclysmic disasters, one after the other after the other. And it either makes it untenable for them to continue to stay there and live the life that they want, or they just get, you know, fed up with it. So thats a lot harder to track, Drew said.

Yet climate scientists contend these types of climate migrations are going to happen within the United States. Drew said thats why they wrote the how-to guide for haven communities.

The report lays out how places where migrants are expected to settle can prepare for these future climate migrations.

First, communities with a lower risk of climate-related impacts must self-assess their potential to grow because of climate migrants and then leverage existing resources like federal resiliency and housing grant dollars.

Communities should begin to manage the expectations of current residents, plus figure out how to help newcomers find housing, medical care, education and more before they begin to arrive, the brief contends.

Drew said for example, housing markets can be quite different from place to place, and climate migrants may not have the wherewithal to find an apartment and be ready for local expectations like typical security deposits or required references.

Not everybody comes with that knowledge and with that ability to just, you know, drop right in and instantly become part of the fabric of their new community, she said.

Related: Michigan is a climate haven in a warming world. Will everyone move here?

The group recommends setting up a centralized way for migrants to access various services in their new communities.

They need to be able to find a place to live and be able to get their kids into school and so forth and find a job, Drew said.

One thing we didnt expect to hear but heard consistently, kind of across all of the different areas that we were looking at was the issue of transportation  how climate migrants often arrive without a private vehicle or have lost it in the event or are just not used to navigating whatever the transportation system is of the receiving community.

Researchers based their report on three climate migration case studies: Hurricane Katrina in 2005 led to New Orleans residents relocating to Houston, Texas; Hurricane Maria in 2017 led to Puerto Rico residents arriving in central Florida; and the Louisiana coastal towns of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes with the planned relocation of their entire communities because of sea level rise.

Drew said that although its difficult to predict where the expectedly millions of relocating Americans will go in the coming decades, there are advantages for places being ready ahead of time.

Just start planning, just start looking at these issues, because we cant predict where the next disaster will hit, and we cant predict where those folks are going to relocate. But there are going to be disasters, there are going to be folks who need to relocate and the communities that are better prepared for this will have a better experience with it, she said.

Leaders in Michigans largest city are already thinking about this future eventuality.

Related: $20M ad campaign could grow Michigans population  at least thats the goal

Jack Akinlosotu is Detroits sustainability office director, and he said the first way the city can prepare to be a haven for future climate migrants is by solving climate problems that exist today.

On the front end, for me, the big thing Im focused on is how do we solve climate issues for people who are currently here, he said.

Akinlosotu said repetitive power outages and flooding after thunderstorms are problems the city faces that need remedies before making big plans for future newcomers. But that doesnt mean there isnt a mind to that future, he said.

And hes already doing one of the recommended steps in Enterprises report on receiving communities getting prepared: bolstering coordination among the communitys key players. By working on todays climate problems with community leaders, connections will develop with people and groups most likely to respond when new climate issues arise  like a major influx of climate migrants.

Theres so much to be done on the front end of trying to mitigate climate disasters generally in Detroit, doing our part in the city to try to mitigate the certain climate disasters that might happen as a result of our climate going up more than 1.5 degrees, Akinlosotu said. Were trying to do all that we can to make that happen. But with those actions, I believe well be able to accommodate more people when (climate disasters) do happen in different parts of the world.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorses a similar approach to the state becoming a haven for climate migrants. She said its critical to focus on a high quality of life, lower costs of living, and protecting natural resources.

We know that people are going to migrate because of climate, we already see in parts of this country that people are losing access to water, we see fires raging, we see climate event after climate event. And thats why its so important that No. 1, we do our part to mitigate our impact on climate, Whitmer said in mid-August during a tour of the Upper Peninsula.

But also, we build up the foundational things to support our current population and a growing population. Our goal is to just strategically grow our population in the immediate, knowing that ultimately, we will be one of these states where people are seeking refuge.
The United Auto Workers shook up their strike strategy and went after Fords largest, most profitable plant in a late Wednesday walkout.

At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 8,700 UAW members walked off the job at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. The union said this unannounced move came after Ford refused to make further movement in bargaining.

In response, Ford released a statement calling the move grossly irresponsible but unsurprising.

Ford took a swipe at UAW leadership and strategy citing leaked text messages from the UAW communication manager saying the strike would leave automakers wounded for months through reputational damage and industrial chaos.

The UAWs last minute target deviates from the unions public announcement style in the first three weeks. Typically, UAW President Shawn Fain gives a Friday updates on Facebook Live to announce new strike targets. Fain is planning to address members 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13 on Facebook Live.

The shutdown of the Kentucky plant brings the strike total to 44 facilities and an estimated 33,7000 striking employees. This weekend will mark one month of the strike that began at midnight Sept. 15. Its estimated the strike has cost $5.5 billion is losses so far.

We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message, Fain said. Its time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three. If they cant understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it.

The union informed Ford early Wednesday afternoon that it wanted a new economic counteroffer by 5 p.m. , followed by a meeting request for 5:30 p.m. with the UAWs entire Ford bargaining committee, including Fain and union Vice President Chuck Browning, according to a Ford source who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity.

The source said the meeting lasted less than 10 minutes before Fain declared that the company had lost Kentucky Truck.

The Kentucky Truck Plant makes Ford Super Duty pickups as well as the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator.

This decision by the UAW is all the more wrongheaded given that Ford is the only automaker to add UAW jobs since the Great Recession and assemble all of its full-size trucks in America, Ford said in a statement.

Kentucky Truck is Fords largest plant and one of the largest auto factories in America and the world, according to the company. The vehicles produced there generate $25 billion a year in revenue.

Ford warned of painful aftershocks from the work stoppage there including risking the production of 13 plants interconnected with the Kentucky plant. When including suppliers, Ford said this strike target could have ripple effects for 100,000 people.

The following Michigan-based facilities are among the plants that feed into the Kentucky plant are:

Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti Charter Twp

Dearborn Diversified Manufacturing Plant in Dearborn

Dearborn Stamping Plant in Dearborn

Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne (already on strike)

Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights (idled because of Chicago Assembly Plant strike)

After the addition of the Kentucky plant, Ford estimates 18,520 employees have been impacted from the beginning of the strike through walkouts or related layoffs.
The UN Human Rights Council voted Wednesday to set up an independent fact-finding mission to probe alleged rights abuses in Sudan's brutal fighting.

"There is ... an urgent need to investigate and gather evidence of human rights violations and abuses and violations of international law, no matter where in Sudan they were committed, by whom they were committed," Britain's ambassador Simon Manley said, bringing forward the proposal on behalf of several countries.

The draft resolution was only narrowly passed, with Sudan fuming at the plan.

The 47-member council decided by 19 votes to 16 in favour of setting up the probe, with 12 countries abstaining.

Countries backing the resolution included Argentina, Britain. France, Germany, Mexico, Ukraine and the United States.

China, Malaysia, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan itself voted against the proposal. India and South Africa abstained.

The fighting in Sudan broke out on April 15.

The army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a power struggle.

More than 9,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.

Fighting has displaced almost 4.3 million people within Sudan, while 1.2 million more have fled abroad, UN figures show.

Manley cited reports of civilians being indiscriminately bombed in their homes in the capital Khartoum, and of "horrific" sexual violence, including children being raped.

The mission will have three members, with an initial one-year mandate.

The probe will "investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law", according to the resolution.

Khartoum's ambassador Hassan Hamid Hassan slammed the council's decision, which he said was being imposed "coercively" on Sudan.

He slammed the "politicisation, selectivity, double standards and non-respect of state sovereignty".

"Those who sponsored the resolution should know that they have put all the scope of cooperation at stake," he said, leaving little doubt as to whether Sudan will facilitate the investigation.

Following the vote, Hilary Power, UN Geneva director at the NGO Human Rights Watch, said the probe was an important step.

"Following decades of impunity, which has fuelled ongoing cycles of abuses, the Human Rights Council has today sent a strong message to perpetrators -- that there may finally be consequences to their abuses," Power said.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has not neglected the Ashanti region as speculated, Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah has said.

He stated that since assuming political power in 2017, the government has executed a lot of developmental projects, with other projects ongoing and others still in the pipeline.

Simon Osei Mensah's comments were in reaction to the Asante Youth Association (AYA) one-month ultimatum issued to the government to urgently resume work on abandoned projects in the region.

In a press conference on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, the group threatened to embark on a massive protest against the government if it continue to neglect its stronghold territory.

The association is also calling on the government to prioritize development in the region, lamenting that the Akufo-Addo-led government has neglected the area despite it being the New Patriotic Partys stronghold.

Simon Osei Mensah on Otec FMs morning show Nyansapo on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, revealed that he will organize sector-by-sector press conferences every month to project the governments projects executed in the region.

Starting from December 2023, I will trumpet the developmental projects done in the health sector in the region for the people to appreciate the good works of the government, he told the host, Captain Koda.

Simon Osei Mensah attributed the halting of some projects in the region to lack of funding, due to the ongoing negotiation between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The projects include Phase 2 and 3 of the Kumasi International Airport, Phase of Kejetia Redevelopment Projects and the Mother and Baby Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

On Suame 4-tier interchange, Simon Osei Mensah stated that its suspension is as a result of the redesigning of the project by the construction firm, Rango.

Simon Osei Mensah touching on uncompleted and abandoned roads in the region attributed some to the failure of the government to settle arrears owed the contractors and poor performances.

The 55km Obuasi-Daatano-Manso Nkwanta-Anwiankwanta road is halted because the government owns the contractor, Joshob Construction Co. Ltd., Asabea Construction Ltd working on the Atwima Tekyiman-Denkyemouso road has its contract terminated for poor performance, he added.

He assured that the government will do everything possible within its means to mobilize funding for the completion of all ongoing projects in the region.
Renowned Ghanaian actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win, is looking to expand the teaching staff at his school with the announcement of various vacancies.

In a notice issued sighted by this portal on the actors Facebook story on Wednesday, October 11, the management of Great Minds International School located in Ahenkro, Ashanti region called for applications for positions in integrated science, computing, social studies, RME, creative arts and lower primary facilitator.

According to the notice, the school "wants to fill the under listed posts with highly motivated and result-oriented individuals with qualified and experienced in the following disciplines."

It further stated that "preference will be given to related course applicants."

Applicants have been advised to send in their applications both electronically and physically by October 16. The notice also assured "accommodation for all staff. So distance shouldn't be your barrier."

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply within the deadline to be considered for the positions.

The school is said to be one of the top private basic schools in the Afigya Kwabre North district.
As conflict continues in the Middle East between Israeli and Palestinian forces, a prominent Ghanaian legal and media expert, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, is urging Ghanaian news portals to take a more peaceful approach in their reporting and commentary.

Mr. Otchere-Darko, a respected lawyer and founder of the media conglomerate Asaase Media, expressed concern over some publications that have been putting out "hate articles" related to the ongoing war.

As the loss of life mounts on both sides, Mr. Otchere-Darko is urging Ghanaian media to take a more constructive approach in their coverage.

Rather than publishing antagonistic commentary that could inflame tensions further, he says media should "preach peace."

Antisemitism has no place in Ghanaian society, according to the legal expert.

In a tweet on Wednesday, October 11, he stated, "I have seen hate articles being published on some Ghana-focused online portals over the war in the Middle East. Antisemitism is unGhanaian and plainly despicable. This is the time to preach peace not hate."

His comments come amid the escalating 2023 Israel-Hamas war, part of the long-running Gaza-Israel conflict.

Fighting intensified earlier this month when Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas launched rocket attacks and other strikes against Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Israel has responded with airstrikes of its own.
11.10.2023 LISTEN

On that fateful night in 2021, amidst a complex operation, the Department of State Services (DSS) found themselves immersed in an unusual controversy  the vanishing of a cat during a night raid on the residence of Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho. Amidst the chaos and tension, the unexplained arrest of a cat became emblematic of the strange occurrences that transpired. This mysterious event serves as a stark reminder of the incongruity within law enforcement priorities, raising important ethical questions about the treatment of animals in Nigeria.

In the annals of Nigeria's law enforcement, the Department of State Services (DSS) holds a formidable reputation for ensuring national security. However, an intriguing and somewhat surreal incident occurred in 2021, unveiling a rather bizarre side to the agency's activities - the mysterious disappearance of a cat during a DSS operation.

In a bone-chilling account given to Punch newspaper on October 24, 2021, Onaolapo Ademola, an associate of Igboho, recounted the horrifying events of the midnight raid on Igboho's Ibadan residence by the Department of State Services (DSS) and others. Ademola, who was present in the house during the raid and was later released on bail from DSS custody, painted a disturbing picture of the operation, likening it to a Gestapo-style assault. He revealed that when the DSS failed to locate Igboho, they resorted to employing herbalists who chanted incantations in an attempt to summon him back. When their attempts failed, frustration boiled over into cruelty  DSS officers killed some of the cats and seized one, claiming the herbalists identified it as the transformed Igboho. This incident exposes the surreal and alarming convergence of superstition, brutality, and animal cruelty within the realm of law enforcement in Nigeria, showcasing a dark and troubling facet of the country's justice system.

Under the shadow of former President Muhammadu Buhari's authoritarian regime, Nigeria experienced a period of stringent military-style democracy. Law enforcement agencies, including the police, DSS, and civil defense, often acted with militaristic aggression when dealing with ordinary citizens. The echoes of this harsh approach reverberated through the nation, leaving scars of fear and resentment. However, amidst this atmosphere, a glimmer of hope emerged with the gradual shift toward a more liberal mindset, championed by leaders like the American-trained President Bola Tinubu.

In this transformative phase, where the shackles of brutality are beginning to loosen, a remarkable tale unfolds. It's the story of Sunday Igboho, a man detained under the previous administration in Benin Republic and subsequently placed under house arrest. Today, he stands liberated, reunited with his family in Germany, on his way back to Nigeria. Yet, amidst this tale of freedom, a lingering question persists  where is the cat?

In the intricate web of Nigeria's security apparatus, the Department of State Services (DSS) shoulders multifaceted responsibilities, primarily centered on counterintelligence, internal security, counterterrorism, and surveillance. However, recent events have unfurled a bewildering anomaly  the inexplicable disappearance of a cat during a DSS operation, prompting bewildering queries about the agency's unexpected entanglement with animals. One can't help but ponder: since when did innocent and gentle creatures like cats become instruments of internal security and surveillance?

These events have brought forth a bizarre anomaly  the disappearance of a cat during a DSS operation, raising perplexing questions about the agency's involvement with animals.

One of the most baffling incidents occurred when the Department of State Services (DSS) raided the residence of activist Sunday Igboho. In an attempt to apprehend him, they reportedly took away a cat, suspecting it might be the activist in disguise. Fast forward to today, and Igboho is comfortably settled in Germany, while the fate of the cat remains unknown, highlighting the enduring influence of superstitions on significant decisions.

While my professional and personal paths have never crossed with Sunday Igboho's, his recent journey to Germany serves as a reflection of the broader issues plaguing Nigerian society. Beyond the individual, it highlights the systemic challenges surrounding superstitions, comical beliefs, and the often-bizarre treatment of animals within the context of law enforcement. This incident becomes a microcosm, inviting a larger conversation about the urgent need for cultural sensitivity and animal rights in Nigeria.

This narrative delves into the urgency of acknowledging animal rights, the implications of the DSS's actions, and the call for justice and compassion. As advocates for animal welfare and empathy, we question the ethicality of such actions. If the DSS cannot produce the missing cat, it raises not only legal but moral questions. This section explores the importance of holding authorities accountable for their actions, advocating for transparency and justice for the animals they are responsible for.

While Nigeria lacks specific legislation addressing animal welfare, existing provisions in the Criminal Code hint at the recognition of animals' capacity to suffer. This segment dissects the limitations of current laws, emphasizing the need for comprehensive animal welfare legislation that aligns with international standards. A robust legal framework is vital in safeguarding animals from cruelty and ensuring perpetrators face appropriate consequences.

The absence of clear legal guidelines underscores the necessity for societal education. This section advocates for widespread awareness campaigns, promoting empathy towards animals and dispelling harmful myths and superstitions. By fostering a compassionate society, Nigeria can pave the way for legislation rooted in understanding and respect for all living beings.

Igboho, as a prominent figure, has the potential to catalyze change. By taking legal action against the DSS for the disappearance of the cat and other animal rights violations, he can serve as a beacon of justice. This part explores the significance of his potential lawsuit, not only as a means of seeking justice for the animals but also as a statement against cruelty and inhumanity.

Examining successful animal welfare models worldwide offers valuable insights. This segment highlights progressive countries where stringent legislation and societal empathy have created harmonious environments for both humans and animals. By drawing parallels, Nigeria can aspire to adopt similar practices, fostering a culture of respect for all living creatures.

The journey towards a compassionate society begins with acknowledging the sentience of animals and their right to live free from cruelty. Igboho's experience serves as a catalyst for change, prompting not only legal action but also societal reflection. By embracing empathy, educating the public, and enacting comprehensive animal welfare laws, Nigeria can usher in an era where all beings are treated with dignity and compassion. The unanswered question remains: Where is the missing cat, and what will Nigeria do to ensure justice prevails for all its creatures?

The baffling disappearance of the cat in 2021 remains an unsolved mystery, symbolizing the broader struggle faced by animals in Nigeria  a struggle that demands attention, compassion, and legislative action. As the nation grapples with this peculiar tale, it's imperative to recognize the need for change, urging authorities to address the gaps in animal rights legislation and fostering a society where the welfare of all beings, both human and animal, is prioritized.

In the complex tapestry of Nigerian society, where deep-rooted cultural beliefs and superstitions frequently clash with the essential concepts of animal rights and empathy, the case of Igboho, now in Germany, raises pressing questions about the very fabric of societal values and the methods employed by law enforcement in Nigeria. As a psychologist intricately attuned to the intersections of cultural beliefs, animal rights, and human behavior, this narrative delves into the necessity for a nuanced comprehension of these intricate complexities.

This enigmatic event not only raises questions about the DSS's unexpected involvement with animals but also shines a spotlight on the urgent need for comprehensive and standout animal rights legislation in Nigeria.

This incident becomes a lens through which we explore the critical need for robust animal rights legislation in Nigeria. While the DSS grapples with matters of national security, the absence of laws protecting animals leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and cruelty. Through poignant narratives, expert opinions, and satirical anecdotes, we highlight the urgent consequences of this legal vacuum. We dissect the global landscape of animal rights, drawing parallels with nations that have progressive legislation, and emphasize the pressing need for Nigeria to catch up and safeguard the rights and welfare of its animals.

There is need to underscore the incongruity of a society where cats mysteriously vanish amidst overarching security concerns. Through the voices of passionate animal rights activists, legal experts, and empathetic citizens, we make a compelling case for change. Satirical scenarios, heartfelt pleas, and witty commentary encourage readers to join the movement, advocating for legislative reforms that protect animals and promote a more humane society.

In the bewildering saga of recent events in Nigeria, where age-old superstitions clash with the modern world, it's time for our society to break free from the chains of irrational beliefs. The confounding encounters involving law enforcement agencies and their interactions with animals have left the nation in a state of perplexity. As we navigate the complexities of beliefs in the 21st century, it is crucial to bid adieu to ancient superstitions and usher in an era of enlightenment.

This situation might sound like a scene from a surreal movie, but it serves as a stark reminder of the curious beliefs that continue to pervade our society. The notion of humans transforming into animals belongs in the realm of mythology, not within the corridors of law enforcement agencies. It's a testament to the enduring power of superstition that such ideas can influence substantial decisions even in the 21st century.

In more progressive parts of the world, harming animals is not merely frowned upon but punishable by law. The FBI, the United States preeminent law enforcement agency, meticulously tracks cases of animal cruelty and considers it a felony in numerous states. Its a resounding message: societys compassion extends to all creatures, emphasizing the importance of their rights being respected.

In the heart of this mysterious saga lies a fundamental truth  animals, especially beloved pets like cats, are more than just creatures; they are companions, confidants, and cherished members of our families. Igboho's missing cat transcends the realm of a mere mystery; it becomes a symbol of the emotional bond between humans and animals, a bond woven with trust, love, and shared moments of joy.

As the nation embarks on a quest to find the missing feline, it's not just about locating a pet; it's about acknowledging the profound roles animals play in our lives. Cats, with their independent yet affectionate nature, become integral parts of our homes, offering solace in times of despair and companionship in moments of solitude. Igboho's demand for his cat isn't just a call for the return of a pet; it's a plea to recognize the emotional void left by its absence and the significance of preserving the emotional fabric that binds families to their animal companions.

Beyond the individual, it highlights the systemic challenges surrounding superstitions, comical beliefs, and the often-bizarre treatment of animals within the context of law enforcement. This incident becomes a microcosm, inviting a larger conversation about the urgent need for cultural sensitivity and animal rights in Nigeria. It is essential to clarify that, as a writer and psychologist, I have never had any association with Igboho.

I conclude by shedding light on the often-overlooked emotional roles our animal friends play in our lives. We delve into stories of unconditional love and unwavering loyalty, emphasizing the need for a society that not only values these connections but also protects the rights and emotional well-being of animals. As we navigate the complexities of this missing cat saga, we find ourselves immersed in a narrative that challenges societal norms, urging us to redefine our relationship with the animal kingdom and honor the multifaceted roles animals play in our lives.

Examining successful animal welfare models worldwide offers valuable insights. This segment highlights progressive countries where stringent legislation and societal empathy have created harmonious environments for both humans and animals. By drawing parallels, Nigeria can aspire to adopt similar practices, fostering a culture of respect for all living creatures.

In the quest of justice and accountability, it is imperative to foster an environment where constructive criticism is not only welcomed but also acted upon by law enforcement and security agencies. The usual habit of deploying compromised or paid reporters and public commentators to retaliate against those advocating for positive change only exacerbates the existing challenges. Instead, these agencies must encourage a culture of open discourse, where well-intentioned analysis is met with thoughtful reflection and proactive measures.

The journey towards a compassionate society begins with acknowledging the sentience of animals and their right to live free from cruelty. Igboho's experience serves as a catalyst for change, prompting not only legal action but also societal reflection. By embracing empathy, educating the public, and enacting comprehensive animal welfare laws, Nigeria can usher in an era where all beings are treated with dignity and compassion. The unanswered question remains: DSS where is the arrested cat, and what will Nigeria do to ensure justice prevails for all its creatures?

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, to a father who served in the Nigeria police for 37 years, is an American-based police and prison scientist and forensic, clinical, and legal psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA; and a former interim associate dean and assistant professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings. In 2011, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. He has taught at various universities and colleges including Florida memorial University, Florida International University, Broward college, Lynn University, and a contributing faculty member at the Weldios university in Benin Republic, Nexus International University, Uganda, Nova Southeastern University and Walden University in USA. He is a Human Rights Psychologist with a focus on African related environments. [email protected]
Kenya will host the 2023 African NGO Summit, in Nairobi, from 21-22 November 2023 at the Trademark Hotel.

The event is organised by the African NGO Council, an Africa regional membership association of NGOs, and it will bring together 700 national and international NGOs, donor institutions, diplomats, philanthropists, civil society actors, political leaders, journalists, social influencers and activists, policymakers and NGO regulators from across the continent.

At this crucial time, the Summit will bring together this unique audience to discuss regional and international partnership opportunities for realising sustainable peace and human development in Africa and the NGO funding ecosystem across 13 main sessions and side events.

In recent years, particularly since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, several emerging issues have posed severe challenges to Africas non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the development and humanitarian finance ecosystem. Overcoming these challenges by providing new opportunities for NGOs is fundamental to expanding and positioning African NGOs for future progress and growth that leaves no one behind, says Peter SaSellu, President and CEO of the African NGO Council.

The Summit aims to help African NGOs, donors and operating partners to access regional and international partnership opportunities, mobilise diverse financial resources, benefit from regional and international networks, and increase their ability to scale up operations. Moreover, the Summit will act as a continental platform for national and international leaders from the NGO community, development and humanitarian sectors, philanthropy, finance ecosystem, public and private sectors to advocate inclusive policies and strategies required to support African NGOs and partners.

Among several objectives, the Summit seeks to enhance partnerships and expand NGO opportunities and new funding across the Africa region by engaging NGO funders, impact investors and connecting them with policymakers and other stakeholders to foster civil society-friendly policies and conducive operating climate. It will also serve as a platform for inspiring civil society leaders and social entrepreneurs with Africa regional and global best practices, business and operating models and success stories.

According to Catherine George, the Executive Director of the African NGO Summit, The Summit will provide networking and clustering opportunities and fostering strategic alliances. It will help in delivering targeted capacity-building to government entities, funders, impact investors, business enablers and NGOs. At the end of the day, it will help engage African stakeholders in developing improved NGO policy frameworks that promote inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic growth and build resilient infrastructures to nurture African NGOs for meaningful impacts.

Stephen K. Cheboi, the Executive Chairman of the National Council of NGOs in Kenya, the official host organisation of the Summit, says We're delighted that we are accorded by our colleagues at the African NGO Council to host the African NGO Summit here in Nairobi, Kenya. We at the National Council of NGOs in Kenya and all our NGOs in Kenya are humbled to indeed host our colleagues and other key stakeholders from around the world during the period.

He goes on to say, This will be a great opportunity to interact with various actors from around the world, and we welcome you all to Kenya from 21-22 November 2023.

Veronica Lewis, the Membership and Communications Director at the African NGO Council says: As an event created by and for the African NGO community and its partners, discussions at this event will be used in future advocacy efforts and where necessary, embedded in training and capacity building endeavours for presentations to national and Africa regional policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders such as influencers and enablers and the overall NGO community.

Each day will start with an inspirational panel that showcases inspiring national and international NGOs from across the continent and globally, and donor case studies showcasing impact funding in NGOs and social enterprises, followed by an opportunities know-how discussion to elaborate the practical interventions needed to strengthen NGO access to opportunities. After lunch, parallel panel discussions will provide an overview of best practices in the Africa region on strategies, policies, and support programmes. Subsequently, three parallel capacity-building workshops and interactive discussions will take place to provide hands-on tools and methodologies to empower African NGOs and provide new impact investment opportunities for emerging donors and impact investors.

In addition, the Summit will provide an interactive exhibition space for 50 conveners, including NGOs, philanthropists, social enterprises, impact investors, bankers, policymakers, business enablers, intergovernmental organisations, donors, and international delegations.

Online registration is now open. More information is available on the African NGO Summits website at www.africanngosummit.org .
The people of St. Anne Orthodox Church in Corvallis invite local residents to Eat a day the Greek way.

The 20th annual Greek Food Fest is set for Friday through Sunday, Oct. 13 through 15, at historic Lewisburg Hall, 6000 NE Elliott Circle.

For the first time since before the pandemic started, all days of the festival will be in person and there will be no drive-thru for takeout food. Meals can be eaten on site or taken to go.

Live music and dancing also return this year. The Greek duo of Brett Pitner & Maria George make a return to the tent and will perform all day Saturday and Sunday, with line dancers and dance instructors in tow.

As always, the event will offer authentic Greek dinners and desserts, wine and spirits, and arts and crafts, as well as hourly tours of the Orthodox chapel on the second floor of the grange hall.

Hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the festival is free. Parking is also free on site, with a spillover parking lot down the street at Mountain View Elementary School.

The menu includes pork souvlaki, braised lamb with carrots and potatoes, pasticcio, spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves (meat-filled or vegan), fasolia, falafel and Moroccan chicken. Complete dinners served with Greek salad, rice pilaf and pita bread will be offered for $20 for three entrees. A seven-entree Tailgater Platter is $37. Greek desserts, featuring baklava, will be sold separately.

A full menu with descriptions of the menu items, plus more details about the festival, can be found at www.saintannegreekfest.org or www.staoc.com.

Lewisburg Halls private chef, Mona Karadsheh Soot, is once again heading up the culinary production. Soot and her staff have extensive experience preparing and serving gourmet meals from Greece and the Middle East.

The Lewisburg Grange Hall was built in 1911 as a train depot and mercantile. It was used by the railroad for only a short time before it was turned over to the local Mountain View Grange. The building was restored in the early 1990s by Tim and Linda Dodson. It was purchased in 2003 by St. Anne Orthodox Church and is rented out for parties, meetings and other special occasions.

Proceeds from the Greek Food Fest help pay for renovation and maintenance of the hall.

Founded 33 years ago, St. Anne Orthodox Church was the first Orthodox Christian church in the Mid-Valley and is comprised of people of American, Greek, Slavic/Russian, Arabic, Western European, African, Asian and Hispanic heritage. It is affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America.
12.10.2023 LISTEN

A founding member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has expressed deep concern that the personal interests and ambitions of the political class are gradually chipping away at the foundations of the nations democracy.

In an address at a press conference on the topic, The State of Ghana Today, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe lamented the increasing focus on personal gain rather than the welfare of the nation. He emphasized the urgent need for political leaders to prioritize the principles of democracy over individual ambitions.

Look at how this country that we fought and toiled for to have this democracy restored is being destroyed through personal interest, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said.

Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe cited instances where political leaders appeared to prioritize personal interests over the broader welfare of the country. He also questioned how political appointees are able to keep huge sums of foreign currency in their homes.

If the corruption among the political class is not tackled, then we will be in trouble. As a founding member of the New Patriotic Party, I am worried about how leading figures in the ruling partys Presidential Primaries are now publicly confessing these acts of corruption with accusations of syphoning of public money and coffers to resettle their families abroad. Acquiring properties, while the people of Ghana largely suffer and are deprived of basic needs.

Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe further called on all political actors, regardless of their affiliations, to reflect on their actions and decisions, as these have far-reaching consequences for the nation.

The current generation of politicians and other leaders should refrain from joining the bandwagon of greedy, corrupt, and uncultured miscreants causing chaos and disruption in the political space, Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said.

-citinewsroom
French political leaders were to meet with President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday for closed-door talks to flesh out divisions raised by the violence between Israel and militants in Gaza. The far-left France Unbowed party has refused to denounce the Hamas group as terrorists.

The talks between party chiefs and the presidents of the two houses of parliament at the Elysee come ahead of a televised speech Thursday night in which Macron is to address the "terrorist acts committed in Israel".

The head of state was in Hamburg for two days of Franco-German meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier this week during which both leaders voiced their support to the Israeli government.

Eleven French nationals were killed in Saturday's violence and a further 18 people remain missing, including several children. The French government has warned the death toll was likely to rise.

I want to have a special word for our deceased nationals and the 18 of whom we have no news, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said. We are in constant contact with the families.

A chartered Air France flight was due to arrive in Tel Aviv on Thursday to repatriate French nationals who have been unable to leave.

Emotions high

The events in the Middle East have provoked a strong emotion in France, home to Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities.

Past wars in Gaza have triggered mass protests in France, mostly in solidarity with Palestinians.

Police have arrested more than 20 people in relation to more than a hundred "antisemitic acts" reported since Saturday's attack by Hamas.

The stance of France's biggest left-wing party France Unbowed over the assault on Israel has seen its veteran leader Jean-Luc Melenchon come under fire from all sides, and created a major rift on the left.

Melenchon accused the French Jewish representative body CRIF of trying to silence calls for peace in the Middle East by organising an Israel solidarity march in Paris, which France Unbowed was the only major party to boycott.

(with newswires)
The 2nd edition of the Power and Energy Ghana exhibition is currently underway in Accra.

The three-day expo commenced today 11th October and will run till 13th October. The event is organized by BIG4SURE Events FZCO under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and it is aimed at bringing innovative and trending machinery in the energy sector to Ghana to ensure Ghana can adapt in achieving energy transition as well as increase the coverage of electricity in the country.

In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Energy Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh by Mr. Kwame Amoah, the director of petroleum at the ministry indicated that the President Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration, through the Ministry of Energy, remains committed to providing stable, realistically priced, universally accessible electricity as one of the cardinal pillars of its vision and continues to drive innovative solutions to meet the energy demands of a 21st-century society.

According to him, besides the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point in Accra, works have been completed on the Kasoa Bulk Supply Point (BSP), which is a 435 MWA Capacity Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation. The US$50m BSP project was funded by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) under the Ghana Power Compact programme.

"With outstanding minor works, the project has been energized and is in operation.

"Furthermore, the national transmission backbone under construction from the coast to Bolgatanga had a gap between Kumasi and Kintampo as outstanding works, which have since been completed. In addition to this is the Tema to Accra transmission line upgrade project to accommodate an increase from 161KV capacity to 330KV capacity.

"In 2022, Ghana launched the energy transition framework at Sharm El Sheikh during COP 27 and called for a partnership to accelerate its implementation which the SE4ALL and Bloomberg are supporting in the development of an investor-friendly energy transition plan for Ghana.

"This, when completed, will catalyze over US$ 540 billion in investments into the clean energy space in Ghana by 2070.

"The installed capacity would reach 83 GigaWatts, comprising Nuclear 50%, Natural Gas 30%, and 20% renewable energy mix which will lead to the achievement of our net-zero goal.

As part of the medium-term targets, the Ministry of Energy is committed to achieving 10% renewable energy installed capacity in the national energy mix by 2030. This will help achieve our Nationally Determined Contributions commitments under the Paris Agreement," he stated.

On the solar front, he underscored the ministry is working assiduously to achieve an installed capacity of 741.3MW out of the total of 1,350MW installed renewable capacity by 2030. "Currently, 165MW installed solar capacity has been achieved," he added.

The Deputy Director of Energy, Ing. Sulemana Abubakari at the Ministry commended the organizers for hosting such an expo in Ghana.

He emphasized the expo would enable local manufacturers to engage with international manufacturers in order to adopt innovative and trending machinery in the sector.
Founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has raised concern how Ghana is now riddled with perceived corruption of political public office holders who continue to amass unexplained wealth.

This he says is giving statesmen like himself sleepless nights under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration.

Speaking at a press conference organised by ex-military officers on the topic, The State of Ghana Today on Wednesday, October 11, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said its difficult to understand how Ministers hoard money in their bedrooms and expect the unemployed youth to be satisfied.

In the old age of ours we dont sleep soundly at night. Ghana has been riddled with perceived corruption of political public office holders amassing unexplained wealth, tribalism, nepotism, and parochial in their interest, especially under this regime under President Akufo-Addo.

How do Ministers hoard stashes of cash in foreign and local currencies in their homes, acquire properties in prime areas of Accra and other parts of the country, drive the most luxurious cars and live extravagantly and expect our youth who remain largely without meaningful employment to be satisfied, Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe indicated.

According to the founding member of the NPP, he can no longer describe President Akufo-Addo, the man he was for which reason he campaigned for him to become President.

He said after becoming President, Nana Akufo-Addo has become a different person.

The Akufo-Addo I knew and had numerous dialogues and demonstrations with is not the Akufo-Addo who is now president, Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe argued.
Some 13 persons have been rushed to the hospital after allegedly eating suspected contaminated food.

The victims, reportedly consumed 'waakye', a local rice and beans dish, at Atwedie in the Asante Akyem Municipality.

The victims showed symptoms such as vomiting, stomach ache, nausea and uneasiness minutes after eating the food.

The unfortunate and scary incident happened on Monday, October 9, 2023, DAILY GUIDE has been reliably informed.

All the 13 people, including the 'waakye' seller, were hospitalised, but they were discharged same day.

The Ashanti Regional Environmental Health Officer, John Yaw Donkor, confirmed the incident to Asaase Radio, Kumasi.

He said they had reported that 13 people ate from the same source and they instantly developed some complications.

Mr. Donkor said his outfit, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and Ghana Health Service (GHS) rushed to the scene.

According to him, through investigations, it was revealed that the 13 people ate 'waakye' and developed the symptoms.

The 13 people, including the 'waakye' seller were discharged after being hospitalised for hours, he disclosed.

Mr. Donkor said his outfit and other authorities concerned could not get access to the 'waakye' for laboratory testing.

He added that the 'waakye' seller would be prevented from selling for a while until the case was properly investigated.

-DGN online
Founding member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has argued that the posture of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) toward the Minority in Parliaments protest is a clear disrespect.

The Minority early this month protested against the Central Bank demanding the resignation of Governor Dr. Ernest Addison over allegations of gross mismanagement and unlawful printing of money for government.

The Minoritys attempt to present a petition to the Central Bank was unsuccessful after the Governor and his two deputies failed to show up to receive the leadership of the protesters.

Unhappy about this, the Minority vowed to stage another protest at a later date to present the petition to the Governor.

Speaking about it at a press conference organised by ex-military officers on the topic, The State of Ghana Today on Wednesday, October 11, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe said it amounts to disrespect from the BoG Governor.

He stressed that incompetence and inefficiencies should not be condoned in public office, insisting that anyone who is unable to carry out their mandate must resign.

We have noticed with grave concern, the clear disrespect shown by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to protestors led by the Minority in Parliament and many aggrieved Ghanaians. It cannot be true that the OCCUPY BOG demonstrators were solely on any political agenda when they were joined in the March by other well-meaning Ghanaians to show their indignation against actions taken that have led to losses to the taxpayer.

Incompetence and inefficiencies should not be condoned in public office as far as the output of such officers impoverishes ordinary Ghanaians. If you cant do the work, resign. It is that simple, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe argued.

In his address, the founding member of the NPP said Ghana has been riddled with corruption of political public office holders amassing unexplained wealth, tribalism, nepotism, and parochial in their interest, especially under this regime of President Akufo-Addo.

This he said is giving statesmen like himself sleepless nights.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe in a call on government noted that it is important government works to ease the suffering of the ordinary Ghanaian.
France's highest administrative court has rejected a class action lawsuit accusing the state of failing to stop police racial profiling. The Conseil d'Etat (Council of State) recognised that discrimination was a problem, but said it was not up to judges to redefine public policy.

The case was brought by six human rights organisations who argued that French police systematically discriminate during routine ID checks, with young Arab and black men especially targeted.

"The investigation has shown that this type of check does exist and is not confined to isolated cases," the Council of State said in a statement.

"While it cannot be considered 'systemic' or 'widespread', this practice nevertheless constitutes discrimination against people who have had to undergo a check on the basis of physical characteristics associated with a real or supposed origin."

The court said it rejected the lawsuit because it was "not the role of an administrative judge to take the place of the public authorities in determining public policy".

Benedicte Jeannerod, from Human Rights Watch, one of the organisations that brought the complaint, described the decision as a "missed opportunity", but said the recognition of police racial profiling was symbolically important.

The government and police have been under increased scrutiny since the police shooting of Nahel, a teenager of North African descent, earlier this year.

First ruling in France

The case marks the first ruling on a class action lawsuit against the state, a procedure possible since 2016, and could influence future judicial advocacy actions in France.

"The judges need time to understand the use of the class action," said Antoine Lyon-Caen, a lawyer for the six organisations, citing a similar class action in New York that was successful.

On Tuesday the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution expressing concern about types of police misconduct that "disproportionately affect" people with an immigrant background in France.

It called on authorities to put in place a system of recording identity checks. The documentation of identity checks was one of the demands as part of the class action lawsuit.

The Council of State on Wednesday also ruled that police officers must clearly display their identification number badge. Known as a RIO, the badge should be made bigger so it is readable, the court said.

(with Reuters)
12.10.2023 LISTEN

Numerous multilateral meetings have convened to discuss the Kosovo situation. Recently, the European Political Community Summit took place in Granada. Kosovo was in focus, albeit only declaratively, as no substantive steps were taken to overcome the existing crisis and reduce tensions. The forthcoming Berlin Process Summit in Tirana is unlikely to yield a solution for Kosovo, as Germany is primarily part of the problem in Kosovo, rather than a part of the solution.

The crisis escalation in Kosovo culminated in an isolated armed incident in the town of Banjska on 24 September 2023, where a group of local Serbs clashed with the Kosovo police. What is presently known is that the former Vice President of the Serbian List, Milan Radoicic, has acknowledged his presence in Banjska with a group of individuals. According to his statement, his intention was to encourage "the Serbian population in that region in offering resistance to the daily terror they are subjected to. The aftermath of the Banjska conflict resulted in the loss of one Kosovo police officer's life and that of three Serbs. Since then, the Kosovar government has persistently called for sanctions against Serbia, accusing it of complicity in the attack on the Kosovo police. On the other hand, KFOR has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of assuming police duties from the Kosovo police. At this juncture, representatives from the EU, the USA, as well as KFOR and EULEX, have affirmed their intent to await the results of the investigation before taking action or considering potential measures concerning Belgrade.

The tensions in northern Kosovo have flared up following the extraordinary local elections held in four municipalities with a Serbian majority (Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan, and Zubin potok), which were boycotted by the Serbian population and their leading political party, the Serbian List. At the helm of municipalities where ethnic Serbs are in the majority, ethnic Albanians have been appointed as mayors.

Subsequently, the international community has recognized that its endorsement of the illegitimate extraordinary local elections in four municipalities with predominantly Serbian population, and the appointment of ethnic Albanians as mayors in Serbian communities, has exacerbated the existing crisis and destabilized the situation in Kosovo.

Is Serbian resistance feasible in Kosovo?

The situation in Kosovo is overshadowed by the increased intensity of the conflict in Ukraine, events in Nagorno-Karabakh, and Hamas' military operations (Al-Aqsa Storm) targeting Israel. Of particular concern is the political and security situation in the Western Balkans, which stands at its most precarious since the cessation of armed hostilities. The international community has made numerous misguided and ill-advised moves, not only in Kosovo but also in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where further escalation is anticipated. The European Union's efforts to facilitate dialogue have yielded no results. The failed mission of EULEX and the unwarranted deployment of specialized ROSU units into Serbian communities in northern Kosovo have generated tensions that carry the potential for escalation into a more significant armed conflict if left unmitigated. By way of comparison, tensions similarly mounted in Gaza, where the most right-wing government in Israel's history has enacted repressive measures against the local populace, disregarding UN Security Council resolutions and accepted agreements. In light of this situation, parallels can be drawn with Kosovo, and the metaphor of Kosovo as the 'European Israel' is not used casually, with the local Serbian population assuming a role akin to the Palestinians. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 is suspended, and even though the UN mission (UNMIK) operates formally and continues to submit regular biannual reports to the UN Security Council, it does not involve itself in the execution of Resolution 1244. A status report on Kosovo, scheduled to be presented to the UN Security Council on 18 October, is likely to be better prepared by numerous non-governmental organizations operating in the region, as UNMIK, in its current capacity, no longer finds justification for its presence in Kosovo.

Analysts have raised concerns regarding the potential escalation of the situation. A recent development is the appointment of Turkish General Ozkan Ulutas as the commander of the NATO/KFOR mission, with a mandate to ensure security across the entirety of Kosovo's territory. The deployment of Kosovo Police Special Units (ROSU) in the northern part of Kosovo is uncalled for since it amplifies tensions and inflames the situation, as their composition does not align with the ethnic structure of the population in northern Kosovo. Furthermore, KFOR also could have dismantled any potentially erected roadblocks. It is imperative to avert a debacle of the international community, particularly the EU, in order to maintain peace and preserve the credibility of the international community itself, which, due to some of its actions, is increasingly becoming a part of the problem in the Western Balkans, including Kosovo. Failing to do so does not exclude the possibility and warrants caution regarding the initiation of the 'Serbian resistance,' a spontaneous response by the citizenry to the prevailing unsustainable and intolerable conditions.

Where has over 2.5 billion of EU taxpayers' money gone?

The European Union's credibility in Kosovo has reached an all-time low. This decline in reputation is not attributed to the intervention of the U.S. administration in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but rather to certain member states delegating their envoys, thereby effectively challenging the EU's authority and undermining its role. The United States holds a critical position in finalizing the dialogue, particularly in the phase leading to a final agreement. A pertinent question emerges: does it still make sense for the EU to continue its mediation role in the dialogue considering more than a decade has passed since the signing of the Brussels Agreement and with little progress to show? A pragmatic response would suggest that the EU has fulfilled its mediation role in the dialogue between the official Belgrade and Pristina, and it is necessary to explore a new, sustainable solution.

The role of the OSCE mission in Kosovo in organizing recent illegitimate local elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo (Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan, and Zubin Potok) is being downplayed, despite its direct contribution to the escalation. The question arises: who bears responsibility for facilitating such illegitimate local elections, especially when it was evident that the Serbian population would abstain from participation? Presently, international representatives are advocating for a fresh round of local elections in northern Kosovo. Given such actions and rapid shifts in their positions, it comes as no surprise that the international community is facing a debacle in Kosovo.

NATO/KFOR international forces play a vital role in ensuring and maintaining security in Kosovo. Nevertheless, they made a critical error by tacitly allowing the deployment of Kosovo Police Special Units (ROSU) to northern Kosovo, a move that should not have occurred without KFOR's explicit authorization and which compounded the concernsof the Serbian community. Where KFOR is present, there is no need for ROSU.

To date, the European Union has largely squandered approximately 2.5 billion euros of EU taxpayers' money on Kosovo. In light of the failed EULEX mission, the question is who will be held accountable for the expenditure of such a substantial amount of EU taxpayers' funds?

Analysts contend that certain EU member states are at risk of repeating a prior misstep committed three years ago when they imposed unwarranted sanctions on Belarus. At the time, Belarus was relatively distanced from Russia, but the EU-imposed sanctions inadvertently pushed it into the embrace of Vladimir Putin's Russia. There are speculations that some EU member states aim to replicate this error concerning Serbia and its President, Aleksandar Vucic, by contemplating the imposition of sanctions. Such actions hold the potential to irreversibly draw Serbia toward Russia, likely leading to Serbia's definitive estrangement from the EU. This, in turn, could potentially signal the end of the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans.

Violence should not be the path to resolving the status quo

The existing situation in Kosovo cannot be viewed in black-and-white terms, given its inherent complexity. Various actors are contributing to the situation's destabilization. Even Bulgaria is actively engaged in Kosovo, striving to assert the presence of autochthonous Bulgarians, particularly in the area of Gora and Dragas, by offering locals Bulgarian citizenship and associated documents, that enable them to live and work in EU countries. Particularly targeted are the Gorani people, as well as the other residents in that region.

History is repeating itself in Kosovo, and Serbs and Albanians have switched roles. In the past, Milosevics regime-imposed repression on the Albanian population, but now, the situation has reversed.

Analysts contend that violence should not serve as a means to resolve the unsustainable status quo, and that disarmament of Kosovo's residents is an imperative. Estimates indicate that, on average, each resident in Kosovo is in possession of one firearm. This is a consequence of recent armed conflicts, perpetual tensions, a prevailing sense of fear, and the traditional proclivity of both Albanians and Serbs for firearms, deeply intertwined with their national heritage and affinity for weaponry. The disarmament of the population should not be subject to misuse or selective application. It must apply to all residents of Kosovo with the establishment of a unified registry for firearm permit holders, in accordance with the standards and regulations observed in developed nations. Therefore, it is crucial to forestall and avert a 'New Banjska' event and the looming potential for a fresh conflict in northern Kosovo.

Edi Rama's aspirations for the unification of Albania with Kosovo

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama periodically expresses his aspirations or strivings towards a Greater Albania national project, stating that the objective and ambition of his career is the unification of Albania and Kosovo while denying any personal interest. President of Albania and Kosovo?! That is not in my plans! Unification of Albania with Kosovo, yes! That is the aspiration, said Rama. The responsibility now rests with the authorities in Pristina. Through their actions and declarations, they should work towards the prosperity of Kosovo and all its citizens by fostering multi-ethnic harmony and an inclusive society, rather than further inflaming the already volatile situation with statements advocating the unification of Albania and Kosovo. Kosovo is already subject to the European Union's restrictive measures, imposed as a precaution, which have resulted in damages exceeding half a billion euros.

Analysts believe that through his specific actions, Edi Rama is causing harm to Kosovo in both its international and domestic relations. A similar role is assumed by Kosovo's verbose President, Vjosa Osmani, when she calls for Spain and Greece, countries that haven't recognized Kosovo's independence, to impose sanctions on Serbia, which is met with derision in international circles. Dangerous ideas and intentions regarding the unification of Albania and Kosovo could trigger a chain reaction in the region and incite new conflicts. The path to securing peace and stability in Kosovo hinges upon the comprehensive implementation of previously signed agreements and reached accords. The Kosovo government is taking advantage of the armed incident in Banjska as an opportunity to evade its obligations under the Brussels Agreement regarding the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) and the organization of new elections in northern Kosovo, aimed at returning the Serbian population to the institutional framework.

Ljubljana/Washington/Brussels/Prishtina, 12 October 2023
The heart-touching story of a mentally impaired nursing mother has gone viral as Ghana joins the rest of the world to mark the Mental Health Day (MHD) celebration.

Akosua Tuah, the 31-year-old patient, and a single mother of two, successfully delivered her third baby on the eve of the MHD celebration on the street of Sampa, a Ghana-Ivory Coast border town in the Jaman North District of the Bono Region by herself.

October 10 is the MHD, set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and celebrated annually to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

The day also 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.

According to health officials, Tuah is suffering from schizophrenia, a mental health condition, where patients lose contact to reality. She and her bouncing baby girl were in healthy condition.

However, the officials at the Sampa Fountain Care Hospital, a private health facility where Tuah is currently on admission, told the media during a visit the baby had since been placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The baby is healthy, she, however looked dirty, when Tuah was brought to the facility around 0700 hours, Philomena Asima, a midwife on duty at the health facility, stated, and added that due to her current condition, it was not advisable to allow her to breastfeed the baby.

According to Mr Paul Atta Poku, the Registered Nurse Mental Health Officer at the Fountain Care Hospital, Tuah has been stable since she was brought to the facility and provided with medication, saying schizophrenics could be treated only if patients strictly adhere to their drugs.

Generally, he expressed concern that cases of mental health were very high in the Jaman North District, with epilepsy and schizophrenia being the most common ones.

According to him, both cases are hereditary and called on parents and families whose children suffered from various mental health conditions not to hide them, instead supporting them to access medication to aid their treatment process.

Mr Opoko said the facility had enough mental health drugs for patients, however due to the costly nature, many patients could not afford to buy them.

He, therefore, appealed to the government to facilitate and ensure the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) covered the drugs for the patients to access medical care.

Tuah and her babys story remained a topical issue in the Sampa township, as residents wondered who has been impregnating her to give birth to three children.

Describing her as a popular lunatic, always sighted roaming on the streets of the town, some residents and commercial drivers said Tuah could not be predicted as she looked aggressive and normal sometimes.

Touched by her story, MIHOSO International Foundation, a Sunyani-based health centered advocacy and social development NGO, has opted to cater for the feeding fee of the baby girl.

The NGO which also implements a mental health project aimed at helping to alleviate the plight of persons with mental illness, had since presented GHC1,000 for the upkeep of Tuah and her baby.

In an interview with the media, Mr Thomas Benarkuu, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, MIHOSO calls on government to tackle what he described as the intermittent shortages of mental health drugs in the country.

He also added his voice on the need for the NHIS to capture mental health drugs, saying the condition of patients relapse when they stop taking drugs.

Mr Benarkuu called on the various Municipal and District Assemblies to also include persons with mental conditions in the disbursement of the Disability Fund so that patients could also engage in petty trading and artisanal work to enhance their wellbeing.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer appealed to parents and caregivers not to neglect patients, but instead draw closer, tolerate, be patient and listen to them.

He added that giving patients the required attention in one way or the other aided their recovery and healing. processes.
In October, history will be made as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) elects its President, and for the rst time, it will be an African woman at the helm. This momentous occasion will take place during the 147th Assembly of the IPU, where 179 Member States will gather from October 23 to 27, 2023, in Luanda, Angola.

The elected IPU President will serve from 2023 to 2026.

This time, Africa boasts four distinguished female candidates, each vying to lead the governing council. Among them are Ms. Catherine Gotani Hara, the Speaker of Malawi; Ms. Adji Diarra Mergane Kanoute, a Member of Parliament from Senegal; Ms. Tulia

Ackson, the Speaker of Tanzania; and Ms. Marwa Abdibashir Hagi, a Member of Parliament from Somalia.

The last IPU President from the African continent was Abdelwahad Radi of Morocco, who served from 2011 to 2014. Mr. Radi's election as President was signicant, as he was serving as a legislator at the time.

Traditionally, IPU Presidents are elected from among Members of Parliament rather than Speakers. Speakers often have national responsibilities at their respective Parliaments, even if they pledge to prioritize their IPU duties.

A historical review of IPU Presidents reveals that most of them have been active MPs in their home countries.

The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union plays a crucial role in overseeing the organization's activities and functions.

Their responsibilities include presiding over meetings, representing the IPU at international events, and fostering cooperation among member parliaments.

Furthermore, they are instrumental in promoting dialogue and collaboration among parliamentarians worldwide, aligning with the IPU's mission of advancing democracy, peace, and sustainable development.

Whichever of these four exceptional women is elected will create history as the rst female IPU President. Senegal, one of the candidate countries, has a noteworthy

connection to the IPU, as its candidate previously served as the Vice-President of the IPU Executive Committee until March 2023.

Tanzania's candidate, Ms. Tulia Ackson, currently chairs the African Geopolitical Group of the IPU, though her leadership credentials have garnered mixed opinions within the

African community.

Somalia, on the other hand, is a relatively new entrant to this role, with Ms. Marwa Abdibashir Hagi representing the country's at the global event.

The Federal Parliaments of Somalia issued a joint statement on September 15, expressing the belief that in her candidacy in response to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Aairs of Somalia's decision to endorse Ms. Tulia Ackson, despite Ms. Marwa Abdibashir Hagis bid for the position.

Ms. Ackson's most formidable challenge will likely be Ms. Hagi. The two share a common regional background, and Ms. Hagi possesses a rich educational background, having

traveled extensively throughout various African countries in support of African IPU

legislators. This unique combination of factors makes her a formidable contender in this historic election.

Ms. Ackson's lobbying eorts, which failed in Somalia, were also attempted in Malawi.

Ms. Catherine Gotani Hara, the Speaker of Malawi, faces a notable challenge on the horizon.

South Africa has already stated its intention to cast its vote in favor of Tanzania. This preference for Tanzania presents a unique consideration, given that Malawi is typically regarded as a Southeast African nation. This particular obstacle is one that Malawi

currently faces.

The Speaker of Tanzanias parliament has urged the President of Malawi to either halt or exert pressure to withdraw Ms. Catherine Gotani Hara's candidacy. However, the

The president did not accept this proposal.

As the IPU's 147th Assembly draws near, the world watches with anticipation, as the election of the rst female President promises to be a landmark moment in the organization's history, marking a significant step toward gender equality and inclusivity in global parliamentary leadership.

By: Abdiaziz Loyal
August 23, 1941 - September 25, 2023

Michael was born on August 23, 1941, the fifth of six children to his parents Olga and Carl Meier in a log home on the family farm at the end of Meier Road in rural Spirit Township, Price County, Wisconsin. He attended nearby Liberty School for 1st and 2nd, and 4th through 8th grades, having been promoted directly from 2nd to 4th grade. Michael graduated from Rib Lake High School in 1958 at age 16, and enrolled that fall at Wisconsin State College-Stevens Point (now UW-Stevens Point) as a pre-law student. Midway through his freshman year he decided to shift his career objective toward ministry in the Lutheran Church. In 1959 he transferred his studies to Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was a pre-ministerial student. At Concordia-St. Paul he met fellow student Iona Emma Trapp and they were married in 1963. The marriage produced four children, Andrew Carl (1966), twins Peter Clarence and Mary Pauline (1968), and Naomi Iona (1970). The couple divorced in 1979.

Michael completed his B.A. at Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1963 and enrolled in post-graduate seminary studies at Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. He served as a pastoral intern during 1965-66 at The Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Florissant, Missouri. He graduated from Concordia Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1967 and received a call to serve as Lutheran Campus Pastor at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, Oregon. Michael moved his young family to Oregon and on August 6, 1967 was ordained as a pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod at Zion Lutheran Church in Corvallis. By the early 1970s Michael was providing leadership to Campus Ministry and supporting the Zion, Grace Lutheran Church, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church congregations from a renovated residence known as Luther House, near the OSU campus. In 1971 he earned a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling from OSU. He taught a New Testament Greek class for the OSU Experimental College.

Michael and Anthonia Ethel "Toni" Undem Hass met through church ministry and were married in December, 1979. The following month, Michael took on a new role as Program Director for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Oregon, which included staff management responsibilities at Camp Lutherwood. In 1981 Michael received a call to serve as Pastor at Sitka Lutheran Church in Sitka, Alaska. Michael and Toni relocated to Sitka where they embraced Southeast Alaska culture and found opportunities for professional and community engagement. In addition to his pastoral duties, Michael served the community as President of the Sitka School Board, President of Sitka Rotary Club, and board member for Sitka Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (SCAODA). Michael and Toni hosted a high school exchange student for one year, Alper Yuksel from Konya, Turkey. Michael and Toni became close friends with Alper, his sister Pinar, and their family and would later travel to Turkey to visit them. During the summers, Michael and Toni organized and led church youth backpacking trips to a US Forest Service cabin at Shelikof Bay on Kruzof Island. Michael and Toni purchased a sailboat and enjoyed taking it out on ocean water. During this time Michael and Toni received a dog as a gift from daughter Debbie and son-in-law Tom, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi they called "Prince", who was a special part of their daily lives.

In 1991 Michael accepted a call to serve the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Region 1 Pacific Northwest congregations in Stewardship Education. Michael and Toni moved to Seattle, Washington which would be their home base for much of the 1990s. During these years, Michael and Toni purchased the former Liberty School building that Michael had attended as a child, and began to remake it into a home where they could later spend their retirement years. In 1998 Michael started in a new position as ELCA Director for Leadership Development in Chicago, Illinois. Michael and Toni moved to Mount Prospect, Illinois, and would spend weekends Up North in Wisconsin, working on "The Schoolhouse." In 2006, Michael retired from his position in Chicago, and for the following year served as an interim pastor at dual congregations of Zion Lutheran Church in Brantwood, and First Lutheran Church in Prentice, Wisconsin. By this time Michael and Toni had completed their relocation from Mount Prospect and were living full time at The Schoolhouse. Michael continued to work part time as a Stewardship Key Leader, providing consultation services to church congregations nationwide, guiding them through fundraising to help pay for new buildings and other large expenditures.

From 2006 - 2019 Michael and Toni immersed themselves in the Spirit Township community. Following in his father Carl's footsteps, Michael served on the Board of Directors for Price Electric Cooperative. Michael and Toni together founded German Settlement History, Inc., which served as a historical and social resource for the surrounding community and a legacy that will likely bear good fruit for many years to come. They published a quarterly newsletter, "Liberty School News", which featured stories of area history and served to help reconnect former students and promote community fellowship. Their home, which by this time included not only the former Liberty School, but also "The Yesterday House", and "The Machine Shed" museum they had added to the property, was the place to be for many community and extended family gatherings. Michael and Toni were good neighbors, always welcoming no matter the time of day, always with a happy wave to anyone who passed through the adjacent County Road YY intersection. They were truly a "Spirit" couple and an asset to the community. German Settlement History, Inc., evolved and grew and continues today as Spirit Historical Society, Inc. "The Yesterday House" was recently moved to a prominent location in Spirit, Wisconsin, adjacent to the Town Hall.

During the summer of 2019, Michael and Toni relocated back to Corvallis, Oregon to be closer to family and health care resources. They enjoyed living at Stoneybrook Lodge and Assisted Living. In February, 2023, Michael moved to Willamette Springs Memory Care. He passed away peacefully on Monday, September 25, 2023 at Good Samaritan Medical Center with family members at his side.

Michael is survived by his wife Toni, former wife Iona Trapp of Corvallis, OR, sons Andrew (Jenny) Meier of Eugene, OR and Peter (Eloiza) Meier of Belmont, CA, daughters Mary (Cyril) Oberlander of Arcata, CA and Naomi (Jeff) Trapp Davis of San Diego, CA, step-daughters Lauri (Mark) Speelman of Dallas, OR, Julie (Matt) James of Albany, OR and Debbie (Tom) Gerding of Philomath, OR, step-son Rick Hass of Billings, MT, brother Timothy (Mary) Meier of Independence, MO, sisters-in-law Carol Meier of Milbank, SD and Joleen Meier of Maple Grove, MN, 9 nieces and nephews, 18 grand- and step grandchildren, 10 step great-grandchildren, and two step great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by parents Olga Catherine Marie Harrold Meier and Carl Theodore Reinhold Meier, brothers Albert Harrold Meier and Marvin Carl Meier and sisters Gladys Ann Howard, and Rosalie Jane Meier, who died in infancy.

Funeral services are being provided by McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis, Oregon. A viewing and graveside ceremony for immediate family was held on October 4. Interment is at Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Corvallis. A Celebration of Life service is planned for November 19, at 2:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church in Corvallis.
Werley Nortreus, a Haitian politician, congratulated and thanked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for approving an international intervention for Haiti. The Caribbean nation has been facing violence and crimes for a long period of time. Now, the UNSC approved the requests of interested nations to begin the intervention very soon.

Nortreus said he has sent letters to all parties involved to find a solution to the insecurity crisis. He also said this new historic UN-approved intervention is an opportunity not to take for granted.

Last year, the current Haitian government, led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, first requested an intervention from the UN and the United States, but most Haitians around the world opposed that. After the request of the Prime Minister faced opposition, interested nations from Africa and CARICOM have volunteered to participate.

Kenya offered police or soldiers to Haiti in order to reduce violence and crimes by disarming the gangs and those who financed them. Nations from CARICOM also offered police or soldiers. In October, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) approved an international intervention led by Kenya in Haiti after debates.

According to Nortreus, the new UN-approved intervention will help reduce violence and crimes across the Caribbean nation in order to finish all the steps.

I congratulate the United Nations Security Council for approving an international intervention for Haiti. Everyone knows the Caribbean nation has been facing many acts of violence and crimes committed by gangs and their accomplices over the past few years and now. I took my time to write and send letters to all parties involved in order to find a solution to the insecurity crisis this nation is facing. This new historic UN-approved intervention is an opportunity not to take for granted. The first step has succeeded; the next steps must be constitution reform and a general election in order to finish the mission or goals of the December agreement signed by the Haitian government and citizens. I strongly believe that together we can help restore peace and order in this nation. I also would like to thank the United Nations and interested nations for being so supportive Nortreus says about the new UN-approved international intervention in Haiti.

Last year, Nortreus created a petition that asked the Haitian government to amend the current constitution to give younger politicians the right to participate in the upcoming elections for the Executive and the Legislature. At the beginning of this year, the government announced that they would reform the constitution, add security, and hold a general election after signing an agreement in December last year. Nortreus is a rising politician who's been asking the government to include younger candidates in politics.

The only way to have a new Haiti is to establish a new constitution that gives candidates who are 25 years old and older the right to run for a position among the three branches of the government according to their choice. A new constitution where everyone is included is the only way Haitians will be able to change the miserable situation that Haiti is in because of its old constitution, Nortreus said about why he created the petition.

This year, the Caribbean country signed a diplomatic agreement with Kenya, according to reports. Before that, a Kenyan delegation visited it and proposed a plan to secure roads, airports, ports, and state assets, and disarm gangs and their accomplices.

Kenya and other interested nations will soon send their police or soldiers to the Caribbean nation, but no date has been revealed yet. The Caribbean nation also plans to amend the constitution through a referendum or directly and hold a general election, but no date has been revealed yet.
The Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF) on October 11, 2023, organized a training in menstrual health and personal hygiene as part of activities to mark the International Day of the Girl Child at its premises in Jamestown-Accra.

Mora Holloman, Team Lead of Red Love Foundation, took the participating girls through training on the effective use of sanitary pads, to avoid any form of embarrassment during that time of the month.

She also demonstrated how they can properly dispose of the used sanitary pads to improve hygienic conditions around them. Disposing of your used pads in the toilet is a big no, as this can clog the toilet, creating another new problem.

She also implored the girls to ensure that, they maintain good hygiene during that time of the month to avoid infections.

Actress and entrepreneur, Victoria Lebene trained the girls on proper menstrual care and personal hygiene. She encouraged them to take regular baths, at least twice a day, and keep their hair short.

She also entreated them to keep their fingernails neatly trimmed to avoid harboring germs. You do not have to spend so much money to smell good, as young girls try as much as possible to use limes before bathing, always comb your hair, and brush your teeth at least twice daily to keep good oral hygiene. By doing this, you boost your confidence and enhance your wellbeing.

According to SCEF Advocate, Ophelia Allotey, the intervention is timely and needful looking at the fact that, although about half of the worlds population menstruates, some 500 million people have been left without access to menstrual hygiene products, leading to period poverty.

She added that most schoolgirls miss school for days when they have their periods, which is a very worrying situation and a violation of their human rights. We want to continue with this campaign and provide these girls with sanitary pads for the next quarter to keep them in class throughout this academic year.

She called on corporate Ghana and benevolent individuals to join the campaign to safeguard the health and wellbeing of girls, so they can thrive and achieve their full potential.

The training was crowned with a donation of sanitary pads to all participants, sponsored by the Red Love Foundation.

The girls could not hide their excitement, as they inquired immediately about the date for the next engagement. They shared some lessons learned and expressed their gratitude to the organizers and look forward to the November edition.

Daly Foods Limited sponsored the girls with some boxes of Boss Baker for refreshments. The event was graced by the Executive Director of SCEF, Paul Semeh, Bismark Wuordui, Project Officer for Rescue, Godfred Ahlijah, Project Officer Reintegration among other staff of SCEF.
Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has reacted to the allegations made by Professor Frimpong-Boateng against the Akufo-Addo government.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng accused some officials in the government of engaging in illegal mining, which is currently under investigation by the Police and the Attorney General.

He also criticized President Akufo-Addo for leading what he termed a "family, friends, and concubines government."

There are people who claim to be stalwarts of the party; they have neither political appointments nor positions in the party structure. They appear to wield so much power that one of them is described as de facto Prime Minister of the country.

Apparently, they have what it takes to get their friends and favourites appointed to prominent and powerful positions in society. At the same time, they have the tendency to disrespect and make life difficult for Ghanaians. This is unlike the NPP we know. NPP, HOW DID WE GET HERE?

We are being served with a variation of family, friends, and concubines government, and control of the press not through violence but through bribery and intimidation. We are witnessing the weaponization of state institutions to silence transformative voices while allowing patronized corruption to flourish.

Instead of development in freedom, we are witnessing unprecedented intimidation, economic retrogression, and suffering in silence. NPP, HOW DID WE GET HERE?, he said in his recent article titled "NPP, How Did We Get Here?

In reaction on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Mr Duncan questions Prof. Frimpong-Boateng's basis for describing President Akufo-Addo's government as "family, friends and concubines" administration.

He described Prof. Frimpong-Boateng as an ingrate after he served in Akufo-Addo's government for four years as a cabinet minister and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.

"It takes a congenital ingrate to describe a government that you served for four solid years.

So, it is when the four years you were a part, you never saw that government as constituted for family, friends, and concubines.

The cruelest way to thank somebody that has given you this honor," Duncan remarked.

He admonishes Prof. Frimpong-Boateng to stop the attack on the President and his government.

"You must have a life. Professor, have a life...hate is eating him up," Kwamena Duncan exclaimed.
The Conference of Heads of Assisted Senior High Schools (CHASS) has expressed concern about the total breakdown of discipline in Senior High Schools (SHS).

CHASS says Heads of Senior High Schools should be given the power to instil discipline in students.

Speaking at the 61st annual conference of CHASS, the President of CHASS, Reverend Stephen Owusu Sekyere, lamented the crippling effects of indiscipline in second-cycle schools.

CHASS is concerned about the increasing rate of indiscipline that has bedevilled most of our Senior High Schools of late. Some of these misconducts such as hooliganism, bullying, occultism, smoking, and drug abuse, to mention a few, have their roots, we have detected in the homes and communities of the culprits, the President of CHASS lamented.

In 2017 the Ghana Education Service (GES) officially banned all forms of corporal punishment of children in schools in Ghana as part of efforts aimed at promoting a safe and protective learning environment for children.

The GES directed that a Positive Discipline Toolkit which gives alternatives to corporal punishments must be adopted by all teachers.

The decision has been kicked against by a number of teacher groups and civil society organisations including education think tank, Africa Education Watch.

The Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, in 2021 , called for dialogue among the Ghana Education Service (GES), teachers and teacher unions over a possible review of the directive.

There have been a number of riots in several second-cycle schools in the country in recent times.
New Patriotic Party founder member Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has told Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Ernest Addison to resign if he cannot manage the central bank as it ought to be.

At a press conference organised by some former military officers, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe took issue with Dr Addison's posture at the #OccupyBoG demonstrators.

After the march, Dr Addison told international media that the protesters should have used more civilised channels to convey their grievances rather than resort to the street manifestation as though they were "hooligans".

Addressing the matter, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said: "We have noticed, with grave concern, the clear disrespect shown by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to protestors led by the minority in parliament and many aggrieved Ghanaians".

"It cannot be true that the 'OccupyBoG' demonstrators were solely on any political agenda when they were joined in the march by other well-meaning Ghanaians to show their indignation against actions taken that have led to losses to the taxpayer", he said.

He said "incompetence and inefficiencies should not be condoned in public office as far as the output of such officers impoverishes ordinary Ghanaians. If you cant do the work, resign. It is that simple".

-Classfmonline
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday left for the United States of America to deliver a keynote address on the security situation in the West African Region at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

As West Africa and the Sahel face a wave of extraconstitutional movements and growing political instability, the United States and its partners are seeking ways to best support Ghana, seen as one of the United States most enduring democratic partners in West Africa, and other longstanding democracies in the region, to promote and sustain democracy as a governance model.

The discussion with President Akufo-Addo will also examine Ghana's critical role as a regional leader in promoting peace, stability and sustainable development, with the President also set to meet with other US officials whilst in Washington D.C.

He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry.

President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Sunday, 15th October 2023.
12.10.2023 LISTEN

As part of efforts to intensify public awareness of breast cancer and support for people affected by breast cancer, the Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has called on the public to periodically check their breast status to save lives and prevent the spread of breast cancer.

He made the call when he engaged the media on Wednesday in Accra to commemorate this years breast cancer awareness month and to remind the general public to observe the month with breast cancer activities.

He said currently, breast cancer diagnostics were available daily for all citizens to periodically check their status.

According to him, Ghana continues to make strides in tackling the disease and strengthening the diagnostics system.

Mr Agyemang-Manu stated certain factors such as ageing, obesity, alcohol drinking, radiation exposure, family history, reproductive history (including age at first pregnancy and onset of menstruation), tobacco usage and postmenopausal hormone therapy raise the risk of breast cancer.

He, therefore, called on women and men to visit the nearest hospitals to check their breast status this month to avoid any future predicaments.

Arrangements have been made to ensure that the screening is free in all government hospitals, he added.

Every October, the world unites in a sea of pink to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This global campaign, originating in the United States in the 1980s, has transcended borders, becoming a vital annual event. Its primary objective remains to raise awareness about the most common cancer among women, emphasising the significance of early detection and treatment.

This years theme, 'Thrive365,' summarises the essence of understanding breast cancer not only as an insurmountable foe, but also as a challenge that can be overcome through awareness, education, and support. The significance lies not just in spreading awareness, but in fostering a sense of commitment, encouraging regular screenings as well as championing the resilience of survivors.
Dr. Benjamin Otchere Ankrah, a senior lecturer at the Central University, has criticized the performance of some government appointees and called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take action and replace them.

During an interview on NEAT FM's 'Ghana Montie' morning show, Dr. Otchere Ankrah expressed his surprise that the President has not reshuffled his cabinet despite what he described as abysmal performances by certain ministers.

Dr. Otchere Ankrah specifically mentioned the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Roads Minister, Kwesi Amoako Atta, as appointees who should have been fired long ago.

He stated, He [Ken Ofori-Atta] should have been replaced long ago by the President.

The Roads Minister (Kwesi Amoako Atta) shouldnt be at post by now, he added.

He emphasised the need for swift action to address the underperformance of this current administration.
France's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said the number of French nationals killed during Saturday's Hamas attacks in Israel had risen to 12. A further 17 remain missing, including several children.

We deplore a new death, which brings to 12 the number of French victims, ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told journalists, adding the lack of infirmation on those missing was very worrying.

Legendre said Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna would be at Charles de Gaulle airport on Thursday evening to welcome the first flight repatriating French nationals from Israel.

The chartered Air France plane was to depart Tel Aviv.

Fears for hostages

Meanwhile Israel's military spokesperson said authorities had confirmed the identities of 97 people taken into Gaza as hostages by Hamas.

Israel has said it will not allow basic resources or humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas releases them.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says it is in contact with both Hamas and Israel to try to negotiate the release of hostages, adding the humanitarian situation in Gaza would become "unmanageable very quickly".

The death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 1,354, the Hamas health ministry said, with dozens killed since Thursday morning following a massive Israeli bombardment of the enclave.

At least 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack.

French divisions

French political leaders were to meet with President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday for closed-door talks to flesh out divisions raised by the violence.

The far-left France Unbowed party has refused to denounce Hamas as terrorists.

French police have arrested more than 20 people in relation to more than a hundred "antisemitic acts" reported since Saturday's attack.
Dr Clement Apaak, a Deputy Ranking Member of the Education Committee of Parliament, has expressed skepticism regarding President Akufo-Addo's praise for the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme.

The President lauded the success of the Free SHS policy during his address at the 61st Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, specifically commending the improved performance of students in the West Africa Senior High School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Dr Apaak, however, challenged the President's claims, asserting that he is out of touch with the current state of education in Ghana.

He pointed out that since 2020, Ghana has not been participating in the WASSCE due to declining standards.

Instead, the country has adopted its own version of the examination known as the "Ghana Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (GHASSCE).

Dr Clement Apaak, who also serves as the National Democratic Congress's Member of Parliament for the Builsa South Constituency in the Upper East Region, shared his concerns and reactions during an interview on Accra 100.5 FM's evening news on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

Dr Apaak attributed this change to the erosion of educational standards, resulting in the government expending scarce resources to provide past questions to students to ensure their success in this modified examination, all in an effort to support the President's claims.

Furthermore, Dr Apaak raised concerns about the prevalence of cheating and malpractice in recent WASSCE examinations, asserting that it has surged during the current administration.

He cited this as the reason the National Teaching Council (NTC) is requesting a substantial GHS7 billion cedi-budget for organising graduate teacher licensure examinations.

When questioned about this financial demand, the head of the NTC, Dr Christian Addae Poku, reportedly indicated that the standards of education have indeed declined.

Dr Apaak also mentioned that he has received complaints from his university lecturer friends about the quality of students graduating from the Free SHS programme.

He attributed the increase in cheating and examination irregularities to the fact that students are not receiving a proper education and that teachers lack motivation.

-Classfmonline
On the former Twitter social media platform, the Office of the Special Prosecutor said that it was working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to determine the legitimacy of Mrs. Cecilia Dapaah's fortune. This is a significant development because the FBI is probably handling the first corruption investigation involving a Ghanaian politician.

Ghana is one of the most seriously corrupt nations in West Africa, a country where many NPP politicians have been involved in severe corruption scandals with impunity, under the leadership of Akufo Addo, a president who promised to fight corruption in a way that had never been seen before. Now corruption has been updated and made a part of Ghana's constitution, fortunately, the incident involving the former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah, has been one that cannot be easily disregarded.

The former minister's two housemaids exposed her, after stealing substantial sums of money from her residence. To recover the money, the problem was formally reported to the police, followed by the media. If the money isn't stolen, who in their right mind would keep more than $1 million at home? Cecilia Dapaah has been attempting to manipulate the case because she is aware that the judiciary in her administration only serves the interests of the NPP.

Kissi Agyebeng, the new special prosecutor appointed by Akufo Addo in response to Martin Amidu's resignation, has come under heavy fire for failing to uphold the law as required. He previously put a freeze on the assets of the late NPP politician Kwadzo Owusu-Afriyie, well known as Sir John, whose will expose him to stealing millions of dollars worth of state funds and properties. The SP had no alternative but to comply when the president, Akufo Addo, instructed him to release the assets to the family.

To regain the trust that Ghanaians have lost in him, the Special Prosecutor must take Cecilia Dapaah's case seriously. As a result, he has made life for the former Sanitation Minister a living nightmare. After appealing to the SP to release her frozen assets and receiving no response, the desperate woman now asks the court to drop the case. This is a case that in any developing nation, she should have been in jail by now, let alone a developed country.

Cecilia Dapaah continued to create speculations that the money was for her deceased brother and other family members until yesterday, when the case took on a new angle, with the information from the Office of the Special Prosecutor that it was working with the Federal Bureau Investigation.

Just who is the FBI? The Federal Bureau of Investigation is regarded as one of the biggest law enforcement organizations in the world and one of the most powerful government organizations in the United States. It is a division of the US Department of Justice that conducts investigations, and its goals and objectives are always expanding. Currently, this institution conducts serious crime investigations and works to combat terrorism, organized crime, corruption, cybercrime, and violations of human rights.

Considering that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has many significant resources that could guarantee the success of their investigation, Ghanaians should have hope that something major will result from this probe. Additionally, if this investigation is successful, it may cut down on the amount of money that Ghanaian politicians have been stealing from the state coffers to the United States or Europe, particularly in Switzerland and Luxemburg.
Lawyers for Cecilia Abena Dapaah have accused the office of the Special Prosecutor of disrespecting the court over how it carried out the petition to get Justice Edward Twum removed.

Lawyers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor were absent in court on Thursday even though they were scheduled to move an application for confirmation of seizure and freezing orders as well as begin processes for the charge of refusal to declare assets brought against Cecilia Dapaah.

The judge was forced to adjourn the sitting to a later date until a time when the Chief Justice responded to the request for him to be removed from the case.

However, the lawyers of Cecilia Dapaah did not take this lightly as they expressed disappointment at the failure of the office of the special prosecutor to notify them of the petition.

Victoria Barth described the petition as 'a deliberate ploy to frustrate this morning's hearing (Confirmation application) and a desperate attempt to avoid his (Kissi Agyabeng) own ill-fitted application.'

The court also could not hear the case where the former sanitation minister is charged for refusing to declare her assets. This was because of the failure of the lawyers of the office of the special prosecutor to make themselves available in court due to the petition to have the Judge removed from any of their cases.

Lawyers for Cecilia Dapaah also raised concerns about the decision of lawyers from the office of the special prosecutor to absent themselves from proceedings.

Victoria Barth indicated in court that I am not aware of any law or rule of procedure that dispenses with the absence of a lawyer or prosecutor just because they have petitioned the Chief Justice in respect of a matter of which they have due notice and have even initiated.

She insisted in court that the office of the special prosecutor has not treated the court with respect and fairness.

As lawyers, we have an ethical duty to show respect to the court and to treat all persons we engage in the administration of justice fairly and that has not happened today. The OSP is not above the law, Victoria Barth said in court.

Meanwhile, the office of the special prosecutor on social media platform X has explained that the petition is to get Justice Edward Twum removed from all pending cases involving the office of the special prosecutor.

The office says Justice Edward Twum is prejudiced against the office and against the person of the special prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng.

-citinewsroom
- Source:

12.10.2023 LISTEN

The Mauritius Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a law that criminalises consensual same-sex acts between adult men. The decision boosts the trend in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region towards decriminalisation. Now, a slight majority  nine out of 16 member states  do not prohibit gay and lesbian sexual relations.

I have researched and taught human rights law in Africa, including the rights of sexual minorities, for over three decades, and closely follow the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights .

The African Commission, as the continent's human rights custodian, should lend its unequivocal support to the decriminalisation trend. This is particularly significant as attempts are made to further criminalise and stigmatise sexual minorities in parts of Africa.

The commission has not yet expressed its view on the decision. Its 77th ordinary session , starting on 20 October 2023 in Arusha, Tanzania, is an opportunity to do so. It should build on its 2014 guidance to African states on eradicating violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mauritius court ruling

The Mauritian Supreme Court found that section 250 of the 1838 Mauritius Criminal Code , which criminalises anal sex between two consenting adult men, violates the 1968 Mauritius constitution .

The litigant, Ah Seek, a gay Mauritian man and board member of the Mauritian NGO Collectif-Arc-en-Ciel , invoked a number of constitutional grounds. However, the court based its decision on the most directly relevant ground: the right not to be discriminated against.

In addressing two issues that could militate against a finding in Ah Seek's favour, the court relied on the approach of other courts in the SADC region. The 2021 judgment by Botswana's Court of Appeal was particularly relevant. This judgment held that the constitutionally protected ground of sex in the Botswana constitution encompassed sexual orientation.

Read more: Botswana court ruling is a ray of hope for LGBT people across Africa

The first issue was the contention that Mauritius' constitution does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. The relevant provision ( section 16 ) forbids discrimination on the basis of seven specified grounds, including sex.

The Mauritian court concluded that the word sex in section 16 of the constitution includes sexual orientation.

The court also emphasised the country's international human rights commitments. It said that, as a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , Mauritius was expected to interpret its constitution in line with this treaty .

The second issue was whether the rarity of prosecutions removed the need for the court to decide. Referring to a judgment by the South African Constitutional Court, the Mauritius court held that the mere threat of arrest, prosecution and conviction

hangs like the sword of Damocles over the heads of homosexual men.

The court therefore concluded that the constitution protected everyone from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, whatever it might be.

When it was given an opportunity to show any legitimate purpose for this form of discrimination, the state merely made reference to same-sex relations as a highly sensitive issue due to the delicate socio-cultural and religious fabric of Mauritian society. Rejecting these as justifications for discrimination, the court underlined that Mauritius was a secular state.

Regional trend

Greater societal acceptance of homosexuality can be both a catalyst for and a consequence of decriminalisation of same-sex relationships.

In a recent survey by the independent African surveys network Afrobarometer , Mauritius featured prominently as a country in which tolerance (towards an LGBT person as neighbour) had increased from 2014 to 2022.

Nine of the 11 African countries with an above-average tolerance percentage towards LGBT persons were from the SADC. All of these 11 states, except Eswatini, have decriminalised sodomy laws.

Read more: LGBTIQ+ migrants and asylum seekers in South Africa: major new study identifies a diverse, wide-spread community

The conditions for decriminalisation seem to be converging in Eswatini. Its population displays a relatively high level of acceptance (of 42%) in the survey. Also, its Supreme Court has signalled some openness to uphold LGBT persons' rights.

Besides Eswatini, other SADC member states that still retain sodomy laws are Comoros, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. With the exception of the Comoros, the laws of these states are relics from British colonial times, when sodomy laws were imposed as part of a colonial civilising mission. The Mauritius Supreme Court noted that, as a colonial import, section 250 did not reflect Mauritian values and was not the expression of domestic democratic will.

Today, just over half of the SADC states do not criminalise same-sex relationships between consenting adults. The Democratic Republic of Congo never legislated on this matter. In Lesotho (2012), the Seychelles (2016), Mozambique (2015) and Angola (2019), the legislature in the last decade or so adopted a new version of the penal code. These offences, stemming from the English common law or the 1886 Portuguese Penal Code , were omitted. In Madagascar, the penal code criminalises consensual same-sex acts only with a person under 21 years old.

Still, the situation remains in flux. In Malawi and Namibia , litigation on related penal code provisions is pending. In Malawi, then President Joyce Banda in 2012 committed to repealing these laws . There was also a moratorium on arrests and prosecutions between 2012 and 2016, and a court-ordered review of the constitutionality of sodomy laws.

In Namibia, the Supreme Court decided in 2023 that Namibia must recognise same-sex marriages validly concluded outside the country.

Diverging trend

In the rest of Africa, the position of sexual minorities is much more precarious. Thirty-one (almost 58%) of countries still criminalise consensual same-sex acts between adults . The trend is towards more restrictive laws and harsher punishment.

In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Act .

In Ghana, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill is being considered .

In Kenya, the anti-gay Family Protection Bill carries a 50-year jail term. But the Supreme Court decided in February 2023 to allow the NGO National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission to be registered .

Read more: Being queer in Africa: the state of LGBTIQ+ rights across the continent

These laws were initiated as private members bills. They are driven by individuals rather than any political party's agenda, and bolstered by an anti-LGBT solidarity conference of African parliamentarians.

African Commission's role

Against this background of opposing forces and divergent trends, the role of the African Commission is all the more important. The commission itself has sent mixed signals. It affirmed the right to dignity and bodily integrity of sexual and gender minorities. But it also refused to grant observer status to NGOs working to promote these rights.

Frans Viljoen 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.

By Frans Viljoen, Director and Professor of International Human Rights Law, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
12.10.2023 LISTEN

Bernard Allotey Jacobs has launched a scathing attack on Professor Frimpong-Boateng for accusing President Akufo-Addo of running a 'family, friends and concubines' administration.

In a recent article authored by Professor Frimpong-Boateng and published on October 9, 2023, he further alleged that the President had transformed his government into a "family, friends, and concubines government."

He expressed concern about certain influential figures within the government, who, despite not holding official positions, appeared to exert significant influence in securing appointments for friends and associates.

He raised questions about the direction of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its departure from its core principles.

Professor Frimpong-Boateng also accused certain government officials of involvement in illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey, a claim that led to police and attorney general investigations of appointees fingered.

However, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, after reviewing a docket submitted by the police based on Professor Frimpong Boateng's allegations, disclosed that the professor had declined to cooperate with the police in providing further information to substantiate his claims.

The Attorney General's report indicated, "The Professor refused to provide any further information to the police," and all individuals named in Professor Boateng's report had denied the allegations made against them.

In reaction to these allegations, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, during an interview on Peace FMs Kokrokoo morning show, described Professor Frimpong-Boateng's actions as unacceptable.

"It will be good for him if he shuts up - I expect him to sit somewhere and be very quiet after you were given four years.

In politics, some people, after appointment, were dismissed after one or two years but you (Frimpong Boateng) held your appointment for four years," he added.
French soldiers ordered out of Niger by its post-coup military rulers must now haul vast quantities of gear for hundreds of kilometres through dangerous desert known to harbour jihadist groups, with much of the hardware then set to return by sea.

France this week started the pullout from Niger following the overthrow in July of pro-Paris president Mohamed Bazoum which threw French strategy for the region into disarray.

Roughly 1,400 soldiers were based in the capital Niamey and western Niger to battle fighters linked to the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, bringing with them fighter jets, drones, helicopters and armoured vehicles -- as well as the equipment to support them.

Now a first contingent has set off from their forward base in Ouallam for neighbouring Chad, travelling by road in armoured vehicles under Nigerien escort for the journey of over 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles).

Chad's capital N'Djamena is the site of France's military headquarters for the whole Sahel region, with around 1,000 troops deployed there.

From there, French troops can leave by air with their most sensitive equipment.

Some flights -- "up to three per day", according to Nigerien state television -- have also been planned from within Niger for as long as the evacuation continues.

But a French military officer, who asked not to be named, told AFP that returning materiel by air would be "very expensive and require mobilising almost all the transport planes the French air force has".

One A400M transporter can load two containers -- much less than larger Russian or Ukrainian alternatives.

No easy path

With more than 2,000 containers' worth of kit on site, most will have to be moved by land and sea, said a former French military logistics specialist in Africa who asked to remain anonymous.

President Emmanuel Macron has said the pullout should be finished by the end of the year. By - (AFP)

"Most of the equipment will have to go through a deep-water port," he said.

Benin's port of Cotonou would have been the "ideal" choice.

But the border is closed as the government there is at odds with the Nigerien junta.

Many of the French containers will instead be trucked to Douala in Cameroon, several sources familiar with the plans said.

It would be a "long and arduous road" requiring refuelling along the way -- not to mention likely flat tyres and breakdowns on top of the security threats.

Security risks

Local sources said the French convoy from Niamey to Chad would travel along Niger's border with Nigeria, passing through towns including Zinder, Diffa and Bosso.

All but a single 100-kilometre stretch of the route is on tarmac road.

But the Diffa region of southeastern Niger has been subject to attacks by Boko Haram and its breakaway arm, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Diffa extends as far as Lake Chad, where the borders of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad meet.

France had 1,400 troops stationed in Niger. By - (AFP)

The four countries in 2015 set up an 8,500-man force known as FMM to fight jihadist groups.

The rainy season is ending in the area, risking a flare-up in activity by jihadists no longer hemmed in by watercourses, local sources said.

Along its route, the French convoy could also face hostility from the civilian population.

Three people protesting a convoy belonging to the French Barkhane operation in the Sahel were killed during clashes in Tera in western Niger in 2021.

Some local sources blamed the deaths on Nigerian or French troops shooting when the convoy was halted and stoned but the then Niger government said in 2022 a probe had failed to pinpoint the cause.

Months of work

French President Emmanuel Macron said in September the military evacuation would be finished "by the end of the year" -- likely a tricky deadline to meet.

Experts believe the operation will last closer to six months.

The route from Niamey to Benin's Cotonou port would have taken around three days, whereas travelling to N'Djamena takes "four or five days, if everything goes well at the borders," the logistics specialist told AFP.

From Chad's capital, there are a further 2,000 kilometres of "poor roads" before reaching Douala, requiring "the best part of a week" and an escort to cover, they added.

Some of the equipment may simply have to be left in Niger rather than paying the cost of an expensive repatriation.
A political historian at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Samuel Adu-Gyamfi is urging residents in the Ashanti Region to demand more from politicians to help ensure their fair share of development.

He bemoaned that residents in the region have been taken for granted by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), despite their history of voting massively for the party.

He has described it as worrying, a failure by the Akufo-Addo government to complete monumental projects in its partys stronghold despite being in office for the past seven years.

This comes on the back of the fact that inhabitants within the region are growing increasingly agitated over the governments failure to fulfil numerous promises made to them.

They have also cited the abandonment of major critical projects in the region as totally unacceptable.

The abandoned projects include the Mother and Baby Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), phases two and three of the Kumasi International Airport expansion project, phase two of the Kejetia-Central Market redevelopment project, various sinohydro projects.

Aside from this, other major projects that they want work to be completed on are Afari Military Hospital which work commenced during the John Agyekum Kufour era, Sewua hospital, Kumawu hospital, KNUST hospital, Fomena hospital among others.

The Krofrom market, which work commenced during the Kufuor administration, has remained abandoned for years.

With the second term of the Akufo-Addo government almost ending, some residents have described it as a form of deception as construction works have now commenced on the Boankra Inland Port and Suame Interchange project.

They fear these projects will also be abandoned like other projects since they cannot be completed before President Akufo-Addo leaves office.

Aside from these concerns, many communities in the region continue to complain about poor road networks in their area.

The areas include the Manso enclave, Kwabre East, Bosomtwe Ahafo Ano South West, Ahafo Ano South East, Atwima Kwanwoma, Ejisu and almost every area has serious road-related concerns that they complain the government has failed to fulfil the promise of getting them fixed.

Speaking to Citi News, the senior lecturer at the Department of History and Political Studies at KNUST, admonished that changing the voting pattern is one of the strongest signals that will make the NPP government take the region seriously.

I think Asante should begin to show the NPP the red card. Sometimes when we look at the region, some people think we are referring to those who are Asante, so Asante refers to the language and the people. But, when we look at Asante as a region, we are looking at Fante, Ewe, Dagomba- all other groups who are in Asante as a region.

They have been loyal and consistent in delivering the vote for the NPP, but they have not specifically tied that to development, and they have not made such demands openly and frankly to the NPP as a party. They must insist on this time around and make sure that when the NPP per adventure comes to power, and they refuse to deliver, they are penalized accordingly. If they do not begin to show them red cards and yellow cards, they are always giving them the green card to allow them to have the potential to come to power.

He urged residents to break the jinx of Asante becoming a faithful wife to the NPP.

Nana Akufo-Addo went into how many elections before he became president? Three times. The first time when all other regions were oscillating left and right, Asante was consistent. The second time, Asante was consistent. The third time, Asante has become like the faithful wife to the NPP, even if they are playing the buffoonery.

This does not bring development because politics and governance must be tied to development. It is not just about forming political parties and winning power and coming to drink tea and then having big rallies. It is not about because we are Asante, or we are this and therefore, we must vote for the NPP. Thats absolutely nonsensical. The region needs development. It is lagging behind in many things roads, poor infrastructure and all that and the NPP must be blamed because they were supposed to have translated the votes of the NPP into development. They have taken the people for granted. They feel that rain or shine, they will queue and vote for them as a party, he stated.

Prof. Adu Twum further advised the residents in the Ashanti region to embark on protests to drum home their demands.

If the people in this region continue to allow this insult to subsist, it means that our embryonic democracy can not even grow to even become a zygote. It has the potential to die even at birth. For me, it is quite disappointing and that is not democracy. Votes must translate into development. From time to time, they (residents in the region) must show that in protests, in demonstrations.

They must show that in public agitations, they must show that in open speeches and discussions like Im doing because when people queue to vote, they dont beg for development. All that they want is that it must translate into the provision of public good which is missing glaringly in Asante and for me, that is unacceptable and that is something that should not be encouraged within the scheme of things, he entreated.

-citinewsroom
12.10.2023 LISTEN

Angry traders at the Odawna Market in Accra are threatening to stage a naked protest on November 18 if the government fails to fulfil its promise of renovating the market and addressing their demands.

In 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited the market after a fire outbreak destroyed hundreds of stalls.

He assured that the government, through the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), would urgently provide support to the over 3,000 affected individuals.

Veronica Boakye, Chairperson at the Odawna Pedestrian Shopping Mall, expressed her dissatisfaction with the authorities response and the unfavourable business conditions, which had caused some traders to leave the market.

We pay a ticket of GH2.50 a day. So we are doing everything within our means to support the government. But because we dont have a spokesperson we have been neglected. So we will speak for ourselves God willing next month. All of us will do a naked demonstration to show all Ghanaians that we are losing our property.

God willing, next month, 18th November will be our birthday which marks the day when our market got burnt. But it wont be a birthday where we will wear white but we will protest naked to press home our demands, she stated.

-citinewsroom
Hundreds of residents in Mepe in the North Tongu district of the Volta Region are facing a severe crisis after the Akosombo dam spillage flooded their homes.

The overflow has caused substantial losses, with some individuals scrambling to save personal belongings and relocating to higher ground for safety.

The community is grappling with the disruption of essential services, as both water and electricity supply have been cut off.

Speaking to Citi News on Thursday, a resident said, I have been affected just yesterday. My whole house has been flooded. Yes, I feel a bit okay, I have moved to the neighbouring community, Battor. This is my first time.

Another resident said, The water has destroyed my house. It started bit by bit, but it later came with speed. We were not able to get everything out before the water flooded the place.

Another resident expressed concern about the lack of access to water and electricity. We used to access water from the main river but due to the spillage we can no longer access the water from that side, and weve been disconnected from using the electricity we have in our town which is a source of pumping the pipe that we get drinking water from. So as it stands we have no drinking water in town.

We are calling on the government to bring us drinking water and food because the food vendors cannot come out and sell for us because they dont even know where their items are. They are saving their lives. They have left all their foodstuffs inside the room and the water has destroyed them.

Since last night, I havent taken water. Even the water that we use to cook; those that are on the hill, the water that they will use to prepare food for others they are not able to do that.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged the Volta River Authority (VRA) to slow down the spillage of the Akosombo dam to allow for the safe evacuation of residents.

-citinewsroom
A visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Moldova on Thursday signals an increasingly closer relationship between the EU and the former Soviet state, which is still partly occupied by Russian troops.

Today a clear majority of Moldovans want to join the EU, says former MP Veaceslav Ionita, now an expert with the Viitorul thinktank in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital.

"People, including the national minority who is pro-Russian, recognise that the countries who help us the most are Romania and other members of the EU," Ionita told RFI.

The EU has spent some 1 billion to support the Moldovian people, notably during an energy crisis that all but paralysed the country in 2022.

Following the signing of a free trade agreement in 2014, at least half of Moldava's trade is now with EU countries.

Moldova couldn't survive without the European Union, Ionita says.

Von der Leyen was to "reiterate the EU's continued support for Moldova on its path of European integration, and as it continues to face the consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine," the EU's website said.

She was to meet with with Moldovan president Maya Sandu, a relentless lobbyist for EU support to Chisinau.

The EU granted Moldova official candidate status in June 2022. This means the country must meet the standards set in 35 "chapters" on topics such as freedom of movement for workers, intellectual property laws, food safety, taxation, justice, freedom and security.

It's a process that can take decades.

Complicating EU accession for Moldova is the region of Transnistria, a geopolitical oddity that consists of a small strip of land at the eastern shore of the Dniester river.

After the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 and Moldova's independence, Transnistrians didn't want to join Moldova and fought a bloody war to remain autonomous. The region has been guarded by a contingent of Russian soldiers ever since.

"We didn't pay enough attention to Transnistria," says Ionita, adding that 80 percent of goods produced in the territory are sold either in the EU or in other parts of Moldova.

Despite this, no serious efforts were made to reunite the region with the rest of Moldova.

"I think it's our mistake. We did not cooperate enough with local companies in Transnistria, with students," he says. "We need to see how we can use European money to develop infrastructure in Transnistria."

Possible invasion?

Ionita downplays fears that armed Russia could use Transnistria as a steppingstone for a possible Moldovan invasion.

"They have the instruments, but Transnistria is very small and isolated. I'm confident that it is not possible to do anything like they did in Ukraine."

Still, Moldova's army is weak and few investments in the military have been made since the country's independence.

"We spend 0.4, 0.5 percent of our GDP on the military, which is a critically low level," says Ionita.

France steps in

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, EU and Nato interest in Moldova has rapidly grown.

At the 2022 Nato summit in Madrid, members agreed a package of "tailored support measures" to help Moldova "strengthen its national resilience and civil preparedness".

Last month French Armed Forces Minister Sebastian Lecornu became the first French defence minister to visit Chisinau.

He reaffirmed France's support for Moldova and helping the country's air defences with a Ground Master 200 medium-range radar system, manufactured by the French company Thales.

According to the aviation portal Aerotime Hub, the system is designed to detect low- to high-altitude air targets, including missiles, artillery rounds and drones.

"We're seeing more and more French involvement in Moldova," says Ionita. "It is very positive for Moldova at this critical time."
The wife of desposed Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba  who has been under house arrest since an August coup over the suspected embezzlement of public funds  has been jailed, her lawyer said Thursday.

Franco-Gabonese Sylvia Bongo Ondimba Valentin, ex-wife of ousted president Ali Bongo, was charged on 28 September with money laundering, forgery and falsification of records.

According to Gabonese media reports, the 60-year-old was taken into custody at a prison in the capital Libreville following a long hearing in front a judge and imprisoned late on Wednesday, her Paris-based lawyer Francois Zimeray said.

Sylvia Bongo had been under house arrest in Libreville since the 30 August coup brought the curtain down on 55 years of rule by the Bongo dynasty.

Ali Bongo, 64, who had ruled the central African country since 2009, was overthrown by military leaders moments after being proclaimed the winner in a presidential election.

The election result was branded a fraud by the opposition and the military coup leaders, who have also accused his regime of widespread corruption and bad governance.

The putschists accuse Sylvia Bongo of having manipulated the former president, who is suffering the after-effects of a serious stroke in 2018.

They say she and one of the couple's sons have effectively pulled the strings in the oil-rich country for the past five years and have misused public money.

Sylvia Bongo had been isolated from her husband, and her French lawyers had complained of what they said "appears to be a hostage-taking".

"We condemned this illegal procedure," lawyer Zimeray said on Thursday following her jailing.

"There is a difference between justice and arbitrary actions, between the law and revenge."

Their eldest son, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has been charged with corruption and embezzling public funds with several former cabinet members and two ex-ministers.

(with AFP)
Fixed wireless access (FWA) services are still forecasted to gain traction across Southeast Asia to help bridge the digital divide  but the experience in the Philippines shows that operators shouldnt take that growth for granted.

New figures from ABI Research say that the FWA market for Southeast Asia as a whole is expected to reach 7.8 million subscriptions by 2028, which works out to a CAGR of 13%. That also translates into US$2.23 billion in FWA service revenues by the end of 2028.

There are numerous factors driving that projected growth, starting with the rise in 5G rollouts and an increased focus on addressing Southeast Asias digital divide. However, a key driver is growing demand for broadband connectivity across the region to support the rising necessity of digital connectivity in the region, according to ABI.

Thats why a major chunk of that FWA action is expected to be concentrated in markets like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, which have fixed-line broadband penetration rates below 50%. By contrast, theres less demand for FWA is places like Thailand and Vietnam, which have more widespread fiber availability.

Indonesia and the Philippines are also keen on FWA because both are archipelagos with challenging terrain. Operators like Telkomsel, PLDT/Smart and Globe Telecom have already launched 5G FWA services.

The appeal of 5G FWA as a home broadband alternative has been touted by vendors for years, and isnt hard to understand. Apart from data speeds being fairly close to FTTH, 5G FWA can be rolled out much faster and more cost-effectively, especially in underserved areas that are hard to reach.

Then why are FWA subs declining in the Philippines?

On the other hand, the obvious selling points of FWA dont guarantee success. A separate research note from ABI Research last month notes that in the Philippines, FWA subscriber numbers are actually dropping. In its 1Q 2022 financial statement, Globe Telecom reported 2.4 million FWA subscribers  a year later, that number was down to 1.2 million. PLDT/Smart also reported a drop in FWA subscribers for the same period. Notably, both reported an increase in fixed-broadband subscriptions.

Sarah Yong, Southeast Asia digital transformation research analyst at ABI Research, said that there are a couple of potential factors to account for this: operators selling off tower assets (which impacts their ability to offer FWA services), and the fact that fiber rollouts are still ongoing, indicating that operators continue to see FWA as a placeholder until fiber is available.

Yong noted that in June last year, Globe Telecom launched GFiber Prepaid in June 2022, which was part of its strategy to transition out of FWA whislt still addressing the digital divide.

By offering a service that is prepaid and, therefore, on demand with no lock-in period, it is working to connect the unconnected in an attractive and different way, Yong wrote.

Yong also notes that the entry of satellite broadband players like Starlink and Astranis into the Philippines ISP sector may also be a factor in FWAs decline, although its a comparatively pricey option for users.

In the Philippines and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, whether FWA ends up being a stopgap for fiber access or a viable broadband alternative may hinge on the progress of 5G rollouts  particularly millimetre-wave 5G, which is the next step for 5G FWA. Telkomsel is planning to roll out 5G mmWave FWA services following tests with Ericsson and Qualcomm earlier this year, and if the rollout is a success, other operators in Southeast Asia could follow their lead, ABI says.

However, adds Jake Saunders, ABIs VP for Asia Pacific, It is important to consider other factors such as spectrum availability, regulatory environments, and collaborations between the private and public sector when implementing FWA initiatives.
12.10.2023 LISTEN

Rev Nicholas Osei popularly called Kumchacha the leader of the Kum People's Party (KPP), has expressed deep concern over the prevailing levels of deprivation in the country during President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's leadership.

Rev Osei emphasised that a significant portion of the Ghanaian population is enduring hardship, while government officials are rumoured to be hoarding vast sums of Ghanaian cedis under their mattresses.

Rev Osei, who also serves as the head pastor of Heavens Gate Ministries, echoed the sentiments of Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, who asserted that it is time for the church's leadership to address the ongoing mismanagement under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's administration.

Speaking on Accra 100.5 FM's mid-day news on Thursday, October 12, 2023, Rev. Osei and known as Kumchacha endorsed the claims made by the founding father of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

He revealed that, as a concerned citizen, he is subjected to a substantial daily deduction of GHS 500.00 as E-levy payment for sending Mobile Money(Momo) to individuals in distress seeking his assistance.

He highlighted that many people are facing similar financial burdens under this administration.

Rev Osei expressed his dismay at the silence of influential religious figures when the citizens are grappling with these difficulties.

As a response to this situation, he has declared his intention to run in the 2024 general elections, aiming to bring positive changes to the lives of ordinary individuals on the streets

Source: Classfmonline.com
Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) joined several organizations, Ghanaians, and well-wishers to mark the one-week observance of the late former First Lady Theresa Kufour.

The GJA delegation was headed by Albert Dwumfour, the organizations president. In addition to the national executive, senior media professionals accompanied him.

Mr. Dwumfour, in his address to the media, lauded former President Kufours monumental efforts to expand the boundaries of press freedom and emphasized the significance of repaying him with affection and sympathy during his bereavement.

As per his assertion, the GJA will furnish the former president with every essential assistance as he makes arrangements to bid his wife farewell.

Meanwhile, Mrs Theresa Kufuor will be given a state funeral on November 16, 2023.

This was announced by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo.

Speaking at a meeting with the family of the late former first lady, President Akufo-Addo noted that Mrs Theresa Kufour deserved to be given all the respect of the state and, therefore a state burial.

The Later Former First Lady was pronounced dead on Sunday, October 1, 2023, following an extended period of illness.

Theresa Kufuor (born 25 October 1935) was the wife of John Agyekum Kufuor, the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, and former First Lady of Ghana. She was a retired nurse and midwife.

Mrs Kufuor started her education at the Catholic Convent, OLA, at Keta in the Volta Region of Ghana. She later went to London, where she was educated as a Registered General Nurse, in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing, Edinburgh, Scotland.

After further study at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, and Paddington General Hospital, London, she qualified as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.

Theresa married John Kufuor when he was at age 23 after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961. They got married in 1962. She is a mother of five and a grandmother of eight. She was a devout Roman Catholic.

Despite being the first lady of Ghana for eight years between 2001 and 2009, she managed to maintain a low profile in the political arena.

In 2007 she pushed for policy changes in the Governments white paper on Educational Reforms towards the implementation of UNESCOs Free compulsory universal basic education (FCUBE) program for kindergarten children.

She founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), a non-governmental organization operating in Ghana and Canada that supports work in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
The Accra High Court has sentenced the founder of the defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, to 15 years in jail for stealing over GHC90 million belonging to the bank.

Ato Essien had been convicted in December the previous year for embezzling the said amount from Capital Bank.

However, he had the opportunity to avoid a custodial sentence by reaching an agreement with the Attorney-General (A-G) to pay the GH90 million as restitution to the state.

In today's ruling, the court, presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, stated that Essien had failed to fulfill the agreed terms with the A-G regarding the payment of restitution to the state.

This agreement was made in accordance with Section 35 of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459), allowing accused persons facing trial for causing financial loss to the state to pay the money and potentially avoid a custodial sentence.

Essien had initially paid GH30 million of the amount on December 1, 2022. As per the agreement, he was supposed to pay the remaining GH60 million in three instalments: the first on or before April 28, 2023, the second on or before August 31, 2023, and the last on or before December 15, 2023.

However, Justice Kyei Baffour noted that, to date, Essien had only paid Ghc7 million out of a possible Ghc40 million, missing the deadlines for both April 28 and August 31 this year, bringing the total paid to Ghc37 million out of the total GHC90 million.

-Classfmonline
The World Bank says it has made available some US$70 billion to support digital infrastructure development in Ghana and other developing countries.

The Bank is also conducting research and analytics and communicating with African and other developing countries to determine where investments were needed and to provide the required assistance.

Mr Axel Van Trostsenburg, Senior Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnership, World Bank, said this during a panel discussion at the WBG/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Marrakech.

The discussion was on the topic: Building foundations for an inclusive digital future.

Contributing to the discussion, Mr Trostsenburg indicated that nine out of every 10 people in advanced countries had access to digital services, while in low-income countries, it was one to four, and that needed to change.

The World Bank official, however, said: You cannot build this digital future on the basis of hopeyou'll need financing; therefore, international institutions have to scale up.

It was for that reason that the International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank subsidiary, was making available US$70bn of its US$93bn replenishing to Africa to support digital infrastructure and other developments.

He said it was important for physical digital infrastructure to be developed and linked to the acceleration of the implementation and realisation of the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The World Bank Senior Managing Director noted that with a regional integration under AfCFTA through digital development, you'll be surprised what incredible increase of economic growth.

He said: We would like to engage the African leadership to know the strategic investments we should undertake and those that African can undertake with the support of the World Bank.

Mr Trostsenburg called for the adoption of multi-set of approaches in helping countries with regulatory frameworks, setting up infrastructure and mobilise private sector finance for digital development.

Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Ghana's Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, said that the country's digital acceleration had been grappled with inadequate access to finance due to global economic challenges.

Since we set off about eight years ago to build fourth generation (4G) networks in our country, we only have about 30 per cent of our population with access to highspeed broadband, she said.

The Minister, however, said the government was exploring Private-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to increase the highspeed internet access rate from the current 30 per cent.

While at it, she said Ghana had developed many programmes that continued to be beneficial to all people, from those at primary school level to the working population, including peasant farmers and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Those who had never seen a computer before are now building their own websites and simple gamesand have moved from aspiring to be in the traditional professions to be software and robotic engineers, she said.

She announced that Ghana would be hosting the first global cyber security capacity building conference in November 2023, which would shape conversations of having strong capacities for the global south.

That, she said would be helpful in reducing the global south's dependence on expensive consultants in managing digital infrastructure.

GNA
Madagascar's top court on Thursday ordered that presidential elections be postponed by one week, amid high political tensions after disputes over the regularity of the vote.

For more than a week, opposition parties have held demonstrations against what they call an "institutional coup" to keep outgoing president Andry Rajoelina in power.

"The Constitutional Court, by virtue of its regulatory power, orders the postponement of the first round of the presidential election to November 16, 2023," the court wrote in a ruling.

Voters in the Indian Ocean island nation were initially due to head to the polls on November 9.

The ruling follows an appeal filed by a presidential candidate, who was injured at one of the protest rallies that have routinely been dispersed by police.

Andry Raobelina had asked for the vote to be postponed citing "force majeure" after he suffered a face injury as police fired tear gas on demonstrators earlier this month.

He later sought medical attention in the nearby island of Mauritius.

The court dismissed his appeal, saying the risk of injury was foreseeable as the protest had not been authorised but ordered the government to issue a decree to move the day of the vote in any case.

This was in line with constitutional principles aimed at guaranteeing fair, transparent and peaceful elections, including the granting of equal opportunities to all candidates, the judges wrote.

The date for a potential second round on December 20 was kept unchanged.

Political crisis

It was the latest twist in a political crisis that has gripped the country since Rajoelina, 49, resigned last month in line with the constitution in order to run for re-election.

Incumbent Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina, greets supporters at the first meeting of his election campaign. By RIJASOLO (AFP)

The president of the Senate, Herimanana Razafimahefa, was supposed to take over but declined for "personal reasons", leaving the task to a "collegial government" headed by the prime minister, an ally of Rajoelina.

The move was accepted by the Constitutional Court, which also dismissed appeals to have Rajoelina's candidacy declared void over his dual French nationality, sparking opposition anger.

Eleven out of 13 opposition candidates have since led almost daily, unauthorised marches in the capital, Antananarivo, which have been met with a heavy police presence.

This week, Razafimahefa sent a letter to the Constitutional Court walking back on his decision to turn down the caretaker role, telling journalists he had faced "pressure" to step aside but was now ready to assume his responsibilities.

But on Thursday, senators voted to dismiss him from his post during an extraordinary sitting after lawmakers from the ruling party questioned his mental health state.

Rajoelina first took power in 2009 on the back of a coup.

After not running in the 2013 election due to international pressure, he was voted back into power in 2018.

He has since held the reins in a country that remains among the poorest in the world despite vast natural resources.

This week, he launched his re-election campaign telling thousands of supporters who gathered in the capital, Antananarivo: "No one will take the victory away from us."

He had earlier accused his opponents of creating a political crisis "from scratch" because they were "not ready" for the vote.

The United Nations on Tuesday expressed concern over the "deteriorating human rights situation" in Madagascar in the runup to the polls after "unnecessary and disproportionate force" was used to disperse protests.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has cautioned the public to desist from unauthorised use of military pattern uniforms and accoutrements.

This follows the unlawful use of military-pattern uniforms and accoutrements by protesters during demonstrations.

Despite the continuous education and warnings issued to the general public to desist from these practices, the trend rather appears to be on the increase, the GAF complained in a statement issued on Thursday.

It said that during the recent demonstrations in Accra by Democracy Hub and other groups, it was observed that some protesters and persons purported to be providing private security to some dignitaries were dressed in military pattern camouflage uniforms and other accoutrements.

The probability for these individuals being wrongly perceived to be GAF personnel has the propensity of drawing the image of GAF into disrepute, it added.

The GAF said that these unauthorised acts were in contravention of the National Liberation Council Decree (NLCD) 177 of 1967, which is still in force.

This Decree in part states that; no person shall wear or use any military uniforms, equipment, or accoutrements or other material unless he or she is a member of the Armed Forces of Ghana, it added.

More so, GAF underscored that besides the illegality of the use of the uniforms, accoutrement and equipment by these protesters, others with criminal motives use them to impersonate and outwit unsuspecting members of the public in order to perpetuate crime.

Noting that these acts create a sense of insecurity in the country and tarnish the image of the military, GAF would not allow this situation to persist and will henceforth effect the arrests of culprits to face the full rigours of the law. GAF therefore seeks the cooperation of the general public to curb the use of military uniforms and accoutrements, especially during future protests. Those who continue to violate this law would be arrested, it added.

It used the opportunity to assure the general public of its commitment to protecting the citizenry and territorial integrity of Ghana at all times.

It therefore requires the support of all to enforce measures in the interest of the needed peace and security, GAF added.

-citinewsroom
The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council is growing in leaps and bounds and could now boast of over 155 business entities within its fold with more and more countries and businesses in Commonwealth countries expressing interest to join.

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council is the business arm of the Commonwealth which was created by the 56 Heads of Government to promote Trade and Investment across the Commonwealth for shared and collective wealth between the member countries.

Commonwealth member states already enjoy a quantitative trade advantage, termed the Commonwealth Advantage with 21% lower bilateral trading costs for businesses which operate intra-Commonwealth.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday after a two-day working visit to Ghana, Rosie Glazebrook who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council said the organisation intends to support businesses in Ghana and hopes Ghanaian local businesses will take advantage with the huge opportunities that come their way considering other advantages with regards to trade expertise that could be shared.

The Council, she said has twelve hubs stressing that Africa is a hugely important market for the organisation with the African Free Trade Continental Agreement (AFTCA) also in place.

She hoped that the Council could build partnership with the government of Ghana as they have done with Cameroun, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

She said there are varied opportunities to be garnered from Infrastructure and investment opportunities including the agro-sector with Zenith Bank, GP, Dangote all of who are part of their activities and support most initiatives.

The Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit, she said, is due in London from November 27-28 followed by Commonwealth Summit in Malta and hoped that Ghana would be fully represented stressing that two other prime ministers have already expressed interest to partake in the investment Summit in London.

The Commonwealth, she said is a multilateral organisation and works with businesses all over.

That the Council intends to work with the Ghana government having built nine strategic partners in Ghana.

Gabby Otchere Darko, Chair of the Ghana Office of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council said Ghana was proud to be part of the organisation with 2.4 billion people across the 56 Commonwealth countries of a combined GDP of 15 trillion and a combined wealth of 150 trillion dollars, stressing that Ghana is happy to be part because Africa is getting together with the African Free Trade Continental Area and hoped Ghana could take advantage to tap from the prosperity for all the members.

John Obeng Apea who is Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and doubles as CEO of eTranzact Ghana also was happy for the visit by Rosie Glazebrook.

Rosie Glazebroook, a member of the British Royal Family has served in many capacities. Her previous roles include, Chairing the Publishers Licensing Services, the Copyright Licensing Agency, BSI Groups Standards Policy and Strategy Committee.

She joined the Commonwealth after completing her 5yr term as First Civil Service Commissioner in May 2022, chairing senior appointments across UK government departments, and was previously on the boards of the Food Standards Agency and other national health and regulatory organisations. She was a Trustee and Chair of the Development Board for Book Aid International, which works with partners in 19 countries, and her earlier career was in media, publishing and health data organizations, working both in the UK and internationally.

The relationships between Ghana and the Commonwealth are not new. Ghana was the first fully sovereign African member of the Commonwealth, joining at independence in 1957.

The Commonwealth Secretariat was the brainchild of Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah, who envisioned a central clearing house which would give account to the wishes of all member states.

In the preceding decades, Ghana has continued its close bilateral ties with the UK, India, and the other original members of the Commonwealth, while the roster of African Commonwealth member states has continued to grow, with two new African members, Togo and Gabon admitted as recently as 2022.
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, has expressed optimism about Ghana's economic recovery, citing positive growth rates in the first and second quarters of the year.

During an interview on "The Point of View" on Citi TV, Dr. Amin Adam highlighted the positive growth rate as an indication of the country's rapid economic rebound.

He explained, "As far as recovery is concerned, I think that the figures show clearly that we are recovering, and we are recovering so fast.

"We offloaded the IMF fiscal adjustment into the 2023 budget which was presented in November 2022. So from that point, even though we hadn't gotten the approval of the IMF program, which happened in May this year, the government had decided, through a program, to put in place the Post COVID Programme for Economic Growth (PCPEG) that outlined a number of policy measures that the government wanted to implement.

"In the first quarter, growth, for example, grew by 3.3%."

"In the second quarter, it grew by 3.2%. So, half into the year, growth rebound has been strong, averaging 3.2% against 3% at the same time last year," Dr. Adam further elaborated.
LEAP Sikapa for Girls, an initiative of the LEAP school, has held an exhibition show for more than 50 girls who were equipped with skills training in and around Obuasi.

The program which hosted participants from more than 20 community schools in the Obuasi area, took place on October 11, as part of activities to mark this year's International Day of the Girl Child.

The International Day of the Girl (IDG)  observed annually on 11 October  is a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls rights. The theme for this year's celebration is "Digital Generation, Our Generation.

The event held at the premises of the Leap School attracted opinion leaders, officials of the Ghana Education Service, Nananom, school children and teachers from selected schools in attendance.

Beneficiaries of the Leap Sikapa for Girls who were taken through training on responsible mining services, IT coding, metal works, carpentry and masonry, food and beverages as well as a fashion show using a combination of Sikapa products in fashion and beauty -soaps, beads, hair and facials, seized the opportunity to exhibit their products.

According to the Director of LEAP School Aboagye Ohene Adu who paid glowing tribute to his late wife and founder of LEAP Sikapa for Girls Nana Akua Ohene Adu for her passion and dedication to empowering girls in Obuasi and surrounding communities, said the program focuses on empowering girls economically through the provision of free technical and vocational training to prepare them for the job market.

He assured that as somebody who shares in the vision of his late wife, he will do whatever it takes to support Leap Sikapa for Girls.

"In a bid to preserve her legacy and honour her memory, a special award, the Nana Ohene Adu Award will be instituted to motivate girls to participate girls to fully participate in the Leap Sikapa training programmes. The modalities for the selection of the deserving participants and the nature of the awards are being worked out and will be communicated at the appropriate time," he stated.

Suleyman David, a Deputy Director of Education who represented the Municipal Director of Education said it was the hope of the education directorate to record Zero cases of teenage pregnancy during BECE.

She said the education directorate prioritizes Girl Child education hence has put in place measures where pregnant girls will not drop out of school but will sit and write their BECE.

"This and many things have been lined up by GES to improve girl child education".

Cecilia Salifu Assistant Director in charge of Girl Child education eulogised the Leap Sikapa for girls for the impact it has made on the girl child.

She said the program has succeeded in empowering girls in and around Obuasi to be economically independent while contributing to preventing teenage pregnancy.

Rolla Asiedu of the Ghana Geological Survey who represented women in mining said she leveraged the program to motivate the girls to take an interest in Science Technology Mathematics and Engineering education.

She said women have now taken over key positions in the mining industry, a field that was hitherto deemed as a preserve of men.
An Accra High Court has fixed December 4, 2023, to deliver its judgement in the case of En Huang, aka Aisha Huang, an alleged illegal miner.

At the court, the defense counsel and the prosecution informed the court that they had filed their written addresses before the court.

Aisha Huang is standing trial for undertaking illegal mining operations without license, facilitating the participation of persons in illegal mining unlawfully and re-entering Ghana after her deportation.

Aisha has denied the charges and is in prison custody.

The case of the State is that the complainants are security and intelligence officers.

The prosecution said Aisha had gained notoriety for engaging in series of small-scale mining activities known as galamsey across the country.

It said in the year 2017, Aisha was arrested for a similar offence, but she managed to sneak out of the country, averting prosecution and had allegedly commenced small scale mining activities without license after she re-entered the country.

GNA
Paraguay is the latest market in which Starlink has procured a licence for satellite broadband.

The licence has been conferred by Paraguays National Telecommunications Council (Consejo Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, Conatel), with the government claiming that this authorisation will help deliver low-latency broadband to even the most remote regions of Paraguay.

Paraguays President Santiago Pena said: Connecting all our territory to the digital world is a key step to fulfilling our government goalsConnectivity to the internet is more than technology; it is also inclusion and opportunities to improve the quality of life of all Paraguayans, no matter where they are.

Starlink has been licensed to provide satellite broadband in over 60 countries. CommsUpdate reports that it plans to launch services in Paraguay in 2024, alongside operations in neighbouring Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay.
Ms. Nancy Abedi, Dialysis Nurse at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH), has cautioned people against holding on to their urine for a long time, as the practice could lead to the development of kidney diseases.

Ms Abedi explained that holding on to urine could lead to urinary tract infections, which could cause some organisms and bacteria to build up and multiply within the bladder.

She said such bacteria could then travel into the kidneys to cause their malfunction, leading to kidney disease.

Ms Abedi was speaking on the topic kidney disease, at the weekly Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! A Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office initiative aimed at promoting communication on health-related topics and setting the medium for the propagation of health information to influence personal health choices by improving health literacy.

Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility! is a public health advocacy platform initiated by the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office to explore the parameters of the four approaches to health communication: informative, educating, persuasive, and prompting.

Speaking on the topic kidney diseases, Ms Abedi explained that having some underlying illnesses and holding on to one's urine for a long time increases the risk of ending up with a kidney disease, some of which are chronic.

The IMaH Dialysis Nurse disclosed that obstructed urine flow could back up into the kidney from the bladder, known as vesicoureteral reflux, adding that blocked urine flow increases pressure on the kidney and undermines their functions.

She said an obstructed urine flow could also cause an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, and tumours.

She said humans need healthy kidneys to keep a balance of water and minerals such as sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in their blood, as well as remove waste from the blood after digestion, muscle activity, and exposure to chemicals or medications.

A healthy kidney, she added, also makes renin, which the body uses to help manage blood pressure, and produces a chemical called erythropoietin, which prompts the body to make red blood cells.

Ms Abedi further said the kidney also makes an active form of vitamin D, needed for bone health and other things, therefore encouraging the public to take good care of their kidneys and reduce the risk factors for contracting kidney diseases.

Some other risk factors she mentioned were hypertension, diabetes, over-exposure to some toxins, sickle cell disease, some medications, congenital kidney disease, age, and family history, among others.

She said some signs of chronic kidney diseases include anaemia, blood in urine, dark urine, decreased mental alertness, decreased urine output, and swollen feet, hands, and ankles.

Other symptoms are fatigue, hypertension, insomnia, persistent itchy skin, loss of appetite, male inability to get or maintain an erection, nausea, pain on the side or mid to lower back, panting, and sudden change in body weight, among others.

Mr Francis Ameyibor, Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Manager, expressed concern about the poor health information and the low or lack of concerted efforts to educate the public on basic health issues.

He appealed to the media and health professionals to work together to educate the public against preventable sickness and healthy lifestyles.

GNA
The President of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on the world to come together to fight terrorism.

Delivering an address on "Democracy and Security in West Africa," at an event organised in his honour by the United States Institute of Peace, in Washington D.C., United States of America, the President said the proliferation and sophistication of terrorist networks have become the greatest threats to democracy in Africa.

He said even more concerning is the fact that these terrorist groups are evolving by the day, as they scramble to control more territories and natural resources, especially in peripheral communities where the lack of effective State presence and control creates conditions for penetration and, ultimately, radicalisation.

In his address, President Akufo-Addo argued that this should not only be a source of great concern to the continent of Africa, but it should also be of concern to the rest of the world.

The fight against terrorism has to be a global fight. We must pull our resources together to confront a common enemy. The resources dedicated to counter-terrorism have to match the resources available to the terrorist groups.

The menace caused by terrorism is such that we must share the burden of the fight to be able to incapacitate the terrorists. Our failure to do so leaves the entire world in danger of a spillover effect of terrorism and violent extremism, President Akufo-Addo said.

The Ghana President further stressed that this is the time for a global coalition of democracies, a coalition of the willing, determined to banish the spectre of terrorism and violent extremism.
The Reverend Wilson Dumasi, Meridian Presbytery Synod Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, has said that since "strong men don't have an attitude; they have standards," men fellowship members should also have standards.

Only then can they strategically position themselves to alter their ingrained behaviours and fulfil their mandate of both personal and church growth? he explained.

He emphasized that males are vital to a country's development and tasked them with taking the initiative to drive constructive change.

At the EP Church Meridian Men's Fellowship 2023 business conference, Rev. Dumasi made this statement under the overarching theme, "Revive us again, Lord, heal us! The men's strategic role."

He gave an explanation of the motivation for wanting to bring the men's fellowship back to life and gave it a clear strategic objective in everything as the men's primary mission is spiritual development and growth.

As a body of Christ, Jesus urged us to undergo genuine healing and restoration on a spiritual, material, financial, mental, and emotional level.

Men's fellowship is crucial for a man's spiritual health, according to Mr. Francis Ameyibor, the chairman of the business conference and Tema Regional Manager for the Ghana News Agency.

He urged the men's fellowship to switch from "analogue to digital fellowship," which possesses the qualities of contemporary relevance and will give their lifestyles more vibrancy.

In order for the men to inherit the mantles of men's fellowships when they grew up, he urged them to be strong, hold fast, and instil a strong moral foundation in their offspring.

"Let's raise our kids in God's ways so they won't stray from them as they get older. Take your kids to church and participate in family activities so they can learn to follow God's ways and not stray from them," the speaker advised.

He tasked the church with planning events such as seminars, workshops, outings, and entertaining games, among other things.

He emphasised that the fellowship needed to be changed into a Christian business incubator fellowship in order to draw in both young and old, help them with their mental health, and encourage the younger generation to join the men's fellowship.

The guest speaker, Justice Issac Douse, a former Appeal Court Judge, also mentioned that men's strategic roles require them to lead well, provide an example for the youth, and contribute to the church's overall growth.

He emphasized that men should lead their families by example, teaching them godly behaviour that will make them leaders in the Lord's service and enable them to support their families.

According to Justice Douse, men should be good role models for future generations by participating positively in church activities and serving as fathers not only to their families but also to the church and other members of their communities.

The president of Meridian Presbytery Men's Fellowship, Mr. Samuel Akoetey, said men ought to make a concerted effort to consider the conference's subject and assume leadership roles in their homes, churches, and communities.

The conference was organized annually to evaluate, take stock, and discuss issues that will empower the mens fellowship and the church as a whole.

-CDA Consult || Contributor
12.10.2023 LISTEN

The ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Ambassador Kinza Jawara Njai on Monday 9th October 2023 received in audience Madam Mama Fatima Singhateh, UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale, Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse of Children at the ECOWAS Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York. The meeting which held following presentation of the UN Special Rapporteurs Report on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children to the UN General Assembly on 5th October 2023, discussed progress and challenges associated with the status of children at the International level and on the African continent in particular with a view to foster collaboration between ECOWAS and the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur to advance the important undertakings of her mandate in the West African Region.

The ECOWAS Permanent Observer in welcoming Madam Singhateh, thanked her for her visit and congratulated her on her relection for a 2nd term of office. She seized the opportunity of the visit to inform the UN Special Rapporteur of ECOWAS initiatives in the area of Child rights and welfare including the development and adoption of several normative and legal frameworks such as the ECOWAS Child Policy and Strategic Plan of Action (2019 -2030), crafted to ensure the wellbeing and protection of children as well as several programmatic efforts geared towards strengthening child protection and development in the ECOWAS region.

The UN Special Rapporteur in turn informed the ECOWAS Permanent Observer that the key priority of her mandate is tackling sale, sexual exploitation and abuse of children and her present report to the Assembly also highlights a study on the exploitation and sexual abuse of children in the context of travel and tourism including a closer look at the phenomena of Voluntourism. Madam Singhateh further expressed the importance of showcasing the progress made thus far in the ECOWAS region as well as exploring avenues for addressing the negative impacts of child early and forced marriage, school dropout, child trafficking and child labour. The two also agreed to further exchanges on the subject and strengthen outreach and collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and in particular with the Department of Gender and Social Affairs.

Following the courtesy call, the ECOWAS Permanent Observer, Madam Jawara Njai on 10th October 2023 participated in the high-level panel discussions on the findings and recommendations emanating from the report of the UN Special rapporteur. The objective of the panel discussion organized by ECPAT International, and the office of the UN Rapporteur centered on strengthening collective action by intergovernmental bodies, governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to regulate the issue of tourism and travel related child exploitation by sending and receiving countries, based on the recommendations from the report, evidence from the ground, existing practices, and experience. In her intervention, The ECOWAS Permanent Observer commended the quality of the report and reiterated ECOWAS commitment to further the pertinent recommendations therein and that the specific recommendations forwarded to counter the ills associated with International and Domestic Voluntourism shall be reflected in ECOWAS Child Protection Policies, Programmes and Initiatives. She further assured that keen attention will be borne in regional efforts aimed at strengthening child protection and education systems and ensuring effective regulations are in place for adequate response to childs rights and protection issues in West Africa.

At close of engagements, the ECOWAS Permanent Observer and the UN Special Rapporteur expressed their respective resolve to foster stronger collaboration between their two Agencies in areas of mutual concern discussed, including intensifying awareness creation and sensitization amongst stakeholders on child rights issues at local community, national and regional levels.
Ghana is firm in her support for Israel and Ukraine in these difficult moments of their national survival, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured.

The effects of Hamas' violent invasion of Israel, with all its repercussions for peace in the Middle-East, he said, had further compounded global development challenges.

Ladies and gentlemen, there should be no disagreement about the intensity and scale of the challenges that confront our world, and the urgent need to address them, the President stated.

Delivering an address at the headquarters of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington D.C., he drew attention to the need for nations to promote freedom, democracy and security.

Ghana, one of the most enduring democratic nations in West Africa, is a regional leader and critical member of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS.

As sub-Saharan Africa faces a wave of extra-constitutional movements and growing political instability, the United States and its partners are seeking ways to best support the country and other longstanding democracies in the region to promote and sustain democracy as a governance model.

The USIP's discussion with President Nana Akufo-Addo will also examine the country's critical role as a regional leader in promoting peace, stability and sustainable development.

The meeting is looking at issues related to Ghana's leadership in building peace in West Africa, Russia's war against Ukraine, examining regional security in the Pacific Islands, amongst others.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, in his address, pointed out that the world was in turmoil, and we are confronted with perilous situations.

Terrorism and violent extremism, climate change, food insecurity, political instability in parts of Africa, post-election violence, health pandemics energy crises, rising commodity prices, geo-political tensions, the conflicts in the Middle-East, and the needless war in Ukraine, amongst others, have weakened the foundational pillars of multilateralism, he lamented.

He argued that the world was operating in the most challenging and difficult of times.

The interlocking challenges and the convergence of crises we face post existential threats that require our immediate solidarity and collective actions, he advised.

GNA
BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:BNY  Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 21,600 shares, a growth of 554.5% from the September 15th total of 3,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 42,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BNY. Almitas Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust during the 4th quarter worth $42,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $69,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust by 44.0% during the 2nd quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 6,999 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 2,138 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $77,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at $105,000.

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BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Price Performance

Shares of BNY traded up $0.08 on Wednesday, hitting $9.04. 51,644 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 48,327. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.61 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.00. BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust has a one year low of $8.81 and a one year high of $11.35.

BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Announces Dividend

BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust Company Profile

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.031 per share. This represents a $0.37 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 13th.

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BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in the investment grade municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes and New York State and New York City personal income taxes.

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Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund, Inc. (NYSE:EDD  Get Free Report) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $4.68 and traded as low as $4.27. Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund shares last traded at $4.39, with a volume of 316,338 shares changing hands.

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund Price Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.59 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.68.

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Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a $0.09 dividend. This is a positive change from Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Funds previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th.

Institutional Trading of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund Company Profile

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Saba Capital Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund in the first quarter worth approximately $5,736,000. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund in the first quarter worth approximately $2,447,000. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund by 12.0% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,445,626 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $22,183,000 after acquiring an additional 475,934 shares during the last quarter. PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund by 27.9% in the second quarter. PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. now owns 974,818 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $6,057,000 after acquiring an additional 212,883 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund by 680.4% in the second quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 224,416 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,008,000 after acquiring an additional 195,660 shares during the last quarter.

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Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Domestic Debt Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc The fund invests in fixed income markets of emerging market countries across the globe. It typically invests in government bonds denominated in the local currencies of emerging markets.

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Paul Mueller (OTCMKTS:MUEL  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a growth of 800.0% from the September 15th total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.0 days.

Paul Mueller Price Performance

OTCMKTS:MUEL remained flat at $50.50 during trading hours on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $55.05 million, a PE ratio of 4.11 and a beta of 0.59. The firms fifty day moving average price is $50.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $46.63. Paul Mueller has a 1-year low of $40.88 and a 1-year high of $53.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

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Paul Mueller (OTCMKTS:MUEL  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $4.43 EPS for the quarter. Paul Mueller had a return on equity of 32.27% and a net margin of 6.04%. The business had revenue of $59.93 million during the quarter.

Paul Mueller Announces Dividend

Paul Mueller Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 29th were issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 28th. Paul Muellers payout ratio is currently 4.88%.

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Paul Mueller Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides manufactured equipment and components in North America, Asia, the Far East, the Netherlands, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Dairy Farm Equipment, Industrial Equipment, and Transportation segments. The Dairy Farm Equipment segment offers milk cooling and storage equipment and accessories, refrigeration units, and heat recovery equipment for use on dairy farms to independent dealers for resale, and directly to farmers; and services for farmers, as well as milk coolers for rent to farmers.

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SoftBank Group Corp. (OTCMKTS:SFTBY  Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $21.55 and traded as low as $20.14. SoftBank Group shares last traded at $20.69, with a volume of 156,246 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, HSBC lowered shares of SoftBank Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, SoftBank Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

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SoftBank Group Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $22.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $21.57. The company has a market capitalization of $63.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.10 and a beta of 1.29.

SoftBank Group (OTCMKTS:SFTBY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The technology company reported ($1.22) earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $11.35 billion during the quarter. SoftBank Group had a net margin of 26.21% and a return on equity of 14.94%.

About SoftBank Group

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SoftBank Group Corp. provides telecommunication services in Japan and internationally. It operates through Investment Business of Holding Companies, SoftBank Vision Funds, SoftBank, Arm, and Other segments. The company offers mobile communications and solutions to enterprise customers, and broadband services to retail customers; and sells mobile devices and software tools, as well as related services.

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Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLC reduced its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 248,303 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 4,155 shares during the period. Accenture comprises about 5.8% of Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Wilkinson Global Asset Management LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $76,621,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mach 1 Financial Group LLC raised its position in Accenture by 19,913.9% during the second quarter. Mach 1 Financial Group LLC now owns 7,205 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,223,000 after acquiring an additional 7,169 shares during the period. WASHINGTON TRUST Co raised its position in Accenture by 0.8% during the second quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 87,294 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $26,937,000 after acquiring an additional 732 shares during the period. First National Bank of Hutchinson raised its position in Accenture by 2.9% during the second quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 1,132 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $349,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the period. Congress Asset Management Co. MA raised its position in Accenture by 0.5% during the second quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 376,921 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $116,310,000 after acquiring an additional 1,727 shares during the period. Finally, Rockland Trust Co. raised its position in Accenture by 9.3% during the second quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 52,001 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $16,046,000 after acquiring an additional 4,436 shares during the period. 70.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ACN has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Accenture from $360.00 to $350.00 in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Accenture from $332.00 to $322.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Accenture from $312.00 to $300.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 29th. Societe Generale upped their target price on shares of Accenture from $314.00 to $373.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $340.00 target price on shares of Accenture in a report on Friday, September 29th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $333.24.

Insider Transactions at Accenture

In other news, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $1,653,750.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 21,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,916,770. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $316.19, for a total transaction of $1,976,187.50. Following the sale, the insider now owns 167,854 shares of the companys stock, valued at $53,073,756.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Ellyn Shook sold 5,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $1,653,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 21,958 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,916,770. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 24,430 shares of company stock valued at $7,735,251. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Accenture Trading Down 2.3 %

NYSE ACN traded down $7.11 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $305.43. The company had a trading volume of 1,157,730 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,293,282. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $314.77 and a 200 day moving average of $302.73. Accenture plc has a 1-year low of $242.80 and a 1-year high of $330.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $203.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.22.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, September 28th. The information technology services provider reported $2.71 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.06. Accenture had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 29.74%. The company had revenue of $15.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.60 earnings per share. Accentures revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.11 EPS for the current year.

Accenture Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a $1.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $5.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.69%. This is a boost from Accentures previous quarterly dividend of $1.12. Accentures dividend payout ratio is presently 41.60%.

Accenture announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, September 28th that permits the company to repurchase $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the information technology services provider to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

About Accenture

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Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, interactive, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management, intelligent automation comprises robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprises turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

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Algoma Steel Group Inc. (TSE:ASTL  Get Free Report)s share price traded up 1.7% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as C$9.18 and last traded at C$9.00. 41,897 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 68% from the average session volume of 130,291 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$8.85.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Algoma Steel Group from C$15.00 to C$14.00 in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Cormark increased their target price on shares of Algoma Steel Group from C$11.75 to C$12.50 in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Algoma Steel Group from C$13.00 to C$14.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th.

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Algoma Steel Group Trading Up 0.2 %

Algoma Steel Group Dividend Announcement

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.43, a current ratio of 3.49 and a quick ratio of 1.51. The company has a market cap of C$936.54 million, a PE ratio of 8.34 and a beta of 1.48. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$9.54 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$9.77.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th were paid a $0.05 dividend. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.21%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 24th. Algoma Steel Groups payout ratio is 25.23%.

About Algoma Steel Group

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Algoma Steel Group Inc produces and sells steel products primarily in North America. The company provides flat/sheet steel products, including temper rolling, cold rolled, hot-rolled pickled and oiled products, floor plate, and cut-to-length products for the automotive industry, hollow structural product manufacturers, and the light manufacturing and transportation industries; and plate steel products that consist of rolled, hot-rolled, and heat-treated for use in the construction or manufacture of railcars, buildings, bridges, off-highway equipment, storage tanks, ships, and military applications.

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Atlas Engineered Products Ltd. (CVE:AEP  Get Free Report)s stock price was up 3.4% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as C$1.24 and last traded at C$1.20. Approximately 24,220 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 123,523 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$1.16.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on AEP shares. Echelon Wealth Partners reiterated a speculative buy rating on shares of Atlas Engineered Products in a report on Friday, September 15th. Cormark boosted their price target on Atlas Engineered Products from C$1.50 to C$1.70 in a research report on Thursday, August 24th.

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Atlas Engineered Products Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of C$69.41 million, a P/E ratio of 12.20 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 58.22, a current ratio of 4.11 and a quick ratio of 2.31. The companys 50-day simple moving average is C$1.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$1.11.

Atlas Engineered Products (CVE:AEP  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 28th. The company reported C$0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.03 by C($0.02). Atlas Engineered Products had a return on equity of 23.90% and a net margin of 12.25%. The firm had revenue of C$11.22 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$13.90 million. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Atlas Engineered Products Ltd. will post 0.1199586 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Atlas Engineered Products Company Profile

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Atlas Engineered Products Ltd. designs, manufactures, and sells engineered roof trusses, floor trusses, wall panels, and windows in Canada. The company offers floor joists and floor panels; and design, engineering, permitting, project management, and site assembly services. It also distributes a range of engineered wood products for builders of residential and commercial wood-framed buildings, including single-family homes, townhouses, multi-story wood-framed residential buildings, commercial buildings, and agricultural structures.

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Banco de Sabadell, S.A. (OTCMKTS:BNDSY  Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a growth of 200.0% from the September 15th total of 100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.0 days.

Banco de Sabadell Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS BNDSY remained flat at $2.21 during mid-day trading on Wednesday. Banco de Sabadell has a fifty-two week low of $1.42 and a fifty-two week high of $2.88. The businesss 50 day moving average is $2.26 and its 200 day moving average is $2.20.

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Banco de Sabadell Company Profile

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Banco de Sabadell, SA provides banking products and services to personal, business, and private customers in Spain and internationally. The company offers retail banking products, such as current and savings accounts, personal loans, cards, and mortgages. It also provides financial products and services to large and medium enterprises, SMEs, shops and self-employed workers, private individuals, and professionals; and consumer finance, asset management, and bancassurance services.

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Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. (NYSE:BSBR  Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, October 11th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 23rd will be given a dividend of 0.0202 per share by the bank on Monday, November 20th. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 20th.

Banco Santander (Brasil) Stock Performance

Banco Santander (Brasil) stock traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $5.31. 485,351 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 931,171. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $5.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 0.02 and a current ratio of 0.02. Banco Santander has a twelve month low of $4.76 and a twelve month high of $6.64.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Santander (Brasil)

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Banco Santander (Brasil) during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN bought a new stake in Banco Santander (Brasil) during the second quarter worth $39,000. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in Banco Santander (Brasil) by 12,833.3% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 7,760 shares of the banks stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 7,700 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQ Advisors LLC bought a new position in Banco Santander (Brasil) during the 4th quarter valued at $64,000. Finally, Insigneo Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Banco Santander (Brasil) in the 2nd quarter worth $69,000. 14.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BSBR has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Banco Santander (Brasil) in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays increased their price target on Banco Santander (Brasil) from $5.00 to $5.50 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and one has issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Banco Santander (Brasil) currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of $5.25.

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Banco Santander (Brasil) Company Profile

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Banco Santander (Brasil) SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to individuals, small and medium enterprises, and corporate customers in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through, Commercial Banking and Global Wholesale Banking segments. It offers deposits and other bank funding instruments; debit and credit cards; digital prepaid solutions; payment platform; loyalty programs; employee benefit vouchers; payroll loans; digital lending and online debt renegotiation platform; mortgages; home equity financing products; consumer credit; and local loans, commercial and trade finance, guarantees, structured loans, and cash management and funding solutions, as well as on-lending transfer services.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$117.90 and traded as low as C$110.42. Bank of Montreal shares last traded at C$111.20, with a volume of 8,309,453 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$138.00 to C$134.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$121.50 to C$130.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. National Bankshares set a C$123.00 target price on Bank of Montreal and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$125.00 to C$120.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$131.00 to C$126.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Bank of Montreal presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$132.58.

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Bank of Montreal Trading Down 0.7 %

The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$115.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$117.86. The company has a market capitalization of C$79.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.92, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.15.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 29th. The bank reported C$2.78 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$3.06 by C($0.28). The company had revenue of C$7.93 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 23.03% and a return on equity of 10.26%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Bank of Montreal will post 12.9882491 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of Montreal Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 30th will be given a $1.47 dividend. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.28%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 27th. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 57.70%.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

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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.

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Bank of New Hampshire increased its position in iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF (NYSEARCA:IBDS  Free Report) by 47.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 34,020 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 11,000 shares during the period. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF were worth $799,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new position in iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $51,000. PSI Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF by 29.0% in the first quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 2,490 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 560 shares during the period. Bartlett & Co. LLC acquired a new position in iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $59,000. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new position in iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF in the first quarter valued at approximately $70,000.

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iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF Stock Performance

IBDS stock traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $23.02. The company had a trading volume of 267,959 shares, compared to its average volume of 318,917. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $23.23 and a 200 day moving average price of $23.48. iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF has a fifty-two week low of $22.51 and a fifty-two week high of $24.14.

About iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF

The iShares iBonds Dec 2027 Term Corporate ETF (IBDS) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a Bloomberg global index of USD-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds maturing between December 31, 2026 and December 16, 2027. IBDS was launched on Sep 12, 2017 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Bank of New Hampshire cut its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 14.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,695 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,300 shares during the period. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $751,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of PM. Stone House Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Philip Morris International by 75.0% in the 1st quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 350 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC boosted its position in Philip Morris International by 127.0% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 370 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on PM shares. Barclays decreased their price objective on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a research report on Friday, September 29th. 22nd Century Group reiterated a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Philip Morris International from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and issued a $114.00 price target on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.92.

Philip Morris International Stock Down 1.8 %

Philip Morris International stock traded down $1.67 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $91.48. 2,226,785 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,243,447. The firm has a market capitalization of $142.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.02, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $84.00 and a fifty-two week high of $105.62. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $94.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $95.65.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.48 EPS. Research analysts expect 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 dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.68%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 26th. This is an increase from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 100.58%.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Bank of New Hampshire lowered its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 21.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,747 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 2,319 shares during the quarter. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $2,188,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Legacy Financial Strategies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 8.5% in the 2nd quarter. Legacy Financial Strategies LLC now owns 10,841 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,712,000 after purchasing an additional 847 shares during the last quarter. Detalus Advisors LLC bought a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $254,000. Aspen Investment Management Inc boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Aspen Investment Management Inc now owns 6,171 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,544,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 60,286 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $15,081,000 after acquiring an additional 603 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Miller Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance

Shares of Illinois Tool Works stock traded down $2.32 during trading on Thursday, reaching $234.29. The companys stock had a trading volume of 599,001 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,060,029. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $238.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $238.78. The firm has a market cap of $70.85 billion, a PE ratio of 23.40, a P/E/G ratio of 4.46 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52 week low of $180.46 and a 52 week high of $264.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25.

Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend

Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.39 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $4.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.14 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 94.14%. Illinois Tool Workss quarterly revenue was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.37 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.73 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. This is an increase from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.39%. Illinois Tool Workss payout ratio is presently 55.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ITW has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Monday. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $256.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $281.00 to $292.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $232.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $236.73.

View Our Latest Stock Report on ITW

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.

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Belden (NYSE:BDC  Get Free Report) updated its third quarter earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.75-$1.77 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.82. The company issued revenue guidance of $625 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $685.16 million.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Belden in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Belden in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a buy rating and a $115.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Belden from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $93.00 to $117.00 in a research note on Monday, September 4th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on Belden from $107.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Belden currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $109.00.

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Read Our Latest Report on Belden

Belden Price Performance

NYSE BDC traded down $1.53 on Thursday, reaching $95.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 103,141 shares, compared to its average volume of 259,739. Belden has a 52 week low of $58.53 and a 52 week high of $99.13. The company has a current ratio of 2.53, a quick ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The firm has a market cap of $4.03 billion, a PE ratio of 14.44 and a beta of 1.28. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $92.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $89.75.

Belden (NYSE:BDC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The industrial products company reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $692.25 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $687.49 million. Belden had a return on equity of 27.11% and a net margin of 10.97%. The companys revenue was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.60 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Belden will post 7.27 EPS for the current year.

Belden Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 13th were paid a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 12th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.21%. Beldens dividend payout ratio is presently 2.99%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Belden

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BDC. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd boosted its position in Belden by 88.0% in the first quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 515 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 241 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc bought a new position in shares of Belden in the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Belden by 287.2% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 453 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 336 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP grew its position in Belden by 153.6% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 459 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming increased its holdings in Belden by 403.4% during the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 438 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 351 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.16% of the companys stock.

Belden Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Belden Inc provides portfolio of signal transmission solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates in two segments, Enterprise Solutions and Industrial Automation Solutions. The Enterprise Solutions segment offers copper cable and connectivity solutions, fiber cable and connectivity solutions, interconnect panels, racks and enclosures, and signal extension and matrix switching systems for use in applications, such as local area networks, data centers, access control, 5G, fiber, and home and building automation.

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BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MHN  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Wednesday, October 4th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a dividend of 0.0335 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, November 1st. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 13th.

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund Stock Performance

Shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund stock opened at $9.16 on Thursday. BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund has a 1 year low of $8.92 and a 1 year high of $11.19. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $9.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.13.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC raised its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 30,177 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $387,000 after purchasing an additional 1,974 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund during the first quarter valued at approximately $177,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 9.3% during the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 425,784 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,459,000 after buying an additional 36,335 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC boosted its position in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 34.6% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 15,564 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $171,000 after acquiring an additional 4,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 121,607 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,192,000 after acquiring an additional 14,401 shares during the period. 23.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund Company Profile

BlackRock MuniHoldings New York Quality Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income markets. It invests primarily in investment grade New York municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and New York State and New York City personal income taxes.

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Capital Investment Counsel Inc purchased a new position in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 6,047 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $327,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. GAM Holding AG purchased a new position in Dell Technologies during the second quarter worth about $10,741,000. EA Series Trust purchased a new position in Dell Technologies during the second quarter worth about $293,000. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Dell Technologies during the second quarter worth about $232,000. Unigestion Holding SA raised its stake in Dell Technologies by 41.0% during the second quarter. Unigestion Holding SA now owns 160,781 shares of the technology companys stock worth $8,537,000 after purchasing an additional 46,764 shares during the period. Finally, Simplicity Solutions LLC raised its stake in Dell Technologies by 4.6% during the second quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 10,202 shares of the technology companys stock worth $552,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares during the period. 38.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on DELL. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, September 11th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $50.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $68.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, September 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.00.

Dell Technologies Stock Down 1.6 %

Dell Technologies stock traded down $1.13 during trading on Thursday, reaching $69.21. The stock had a trading volume of 3,206,503 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,484,103. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $63.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.17. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 52-week low of $32.90 and a 52-week high of $72.82. The stock has a market cap of $50.07 billion, a PE ratio of 27.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.95.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 31st. The technology company reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.56. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 2.03% and a negative return on equity of 149.91%. The business had revenue of $22.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.78 billion. On average, equities analysts predict that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 5.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Dell Technologies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 24th will be issued a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, October 23rd. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is 57.14%.

Insider Activity

In related news, COO Anthony Charles Whitten sold 107,803 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.14, for a total transaction of $5,944,257.42. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 650,198 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,851,917.72. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, General Counsel Richard J. Rothberg sold 30,009 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.00, for a total transaction of $2,040,612.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now owns 99,899 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,793,132. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Anthony Charles Whitten sold 107,803 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.14, for a total transaction of $5,944,257.42. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 650,198 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,851,917.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 48.60% of the companys stock.

Dell Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Shares of CCL Industries Inc. (TSE:CCL.A  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as C$56.00 and last traded at C$56.00, with a volume of 100 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$59.01.

CCL Industries Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 51.39. The stock has a market cap of C$659.68 million, a PE ratio of 16.41 and a beta of 0.58. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$62.34.

About CCL Industries

(Get Free Report)

CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells labels, containers, consumer printable media products, technology driven label solutions, polymer bank note substrates, and specialty films. The company operates through four segments: CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia. The CCL segment offers pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for decorative, instructional, functional, and security applications in the consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer electronic device, and automotive markets.

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Coca-Cola HBC AG (OTCMKTS:CCHGY  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, an increase of 200.0% from the September 15th total of 100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Coca-Cola HBC Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS CCHGY traded down $0.36 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $25.90. The company had a trading volume of 3,526 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,945. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $28.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.24. Coca-Cola HBC has a 1 year low of $20.81 and a 1 year high of $32.19.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on CCHGY. Societe Generale upgraded shares of Coca-Cola HBC from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,600 ($31.82) to GBX 2,400 ($29.38) in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,700 ($33.05) to GBX 3,000 ($36.72) in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,950 ($36.11) to GBX 3,150 ($38.56) in a report on Monday, July 10th.

About Coca-Cola HBC

(Get Free Report)

Coca-Cola HBC AG engages in the production, distribution, and sale of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages under franchise in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers sparkling soft drinks, adult sparkling, hydration drinks, juices, ready-to-drink tea, energy drinks, dairy, coffee, water, plant-based drinks, premium spirits and flavored alcoholic beverages, and snacks.

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Cranswick plc (LON:CWK  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 3,270.41 ($40.03) and traded as high as GBX 3,568.22 ($43.67). Cranswick shares last traded at GBX 3,528 ($43.18), with a volume of 81,389 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 4,620 ($56.55) price objective on shares of Cranswick in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. Shore Capital reiterated a house stock rating on shares of Cranswick in a report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Cranswick to an outperform rating and increased their target price for the stock from GBX 3,400 ($41.62) to GBX 4,000 ($48.96) in a research report on Monday, June 26th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Cranswick

Cranswick Price Performance

Insider Activity

The stock has a market capitalization of 1.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,679.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.52. The companys 50-day simple moving average is GBX 3,410.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 3,275.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.44.

In other news, insider Mark Bottomley sold 580 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 3,451 ($42.24), for a total value of 20,015.80 ($24,499.14). 5.01% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Cranswick Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Cranswick plc manufactures and supplies food products to grocery retailers, food service sector, and other food producers in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company offers fresh pork, gourmet bacon and gammon, fresh and coated chicken, ready to eat chicken, charcuterie, houmous and dips, and olives and antipasti, gourmet sausages, cooked meats, and gourmet pastries, as well as provides food services.

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EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE:EME  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, October 5th, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 16th will be paid a dividend of 0.18 per share by the construction company on Monday, October 30th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.34%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th.

EMCOR Group has raised its dividend by an average of 19.1% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend every year for the last 3 years. EMCOR Group has a dividend payout ratio of 6.0% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect EMCOR Group to earn $11.66 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.72 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 6.2%.

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EMCOR Group Stock Up 1.4 %

EMCOR Group stock opened at $210.01 on Thursday. EMCOR Group has a fifty-two week low of $119.12 and a fifty-two week high of $227.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.88 and a beta of 1.12. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $216.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $188.21.

Insider Buying and Selling

EMCOR Group ( NYSE:EME Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $2.95 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.37 by $0.58. The business had revenue of $3.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.01 billion. EMCOR Group had a net margin of 4.13% and a return on equity of 24.20%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.99 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that EMCOR Group will post 10.97 EPS for the current year.

In other news, CEO Anthony Guzzi sold 11,000 shares of EMCOR Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.37, for a total value of $2,160,070.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 224,722 shares in the company, valued at $44,128,659.14. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in EMCOR Group by 0.8% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,152,648 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,000,359,000 after acquiring an additional 47,507 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of EMCOR Group by 2.4% in the first quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 3,565,326 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $579,687,000 after purchasing an additional 82,360 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of EMCOR Group by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,744,930 shares of the construction companys stock worth $196,531,000 after buying an additional 61,165 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in EMCOR Group by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 961,989 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $156,410,000 after buying an additional 9,577 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of EMCOR Group by 96.7% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 651,082 shares of the construction companys stock worth $105,859,000 after acquiring an additional 320,153 shares during the period. 92.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of EMCOR Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on EME

About EMCOR Group

(Get Free Report)

EMCOR Group, Inc provides electrical and mechanical construction, and facilities services primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. It offers design, integration, installation, start-up, operation, and maintenance services related to electrical power transmission, distribution, and generation systems; energy solutions; premises electrical and lighting systems; process instrumentation in the refining, chemical processing, and food processing industries; low-voltage systems, such as fire alarm, security, and process control systems; voice and data communications systems; roadway and transit lighting, signaling, and fiber optic lines; heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and geothermal solutions; clean-room process ventilation systems; fire protection and suppression systems; plumbing, process, and high-purity piping systems; controls and filtration systems; water and wastewater treatment systems; central plant heating and cooling systems; crane and rigging services; millwright services; and steel fabrication, erection, and welding services.

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Employers (NYSE:EIG  Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.

Employers Stock Up 0.2 %

EIG stock traded up $0.06 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $39.97. The company had a trading volume of 40,954 shares, compared to its average volume of 133,442. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.73 and a beta of 0.22. Employers has a one year low of $33.39 and a one year high of $46.73. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $39.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.05.

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Employers (NYSE:EIG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The financial services provider reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $215.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $210.79 million. Employers had a return on equity of 10.32% and a net margin of 14.72%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 59.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.79 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Employers will post 3.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Employers Company Profile

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of EIG. Advisor Partners II LLC grew its holdings in Employers by 1.9% during the first quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 17,452 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $728,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in Employers by 7.3% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,127 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $214,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares during the period. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Employers by 0.5% during the second quarter. Carolina Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 80,130 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,998,000 after acquiring an additional 383 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its holdings in Employers by 5.5% during the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 9,165 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $343,000 after acquiring an additional 479 shares during the period. Finally, Unison Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Employers by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Unison Advisors LLC now owns 13,453 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $561,000 after purchasing an additional 566 shares during the period. 78.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

Employers Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry primarily in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Employers and Cerity. It offers workers' compensation insurance to small businesses in low to medium hazard industries under the Employers and Cerity brands.

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Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (LON:ERM  Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 1,460 ($17.87) and traded as high as GBX 1,460 ($17.87). Euromoney Institutional Investor shares last traded at GBX 1,460 ($17.87), with a volume of 4,978,005 shares.

Euromoney Institutional Investor Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.74, a current ratio of 0.48 and a quick ratio of 0.48. The company has a market capitalization of 1.60 billion and a P/E ratio of 14,600.00. The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 1,460 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 1,460.

About Euromoney Institutional Investor

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Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides business-to-business information services in the United Kingdom, North America, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Fast Markets, Financial & Professional Services, and Asset Management. The Fast Market segment provides commodity price benchmarks and analysis to its clients' business processes and workflows in the metals, mining, forest products, and agriculture industries.

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Global X Southeast Asia ETF (NYSEARCA:ASEA  Get Free Report) shares rose 1.2% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $14.52 and last traded at $14.52. Approximately 1,273 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 18,099 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.34.

Global X Southeast Asia ETF Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $43.52 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.54 and a beta of 0.72. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $14.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $15.01.

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Institutional Trading of Global X Southeast Asia ETF

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. OLD Mission Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Global X Southeast Asia ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $106,000. UBS Group AG raised its position in Global X Southeast Asia ETF by 13.4% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 16,785 shares of the companys stock worth $254,000 after acquiring an additional 1,984 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in shares of Global X Southeast Asia ETF during the 1st quarter worth $236,000. Flow Traders U.S. LLC acquired a new position in shares of Global X Southeast Asia ETF during the 4th quarter worth $235,000. Finally, LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Global X Southeast Asia ETF by 46.6% in the 2nd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 15,341 shares of the companys stock valued at $210,000 after purchasing an additional 4,875 shares in the last quarter.

About Global X Southeast Asia ETF

The Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (ASEA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE\u002FASEAN 40 INDEX index. The fund tracks a market-cap weighted and -selected index of the 40 largest and most liquid stocks from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. ASEA was launched on Feb 17, 2011 and is managed by Global X.

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GRC International Group plc (LON:GRC  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 4.61 ($0.06) and last traded at GBX 5.50 ($0.07), with a volume of 88744 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 6 ($0.07).

GRC International Group Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.41. The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 6.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 11.02. The stock has a market cap of 5.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -461.00 and a beta of 0.65.

GRC International Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

GRC International Group plc offers various products and services to address the information technology (IT) governance, risk management, and compliance requirements of organizations in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Australia, and internationally. The company provides classroom-based training courses related to data protection, cyber security, ISO 27001 certification and related topics.

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Legacy Financial Strategies LLC increased its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 13.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 167,609 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 19,595 shares during the period. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF accounts for 5.5% of Legacy Financial Strategies LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Legacy Financial Strategies LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $16,417,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Steph & Co. raised its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 80.4% during the 2nd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 359 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. grew its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 697.9% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 375 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 328 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Nordwand Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors own 83.21% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA AGG traded down $0.80 on Thursday, reaching $93.25. The company had a trading volume of 6,200,924 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,484,255. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $92.37 and a 1-year high of $101.15. The companys fifty day moving average is $95.28 and its 200-day moving average is $97.40.

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.

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Mach 1 Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 3,728.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 21,747 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 21,179 shares during the quarter. Mach 1 Financial Group LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $1,233,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Quilter Plc bought a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 2nd quarter worth $424,700,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Your Advocates Ltd. LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors own 81.61% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on SCHW. Argus upped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $81.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Charles Schwab from $67.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Wolfe Research decreased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $62.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $71.00 to $64.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $70.03.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.61, for a total value of $476,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 8,014 shares in the company, valued at $477,714.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 159,599 shares of company stock valued at $10,542,469 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:SCHW traded down $1.00 during trading on Thursday, hitting $50.91. The stock had a trading volume of 4,837,401 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,021,429. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12-month low of $45.00 and a 12-month high of $86.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $90.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $58.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.04.

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 the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.61 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.54% and a net margin of 33.15%. Charles Schwabs revenue for the quarter was down 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.97 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Investors of record on Friday, August 11th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.15%.

Charles Schwab 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.

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Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $1,040.12 and last traded at $1,043.77, with a volume of 141580 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $1,107.08.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on MTD. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,660.00 to $1,520.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 31st. TheStreet cut Mettler-Toledo International from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. StockNews.com cut Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,454.00 to $1,366.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Mettler-Toledo International has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,470.14.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on Mettler-Toledo International

Mettler-Toledo International Stock Down 5.9 %

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $1,163.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1,309.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.78 billion, a PE ratio of 27.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 1.16.

Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $10.19 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.99 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $982.12 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mettler-Toledo International

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund purchased a new stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International during the 3rd quarter valued at $901,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems bought a new stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,018,000. Donaldson Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International in the 3rd quarter valued at $2,638,000. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 13.3% during the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 187 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $207,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC raised its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 600 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $665,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the period. 93.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Mettler-Toledo International Company Profile

(Get 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.

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Mitsubishi Chemical Group Co. (OTCMKTS:MTLHY  Get Free Report) passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $30.72 and traded as low as $30.70. Mitsubishi Chemical Group shares last traded at $30.70, with a volume of 1,831 shares trading hands.

Mitsubishi Chemical Group Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $29.82. The firm has a market cap of $9.25 billion, a PE ratio of 11.95 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

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Mitsubishi Chemical Group (OTCMKTS:MTLHY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Mitsubishi Chemical Group had a return on equity of 4.88% and a net margin of 2.13%. The firm had revenue of $7.73 billion for the quarter.

Mitsubishi Chemical Group Company Profile

Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation provides performance products, chemicals, industrial gases, health care products, and other products in Japan and internationally. The company offers polyester films for various applications, including optical materials, for electronic displays; industrial materials for electronic components, automotive parts, and medical equipment; and packaging materials for food and other products.

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Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund (NYSE:NNY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 27,500 shares, an increase of 161.9% from the September 15th total of 10,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 36,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days.

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:NNY traded down $0.05 during trading on Thursday, reaching $7.93. The stock had a trading volume of 16,694 shares, compared to its average volume of 34,321. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $8.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.40. Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund has a 52 week low of $7.82 and a 52 week high of $8.93.

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Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Friday, October 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.028 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a $0.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.24%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund Company Profile

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Raymond James & Associates grew its position in Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 34,255 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its position in Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund by 11.0% during the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 301,237 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $2,717,000 after buying an additional 29,884 shares in the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its stake in Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund by 20.5% during the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 159,891 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,443,000 after acquiring an additional 27,202 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $85,000. Finally, Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund by 13.5% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 12,823 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $105,000 after acquiring an additional 1,527 shares during the period. 19.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of New York. The fund invests in tax exempt municipal bonds, with a rating of Baa/BBB or higher.

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Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS  Free Report) by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,523 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 434 shares during the quarter. Private Trust Co. NAs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,066,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in United Parcel Service by 210.7% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 14,943,616 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,878,723,000 after buying an additional 10,134,386 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 3.2% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,202,727 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,556,095,000 after acquiring an additional 414,934 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,273,417 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,988,777,000 after acquiring an additional 54,401 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in United Parcel Service by 33.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 7,730,090 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,343,799,000 after purchasing an additional 1,949,775 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,255,623,000. 58.45% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UPS shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on United Parcel Service from $190.00 to $185.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Raymond James decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $205.00 to $200.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 29th. Susquehanna dropped their price target on United Parcel Service from $173.00 to $160.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on United Parcel Service from $200.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $187.96.

United Parcel Service Stock Performance

United Parcel Service stock remained flat at $155.30 during trading hours on Thursday. 1,679,513 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,308,410. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.32. The company has a market cap of $132.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.09. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $164.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $174.54. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $150.54 and a 12 month high of $197.80.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The transportation company reported $2.54 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.49 by $0.05. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 51.28% and a net margin of 10.41%. The company had revenue of $22.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $23.04 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.29 EPS. United Parcel Services quarterly revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 9.37 EPS for the current year.

United Parcel Service Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Investors of record on Monday, August 14th were paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.17%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 11th. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 56.20%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Nando Cesarone sold 22,825 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.70, for a total value of $3,919,052.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1 shares in the company, valued at approximately $171.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.12% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

United Parcel Service Profile

(Free Report)

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.

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Randgold Resources Limited (LON:RRS  Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 6,546 ($80.12) and traded as high as GBX 6,862 ($83.99). Randgold Resources shares last traded at GBX 6,546 ($80.12), with a volume of 51,000 shares traded.

Randgold Resources Stock Performance

The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 6,546 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 6,546.

About Randgold Resources

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Randgold Resources Limited is engaged in gold mining, exploration and related activities. The Companys activities are focused on West and Central Africa. The Company operates through the gold mining segment. The Company operates various mines, such as Morila, Loulo, Gounkoto, Tongon and Kibali. The Company is exploring in African countries, such as Mali, Senegal, Cote dIvoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS  Get Free Report) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 120.90 ($1.48) and traded as high as GBX 123.10 ($1.51). Royal Bank of Scotland Group shares last traded at GBX 120.90 ($1.48), with a volume of 11,987,617 shares changing hands.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group Stock Performance

The companys fifty day moving average price is GBX 120.90 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 120.90. The firm has a market capitalization of 14.66 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.37.

About Royal Bank of Scotland Group

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The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services to personal, commercial, corporate, and institutional customers worldwide. It operates through Personal & Business Banking, Commercial & Private Banking, RBS International, and NatWest Markets segments.

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Bank of New Hampshire grew its holdings in shares of RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX  Free Report) by 0.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 27,998 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the quarter. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in RTX were worth $2,743,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Argent Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of RTX by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. now owns 3,720 shares of the companys stock valued at $364,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Legal Advantage Investments Inc. increased its position in RTX by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Legal Advantage Investments Inc. now owns 18,734 shares of the companys stock worth $1,835,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the period. Element Wealth LLC increased its position in RTX by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Element Wealth LLC now owns 2,893 shares of the companys stock worth $283,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the period. CRA Financial Services LLC increased its position in RTX by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. CRA Financial Services LLC now owns 3,385 shares of the companys stock worth $332,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the period. Finally, Silverlake Wealth Management LLC increased its position in RTX by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Silverlake Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,844 shares of the companys stock worth $376,000 after buying an additional 106 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.06% of the companys stock.

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RTX Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of RTX traded down $0.21 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $73.10. The stock had a trading volume of 4,678,697 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,839,768. RTX Co. has a 12 month low of $68.56 and a 12 month high of $108.84. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $79.79 and a 200 day simple moving average of $90.89. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The company has a market capitalization of $106.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.01.

RTX Announces Dividend

RTX ( NYSE:RTX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.18 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $18.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.68 billion. RTX had a return on equity of 9.98% and a net margin of 7.88%. RTXs revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.16 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that RTX Co. will post 5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 17th will be paid a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.23%. RTXs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.60%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Melius lowered RTX from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $92.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, September 11th. DZ Bank lowered RTX from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $79.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on RTX from $117.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on RTX from $95.00 to $83.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 25th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on RTX in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a sell rating and a $70.00 price target on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued 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 target price of $90.74.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on RTX

RTX Company Profile

(Free Report)

RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through four segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation; and for defense and commercial space operations.

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Sabine Royalty Trust (NYSE:SBR  Get Free Report) announced a monthly dividend on Friday, October 6th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Monday, October 16th will be given a dividend of 0.279 per share by the energy company on Monday, October 30th. This represents a $3.35 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.18%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 13th.

Sabine Royalty Trust has increased its dividend by an average of 42.0% annually over the last three years.

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Sabine Royalty Trust Price Performance

SBR stock opened at $64.62 on Thursday. Sabine Royalty Trust has a 1-year low of $61.00 and a 1-year high of $91.10. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $65.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $68.48. The company has a market capitalization of $942.16 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.16 and a beta of 0.53.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Sabine Royalty Trust ( NYSE:SBR Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The energy company reported $1.15 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $17.59 million for the quarter. Sabine Royalty Trust had a net margin of 96.95% and a return on equity of 967.64%.

Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sabine Royalty Trust in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Sabine Royalty Trust

Institutional Trading of Sabine Royalty Trust

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SBR. Cetera Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 5,834 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $499,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,601 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $682,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust by 6,062.5% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 493 shares of the energy companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 9,080 shares of the energy companys stock worth $524,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the period. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Sabine Royalty Trust during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $43,000. 12.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Sabine Royalty Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sabine Royalty Trust holds royalty and mineral interests in various producing oil and gas properties in the United States. Its royalty and mineral interests include landowner's royalties, overriding royalty interests, minerals, production payments, and other similar non-participatory interest in certain producing and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties located in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

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Shenzhou International Group Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:SHZHY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a decline of 91.7% from the September 15th total of 4,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 68,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Shenzhou International Group from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th.

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View Our Latest Analysis on SHZHY

Shenzhou International Group Trading Up 1.2 %

Shenzhou International Group Dividend Announcement

Shares of SHZHY stock traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $9.61. The company had a trading volume of 9,314 shares, compared to its average volume of 31,531. Shenzhou International Group has a 12 month low of $6.64 and a 12 month high of $13.83. The firms fifty day moving average is $9.52 and its 200 day moving average is $9.47.

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 12th will be paid a $0.0969 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 11th.

About Shenzhou International Group

(Get Free Report)

Shenzhou International Group Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures, processes, and sells knitwear products in Mainland China, European Union, the United States, Japan, and internationally. It produces and sells sportswear, casual wear, and lingerie wear. The company is also involved in the import and export of commodities; print and sale of knitwear products; aircraft leasing; and property management activities.

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Maisons du Monde S.A. (OTCMKTS:MDOUF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 5,200 shares, a growth of 1,200.0% from the September 15th total of 400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Maisons du Monde Price Performance

Shares of Maisons du Monde stock remained flat at $12.15 on Thursday. 13,872 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,133. Maisons du Monde has a fifty-two week low of $9.12 and a fifty-two week high of $12.15. The stocks 50-day moving average is $12.15 and its 200-day moving average is $12.15.

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Maisons du Monde Company Profile

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Maisons du Monde SA, through its subsidiaries, provides home and living room related products in France and internationally. The company's decorative products include bed linen products, carpets, candles, pillows and cushions, clocks, tableware, lamps, kitchen utensils, mirrors and frames, vases, storage units, curtains and net curtains, and bath products.

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Sienna Senior Living Inc. (TSE:SIA  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$11.33 and traded as low as C$10.29. Sienna Senior Living shares last traded at C$10.52, with a volume of 164,253 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SIA has been the subject of a number of research reports. National Bankshares increased their price objective on Sienna Senior Living from C$12.50 to C$13.50 in a report on Monday, August 14th. TD Securities decreased their price target on Sienna Senior Living from C$15.00 to C$14.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 5th. CIBC decreased their price target on Sienna Senior Living from C$14.00 to C$13.00 in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Sienna Senior Living from C$13.00 to C$14.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. Finally, Laurentian raised their price target on Sienna Senior Living from C$13.00 to C$14.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th.

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Sienna Senior Living Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 244.18. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$11.31 and a 200 day moving average price of C$11.27. The company has a market capitalization of C$774.21 million, a P/E ratio of -46.64 and a beta of 1.14.

Sienna Senior Living (TSE:SIA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 10th. The company reported C($0.06) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.27 by C($0.33). The firm had revenue of C$190.60 million during the quarter. On average, equities analysts predict that Sienna Senior Living Inc. will post 0.2376792 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sienna Senior Living Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 13th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.078 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.82%.

Sienna Senior Living Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sienna Senior Living Inc provides senior living and long-term care (LTC) services in Canada. It operates through Retirement and LTC segments. The company offers a range of seniors' living options, including independent supportive and assisted living, memory care, and long-term care services. The company was formerly known as Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation and changed its name to Sienna Senior Living Inc in May 2015.

Further Reading

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Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente, S.A. (OTCMKTS:SEYMF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 481,500 shares, a growth of 159.4% from the September 15th total of 185,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently  days.

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS SEYMF remained flat at $17.00 during trading hours on Thursday. The stock had a trading volume of 2 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,350. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $17.00 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $17.15. Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente has a one year low of $15.25 and a one year high of $21.68.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Societe Generale upgraded Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Barclays raised Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, September 28th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente from a sell rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $20.00.

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente Company Profile

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Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente, SA, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation of solar photovoltaic energy. It owns, manages, and operates a pipeline of approximately 14,200 MW of photovoltaic plants in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Uruguay, and Greece. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is based in Madrid, Spain.

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Gorman-Rupp (NYSE:GRC  Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Wednesday.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on GRC. Northcoast Research initiated coverage on shares of Gorman-Rupp in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $40.00 target price for the company. TheStreet raised shares of Gorman-Rupp from a c rating to a b- rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on Gorman-Rupp

Gorman-Rupp Trading Up 1.3 %

GRC traded up $0.43 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $32.73. 22,235 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 58,155. The companys fifty day moving average price is $31.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $28.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.30 and a current ratio of 2.50. Gorman-Rupp has a fifty-two week low of $22.67 and a fifty-two week high of $33.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $857.20 million, a PE ratio of 39.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.83.

Gorman-Rupp (NYSE:GRC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The industrial products company reported $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Gorman-Rupp had a net margin of 3.43% and a return on equity of 8.11%. The company had revenue of $171.02 million during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Gorman-Rupp will post 1.28 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in Gorman-Rupp in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in Gorman-Rupp in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its stake in Gorman-Rupp by 61.0% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 1,327 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 503 shares during the last quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp increased its stake in Gorman-Rupp by 500.0% in the second quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 1,200 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in Gorman-Rupp by 209.2% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,824 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 1,234 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.32% of the companys stock.

About Gorman-Rupp

(Get Free Report)

The Gorman-Rupp Company designs, manufactures, and sells pumps and pump systems in the United States and internationally. The company's products include self-priming centrifugal, standard centrifugal, magnetic drive centrifugal, axial and mixed flow, vertical turbine line shaft, submersible, high-pressure booster, rotary gear, diaphragm, bellows, and oscillating pumps.

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Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI  Get Free Report) (TSE:TRI) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on TRI. Royal Bank of Canada cut shares of Thomson Reuters from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $135.00 to $139.00 in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Thomson Reuters from $184.00 to $192.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on Thomson Reuters from $131.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Thomson Reuters to $144.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, National Bank Financial lowered Thomson Reuters from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Thomson Reuters currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $148.62.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE TRI traded up $0.82 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $127.75. 164,091 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 398,850. Thomson Reuters has a 12-month low of $97.59 and a 12-month high of $138.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The stock has a market cap of $58.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.48, a PEG ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.59. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $127.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $128.57.

Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI  Get Free Report) (TSE:TRI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The business services provider reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.66 billion. Thomson Reuters had a return on equity of 11.91% and a net margin of 32.12%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Thomson Reuters will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Thomson Reuters

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Thomson Reuters in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its position in Thomson Reuters by 134.9% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 195 shares of the business services providers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the period. CGC Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in Thomson Reuters in the second quarter worth approximately $43,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Thomson Reuters during the first quarter worth $47,000. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC lifted its stake in shares of Thomson Reuters by 209.6% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 353 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.31% of the companys stock.

Thomson Reuters Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Thomson Reuters Corporation engages in the provision of business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments.

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Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSE:SLF  Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF)s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$66.40 and traded as high as C$66.94. Sun Life Financial shares last traded at C$66.21, with a volume of 1,330,379 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SLF has been the topic of several analyst reports. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price objective on Sun Life Financial from C$79.00 to C$77.00 in a report on Thursday, August 10th. Evercore raised their price objective on Sun Life Financial from C$73.00 to C$76.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Sun Life Financial from C$78.00 to C$79.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Sun Life Financial from C$79.00 to C$76.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. Finally, Desjardins set a C$75.00 target price on Sun Life Financial and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Sun Life Financial has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$74.36.

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Sun Life Financial Stock Down 0.8 %

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$66.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$66.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.31, a current ratio of 51.74 and a quick ratio of 84,866.00. The company has a market capitalization of C$39.34 billion, a PE ratio of 13.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.97.

Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF  Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The financial services provider reported C$1.57 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.56 by C$0.01. Sun Life Financial had a return on equity of 12.21% and a net margin of 11.91%. The company had revenue of C$7.67 billion for the quarter. On average, research analysts predict that Sun Life Financial Inc. will post 6.8691589 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sun Life Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 30th were given a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.48%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 29th. Sun Life Financials payout ratio is 60.24%.

About Sun Life Financial

(Get Free Report)

Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. It offers term and permanent life, as well as personal health, dental, critical illness, long-term care, and disability insurance products. The company provides financial advice, asset management, and investments related products.

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Surge Energy Inc. (TSE:SGY  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$8.67 and traded as low as C$8.23. Surge Energy shares last traded at C$8.61, with a volume of 395,415 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Eight Capital set a C$13.00 price target on Surge Energy and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. ATB Capital increased their target price on Surge Energy from C$12.50 to C$13.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, September 28th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Surge Energy from C$12.00 to C$9.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Surge Energy from C$13.00 to C$14.00 in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$12.75.

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Surge Energy Stock Down 0.7 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 36.44. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$8.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$8.26. The firm has a market cap of C$865.30 million, a P/E ratio of 3.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 2.68.

Surge Energy (TSE:SGY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 2nd. The company reported C$0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.19 by C($0.05). The company had revenue of C$155.48 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$156.80 million. Surge Energy had a net margin of 37.96% and a return on equity of 29.39%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Surge Energy Inc. will post 1.2496626 earnings per share for the current year.

Surge Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a $0.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.45%. Surge Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.25%.

Surge Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Surge Energy Inc explores for, develops, and produces oil and gas in western Canada. The company's principal properties include Sparky assets located between Provost and Wainwright in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan; the Southeast Saskatchewan properties are located in the Southeast corner of the Province; the Greater Sawn Lake assets located in Northern Alberta; the Valhalla/Wembley property located in northwestern Alberta; and the Shaunavon properties located to the southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

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Shares of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY  Get Free Report) dropped 1.6% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $8.09 and last traded at $8.09. Approximately 47 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 60% from the average daily volume of 117 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.23.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad Stock Down 1.6 %

The stock has a market cap of $11.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.71 and a beta of -0.09. The firms 50 day moving average is $8.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $8.17.

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Tenaga Nasional Berhad Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 28th will be paid a $0.1354 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 27th. Tenaga Nasional Berhads payout ratio is currently 49.09%.

About Tenaga Nasional Berhad

Tenaga Nasional Berhad engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in Malaysia and internationally. The company operates and maintains thermal generation facilities and hydroelectric power generating schemes; and manages and operates the National Grid that is connected to Thailand's transmission system, as well as Singapore's transmission system at Senoko.

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Bank of New Hampshire boosted its position in shares of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:IPG  Free Report) by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 33,279 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the period. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in Interpublic Group of Companies were worth $1,284,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IPG. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Interpublic Group of Companies by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 47,707,617 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,691,233,000 after acquiring an additional 1,075,059 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 21,132,312 shares of the business services providers stock worth $540,987,000 after acquiring an additional 226,086 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 14,127,344 shares of the business services providers stock worth $526,102,000 after acquiring an additional 355,393 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Interpublic Group of Companies by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,428,989 shares of the business services providers stock worth $314,227,000 after acquiring an additional 133,527 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Interpublic Group of Companies during the 4th quarter worth $256,699,000. 98.43% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on IPG shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $45.00 to $43.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies to $38.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $42.00 to $38.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price objective for the company from $43.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $37.56.

Interpublic Group of Companies Price Performance

IPG stock remained flat at $29.14 during midday trading on Thursday. The company had a trading volume of 2,221,419 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,200,718. The business has a fifty day moving average of $31.24 and a 200-day moving average of $35.23. The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $25.73 and a 12-month high of $40.95. The stock has a market cap of $11.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78.

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 21st. The business services provider reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $2.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.39 billion. Interpublic Group of Companies had a return on equity of 29.72% and a net margin of 8.70%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.63 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. will post 3.05 EPS for the current year.

Interpublic Group of Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a $0.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.26%. Interpublic Group of Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.45%.

Interpublic Group of Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc provides advertising and marketing services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Media, Data & Engagement Solutions, Integrated Advertising & Creativity Led Solutions, and Specialized Communications & Experiential Solutions. The Media, Data & Engagement Solutions segment provides media and communications services, digital services and products, advertising and marketing technology, e-commerce services, data management and analytics, strategic consulting, and digital brand experience under the IPG Mediabrands, UM, Initiative, Kinesso, Acxiom, Huge, MRM, and R/GA brand names.

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Urals Energy PCL (LON:UEN  Get Free Report) shares crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 38 ($0.47) and traded as low as GBX 38 ($0.47). Urals Energy PCL shares last traded at GBX 38 ($0.47), with a volume of 14,900 shares traded.

Urals Energy PCL Trading Up 15.2 %

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.96, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.90. The firm has a market cap of 4.80 million and a PE ratio of 0.42.

Urals Energy PCL Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Urals Energy Public Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an independent exploration and production company in Russia. Its primary exploration and production operations are on the Kolguyev Island based in Timan Pechora, on Sakhalin Island, and Komi region. The company has 2P proved and probable reserves of 46.3 mmboe.

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We strongly condemn and reject the unfounded allegations against Azerbaijan made by Catherine Colonna, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France during her speech at the French Senate on October 11, said Azerbaijan`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azernews reports.

Contrary to the reports of international organizations and also the statement of the Prime Minister of Armenia dated September 21, the French Ministers claims that the settlement of Armenians, who were voluntarily relocated from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan without facing any force, was allegedly planned by Azerbaijan, demonstrates that France is interested in continuing its insidious and imaginary policy.

Frances narrative about justice and international law is unacceptable, taking into account its support to occupant Armenia both during its bloody colonial and mediation period.

Call for the adoption of a resolution against Azerbaijan by France, which has not taken any steps to ensure the implementation of four UN Security Council resolutions that demanded the liberation of the territories of Azerbaijan from occupation, the unconditional, complete, and immediate withdrawal of the occupying forces, and the return of IDPs to their homes for almost 27 years, is an example of hypocrisy.

If France had guided Armenia in the right direction to stop illegal activities and withdraw the Armenian armed forces from our territories for the last three years after the 44-day Patriotic War, instead of coming up with unfounded UN Security Council initiatives, this would be a real contribution to peace and security in the region.

We remind France once again that speaking with Azerbaijan in the language of threat and pressure cannot give any result, and such destructive actions must be stopped immediately.

All steps against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country will be resolutely prevented, the ministry added.
WoodTrust Financial Corp bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 4,901 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $209,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,664,647 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $174,365,000 after buying an additional 58,249 shares during the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 18.2% during the 1st quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 185,306 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,927,000 after purchasing an additional 28,551 shares during the last quarter. Deltec Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $224,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLC now owns 7,421 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $277,000 after purchasing an additional 363 shares during the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 13.0% during the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 25,076 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $937,000 after purchasing an additional 2,888 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

WFC stock traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $39.56. 6,550,072 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,778,613. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52-week low of $35.25 and a 52-week high of $48.84. The stock has a market cap of $144.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.96, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.12. 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 stocks 50-day moving average is $41.84 and its 200 day moving average is $41.43.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.09. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 11.15%. The business had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.74 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 20.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.82 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 4th were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. This is a positive change from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $44.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Friday, September 22nd. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a hold rating and a $45.00 target price on the stock. Wolfe Research cut shares of Wells Fargo & Company from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Friday, July 7th. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $47.83.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company Profile

(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.

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Lovisha Darad Lovisha is passionate about domestic and global equity market development. She writes stories exclusively on equities from a fundamental perspective, gathering insights from niche market gurus.
I discovered Indigenous representation in the native food supply chain is less than 1.5% and economic benefits werent returning to the community. The fire in me was lit to turn the tables and show up in this space. Tara Croker

Meet Mel and Tara, an extraordinary Indigenous mother-daughter team sharing a common vision  to introduce Yaala Sparkling to the world.

This venture extends beyond mere beverages; its a celebration of heritage, a tribute to the profound link between the past and the present, and a showcase of ancient wisdom in a delightful, contemporary form.

In a market valued at $50 million, where Indigenous food products comprise less than 2%, Yaala Sparkling stands as a beacon of Indigenous ownership. Their unwavering commitment to crafting unique, wholesome beverages with real native ingredients, sourced from Indigenous wild harvesters and local farmers, underscores their dedication to tradition and innovation.

Tara, a proud Wiradjuri woman, infuses her personal and authentic passion for equity and community into the core of Yaala Sparkling. Her successful career spanning tech, media, and Indigenous affairs sectors has not only made her a business owner but also a mentor to young Indigenous students and a catalyst for reconciliation work. For Tara, this journey is a privilege  an opportunity to share her cultural heritage and stories with the world, all while supporting her community.

The beginning

Im a proud Wiradjuri yinaa, and in my language, yaala means the present moment. I created Yaala Sparkling to respectfully share and bring to life the ancient flavors of our land in a modern drink for everyone to enjoy and connect over, says Tara Croker.

Her journey commenced with the observation of non-Indigenous businesses incorporating native plant knowledge into their products. This awakening unveiled a stark statistic: Indigenous representation in the native food supply chain is less than 1.5%, and the economic benefits were not returning to the community.

Taras passion was ignited, and she resolved to change the status quo, saying, The fire in me was lit to turn the tables and show up in this space. For Tara, Blak businesses start with a collective, sustainable, and community-driven approach. This is more than a drink  it represents participation, equity, and self-determination, she emphasizes.

In Taras words, Our approach is distinct in several ways: We prioritize high-quality ingredients and create unique flavor profiles, partnering with Indigenous wild harvesters and local farmers. Weve also dedicated ourselves to building a robust brand identity that deeply resonates with consumers.

She firmly believes that Yaala Sparkling stands out from the rest in the industry due to their unwavering commitment to community and sustainability. Tara emphasizes, We take pride in being the sole Indigenous-owned sparkling water brand that uses authentic native ingredients. Its genuinely significant to us to provide the authentic taste of Australia.

A Story of tenacity and collaboration

One challenge I faced was entering a new industry and wanting to build the business in the right way.

When Tara Croker ventured into an entirely unfamiliar industry, she encountered a formidable obstacle. Her vision was clear: to build a business aligned with her values and mission. But the path ahead was uncharted, and Tara recognized the need for a supportive network of individuals who shared her passion and possessed the requisite skills and experience to navigate these uncharted waters.

In response to this challenge, Tara adopted a proactive strategy. She immersed herself in the vibrant community of Indigenous entrepreneurs, diligently seeking kindred spirits equally committed to the cause. Furthermore, she extended her reach to seasoned professionals who had undertaken similar ventures. To her delight, many of them were not just willing but eager to share their knowledge and expertise.

Taras journey stands as a resounding testament to the potent forces of networking, collaboration, and the communitys unwavering willingness to unite in support of a shared mission. Her words succinctly capture the essence of her approach: One challenge I faced was entering a new industry and wanting to build the business in the right way.

I needed to surround myself with people who were passionate about our mission and who had the skills and experience to help me grow my business. I overcame this by networking with other Indigenous entrepreneurs and by reaching out to people who had worked on similar projects who have been so willing to share their knowledge.

Resilience is key

Through her entrepreneurial journey, Tara Croker has gained a profound insight that she considers among the most important lessons in her experience. It is vital to be resilient and tenacious, she emphasizes. Along the path to building Yaala Sparkling, Tara encountered her fair share of setbacks and challenges.

Yet, what sets her apart is her unwavering determination to persevere. For Tara, giving up is simply not an option. The ability to bounce back and stay the course, despite the obstacles, has proven to be a cornerstone of her success. Its a lesson she now carries forward as she continues to make a meaningful impact through her business.

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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.
Santosh Nair is Executive Editor, Special Projects, Moneycontrol. He has been writing on the financial markets for over two decades, having previously worked with Business Standard, myiris.com, Crisil Market Wire and The Economic Times. He is also the author of the popular book on Indian markets, Bulls, Bears and Other Beasts.
Harsh Kumar  is Correspondent at Moneycontrol based in Delhi. Harsh covers BFSI sector. You can reach him at Harsh.kumar@nw18.com

Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com
In todays fast-paced world, the quest for operational efficiency has never been more critical for Australian enterprises. Its not just about gaining a competitive edge in terms of cost; its also about enhancing the customer experience.

In an era marked by technological advancements, changing regulations, and evolving work methodologies, the definition and expectations of operational efficiency are constantly changing. During periods of economic uncertainty, businesses are compelled to think outside the box and revamp their operations.

In this editorial, we explore how Australia is leveraging AI and Industry 4.0 to redefine efficiency in the face of economic challenges.

The Power of Continuous Improvement

In the business world, continuous improvement is the key to staying ahead of the competition. This advantage is amplified when companies improve at a faster pace than the rest of the industry. In times of economic downturn, rapid innovation becomes imperative. This is where Australias adoption of cutting-edge technology, particularly AI and Industry 4.0, comes into play.

The Transformation of AI and Industry 4.0

Australian enterprises are harnessing the potential of AI and Industry 4.0 to redefine operational efficiency and navigate challenging economic conditions. Research from leading firms such as Gartner and McKinsey predicts that by 2025, up to 50% of operational tasks will be automated with AI-driven technologies. This frees up human workers for more strategic, value-added roles. Additionally, the World Economic Forum foresees that Industry 4.0 could unlock over $3.7 trillion in value for global manufacturing by 2025, highlighting the substantial economic advantages of this transformative era.

Historical Context: The Industrial Revolutions

To truly appreciate the significance of AI and Industry 4.0, we must place them in a historical context. Throughout history, technological advancements have consistently reshaped the way goods are produced, often referred to as industrial revolutions.

The First Industrial Revolution began with the use of steam power and mechanization in the 18th century, initially raising concerns about job displacement but ultimately creating new roles in manufacturing.

The Second Industrial Revolution, in the 19th century, commenced with the discovery of electricity and assembly line production, reshaping the workforce and creating opportunities in skilled labor and management.

The Third Industrial Revolution, starting in the 1970s with partial automation and the use of computers, laid the foundation for comprehensive production automation without human intervention.

Today, we stand on the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, often called Industry 4.0. Its marked by the application of information and communication technologies to industry, connecting all systems and giving rise to cyber-physical production systems and smart factories where production is nearly autonomous.

The Transformative Power of Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 brings forth remarkable advances in factory environments. Examples include machines that predict failures and initiate autonomous maintenance processes, and self-organized logistics systems that respond to unexpected production changes. This revolution also extends its transformative power to how people work and live. Industry 4.0 integrates individuals into smarter networks, promoting more efficient work. Digitization in manufacturing allows for flexible information dissemination, providing maintenance professionals with timely equipment documentation and service history at the point of use. Industry 4.0 is a game-changer across industrial settings, revolutionizing manufacturing processes, distribution methods, product servicing, and refinement. It signifies the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Unlocking the Full Potential

Australian enterprises are working towards unlocking the full potential of modern interconnected ecosystems and redefining new ways of working that deliver tremendous efficiency gains and enhance human experiences. Contemporary technologies empower enterprises to achieve desired results with optimal resource utilization. They improve operational safety, reliability, and sustainability. Collaboration extends beyond human-to-human or human-to-machine; it encompasses machine-to-machine interactions. Artificial intelligence, now mainstream, enables machines to make real-time decisions, supporting human decision-making abilities.

Illustrative Examples:

Manufacturing: Predictive Maintenance, Quality Control, Supply Chain Optimization, Energy-Efficient Manufacturing, Process Automation.

Retail: Dynamic Pricing, Customer Behavior Analysis, Return Fraud Detection, Personalized Recommendations, Inventory Management, Sentiment Analysis.

Financial Services: Credit Scoring, Algorithmic Risk Assessment, Fraud Detection, Algorithmic Trading, Customer Service.

Challenges in Embracing AI and Industry 4.0

While the promises of AI and Industry 4.0 are profound, they are not without their challenges. Data privacy and security become paramount with the vast amount of data generated and shared in interconnected systems. Ensuring that AI algorithms are fair and unbiased is another challenge, as biased algorithms can reinforce inequalities and discrimination. Moreover, the integration of these technologies into existing infrastructures can be complex and costly, requiring substantial investments in IT infrastructure and workforce training. Resistance to change within organizations and the need to address the fear of job displacement are hurdles that demand careful management. Overcoming these challenges will be critical to harnessing the full potential of AI and Industry 4.0.

Future Possibilities

We anticipate an even more connected and intelligent industrial landscape here in Australia. Emerging technologies such as quantum computing promise to solve complex problems at unimaginable speeds. Decentralized and secure blockchain systems will enhance trust in digital transactions and data sharing. Human-AI collaboration will evolve, with AI systems becoming even more adept at understanding and augmenting human capabilities. The concept of edge computing, where data processing happens closer to where its generated, will enable real-time decision-making at the source of information, reducing latency and improving efficiency. Additionally, as AI continues to mature, its applications will extend beyond automation into areas like advanced healthcare diagnostics, climate change mitigation, and personalized education.

In Conclusion

AI and Industry 4.0 are pivotal in reshaping the industrial landscape of Australia. These technologies offer transformative potential amid economic challenges, freeing humans from routine tasks and enabling creative endeavors. However, challenges like ethics, security, and integration must be addressed. The future promises quantum leaps in technology and enhanced human-AI collaboration. As Australian enterprises embrace these advancements, they ensure resilience and competitiveness, contributing to a more connected, efficient, and sustainable world.

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Anuja is an independent journalist based in New Delhi who writes at the intersection of policy and politics. She tweets at @just_anuja
Heres a recap of recent funding developments from Australia and beyond.

Phasio raises $3.8M to revolutionize manufacturing

Phasio, a pioneering manufacturing technology startup, has secured AUD$3.8 million in a seed funding round led by AirTree Ventures. This capital infusion aims to drive innovation in the manufacturing sector and enhance global productivity. Investors in this round include 500 Global, Entrepreneur First, and Michael Sorkins Gattaca Ventures.

ALIAVIA Ventures closes $13.5M Fund I for women-led tech startups

ALIAVIA Ventures, a California-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in female-led tech startups in Australia and the United States, has successfully closed its inaugural Fund, raising AU$13.5 million (US$8.7 million). Notable investors include Carol Schwartz (Trawalla, EQT, and Climate Council), Tattarang (the Forrest Family Office), Robyn & Victoria Denholm (Wollemi Capital Group), Dom Pym (Euphemia, Founder of Up Bank), and Cynthia Scott (Zip Co).

KX Pilates announces $20,000 travel grant for Aussie entrepreneurs

Leading Reformer Pilates provider KX Pilates, along with its Founder Aaron Smith, introduces the KX Entrepreneur Travel Grant, offering emerging entrepreneurs a $20,000 opportunity to explore, define, and nurture their business ventures. The grant recipient will also benefit from one-on-one mentorship from Aaron Smith to refine and shape their business idea.

Orion Capital Asia achieves first closing of Fund III for direct lending

Orion Credit Capital Asia, a Singapore-based private credit investment manager specializing in direct lending across the Asia Pacific region, has reached the initial closing of Fund III with up to US$205 million in subscriptions. This new fund is already in the process of deploying its capital.

Grok Ventures Supports Gridmo, a renewable energy startup, in $500,000 seed round

Gridmo, a renewable energy software startup that emerged from the Startmate program, has secured $500,000 in its first external funding round. Co-founded by power systems engineers Jarman Stephens and Damien Vermeer, Gridmo is focused on expediting renewable energy grid connection studies.

AstraZeneca awards funding to eight innovative research projects

AstraZeneca announced today eight winners of the 2023 R&D Postdoctoral Challenge and agreed to fund their postdoctoral positions at one of the Companys strategic R&D centres in either Cambridge, UK, Gaithersburg or Boston, US or Gothenburg, Sweden. The R&D Postdoctoral Challenge stands out among traditional industry postdoctoral initiatives which usually offer pre-defined projects.

Early childhood workers given $12 million boost to strengthen sector into the future

NSWs early childhood sector workforce has been given a welcome boost of more than $12 million as the Minns Labor Government delivers its election commitment to provide scholarships to the educators of the states littlest learners.Funding of $12.2 million to provide scholarships to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce was secured in the NSW Budget, beginning the practical work to create a pipeline of educators for this vital sector.

A target of 1,700 scholarships will be made available from today, to those already working in the sector wanting to upskill, those wanting to become early childhood educators, and those wanting to gain Outside School Hours Care (OSCH) skills, growing the workforce. These incentives will expand the ECEC workforce and help retain those already working as early childhood educators.

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Alexander Parker is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views do not represent the stand of this publication. 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.
SNM Abdi is an independent journalist specialising in Indias foreign policy and domestic politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
A waterfall inside Bu Gia Map National Park in Binh Phuoc Province in southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the park

Seven animals of critically endangered species have been released back into nature in Bu Gia Map National Park in the southern province of Binh Phuoc.

They comprise three Sunda pangolins (manis javanica), one northern pig-tailed macaque (jacaca leonina), one pygmy slow loris (jycticebus pygmaeus), one reticulated python (python reticulatus), and one clouded monitor (varanus nebulosus).

All the species are listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book of endangered species.

The animals were reintroduced to the wild by the forest protection division of Bu Gia Map District and Phuoc Long Town, and the Bu Gia Map National Park's center for creature rescue, conservation and development.

Earlier, they had been handed over by local residents and then received care from the center in a semi-wild setting.

The conservation center said it will keep coordinating with forest protection units to monitor the animals in 15 days. The individuals unable to adapt to the natural environment will be brought back to the center for further care to recover their natural instincts, and released back to nature later.

So far, the forest protection force of Binh Phuoc and the Bu Gia Map National Park have reintroduced a number of threatened animals, most of which were handed over by locals.
Tokyo is considering loosening immigration procedures for Vietnamese entering Japan in an effort to increase the country's number of foreign tourists and high-quality workers, Japan's foreign ministry announced.

At a Hanoi press conference on Tuesday, spokeswoman for Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kobayashi Maki said the notion is part of Tokyos efforts to bolster its post-Covid tourism sector.

Maki said the number of Vietnamese tourists that visited Japan in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, was around 500,000. The number of Japanese tourists visiting Vietnam was 952,000 during the same period. In the first quarter of this year, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Japan reached 161,000, a 12-fold increase compared to the same period in 2022, she added.

"We need to continue increasing this number by bolstering cultural cooperation and loosening immigration procedures for Vietnamese coming to Japan. While there has yet to be a complete visa exemption, Japan is considering making the process more convenient," she said.

Maki did not specify exactly how the immigration procedures would be made easier. Visas are currently required for all Vietnamese entering Japan, except for those carrying diplomatic or other official passports.

Maki said the Japanese government is also re-strategizing how it aims to attract high-quality workers. She added that creating new advantages for Vietnamese workers in Japan was also a top priority. Vietnam has a high number of high-quality workers, while Japan is facing serious aging population issues and worker shortage problems.

"We have seriously considered attracting workers by expanding fields of specialties and improving benefits," Maki said, adding that changes could be introduced next year.

Japan is also considering closing its foreign trainee program to create a new worker recruitment system to "protect and develop" human resources. The new program would include the addition of certain new worker benefits.

By June 2021, there were around 202,000 Vietnamese technical trainees studying and working in Japan, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Maki said Japan would ensure the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, even as her country is at risk of budget deficits.

At the official state reception ceremony for Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko in Hanoi on Tuesday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also asked Japan to provide a new-generation of ODA to Vietnam's large-scale, strategic infrastructure development projects.

Japan is among Vietnam's most important economic partners. The country ranks first when it comes to ODA, second on labor cooperation, third on investment and tourism, and fourth on commerce. Bilateral trade turnover between the two countries in 2022 reached around $50 billion, with Vietnam sending a total of $24.2 billion worth of exports to Japan and importing a total value of $23.4 billion.

Japan has signed several free trade agreements, both bilaterally and multilaterally, with Vietnam, including the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the Vietnam Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Kamikawa Yoko is visiting Vietnam from Tuesday to Wednesday, on the occasion of Vietnam and Japan commemorating the 50th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations.
President Vo Van Thuong will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing from October 17-20.

The trip will be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

BRI is an initiative implemented by China since 2012, aimed at strengthening trade routes connecting China with Europe, the Middle East and Africa. According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by the end of 2022, the country has signed 206 cooperation agreements under the initiative with 151 countries and 32 international organizations, implementing about 3,000 projects in many fields with a total investment capital of nearly US$1 trillion.

China hosted the first and second Belt and Road International Cooperation High-Level Forums in 2017 and 2019.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam and participation in the APEC Summit on November 12, 2017, Vietnam and China signed a memorandum of understanding on promoting connections between the Two Corridors, One Belt framework with the Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides are continuing discussions to materialize the MoU.

Vietnam and China relations have achieved positive results in recent times, especially after General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China at the end of last year.

In 2022, bilateral trade turnover increased 5.47% to more than US$175 billion. Vietnam continues to be China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and China's fourth largest trading partner by individual country, after the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.

In the first 9 months of this year, Chinese investment in Vietnam reached nearly $2.1 billion with 478 projects, making it the second largest FDI investor in Vietnam, after Singapore. China maintains the 6th position out of 144 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with more than 4,000 valid projects and total registered capital of more than $26 billion.
A screenshot of an auction website shows the number plate 51K-888.888 being sold for VND32.34 billion. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Du

Six car number plates that found winning bidders last month, including one that won a US$1.3 million bid, have been put up for auction again as the winners did not pay.

The Vietnam Partnership Auction Company on Thursday released a list of new car number plates that will be auctioned in October.

Among them is the HCMC number 51K-888.88, which won the highest bid of VND32.34 billion (US$1.33 million) during an online auction held on September 15, the first time Vietnam ever allowed people to bid for car number plates.

As its winner did not pay in 15 days, the auction result has been canceled.

There are five other plates in the same situation that initially went for between VND1.3 billion and VND14.1 billion.

A number plate collector in Hanoi said that the cancelation was "not surprising as the winning prices are way too high compared to the real market value."

"It is possible that they are investors and they bid the high prices to test the market demand," he said.

The collector added that after one month, bidding prices have gradually dropped to the actual market demand, with winning prices set to stay at VND40 million, VND85 million, or VND610 million.

As currently ruled, the winners are required to pay within 15 days, and register within 18 months for a designated car. Failure will see the license plate revoked and the bidder lose the deposit of VND40 million they made to join the auction.

People who fail to win any number will get their deposits back.

All revenues raised will go straight to the state budget.

Major General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said that after one month since the auction was launched, more than VND100 billion had been raised for the state budget.

He said that given the efficiency, it was necessary for Vietnam to soon legitimize the activity to create another source of budget collection.

The National Assembly passed a resolution in November 2022 approving it on a trial basis.

The ministry has since issued a list of 153,102 numbers to be auctioned.
Uncover a fun-filled weekend in Hanoi with historical exhibitions, art showcases, Halloween-themed fairs, and spirited jazz performances.

"The Roar of the Red River" exhibition

On the momentous occasion of the 69th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2023), the Hoa Lo Prison will host an exhibition titled "The Roar of the Red River."

The exhibition showcases Hanoi's preparations for a long resistance war against colonial French and the significance of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Photo courtesy of Hoa Lo Prison

This exhibition pays tribute to the resilience and sacrifices made by the soldiers and people of the capital, which played a pivotal role in the triumph of the resistance war against the French. The exhibition is divided into two compelling sections: "The Long Resistance War" and "Historic Return."

The first part of the exhibition portrays the journey undertaken by Hanoi in readiness for the challenging struggle ahead.

The second part of the exhibition shines a spotlight on the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which holds significance in Vietnam's history as it compelled the French to sign the Geneva Accords and withdraw their troops from northern Vietnam.

"The Roar of the Red River" exhibition will be open to the public until December 30, 2023, at the Hoa Lo Prison, at 1 Hoa Lo Street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District. Tickets are VND30,000 ($1.20) per person.

"Plan of the summer" exhibition

Artigin Art Space, an extension of Hanoi Studio Gallery, presents their latest exhibition titled "Plan of Summer." The exhibition showcases the works of six artists, exploring the essence of summer and its significance in human life.

The "Plan of Summer" exhibition showcases a diverse range of artworks across various platforms, boasting vibrant patterns and captivating imagery. Photo courtesy of Hanoi Studio Gallery

These six artists offer diverse interpretations of summer through their works, with themes ranging from gentle and subtle strength to vibrant and emotional expressions, exploring the interplay of old and new with a keen focus on the changing seasons and the enduring warmth they evoke.

The exhibition is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will run from September 23 to December 31. Art lovers can visit the exhibit at Artigin Art Space, in the main lobby of the Lotte Mart Tay Ho office building, at 683 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District.

Hanoiween - The October Fair

The upcoming Hanoiween - The October Fair, set to take place at Hanoi Book Street, presents numerous activities for attendees. At the heart of this event is a Hanoi-themed Halloween festival, as well as a wide range of interactive workshops, including Henna painting, hand-stitching, and statue painting. Attendees can also expect to encounter numerous craft stalls, handmade jewelry, and a diverse array of entertaining items.

"Hanoiween" poster. Photo courtesy of HIT - Flea market of Hanoi

The October fairs at Hanoi Book Street, hosted at 19/12 Book Street, Hoan Kiem District, will be held on the following dates: Week 1 on October 7 and 8, Week 2 on October 14 and 15, Week 3 on October 20 (Friday) from 3:30 p.m. to 11 pm, and on October 21 and 22 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Week 4, also a special event called Falloween, is scheduled for October 28 and 29 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday Sanctuary

The event "Sunday Sanctuary" offers a relaxing day of activities as summer transitions to perfect pool weather. Participants can enrich themselves by attending workshops, enjoying a captivating fire show, engaging in yoga sessions, exploring the market for hidden treasures, and savoring an array of culinary delights at the bar. The event is open to all, creating a welcoming environment for children and animals.

The event will take place on October 15 from noon to 10 p.m. at Banana Island (going straight into Alley 76 An Duong, Tay Ho District). Tickets are available for VND250,000 per person.

Jazz voyage with Hakan Rydin and friends

Hakan Rydin, a co-founder of the Swedish band Nexus, brings a wealth of musical history and international performance experience to the stage. Hakan Rydin has performed with many respected artists, creating a distinctive and memorable musical legacy.

In an upcoming quartet performance at Long Waits, he'll be joined by three talented Vietnamese musicians, offering an extraordinary musical experience.

The jazz showcase starts at 8:30 p.m. on October 13 at Long Waits, 5 Nguyen Quang Bich Street, Hoan Kiem District, with tickets priced at VND250,000 per person. Guests have the option to buy tickets via the provided link.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) wears a "no shutdown" button as he arrives for a House Republican conference meeting following a series of failed votes on spending packages at the U.S. Capitol ahead of a looming government shutdown in Washington, U.S. September 29, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
Maintenance employee Francisco Walter, left, assists maintenance supervisor Kin Hufalar as he removes a typhoon shutter track at SureStay Guam Airport South in Barrigada after the passing of Typhoon Bolaven on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Frank San Nicolas/The Guam Daily Post
A tuk-tuk motorized rickshaw driver waits for his passenger in front of a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by Reuters

Police in Thailand have arrested three motorized rickshaw (tuk-tuk) drivers for allegedly physically attacking a Saudi Arabian tourist outside a Phuket hotel last Sunday.

The incident came to light after a video was posted on social media showing a group of drivers attacking the Saudi tourist at the Amata Hotel in the Patong neighborhood of the popular beach resort island of Phuket, the Bangkok Post reported.

Based on security cameras, police tracked down the three suspects, aged between 26-29.

On Sunday, one of three suspects carried the tourist from Soi Saen Sabai to 7Q Patong Beach Hotel on a motorized rickshaw, known as tuk-tuk in Thailand, with the agreed fare of 200 baht (US$5.49).

One driver told the police the tourist changed his destination when he arrived at 7Q Hotel Patong, saying it was not his hotel and asking to be taken to another, Thaiger reported. The fare then would be 400 baht but the passenger only paid 300 baht, the driver said.

A quarrel ensued and the driver then called two other colleagues to attack the tourist.

The three drivers admitted to assaulting the foreigner. Police said their driving licenses would be revoked.

Under Thailand's Criminal Law, the drivers face six months to 10 years in prison and a fine of 10,000 to 200,000 baht for assaulting another person.
Speaker Therese Terlaje presides over a public hearing held June 23, 2023, at the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna for the status of the CHamoru Land Trust Commissions eviction of Guam International Raceway.
Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/.
By Azernews

Laman Ismayilova

As a UNESCO member, Azerbaijan has been actively engaged in promoting cultural diversity and heritage preservation.

The country has been constantly participating in UNESCO programs since 1992.

Through its efforts, Azerbaijan plays a significant role in UNESCO's mission to build peace, foster sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

In 2003, the parties signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, education, and communication, which allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the donors of UNESCO.

At the 217th UNESCO session, Azerbaijan has made a significant statement, reaffirming its contribution to the global agenda of peace, security and sustainable development.

"Azerbaijan attaches great importance to following the priorities and effective implementation of UNESCO programs. Our country is committed to working with UNESCO and its member states in an open, transparent and inclusive manner. Azerbaijan actively supports the organization's initiatives in the field of intercultural dialogue, as well as the fight against racism and discrimination, and consistently encourages dialogue between cultures and religions through such global initiatives as the Baku Process and Peace4Culture campaign."

These remarks are contained in Azerbaijan's statement read out by Permanent Delegate of Azerbaijan to UNESCO Elman Abdullayev, Azernews reports.

It was brought to attention that Azerbaijan continues to contribute to the global agenda of peace, security and sustainable development within its capabilities and as a chair of the Non-Aligned Movement.

However, the dangerous trends still observed in the region, such as manifestations of racism, discrimination and related intolerance, are cause for concern.

Over 30 years of military aggression, Armenia has completely destroyed, looted and vandalized the cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Cultural assets such as historical monuments, mosques, temples, mausoleums, museums, exhibits, art galleries, archaeological sites and libraries were most brutally looted and razed to the ground.

During the occupation, Azerbaijan's educational infrastructure was also seriously damaged. Armenia completely destroyed more than 2,000 educational institutions in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Armenia also pursued a policy of systematic destruction, plunder and appropriation of the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan. In Armenia, traces of Azerbaijanis expelled from Erivan, West Zangazur, Vedi, Nuvedi, Goychaand many other historical lands, the lands of their great-grandfathers, were deliberately destroyed or erased.

The statement says that Armenian policy, which carried out ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis, also had a disastrous impact on Azerbaijan's intangible cultural heritage, which is an infringement of the cultural rights of all Azerbaijanis, as well as the right of every person to enjoy cultural heritage.

It is indicated that the appeals to the UNESCO Director General by the Azerbaijani government, a number of Azerbaijani NGOs and the Western Azerbaijan Community, who expressed deep concern about the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Armenia, and the call to send a mission to Armenia to establish the facts and assess the state of affairs in this area are fair demand of the Azerbaijani people.

The document notes that in three years that have passed since the signing of the trilateral Statement in 2020, Armenia has deployed illegal armed groups numbering more than a thousand people on the territory of Azerbaijan.

In addition, Armenia used the Lachin road to incite separatism on Azerbaijan's sovereign territory.

In September 2023, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, responding to numerous provocations of illegal Armenian armed groups, carried out local anti-terrorist measures.

During the anti-terrorist measures, the necessary measures were taken to prevent damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure in full compliance with the norms of humanitarian law.

The statement says about the liquidation of the so-called "regime" and the disarmament of illegal armed groups.

It also touches upon the process of reintegration of local Armenian residents, the creation of a special electronic portal for this, the formation of a favorable atmosphere for dialogue, and Azerbaijan's plan to normalize relations with Armenia.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the report of the UN mission to Azerbaijan's Garabagh, in particular, to the city of Khankandi, indicates that no damage was caused to civilian infrastructure, cultural and religious sites, no violence was committed against civilians, Azerbaijan is preparing restore the provision of health care services and a number of public utilities in Khankandi.

At the same time, the statement especially emphasizes that Azerbaijan and Armenia have a historical opportunity to establish good neighborly relations and coexist in peaceful conditions as two sovereign states.
Foreign tourists pose for the photographer as they watch a street art performance in Hue, April 29, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Thanh

While Vietnam's main tourism markets like China, South Korea and the U.S. are still recovering to pre-Covid levels, Southeast Asia has become a bright spot for its inbound tourism.

Vietnam has already achieved its full-year foreign tourist target of eight million and it now expects to receive 13 million visitors this year.

But of its five biggest tourism feeder markets, the U.S. has a recovery rate of only 96.4%, while it is even lower in South Korea (82.3%), Taiwan (85.3%), Japan (60%), and China (28%), according to data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

The number of visitors from the 13 countries for whom Vietnam waives visas has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels either.

Tourism insiders said there are several factors for this.

Martin Koerner, head of the Vietnam Business Forum's tourism working group, told VnExpress International that airfares from destinations such as Europe and the U.S. are at double pre-pandemic levels, which dissuades American and European tourists.

"In addition, we are seeing a global economic downturn. That means people, especially in the middle class, who previously went on overseas trips can now only travel domestically or regionally."

The number of flights to Vietnam from key markets remains far below 2019 levels, he said.

Last month China Southern Airlines became the first Chinese carrier to resume flights that had been suspended due to Covidto Cam Ranh/Nha Trang, a key market for Chinese tourists, Koerner said to highlight the slow recovery of flight connections between the two countries.

"If we compare that with 2019, when dozens of scheduled flights and charter flights arrived daily, we can easily see why the number of inbound tourists has not yet fully recovered.

"It will take significantly more time for the aviation industry to readjust all its air routes and I don't see that happening before 2025."

A survey released on September 18 by Big Data Research Institute and Beijing-based online travel company Qunar showed that Vietnam is no longer a top choice of Chinese tourists.

Limited travel experiences and the shortage of luxury services have caused Chinese tourists to reject Vietnam, Dao Viet Long, CEO of Hanoi travel firm Fantasea, said.

Bright spot

In the event, Southeast Asian countries are propping up the inbound tourism market.

Cambodia is now Vietnam's fastest growing tourism market with the number of visitors in the first nine months of this year at 267% higher than the same period of pre-pandemic levels, followed by Singapore (106%) and Thailand (101%).

The visa-free stay of 30 days ASEAN member countries allow each other's nationals means Vietnam is popular among tourists from Southeast Asia.

The recent launch of new direct flights to Vietnamese cities from Southeast Asian tourist hubs has contributed to the rapid recovery, insiders said.

But they warned that Vietnam's neighbors are warming up in the international tourism race.

From September 25 Thailand has waived visas for Chinese and Kazakh tourists, while Indonesia recently unveiled its golden visa policy that allows foreigners to stay for up to 10 years.

Myanmar plans to offer visas on arrival for Chinese tourists.

"Vietnam should make a stronger effort in its overseas marketing activities by opening representative offices in the key markets we target," Koerner said.

"Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are doing that and if we want to compete with these countries for the same type of travelers, we must get better in our promotions and marketing."
Chinese-born journalist thanks Australia for her freedom after 3 years in detention for spying

Chinese-born journalist thanks Australia for her freedom after 3 years in detention for spying View Photo

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  A Chinese-born journalist credited the Australian government for her return to Australia in one piece after her three-year detention in China in an espionage case that strained bilateral ties.

Cheng Leis comments broadcast on Thursday challenged Beijings version that she was deported this week under normal judicial procedures without political considerations.

The 48-year-old former Chinese state television anchor spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese by phone from Melbourne Airport on Wednesday after her arrival from Beijing.

Hello, prime minister. Its because of you and all the team at DFAT that Im able to make it here in one piece, Cheng said in a video recording released by Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed Cheng to Melbourne, where Chengs two children, 11 and 14, have been raised by their grandmother. Wongs staff handed Cheng the phone to speak with Albanese.

Wong also took credit for Chengs freedom, saying improved bilateral relations had paid dividends since her center-left Labor Party government was elected last year after nine years of conservative rule.

Weve made clear since we were elected that we wanted to stabilize our relationship with China, we wanted to engage and I think youve seen some of the benefits of engagement, Wong said.

Albanese plans to visit Beijing this year at a date yet to be set. He would become the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years.

Albanese said he had had good, constructive meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang about Chengs case.

Cheng, who was born in China and migrated to Australia with her family at age 10, had worked for Chinas state broadcaster CCTV. She was arrested in August 2020 when bilateral relations were plumbing new depths.

Chinas Ministry of State Security said Cheng provided a foreign organization with state secrets she had obtained on the job in violation of a confidentiality clause signed with her employer. A police statement did not name the organization or say what the secrets were.

A court in Beijing convicted her of illegally providing state secrets abroad and she was sentenced to two years and 11 months, the statement said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the Chinese judicial system tried the case in accordance with the law, fully safeguarding the rights enjoyed by the person concerned in accordance with the law.

Geoff Raby, a former Australian ambassador to China and a friend of Cheng, described Chinas explanation that she had been released according to law as a face-saving solution.

Albanese and Wong deserved congratulations for stabilizing the bilateral relationship and for raising Chengs case with Chinese leaders at every opportunity, Raby said.

Persistence and constantly coming back to this issue and advocating on her behalf in private but at very senior levels  trickles down through the Chinese system and I think the result we see thankfully  yesterday is a product of all of that effort, Raby said.

By ROD McGUIRK

Associated Press
Sri Lanka says it has reached an agreement with Chinas EXIM Bank on debt, clearing IMF funding snag

Sri Lanka says it has reached an agreement with Chinas EXIM Bank on debt, clearing IMF funding snag View Photo

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lanka says it has reached an agreement with the Exim Bank of China on key terms and principles for restructuring its debt, a key step toward unlocking a second instalment of a $2.9 billion package from International Monetary Fund aimed at rescuing the island nation from a dire economic crisis.

The finance ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday that the agreement covers $4.2 billion in outstanding debt and is an important step toward Sri Lankas economic recovery.

The statement said the deal provides the necessary fiscal space for Sri Lanka to implement its economic reform agenda.

The Sri Lankan authorities hope that this landmark achievement will provide an anchor to their ongoing engagement with the official creditor committee and commercial creditors, including the bondholders, it said.

Authorities hope this will anchor their debt restructuring program and facilitate approval of the next tranche of IMF financing of about US$334 million.

An IMF team reviewing Sri Lankas reform program delayed releasing a second tranche of IMF financing last month, saying it lacked oversight on whether adequate progress was being made on debt restructuring.

The economy is recovering but its foreign reserves have not been restored quickly enough due to lower-than-projected gains in tax collections, the review found. IMF officials said the government needs to improve its tax administration, eliminate exemptions and crack down on tax evasion.

Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 with more than $83 billion in debt  more than half of it to foreign creditors. Its economy was plunged into crisis, with severe shortages of food, fuel and other necessities. Strident public protests led to the ouster of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Borrowing for China-funded infrastructure projects like highways, an airport and seaport that did not attract expected business opportunities have added to the countrys financial woes.

The IMF agreed in March of this year to a $2.9 billion bailout package after receiving assurances from China that cleared a last hurdle in sealing an agreement. It released an initial $330 million in funding for Sri Lanka shortly afterward.

The government is negotiating with creditors to restructure its tens of billions of dollars in debt, aiming to reduce it by $17 billion.

Over the past year, Sri Lankas severe shortages of essentials like food, fuel and medicine have largely abated, and authorities have restored power supplies.

But public dissatisfaction has grown over the governments efforts to increase revenues by raising electricity bills and imposing heavy new income taxes on professionals and businesses.

By KRISHAN FRANCIS

Associated Press
Norway activists press on with their protest against wind farm on land used by herders

Norway activists press on with their protest against wind farm on land used by herders View Photo

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Dozens of activists in Norway on Thursday blocked the entrance to one of the main operators of a wind farm they say hinders the rights of the Sami Indigenous people to raise reindeer,

At the center of the dispute are the 151 turbines of Europes largest onshore wind farm, which is located in central Norways Fosen district, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) north of the capital of Oslo. The activists say a transition to green energy shouldnt come at the expense of the rights of Indigenous people.

They have demonstrated repeatedly against the wind farms continued operation since the Supreme Court of Norway ruled in October 2021 that the construction of the turbines had violated the rights of the Sami, who have used the land for reindeer for centuries.

On Thursday, the activists sat down on the ground outside the building in Oslo of Statkraft, a state-owned company that operates 80 of the wind turbines at Fosen.

We expect to block all visible entrances, activist Gina Gylver told the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen.

Police spokesman Sven Martin Ege told Norwegian news agency NTB that the about 100 protesters have said they want to prevent employees of Statkraft from entering their workplace after which it was decided that they will work from home.

Late Wednesday, a group of about 20 Sami, many dressed in traditional garments, staged a protest in a central hallway inside the Norwegian parliament. They were removed by police after refusing to leave the premises. Hundreds more had gathered on the main street leading up to Norways parliament, the Storting.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre has acknowledged ongoing human rights violations and the government has repeatedly apologized for failing to act despite the Supreme Court ruling. Energy Minister Terje Aasland has said that the demolition of all wind turbines at Fosen now, as the protesters demand, was not relevant.

Greta Thunberg of neighboring Sweden joined the protest in Oslo later Thursday.

We cannot have renewable energy that violates human rights, Thunberg said, according to NTB. Statkraft and other owners must step forward and demand a solution to the Fosen case, so that green energy is developed in the right way in the future without violating the rights of Indigenous people.

On Wednesday, Thunberg was fined 2,250 kroner ($206) by a Swedish court once again for disobeying police during an environmental protest in July. Thunberg, 20, has admitted to the facts but denied guilt, saying the fight against the fossil fuel industry was a form of self-defense due to the existential and global threat of the climate crisis.

In June, activists protested outside Gahr Stres office. They occupied the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for four days in February, and later blocked the entrances to 10 ministries.
Mexican official says military obstructs probe into human rights abuses during countrys dirty war

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Decades after Mexicos dirty war, the military has obstructed a government investigation into human rights abuses, the official heading the probe said Wednesday.

Alejandro Encinas Rodriguez, deputy minister for human rights, said at a news conference that investigators withdrew last month after discovering military officials were hiding, altering and destroying documents.

Encinas said some officials actions clearly violated a presidential decree granting investigators unfettered access to records.

Asked if individual officials might face criminal charges, he said: We are investigating this. As soon as we have some clear indication and evidence, of course we will proceed.

The Ministry of National Defense did not respond to an email from The Associated Press asking for comment.

The inquiry was established under the Mexican human rights departments commission for truth in October 2021 to investigate human rights violations during the dirty war against leftist guerillas, dissidents and social movements in the 1970s and 80s.

During that time hundreds of people were illegally detained, tortured and disappeared by the military and security forces. Over 2,300 direct and indirect victims are still alive today, the inquiry commission said Wednesday.

David Fernandez Davalos, a member of the commissions subgroup for historical clarification, said the Ministry of National Defense continues this cycle of impunity, opacity and injustice by moving, altering or destroying documents.

Fernandez told reporters that military officials initially withheld documents they claimed were private for reasons of national security, personal privacy, or preserving relations with other countries.

Then he said, Files that we already knew were composed in a certain way were handed over with sheets out of place and notes ripped out. Military officials also moved boxes of files so the investigators couldnt find them and in some cases just flatly denied access to documents, he said.

Calling 2023 a year of listening, other members of the inquiry spoke of success visiting military posts and conducting hundreds of interviews with victims.

In June the subgroup for disappeared people uncovered the remains of seven people thought to have been killed in 1971 in the southern state of Guerrero. They have since begun analyzing ocean currents and flight paths to find where corpses dumped in the Pacific by the militarys planes of death might be found today.

By DANIEL SHAILER

Associated Press
Mexico celebrates an ex-military official once arrested on drug smuggling charges in the US

Mexico celebrates an ex-military official once arrested on drug smuggling charges in the US View Photo

MEXICO CITY (AP)  A former Mexican defense secretary whose arrest in the United States in 2020 on drug charges strained relations between the two countries was celebrated Wednesday with an honorary military decoration.

In October 2020, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos was arrested in Los Angeles and accused of ties to an international drug trafficking ring, but charges were dropped a month later under intense pressure from Mexico.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador presented Cienfuegos, who was head of Mexicos army from 2012 to 2018, the award at a ceremony celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of the Heroic Military Academy, which he used to direct.

Almost three years ago to the day, Cienfuegos was arrested at a Los Angeles airport, accused of participating in an international drug trafficking and money laundering network. The U.S. later dropped their charges against him, ostensibly as a diplomatic concession, and he was returned to Mexico for further investigation.

Mexicos Attorney Generals office, however, released Cienfuegos after they found no evidence of his alleged drug trafficking links. Following the release Lopez Obrador also accused the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of fabricating their charges against Cienfuegos.

Why did they do the investigation like that? Lopez Obrador said at the time. Without support, without proof?

At the ceremony Wednesday, Cienfuegos was recognized for strengthening the military academy during his time directing it. Another former army chief was also given an award.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of military academies from Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia, as well as other South American and Asian countries.
Haiti refuses to open key border crossing with Dominican Republic in spat over canal

Haiti refuses to open key border crossing with Dominican Republic in spat over canal View Photo

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)  Haiti declined Thursday to join neighboring Dominican Republic in reopening a key commercial border crossing, leaving some trade at a standstill and prolonging a diplomatic crisis over the construction of a canal on Haitian soil.

Dominican President Luis Abinader had closed all borders including the crossing at the northern Dominican city of Dajabon for nearly a month to protest the construction of the canal, which he says violates a treaty and will take water needed by Dominican farmers. Haiti says it has the right to build the canal and that its urgently needed because of a drought.

Abinaders government partially reopened the borders on Wednesday including the one at Dajabon  home to a key market for commerce between the countries  but allowed only limited trade and kept a ban on Haitians entering the Dominican Republic for work, school, tourism or medical issues. He also kept a ban on issuing visas to Haitian citizens.

Haiti declined to follow suit at its gate in the nearby community of Ouanaminthe, and its government did not immediately state a reason. But Moise Charles Pierre, a delegate for Haitis northeast region, told The Associated Press that the Dominican side needed to apologize and resume full border operations.

Abinader needs to respect the Haitian people and apologize publicly, Pierre said.

Meanwhile, the two other border gates at Elias Pina and Independencia have opened on both sides.

The spat over the canal took center stage Thursday at an Organization of American States meeting in Washington, with sharp exchanges between Roberto Alvarez, foreign affairs minister for the Dominican Republic, and Leon Charles, Haitis permanent representative to the OAS.

The construction of the canal is not going to stop, Charles said, adding that Haiti was still open to dialogue but not under the threat of dictating a solution to the Haitian population.

In response, Alvarez unearthed centuries-old history by mentioning Haitis 22-year occupation of the Dominican Republic in the 1800s and said the Dominican Republic was not taking up arms over the canal dispute.

We are not intimidating anyone. Our intention is to protect our border, our natural resources, he said, as he criticized Charless response as a reckless position.

During the meeting, OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro offered to send a technical team specialized in water resources and legal issues to examine the site and offered to facilitate a meeting between both sides.

The canal in Haiti aims to divert water from the Massacre River that runs along the border on the island of Hispaniola that both countries share. Haitis government has said farmers urgently need the water to quench a drought that has killed crops in the region.

Abinader has said that construction of the canal violates a 1929 treaty and would affect local farmers and nearby wetlands.

On Thursday, former Haitian prime minister and presidential candidate Claude Joseph issued a statement rejecting allegations by a Dominican ambassador that he had ordered work on the canal in order to provoke a crisis with the Dominican Republic.

However, Jospeh insisted that Haiti has the right to build the canal.

Since Wednesdays partial reopening at Dajabon and other border cities, vendors on the Dominican side are limited to selling goods like food and medicine and are barred from selling construction items such as concrete and metal rods. Dominican officials maintain that sale of such items would aid construction of the nearby canal.

Pierre, the Haitian official, said that in addition to keeping the border closed, authorities are working on a plan that would allow Haitian vendors to recover their wares stuck in the Dajabon marketplace since the closure.

On Wednesday, a pre-dawn fire erupted at the marketplace in Dajabon, with 26 of 28 stalls destroyed belonging to Haitians, according to Dajabon Mayor Santiago Riveron. Authorities are investigating what caused the fire.

Meanwhile, Riveron said he met with Haitis consul in Dajabon and expected to meet later with the Haitian mayor of Ouanaminthe to talk about the fire and the border reopening.

___

Sanon reported from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Associated Press reporter Martin Adames Alcantara contributed from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

By DANICA COTO and EVENS SANON

Associated Press
Colombian serial killer who confessed to murdering more than 190 children dies in hospital View Photo

A prolific Colombian serial killer who confessed to murdering more than 190 children during the 1990s died Thursday in a hospital, prison authorities said. He was 66.

Luis Alfredo Garavito, nicknamed The Beast, confessed to having murdered children between the ages of 8 and 16  mostly from low-income families  whom he kidnapped and abused by posing as a monk, a homeless person or a street vendor.

The National Penitentiary and Prison Institute said that Garavito died in a hospital in Valledupar, in northern Colombia, where he remained imprisoned. The cause of death was not immediately revealed.

Garavito was born in 1957 in the Colombian department of Quindio, and as an adult he traveled to 11 departments around the country where he abused and killed minors. The authorities began to follow his trail when they noticed similarities in the cases of disappearances of minors in Pereira, Armenia and Tunja.

Garavito was arrested in April 1999 on an attempted rape charge, but when an investigating judge asked him if he was the killer of 114 children whose bodies were found in 59 Colombian towns beginning in 1994, Garavito admitted the crimes and begged to be forgiven. Then he confessed to more murders, amounting to more than 190.

That same year, Garavito apologized to the families of the victims in a court hearing: I want to ask for forgiveness for everything I did and I am going to confess. Yes, I killed them and not only those, I killed others.

In recent years, Garavitos release from prison was considered imminent, after serving three-fifths of his sentence. In 2021, then-president Ivan Duque (2018-2022) rejected the possibility of him regaining his freedom and assured that during his government he would have to stay in prison.
The United States has officially concluded that a military coup detat took place in Niger.

The written announcement by State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller came more than two months after military leaders in Niger ousted democr atically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and placed him under house arrest. In the intervening time, the U.S. has tried unsuccessfully to persuade military leaders in Niger to restore constitutional order, release President Bazoum, and return him to office.

The failed effort comes with consequences for Niger, with whom the United States has partnered to fight terrorist violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State.

As Spokesperson Miller explained, in accordance with the Department of States annual appropriations act, the United States is suspending most U.S. assistance to the government of Niger. This includes $200 million dollars in certain foreign assistance programs, which the U.S. temporarily paused on August 5. In addition, the Millennium Challenge Corporations assistance to Niger is suspended, including all preparatory work on its $302 million Niger Regional Transportation Compact and all new activity on its 2018 Compact.

Although currently the United States still has armed forces in Niger, U.S. military operations are now restricted to flying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions to protect the safety of U.S. personnel. Counterterrorism operations, as well as training and capacity building for the Nigerien military, are suspended.

Spokesperson Miller underscored, however, that the United States will maintain our life-saving humanitarian, food, and health assistance to benefit the people of Niger. The United States also intends to continue to work with regional governments, including in Niger to advance shared interests in West Africa.

We stand with the Nigerien people in their aspirations for democracy, prosperity and stability, said Spokesperson Miller. Since the coup, we have supported the Economic Community of West African States efforts to work with Niger to achieve a return to democratic rule.

He added that any resumption of U.S. assistance will require action by the military juntas ruling body, the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland, to usher in democratic governance in a quick and credible timeframe.

In a recent speech in Angola, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned, When generals overturn the will of the people and put their own ambitions above the rule of law, security suffers  and democracy dies.

Democracy should be returned to Niger.
Belgian Malinois named Major - TCAC photo View Photos

Jamestown, CA  Last months raids of illegal marijuana grows on five properties in Tuolumne County netted a combined $3.8 million worth of pot, along with guns, cash, three arrests, and six dogs.

The searches in Columbia, Big Hill and Groveland happened over two days by the California Department of Cannabis Control Law Enforcement Division (CDCC), as earlier reported here. Besides local law enforcement and county code compliance assisting in the raids, so did officers from Tuolumne County Animal Control. They seized four dogs during the first day of raids and two dogs during the second day.

All of the animals were medium- to large-sized dogs of varying breeds. All the dogs were friendly to animal control officers, disclosed Shawn Shimer, TCAC Supervising Animal Control Officer.

Regarding the pooches living conditions on the grows, Shimer added, All the animals seized by TCAC appeared to be in normal health with no apparent injuries or ailments; they did not require veterinary visits or care. However, they were checked over by our registered veterinary technician at our shelter to ensure that their health was normal. No animals were euthanized.

Once they were found healthy, the next step was to determine their owners.

We returned any animals to their owners who were not arrested or incarcerated at the scene of the raids or otherwise available to come into our facility and rightfully reclaim their pet, shared Shimer, who also advised, We always research alternative placement options for dogs that are left at our shelter unclaimed; we looked into these options for any dogs left unclaimed.

Currently, only one dog named Major, a young adult male Belgian Malinois, remains at the shelter. His ID number is A148439, and he is pictured in the image box.

Unfortunately, we have received little interest from our community in this striking dog, as we only have one interested party at this time, states Shimer. Hopefully, we will find a loving home for this dog soon.

Major is described as a friendly, happy, and smart boy. Shelter officials noted that he would do well with an active family that does not have cats in their household. The shelter is open for adoptions TuesdayFriday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For questions, call the shelter at (209) 694-2730.
Sonora Police vehicles View Photo

Sonora, CA  Three men have been arrested after an overnight BB gun shooting spree where they shot at three people, hitting two before they were caught.

Sonora Police report the shootings started on Saturday (10/7) night at about 10 p.m. and continued into the early Sunday morning hours. Officers responded to three reports of shots fired. The first was at Woods Creek Rotary Park off Stockton Street in Sonora, where two transients reported being shot at with a BB gun. One was hit in the back. Then, around 2:30 p.m., another man reported being shot at with a BB gun while walking on Washington Street but was not injured. But this time, the victim was able to give a description of the suspects vehicle as an orange and brown box-shaped vehicle.

About two hours later, around 4:45 a.m., a male reported being shot in the leg in the area of Snell Street and Spring Hill Road. During questioning, the victim told officers he was walking northbound on Snell when an orange Honda Element passed by, and he was shot in the leg as the vehicle continued northbound on Snell Street and then onto Racetrack Road.

During the investigation, a possible vehicle match was made, and officers responded to the unidentified address. Ironically, as officers were checking the area, they spotted the vehicle and pulled it over. Behind the wheel were 18-year-old Matthew Clements of Sonora and the two passengers, 18-year-old Vincent Gavello and 18-year-old Dominic Thomas.

During questioning, officers learned of their intent to target homeless people and uncovered the BB gun. Subsequently, all three were arrested. Clements for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and driving under the influence, and Gavello and Thomas for conspiracy to commit a crime.

Although no one was seriously hurt, the investigation is ongoing as police believe more people may have been victims.

We are actively working with the Tuolumne County District Attorneys Office on this investigation, advised CPL Thomas Brickley with the SPD.

Anyone with information regarding these shootings or who may have been assaulted is asked to contact the Sonora Police Department.
Georgia wants to study deepening Savannahs harbor again on heels of $973 million dredging project

Georgia wants to study deepening Savannahs harbor again on heels of $973 million dredging project View Photo

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  Supersized cargo ships will need deeper water and a taller bridge to reach the Port of Savannah in the near future, the chief executive overseeing the major U.S. seaport said Thursday.

Griff Lynch, president and CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority, said during his annual State of the Ports speech that the $1.9 billion his agency is investing to grow Savannahs cargo handling capacity will need to be met with taxpayer-funded infrastructure upgrades.

Lynch said his agency is seeking congressional authorization to study another round of deepening for the Savannah River shipping channel. The Army Corps of Engineers last year finished deepening the waterway by 5 feet (1.5 meters), a $973 million project that took 25 years to study and execute.

Savannah has the fourth-busiest U.S. port for cargo shipped in containers  big metal boxes that transport everything including consumer electronics and frozen chickens. The port saw 5.4 million container units of imports and exports move across its docks in fiscal 2023.

The port authority estimates Savannahs container trade will swell to an estimated 7.6 million units by 2030 as population growth drives more trade to the Southeast and increased manufacturing in India, Thailand and Vietnam sends larger ships to the U.S. East Coast.

Those are the types of things that will make us a national gateway, Lynch told a luncheon crowd of 1,200 including state and local business and political leaders. Weve got to be able to handle these ships. Its very, very important. And its not just for the Georgia Ports Authority. Its for economic development throughout the state.

The Savannah harbor deepening completed in May 2022 followed a major expansion of the Panama Canal that routed larger ships to East Coast ports. Dredges scooped mud and sand for 40 miles (65 kilometers) between the port and the Atlantic Ocean, increasing the shipping channels depth from 42 to 47 feet (12.8 to 14.3 meters).

Lynch said an increase in trade with India and other Southeast Asian countries will mean even bigger vessels reaching Savannah via the Suez Canal. While the Port of Savannah now typically sees ships that can carry 8,000 container units, Lynch expects vessels capable of transporting 22,000 units.

He said he would like to see the Savannah harbor deepened to between 50 and 52 feet (15.2 and 15.9 meters).

Those ships dont just need deeper water to reach Savannahs port. Theyre also too tall to squeeze beneath the Eugene Talmage Memorial Bridge spanning the river between downtown Savannah and the ports docks.

This year, the Georgia Department of Transportation signed off on plans to raise the bridge and replace its decades-old suspension cables at estimated costs of between $150 million and $175 million. Work is expected to start next year and be complete by early 2027, Lynch said.

We have ships today that want to come here  that cannot fit under the bridge. Lynch said.

Another round of shipping channel deepening would take far longer.

Feasibility studies on the prior dredging began in 1997, and nearly two decades passed before it could begin.

Lynch said he believes the Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees navigation projects in U.S. waterways, could work more efficiently this time and finish a new one within 10 years.

First, Congress would need to authorize an Army Corps study of the project. The earliest that could happen would be next year as part of a new version of the Water Resources Development Act, which deals with infrastructure projects nationwide.

Spokespersons for U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and a Savannah native, and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican whose district includes Savannahs port, said they support studying another harbor expansion.

This port affects every county in Georgia, said Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican who attended the speech. So were looking forward to getting to know more about what we need to do, what this infrastructure need is.

A new round of Savannah River dredging would raise concerns for conservation groups. The previous expansion required several expensive mitigation projects to offset environmental damage. They included $100 million to install large machines that inject extra oxygen into the river to ensure endangered shortnose sturgeon and other species can breathe.

Chris DeScherer, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the Army Corps should complete mitigation requirements for the last Savannah harbor deepening before starting a new round. He also suggested the Army Corps study whether other ports are better suited for bigger ships, noting Savannahs port sits near the 31,000 acre (12,545 hectare) Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

Previous deepenings have had a wide range of harmful impacts to the refuge, water quality, and federally-protected wildlife, such as sea turtles, DeScherer said.

By RUSS BYNUM

Associated Press
California governor signs 2 major proposals for mental health reform to go before voters in 2024 View Photo

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two major pieces of legislation Thursday to transform the states mental health system and address the states worsening homelessness crisis, putting them both before voters in 2024.

The Democratic governor needs voters approval because he wants to borrow billions of dollars through a bond to pay for the proposals. They would allow the state to borrow $6.38 billion for 11,150 new treatment beds, housing and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots to serve up to 100,000 people a year. The measure also would overhaul how counties pay for mental and behavioral health programs.

Newsom spoke to state and local leaders at an event Thursday in a historic hospital in Los Angeles, cheered by those present as he signed the measures. The mostly vacant General Hospital is being converted into roughly 1,000 affordable units.

Newsom said the proposals will transform the outdated system, adding he understands why residents in California have grown increasingly frustrated with the crisis. If voters approve of the plan in March, the proposals would also give the state $2.4 billion in the next five years to help train 65,000 workers.

Today, again, is about holding ourselves to a higher level of accountability and higher level of expectation, Newsom said before he signed the two pieces of legislation. Its about creating a framework where we actually can deliver.

Here in L.A. and throughout our city and state we know that we are facing a crisis, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. We are going to transform the system, but were also doing something that shouldve been done 50 years ago, and that is build the beds and facilities to make sure that people can get the treatment they need.

The proposals will appear together as one item on the March 2024 ballot, when voters will also be weighing in on the state and presidential primaries.

Newsom and supporters said the spending would help the state make a dent in its growing homelessness crisis. It would mark the first major update to the states mental health system in 20 years.

Its a crisis that we have turned away from for too long, said Democratic Sen. Susan Eggman, who authored the bill that would reform how mental health services are funded. The days of looking away are gone.

Voters in 2004 approved a special tax on millionaires that has been used to fund mental health programs. Newsom wants to add more restrictions to how local governments can spend that money.

Under his proposal, two-thirds of revenue from the tax would pay for housing as well as services for people who are chronically homeless and have severe mental illnesses, and drug and alcohol addiction. The changes would also help the state better assess programs outcomes by requiring counties to provide uniform reports of how they spend the money.

Today we dont get a clear sense of whats actually happening, Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, told reporters Thursday. That changes with this. Well get to establish statewide measures that matter for Californians to see that difference.

The proposals won overwhelming support from state lawmakers, some of whom said the reforms are long overdue. But local counties said the new spending requirements would result in a loss of more than $1 billion, which could be detrimental to existing programs such as mental health outpatients, crisis, recovery and peer-supported services. Some Republican lawmakers also criticized Newsoms plan to borrow more money when the state faces budget shortfalls.

Its one of several efforts by Newsom to reform Californias mental health system. Last year, Newsom signed a law that created a new court process where family members and others could ask a judge to come up with a treatment plan for some people with specific diagnoses, including schizophrenia. That law would let the judge force people into treatment for up to a year. The program launched in seven counties in early October.

Newsom signed a law earlier this week that would make it easier for authorities to compel treatment for people with untreated mental illness or addictions to alcohol and drugs, many of whom are homeless.

California is home to more than 171,000 homeless people  about 30% of the nations homeless population. The state has spent more than $20 billion in the last few years to help them, with mixed results.

By TRAN NGUYEN

Associated Press
Douglas Clark, convicted murderer and half of the Sunset Strip Killers, dies of natural causes

Douglas Clark, convicted murderer and half of the Sunset Strip Killers, dies of natural causes View Photo

SAN QUENTIN, Calif. (AP)  Serial killer Douglas Daniel Clark, who was sentenced to death for six grisly murders in California during the early 1980s, has died of natural causes, officials said Thursday. He was 75.

Clark, whod been housed at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, died Wednesday at an outside medical facility, according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Clark and his accomplice Carol Bundy were dubbed the Sunset Strip Killers following a series of murders around Los Angeles starting in 1980. The victims included teenage girls and female sex workers.

Clark was convicted of multiple charges including murder, attempted murder and sexual contact with human remains.

The Marin County Coroners office will determine Clarks official cause of death.

Bundy died at Central California Womens Facility in 2003.
HELSINKI (AP)  Finlands relationship with Russia has significantly deteriorated due to the Nordic countrys membership in NATO and over Russias invasion of Ukraine and related sanctions. Moscow now views its western neighbor as a hostile country, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service said Thursday.

The agency, known by the abbreviation SUPO, said in a national security review that Russia was prepared to take measures against Finland and was likely to continue influencing operations and undermining bilateral links.

After decades of military non-alignment, Finland  a European Union nation of 5.5 million people that shares a long border with Russia  became NATOs 31st member on April 4.

Moscows hostility toward Helsinki is evident in Russian medias negative coverage of Finland and in Russias decision to close Finlands consulate general in St. Petersburg this month, among other ways, SUPO said.

Russia currently remains focused on the war in Ukraine and on easing international isolation, but this does not mean that the threat of Russian intelligence and influencing in Finland has disappeared, SUPO Director Antti Pelttari said in a statement.

The accession of Finland to NATO, the continuation of the war in Ukraine, the deepening confrontation between Western countries and Russia, and increasing sanctions may strengthen Russian countermeasures against Finland, he said.

During a news conference, Pelttari declined to say whether Russia could be behind a possible sabotage on an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. He said the involvement of a state actor cannot be ruled out in the case involving two NATO members.

The National Bureau of Investigation, a branch of the Finnish police, has launched a criminal investigation into possible sabotage of the 77-kilometer (48-mile) Balticconnector pipeline that was shut down over the weekend following a leak.

The matter is under investigation  (SUPO) will not take a more detailed position, Pelttari said.

He added that the damage to the 300-million euro ($319 million) pipeline that was launched in 2020 and connects Finlands gas grid into the European gas network appears to be caused by external activity. A state contribution cannot be ruled out.
The President of India,, graced the 20th convocation of thein Srinagar and addressed the attendees. During her speech, she commended the responsible youth of Kashmir and encouraged the students of the University of Kashmir to actively engage in community service alongside their academic pursuits. She emphasized that through this engagement, they could drive positive societal changes and serve as role models. The President expressed her pleasure in observing the university's alumni contributing to the nation's honor through their service.Regarding the University of Kashmir's motto, which signifies a journey from darkness to light, the President highlighted that the more young people pursue education and work towards peace, the greater the progress our nation will experience. She stressed that societies and countries whose youth prioritize development and discipline advance toward prosperity. The President noted with satisfaction that 55 percent of the students at Kashmir University are female and emphasized their crucial role in shaping the nation's leadership. She expressed her confidence in the transformative potential of the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Act' 2023 for women-led development in the country.Speaking about sustainable development, the President underscored that the principles of sustainability have deep roots in Kashmir's heritage. She referred to a proverb stating that the availability of food depends on the preservation of forests, highlighting our collective responsibility to safeguard this earthly paradise. She urged Kashmir University to be vigilant in conserving the Himalayan ecosystem and expressed her contentment with the ongoing efforts in glaciology, biodiversity preservation, and the Himalayan Ice-Core Laboratory. She anticipated that the university would expedite work in these crucial areas.The President mentioned the National Education Policy's emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems, suggesting that a profound understanding of these systems can inspire our youth. She cited an ancient expert named Suyya, who, over 1200 years ago, employed hydraulic engineering techniques to protect Srinagar from the Jhelum flood, as an example. She stressed that our country possesses invaluable knowledge and scientific treasures across various fields. It is the academic community's responsibility to find ways to adapt and utilize these organically developed knowledge systems in today's context.
Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has announced that his party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), will temporarily withdraw from council and parliamentary activities in protest against the recall of their 15 MPs and 17 councillors from the Matabeleland region.

Chamisa has given the government a 14-day ultimatum to address the illegal recalls, threatening a complete withdrawal from Parliament and local government if the issue remains unresolved.

The CCC has also reached out to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and ZANU PF for urgent intervention in the electoral dispute.

The recalls were initiated by Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the CCCs interim secretary-general and accuses the recalled MPs and councillors of no longer being party members. However, Chamisa and the CCC have denounced Tshabangu as an impostor and a ZANU PF proxy. The recalled MPs have taken the matter to the High Court seeking redress.

In response to the recalls, CCC MPs boycotted the National Assembly sittings, showing solidarity with their colleagues. Earlier, during a protest against the Speakers decision to uphold Tshabangus recall bid, the CCC legislators were ejected from Parliament. Speaker Jacob Mudenda also banned the CCC MPs from attending the next six sittings and docked their allowances for failing to attend President Emmerson Mnangagwas state of the nation address.

Chamisa expressed concern about the targeted removal of MPs from Matabeleland, the majority of whom were recalled. He emphasized the need for political dialogue to address the legitimacy concerns arising from disputed elections. The CCC has approached ZANU PF and other relevant stakeholders to initiate dialogue for a resolution.

ZANU PF acting director for Information, Farai Marapira, stated that they had not received any correspondence regarding dialogue but affirmed the partys openness to engage in genuine and sincere discussions. Marapira regarded the CCCs activities as autonomous as long as they remained within the bounds of the law and expressed ZANU PFs commitment to President Mnangagwas vision for a better Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) urged the CCC to exert pressure on ZANU PF, urging them not to be intimidated and to avoid accepting any offers or inducements from the ruling party. The ZDI report also highlighted the need for the opposition to address internal issues that have undermined its credibility and cohesion while seeking regional and international support.

The ZDI report further claimed that President Mnangagwa intended to secure a third term by using the recalls to achieve a two-thirds majority in Parliament, allowing for constitutional changes.

Exiled former ZANU PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo criticized the CCCs disengagement as a strategic blunder, suggesting that it was an ineffective response to the recent recalls and would only shortchange and defraud the electorate.

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PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday paid tribute to Zimbabweans for collectively warding off the onslaught from the countrys detractors expressed through foreign-funded opposition parties when they emphatically voted for Zanu PF during the August 23-24 harmonised elections.

The President who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), said this while presiding over the graduation ceremony and 38th commissioning pass-out parade of the Regular Officer Cadet (ROC) Course Number 3/38/2022 at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru.

He said the victory was a successful defence of the countrys independence, sovereignty and freedom by Zimbabweans against the illegal regime change agenda.

It is commendable that this military training academy continues to churn out young well-trained officers to serve within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. May I, at the outset, highlight that todays event is not happening in an isolated environment, but against the backdrop of the successful defence of our independence, sovereignty and freedom in the recently held 2023 Harmonised General Elections, he said.

This saw our people freely and peacefully exercise their democratic right to vote. In doing so, we collectively warded off the onslaught from detractors expressed through their foreign-funded opposition parties.

President Mnangagwa was elected for his second term in office after getting 2 350 711 votes which translates to 52,6 percent of the vote to beat his closest challenger, CCCs Mr Nelson Chamisa who got 1 967 343 (44 percent) of the vote.

He said the victory of the Zanu PF, the peoples party entails joy and great optimism as well as a weighty sense of responsibility upon citizens.

President Mnangagwa said the ZDF is a Peoples Force, a dependable, agile, hard-hitting force, capable of containing any threat and effectively defending our nation.

As the new officers of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, it is critically important to remain alive to your broader role as part of a vital cog in the ongoing national socio-economic modernisation and development of our great country, he said.

The President said the ZDF remains integral in its quest to realise sustainable regional, continental and international peace and security.

I, therefore, call upon you all, as you begin this important journey, to always exhibit high levels of professionalism, discipline, diligence and defence capabilities which have become synonymous with our countrys military, he said.

I commend you, the graduands for your bold decision to pursue a career in the defence and protection of our motherland, Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa said the bold decision taken by the officers to serve in the ZDF is a clear testimony of their patriotism, loyalty, dedication and commitment to the country.

He also paid condolences to the families of four cadets who passed on during the training.

On a sad note, it is most unfortunate that four candidates passed on during training. May I express my heartfelt condolences to their families, relatives, friends and colleagues for the sad loss of these young lives. May their dear souls continue to rest in eternal peace, said President Mnangagwa.

He said the Platoon Commanders are charged with the responsibility of protecting Zimbabwe, its people, the national interests, territorial integrity and upholding the Constitution.

The Regular Officer Cadet Course Number 3/38/22 went through a demanding 21 months of training, divided into three phases and designed to mould them into competent and professional officers on basic military skills, conventional warfare and low-intensity operations.

The subjects covered included Drill, Skill at Arms, Map Reading, Field Crawft, Voice Procedure, Command and Leadership, Administration, Military Law, Law of Armed Conflict, Conventions of Service Writing and Civil-Military Relations, among other aspects.

The training syllabus was tailor-made to adequately equip you, the graduands, with the requisite regimental, tactical and administrative skills to prepare you for service as regular officers in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said President Mnangagwa.

The officers also graduated with diplomas in Military Training and Education offered in association with the Midlands State University.

I trust that the additional curriculum equipped you with knowledge of contemporary military aspects that will assist as you progress with your military career. Further, the Civil-Military Relations package acquainted cadets with the knowledge of our countrys rich heritage and history, said President Mnangagwa.

I challenge you, the new officers, to nurture the values of patriotism, loyalty, discipline and unity which form the firm foundation which defines us as a nation.

President Mnangagwa said the country has a long and rich liberation war legacy and implored the military officers to play their part to promote, defend and pass on to the next generations.

Building on such knowledge, you as officers within the Defence Forces, carry the weighty duty of defending the gains of our hard-won independence, people, national interests, resources and territorial integrity at all costs, he said.

President Mnangagwa said the officers visit to the liberation war shrines at Chimoio in Mozambique and Freedom Camp in Zambia during their training was aimed at consolidating their knowledge of the sacrifices made by the many sons and daughters of the soil towards the attainment of independence, freedom and democracy that the country is enjoying today.

As you graduate today at this Academy, you are joining a unique and rare breed of military officers who have chosen to sacrifice their lives to serve their beloved nation. You now belong to a revered and strategic national organisation that has the signature of professionalism within the region and beyond, said President Mnangagwa.

During the parade, the officers took the oath of allegiance to uphold the Constitution of Zimbabwe and abide by the rules, regulations and attendant statutes that govern the ZDF.

I challenge you to serve with honour, courage and integrity. Indiscipline is not tolerated across the rank and file of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said the President.

Training is a continuous process hence, the Officer Cadet training course is only the beginning of numerous training programmes that will be undertaken during your service in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. I urge you to work hard and attend as many training courses towards enhancing preparedness for a broader array of duties and assignments.

The President said yesterdays event was another achievement in the history of the ZMA.

The ROC Course Number 3/38/22 commenced training on 10 January last year with an initial enrolment of 240 candidates, comprising 177 males and 63 females, drawn from all 10 provinces of our country.

A total of 153 officer cadets with 113 males and 40 females successfully passed out yesterday.

A total of 136 officer cadets were at the parade, while 17 of them are attending courses in various specialisations in Russian and Mozambique.

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Church Leader Arrested for Attempting to Resurrect Dead Person in Mortuary

In a bizarre incident, Apostle Ruramai Nhapata, accompanied by Priest Nyamungara from Trinity International Fellowship Ministry, was apprehended after allegedly sneaking into a funeral parlours mortuary in an attempt to bring a deceased person back to life. The arrest took place amidst a confrontation with the police, during which the religious leaders threatened to undress in public as a form of protest.

Following their arrest, the duo was initially taken to Kuwadzana Police Station before being transported to Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour, the location where the incident occurred. Subsequently, they were transferred to Southerton Police Station, where they were detained.

Apostle Nhapata was charged with tampering with a dead body in a mortuary after she claimed to possess the power to resurrect the deceased individual, identified as Gift Takudzwa Shiriyapenga. Reportedly, she instructed a church member to place a cellphone on Shiriyapengas ear before undressing and massaging the body, loudly proclaiming that the deceased would be brought back to life.

In an interview with H-Metro, Apostle Nhapata expressed her readiness to face legal consequences, stating that she considered her actions to be an exercise of her faith. She even asserted that she had previously brought ten people back to life after they were pronounced dead.

I am prepared not only to be arrested, but even to be imprisoned for doing Gods work, said Apostle Nhapata.

The deceased was neither a relative of Apostle Nhapata nor a church member of her Trinity International Fellowship Ministry.

Apostle Nhapata is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

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An organization associated with ZANU PF, called the Citizens, has expressed its desire to see the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Election Observer Mission (SEOM) head, Nevers Mumba, being sanctioned due to his critical election report on the August elections.

In a press conference held in Harare, a representative of the Citizens, Lloyd Machacha, announced their intention to gather signatures for a petition against Mumba, which they plan to submit to Sadc.

Machacha claimed that Mumbas report violated several clauses within Sadcs guidelines. He also criticized Mumbas criminal record, stating that it contradicted guideline 14.3(k), which specifies that the head of the delegation should have a clean record. Machacha emphasized that the only report they recognized was the European Unions report, as it was deemed clear and straightforward.

The Citizens organization accused the SEOM of overstepping its mandate, alleging that it meddled in internal processes instead of solely observing. They contended that the report lacked objectivity as it primarily focused on areas where ZANU PF had a strong presence. Furthermore, they claimed that the SEOM disregarded the impact of sanctions on Zimbabwes political, economic, and social fabric. The organization voiced concerns that the SEOM was being exploited to undermine Zimbabwes sovereignty and democratic processes.

While Mumbas adverse election report has drawn criticism from ZANU PF and the government, it is worth noting that other election observer missions also highlighted widespread irregularities in the August polls, including voter disenfranchisement and intimidation.

Despite the backlash, Sadc has defended Mumbas report, standing by its findings.

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THE mastermind behind the recalling of the 15 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) National Assembly representatives, Mr Sengezo Tshabangu says he cant rule out more recalls as he targets getting rid of what he says are people who are abusing their proximity to the party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Mr Tshabangu, who says he is the partys acting secretary general, speaking through his spokesperson Mr Khaliphani Phugeni said the whole recall process was meant to cleanse the opposition party of individuals who are going against the ethos and values of the party. He said the process is never targeted at eventually removing Mr Chamisa from the leadership position, a gospel being pushed by those opposed to the recalls.

On Monday, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda wrote to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commissions chief elections officer, advising that in terms of Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) vacancies had arisen in parliament after 15 opposition members ceased to be CCC party members on October 4.

This followed a letter to Adv Mudenda by Mr Tshabangu advising that the 15 national assembly members and 17 councillors had ceased to be party members. The 15 recalled national assembly representatives are, Mr Ereck Gono (Lobengula-Magwegwe), Mr Nicola Watson (Bulawayo South), Mr Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North), Mr Bright Vanya (Lupane), Mr Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi), Mr Obert Manduna (Nketa), Mr Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West), Mr Pashor Raphael Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Mr Febian Kufahakutizwi (Mabvuku-Tafara)

Mr Evidence Zana (Youth Representation), Ms Janeth Dube, Ms Sitabile Mlilo, Ms Nomathemba Sibanda, Ms Jasmine Toffa and Ms Velisizwe Nkomo (all Proportional Representation).

Mr Phugeni said they were seized with presentations from different parts of the country where people are expressing their unhappiness over self-imposed candidates.

We are getting a lot of presentations from different parts of the entire country, people are not happy about persons who either imposed themselves by name dropping or abuse. Others went as far as faking conversations where they created false impressions that they are in charge just by some social media conversations with president Chamisa and that he has ordered that so and so must go and contest here and there, so those are all the issues that we are attending to. If there is a veracity to any of those claims, then yes indeed you can expect more action, said Mr Phugeni.

Asked in what capacity was Mr Tshabangu making the recalls since the party had no structures, Mr Phugeni said the actions were being taken by an interim secretary general, in the same manner that Mr Chamisa in his capacity as the party interim president, has been.

He said there is no dispute that there are no structures as yet in the CCC.

As has been made clear that the office is that of the interim secretary general, there is no dispute that there are no structures as yet but just as much as we do have the office of the interim leader right now in the form of our president, the change champion in chief, there is the office of the interim secretary general to do the day to day communications and administration of the party and it is in that capacity that we have acted, having travelled throughout the country where we met party cadres and this is their decision by the way that the party can not afford to veer off the correct path. If we are going to democratise Zimbabwe, we must start within ourselves and we frown upon imposition issues. Undermining local people who must have a right to choose their representatives must not be allowed, no amount of manipulation will be tolerated, said Mr Phugeni.

Mr Phugeni rubbished insinuations that the real target in all this was Mr Chamisa, with the plan being to recall him and then call for an elective congress before the end of the year.

This(recall of Mr Chamisa) is all meant to create a wedge between the president and the acting secretary general. There is no intention whatsoever, the president is not the target of this action. We even believe that he is the right person to lead us, in line with our founding values, principles, character and nature. Of course, those who want to survive by name-dropping, abusing access and proximity to him would want to characterize this citizens backed action as a target on his back, not at all, the president is very safe. This move, if anything, strengthens the party, its office bearers and in the long run as people will see it will put the president in good light and standing before the community and in line with the objectives of the citizens movement, said Mr Phugeni.

Meanwhile, CCC leader Chamisa, yesterday announced a temporary withdrawal of his party from all council and parliamentary business in protest over the recall of his 15 MPs and 17 councillors from Matabeleland region.

Addressing journalists in Harare, Chamisa gave the Zanu PF-led government a 14-day ultimatum to address the illegal recalls or the opposition party will totally pull out of Parliament and local government.

Chamisa revealed that the party has also written to the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) as well as Zanu PF for an urgent need to address the electoral dispute.

We are asking Parliament to restore those MPs (who) have been illegally recalled, Chamisa said.

They are trying to bring Zanu PF through the backdoor.

We are also ordering all our deployees in Parliament and local authorities to disengage from Parliament and from council until this issue is resolved.

And when we say disengage, we have not said they have withdrawn, but they have disengaged meaning to say no business shall be transacted until remedy and justice is done.

Yesterday, all CCC MPs did not attend the National Assembly sittings in solidarity with their recalled colleagues.

A day earlier, the CCC legislators were ejected from Parliament after protesting against the decision by Speaker of the National Assembly to uphold Tshabangus recall bid.

Mudenda also issued a ruling banning the CCC MPs for the next six sittings and docking their allowances for snubbing President Emmerson Mnangagwas state of the nation address during the official opening of the 10th Parliament two weeks ago.

Chamisa and the CCC have dismissed Tshabangu as an impostor and a Zanu PF proxy.

The recalled MPs have approached the High Court for recourse.

This injustice is plunging the country into a deeper crisis because we already have a constitutional crisis, Chamisa said.

He said the party was concerned about the systematic purging of MPs from Matabeleland where the majority of the recalled legislators come from.

Recently before the election it was the Bulawayo 12, they wanted to use the courts to disqualify them, but they failed and they were all voted for but some impostor came and said these were recalled, he said.

We are expressing dissatisfaction as a dialogue mechanism. We have disengaged, but withdrawal is also on the cards. There has to be a political dialogue to be able to deal with the legitimacy cries.

We have also reached out to Zanu PF and their various organs to say, we have to resolve the issue of disputed elections.

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Yves here. In classic never let a crisis go to waste fashion, Home Secretary Suella Braverman is strongly urging UK police to arrest protestors who wave the Palestinian flag or voice pro-Palestine chants. Last I checked, Palestine was not Hamas nor had Hamas to my knowledge, despite its run of heinous conduct, threatened the UK or even Israel citizens living in the UK. The logic of her objection reads as astonishingly strained but perhaps the Public Order Act is so sweeping as to allow for interpretations like that.

By Nandini Archer, an active member of the feminist direct action group Sisters Uncut who previously worked with the International Campaign for Womens Right to Safe Abortion, and Anita Mureithi, a reporter at openDemocracy. Originally published at openDemocracy

Palestine solidarity groups in London have told openDemocracy they will fly their flags high this weekend, despite Suella Braverman ordering police to crack down on their protests.

The home secretary suggested that waving Palestinian flags and using popular pro-Palestine slogans could be illegal under the Public Order Act in a letter to police chiefs in England and Wales on Tuesday.

Campaigners said the letter had set a dangerous precedent in denying democratic rights, but that they still expected tens of thousands to march through the capital in support of Palestine on Saturday. It comes as Israel lays siege to Gaza in the wake of an unprecedented attack by Hamas at the weekend.

The director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the six groups organising the rally, branded Bravermans letter an assault on the basic right of British citizens to show solidarity for the Palestinian peoples legitimate desire to have their rights realised.

Speaking to this website, Ben Jamal added that police officers enacting Bravermans orders would be denying the right of Palestinians to fly a flag which is the symbol both of their nationhood and struggle for liberation.

Ismail Patel, chair of Friends of Al-Aqsa, another of the protests co-organisers, also pointed out that protesters who stood against the British governments war against Afghanistan and Iraq were never obstructed from voicing our opinions like this.

Patel called for people to join the protest in London on Saturday with Palestinian flags held high.

In her letter, Braverman encouraged police to consider whether chants such as From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world, and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated section 5 public order offence.

Such offences are punishable by fines of up to 2,500 or up to two years in prison.

Braverman also instructed police to consider the context of a person waving a Palestinian flag, saying it may be legitimate in some circumstances, but that it could also be intended to glorify acts of terrorism.

Sam Fowles of Cornerstone Barristers told openDemocracy he expected to see a rise in arrests at Palestine solidarity protests as a result.

People like myself and others warned that if MPs voted for the Public Order Act, then there was the potential that the politicians or police could simply use those powers to just shut down any sort of protest that they didnt like, for political reasons. And that seems to be whats happening here, he said.

Kate Hudson, general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, another group organising the march on Saturday, said it is of great concern to our democracy that the political views of the government should entitle them to suppress legitimate views.

Freedom of speech, the right to protest  that cant be allowed to be eroded Everyone will lose if democratic freedoms are worn away, she said.

Three arrests were made earlier in the week at another large protest outside the Israeli embassy.

In a statement about the arrests released before Bravermans letter was published, the Metropolitan Police said the waving of a particular flag is not, in itself, a specific criminal offence unless it relates to a proscribed organisation.

It added that it was balancing the right to lawful protest against any disruption to Londoners, while ensuring all communities are supported and reassured.

The London Muslim Community Foundation, which represents 1.3 million Muslims, said it was last night reassured by senior Met officers that the Palestinian flag was not a proscribed terrorist flag, in an indicator of a possible split between the Home Office and police leadership.
Golden Triangle II, a 150 MWAC project with 50 MW battery storage, is expected to be complete in spring 2024. Golden Triangle I, a 200 MWAC project with 50 MW of battery storage, is expected to be completed in summer 2024. The Golden Triangle projects are located in Lowndes County. Optimist, a 200 MWAC project with 50 MW of battery storage located in Clay County, has a projected completion date in mid-2025.

The three projects were developed, are being constructed and will be operated by Origis Energy, one of America's leading renewable energy platforms. Each will deliver clean energy at competitive rates under Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) executed between TVA and Origis. TVA will then use the power to help meet the sustainability goals of some of its large industrial customers, along with residents in Mississippi.

"TVA is a clean energy leader, and we're working with partners, like Origis, to add solar power to our system to meet customer demand," said Jeremy Fisher, SVP Commercial Energy Solutions with TVA. "Projects like these, ensure we can continue to provide affordable, reliable, resilient and sustainable energy to fuel the region's economic growth."

Following the pandemic, TVA's low-cost, clean and reliable electricity, coupled with unprecedented migration into the area, resulted in a rebound in economic growth in the region of 8% in 2021 and 3.5% in 2022.

Estimated economic benefits from the three projects include $106 million in near-term construction and hiring gains to the area. Over the life of the solar plants, they will provide another $145 million in estimated regional economic benefits.

"By helping companies meet their renewable goals, it becomes very attractive to locate or expand in Mississippi," said Johan Vanhee, Chief Commercial and Procurement Officer of Origis Energy. "We are pleased to partner with the Tennessee Valley Authority to use sustainability as an economic development tool, and what's good for the environment is also good for business."

RES is providing construction services to Origis for the portfolio, employing an estimated 300 people over the course of the three projects. Upon completion of the plants, Origis Energy Services will operate and maintain the portfolio, employing approximately 9 on-site jobs over the 35+ project life years. The utility-scale battery storage for each site is provided by Mitsubishi Power Americas. Roughly 1.5 million solar panel modules will be installed at the three sites, enough to power an estimated 126,000 homes.

Business, community leaders and development partners responded favorably to the announcement.

"Lowndes County is happy to partner with TVA and Origis to bring this increased capability to the TVA footprint. The clean energy benefits for the region and the economic development that result from cooperation on mutually beneficial projects like this continue to strengthen our already solid partnerships with both industry and TVA." Trip Hairston, Lowndes County Supervisor District 2

"Our office has worked continually with both TVA and Origis through all phases of this project. These investments provide a unique diversification to our tax base and upon completion provide additional tax revenue to the counties and the schools." Joe Max Higgins, CEO at the Golden Triangle Development Link

"KUB is actively seeking opportunities to invest in renewable energy. When KUB invests in partnerships such as TVA's Green Invest program with projects including the Origis solar projects in Mississippi, those initiatives help KUB to meet customer and community sustainability goals. Overall, these partnerships are helping to position KUB and Knoxville as leaders for solar power investment nationwide." Gabriel J. Bolas II, KUB President & CEO

"As the momentum behind renewable energy projects continues to surge throughout the United States, the significance of battery energy storage as a linchpin for a sustainable energy future cannot be overstated. Our enthusiasm is palpable as we embark on the construction of these vital projects, aiming not only to enhance the efficiency and capacity of solar initiatives but also to bolster Origis and TVA in achieving their commendable sustainability objectives." Tom Cornell, Senior Vice President of Energy Storage Solutions at Mitsubishi Power Americas

For more information about each specific project, visit the project websites:

Golden Triangle II Solar + Storage

Golden Triangle I Solar + Storage

Optimist Solar + Storage

About TVA

The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation's largest public power supplier, delivering energy to 10 million people across seven southeastern states. TVA was established 90 years ago to serve this region and the nation by developing innovative solutions to solve complex challenges. TVA's unique mission focuses on energy, environmental stewardship, and economic development. With one of the largest, most diverse, and cleanest energy systems - including nuclear, hydro, solar, gas, and advanced technologies - TVA is a leader in our nation's drive toward a clean energy future.

TVA is a corporate agency of the United States, receiving no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.

About Origis Energy

Origis Energy is bringing clean and cost effective solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen solutions within reach for utility, commercial and industrial as well as public sector clients. The Origis team has worked to ensure the interests of all stakeholders are upheld in 170 projects worldwide totaling more than 5 GW to date of developed solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen capacity. Headquartered in Miami, FL, Origis Energy delivers excellence in solar, energy storage and clean hydrogen development, financing, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and operations, maintenance and asset management for investors and clean energy consumers in the U.S. For more information visit: www.OrigisEnergy.com.
From 3 to 5 October 2023, approximately 200 participants from 44 Allied and Partner Nations attended the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives (NCGP) Annual Conference online and in-person at NATO Headquarters. This years theme focused on Gender Analysis in Action.

Opening the conference, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana noted that the application of a strong gender focus is fundamental for our security, noting that we face many threats and challenges, which all have a gender dimension. He underscored that those wearing uniform play an essential role in our security and what they do and say matters, and that integrating a gender perspective makes our military more credible, more effective, and stronger.

Participants were also welcomed, via video message, by Ms. Irene Fellin, the Secretary Generals Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security (WPS), where she addressed the four priority work strands ahead of the Washington Summit, next year. The focus will be on NATOs direction on integrating WPS and Human Security into its core tasks; dialogue that places a greater emphasis on NATO engagement with diverse actors including civil society and youth and disruption to recognize the multiplying and increasingly complex nature of conflict and instability and the need for NATO to adapt and draw from new perspectives. The final priority focused on the role of the Alliance in advancing the WPS Agenda through the review and update to its WPS policy.

The first panel featured the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the Canadian Military Representative to NATO, Vice Admiral Scott Bishop, the former US Military Representative to NATO, Lieutenant General (retired) E. John Deedrick, and NATOs Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Mrs Carmen Romero. The speakers focussed on the next steps for the Gender Perspective in the aftermath of the Vilnius Summit. This high-level panel centred on key ways NATOs leadership were conducting gender analysis to ensure operations and missions take into account the gender perspective, and how to increase the knowledge of NATO amongst women. Furthermore, they discussed that diverse perspectives provide better operational outcomes and situational awareness.

The second panel titled Gender Analysis on the Ukraine Conflict highlighted how women and children are disproportionately affected by the war in Ukraine. The panellists included Dr Larysa Kompantseva, the Head of the Department of Strategic Communications and Applied Linguistics at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine, Captain Matthew Stoner, Police Training Advisor to the Canadian Police Mission in Ukraine, and Ms Cori Fleser, Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Councils Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. They discussed Russias use of disinformation in the Ukrainian conflict, the main lines of work that Gender Advisors (GENADs) can conduct while coordinating with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the use of gender-based information in the conflict, noting how this has shaped decision-making and driven security assistance to Ukraine. Additionally, they highlighted that when military operators interact with civilians, the civilians will experience conflict in different ways based on their own experiences, which should be reflected in a gender analysis with an intersectional approach, other factors, such as age.

The conference then moved to annual updates by the NATO Gender Community of Interest: Lieutenant Colonel Katherine Prudhoe for the NATO International Military Staff (IMS), Lieutenant Colonel Sheri Lattemore for Allied Command Operations (ACO), and Major Lauranne Bureau for Allied Command Transformation (ACT), and Lieutenant Colonel (PhD) Lena P. Kvarving for the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM). These included discussions on updating the NCGP and IMS GENAD terms of reference, doctrine development and the attribution of Centre of Excellence status to the NCGM following the Swedish accession.

The third panel Conducting Internal Analysis targeted how different international organisations were carrying out gender analysis. Ms Apollina Kyle and Ms Patricia Nguyen from the NATO IMS GENAD Office presented the Summary of National Reports, the analysis of NATOs largest compilation of gender statistics. They shared the findings of the 2020 Summary of National Reports to the NCGP and discussed how the methodology has been simplified and streamlined. Ms Terhi Lehtinen, the Head of Division Horizontal Coordination at the EUMS, examined how to better integrate gender analysis and gender equality systematically into conflict analysis to improve the gender responsiveness of the EUs external actions, including in the Gender Action Plan (GAP III) for 2020 to 2024 and the Operational Guidance on Gender Mainstreaming to the Military Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) 2022. Lastly, Mr Martin Dexborg, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Advisor on Gender Issues, explained the three pillars of their action plan, which includes internal, external programmes, and support to its members. He discussed the OSCEs Annual Progress Report, which is developed into analytical documents with aims and strategies that last 2-3 years and displays concrete actions in recruitment, both with a focus across the organisation and to the differences among units, to improve reporting and both staff and management awareness.

The day concluded with an update from Lieutenant Colonel Jane Male, Chair of the NCGP Executive Committee and Lieutenant Colonel Francoise Verbanck, Deputy Chair of the NCGP Executive Committee.

The second day of the conference was opened by the US Delegate, Dr Deborah Ozga, who kicked off exchanges on the implementation of the gender analysis from various experts on gender analysis tools. Dr Louise Olsson from the Peace Research Institute of Oslo presented the Olsson Matrix on Gender in Military Operations and Major Wilco van den Berg from the NCGM to examine their Military Gender Analysis Tool.

During the second panel, representatives from France, Portugal and the United States debated the lessons learned on Gender Needs Analysis. Ms Inka Lilja and Ms Karin Carlsson from Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) explored the Elsie Initiative which looks at enhancing womens meaningful participation in peacekeeping activities. Dr Alan Okros discussed the findings of a NATO Research Task Group that looked at how to successfully integrate gender and cultural perspectives in senior officer professional military education programmes.

Finally, Major Lauranne Bureau and Ms Megan Huber from the ACT GENAD Office shared initial findings on the AzuirtOwl innovation project to create a more effective and efficient gender analysis tool to directly support the planning and conduct of operations.

The final day centred on closed sessions where Allied Nations discussed the way ahead for the NCGP and discussed recommendations to the NATO Military Committee.
NATO Defence Ministers wrapped up two days of meetings in Brussels on Thursday (12 October 2023), addressing the Alliances defence plans and operations, and meeting with their Israeli counterpart.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefed his NATO counterparts by videoconference on the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli civilians. Condemning Hamas terrorist attacks, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said: Israel has the right to defend itself and as the conflict unfolds, the protection of civilians is essential. He added that no nation or organisation hostile to Israel should seek to take advantage of the situation, or to escalate the conflict.



On the Western Balkans, Mr Stoltenberg said that NATO has deployed hundreds of extra troops to Kosovo to ensure KFOR has the forces it needs to fulfil its UN mandate impartially. He called on Belgrade and Pristina to behave responsibly, refrain from destabilising actions, and re-engage in the EU-facilitated dialogue. He added that in Bosnia, NATO continues to support the EU-led operation Althea, which plays a key role for regional stability. On Iraq, NATOs mission is evolving to provide more support to the Iraqi security forces.

On deterrence and defence, Allies discussed the next steps in operationalising NATOs new defence plans, including by assigning forces, developing new capabilities, and adjusting command and control. Mr Stoltenberg also noted that NATO will start its long-planned nuclear exercise Steadfast Noon next week. The exercise will send a clear message that NATO will protect and defend all Allies, the Secretary General said.



Ministers also addressed damage to critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Allies expressed strong solidarity with Estonia and Finland as they work to establish the facts. Secretary General Stoltenberg said NATO would have a "united and determined response" if proven the incident was a deliberate attack.



Yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Allies and partners in the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Allies assured President Zelenskyy that they would sustain and step up military aid to Kyiv as it braces for another wartime winter. In the first NATO-Ukraine Council at ministerial level, Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umerov updated Allies on the situation on the battlefield and Ukraines most urgent needs.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to NATO Headquarters on Thursday (12 October 2023) for a second day of meetings of Allied Defence Ministers.

Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Secretary Austin for the United States strong leadership on key issues, including support to Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, NATO deterrence and defence, and NATO operations and missions.
NATO Allies condemned the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel in a meeting of Defence Ministers on Thursday (12 October 2023). Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed ministers by video conference on the atrocities by Hamas perpetrated against Israeli civilians and the nationals of several NATO Allies. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO condemned the terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms, adding: Israel does not stand alone.

Allies expressed solidarity with Israel, making clear that it has the right to defend itself with proportionality against these unjustifiable acts of terror. They called for Hamas to immediately release all hostages, and for the fullest possible protection of civilians. Allies also made clear that no nation or organisation should seek to take advantage of the situation or to escalate it.



A number of NATO Allies made clear that they are providing practical support to Israel as it continues to respond to the situation.
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An absolutely massive Israeli ground invasion of Gaza appears to be imminent

Fifty years after the Yom Kippur War began, Israel is at war again, and preparations are being made right now for an absolutely massive ground invasion of Gaza. According to Google, the Yom Kippur War started on October 6th, 1973. The war with Hamas started on October 7th, 2023, and it could quickly evolve into a major regional war as more parties get involved. Once Israeli troops pour into Gaza, the dominoes will start falling very quickly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be the one that makes the final decision on a ground invasion of Gaza, and he very much sounds like a man that has made up his mind

(Article republished from TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday to change the Middle East in Israels war with Palestinian militant group Hamas, as the army pounded 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 visiting Jerusalem from the countrys south, where Hamas militants carried out a surprise attack on Saturday morning. This is only the beginning we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force.

At this hour, a siege of Gaza has already begun as the IDF makes final preparations for a ground campaign.

That means that there will be no electricity, no food and no fuel for those living in Gaza until the war is done

This morning, Israel imposed a complete siege on the area  including a sweeping ban on food and fuel moving into Gaza and an immediate cut-off of the water supply. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.

Needless to say, many of those living in Gaza will soon become extremely hungry.

And the IDF has already been hitting hundreds of strategic targets by air

Among the 500 targets hit overnight were eight Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad war rooms; a building housing Hamas operatives; several high-rise towers housing Hamas assets; a command center used by a senior official in Hamass naval forces; an operational asset used by Hamas located within a mosque in Jabaliya; an asset used by the terror group for intelligence; and three tunnels in the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza.

Of course this is just the beginning.

Hundreds of thousands of troops are being mobilized, and they will possess enough firepower to absolutely flatten Gaza

IDF are amassing their 173,000 troops including 8,000 elite commandos, along with 300 tanks and plenty of heavy weaponry on the border with Gaza in the town of Sderot. A further 300,000 reserve troops have been mobilised in an unprecedented move and sent south ahead of the possible invasion.

The Israelis would not be mobilizing all of these troops if they did not plan to do something with them.

According to Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, this is the biggest mobilization that Israel has conducted since the Yom Kippur War

Regarding the draft of reservists, Hagari said the IDF has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly  300,000 reservists in 48 hours. This is the largest mobilization since the 1973 Yom Kippur War when Israel called up 400,000 reservists.

Wow.

So this is it.

Inside Gaza, people have already been getting phone calls warning them that the IDF will be coming in

It doesnt 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 Gazas 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.

If you were in the same position, would you warn anyone living in Gaza in advance?

Many innocent lives may be saved by these calls, but it also tells the enemy exactly what you are planning to do.

Fox News is reporting that Netanyahu has called Joe Biden to inform him that a ground operation in the Gaza Strip is going to happen

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 cant negotiate now, Netanyahu told the president, according to the outlet.

But once the Israelis invade, will Hezbollah just sit there and watch Hamas get utterly destroyed?

I dont think so.

I think that Hezbollah will create a second front in the north, and so I hope that the IDF is prepared for that.

On Monday, there were some very alarming clashes between the IDF and Hezbollah forces

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a brief statement on Monday that its helicopters are currently striking in Lebanese territory. No further details were provided. Earlier, the IDF said a number of armed suspects who infiltrated into Israel from Lebanon were killed, and that IDF soldiers were searching the area. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers said in a statement on Monday that it has reported explosions near Al-Boustan in southwest Lebanon.

Hopefully Hezbollah will not decide to get crazy and launch a full-blown invasion of Israel.

Because if that happens, Israel has apparently told Hezbollah that it will

BREAKING: Israel gives clear warning to Hezbollah: If Hezbollah joins the war, the IDF will completely destroy Damascus and will directly target the Iran-backed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Moreover, US warships will support Israel in this war. This message was delivered  FJ (@Natsecjeff) October 9, 2023

" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">completely destroy Damascus



Israel gives clear warning to Hezbollah: If Hezbollah joins the war, the IDF will completely destroy Damascus and will directly target the Iran-backed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Moreover, US warships will support Israel in this war. This message was delivered by Israel via France.

Needless to say, that would draw Syria into the war.

Of course the Iranians are unlikely to remain on the sidelines if the Israelis start hitting Syria and Hezbollah extremely hard, and any big move by Iran would draw the U.S. military into the conflict.

What I am trying to say is that this thing could get way out of control very rapidly.

For many years I have been warning my readers that a great Middle East war was coming, and now we are here.

There will be so much death and destruction in the days ahead, and it wont just be limited to that part of the world.

Read more at: TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com
Amazons Alexa says 2020 elections were STOLEN

Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa is now under the spotlight after claiming that the 2020 elections, which put President Joe Biden into the White House, were stolen from former President Donald Trump.

The National Pulse's Jake Welch reported on the development, citing an article from the Washington Post (WaPo)  which is also owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The virtual assistant cited Rumble and Substack, two platforms that refuse to bow to establishment censorship, as its sources.

Alexa remarked that the 2020 elections were "stolen by a massive amount of election fraud," basing this remark on a Rumble video. It also noted that the election was "notorious for many incidents of irregularities and indications pointing to electoral fraud taking place in major metro centers," citing a Substack piece as its source.

When news of Alexa's "election denialism" broke out, Amazon went on full damage control. The tech giant was forced to immediately announce that it uses so-called "credible sources"  such as Reuters and RealClearPolitics  for Alexa's answers. It also promised to address the problem, which it did by altering Alexa's programming so that it refuses to answer election-related questions.

"These responses were errors that were delivered a small number of times, and quickly fixed when brought to our attention," Amazon spokeswoman Lauren Raemhild said in a statement. "We continually audit and improve the systems we have in place for detecting and blocking inaccurate content."

"The new [WaPo] 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," Business Insider noted.

"Social media platforms and generative artificial intelligence (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."

Experts find evidence of stolen elections  the numbers don't lie

Welch cited a Rasmussen Reports poll from April 2021, which found that 51 percent of Americans likely believe that "cheating affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election." The same survey found that 35 percent argue that vote fraud "very likely" had a role in how the 2020 elections played out.

But according to a separate article by LifeSiteNews from February 2021, experts reportedly found patterns in data from the previous year's elections. They insinuated that "algorithm manipulation" may have affected absentee votes in multiple states, skewing results to favor Biden. (Related: It's clear once more: The 2020 election was stolen from Trump, as new evidence of manipulation surfaces.)

The findings were initially cited in reports of swing state voting patterns compiled by physician John Droz. Two statisticians collaborating with him, Dr. William M. Briggs and Thomas Davis, found that absentee vote results for Republicans and Democrats appear to "track one another" in several Michigan counties.

While the high level of absentee voting among Democrats in the Great Lakes State in 2020 did not raise suspicions, patterns at the precinct level did. Briggs and Davis cited 2016 and 2020 election data from Ingham County as an example.

They observed that the 2020 election data in Ingham County reflected a "discernible pattern," something absent in the 2016 iteration. "Not surprisingly, the percentage of Democratic absentee voters exceeds the percentage of Republican absentee voters in every precinct. What is remarkable  and unbelievable  is that these two independent variables appear to track one another," the two experts said.

"There is no apparent legitimate explanation for the two absentee lines to be tracking each other like that  other than it being due to a computer algorithm."

Aside from Ingham County, data from Macomb and Oakland counties showed the same pattern. All in all, Briggs and Davis flagged a total of 10 counties as problematic.

Visit VoteFraud.news for more stories about the 2020 presidential election being stolen.

Watch this clip of the Alexa virtual assistant disclosing the true father of Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton's daughter, below.

This video is from the frenchshit channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Anomalies in vote counts and their effects on election 2020.

Amazon illegally harvested kids' data via Alexa-powered 'smart' speakers.

FTC to sue Amazon for illegally harvesting data of children via smart speakers.

Amazon Alexa a "DEMON device" that gathers information that can be used to blackmail you for life.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

BusinessInsider.com

LifeSiteNews.com

Brighteon.com
Biden considering asking Congress for $100 BILLION in additional funds for Ukraine

President Joe Biden is considering asking Congress for an additional $100 billion in taxpayer funding for Ukraine , which the White House claims would be sufficient to help fund Kyiv's war against the Russians until at least after the 2024 election.

The White House is currently drawing up plans to ask Congress to release a "big package" of military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine immediately amid concerns that a massive spending package could damage Biden's chances of being reelected in November 2024. (Related: RIGGED: Lobbying group with deep ties to military-industrial complex behind articles demanding MORE TAXPAYER MONEY for Ukraine.)

"The 'big package' idea is firmly supported by many throughout the administration," said one source familiar with the discussions. "Supporters of Ukraine want this to be a 'one-and-done' big bill, and then not have to deal with it until after the next election."

The demand for $100 billion in additional funding comes as Congress continues to argue over the budget for the October 2023 to September 2024 fiscal year. Sources pointed out that the Biden administration is "not making any decisions about whether to do one big package or about how much it would be" until a new Speaker of the House of Representatives is elected.

Biden was initially asking Congress for an additional $24 billion in funding for Ukraine in a package designed to last until early next year, but this proposal was dropped during negotiations with Republicans over the stopgap funding bill.

American taxpayers have already "given" Ukraine over $100 billion

Since the beginning of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine in late February 2022, Congress has approved more than $113 billion in taxpayer assistance for Kyiv.

Of this funding, over $62 billion has gone to the Department of Defense and is classified as "security assistance." Some of this military aid has gone to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which helps purchase all kinds of military equipment for Ukraine from American and foreign sources alike.

More of the military aid has come in the form of presidential drawdowns, which are orders from the White House directing the Pentagon to immediately deliver military equipment from U.S. stockpiles and other services to foreign countries in crises. From February 2022 to late September of this year, Biden has signed at least 47 drawdown orders telling the Defense Department to take crucial military hardware from dwindling American stockpiles to send to Ukraine.

Around $20 billion worth of military aid funneled into the Defense Department is unaccounted for. Some of this money has gone to meet higher Pentagon expenses, such as additional U.S. troop deployments to Europe, but much of the additional spending remains classified.

Another $32.5 billion has been allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development and is classified as humanitarian aid. Most of the rest of the funding, around $18 billion, has been funneled to the Department of State and other federal departments and agencies.

Furthermore, not all of the money has been spent directly on Ukraine. Some of it has been spent on other Eastern European nations under the claim that they need U.S. assistance to help fortify their countries against any alleged Russian military activities, political interference and so-called disinformation campaigns.

Learn more about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com.

Watch this clip from Sky News reporting on how Biden has vowed to continue supporting Ukraine despite the most recent stopgap budget deal excluding any additional taxpayer assistance for Kyiv.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Eleven anti-war activists arrested in Sen. Bernie Sanders' office for demanding diplomacy instead of funding more war in Ukraine.

EU trying to bribe Hungary with 13 BILLION EUROS to prevent veto on more military aid to Ukraine.

Pentagon funds to continue arming Ukraine running low, DOD comptroller claims  "give us more money, Congress!"

Ukraine suddenly discovers money to manufacture its own weapons as U.S. funding dries up.

Congress abandons Ukraine aid in temporary funding bill to avert government shutdown.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Telegraph.co.uk

NYTimes.com

USAFacts.org

Brighteon.com
CRUEL: Biden habitually kicks first dog, eventually boots it out of White House for biting staff, Secret Service officers

U.S. President Joe Biden's two-year-old dog Commander was booted out of the White House compound last week after the 11th known biting incident when it bit a Secret Service officer on Sept. 25.

"Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated," First Lady Jill Biden's spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander said in a statement late Wednesday. The White House did not say where the Biden family dog was or what other actions were being taken.

After the first dog's eviction, footage has emerged of Biden kicking his dog. Some have suggested that it isn't a "kick" in anger, saying that Biden just tripped up or simply using his leg to herd the dog into the vehicle. There had also been news that Biden broke his ankle pulling his dog's tail after a shower. Also, Judicial Watch, an American conservative activist group that files Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits to investigate claimed misconduct by government officials, reported that the president abuses his dog. The group's source disclosed that it has learned he has punched and kicked his dogs.

REPORT: President Biden has mistreated his dogs by punching and kicking them according to sources close with Judicial Watch. Bidens dogs are just like his son: Poorly trained. Documents from the United States Department of Homeland Security, reveal injuries from attacks pic.twitter.com/dDGRuYxc1P  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 6, 2023

The organization has also obtained records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in which Secret Service officers discuss Biden's dogs after a Nov. 3 biting incident. "Doing alright [redacted]? That's freaking crazy that stupid dog  rolling my eyes [redacted]," asked the first officer. "My leg and arm still hurts. He bit me twice and ran at me twice," the victim replied. To which the first officer responded: "What a joke [redacted] if it wasn't their dog he would already have been put down  freaking clown needs a muzzle  hope you get to feeling better [redacted]."

Commander was given to Biden as a puppy in December 2021 and is the president's third dog at the White House. Another German Shepherd named Major, was sent away at age three following several biting incidents in 2021, while an older shepherd named Champ, died.

According to Alexander, "The president and first lady care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House 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."

However, Axios reported that both Commander's and Major's attacks on Secret Service agents have been well documented, but the extent of the dogs' aggressiveness toward the White House residence staff has not been reported previously. "Many members of the residence staff, the several dozen people who maintain the White House as housekeepers, curators, chefs, butlers, carpenters, and more, have been fearful of Major and Commander, the younger dog who remained at the residence," the media website revealed. Additionally, a former White House official who regularly interacted with both dogs told the outlet that the first family and their inner circle refused for months to take any corrective action to protect the agents and staff, until recently.

The Bidens owe it to their family, their staff, and their own dogs to take corrective action for their dogs' behavior and recognize how critically important an immediate solution is. Their refusal to do so after rehoming Major, and then their decision to acquire yet another rescue German shepherd and then refuse to train or correct his behavior, speaks volumes about their personal commitment to accountability, Fox reported.

PETA: Biden's dog "wants to protect family"

Meanwhile, nonprofit organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has defended Biden's dog, saying Commander was just trying to "protect his family." PETA said: "Commander may live in the White House, but he's just like any other dog who wants to protect his family and feels stress when approached by a flurry of unfamiliar faces."

The nonprofit also called on all families with dogs to use positive reinforcement to help animals adjust to new circumstances.

Moreover, the Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey also wrote an article highlighting that the presidential dog's life may have been hard in the White House and it is not its fault that his biting became a political liability.

"Even on a normal day, the scene can be a chaotic sensory overload for a dog: Rotating members of the Secret Service detail, uniformed and not, stand outside every room, earpieces in, eyes darting, faces unsmiling; aides fly through doorways with varying degrees of excitement and alarm, waving papers. The first family is always leaving on trips and official visits; sometimes they bring the dog; other times they leave him behind in the care of a butler or an operating engineer, who is on-site around the clock. All of this is difficult for a human to adjust to, let alone a dog with limited English comprehension who cannot understand that his owner is the most important person in the Western world," the article stated. (Related: Secret Service admits it found marijuana twice at the White House in 2022.)

Godfrey concluded that with better training and more attention, Commander might have been able to stay in the White House and become an emblem for the president, something happy and sweet for the American people to latch on to. Sadly, it became a workplace hazard, an unfortunate headline, and now an exile.

Check out WhiteHouse.news for more news coming out of the White House.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Reuters.com

FoxNews.com

RadarOnline.com

TheAtlantic.com
Bill Gates announces $40M investment to develop mRNA VACCINE in Africa

Technocrat and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has announced a $40 million investment to develop an mRNA injection in Africa, through his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

In an Oct. 9 press release, the BMGF announced that the $40 million will be utilized to "advance access to mRNA research and vaccine manufacturing technology that will support low- and middle-income countries' capacity to develop high-quality, lifesaving vaccines at scale." It argued that mRNA vaccines have "simpler research and manufacturing processes" compared to traditional counterparts, enabling the development of low-cost injections against diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.

According to the foundation, $20 million will be earmarked for Belgium-based Quantoom Biosciences to further improve the mRNA platform it developed. The Pasteur Institute of Dakar (IPD) located in Senegal and the South Africa-based Biovac will be receiving $5 million each. The remaining $10 million will go to vaccine manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries "to be named" in the future. (Related: MEDICAL MADNESS: Bill Gates developing new vaccine that claims to prevent polio caused by polio vaccines.)

The BMGF said Quantoom's platform can lead to a more than 50 percent drop in mRNA vaccine development costs compared to traditional mRNA technology. The $40 million funding adds to the foundation's $55 million in mRNA manufacturing technology.

"We welcome this new funding, which will promote the development of lifesaving technologies on the continent while also contributing to global health security by expanding the supply and access to vaccines  allowing us to achieve greater health equity worldwide," said IPD CEO Dr. Amadou Sall.

"This collaboration will help close critical gaps in access to promising mRNA vaccines against diseases that disproportionately affect the world's poorest," said Biovac CEO Morena Makhoana. "It will also assist us in our mission to establish end-to-end vaccine manufacturing capability at scale in Africa for global supply."

Prominent doctors warn of mRNA vaccine dangers

The BMGF's $40 million investment follows safety concerns surrounding mRNA technology, which was used for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna. During a September testimony before the European Parliament in Brussels, cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough shared the "horrifying" things he has learned about mRNA injections.

"There's not a single study that the messenger RNA is broken down," he told European lawmakers, explaining that the mRNA is "made synthetically." McCullough continued: "There's not a study showing it leaves the body."

According to the Texas-based physician, the mRNA sequence used for the COVID-19 injection was copied from the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein  an element that made the pathogen deadly.

"We have the spike protein  the lethal protein from the [COVID-19] vaccines found in the human body after vaccination  circulating at least for six months, if not longer. If people take an injection in another six months, there's another installation in more circulating potentially lethal [spike] protein."

Also in September, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo advised people under 65 years old not to take the new COVID-19 mRNA vaccines granted emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For those 65 years old and up, he advised them to discuss the risks of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine with their doctor.

"There's essentially no evidence for it," said the Sunshine State's top physician during a news conference. "There's been no clinical trial done in human beings showing that it benefits people. There's been no clinical trial showing that it is a safe product for people."

Ladapo cited "multiple studies" from various countries to back up his advice against the COVID-19 injections. "Over time, these  mRNA COVID-19 products actually increase your chances of contracting COVID-19.

Head over to VaccineWars.com for more stories about the BMGF's efforts to fund vaccine development in Africa.

Watch this video about Bill Gates' involvement in the 2009 Gardasil vaccine trials in India.

This video is from the Sons of Single Moms channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Bill Gates says vaccines can help reduce world population.

Bill Gates comes under fire for criminally negligient vaccine experiments on poor Indian children.

Time to collect for Bill: Clinical trial for Gates-funded microneedle vaccine patch deemed "successful."

WHO, CDC and Bill Gates pushing for peel-and-stick vaccine patches mailed directly to people's homes.

Bill Gates  after reaping huge profits selling BioNTech shares  trashes effectiveness of COVID vaccines.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

GatesFoundation.org

Brighteon.com
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) has announced its designation as a 2023 Champion of Board Diversity by The Forum of Executive Women, joining other companies such as Campbell Soup Company, DuPont de Nemours, Rite Aid and WSFS Financial. In collaboration with PwC, the Forum reviews companies in the Philadelphia region that support the advancement of women leaders in corporate boardrooms and executive suites. Each year, The Forum of Executive Women honors the top public companies in the region with 30% or more women on their respective boards.

"We are honored that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation has been acknowledged as a Champion of Board Diversity by The Forum of Executive Women," said Jeff Householder, chairman, president and CEO, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. "The culture at the board level is intricately tied to the success of our Company's strategy. A unified, forward-thinking board culture paves the way for strategic excellence, guiding us toward our goals and ensuring our long-term success."

"This recognition reaffirms our belief that an inclusive and collaborative culture is fundamental to achieving our goals," said Stacie Roberts, vice president, corporate governance. "As we celebrate this recognition, we extend our appreciation to the members of our board, employees and stakeholders for their unwavering dedication to a diverse and inclusive culture."

To learn more about Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and its board of directors, click here.

About The Forum of Executive Women

Founded in 1977, The Forum of Executive Women is the Greater Philadelphia Region's premier women's organization, actively working to bring together, and leverage the influence of, professional women to expand the impact and power of women in the workplace and beyond. Visit foew.com for more information.

About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions and other businesses. For more information, visit www.chpk.com.

Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For more information, contact:

Brianna Patterson

Manager, Public Relations and Strategic Communications

419-314-1233

bpatterson@chpk.com
Star witness Caroline Ellison says disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried instructed her to COMMIT CRIMES and MISLEAD LENDERS

Caroline Ellison, former partner of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, said the latter instructed her to commit crimes and mislead lenders during her testimony.

The former CEO of Alameda Research-turned-star witness disclosed this when she testified before a federal court in Manhattan on Oct. 10. "Sam directed me to commit these crimes," she remarked following her admission that she, Bankman-Fried and other accomplices had committed fraud.

Ellison started at Alameda as a trader in 2018 and became co-CEO of the firm in October 2021 alongside Sam Trabucco. She became the sole CEO of Alameda in August 2022 following Trabucco's departure. Ellison had also dated and lived with Bankman-Fried over that period.

According to her testimony, Alameda took about $10 billion from customers who had put their money on the FTX cryptocurrency exchange to trade digital currencies. Bankman-Fried set up the system that let her move the money and directed her to send balance sheets to lenders that made Alameda's losses look less risky.

Ellison noted that when she joined Alameda in 2018, it had suffered huge losses. Thus, Bankman-Fried made getting more money a top priority.

To this end, he told Alameda employees to get loans on any terms they could and also created the digital token FTT. According to her, Alameda owned 60 to 70 percent of the supply of the digital coin that essentially cost nothing to make. The hedge fund gained billions when FTT's price from an initial 10 cents increased to $50 over time.

Ellison also testified that Bankman-Fried told her to put those billions in profits from FTT on the balance sheet, so Alameda could borrow money. He persuaded her to proceed, even though she initially felt it was misleading. She did so anyway, and the hedge fund later did the same with other coins. (Related: FTX head Sam Bankman-Fried declared a "pathological liar and a sociopath" for continuing to explain away his outrageous fraud and deception.)

Ellison, Wang cooperating with the feds for lighter sentences

In December 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Ellison manipulated the price of FTT at Bankman-Fried's behest. FTT was then used as collateral for undisclosed loans Alameda took from FTX.

This essentially meant that Alameda was secretly using money that belonged to FTX customers to repay debts and cover losses it had sustained. It also meant the hedge fund was telling investors it had more collateral to back up its loans than it really did, making FTX look safer than it was.

Ellison's Oct. 10 testimony followed that of FTX co-founder-turned-prosecution witness Gary Wang. Both were charged with a series of financial crimes in December, with Ellison pleading guilty to a total of seven charges.

"Ellison, like Wang before her, is cooperating with the government in exchange for a reduction in her sentence," NBC News noted. "Without such a deal, both faced sentences that could have kept them in prison for the rest of their lives."

The outlet also indicated that the two accomplices of Bankman-Fried who flipped against him "both had close personal relationships" with the FTX founder. He also appeared "distressed at times" by Wang's testimony against him.

Bankman-Fried faces seven federal charges including wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering  all of which he pleaded not guilty to. If convicted, he could be put behind bars for the rest of his life.

He is set to face additional charges at a separate trial in March 2024. However, the government ordered Bankman-Fried to be imprisoned in August following accusations of witness tampering. According to NBC News, he allegedly leaked diary entries from Ellison to the New York Times.

Visit BitcoinCollapse.news for more stories about FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried.

Watch this video about the parents of Sam Bankman-Fried being accused of taking millions of dollars stolen from FTX customers.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Deep state money supply: FTX, the collapsed crypto exchange, funded the TOGETHER Trial to discredit ivermectin.

SAM THE SIPHON: Filings show former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried took $2.2 billion in customer funds for personal use.

Sam Bankman-Fried indicted AGAIN for allegedly using $100M in stolen customer funds for political donations.

Parents of Sam Bankman-Fried EXPOSED for involvement in Democrat dark money, "illegal" election tactics.

Sources include:

NBCNews.com

Brighteon.com
Snowflake friends of murdered NYC activist run fundraiser  not for his funeral but for their work time-off expenses while they grieve

Tammie Marie David and other friends of murdered New York City left cult advocate Ryan Thoresen Carson recently created a GoFundMe page, where they asked on behalf of the victim's girlfriend Claudia Morales, for donations that they could spend as they take time off of work so they could grieve. As of writing, they already raised nearly $75,00 of their $20,000 goal out of the 1.4K donations.

"We are a collective of Ryan's close friends, reeling from a brutal loss. We are asking for your help on behalf of his partner in easing the burden and stress of this horrifying situation so that we can have space and time to grieve and remember Ryan. Immediate needs are to offset the costs of working-class people taking time off of work to properly mourn," the fundraiser's description included. "We hope you may find his thoughts on mutual aid, his works of advocacy, and understand that his radical principles of community care, justice, and dismantling an individualized profit-centered way of life are worth carrying forward."

His friends told the Gothamist that Carson would have empathized with his murderer. "I'm absolutely positive that he would immediately see that this was a person who was suffering from a lack of resources in our community," said state assemblywoman Emily Gallagher. Melissa Lozada-Oliva justified the fundraiser saying, she knows he would have wanted people to use his death as a means to talk about structural wrongs in the city and that they were guessing he'd probably be okay with the collective vacation fund too.

Despite raking in more than their target, some donors are chipping in just for the privilege of leaving scathing comments.

A donor said: "I don't condone senseless crime but the irony is rich. Another hipster transplant moving into Brooklyn acting as if they are from that area. Also reading online that the victim was an active participant in the Summer of Love 2020 BLM riots is, well, IRONIC. Now that cops have taken a hands-off approach to crime fighting, your mustaches & PBRs are no match for the marauders walking around Bed Stuy, East NY, Brownsville and South Billyburg. Unfortunately, Ryan while out protesting, the police allegedly, according to online reports, actually could have used the ACAB (all cops are bastards) folks."

"With all due respect, liberalism dies a natural Darwinistic death! Abortion removes terrible thoughts from existence! Homosexuality removes you from the gene pool! If this comment is removed, I will sue GoFundMe and each individual who receives this money," another donor, who donated $5, said.

Other $5-donor highlights included:

"It's abhorrent for someone to use the MURDER (not "loss" or "tragedy") of her boyfriend, and his life's work and reputation, to manipulate people to give her loads of cash. His body was barely even cold."

"I donated $5 because it was the minimum but I wanted to say this: you people are disgusting, depraved ghouls for profiting off of this man's death."

GRAPHIC WARNING: NY Post obtains and releases video showing fatal stabbing of Leftist activist Ryan Carson in front of girlfriend on NYC street late-night after wedding. 1. Always carry a gun 2. Always keep distance between yourself and a potential threat Such a senseless pic.twitter.com/tpNyaJk2Ke  DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) October 3, 2023

Carson was stabbed to death at 3:50 a.m. on October 2 in the Bedfort-Stuyvesant neighborhood while he and his girlfriend were returning from a wedding they attended in Long Island. In the video that captured the crime, a hooded young man passed by them and proceeded to kick over parked mopeds and scooters. As the couple started to leave, the assailant turned his rage on Carson, asking, "What the f*** are you looking at? I'll kill you!" The latter was stabbed multiple times, including a fatal strike to his heart.

Three days later, New York cops arrested 18-year-old Brian Dowling, who lives near the crime scene on Lafayette Avenue near Malcolm X Boulevard. He was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon after the police found a sweatshirt matching the one that appears in the security camera video of the murder, along with a knife, when they searched his apartment. (Related: Crime City: New York City records highest number of felony crimes in 16 years.)

This was not the first time he got involved in a violent attack. He'd previously received summonses for disorderly conduct. He also allegedly smashed items in his girlfriend's apartment. His aunt described him as mentally disturbed in a 911 call.

Experts: Carson's gf could not point to the murderer from a photo lineup

According to legal experts, the fact that Morales was unable to pick her boyfriend's suspected killer from a photo lineup could potentially hurt the case. She actually picked a different person, Brooklyn prosecutors said during Dowling's arraignment last week.

Meanwhile, two witnesses positively identified Dowling as the killer and said he was the person seen stabbing the leftist in the video of the violent attack. Morales was said to be traumatized by the slaying and has trouble remembering basic details about the incident. Ex-Brooklyn prosecutor Julie Rendelman said that her trouble identifying Dowling is something the defense could potentially raise as reasonable doubt. But she also pointed out "the stabbing is caught on video and the defendants face is fairly clear." She added that it may likely be argued by the prosecution that the witness' trauma in watching her boyfriend be stabbed before her eyes impacted her ability to identify the defendant.

Dowling is currently facing a second-degree murder charge.

Visit Violence.news to read more similar stories.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

GoFundMe.com

Gothamist.com

NYPost.com
Hamas supporters TAKE OVER Sydney, Australia while government tells JEWS to stay home and not show their faces

Sydney, Australia was the epicenter of tyranny during the Covid plandemic, where citizens were abused by medical terrorism, denied medical freedom, and force-injected with vascular clotting prions. Now, a new form of terrorism is taking over the streets, as Hamas supporters march freely, while Jewish folks are ordered to shelter in place, to avoid being "identified." Sounds like the beginnings of Nazi Germany all over again. Palestinian terror group advocates marched through the main business district of Sydney for a gathering at the iconic Opera House, while all Jews in Australia's biggest city were warned, stay home or be chosen for possible execution.

Jews warned to avoid downtown harbor while terrorists hijacked city center

David Adler, the President of the Australian Jewish Association, and his fellow Jews, have been "warned." In what was supposed to be a tribute to fallen Israelis from the new war (several were beheaded on live television), has become a terrorist-supporting parade of sorts where Jews are forbidden to attend, and some have already been taken away by police for simply carrying an Israeli flag.

Apparently, religious persecution is underway in Australia, and the Jews are being identified on site. Will all Jews there be forced to wear yellow ribbons on their shirt sleeves again? Will serial numbers be tattooed on their forearms to "protect" them (send them to ghettos and concentration camps for execution)?

The Palestine Action Group Sydney is demanding support for a Palestinian takeover of Israel and the authorities are warning all Jews that they are "at risk" if they are "identified as Jewish" in Sydney.

So the story goes, Hamas terrorists attack Israel, Biden takes a vacation, and the tyrannical government in Australia tells Jews to shelter in place while terrorist-supporting groups parade through the city supporting more terrorism to come. This comes after the Biden Regime handed billions of dollars to terrorists, and now says that money did not help them arm up and attack Israel. Sure.

"Free Palestine" means kill as many Jews as possible, according to the tyrannical regimes that support beheading innocent Israelis, American tourists, and kidnapping and torturing teenagers and young adults that go to disco clubs in Gaza. Should anyone march peacefully in support of Israel in Sydney, or Washington D.C., for that matter, you are likely to be incarcerated with no trial in sight, like the January 6'ers, or handed over to Hamas terrorists for some Nazi-style "re-education."

Are the Jewish people in Australia some kind of "burden" on society there? Will the handicapped, elderly, and autistic Jews be sent to concentration camps for opposing the new terror regime? Only time will tell.

As the war in and around Israel heats up, watch for the governments around the world that support terrorism (Democrats in Washington D.C. under the guidance of Obama) to react, as they send money, guns, tanks, and bombs to known Nazi-sympathizers and terrorists, just like they are doing RIGHT NOW in Ukraine.

The globalists love war, turmoil, uprisings, and fighting among citizens of any nation, because it makes them money and helps them overthrow rulers, so they can take over. This action in Sydney is a perfect example of that, where a government entity supports terrorists while suppressing the rights of peaceful citizens. Don't let history repeat itself. Be sure to support peace, prosperity, and government officials who do the same, instead of warmongers who identify themselves with their outright support of terrorists.

Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news about Australia and the Biden Regime completely supporting Hamas terrorists while ignoring the needs of innocent people, including Americans.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
James Woods warns a Hamas-like army is surely walking across Bidens non-existent border every day

Hollywood star James Woods has warned that a Hamas-like army of terrorists is almost certainly walking across President Bidens open southern border every day  echoing fears raised by a growing number of people since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Saturday.

(Article by David Ng republished from Breitbart.com)

James Woods noted that in their zeal to blame intelligence failures for the attacks, liberals have failed to recognize that Bidens open border has put all Americans in harms way.

Pundits are wailing about intelligence failures that led to the terrorist slaughter perpetrated by Hamas against children and woman. Yet not one liberal apologist has considered that an equivalent silent army is surely walking across Bidens non-existent border every day.  James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) October 9, 2023

Bidens open border has allowed millions of illegal aliens to flood the U.S., including thousands of military-age men from hostile countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria.

As Breitbart News reported, Bidens Department of Homeland Security has failed to deport more than 99 percent of illegal aliens arriving, according to a report from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA).

In the past year, DHS has encountered nearly 150 illegal aliens at the southern border who were listed on the federal governments Terrorist Watch List.

But many more are believed to have eluded border security and entered the country as part of the approximately 1.5 million known got-aways in the past year alone, according to a report from the House Homeland Security Committee.

Read more at: Breitbart.com
Natural News issues statement on Hamas terror attack on Israel, bombings of Gaza, ethnic cleansing vs humanitarian principles

From Mike Adams, editor of Natural News: We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorism attacks against Israel carried out by militant members of Hamas. Their actions targeting civilians were animalistic, barbaric and wholly incompatible with human civilization. The loss of innocent life among Israeli citizens is heart wrenching, and actions must be taken to stop this cycle of violence.

Those responsible for these attacks -- including those who engaged in financial sponsorship, military planning or direct aid to Hamas -- should, in my opinion, be found, arrested, prosecuted and subject to the fullest repercussions of the courts, including being sentenced to death if that is the court's decision.

Those who are currently siding with Hamas are siding with terrorism, plain and simple. They should be loudly and repeatedly condemned.

Simultaneously, out of a sense of humanity and compassion for fellow human beings, I must condemn Israel's actions of targeting over two million Palestinian civilians with siege warfare tactics that even the United Nations condemns as war crimes. Israel has cut off the water, food, electricity and fuel supply to the Gaza Strip. Gaza's last power plant has run out of fuel, and hospitals have no running water. Israel bombed the Gaza exit route into Egypt, making it impossible for Gaza citizens to flee. Meanwhile, relentless bombardment by the IDF has resulted in the complete destruction of an ever-growing list of residential buildings, taking their inhabitants with them, resulting in at least 140 Palestinian children now killed by Israel's retaliatory actions.

Over 1.5 million women and children are now essentially trapped in Gaza, with no escape, as Israel's pronouncements (by Gallant, Netanyahu, and others) make it clear that Gaza will be "turned to rubble" and that war will be waged against the Palestinian populations "without restrictions" and with no regard for any rules of war that have been recognized across millennia (such as sparing women and children during your military campaigns).

Israel clearly intends to carry out an ethnic cleansing operation across Gaza

It is very clear from the words of Israeli leaders that the IDF intends to launch a ground war assault on Gaza and that during that war, many IDF soldiers will indiscriminately execute Palestinians on sight, and will do so out of a sense of vengeance, fueled by anger and operating completely outside any otherwise recognized rules of law or war.

Many conservatives across the western world are caught up in the bloodlust and openly condoning ethnic cleansing operations in Gaza. For example, I have witnessed Citizen Free Press, a conservative news aggregation website, call to, "Kill the whole family" when linking to a headline about an IDF bombing of a Hamas leader's home, which killed his granddaughter. While I fully understand striking the home of a Hamas leader, the idea that we should also celebrate taking out an entire family -- including a young woman -- is abhorrent and contradicts core Christian values of honoring innocent human life.

Similarly, US Sen. Marco Rubio, when asked about what should be done about the Palestinian people in Gaza while trying to root out Hamas, said, "You cant coexist. They have to be eradicated." His comment was clearly directed toward the Palestinian people. The ethnic group, not merely Hamas. People like Sen. Rubio, whipped into an irrational fervor of hatred by the media, make no distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people. This would be like claiming that all white people are KKK, or that all black people are BLM, or that all Hispanic people are MS-13. It is absurd. And it is a very dangerous line of thinking that only leads to violence and human suffering.

Make no mistake: Those who call themselves "conservatives" who are now calling for genocide against the Palestinian people are not conservatives at all. They are tyrants and would-be murderers who merely wear the conservative label to pretend that they have pro-humanity principles.

Israel promises that all of Gaza will be transformed into a POW camp

After this "cleansing" of Gaza, Israel plans to permanently occupy and police the entire region, ending Gaza's "self rule" and permanently denying the Palestinian civilians any voice or representation in their own government. Flatly stated, Israel plans to transform Gaza into a POW camp where Palestinians are essentially prisoners of war, with no human rights, no voice and no democracy. They would exist only at the whim of a militarized nation that largely seeks the complete destruction of the Palestinian people. Imagine being trapped in a prison where the prison guards openly want to murder you. This is the reality that 2+ million Palestinian civilians will soon be facing.

The situation is so dire in Gaza today that relief doctors there have sent out an SOS to the world. Via ZeroHedge:

Doctors in Gaza have sent out an "SOS message" to the world, saying that after four straight nights of the biggest Israeli air campaign in years (or perhaps history), all civil services including electricity, fuel and water are suffering collapse.

Officials at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City have further claimed the Israelis are targeting first responders, as the death toll among Palestinians has soared passed 940, with at least 140 children among the dead. An estimated 263,000 Palestinians have been displaced thus far.

A Gaza health official announced Wednesday, "We are suffering  and the world is not moving a finger. This is an SOS to the whole world you must help us," and further confirmed Gazas sole power plant has run out of fuel. Israel had already cut all external electricity and water supply sources.

Al Jazeera has cited its correspondent to say Gaza residents are "trapped in a cage" with nowhere to exit amid the unrelenting Israeli airstrikes:

Gaza has been completely locked up by Israel, and it was already in a deteriorating humanitarian condition for many years because of a long-lasting blockade. But these five days have been extraordinary. A complete blockade, no power, no water, no food supply, no medical supply and on top of all of that, continuous bombardment. All supplies are running out since there are no open emergency or humanitarian corridors for any kind of aid to enter the Gaza Strip. The people are trapped in a cage with no access to help from the outside.

Notably, when Russia achieved missile strikes against Ukrainian electrical infrastructure, causing temporary blackouts across several cities, EU president Ursula von der Leyen declared the following:

Russia's attacks against civilian infrastructure, especially electricity, are war crimes. Cutting off men, women, children of water, electricity and heating with winter coming - these are acts of pure terror.

But of course when Israel does it to Palestinians, suddenly it's not a war crime. Suddenly it's perfectly acceptable to the EU, NATO, USA and other western countries.

It's "war crimes" when Russia does it, but never when Israel does it.

It is not "anti-Semitic" to condemn the slaughter of innocent civilians

In covering this issue, I have already heard numerous claims that anyone speaking out against Israeli actions -- no matter how illegal or barbaric they may be -- makes you an "anti-Semite." This is a disingenuous argument, and it is thrown around as an attempt to shield Israel from reasoned criticism about its tactics and end goals involving 2+ million Palestinian civilians, the vast majority of whom are not Hamas and took no part in the Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

Surely Israel, if it is to maintain the support of the so-called "international community," must conduct itself with a sense of humanity for innocents, and within rules of war that we are told define "modern liberal democracies." If Israel acts in a barbaric manner with utter disregard for the women, children, elderly and sick who are caught in the crossfire, then Israel forfeits its moral high ground and merely confirms that the disgusting tactics of Hamas are, indeed, acceptable to use against your enemies if you are angry enough.

I may be one of the few voices saying this, but your anger does not exempt you from acting within the rules of war. Those rules include, of course, accepting the surrender of enemies rather than executing them when they attempt to surrender. It includes sparing women and children from your attacks and avoiding the use of weapons of mass destruction or other indiscriminate weapons that destroy the lives of those who are not part of this war and who took no part in the attacks on Israel in the first place.

By every international reckoning, the cutting off of food, water, electricity and fuel to 2+ million Palestinians in Gaza is a war crime. It is not consistent with occupying any moral high ground, nor with the principles we are told represent "liberal democracies."

Justifying the mass killing of civilians in order to "get Hamas"

Disturbingly, I have also been told by numerous people that "because Hamas is hiding among the civilians in Gaza, it is okay for Israel to kill those civilians if necessary to destroy Hamas."

Consider this twisted reasoning for a moment. Consider the implications if other nations decide the same rules apply to Israel. What if Iran decides that because anti-Iranian resistance groups are hiding among Israelis in Tel Aviv, then it is therefore justifiable to nuke the entire city in order to take out the militants hiding among the civilians. By this logic, every nation with weapons of war can justify slaughtering civilians of any other nation -- even in large numbers -- merely by claiming some smaller number of militants, extremists or terrorists are hiding out among them.

Similarly, the US government could declare that because "extremists" are hiding somewhere in your town, the US military has the right to bomb your entire town into rubble. This is precisely the argument that many Israelis are making right now.

Such a notion is surely a path that leads to untold human suffering and the plunging of our nations into a spiral of world war.

This idea that, essentially, "because Hamas is so evil therefore we can be ruthless and lawless as well" only leads to yet more human suffering in the long run, including suffering among Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese, Egyptians, Jordanians, Syrians and many more who may become ensnared in this widening conflict.

Should Israel make good on its threats to turn Gaza into rubble, even as millions of Palestinians are trapped there, Israel will be the architect of unprecedented human suffering and loss of life on a scale that is truly Biblical. Even worse, in taking such actions, Israel will demonstrate that it is no more "civilized" than the Hamas terrorists who murdered innocent Israeli civilians. How many dead Palestinians will it take for Israel to quench its bloodlust and feel that it has sufficiently avenged the deaths of 1,200+ Israelis? Will 100,000 dead Palestinians suffice? Or is the number 500,000? If you talk to Israelis right now, many of them are saying that not one Palestinian should be left alive. That is a call for genocide, by definition. It smacks of an ethnic cleansing campaign to rid the world of an entire ethnicity of people, justified by claiming they are sub-human animals who don't deserve to exist on this planet.

This twisted, evil logic has been invoked before, of course. Most notably it was invoked against people of Jewish ethnicity, resulting in six million of them being systematically slaughtered by the Third Reich. The arguments of the Third Reich in 1939 now appear almost identical to Israel's arguments against Palestinian civilians today. They sound like this: "They are animals. They are sub-human. They must be exterminated. They cannot be allowed to exist. They are inferior." The rage echoes across time and reminds us that if we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.

When fighting monsters, beware that you do not become one yourself.

Killing women, children and civilians is always wrong. Even if someone else did it to your people first. Vengeance leads to a spiral of violence, as each round of deaths ultimately recruits more people to the idea that they must avenge those deaths by killing even more innocents on the other side. Bombs are launched. Rockets fly. Suicide vests are detonated. Water supplies are cut off. Larger enemies take notice, and sooner or later somebody reaches for a nuclear artillery round that levels a few square miles in a radiation mushroom cloud.

And then we find ourselves dying among the radioactive dust, but somehow feeling righteous in saying, "We sure made them PAY for that, didn't we?"

If Israel pursues its present course of action against millions of Palestinian civilians, then we will all surely pay a steep price for years to come, in loss of life, skyrocketing oil prices, broken economies, supply chain destruction and ultimately billions of lives destroyed or even snuffed out.

For anyone willing to extract that price in order to appease your own rage, I would argue that it is you who are the animal, not merely Hamas. If we hope to survive all this, we must do so by embracing our humanity, not our inner Beast.

I pray for the lives already lost. I pray for peace. And most importantly, I pray that humanity can reject that dictates of rage and find the presence of mind to pursue courses of action that de-escalate violence instead of multiplying it.

That does not make me an anti-Semite. It makes me a compassionate human being.
U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs urges Israel to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks in now-deleted tweet

After it came out that Hamas had attacked Israel over the weekend in a surprise act of aggression, the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs tweeted, then deleted a message urging Israel to not respond with violence of its own.

"We unequivocally condemn the attack of Hamas terrorists and the loss of life that occurred," the now-deleted tweet read. "We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, was so upset by this tweet that he called for whoever was responsible for it to be removed from government office immediately.

"This is disgraceful and every single person involved in drafting and approving this tweet should be immediately expelled from the U.S. government," Cruz fumed.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, (R-N.Y.) tweeted a similar message of condemnation against the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs over the now-deleted tweet.

"@USPalAffairs tweeted out that 'all sides' must refrain from violence," Tenney wrote.

"We cannot conflate terrorists targeting Israeli civilians and our greatest ally in the region defending itself. Whomever wrote this tweet must be fired and the Biden administration must publicly denounce this shameful tweet. #StandWithIsrael."

(Related: Did you know that Israel's far-right Knesset party wants to make it a crime to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Israel? Violators would face prison time.)

Pro-Israel politicians, businessmen call for gutting of U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs

On its website, the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs published several other posts and notes, including a Security Alert explaining that the U.S. Embassy "is closely monitoring the security situation as a result of rockets fired from Gaza across southern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and the infiltration of Hamas militants."

"The U.S. Embassy is aware that there have been casualties as a result of these incidents," the note further reads, further explaining that embassy personnel are now "sheltering in place."

"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."

Israeli-American businessman Adam Milstein made his voice heard on X as well in condemnation of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs for calling on Israel not to retaliate.

"Over 100 Israelis murdered, hundreds injured, in Hamas surprise onslaught terror attack on Israel on the Jewish holiday of Sukkot," Milstein wrote. "But shocking and unacceptable request from the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs calling on Israel to not respond and refrain from violence."

Israeli Ambassador the U.S. Michael Herzog said much the same as Milstein, echoing the pro-war sentiments of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who declared that "we are at war" following the Hamas attacks.

Like Milstein, Herzog focused on the fact that at the time of the attacks, Jews across the world were "celebrating a religious Jewish holiday," this referring to the official final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot.

The Biden regime also issued a statement of its own that the U.S. "unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians." "The big guy" himself, Joe, also posted his own statement after speaking to Netanyahu directly following the attacks.

"I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel," "the big guy" said. "Terrorism is never justified."

"Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administrations support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering."

The latest news about the escalating situation in the Middle East can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

ThePostMillennial.com

NewsTarget.com
Oil prices surge following large-scale clashes between Israel and Palestine

Large-scale hostilities between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip have sent crude oil prices surging even after oil prices already spent the entirety of the summer inching their way closer to $100 a barrel

The amount of conflict between Israel and Palestine has reached a level not seen in months, and traders have responded by bringing up the price of oil by as much as five percent over the weekend of Oct. 6 to 8, with prices only stabilizing on Monday, Oct. 9. (Related: Israel-Palestine war causes GOLD PRICES to RALLY as demand for safe haven investment increases amid chaos.)

"An attack on Israel by Hamas may push the region to war, increasing geopolitical risk bid into crude," said Matt Portillo, an analyst for Tudor Pickering and Holt.

"Market sentiment could react swiftly to the tragedy in the Middle East as far as oil prices are concerned," said Kang Wu, an energy analyst for S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The price of Brent crude was up by as much as 3.9 percent or $3.31 to $87.99 per barrel by late afternoon Monday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up by 4.3 percent or $3.59 to $86.38 per barrel.

The increases in oil prices followed several days of prices finally slumping, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate bottoming out to nearly $82 per barrel on the expectation that demand for oil would wane in the coming months.

Investors were also responding to pre-conflict speculation that Saudi Arabia and Israel, with American mediation, were finally closing in on a political deal that would normalize relations and lead to Riyadh recognizing the State of Israel.

Prolonged or wider conflict with Israel could cause prices to go up even higher

Palestinian militants led by the Islamic fundamentalist terrorist organization Hamas launched its largest military assault on the internationally recognized borders of Israel in decades, going so far as to occupy several Israeli settlements near Gaza and triggering a wave of retaliatory Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Analysts pointed out that no oil is produced in Gaza and Israel is only able to produce a minimal amount for its own use. But prices could go even higher if Israel were to escalate the conflict by launching an invasion of Gaza, or if Iran and other Middle Eastern nations were pulled into the conflict.

Oil traders are now waiting to see if Israel will explicitly blame Iran for the initial attacks, which would be their sign that an escalation of the conflict is imminent. Traders worry that if Iran were to openly participate in the conflict, it might interrupt the flow of crude oil from the Gulf states, causing energy prices to surge even higher.

Other commodities are also being affected by the conflict. Gold, considered a safe haven investment to retain value amid political and economic turmoil, rose by nearly one percent to $1,848.15 per ounce, its highest price since Sept. 29.

Copper prices rose to a one-week high, with benchmark copper prices on the London Metal Exchange being traded 0.5 percent higher at $8,085 per metric ton after earlier touching $8,142. More gains are seen as unlikely due to generally weaker demand from the world's top consumer of copper, China.

"Conflicts in the Middle East generally mainly hit energy markets, but we are seeing an impact on other commodities today," said Matt Ammermann, a commodity risk manager for StoneX.

Watch this Oct. 10 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, reports on one possible escalation of the conflict: An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza that could lead to genocidal atrocities inflicted upon the more than two million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

At least 1,000 killed, 1,590 injured so far in Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

Jewish community in Sydney urged to stay home while Hamas supporters celebrate the murder of innocent civilians and burn Israeli flags.

Netanyahu promises to turn Gaza into "rubble" following Hamas attack  they will pay "unprecedented price."

Warmongers start to push for U.S. involvement in Iran following Hamas attack.

WSJ: Iran helped Hamas plan its surprise attack on Israel, shortly after Biden handed them $6 billion.

Sources include:

Reuters.com

NYTimes.com

Brighteon.com
IT HAS BEGUN: Syria fires mortar shells into disputed Golan Heights, Israel strikes back

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday, Oct. 10, alleged that Syrian Arab Army forces fired mortar shells into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights , prompting the IDF to launch its own armaments into Syria.

The Golan Heights is an approximately 390-square-mile rocky region in southwestern Syria and northeastern Israel. Israel seized and occupied it in the closing stages of the Six-Day War in 1967, forcing most of the Syrian Arab inhabitants of the region to flee. Israel unilaterally annexed the region in 1981.

Almost immediately after occupying the region, Israel began to move settlers into the Golan Heights. Today, there are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the region home to an estimated 20,000 settlers who live alongside some 20,000 Syrian Arabs who did not flee when the Heights was conquered. (Related: Netanyahu promises to turn Gaza into "rubble" following Hamas attack  they will pay "unprecedented price.")

Syria has never recognized Israeli control over the Golan Heights and has always insisted that a lasting peace between Damascus and Jerusalem can't be reached unless Israel withdraws from the whole of the Golan Heights.

The IDF claimed that "a number of launches" of mortars were launched toward the Israeli side of the Golan Heights coming from Syria. Reports said the mortars fell in an open area and that nobody was hurt and no structures were damaged.

The IDF reported that it responded "with artillery and mortar shells" aimed at the origin of the initial mortar strikes in Syria. It is unknown if the counterbattery fire caused any damage or killed any militants.

Residents in the southern part of the Golan Heights where the Syrian mortars struck were instructed to stay close to bomb shelters. Israeli air-raid sirens give residents approximately 15 seconds to seek shelter from possible militant armaments.

Syria claims it was not responsible for mortar launches

Meanwhile, Syrian officials claimed they were not responsible for the initial mortar strikes into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and that they were conducted by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group designated by several nations as a terrorist organization.

Hezbollah has not taken responsibility for the mortar strikes into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Other sources are suggesting that a Palestinian faction operating in southern Syria may have fired the mortars.

The potential involvement of Hezbollah in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and other Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip raises fears that other parts of Israel could be subjected to the violence of a wider war.

Hezbollah has already admitted to firing armaments like rockets and anti-tank missiles across the border with Israel from southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah is primarily headquartered.

"The IDF is prepared for all scenarios in all arenas, and will continue to operate in order to protect Israeli civilians," said the IDF in a statement.

Learn more about the escalating conflict with Israel and its neighbors at WWIII.news.

Watch this Oct. 10 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, warns about Israel potentially committing genocide against the more than two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Henry Gruver: "When Israel sends troops into Gaza, it will be a sign the Middle East war has started."

Warmongers start push for U.S. involvement in Iran following Hamas attack.

Iran leader Khamenei uses Twitter to hail Hamas terror attack that killed 1,00+  But Alex Jones still BANNED.

The big distraction: Global war is good for Joe Biden  wall-to-wall war news provides the media a huge diversion from the Biden regime's destruction of America.

WSJ: Iran helped Hamas plan its surprise attack on Israel, shortly after Biden handed them $6 billion.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

BBC.com

WSJ.com

JNS.org

English.AlArabiya.net

Brighteon.com
Is Joe Biden to blame for Hamas terror attacks on Israel? Alex Marlow says YES

A prominent right-wing pundit is blaming Joe Biden for the recent Hamas attack against Israel.

Breitbart News editor-in-chief Alexander Marlow says Biden's campaign promise to return to "normal" foreign policy following four years of Donald Trump has destabilized the Middle East in particular.

The "blood bath" that occurred over the weekend "may well be his biggest foreign policy failure" to date, Marlow says of Biden, whose team was apparently "blindsided by the attacks."

"This should shock no one, since these same people have spent most of his term wrangling with allies in Saudi Arabia and Israel while trying to appease Iran (which wants us all dead)," Marlow contends.

Marlow takes issue with the fact the U.S. Office for Palestinian Affairs under Biden has called for Israel to basically turn the other cheek and "refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks."

Marlow is also upset that Biden "chilled the U.S.-Saudi alliance" upon taking office by allowing his base to become "obsessed with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudis."

"This made it impossible for Biden to engage with the Saudis at a level necessary to forge a stronger peace in the region," Marlow argues.

As noted by Joel Pollak, Marlow's colleague, Biden subsequently paused all arms sales to Saudi Arabia and "reopened negotiations with Iran toward a new nuclear deal over Saudi (and Israeli) objections."

(Related: Check out our earlier report covering the untold story of the Holy Land's COVID "vaccine" deception.)

Since Biden became president, Iran has enriched uranium "to near weapons-grade"

If a new Iran deal takes shape, Marlow believes that Russia will fast become a key partner, which is anomalous in light of the fact that Biden and his supporters are currently taking an anti-Russia stance with regard to Ukraine.

"The same people who told us that Vladimir Putin is the world's greatest threat are perfectly fine pushing for a deal that elevates him on the world stage while empowering Iran," Marlow writes. "This is incoherent and irresponsible."

We are also told that ever since Biden took office, Iran has been able to enrich its uranium stockpiles "to near weapons-grade," this according to a United Nations nuclear watchdog organization.

Biden himself could apparently not care less, seeing as how he recently released $6 billion in frozen funds to Iran as part of a prisoner swap deal. If Iran is funding Hamas as Marlow and others claim, then this means that Biden himself is, at least in part, responsible for the recent attack.

"Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi declared 'victory' after the latest terror attack in Israel," Marlow further writes.

"While the $6 billion hasn't arrived yet, and it is supposed to be used specifically for peaceful purposes, money is fungible and padding Iran's bank account obviously frees them up to fund more terror."

Biden's other mistakes, according to Marlow, include revoking the terrorist designation of the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group, as well as pulling all U.S. support for the Yemeni government in its fight against Houthi rebels.

As all this is happening, Biden has apparently been "icy" towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, refusing to meet with him or any others in Israel's government. Biden's people also restored funding to Palestine over Israeli objections that the money could be diverted to support Hamas.

"Joe Biden takes no responsibility for anything, ever," wrote one Breitbart commenter about the situation.

"Except his bank account," responded another, jokingly.

"In reality, Biden has no power," said someone else about how "the big guy" is just a puppet on strings.

"It is actually the Democrat Party who is responsible. Leaders such as Schumer, Obama, and others make policy."

More of the latest news coverage about this topic can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
PROXY WAR: Bidens $235M funding of Palestine in 2021 contributed to Hamas violent attacks on Israel

Back in 2018, then-President Donald Trump stopped sending aid to Palestine , a move that cut the 71-year history of funding the region. Because of this, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said U.S. taxpayers had violated an international obligation to fund them.

According to Forbes, U.S. taxpayers have sent over $6.3 billion through the United Nations to subsidize Palestinian refugees living in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon since 1950. During former President Barack Obama's last year in office, the U.S. sent $359 million, which was only $39 million less than 2014's all-time high of $398.7 million.

Now, as Israel declared war on the Gaza Strip after an unprecedented attack by the Islamist militant group Hamas over the weekend, experts traced the origins of this conflict back to Trump's move being reversed by President Joe Biden in April 2021, when he agreed with the PLO and provided $235 million in aid to the Palestinians. It included $150 million in humanitarian assistance for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and $75 million in economic and development assistance in the West Bank and Gaza. They cited that just weeks after the aid reinstatement, rockets were again landing on Israelis and the region was at war.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) suggested in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, how there is a connection between the incursion from Hamas and the aid relief promised to Palestine.

President Trump cut U.S. aid to Palestine. President Biden reversed this decision and sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Palestine.  Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 7, 2023

"Biden admin officials are now saying they didn't think pouring millions of dollars into Hamas areas would fuel terrorism," she said in a subsequent post. "The lies keep piling up." She also told the Biden administration to stop all aid to the Palestinian Authority and the "Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas." In a statement, Trump also described the Hamas attacks as a disgrace and said that Israel has "every right to defend itself." "Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden administration," the former president said.

Reports indicated that Hamas fighters have killed more than 800 Israelis in assaults on multiple towns in southern Israel. In response, Israel has launched a bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 500 Palestinians. It has mobilized troops along the Gaza border, apparently in preparation for a ground attack. On Monday, it announced a "total blockade" of the Gaza Strip, stopping the supply of food, fuel and other essential commodities to the already besieged enclave in an act that under international law amounts to a war crime.

Austria and Germany already confirmed they would be suspending aid to Palestinians in response to Hamas' attack. The European Union foreign minister is set to have an emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss future development assistance. "E.U. funding supports most essential services for the Palestinian population and contributes direct financing also to the Palestinian Authority," an E.U. Commission spokesperson told reporters on Monday.

Meanwhile, the White House National Security Council (NSC) dismissed suggestions that the $6 billion in frozen Iranian money which had been freed up in exchange for the release of five American detainees was used by Iran, which supports Hamas, to help plot the attacks that broke out on Saturday. The NSC denied it was taxpayers' money and also said that it hasn't been accessed by Iran. (Related: WSJ: Iran helped Hamas plan its surprise attack on Israel, shortly after Biden handed them $6 billion.)

"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," Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the NSC, said in a statement on Saturday. "These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today, and this is not the time to spread disinformation."

Biden condemns 'sheer evil' of Hamas attacks, expresses support for Israel in the war

At the White House, Biden called the Hamas attacks "an act of sheer evil" and said Washington was rushing additional military assistance to Israel, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome aerial defense system. He called for Israel to follow the "law of war" in its response.

Reuters reported that the president told news outlets the U.S. had "enhanced our military force posture in the region to strengthen our deterrence," including by moving an aircraft carrier strike group and fighter aircraft. "Let me say again to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: dont," said Biden, in an apparent reference to Iran and its proxies in the region.

Biden also dispatched his top diplomat Antony Blinken to Israel, who will deliver "a message of solidarity and support," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Meanwhile, Israel vowed to escalate its response to an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas with a ground offensive.

Israeli Defense 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 Two and we are on the offensive. It will only intensify."

Follow WWIII.news to read more stories related to the developing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Sources for this article include:

Forbes.com

Newsweek.com

Reuters.com
PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) announced today (Oct 11) the company has been designated a "Champion of Board Diversity" by The Forum of Executive Women.

The Forum of Executive Women annually honors the top public companies in the Philadelphia region with 30% or more women on their respective boards. PPL is one of 37 companies to be recognized, and this is the second time the company has been recognized with this designation.

PPL's Board of Directors comprises 10 directors, four of whom are women.

"The Board of Directors provides crucial support to the company and invaluable perspectives that reflect all stakeholders. Diversity in the boardroom leads to better decision-making and improved long-term value for investors, customers and employees," said Angela K. Gosman, executive vice president and chief human resources officer for PPL Corporation. "We appreciate this designation as a Champion of Board Diversity as we strive to be the best utility company in the U.S."

The Forum of Executive Women's annual Women in Leadership Report, which was released in October and is a collaboration with PwC, provides an annual examination on diversity in the boardrooms and executive suites of the top 100 public companies in the Philadelphia region.

About PPL

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 3.5 million customers in the U.S. PPL's high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com.

About The Forum of Executive Women

Founded in 1977, The Forum of Executive Women is the Greater Philadelphia Region's premier women's organization, actively working to bring together, and leverage the influence of, professional women to expand the impact and power of women in the workplace and beyond. Forum membership has grown over four decades to comprise more than 600 of the most influential leaders throughout the region. Visit www.foew.com for more information.
Hamas was created by Israeli and US intelligence services to counteract Yasser Arafat, Ron Paul explains

The recent terror attack on Israel by Hamas is a senseless tragedy that we can already see is going to have lasting repercussions on world affairs, especially in the Middle East. Why, then, did the United States and Israel itself create Hamas back in the 1970s?

Before Hamas was what it is today, it was just a fringe group of Palestinian Muslims with no real power. Today, Hamas rules Gaza with an iron fist, and all because of the U.S. and Israel, according to former congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Former Israeli officials like Brig. Gen. Yitzhak Segev, who served in the Israeli military in the 1980s, fully admit to this. Segev told a New York Times reporter that he helped finance the Palestinian Islamist movement as a "counterweight" to the secularists and leftists of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Fatah party, which was led by Yasser Arafat.

Arafat himself famously referred to Hamas as "a creature of Israel," and Segev agrees, having taken money from the Israeli government to create this terrorist group in the first place.

"The Israeli government gave me a budget," Segev confessed about what happened. "And the military government gives to the mosques."

Former Israeli religious affairs official Avner Cohen, who worked in Gaza for more than 20 years, told the Wall Street Journal back in 2009 that he, too, played a direct role in the creation of Hamas.

"Hamas, to my great regret, is Israel's creation," Cohen is quoted as saying.

(Related: Ron Paul has always been rejected from Big Politics for his unpopular, but oftentimes correct, viewpoints that contradict the established order of things.)

Israel and the U.S. are the biggest funders, creators and exporters of terror worldwide

Back in the mid-1980s, Cohen wrote an official report to his superiors warning them not to deploy this divide-and-conquer plot in the Occupied Territories, which as we can now see is being used as an excuse for Israel to go in and basically gut Gaza.

"I suggest focusing our efforts on finding ways to break up this monster before this reality jumps in our face," Cohen wrote in his letter.

Cohen was ignored, of course. And now, decades later, Hamas has become a scapegoat for Israel to wage full-scale war on not just the Palestinians living in Gaza, but also the big dog: Iran.

"Hamas was encouraged and really started by Israel and the United States to counteract Yasser Arafat," Paul stated in a congressional testimony from a while back that you can watch below:

"Hamas was encouraged and really started by Isreal and the United States to counteract Yasser Arafat. ? - Ron Paul Ron Paul explains the history of how America funds and props up these groups which later get out of control from their original purpose??? pic.twitter.com/0nUmrTi1Ur  Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) October 9, 2023

None of this is really all that shocking when considering the U.S., which has long acted as Israel's military arm, is notorious for funding and sparking the creation of new terrorist groups that are then used to destabilize nations as a pretext for more war.

"Many of the terrorist groups currently in existence have been influenced or supported in some way by the United States," Revolver explains.

"This often happens when the U.S. is involved in funding wars or supporting certain groups labeled as 'rebels.' As time passes, these same 'rebels' we once supported often become our sworn enemies, perpetuating the cycle of endless forever wars."

The latest news about what is going on in the Middle East can be found at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

NaturalNews.com
Demonstrating stunning disconnect from reality, dozens of Harvard student groups blame Israeli government for Hamas terror attacks

Students belonging to 30 organizations at Harvard University held the Israeli government accountable for the escalating violence in the region in a statement released following a surprise attack by Hamas on 22 Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip.

As Hamas drew worldwide condemnation, the student organizations took the controversial stand, taking into account the historical roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Tensions between Jews and Palestinian Arabs rose in the early 1900s ultimately resulting in the declaration of the state of Israel in 1948. Consequently, this led to fighting, displacing over 700,000 Palestinians, and sparking territorial disputes that continue to this day.

"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. (Related: Video: Portland State University college students donate money to Hamas to "destroy Israel.")

At least 1,300 people were reported killed and more than 100 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas, as reported by CNBC.

Past and present Harvard officials, alumni slam pro-Hamas statement

Lawrence H. Summers, former Harvard president, expressed his disappointment with the situation, while U.S. politicians and Harvard alumni also shared their strong opinions on the matter. The conflict on campus mirrors the broader debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian issue, with different student groups taking varying stances.

Harvard President Claudine Gay condemned the terrorist acts committed by Hamas and emphasized that the student organizations do not represent the official stance of the university. However, she acknowledged their right to express their views.

"The school condemns the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever one's individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region," she said.

While acknowledging students' right to "speak for themselves," Gay said they don't have the right to speak on behalf of Harvard.

The students' statement also drew rebuke from Summers, also an erstwhile U.S. treasury secretary, saying he was "sickened" by it.

Several Republican lawmakers took turns to criticize the statement, including Harvard alumnus Ted Cruz, who wrote on X: "What the hell is wrong with Harvard?"

Boaz Barak, a Harvard computer science professor, also took to social media to condemn the letter and ask the university to remove the student groups school affiliations.

"I have a lot of criticisms of Israeli policies, but everyone who signed this statement is condoning terrorism, rape and murder," he said.

Beyond the statement, a significant number of individuals affiliated with Harvard attended a gathering to mourn those affected by the attack on Israel.

Similar debates and conflicts related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have arisen on other Ivy League campuses, contributing to ongoing discussions and divisions among students.

Among the groups that signed the letter calling on Harvard to "stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians" are the Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine, the Harvard Jews for Liberation and the Harvard South Asian Law Students Association.

Following the post of the letter, the account of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, the author of the statement, had been temporarily suspended.

The group branded the move "a recurring pattern of Meta's censorship of pro-Palestine messaging."

Meanwhile, Gaza Strip's only power station stopped functioning after running out of fuel due to Israel's blockade. That leaves 2.3 million people without electricity, as well as hospitals and other facilities that deliver essential services.

Medical workers have issued an SOS, with doctors warning limited generator capacity will soon run out. Fears of a ground invasion of the coastal enclave heightened after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to "destroy" Hamas.

Visti WWIII.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about Harvard groups withdraw Hamas support.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Turkish president calls for Muslim world to UNITE against Israel.

WSJ says Iran helped Hamas plot attack on Israel "over several weeks;" Israel eager to start BOMBING Iran.

No, the Hamas invasion was not an Israeli "intelligence failure."

Sources include:

TheBlaze.com

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah ready to join the battle in Gaza, warns Hamas leader

Though apparently not involved in the recent Hamas attack on Israel, leaders from Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah say that theyget involved in the fight if Israel follows through with plans to annihilate the Gaza Strip and go after Iran.

Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas' exiled leadership, claims that nobody from Iran's Islamic regime or Lebanese Hezbollah had anything to do with the attacks over the weekend that killed at least 900 people and left thousands more injured  but that could soon change.

Speaking with the Associated Press (AP) on Monday, Barakeh admitted that Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terror group, have helped Hamas in the past, including in the 2014 Gaza war  but not this time.

Hamas supposedly constructed its own rockets and trained its own fighters for this recent attack, which somehow escaped Israel's world-class security apparatus, including the famous Iron Dome.

Only a tiny handful of Hamas commanders even knew the attack was going to happen, Barakeh claims. Barakeh's own organization, he went on to state, was also surprised by the Hamas fighters' ability to penetrate Israeli defenses, especially without any help from Iran or Lebanese Hezbollah.

(Related: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promising to turn the entirety of Gaza, which is home to more than two million people, into "rubble"  they will pay an "unprecedented price," he says.)

U.S. officials claim "no evidence" linking Iran to Hamas attack on Israel

A report from the Wall Street Journal claims the opposite of what Barakeh is saying, arguing that senior members of both Hamas and Hezbollah had disclosed at a meeting a few weeks ago that they were conspiring with Iran to launch the attack on Israel.

The attack itself came just days after Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, called for violence against Israel.

Iran itself issued a statement amid all this confusion denying any direct involvement in Saturday's attack.

"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 United Nations mission said in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken likewise denies that Iran was involved in the assault, claiming that the Biden regime does not "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," Blinken added. "It's one of the reasons that we have been aggressively working to counter Iran."

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus commented on the attack in his latest briefing to state that what happened is the "bloodiest, the biggest and most gruesome" event in Israel's history  presumably referring to Israel as it has existed since 1948.

Comparing the Hamas attack to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, Conricus says the reason why some 900 people died and more than 2,000 were injured is because Hamas "was focused on butchering and executing and massacring civilians in Israel."

Since there are still dozens of Israelis said to be kidnapped and in holding in Gaza, Israel is still trying to figure out how to safely rescue them while getting rid of the attack "beasts" responsible for their capture.

In the meantime, all food, fuel, electricity and water has been cut off to Gaza's two million-plus residents because Israel considers the Hamas presence there to be "human animals," to quote Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

All of this seems to be leading up to World War III. Learn more at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
Israel WEAPONIZES food, water and electricity against 2+ million civilians in Gaza in retribution for Hamas terror attacks

More than two million people are now on the verge of being starved to death by Israel following a string of terror attacks from Hamas over the weekend.

From now on, there will be no more food, water, electricity or fuel going into the Gaza Strip, a sliver of land where Palestinians live in the midst of what has come to be known, as of 1948, as Israel.

Israel says residents in the Gaza Strip  estimates suggest about 1,100 Christians live in the region  will no longer be allowed to eat, drink, drive or turn on their lights at night.

"This is a war for our existence in the region," announced Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. "It will take many weeks. There will be steps here that have never been seen before."

?BREAKING: Israeli Defense Minister: No food, No electricity, No fuel, No water. Were fighting human animals and we act accordingly." pic.twitter.com/SZ1uk1AZ5q  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 9, 2023

Israel Katz, Israel's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, confirmed the decision, adding that his department, which handles water, will no longer be pumping it into the Gaza Strip, leaving the region's two million-plus residents dry as a bone.

(Related: The Israeli government is not a friend to the Israeli people.)

Israel lifts all "restraints," calls on military to kill EVERYONE "who fights against us"

On Tuesday, Gallant added to his statement that Israel will now engage in a "full offensive" against the Gaza Strip, which is where it says Hamas militants are hiding and plotting to murder Israeli children "in the countryside."

"I have released all the restraints," Gallant said chillingly, restraints sounding a whole lot like the restrainer as mentioned in II Thessalonians 2:6.

"We have (regained) control of the area and we are moving to a full offense."

At a meeting with Israeli military forces and elite fighters near a Gaza border entry, Gallant would further hype up Israel's trained killers by once again dehumanizing the residents of the Gaza Strip.

"You fought with great courage," Gallant told the Israeli fighters. "You have seen what we are fighting: human animals. You can change the reality here."

"You have seen the prices (paid) and will see the change. Hamas wanted change in Gaza; it would change 180 degrees from what they thought. They will regret this moment: Gaza will never be what it was."

Just to be sure the Israeli fighters understood his point, Gallant would go on to talk about Israeli children being "murdered in the countryside" if the Gaza Strip is allowed to continue existing as it has for many decades.

"It cannot be that Israeli children are murdered in the countryside, and Hamas continues to exist," the minister said. "I have lifted all restrictions: anyone who fights against us will be killed by any means necessary."

Thousands have died on both sides, we are told, with the death toll still increasing every day as Israel lobs bomb after bomb into Gaza as part of this full offensive operation.

Residents who live in the Gaza Strip told one media outlet that these latest airstrikes by Israel are much different than those used in previous conflicts. These are much more destructive and are happening without any warning whatsoever, unlike in previous operations when Gaza residents were warned ahead of time.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro weighed in on the matter by calling for the protection of "the sacred people of Gaza," whom he says are being "bombed, tortured, attacked, persecuted and martyred."

"The Christian world, the Muslim world, the Jewish world, the world of the South has to react," he added. "We have to wake up."

What will happen next in the Middle East? Keep up with the latest at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com

EFE.com

BlueLetterBible.org

MSN.com
9 UN workers killed as Gaza Strip suffers from unrelenting Israeli airstrikes

Israeli forces have continued to pound the Gaza Strip with relentless airstrikes in response to Hamas' surprise attack on 22 Israeli towns. Countless lives were lost, including nine staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). They were killed in their homes across the Gaza Strip.

"The protection of civilians is paramount, including in times of conflict," Juliette Touma, UNRWA director of communications, told the Associated Press. "They should be protected in accordance with the laws of war."

Israel's response to the Hamas attack has been aggressive, resulting in substantial destruction in the Gaza Strip. Many neighborhoods have been devastated by Israeli air strikes. The UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City and schools-turned-shelters have also suffered damage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently declared war and said the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would "operate forcefully everywhere." (Related: Netanyahu promises to turn Gaza into "rubble" following Hamas attack  they will pay "unprecedented price.")

An independent international commission of inquiry expressed grave concerns about the ongoing situation and accused Israel of committing war crimes.

"The commission is gravely concerned with Israels latest attack on Gaza involving the withholding of water, food, electricity and fuel which will no doubt cost civilian lives and constitutes collective punishment," said the UN Independent International Commission on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas and expressed support for Israel, confirming that some Americans are among those held hostage by Hamas. As tensions persist, over 1,200 Israelis are reported to have lost their lives.

In Gaza, the situation is dire, with essential services such as electricity, fuel, and water collapsing after four consecutive nights of Israeli airstrikes.

Hospitals and medical facilities are overwhelmed, and it's reported that Israel is targeting first responders.

Death toll among Palestinians has soared past 940, with at least 140 children among the dead. An estimated 263,000 Palestinians have been displaced so far.

Israel, on the other hand, announced that the deadly weekend attack has killed over 1,200 Israelis, 14 Americans and many other foreign nationals.

Gaza residents face an alarming humanitarian crisis.

"We are suffering, and the world is not moving a finger. This is an SOS to the whole world  you must help us," said a Gaza health official.

Al Jazeera reported that Gaza residents are "trapped in a cage" with nowhere to escape amid the unrelenting Israeli airstrikes.

Humanitarian corridor through Egypt eyed

Efforts are being made to establish a humanitarian corridor through Egypt to evacuate Palestinian civilians, including American citizens.

The Biden administration said it is talking with the Egyptian government and regional officials to establish the corridor through which Palestinian civilians, particularly American citizens and passport holders still stuck in Gaza, could evacuate.

However, the feasibility and effectiveness of this plan are questioned, considering the ongoing bombardment and the challenges in resettling refugees.

Questions were asked: How would Gaza residents actually make it to the corridor exit amid the constant bombs? How can Egypt hope to resettle all these refugees given its struggling economy and lack of infrastructure?

Would this be facilitating a massive demographic "emptying out" of Gaza by encouraging the population to leave, instead of world powers pursuing a ceasefire deal?

On Tuesday, Oct. 10. Israel bombed the lone border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The Rafah crossing is the only possibility of escape for Gaza civilians.

The conflict continues to draw international attention and debate, with different perspectives on the actions of both sides. As the situation worsens, it becomes increasingly critical to address the humanitarian crisis in the region and work towards a ceasefire to protect civilian lives.

Visit WWIII.news for more stories about the ongoing conflict in Israel.

Watch this footage of an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip from the Israeli Defense Forces.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Sources include:

News.Yahoo.com

ZeroHedge.com

Aljazeera.com

Brighteon.com
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas is ISIS, vows MILITARY ACTION against Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Oct. 9, that the atrocities carried out by Hamas during its recent attack on Israel mirrored those perpetrated by the jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"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."

With Hamas attacks on Israel contained by destructive airstrikes into Gaza, there is no sign of the conflict declining in spite of calls for de-escalation from the international community.

Netanyahu promised to "change the Middle East" in reaction to Hamas' shock attack over the weekend. (Related: Netanyahu promises to turn Gaza into "rubble" following Hamas attack  they will pay "unprecedented price.")

"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."

Israeli death squads declared on Monday they would initiate assassination attempts against Hamas commanders, repeating Netanyahu's words that Gaza's leaders present a threat comparable with that of ISIS.

"We are going to act toward Hamas in every way like the West treated Daesh [ISIS]. Operationally, that means eradicating their leaders and fighters. But there will be international and diplomatic implications as well," an Israeli government official said in an interview with The Times on Monday.

Israeli forces will now be searching for targets in territories outside of Gaza, where some Hamas officials have looked for refuge. Among them is Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who has sought refuge outside of Gaza and now living in Qatar, which has sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Gaza in recent years. Haniyeh earlier stated that Palestinian groups would look to extend operations, going all the way to the West Bank and Jerusalem.

More than 1200 Israeli soldiers, civilians killed by Palestinians

More than 1200 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up to pieces in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday, Oct. 7. The Palestinians cut down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a cruel, surprise offensive.

In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and air force battered the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they struck more than 1,000 Hamas targets in two days.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said officials will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and close off the entry of food and fuel, announcing his troops are "fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly."

The measures will basically achieve siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the small, fenced-in area start to starve as they are attacked from the skies.

The declaration comes as Israeli soldiers supported by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon.

Netanyahu formally declared war on Oct. 8, and the IDF Ground Forces enlisted about 300,000 reservists, indicating further fighting awaits with a potential ground assault into Gaza. The Israeli prime minister has pledged to totally destroy "the military and governing capabilities" of Hamas, which is deeply embedded in Gaza and has governed unopposed since 2007.

Meanwhile, Abu Obeida, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, said on Monday night in reaction to Israel's aerial attacks that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive whenever Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza "without prior warning."

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responded by warning Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying: "This war crime will not be forgiven."

Follow Chaos.news for more news about conflicts around the world.

Watch the video below showing Hamas' surprise attack in Israel.

This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Henry Gruver: "When Israel sends troops into Gaza, it will be a sign the Middle East war has started."

The Israel Guys: Israel's precision strikes took out terrorists in Gaza Strip  Brighteon.TV.

Israel-Palestine war causes GOLD PRICES to RALLY as demand for safe haven investment increases amid chaos.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

SCMP.com

Brighteon.com
Parisians voice out SAFETY CONCERNS regarding ILLEGALS coming from the Italian island of Lampedusa

Residents in the French capital Paris have expressed safety concerns over the latest wave of illegal immigrants coming from the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Several local residents touched on the issue of immigration with the French broadcaster CNews, with most of them being concerned about security. They feared that the City of Lights could see an influx of migrants, given that tens of thousands have been landing on Italian shores in recent weeks.

One resident of the 18th arrondissement (district) near the Jardins d'Eole public park told the channel: "We don't feel safe." They explained that a number of newcomers to the neighborhood had taken part in civil disorder and organized crime, including drug trafficking.

"They fight and cause problems," said another resident. This second resident admitted she felt scared and intimidated by groups of adult loitering in her neighborhood. (Related: RIOTS erupt across France as EU falls to migrant invasion.)

Residents aren't the only ones with these sentiments, however. Even local politicians have spoken out against the recent degradation seen on Paris' streets. According to Remix News, many new arrivals to the French capital resort to sleeping on the street and establishing ghettos because social services are saturated.

"You regularly have clashes, causes of alcoholism and drug addiction on the public roads of these neighborhoods," said Pierre Liscia, regional councilor for Ile-de-France  the region where Paris is located. "Unfortunately, networks of crack traffickers  take advantage of the presence of these people."

Meanwhile, other elected officials have called for strong measures to be put in place to relocate newcomers from the streets to more secure accommodations in an attempt to clean up affected neighborhoods.

"I am calling for a major emergency plan for the northeast of Paris to get migrants out of the street is the dignity that we owe them, and thus resolve the problem of local residents who are on the frontline of nuisances and inconveniences, said Parisian councilor Pierre-Yves Bournazel, who represents the 18th arrondissement.

Poland and Hungary say NO TO MIGRANTS

Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the small island of Lampedusa "has been inundated with scores of illegal migrants arriving in small boats from the African mainland," Remix News said. Many of the migrants that land there "continue to migrate to the north of Italy and cross into France and Germany," eventually heading to Paris.

The European Union is currently discussing asylum reforms to prevent migrants from entering the continent and traveling at will to desired, more prosperous nations. If ratified, the EU migration pact will see countries mandated to receive their fair share of migrants  with fines awaiting nations that fail to comply.

However, both Hungary and Poland have opposed the pact as it infringes on their national sovereignty. Despite pushback from Warsaw and Budapest, initial proposals were passed in the European Parliament by qualified majority voting.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his government will never agree to the EU's asylum proposals, adding that Poles "do not want another Lampedusa in Poland." He also reiterated Warsaw's commitment to border security, something that Brussels wants to abolish according to Morawiecki.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed that Brussels had "legally raped" Budapest by forcing the migration pact with the help of pro-migration allies. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he reiterated the Hungarian government's intention to reject the proposals.

"There will be no compromise on migration  not today, and not in the upcoming years," wrote Orban. "We will defend our borders from migrants and from the Brussels bureaucrats as well."

Watch this footage of migrants from Africa arriving at Lampedusa by boat.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Italy struggles to deal with influx of 6,000 migrants in one day.

Italy declares STATE OF EMERGENCY over influx of migrants.

Hungarian expert: MIGRATION is the major reason for France riots.

MIGRANT VIOLENCE: Rioters in France DESTROY one of world's oldest public libraries.

French riots show that decades of mass 'colonizing immigration' could lead to 'collapse,' says former head of French counter-intelligence agency.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

RMX.news 1

RMX.news 2

Brighteon.com
Its a trap! The wave of repercussions as the Middle East fights the last war

Few people are familiar with a little event around 1200 BC called the Bronze Age Collapse in the region known as the Levant (now known as the Middle East). Most folks are taught that history and progress travel in a straight line and that each generation improves upon the culture and innovations of previous generations. This delusion is constructed around a Smithsonian-influenced view of the past. In reality, history tends to go in a circle, or a spiral, with innovation leading to ease, ease leading to laziness and corruption, and corruption leading to weakness and collapse.

(Article by Brandon Smith republished from Alt-Market.us)

Over and over again, humanity reaches for Elysium on Earth only to be slapped back down. The survivors then build grass huts on top of the ruins of the old empires and they start over from scratch. Why does the Bronze Age catastrophe matter? Obviously, because history tends to rhyme.

The Levant at this time was rich with civilization and trade, composed of a host of kingdoms that represented the known world including the Egyptians, Babylonians, Minoans, Mycenaeans, Hittites, etc. They had vast economic networks, agriculture, industry and written libraries. The proximity of the kingdoms allowed for such extensive trade relations that this period is often referred to by modern historians as the first globalized economy (sound familiar?).

What took centuries to build was destroyed in a single generation by a series of disasters. A mega-drought caused kingdoms without consistent water resources to lose agricultural production leading to widespread famine and disease (yes, the climate can and does change dramatically regardless of human carbon footprint). Trade was disrupted by internal disputes, and a mysterious invasion of a group of roaming raiders called the sea people is documented as a primary factor in collapse.

The Sea People attacked numerous kingdoms, but many of them were also refugees flooding into the region. They disrupted cultures and economies and dragged a number of empires into the dust. This all happened in less than 30 years. Sadly, because only the elites of these civilizations were able to read and write, languages and historic documentation were lost.

This initiated a dark age which lasted for centuries. Humanity was set back, essentially to zero, while scratching and surviving among temples and pyramids of past generations. They must have looked up at those decaying marvels of architecture from hundreds of years ago and wondered What the hell happened to us?

Not everything perished, of course. The Egyptian dynasties were in decline, but they managed to hold together far better than their counterparts across the Levant. However, the event represented a setback to human knowledge that was detrimental. One might suggest that if the Bronze Age Collapse never occurred we might be a space borne species traveling the stars by now.

Then again, maybe these cultures were so corrupt that they needed to fail so that something better could be built in their place?

What does any of this have to do with the state of the Middle East today? The smart readers out there surely see what Im getting at. The intricate relationships and trade mechanisms of the Bronze Age led to great wealth and prosperity, but they were terribly fragile. That same interdependency resulted in their demise as they tumbled like dominoes on top of each other.

The globalization and collectivist war mongering of today is leading to a similar worldwide implosion. Our irrational ties to foreign entanglements and economies could very well destroy civilization again. Consider what are we about to see as the Israel/Palestine war unfolds

Multiple Nations Dragged Into The Conflict

If you were wondering what the October surprise was going to be, well, now you know. I will make my position on this situation clear  I dont care about either side. I care about innocent civilians, but other than that the war is irrelevant. I am an American and I care about America. The same goes for Ukraine and Russia. Their wars are not our wars, and I am highly suspicious every time our political leaders try to lure us into choosing a side when foreigners start shooting each other. To summarize: All wars are banker wars.

The Israelis enjoy our money but they have a history of proven illicit operations to lure us into war (USS Liberty, anyone?). The Palestinians and most of the Muslim world despise the west and Christianity in general (and I dont really care who started it, the fact remains that our cultures are completely incompatible and this will never change). Just because we happen to find common ground on fighting back against the insane trans agenda does not mean Im willing to accept draconian Sharia Law in my community.

Both sides use tactics that deliberately target civilians. Im not talking about collateral damage like we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan, Im talking about groups that are consciously and brazenly engaged in plans for genocide. Bottom line? There are no good guys to join with. Its a complete sh*t show of ancient tribal nonsense that westerners should stay away from.

For those that disagree, ask yourselves this  Are you truly willing to go pick up a rifle and fly to Israel or Gaza to fight and die for either side? If so, then go do it and stop demanding others do it for you. If not, then shut up.

But heres whats going to happen: The establishment will seek to force Americans and Europeans into these wars regardless. The corporate media and some political leaders are already suggesting that the recent full scale attack on Israel was planned by governments outside of Gaza. Some are accusing Iran, and others accuse Lebanon. From the extensive amount of footage of the attack that I have examined, I have no doubt that someone other than the Palestinians orchestrated the event. The tactics were far too advanced and far too coordinated; the Palestinians have never been all that smart when it comes to military strategy.

Who drafted the attack is another question entirely. So far there are a lot of rumors but no hard evidence leading to any specific governments. Another big question is, how did the Palestinians manage to organize all of this and execute the invasion WITHOUT Israeli intel services knowing about it? Mossad is known to be one of the most intrusive and pervasive covert agencies in the world, yet they were caught completely off guard by this unprecedented attack? I think not.

Im reminded of the events of 9/11 and the strange series of intelligence failures that preceded it. Im also reminded of the lies, propaganda and the reactionary response which led to two decades of meaningless war.

Im going to call it here  In a couple of weeks we will hear reports that many of the soldiers involved in the incursion were NOT Palestinian. They will claim some of them are from Iran, Syria, Lebanon, etc. There will be intel that says Iran was a major backer of the plan (The Wall Street Journal already claims this is the case, but they have not provided any compelling proof, yet).

A US carrier strike group is on the way to the region now, and this is just the beginning. Europeans will be pressured to go to war, American conservatives in particular will be waterboarded with propaganda telling us that an attack on Israel is an attack on the US. It will be a lot like the rhetoric Neo-cons and leftists used during the initial invasion of Ukraine, but multiplied by a thousand. To be clear, both Biden and Trump have been rattling sabers and testing the waters of war, so dont think that we can avoid this simply by voting.

Read more at: Alt-Market.us
Kevin McCarthy: U.S. could be the next target of terror attacks as terrorists come flooding through unprotected southern border

Ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has warned that the Hamas-led strikes against Israel should serve as a "wake up call" for Americans . He said similar terror attacks could hit the United States as terrorists come flooding in through the southern border.

In an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, McCarthy warned that Americans could see "the same thing happen next week to us."

"We caught more people on the terrorist watch list in February than we caught in the entire administration," he added. "We could have cells sitting inside of America right now." (Related: Every state is now a border state: Alabama deploys 275 National Guardsmen to southern border to deter illegals.)

McCarthy and other analysts have likened the attacks on Israel to 9/11, echoing a time when U.S. intelligence services failed to detect the Al Qaeda-led operation that killed thousands of Americans.

"We should take a step back and look at ourselves. Your intel is never perfect and we've got a wide-open border. They're coming from 160 different countries, including those known to harbor terrorist and other militant groups," said McCarthy. "How did we not know that is happening [in Gaza]? Everybody should look at their own intelligence right now."

Biden, staff were barbecuing while Israel was getting attacked

While Israel was getting attacked by Hamas on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 8, President Joe Biden and many of his administration were having their staff barbecue at the White House.

"To the president, turn off the barbecue and speak to the American people to be the leader the world is looking for," said McCarthy, who also accused the Biden administration of not doing enough to provide support for Israel.

McCarthy has called for a "five-point plan" for the federal government to support Israel, with the priority being locating, identifying and potentially rescuing American hostages held by Palestinian groups.

"This administration must also make clear that harming any American will result in the wrath of the United States," said McCarthy. "We cannot repeat what happened in Afghanistan. It must be clear that we do not negotiate with terrorists and no American will be left behind."

Republican foreign policy leaders are also asking the Biden administration to end its foreign aid for the Palestinian territories, pointing to a State Department communique assessing a "high risk" that Hamas could be deriving "indirect, unintentional benefit from U.S. assistance to Gaza."

In response to McCarthy, the White House claimed that Biden has consistently supported Israel and the defense of its territory against terrorists. The administration further claimed that Biden had already spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ordered the U.S. Armed Forces to provide additional aid to the Israel Defense Forces.

The White House added that the administration held "a long-scheduled event to thank the hardworking non-political staff who keep the White House running  operating the kitchens, cleaning the White House and helping keep the complex safe."

"This date was chosen because there were no White House activities that would require their work and they could bring their families," the White House added. "They deserve that recognition, and no small, petty comments from partisan media or elected officials change that."

Watch this clip of a press briefing McCarthy held wherein he tore into the Biden administration's "overwhelming intelligence failure" in not preventing the violence against Israel.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CONFIRMED: Mexican cartels are now INSIDE the U.S. forming gangs and SNIPER NESTS to take out Americans.

160 individuals on terror list have attempted to cross into U.S. this year  ILLEGALLY, of course.

ISIS-affiliated smuggler helped migrants illegally enter the U.S. via Mexico.

Venezuelan illegal immigrant paroled by Biden ARRESTED by ICE in Chicago for allegedly FUNDING TERRORISM.

Man on government's terrorist watchlist caught crossing illegally into U.S.  how many others have made it through?

Sources include:

FreeBeacon.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
The latest study warned of impacts on water security due to the worsening problems of heatwaves and prolonged drought exacerbated by climate change.

Communities could suffer from water scarcity when drought hits, making it more challenging for crops.

The increasing global population demands more water consumption. However, drought and heatwaves can increase water usage among households, cities, agriculture and businesses.

As a result, experts from the Department of Physical Geography at Utrecht University studied the water use in sectors and the potential impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events.

Global water security and climate change

Climate change can intensify extreme weather events, from prolonged drought, wildfires and heatwaves. It can cause less rainfall, affecting crops and water supplies. It can worsen heatwaves, causing the global population to consume more water.

The research findings were published in the Environmental Research Letters journal.

Researchers looked into the sectoral water uses. They analyzed data from 1990 to 2019.

Understanding the impacts of climate change can provide insights into better policy-making and urgent efforts to prevent disastrous effects on global water security.

In addition, the sectoral water use assessment can help understand how different sectors use water in response to climate change events.

The researchers observed the water use from different sectors, particularly manufacturing, energy, livestock and domestic.

Gabriel Cardenas Belleza, the study's lead author, explained that high temperatures can temporarily increase water demand. Part of the research is to analyze extensive data of about 30 years.

Cardenas Belleza is also a Ph.D. candidate at the Utrecht University.

The researcher's data can help deepen the knowledge about the sectorial water use behavior amidst the growing concerns of human-induced climate change and extreme weather events.

As populations and economies grow, the water demand is expected to rise globally. The rapid intensification of drought and heat waves can also exacerbate the problem, calling for urgent water conservation.

The sustainable responses of cities are also crucial to save more water, adding that heat waves can become more frequent due to climate change.

Water problems can impact wildlife and communities, causing a major concern of water crisis. It can also affect food security, which requires water.

Also Read: Pond Turtles Conservation: Restoration Efforts To Save Species from Brink of Extinction in Washington State, U.S.

The threat of water pollution

Furthermore, water pollution is also one of the threats to people's human and water security. The pollution can contaminate significant water areas, and exposure could result in health risks.

The hazardous and toxic materials from water pollution can impact marine life and clean water. Poorer communities can be at risk of harmful bacteria and parasites, causing significant health concerns.

Meanwhile, the problem of plastic pollution can worsen the situation. Plastic in oceans can bring deadly flooding in urban areas.

Related Article: Global Impact of Extreme Weather Events: Climate Change Can Intensify Frequent Hurricanes, Drought, Wildfires

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Researchers modeled the performance of hypothetical floating wind farms off the coast of southern Oregon and northern California, showing multiple futures in which the benefits outweigh the cost of development

A new report from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows that along a 200-mile stretch of ocean off the coast of southern Oregon and northern California, floating wind farms could potentially triple the Pacific Northwest's wind power capacity while offsetting potentially billions of dollars in costs for utilities, ratepayers, insurance companies, and others across the West who bear the cost of climate change's effects.

"This research is all about unlocking an untapped source of supply where there is limited transmission and little ability to move that electricity today," said Travis Douville, lead author on the report and an advisor at PNNL who leads research on integrating wind energy into the grid. "Offshore wind offers a massive opportunity to decarbonize the western United States."

The nation's power supply is split into three separate grids, with the western interconnection providing power to more than 80 million people over 14 states in the western United States and two Canadian provinces. The new report dives into future scenarios where floating offshore wind farms are connected to the shore between Coos Bay, OR, and Eureka, CA, via large transmission lines and the value those wind farms could bring to utilities and ratepayers alike.

The benefits of offshore wind

Land-based wind farms across the United States already produce more than 140 gigawatts of energy, contributing to about 10% of the nation's energy portfolio. Currently, the federal government aims to install 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 and to increase that number to 110 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2050. That much wind power could power tens of million of homes and cut more than 78 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

One of the perks of offshore wind turbines whether they're attached to the ocean floor or floating on the surface versus land-based is that wind over the ocean is less variable and more consistent, said Mark Severy, a research engineer at PNNL and coauthor on the report. Wind over land is generally more variable because it may be influenced by the complex relationship between the atmosphere and landscapes like mountains, valleys, flat plains, or forests.

Wind over the ocean also tends to peak in the evenings, which could help supply power when solar energy dips as the sun sets, Severy said. In places like California, where solar energy makes up most of the renewable power, utilities could turn to wind power in the evenings, when demand generally goes up, instead of fossil fuels to power homes.

Modeling floating offshore wind energy

To meet the nation's ambitious wind power goals, potential offshore wind farms must be carefully studied and planned. And along with building floating wind turbines in the ocean, researchers will also have to figure out how to bring the power they generate to land and connect it with the electrical grid.

One challenge is determining whether already existing transmission infrastructure could support incoming energy from offshore wind. In a previous study, Douville and other researchers found that offshore wind could supply 3 gigawatts of energy with upgrades to Oregon's current transmission lines. That's enough energy to power 1 million homes.

But what about in the future, with more transmission lines and an increased ability to transport energy? "How do you harness offshore wind energy in a way that allows you to adequately, reliably, and resiliently supply electricity in the future at lowest cost?" Douville said. "And what is the role of transmission design to influence the value of offshore wind?"

To find out, the team modeled different transmission scenarios, two of which represent a future where offshore wind farms and new, powerful transmission lines add an additional 20 gigawatts worth of wind power to the western interconnection. Both scenarios include high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines to carry power, which would then be converted to alternating current (AC) once onshore (DC can transmit higher voltages and thus more energy, but needs to be converted to AC to be distributed to the end users).

The two scenarios differ in whether each wind farm is connected separately to shore (in a radial structure) or whether the wind farms are connected to each other, then to shore (a backbone structure).

Although both transmission scenarios offered millions of dollars in value, the backbone structure offers slightly different benefits, Severy said. In the radial scenario, power can only go to one place wherever the wind farm is connected on the coast and then distributed from there. In the backbone structure, power can be diverted up and down the coast.



In their investigation of the economic benefits of floating offshore wind, researchers looked at two different ways that the generated power could be delivered to shore. One was a radial structure, in which individual wind farms (represented by a single wind turbine in the above image) are each connected to shore where power is delivered. (Illustration by Stephanie King for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)



In their investigation of the economic benefits of offshore wind, researchers looked at two different ways that the generated power could be delivered to shore. The second structure is called a backbone, in which the wind farms are connected to each other, then connected to shore at fewer points. (Illustration by Stephanie King for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

For example, "in times when there's excess solar generation in California, we found that the backbone provides another pathway for that electricity to go to the Pacific Northwest and when there is a lot of hydropower in the Pacific Northwest, the backbone is another pathway south, outside of the congested transmission lines on the I-5 corridor," Severy said.

Although either option would be expensive, "the benefits exceed the costs in nearly every scenario," Douville said. In those scenarios where benefits exceed the costs, the values of the various returns on investment range between $127 million to $6 billion. These numbers represent savings to produce and supply power as well as avoided cost of the effects of air pollution and destruction wrought by climate-change-related disasters.

Challenges for offshore wind development

Douville stressed that many more questions need to be answered before an offshore wind plan can be executed. Many of these questions will come into focus on the West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Study, which kicked off in May 2023 and aims to determine how the nation can expand transmission to harness offshore wind power on the West Coast.

For instance, researchers and policymakers need to consider how transmission lines will fare underwater. Sea floor depth and slope could affect where cable could be laid, and salt water can be very corrosive, said Jason Fuller, chief energy resilience engineer at PNNL. Maintenance could be tough, depending on how deep the cables are laid. In addition, the nation simply hasn't used HVDC as much as AC on the grid, and modeling HVDC with current tools can be difficult. PNNL researchers are working on modeling the performance of HVDC lines to support the offshore wind work.

Researchers and policymakers will also have to consider other stakeholders who depend on the ocean, including fisheries and other coastal communities.

"Early coordinated transmission planning leads to more economical solutions, for utilities, ratepayers, and society as a whole," said Douville. "If we plan now for what we think the grid will look like 20 years from now, and policymakers can use these insights to guide development, we're going to end up with a better solution."

This work was funded by the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on its distinguishing strengths in chemistry, Earth sciences, biology and data science to advance scientific knowledge and address challenges in sustainable energy and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, which is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE's Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science. For more information about PNNL, visit PNNL's News Center. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Four hunters in Oklahoma were fined $68,000 and had their firearms seized for killing four endangered whooping cranes.

Four Endangered Whooping Cranes Killed, Four Hunters Fined

According to US Attorney Robert J. Troester, four individuals from Oklahoma were sentenced this week to pay $68,000 in reparations for illegally killing four whooping cranes covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

On August 22, a charge of taking a migratory bird without a license was brought against Joseph M. Roman, Justin M. Wine, Chanod M. Campbell, and Brian Lee Gollihare Jr.

The four defendants killed four whooping cranes while hunting at Tom Steed Reservoir in southwest Oklahoma on or around November 5, 2021, according to evidence given in court.

They then tried to bury the dead birds before fleeing the area.

Endangered Whooping Cranes

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects whooping cranes since they are migratory birds.

The whooping crane is one of the rarest and most endangered birds in North America, according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS).

According to an FWS study dated May 2023, there are just about 600 whooping cranes left in the wild.

All four defendants entered guilty pleas, and this week, at sentencing proceedings, US Magistrate Judge Amanda Maxfield Green mandated that each defendant pay $750 in fees as well as $17,000 in restitution to the International Crane Foundation.

Additionally, the defendants were each forced to surrender their shotguns, and they will no longer be allowed to hunt in all 50 states for the ensuing five years.

According to US Attorney Robert Troester, everyone must safeguard threatened and endangered species of animals and plants for the sake of present and future generations.

According to Troester, his office supports and applauds the efforts made by colleagues in federal and state law enforcement, and he believes that this case will serve as a deterrent to anyone who would harm endangered species.

Also Read: UNESCO-Listed Donana National Park Aqueduct Damaged by Five Farmers in Illegal Water Extraction - Spain

The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement is dedicated to conducting investigations into criminal activity with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to ensure the survival of endangered species like the whooping crane, according to Edward Grace, the US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director.

Troester also said that the results of this case are the product of the Office of Law Enforcement's and the ODWC partners' active investigation efforts to hold wildlife violators accountable.

Tips from the Public and Collaborating Government Agencies

State and federal authorities collaborated closely throughout the investigation, according to Law Enforcement Chief Nathan Erdman, from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The exceptional ODWC Game Wardens worked tirelessly to follow up on leads and gather the crucial evidence that produced this result.

Rest assured, according to Erdman, that comprehensive investigations like this one together with public tips will lead to the capture of those violating Oklahoma's wildlife laws.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation looked into this matter, with Charles Brown, an assistant US attorney, handling the prosecution.

Related Article: Illegal Dumping of 800 Tons Electronic Waste in New York Results in Over $200k Fines
The recent report showed the rare discovery of 5,000-year-old wine near the ancient tomb of Queen Meret-Neith in Abydos, Egypt. Archaeologists also unearthed grave goods near the tomb.

Egypt is home to ancient civilizations and discoveries. Researchers discovered the pyramids and other archaeological finds that helped better understand their tradition, culture and ancient life.

Queen Meret-Neith of the 1st Dynasty was one of the strongest leaders in ancient Egypt. With her power and influence, the Queen had her royal ancestral tomb at Abydos.

5,000 Years Old Wine Uncovered Near Ancient Tomb

As a result, German-Austrian experts studied the tomb of Queen Meret-Neith, which can provide insight into her existence. Archaeologist Christiana Kohler led the team at the University of Vienna.

The researchers began their excavations. They discovered a rare find: a 5,000-year-old wine in the tomb of Queen Meret-Neith. Receiving an ancient tomb with grave goods showed the power and standing of the Queen in early Egypt.

When they discovered the hundreds of large wine jars, some were in good condition and appropriately sealed. The findings also supported the leadership role of the Queen in Egypt.

The research is in collaboration with the following:

Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

University of Vienna and the Vienna University of Technology

German Archaeological Institute in Cairo

Lund University in Sweden

Furthermore, other researchers suggested that the Queen might have been the first female pharaoh in early Egypt.

However, there is still a lack of knowledge about Queen Meret-Neith's leadership in her time. The researchers hoped the archaeological excavations could offer new insights into her existence.

Ancient Egypt and History

Studying the ancient Egypt is essential to history. It is rich in archaeological findings about academic advances, arts, science and building constructions.

The Egyptian civilization was also considered influential and powerful, bringing significant achievements in today's science and society.

With advanced tools and technology, researchers have been searching for new information from fossils and discoveries.

Furthermore, the ancient lives, people's behavior, leadership and cultures can deepen the understanding of their existence.

Also Read: New Spine Fossils Can Help Decipher Deep-Sea Activities, Evolution 104 Million Years Ago

Ancient bee cocoons during Pharaoh Siamun's reign

Recently, researchers also uncovered unique fossils of well-preserved ancient bee cocoons on the Southwest coast of Portugal. The fossils of Eucera bee cocoons likely survived about 3,000 years ago during Pharaoh Siamun's reign.

The report findings were published in Papers in Palaeontology journal. The bee cocoons were exceptionally preserved, helping researchers to unearth new paleontological sites.

Furthermore, the researchers noticed the careful methods of cocoon fossilization. The study provided new insights into the discovery using microcomputed tomography and three-dimensional images.

The Eucera bees also thrive in parts of Portugal. The report highlighted that there are about 700 different bees in the country.

Related Article: 130 Million Years Fossils Show Rare Early Deep-Sea Species Activities During Dinosaur Time

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
other sectors, including from the conventional sector. This in turn highlights the wind sector's role in supporting a just and equitable energy transition away from fossil fuels. As a result, the Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2023-2027 highlights an urgent need for faster growth in safety and technical training capacity to meet the anticipated supply chain gaps.

Jakob Lau Holst, CEO of Global Wind Organisation says "Workforce development is top of mind for policymakers, industry associations and employers. The GWO/GWEC Global Wind Workforce Outlook demonstrates not just how many people will be needed for the forecast installation and maintenance of the world's wind fleet but emphasises how many of these will be new arrivals to the sector. This underlines the need for a renewed focus on entry level skills that match the needs of employers and complements the existing capabilities people bring from other sectors and education systems."

Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC adds: "A strong workforce and healthy supply chain will be crucial to the colossal growth of wind capacity in this decade. It is vital that the growing workforce is provided with the tools to train properly, with an approach that puts health and safety at the heart of industry growth. GWEC is delighted to present the Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2023-2027 alongside the Global Wind Organisation. The report sets out how to maintain a safe and healthy work environment and scale up training capacity to meet the demands of a 1.5C-compliant pipeline of wind energy projects around the world. Without a skilled and sustainable workforce for wind and renewable energy, the energy transition will not materialise in time."

The Outlook highlights onshore and offshore wind growth and workforce needs in 10 countries in particular: Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Japan, Kenya, South Korea and the USA. The high wind power ambitions of these countries must be reinforced by a strong culture of health and safety and a trained workforce. This will be needed to ensure that wind power can continue to support climate and energy targets, and contribute to modern and sustainable economies around the world.

Key insights:

HOW MANY WIND TECHNICIANS WILL REQUIRE STANDARDISED TRAINING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION, AND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE GLOBAL WIND FLEET?

By the end of 2027, the worldwide wind fleet will be roughly 1,581GW, more than double the level before the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the number of wind technicians that will require industry training will increase 17% from 489,600 in 2022 to 574,200 in 2027. The number of new wind technicians is expected to increase by 48,800 on average per year from 2023 to 2027.

WHAT IS THE GAP BETWEEN CURRENT LEVELS OF GWO TRAINING AVAILABLE AND THE LEVELS REQUIRED TO TRAIN THE FORECASTED WORKFORCE?
By: Gabriel Gomane, Senior Product Marketing Manager at HPE Aruba Networking

As organizations are moving to a cloud-centric architecture, where most applications reside in the cloud and the demand for hybrid work environment increases, security must evolve in parallel:

Legacy VPNs have often provided poor user experience. Additionally, usage of VPNs without granular controls could over-extend network privilege, granting users more access to resources than necessary, increasing security risks.

Traditional network architectures routed application traffic to the data center for security inspection, which is no longer practical, and impacted application performance since most applications now reside in the cloud.

With data increasingly hosted in SaaS applications, organizations need to take extra steps to protect their data. Sensitive data can indeed be stored in both sanctioned and unsanctioned cloud applications (or shadow IT), and may travel over unsecured links, leading to potential risk of data loss.

Employees are vulnerable to web-based threats such as phishing attacks and ransomware when browsing the internet or simply accessing emails.

The explosion of IoT devices in the recent years have significantly increased the attack surface. However, IoT devices are often built on a simple design and lack sophisticated security mechanisms.

Finally, organizations must comply with regulatory mandates such as HIPAA or GDPR but often lack the essentials tools and comprehensive reports needed to demonstrate compliance.

SASE, Secure Access Service Edge, helps tackle these challenges by combining SD-WAN with SSE (Security Service Edge).

SD-WAN leverages network virtualization to combine multiple links such as MPLS, Internet and 5G, reduce costs and improve application performance. It also eliminates the need to backhaul SaaS traffic to the data center, based on intelligent steering.

SSE (Security Service Edge) includes advanced cloud-delivered security services. These include ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access), SWG (Secure Web Gateway) and CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker). ZTNA enforces least privilege access at the application level based on identity, ensuring that users and third-party users only access the resources they need. SWG safeguards against web-based threats like ransomware and phishing by monitoring all web traffic through URL and content filtering. CASB identifies sensitive data, prevents data loss, and detects shadow IT.

Organizations can choose between a single-vendor SASE approach and a multi-vendor SASE approach. While a multi-vendor approach allows for selecting best-of-breed solutions for specific aspect of SASE, some organizations prefer the simplicity and the ease of deployment of a single-vendor SASE solution, as well as the single point of contact for support, and the simpler licensing.

In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2025, 50% of SD-WAN purchases will be part of a single-vendor SASE offering, up from less than 10% in 2021[1].

Five key trends explain the preference for a single-vendor SASE solution:

1. Cloud-native architecture and scalability

A single-vendor SASE solution is designed with a cloud-native architecture, leveraging the scalability and agility of cloud computing. This architecture enables organizations to dynamically allocate resources based on traffic demand, enabling a more efficient and adaptable network.

Additionally, achieving a global network presence through geographically distributed Point of Presence (PoPs) is essential to ensure consistent performance and low latency, regardless of user location. A single-vendor SASE simplifies the management of these points of presence, eliminating the need for multiple points of presence required by a multi-vendor SASE approach.

2. Unified policy management and granular control

Contrary to a multi-vendor SASE approach, a single-vendor SASE solution enables IT administrators to manage all security policies from a single interface. This interface encompasses policies related to SWG, CASB, DLP and ZTNA. This approach streamlines operations, reduces complexity, and helps organizations to deploy and enforce consistent policies effectively. Additionally, this approach provides organizations with a faster response to security threats, enabling the adjustment of security policies in real-time across the entire fabric during security incidents. Importantly, this approach also enables IT administrators to enforce granular access control based on users, identity, and devices.

3. Centralized UI, comprehensive dashboards

Beyond unified policy management, a single-vendor SASE solution provides IT teams with the ability to manage all network and security operations in a centralized user interface. It offers an enhanced visibility into network traffic, security events and policy enforcement, supporting better threat detection and incident response. Additionally, it enhances reporting capabilities, providing organizations with the means to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.

4. Combined SASE capabilities

With a single-vendor SASE solution, organizations can easily combine multiple SASE capabilities to enhance their security posture. For example, SWG and CASB can be combined with DLP to monitor user activities and protect sensitive data from leaking out to the Internet and SaaS applications. Also, SWG and CASB use SSL decryption to analyze HTTPS traffic. By using a single-vendor SASE solution, SSL inspection is performed only once, improving performance, and reducing complexity. Furthermore, by combining SWG and CASB with ZTNA, organizations can enforce even more granular controls over web access, allowing or denying access to specific websites or cloud applications based on user identity.

5. Universal Zero Trust Access

Universal Zero Trust Access represents a fundamental shift in the approach to network security. It allows users and devices to securely access resources from any location, whether they are in the office, working remotely or on the go. Central to this approach is the principle of least-privilege access, which segments traffic based on identity and role, ensuring that users and devices only access the resources essential to their tasks, reducing the attack surface. Additionally, private resources can be masked from the internet, keeping users off the network. Third-party contractors can easily access the network with an agentless ZTNA solution, eliminating the need to install a security agent on their device.

As a user connects to the corporate network, the integration of NAC (Network Access Control) with ZTNA becomes instrumental. NAC verifies the security posture of devices through health checks before granting network access. These health assessments on specific devices ensure that they adhere to corporate anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall policies, enabling organizations to grant access to users and devices based on their inherent risk.

In branch offices, SD-WAN plays a pivotal role in connecting branch users to the headquarters. It intelligently steers traffic to the cloud while eliminating the need to backhaul traffic to the data center. Advanced SD-WAN solutions can even provide built-in next-generation firewall capabilities, with IDS/IPS and fine-grained segmentation, to enforce Zero Trust access. As a new user or device connects to the corporate network and registers, SD-WANcoupled with Network Access Controlpropagates security policy information and any updates related to the user, device type, role and security posture to the entire network, to enforce role-based segmentation across the LAN and the WAN. Additionally, because IoT devices are agentless, it is not possible to run a third-party VPN or ZTNA client on them. This approach helps secure IoT devices by segmenting the network based on identity from other traffic while ensuring users and IoT devices reach destination consistent with their role in the business.

In conclusion, the adoption of a single-vendor SASE approach presents organizations with a robust strategy to address the multiple challenges of modern network security. By seamlessly integrating SD-WAN and SSE components, organizations can effectively secure their network, accelerate deployment, simplify adoption, and thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

HPE Aruba Networkings unified SASE combines EdgeConnect SD-WAN with HPE Aruba Networking SSE. HPE Aruba Networking SSE provides advanced security functions, such as ZTNA, SWG, CASB as well as DEM (Digital Experience Monitoring).

EdgeConnect SD-WAN is a secure SD-WAN solution with a built-in next-generation firewall that seamlessly integrates with HPE Aruba Networking SSE. HPE (Aruba) has been named a leader in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN for the sixth consecutive year. This follows the strong results announced from the IDC MarketScape for the worldwide SD-WAN infrastructure 2023 vendor assessment, in which HPE Aruba Networking was placed as a leader.

To learn more, please visit our webpage on unified SASE.

And for more information on how to use SASE and Zero Trust Security to help your users stay safe online, visit our Cybersecurity Awareness Month resource hub.

Other resources:

[1] 2022 Strategic Roadmap for SASE Convergence, Gartner, June 2022
RENO  Granite Creek operations achieved record mining of 592 tons per day of mineralized material in one month of the second quarter, according to i-80 Gold Corp., which also reported high-grade results from a renewed drill program targeting the South Pacific Zone at Granite Creek.

The record tonnage was in August, i-80 Gold reported on Oct. 11.

The company stated that underground mining is focused on high-grade gold mineralization in the Ogee Zone while development progresses towards the South Pacific Zone. The South Pacific Zone is immediately north of the current underground workings.

We are very pleased with progress made throughout the year resulting in substantial monthly mining increases that will see increased gold production, said Matt Gili, president and chief operating officer of i-80 Gold.

Refractory mineralization is now being delivered from stockpiles to Twin Creeks for processing and we continue to progress development towards the SPZ that is expected to result in increased production and enhanced mining operations.

Granite Creek in Humboldt County is near Twin Creeks, which is part of Nevada Gold Mines Turquoise Ridge Complex, and i-80 Gold has an agreement for NGM to process the refractory ore.

Results from grade control sampling in August indicate 10,916 tons of high-grade material was mined at an average grade of 0.344 ounces per ton of gold, and 7,450 tons of mid-grade oxide ore was mined at 0.099 opt. Mid-grade oxide ore is sold under an agreement with a third party.

The company also announced on Oct. 11 that at Granite in August there were 467 feet of lateral development, five levels completed underground on the Ogee Zone to increase mining face availability, and the completion of dewatering well 6, as well as the start of mobilization of the water treatment plant.

In addition, i-80 Gold began underground in-fill and stope delineation drilling in the upper levels of the South Pacific zone, where new results show 0.76 ounces per ton of gold over 18.7 feet in one hole, 0.75 opt over 18.2 feet in another hole, and 0.45 opt over 64.6 feet in yet another hole.

Initial results from our ongoing drilling program in the South Pacific Zone have confirmed high-grade gold mineralization over mineable widths, including some of the highest-grade results received so far from the multiple programs that have been completed on this zone, said Tyler Hill, chief geologist for i-80 Gold.

He said the South Pacific Zone is expected to be the primary zone at Granite Creek where high-grade mineralization has been defined over a significant strike length. Mineralization remains open at depth and along strike to the north with some of the best intercepts in terms of grade and width occurring in the northern extension area that is the focus of current drilling.

As i-80 Gold continues to explore and develop projects in Nevada, Granite Creek is the main gold producer, along with residual leaching at its Lone Tree operations and at Ruby Hill in Eureka County.
Ujwal Jalali By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A 23-year-old woman was stabbed by her "boyfriend" inside a car in south Delhi's Lado Sarai area on Thursday morning.

The accused has been identified as Gaurav Pal (27). He attacked the young woman after she allegedly spurned his request to marry him.

Gaurav Pal is a resident of Dundahera in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad city. He is currently employed with a private company in Gurugram.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary said a call was received at the Saket police station about the brutal stabbing of a woman.

The police responded immediately and reached the spot where they found the blood-soaked young woman huddled inside a car with the local people trying to help her. She was shifted to a hospital where she is under treatment.

Meanwhile, a police inquiry revealed that Pal had an affair with the woman for the past couple of years. But she didn't show any interest in him lately. He came to meet the woman on Thursday morning in the Lado Sarai area where the youth confronted the woman, who had booked a cab and attacked her when she was inside the vehicle. He stabbed her multiple times with a knife and tried to flee. However, the cab driver, with the help of the passersby, managed to nab and hand him over to the police.

This newspaper has accessed a purported video that was probably shot just minutes after the incident. In the video, the woman could be seen completely soaked in her blood while sitting in the rear seat of the taxi, and crying for help.

"Mummy, Mummy, someone please take me to a hospital," the girl could be heard crying in agony.

Shakuntala Malik, the inconsolable mother of the victim, said her daughter was heading for an interview at a firm in Lajpat Nagar when the youth stopped and attacked her.

"He has been constantly harassing my daughter for the past two years. My daughter was never in any kind of relationship with him. She had even blocked her on WhatsApp but he used to call her from unknown numbers and also threatened her that if you will not marry me, then I will kill you one day," the mother said.

The victim is the only child to her parents. Her father is no more.

"My daughter had met him in the office where she used to work. They used to have lunch together. She did not love him. She knew that she had to support her family as her father was no more. He asked her to marry him but my daughter disagreed," she said.

"My daughter is currently battling for life. One of the nerves near her neck has been severed due to the stabbing. She has wounds all over her face and head. She is not even able to open her eyes," she added.

Meanwhile, DCP (south) Chandan Chowdhary claimed that the victim had called the police with a complaint that a youth was harassing her. But when the police reached her place the police discovered it was about borrowed money. At the time the victim said she didn't want to lodge a complaint against him.

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NEW DELHI: A 23-year-old woman was stabbed by her "boyfriend" inside a car in south Delhi's Lado Sarai area on Thursday morning. The accused has been identified as Gaurav Pal (27). He attacked the young woman after she allegedly spurned his request to marry him. Gaurav Pal is a resident of Dundahera in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad city. He is currently employed with a private company in Gurugram.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary said a call was received at the Saket police station about the brutal stabbing of a woman. The police responded immediately and reached the spot where they found the blood-soaked young woman huddled inside a car with the local people trying to help her. She was shifted to a hospital where she is under treatment. Meanwhile, a police inquiry revealed that Pal had an affair with the woman for the past couple of years. But she didn't show any interest in him lately. He came to meet the woman on Thursday morning in the Lado Sarai area where the youth confronted the woman, who had booked a cab and attacked her when she was inside the vehicle. He stabbed her multiple times with a knife and tried to flee. However, the cab driver, with the help of the passersby, managed to nab and hand him over to the police. This newspaper has accessed a purported video that was probably shot just minutes after the incident. In the video, the woman could be seen completely soaked in her blood while sitting in the rear seat of the taxi, and crying for help. "Mummy, Mummy, someone please take me to a hospital," the girl could be heard crying in agony. Shakuntala Malik, the inconsolable mother of the victim, said her daughter was heading for an interview at a firm in Lajpat Nagar when the youth stopped and attacked her. "He has been constantly harassing my daughter for the past two years. My daughter was never in any kind of relationship with him. She had even blocked her on WhatsApp but he used to call her from unknown numbers and also threatened her that if you will not marry me, then I will kill you one day," the mother said. The victim is the only child to her parents. Her father is no more. "My daughter had met him in the office where she used to work. They used to have lunch together. She did not love him. She knew that she had to support her family as her father was no more. He asked her to marry him but my daughter disagreed," she said. "My daughter is currently battling for life. One of the nerves near her neck has been severed due to the stabbing. She has wounds all over her face and head. She is not even able to open her eyes," she added. Meanwhile, DCP (south) Chandan Chowdhary claimed that the victim had called the police with a complaint that a youth was harassing her. But when the police reached her place the police discovered it was about borrowed money. At the time the victim said she didn't want to lodge a complaint against him. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ujwal Jalali By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A member of Canada-based gangster Arsh Dala's gang attempted to hurl a grenade at a team of Delhi Police during a late-night encounter in the national capital, a senior Delhi Police official said on Thursday.

According to a senior Delhi Police official, a team of Counter Intelligence Unit of the Special Cell of the Delhi Police had intercepted two shooters of the Dala's gang on the outer ring road in the intervening night of October 11-12.

"The duo was asked to surrender but one among them named Krishan, whipped out a pistol and fired one round towards the police team," the official said.

Suddenly, the second gangster took out one live hand grenade from his bag but before he could pull the safety pin, they were overpowered by the team. The police apprehended both gangsters and recovered one live hand grenade along with one pistol with 5 live cartridges.

A case under relevant sections of the law has been registered and further investigation is in progress, the official added.

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NEW DELHI: A member of Canada-based gangster Arsh Dala's gang attempted to hurl a grenade at a team of Delhi Police during a late-night encounter in the national capital, a senior Delhi Police official said on Thursday. According to a senior Delhi Police official, a team of Counter Intelligence Unit of the Special Cell of the Delhi Police had intercepted two shooters of the Dala's gang on the outer ring road in the intervening night of October 11-12. "The duo was asked to surrender but one among them named Krishan, whipped out a pistol and fired one round towards the police team," the official said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Suddenly, the second gangster took out one live hand grenade from his bag but before he could pull the safety pin, they were overpowered by the team. The police apprehended both gangsters and recovered one live hand grenade along with one pistol with 5 live cartridges. A case under relevant sections of the law has been registered and further investigation is in progress, the official added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ashish Srivastava By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Traditionally, the three effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad are burnt during Ramleela. Sometimes, a fourth effigy, symbolising an evil presense, is added. This years theme though may snowball into a political row.

Ramleela committees have decided that the fourth effigy will be set ablaze on Dussehra, one that would represent the critics of Santan Dharma.

DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya, and former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, are expected to be potential candidates for the fourth effigy.

About 650 such effigies will be burnt representing the politicians who made controversial statements about Sanatan Dharma.

We will not label the effigies after individuals. We want to convey our disappointment with the comments made against our religion, said Arjun Kumar, Chairman of Shree Ramlila Mahasangh, a body of 650 Ramlila committees.

Kumar said the decision was taken unanimously by all the organizers who are part of the body in a meeting held recently. The move was significantly endorsed by the Delhi BJP.

The state unit of BJP had initially urged the Mahasangs chairman to include the fourth effigy symbolizing the Sanatan Dharma Virodhi.

A letter was also written to the organizers followed by a meeting a few days ago where Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva conveyed the partys wish.

A letter was written to us by the BJP where the party urged the committees to burn another effigy of those who speak against the Sanatan dharma. Delhi BJP resident and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda urged that we should take a decision on their request, Kumar said.

The letter mentioned the names of Stalin, Maurya and Gautam and stated that their comments have elicited rage across the country and are aimed for the destruction of the Sanatan dharma.

It also asked Ramlila committees to condemn the remarks made by the aforementioned leaders.

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NEW DELHI: Traditionally, the three effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad are burnt during Ramleela. Sometimes, a fourth effigy, symbolising an evil presense, is added. This years theme though may snowball into a political row. Ramleela committees have decided that the fourth effigy will be set ablaze on Dussehra, one that would represent the critics of Santan Dharma. DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya, and former Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam, are expected to be potential candidates for the fourth effigy.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); About 650 such effigies will be burnt representing the politicians who made controversial statements about Sanatan Dharma. We will not label the effigies after individuals. We want to convey our disappointment with the comments made against our religion, said Arjun Kumar, Chairman of Shree Ramlila Mahasangh, a body of 650 Ramlila committees. Kumar said the decision was taken unanimously by all the organizers who are part of the body in a meeting held recently. The move was significantly endorsed by the Delhi BJP. The state unit of BJP had initially urged the Mahasangs chairman to include the fourth effigy symbolizing the Sanatan Dharma Virodhi. A letter was also written to the organizers followed by a meeting a few days ago where Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva conveyed the partys wish. A letter was written to us by the BJP where the party urged the committees to burn another effigy of those who speak against the Sanatan dharma. Delhi BJP resident and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda urged that we should take a decision on their request, Kumar said. The letter mentioned the names of Stalin, Maurya and Gautam and stated that their comments have elicited rage across the country and are aimed for the destruction of the Sanatan dharma. It also asked Ramlila committees to condemn the remarks made by the aforementioned leaders. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
RENO  The Nevada Mining Association announced Oct. 11 that Amanda Hilton has been named as president.

A fourth generation Nevadan raised in Reno and Ely, Hilton has been the general manager for the Robinson Mine, one of Nevadas largest and oldest operating mines, for the past six years. She was a member of the NVMA Board of Directors during that time and served as Chair in 2021-2022. Before her appointment as general manager, she filled various roles at the Robinson Mine in Ely where she has worked since 2004.

Many excellent candidates were considered for this position, explained Greg Gibson of SSR Mining and acting chair of the NVMA Board of Directors. Amandas deep knowledge of the industry and of this state positioned her as the clear front-runner. The Association will be served well by her leadership experience.

Hilton earned her B.S. in accounting from the University of Utah and her M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin. She is also a Certified Public Accountant. During the past year, she was featured in the Pioneering the Field: Women in Mining exhibit at the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum in Leadville, Colorado.

As a two-decade miner myself, I am very proud of Nevadas modern mining industry and its responsible production of the metals and minerals required to advance a clean energy economy, said Hilton. Its an exciting time to be in mining, and I look forward to working with NVMAs diverse membership to advance this industry that is so critical to Nevadas future.

After the departure of Tyre Gray in Feb. 2023, former NVMA President Dana Bennett filled in as interim president.

Im thrilled with Amandas appointment, said Bennett. She is a consensus builder and an innovative thinker. The Association will thrive under her excellent leadership.

Hilton will become the 13th leader of this venerable trade association, which was founded in 1913 in Tonopah.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has decided to increase its Hyderabad-Singapore services from seven times a week to 12 times a week from October 29, the 20th anniversary of the Groups services to Hyderabad.

The move comes after the increased demand in the local market and it facilitates better connections with morning and nighttime tranches. As it takes over its subsidiary Scoots daily services between the cities, Hyderabad will now be completely served by SIAs full-service product.

The new weekly five-times morning services will be operated by SIAs Boeing 737-8s with 154 seats - 10 in Business Class and 144 in the Economy Class. The night services will be operated by SIAs Airbus A350s with 303 seats - 40 in Business Class and 263 in the Economy Class. This demonstrates a significant leap in the number of business-class seats offered by the Airlines.

Speaking on the occasion, General Manager India for SIA, Sy Yen Chen, said, The strategic restructuring of our Hyderabad network is a testament to our commitment to continuously evolve and meet the changing needs of our valued customers. The restructuring exemplifies the SIA Groups ability to adapt to the intense competition in the airline sector, he added.

SIA will be operating 96 weekly flights to and from eight Indian cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai - from October 29.

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HYDERABAD: The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has decided to increase its Hyderabad-Singapore services from seven times a week to 12 times a week from October 29, the 20th anniversary of the Groups services to Hyderabad. The move comes after the increased demand in the local market and it facilitates better connections with morning and nighttime tranches. As it takes over its subsidiary Scoots daily services between the cities, Hyderabad will now be completely served by SIAs full-service product. The new weekly five-times morning services will be operated by SIAs Boeing 737-8s with 154 seats - 10 in Business Class and 144 in the Economy Class. The night services will be operated by SIAs Airbus A350s with 303 seats - 40 in Business Class and 263 in the Economy Class. This demonstrates a significant leap in the number of business-class seats offered by the Airlines.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Speaking on the occasion, General Manager India for SIA, Sy Yen Chen, said, The strategic restructuring of our Hyderabad network is a testament to our commitment to continuously evolve and meet the changing needs of our valued customers. The restructuring exemplifies the SIA Groups ability to adapt to the intense competition in the airline sector, he added. SIA will be operating 96 weekly flights to and from eight Indian cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai - from October 29. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

MUMBAI: Life is crazy and unexpected, says "Jawan" actor Aaliyah Qureishi, describing how she escaped unhurt from a Thailand mall where a gunman opened fire, killing two people.

On October 3, a shooter opened fire inside at the Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok and killed at least two people. The accused, a 14-year-old teenager, was taken into custody less than an hour after the first reported gunshots.

Five others were also injured.

In a post on Instagram on Wednesday evening, Qureishi said she was in the mall along with two friends. They were, in fact, going up the escalator when the incident happened.

"We were coming up the escalator when we saw mass hysteria and someone yelled out 'shooter'. As we ran back down we heard three gunshots. It was a terrifying experience. I feel grateful that my friends and I got out of it alive. And I feel horrible that two innocent people didn't," the actor wrote.

Qureishi recently starred in Shah Rukh Khan-led action entertainer "Jawan", playing Jahnvi, one of the six women who aid the superstar's character Azad in his fight against the system.

"I wish real life was like action films, where you could fearlessly jump into any cruel fight and save everyone. But when it happens, the only thought in your mind is to get out of there alive. To think that when the day began, we were relaxed and playing with dogs, and by the end of the day we were running away from a mall shooting, soaked in rain, desperately trying to find a tuk-tuk to take us home, is insane. Life is crazy and unexpected," she added.

The actor said she is finding it difficult to process what she witnessed there.

"I just kept thinking, we spent 10 minutes at the currency exchange before going up that escalator. It took longer than expected. What if we had not had problems, and spent only 5 minutes instead? Where would we have been at the time of the shooting? In the store, closer to him? "I don't know, but it makes me think that there's some divine timing, and like the Burnt Toast Theory, something seemingly irritating could be a blessing in disguise, maybe even save your life. There are so many things we don't know," Qureishi said.

The Burnt Toast Theory, which became popular on social media during the pandemic as a trend, revolves around the idea that something frustrating event, like burning one's toast in the morning, may impact one's life in a bigger way.

The actor further said that her heart goes out to all the "friends and families of the two victims and the five injured.

"I hope we can heal as a society and not have to witness these horrible outbursts of rage by disturbed people. Stay safe everyone. Lots of love and light to you all," Qureishi concluded her post.

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MUMBAI: Life is crazy and unexpected, says "Jawan" actor Aaliyah Qureishi, describing how she escaped unhurt from a Thailand mall where a gunman opened fire, killing two people. On October 3, a shooter opened fire inside at the Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok and killed at least two people. The accused, a 14-year-old teenager, was taken into custody less than an hour after the first reported gunshots. Five others were also injured.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In a post on Instagram on Wednesday evening, Qureishi said she was in the mall along with two friends. They were, in fact, going up the escalator when the incident happened. "We were coming up the escalator when we saw mass hysteria and someone yelled out 'shooter'. As we ran back down we heard three gunshots. It was a terrifying experience. I feel grateful that my friends and I got out of it alive. And I feel horrible that two innocent people didn't," the actor wrote. Qureishi recently starred in Shah Rukh Khan-led action entertainer "Jawan", playing Jahnvi, one of the six women who aid the superstar's character Azad in his fight against the system. "I wish real life was like action films, where you could fearlessly jump into any cruel fight and save everyone. But when it happens, the only thought in your mind is to get out of there alive. To think that when the day began, we were relaxed and playing with dogs, and by the end of the day we were running away from a mall shooting, soaked in rain, desperately trying to find a tuk-tuk to take us home, is insane. Life is crazy and unexpected," she added. The actor said she is finding it difficult to process what she witnessed there. "I just kept thinking, we spent 10 minutes at the currency exchange before going up that escalator. It took longer than expected. What if we had not had problems, and spent only 5 minutes instead? Where would we have been at the time of the shooting? In the store, closer to him? "I don't know, but it makes me think that there's some divine timing, and like the Burnt Toast Theory, something seemingly irritating could be a blessing in disguise, maybe even save your life. There are so many things we don't know," Qureishi said. The Burnt Toast Theory, which became popular on social media during the pandemic as a trend, revolves around the idea that something frustrating event, like burning one's toast in the morning, may impact one's life in a bigger way. The actor further said that her heart goes out to all the "friends and families of the two victims and the five injured. "I hope we can heal as a society and not have to witness these horrible outbursts of rage by disturbed people. Stay safe everyone. Lots of love and light to you all," Qureishi concluded her post. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Jitendra Choubey By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Wednesday directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 16 days more, from October 16 to October 31, despite objection from Karnataka government which said the state is facing drought-like condition due to deficit monsoon in the Cauvery basin.

T D Sharma, member-secretary of CWRC, chaired the 88th meeting of the committee held in New Delhi in which officials from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry took part. In its last meeting held on 26 September, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to TN for 15 days till October 15, 2023. In monsoon deficit year, based on availed data, we have to distribute water on pro rata basis, said Vineet Gupta, member, CWRC.

Tamil Nadu also raised the issue of getting the shortfall water immediately and sharing of water with Karnataka as per a distress formula. According to the calculation of CWRC, there is a shortfall of 16.248 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of cumulative flows to be realised at Biligundulu between June 1 and October 10, 2023. The committee said Karnataka will release the water shortfall owed to Tamil Nadu once the storage position in reservoirs improves.

168 cusecs of water for Karaikal

KarnaARNAtaka government made a submission that there was 50.89% shortfall in cumulative inflows into Karnatakas four reservoirs between June 1 and October 10, 2023. We have already declared 161 taluks as severely drought affected and 34 taluks as moderately drought affected, Karnataka said.

Keeping in view the meteorological conditions in the Cauvery basin, storage positions, inflows and outflows of eight designated reservoirs, sown areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and availability of drinking water for Karnataka, the committee directed the Karnataka to ensure release from its reservoirs, so that 3,000 cusecs of water can be realised at Biligundulu by TN till October 31, 2023.

The commission has set up a water measuring station at Biligundulu on the interstate border. The CWRC also directed TN to release 168 cusecs of water for Karaikal in Puducherry.

16.24 tmcft shortfall

TN also raised the issue of getting the shortfall of water owed by Karnataka and sharing of water as per a distress formula

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NEW DELHI: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Wednesday directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 16 days more, from October 16 to October 31, despite objection from Karnataka government which said the state is facing drought-like condition due to deficit monsoon in the Cauvery basin. T D Sharma, member-secretary of CWRC, chaired the 88th meeting of the committee held in New Delhi in which officials from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry took part. In its last meeting held on 26 September, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to TN for 15 days till October 15, 2023. In monsoon deficit year, based on availed data, we have to distribute water on pro rata basis, said Vineet Gupta, member, CWRC. Tamil Nadu also raised the issue of getting the shortfall water immediately and sharing of water with Karnataka as per a distress formula. According to the calculation of CWRC, there is a shortfall of 16.248 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of cumulative flows to be realised at Biligundulu between June 1 and October 10, 2023. The committee said Karnataka will release the water shortfall owed to Tamil Nadu once the storage position in reservoirs improves.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); 168 cusecs of water for Karaikal KarnaARNAtaka government made a submission that there was 50.89% shortfall in cumulative inflows into Karnatakas four reservoirs between June 1 and October 10, 2023. We have already declared 161 taluks as severely drought affected and 34 taluks as moderately drought affected, Karnataka said. Keeping in view the meteorological conditions in the Cauvery basin, storage positions, inflows and outflows of eight designated reservoirs, sown areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and availability of drinking water for Karnataka, the committee directed the Karnataka to ensure release from its reservoirs, so that 3,000 cusecs of water can be realised at Biligundulu by TN till October 31, 2023. The commission has set up a water measuring station at Biligundulu on the interstate border. The CWRC also directed TN to release 168 cusecs of water for Karaikal in Puducherry. 16.24 tmcft shortfall TN also raised the issue of getting the shortfall of water owed by Karnataka and sharing of water as per a distress formula Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

BEERSHEBA: Dan Schwarzfuchs has led the emergency unit in southern Israel's biggest hospital for almost a decade, but the rhythm of wounded rushing in since Hamas's bloody weekend assault was unimaginable for him.

"The moment we finished treating a patient and transferred the person to the operation room or to intensive care, another wounded would immediately take their place," Schwarzfuchs, 60, told AFP. "The floor of the entire trauma unit was covered in blood, we didn't stop cleaning it."

With cover from a barrage of rockets, Hamas militants had breached Israel's southern border on Saturday, pouring in by air, land and sea to gun down civilians in the streets and in their homes.

The unprecedented assault killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, which responded with relentless bombing of Hamas targets in Gaza, where officials reported over 1,300 dead.

The Hamas assault has also left more than 3,200 wounded in Israel, including 870 who were taken to the Soroka hospital in Beersheba, about 40 kilometres (24 miles) from the Gaza Strip.

Schwarzfuchs said he and his team rushed to the hospital as soon as he heard two consecutive sirens wailing early Saturday.

Israel-Hamas war LIVE | Israel says no water or fuel to Gaza until hostages are freed

"We very quickly understood that it was a war," he said.

"Very quickly, all the employees of the hospital were here, more than 1,000 doctors, all the nurses, all those who should be there were present... and even those who were not meant to be there -- the nurses on maternity leave, the doctors, came from everywhere."

The first of the wounded began arriving at 8:00 am (0500 GMT), said Schwarzfuchs, who is also deputy director of the hospital.

"And from this moment on, we treated the injured in the trauma care unit at a crazy rhythm that we'd never imagined was possible or that we were capable of handling."

'Complete state of shock'

Since Saturday's attack, the doctor has not been able to leave the hospital to go home.

In all, 120 wounded people were treated in the trauma unit in the first 24 hours of the war -- higher than the average number of patients in a normal month, said Schwarzfuchs.

"The number of the wounded is astronomical. During the 2014 Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, 40 wounded was already a very difficult day," he said.

The type of wounds were also different from what they were used to.

ALSO READ | Palestinians rush to buy food and struggle under strikes as Israel readies possible ground operation

"Most of them were injured by bullets, which required large amounts of blood transfusions," said the doctor.

Besides the patients brought to the trauma unit, young survivors of a rave party where the Islamist group killed 270 people were brought into the emergency wards in a seriously traumatised state.

"They were in a complete state of shock after having witnessed this indescribable massacre," said Schwarzfuchs.

The hospital's personnel were also stretched, fielding requests from distraught family members seeking information about their missing loved ones.

"We tried to help them as far as we can but many of them left depressed, without finding anyone," he said.

Schwarzfuchs, who is also a doctor at the Alumim kibbutz where inhabitants managed to repel Hamas fighters, said some of the patients brought in were people he knew personally.

"It's difficult to treat people who we know well. But it's a bit normal here, we are a small country, everyone knows everyone," said Schwarzfuchs.

An officer in the army before becoming a doctor, he said he was bracing for tough days ahead.

"It's certain that there will be more wounded. But we are all ready."

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BEERSHEBA: Dan Schwarzfuchs has led the emergency unit in southern Israel's biggest hospital for almost a decade, but the rhythm of wounded rushing in since Hamas's bloody weekend assault was unimaginable for him. "The moment we finished treating a patient and transferred the person to the operation room or to intensive care, another wounded would immediately take their place," Schwarzfuchs, 60, told AFP. "The floor of the entire trauma unit was covered in blood, we didn't stop cleaning it." With cover from a barrage of rockets, Hamas militants had breached Israel's southern border on Saturday, pouring in by air, land and sea to gun down civilians in the streets and in their homes.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The unprecedented assault killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, which responded with relentless bombing of Hamas targets in Gaza, where officials reported over 1,300 dead. The Hamas assault has also left more than 3,200 wounded in Israel, including 870 who were taken to the Soroka hospital in Beersheba, about 40 kilometres (24 miles) from the Gaza Strip. Schwarzfuchs said he and his team rushed to the hospital as soon as he heard two consecutive sirens wailing early Saturday. Israel-Hamas war LIVE | Israel says no water or fuel to Gaza until hostages are freed "We very quickly understood that it was a war," he said. "Very quickly, all the employees of the hospital were here, more than 1,000 doctors, all the nurses, all those who should be there were present... and even those who were not meant to be there -- the nurses on maternity leave, the doctors, came from everywhere." The first of the wounded began arriving at 8:00 am (0500 GMT), said Schwarzfuchs, who is also deputy director of the hospital. "And from this moment on, we treated the injured in the trauma care unit at a crazy rhythm that we'd never imagined was possible or that we were capable of handling." 'Complete state of shock' Since Saturday's attack, the doctor has not been able to leave the hospital to go home. In all, 120 wounded people were treated in the trauma unit in the first 24 hours of the war -- higher than the average number of patients in a normal month, said Schwarzfuchs. "The number of the wounded is astronomical. During the 2014 Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip, 40 wounded was already a very difficult day," he said. The type of wounds were also different from what they were used to. ALSO READ | Palestinians rush to buy food and struggle under strikes as Israel readies possible ground operation "Most of them were injured by bullets, which required large amounts of blood transfusions," said the doctor. Besides the patients brought to the trauma unit, young survivors of a rave party where the Islamist group killed 270 people were brought into the emergency wards in a seriously traumatised state. "They were in a complete state of shock after having witnessed this indescribable massacre," said Schwarzfuchs. The hospital's personnel were also stretched, fielding requests from distraught family members seeking information about their missing loved ones. "We tried to help them as far as we can but many of them left depressed, without finding anyone," he said. Schwarzfuchs, who is also a doctor at the Alumim kibbutz where inhabitants managed to repel Hamas fighters, said some of the patients brought in were people he knew personally. "It's difficult to treat people who we know well. But it's a bit normal here, we are a small country, everyone knows everyone," said Schwarzfuchs. An officer in the army before becoming a doctor, he said he was bracing for tough days ahead. "It's certain that there will be more wounded. But we are all ready." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rejected the Global Hunger Index 2023 in which it was ranked 111th, calling it a flawed measure of 'hunger' that does not reflect India's true position.

In a statement, the Women and Child Development Ministry said, that the Index suffers from serious methodological issues and shows a malafide intent."

It added that it is an erroneous measure of hunger and suffers from serious methodological issues.

The Global Hunger Report 2023 was released on Thursday by Ireland non-profit Concern Worldwide and Germany's Welt Hunger Hilfe ranked India at 111 among 125 countries, with countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh scoring well above New Delhi.

The annual peer-reviewed report gave India a GHI score of 28.7  the country's lowest performance in approximately eight years. The report said India reported the world's highest child-wasting rate.

Three out of the four indicators used for calculation of the index are related to the health of children and cannot be representative of the entire population," the ministry said.

"The fourth and most important indicator 'Proportion of Undernourished (PoU) population' is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3,000," the statement said.

"Since April 2023, the measurement data of children under 5 years uploaded on Poshan Tracker has consistently increased - from 6.34 crore in April 2023 to 7.24 crore in September 2023, it added.

The percentage of child wasting, as seen on the Poshan Tracker, has been consistently below 7.2 per cent, month-on-month, as compared to the value of 18.7 per cent used for child wasting in the Global Hunger Index 2023," the ministry said.

Also, there is hardly any evidence that the fourth indicator, namely, child mortality is an outcome of hunger, the statement said.

India has prioritised several key activities to address the challenge of malnutrition under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0).

The Ministry of Women and Child Development developed and deployed the 'Poshan Tracker' application as an important governance tool, it said.

The ministry said several key international organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank have acknowledged the 'Poshan Tracker' as a game-changer in the area of nutrition.

The World Bank and UNICEF have collaborated closely with the ministry to support the operationalisation of the 'Poshan Tracker.

Two other indicators - stunting and wasting - are outcomes of complex interactions of various other factors like sanitation, genetics, environment and utilisation of food intake apart from hunger which is taken as the causative or outcome factor for stunting and wasting in the GHI.



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NEW DELHI: India on Thursday rejected the Global Hunger Index 2023 in which it was ranked 111th, calling it a flawed measure of 'hunger' that does not reflect India's true position. In a statement, the Women and Child Development Ministry said, that the Index suffers from serious methodological issues and shows a malafide intent." It added that it is an erroneous measure of hunger and suffers from serious methodological issues.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Global Hunger Report 2023 was released on Thursday by Ireland non-profit Concern Worldwide and Germany's Welt Hunger Hilfe ranked India at 111 among 125 countries, with countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh scoring well above New Delhi. The annual peer-reviewed report gave India a GHI score of 28.7  the country's lowest performance in approximately eight years. The report said India reported the world's highest child-wasting rate. Three out of the four indicators used for calculation of the index are related to the health of children and cannot be representative of the entire population," the ministry said. "The fourth and most important indicator 'Proportion of Undernourished (PoU) population' is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3,000," the statement said. "Since April 2023, the measurement data of children under 5 years uploaded on Poshan Tracker has consistently increased - from 6.34 crore in April 2023 to 7.24 crore in September 2023, it added. The percentage of child wasting, as seen on the Poshan Tracker, has been consistently below 7.2 per cent, month-on-month, as compared to the value of 18.7 per cent used for child wasting in the Global Hunger Index 2023," the ministry said. Also, there is hardly any evidence that the fourth indicator, namely, child mortality is an outcome of hunger, the statement said. India has prioritised several key activities to address the challenge of malnutrition under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0). The Ministry of Women and Child Development developed and deployed the 'Poshan Tracker' application as an important governance tool, it said. The ministry said several key international organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank have acknowledged the 'Poshan Tracker' as a game-changer in the area of nutrition. The World Bank and UNICEF have collaborated closely with the ministry to support the operationalisation of the 'Poshan Tracker. Two other indicators - stunting and wasting - are outcomes of complex interactions of various other factors like sanitation, genetics, environment and utilisation of food intake apart from hunger which is taken as the causative or outcome factor for stunting and wasting in the GHI. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday refused to stay the summons issued to AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh by a magistrate's court in a criminal defamation case filed by the Gujarat University over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degree.

While hearing their common petitions seeking quashing of the summons issued by the trial court earlier, Justice JC Doshi on Thursday issued notices to the Gujarat University and state government and posted the matter for a detailed hearing on November 3.

Since the magistrate's court in Ahmedabad, which is conducting the trial in the defamation case and had issued summons to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in April, would take up the matter on October 14, senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the AAP leaders, urged Justice Doshi to at least give interim relief ahead of that hearing.

"The matter is coming up the day after tomorrow (Oct 14) before the magistrate, so if you can pass an order that till this petition is not heard (there will be a stay on trial)... If no interim protection is granted, the whole exercise (of today's hearing) will be in futility," urged John, who appeared virtually.

However, Justice Doshi refused to grant any relief at this stage saying, "No, right now we can't. We can hear you at the earliest, but no order will be issued (today)."

When advocate Aum Kotwal, appearing in person for the AAP leaders, urged the court to consider their 'adjournment application' they intend to file on October 14 against the trial court proceedings, Justice Doshi refused to entertain such an application and asked the petitioners to approach the trial court for relief.

The HC judge also refused Kotwal's request to pass an order asking the trial court to consider the adjournment application if filed before it in the days to come.

AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and the party's Rajya Sabha member Singh have challenged before the HC the September 14 order of the sessions court dismissing their revision applications against the trial court's summons in the criminal defamation case filed by the Gujarat University.

Sessions court judge JM Brahmbhatt had earlier upheld the decision of the trial court to summon the two leaders saying its order was "neither illegal nor erroneous."

The metropolitan court here had summoned Kejriwal and Singh on April 15 in the defamation case filed by the varsity over their "sarcastic" and "derogatory" statements in connection with PM's degree.

Gujarat University registrar Piyush Patel had filed a defamation case against the two AAP leaders over their comments after the high court set aside an order of the Chief Information Commissioner on Modi's degree.

The two politicians made "defamatory" statements at press conferences and also on their Twitter (now X) handles targeting the university over Modi's degree, the complainant stated.

Their statements were sarcastic in nature and intentionally made to hurt the prestige of the university, which has established its name among people, it said.

The two leaders had filed revision applications in the sessions court challenging the summons issued by the metropolitan court. However, the sessions court on August 7 rejected their plea for an interim stay on the trial after which they approached the HC.

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AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday refused to stay the summons issued to AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh by a magistrate's court in a criminal defamation case filed by the Gujarat University over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degree. While hearing their common petitions seeking quashing of the summons issued by the trial court earlier, Justice JC Doshi on Thursday issued notices to the Gujarat University and state government and posted the matter for a detailed hearing on November 3. Since the magistrate's court in Ahmedabad, which is conducting the trial in the defamation case and had issued summons to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in April, would take up the matter on October 14, senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the AAP leaders, urged Justice Doshi to at least give interim relief ahead of that hearing.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The matter is coming up the day after tomorrow (Oct 14) before the magistrate, so if you can pass an order that till this petition is not heard (there will be a stay on trial)... If no interim protection is granted, the whole exercise (of today's hearing) will be in futility," urged John, who appeared virtually. However, Justice Doshi refused to grant any relief at this stage saying, "No, right now we can't. We can hear you at the earliest, but no order will be issued (today)." When advocate Aum Kotwal, appearing in person for the AAP leaders, urged the court to consider their 'adjournment application' they intend to file on October 14 against the trial court proceedings, Justice Doshi refused to entertain such an application and asked the petitioners to approach the trial court for relief. The HC judge also refused Kotwal's request to pass an order asking the trial court to consider the adjournment application if filed before it in the days to come. AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal and the party's Rajya Sabha member Singh have challenged before the HC the September 14 order of the sessions court dismissing their revision applications against the trial court's summons in the criminal defamation case filed by the Gujarat University. Sessions court judge JM Brahmbhatt had earlier upheld the decision of the trial court to summon the two leaders saying its order was "neither illegal nor erroneous." The metropolitan court here had summoned Kejriwal and Singh on April 15 in the defamation case filed by the varsity over their "sarcastic" and "derogatory" statements in connection with PM's degree. Gujarat University registrar Piyush Patel had filed a defamation case against the two AAP leaders over their comments after the high court set aside an order of the Chief Information Commissioner on Modi's degree. The two politicians made "defamatory" statements at press conferences and also on their Twitter (now X) handles targeting the university over Modi's degree, the complainant stated. Their statements were sarcastic in nature and intentionally made to hurt the prestige of the university, which has established its name among people, it said. The two leaders had filed revision applications in the sessions court challenging the summons issued by the metropolitan court. However, the sessions court on August 7 rejected their plea for an interim stay on the trial after which they approached the HC. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: India remains firm in its stand that Canada should downsize its diplomatic strength in India to ensure parity.

"We remain committed to what we said -- that is ensuring parity in diplomatic service. We remain engaged with Canadian authorities," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

This implies that no Canadian diplomat has left India yet. Canada is having consultations with India to work out a way that would enable their diplomats to stay in the country.

Meanwhile, Canada has said that its diplomatic engagement with India remains 'private'. Diplomacy is always better when conversations remain private, Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly had said in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Canada had also said that the Vienna Convention does not talk about diplomatic parity.

"As regards upholding international conventions, we would urge Canada to take more seriously their international obligations to provide security to our diplomats and their premises," said the MEA.

ALSO READ | Canadian diplomats yet to leave India despite expiry of deadline to downsize mission?

There was no timeline that India had given on when the Canadian diplomats would leave, so the MEA refrained from making any comments on that.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting.

"The EAM keeps meeting people at various forums so there is nothing more we can say on who all he met in the recent past," Bagchi added.

This confirms reports that the two ministers met in New York.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been raking up the issue of the killing of slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in all his conversations with other world leaders including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, President of UAE and President of Jordan.

"I dont know how this helps (speaking with other leaders) address the core issue. And the core issue is the space that Canada gives to terrorists and criminals," Bagchi added.

Meanwhile, no Canadian Parliamentarian is attending the P 20 meeting in Delhi, as per reports. India says that it has extended an invite to all G20 members and they would not know which country has opted out of attending the event.

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NEW DELHI: India remains firm in its stand that Canada should downsize its diplomatic strength in India to ensure parity. "We remain committed to what we said -- that is ensuring parity in diplomatic service. We remain engaged with Canadian authorities," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. This implies that no Canadian diplomat has left India yet. Canada is having consultations with India to work out a way that would enable their diplomats to stay in the country.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Meanwhile, Canada has said that its diplomatic engagement with India remains 'private'. Diplomacy is always better when conversations remain private, Canadas Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly had said in Ottawa on Wednesday. Canada had also said that the Vienna Convention does not talk about diplomatic parity. "As regards upholding international conventions, we would urge Canada to take more seriously their international obligations to provide security to our diplomats and their premises," said the MEA. ALSO READ | Canadian diplomats yet to leave India despite expiry of deadline to downsize mission? There was no timeline that India had given on when the Canadian diplomats would leave, so the MEA refrained from making any comments on that. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had met his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA meeting. "The EAM keeps meeting people at various forums so there is nothing more we can say on who all he met in the recent past," Bagchi added. This confirms reports that the two ministers met in New York. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been raking up the issue of the killing of slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in all his conversations with other world leaders including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, President of UAE and President of Jordan. "I dont know how this helps (speaking with other leaders) address the core issue. And the core issue is the space that Canada gives to terrorists and criminals," Bagchi added. Meanwhile, no Canadian Parliamentarian is attending the P 20 meeting in Delhi, as per reports. India says that it has extended an invite to all G20 members and they would not know which country has opted out of attending the event. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the Fifth Annual Defence Dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Paris late on Thursday, before concluding his two-nation Europe tour to Italy and France.

The two ministers discussed a wide range of topics from the assessment of regional situations to the ongoing military-to-military engagements, with a focus on enhancing defence industrial cooperation.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a statement said, "The Ministers reviewed the ongoing defence projects and discussed ways to deepen the collaboration between the defence industries of both the countries. They also discussed potential collaboration in niche domains such as space, cyber and Artificial Intelligence." The meeting was preceded by a Guard of Honour at the French Ministry of Defence."

ALSO READ | India, Italy sign agreement to boost defence cooperation during Rajnath's visit to Rome

Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh visited the Safran Engine Division's R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris and witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology. He also met with the CEOs of the top French defence companies with a focus on their plans for collaboration with India. Rajnath Singh highlighted the advantages of co-development and co-production in India, including possibilities of exports to third countries. He underlined the inherent advantages of the Indian market such as a large, skilled HR base, world-class infrastructure and a strong legal architecture. Following his arrival in Paris on Tuesday, the Defence Minister interacted with the Indian community there.

During the first leg of his two-nation tour, Rajnath Singh held talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome. An agreement on cooperation in the field of defence was signed after the talks to promote bilateral collaboration in varied defence domains, such as security and defence policy, R&D, education in military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of defence information and industrial cooperation, including co-development, co-production & setting up of joint ventures. He also met with CEOs and other top leaders of Italian defence companies in Rome, as part of his visit.

During the meeting, both sides discussed a host of defence cooperation issues, including training, sharing of information, maritime exercises and maritime security. The focus was on the opportunities in defence industrial cooperation.

Rajnath Singh and Guido Crosetto discussed the complementary capacities of India and Italy in defence and the possibilities of joint development. Rajnath suggested fostering the interaction of the Indian start-ups with the Italian defence companies.

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NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the Fifth Annual Defence Dialogue with French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Paris late on Thursday, before concluding his two-nation Europe tour to Italy and France. The two ministers discussed a wide range of topics from the assessment of regional situations to the ongoing military-to-military engagements, with a focus on enhancing defence industrial cooperation. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in a statement said, "The Ministers reviewed the ongoing defence projects and discussed ways to deepen the collaboration between the defence industries of both the countries. They also discussed potential collaboration in niche domains such as space, cyber and Artificial Intelligence." The meeting was preceded by a Guard of Honour at the French Ministry of Defence."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | India, Italy sign agreement to boost defence cooperation during Rajnath's visit to Rome Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh visited the Safran Engine Division's R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris and witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology. He also met with the CEOs of the top French defence companies with a focus on their plans for collaboration with India. Rajnath Singh highlighted the advantages of co-development and co-production in India, including possibilities of exports to third countries. He underlined the inherent advantages of the Indian market such as a large, skilled HR base, world-class infrastructure and a strong legal architecture. Following his arrival in Paris on Tuesday, the Defence Minister interacted with the Indian community there. During the first leg of his two-nation tour, Rajnath Singh held talks with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome. An agreement on cooperation in the field of defence was signed after the talks to promote bilateral collaboration in varied defence domains, such as security and defence policy, R&D, education in military field, maritime domain awareness, sharing of defence information and industrial cooperation, including co-development, co-production & setting up of joint ventures. He also met with CEOs and other top leaders of Italian defence companies in Rome, as part of his visit. During the meeting, both sides discussed a host of defence cooperation issues, including training, sharing of information, maritime exercises and maritime security. The focus was on the opportunities in defence industrial cooperation. Rajnath Singh and Guido Crosetto discussed the complementary capacities of India and Italy in defence and the possibilities of joint development. Rajnath suggested fostering the interaction of the Indian start-ups with the Italian defence companies. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Legal Services Authorities should ensure that a child subjected to sexual assault is counselled by a trained child counsellor or psychologist to help the survivor come out of trauma.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal also said that the State needs to ensure that such children continue with their education.

"Whenever a child is subjected to sexual assault, the State or the Legal Services Authorities should ensure that the child is provided with a facility of counselling by a trained child counsellor or child psychologist.

It will help the victim children to come out of the trauma, which will enable them to lead a better life in future," the bench said.

The top court said the social environment around the survivor may not always be conducive to the victim's rehabilitation.

"Only monetary compensation is not enough. Only payment of compensation will not amount to rehabilitation in a true sense. Perhaps the rehabilitation of the girl victims in life should be part of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign of the Central Government. As a welfare State, it will be the duty of the government to do so. We are directing that the copies of this judgment should be sent to the Secretaries of the concerned departments of the State," the bench said.

The observations came while deciding a plea filed by the Rajasthan government challenging the order passed by the Rajasthan High Court reducing the sentence awarded to a convict for the rape of a girl child from life term to 12 years.

The apex court directed that the convict must serve a sentence of 14 years without remission.

"We direct the Secretary of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority to ensure that compensation under the relevant victim compensation scheme is immediately paid to the victim as per her entitlement if not already paid," the court said.

ALSO READ | Online Child Sexual Abuse: Children being targeted, approached, groomed and abused by criminals, says Internet Watch Foundation

"If the respondent has already been released after undergoing punishment in terms of the verdict of the high court, he shall be forthwith arrested and sent to prison for undergoing the remaining sentence in terms of this judgment," the bench added.

The top court noted that the convict's caste has been mentioned in the case title and said the caste or religion of a litigant should never be mentioned in the cause title of the judgment.

"An accused has no caste or religion when the court deals with his case. We fail to understand why the caste of the accused has been mentioned in the cause title of the judgments of the high court and the trial court."

"The caste or religion of a litigant should never be mentioned in the cause title of the judgment. We have already observed in our order dated 14th March 2023 that such practice should never be followed," the bench said.

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NEW DELHI: The Legal Services Authorities should ensure that a child subjected to sexual assault is counselled by a trained child counsellor or psychologist to help the survivor come out of trauma. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal also said that the State needs to ensure that such children continue with their education. "Whenever a child is subjected to sexual assault, the State or the Legal Services Authorities should ensure that the child is provided with a facility of counselling by a trained child counsellor or child psychologist.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It will help the victim children to come out of the trauma, which will enable them to lead a better life in future," the bench said. The top court said the social environment around the survivor may not always be conducive to the victim's rehabilitation. "Only monetary compensation is not enough. Only payment of compensation will not amount to rehabilitation in a true sense. Perhaps the rehabilitation of the girl victims in life should be part of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign of the Central Government. As a welfare State, it will be the duty of the government to do so. We are directing that the copies of this judgment should be sent to the Secretaries of the concerned departments of the State," the bench said. The observations came while deciding a plea filed by the Rajasthan government challenging the order passed by the Rajasthan High Court reducing the sentence awarded to a convict for the rape of a girl child from life term to 12 years. The apex court directed that the convict must serve a sentence of 14 years without remission. "We direct the Secretary of the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority to ensure that compensation under the relevant victim compensation scheme is immediately paid to the victim as per her entitlement if not already paid," the court said. ALSO READ | Online Child Sexual Abuse: Children being targeted, approached, groomed and abused by criminals, says Internet Watch Foundation "If the respondent has already been released after undergoing punishment in terms of the verdict of the high court, he shall be forthwith arrested and sent to prison for undergoing the remaining sentence in terms of this judgment," the bench added. The top court noted that the convict's caste has been mentioned in the case title and said the caste or religion of a litigant should never be mentioned in the cause title of the judgment. "An accused has no caste or religion when the court deals with his case. We fail to understand why the caste of the accused has been mentioned in the cause title of the judgments of the high court and the trial court." "The caste or religion of a litigant should never be mentioned in the cause title of the judgment. We have already observed in our order dated 14th March 2023 that such practice should never be followed," the bench said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: Religion has returned as a narrative in West Bengals political arena with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday virtually inaugurating six prominent Durga Pujas in and around Kolkata. Meanwhile, sources in the BJP said it had requested Amit Shah to visit the state capital to inaugurate a puja organised by a party leader and that the Union Home Minister had agreed.

This year, Mamata, for the first time, inaugurated Bengals biggest religious festival virtually from her Kalighat residence because of her knee injury.

I cannot go to you physically but mentally, I am there with you. Doctors prescribed me rest because of injuries on my knee. I need to follow restrictions. I will meet all of you at the Durga Puja carnival on October 27. I convey my wishes to the people of Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja, said Mamata while inaugurating pujas from her residence on Thursday. Till last year, she inaugurated puja pandals by visiting them physically.

Since the religious festival is a major opportunity for public outreach ahead of next years Lok Sabha polls, the saffron camps Bengal chapter requested Shah to visit the city.

We requested the Union Home Minister to come and inaugurate Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja which is organised by Sajal Ghosh, who defected from the TMC to our party. The office of the Home Minister gave us the green signal, said a BJP leader.

The state government announced a Durga Puja bonanza offering a grant of Rs 70,000, instead of last years dole of Rs 60,000, for each of 40,000 odd puja committees across the state forcing the cash-strapped Bengal government to shell out Rs 280 crore this year. Mamata had introduced financial grant for Durga Puja organisers in 2018 with Rs 10,000 for each puja committee.

Earlier, PM Narendra Modi had also inaugurated a Durga Puja in Kolkata in October 2020, virtually.

What better time to blow the outreach bugle than the Durga Puja before next years Lok Sabha polls. The TMC-led government is trying to use the religious event to secure electoral dividends by offering more doles. We should not also miss the opportunity to reach out to the Hindu masses and consolidate them in our favour. Inviting Shah to inaugurate a puja is part of our plan, said another senior BJP leader.

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KOLKATA: Religion has returned as a narrative in West Bengals political arena with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday virtually inaugurating six prominent Durga Pujas in and around Kolkata. Meanwhile, sources in the BJP said it had requested Amit Shah to visit the state capital to inaugurate a puja organised by a party leader and that the Union Home Minister had agreed. This year, Mamata, for the first time, inaugurated Bengals biggest religious festival virtually from her Kalighat residence because of her knee injury. I cannot go to you physically but mentally, I am there with you. Doctors prescribed me rest because of injuries on my knee. I need to follow restrictions. I will meet all of you at the Durga Puja carnival on October 27. I convey my wishes to the people of Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja, said Mamata while inaugurating pujas from her residence on Thursday. Till last year, she inaugurated puja pandals by visiting them physically.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Since the religious festival is a major opportunity for public outreach ahead of next years Lok Sabha polls, the saffron camps Bengal chapter requested Shah to visit the city. We requested the Union Home Minister to come and inaugurate Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja which is organised by Sajal Ghosh, who defected from the TMC to our party. The office of the Home Minister gave us the green signal, said a BJP leader. The state government announced a Durga Puja bonanza offering a grant of Rs 70,000, instead of last years dole of Rs 60,000, for each of 40,000 odd puja committees across the state forcing the cash-strapped Bengal government to shell out Rs 280 crore this year. Mamata had introduced financial grant for Durga Puja organisers in 2018 with Rs 10,000 for each puja committee. Earlier, PM Narendra Modi had also inaugurated a Durga Puja in Kolkata in October 2020, virtually. What better time to blow the outreach bugle than the Durga Puja before next years Lok Sabha polls. The TMC-led government is trying to use the religious event to secure electoral dividends by offering more doles. We should not also miss the opportunity to reach out to the Hindu masses and consolidate them in our favour. Inviting Shah to inaugurate a puja is part of our plan, said another senior BJP leader. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
The goal is not to stand up for the defense of the Islamic religion or the Muslim community. This time, their goal is to take advantage of the situation and pursue their ambitions.

The Israeli-Palestinian tension has caused a serious political and social crisis in and around region in the last few days. One of them is the significant activation of the radical Armenian diaspora. Since the last day, radical Armenian groups have started to create panic in the society with anti-Turkish, anti-Israeli and anti-Azerbaijani slogans in connection with the events taking place in Lebanon and western countries. In addition to resisting the local police in Lebanon, the radicals even burned the flags of Azerbaijan, Israel and Turkiye.

Radical activity continues in Washington. They allegedly tried to realize their nefarious goals under the slogan of protecting Hamas. We should remind that the tension between Palestine and Israel has been around for almost a century. However, during all these decades, the Armenian lobby's "love" for the Islamic world has not been observed in the world.

The point is simple; Armenian radical groups, which can no longer carry out traditional provocations in Garabagh, continue their activities under other political slogans. What can be done... it is another opportunity for them and they should take advantage of it. Just as the French-Armenian duo, which does not miss such opportunities through false statements. It is good that Azerbaijan gave an adequate response to France, an inseparable part of Armenia, at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council at the right time. There is no doubt that the Armenian media is actively working as one of the leading forces of this kind of provocation mechanism.

Let's take a look at the processes taking place inside France. It seems that the smoke of the volcano erupting over the heads of the Armenian separatists has not stopped yet. Catherine Colonna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France and loyal servant of Armenians, is on duty as usual. I wonder what they base their false statements on every day?

They are trying to threaten that "the crimes that have taken place will not go unanswered" - this is also interesting.

Apparently, this is already a separate topic. Because the issue of Armenian separatism has been closed for a long time. However, some forces that want to come back to the agenda, such as France, are still interested in the emergence of a new conflict in the South Caucasus. Of course, one should not expect anything positive from a quasi-imperialist state prone to conflicts like France, which left its own indelible mark in Africa, New Caledonia and other colonies. Their goal was not to defend anyone or to restore justice, but rather to escalate crises and conflicts wherever they came.

Don't be surprised. Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, a member of the French Socialist Party and the French Senate: "We must support Armenia in arming itself!" Saying that we did not get tired and we will not get tired, he still talks about the democracy that never existed in "artsakh", which has been abolished for a long time. Indeed, these people are notorious politicians who wash their hands with blood instead of water.

In general, Armenia is in such a situation that today there is no other choice but to feel sorry for their situation. Both the West and the lobbyists representing the West think of nothing but destroying the people to the last person with all their might. Just as today France and a number of forces in the West are still discussing the arming of Armenia. Why rearmament and not peace? Then let France and the West think about the consequences of this...
ELKO  Solar eclipse fever is coming to the area this weekend since Elko is almost right in the middle of the path of this rare and impressive phenomenon.

Elko will be in the zone of this years annular solar eclipse, also known as a ring of fire eclipse, which will darken the skies and may briefly drop the temperature. The eclipse will begin around 8:07 a.m. and last a total of about 2 hours and 43 minutes, but the maximum coverage of the sun will begin around 9:22 a.m. and last about four minutes.

The event is drawing people from around the nation and the world to Elko.

Motel rooms are nearly full, according to City Councilman Chip Stone, who is a liaison to the Elko Convention and Visitors Authority Board.

The City of Elko is planning watch parties at Elko City Park and the Elko Regional Airport on Saturday starting at 8 a.m.

Free solar viewing glasses will be available to the first 100 people at the park. Food and beverage vendors from REOSAGE Indian Taco Truck, Tacos Las Brisas and Boot Scootn Brew will also be available.

At the airport, breakfast will be served by I Dont Know Deli and free solar viewing glasses will be available to the first 50 people.

Dont forget to bring your favorite lawn chairs or blankets, the city said. And your camera or smartphone to capture the moment.

Nevada Outdoor School is hosting a watch party at the California Trail Interpretive Center.

The event starts at 7:30 a.m. and includes free solar glasses, treats and a solar craft.

According to GreatAmercianEclipse.com, people should not stare directly at sun during the eclipse, even though the sunlight will be dimmed during the experience.

If you are inside the path of the annular solar eclipse, you will see the dramatic sight of the sun as a thin ring, almost but not completely eclipsed by the moon, the website states. Daylight will be dimmed considerably, but not dark like a total solar eclipse. This eerie sight can be enjoyed with eclipse glasses and other safe viewing methods.
By PTI

JERUSALEM: The first charter flight to facilitate the return of Indian citizens stranded in Israel will leave Thursday evening from the Ben Gurion airport, sources said, amid the country's raging war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

About 230 Indians living in Israel will be leaving for India on a "first come first serve" basis on the 9 PM flight on Thursday, informed sources told PTI.

This flight has been arranged to facilitate the return of those who were unable to do so because Air India had immediately suspended its flight on the day fighting began on October 7, and its commercial operation remains suspended till now.

Those who are returning will not be paying any fare and the government is bearing the cost of their return.

First flight with evacuated Indians to land in Delhi tomorrow morning says MEA @NewIndianXpress @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/ekyvArCKvU  Yeshi Seli (@YeshiSeli) October 12, 2023

Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the country's south through air, land and sea on October 7.

On the sixth day, the Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, were killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

In Gaza, at least 1,200 people have been killed, according to authorities there.

Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007.

The Indian embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight, the mission posted on X.

"Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights", it said.

The embassy's tweet followed a message on the same social media platform by Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, on Wednesday announcing the launch of 'Operation Ajay'.

"Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place", Jaishankar wrote.

"Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad", the external affairs minister stressed. Ben Gurion International Airport is the main international airport of Israel.

It is situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod.

While Israel's retaliatory offensive on Gaza continued unabated, there has been a total lull in rocket attacks coming from Gaza.

ALSO READ: Israel-Hamas war LIVE COVERAGE

No rockets have been fired on Israel between 10 PM on Wednesday and 9 AM on Thursday, with some analysts saying that Hamas is holding its stockpile for "an eventual ground incursion" In efforts to reassure Indian nationals living in Israel, the embassy on Wednesday said that it is monitoring the situation closely and called upon its citizens to remain calm, vigilant and follow security advisories.

"This is to assure you that the embassy is working constantly for your safety and welfare.

All of us are going through very difficult times but please do remain calm and vigilant and follow the local security guidelines", India's Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla, said on Wednesday in a recorded message on the X social media platform.

"We are here to help you, and we thank many of you who have sent so many messages of appreciation to us. We are monitoring the situation closely and please stay tuned for any updates from the embassy. Jai Hind", Singla added.

The embassy in Tel Aviv was quick to reach out to a caregiver from Kerala who was injured in the rocket shelling in the city of Ashdod on Saturday and has been constantly in touch with her and her family in India.

The Indian community has also been looking after her well-being and visiting her at the hospital. Her condition is stable.

In separate advisories through its official handle on X, the mission said, "The Embassy has been working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel through a 24-hour helpline. Please remain calm & vigilant & follow the security advisories."

It also listed the 24*7 Emergency Helpline/Contact numbers and email - +972-35226748 and +972-543278392 Email: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in.

The initiative received a lot of appreciation from Indians all over the world.

"We thank our fellow Indian citizens in Israel and outside for the many messages of appreciation which you have sent us", the embassy said in a post.

ALSO READ | Palestinians rush to buy food and struggle under strikes as Israel readies possible ground operation

It also reminded Indian nationals in Israel to register with the embassy at the link: https://indembassyisrael.gov.in/whats?id=dwjwb.

There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel.

A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders.

The reassuring messages had a very calming impact on some of the students who called PTI to say that "it gives them a lot of confidence".

Meanwhile, the Indian representative office in Ramallah (ROI) is constantly in touch with the four Indians living in Gaza.

ROI told PTI that we are in touch and are trying to help all Indians but the situation on the ground constrains our options.

In addition, the Indian mission in Tel Aviv is also actively looking for ways to assist all the Indians in the affected areas.

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JERUSALEM: The first charter flight to facilitate the return of Indian citizens stranded in Israel will leave Thursday evening from the Ben Gurion airport, sources said, amid the country's raging war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. About 230 Indians living in Israel will be leaving for India on a "first come first serve" basis on the 9 PM flight on Thursday, informed sources told PTI. This flight has been arranged to facilitate the return of those who were unable to do so because Air India had immediately suspended its flight on the day fighting began on October 7, and its commercial operation remains suspended till now.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Those who are returning will not be paying any fare and the government is bearing the cost of their return. First flight with evacuated Indians to land in Delhi tomorrow morning says MEA @NewIndianXpress @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/ekyvArCKvU  Yeshi Seli (@YeshiSeli) October 12, 2023 Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the country's south through air, land and sea on October 7. On the sixth day, the Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, were killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks. In Gaza, at least 1,200 people have been killed, according to authorities there. Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007. The Indian embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight, the mission posted on X. "Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights", it said. The embassy's tweet followed a message on the same social media platform by Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, on Wednesday announcing the launch of 'Operation Ajay'. "Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place", Jaishankar wrote. "Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad", the external affairs minister stressed. Ben Gurion International Airport is the main international airport of Israel. It is situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod. While Israel's retaliatory offensive on Gaza continued unabated, there has been a total lull in rocket attacks coming from Gaza. ALSO READ: Israel-Hamas war LIVE COVERAGE No rockets have been fired on Israel between 10 PM on Wednesday and 9 AM on Thursday, with some analysts saying that Hamas is holding its stockpile for "an eventual ground incursion" In efforts to reassure Indian nationals living in Israel, the embassy on Wednesday said that it is monitoring the situation closely and called upon its citizens to remain calm, vigilant and follow security advisories. "This is to assure you that the embassy is working constantly for your safety and welfare. All of us are going through very difficult times but please do remain calm and vigilant and follow the local security guidelines", India's Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla, said on Wednesday in a recorded message on the X social media platform. "We are here to help you, and we thank many of you who have sent so many messages of appreciation to us. We are monitoring the situation closely and please stay tuned for any updates from the embassy. Jai Hind", Singla added. The embassy in Tel Aviv was quick to reach out to a caregiver from Kerala who was injured in the rocket shelling in the city of Ashdod on Saturday and has been constantly in touch with her and her family in India. The Indian community has also been looking after her well-being and visiting her at the hospital. Her condition is stable. In separate advisories through its official handle on X, the mission said, "The Embassy has been working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel through a 24-hour helpline. Please remain calm & vigilant & follow the security advisories." It also listed the 24*7 Emergency Helpline/Contact numbers and email - +972-35226748 and +972-543278392 Email: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in. The initiative received a lot of appreciation from Indians all over the world. "We thank our fellow Indian citizens in Israel and outside for the many messages of appreciation which you have sent us", the embassy said in a post. ALSO READ | Palestinians rush to buy food and struggle under strikes as Israel readies possible ground operation It also reminded Indian nationals in Israel to register with the embassy at the link: https://indembassyisrael.gov.in/whats?id=dwjwb. There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel. A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders. The reassuring messages had a very calming impact on some of the students who called PTI to say that "it gives them a lot of confidence". Meanwhile, the Indian representative office in Ramallah (ROI) is constantly in touch with the four Indians living in Gaza. ROI told PTI that we are in touch and are trying to help all Indians but the situation on the ground constrains our options. In addition, the Indian mission in Tel Aviv is also actively looking for ways to assist all the Indians in the affected areas. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

BALLIA: Two men have been booked for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media, police said on Thursday.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Nagra Police station, Atul Kumar Mishra said, "We received a complaint that one Vivek Yadav has made objectionable comments about Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on a WhatsApp group a few days ago."

"The complaint was lodged by Balmiki Yadav of the same village. Based on the complaint we have booked Vivek Yadav and the admin of the WhatsApp group under section 505 (2) (Publishing content with intent to cause fear or alarm in public) of the IPC on Wednesday," he said.

The investigation in the case is underway.

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BALLIA: Two men have been booked for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media, police said on Thursday. Station House Officer (SHO) of Nagra Police station, Atul Kumar Mishra said, "We received a complaint that one Vivek Yadav has made objectionable comments about Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on a WhatsApp group a few days ago." "The complaint was lodged by Balmiki Yadav of the same village. Based on the complaint we have booked Vivek Yadav and the admin of the WhatsApp group under section 505 (2) (Publishing content with intent to cause fear or alarm in public) of the IPC on Wednesday," he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The investigation in the case is underway. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Anu Kuruvilla By

Express News Service

KOCHI: The 17-day ordeal of the 19 Malayalee nurses, who along with 11 other Indians were arrested and incarcerated, after a raid conducted by the Kuwaiti Manpower Committee, were freed from jail last Wednesday. They were released following an order issued by the Kuwait Home Minister.

The staff, numbering around 60, were arrested from a private clinic in Maliya City. Binoy Alexander, the husband of one of the nurses, told TNIE over the phone from Maliya that as per the information passed on by the authorities, the hospital staff were arrested and detained due to some issues between the sponsor and the owner of the clinic. However, after the issue was sorted out, the nurses along with other hospital staff were released, he said.

But the ordeal has left the nurses shaken. Johnny, the husband of another nurse, said, The authorities told us that the staff can rejoin the clinic and there are no hurdles regarding the same. But many are hesitant. My wife is yet to decide on joining work at the clinic.

He said, Many are even thinking of other options. But that will only be realised if the clinic provides all documents and those are then cleared and verified by the Indian Embassy. In Jesins case, she took time off to be with her infant son whom she had to leave behind abruptly when the cops arrested her. My wife wants to spend some time with the children.

They had missed her very much and it was very tough on them, especially the infant, he added. According to him, they will decide on the future course of action at a later date.

LACK OF PROPER DOCUMENTATION

Life turned nightmarish for 30 Indians, including 19 Malayalee nurses, when Kuwait police swooped on them at 3pm on September 13 and arrested all of them citing lack of proper documentation.

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KOCHI: The 17-day ordeal of the 19 Malayalee nurses, who along with 11 other Indians were arrested and incarcerated, after a raid conducted by the Kuwaiti Manpower Committee, were freed from jail last Wednesday. They were released following an order issued by the Kuwait Home Minister. The staff, numbering around 60, were arrested from a private clinic in Maliya City. Binoy Alexander, the husband of one of the nurses, told TNIE over the phone from Maliya that as per the information passed on by the authorities, the hospital staff were arrested and detained due to some issues between the sponsor and the owner of the clinic. However, after the issue was sorted out, the nurses along with other hospital staff were released, he said. But the ordeal has left the nurses shaken. Johnny, the husband of another nurse, said, The authorities told us that the staff can rejoin the clinic and there are no hurdles regarding the same. But many are hesitant. My wife is yet to decide on joining work at the clinic. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He said, Many are even thinking of other options. But that will only be realised if the clinic provides all documents and those are then cleared and verified by the Indian Embassy. In Jesins case, she took time off to be with her infant son whom she had to leave behind abruptly when the cops arrested her. My wife wants to spend some time with the children. They had missed her very much and it was very tough on them, especially the infant, he added. According to him, they will decide on the future course of action at a later date. LACK OF PROPER DOCUMENTATION Life turned nightmarish for 30 Indians, including 19 Malayalee nurses, when Kuwait police swooped on them at 3pm on September 13 and arrested all of them citing lack of proper documentation. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Biju E Paul By

Express News Service

ALAPPUZHA: Arvind Kumar Pai travels the length and breadth of the country to keep alive the fire of the hobbyist in him. Matchboxes are his speciality, and the school teacher from Cherthala has made it around 20 states in 20 years and collected over one lakh labels.

The 37-year-old phillumenist  as a person who collects match-related items is called  walked the nearly 20km route from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi to gather labels, an effort that yielded nearly 340. He also has a good collection of stamps, coins, one-rupee notes and others items.

I turned a hobbyist during my school days, recounts Arvind. My father Muraleedhara Babu was a chain smoker who used to bring home colourful matchboxes. I preserved many of them. But my quest for matchbox labels received a boost when my father started working for a multinational company in Chennai. I have travelled to 20 states as part of my quest. Most of my labels were collected from Tamil Nadu. I have made nearly 60 trips to various districts of the state, because of its flourishing matchbox industry. I also collected matchboxes from Malaysia during a tour of the country. I have procured labels from African countries and Switzerland through my friends, he adds.

To make his collection unique, Arvind has successfully put together one-rupee notes with serial numbers that match the date of birth of representatives of the current state assembly. At over a lakh, his collection of one-rupee notes is believed to be one of the largest. Arvind has also gathered more than 2.5 lakh stamps.

During travels, I use public transport or trains to manage my expenses. I walk the streets, which helps me land very unique and interesting labels. Most of my labels were picked up from roadsides, says Arvind, an English teacher at the Government UP School.

The images depicted on the labels range from household items, flags, animals, birds, freedom fighters, sports, movie stars and many others. Everything that moves in India finds a place on matchboxes, he says. Indian culture, art and lifestyle are represented on matchbox labels, adds Arvind, whose wife, Jyothy Lekshmy, supports his endeavours. The couple have a daughter, Siddhi.

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ALAPPUZHA: Arvind Kumar Pai travels the length and breadth of the country to keep alive the fire of the hobbyist in him. Matchboxes are his speciality, and the school teacher from Cherthala has made it around 20 states in 20 years and collected over one lakh labels. The 37-year-old phillumenist  as a person who collects match-related items is called  walked the nearly 20km route from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi to gather labels, an effort that yielded nearly 340. He also has a good collection of stamps, coins, one-rupee notes and others items. I turned a hobbyist during my school days, recounts Arvind. My father Muraleedhara Babu was a chain smoker who used to bring home colourful matchboxes. I preserved many of them. But my quest for matchbox labels received a boost when my father started working for a multinational company in Chennai. I have travelled to 20 states as part of my quest. Most of my labels were collected from Tamil Nadu. I have made nearly 60 trips to various districts of the state, because of its flourishing matchbox industry. I also collected matchboxes from Malaysia during a tour of the country. I have procured labels from African countries and Switzerland through my friends, he adds.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); To make his collection unique, Arvind has successfully put together one-rupee notes with serial numbers that match the date of birth of representatives of the current state assembly. At over a lakh, his collection of one-rupee notes is believed to be one of the largest. Arvind has also gathered more than 2.5 lakh stamps. During travels, I use public transport or trains to manage my expenses. I walk the streets, which helps me land very unique and interesting labels. Most of my labels were picked up from roadsides, says Arvind, an English teacher at the Government UP School. The images depicted on the labels range from household items, flags, animals, birds, freedom fighters, sports, movie stars and many others. Everything that moves in India finds a place on matchboxes, he says. Indian culture, art and lifestyle are represented on matchbox labels, adds Arvind, whose wife, Jyothy Lekshmy, supports his endeavours. The couple have a daughter, Siddhi. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Associated Press

JERUSALEM: Palestinians in Gaza lined up outside bakeries on Thursday after spending the night in pitch darkness surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighbourhoods, as Israel launched new airstrikes and said it was preparing for a possible ground invasion.

International aid groups warned that deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the delivery of supplies. The war, which was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack into Israel, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives on both sides.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces "are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if decided," but that the political leadership has not yet ordered one. A ground offensive in Gaza, the first since the 2014 war, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES

In Gaza, Palestinians fleeing airstrikes can be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place. Hundreds of thousands have crowded into UN-run schools while others are staying with relatives or even strangers who let them in.

Lines form outside bakeries and grocery stores during the few hours they dare to open, and the bakeries could soon shut down for lack of fuel or power.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "crush and destroy" Hamas with the support of a new war cabinet formed Wednesday that includes a longtime opposition critic. "Every Hamas member is a dead man," Netanyahu said in a televised address.

The US has pledged unwavering support for Israel's response, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday to meet with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders.

The Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons.

Another airstrike killed a commander with the Islamic Jihad armed group in his family home in the northern town of Beit Lahia, according to media linked to the group's armed wing.

"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," Hecht, the military spokesman, said.

"Not only the military leadership but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehiyeh) Sinwar. They were directly connected."

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Israeli strikes demolished two multi-story houses on top of residents without warning, killing and wounding "a large number" of people, mainly civilians. Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel strikes Palestinian civilians without warning.

A Palestinian walks through the destruction by Israeli bombing in Gaza City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo | AP)

Israel has halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. On Tuesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators. Those will shut off as well if fuel is not allowed in.

A senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that lack of electricity could cripple hospitals, as he called for Hamas to release hostages. "As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can't be taken," said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC's regional director.

"Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues."

ALSO READ | How Hamas 'weaponised' Palestinians despair in its latest attack on Israel

In Israel, opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defence minister and political opponent of Netanyahu, joined a new wartime cabinet. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

The prime minister's allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days.

Israel's increasingly destructive airstrikes in Gaza have flattened entire city blocks and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath debris.

A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a strip of land only 40 kilometres long, would likely result in a surge of casualties on both sides.

The UN said late Wednesday the number of people displaced by the airstrikes had soared 30 per cent within 24 hours, to 339,000, two-thirds of them crowding into UN schools. Others sought shelter in the shrinking number of safe neighbourhoods.

ALSO READ | Gaza Strip's history is key to understanding the current conflict with Israel

The Egyptian government rejected an American proposal to allow Palestinians fleeing Israel's bombardment to leave Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said early Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

Egypt believes that Palestinians leaving Gaza would harm the Palestinian cause, and its state-run media reported that the Israeli offensive is part of a scheme to empty the enclave.

Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, but were unable to enter Gaza, the official said. The only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was shut down Tuesday following nearby Israeli airstrikes.

The official said Egypt was talking with Israel and the US on establishing safe corridors inside Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians, and with Israel and other foreign governments to evacuate foreigners through the Rafah crossing point.

The risk of the war spreading was evident Wednesday after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched.

The death toll in Gaza rose to 1,200 early Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Palestinians pull the body of a young girl out of rubble from a residential building levelled in an Israeli airstrike on Al Shati Refugee Camp Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Photo | AP)

The Gaza Strip's biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, has only enough fuel to keep power on for three days, said Matthias Kannes, a Gaza-based official for Doctors Without Borders. The group said the two hospitals it runs in Gaza were running out of surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies.

Ghassan Abu Sitta, a reconstructive surgeon at al-Shifa, said he had 50 patients waiting to go to the operating room. "We're already beyond the capacity of the system to cope," he said.

The health system "has the rest of the week before it collapses, not just because of the diesel. All supplies are running short."

The Palestinian Red Crescent said other hospitals' generators will run out in five days. Residential buildings, unable to store as much diesel, likely will go dark sooner.

Shock, grief and demands for vengeance against Hamas are running high in Israel.

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked a village south of Nablus, opening fire on Palestinians and killing three, the territory's health ministry said. More than two dozen Palestinians have died in fighting in the West Bank since the weekend.

In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate whole Gaza neighbourhoods, rather than just individual buildings, then levelling large swaths in waves of airstrikes.

Israel's tone has changed as well. In past conflicts, its military insisted on the precision of strikes in Gaza, trying to ward off criticism over civilian deaths. This time, military briefings emphasize the destruction being wreaked.

Even with the evacuation warnings, Palestinians say some are unable to escape or have nowhere to go, and that entire families have been crushed under rubble.

Other times, strikes come with no notice, survivors say.

"There was no warning or anything," said Hashem Abu Manea, 58, who lost his 15-year-old daughter, Joanna, when a strike late Tuesday levelled his home in Gaza City.

The Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Israel claims roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members.

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JERUSALEM: Palestinians in Gaza lined up outside bakeries on Thursday after spending the night in pitch darkness surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighbourhoods, as Israel launched new airstrikes and said it was preparing for a possible ground invasion. International aid groups warned that deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the delivery of supplies. The war, which was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack into Israel, has already claimed at least 2,400 lives on both sides. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces "are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if decided," but that the political leadership has not yet ordered one. A ground offensive in Gaza, the first since the 2014 war, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES In Gaza, Palestinians fleeing airstrikes can be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place. Hundreds of thousands have crowded into UN-run schools while others are staying with relatives or even strangers who let them in. Lines form outside bakeries and grocery stores during the few hours they dare to open, and the bakeries could soon shut down for lack of fuel or power. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "crush and destroy" Hamas with the support of a new war cabinet formed Wednesday that includes a longtime opposition critic. "Every Hamas member is a dead man," Netanyahu said in a televised address. The US has pledged unwavering support for Israel's response, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday to meet with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders. The Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons. Another airstrike killed a commander with the Islamic Jihad armed group in his family home in the northern town of Beit Lahia, according to media linked to the group's armed wing. "Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," Hecht, the military spokesman, said. "Not only the military leadership but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehiyeh) Sinwar. They were directly connected." The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Israeli strikes demolished two multi-story houses on top of residents without warning, killing and wounding "a large number" of people, mainly civilians. Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel strikes Palestinian civilians without warning. A Palestinian walks through the destruction by Israeli bombing in Gaza City on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Photo | AP) Israel has halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. On Tuesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators. Those will shut off as well if fuel is not allowed in. A senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that lack of electricity could cripple hospitals, as he called for Hamas to release hostages. "As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can't be taken," said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC's regional director. "Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues." ALSO READ | How Hamas 'weaponised' Palestinians despair in its latest attack on Israel In Israel, opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defence minister and political opponent of Netanyahu, joined a new wartime cabinet. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities. The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and massacred hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival. Netanyahu alleged that the attackers engaged in atrocities, including binding boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers. The prime minister's allegations could not be independently confirmed, and authorities did not immediately offer further details. Rescue workers and witnesses have described horrifying scenes, including the slaughter of elderly people and finding bloody rooms crowded with massacred civilians. Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel  soldiers, men, women, children and older adults  and they have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days. Israel's increasingly destructive airstrikes in Gaza have flattened entire city blocks and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath debris. A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a strip of land only 40 kilometres long, would likely result in a surge of casualties on both sides. The UN said late Wednesday the number of people displaced by the airstrikes had soared 30 per cent within 24 hours, to 339,000, two-thirds of them crowding into UN schools. Others sought shelter in the shrinking number of safe neighbourhoods. ALSO READ | Gaza Strip's history is key to understanding the current conflict with Israel The Egyptian government rejected an American proposal to allow Palestinians fleeing Israel's bombardment to leave Gaza, a senior Egyptian official said early Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. Egypt believes that Palestinians leaving Gaza would harm the Palestinian cause, and its state-run media reported that the Israeli offensive is part of a scheme to empty the enclave. Convoys stood loaded with fuel and food Wednesday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, but were unable to enter Gaza, the official said. The only crossing point between Egypt and Gaza was shut down Tuesday following nearby Israeli airstrikes. The official said Egypt was talking with Israel and the US on establishing safe corridors inside Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians, and with Israel and other foreign governments to evacuate foreigners through the Rafah crossing point. The risk of the war spreading was evident Wednesday after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched. The death toll in Gaza rose to 1,200 early Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said. Palestinians pull the body of a young girl out of rubble from a residential building levelled in an Israeli airstrike on Al Shati Refugee Camp Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (Photo | AP) The Gaza Strip's biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, has only enough fuel to keep power on for three days, said Matthias Kannes, a Gaza-based official for Doctors Without Borders. The group said the two hospitals it runs in Gaza were running out of surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a reconstructive surgeon at al-Shifa, said he had 50 patients waiting to go to the operating room. "We're already beyond the capacity of the system to cope," he said. The health system "has the rest of the week before it collapses, not just because of the diesel. All supplies are running short." The Palestinian Red Crescent said other hospitals' generators will run out in five days. Residential buildings, unable to store as much diesel, likely will go dark sooner. Shock, grief and demands for vengeance against Hamas are running high in Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked a village south of Nablus, opening fire on Palestinians and killing three, the territory's health ministry said. More than two dozen Palestinians have died in fighting in the West Bank since the weekend. In a new tactic, Israel is warning civilians to evacuate whole Gaza neighbourhoods, rather than just individual buildings, then levelling large swaths in waves of airstrikes. Israel's tone has changed as well. In past conflicts, its military insisted on the precision of strikes in Gaza, trying to ward off criticism over civilian deaths. This time, military briefings emphasize the destruction being wreaked. Even with the evacuation warnings, Palestinians say some are unable to escape or have nowhere to go, and that entire families have been crushed under rubble. Other times, strikes come with no notice, survivors say. "There was no warning or anything," said Hashem Abu Manea, 58, who lost his 15-year-old daughter, Joanna, when a strike late Tuesday levelled his home in Gaza City. The Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 189 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks. Israel claims roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Associated Press

TEL AVIV: One of those taken hostage is a grandmother who learned Arabic in hopes of building bridges with her neighbors. Others include 11 members of an extended family, one an elderly man in a wheelchair who requires hospital care. Still, another is a nurse who delivered thousands of babies over the years to parents both Israeli and Palestinian.

All are among roughly 150 people abducted by Hamas militants early Saturday during sweeping raids on Israeli towns and villages near the heavily fortified border with the Gaza Strip. They include citizens of Brazil, Britain, Italy, the Philippines and the United States, as well as many Israelis. The number of hostages, provided by Hamas and Israeli officials, has not been independently confirmed.

Militants have vowed to start killing hostages if Israels airstrikes target civilians inside Gaza without first providing a warning to allow them to flee. It has placed the families and friends of those taken in a terrifying and desperate situation, with little they can do but wait.

Noam Sagi, a psychotherapist who lives in London, believes his mother, Ada, who turns 75 next week, is among those taken hostage. He hasnt heard from her since early Saturday morning when she called him from a panic room at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a communal settlement near the southeastern border with Gaza.

Ada Sagi, the daughter of Holocaust survivors from Poland, was born in Israel in 1948. As a member of a kibbutz built on the ideals of equality and humanity, she learned Arabic and taught the language to others in southern Israel as a way to improve communication and build a better relationship with Palestinians living nearby, her son said.

Sagi hopes his mothers language skills will help her negotiate with the hostage takers. But she has severe allergies, and has recently had a hip replacement. He is desperately worried.

The only hope I have now is almost like for humanity to do something for me to see my mother again and for my son to see his grandmother again, Sagi told The Associated Press.

Nir Oz is also home to Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, a married father of two daughters who is awaiting the birth of his third child. Neighbors reported that he helped fight off the militants who stormed the kibbutz, but he hasnt been heard from since, according to his father, Jonathan.

About 240 of the communitys 400 residents are dead or missing, Jonathan Dekel-Chen said at the press conference in Tel Aviv called to appeal to the U.S. government to rescue the hostages.

Rachel Goldberg told the story of her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who was born in Berkeley, California, and was saving money to see the world.

Hersh was attending a music festival where at least 260 young people were killed. When militants threw grenades into the shelter where a group of festival goers had taken refuge, Hersh and a friend picked them up and threw them back outside, witnesses reported, but lost an arm when one detonated.

He hasnt been seen since the militants loaded him into the back of a pickup truck and drove off. His cell phone signal was lost at the Gaza border.

Born in California, Adrienne Neta has lived in Israel since 1981. During a long career as a nurse and midwife, the race and religion of her patients were irrelevant, her family said.

Adrienne Neta called her family as the militants burst in at her home in Kibbitz Beeri, where at least 100 people were later found dead. Then the line went dead.

The optimistic scenario is she is held hostage and not dead on the street, said her son Nahar Neta.

Others presumed taken hostage include an family with both Italian and U.S. citizenship who were living in the same southern Israeli community of Beeri.

Their number include Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, 65, and Lilach Lea Havron, 60, and their health care aide, who were last heard from Saturday morning sheltering in their safe room, after militants began storming the village.

Their son, Nadav Kipnis, told The Associated Press that in addition to his parents and the aide, eight members of Havrons family are also missing, including three children.

The family believes all 11 were taken hostage because their bodies werent recovered and some of their cell phones have been traced to Gaza. The family fears especially for the father, who uses a wheelchair, takes several medications daily and needs regular hospital care for a severe autoimmune condition.

Italys foreign minister travelled to Egypt on Wednesday to try to enlist regional Arab support to liberate hostages, including Kipnis parents and family.

For now, all the family has to go on are the messages and videos contained in a nightmarish group chat of Beeri neighbors who described in real time as the militants went door to door, flushing people from their safe rooms, sometimes by setting their houses on fire, Kipnis said.

The chat described people jumping off windows because their safe rooms are starting to fill with smoke and they were choking and they broke their legs trying to run to different houses, people being dragged out of their homes by terrorists... Kipnis said, summarizing the chat.

Were like lucky we just read this instead of being there.

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TEL AVIV: One of those taken hostage is a grandmother who learned Arabic in hopes of building bridges with her neighbors. Others include 11 members of an extended family, one an elderly man in a wheelchair who requires hospital care. Still, another is a nurse who delivered thousands of babies over the years to parents both Israeli and Palestinian. All are among roughly 150 people abducted by Hamas militants early Saturday during sweeping raids on Israeli towns and villages near the heavily fortified border with the Gaza Strip. They include citizens of Brazil, Britain, Italy, the Philippines and the United States, as well as many Israelis. The number of hostages, provided by Hamas and Israeli officials, has not been independently confirmed. Militants have vowed to start killing hostages if Israels airstrikes target civilians inside Gaza without first providing a warning to allow them to flee. It has placed the families and friends of those taken in a terrifying and desperate situation, with little they can do but wait.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Noam Sagi, a psychotherapist who lives in London, believes his mother, Ada, who turns 75 next week, is among those taken hostage. He hasnt heard from her since early Saturday morning when she called him from a panic room at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a communal settlement near the southeastern border with Gaza. Ada Sagi, the daughter of Holocaust survivors from Poland, was born in Israel in 1948. As a member of a kibbutz built on the ideals of equality and humanity, she learned Arabic and taught the language to others in southern Israel as a way to improve communication and build a better relationship with Palestinians living nearby, her son said. Sagi hopes his mothers language skills will help her negotiate with the hostage takers. But she has severe allergies, and has recently had a hip replacement. He is desperately worried. The only hope I have now is almost like for humanity to do something for me to see my mother again and for my son to see his grandmother again, Sagi told The Associated Press. Nir Oz is also home to Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, a married father of two daughters who is awaiting the birth of his third child. Neighbors reported that he helped fight off the militants who stormed the kibbutz, but he hasnt been heard from since, according to his father, Jonathan. About 240 of the communitys 400 residents are dead or missing, Jonathan Dekel-Chen said at the press conference in Tel Aviv called to appeal to the U.S. government to rescue the hostages. Rachel Goldberg told the story of her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, who was born in Berkeley, California, and was saving money to see the world. Hersh was attending a music festival where at least 260 young people were killed. When militants threw grenades into the shelter where a group of festival goers had taken refuge, Hersh and a friend picked them up and threw them back outside, witnesses reported, but lost an arm when one detonated. He hasnt been seen since the militants loaded him into the back of a pickup truck and drove off. His cell phone signal was lost at the Gaza border. Born in California, Adrienne Neta has lived in Israel since 1981. During a long career as a nurse and midwife, the race and religion of her patients were irrelevant, her family said. Adrienne Neta called her family as the militants burst in at her home in Kibbitz Beeri, where at least 100 people were later found dead. Then the line went dead. The optimistic scenario is she is held hostage and not dead on the street, said her son Nahar Neta. Others presumed taken hostage include an family with both Italian and U.S. citizenship who were living in the same southern Israeli community of Beeri. Their number include Eviatar Moshe Kipnis, 65, and Lilach Lea Havron, 60, and their health care aide, who were last heard from Saturday morning sheltering in their safe room, after militants began storming the village. Their son, Nadav Kipnis, told The Associated Press that in addition to his parents and the aide, eight members of Havrons family are also missing, including three children. The family believes all 11 were taken hostage because their bodies werent recovered and some of their cell phones have been traced to Gaza. The family fears especially for the father, who uses a wheelchair, takes several medications daily and needs regular hospital care for a severe autoimmune condition. Italys foreign minister travelled to Egypt on Wednesday to try to enlist regional Arab support to liberate hostages, including Kipnis parents and family. For now, all the family has to go on are the messages and videos contained in a nightmarish group chat of Beeri neighbors who described in real time as the militants went door to door, flushing people from their safe rooms, sometimes by setting their houses on fire, Kipnis said. The chat described people jumping off windows because their safe rooms are starting to fill with smoke and they were choking and they broke their legs trying to run to different houses, people being dragged out of their homes by terrorists... Kipnis said, summarizing the chat. Were like lucky we just read this instead of being there. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
The Conversation By

The scale of Hamas attack on Israel on 7 and 8 October is unprecedented and the failure of the Israeli army and secret services is astonishing. Yet for observers such as former Israeli ambassador to France, Elie Barnavi, the events that have unfolded in the region over the past days were surprising but predictable.

On the ground, from which I have just returned, there is a clear sense of growing despair and latent violence among the Palestinian population. No one is talking about peace any more, but rather the end of the occupation, as young people evoke resistance, by all means.

This is the context in which Hamas carried out its attack. And the militant organisation used this despair to legitimise itself and win the support of a section of Palestinian public opinion.

Gaza, an open-air prison

In Gaza, where Hamas operates, 2.3 million Palestinians are crammed into 365 km2, making the Gaza Strip one of the worlds most densely populated territories. More than two-thirds of the population live below the poverty line and, according to the Israeli NGO BTselem, the unemployment rate is 75% among people under 29.

Since 2007, this territory has also been subject to an Israeli blockade by sea, air and land, which almost entirely deprives it of contact with the outside world.

Gazans are regularly cut off from water and electricity and depend mainly on international aid. Entry into and exit from Gaza depend on permits given by Israeli forces and are extremely rare, earning it the nickname of open-air prison.

In these conditions, the Gazan population, and in particular the youth, who are isolated from the world, are becoming increasingly radical. Most feel they have nothing left to lose and no longer believe in political solutions or peace. The idea that the occupation of the Jewish state must be resisted through violence, as advocated by Islamist groups, is gradually spreading. This is playing into the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who are gathering more and more fighters.

The West Bank, a dismembered territory

In the West Bank, the Hamas attack was not condemned, some Palestinians even showed their support in demonstrations.

The rest of the world is astonished that anyone could support such cruelty, which is unequivocally unacceptable. But we must also look at the roots of this support.

The Palestinian territory is completely dismembered. More than 280 settlements and 710,000 Israeli settlers have been counted by the United Nations. Palestinian homes are regularly destroyed.

Since 2002, more than 700km of wall have been built between the Palestinian territories and Israel. This security wall was supposed to follow the 315km green line outlined in the 1947 UN partition plan, but the past years have seen it snake on and on, gradually encroaching on Palestinian territory and isolating certain Palestinian towns.

One Palestinian MP told me Its the Arab Wailing Wall, while others referred to it as the Wall of Shame. Even East Jerusalem is increasingly occupied, including the Esplanade of the Mosques, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islams third-holiest site. In fact, the name that Hamas gave to its attack, Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, shows just how the Islamist group has managed to act as a soundboard to the populations grievances.

Daily despair

The freedom of movement of the inhabitants of the West Bank is extremely limited  they depend entirely on permits obtained from the Israeli authorities. Every day, Palestinians have to laboriously cross through checkpoints.

Some children explain to me that they cross the checkpoint between Abu Dis in the West Bank and Jerusalem to go to school; they go alone because their parents dont have the necessary permits and spend at least an hour there every day. Older students tell me that they used to be able to walk to their university, but now theres the wall and a checkpoint. The UN estimates that there are around 593 checkpoints, mostly designed to protect Israeli settlers.

The economic situation in the West Bank is also deplorable. Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods  such as bans on the importation of certain technologies and inputs, bureaucratic controls, checkpoints, gates, earth mounds, roadblocks and trenches  are choking development. The poverty rate stands at 36% and the unemployment rate at 26%.

The Israeli army, especially since the arrival of the most recent Netanyahu government, has stepped up its interventions and preventive raids. Before the Hamas attack, 200 Palestinians had been killed since the beginning of the year. The UN counts 4,900 Palestinian political prisoners and notes the deplorable conditions in Israeli prisons and the ill-treatment inflicted.

Political deadlock, latent violence

Added to all this is the political impasse. There have been no elections in Palestine since 2006. The Palestinian Authority, recognised as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, has become an empty shell with no real power. Power is concentrated in the hands of 87-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, who has lost the support of his people. After the repeated failure of negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, some even consider Mahmoud Abbas to be an accomplice to the Israeli occupation. Corruption is paralysing all Palestinian institutions.

The population no longer expects anything from politics and even less from negotiations. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a resurgence of lone wolf attacks driven by despair. Like the Palestinian driver who, at the end of August, ploughed into a group of Israeli soldiers as he was about to cross a checkpoint.

It is this same despair that drives a section of the Palestinian population to rally around Hamass cruel attacks today. As Elie Barnavi points out, we could even fear the outbreak of a new intifada.

Hamas rise

Over the years, Hamas has been able to weaponise these sentiments and so affirm itself as the true defender of the Palestinian cause.

In 2006, the militant group won the Palestinian legislative elections. Despite the democratic nature of these elections, the result was not recognised by the international community, which refused to allow a terrorist organisation to take power. Hamas therefore fell back onto the Gaza Strip, of which it took control. From Gaza, it continued to radicalise and delegitimise the Palestinian Authority and waited for momentum to build before putting its words into action. In the eyes of the organisation, this moment has arrived. The leaders no doubt felt that the context was favourable for a large-scale attack.

On the one hand, the internal destabilisation in Israel offered a breach of which Hamas could take advantage. Never has Israel been as divided as it has been since the arrival of Netanyahus coalition of ultra-Orthodox and national-religious parties. Large-scale demonstrations against the reform of the justice system shook the country for several months. In an unprecedented move, Israeli reservists, essential to Israeli defence, refused to serve for weeks in protest against the reforms.

Shifting geopolitics

Hamas likely also had an eye on geopolitics, sensing that the balance of power in the region is shifting. Witness the agreement between Tehran and Riyadh, and the Abraham Accords which normalised Israels relations with the Gulf states. Today, global tectonic plates continue to wobble, the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh has been shattered and Africa is experiencing one coup after another. The time was ripe for the group to strike.

Fifty years after the Yom Kippur War and 30 years after the Oslo Accords, the past days tragic events ought to be viewed through the prism of a complex conflict that has pitted two peoples against each other since 1948. Hamas has instrumentalised the anger and despair of Palestinians to commit unprecedented violence, thereby delegitimising a legitimate cause.

Marie Durrieu

Doctorante associee a l'Institut de Recherche Strategique de l'Ecole Militaire en science politique et relations internationales (CMH EA 4232-UCA), Sciences Po



This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Read the original article.

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The scale of Hamas attack on Israel on 7 and 8 October is unprecedented and the failure of the Israeli army and secret services is astonishing. Yet for observers such as former Israeli ambassador to France, Elie Barnavi, the events that have unfolded in the region over the past days were surprising but predictable. On the ground, from which I have just returned, there is a clear sense of growing despair and latent violence among the Palestinian population. No one is talking about peace any more, but rather the end of the occupation, as young people evoke resistance, by all means. This is the context in which Hamas carried out its attack. And the militant organisation used this despair to legitimise itself and win the support of a section of Palestinian public opinion.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Gaza, an open-air prison In Gaza, where Hamas operates, 2.3 million Palestinians are crammed into 365 km2, making the Gaza Strip one of the worlds most densely populated territories. More than two-thirds of the population live below the poverty line and, according to the Israeli NGO BTselem, the unemployment rate is 75% among people under 29. Since 2007, this territory has also been subject to an Israeli blockade by sea, air and land, which almost entirely deprives it of contact with the outside world. Gazans are regularly cut off from water and electricity and depend mainly on international aid. Entry into and exit from Gaza depend on permits given by Israeli forces and are extremely rare, earning it the nickname of open-air prison. In these conditions, the Gazan population, and in particular the youth, who are isolated from the world, are becoming increasingly radical. Most feel they have nothing left to lose and no longer believe in political solutions or peace. The idea that the occupation of the Jewish state must be resisted through violence, as advocated by Islamist groups, is gradually spreading. This is playing into the hands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who are gathering more and more fighters. The West Bank, a dismembered territory In the West Bank, the Hamas attack was not condemned, some Palestinians even showed their support in demonstrations. The rest of the world is astonished that anyone could support such cruelty, which is unequivocally unacceptable. But we must also look at the roots of this support. The Palestinian territory is completely dismembered. More than 280 settlements and 710,000 Israeli settlers have been counted by the United Nations. Palestinian homes are regularly destroyed. Since 2002, more than 700km of wall have been built between the Palestinian territories and Israel. This security wall was supposed to follow the 315km green line outlined in the 1947 UN partition plan, but the past years have seen it snake on and on, gradually encroaching on Palestinian territory and isolating certain Palestinian towns. One Palestinian MP told me Its the Arab Wailing Wall, while others referred to it as the Wall of Shame. Even East Jerusalem is increasingly occupied, including the Esplanade of the Mosques, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islams third-holiest site. In fact, the name that Hamas gave to its attack, Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, shows just how the Islamist group has managed to act as a soundboard to the populations grievances. Daily despair The freedom of movement of the inhabitants of the West Bank is extremely limited  they depend entirely on permits obtained from the Israeli authorities. Every day, Palestinians have to laboriously cross through checkpoints. Some children explain to me that they cross the checkpoint between Abu Dis in the West Bank and Jerusalem to go to school; they go alone because their parents dont have the necessary permits and spend at least an hour there every day. Older students tell me that they used to be able to walk to their university, but now theres the wall and a checkpoint. The UN estimates that there are around 593 checkpoints, mostly designed to protect Israeli settlers. The economic situation in the West Bank is also deplorable. Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods  such as bans on the importation of certain technologies and inputs, bureaucratic controls, checkpoints, gates, earth mounds, roadblocks and trenches  are choking development. The poverty rate stands at 36% and the unemployment rate at 26%. The Israeli army, especially since the arrival of the most recent Netanyahu government, has stepped up its interventions and preventive raids. Before the Hamas attack, 200 Palestinians had been killed since the beginning of the year. The UN counts 4,900 Palestinian political prisoners and notes the deplorable conditions in Israeli prisons and the ill-treatment inflicted. Political deadlock, latent violence Added to all this is the political impasse. There have been no elections in Palestine since 2006. The Palestinian Authority, recognised as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, has become an empty shell with no real power. Power is concentrated in the hands of 87-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, who has lost the support of his people. After the repeated failure of negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, some even consider Mahmoud Abbas to be an accomplice to the Israeli occupation. Corruption is paralysing all Palestinian institutions. The population no longer expects anything from politics and even less from negotiations. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a resurgence of lone wolf attacks driven by despair. Like the Palestinian driver who, at the end of August, ploughed into a group of Israeli soldiers as he was about to cross a checkpoint. It is this same despair that drives a section of the Palestinian population to rally around Hamass cruel attacks today. As Elie Barnavi points out, we could even fear the outbreak of a new intifada. Hamas rise Over the years, Hamas has been able to weaponise these sentiments and so affirm itself as the true defender of the Palestinian cause. In 2006, the militant group won the Palestinian legislative elections. Despite the democratic nature of these elections, the result was not recognised by the international community, which refused to allow a terrorist organisation to take power. Hamas therefore fell back onto the Gaza Strip, of which it took control. From Gaza, it continued to radicalise and delegitimise the Palestinian Authority and waited for momentum to build before putting its words into action. In the eyes of the organisation, this moment has arrived. The leaders no doubt felt that the context was favourable for a large-scale attack. On the one hand, the internal destabilisation in Israel offered a breach of which Hamas could take advantage. Never has Israel been as divided as it has been since the arrival of Netanyahus coalition of ultra-Orthodox and national-religious parties. Large-scale demonstrations against the reform of the justice system shook the country for several months. In an unprecedented move, Israeli reservists, essential to Israeli defence, refused to serve for weeks in protest against the reforms. Shifting geopolitics Hamas likely also had an eye on geopolitics, sensing that the balance of power in the region is shifting. Witness the agreement between Tehran and Riyadh, and the Abraham Accords which normalised Israels relations with the Gulf states. Today, global tectonic plates continue to wobble, the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh has been shattered and Africa is experiencing one coup after another. The time was ripe for the group to strike. Fifty years after the Yom Kippur War and 30 years after the Oslo Accords, the past days tragic events ought to be viewed through the prism of a complex conflict that has pitted two peoples against each other since 1948. Hamas has instrumentalised the anger and despair of Palestinians to commit unprecedented violence, thereby delegitimising a legitimate cause. Marie DurrieuDoctorante associee a l'Institut de Recherche Strategique de l'Ecole Militaire en science politique et relations internationales (CMH EA 4232-UCA), Sciences Po This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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By AFP

GAZA CITY: Hamas militants on Thursday fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israeli air strikes that targeted "civilians" in two Gaza refugee camps, the Palestinian group said.

"Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to (Israeli strikes) targeting civilians in Al-Shati and Jabalia camps," Hamas said, referring to its armed wing, in a text message sent to journalists.

AFP correspondents witnessed dozens of air strikes over 30 minutes on Thursday morning in the direction of Al-Shati camp and in the blockaded strip's north.

"The occupation (Israeli forces) committed massacres this morning in Al-Shati camp and Jabalia camp, leaving dozens of martyrs and injured," Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for the Hamas interior ministry, told AFP.

AFP journalists saw at least seven dead bodies and six buildings destroyed in Al-Shati camp.

Israel has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the blockaded Gaza Strip after the Islamists carried out a massive assault on Israel on Saturday that killed more than 1,200 people.

Around another 1,200 people have been killed in the Palestinian coastal enclave in Israeli air strikes, according to Hamas officials.

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GAZA CITY: Hamas militants on Thursday fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israeli air strikes that targeted "civilians" in two Gaza refugee camps, the Palestinian group said. "Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to (Israeli strikes) targeting civilians in Al-Shati and Jabalia camps," Hamas said, referring to its armed wing, in a text message sent to journalists. AFP correspondents witnessed dozens of air strikes over 30 minutes on Thursday morning in the direction of Al-Shati camp and in the blockaded strip's north.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The occupation (Israeli forces) committed massacres this morning in Al-Shati camp and Jabalia camp, leaving dozens of martyrs and injured," Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for the Hamas interior ministry, told AFP. AFP journalists saw at least seven dead bodies and six buildings destroyed in Al-Shati camp. Israel has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the blockaded Gaza Strip after the Islamists carried out a massive assault on Israel on Saturday that killed more than 1,200 people. Around another 1,200 people have been killed in the Palestinian coastal enclave in Israeli air strikes, according to Hamas officials. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Associated Press

BANGKOK: The first group of Thai workers evacuated from Israel after the past few days bloody events in southern Israel and Gaza arrived Thursday in the Thai capital of Bangkok, greeted by anxious relatives and senior officials.

Hamas militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets, and at an outdoor music festival. The Israelis have responded with punishing airstrikes and preparations for a possible ground invasion. The conflict has claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides, including some Southeast Asian workers living in Israel.

The 41 Thais who returned home on a commercial flight of the Israeli airline El Al included two men wounded in the violence who had to use wheelchairs to exit the aircraft.

Farm laborers from Thailand seek work in more developed countries where there is a shortage of semi-skilled labor  at wages considerably higher than they can earn at home.

Tens of thousands of workers in Israel from nations including Thailand and the Philippines send their earnings home to support their families. That money also helps to fire up their native countries economies.

But the appearance of Thais and Filipinos on the lists of dead, wounded, and missing in the past few days is a reminder that foreign workers toil in peril of their lives.

About 30,000 Thais are working in Israel, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry, and about 5,000 of them live in the southern area near the border with Gaza.

One of them, Katchakorn Pudtason, said his employer at the farm where he worked initially herded all his workers into a bunker when Saturdays attacks took place, but after they left it for lunch they could still hear shooting.

As they were being driven back to their workplace, Katchakorn heard more gunshots and felt something hit his knee, he said.

I thought it was a rock but it went through. So I hit the truck and told the driver to drive away, he said. He added that he was one of four people in the vehicle who suffered injuries that day. He was one of the two returnees who had to use a wheelchair.

Thailands Cabinet ministers for labor, defense, and foreign affairs were at Bangkoks international airport for the evacuees arrival. The government has vowed to look after the evacuees physical and mental well-being.

Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said 5,990 Thais have registered to be evacuated and officials are working around the clock to accommodate them.

We need a Plan B to take out as many people as possible, said Defense Minister Suthin Klangsaeng. We will use military aircraft to evacuate people from the high-risk area to a third country, such as (the United Arab Emirates).

The number of Thais affected by the tragedy stood out in lists of non-Israeli nationals affected by the violence: Thailands foreign ministry Thursday said 21 Thais are believed dead and 14 wounded. Sixteen were believed to have been taken hostage.

Survivor Chatree Chasri left his home in northeastern Thailand in 2019 to work in Israel as an agricultural laborer to pay off debts and provide for his wife and two children back home in Nakhon Phanom. Foreign work is a common path for Thais from the countrys economically disadvantaged rural areas, especially the northeast.

Working under a government-to-government agreement, the 38-year-old has been farming tomatoes and cauliflower for the past four years in the southern Israeli town of Mivtahim, less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) away from Israels border with Gaza.

Despite the occasional shelling and rocket attacks that sent him running for cover, his life at the farm had been OK until Saturday, he said from Israel in a phone interview with The Associated Press. Now he says he wants to come home, and never go back to Israel.

Chatree was shot several times in his hip shortly after Hamas launched its rocket attacks and shock ground offensive into southern Israel, killing hundreds of people and capturing more than 100 who were hauled back to Gaza as hostages.

Chatree was using a toilet at the farm where he works with other foreign laborers when he suddenly heard gunshots.

The sounds came closer and bullets went through the wall of the toilet, he said, recalling the moment he was hit. He then saw two gunmen making their way into the workers living quarters and open fire, so the workers fled outside to hide.

Vibhavadi Vannachai, a Thai expatriate who has lived in Israel for nearly two decades and is coordinating with Israeli authorities to help the Thai workers, fears the number of victims may rise.

Vibhavadi, originally from Nong Bua Lamphu province in Thailands northeast, works as an interpreter in a legal office whose cases mostly involve resolving disputes between Thai workers and their employers.

She said abuse and violations of their rights are common, with many bound by years-long contracts but cheated of their wages. Many are forced to work long hours and are beaten if they refuse. Some have to live in quarters that are not fit for human beings, she said.

Vibhavadi helped find temporary accommodations for Chatree and Padoong Bootmo, a 26-year-old Thai worker shot on Saturday who said the potato and yam farm where he works in Yesha was raided twice by gunmen and then burned down. Padoong said in a phone interview he had been able to send 40,000 baht ($1,100) home each month. He might under the best of circumstances make less than half that doing the same job in Thailand, but he said he doesnt want to stay in Israel anymore.

The killing of at least two Filipino foreign workers underscored the threats also faced by those workers in Israel.

About 30,000 Filipinos live and work in the country many as caregivers who look after the elderly, the ill, and those with physical disabilities, according to the Philippines foreign ministry. The huge income they send back home, which last year amounted to an all-time high of $36.14 billion, has helped keep the countrys fragile economy afloat.

One of the two Filipinos killed Saturday was a caregiver who was shot with her employer inside their house by Hamas gunmen, according to the Philippines Embassy in Israel. The other was killed under still-unclear circumstances.

ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war LIVE | Israel says no water or fuel to Gaza until hostages are freed

At least three Filipinos remain missing, embassy officials have said.

Still, Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Wednesday that no Filipino has asked to be repatriated from Israel.

Jeremiah Supan, a 34-year-old Filipino caregiver in Israel, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday that he made it clear to Philippines officials that he did not want to return home. As the family breadwinner, he sends his earnings home to enable his 10-year-old son to remain in school and sustain other loved ones.

The rocket firings continue, Supan said. But if I leave, all that assistance that I send to my family back home will be lost.

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BANGKOK: The first group of Thai workers evacuated from Israel after the past few days bloody events in southern Israel and Gaza arrived Thursday in the Thai capital of Bangkok, greeted by anxious relatives and senior officials. Hamas militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets, and at an outdoor music festival. The Israelis have responded with punishing airstrikes and preparations for a possible ground invasion. The conflict has claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides, including some Southeast Asian workers living in Israel. The 41 Thais who returned home on a commercial flight of the Israeli airline El Al included two men wounded in the violence who had to use wheelchairs to exit the aircraft.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Farm laborers from Thailand seek work in more developed countries where there is a shortage of semi-skilled labor  at wages considerably higher than they can earn at home. Tens of thousands of workers in Israel from nations including Thailand and the Philippines send their earnings home to support their families. That money also helps to fire up their native countries economies. But the appearance of Thais and Filipinos on the lists of dead, wounded, and missing in the past few days is a reminder that foreign workers toil in peril of their lives. About 30,000 Thais are working in Israel, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry, and about 5,000 of them live in the southern area near the border with Gaza. One of them, Katchakorn Pudtason, said his employer at the farm where he worked initially herded all his workers into a bunker when Saturdays attacks took place, but after they left it for lunch they could still hear shooting. As they were being driven back to their workplace, Katchakorn heard more gunshots and felt something hit his knee, he said. I thought it was a rock but it went through. So I hit the truck and told the driver to drive away, he said. He added that he was one of four people in the vehicle who suffered injuries that day. He was one of the two returnees who had to use a wheelchair. Thailands Cabinet ministers for labor, defense, and foreign affairs were at Bangkoks international airport for the evacuees arrival. The government has vowed to look after the evacuees physical and mental well-being. Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said 5,990 Thais have registered to be evacuated and officials are working around the clock to accommodate them. We need a Plan B to take out as many people as possible, said Defense Minister Suthin Klangsaeng. We will use military aircraft to evacuate people from the high-risk area to a third country, such as (the United Arab Emirates). The number of Thais affected by the tragedy stood out in lists of non-Israeli nationals affected by the violence: Thailands foreign ministry Thursday said 21 Thais are believed dead and 14 wounded. Sixteen were believed to have been taken hostage. Survivor Chatree Chasri left his home in northeastern Thailand in 2019 to work in Israel as an agricultural laborer to pay off debts and provide for his wife and two children back home in Nakhon Phanom. Foreign work is a common path for Thais from the countrys economically disadvantaged rural areas, especially the northeast. Working under a government-to-government agreement, the 38-year-old has been farming tomatoes and cauliflower for the past four years in the southern Israeli town of Mivtahim, less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) away from Israels border with Gaza. Despite the occasional shelling and rocket attacks that sent him running for cover, his life at the farm had been OK until Saturday, he said from Israel in a phone interview with The Associated Press. Now he says he wants to come home, and never go back to Israel. Chatree was shot several times in his hip shortly after Hamas launched its rocket attacks and shock ground offensive into southern Israel, killing hundreds of people and capturing more than 100 who were hauled back to Gaza as hostages. Chatree was using a toilet at the farm where he works with other foreign laborers when he suddenly heard gunshots. The sounds came closer and bullets went through the wall of the toilet, he said, recalling the moment he was hit. He then saw two gunmen making their way into the workers living quarters and open fire, so the workers fled outside to hide. Vibhavadi Vannachai, a Thai expatriate who has lived in Israel for nearly two decades and is coordinating with Israeli authorities to help the Thai workers, fears the number of victims may rise. Vibhavadi, originally from Nong Bua Lamphu province in Thailands northeast, works as an interpreter in a legal office whose cases mostly involve resolving disputes between Thai workers and their employers. She said abuse and violations of their rights are common, with many bound by years-long contracts but cheated of their wages. Many are forced to work long hours and are beaten if they refuse. Some have to live in quarters that are not fit for human beings, she said. Vibhavadi helped find temporary accommodations for Chatree and Padoong Bootmo, a 26-year-old Thai worker shot on Saturday who said the potato and yam farm where he works in Yesha was raided twice by gunmen and then burned down. Padoong said in a phone interview he had been able to send 40,000 baht ($1,100) home each month. He might under the best of circumstances make less than half that doing the same job in Thailand, but he said he doesnt want to stay in Israel anymore. The killing of at least two Filipino foreign workers underscored the threats also faced by those workers in Israel. About 30,000 Filipinos live and work in the country many as caregivers who look after the elderly, the ill, and those with physical disabilities, according to the Philippines foreign ministry. The huge income they send back home, which last year amounted to an all-time high of $36.14 billion, has helped keep the countrys fragile economy afloat. One of the two Filipinos killed Saturday was a caregiver who was shot with her employer inside their house by Hamas gunmen, according to the Philippines Embassy in Israel. The other was killed under still-unclear circumstances. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas war LIVE | Israel says no water or fuel to Gaza until hostages are freed At least three Filipinos remain missing, embassy officials have said. Still, Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Wednesday that no Filipino has asked to be repatriated from Israel. Jeremiah Supan, a 34-year-old Filipino caregiver in Israel, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday that he made it clear to Philippines officials that he did not want to return home. As the family breadwinner, he sends his earnings home to enable his 10-year-old son to remain in school and sustain other loved ones. The rocket firings continue, Supan said. But if I leave, all that assistance that I send to my family back home will be lost. 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By Associated Press

MIAMI: Former President Donald Trump has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of betraying him just before the U.S. killed a top Iranian general in 2020 and is questioning the country's intelligence prowess as it responds to Hamas' deadly attack.

Trump's comments at a West Palm Beach, Florida, rally on Wednesday were quickly denounced by one of Netanyahu's allies, the White House and by several Republican presidential rivals, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Most American leaders, including the Republican presidential contenders, have lined up behind Israel after the Hamas invasion that President Joe Biden said was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. At least 2,500 people have died on the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

But Trump, the early front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination who has long tried to paint himself as a fierce defender of Israel, offered stark criticism Wednesday night. He told the rally crowd that his prayers were with Israel and again vowed to stand by the country and back efforts to destroy Hamas  before he went on to describe a bad experience with Israel's leaders that he had never shared before.

Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months, he said about the coordination to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans Quds Force. We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack.

Nobodys heard this story before, Trump said. They didnt tell us why.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, he said.

ALSO READ: Israel-Hamas war LIVE | Israel says no water or fuel to Gaza until hostages are freed

We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed, he said. But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision  and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.

Trump also pointed to intelligence failures ahead of last weekend's onslaught, which caught Israel by surprise, saying the country had to "strengthen themselves up.

They've got to straighten it out because they're fighting, potentially, a very big force, he said. They're going to have to step up their game, and the United States is going to have to step up its game. He further criticized Israels defense minister, calling him this jerk" for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel from the north.

Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the government's communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, told Israel's Channel 13 that it was shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens.

We dont have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts, Karhi said. Asked if Trumps comments make it clear that he cant be relied on, Karhi replied, Obviously.

While Trump and Netanyahu were close allies during Trumps time in office, the former president turned on the embattled Israel leader after he congratulated then-President-elect Joe Biden for winning the 2020 election while Trump was still trying to overturn the results. In interviews for a book about Middle East peace efforts, Trump, according to its author, used an expletive to describe Netanyahu and said he believed the Israeli leader never really wanted to make peace.

Trump's rivals quickly seized on his new comments. DeSantis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for president, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel," and criticized Trump for calling Hezbollah very smart" in his remarks.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates also said on X, Calling an Iran-backed terrorist group smart - especially at a time like this - is unhinged and sickening." He added, "Why in Gods name would any American do that?

Trump, in his remarks, suggested that information about the raid could potentially be classified, though it wasn't immediately clear if that was the case. Theyll say, Oh its classified information.' Well, maybe it is, but I dont think so," he said. Trump is currently under federal criminal indictment, accused of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club and refusing to return them to the government.

Trump and other Republicans have tried to lay blame on the Biden administration for the Hamas invasion, particularly citing the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen assets to Iran, a supporter of Hamas. Biden administration officials insist that money has not been spent.

The Democratic president's campaign said Trump has been pushing dangerous misinformation about the crisis in Israel when the countries should stand together.

While Trump continues to lie about his record, President Biden is laser-focused on providing steadfast support for Israel and leading on the global stage, Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said.

Trump has long said that he did more to support Israel than any previous president, pointing to his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

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MIAMI: Former President Donald Trump has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of betraying him just before the U.S. killed a top Iranian general in 2020 and is questioning the country's intelligence prowess as it responds to Hamas' deadly attack. Trump's comments at a West Palm Beach, Florida, rally on Wednesday were quickly denounced by one of Netanyahu's allies, the White House and by several Republican presidential rivals, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Most American leaders, including the Republican presidential contenders, have lined up behind Israel after the Hamas invasion that President Joe Biden said was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. At least 2,500 people have died on the Israeli and Palestinian sides.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); But Trump, the early front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination who has long tried to paint himself as a fierce defender of Israel, offered stark criticism Wednesday night. He told the rally crowd that his prayers were with Israel and again vowed to stand by the country and back efforts to destroy Hamas  before he went on to describe a bad experience with Israel's leaders that he had never shared before. Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months, he said about the coordination to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans Quds Force. We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack. Nobodys heard this story before, Trump said. They didnt tell us why. Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, he said. ALSO READ: Israel-Hamas war LIVE | Israel says no water or fuel to Gaza until hostages are freed We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed, he said. But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision  and then Bibi tried to take credit for it. Trump also pointed to intelligence failures ahead of last weekend's onslaught, which caught Israel by surprise, saying the country had to "strengthen themselves up. They've got to straighten it out because they're fighting, potentially, a very big force, he said. They're going to have to step up their game, and the United States is going to have to step up its game. He further criticized Israels defense minister, calling him this jerk" for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel from the north. Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the government's communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, told Israel's Channel 13 that it was shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens. We dont have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts, Karhi said. Asked if Trumps comments make it clear that he cant be relied on, Karhi replied, Obviously. While Trump and Netanyahu were close allies during Trumps time in office, the former president turned on the embattled Israel leader after he congratulated then-President-elect Joe Biden for winning the 2020 election while Trump was still trying to overturn the results. In interviews for a book about Middle East peace efforts, Trump, according to its author, used an expletive to describe Netanyahu and said he believed the Israeli leader never really wanted to make peace. Trump's rivals quickly seized on his new comments. DeSantis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for president, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel," and criticized Trump for calling Hezbollah very smart" in his remarks. White House spokesman Andrew Bates also said on X, Calling an Iran-backed terrorist group smart - especially at a time like this - is unhinged and sickening." He added, "Why in Gods name would any American do that? Trump, in his remarks, suggested that information about the raid could potentially be classified, though it wasn't immediately clear if that was the case. Theyll say, Oh its classified information.' Well, maybe it is, but I dont think so," he said. Trump is currently under federal criminal indictment, accused of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club and refusing to return them to the government. Trump and other Republicans have tried to lay blame on the Biden administration for the Hamas invasion, particularly citing the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen assets to Iran, a supporter of Hamas. Biden administration officials insist that money has not been spent. The Democratic president's campaign said Trump has been pushing dangerous misinformation about the crisis in Israel when the countries should stand together. While Trump continues to lie about his record, President Biden is laser-focused on providing steadfast support for Israel and leading on the global stage, Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said. Trump has long said that he did more to support Israel than any previous president, pointing to his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) are calling on President Joe Bidens administration to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets, joining a call made by many Republicans and a handful of Democrats in the wake of Hamas militants attack on Israel.

Last month, the administration unfroze $6 billion of Iranian oil assets, which had been held in a South Korean account, in exchange for the release of six American citizens.

Rosen, a staunch defender of Israel, was one of the first Senate Democrats to call on the administration to freeze the assets, joining Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) on Tuesday. All three are running for re-election in 2024.

In light of Hamass violent and horrific terrorist attack on Israel and Irans long-standing support for Hamas, we should freeze these assets, Rosen said in a statement.

Cortez Masto joined the call to freeze the assets on Wednesday afternoon, telling The Nevada Independent in a statement that we must continue to stand with Israel after this terrorist attack.

After the Hamas attack, several Republicans highlighted the Iranian deal and accused the Biden administration of enabling Iran to fund Hamas terror operation, which thus far has killed 1,200 Israelis since Saturday. While Iran has been an ally of Hamas, U.S. national security officials say there is no evidence yet of Iranian support in ordering or planning the attacks.

Still, 20 Senate Republicans sent a letter Monday calling on Biden to refreeze the assets, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who is running for president, called on the Senate to investigate the matter, including compelling Democrats to call in Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

The Biden administration has defended last months exchange, saying the funds can only be used for humanitarian purposes. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken added that the funds remain unspent.

These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today and this is not the time to spread disinformation, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday.
By AFP

JERUSALEM: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed on a visit to Israel Thursday that the United States will "always" back it but said the Palestinians also have "legitimate aspirations" not represented by militant group Hamas.

Israel's army has rained air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days since the Islamist militants launched their surprise onslaught that killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took about 150 hostages.

Israeli forces have prepared for a possible ground invasion of the Palestinian coastal territory after what has been labelled Israel's 9/11.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself," Blinken said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side."

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR | CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES

More than 1,350 Palestinians have died in Gaza as Israel has levelled entire city blocks and destroyed thousands of buildings, while Hamas has now fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel, the army said.

US President Joe Biden has vowed unwavering support for Israel and not called for restraint against Hamas, but Blinken hinted at the need for an eventual peace settlement -- an idea that has long met resistance from the right-wing Netanyahu.

"Anyone who wants peace and justice must condemn Hamas' reign of terror," Blinken said.

"We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people, or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice opportunity and dignity."

Netanyahu voiced appreciation for US support and said that Hamas, which rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, should be treated like the Islamic State group. "Just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. And Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated," Netanyahu said.

Blinken, speaking in personal terms, said "I come before you not only as the United States secretary of state but also as a Jew" and "as a husband and father of young children."

"It's impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed, such as the mother, father and three small children murdered as they sheltered in their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, and not think of my own children," he said.

'Cycle of violence and horror'

Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht said Thursday the military was readying for a potential order to launch a ground invasion in the war with Hamas: "This has not been decided yet... but we are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if it is decided."

"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," he told journalists.

Fears have grown for Gaza's 2.4 million people now enduring the fifth war in 15 years in the long-blockaded territory, which has also seen Israel cut off water, food and power supplies.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed the total siege of Gaza would continue until the hostages are freed. "Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," he said in a statement.

"The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent," said the International Committee of the Red Cross Middle East chief Fabrizio Carboni, who stressed hospitals without electricity "risk turning into morgues."

ALSO READ | Syria says Israeli airstrikes hit airports in Damascus and Aleppo

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern about the "supercharged cycle of violence and horror", urged the release of all hostages and the lifting of the siege, and stressed that "civilians must be protected at all times".

There have been calls for a humanitarian corridor to allow Palestinians to escape ahead of a possible Israeli ground invasion that would spell brutal urban combat and house-to-house fighting.

If Israel does send ground forces into Gaza, it risks walking into a Hamas "trap", warned a former head of Britain's MI6 intelligence service, Alex Younger, speaking on BBC radio.

"You shouldn't do what your enemy wants you to do," he said, arguing the inevitable loss of innocent life would further drive radicalisation and regional sentiment against Israel and its allies.

"These are all things that Hamas wants," he said.

'All I do is cry'

Israel has called up 300,000 reservists and rushed forces, tanks and heavy armour to the southern desert areas around Gaza from where Hamas launched their unprecedented attack on October 7.

Israeli soldiers have since then swept the southern towns and kibbutz communities and killed 1,500 of the militants while making ever more shocking discoveries of large numbers of dead civilians.

"I would never have been able to imagine... something like this," Doron Spielman, an Israeli army spokesman, said at one gated community where more than 100 residents were killed.

"It looks like... an atomic bomb just landed here."

ALSO READ | As airstrikes devastate Gaza, Israel prepares for possible ground assault

Israeli outrage has been further fuelled by Hamas's capture of at least 150 hostages -- mostly Israelis but also foreign and dual nationals -- now being held in Gaza.

"I know he's out there somewhere," one of the affected Israelis, Ausa Meir, said of her brother Michael, who is among the captives. "It's very, very painful."

Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if Israel bombs Gaza civilian targets without advance warning -- deepening the anger and fear in shell-shocked Israel.

"Everybody is impacted in Israel," said Joana Ouisman, 38, a finance executive. "I've been watching TV all day for the past three to four days. All I do is cry."

'We must win'

Israel's war now flaring in the south is further complicated by a threat from the north, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group based in Lebanon.

Israel has massed tanks on the border after repeated clashes with Hezbollah in recent days, including cross-border rockets and shelling.

The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier battle group to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support and warned Israel's other enemies not to enter the conflict.

Israel's arch-foe Iran has long financially and militarily backed Hamas and praised its attack but insists it had no involvement.

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi argued that all Islamic and Arab countries must confront Israel and support the "oppressed Palestinian nation", in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.

Blinken was on Friday due to visit Jordan and meet King Abdullah II as well as Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Abbas to clearly condemn the Hamas attack on Israel, saying his silence so far had been "shameful."
By Associated Press

THE HAGUE: Armenia urged the United Nations top court on Thursday to impose new interim orders on Azerbaijan to prevent what the leader of Armenia's legal team called "ethnic cleansing" of the Nagorno-Karabakh region by Azerbaijan from becoming irreversible.

Armenia is asking judges at the International Court of Justice for 10 "provisional measures" aimed at protecting the rights of ethnic Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region that Azerbaijan reclaimed last month following a swift military operation.

In a 24-hour campaign that began on Sept. 19, the Azerbaijani army routed the region's undermanned and outgunned Armenian forces, forcing them to capitulate. The separatist government then agreed to disband itself by the end of the year. More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh.

"Nothing other than targeted and unequivocal provisional measures protecting the rights of ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will suffice to prevent the ethnic cleansing Azerbaijan is perpetrating from continuing and becoming irreversible," the head of Armenia's legal team, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, told judges.

Lawyers for Azerbaijan are scheduled to respond Thursday afternoon. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has said that the departure of Armenians was "their personal and individual decision and has nothing to do with forced relocation."

ALSO READ | World should have seen Nagorno-Karabakh crisis coming  and its not over yet

After six years of separatist fighting ended in 1994 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh came under the control of ethnic Armenian forces, backed by Armenia.

Azerbaijan took back parts of the region in the South Caucasus Mountains during a six-week war in 2020, along with surrounding territory that Armenian forces had claimed earlier. Nagorno-Karabakh was internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan's sovereign territory.

The world court is currently considering two cases focused on the deep-rooted tensions between the two countries.

Armenia filed a case in 2021 accusing Azerbaijan of breaching an international convention aimed at preventing racial discrimination. A week later, Azerbaijan filed its own case, accusing Armenia of contravening the same convention.

The court has already issued so-called "provisional measure" rulings in both cases. The measures are intended to protect the rights of both nations and their nationals as their cases slowly progress through the world court.

Armenia on Thursday accused Azerbaijan of driving Armenians out of Nagorno-Karabakh even as the legal wrangling continues.

Alison Macdonald, a lawyer for Armenia, said court orders could prevent Nagorno-Karabakh from being "swallowed up" by Azerbaijan. "It is still possible to change how this story unfolds," she said.

"The ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh is happening as we speak. It must not be allowed to set in stone."

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THE HAGUE: Armenia urged the United Nations top court on Thursday to impose new interim orders on Azerbaijan to prevent what the leader of Armenia's legal team called "ethnic cleansing" of the Nagorno-Karabakh region by Azerbaijan from becoming irreversible. Armenia is asking judges at the International Court of Justice for 10 "provisional measures" aimed at protecting the rights of ethnic Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region that Azerbaijan reclaimed last month following a swift military operation. In a 24-hour campaign that began on Sept. 19, the Azerbaijani army routed the region's undermanned and outgunned Armenian forces, forcing them to capitulate. The separatist government then agreed to disband itself by the end of the year. More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Nothing other than targeted and unequivocal provisional measures protecting the rights of ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will suffice to prevent the ethnic cleansing Azerbaijan is perpetrating from continuing and becoming irreversible," the head of Armenia's legal team, Yeghishe Kirakosyan, told judges. Lawyers for Azerbaijan are scheduled to respond Thursday afternoon. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has said that the departure of Armenians was "their personal and individual decision and has nothing to do with forced relocation." ALSO READ | World should have seen Nagorno-Karabakh crisis coming  and its not over yet After six years of separatist fighting ended in 1994 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh came under the control of ethnic Armenian forces, backed by Armenia. Azerbaijan took back parts of the region in the South Caucasus Mountains during a six-week war in 2020, along with surrounding territory that Armenian forces had claimed earlier. Nagorno-Karabakh was internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan's sovereign territory. The world court is currently considering two cases focused on the deep-rooted tensions between the two countries. Armenia filed a case in 2021 accusing Azerbaijan of breaching an international convention aimed at preventing racial discrimination. A week later, Azerbaijan filed its own case, accusing Armenia of contravening the same convention. The court has already issued so-called "provisional measure" rulings in both cases. The measures are intended to protect the rights of both nations and their nationals as their cases slowly progress through the world court. Armenia on Thursday accused Azerbaijan of driving Armenians out of Nagorno-Karabakh even as the legal wrangling continues. Alison Macdonald, a lawyer for Armenia, said court orders could prevent Nagorno-Karabakh from being "swallowed up" by Azerbaijan. "It is still possible to change how this story unfolds," she said. "The ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh is happening as we speak. It must not be allowed to set in stone." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

While Maldives has been voted the most popular destination among tourists, the second-most popular destination is none other than India!

As per a research conducted by the agency Bounce, India had over 14.78 lakh total searches, only behind the Maldives, which had 24.57 lakh Google searches.

The third in the list is Singapore, with 12.24 lakh Google searches. The data shared was collected over the course of one year. Costa Rica came fourth with a little over 10.67 lakh searches, while Mexico came next with 10.59 lakh searches. Japan was next in the list with 10.51 lakh Google searches.

The seventh most searched tourist destination in the world was Jamaica with just under 10.22 lakh searches. Greece, Bahamas and Australia filled out the top 10 with 9.98 lakh searches, 9.57 lakh searches and 8.67 lakh Google searches, respectively.

All these three countries are popular for the stunning landscapes and the amazing views they offer. While Maldives is a honeymoon destination, India has a more diverse set of destinations for tourists, like beaches, historic monuments like the Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar, temples, valleys, and mountainous retreats, among several others. Singapore, though is popular among tourists for its futuristic attractions and luxury hotels, which are present aplenty.

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While Maldives has been voted the most popular destination among tourists, the second-most popular destination is none other than India! As per a research conducted by the agency Bounce, India had over 14.78 lakh total searches, only behind the Maldives, which had 24.57 lakh Google searches. The third in the list is Singapore, with 12.24 lakh Google searches. The data shared was collected over the course of one year. Costa Rica came fourth with a little over 10.67 lakh searches, while Mexico came next with 10.59 lakh searches. Japan was next in the list with 10.51 lakh Google searches.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The seventh most searched tourist destination in the world was Jamaica with just under 10.22 lakh searches. Greece, Bahamas and Australia filled out the top 10 with 9.98 lakh searches, 9.57 lakh searches and 8.67 lakh Google searches, respectively. All these three countries are popular for the stunning landscapes and the amazing views they offer. While Maldives is a honeymoon destination, India has a more diverse set of destinations for tourists, like beaches, historic monuments like the Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar, temples, valleys, and mountainous retreats, among several others. Singapore, though is popular among tourists for its futuristic attractions and luxury hotels, which are present aplenty. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
London, Oct 11

I ncreased demand for water due to global population growth, coupled with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, endangers global water security, warns a study.

Little is known about the relationship of water use by sectors and the occurrence of drought-heat-wave events, particularly at the large scale.

Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, evaluated the responses of sectoral water use -- how the water use practices of sectors namely domestic, irrigation, thermoelectric energy, manufacturing and livestock are affected by the occurrence of droughts, heat waves and compound events -- at a global scale from 1990-2019.

The findings, published in Environmental Research Letters, shows that stronger sectoral water use responses are found for heat waves compared to impacts during droughts.

The analysis shows that extreme events over the last 30 years had substantial impacts on water use patterns, but these responses highly differper sector and region across the world.

"Socio-economic factors and public water management plans strongly influence water use responses, and even more so during extreme events. For instance, while Western continental United States decreases its water use during extremes, the central US increases it," said lead author Gabriel Cardenas Belleza, doctoral candidate at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

In addition, the results reveal that the domestic and irrigation sectors, in general, have the highest priority for water use worldwide, however, stricter measures are taken in favour of the domestic sector during extremes.

The analysis also shows that heat waves and compound drought-heat wave events overall have stronger impacts on water use in comparison to solely droughts.

"Heat waves and compound events can lead to higher water use as a consequence of the temporary increase in water demand under high temperatures, which can still be satisfied due to the short duration of such extremes, compared to longer-lasting events like droughts," Belleza said.

The results of the study demonstrate the urgency of collecting more water use data to better understand the implications of extreme events and climate change on different water use sectors and for improved assessments of future water scarcity.

"Our research provides a first step to evaluate multi-sectoral water use behaviour during extremes. However, more local-scale information from data-scarce areas, like Africa and parts of Asia and South America, is needed to better understand sectoral water use behaviour and improve water management strategies," Belleza said.

Droughts & heatwaves worldwide threaten water security: Study

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The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has really disrupted the thinking of many policymakers across the globe, and the great initiative is creating opportunities, said Haroon Sharif, senior advisor to the UN, during an exclusive interview with China News Network.

This year marks the 10 anniversary of the BRI. Sharif, who is also Pakistans former Minister of State, spoke highly of the initiative and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, saying he looks forward to global growth revival led by China and the BRI.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Gives Hope to Pakistanis

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the flagship project of the BRI. Over the past 10 years, the corridor has resolved some of the major infrastructural gaps that Pakistan had in terms of its power sector, and a number of power projects have been established, Sharif said.

The senior advisor to the UN pointed out that the corridor, which has connected Kashgar, a city in northwest Chinas Xinjiang, and Gwadar Port in the south of Pakistan, has opened up trading routes to the Middle East and significantly reduced the transit time.

He noted that new infrastructure has given hope to people, saying that thanks to such connectivity fresh markets would open up, allowing Pakistan to adopt a more regionally focused economic model.

He added that for both countries, infrastructure alone is not enough to revive the economy. "What we need to work in future is to improve the infrastructure so that it can attract a lot more investment and create more jobs," he said. Sharif believes that, based on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan could build on its economic model of productivity, skills development and technology transfer, and integrate with larger markets like China and other BRI members.

Sharif suggested the Pakistani government improve its investment climate for investors to take advantage of the corridor. But for that, one needs to understand in depth the cultural, human, and social sides of it, he added.

He values people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. "If people like each other and trust each other, which China and Pakistan do, we can understand each other better, then trading and economics start moving on that side."

Looking Forward to BRI-led Global Growth Revival

When it comes to the BRIs achievements over the past decade, Sharif said the world has basically operated in a unipolar super-power system. Now, with the economic growth of China and the rest of Asia, there are multiple economic powers emerging within the region. "We are shifting this whole globalization to regional markets because of that. So, the BRI is perhaps one of the biggest and most effective interventions, which will open up new markets, new ways of doing business, and create wealth."

He believes the BRI plays a strategic role in diversifying economic opportunities. "The future economic century lies in Asia, and the Belt and Road connectivity in Asia will further strengthen smaller countries to benefit from this connectivity."

He said the world economy has been shrinking and that more than 60 percent of the global growth revival is dependent on Asia. One of China's biggest interventions is the BRI. So he looks forward to global growth revival led by China and the BRI.

Global growth revival will take time. But Sharif believes the BRI can play a leading role and history will remember that people benefited from this infrastructure investment.

Making the CPEC a "Knowledge Corridor"

To better tap into the potential of people to people exchange, Sharif suggested promoting tourism and more investment in knowledge to make the CPEC a "knowledge corridor."

Sharif noted that misconceptions about China relate to soft power. The era we are living in has been dominated by the West for several decades, he said. "They basically shape up the thinking of people, through communication, social media, writing and publishing." He suggests China engage with quality think tanks and universities and media houses to translate its growth, policy thinking, and the BRI benefits to the world.

In his view, China has achieved phenomenal growth and poverty reduction, which everybody recognizes.

He has observed that the world is in a transition time from one superpower to multiple centers of economic power and advised that we need to start giving real-time knowledge to people so that they are aware what's happening in China.

He thinks "knowledge corridors" are critical to the future of China, which does not only seek global development, but also stability.

"We need to have platforms that can elevate debate about these issues based on facts, not fake news."

Order and Security Across China are Fascinating

Sharif has traveled across the world and visited China six to seven times. What he has found fascinating about China is its order and security. "I could go for a walk without asking anybody at midnight, and that's not the case in many of the largest cities in the world," he noted.

Hardworking, focused, welcoming Chinese people, good business infrastructure and technology, and a functioning system have also impressed him. He also saw that the benefits of growth are distributed among everybody.

He spoke highly of Chinese food. "I love Chinese food. I was told that there are 100,000 restaurants in Beijing. I cannot eat at 100,000 restaurants, but the ones I tried are fantastic."

He said his previous trips to China had been official, but that he would love to visit it as a tourist to explore the history, culture, and the knowledge and wisdom in its smaller cities.

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X Corp banned over 5L accounts for policy violations in India in Sep

New Delhi, Oct 11

E lon Musk-run X Corp (formerly Twitter) banned a record 5,57,764 accounts in India between August 26 and September 25, mostly for promoting child sexual exploitation and non-consensual nudity.

The micro-blogging platform, going through a churning under Musk who has recently appointed a new X CEO Linda Yaccarino, also took down 1,675 accounts for promoting terrorism on its platform in the country.

In total, X banned 5,59,439 accounts in the reporting period in India.

X, in its monthly report in compliance with the new IT Rules, 2021, said that it received 3,076 complaints from users in India in the same time frame through its grievance redressal mechanisms.

In addition, X processed 116 grievances which were appealing account suspensions.

"We overturned 10 of these account suspensions after reviewing the specifics of the situation. The remaining reported accounts remain suspended," said the company.

"We received 13 requests related to general questions about Twitter accounts during this reporting period," it added. Most complaints from India were about abuse/harassment (1,076), followed by hateful conduct (1,063), child sexual exploitation (450), and sensitive adult content (332).

Under the new IT Rules 2021, big digital and social media platforms, with more than 5 million users, have to publish monthly compliance reports.

Between July 26 and August 25, X banned 12,80,107 accounts in India.

The micro-blogging platform also took down 2,307 accounts for promoting terrorism on its platform in the country. In addition, between June 26 and July 25, the company banned 1,851,022 accounts and took down 2,865 accounts for promoting terrorism on its platform in the country.

Meanwhile, under Musk, X recently approved a staggering 83 per cent of government requests to either restrict or block content globally, including in India and Turkey.

X Corp banned over 5L accounts for policy violations in India in Sep

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Nothing Phone (2) to get OS 2.5 update powered by Android 14

New Delhi, Oct 11

L ondon-based consumer technology brand Nothing on Wednesday announced OS 2.5 Open Beta 1 update powered by Android 14 for its Phone (2).

"OS 2.5 is Nothing's most significant update since the launch of OS 2.0 in July. Packed with exciting new features to make your smartphone experience as efficient and personal as possible," Nothing said.

"To deliver the most perfected update yet, Nothing is in the process of Beta testing on Phone (2). Open Beta 1 is your chance to get early access to our newest improvements," it added.

The new update will include -- a new photos widget, allowing you to display your favourite photos on both your Home Screen and Lock Screen, a new screenshot editor and menu, allowing for more advanced editing features and quick deletions, an updated design of back gesture to be more in line with Nothing's style, new solid colour wallpapers for a cleaner Home Screen appearance, and more.

Moreover, the company said that with any Open Beta, this version is not final and there is a possibility of software instabilities. Users already enrolled on the Beta will be able to update via Settings - System - System Update.

"We will be sure to update on the full Android 14 rollout to Phone (1) and Phone (2) devices at a later date," the company mentioned.

Nothing Phone (2) to get OS 2.5 update powered by Android 14

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New Delhi, Oct 11

T op-level exodus at cash-strapped quick-grocery delivery provider Dunzo continues and now, its head of finance Sudarshan N. has reportedly left the company.

Sudarshans LinkedIn profile confirmed his departure from the company.

Dunzo did not immediately comment.

MoneyControl was first to report about the development.

Earlier, Mukund Jha, Co-founder at the cash-strapped quick-grocery delivery provider Dunzo, made the exit at the company, after another co-founder Dalvir Suri decided to quit, as Dunzo faces severe cash crunch amid delayed salaries and impending layoffs.

A Dunzo spokesperson, however, neither confirmed nor denied the news, saying that Mukund remains an integral part of Dunzos leadership team.

"While we are restructuring the org with new leaders driving key mandates, Mukund will continue to be an important part of the strategic leadership team guiding and directing Dunzos future roadmap," the spokesperson added.

The news of Jha moving on from Dunzo came after the company confirmed the departure of co-founder Suri.

Dunzo has also seen exit of some of its board members, including Vaidhehi Ravindran from Lightrock and Reliance Retail's Rajendra Kamath and Ashwin Khasgiwala, according to reports. Dunzo is making organisation-wide changes in restructuring the business.

Dunzo, which is likely to raise $35 million in funding from existing backers like Reliance Industries and Google as well as new investors, is also reportedly laying off at least "150-200" more employees. It is likely to trim its workforce further by around 30-40 per cent. The company has reportedly informed impacted employees that they would receive their full and final settlements in January.

Now head of finance quits cash-strapped Dunzo

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New Delhi, Oct 11

D efence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday visited French defence major Safran Engine Division's R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris, an official said.

During his visit to the Centre, he witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Olivier Andries, Global CEO Safran, welcomed the Defence Minister to the facility and, along with his team, gave a detailed briefing to him.

Safran expressed interest in being a part of the Indian growth story by working with its counterparts on mutually agreed joint projects.

The Defence Minister also met the CEOs of the top French defence companies with a focus on their plans for collaboration with India.

Eric Trappier, CEO Dassault; Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO Naval Group; Guillaume Faury, CEO Airbus; and Olivier Andries, CEO Safran Group were present during the interaction.

Singh highlighted the advantages of co-development and co-production in India, including possibilities of exports to third countries.

He underlined the inherent advantages of the Indian market such as a large, skilled HR base, world class infrastructure and a strong legal architecture.

Later in the day, Rajnath Singh will be holding the 5th Annual Defence Dialogue with the French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu.

The Defence Minister reached Paris late on October 10 after his visit to Italy and interacted with the Indian community in France at India House.

He highlighted the various achievements of India in the defence sector such as increased defence exports, increasing indigenous production of defence equipment, concerted efforts on co-development and co-production in India and an enhanced outreach in the region, the statement added.

Rajnath meets CEOs of top French defence firms in Paris

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All Tesla Superchargers in Israel are free: Musk

San Francisco, Oct 11

T esla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday said that all the Tesla superchargers in Israel are now free.

The tech billionaire further said that he hopes that electricity and essential services are rapidly restored to Gaza.

I would like to help those in Gaza who want peace, but have no way to do so. In general, I want all humans to be happy and prosperous, without regard to race, creed, religion or anything else, posted Musk.

A follower commented: You just hope? I mean you cant send some basic essentials to Gaza but Tesla Superchargers are free in Israel?

Another requested Musk, saying do something to stop this war as powerful people like you can be heard worldwide.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is "catastrophic" and hospitals are overwhelmed, Doctors Without Borders said, noting Israeli bombing of the enclave did not spare medical facilities.

Gaza's power authority fears it will run out of fuel within hours, leaving the area without electricity as Israel cut off supplies.

Gaza Palestinians often rely on generators to power their homes, offices and hospitals, but there is no way they can import fuels under the current situation, media reports said.

Israel has warned Hamas that it will intensify fighting along the Gaza Strip as it continued its bombardment through the night.

The military announced it had hit 450 targets even as the middle east war escalated with the entry of the Lebanese based Hezbollah terror outfit.

All Tesla Superchargers in Israel are free: Musk

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Long Covid may be undercounted, misdiagnosed in children, say experts

New York, Oct 11

T he debilitating effects of long Covid among children may be undercounted and misdiagnosed due to lack of well-designed longitudinal studies as well as kids' inability to report symptoms properly, according to experts.

Long Covid is an often debilitating illness that reportedly occurs in at least 10 per cent of patients after a Covid-19 infection and includes fatigue, brain fog, headaches, chest pain, and heart palpitations.

While Covid has had less impact among children, some had serious illness due to the infectious disease.

According to experts, research on long Covid in children is limited, and reported prevalences range widely, from less than 1 per cent to 70 per cent, CIDRAP News reported.

"I think it's largely because we're trying to apply adult framework to paediatric problems, and as a result, a lot of things are missed," David Putrino, director of rehabilitation innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, was quoted as saying to CIDRAP News.

In July, a systematic review of 31 studies published in Pediatrics journal involving 15,000 children concluded that 16 per cent of children had persistent symptoms 3 months after infection.

Another systematic review by the US CDC found that 1.3 per cent of US children ever had long Covid and that 0.5 per cent had it in 2022.

The experts said that many children likely aren't diagnosed as having long Covid because they don't recognise or have the vocabulary to report their symptoms.

"Kids don't come home and say, 'Mom, I have post-exertional malaise, I have brain fog'," Ziyad Al-Aly, clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis was quoted as saying to CIDRAP News.

"What happens is that they start doing poorly in school, and parents find out weeks and weeks later," he noted.

Further, the experts noted that many long-Covid symptoms are subtle and can be misattributed to other conditions, such as anxiety. And unlike the fatigue, brain fog, and post-exertional malaise that adults most often report, Putrino said the most common presentation of long Covid in children seen is recurrent stomach aches, the report said.

"Often, it's not initially thought of as long Covid," he said. "It's just 3 months after a Covid infection, your child's complaining of a tummy ache."

So far the studies done on long Covid in children have been limited by small sample size, reliance on parental survey rather than interviews, lack of controls, short duration, poor design, and false assumptions about children's viral loads and antibody responses, experts said.

Putrino called for the need of detailed longitudinal studies where we really take the time to characterise what long Covid looks like in a paediatric population".

In the meantime, he urged "infection prevention". "It's really easy to clean air, it's really easy to put HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters in classrooms, it's really easy to use UV (ultraviolet) lights," he said.

Long Covid may be undercounted, misdiagnosed in children, say experts

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New Delhi, Oct 12

I ndia is undertaking some of the most robust climate actions through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which include an ambitious programme for a transition to clean energy and the RISE partnership is completely in sync with India's domestic policy of prioritising clean energy and supply chains.

She made this point while participating in the launch of "Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement" (RISE) on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF annual meetings in Marrakech, Morocco on Wednesday.

Highlighting the hard-earned consensus by the G20 India presidency on the need to rapidly scale up renewable energy capacity, Sitharaman said that the Global Biofuels Alliance initiative launched by India on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit in Delhi last month, is a positive step toward promoting global cooperation on sustainable biofuels and innovation on clean energy.

The Finance Minister also mentioned that the New Delhi Leaders Declaration calls for tripling renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. Underlining India's key priorities for clean energy, which include solar, offshore wind, green hydrogen and battery storage, Sitharaman mentioned that India has advanced its target for non-fossil fuel installed electric capacity to 50 per cent, having achieved the previous target of 40 per cent ahead of 2030 and emphasised on India's commitment towards bringing down energy storage costs and reducing the emissions intensity of India's GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels.

Emphasising India's growing economy and its policy intent at the highest level, she said that India is well placed to contribute towards strengthening and diversifying supply chains, besides it's readiness to play a bigger role in the supply chains of clean energy products.

The RISE partnership is an initiative of World Bank and G7 Japan presidency for developed and developing countries, providing an opportunity between G7 members, interested developed countries, and low and middle-income countries to build momentum for enhanced collaboration on global issues of supply chain diversification of clean energy products and tackling climate change.

India undertaking robust climate actions, says Sitharaman

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Lucknow, October 11

I n a conversation with entrepreneurs on Wednesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath underscored the importance of small-scale industries and said that they are the backbone of the economy.

He highlighted that employment generation and economic self-reliance of families are possible only through small-scale industries.

He also assured the entrepreneurs that those who violate the law in the state will not be spared, regardless of who they are.

The Chief Minister participated in the Uttar Pradesh Entrepreneur Grand Convention organized by Laghu Udyog Bharti.

For the first time, more than 5,000 small entrepreneurs from across the state participated in the event in Agra.

During the event, he said, "This moment is priceless for me. Today, I have had the privilege of interacting with small entrepreneurs for the third time in three months."

CM Yogi welcomed entrepreneurs from all over the state at the grand convention of Laghu Udyog Bharti in Brajbhoomi on behalf of the State Government.

While speaking to the entrepreneurs, he mentioned that Laghu Udyog Bharti was also a partner of the government in the International Trade Show organized in Greater Noida between September 21 and September 25.

The Chief Minister mentioned the recently held International Carpet Expo in Bhadohi and shared that when he saw the local entrepreneurs there, he realized how they used to be neglected in the past. He said that India exports carpets worth Rs 17,000 crore annually. Out of this, carpets worth Rs 10,000 crore are exported from Bhadohi, Mirzapur, and Varanasi alone.

The Chief Minister emphasized that small businesses create more employment in less space while meeting all environmental standards at a lower cost, leading to greater economic self-reliance for families.

He said that Uttar Pradesh has a long history of being the foundation of small industries, with various industries in different regions.

"The Uttar Pradesh government, inspired by Prime Minister Modi, initiated the 'One District, One Product' (ODOP) plan in 2018 to revive small industries, and over the years, it has yielded significant results. Today, through the ODOP scheme, Uttar Pradesh has increased its exports 250 times in the past five years. We made a BIMARU state like Uttar Pradesh economically prosperous with the hard work of these entrepreneurs", he remarked.

CM Yogi said that in 2020, the MSME policy removed the need for a NOC for up to a thousand days, and all necessary facilities are now being offered to entrepreneurs. The mission is rapidly progressing, with the construction of flatted factories in Agra, Kanpur, and Varanasi, the CM pointed out.

Yogi emphasized that the state government has a zero-tolerance policy towards crime.

"We will not compromise security, regardless of who is involved. Anyone engaging in criminal activities will face the consequences", he asserted.

"In the 2023 elections, for the first time, law and order became a significant electoral issue, and the public stood with the state government", Yogi added.

The Chief Minister further advised entrepreneurs that if they want to start or have already established a business and form partnerships with local institutions, the children there can provide them with manpower effortlessly.

"During their training, if you register these young individuals, the government will provide them with half of their honorarium. This will result in having a team of experienced individuals, and investing in the training of young people will yield positive results", he added further.

During this, State President of Laghu Udyog Bharti Madhusudan Dadu stated that more than 1,500 small entrepreneurs from 60 districts were participating in the grand convention. They will discuss the development, challenges, and future of their respective regions during the event.

The guidance for the industrial development of the state and how it can be expanded will be taken from the Chief Minister, he added.

State Secretary of Laghu Udyog Bharti, Manish Aggarwal said that in the first session of the Small Industries Conference, entrepreneurs from across the state provided information about their respective regions and formulated plans and objectives for the future.

In the second session, discussions were held with top officials of the state to address the issues related to the establishment and operation of small industries.

In the third session, the entrepreneurs met with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Small-scale industry is backbone of economy: CM Yogi

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London, October 11

M any studies have revealed that children benefit from practising mindfulness, which is defined as cultivating an open-minded attention to the present moment. Children who get mindfulness training at school show improvements in attention and behaviour, as well as improved mental health.

When the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, sending millions of students home from school, a group of MIT researchers wondered if remote, app-based mindfulness practices could offer similar benefits. In a study conducted during 2020 and 2021, they report that children who used a mindfulness app at home for 40 days showed improvements in several aspects of mental health, including reductions in stress and negative emotions such as loneliness and fear.

The findings suggest that remote, app-based mindfulness interventions, which could potentially reach a larger number of children than school-based approaches, could offer mental health benefits, the researchers say.

"There is growing and compelling scientific evidence that mindfulness can support mental well-being and promote mental health in diverse children and adults," says John Gabrieli, the Grover Hermann Professor of Health Sciences and Technology, a professor of brain and cognitive sciences at MIT, and the senior author of the study, which appears this week in the journal Mindfulness.

Researchers in Gabrieli's lab also recently reported that children who showed higher levels of mindfulness were more emotionally resilient to the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"To some extent, the impact of Covid is out of your control as an individual, but your ability to respond to it and to interpret it may be something that mindfulness can help with," says MIT graduate student Isaac Treves, who is the lead author of both studies.

Pandemic resilience

After the pandemic began in early 2020, Gabrieli's lab decided to investigate the effects of mindfulness on children who had to leave school and isolate from friends. In a study that appeared in the journal PLOS One in July, the researchers explored whether mindfulness could boost children's resilience to negative emotions that the pandemic generated, such as frustration and loneliness.

Working with students between 8 and 10 years old, the researchers measured the children's mindfulness using a standardized assessment that captures their tendency to blame themselves, ruminate on negative thoughts, and suppress their feelings.

The researchers also asked the children questions about how much the pandemic had affected different aspects of their lives, as well as questions designed to assess their levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and negative emotions such as worry or fear.

Among children who showed the highest levels of mindfulness, there was no correlation between how much the pandemic impacted them and negative feelings. However, in children with lower levels of mindfulness, there was a strong correlation between Covid-19 impact and negative emotions.

The children in this study did not receive any kind of mindfulness training, so their responses reflect their tendency to be mindful at the time they answered the researchers' questions. The findings suggest that children with higher levels of mindfulness were less likely to get caught up in negative emotions or blame themselves for the negative things they experienced during the pandemic.

"This paper was our best attempt to look at mindfulness specifically in the context of Covid and to think about what are the factors that may help children adapt to the changing circumstances," Treves says. "The takeaway is not that we shouldn't worry about pandemics because we can just help the kids with mindfulness. People are able to be resilient when they're in systems that support them, and in families that support them."

Remote interventions

The researchers then built on that study by exploring whether a remote, app-based intervention could effectively increase mindfulness and improve mental health. Researchers in Gabrieli's lab have previously shown that students who received mindfulness training in middle school showed better academic performance, received fewer suspensions, and reported less stress than those who did not receive the training.

For the new study, reported today in Mindfulness, the researchers worked with the same children they had recruited for the PLOS One study and divided them into three groups of about 80 students each.

One group received mindfulness training through an app created by Inner Explorer, a nonprofit that also develops school-based meditation programs. Those children were instructed to engage in mindfulness training five days a week, including relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, and other forms of meditation.

For comparison purposes, the other two groups were asked to use an app for listening to audiobooks (not related to mindfulness). One group was simply given the audiobook app and encouraged to listen at their own pace, while the other group also had weekly one-on-one virtual meetings with a facilitator.

At the beginning and end of the study, the researchers evaluated each participant's levels of mindfulness, along with measures of mental health such as anxiety, stress, and depression. They found that in all three groups, mental health improved over the course of the eight-week study, and each group also showed increases in mindfulness and prosociality (engaging in helpful behavior).

Additionally, children in the mindfulness group showed some improvements that the other groups didn't, including a more significant decrease in stress. They also found that parents in the mindfulness group reported that their children experienced more significant decreases in negative emotions such as anger and sadness. Students who practiced the mindfulness exercises the most days showed the greatest benefits.

The researchers were surprised to see that there were no significant differences in measures of anxiety and depression between the mindfulness group and audiobook groups; they hypothesize that may be because students who interacted with a facilitator in one of the audiobook groups also experienced beneficial effects on their mental health.

Overall, the findings suggest that there is value in remote, app-based mindfulness training, especially if children engage with the exercises consistently and receive encouragement from parents, the researchers say. Apps also offer the ability to reach a larger number of children than school-based programs, which require more training and resources.

"There are a lot of great ways to incorporate mindfulness training into schools, but in general, it's more resource-intensive than having people download an app. So, in terms of pure scalability and cost-effectiveness, apps are useful," Treves says. "Another good thing about apps is that the kids can go at their own pace and repeat practices that they like, so there's more freedom of choice."

Practicing mindfulness with app might improve children's mental health: Research

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Zelensky asks for more aid to Ukraine as world's attention turns to Israel

Brussels, Oct 12

A s the world's attention shifted to Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels to ask Western countries to continue their aid to Ukraine.

"We spoke about priorities for Ukraine, for defending how to survive during this next winter," Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday before attending a meeting with NATO defence ministers, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We need some support from the leaders. That is why I am here today," he said, with the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Zelensky named air defence systems as one of his priorities. "It is not just basic words. We need concrete things and we need them in very concrete geographic points on our land," he added.

The NATO-Ukraine meeting secured more support for the country to face the winter conflicts. Stoltenberg said the alliance would provide more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment "to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter".

The new pledge was made when the clashes between Israel and Hamas were drawing the world's attention. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

On Thursday, NATO defence ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant set to join via videoconference.

Zelensky asks for more aid to Ukraine as world's attention turns to Israel

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At the meeting between Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama Masahito in Tokyo. (Photo: VNA)

At his meeting with Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama Masahito in Tokyo, Son stressed that Vietnam wants to learn from foreign countries advanced education, especially Japans policy on general education.

The minister expressed his hope that the two sides will foster collaboration in higher education, with more Vietnamese students to study in Japan, especially through scholarship programmes granted by the Japanese Government and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

He suggested Japan further support Vietnam in implementing the present projects and work on plans to boost cooperation between the two countries higher education institutions in terms of training, research and the exchange of lectures and students.

Son called on Japan to expand short-term training courses in the country for Vietnamese public servants.

For his part, Moriyama affirmed that Vietnam is one of Japans strategic partners in Asia-Pacific, saying the two countries have maintained collaboration in general education and student exchanges.

Regarding the exchange of undergraduate and postgraduate students, the minister agreed with his Vietnamese counterparts suggestions, stressing that relevant agencies of both sides need to make greater efforts in this regard.

Moriyama noted with pleasure to witness, together with Son, the exchange of a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and Japans Mizuno Group on cooperation in physical education at primary schools in Vietnam.

On October 10, Son and his entourage visited the Tokyo Gakugei University and met with the universitys representatives.

He is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on October 13./.
Amaravati, Oct 12

T he Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a committee of officials to identify suitable transit accommodation in Visakhapatnam, including a camp office for the Chief Minister and accommodation for senior functionaries.

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will be visiting Visakhapatnam on a regular basis to hold review meetings on the development of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, said a state government order issued late Wednesday.

The order issued Chief Secretary K.S. Jawahar Reddy indicate that Visakhapatnam will be a transit halt even for the ministers and officials.

The committee comprising Special Chief Secretary (MA & UD Department), Special Chief Secretary (Finance Department) and Secretary (Services & HRM), General Administration Department, will identify suitable transit accommodations for the offices and submit a report to the General Administration Department.

However, the government did not specify any time for submission of the report. During a cabinet meeting held last month, the Chief Minister had announced that the state administration would shift to Visakhapatnam on Dusshera. He had instructed officials to constitute a committee for the purpose.

However, the order mentions that Visakhapatnam will be a transit halt for the chief minister, ministers and officials.

It was immediately not clear if the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government had dropped the plans to shift the administrative capital to Visakhapatnam.

The Chief Minister and the Ministers may visit the north coastal districts for review and monitoring the welfare and development activities being implemented in the region with senior officers and the district administrations so that decisions taken are communicated to field-level functionaries quickly. This necessitates setting up of a camp office for the Chief Minister and accommodation for the supporting senior functionaries, reads the government order.

It explained that the north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram-Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju and Anakapalli continue to exhibit low socio-economic development indicators in terms of health, education, irrigation, intensity, connectivity, among others.

The region is home to a considerable tribal and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) population in the state.

Four of five districts in the region have been identified as Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Further, some districts are also covered by the Backward Region Grant Fund. Two of the three aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog are in the Uttarandhra region.

Addressing the Global Investors Summit in Visakhapatnam in March, Jagan Mohan Reddy had announced that Visakhapatnam will be the executive capital of the state in the days to come.

He said that he would also be shortly moving over to Visakhapatnam.

On December 17, 2019 that Jagan Mohan Reddy had announced in the state Assembly that three state capitals will be developed reversing the decision of the previous TDP government to develop Amaravati as the state capital.

The YSRCP government mooted Visakhapatnam as administrative capital, Kurnool as judicial capital and Amaravati as legislative capital.

However, the protest by farmers of Amaravati over shifting of the capital and the High Court order directing the government to develop Amaravati as the state capital had delayed the process.

On March 3, 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had directed the state government to develop Amaravati as the state capital in six months.

However, the state government filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.

In November last year, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order saying the court cannot act like a town planner or an engineer.

The case relating to three capitals is scheduled to come up for hearing in the Supreme Court in December and the YSRCP government may wait for the court order before taking further steps for shifting the administrative capital.

Vizag to be transit halt for Andhra CM

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Agra Oct 12

C oncerned over the falling population of sloth bears, now close to being declared as an endangered species, wild life conservationists in India have demanded concerted efforts to protect the bears who have been central to Indian mythology from the days of Jambavan and the Ramayana.

Agra has the worlds largest sloth bear sanctuary at Keitham Lake (Soor Sarovar now), with more than 100 bears enjoying a comfortable and sheltered life.

More than 25 years ago, tourists on the Fatehpur Sikri road and at other monuments were entertained with Bhaloo dances and acrobatics. It was a cruel practice. Later, the judiciary intervened and ordered the rehabilitation of Bear owners and the rescue of Dancing Bears at the sanctuary that was established by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in collaboration with the Wild Life SOS, which had rescued more than 600 bears from different parts of India, according to environmentalist Devashish Bhattacharya.

Around 3,000 members of the Kalandar community that were engaged in Bear Dancing have so far been provided livelihood support to end this brutal practice.

Currently, the sloth bear population in India is estimated to be between 6,000 and 11,000 in the wild. The sloth bear species is listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The bears mainly face threats from degradation of their environment, encroachment by settlements and farmlands, and loss of natural habitat. Incidences of human-bear conflicts have led to casualties on both sides, sometimes leading to retaliatory killings of bears. Sloth bears can often face distress situations such as being stuck in snares or barbed wire fences, or even be the target of crude bombs planted by farmers, said an office bearer of the Wild Life SOS.

An estimated 90 per cent of the global sloth bear population is found in India and co-existence is of utmost need. Awareness and protection of these wild populations are critical to their survival, so October 12 is the day officially designated to celebrate the uniqueness of these bears.

The prevalent human-bear conflict scenario has also prompted Wildlife SOS to launch a comprehensive Sloth Bear Radio Collaring project in Karnataka, aimed at understanding sloth bear movements, population status, and distribution within the state.

Thomas Sharp, Co-chair, of the IUCN Sloth Bear expert team stated, Through the project, Wildlife SOS aims to analyse sloth bear movements to identify specific factors contributing to humansloth bear conflict, and assess the nature and frequency of human-bear conflicts to find viable solutions.

Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO, of Wildlife SOS said: The population of wild sloth bears in India is a resounding reminder that a lot of work still needs to be done when it comes to the species conservation. The significance of World Sloth Bear Day will stand true in order to raise awareness among the common mass and spread knowledge about such a magnificent bear.

Geeta Seshamani, co-founder and secretary, of Wildlife SOS said: The first anniversary of World Sloth Bear Day is worth celebrating as it reinforces our commitment to conserve the population of this species in the wild. I sincerely hope that this day can instill more empathy among people about sloth bears, and wildlife as a whole.

World's largest sloth bear sanctuary in Taj city celebrates first anniv of 'World Sloth Bear Day'

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New Delhi, Oct 12

L inda Yaccarino, X CEO, on Thursday said that the microblogging platform has removed hundreds of "Hamas-linked accounts" and "taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content" since the attack on Israel.

"We continue to respond promptly to law enforcement requests from around the world, including EU member states," she said in a letter to EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, posted on X.

This comes after the EU Commissioner told Elon Musk, the owner of X, to send back a prompt, accurate, and complete response to his request in the next 24 hours.

"Today we responded to the European Commission's letter seeking an update on how we are responding to this conflict. Our work is ongoing," Yaccarino wrote.

The EU commissioner had warned Musk, saying that his X platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU after Hamas attacks in Israel.

In a letter addressed to Musk, Breton said that following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, they have indications that your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU.

Moreover, in the letter X CEO also mentioned that "so far, we have responded to more than 80 take down requests received in the EU within required timelines in a diligent and objective manner. We will continue to respond to law enforcement authority requests in a timely manner and as required by the applicable laws."

Removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts from platform: X CEO Linda Yaccarino

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EAM S Jaishankar participates in 23rd Council of Ministers meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association in Colombo

New Delhi, October 12

I ndia participated in the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting and the 25th Committee of Senior Officials of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, led by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

India assumed the role of the Vice Chair of IORA for the year 2023-25 in this meeting, followed by the Chairmanship in 2025-27.

"Prior to this meeting, the IORA Senior Officials reviewed the entire range of IORA's ongoing and future work and activities for 2022-27," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement.

The COM adopted the Colombo Communique and the 'IORA Vision 2030 and Beyond', among other IORA-related documents.

Moreover, EAM Jaishankar called on Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit to Colombo at the President's Secretariat.

"Both sides exchanged the following agreements," the statement said.

The agreements included the letter of exchange and acceptance regarding Phase 4 of the flagship Indian Housing Project for the construction of 10,000 houses in the plantation areas; and the infusion of additional funds in nine ongoing High Impact Community Development projects.

Additionally, inaugurations were also done virtually at a ceremony presided over by President Wickremesinghe. It included 126 houses in Badulla, Matale and Matara districts under phase 3 of the Indian Housing project; 48 houses in Matale and Puttalam districts under the Model Village Housing project; 64 houses in Hambantota and Jaffna districts under Gram Shakthi projects.

Moreover, "a joint logo was also launched commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries," the statement said.

Both leaders also witnessed the signing of a Joint Venture Shareholders' agreement between the National Dairy and Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation and the Cargills Group of Sri Lanka.

Moreover, the venture will "strengthen the Sri Lankan dairy sector," the statement added.

EAM S Jaishankar landed in Colombo on Tuesday for a three-day visit. This is the external affairs minister's second visit to Sri Lanka this year. During the visit, Jaishankar will have bilateral meetings in Sri Lanka.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has said India's commitment to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is deeply rooted in the principles of peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity, and regional collaboration.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an inter-governmental organisation aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region through its 23 Member States and 11 Dialogue Partners.

EAM S Jaishankar participates in 23rd Council of Ministers meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association in Colombo

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New Delhi, Oct 11

G lobal IT services firm Accenture is reportedly skipping pay hikes for its employees and reducing promotions at senior positions in India and Sri Lanka. Accenture said on Thursday it considers a variety of factors, including the macroeconomic environment, in making its decisions around pay and benefits.

A MoneyControl report, citing an email sent by country managing director Ajay Vij to employees, said that Accenture will not be paying out hikes to its employees in India and Sri Lanka in 2023 except where it is legally mandated or where it has committed to it in critical skill areas.

Given the context of our performance, we will not be providing any stay-at-level (base pay) increases this year except where legally mandated or committed in a few critical skill areas, he wrote in the email.

Vij said the company experienced a macro environment that was more challenging than anticipated at the beginning of the FY23 fiscal year.

We are postponing our promotions to and within MD, and appointments to SMD, until June 2024 in order to allow ourselves to return to growth so that promotions are affordable, Vij said in the email.

In a statement to IANS, Accenture said its rewards philosophy is to provide market relevant pay based on the skills and locations where we operate.

We also consider a variety of factors, including the macroeconomic environment in making our decisions around pay and benefits, the company added.

Accenture has more than 3 lakh employees in India.

Accentures weak 1QFY24 guidance pushes out hopes of a second half recovery for India IT Services players, JM Financial Institutional Securities said in its report last month.

Besides, a modest implied growth rate through 2HFY24 for Accenture risks India IT Services players FY25 revenue growth estimates as well. This, we believe, is an incremental negative, the report said.

Given Accentures full year guidance is a first peek into potential growth trajectory for FY25, we see its underwhelming guidance as an incremental negative for the sector," said the report.

"We continue to believe that the unwinding of excess IT spend could keep incremental revenue growth muted through FY24. If Accentures commentary is anything to go by, FY25 growth expectations could be at risk as well, the report noted.

Meanwhile, thehiring index for IT-software/services has declined (year-on-year) in all nine months of this year, reflecting continued softness in demand and uncertainty in the overall environment, according to Emkay Global Financial Services.

IT job index is currently down 49 per cent from its peak levels in July 2022.

No pay hikes for Accenture employees in India, Sri Lanka; firm blames macro environment

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Lucknow, October 12

U nder the guidance of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, the Women and Children Organization is going to organize the screening of short films, hold street plays and discussions, as well as circulate audio messages in the fourth phase of Mission Shakti to raise awareness about sexual exploitation and harassment on social media among women and inform them about various initiatives and schemes of the state government in this regard, said a press release by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

Notably, these programs will be conducted through circle-wise rallies in all the gram panchayats, wards, localities and en route Durga pandals from October 15 to 24.

The Women and Children Organization has prepared 31 themes for short films, while eight themes have been selected for street plays, said the official statement.

Additionally, the theme song (jingles) of the department will be broadcast through audio messages, said the official release.

Awareness will be raised against social injustice through short films.

The ADG of Women and Child Organization and Nodal of Mission Shakti, Padmaja Chauhan, mentioned that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced the fourth phase of Mission Shakti on Sharadiya Navaratri.

As part of this, the Department will inspire women and daughters across the state by presenting short films and street plays based on more than three dozen themes to voice support for the Yogi government's initiatives, raise awareness against crimes against women, and speak out against women-related abuses.

The ADG further mentioned that in these 31 short films, public awareness will be raised against the harassment and exploitation of women working inside the house.

According to the press release, the films will also promote the services provided by the Women Power Helpline through various means and they will further highlight important laws on issues like child marriage, dowry practice, female feticide, gender discrimination, child labour, and crimes against children and women.

Additionally, the films will also showcase the commendable efforts made by the Uttar Pradesh Police in various phases of Mission Shakti for women's safety and empowerment which includes the Safe City project for women's safety, awareness campaigns, and special initiatives carried out by women police officers during the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Moreover, the promotion and dissemination of services provided by Women Power Line 1090 for corporate use will also be included in the films, said the official statement.

Furthermore, films under Mission Shakti will also focus on creating social awareness against child marriage and showcase the Women Beat Police and the Women Beat Campaign-subjected films and they will showcase the acknowledgement received from the Prime Minister for various campaigns conducted under Mission Shakti, added the official statement.

Additionally, the films will focus on spreading awareness about women's safety services provided by Women Power Line through security guards and will address issues like women trafficking and unethical business practices, among other important topics.

Information about good and bad touch will also be provided through street drama.

The official release further mentioned that during the circle-wise rallies, eight street plays will provide daughters with information on good and bad touches and they will raise awareness about social issues like harassment by relatives, stalking of girls by boys on the streets, harassment of girls through online mediums like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as through explicit phone calls and messages.

The street plays will also educate girls against domestic violence, child labour, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and child marriage, said the press release.

The department's theme song "Tu beti aur behen ka hai roop aur Janani bhi tu hai, 1090 hai tere saath jahan kahin bhi tu hai..." will be broadcast in an audio message, added said the press release.

Yogi government to raise women's awareness about sexual exploitation, social media trolling

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New Delhi, October 12

A head of the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P-20), Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday met with Australian speaker Milton Dick and discussed the strong and old parliamentary relationship between India and Australia.

Taking to 'X'( formerly Twitter), Birla wrote, "Glad to meet Speaker of @AboutTheHouse ,Mr. @MiltonDickMP ahead of #P20Summit in New Delhi. Expressed gratitude to Australia for supporting our collective global vision during #G20Summit2023 & for India's initiative for inclusion of @_AfricanUnion in #G20".

"Recent visits by PM of both countries have given a new dimension to bilateral relations between India and Australia. With their shared vision, mutual cooperation has further deepened with new energy. Urged that both Parliaments should widen the scope of parliamentary cooperation", he added.

Australian Speaker Dick praised Lok Sabha speaker Birla's "service-oriented" work.

They also held discussions over the interests of over 41 lakh Indian students studying in Australia.

Meanwhile, they noted that economic cooperation and trade agreements between the two countries will give a boost to the commercial-economic relations between the two countries.

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla commeded Australian Speaker Milton Dick's long "public-life".

They also discussed Prime Minister's "close relations" with Australia.

It is worth mentioning that he 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P-20) will be held from October 13-14 in the national capital.

The two-day summit will be held at the newly constructed India International Convention and Expo Center (IICC), Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, New Delhi.

Earlier today, the pre-summit of the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) focussed on 'Lifestyle for Environment', bringing a parliamentary perspective to meet the challenges and solutions towards addressing the issue.

The pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is also held to deliberate upon initiatives towards "a greener and sustainable future in harmony with nature."

In his welcome remarks, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that climate change and environment is the common issues across the world and that is why the issue is part of the discussion in the pre-summit day of the P20 Summit.

"In present scenario, climate change and environment is such a subject that is connected to the common destiny of the entire world. That is why the subject is at the centre of the P-20 conference. We are also discussing this subject in the pre-summit today," said Birla a day ahead of the formal inauguration of the P20 Summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) on Friday.The summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India's G20 Presidency.

In line with the theme of India's G20 Presidency, the theme of the 9th P20 Summit is "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future."

The event will be attended by Speakers of Parliaments of G20 members and invitee countries.

The Pan-African Parliament will take part in the P20 Summit for the first time after the African Union became a member of G20 at the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit on September 9-10 this year.

The thematic sessions during this P20 Summit will focus on the following four subjects - Transformation in People's Lives through Public Digital Platforms; Women-led development; Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and Sustainable Energy Transition.

Amitabh Kant, Sherpa of India's G20 Presidency, represented the introduction of the pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) while Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, showcased the presentation on LiFE by followed by a short film.

Preceded by the Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Sustainable Development) on Thursday, the P20 Summit itself would have four high-level sessions.The four themes on which parliamentarians would deliberate are on Agenda 2030 for SDGs: Showcasing Achievements, Accelerating Progress; Sustainable Energy Transitions: Gateways to a Green Future; Mainstreaming Gender Equality: From Women's Empowerment to Women-Led Development; and Transformation in Peoples' Lives through Public Digital Platforms.

With the theme "Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future," the Summit will also provide opportunities for fostering international cooperation, cultural exchanges and strengthening diplomatic ties among nations.

The deliberations will culminate with the adoption of a Joint Statement, urging the G20 Governments to deliver solutions to major global challenges in ways that seek to ensure equity, inclusiveness, and peace.

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Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam and the new executive committee of the Vietnamese Students' Association in the Netherlands (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Huong Nam said above at the association's congress for the 2023-2025 tenure, which was organized by the Vietnamese Students' Association and Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands on October 8.

The congress was attended by nearly 50 delegates representing 8 students branches and 3,500 Vietnamese youth and students studying throughout the Netherlands.

The Ambassador praised the outstanding activities of the association in the past term, especially volunteer movements, support for the fight against COVID-19, the "Vietnam Youth Innovative Programme - InnoCity" across Europe, job fairs and skill training programs for students, welcome programs for new students, and sportd tournaments for Vietnamese students in the Netherlands.

He also praised generations of Vietnamese students who had learnt or are studying in the Netherlands, saying that with a strong learning spirit, many of them have achieved successes in their careers, including those holding high-ranking positions in Vietnam's political system and key roles in various foreign companies, organizations and agencies.

The congress elected a 17-member executive committee of the association in the new tenure.

Ambassador Nam expressed his wish that the Central Committee of the Vietnam Students Association would continue creating favourable conditions for the development of the Vietnamese Students' Association in the Netherlands and its activities in the coming term./.
Vice Chairman of the HCMC Peoples Committee Vo Van Hoan presents souvenir to Minister Vic Fedeli (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)



At the reception, Mr. Vo Van Hoan highly appreciated the Canadian Government for choosing Vietnam as one of the three priority countries to promote trade and investment.

He said Ontario could cooperate with Ho Chi Minh City in wood production and processing, pharmaceuticals and vaccine production.

Additionally, the Deputy Chairman called investors from Ontario to pour their more investment in fields of information technology, AI, digital transformation.

The HCMC leader also proposed that HCMC and Ontario should consider signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

For his part, Mr. Vic Fedeli said that the official visit to HCMC took place on the occasion of the two countries are marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, affirming that the relationship between the two countries would be more and more developed, especially in the field of trade.

He said the community of Vietnamese Canadians, just over 150,000 in Ontario and over 275,000 in Canada, serving as a friendship bridge and a driving force to step up bilateral cooperation.

At the meeting, Minister Vic Fedeli agreed with the proposal of widening the cooperation programs with HCMC in the fields of vaccine research and production, professional training, wastewater treatment, green energy and trade exchange.

He said that Ontario is ready to deepen the government-to-government, business-to-business and people-to-people relationship between the two localities./.
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In a recent review published in the journal Immunity, Taylor J. Stevenson, Luca Vinnell, and Justin Rustenhoven of the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, clarified the role of platelet factor 4 from young blood in combating age-related hippocampal deficits and enhancing cognitive functions in older mice, addressing the growing challenge of dementia-related conditions.

Spotlight: Bloody good factors for keeping the brain young. Image Credit: BioFoto / Shutterstock

Background

The quest for a life-renewing elixir is age-old, paralleled by groundbreaking research indicating young blood's potential to mitigate cognitive aging through parabiosis. This process, essentially merging the circulatory systems of young and old mice, hints at a rejuvenating property in youthful blood. Subsequent studies suggest these effects do not rely solely on whole cells, as even cell-free plasma can impart these benefits. This plasma retains platelets, small elements crucial for clotting. Schreor and colleagues pinpoint a specific component of these platelets, platelet factor 4 (PF4), as instrumental in reversing aging-related cognitive decline. Their discoveries underscore the necessity for further exploration into the constituents of young blood and their therapeutic potential in age-related cognitive disorders.

Introduction to the elixir in young blood

For centuries, humanity's quest for the mythical fountain of youth has been mirrored in recent scientific endeavors, uncovering that young blood might indeed harbor factors capable of reversing age-related cognitive decline. Schroer et al. delve into this phenomenon, exploring the components of young blood and their effects on aging brains, particularly focusing on PF4 and its potential role in mitigating cognitive aging.

Experiments with young blood components

Schroer and colleagues began by administering various young blood fractionseither plasma preparations or platelet-rich fractionsto aged mice via intravenous injections. To investigate potential rejuvenating effects on the brain, they conducted extensive analyses, including ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunostaining on the hippocampus, a region vital for memory and learning. They found a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory gene expression and markers of activated microglia, suggesting that elements in young plasma and platelet fractions might reduce age-related neuroinflammation.

Unveiling the secret agent: PF4's crucial role in rejuvenation

The search for specific components responsible for these effects led the team to PF4, a platelet-derived chemokine with roles in coagulation and immunomodulation. PF4 was present in large quantities in young mice's platelet fraction and young humans' platelet-rich plasma, but it was substantially reduced in their aged counterparts. Notably, systemic PF4 supplementation appeared to alleviate age-related hippocampal neuroinflammation, reducing pro-inflammatory gene expression and microglial activation.

The role of the immune system

The immune system's intricate communication with the central nervous system (CNS) is well-documented, and aging is known to alter this interaction. The researchers turned their attention to the immune system, considering it a possible intermediary in CNS modulation. They discovered that PF4 could rejuvenate the peripheral immune system, reflected by a reduction in pro-aging immune molecules, pointing to this attenuation as a possible mechanism behind PF4's effects.

Impacts on Learning and Memory

Given these findings, the team questioned if PF4's immunomodulatory actions could reverse cognitive deficits related to aging. Behavioral tests revealed that aged mice receiving young plasma or platelet fractions showed improved learning and memory. PF4 injections resulted in similar enhancements, indicating its significant role in these cognitive benefits.

Unraveling the mechanisms of action

The team also investigated the mechanisms through which PF4 might exert its benefits. They identified the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) as a key player in PF4 signaling, though it is evident that some PF4 effects are CXCR3-independent. These discoveries suggest a complex interaction where CXCR3 mediates some of PF4's cognitive benefits.

The complexity of PF4's role

The study highlights PF4's complex role in cognitive health, suggesting its functions extend beyond a singular pathway. Unraveling the reasons behind the decline of PF4 in older individuals' plasma is crucial, as is deciphering the regulatory mechanisms of its secretion. Identifying these elements could provide valuable insights and potential targets for therapies aimed at mitigating cognitive deterioration associated with aging.

Caution in application

While these findings are groundbreaking, it is crucial to approach the potential application of PF4 with caution. Its effects in the context of normal aging might differ significantly from its impacts in neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. The neuroimmunology underlying PF4's cognitive benefits could be more complex under pathological conditions.

Conclusion and future directions

Schroer et al.'s research illuminates the therapeutic potential of PF4 in cognitive rejuvenation. While directly supplementing with young blood may raise ethical concerns, isolating specific beneficial factors like PF4 presents a compelling avenue for treatment strategies in brain aging. However, numerous questions remain unanswered, highlighting the need for continued research into the molecular mechanisms involved and the broader implications for full-body rejuvenation. Additionally, understanding PF4's precise role, its interaction with immune cells, and its varied effects in the context of different aging stages and health conditions will be critical in translating these findings into effective, safe therapeutic applications.
In a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers carried out a large-scale population-based cohort study across Australia to investigate maternal vaccination effectiveness (VE) against pertussis. They further evaluated whether the vaccination of a mother 14 days before the birth of her child would significantly alter the effectiveness of routine primary pertussis vaccine administration to the infant. Their results highlight that maternal vaccination reduced overall infection risk in infants and conferred pertussis resistance until eight months of age. While slightly lowering the VE of routine pertussis administered to infants, maternal pertussis was not associated with increased disease risk in infants.

Study: Maternal Pertussis Vaccination, Infant Immunization, and Risk of Pertussis. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock

Pertussis and maternal vaccination

Pertussis is the medical term for the colloquially used 'whooping cough,' a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that affects individuals of all ages. However, it has the most severe morbidity and mortality repercussions in infants and young children. The name 'whooping cough' is derived from the high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop" that follows the disease's characteristic severe hacking cough. Other symptoms of infection include runny or blocked nasal tracts and frequent sneezing.

Prior to 1914, pertussis was one of the deadliest childhood diseases worldwide. In 1914, the while-cell pertussis vaccine was developed in the United States (US), significantly reducing the disease burden. In 1948, whole-cell pertussis vaccines were combined with two other notable childhood vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, a formulation called 'DPT'. Widespread use of the DPT vaccine as routine pediatric care has severely hampered the demerits of whooping cough, but like most vaccines, it has been unable to eradicate its constituent pathogens. Most notably, 2012 and 2013 saw an increase in infection prevalence to epidemic proportions.

When pertussis occurs in infants and young children, its effects are far more severe than for adults, with children accounting for between 70% and 90% of all hospitalizations and deaths linked to the disease. Following the aforementioned epidemics and in response to the high morbidity and mortality associated with childhood pertussis, the US and United Kingdom (UK) in 2013 recommended maternal vaccination. Maternal vaccination is a process in which pregnant women are administered a vaccine on the hypothesis that resistance will be conferred not only to the mothers but, more importantly, to their unborn offspring.

Australia followed suit in 2014 with numerous states and territories implementing jurisdictional-funded vaccination drives for diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (dTpa) booster dosages at around 28 weeks of gestation. July 2018 saw these drives become federally funded under Australia's National Immunization Program.

While numerous studies have explored the effectiveness of maternal vaccination against pertussis with largely positive results, these studies have yet to agree upon the duration of resistance conferred on infants, the optimal gestational age for vaccination administration, and the infant's immune response to vaccination before birth. Notable, results for studies differ in their VE estimates, which range widely from 43% to 93% for babies under 2 months of age.

About the study

In the present study, researchers had two main objectives  1. To estimate the infant VE of maternal vaccine administration on three scales (overall, by gestational age, and by infant age), and 2. Using real-world data to evaluate the potential 'blunting' effects that maternal vaccination would have on routine pediatric dTpa care. The study comprised data from the Links2HealthierBubs cohort, a population-based cohort of mother-infant pairs from the Northern Territory (NT), Western Australia (WA), and Queensland (QLD). All dyads wherein the gestational age was 20 weeks or greater or the infant was born weighing more than 400 g were included in this study.

Demographic and clinical data comprising perinatal birth, hospitalization, immunization, birth and death register, and disease data were collected from all participants. Mothers were recommended to receive maternal vaccination with dTpa between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation. Vaccination and maternal medication data were obtained from perinatal data collections, statutorily mandated databases archived at each jurisdiction. Hospital records were used to evaluate pertussis severity, and death records were used as proxies for infant mortality.

Statistical analyses comprised descriptive statistics using Chi-squared (2) tests (categorical variables) and Wilcoxon rank sum (continuous variables). A mixed effects Cox model was used to compare infection rates between infants whose mothers had received maternal vaccination versus those that had not.

"We used inverse probability of treatment (vaccination) weights to account for confounding. Treatment weights were derived from the predicted probability of pertussis vaccination during pregnancy, based on a fitted multivariable logistic regression model with maternal age, ethnicity, preexisting health conditions, pregnancy complications, parity, smoking status, initiation of prenatal care, year and season of conception, Socioeconomic Index for Areas quintile, and receipt of influenza vaccine during pregnancy as predictor variables."

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated by subtracting the hazard ratio (HR) of the weighted inverse probability of treatment (obtained from the Cox model) from one. For NT and QLD cohorts, models were fit to estimate the effects of maternal vaccination on subsequent routine dTpa infant vaccination (termed "blunting").

Study findings

The inclusion criteria listed above resulted in a sample cohort of 297,418 infants born to 252,444 mothers. Of these, 144,429 infants' mothers (51.7%) received maternal vaccination. Vaccination registration revealed that 14,028 (5%) received maternal vaccination before 28 weeks of gestation, 80,327 (28.7%) at 28-31 weeks, and 48,629 (17.4%) after 31 weeks but before birth.

"A total of 331 notified pertussis cases were Identified in the cohort up to 18 months of age, equating to 118 cases per 100 000 infants; 119 cases were identified among infants of vaccinated mothers (82 per 100 000 infants), and 212 cases were identified among infants of unvaccinated mothers (157 per 100 000 infants)."

VE model evaluations highlight that maternal vaccination conferred significantly higher pertussis resistance in infants compared to only routine vaccination. Maternal vaccination was found to persist till at least 8 months of age, more than 2 months longer than reported in previous studies. Immunological gestation time analysis found that contrasting previous work, which reported higher antibody titers (and hence, potentially better resistance) in cord blood of infants whose mothers were vaccinated closer to delivery, this study did not find differences in conferred resistance when adjusting for VE by the timing of delivery.

In infants under the influence of maternal vaccination, slight reductions in routine dTpa VE were observed. However, these reductions did not translate to reductions in pertussis resistance.

"Our interpretation of these findings, in combination with the published literature, is that maternal antibodies may "blunt" the response of infants to primary immunization, but maternal and/or infant antibodies are sufficient to protect maternally vaccinated infants from infection. However, further research is needed to confirm our findings."

Conclusions

The present study aimed to evaluate the benefits of maternal vaccination during gestation as a means to combat pertussis during the early months of an infant's life. Findings from a large cohort Australian sample group revealed that maternal vaccination confers significantly improved infant resistance against the disease, with effects persisting for at least eight months. This study also reveals that, while slightly lowering the effectiveness of subsequent routine dTpa vaccinations in infants, maternal vaccination does not result in increased infection risk in infants.

Overall, these findings highlight the pros of maternal vaccination as a low-risk, high-reward weapon in humanity's arsenal against pertussis, one of the more severe and deadly diseases in infants and young children. These findings could help policymakers, inform prospective parents, and form the basis for future studies aimed at determining the optimal time and dosage of maternal vaccination for the best possible clinical outcomes in infants.
A small molecule previously shown to enhance strength in injured or old laboratory mice does so by restoring lost connections between nerves and muscle fibers, Stanford Medicine researchers have found.

The molecule blocks the activity of an aging-associated enzyme, or gerozyme, called 15-PGDH that naturally increases in muscles as they age. The study showed that levels of the gerozyme increase in muscles after nerve damage and that it is prevalent in muscle fibers of people with neuromuscular diseases.

The research is the first to show that damaged motor neurons -; nerves connecting the spinal cord to muscles -; can be induced to regenerate in response to a drug treatment and that lost strength and muscle mass can be at least partially regained. It suggests that, if similar results are seen in humans, the drug may one day be used to prevent muscle loss of muscle strength due to aging or disease or to hasten recovery from injury.

It's estimated that sarcopenia, or debilitating muscle frailty, affects about 30% of people over 80 and costs the United States around $380 billion each year.

There is an urgent, unmet need for drug treatments that can increase muscle strength due to aging, injury or disease. This is the first time a drug treatment has been shown to affect both muscle fibers and the motor neurons that stimulate them to contract in order to speed healing and restore strength and muscle mass. It's unique." Helen Blau, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology

Blau, the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation Professor and director of the Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, is the senior author of the study, which was published online Oct. 11 in Science Translational Medicine. Postdoctoral scholar Mohsen Bakooshli, PhD, and former postdoctoral scholar Yu Xin Wang, PhD, are the lead authors of the study. Wang is now an assistant professor at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in San Diego.

Addressing loss of strength

The finding is the latest from the Blau laboratory focused on understanding how muscles weaken from aging or disease, and whether it's possible to combat this decline. In 2021, the group showed that blocking the activity of 15-PGDH in 24-month-old laboratory mice significantly enhances the animals' leg strength and endurance when running on a treadmill. (Laboratory mice typically live about 26 to 30 months.) But it wasn't clear exactly how.

The new research shows that the effect is due to the restoration of lost connections between the nerves and the muscle. These connections, called neuromuscular junctions, are how the brain signals muscles to contract, allowing us to pick up a water glass, jog to the mailbox or hoist a toddler into a car seat. As we age, some of these connections are lost, causing muscle contractions to become less powerful and muscles to atrophy. People typically lose muscle mass and strength -; as much as 10% per decade -; after the age of 50.

Conditions other than aging can also destabilize these connections, including the disuse of muscles due to bedrest after illness or injury, or muscle-wasting diseases like spinal muscular atrophy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS).

Blau's previous research showed that a molecule called PGE2 is critical to the function of stem cells in muscle fibers that repair damage -; including the microtears from exercise that lead to an increase in muscle mass and strength. They subsequently showed that levels of 15-PGDH, which breaks down PGE2, increase in the muscles with age and that the loss of strength with aging could be overcome by inhibiting the activity of this PGE2-degrading enzyme.

"PGE2 is part of the body's natural healing mechanism, and its levels increase in muscle after injury," Blau said. "We wanted to learn how age triggers an increase in 15-PGDH, and therefore the degradation and loss of PGE2."

A lack of nerves

The researchers knew that muscles become less innervated, or infiltrated with nerves, as people and animals age. They wondered if that loss could be what triggers the rising levels of 15-PGDH.

"We found that when you cut the nerve that innervates the leg muscles of mice, the amount of 15-PGDH in the muscle increases rapidly and dramatically," Blau said. "This was an exciting new insight. But what surprised us most was that when these mice are treated with a drug that inhibits 15-PGDH activity, the nerve grows back and makes contact with the muscle more quickly than in control animals, and that this leads to a faster recovery of strength and function."

Additional experiments showed that treatment with the drug restored neuromuscular junctions lost during aging and increased muscle strength and function in old laboratory mice. The researchers also identified discrete clumps of 15-PGDH in the muscle fibers of people with several types of neuromuscular disorders suggesting that the gerozyme may have a role in causing these human disorders.

Blau and her colleagues plan to investigate at a molecular level how neural growth is stimulated by blocking 15-PGDH activity. Blau has also co-founded a company, Epirium Bio, to develop similar drugs for use in humans. Although her lab is still conducting animal studies, the company hopes to launch a clinical trial within the next year or so.

"Our next steps will be to examine whether blocking 15-PGDH function in people with spinal muscular atrophy can increase lost muscle strength in combination with gene therapy or other treatments," Blau said. "We are also looking at ALS to see if something like this might help these patients. It's really exciting that we are able to affect both muscle function and motor neuron growth."

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants K99NS120278, R00NS120278, R01-AG020961, R01-AG069858 and R01-RHG009674), the Canadian Institutes of Health, a Stanford Translational Research and Applied Medicine pilot grant, the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, the Milky Way Research Foundation and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Blau is an inventor on several patents related to the research and a co-founder, consultant and equity holder of Epirium Bio, which has licensed patents regarding 15-PGDH inhibition to improve muscle strength.
insights from industry Mike Bradley, Sudhir Dahal, Patrick Brown FTIR Product Manager, Raman Product Manager, UV-Vis/NMR Product Manager Thermo Fisher Scientific

In this interview, Thermo Fisher Scientific discusses how to accelerate drug discovery through analytical R&D.

Please can you introduce yourselves and tell us about the analytical techniques you work with at Thermo Fisher Scientific that can aid drug discovery?

Mike Bradley:

My name is Mike Bradley. I am the product manager for the FTIR and FTIR microscopy products at Thermo Fisher Scientific. I will give a brief overview of FTIR in pharmaceutical processes, from drug discovery to forensics and other applications.

Sudhir Dahal:

I am Sudhir Dahal, the product manager for research Raman products at Thermo Fisher Scientific. I will focus on Raman spectroscopy as a valuable tool in drug development and the pharmaceutical industry in general.

Patrick Brown:

My name is Patrick Brown, and I am the product manager for Thermo Fishers UV-Vis, NanoDrop, and NMR spectroscopy instruments. I will discuss the uses of UV-Vis spectroscopy for quantification and sample qualification.

What are the advantages of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)?

Mike Bradley:

The primary reason you use FTIR is because it gives answers quickly. It answers the main question, which is: what is it?

This particularly applies to organic materials, such as polymers and organics. It can also, if properly calibrated, give you an answer as to how much there is.

But primarily, it is used to identify materials. For example, if you had a small amount of contamination in a tablet or a small amount of powder you found somewhere, we would consider FTIR the ultimate triage technique. You present the sample, get an answer, and act on it, which you want to do in a triage situation.

The sampling can be very flexible in FTIR. We can look at gases, liquids, or solids. One of the other huge advantages of the technique is that it is non-destructive and in most cases, even non-contact, so you can use that sample for further analysis later.

You can extend it to microscopy, meaning you can go from bulk to micron-sized samples.

When you are looking at FTIR, you need to define what it is you want to do. Is it something you are going to do one time? You could be conducting a forensics investigation which is a sequence of one-time events where you will be looking at a contaminant in a tablet. Or you could be conducting something repetitive, like quality control. Are you looking for contaminants, or are you looking for bulk quality assurance?

Several factors define how you configure your FTIR depending on your problem.

Can you give us some examples of applications of FTIR?

Mike Bradley:

I am going to discuss a forensic example from an actual crime case. When looking at a tablet or a powder, these can often be mixtures. In this case, a drug had been issued to someone, and we took an FTIR spectrum of it.

When searched against the library, it did not give a high-quality search result. The reason is that this material was a mixture. We have algorithms called multicomponent search or multicomponent mixture analysis algorithms that allow us to deconvolute that spectrum.

They do something like chromatography from a vibrational spectroscopy point of view. This substance was a nasty mixture of ketamine, methamphetamine, procaine, and caffeine. You can look at the spectrums of these substances individually and then the composite spectrum.

The algorithm goes through and matches the peaks. Within about a minute of placing the sample on the accessory, we had the deconvoluted spectrum and four different answers. It was like doing chromatography in a hurry. These results were subsequently verified by using GC-MS spec. It is very quick if the concentrations are within range of the device.

In another interesting case, we used a RaptIR FTIR Microscope to examine an oxycodone tablet. If you are familiar with oxycodone and other drugs like that, the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is present at a very low concentration. In this case, it was only five milligrams out of the full 325.

This means that when looking for the oxycodone in the tablet, we are looking for a needle in a haystack. That is precisely what we did. We found four different components.

The largest one was acetaminophen spread throughout the tablet. The spectra also showed a low presence of oxycodone. The spectrum we pulled out was very clean for oxycodone. Even though it was just a tiny little trace, we got very good data on it.

We could also see other major additives: cellulose and stearic acid. But the main point here is that we could show the homogeneity of the tablet, show the distribution of the oxycodone, and find the oxycodone even in low concentration points. That is a major benefit for pharmaceutical analysis.

How is near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) used in pharmaceuticals and what advantages does it have?

Mike Bradley:

For one thing, you can analyze through containers like glass or plastic bags. When raw materials come in at the loading dock in their drums, they are contained within plastic bags inside the drums. You do not want to have to open those plastic bags to analyze because of contamination or the possibility of making someone at the loading dock sick.

We can use near-infrared to analyze right through that package. That gives us the ability to do the raw material identification. We can look at the uniformity of a tablet and the coatings.

One of the big ones for near-infrared is also moisture. Typically, moisture is done using Karl Fischer titrations, which are very dependent on the user's skill and require solvents that must be thrown out.

Near-infrared carries out that analysis much quicker and easier without requiring any chemicals. It allows you to monitor online processes, hot melt extrusion, fermentation, and cell culture.

The primary benefit is the labor-saving and the need for a lower skill level. You do not need somebody who knows how to do titrations.

Overall, FTIR and near IR allow you to triage things and work quickly to get an answer. This answer is usually qualitative, but it can also be calibrated to give you quantitative information, especially in the case of near IR.

What is Raman spectroscopy?

Sudhir Dahal:

Raman spectroscopy is an optical technique in which a sample is excited with a laser and the energy scatter from the sample is analyzed. It looks at the interaction between the excision laser light and covalent bonds within the molecules in the sample.

Raman can provide detailed molecular information and the bonds that are best represented tend to be the highly symmetric bonds most commonly found in the backbone of molecules or crystal lattices. Raman is also very sensitive to even the slightest changes in bond angle or strength, making it an excellent means for distinguishing between similar compounds, including polymorphs.

These characteristics make Raman an excellent means of characterizing molecules, drugs, and various chemicals used in the pharmaceutical industry.

What information can be obtained using Raman spectroscopy?

Sudhir Dahal:

Raman is used for understanding molecular structures, changes in molecular structure and chemical environments. Raman spectroscopy is an excellent technique for distinguishing between very similar materials. It can also identify and differentiate polymorphs where the sample comprises the same compounds; the only difference is their crystalline forms.

Raman spectroscopy is also a great tool in drug development as it can monitor reactions and processes, reaction intermediates, products and contaminants in real time. Finally, Raman images can be created using spectra data to visualize spatial distribution, impurities, and defects.

Imagine you have the Raman spectra of two common medicines, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Since there will be so many peaks with distinct shapes and sizes, Raman spectroscopy makes identifying samples very easy, even when more than one species are mixed together.

With modern-day advanced software, data analysis capabilities, and libraries of compounds to search from, such identification and differences are even more accurate and easy to carry out.

What capabilities does Raman imaging provide?

Sudhir Dahal:

Take a sample which is a powder mixture primarily containing caffeine, acetaminophen, and aspirin spread on a glass slide. To our eyes, the color of this mixture would be white. However, when Raman spectra are obtained from individual points in a given area, this spectra collection can be combined to visualize the components and the distribution. Different-colored areas would represent aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine.

This is a simple example to show the capability of Raman imaging in helping to visualize components, uniformity, degradation, impurities, and defects in products. This is applicable to both R&D and quality control.

A very high-resolution image could show that the three-component tablet is actually composed of much more than aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. There could also be starch, cellulose, and sodium lauryl sulfate present.

The ability to analyze at such a high resolution makes it possible to analyze for any type of compound present, such as active ingredients, binders, and contaminants. The example I just discussed is a mixture we prepare in our lab for demonstration purposes to show the distribution of components.

Can you give us a real-world example of Raman in the pharmaceutical industry?

Sudhir Dahal:

I will discuss a real pharmaceutical tablet with a very low concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Tibolone is a synthetic hormone which is used in some parts of the world to treat endometriosis and is also used for hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. An entire tablet of tibolone was analyzed with our imaging Raman microscope. The surface area of the tablet was six by six millimeters.

From an image of a multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis of the surface of the tibolone tablet, different-colored areas showed starch and lactose. Harder-to-see areas showed a fluorescent compound that is likely used to enhance the tablet's appearance.

Since tibolone is present at a very low concentration, less than 3%, it is not well characterized by MCR analysis. To see the distribution of the active ingredient tibolone, all we needed to do was to analyze the data that was already obtained a bit further.

We looked at the spectrum of pure tibolone. The peak height intensity at 2,102, which is a bit unique to tibolone, was then used to generate a profile image to demonstrate the location of tibolone. Two different colors of spots, red and orange, then denoted the distribution of tibolone in the tablet.

Taking the analysis of tibolone one step further, we can look for evidence of both polymorphs of tibolone. Again, the spectra and relatively low concentration differences were insufficient to clearly allow routine MCR to distinguish between this polymorph.

However, by using peak height profiles, it was possible to distinguish between two different polymorphs of tibolone. Subtle differences in peak heights and profiles can also be used to distinguish pit polymorphs.

How could you use Raman if you were analyzing a multilayer tablet?

Sudhir Dahal:

Multilayer tablets are designed for the systematic release of drugs. They are manufactured with layers that help systematic release after ingesting.

We could image the layers after the tablet is cross-sectioned with a layer opt-in from a Raman imaging microscope. Then we could obtain a Raman spectrograph compound in each layer. The layers are clearly distinguished. Another obvious advantage is that even if two layers could look the same to our eyes due to having the same color, Raman imaging will show them distinctly.

If the sample is transparent, confocal depth profiling capability can help get information from different layers without cross-sectioning. To elaborate on that fundamental a bit further, here are a couple of slides.

The excitation and collection of optics of the Thermo Scientific DXR Raman microscope are confocal, meaning they focus tightly on the same point in space. Since the Raman signal is predominantly from the focal point, you can actually see the depth of transparent materials.

In Raman scattering, the scatter is controlled at the focal point. By moving the sample up and down, you can depth profile the sample. We can measure from the different layers. This is a very powerful application that helps measure through the sample without actually having to cut the sample.

Tell us about ultravioletvisible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. What are the critical parts of a UV spectrophotometer?

Patrick Brown:

Generally, a UV-Vis instrument can be broken down into simple pieces.

The starting point is always a light source. That light is shown through your sample, and then there is a mechanism to discriminate that light into individual nanometer wavelengths. At the end of your measurements, you have an idea of how much light is absorbed at different wavelengths in the visible spectrum and in the ultraviolet spectrum.

We make an absorbance measurement by comparing the light transmitted through a blank or reference sample to the amount of light that gets through your sample.

When light is blocked by your sample, that is absorbance. Using the amount of light that is blocked, the absorbance of your sample, the light path length (the distance through which light passes through your sample), and an extinction coefficient, we can calculate a sample concentration.

An extinction coefficient is a factor specific to a particular wavelength, as well as a molecule, and that is something that would need to be empirically derived, but it allows researchers to calculate in a concentration based on absorbance.

Please can you tell us about the NanoDrop spectrophotometers and when they are useful?

Patrick Brown:

The NanoDrop instruments are ideal for scientists measuring either highly absorbing samples that block a lot of light, or in situations where the scientist only has a small sample volume, maybe 20 to 50 microliters.

The sample bridges two different steel pedestals within which fiber optic cables are set. The light shines through the sample from one pedestal to the other and collects light within the instrument to measure absorbance. Researchers and scientists interested in this instrument frequently use it to measure biological samples like DNA, RNA, protein, and other samples such as bacterial cell culture.

This software can comply with 21 CFR Part 11 regulations.

Can you walk us through an application of the NanoDrop?

Patrick Brown:

This is more focused on a molecular biologist. You might use a quantitative polymerase chain reaction workflow to elucidate the mechanism of action of a drug, trying to understand its gene targets to validate, for example, if it is working properly on the genes of interest. The challenge here is that it will take days, potentially weeks, to run this full experiment.

You will frequently start with a source material, whether a primary tissue source like a mouse model or cells in culture. You will run your experimental protocol, extract RNA, convert that to cDNA, and finally run your qPCR experiment.

Sometimes, that qPCR experiment can fail, and you have to go back and troubleshoot where the problems were introduced into the workflow. That is where our NanoDrop instruments can help.

Our NanoDrop One solution is a great tool for a quality control check for that sample in a couple of different places: after the extraction and after the RT-PCR step. Our software can predict the concentration of a sample even in the presence of a co-purified contaminant, which can happen in some of these extractions and some of the post-extraction processing. This software can help you to have more successful PCR experiments.

We can show this by looking at the control cycle count, a measure you would get from your qPCR experiment. When we purposefully spiked a sample with RNA, we saw that the cycle count increased by one value, indicative of a single log unit. However, when we use our software analysis to identify the sample contaminant, we can use a correct value and that concentration to build our qPCR experiment.

That value becomes much more aligned with the control when we do that. This is one way our NanoDrop instruments can help prevent failed experiments in the qPCR workflow.

How can your spectrophotometers be used in the pharmaceutical industry?

Patrick Brown:

Our spectrophotometer can identify drugs, such as an ibuprofen molecule, and calculate a concentration.

If you are in R&D, you may be developing your sample identification and quantification method that you could then push to the manufacturing side.

In this case, the software can determine the identification of ibuprofen through the absorbance spectral shape. By looking at different concentrations of ibuprofen through different preparations, we can identify three essential parts of the UV-visible spectrum for ibuprofen.

By developing this assay, we found the parameters for developing an acceptable range for the spectral shape.

Looking at a sample concentration, we can use the absorbance at a particular wavelength, say at 264, and the path length of a cuvette in which the sample is suspended as the absorption coefficients. Then, by rearranging for concentration, we can calculate how much ibuprofen is in the sample based on those parameters.

UV-Vis is a helpful technology because it can make quick measurements and does not destroy the sample. It can be used on samples of very low or large volume, and several accessories are available to access features, such as controlling temperature, measuring multiple cells at once, and enabling autosamplers.

About the interviewees

Dr. Michael Bradley taught graduate and undergraduate chemistry for 15 years before becoming a field applications scientist with Thermo Fisher Scientific. He helped develop and launch the Thermo Scientific Nicolet iN10 FTIR Microscope and the Nicolet iS10 FTIR Spectrometer. He then led the development team for the Nicolet iS50 FTIR Spectrometer and most recently the Nicolet RaptIR FTIR Microscope.

Dr. Bradley is now the Product Manager for FTIR spectrometers and microscopes. Hes involved in product development and helps teach customers to better utilize spectroscopy tools. He ensures that customer feedback is incorporated into the development of next-generation hardware and software tools. Mike also sits on the Advisory Board for Spectroscopy Magazine.

Sudhir Dahal is Product Manager of research Raman products at Thermo Fisher Scientific. The products include Raman microscopes and benchtop Raman spectrometers. He has worked with several spectroscopy techniques in the industry and has over 7 years of experience. He has a PhD from University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), where he researched and collaborated on developing novel spectroscopy-based technique for brain tumor cell detection.

Patrick Brown is the Product Manager for NanoDrop spectrophotometers, cuvette-based spectrophotometers, and NMR instruments at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Patrick collects user feedback, integrates feedback into software and hardware updates, and works with marketing teams to communicate these benefits to end users. Thermo Fisher Scientific spectrophotometers are used by scientists around the world to quantify and qualify a variety of analytes from life science to materials science. Before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2015, Patrick earned a master's degree in biomedical sciences from Pennsylvania State University.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific  Materials & Structural Analysis

Thermo Fisher Materials and Structural Analysis products give you outstanding capabilities in materials science research and development. Driving innovation and productivity, our portfolio of scientific instruments enable the design, characterization and lab-to-production scale of materials used throughout industry.

X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, FTIR spectrometers and X-ray photoelectron spectrometers enable researchers and material analysts to probe the chemical composition of materials ranging from ultra thin-films to bulk powders used in product development and materials troubleshooting. We offer a line of rheometry and viscometry instruments, as well as single- and twin-screw extruders, for laboratory benches that enable you to measure the physical property of semi-solids and liquids for shear flow and yield stress.

No other company offers the breadth of products and the depth of analytical capabilities for materials science and engineering.
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Mental Health, an international team of researchers conducted a large-scale, cross-sectional analysis of sleep, light exposure, mental health, and physical activity to understand the association between light exposure during the day and night and the risk of self-harm and psychiatric disorders.

Study: Day and night light exposure are associated with psychiatric disorders: an objective light study in >85,000 people. Image Credit: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock

Background

Growing evidence indicates that healthy circadian rhythms play a pivotal role in mental health, with disrupted sleep cycles implicated in various psychiatric disorders. The suprachiasmatic nuclei in the hypothalamus in humans house the central circadian rhythm, which modulates physiological functions, behavior, cognition, as well as basic cellular functions. These circadian rhythms are, in turn, modulated by the patterns of light exposure during the day and at night.

Robust and stable circadian rhythms have evolved in biological systems under the predictable patterns of light exposure during the day and darkness during the night. In the modern age, humans spend most of the day indoors under artificial electric lighting, which is relatively dim compared to natural light during the day and bright at night. This disruption of the natural patterns of light exposure can subsequently disturb the circadian rhythms and result in psychiatric disorders and adverse mental health outcomes.

About the study

In the present study, the researchers used light-exposure data for over 86,000 individuals, recorded over seven days of light monitoring and actimetry to determine whether light exposure patterns during the day and at night were associated with various psychiatric disorders linked to disrupted circadian rhythms. The researchers hypothesized that an increase in light exposure during the day would be linked to better mood and a lower risk of psychiatric disorders, while an increase in night-time light exposure would conversely be linked to poorer moods and a higher risk of mental health disorders.

The data for the study was obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank, in which participants had completed a week-long light monitoring and actimetry assessment. Individuals with unreliable accelerometry, light, or sleep data were excluded. Light exposure was measured using a triaxial accelerometer worn on the wrist and containing a silicon photodiode light sensor.

An online mental health questionnaire was used to obtain information on mental health and psychiatric outcomes. The case/control psychiatric disorders were defined based on established guidelines. They included major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder including hypomania and mania, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), self-harm, and psychosis.

A multiple logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between light exposure patterns during the day and night and the case/control outcomes. The analyses were also adjusted for covariates such as sex, age, ethnicity, physical activity levels, and employment. Sensitivity analyses examined whether the inclusion of shift workers in the dataset drove some of the observed associations. Other sensitivity analyses also examined the impact of clinical subgroups, urbanicity of the area of residence, and duration and efficiency of sleep on the observed associations.

Results

The findings reported that, as hypothesized, an increase in light exposure during the night was linked to a higher risk of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, self-harm, and psychosis. Furthermore, increased light exposure during the day, independent of the light exposure at night-time, was linked to a lower risk of self-harm, psychosis, PTSD, and major depressive disorder.

Additionally, these associations were significant even when the analyses were adjusted for covariates such as sociodemographic factors, physical activity levels, cardiometabolic health, and photoperiod. These associations were not only independent but also additive. Individuals in the quartile for brightest light exposure during the day were still at a higher risk of major depressive disorder if they had a higher light exposure at night-time. Conversely, those in the brightest light exposure quartile for night-time had a lower risk of major depressive disorder if they had a higher light exposure during the day.

The sensitivity analyses reported that the associations were consistent even after accounting for factors such as urbanicity, shift work, cardiometabolic health, and sleep quality. The risk of major depressive disorder and self-harm was 30% higher for individuals in the brightest light exposure quartile for night-time. In comparison, those in the brightest light exposure quartile during daytime had a 20% lower risk of self-harm and major depressive disorder.

Conclusions

To summarize, the study examined the association between light exposure patterns during the daytime and night-time and the risk of psychiatric disorders. The findings indicated that increased exposure to light during the night was associated with a higher risk of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, PTSD, psychosis, generalized anxiety disorder, and self-harm, while increased light exposure during the day was associated with a lower risk of psychiatric disorders. The study suggested that modulating light exposure patterns may provide a simple, non-pharmacological option for improving mental health outcomes.
Teresa Johnson can't escape the pain. It's as if she's getting pierced by needles all over her body, all at once. At night, she sometimes jolts out of sleep thinking bedbugs are attacking her. But it's just the unfailing pain  day in and day out.

Johnson, 58, said her ordeal started in September 2022, when she went for a CT scan of her abdomen after a bout of covid-19. Though Johnson warned the lab she was allergic to iodine, she believes the lab tech used it in an injection, triggering an allergic reaction. She spent the next three weeks in the hospital, feeling as if her body was on fire.

When she was discharged to her home at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County, Johnson said, her quality of life deteriorated and her frustration mounted as she waited for her Medi-Cal plan to get her assessed by a specialist. She could barely walk or stand, she could no longer cook for herself, and sometimes she couldn't even lift her leg high enough to step into the tub.

"I would never wish this on anybody," Johnson said while rocking back and forth on the couch to still the pain. "You don't know if you should cry, or just say OK, I can make it through this. It messes with you mentally."

Johnson said her primary care doctor told her he wasn't sure what triggered the pain but suspects it was compounded by the lingering effects of covid. Johnson, who is diabetic, developed neuropathy, a type of nerve damage, possibly after the allergic reaction caused her blood sugar levels to skyrocket, her doctor told her.

He referred Johnson, who receives care through California's Medicaid program for low-income people, to an endocrinologist in March. But Johnson said she was not offered timely appointments, and it took more than six months, four referrals, multiple complaints to her health plan, and a legal aid group's help to finally snag a phone call with an endocrinologist in mid-September.

Access to specialists  from gastroenterologists to cardiologists  has been a long-standing challenge for many Medi-Cal patients, especially those in rural areas or regions facing staff shortages. The Inland Empire, where Johnson lives, has the second-lowest supply of specialists in the state, according to the California Health Care Foundation. (KFF Health News is the publisher of California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.)

The state Department of Managed Health Care, which regulates most Medi-Cal health plans, requires plans to get patients in to see specialists within 15 business days, unless a longer waiting time would not harm the patient's health. But the timeline often looks very different in reality.

"It's hard to get a specialist to contract for Medi-Cal patients. Period," said Amanda Simmons, executive vice president of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, a nonprofit organization that represents community health clinics. "Specialists don't want to do it because reimbursement rates are so low."

Johnson said she made her first call in March to the endocrinologist assigned by her Medi-Cal insurer, Inland Empire Health Plan, and that the office offered her an appointment several months out. Over the next four months, she received three more referrals, but she said she got a similar response each time she called. When Johnson objected to the lengthy wait times, requesting earlier appointments, she was told there was no availability and that her condition wasn't urgent.

"They told me it wasn't important," Johnson said. "And I asked, 'How would you know? You've never seen me.'"

Esther Iverson, director of provider communications for the plan, declined to speak about Johnson's case but said the plan makes every effort to meet the 15-day requirement. It can be challenging to meet the standard, she said, due to a lack of available physicians  especially for certain specialties, such as endocrinology and pain management.

She pointed to the nationwide physician shortage, which is more pronounced in rural areas, including parts of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, where the plan operates. She also noted that many physicians decided to leave the field or retire early due to burnout from the covid pandemic.

At the same time, she said, the plan's enrollment ballooned to 1.6 million as eligibility expanded in recent years. Statewide, more than 15 million Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal.

"The highest priority for us is timely access to quality care," Iverson said.

During her quest, Johnson enlisted the help of Inland Counties Legal Services, which provides free legal representation to low-income residents. They called the plan multiple times to request earlier appointments but got mired in bureaucratic delays and waiting periods.

In one instance in August, after the insurer told Johnson it couldn't meet the 15-day time frame, her legal representative, Mariane Gantino, filed an appeal, arguing that Johnson's request was urgent. The insurer's medical director responded within a few hours denying the claim, saying the plan concluded that her case was not urgent and that a delay would not cause a serious threat to her health.

"I'm so burned out after dealing with this for so long," Johnson said in mid-September. "Why do they have the 15-day law if there aren't going to be any consequences?"

A few days later, Johnson finally received the call she had been waiting for: an offer of a phone appointment with an endocrinologist, on Sept. 18. During the appointment, the doctor adjusted her diabetes and other medications but didn't directly address her pain, she said.

"I'm in the same position," Johnson said. "I'm still in pain. What's next?"

Over the years, Johnson has worked a variety of jobs  from driving eighteen-wheelers cross-country to weaving hair  but her most consistent work was as a caregiver, including to her six children, 21 grandchildren, and three great-grandkids, with another great-grandchild on the way. Now, because of her extreme pain, the roles have been reversed. A daughter and granddaughter who live with her have become her full-time caregivers.

"I can't do nothing. I cant take care of my grandkids like I used to," said Johnson, who sleeps most of the day and wakes up only when her pain medication wears off. "I was planning to take care of the new baby that's coming. I probably can't even hold her now."

This article is part of "Faces of Medi-Cal," a California Healthline series exploring the impact of the state's safety-net health program on enrollees.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Rear) speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 11, 2023. Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We must avoid spillover of the conflict. I am concerned about the recent exchange of fire along the Blue Line (between Israel and Lebanon) and recent reported attacks from southern Lebanon," he told a press briefing. "I appeal to all parties -- and those who have an influence over those parties -- to avoid any further escalation and spillover."

Guterres called for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Civilians must be protected at all times. International humanitarian law must be respected and upheld, said the UN chief.

About 220,000 Palestinians are now sheltering in 92 facilities run by the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees across Gaza. UN premises and all hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted, he said.

Crucial life-saving supplies, including fuel, food and water, must be allowed into Gaza. There is a need for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, he said.

Guterres thanked Egypt for its constructive engagement to facilitate humanitarian access through Rafah, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, and to make the El Arish airport available for critical assistance.

Israel has imposed a "complete siege" of Gaza following Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 11, 2023. Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L, Rear) speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 11, 2023. Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Xie E)

Editor: WXL
In a recent study published in the PLOS ONE Journal, researchers investigated how the effects of potentially modifiable risk factors on dementia vary among people of South Asian, Black, and White ethnicities.

They found that in White people, the impact of obesity, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, hypertension, diabetes, and sleep disorders on dementia is lower than in South Asian people. Further, the impact of hypertension on dementia was found to be greater in the Black people than in the White.

Study: South Asian, Black and White ethnicity and the effect of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia: A study in English electronic health records. Image Credit: Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock.com

Background

Dementia affects about 50 million people worldwide, estimated to increase rapidly as the global population ages. Several risk factors are known to be associated with an increased risk of dementia, including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

Modifiable risk factors are particularly of interest to researchers as they could, in theory, help reduce the prevalence of dementia by 40%.

Studies have shown an association between modifiable risk factors of various conditions and the ethnicity of individuals. However, most previous studies investigating the potential association between ethnicity and the risk factors of dementia have been conducted in the European population.

Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the impact of potentially modifiable risk factors on dementia risk in South Asian, Black, and White populations using electronic health records.

About the study

An anonymized dataset of electronic health records obtained from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) was used in the study, along with a research resource named CALIBER, linking primary care records with hospital episode statistics (HES) and mortality statistics.

The study included adults aged 65 years and above with no prior diagnosis of dementia. The researchers identified potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia, including hypertension, obesity, hearing loss, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, dyslipidemia, low HDL, high LDL, sleep disorders, and traumatic brain injury.

Further, they assessed their impact on dementia risk in different ethnic groups. Hazard ratios (HRs) for dementia were estimated in the study using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for baseline age, sex, and index of multiple deprivation (IMD), and accounting for clustering by primary care practice.

Results and discussion

Out of 1,189,090 participants included in the study, 830,541 were White, 13,082 were South Asian, 9,166 were Black, and 13,860 were of other ethnicities. The complete case analysis was performed on data involving 865,674 people and 8,479,973 person-years of follow-up. About 12.6% of the whole population developed dementia.

The findings suggest that compared to White people, those with South Asian ethnicity have statistically significant interaction terms for hypertension (HR 1.57, p<0.0001), low HDL (HR 1.21, p = 0.049), obesity (HR 1.19, p = 0.04), sleep disorders (HR 1.18, p = 0.002), and diabetes (HR 1.22, p = 0.001).

Further, as per the study, Black people with hypertension had an increased risk of dementia (HR 1.18, p = 0.029) compared to White people. Interestingly, a decreased risk of dementia was observed in Black people with higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (HR 0.81, p = 0.005) compared to White people.

Diabetes was also associated with an increased risk of dementia in all ethnic groups, especially South Asians (HR 1.89). Smoking and alcohol consumption were associated with a lower risk of dementia in White individuals but not in South Asian or Black individuals.

The study also found that South Asian and Black individuals had higher levels of cardiovascular risk factors, particularly diabetes, compared to White individuals. The findings suggest that hypertension and diabetes are important risk factors for dementia in all ethnic groups, with the highest risk observed in South Asian individuals.

The study's strengths include its large sample size, broadly representing the general population, where individuals could be followed until death. The results highlight the utility of electronic health records as a valuable data source that can be employed to study modifiable risk factors and develop targeted interventions to prevent or delay the onset of dementia.

However, as a limitation, the study does not include information on other reported risk factors for dementia, such as individual-level education, social isolation, air pollution, and physical activity.

Conclusion

The findings of this study provide important insights into the impact of potentially modifiable risk factors on dementia risk in South Asian, Black, and White individuals and highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these risk factors.

These results can potentially aid the development of public health policy and clinical practice to reduce the risk of dementia in different ethnic groups.
A research group at Lund University has studied how a molecular sensor located in the blood vessel wall, controls how the vessel compensates for high blood pressure. As we age, the sensor deteriorates, which can worsen vascular damage caused by high blood pressure and consequently lead to secondary diseases affecting the heart, brain, or other organs. In mice, the researchers demonstrate that the absence of the sensor leads to the development of aortic aneurysms. Several key findings have also been confirmed in human blood vessels.

One in five people in Sweden has high blood pressure. It is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Understanding how and why high blood pressure leads to vascular damage is therefore important from both a human and socioeconomic perspective.

The muscles in the walls of blood vessels regulate the diameter of the vessels, and thus the blood flow and blood pressure, by contracting or relaxing. As we age, the vessel walls become less flexible, often resulting in an increase in blood pressure. In worst case, high blood pressure can potentially drive development of aneurysms (aortic dilation), where the vessel wall widens and is at risk of rupturing. It is one of the most urgent conditions that can occur.

With the help of medication, many people can manage their high blood pressure. However, about 15 percent of all patients do not respond to blood pressure medication, and for an even larger proportion, poor lifestyle habits make it difficult to control blood pressure.

We need to understand the mechanisms behind pressure-induced vascular damage to eventually find other ways to protect the vessel wall." Sebastian Albinsson, senior lecturer and research group leader in Molecular Vascular Physiology

In the study, conducted on mice, the research team examined the sensor that detects higher pressure. The sensor regulates the vessel's ability to withstand the harmful effects of pressure and consists of the proteins YAP/TAZ. When these proteins decrease or disappear entirely, the smooth muscle cells in the vessel wall transform into cartilage-forming cells, making the vessels stiff, inflamed, and scarred.

"Even at normal blood pressure, the blood vessels are damaged when the sensor is absent. It might be some kind of emergency response from the cells to be able to withstand the stress, and maintain arterial integrity. But without the proteins YAP/TAZ in the vessel wall, one cannot survive", says Karl Sward, professor of Cellular Biomechanics.

As people age, YAP/TAZ levels decrease, which can contribute to atherosclerosis and increase the risk of stroke and cognitive changes such as vascular dementia. The combination of higher blood pressure, and the reduction of the protective sensor, is a devastating combination from a cardiovascular perspective.

"The study was conducted in mice, but several key findings have been confirmed in human tissues. Among other things, we have found that YAP is greatly reduced in human aneurysm tissue, indicating that the YAP/TAZ sensor likely protects against pressure-induced vascular damage in humans as well", says Sebastian Albinsson.

Now, the researchers hope to understand why aging inhibits the sensor and how it's signaling pathways can be influenced to medically counteract the development and worsening of vascular disease. An interesting consequence of the findings is that they could explain the beneficial effect of exercise. Since the vessel wall is made up of muscles, YAP/TAZ is activated when we exercise, causing a temporary increase in blood pressure. This can prepare the vessel wall to better handle subsequent episodes of high blood pressure.
Scalpels with built-in sensors could streamline training for surgeons and pave the way for procedures performed by robotic devices, a study suggests.

Dr Arturas Straizys from the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics demonstrates the smart scalpel in the lab. Image Credit: Rhona Crawford, University of Edinburgh

Researchers who studied data captured by the scalpel during trials found its sensors could accurately track how much force users were applying during surgical procedures, and how they were controlling the device over time.

Sensor data analysis showed the technology could assess this key skill as effectively as traditional evaluation methods, which involve visual assessment by experienced practitioners.

Further development could see the technology  which is equipped with a newly developed force-sensing system  used to assess a wide range of surgical skills and aid the creation of robotic devices that can perform procedures safely and efficiently, the team says.

The low-cost device, developed at the University of Edinburgh, consists of a scalpel connected to a sensor-loaded circuit board fitted inside its handle. The research team designed a machine learning model that analyses data captured as force is applied by scalpel users.

While the level of force applied is known to be important in surgery, there have been few tools until now capable of measuring it in real-life settings. These types of measurements have also never been used in traditional assessments of surgical skill, the team says.

Researchers tested the new technology by tracking 12 medical students and two surgeons as they carried out a procedure known as an elliptical incision.

The procedure  which involves making two curved cuts to the skin  is used to remove moles and skin legions such as melanoma. Tests were performed on synthetic material made of gelatin and silicone that mimics the properties of human skin.

Data analysis of each participants skills was compared with naked eye assessments made by four surgical experts  two neuroscientists and two plastic surgeons.

Results broadly matched surgical experts assessment of each users ability, suggesting this type of technology could help simplify the process of assessing surgical skills.

Some discrepancies arose, partly because neuroscientists and plastic surgeons have differing instrument and tissue handling techniques, the team says.

The findings are published in the journal Communications Engineering. The research was supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
University of Virginia researchers are working to outrace two dangerous germs known for quickly developing resistance to new antibiotics  and the scientists efforts could help us better combat antibiotic resistance more broadly.

Colonies of drug-resistant S. aureus bacteria grow in a lab dish. UVA researchers are seeking to find new ways to battle antibiotic resistance. Image Credit: UVA Health

A team led by Jason Papin, PhD, is developing sophisticated computer models of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two multi-drug resistant bacteria that infect thousands of Americans every year. The researchers will use their models to better understand the cellular processes and gene activity that make the bacteria so adept at overcoming antibiotics.

The researchers will then take their findings to the lab as part of an ambitious effort to identify vulnerabilities in the bugs and advance the development of new and more effective treatments.

By identifying shared traits in the bacteria, the researchers hope to discover common links  and weaknesses  among germs that are adept at developing antibiotic resistance, a growing problem in the United States and around the world.

Antibiotic resistance is an enormous clinical problem that is only getting bigger. With so many complex processes involved in how bacteria evolve antibiotic resistance, we have to use systems approaches, combining computer modeling and sophisticated experiments, to try to tackle this important challenge, said Papin, of UVAs Department of Biomedical Engineering, a joint program of UVAs School of Medicine and School of Engineering. We hope that these computer models and experimental approaches will help us understand new vulnerabilities in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and consequently lead to new therapies to treat infection.

Antibiotic resistance crisis

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled antimicrobial resistance an urgent global health threat. Its estimated that antibiotic-resistant germs killed at least 1.27 million people worldwide and contributed to nearly 5 million deaths in 2019. The United States alone sees more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections each year.

Papin and his team are targeting two important contributors to those alarming numbers. The Staphylococcus aureus bacterium is very common  its found in approximately 30% of peoples noses. Its typically harmless, but for some people  especially the elderly and the immunocompromised  it can trigger serious, even deadly infections. For example, it can cause pneumonia and the full-body infection known as sepsis. That makes it a serious threat in hospitals and nursing homes. Its estimated to cause 200,000 drug-resistant infections each year in the United States.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, meanwhile, is found in soil and water. But P. aeruginosa is a particular problem in healthcare settings, as it can cause pneumonia and other serious infections. The bacterium is estimated to have caused more than 32,000 infections and 2,700 deaths among hospitalized patients in 2017, the CDC reports. It too is particularly dangerous to the elderly and immune compromised.

$1.2 million from NIH

Recognizing the importance of Papins efforts to battle these bugs, the National Institutes of Healths National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded him a grant of more than $1.2 million. And he hopes his work will benefit the battle against antibiotic resistance more broadly by creating a useful platform for future research into other pathogens.

We have a wonderful team of students and collaborators on this project, and were optimistic that this funding will provide the impetus necessary to make important discoveries to help us deal with the rise of antibiotic resistance. Jason Papin, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, UVA

The NIH grant is R01GM147257.
Mr Lam (first row, second left) inspects a large-scale smart logistics park in Ho Chi Minh City.

Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung (second right) meets representatives of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Leading a Hong Kong Logistics Development Council delegation, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung today attended a business luncheon and met several commerce groups in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to promote Hong Kongs advantages in logistics and explore co-operation opportunities.

Addressing the luncheon, Mr Lam pointed out that Vietnam has always been one of the closest trading partners of Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Noting Vietnams rapid economic growth in recent years, he said that Hong Kongs logistics service providers can offer customised logistics solutions for Vietnamese enterprises.

Mr Lam also cited Hong Kongs status as the most open international city in the Greater Bay Area, leveraging the distinctive advantages of enjoying the Mainlands strong support and being closely connected to the world.

He therefore believed that the city could assist Vietnamese products in entering the bay area and the neighbouring regions markets, creating unlimited business opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises.

The logistics chief also noted that Hong Kong has attracted approximately 30 strategic enterprises to set up or expand their operations in the city.

Emphasising the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Governments wishes to establish closer partnerships with Vietnam, Mr Lam invited Vietnamese enterprises to visit Hong Kong to gain firsthand knowledge of its latest developments.

During their visit to Ho Chi Minh City, the delegation met representatives from the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam.

They also toured a large-scale smart logistics park in Ho Chi Minh City.
An Australian passenger on a Perth-bound flight was arrested in Singapore on Thursday for criminal intimidation, police said, after the plane was escorted back to the city-state by fighter jets due to a bomb threat.

Flight TR16, operated by budget carrier Scoot, departed Singapore at 4:11 pm (0811 GMT).

But about one hour into the flight, a precautionary decision was made to turn the aircraft back to Singapore due to a bomb threat, Scoot, the budget arm of Singapore Airlines, said in a statement.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was activated to escort the aircraft back to Changi Airport. Emergency services were also activated, the airline added.

Scoot said the flight landed safely about two hours after takeoff, and security checks were carried out.

The airline said it was assisting authorities with investigations, adding that it was unable to provide additional details as this is a security matter.

Police later said officers completed security checks and arrested a 30-year-old Australian male passenger for criminal intimidation.

The Police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm, police added, without confirming whether the man had made any threats.

A 30-year-old passenger who was not named told local newspaper The Straits Times that police had escorted two individuals off the plane after it landed.

The pilot then announced the bomb threat, saying he believed it was likely a hoax, the newspaper reported.

Singapores air force previously scrambled fighter jets to escort commercial airliners after bomb threats in 2022, 2019 and 2018.
Forbes Top 100 Richest Indians: Mukesh Ambani has once again secured the top spot on the 2023 Forbes ranking of Indias 100 wealthiest individuals. The combined wealth of the countrys top 100 richest people remained unchanged at $799 billion this year. The India list also witnessed three new names from different industries.

Also Read: Forbes India Richest 2023: Mukesh Ambani Tops The List, Gautam Adani At Second Spot; Full List

Forbes Top 100 Richest Indians: New Entrants

This year, three newcomers join the list, with Renuka Jagtiani, the chairwoman of Landmark Group, a retailing giant headquartered in Dubai, making her debut at number 44 with a fortune of $4.8 billion. This follows the unfortunate passing of her husband, Micky Jagtiani, in May.

The Dani family, heirs to the late patriarch Ashwin Dani of Asian Paints, makes their inaugural appearance on the list at number 22 with a total wealth of $8 billion.

The third addition to the list is K.P. Ramasamy, founder and chairman of K.P.R. Mill, a garment exporter. He secures the 100th position with a wealth of $2.3 billion.

The top 10 richest in India are:

1) Mukesh Ambani; US$92 billion

2) Gautam Adani; $68 billion

3) Shiv Nadar: $29.3 billion

4) Savitri Jindal; $24 billion

5) Radhakishan Damani; $23 billion

6) Cyrus Poonawalla; $20.7 billion

7) Hinduja Family; $20 billion

8) Dilip Shanghvi; $19 billion

9) Kumar Birla; $17.5 billion

10) Shapoor Mistry & Family; $16.9 billion

Moreover, among the seven returnees this year is Ranjan Pai (number 86, $2.75 billion), who cashed out $1 billion from selling part of his stake in hospital chain Manipal Health Enterprises to Singapores Temasek.

Notable among the eight drop-offs are ed tech couple Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath, whose firm Byjus saw its valuation marked down drastically amid myriad challenges.

Naazneen Karmali, Asia Wealth Editor and India Editor, Forbes Asia, said, India is riding high and is considered a hot spot by global investors. That buoyancy has made the elite club of Indias 100 Richest even more exclusive this year, with the minimum net worth to make the cutoff rising to a record $2.3 billion.

According to Forbes, the biggest percentage gainer this year is Inder Jaisinghani at number 32 with $6.4 billion. His familys net worth nearly doubled as his wires and cables company, Polycab India, benefited from increasing electrification.

Pharma brothers Ramesh and Rajeev Juneja got a 64% boost from the May listing of their Mankind Pharma, bringing them to number 29 with $6.9 billion. The Juneja siblings also appear on the cover of the October issue of Forbes Asia.

This list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, analysts and Indias regulatory agencies.

The ranking lists family fortunes, including those shared among extended families such as the Bajaj and Godrej families.

Public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as of September 22. Private companies were valued based on similar companies that are publicly traded.

The list can also include foreign citizens with business, residential or other ties to the country, or citizens who dont reside in the country but have significant business or other ties to the country.

Disclosure: News18.com is part of Network18 Media & Investment Limited which is owned by Reliance Industries Limited.
The Employees Provident Fund is one of the most popular retirement fund options available for salaried employees in India. As a part of this, employees contribute 12 per cent of their basic salary, and an equal contribution is also made from the employers end towards their EPF accounts.

The contributions are accumulated over time and can be withdrawn upon the employees retirement, along with the accumulated interest. However, just like other income, earnings from EPF accounts are also taxable under various circumstances.

Read on to learn about the income tax or TDS implications upon PF withdrawal.

According to the EPF rules, employees first need to fulfill certain conditions before withdrawing their PF funds. Also, there are certain conditions that must be met in the case of premature withdrawal.

 The entire PF amount can be withdrawn only upon attaining the retirement age, which has been fixed at 55 years by the EPFO.

 An employee can also withdraw 90 per cent of the PF funds one year before retirement.

 The person can withdraw 75 per cent of the PF funds after one month of unemployment and the entire PF amount after two months of unemployment.

These rules provide employees with options to access their PF funds for various purposes, including financial emergencies and major life events. Its important to note that the specific conditions and documentation requirements for withdrawal may vary, so individuals should contact their employer or the EPFO for detailed guidance on the withdrawal process.

Taxation on PF withdrawal

 Now coming to the taxation part, contributions made by the employees to their EPF account are not generally taxable; however, one can claim a deduction under Section 80C on contributions in earlier years. In this case, he/she might need to pay additional tax if 80C was not claimed in those years.

 The interest received on the employees contributions is generally taxable as income from other sources.

 The contribution made by the employer and the generated interest on it is completely taxable under the head of salary in the tax return.

In another scenario, if an employee decides to withdraw his PF funds before completing 5 years of continuous service with one or more organisations, TDS will be deducted. However, there is an extension if the amount is less than Rs 50,000.

On the other hand, the EPF withdrawal is exempt from taxes if the employee withdraws the amount after 5 years of continuous service. While calculating the mandatory 5 years of service, the tenure with the previous employers is also included if the employee has transferred his EPF balance from the old employer to the new one.
The Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration on Wednesday ordered 14 schools to shut their operations with immediate effect after they were allegedly found to be running without any official recognition. A majority of these schools, which have students enrolled up to Class 12, are in villages of Noida, District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) Dharmveer Singh said.

He said a survey of schools was conducted by the Uttar Pradesh government in recent days to find out if any institutes were operating in violation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Singh said as per the law, it is mandatory for any entity involved in imparting formal education to be recognised by state authorities.

During the survey in the district, 14 such schools were found to be in violation of the law and today, an order has been issued for them to shut operations with immediate effect. They were found running classes illegally and without having any recognition from authorities, he told PTI.

There have been serious lapses on the part of one school and I have issued directions to my department to ensure that an FIR is lodged against it by the police and legal action taken against it, Singh said.

The officer warned of strict action against educational institutions operating in violation of laws. According to the department, seven of these schools are located in Harola, four in Jalpura, and one each in Shahdara, Mangrauli and Chhijarsi. These schools on average have around 150 students enrolled.

There are over 2,000 recognised schools, including those affiliated to the CBSE, ICSE and Uttar Pradesh Boards, functioning across Noida and Greater Noida in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, the officials said.
A female teacher of a private school was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly beating up a four-year-old girl studying in the pre-primary section of the institute in Gujarats Surat city, said police.

The teacher, Jashodaben Khokharia, was arrested and charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and also relevant sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Vipul Patel.

Based on a complaint given by the girls parents, we have arrested the teacher Jashodaben, said Patel.

The issue came to light when the parents of the girl, studying in the pre-primary section of a private school, shared CCTV footage with the media showing Khokharia repeatedly hitting their daughter on her back and slapping her for some reason during class on Monday.

In the CCTV footage of the classroom, Khokharia can be seen sitting near the child and slapping her on her back and on face for nearly 30 times.

When TV channels highlighted the issue, Gujarat Minister of State for Education Praful Pansheriya condemned the ill-treatment of the child and asked the District Education Officer to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

The girls parents told reporters their daughter did not inform them about the teachers brutality and they learnt about it on seeing swelling marks on her body after she came back from the school on Monday.

We visited the school on Tuesday and asked the principal to show us CCTV footage of her classroom. The footage clearly shows how mercilessly my daughter was thrashed by the teacher in front of other students. We want authorities to give us justice, an angry father of the girl said.
Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel's new wartime cabinet vowed on Wednesday to continue the military operation in the Gaza Strip until "Hamas is toppled and destroyed."

It was the first statement by the new emergency unity government, which was formed earlier on Wednesday as Benny Gantz, an opposition leader and former defense minister of Israel, joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ultranationalist-religious coalition government.

In an address broadcast to the nation, Gantz vowed to deal "decisively" with Hamas.

"We will smash and destroy Hamas," Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a wall damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a wall damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Oct. 11, 2023. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A boy walks past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians walk past buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2023. 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. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Editor: WXL
The registration for the stray vacancy round of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test postgraduate (NEET PG 2023) counselling in Uttar Pradesh began today, and it will end for Punjab students. In Karnataka and West Bengal, the final rounds of NEET PG counselling are currently ongoing. Meanwhile, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has updated the schedule for its NEET PG 2023 stray vacancy round.

NEET PG Stray Vacancy Round: The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has extended the time to register and pay fees for the NEET PG counselling 2023 stray vacancy round. Candidates now have until 5 PM today to complete this process. Additionally, you can fill in your choices until 8 AM on October 13. The results for seat allotment in this round will be available on October 15. Candidates who want to participate in the all-India counselling can apply on the official website, mcc.nic.in.

Karnataka NEET PG 2023 Mop-Up Round: The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) is currently running the mop-up round for Karnataka NEET PG counselling 2023 on their official website, kea.kar.nic.in. They posted the seat matrix for this round on their website yesterday. Today, candidates can submit the caution deposit and their original documents. The results for the Karnataka NEET PG counselling 2023 mop-up round will be revealed tomorrow, October 13. If students secure seats, they need to pay the fee by October 16 and should be present at the college by October 17.

Also read| AYUSH NEET UG Counselling 2023 Round 3 Registrations to Begin Today

West Bengal NEET PG Stray Round: Today is the last day for candidates to participate in the choice-filling process for the West Bengal NEET PG stray round counselling registration 2023, managed by the West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee (WBMCC). Candidates can do this on their official website, wbmcc.nic.in. The results for seat allotment in the West Bengal NEET PG stray round counselling will be disclosed on October 16. Candidates securing seats need to report to the college between October 17 and 19.

UP NEET PG Stray Vacancy Round: Today, the Directorate General of Medical Education and Training (DMET), Uttar Pradesh has launched the UP NEET PG 2023 stray vacancy round on their official website, upneet.gov.in. From October 12 to October 14 at 11 AM, candidates can submit their registration fee and security deposit. On October 14, the merit list will be published. Starting at 5 PM on the same day and concluding at 5 PM on October 16, the online choice filling process will take place. On October 17, the results for seat allotment will be made available. Candidates who are granted seats will need to report to the college between October 18 and 20.

Punjab NEET PG Stray Vacancy Round: The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot has started the Punjab NEET PG 2023 stray vacancy round on their official website, bfuhs.ac.in. This process will conclude today. The university is set to unveil the merit list tomorrow, which is October 13. The results for the Punjab NEET PG 2023 stray vacancy round will be available on October 17. Candidates are required to submit the remaining fee by October 18.
The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) group 2 exam has been postponed once again. The group 2 services exam which was scheduled to be conducted on November 2 and 3 will now be held on January 6 and 7. The exam has been delayed to the Assembly Elections in Telangana. Initially, the TSPSC group 2 exam was scheduled to be administered on August 29 and 30.

In the light of the schedule for conduct of General Elections to the Telangana State Legislative Assembly announced by Election Commission of India on 09/10/2023, the Commission after careful examination of the matter decided to reschedule the Group-II examination (Notification No: 28/2022) scheduled to be held on 2nd and 3rd November 2023 to 6th and 7th January 2024 in view of the examination date (3rd November) coinciding with the election notification date and since the critical administrative machinery will be preoccupied with election related activities, read the official notice by the commission.

Candidates can check the detailed notification on the official website at tspsc.gov.in. Through this recruitment exam, TSPSC aims to fill up a total of 783 vacancies in various departments under Group 2 Services. The exam will be held from 10 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 5 PM, respectively.

Earlier, TSPSC Chairman Dr B Janardhan Reddy postponed the exam from August to November following Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raos decision in a brief meeting with the secretary on August 12. According to reports, hundreds of aspirants took to the road on August 10 demanding that the Group II recruitment exam be postponed. President of the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), Kodandaram, and Congresswoman Addanki Dayakar showed their support by joining the demonstrators in the street.

As per candidates, a 70 per cent rise in the curriculum for the third paper in Group 2 (Economics) has increased the burden. The candidates requested that the exams be postponed for at least three months, alleging they had been unable to study for the exams for the preceding three months due to the paper leak.
Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot fought for five years to be the face in Rajasthan and forgot about governance, BJPs Jaipur (Rural) MP and now candidate from Jhotwara assembly seat, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, has told News18 in an interview. He added that the BJPs face was Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his way of working.

Speaking to News18 from Jaipur, Rathore also said former chief minister Vasundhara Raja was present in the meeting which decided his ticket and of six more MPs who feature in the first list of 41 candidates. She is the one along with others deciding the names, she is part of the strategy, Rathore said, dismissing suggestions that Raje was being sidelined.

He said Gehlot was scared and hence questioned why BJP has fielded MPs. We are not even bothered about who is standing from the Congress, Rathore told News18.

BJP is facing teething issues like protests by other contenders in seats where the MPs have been given tickets, including Jhotwara where former four-time MLA and ex-minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat has objected to Rathore being fielded. Some Vasundhara Raje loyalists too have been denied tickets.

Protests are there not because an MP has come to the state. People have personal ambitions and suddenly you are struck by the fact that you will have to put your plan on the back burner. People will get upset, it is a normal thing but in a couple of days, things will become normal. But if that person is going to stab our mother, the BJP, in the back, then the intention of the person is to be questioned, Rathore told News18.

Edited Excerpts

How would you explain the BJPs strategy about giving tickets to MPs like you in the state elections?

BJPs mandate is to win the election; how we do it is up to us. It is the strategy and cannot become a question for the opposition. Gehlot is scared and that is why he is questioning. We are not even bothered about who is standing from the Congress.

When you have served for one or two terms as MP, you learn so much from the prime minister. He also has tremendous amount of confidence in us. In a federal structure, it is normal that the PM would like to send some of the people that he understands and knows can bring the same work culture that he has taught us.

The workers of BJP realise that this is not limited to just the state and know now that this election is very important for BJP like every other election and the party will win every election it goes into. That creates enthusiasm amongst people.

But there are protests in Rajasthan over tickets to MPs, including in your seat

Protests are not because an MP has come into the state. People have personal ambitions and suddenly you are struck by the fact that you will have to put your plan on the back burner. People will get upset, it is a normal thing, but in a couple of days, things will become normal.

Every faithful BJP worker is committed to the nation and will regain his self-composure in a couple of days and come back into the mainstream. If he does not, people need to know that such a person is putting his personal ambition before the party and the nation.

Every person who has contested elections earlier and has not got the ticket now has made his career due to the BJP which is our mother. BJP created that person. Now if that person is going to stab the mother, BJP, in the back, then the intention of the person is to be questioned.

BJP may give someone an opportunity later, which may be bigger. Many examples are there in the past. An entire Cabinet was removed in Gujarat but BJP got a massive landslide later.

CM Ashok Gehlot has taken a swipe at the BJP, asking how the Lotus can become the next CM and questioning the BJPs face in the state.

Would people want a face like Gehlot in whose term there have been paper leaks 18 times, there are all sorts of mining mafia, every MLAs single motto is to make as much money as possible but keep the CMs chair intact, and a state with the highest number of rapes in the country with 17 rapes a day  do people want a face like Gehlot?

If the face symbolises the kind of work you are going to do or the sort of political culture you will bring, we are very clear that PM Modi is our face. His way of working for the people is what we bring to the table. We will deliver and show our report card. It is not dynasty politics or appeasement.

There is a massive difference between the work culture of PM Modi and what is happening in Rajasthan - we have the highest unemployment in Rajasthan, we have the highest level of corruption in the state, gold is being found in government office almirahs

Who is the face of the Congress and what work culture do they bring to the table? Is it the same that was happening in Rajasthan in the last five years where we have a record of getting the lowest in providing water but the highest in terms of rape? Or we have somebody else from the central leadership who does not have a vision for the country, leave aside Rajasthan.

They give big slogans like ladki hun lad sakti hun but do not see the crimes in Rajasthan because they are responsible. OPS is an empty slogan, cheaper gas cylinder is just a slogan. We are giving gas cylinders now at Rs 600, Gehlot is saying Rs 500 but he should now give it for Rs 100. There is no electricity in Rajasthan but Gehlot is promising free electricity.

The face of Ashok Gehlot and the face of Sachin Pilot  that was the fight wasnt it over the last five years? Because of that fight, they forgot about governance. They just wanted to hold on to their chair  it was because of that face. The face of the CM is not so important, face of the public is more important. What is important is the kind of governance that you bring to the table.

Is Vasundhara Raje being sidelined as that is the perception? Is the party banking on younger faces like you or Diya Kumari?

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was in the meeting which decided the very ticket in my name and those of others. She is the one along with others deciding the names, she is part of the strategy. Only time will tell about the strategy of younger faces.
Ending speculation about what would have been the biggest poll alliance in Telangana this year, YSRTP president YS Sharmila announced on Thursday that her party was going solo. The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Telangana Party had been negotiating with the Congress for the past four months but the talks led nowhere.

Sharmila announced that she is going to contest from the Palair constituency in Khammam district. If need be, I will contest from another constituency. If the situation demands, my mother Vijayamma and husband Anil too will contest, she declared at a press conference.

Stating that the talks fell through even after she tried for four months, the YSRTP chief said: I wanted to go with Congress so that the anti-incumbency votes against chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao are not split. I did not want him to be the CM again, and therefore was waiting all these months. Now no one can blame us for splitting the anti-KCR votes.

As part of the negotiations, YS Sharmila met Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, as well as the partys Karnataka unit president DK Shivakumar. According to sources, her possible entry divided the Congress into two camps. Her father, the former chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, was a tall leader from the Congress and the party still has members who are loyal to him. This camp was supporting Sharmilas entry. They reasoned that the legacy of her father could help influence voters, especially in Khammam where YSR held considerable power.

In the 2014 elections, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Sharmilas brother YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, won the Wyra seat in Khammam. She was being seen as someone who could bring in women and Christian votes too. However, another Congress camp was not interested in sharing power with her. A few in YSRTP too were reportedly against the alliance. Sharmila had said earlier that she was willing to join hands with anyone who does not want KCR to become the chief minister again.

YS Sharmila undertook an extensive padayatra in Telangana between 2021 and 22. She covered over 3,000 km, talking to people on the way. The two main planks of her campaign have been the golden days of her fathers government, which she promised to bring back, and the alleged corruption in the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government.
The enduring comedy series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, produced by Asit Modi, has endeared itself to its audience with its exceptional cast and captivating storyline. Its clever and humorous plot twists have consistently held the viewers attention, keeping them glued to their television screens.

Beyond their on-screen chemistry, the cast members off-screen camaraderie is equally endearing. They frequently share glimpses from their shoots, offering fans a peek behind the scenes. Notably, Palak Sindhwani, who portrays Sonu, recently posted an entertaining Instagram reel.

In this video, she and her fellow actors took on the Saiyyan challenge during a night shoot. This challenge involves singing the famous song Saiyyan by Kailash Kher, and the video has left everyone in fits of laughter.

Other than Palak, several other cast members like, Tanmay Vekaria, Navina Wadekar, Kiran Bhatt, Sonalika Joshi, Sunayana Fozdar, Sachin Shroff, Sharad Sankla, Nirmal Soni and Ambika Ranjankar joined in the fun. They took their turns singing the popular song and among them, Ambika, who plays Komal, got the maximum praise from the team. Meanwhile, Kiran aka Nattu Kaka, made everyone laugh with his singing skills. Sharing the video, the TMKOC actress wrote, Saiyyan Challenge with my Sakhas. PS  By keeping ourselves entertained, thats how we managed so many night shifts back to back.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Palak Sindhwani (@palaksindhwani)

Palak Sindhwanis video has attracted the attention of her own followers and fans of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Social media users couldnt contain their laughter, and even the cast members themselves left comments on the video.

Ambika Ranjankar commented, This was insane. Tanmay Vekaria, who plays Bagha, shared that it was Great fun. Nirmal Soni, who plays Dr Hathi, and Sonalika Joshi, known for playing Madhavi Bhide, dropped laughing emojis.

Meanwhile, the recent Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in Gokuldham Society garnered a positive response from the audience. However, fans of the show missed the presence of Dilip Joshi, who plays the Jethalal. In the storyline, Jethalal had to leave the city for an urgent meeting, which explained his absence. In reality, the actor took some time off to spend quality time with his own family.

Earlier, a source close to the actor told ETimes, Dilip Joshi has taken a break from his show and is currently on a short religious trip to Tanzania with his family. The actor is in Daresalaam for a special occasion that is happening in the Swaminarayan temple.

Apart from them, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah also features Amit Bhatt, Mandar Chandwadkar, Munmun Dutta, and more.
In a horrific incident, a 13-year-old girl in Uttar Pradeshs Lakhimpur Kheri district was allegedly gagged with mud and her eyes pierced with sugarcane stalks as she was tortured her to death.

According to a report in Times of India, the girl went missing while on way back home from a local madrassa on Sunday. An autopsy was conducted by a panel of doctors and a probe is on to find out whether she was sexually assaulted, a senior police officer, privy to the investigation, was quoted.

A member of the autopsy team, requesting anonymity, told TOI, There were seven deep wounds on the girls body.

The report stated that an FIR under IPC section 302 (murder) has been registered against unidentified persons following a complaint by the victims family.

Additional SP, Naipal Singh, was quoted as saying, The case has been taken up on priority and senior officials are monitoring the investigation. Four teams are working on the leads and the forensic team is collecting evidence. We are taking support from the surveillance team and anti-social elements of the area are under the scanner. We are hoping for a breakthrough soon.

Earlier in June, a 15-year-old schoolgirls eyes were gouged out, nails driven into her palms, and was possibly gang-raped before being strangled to death in a village in Uttar Pradeshs Firozabad district.

There were no clothes on her body. Her eyes had been removed and iron nails had been driven into her palms. We dont know who committed the crime with such brutality and why, the Class X students father, a farmer, was quoted as saying by Telegraph.

Pradeep Kumar, the officer in charge of the local Tundla police station, told reporters: She may have been gang-raped. She seems to have been tortured and strangled.

In the month of May, the body of a missing seven-year-old girl with her eyes gouged out and injury marks on her private parts was found in a field in Uttar Pradeshs Kannauj.

The minor had gone missing from a wedding function three days before her body was found in a naked condition in a field in Talgram area, police had said.

Four year ago, in February 2019, a 14-year-old Dalit girl was found killed with her eyes gouged out in Uttar Pradeshs Jalaun. Sources in the police had said that her clothes were torn and her eyes gouged out, indicating torment and possible rape before murder.
The Delhi high court has commuted Indian Mujahideen terrorist Ariz Khans death sentence, that he was awarded following his conviction in the 2008 Batla House encounter case.

The death sentence has been commuted to life term.

Fifteen years after gunshots rang in L-18 flat of Delhis Batla House, leaving two terrorists and one police inspector, Mohan Chand Sharma, dead, the Delhi High Court on Thursday pronounced its order on the reference for confirmation of death penalty to Indian Mujahideen terrorist Ariz Khan.

Khan alias Junaid was arrested by the Delhi Polices Special Cell in 2018, almost a decade after being on the run following the said encounter.

A bench headed by Justice Siddharth Mridul and Amit Sharma also pronounced orders on the appeal filed by Khan challenging his conviction and death sentence in the case related to Sharmas killing.

SAKET COURT AWARDED KHAN DEATH SENTENCE

In May 2021, Delhis Saket Court had convicted Khan for Sharmas murder during the encounter between police and the said terrorists at South East Delhis Batla House. Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav had held Khan guilty under sections 186, 333, 353, 302, 397 of the Indian Penal Code and section 27 of Arms Act.

While pronouncing the order, the court had said, Proved on record Khan, with associates, voluntarily caused grievous hurt to one SI. Also been proved on record, Khan with associates, intentionally and knowingly caused murder of Sharma by firearm.

With the evidence adduced on record ocular, documentary and scientific, the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Khan along with accomplices obstructed Sharma in discharge of public function and in furtherance of common intention, used criminal force to decease Sharma, the court said.

The court had also observed that it is proved that Khan, with his associates, voluntarily caused grievous hurt to one SI.
Five to eight bodies on an average is the number of Indian students with permits or those in transition to a work permit in Canada, mortal remains of whom are repatriated back to India every month. The high number of deaths of Indian youth in Canada over the past few years has been flagged by funeral homes in Ontarios Greater Toronto Area yet again in the backdrop of the recent diplomatic row between the two countries.

Some of these are suicides while others are accidents, killings, accidental drug overdose, heart attacks and drowning, among others. As the toll remains, the Canadian government has not taken any concrete steps to reason such untimely deaths or work for their mental health, said those handling the bodies.

Beyond the housing, food and job crises in Canadian cities that are home to scores of international students, the struggle for foreign students or those starting to work in this North American country runs much deeper than what is told.

The crises, especially post-pandemic, has brought high pressure on these young foreign students who come to Canada immediately after finishing their school, and then wrestle to find an accommodation and a job to pay off their expenses. Many are even clearing the loans their parents had taken to send them off.

The high number of deaths of international students, a large section of whom are Indian youth in their early 20s, has been reported in the Canadian press as well, more so in the post-pandemic years.

While the federal statistics in Canada does not track the number of deaths of international students per se or the reasons of the same, the estimates have been given out by the two funeral homes, which in coordination with the Consulate General of India, repatriate the bodies back to the Indian families.

A post-mortem is carried out only for deaths that are deemed suspicious by the police. It is the police, who decides which body will go to the coroners office.

Its heart-breaking, says Inderjit Bal, co-owner and president of Brampton crematorium, to see men and women in their early 20s dying at this rate in a country where they came to study and perhaps earn a living.

According to Bal, his funeral home repatriates around four bodies of Indian youths a month on an average, most of whom are on study permits or have transitioned to work visa. This has been the case over the past two years. The numbers started rising from 2018-19 onwards since the influx of Indian students in Canada started to grow exponentially. We have raised the issue with the education minister here as well again recently, but there has been no response from them, he said.

Bal raised several issues with the Canadian minister that have put students under undue pressure. We asked them to make it a rule for colleges and universities to provide hostel facilities for students at least in the first year and second, we asked them to hold a training session on how to go about their new journey once the students land here. We are yet to hear from the ministers office, said Bal.

The reasons for the deaths under suspicious circumstances are investigated by the police, he said. While only the families can request post-mortem reports, in some cases, the families back in India request Gurdwaras to make arrangements for the funerals and entrust them with the papers. Thats how some of these religious centres found out that a number of students are dying of drug overdose and raised the issue with the authorities earlier this year.

Since Bals crematorium has been handling a high number of bodies, he blamed the high pressure that students are under when they come here. The parents have a dream for their child to see them settled in this foreign land. It is so difficult to handle such deaths, its most unfortunate. And more of these young people are men in the early 20s. They have to struggle hard to find a place to live, find a job to work part-time to be able to spare the fee and pay loans. Its too much to handle for a young person out of school in a foreign land. Some of them just come under depression and take the extreme step or get into drugs for a refuge, he explained.

Then there are road accidents and violence-related killings, he added. A number of students get excited upon seeing so many water bodies while they dont know how to swim they just go out in the water. Most cases of drowning have been reported during summer.

While the students are on their own here, most of the families are not able to bear the expenses of their funeral and repatriation, which is anywhere between 11,000 CAD and 13,000 CAD, and the funeral homes or friends/relatives have to raise funds for the same, he said.

Friends are usually the first ones who are informed about the funeral services, which then check with the police, get a warrant to bury and co-ordinate with the Indian consulate for sending it back to the family. Its a long process that takes around a week to 10 days when there are no legal challenges involved.

The Indian consulate too sometimes helps monetarily, but that is only for the airfare. The airfare is quite high, as the body has to be sent back in a cargo. The whole process is quite expensive. The Indian community here is generous and mostly comes forward in raising funds, said Bal.

Harminder Hansi, director, Lotus Funeral Home and Crematorium, which has been repatriating bodies from across Canada, too said they send back around 3-4 Indian youths remains every month.

Post-pandemic, while the number of Indian students coming to Canada grew, the deaths have also doubled. The uptick started around five years ago and there has been no fall in the numbers since. Theres a lot of financial pressure on these students nowadays because of which they get into all sorts of things and even become victims of the same, said Hansi.

Also, there are fund-raising portals such as Go fund Me, through which friends and relatives can take care of the expenses.

In July, young Gurvinder Nath, who had just started to work as a food delivery driver, became a victim of violent carjacking. He had brought a new car for his work, which was stolen while he was beaten up by the suspects, who are still on the run for three months. Nath later succumbed to injuries.

Naths distant relative in Canada, Jaswinder Singh Meelu, along with a few friends raised funds for his medical treatment while he was hospitalised and eventually for his funeral and repatriation.

He was a young boy from my mothers village back in Punjab. He came from a low-income family, who didnt have any means to pay for these expenses. So, we thought to raise funds for him. Lakhs of such students like him come to Canada and even make it big here eventually. But the scenario post-pandemic has been such that there is an uptick in such deaths every single day, said Meelu, 50, who himself came to Canada as a 17-year-old student in 1991.

He remembered that back in those days and even till like five years ago there was no such crises for housing or jobs. Now, students are in so much pressure to just somehow make it here that it is crushing them. Most of them are finally settling here, paying off the loan taken by their families and becoming permanent residents.

They have a dream to live a life of dignity and comfort here. Parents need to realise that their children need to be safe first and just not get into this thought of sending them out at the cost of having to lose them, said Meelu.

Meelu blamed the Canadian government for the plight of the Indian students. Despite an Indian student paying four-time fee than the average Canadian college student, the government does not realise that they are also the future of this country. The authorities have the responsibility for the mental health and well-being of these students.

Manan Gupta, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB) in Brampton, Ontario, said the number of deaths of students/working professionals in the 18-25 age-group have increased over the past few years since the influx of Indian students grew higher.

There are around five to eight bodies being sent back to India every month. Its a mixed bag and a deadly combination of so many factors at play from students being deeply anxious to find a house, a job and then to settle here while their savings are running out. They are young and vulnerable without a support system. Its a challenge for the Canadian government since these numbers are high, said Gupta.
Singapore low-cost airline Scoot said on Thursday that one of its planes made a U-turn back to the city-state an hour after taking off for Perth due to a bomb threat and then landed safely. Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines Group, said Flight TR16 departed at 4:11 p.m (0811 GMT) from Singapores Changi Airport.

About one hour into the flight, a precautionary decision was made to turn the aircraft back to Singapore due to a bomb threat, the airline said in a statement. An air force jet was deployed to escort the plane back to the airport, and emergency services were also activated, according to Scoot.

The aircraft landed safely in Singapore at 6:27 p.m. (1027 GMT) and security checks were carried out, the airline said, adding that it could not provide more details because an investigation was ongoing.

Scoot sincerely apologies for the disruption and inconvenience caused. The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority, and we will continue to provide assistance to our customers, the airline said.
The Delhi Police on Thursday issued a traffic advisory in view of the P-20 Summit being held in the city from October 12-14.

The meeting is being hosted at Dwarkas India International Convention and Expo Centre, also known as Yashobhoomi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to travel to the venue on Friday in a metro train, sources said, but did not share further details due to security reasons.

Speakers and Parliamentary Representatives of about 27 counties are participating in the P-20 Summit. Accommodation for all the visiting guests and dignitaries have been arranged at different hotels. These delegates will go to Yashobhoomi for the Summit, a senior traffic official said.

Traffic movement on all three days will be regulated between 7 am and 10 pm on Akbar Road, Sardar Patel Marg to Dhaula Kuan flyover, Mehram Nagar area near the Airport, Palam flyover and Dulsiras Chowk, he said.

Commuters are advised to use public transport to avoid any inconvenience. Commuters going to railway stations, hospitals and ISBT should leave with sufficient time to avoid any delays on their route, the official further said.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Jacob Wallenberg, Chair of the Board of Sweden-based Investor AB, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Jacob Wallenberg, Chair of the Board of Sweden-based Investor AB, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Noting that China's economy has generally picked up and improved since the beginning of this year, and the annual growth target is expected to be achieved, Han said that China's policy of reform and opening up will remain unchanged in the course of advancing Chinese modernization, which will bring more space for the development of China-EU and China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation.

China is willing to strengthen communication with Sweden on the basis of mutual respect, trust, equality and mutual benefit, properly handle differences and push bilateral relations steadily in the right direction, Han said.

He expressed the hope that the Swedish business community will continue to play a positive role and make due contributions to strengthening China-EU cooperation and maintaining the stability of industrial and supply chains.

Wallenberg expressed his support for good and stable relations between Sweden and China, as well as between the EU and China, saying that he hoped to find more ways to promote dialogue among the EU, the United States and China, and to assist the sustainable development of the global economy.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Jacob Wallenberg, Chair of the Board of Sweden-based Investor AB, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Editor: ZAD
India sees Hamas act as a terrorist attack, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, reiterating Indias long-standing position that Israel and Palestine should co-exist peacefully.

We have been very clear that we see this as a terrorist attack, ministrys spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during a briefing on the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. This is for the first time that the foreign ministry has given out an official statement on the conflict.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had issued two statements condemning the terrorist attack and expressing solidarity with Israel. PMs conversation (with the Israel PM) and comments stand on their own and do not require any clarification, the MEA spokesperson added.

Bagchi further said there is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law, and there is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. This was also in line with PM Modis conversation with Israels PM Benjamin Netanyahu on October 10 in which Modi said he strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

A government source had earlier told News18 that this wording attempts to reject any sort of justification for terror attack by Hamas.

Indias Stand on Palestine

Bagchi said Indias policy on Palestine has been long-standing and consistent. India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised borders side-by-side at peace with Israel, the MEA spokesperson explained.

This reinforces that India is drawing a distinction between the two-state solution that the Modi government has backed in the past, and a dastardly terror attack by Hamas that specifically targeted innocent civilians, including women and children.

Congress leaders, while citing the CWC resolution that batted for Palestine, had pointed out how Modi visited Palestine in 2018 and advocated for the two-state solution. The MEA has now reiterated Indias long-standing position. However, the BJP government is clear that it is focusing on the October 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israel at present.
A family in Meeruts Shailda village has made fervent appeals to the Uttar Pradesh government seeking help in bringing their son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter back safely from Israel where they have been stranded amid the ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants.

Speaking to News18, Omveer Randhawa, a farmer by profession, said his son Mohit, daughter-in-law Jaideep Kaur and granddaughter Keerat are safe for now, but the family has been spending sleepless nights amid reports of mass civilian casualties as the war between Israel and Hamas rages.

In his late 70s, Randhawa said his son, who has completed PhD from IIT-Roorkee, had gone to Israel to complete his post-doctoral studies. Initially, Mohit used to stay alone in Israel, but recently took his wife Jaideep Kaur and daughter Keerat along with him. And now they are stuck, he said.

Mohits wife is reportedly pregnant.

With folded hands, I appeal to the UP government, please bring back my son, said Randhawa.

The elderly farmer told News18 that his son has been a meritorious student since school. Mohit completed his PhD from the Institute of Technology (IIT) in Roorkee, after which he moved to Israel in 2020 to pursue post-doctoral studies. Currently, he is posted at the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU).

Mohits mother, who has been battling ill health ever since she heard about the Israel-Hamas war, said her son locked himself and his family in an apartment since the battle broke out.

Though he said that he is around 300 km from the area that was destroyed in the air attack by Hamas, the threat looms large on their area too since entire Israel is at war, she said.

Her husband and Mohits father said their son had last visited them in April this year. They returned to Israel in May and were scheduled to visit India again on October 12. But following the ongoing tension, all flights have been cancelled in Israel, he said.

He added that its been four days since they got any sleep. Who can sleep sound when their son is stuck in a country that is at war, he said.

Seeking the governments intervention in bringing Mohit and his family back, Shailda village head said, A few people from our village have been stuck in Israel. Things are getting worse over there. We request the UP government to please intervene.

More than 20,000 Indians live in Israel, but there are no he was not aware of any Indian national getting injured or killed in the ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants, Israels Consul General in Mumbai Kobbi Shoshani has said.

Israels Consul General in Mumbai Kobbi Shoshani has said that airline operations from India to Israel have been stopped and the Ministry of External Affairs is working to bring back stranded Indians.

Urging the Indian nationals in Israel to remain calm, vigilant, the Indian Embassy there too has reassured that it is monitoring the situation closely and working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel.

In a recorded message on the X, the social media platform, Indias Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla, said: This is to assure you that the embassy is working constantly for your safety and welfare. All of us are going through very difficult times but please do remain calm and vigilant and follow the local security guidelines.

We are here to help you, and we thank many of you who have sent so many messages of appreciation to us. We are monitoring the situation closely and please stay tuned for any updates from the embassy. Jai Hind, Singla added.

In separate advisories through its official handle on X, the Indian mission said, The Embassy has been working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel through a 24-hour helpline. Please remain calm & vigilant & follow the security advisories.

It listed the 247 Emergency Helpline/Contact numbers: +972-35226748 and +972-543278392. It also provided an email too: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in

Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the countrys south through air, land and sea on October 7.

On the fifth day, the Israeli military said more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed in Israel while in Gaza, 950 people have been killed, including 260 children and 230 women.
India should not underestimate the link between Pakistan and Afghanistan Taliban, said Afghanistans acting president-in-exile Amrullah Saleh, in an exclusive interview to News18 from an undisclosed location. This is Salehs first-ever interview in almost two years to any media publication around the world.

ALSO READ | Who Betrayed Ayman al-Zawahiri? Afghanistans Acting Prez-in-Exile Amrullah Saleh Has A Theory | Exclusive

You cant underestimate the connection between Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Taliban post 2021 Some Indian analysts underestimate the linkage between Pakistans madrassa system and Afghan Taliban. The infrastructure is deep and has strong influence on Taliban leadership," said Saleh.

If Pakistan stops supporting the Taliban regime, it will collapse. Some are influenced by Taliban leaders such as Mullah Yaqub, but it will all change when you have another terror attack. I hope I am wrong, but it is coming."

As the United States and its NATO allies withdrew from Afghanistan, after almost two decades of war, the resurgent Islamist group, Taliban, took over on August 15, 2021. President Ashraf Ghani fled and Saleh declared himself the acting president of the country and is leading the fight against the Taliban.

FATWA TO INTERCEPTION, PAK-TALIBAN TIES RUN DEEP

Saleh rubbished the belief that Pakistan, which is facing dire financial crunch, lacks the resources to coopt Taliban. This is why Taliban is trying to reach out to other countries. It is a matter of time before this mask will fall offThere are nearly 300 officers from Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) accredited in Afghanistan and twice the number operating in the country under the garb of doctors, NGOs and businesspersons. This is not a veiled programme. ISI officers and engineers are directly involved in interception operations. Pakistan SSG officers are providing training to the Taliban strike units. There are Pakistani mentors in strategic communication of Taliban."

Commenting on the Talibans fatwa on Pakistan, Saleh alleged it was, in fact, issued in collaboration with Pakistan. The architect of the fatwa was Mufti Rauf. He stayed in Pakistan for 30 years. He was a close associate of Pakistani politician Fazl-ur-Rehman and is currently the chief of the fatwa department of the Supreme Court of Taliban. Rauf drafted the 51-point fatwa after a call from Rehman and a visit from an ISI officer," he said.

ALSO READ | Hamas Attack Inspirational for Other Terror Groups, Will Lead to Repetition: Afghans Saleh to News18

When Pakistanis asked the Taliban to issue a fatwa against the TTP, it didnt lead to a discussion within the Taliban leadership. It was done so swiftly as if Pakistan has asked one of its own mulks to do it. For every other thing, they get into a debate and then come up with a decision and inform the people about the reasons for doing it, but regarding the security of Pakistan, they were very swift. It was done with two-three days and they read the fatwa in every mosque of Pakistan. The fatwa said that we should not destablise Pakistan, instability in Pakistan is haram as it an Islamic country and its Army is Islamic and we are friends. That is the 51-point fatwa. The pundits who say that Pakistans policy failed and Taliban are not entirely the boys of GHQ, they are not taking this fatwa seriously"

TTP FIGHTERS MOVED TO ISI: BOOKLET ON BRINGING DOWN HINDU ARROGANCE

Even as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continues to clash with the Pakistani administration in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Saleh said the ISI looks at it as a smaller issue". The chattering in the ISI is that we defeated a NATO-India-US-backed system, which was posing an existential threat to the social fabric of Pakistan. Now, we are facing insurgency from the TTP, which is a small group. In comparison, the latter is a small issue. They exaggerate the TTP to attract attention and also play the victim card."

There is an exaggerated view that the Taliban is not helping Pakistan with regards to the TTP. The Taliban are enforcing this view to create an atmosphere of independence, because in Afghanistan, if you want to be seen as a nationalist, you have to be clear on Pakistan. It is not in the interest of the Taliban to come out everyday and say we are anti-Pakistan. In reality, the influence of Taliban and Pakistan is very deep."

The TTP is not affected by the fatwa as the Talibans influence on the TTP is not as is stated. The TTP has benefited enormously from the porous border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. If the Taliban were able to apprehend all the 6,000 people the ISI is asking them to, they would do it. But these people are not in Afghanistan, they are in PakistanThe Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia, the umbrella madrassa in Lahore, is the Vatican for the Taliban. If the Taliban were to sever ties with it, they would lose legitimacy. It is similar to how a Catholic country would have to create their own church if they said they didnt believe in the Pope. The Taliban and madrassa network in Pakistan hail from the same school of thought. They praise each other openly. That is why Pakistans demand for an anti-TTP fatwa was met within days. Can New Delhi convince Taliban that the Jaish-e-Mohhamd is a terror organisation so easily? The Taliban project is not slipping out of Pakistani control. The TTP is not as dependent on the Taliban as is believed, perceived or portrayed. The Taliban is just trying to give the impression that they are not fully cooperating with Pakistan. This is nonsense."

According to Saleh, the Taliban has, in four months alone, extradited nearly 300 TTP fighters to ISI, keeping it low profile. The Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan Durani said this on recordIf the Taliban wants to adhere to its promise in the Doha agreement that they would not send terrorism to any country in the region, why are they not cooperating with Central Asia on that level? Because it is not part of that agenda. In case of a terror strike in Kashmir, even by giving half-a-million dollars to Taliban, will New Delhi be able to convince them to issue an anti-jihad fatwa for India? Of course not."

ALSO READ | Will Take Afghanistan Back from Taliban: Acting Prez-in-Exile Amrullah Saleh tells News18 | Exclusive

According to Saleh, Taliban has an ideological and structural hierarchy, which cannot be influenced by India. Pakistan as an Islamic country is a promoter of religious fanaticism and extremism India can only influence certain people in Taliban, not their thought process and ideological conduct," he said.

Saleh said that Pakistanis will do something to make sure that the world realizes that there is an unresolved (Kashmir) issue. The way Jaish, LeT movesThere is a booklet on how to bring down Hindu arrogance, outlining the strategy. Dont believe Pakistan is not associated with the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP). Pakistan has its financial issues, but there is also a boiling sentiment. To come out of the feeling of inferiority, they will do something unconventional. We see them on the ground in Taliban. Every time Indians meet the Taliban, a copy of the meeting between India and Taliban is on the desk of the ISI."
Indias support to Israel over the recent terror attack is unconditional, top government sources told CNN-News18 on Thursday. The Indian stand is very clear that we condemn terror attacks in any form, said an official.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis statement said everything very clearly about the terror attack, the sources said.

The PM on October 7 said India was deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israelour thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.

Prime Minister Modis second statement on October 10 after a telephonic talk with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu added the point that India denounced terrorism in all forms and manifestations to clearly accept no justification for the October 7 attack.

We are not talking about any bilateral issue right now, an official told CNN-News18.

No one should see PM Modis statement as anti-Muslim because various Indian Muslim bodies have also condemned Hamass terror attack on innocent people in Israel, said the sources.

Even seniors in the Muslim community approached and gave support to the Indian government that they are ready to educate Indian Muslims and tell them the difference between the Israel-Palestine dispute and this terror attack, an official said.
Two associates of designated Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) terrorist Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh Dala, have been arrested after an encounter with Delhi police.

After the gun battle on Wednesday night, police arrested members of Dalas gang  Krishan Kumar and Gajendra  and recovered hand grenade and a pistol.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals from Outer Ring Road towards Sarai Kale Khan where Delhi Police Special Cell arrested two shooters of the Arsh Dalla gang and recovered one live hand grenade, one pistol and 5 live cartridges from them. pic.twitter.com/ycOs8CF2hG ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

Officials said that the incident took place at Outer Ring Road towards Sarai Kale Khan. They had recently killed Baljinder Singh Balli (45), a local Congress leader in Punjabs Moga district, and had been on the run since.

Balli, who was also locally known as namberdar, was shot twice. While one bullet pierced his chest, the other hit his thigh.

Balli was the block president of Ajitwal village for the Congress party. Police said that two assailants came on a bike. While one entered the house, the other kept waiting outside.

Hours after the incident, fugitive gangster Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala, also a native of Dala village but believed to be hiding in Canada, took to Facebook and claimed responsibility for the killing.

A few days ago, Mohali police had arrested Mandeep Singh, alias Deepa, of Ajitwal, Moga; and Saurav Kumar, alias Saabi of Ludhiana. Both are associates of Dala.

The duo was wanted by the Ludhiana and Moga police in multiple criminal cases and had also been declared proclaimed offenders by the respective local courts.

A report by Hindustan Times quoted police as saying they received secret information that the accused were roaming in Kharar and looking for a chance to threaten a local businessman to extort Rs 40 lakh.

According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Dala gang is engaged in smuggling of arms, ammunition and explosives for the KTF from across the border.

Dala has been guiding and commissioning terrorist acts and also promoting terror, violence and large-scale extortion in India on behalf of the KTF, the HT report stated.
The first special flight under Operation Ajay, which will bring back Indians who wish to return home amid the brazen attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group, is prepared for any situation en route to Tel Aviv from Delhi and will be carrying engineers and an additional number of pilots.

According to sources, this is an Air India flight but the airline refused to comment on the matter when asked.

The first batch of Indians is expected to be brought back on Thursday. Shortly after external affairs minister S Jaishankars announcement, the Indian embassy in Israel said it has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the flight.

Sources said the flight to Tel Aviv will be carrying two sets of crew members  one set will operate the flight from Delhi to Israel and a different set will operate on the way back. There will be no layover for the crew and everyone on board will return. The flight will be carrying an additional number of pilots, technicians and engineers, they added.

Special flights under the mission will be operational till October 18 in the first phase following which a call will be taken depending on the number of Indian citizens still interested in returning, sources said.

India announced Operation Ajay on Wednesday (October 11). External affairs minister S Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Sri Lanka, announced the launch in a post on X. Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return, he said.

He added: Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.

Estimates show that around 18,000 Indians are residing in Israel. The ministry of external affairs has set up a round-the-clock control room in Delhi and separate emergency helplines in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine and provide information and assistance to Indian citizens.

The phone numbers of the control room in Delhi are 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905 and +919968291988, and the e-mail ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel since October 7 and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left around 2,150 people dead on both sides. Israeli authorities said more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have been killed on their side while the Palestinian side put the death toll in Gaza at 950.

(With PTI inputs)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said India could play a key role in reinstating peace in strife-torn West Asia, but termed as "unfortunate" the country's deviation from its traditional stand in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Over 7,000 Keralites have been stranded in Israel and ensuring their safe return was the most significant thing at the moment, he said.

In the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israeli defence forces, hundreds have lost their lives since the attacks on Saturday. Vijayan said India had always adopted an empathetic stand towards the Palestinian people but a "slight deviation" has happened in recent times. "Israel was invading and infringing on the rights of Palestinians and that could not be acceptedthat was India's stand always," he told a press meeting here.

Not just India but the entire world knows how much suffering the Palestinian people underwent, the Left veteran said. "The previous Indian governments had adopted a favourable and empathetic stand towards the Palestinians. It is unfortunate that a slight deviation happened in this latter," the chief minister said. It was not the approach to be adopted by a country like India, he further said.

Vijayan, however, said that the ongoing developments in West Asia and the recent attack on Israel were the "utmost serious" issues, and reinstating peace in the region is the most significant thing. India should intervene and see that the conflict does not prolong, he said. The United Nations has already said many things (about the conflict) and steps should be taken for its effective implementation, he further said.

"The Indian government should make the necessary interventions for this. The Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister should take leadership roles for the same," the chief minister said. He also made it clear that neither the CPI(M) nor its central committee have any confusion about the Israel-Palestine issue.

When asked about former health minister K K Shailaja's recent Facebook post describing Hamas as a militant outfit, the CM said it should be asked to her and he has nothing to comment on the matter.
Pakistans interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday asserted that any individual facing court cases has to seek legal remedy to participate in the upcoming general elections as he rejected speculation that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharifs decision to return to the country was part of a deal with the caretaker government.

The 73-year-old former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, who is facing several corruption cases and was declared a proclaimed offender by an accountability court in 2020, is scheduled to return to Pakistan on October 21, ending his four-year-long self-imposed exile in the UK.

The caretaker government has no soft corner for PML-N or any other political partyhow can a caretaker government strike such a deal?, Kakar questioned during an interview with World Echo News, pointing out that Nawaz left Pakistan as per the courts decision under the nose of Imran Khans government, and not the caretaker setup, the Dawn newspaper reported.

However, if Nawaz returns and takes part in politics, he will have to face some legal obstacles and the answers to these legal questions lie in legal remedies, the caretaker prime minister said.

Any leader, be it Imran Khan, Asif Ali Zardari, or Nawaz Sharif, everyone would have to seek legal remedy as per their case scenario, Kakar said. Besides Nawaz, Khan and Zardari are facing various court cases.

Pakistan is witnessing the formation of regimental camps and the country has been turned into a fighting ground for political position, Kakar said. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in September announced that polls would be held in the last week of January 2024. It, however, didnt specify a date.

Last month, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that his elder brother Nawaz was returning to Pakistan on October 21 to lead the partys campaign for the general election.

Subsequently, the party announced that Nawaz is ready to face all kinds of circumstances upon his return from London. Nawaz stepped down as Pakistans prime minister in 2017 after he was disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary.

He has been living in London since 2019 after the Lahore High Court granted him four-week permission allowing him to go abroad for his treatment.

He was serving a seven-year imprisonment at Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case before he was allowed to proceed to London in 2019 on medical grounds. In 2020, an accountability court declared Nawaz a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles case. He is also accused of obtaining luxury cars from the treasury house by paying just 15 per cent of the price of these vehicles.

Nawaz was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to Vijaya Raje Scindia, a leading figure of the BJP and its forerunner Jana Sangh, on her birth anniversary, saying she dedicated her entire life to public welfare and national service.

Born in 1919, Scindia belonged to the erstwhile Gwalior royalty and was a vocal champion of the Hindutva agenda through most of her political career, which began with the Congress before she joined the Jana Sangh.

Respectful tributes to Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia ji on her birth anniversary. She dedicated her entire life to public welfare and national service, Modi said in a post in Hindi on X. Her efforts for the poor and the underprivileged inspire everyone in building a strong India, the prime minister said.

Her grandson Jyotiraditya Scindia is a Union minister in the Modi government, while two daughters  former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Yashodhara Raje  are also in the BJP.
New photos from Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadhas haldi ceremony have surfaced online and they show the couple happy in love. Parineeti married Raghav last month. They hosted an intimate wedding ceremony in Udaipur. While they shared photos from their wedding ceremony, unseen photos from their haldi ceremony have now surfaced and it shows that they had a ball. In the photos, Parineeti was seen wearing a red outfit while Raghav chose a white ensemble.

In one of the photos, Raghav was seen holding Parineeti in his arms before they were coloured in yellow. In another, the couple was seen seated next to each other and sharing a candid moment. In the third photo, Parineeti was seen planting a kiss on Raghavs cheek while he blushed. We also spotted a heart drawn on his chest with Parineetis initial in it.

See the photos below:

Recently, a new video has surfaced online from Parineetis welcome to Raghavs house in Delhi. The video showed Raghavs house decked up with white flowers as the newlyweds make their grand entrance amid fireworks and dhol. Parineeti looked radiant in a lime green salwar suit set and Raghav looked handsome in a brown kurta worn with a matching Nehru jacket. The couple were spotted in these outfits at the Delhi airport when they returned from Udaipur.

Parineeti and Raghavs pre-wedding ceremonies kicked off in Delhi with a Sufi night which was followed by an Ardaas ceremony. The couple then arrived in Udaipur where Parineetis Choora and Mehndi ceremony were held on September 23. The two also hosted a mega Sangeet ceremony on the same day. They tied the knot on September 24.
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.

Editor: WJH
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several development projects in Uttarakhands Pithoragarh and said this will be Uttarakhands decade.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said eight sportspersons from Uttarakhand participated in the Asian Games and congratulated them.

He also said a historic decision was made in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha to give 33 per cent reservation to women. The work that was on hold for years due to the blessings of all, your son has been able to do it Today, India is achieving new heights of success and development, he said.

PM Modi further said Uttarakhand will reach new prospects of development.

I have a belief that this will be Uttarakhands decadeUttarakhand will reach new prospects of development and our government is working with that one motiveFoundation stones of several development projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crores were laid today, he said.

The Prime Minister said his government has worked for those living in far-flung areas and therefore within five years 13.5 crore people have been uplifted out of poverty.

These 13.5 crore people are an example that how India can eradicate poverty. Earlier, the Garibi Hatao slogan was raised but Modi is saying that we will together work to eradicate poverty. We take ownership and responsibility and work relentlessly, he said.

Earlier in the day, he performed darshan and puja at Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh.

Wearing a traditional tribal outfit with a turban and ranga (upper body garment), PM Modi performed an aarti and blew the conch shell at the Shiva-Parvati temple situated along the banks of Parvati Kund in Jolingkong.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs pooja at Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh. pic.twitter.com/7b0kvg1IrY ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

PM Modi, at the temple, was guided by local priests Virendra Kutiyal and Gopal Singh. He also sat in meditation briefly with folded hands in front of the Adi Kailash peak, also in Jolingkong.

Sharing some more glimpses from Parvati Kund. pic.twitter.com/knqEzDpa6U Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 12, 2023

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh. pic.twitter.com/HRIZmblZ92 ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

In a post on X ahead of the visit, PM Modi said: Our government is committed to the welfare of each and every individual of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand and the states rapid development. To impart more speed to it, I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several projects in Pithoragarh.

I will also get the good opportunity of interacting with the people of Gunji village. I also look eagerly forward to a darshan of the spiritually significant Parvati Kund and and a puja at Jageshwar Dham during the tour, he said.

Cultural troupes from Uttarakhands Kumaon region were set to welcome PM Modi at several points of a renovated 6-km road decorated with murals and paintings as he travels from the Naini Saini airport to a public meeting venue.

#WATCH | Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand: PM Narendra Modi performs pooja at Parvati Kund. PM Modi will also visit Gunji village to interact with local people, along with the Army, ITBP and BRO. pic.twitter.com/BPLv8eql5I  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

PM Modi, after the darshan of Adi Kailash peak, headed to Gunji village, where he interacted with locals and security personnel, and attended an exhibition of local products and artefacts. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. They were accorded a warm traditional welcome.

A public meeting in Pithoragarh was also part of PM Modis Uttarakhand itinerary.
The delivery executive of a popular food delivery app and the owner of a Chinese restaurant in Lucknow were booked this week based on a complaint by a family that they were sent chilli chicken instead of chilli paneer. In his complaint, Rakesh Kumar Shastri, who claimed to be associated with the local Lord Balaji Temple, said his family accidentally consumed the dish and were feeling uneasy since.

The incident reportedly took place on October 9 when Shastri and his family ordered food via a popular app from a Chinese cuisine restaurant in Alambagh.

I placed an order of dry chilli paneer from a Chinese restaurant in the Alambagh area of Lucknow. But, instead of serving me chilli paneer, the restaurant and the delivery boy Imran served a non-vegetarian dish, which I and my family realised only after consuming it, reads the FIR.

Shastri alleged his religious sentiments were hurt and his familys health had suffered. A social media post describing the incident also led to angry reactions from netizens. In a 1.05-minute video, Shastri accused the restaurant of breaching his trust.

Police have lodged an FIR against the delivery executive and the restaurant owner under relevant sections.

An FIR was registered under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the matter is under investigation, said Chhatrapal Kumar, station house officer (SHO), Police Station Ashiyana, Lucknow.
A group of workers from Telangana are stuck in a building in Ramat Gan in Israel and waiting for the war to get over. Ramat Gan is a satellite town in Tel Aviv. Rajesh Medichermala, who works at a supermarket there, told News18: We are safe at present as we are located far away from Gaza. However, the fear of being attacked is always there. We are praying to God that this war ends soon. We have full faith in Israeli authorities for our protection.

Medichermala lives in the same building in Ramat Gan along with 15 others from Telangana ever since they set foot in the country. A member of Telangana Association of Israel, Medichermala estimates that there are nearly 600 workers from Telangana living in Israel. We hail mainly from these four districts  Nizamabad, Jagtial, Karimnagar and Warangal. We are engaged in various professions. While some of us work in supermarkets, petrol bunks and hotels, many of us work as caregivers for the elderly here. Besides Indians, many Sri Lankans too work here as caregivers.

He further said whenever the bomb sirens go off, they have to hide in the bunker rooms till they stop. They enforce it very strictly here. The soldiers make sure that we stay in the bunker room till the probability of danger comes down, he said.

The group is in touch with officials from the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv and BJP leaders from Telangana. We have spoken to Nizamabad MP Arvind Dharmapuri. Last night, we spoke to Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar. They have assured us of all possible help, Medichermala said.

The members of the group have been living in Tel Aviv for the last six to eight years. None of them has their family in Israel. They have stocked up food and other essentials for a few days. They have electricity and internet connection. When they go out, they are not allowed to go beyond 1-2 km, as told to News18.

The senseless killings have shaken us. They gunned down those poor young students from Nepal. They cut up children like they butcher hens at chicken shops. This happened because the countrys politicians were engaged in squabbles, otherwise they do not even allow a fly to get past the countrys borders. However, we have full faith in the authorities that they will protect us, added Medichermala.

Israel has gone all ballistic ever since the Hamas attacked Gaza on October 7. More than 3,000 casualties have been reported in the ongoing war between the Hamas and Israeli forces. Explosions took place across the country from Ashkelon to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Hamas has taken 150 prisoners back to Gaza across the border that they had breached.
Hindus observe a 15-day period called Pitru Paksha in the Bhadrapada month, falling between August and October every year, to honour their ancestors. As per Udayatithi, Sarva Pitru Amavasya falls on for October 14. The Amavasya Tithi will start on October 13 at 9:50 p.m. and conclude on October 14 at 11:24 p.m.

This observance spans from Purnima to Amavasya, depending on whether the ancestors passed away during Krishna Paksha or Shukla Paksha. It is believed that during this time, departed ancestors visit their descendants. In the Hindu calendar, Pitru Paksha holds significance, with emphasis on the Amavasya. This is why, when a person is unsure of the exact date of their ancestors death, they can observe their Shraddha rituals on the day of Sarva Pitru Amavasya Tithi.

As per the Hindu calendar, this year, Sarva Pitru Amavasya falls on a Saturday, which is regarded as an especially auspicious occurrence. According to religious beliefs, conducting ancestral rituals on this day is a way to honour and please ones forebears.

Performing Pind Daan during this time can help alleviate Pitru Dosh. Nevertheless, taking specific measures on Sarva Pitru Amavasya Tithi can not only invite blessings from ones ancestors but also invoke the blessings of Shanidev.

Astrologer Pandit Kalki Ram from Ayodhya highlights that Pitru Paksha is ending, with Pitru Amavasya occurring on October 14. Performing the following rituals on Amavasya Tithi is thought to bring peace and salvation to ancestors, and the added significance lies in its occurrence on a Saturday.
Actress Kajal Aggarwal is all set to share the screen with the legendary Nandamuri Balakrishna in their upcoming film, Bhagavanth Kesari. In a recent interview, Kajal Aggarwal opened up about her experience working with the films director, Anil Ravipudi, shedding light on the best part of the collaboration.

During a promotional interview, Kajal Aggarwal was asked about her experience working with director Anil Ravipudi, and she didnt hold back her praise for the filmmaker. She commended Anil as a wonderful person and expressed her delight in working with him, noting that he had become a dear friend through the process. Kajal shared some delightful memories of their time, highlighting one special aspect of their working relationship  Anils habit of bringing her homemade food from his kitchen. She stated, I think Anil is a wonderful person, and I had a great time working with him. He has become a very good friend now, and weve created some amazing memories. He would keep bringing me food from his house. That was my favourite part of working with him.

In the same interview, Kajal Aggarwal provided insights into the film, describing it as an entertaining cinematic experience, eagerly anticipating its release. She offered details about her character, Kathayani, explaining that she portrays a psychologist who takes Sreeleelas character under her wing in the narrative.

Kajal Aggarwal is set to play the role of Balakrishnas wife in Bhagavanth Kesari, and her character, Kathyayani, also assumes the role of Sreeleelas characters aunt.

Fans of Telugu cinema can mark their calendars, as Bhagavanth Kesari is scheduled for release on October 19, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Dussehra. The film is directed by Anil Ravipudi and boasts a star-studded ensemble cast, including Nandamuri Balakrishna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sreeleela, Priyanka Jawalkar, John Vijay, and Arjun Rampal, who is making his debut in Telugu cinema. Sahu Garapata and Harish Peddi are producing the film under the banner of Shine Screens, while Thaman S is composing the music for the movie.

Kajal Aggarwal, a celebrated name in South Indian cinema, made her debut in the Bollywood film Kyun Ho Gaya Na in 2004, albeit in a smaller role. Her first leading role came in the Telugu film Lakshmi Kalyanam in 2007, directed by Teja, where she starred alongside Kalyan Ram.
Akshay Kumar has opened up about reuniting with Raveena Tandon on screen after 20 years. Raveena Tandon and Akshay Kumar became a superhit onscreen pair after starring together in the 1994 film Mohra. The duo also reportedly began dating a later and got engaged in the late 90s. However, they eventually called it quits.

The exes are now all set to work together in Welcome To The Jungle. Speaking with the news agency ANI, Akshay has said he is looking forward to the shoot of Welcome to the Jungle which brings him and Raveena together onscreen after almost twenty years.

Akshay told the news agency, Were doing a film called Welcome to the Jungle for which we will begin shooting soon. And that song is a brilliant song and even Tip Tip Barsa Paani also. Weve done maximum hit films together and I am looking forward to starting the shoot (of Welcome to the Jungle) after a long long time and we will be together on the same screen.

Raveena Tandon was said to be in a serious relationship with Akshay Kumar in the late 1990s. The Bollywood actress recently revealed that she still shares a good bond with Akshay despite their breakup. She said that they both have immense respect for each other. Akshay and I are still friends. You need to respect it and move on. I think of him very highly. I think he is one of the strongest pillars of our industry, Raveena told ETimes.

Akshay and Raveena made a rare joint appearance earlier this year at an awards show. They were attending HT Indias Most Stylish 2023, where Akshay bagged the Style Hall of Fame  Male award. Raveena presented the award to him. The duo also played a rapid fire game on stage. Host Riteish Deshmukh asked Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon to name who was Malaika Arora of the nineties. Raveena, at first, said that Malaika was incomparable. However, she later took Shilpa Shettys name. Interestingly, Shilpa was also present at the event.
Amber Heards highly publicized defamation trial with former husband Johnny Depp grabbed a lot of attention between April and May last year. The trial became a viral sensation, as the internet was flooded with trial clips and people took sides in the legal battle. While some believed the Pirates of the Caribbean star was the victim, Amber found herself with fewer supporters. Fast forward to today, the Aquaman actress has chosen to move beyond the controversies of her past and quietly relocated to Spain. She has now built a better life in Europe and cares for her two-year-old daughter, Oonagh Paige.

Meanwhile, Conor Allyn, the director of Heards upcoming film, In The Fire, recently assured her fans that she is doing well and shared insights about her life away from the media spotlight.

In a conversation with PEOPLE, Conor said, Shes living her best life in Spain with her daughter and just finding happiness in that way. The director further claims that Heard has moved on from the high profile legal battle with Johnny. However, Allyn feels that such traumatic experiences stays for longer time and adds, Having gone through something like that on a global epic scale, you never just put that in a suitcase and stick it in the attic and never see it again.

Although In The Fire is set 130 years in the past, Conor Allyn highlighted that her character shares many similar qualities with Amber Heard. He described her character as a fearless truth-teller who comes to this remote valley and preaches a certain set of beliefs and is not believed. In real life, he sees the actress as a fearless truth-teller who remains committed to her opinions, despite the challenges she faces. According to Allyn, its not a coincidence that Heard felt a strong connection to this character when she read the script.

Shes had that public backlash. I mean, sure it hit a global apex during the televised trial. But shes been receiving a lot of public backlash since the day she filed for divorce. Shes been going through that for years, the filmmaker added.

Conor Allyn had a wonderful experience working with Amber Heard on their film, In The Fire. He praised her dedication to her work and stated that making an independent movie is a very challenging process. He values having team members who are committed to the project, passionate about their work and not just motivated due to their paycheck. Its like, Im out here to prove myself. Im out here to do something special. Thats totally Amber and so Id love to work with her on more stuff, he adds.

Apart from In the Fire, Amber Heard is set to reprise her character as Mera in the upcoming DC movie, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom featuring Jason Momoa, which is scheduled to release in December.
Amitabh Bachchan took to his Instagram handle in the wee hours on Thursday to express gratitude towards fans for sending him birthday wishes. The Bollywood superstar mentioned that he is feeling blessed for getting immense love and affection from fans on his special day.

This love and affection it beyond any effort to repay it .. blessed and filled with unending gratitude, Amitabh wrote as he also dropped a picture from his Wednesday evening fan meet outside his residence. Check out the post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan)

On Wednesday evening, Amitabh Bachchan made a special appearance outside his Jalsa residence in Mumbai to meet and greet his fans. He was seen sporting chandan-tika and wore multiple garlands, as he stepped outside his home. Several photos and videos of Big B also went viral on social media.

A number of Bollywood celebrities including Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Jay Devgn among others also wished Amitabh Bachchan on his birthday. Shah Rukh Khan also penned down a heartwarming note for Big B and wrote, Tough runs dont last.tough runners do. And Sir you are the toughest of them all. Last 30 yrs just being around u and breathing the same air as you.has been a blessing. Wish u the best on your birthday.keep running & inspiring us. Sir and that Gym of yours is unbelievable. Love u! @SrBachchan.

Tough runs dont last.tough runners do. And Sir you are the toughest of them all. Last 30 yrs just being around u and breathing the same air as you.has been a blessing. Wish u the best on your birthday.keep running & inspiring us. Sir and that Gym of yours is pic.twitter.com/t16EnbC1ph Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 11, 2023

Meanwhile, on the work front, Amitabh Bachchan has a number of projects in his pipeline. The actor is currently hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati. He has Kalki AD 2898 with Prabhas and Deepika Padukone. Besides this, it was recently announced that Big B will also reunite with Rajinikanth for his upcoming Tamil film. He will also be seen in Tiger Shroffs Ganapath, which will hit theatres later this month.
Marathi actress Neha Pendse has recently garnered attention for her candid remarks about motherhood and her journey. In a recent interview with a media publication, she shared insights into her married life and her thoughts on becoming a mother.

During the interview, Neha candidly discussed her views on motherhood, revealing that for a significant period, she did not experience what she described as maternal instincts. She went on to explain that approximately one or two years into her marriage, she started to feel that maternal instinct and a desire to become a mother. This shift in her feelings came as a surprise to her, as she initially couldnt comprehend why this newfound desire had suddenly emerged. She emphasized the significant responsibility that comes with having a child.

Neha deliberated on her feelings for eight months, contemplating her readiness for motherhood. Ultimately, she decided to take the step of freezing her eggs. She articulated her desire to become a mother but clarified that the timing was not right at that moment, stating, Mujhe maa toh banna hai lekin Abhi nahi banna hai (I want to become a mother but not right now).

She attributed this decision to an underlying feeling that something was preventing her from immediately pursuing motherhood. Her husband, Shardul Singh Bayas, supported her in this choice and suggested freezing her eggs. Neha Pendse confessed that her insecurities were still a factor in her decision, as she did not want to depend on anyone financially, nor was she prepared to have someone financially dependent on her. She acknowledged her realistic perspective on the demands of balancing work, household responsibilities, and the energy required to raise a child, stating, I dont consider myself a superwoman who can work, and look after the house and I dont have that energy.

Neha and Shardul Singh Bayas, her then-fiance, celebrated their wedding on January 5, 2020. In a previous interview, Neha revealed that it was her husband who proposed to her after a three-month courtship.

Neha Pendse, renowned as a Marathi actress, initially made her mark in Bollywood as a child artiste. Her debut came with the film Pyar Koi Khel Nahi in 1999, directed by Subhash Sehgal and featuring actors like Sunny Deol, Mahima Chaudhry, and Apoorva Agnihotri. In addition to her film roles, she has gained popularity for her work in television, with notable appearances in shows like Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hain and May I Come In Madam.
Nushrratt Bharuccha was visibly shaken and emotional when she landed in Mumbai from Israel. The Dream Girl actress was stranded in the war-torn country after Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group, attacked Israel on Saturday. The actress was unable to contact her team after Saturday afternoon but reconnected with them on Sunday morning and informed them about her return. Although safe, Nushrratt appeared badly affected by the events unfolded in the warn-torn country. In the light of that, the producer of her film Akelli, which was being screened at the Haifa International Film Festival, recalled how the Indian embassy ensured the safe return of Nushrratt.

Ninad Vaidya narrated the harrowing ordeal to India Today. He shared, On the 6th, the government had organised an entire tour of different places and on the 7th they were supposed to be back in the evening. That evening, a 10 p.m. flight was scheduled for India. However, on the 7th morning, I suddenly got a call from Nushrratt asking me You know what has happened, I wasnt aware. Then she told me that there had been an attack on Israel.

He further recalled, Then immediately Mr. Vinod Pawar from the Indian Embassy came online for our help. Vicky Sidana (Producer) was to leave the airport at 3 pm and suddenly a taxi driver from nowhere just turned up. They were surprised because no one was allowed to step out. It was like a 26/11 event, it felt like that. The airport was in a chaos. Then the idea was whichever flight we got, the plan was to get into that and get out of Israel, that was the first priority.

However, at the airport, Nushrratt Bharuccha phone battery died, Post reaching the airport in that entire chaos Nushratts battery died. So there was no way to connect with her. The Air India flight which was scheduled to leave at 10 pm never reached the country. So, she was standard there for more than 8 hours. But finally, after hours of waiting she managed to get into a via flight. So she went first to Abu Dhabi and then to India. They figured out the flights themselves because we were not able to get in touch with them. Once they were out of the country we got the communication that they were okay, this was the next day, shared Ninad.

Nushrratt was in Israel to attend the Haifa International Film Festival. Her film Akelli was showcased at the film festival. In the video from the festival, Nushrratt was seen singing with Iraeli star Tsahi Halevi. In the video shared on X (previously known as Twitter), Nushrratt was seen singing Amitabh Bachchans song Tere Jaisa Yaar Kahan from the film Yaarana (1981). She was joined by Tsahi Halevi. The duo sang the song together while the audience cheered for them. In another post, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Tsahi Halevi were seen posing together.
Russias Synergy University proposed opening an IT college in Kyrgyzstan, the press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic reported, Azernews reports, citing Kabar.

Representatives of the university announced the initiative at a meeting of the Kyrgyz-Russian Business Council, which took place yesterday as part of the 10th Kyrgyz-Russian interregional conference.

In addition, the chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries agreed to hold a honey and nut festival in the regions of Russia.

Following the meeting, two documents were signed:

1. Roadmap for the development of cooperation of the Business Council, which provides for the expansion of cooperation in scientific, technical, educational and cultural fields;

2. Memorandum between the office of the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Osh region, the Osh regional branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation on the creation of an Industrial Park in the region.

Cultural and business events are already planned for 2024 in Issyk-Kul.
An aerial view of the vast Zhuofu Grassland in Weining county, Bijie city, Southwest China's Guizhou province. [Photo by Li Jingcheng /Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Zhuofu grassland in Bijie city, Guizhou province, has evolved from a barren area into a plateau grassland after decades of work. Over 600 hectares of alpine grassland have been artificially restored.

In the 1980s, the pasture was a barren and desolate mountain range, unsuitable for planting or grazing. Ren Jizhou, a grassland ecologist and academic of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, proposed the idea of developing grassland ecological animal husbandry after conducting research on the grassland resources.

In 1986, the Zhuofu grassland was officially established as a testing, demonstration and promotion base for a grassland animal husbandry system project. As a result of Ren's effort, the once barren slopes are now covered with grass.

In addition to providing beautiful scenery, the grassland is also a generator of wind power with 100 large turbines rotating in the wind.

Wang Jin contributed to this story.

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Editor: JYZ
Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol are all set to come together after 27 years following the massive hits like Ghayal (1990), Damini (1993) and Ghatak: Lethal (1996). Deol returned with a bang with Gadar 2 recently and hes once again the hot property in Bollywood with a bunch of big-ticket films in his kitty. As for Deol and Santoshis upcoming film, its titled Lahore 1947 and will be backed by Aamir Khan Productions.

Following the release of Ghatak, reports started doing the rounds that Deol and Santoshi had a major fallout but the reason for the same remains unknown. As per a report, Deol wanted Santoshi to helm a film on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh but the filmmaker chose Boney Kapoors Pukar (2000) over it as he was being paid a large sum of money for it. The episode, apparently, caused a crack in their relationship. But with Lahore 1947 all set to go on floors, it seems like alls good in the hood.

In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha a while back, Santoshi addressed his tiff with Deol and opened up on his equation with the actor. We did have a fallout. But he recognised me at a time when the world didnt know me. Ghayal is my first film. He gave me the opportunity to make the film. He produced it. I was very new to the film industry but he gave me the full freedom to make the film my way. Yeh unka badappan hai, he stated.

Santoshi further hinted at how they never had a creative conflict during the making of their films and in fact, lauded Deol for helping him find a footing in Bollywood. He never interfered with the script or told me to make certain changes according to his sensibilities. He had complete faith in me. Im truly grateful to him for giving me my first film. The trust he had in me gave me a lot of motivation. The film went on to win many awards, remarked the Andaz Apna Apna (1994) director.

Santoshi admitted that where is there good camaraderie, theres bound to be conflict. We share great respect, friendship, bond and love. And where there is friendship and love, there is misunderstanding. Naarazgi toh apno se hi hoti hai, said the veteran filmmaker, who last directed Bad Boy.

Hes quick to add that there were a few projects that they wanted to collaborate on but those didnt come to fruition. That, however, hasnt stopped the duo from working together again. But every time we met, we did so with a lot of love. We spoke a lot about making more films together but they didnt materialise. But finally, were working on a film now, shared Santoshi.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu revealed she is in hospital and getting medical help amid her battle with Myositis. A photo of her from the hospital has now gone viral. On Thursday, the actress took to her Instagram Stories and shared a photo in which she was seen resting in a hospital bed with drips attached to her hand. She shared details about the benefits she is getting from the medication.

The actress has been on a break from acting work for a few months now. Samantha has been spending time travelling and focusing on her health. During her break, she was seen rejuvenating in Coimbatore at a meditation retreat. She then travelled to Bali with her friend before she travelled to the US.

Samantha opened up about her battle with Myositis last year. She shared a photo from the hospital and revealed that she has been diagnosed with the auto-immune diesease. She has been seeking treatment since.

Besides her health, Samantha has also been in the news for her equation with her ex-husband Naga Chaitanya recently. On Sunday, Naga Chaitanya sparked rumours of patch up when he shared a picture with Hash, a French Bulldog that he and Samantha welcomed when they were still married. The photo had fans believing that the actors have patched up.

However, Samantha Ruth Prabhu has seemingly shut down rumours of patch up with Naga Chaitanya. Samantha shared photos from her trip to Dubai and through the pictures, she seemingly revealed that she has removed tattoo of Naga Chaitanyas name.

For the unversed, Samantha Ruth Prabhu had inked Chaitanyas nickname, Chay, on her rib when they were still together. Samantha also had two more tattoos inked on her that were dedicated to Chaitanya. The new photos do not feature the tattoo anymore, thus hinting that the patch up rumours are false.
Conclusion First

This piece is the third piece of my trilogy on the state of mental health and its care in India on the eve of World Mental Health Day. I begin the concluding piece that is An Open Letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with my exhortation first-

Dear Prime Minister, the time has arrived for India to have a separate fully empowered Ministry for Mental Health and Mental Well-Being. The time is now, and tomorrow will be too late.

Make no mistake, the consequences of not doing it are truly horrendous and the result of the purposive action exemplary. It will enable the country to use the whole mind of the nation for the first time and also take the countrys GDP closer to the cherished double digits.

I Rest My Case

Instead of re-establishing the case for why I say what I say, for the sake of brevity, dear Prime Minister sir, I will be grateful if you make the think tank in your office carefully scrutinise Part I and Part II of this trilogy Rising Economic Cost of Mental Illness in India and It is Time to Reboot Mental Health Care in India along with my earlier piece Alzheimers: The Mind Stealer.

It Will be the Culmination of Your Audacious Dream

Honourable Prime Minister, it is your government that on World Mental Health Day in 2014 unveiled Indias maiden National Mental Health Policy And it was World Health Day in 2017 (April 7) whose campaign theme was depression, the President of India approved the enactment of audacious world best practices, rights-based Mental Health Care Act (MCHA), 2017 that was earlier passed by both Houses of Parliament unanimously. The provisions of the MCHA, 2017 were so revolutionary that it was lauded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a model statute worth emulating by the developed world and the reputed medical journal Lancet came out with a special editorial lauding it.

The establishment of a separate Ministry of Mental Health and Mental Well-Being, that too in the present term of your government, will be the next big step in the actualisation of your audacious dream that will change the lives of crores of mentally ill people of India. Else, I fear the National Mental Health Policy, 2014 and the Mental Health Care Act, 2017, may die prematurely in their infancy due to lack of implementation. They have already buckled on the altar of implantation.

It will be First Mover Advantage

By taking this bold step, Prime Minister Modi, you will put India on a high pedestal among with first mover countries in the world that today have a separate ministry to tackle mental illness. To put in perspective, Britain has Maria Caulfield as its Minister of State for Mental Health, in response to worrying figures on suicide, mental illnesses and social withdrawal, former Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga appointed veteran politician, 71-year-old Tetsushi Sakamoto to the newly created post of Minister of Loneliness in 2021 and in Australia, even the provinces have dedicated ministers in charge of mental health. Ireland also has Mary Butler, TD as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People.

The Context is

It will not be out of context, Prime Minister, to mention here that the total number of mentally ill in India far exceeds the total population of the countries that already have dedicated ministries for Mental Health. Conservatively speaking, based on the pre-pandemic data of mentally ill in India cascaded to the present population, assuming that the incidence and severity of mental illness in the country has not gone up during and after the Covid-19 era, the total number of mentally ill in the country today is 20 crores. The number of our mentally ill is far higher than the total population of Japan, the UK, Australia and Ireland (12.57 crores, 6.73 crores, 2.57 crores and 50.3 lahks respectively), the countries which already have forged ahead with dedicated Ministry of Mental Health. Even our tiny Himalayan neighbour Bhutan has a Ministry of Happiness whose precise function is the mental wellness of its citizens.

Present Governance Paradigm Untenable

Honourable Prime Minister, I have had the fortune of being a member of Government of India Mental Health Policy Group that framed the maiden National Mental Health Policy, and have been involved in giving the final touches to the Mental Health Care Bill (that is now MCHA, 2017), have been an expert invitee to the panel that framed rules and regulations for MCHA, 2017 and was blessed to be an appointed non-official member of Indias first Central Mental Health Authority from 2019 to 2021.

The above-mentioned has given me a fair idea of the present official dispensation of mental health governance at the Government of India level. For the sake of brevity, I humbly posit that despite the humungous and fast-growing burden of mental illness in the country, the buck ends with a dedicated section officer in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The ministry does not even have a dedicated joint secretary whose 247 job is mental health. The additional secretary who is the ex-officio chairman of the Central Mental Health Authority is so burdened with other responsibilities that he/she has no time to focus on this neglected subject. I as a Member of the Central Mental Health Authority was so disgusted at the complete nonfunctioning of the entity that I resigned from its membership in November 2021.

Prime Minister sir, the above-mentioned nonfunctional setup is sure recipe for disaster and in itself is reason enough that you create Modi India Next Practices (Indias Next Practices was a term coined by Late Coimbatore Krishnarao Prahlad, worlds most reputed management guru after Peter F Drucker in his now classic speech India @75) to tame the beast thy name is Mental Illness in India.

Present Budgetary Allocation to Mental Health is Pittance

Ever since I became a student and researcher of mental health in the country, in the first decade of the current century, allocation to mental health in the union budget has never gone beyond one per cent of the total health budget and whatever the allocation is, it is largely distributed to the buildings and establishments of three mental health institutions run by the Central government NIMHANS, Bengaluru Central Institute of Psychiatry Ranchi and Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health Tejpur.

A case in point is the poor allocation of funds to the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) even in recent years. In the financial year 2019, the budget allocated to the NMHP was reduced from Rs 50 crore in FY18 to Rs 40 crore. In subsequent years, the total healthcare budget was increased by 7 per cent (FY20), 137 per cent (FY21) and FY222 and FY23 much more, but the funding for NMHP remained unchanged or marginally changed during budget and actually reduced during the final allotment. Prime Minister sir, I get shivers down to my marrows just thinking of how India, soon to be the worlds most populous country and the worlds third-largest economy, will solve one of its most pressing problems with such financial allocation.

Money not a Problem, Intent is

Honourable Prime Minister, however intractable the problem of mental illness, given the right intent, policies and focused action, I believe the money is going to be the least of the problems if the whole mind of the Indian nation is put together.

If proof is needed, to my assertion, there are Tata Trusts which have already worked with NGOs and provided millions of dollars to change the lives and times of the mentally ill already. In recent years, the Mariwala Health Initiative has earmarked huge funds, especially with a particular focus on making mental health accessible to marginalised persons and communities. On April 1, 2023, social entrepreneur Rohini Nilekani, wife of Infosys Ltd co-founder Nandan Nilekani, gave a grant of Rs 100 crore to the Centre for Brain and Mind at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) to speed up research and treatment into five major mental health disorders. Ajit Issac, chairman of Quess Corp, has donated Rs 105 crore to the Institute of Sciences (IISc) in Bengaluru for setting up a Centre for Public Health and Policy Research.

The Need for Financial Allocation is Huge But can be Met

The requirement of money on a recurrent basis to fight the menace of mental illness is huge but there is a tradeoff here, consensus estimate is that X$ investment in mental health brings 4X$ benefit to the national economy. And the above instances of corporate contribution to mental health need not be isolated cases. Trust me, Honorable Prime Minister, if you create a dedicated, non-fungible and non-lapsable Prime Minister Mental Health Care Fund, money will flow from all directions. When I was given the responsibility to raise money for Indias then flagship Konkan Railway project, ordinary citizens of the country gave money at Rs 1,000 per person.

Time to Move Mental Health to Concurrent List

While the Government of India in the last nine years has taken some salutary measures to combat the menace of mental health, unfortunately, health is part of List 2 State List, of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. And the performance of state governments whether in terms of allocation of resources or bringing desirable changes has been pathetic, to say the least. The magnitude of the problem is so huge that there is an immediate need to bring mental health to the Concurrent List and for the Government of India to give a performance-based allocation of resources to states on transparent parameters using carrot and stick policy. There is no easy way to wake up states from their deep slumber.

Postscript

Prime Minister sir, the creation of a separate Ministry of Mental Health is an inescapable first act. Mentally ill are Indias biggest, marginalised and most neglected and condemned minorities. Even today, the Constitution of India and most statutes dub severely mentally ill persons of unsound mind devoid of basic human rights. Notwithstanding the best practices Mental Health Care Act, 2017, the mentally ill in Indian society and most statutes remain lunatics and insane from whom the society has to be saved.

When will India, that is Bharat, Change Mr. Prime Minister? If you cannot bring the urgently needed chance and that too now, tomorrow will be too late and the generation next to the country will never forgive us. Let us get going and make the beginning with a separate Ministry of Mental Health and Mental Well-Being.

Akhileshwar Sahay is Principal Instigator of Whole Mind India Foundation dedicated to changing the life of mentally ill in India, Principal Instigator of Action Group-Mission Zero Suicide India. He was a member of Government of Indias Mental Health Policy Group and a past member of CMHA. Sahay has lived life with incurable mental health condition bipolar disorder. He works as President, Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Under President Xi Jinping, China has become increasingly predatory. Beijing uses propaganda to project power. Its Confucian Institutes number several thousand globally.

Why did China pick the Indian web portal NewsClick to spread misinformation about Indian politics, questioning for example whether Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir were an integral part of India?

NewsClick was an inconspicuous website founded in 2009 with local funding. It caught the eye of the Chinese before the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The facts are now well known. The FIR filed by Delhi Police against NewsClicks founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha alleges: Since April, 2018crores of rupees have been received by M/s PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt Ltd. through illegal means during a short span of five years from M/s Worldwide Media Holdings LLC, USA and others. Such foreign funds have been fraudulently infused by Neville Roy Singham, resident of Shanghai and active member of the Propaganda department of the Communist Party of China, through a complex web of several entities.

NewsClick has denied these allegations, saying they are an assault on media freedom. It believes it is being targeted for running stories critical of the Narendra Modi government.

Its statement claimed the allegations were absurd and a blatant attempt to muzzle the free and independent press in India. The allegations in the FIR are ex-facie untenable and bogus. NewsClick has not received any funding or instructions from China or Chinese entities. Further, NewsClick has never committed or sought to encourage violence, secession or any illegal act in any manner whatsoever.

It took an expose in The New York Times in August 2023 to wake Delhi Police up to a pending 2021 NewsClick case. Even then, nearly two months elapsed before a fresh FIR against NewsClicks Purkayastha was filed.

In this, the usual suspects were named: Gautam Navlakha, who remains under arrest since 2018 in the Bhima-Koregaon case, and Teesta Setalvad, who is out on bail in the Gujarat riots forgery case.

The FIR links the three: It is learnt that Navlakha, a shareholder in PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt. Ltd. since its inception in 2018, remained involved in anti-Indian and unlawful activities such as actively supporting banned Naxal organisations and having an anti-national nexus with Ghulam Nabi Fai, an agent of the ISI of Pakistan. It has also been learnt that such illegally routed foreign funds have been siphoned by Purkayastha and his associates(and) distributed to Navlakha and associates of Teesta Setalvad

Secret inputs also revealed that Purkayastha, Singham and some other Chinese employees of a Singham-owned Shanghai-based company StarStream exchanged mails which expose their intent to show Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as not part of IndiaTheir attempts amount to an act intended towards undermining the unity and territorial integrity of India.

Money laundering or terrorism?

Does all this add up to an act of terrorism? Obviously not. It amounts at most to money laundering. By employing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the authorities have given NewsClick and its cabal of sympathisers a pretext to change the discourse from criminal money laundering through China to the absurd charge of terrorism.

NewsClick deserves to be charged  but not for terrorism, simply for criminal activities of money laundering and spreading misinformation that could incite violence and public disorder. There are sufficient sections in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to charge NewsClick. Resorting to UAPA weakens the argument. It was used by the police only to strengthen the case for detention. When the court next hears an appeal, it could in fact weaken the case.

The NewsClick episode is only one symptom of an affliction that will be increasingly visible in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Web portals like NewsClick are minor proxies in a concerted effort to target the Modi government.

Indias geopolitical ascent has attracted the ire of not only China. The West sees India as a useful ally against China but also as a potential independent global power centre that could erode the Wests pre-eminence.

A group of Islamist countries too eye India with trepidation. Sunni Turkey and Qatar see Modis Hindu nationalist government as a challenge to the spread of global Islam. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) votes routinely to condemn Indias occupation of Kashmir.

Thus an unlikely coalition of China, the West and the Sunni Islamic world would prefer the secular Congress-led Opposition to wrest power from Modi in 2024.

China already has an MoU with the Congress signed by Rahul Gandhi when he and his mother Sonia Gandhi were guests of then Vice-President Xi Jinping during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

Elements in the US-led West would also like a less globally assertive Indian Opposition to take charge in 2024. For the West, Indias rise, if it is too rapid, is unwelcome.

Finally, the Islamic world, while it supports India as a global economic power, remains uncomfortable with the Modi governments strong support of Israel. It noted that Modi was among the first to unequivocally condemn the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

NewsClick, like many other propaganda media organisations in India, is a pawn. It is used to mould a narrative ahead of 2024.

As always, Indias external enemies have faithful allies within India and among Indian-origin journalists and academics employed in the West.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is aware of this. He said recently in Washington that a rules-based world order applies to all, including the rule-makers. He added pointedly: But for all the talk, it is still a few nations that shape the agenda and seek to define the norms. This cannot go on indefinitely. Nor will it go unchallenged.

The writer is an editor, author and publisher. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday performed darshan and puja at Parvati Kund in Uttarakhands Pithoragarh. The prime minister is on a day-long visit to the state, where he will lay foundation stones of several developmental projects.
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Thursday got Mumbai Municipal Corporations permission to hold Dussehra gathering at the Shivaji Park ground.

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena camp had also given an application for holding the annual Dussehra rally at the iconic park. However, they later withdrew it.

Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar, who had submitted the request application at BMC, later posted on X: This year too Shiv Senas Dussehra festival should be celebrated with enthusiasm. To avoid differences among each other during Hindu festivals, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Honourable Eknath Shinde Saheb took a conciliatory stance by announcing that the Dussehra rally will be held elsewhere.

The backing-out of team Shinde thus paved the way for Uddhav Thackerays Sena. They are now scheduled to hold the rally at Shivaji Park on October 24 (Dussehra)

Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray had started the tradition of holding his partys Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park.

Last year also, the rival Sena camps led by Shinde and Thackeray had filed applications seeking permission to hold the annual Dussehra rally at the ground. The civic body had denied permission to both the factions citing law and order concerns.

Thereafter, the Bombay High Court in September 2022 granted permission to the Thackeray-led Sena faction to hold its Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park.

The Shinde camp last year held its rally at the MMRDA ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex, a business district in suburban Mumbai. It was the partys first Dussehra rally after Shinde and MLAs supporting him revolted against Thackerays leadership and formed a government with support from the BJP in June 2022.

When Bal Thackeray died in 2012, he was cremated at the Shivaji Park. Sena workers call the ground Shiva-tirtha, or a holy place, that now houses the late leaders memorial.

CM Shinde on Wednesday said, This year the rally will take place at Cross Maidan and Azad Maidan since the MMRDA ground at BKC has been given for the bullet train project.

A report in Indian Express quoted Shinde as saying that the decision was taken since he didnt want to create law and order situation.

If we had decided, we would have held the meeting on that ground only. But, as head of state, I did not want to create any law and order situation. Balasahebs thoughts and Hinduism are so genuine that no matter where his thoughts are spoken, the brilliance does not diminish, the chief minister said.

(With inputs from PTI)
Israeli envoy Daniel Carmon is reportedly upset with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for staying away from calling Hamas a terrorist group. Tharoor, however, pinned the blame on medias crude headlines that distort his words.

Seriously, @ShashiTharoor,can you not? After decades of terror against my people, challenging the very Palestinian Authority, especially after this weeks savage slaughter of over a thousand peaceful human beings, can you not label Hamas as terrorists? Frankly, I am shocked. #HamasISIS, Israels former ambassador to India Daniel Carmon posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Carmon further tagged Tharoor and said that dozens of countries, not just US and Israel, have designated Hamas as a terror organization.

Reacting to the attack by former Israeli envoy to India, Tharoor said, All I said was that India has not issued such a designation, though others have. Undoubtedly Hamas conducted terrorist acts, which I roundly condemned.

Carmon also shared the clip of Tharoor interview with a television channel, where he had said, The terrorist organisation label is one to be very careful not to follow other countrys leads in this matter. The US considers Hamas a terrorist organisation, so does Israel. India has not made any such classification and I am going to stick to the Indian position.

Seriously, @ShashiTharoor,can you not?After decades of terror against my people,challenging the very Palestinian Authority,especially after this weeks savage slaughter of over a thousand peaceful human beings,can you not label Hamas as terrorists?Frankly,I am shocked.#HamasISIS https://t.co/G1crdOtRsz Daniel Carmon (@danielocarmon) October 11, 2023

As the clip began going viral, Tharoor urged Carmon to not be misled by crude headlines seeking to distort my words.  I feel for you and other friends in Israel at this difficult time, and hope and pray for your continued safety, he added.

The Congress MP had a day ago said that he understands Prime Minister Narendra Modis solidarity to the Jewish country but termed his statement on Israel-Hamas conflict as incomplete.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Tharoor said, While we understood the prime minister standing up for Israel showing solidarity at this time of great grief and this horror that has been visited upon them. At the same time, we felt that his statement was incomplete. Because I felt that, we needed to remember that theres a larger issue at stake here and a reason behind all of this, which is that there is a dehumanising occupation continuing in many places.

Tharoor added, The people of Gaza have been imprisoned in the strip for a long time. The people of West Bank have a wall which is interfering with their normal freedom of movement and conditions of life.

We want both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and dignity behind secure borders and conditions where neither has to fear for their lives at any time. Today, Israelis are fearing for their lives and Palestinians are fearing for their lives. The death toll on both sides is mounting every day. And that in my mind is not something that India welcomes in any shape or form. We want to see this matter halt and peace be restored, the Congress MP further said.

The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence on Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

Hamas said it launched its attack on Saturday because Palestinians suffering had become intolerable under unending Israeli military occupation and increasing settlements in the West Bank and a 16-year-long blockade in Gaza.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel and have fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past five days. In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, residents are facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territorys only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down on Wednesday. The US announced it is working with Egypt and Israel to open up safe corridors to get civilians out of Gaza.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday witnessed noisy scenes after the AIADMK argued with Speaker M Appavu over its nominee R B Udhayakumar yet to be named as the main oppositions Deputy floor leader and expelled leader O Panneerselvam occupying the seat earmarked for that position.

The debate ended with eviction of AIADMK MLAs, even as Appavu decried the opposition legislators using the House for their intra-party issues. Panneerselvam (OPS) said party matters like expulsion were still pending in the court and objected to discussion of connected issues in the House.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Edappadi K Palaniswami, citing court rulings on the expulsion of OPS and others (without naming them explicitly), said his party has been requesting Appavu to allot Udhayakumar the seat meant for the post of deputy leader.

After the AIADMK lost power following the 2021 Assembly election, it had nominated OPS for the position of deputy leader and Palaniswami for the office of the LoP.

Following OPSs ouster from the AIADMK in 2022, it had named Udhayakumar and the matter is under the Speakers consideration. Some matters related to Panneerselvams expulsion are pending before the Madras HC.

The LoP said his party had given Appavu letters about 10 times requesting action on new seating arrangement, besides lowering AIADMKs strength in the House after taking into account expelled legislators. The party has 66 MLAs in the 234-member House.

Three OPS loyalists including Paul Manoj Pandian were dismissed last year by the AIADMK besides Panneerselvam.

Palaniswami wondered why the Speaker was not acting on his partys fair representation. It is only a House tradition to officially name a deputy floor leader for a party.

The AIADMK had also submitted a copy of the Division Bench of the Madras High Courts judgment upholding the ouster of MLAs from the OPS camp. This is yet to be officially taken into account, he said.

The seat of the deputy leader is beside the LoP in the front bench facing the Chief Minister. Presently, Panneerselvam is seated there.

Appavu said he did not deny that AIADMK named Udhayakumar as its deputy leader. Only the post of LoP is official and other posts are a matter of tradition. As regards seating arrangement, he is functioning as per laws and House rules and the AIADMKs representation would be considered. The House is being run as per rules and without taking away anyones rights.

During the AIADMK regime, when a request was made by the DMK to make some changes to seating arrangement to facilitate late leader M Karunanidhis visit to the House it was then ruled existing arrangements were sufficient.

Also, the seating arrangement was the prerogative of the Speaker.

He would regard an MLA as representing the party on the symbol of which he was elected to the House. In case of defection, the Speaker said he would not hesitate to act as per the Constitutions 10th Schedule unlike the previous AIADMK regime when OPS and 10 others were not disqualified.

EPS said the seating arrangement for MLAs is the Speakers prerogative but the seat of the deputy floor leader is next to that of the LoP and that is the House tradition. The Congress has 18 MLAs and the seating for that party reflects this and why are you denying this to us? The HC itself has validated the expulsion of three MLAs, he said.

At this stage, Paul Manoj Pandian, an OPS loyalist tried to say something which was not audible in the din and as the latter too stood up, Appavu asked them to resume their seats as Palaniswami was speaking.

EPS again demanded the expulsions be taken into account and AIADMKs strength in Assembly be reduced accordingly as the House should not be seen taking a contradictory stand to the courts verdict.

All AIADMK MLAs, besides OPS supporters, were on their feet and the Speaker requested them again to be seated. Palaniswami asked how could they be more patient after repeatedly making their request to act on the demands.

When will you give (seat for Udhayakumar) EPS asked and added the governments tenure would last only for two years and three months more.

Following the end of the DMKs regime tenure, the AIADMK would be in the treasury benches and the current ruling party would be in opposition. Only this is going to happen, he said.

He repeated that the tradition should not be changed though there could be regime change.

The opposition MLAs were on their feet and raised slogans and some were in front of Appavus podium. The Speaker said they had come to the House to create trouble and told them to discuss intra-party issues outside the Assembly.

He warned them of action and requested them to resume their seats.

It was not him who made OPS sit beside the LoP, but the AIADMK.

Since the slogan shouting did not cease, the Speaker ordered the marshals to evict the opposition MLAs.

After their eviction, AIADMK MLAs led by Palaniswami raised slogans and marched towards the entrance gate of the House. They shouted slogans like Save Democracy. Appavu said the opposition MLAs had come to the House for three days to create confusion and they wanted their party issues to be resolved by the House. The House has never interfered in intra-party affairs would never do so.

Legislators, including former CMs (EPS and OPS) had already been allotted seats and if needed, it would be changed by him.

He also wondered what would be the status of seating arrangement in case the rivals, OPS and EPS join hands and asserted again that he could only go by the rule book.

Leader of the House and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan said the opposition MLAs had come with a pre-plan and Appavu gave them ample time.

The Speaker said AIADMK MLAs were evicted as they disrupted the House proceedings and warned of action if such behaviour was repeated.

Panneerselvam said it was regrettable that issues that mattered within a political party were allowed to be discussed in the House. The related case was pending before the Supreme Court, he said and requested EPS remarks be expunged. He said the matter was yet to attain finality in the court of law. He wanted to know if it was fair to debate the issue when he, a party to the case, was seated next to Palaniswami.
Bengaluru citys Rajarajeshwari Nagar MLA Munirathna Naidu has always been the most talked-about lawmaker during or after elections. The film producer-turned-legislator, a former Congressman, in a scene fit for cinema, touched the feet of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, to plead for fund allocation to his constituency in full public glare, taking his film skills to the next level.

One of the 17 legislators who defected to the BJP in 2019, Munirathna, to mark his protest against the alleged diversion of funds allocated to his constituency RR Nagar to another by the Congress government, first led a protest in front of the Gandhi statue within the Vidhana Soudha premises and later touched Shivakumars feet.

I dont know why the MP DK Suresh (of Congress in Bengaluru Rural) has this animosity towards me. I seek the cooperation of DK Suresh and DK Shivakumar to help with funds to carry out development works in my constituency, Munirathna said while alleging that close to Rs 126 crore allocated to RR Nagar had been diverted and distributed to other assembly seats in the city.

Shivakumar later privately met Munirathna to address his concerns.

DRAMATIC GESTURE

DK Suresh, who is Shivakumars brother, termed it another movie-like drama as he is a big movie producer. I am not sure how many more scripts he may have kept ready, the MP added.

Munirathna Naidu and the DK brothers have had a strained relationship since the MLA switched to the BJP. Congress insiders say that during the May assembly elections, the DK brothers had put in special efforts to try and wrest the constituency from Munirathna. The Congresss loss was seen as a major defeat of the brothers, as they played a pivotal role in helping Munirathna in 2013 and 2018.

Drama and acting are in his DNA, and he believes he can showcase that talent as an MLA as well and get things done. The government should not bow down to such pressure tactics; instead, review the work done in that constituency before taking a decision, said a senior Congress minister to News18.

The film producer-contractor-turned-politician was first elected as an MLA from Rajarajeshwari Nagar in 2013 and then again in 2018, both on Congress tickets. One of the 17 MLAs who defected to the BJP, which led to the fall of the HD Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress coalition government. He played a key role in these defections that facilitated the installation of the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government in the state.

OTHER CONTROVERSIES

Munirathna has a long history of being embroiled in controversies. Here are some of them:

Fake bill scam: In 2018, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) named him in a fake bill scam in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The case goes back to 2014 when the MLA was accused of being involved in a scam of around Rs 1,500 crore while implementing civic works in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Malleshwaram, and Gandhinagar constituencies.

Hate speech: In April 2023, he faced legal action for his purported use of inflammatory language targeting Christians while campaigning for elections. The complaint was filed by his political rival Kusuma H, who was contesting on a Congress ticket. The case was subsequently registered on a complaint from a gazetted officer who alleged that Munirathna was inciting hostility among people.

Contractors case: In December 2022, D Kempanna, who serves as the president of the Karnataka State Contractors Association, along with four other office-bearers, was arrested in connection with a defamation lawsuit filed by Munirathna. Kempanna had spoken about corruption without naming Munirathna, who was the minister in charge of Kolar district. Kempanna also alleged that he was threatening and pressuring officials to collect and give him money.

In response, Munirathna issued a seven-day ultimatum to the contractors, urging them to present any supporting evidence. Subsequently, he filed a civil defamation case, seeking damages amounting to Rs 50 crore.

Munirathnas name was also associated with an incident in central Bengaluru on June 1, 2010, in which a 17-year-old college girl, Sanjana Singh, died due to a BBMP wall collapse.

Voter ID card seizure: In 2018, the police filed a complaint against him and others after 9,800 fake voter IDs were found in an apartment in Jalahalli. Munirathna and 13 others were accused and charged with violating election rules. They were booked under sections of the Representation of the People Act and criminal conspiracy. Then Munirathna was with the Congress, and the BJP accused him of derailing free and fair elections. The incident also forced the Election Commission to defer the polls.

Illegal quarrying: In July this year, an FIR was registered against Munirathna and three others for using explosives during illegal quarrying. He, along with three others, was booked under the Explosives and Karnataka Land Revenue Act for allegedly carrying out illegal quarrying and using explosives to blast the rocks on land at Hunasamaranahalli. Munirathna challenged the FIR, stating he had been using gelatin on his own land and contended that a person with a licence to use gelatin is not engaged in criminal activity.

Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda film: When the Tipu Sultan controversy broke out during the May elections, BJP leader CT Ravi claimed that two Vokkaliga leaders  Uri and Nanje Gowda  had contributed to the development of the Mysuru region, not Tipu. Taking it one step further, former BJP minister CN Ashwath Narayan, while addressing an election rally in Mandya, added that Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda finished off Tipu Sultan, and in a similar way the Vokkaligas of the region should finish off Siddaramaiah. His statement later caused a huge outcry, and Narayan was asked to apologise.

As a film producer, Munirathna, a Vokkaliga leader himself, decided to produce a film on Uri Gowda and Doddananje Gowda and showcase in reel life how they finished off Tipu Sultan. However, he later dropped the plan after a meeting with pontiff Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji. He later said that the seer did not want to make a film that hurt the sentiments of a particular section of society. Munirathna had even registered the title Uri Gowda Nanje Gowda with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce.

Honey-trapping: In July 2023, Munirathna was also accused by Velu Naikar, a former corporator who had joined the Congress, of honey-trapping local politicians to win the elections. He alleged that Munirathna had a studio set up to carry out honey traps where leaders would be invited to visit and he later blackmailed them with the recordings. Munirathana called it a direct attempt to defame him so that another candidate could be given an election ticket.
Bengaluru techie falls prey to fake police cyber fraud gang, loses Rs 33 lakh.

Software engineer from Bengaluru loses Rs 64,000 in an online rental scam.

Bengaluru-based techie scammed over a fake hit-and-run case and fake terror-funding claims, cheated of Rs 97,000.

Familiar headlines? If yes, then it is time to be alert, verify, and scrutinise every unknown caller or message before making a transaction. Ignore and you risk falling prey to cybercriminals who are growing by the hundreds in Indias Silicon Valley, say the police.

This year, Bengaluru has seen the highest number of cybercrime cases reported in seven years, with 12,615 instances being reported and a staggering Rs 470 crore being lost to online scammers between January and September.

According to the statistics from the cybercrime department in Bengaluru, the city has seen a 25 per cent rise in financial fraud cases within the span of just one year.

News18 has accessed records from 2017 to 2023, which show that the number of cases of online money transfer/debit/credit card fraud and job fraud has been steadily increasing. This also forms the largest chunk of cases reported against cybercriminals in the city.

In 2017, the number of investment fraud cases recorded was 1500, which spiked to 4,252 in 2022, and presently is 4,235 cases, including debit/credit card fraud as well as business opportunity fraud calls.

Largely termed investment fraud, cybercriminals target people by luring them with business opportunities, especially as an additional source of income.

We give you an idea of the general modus operandi adopted by these criminals and how you can keep your money safe.

First of all, people should not believe information that is communicated over the phone by a random caller or a message on WhatsApp. One should use discretion and common sense, vet every single call/message from numbers that are not from your caller list, said a senior police officer. The saddest part is that the maximum number of people who fall prey to such fraudsters are highly educated as well as elderly people. People may be educated, but not wise. People should not fall prey to greed. Then 80 per cent of the cases will not take place.

A police official working closely with tracking, tracing, and resolving cybercrime cases said that these criminals target their victims by baiting or tempting them with better financial gains.

There are people who aspire to have another side income, which will help them improve their lifestyle. This trend we have seen in the past two to three years, the officer explained.

How do they go about it? A person first gets a call saying an app has been developed where people can invest Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month, and they would get returns of Rs 200-300. In order to show that money, the criminals do a similar transaction with another set of victims and transfer Rs 200 to the first set.

That way they begin to believe that the offer is genuine and they can make a fast buck. Greed drives people to invest more and more. Some have even invested in lakhs only to be duped as they fold up and run away with the money, said the officer.

But how do they create accounts that are not traceable and can handle such big amounts?

The criminals seek the help of low-income people like farmers, autorickshaw drivers, or house helpers to open bank accounts in their name. They convince them that they would give them a share of the money for it, and then transactions into lakhs take place, the officer said.

People would believe it to be a genuine account as all documents, including Aadhaar and PAN card, would be valid. They make it as close to reality as possible. They even create WhatsApp chat groups, and people discuss they have received a bonus, so the others also begin to believe that the money transaction is genuine, the officer explained.

As such modus operandi gets exposed, the criminals are also innovating new ways of duping people.

Kshitij, an investment banker in Bengaluru, received a call claiming they were customs officials from the Mumbai airport and a parcel allegedly containing drugs marked in his name had been detained. He received the call and promptly informed the cyber cell of the details.

A similar call went to PR professional Sunitha PK, who was given the same information, and was asked to be present at the customs office in Mumbai on a date mentioned.

When I tried to call back on the number, it was diverted to a prepaid number of a shop in Bandra. I let it go. But next time I will surely register it as a case, she said, sharing her experience with New18.

Such cases are also on the rise. All we can say is beware and be smart, the senior cybercrime official said.

Other kinds of fraud that people seem to be falling victim to are data theft, social media identity theft, scams seeking advance payment for free gifts like iPhones, expensive gifts, loans, and gold schemes. Another fraud that is seeing a hike involves bitcoins. Between 2017 and 2021, there were no cases at all. However, from 2022 till date, there has been a 46 per cent increase, the officer said.
Reforms can provide Ukraine with up to third of required financing from private investors  World Bank head

Ukraine can attract more private investment for future growth by charting a clear and predictable policy path in key sectors, World Bank Governor Ajay Banga said on Wednesday at the 4th Ministerial Roundtable Discussion for Support to Ukraine at the IMF-World Bank meeting in Marrakech.

"If the right conditions are created, we estimate that as much as one-third of Ukraine's future needs could be met through private sector financing," he said.

The head of the World Bank clarified that he discussed this with Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko at a meeting on October 10 on the sidelines of the meeting.

"I'm so glad to hear from him that Ukraine is developing exactly such a multi-year plan, including reforms that encourage competition and accelerate alignment (of the business environment) with EU standards," he said.

Banga recalled that World Bank Group members IFC and MIGA are already helping private businesses by supporting companies trading essential goods, providing working capital and financing, and capital investment for essential infrastructure services.

In his opinion, the potential for attracting private investment in Ukraine lies in digital technologies, where harmonized procedures and expansion of digital infrastructure will be crucial.

"We see potential in green energy, supported by tariff reforms, and in agriculture to the continuing land reform that they have already begun," the head of the World Bank added.

He called for a comprehensive approach that would bring together donor countries giving generously to Ukraine's social and economic needs, civil society monitoring projects to increase transparency and accountability, and international financial institutions and UN partners who support the country's humanitarian and economic needs, as well as private businesses.

Banga indicated that the World Bank also wants to apply lessons learned and innovations from its work in Ukraine to help other countries, especially those in fragile and conflict-affected situations.

"Lessons include ensuring sufficient resources for the government to function, prioritizing delivery of essential goods and services and working capital for businesses, and harnessing digital systems to transfer resources efficiently and accountably," the head of the World Bank explained.
Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and Wordle have long captured the imaginations of social media users with their cryptic clues and interlocking words. Engaging with puzzles not only stimulates the mind, but they are also entertaining to solve as they can trick our brains and thereby pose a challenge. It promotes cognitive development, memory enhancement, and critical thinking abilities. While some of these puzzles are easy to decode, others require you to exercise your brain a little bit more. Similarly, a crossword puzzle that is designed for 5th grade has already stumped many people and will definitely test your observational skills.

It is quite evident in the picture that the puzzle has four interconnected rows and columns with pictorial clues. While three words in the puzzle are solved, the challenge is to find the fourth one to fill the unsolved crossword that has left people baffled. The caption posted along with the puzzle read, 5th-grade crossword has us all stumped.

In just three days, the picture has accumulated close to 33,000 upvotes, and the numbers are only increasing. It has created waves on the internet leaving social media users baffled. In addition to that, the increasing popularity of the puzzle has prompted people to post mixed comments.

Loving the low-key threat in this homework assignment, an account remarked.

A Reddit user commented, Rattan. It is a type of cane or stick used to punish school children Edit: This was a legitimate form of punishment in Scottish schools until 1982.

Another joined in and joked, Hey, Im from 1975 and this looks more like 1935. This comment prompted a thread where people continued the joke and one of them even wrote, Hey, Im from 1805 and this looks more like 1785.

There were a few who raised questions about the puzzle. Just like this person who took to the comment section and wrote, Can I ask why a dotted line specifically means rattan? I am a logo designer and symbologist, and I cant make sense of it.

Whereas Canguro English, a YouTuber who teaches English explained, Thank you all for your efforts. The crossword is from a Danish EFL textbook and I can confirm that the correct answer is RATTAN. In Danish the word is spanskrr, which literally means Spanish reed. Although it may appear related to the English word spank, its unlikely, and the origin of spank is probably imitative.
A tragic incident unfolded in Tennessee this month when a 7-year-old girl lost her life due to her own birthday balloons. Alexandra Hope Kelly, a young girl from Clinton, was tragically suffocated while popping the balloons, particularly a large 7 balloon her family had bought for her recent birthday celebration. Her heartbroken mother, Channa Kelly, took to Facebook to share the devastating incident and to caution other parents about the potential risks associated with what are typically joyous and celebratory decorations.

Thats what took my baby, it was her birthday balloon, Kelly expressed to WAFB, struggling to grasp the tragedy. Her daughter celebrated her 7th birthday on September 27. Kelly had been sitting with Alexandra as she safely popped all the latex balloons, recognizing their choking hazard.

A week after her birthday party, Alexandra requested to pop the 34-inch foil 7 balloon. Her mother granted permission and, believing no danger was associated with this type of balloon, slept in her bedroom.

When she woke up, she discovered her child lying face down on the living room floor with the deflated balloon entangled around her head, Kelly shared in her heart-wrenching post. She promptly removed the balloon, dialled 911, and initiated CPR. When the ambulance arrived, emergency responders took over the CPR efforts, but sadly, they couldnt rescue the young girl, as per Kellys account.

They worked tirelessly to try to bring her back but their attempts to revive her were unsuccessful, she said. I cried hysterically and was in utter shock and disbelief of what had just occurred, that my daughter and only child was actually gone.

The exact cause of Alexandras death remains uncertain, whether it resulted from suffocation or helium poisoning. A medical examiner is currently performing an autopsy to establish the precise cause of her passing. The local authorities are also conducting an investigation into the tragic incident, as explained by the grieving mother.

Kelly emphasized that she was sharing her story to raise awareness about the hazards associated with Mylar balloons. On Sunday, October 1st my entire world collapsed around me all because I was unaware of the risk surrounding these types of balloons.

I hope by sharing our story that I can bring awareness and educate parents about the dangers of not only latex balloons but also Mylar balloons. I hope and pray that this will prevent and save the lives of other children. I wouldnt want anyone else to experience the pain and devastation that the loss of a child brings, she said.

At present, the Clinton Police Department is actively probing the circumstances surrounding the childs demise.
Some of the product names are known in a very different manner in many parts of the world. Their names have been changed to fit and adapt to the markets in the different countries. One of those products is a clothes iron used for pressing our garments that removes the unwanted wrinkles and creases. It is referred to as Istri in India. One of the social media users asked on Quora the reason behind naming this product as Istri.

A user replied that the Istri is not an Indian word and traces its origins back to Portugal. When the Portuguese natives arrived in India, they came with an iron, to remove the creases on the clothes. They used to call it Esticar, the literal meaning of which is a stretch. It probably originated from the fabric being stretched before ironing. Esticar came to be known as Istirar in Spanish and then the people in India changed this word to Istree and then Istri. Istri is used both in Hindi and Bengali.

The clothes of the British were made in such a manner that they required a lot of ironing. On the other hand, there used to be a lot of creases on the clothes of Indian people, and they didnt mind it either. They used to consider them as their pride. Men used to wear dhoti, which had pleats while women also used to add pleats to sarees. Also, the silk clothes were starched (to make clothes stiff by washing them with starch) and dried by shaking them, so there was no question of them getting wrinkled.

Well-ironed clothes make an impression of their own at workplaces and public places. By eliminating wrinkles, ironing shapes up the fabric to make it look fresher and smoother. This helps to add to the personality of a person. There are a few mistakes that you should avoid when dry ironing your clothes-

Letting clothes overdry

One of the biggest mistakes that many people make when ironing is to let the clothes dry entirely. When clothes over-dry they become resistant to reshaping, which is the main function of the pressing appliance. Therefore, iron when clothes are still slightly damp or even when they are a little wet.

Not checking the base

People should always check the soleplate of the dry iron for any stains. The reason for this is if tainted, it may brush across your favourite dress.
A couple who miraculously survived the horrifying attack during the Tribe of Nova festival in southern Israel, where at least 260 people lost their lives due to a surprise assault by Hamas militants, shared their terrifying ordeal. Amit Bar and her partner Nir had been among the festival-goers when the tragedy unfolded near Reim, east of the Gaza Strip, on Saturday, October 7th.

Though they managed to escape, their fear of not making it out alive led them to capture a poignant moment on camera  a kiss that could have been their last. While they were hiding in the bushes during the chaos, they became separated from their friend Ziv, who had gone to assist others. Later, Amit posted an open letter to Nir on Instagram, along with the viral picture, stating, It is still impossible to summarize what we went through there without Ziv, and until he is not home nothing is over. But we are here in miracle, wrote Amit on Instagram as an open letter to her partner which she shared along the pic that went viral.

She recounted the harrowing sequence of events, saying, It started with rockets, it was stressful but I still managed to encourage myself that there is a chance that it will fall on me, everything will be alright. We tried to drive in the car until everything was blocked off, everyone wanted to get away. So we waited a moment for it to calm down, we slept (so) that we wouldnt get hurt, but then people started running and shouting that there are terrorists. We ran away there like a sheep to the slaughter.

The festival attendees first sensed something was amiss when rockets started raining down from Gaza. While rocket attacks in this region were not uncommon, the situation quickly escalated when terrorists on motorcycles began pursuing the festival-goers, indiscriminately firing their guns.

Amit recalled, You hear the bullets whistling next to us and people just fall and the f***ing terrorists behind us circling everywhere on motorcycles just trying to kill. They found themselves separated from their friend Ziv, who had hidden away, making it impossible to call out for him as everyone remained silent to evade the Hamas militants.

In that terrifying moment, Nir proposed taking a selfie, as a way to capture this scary moment, unsure if they would survive. Amit, initially perplexed by the idea, agreed, realising that it might serve as a lasting memory for their families, demonstrating their love up until the very end.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amit Bar (@amit_bar_)

Amit concluded by expressing her hope for Zivs safe return and said, You protected me in your body and Im thinking of all the other couples with a different ending than ours..

Also Read: Bono Pays Tribute to People Killed at Israel Music Festival, Changes Pride Lyrics During U2 Concert

The massacre claimed the lives of at least 260 Israelis, making it one of the deadliest attacks on Israeli civilians in the nations history, with a total of over 900 casualties reported so far.
At a wedding celebration in Mississippi, a couples special day took an unexpected turn as an alleged serial wedding crasher ended up at their wedding venue. The individual, Sandra Lynn Henson, aged 57, stands accused of a pattern of crashing weddings in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, and making off with cash and cards stolen from wedding attendees, according to the Pontotoc Sheriffs Department. Alabama authorities had reportedly issued a warrant for Hensons arrest when she was apprehended at the wedding of Lexi Loden and Brady Butler in Pontotoc County. During the event, the bride, Lexi Loden Butler, discovered Henson in the bridal room, eating a slice of the wedding cake.

The Pontotoc Sheriffs Department reportedly arrested Henson on September 30, charging her with petit larceny, trespassing, and disturbing the peace. Subsequently, Henson was able to secure her release from jail, as confirmed by Sheriff Leo Mask, reports NBC News.

This wedding incident is the latest in a series of alleged wedding crashes that have been linked to Henson. According to Sheriff Mask, From what we understand, shes been charged with (wedding crashing) several times. He also told NBC News that details of her prior convictions are somewhat hazy as some of these cases occurred in different states.

The latest episode unfolded when bride Loden Butlers sister entered the bridal suite to tend to her baby and discovered Henson going through their belongings. After questioning Henson about her presence at the wedding, the brides sister sought assistance from other family members. NBC News report suggests that a subsequent check by the wedding coordinator revealed that $200 (approx. INR 16,632.8) had disappeared from her purse, an act initially denied by Henson. However, she admitted to the theft when confronted with the prospect of law enforcement involvement.

Henson reportedly pleaded with the family not to involve the police, expressing her fear of returning to jail. Nonetheless, they notified the Pontotoc County police shortly thereafter. Henson apologised and claimed to have been doing well recently, citing her attendance at church and work as a doordash driver.

Loden Butler and her family speculate that Henson obtained information about the wedding either from online sources or social media. Among Hensons possessions, they found a notebook that contained a list of at least seven other weddings and couples in the vicinity. This deeply troubled Loden Butler, who told NBC News, The notebook blew my mind and broke my heart at the same time. To have people have no idea that their name is in a book and that theyre a target.

The alleged pattern of wedding crashing by Henson reportedly dates back to 2019 when she was accused of taking gifts from two weddings in Alabama, with the Florence Alabama Police Department filing charges for property theft.

The outcomes of these cases remained unclear as of that time. In 2021, Henson was involved in a similar incident in her home state of Mississippi, where she made off with wedding gifts, cash, and gift cards totaling over $1,000 (approx. INR 83,200). She was subsequently indicted for grand larceny, pleaded guilty and received a five-year probation sentence in Marshall County, according to NBC News.

Online records on the Mississippi Department of Corrections website reveal that Henson is on parole until January 2025 for prior charges of grand larceny and burglary.
You shouldnt throw food at people, first because it wastes eatables and secondly, it could land you in jail. This woman hailing from Florida, US learned her lesson the hard way. The female in question was detained by officials at Marion County Sheriffs for hurling sausage and a Coke can at a gas station cashier. The arrest affidavit assessed by Fox 35 Orlando, identifies the woman as DeAsia Cobb and the incident is suggested to have taken place at the Kwik King gas station in Ocala. The scuffle began when the unruly woman reportedly slammed the cashier for not handling two of the transactions at once. The verbal altercation apparently involved the duo shouting racial slurs at each other.

Things only escalated when the verbal fight turned physical as DeAsia threw a sausage and tongs from her tray in the cashiers direction. Reportedly, the sausage hit the cashiers right wrist while the tongs landed on the right leg. It is suggested the unruly customer left the store but the cashier followed suit and threw the same sausage at DeAsias car before returning inside. This led to another retaliation from the Florida woman, who proceeded to hurl a Coke can at the cashier next. The soda can reportedly hit the counter and the cashier was able to avoid getting smacked by it.

The owner who was the eyewitness of the altercation suggested the woman leave the store. However, the latter didnt budge claiming she wasnt trespassing. It is reported that DeAsia stayed back for a span of eight minutes continuing to hurl profanities and taunting the store employees.

The story has grabbed the attention of multiple users across social media platforms. While some are calling the incident just nasty, many went on to slam the woman for her indecent antics. A user commented, You shouldnt throw food. Another asked, What the heck is wrong with people these days? One more wrote, Any person who uses food as a weapon is nothing but a nuisance to society. Meanwhile, a user who seemed to have followed the altercation added, I know the story, the audacity of the woman to not only throw food but refuse to leave the store and continue hurling profanities. This level of crazy is beyond me.

Notably, DeAsia was booked on charges of battery and disorderly conduct. She was held at the Marion County Jail before getting released on a bond of $1,500 (Rs 1.24 lakh).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday alleged babies were murdered and burned by Hamas terrorists during their onslaught against Israel.

He also showed the photos to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who landed in Israel today.

The official X account of the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel posted the photos on the microblogging authorities. News18 is neither embedding the tweet nor publishing these horrific pictures given the nature of sensitive content.

Sharing pictures, the PMs account wrote, Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden expressed his disgust at atrocities including murders of entire families, rapes of women and stomach-turning reports of babies being killed.

Launching an unexpected attack on Saturday, Hamas fighters killed 1,200 individuals in Israel, with civilians being the primary victims, and they took approximately 150 hostages. In response, Israel has conducted continuous airstrikes and artillery bombardments on Hamas targets in Gaza for the past six days, resulting in more than 1,350 casualties in that region.

Meanwhile, Blinken said the United States will always back Tel Aviv. However, he asserted that the Palestinians also have legitimate aspirations not represented by militant group Hamas.

Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said, You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side.

Blinken said anyone who wants peace and justice must condemn Hamas reign of terror. We know Hamas doesnt represent the Palestinian people, or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity and dignity, he said.

Blinken said the number of innocent lives claimed by Hamas heinous attacks continues to rise. He informed that at least 25 American citizens were killed in the Hamas attacks.

Netanyahu said undoubtedly forces of civilisation would win and added that there would be many difficult days ahead.

Antony, my friend. I say to you, I say to all of us. There will be many difficult days ahead. But I have no doubt that the forces of civilisation will win. The reason that is true is because we understand what is the first prerequisite of victory  moral clarity. This is a time that we must stand tall, proud and united against evil, he said.

Netanyahu voiced appreciation for US support, which includes military aid, and said that Hamas, which rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, should be treated like the Islamic State group.

(With AFP inputs)
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust but urged Israel to follow rules of war. This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty  not just hate, but pure cruelty  against the Jewish people, Biden told Jewish leaders gathered at the White House.

As Israel responded with air strikes on Gaza, Biden said he had spoken earlier Wednesday to Netanyahu. The US president said he had known Bibi Netanyahu for four decades and they had a very frank relationship. The 80-year-old US president urged Benjamin Netanyahu to follow the rules of war after the Israeli prime minister promised to destroy Hamas.

And the one thing that I did say is that it is really important that Israel, with all the anger and frustration that exists, is that they operate by the rules of war, Biden said. And there are rules of war. Bidens call for restraint over Israels response comes after he called the sheer evil of the Hamas attacks on Saturday. Netanyahu had earlier promised the complete destruction of Hamas, saying Every Hamas member is a dead man.

Happening Now: President Biden joins a roundtable with Jewish community leaders to deliver remarks on his unwavering support for Israel and his work to combat antisemitism following the Hamas terrorist attacks. https://t.co/1dmuTR9lqI The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 11, 2023

Warning to Iran

During his address, the US president recalled that Washington had moved the worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and its fleet into the region. US officials said another carrier would soon be available if needed.

Biden said he had made it clear to the Iranians. Be careful. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed earlier Wednesday to Israel in a show of solidarity with Israel. While fears have been growing of a regional conflagration, US officials said earlier they still had not seen any intelligence to show Iran was involved in planning or preparing the Hamas attacks.

At least 22 Americans were killed in the Hamas attacks, while an unknown number of US citizens are among an estimated 150 people who were taken hostage. The Hamas assault on Israel has raised fears of domestic attacks in the United States, and compounded concerns about a resurgence of anti-Semitism across the United States.

On Tuesday, Biden said that US authorities were on alert. In cities across the United States of America, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, Biden said. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said that the president would meet with his domestic security advisors later in the week.

(With agency inputs)
Israel and Hamas traded more heavy fire Thursday in the Gaza war that has killed thousands as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited to stress strong solidarity but also urge restraint to protect Palestinian civilians.

Israels army has hammered Hamas with thousands of strikes ahead of what is widely expected to be a ground invasion of the crowded territory, after Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took about 150 hostages.

More than 1,200 Palestinians have died in Gaza as Israel has levelled entire city blocks and destroyed thousands of buildings in the six days since Hamas launched their unprecedented attack, the bloodiest in Israeli history.

Every Hamas member is a dead man, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the traumatised nation after forming a wartime government Wednesday, likening Hamas to the Islamic State group and vowing to crush them and destroy them.

US President Joe Biden  who has strongly backed Israel and started sending military aid  also cautioned on Wednesday that Israel must, despite all the anger and frustration  operate by the rules of war.

Fears have grown for Gazas 2.4 million residents now enduring the fifth war in 15 years in the long-blockaded territory, which has also seen seen Israel cut off water, food and power supplies.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres voiced concern about the supercharged cycle of violence and horror. He urged the release of all hostages and the lifting of the siege and stressed that civilians must be protected at all times.

There have been calls for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to allow Palestinians to escape ahead of a possible Israeli ground invasion that would spell brutal urban combat and house to house fighting.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed Thursday the total siege of Gaza would continue until the hostages are freed. Humanitarian aid to Gaza? he wrote in a statement. No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home.

 All I do is cry 

Israel has called up 300,000 reservists and rushed forces, tanks and heavy armour to the southern desert areas around Gaza from where Hamas launched their unprecedented attack on October 7. Israeli soldiers have since then cleared the southern towns and kibbutz communities and killed 1,500 of the militants, while making ever more shocking discoveries of large numbers of dead civilians, including children.

I would never have been able to imagine .. something like this, Doron Spielman, an Israeli army spokesman, said at one gated community where more than 100 residents were killed. It looks like an atomic bomb just landed here.

Netanyahu has said the Hamas onslaught was of a level of savagery we have not seen since the Holocaust. Israeli outrage has been fuelled by Hamass capture of at least 150 hostages  mostly Israelis but also foreign and dual nationals  now being held in Gaza. I know hes out there somewhere, one of the affected Israelis, Ausa Meir, said of her brother Michael, who is among the captives. Its very, very painful.

Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if Israel bombs Gaza civilian targets without advance warning  deepening the anger and fear in shell-shocked Israel. Everybody is impacted in Israel, said Joana Ouisman, 38, a finance executive. Ive been watching TV all day for the past three to four days. All I do is cry.

 We must win 

Israels war now flaring in the south is further complicated by a threat from the north, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group based in Lebanon. Israel has massed tanks on the northern border after repeated clashes with Hezbollah in recent days, including cross-border rockets and shelling.

The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier battle group to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support and warned Israels other enemies not to enter the conflict. Israels arch-foe Iran has long financially and militarily backed Hamas but insists it had no involvement in Saturdays assault.

Unrest has also flared in the occupied West Bank, where protests have been held in solidarity with Gaza and 27 Palestinians have been killed in clashes since Saturday.

The conflict has prompted Netanyahu to set aside for now his political differences and form an emergency government including centrist former defence minister Benny Gantz for the duration of the crisis.

Israel before anything else, Gantz wrote in a social media post Wednesday, while the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote that he welcomes the unity, now we must win.
At a time when diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, Canadian Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagne opted out of the G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit (P20) hosted by India.

We invite all members to G20 events. P20 participation is their decision and a subject to a number of factors. Ask them. I will have to check with them whether anybody is actually attending from Canada because I think that the Canadian Parliament Speaker could not attend, said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

The P-20 Summit is being held at Dwarkas India International Convention and Expo Centre, also known as Yashobhoomi from October 12-14.

The relations between India and Canada hit an all-time low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged, in his Parliament, the involvement of a foreign agent in the killing of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He even claimed that he had intelligence inputs and evidence that the Indian government could be behind Nijjars death.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently spoke to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and discussed India and the importance of upholding the law.

Responding to a query on Trudeaus mention of India in his talks with world leaders, Bagchi said, I dont know how it helps to address the core issue. The core issue is the space given by Canada to terrorists and criminal elements. As regards upholding international conventions that came up in conversation some of them. We would urge Canada to take more seriously their international obligation to provide security to our diplomats and their premises. From our part, I can assure everything India is doing is in compliance with Vienna conventions on diplomatic relations.

According to the Canadian government, during the talks with Al-Hussein, 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.

In a post on X earlier, 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.

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

Trudeau, who visited India during the G20 Summit last month, raised the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India rejected his allegations and termed them as absurd and politically driven.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18. He was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2020. Interpol had also issued a red corner notice against him quite a few times, the first one being in 2016.
EU plans to allocate EUR 4.5 bln to Ukraine by late 2023, counts on support of other donors

The European Union has become Ukraine's largest donor in 2023, having already allocated EUR 13.5 billion as part of the macro-financial assistance instrument and expecting to pay another EUR 4.5 billion by the end of the year, European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Paolo Gentiloni has said.

"Overall, there is very good progress, and I am optimistic about the prospects of Ukraine fulfilling all conditions by the end of the year for 2024 and beyond," he said on Wednesday at the 4th Ministerial Roundtable Discussion for Support to Ukraine at the IMF-World Bank meeting in Marrakech.

According to him, the EU and other international partners should be proud of the fact that they contributed to covering the financing gap for Ukraine both last year and this year, and thanks to this solidarity, Ukraine's economy is today in better shape than many expected.

"We count on the support from all international partners. We also must align conditionality for support between the international donors and the international financial institutions as much as possible to ensure that they are consistent," the European Commissioner added, emphasizing that financing remains a key factor.

He pointed out that Ukraine had demonstrated the ability to continue to carry out important economic reforms, recalling that the current terms of the EU financial assistance include, among other things, judicial reform of Ukraine, improved regulation of economic activity and an improvement in the bankruptcy regime.

"The European Commission's proposal for $50 billion for the next four years will allow us to help considerably in addressing Ukraine's financing needs," Gentiloni said.

He clarified that as part of this Ukraine Facility package, Ukraine is preparing a plan, a vision of growth based on reforms and investments, in addition to international financial support.

"Ukraine's EU candidate status has also provided a powerful reform impetus, despite the ongoing war. We will continue to stand by Ukraine as long as it takes," the European Commissioner emphasized.

Last year, the main donor to Ukraine was the United States, which allocated $11.98 billion versus $7.96 billion from the EU and called on their European colleagues to be more active. This year, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with $10.9 billion versus $14.66 billion from the EU, and Ukraine's expected $3.3 billion from Washington before the end of the year is in doubt due to the crisis in Congress.

At the roundtable discussion, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized Ukraine's continued support.

"We have provided robust economic support to Ukraine, and the United States will support Ukraine, alongside our allies, for as long as it takes," she said, also noting the need to increase support for countries around the world suffering from devastating food security impacts from the Russian-led war and its recent blocking of the grain corridor.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary called on Ukraine to continue to fight corruption and strengthen accountability and good governance, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

She emphasized that in response to Russia's chosen war, the historic sanctions coalition will continue to limit Russia's access to technological equipment and its financing, which includes establishing price limits for oil and petroleum products, while maintaining stability in global oil markets.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday called on his compatriots to show solidarity with the countrys Jewish population and guarantee their safety, condemning incidents at pro-Palestinian rallies.

I ask for the support of all citizens so that together we can guarantee the safety of our Jewish fellow citizens, and to do this we must show solidarity with them, Scholz said on ARD television. We cant accept it, he said of anti-Semitic messages heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations held in Germany since Hamass deadly attack on Israel at the weekend, which led to Israels massive retaliation in the Gaza Strip.

Despite a ban on such demonstrations, around a hundred people gathered in Berlins Neukolln district on Wednesday evening in support of the Palestinians, in a tense atmosphere surrounded by a heavy police presence.

The rally had been banned by the police as a danger to public safety and order. The Bild tabloid also reported incidents on Wednesday evening on the margins of a demonstration in support of Israel in Chemnitz, eastern Germany. Several dozen people with Palestinian flags attacked some demonstrators with Israeli flags, witnesses told the newspaper.

On Saturday, the day of the Hamas offensive against Israel, Berlin police reported people celebrating the attacks on Israel by distributing pastries in the Neukolln district. The same evening, a pro-Palestinian rally was dispersed because of anti-Israeli slogans, according to the police.

Both actions were relayed on Twitter by the German account of the Palestinian Prisoner Support Network Samidoun, which hailed the Hamas attack as an act of resistance. Since the Hamas attack in Israel, Germany has stepped up protection around the countrys Jewish institutions.
Announcing the national emergency government with Benny Gantzs National Unity party, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said the people of Israel are united, along with the leadership of the country. This development comes as Netanyahu, Gantz and defence minister Yoav Gallant, formed a war cabinet amid Israeli troops build up on the southern border of the country.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has not joined his former ally Gantz, but the statement said a seat would be reserved for him in the war cabinet. In a late-night televised address on the wars fifth day, Netanyahu said, We put all other considerations aside, because the fate of the nation is at stake. We will work together, side by side, for the citizens of Israel and the state of Israel.

We saw the beasts. We saw the barbarians we are facing. We saw a cruel enemy. An enemy worse than ISIS. We saw boys and girls, bound, shot in the head. Men and women burned alive. Young women raped and slaughtered, he was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a joint statement with Defense Minister Yoav Galant and National Unity Chairman MK Benny Gantz:Citizens of Israel, this evening we have formed a national emergency government. The people are united and today its leadership is also united. pic.twitter.com/0ffZ8CxTEI  Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 11, 2023

On a somber note, Netanyahu said every family in Israel knows somebody who was killed. We all know families whose loved ones were murdered. But he also cites the acts of heroism of those who fought the Hamas terrorists. And we will all fight for the home, he said.

The formation of a national emergency government comes as the war, which has claimed more than 3,000 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. As Israeli planes pounded Gaza, Netanyahu said Israels unity is resonating worldwide and was exemplified by US President Joe Bidens support. We are fighting with full force, on every front, we have gone onto the attack. Every member of Hamas is a dead man, he added.

Saturdays attack  the worst in Israels 75-year history  has seen a total of 1,200 people killed in the onslaught. In Gaza, officials reported more than 1,000 people killed in Israels sustained campaign of air and artillery strikes on the crowded Palestinian enclave.

On Wednesday, Biden called the Hamas attack the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, and a campaign of pure cruelty. Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, residents face uncertainty after the territorys only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down Wednesday. Israel imposed what it called a complete siege on Gaza on Monday.

(With agency inputs)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, alleging that he wants to crush the Aam Aadmi Party using agencies like the ED and CBI against its leaders. Kejriwal made the claims after AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, whose premises were raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday, met with him at his residence here.

The opposition BJP in Delhi responded to Kejriwals charges, alleging that both his government and his party are inundated with corruption. The ED raided Khans premises in Delhi as part of a money-laundering investigation against him and some other people. The searches were undertaken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and three-four premises were covered, official sources said.

Talking to reporters after the meeting with the MLA, Kejriwal said, This is not the only incident where PM Modi has directed the raids on the residence of AAP leaders. Since, the AAP government was formed in Delhi, PM Modi is trying to eliminate AAP with all his might. In 2016, the Centre constituted the Shunglu Committee. The Shunglu Committee asked for 400 files, and top officials inspected them thoroughly, yet they did not find corruption of a single penny, the chief minister said. The AAP national convener claimed that after this, AAP MLAs were framed in fabricated cases.

So far, 170 cases have been filed against AAP MLAs, and judgments in 140 cases have been pronounced, all against the central government. All these judgements unequivocally stated that fabricated cases have been filed and arrests have been made against the AAP MLAs, he said. Kejriwal also alleged that in the last two years, senior AAP leaders and ministers have been arrested. He was referring to former ministers Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Sanjay Singh.

The central government arrested Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, and yesterday, they orchestrated an ED raid on Amanatullah Khans residence. Yesterdays raid at Amanatullah Khans residence is also a step towards Modijis scheme of things to curb the AAP. So far, corruption involving a single rupee has not been found in any cases, he asserted. If they would have found it, would they have spared Arvind Kejriwal? They didnt find anything, the chief minister added.

Reacting to the chief ministers allegations, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed, Delhi has seen governments of both the BJP and the Congress but none of the governments did corruption and nepotism as is being done by the Kejriwal government. Arvind Kejriwal claims that the Centre government is victimising his MLAs and ministers through the cases pending in courts. It seems Kejriwal now does not even trust the courts.

Kejriwal further alleged that there are no inquiries by the ED or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in BJP-ruled states and claimed that the saffron partys aim was not to end corruption but to trouble opposition leaders.

In Gujarat, the Morbi bridge collapsed and many people lost their lives, but there wasnt any ED or CBI raid on the matter. The BJP governments are being spared from any ED or CBI raids. As per the latest CAG report, there have been numerous scams committed under the BJP government, but no ED or CBI raids or summons either. They have waived the loans worth hundreds of crores but no raids or inquiries, he alleged.

Kejriwal rued the fact that the atmosphere in the country has deteriorated. For the first time, people have started renouncing Indian citizenship while taking citizenship of other countries. This is unprecedented, business and trade are at their worst. Industrialists, business persons, journalists and common people have been intimidated, he said. The AAP is still fighting its battle. Its a party of honest and patriotic individuals, no matter what Modiji does, we are not going to bow down, he added.

Responding to media questions about Singhs case, Kejriwal said that the ED should prove the corruption charges in the matter. I heard that on Tuesday, the ED told the court that they have evidence but wont show it. If even the ED doesnt show evidence to the court, who will they show it to? Will the ED keep the evidence at home, he asked.

Recalling Tuesdays raid, MLA Khan said the ED conducted a 12-hour raid on his home. They searched through all my clothes and cupboards. My mother is unwell and has trouble breathing. During the raid, she was given medicines several times. This raid caused a lot of distress to my entire family. My house is 100 square yards and has four rooms. I even showed them my childrens room, he said.

The legislator said he asked the ED officers if they suspected that he was involved in corruption. We, members of AAP, want to work, and you are troubling us. I even showed them the beds and there were no hidden possessions. The officers said, What can we do? If we are sent, we have to come. During the raid, none of us could even have a meal, Khan claimed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday alleged babies were murdered and burned by Hamas terrorists during their onslaught against Israel.

He also showed the photos to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who landed in Israel today.
Israel continued bombardments in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on the sixth day of its war against the Palestine-based terrorist organisation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv to extend US support after multiple telephonic conversations between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

British foreign minister James Cleverly visited the war-hit country earlier this week and now German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will also fly to Tel Aviv as the West rallies behind Israel in its war against Hamas.

In a statement on Thursday, the army said it has bombarded Gaza with approximately 6,000 munitions containing a total of 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday when it began striking Hamas targets.

Israel has vowed to crush Hamas after gunmen from the Palestinian Islamist group stormed across the border and killed 1,200 people  the deadliest attack on the country since it was founded 75 years ago.

Top Israel-Hamas War Updates:
Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin has equated the struggles of Kashmir and Palestine  which is currently locked in a war with Israel  and accused India of illegal occupation.

In a video accessed exclusively by CNN-News18, Salahuddin said Palestine was going through a difficult phase and Israel would take over Gaza after the attack.

Drawing a parallel with Kashmir, the Hizbul chief said India too was murdering innocent Kashmiris and taking all wealth and money from Kashmir. He added: This is the time for Jihad and I pray to god that we win this Jihad.

Responding to the video, Indias top Intelligence sources said the statement was nothing new. A source said: He has been making these provocative statements from some time. Salahuddin is a discredited terrorist and disowned by the Pakistan army.

Recently, CNN-News18 had reported how the ISI is upset with Salahuddin for not delivering favourable results in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 by the government.

The tension has become palpable after the Hizbul chief refused to participate in the drug trade with the Pakistani Army for money.

After the Abrogation of Article 370, Pakistans terror activities in Kashmir almost stopped due to the strictness of the security forces. ISI wanted to Salahuddin to revive Hizbul activities in the Valley.

The situation became worse after in a recent meeting in July the ISI told Salahuddin to deliver or hand over charge to Hizbul commander Amir Khan.

The ISI has stopped financial support to Hizbul and its office in Islamabad is also sold, the sources said. Salahuddin is receiving death threats from ISI, the sources added. Recently, he has upgraded his security to up to 12 guards.

Sources say Pakistans decision to make Mushaal Hussein Mullick as special assistant to Pakistans Prime Minister on human rights is to teach Salahuddin a lesson. Mullick is Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Fronts chief Yasin Maliks wife.
Brazil, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, called a Friday meeting of the body to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, its foreign affairs ministry said Wednesday.

Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira has interrupted an Asia trip to travel to New York to participate in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, called by Brazil to address the situation in the Gaza Strip, the ministry said in a statement.

Brazil previously called an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday, the day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. Israeli forces say 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the onslaught  the worst in the countrys history.

As Israel pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip  a densely populated enclave of 2.3 million people  in response, the death toll there has also reached 1,200 people, including a high number of civilians, according to Palestinian authorities.

More than 338,000 people in the enclave have been displaced, according to the United Nations. At Sundays Security Council meeting, members were divided over policy concerning Israel and the Palestinians.

Earlier on Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for urgent international action to protect both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, especially children. Children must never be held hostage, anywhere in the world, Lula wrote on social media platform X.

Hamas needs to free the Israeli children who were kidnapped from their families. Israel needs to stop its bombing so Palestinian children and their mothers can leave the Gaza Strip via the Egyptian border, he said. There needs to be a minimum of humanity in the insanity of war.
The United States and Qatar officials have agreed to prevent Iran from using a $6 billion humanitarian assistance fund, following militant group Hamass surprise attack on Israel, a news report said Thursday.

The money had been unfrozen in a US-Iran prisoner swap deal announced in recent weeks, where five US detainees were released by Iran after the funds were transferred to accounts in Qatar.

But The Washington Post reported Thursday that a decision was made to halt access to the funds, while President Joe Biden faces rising pressure on the matter given concerns over Irans connections to Hamas.

Tehran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas, has come under intense scrutiny since fighters of the Islamist group stormed across Israels southern border at the weekend.

Hamas gunmen killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took about 150 hostages in their surprise assault on Saturday. Israel retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days, claiming over 1,350 lives.

We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a press conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

US officials said earlier that they had not seen any intelligence to show Iran was involved in planning or preparing the Hamas attacks.

But Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told Democrats in the House of Representatives that the Iran funds are not going anywhere anytime soon, according to The Washington Post report, which also noted the comment was first published by Punchbowl.

The Treasury Department did not respond to AFP queries on the matter.

Some US senators have called for a re-freeze of the $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue as the conflict raged on.

The Biden administration maintains that the money is restricted to humanitarian use, and previously said it had yet to be dispensed.
The United States denounced Wednesday the deportation of a prominent human rights lawyer from Laos to his native China, calling for details on his whereabouts and assurances on the ailing activists access to medical care. Lu Siwei was one of the lawyers appointed by families of a Hong Kong activist group that was intercepted by authorities in 2020 while attempting to flee the city by boat to Taiwan.

But after being arrested by Laotian police while en route to Thailand in July, Lu was transported back to China last month, where he is likely to face legal repercussions, a rights group said. He is now being held at a detention facility in Sichuan, southwestern China, his family told Amnesty International.

The United States condemns the forced repatriation of Peoples Republic of China (PRC) national and human rights lawyer Lu Siwei to the PRC from Laos, at the request of PRC authorities, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement, using Chinas official name.

We call on the PRC to confirm Lus current location; allow for external verification by independent observers of Lus well-being, including access for doctors to treat Lus chronic health condition; and enable his access to a lawyer of his choosing.

Lu and one other human rights lawyer  Ren Quanniu, who also sought to represent members of the Hong Kong 12 that attempted to escape to Taiwan  had their legal licenses revoked in 2021 by authorities.

Following the large-scale pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong that erupted in 2019, Beijing has cracked down on legal professionals offering activists representation, in a campaign critics have slammed as an attempt to silence dissent.

Mainland authorities accused Lu of inappropriate remarks on the internet (and) seriously damaging the lawyer industrys image. But Lu told AFP in 2021 that he believed the accusations were just a cover and that his decision to take on several sensitive cases had marked my destiny. Beijing has in recent years also stepped up a campaign targeting its critics abroad.

Last year Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders said Beijing had set up 54 overseas police stations around the world, allegedly to target Communist Party critics and coerce people into returning to China. Beijing has denied the claims.

Lus reported reappearance in a Chinese detention centre is the latest chilling example of the Chinese governments determination to pursue its critics even beyond Chinas borders, Amnesty International said.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announces progress on the issue of future confiscation of Russian assets abroad.

"For the first time in recent weeks, partners have given public signals of agreement to consider options both for use in terms of interest on the use of Russian assets, their use as collateral for insuring war risks, and their confiscation in the future," he said at the Kyiv International Economic Forum on Thursday.

The Prime Minister noted that all these issues are now being discussed at the fourth ministerial discussion within the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank.

"The ice has broken. I am confident that next year we will fill the Restoration Fund with confiscated Russian assets that are located in partner countries in the West. This will be a significant amount. We expect that in general this amount should be from $300 billion to $500 billion, which will be used for Ukrainian reconstruction projects," Shmyhal added.
The first Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of defense ministers discussed the basic needs of Ukrainians and assistance to help them survive another difficult winter, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said.

"Today in the NATO-Ukraine Council, we discussed Ukraine's priorities on its path to NATO membership. Including long-term interoperability and defence procurement. A modernised defence and security sector will not only help Ukraine to prevail; It will also ensure the Ukrainians can sustain peace and stability," Stoltenberg said at a press conference following the Council meeting.

The NATO Secretary General also said allies praised Ukraine's ongoing fight against corruption, even in the midst of a brutal Russian war.

"We also made clear that NATO will step up support to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter. This includes providing more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment. This will help the brave Ukrainian forces to fight through the cold. And continue to press forward," Stoltenberg said.

As reported in the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, at the meeting on Wednesday, "Ukraine for the first time sat at the table with NATO member countries as an equal player, and not a guest."

"This is a new format  not 31 plus one (Ukraine), as it was before. But 33 equal countries  31 NATO countries, Sweden  both a candidate and Ukraine," the ministry said.
FIRST it was Ginimbi  a car accident which took his life in November three years ago .

Now, its his sister Julie  a bus accident took her life on Tuesday.

She was one of the passengers killed when a Trip Trans bus, travelling from Malawi to Zimbabwe, was involved in an accident.

Now, those close to their father, Anderson Kadungure, are now asking  WHY ALWAYS US?

Kadungure said he received the news of his daughter, Julie, while he was attending a funeral of a relative on Tuesday.

Julie died with more than 10 other passengers in the Trip Trans bus accident.

Kadungure said the first reports he received indicated that his daughter had survived the accident.

However, later reports advised him that she had died in the crash.

I was attending a funeral at my mothers village when I received a call at around 8pm.

Neria then called me at around 11pm saying Julie had lost her hand in the accident.

I could not sleep and just wept.

At around 3am, I heard a knock on the door and some women informed me that my daughter had passed away.

Her husband came here at around 4am and we had a meeting, said Kadungure.

Villagers thronged the Kadungure homestead in Domboshava yesterday, and virtually all of them were talking about the accident.

Ko vana zvovongoperera kufira mutsaona dzemumugwagwa kunge ngozi? Zvaita seiko nhai veduwee? a mourner said while paying condolences to Kadungure.

Family spokesperson, Noddy Kadungure, said burial arrangements will be announced in due course.

We have lost a hardworking and loving sister, said Noddy.

We have a team which went to Mozambique to process the documents and collect the body.

Burial arrangements will be announced in due course, he said.

A source close to the family told H-Metro that Julies husband pleaded with the Kadungure family to hold the funeral wake in Domboshava.

Julies husband is from Shurugwi. H Metro






Combat operations become more difficult in the winter months, but Ukraine intends to continue its offensive operations, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces Charles Brown said following a meeting in the Ramstein format.

"I think the  after hearing this morning but then also listening later this afternoon to all of the contributions by each of the nations, I do feel we're putting Ukraine in a good spot. I realize we're in the winter months, it gets more challenging, but Ukraine has intent to continue their offensive operations throughout the winter months. And I do believe, based on what I heard today from each of the nations, we're doing all of the right things to posture and to be successful," Brown said at a briefing with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in Brussels on the results of the 16th meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

As reported, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Mark Milley, on Friday, September 29, officially transferred his powers to his successor, General Charles Brown, who previously headed the Air Force.
SOUTH Africa is home to over one million Zimbabweans with many more still flocking to the neighbouring country to escape the deepening socio-economic crisis back home.

This was revealed in the 2022 Statistics South Africa census report released on Tuesday.

The statistics showed that there are 1 012 059 Zimbabweans in South Africa which translates to 41,85% of the total number of immigrants in that country.

Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi and the United Kingdom account for the next highest number of immigrants in South Africa, after Zimbabwe.

The five countries have retained their rankings since the 2011 census.

Most immigrants in South Africa are males and young adults aged 20 and 44.

Zimbabwe recorded the highest outflow of citizens leaving the country in 2021 comparedto the past, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) 2022 census report.

According to the 2022 ZimStat results, 908 914 people are living outside Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has in the past two years been battling an exodus of skilled and unskilled citizens, forcing neighbouring South Africa to put in place various mechanisms, including tightening its border security. Newsday
JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday said the Government is mulling regulating political parties in light of the opposition-triggered recalls in Parliament, which have proved to be costly on the economy as they are draining the fiscus.

This comes in the wake of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) recall of Members of Parliament barely two weeks after the opening of Parliament by President Mnangagwa.

CCC interim secretary general Mr recalled 15 National Assembly members and nine Senators as chaos continues to unfold in the beleaguered opposition party.

While there are contestations within the opposition following the latest wave of recalls, it appears for the past 10 years, the recalling of MPs and councillors has become the norm post-elections.

Following the 2013 elections, MDC-T recalled 21 MPs including Mr Tendai Biti after a group of legislators had called for leadership renewal within the party.

At the time the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was at the helm of the MDC-T.

In the post-2018 elections, the MDC Alliance was also rocked by another wave of recalls after Dr Thokozani Khupe assumed leadership of the opposition party before Mr Douglas Mwonzora took over its reins.

The main opposition now rebranded CCC led by Mr Nelson Chamisa is back to its default settings of recalling members claiming they no longer belong to the organisation.

Issues to do with the imposition of candidates and failure to have internal structures to address concerns are being attributed to divisions within the party.

Addressing the media in Harare yesterday, Mr Chamisa seemed to shift blame from his party, ordering elected CCC MPs and councillors not to perform their constitutional mandate.

In an interview yesterday, Minister Ziyambi said the recalls are a strain on the Treasury as the Government is forced to divert funds towards financing by-elections instead of forging ahead with development.

The Constitution and the Electoral Act state that when a vacancy occurs within 90 days we must go for an election. And when we go for an election, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must deploy people to do all the necessary preparations and this is an unnecessary expenditure that has to be borne by the taxpayers he said.

That money could have been used for development projects.

Minister Ziyambi said out of the 15 legislators who have been recalled, 12 of them have constituencies, which effectively calls for by-elections in the affected areas.

We could put this money to good use such as improving the road to Victoria Falls and paying our contractor. We now have to satisfy the constitutional requirements which require that we conduct by-elections within 90 days and mind you we are just coming from another election, he said.

Minister Ziyambi said to address some of the pitfalls that the opposition has brought, the country should start a conversation on regulating political parties.

Political parties are not regulated in the country and they just need to notify the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of their intention to contest.

I think going forward we need to have a discussion, conversations in ensuring that political parties are registered. They deposit their constitution and show that they are organised. The situation that obtains now is that we have had political parties that would just sprout towards elections, said Minister Ziyambi.

You have a coalition of individuals with no structure that is recognised and soon after elections they start fighting. You cant tell who is who, and perhaps what needs to be discussed is that let us have proper political party registration so that all those parties without structures will not be able to contest.

Political analyst Mr Methuseli Moyo said while the recalls are costly to the economy, they are a testimony that the opposition has not taken notes from its past mistakes.

The opposition does not seem to learn from history. Once more, they are at each others throats. Consequently, there might soon be by-elections, and this is an expense, he said.

From the opposition side, the by-elections may prove costly as some of the recalled MPs may lose the by-elections.

Mr Moyo said Mr Chamisas decision directing elected CCC officials to stop executing their roles shows his selfish endeavours.

He said the opposition should engage its members as opposed to posturing and bickering.

He must engage Tshabangu and others and rectify the issues that are the source of the conflict. The infighting in the CCC is of no governance matter, but structures in the party. Mr Chamisa must stop bullying fellow leaders and penalising the party, said Mr Moyo.

Constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku said in his view, the Constitutional provision allowing political parties to recall members is what is flawed.

The clause that parties can recall members must be removed from the Constitution. MPs are elected by the people and then recalled by the parties. So the problem is not within opposition parties, but the Constitution and that clause should be removed. Herald






Prompt action by a group of soldiers getting off their bus in Kuwadzana on Sunday night rescued a driver being robbed by a gang, leading to the arrest of two gang members on murder and armed robbery charges who were already wanted by police.

The soldiers, who had just disembarked from a service bus, saw a motorist being robbed by a four-man gang along the Harare-Bulawayo Road between Kuwadzana 6 and Dzivaresekwa.

They moved in and managed to arrest one of the suspects who later led police to another suspect.

Before Sundays arrest, the two armed robbers and their two accomplices who are still at large, had on September 22, allegedly attacked a driver who wanted to help his colleague who had run out of fuel along Harare-Bulawayo Road.

The driver, Talkmore Vinga, died on October 6 from injuries sustained in the attack.

Tafadzwa Chayambuka (29) and Simon Chihungwe (34), yesterday appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa facing robbery, murder and attempted murder charges.

Apart from allegedly killing Vinga, they are also accused of attempting to kill Freddy Chigumira on Sunday night after he had parked his vehicle along the same road before robbing him of his cellphone and US$1 200.

According to the State, on September 22 at around 10pm, the late Mr Vinga, a driver at a local company, was sent to Norton with 20 litres of diesel to rescue his colleague, Timothy Shambare, whose haulage truck had run out of fuel.

The haulage truck was refuelled with 10 litres of diesel and Shambare started driving towards Harare while Vinga followed.

The truck stopped again at the 14km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Road near Dzivaresekwa turn-off after it had run out of fuel again.

Mr Vinga took the remaining 10 litres of fuel and started walking towards the haulage truck and along the way, he was approached by Chayambuka and Chihungwe and their other two accomplices.

One of the gang hit him on the head with a stone and he fell down and became unconscious.

Mr Shambare who was standing by his haulage truck armed with spanners and a metal bar charged the gang and they fled.

Mr Shambare then phoned his employer who came to the scene and took Mr Vinga to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital where he was admitted and the matter was reported at ZRP Kuwadzana.

Mr Vinga died on October 6 and an autopsy showed that the death had been caused by injuries he sustained from the assault.

On the second count of attempted murder, allegations are that on Sunday at around 11.50am, Freddy Chigumira left Kuwadzana 6 shopping centre intending to go home driving his Mercedes Benz ML.

He turned into Bulawayo road facing towards town and briefly parked his motor vehicle and was then attacked by the same gang.

One of the gang armed with a stone smashed Chigumiras right front window and then hit him on the head, inflicting deep injuries and causing profuse bleeding. The gang demanded cash and valuables and Chigumira surrendered US$1 200 which was in his pocket to one of the accused persons.

One of the suspects then took his cellphone. During the robbery, the gang was disturbed by members of the Zimbabwe National Army who had just dropped off from their bus.

The soldiers then gave chase and apprehended Chayambuka who then led police to the arrest of Chihungwe. Herald






UPDATE

Oct 12, 2023 4:25 PM CDT

A 25-year-old man pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday in the fatal 2021 shooting of Chicago police officer Ella French. Eric Morgan received a term of seven years in prison after entering the plea to charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, battery, and obstruction of justice, the AP reports. Morgan's brother Emonte, who prosecutors say pulled the trigger, faces a first-degree murder trial scheduled for early in 2024. The officer's mother told the court that seven years was insufficient, per CBS News. Had he not accepted a plea deal, Eric Morgan could have been sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Aug 9, 2021 2:23 AM CDT

Two Chicago Police Department officers were shot as they conducted a traffic stop Saturday night, one fatally. Ella French, 29, had been with the department since 2018, the Chicago Tribune reports. "She was the epitome of a good Samaritan," says her brother. "She was a humanitarian. She believed in human rights. She was one of the officers on the force that thought they needed reform." The officers were shot at during the traffic stop and at least one returned fire; the other officer was also shot and is in critical condition, and one of the three suspects in the car was wounded. All three are in custody. Police say none of them have an extensive criminal history, but the alleged shooter does have a robbery record. It's not clear why the car was stopped, but police say bodycam footage will be analyzed.
There might be a way to know Parkinson's disease is progressing in people long before they sense the physical changes. Researchers in Australia injected patients with a synthetic compound formulated to bind to a protein in the brain known as VMAT2, the Guardian reports. A PET scan then can produce images that create an imaging biomarker that shows the strength and areas of activity of VMAT2, which has been linked to Parkinson's disease. The study's results were published Thursday in the international journal Neurology.

The subjects had two PET scans two years apart. The current method of detecting Parkinson's diseasewhich pretty much means asking people if they have any of the symptomsraised no concerns. But the PET scans reflected significant neuronal loss in three parts of the brain of people who had Parkinson's disease. Early detection could make a big difference in treatment. "Parkinson's disease is very hard to diagnose until symptoms are obvious, by which time, up to 85% of the brain's neurons that control motor coordination have been destroyed," said Kevin Barnham, a professor and the lead researcher of the project at the Florey Institute and Austin Health in Melbourne. "At that point, many treatments are likely to be ineffective."

Much earlier detection is the researchers' goal, per the Guardian. Mathematical modelling might at some point be able to detect Parkinson's disease as long as 30 years before symptoms appear, Barnham said. Such research on Parkinson's trails far behind the work on Alzheimer's disease, another Australian expert said, though Parkinson's is the fastest-growing neurological disease. There's a need for more Parkinson's knowledge. Barnham said it's often considered an affliction of old age, but it actually begins in midlife. It can be undetected for decades, he said. (Actor Michael J. Fox is among those hit early by Parkinson's.)
A Swedish court on Wednesday fined climate activist Greta Thunberg once again for disobeying police during an environmental protest in July in southern Sweden, reports the AP . The Malmo District Court ordered her to pay a 2,250 kroner ($206) fine. Thunberg, who already had been fined for a similar offense , took part in a July 24 environmental protest at an oil terminal in Malmo, where activists temporarily blocked access to the facility by sitting down and were removed by police. She was charged with disobedience to law enforcement for refusing to obey police asking her to leave the scene. She then was dragged away by two uniformed officers.

Thunberg, 20, has admitted to the facts but denied guilt, saying the fight against the fossil fuel industry was a form of self-defense due to the existential and global threat of the climate crisis. "We have the science on our side and we have morality on our side. Nothing in the world can change that and so it is. I am ready to act based on the conditions that exist and whether it leads to more sentences," she said after the verdict. On June 24, the same court fined her 2,500 kronor (about $230) for refusing to obey police orders when taking part in a similar demonstration the previous month where she and others blocked access to the same oil terminal days earlier and were removed by police.

On Thursday, the Swede is due to travel to neighboring Norway to take part in a protest with activists, including Indigenous Sami. They're protesting a wind farm of 151 turbines and want it removed because they say it endangers the reindeer herders' way of life. The activists say a transition to green energy shouldn't come at the expense of the rights of Indigenous people. Two years ago, Norway's Supreme Court ruled that the construction of the turbines had violated the rights of the Sami, who have used the land for reindeer for centuries. The Norwegian government has no plans to remove the wind farm. Thunberg burst onto the global scene in 2018 when she began staging weekly protests outside the Swedish Parliament.

(Read more Greta Thunberg stories.)
Scottish police are reexamining three unsolved murders attributed to the country's most notorious alleged serial killer following an award-winning BBC podcast that suggested a police coverup. Journalist Audrey Gillan's Bible John: Creation of the Serial Killer , released in late 2022, told how Helen Puttock, Jemima MacDonald, and Patricia Docker were each killed after leaving Glasgow's Barrowland Ballroom in 1968 and 1969, per the Independent . Police hunted for a killer dubbed Bible John because he quoted scripture while sharing a taxi with Puttock and her sister shortly before Puttock was killed on Oct. 30, 1969. Police never made an arrest. However, the series claimed the police chief in charge of the investigation knew and concealed Bible John's true identity.

According to the podcast, evidence pointed to the man being John Irvine McInnes, the cousin of senior police officer Jimmy McInnes, but senior police chief Joe Beattie, a good friend of Jimmy McInnes, ensured his name was kept out of official records. Police interviewed more than 7,000 people, taking 4,000 statements, in one of Scotland's largest investigations ever. By the time John Irvine McInnes' name finally surfaced, he was already dead. He died by suicide in 1980. His body was exhumed in 1995 so his DNA could be compared with a sample taken from Puttock's clothing but the result was inconclusive. Still, the detectives who revisited the case in 1995 said McInnes would've been arrested if he'd been alive, per the BBC.

A rep for Police Scotland now says "we are assessing the contents of a recent podcast in consultation with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service," per the Guardian. The rep adds "any new information" about the deaths of Puttock, MacDonald, and Docker "will be investigated." Family members of the victims say police informed them of their plans. "That was a bit of a bombshell," MacDonald's youngest son, Allan Mottley, tells the BBC. "I never imagined that they would get to this." Still, "I am not expecting that much, to be honest," says Mottley. He notes police "might openly admit these murders were not investigated properly in the first place and we might get an apology." (Read more cold cases stories.)
Harrowing stories are continuing to emerge from the surprise Hamas attack on Israel, which killed at least 1,200 people. Hours after troops took full control of the Kfar Aza kibbutz on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Itai Veruv told CNN there had been a "massacre" in the small farming community near the Gaza border, which was overrun by Hamas fighters early Saturday. "We see blood spread out in homes. We've found bodies of people who have been butchered, "Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Maj. Libby Weiss tells CBS News . "The depravity of it is haunting."

Weiss said some of the soldiers who first reached Kfar Aza reported seeing "beheaded children of varying ages, ranging from babies to slightly older children." Charles Stratford at Al Jazeera reported seeing "utterly horrific" scenes in the kibbutz when the press was allowed to enter as bodies were being removed. He said the bodies of many civilians were still in the homes where they were killed, while the bodies of Hamas fighters were outside, "bloated by the sun." Yossi Landau, regional director of the Zaka rescue group, said he saw beheaded children and infants, along with the bodies of parents and children who had their hands bound and showed signs of torture.

President Biden, addressing a roundtable with Jewish community leaders at the White House on Wednesday, called the attack "the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust," the AP reports. "This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but pure cruelty, against the Jewish people," the president said. "I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children." The State Department said Wednesday that the number of American citizens killed in the attack has risen to 22, reports the BBC. After days of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, the health ministry says the death toll is now 1,050, with more than 5,100 injured. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
A California man left the state in the early 1970s to look for gold in Nevada, and eventually disappeared. In 1982, a body was found outside Kingman, Arizona. And now, decades later, authorities have determined the body is that of the California man, Virgil Renner. It's not clear how or when he got to Arizona from Nevada, AZCentral reports. When his body was found, an autopsy determined it was that of a white male around age 55 who died sometime between 1979 and 1981, but not much else could be determined, ABC 10 reports. His remains lay unclaimed in the Tucson medical examiner's office until 2020, when they were brought to the Mohave County medical examiner's office by a special investigations unit.
An Alabama woman accused of falsely telling police she was abducted after stopping to check on a toddler wandering along the highway is appealing her municipal court conviction in an effort to avoid a yearlong jail sentence sought by prosecutors, the AP reports. A municipal judge on Wednesday found Carlee Russell, 26, guilty of misdemeanor charges of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. The guilty judgement came after Russell's attorneys agreed to "stipulate and appeal" the casea legal maneuver to move the case to circuit court where proceedings will start anew.

Russell's summer disappearanceand her story of being abducted after stopping her car to check on the childcaptivated the nation before police called it a hoax. Flanked by her family and attorneys, Russell made her first court appearance Wednesday amid a heavy media presence, news outlets reported. Defense attorney Richard Jaffe said in a telephone interview they do not think jail time is appropriate. He said they agreed to an arrangement called "stipulate and appeal." It is a court agreement in which a defendant acknowledges the evidence against them, a guilty decision is entered and the case is appealed to the circuit court.

"We've requested a jury trial. That gives us an opportunity between now and then to explore all of our options and to try to work something out with the prosecution that does not involve jail time but does involve a fair restitution amount," Jaffe said. News outlets reported that prosecutors are seeking a year of jail time. Russell's attorneys said they don't think she should serve jail time for a misdemeanor offense. "We don't think jail time for a first-offender with a class A misdemeanor is reasonable because that just doesn't happen," Jaffe said. Jaffe said he understands that state prosecutors want jail time as a deterrent to potential future hoaxes. But he added that a conviction, restitution and the publicity surrounding the case will also have a deterrent effect.

(Read more Alabama stories.)
Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding positions in Avdiyivka (Donetsk region), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his Telegram channel on Thursday.

"Avdiyivka. We hold our positions. It is Ukrainian courage and unity that determine how the war will end. Everyone must remember this," he said.

Earlier it was reported about attacks by Russian troops on Ukrainian positions in Avdiyivka area.
UPDATE

Oct 18, 2023 1:00 AM CDT

Authorities say Kaitlin Marie Armstrong prepared for her recent escape attempt for months, "running, doing squats and yoga," as shown on surveillance video from the jail where she is imprisoned on charges that she murdered star cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson because Wilson was involved with Armstrong's boyfriend. Armstrong allegedly faked a leg injury so that jail guards would take her to an orthopedics clinic without placing her in leg restraints, Fox News reports. She is accused of using a metal pin and part of a spool of dental floss to pick lock on her handcuffs, and of then removing her distinctive jail pants, underneath which she was wearing thermal underwear. During her 10 minutes on the run, part of which was captured on bystander video, she allegedly injured two guards. At one point, a guard tackled her as she attempted to scale a 6-foot fence; both fell to the ground before she successfully got over and ran.

Oct 12, 2023 12:30 AM CDT

The woman accused of murdering star cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson allegedly tried to escape from custody Wednesday. Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, who authorities say fled to Costa Rica after allegedly murdering the elite cyclist in Texas last year, has been in custody since June 2022, more than a month after Wilson's murder. After being taken to a medical appointment Wednesday morning, the Travis County Sheriff's Office tells CNN, "As she and two corrections officers were exiting the medical building ... Armstrong ran. The officers pursued her on foot for approximately 10 minutes without ever losing sight of her." She made it about a block into a nearby neighborhood, USA Today reports.
Dozens of Harvard student groups signed a letter that put the blame for the surprise Hamas attack squarely on Israel's shoulders, and now at least a dozen CEOs are calling for the university to name the students involved in those groups so that the execs can avoid hiring them in the future. Per CNN and the New York Post , the letter says that the groups "hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence. ... The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years." The letter says millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been "forced to live in an open-air prison" and adds that Harvard should "take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians."

The names of the groups that signed have since been removed from the letter due to safety concerns; the Harvard Crimson reports that students affiliated with the groups have been doxxed, with their names appearing on at least four websites as well as on a billboard truck that drove on the streets near campus Wednesday showing not only names but faces. Amid the backlash, at least eight groups had formally withdrawn their signature, and some student members of some groups had come forward to distance themselves from the letter. The group that initially penned the letter also put out a subsequent statement saying it "staunchly opposes" any violence against civilians. Meanwhile, at New York University, a law student who similarly blamed Israel in a message on the Student Bar Association bulletin had a job offer rescinded, the New York Times reports. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
Gaza's only power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday amid what Israel calls a "complete siege"and the country's energy minister says supplies won't be restored until Hamas frees the hostages seized during its surprise attack Saturday. "Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home," Israel Katz tweeted, per the AP. The border crossing between Gaza and Egypt remains closed but UNICEF says it is ready to send urgently needed supplies.

Hospitals losing power. Aid groups have warned of a growing humanitarian crisis, with hospitals overwhelmed with people injured in airstrikes set to run out of fuel for their generators. Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, called the siege "not acceptable," the New York Times reports. "As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can't be taken," he said. "Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues."
"The House GOP's hoped-for moment of unity never materialized" Wednesday as Republicans picked Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana for speaker only to find at least a dozen of their members opposed, per Politico . Scalise nabbed just 50.7% of the House GOP conference's support, illustrating a clear division among Republicans. Reps. Thomas Massie, Max Miller, Lloyd Smucker, Carlos Gimenez, Chip Roy, Nancy Mace, and others have said Scalise won't get their vote. Some members continue to support Scalise's challenger, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, even though he's reportedly vowed to support Scalise. Given the Republicans' slim majority, Scalise can only afford to lose four GOP votes. Democrats plan to vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Initially, Scalise thought he'd have the job wrapped up by Wednesday night. He and his allies told supporters they believed he would prevail in a full House vote by that time, per Politico. But "I just don't think Steve's got the votes," Rep. Barry Moore of Alabama told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. Moore voted for Scalise but later announced he would support Jordan. Some Jordan supportersReps. Miller, Smucker, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert among them, per Axiosbelieve that by voting against Scalise, they can provide another pathway for Jordan to emerge as speaker. Massie told reporters that more than 20 Republicans are prepared to oppose Scalise, a shooting survivor who's battling blood cancer.

They cite "the lack of a plan to fund the government, no plan to change how Washington works, anger that [former House Speaker Kevin] McCarthy lost the job, and opposition to giving the next person in line a promotion," per the Washington Post. They also cite Scalise's opposition to a proposed rule change that would've forced Republicans to vote behind closed doors until a nominee for speaker earned 217 votes. Allies of McCarthy, who's long feuded with Scalise, even suggested voting for him Wednesday, per the Post. But McCarthy urged members to support Jordan, per the New York Times. "It all amounts to a sense that the House GOP conference is free-falling into a longer limbo" even "as Washington clamors for action to address the conflict in Israel and a shutdown deadline looms," per Politico. (Read more speaker of the House stories.)
Sam Bankman-Fried's former top executive, testifying in Manhattan federal court Wednesday, blamed the FTX founder for corrupting her values so she could lie and steal and got emotional when describing the cryptocurrency empire's final days, saying the collapse of his businesses resulted in a "relief that I didn't have to lie anymore." Caroline Ellison, who eventually was made chief executive of Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency hedge fund, Alameda Research, blamed the man she was entwined with romantically for several years since 2018 for creating justifications so that she could do things that she now admits were wrong and illegal, the AP reports. On Tuesday, she testified that he had directed her to break the law .

Testifying for a second day, she recalled that Bankman-Fried said he wanted to do the greatest good for the most people and that rules like "don't lie" or "don't steal" must sometimes be set aside, effectively that the ends justified the means. Assistant US Attorney Danielle Sassoon asked Ellison how she was affected by Bankman-Fried's philosophy. "I think it made me more willing to do things like lie and steal over time," she said. Ellison spent much of the last two days walking the jury through how she, at Bankman-Fried's direction, repeatedly had to tap into the customer deposits at FTX to solve problems at the hedge fund or at the exchange.

FTX deposits would be withdrawn to pay for new investments or political donations, or to hide steep losses on Alameda's balance sheet, she testified. All of this was done at the direction of Bankman-Fried. After several hours on the witness stand, Ellison got choked up as she described the final days of FTX and Alameda, saying that the early November period before the businesses filed for bankruptcy "was overall the worst week of my life." Still, she said she felt bad for "all the people harmed" when there wasn't enough money left for all of FTX's customers and Alameda's lenders.

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Ellison revealed that she had to doctor balance sheets to try to hide that Alameda was borrowing about $10 billion from FTX customers in June 2022, when the cryptocurrency market was falling dramatically and some lenders were demanding that Alameda return their investments in full. Ellison said she was in a "constant state of dread" at that point, fearful that a rush of customer withdrawals from FTX couldn't be met or that what they had done would become public. The crash came months later. Ellison, 28, pleaded guilty to fraud charges in December, when Bankman-Fried was extradited to the United States from the Bahamas. She is expected to be cross-examined on Thursday.

(Read more Sam Bankman-Fried stories.)
While revealing new details about one of the most famed CIA operations of all timesthe spiriting out of six American diplomats who escaped the 1979 US Embassy seizure in Iranthe intelligence agency for the first time has acknowledged something else as well. The CIA now officially describes the 1953 coup it backed in Iran that overthrew its elected prime minister and cemented the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as undemocratic, the AP reports. Other American officials have made similar remarks in the past, but the CIA's acknowledgment in a podcast about the agency's history comes as much of its official history of the coup remains classified 70 years after the putsch.

The CIA's "Langley Files" podcast focused two recent episodes on the story of the six American diplomats' escape, a caper retold in the 2012 Academy Award-winning film Argo. In a brief exchange during the podcast, CIA spokesman and podcast host Walter Trosin cites the claims of agency historians that the majority of the CIA's clandestine activities in its history "bolstered" popularly elected governments. "We should acknowledge, though, that this is, therefore, a really significant exception to that rule," Trosin says of the 1953 coup. CIA historian Brent Geary, appearing on the podcast, agrees. "This is one of the exceptions to that," Geary says.

From the US side, the CIA's hand in the coup quickly was revealed as a success of Cold War espionage, though historians in recent years have debated just how much influence the agency's actions had. It also led the CIA into a series of further coups in other countries, including Guatemala, where American clandestine action in 1954 installed a military dictator and sparked a 40-year civil war that likely killed some 245,000 people. That's led to an American political reappraisal of the 1953 CIA action in Iran. Then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright acknowledged the US' "significant role" in the coup in 2000. Then-President Obama, speaking in Cairo in 2009, described the CIA's work as leading to the "overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government."

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But despite a series of American historical documents being made public, including a major tranche of State Department papers in 2017, large portions of that CIA reappraisal remain heavily redacted despite attempts to legally pry them loose by the George Washington University-based National Security Archive. Further complicating any historical reckoning is the CIA's own admission that many files related to the 1953 coup likely had been destroyed in the 1960s. In response to questions from the AP, Iran's mission to the United Nations described the 1953 coup as marking "the inception of relentless American meddling in Iran's internal affairs" and dismissed the US acknowledgments.

(Read more CIA stories.)
The fallout continues for those criticizing Israel's role in violence that has killed 2,500 people since Saturday. A law firm has rescinded a job offer to the president of New York University's Student Bar Association after the law student claimed "Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life" that began over the weekend with Hamas' surprise attack on the country. In an SBA newsletter shared Tuesday, Ryna Workman wrote that Israel's "regime of state-sanctioned violence" against the Palestinian people "created the conditions that made resistance necessary," per the New York Times . "I will not condemn Palestinian resistance," added Workman.

Within hours, NYU Law School Dean Troy McKenzie issued a statement saying the message did not speak for the law school or its leadership, while Winston & Strawn, one of the largest and oldest law firms in Chicago, announced it would rescind its job offer to the unnamed student whose "inflammatory comments ... profoundly conflict" with its values. "Winston stands in solidarity with Israel's right to exist in peace and condemns Hamas and the violence and destruction it has ignited in the strongest terms possible," it said, per Bloomberg Law, adding it continues to work "to eradicate anti-Semitism in all forms." Workman worked as a summer associate in the law firm's New York office, according to a now-deleted LinkedIn page.

More fallout was apparent by Tuesday evening as the SBA began the process of removing Workman as president by circulating a "vote of no confidence" survey, per the Times. The group said Workman's message, which had not been reviewed by group members before it was published, had triggered outrage to that point that "multiple students have received significant targeted harassment and death threats." This is just one high-profile case of individuals facing backlash for their responses to the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. Some CEOs have vowed not to hire Harvard students affiliated with a letter that similarly blamed Israel "for all unfolding violence." (Read more New York University stories.)
The only Palestinian American in Congress is facing a censure motion over her remarks on the Hamas attack on Israel, but Rep. Rashida Tlaib rejects suggestions that she has sympathies for the extremists. The Democrat, whose Michigan district includes parts of Detroit, tells the Detroit Free Press that she considers the actions of Hamas, including the mass killing of civilians and the threat to execute hostages, to be war crimes. "It's a war crime just like the collective punishment of Palestinians right now is a war crime," she says. Tlaib was among members of "the Squad" who denounced the violence but also described Israel as an "apartheid" state and called for an end to "unconditional funding" from the US.

Tlaib, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, says there's no defense for the horrific violence of Hamasor for retribution against civilians in Gaza. The censure motion was filed by another lawmaker from Michigan, Republican Rep. Jack Bergman. In a statement, he accused Tlaib of placing the blame for the atrocities "solely on Israel and the Jewish people," CBS News reports. "There is no moral equivalence between Israel defending itself and Hamas attacking innocent Israeli civilians," he said. "Tlaib's long history of antisemitic tropes and blatant anti-Jewish propaganda is both disturbing and eviland should have no place in the halls of Congress.

Tlaib, whose remarks were also criticized by some Democrats, tells the Free Press that critics are twisting her words. "I'm the only Palestinian voice right now in Congress," she says. "If anything, my voice is needed here more than ever. This is an attempt to silence my voice because I want the violence to stop, no matter whether it's toward Israelis or toward Palestinians." She says she wishes Bergman had called her to discuss his concerns. "Much of what I'm hearing from Jack and a number of other colleagues is rooted in bigotry, that somehow because of my ethnicity and my faith that I support terrorism," she says, adding that she doesn't plan to stop criticizing Israel's policies, though it will be "incredibly difficult." (Read more Rashida Tlaib stories.)
UPDATE

Oct 23, 2023 4:22 PM CDT

Sen. Bob Menendez pleaded not guilty Monday to a new federal charge filed in a superseding indictment earlier this month. The Democrat, who pleaded not guilty to bribery charges in September, entered a not guilty plea to a charge that he conspired to act as a foreign agent of Egypt, CNN reports. The hearing lasted less than five minutes and Menendez left the Manhattan federal courthouse without speaking to reporters, the AP reports. Menendez, the senior senator from New Jersey, has stepped down as chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but has resisted calls from dozens of his fellow Democrats to resign from the Senate.

Oct 12, 2023 11:54 AM CDT

More trouble for Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey: Federal prosecutors have rewritten their indictment against the senator to accuse him of acting as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt. The superseding indictment, filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, accuses Menendez of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people to register with the US government if they are acting as "an agent of a foreign principal." His wife, Nadine Menendez, is similarly charged, as is a third defendant, Wael Hana, per the New York Times. As a member of Congress, Menendez would have been prohibited from being an agent of a foreign government, even if he did register as one. The indictment says the conspiracy occurred from January 2018 to June 2022.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the "reign of terror" of Hamas as he traveled to Israel on Thursday to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu as well as the families of Americans killed or taken hostage. As Israel inched closer to a ground invasion, Blinken also urged restraint, notes the New York Times, saying "every possible precaution to prevent harming civilians" should be taken. Developments:

The US raised the number of Americans killed in the Hamas attacks to 27 and said 14 remained unaccounted for, reports the AP. The number of Israeli fatalities rose to 1,300.

The UN warned of a "humanitarian disaster" unfolding in Gaza, with more than 330,000 people displaced in six days of bombing. Israel also has cut off water and electricity to the region. "We are running out of supplies in every way," a doctor at one Gaza hospital tells the BBC.
The number of victims among Ukrainian citizens in Israel has increased to seven people, nine citizens were injured of varying degrees of severity, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko has said.

"The number of dead Ukrainians in Israel has increased to seven people. The consuls have established their personal data, are in contact with relatives and are taking measures to repatriate the bodies. Nine citizens were injured of varying degrees of severity. Another nine Ukrainians are considered missing," Nikolenko said on Facebook.

He said the Ukrainian embassy is interacting with Israeli security services in the context of searching for missing persons.
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Tim Doran was just reelected to his third term in Seat E on the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Board of Education. Doran has served on the school board for the last six years and was the former principal of Denali Elementary School where he worked for 23 years. Doran is a resident of Fairbanks.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, highlighted the Kingdoms commitment to further strengthening Bahrain-US relations at all levels.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister was speaking as he met yesterday with US Senator Cory Booker, and a delegation comprising members of the US Congress, at Riffa Palace.

HRH Prince Salman affirmed the strength of cooperation between Bahrain and the US. His Royal Highness noted that bilateral visits and the signing of agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoUs), such as the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), have further enhanced Bahrain-US relations to achieve mutual aspirations.

Mutual commitment



The Deputy King emphasised the two countries mutual commitment to further opportunities, cooperation, and strategic partnerships to benefit all. HRH Prince Salman commended the USs pivotal role, alongside allied countries, in safeguarding global security and promoting peace.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister affirmed the Kingdoms support for regional and global efforts to promote peace and stability. During the meeting, regional and global developments, issues of common interest, and ways to further Bahrain-US cooperation were also discussed.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, also attended the meeting.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Polytechnic, represented by Chief Executive Officer Professor Ciaran OCathain, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the IEEE-Bahrain Section with the aim of enhancing collaboration between the two parties in ways that lead to the promotion of innovations and technological excellence in all electrical, electronic, information technology and related fields.

Under this agreement, Bahrain Polytechnic and the IEEE-Bahrain Section will work closely together to provide extensive technical support for conferences and other research and student-driven initiatives.

By leveraging the expertise and resources available within the IEEE-Bahrain Section, Bahrain Polytechnic seeks to create an environment that nurtures innovation, encourages research, and fosters collaboration among students and industry professionals.

On this occasion, Prof. OCathain said: The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bahrain Polytechnic and the IEEE-Bahrain Section, is marking a new milestone in collaborative efforts to advance the research and educational process and provide comprehensive support for student activities.

This agreement builds upon previous successful partnerships and exemplifies the institutions commitment to fostering excellence in education and technical advancements. On her part, Professor Christina Georgantopoulou, Dean of EDICT, said: This progressive collaboration reflects the commitment of both institutions to cultivating a vibrant learning ecosystem, where students can gain practical exposure, connect with industry leaders, and contribute to the advancement of technology.

By synergising their strengths, Bahrain Polytechnic and the IEEE-Bahrain Section are poised to create a transformative educational experience that prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

The signing ceremony was attended by Prof. OCathain, Prof. Georgantopoulou, Dr. Vasileios Paliktzoglou, Dean of Applied Research and Innovation Dr. Philippe Pringuet, and a delegation from the IEEE-Bahrain Section including the IEEE-Section Chair Dr. Adel Abdulla Al Refaei, Vice Chair Dr. Ali Hussain Zolait, Treasurer and Head of Community Engagement Prof. Husham Ahmed Bu Zaid.
First evacuation flight for Ukrainian citizens from Israel being prepared for Oct 14  MFA

Diplomats are preparing the first evacuation flight for Ukrainian citizens from Israel to Romania for Saturday, October 14, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko said.

"More than 1,000 Ukrainian citizens have asked for help in leaving Israel due to cancelled flights. Diplomats are preparing the first evacuation flight to Romania for Saturday, October 14. We are working on organizing additional evacuation flights," Nikolenko said on Facebook.

The Foreign Ministry said the details will be sent to citizens who provide their data to the Ukrainian embassy in Tel Aviv.

In addition, about 200 Ukrainians have expressed their desire to evacuate from the Gaza Strip, but due to insecurity, leaving is not yet possible.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukrainian embassies in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, as well as other involved Ukrainian departments are making active efforts to extract our people as soon as possible," Nikolenko said.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is looking at the United States as a key tourism market, said Dr. Nasser Qaedi, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), as he outlined the opportunities the Kingdom has in developing the sector.

Dr Qaedi further underscored the commitment of both the Ministry of Tourism and the BTEA to support global tourism industry development, emphasising the importance of connecting with nations and organisations in the tourism sector, participating in tourism events, and sharing expertise.

He shared these insights during a meeting with a delegation of US Congress staff, providing a comprehensive overview of Bahrains tourism sector.

Dr Nasser Qaedi told the delegates that the tourism sector in the Kingdom plays a pivotal role in realising the governments economic recovery plan, initiated in October 2021.

He further emphasised the sectors importance as a key component of the recovery plan and elaborated on Bahrains tourism strategy for the years 2022-2026.

This strategy is designed to double the tourism sectors contribution to the GDP, diversify tourism offerings, and attract a more diverse and international range of tourists.

The top official also highlighted the achievements of the BTEA, outlining various initiatives and programmes aimed at enhancing the performance of Bahrains tourism sector.

Dr Qaedi showcased key commercial and investment tourism projects underway and planned across various governorates in Bahrain, recognising the United States as a vital tourism market and stressing the importance of nurturing the long-standing relations between the two nations.
Interior Minister: Some 59 people killed from missile strike in Hroza, all dead been identified

The number of victims of a missile attack on a cafe in the village of Hroza in Kharkiv region was 59 people, 19 were identified using mobile laboratories, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko said.

"Police criminologists have identified all those killed as a result of a missile attack on a cafe in Kharkiv region. Some 59 people were killed by the Russians with a direct hit from Iskander in the village of Hroza," the minister said in his Telegram channel on Thursday.

According to him, all the victims are local residents. "Pensioners, doctors, farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs. All of them were civilians. Entire families of several generations died," Klymenko said.

He said 19 people were identified using mobile DNA laboratories.

"For six days, police forensic scientists took samples from relatives around the clock, created profiles and looked for a match between the fragments," the head of the department said.

Klymenko said one of the dead, a 60-year-old man, was identified by forensic scientists using 20 body parts. Two more were identified using personal belongings seized from the victims' homes because they had no direct relatives to compare DNA profiles with.

"Investigators and criminologists of Kharkiv police have carried out colossal and unprecedented work, including due to modern mobile DNA laboratories. Without them, the process of identifying so many bodies and fragments would have taken about a year," the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.




Paul Ibe, media adviser to Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to personally clarify the discrepancies in his academic records.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ibe said it took Abubakar 24 hours to explain the discrepancy in his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate when confronted by critics.

Abubakar's WAEC certificate bears "Siddiq" and has since sparked forgery allegation controversy on social media.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last elections explained that he used the name "Siddiq" when he wrote his WAEC in 1968.

The former vice-president added that he later deposed to an affidavit to declare that "Abubakar Sadiq" and "Atiku Abubakar" are the same person.

Ibe said Abubakar's explanation and display of the affidavit to back his claim "shows an example of an upright man".

"Every elementary student of Islamic civilization will not find it hard to decipher that both Siddiq and Atiku are names that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) gave to his bosom friend, Caliph Abubakar. Therefore, Siddiq and Atiku are names that have a historical link to one person in Islamic theology," the statement reads.

"Atiku Abubakar, knowing full well the importance of proper documentation, went ahead in 1973, more than 50 years ago to depose to an affidavit that he would wish to be known officially as Atiku Abubakar and still keeps the original copy of that affidavit up to this day.

"However, while it has only taken Atiku less than 24 hours to come out with full disclosure on his public records, President Tinubu has lived behind the veil for more than half of a century."

Abubakar is challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 poll and the judgement of the tribunal that upheld the president's victory on September 6.

He has consistently claimed that Tinubu's educational records are fraught with discrepancies and forgeries.

His request for the US court for the northern district of Illinois to compel Chicago State University (CSU) to release Tinubu's academic records has since been granted.

Abubakar has applied to the supreme court to file fresh evidence from his discovery of the president's academic records against him.
A former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie has slammed the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi over his remark on President Bola Tinubus certificate saga.

Onochie said Obi who failed as governor of Anambra State cant criticize Tinubu.

During the press conference, Obi said the world would see Nigerians as fraudsters, forgers, and identity thieves.

The former Anambra State governor charged Tinubu to reveal his true identity.

Reacting, Onochie posted on X, Dear Peter Obi, you have shamelessly just gone on national TV to call on the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to reveal his identity to Nigerians and the world.

This is the most idiotic request, Nigerians have had the misfortune of hearing from one, whose advisers are people with mental health issues.

If you can come on national TV, to question the identity of a man who was cleared by all our security operatives to become a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thats enough justification and validation for your resounding rejection at the polls in 2023.

We watched carefully, to see if a gun was pointed at you as you demand for the identity of a man who was scrutinised and cleared by the Security operatives in Nigeria to run for the highest office of the land. But there was none. You did it on your own.

Go home, Peter. You will NEVER be declared President of our great nation. Apart from the simple fact that you came a distant third, you dont deserve to lead our nation.

Your temperament and disposition are not the attributes needed to lead a diverse nation such as Nigeria. You failed Anambra. You cant even lead the South East! Under your nose, South East became a war zone.

A once vibrant economy built on hard work, destroyed. Lives and properties, ruined. Shelf your desperation. Your ambition is beyond what you deserve. It will never come to pass.
Following the resignation of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila from the House of Representatives on June 14, 2023, to assume his new role in the Presidency, the seat of House of Representatives representing Surulere 1 Federal Constituency, Lagos became vacant.

President Bola Tinubu received the APC House of Representatives hopeful for Surulere 1 federal constituency, Lagos, Mr. Fuad Laguda alongside the Chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and Acting Chief of Staff to the Speaker House of Representatives, Mr. Lanre Smart at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

A Presidency source, who spoke in confidence, said: The President on Wednesday received his kinsman, Fuad Laguda from Lagos where he admonished him to make the people of Surulere and Lagos proud just as the former Surulere representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila did, he said his chief of staff represented the constituency well, the President advised him to campaign very well and bring the victory home to APC whenever INEC reschedules the election.

The President acknowledges Laguda as a tax and finance expert who has cut his teeth in grassroots politics in the state while he emphasized that Laguda must reach out to all stakeholders for support.

The APC House of Representatives hopeful is said to have the support of majority of APC members and residents of the Surulere area of Lagos.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had issued an earlier notice of election to political parties for the bye-election into Chibok State Constituency of Borno state, Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna, Surulere 1 federal constituency, Lagos and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency of Taraba state slating the elections for 19th August, 2023.

After the close of sales of forms by the APC headquarters on July 21, 2023, only Mr Laguda purchased the form to contest for the Surulere 1, federal constituency, Lagos seat.




Popular On-Air-personality, Kayode Ojuolape Oladotun, known as Do2dtun, has again called out his ex-wife, Omotayo and her family for denying him access to their kids.





It was reported that the duo got married in 2013 and the marriage produced two children.





Omotayo had in 2022 filed for separation over forced abortion, domestic violence and emotional abuse.





Do2dtun in June 2023, during the occasion of Fathers Day celebration, claimed it had been 10 months since he set his eyes on his children.





However, the custody dispute between the two is growing messier by the day, as the OAP has once more criticized Omotayo for not allowing him access to the kids, since he was granted divided custody in June 2022.





In a lengthy post on his Instagram page on Thursday, Do2dtun vowed to fight for his right to be present in their daughters lives.





Sharing court documents showing that a judge ruled in his favour, granting him divided child custody with Omotayo, he wrote:





This was ruled on the 6th of July 2022. My Lawyers help me here, please. This is just a snippet. I have waited a whole year dealing with you and your familys wickedness. I am ready to fight.





As court no gree rule for the contempt of court for over a year. Its time for me to be my own judge and jury. I am ready to fight for my right to be in their lives. I took it for those kids even if you tried and tried to ruin me but e no work. Fife and Fiore I am sorry. Daddy is fed up of playing safe and reasonable anymore.





Note: no friend or family member should reach out to me.




German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius has offered his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant further support following the unprecedented killing of Israeli civilians by the Islamist militant group, Hamas.





On Wednesday evening, Germany gave the green light to Israel to use two of its Heron TP combat drones in its attacks on the Gaza Strip.





The German Ministry of Defence announced that it has approved an Israeli request to use unmanned aerial vehicles in the fight against the Islamist group Hamas.





Germanys armed forces, the Bundeswehr, currently leases five of the drones from the Israeli arms manufacturer which builds them.





Two of the aircraft are in Israel, where German soldiers are trained to use them.





German news magazine, Der Spiegel reported that Israel has suspended the training of the German pilots while the drones are redeployed.





Pistorius, speaking on the fringes of a meeting of NATO defence ministers earlier on Wednesday, had said if the situation worsened, Israel would consult with its partners.





Germany is ready to help, including delivering humanitarian aid if Israel requested it, he said.





Previously, Israeli officials had said that they do not need support of a military or technical nature, Pistorius said.





It is about political support, he added.





Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, launched a large-scale attack against Israel on Saturday.





Israel responded with ongoing airstrikes on the densely populated coastal enclave.
Reno Omokri, a sociopolitical activist, has criticized the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for backing Israel in the ongoing war between the country and Hamas, an Islamic Resistance Movement.

Pastor Adeboye had, in a short video posted on Wednesday through his official X handle, said God will grant Israel absolute victory over Hamas.

According to him, no one will ever again disrupt the peace of Israel.

Adeboyes comments came after Jordan had backed Hamas in the war against Israel.

Reacting, Omokri, in a post via his X account, faults Adeboyes comment, insisting that a greater percentage of Palestinians are Christians than the Israeli population.

He tweeted, But, sir @PastorEAAdeboye, what about our brothers and sisters in Palestine? A greater percentage of Palestinians are Christians than the Israeli population. Half a million of them, to be precise. Doesnt the Bible, in Galatians 6:10, ask us to first show love to members of the household of faith before others? Perhaps they may feel abandoned that your message did not even mention them. If I were a Palestinian and saw your message, I would sink into further despair.

Acts 10:34 says God does not show partiality. But sir, are we not being partial when we pray for Israel and ignore Palestine? Perhaps it is an oversight.

Sir, I have been to Palestine. I will not wish their condition on my own enemy. They are Gods children, too. Dont they deserve our love and prayers and every possible non-military support we can rouse to alleviate their tremendous human suffering?

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has escalated, resulting in total military warfare in the Gaza Strip since Saturday.

According to a report from humanitarian bodies, the war had already claimed over 2,300 lives on both sides.
Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd, a leading Swiss international wealth manager, has identified opportunities in the GCC region and potential investment recovery in 2024, despite notable challenges.

The path forward for the GCC will be underscored by Dubais leading position in driving innovation and economic development in the Middle East, said Samy Chaar, Chief Economist at Lombard Odier.

The evolving landscape of the oil sector, coupled with monetary policy adjustments, hinted at a potential recovery in 2024. Robust fiscal surpluses and ample reserves continue to bolster stability and support ongoing public investment, he said.

Aligning with sustainability

Dr Michael Urban, Chief Sustainability Strategist at Lombard Odier, said: As the world grapples with economic transitions towards sustainability, the spotlight has firmly been on Dubai, particularly as it hosts COP28 this year. Sustainability is no longer an optional consideration but a fundamental investment conviction. It's a dynamic force reshaping global economies. As we approach COP28, the integration of climate goals with food and energy security imperatives presents a compelling landscape for financial markets, ripe with both risks and opportunities. The future of investment lies in aligning with sustainability.

Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd had successfully hosted its inaugural Investment Day in Dubai. The exclusive event gathered financial experts and industry leaders to explore the critical intersections of sustainability and economic transition.

The event offered profound insights into Dubais critical position as the hub for investments and innovation amid the shifting economic landscape.

Expansion plans

The Investment Day not only marks Lombard Odier's 50-year presence in the Middle East but also signifies a major step in its expansion plans in the region.

The event brought together distinguished guests, including Sahia Ahmad, CEO of the Regulatory Policy & Governance Sector at Dubai's Department of Economy & Tourism, and Deepa Raja Carbon, Managing Director & Vice Chair of the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.

The discussions provided unique perspectives on how investors can harness opportunities in the environmental transition while adeptly navigating the uncertainties of evolving geopolitical dynamics, climate change and technological advancements.

Amer Malik, Head of Middle East International & Senior Executive Officer at Lombard Odier (Middle East) Ltd, and Dr Arnaud Leclercq, Partner Holding Prive and Group Managing Director at Lombard Odier Group, joined the event, underscoring its importance within the banks strategic vision for the region.--TradeArabia News Service
In the coming months, Denmark and the Czech Republic will supply the Ukrainian armed forces with infantry fighting vehicles, battle tanks, heavy weapons and other equipment from the production and warehouses of Czech private companies at the expense of the Danish government, the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Czech Republic said on Thursday.

Initially, delivery is expected of almost 50 infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks, some 2,500 pistols, some 7,000 rifles, some 500 light machine guns and 500 sniper rifles, electronic warfare and reconnaissance equipment, including a significant amount of large-caliber ammunition produced and from warehouses of Czech companies.

"This is a significant gift of equipment that Ukraine badly needs. Such a gift was made possible thanks to the exemplary cooperation between Denmark and the Czech Republic," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

"The Ministry of Defense is primarily playing the role of facilitator in this project. There are a number of defense industry companies in our territory with which we, as the Ministry of Defense, have long-term relationships, and therefore we can connect them with those who, like us, want to help Ukrainians. In this case, it is the Danish government," Deputy Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic Daniel Blazkovec said.

At the same time, he added that thanks to this form of cooperation, it will be possible to continue military assistance to Ukraine not only in the coming months, but also in 2024, and, if necessary, in the long term.

The delivery includes both modern Czech weapons and refurbished equipment that is already in use by the Ukrainian armed forces. The list was created based on the requirements and needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to strengthen their combat capabilities.

Both countries plan to subsequently transfer to Ukraine 500 heavy machine guns, 280 recoilless rifles, 7,000 anti-tank guns, some 10,000 hand grenades and 60 mortar systems and much more. The delivery will also include a significant number of anti-drone systems.
President Bola Tinubu has asked the supreme court to dismiss the appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abubakar and the PDP had filed a petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

Among several issues raised, the petitioners alleged that the election was fraught with irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

They also alleged that Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, were not qualified to contest and did not win the election by the majority of lawful votes cast.

However, the presidential election petition tribunal in its judgment on September 6, held that Abubakar failed to prove all the averments in his petition.

Aggrieved, the PDP candidate filed an appeal before the apex court on September 18.

In the 35 grounds notice of appeal, the appellants submitted that the tribunals findings were done with grave errors and gross misrepresentation which resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

Consequently, the appellants are praying the supreme court to set aside the entire findings and conclusions of the tribunal.

In a response filed on Saturday, Tinubu described the appeal as abusive in nature and prayed for its dismissal.

The president insisted that the appellants failed to prove all their allegations and submissions at the tribunal.

He submitted that the tribunal was correct in arriving at its verdict and affirming his election.

 neither the appellants have demonstrated any reason why this honorable court should disturb any of the findings of the lower court, which, with all modesty are rooted in law and perfect demonstration of scholarship, Tinubu said.

We accordingly urge this honourable court to affirm the decision of the lower court, while dismissing this appeal in its entirety, as same is lacking in merit and bona fide.

Everything put together or summarized, this appeal is a further demonstration of the abusive nature to which the appellants have subjected court processes. The supreme court is urged to dismiss it.




Four students of Nasarawa State University who were kidnapped on Monday night have regained their freedom.





Rahila Hanya (SLT 100 level), Josephine Gershon (Computer Science 100 level), Rosemary Samuel (Business Administration 100 level) and Goodness Samuel (Geography 100 level) were abducted from their off-campus residence near Angwan Kare after BCGat at about 10:30 pm.





It was learnt that the students have been released and are currently at 177 Guards Battalion Headquarters in Keffi.





Muhammed Sakilu Muhammed, Secretary General of the Nasarawa State Youths Forum for Advocacy, in a statement made available to newsmen, confirmed the release of the student.





He said: We are pleased to inform you that the four students from Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), who were kidnapped have been reportedly released today. This development follows the payment of an undisclosed ransom.
The Lagos government has announced that it will temporarily shut down the blue rail line from Saturday, October 14, 2023, to resume Monday, October 16, 2023.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, made the announcement on his official X handle on Wednesday.

The Blue rail line started operations on September 4, ferrying passengers between Marina and Mile 2.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the decision to temporarily shut down the metro line is to improve its operations and increase the rail services by introducing electricity.

"From Monday, October 16, 2023, we're increasing train trips on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line from 12 to 54, with plans for 74 trips by the end of November," he said.

"To make this transition, we'll need to shut down train services on Saturday, October 14 after the morning peak service and for the entire day on Sunday, October 15, for the switch to electricity.

"This momentary pause is to ensure that your safety is our top priority.

The Lagos government has announced that it will temporarily shut down the blue rail line from Saturday, October 14, 2023, to resume Monday, October 16, 2023.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, made the announcement on his official X handle on Wednesday.

The Blue rail line started operations on September 4, ferrying passengers between Marina and Mile 2.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the decision to temporarily shut down the metro line is to improve its operations and increase the rail services by introducing electricity.

"From Monday, October 16, 2023, we're increasing train trips on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Blue Line from 12 to 54, with plans for 74 trips by the end of November," he said.

"To make this transition, we'll need to shut down train services on Saturday, October 14 after the morning peak service and for the entire day on Sunday, October 15, for the switch to electricity.

"This momentary pause is to ensure that your safety is our top priority.
A former presidential spokesman, Reno Omokri has lashed out at Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi over his comments on President Bola Tinubu, saying he is a pathetic desperado.

Omokri was reacting to Obis press conference in Abuja on Wednesday asking Tinubu to tell Nigerians his real name, schools he attended and the certificates he obtained.

Reacting to Obis news conference, Omokri in series of tweets said Peter Obi is just a pathetic desperado. So, because of false allegations that President Bola Tinubu did not attend Chicago State University, the world now views Nigerians as fraudsters? Really?

So, when President Obama faced false allegations of not being born in America, the world looked at all Americans as fraudsters? Bola Tinubu, a male, was admitted, attended and graduated from Chicago State University.

I went there and verified it. It is true. Deal with it. You made a false allegation and want to blame the person you lied against? Your proven Pandora corruption did not give Nigeria a bad name, but this does? You will never be President of Nigeria, Peter Obi!

According to Omokri, My counsel to President Bola Tinubu is to ignore todays rant from Peter Obi. Someone who meticulously obeys IPOBs sit-at-home order has the audacity to pontificate about what embarrasses Nigeria? It is only in Nigeria that a man who was so ashamed of his university degree that he refused to tender it to the Independent National Electoral Commission will be foolhardy enough to cast aspersions on another man who was bold enough to declare his.

He added that six months ago, Obi threatened to sue Peoples Gazette for publishing his leaked audio, where he promised to wage a religious war against the Muslim Ummah, saying he had still not sued.

Omokri said rather than hide his face in shame, he is now pointing fingers, saying that a man who could not come clean on a phone call he had expressing hatred for Muslims is now asking Tinubu to come clean.

Peter Obi should first confess to making that call and admit to planning a religious war on the Muslim Ummah. The same Peter Obi went to Arewa House on Monday, October 17, 2022, and defended ESN, the armed wing of IPOB, while lying that it was the Governors of the Southeast who founded ESN, and so he could not condemn them, when in fact, ESN was established on December 13, 2020, by Nnamdi Kanu.

Indeed, Nigeria dodged a bullet with Peter Obi. If he had won, Nigerias Muslims may have faced what Gazas population is currently facing, he said.

By the time the Supreme Court also rules that there is no evidence that Bola Tinubu forged his certificate, they will also say that the honourable justices have been bribed. They are incapable of accepting the truth that does not favour them, he added.
Ifeanyi Ubah, the senator representing Anambra south, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

Ubah was elected to the upper legislative chamber on the platform of the YPP twice  having been elected into office as Anambra south senator in 2019.

The defection is the first in the senate since the 10th national assembly was inaugurated in June.

With this defection, the YPP has no lawmaker in the upper legislative chamber. It however has two lawmakers in the house of representatives.





The senators defection letter was read on the floor of the senate on Thursday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In the letter addressed to Akpabio, Ubah said he was defecting to the APC because of irreconcilable differences in the YPP.

The senator did not explain what these differences were.





After reading the letter, the senate president directed Ubah be given a new seat.

Meanwhile, the senate adjourned proceedings till next week in honour of Abdulkadir Danbuga, a member of the house of representatives who died on Wednesday aged 63.




The gaming industry has really taken off in Nigeria in the last few years. Nowadays, gaming is a popular activity with people in Nigeria of all ages, so it is interesting to look at what trends have emerged. The gaming industry is constantly changing and evolving with new games, better technology, and changing consumer habits, so keeping up with the latest trends and developments can be hard. With this in mind, this post will take a closer look at a few of the main gaming trends in Nigeria right now. Interested? Keep reading to find out more.

Mobile Gaming

Perhaps the biggest trend - and a key reason why the industry has taken off in Nigeria - is the rise of mobile gaming. Mobile gaming has brought many new gamers to the market, including many older generations that have not played many games before. The convenience of having these games available on a smartphone makes them easily accessible to a broader audience. These days, mobile games can feature impressive graphics and gameplay. There are many popular games in Nigeria right now, including:

- PUGB Mobile

- Call of Duty Mobile

- Garena Free Fire

Local Game Development

The big releases from the major developers are popular in Nigeria, but you will also find that there is a growing interest in games that have been developed locally. There are a handful of brilliant video game developers in Nigeria in 2023, including:

- Magic Carpet Studios

- Kuluya

- Gamsole

- ChopUp

Games developed by these companies tend to reflect Nigerian culture, which can make them more appealing to locals compared to games from overseas.

Casino Games

Many people in Nigeria are also enjoying casino games in 2023, often on mobile. It is easy to see why, as casino games can be fun and bring excitement to life, but you also have the convenience of being able to play anywhere. Top casinos like Jackpotcitycasino.com have a wide range of pokies to choose from, such as Planet of the Apes, Guns n Roses, and various sport-themed slots. The dazzling visuals, satisfying sound effects, and simple gameplay can provide a brilliant gaming experience, plus casinos like this often have bonuses and extra games to enjoy.

Esports

The global esports market was valued at an eye-watering $1.45 billion in 2022, and it is now starting to become popular in Nigeria too. Games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive are growing in popularity, and Nigeria is now home to many esports tournaments, teams, and players. Nigerian gamers also enjoy watching esports and seeing people from all over the world go up against one another.

Currently, these are the biggest gaming trends in Nigeria that are shaping the industry. Gaming has really taken off in the last few years, especially with many new gamers of all ages entering the market. It will now be interesting to see what the next few years bring in Nigeria, especially with a growing audience base as well as many excellent local game developers.
Phrank Shaibu, an aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on communication, says President Bola Tinubu is breaking the law by presiding over just one federal executive council (FEC) meeting since he inaugurated his cabinet.

FEC last met when Tinubu inaugurated his ministers in August.

In a statement, Shuaibu said Tinubu is breaking section 148(2) of the 1999 constitution.

According to section 148(2) of the 1999 constitution, "the president shall hold regular meetings with the vice-president and all the ministers of the government of the federation for the purposes of determining domestic and foreign policies of the government".

Shaibu said having presided over just one FEC meeting is an indication that Tinubu is not ready for governance.

"Tinubu is obviously not ready for governance. After appointing 48 ministers - the highest in history - he has decided not to be meeting with them," he said.

"This contravenes section 148(2) of the 1999 constitution, which expressly provides that the president shall hold regular meetings with the vice-president and ministers for the purposes of determining domestic and foreign policies of the government.

"It is bad enough that a man who claimed he would hit the ground running from day one took over 60 days to name all his ministers and took 84 days to inaugurate them. Even now, he has held only one cabinet meeting since the inauguration of the cabinet.

"For a man who has been gallivanting all over the place purportedly in search of foreign investors, it is laughable that he cannot even meet with his own team at home."

He said the cabinet might not be having regular meetings because "they are clueless" and have "nothing to discuss".
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Political Parties for Good Governance has asked President Bola Tinubu to strip Atiku Abubakar of the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).

The group stressed that doing so would serve as a deterrent to others about the importance of respecting the office of the president.

The convener of the coalition, Dr Lilian Ogbole, made the call while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.

She noted that if Atikus recent press conference can aptly be described as a face-saving gimmick to capture power from the back door by whipping up sentiments and fabricating lies, Peter Obis belated press conference of October 11, 2023, over the same issue was at best childish, shameful, and laughable.

Ogbole emphasised that rather than providing evidence to contradict Tinubus submissions to INEC, Obi laughably requested that the President help him with evidence that would invalidate the certificates and information submitted to INEC.

The convener said it is getting clearer that the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was on a collision course with national interests and has never subscribed to true democracy nor respected the rule of law.

Ogbole opined that Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party in the 2003 election, was not a man Nigerians could comfortably entrust with the welfare of the country, going by his leadership antecedents.

Her words: The fact that Alh. Atiku Abubakar serially lost his bid to become the President of Nigeria isnt enough reason why he should deliberately drag the image of Nigeria and that of the coveted office of the Vice President, which he once occupied, in the mud. This is unacceptable to us, and we will not henceforth sit down and watch him do such a thing.

As stakeholders in the business of nation-building, we wish to use this medium to call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to utilise the authority conferred on him by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to protect the image and interest of the country by stripping Alh. Atiku Abubakar Sadiq of the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).

You will agree with us that a man with Atikus character is not honourable and does not deserve to keep the award that is meant for honourable men and women of repute.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing an eyewitness.

Earlier this week, the Haaretz newspaper reported that the official was expected to pay a visit amid the ongoing escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Upon his arrival, Blinken was greeted by Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, the Foreign Ministry said, adding that the top U.S. diplomat will hold a meeting with Cohen and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day.

The Israeli people will never forget the support the United States showed us in these hard days.

I thank my friend U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken, U.S. President Joe Biden, and all our friends in the U.S. for their unambiguous support of Israel, condemnation of terrorism, and standing up for the rights of the State of Israel to defend itself and its citizens, the ministry quoted Cohen as saying in a statement.

The U.S. Secretary of State will also hold meetings with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after his visit to Israel, the I24News broadcaster reported on Thursday.

The meetings will reportedly take place in the Jordanian capital of Amman.

On Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also visited Israel to meet with the countrys leadership and to express Londons support for victims of the conflict.

On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to declare a state of war the following day and launch retaliatory strikes.

On Monday, Israel ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel.

Both Israel and Palestine have reported several thousand deaths and injuries as a result of the escalation.

Many countries across the globe have started evacuating their citizens from Israel amid the ongoing escalation of the conflict. (NAN)
Controversial media personality Daddy Freeze has taunted Nigerian pastors for being silent over Big Brother Naija All Stars winner Ilebaye Odiniyas offer to pay N12m tithe to her church from the N120 million prize she won from the show.

He said despite many clerics condemning the reality show and tagging it immoral, none of them had spoken against the offer by the winner to give part of the prize money to her church.

The OAP said many Nigerian clergymen worship mammon.

On his Instagram page, Daddy Freeze wrote, Many pastors say Big Brother na immoral show Ilebaye bring N12m tithe from N120m prize money, everybody quiet.

Mammon is the god most of them [pastors] worship.
Enemy considering Avdiyivka as chance to get landmark victory, turn the tide in hostilities, throwing lots of infantry there

The enemy is considering the town of Avdiyivka, Pokrovsky district, Donetsk region, as a chance to achieve a landmark victory and turn the tide in hostilities, Spokesperson for the Joint Press Center of the Tavria Defense Forces Oleksandr Shtupun has said.

"The enemy is considering Avdiyivka as an opportunity to achieve some kind of a landmark victory and turn the tide in hostilities. Although at the beginning of the full-scale invasion Avdiyivka was treated by the enemy as something insignificant, today the seizure or encirclement of Avdiyivka for it is almost the biggest achievement at this stage," he said on the air of the national telethon on Thursday.

The enemy has been actively using aircraft and continuing offensive operations, the spokesperson said. Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces inflicted one missile strike and 39 air strikes, and 51 combat clashed occurred. The enemy also mounted 930 artillery attacks.

Shtupun emphasized that the enemy has thrown a lot of infantry forces and numerous armored vehicles exactly on the Avdiyivka direction.

"Our defenders actively destroy the enemy and its hardware en masse. As of now, a significantly smaller number of armored vehicles has been observed, however, the enemy infantry is trying to advance," he said.

Shtupun also noted that the Ukrainian fighters continue offensive operations in the Melitopol direction.

"The tactical position in the western vicinity of Robotyne has been improved," he said.
Popular iHeart radio host DJ Envy contended this week he did nothing wrong when promoting real estate seminars with a friend who is now facing multiple lawsuits that allege investors were duped out of millions.

I never stole anything from anybody and Ill just leave it at that, DJ Envy, whose real name is Raashaun Casey, said on his The Breakfast Club show Wednesday.

Casey is named as a defendant, along with Bergen County residents Cesar and Jennifer Pina, in court documents alleging several people were pressured to invest in distressed properties in New Jersey that would be flipped for high profits in the short term.

A check of court records show more than a dozen lawsuits have been filed against the Pinas in New Jersey.

An attorney for the couple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A man who identified himself as Caseys manager told NJ Advance Media on Thursday the DJ has no comment on the lawsuits.

Anthony Barone, formerly of Bergen County, and now a Florida resident, claims in court documents that he heard DJ Envy speak on Power 105.1 in 2018 about his successful partnership with the Pinas.

The partnership involved buying undervalued homes in Paterson, renovating them, flipping them for sale or renting them for cash on a short-term investment, according to a lawsuit filed Sept. 8.

In 2019, (the Pinas) and DJ Envy hosted seminars to promote themselves and their real estate investment strategies, states the suit, filed in Superior Court of Passaic County.

Barone states he invested $500,000 for a 12.5% interest in the Taylor Apartments Project in the 500 block of Main Street in Paterson, which was to have been built in early 2021 and developed into 50 apartments.

Anthony Martini, of Little Silver, who is also a plaintiff in the suit, told News 4 he lost $1 million in what he thought was a promising apartment project. Martini told the news station he invested because DJ Envy promoted the project.

From 2020 to this year, Barone and Martini claim they were told construction for the Taylor Apartments was on track, put on hold due to COVID-19, then back on track again.

Cesar Pina allegedly assured the investors in the fall of 2022 that construction work had begun again and that steel support beams would be installed soon.

But as of June 2023, only the concrete foundation had been poured and no other work had been done, according to the lawsuit.

As of June, only a concrete foundation had been poured for the Taylor Apartments Project on Main Street in Paterson. In lawsuits, several investors claim they were told the 50-apartment complex would be completed by 2021.New Jersey Superior Court

The suit alleges that DJ Envy and the Pinas have employed unconscionable commercial practices, deception, fraud, false promises.

In a suit filed in Passaic County on Sept. 19, Ruddy Ruiz, of Reading, Pennsylvania, claims he met Cesar Pina and Casey at a real estate seminar in New York City in July 2022.

Ruiz claims he provided $100,000 to purchase a property in Paterson in a deal with Pina that ultimately went south.

On Wednesday, Casey told his audience if Cesar Pina illegally took money from investors, the alleged scheme had nothing to do with him.

The stuff that youre hearing is totally not true. Thats fake news, fake stories, Envy said. For anybody to say that I was involved, thats totally not true.

News 4 reported that Caseys real estate attorney claims Casey has lost about $500,000 to the Pinas in an investment deal to transform a vacant school building in Paterson into rental units.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The body of a man who was fatally shot in Camden last week was discovered by police Wednesday in Philadelphia, authorities said.

Detectives determined that Jody Spence, 31, of Camden, was fatally shot shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 on the 800 block of Princess Avenue in Camden, according to a statement from the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

However, his body was not found until Wednesday when detectives from the offices homicide unit were contacted by the Philadelphia Police Department 6th District with information that Spences body had been located at the 400 block of North 5th Street in the city, investigators said. Spence was pronounced dead at 3:36 p.m. that day.

No other information was released Thursday as the incident was still under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Tanner Ogilvie of the Camden County Prosecutors Office Homicide Unit at (856) 650-6398 and Detective Jake Siegfried of the Camden County Police Department at (609) 820-3537.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
Two New Jersey teachers were surprised Wednesday with prestigious Milken Educator Awards, which each come with an unrestricted $25,000 prize.

Riley Gartland, a math teacher at Cinnaminson High School in Burlington County, and Taylor Trost, a fourth-grade teacher at Grace Norton Rogers Elementary in Hightstown in Mercer County, both received the award.
Montclair State Universitys merger with Bloomfield College came just in time for some university students in search of housing.

Bloomfield Colleges Schweitzer Hall is now home to 55 Montclair State students after the public university ran out of dormitory space on its campus during the fall semester, officials said.

Our student housing waitlist nearly tripled this year, said Dawn Meza Soufleris, Montclair States vice president for student development and campus life.

We had a high returner retention rate and very low no-show numbers, which together reflect the growing number of students who want to attend the university and have a residential experience, Soufleris said.

A free shuttle bus is making three runs per day between the two campuses, said Montclair State spokesperson Andrew Mees. The campuses are about 6 miles apart in Essex County.

Most of the students moved into Schweitzer Hall on Sept. 15, just 11 weeks after the merger was finalized between Montclair State, a large public university, and Bloomfield College, a struggling private college.

The former private college was renamed Bloomfield College of Montclair State University after the merger and kept its campus in downtown Bloomfield.

Montclair States fall semester began Aug. 28. Mees said he did not know where the Montclair State students who could not get on-campus housing were staying prior to securing housing at Bloomfield College.

Officials stressed no Bloomfield College students have been displaced from on-campus housing as a result of the arrangement. Montclair State students on a housing waitlist were invited to live in rooms that had not been taken by Bloomfield College students, according to the university.

Montclair State University has room for 5,069 students on campus, out of an overall enrollment of 22,500, officials said.

The surge in demand for housing at Montclair State is the latest example of colleges and universities grappling with a student housing shortfall that has escalated since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some schools are reporting enrollment surges and an accompanying increase in on-campus housing applications amid rising rents for off-campus housing.

Middlebury College in Vermont, which requires nearly all students to live on campus. Middlebury, authorized $10,000 stipends in August to approximately 30 juniors and seniors who agreed to take leaves of absences for the fall semester and winter term in order to free up housing space.

Some colleges in New Jersey are also reporting increasing demand for housing.

Kean University in Union had a 7% increase in students living on campus this fall, according to the university. Its residence halls have a 92% occupancy rate, bolstered by nearly 100 visiting students enrolled at Wenzhou-Kean University in China, a satellite campus started by Kean in 2012.

We are finding that post-pandemic students are excited to live on campus for the complete college experience and take advantage of the academic and social benefits that come with being residential students, said Maximina Rivera, Keans associate vice president of student affairs.

The College of New Jersey also reported an increase in students living on its Ewing campus. About 84% of first-year students are living on campus, said college spokesperson Luke Sacks.

There are significant academic and experiential benefits students gain from the residential experience including the convenience of being on campus, making social connections in the residence halls, and accessing resources that aid in a students academic and future career success, Sacks said.

Montclair State University students living on the Bloomfield College campus is one of the visible effects of the merger that was finalized at the end of June. The two schools reached an agreement last fall to merge in order to save financially-troubled Bloomfield College from shutting down.

Bloomfield Colleges final president, Marcheta P. Evans, is now the chancellor of Bloomfield College of Montclair State University.

We are thrilled to have been able to work together with Montclair to house these students. In addition to meeting the needs of the students, this collaboration put into practice exactly the type of efficiency we envisioned developing through the merger of our two campuses, Evans said.

In addition to the thrice-daily shuttles, the two campuses are connected by NJ Transit buses and trains, Montclair State officials said. Montclair State students living at the college are eligible for discounted NJ Transit fare cards.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
A state appeals court on Thursday affirmed the life sentence of a man who raped and killed a girl who lived in the apartment below his in Keansburg.

Andreas M. Erazo was 18 when he killed 11-year-old Abbiegail Abbie Smith at Hancock Arms apartments in July 2017. The girl was missing for about 13 hours when authorities found her body bound, wrapped and stabbed in the neck on the roof of a shed outside Erazos window.

He confessed to detectives he killed Smith, and pleaded guilty to murder and rape in early 2019. Later that year, a Monmouth County judge sentenced him to life in prison.

Erazo is now 24 years old and currently at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.

In March 2022, however, an appeals court ruled that detectives did not read Erazo his Miranda rights warning in the early part of his questioning at the Keansburg police station. That court suppressed his confession and sent the case back to the trial court, where Erazo would have been allowed to withdraw his guilty pleas.

That decision, though, was overturned in June by the state Supreme Court, which found Erazo was not in custody when he first spoke to police. Prosecutors had argued in the appeal and before the Supreme Court that Erazo was only a witness when he began speaking with detectives.

In the original appeal, Erazos public defender had also argued the life term was cruel and unusual, but the appeals court and Supreme Court did not consider the sentence.

A new three-judge appeals court has found Erazos sentence - a life term with a 63-year mandatory minimum - was justified for the crime.

His lawyer argued, among other points, that the judge relied on statements made by Smiths mother and other family members at the sentencing, which denigrated Erazo.

The family had unleashed a torrent of emotion at the sentencing, and the appeals court noted some, including calling Erazo a wicked cold-hearted pedophile and murderer, a disgusting person and a cold-blooded killer just waiting to strike, a wicked man, and an an evil monster.

The appeals judges, though, said the comments did not cross any judicial lines. And the judge properly considered all mitigating and aggravating factors.

Contrary to defendants contention, there is no evidence that the judge gave undue weight or consideration to the more pointed remarks made by [Smiths] survivors in determining the sentence. Instead, the judges analysis was sober, dispassionate, and in accord with the sentencing guidelines in the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, the decision says.

Judge David Bauman sentenced Erazo; his name was not in the appeals decision.

Erazos lawyer also argued that Erazo should have been sentenced like a juvenile, considering his youthful age at the time of the crime. The U.S. Supreme Court and New Jersey courts have in the past decade given deference to long-serving inmates who were sentenced to life or very long prison terms as juveniles.

Those cases dealt with juveniles, under the age of 18, the appeals court noted, and declined to extend Erazo any relief.

Erazo may have been a young adult, but he was an adult nonetheless, the court wrote.

And summed it up with: In view of the severity of the crimes he committed, defendant cannot show that the aggregate life prison term ... is cruel and unusual punishment.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
Three New Jersey residents have pleaded guilty in a $2 million pandemic relief scheme in which they used phony companies to apply for low-interest loans, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Arlen Encarnacion, 37, of Perth Amboy, entered his guilty plea in Trenton federal court on Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. His co-conspirators, Jacquelyn Pena, 37, and his brother, Kent Encarnacion, 30, both of Perth Amboy, pleaded guilty to the same two charges on August 8.

The three were charged in December 2021 and accused of conspiring to submit fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster loans.

Arlen Encarnacion submitted 14 loan applications on behalf of multiple businesses that did not exist, authorities alleged in charging documents. The applications included fraudulent representations, fake federal tax return documentation and fabricated information about the number of workers and employee wages, according to court documents.

His brother helped him fill out one of the applications and Pena assisted with submitting three, investigators said.

The trio received a total of $2,175,717.83 in low interest loans meant for distressed small businesses during 2020 and 2021. Most of the money went to Arlen Encarnacion, while his brother received $156,442 and Pena pocketed $335,692, authorities said. The funds were transferred to various bank accounts before being used for personal expenses and unrelated business ventures, charging documents said.

Arlen Encarnacion also bought a Lamborghini SUV during the period between 2020 and 2021, officials said.

The loans were meant to help struggling businesses with payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities during the pandemic.

Arlen Encarnacions sentencing is scheduled for February 13. The co-defendants are both scheduled to be sentenced in December 2023.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
A 20-year-old Mercer County man who moved overseas to forge a career as a DJ is the second New Jersey native confirmed to be among those killed in Hamas attack on Israel last weekend, according to announcements Thursday from family members and officials.

Lior Abramov, a former Hopewell resident, had been missing since Saturday, when he and friends were at a music festival as Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched its assault on the country, according to accounts from family members.

His father, David Abramov, wrote Thursday morning in Hebrew on Facebook that my heart aches on the death of our beloved Or Avramov.
While were three weeks into autumn, the end of Daylight Savings Time for 2023 is still more than three weeks away.

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, when the clock will fall back one hour and in theory we get one extra hour of sleep.

The amount of daily daylight each day will continue to decrease through the fall, which started on Sept. 23.

Oct. 28 will mark the final day that the sun sets at 6 p.m. or later until we turn ahead the clocks again on March 10, 2024 and daylight saving resumes.

The sun will set in Newark at 5:52 p.m. on Nov. 4. The following day  after Daylight Saving time concludes  sunset is more than an hour earlier at 4:50 p.m. The amount of daylight will continue to diminish each day until Dec. 21 when the winter solstice arrives. Then the length of days will begin to increase until the summer solstice on June 20, 2024.

The flip side is that the sun will rise approximately one hour earlier each morning. On Nov. 5, sunrise is 7:32 a.m. The next day the sun comes up at 6:33 a.m. While millions of people will travel home from work mostly or entirely in the dark in November, their morning commute will include more daylight.

Clocks were turned back one hour for the return to Daylight Saving Time on Nov. 7, 2021.The Associated Press

Clocks officially fall back at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November to 1 a.m.

Daylight Saving Time started on Sunday, March 12, 2023 and will end on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023  a run of 238 days. It has lasted from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November since 2007.

We next turn the clocks ahead on March 10, 2024  126 days after turning them back. Daylight Saving Time in 2024 will end on Nov. 3, 2024.

The concept dates back more than a century when English architect William Willett proposed the idea to change the clocks in 1907 in The Waste of Daylight. The suggestion of using daylight more efficiently can be traced to Benjamin Franklin.

While visiting in Paris in 1784, he wrote a letter to the editors of the Journal of Paris calling for a tax on every Parisian whose windows were shuttered after sunrise to encourage the economy of using sunshine instead of candles, according to Michael Downing, author of Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time.

Daylight Saving became widespread in the U.S. when the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was passed. Back then, Daylight Saving ran from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October and states were allowed to opt out.

In 1986, Daylight Saving was changed to run from the first Sunday in April until the final Sunday in October. The most recent revision took effect in 2006 when Energy Policy Act of 2005 revised Daylight Saving from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.

Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe Daylight Saving Time. The time change is also not observed in U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All of Indiana didnt begin observing Daylight Saving until 2006.

Seventeen states have enacted legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Voters in California have voted to authorize year-round Daylight Saving Time. Those changes, however, require federal approval.

In March 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would end changing the clocks twice a year. The U.S. House of Representatives didnt take a vote on it, though.

A handful of provinces in Canada  most of Saskatchewan and Yukon have adopted permanent daylight saving as has parts of British Columbia and two communities in northwest Ontario.

About 70 countries observe Daylight Saving Time. Most of North America, Europe and parts of South America and New Zealand adhere to it, while China, Japan, India and most other countries do not.

It starts on different dates elsewhere. In Europe for example, Daylight Saving Time starts the last Sunday in March and ends the final Sunday in October.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A new natural gas-fired power plant  once on pace to become the seventh such facility in Middlesex County  wont be happening after all.

Citing market conditions, Competitive Power Ventures has pulled out from a plan to extend its footprint in Woodbridge with a second power plant proposed for the low-income Keasbey section of the township, company officials confirmed Wednesday evening.

The news is being hailed by climate advocates, including those mindful of the pollution already faced disproportionately by Black and Brown communities, as a resounding victory.

At the center of much protest over the past few years and publicly opposed by more than a dozen governing bodies, the new project by Competitive Power Ventures, or CPV, would have been built in a parcel adjacent to an existing 725-megawatt plant the company has operated in the township since 2016.

Gov. Phil Murphy has for years faced public rallies regarding the project in Woodbridge, where two existing gas-fired power plants already run. His office could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday evening.

Hearing the news, Reverend Donna Stewart, president of the NAACP Perth Amboy Area Branch, quietly took in the moment.

Im definitely in shock, said Stewart, before pausing. I think its an amazing victory for the ... people of the community. It also shows that together we can make a change and as long as were faithful to the cause and we work together anything can be done.

Maryland-based electric power generation company, Competitive Power Ventures, has over the years held various community meetings and sought public comments as part of a permit application with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the proposed 657-megawatt plant.

The company had touted the expansion as a necessary backup for New Jersey while it sought to make headway on energy alternatives like solar and wind.

However on Wednesday, a company spokesman said the proposal was pulled after it was deemed no longer feasible.

The interconnection agreement between CPV Keasbey and PJM Interconnection reached a critical juncture on Sept. 30th whereby the project either had to enter construction or withdraw from the agreement, CPV company spokesman Matthew Litchfield said in a statement Wednesday.

PJM is the regional transmission operator the new plant would have sought to connect to for electricity.

CPV Keasbey relies entirely on market prices for energy and capacity ... In light of current PJM market conditions that do not support construction of the project at this time, CPV had to withdraw from the interconnection agreement, said Litchfield.

Litchfield said Thursday afternoon that market prices for energy were too low and because the proposed plant was a merchant project, the company would not have been able to subsidize natural gas with the state like other companies are doing for offshore wind and nuclear power.

Food & Water Watch, a New Jersey nonprofit, said the new power plant would have released nearly 2.3 million tons of greenhouse gasses each year and hundreds of tons of toxic air pollutants in the predominantly Hispanic section of Keasbey, Woodbridge.

The figures were confirmed in an application for the plant previously provided by Competitive Power Ventures. The company was also previously cited for more than $69,000 in air quality violations that dated as far back as 2015.

Still, Litchfield said in February the new power plant, and the existing one in Woodbridge, would have been the second and third lowest emitting facilities of their kind in the state.

The American Lung Association gave Middlesex County, where Woodbridge is located, a grade of F for ground-level ozone pollution. The town has also seen water quality issues in the past and state figures show residents there are also confronted problems linked to air quality.

It is fantastic news to hear. The only thing that would have made the news better is if it was the Murphy administration saying that they were going to reject the project, said Matt Smith, state director for Food & Water Watch, while sharing that he has protested the project since about 2018.

Its been a multi-year, grassroots campaign ... but I think during the pandemic  when people really started to more and more understand the connection between clean air and their health  is when the campaign really picked up steam and more and more community members and activists across the state got involved, said Smith.

Smith, as well as other activists in the state, continue to lobby for other development linked to fossil fuels, like those in Newark and Kearny, to be rejected as well. The new Keasbey power plant would have been located about 20 miles from Newark.

Despite calls by climate groups for the new CPV project to be subject to New Jerseys new  and more strict  Environmental Justice Law, the NJDEP said earlier this year it was evaluating the environmental and public health impacts of the proposals Title V permit application in line with a state administrative order, which seeks to follow the spirit of the newly-passed legislation.

An update on that administrative review was not immediately available.

Litchfield, a CPV spokesman, said Wednesday: We look forward to evaluating future opportunities at the site and remaining an active member of the Woodbridge community as we continue to operate the existing CPV Woodbridge Energy Center as one of the cleanest generating facilities in New Jersey and the region.

Litchfield did not clarify further on what plans the company had for the site or if public opposition to the Keasbey project factored into the decision to withdraw the application.

John McCormac, the mayor of Woodbridge, said Tuesday during a council meeting it was under the NJDEP  not the towns  purview to analyze the environmental impact of the CPV Keasbey project.

Despite everything that everybody has been saying about this power plant, there is nothing to worry about, McCormac said of the existing Woodbridge facility operated by CPV in reference to a NJDEP letter he received that outlined a risk assessment that was carried out.

In a statement Wednesday evening he added. Our goals for the 100 plus acres where CPV has a plant and planned to construct a second one were always threefold.

That included a now-finished cleanup of the site and a new waterfront park, the mayor said.

The third goal: a major tax ratable to help us to keep property taxes stable.

(And) that no longer will be accomplished through a second CPV plant, McCormac said, but we expect to work with the owners to find a suitable replacement for that plan which will still provide a financial windfall for our property taxpayers.

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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @stevenrodasnj.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters on Thursday to consider the operational situation at the front, Ukraine's own production of ammunition, and the escalation in the Middle East.

"I have held a meeting of the Headquarters. There key issues [were discussed]. The first one is the front. Reports by the commanders Zaluzhny, Syrsky, Tarnavsky [were heard]. The situation in the main directions  the East and the South. The defense of our positions. And our next steps," the head of state said on the Telegram channel.

The second key issue, according to Zelenskyy, is Ukraine's own production of weapons and hardware, regular building up of its volumes.

In particular, "the Ministry for Strategic Industries has a clear task to provide a program of Ukrainian weapons supply for all of the key requirements, from missiles and drones to armored vehicles and projectiles."

"Reports have already been presented on separate components of the program. Good results. And they will be even better," the president said.

"Separate instructions were issued to Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov and Defense Minister Umerov  to ensure a maximum digitalization of supplies for the defense forces. Full accountability and control are our priorities. There are clear terms for implementation," he said.

The participants of the meeting also listened to a report by Chief of the Foreign Surveillance Service Oleksandr Lytvynenko regarding the situation in the Middle East.

"We take into account all factors, take care of the interests of our citizens in the region and work with our partner to prevent a wider destabilization," Zelenskyy said.
A New Jersey man has been convicted of enticing women to travel from other states for prostitution, refusing to pay them and sexually assaulting them, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Jose Torres, 45, was charged with four counts of persuading, inducing and enticing women to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution in an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. A jury found him guilty on all counts on Wednesday following a six-day trial in Newark federal court, Sellingers office said in a press release.

Torres used classified and prostitution websites to convince sex workers to travel from out-of-state locations  including New York and Canada  to engage in prostitution with him, authorities said. He promised the victims large sums of money, but when they eventually asked for a payment, he became aggressive, often assaulting or raping them, federal prosecutors said.

The conduct occurred from 2015 to 2019, officials said. Backpage, one of the classified sites Torres used to find victims, was seized and shut down by the federal government in April 2018 following a years-long investigation into its personals section that was notorious for ads involving prostitution.

Sentencing in the case is scheduled for February 27.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
The brutality of Hamas attacks on Israel is shocking. The abduction and wholesale slaughter of hundreds of civilians is brutality on a scale Hamas has never managed before, and they didnt do it alone. As reported in the Wall St. Journal, Iranian security officials spent weeks advising and plotting with senior Hamas leadership in preparation for the devastating surprise attacks. And thats the least of it, it remains to be seen what kind of material aid, if any, Hamas received from their benefactors. Iran, while offering their congratulations to Hamas, denies any involvement whatsoever. The death toll is rising and nobody believes them.

Were not even a week removed from the deadliest single day in Israels history and already Irans fingerprints are all over it. I doubt that over time were going to find out they were less involved. Hamas attacked, Iran encouraged it, Israel is rightfully defending itself and the most vulnerable group in all of this, the Palestinian people, are going to pay the price.
Gov. Phil Murphy was quick Wednesday night to downplay the idea he would appoint his wife, First Lady Tammy Murphy, to replace U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez should New Jerseys senior senator change his mind and resign in the wake of federal corruption charges.

I dont see any scenario where that would be the case, Murphy said during his latest call-in radio show when asked if hed choose his spouse for the temporary post.
U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was hit with startling new federal charges on Thursday that accused the powerful New Jersey Democrat of illegally working on behalf of the Egyptian government as a foreign agent.

The superseding indictment came just weeks after Menendez, who for years served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was indicted on bribery and corruption charges in an already remarkable case that has included photographs of alleged payoffs in bars of gold, payments toward a home mortgage, images of cash stuffed into jackets, no-show jobs and a high-end luxury Mercedes-Benz.
A man arrested earlier this year after he was accused of killing his sister-in-law and nine-year-old niece at a home they shared in Roselle was indicted Thursday by a grand jury, authorities said.

Everoy Morrison, 44, of Roselle, was indicted on charges of murder, weapons-related offenses, credit card theft, receiving stolen property, and hindering prosecution, according to a release from the Union County Prosecutors Office.

Just before noon on April 19, Roselle Police Officers were called to a home on the 200 block of West 7th Avenue on the report of two missing persons, the office said.

A search of the home uncovered the bodies of 45 year-old Keisha Morrison and her daughter Kelsey Morrison, investigators said.

While at the home, police determined that Keisha Morrisons car had been stolen, officials said. Detectives were able to track the vehicle to Maryland hours later, where Morrison was stopped and arrested for being in possession of the stolen car.

He had been living in the basement of his brothers home for about two years, but had agreed to move out due to issues with his sister-in-law and niece, Keisha Morrisons sister-in-law Atasha Scott previously told WABC-7.

He was charged in May with two counts of first-degree murder, a number of weapons-related offenses and theft of a motor vehicle, the office said.

I want to assure the public that the Union County Prosecutors Office and our partner law enforcement agencies remain committed to tirelessly pursuing those who threaten the safety and security of the communities we serve, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said in a statement.

Morrison is being held in the Essex County Jail pending trial, authorities said. His attorney information was not immediately available.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
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Defense Minister of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, who held a meeting with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Brussels, has announced the countries' plans to extend the defense-industrial cooperation.

"Glad to meet my German colleague Boris Pistorius. Thanks to the German Defense Ministry for EUR 1 billion military aid package to strengthen Ukrainian Air Defense before winter, including 10 Leopard 1 tanks. We also plan to extend defense-industrial cooperation between our countries," the Ukrainian minister said on the X social network on Thursday.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High near 55F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
'Pearls Before Swine' cartoonist Stephan Pastis comes to New Orleans with book inspired by changes he sees

On each successive visit to New Orleans, he was seeing the city gentrify in real time.
On Wednesday, October 11, the Russian forces continued their attacks on the Ukrainian port infrastructure, in the proximity of the border between Ukraine and Romania, as a result of which an unmanned aerial vehicle fell at approximately 3 kilometers West of Plauru Locality in Tulcea.

The Defense Ministry of Romania said on its website that "at around 5:00 a.m., the teams in the field reported the discovery of a drone crater, with a possible explosion at impact, in a vegetated area near the right bank of Chilia Branch, at approximately 3 km West of Plauru Locality."

"Measures were taken to secure the area and the competent structures were notified in order to collect evidence and conduct investigations, according to the procedures in force," it said.

The Ministry of National Defence of Romania strongly condemns the attacks conducted by the Russian Federation against certain sites and civil infrastructure elements in the Ukrainian ports at the Danube.

"These attacks are unjustified and are seriously infringing the international humanitarian law rules," it said.

Foreign Minister of Romania Luminita Odobescu, for her part, called on Russia to stop constant attacks on Ukraine.

"Heinous Russian attacks on Ukraine civilian infrastructure had again serious consequences on Romania's territory. New evidence of impact was found on Romania's soil. We call on Russia to stop these war crimes," she said on the X social network on Thursday.
Hamas supporters wave their green flags during a protest against the possible U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in Jebaliya Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. President Donald Trump is forging ahead with plans to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital despite intense Arab, Muslim and European opposition to a move that would upend decades of U.S. policy and risk potentially violent protests. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) ORG XMIT: AH102
Some 200 Ukrainians will be able to leave Israel for Romania on Saturday night, Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel Yevhen Korniychuk has said.

"The evacuation of our citizens is held in the following way: Ben Gurion Airport is operating in normal mode. Around 1,000 citizens filled in a questionnaire on the website to confirm that they are ready to pay for the tickets The first evacuation flight, i.e. the first 200 people whose tickets have been validated, will go to Romania, Bucharest, on Saturday night," he said on the air of the national telethon on Thursday.

The diplomat also said the next evacuation flight from Israel will also depart for Romania and is scheduled for Sunday night.

According to the ambassador, the main problem of the evacuation from Israel is that many foreign airlines cancelled their flights and the cost of tickets to Europe increased to $1,000. Korniychuk also emphasized that consuls work around-the-clock in Israel and, in first turn, they help those who call to Ukrainian phone numbers since these are people who did not live in Israel permanently.

The ambassador also said that next evacuation flights will depend on the demand for them.

At the same time, evacuation of Ukrainians from the Gaza Strip never started due to the fact that the only checkpoint was closed.

"Unfortunately, evacuation did not start since the only checkpoint Rafah remains closed and we just as well as the other embassies are unable to influence this. This means that none of the European embassies and that of the USA did not evacuate none of their citizens [from the Gaza Strip]," the diplomat said.

According to him, the number of people who agreed for evacuation from the Gaza Strip has been increasing every hour. As of Thursday morning, 250 people wanted to leave it.

Korniychuk stressed that as soon as any of the checkpoints in the Gaza Strip is open, evacuation will start.
The Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, speaks during the 18th annual commemoration of Hurricane Katrina Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, at the site of the breach in the Industrial Canal levee in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.
Persimmon Homes has been inspiring the next generation of builders in at the Petroc College campus in Barnstaple.

Andy Wallis, Persimmons regional apprenticeships manager gave a talk to T-level students at the college on how the house builder is employing new construction techniques and discussed changes that are happening in the sector.

He also spoke about Persimmons multi-million pound investment in TopHat, a leading UK modular house builder, which Persimmon says will enable it to accelerate delivery of its factory-built, precision-engineered homes and marks a significant step forward in its development.

The business is seeking to support a placement at its headquarters in Exeter, from where some of the students hail.

A stones throw from the colleges Sticklepath campus, Persimmon has three and four-bed homes for sale from 269,995 at its Tawcroft 1690-home development in Barnstaple.

Andy Wallis said: Speaking with college students is a significant part of my role at Persimmon, which is testament to our commitment to engaging with young people and creating future employment opportunities for future workers across the South West.

It was a pleasure to visit Petroc College and discuss with students what the future of the industry holds for them, the value their work will provide society and the economy, and how Persimmon can be where they build their own careers.

The class were very engaged and I am delighted the college would like us to come back in future.

Mark Lee, Petroc lecturer in plumbing and t-level building services engineering, added: It was really good for the students to get a clearer understanding of where they can progress from their T-levels, as well as highlighting the way the construction industry is evolving.

I dont think many of the students were aware of how much the industry has changed and is changing, and I think this talk will have really opened the eyes of some students as to how much potential they have.

We are very grateful to Persimmon for their visit and we will definitely be looking to repeat the experience for future cohorts of students.
More than 60,000 buildings with a total area of 8.6 million square meters were damaged to varying degrees by the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam by the Russian occupation forces, Manager of Reform Support Projects at Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) Maksym Nefyodov has said.

"Our team has completed the calculation of flooded area as a result of a terrorist attack at the Kakhovka HPP. Some 60,500 buildings with a total area of 8.59 million square meters. This is the same as 14 Pentagons or 34 Empire State Buildings in area. Fortunately, three quarters of this was flooded by approximately up to a meter, so there is hope that they can be repaired relatively easily," he said, citing data from a joint study by the KSE Institute, Vox Ukraine and Azenzus-Vision, funded by the European Union.

The damaged buildings include 5.8 million square meters residential and non-residential premises, 1.6 million square meters of industrial buildings, 902,900 of infrastructure facilities, 133,900 square meters of educational institutions, 45,300 square meters of medical institutions.

According to Nefyodov, the study used satellite images from MAXAR and Sentinel-2, as well as geodata from various sources and altitude data from NASA Digital Elevation Model. This made it possible to assess the types of buildings affected, their area and the level of flooding.
Wollens has been ranked in the prestigious Legal 500 directory

Barnstaple-based law firm Wollens has been ranked highly in an official industry directory.

The company is delighted to have secured a number of rankings within the prestigious Legal 500 directory 2024 edition.

The Legal 500 is the leading guide to law firms and solicitors in the UK. The rankings reflect the result of months of extensive analysis by the research team, who conduct thousands of interviews with private practice lawyers and read through tens of thousands of submissions to select the very best lawyers and law firms in the UK.

As part of the research, the Legal 500 team canvassed the views of more than 40,000 clients. Every firm ranked  and lawyer mentioned  in the UK Legal 500 UK Solicitors guide is recommended.

Wollens has been successful in achieving recognition in seven practice areas within the annual publication. These are: corporate and commercial, licensing, private client (personal tax and probate), employment, commercial property, family and clinical negligence.

A dozen of Wollens' lawyers have also been recognised as 'Recommended Lawyer' by the researchers.

Wollens said inclusion in the annual publication, which assesses the strengths of law firms across the UK and globally, shows its teams hard work over the last 12 months and the quality of the services it provides.

Wollens is one of the largest independent law firms in the region, with nearly 200 people across three offices in Barnstaple, Torquay and Exeter.

Chris Hart, Wollens chief executive, said: We are exceptionally proud that seven of our practice areas have been recognised and included within the 2024 rankings.

Additionally, we are delighted that 12 of our team members have been acknowledged as Recommended Lawyers.

We aim to build on our success for future years and will continue to seek valuable feedback from our clients and peers. The recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our lawyers and the support staff within our legal teams.
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Two people, incl. child, killed, seven injured as result of Russia's attacks on Donetsk region  PGO

The Russian occupation forces shelled settlements in Donetsk region on Thursday, as a result of which a woman and a noy, 11, were killed, and seven people sustained injuries, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has said.

"According to the investigation, on October 12, 2023, the Russian army shelled Avdiyivka. A man, 58, and a woman, 61, suffered shrapnel wounds," it said on the Telegram channel.

The enemy also inflicted missile strikes on the village of Bohatyr, Volnovakha district, as a result of which an 11-year-old boy was killed and his 6-year-old brother sustained body injuries. The mother of the boys, 31, was hospitalized with multiple lacerations.

The Russian forces also shelled Halytsynivka, Pokrovsky district, as a result of which a man, 32, and a woman, 62, were injured. Also, the town of Hirniak, Pokrovsky district, was attacked. A woman, 44, was killed and her 24-year-old son-in-law was injured.

Under the procedural guidance of Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, law enforcers started pre-trial investigations into the violation of laws and customs of war (Parts 1, 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Isabel Canas first came up with the idea of writing about vampires when in Istanbul writing a research paper as part of earning her PhD in in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. She describes herself as bewitched by the idea of using a vampires long lifespan to explore the citys history.

And she does just that in her newest book, The Vampires of El Norte. Drawing upon her rich experiences of living in a number of countries and cities such as Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, along with her studies and explorations as well as her personal history as a Mexican-American, she has created a novel that blends romance, horror, historical fiction and an adventure narrative. It all takes place along the Texas-Mexico border, long a place of tension between families like those of Nena, the daughter of a Mexican rancher, and the Anglo settlers from the north who are hungry for the land that is south of the border.

Magdalena, known as Nena to her friends, is a curandera, a healer, and she is desperate to prove her worth to her father so he doesnt marry her off to someone she doesnt know. She also is still in love with Nestor but its a passion mixed with anotherthat of rageas she believes he abandoned her years ago. But, of course, its more complicated than that. Nena was attacked by something evil when digging for buried treasure with Nestor late at night. These middle of the night attacks were becoming more frequent around her home, Thought of as a disease and called susto (or fright), many are left close to death after losing copious amounts of blood. The attack on Nena is the reason Nestor left believing Nena was dead. Over the years, he has been working as a vaquero, moving from ranch to ranch as a way of coping with his grief.

When the United States invades Mexico in 1846, the people of the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas must protect their ancestral lands from the Anglos but they have another enemy to fight as well, that of vampires, grey-skinned, slit-eyed and hungry for blood, who are just as deadly of an enemy. Nestor returns as a member of an auxiliary cavalry of ranchers and vaqueros who have joined together to fight against the enemies that are besieging the land.

The two lovers are reunited but their way of life and their very lives are under threat and they must fight against these external forces before they can try to recapture the love and trust they once had.
Integrated steelmakers like those along Northwest Indiana's lakeshore in Northwest Indiana have faced mounting international pressure to curb carbon emissions as the world reckons with climate change.

Now a new technological breakthrough might help the Region's steel mills clean up their act.

Cleveland-Cliffs is building a multimillion-dollar pipeline to pump hydrogen to Blast Furnace No. 7 at Indiana Harbor Works in East Chicago, said Traci Forrester, executive vice president of environmental and sustainability for Cleveland-Cliffs.

The steelmaker is looking to cut back its carbon footprint.

"We're an industry leader in clean hydrogen as a foundation of advanced steelmaking," Forrester said at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond. "We're proud of the progress we have made, achieving a 32% reduction in emissions compared to a 2017 baseline."

For centuries, blast furnaces have been fed with coke, a purified form of coal that's burned to make the liquid iron that's turned into steel for cars, appliances, buildings, bridges and many other end products. But now Cleveland-Cliffs is looking at burning carbon-free hydrogen as an alternative to coke.

Construction is already underway on the pipeline, Forrester said.

"We did a successful hydrogen test in Toledo and are installing a pipeline to No. 7 blast furnace in Indiana Harbor," she said. "We're looking at utilizing hydrogen in the iron and steelmaking process."

BP is looking at producing hydrogen at its BP Whiting Refinery. Cleveland-Cliffs is looking at sourcing hydrogen from multiple potential sources, Forrester said.

The company is not investing in hydrogen pipelines to its Burns Harbor steel mill at this time, she said.

Cleveland-Cliffs completed a successful hydrogen injection trial at a blast furnace at Middletown Works in Ohio, replacing the release of CO2 with the release of H2O with water vapor, with no impact on product quality or operating efficiency, CEO, President and Chairman Lourenco Goncalves has said.

"We believe hydrogen will be the true game changer for the decarbonization of steel. It's simple chemistry after all, and we have already proven its effectiveness," he has said.

Blast Furnace No. 7 is the largest blast furnace in the Western Hemisphere with a production capacity of 5.5 million tons of iron a year. It produced more iron for steel than both of the blast furnaces at Cleveland-Cliffs' Cleveland Works steel mill combined.
Community Healthcare System will host a Heart & Vascular Symposium for the general public.

The symposium will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts at 1040 Ridge Road in Munster.

Experts will discuss cardiology and cardiovascular care.

Interventional cardiologist Dean Ferrera will discuss "Peripheral Venous Disease at 10 a.m. Pratik Patel, a specialist in cardiology and electrophysiology, will talk about Atrial Fibrillation at 10:30 a.m.

Cardiologist Sulman Hussain will address "Hyperlipidemia at 11 a.m. Interventional cardiologist Jonathan Meyer will give a presentation about Coronary Artery Disease at noon.

Cardiologist Joseph Danavi will explain "Heart Failure" at 12:30 p.m. Finally, interventional cardiologist Amit Kakkar will talk about Peripheral Artery Disease at 1 p.m.

The symposium also will include a health fair with blood pressure checks, rhythm detection, free lab work and flu vaccines.

"Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for more than 70 years. Throughout the decades, the medical community has seen these deaths decline through new technology, advanced treatment and education," Community Healthcare System said in a press release. "Community Healthcare System continues its fight against heart and cardiovascular disease by hosting a free event to educate Northwest Indiana and Chicago-area residents about the signs, symptoms, treatments and prevention of this No. 1 killer."

Refreshments will be served at the event, which is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended but not required. To register, call 219-703-2058.

For more information, visit COMHS.org/heart.
INDIANAPOLIS  The Court of Appeals of Indiana has upheld the rape and incest convictions of Porter resident Elon Howe, as well as his 20 year sentence, calling the ongoing sexual abuse of his intellectually disabled family member "particularly egregious."

"The evidence established that (the victim) was not just severely intellectually disabled, in the bottom one percent of the population, but also regularly suffered from seizures," according to the court.

"She relied on Howe and (her mother) to care for her even into adulthood. Howe, in turn, took his position of trust and used it to sexually abuse (the victim) on a regular basis  by his own account about weekly in the months leading up to (the victim's) disclosure and at a time when (her) seizure activity was increasing, likely due to stress."

"Howe also warned (the victim) not to tell anyone about their sexual activities, which he referred to as giving (her) attention," the court said.

The appellate court rejected challenges to evidence admitted during trial, his convictions on both charges and consecutive sentences, and the appropriateness of the sentence.

Howe, 60, who was found guilty in July 2022, was called by Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer the "worst kind of monster."

While projecting an upstanding image to the community, Howe was secretly taking sexual advantage of the disabled family member and continues to show no remorse, the judge said during sentencing.

"I don't think there's an unselfish bone in your body," DeBoer said.

The judge took the further step of labeling Howe a sexually violent predator, which means upon his release from prison, he is required to register as a sex offender for life and comply with stringent requirements.

Porter police Detective Sgt. Tawni Komisarcik testified at trial that her department was alerted to the accusations against Howe on July 10, 2019, and went to the local Fairhaven Baptist Church where the pastor told them a church member had been told of the abuse by the victim.

The church member told police the alleged victim was helping out with day care at the church on July 7, 2019, when she mentioned she was Howe's "belated birthday present," court documents state. It was at that point that she described the sex acts and the pain they caused her.

The appellate ruling said, "As detailed by the trial court, Howe rationalized his behavior by blaming his wife for not having sex with him. And Howe described becoming aroused while seeing his naked (family member) during or after a seizure."
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has reported 55 combat clashes at the front during the day of October 12, adding that the situation in the east and south of the country remains tough.

"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 the enemy all along the front line," it said on Facebook on Thursday.

In Kupyansk axis, Ukrainian soldiers repelled four enemy attacks in the vicinity of Synkivka and 8 attacks near Ivanivka, Kharkiv region.

In Lyman axis, the defense forces repelled four enemy attacks in the vicinity of Makiyivka, Luhansk region, and in the Serebrianske Forestry in Donetsk region.

In Avdiyivka axis, the Ukrainian defenders are bravely holding the line, repelled 7 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Avdiyivka and 7 more attacks near Lastochkyne, Tonenke, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske, Donetsk region.

In Maryinka axis, during the day of October 12, Ukrainian defense forces successfully repelled about 10 enemy attacks in the vicinities of Maryinka, Peremoha and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region.

In Zaporizhia axis, adversary made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position in the vicinity of Robotyne, Zaporizhia region.

During the day, the enemy inflicted two missile and 55 ai strikes, mounted more than 20 attacks using MLRS on the Ukrainian defense positions and settlements. Private houses and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.

Around 110 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery and mortar attacks.
EAST CHICAGO  A man was found with a gunshot wound to his neck on Wednesday morning in East Chicago, according to a Facebook post from the East Chicago Police Department.

The post states police were dispatched to the 3000 block of Guthrie Street around 10:45 a.m. in response to a male gunshot wound victim. They rendered aid and transported him to a Chicago hospital, where he is in critical condition.

Police said they took a person of interest into custody and recovered a firearm at the crime scene. No further information has been released in connection to the shooting.

Anyone with any information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Miguel Pena at 219-391-8318 or East Chicago Police's anonymous tip line at 219-391-8500.
CROWN POINT  A 33-year-old man was charged with stealing thousands of dollars worth of lottery tickets and attempting to redeem them in grocery stores and gas stations throughout Northwest Indiana.

Allen Joseph Darnell Willis, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, was charged Tuesday with money laundering and theft.

Court documents state that on July 21, two people wearing dark clothing and masks broke into Trail Creek Liquors in Michigan City and stole a lottery ticket display with 16 bins of lottery tickets.

After they escaped in a white Ford Taurus, the car was seen at gas stations in Lake Station, Hobart, and Merrillville, according to court records, and the pair redeemed more than 50 individual tickets throughout the locations as captured on video surveillance.

Two days later, officers responded to a report of a burglary at the Trail Creek Food Mart in Trail Creek in which a display case filled with lottery tickets was stolen and other items were destroyed. Lottery tickets were subsequently redeemed at multiple gas stations in Lake Station, according to charging documents.

In each instance, video footage captured the man who redeemed the tickets wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and red shoes leaving the gas stations in the Ford Taurus, police said.

Willis was charged with trying to redeem some of the stolen tickets at locations in Valparaiso, Portage and South Bend. He was also charged with money laundering in Porter County.

Trail Creek Liquors documented a loss of more than $3,000 from the stolen tickets, court documents state, and Trail Creek Food Mart lost more than $7,000.

A Hoosier Lottery investigator found that the loss of the tickets added up to approximately $10,000, records show, and the total amount of money obtained through ticket redemption was around $760.

Willis was arrested Aug. 18 in Brown County.
VALPARAISO  Police say a 34-year-old Michigan City man who gave them information on the attempted coverup of a 2017 "execution style" murder in Porter County later denied making the statements.

As a result, Shawn Walker has been charged with eight felony counts of perjury and was being held Thursday morning at the Porter County Jail on an $8,000 cash-only bond, records show.

Police accuse Walker of lying when they questioned him under oath on Sept. 18 about his knowledge of the attempted coverup of the Dec. 8, 2017, shooting death of Robert Head, 54, at the Lake Eliza home he shared with 61-year-old Karen Sons, who was found guilty in August of the murder.

Walker reportedly told investigators in January 2019 that he was good friends with David Parrish, 60, of Portage, and that Parrish told him late on Dec. 8, 2017, that he had a "crazy day."

Parrish said he had to help out Sons and spent the day searching for a gun that did not have a serial number "that would come back to him," according to a charging document.

"Parrish went on to say the scene needed to be staged like self-defense and it took him a while (to) find a gun that would not come back to him," police said. "Parrish also said he went there to help her clean up and he had to 'roll the body.'"

Appellate court upholds conviction of Porter man for repeatedly raping disabled family member "Howe rationalized his behavior by blaming his wife for not having sex with him," the court said.

Yet when asked the same questions under oath on Sept. 18, Walker allegedly denied making the claims, according to a charging document.

"Did you tell (Porter County Sheriff's) Detective (Brian) Dziedzinski that (Walker's now-deceased girlfriend) told David Parrish he was stupid for helping Karen Sons out?" Walker was asked under oath.

"No," he replied.

Parrish, who is charged with felony counts of assisting a criminal in a murder case and obstruction of justice, was to go to trial in December, but that was recently derailed by Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer, who scheduled a Dec. 12 status hearing instead.

Police say Sons placed multiple calls and/or text messages on the day of the killing to Parrish, whose cellphone was later traced traveling to the Lake Eliza residence she shared with Head.

Police have made reference to interviewing a man who said Parrish told him he had spent the day looking for a gun that could not be traced and had helped clean up the murder scene and attempt to make the shooting look like self defense.

Sons was sentenced recently to 65 years behind bars for the murder, which amounts to a life sentence, officials said.

Police said Head was attempting to redirect his Social Security benefits away from Sons and she unsuccessfully claimed self defense in the killing.
GARY  Indiana University Northwest will start offering a fully remote computer science degree program beginning next semester as it seeks to attract non-traditional students and those outside the Region.

The bachelor's in computer science program will be a collaboration between IUN and four other Indiana University campuses.

The program was approved by the state's Commission for Higher Education last month.

IUPUI, IU Kokomo and IU Southeast currently offer computer science degrees in-person, with them being recently approved to provide remote offerings.

The new joint program led by IUN looks to reach non-college graduates, and working professionals by providing them with the flexibility of fully online and asynchronous courses that they can take at their own pace.

And according to Olatunde Abiona, a professor of computer information systems at IUN, the program will be able to admit international students without having to worry about residency or visa requirements, as these students will be able to take these courses from their home countries.

Abiona said the program looks to differentiate itself from traditional computer science degrees by focusing on the science behind the software and technologies the students are using.

"Some programs will teach you how to use (Microsoft) Excel to do data analysis, but they do not tell you the concept behind the development of such programs," he said.

Abiona said he's happy about the degree program being established, as it sets the foundation for graduate level computer science programs to potentially be developed in the future.

In addition to the online program, the university will spend the next year developing classes to be able to offer the computer science program in-person.

IUN currently offers a bachelor's degree in computer information systems. According to Abiona, there will be a pathway for students in the CIS program and other degrees to transfer into the computer science program.

Students from Ivy Tech that earn their associate's in computer science will be able to transfer 60 credits into IUN's program.

The university will also begin offering a minor in cybersecurity starting fall of next year.

Close Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. IUN Walk Against Mental Health Stigma The "U Bring Change to Mind" organization at Indiana University Northwest hosted a walk against mental health stigma on Thursday afternoon around its campus in Gary. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health. Students, faculty and staff completed a walk around the Indiana University Northwest campus Thursday to show the school's support of decreasing stigma associated with mental health.
VALPARAISO  The city is looking to create a new tax increment, or TIF, district on the city's southwest side.

The district would consist of 12 parcels of land along West Street, from Horse Prairie Avenue to near where West Street ends, by GracePoint Church. While the city has not identified any specific projects in the area yet, Valparaiso Redevelopment Director George Douglas said "the goal is to enhance property values in the surrounding area."

Municipalities use TIFs to pay for infrastructure intended to promote economic development. Sales tax revenue and property tax revenues generated within TIFs are used for infrastructure improvements and redevelopment within the designated district. TIF districts last a set number of years, once the TIF expires, the increased property values are available for general taxation.

Some of the proposed projects that would be included in the TIF are the Green Oaks senior housing building that is currently under construction and a business park that Wingtip Development plans on building.

The proposed TIF district is located just a short drive from the $40 million Journeyman Distillery opening this Saturday.

With the anticipation of the Journeyman project coming, to me this is a perfect example of why we would create this allocation to try to capture some of the anticipated investment along the corridor so that we can pump that back into infrastructure projects," Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy said during a Monday City Council meeting.

However, councilmembers Robert Cotton, D-2, and Diana Reed, D-1, both said shared concerns about the TIF revenue staying within the designated district.

We have a lot of areas that are in need of a lot of TLC," Reed said a lot of the city's older neighborhoods need infrastructure improvements.

Cotton also said the city already has too many TIF districts.

The City Council approved an economic development plan resolution for the TIF district with a vote of 2-7. Reed and Cotton were the two "no" votes. The Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission will hold a public hearing for the proposed TIF district on Nov. 9.

GALLERY: New solar panels at Valparaiso City Hall Valparaiso unveils new solar panels Valparaiso unveils new solar panels Valparaiso unveils new solar panels Valparaiso unveils new solar panels Valparaiso unveils new solar panels Valparaiso unveils new solar panels Valparaiso unveils new solar panels Valparaiso unveils new solar panels
Avraham C. Moskowitz, a lawyer for Mr. Weiser, 80, said his client vigorously denies the charges against him and looks forward to his day in court. A lawyer for Mr. Bransky, 47, declined to speak about the case.

The shelters in New York Citys sprawling homeless network are run mostly by nonprofits that work under contracts with the city. The business has attracted unscrupulous operators: In recent years, a series of shelter officials have been accused or convicted of bribery or self-dealing. In 2021, then-mayor Bill de Blasio ordered a sweeping audit of the industry, which then was receiving more than $2 billion annually from the city.

Mr. Bransky was the chief executive of Childrens Community Services, which Mr. Weiser founded and initially funded, prosecutors said. Mr. Weiser concealed his involvement with that nonprofit and other companies that it paid for services such as providing electronics, security, furniture and food, they said.

Some of the companies had few or no employees, and some had addresses in empty houses or apartments, prosecutors said.

The subcontracted companies often paid real firms to actually perform the work and then charged Childrens Community Services bloated rates, according to the complaint. The city paid over an extra $50 million to these companies, because of inflated prices and unreasonable markups for goods and services, the release said.
The fire broke out on the eighth floor on March 25, 1911. There were no overhead sprinklers in the factory, and the flames spread rapidly. The factory did not conduct fire drills, and its managers were slow to notify workers of the fire; they had also locked a door to one of the staircases, preventing many of the workers from escaping.

Though the factorys employees worked on the eighth, ninth and tenth floors of the building, the Fire Departments ladders reached only as high as the sixth. Workers filed onto a poorly constructed fire escape that collapsed.

Most of the victims were young immigrant women from Eastern Europe and Italy who worked as many as 84 hours a week for as little as $7.

We can imagine the black plume of smoke up in the air, the flames that spread from floor to floor, the panic of the workers who ran and found closed exits and broken fire escapes, Julie Su, the acting labor secretary, said Wednesday. Their cries for help and then the thud of bodies as they began to jump one after another.

Ms. Su noted that one of the people who had looked on in horror as the building burned was Frances Perkins, who happened to be nearby and who went on to become the first woman to serve as labor secretary.
It has been a nutso year in designer churn. Last month, three new creative directors made their debuts during Milan Fashion Week: Sabato De Sarno at Gucci, Peter Hawkings at Tom Ford and Simone Bellotti at Bally. The day after Paris Fashion Week ended, Sean McGirr was named designer at Alexander McQueen, replacing Sarah Burton after more than a decade. Less than a week later, Chloe announced its new creative director, Chemena Kamali. Any day now, Moschino is expected to unveil its new designer.

And yet, despite all the changes  the kind of switcheroos that once would have signaled New Looks and Wardrobe Upheaval and all the stuff that makes what happens inside these brands affect the people who actually wear the products the brands produce  the result has been largely status quo. In the worst way.

Much has been made of the fact that Mr. McGirrs appointment at Alexander McQueen means that now all six of the fashion brands owned by Kering, the second-largest fashion group in the industry, are run by white male designers  and not just white male designers, but white male designers with practically the same haircuts, approach to facial hair and resumes. That is not a good look, as the various reactions on social media to the headshots of the groups creative directors made clear.

Designers are, after all, the most visible representations of a brand, or its ownership group. Whatever happens behind that facade  whatever the makeup of the teams or company board; whatever the diversity initiatives inside  the designers faces are the ones the public sees. In this case it looks as if the public reckoning with fashions history of racism that occurred in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement never happened. The message those images send is homogeneity at a time when the population they should serve is broader and more varied than ever.
The nonprofit ACT, which administers the test of the same name, reported on Wednesday that scores had declined for the sixth consecutive year, with a record proportion of test takers reaching none of the organizations benchmarks for college readiness.

That means that their performance in English, reading, math and science suggested that they would not be able to earn Bs or Cs in entry-level college coursework.

For the 1.4 million ACT test-takers in the high school class of 2023, the average composite score on the exam was 19.5 out of 36, the lowest score since 1991, according to the nonprofit. Forty-three percent of students did not meet any of the subject-matter benchmarks, up from 36 percent in 2019.

These test takers were high school freshmen when the coronavirus pandemic interrupted their educations, sending many of them into months of online learning. The achievement declines on the ACT are broadly in line with pandemic-era trends from other national exams.
The backlash was swift.

By evening, the law firm, Winston & Strawn, said the comments profoundly conflict with its values and without naming the student, said it rescinded its offer of employment.

The same day, the dean of the law school, Troy A. McKenzie, repudiated the students remarks. This message was not from N.Y.U. School of Law as an institution and does not speak for the leadership of the law school, Mr. McKenzie wrote.

In a statement to The Times, the law school said: For legal reasons, we cannot comment on the specifics of any current student who may be under investigation. Speaking generally, all complaints of bias and/or discriminatory behavior are investigated thoroughly and in accordance with federal, state, and local guidelines, and the appropriate disciplinary action follows the outcome of that process.

Efforts to reach Mx. Workman were unsuccessful.

At Harvard, there was continued fallout from a letter issued over the weekend by a coalition of student groups holding Israel entirely responsible for the violence. On Tuesday, Bill Ackman, a prominent hedge fund manager, said that some chief executives had asked for a list of members in the student organizations, to ensure that none of us inadvertently hire any of their members, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Lawrence H. Summers, a former Harvard president, had criticized the universitys administration for not immediately repudiating the student letter. But in an interview on Wednesday, he said that while he still condemned the letter, punishing individual signers would be problematic.
Over the past 24 hours, the aircraft of the defense forces of Ukraine inflicted twelve strikes on the areas of concentration of the enemy personnel, weapons and military hardware, and two more on the enemy's air defense systems, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said on Facebook on Thursday.

In addition, the missile troops hit a control point and nine artillery systems of the enemy, it said.
President Biden held out hope on Wednesday that he could still bring home U.S. hostages held by Hamas even as he gathered together with a group of American Jewish leaders at the White House to mourn what he called the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

The Biden administration said that at least 22 American citizens were among the dead and that 17 more remained missing, some of them evidently seized by Hamas. John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, said it was not clear precisely how many were hostages but estimated that the number was very small, very small, less than a handful.

The fate of the Americans held by Hamas has been a central preoccupation of U.S. officials since the surprise attack on Saturday, reinforcing that the crisis in Israel is an American crisis as well. While the White House has not ruled out U.S. action to rescue captives if an opportunity presented itself, it has largely deferred to Israel in public, saying that it has sent hostage specialists to help with any efforts to save the hostages.

We want to make it real clear. Were working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts, Mr. Biden told the American Jewish leaders at the White House. He added: Theres a lot were doing, a lot were doing. I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home.
Former President Donald J. Trump, who frequently paints himself as the fiercest defender of Israel to ever occupy the White House, on Wednesday criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech in Florida just days after deadly Hamas attacks rocked the country.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters in West Palm Beach, a few miles from his residence at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump related a story he said he had never told about Israels role in the killing of Irans top security and intelligence commander, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, by an American drone strike in 2020.

Mr. Trump said that Israel had been working with the United States on a plan for the attack, but that he had received a call shortly beforehand to let him know that Israel would not take part. The United States proceeded anyway.

But Ill never forget, Mr. Trump said. Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing.
Two men who were sexually abused by a teacher when they were boys in the 1990s won a $135 million judgment against a Southern California school district and their abuser on Tuesday after a jury determined that school officials had failed to protect them from a predator.

The jury in Riverside County Superior Court found that the Moreno Valley Unified School District had endangered children when it hired Thomas Lee West, a child predator with a history of molestation complaints, and retained him as an employee for two decades, lawyers for the plaintiffs said.

The plaintiffs, Brady Blair and Justin McGregor, were both sexually abused by Mr. West when they were students in his classroom at Vista Heights Middle School during the 1996-97, according to the victims lawyers.

That boy that went through all of that trauma still exists within me today, Mr. McGregor said in an interview. Its not something thats ever gone away, and its not something that will ever go away.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel formed an emergency government on Wednesday, adding two opposition lawmakers  both former army chiefs  to his cabinet. The new wartime cabinet, including the prime minister, Yoav Gallant, the defense minister, and Benny Gantz, a senior opposition lawmaker and former defense minister, pledged to crush Hamas.

Every Hamas member is a dead man, Mr. Netanyahu said, in an evening address with Mr. Gallant and Mr. Gantz. Hamas is ISIS, and we will crush and eliminate it just as the world crushed and eliminated ISIS.

Mr. Gantz added, Israel is in one of its darkest hours ever.

As the leaders presented a united front, Mr. Netanyahu also listed some of the atrocities he said Hamas terrorists had committed: Boys and girls had been found shot in the head, people had been burned alive, women had been raped and killed, and soldiers had been beheaded.

Analysts said the infusion of military expertise would give the government greater legitimacy to make tough wartime decisions, including whether to invade Gaza, or even southern Lebanon.
Getting from the northern German city of Kiel to the South Pacific is a schlep no matter what. By commercial air, it takes about two days and several connecting flights.

But Gianluca Grimalda, an Italian social scientist, opted to make the trip much, much longer when he set out from Kiel to Papua New Guinea on a research trip earlier this year.

To journey the 14,038 miles, he took five trains, nine buses, two ferries, two taxis, one shared car, one police convoy and, when there were no other options, two flights. Dr. Grimalda did this out of concern for the climate, wanting to generate as few planet-heating emissions as possible, even though the whole trip took 35 days.

But he said his plan to journey back to Kiel much the same way cost him his job.

On Wednesday, Dr. Grimalda said he was being fired from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, after refusing to take transcontinental flights back from Papua New Guinea.
From deep within a papyrus scroll that has not been read in almost 2,000 years and would crumble to pieces if unrolled, researchers have retrieved a handful of letters and a single word: porphyras, ancient Greek for purple.

Experts who announced the findings on Thursday hope that the techniques used will enable them to electronically reconstruct the full contents of the many Herculaneum scrolls that have been preserved but are too fragile to open. The scrolls were carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 that buried Pompeii and deluged Herculaneum with hot gases and volcanic mud.

The scrolls, which look like wrinkled lumps of coal, come from a grand villa thought to have been owned by the father-in-law of Julius Caesar.

A cache of some 800 scrolls was discovered in 1752 by workers excavating the villa. Scholars who tried to unroll them stopped after finding that their methods destroyed the scrolls while yielding very little text. None has been opened since the 19th century.
In 2004, when Miriam Wilkinson moved from London to Eastbourne, on Englands southeast coast, the seaside town was often referred to as Gods waiting room because of its aging population. But in the last few years, there had been an awakening in Eastbourne, said Wilkinson, 40, who works at a nonprofit. Young families were arriving, she added, and new public art was appearing in the streets.

Now, one of Britains most important art events, the Turner Prize, has arrived in the town, too, at the Towner Eastbourne art museum. Locals are hoping it will change the towns reputation and place it on a national, or even global, cultural stage.

But as shown by the experiences of other English seaside towns, big-city culture often dovetails with an influx of new residents, and concerns about gentrification and unfairly shared benefits often follow.
Each of these groups had what Dr. Stein calls the dream of the perfect camera. Each believed that cheap digital kits (or sophisticated surveillance apparatuses) would allow it to leapfrog the mass media or its political opponents, and to finally deliver the transparency that would confirm its own view of the conflict. That was a hope born from the early days of digital, when too many techno-optimists believed that amateur documentation could dissolve political deadlocks, reveal the truth of war, even topple governments.

But the digital camera would lose its innocence in the wars of this century. By the mid-2010s, when so many of us gave up on the chronology of news broadcast for the algorithmic distribution of the social feed, digital images of war fell into the same trap as every other variety of political information: The pictures you like could be amplified, and the others could be dismissed as fake news.

All hoped, Dr. Stein writes, that these new cameras could bear truer witness and thus yield justice as they saw it. Most would be let down. The very framework of picture-making had been absorbed into the conflict, and indeed the most graphic pictures of corpses we have seen this week  Israel said that its death toll had risen to 1,200, and Gaza health officials reported that more than 1,400 Palestinians had been killed so far  are not neutral records. They are weapons like other weapons, for a time when violence is no longer confined to battlefields.

The full-scale conflict that is already underway in Israel and Gaza is an asymmetric war, between one of the worlds best-equipped armed forces and an Iran-backed militant group. Well, we have learned over the past few years that digital photography is an asymmetric medium too  where a livestream can trigger a protest, a cameraphone witness can outmatch a professional broadcast, and not even the clearest picture is any match for ideology. The lesson we are condemned to relearn is that the photograph, and the digital photograph especially, does not just derive its meaning from what it depicts; it comes from how it travels, how it mutates, and who determines the trajectory. And there is a second and grimmer lesson: Even when it shows the most horrific violence, you cannot ask a camera to make sense of it.
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep  and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.

One Step Closer to the Worst Job in the World

House Republicans took a break from fake-impeaching Joe Biden on Wednesday, Jimmy Kimmel said, to nominate Steve Scalise of Louisiana as their next speaker.

Scalise beat out Jim Jordan in a closed-door session and will now spend a night in the fantasy suite with Matt Gaetz to see how they hit it off, Kimmel joked.
Our recommended books this week can take you into the past, whether by way of new translations (of Homers Iliad and Elsa Morantes 1948 novel Lies and Sorcery) or new looks back (an account of the New Deals banking regulations, a group biography of the first female astronauts, a novel about a real-life man who helped develop the atom bomb). They can take you into the future, whether its the future of the planet (in Ben Goldfarbs Crossings) or the future of the species (in C Pam Zhangs novel Land of Milk and Honey). And in Eliza Clarks Penance, a novel that passes itself off as a true-crime story, and Daniel Clowess graphic novel Monica, they can get you thinking about narrative itself and the ways we consume it. Happy reading.

Gregory Cowles

MONICA

Daniel Clowes

Abandoned by her mother as a child, the titular character of Clowess new graphic novel endures a life of calamities before resolving to learn about her origins and track down her parents. The quest takes her on strange paths that include run-ins with ghosts and a bizarre cult.
The Philippines will be launching a national Halal strategy which aims to generate PHP230 billion ($4.1 billion) in investments, create 120,000 jobs in five years, and back MSMEs to become part of a global halal ecosystem before year-end.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Halal strategic planning follows President Ferdinand R Marcos Jrs message to international investors at the World Economic Forum in Davos positioning the Philippines as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.

The plan will also address the growing demand for Halal products and services from both the Philippines domestic market and from the 57 countries that are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)  spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Way of life

DTI Secretary Fred Pascual said: Halal as a way of life is not only for the Muslims. It is increasingly being recognised by many non-Muslim consumers worldwide because of ethical considerations, hygiene, fair trade and just financing.

Over the next five years, we plan to achieve PHP230 billion Halal trade and investments and generate 120,000 jobs, he added. By maximising our potential in the Halal industry, together we will help realise the vision of President Marcos Jr in gaining more investments, which will mean higher economic activity and more quality jobs, and then a better life for all Filipinos.

Considering the growing Muslim population of 1.9 billion people, the global Halal market is estimated to reach $7.7 trillion in market value by 2025, up from $3.2 trillion in 2015.

The Department will be leading the nine-government inter-agency taskforce that will create a roadmap which will position the Philippines as the most Halal-friendly trade and investment hub in Asia Pacific.

Four priorities

Pascual highlighted that the Halal industry forms part of DTIs four prioritiespromoting regional development; attaining food security; upgrading, upskilling, and upsizing micro, small and medium enterprises; and enabling job skills matching and skills upgrading.

The Halal plan is not only confined to food and food-related products but also includes Islamic finance, Halal-friendly travel and tourism, modest fashion, Halal pharmaceuticals and Halal cosmetics sectors.

To cover the wide-ranging aspects of Halal economy, the Halal Taskforce will include the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), Department of Agriculture (DA), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises set to benefit

Some of the initiatives that have been signed and are scheduled to happen include:

Php66 Million partnership deal with BARMM to promote Halal: DTI recently signed a partnership deal with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao-Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism (BARMM-MTIT), with the budget of PHP66 million, to promote Halal local goods and services provided by MSMEs. This partnership will create jobs through social entrepreneurship and local tourism, train entrepreneurs, and revive the countrys creative sector.

Trade Conventions and Certifications: The Halal Convention Expo is scheduled on November 21 at the SMX Convention Center, featuring MSMEs. Additionally, a Halal preparedness and certification training program is scheduled for the second week of November, with all preparations underway.

Invest Philippines Week: DTI is also launching Invest Philippines Week, which will feature sessions that will provide support to MSMEs for Halal industry development.

Regional Development: More slaughterhouses in the Philippines will soon be Halal-certified. The Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), an attached agency under the DTI, has signed an agreement with entities in CALABARZON for Halal training. More than 100 MSMEs in Marawi are also being prepared to be Halal-certified as part of the economic rebuilding of the Maranao people.

International cooperation: Further, the DTIs strategic Halal plan follows the bilateral talks of the Philippines and Malaysia during the three-day state visit of President Marcos Jr in July where the Philippines expressed its commitment to closely coordinate efforts to build capacity in the BARMM area, especially on sectors such as the halal industry, Islamic banking, and food security.

Additionally, the Philippines is set to sign another landmark agreement with the UAE.

Last month, Secretary Pascual and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi reaffirmed their commitment to enhance and strengthen their economic ties. Both sides have already signed the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) during the Philippine National Expo Day at Expo 2020 Dubai in February 2022, and are currently in talks regarding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).--TradeArabia News Service
Zelenskyy: The only one who is interested in worst scenario for Israel, Middle East region is our enemy

The only one who is interested in the destabilization of the situation in Israel and, in general, in the Middle East region is at the same time the enemy of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"We are monitoring all information about Israel and Middle East and keeping in touch with our partners to prevent the further expansion of destabilization. We clearly understand that the only one who is interested in the worst scenario is our enemy," he said in a video message on Thursday evening.

The head of state thanked everyone in the world who "applies every effort to prevent the Middle East region from 'explosion' and to ensure that the terrorists will be brought to justice for their deeds against Israel, against their women, children and ordinary people."

"It is extremely important for everyone in the world, even those who do not understand this yet, that terrorist be brought to justice for the evil they do," Zelenskyy said.

The president of Ukraine offered his condolences to all those who lost their loved ones on Israel.

"We also remember the citizens of other states who were captivated or killed by the terrorists. There are Ukrainians among the victims. My condolences to everyone who lost their relatives," he said.
What books are on your night stand?

The Ministry for the Future, by Kim Stanley Robinson; Mendings, by Megan Sweeney; Against Technoableism, by Ashley Shew; Under a White Sky, by Elizabeth Kolbert; Reading Territory, by Kathryn Walkiewicz.

Who is your favorite novelist of all time?

Toni Morrison  for her sheer bravery, breathless wordsmithing, intellectual range and incomparable understanding of our emotional and social realms. Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins came to mind as a close second. Her best-known novel, Contending Forces (published in 1900), is about a Black family in the turn of 20th-century Boston contending with the historical traumas of Southern slavery and lynching. Hopkins was a literary path-breaker, working as a periodical editor and publisher and as a race-issues novelist when these roles were barely open to women. She wrote about the impact of history on peoples lives and relationships in the present day of her era, and because she sought to highlight these historical questions for a wide Black reading public, she experimented with various forms, from the romance to the western.

Which books by contemporary historians  both academic and amateur  do you most admire?

Laurel Thatcher Ulrichs exquisite history, A Midwifes Tale, has been my model since graduate school. Walter Johnsons penetrating history of the U.S. domestic slave trade, Soul by Soul, and Seth Rockmans intricate labor history of late-18th-century and 19th-century Baltimore, Scraping By, have long impressed me as prime examples of the historians craft.

Who writes especially well (fiction or non) about ecology and its relationship to race? What books have shaped your views on the subject?
Israel forms unity government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government and members of the centrist opposition formed a unity government to navigate the crisis, as Israels warplanes rained destruction on the Gaza Strip and both sides braced for an escalating war between Israel and Hamas.

In Gaza, Israels military forces are carrying out an intense campaign of airstrikes. Electricity to the region has now shut down, and hospitals, already overwhelmed, reported that they would soon be unable to function. Paramedics said they would need bulldozers, which they dont have, to pull more people from the rubble of buildings.

Villages along Israels northern border with Lebanon have become ghost towns. The residents who remain await the possible opening of a new front with a sense of terror.

Toll: The Israeli government said 1,200 Israelis had been killed, 169 of them soldiers, and almost 3,000 others have been wounded. An estimated 150 people are believed to have been kidnapped. Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 1,127 people and wounded more than 5,300, according to Gazan health officials.
As part of his reporting on Vice President Kamala Harris for a story in the Times Magazine, my colleague Astead Herndon had a revealing conversation with Jamal Simmons, a former Harris aide. As Simmons noted, Harris rose through California politics as a prosecutor. She was either the district attorney of San Francisco or the state attorney general for 13 straight years.

To get elected to these positions, lawyers usually do not need to lay out a broad vision of society in the way that governors or members of Congress do. Prosecutors tend to focus on specific policies, while other politicians focus on reflecting  and shaping  the zeitgeist. Often in the White House, national leaders have to base their arguments on emotion and gut, Simmons said, and as a prosecutor thats not the job.

Harris was an effective prosecutor. As district attorney, she lifted the offices conviction rate and wrote a book whose title popularized a phrase: Smart on Crime. As attorney general, she cracked down on for-profit colleges, mortgage lenders and drug cartels. After winning a U.S. Senate seat in 2016, she used her interrogation skills to confront Trump administration officials and nominees in hearings.

But Harris still struggles with what George H.W. Bush  one of her predecessors in the vice presidency  once inartfully called the vision thing.
Why It Matters: A further fall from grace for a once-highflying banker.

Britains Financial Conduct Authority said that Mr. Staley had misled regulators and Barclays in 2019 about the depth of his ties to Mr. Epstein, whom he had retained as a client and adviser while working as an executive at JPMorgan Chase.

For decades, Mr. Staley had been seen as a rising star in banking, climbing the ranks at JPMorgan. In 2015, he was the first American to be chief executive of Barclays, one of Britains largest banks. But Mr. Staleys longstanding ties to Mr. Epstein came under scrutiny after the financiers arrest on child sex trafficking charges in 2019. British regulators opened an inquiry in 2020 into how Mr. Staley characterized his relationship with Mr. Epstein. Mr. Staley stepped down from Barclays in 2021.

Last month, JPMorgan reached a confidential settlement in its lawsuit against Mr. Staley, who had been one of the biggest advocates for keeping Mr. Epstein as a client at the bank.

Background: Mr. Staley had a longstanding ties to Mr. Epstein.

In a letter to Barclays and the F.C.A. in 2019, Mr. Staley said that he did not have a close relationship with Mr. Epstein, who was convicted 11 years earlier on a prostitution charge involving a teenage girl. But in private emails between the two, according to the regulator, he described Mr. Epstein as one of his deepest and most cherished friends.

Mr. Staley also told regulators that he had cut ties with Mr. Epstein well before becoming Barclayss chief executive  but officials found that they had been in contact as recently as October 2015, when he was announced as the banks leader.

Barclays initially stood by Mr. Staley, saying he had been sufficiently transparent about his relationship with Mr. Epstein. Mr. Staley said that he had been transparent and open with the bank.

It is right to prevent him from holding a senior position in the financial services industry if we cannot rely on him to act with integrity by disclosing uncomfortable truths about his close personal relationship with Mr. Epstein, Therese Chambers, a top enforcement official at the F.C.A., said in Thursdays statement.

Lawyers for Mr. Staley did not respond to a request for comment.
These battles breaking out all over the country are not good for parties on any side, said Dan Reicher, an energy scholar at the Woods Institute who started the talks. The good news is that they have decided to lay down their swords and try something new.

While the agreement includes representatives from various groups that have opposed solar projects, it does not include the fossil fuel industry or conservatives who have sought to slow or stop the use of renewable energy. It is also not clear how much sway the agreement will have on local groups that oppose projects in their communities.

Still, Abigail Ross Hopper, the president and chief executive of the solar association, said the agreement would help developers and environmental and local groups resolve their differences more quickly. Her group, the industrys largest trade association, estimates that the United States needs to increase the share of its electricity that comes from the sun to 30 percent by 2030, up from 5 percent now.

We are seeing that rural America has some concerns about where those projects are sited and how those projects are sited, Ms. Hopper said.

More rooftop solar panels, which tend to face less opposition, would help meet some of the electricity demand. But a 2021 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory concluded that solar panels placed on homes and businesses could meet only up to 20 percent of the total. The rest would have to come from larger projects that take up more land. By some estimates, the number of solar panels needed just in the United States could fill a space as large as the land mass of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined.
Last fall, California lawmakers passed a sweeping online childrens privacy law aimed at regulating how some of the most popular social media and video game platforms treat minors.

Many childrens groups heralded the measure, the first of its kind in the United States. So did Gov. Gavin Newsom. Were taking aggressive action in California to protect the health and well-being of our kids, he said in an statement at the time.

But last month, after a lawsuit filed by a tech industry group whose members include Meta and TikTok, a federal judge in California preliminarily blocked the law, saying it likely violates the First Amendment.

The judges decision was a blow to lawmakers, governors, childrens groups and parents across the United States hoping to curb the lure that platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube hold for many children and teenagers. It was the latest courtroom setback for backers of new state laws designed to limit how online services are allowed to interact with young people.
Finance ministers from the Group of 7 nations pledged on Thursday to continue providing economic support for Ukraine and backed a plan that would help finance the nations reconstruction with proceeds from Russian assets that have been frozen by Western nations.

In a joint statement, or communique, finance officials also condemned Hamas for its attack this week on Israel  a statement that came after a lengthy debate about including language condemning the Israel-Gaza war.

We unequivocally condemn the recent terror attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel and express our solidarity with the Israeli people, they wrote.

The agreement to explore the use of Russian funds to help pay for Ukraines reconstruction followed months of discussions among the worlds most advanced economies, who have jointly frozen about $300 billion of Russian central bank assets. The finance ministers expressed support for a plan that would use investment gains on those assets, without taking the legally questionable step of using the underlying assets themselves.
The News

California has put a water-stressed farming region on notice for having inadequate plans to curb its overuse of groundwater, bringing officials closer to directly intervening, for the first time in state history, in the way growers manage their underground water supplies.

Regulators said Thursday that they would first hold a public hearing on the region, the Tulare Lake sub-basin of the San Joaquin Valley. The decision to even consider stepping in signals a willingness to take farmers to task for not doing enough to protect their aquifers.

Officials will need to tread carefully, said Andrew Ayres, an environmental economist at the University of Nevada, Reno. If you really come down and you say, We want groundwater sustainability and this is how were going to do it, that has trade-offs for local communities, he said.

If, for example, farmers respond to water restrictions by fallowing their land, those plots could become sources of dust, worsening the regions already poor air quality.
It wasnt long ago that big fossil fuel companies were making bold claims about their plans to embrace a low-carbon future. Yet over the past year, many of those companies have walked back those commitments as they reaped outsize profits and made ambitious plans to expand their production of oil and gas.

On Wednesday, Exxon Mobil signed a $60 billion deal to buy Pioneer Natural Resources, a company that made its fortune through fracking. The acquisition  Exxons biggest in almost 25 years, and the biggest corporate purchase of 2023  represents a very expensive bet that fossil fuels will remain a central part of the global economy for the foreseeable future.

As the world looks to transition and find lower sources of affordable energy with lower emissions, fossil fuels oil and gas are going to continue to play a role over time, Exxon Mobil chief executive Darren Woods told CNBC. That may diminish with time. The rate of that is, I think, not very clear at this stage. But it will be around for a long time.

Like it or not, Exxons bet looks like a sound one. While wind turbines and solar panels are proliferating faster than many people realize, fossil fuel extraction is also expanding around the globe. Hundreds of new oil and gas projects have been approved in the past year.
Anton Coleman, an avid fan of American whiskey with several hundred bottles in his collection, lives on the outskirts of Nashville, less than an hours drive from Lynchburg, the home of one of the distilling worlds most famous names, Jack Daniels.

Yet until recently, not one of his bottles bore the distinctively filigreed Jack Daniels label.

Four years ago, Id have told you, Jack isnt bourbon, and it sucks,  said Mr. Coleman, a cybersecurity specialist.

Most serious whiskey collectors and critics would probably have agreed. They considered Jack Daniels  especially its flagship brand, Old No. 7  bland and unctuously sweet, the sort of thing best left for shots and cheap cocktails.

But then, Mr. Coleman noticed a change in the way people on social media were talking about Jack Daniels. Gone was the mocking disdain, replaced by not just respect, but thirst.
Interfax-Ukraine to host discussion 'Change of Public Attitude to Governments  an Insignificant Episode or an Important Trend?'

On Monday, October 16, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a discussion on the subject: "Change of Public Attitude to Governments  an Insignificant Episode or an Important Trend?"

Participants include Head of the Vezha Center for Public Analytics Valeriy Klochok, political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko, political scientist and co-founder of the National Platform Resilience and Social Cohesion Oleh Saakyan (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
Hoosen Coovadia, a pediatrician who used science to fight for racial justice in apartheid South Africa and later transformed the approach to H.I.V. treatment for pregnant women in Africa and beyond, died on Oct. 4 at his home in Durban. He was 83.

His daughter, Anuschka Coovadia, a physician in South Africa, confirmed the death, saying he had been in poor health for two years and was further debilitated by a case of Covid-19 several months ago that kept him in intensive care for weeks.

Dr. Jerry Coovadia, as he was familiarly known, was a leader in the struggle against white rule in South Africa and campaigned for decades for the political transition that brought the African National Congress to power in 1994.

But when, four years later, President Thabo Mbeki began to deny that the human immunodeficiency virus caused AIDS, and asserted that new treatments for H.I.V. were poisons he would not permit to be given to South Africans, Dr. Coovadia became one of the governments fiercest critics.
The United States has the highest health care prices in the world. Each year, a quarter of a million Americans start crowdfunding campaigns to pay medical bills. The Spotfund post for Ms. Retton, 55, did not share many details about her costs but noted that she did not have health insurance. (When another one of Ms. Rettons daughters, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, was reached by text, she did not respond to a question about why her mother was uninsured.)

Unlike Ms. Retton, most patients do not meet their fund-raising goals. About 16 percent of the time, studies have found, crowdfunding campaigns generate no donations at all.

About half of Americans report difficulty paying their medical bills, according to a 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation survey. The problem tends to be particularly acute among the 27.5 million Americans who do not have health insurance.

Most uninsured Americans have low incomes and about two-thirds say they cannot afford to buy coverage. Some earn slightly too much for Obamacares subsidies or say that, even with the financial assistance, the premiums are still too expensive.

Last year, Nora Kenworthy, an associate professor at the University of Washington Bothell, published the largest study to date of medical crowdfunding, which analyzed nearly a half-million GoFundMe campaigns. Her work showed that the typical fund-raiser generates about $1,970, falling far short of the $5,000 to $10,000 patients are typically seeking. The most successful campaign in her data set raised $2.4 million, but such high numbers were rare. Fewer than 12 percent of campaigns met their goals.
The director Tracy Droz Tragos anchors her abortion documentary Plan C on a grass-roots organization by the same name. At the center of the organization is Francine Coeytaux, a public health activist in the United States, previously known for her campaign to get contraceptive pills sold over the counter at pharmacies.

Under the leadership of Coeytaux and Elisa Wells, the group, which was founded in 2015, focuses on providing information to patients about medical suppliers and providers who can prescribe at-home abortion pills  medication which can safely end a pregnancy up to 12 weeks.

The footage of Plan Cs activities covers four years, beginning in 2019 and extending after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Some scenes of abortion providers at work are shot verite style, while in others Coeytaux and her associates speak directly to the camera about their efforts to assist people seeking abortions.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at Columbia University on Thursday for competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations that earlier in day led school administrators to take the extraordinary step of closing the campus to the public.

Students waving banners and flags faced off across hedges dividing the Manhattan campus, one day after an Israeli student there was assaulted. Other campuses around the city also erupted with rallies on Thursday following the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend and the Israeli military response in Gaza.

The protests around the city were largely peaceful, but the passionate views on display and the anxieties the gatherings produced were testament to the shock felt in New York over the attacks, which have killed thousands.

I feel very dispirited, said Caroline Smith, 23, a Columbia student who said more than 10 members of her family live in Israel. Watching the pro-Palestine demonstration made her feel highly disturbed, she said.
I had met Schaefer five years ago, just before the collection was moved into the temporary space. Every specimen in the collection has a number, and I remember asking what No. 1 was. It had already been packed away by the time I arrived, but this week, Arrindell knew exactly where it was  on a shelf not far from the tank with the coelacanths. Anyone looking through the glass on the other side of the Collections Core could have seen him lift the glass jar off the shelf.

He said the museum had had it for roughly 150 years. It came from a collection owned by Prince Alexander Philipp Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied, a Prussian naturalist who traveled to the western United States in the 1830s. He ran into some trouble in Kansas when soldiers confiscated his brandy. He had not taken it along for after-hours drinking, but for preserving the specimens he would send back to Europe, which ultimately included 2,000 fish.

Diluted ethanol has long since replaced liquor as the solution used at the museum. And as far as the coelacanths are concerned, the ethanol in their tank will be theirs forever. One of the first steps in the move today will be to drain it and set it aside.

This ethanol is already what we call conditioned after years in the tank with the fish, where it has drawn out oil from the two fish, Schaefer said. If you were to put these in an empty new tank and added fresh ethanol, it would draw more oil out. You dont want it to happen. This is at equilibrium. You want to make sure it stays that way.

So the coelacanths ethanol will be poured back in by the end of the day.

Dr. Schaefer said that fire-safety concerns about ethanol had dictated some design elements of the new space, including garage-style doors that can roll down in an emergency, walling off the space with specimens from the space with museum-goers on the other side of the Collections Core. A fire suppression system would also be triggered if a blaze broke out.
Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat charged last month with taking bribes in exchange for lucrative political favors, faced a stunning new accusation on Thursday  that he conspired to act as an agent of Egypt even as he served as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Manhattan federal prosecutors filed the latest charge against Mr. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, as well as a third defendant, Wael Hana, accusing them of conspiring to have the senator work on Egypts behalf without registering with the Justice Department.

The prosecutors have asked a judge to seize the Menendezes residence in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., as well as a Mercedes-Benz convertible that the government says was given to them as a bribe.

The alleged actions underlying the latest charge cut to the heart of Mr. Menendezs Senate oath to bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and are certain to intensify pressure for him to resign from office. The charge accuses him of conspiring to violate an explicit prohibition on public officials serving as agents of foreign powers, and it appears to be the first time a sitting senator has been charged with conduct covered by the World War II-era Foreign Agents Registration Act.
It was another Friday night on the Lower East Side, with young bar hoppers spilling out onto East Houston Street in search of their next cocktail. A group of women in nearly identical lacy tank tops rolled their eyes at the catcalls coming from a nearby car, while one man pushed another into a pile of garbage bags, upset over a disrespectful comment.

But some, like Nikki DAlessendro, were ready to call it a night. As she walked home after a night out with friends, Ms. DAlessendro said she noticed the bright lights and the meat rotisserie of a Turkish restaurant on the corner of Orchard Street. She realized she was famished, and she walked in.

I really dont know where I am, said Ms. DAlessendro, a 23-year-old who works in retail. Im here because the place was open.
Why It Matters: New Yorks green-energy goals could be hindered.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has pledged to sharply curtail New Yorks dependence on fossil fuels. State law requires that by 2030, renewable resources  like sun and wind  must account for 70 percent of the share of electricity consumed in the state.

State law also requires that by 2035 offshore wind farms be able to generate up to nine gigawatts of energy at a given time  up from zero today. That would be enough electricity to power more than six million homes.

Nearly half of that offshore wind would come from four wind farms  known as Sunrise Wind, Beacon Wind and Empire Wind I and II  proposed to be built in the Atlantic Ocean, near Long Island, under contracts with the state. But the developers of those wind farms have recently complained that fast-rising costs and disruptions in supply chains had made the terms of those contracts unfeasible.

They and the developers of 86 land-based renewable energy projects asked state utility regulators to bail them out with increased subsidies. The 90 total projects were already expected to cost the states utility ratepayers about $10 billion. The New York Department of Public Service estimated that granting the requests would cost ratepayers an additional $12 billion.

Background: The subsidies had powerful supporters and critics.

The requests created a dilemma for state officials. Influential labor leaders pressed for the subsidies to preserve the jobs the projects could create. But advocates for low-income utility customers argued that too many of them already could not afford their increasing monthly bills.

The problem is that we have very good goals in place, but in the end, whos going to pay for it all? said Bill Ferris, legislative representative for AARP New York, which opposed the requests. If everyone benefits, it shouldnt be just ratepayers to foot the bill.

The contracts for each of the projects resulted from competitive bids. Rory Christian, the chairman of the Public Service Commission, the states utility regulator, said that providing relief to the winning bidders would set an untenable precedent. Taking exception today almost guarantees that we will be asked to do this again in the future, he said.

Mr. Christian added that the states ratepayers, who would have borne the cost, could not serve as an unlimited piggy bank for companies to tap. We have a deal, he said to the developers, calling on them to stand by the terms they agreed to.

His fellow commissioners unanimously agreed, denying the petitions.

Governor Hochul endorsed the decision, saying it was necessary to maintain affordability in an uncertain global economy and make sure New Yorkers are getting the best deal.

What Happens Next: Some projects could be canceled.

Having been denied additional subsidies, the developers of the projects will have to decide whether to absorb the higher-than-expected costs or break their contracts with the state.

If they back out of their deals, the states Energy Research and Development Authority could put the project contracts up for bids again in a hurry to try to stay on track toward the clean-energy goals. But, given the increases in costs since the contracts were originally let, new deals would likely come with significantly larger price tags.

Fred Zalcman, director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, said the commissions decision puts these projects in serious jeopardy and deals a potentially fatal blow to the progress these projects have made to localize clean energy manufacturing, reinvigorate New Yorks ports and harbors, train and deploy New Yorks skilled union workers, and revitalize environmental justice communities.

Molly Morris, president of Equinor Renewables Americas, a developer of the Beacon and Empire wind farms, said the developers would assess the impact of the denial on the projects. David Hardy, chief executive of the Americas region for Orsted, the Danish developer of Sunrise Wind, said the project would be extremely challenged without this adjustment. He said the companys board and partners would consider their next steps.
Im as fierce a dog lover as youre likely to find, and I believe  scratch that, I know  that my own dog, Regan, is perfect. I dont take kindly to suggestions otherwise, and a part of me cant believe that any inconvenience she might pose to someone else matters as much as the joy I get from her.

But the rest of me is a grown-up. And it struggles with how President Biden and his family handled their German shepherd Commander, who should have been a balm to a man with such grueling business.

As you may have read or heard, Commander didnt bite just one person. Or two people. Or five. Or 10. According to records obtained by Judicial Watch, a conservative, um, watchdog group, and a subsequent update of its tally, Commander bit at least 11 people, including Secret Service agents, though unnamed sources have told journalists that the biting incidents were even more numerous and more serious than that. The Times and other news organizations have reported that one agent was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Last week, after Commander had spent nearly two years hanging around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the first ladys office announced that he had finally been moved to another, undisclosed address. Did it have to come to this?
On Tuesday evening, I was drinking on the porch of my friend and neighbor Misha Shulman, the Israel-born rabbi of a progressive New York synagogue called the New Shul. All day, hed been on the phone with congregants deeply distraught over the massacres and mass kidnappings in Israel. Of all the people he spoke to, he said, those most devastated were either people who had lost close friends or family, or young Jews completely shattered by the response of their lefty friends in New York, who were either justifying Hamass atrocities or celebrating them outright.

This sense of deep betrayal is not limited to New York. Many progressive Jews have been profoundly shaken by the way some on the left are treating the terrorist mass murder of civilians as noble acts of anticolonial resistance. These are Jews who share the lefts abhorrence of the occupation of Gaza and of the enormities inflicted on it, which are only going to get worse if and when Israel invades. But the way keyboard radicals have condoned war crimes against Israelis has left many progressive Jews alienated from political communities they thought were their own.

By now, youve probably seen examples. There was the giddy message put out by the national committee of Students for Justice in Palestine, which proclaimed, Today, we witness a historic win for the Palestinian resistance: across land, air and sea. New Yorks chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America promoted a rally where speakers applauded the attacks, and the Connecticut D.S.A. enthused, Yesterday, the Palestinian resistance launched an unprecedented anticolonial struggle. The president of N.Y.U.s student bar association wrote in its newsletter, I will not condemn Palestinian resistance, leading to the withdrawal of a job offer. Over the otherwise benign slogan I stand with Palestine, Black Lives Matter Chicago posted a photo of a figure in a paraglider like those Hamas used to descend on a desert rave and turn it into a killing field.

I think what surprised me most was the indifference to human suffering, said Joshua Leifer, a contributing editor at the left-wing magazine Jewish Currents and a member of the editorial board at the progressive publication Dissent.
By January 1, 2024, state-owned joint-stock company Construction Company Ukrbud plans to approve a five-year development strategy and change its name, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ukrbud Viktor Leschynsky said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

"The name has been decided, but we will be able to announce it after it has been approved [by the State Property Fund]. Also, the company will necessarily apply for trademark registration in the areas we are engaged in, to make its use in the private sector impossible [as it happened with companies connected with Mykytas]," Leschynsky said.

As reported, in January 2023, the State Property Fund of Ukraine received the Ukrbud company in its management as an asset not subject to privatization.

"The company is active, now we are restoring the construction direction. We already have six winning tenders in our portfolio. These are objects of social and engineering infrastructure," Board Chairman of Ukrbud Andriy Illiyin said.

He said that, in addition to construction itself, training in labor specialties, including certification and re-certification, and the work of design institutes are important areas.

"On the basis of educational factories, qualification centers will be formed in each of the regions  Zaporizhia, Kryvy Rih, Odesa, Sumy and Dnipro. Design institutes within the company, unfortunately, were in decline. Now, a portfolio of orders is being formed. I traveled to the regions, communicated with structural divisions, we discussed plans for the development of the project direction," Illiyin said.

Also, the company's five-year strategic development plan has already been drawn up and presented to the governing body, the State Property Fund.

Leschynsky said that since the middle of the summer of this year, the company received a new board, management, which made it possible to start reforms.

"So far, the team has started to change positions and approaches to work. Our goal is to clean up the company's management mechanisms to remove all corruption risks so that work is transparent for all partners with whom we will work. We are ready to undergo any powerful audit. We would like to introduce modern technologies of project management and adjust the state of affairs so that trust in Ukrbud is at the highest level," Leschynsky said.

He said that the company must make a profit therefore, all areas of construction, design and training of relevant personnel for effective property management are being actively studied.

"In the near future, we should get an absolutely competitive state-owned construction operator on the market," he said.
We were just one family, experiencing one terrifying close call. More than two million Palestinians are trapped inside Gaza, about half under the age of 18, as Israel pounds us in retaliation for Hamass surprise attack on Saturday, with the United States promising surging military support.

Apartment complexes in Gaza City have been leveled, houses bombed and families annihilated. I cant even recognize the upscale Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City  its been so thoroughly damaged. At least 326 children in the Gaza Strip have been killed since Saturday, according to the Ministry of Health here. Women and children from my extended family were killed in an attack on Tuesday, and my cousin was killed on Wednesday. The smell of explosives permeates the entire strip. Yoav Gallant, Israels minister of defense, called us human animals and announced that the suffocating siege that Palestinians in Gaza have endured for more than 15 years would be tightened even further: The strip is now cut off from food, electricity and fuel.

No electricity means no internet or connection to the outside world. Raw sewage is seeping into Gazas streets; waste treatment facilities require electricity. The water supply has been cut. Driving south on Monday, I passed five United Nations schools-turned-shelters, so jampacked with displaced people that families spilled out into the yards. Dread grows inside me, as I know the worst is yet to come.

Over 2,300 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed so far, the majority of them civilians. I am saddened by the killing of all civilians. I know that the pain of an Israeli parent is no different from the anguish of a mother or father in Gaza. Yet Im not surprised that we have found ourselves at this bloody point of no return.

Many of the fighters who breached those walls are probably just a few years older than Ali; many of them were born during the second intifada. Their entire experience has been Israeli military occupation, siege and devastating military assault upon assault in an enclave of 140 square miles, with unemployment and poverty rates of approximately 50 percent. This is the history, and these are the conditions that have shaped so many in Gaza, not a justification. Israel helped create these fighters by starving them of hope, dignity and a future.
To the Editor:

Re Turning Our Moral Compass to Suffering on Both Sides, by Nicholas Kristof (column, Oct. 12):

Mr. Kristof points out the dangers of urban warfare in Gaza. However, he neglects to mention one of the dangers Israel faces as it responds to Hamass barbarism: Israel being wrongly blamed for the death of innocent Palestinian civilians who are accidentally killed because they are being used as human shields by Hamas.

Israel usually provides warnings to Palestinian civilians before it attacks, even though it decreases the chance of operational success and comes at the expense of Israeli lives. When Palestinian civilians suffer in Israels justified response to Hamass attack, it is imperative to place the blame on Hamas  the government that commits a war crime by using its own people as a shield.

Josh Lebewohl

New York

To the Editor:

Nicholas Kristof warns Israel to act with a moral compass and humility before engaging in a ground siege of Gaza. He cites Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe, who wrote that when the world starts complaining about such use of force, Jews wont care.

I know Rabbi Jaffe (he is my rabbi), and he is generally liberal and progressive. Mr. Kristof should realize that the old paradigm has completely shifted now, a direct result of the absolute amorality of Hamass slaughter. Many of even the most liberal of Jews understand that after this display of inhumane carnage, the usual mores that guide rational actors are secondary to considerations of basic survival. This is what Israel now faces.
Put all this together, and you can immediately perceive Israels asymmetric challenge. Hamas scorns the law of war. The reports of its intentional mass killing, mutilation, rape and civilian hostage taking are evidence enough of that fact. Israel legally and morally obligates the Israel Defense Forces to comply with the law. As a result, civilians become one of Hamass principal military assets. The presence of civilians gives Hamas the ability to punch first in any given street fight. The presence of civilians raises the bar for approving airstrikes or any other use of long-range weapons. And when civilians die, Hamas uses their deaths to inflame the international community and to help run out the clock on international patience for Israeli military operations.

Even worse, Hamas is helped by an enormous amount of public ignorance combined with outright misinformation. The average journalist  much less the average citizen  doesnt know much, if anything, about the laws of war. Lets take, for example, two key legal concepts that will be relevant every single day of the fighting in Gaza: proportionality and distinction.

As the war continues and as the destruction mounts, you will hear a number of voices condemn Israel for a disproportionate response, but many of these critics fundamentally misunderstand what proportionality means in the law of war. The U.S. Armys Law of Land Warfare field manual  which is deeply grounded in the international law of armed conflict and governed our urban operations in Iraq and Afghanistan  defines the legal obligation of proportionality as requiring commanders to refrain from attacks in which the expected loss or injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects incidental to such attacks would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage expected to be gained. It also requires that commanders take feasible precautions to reduce the risk of harm to civilians, other protected persons and civilian objects.

Proportionality does not require the Israel Defense Forces to respond with the same degree of force or take the same proportion of casualties as Hamas. In addition, as the manual states, the proportionality standard does not require that no incidental harm results from attacks. If youre a soldier on patrol and someone fires at you with a rifle, you dont have to respond with a rifle. You can use a tank round or a missile in response, unless you have reason to believe the tank round or missile will cause extraordinary collateral damage. But if youre taking fire from a single house, proportionality prohibits you from destroying the entire block. Throughout the war on terrorism, American forces used powerful, longer-range weapons to attack individual targets. That does not violate the laws of war.

In reality, inflicting disproportionate casualties can be one of the goals of a fighting force. Ukraine appears to have inflicted substantially greater casualties on Russia than the Russian Army has inflicted on Ukraine. That doesnt mean Ukraines response was disproportionate under the law of armed conflict. In every fight, the goal is to inflict as many losses as possible on your opponent while taking as few losses as possible.
A furious Mr. Gingrich struck a deal without them, but his capacity for retribution was limited. He snubbed Helen Chenoweth, a holdout running for re-election in Idaho, by canceling a planned appearance at the last minute (admittedly weak tea, though he was a strong fund-raiser and she was in a tight race). That did little to stop Ms. Chenoweth and others from pushing forward with other schemes, including efforts to orchestrate the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1996 and 1997, long before news broke that he had lied about his sexual relationship with a White House intern. Mr. Gingrich begged the True Believers to stop talking about impeachment in the lead-up to the 1996 election, worried that it would only solidify the partys obstructionist reputation. But in early 1997, they were back at it, eventually dragging Mr. Gingrich and the rest of the conference to their position.

In the midst of all this, the True Believers sought to oust Mr. Gingrich from his speakership, convening back-room meetings and brokering covert deals that eventually failed. But a few years later, after voters handed Republicans the biggest midterm defeat for an opposition party since 1934, Mr. Gingrich was out. Not just out of the speakers office  out of the House altogether. Discussing his resignation with other Republican leaders, Mr. Gingrich put his finger on the problem: Im willing to lead but Im not willing to preside over people who are cannibals.

For the next several years, the cannibals were largely quiet, having sated themselves with Mr. Gingrichs ouster. Dennis Hastert, the next Republican speaker, would set a record, serving the longest term of any Republican speaker (and then becoming the first former speaker to be convicted, sentenced and serve a term in prison for a criminal case). But as the party continued to radicalize in the Obama era  as the right-wing Republican Study Committee gained further-right-wing competitors in the Tea Party and the House Freedom caucuses  the speakership became a dicier proposition. John Boehner faced repeated coup attempts, and he resigned in disgust in 2015. Paul Ryan, who reluctantly took his place, lasted just over three years before leaving office at 48, an age when most members are just getting started.

Despite the sudden departures of Mr. Boehner and Mr. Ryan, the speakership still held appeal in 2023. Mr. McCarthy had been jockeying for the gavel for years, hungry for the power and prestige he could wield. The caucus he sought to lead, however, had changed. Where Mr. Boehner and Mr. Ryan had commanded significant majorities that allowed rebellions to brew without boiling over, Mr. McCarthy came into office with a whisper-thin majority that empowered a small bloc of Republicans to lord their power over him.

The holdouts who denied Mr. McCarthy the speakership for days and days (a brutal battle that played out in embarrassing fashion in front of the C-SPAN cameras), as well as those who stripped him of the speakership, also had more diverse sources of power than previous House members. Though Mr. McCarthy had a reputation as a prodigious fund-raiser, the holdouts could leverage their social media and online fund-raising to bypass traditional sources of money and messaging.
But theres an argument for bringing back home ec and shop, not only for students who may be better served by opting out of college, but also for those students bent on white-collar life. These are the kinds of adulting skills many kids no longer learn at home, whether its because their working parents are too busy or their extracurriculars too onerous. And the benefits of these classes  using ones hands, working with real-world materials, collaborating offscreen, taking risks  extend well beyond the classroom.

First, to state the obvious: Kids need a break. The advantages of getting up from ones desk  standing, walking around, going outside, taking 15-minute breaks  are well known to adults, especially for people who spend much of their days on screens. Yet we dont extend the same courtesy to schoolchildren. An hour or two each week grappling with wood planks or mixing batter can leaven a long and monotonous school day.

Second, kids learn from physical work just as they do from mental labor, and when the two are interwoven, academic learning can also improve. Moving our bodies and letting our minds wander bring renewed focus. According to popular educational theory, some kids are what educators call tactile learners  they do especially well with a kinesthetic instruction that involves actively doing over passively absorbing. Schools apply these ideas to early childhood education, with its emphasis on sand tables and hands-on learning. But older students, particularly boys and kids with attention difficulties, also benefit.

Home ec and shop skills especially make sense in light of current environmental and health challenges. For kids who wear fast fashion but care about climate and overconsumption, its worth knowing how to darn a sock or patch a hole. Likewise, in a country with skyrocketing obesity and high consumption of processed foods, learning how to make healthy, inexpensive meals is important.

The more both sexes can handle kitchen and household skills, the better. In his book Shop Class as Soulcraft, Matthew Crawford lamented a world without shop class  the experience of making things and fixing things  as one that encourages us to be more passive and more dependent.
Stone Age-cartoon enthusiasts will recall that Fred Flintstone polished off racks of brontosaurus ribs and that Wilma Flintstone swanned around in a Siberian mastodon fur coat. As it turns out, the Neanderthals of, say, 46,000 B.C. may have had similar dining habits and tastes in daywear. An academic paper published on Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports proposes that our long-extinct ancestors not only were the first humans to kill and butcher large predators, but that they also used the hides for cultural purposes and perhaps even dressed in them.

Researchers analyzed cut marks and puncture wounds on the remains of two Eurasian cave lions unearthed 34 years apart in present-day Germany. One set of bones, an almost intact skeleton found near Siegsdorf at the foot of the Bavarian Alps in 1985, is estimated to be about 48,000 years old; the other assemblage, two toe bones and one tiny paw bone that had been embedded in a pelt that later disintegrated, was discovered in 2019 deep within Einhornhohle, or Unicorn Cave, in the Harz Mountains and dates to approximately 190,000 years ago. Both lions lived during an era when Neanderthals were the only humans that occupied Europe; the first Homo sapiens did not arrive on the continent until roughly 42,000 years ago.

The new study addresses a foundational question in zooarchaeology: Were early hominids the hunters or the hunted? The Siegsdorf findings provide the earliest concrete evidence of humans hunting down the formidable lion, the ultimate hunter of the animal kingdom, said Gabriele Russo, a doctoral candidate in zooarchaeology at the University of Tubingen and the first author of the paper. This discovery helps to reshape our understanding of other human species capabilities and challenges preconceived notions about Neanderthals.

As recently as the 1990s, Neanderthals were judged by scholars to be rock-brained scavengers too helpless to hunt on their own. Based partly on the absence of upper limb bones dug up at Neanderthal campsites, the consensus was that they eked by on the less meaty leftovers of other carnivores. But a reappraisal of the evidence showed that the bones that were supposedly missing had been shattered by the group to get at the marrow.
An international team of scientists has mapped the human brain in much finer resolution than ever before. The brain atlas, a $375 million effort started in 2017, has identified more than 3,300 types of brain cells, an order of magnitude more than was previously reported. The researchers have only a dim notion of what the newly discovered cells do.

The results were described in 21 papers published on Thursday in Science and several other journals.

Ed Lein, a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle who led five of the studies, said that the findings were made possible by new technologies that allowed the researchers to probe millions of human brain cells collected from biopsied tissue or cadavers.

It really shows what can be done now, Dr. Lein said. It opens up a whole new era of human neuroscience.
Cristaseya is a decade-old clothing line operated by Cristina Casini and her husband Andrea Spotorno, two Italians who moved to Paris nearly 20 years ago from Milan. If youre lucky enough to know about it, the best place to shop for Cristaseya is the second floor of nondescript office building at 7 Rue Ambroise Thomas in the 9th arrondissement. Not only because the entire collection is there  This is the atelier, the showroom, the store, everything, Ms. Casini said one afternoon during Paris Fashion Week in late September  but because it is difficult to find the line elsewhere.

Casa Cristaseya, as the Rue Ambroise Thomas space is called, is open by appointment only. Many of those who make one have been directed there by a fashion-insider friend with good taste. For the artist Martine Syms, who has collaborated with Prada, it was the fashion publicist Poppy Edmonds. For Emily Rahimpour, a creative director in Los Angeles whose clients include Byredo, it was the stylist Charlotte Collet. For Zoe Ghertner, the fashion photographer who shoots campaigns for Miu Miu and Chloe, it was Christiane Juergensen, who works with Phoebe Philo.

There is no way I wouldve found out about it had it not been introduced to me by someone that I know and work with, Ms. Ghertner said.

Of the 45 or so stores that carry Cristaseya, most are in Japan with a few in the United States, including Mameg in Los Angeles, Viola Lovely in Boston, Oroboro in New York and AP Shop, a seasonal boutique in Lakeside, Mich., that is open Friday to Monday, May through January. No other store in France besides Casa Cristaseya carries the collection, and Cristaseya is not sold in Italy, despite the fact that Ms. Casini and Mr. Spotorno are Italian and much of their fabric comes from Italy and their production is done there.
Just over a week into Mr. Bankman-Frieds trial, Ms. Ellison has emerged as the strongest witness against him. In testimony in federal court in Manhattan, she told a jury that Mr. Bankman-Fried, 31, knew for months that Alamedas finances were in a precarious state and that the firm would be hard pressed to pay back most of the $10 billion it had borrowed from FTX customers.

Ms. Ellison ran Alameda and dated Mr. Bankman-Fried. After FTX and Alameda failed in November, federal prosecutors charged Mr. Bankman-Fried with funneling billions of dollars in FTX customer deposits to Alameda, and then spending the funds on political donations, real estate purchases and other projects. He became a symbol of hubris and reckless risk taking across the crypto industry.

Ms. Ellison and two other high-ranking FTX executives, Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, later pleaded guilty to fraud and agreed to cooperate with the government.

Ms. Ellison, who was on the witness stand for a third day, has offered some of the most raw and emotional testimony of the trial. On Wednesday, she fought back tears as she described the implosion of Mr. Bankman-Frieds companies, saying part of her felt relieved that she wouldnt have to lie anymore to conceal that Alameda owed billions of dollars to FTXs customers.

Under questioning from Mr. Cohen, Ms. Ellison conceded that she sent a misleading document to Alameda employees last year that presented a more bullish version of the trading firms performance than she had discussed with Mr. Bankman-Fried.
At FTXs headquarters in the Bahamas, Mr. Bankman-Fried lived and worked with an inner circle of more than half a dozen friends, including a former lover, a confidant from high school math camp and a childhood buddy of his younger brother. At least four of those allies have turned against him and agreed to cooperate with the government, after either pleading guilty or receiving immunity from prosecution.

In the courtroom, the personal dynamics between Mr. Bankman-Fried and his friends have become a vital component of the case. Prosecutors have shown photographs of Mr. Bankman-Fried socializing with Mr. Yedidia and other onetime confidants, seeking to draw out testimony about the relationships at the heart of FTX. On the witness stand, Mr. Bankman-Frieds old allies have mostly avoided looking at him.

You can anticipate that at closing, this is one of the things that the United States is going to harp on: These were people who were close personal friends of S.B.F., said Daniel Silva, a former federal prosecutor. It immediately establishes their credibility as someone who was there when it happened.

Mr. Bankman-Fried, 31, is charged with orchestrating a vast conspiracy to siphon as much as $10 billion from FTXs customer accounts to finance political contributions, real estate purchases and other lavish spending. He has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, and faces what would amount to a life sentence if convicted.
After a long break, another large international financial organization has returned to the banking market in Azerbaijan! A loan agreement was signed between Bank Respublika, one of the leading banks in Azerbaijan supporting the real sector and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). According to the agreement, the Bank will receive a large amount of credit in domestic currency equivalent to 20 million US dollars.

The funds raised will strengthen credit support of the real sector, a priority area for both the Bank and the countrys economy, in particular finance micro, small and medium enterprises, as well as finance entrepreneurial activities of youth and women. Thanks to the extensive branch network of Bank Respublika, the funds attracted will be used to support entrepreneurs operating in all regions of Azerbaijan. A loan in national currency will further expand business lending opportunities in the country, and also contribute to building more stable financing conditions.

We highly appreciate that Asian Development Bank, after a long break, has returned to the bank market of Azerbaijan with Bank Respublika. This contract is another important sign of of the confidence by international financial institutions both in the stability of the country's banking industry and in the relaibility of Bank Respublika. Partnership with leading international financial organizations such as ADB will allow us to support the real sector on more favorable terms and thereby contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in the country, stated Tariyel Ismayilov, Chairman of the Executive Board of Bank Respublika.

"MSMEs are essential to lift incomes and create jobs in Azerbaijan, as they employ more than two-thirds of working people, and nearly 40% of registered women-owned businesses are in the agriculture sector. Bank Respublika's work aligns with ADB's goal of improving food security, strengthening agriculture, and helping women to access finance, training, and markets." said ADBs Azerbaijan Country Director Candice McDeigan.

"Bank Respublika is a strong and valued partner due to its significant presence in rural areas, focus on MSMEs, and commitment to improving financial access for women and rural customers. This deal draws from our regional experience, particularly the advantages of using local currency to strengthen capital markets" said ADBs Director General, Private Sector Operations Department, Suzanne Gaboury.

Bank Respublika was established in 1992 and is among Top 5 leading banks of Azerbaijan. Among the banks shareholders are Sparkassen International Development Trust (a member of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe Finance Group), one of Germanys largest financial institutions. The bank has one of the highest international
The technology used to create A.I. voices has gained traction and wide acclaim since companies like ElevenLabs released a slate of new tools late last year. Since then, audio fakes have rapidly become a new weapon on the online misinformation battlefield, threatening to turbocharge political disinformation ahead of the 2024 election by giving creators a way to put their conspiracy theories into the mouths of celebrities, newscasters and politicians.

The fake audio adds to the A.I.-generated threats from deepfake videos, humanlike writing from ChatGPT and images from services like Midjourney.

Disinformation watchdogs have noticed the number of videos containing A.I. voices has increased as content producers and misinformation peddlers adopt the novel tools. Social platforms like TikTok are scrambling to flag and label such content.

The video that sounded like Mr. Obama was discovered by NewsGuard, a company that monitors online misinformation. The video was published by one of 17 TikTok accounts pushing baseless claims with fake audio that NewsGuard identified, according to a report the group released in September. The accounts mostly published videos about celebrity rumors using narration from an A.I. voice, but also promoted the baseless claim that Mr. Obama is gay and the conspiracy theory that Oprah Winfrey is involved in the slave trade. The channels had collectively received hundreds of millions of views and comments that suggested some viewers believed the claims.
The Italian Alps are renowned for their stunning scenery, fine wine and good food. But many travelers are unaware that the region also hosts exquisite Renaissance and Baroque art. Nestled in the mountains and hills of northwestern Italy, just an hours drive from Milan, a cluster of Catholic sanctuaries brim with sculptures and frescoes by artists like Gaudenzio Ferrari, Tanzio da Varallo and Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli.

Known as Sacri Monti, or Sacred Mounts, the group of nine pilgrimage stations in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions are recognized by UNESCO as a single World Heritage site. The sanctuaries were built over a period of over 200 years  from 1486 to 1712. Each has a different story: Five were built by Catholic religious orders, two were commissioned by bishops, and two were built by local communities.

In Italy, nature, art and religion combine to enrich the humblest lives, Edith Wharton wrote in her 1905 travel memoir, Italian Backgrounds, after visiting three of the sanctuaries. She was utterly captivated by the sense of harmony and completeness.
In the final account, the rise and fall of Kevin McCarthy might read like the familiar tale of a Republican congressional leader toppled by a small but uncompromising right-wing faction.

But even if the story ultimately ends like any other Republican congressional drama in Washington over the last decade, something different and important has already happened: The right wing didnt just bring down a House speaker  its members also made a credible bid at claiming the gavel for themselves.

A founder of the House Freedom Caucus, Jim Jordan, won 99 votes in the House Republican conference vote Wednesday, good for about 45 percent of congressional Republicans. It wasnt enough to defeat Steve Scalise, the conservative congressman from Louisiana who still faces a daunting path to the post, but its a serious showing  especially for someone whom John Boehner once called a legislative terrorist.

For all of the quotes about inmates running the asylum in the press over the last decade, the ultraconservative wing of the Republican Party has never won anything like actual power. In January, Andy Biggs won a mere 14 percent of Republicans against Mr. McCarthy in the House Republican conference vote. Thats enough to make life miserable for a speaker with a five-vote majority, but its nowhere near leading the caucus. Getting up to 45 percent, on the other hand, starts to make the gavel appear tantalizingly close.
Seventeen deputies at a South Florida sheriffs office were charged with defrauding federal loan programs of nearly half a million dollars intended to help businesses that were struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, the authorities said.

The employees of the Broward Sheriffs Office were charged in separate cases of wire fraud in connection with collecting money from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Markenzy Lapointe, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announced at a news conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday.

Sheriff Gregory Tony of Broward County said that the deputies facing charges represented a cross-section of multiple disciplines within his agency. Eight of them, including a sergeant, work in the law enforcement department, and nine, also including a sergeant, are assigned to the department of detention.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act was an economic relief package enacted in March 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, to provide emergency help to the millions of Americans struggling financially from its effects. The program included the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to help small businesses stay afloat by helping pay their employees and providing loans for other expenses.
Im planning a road trip this weekend along Californias coast, and I already know what Ill be listening to for many hours in the car.

The California soundtrack is a project of this newsletter that tries to capture all of the Golden State in music. Our sprawling playlist is a work in progress, based largely on your recommendations for songs spanning the past century that in some way reflect this complex and vast state.

Today Im adding a few dozen new tracks to the mix.

Among them are Super Hyphy by Keak da Sneak (2005), Camarillo Brillo by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (1973) and Bakersfield by Social Distortion (2011).

You can peruse the full song list here  the latest additions are in bold  or listen here.

As always, feel free to email your own song recommendation and a few lines about why you think it deserves inclusion to CAToday@nytimes.com. Please include your name and the city where you live.
A Black high school student in Texas who had been suspended because of how he wears his hair was removed from his school on Wednesday and transferred to a disciplinary school program, according to a letter from the school district shared by the students family.

Darryl George, a high school junior, had previously received an in-school suspension on Aug. 31 from Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, roughly 30 miles east of Houston, because officials say his hair violated a district dress code mandating that a male students hair not extend, at any time, below the eyebrows or below the earlobes.

A letter dated Oct. 11 and addressed to Darryls mother, Darresha George, read in part: Your child has engaged in chronic or repeated disciplinary infractions that violate the districts previously communicated standards of student conduct.

The letter listed multiple infractions, including disruption of the classroom, failure to comply with staff directives, tardy policy violations and violation of the districts dress and grooming policy.
What is critical for us is to not lapse into moral equivocation, said Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat and Jewish military veteran who represents suburban Boston. We have hard weeks ahead, and Congress is going to have to steel ourselves.

Republicans have tried to capitalize on the cracks in the party. At the Capitol on Tuesday, a Fox News reporter followed Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, pushing the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress to comment on Hamas atrocities. Ms. Tlaib refused to acknowledge the question, as she walked briskly through the halls. A day after the attack, Ms. Tlaib had described Israel as an apartheid government and called to stop unconditional American aid to the country.

Asked about the moment in an interview on Fox News the next morning, Nikki Haley, the former ambassador to the United Nations who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, said: I dont know how they justify 1,200 dead. I dont know how they justify the torture. Thats between them and God.

Ms. Tlaib later sent a statement clarifying her position. I do not support the targeting and killing of civilians, whether in Israel or Palestine, she said. The fact that some have suggested otherwise is offensive and rooted in bigoted assumptions about my faith and ethnicity.

Former President Donald J. Trump has spent years highlighting the comments of Ms. Tlaib and others to try to break the traditionally overwhelming support of Jews for Democratic candidates. In 2019, Mr. Trump even went so far as to call Jews who voted for Democrats disloyal to Israel  a comment that was criticized for echoing an anti-Semitic trope about dual loyalties. A 2021 survey by the American Jewish Committee, a nonpartisan group that conducts public opinion research about the Jewish community, found that 68 percent of Jewish voters reported casting their ballots for Mr. Biden in the 2020 election.
In past moments of crisis, such as the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, lawmakers have been able to set aside personal and political differences, if only temporarily, to show a unified front to reassure the country and the world. But there was no sign on Thursday that Republicans were ready to end their bickering despite the press of world events and it was unclear how they could right the ship after Mr. Scalises wrenching decision.

After a historic vote to remove their own speaker last week, they appeared on the verge of a quick recovery on Wednesday when G.O.P. lawmakers met and voted narrowly to nominate Mr. Scalise, the No. 2 Republican, to succeed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. But it quickly became clear that Republicans were not willing to put aside their divisions and support him on the House floor. In quitting the fight on Thursday night, Mr. Scalise said some of his colleagues had their own agendas. Some were dug in for Representative Jim Jordan, the hard-right Ohio Republican who co-founded the House Freedom Caucus and challenged Mr. Scalise for the nomination, falling just 14 votes short.

Others simply refused to commit.

Trying to stem the momentum against him, Mr. Scalise on Thursday had summoned his colleagues for yet another private meeting that stretched long into the afternoon in what one Republican described as an airing of slights big and small worthy of Festivus, a parody holiday. Lawmakers warned they were hurting not only their own image, but the nations as well.

It sends a terrible signal, said Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and former Air Force general whose swing district seat could be at risk if his party is deemed by voters to be incapable of governing. Were not a governing body and we should be.

The concern overseas about what is transpiring as Israel engages with Hamas and Ukraine with Russia is real. Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, in Europe during a Senate recess for meetings with high-level officials, said he faced persistent questions about the U.S. commitment in those regions and the instability in the House.
Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 Republican, may have narrowly won his partys nomination for speaker on Wednesday, but he is still facing an uphill battle to secure the 217 votes he needs to win the leadership post.

Mr. Scalise postponed a vote on the House floor Wednesday afternoon in an effort to win over some of the remaining holdouts who have said they are either undecided on whether to support him, or will refuse to. He has a difficult path ahead of him, in part because the fractious Republican conference includes so many different factions  some overlapping and some not  that make it difficult for any one person to corral.

In fact, resistance against Mr. Scalises speakership appeared to have grown, with lawmakers newly declaring on Wednesday evening that they were irrevocably opposed to voting for him.

Many of the holdouts against Mr. Scalise do not fall neatly into any specific category. Others may prove impossible to win over altogether.
State Highway 86 stretches west from Tucson, Ariz., past saguaros and desert peaks into Tohono Oodham Nation, the second largest reservation in the state. It is a road that tribal members say no Senate candidate in recent memory has ventured down.

But on a sweltering afternoon, Representative Ruben Gallego, a progressive Democrat from Phoenix, spent several hours with Tohono Oodham leaders and community members, fielding questions in a series of small round table meetings, touring an affordable housing project and making the pitch for his 2024 Senate run.

The reason why were here is because a lot of times the only time you see a politician come down is the last week of the elections, Mr. Gallego told a handful of attendees during an evening meet-and-greet in Sells, Ariz., the tribal capital, on Friday.

The stop was part of Mr. Gallegos push to visit all of the 22 federally recognized tribes in Arizona before Election Day next year. It is a feat, he says, that few, if any, contenders in a statewide race have ever attempted  and one he believes will help pave his path to victory in what is likely to be one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 12. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in the Kyrgyz Republic to attend a meeting of the CIS Council of the Heads of State, Trend reports.

A guard of honor was lined up for President Ilham Aliyev at Bishkek Manas International Airport.

The President of Azerbaijan was met by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan - Head of the Presidential Administration Akylbek Japarov and other officials.
Follow our live updates for the House speaker vote.

Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana withdrew on Thursday from consideration for the speakership he was on the cusp of claiming after hard-line Republicans balked at rallying around their partys chosen candidate, leaving the House leaderless and the G.O.P. in chaos.

After being narrowly nominated for speaker during a Wednesday closed-door secret-ballot contest among House Republicans, Mr. Scalise, their No. 2 leader, found himself far from the 217 votes needed to be elected on the House floor. Many supporters of his challenger, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the right-wing Republican endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump, refused to switch their allegiance.

With no clear end in sight to the G.O.P. infighting that has left one chamber of Congress paralyzed at a time of challenges at home and abroad, Mr. Scalise said he would step aside in hopes that someone else could unite the fractious party.

I just shared with my colleagues that I was withdrawing my name as a candidate for speaker-designee, Mr. Scalise said. If you look at where our conference is, theres still work to be done. Our conference still has to come together, and its not there. There are still some people that have their own agendas.
Republican disunity over who will be the next speaker has brought the House to a standstill. Legislative business has been halted for more than a week, leaving one chamber of Congress hobbled in the face of crises at home and abroad.

The House is now under the control of Representative Patrick T. McHenry of North Carolina, who was named as the temporary speaker after Republicans dumped Representative Kevin McCarthy as speaker last week. But Mr. McHenry is unelected and primarily in place to oversee the election of a new speaker, and his legislative powers are untested. The position second in line to the presidency remains unfilled.

The infighting has consequences far beyond Capitol Hill. Here is a look at the big tasks Congress faces as Republicans remain deadlocked.

An aid package for Israel for its war against Hamas.

There is a broad bipartisan consensus on the need to rush additional military support to Israel for its war against Hamas. But the leadership vacuum means there is no certainty about how soon any aid could be approved and delivered. President Biden said in a speech on Tuesday that he would seek approval from Congress for additional funding for Israel, and officials in the administration have suggested a specific request could come within weeks. Should the speaker fight wear on, it was not clear whether the House could act on such a request under the leadership of an unelected temporary speaker.
Among the bold claims in the motion filed last week by former President Donald J. Trump seeking to dismiss the federal indictment accusing him of conspiring to undermine the 2020 election, there was a significant concession. The key Supreme Court precedent the motion relied on for claiming absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, his lawyers acknowledged, did not address criminal prosecutions.

The motion cited the 1982 precedent, Nixon v. Fitzgerald, at least 40 times over 52 pages. But that decision merely held that a former president is immune from lawsuits in civil cases  ones from private litigants seeking money  and then only if the suits concerned conduct within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.

John F. Lauro, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, conceded that no court has addressed whether such presidential immunity includes immunity from criminal prosecution for the presidents official act. The question, he wrote, is serious and unsettled.

Should Mr. Trump lose in the trial court and on appeal, there is every reason to think that he will ask the Supreme Court to step in.
Wisconsin Republicans signaled on Thursday that they were retreating from their threats to impeach a recently seated liberal State Supreme Court justice, Janet Protasiewicz, before the newly left-leaning court could throw out the gerrymandered legislative maps that have cemented the G.O.P.s hold on power in the state.

Robin Vos, the powerful Republican speaker of the State Assembly, said at a news conference in Madison that he would not seek to remove Justice Protasiewicz based on the argument he and fellow Republicans had been making for two months  that statements she made calling the maps rigged during her campaign for office this year compelled impeachment if she refused to recuse herself from a case challenging them.

Now, Mr. Vos said, the focus would be on what Justice Protasiewicz does in office. He said that if the court ruled against the Republican-drawn maps and other conservative causes, he would appeal its decisions to the U.S. Supreme Court. Impeachment, he said, remained on the table but was not something Republicans would pursue now.

If they decide to inject their own political bias inside the process and not follow the law, we have the ability to go to the Supreme Court and we also have the ability to hold her accountable to the voters of Wisconsin, Mr. Vos said.
The outfit is distinctly Victorian. A high, vintage lace collar with ruffles cascades over the lapel of a black tailcoat. But it is not meant to be a throwback.

For Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, the co-leader of Te Pati Maori, a New Zealand political party, it is a reclamation of the era when her ancestors first engaged with the British, who began colonizing New Zealand in the early 1800s. She has worn this attire, plus a top hat, in Parliament.

When you want to get a message out fast, fashion is a way to do it, she said.

The message is largely the same since the party had a surprise return to Parliament three years ago: keeping issues of its minority community in the public eye and building political support. Its members are feeling particular urgency now because the future of several pro-Maori policies is on the line. In Saturdays election, Te Pati Maori is expected to win as many as five of the 120 seats in Parliament. It currently controls two.

The party has been great at getting a disproportionate amount of media attention, said Lara Greaves, who teaches political science at the Victoria University of Wellington. They play that as a positive for their voters that theyre really out there representing Maori politics.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday that the government would seek to dissolve the Japan branch of the fringe Unification Church, more than a year after the groups extensive ties to conservative Japanese politicians were revealed in the wake of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abes assassination.

After Mr. Abe, Japans longest-serving prime minister, was killed at a campaign event in Nara, near Kyoto, in July 2022, details emerged that the suspect in the murder, Tetsuya Yamagami, had held a grievance against Mr. Abe for his perceived ties to the Unification Church.

Mr. Yamagami wrote to a blogger who covered the church that his mother, a longtime member, had bankrupted the family by making substantial donations to the group against their wishes.

Lawmakers scurried to contain the political fallout and began to scrutinize the church, which was found to have manipulated members over several decades into handing over large sums of money.
Rome is a Catholic menagerie these days.

An excommunicated woman dressed in red bishops robes is marching toward the Vatican behind a procession of would-be female priests. Conservative culture warriors are headlining theaters, delivering screeds against Pope Francis before marginalized cardinals and exorcists sitting in velvet seats. The abortion-rights leader of Catholics for Choice is knocking on Vatican doors. Progressives will hold a meeting this week that includes panels with titles such as Patriarchy, Where Did It All Begin?

They have all descended on the Italian capital hoping to share the spotlight cast on a major assembly of more than 400 bishops and lay Catholics, called by Pope Francis to discuss issues vital to the churchs future: the ordination of female deacons, the celibacy of the clergy, the blessing of same-sex couples.

The smorgasbord of juicy topics at the confidential Vatican meeting, known as the Synod on Synodality, has drawn every ideological stripe of Catholic activist, culture warrior and special interest group. The result is a Joycean Here Comes Everybody vision of the church that reflects all the gradations of faith, and all the flash points of division, across a broad Catholic spectrum.

People are joining in, and thats really great, said the Rev. Tom Reese, a veteran Vatican watcher and senior analyst at Religion News Service. The danger is if all these groups fight each other. The church is a family, but sometimes we have food fights.
It can be difficult to hold onto reason through the fog of grief that is the natural response to what has occurred in recent days in Israel and Gaza.

But international law offers a framework for how to analyze what is happening, even while atrocities and deaths from the Hamas incursion are still being documented, and the consequences of Israels siege and airstrikes on the crowded Gaza Strip, home to millions of civilians, continue to unfold. New information is coming out every day. Details will take time to verify, misinformation is already widespread, and it can be easy to get bogged down in debates over unconfirmed allegations. The laws of war offer a guide to what matters most, and to what should happen next.

Two principles are particularly helpful. The first is that the why and the how of war are separate legal questions. The justice or injustice of a cause of war does not change the obligation to fight it according to the rules of humanitarian law.

The second, related principle, from which much of humanitarian law derives, is that civilians are entitled to protection. Armies and other armed groups cannot target them directly. Nor can they disproportionately harm them in the course of pursuing legitimate military goals. And those obligations still apply even if the other side violates them by targeting civilians themselves.
Israel, already bombing intensively in Gaza, is gearing up for a major military operation there unlike any in the past, warning the world that for Israel, after the massacre of its citizens by Hamas on Saturday, the rules have changed.

Every Hamas member is marked by death, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday night, reflecting the governments aggressive new vocabulary. On Thursday, standing with the U.S. secretary of state, Antony J. Blinken, he compared Hamas to the Islamic State and said: Hamas is ISIS, and just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed.

There is no disagreement in the new unity government, which must approve the militarys plans, on the need to dismantle Hamas  to ensure that it can never threaten Israel again and that those responsible for the killing of more than 1,200 Israeli civilians are hunted down, officials say.

That a major operation is coming is hardly in doubt. Already, near the border, there are massive, overt Israeli troop and tank deployments, and the country has called up 360,000 reservists.
Laszlo Solyom, a legal scholar who helped guide Hungary in its transition to a free-market democracy after the fall of Communism in 1989, presiding over his countrys Constitutional Court and then serving as its president from 2005 to 2010, died on Oct. 8 in Budapest. He was 81.

Marton Hovanyi, a senior lecturer at Eotvos Lorand University, where Mr. Solyom once taught law, confirmed the death but did not specify the cause, saying only that it came after a long illness.

Mr. Solyom, a law professor in Budapest, was part of a generation of Central European intellectuals who, beginning in the 1980s, laid the groundwork for the transition away from Communism through the formation of nongovernmental organizations that expanded the scope of civic society.

He was a leading figure in the Danube Circle, an environmental coalition that opposed dams and other projects along his countrys main waterway  a form of protest masked as ecological activism.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 12. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevs meeting with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin was held in Bishkek, Trend reports.

President Vladimir Putin said: Dear Ilham Heydarovich, I am very pleased to see you. We last spoke on the phone. Of course, the number one issue is the situation around Karabakh. We also have an agenda, which is quite extensive. I suggest that we organize our work in the following way: we can start with the second part and give our colleagues an opportunity to express themselves, to talk. And then, we will also meet face to face and talk about the whole complex, including the so-called sensitive issues.

President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich. I am glad to see you again. As you noted, we talked quite recently. It is very gratifying that you found the time for a meeting within the framework of your state visit to Kyrgyzstan. In fact, there are many questions. I believe that your proposals are quite reasonable. We will talk with the colleagues about the bilateral agenda, especially since we have a lot to talk about. The results of this year are very impressive in terms of the turnover, industrial cooperation and cooperation in the transport sector. There are many new projects. Then we will go over regional and security issues. Thank you again for the meeting.

President Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

At the meeting, they expressed satisfaction with the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries, in particular, the surge in trade turnover. Touching upon the interregional cooperation issue, the sides noted Azerbaijans successful cooperation with 70 regions of Russia, and underlined in this context that interregional forums held on a regular basis are an important platform.

During the conversation, they expressed content with development of the North-South transport corridor, growth of its potential, and as a whole, with the increase in motor and railway freight transportation volume along this route.

The parties underscored the successful development of humanitarian cooperation. From this point of view, they highlighted the care for the Russian language in Azerbaijan, and teaching of the Russian language in many higher and secondary educational institutions.

During the conversation, the Presidents touched upon the importance of expanding cooperation in agriculture.

The significance of the activity of the Intergovernmental state commission between Azerbaijan and Russia was noted at the meeting.
A surprise visit to NATO headquarters by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine  his first  injected a bit of flair to high-level meetings this week among the alliances defense ministers. Beyond that, much of the rest of the two-day agenda was consumed with the kind of routine but necessary discussions that mark the semiregular gatherings: going over defense and deterrence plans, and getting updates on stability operations in Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

But the alliances 31 defense ministers departed on Thursday without resolving three pressing matters. Here is a look at each.

When will Sweden join NATO?

Turkeys continued delay in approving Swedens year-plus application to join NATO exasperated nearly all the defense ministers, according to two senior diplomats who attended closed-door discussions on the issue Thursday.

All NATO member governments must agree unanimously to expand the alliance. Hungary is another hold out, but it is expected to give its approval after Turkey does.
The ceremony to honor a fallen Russian soldier went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Officials dedicating a park and a playground to a local hero who died in the Ukraine war chose a song from The Hunger Games, blaring out the national anthem in the movie about a totalitarian state where young people are forced to kill one another to survive.

The musical faux pas last May in the eastern Russian town of Kyakhta, home to a prominent infantry brigade, soon rocketed around social media. If the incident was discordant in the extreme, it also accentuated the contradictions of Vladimir Putins war that are changing the face of garrison towns across Russia.

Patriotism and military pride have become the order of the day in communities with military bases, evident in proliferating memorials to the dead, medal ceremonies, community efforts to supply the troops and large renditions of the letters Z and V decorating the streets to show support for the conflict.

Yet there is also pain and sadness. Mothers lament sons missing on the battlefield. The local cemetery is growing exponentially. The flood of newly purchased cars in Kyakhta telegraphs loss as much as prosperity  the money comes from large government payouts to families of the dead and grievously injured.
Starting in 2025, it will be much harder to find a tailpipe in a central district of Stockholm.

Swedens capital said this week that it would ban conventional diesel-and-gas-powered vehicles from entering a significant part of its downtown, in what is one of Europes most ambitious efforts to combat automobile emissions.

The plan, announced on Tuesday by the vice mayor for transport, Lars Stromgren, will allow only vehicles that run on electricity or natural gas in a 20-block zone. The only exceptions are plug-in hybrid vans and vehicles driven by certified physically impaired drivers, police and emergency workers.

I think its a bold plan, said Anna Moen, 51, an account manager for an insurance company on the northwest corner of the designated area. We cant live like this forever, she said, gazing at the morning traffic.

Other European cities, like London, Paris, Hamburg, Barcelona and Athens, have similarly tried to discourage the use of private emission-producing cars, but Stockholm appears to be the first Western European city to ban those cars outright on such a large scale.
Since the attacks by Hamas on Israel last weekend, Ukraine has sought to position itself as a friend of Israel, while asserting that Moscow would try to use the conflict to drive a wedge between Ukraine and the countries that support it. Russia, for its part, has said that Israels war in Gaza shows the failure of the West and in particular U.S. policy in the region.

The trading of accusations illustrates how, nearly two years into Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the two countries are seeking to nurture their diplomatic alliances and influence opinion to bolster their respective military causes.

The latest example came on Thursday, when Ukraines military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, accused Moscow of sending weapons to Hamas that Russian forces had captured on the battlefield in Ukraine. He said this was an apparent attempt by the Kremlin to discredit President Volodymyr Zelenskys government by making Israel think Ukraine was supporting Hamas.

We know for a fact that trophy weapons from Ukraine were transferred by the Russians to the Hamas group, Mr. Budanov said in an interview with Ukrainian Pravda published on Thursday. It was not possible to independently verify the claim, and Mr. Budanov did not provide evidence for it.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stood next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Thursday at a military base in Tel Aviv and promised to help defend Israel as long as America exists.

But he also suggested the need for restraint in Israels military strikes in Gaza after deadly Hamas attacks over the weekend, saying its important to take every possible precaution to prevent harming civilians.

Mr. Blinken said the main message from President Biden was that we will always be there by your side.

Too often in the past, leaders have equivocated in the face of terrorist attacks against Israel and its people, Mr. Blinken said. This is  this must be  a moment for moral clarity.
As Israeli warplanes pound Gaza, killing more than 1,500 people and crushing buildings in response to last weekends unprecedented attack by Hamas, Israels leadership has repeatedly urged civilians to flee the territory while they can.

Get out now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, vowing to unleash the full force of Israels military.

But the only viable exit is a border crossing into Egypt, and that country, as ever in times of war, is keeping it firmly shut.

The Egyptians are adamantly opposed to allowing Gazans to cross the border for fear the country could become sucked deeper into the crisis  even as Israel presses ahead with a punishing siege that is rapidly escalating into a dire humanitarian crisis.
Ambulances, yellow cabs and cars scream up to the entrance of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza in a nonstop convoy, rushing in both broken and lifeless bodies.

Inside, hospital staff scramble to treat the wounded who are crammed into corridors that are also filled with people who fled their homes and are seeking refuge. The harrowing scenes have been playing out on a seemingly endless loop at Al Shifa Hospital since Saturday, when Hamas, the group that controls the strip, launched a deadly assault on Israel  and Israels military retaliated with punishing airstrikes on the blockaded enclave.

Al Shifa Hospital is the Gaza Strips largest medical complex. Many of the limestone villas and high-rise buildings surrounding the hospital in its affluent Gaza City neighborhood of Al Rimal have been reduced to piles of rubble and concrete. The Israeli Army claims that the neighborhood is a financial hub for Hamas, making it a target of airstrikes.
A United Nations official called the suffering of people in Gaza on Thursday absolutely horrible, as Israel continued pummeling the crowded, blockaded territory in retaliation for the deadly weekend incursion by Hamas, the armed Palestinian organization that controls the enclave.

Water and electricity have been cut off, Adnan Abu Hasna, the media adviser for the U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees, said in a phone interview from Gaza City. The only power plant in Gaza shut down on Wednesday because the blockade enforced by Egypt and Israel has prevented shipments of fuel.

Hospitals were running short on fuel to keep backup generators running, he said, compounding fears of a humanitarian disaster as patients pour in for treatment amid Israeli airstrikes that have killed hundreds. And without reliable electricity, residents had no means of storing food.

We are facing a huge disaster, he said.

After Hamas assailants killed at least 1,200 people in Israel and took an estimated 150 hostages, Israeli authorities have vowed that no humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza. Egypt, which also borders Gaza, has not indicated whether it will allow emergency aid shipments into the territory. On Thursday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry called on countries and agencies to send any aid to Gaza to the El Arish International Airport, near its border crossing with Gaza, without specifying if or when the aid would be allowed in.
Hospitals crowded with patients are running short on fuel. Fearful residents are racing to U.N.-run schools, seeking shelter from airstrikes. Water and electricity have been cut off, the borders are closed, and even the cemeteries do not have room to accommodate all the newly dead.

In one video to emerge from Gaza this week, a group of Palestinian men prepare to lower a white body bag, the word unknown scrawled on it, into a grave until someone yells to stop as the men realize theres not enough room. There were already at least two bodies inside the grave.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. France has zero credibility as the international partner and mediator on the part of Azerbaijan, the Delegation of Azerbaijan to UN said in response to the statement delivered by France during the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council on October 11, Trend reports.

The delegation noted that the statement which is falsely presented in the Armenian media as 'a joint statement by 34 countries', has in fact been delivered on behalf of France and Armenia only.

The delegation rejected the groundless allegations voiced by France and condemned its undisguised attempt to interfere into political processes taking place in Azerbaijan.

The delegation stressed that France has no role in these processes due to its open disregard of the principles of international law and selective approach to the support of sovereignty and territorial integrity during the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, its failure over the last close to 30 years to act as an impartial mediator in the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from occupation by Armenia, and in the return of close to one million Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees to their homes of origin, including 300,000 Azerbaijanis violently expelled from Armenia.

Furthermore, the delegation reminded that the UN mission twice visited the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, reported no damage to civilian public infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and housing, or to cultural and religious structures in the city of Khankendi, and saw that the Government of Azerbaijan was preparing for the resumption of health services in Khankendi.

The delegation reminded that these observations were also confirmed by the findings of the UNHCR (High Commissioner for Refugees) Office in Armenia as well as the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross).

The delegation emphasized that Azerbaijan as a sovereign country engages in effective cooperation with a number of international actors, including the UN institutions, on its sovereign territory.
At the home of Yakov and Liora Argamani, Oct. 12 has long been a day for celebrating their daughters birthday. This year, though, it is a day of sorrow for the Argamanis, after their daughter, Noa, now 26, was seen on video being kidnapped Saturday from a music festival by Hamas assailants.

Her parents held Noas birthday dinner in their home in Beer Sheva, in southern Israel, with cake and two empty chairs at the dining table. One was for their daughter, and one was for her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped with her.

We are waiting at home to celebrate your birthday, Ms. Argamani said in a recent interview, hoping her daughter could somehow receive the message. Only a few nights earlier, she had sat at the same table with her daughter and Mr. Or, she said, just before they went to the festival near Reim in Israel, three miles from the border with Gaza.

Israeli authorities estimate that 260 people at the festival died in the Hamas assault. Hours after the attack began, friends showed Ms. Argamani a video that had surfaced online of her daughter being forcefully taken away on a motorcycle by Hamas attackers. Mr. Or can also be seen in the video, surrounded by men holding his wrist and pinning his arm behind his back.
The United States and Qatar have agreed to deny Iran access to $6 billion recently transferred to the nation as part of a deal between Washington and Tehran that led to the release of five imprisoned Americans from Iran last month.

Wally Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, told House Democrats on Thursday that Iran would no longer have access to the funds, according to a person familiar with the matter. The money was under close supervision and strict conditions that it be used only for humanitarian purposes.

U.S. officials did not describe the money as frozen permanently but said that case-by-case applications to spend it under the current arrangement will be denied for the foreseeable future.

The move comes after harsh criticism, mainly from Republicans, that the Biden administration had given Iran a vast sum that freed up other funds for Tehran to provide support to Hamas before it attacked Israel over the weekend.
European Union regulators on Thursday opened an inquiry into X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, over the prevalence of gory videos and images, terrorism content and other illicit material it is carrying related to the Israel-Hamas war.

E.U. authorities formally requested information from X, once known as Twitter, the first step in what could become a wider investigation of the company. Regulators are examining whether X violated a new European law, the Digital Services Act, which requires large social media companies to stop the spread of illegal content, disinformation and other harmful material. Under the law, companies can be penalized up to 6 percent of their global revenues.

The war has intensified a simmering dispute between Mr. Musk, who believes in less content moderation on X and has reduced the size of teams that performed those roles, and regulators in the European Union, where free speech protections are more limited than they are in the United States.

The #DSA is here to protect both freedom of expression & our democracies  including in times of crisis, Thierry Breton, the European commissioner behind the law, said on X.
Maps of the 2023 Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse

On Saturday, Oct. 14, an annular or ring of fire solar eclipse will sweep across much of the Western Hemisphere.

North and Central America

The darkest part of the moons shadow will slide from Oregon to Texas on Saturday morning, then cross the Gulf of Mexico into Central America.

Viewers inside this dark band  the path of annularity  will see a ring of light around the moon for up to 5 minutes. Viewers outside the path of annularity will see the crescent sun of a partial solar eclipse.

The map below shows the path of the eclipse, and the approximate local time when the ring of fire will be visible.

40% 30% 20% 10% 60% 50% 80% 70% Edmonton BRITISH COLUMBIA SASKATCHEWAN ALBERTA Vancouver Percentage of the sun obscured Calgary 90% Regina MANITOBA ONTARIO QUEBEC WASH. Seattle Winnipeg Shadow of the moon at 9:15 a.m. Pacific Time Spokane Missoula N.D. MAINE Portland MONT. Bismarck Butte ORE. Eugene MINN. Ottawa VT. N.H. 9:20 WIS. Boise 80% Toronto Medford Boston MICH. MASS. Minneapolis S.D. IDAHO Rapid City N.Y. Buffalo CONN. Milwaukee WYO. Casper Detroit IOWA PA. New York Chicago Des Moines Philadelphia 9:25 Reno Salt Lake City NEB. Sacramento OHIO Omaha N.J. 70% IND. Ely UTAH Columbus San Francisco ILL. D.C. Indianapolis NEV. Denver MD. W.VA. Atlantic Ocean Kansas City 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time Fresno COLO. Richmond Louisville St. Louis KAN. VA. MO. CALIF. KY. Las Vegas Durango Wichita 60% ARIZ. Nashville 10:35 Los Alamos Charlotte N.C. Flagstaff Santa Fe Los Angeles TENN. Oklahoma City Palm Springs ARK. Memphis Albuquerque Columbia Phoenix OKLA. San Diego Little Rock S.C. 10:40 Atlanta Birmingham N.M. Lubbock MISS. 50% Tucson Las Cruces GA. 11:45 Dallas Jackson ALA. El Paso Midland LA. Odessa San Angelo 11:50 a.m. Central Time Hermosillo Austin Houston New Orleans San Antonio Chihuahua 40% 11:55 Tampa Beeville FLA. Corpus Christi Laredo 12:00 Miami Gulf of Mexico Monterrey 12:05 Torreon 30% Havana MEXICO CUBA 11:15 a.m. Central Standard Time Tampico Leon 11:20 Cancun Merida Guadalajara JAMAICA 11:25 Campeche 20% Mexico City Toluca 11:30 Puebla Chetumal 11:35 BELIZE HONDURAS 11:40 GUATEMALA 11:45 Tegucigalpa Guatemala City 11:50 10% EL SALVADOR 11:55 Pacific Ocean Managua 12:00 NICARAGUA PANAMA COSTA RICA 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Panama City San Jose 1:15 1:20 1:25 40% 30% 20% 10% 60% 50% 70% 80% Percentage of the sun obscured Edmonton BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA Vancouver SASKATCHEWAN 90% Calgary MANITOBA Regina QUEBEC ONTARIO Seattle Winnipeg Shadow of the moon at 9:15 a.m. Pacific Time WASH. Spokane Missoula Portland MAINE Montreal MONT. N.D. Bismarck ORE. Butte Eugene MINN. Ottawa VT. N.H. 9:20 WIS. 80% Boise Toronto Boston Medford MICH. MASS. S.D. Minneapolis Rapid City N.Y. IDAHO Buffalo CONN. Milwaukee WYO. Casper Detroit IOWA PA. New York Chicago Philadelphia Des Moines Reno 9:25 Salt Lake City NEB. OHIO N.J. 70% Omaha IND. Ely San Francisco Columbus UTAH ILL. D.C. Indianapolis NEV. Denver MD. W.VA. Kansas City Atlantic Ocean COLO. 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time Fresno Richmond Louisville St. Louis KAN. VA. MO. Las Vegas CALIF. Durango KY. Wichita 60% ARIZ. Los Alamos Nashville 10:35 Charlotte N.C. Santa Fe Los Angeles TENN. Oklahoma City Flagstaff ARK. Memphis Albuquerque Columbia OKLA. Phoenix San Diego Little Rock S.C. Atlanta 10:40 N.M. Lubbock Tucson Birmingham 50% MISS. TEXAS GA. 11:45 Dallas Midland Jackson ALA. El Paso LA. Odessa San Angelo 11:50 a.m. Central Time Austin Hermosillo New Orleans Houston Chihuahua 40% San Antonio 11:55 Tampa FLA. Corpus Christi Miami 12:00 p.m. Gulf of Mexico Monterrey 12:05 Torreon 30% Havana MEXICO CUBA 11:15 a.m. Central Standard Time Tampico Leon 11:20 Cancun Merida JAMAICA Guadalajara 11:25 20% Mexico City Campeche 11:30 Chetumal Puebla 11:35 BELIZE 11:40 HONDURAS 11:45 Tegucigalpa 11:50 GUATEMALA 10% EL SALVADOR 11:55 Managua Pacific Ocean 12:00 p.m. NICARAGUA PANAMA 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time COSTA RICA 1:15 1:20 1:25 Percentage of the sun obscured during the eclipse 70% 60% 70% 80% 90% 80% 60% Shadow of the moon at 9:15 a.m. Pacific Time BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver Seattle Portland Eugene WASH. Spokane Medford 9:20 ORE. Calgary San Francisco Sacramento Missoula Reno Boise IDAHO Butte Fresno 9:25 MONT. NEV. CALIF. Ely Los Angeles Las Vegas Salt Lake City San Diego WYO. UTAH 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time Casper ARIZ. Rapid City Flagstaff Durango Phoenix S.D. COLO. Denver 10:35 Colorado Springs Tucson Pueblo Los Alamos Albuquerque NEB. Santa Fe N.M. Hermosillo Las Cruces Omaha 10:40 KAN. El Paso Chihuahua Lubbock 11:45 Wichita Kansas City Midland Oklahoma City Odessa San Angelo MO. OKLA. 11:50 a.m. Central Time TEXAS Dallas ARK. Torreon San Antonio Austin Little Rock 11:55 Laredo Monterrey Beeville Memphis Houston MEXICO LA. Corpus Christi 12:00 p.m. MISS. Guadalajara Jackson Leon 12:05 ALA. New Orleans Tampico Mexico City Puebla 11:15 a.m. Central Standard Time Gulf of Mexico 11:20 Tampa Campeche Merida 11:25 FLA. Miami Cancun 11:30 Chetumal Havana GUATEMALA 11:35 BELIZE 11:40 CUBA EL SALVADOR Tegucigalpa 11:45 HONDURAS Managua 11:50 NICARAGUA 11:55 JAMAICA COSTA RICA 12:00 p.m. San Jose 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Pacific Ocean Panama City 1:15 PANAMA 1:20 COLOMBIA Percentage of the sun obscured during the eclipse 70% 80% 90% 80% 70% Shadow of the moon at 9:15 a.m. Pacific Time Seattle Portland WASH. Eugene Medford Spokane 9:20 ORE. San Francisco Sacramento Reno Boise CALIF. MONT. IDAHO Fresno 9:25 NEV. Ely Los Angeles Las Vegas Salt Lake City WYO. UTAH 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time ARIZ. COLO. Flagstaff Durango Phoenix Denver 10:35 Tucson Pueblo Los Alamos Albuquerque Santa Fe N.M. Las Cruces 10:40 KAN. El Paso Chihuahua Lubbock 11:45 Midland Oklahoma City Odessa OKLA. San Angelo 11:50 a.m. Central Time TEXAS Dallas Torreon San Antonio Austin 11:55 Laredo Monterrey Beeville Houston LA. Corpus Christi MEXICO 12:00 p.m. MISS. 12:05 Tampico Mexico City 11:15 a.m. Central Standard Time Gulf of Mexico 11:20 Campeche Merida 11:25 Cancun 11:30 Chetumal GUATEMALA BELIZE 11:40 Tegucigalpa EL SALVADOR 11:45 HONDURAS Managua 11:50 NICARAGUA 11:55 COSTA RICA 12:00 p.m. San Jose 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Panama City 1:15 PANAMA Pacific Ocean 1:20 COLOMBIA Percentage of the sun obscured during the eclipse 80% 90% 80% Shadow of the moon at 9:15 a.m. Pacific Time Seattle Portland WASH. Eugene Medford Spokane 9:20 ORE. San Francisco Sacramento Reno Boise CALIF. IDAHO Fresno 9:25 NEV. Ely Los Angeles Las Vegas Salt Lake City WYO. UTAH 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time ARIZ. COLO. Flagstaff Durango Phoenix Denver 10:35 Tucson Pueblo Los Alamos Albuquerque Santa Fe N.M. Las Cruces 10:40 KAN. El Paso Chihuahua Lubbock 11:45 Midland Oklahoma City Odessa OKLA. San Angelo 11:50 a.m. Central Time TEXAS Dallas Torreon San Antonio Austin 11:55 Laredo Monterrey Beeville Houston LA. Corpus Christi MEXICO 12:00 p.m. 12:05 Tampico 11:15 a.m. Central Standard Time Gulf of Mexico 11:20 Campeche Merida 11:25 Cancun 11:30 Chetumal GUATEMALA BELIZE 11:40 Tegucigalpa EL SALVADOR 11:45 HONDURAS Managua 11:50 NICARAGUA 11:55 COSTA RICA 12:00 p.m. San Jose 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Panama City 1:15 PANAMA Pacific Ocean 1:20 COLOMBIA Source: Eclipse data from NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio

The Western Hemisphere

On Saturday afternoon, the moons shadow will reach South America, cross Brazil through the Amazon, then sweep past the Earths edge.

The path of the eclipse crosses many time zones, so local timing will vary widely by country and region.

10% 20% 30% 40% Percentage of the sun obscured during the eclipse 50% 60% 70% 80% CANADA 90% 80% Portland Toronto 70% 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time 60% Chicago Denver New York 50% 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time Atlantic Ocean San Francisco UNITED STATES 40% Phoenix 10:40 30% Los Angeles Dallas Atlanta 11:50 a.m. Central Time 20% Austin Houston San Antonio 10% 12:00 p.m. Gulf of Mexico Miami 12:10 MEXICO Havana 11:20 a.m. Central Standard Time CUBA Mexico City 11:30 JAMAICA BELIZE 11:40 HONDURAS GUATEMALA 11:50 NICARAGUA 12:00 PANAMA COSTA RICA 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time VENEZUELA 1:20 COLOMBIA Bogota 1:30 Natal Cali 1:40 Recife 1:50 3:00 p.m. Amazon Time Manaus Quito 4:40 3:10 ECUADOR 4:30 p.m. Brasilia Time 3:20 Salvador BRAZIL Pacific Ocean PERU Brasilia Lima Rio de Janeiro BOLIVIA 10% 20 30 Percentage of the sun obscured during the eclipse 40 50 60 70 80 CANADA 90% 80 Portland 70 Toronto 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time 60 Chicago Denver New York 50 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time Atlantic Ocean UNITED STATES 40 30 10:40 Los Angeles Phoenix Atlanta Dallas 20 11:50 a.m. Central Time San Antonio 10% 12:00 p.m. Gulf of Mexico Miami MEXICO Havana 11:20 a.m. Central Standard Time CUBA Mexico City BELIZE JAMAICA 11:40 HONDURAS GUATEMALA 11:50 NICARAGUA 12:00 PANAMA 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time VENEZUELA 1:20 COLOMBIA 1:30 Bogota Natal 1:40 Cali Recife 1:50 Manaus Quito 4:40 3:10 p.m. Amazon Time 4:30 p.m. Brasilia Time ECUADOR Salvador Pacific Ocean BRAZIL PERU Brasilia Lima Rio de Janeiro BOLIVIA Percentage of the sun obscured during the eclipse 10% 30 50 70 CANADA 90% Portland 70 Toronto 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time Chicago Denver 50 New York 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time Atlantic Ocean UNITED STATES 30 Phoenix 10:40 Los Angeles Dallas Atlanta 11:50 a.m. Central Time 10% San Antonio 12:00 p.m. Gulf of Mexico Miami MEXICO 12:10 Havana 11:20 a.m. Central Standard Time CUBA Mexico City BELIZE 11:40 HONDURAS 11:50 NICARAGUA 12:00 PANAMA COSTA RICA VENEZUELA 1:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time COLOMBIA 1:30 Cali 1:40 Natal 1:50 Manaus Quito 4:40 3:10 p.m. Amazon Time ECUADOR 4:30 p.m. Brasilia Time Salvador BRAZIL Pacific Ocean PERU Brasilia Lima Rio de Janeiro BOLIVIA Percentage of the sun obscured 10% 30 50 70 90% CANADA 70 9:20 a.m. Pacific Time 50 UNITED STATES 30 11:50 a.m. Central Time 10 Atlantic Ocean Gulf of Mexico MEXICO 11:35 a.m. Central Standard Time 1:10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time COLOMBIA BRAZIL 3:00 p.m. Amazon Time 4:35 p.m. Brasilia Time Pacific Ocean Source: Eclipse data from NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio

Watching the Eclipse

It is never safe to look directly at the sun. Use certified eclipse glasses, make a cardboard pinhole projector or look at the many crescent shadows cast by a tree.

NASA will have a live feed of the eclipse. Or watch a simulated flyover of the United States from the shadows perspective.

For viewers in New York City, rain clouds are forecast on Saturday. But if the sky clears, a partial eclipse will be visible from 12:09 p.m. until 2:36 p.m., with a peak around 1:22 p.m.

Viewers in other locations can search by city or click on a world map to determine their local eclipse timing.

Annular Eclipses

The moon travels an elliptical orbit around the Earth, appearing slightly larger or smaller in the sky depending on its distance.

An image of the Earth and moon taken by the Osiris-Rex spacecraft. NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

A solar eclipse occurs when the moons shadow falls on the Earth. If the moon is relatively close to the Earth, it will completely obscure the sun and cause a total eclipse. The next total eclipse visible from the United States will be on April 8, 2024.

An illustration of a solar eclipse. NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio

But if the moon is relatively far from the Earth, it will not appear large enough in the sky to fully obscure the sun, and will leave a ring of light  an annular eclipse.

An annular solar eclipse in May, 2012. NASA

Looking Back at a Sunlit Earth

NASAs Deep Space Climate Observatory orbits a stable point between the Earth and the sun, a good location to photograph the far side of the moon when it crosses in front of the Earth.

An image of the moon passing in front of the Earth in 2021. NASA/NOAA

From space, an annular eclipse looks like a fuzzy dark spot sweeping across the planet.

An image of the moons shadow during the June 2020 annular eclipse. NASA/NOAA

And if clouds obscure the view from Earth, astronauts in the International Space Station might catch a glimpse of the shadow from low Earth orbit.
Case 1:23-cr-00490-SHS Document 65 Filed 10/12/23 Page 32 of 44 47. In or about December 2020, ROBERT MENENDEZ, the defendant, met with an individual who would later be nominated to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey (referred to herein as the Candidate or Official-3," the latter after Official-3's Senate confirmation). At the time of the meeting, the Candidate was an attorney in private practice, and the purpose of his meeting with MENENDEZ was to consider a potential candidacy for U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. In that meeting, MENENDEZ criticized the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey's prosecution of FRED DAIBES, the defendant, and said that he hoped that the Candidate would look into DAIBES's case if the Candidate became the U.S. Attorney. MENENDEZ did not mention any other case in the meeting. After the meeting, the Candidate informed MENENDEZ that he might have to recuse himself from the DAIBES prosecution as a result of a matter he had handled in private practice involving DAIBES. MENENDEZ subsequently informed the Candidate that MENENDEZ would not put forward the Candidate's name to the White House for a recommendation to be nominated by the President for the position of U.S. Attorney. MENENDEZ also told the Candidate that MENENDEZ would be recommending a different individual for the position. 48. Instead of the Candidate, ROBERT MENENDEZ, the defendant, recommended a different individual for U.S. Attorney. FRED DAIBES, the defendant, believed that different individual would likely be sympathetic to him. In or about the spring of 2021, a series of news reports critical of the other individual were published. 49. During that time period, in or about the spring of 2021, an individual (the "Advisor") associated with ROBERT MENENDEZ, the defendant, spoke to the Candidate and discussed, among other things, the possibility of the Candidate recusing from the prosecution of FRED DAIBES, the defendant. Subsequently, the Advisor informed MENENDEZ that the Advisor believed that the Candidate would likely not have to recuse from the prosecution of 32
After nearly 40 years as a professional actor, Melissa Leo still had one role she was aching to land: Upper East Side homeowner.

Ms. Leo, who won an Academy Award in 2011 for her performance as Alice Eklund-Ward in The Fighter, is a Manhattan native. But homeownership was something she had never experienced. When she was a child, she and her brother were raised by a single mother who moved the family among rented apartments.

When her son, Jack, was born 36 years ago, Ms. Leo, now 63, thought about putting down real roots. At the time, she was renting a place on 83rd Street, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She loved the neighborhood, with its quiet, leafy streets and handsome brownstones, and particularly enjoyed pushing Jack on the swings at Carl Schurz Park, along the East River.

But when she did buy a home, it wasnt in the city. Instead, she chose a 200-year-old farmhouse in Stone Ridge, N.Y. For three decades, it served as a quiet retreat, while her daily life was anchored around a series of rentals across the world, as she traveled for roles on screens big and small, including an Oscar-nominated turn in Frozen River, an Emmy-winning part in the FX comedy Louie and 77 episodes of the TV police drama Homicide: Life on the Street.

[Did you recently buy a home? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

Ive lived in so many places. I rent places for temporary housing when I do television work, Ms. Leo said. But you go around the world, and to be a native New Yorker, theres something to it.

In 2019, she finally bought an apartment in Manhattan, landing in a studio in Washington Heights. But she disliked the flashy new building. It didnt feel like a part of Washington Heights, she said. The city has torn down homes and built up luxury apartments, as if thats what it needs?

When the pandemic hit, she retreated back upstate and sold the apartment. Earlier this year, she decided to try again, focusing on Yorkville, a historic swath of the Upper East Side. Ms. Leo wanted something out of the spotlight to share with her dog, Buddy, and reached out to Janina McCormack, a real estate agent with Compass, for help finding a modest place that met her needs.

She intended to keep her upstate house, so all she needed in New York was a small refuge. You can have too much room, Ms. Leo said. And its just me, so I dont have to worry about having a lot of space.

She wanted to pay cash and keep her budget under $500,000. Ms. McCormack showed Ms. Leo a handful of studios and one-bedroom apartments in the area.

She wanted to be in a building where she could have a lot of privacy and no one paid attention to her, and where she had just enough space to be comfortable, Ms. McCormack said. She wanted something that was both humble and manageable.

Among her options:
A road leading to Balis Pandawa Beach that seems to split an entire plateau in half has sparked a heated online debate about the practicality of the project and its effect on local wildlife.

Featuring fine white sand and crystal-clear water, the picture-perfect beach of Pandawa was already one of Balis most beautiful seaside destinations, but the road dug into the limestone cliffs separating the beach from the rest of the island really catapulted it into the top tourist destinations on the island. Until only a decade ago, Pandawa Beach was only popular among locals, as the limestone cliffs secluded from foreigners eyes were notoriously hard to traverse. However, everything changed in 2012 when a road leading down to the beach was created by cutting through the cliffs. Today, that road has itself become somewhat of a tourist attraction in its own right, but also the topic of a heated debate.

Photo: Facebook

From the moment the road to Pandawa Beach was inaugurated, it instantly transformed the secluded destination into a major tourist spot. With 90-degree vertical cliffs on both sides, the road is very popular with Instagram users looking for eye-catching pics.

Work on the Pandawa Beach Road began in 2011 when bulldozers and excavators started chipping away at the limestone landscape. Funded by both the Indonesian Government and private investors, it was inaugurated just two years later, and it proved an instant hit with both tourists and locals.

Photos and videos of the road recently went viral on Reddit, where they were viewed millions of times. Interestingly, while some are in awe of the beach road, others claim that it may have been developed haphazardly because it completely prevents animals from traveling across the limestone plateau.

And they cut the territory of so many animals in two, with no way to cross, idiots, one Reddit user countered.



Need a bridge for the animals, someone else posted.

Those defending the project claim that there are not many animals in this area anymore, so the road doesnt really pose problems to anyone.
The Disabled Persons Protection Commission of Massachusetts wants bids to handle its $200K budget for a public awareness campaign about how it protects adults with disabilities from abusive acts or omissions conducted by their caregivers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. A special session of Milli Majlis (Parliament) has kicked off, Trend reports.

The agenda of the meeting includes a statement of Azerbaijan's Parliament on the 20th anniversary of Ilham Aliyev's election as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Ilham Aliyev was born on December 24, 1961, in Baku, Azerbaijan. He studied at secondary school No. 6 in Baku from 1967 to 1977. He studied at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations from 1977 to 1982. After graduating in 1982, he entered the postgraduate program of this institute.

In 1985, after defending his thesis, he received the degree of Candidate of Historical Sciences and from 1985 to 1990 he taught at the mentioned institute.

He worked in the field of private business and headed a number of industrial and commercial enterprises from 1991 to 1994.

He was first vice-president and then first vice-president of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan from 1994 to August 2003. Furthermore, he also took an active part in the realization of the oil strategy of the national leader Heydar Aliyev.

Ilham Aliyev was elected to the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1995 and 2000.

Since 1997 he is President of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.

In 1999 he was elected Deputy, in 2001 First Deputy Chairman and in 2005 Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party.

He headed the Milli Majlis delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) from 2001 to 2003. He was elected Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and member of the PACE bureau in January 2003.

After being approved by Milli Majlis, he was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan on August 4, 2003. Due to this, his parliamentary authority was terminated.

Ilham Aliyev was elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 15, 2003. More than 76 percent of voters voted for Ilham Aliyev in the presidential election.

He was awarded the diploma of honorary member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the PACE medal in 2004.

In the election held on October 15, 2008, Ilham Aliyev was elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the second time with 88.73 percent of votes.

In the election held on October 9, 2013, Ilham Aliyev was once again elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with 84.54 percent of the votes.

In the election held on April 11, 2018, Ilham Aliyev was again elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan with 86.02 percent of the votes.

He speaks Azerbaijani, Russian, English, French and Turkish.

He is married and has three children and five grandchildren.
Gogglebox Ireland stars were left screaming on our screens last night as they watched ghosthunters inside an Offaly castle.

The show introduced Spooked Ireland presented by influencer and model Vogue Williams who said she's been "obsessed by the supernatural" since she was a child.

She brought 'spiritual medium' Chris Fleming to Charleville Castle in Tullamore in an attempt to communicate with spirits.

One of the stars joked she'd be "spooked if she had to go to Offaly" as Vogue and Chris looked around the castle and its grounds.

Vogue claimed there had been "a huge spike" in paranormal activity at the castle recently. One local showed a photograph of what was claimed to be the spirit of a young boy, Henry Walter, "one of the sons of the second Earl who was seven years old when he died."

"Oh my God, it's the shadow of a child," one of the Gogglebox stars shrieked. "It's literally a blob," another joked.

The film crew then visited the nursery of a young girl, Harriet, who died in a fall from the staircase at the castle. One of the Gogglebox stars said: "Why would you keep that nursery the way it is, like if you buy a new gaff, you're not keeping their bed." Another called it "terrifying."

Chris appeared startled by a rocking horse and rocking cot that both appeared to move as he stood in the room. He later climbed a tree outside and attempted to speak to spirits he claimed may be there.

The crew claimed to play a clip of something saying "I'm back" in response to a question as the Gogglebox stars said, "run out of that place." Others joked about people believing in ghosts.

Chris then claimed to have his body and voice taken over by a spirit of a grieving father inside the castle. Gogglebox star Laura Grufferty said: "I can't stop that crap now." Another said, "I don't know how Vogue is keeping a straight face."

Chris then said a prayer for "eternal rest" for spirits at the castle.

One of the Carlow lads on Gogglebox described the show as "really embarrassing." It's fair to say not many of them were convinced by the presence of ghosts at the castle.

You can catch up on the episode on the Virgin Media Player HERE
The old shoe factory in Edenderry is being renovated to accommodate at least 45 Ukrainian refugees, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has confirmed.

Work is already well underway at the large building on St Mary's Road between the Grand Canal harbour and Edenderry Business Park.

It's understood up to 50 Ukrainians, including families, women, children and grandparents, will move in early in the New Year.

The Department told the Offaly Express that its officials are "in ongoing contact with the provider in relation to this property for the purposes of accommodating Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection fleeing the war."

They also confirmed the expected capacity of the property would be in the region of 50 people.

In Edenderry, Fine Gael councillor Noel Cribbin told the Offaly Express he will welcome the new arrivals to the town "with open arms."

Cllr Cribbin said: "There are 45 Ukrainians coming, probably after Christmas; families, women, kids, grandparents, and I certainly welcome them as they are coming from a very dangerous situation with their country, cities and homes under siege from Russia.

"As chairperson this year in the Edenderry Municipal District, I welcome them to Edenderry with open arms and I wish them a happy and peaceful time in Edenderry."

Ireland is now accommodating over 97,350 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection applicants. This compares with over 8,575 at the end of February 2022, Department figures reveal.

This includes over 73,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 24,355 International Protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation.

"Both UCTAT and IPPS are operating in the context of a severe accommodation shortage," a Department spokesperson said.

"As a result it is necessary for the Government to place Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and International Protection Applicants in accommodation as and when it becomes available. This helps ensure accommodation is available for all those who seek it."

The Offaly Express has also contacted the housing section at Offaly County Council for comment on this story.
Birr man Darrell Lally is seeking financial assistance in order to become a priest.

Darrell is an Irish seminarian of the Institute of Christ the King.

I believe, he says, I have felt a call to the priesthood since my very early childhood years. I always pestered the priests in my parish about the priesthood, asking them when I could go to a seminary.

He said that when he entered secondary school he received much opposition from his peers on the subject of becoming a priest, however I wanted more than ever to go to a seminary. Towards the end of school I became very interested in the chanting of the divine office and the beautiful traditional liturgical ceremonies of the Church and I found as a result the Institute of Christ the King in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Limerick. The first time that I went there was to attend a solemn High Mass, and I fell in love with the traditional Latin Mass.

After he finished school he joined the Institute of Christ the King in October 2018 as a candidate by entering one of the institute's formation houses in Preston England where he learned the rhythm of apostolic life. He then spent a second year in Naples Italy, again as a candidate.

In September 2020 he was accepted to the institute's seminary known as Gricigliano in Florence Italy.

After completing my first academic year in spirituality I received the holy cassock from our prior general Monseigneur Gilles Wach and I was tonsured and made a cleric by his eminence Leo Ramond Cardinal Burke. I have since received three minor Orders of Porter, Lector and Exorcist and am preparing this year to receive the final minor Order of Acolyte before the major Orders to come, God willing.

I love my studies very much and I have finished my studies of philosophy and now I am entering into four years of theology. My prayer life is also very active in the seminary especially through participation in the holy liturgy.

In the seminary, along with prayer and sacred studies, manual work also plays an important role in our priestly and human formation. I was very glad to be able to put my artistic experience to good use, in restoring many things and areas in the seminary that were once highly decorated but have since deteriorated over the years, before the institute had occupied the building. This year I finished my second major project of restoring one of the common rooms which was once richly decorated.

Unfortunately, unlike prayerful support, I do not have much financial assistance as my absence from my home country renders it difficult to find benefactors to support Irish vocations. The seminary costs are about 800 per month per seminarian. This tuition goes towards our studies, books, food, heating and other costs which concern the formation.

Darrell has set up a GoFundMe page and so far has raised 5,000 of a 30,000 target.

I ask you kindly to please support me if possible, he writes on the GoFundMe page. Ireland needs good priests and my wish is to be one for her and especially for our holy mother the Church.

Many people in Birr think highly of Darrell and see him as a sincere man with a genuine vocation, who is also gifted artistically.

On the popular Facebook page (Well Mush) Birr Memories Old and New Dickie Donnelly urges people to support Darrell. Dickie points out that There is more than Religion involved here. This is a Birr man following his dreams and beliefs for the good of all the world.

Darrell is a lovely, kind young man, wrote another person on the page, who has a special faith.

I'm delighted, wrote another, to see Darrell using his wonderful artistic talent in restoration work in the seminary.
Last Thursday morning Birr woman Sharon Conneely held a fundraiser in St Brendan's RC Church for the Streetwise project which is building a multipurpose school hall in the township of Delft near Cape Town in South Africa and in which her husband Oisin Conneely is taking part.

Oisin and several other volunteers from Birr and surrounding areas recently travelled to Delft where they will stay for about six weeks lending their skills and elbow grease to this great cause.

Amongst them is Neil McDermott, an architect from Birr, Peter Lyons, a Rath man who works as an architect in Tullamore, Mark Kennedy, who works as a truck driver in Grennan's Rath, and Kieran Corrigan, who is in Sales & Marketing in Rath. Oisin's trade is carpentry.

Speaking to the Midland Tribune from the building site in Delft, Peter Lyons said this is the third phase of a three phase project. The school is run by the Salesian Sisters, he said. In the first phase, back in 2011, we built a creche on the site, for pre-school children; in 2018 we built a skills training centre for post-school children; and now we are building a multipurpose hall which will be used by both the pre and post school children.

We are getting on well here. We are being looked after well. We stay on site during the day and drive home to our accommodation in the evening, which is outside of Delft near Cape Town. He pointed out that it's not advisable to venture outside the building site and go into the town, especially after dark, because it has a big problem with drugs and violence and there are gangs in the area who can turn aggressive and violent. Like many shanty towns in South Africa, Delft has a serious law and order issue. This makes the good work of the Salesian Sisters and these Offaly men even more important because they are bringing some stability and decency to a volatile and difficult environment.

We have thirteen men from Delft working with us on the building site, continued Peter. They are hard workers and we get on very well with them. We plan to finish in about six weeks time, in November.

The work is challenging because it is a short timescale. Because of the short timescale we planned and prepared for it as best we could in advance. Overall, it's going pretty well at the moment.

The Salesian Sisters say every child has great potential, both academically and as a caring, decent human being, and they want to bring out that potential through their schools. They call their creche the Don Bosco Educare School. This and the skills training centre, the Sisters say, provide vital services to the community in the surrounding township.

Our project commenced in 2010, they comment, and is now nearing completion with the construction this year of the shared, multipurpose hall and additional classroom space. We are very grateful to the Irish volunteer group Streetwise for providing invaluable assistance with the project.

In the creche / Educare school about 200 children attend each year. Peter said the skills training centre offers the equivalent of PLC courses in Ireland where undertaking the various courses and skills training aids the students in their subsequent quest to gain employment.

The Salesian Sisters are trying to fundraise for the project. If you would like to make a donation to this special cause then please email bursar@salesiansisters.net for more information.
A CLARE man has pleaded guilty to sending lewd pictures of himself to three random females, including one from Limerick, and committing a solo sex act in public on the early-morning Galway to Limerick train service.

At Ennis District Court, Sergeant Louis Moloney said that one of the injured parties who witnessed the man masturbating on the 6.15am Galway to Limerick service on February 20, this year videoed the incident and handed over the recording to gardai.

Sgt Moloney said gardai boarded the train at Gort after a complaint was received regarding the indecent incident which occurred on the early-morning train service between Oranmore and Athenry.

Sgt Moloney said that two people who witnessed the incident subsequently made statements to gardai.

The offence on the train came only nine days before the 39-year-old defendant made his first appearance in court, on March 1, concerning the sending of lewd images of himself to females.

In relation to the first offence, the man randomly selected a County Kerry womans phone number before sending her a lewd image of himself on October 16, 2020.

Sgt Moloney said the woman made a complaint to gardai in Killarney that she received the image of her phone at 12.50am on October 16, 2020 from a man she didnt know.

In another case, the man pleaded guilty to "intentionally engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature by sending an image of his erect penis via WhatsApp" to a female living in Limerick in such a manner to cause fear, distress or alarm to another person. That offence occurred on May 1, 2021.

The man has also pleaded guilty to "intentionally engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature by sending an image of his erect penis via WhatsApp" to another woman who was living in Dublin on May 4, 2021

The charges are contrary to Section 45(3) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

Sgt Moloney said that when interviewed by gardai, the man made full admissions.

Judge Alec Gabbett said that he required a Probation Report into the case. "I need to know what is going on here, he commented.

Solicitor Stiofan Fitzpatrick, for the accused, said that he had a similar case previously where medication was required to deal with a clients compulsion. Mr Fitzpatrick said all of the incidents occurred when his client was highly intoxicated.

He told the court his client sent the images to random individuals and the women who made complaints all live outside of County Clare.

There was no sophistication here. His number was easily identifiable and traceable to him," he said.

Judge Gabbett - who previously imposed reporting restrictions in the case to protect the identities of the women - remanded the man on continuing bail to next March for a Probation Report.

As a condition of bail the man must not engage in social media communications with any females unknown to him and be of good behaviour.

He must sign on weekly at his local garda station and he is not have any contact with the injured parties.
GREG OSHEA has revealed his latest tattoo in dedication to a fitness challenge which he recently completed.

The TV presenter/social media star unveiled his new Ironman logo tattoo on the back of his right calf, having conquered a Spanish triathlon in recent weeks.

The former rugby sevens player went to Barcelona to complete a 3.8km sea swim, followed by a 180km bike ride and a 42km run in just over 12 hours.

To remember the physical challenge, which Greg said he was initially nervous about, he shared his new red ink logo on his Instagram stories to his 881k followers.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Greg OShea (@gregoshea)

The latest tattoo to add to his collection, Greg also has the Olympian logo of coloured rings, parallel to his new Ironman one - a nod to his participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Love Island UK winner Greg shot to fame in 2019 having starred on the British television show. He now hosts an RTE Radio 1 show, presents the Six OClock show, and even podcasts.

The fitness guru also went 'Instagram official' with his new love interest last month, South African model, Jeanni Mulder.
Strategically located where an abundance of renewable energy generation, the national gas network and the electricity grid meet, Rhode Green Energy Park is earmarked to be one of the first hydrogen demonstration hubs in the country.

This is the main finding from the Rhode Renewable Hydrogen Feasibility Study which was commissioned by North Offaly Development Fund Ltd. and Offaly County Council and funded by the Gas Networks Ireland Gas Innovation Fund, as well as funding contributions from SSE Renewables and Bord na Mona.

Aligned with the objectives of the National Hydrogen Strategy published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change in July 2023, the feasibility study focussed on the potential for using curtailed and constrained wind power  excess wind energy  to produce renewable hydrogen through electrolysis.

It is estimated that this proposed one megawatt demonstrator-scale electrolyser will produce 150 tonnes of hydrogen per annum, which is equivalent to 98 MWh of natural gas. One of the recommendations from the study, which was led by RPS with support from University of Galway and University College Dublin, is to inject approximately half of the hydrogen produced into the gas network, while the remainder be used for fueling dual fuel (hydrogen / diesel) vehicles. Combined, this will offset an estimated annual CO2 emissions saving of 1,173 tonnes every year1.

Gas Networks Irelands Head of Business Development, Karen Doyle said: This study shows the huge potential in Offaly to capture, produce and use more of our renewable energy resources, and how existing state assets, such as Irelands 2.7bh gas network can be utilised to enable the decarbonisation of our entire energy system.



Part funded by our gas innovation fund which helps to promote and encourage an environment of innovation in the gas industry, the research shows how the gas network - Irelands hydrogen-ready infrastructure and reliable energy backbone - will continue to play a central role in the countrys future clean energy and hydrogen economies.

Eugene Mulligan, Chair of North Offaly Development Fund remarked This valuable and timely study confirms the suitability of Rhode Green Energy Park for cutting edge research and integrated green energy technologies. We have serviced sites available at Rhode Green Energy Park and are developing an Eco-Industrial Park Framework to facilitate growing demand from businesses and investors.

North Offaly Development Fund has worked in partnership with Offaly County Council on this and other initiatives. Throughout the county, Offaly County Council has taken a lead role in embracing renewable energy in recent years and is examining opportunities in emerging areas including Green Hydrogen and synergies between renewable energy generation, battery storage, large-scale energy usage and spin-off industries.

Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council said Offaly is leading the way in green energy production and innovative green technologies. Our central location provides an ideal base for companies to decarbonise, while serving national and international markets. Offaly County Council is committed to sustainable economic development and the creation of eco-systems for enterprises to co-locate, decarbonise and utilise waste heat and energy for a range of users including industry, horticulture and community benefit.

This in-depth study was funded by Gas Networks Ireland via the Gas Innovation Fund, with contributions from North Offaly Development Fund, Bord na Mona and SSE. Offaly County Council provided in-kind contributions. RPS led the study and was supported by University of Galway and University College Dublin.

Mr. Alan Curran, RPS Director commented that This study has identified and costed a clear proposal for a demonstrator project to show how energy systems in electricity, natural gas and transportation can be integrated through the generation of renewable hydrogen. The demonstrator in Rhode is envisaged as a collaborative centre of learning that will advance our transition away from carbon-based fuels. It therefore has a local, regional and national relevance and is very well aligned with the objectives of the National Hydrogen Strategy recently published by the Government.

This 1MW demonstrator-scale electrolyser has relevance to other locations around Ireland and is envisaged as a project that can be replicated elsewhere and expanded modularly.

The full report is available to read at https://www.offaly.ie/app/uploads/Work/1IE000207_Rhode-Hydrogen-Feasibility-Study_Final-Report_A1-C01_06_09_2023.pdf
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Another trap set by Armenians in a house left by them in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region has been discovered, Trend reports.

Footage of it has been circulated on social networks.

The video shows one of the separatists locking a grenade in the closet of his house.
Karnataka Govt To Challenge Direction Of Cauvery Body To Release Water To TN

Bengaluru

oi-PTI

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said Karnataka will appeal against the direction of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) once again recommending the state to release river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The CWRC on Wednesday recommended that Karnataka ensure the release of water from its reservoirs which would add up to 3,000 cusecs at Biligundlu (measuring station in Tamil Nadu) starting from October 16 (8 am) up to October 31.

The matter of release of water is expected to soon come up before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which will issue an order based on the recommendation of the CWRC, its assisting body.

Actor Prem Writes Letter To PM In 'Blood' Over Cauvery Row; Gets Trolled For Not Addressing Karnataka CM

"We have an inflow of 8,000-9,000 cusecs (in state's reservoirs), but still we will protect the interest of farmers. We will appeal against it (CWRC recommendation). We find it very difficult, as still there are no rains," Shivakumar, who is also in-charge of the state's Water Resources department, said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said there have been one or two spells of small amounts of rain in Bengaluru, but it has not reached Biligundlu yet. "We will plan it, but we will appeal against it."

Responding to a question on load shedding resulting in power cuts in many parts of the state and trouble faced by farmers unable to operate their pump sets as a result, the Deputy CM said that due to drought situation in many parts of the state, there is a deficit of power, and Energy Minister K J George has met Union Power Minister (R K Singh) and has sought for supply of power from the central grid.

Cauvery Water Dispute: Karnataka To Challenge CWMA Order In Supreme Court

"When I was the power minister (during earlier Congress govt), I added more than 12,000 MW of power, but when the BJP regime was there, they did not plan to add any power. Normally, there will be 10-15 per cent growth every year. They just sold the power, that's all. Now there is drought, almost 200 taluks are in drought and people are finding it very difficult," he said.

Noting that to generate power a lot of water is needed, and "also the coal issue is there", he said, "but still we want to help the farmers. Our (energy) minister has met the union power minister and has sought for power from the central grid... Due to drought, there is a deficit of power, but still we are trying to manage it. Our minister is on the job, let's all pray for the rains."

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Story first published: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 16:16 [IST]
Namma Metro: 37 BMTC Feeder Buses To Connect KR Puram Station And Outer Ring Road

Bengaluru

oi-Madhuri Adnal

In an effort to improve the last-mile connectivity in Bengaluru, a fleet of 37 BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) feeder buses was introduced on Wednesday. These buses are now available from the KR Puram metro station on the recently fully operational Purple Line. The inaugural day saw top tech professionals, CEOs, and co-founders embracing this new feeder bus service, hailing it as a crucial addition to Bengaluru's public transportation network.

These feeder buses will ply from the KR Puram metro station, connecting to the Outer Ring Road and extending all the way to Silk Board, an area plagued by heavy traffic, and home to numerous IT parks. The bus schedule has been designed to cater to both peak and non-peak hours. During peak hours, these feeder buses will run every five minutes, and during off-peak times, they will be available every eight minutes.

Karnataka's Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, expressed the government's commitment to decongesting the Outer Ring Road area in Bengaluru. He stated, "In the next six months, BMTC [Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation] plans to implement several significant and unprecedented changes. The government is also in the process of procuring an additional 2,000 buses to enhance public transport in Bengaluru. We urge people working in East Bengaluru to opt for public transport for their daily commute."

Whitefield-Challaghatta Purple Line Metro Set To Commence Operations From October 9: BMRCL

The recent launch of the Purple Line metro operations in Bengaluru, which commenced on Monday, has significantly increased Namma Metro's ridership in the city. These new metro extensions are expected to be lifelines for IT professionals working in areas such as ITPL, Hoodi, and Whitefield, which house several IT parks.

According to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), on Monday, Namma Metro recorded a total of 6,80,894 passengers, with 61,179 riders on the Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield stretch of the Purple Line, which recently opened. Prior to the inauguration of the Baiyappanahalli-KR Puram line, the daily ridership between KR Puram and Whitefield averaged 28,000, and this figure saw an impressive spike of over 100% following the inauguration of the new line.
Brave Daughters Of India: Did You Know Two Gujarati Women Serve Israeli Army?

India

oi-Prakash KL

As the war between Israel and the Hamas militants entered its sixth day, interesting news of two women of Indian origin serving the Israeli Army has come to light.

Yes, the daughters (Riya and Nisha) of Jivabhai Muliyasia and Savdasbhai Muliyasia took up arms for Israel, according to a report in DeshGujarat. They hail from Kothadi village in Manavadar taluka of Junagadh.

Going by the report, Jivabhai Muliyasia and Savdasbhai Muliyasia shifted from Gujarat years ago and have become citizens of Israel.

In Israel, the majority of citizens are required to undergo mandatory military service, spanning two and a half years for men and two years for women, commencing at age 18. Like everyone, the daughters of Jivabhai Muliyasia and Savdasbhai Muliyasia also served in the Israeli Army.

MEA Sets Up Control Room For Indians In Israel Amid Israel-Hamas Flare-Up

Talking about his daughter, Jivabhai Muliyasia had earlier said, "My daughter had been stationed at the borders of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt for the past two years. She was stationed in Gush Den, the battleground from which Israeli forces were attacking Hamas in Gaza in 2021."

However, the two women of Gujarati origin are not taking part in the ongoing war in Israel, which is home to a significant number of Gujaratis.

Bharatbhai Muliyasia, a resident of Kothadi village with a population of 1200 people, stated that his two uncles, Jeevabhai and Savdasbhai Muliyasia, shifted to Israel in 1989 and 1996, respectively. They were subsequently granted Israeli citizenship, and both had daughters who served in the Israel Defense Forces.

According to Ramdebhai Muliyasia, who is married to the village sarpanch Bharmiben, a considerable number of young individuals from Kothadi village have been employed in Israel in the last 30-35 years. He stressed that they enjoy safety and security while residing in Israel.

The report claims that Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his wife Anjaliben had paid a visit to Jivabhai's residence in Tel Aviv during his previous visit.

Hamas launched the operation Al-Aqsa Storm' by firing thousands of rockets into Israel on Saturday. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters infiltrated Israel by land, sea and air.

Israel-Palestine War: Will Petrol-Diesel Prices Go Up? Here's What Hardeep Singh Puri Says

The combined casualties from both sides have crossed 3,300, so far.

Israeli authorities reported that approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, lost their lives in the assault-marking the gravest incident in the nation's history. On the other hand, in Gaza, officials claimed that over 1,100 people died due to Israel's air and artillery strikes.

According to the UN, over 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip.
Delhi Government Orders Measures To Curb Pollution As More Than '50 Shades Of Grey' Engulf The Capital

Caught On Camera: See How Masked Men Loot A Petrol Pump Employee In Delhi

India

oi-Prakash KL

A video of masked men looting a petrol pump employee has gone viral. The incident occurred on Tuesday night.

According to ANI, around six masked miscreants on two bikes injured and looted the petrol pump employee in Ghevra under the Mundka police station area.

The miscreants also fired two rounds of bullets. The incident was caught on the CCTV Camera.

The report claims that an employee is seen being assaulted with a pistol butt in the video. He has been injured.

Caught On Cam: Delhi Man Dies After Being Dragged For 200 Meters By Thieves

#WATCH | Delhi: On Tuesday late at night, around six masked miscreants on two bikes injured and looted a petrol pump employee in Ghevra under the Mundka police station area. The miscreants also fired two rounds of bullets.

(Source: Viral, confirmed by the Police) pic.twitter.com/87wv4XCnNq  ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2023

The miscreants arrived on two motorcycles and asked a petrol pump worker to fill one of the bikes' tanks. Simultaneously, the other individual brandished a firearm and aimed it at the employee.

Following this, they struck the worker on the head with the butt of the pistol and proceeded to rob around 10-12 thousand rupees from the employees.
Amit Shah appeals for votes in MP, says BJP ensured development in all sectors

Chandrababu Naidu's Son Nara Lokesh Meets Shah, Expresses Concern Over Threat To His Father's Life

India

oi-PTI

Hours after TDP leader Nara Lokesh was grilled by the Andhra Pradesh CID in connection with the Amaravati Inner Ring Road Scam case, the former minister met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital on Wednesday night.

In a message posted on social media platform X, Lokesh said he apprised Shah of the "blatant misuse" of state government machinery and "regime revenge" against his father and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu by the ruling YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh.

"Met with the Hon'ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah Ji and apprised him of the blatant misuse of state machinery by YSRCP Govt in Andhra Pradesh, the regime revenge against Hon'ble @ncbn garu, and the appalling condition in which he has been lodged in prison where his life is under threat," Lokesh posted on X last night.

AP High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Chandrababu Naidu In Amaravati Inner Ring Road Case

Naidu is currently under judicial remand in the Rajamahendravaram central prison for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation, which resulted in a purported loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer.

Lokesh was questioned for two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, in the Amaravati Inner Ring Road Scam case at the CID's Economic Offences Wing-II (EOW II) office.

The Amaravati Inner Ring Road case pertains to "manipulating" the master plan of Amaravati capital city, alignment of the inner ring road and the seed capital to allegedly offer undue enrichment to several companies during Naidu's regime between 2014 and 2019.

According to TDP sources, after the questioning, Lokesh rushed to Delhi to meet Shah.

Lokesh earlier claimed that he did not seek the appointment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Shah during his three-week stay in Delhi in the immediate aftermath of his father's arrest.

He earlier met President Droupadi Murmu and presented a memorandum on his father's arrest, claiming it to be "illegal".

Lokesh met Shah accompanied by the BJP chiefs of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, D Purandeswari and Kishan Reddy respectively.

"Lokesh elaborately explained to Amit Shah ji about the vindictiveness of the state government and leaders at the helm of affairs. Now those who blame the Centre need to reply as to why Amit Shah ji would give an appointment to Lokesh if the BJP was behind the arrest!" Purandeswari said on X.

Pawan Kalyan Quits NDA To Support TDP Leader Chandrababu Naidu Amid Protests

In the wake of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy asserting that he had nothing to do with Naidu's arrest, Lokesh on Wednesday met Shah and expressed concern about the threat to his father's life in the jail.

Recently, Reddy stated that he had no vengeance against Naidu and that nobody arrested the TDP chief out of vengeance. Further, Reddy claimed that Central probe agencies Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax Department proved Naidu's alleged corruption and arrested the culprits, adding that the IT department had also served notices.

Besides the Skill Development Corporation Scam case, the Andhra Pradesh CID is also probing and prosecuting the Amaravati Inner Ring Road Scam and the AP FiberNet Scam cases.

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Story first published: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 12:40 [IST]
IAF Keeps C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster On Standby For Operation Ajay In Israel

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

To ensure the safe return of Indian citizens from Israel, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has placed its aircraft on standby, ready to respond to any requirements.

The IAF's transport aircraft fleet includes the C-17 and IL-76 heavy-lift transport planes, as well as the C-130J Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft, all of which have been utilized in the past for evacuation operations, as confirmed by IAF officials today (October 12).

Simultaneously, a charter flight is anticipated to reach Tel Aviv, the capital city of Israel, by this evening and is scheduled to return to India with approximately 230 passengers on board by Friday (October 13) morning, as announced by Arindam Bagchi, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.

"As announced by the External Affairs Minister yesterday, Operation Ajay has been initiated to facilitate the return of Indian citizens from Israel who wish to come back. The first charter flight is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv later tonight to collect Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning," stated the spokesperson during a media briefing today.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel," Bagchi mentioned, also confirming that there have been no reports of Indian casualties thus far.

India Launches 'Operation Ajay' To Repatriate Stranded Citizens From Israel

"We haven't received any reports of casualties at this point," he added.

Approximately 18,000 Indians are currently in Israel, and given the ongoing conflict, it is a matter of concern. Indians have been advised to adhere to advisories issued by our mission," Bagchi stated.

"Operation Ajay" was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repatriate around 18,000 Indians who found themselves in Israel during the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The registration of Indian citizens commenced on Thursday (October 12).

The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has established a helpline for Indian citizens in need of support.

"A charter flight is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv later in the evening today. It is anticipated to have 230 passengers on board. While we have explored various options, the role of the IAF in the evacuation cannot be ruled out," the MEA spokesperson remarked concerning 'Operation Ajay.'

Yesterday, the Ministry of External Affairs established a 24-hour control room to address the escalating conflict. The control room will serve to monitor the situation and offer information and assistance.

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Story first published: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 20:47 [IST]
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov voiced the issues discussed at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), the minister said, Trend reports.

"I am glad to take part in the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS and make a statement as part of my business trip to Bishkek. We discussed a wide range of issues in the field of economy, trade, investment, transport, communications, education, sports, etc.," Bayramov said on X (Twitter).

Note that, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the CIS has started its work in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where the participants discuss issues of mutual interest that are high on the cooperation agenda of the CIS
OPINION: Bihar Caste Census And Its Social And Political Derivates

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

By Rahul Vatsa

Caste is a reality in our society and there is definitely some degree of uniformity on various social and economic parameters among the people belonging to one specific caste. Therefore, conducting a census to find out the economic and social condition of the people on the lines of caste is a practical approach. Such census data would equip the government better understand the condition at the ground and accordingly plan for improving the lives of the people and for the overall growth of the state or the country.

The recently completed caste census in Bihar should be looked at with this background. But as it is the first and the only such census in independent India whose data is being made public, it is set to generate scrutiny and discussions at all levels and is also bound to have political implications in the OBC-centered politics of the state.

For the opposition parties in national politics who after two consecutive devastations are trying hard to build a nationwide narrative to stop the BJP for the third time, the Bihar caste census has come so timely. The RJD-JDU leadership in Bihar were quick to portray the census data as 15% vs. 85%. Rahul Gandhi was equally quick to follow and demand for a nationwide caste census.

'We Can't Stop Govt From Taking A Decision': SC Refuses To Stop Bihar Caste Census

The ruling side chieftains in Bihar - Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar - have been the champions of the OBC politics and they have also been the main beneficiaries of such politics in the state. For them, the 15% vs. 85% is a proven theory which has helped them be at the center of Bihar politics for more than three decades.

This theory received fresh testimony in the 2015 Bihar state election when the Lalu-Nitish duo was able to convince the backward castes in the state that the BJP would deprive them of the reservation if it got to power and was in the driving seat.

But this time around, this theory doesn't seem to have the same political implications as in the past. The reason would lie in the social-economic derivates of this caste census itself. Those who understand Bihar and have looked at it in the last three decades know that there is a huge socio-economic change in the state, and this will be precisely validated when the complete census data comes out.

The larger beneficiaries of such socio-economic changes are only a few dominant OBC castes, which primarily include the Yadav (caste of Lalu Prasad) and the Kurmi (caste of Nitish Kumar). There is a huge gain in terms of social and economic stature for these castes, and with this change, if they are not better placed than the general castes then at least they are at par with them. Whether it's about economic growth, professional education in government-run institutes or government jobs - any of these OBC castes outnumber any of the general castes. But this is not even remotely true for most of the rest of the backward castes, and they seem to be not willing to be grouped with these dominant castes to just make a sum of 85% for them to continue to dominate and enjoy the power.

Rajasthan Government Orders Caste Survey Ahead of Assembly Polls

In fact, on the ground, there is less conflict between the less developed backward caste groups with the general castes as compared to their differences with the dominant OBC castes. This is a major shift in the OBC politics in Bihar, in fact, it's not just in Bihar, this is the reflection of the shift in OBC politics in other states and at large in the national politics as well.

(Rahul Vatsa, a rising political commentator, frequently contributes thought-provoking articles on various socio-political affairs that are regularly featured in prominent print and digital publications of the era)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of OneIndia and OneIndia does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
No One Would Pay So Much Tax Nor the Govt. Would Get Anything:Ashneer Grover On Rs. 55000 Cr GST Demand

All Your Questions Answered: New GST Rules For Gaming From 1st October; What It Means For Gamers And Companies

Will Gangajal And Puja Samagri Be Taxed Under GST? CBIC Clarifies

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Finance Ministry's revenue department issued a clarifying tweet on Thursday, asserting that "gangajal" (water from the holy Ganga river) and "puja samagri" (ritual items) is exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Amidst claims that an 18 per cent GST was imposed on Gangajal, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) felt the need to address this due to certain news reports.

The CBIC said, "Gangajal used in household pujas across the country and puja samagri are exempt under GST. The applicability of GST on puja samagri was extensively discussed during the 14th and 15th meetings of the GST Council in 2017, and it was decided to keep them on the exempt list. Therefore, these items have been exempt since the introduction of GST."

Clarification regarding certain media reports on applicability of GST on Gangajal. pic.twitter.com/t598ahN07x  CBIC (@cbic_india) October 12, 2023

The GST Council had already exempted various items, including kajal, kumkum, bindis, sindoor, alta, plastic and glass bangles, and puja samagri of all kinds, from GST taxation.

The CBIC also noted that discussions regarding GST on "puja samagri" took place during the 14th and 15th meetings of the GST Council on May 18-19, 2017, and June 3, 2017, respectively, leading to the decision to maintain their exempt status.

GST Council Slashes Tax On Molasses To 5%, Exempts Alcohol For Consumption

Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the government, stating that an 18% GST had been imposed on Gangajal, labeling it as "the height of loot and hypocrisy." Kharge addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern about the financial burden on those who order Ganga water for their households.

Meanwhile, during a meeting on Saturday, the GST Council decided to reduce the tax rate for molasses. Molasses will now be taxed at a 5 per cent GST rate, down from its previous 28% categorization, and alcohol for human consumption was further exempted from the levy.
NASA's First Asteroid Samples Delivered To Earth: Black Dust And Rubble Revealed

International

-Sathish Raman

NASA recently unveiled its first-ever asteroid samples, a collection of black dust and rubble that marks the largest amount ever returned to Earth. These samples were delivered last month by NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft from the carbon-rich asteroid named Bennu, located almost 60 million miles away. Despite not having opened the main sample chamber yet, officials confirmed during an event at Johnson Space Centre in Houston that scientific analysis has already begun.

Unprecedented Gathering of Asteroid Samples

The mission's lead scientist, Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, explained that while progress is slow and meticulous, its already yielding valuable data. The Osiris-Rex spacecraft had collected these samples three years ago from Bennu's surface before dropping them off sealed in a capsule during a flyby of Earth last month. Scientists expected to receive more than just a teaspoonful or so - which was what Japan brought back from similar missions years ago - with their estimations leaning towards getting a cupful of rocks.

Historic Launch: American NASA Astronaut and Two Russians Head for International Space Station from Kazakhstan

A Treasure Chest of Extraterrestrial Material

According to Lauretta, black dust and particles were scattered around the outside edge of the internal sample chamber. He emphasized that theres still "a whole treasure chest of extraterrestrial material" awaiting study. These priceless samples are preserved building blocks from our solar system's dawn.

No one at Wednesday's celebration at Johnson got to see any actual samples  only photos and videos were shown as all asteroid pieces remained behind locked doors in a new lab at the space centre accessible solely to scientists donning protective gear.

The Significance Of Asteroid Rubble

Besides carbon, this asteroid rubble contains water-bearing clay minerals. Lauretta pointed out that this is how we believe water reached Earth initially: "Minerals like we're seeing from Bennu landed on Earth 4 billion years ago to 4.5 billion years ago, making our world habitable." This was one of the primary reasons for the $1 billion, seven-year mission: to help understand how the solar system  and particularly Earth  formed.

Challenges Faced During The Mission

In 2020, Lauretta's team encountered a significant obstacle when the lid on their sample container jammed after collecting material from Bennu. The spacecraft had vacuumed up so many pieces that small rocks got lodged under the lid and prevented it from closing, resulting in some samples floating off into space. Consequently, scientists could not precisely measure what was coming back; they estimated about 250 grams or roughly a cupful before landing in Utah desert on September 24th.

More Science, Less Stigma Needed To Understand UFOs: NASA In New Report

The Future Of Asteroid Research

Francis McCubbin, NASA astromaterials curator stated that they already have "a bounty of sample" even without accessing the main sample container yet. Once archived, these samples will be distributed to researchers worldwide while reserving a substantial amount for future analysis when better technology should be available.

In conclusion, this successful gathering of asteroid samples marks an important milestone in understanding our solar system's formation and origins. With another asteroid-chasing spacecraft ready to blast off later this week towards a rare metal-made asteroid named Psyche (though no samples will return), NASA continues its relentless pursuit of knowledge beyond Earths boundaries.
Israel PM Netanyahu Shares Pics Of Babies Killed In War Allegedly Killed By Hamas

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The office of Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, shared harrowing images of charred bodies of infants and young children. These images were shown by Netanyahu to the visiting US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. The Israeli Prime Minister's office said that these babies had tragically lost their lives at the hands of Hamas militants in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The PM's office posted these distressing pictures on X (formerly known as Twitter) along with a stern message: "Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas terrorists. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS."

Given the deeply disturbing nature of these images, we have chosen not to share the tweet.

The visuals depicted the distressing aftermath of the conflict, with the burnt and lifeless bodies of infants, leaving a profound impact on all who viewed them.

During his meeting with Blinken, Netanyahu drew parallels between Hamas and ISIS, vowing to eliminate the terrorist group in a similar manner. He stated, "Hamas is ISIS, and just as ISIS was defeated, so too will Hamas be defeated. Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated. They should be expelled from the international community. No leader should engage with them, no country should provide them refuge, and those who do should face sanctions."

Explained: Who is Naftali Bennett, the new Prime Minister of Isreal

Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to Secretary Blinken, who had arrived in Tel Aviv earlier with a delegation of officials, for the unwavering support of the United States in the fight against the terrorist organization, Hamas. He commended Blinken's visit as a tangible demonstration of America's steadfast support during a time when unity and determination are essential in the battle against such immense evil.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have reported striking more than 3,600 targets in the Gaza Strip and utilising over 6,000 rounds of ammunition, as stated in a report by The Times of Israel. Recent attacks have targeted a senior Hamas operative and multiple other members of the terrorist organization, according to the IDF.

The military's campaign is aimed at crippling all of Hamas's infrastructure across the Gaza Strip, including command centers, military facilities, weapon production sites, and other Hamas-affiliated locations.

The death toll in Israel has risen to 1,200 since the Hamas attack, with approximately 3,300 people injured. On the other side, more than 1,350 Palestinians in Gaza have lost their lives, with entire city blocks leveled and thousands of buildings destroyed due to the ongoing conflict.
Israel-Palestine War Enters 6th Day: Top 10 Developments

International

oi-Prakash KL

Palestinians on Wednesday struggled to find any safe area in the sealed-off Gaza Strip after Israeli strikes demolished entire neighbourhoods. Also, hospitals ran low on supplies and the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel, deepening the misery of a war triggered after a surprise assault by Hamas militants on Saturday.

Airstrikes smashed entire city blocks to rubble in the tiny coastal enclave and left unknown numbers of bodies beneath mounds of debris. The bombardment raged on even though militants are holding an estimated 150 people snatched from Israel - soldiers, men, women, children and older adults, PTI reported.

Here are the top 10 developments in the conflict:

The death toll has surged to nearly 3,600 people in both Israel and Gaza over the span of four days. Israel has said that it has successfully regained control of Gaza's border regions from the group. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a prominent opposition leader struck an agreement to establish a unity government during this time of conflict. This unified government aims to manage the operations against the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Benny Gantz, who served as a Defence Minister and also Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in the past, said that they would form a five-member "war-management" Cabinet, which will consist of Netanyahu, current Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, two other top officials serving as "observers" and himself as members. The White House has clarified that neither President Joe Biden nor other US officials have witnessed or independently verified reports suggesting that Hamas terrorists have beheaded Israeli children. It comes after Biden told Jewish leaders at the White House: "It is important for Americans to see what is happening. I have been doing this for a long time. I never thought that I would see, or have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children." India is launching 'Operation Ajay' to facilitate the return from Israel of those Indians who wish to come back home, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced on Wednesday. "Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return," Jaishankar posted on X. "Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad," he said. At around at 4:30 am on Thursday, Israel's military confirmed an extensive strike on Hamas targets in Gaza, without disclosing specific details. According to an early Thursday (local time) statement by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 330,000 individuals in Gaza have been displaced since Israel initiated its bombardment of the strip. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has departed for Israel in a display of Washington's support for Israel. Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure, Blinken said, "We are heading, as you know, to Israel, and I'm going with a very simple and clear message on behalf of the President of the United States and on behalf of the American people, and that is that the United States has Israel's back. We have the back of the Israeli people. We have their back today. We'll have it tomorrow. We will have it every day." In the first phone call since the two countries restored ties in March, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the situation in Palestine. On Wednesday, Mohammad Jamshidi, Raisi's deputy chief of staff for political affairs, said in a statement on X that the two leaders "agreed on the need to end war crimes against Palestine." In a viral video, Hamas Commander Mahmoud al-Zahar has claimed that the entire world will be under "our law". "The entire 510 million square kilometers of Planet Earth will come under a system where there is no injustice, no oppression, and no killings and crimes like those being committed against the Palestinians and against the Arabs in all the Arab countries, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and other countries," he said.

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Story first published: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 10:13 [IST]
Israeli Airstrikes Hit Syrian Airports Amid Escalating Tensions

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

In recent developments, Israeli airstrikes targeted Syria's primary airports, marking the first such attack since a Hamas assault on Israel last weekend triggered intense conflict.

Syrian state television reported the Israeli aggression on Damascus and Aleppo airports through the messaging app Telegram, though it provided minimal additional details.

Israeli airstrikes have consistently disrupted flight operations at both Aleppo and Damascus airports, both under the control of the war-torn Syrian government.

These latest airstrikes occurred against the backdrop of a relentless exchange of heavy fire between Hamas and Israel, extending into the sixth consecutive day. The conflict escalated when hundreds of Hamas militants infiltrated the Gaza border into Israel on Saturday, resulting in the loss of over 1,000 civilian lives.

The Israeli strikes unfolded during a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel. Furthermore, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi engaged in a phone call with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, urging Arab and Islamic nations to collaborate in confronting Israel.

Gaza Strip Without Electricity After Power Plant Runs Out Of Fuel

Over the past decade of the Syrian conflict, Israel has launched numerous air raids on its northern neighbor. These strikes have primarily targeted Iran-backed forces, Hezbollah militants, and Syrian military positions.

Israel seldom provides commentary on specific strikes conducted in Syria. However, it has consistently asserted its resolve not to permit its arch-nemesis, Iran, which supports the Assad government, to expand its influence in the region.

Iran, known for its support of Hamas, celebrated the militant group's assault on Israel, despite its official stance denying direct involvement in the conflict.

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Story first published: Thursday, October 12, 2023, 18:56 [IST]
Video: UK Foreign Minister Runs For Cover As Rockets Fire During Israel Visit

International

-Sathish Raman

The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, currently visiting Israel, was caught in a tense situation as sirens blared warning of incoming Hamas rocket fire. This incident occurred during his visit to Ofakim in southern Israel and has been reported by the Israeli foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Cleverly is in Israel with the primary objective of meeting survivors of previous Hamas attacks and engaging with senior Israeli leaders. His trip coincides with an escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas that has seen large scale mobilization from both sides.

Experiencing the Reality

A video posted on social media by the Israeli foreign ministry captures this alarming moment. It shows Cleverly running for cover amidst the sudden siren alert indicating potential danger from Hamas rockets. The caption accompanying this video reads, "This is the reality Israelis live with every day."

Israel-Palestine War Enters 6th Day: Top 10 Developments

Reflecting upon this experience, Cleverly shared his thoughts on social media stating how every Israeli man, woman, and child lives under constant threat from these rockets. He further added that witnessing a glimpse of what millions experience daily reaffirms their solidarity towards Israel.

Watch: while UK FM @JamesCleverly visits Ofakim in southern Israel, a siren goes off warning of incoming Hamas rocket fire.



This is the reality Israelis live with every day. pic.twitter.com/QF4C4tReqL  Israel   (@Israel) October 11, 2023

An Unprecedented Offensive

The recent surge in violence dates back to October 7 when fighters from Hamas broke through the border fence into southern Israel via air, land and sea routes. In response to this intrusion, Israel mobilized 360,000 reservists vowing an unprecedented offensive against Hamas which governs Gaza Strip.

As we reach Day 5 of this conflict escalation; casualty reports indicate more than 1,200 people killed in Israel including 155 soldiers while Gaza accounts for approximately 950 deaths inclusive of 260 children and 230 women according to local authorities there.

Israel PM Netanyahu Forms Emergency Unity Government, War Cabinet Amid Hamas Conflict

Hamas' Continued Aggression

In addition to causing widespread destruction and loss of life, Hamas is also reportedly holding an estimated 150 Israelis as hostages. The group has continued its aggressive stance by firing a heavy barrage of rockets at Israel, particularly targeting the southern town of Ashkelon.

In conclusion, this incident involving the UK foreign secretary underscores the volatile situation in the region and brings to light the daily reality faced by millions living there. It calls for urgent international intervention and diplomatic efforts to restore peace and prevent further loss of innocent lives.
Al-Shifa Hospital, properly known as Dar Al-Shifa Hospital, is the largest medical complex and central hospital in the Gaza Strip, located in the neighbourhood of North Rimal in Gaza City in the Gaza Governorate. The current director of the hospital is Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya.
Iran and Saudi Arabia spoke for the first time when the conflict began and discussed the need to end war crimes against Palestine.
The opposition leader is turning up the volume on fear and division in a confected contest with Anthony Albanese over who is stronger on terrorism.
Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) takes the first-of-its-kind regulatory position on issuance of specific categories of Virtual Assets backed by Real World Assets including but not limited to FIAT.

This offers greater assurance for cross-border interoperability. The September 2023 edition of VARAs Virtual Asset (VA) Issuance Rulebook, makes Dubais regime amongst the world's first to proactively establish prudential requirements for two specialist categories of tokens that maintain a stable value against their underlying asset class, a release said.

In the context of the FIAT Referenced Virtual Assets (FRVAs) it is critically noteworthy that assets specifically designed to maintain a stable value in relation to the UAE Dirham are designated to be under the exclusive purview of UAEs Central Bank  making this a global-first to offer much needed clarity on stablecoin issuances.

VARA's FRVA rules

VARA's FRVA rules specifically cater for issuances against non-AED FIATs, and have garnered significant attention from global authorities seeking collaboration on regulating virtual assets with improved synchronisation and interoperability.

The latest edition of this VA Issuance Rulebook represents a significant stride in establishing a secure VA ecosystem in Dubai backed by a robust regulatory framework for greater consumer protection thereby bolstering safe VA adoption with a secure bridge between TradFi and DeFi ecosystems.

It ensures that VA issuers adhere to the highest standards of risk assurance, market stability, and transparency - especially with regards to issuance of tokens that are expected to provide a stable value against their underlying real world asset.

Market needs

VARA has maintained that its regime is designed for its regulations to be responsive to market needs and agile in ensuring that global market risk can be proactively mitigated. The updated rulebook encompasses a range of regulations, including licensing, approval, and registration requirements, with specific focus on whitepaper and public disclosures, issuer compliance obligations, supervision, examination, and enforcement. It specifically contemplates requirements for issuance of Asset Reference Tokens (ARTs) with a dedicated annex outlining regulations for FRVAs.

This rulebook specifically prioritises alignment with the UAE's rigorous efforts to combat Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) activities while simultaneously enhancing market stability and transparency.

The latest edition further introduces two categories of VA Issuances, determining whether an issuer requires 1) Registration with VARA pre-approval or 2) Full-fledged Regulated VARA Licence prior to issuance.

Responsible VA

VARA continues to work with peer domestic and global regulators in building towards a more progressive and responsible VA market that allows for traditional economy to be securely democratised.

This specific update also highlights the strong regulatory collaboration within the UAE even as Dubai cements itself as an innovation hub, at the forefront of this rapidly evolving industry.

The move towards regulatory synchronisation within the industry reflects the global trend towards interoperability, with VARA taking the lead in this essential effort.--TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. A letter from Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Gutterres on September 27, 2023, on the results of local anti-terrorist measures carried out in the country's Karabakh region and the disarmament of the Armenian armed forces continuing their illegal activities in the territories of Azerbaijan, was distributed as a document to the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the General Assembly (UNGA), the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan told Trend.

Besides, additional information with photos of weapons and ammunition surrendered as part of the disarmament process was also distributed as a document by the UNSC and UNGA.

The letter detailed the outcomes of anti-terrorist operations carried out on Azerbaijan's sovereign territory in complete accordance with international humanitarian law to end the illegal presence of Armenian armed forces, which posed a threat to Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty in the Karabakh region.

"In this context, information was presented about the process of disarming Armenian armed forces, demobilization, and the reintegration efforts undertaken by Azerbaijan," the ministry said.

In accordance with the terms of the trilateral statement, the letter emphasized that the quantities of weapons and ammunition surrendered by Armenian illegal formations as part of the disarmament process serve as a clear example of turning Azerbaijan's sovereign territories into militarized zones and the ongoing illegal supply of Armenia with large-scale destructive weapons.

Besides, the letter emphasized that Armenia's destructive and insincere actions undermine Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts over the past three years to achieve peace and stability in the region through a peaceful process.

The letter also discussed the work carried out by Azerbaijan in the context of the reintegration of the local Armenian population of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

Immediately after the completion of local anti-terrorist measures, practical work on reintegration was initiated, including the establishment of a relevant working group, as the letter reminded.

Moreover, as the letter noted, on September 21, a meeting was held in Yevlakh, and on September 24, the city of Khankendi was connected to Azerbaijan's power grid, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to the Armenian residents of Karabakh.

The letter also informed the UN Secretary-General about the humanitarian aid being delivered to the local Armenian population via the Lachin-Khankendi and Aghdam-Khankendi roads.

The letter called on the international community to resolutely reject any attempts to incite hatred and hostility at this historic time and to support efforts for peaceful coexistence and reiterated Azerbaijan's unwavering commitment to efforts aimed at ensuring the rights and security of the local Armenian residents and their reintegration into the social, economic, legal, and constitutional framework of Azerbaijan.

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.

Azerbaijan has started real efforts on the reintegration of Armenians living in the Karabakh region after the separatists have been defeated. In this context, on September 21, 25, and 29, 2023, Ramin Mammadov, the person authorized to handle communications with Armenian residents of Karabakh, met with representatives of those citizens in the cities of Yevlakh and Khojaly.

Reintegration plans for the Republic of Azerbaijan were presented, and discussions were held during the said meetings.

Reintegration is carried out on the basis of the Constitution, laws, and international obligations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The equality of rights and freedoms, including security, is guaranteed to everyone regardless of their ethnic, religious, or linguistic affiliation.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine have issued a statement in support of the successful localized anti-terrorist measures in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region and the reintegration process underway there, Trend reports.

The MPs noted that after the capitulation of separatists in Karabakh, a slanderous campaign to discredit Azerbaijan was launched in the media. Radical elements in the Armenian diaspora and some international media have intensified hate propaganda and called for sanctions against Azerbaijan.

"We find this unacceptable. Azerbaijan took action on its internationally recognized territory. After the surrender of the armed formations, a large amount of illegally imported weapons and ammunition, as well as heavy military equipment by the separatists was found on the territory of Karabakh. In addition, the departure of the Armenian population of Karabakh was not forced, this was confirmed by the UN mission that arrived in Karabakh on October 1 and the representative of the US State Department [Matthew] Miller," the Ukrainian MPs said.
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Juliette Touma, director of communications for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, about the situation in Gaza.
Egypt is floating the idea of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza amid the rising tensions of the Israel-Palestine conflict that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.
Eurasia Review 24 Oct 2023

Conquerors, colonizers and other foreign powers that to different extents have tried to override and reshape Amazigh identity, have..
Tel Aviv: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Benjamin Netanyahu he understood on a personal level 'the harrowing echoes that Hamas' massacres carry for Israeli Jews' and Washington was at Israel's side, as he began a Middle East trip also aimed at containing the conflict.

From a podium next to the Israeli prime minister at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Thursday, Blinken urged Israel to show restraint in its retaliation, in his most direct plea so far, asking that it take every possible precaution to protect civilian life.

Washington's top diplomat embarked on a multi-country Middle East tour as Israel unleashes the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year history of its conflict with the Palestinians, vowing to annihilate Hamas - which rules the Gaza Strip - in retribution for the militants' weekend attacks.

Blinken will also try to help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas, some thought to be Americans, and advance talks with Israelis and Egyptians on providing a safe passage for Gaza civilians out of the enclave before a possible Israeli ground invasion.

At least 25 Americans were killed in the Hamas attacks, he said.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to. We will always be there by your side," Blinken told Netanyahu.

He also offered an emotional, personal aside, recounting how his grandfather fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived Nazi concentration camps.

"I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas' massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed, for Jews everywhere," he said.

Blinken said at a later news conference that Israeli officials had shared videos and images of the aftermath of the Hamas attacks, which he said showed a baby "riddled with bullets," soldiers beheaded and young people burned in their cars.

"It's simply depravity in the worst imaginable way." Blinken said. "It's really beyond anything that we can comprehend, digest."

After Israel, Blinken said he will head to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, before travelling on to meet with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar.

Blinken's trip also aims to send a deterrence message to Iran, which backs Hamas, to not get involved in the conflict.

'DIFFERENT STANDARD'

Israel has vowed retribution for the deadliest attack on Jewish civilians in its history, when hundreds of Hamas gunmen poured across the barrier fence and rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday.

The escalation is the most serious in the region in years.

Blinken said that Israel is obliged to defend itself in a way to ensure the cross-border attack can never happen again, and that he spoke with Netanyahu about how it will do so.

"We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when it's difficult," he said. "That's why it's so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians."

Blinken also said as Israel's defense needs evolve, Washington would work with Congress to ensure they are met.

Israel has said there would be no humanitarian break to its siege of the Gaza Strip until all hostages were freed.

A senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Washington was working to advance talks on providing a safe passage to civilians, including around 500 to 600 Palestinian Americans resident in Gaza.

Containing the conflict is a top priority for Washington and Blinken has been speaking with regional allies, which speak to Iran and Iran-backed groups, to ask them to advise Tehran to keep out.

"We're very intent on demonstrating ... that we're committed to keeping other parties out of this conflict," the official said.
Everyone must get out to the streets Friday on every country on earth to stop genocide and reclaim internationa law and human rights

International law and international system are ending to serve special interests. Some people said it was ended long ago. But what is happening now is truly spectacular. 4000 tons of bombs dropped on 2.3 million people while denying them medicines, food, water, electricity and fuels. By the internationa law on paper this is a war rime and crime against humanity and is a violation of the International Convention on Genocide. This is what is supported by the US, Egland and France.

Everyone must get out to the streets Friday on every country on earth to stop killing for profits

Israel is one of the biggest arms exporters and its elites profit handsomely from this industry (companies like Elbit). The colossal military failure Israel suffered from the breakout of the imprisoned people of Gaza out of the largest open air prison.. Succeeding in overcomng this is bad for business, a publuc relations disaster. That is why the Zionist lobby went crazy and managed to even get the US to send an aircraft carrier and the French government to issue directives prohibiting speech against Israeli apartheid or support the colonized people in their legitimate struggles for freedom.

Everyone must get out to the streets Friday on every country on earth to challenge the lies and the distortions

Some people are still focused on the symptom and asked for data/sources relating to Hamas action in their breaking out of the Ghetto/concentration camp of Gaza (2.3 million people most of them refugees). Even though I really think the conversation should be steered elsewhere (like why do we still have refugees in Ghettos 75 years after ethnic cleansing and not allowed to return home), here goes: Here is a video that shows Israeli forces firing at Hamas militants with Israeli party goers caught in cross fire so it is not true that shooting at party goers was a slaughter of unarmed civilians as told to us by the Israeli media for that particular incident.

Grayzone investigates origin of the dubious 40 babies killed by hamas, some beheaded also see intercept.com

US President Biden said he saw pictures of atrocities including beheadings. When challenged to reveal the pictures, White House spokesman said we had no such things and we do not have independent verification beyond what the known liar Netanyahu told them (even 90% of Israelis distrust Netanyahu in latest survey). Hamas vehemently denied that its fighters targeted civilians in this incursion. See also Click Here and Click Here

Everyone must get out to the streets Friday on every country on earth to stop the dehumanization and attempts to demonize people.

In South Africa they tried to demonize the struggle against apartheid by picking and choosing certain actions of one or two of the factions in that struggle. They imposed apartheid but it never reached this level of destruction and dehumanization. You cannot use real or imagined Hamas atrocities to dehumanize 15 million Palestinian yearning for freedom.

Occupiers/oppressors do not have a right to "self-defense" and International law says oppressed people have a right to resist by the methods they choose. Israeli racist colonial settlers try to peddle oppression by playing on emotions and to justify the ongoing genocide in Gaza where some 500 children where murdered so far in six days and whole neighborhoods flattened and half a million left their neighborhoods being bombed. Israeli leaders proudlty explain this as collective punishment against a whole population. Even here in Bethlehem (largely Christian area) and other ghettos left in the West Bank we are denied freedom of movement, freedom of education etc.. No matter how you/I think of Hamas, apartheid Israel killed literally 100 times more people (99% civilian) than Hamas.

Everyone must get out to the streets Friday on every country on earth to say we can and must stop genocide now.

The Zionists now (egged on by Western support) are engaged in literal genocide (denying food, water, electricity and carper bvombing Gaza like never before). Zionism aimed to create a Jewish state in a land that was 97% not Jewish. The native people of Palestine were to be ethnically cleansed. 8 million of us are thus refugees or displaced people. Demonizing us was done before. Massacres were committed before (over 120,000 killed). But carpet bombing and denying food, water and medicines on such large scale has never been done before. Its aim is nothing less than genocide.

Everyone must get out to the streets Friday on every country on earth to insist on truth, independent investigations, and implementation of international law

Palestinians have always called for independent investigation. In fact all human rights organizations described Israel as an apartheid state. We also called for international protection and implementing all relevant UN resolutions especially the one calling for refugees to return home.

Everyone must get out to the streets Friday on every country on earth A global uprising is needed now---The future of humanity is at stake.

Mazin Qumsiyeh in besieged Bethlehem
Three years into a decade-long drive to increase the number of adults with postsecondary degrees, Oregon has fallen behind its target pace.

In 2018, state leaders set a goal to have 300,000 adults over the age of 25 earn a college degree, community college certificate or industry credential by 2030 to meet the projected demands of Oregons workforce.

That meant Oregon needed to entice 100,000 additional adults, most of whom were in the workforce, to return to college to earn credentials by 2023.

The state has made some progress toward that goal, but not fast enough, Amy Cox, director of research and data at the Higher Education Coordinating Commission told the commission at its meeting on Wednesday. In its first two years, Oregon fell 15,000 people short of the 60,000 needed to meet the 2030 target.

Either were going to have to really ramp up or were not going to meet the goal, Cox told commissioners.

Whats more, the number of adults earning credentials in the next two years could go down, the commissions research shows, because higher education enrollment among adults over 25 has fallen significantly, about 47% between 2013 and 2021. That enrollment decline is steeper than the 28% enrollment decline among younger adults of more traditional college-age.

The coming years carry some concern for me, Cox said. Enrollment has declined recently and will need to rise much more than it has.

Part of Oregons adult education goal is to reduce disparities in degrees earned by adults depending on their race, ethnicity, income level and geography.

Data from the first year of this goal, the most recent outcomes the commissions report provided for demographic groups, shows little progress on that front. While the percentage of Black adults and Latino adults earning degrees increased by 1 percentage point between 2020 and 2021, slightly closing that gap, the percentage of Native American adults and Native Hawaiian adults earning degrees declined. There was some positive signs that the gap between low-income and non-low-income adults with degrees could be narrowing, Cox said, but no progress closing the gap between rural and urban degree earners.

Were seeing educational attainment rise for all groups, but its got to rise faster for underserved groups to be able to close that gap, Cox said.

The commissions report found that in 2021:

56% of white adults 25 and older had a postsecondary degree, compared to 51% of Black adults, 33% of Latino adults, 65% of Asian American adults and 37% of both Native American and Native Hawaiian adults.

38% of low-income adults had a postsecondary degree, compared to 59% who live above the poverty line.

42% of rural adults had a postsecondary degree, compared to 56% of adults in urban areas.

State lawmakers have invested in Oregons adult attainment in recent years, including pouring $200 million into a Future Ready Oregon plan to boost workforce training for adults from historically underserved communities. And despite falling behind schedule, Oregon managed to increase the number of adults who earned credentials in 2020 and 2021 beyond the roughly 20,000 a year who were already expected to earn degrees when the goal was first established. Cox said even meeting the 20,000 a year mark was not a small accomplishment, given the challenges that the pandemic caused for higher education.

Expanding that 200,000 by another 50%, thats the tall order. At the current rate, were not making that, she said.

Commissioner and former Oregonian editor Sandy Rowe called for more investigation.

Im wanting a plan or proposals on what we need to change, Rowe said. What would have to change for us to meet that goal and how would we do it?

This article has been updated to correct a mistake in the states report which mischaracterized the percentage of white adults and Black adults over age 25 with a college degree.

This story was brought to you through a partnership between The Oregonian/OregonLive and Report for America. Learn how to support this crucial work.

Sami Edge covers higher education for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430.
A few months into her third congressional campaign, Jamie McLeod-Skinner appears to be a front-runner for the first time in her Oregon political career.

The Terrebonne attorney last spring unseated incumbent congressman Kurt Schrader in the Democratic primary for the 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend to the suburbs of Portland, then narrowly lost the general election to Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in a midterm election cycle that favored Republicans. She has a wide regional base of volunteers and donors from two prior runs for Congress and a failed 2020 campaign for secretary of state. A poll she ordered before launching her campaign showed her with a commanding lead over other Democratic candidates.

Supporters have described her as Wonder Woman and a role model, dedicated to service. She appealed so much to grassroots voters that four county Democratic parties took the unprecedented step of endorsing her in her primary race against Schrader last year.

But former staff who worked closely with McLeod-Skinner say her public persona and the labor-friendly policies she espouses as a candidate clash with her workplace behavior. Five former employees and a consultant who spoke to the Capital Chronicle about their experiences described her as a nightmarish boss, who yelled at and berated her staff, corralled them into frequent hours-long meetings, texted them in the middle of the night and retaliated against those who stood up to her.

The employees, all of whom worked closely with McLeod-Skinner on teams of fewer than 10 people, described a pattern of behavior that stretched across three campaigns and appears to be part of her management style: Before her first congressional run, a small Oregon city fired her as city manager following similar complaints from city employees.

Some of the critics initially approached the Capital Chronicle about McLeod-Skinners behavior, and the Capital Chronicle found and interviewed others who corroborated their accounts. None work for one of McLeod-Skinners current competitors, but they said they decided to share their stories so that the public knows more about the character of someone who could represent Oregon in Congress.

The five former staffers and a former consultant, both men and women, requested anonymity out of fear that McLeod-Skinner would try to ruin their careers in the relatively small world of Oregon progressive politics. A seventh person confirmed their perspectives but declined to be quoted. Most of the former staffers are still based in Oregon, and they dont want to burn a bridge with a powerful candidate or her army of volunteers and supporters. But they said it was important to speak out and warn the public and future campaign staff.

I dont want people to go through what I went through, one former staffer said.

Campaigns are notorious for low pay, long hours and stress, but former staffers said McLeod-Skinners demands and personal criticism took it to another level. Some say her behavior contributed to last years loss in a competitive district where Democrats outnumber Republicans. Chavez-DeRemers victory was one of five that gave Republicans their razor-thin congressional majority. The seat is among a few across the country that has drawn national interest and money from Republicans and Democrats, and it could flip the House again  or not.

A Democratic strategist who worked closely with McLeod-Skinners 2022 campaign said two things set McLeod-Skinner apart from other notoriously tough bosses in politics: Her focus on her employees faults spilled into the campaign, undermining potential victories, and her attempts to retaliate against people who speak out against her behavior.

She spends so much time tearing her staff down that she neglects her duties, like fundraising and building support with voters and important allies. And, of course, her staff are unable to complete their duties when spending hours each day being berated by her, the strategist said. Jamie not only verbally abused her staff, she threatened retaliation when they reported her behavior. Im not aware of any other tough bosses in politics who cross that line.

McLeod-Skinner declined to be interviewed for this story. In a statement, she acknowledged that her campaign could be stressful, but said she always tried to create a positive work environment. Her campaign also referred the Capital Chronicle to several campaign volunteers, staff and former employees at the city of Talent, where she worked for six months in 2021 as the interim city manager as the community rebuilt from the most destructive wildfire in Oregon history. All spoke highly of McLeod-Skinner.

Over the years, we have been part of some very exciting, and yes stressful, campaigns as we work to protect our values and hold extremist Republicans accountable, McLeod-Skinner said. All campaigns are fast-paced and require long hours and hard work, but I have always sought to create a positive work environment, which many of my staff can attest to. If that was not the experience of certain individuals, I apologize and am always looking for ways to be a better leader. Im grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone who has joined me over the years in these fast-paced and important campaigns.

Some former staff, including 2022 campaign consultant and strategist Elizabeth Mazzara Myers, said criticism of McLeod-Skinner is rooted in sexism. Mazzara Myers said McLeod-Skinner has high standards that she expects staff to meet, and that she doesnt think thats unreasonable.

I dont think Ive ever worked for a candidate who hasnt had a moment of getting frustrated or raising their voice or crying or walking out of a meeting, Mazzara Myers said. Im not saying Jamie has done all those things. Im saying thats standard, reasonable behavior for somebody whos working 20 hours a day, seven days a week for nine or 10 months. I dont think theres anything that I can think of that Jamie did that would stand out as unusual behavior for a candidate.

CRITICS SPAN CAMPAIGNS

McLeod-Skinner first appeared on the state political scene with a closer-than-expected 2018 challenge to former Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Walden in the sprawling 2nd Congressional District in eastern Oregon. She followed it up by placing third in a three-way Democratic primary for secretary of state in 2020, then unseated Schrader, the seven-term incumbent, in the 5th Congressional District last year before losing to Chavez-DeRemer in the general election.

The former campaign staff who spoke to the Capital Chronicle worked on different campaigns, from her first longshot run for Congress in 2018 to the 2020 secretary of state primary to the 2022 congressional race. Some worked together; others didnt overlap.

But their accounts of their time working for her lined up. From campaign to campaign, employees described feeling uncomfortable around McLeod-Skinner and scared of interacting with her. She yelled at employees and spoke sarcastically to them, and they said she made them feel worthless. One employee even described suffering severe depression for months after working for McLeod-Skinner.

In one instance, former staff said she told an employee that a former opponent would have lost by 20 points if that employee had worked on the opponents campaign. McLeod-Skinners campaign said in a response to a fact-checking email that she had no recollection of that incident.

On multiple occasions, she ignored new employees even though campaign teams were small, former staff recalled.

Staff said they suffered from severe physical stress. One former employee described developing stomach aches before team meetings because of McLeod-Skinners treatment. Another remembered breaking down in tears during a meeting.

Employees said those who worked most closely with McLeod-Skinner were the most stressed. One former employee recalled having to black out 30 minutes after each senior staff meeting to recover from McLeod-Skinners cutting comments.

The core groups who worked closest with McLeod-Skinner on various campaigns tried to be buffers, protecting junior staff and volunteers from outbursts. As a result, volunteers, field staff and other lower-level campaign employees who mostly saw McLeod-Skinner at events or in large all-staff meetings saw a different person than those who worked closest to her, the former employees said.

Its a great big show, and shes very good at it, one former employee said. She plays this folksy, rural, Im not much of a talker. I just like to get things done, when in reality, she thinks about everything through the political lens and winning.

One former staffer remembered feeling terrified when someone from the public saw McLeod-Skinner speaking rudely to her staff at an event, worried that it was going to get out and cost McLeod-Skinner the election. The former employees described believing in her message and Democratic values, and they said they worked hard to elect her.

They recalled working long hours for low wages  regularly putting in 12- or 14-hour days without overtime pay. On average, McLeod-Skinners 2022 campaign staff earned between $2,200 and $4,000 monthly, federal campaign finance records showed  less than employees working for U.S. Reps. Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, the two other Oregon Democrats who ran in competitive districts.

Most Salinas campaign staff earned between $2,700 and $5,300 monthly, while Hoyles salaries for full-time staff ranged from $3,000 to $5,300. Those ranges dont include campaign managers: McLeod-Skinner and Salinas paid their managers about $6,000 monthly, while Hoyles longtime campaign manager earned close to $7,500 monthly.

Some campaign workers whose first experience in politics was with McLeod-Skinner said it gave them an inaccurate perception of what campaigns were like. One former worker recalled a bosss repeated assurances that it wasnt normal campaign behavior. After a better experience working for another candidate, that worker agreed.

In the final weeks before the 2022 November election, McLeod-Skinners campaign manager spoke to the bosss wife, Cass McLeod-Skinner, about the toll McLeod-Skinners behavior was taking on senior staff. After that, McLeod-Skinner cut off all contact with the campaign manager, multiple sources confirmed. That decision meant that the highest-paid, highest-ranking campaign staffer was essentially excluded from strategy discussions and unable to do their job for the last crucial month of one of the countrys most competitive congressional races.

McLeod-Skinner denied that allegation and provided a copy of an October 2022 email she replied to with the campaign manager copied on it.

Multiple employees also quit part way through campaigns  an unusual move in an industry that prizes loyalty and where the expectation is that staff will stay through Election Day. Few returned to work for McLeod-Skinner in subsequent elections, though McLeod-Skinners campaign described that as normal campaign behavior.

One employee who left, 2020 campaign manager Brooke Goldberg, told the Capital Chronicle her decision to quit in December of 2019, five months before the primary, was because of her familys needs and had nothing to do with McLeod-Skinner.

I have never seen Jamie raise her voice or berate staff. That is not my experience, Goldberg volunteered before being asked about the specifics of McLeod-Skinners alleged behavior. She wasnt among the employees whose names McLeod-Skinner volunteered to defend her, and she declined to say whether McLeod-Skinner had asked her to speak on her behalf.

MCLEOD-SKINNERS DEFENDERS

McLeod-Skinner provided names and contact information for six former employees or volunteers to defend her. For the most part, those employees and two others reached independently by the Capital Chronicle worked in low-level campaign roles or in the field, interacting occasionally with McLeod-Skinner and senior staff.

One exception, volunteer campaign photographer Roland Sarrazen, said he had unfettered access to McLeod-Skinner, attending about 90 events with her in the 2022 campaign as well as having behind-the-scenes access. Sarrazen, who is still working with McLeod-Skinner, said his impression of the campaign was a well-operating machine where everyone was friendly with each other.

Rarely were voices even raised, and the only time that happened was when there was a spirited conversation going on among staff members, Sarrazen said. I dont even think I ever saw a fight, an outright yelling match or anything between anybody, let alone Jamie. I always found Jamie to literally be the coolest head in the room.

Recent Oregon State University graduate Montsie Garrido conducted youth and Latino outreach for McLeod-Skinner in 2018, when she was still in high school. She returned to the campaign as a field organizer in 2022 and said she hopes to work for McLeod-Skinner again in the 2024 cycle.

Garrido spent most of her time in the field, working mostly with volunteers. She regularly accompanied McLeod-Skinner to events, and she said McLeod-Skinner made her feel like a valuable part of the team because of her perspective on young people and people of color.

I always felt respected and embraced and valued as a person because Jamie really makes me feel that way when I work with her, Garrido said. Shes a role model for me, and I want people to know that she is just the type of person to bring everyone together and she uses her platform for good.

Bend resident Kavi Chokshi worked as volunteer director for the last three months of the 2018 campaign. The pay was low, he said, but he believed in the mission of pushing back against Walden and the Trump administration. He attended some meetings with McLeod-Skinner but didnt report directly to her, and he said his few interactions with her were positive.

She was always very thankful, especially for the volunteers anytime she saw them, but also for staff who were working really hard, Chokshi said.

Chokshi, who now runs a chai business, said he hasnt yet decided who hell support in the primary in the 5th District. State Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, and Metro Council President Lynn Peterson are also running.

During her brief tenure as interim city manager in Talent, McLeod-Skinner hired Kristen Maze, whos still the small citys community development director. Maze described it as a chaotic time and said city staff wanted to meet McLeod-Skinners high expectations.

She expected a lot out of staff, but for me it wasnt an issue, Maze said. I dont know why it would have been an issue other than if youve never worked for somebody like Jamie  and I hadnt, but I found her kind of refreshing.

After the Capital Chronicle sent McLeod-Skinner a final fact-checking email, two other former employees  Goldberg and 2022 primary campaign worker Michael Gaskill  called to defend her. Gaskill, who said McLeod-Skinner asked him to call, said he had no issues with McLeod-Skinner and said former staff who had issues werent cut out for campaigns.

Im not saying anybodys story is wrong, or anybodys not being honest about their lived experience, but I think it needs to be said that campaigns are very high stress things and so theyre not for everyone, he said.

PHOENIX EXPERIENCE

McLeod-Skinners behavior as a boss became an issue in her longshot 2018 campaign against former U.S. Rep. Greg Walden in the 2nd Congressional District. McLeod-Skinner worked for four months as city manager in the small city of Phoenix, Oregon, before the city council voted 3-2 to fire her in March 2017 after complaints from several department heads.

McLeod-Skinner requested a public meeting to review her performance. The citys finance director testified that she was afraid of losing her job after receiving positive feedback from past bosses, while the police chief and public works director described trying to keep their employees away from city hall because they perceived a toxic environment between McLeod-Skinner and the finance director that was affecting other staff, according to minutes and a recording of the meeting reviewed by the Capital Chronicle.

Its gotten to the point where I asked my records clerk not to go to city hall unless she absolutely has to, Police Chief Derek Bowker said during the meeting. I just dont want her in the environment and the negativity that Ive seen over there. A few of my officers have come to me with concerns.

The citys public works director, Ray DiPasquale, said during the meeting that he overheard yelling and strenuous conversations between McLeod-Skinner and finance director Janette Boothe. He said he told McLeod-Skinner she needed documentation and a paper trail showing Boothes failures if she was going to fire her. Boothe said McLeod-Skinner cut her off from approaching the city council, which oversees the city manager, with her concerns. She said McLeod-Skinner ignored her requests for help, including updating the citys financial software and hiring an assistant who knew how to do accounting and payroll, then drafted a work plan for her.

I feel like Im working in a hostile work environment. Ive been afraid to say anything because I was directed not to communicate with any council member or the mayor without having it go through her first, she said. I was even told at one time not to email the mayor directly to even ask him to come in and sign checks.

During the city council meeting and in statements afterward, McLeod-Skinner said she tried to bring a level of professionalism that had been lacking in the small city. She also suggested that some of the tension resulted from discomfort with her gender and sexual orientation, saying things got worse after she brought her partner to an office Christmas party.

During her 2018 campaign, McLeod-Skinner had a page on her campaign website laying out her perspective on her termination, including her requests that Phoenix undergo a payroll audit. The citys former mayor, Chris Luz, sent letters to several newspapers in central and eastern Oregon defending Phoenix.

McLeod-Skinners current campaign spokesperson provided the Capital Chronicle with three written statements from other people about her tenure in Phoenix that were initially submitted to a Senate committee in 2019, when then-Gov. Kate Brown appointed her to a post on the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.

Jane La Pierre, who described herself as a city employee, wrote that she worked in the middle of the office and could hear everything. She said her supervisor, not McLeod-Skinner, created a hostile work environment. City Councilor Sarah Westover wrote that residents and business owners praised McLeod-Skinner and she believed the citys mayor and two other councilors orchestrated her firing for political reasons. Administrative coordinator Sarah Lind, who later worked on McLeod-Skinners 2018 campaign, praised McLeod-Skinner as a community-driven, ethical and well-intentioned person.

Former campaign staff who had heard or read about the Phoenix firing initially didnt think much of it. Its a small, fairly conservative town, and they assumed city employees just bristled at having McLeod-Skinner come in as an outsider and tell them what to do.

The first thought on my mind was that this is a tough woman who doesnt take any s, and that intimidates people, one former employee said. Then shes able to hand-select the people around her, and she has folks who are really dedicated and work really hard for her because they thought that her story and her politics were inspiring, and then she treated them exactly the same way.

-- Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
Independent contractors hired to review an Oregon Secretary of State audit of the states cannabis program said officials should remove the audit from the states website and conduct additional work to ensure the public can have full trust in its independence, according to documents released Wednesday by the Oregon Department of Justice.

Gov. Tina Kotek had tasked the Justice Department with arranging the outside review after revelations that former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan had a $10,000-a-month side job with an embattled cannabis company owned by Rosa Cazares and Aaron Mitchell, her friends and political supporters.
New Oregon legislative and congressional maps didnt adequately incorporate feedback from Oregon tribes, a report from a national coalition of advocacy groups found.

Overall, Oregon earned a C-minus on the Community Redistricting Report Card issued Wednesday by the Coalition Hub for Advancing Redistricting & Grassroots Engagement. Delaware, Rhode Island, Utah and Wyoming received the same grade, while California and Massachusetts received top marks and Alabama, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin earned Fs.

The analysis looked at how all 50 states redrew congressional and legislative district lines after the 2020 census. In Oregon, like most states, the Legislature controls redistricting. Other states, including California and Washington, have independent redistricting commissions that handle drawing maps.

Analysts looked at news reports and court cases and interviewed advocates in each state. They graded based on transparency, opportunities for public input and how willing mapmakers were to incorporate public input, as well as looking at the involvement of communities of color and whether maps resulted in partisan gerrymandering.

For too long public dialogue about redistricting has focused almost exclusively on the partisan horse race, said Dan Vicuna, national redistricting director for Common Cause, one of the organizations in the coalition. Its undeniable that manipulation of voting districts for political advantage is a direct threat to the health of our democracy. However, that threat doesnt derive from which party is up or down at a given moment. It derives from the slicing and dicing of communities into districts in ways that make it impossible for their residents to have an effective voice in Congress, state legislatures and local government.

Oregons new congressional districts, which were used for the first time in the 2022 election, previously received a failing grade from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project. On paper, five of the states six congressional districts favor Democrats, meaning Democrats could represent 83.3% of Oregon voters even though Democratic President Joe Biden captured 56.45% of the states vote in 2020.

Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemers victory in the 5th Congressional District belied some claims of partisan gerrymandering last year.

The section about Oregon focused primarily on the states use of feedback, especially feedback from Native Americans.

A community organizer and member of the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs believed that legislators tokenized tribal input rather than truly listening to it, the report said. For example, many pieces of public testimony stressed that, while the proposed (and final) maps technically kept tribal lands together, they split the Warm Springs Reservation from the city of Madras. While Madras is not within the confines of the reservation, it is a city in which many tribal community members live, shop and go to school. Further, in the previous official map, the two were kept together.

A member of the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs estimated that only about 5% of the community knew about redistricting, and few understood the connection between the census and redistricting. Advocates plan to start outreach about redistricting and the census earlier ahead of the 2030 census and 2031 redistricting.

Tribal advocates said the Legislature didnt treat the states nine recognized tribes as sovereign governments but as community organizations. The only official meeting legislators working on redistricting had with tribal leaders was held at the last minute and not all tribes could attend, the report found.

Saundra Mitrovich, civic engagement associate with the National Congress of American Indians, said tribes in Alaska, California, New Mexico and Washington, all of which use independent commissions, had more say in redistricting than they had in previous years. In Alaska, for instance, having two Alaska Natives on a five-member redistricting board contributed to a Senate map that preserved an Anchorage neighborhood with a significant Alaska Native population in a single Senate district instead of splitting the neighborhood among other districts and diluting the communitys voting power.

In Oregon, advocates began circulating petitions earlier this year for a constitutional amendment that would create a new independent redistricting commission and require the state to redraw its district maps in 2025. They have until July 2024 to collect more than 156,000 signatures from Oregon voters to make the ballot.

-- Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

University students on some of the countrys top college campuses are voicing their support for Palestine as Israel has declared it is at war with the territory and has plans to seize Gaza, one of the countrys enclaves.

On Saturday, Hamas, a Palestinian faction with a military wing, launched a surprise, coordinated attack against Israel, igniting a war between the two countries that has since left over 1,000 dead on each side.

For 16 years, Palestinians in Gaza have been trapped by the Israeli government in what is effectively an open-air prison, according to the United Nations and the Human Rights Watch.

At a news conference from the White House, President Joe Biden called the attacks an act of sheer evil, which has seen 14 American citizens killed. The US has supplied the country with $3.8 billion in military aid annually since 2016.

We stand with Israel and we will make sure it has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack, Biden said. Theres no justification for terrorism. Theres no excuse.

During a news conference Monday, Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan referred to the attacks as Israels 9/11.

We will not let the world forget the autocities our country suffered, Erdan said. Of Hamas, he said, They want one thing only: The annihilation of the Jewish state.

In an interview by media outlet Democracy Now on Tuesday, The Nations Palestinian journalist Mohammed El-Kurd argued that likening the incident to 9/11 was being used by Israels PR strategy to invoke Islamophobic sentiments and to further justify mass genocide.

It feels to me as though we are living in the very first few days of an unfolding genocide, said El-Kurd, who was named in TIMEs top 100 list as one of the extraordinary leaders from around the world working to build a better future.

Media outlets and journalists who have taken on this framing without any questioning not only work to equate the violence of a besieged, politically isolated group like Hamas with the violence of al-Qaeda and ISIS and so on, but they are also doing the dirty work for Israelis. They are preemptively justifying the genocide of hundreds and thousands of Palestinians.

Dozens of student groups across college campuses in the US publicly condemned Israels war against Palestine. Students at Harvard are still experiencing backlash after 35 student organizations at Harvard university signed a letter blaming Israel for the bloodshed.

We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, the letter reads.

Todays events did not occur in a vacuum. 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.

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 Israels violence.

Statements released by other pro-Palestine organizations at Yale University, Portland State University and City College of New York also echoed similar sentiments.

The events of October 7th are not an isolated event but the inevitable outcome of a decades-long apartheid and suffocating blockade, in addition to a year of escalated settler violence against civilians in the West Bank, read a statement released by Yalies4Palestine, Yale Universitys pro-Palestine group.

Students at Tufts University in Massachusetts also released a statement raising their support for Palestine, which was denounced by the college, the Boston Herald reported.

On Sunday, Israel announced that it would be cutting off food, fuel and water to the Palestinian city of Gaza, which is home to approximately 2.3 million people. The war marks the latest attacks in approximately 7 decades of on and off fighting between the territories, leading to the 5,739 deaths of Palestinians and 251 Israeli deaths from 2008 to 2021, according to Al-Jazeera.

Gaza is made up of 2 million Palestinian citizens, half of whom are children, according to the charity Save the Children.

Israel previously launched a ground operation in Palestine in 2014, leaving about 2,000 people dead, mainly civilians.

Tensions between the nations first ignited after Israels founding in 1948, a year after the United Nations voted to partition Palestine into two states: one for Arabs and one for Jews.

On Tuesday, Harvard academics released a letter signed by at least 100 faculty members calling the attacks launched by Hamas a war crime with no military or specific objective.

It continued: The Israeli security forces were engaging in self-defense against this attack while dealing with numerous hostage situations and a barrage of thousands of rockets hidden deliberately in dense urban settings.

The letter went even further to say that the students who supported the letter blaming Israel were justifying the deaths of innocent people.

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.

Based on initial numbers, Hamas took at least 100 hostages from Israel during the first attacks Saturday, the Israeli government announced Monday.

Student solidarity with Palestine has a long history, dating back to the 1960s. In the early 2000s, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement gained traction on campuses around the world, and National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) was founded in the United States in 1993.

BDS campaigns have successfully pressured universities and other institutions to divest from companies that support what they believe is Israels occupation and colonization of Palestine. Over 200 NSJP chapters across the nation have organized protests, demonstrations and educational events to raise awareness of the Palestinian struggle.

Given that history, it was all but guaranteed that those same student-led groups would continue to support Palestine, as tensions heightened this weekend.

Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years, the Harvard student letter states.

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.

On Wednesday, Gazas only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down. Medical supplies in the city are limited, the World Health Organization said, as the area attempts to grapple with the number of dead and injured from increased fighting. The war is expected to intensify as Israel continues to launch airstrikes into the region.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. We will develop our relations with Azerbaijan in all spheres, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ersin Tatar said, Trend reports.

He spoke at a press conference at Ercan Airport before flying to Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in events within the framework of the Culture Days of Northern Cyprus.

"It is very important for us to develop interaction between the two countries. We will develop our ties with Azerbaijan in all spheres - education, culture, and economy," he said.

Ersin Tatar said he was traveling to Azerbaijan with a delegation of 200 people, including businessmen, tourism specialists, university representatives, and investors.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special assignments Elchin Amirbayov gave interview with Radio France.

In his interview, he answered questions about the position demonstrated by France recently towards Azerbaijan, peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the current situation in the region, as well as the criminal junta regime members detained by Azerbaijan.

Trend presents the interview:

Azerbaijan has made very sharp statements against France. What are you accusing France of?

Since 1997, France has played a mediating role as one of the three co-chairs of the Minsk Group (a group of OSCE member states responsible for political resolution of the Karabakh conflict). France has always sought to maintain balanced relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia  first during the presidency of Jacques Chirac, then Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande. However, unfortunately, in recent years, we have seen a disruption of this balance. France claims to be a facilitator in the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. At the same time, we regularly hear various accusations from France against Azerbaijan and in favor of Armenia. They accuse us of "crime" and of "forcing" Armenians to leave Karabakh.

This goes beyond statements. There is a serious decision regarding the provision of military equipment to Armenia, which is against Azerbaijan. Therefore, at the moment, we can say that there is no trust in France as a "mediator" or "facilitator". This decision can put us in an extremely dangerous position. We can interpret it as follows: by arming Armenia, France is inciting it to launch a new attack on our country. We have just put an end to the illegal occupation of 20 percent of our territory (the so-called "republic" in that territory was never internationally recognized and "Nagorno-Karabakh" has always belonged to Azerbaijan legally).

We do not want new tragedies in this region; we do not want a new war. We really want to resume negotiations with Armenia for a peaceful agreement, and we insist on it. If Armenia also joins our efforts to establish peace and stability between the two countries, we are fully prepared to do our part. I must also mention that we highly appreciate the role of the European Union. Charles Michel has done good work in his capacity as the President of the European Council in facilitating the resumption of negotiations. It is within this framework, in the trilateral format with the European Union, that Azerbaijan is ready to participate in the settlement process once again.

In what form can this peace be achieved? In Yerevan and in other circles, there is some concern. In other words, people have many thoughts about the risk of a potential conflict in southern Armenia, around the Zangazur corridor, in the Syunik region...

In the peace agreement, we will once again reaffirm our commitment to the unconditional respect for the territorial integrity of each of our countries. We will put an end to this enmity that has lasted for almost 30 years. Armenia's claims that Azerbaijan will wage war against its territory are entirely unfounded. We respect the territorial integrity of Armenia, as we do with all other countries in the world. Azerbaijan has also suffered from violations of its territorial integrity for many years.

Are you openly telling us that there will be no new war between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan does not intend to start a war with Armenia. Of course, if Armenia attacks us, we will not sit still. However, I don't believe that it's in Armenia's best interest. I think we just need to hold negotiations again, and taking advantage of the desire of the EU, promote the peace process, discuss the delimitation of borders, communications. We have to pay attention to this. There is no need to play games with Azerbaijan, like with Armenia, which has expressed readiness for negotiations with Azerbaijan, but at the same time is waging diplomatic war on all fronts.

Did you say diplomatic war?

Yes, when it comes to peace, Armenia uses its diplomatic corps to make various accusations against Azerbaijan in various institutions, including the UN. Thanks to the support that France provides to Armenia, this country has repeatedly appealed to the UN Security Council. Armenia also keeps the Council of Europe and the European Parliament in a state of concern, as they have adopted new, completely anti-Azerbaijani and biased resolutions. This is a systematic campaign to discredit Azerbaijan through the diaspora. It shows that the Armenians have no sincere interest in finding solutions. When Mr. Pashinyan [Armenian Prime Minister] meets with his colleagues, he says that Azerbaijan wants to attack Armenia. But this is only his opinion. There is no evidence for this. I don't know why he says that. These accusations have no basis. I believe that the best way for Armenia to avoid war is to engage in real negotiations.

How would you respond to accusations of ethnic cleansing, given that there are very few Armenians left in "Nagorno-Karabakh" or that they have been expelled?

Honestly, it is incorrect to interpret the recent events in Karabakh as ethnic cleansing. This is a very serious accusation. It implies that the government wants to force part of the population to leave their territory due to their ethnic or religious background. It should be emphasized that the anti-terrorist operations initiated on September 19 were aimed solely at legitimate military targets. We knew exactly where the separatists' positions were, and we immediately informed the local civilian population that they were not targeted. We told them not to worry, to stay at home. We have never attacked civilian infrastructure or civilian populations.

I'm not the only one saying this. On October 1, a UN mission also visited the region. The UN representatives met with the remaining Armenians there, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. They also talked to representatives of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. This is evidence that civilians weren't targeted. As soon as these 23-hour measures were completed, we initiated the delivery of a large amount of humanitarian aid to the population, including from Baku. Food, medicine, everything they need... we provided it. We restored electricity and began laying gas pipelines. We urged them to reconsider their decision to leave the region. We told them, "It's your personal choice. We don't want you to leave Azerbaijan. But if you do, know that you have the right to return". How can I call this ethnic cleansing?!

But there was a nine-month blockade during which no food, medicine, or fuel entered the region because Azerbaijan restricted movement...

There was no complete blockade. The International Committee of the Red Cross had the right to conduct medical evacuations and deliver necessary medicines to the population. As for the reasons for the partial road closures, they were implemented because Armenia, for two and a half years after the ceasefire agreement, used it for the transfer of military personnel, mines, and all kinds of weaponry from its territory to Karabakh. To put an end to all of this, we had to establish a checkpoint.

What guarantees or conditions will be in place for Armenians who wish to return to ensure they can live in safety?

A day after the anti-terrorist measures ended, we launched a dialogue between the central authorities of Azerbaijan and representatives of the local Armenian community. Within ten days, we had three meetings. We made an effort to present our vision for their future in various aspects of life, including all kinds of social, economic, political, humanitarian, linguistic, and religious rights. This clearly shows that the Azerbaijani government has no intention of depriving these people of their rights. However, to live together peacefully with Azerbaijanis, they must know that the authority belongs to Azerbaijan.

They must acknowledge the sovereignty of our country. Some of them have already expressed a desire to become citizens of Azerbaijan. However, in an atmosphere of panic and stress, when a person leaves their country or their home, it's not easy to make the decision to return in a week. So, perhaps it's worth waiting a bit while these people reconsider their decision to leave Azerbaijan. When they express a desire to return, we can indeed establish contact with them.

Are you concerned about sanctions?

I don't know if this idea, which was put forward by France some time ago, has the support of the majority of European Union countries. What should these sanctions specifically be applied against? To Azerbaijan's desire, after decades of strategic patience, to regain control over its sovereign territory, recognized by the international community, including France? I don't believe that it is necessary to punish or attempt to punish a country that is reclaiming its right. Our territory was attacked, and not only attacked, it was occupied and subjected to ethnic cleansing. Today, everyone talks about ethnic cleansing, but no one talks about the real ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenia in the early 1990s when nearly a million out of the then 7 million population became displaced or refugees. No one - neither France nor the Europeans - expressed a desire to impose sanctions against Armenia and never condemned it. It's a matter of double standards.

Will the fate of the leaders of "Nagorno-Karabakh" who are currently in detention be discussed in the peace negotiations?

First and foremost, it should be emphasized that we declared amnesty for separatists who surrendered their weapons. They had the opportunity to leave our territory via the Lachin corridor. However, as for those who have been arrested, we are talking about a small group of people whose involvement in gross violence against the peaceful population of Azerbaijan has been proven. We have evidence. The court will confirm this. These are war crimes with no statute of limitations, and only such individuals are subject to imprisonment.

A trial for them is necessary. I don't think it would be fair to release them without taking into account the people who have lost their loved ones. We can't simply release them as a goodwill gesture because, in my view, impunity is one of the reasons why this conflict has been so prolonged.

Does this apply to Ruben Vardanyan?

- Yes, he was involved in financing terrorism. He financed the creation of terrorist groups against the peaceful population in Azerbaijan.

The persons currently in detention are responsible for some of the largest mass killings in this conflict. In a single night, 613 innocent Azerbaijani civilians were killed, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly, simply because they were Azerbaijanis. This is an act of genocide. I believe we should be cautious when using this term. But when you attack a population solely because they belong to an ethnic group you consider as an enemy, it constitutes an act of genocide. Therefore, we cannot turn a blind eye to this history. These are unacceptable, reprehensible acts of abuse that occurred thirty years ago.
Dakar, Senegal (PANA)  Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who was reappointed on Wednesday, has unveiled his government's priorities four months ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 25 February
New York, US (PANA) - The United Nations-African Union partnership stands out as a pillar of multilateralism, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday, one which has continued to grow in scope and depth
Metsa Tissue's Kreuzau mill in Germany has switched from soft brown coal to wood pellets in the mill's production of heat. Metsa Tissue's Kreuzau mill in Germany has switched from soft brown coal to wood pellets in the mill's production of heat.

Metsa Tissue Kreuzau Mill Reduces CO2 Emissions by Two Thirds per Year

Oct. 12, 2023 - Metsa Tissue said that its Kreuzau mill in Germany has stopped using lignite (soft brown coal) as an energy source, and since this past September the mill has switched to wood pellets in the mill's production of heat.

The energy source change at Kreuzau mill is part of Metsa Tissue's "Future Mill" concept, whereas the company expects to have "a fossil-free mill fleet by 2030."

According to Metsa Tissue, the current tissue paper production process creates annual emissions of 90,000 tons of CO2, and by implementing wood pellets instead of lignite, fossil-based CO2 emissions will be reduced by 60,000 tons per year, resulting in an over 30 percent reduction of CO2 emissions yearly in Metsa Tissue.

Through this change, Metsa Tissue's Kreuzau mill also compares favorably with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) benchmark as the emission level at Kreuzau mill will be 200 kg CO2/t tissue paper compared to 340 kg CO2/t tissue paper.

"With this step we are executing our transition plan towards a fossil-free production by 2030 as well as world-class environmental performance," said Tobias Luning, SVP Central Europe, Metsa Tissue. "This transition has been initiated by a simple idea to change fuels, but keeping the existing technical infrastructure.

"The development work, however, has been extensive. Since beginning of 2022, the shift to wood pellets has been tested, necessary adaptions made, and now the shift has been finalized," Luning explained.

Kreuzau Mill

The Kreuzau mill is the largest site of the Metsa Tissue's three mills in Germany. The mill employs over 400 people and has the capacity to produce 150,000 tonnes per year of tissue for the company's professional use brand, Katrin, and its consumer brand, Mola.

Metsa Tissue, part of Metsa Group, is one of the leading tissue paper suppliers in Europe to households and professionals and one of the leading greaseproof paper suppliers globally, headquartered in Finland. The company currently operates through nine mills across Europe (three in Germany, three in Sweden, one in Finland, one in Poland and one in Slovakia).

SOURCE: Metsa Tissue
Photo: (Photo : Solen Feyissa on Unsplash)

High school students are showcasing their marketing prowess by diving into the latest trend: TikTok Shop. Despite the platform's policy restricting minors from joining the programme, NBC News has identified numerous TikTok accounts, all declaring to be under 18, actively posting TikTok Shop videos.

TikTok Shop, introduced in September, has been a game-changer for social media advertising. This novel feature enables users to advertise an array of products, earning a commission for every sale. The rapid influence of this feature is reshaping internet advertising as users exploit its functionalities, sometimes pushing the boundaries of authenticity.

Teens Are Leveraging TikTok's New Feature

A case in point: a 16-year-old with over 33,000 followers crafted a TikTok Shop advertisement promoting $4 women's leggings. He playfully suggested the leggings could make the wearer look so good that they "may get pregnant." This, paired with his dance to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," garnered significant attention.

Another of his videos promoting the same product amassed over 1.1 million views. Such immediate viral potential is typical on TikTok, where the platform's algorithm can propel engaging content to wider audiences at lightning speed.

TikTok Shop, leveraging the platform's algorithm, showcases a plethora of products ranging from intriguing gadgets to questionable health supplements. Some users have even repurposed content, such as podcast clips, to advertise entirely unrelated products, blurring the lines between original content and marketing.

While adults largely dominate TikTok Shop, many videos reveal teens filming in unmistakably school-like settings-hallways lined with lockers, classroom desks, even during lectures. Surprisingly, not all creators are even using or purchasing the products they're advocating. Instead, they're playing the numbers game, repetitively posting slightly varied content, hoping one video gains traction.

TikTok, in its defense, clarified that it's continually refining its safeguards, especially as TikTok Shop gains momentum in the U.S. While they ask users for age confirmation upon account creation, this easily exploited system has resulted in several underage users bypassing the restriction. Moreover, only those selling personal products need to provide an ID. Thus, many minors advertising third-party products escape age verification.

Read Also: TikTok Moms Share Easy and Fun DIY Activities for Kids

TikTok's Challenge: Addressing the Underage Wave on TikTok Shop

In line with their policy, TikTok restricts content targeting minors, especially those inducing them to make purchases or persuading parents to buy specific products or services.

It's interesting to note that a sizable portion of the goods on TikTok Shop come from China, but American creators sell them almost exclusively. For instance, a teen advertised leggings from Ying Fu Apparel and a studded belt from "HeartinBelt," both brands hailing from Zhejiang, China. Notably, these advertisements, peppered with humour and youth jargon, raked in millions of views.

On the brighter side, some teen creators genuinely review products they've purchased. A 15-year-old girl advertised a Radiohead T-shirt she wore in her video, which quickly drew almost 3 million views.

TikTok Shop's business model echoes affiliate marketing strategies popularized by early 2000s bloggers, but with a modern twist. Traditional affiliate marketing saw brands providing influencers with discount codes, allowing them to earn a commission. TikTok Shop has revolutionized this by eradicating the need for brands to engage with established influencers.

Although TikTok mandates that Shop users should be 18 with valid tax and banking details, the evident presence of underage users on the platform showcases the challenges of digital age verification and the allure of easy online monetization for today's tech-savvy youth.

Related Article: TikTok CEO Admits Not Allowing His Children to Use App
Photo: (Photo : Screenshot Image from @ybarrap on X)

A Texas high school hairstyle policy is putting one Black student in alternative education.

In a recent move that has reignited debates on hairstyle discrimination, a Black student from a Texas high school has been slated for alternative education placement owing to his dreadlocks.

This decision, deeply intertwined, is causing ripples across education sectors and civil rights communities.

Commentary: The Suspension of Darryl GeorgeA Stark Reminder of Systemic Racism and Infringement on Individual Rights in Texas



The recent suspension of Darryl George, a Black high school student in Texas, for sporting a loc hairstyle [1] is not just a disciplinary action; it's pic.twitter.com/fkoV7lW48Y  P a u l  (@ybarrap) September 19, 2023

Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy Limits Some Students

Darryl George, an 18-year-old Black student, is a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, Texas.

Following the enforcement of the Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy, George has faced an in-school suspension since Aug. 31.

The school's administration cites his dreadlocks as the cause for his suspension, emphasizing a purported violation of the school's longstanding hairstyle norms.

Principal Lance Murphy elaborated in a letter, later shared that George has repeatedly defied the previously communicated standards of student conduct, which are firmly grounded in the school's dress code.

This code, as per the Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy, dictates that male students' hair should not extend below the eyebrows, earlobes, or the top of a T-shirt collar.

The policy also mandates all students to maintain hair that's clean, well-groomed, of a geometrical shape, and free from unnatural colors or variations.

Opposing Stances and Legal Battles

Darresha George, the Black student's mother, alongside their family attorney, vehemently denies any violation of the dress code by Darryl.

They stress that the teenager's dreadlocks do not infringe upon the prescribed guidelines. Consequently, the George family initiated a twofold legal move.

First, they filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency.

Simultaneously, they launched a federal civil rights lawsuit against Texas's top-tier officials, primarily focusing on allegations of their failure to uphold laws that prevent discrimination based on hairstyles.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the CROWN Act. Effective from Sept. 1, the CROWN Act - an acronym for "Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair" - aims to eradicate race-based hair discrimination.

This legislation defends individuals against prejudiced actions based on hair texture or specific protective hairstyles like dreadlocks.

In a twist, Barbers Hill School District, too, has sought legal intervention.

They've approached the state district court, petitioning for a clear interpretation of whether their hair policy for male students, especially focusing on dreadlocks, breaches the guidelines of the CROWN Act.

Read Also: Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas Navigate Custody Amid Celebrity Divorce Drama: Inside the Temporary Agreement

Echoes from the Past

This isn't the first instance where Barbers Hill High School's hairstyle policy has faced public scrutiny.

Past episodes have depicted recurring conflicts between Black male students and the school's regulations concerning dreadlocks.

Notably, in 2020, two Black students, De'Andre Arnold and Kaden Bradford, faced potential punitive action because of their dreadlocks.

A federal judge, upon reviewing their case, declared the school's hair policy as discriminatory. This verdict played a pivotal role in Texas lawmakers sanctioning the state's CROWN Act.

The saga surrounding the Texas High School's Hairstyle Policy remains intense and multilayered.

With a Black student's dreadlocks serving as the flashpoint, the scenario underscores the broader issues related to racial discrimination and cultural acceptance within educational environments.

As the story unfolds and progresses through legal corridors, the implications could be far-reaching, potentially reshaping how policies are perceived and implemented in the future.

Related Article: Utah Challenges TikTok Over Child Safety: State Alleges App Harms Kids' Mental Health
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Azerbaijan regrets Armenia's refusal to hold a meeting of the leaders and foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Kyrgyzstan's Bishkek, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elnur Mammadov said at a hearing at the International Court of Justice, Trend reports.

According to him, the next meeting between the parties is scheduled at the end of this month under the auspices of the EU in Brussels.

He also added that Armenia's accusations do not reflect reality, moreover, they completely contradict the reports of the two UN missions following the visit to Karabakh.

"More importantly, they do not reflect the results of the observation and conclusions of the UN missions that Azerbaijan allowed to enter Karabakh. For the first time in more than 30 years, an international mission visited the region. They do not reflect the reports of representatives of independent international media who were there and saw this territory. Azerbaijan has not engaged, and will not engage in any forms of ethnic cleansing against the peaceful population of Karabakh," he added.

To recall, Armenia's lawsuit against Azerbaijan is being considered in the ICJ today.
Photo: (Photo : YURIY DYACHYSHYN / Getty Images)

Addressing growing concerns surrounding infant product safety, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is championing the introduction of federal regulations targeting infant rockers. This decision emerges in the wake of reports that directly associate these rockers with multiple infant fatalities.

Troubling History of Infant Rockers

Drawing public attention and concern is the CPSC's distressing report indicating the association of infant rockers with 11 deaths spanning from 2011 to 2022. Alarmingly, the majority of these fatalities transpired after babies had fallen asleep in these rockers.

Delving deeper into the safety profile of these popular infant products, CPSC staff unveiled that, in addition to the tragic deaths, infant rockers were implicated in a staggering 88 injuries over a 12-year period. A recurring narrative in many of these cases was infants suffering head injuries consequent to rockers toppling over.

Towards a Safer Future: New CPSC Safety Regulations

Addressing the evident risks associated with infant rockers, the CPSC's proposed safety regulations focus primarily on three main hazards: suffocation, strangulation, and the danger of tip-overs.

The core of these regulations is a set of design recommendations: making infant rockers firmer and adopting a flatter design to significantly reduce the risk of suffocation for babies.

To further solidify the safety profile of these products, the proposed regulations demand that all rockers undergo comprehensive stability and safety tests.

As a direct measure to ensure caregivers are adequately informed, manufacturers will be mandated to feature distinct warning labels on their products. These labels will caution caregivers about the risks of allowing infants to sleep in the rockers and the dangers of using soft bedding in conjunction with the product.

Read Also: Navigating Difficult Conversations: How to Guide Your Child Through War Content on Social Media

Manufacturers Respond Amidst Growing CPSC Concerns

Prominent infant rocker manufacturers, including industry giants Fisher-Price, Kids2, and Beaba, have maintained a noticeable silence post this announcement, offering no immediate public comment.

Previously, Fisher-Price, in a letter addressed to Congress, ardently defended the safety of their infant rockers. They emphasized that their products were designed with safety in mind, contending that they remained safe when parents diligently monitored their babies and ensured they were securely fastened within.

Contrastingly, 4moms, another pivotal player in the market, voiced its support for the impending federal safety standard concerning infant rockers.

It's pertinent to highlight that the primary function of rockers is to comfort babies using a gentle back-and-forth motion. Many models in the market come equipped with features like vibration, which, though intended to soothe, might inadvertently encourage sleep.

A notable point of contention surfaced before the CPSC's announcement, as Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. championed an amendment. This proposed alteration to the plan emphasized limiting the use of rockers to infants aged six months and younger and suggested the removal of features that might unintentionally promote sleep.

While the infant rocker safety regulations have been formally proposed, they are now poised to undergo public scrutiny, review, and comments before achieving finalized status.

The overarching goal remains singularly focused on ensuring that infant rockers, distinct from other inclined sleepers like the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play, stand as hallmarks of safety, protecting our most precious members of society.

Related Article: Utah Challenges TikTok Over Child Safety: State Alleges App Harms Kids' Mental Health
After breakfast, we visited the ancient Hippodrome, where chariot races were held in Byzantine days, and where the infamous massacre took place during the great Nika Riot of AD 532 (about which I hope to say more in a future entry).

Two monuments are (to me) particularly notable in the Hippodrome:

The Serpent ColumnOriginally, this was the sacrificial Tripod of Plataea, which was created to celebrate the victory of the Greeks over the invading Persians during the Persian Wars of the fifth century BC. Emperor Constantine ordered the Tripod to be moved from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and placed in middle of the Hippodrome. The top was once adorned with a golden bowl supported by three serpent heads, although it appears that this was never brought to Constantinople. The serpent heads and the top third of the column were destroyed in 1700, so that all that remains of the Delphi Tripod today is the base.

In AD 390, the emperor Theodosius the Great brought a pink granite obelisk from the Temple of Karnak, in Luxor, Egypt, and placed it inside the racing track. The obelisk dates from around BC 1490, during the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III. In order to move it to Constantinople, Theodosius had the obelisk cut into three pieces, of which this is the top section. It still stands today on the marble pedestal where Theodosius placed it.

The four gilded bronze horses on the facade of St. Marks Basilica in Venice were stolen from Constantinople after the infamous Fourth Crusade of the early thirteenth century, which sacked the city and poisoned relations between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy for centuries. They were part of a quadriga, a brace of four chariot horses, that had adorned the Hippodrome until that time and that are the only equestrian team to have survived from classical Antiquity. Since 1974, happily, the four original horses have been preserved inside; the figures on the balcony over the central portal are copies.

The next stop was the Sultanahmet or Blue Mosque. Its nickname comes from the beautiful, blue ceramic tilesIznik tiles, bearing the name of the town famous for making themthat adorn the interior. (Iznik was formerly known as Nikaia or Nicaea, which was famous for making creeds. See? Historical progress does actually happen.)

We next visited a portion of the Topkap Palace, one of the largest and oldest surviving palaces in the world. (Please notice the final i of Topkap, which lacks a dot. That is deliberate, and specific to Turkish spelling. A dotless i is pronounced rather like a weak uh.) This was the seat of the Ottoman sultans until the erection of the more modern, European-style Dolmabahce Palace over on the opposite or eastern shore of the Bosporus. In Turkish, that more modern palace is known as the Dolmabahce Saray. Classical music lovers may recognize the Turkish word for palace in the title of Mozarts 1782 opera Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail (English: The Abduction from the Seraglio, which has a Turkish setting).

Then, after lunch, we visited for a little while with Jeff Flake and his wife in the area between the Sultanahmet Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. He is the Latter-day Saint former senator from Arizona and the current ambassador of the United States to Turkiye. They offered some interesting observations on relations between Turkiye and America, as well as upon the state and progress of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here.

We next walked over to (and through) the Basilica Cistern  there was great deal of walking today  which was built in AD 532, making it a contemporary of the Hagia Sophia. It was a part of the extraordinary water system of the Byzantine capital, which continues to be visible in some of the still-standing aqueducts that can be seen around the city. (We drove under an elegant and very large one this morning). You may have seen the Cistern in the 1963 James Bond film From Russia with Love, perhaps, or in the 2016 film version of Dan Browns Inferno.

Thereafter, we walked to the Grand Bazaar , which is said to be the largest covered market in the world. Im not a shopper, but the Grand Bazaar (like the none-too-distant Spice Market) takes one back to the late-medieval or early-modern world, when bicontinental Istanbul was a focus of merchant trade routes linking not only Europe and Asia but Africa.

And then, finally, our group attended a whirling dervish ceremony at the HodjaPasha Culture Center. Although many no doubt see the dervishes as a quaint tourist attraction, they are far, far more than that. (Tonights ceremony wasnt a performance, as is sometimes seen on cruise boats along the Nile. It was a genuine worship service, shortened for a tourist crowd. An odd comination, I know, but it worked.) The dervishes represent the Mevlevi Sufi order, which traces its genealogy back to the great thirteenth-century Persian mystical poet Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, who spent much of his life in Konya, the ancient Iconium, and is buried there. Their spinning dance, in imitation of the movement of the celestial spheres, is designed to foster a separation of consciousness from the mundane world and a union with the divine.

In some respects, though not all, Rumi is a very congenial thinker from a Latter-day Saint perspective. In the opening lines of his principal work, the Masnavi, for instance, he uses the reed flute as a metaphor for the human soul. It makes such a plaintive sound, he says, because it is in exile from the reed bed by the river, which is its true home. The lament of the reed flute symbolizes the souls sorrow at its separation or exile from God. We, too, are cut off from our source, from our original home, and are seeking reunion. Elsewhere he says

From the reed flute, the Master Artisan cut a flute with nine holes, and named it Adam. O reed flute, you have been wailing with these lips.

Suggestions of an antemortal existence occur at more than a few places in Rumis writings. And he even hints at what seems like a notion of human deification:

I died as a mineral and became a plant. I died as plant and rose to animal. I died as animal and I was Man. Why should I fear? When was I less by dying? Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar With angels blessd; but even from angelhood I must pass on: all except God doth perish. When I have sacrificed my angel-soul, I shall become what no mind eer conceived. Oh, let me not exist! For Non-existence Proclaims in organ tones, To Him we shall return.

Theres so much that needs to be said, so many stories that need to be told, about this absolutely wonderful place. But your patience is finite, and jet lag is unforgiving.

Posted from Istanbul, Turkiye
On Friday, the courtroom dramedy The Burial, starring Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones, makes its debut on Amazon Prime, showcasing the true story of attorney Willie Gary and his fight for Jerry OKeefes funeral home businesses. As Willie, Foxx is at his outlandish best, delivering closing arguments like a Pentecostal preacher and developing a deep friendship with his client Jerry (Jones).

Its an odd match up. But Willie E. Gary said, were all sons of the South, Foxx says. I thought that was an amazing tidbit to find, so during the shooting of this, that was sorta my mantra. These guys are just sons of the South.

Gary, who was born in the small town of Eastman, Georgia and now lives in South Florida, said Foxxs portrayal was mostly accurate, but a few things were changed here and there to increase dramatic tension. For Foxx, Gary was an exciting character to portray.

Willie has so much swagger, so much style, and listening to the way he talked and interacted with people, I just thought he was so genuine and raw, said Foxx. It just felt good to be the essence of Willie Gary and to find a smart, bombastic, living outside-the-box-type of character, which is tailor- made for what I do.

In the film, Gary is recruited by Jerry to take on a major corporation trying to stall a deal on buying a few of his funeral homes. In an effort to preserve his familys legacy and a generational business, Jerry had faith in the outcome, resulting in a verdict of $500 million, even though the odds seemed stacked against him.

Although the two were from different backgrounds, Gary and Jerry became friends apart from the case. In a recent interview, Gary said he was drawn to Jerry because not only because he was a military veteran, but because he initially made the trip down to Florida to see him in action.

Jerry was determined, and he did not give up (on this case), he said, adding that he feels viewers will be inspired seeing the courage of a man taking on a system trying to take advantage of him.

When asked about his style and delivery, Gary pointed to his brother, who is his pastor, and growing up observing those who fought for civil rights. Like those fighting for equality, he said that his $30 billion plus verdicts have often helped ordinary people win against extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

I hope viewers will take to heart that together we stand, divided we fall, he said. When you have hard work, determination and a refuse-to-be-denied attitude, it will allow you to do anything but fail.

The Burial, directed by Maggie Betts and starring Tommy Lee Jones, Jamie Foxx, Jurnee Smollett, Mamoudou Athie, Pamela Reed, with Bill Camp, and Alan Ruck, begins streaming Friday on Amazon Prime.
One of the unique, visceral terrors of American adulthood is getting a letter with Internal Revenue Service on the return address. Just ask Microsofts accounting department. According to an SEC filing dated October 11th, the company received an overdue tax bill from the IRS for an incredible $28.9 billion (with a b) dollars. Microsoft will fight the adjusted bill, to the surprise of absolutely no one.

According to a blog post attached to the filing written by Microsoft vice president Daniel Goff, the IRS arrived at the startling figure after auditing the companys corporate returns for the years between 2004 and 2013. The core of the adjustment is, quote, the way Microsoft allocated profits during this time period among countries and jurisdictions.

International corporations like Microsoft often move income and profits among offices in several nations to try and find the most favorable tax laws. While the practice is fairly universal at Microsofts level, wading into the often conflicting world of tax law can lead to accusations of tax avoidance. Ireland is considered a semi-legal tax haven for such purposes, and Microsoft has extensive corporate offices in Dublin, along with its competitors Apple, Google, and Facebook.

Though Microsoft is one of the worlds largest tech companies with a market cap of more than two trillion dollars, $29 billion would still represent a huge hit to its profits. For the sake of comparison, the companys acquisition of game publisher Activision-Blizzard has a proposed value of $68.7 billion.

Goff did not provide a more precise breakdown of the IRS Notices of Proposed Adjustment, but said that the company will appeal the bill starting with $10 billion in possible rebates from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which significantly cut the tax rate for the largest American companies. Microsoft has already promised to appeal the decision and go to court if the IRS wont relent, a process that could take years.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)-led demonstration has provoked a row between the Minority MPs and the Governor of the central bank, Dr. Ernest Addison.



The NDC MPs, on Tuesday, staged a protest in Accra, demanding the resignation of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor and his deputies for allegedly mismanaging the bank.



The Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson, also declined to present his petition to officials of the BoG because he wanted the governor to receive it himself, despite explanation by the banks chief of security, Wing Commander Kwame Asare Boateng that the governor and deputy governors were in meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).



Rejection



Dr. Addison, however, has rejected the oppositions request to resign, claiming that the Minority MPs should have used a more appropriate approach for advancing their issues as pertained in civilised societies rather than protesting in the streets as hooligans.



According to an international business website known as the Central Banking, the BoG governor said Tuesdays demonstration was completely unnecessary and neither he nor his deputies intend to step down.



The Minority in Parliament have many channels to channel their grievances in civilised societies, not through demonstrations in the streets as hooligans, Dr. Addison is quoted as saying.



He also reportedly denied the oppositions assertions that the central bank had unilaterally employed monetary financing, as well as its demand that the construction of the new headquarters be halted.



The government restructured its domestic debts earlier this year, which was a major contributor in the central banks 2022 loss of GH60.8 billion ($5.24 billion).



Opposition



Dr. Ato Forson and his group have opposed the construction of the new central bank headquarters, which is set to open in September of next year. The Minority Leader called for Addisons resignation in August, following the release of the central banks 2022 financial statements.



He accused the central bank of printing money to fund the government. At the protest, Ato Forson said the central banks leaders have mismanaged the affairs of the central bank and unilaterally printed up to GH80 billion in two years.



Dr. Addison, on the other hand, indicated that the central bank only provided monetary financing between 2020 and 2022 to address specific emergencies, emphasising that this activity is permitted under central bank law.



According to him, the impairment of the banks debt holdings, which resulted in the losses, was a requirement for the IMF programme.



Office Complex



Concerning the building, the governor indicated that the Board of Governors decided to begin construction on the new headquarters in 2019 when the bank was profitable and appropriated some of its profits for the new headquarters.



It was not a decision taken during a crisis, he pointed out.



Meanwhile, Mahama Ayariga, the NDC MP for Bawku Central, has termed comments by the BoG Governor as loose talk and offensive.



According to him, he has been taken aback by Dr. Addisons comments and description, asserting that the Minority members have been civil in their demand for his resignation.







Source: Daily Guide









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Africas largest bank, Standard Bank, trading in Ghana as Stanbic Bank, has launched the third edition of leveraged its Africa Trade Barometer (SB ATB). The report leverages the banks presence and expertise across the continent to address the information vacuum of reliable African trade data and to support and enable the growth of intra-Africa trade.



Speaking at the launch of the report in Accra, Head of Business and Commercial Banking at Stanbic Bank, Farihan Alhassan, said the report was borne out of the banks desire to have up-to date data for African businesses to help them thrive. He said Free Trade Availability of trade data remains a challenge across Africa and the Standard Banks Africa Trade Barometer aims to fill part of this data gap through up-to-date survey data on the views of African businesses on the environment they operate in, their trade behaviour, trading activities and their perceptions on trade.



Africa is our home; we drive her growth and knowing how important businesses, especially MSMEs are in driving growth on the continent, we decided to produce this report to provide cutting edge data and insights to businesses to guide their operations and decision making. And now that the continent is set to fully implement the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA), it critical that we have up-to-date data for businesses to rely on, he added.



The SB ATB was launched in 2022 with the intent of creating Africas leading trade index to address the information vacuum of reliable African trade data and to support and enable the growth of intra-Africa trade. The SB ATB focuses on 10 countries  Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Seven broad thematic categories are trade openness, access to finance, macroeconomic stability, infrastructure, foreign trade, governance and economy, and traders financial behaviour. The report is available at https://www.stanbicbank.com.gh/static_file/ghana/Downloadable%20Files/2023%20Africa%20Trade%20Barometer_Issue%203_Ghana%20Report.pdf

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Education giant, Excel-Plus Education is ready to host the 2023 University for the Creative Arts (UCA) Open Day in Accra to enable students who are passionate about pursuing studies in art, music, fashion or design to have all their questions answered and manifest their educational goals.



The all-important event which will be held on Tuesday, 17th October, 2023 at the Excel-Plus Education-Accra Office at Dzorwulu aims to give hundreds of students the opportunity to gain insights into UCAs diverse range of programs, tuition options, accommodation and many more.



Addressing the gathering at the launch of the event, Academic Advice Manager at University for the Creative Arts- UK, Yvonne Ntiamoah, stated that the exciting educational experience will offer support to students in organising their portfolio for professional and academic purposes.



Meanwhile, the General Manager of Excel-Plus Education, Mr. Joseph Quainoo, added that, the event will offer students the opportunity to meet professional tutors who will provide assistance in shaping their educational goals and future aspirations in the Creative Arts Industry.



He took the opportunity to urge all interested students to secure a free spot at https://www.excelplusonline.com or click https://forms.gle/f3XUWodyrC2jJv1YA or scan the QR code in the attached image to register.



"This is indeed a life-changing opportunity. I urge all interested parties to join for free. It is our sole aim at Excel- Plus Education to bring out the best in you by putting you in charge ", he said.



Excel-Plus Education is a reputable organization that represents international universities with partners across the globe.



The company has assisted hundreds of students across Ghana and the African continent with the aim of providing quality education for a better future

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ugandan lawmakers have rejected a government proposal to allow 15-year-old girls to access birth control pills to reduce high levels of pregnancy.



Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa called the idea "devilish", saying it would "formalise [the] defilement" of girls.



A senior health ministry official said the "stigma" around young people using contraceptives should end.



Nearly a quarter of 15- to 19-year-old girls in Uganda are either pregnant or are already mothers, a survey says.



The rate increased sharply during the Covid lockdown when schools were shut for almost two years.



During a highly charged parliamentary debate on Tuesday, MP Lucy Akello questioned whether the age of consent was being lowered from the current 18 years to 15 years, the state-owned New Vision newspaper reported.



She described the proposal to offer contraceptives to 15-year-old girls as "scary".



Ms Akello said she did not use contraceptives. "I use the natural method, the one God gave me."



In her response to the debate, Primary Healthcare Minister Margaret Muhanga said the proposal had not been approved by the government but had been made by a senior medical officer, Dr Charles Olaro.



She asked if it was better for a child to get pregnant and then go on to die while giving birth, adding there was "so many teenage pregnancies".



Dr Olaro told the privately owned Daily Monitor newspaper that access to reproductive health information was "not just a matter of choice; it is a matter of fundamental rights".



"It is essential that we foster an environment where youth can access information on sexual and reproductive health and contraceptives for those in need without stigma, discrimination, or judgment," Dr Olaro was quoted as saying.



However, the deputy speaker said the proposal "should never see the light of day".



Uganda is a deeply religious society, and a group of religious leaders has also opposed the proposal, saying teenagers should just abstain from sex.

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.

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The family of the woman who died after she was refused emergency treatment at the Central Aflao Hospital over the mode of payment has appealed to government and its agencies to help it get justice.



The family has since petitioned the President, the Minister of Health, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Medical and Dental Council to investigate the issue and bring the culprits to book.



It argued that the hospital, popularly known as Nkansah Hospital, in the Ketu South Municipality in the Volta Region, failed to support the burial of the deceased after promising to do so at a meeting with the family.



Burial



Linda Adua, 39, passed away on April 11 this year as nurses at the hospital allegedly refused to offer her any form of service because she was unable to pay cash, even though she was willing to pay through Mobile Money (MoMo).



She was buried on September 10, this year.



However, the family alleged that the hospital failed to engage them after an initial meeting where the hospital administration apologised for the incident and promised to assist in any way possible.



Complaint



Abigail Adua, an elder sister of the deceased, told the Daily Graphic that the owner of the hospital, Dr Gabriel Kwadjo Nkansah, sent a delegation to the family to apologise for the loss, seek an amicable solution and help give the deceased a befitting burial.



She, however, said the disposition of the delegation after that first and only meeting made the family to believe that it was just a facade, as the hospital had cut links with the family since then.



It was like a camouflage precipitated by media publications and reviews of the circumstances leading to the death of our relative, she noted.



She said at that meeting held on July 9, this year, the hospital delegation asked the family to propose any help from them for their consideration before the burial, which they did but did not hear from the hospital afterwards.



Message to family



In a recorded audio intercepted by the Daily Graphic, a male voice, supposed to be the spokesperson for the hospital, was overheard saying at the meeting that, We are representing the Central Aflao Hospital. Our mission is to render our unqualified apology to the family.



We know that to lose a daughter, a sister and a breadwinner is not easy. It is actually a great loss. What he has asked me to say is that, we cannot pretend to imagine that you are fine; it is not easy to actually lose a family member in this way.



We appreciate that you are going through a lot and he says that we are sorry for whatever actions or omissions on the part of the Central Aflao Hospital (Nkansah Hospital) - that led to the demise of Linda. We cannot say we want to argue out anything here.



He wants to say that it is an omission on the part of the hospital from whichever angle we look at it. We dont want to scratch wounds here by trying to narrate the whole story and apportion blame, it said.



We are only here to meet with the family and apologise and resolve this issue amicably because a lot of damage has been caused to the family and the hospital as well.



At this juncture, we are rendering our unqualified apology in the first place to the family. Lessons have been learnt. If we have acted proactively, we would not have been here wasting your time and causing you this pain. So we are ready to support the family to give a befitting burial to our sister who lost her life through this unfortunate incident.



This is the message from Dr Nkansah and the entire facility. We want the family to accept out apology, the spokesperson of the Nkansah Hospital told the family.



Familys proposal



Ms Adua said the family sent a proposal to the hospital later, but they were yet to get a response.



We sent that proposal to them and it included financial support for the funeral of Linda, a compensation to the family and educational support for the only surviving child of my sister who was preparing to go to the university before his mother died.



Unfortunately, we have not heard from the hospital since that meeting, she lamented.



When the Daily Graphic contacted Dr Nkansah, he rudely declined to comment on the issue and hung up the phone.



Investigation



However, the Medical Director of the Aflao Central Hospital had earlier confirmed to the Daily Graphic that a team from the GHS was at the hospital to investigate the matter.



The police have summoned us to release the nurses involved for interrogation on the matter, which we have done, Dr Nkansah said.



Dr Makafui Dagbasu, the Medical Director of the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, the main referral centre of the municipality, also confirmed that the hospital was currently being investigated on the matter.



Call for justice



Ms Adua said justice for her sister would help avert any negligence that could lead to the death of many innocent people.



The deceaseds family petitioned the President, the Minister of Health, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service and the Medical and Dental Council over five months ago but justice is yet to be served.



The only official response the family received was from the Medical and Dental Council which said it had referred the matter to the Nursing and Midwifery Council due to the role of the nurses in the processes leading to the death of Linda.



We are glad about the efforts of the council but like we have always said, we believe it when the nurses said they were acting strictly on the order of the hospital to not take any form of electronic payment and that only cash was accepted at the facility.



We think that the nurses should not be the only focus, although they could have added a human face to carrying out that order when my sister pleaded with them, she said.



Ms Adua said the Council also copied the family the response of the Nursing and Midwifery Council dated July 10 this year, informing the Medical and Dental Council that investigations had commenced.



She said the family was still pleading with all the stakeholders to help them get justice for Linda to serve as deterrent to healthcare providers who treated human lives as though they did not matter and as if money was more important than human life.



I know a lot of families like ours are suffering in silence because they are voiceless.



Background



Ms Adua said on April 11, this year, Linda asked her 19-year-old son to accompany her to the hospital because she was not feeling well and was also having difficulty breathing.



They reached the hospital around 4:05 a.m., and were met by two nurses on duty, who requested that they made a deposit of GH400 before she would be attended to, she narrated.



The sister of the deceased added that Linda offered to pay through mobile money transfer but the nurses said electronic transfers were against the hospitals policy, insisting that the son should go out of the hospital to look for a mobile money merchant and withdraw cash for the payment.



My sister pleaded with the nurses to take the MoMo and attend to her because it was too early in the morning to find a merchant to withdraw the money, but they refused, she said.



The family said the pleas of the sick woman and her 19-year-old son could not convince the nurses to accept mobile money payment for her treatment, leaving the patient unattended to until she passed away.



She said Lindas son later had to walk from the hospital to Avoeme Junction before getting a motorbike to take him to the Aflao Border - about two kilometres from the hospital - in search of a mobile money merchant in vain.



All this while, Linda remained seated in a wheelchair in the outpatient department (OPD) unattended to by the nurses. No details of the complaints were recorded and her vitals were also not taken, except her name which was recorded in the patient register at the OPD, she added.



Linda, meanwhile, had complained of difficulty in breathing and pleaded with the nurses to put her on oxygen.



One of the nurses retorted that she was disturbing them as she scanned her phone, she said.



She said Linda, who had then been wheeled to a ward, asked the son to assist her to the washroom, but she fell on the way.



It was at that point that another patient in the ward, who witnessed the whole incident, rushed out to inform the nurses about what had happened.



Referral



The nurse, apparently sensing danger, told Lindas son to get a taxi and take her to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital since her situation was beyond their capacity, she said.



She said the nurses asked the young man to sit in the taxi as they pushed the motionless body of his mother into the taxi, with her head resting on his laps, and instructed him to take her to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital without a referral note or an accompanying officer.



The boy took his mum alone to the government hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.



Just upon arrival at the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, Linda was pronounced dead by the medical staff who said they were sure she had died several minutes before being brought to their facility at about 7:40 a.m, she said.



Linda lived with her only son in Aflao where she operated a restaurant.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Office of the Special Prosecutor has charged Cecilia Dapaah, former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources for failing to comply with a directive from the office to declare her property and income.





The Office of the Special Prosecutor as part of investigations had demanded that Cecilia Dapaah should declare her income and property.



Cecilia Dapaah is a suspect under investigation for corruption and corruption related offences including using public office for profit in respect of suspected "tainted large cash sums reportedly stolen from her residential premises."



The Office of the Special Prosecutor has retrieved the said large cash from her residential premises.





According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor per a Charge Sheet signed by Kissi Agyebeng and filed on October 6, 2023, without lawful excuse, Cecilia Dapaah has failed, within thirty (30) days, to comply with a notice to declare her property and income served on her by the Special Prosecutor on July 24, 2023 under regulation 20(1) per Forms 1A and 1B of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374) as specified in regulation 20(2) and Form 21 of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374).



The OSP has thus charged the former minister with one count of failing to comply with a lawful demand of an authorised officer of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in the performance of his functions, contrary to section 69(1)(a) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).



Read the full Charge Sheet filed on October 6, 2023 below



COUNT ONE





STATEMENT OF OFFENCE



FAILING TO COMPLY WITH A LAWFUL DEMAND OF AN AUTHORISED OFFICER OF THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR NI THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS FUNCTIONS, contrary to section 69(1) (a) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).



PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE



CECILIA ABENA DAPAAH, 68 years, circa 25 August 2023 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region of the Republic of Ghana and within the jurisdiction of this Court, being a suspect under investigation for corruption and corruption related offences including using public office for profit in respect of suspected tainted large cash sums reportedly stolen from your residential premises and also retrieved from same by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, without lawful excuse, failed, within thirty (30) days, to comply with a notice to declare your property and income served on you by the Special Prosecutor on 24 July 2023 under regulation 20(1) per Forms 1A and 1B of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374) as specified in regulation 20(2) and Form 21 of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374).





Dated at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, 6 Haile Selassie Avenue, South Ridge Accra this Sixth day of October 2023.



FACTS TO BE ADDUCED



The Accused was, until 22 July 2023, the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources.



She is a suspect under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor for corruption and corruption-related offences including using public office for profit in respect of suspected tainted large cash sums reportedly stolen from her residential premises and also retrieved from same by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.





The evidence will establish that on 24 July 2023, the Special Prosecutor, in the performance of his functions, served on the Accused a notice to declare her property and income under regulation 20(1) per Forms 11A and 11B of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374).



The Accused was duly notified as per the statutory forms and by a cover letter under the seal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the seal and mark of the Special Prosecutor, that she was required by law to make the specified declarations and return same to the Office of the Special Prosecutor as per Form 12 of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374, within thirty (30) days of service on her of the notice.



As at the close of business on 5 October 2023, the Accused had willfully failed, without lawful excuse, to return the duly completed statutory forms to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, more than thirty (30) days after the service of the notice and forms on her.



The Accused has been duly charged with the offence on the Charge Sheet.

Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. On September 19 and 20, local anti-terrorist actions were held as a result of grave security threats from Armenian separatist forces operating in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elnur Mammadov said at a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Trend reports.

The deputy minister cited the Trilateral Statement, which was signed on November 10, 2020, as evidence that Armenia must remove its armed forces from Azerbaijan's Karabakh region concurrently with the stationing of Russian peacekeepers there.

"However, for almost three years Armenia kept its separatist forces on Azerbaijan's sovereign territory. Although the secretary of the Armenian Security Council stated in July that its troops were still stationed in Azerbaijan's Karabakh and promised to depart in a few months, this was not carried out," he said.

Mammadov noted that the Armenian armed forces' activity in Azerbaijan's Karabakh had sharply increased in the weeks before the local anti-terrorist measures, that they had been placed on alert, that new combat fortifications had been built, that trenches had been dug, and that mines had been planted close to Azerbaijani military positions.

To recall, the ICJ is currently deliberating over Armenia's case against Azerbaijan today.
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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) joined several organizations, Ghanaians, and well-wishers to mark the one-week observance of the late former First Lady Theresa Kufour.



The GJA delegation was headed by Albert Dwumfour, the organizations president. In addition to the national executive, senior media professionals accompanied him.



Mr. Dwumfour, in his address to the media, lauded former President Kufours monumental efforts to expand the boundaries of press freedom and emphasized the significance of repaying him with affection and sympathy during his bereavement.



As per his assertion, the GJA will furnish the former president with every essential assistance as he makes arrangements to bid his wife farewell.





Meanwhile, Mrs Theresa Kufuor will be given a state funeral on November 16, 2023.



This was announced by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo.



Speaking at a meeting with the family of the late former first lady, President Akufo-Addo noted that Mrs Theresa Kufour deserved to be given all the respect of the state and, therefore a state burial.



The Later Former First Lady was pronounced dead on Sunday, October 1, 2023, following an extended period of illness.



Theresa Kufuor (born 25 October 1935) was the wife of John Agyekum Kufuor, the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, and former First Lady of Ghana. She was a retired nurse and midwife.





Mrs Kufuor started her education at the Catholic Convent, OLA, at Keta in the Volta Region of Ghana. She later went to London, where she was educated as a Registered General Nurse, in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing, Edinburgh, Scotland.



After further study at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, and Paddington General Hospital, London, she qualified as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.





Theresa married John Kufuor when he was at age 23 after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961. They got married in 1962. She is a mother of five and a grandmother of eight. She was a devout Roman Catholic.



Despite being the first lady of Ghana for eight years between 2001 and 2009, she managed to maintain a low profile in the political arena.



In 2007 she pushed for policy changes in the Governments white paper on Educational Reforms towards the implementation of UNESCOs Free compulsory universal basic education (FCUBE) program for kindergarten children.



She founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), a non-governmental organization operating in Ghana and Canada that supports work in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy Ghana, and the University of Mining and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa are convening mining stakeholders from across Ghana to brainstorm tech-enabled solutions to illegal mining.



As part of Tech Camp Takoradi this week, fifty stakeholders including representatives of mining communities and companies, scientists and innovators, policymakers, environmental activists, public health actors, and the media are working with U.S. and African experts on tech-based solutions that mitigate the negative environmental and health effects of illegal mining in Ghana.



Illegal mining is one of the most challenging and serious threats to Ghanas environment".



We are pleased to bring international technology experts, including a representative from NASA, to help Ghanaian stakeholders find a sustainable path forward that supports mining communities, while protecting the environment, U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Officer Kevin Brosnahan at the opening in Takoradi this morning.



With technology experts from across Africa and the United States, the group will analyze the public policy aspects of illegal mining and devise possible solutions using the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, remote sensing, geographic information systems, and satellite data, and tools made available through projects like SERVIR-West Africa, a joint initiative of the U.S. Agency for International Development and NASA.



Illegal small-scale mining in Ghana has been a major contributor to deforestation, polluting the water, air, and soil, and devastating farmlands. It has also contributed to serious health challenges and an increased number of school dropouts in mining communities, posing challenges to sustainable development. Although it affects all Ghanaians, there is no widespread consensus on how best to tackle the issue.



U.S.-funded TechCamp workshops in countries around the world connect participants with technology experts to co-create innovative tech solutions to real-world challenges.







Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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As part of the political campaign towards the November 4 presidential primary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, seen by many as the leading candidate has come under numerous political attacks, according to Kwamena Duncan, a former Central Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



But in all this, the Vice President and his spokesperson have not reacted and responded to the political attacks.



This is what Kwamena Duncan, also a former Central Regional Minister is commending and says it shows a sign and mark of a good leader.



The Vice President has rather chosen to concentrate on his duties and his campaign of meeting NPP delegates who will be selecting the next flagbearer on November 4, 2023, Duncan said.



Those in the race in addition to Dr Bawumia are Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Francis Addai Nimoh.



Kennedy Agyapong for instance on his part has taken his campaign a notch higher touching base with all facets and the nooks of cranny of the country interacting and meeting delegates.



See the selected aspirants for NPP's November 2023 presidential race

NPP Primary: I don't attack opponents because it should be a contest of ideas not insults

He pulled a surprise when he came second in the special delegates conference, which in August 2023 selected five aspirants out of the initial 10.



To Kwamena Duncan, the attitude of Dr Bawumia of not reacting to the attacks was commendable and this is what delegates should consider and elect him as the flagbearer of the NPP.



Speaking on Peace FMs Kookrokoo morning show on Wednesday, monitored by Graphic Online, Kwamena Duncan said Bawumia unlike other flagbearer aspirants, realizes the need not to use the internal elections to attack NPP members unnecessarily.



Joined by Allotey Jacobs, another panel member on the show in commending Dr Bawumia, Duncan said but for the fact that he was nearing pension, he would have given birth to a boy and named him Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia.

Source: graphiconline.com









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Daniel Bugri Naabu, the former Northern regional chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party says he feels vindicated after both Superintendent Eric Gyebi and Superintendent George Asare both confirmed their voices and details of the conversation on the leaked tape which had voices of some officers plotting the removal of the Inspector General of Police.



Both Police officers, contrary to their earlier position during the public hearing, according to Bugri Naabu, conceded to the full details of their engagement with the politician as captured on the tape.



Speaking to the media after the Tuesday hearing, Bugri Naabu said You were all there when they told the committee in public that Im a liar but now before the committee they have all, including Gyebi, admitted their voices on the tape.



I want to tell you all that as a chief I dont tell lies I was in my office and then these people came to say the things they said. I felt it was important for the national security of this state and for the NPP government to know what they were doing in there so I taped them and went to give the tape to the president, he said.



He stressed  Now they have all admitted that it is their voice so I want everyone to know that I am not a liar. And if they come out to challenge anything now, we will play what happened in there for all Ghanaians to hear.



Meanwhile, the committee which was supposed to sit in camera till Saturday has indefinitely suspended sitting.



The chairman of the committee told the media after Tuesdays sitting that the committee will meet to listen to the audio again and also assess other evidence presented before them and begin writing their report.

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Let us still engage Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to see if he will have a change of mind to come back to the New Patriotic Party as a party member, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has urged the leadership of the governing NPP.



To him, the NPP should to reach out to Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, in an effort to convince him to return to the party.



Alan Kyerematen resigned from the NPP in September and declared his intention to lead a movement as an independent presidential candidate for Election 2024.



Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is the Member of Parliament for Suame in Kumasi thinks that an overture to Mr. Kyerematen may resolve all issues.



I think that every effort must be made, even if its a one percent possibility, lets see what will come out of it. We are talking about Alans situation, where we are saying that lets still engage if he will come back. To now go into specifics will be a difficulty, it may hamper the reconciliation Im suggesting. Its possible to bring him back, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said.

Source: graphiconline.com









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By DAVID KOENIG, AP Business Writer

A majority of Americans support higher pay for auto workers who are on strike against Detroits Big Three carmakers, although approval of the workers other demands is more mixed, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The poll found that 36% of Americans sympathize with the workers in their dispute with the automakers, 9% support the automakers, and the rest back both or neither.

Support for the autoworkers fell short of the 55% support for striking Hollywood writers and actors in an AP-NORC poll conducted last month.

Still, the new poll adds to evidence of U.S. support for labor unions during a year marked by strikes in Hollywood, a walkout that was narrowly averted by Teamsters at United Parcel Service, and now the picket lines outside auto plants.

In the new AP-NORC survey, 51% say labor unions help U.S. workers while only 15% say they hurt working people. About one-third say unions help the U.S. economy, while 22% say they damage the economy.

A Gallup poll taken in August found that 67% of Americans approve of unions, down four points from 2022 but up from a low of 48% in 2009.

Rachel Collins, a fifth-grade teacher and union member in Chicago, says she hopes the UAW strike could help reverse a long decline in labor power and raise pay for workers across the economy.

For far too long, labor has been the backbone of what we do in this country but has never been compensated, she said. In the last 50 years we have seen the decline of the working class and the rise of this sort of billionaire class and corporations taking and taking and not giving anything to the workers.

The United Auto Workers went on strike Sept. 15 against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, which owns the Jeep, Dodge and Ram brands. The union is seeking large pay raises, a shorter work week, an end to lower-pay tiers for new workers and limits on the use of temporary workers.

Six in 10 people in the AP-NORC poll say they think better pay for the autoworkers would be a good thing. Eight in 10 Democrats and just under half of Republicans say it would be a good thing if the workers got raises.

General sympathy for the workers also breaks along party lines. More than half of Democrats (55%) say they support the workers over the automakers, while only 22% of Republicans feel that way. A majority of Republicans say they support both equally, or neither.

Americans are less certain about the UAWs specific demands beyond pay raises. More than one-third (38%) think the unions call for a four-day work week would be a good thing, while 21% think its a bad idea. The public is also somewhat more likely to say it would be a good thing than a bad thing to place limits on the car companies use of temporary workers and to require electric vehicles and parts to be made by union workers, but many are unsure or express no opinion either way.

President Joe Biden has openly supported the UAW and joined a picket line near Detroit on Sept. 26, telling the workers that they deserve significant raises.

The front-runner for the Republican nomination, former President Donald Trump, spoke to a group of current and former union members nearby the following night and said Bidens support for electric vehicles  he signed a law last year that extended tax credits for buying EVs  would cost jobs. Thats a fear held by some auto workers who maintain that EVs require fewer people to build.

The poll shows only 25% of Americans approve of Bidens handling of the auto dispute, while 34% disapprove. Trumps ratings on the issue are even worse, with 19% approving and 39% disapproving of his response to the strike. Thirty-five percent trust Democrats more than Republicans when it comes to handling issues facing American workers, while 24% trust the GOP more.

The poll of 1,163 adults was conducted Oct. 5-9, 2023, using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
A bus driver carrying a dozen elderly passengers was injured by a stray bullet during a Thursday shootout in Philadelphia, multiple reports say.

The shooting took place in the Olney neighborhood at 2nd and West Ashdale streets around 9 a.m., 6abc Action News and NBC10 Philadelphia say.

Police told Action News that multiple shooters fired approximately 15 shots.

The bus driver  a 56-year-old man taking passengers to Germantown Adult Day Center  was hit in the torso but was reported to be in stable condition, police told Action News. After being hit by the stray bullet, the driver continued driving for about a mile, stopping the bus near North 9th Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, the story says.

None of the passengers on the bus were injured, but police say they found a 32-year-old man who was shot in the head near 2nd and West Ashdale streets and a third injured male was later admitted to Temple University Hospital.

The 32-year-old man was reported to be in extremely critical condition, according to Action News.

The events leading up to the shooting are not clear at this time, and police are unsure who the primary target was, according to Action News.

Police responded to the shooting while investigating another Thursday shooting that took place inside a home on the 400 block of West Ashdale Street around 7 a.m., blocks away from where the bus driver was injured, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.

A man in his late 30s was shot in the back inside the home but is in stable condition, according to NBC10.

Police told Action News the two shootings are connected.

No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting involving the injured bus driver and 32-year-old man, but police arrested one and seized a weapon from the home on the 400 block of West Ashdale Street, NBC10 Philadelphia says.

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Four members of a Florida family were sent to prison for producing and selling a chemical solution that turns into bleach when ingested, with two of them receiving sentences of 12 1/2 years.

Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, who received the longest sentences, were convicted of distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug, and also of threatening government officials who ordered them to stop selling the products, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in southern Florida.

Also convicted during a recent trial were Mark Grenon, 66, and Joseph Grenon, 36, with those two sentenced to 60 months in prison.

Authorities said the Grenons made and sold a product called Miracle Mineral Solution which contains sodium chlorite and water, and which turns into industrial-grade bleach when ingested.

Authorities said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received reports of people requiring hospitalizations, developing life-threatening conditions, and even dying after drinking MMS.

Before marketing it as a cure for COVID-19, the Grenons marketed it as a treatment for dozens of other serious conditions, including cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDs and Alzheimers disease, authorities said.

They did so under the guise of Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, which required donations toward the products, had no religious purpose, and which the Glenons hoped would shield them from prosecution, authorities said.

Authorities said they manufactured the product in a dirty rundown shed in Jonathan Grenons backyard in Bradenton, Fla.

The Grenons threatened to pick up guns and instigate a Waco should the government try to enforce court orders against them, authorities said.

READ MORE FROM PENNLIVE:

Fatal shooting near IUP started with fight at party: police
A recently-opened brewery in Cumberland County has announced a celebration to mark the occasion.

The High Road Brewing Company has announced a Grand Opening Celebration for their High Road Taproom location in Mechanicsburg. The event will be held from 4-9 p.m. on Oct. 16.

The High Road Taproom offers cocktails and Pa.-preferred wines as well as a rotating selection of locally brewed beers from 12 taps. The selections include beers from breweries such as Troegs, Pizza Boy and Yuengling as well as their own original brews. As part of the event, a portion proceeds from a pink specialty drink and a new IPA released at the taproom will go toward a benefit for breast cancer awareness.

We are excited to invite Central Pennsylvania beer enthusiasts to our Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting to discover our NEW popular local brews, made from flavorful seasonal ingredients, while helping us to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said Owner Lindsay Dunn in a press release.

The grand opening event for the taproom comes a few months after plans for a new High Road location in Camp Hill fell through.

The High Road Taproom is located at 146 Walden Way in Charter Homes & Neighborhoods Walden community in Mechanicsburg. For more info, visit the High Road Brewing Company website.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The complexity and organization of weapons neutralized or seized as a result of anti-terrorist measures exposed Armenia's attempts to present the servicemen in Azerbaijan's Karabakh as local militias or armed civilians, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elnur Mammadov said at a hearing at the International Court of Justice, Trend reports.

He noted that the destroyed or captured weapons and high-tech military equipment found throughout Azerbaijan's Karabakh during anti-terrorist activities are clear evidence of the security threats posed by the Armenian forces.

"Azerbaijan has offered the UN to assist in documenting these military means and the disarmament process, to document the illegal activities of Armenia," he said.

To recall, today at the ICJ, the case that Armenia filed against Azerbaijan is being considered.
By Gabrielle Lang, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (TNS)

FORTY FORT  24th Connecticut Regiment is presenting thePatriots Rising Ghost Walk from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Forty Fort Cemetery.

Cemeteries at night are creepy enough all by themselves, but this ghost tour takes people further into the stories behind the Luzerne County tombstones.

The 1st Independent Co. of the 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment will lead a ghost tour of communities historical figures. Visitors will be led by lantern light through the historic cemetery for a spooky experience thats both paranormal and educational.

Guests will be greeted at gravesites by the figures themselves, where ghosts will provide personal insight into their lives and deaths.

The 1st Independent Co of 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment is a group of reenactors who can be seen all over the area and nationally. The Forty Fort Cemetery and Forty Fort Meeting House, founded in 1777, is an historic area.

Tickets will be for sale at the gate on the night of the event at $10 for adults, $5 for children under 10, and $25 for families.
Imagine how frightening it is to be on a plane that almost comes in contact with another plane.

Well, it happened recently in Austin, Texas, according to reports.

The scary scene took place on Sept. 23 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, where a fighter plane and a private jet almost collided. They came within just 200 feet of one another, but the pilot of the private plane was able to evade the other plane, successfully avoiding a certain crash, the Washington Post reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed on Tuesday an investigation into the nerve-wracking close call.

The pilot of the Cessna Citation private jet was said to have taken evasive action when the F-18 fighter jet flew too close, triggering an onboard alert, KVUE reported.

The fighter jet also flew near a different runway as another small plane  a propeller-powered aircraft, identified as a Piper PA-28, was taking off. The FAA is also investigating how close it came to that aircraft.

Within the FAAs statement, the private plane was registered to NetJets, while the operator of the fighter jet has yet to be known. Additionally, the Navy and Marine Corps both use those planes, the Robb Report reported.

During the incident, an air traffic controller was seemingly unsure about what the pilot of the fighter jet had planned to do, with archived recordings revealing the private plane was cleared to land as the other plane approached the airport.

The fighter jet had asked for permission to break, where the plane makes a sharp turn to reduce the speed before landing.

Thirty seconds later, the pilot of the private jet claimed he received a proximity warning, while another unidentified voice was heard on the radio saying, That would have been nice to know.

Meanwhile, an unknown air traffic controller claimed he thought the fighter jet would start his descent at a different point in the break, but the pilot of the fighter jet denied that claim.

Air traffic control audio that was obtained by KVUE captured the moment when the two aircrafts almost collided, where the pilot was heard saying it was a misunderstanding.

After landing, the pilot requested a phone number in order to discuss the incident with the air traffic control office.

Yeah, I was going to give you the number here because I guess there was a miscommunication, a controller said. I misunderstood what was requested, I guess, the Robb Report reported.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is aware of the Federal Aviation Administrations investigation into a Sept. 23 incident involving a general aviation aircraft and military aircraft. AUS administration will support the investigation as needed, said Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials in a statement sent to KVUE.
Carlee Russell, 26, was found guilty by a Hoover municipal judge on Wednesday of faking her own abduction.

The ruling came after Russell pleaded not guilty to charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident.

Despite her plea, Municipal Judge Brad Bishop found her guilty based on the recommendation of state prosecutors.

Bishop recommended one year in jail and $17,874 in restitution. He also recommended two fines of $831 each.

Russell, holding her hands behind her back, fidgeted nervously as she entered her plea at about 2:14 p.m.

In municipal court, there is no jury trial. The constitution allows anyone who faces jail time to have their case heard and decided by a jury of their peers.

Bishop explained that often defendants will appeal his verdict to Jefferson County Circuit Court to take the case to a jury trial.

Russell, represented by attorneys Emory Anthony and Richard Jaffe, is appealing to the circuit court.

Anthony said following Wednesdays hearing they are appealing the verdict because state prosecutors want Russell to serve jail time.

Theres no need of having a trial here, knowing their position, Anthony said. We have stipulated and appealed the case and it will star anew in the Bessemer Circuit Court.

Anthony said Russells legal team completely disagrees with jail time for a Class A misdemeanor, especially when its Russells first offense.

If you can find where someone was put in jail for that, bring the file to me and Ill look at it, he said. Generally, theyre not put in jail.

Restitution, we dont disagree with that, but to lock her up and put her in jail, we disagree, he said.

Russell was clearly nervous in court on Wednesday as she stood before the judge.

Nervous is anyone that goes before a judge, Anthony said. I think she understands what has happened. She has apologized.

I dont want her to have a break down, he said. So, were handling her with kid gloves and making sure her mental state is just fine.

Asked why she did it, Anthony said thats something that will eventually come to light.

Were dealing with issues with Carlee, and we want the best for Carlee, Anthony said. We realize a mistake was made but we dont want to just pile on right now.

The lawyer said he believes the amount of restitution sounded fair, given the resources expended during the search.

Anthony said he doesnt know if more charges will be filed, but said the defense was invited by the Attorney Generals Office to speak before a grand jury. They declined.

Asked where she was during the 49 hours that she was missing, Anthony said, I think youll have to ask the AGs office.

The AGs office I dont think it being...compassionate,' he said. They know the young lady was not off on a whim. They knew the young lady was not off with some young man. So they know that.

Read full coverage of the case here

Russell seemingly vanished Thursday, July 13, after calling 911, and a family member, to report seeing a child, about 3 or 4 years old only wearing a diaper, walking alone on I-459.

The family member reported hearing a scream, and then only interstate noise through the open cell phone line.

Russells disappearance sparked a massive search and widespread concern.

Two days later, Russell showed up alone at her parents Hoover home. She was taken to UAB Hospital for evaluation.

While at UAB Hospital, Russell told Hoover police she escaped the clutches of a man and woman who abducted her.

Authorities determined Russell left her job at Woodhouse Day Spa  from which she has since been fired  after taking a robe, toilet paper and a small amount of cash.

She ordered food from Tazikis at The Colonnade. Carlee then traveled to Target on U.S. 280 where she bought some granola bars, Cheez-its, and a drink.

She remained in the parking lot there until 9:21 P.M., then drove to I-459.

Russell called 911 at 9:34 p.m. She then called her brothers girlfriend, and about 9:36 p.m. went missing.

No one else ever reported seeing a toddler there.

Russell traveled approximately 600 yards while on the phone with 911.

Police found Russells wig, cell phone and purse near her vehicle. Her Apple Watch was in her purse.

The food from Tazikis was in her car. Items from Target, as well as the items taken from the spa, were not at the scene.

In her interview after her return  the only interview she has given to police - Russell told officers she was abducted.

She told detectives that while traveling down the interstate, she saw a baby walking down the side of the road and called 911. When she got out of her vehicle to check on the child, a man came out of the trees, Derzis previously said.

That man then picked her up and she screamed. He then made her go over a fence. He then forced her into a car and the next thing she remembers is being in the trailer of an 18-wheeler. She stated that the male was with a female, however she never saw the female, only hearing her voice. She also told detectives she could hear a baby crying, he said.

She told detectives the male had orange hair with a big bald spot on the back. She was able to escape the 18-wheeler and fled on foot, only to be captured again and put into a car, Derzis said.

She said that they took her into a house and made her get undressed. She believes they took pictures of her, but she does not remember them having any physical or sexual contact with her. She stated that the next day, she woke up and was fed cheese crackers by the female, according to Derzis.

She stated the woman also played with her hair, but she could not remember anything else.

She was put back in a vehicle that she claims was able to escape from while it was west Hoover area. She told detectives that she ran through lots of woods until she came out near her residence, the chief said.

Detectives noted that Carlee had a small injury to her lip, and she complained of her head hurting. She also had a tear in her shirt. Detectives also noted that she had $107 in cash in her right sock.

Police announced the charges against her two weeks after the staged disappearance, which Russell admitted was fabricated in a statement released through her lawyer.

As we all know, actions can have consequences and thats why we are here today, Derzis said when announcing the charges.

Her decisions that night created panic and alarm for the citizens of our city,, he said, and even across the nation as concern grew that a kidnapper was on the loose, using a small child as bait.

Numerous law enforcement agencies, both local and federal, began working tirelessly not only to bring Carlee home to her family, but locate a kidnapper that we now know never existed, Derzis said. Many private citizens volunteered their time and energy into looking for a potential kidnapping victim that we now know was never in any danger.
By PAN PYLAS, The Associated Press

LONDON (AP)  A 300-year-old tree near the Roman landmark of Hadrians Wall in northeastern England that was cut down two weeks ago in an act of vandalism was to be removed on Thursday.

The National Trust, which for more than 125 years has sought to protect Englands heritage and natural landscapes, said a crane will lift the much-photographed and painted sycamore tree from where it lies near the delicate and now-damaged wall.

Its currently in a precarious position resting on the wall, so its necessary we move it now, both to preserve the world-famous monument that is Hadrians Wall, and to make the site safe again for visitors, said Andrew Poad, the sites general manager for the National Trust, which for more than 125 years has sought to protect Englands heritage and natural landscapes.

Forensic investigators from Northumbria Police examine the felled Sycamore Gap tree, in Northumberland, England, Friday Sept. 29, 2023. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP, file)AP

Though the 50-foot tree is too big to move in one piece, experts hope that the trunk can be kept in large sections in order to leave future options open on what could be done. The stump, which could generate new shoots, will be kept in place and is behind a protective barrier. Seeds have also been collected to see if they could be used to propagate new saplings.

Weve explored every option for moving the tree and while it isnt possible to lift it in one go, as the tree is multi-stemmed with a large crown, we have aimed to keep the trunk in as large sections as possible, to give us flexibility on what the tree becomes in future, Poad said.

Northumbria Police arrested a 16-year-old boy and a man in his 60s after the tree was felled a fortnight ago. They have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

The tree was one of the main landmarks along Hadrians Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built nearly 2,000 years ago when Britain was part of the Roman Empire to guard its northwestern frontier.

For generations, walkers have paused to admire and photograph the tree at Sycamore Gap, which was made famous when it appeared in Kevin Costners 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

FILE - A general view of the stars above Sycamore Gap, prior to the Perseid Meteor Shower above Hadrian's Wall near Bardon Mill, England, on Aug. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)AP

The tree, which was cut down near the base of its trunk, could grow again, experts said, though they cautioned that it would never be the same.

The National Trust has received thousands of messages about the tree, with advice on what to do with the stump and suggestions of what could be done with the felled tree.

There will be a public consultation about what happens next at the site.
U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was hit with startling new federal charges on Thursday that accused the powerful New Jersey Democrat of illegally working on behalf of the Egyptian government as foreign agent.

The superseding indictment comes just weeks after Menendez, who for years served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was indicted on bribery and corruption charges in an already remarkable case that has included photographs of alleged payoffs in bars of gold, payments toward a home mortgage, images of cash stuffed into jackets, no-show jobs and a high-end luxury Mercedes-Benz.

The additional charges by the U.S. Attorney for Manhattan said the senator had served as a foreign agent in taking actions that benefitted the government of Egypt on behalf of his wife and a New Jersey businessman, Wael Hana, who had been seeking a lucrative commercial contract with Egypt.

According to the indictment, Hana and the senators wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, worked to introduce Egyptian intelligence and military officials to Menendez for the purpose of establishing and solidifying a corrupt agreement, exchanging hundreds of thousands of bribes to Menendez and his wife, in exchange for Menendezs acts and breaches of duty to benefit the government of Egypt.

Those discussions included information regarding foreign military sales and foreign military financing, the charges allege.

Both Nadine Menendez and Hana were charged with conspiracy in connection with the new charges. According to prosecutors, Menendez violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people to register with the U.S. government if they are acting as an agent of a foreign principal. And as a member of Congress, he was prohibited from being an agent of a foreign government, even if he did register as one.

Although some of the details of those interactions had been included in the original three-count indictment unsealed in September, the filing on Thursday added a fourth count of conspiracy as public official to act as a foreign agent.

Ariel Alvarez, an associate professor of political science and law at Montclair State University, said he believed Menendez is the first sitting member to be charged with acting as a foreign agent, at least in modern history.

Its certainly not a common occurrence to have a senator or member of Congress charged with a crime, let alone charged with a crime of this magnitude, he said. Theres a difference with being charged with a crime like possession of drugs or driving while intoxicated or even accepting bribes. It brings in a whole different level when prosecutors are accusing someone of something that was adverse to the national security or to the country.

Messages left with Menendezs Senate staff on Thursday afternoon were not immediately answered.

Menendez has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence to the charges that could put him in federal prison for decades, telling reporters after the first indictment was filed that he firmly believed that when all the facts are presented, not only will I be exonerated, but I still will be New Jerseys senior senator.

The 69-year-old, who is facing re-election next year, had already been charged last month with using his influence in breach of his official duties in exchange for bribes that benefited both him directly, and indirectly, through his wife. The earlier indictment alleged behind-the-scene actions taken by the senator on behalf of three others, at times acting through his wife, that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs to him.

Also charged in that indictment were Nadine Menendez, Jose Uribe, a Hudson County businessman, along with Hana, 40, a close friend of Menendez, and Fred Daibes, 66, a major New Jersey developer.

Among other charges, it had claimed that Menendez promised to use his influence to disrupt a 2011 investigation by the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office of Uribe, 56.

The allegations involving Hana alleged that Menendez improperly pressured an individual at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the purpose of protecting a business monopoly granted to Hana. His New Jersey company had been authorized by the Egyptian government to verify that halal meat exported for sale to the countrys 90 million Muslims had been prepared according to Islamic law. That monopoly, charged prosecutors, was used in part to fund the bribes being paid to Menendez through his wife.

And the indictment additionally charged that Menendez promised to use his influence and power to recommend that President Joe Biden nominate an individual as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey who Menendez believed could be influenced with respect to an unrelated federal criminal prosecution of Daibes.

That case saw Daibes pleading guilty last year to taking part in an insider loan scam at Mariners Bank, the financial institution that he founded and where he served as chairman of the board of directors. That plea, which would have imposed no prison time, was recently rejected by a federal district judge in the wake of the new indictment.

The fresh charges unsealed on Thursday focused specifically on the role Menendez was said to play in discussions with Egyptian officials in connection with the business dealings of Hana.

It said Hana and Nadine Menendez had communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to Menendez.

In particular, the new indictment noted a private meeting the senator had with his wife and a senior Egyptian intelligence officer in June 2021 in Washington and a September 2019 meeting at a Manhattan restaurant the senator had with Hana and an unnamed Egyptian.

In one meeting with the intelligence officer held at Menendezs Senate office in May 2019, prosecutors said the group discussed a human rights matter pertaining to claims of serious injuries suffered by an American who was injured in a 2015 airstrike by the Egyption military using a U.S.-manufactured Apache helicopter.

The incident led to objections by some members of Congress to the awarding of certain military aid to Egypt.

Shortly after the meeting in Washington, the Egyptian official texted Hana in Arabic that if Menendez helped resolve the matter, he will sit very comfortably.

Hana replied, Orders, consider it done, the indictment said.

An attorney for Hana denied the charges.

The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian Government is as absurd as it is false, said Lawrence S. Lustberg. As with the other charges in this indictment, Mr. Hana will vigorously defend against this baseless allegation.

In an appearance before a federal judge following his initial indictment, Menendez pleaded not guilty to charges he abused his office and gave sensitive government information to Egypt. Hana, Uribe and Nadine Menendez pleaded not guilty as well.

The allegations have led to a widespread call among both Democrats and Republicans for Menendez to resign. Gov. Phil Murphy and several other top New Jersey Democrats say he should leave immediately.

The allegations centered around Senator Menendezs actions get more bizarre with each passing day, said Republican state Sen. Anthony Bucco, R-Morris. In light of these new charges, members of both sides of the aisle should demand that he immediately step down as a United States Senator.

Read the superseding indictment:

__

Staff writer Karin Price Mueller contributed to the reporting.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL.
By JOSEPH KRAUSS and WAFAA SHURAFA, The Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP)  Palestinians lined up outside bakeries and grocery stores in Gaza on Thursday after spending the night surrounded by the ruins of pulverized neighborhoods darkened by a near-total power outage. Israel launched new airstrikes and said it was preparing for a possible ground invasion.

International aid groups warned that the death toll in Gaza could mount after Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, fuel and electricity to the tiny enclave while its crossing with Egypt is unusable. The war  which was ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging assault on Israel by Hamas militants  has already claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver should political leaders order one. A ground offensive in Gaza, whose 2.3 million residents are densely packed into a sliver of land only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas fighters have fired thousands of rockets into Israel since their weekend assault. Militants in the territory are also holding an estimated 150 people taken hostage from Israel.

Palestinians fleeing airstrikes could be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place. Tens of thousands have crowded into U.N.-run schools while others are staying with relatives or even strangers who let them in.

Lines formed outside bakeries and grocery stores during the few hours they dared open, as people tried to stock on food before shelves are emptied. On Wednesday, Gazas only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving just lights powered by scattered private generators.

A senior official with the the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that the lack of electricity could cripple hospitals.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken, said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRCs regional director. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said nothing would be allowed into Gaza until the captives were released. Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, he tweeted.

After Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush the group, which has governed Gaza since 2007. A new war Cabinet, which includes a longtime opposition politician, is now overseeing the fight.
PHILADEPHIA (AP)  The discovery of thousands of illegally dumped tires is threatening to further delay the dredging of a Philadelphia-area river used by rowing clubs as a regatta race course, according to federal authorities.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that more than 3,000 tires have been hauled out of the Schuylkill River during the second phase of the project aimed at clearing the river of muck for rowers, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The Army Corps Texas-based contractor, Dredgit, completed the first phase in front of the rivers iconic boathouses a year ago, removing 28,000 cubic yards of sediment. But in Julys second phase to dredge the 2,000-meter National Race Course upriver, workers almost immediately began pulling tires out of the river, including large tractor and truck tires.

Army Corps spokesperson Steve Rochette told the newspaper in an email that workers werent sure whether this was an isolated event, but it has continued throughout multiple areas along the Race Course and has prevented dredging operations to continue as originally planned. The Army Corps has not finalized our path forward at this time, he said.

An association of amateur rowing clubs called the Schuylkill Navy had pushed for the dredging for years, saying silt buildup was creating an uneven riverbed and jeopardizing recreational use and Philadelphias iconic rowing and paddling regattas and related events.

The groups commodore, Bonnie Mueller, said she expects all lanes in the race course will be uniform and usable for a slate of upcoming regattas and welcomes removal of the tires, but worries that the cleanup could threaten full restoration of the racecourse.

The contractor that handled the first phase of the dredge halted work in November 2020, saying it had found too much debris and wanted more money for the work. The Army Corps then had to seek another contractor and came up with millions more from the federal government to restart the project.

Schuylkill Navy officials had hoped the dredging could be done before regattas scheduled this month but now hope it can be done by the end of next month when the contractor is due at another location. They also fear completion of the project may be imperiled or may take more money than has been allotted.

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WILLIAMSPORT  A Philadelphia woman has received a reprieve from having to travel to Lycoming County to wash police cars.

A state Superior Cout panel Wednesday vacated the illegal sentence of Mercheleyn Shanae Fisher that included the requirement she perform 24 hours of community service by washing South Williamsport police cruisers.

Because the sentence imposed March 31 by Judge Eric R. Linhardt did not include a term of probation, he lacked statutory authority to order community service, the panel ruled.

This is the background of the case taken from the court opinion:

South Williamsport Officer Gareck Esposito stopped Fishers vehicle on Route 15 just outside the borough in Armstrong Twp. about 9 p.m. on Sept. 19, 2021, for a window tint violation.

Fisher provided requested documentation only after she argued whether Esposito had the right to stop her and use a flashlight to look into the car.

The officer explained the flashlight was to assure safety given the window tint and time of day.

After more argument and non-compliance with directives, Fisher was ordered out of the car. She refused until another officer opened her door.

From the beginning of the traffic stop Fisher had been on her phone resulting in another individual arriving. She refused multiple requests to surrender his phone that was in her bra.

The requests were made to prevent more people from coming to the stop along a busy highway, she was told.

Esposito detained Fisher for non-compliance so he could complete his work related to the traffic stop. A female officer from another department arrived and removed the phone. Its contents were never searched.

The opinion notes the traffic stop should have taken only a short time under normal circumstances but it lasted more than one hour due to her non-compliance and her insistence a female officer be summoned to search her.

Fisher was found guilty by Linhardt in a non-jury trial of charges of disorderly conduct and a violation of the Vehicle Code related to tinted windows.

He sentenced her in February to three days in jail, fined her and ordered her to fulfill her community service by washing the police vehicles.

Fisher appealed, claiming the evidence did not support the verdict on the disorderly conduct charge and the judge abused his discretion by ordering her to travel several hours from Philadelphia to wash police vehicles.

The panel ruled there was sufficient evidence to support the verdict and that she had waived community service argument by not raising it previously.

But it vacated the sentence, explaining a judge lacks authority to order community service as a standalone term of a non-probation sentence. It remanded the case for resentencing.

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Two juveniles have found themselves in hot water after a child-luring prank terrified parents and spurred a police investigation in western Pennsylvania.

Police in the Pittsburgh suburb of OHara Township were notified on Wednesday that two males, described as being in their 20s, offered candy to two groups of young children within 15 minutes of each other, according to WPXI-TV.

The first group of children told police that the males said, Get in the car if you want candy, and the second group of children said the males waved them over to their car.

Believing the reports to be credible, OHara police launched an investigation, issued a public warning to township parents and contacted neighboring departments.

On Thursday, OHara Township said in a Facebook post that police had found and interviewed the two males, who turned out to be juveniles joking around with no intention of taking any children.

Police, though, were not laughing.

This matter is being pursued seriously by the police department and appropriate action will be taken by the department in response to the public panic that was caused, the township said in the statement.
Central Pennsylvania residents, elected officials and members of the Jewish community came together at the Beth El Temple in Harrisburg Wednesday evening for a vigil and gathering of solidarity, standing with Israel as Hamas launches attacks on the country.

David Cohen, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, opened the vigil before welcoming the evenings speakers to the stage.

This is a time to come together, Cohen said in his opening remarks.

The temple  which had more than 100 seated and additional people standing in the back  then shared a moment of silence and joined in prayer.

Three main Jewish prayers were shared during the vigil: Acheinu Prayer for the Captive, Mi Shebeirach Prayer for Healing and Hatikvah The Hope.

Rabbi Ron Muroff, chair of the Harrisburg Rabbinic Council, Rabbi Marc Kline of Temple Ohev Shalom, Rabbi Carl Choper of Temple Beth Shalom, Rabbi Howard Finkelstein of the Kesher Israel Congregation and Rabbi Ariana Capptauber of the Beth El Temple all spoke and/or prayed during the vigil.

Dganit Shefet, who grew up in Israel, shared personal accounts of hiding in bomb shelters while in third grade and other hardships during her youth.

If you ask me how I am right now, she said, pausing. I dont know how I am right now.

Pastor Earl Harris shared his unique perspective on the discrimination that both the Black and Jewish communities have faced throughout history.

Anyone who hates a Jew hates you, Harris said his father told him when he was young. Hatred only breeds more hatred, he added.

Abby Smith, the board chair for the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, told the crowd coming together as a community despite the difficult times is what makes the Jewish people so resilient and strong.

PennLive asked Smith what is unique about the Jewish religion when it comes to times of hardship.

We have traditions that really require us to be together. When were mourning, we are not supposed to mourn alone. We are supposed to come together. I think that our traditions, our practices are all designed on how to connect to one another. Events like this feel like they are part of a fabric of our people, Smith said.

Here in Harrisburg, we have a history of showing up when it comes to Israel, not just the Jewish community but the community at large, she added. Whether its elected officials, Republicans or Democrats, whether its Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists. We saw a variety of the community that showed up to stand with the Jewish community.

Members of the Dauphin County Commissioners Office and Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams were also in attendance.

The vigil was followed by guest speaker Joe Alexander, a Polish Holocaust survivor who lived in 12 different concentration camps during World War II and has ties to the Harrisburg area.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Fuzuli continue, Trend reports.

Another group of citizens was sent from the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in the Garadagh district of Baku on October 12. At this stage, another 21 families (88 people) moved to the city of Fuzuli.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Fuzuli, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Fuzuli residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Fuzuli has been provided for 208 families - 749 people.
Members and supporters of HACCs recently formed faculty union rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday to push for their first contract with the Harrisburg-based community college, saying HACCs recent tactics amounted to union-busting.

Wednesdays rally follows an August incident in which two union representatives were arrested at a membership drive at HACCs Lancaster branch campus  and after several months of fruitless negotiations in which the union says HACC has pushed a hollow contract that would allow the college to unilaterally set union members pay and benefits.

The sooner they accept that we are not going anywhere and accept that we are the legal negotiator for all full-time, part-time and adjunct faculty, the sooner we bargain a fair contract and move past this nonsense, said Kathy Sicher, a HACC professor and president of the union.

A vote by HACC faculty in favor of forming a union was verified by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) in April of 2022, with the HACC union created as an affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the states largest teachers union. The bargaining unit is certified to represent all HACC faculty, Sicher said, from tenured professors down to adjuncts  just under 900 positions.

But faculty have now started the academic year without a contract, and the events of the last several months have raised questions about how seriously HACC is taking the process, union members said.

We came today because the events that just happened at the end of August - the start of this academic year while were in the middle of bargaining - didnt give us much hope that they even recognize us as the legal union, Sicher said.

The union submitted a 100-plus-page draft initial contract for the 2023-24 fiscal year to HACCs administration in January 2023, Sicher said. But it was not until May that HACC responded with a roughly 20-page counterproposal which in many cases, Sicher said, simply stated that the college would give union faculty whatever pay and benefits it was offering to non-union employees on a year-to-year basis, largely obviating the point of a contract.

Our benefits and wages would be determined by whatever the other groups that arent unionized get, Sicher told PennLive after Wednesdays rally.

Obviously thats not agreeable to a union thats bargaining a legally binding contract over a term of years, Sicher continued. Management just doesnt get to give us whatever it wants to give us without us knowing what were going to get.

In an emailed response to PennLive, HACCs press office did not challenge Sichers characterization of the matter, saying that the college does not intend to provide a higher monetary incentive to union members over non-unionized employees.

The two sides have subsequently met to negotiate, but since May we have made no traction, we have not gone anywhere with these two proposals that are very far apart, Sicher said.

Union faculty thus started the 2023-24 fiscal year without a contract, and did not receive the 3% raise that other HACC employees did at the start of the cycle in July, Sicher said. The unions contract proposal also included class scheduling and other workplace quality-of-life issues that have gone unaddressed, Sicher said.

Local lawmakers said Wednesday that they met with HACC administrators  including HACC President John Sygielski  last month and that the college pledged that they are going to operate in good faith and get these folks a contract, said Rep. Dave Madsen, D-Dauphin County.

Madsen also said following Wednesdays rally that HACC did not articulate an exact reason for the union contracts delay during the meeting with legislators and that Sygielski did not point to a specific thing at issue in the bargaining process.

In its email to PennLive, HACCs press office said that the union has not lowered its unreasonable monetary demands, but did not elaborate. Sicher said the union is seeking several years of guaranteed pay raises, but that HACC has yet to entertain substantive discussions about what the union proposed in January.

More bargaining dates are set for later this month through the end of the year, and the union is still making a full effort to go through the details of this contract and bargain the details, Sicher said.

Relations were further strained in August, however, when HACC shut down a union membership drive at the colleges Lancaster campus. Three union faculty members were told to leave under threat of arrest, according to faculty, and two PSEA organizers were arrested for trespassing.

In a statement issued shortly thereafter, HACC said the PSEA representatives were external entities that are not allowed to promote their special interests on any HACC campus and derided the incident as a publicity stunt by the union.

But outside entities such as employment recruiters set up outreach tables at HACC facilities all the time, faculty said  and the table in question in Lancaster was reserved by Sicher, a college employee.

What happened was appalling, awful and distressing, said Steve Lustig, a business professor and head of the colleges faculty council, and was a violation of existing HACC policies on faculty speech and campus use rights  not to mention the First Amendment and labor law, Lustig added.

HACC was established by state law and receives public funding, with labor attorneys telling PennLive in August that the colleges actions in Lancaster likely violated free speech and labor organizing protections. The union has filed a complaint with the PLRB, Sicher said.

Madsen said Wednesday that during its meeting with legislators HACC gave us a commitment that they were going to review their polices and make sure no more arrests were going to occur when union organizers came on the campus.

HACCs press office told PennLive Wednesday that the college is committed to reviewing its policy but has not had the opportunity to do so yet, and reiterated that it believes the union representatives set out to get arrested as a publicity stunt.

The colleges discordant response to the August controversy has generated further fears of retaliation.

In March, HACC announced that it would be phasing out its gerontology program  the program that Sicher said she has worked on for the past 17 years. The college said the courses are not sustainable due to low demand, but Sicher said Wednesday that HACC did not go through the normal evaluation process before closing the program.

HACC is one of 15 community colleges established under an act of the state legislature in 1963, a law that also permitted the schools to receive state and local taxpayer support. State aid to the colleges totals $262 million this fiscal year, according to the budget tracking run.

We give them a significant amount of money every year and we dont give it to them for union-busting, said Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced there will be nighttime lane restrictions starting next week on westbound Route 322 at the Route 322/Chambers Hill Road Improvement Project in Swatara Township, Dauphin County.

Weather permitting, the right lane of westbound Route 322 will be closed from Kunkle Avenue to Chambers Hill Road from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM Sunday through Thursday nights starting Sunday, October 15, and continuing through the end of October. These restrictions will allow drainage pipes to be replaced and paving to be performed on the existing shoulder to accommodate a future traffic shift.

This work is part of the reconstruction of the intersection of Route 322 with Grayson Road and Chambers Hill Road.

At the same time, a subcontractor plans to place a cross pipe across Route 322 on the west side of the intersection with Chambers Hill Road. One lane of traffic will be open in each direction.

This work is part of the reconstruction of the intersection of Route 322 with Grayson Road and Chambers Hill Road.

The Route 322 signalized intersection with Grayson Road and Chambers Hill Road (Route 3006) is being reconstructed to four approaches with left-turn lanes removed from Route 322.

One through lane will be added in each direction of Route 322. Eastbound Route 322 left turns will be replaced with a new jug handle and signal at Witmer Road. Westbound Route 322 left turns will be replaced with a new roundabout and bypass lanes at the intersection with Milroy Road and Grayson Road.

Construction of three retaining walls will accommodate the widening and geometry, as well as the addition of dynamic message signs, stormwater management basins, drainage, guiderail, barrier, signs and upgraded pavement markings, and other miscellaneous construction.

This project is expected to be completed by Aug. 18, 2027. J.D. Eckman, Inc., of Atglen, Pennsylvania, is the prime contractor on this $38,561,349 project.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at PennDOT District 8.

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Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard during Listening to Listeners, an original Today in Pa. segment that occurs every other Friday.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | October 12, 2023

Editors note: Welcome to the world of Paranormal PA, a PennLive series that delves into Pennsylvania-grown stories of spirits (like the ghost of a murdered girl whose cries can be heard in one of Penn States libraries); cryptids (the squonk); oddities and legends (Pennsylvanias very own witch trials); and the unexplained (was this thing that flew over Kecksburg a meteor or a UFO?). Sign up here to get our Paranormal PA newsletter delivered to your inbox.

The state AGs office has reached a $1 million settlement with Rutters over a data breach that occurred between 2018 and 2019. A court is currently considering the constitutionality of one citys tax on pro-athletes and entertainers. New research has found that about 800,000 tons of oil and gas waste cant be accounted for. Finally, this is one of the worlds most haunted hotspots, and its right here in Pennsylvania.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
This article has been updated with a response from Gov. Josh Shapiros office.

Several dozen Pennsylvania-based Islamic organizations and Muslim rights groups issued a letter Thursday criticizing Gov. Josh Shapiro for what they see as Shapiro omitting the suffering of Palestinians in his comments so far on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The letter, coordinated by the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), argues that Shapiro chose to intentionally ignore the civilian loss of life in Gaza and thus missed the opportunity to speak as the Governor of all Pennsylvanians.

Since last weekend, you have not even once publicly recognized the inhumane treatment of civilians, systematic occupation and apartheid, and dehumanization by Israel against civilian Muslim, Christian, Druze Palestinians, the groups wrote in their letter to Shapiro.

Not only did you fail to recognize the structural root causes of the conflict, you chose to intentionally ignore the civilian loss of life in Gaza, the letter continued.

Shapiros office said Thursday that, prior to the release of the public letter, several of the groups involved had requested a meeting with the governor.

We agreed to that meeting, and the offer remains, Shapiros spokesperson Manuel Bonder said in an email.

Governor Shapiro is pained by the violence and anguish across the region and the loss of innocent lives, Bonder continued, but the governor firmly stands by his public comments and his core belief that there is no moral equivalency between Hamasa terrorist organizationand Israel. In the face of these crimes against humanity, we all must speak with moral clarity and support Israels right to defend itself.

On Saturday, militants associated with Hamas  which has ruled the Palestinian territory of Gaza since 2007  launched a coordinated series of attacks into Israel, including a mass shooting at a music festival and other acts of terrorism. Roughly 1,200 Israelis have been killed, according to Israels defense ministry.

The Israeli militarys counter-attack into Gaza - one of the worlds most densely-populated places - has involved 2,000 air and missile strikes, according to tracking by the Washington Post, with over 1,500 Palestinians killed thus far, according to Gazas health ministry.

The vast majority of deaths on both sides have been civilians.

In an interview yesterday on KDKAs morning show, Shapiro  who is Jewish  said he has a niece in Israel, describing the situation as painful for so many to watch and experience.

Were praying for the Israelis and we stand firmly with them as they defend themselves as they have every right to do, Shapiro told the KDKA hosts, going on to say that there is no moral equivalency here between the acts of Hamas - a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the United States  and Israel, a pluralistic democracy who has been attacked.

When a KDKA host raised the distinction between Hamas as a terrorist group and the Palestinian population writ large, Shapiro responded, I think thats a fair statement and it is accurate. There are so many peace-loving Arabs and peace-loving people in that region, no question.

But theres also no question that the entity that is in charge, in Gaza at least, is Hamas, Shapiro continued, and they are a terrorist organization, and they attacked - in an unprovoked manner - Israel.

Gaza, a narrow strip of land located between Israel and Egypt, has been under Israeli jurisdiction since Israel seized the territory in the 1967 Six-Day War. The majority of Gazas population consists of the descendants of non-Jews who were expelled from Israel during the countrys creation as a Jewish homeland in 1948; the term Palestinian generally refers to certain non-Jewish Arab peoples from the region that is now Israel.

Movement of people and supplies is heavily restricted in Gaza, particularly since Israel enacted a blockade of the territory in 2007 after Hamas took control of Gazas local government following a war with other Palestinian groups. Nearly half of Gazas 2.5 million people are under the age of 18, most of whom have never been able to leave the 140-square-mile territory, according to Human Rights Watch.

Shortly after Hamas latest terror attacks, Israeli authorities cut off food, water, fuel and electricity to Gaza, raising further concerns about the survival of the civilian population. Between 2008 and last month, according to UN data, 308 Israelis and 6,407 Palestinians have been killed in connection with violence in Gaza and the West Bank, another Palestinian-majority territory occupied by Israel during the 1967 war.

Shapiros past words risk being an effective endorsement of all these policies and the racist, militaristic discourse coming from Israel, the Islamic groups wrote in their letter.

We do not condone violence against civilians, whoever may be the perpetrator, the Muslim groups wrote to Shapiro, and to that point we had hoped you would join us in recognizing the humanity of over 2.5 million people being held hostage, facing death and famine in Gaza.

There are those of us who have lost family members to airstrikes targeting civilians in Gaza and they, too, emphasize a Muslims most cherished quality is justice, the letter continued.
Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the role of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Associations PAC in the state Supreme Court race.

During a meeting with the PennLive editorial board on Thursday, the two candidates for Pennsylvania Supreme Court decried the influence of money on judicial campaigns and refuted the most pointed attacks aimed at them.

Both state Superior Court Judge Dan McCaffery, a Democrat, and Montgomery County President Judge Carolyn Carluccio, a Republican, said they have been targeted by partisan outside groups plowing money into the high-profile race.

Democrats hold a 4-2 majority on the Supreme Court following the death of Chief justice Max Baer, whom McCaffery and Carluccio are seeking to replace. The general election is Nov. 7.

The PennLive editorial board hosted the hourlong discussion with McCaffery and Carluccio in an archived Facebook livestream available here.

In responding to a question about the role of money in the campaign, Carluccio said, Im just being a victim of it, and I think Dan is, too.

Carluccio has been the subject of reporting and ads warning that she opposes abortion and has touted her pro-life stance in the past while downplaying it now.

McCaffery, meanwhile, has been the target of ads trying to tie him to his brother, former state Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery, who retired in 2014 amid a scandal involving pornographic emails.

Some of the attacks on Carluccio stem from a story by The Keystone in May that reported she removed a resume from her website that used coded rhetoric to share her anti-abortion views.

Specifically, the Keystone story said Carluccio had deleted a resume on her website that described her as a defender of 2nd Amendment rights and all life under the law.

Asked about those charges now shared via campaign ads, Carluccio said Thursday that nothing in those commercials is true. Theres not one iota of truth backing any of it up.

She said there was never any pro-life comments on her website, which, she insisted, was only changed because a new political consultant came on board before she even won the primary.

The narrative is not true, Carluccio said, adding that she will simply apply state law to cases.

McCaffery said the accusation that he was somehow a part in his brothers scandal is an outright lie. In 2014, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Seamus McCaffery sent two lewd emails to his brothers government account, according to the Associated Press.

The Inquirer also reported that Dan McCaffery, a Philadelphia judge at the time, responded by asking his brother to send such emails to his personal account.

The conservative Commonwealth Leaders Fund has spent nearly $3 million to boost Carluccios campaign, according to Spotlight PA, with funding coming from Pennsylvania billionaire Jeffrey Yass, a conservative anti-tax, school-choice advocate.

At the same time, the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Associations PAC and Planned Parenthood have waged attacks on her, Carluccio said Thursday. This goes both ways, she said of the outside spending.

According to campaign finance records, the Trial Lawyers Associations Committee for a Better Tomorrow has contributed to Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness, an independent expenditure group involving multiple partners that has distributed ads, but the lawyers association has not run its own ads in the race.

Otherwise, both candidates shared their families immigrant stories and how their judicial philosophies have been shaped.

I believe politics does not belong in our courts, said Carluccio, who later added, The law drives me, not ideology.

McCaffery, an Army veteran, said that precedent law must be followed and argued that the U.S. Supreme Court has not done so in recent decisions rolling back constitutional rights.

I will serve with honor. I will serve with integrity, he said, and I will protect those constitutional rights.
U.S. Senator and media darling John Fetterman appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he discussed his health challenges - and the challenges of a dysfunctional Congress.

Colbert praised Fettermans meme game and asked if it was awkward to be in the same building with objects of his social media taunts.

You all need to know that America is not sending its best and brightest to Washington D.C., said Fetterman, sporting his signature cargo shorts and hoodie. Sometimes you cant believe these are the people are making the decisions that are determining the government.

Almost 18 months after suffering a debilitating stroke, Fetterman is back in the mix.

Pennsylvanias junior senator has ramped up his social media trolling of Republicans, public appearances (walking picket lines with auto workers unions) and media interviews (cover of Time magazine among others) in recent months.

After mentioning the Senate dress code flap that swirled around Fettermans casual attire, Colbert produced a tuxedo T-shirt as a gift for Fetterman, while Fetterman returned the gesture presenting Colbert with an XXL-size hoodie.

Fetterman was hospitalized in February for clinical depression, eight months after suffering a stroke on the campaign trail.

Fetterman told Colbert that having serious health conditions has made him a more empathetic person and urged anyone experiencing a mental health crisis to seek help.

It wasnt Fettermans first talk show appearance with Colbert. As mayor of Braddock, Fetterman was twice a guest on The Colbert Report.
Are you an Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia fan?

If so, you wont want to miss this opportunity to purchase a signed bottle of liquor by three members of the gang: Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney.

Starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, the trio will be at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits Premium Collection at 5070 Jonestown Road in Harrisburg signing bottles of Four Walls, their new Irish American Whiskey brand.

The name Four Walls pays homage to the four walls Howerton, Day and McElhenney call home: Paddys Pub.

Four Walls was initially released as a collectors edition bottle to celebrate 15 years of the show with profits benefiting the Pennsylvania bartending community. Now there is a new, everyday-drinking version of Four Walls that is coming to Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores this fall. This new version will retail for $31.99.

Customers 21 and over can sample Four Walls  which is made from grain and malt Irish whiskeys blended with American rye whiskey  at the Jonestown Road Fine Wine and Good Spirits location starting at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The group of actors is credited with writing, producing and starring in Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia as well as hosting The Always Sunny Podcast, which began in November 2021 and takes a deep dive into the shows history.

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BALTIMORE (AP)  Traffic has resumed at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport after a closure Wednesday afternoon while law enforcement investigated a vehicle near the terminal, officials said.

People already inside the terminal were asked to remain in place for over an hour.

The terminal roadway is temporarily shut down, airport officials had said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, a little after 3 p.m. Vehicular traffic approaching the airport is currently being held.

In replies to the post, people said police were blocking foot traffic as well. They posted photos of gridlocked cars approaching the airport entrance.

The Maryland Department of Emergency Management said Interstate 195 is closed at the Airport Boulevard exit.

In another post about an hour later, airport officials said law enforcement was continuing to investigate a vehicle on a lower-level roadway near the terminal.

They quickly posted again, saying the vehicle had been cleared and roadway operations will slowly return to normal. They said the upper-level roadway was open for pickup and drop-off traffic, but passengers would not be allowed to exit the lower level.

No additional information about the investigation was immediately available.

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The Editorial Board of PennLive & The Patriot-News will interview candidates running for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in a meeting that will be aired live on our Facebook page.

The meeting with Judges Dan McCaffery and Carolyn Carluccio is one of several the Editorial Board will hold meetings with candidates in major races in the Nov. 7 election.

All meetings will be streamed live to our Facebook page and posted on social media sites. It is an opportunity for candidates to engage with voters and help inform them about the major issues in the upcoming election.

In the first meeting, Judges Dan McCaffery (D) and Carolyn Carluccio (R) will share their qualifications, experience, and platforms, and they will take questions from the Editorial Board and PennLive reporters. We invite readers to share their questions and thoughts with civility and respect for all candidates for public office.

Carluccio is president judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. She is a graduate of Widener University School of Law, and she has served as an assistant United States attorney in the District of Delaware and Chief Deputy Solicitor of Montgomery County.

McCaffery was elected judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 2019. He is an Army veteran and West Point graduate and obtained his law degree from Temple University School of Law. McCaffery served as a judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and as a prosecutor.

As part of its candidates interviews, PennLive and The Patriot-News has invited all candidates for Dauphin County Commissioner to share their platforms and views at a public meeting at noon Monday, Oct. 16, and the event also will be streamed lived to Facebook.

Candidates for Cumberland County Commissioner have been invited to meet with the Editorial Board at noon Thursday, Oct. 19; and candidates for Superior Court will meet with the board at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23.

Candidates who participate in our open forums and are willing to answer questions from the public are showing respect not only for our readers but for all voters headed to the polls on Nov. 7.

##
By Michael A. Hellman

In a proud moment on May 2, 2023 our Pennsylvania House legislators passed House Bill (H.B.) 300, The Fairness Act, to extend protections for all Pennsylvanians against discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age or national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and others ...

Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny), one of the co-prime sponsors, says, The passage of this act of the House is yet another step to ensuring that every Pennsylvanian is treated with dignity and respect.

Rep. Benham adds, This bill is as simple as it is substantive. It only extends protections that are already granted to individuals on the basis of other categories. And it creates no new rights.

This revision to the PA Human Relations Act adds six critical words of inclusive language to keep everyone safe from discrimination. Equal rights are essential to be assured for all citizens including LGBTQ+ citizens.

How long must some Americans wait until they are ALL equal?

Pennsylvanias founding principles, first established by William Penn, are described as freedom, tolerance and innovation. Currently in Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ persons have no comprehensive protections from discrimination and can be fired, denied housing or public accommodation just for being who they are. All people must be free to pursue their lives to the fullest.

Liberty is freedom and independence, and all LGBTQ+ people should have the privilege and right to enjoy them.

A prime sponsor of The Fairness Act in the Pennsylvania Senate is Senator Steven Santarsiero (D-District 10). He says, Its not okay that my 19-year-old son does not have the same rights in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as his 23-year-old brother and his 25-year-old sister. This is a personal issue that may affect any Pennsylvania family.

The pursuit of happiness is not possible with the presence of fear. Many LGBTQ+ people live in fear every day because they lack legal protections legislated to provide the basic rights that other citizens enjoy.

There are so many people across this commonwealth, who know exactly what its like to be treated unfairly simply because of who they are and how they identify, says Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia)

The recent Fairness Act rally in Harrisburg recognized a trans woman of color, Kendall Stephens (Philadelphia), who said, My journey was fraught with profound barriers of bigotry and prejudice designed to impede on my ability to thrive. In the summer of 2011 I came home and witnessed what I thought was a yard sale, Stephens said. Instead, upon closer inspectio,n I see that it is my own belongings that had been tossed out into the street by my landlord, who had discovered I was transgender and wanted to enact a heinous act of cruelty on me; and I ended up categorically homeless.

Stories like Kendalls and countless others, must stop. The Fairness Act will provide basic legal protections against discrimination for all Pennsylvania citizens by upholding the founding principles that were established by William Penn. Equality delayed is equality denied.

Our legislators and co-prime sponsors of this bill are Reps. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia; Jessica Benham, Dan Frankel and LaTasha D. Mayes, all D-Allegheny; Ismail Smith-Wade-EL, D-Lancaster; and Greg Scott, D-Montgomery. They agree, Today [May 2, 2023]is a historic day, as we take a critical step to make Pennsylvania fairer. The Fairness Act is as simple as it is substantive. H.B. 300 would protect LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians from facing discrimination and allow all individuals in the commonwealth to file complaints with the PA Human Relations Commission.

Now is the time for action to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Pennsylvanians. I call on the Senate to quickly consider and pass this legislation and send it to Gov. Josh Shapiros desk.

Michael A. Hellman is chair of Advocacy & Legislation of the Western Pennsylvania LGBTQ+ Older Adult Advocacy Team.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The forces of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations showed real professionalism during search and rescue operations and extinguishing fire at a gas station near Khankendi city, Minister of Emergency Situations, Colonel General Kamaladdin Heydarov said in his article published in the official media, Trend reports.

Heydarov pointed out that the Ministry of Emergency Situations demonstrated successful experience in dealing with numerous emergency situations that have occurred since its establishment.

"Among them, it's worth mentioning the timely prevention of danger to a station during a landslide that occurred in the Mingachevir Hydro Power Plant area [in 2014], the rescue of people trapped under the debris resulting from the collapse of a 16-story residential building at the intersection of Nakhchivan and Murtuza Mukhtarov streets in Baku [in 2007], a fire at an oil refinery, the elimination of the consequences of an accident at the "Bulla-Deniz" oil field in the Caspian Sea [in 2013], and an incident on offshore platform No. 10 at the Gunashli oil field [in 2015]," the minister said.

The fire which followed the explosion at the gas station near Khankendi on September 25 was quickly extinguished, preventing it from spreading, thanks to the dedication and professional activities of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Azerbaijan immediately responded to the incident and, in order to provide assistance to the victims, sent an ambulance to treat 200 people.

At the same time, hospitals in Saatli, Sabirabad and Aghdam were quickly prepared for the reception of the people injured as a result of the incident, and teams of doctors were sent from Baku to treat them.

As a result of the operation, rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations pulled the bodies of 48 people from under the rubble and handed them over to their intended destination.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations also took the necessary security measures at the scene.
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman is making one last effort to move up Pennsylvanias presidential primary election date starting next year.

Pittman, R-Indiana County, sent a letter to House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery County, on Thursday asking for the House to reconsider the original version of a Senate-passed bill that moved the primary from April 23 to March 19. Otherwise, the matter is closed.

The House last week rejected by a 26-177 vote an amended version of that Senate bill. It added provisions that went beyond the primary date change to require voters to present identification every time they voted in person, allow for ballot curing procedures and give counties three extra days to get mailed ballots ready for counting, among other election reforms.

It passed a separate bill on a party-line 102-100 vote to move up the primary to April 2 and sent that over to the Senate.

County officials sent a letter to lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro late last week saying its too late to move up the date of next years primary from April 23 if that election was to be successfully administered.

House Democratic spokeswoman Elizabeth Rementer said, Unfortunately, in light of the counties admonition last week coupled with the Senates letter sent this afternoon, this issue seems unresolvable.

In his letter, Pittman said the clock has run out on negotiating a date on which both chambers can agree. He said only one option remains. That entails the House stripping out the changes it made to the Senate-passed bill and voting it so it could go immediately to Shapiro for enactment.

Shapiro, a Democrat, has said he supports moving the primary to avoid conflicting with Passover but never publicly endorsed a specific date.

The date of March 19 was agreed to in the Senate after much deliberation, as it respects the Jewish holiday of Passover and the Christian holiday of Easter, Pittman stated. While the date of April 2 has also been considered, the Senate cannot support such a move due to the disruption preparations would cause to the Easter holiday weekend observances.

Because many polling places are located in houses of worship, opposing lawmakers said holding the primary just two days after Easter would be disruptive on a high holy day to Christian worshipers and create chaos for county election officials who would be rushed to bring in voting equipment for a primary that is expected to draw a large turnout.

Given concerns voiced by counties, churches, and schools, Pittman wrote, time is of the essence for you to make a decision on whether the House will also close the discussion or revert to the version of the bill that the Senate passed.

* This story has been updated to include House Democratic spokeswoman Elizabeth Rementers response.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JanMurphy.
There are 28 commercial real estate transactions in 18 central Pennsylvania municipalities on our latest list.

These newly leased or purchased spaces will be used for retail, office, medical, warehouse and grocery spaces.
They throw apples into the woods to lure him. They hold up burlap bags in hopes of snaring him.

But for 200-plus years, the ape-like Albatwitch has eluded capture in the woods outside the river town of Columbia, Lancaster County.

This hasnt stopped the town folk from turning the legendary apple-stealing Albatwitch into big business with a Halloween-timed festival that celebrates the spritely, hair-covered creature rooted in Native American legend.

This Saturday, Columbia expects to be inundated  not with the ever-elusive Albatwitch  but rather some 6,000-plus visitors expected to flock here for the tours, talks and traditional music, all centered around the towns centuries-old claim to fame.

I think its the mystique, Chris Vera, president of Columbia Historic Preservation Society, said of the rapid growth of Columbias fall festival, dubbed Albatwitch Day.

The town launched it back in 2014. Since then, the festival has steadily grown to the point where this year Vera is drawing vendors from as far away as Virginia and the parking lots will be packed with license plates from every surrounding state.

Its become a multi-faceted event with the live bands and the lectures and the trolley tours, Vera said. The town is starting to embrace it much more.

Truth be told, its taken hundreds of years for the lore of the Albatwitch to really take off here.

The local legend dates to the Susquehannocks, a Native American people who inhabited the area for hundreds of years before Europeans arrived.

Images of the hair-covered creatures adorned the Susquehannocks war shields. The ape-like animals are described as being very slender, four- to five-feet tall, and reddish-brown in hue.

The Native American origins of the Albatwitch gave way to Pennsylvania German tales that tied the stealthy food-snatcher to the love of harvest apples in the early 1800s. As the local settlers gathered for their harvest picnics on Chickies Rock, just upriver from Columbia, the Albatwitch reared its hairy head. Or, so the legend goes.

The autumnal beauty of the riverside setting was shattered when the sneaky Albatwitch craftily purloined the picnickers ripe red apples. Adding insult to injury, the mayhem-causing creatures promptly hurled the eaten apple cores right back at the shocked settlers.

Panic ensued, and an enduring local legend was born.

Additional accounts of the Albatwitch took place in the 1980s, including a particularly aggressive encounter with a boy who told his parents: This creature came eye to eye with him and pinned him to a tree.

It wasnt until the boys brother screamed did the creepy creature unhand the terrified youngster and scurry away.

Ever since these startling episodes, folks here have been trying to catch themselves an Albatwitch. They bait them by hurling apples into the woods, then attempt to bag them in burlap.

Alas, none of these Albatwitch-napping schemes has ever worked.

But there have been some recent sightings. PennLive documented one such account by Rick Fisher, a Columbia-based paranormal researcher and owner of a massive Albatwitch artifact collection that was once part of the National Museum of Mysteries and Research Center.

Fisher, whos steeped in paranormal research, told PennLive last year that he encountered something that looked like the generally accepted description of an albatwitch. Ironically, the chance meeting took place on Valentines Day 2002.

Fisher described a stick creature with glowing, yellow eyes walking down the middle of the road near Chickies Rock. The creature was caught for just a moment in Fishers headlights as he drove that night. Then it vanished.

The folklore and tradition have waxed and waned over the decades. But the Albatwitch was brought back with a vengeance for nearly a decade now, thanks to the fall festival given to the creature by the town.

Since then, Columbias Albatwitch Day has become something of a destination point for believers in the paranormal. They gather as the local settlers once did, not frightened by the Albatwitch, but fascinated by it.

Most would give anything for just a glimpse of the shy, sly apple-stealer.

It will be that way again Saturday, Oct. 14, as Columbia honors the Albatwitch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In his name, ghost stories will again be spun. Then, a flurry of fall-ripened apples will be hurled into the woods.

Just maybe, the always-hungry Albatwitch will take the bait this time.

NOTE: PennLives Paranormal Pa. crew will be at Saturdays festival to report on the goings on, including any accounts of stolen apples and furry creatures scurrying about. Check out the coverage the week of Oct. 16.
The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, April 13, 2018. RCMP in Saskatchewan say an alert has been issued for a First Nation after reports of two men in the community with a firearm. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Huawei Technologies Azerbaijan has held Seeds for the Future Closing Ceremony in Baku.

Speaking at the ceremony General Manager of Huawei Azerbaijan David Xu noted that Huawei is pleased to support Azerbaijan to enhance the quality and availability of education in innovative and digital skills, bring digital world to Azerbaijani people, providing the access of the latest digital technology to every young person with the most comprehensive way.

General Manager of Huawei Technologies Azerbaijan LLC, David Xu.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan Chi Ma added that Huawei has actively participated in the digital reform process in Azerbaijan, and has continued to provide high-quality products and technological services to Azerbaijan people.

the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Azerbaijan, Mr. Chi Ma

Seeds for the Future program is to built around four core values: Innovation, Digitalization, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.

During the whole process, strong support from The Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA) was received.

Thus, Inara Valiyeva, Acting Chairperson of Innovation and Digital Development Agency noted that were facing a very good times of Azerbaijan, with not only geopolitical changes but also economic growth, especially in ICT.

Acting Chairperson of Innovation and Digital Development Agency, Mrs. Inara Valiyeva

MD, International Business Development at IDDA of Azerbaijan, Mr. Loukas Tzitzis

Seeds for the Future, which was first launched in Thailand in 2008, while in Azerbaijan in 2016, is Huaweis corporate-level CSR flagship program with the longest and highest investment. By the end of 2022 totally 76 students from Azerbaijan had completed the program.

Rector of Baku Higher Oil School Elmar Gasimov mentioned that for the first time in Azerbaijan Huawei established ICT academy at Baku Higher Oil School, the opening ceremony of which will be held soon.

Rector of Baku Higher Oil School, Mr. Elmar Gasimov

There is competition in the world in the training of qualified talents and the creation of the necessary ecosystem for technological development. To achieve this goal, many countries have developed their strategies. Azerbaijan has socio-economic development strategy for 2022-2026, said rector of Azerbaijani Technological University Yashar Omarov.

Rector of Azerbaijani Technological University, Mr. Yashar Omarov.

In 2023, 5 students were invited to participate in the Seeds for the Future training program in Doha and Dubai for two weeks. Azerbaijan seeds were qualified as one of the top teams of Huawei Middle East & Central Asia region, Azerbaijan Team has been given the chance to apply for further business development trainings and the opportunity to compete for US$100,000 startup fund to in the Tech4Good Global Competition 2023 in China. This will inspire more innovative solutions to achieve business success and enable the power of youth innovation to truly reach more people and drive sustainable development in local community.

Regardless which university these students are from, they all represent Azerbaijan. In the future they might come up with an idea that would become a partnering company of Huawei, concluded Abzatdin Adamov, Dean of School of IT and Engineering of ADA University.

Dean of School of IT and Engineering of ADA University, Abzatdin Adamov
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Trump and his lawyers are trying to subpoena missing 1/6 Committee evidence. The problem is that the 1/6 Committee saved all of the evidence allowable under House rules.

Hugo Lowell of The Guardian tweeted:

New: Trumps lawyers are seeking to issue several pre-trial subpoenas for missing Jan. 6 committee evidence  but person w direct knowledge tells me all official records were preserved. Video depositions were not archived bc of restrictions posed by *House rules*  Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) October 11, 2023

Donald Trump is probably looking for secret 1/6 Committee evidence that he is sure that Democrats have. During the 1/6 Committee hearings, Trump complained that the committee didnt show all of the evidence and that he was given a defense, even though the committee made numerous offers for the former president to come in and testify.

The subpoena idea is also a likely stall tactic for Trump, who hopes to delay his federal 1/6 trial until after the 2024 presidential election.

Since Trump is viewing all of the criminal cases against him in political terms, he likely wants to find hidden evidence so that he can claim that everything is a witch hunt and boost his presidential campaign.

The 1/6 Committee carefully preserved all of its evidence and turned it over to the Department of Justice when the investigation concluded. The committee also made the evidence available to their Senate Democratic counterparts.

There is no vast conspiracy against Donald Trump, just a former president who was caught trying to overthrow the government and is now heading to trial.
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After Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was indicted for acting as a foreign agent of Egypt while he was the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) called for his expulsion.

Sen. Fetterman said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA:

Senator Menendez should not be a U.S Senator. He should have been gone long ago. It is time for every one of my colleagues in the Senate to join me in expelling Senator Menendez.

We cannot have an alleged foreign agent in the United States Senate.

This is not a close call.

This is a no-brainer. Democrats Senate majority is even smaller than the Republicans House majority, but it took a handful of New York House Republicans until yesterday to file a motion to expel George Santos. Fetterman is calling for the expulsion of Menendez less than a day after he was hit with a superseding indictment.

Democrats like Fetterman would rather function in a 50/50 Senate than keep Menendez around for one more second. After the first indictment, Fetterman called on Menendez to resign. After the second indictment, Fetterman is calling for the New Jersey senators expulsion.

Democrats are showing that they have the integrity missing in Donald Trumps Republican Party.

Even if it means Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats have to operate in a 50-50 Senate for a while, it is time for Menendez to go.
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House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul said that he sees a lot of threats in the world, but one of the biggest is in his own House Republican caucus.

According to Jake Sherman:

I see a lot of threats out there. One of the biggest threats I see is in that room, McCaul said of the House Republican Conference.

So its very dangerous what were doing, and I just wanted them to know that. were playing with fire.

Theyre airing these grievances but at the end of the day, we elected the speaker designee and you know, we may just have to bring it to the floor and have another episode like we had with McCarthy. I dont really know if hes going to get the requisite votes right now

McCaul said Israel will need supplemental funding within weeks. Hes been in touch with Biden administration.

House Republicans are in the midst of a closed-door meeting where by multiple accounts they are doing nothing but airing their grievances with each other. In other words, Republicans are no closer to choosing a new speaker and are spending their time yelling at each other behind closed doors.

In a little more than a month, the government will shut down if funding is not agreed to. Republicans dont really have the time for this sort of chaos. They clearly do not want Steve Scalise to be the next Speaker of the House, but they cant agree on who should be.

The reality that Republicans dont want to face is that this disaster could drag on for weeks or months. There is no end point where a consensus candidate steps up and unifies them. Until House Republicans are forced to pay a price for their dysfunction, the situation could drag on with no resolution.

I dont know how a caucus can unify when some members are calling others a threat.

The insults are deep and personal, but it will be the American people who will be hurt by the GOPs inability to act like adults and govern.
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Trump melted down and criticized Netanyahu because the Israeli leader praised President Biden.

Jonathan Lemire reported on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Part of the reason why Trump was critical of Netanyahu in the last couple of days, I am told by someone close to the former president is that Netanyahu had praised President Biden, of course, Trumps likely rival in 2024. And Trump simply couldnt stand for that.

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Trump said in an interview with Fox Newss Brian Kilmeade, We have to protect Israel, theres no choice. And do we have to do it? He has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here. He was not prepared. He was not prepared, and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldnt have had to be preparedWho would have thought their intelligence wouldnt have been able to pick this up? Thousands of people were involved. Thousands of people knew about it, and they let this slip by. That was not a good thing for him or for anybody.

The former president cant help himself. He constantly shows his true colors. Trump doesnt care about national security or Israel. As soon as his ego is bruised, Trump will stab America and its allies in the back.

Donald Trump is incapable of putting the country first. He has sided with the enemies of America for years, and continues to demonstrate why he should never be allowed back into the Oval Office.
The winner of a culinary competition on television is preparing to open a new restaurant and bar in downtown Aiken.

Kelsey Lucius will be the owner of Salty Tomatoes at 148 Laurens St. S.W.

She appeared on the Food Network show, Chopped Sweets, several years ago and defeated three rivals to earn the $10,000 prize for her efforts to create fancy desserts.

It is a phenomenal location, said Lucius during a telephone interview earlier this week of the Salty Tomatoes space, which most recently was the home of another restaurant, The Whitney.

Aiken is such an up-and-coming place right now. Im very excited, she added.

Lucius plans for Salty Tomatoes call for the eatery to be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday for brunch.

The new restaurants launch is scheduled for November.

Were looking at being a very casual, pocketbook-friendly option for downtown Aiken, Lucius said. Well be a quick service cafe offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Well have a pastry counter and our house-made ice cream.

Lucius also provided examples of the other kinds of food that Salty Tomatoes will offer.

Well be serving things like a nice steak dinner, a nice scallop dinner and house-made pasta, she said. Breakfast will be anything from avocado toast and a smoothie bowl to a nice French toast dish with fresh berries. At lunch there will be nice, casual sandwiches, and well also have salads and pasta available. Well have a gluten-free flatbread that is almost like a personal-size pizza.

Lucius is the owner of the Bottom Line Bakery in Evans, Georgia. A variety of pastries and custom-made cakes are sold there.

Salty Tomatoes customers will be able to order Bottom Line sweet treats for holidays and other special occasions, and they will be available for pickup in Aiken.

Lucius also is in the process of opening a Salty Tomatoes Cafe in Augusta.
The Aiken City Council could soon consider approving Tracey Turner's plans for the old Aiken County Hospital.

The Aiken Planning Commission voted twice Tuesday evening to recommend the city council approve Turner's plans for the property located at 828 Richland Ave. W. which enables the council to consider the plans at a future meeting.

First, the commission voted 5-0 to recommend the city council rezone the property from Office to Planned Commercial.

Chairman Ryan Reynolds (family vacation) and Commissioner Charles Matthews (in Israel) were not at the meeting.

Commissioner Sam Erb made the motion to recommend approve the rezoning request.

Clayton Clarkson seconded Erb's motion.

The commission's recommendation is contingent upon one condition: that Turner finish acquiring the property within 180 days of the city council's final approval of the rezoning.

Turner said recently he wanted to acquire the property before the end of the year. His agreement with Aiken County calls for him to finish the purchase by March 31, 2024.

Four people spoke during the public hearing. All said they supported the project.

Second, the commission voted 3-2 to recommend the city council approve Turner's concept plan for the property.

The concept plan calls for building 25 townhomes near the corner of Vaucluse Road and Barnwell Avenue.

Four commercial buildings would be built around the existing hospital building. One would be located just west of the intersection of Vaucluse Road and Richland Avenue. Two buildings would be built between the existing hospital and Richland Avenue. And a fourth building would be built between the existing hospital and Morgan Street.

A mixed use building would be constructed between the nurse's building and the hospital building.

And an apartment complex and parking garage would be constructed behind the hospital building.

Vice Chairman Jason Rabun, Erb and Commissioner Steven Simmons voted in favor of the recommendation.
A group helping Savannah River Site retirees navigate Medicare and their benefits is looking for a new home.

The Savannah River Site Retiree Association Retiree Resource Center's lease for space at the Lower Savannah Council of Government building on Wagener Road expired Sept. 30, Manager Laureen Fineman told the Aiken City Council Monday evening.

"We no longer have a space at COG," Fineman said.

However, space wasn't the issue, Bill Molnar, executive director of the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, said Tuesday afternoon.

"They could stay as long as they want," Molnar said. "The problem is we can no longer pay them."

The Retiree Resource Center was formed as a partnership between the Lower Savannah Council of Governments and the Retiree Association in 2014.

That partnership resulted in a grant from the South Carolina Department on Aging, Molnar continued.

But, he added, the Department on Aging recently reviewed the grant and determined the resource center no longer qualified because it didn't serve all seniors, just the retirees from the site located 20 miles south of Aiken.

The all-volunteer resource center doesn't have the personnel to handle the additional people, Fineman said Monday evening.

Without the grant, the resource center is looking for a partner to provide a space, Molnar said Tuesday morning.

"We need a permanent space," Fineman continued.

The resource center sought to partner with the city of Aiken for space at the Municipal Building.

But, the city council rejected that idea Monday evening.

The council voted 5-1  Lessie Price recused herself  to reject a memorandum of understanding between the city and the resource center.
Aramex, a leading global provider of logistics and transportation solutions, and Mastercard have partnered to launch the inaugural edition of a new platform called ScaleUp, designed to support the UAEs startup and SME community.

Launched in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economys The Entrepreneurial Nation, ScaleUp presents an exciting opportunity for startups and SMEs in the UAE to pitch innovative ideas and stand a chance to win AED250,000 ($68,000), the opportunity to meet with angel investors and several additional benefits including marketing exposure.

Furthermore, the finalists, as well as a select number of participants, will be invited to attend an exclusive ScaleUp networking event in November 2023.

50 million SMEs

The initiative builds on the companies efforts to empower SMEs and entrepreneurs. Mastercard has committed to bringing 50 million SMEs into the digital economy by 2025. Most recently, the technology company partnered with Women Choice to support for women entrepreneurs and help create 1 million jobs for women in the Arab world.

ScaleUp supports the UAEs ambition to become home to 20 unicorns by 2031, with SMEs already representing 94% of companies and institutions operating in the country and contributing more than 50% to its GDP.

Tarek Abu Yaghi, General Manager of Aramex in the UAE, said: "The inaugural edition of ScaleUp is a unique initiative and competition that seeks to transform the future of industries and economies in the region through startup-led innovation. As a startup born out of the region's entrepreneurial ambitions several decades ago, we fully understand the unique challenges SMEs will likely encounter on their path to success.

Growth opportunity

The UAE's SME sector is pivotal in driving the region's economic growth. It is our privilege at Aramex to offer the incredible growth opportunity and competitive advantage that the ScaleUp platform brings to the vast and talented pool of SMEs in the UAE, building on our illustrious history of nurturing the region's startup scene."

Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (EEMEA), at Mastercard, said: "Joining forces with Aramex was a natural choice for us given our shared goal of promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of startups in the UAE. At Mastercard, we believe that empowering small businesses is key for an economy to survive and thrive."

Get involved

Businesses and startups participating in ScaleUp can visit the official event link at http://now.aramex.com/scaleup to submit their ideas and entries before the October 25, 2023 for evaluation by an expert panel of jurors, selected by Aramex and Mastercard. The panel will include Fadi Ghandour, Executive Chairman of Wamda and Founder of Aramex, as well as Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA at Mastercard.

Entrants can register for free by answering simple questions and submitting a short video on the competition's dedicated landing page about why their business deserves to win. The winner will be announced at the ScaleUp 2023 networking event.--TradeArabia News Service
FUZULI, Azerbaijan, October 12. In accordance with the order of President Ilham Aliyev, the return of former IDPs to the restored town of Fuzuli continues, Trend reports.

Today, keys to apartments were handed over to 21 more families (88 people) resettled in Fuzuli.

The families expressed gratitude to the President, victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for all-round state care, as well as to the valiant Azerbaijani Army that liberated Azerbaijani lands from Armenian occupation. They honored with great respect the memory of martyrs who gave their lives for the motherland.

Thus, 208 families749 people in totalwere permanently settled in Fuzuli. The relocation of families to Fuzuli will continue in the coming days.
As we look forward to voting for Teddy Milner for Aiken mayor in November, feel assured that she embodies the Aiken character values: longtime citizen, truthful, loyal to Aiken, sincere, compassionate, courageous, responsible and willing to work. Read moreLetter: AIken needs Milner more than ever
After a week of telling its singularly South Carolina story to a total of 6,000 Lowcountry schoolchildren, Finding Freedom: The Journey of Robert Smalls opened to the public Oct. 6 for two performances at Charleston Gaillard Centers Martha & John M. Rivers Performance Hall.

It came and went over the weekend, but I have a hunch it will be back. After all, the brain trust involved in the creation of the Gaillards first commissioned theatrical work signals that with Finding Freedom, the performing arts center is tilting towards posterity  both in its creative choices and in the evolution of creative process.

Directed by JaMeeka D. Holloway, Finding Freedom is based on a story by Teralyn Reiter, who also participated in developing the script, as did Holloway; costume designer Celeste Jennings; Gullah cultural consultant Jessica Berry; and poet Caroline Randall Williams. Historical context was provided by historian and dramaturg Damon Fordham.

Im fairly certain I did not learn about Robert Smalls in any depth in elementary school, as the thousands of Charleston area students are doing through this rousing production and the curriculum guides that the Gaillards education and community program creates for its performances.

If I had, I would certainly never forget such a tale of derring-do and ingenuity  one that played out in the self-same Charleston Harbor where I was scrambling to keep sailboats from capsizing and hooting at the ferries hauling tourists to Fort Sumter.

My 10-year-old and co-critic Beatrice was fully up to speed with his story, both from classroom discussions and from her copy of The Freedom Ship of Robert Smalls. The 1971 account of his life by Louise Meriwether was republished in 2018 with vibrant paintings of artist Jonathan Green.
In the time since the death of owner Tom Davis, his absence has raised existential questions: Without Tom, what is Thomas Creek Brewery? And can it survive? Read more1 year after owner's death, Thomas Creek Brewery finding new rhythm with old soul
GREENVILLE  In solidarity with the thousands of people killed and injured in the Israel-Hamas war, city leaders and Jewish community members assembled at Unity Park to stand together.

"We're here in Greenville, one city, in a wonderful place called Unity Park, because we dare to have an aspiration to be a light, to be a beacon," Mayor Knox White said at the Oct. 12 rally. "And we stand to say: we stand with Israel."

Arielle Nakdimon, an education facilitator with the Anti-Defamation League and a Jewish leader, organized the event in just a few days.

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"It is paramount that we differentiate between the misdeeds of extremist factions and the sentiments of an entire community. Many in the Muslim community share our concerns and join us in grieving the loss of innocent Israelis and Palestinians," Nakdimon said of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, which killed over 1,200 people.

"Those who commit such unspeakable acts are not fighters. They aren't militants. They are terrorists. Hamas is a terrorist organization."

Nakdimon said there are many in the Upstate who have lost family members and friends in the attacks. At least 25 U.S. citizens were killed, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Oct. 12 in Tel Aviv.

During the gathering, Rebecca Dublino and her parents were raising money to support those hit during the attacks. Dublino, who was scheduled to study in Israel next January with Birthright Israel, said that numerous kids at an international high school were evacuated and teachers pulled into active duty following the attacks.
BEAUFORT  County Treasurer Maria Walls alleges that county administrators acted illegally when they asserted authority over budget and personnel issues related to the elected treasurer's office, according to a lawsuit she filed.

Walls, who has been treasurer since 2015, claims that the county administration altered her office's budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year without her consent before it was presented to the County Council for approval.

The complaint, filed in the Beaufort County Court of Common Pleas, states that unknown employees of the county "replaced the treasurer's funding requests with arbitrary amounts" and presented a document to council as "being authored by the treasurer's office."

According to her filing, the South Carolina's Home Rule Act states that a county administration's authority does not extend to any county personnel employed under the direction of an elected official.

In Beaufort County, the county administrator is the sole employee responsible to the County Council. A broad range of departments fall under the administrator's control. However, there are five elected positions that do not report to the administrator: auditor, clerk of court, coroner, sheriff and treasurer.

Those five departments operate outside of county administration.

"We have autonomy over our budgets as long as we're not violating operational policy," Walls said.

The suit, which names both Beaufort County and interim County Administrator John Robinson as defendants, asks the court to affirm the treasurer's authority to run the office at her discretion. Further, the suit requests that the court assert that any effort by county administration to exercise control over the department, its budget or its personnel is beyond the authority of the administrator.

To date, the county has not responded to the lawsuit, which was filed Oct. 5. County officials did not respond to a request for comment on the case.

In addition to the alleged manipulation of her budget figures, Walls also claims that the county administration refused to pay employees of the treasurer's office who were required to work during Hurricane/Tropical Storm Idalia; refused to accept the treasurer's office annual disaster plan; refused to compensate employees of the treasurer's office as directed by the treasurer; and refused to process promotions and pay increases for individual employees of the treasurer's office in July.
 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
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
Gallien additionally said in the lawsuit the board blocked him from hiring two administrators he worked with in Wisconsin. He also tried to move a high-level employee within the school district to a job with less responsibilities, another move that members of the school board thwarted.

In an Oct. 9 letter to state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, the Attorney Generals Office stated the board had likely violated open-meeting laws, according to a copy of the missive obtained by The Post and Courier. Only the courts can make an official determination on the issue, but the attorney generals office can issue an opinion based on previous rulings.

At the beginning of the Oct. 12 meeting, chair Pamela McKinney said the board opted to meet and vote again in response to the attorney generals opinion. The board wanted to ensure it was in full compliance with South Carolina's open meetings law, she said.

The audience was packed with people wearing green, a move planned by public school activists to show their opposition to actions taken by the five Moms for Liberty-backed school board members. Three of the four board members who opposed Galliens suspensions  Carol Tempel, Courtney Waters and Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson  were also wearing green.

Daron Lee Calhoun II, who also voted against Galliens suspension, attended via Zoom.

The meeting got off to a tense start. Tempel expressed her hope that the board wouldnt just correct the open-meeting law error but would listen to the people who repeatedly asked for Galliens reinstatement. Board Member Ed Kelley interrupted her, saying it wasnt the time to pontificate. She responded with a terse, Im speaking.

Board members continued to interrupt each other as the meeting continued. They also had to request silence from audience members who shouted Youre wasting taxpayer money and Let the man come back to work numerous times.

The board began by tackling the issue of whether to bring in an outside firm to investigate the complaint against Gallien  essentially giving fresh approval to a probe that is already underway. The four-member faction said the district didnt have a protocol in place for what to do when a complaint was made against the superintendent.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The Azerbaijan State Service for Special Communication and Information Security and the Media Development Agency made a statement on a video message allegedly addressed to the Azerbaijani people on behalf of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev which has been circulated in a number of social network segments through fake accounts, Trend reports.

The mentioned video message was created using "deepfake" technologies and does not reflect reality.

"We urge society to believe only information provided by official sources; we remind that the official website of the Azerbaijani President and accounts on social networks are authoritative sources of information and cover the activities of the Head of State in a prompt manner," the Azerbaijan State Service and Media Development Agency said.

The Azerbaijan State Service for Special Communication and Information Security and the Media Development Agency called on citizens of Azerbaijan, reporters, and public activists to always show integrity with regard to such cases and vigilance in conditions when campaigns based on fake and false information are gaining momentum at the global level. Cases of making and disseminating fake videos on behalf of various individuals using "deepfake" technologies were detected and prevented during the 44-day second Karabakh war, and the relevant structures around the world are now working to combat and raise awareness of "deepfake", which is seen as a new type of threat.

"Appropriate action is being ensured with regard to the said fake video and its source," the Azerbaijan State Service and Media Development Agency added.
Hundreds of Charlestonians packed Synagogue Emanu-El, gripping blue-and-white flags emblazoned with the Star of David.

The "Charleston Jewish Community Solidarity with Israel Rally" brought together residents and religious leaders after Hamas militants over the weekend attacked the Middle East country with longstanding connections to the Holy City.

"Israel is on our minds and always in our hearts," said Judi Corsaro, CEO of the Charleston Jewish Federation.

The Oct. 11 evening gathering came four days after the deadliest attack on Israeli soil in decades. Hamas gunmen spilled from the Gaza Strip across the southern border, killing more than 1,200 people and abducting some 150 more, according to the BBC. That includes at least 24 Americans killed; another 17 U.S. residents are among those missing.

Among those killed were music festival attendees, families at kibbutzim and people waiting for buses, reported The New York Times. Videos circulated on social media showing gunmen capturing civilians on carts bound for Gaza. The densely populated, narrow strip along the Mediterranean Sea has more than 2 million residents. It is ruled by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group with an Arabic acronym that means Islamic Resistance Movement in English.

About 6,200 miles separate Israel from Charleston. The Oct. 7 attack, condemned by the U.S. government and other nations, pained and outraged the Charleston-area Jewish community  a small-but-vibrant one with deep roots, dating back to at least 1690. As late as 1820, Charleston had the largest Jewish community in the United States, according to the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina.

Calls for peace, solidarity and donations to Israel animated the rally.

Rabbi Stephanie Alexander of downtown's Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue led attendees in a prayer for victims: children orphaned, parents killed, hundreds wounded.
North Augusta reporter

Samantha Winn is a reporter for The Post and Courier North Augusta. She covers the cities of North Augusta and Augusta, with a focus on community-oriented business and events.

Winn is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamwinn and on Instagram @swinnnews.

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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
We already knew that convicted murderer Jeroid Price was not the only South Carolina inmate released from prison early under a once-little-known law that rewards prisoners for providing substantial assistance to the state in prosecuting other criminals or protecting correctional officers from attack.

After Chief Justice Don Beatty suggested the practice might be widespread, the Corrections Department provided Gov. Henry McMaster with a list of 26 additional instances since the start of 2022, seven of which also resulted in the immediate release of prisoners.

We suspected  but didnt know for sure  that Mr. Price also was not the only inmate to be released in violation of state laws.

Now we know.

As The Post and Couriers Glenn Smith has discovered, Alberto Romero Lopez got 12 years cut off his sentence last year after the prison agency confirmed that he provided information that led to the arrest of a corrections officer. Mr. Lopez had been sentenced to 30 years for repeatedly shooting a man and kidnapping two women during a 2006 home invasion.

This wasnt as spectacular as secretly slashing 16 years off the 35-year sentence of a convicted murder for perhaps providing assistance that no judge or prosecutor vetted to make sure a defense attorneys claims held up to scrutiny. But the way it was handled still was pretty bad: At the very least, Mr. Romero was released in violation of the law requiring victims to be notified before such actions. His release also seems to have violated laws that restrict the use of secret hearings and require that if a judge closes a courtroom, that occurs only after a public hearing where witnesses may argue against it.
FLORENCE  Fred Hopkins, who killed two police officers and wounded five more in Florence in October 2018, has pleaded guilty.

In a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed not to pursue the death sentence, according to Hopkins' attorney Boyd Young.

Hopkins, 79, pleaded guilty to killing two Florence law enforcement officers and injuring five others in an October 2018 shooting at a home in the Vintage Place subdivision. He was charged with two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Young said the plea agreement will avoid a costly and time consuming trial.

I think as far as everybody getting closure, and being able to (be) done with the case, that was important, because at that point, even if he got a death sentence, it would drag on for years to come," he said.

Young said he doesnt know what he will argue at the sentencing hearing, which he said should happen sometime next week.

The change of plea occurred at an unpublicized hearing in Aiken County.

The Florence Police Department declined to comment.

Hopkins, a Vietnam veteran and disbarred attorney, opened fire on law enforcement officers in an apparent ambush as they arrived at his upscale suburban home to execute a search warrant and question his son, Seth, about allegations he sexually assaulted a minor.

Hopkins waited with a pistol and two military-style rifles, according to authorities.

As officers got out of their vehicles and approached the residence, gunfire erupted from the windows.

Florence Police Department Sgt. Terrence Carraway, 52, died that day. Florence County Sheriffs Investigator Farrah Turner, 36, died on Oct. 22 after multiple surgeries.
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A federal subcontractor on Guam has been debarred from seeking federally funded contracts after the Wage and Hour Division at the U.S. Department of Labor determined that the contractor "shortchanged" more than two dozen construction workers at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz and gave investigators falsified records, a release from USDOL stated.

The investigation led to the recovery of $106,446 in unpaid wages, including $10,549 in damages, for 29 workers building housing units at the base.

USDOL's Wage and Hour Division found that Danes Construction Corp. violated federal regulations governing the employment of workers on projects supported by federal funds, the release from the federal labor department stated.

Specifically, the construction company was found to have done the following:

Paid ironworkers less than their required prevailing minimum wage rate of $14.84 per hour.

Failed to pay temporary, non-immigrant workers from the Philippines for all hours worked.

Did not record hours worked or wages paid correctly.

Paid workers straight-time rates for overtime hours over 40 in a workweek.

Willfully submitted false payroll records, knowing they masked their recordkeeping violations and failure to pay required wages.

The Wage and Hour Division determined that Danes Construction violated the Davis-Bacon and related acts, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as regulations of the H-2B temporary worker program, the USDOL release stated.

"Our investigation found Danes Construction Corp. deliberately shortchanged people employed to fulfill federally funded contracts, including temporary H-2B workers who traveled from their homes in the Philippines," Wage and Hour Division District Director Terence Trotter stated in the release.

"Employers who wrongly believe they can profit on the backs of hard-working people will likely find themselves liable for back wages, damages and penalties and possibly debarred from bidding on federally supported projects," Totter added.

This wasn't the first time that the construction company was caught committing violations.

According to USDOL, a 2015 investigation determined that Danes Construction violated federal regulations by paying employees straight-time rates for overtime hours worked. The Wage and Hour Division recovered $8,193 in back wages for 17 workers in that case.

"The employers repeated and willful violations of federal regulations led the department to assess the contractor with $6,750 in civil money penalties and exclude them from submitting bids for federally funded projects for three years," the USDOL release stated.
Floyd Mayweather is one of the greatest fighters of all time, but he has never claimed to be a moral paragon. Still, he knows where he stands on decapitating babies:

God bless Floyd Mayweather pic.twitter.com/X9IaE5jzRO  Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) October 11, 2023



You have to be much, much smarter than a mere boxer to contemplate gang rape, mass murder of men, women and children, taking of hostages, spitting on the naked bodies of victims, etc., and respond: Its complicated. Or worse. Like, for example, you might need to be an Ivy League professor: Yale American Studies professor justifies Hamas attacks.

Of course, lest we give up on the Ivies altogether, lets acknowledge that Harvards campus has been plastered with Kidnapped posters, showing pictures of Israelis being held hostage by Hamas. Maybe there is hope for some, at least, of the students.

Then we have The Washington Post:

A humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Yes, you mean the plight of the 100+ Israelis being held hostage there? No, that isnt what they mean. They are talking about the perpetrators.

Let me explain how this works, Post. If you start a war and lose it, you can expect a humanitarian crisis. Just ask the Germans how things went for them, starting in 1945. Or the Japanese. If the Gazans wanted to avoid a humanitarian crisis, the time to think about that was before they started the war. Its a little late now.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Azerbaijan has established a shelter for 30 people for vulnerable people in Azerbaijan's Khankendi, Trend reports.

In the heart of Khankendi, a three-story structure with 30 bedrooms, a water supply, an electrical system, a kitchen, a bathroom, a rest room, and a laundry room has been set aside for this use. On October 10, 2023, residents started being admitted to the shelter when the building's cleaning and related equipment were finished.

They are provided with hot meals and snacks three times a day. The external security of the shelter is provided by the police.

To work in the shelter, 2 psychologists and 2 social workers were sent to Khankendi on September 30 this year, who assessed the primary needs and psychosocial condition of the residents. The assessed persons were visited in their places of residence, where they were also provided with information on the location of the shelter and the provision of food.

There are already 6 people accommodated in the shelter; 1 person has been referred for appropriate medical services; and a total of 11 people have already utilized the services of the shelter.

The inmates of the shelter are currently receiving social services from psychologists and social workers. Additionally dispatched to work in the shelter are cooks, technicians, etc.

It is not mandatory to be placed in the shelter. However, even those who don't wish to spend the night are still given three meals a day, the clothes they need, and social services.

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross also stop by the shelter numerous times during the day to familiarize themselves with the circumstances and ask about the availability of food and social services.
The people who endorsed Hamass decapitation of infants, mass murders, gang rapes and so on are scattering like cockroaches when the light goes on. One wonders: how could they possibly have been so stupid? The answer is that they are slaves to an ideology that, while preposterous, is common in institutions of higher education and other leftist precincts. And, now, in Americas K-12 public schools.

My colleague Bill Walsh explores the point at AmericanExperiment.org:

Apologists for Hamas are using very specific language in their attempt to shift blame for the heinous acts of terrorism committed against Israeli citizens this week. That same language is littered throughout Tim Walzs draft social studies standards and benchmarks and embedded into the ethnic studies curriculum he is now forcing into every academic subject from kindergarten through high school.

Bill posts a video of a Hamas supporter in New York who explains why she approves of the mass murder of music festival goers:

These festival goers are not innocent civilians, they are settlers, she says. So they deserved it? she was asked. Yes, every settler.

It is a magic word, echoed by the Democratic Socialists of America to explain their support for mass murder:

We, the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, are heartbroken after watching 2 million Gazans live in the worlds largest open-air prison, where access to basic necessities like medical care and electricity are frequently denied to them by Israel. After seeing our Palestinian siblings be denied movement outside of the prison walls that encircle Gaza. After all the settler-colonial violence and dispossession. After having to repeat that Muslim worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Masjid in Jerusalem have the right to pray and practice their religion without fear of Israeli police and settler violence, harassment, and intimidation. After watching US politicians on all sides of the political spectrum speak cautiously, or not at all, when Israeli settlers use colonial and apartheid laws of the Israeli state to force Palestinians from their homes and ancestral lands but speak with immense force and certainty about the Israeli states right to defend itself against Palestinians. After attempts at false equivalencies  when, since 1917, colonial and zionist settler states, and the worlds largest imperial powers, have used Palestine as a site of experimentation in war crimes and atrocities against Palestians simply seeking to live their lives.

These concepts, the intellectual justification for mass murder in Israel, are deeply embedded in the Social Studies standards for K-12 education that Minnesotas far-left administration is trying to impose on the public schools:

The similarities in the language of this statement and the language of the social studies benchmarks are eerie in light of recent events. If it sounds like the same people are writing both, its because they are! The social studies standards committee appointed by Walz was dominated by people who share this Leftist ideology. Settler colonialism appears in the standards eight different times in seven different benchmarks: 5.4.21.1 Explain the religious, political and economic reasons for the movement of people from Europe to the Americas and examine the impact of colonization and settler colonialism on Indigenous peoples. 6.4.18.2 Describe the varied and diverse interactions of Indigenous people, European/American traders and settler-colonists in the upper Mississippi River region. Examine how settler colonialism conflicted with Dakota and Anishinaabe ways of life. 9.4.18.9 U.S. History Era 2: Settler Colonialism and Atlantic Slavery. Evaluate European, Indigenous and African diasporic historical narratives about colonialism and slavery. 9.4.19.8 U.S. History Era 2: Settler Colonialism and Atlantic Slavery. Identify how Indigenous people built new coalitions and developed a diverse set of strategies in response to European settler colonialism. Examine how Indigenous perspectives and strategies may have changed over time. 9.4.20.8 U.S. History Era 2: Settler Colonialism and Atlantic Slavery.

It goes on and on. In todays left-wing lexicon, settler colonialism is the greatest evil in world history. It justifies mass murder and every other crime. And in the scheme of things, Israel is a relatively minor instance of settler colonialism. Our own country is the one they are really gunning for. And this is the ideology in which your children are likely being trained, if they attend public schools anywhere in the U.S.

UPDATE: David Strom adds:

Every time you hear decolonize, diversity, or systemic whatever, know that what they are saying is that they support revolutionary violence. That is literally what they mean.

That is right. And those themes are all over public school education, being massively promoted by the teachers unions.
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In Duke Energy's pilot project, panels float in a cooling pond at a Florida power plantNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In Bartow, Fla., there's a buzz around Hines Energy Complex. Not from the hum of machinery, but from a new kind of solar array. Instead of sprawling over fields, 1,872 solar panels float effortlessly on a 1,200-acre pond, creating clean power as the pond keeps the power plant cool."It's an efficient use of space," said Don Keyes, Duke Energy construction supervisor. "No need for land, no offsetting crops. We're just making smart use of what we've got. And solar is growing like crazy. If there was ever a time to ask where to put all this stuff, it's now." The nearly 1 megawatt (MW)-array will generate enough zero-carbon electricity, on average, to power about 100 homes. It's not Duke Energy's largest solar installation in Florida. But it is the first one that floats.Also unique, said Project Manager Shayna White, is the type of solar panels used to construct it.Traditional (monofacial) solar panels capture sunlight on one side, while the rest is reflected away. Floating in Bartow's cooling pond are bifacial solar panels that absorb light from both sides, which can produce 10%-20% more power than their single-sided counterparts."We're looking at all sorts of creative ways to be more sustainable," White said, "and reliably meet customer energy needs." Floating solar, or "floatovoltaics," is used extensively in Asia but has yet to make a big splash in the U.S. where it makes up about 2% of all solar installations.Understanding its potential for expansion is the goal of Duke Energy's Vision Florida program, which explores emerging clean energy technologies like microgrids, battery energy storage and now, floating solar."We're shaping the energy future with cleaner, smarter solutions that our customers value," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "That means looking for ways to manage costs while making strategic investments to expand renewables and cut emissions without compromising reliability." Electricians mounted the bifacial solar panels on buoyant structures, aptly named "floaters," that are durable enough to withstand the Florida wind and weather. It was assembled on land, floated into position in segments, and anchored to the bottom of the pond by cables.It's a clever system, Keyes said of a lattice-like structure that's firmly in place, but also flexible enough to adjust to water movements. And every other row of panels is a walkway for crews to do electrical maintenance or inspections."The electricity it generates will power customers in the Bartow area," White said. "And it gives us an opportunity to assess how efficient this technology is. That's a big part of this pilot project, understanding the benefits of floating solar as compared to land-mounted solar." Like solar farms on land, floating panels generate electricity from the sun's rays. But the bodies of water that these farms rest on also help to cool the panels, which research shows can make them up to 15% more efficient.Conversely, by shading water that would otherwise be exposed to sunlight, floating arrays help reduce water evaporation and limit algae growth. Make that 2 acres of shade at the floating array in Bartow. And the resident alligators? They carry on, unperturbed, beneath this new canopy."Alligators, fish, even the birds - we're not just engineering for people," White said. "We're considering every living thing that calls this place home." The pilot is Duke Energy's second floating solar project. The company collaborated with the U.S. Army in 2022 to build (what was then) the largest floating solar installation in the Southeast. Paired with a 2-MW battery energy storage system, the 1.1-MW array supplies power to Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, in Fayetteville, N.C.Companywide, Duke Energy has a total of 7,500 MW of solar connected to its grid, enough to power about 750,000 homes. And that continues to grow.By 2024, Duke Energy will have about 1,450 MW of solar power in the Sunshine state to serve customers in west-central Florida and the Panhandle."We believe solar will play a significant role," Seixas said, "in how we deliver more diverse, affordable clean energy to our Florida customers, now and into the future." Expanding solar and other renewables is an essential step on Duke Energy's path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As will improvements to energy infrastructure, strategic investments that support the growth of renewables while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers.Ensuring customers have the power they need has been central to Keyes' 38 years with Duke Energy. From building and maintaining power lines to the frontlines of renewable energy, his journey reflects the broader trajectory of the industry."Seeing where technology will lead us," he said, "it's nothing short of fascinating." View original content here.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Duke EnergyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energyEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Duke Energy
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 15:15:26

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Inclusive Ballet Champions LGBTQ & Disability RightsFamily-Friendly Performances Live Streamed & In-person November 3 & 4, 2023BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Abilities Dance Boston, a nonprofit that uses dance to promote intersectional disability rights, presents the world premiere of "The Banned Ballet" streaming live and in-person from the Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Road, Boston, Mass. 02125 on Friday, November 3 & Saturday November 4, 2023 at 8pm ET. Created by an all-BIPOC artistic director team (Ellice Patterson and Andrew Choe), this family-friendly performance is inspired by the rising number of book bans that's occurring across the U.S. and the impact that has on the intersections of queerness and disability.With artistic direction and choreography by founder Ellice Patterson and original score by Andrew Choe, "The Banned Ballet" is a multidisciplinary work that includes animation and a literal book written by Patterson about the storyline. Led by narration and a frustrated librarian played by Leslie Taub, the audience is transported into this new world where there is appreciation for diverse voices that are creating their own stories. Tickets are available now. General admission for all shows is $35. Unlimited free tickets are available for financial equity."This is our impassioned response to book bans that are eliminating diverse identities from schools, public libraries, and more," said Ellice Patterson, Abilities Dance Boston Founder/Executive & Artistic Director and choreographer of "The Banned Ballet." "Everyone deserves the right to have their stories told truthfully. Our hope is that we can share how the intersecting forms of oppression, in this case LGBTQIA and deaf/disabled communities, hurt all of us. However, we can all band together to fight these injustices for us and the next generation." Abilities Dance Boston seeks to disrupt antiquated ableist beliefs and disseminate the value of intersectional disability rights in Greater Boston and beyond. Its organizational goals are to build a better Boston by thinking of intersectional equity through a disabled lens. There is no such thing as a hierarchy of oppression, all forms of discrimination must be eliminated to work toward a truly equitable future.To maximize accessibility, audio descriptions will be provided (for blind/low-vision audiences which will take a narrative form which complement the music) and captions and ASL will be provided (for deaf/hard of hearing audiences).Media contact:Karyn Martinkaryn@ goldenthreadagency.com617.462.0108 About Abilities Dance BostonAbilities Dance Boston is a Boston-based nonprofit using dance and art overall as a tool to promote intersectional disability rights in the greater Boston area and beyond. This program is supported by a grant from the Brookline Commission for the Arts, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a stage agency. This program is supported by a grant from the Cambridge Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a stage agency. This program is supported by a grant from the Cambridge Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a stage agency. Abilities Dance is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act from the National Endowment for the Arts. https://www.abilitiesdanceboston.org/ SOURCE: Abilities Dance Incorporated
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 14:01:34

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Adcore Inc. (the "Company" or "Adcore") (TSX:ADCO)(OTCQX:ADCOF)(FSE:ADQ), a leading e-commerce advertising management and automation platform to leverage digital marketing in an effortless and accessible way ("Effortless Marketing"), today announced that Mr. Amit Konforty, CPA, currently serving as Adcore's Director of Finance, has been promoted to be the Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective November 11, 2023. Mr. Konforty will replace Mr. Sadot who has resigned from his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective November 10, 2023 and will depart the Company.Mr. Konforty is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant with over a decade of experience collaborating with diverse companies. He joined Adcore almost a year and a half ago, initially serving as the Company's Controller. Mr. Konforty has since advanced to his current role as Director of Finance. Prior to joining Adcore, Mr. Konforty held the position of Director of Finance at El-Al Israel Airways Ltd.Omri Brill, CEO of Adcore, remarked, "We are delighted to announce the elevation of Amit Konforty to the role of Adcore's Chief Financial Officer. Amit's deep expertise and familiarity with our financial processes will ensure a seamless transition. He will collaborate closely with our current Chief Financial Officer, Yatir Sadot, over the coming weeks to make this transition as smooth as possible. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Sadot for his invaluable contributions and wish him every success in his future endeavors." Update on the Company's Israeli Business OperationsAdcore expresses its deep sadness regarding the ongoing tragic events in Israel over the past week. Adcore's thoughts are with the victims of terror and their loved ones during this distressing time. Adcore remains committed to supporting its employees and ensuring their well-being and safety. The Company reassures that its business operations in Israel are stable and ongoing. The Company is grateful for the support and confidence that its partners and stakeholders continue to show in Adcore during these challenging times.ABOUT ADCOREAdcore is a leading AI-powered marketing and online learning technology company.By combining extensive industry knowledge and experience with its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology, Adcore offers a unique digital marketing solution that empowers entrepreneurs and advertisers by managing and automating their e-commerce store advertising and monitoring and analyzing the performance of their advertising budget to ensure maximum Return on Investment. Adcore is a certified Google Premier Partner, Elite Tier Microsoft Partner, Facebook Partner, Verified Amazon Partner, and TikTok Partner.Adcore also runs Amphy, the world's most diverse 24/7 live online learning marketplace. Learners can choose from thousands of classes across hundreds of categories to grow their passions, skills and expand their children's learning opportunities. Instructors on the Amphy platform join a vibrant virtual teacher community that promotes and supports their success through enrichment seminars, marketing and advertising, and a suite of tools that allow them to run their classes hassle-free and focus on their students. Amphy students gain access to high-quality, personalized classes that are accessible 24/7, while joining a growing community of lifelong learners.Established in 2006, the Company employs over fifty people in its headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel and satellite offices in Toronto, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Hong Kong and Shanghai, China.For more information about Adcore, please visit https://www.adcore.com/investors/,https://www.adcore.com/blog or follow us on LinkedIn. For more information about Amphy please visit https://www.amphy.com/ and https://blog.amphy.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis press release contains or may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. 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.For further information please contact:ADCORE INC.Martijn van den Bemd Investor Relations Investor Relations EuropeChief Partnerships Officer Glen Akselrod Dr. Eva ReuterBristol Capital Dr. Reuter Investor RelationsTelephone: 647-497-5337 Telephone: 905-326-1888 ext 1 Telephone: +49 (0) 69 1532 5857Email: martijn@ adcore.com Email: info@ bristolir.com Email: e.reuter@ dr-reuter.euSOURCE: Adcore Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 14:02:17

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The INNIO Group receives the "H2-Readiness" certification from TUV SUD for its Jenbacher Type 4 and 6 hydrogen product line and the associated concept to operate power plants on 100% hydrogen.This independent certification increases investment security for companies and municipalities during the transition to net zero.The Jenbacher hydrogen engine power plant concept makes fast, efficient, and future-proof energy supply possible.JENBACH , AUSTRIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / The INNIO Group (INNIO*) has received "H2-Readiness" certification from TUV SUD for its Jenbacher* engine power plant concept. This certification highlights how an investment in hydrogen-ready Jenbacher cogeneration systems is an investment in a clean energy future. The concept enables both the conversion of existing Jenbacher power plants to hydrogen (H2) and the planning of new hydrogen-ready Jenbacher power plants. As a result, they can make an important contribution to a secure, affordable, and climate-friendly supply of power and heat.INNIO Accepting Certification Ferdinand Neuwieser (left) and Dr. Andreas Kunz (right) during the certificate handover at INNIO's headquarters in Jenbach, AustriaOffering communities and companies a high degree of investment security, this first stage of TUV SUD certification attests the "H2-Readiness" of INNIO's plant concept based on the Jenbacher Type 4 and 6 product lines. INNIO is the world's first company to offer energy solutions based on an "H2-Readiness" concept certified by TUV SUD for new engine power plants and for converting existing power plants to run on 100% hydrogen."We are Ready for H2,' and the independent certification from TUV SUD provides even more investment security for companies and municipalities," said Dr. Andreas Kunz, chief technology officer of the INNIO Group. "Hydrogen-ready energy solutions secure our energy supply of tomorrow." "Our H2-Readiness' certification guideline enables engine manufacturers, plant operators, and insurers to apply a standardized and transparent evaluation framework," said Ferdinand Neuwieser, CEO of TUV SUD Industrie Service GmbH. TUV SUD took the contributions of the INNIO Group's experts and other key players in the industry into account in a peer-review process to develop the certification guideline.The certification covers a complete engine power plant with all relevant subsystems. It does not refer exclusively to new "H2-Ready" engine power plants, but also defines a roadmap for retrofitting existing plants - from gradual admixing to pure hydrogen operation.TUV SUD's certification of an "H2-Ready" engine power plant consists of three stages and three corresponding certifications: During the bidding phase, a Concept Certification is issued for the conceptual design including all boundary conditions. INNIO is the first manufacturer worldwide to receive this Concept Certificate. In the implementation phase of a specific project, a Project Certificate is issued based on the final plant design and its specifications. Finally, a Transition Certificate evaluates the conversion/retrofitting of an existing engine power plant to hydrogen operation. This third stage also includes a review of the retrofit measures and their impact on safety and performance. The certification offered by TUV SUD can be applied to a wide range of engine power plants.INNIO is a pioneer in the field of hydrogen with its technology designed for gas and hydrogen mixtures. With its Jenbacher "Ready for H2"** technology, INNIO is also one of the first companies to offer engines in the 1 MW class that can operate on 100% hydrogen. As of 2025, the entire Jenbacher product portfolio will be rolled out for operation with 100% hydrogen. Due to their huge operational flexibility and short start-up times, Jenbacher energy solutions are essential for stabilizing energy systems that are increasingly dependent on volatile renewable energy sources.About INNIO GroupINNIO* Group is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With its product brands Jenbacher* and Waukesha* and its digital platform myPlant*, INNIO offers innovative solutions for the power generation and compression segments that help industries and communities generate and manage energy sustainably while navigating the fast-changing landscape of traditional and green energy sources. INNIO is individual in scope, but global in scale. With its flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, INNIO enables its customers to manage the energy transition along the energy value chain wherever they are in their transition journey.INNIO is headquartered in Jenbach (Austria), with other primary operations in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and Welland (Ontario, Canada). A team of more than 4,000 experts provides life-cycle support to INNIO's more than 55,000 delivered engines globally through a service network in more than 100 countries.In March 2023, INNIO's ESG rating ranked first out of more than 500 companies worldwide in the machinery industry assessed by Sustainalytics.For more information, visit INNIO's website at www.innio.com . Follow INNIO Group and its brands on X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.About TUV SUDFounded in 1866 as a steam boiler inspection association, the TUV SUD Group has evolved into a global enterprise. Over 26,000 employees continually improve technology, systems and expertise at more than 1,000 locations in around 50 countries. They contribute significantly to making technical innovations such as Industry 4.0, autonomous driving, renewable energy and hydrogen technologies safe and reliable. www.tuvsud.com * INNIO, Jenbacher, Waukesha, and myPlant are trademarks of the INNIO Group or one of its affiliates. All other trademarks and company names are the property of their respective owners.** In general, "Ready for H2" Jenbacher units can be converted to operate on up to 100% hydrogen in the future. Details on the cost and timeline for a future conversion may vary and need to be clarified individually.Contact InformationSusanne Reichelt INNIO Media Relations susanne.reichelt@innio.com +43 664 80833 2382Dr. Thomas Oberst TUV SUD AG thomas.oberst@tuvsud.com +49 89 57 91 23 72SOURCE: INNIO Group
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 22:30:09

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Through the use of advanced technology, they are preserving 20.5 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia and promoting clean energy by tokenizing the natural forest assets.SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In anticipation of the 5th INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CONGRESS, scheduled for October 26, 2023, in Madrid, Spain, and as a prelude to the COP28 world climate summit, Julio Jose Montenegro, President and CEO of BlueGrace Energy Bolivia announced the acceptance of BlueGrace Energy Bolivia as an observer of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA).ICMA, a non-profit association headquartered in Zurich with global offices in London, Paris, Brussels, and Hong Kong, unites over 600 members across 66 jurisdictions worldwide, actively shaping the international debt capital markets. ICMA and its members have played a pivotal role in developing rules and recommendations that have fostered the growth of global capital and securities markets.ICMA achieves its objectives by convening members from diverse debt securities markets through committees, focusing on market practices and regulatory issues. The core areas of interest include primary and secondary markets, repo, and collateral, with a broader emphasis on sustainable finance and FinTech.BlueGrace Energy Bolivia is thrilled to be a part of ICMA, which lends support to its mission to become a leading project in its field.Aligned with the UN's environmental conservation and sustainable energy requirements, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia is spearheading an extraordinary project to conserve 20.5 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia. This project, the largest of its kind, reflects a robust commitment to protecting the Amazon Rainforest and advancing clean energy solutions in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Tokenization of SDG Bonds and Natural Forest Capital Assets.Utilizing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to precisely quantify carbon credits, this initiative will make a substantial contribution to global climate goals.Beyond environmental objectives, the partnerships achieved so far, empower indigenous communities through various social initiatives, enhancing their lives in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. This comprehensive approach integrates environmental protection, clean energy transition, and community empowerment, positioning them as leaders in environmental conservation and clean energy in Bolivia.In the context of the global trend of personalized carbon offsetting, both individuals and companies acknowledge their vital role in combating climate change. With the carbon credits market projected to reach $100 billion by 2030, this initiative gains even more significance.These alliances underscore the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish.About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia:BlueGrace Energy Bolivia is a consortium of experts and professionals from around the world with extensive experience in the energy sector, dedicated to making a valuable contribution to the global energy transition towards a net-zero future. In response to the pressing challenges posed by climate change, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia SRL was established as a platform to coordinate efforts in our mission. Our experts excel in clean and renewable energy and have decades of experience leading innovative projects in energy transition, tailored to the challenges of the 21st century. At BlueGrace, we uphold the principles of professional expertise, unwavering integrity, and creating genuine value for both business and society. For more information, visit https://bluegracebolivia.com For further information, please contact:JULIO JOSE MONTENEGROjmontenegro@ bluegracebolivia.com+1 (305) 9728173 (Miami - EE.UU.) NELSON PINEDA MARTINEZnelopineda@ bluegracebolivia.com+591 714-72257 (Bolivia)For all media inquiries, please contact:Ivan Lindeivan.linde@bluegracebolivia.com+1 (786) 273-7068 (Miami - EE.UU.) DisclaimerThis announcement is solely for informational use and should not be viewed as financial, legal, or investment guidance. It includes projections and statements that aren't based on past events. Any statement in this release that isn't a historical fact is a projection. Readers should be aware that the basis for these projections might be incorrect and are advised not to rely solely on them. Any projections in this announcement come with a warning. They are current as of the release date, and the Company has no plans to update them, except as mandated by securities regulations.SOURCE: BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 14:01:49

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The National Health System England Grants VIVO Additional ReimbursementFORT MILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Catheter Precision, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE American:VTAK), an innovative US-based medical device Company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with cardiac arrhythmias, announces that its VIVO 3D mapping system has been granted national reimbursement in the UK after inclusion in the High-Coast Tariff Excluded Devices (HCTED). VIVO enables physicians to identify the origin of ventricular arrhythmias pre-procedure, streamlining workflow and reducing procedure time.Dr. Moloy Das consultant Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist at the Freeman Hospital located in Newcastle, UK says, "I am delighted that VIVO is now available via the HCTED/Specialized Services Devices program. This will allow greater access to this technology for patients who would benefit from its use in their procedure." HCTED is a nationwide purchase and supply system for the National Health Service England (NHS England) designed to pay for products that qualify for separate payment from the national budget for medical procedures. Hospitals are now able to bill the cost of the of the single use component directly to the NHS.Patricia Kennedy, Chief Commercial Officer said, "Over the last couple of years we have created a footprint with several hospitals utilizing our VIVO technology. Now that VIVO has been accepted to HCTED, we believe this will further support the adoption of the VIVO technology and allow for greater market access and expanded reimbursement." About VIVOCatheter Precision's VIVO (View Into Ventricular Onset), is a non-invasive 3D imaging system that enables physicians to identify the origin of ventricular arrhythmias pre-procedure, thereby streamlining workflow and reducing procedure time. VIVO has received marketing clearance from the U.S. FDA and has the CE mark.About Catheter PrecisionCatheter Precision is an innovative U.S.-based medical device company bringing new solutions to market to improve the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. It is focused on developing groundbreaking technology for electrophysiology procedures by collaborating with physicians and continuously advancing its products. Reincorporated as Ra Medical Systems, Inc. in Delaware in 2018, the Company changed its name to Catheter Precision, Inc. on August 17, 2023.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis communication contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "may," "might," "can," "could," "continue," "depends," "expect," "expand," "forecast," "intend," "predict," "plan," "rely," "should," "will," "may," "seek," or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our anticipated revenues during the second half of 2023, and the anticipated accounting for the merger with Catheter Precision. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances, including but not limited to risks and uncertainties included under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov . These risks and uncertainties include, but aren't limited to, that we will not be able to reach profitability unless we are able to achieve our product expansion and growth goals, our research and development and commercialization efforts may depend on entering into agreements with corporate collaborators, we have entered into joint marketing agreements with respect to our products, and may enter into additional joint marketing agreements, that will reduce our revenues from product sales, royalty agreements with respect to our LockeT device will reduce any future profits from this product, if we experience significant disruptions in our information technology systems, our business may be adversely affected, litigation and other legal proceedings may adversely affect our business, if we make acquisitions or divestitures, we could encounter difficulties that harm our business, failure to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel could also impede our growth, failure to maintain effective internal controls could cause our investors to lose confidence in us and adversely affect the market price of our common stock, if our internal controls are not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, our revenues may depend on our customers' receipt of adequate reimbursement from private insurers and government sponsored healthcare programs, we may be unable to compete successfully with companies in our highly competitive industry, many of whom have substantially greater resources than we do, our future operating results depend upon our ability to obtain components in sufficient quantities on commercially reasonable terms or according to schedules, prices, quality and volumes that are acceptable to us, and suppliers may fail to deliver components, or we may be unable to manage these components effectively or obtain these components on such terms, if hospitals, physicians and patients do not accept our current and future products or if the market for indications for which any product candidate is approved is smaller than expected, we may be unable to generate significant revenue, if any, our medical device operations are subject to pervasive and continuing FDA regulatory requirements, our products may be subject to additional recalls, revocations or suspensions after receiving FDA or foreign approval or clearance, which could divert managerial and financial resources, harm our reputation, and adversely affect our business, changes in trade policies among the U.S. and other countries, in particular the imposition of new or higher tariffs, could place pressure on our average selling prices as our customers seek to offset the impact of increased tariffs on their own products, increased tariffs or the imposition of other barriers to international trade could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating results. In addition, our auditor's finalization of the accounting for the merger requires complex calculations and the input of outside advisors, and
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 11:30:31

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Results HighlightsThe Group's Retail Sales Value ("RSV") registered positive growth of 5.8% during the Quarter. This was driven by Hong Kong and Macau of China and other markets which was up 54.1%, thanks to the progressive return of Mainland tourists. RSV of Mainland China (the "Mainland") was up slightly by 0.6%, despite a higher base last year.Mobility and retail activity in the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau continued to improve during the Quarter. The influx of Mainland tourists continued to drive positive impact with Same Store Sales ("SSS") increased by 55.7% in Hong Kong and Macau. SSS recorded strong growth of 43.0% and 116.7% for Hong Kong and Macau respectively.Despite current market conditions, the Group continued to witness resilient jewellery consumption during festive and holiday periods. The sales during Qixi and National Day holiday were in-line with management's expectations, with teens RSV growth in the Mainland.The Group launched new designs for the HUA Collection during the Quarter, marking the first-ever partnership with Shaanxi History Museum and Northwestern Polytechnical University. The HUA Collection was well received by targeted younger audiences and registered sustained growth under the centralised marketing efforts and global campaign.The Group is focused on the execution and delivery of the five strategic priorities to sustain growth trajectory in the ongoing transition to a new phase of higher value growth, committed to enhancing earnings quality with margin expansion and improved returns to equity and capital.HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / KEY OPERATIONAL DATAFor the three months ended 30 September 2023(% change compared to the same period last year)GroupRetail Sales Value(1)growth+5.8%MainlandChinaHong Kong&Macauof ChinaandothermarketsRSV growth+0.6%+54.1%Contribution to Group RSV85.9% 14.1%MainlandChinaHong Kong&Macauof ChinaSame Store Sales(2) growth-12.5% +55.7%SSS volume growth-20.3% +52.0%SSSG by product- Gem-set, Platinum and K-gold jewellery-27.7% -4.3%- Gold jewellery and products-9.6% +89.0%(1)"Retail Sales Value" measures the sales at the ending price (VAT inclusive, if any), in respective functional currencies, of products sold to customers in the POS network and other channels.(2)"Same Store Sales" for the Second Quarter is the RSV from the self-operated POS of CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELLERY existing as at 30 September 2023 and which have been opened prior to 1 April 2022. RSV from franchised POS and other channels are not included.(Hong Kong, China, 12 October 2023) Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited ("Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group", the "Group" or the "Company"; SEHK stock code: 1929), today announces certain unaudited key operational data of the Group for the three months ended 30 September 2023 (the "Second Quarter", or the "Quarter" or "2QFY2024").Positive RSV Growth Driven by Continued Improvement in Mobility and Retail ActivityDuring 2QFY2024, mobility and retail activity continued to improve in the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau. The Group's RSV registered positive growth of 5.8% during the Quarter, driven by Hong Kong, Macau and other markets. RSV in the Mainland was stable with a slight increase of 0.6%, despite a higher base last year. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the number of Mainland visitors in July 2023 reached about 70% of the pre-pandemic level and further jumped to over 80% in August 2023. Hence, the average daily customer traffic at the Group's stores in Hong Kong and Macau increased significantly during the Quarter. The influx of Mainland tourists has been supportive to the business in Hong Kong, Macau and other markets, with RSV rising 54.1% during the Quarter, reaching approximately 77% of the corresponding FY2019 levels.On SSS, Hong Kong and Macau registered an increase of 55.7% during the Quarter. SSS grew by 43.0% and 116.7% for Hong Kong and Macau respectively. SSS in the Mainland nonetheless dropped by 12.5% year-on-year during the Quarter due to the high base of comparison.Resilient Jewellery Demand Evidenced during Festive and Holiday PeriodsDespite current market conditions, the Mainland market has seen solid recovery in mobility and retail activity during festive and holiday periods. According to The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Mainland tourism market surpassed the pre-pandemic level during the National Day holiday period. Meanwhile, the Group continued to observe resilient jewellery consumption in the Mainland during Qixi and National Day holiday (25 September - 5 October). Sales were in-line with management's expectations with teens RSV growth in the Mainland.Centralised Marketing Efforts and Global Campaigns to Maximise ImpactThe Group launched new designs for HUA Collection in July, marking the first-ever partnership with Shaanxi History Museum and Northwestern Polytechnical University. The teams spent 16 months collaborating closely to develop products that blend the traditional culture of the Tang Dynasty with contemporary innovation and design. The centralised marketing efforts and amplified global campaign ensured consistency and maximised impact and synergy across the Group's channels. The HUA Collection received overwhelming support from the younger customers. This was evidenced most notably in Hong Kong and Macau where RSV recorded significant growth in excess of 450% during the Quarter, encouraged by the rebound of Mainland tourists.Underpinned by the Group's strategic priorities, it is expected that the enhanced product portfolio, new signature collections and the refreshed marketing campaigns will also provide strong impetus to the gem-set jewellery sales.Sustained Momentum of Consumer Spending on Luxury and Gold ProductsBuilding on the trend seen in the first quarter, the Group continues to observe a shift in consumer spending and mindset towards luxury and gold products. Consumers' demand for gold jewellery remained solid despite the increase in gold price in the Mainland.In Hong Kong and Macau, SSS of the gold jewellery and products category surged by 89.0%, benefitting from the Mainland tourist influx. Its Average Selling Price ("ASP") also ascended to HK$8,700 (2QFY2023: HK$7,900). In the Mainland, SSS of the product category was down by 9.6% during the Quarter owing to high base of comparison. ASP was further elevated to HK$5,600 (2QFY2023: HK$5,200).Amid the current macro environment, SSS of gem-set, platinum and k-gold jewellery category in Hong Kong and Macau decreased by 4.3% during the Quarter. In the Mainland, SSS of the product catego
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 15:01:16

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The Manhattan-based service provider continues to stand out from its competitors with recognition on several lists honoring elite tech companies.MANHATTAN, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / It has been a big year for Computer Resources of America (CRA), a New York IT consulting firm specializing in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and cloud services. As of early October 2023, the managed service provider (MSP) has received several prestigious awards and industry-wide recognition for its services in New York City, with key distinctions that celebrate CRA's tireless work for its growing customer base.Computer Resources of America Computer Resources of America Proud to Be Featured as IT Industry Leader on Four "Top" Lists The distinctions given to CRA in 2023 include:CRN's MSP 500 List in the Pioneer 250 category: Published by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, the MSP 500 List recognizes North American innovators in the IT space, with a focus on companies that provide clients with actionable IT solutions that maximize growth and efficiency.2023 Channel Futures' MSP 501 List: This competitive list is based on assessments of a firm's performance across a wide range of metrics, including recurring revenue, growth, innovation, and service offerings."Game Changer" distinction from Clutch: Clutch, an independent market review website, named CRA an industry "Game Changer" for its ongoing work to innovate in the IT space.2023 CRN Tech Elite 250 List: A CRN list showcasing best-in-class industry leaders who empower their clients with cutting-edge tools and services.These distinctions speak to the work that CRA provides its clients, as well as the firm's commitment to providing businesses of all sizes with reliable and cost-effective managed services.For over three decades, CRA has helped businesses optimize their IT efficiency while reducing hiring and management costs, ensuring that its clients only pay for the services they need. Along the way, the company has gained respect across multiple industries for its IT support services and its deep understanding of the complex technology needs of today's businesses.With these new acknowledgments, CRA continues to stand out from its competitors and prove the utility of its service delivery model. Businesses looking for a reliable MSP are encouraged to contact the Manhattan firm to further discuss their proactive IT solutions, as well as to get one-on-one support for ensuring smooth IT operations and continuity across their network.For more information on CRA's accomplishments and IT support services, visit www.consultcra.com or contact Computer Resources of America by phone or email.About Computer Resources of AmericaComputer Resources of America (CRA) is an award-winning New York City-based IT consulting company that has been providing businesses with expert IT support and solutions for more than 30 years. Services include information technology management, risk management and mitigation, cloud storage solutions, IT consulting and staffing, and more, and allow businesses to grow their operations without the need to overspend on in-house IT. CRA is also a proudly certified Minority Business Enterprise.For more information, please visit www.consultcra.com Contact:Computer Resources of America(212) 376-4040hello@ consultcra.com SOURCE: Computer Resources of America
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 19:20:18

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Expanding into UMass Lowell, MassRobotics' Jumpstart Program is changing thatCorrection is for an updated quote below.BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In the Massachusetts technology sector - which includes STEM and the robotics industry - only five percent of workers are Black, seven percent are Latinx, and one third are women, according to the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC).That's why the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program was established. Created in 2021 and expanding to a second location at the University of Massachusetts Lowell this year, the program gives underrepresented Massachusetts high school girls a foundation in technical skills as well as mentors and a professional network that provides support and confidence along with direct engagement with industry professionals.All female high school juniors and seniors, especially those who are Black and Latinx, with a passion for robotics and technology are encouraged to apply.The program is held on Saturdays from January through May, and includes a full week of sessions and field trips to robotics companies Feb. 19-23 (the state's public school vacation week). Next, students gain real-world experience through paid internships at a robotics or technology company.A key part of the Jumpstart program is making sure these young women feel confident and empowered to enter STEM fields. Students learn directly from mentors about the different types of robotics jobs and how to leverage their studies into a career in robotics through lab and company visits.Students will once again experience technology sessions at the UMass Lowell NERVE Center, which develops test methods and metrics for measuring robot capabilities, human performance, and human-robot interaction.Julie Chen, a mechanical engineer who led UMass Lowell's research enterprise before becoming the university's chancellor in 2022, praised MassRobotics and the Jumpstart program."UMass Lowell has worked closely with MassRobotics for years and I have seen firsthand how programs like Jumpstart can fundamentally alter students' career trajectories," Chen said. "Connecting students with mentors they can connect with creates a self-reinforcing cycle. The best way to create the strongest technology sector in Massachusetts is by ensuring it is welcoming to all." Massachusetts Tech Collaborative, a supporter since the pilot program launched in 2021, will continue to support programming as well as the expansion to UMass Lowell."We have seen this program help diversify and grow the talent pipeline for robotics and tech across Massachusetts," said Carolyn Kirk, executive director, MassTech Collaborative. "Our continued dedication to uplifting a new generation of young women will not only help provide them with the experience and training they need to excel, but it will help strengthen our competitiveness as a state. It's important that we continue to support programs like Jumpstart that provide opportunities and resources to build upon the progress we have made and ensure that more young women gain experience in critical, emerging sectors." Graduating students shared their experiences about the program:"I found my passion in engineering and coding, and my future has never felt clearer." Helena, 2021"Entering the professional world is not easy, but this program has worked with us to make this path a lot easier. " Tairine, 2022"It is important for fellowships like this to exist because it creates a space for women of color to bond over their knowledge of STEM. Together, this cohort overcame their shyness and worked as one unit to successfully complete a rigorous program." Hermione, 2022"Jumpstart was a perfect opportunity to be able to interact with other girls who had similar interests in STEM and the robotics field and pretty much anything to do with engineering." Abigail, 2023MassRobotics' resident GreenSight, empowering creators who improve the world at the intersection of robotics, analytics, and automation, is a cofounder of the MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program."GreenSight co-founded Jumpstart because supporting STEM education and helping foster DEI in the tech industry are core goals of our company. Jumpstart allows us to make a noticeable difference in both these areas," said Joel Pedlikin, co-founder and COO at GreenSight. "To us, the lack of diversity in robotics is an obvious sign that a lot of high-quality talent simply is not able to break into the industry. Jumpstart is a small but significant way for GreenSight to enlarge the pool of U.S. robotics engineers. Years of experience has taught our company how to make excellent use of engineering co-ops and interns, and the Jumpstart interns we've hired have made significant contributions to GreenSight." For businesses interested in participating as an employer in the Lowell or Boston areas, or those hiring students who have gone through the Jumpstart program for summer employment, please reach out and fill out this form.You can learn more about the program specifics and timelines here.Jumpstart is in need of female technology professionals interested in providing expertise during Saturday lessons. Please provide your information here if interested.About MassRoboticsMassRobotics is an independent nonprofit organization and innovation hub serving the global robotics community with a mission to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics technology companies. The organization accomplishes this by providing entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions. While MassRobotics originated and is headquartered in Boston, it is reaching and supporting robotics acceleration and adoption globally and working with startups, academia, industry and governments both domestically and internationally. See massrobotics.org for details.MEDIA CONTACTAlison BoghosianMoweraboghosian@ mower.com SOURCE: MassRobotics
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. A peaceful protest of the Azerbaijani community under the We want peace! motto was held in front of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Trend reports.

Organized by the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis of the Netherlands-Belgium, the rally was held to protest against the absurd claims of Armenia and its anti-Azerbaijani campaign.

Speakers at the rally, which began with the singing of the National Anthem of Azerbaijan, recalled the policy of usurpation, aggression, ethnic cleansing, genocide, acts of vandalism, and mine terror of Armenia against Azerbaijan and its people for almost 30 years.

The protesters demanded that the ICJ reject Armenias false claims and respect the territorial integrity of multicultural and peace-loving Azerbaijan.

During the protest, participants chanted slogans such as Karabakh is Azerbaijan!, Respect the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan!, End Armenian separatism!, Stop the anti-Azerbaijani campaign!, Azerbaijan wants peace, Armenia wants war! , Dont forget Khojaly!, Terror against Ganja is a manifestation of Armenian terror!, Ruben Vardanyan is the financier of terrorism!, The world is silent about the terror against Ganja!, Let us condemn the terror of Armenia against Barda!, We say NO to terrorism!, We condemn the systematic mass murders committed by Armenia, Arayik Harutyunyan is a child killer!, Armenian mine terror is preventing normalization and restoration in the liberated regions!, We demand mine maps for the security of Karabakh!, Mine terror prevents the return of internally displaced persons to Karabakh!, Global Armenian terrorism is silent about its victims!, Armenia must ensure the rights and safety of Western Azerbaijanis!, Armenia prevents the return of Western Azerbaijanis!, Azerbaijan supports coexistence in Karabakh !", "We call on Armenia for negotiations, not confrontation!", "We call on the world community to support justice!" and etc.

The rally took place on the day of hearings at the ICJ on the claim of Armenia against Azerbaijan.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 14:25:28

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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSX-V:CRE)(US OTCQX:CRECF)(FSE:F12) ("Critical Elements" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has ordered the equipment with the longest lead time to manufacture, namely transformers (315 kV to 25kV) for the main power station of the Rose Lithium-Tantalum project (the "Project"). The order was concluded with one of the leaders in the design and construction of industrial transformers, the Italian company Tamini Trasformatori Srl.In order to meet the electrical energy needs of the Project, the Corporation will install two electrical transformers with a ventilation stage during the construction period. The two transformers will operate simultaneously to supply the site and the operating processing plant. A single transformer will be able to support all loads in the event of failure of one of the two transformers.In addition, in order to reduce greenhouse gases and reduce the use of diesel generators, the sub-station will be able to support electrical energy at the end of the construction period with only one transformer.Jean-Sebastien Lavallee, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, stated: "Today's news represents another action to reduce the risks associated with the Project schedule. This is another step towards the development of the Rose Lithium-Tantalum Project. With every step completed, management's confidence increases in achieving the Corporation's goal to make a final investment decision, commence construction, and achieve initial production in 2026."Critical Elements' Rose Lithium-Tantalum project is one of the most advanced hard rock lithium projects in North America, having achieved key milestones including:The Pikhuutaau Agreement, an impact and benefits agreement for the development and operation of the Rose Lithium-Tantalum project, signed with the Cree Nation of Eastmain, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and the Cree Nation Government in July 2019;A favorable decision statement from the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, issued in August 2021 following the thorough environmental assessment conducted by the Joint Assessment Committee, comprised of representatives from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government;The approval by the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Forests of the rehabilitation and restoration plan concerning the Rose Lithium-Tantalum project, in May 2022;The receipt of the Certificate of Authorization under Section 164 of Quebec's Environment Quality Act, in November 2022, following the environmental and social impact assessment and review procedure under the responsibility of the Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee (COMEX);The receipt of the Rose Lithium-Tantalum project mining lease in September 2023 from the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Forests. The mining lease is granted under the Quebec Mining Act and gives the holder the right to mine mineral substances for the Rose Lithium-Tantalum project. The mining lease is granted for a period of 20 years.Qualified personYves Perron, Eng. MBA, Vice-President Engineering, Construction and Operations for the Corporation is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Corporation.About Critical Elements Lithium CorporationCritical Elements aspires to become a large, responsible supplier of lithium to the flourishing electric vehicle and energy storage system industries. To this end, Critical Elements is advancing the wholly-owned, high-purity Rose Lithium-Tantalum project in Quebec, the Corporation's first lithium project to be advanced within a land portfolio of over 1,050 km2. On August 29, 2023, the Corporation announced results of a new Feasibility Study on Rose for the production of spodumene concentrate. The after-tax internal rate of return for the Project is estimated at 65.7%, with an estimated after-tax net present value of US$2.2B at an 8% discount rate. In the Corporation's view, Quebec is strategically well-positioned for US and EU markets and boasts good infrastructure including a low-cost, low-carbon power grid featuring 94% hydroelectricity. The project has received approval from the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the recommendation of the Joint Assessment Committee, comprised of representatives from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government, received the Certificate of Authorization pursuant to section 164 of Quebec's Environment Quality Act from the Quebec Minister of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, and the project mining lease from the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Forests under the Quebec Mining Act.For further information, please contact:Patrick LaperriereDirector of Investor Relations and Corporate Development514-817-1119plaperriere@ cecorp.cawww.cecorp.ca Jean-Sebastien Lavallee, P. Geo.Chief Executive Officer819-354-5146jslavallee@ cecorp.cawww.cecorp.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is described in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary statement concerning forward-looking statementsThis news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian Securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "scheduled", "anticipates", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information contained herein include, without limitation, statements relating to mineral reserve estimates, mineral resource estimates, realization of mineral reserve and resource estimates, capital and operating costs estimates, the timing and amount of future production, costs of production, success of mining operations, the ranking of the project in terms of cash cost and production, permitting, economic return estimates, power and storage facilities, life of mine, social, community and environmental impacts, lithium and tantalum markets and sales prices, off-take agreements and purchasers for the Corporation's products, environmental assessment and permitting, securing sufficient fin
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 23:30:12

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Durham Brands today announced it was named to the 2023 Utah 100, MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN)'s annual list of the fastest-growing companies in Utah. Durham Brands ranked out of 100 companies and was honored at the 29th annual Utah 100 Awards program, held at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City."We are honored to be recognized as a team among some incredible rapid growth companies in Utah. We strive to be a thought leader in the beauty and hair space and feel fortunate to service some of the largest retailers in America. We can't do all this without a great team, strong partners, and incredible customers," said Jeff Durham, CEO of Durham Brands."We congratulate all of this year's Utah 100 companies for building outstanding businesses and making strong contributions to Utah's economy," said Jason Roberts, Chairman of the MWCN Utah 100 committee. "These companies further advance Utah's standing as an excellent place to do business." Recipients of the Utah 100 were chosen by the percentage of revenue increase of each company between 2018 and 2022.About MountainWest Capital NetworkMountainWest Capital Network (MWCN) is the largest business networking organization in Utah, consisting of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, consultants, legal professionals, bankers, and educators. MWCN seeks to promote and recognize business growth and capital development in the state through a variety of award programs and activities.About Durham Brands & GIMME BeautyDurham Brands is an innovative Consumer Packaged Goods Company with distribution in over 23,000 retail locations across America. GIMME Beauty's vision is to design innovative hair solutions that disrupt the status quo of the health and beauty hair care category. According to Nielsen Market Data, the company's products rank among the industry's fastest-growing hair accessories. Follow GIMME on Instagram or Facebook to learn about its latest collections.Contact InformationMadeleine Moench madeleine@ newswire.com SOURCE: Durham Brands
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 23:15:20

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / FedEx CorporationWorld Sight Day is Thursday, October 12 - a day to come together and celebrate the achievements of the entire eye health community and raise awareness of the important eye care issues on the horizon. This year, Orbis is focusing on saving the sight of our youngest patients.We know how important good vision is to help young people make the most out of life. That's why we're committed to ensuring that no matter where a child is born, they can see the world around them.And with the help of our caring supporters and partners like FedEx, we can continue to improve the quality of eye care available to children all around the world.I'm writing this from Lusaka, Zambia where the Flying Eye Hospital team and I are working alongside Orbis Volunteer Faculty to improve the skills and expertise of our dedicated local partners.These sight-saving projects are always such a thrill; we have some of the most experienced ophthalmologists and technicians from all over the world giving up their free time to share their skills with local eye teams. And of course, none of this would be possible without FedEx who donated the MD-10 aircraft itself.It's so great to be back in action after pausing all our in-person patient-focused Flying Eye Hospital projects between 2020 and 2023.Our first project since the pandemic took place in May this year in Vietnam. Sponsored by FedEx, over 200 eye care professionals from across Vietnam received best-in-class training on board the plane. Nearly 150 children and adults received eye screenings and consultations, and 55 patients received sight-saving surgery.And this was all thanks to FedEx. But of course, these numbers don't tell the full human story of what happens on board the plane. When you see a child have her sight restored, and what it means to their family, it is such a moving thing to witness.Young Han was the first patient on board the plane since the pandemic. The five-year-old had suffered from a drooping eye lid since birth. As a result, she was quiet and subdued and reluctant to play with other kids.But the courage and strength she showed when she stepped on board the plane was remarkable. She wasn't fazed at all. Han and her mother had travelled two hours by bike to be there, but it certainly wasn't a wasted trip. The surgery was successful, and Han can now look forward to a future of healthy sight. When you see the joy on her face, and the love and warmth of her parents, you can't help but feel grateful to everyone involved.Of course, FedEx's support goes well beyond donating the plane. We also benefit from vital aircraft parts, volunteer pilots, mechanical and aviation training; the list goes on and on. We've been saving sight together for more than 30 years. If that doesn't show that FedEx cares, then I don't know what does.From myself, everyone at Orbis, and patients like Han, I'd like to say a big thank you to FedEx and its employees. You are helping children and adults around the world see a brighter future.For World Sight Day 2023 Orbis are asking supporters to send a message of support to children like Han undergoing eye surgery. Visit orbis.org/SEELOVE to find out more.Maurice Geary is the Director of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. He is a logistics and supply chain specialist with experience in both emergency and post-conflict zones. He has been saving sight with Orbis for more than 8 years.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx Corporation on 3 blmedia.com.Contact Info:Spokesperson: FedEx CorporationWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex-corporationEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: FedEx Corporation
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 10:40:10

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Green Energy Park to establish its first upstream facility in Piaui, Brazil.The State of Piaui to support the facility in the State's unique special economic trade zone.Together , Green Energy Park and The State of Piaui will develop "Green Energy Park Piaui", a 5 giga-watt ammonia production and export facility.Initial production capacity of minimum 1 million tonnes of green ammonia to Green Energy Park Krk.ROTTERDAM , the NETHERLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / October 11, 2023 / Green Energy Park and The State of Piaui, Brazil are pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) at the World Hydrogen Congress in Rotterdam for the production and export of an initial one million tonnes of ammonia from renewable energy sources.RENEWABLE AMMONIA AT SCALEGreen Energy Park is pleased to announce its first 5 giga-watt upstream renewable production and export facility in Piaui, Brazil.Piaui is an emerging leader in the global hydrogen economy, producing cost-effective renewable energy from wind and solar.Green Energy Park has chosen Piaui as the first of a minimum of eight giga-watt upstream facilities to supply its global distribution network with an initial focus on European end markets. Piaui offers cost leadership for producing and exporting renewable ammonia from Brazil to Europe and elsewhere in the world.Bart Biebuyck (Green Energy Park, left), Tatjana Puklavec (Puklavec Family Wines, middle), Nathalia Ervedosa (The State of Piaui, right) signing the party's MOU at the World Hydrogen Congress 2023 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.The World Hydrogen Congress in Rotterdam was selected as the perfect venue to sign the agreement and announce the renewable ammonia partnership.The partnership includes, but is not limited to:Green Energy Park Piaui will join the Green Energy Park network and supply its midstream facilities and network partners with cost-competitive renewable ammonia from Brazil.Green Energy Park Piaui will participate in the Green Energy Park conferences to share operational experience and best practices from working with stakeholders including technology providers, EPC contractors, professional service providers, investors, and renewable energy consumers.The parties will perform a feasibility study for exporting renewable energy via ammonia from Piaui, Brazil to various locations around the world targeting the production and export of around 5 million tonnes of renewable ammonia per year.The renewable ammonia export destinations from Piaui will include Europe, with a focus on supplying Green Energy Park Krk, a purpose-built ammonia midstream facility at the North Adriatic Sea. Green Energy Park Krk has a total capacity of 10 million tonnes of ammonia import, storage, and distribution per year.GLOBAL AMMONIA TRADEWith Green Energy Park Piaui, we are taking a bold step into the future. By investing in a fully decarbonized ammonia value chain, we seek to reduce the price of renewable hydrogen for downstream applications ranging from industrial heat to transport, mobility, and power.The world of energy needs to change faster to meet its decarbonization goals, while ammonia is emerging as the global hydrogen carrier of choice. Therefore, the focus of Green Energy Park is on accelerating the energy transition through global ammonia trading and its downstream applications.We firmly believe that cost equivalence with hydrocarbons is achievable near term, through cutting-edge technology applications and engineering know-how applied at scale. Therefore, choosing to work with cost leaders in renewable energy production like Piaui is key.With our unique midstream facilities and an initial import capacity of up to 10 million tonnes of ammonia per year into Europe, we can pass on our cost advantages from efficient network infrastructure to our renewable hydrogen customers, harvesting synergies from numerous applications.Our mission is to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonize energy at competitive prices. To that end, the global ammonia trade must scale up and become the industry standard for energy import and distribution to the final off-taker.LEADERSHIP COMMENTSBart Biebuyck, CEO of Green Energy Park said: "Our Brand stands for a distinct set of values that we share with the Governor of Piaui. We are united in a common vision of the future development of society and the decarbonization of our economy. At Green Energy Park our objective is that each franchise member achieves bankability without public subsidies. The world needs many more private initiatives like Green Energy Park to accelerate the energy transition and have a real impact on the decarbonization pathway of our economy. Therefore, we welcome private parties to join our open franchise network and collaborate with us along the various parts of the hydrogen value chain. Our mission is to unite upstream, midstream, and downstream facilities and coordinate the timing and scale of investment activities between our network partners. Our common goal is to decarbonize energy at competitive prices for future generations to live in prosperity and in a vibrant, healthy environment." Nathalia Ervedosa, the representative of the Government of the State of Piaui in Europe said: "The signature of this memorandum represents a step towards the fulfilment of the State's ambition of becoming an international leader in Green Hydrogen supply. The State's great potential for producing Solar and Wind energy was recognized by the CEO of Green Energy Park, Mr. Bart Biebuyck. The State's compromise is to give full support to the intents of Green Energy Park to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia, the energy carrier of the future, in Piaui. The group has projects along the entire hydrogen value chain and is betting on our State for this 5 giga-watt upstream facility. Count on our support. Green Energy Park has chosen Piaui as a strategic partner for this undertaking for exporting ammonia all over the world, with an initial focus on Europe. The State will be by Green Energy Park's side along this journey in favour of global decarbonization.ABOUT Green Energy ParkGreen Energy Park is a vertically integrated, renewable energy franchise, that shares know-how, technologies, experience, and best practices between its global network members. Its focus is on hydrogen technology applications with ammonia as the renewable energy carrier of choice.The franchise objective is to develop, finance, build and operate renewable energy facilities under a common brand. Its goal is to unite upstream, midstream, and downstream facilities around shared values and a common mission.Green Energy Park's mission is to positively impact society by accelerating the energy transition
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 22:45:30

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Guess agrees to a $30 million monetary settlement and implementation of substantial corporate governance reforms.Settlement in response to allegations of breach of fiduciary duty arising from an alleged "pattern of sexual harassment" by Guess's co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Paul Marciano.WILMINGTON, DE / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Guess?, Inc. ("Guess" or "the Company") (NYSE:GES) shareholders and the Company have agreed to a $30 million monetary settlement and implementation of robust corporate governance reforms. The corporate governance reforms have been heavily negotiated and provide that: (1) Paul Marciano's interactions with employees and models will be heavily regulated such that he will not meet with models in non-public settings alone, his communications with models will be preserved and accessible for review, and models will be given access to the Company's sexual harassment policy; (2) Guess will add a new independent director to the Board; (3) the new director will be part of a newly formed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council that will be empowered to review and recommend improvements to the Company's policies and oversee investigations into future misconduct; (4) the Human Resources Department will no longer report to Paul Marciano; and (5) the Company will enhance its policies to make its commitment to a harassment-free environment clear and prohibit tactics such as imposing non-disclosure agreements used to silence accusers.The settlement is with the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island following a derivative complaint filed on September 19, 2022, alleging a pattern of sexual harassment by Guess's co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Paul Marciano. In 2018, model Kate Upton accused Marciano of groping and forcibly kissing her years earlier, starting when she was a teenager. Other models soon echoed Upton's claims, prompting Guess directors to launch an internal probe, according to court filings. But directors didn't take the investigation seriously, failing to interview several accusers and producing a "shockingly brief" report that downplayed the allegations."The actions by Marciano and Guess are deeply troubling and reprehensible. This settlement represents a significant step towards implementing crucial reforms that will finally ensure Marciano and Guess are held accountable for the harm they have caused to numerous employees," said General Treasurer Diossa. "The Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island stands in solidarity with the victims of Marciano's actions, and we hope this settlement allows them to begin closing this painful chapter and moving forward with their lives. We advocated vigorously for these comprehensive reforms to ensure a fair and secure workplace for Guess's employees. No employee should endure an unsafe environment or live in fear of reprisal for voicing concerns." The Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island is represented in the action by Labaton Sucharow LLP. Labaton Sucharow partner, Eric J Belfi noted "We are pleased to have reached an agreement that recognizes the importance of board leadership in firmly rejecting a culture of sexual harassment. The governance reforms achieved through this important settlement will protect employees and investors in the future." The settlement resolves litigation pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery, styled as Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island v. Marciano et al., C.A. No. 2022-0839-LWW.About the FirmLabaton Sucharow LLP is one of the world's leading complex litigation firms representing clients in securities, corporate governance and shareholder rights, consumer, and cybersecurity and data privacy litigation. Labaton Sucharow has been recognized for its excellence by the courts and peers, and it is consistently ranked in leading industry publications. Offices are located in New York, NY, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, D.C. More information about Labaton Sucharow is available at labaton.com Contact DetailsLabaton Sucharow LLPMarketingTeam@ Labaton.com212.907.0659 SOURCE: Labaton Sucharow LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 22:20:47

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PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In August 2023, Handcrafted learning was awarded the highest honor in the learning and development industry for a new diversity and inclusion training created on behalf of Fidelity Investments.The Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards recognize best practices for initiatives in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition and Management, and Learning and Development. For its Fidelity training, Handcrafted Learning won Gold for "Best Learning Program That Supports and Promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion." The honor was awarded for Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship, two practice-based eLearning experiences that were handcrafted to help managers and associates measurably build inclusive behaviors."Fidelity's Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Strategy is built on our five key commitments-Diversity, Inclusion, Opportunity, Transparency and Accountability-and is designed to help us achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce. This shapes the way we engage with and support our associates, how we serve our customers and clients, and how we strengthen the communities in which we live, work and serve," said Wendy John, Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion at Fidelity Investments. "The strategy helps create clarity for all associates, at all levels, on what actions they can take to support an inclusive culture, and the Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship learning programs have supported a progressive and continuous learning experience for all of our associates. This learning is essential in our efforts to foster an inclusive workplace." The first interactive eLearning experience, Activating Allyship, was launched in October 2021 to managers around the globe. Within days of launch, employees were enthusiastically sharing the training with one another, creating a groundswell of support. Since then, Activating Allyship and its sequel, Unlocking Allyship, have been experienced by Fidelity's 70,000 employees with a 97% satisfaction score from survey respondents. "I keep hearing best training ever'," said Gail Manley, Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy at Fidelity. "It's unheard of to get ratings that high for an eLearning." Gem Moon, Design Director at Handcrafted Learning, attributes the grassroots success of the allyship learning experiences to the realistic content and choice-driven interactivity. "We designed nuanced content that reflects how people really think, talk, and act. Each scenario was based on real employee experiences from our Fortune 500 partners, so as learners make choices, make mistakes, and experience the outcomes of their decisions, they're practicing behaviors they can apply in the real world." Hundreds of the anonymous write-in comments from Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship specifically reference the realism and relatability of the scenarios. "The real-life scenarios were extremely helpful in allowing me to think through how to proceed," writes one learner. "This practice is helpful because we often aren't given the opportunity in real life situations where things transpire at a rapid pace." One of the goals of the Fidelity and Handcrafted project team was to prove that interactivity and accessibility were not at odds. Users of assistive technology were able to experience the practice-based design of Activating Allyship and Unlocking Allyship like all learners. "I thought it was fantastic. The options were great," said Jeff Wissel, Chief Accessibility Officer for Disability:IN, the global disability inclusion nonprofit that advises Fortune 500 companies on accessibility. Jeff Wissel is proudly legally blind. "From an accessibility standpoint, it felt so natural. I felt included." Not only was the training unprecedentedly popular among Fidelity managers and associates, but it made a measurable difference in the experience of underrepresented employees. Fidelity's bi-annual Associate Pulse Survey results are published in the 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Report. In the survey, 45,000 associates shared their perspectives on Fidelity's culture. Between Q2 2021 and Q1 2022-the time in which Activating Allyship launched to Fidelity's population-there is an increase in the percentage of associates who believe that Fidelity creates a culture of inclusion. The largest statistical shift is among Black employees: a 6% increase in three quarters."Excellence Award winners are shown to be organizations that truly value their employees and invest in them through their human capital management programs," said Brandon Hall Group Chief Operating Officer Rachel Cooke, Excellence Awards program leader. "These programs have been validated as best in class for business value and the impact on the employees themselves." Wendy John summarized the ongoing impact of the allyship eLearning experiences on Fidelity's culture and business goals. "The learning programs surrounding the concept of Allyship have advanced our firm's inclusion goals and our strategy by building skills and behaviors that foster inclusion and belonging across our workforce. This helps associates feel valued and that they can thrive at Fidelity, which also supports our firm's retention efforts." About Handcrafted LearningHandcrafted Learning is a custom learning and development company that designs and develops innovative learning experiences for Fortune 500 clients. Our passionate team of consultants, strategists, designers, and developers create interactive eLearning simulations, hands-on workshops, and on-the-job tools that help employees build skills and help organizations change culture. We've helped clients increase retention, improve job performance, and meet shareholder-facing ESG goals. For more information about Handcrafted Learning, visit https://www.handcraftedlearning.com/ About Fidelity InvestmentsFidelity's mission is to strengthen the financial well-being of our customers and deliver better outcomes for the clients and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $11.7 trillion, including discretionary assets of $4.5 trillion as of June 30, 2023, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers. Privately held for over 75 years, Fidelity employs over 70,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company About The Brandon Hall Group Excellence AwardsBrandon Hall Group is the only professional development company that offers data, research, insights, and certification to Learning and Talent executives and organizations. For over 30 years, we have empowered, re
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 16:01:29

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RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Newswire, an industry leader in press release distribution services, including content production, strategy, planning, and media technology, is a bronze-level sponsor and exhibitor (booth #201) at the Public Relations Society of America's (PRSA) ICON 2023 from Sunday, October 15, through Tuesday, October 17, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.ICON 2023 is a PRSA international conference that brings public relations/communications students and professionals together to network, learn, and grow professionally. At the conference, attendees meet with companies in the industry and learn from esteemed professionals about their experiences, best practices, trends, and more.As an exhibitor (booth #201), the Newswire team will talk with attendees about its evolving press release distribution services and how they can help companies meet their unique goals for the remainder of 2023 and into the New Year."This is Newswire's first time sponsoring and exhibiting at the event, and we're excited to connect with so many knowledgeable and bright public relations and communications professionals from around the world," said Jennifer Hammers, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Issuer Direct.Newswire provides press release distribution services that include:Press Release Distribution - Choose from 10 distribution channels including Digital, Digital Plus, State, National, Financial, Canada, United Kingdom, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Global.Press Release Optimizer (PRO) - Develop newsworthy content and connect with the media to create the visibility brands need to gain an edge over their competition. There are three tiers of the PRO plan:Content PRO provides support in planning and crafting messaging.Media PRO is like having a veteran media strategist on your team who helps you get more visibility through media outreach.Total PRO provides both content and media support.Media Database - Subscribe and gain instant access to its comprehensive repository of media contacts that's updated in real-time through a blend of technology and human-centered review.Media Monitoring - Track important news, measure author sentiment, and stay on top of industry trends.Analytics - Report campaign metrics, analyze key channels, and easily calculate media value.Newsrooms - Showcase press releases, news, and social media content in a secure and customizable newsroom.If you'd like to schedule a private meeting during ICON 2023, click here.About NewswireNewswire is a media technology company that provides its clients with the Press Release Optimizer, which consists of press release distribution, media databases, media monitoring, and online media rooms that power the Media Advantage: greater brand awareness through earned media, increased online visibility through content strategy and planning as well as greater SEO recognition.Through its disruptive Press Release Optimizer, relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, and passion for customer performance, Newswire is automating media and marketing communications for large and small businesses seeking to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time for the right purpose.To learn more about Newswire and its Press Release Optimizer, visit Newswire.com and discover why our customers have named us #1 for Customer Satisfaction and Ease of Use for four years in a row. For more information, visit https://www.newswire.com Newswire is a wholly owned subsidiary of Issuer Direct (NYSE American:ISDR), a leading communications and compliance company, providing solutions for both Public Relations and Investor Relations Professionals. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com Contact InformationJennifer Hammers Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing jennifer.hammers@issuerdirect.com 919.481.4000SOURCE: Newswire
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BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSX-V:NOAL) ("NOA" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has recently expanded it's land position in two of its projects, by acquiring two new mining claims. The first acquisition covers 4,351 hectares (" ha ") at the Arizaro salar (" Arizaro Claim ") and the second acquisition covers 1,124 ha at the Salinas Grandes salar (" Salinas Claim "), both properties are located in the Province of Salta, Argentina. These property acquisitions will be subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange, as applicable.The Arizaro Claim (known as Tenement 23,614/18), provides the Company with a new exploration area, adding significant surface to the mining blocks already controlled by NOA in the Arizaro salar. With this acquisition, NOA now controls an area of approximately 39,028 ha at the Arizaro salar with the potential to further expand it with new concessions already applied for and still pending to be granted.The Salinas Claim (known as Yacones Salinas V), is close to the Companys northern claims in the Salinas Grandes salar, in an area the Company believes has high potential for exploration. This new claim will form part of the Company's Salinas Grandes project which, inclusive of this acquisition, brings the Company's total controlling position to approximately 10,247 ha at the Salinas Grandes salar.Gabriel Rubacha, Chief Executive Officer of NOA, stated, "These acquisitions strengthen NOA's position on both projects in the Arizaro and Salinas Grandes salars, two of the most exciting and underexplored lithium salars in the Lithium Triangle. These two claims will provide further exploration potential beyond our flagship Rio Grande project, where we are currently focusing our exploration efforts. Our current drilling campaign at Rio Grande is fully funded and on schedule to be completed before the end of the year, which plan to follow up with a published maiden resource estimate in early 2024".Terms of the AgreementsArizaro ClaimPursuant to the terms of the definitive agreement for the Arizaro Claim, the Company will acquire 100% title over the Exploration Permit registered under Tenement n 23.614/18 from an arm's-length vendor (the " Arizaro Vendor ").Total consideration for the Arizaro Claim (all figures in this release in $USD) shall be $115,000, and paid to the Arizaro Vendor, as follows:$15,000 on execution of the definitive agreement; and$100,000 40 days after signing the definitive agreement.The Company paid no finders' fees or commissions in connection with the acquisition of the Arizaro Claim.Salinas ClaimPursuant to the terms of the definitive agreement for the Salinas Claim, the Company will acquire 100% title over the Mina Yacones Salinas V claim from an arms-length vendor (the " Salinas Vendor ").Total consideration for the Salinas Claim (all figures in this release in $USD) shall be $500,000, and paid to the Salinas Vendor, as follows:$7,000 to be paid monthly for 12 months starting on October 1, 2023;$15,000 to be paid monthly for 12 months starting on October 1, 2024; and$152,000 to be paid on or before October 15, 2025.The Company paid no finders' fees or commissions in connection with the acquisition of the Salinas Claim.Maps showing the land holdings at both salars, including the acquired claims, can be found below.About NOA Lithium Brines Inc. NOA is a lithium exploration and development company formed to acquire assets with significant resource potential. All NOA's projects are in the heart of the prolific Lithium Triangle, in the mining-friendly province of Salta, Argentina, near a multitude of projects and operations owned by some of the largest players in the lithium industry. NOA has rapidly consolidated one of the largest lithium brine claim portfolios in this region that is not owned by a producing company, with key positions on three prospective salars (Rio Grande, Arizaro, Salinas Grandes) and totalling over 100,000 hectares.On Behalf of the Board of Directors,Gabriel Rubacha Chief Executive Officer and DirectorFor Further Information:Website: www.noalithium.com Email: info@ noalithium.com Telephone: +54-9-11-5060-4709Alternative Telephone: +1-403-571-8013Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. All statements within this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements including, but not limited to NOA's future plans and objectives regarding its projects, which constitute forward looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although NOA believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements include fluctuations in market prices, including metal prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. NOA does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable laws.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: NOA Lithium Brines Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 23:55:53

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GEORGE TOWN, PULAU PINANG, MALAYSIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In August 2023, Mr. Liu Jianning, Vice Chairman of the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association, embarked on a series of exchange activities in Malaysia at the invitation of Quantum Metal Group. During his visit, he explored various institutions, including the Quantum Metal Group headquarters, the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau, the World Consumer Association, and the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory. Mr. Liu also represented Hainan as the sole non-member country delegate at the 2023 ASEAN Cooperation Organization meeting and attended the high-level forum during the same event.Collaboration Agreement between Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association and Quantum Metal GroupOn March 22, 2023, the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association signed a collaboration framework agreement with Malaysia's largest gold supplier, Quantum Metal Group. This partnership aims to jointly organize the Hainan Free Trade Port Gold Market Development Strategic Seminar. The seminar discussed strategies to facilitate the international operational headquarters of Quantum Metal Group in Hainan and the development of the precious metals trading market in Hainan under the backdrop of the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) agreement. This collaboration marked the beginning of a strong relationship between Quantum Metal Group and Hainan, thanks to continuous communication and follow-up efforts.During the first leg of his Malaysia visit, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning visited the Quantum Metal Group headquarters. He provided Chairman Lin Lianshun with a detailed overview of the efforts and support extended by the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau and the Haikou Municipal Government to facilitate the establishment of Quantum Metal Group's international operational headquarters in Haikou. Mr. Liu discussed strategies, pathways, and steps for Quantum Metal's development in Hainan, offering constructive suggestions that led to mutual agreement. The Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association expressed its gratitude for Quantum Metal Group's efforts to promote investment and trade cooperation between Hainan and Malaysia and to integrate Hainan Free Trade Port into the ASEAN trade system.On August 22, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning and senior management of Quantum Metal Group visited the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau, where they engaged in discussions with Mr. Bhg. Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, the CEO of the bureau, and Mr. Abu Bakar Yusif, the Deputy CEO. Vice Chairman Liu Jianning focused on elaborating on the current status and prospects of trade development between China and ASEAN countries and the role of Hainan Free Trade Port in fostering cooperation between China and ASEAN nations. He particularly emphasized the practical significance of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" development strategy for deepening trade cooperation in production factors between ASEAN companies and Chinese enterprises.Leadership at the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau expressed their gratitude for the long-standing trade cooperation between Malaysia and China. They praised Hainan's strong support for Quantum Metal Group's project to establish its operational headquarters in Hainan. They committed to conducting in-depth research on the actual implications of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" development for Malaysian businesses and expressed their eagerness to build multi-tiered trade cooperation relationships in the future.On August 23, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning had the unique privilege of representing Hainan as the only non-member country delegate at the 2023 ASEAN Cooperation Organization meeting. He also attended the high-level forum with the theme "Promoting De-dollarization of International Trade and Adoption of Digital Gold as a Payment Instrument among ASEAN Cooperation Organization Member States." During the event, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning engaged in a brief exchange with Y.Bhg. Dato' Hj. Abdul Fattah Hj. Abdullah, the Chairman of the ASEAN Cooperation Organization.During their conversation, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning introduced the development strategy of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" concept and the "Thousand Enterprises, Thousand Financial Empowerment Action Plan" initiated by the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association. Chairman Y.Bhg. Dato' Hj. Abdul Fattah Hj. Abdullah expressed the organization's commitment to exploring both the theoretical and practical aspects of using digital gold as an international trade payment instrument. He acknowledged the vital role of the ASEAN Cooperation Organization in fostering trade cooperation with China and expressed strong support for Quantum Metal Group's establishment of its international operational headquarters in Hainan. He also hoped for deeper collaboration through Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" initiative.During his visit to Malaysia, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning paid a visit to the World Consumer Association, where he introduced the annual China International Consumer Goods Expo held in Hainan and its substantial impact. He discussed various matters with President Datuk Badu Kakyang Guowei and other leaders, including the possibility of the Malaysian Halal Certification Authority setting up its "China Export Commodity Halal Certification Headquarters" in Hainan. President Guowei emphasized the association's responsibility to focus on and protect global consumer rights from the perspective of international trade. He expressed the association's interest in establishing cooperation with the relevant authorities responsible for the China International Consumer Goods Expo.In addition, during his tour of the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning introduced the "Agricultural Powerhouse" national strategy of China and the specific measures undertaken by local governments to implement this strategy. He welcomed the prospect of the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory selecting Hainan Free Trade Port as its location, leveraging its advanced technology and services to promote agricultural development. Chairman Kevin Lim expressed agreement with these ideas and indicated that he would explore opportunities for further discussions in Hainan.Throughout the course of these collaborative exchange activities, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning also had fruitful discussions with officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Brunei, represented by Ms. Pg Suridah Pg Hj Sulaiman, and the Honorary Ambassador of Malaysia to Uganda, Mr. Al Haj Habib Kagimu.The convergence of RCEP and Hainan Free Trade Port policies is now in full swing, and Hainan h
PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-12 21:45:29

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / The Watchlist by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Leveljump Healthcare, Kootenay Silver, Sendero Resources, Nextech3D.ai , and Canada Nickel Company discussing their latest news.The Watchlist by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.LevelJump Healthcare Corp. Announces the Acquisition of Four Diagnostic Imaging ClinicsLevelJump Healthcare Corp. (TSXV:JUMP)(OTCQB:JMPHF)(FSE:75J) a Canadian leader in B2B telehealth solutions, has announced that, further to its news release dated September 14, 2023, it has closed the acquisition of four Alberta-based independent health facilities.For the full interview with CEO & Chairman Mitch Geisler and to learn more about Leveljump Healthcare's news, click here.Kootenay Silver Announces Updated Promontorio/Maiden La Negra Resource EstimateKootenay Silver Inc. (TSXV:KTN) has announced an updated mineral resource estimate at the Promontorio-La Negra Project in Sonora Mexico. The resource estimate is an update of the Promontorio deposit and a maiden mineral resource estimate for the La Negra deposit 7km to the north. The two deposits are part of the Promontorio Mineral Belt and are considered a single project.For the full interview with President & CEO James McDonald and to learn more about Kootenay Silver's news, click here.Sendero Resources Announces Trading Debut, Provides Exploration UpdateSendero Resources Corp. (TSX:SEND) announced that the Company commences trading today on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol TSXV:SEND. Sendero provided both an overview of the newly listed company and an exploration update.For the full interview with Executive Chairman Michael Wood and to learn more about Sendero's news, click here. Nextech3D.ai Launches Revolutionary Augmented Reality Wayfinding Mobile App For Trade Shows and Event Organizers Nextech3D.AI (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:EP2), a Generative AI-Powered 3D model supplier for Amazon, P&G, Kohls and other major e-commerce retailers has announced a major milestone in the evolution of AR-powered event experiences. The Company's MapD business unit has integrated and launched its indoor navigation capabilities with ARway.ai's technology, opening up exciting new opportunities for event organizers.For the full interview with CEO Evan Gappelberg and to learn more about Nextech3D.ai's news, click here.Canada Nickel (TSXV:CNC) Announces Positive Bankable Feasibility Study for its Crawford Nickel Sulphide ProjectCanada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV:CNC)(OTCQX:CNIKF) today released results from the Bankable Feasibility Study for its innovative and wholly-owned Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project, confirming significantly improved economics from its Preliminary Economic Analysis, with an after-tax NPV8% of $2.5 billion and IRR of 17.1%.For the full interview with CEO & Director Mark Selby and to learn more about Canada Nickel's news, click here.Interviews for The Watchlist by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Watchlist or to explore our other interviews visit The Watchlist by The Market Herald.About The Market HeraldThe Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca . Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website ( themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.CONTACT:The Market He
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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Whole Foods Market FoundationsOctober marks the annual celebration of the funding of Whole Planet Foundation. It is a time to appreciate and reflect on the mission milestones we have reached together, and a time to recalibrate and identify a path forward to continue the work we set out to do. Our organization manifested from Whole Foods Market's core value to support the global community where the company sources products and we were founded on a desire to address one of humanity's most pervasive issues: global poverty. After 18 years of providing our implementing partners with crucial support, we have seen firsthand tha our funds empower vulnerable people to meet their basic needs and become more resilient through opportunities that improve their economic well-being. Since inception, we have aimed to accomplish this mission in a sustainable way, by funding business capital for the world's most vulnerable entrepreneurs. The microloans that we fund enable entrepreneurs to start or develop small, often home-based businesses in hopes that the profits will help support their families and possibly employ others in their communities.Over the years, our Programs Team of microfinance subject matter experts based around the world, have remained vigilant and proactive. They monitor and evaluate projects and keep their finger on the pulse of an everchanging landscape so we can respond effectively to the needs of the communities we serve and implement strategies that continue to align with Whole Foods Market's purpose to nourish people and the planet. Statistics show that for three decades the number of people living in extreme poverty was declining but that progress was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic Before the pandemic 635 million people were projected to live in extreme poverty in 2020, after the onset of the pandemic the projected number of poor increased to 732 million. At the end of 2022, post-pandemic visits with implementing partners revealed key challenges, such as the rising cost of living, food insecurity, disruptions in supply chain, and shortages of essentials tools, like fertilizer, all leading to greater volatility for people living in poverty.As we continue to find our new normal, it is a great time to set new goals and identify key focus areas that will help guide how we can best continue to support global communities to meet their basic needs and strengthen resiliency."Whole Planet Foundation believes everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy and prosperous life. We support collaborative partnerships that empower individuals, families, and communities with access to economic opportunity for the world's most vulnerable", says Daniel Zoltani, Whole Planet Foundation's Interim Executive Director.Whole Planet Foundation is grateful to our donors and pleased to announce our multiyear investment strategy to empower an additional 300,000 people around the world.Through our network of both existing and new implementing partners, our focus will continue to be centered around increasing access for the world's most vulnerable entrepreneurs:Access for smallholder farmers to have the right resources to increase their yields and incomes.Access for entrepreneurs to have business capital that meets their needs and helps jump start or grow their business.Access for off the grid communities to have safe reliable and affordable energy and water.We invite everyone to join us in this next leg of our mission and support our new Whole Planet Foundation Funds to reach additional people with the chance to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.Resilient Farmer FundThis fund aims to support 70,000 smallholder farmers by offering farming tools and services that help increase crop production and navigate weather shocks that may disrupt their livelihoods. Like Gloribel, a microcredit client of Whole Planet Foundation partner Acceso in El Salvador where Whole Foods Market sources coffee. Acceso is a social enterprise in El Salvador that increased Gloribel's income by lending her $350 worth of tomato seedlings and greenhouse materials and then bought her harvest. They then sold her produce to local store partners of Acceso.Economic Opportunity FundThe goal of this fund is to help provide 234,000 business microloans to people who do not have access to banks or financial institutions, which could include widows, refugees, and people in remote communities. Like Widya in Sri Lanka, who accessed a $400 loan from BMIC to grow her flower business. Her business is growing, and she is on track to access and additional loan to invest in her business growth. BMIC is Whole Planet Foundation's partner in Sri Lanka where Whole Foods Market sources coconut oil.Food Security FundThis fund aims to move 65,000 women out of extreme poverty. The World Bank has defined extreme poverty as people living on less than $2.15 a day, like Adama from Senegal, who cultivates peanuts and hibiscus using inputs provided by Whole Planet Foundation's microfinance partner myAgro. With the money that she has earned from previous harvests, she has contributed to food purchases for the household. She has also built her own house within the larger family compound. Whole Foods Market sources hibiscus juice from Senegal.Energy & Water FundThis fund will increase access to 10,000 essential goods like solar home kits, water filters and fuel-efficient cookstoves. For 8 cents a day, entrepreneurs like Perline, a client of Jiro-Ve in Madagascar, is able to rent a solar lantern which allows her to keep her vegetable stall open into the night and allows her children to continue their studies in the evening. Whole Foods Market sources chocolate from Madagascar.By 2030 we hope to have 300,000 more client profiles like these to share, thanks to your generosity. This month we invite you to join us in celebrating our annual impact on Wednesday, October 25 via our Party With A Purpose Annual Benefit and Auction. This event will take place both online and in-person in Austin, Texas. If you are local to Austin, please join us from 4-7pm on the Whole Foods Market Lamar rooftop for a gathering of stakeholders as we celebrate our impact with delicious food and beverage, music, cultural performance, onsite auctions and more. Not in Austin? Join us online from October 25- 29 to bid on global auction items in support of our mission. Beyond this celebration, we invite you to stay connected via our e-newsletter, Instagram, and Facebook page. For more information on the work we do, and how we do it, visit wholeplanetfoundation.org Microentrepreneurs Gloribel, Widya, Adama and PerlineView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whole Foods Market Fo
No Nigerian state government has any constitutional right to ban mining activities, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has said.

Mr Alake disclosed this at the 2nd pre-press briefing on the 8th edition of the annual Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja.

The minister spoke in reaction to some states signing an executive order to ban mining activities.

In June, the Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, signed an executive order prohibiting illegal mining activities in the state.

Mr Kefas, who signed the order during a meeting with traditional rulers at the state government house in Jalingo, said the order would address insecurity in the state.

He said his government would strengthen its regulatory framework and collaborate with all relevant agencies to fight the states illegal mining activities.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Alake said no state government has the authority to interfere with mining operations in the various states.

He explained that mining activities are constitutional issues and an item in the exclusive legislative list of the federal government.

State ban on mining activities across the country is a really sore point. And it is a constitutional matter. I want to use this opportunity to get to the Nigerian public that no state, and I repeat, no state has the authority to interfere in mining operations, no state has the authority. It is a constitutional matter, Mr Alake said.

He said mining is exclusively within the purview of the federal government and, according to the constitution, it is in the exclusive legislative list not in the residual or the concurrent list.

Every item on the exclusive legislative list belongs to the federal government. There is no doubt about that. All items on the residual list belong to the states and all items in a concurrent section belong to both, but mining, like oil and solid

minerals, belongs in the exclusive legislative, therefore, it is the federal government that has the authority, he added.

The minister explained that the ministry is not against any state that wants to engage in mining activities, provided they follow due processes and get licensed.

Advice to states

Due to the peculiar nature of solid minerals and because of the involvement of the local communities or the host communities, there is an engagement even in the regulatory framework of mining operations, he said.

There is an engagement close with the host communities and the federal government, through the Ministry of Solid Mineral, has been engaging with host communities in fact, in the licensing operations or processes or procedures, there is a provision for the engagement with the host communities. Now these host communities also belong in the various states, he said.

If any state wants to engage in mining, it can form its own Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), apply for a mining licence from the office of the Minister for Solid Minerals go through the due process and be so licensed if it meets all the criteria.

Such a state is like any company or any individual, institution, or corporate body. But for a State to wake up and say it is regulating mining activities is like a state waking up to ban oil exploration it is downright illegal, he added.

The minister added that because the federal government does not want to engage in confrontations and distractions leading to all kinds of infractions, it is engaging the states.

The state executives, I have been in touch with the chairman of the governors forum and I am going to address the National Economic Council (NEC) of which state governors are members to educate the states. I have also engaged quite a number of governors individually, some have come to visit me here.

I have been able to tell them, this is the situation. I have also discovered that some are not very vast in the constitutional imperatives and dynamics of this sector. And so theres a need for adequate education and enlightenment.

However, there is no amount of education and enlightenment that we engage in that would be outside the purview of the law, of the constitution, and the constitution is very clear. Mining activities, solid minerals, liquid minerals all minerals belong in the purview of the federal government, he said.

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The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says pension assets increased to N16.76 trillion within the half-year period (six months) that ended in June 2023.

Aisha Dahir-Umar, the Director-General of PenCom, said this on Tuesday in Kano at the National Pension Commission/Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Interactive Session on the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for the organised private sector.

Represented by the Commissioner Administration, PenCom, Faruk Aminu, the PenCom boss said that the figure was the total fund accruing from pension contributions in the country under the CPS as of the end of the third quarter of 2023.

She explained that the pension industry is one of the fastest-growing financial sectors in Nigeria.

According to her, at the end of the third quarter of 2023, the number of Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) under the CPS stood at 10 million and the size of the pension asset under management amounted to N16.76 trillion.

The commission has continued to take giant strides towards ensuring the smooth implementation of the CPS through the revision of existing regulations and guidelines and the development of new ones, the official said.

The director-general urged employers to encourage their workers to transfer contributions from the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to their retirement savings accounts (RSAs).

This, she said, is in compliance with the commissions responsibility of supervising the transfer, following the enactment of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014.

The commission is saddled with the responsibility of supervising the transfer of the NSITF contributions of employees into their respective RSAs under the CPS, the PenCom official said.

She further assured the private sector that the commission would continue to ensure robust social dialogue with NECA in the interest of all stakeholders under the CPS.

She also said the commission would always support NECA to champion programmes that would ensure the successful implementation of the CPS in Nigeria.

(NAN)

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Some experts in the energy sector in Africa have proffered solutions to worrying energy transaction costs across the continent.

Energy transaction costs in Africa include all the costs involved in transacting energy, such as investment, financing, and legal costs, among others.

A World Energy Outlook Special Report titled Financing Clean Energy in Africa, unveiled in September by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in association with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), highlighted that energy investment on the continent has fallen short, accounting for a mere 3 per cent of the global total, even though Africa is home to one-fifth of the worlds population.

The reports examination of the cost of capital in Africa, which is at least two to three times higher than in advanced economies, is a stark reminder of the formidable challenges the continent must address to unleash its full development potential, William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, said in a foreword captured in the report.

According to Mr Ruto, who is also the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Governments on Climate, by effectively mobilising private capital and securing USD 28 billion of concessional funding by 2030, the African Union can unlock the necessary USD 90 billion in private investment for clean energy that will revolutionise the continents trajectory and support global climate ambitions.

Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency, in the report, said African countries are often unable to access affordable capital.

Financing costs can be at least two- to three- times higher than in Europe and North America. As a result, projects remain on the drawing board and energy costs rise for Africas consumers  including the poorest households and least developed economies, the expert said.

Our analysis highlights that clean, affordable solutions are available to meet Africas energy needs, both in relation to energy access and in many other areas. But investments are held back by a range of policy and regulatory hurdles, weaknesses in project preparation and scale, and a lack of alignment between the needs of project developers and those of finance providers.

This is why the African Development Bank Group is spearheading efforts to unlock Africas vast renewable energy potential. The Bank no longer funds coal energy projects. Since 2016, 87 per cent of our investments in power generation are in renewables, including transformative projects such as the 510 megawatts (MW) Noor Ouarzazate solar project in Morocco, which is the worlds largest concentrated power plant and the 310 MW Lake Turkana wind project in Kenya, which is Sub-Saharan Africas largest wind farm.

Mr Birol said the Banks USD 20 billion Desert to Power programme is developing 10,000 MW of solar power across 11 countries in the Sahel and East Africa that will provide renewable energy via solar for 250 million people.

According to him, African countries have huge energy potential, including a spectacular range and quality of renewable energy resources. Africa is home to more than half of the worlds best solar resources, as well as great potential for hydro, wind and geothermal power, among others.

But these riches are largely untapped and they will remain so without greatly improved access to capital, he said, adding that energy spending in Africa has been falling for over five years but needs to double by 2030.

Legal Costs

Speaking on the legal costs, which are rarely highlighted but highly significant in these transactions, Tolulope Fadipe, Assistant General Manager, Legal, Sahara Group, said, Building in-house capacity can help energy companies in Africa lower transaction costs arising from legal fees.

Mr Fadipe, who spoke at the Afreximbank Trade Finance Seminar (ATFS2023) in Lagos last week, said training and stretch programs with reputable law firms can facilitate knowledge acquisition and enhance technical abilities required for complex transactions in the continent and beyond.

He noted that having in-house lawyers and personnel with a full grasp of the legal dimensions of transaction complexities remained the best shot for helping companies reduce legal costs.

Full participation of company lawyers in strategy development and execution of transactions has to be the way forward when you are looking to reduce legal costs. Energy firms and companies need to be intentional about growing wide and varied, across-the-board capacity for various energy projects and transactions, he said.

Mr Fadipe said in-house transaction strategy review and negotiations, leveraging technology and deploying virtual transaction processes can also help reduce legal costs incurred by organisations in executing projects.

At Sahara Group, we continue to give our people platforms to grow capacity to support our upstream, midstream, downstream, power, and technology business operations across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. This has resulted in significant cost savings and overall value addition to our operations, he said.

Mr Fadipe said some of the major drivers of legal costs in finance transactions in international jurisdictions include regulated solicitors charges in the jurisdiction of the transaction, travel costs incurred by external counsel in carrying out Due Diligence and other aspects of the transaction, complexity/value of the transaction, availability of competent legal counsel in the jurisdiction of the transaction, and bilingual services, among others.

Right from the point of hiring, it is essential for energy firms to be intentional about talent acquisition into the in-house legal team and also adopt a robust capacity-building strategy to support regional and international transactions, he added.

Cost of Capital

The energy report highlighted that the cost of capital largely reflects two sets of risks: those associated with the country (the base rate) and those associated with the sector, project or company (a premium).

These risks vary significantly across the continent  some countries have investment-grade credit ratings and/or a well-developed energy sector, while others experience conflict or instability with low economic growth and struggle to attract investment.

Costs also vary by capital provider and currency, depending on whether the provider is taking on currency risk, their familiarity with the local market and the base rate in their country of origin. And finally, they vary according to the company or project that is seeking to raise capital, the report said.

The report stated that larger international companies are more able to tap into concessional finance from DFIs and donors or cheaper capital in international markets.

Meanwhile, local companies that are more reliant on domestic capital markets can struggle to access both early-stage financing to bring projects to bankability and sufficient affordable capital to develop projects.

Recommendation

Among other interventions, the report highlighted that a dramatic increase in energy investment into African countries is essential. Achieving the regions energy development and climate goals requires energy investment to more than double from todays USD 90 billion by 2030, at which point nearly two-thirds of spending would go to clean energy, it added.

Making capital more affordable can unlock significant development across Africa and achieving universal energy access requires a step change in energy project financing.

Multiple financing instruments need to be scaled up to Africas energy future because there is a mismatch between the type of capital available and the needs of Africas emerging clean energy sector, with a particular lack of early-stage and equity financing.

Similarly, the report said concessional capital must act as a catalyst for project development and private investment.

Alongside improvements in policy and regulation, the report stated that concessional capital of around USD 28 billion per year is needed to mobilise the USD 90 billion of private sector investment by 2030 in the Sustainable Africa Scenario.

The President, African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, in the report, said, We must bring down the cost of capital for clean energy projects in Africa. Treading a low-carbon development pathway necessitates targeted concessional support and technical assistance from international finance institutions and multilaterals.

Through the Banks Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), we are unlocking private-sector-led renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the African continent by de-risking investments in green baseload power, green mini-grids, and decentralised off-grid energy systems.

SEFAs current portfolio is expected to leverage a total of USD 9.2 billion in investment, delivering approximately 3,700 MW in new capacity and around 2 million new connections, he said

In the interim, what Africa needs is a lot more financing to support its drive to universal access to quality energy. We should leverage the private sector for climate finance. We should accelerate investments in renewable energy. We should have just and fair energy transitions  but also guarantee universal energy access, and affordable and secure power for Africa.

We should accelerate the support to countries on the development of their Nationally Determined Contributions and the Long-Term Strategies to support green transitions and green growth for our economies, Mr Adesina said.

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Former Gabon first lady, Sylvia Bongo, was arrested late on Wednesday, according to AFP.

Her attorney, Francois Zimeray, denounced the arrest as an arbitrary, illegal procedure and said the former first lady was being held on suspicion of embezzling public monies.

Marches have been held in several towns in a show of solidarity with the junta. Gabons opposition and civil society groups that support the military junta have said members of Mr Bongos family are suspected of having real estate empires and stashing huge amounts of money in foreign banks  funds which be used to reduce the gap between the majority poor and the few rich.

Since the 30 August coup that ended the 55-year Bongo dynasty rule, Sylvia Bongo was placed under house arrest in Libreville, the nations capital. The coup leaders accuse the former first lady and her son, Nourredin Bongo, of manipulating Gabons deposed President, Ali Bongo, who has not fully recovered from a serious stroke in 2018. The former first lady was also believed to be preparing her son, Noureddine Bongo, to succeed his father. In December 2019, Noureddin Bongo was appointed the general coordinator of presidential affairs by his father.

On 30 August, moments after being declared the winner of a presidential election, military leaders overthrew Mr Bongo, 64, who had ruled the oil-rich central African nation since 2009. The opposition and the leaders of the military coup detat, who also charged his rule with widespread corruption and poor leadership, denounced the outcome as a fraud. A son of Mr Bongo, five senior cabinet members, and his wife Sylvia Bongo were all detained by soldiers on the day of the coup.

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Following the military takeover on 30 August, Gabons coup leaders announced the appointment of a key opponent of overthrown Mr Bongo as interim prime minister. Raymond Sima, 68, presided over Mr Bongos government as prime minister from 2012 until 2014. He then turned into an opponent and ran against him in 2016 and 2023. He fared poorly at the latest polls.

Mr Bongo is free to travel abroad, the military junta said on 6 September. Meanwhile, the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas) suspended Gabons membership during an extraordinary summit in Djibloho, Equatorial Guinea, and condemned the use of force to resolve political conflicts.

The military junta in Gabon led by General Brice Nguema set a two-year transition period to democracy and military cooperation with France has resumed. Mr Oligui has appointed former opposition leaders and key figures from the ousted regime to both houses of parliament.

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Two years ago, military officers overthrew President Alpha Condes regime on 5 September 2021  less than a year after he started his controversial third term.

In December 2022, Guineas transitional authorities and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed on a two-year roadmap for returning the country to civilian rule.

The 10-point roadmap includes developing a new constitution and adopting it through a popular referendum. These two steps will define several other elements of the transition, including the constitutions organic laws and the holding of local, legislative and presidential elections.

The draft constitution was scheduled for adoption by the National Transitional Council by the end of June, but that deadline was missed.

One reason for the delay may relate to funding. Many feel the transitional authorities proposed budget to implement the roadmap  US$600 million  is too high. So far, the government has announced the mobilisation of only about US$40 million of this amount.

In an August interview, Prime Minister Bernard Goumou seemed to blame the international community, particularly ECOWAS, for the slow pace of resource mobilisation. He said ECOWAS undertook in the December 2022 agreement to help Guinea raise funds.

To prevent the issue from holding up the transitions timely implementation, Guinean authorities and their partners must make a concerted effort to secure the necessary resources.

Nevertheless, with enough political will and action by those in charge, there is still enough time to complete the constitutions drafting ahead of the December referendum.

One cause for optimism is that the National Transitional Council has organised several consultations on the constitution across the country, along with two constitutional orientation symposiums in March and April.

Political parties, civil society organisations, lawyers, religious bodies and the military have submitted written inputs on several parts of the new constitution.

A review of some of these contributions reveals two important aspects that could help build a stable post-transition democracy.

Several inputs insisted on mechanisms for checks and balances. Most called for the presidential system to remain (rather than a parliamentary regime), with some moderation in the presidents powers.

This could involve enhancing parliamentary oversight and reducing the presidents role in appointments, including of magistrates, by reinforcing the National Assembly and National Commission of Magistrates powers in appointing judges.

Submissions also called for subjecting some presidential appointments to parliamentary approval and ensuring that the tenures of some state institution heads couldnt be terminated by the president, or by him or her alone.

A key feature in various submissions was the need to limit a presidents time in office to a maximum of two five-year terms. Under Conde, a new constitution was drafted and approved to side-step legal provisions preventing him from running for a third term. Arguing that the new constitution nullified his previous terms, this controversial clock-setting saw Conde elected for a third term in 2020  contributing to the coup that removed him and started the current transition.

Third-termism is important in current political debates in Africa. The constitutions of 40 African countries contain presidential term limits. Since 1990, some 34 leaders in 20 countries have served their time in office and handed power to successors without tampering with the constitution to remain in office.

When heads of state abide by term limits, stable political transitions are boosted in two ways. First, regular power changes signal to others with political ambitions that there is an opportunity to ascend to the helm.

In all 20 African countries where outgoing leaders have respected term limits, no subsequent elected leaders have successfully challenged the provision.

Second, leaders facing only one or two terms are likely to care more about their legacy and act in the interest of their countrys citizens.

The attendant high levels of citizen satisfaction, particularly regarding socio-economic development and service delivery, contribute to political stability.

What supplementary measures could the new Guinean constitution include to protect it from manipulation linked to third-termism? The 2010 constitution protected this provision from being changed, putting it in the same basket as four other forbidden fruits: the countrys secular nature, its republican form, territorial integrity, and multiparty and multi-trade union system.

Perhaps the current drafters could retain those clauses and add that any amendment or the drafting of a new constitution  which seeks to change or bypass these protected clauses  is null and void. This could even be elevated to the level of high treason.

To counter the arguments of those who might insist on the dynamism and adaptability of constitutions, the provision could have a time limit of several decades.

The inclusivity of the new constitutions consultation and drafting processes will be key in determining its legitimacy well after the transition has ended. But the real test is still to come  the commitment of post-transition leaders to the constitution and its provisions. This will be the surest guarantee for its sustainability and internalisation by Guineans.

To achieve this, officeholders in the legislature and judiciary must fiercely protect their independence and act with integrity. The executive should commit to respecting this independence, with conscious and organised citizens playing an important watchdog role.

Issaka K Souare, Regional Advisor, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin

This article is part of a series on preventing coups in West Africa and the Sahel. Research for the article is funded by Irish Aid and the Bosch Foundation.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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After several weeks of vowing to launch a probe into the activities of its ad hoc committe accused of corruption, the House of Representatives has kept mum or yet to take any steps on the matter.

Following a painstaking investigation, PREMIUM TIMES, between August and September, published a series of reports exposing how members of the Houses ad hoc committee set up to probe job racketeering, of intimidating and extorting ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government under the guise of investigating corruption in recruitment of personnel.

The committee was chaired by Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), a former speakership aspirant.

The reports revealed how the unscrupulous panel set up a sophisticated bribery scheme, using the unregulated Bureau de Change system to receive bribes from heads of MDAs in exchange for a soft landing.

During the investigation, this paper secured evidence on the scandal, revealing a direct link to the committeespecifically, Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun), who coordinated the bribery scheme.

The reports provided the bank account used, and the name of the BDC outlets.

Furthermore, the bribery story was corroborated by the owner of the BDC, Abubakar Sambo, who confirmed that, indeed, the lawmakers deceived him to use his outfit to move illicit funds.

Before the publication of the report, PREMIUM TIMES had contacted the House, through its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), for reaction.

He asked this paper to help with evidence, but we urged him to read the reports to get all the evidence for the House to launch an investigation.

He, therefore, promised that the lower chamber would commence the investigation as soon as evidence was provided.

But the least that you can do for me is the phone number that sent the account number and the account number. What you are doingboth of usis in the interest of the Nigerian people, you guys in the media and for those of us in the House.

To aid our own investigation, I am going to take it up with the leadership of the House and the chairman of the committee, Mr Rotimi said at the time.

Following the first report on 29 August and the public outrage over the stinking revelations on the activities of the panel, Mr Rotimi issued another statement, saying that the House has resolved to investigate the matter.

The statement, however, appeared vague because it lacked specific details on how the lower chamber intended to investigate the matter. Instead, it asked the members of the public, and any of the affected government entities with evidence related to the allegations, to approach the House for necessary action.

If anything, the statement by Mr Rotimi showed that the lawmakers were not keen about the investigation, because, in the same statement, the spokesperson still defended the committee despite the evidence contained in the report.

Worried about the attitude of the House, PREMIUM TIMES petitioned the ICPC, and unlike the lawmakers, the anti-graft agency has since commenced investigation of the matter using the evidence provided in the report.

No action after recess

This newspaper broke the story while the House was on a month-long recess. Thus, it was expected that it would launch an investigation upon resumption.

However, when it resumed 26 September, the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, did not raise the issue in his welcome remarks and no announcement was made about investigating the committee as promised.

The House has sat four times since resumption, yet there are still no indications that it harbours any plan to probe the scandal, despite ICPCs action.

Procedure for internal probe

The standing committee empowered to investigate any lawmaker or a committee is the Committee on Ethics and Privilege, chaired by Garba Inuwa (PDP, Gombe).

The ethics committee has the jurisdiction that covers measures relating to the code of conduct of members, and enforcing the provision of the code of conduct manual.

However, it cannot commence an investigation unless a complaint is submitted to it. No such complaint has been brought before the ethics committee.

In the past, points of privilege had to be raised on the floor of the House before a member could be referred to the committee for investigation.

According to order 18(7(4) of the standing rule of the House, a member of the House can write a complaint to the ethics and privileges committee.

What is surprising about this silence from the House on this bribery scandal is that in the past, it had used the committee on ethics and privileges to go after media houses for publishing stories they deemed not to be accurate.

In 2020, for instance, the ethics committee summoned several media organisations for publishing a statement by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) over the alleged collection of $10 million for the passage of the Infectious Disease Bill.

Equally, the committee had been used to go after members for sharing views considered to be offensive to the leadership.

Only last week, Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) was threatened with suspension for daring to say I am disappointed in the presiding officer.

Curiously, the House has refused to take action against the committee at the centre of the bibery sandal.

When on Monday this reporter asked Mr Rotimi via a WhatsApp message about the status of the investigation the House promised, he did not respond.

Ad hoc committee member speaks

When approached by PREMIUM TIMES, a member of the job racketeering committee, Clement Jimbo, said he would only react if the committees final report does not reflect the collective resolution of members.

If we present our report and if it does not reflect what even the media has been telling the public, of course, the entire image of the 10th Assembly would be called into question. And Clement Jimbo would not, with all due respect to the National Assembly, allow my name to be taken through the mud.

Except the report is going to be prepared in oblivion, because as members of the committee, the draft of the report, we are going to collectively sit and draft the report. We are going to collectively sit and then go through the report and our input would also be there. And that is what would form the final copy, the clean copy that would be presented to the assembly, to the speaker.

Upon resumption. What would be presented to, maybe, the speaker during plenary would be a collective reflection of what we have all agreed and I can tell you that from the investigation, the findings and testimonies that we have gathered so far, our report would reflect all that, he said.

The committee has yet to present its report even though it has exceeded the deadline of the first week of September the speaker had initially set for all committees to turn in their reports.

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EDITORS NOTE:

This report has been updated following our review of the relevant provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act with our legal expert. We have realised that it is not expressly clear that Mr Olukoyede is not qualified to be appointed as EFCC chairman, but that, it is a controversial matter that pundits continue to disagree on.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Olanipekun Olukoyede as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an appointment that has stirred controversy over the candidates qualifications for the job.

Many are of the view that Mr Olukoyede, a lawyer, is not qualified to be EFCC chairman under the law establishing the anti-corruption agency.

The president also approved the appointment of Muhammad Hammajoda as the Secretary of the EFCC for a renewable term of five years.

Both appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

The appointments, announced in a statement by a presidential spokesperson on Thursday, confirm PREMIUM TIMES exclusive report days earlier about Mr Tinubus plan to name Mr Olukoyede as the next EFCC chief.

Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson who signed the statement, said Mr Olukoyedes appointment followed the resignation of the immediate-past substantive chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Mr Bawa has been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) facing investigations over undisclosed corruption allegations since his earlier suspension from office in June.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Olukoyede, although a former secretary of the EFCC and ex-chief of staff to the chairman of the commission, did not meet the requirements of section 2(3) of the EFCC Act, to be qualified for the appointment.

The law stipulates that a chairman of the commission must be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; and possess not less than 15 years experience.

Mr Olukoyede, a lawyer, had no experience in any security or law enforcement agency until his first appointment at the EFCC in 2016 when he was appointed to serve as the Chief of Staff to then acting chairperson of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu. He held the position from 2016 to 2018.

He was subsequently appointed as the secretary of the commission in 2018 and served in that capacity up till 2020 when he was suspended from office by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He was suspended alongside Mr Magu and some other officials of the commission. He and Mr Magu were never recalled.

While Mr Magu was replaced with Mr Bawa in February 2021, Mr Olukoyede was replaced with George Ekpungu as the secretary of the commission in June 2021.

But the presidencys statement announcing the new EFCC appointments on Thursday stated that Mr Olukoyede served as the secretary of the commission up till 2023.

Controversy over Olukoyedes qualification

There is a raging controversy over Mr Olukoyedes qualification to occupy the office of the EFCC chair.

Some believe that he does not meet, at least, one of the three major criteria in the provision of section 2(1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, which requires the chairman to have 15 years cognate experience.

This assertion is based on the fact that Mr Olukoyedes experience in any security or law enforcement agency only began with his appointment as the chief of staff to the EFCC chairman in 2016.

In 2018, Mr Olukoyede was appointed the secretary to the commission, a position that qualifies as membership of the EFCC and can safely said to be higher than the equivalent of the rank of assistant commissioner of police, as the EFCC secretary legally serves as the head of administration of the anti-graft agency.

But Mr Olukoyede held this position for only two years  between 2018 and 2020 when he was suspended by then-President Buhari without being recalled.

Those who believe he is not qualified to be EFCC chairman argue that the number of years of his cognate experience, even factoring the number of years he served as chief of staff at the EFCC, the only law enforcement or security agency he has ever worked in, was insufficient.

If he had continuously worked at the commission since 2016 unstopped, he would only have garnered about seven years of experience at a law enforcement or security agency, which opponents of his appointment believe falls short of the 15 years of cognate experience required to be qualified to become the chairman of the commission.

On the other hand, some have argued that Mr Olukoyede ticks all the right boxes to be qualified as EFCC chair and that those who believe otherwise are only reading into the law what is not contained in it.

Section 2(2) of the EFCC Act clearly identifies the secretary as a member of the commission. In fact, the provision designates the chairman and the secretary of the commission as the only permanent members, and others on the EFCC board as part-time members.

Those in this school of thought say Mr Olukoyede meets the first condition of being a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement, having served as the secretary of the EFCC.

They also say that his position as the secretary of the commission for two years was well above the equivalent of an assistant commissioner of police or its equivalent when compared with the rank of officials that head the administration of other law enforcement or security agencies. For example, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) is the head of administration in the Nigeria Police Force.

Concerning the third condition stipulated in section 2(1)(a)(iii) of the law, which requires a candidate for EFCC chair to possess not less than 15 years experience, the defenders of Mr Olukoyedes appointment argue that his years-long pre-EFCC experience involving combatting corruption and fraud also forms part of his cognate experience.

This experience, they say, does not have to be from working at a government institution, as it is not stated as such in the provision. They argue that it is improper to add to a legal provision what the maker has not included.

Read the presidencys full statement announcing the appointment of Mr Olukoyode below.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW EFCC CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION

By the powers vested in President Bola Tinubu as established in section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, that the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede is a lawyer with over twenty-two (22) years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence. He has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023). As such, he fulfils the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.

Mr Olukoyedes appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Mr Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same university. He began his career as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. From there, he went into banking, including successful stints at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.

President Bola Tinubu tasks the new leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to justify the confidence given to them in this important national assignment as a newly invigorated war on corruption undertaken through a reformed institutional architecture in the anti-corruption sector remains a central pillar of the Presidents Renewed Hope agenda.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 12, 2023

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The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Florence Obi, a professor, has submitted the report of the committee that looked into the allegations of sexual harassment against the former Dean, Faculty of Law of the university, Cyril Ndifo, a professor, to the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman.

Ms Obi said the university followed all due processes in handling the matter, including suspending the suspect, Mr Ndifo, and issuing him with appropriate queries and setting up a disciplinary committee to hear the matter.

To ensure transparency in the work of the committee, the vice chancellor noted that observers were drawn from the Public Complaint Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, Federation of Female Lawyers, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Chief Judge of the Students Union High Court as well as seven civil society organisations.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Ministry to establish sexual offences unit  Minister

Receiving the report on Thursday, Mr Mamman vowed to ensure that perpetrators of the act in Nigerian universities are adequately punished.

The minister disclosed that sexual offences units will be established in the Ministry and all institutions of higher learning to deal with the menace.

He described sexual harassment as a serious criminal offence that must be dealt with whenever it occurs.

He added that the education ministry will do everything possible to tame the ugly tide in our institutions of higher learning.

Education Minister Professor Tahir Mamman has warned members of the academia and the university community over matters of sexual harassment on campuses, maintaining that the Federal Ministry of Education will deal decisively with perpetrators of such acts, the statement said.

Mr Mamman maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is out to protect the vulnerable groups within the countrys educational system.

Sexual allegations against Mr Ndifo

Female students of the institutions law faculty had on 14 August held a peaceful protest against Mr Ndifon, then the Dean of the faculty, accusing him of sexually harassing female students in the faculty. Mr Ndifon denied the allegation in an interview with this newspaper, claiming that the protest was sponsored by lecturers in the faculty who did not like his leadership style.

The university suspended him, and the vice-chancellor, Ms Obi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the university management would investigate the allegations.

Mr Ndifon faced similar accusations in 2015 that led to his suspension when a 200-level student of the faculty accused him of rape.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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Several hundred people gathered for a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Vienna on Wednesday in spite of a ban to stop it.

The atmosphere during the unauthorised demonstration was heated but the police did not report any violence, Austrias APA news agency reported.

Police did not interfere with the demonstrators at Stephansplatz in the city centre, but prevented them from continuing through the streets.

Police refused to issue a permit for the vigil after invitations featuring a Hamas slogan appeared on the internet.

As the organisers did not distance themselves from Hamas calls for violence against Israel, the rally was banned.

Police chief Gerhard Purstl said the violent conflict in the Middle East should not be carried onto the streets of

Vienna.

Israel was stunned by a large-scale attack by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on Saturday and has retaliated with massive airstrikes on the territory.

More than 1,000 people have died on each side.

(dpa/NAN)

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The total cost of production of the mining industry from January through September of this year amounted to 34.36 billion manat, or $20.2 billion (a decrease of 2.4 percent compared to the same period last year), Trend reports, citing the monthly report of the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan.

The report revealed that 32.38 billion manat ($19.05 billion) of the total cost came from the production of crude oil and natural gas, down by 2.3 percent on an annual basis.

In the above-mentioned period, Azerbaijan's production of commercial oil, the main product of the mining industry, amounted to 22.5 million tons, and the production of commercial natural gas was 26.86 billion cubic meters.

Commercial oil production decreased by 7.8 percent compared to the same period in 2022, while commercial gas production increased by 4.6 percent, the report added.

From January through September 2023, Azerbaijan produced 22.6 million tons of oil (a decrease of 7.7 percent) and 35.9 billion cubic meters of gas (an increase of 4.4 percent).

In 2022, the country produced 32.6 million tons of oil and 46.7 billion cubic meters of gas.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has emphasized the importance of a free and vibrant media landscape to the success of democracy, expressing the governments commitment to ensuring press freedom. He stated this while receiving executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at his office on Tuesday.

He recognized the challenges journalists and media organizations face, including press freedom, access to information, and journalist safety.

The minister noted that the Nigerian Union of Journalists plays a vital role in sustaining our democracy and urged practitioners and regulators to work together as partners in progress.

The Ministry of Information and National Orientation is here to provide oversight and create a level playing field for all journalists, our goal being to ensure that journalists feel safe and encouraged to practice their profession.

He observed that while press freedom is valued, it is also crucial for practitioners to be responsible and provide accurate information to the Nigerian public.

He reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration had shown commitment to press freedom and creating a conducive environment for the Nigerian press to operate, and therefore charged practitioners to take advantage of this commitment and collaborate in repositioning and reorienting Nigerians for the benefit of our countrys development, peace, and unity.

As the Minister of Information and National Orientation, I am committed to working collaboratively with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to address the challenges bedevilling the industry and promote a vibrant and responsible media landscape.

Together, he noted, the principles that define the journalism profession and ensure press freedom, access to information, and the safety of journalists would be safeguarded.

Finally, the minister re-echoed his strong dedication to nurturing a flourishing media environment with the backing of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and other stakeholders

In his remarks, Chris Isiguzo, the president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, acknowledged the challenges faced by the media industry, including press freedom, access to information, journalist safety, and economic burdens. The NUJ, he said, sees the minister as a major stakeholder and an ally in addressing these challenges and fostering a vibrant, independent, and responsible media landscape in Nigeria. He further said that the Nigerian Union of Journalists envisions a collaborative alliance with the ministry, built on shared commitment and optimism for the future.

Suleiman Haruna

Deputy Director, Press

Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation

October 10,2023

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The police in Kogi State have arrested the stepmother of an 11-year-old boy said to have been buried alive on Wednesday.

The boy, who was reportedly buried by the womans 17-year-old son, was later rescued by passers-by.

Police spokesperson in Kogi State, Williams Ovye-Aya, a superintendent of police, said in Lokoja, the state capital, that the woman was arrested on Thursday as soon as she returned from the church.

Passers-by rescued the 11-year-old boy on Wednesday after he had been buried by his stepbrother in a bush at Silo community in Zango Daji, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.

The 11-year-old boy was alleged to have stolen N10,000 belonging to his stepmother who instructed her son to punish the suspect before heading to church.

In meting out punishment to the 11-year-old, the 17-year-old took his stepbrother into the bush where he buried him alive, throwing the entire their community into bewilderment.

Police immediately arrested the 17-year-old.

READ ALSO:

Our officers and men were able to arrest the stepmother on Thursday after a tip-off. She is now in our custody.

She has made a statement to the police on the sad incident.

We shall transfer the mother and son to the Criminal Investigation Department for further interrogation of reasons behind such cruelty among family members.

It is unfortunate that the father or bread winner of the family was said to have travelled. We are waiting for him to return to give us his own statement

Once investigation is concluded, we shall arraign the mother and son, Mr Ovye-Aya said.

Kogi govt reacts

Meanwhile the Kogi State government has vowed to prosecute the 17-year-old boy and the mother.

But this may raise concerns about his competence to stand trial as a juvenile who is still under 18, Nigerias legal age of adulthood.

The states Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Fatima Buba, made the vow to prosecute the boy on Thursday in Lokoja when she spoke with journalists over the incident.

Ms Buba described the incident as very wicked and saddening, and assured that the ministry was in constant liaison with the police for the immediate prosecution of the mother and son.

While the ministry is liaising with the police for their prosecution, necessary arrangements have been made to put the 11-year-old boy in an orphanage home.

Our findings indicate that the boy is regularly maltreated by his stepmother and stepbrother.

As a government we will ensure that justice is served on all the perpetrators of evil acts in Kogi, she said.

Ms Buba warned guardians fond of inhuman treatment of their wards to desist or face the full wrath of the law. (NAN)

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has said ongoing power projects to light up industrial clusters across the country are an indication that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is on a journey of rekindling the flames of enterprise.

This is just as he added that the federal governments commitment to revamping Nigerias Infrastructure framework was the much-needed drive in empowering Nigerians and strengthening the nations economic policies.

The vice president disclosed these during his visit to the Agbara Industrial Cluster for the launch of a collaboration between the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) and partners on the project to light up industrial clusters.

According to him, while the government has embraced the past as a lesson in mapping a new path for a robust power sector, the historical mistakes that have brought Nigeria to the point it is are rather an inspiration to work harder.

The vice president stated: For too long, some of these ventures were forced to pack up, their potential stifled by the persistent energy constraints. Today, we embark on a journey of empowerment, a journey aimed at rekindling the flames of enterprise and ensuring that the promise of prosperity prevails over the darkness of past hindrances.

We have gone a full cycle in the search for solutions to our energy crisis. We have unbundled and privatised the power assets in generation, transmission, and distribution. We have also implemented the National Integrated Power Project through the NDPHC.

He vowed to closely monitor the progress of work in the ongoing power projects to light up industrial clusters across the country, with a view to holding every relevant official accountable.

I assure you that, in my capacity as the Board Chairman of NDPHC, I will hold every relevant official accountable and closely monitor the progress achieved in this project. We owe Nigerians this success story, the VP declared.

Mr Shettima reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu administration to providing the necessary institutional and policy support to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

While delivering his address titled, Lighting the Path to Economic Development, the vice president expressed gratitude to the governors of Ogun, Lagos and Oyo States where the NDPHC was already developing similar projects, as well as the companies involved.

The VP noted that the partnership between state-owned power companies and the private sector was an embodiment of progress, teamwork, and commitment to fostering synergy to enhance the productivity of businesses and institutions in the country.

The partnership, according to him, doesnt only align with the vision of the federal government to transform Nigeria into a premier investment destination but also to serve as an industrial benchmark in Africa.

He added that it was an affirmation of President Tinubus resolve to revamp the countrys infrastructure framework.

The VP said, The launch of this strategic collaboration between our company, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), and its key partners for the design, development, and operation of projects to supply dedicated, steady, and quality power to major industrial and commercial clusters in Nigeria echoes His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubus pledge to reinvigorate our nations infrastructure framework.

The choice of Agbara, Ogun State, as the pilot site of this owes to its function as an artery of Nigerias industrial structure. This is our resolve to breathe new life into the enterprises that sustain our economy.

Noting that addressing the supply deficit in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is an intervention that aims to reverse the generational setbacks that businesses with immense promise have endured, Mr Shettima said it was one thing to attract investors to the country, and another to make them stay.

He further assured that lighting up industrial clusters across the country signposts the beginning of a promised opportunity for Nigeria.

By mobilising private capital, harnessing the generation portfolio of NDPHC, and utilising the existing power delivery infrastructure, we aim to provide a consistent, reliable, and high-quality power supply to specific customer clusters with substantial capacity demands.

This effort has initiated an industrial revival of significant magnitude. In essence, it implies that, after a considerable period, the NESI will experience a substantial increase in supply levels without the necessity of injecting public funds, delivering nearly continuous power precisely where its most critical for our economy, he explained.

Mr Shettima described the host community, Agbara, as an archetype of what private sector investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship could accomplish in the economic and infrastructural development of a nation, noting that other planned industrial clusters are a manifestation of how private capital could drive industrial development and foster economic prosperity.

The vice president revealed plans by the federal government to ensure the industrial clusters unfolded into a reality.

We are not only committed to providing the institutional and policy support necessary to enable, promote, and sustain this private sector-led initiative but also to paving the way for the emergence of synchronised development in transmission and distribution infrastructure, aligned with the demands of industrial customers.

This infrastructure is designed for the efficient and reliable transmission of power from NDPHCs plants. We will deploy the appropriate technology to ensure the efficient operation of the networks and to minimise commercial, collection, and technical losses that have plagued the industry, he said.

Earlier, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said the location of the pilot phase of the initiative is due to the viability of the Agbara Industrial area as the most successful industrial estate in the country.

He said the initiative aligns with his administrations drive to provide critical infrastructure in Industrial clusters across the State and thanked President Tinubu and VP Shettima for prioritising the power sector, noting that it will unlock potentials in different sectors of the economy.

On his part, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said the interaction with stakeholders around the Agbara Industrial estate was part of efforts by the federal government to deliver safe and reliable electricity to industrial and heavy-user clusters across the country.

He expressed optimism that the initiative to ensure effective power supply to the Agbara Industrial Estate would be achieved and can be a model to be replicated across the country.

Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor of Lagos State, said the challenges experienced in the power sector can be surmounted with effective collaboration and partnership as well as adherence to set standards and due process

He urged all stakeholders to be cautious in their comments and opinions about systems and institutions in Nigeria.

On his part, the MD/CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Chiedu Ugbo, said the event signifies the unwavering commitment and determination of the Tinubu administration to leverage partnerships with stakeholders to address challenges associated with electricity access for Nigerian homes and businesses.

He said NDPHC remains committed to promoting the bilateral power sales initiative as one of the measures adopted by the company to deliver electricity to industrial clusters and businesses across the country.

Aside from the roundtable, the VP held interactions with representatives of the different clusters in the industrial area.

He had earlier on arrival at the StrongPack premises, the venue of the event, toured the production lines at the factory.

Present at the event were Noimot Salako-Oyedele, deputy governor of Ogun State; Olatunji Akinosi, deputy chairman House of Representatives Committee on Alternative Education; Sola Arifayan, the CEO, Electric Utilities Ltd; Del Tupaz, MD of StrongPack Ltd; representatives of Eko Disco and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, among other stakeholders in the Agbara Industrial Area.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications

(Office of the Vice President)

12th October, 2023

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Anambra senator, Ifeanyi Ubah, says he decided to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because he wants the South-east to align with the central government of President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Ubah said this when he visited the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, in the company of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at the partys national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

The senator had earlier in the day announced his resignation from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) on whose platform he won election in 2019 and 2023 to represent the Anambra South Senatorial District.

Mr Ubah appreciated the APC leadership for accepting him into its fold.

He commended Mr Tinubu for appointing Dave Umahi as the minister of works, despite the party recording low votes in the South-east at the 2023 presidential election.

Our president is rewarding even those who didnt vote for him, for that it will be very difficult for any man with a conscience not to look at the direction of the centre party.

I dont see anyone who will come against my coming into the APC, he said.

Mr Ubah added that he consulted widely with his political family and critical stakeholders in the South-east before defecting to the APC.

It is not all about talking, it is about doing, I believe in action, Mr President, just take it from me, I am going to deliver.

I have made my complaints to President Tinubu in front of the Senate President and he has graciously given me his words that he will support me.

I want to be sincere, it has always been difficult for the Igbo people to key into the national party because of our sentiments and emotions.

Our president is a politician who understands how it pains and how to console everybody. He has that capacity, he said.

Mr Ganduje, while receiving Mr Ubah, said he was the biggest politician that had joined the party since he assumed office as the APC chairman.

This is the biggest fish I have gotten, Mr Ganduje said.

He expressed optimism that with Mr Ubahs defection, the party would take over the South-east in the coming elections.

We will start a revolution, already we have two states in the South-east and with this timber and calibre, juggernaut, I think we have found the answer.

We thank you for coming. I describe him as a swing politician because wherever he is that party wins.

And we are expecting this swing will swing throughout South-east, especially to the other three states that dont belong to APC, Mr Ganduje said.

(NAN)

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has declared that the era of exporting raw materials from Nigeria is over.

The minister called on potential investors in the countrys vast mineral sector to consider value addition in order to generate more revenue for the country and also create jobs for the teeming masses

Mr Alake made this known on Thursday in Lado village, Udede Development Area, Nasarawa local government, Nasarawa State, at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a factory for processing of Lithium battery, established by the Ganfeng Lithium Industry Limited.

The minister said , Under my supervision I will emphasise value addition as a policy of government for the mine sector, urging all stakeholders and potential investors to embrace it, so as to boost the economy to bring foreign exchange.

While acknowledging the significance of the foundation stone laying ceremony for processing a 16,000 tons Lithium battery, Mr Alake noted that it aligns with the cardinal policy of President Bola Tinubu-led administration to create wealth and generate employment opportunities for the teeming youths through value addition to our extractive industry.

To this end, the minister said,  I chose to honour the invitation to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the factory because my presence will provide moral support to deliver this project as fast as possible.

This administration will give you all support to make it a reality. It is marketable and profitable.

The minister commended the courage and enterprise of the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, for the actualisation of the successful groundbreaking ceremony. He used the opportunity of the occasion to urge his peers to imbibe this economic recovery policy.

Mr Alake advised the project community to nurture a very harmonious relationship with the company to engender mutual benefits to the community, state and country at large.

Constructive industrial development can only survive and flourish in an atmosphere of peace, the minister stated.

In his address, Mr Sule praised the federal government and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development for facilitating the establishment of a 13,000 capacity Lithium battery energy plant in Nasarawa State.

Today, I am fulfilled, to see the realisation of my dream, Mr Sule stated.

The company, when fully operational, will employ 2,500 indigenes with the additional benefit of capacity building.

Alaba Balogun

Head, Press & PR

12 October 2023

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Nigerias ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to investigate leading opposition leaders, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, over their comments on the allegation of forgery against President Bola Tinubu.

The party said the AGF should investigate Atiku, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Mr Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for a possible case of treason over comments made on Mr Tinubus academic records released by the Chicago State University (CSU).

Ajibola Bashiru, the national secretary of the APC, said this during an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday.

President Tinubu was the candidate of the APC in the 25 February presidential election. INEC declared the winner of the poll with Atiku, Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP coming second, third and fourth respectively.

Mr Bashiru, a former law lecturer and senator, said the comments by the duo constitute a prima facie case of treason that deserves to be looked into by the attorney general.

I think they are descending into the arena and I think it is high time that the attorney general of the federation will look into whether their actions do not amount to treason. It is a prima facie of treason, he said.

The call for an investigation was made hours after Mr Obi asked the president to address the nation on his true identity.

APCs call is expected to generate uproar because the AGF is an appointee of President Tinubu. Additionally, Mr Fagbemi was part of the legal team for the ruling party at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal before he was appointed to the AGF.

Atiku and Mr Obi are currently at the Supreme Court where they are challenging the ruling of the tribunal.

Background to the CSU saga

Mr Tinubu has been having a long-running battle over his education certificate, particularly his CSU certificate that he obtained in 1979.

Last week Monday, CSU presented the legal team of Atiku with the academic record of Mr Tinubu in compliance with the ruling of a US court on a suit filed by the PDP candidate requesting the institution to do so.

The following day, CSU Registrar, Caleb Westberg, made a deposition at the court, giving further details on the documents that were released to Mr Atikus team.

Atiku, a former vice president, subsequently held a press conference in Abuja, demanding the president take a path of honour by resigning. He also called on Mr Obi and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, to join him in the fight.

The PDP candidate has since requested the permission of the Supreme Court where he is appealing the judgement of the PEPC, to present the documents to it.

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Austrias plans for an evacuation of its citizens from Israel by military aircraft on Wednesday were changed when its only available C-130 Hercules had a technical failure, forcing the country to book seats on a commercial flight instead, Reuters reports.

Austrian authorities said on Tuesday they would begin evacuations to Cyprus on Wednesday with one of its aircraft. These are the biggest in its fleet but also among the oldest, in service since the 1960s, Reuters reports.

As the aircraft was preparing to set off for Israel from Austria on Wednesday morning, smoke in the part of the aircraft where passengers would have sat made taking off impossible and it was taken for repairs.

By evening, it became clear the plane would not leave that day but the foreign ministry said it had booked 100 seats on an Israir Airlines flight to the Cypriot airport of Larnaca.

A black day for the armed forces: We could not help our compatriots, defence ministry spokesman Michael Bauer said on X, the social media network formerly known as Twitter.

The incident raised questions on X as to why a military evacuation was necessary when commercial flights were available.

The country has long stopped investing in military equipment and some of its officers say the armed forces are not equipped to defend Austria in case of attack, according to a Reuters report.

However, the conservative-led government says it is beginning to address the issue.

Asked why neither of Austrias other C-130 Hercules aircraft had been used instead of the one that broke down, Mr Bauer said: Both Hercules aircraft are being serviced  the first until March, the other until December.

Countries around the world have been scrambling to evacuate their citizens from Israel after the war started at the weekend, while some foreigners, faced with cancelled flights, have pleaded for help from their governments.

The UK Guardian reported that people from the US, Australia, Argentina, Cambodia, Canada, Nepal, Thailand, Russia, the UK, Ukraine and France, and elsewhere are confirmed to be among those killed in the violence.

More than 1,200 people have been killed in Israel while others are missing, some feared abducted by Hamas militants and taken into Gaza. Over 1000 people have been killed in Gaza after Israel launched airstrikes.

The United Nations humanitarian office reported that many people in the Gaza territory will face dire shortages of water, fuel, and medical supplies.

Another 560 housing units, it said, have been severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. Over 12,600 homes have sustained damage due to Israeli airstrikes.

The agency also reported that all 13 hospitals in the territory are only partially operational because of severe shortages of fuel and crucial medical supplies. It said the reduction in water supplies due to Israel tightening its siege on the strip has resulted in dire water shortages for over 650,000 people in the territory of 2.3 million.

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The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Olusegun Odusola, has rejected a directive by the state House of Assembly to set up a seven-person panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct made against Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The lawmakers last week directed the judge to set up the panel in a move for the impeachment of the deputy governor who had been accused of disloyalty to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

The lawmakers gave the directive after Mr Aiyedatiwa refused to respond to the 14-point allegations of the lawmakers within the stipulated seven days. The deputy governor had instead chosen to seek protection from the federal and state high courts.

However, in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, with ref no. CROD/1123/V.3/ and dated October 6, 2023, Mr Odusola cited an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining him from setting up the panel.

The court had ordered the defendants in Mr Aiyedatiwas suit, including the House, Governor Akeredolu and the chief judge to stop further action in the process until the court determines the substantive matter in the suit.

Titled Re: Letter Of Request To Set Up Investigation Panel Pursuant To Section 188 [5] Of The 1999 Constitution (As Amended), Mr Odusola said despite being mindful of section 188 of the constitution that empowers him to carry out the directive of the House, the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrains him from doing so.

Your letter reference NO: ODHA/98/253/406 of October 3, 2023 in respect of the above matter refers. I wish to inform you that on 28 September 2023, I was served with an Order of interim injunction granted by the Federal High Court, Abuja, Coram: Hon Justice Emeka Nwite in Suit No: FHC/AB/CS/1294/2023 dated September 26, 2023 in respect of this subject matter, the letter read.

Order 4 therein restrains the Chief Judge of Ondo State from constituting any seven-man panel at the instance of the 4th Defendant Respondent in respect of the complaint of the plaintiff among others, (Please find attached hereto a copy of the order).

I am not unmindful of S. 188 (10) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended which provides as follows: No proceedings or determination of the Panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceeding or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court.

Notwithstanding the above provision, a Court order is binding until set aside either by a Court of coordinate jurisdiction or by an appellate court.

When contacted on the development, the spokesperson of the House, Olatunji Oshati, on Thursday said he could not confirm that the lawmakers had received Mr Odusolas letter.

We have also heard about a letter, but I will not be able to confirm to you now whether we have received such letter, Mr Oshati said.

However, we are going into an emergency meeting now to discuss the issues on the matter and then we can determine whether the letter has arrived or not.

On Tuesday, the state high court in Akure struck out the suit filed by the deputy governor but he has filed an appeal against the decision of the court at the Court of Appeal.

On its part, the Federal High Court in Abuja had adjourned the hearing in the case to 16 October.

Governor Akeredolu returned to Nigeria last month after three months of treatment in a German hospital, but he is yet to appear in Akure, the state capital. This has raised fresh concerns about the health of the governor with some critics expressing fear that his family members and aides have been running the state in the name of the governor.

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The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, over alleged victimisation and forced imprisonment of Nigerians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The House also summoned the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The two are to appear before House Committees on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs and Human Rights.

This decision was reached following the adoption of a motion moved on Thursday by the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) and 10 others.

Moving the motion, Mr Chinda stated that over 250 Nigerians are currently in Chaota Maximum Security and other prisons in Ethiopia, noting that many of them were arrested at the airports while trying to connect flights.

He said Nigerian travellers should be accorded the same privileges that other travellers enjoy in Nigeria.

Some Nigerians are currently serving at the Chaota Maximum Security and other prisons in Ethiopia, most of whom are travellers that use the Ethiopian Airport as a transit point where they are indiscriminately arrested at the Ethiopia Airport in Addis Ababa, taken to the hospital and forcefully injected with some substances and later taken to the prison facilities.

Nigerians in Addis Ababa and all over the world and their air travellers should be protected and should be accorded the same protection Nigeria gives to foreigners who live in Nigeria;

250 Nigerians are currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia as a result of frequent attacks and may die in prison if urgent steps are not taken to save them, he said.

READ ALSO: Targeted killings and repatriation fail to deter Ethiopian migrants

Mr Chinda said urgent intervention is needed to prevent further maltreatment of Nigerians in the country.

The motion was unanimously adopted without debate when it was put to vote by the Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, who presided over the session.

The three committees are to jointly choose a day for the appearance of Mr Tuggar and Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, both former members of the House.

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A popular Catholic priest in Nsukka Diocese, Enugu State, Paul Obayi, has threatened to leave the church over alleged oppression by the dioceses Bishop, Geoffrey Onah.

Mr Obayi, popularly known as Father Okunerere, is the spiritual director of Okunerere Adoration Ministry in Nsukka.

His ministry is similar to Adoration Ministry Enugu which is being operated by another popular Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, in Enugu Diocese of the church.

My grouse with bishop

Mr Obayi, an associate professor, accused the bishop and church authorities of repeatedly oppressing him in the diocese.

The cleric spoke in a mixture of Igbo and English languages during a Holy Mass at the adoration ground on Sunday.

A video clip of him making the accusations was uploaded on his ministrys official Facebook page on Monday.

The church is my vine, I love the church, I love Nsukka (Catholic) church, I love the bishop, I love the priests, I love them, but they dishearten me, he began.

The Catholic priest said the church authorities had continued to oppress him even though he built several structures and transferred ownership of his numerous properties to the church.

At Ogrute, I acquired the land where Shanahan Hospital is situated. It was originally used to treat people with mental health (illness). When I was leaving, I gave it to the church because I belong to the church.

At Umushene, I spent N21 million to complete the church and fathers house before I left. It was started by the bishop. That was in 2008. I also built two other bungalows. I dont hide anything. Everything is for the church, yet they want Obayi to be killed, the cleric said.

He narrated how he rented a space behind Queens College Nsukka for his ministrys activities after he failed to secure land but was allegedly chased out of the place by the bishop who accused him of disturbing students of the college with noise.

The cleric also said following his repeated requests, the former governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, gave him the space he is currently occupying.

I told the bishop that I now have land. He asked to see the place. I brought him here and he then said that this land is fine to be used to build the Marian Shrine. I told him its my adoration ministry I want to start here and not Marian Shrine. He said I shouldnt talk about it again, he said.

Mr Obayi also alleged that the bishop had asked him to vacate a land at Obimo Community where he had spent about N55 million in levelling hills in the area and building a 30-room self-contained house for his adoration ministry.

He said the bishop had told him that the land, measuring 25 hectares, would be used for Nsukka Pilgrimage Centre.

Kidnappers are using that building today to keep their victims because the church is not using it till today after collecting it from me, he said.

He also accused the bishop of repeatedly stopping him from preaching in several crusades, including his scheduled trip to London, on the basis that he would preach heresies in the events.

I asked him, before you became my bishop, I had attended ten different programmes in London where I preached. Is it now youre my bishop that I will preach heresy? The oppression is too much, he stated.

Mr Obayi said the bishop insisted that the diocese would use his land to build Marian Shrine, prompting him to shift to a nearby space within the land.

The expanse of land which also houses the clerics ministry is located at Nru, a community in Nsukka Council Area of the state.

The Catholic priest said the conflict between him and the church peaked on Saturday when the diocese celebrated Marian Day at part of the land designated as Marian Shrine.

He said some Catholic priests, believed to be acting on the instruction of the bishop, stormed his adoration ground and broke his gate, claiming the church owns the place.

The church refused to give me land (for my adoration), and yet the one given to me (by the former governor), the church wants to take it from me.

Since the church doesnt want me again, I am leaving the Catholic church any moment from now, the cleric announced.

No! No!! It will not happen, hundreds of congregants bellowed.

Will I kill myself? I have noticed I am hated and not wanted, he told them.

I am disliked to the point that fellow priests broke my gate, saying I dont have right here.

Mr Obayi is one of the longest-serving priests in the diocese

Enugu, a predominantly Christian state, has a high Catholic population.

The church speaks

The spokesperson of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Emma Asogwa, did not respond to calls seeking his comments.

However, the Secretary of the diocese, Cajetan Iyidiobi, told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday afternoon that the church would not comment on the clerics allegations until it has exhausted its established ways of addressing issues and controversies.

The Catholic church has a way through which aggrieved priests can sort things out with church authorities and I guess the priest in question knows all these, Mr Iyidiobi, also a Catholic priest, said.

When reminded of the priests threat to leave the church, the diocesan secretary said, We have all heard his threat and we are waiting for what will happen.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has made regulatory changes related to lending to the real sector, the CBA told Trend.

According to the amendments, project finance loans that meet special criteria to stimulate financing of large projects by banks are considered fully secured loans. It is established that the periodicity of interest payments on these loans corresponds to the terms of the respective project. With these changes, the reserve burden on project finance loans will be adjusted, and these types of loans will be excluded from the concentration limit on unsecured loans.

The precautionary requirements for the borrower's debt burden for clean car financing loans are also relaxed, and the requirements for manufacturing, commercial, and other special equipment acting as collateral for business loans are relaxed.

And in consumer loans, there is a possibility to restructure borrowers for whom the debt-to-income ratio cannot be temporarily determined (in particular, people who have lost their jobs). At the same time, strict classification requirements have been established to minimize bank credit risks.

"Overall, the recent regulatory reforms are projected to ensure that funds from the banking sector play an effective role in economic growth by reinforcing the principles of responsible borrowing and healthy lending," the CBA added.
The Senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah, has announced his defection from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Ubahs defection notice was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and read at the plenary on Thursday.

The senator who was returned to the senate for the second term under the platform of the YPP, explained that his exit from the party was due to an insurmountable disagreement between him and its leadership.

I am willing to formally notify and inform the Distinguished Senate President and our colleagues of insurmountable differences between me and the leadership of my party.

I therefore resolved to move from the Young Progressive Party (YPP) to the most important party in Africa, the All Progressives Congress (APC), he said.

Mr Ubah said before taking the decision to exit YPP, he consulted critical stakeholders in his constituent and Anambra State at large.

He said the good works of President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the APC in developing the country prompted him to defect to the party.

READ ALSO:

He added, After thorough evaluation of a political landscape in Nigeria particularly, the good works being done by the All Progressives Congress since the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president of Nigeria, I have come to realisation and conclusion that the All Progressives Congress is better suited to champion the ideals and principles that are known.

The APCs commitment to good governance, economic development and social progress resonates deeply to my own conviction and the alignment of each members on key national issues making a choice for achieving the promises of any decent politician and particularly the promises that I made to my constituent to better the laws of all of them

I have been the national leader of the Young Progressive Party for several years and I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences this has earned me. However, as our nation faces numerous challenges which has triggered down to my constituency , it is crucial for me to align myself with the party that has the capacity to address these issues effectively for the betterment of my constituency and Nigeria at large.

I am particularly impressed by the renewed hope initiated by President Bola Tinubu GCFR and I have found it needful to join the trend so as to initiate my senatorial district into the laudable mission of my president.

With Mr Ubahs defection, the APC now has 60 senators, while the remaining five opposition parties have 49. The parties are PDP, SDP, NNPP, APGA and LP.

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A bill seeking to increase the retirement age of members of the armed forces has passed for second reading in the House of Representatives.

The consolidated bill, sponsored by Jonathan Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa), and seven others, was debated on Thursday and passed for a second reading.

The bill, among other things, seeks to amend Section 30 of the Armed Forces Act to increase the retirement age of the officers from 60 to 65 years and years in service from 35 to 40 years.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 30 by creating a new subsection four that proposes the new retirement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Principal Act, the age of retirement for members of the Armed Forces shall be 40 years of Service or 65 years of age whichever comes first, the proposed Section 30 subsection (4).

READ ALSO:

If the bill is passed, members of the armed forces would retire at 65 years old or 40 years in service.

There is another section seeking amendment of section 18A of the principal Act. The section seeks to provide for the re-engagement of retired senior officers who are forced to retire due to the appointment of service chiefs.

It is a tradition in the military that when a junior is appointed as a service chief, senior officers, ahead of him or her, would proceed on retirement. The understanding is that senior military officers are unlikely to take orders from their juniors.

The bill proposes that those retired officers should be hired as consultants in training institutions owned by the military.

As from the commencement of this Bill, any Senior Serving Member of the Armed Forces of the Federation that is required to retire compulsorily by reason only that an officer of the same rank or a subordinate rank is appointed by the President of the Federal Republic, as the Chief of Defence Staff, or Chief of Army Staff, or Chief of the Naval Staff Chief of the Air Staff, shall be engaged by the Chief of Defense Staff as Senior technical consultants for the training of officers of the Armed Forces of the Federation in the Nigerian Defence College, Armed Forces, Staff College or any other like institution, the proposed section 18(A).

In his lead debate, Mr Gaza said the purpose of this bill is to ensure that serving military officers learn from the wealth of knowledge and experiences of retired senior military officers compulsorily retired as a result of the appointment of their junior as Chief of Defence Staff or Service Chiefs.

The bill was passed for a second reading after it was put to vote by Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, who presided over the session.

It will be recalled that the federal government in January 2020 approved raising the retirement age and years of service for teachers in Nigeria from 60 years and 35 years to 65 years and 40 years, respectively.

The then president, Muhammadu Buhari, sent the Bill to the National Assembly in June of that year. After it was passed, the president assented to it in April 2022.

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The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Delta Safe have uncovered and deactivated 53 illegal refining sites, recovered stolen products and arrested 19 suspected oil thieves in the last one week.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, a major-general, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria across the country on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Buba said the troops had sustained momentum against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

He said the troops discovered and destroyed 54 dugout pits, 66 boats, 138 storage tanks, 253 cooking ovens, two pumping machines, eight speedboats, 17 hoses, 18 drums and two cylinders.

He said the troops also recovered 983,350 litres of stolen crude oil, 144,980 litres of illegally refined AGO and 71,650 litres of DPK.

Troops also neutralised one criminal, rescued three hostages and recovered one fabricated rifle, 18 vehicles and one torch light, he said.

South-east operations

In South-east, Mr Buba said the troops of operation UDO KA conducted snap operation and arrested suspected IPOB/ESN in Ikwo and Okigwe Local Government Areas of Ebonyi and Imo states during the week.

He said the troops neutralised five terrorists, arrested 12 suspected criminals and rescued seven kidnapped hostages.

Troops recovered two locally made guns, four rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammo, one FN rifle barrel, IED materials, 10 water gel explosives, three detonators, one detonating cord among others.

READ ALSO:

All recovered items, arrested suspects and rescued hostages were handed over to the relevant authority for further action., he said.

The defence spokesperson said the military had uncovered and destroyed some of the criminals safe havens across various theaters of operation.

He revealed that criminals used national parks, game reserves and forests across the country as their hideouts.

The military has identified several of these `safe havens and operations are targeted towards ensuring that they are completely dismantled.

Recently, one of such hideouts in the southeast was invaded by troops, and they found unspeakable and unprintable activities going on in the invaded camps.

It goes to tell us that these extremists are cannibals, feasting on fellow human beings and conducting other forms of dastardly acts, he said.

(NAN)

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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops have killed 50 terrorists and apprehended 114 others within a week in various operations across North-east, North- central and North-west.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, a major general, made this known while briefing journalists on the operations of the armed forces, on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Buba said the troops also rescued 49 kidnapped hostages within the week.

He said troops of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-east had sustained onslaught against Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, leading to the surrender of some of their fighters in Borno and Yobe states.

Mr Buba said the troops also recovered 17 AK47 rifles, one AK47 rifle loaded with 21 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one hand grenade, 137 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and four mobile phones.

According to him, the troops also killed 12 terrorists, arrested 26 and rescued six kidnapped hostages in the region.

He added that the air component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction around Damboa-Maiduguri and Gwoza-Madagali areas, during which some terrorists were sighted and neutralised with rockets.

READ ALSO:

Mr Buba said troops of Operation Safe Haven in North- central had while on fighting patrol, arrested suspected kidnappers in Kanam and Sanga Local Government Areas of Plateau and Kaduna states within the period.

He said one AK47 rifle, four pistols, a Dane gun, 15 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and two mobile phones were recovered while two terrorists were eliminated, 12 apprehended and three kidnapped hostages rescued.

The defence spokesperson added that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke also conducted raids and arrested suspected terrorists in Takum Local Government Area of Benue and the Federal Capital Territory.

Mr Buba further said that the troops had apprehended 26 suspected criminals and illegal oil bunkerers in Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Councils of the FCT within the week under review.

Overall, troops neutralised four terrorists, arrested 28 terrorists and rescued one kidnapped hostage, he added.

In the North-west, Mr Buba said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji had conducted fighting patrol and neutralised terrorists in Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara.

He added that nine terrorists were neutralised, 12 arrested, and 25 kidnapped victims rescued.

Mr Buba further said that 10 AK47 rifles, one locally fabricated gun, 155 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, one magazine and one vehicle were recovered from the criminals.

The defence spokesperson said an air interdiction by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji on the enclave of a terrorist, Kamilu Buzaru, in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, succeeded in neutralising several of the terrorists.

It was acquired and attacked with rockets, neutralising several terrorists and destroying their logistics, he added.

(NAN)

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The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has said it has no plans of incorporating private universities into the list of beneficiaries of the Funds grants and disbursements.

TETFund spokesperson, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, disclosed this to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.

Some sections of the media had reported how the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor, stated that the union would reject any moves by the Fund to include private tertiary institutions as part of its beneficiaries.

Mr Osodeke was quoted as saying such a move would lead to the proliferation of private universities devoid of quality. He said his union would continue to protest until the right thing is done.

The ASUU President spoke on Wednesday during an interactive session with unions of beneficiary institutions organised by TETFund.

The Fund is also meeting the unions at the polytechnics and colleges of education, this newspaper learnt.

But Mr Oniyangi said the Fund has no plans or proposals about the inclusion of private universities into the beneficiaries list.

There was no such proposal anywhereIt was not proposed, it was never talked about, he said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

TETFund did not make any proposal regarding the enlistment of any private institution. We would definitely not do that because its not within the mandate of the Fund.

Interactive session

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Fund, Sunny Echono, said the interactive session was to understand the challenges and difficulties in the delivery of quality education in Nigerias public tertiary institutions and thereby make meaningful contribution to the successful execution of the objective of the Fund.

He said this is to help in delivering the primary mandate of the agency which is to rehabilitate, restore and consolidate Tertiary Education in Nigeria, using funding alongside project management.

READ ALSO:

The interactive session was conceived as a proactive engagement against the backdrop of the prevailing challenges, and to sustain the steady growth and development of the tertiary education sub-sector, a key success factor is the need to consistently engage and challenge one another on how we can best improve the situation, Mr Echono said.

He said the session is also expected to serve as a platform to discuss and mitigate incidences of industrial disputes in the tertiary education sector and look at ways to prevent and avoid their occurrences.

He added that the session would provide the opportunity to build and solidify cooperation and collaboration between the Fund, its beneficiary institutions and the unions on matters that affect the growth and development of tertiary education in Nigeria.

Beneficiary institutions

Mr Echono said the Fund currently provides intervention in 253 public tertiary institutions in Nigeria, comprising 99 universities, 79 polytechnics and 75 colleges of education.

He said the funds of TETFund are disbursed to the public tertiary institutions on a 2:1:1 basis for the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education respectively.

About TETFund

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund was established in 2011 to manage and improve the disbursement of the Education Tax Fund to Nigerian public tertiary institutions, as part of attempts to solve the funding crises facing them.

TETFund administers, manages, disburses, and monitors the judicious utilisation of the now 3 per cent Tertiary Education Tax paid by all registered companies operating in Nigeria.

It was formerly the Education Tax Act (1993) with a mandate to operate as an intervention fund to all levels of public education from basic to tertiary education.

In 2011, the Act was repealed and replaced with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act which focuses only on public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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Editors Note: This story is undergoing fresh editorial review and will be updated soon. Thank you.
his current objective of wiping out Hamas, even if it succeeds, which is improbable, is not a guarantee that a worse mutation of Hamas will not rise again in Gaza. A stubborn pursuit of his goal might produce in young, innocent Palestinians today the same sentiments that pushed him to the far right The lion and the lamb must find a common ground in their shared, chequered history.

This is the moment the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu always feared with great anxiety. Yet, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Southern Israeli border towns in the early hours of 7 October, Bibi and Israels elite security forces were unprepared.

In a bizarre fabrication intended to complete Bibis humiliation a few days into the war, social media claimed, falsely, that an antisemitic crow had given the victory to the Palestinians in a mystic moment of avian fury.

The truth is more nuanced and complicated. After over five decades of bloody conflicts, the Israeli-Palestinian war has not produced any winner or loser. Only a cycle of senseless violence that appears totally avoidable to everyone, except the combatants and those who occasionally use them for their proxy war.

The current war, which Hamas claimed was to avenge Israeli attacks on the Al Aqsa Mosque, is one of the bloodiest in a long time, but it will not produce a result different from all the rest.

Bibis War?

In the popular imagination, no thanks to the Israeli left-wing press, Bibi is a warmonger. The popular view is that he will make war, even when peace would cost him nothing, to gratify his anti-Palestinian obsession and deflect from his ruthless control of power and domestic woes. An omen of his just desserts was summed up by the video of a crow tearing up an Israeli flag from a pole on a building in the occupied territories. It didnt matter that it was an old video, which had gone viral nearly six months before the recent outbreak of hostilities. All is fair in war.

Bibi can hardly escape some responsibility for the present state of affairs in the Middle East. After 35 years of being a part of the Israeli political establishment and 16 years as prime minister, it is fair to say that if he genuinely wanted a different outcome in Israeli-Palestine relations, there would be no need for the parable of the crow to achieve one.

Within the first four days, the current conflict claimed over 1,500 lives on both sides, with thousands more injured or displaced, and communities leveled in the most brutal ways. In figures that seem very conservative, the UN reports that about 6,400 Palestinians and 300 Israelis have been killed in the conflict since 2008. And that is discounting casualties in the ongoing clashes.

Anatomy of Anger

But every story has at least two sides. While the world struggles for a ceasefire to bring relief to millions of innocent victims trapped in this conflict and, hopefully, drag the parties back to the forlorn two-state road map for peace, those who want Bibis head on a platter might also do well to hear his side of the story.

Perhaps Bibi might never have been a prime minister or he might have been a different one altogether, if Palestinian leaderships, from Yasser Arafats Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to the current leaders of Hamas, were not sworn to the destruction of Israel, at all costs. Sadly, the PLO has either become irrelevant or is at best playing second fiddle to Hamas, while the chaos in Lebanon has given Hezbollah free reign.

Perhaps he might never have been prime minister or he might have been a different one if his brother, Yonathan, had not been brutally killed in 1976 in Entebbe, when Yonathan led Israeli special forces to rescue mostly Jewish passengers, who were taken hostage and their plane hijacked to Uganda by Arab terrorists. Bibi was only 27-years-old then.

Perhaps he might not have been prime minister or he might have been a different one, if Egypt, Syria and Jordan did not join hands in a single-minded pledge to wipe out Israel in the Six Day War in 1967 or during Yom Kippur, six years later. Israel has mended fences with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and a number of other Arab countries since, but one or two old foes in the region have become implacable enemies, too.

Perhaps Bibi might never have been a prime minister or he might have been a different one altogether, if Palestinian leaderships, from Yasser Arafats Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to the current leaders of Hamas, were not sworn to the destruction of Israel, at all costs. Sadly, the PLO has either become irrelevant or is at best playing second fiddle to Hamas, while the chaos in Lebanon has given Hezbollah free reign.

Is It About Gaza?

If the Israeli occupation of Gaza was its worst crime all these years, then Ariel Sharons withdrawal from there in 2005, in defiance of Bibi and other doubters at the time, might have changed the course of that regions history. Maybe it might even have forestalled Bibis emergence as prime minister many years later. Unfortunately, what Bibi said then, that withdrawing to escape terror is inviting the menace to chase you, appears to have been proved right.

Author and syndicated columnist, Jonathan Power, holds a clearly different view, of course. In an article entitled, Government supporters in Israel are dangerously ignorant of their own history, he suggests that the same painful memories that radicalised Bibi also radicalised a significant number of five million Palestinians over the years, admonishing those who always talk about the blood libel and the Holocaust not to also forget biblical genocides committed by Moses on the journey to the Promised Land or the kindness of Muslim Turks or medieval Spain.

Who owns the land? This is where Bibis story gets even more interesting. In his book, Bibi: My story, he accuses an Arab Knesset member of twisting historical facts, in answering the question.

The first thousand years or so, he writes, are covered in the Bible, and are attested to by archeological and the historical records of other contemporaneous peoples.

He traces the history of the Jews from Ur in the Chaldeans through Abrahams burial in a cave he bought in Hebron, to Egypt and from there to the wilderness, where the children of Israel received a moral code that would change the world on their journey to the Promised Land. He recalls the conquests by Joshua and how after Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, David and his siblings split the realm in two in their battle for control.

Anyone familiar with Britains legacy of elegantly concealed systematic violence against its colonies, which watered the seed of apartheid in South Africa and created the Kashmiri and Cypriot problems, will not waste time in blaming that country for the 75-year-old problem in the Middle East. To adapt Max Siollun, the whole object of British occupation was not only to protect the people from themselves, but also to set them against each other.

The northern kingdom, Israel, is destroyed, its ten tribes lost to history, Bibi writes. The southern kingdom, Judea, is conquered and Solomons temple destroyed by the Babylonians by whose rivers the exiled Judeans weep as they remembered Zion.

He then traces the history of the Jews from Roman rule and the destruction of Herods Temple in 70 CE to the times of the Byzantines, when the Jews were finally reduced to an insignificant minority. It is not the Jews who usurp the land from the Arabs, Bibi writes, but the Arabs who usurp the land from the Jewsthe Jews are the original natives; the Arabs the colonialists.

Lion and the Lamb

This is a story that is hardly told, understood or believed. And perhaps the course of history might also have been completely different if Britain, which maintained control over Palestine under the League of Nations mandate, had implemented the two-state solution, instead of dumping the problem at the doorstep of the UN in 1948.

Anyone familiar with Britains legacy of elegantly concealed systematic violence against its colonies, which watered the seed of apartheid in South Africa and created the Kashmiri and Cypriot problems, will not waste time in blaming that country for the 75-year-old problem in the Middle East. To adapt Max Siollun, the whole object of British occupation was not only to protect the people from themselves, but also to set them against each other.

Yet, the choices made by Palestinians and Israelis over the years have mostly worsened a bad legacy. Blighted as the region may be from its colonial legacy, it cannot be hostage to the hate or personal injuries of its present elite. After the depredations of COVID-19 and the serious supply chain problems caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, the world could use some respite.

Bibi is right to feel that his worst fears about Gaza and the West Bank under the current Hamas leadership and a weakened PLO, was confirmed by the recent unprovoked attack of innocent civilians at a peace concert in Israel.

But his current objective of wiping out Hamas, even if it succeeds, which is improbable, is not a guarantee that a worse mutation of Hamas will not rise again in Gaza. A stubborn pursuit of his goal might produce in young, innocent Palestinians today the same sentiments that pushed him to the far right.

The lion and the lamb must find a common ground in their shared, chequered history.

Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP.

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At various national levels, the Maputo Protocol has also spurred the formulation and revision of policies and laws to promote, protect and safeguard womens rights. Many countries have taken tangible steps to align domestic legislation with the protocols provisions. For example, Zimbabwe has outlined that the state has a duty to provide basic, accessible and adequate health services for and to women. Similarly, in Guinea, the 2020 constitution includes clauses that protect womens rights to health, physical and mental well-being.

The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), adopted in 2003 by African Union heads of state and government, was a milestone addition to human rights frameworks in the continent. By their intent, human rights frameworks are meant to ensure the protection, promotion, and fulfilment of rights. These frameworks provide a structured approach to addressing various aspects of human rights, guiding governments, organisations, and societies in their efforts to create a just and equitable world. However, this intent is only as effective as the implementation of the frameworks.

The Maputo Protocol was adopted, as an addition to the human rights frameworks under the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, in June 1981 by the 18th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The instrument entered into force on the 25th of November 2005, only two years after its adoption  a testament to the commitment of African governments to womens rights. Since then, 44 of 55 member states have ratified the Protocol, while 49 have signed it.

The Maputo Protocol extends and elaborates upon the provisions outlined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, emphasising the urgent need to address the unique challenges and discrimination that women face across the continent. It provides a comprehensive framework for safeguarding and promoting womens rights in diverse spheres of life, while addressing many critical issues, including violence against women, economic and political empowerment, reproductive rights, and access to justice. By doing so, the Maputo Protocol acknowledges the multifaceted nature of womens rights and recognises the interplay between gender equality, development, and human dignity.

One of the key strengths of the Maputo Protocol lies in its emphasis on practical implementation. It calls for legislative and policy reforms, institutional mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives, to effectively translate its provisions into action. Moreover, the protocol emphasises education and awareness-raising to challenge deeply ingrained norms perpetuating gender inequality. While the Maputo Protocol marks a significant stride toward gender equality and womens empowerment, its successful implementation remains an ongoing endeavour.

What Progress Has Been Recorded?

Since its adoption in 2003, the Maputo Protocol has marked a significant step forward in advancing womens rights across Africa. The progress made under this protocol can be assessed through its ratification levels, national policies, regional frameworks and tangible progress in womens empowerment and gender equality.

As previously noted, the ratification of the Maputo Protocol has been a notable measure of its acceptance and endorsement by African nations. Over the past 20 years, the protocol has garnered substantial support, with a majority (44 out of 55 Member States) of the African Union ratifying or acceding to it. The ratification of the Protocol signifies a collective acknowledgement of its importance in addressing the myriad of issues African women face, from gender-based discrimination and violence to being sidelined in political and public representation.

At various national levels, the Maputo Protocol has also spurred the formulation and revision of policies and laws to promote, protect and safeguard womens rights. Many countries have taken tangible steps to align domestic legislation with the protocols provisions. For example, Zimbabwe has outlined that the state has a duty to provide basic, accessible and adequate health services for and to women. Similarly, in Guinea, the 2020 constitution includes clauses that protect womens rights to health, physical and mental well-being.

Furthermore, states have undergone and enacted legal reforms to criminalise various forms of violence against women. Burundi, for example, has had legislative reforms that widely address gender-based violence (GBV), while in Seychelles, reforms have targeted domestic violence. Other legal reforms have increased the severity of punishment for violence against women (VAW), for example in Senegal and Sierra Leone, and more than 20 countries have now banned or criminalised Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). These policy changes reflect a growing recognition of womens vital role in development and the need to eliminate deeply entrenched gender disparities.

implementing the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria has witnessed mixed progress across various aspects of womens rights. The representation of women in politics remains an area with room for improvement. While the protocol emphasises the importance of womens participation in decision-making, Nigerian politics still faces challenges in achieving gender parity.

While substantial progress has been achieved under the Maputo Protocol, persistent challenges exist. Implementation gaps, inadequate resources, and cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequality continue to impede its full realisation. Moreover, the varying pace of policy implementation across countries underscores the need for continued advocacy and collaboration.

The Nigerian Case

Nigeria is one of the early countries that ratified the Maputo Protocol. It follows a slew of other international frameworks to which Nigeria has signed.

Since 2003, the country has also consistently developed national gender policies. An important milestone was the passage of the 2015 Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, which aims to eliminate violence in private and public life, with specific prison terms for crimes. Yet, even with the passage of the VAPP Act, not all states in Nigeria have ratified the law, and there are currently three states yet to domesticate the Act. Besides, for states that have domesticated the VAPP Act, there is still the need for a comprehensive, coordinated approach, involving law enforcement, healthcare, and community engagement, to adequately address GBV as a deeply rooted issue in Nigerian society.

Some tangible changes have also been experienced in the country, particularly the improvement in the political consciousness of young women about the democratic governance space, in terms of participation and representation; increasing demand for gender justice by womens rights groups; as well as resilience in continuing to push for the voice, agency and power of women in nationhood.

However, implementing the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria has witnessed mixed progress across various aspects of womens rights. The representation of women in politics remains an area with room for improvement. While the protocol emphasises the importance of womens participation in decision-making, Nigerian politics still faces challenges in achieving gender parity. Despite policy provisions, including the Nigerian National Gender Policy, which stipulates a 35 per cent minimum threshold for womens political participation, womens representation in political offices remains relatively low.

A glaring example can be seen in the number of women sworn into the nations 10th National Assembly shortly after the 2023 Nigerian elections. Currently, in the Nigerian Senate, out of the 109 senators, only three are women, while in the House of Representatives, sixteen women were sworn in out of the 360. While efforts to enhance womens political participation continue, there is a gap between policy and implementation, signalling that more must be done to translate policy intentions into tangible results.

Furthermore, GBV remains a critical concern in Nigeria. While the Maputo Protocol addresses the need to eliminate violence against women, Nigeria continues grappling with high GBV rates. Domestic violence, sexual assault, and harmful traditional practices persist, often due to inadequate enforcement of laws and societal norms perpetuating gender inequality. Efforts to combat GBV have included legal reforms and awareness campaigns.

Nigeria is poised to make significant strides towards fully implementing the Maputo Protocol. However, a deliberate and concerted effort involving relevant stakeholders across various levels in both public and private domains is needed to advance gender equality and create a society where womens rights are protected, respected, and upheld.

Similarly, conflicts in Nigeria, particularly in regions driven by insurgency and violence, disproportionately affect women. While the Maputo Protocol emphasises the protection of women during conflicts and their participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, women in conflict-affected areas in Nigeria face the heightened risks of sexual violence, displacement, and loss of livelihoods. The impacts, for instance, of the Boko Haram insurgency, have increased conflict-related sexual violence for millions of women and girls across the affected countries beyond Nigeria, including Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. The lack of comprehensive support services for victims of conflict-related sexual violence remains challenging in addressing violence against women (VAW).

Furthermore, climate-induced threats affecting Nigerian womens livelihoods also present additional challenges the country has to reckon with. The Protocol underscores the link between environmental sustainability and womens rights. Yet, Nigerian women are disproportionately affected by climate change, as they are often responsible for food production and water collection. In the last few years, changing rainfall patterns, environmental degradation, and insecurity have decreased agricultural productivity and increased resource scarcity, impacting womens economic empowerment and exacerbating existing gender disparities.

Bridging the Gaps and the Way Forward

A comprehensive and multi-faceted approach is required to bridge the gaps and fully implement the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria. For instance, legal reforms and enforcement are needed to strengthen and enforce existing laws that protect womens rights and address gender-based violence. The establishment of specialised courts to expedite legal proceedings for cases of violence against women, as we have seen in the Federal Capital Territory, is necessary for ensuring that abusers are not only reported but also prosecuted for their offences in a manner that is both timely, efficient and ensures that justice is served and the rights of women are protected.

Educating the public and creating awareness about womens rights is also important. Done consistently, this will, over time, foster a cultural shift, especially if religious and other community leaders are involved in advocating for gender equality and challenging harmful gender norms and practices. Similarly, womens social and political empowerment is crucial in ensuring they are represented in public and private organisations. Therefore, implementing and monitoring gender quotas for political positions is perhaps the most effective way to safeguard and promote womens active participation and leadership in decision-making bodies at all levels.

Furthermore, providing training and mentorship programmes to equip women with the skills needed for effective political engagement will ensure they are prepared to lead and effectively participate in democratic and governance processes, given the opportunity. Women, especially in rural areas, also need enhanced access to quality healthcare and support services, specifically for survivors of gender-based violence. Safe spaces and shelters for women and girls should be available across all levels to offer counselling, legal aid, and economic empowerment programmes that help women rebuild their lives.

Additionally, developing climate adaptation strategies that prioritise womens needs and vulnerabilities, investment in sustainable agricultural practices, water resource management, and alternative livelihood options, are necessary for ensuring and protecting womens economic resilience in the face of climate-induced threats.

Nigeria is poised to make significant strides towards fully implementing the Maputo Protocol. However, a deliberate and concerted effort involving relevant stakeholders across various levels in both public and private domains is needed to advance gender equality and create a society where womens rights are protected, respected, and upheld.

Olufunke Baruwa is a Nigerian feminist, gender, and development practitioner. She is currently the Program Officer for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice at the Ford Foundation Office for West Africa where she leads work on ending violence against women and girls.

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Business School Netherlands (BSN) held its graduation ceremony in the Netherlands on Saturday, 30 September, 2023, and announced the graduation of a new set of sixty-five (65) Action Learning and Transformation Leaders from Nigeria, tagged the MBA Class of 2023. Oti Omatsone emerged as the Overall Best Graduate of the MBA Programme and had a distinction in her Masters Dissertation.

Business School Netherlands is a tier-one provider of Business Education worldwide. In its 2023 report, the famous CEO Magazine ranked Business School Netherlands among the top ten Global Business Schools offering MBA programmes. BSN was established in 1988 in the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands and has grown in 16 countries. The school has graduated over 7,000 full MBA and Executive MBA holders working in over 2,400 firms in over 74 countries.

Business School Netherlands has worldwide accreditation, reflecting its commitment to exceptional global quality standards. Business School Netherlands is accredited globally by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programmes (ACBSP), as well as the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA), and it is a member of the Association for Transnational Higher Education Accreditation (ATHEA). BSN has been recognised further as the Best MBA Provider in the Netherlands.

The Country Director of BSN Nigeria, Professor Lere Baale, stated, Our vision is to develop world-class leaders, and our ambition is to be an enabler in the development and success of leaders and organisations worldwide through a unique, pragmatic and practical Action Learning programme, providing answers to current leadership issues through Direction, Vision, Understanding, Clarity, Agility, Resilience and Diversity (DVUCARD).

The degree awarding ceremonies are usually held in The Netherlands to cement further the global interaction of all graduates in the BSN Community.

BSN MBA is a practical, flexible, part-time, weekend-only, International and flexible payment programme for everyone with a bachelors or higher diploma or over a Decade of working experience. You do not need any English Tests.

For more details, call/WhatsApp 08117339548 or email bukola.ayeni@bsn-mba.net.

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In a remarkable step towards advancing its long-standing commitment to water sanitation and stewardship, the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd and its implementing partner, the Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), commissioned two state-of-the-art sanitary facilities in Lagos on Tuesday, 26th September.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 places a priority on achieving clean water and sanitation for all. According to UNICEF, more than 46 million people still practise open defecation in Nigeria. Recognising the need to address this vital requirement in the community, NBC took the initiative to provide dignified sanitary and hygiene facilities, to underserved locations across Nigeria.

In addition to the 10-room public toilet block that are wheelchair accessible, borehole, overhead tank, sanitary bio-digester, handwash and hand dryer launched in Lagos (at Oyingbo and Idumagbo), NBC is also launching state-of-the-art toilet and sanitary facilities across four other locations in Nigeria including Owerri, Benin, Kano, and Maiduguri.

This initiative is estimated to benefit approximately five million people annually, thereby promoting better health, hygiene, and improved living conditions for the residents. These efforts are also in accordance with NBCs Mission 2025 sustainability commitments aimed at achieving sustainable development in host communities.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director of Nigerian Bottling Company, Oluwasoromidayo George, emphasised the companys commitment towards water sustainability, stewardship, and environmental hygiene.

She said At NBC, we are deeply committed to the cause of water sustainability, stewardship, and environmental hygiene. Today, we take a significant step towards a cleaner, healthier Nigeria by donating toilets and sanitary facilities, to support the Federal Governments mission to eradicate open defecation. Open defecation poses serious health and environmental risks to our communities and as responsible corporate citizens, we understand the importance of access to proper sanitation facilities. Through this donation, we remain resolute in our commitment, and we stand firmly behind our mission to make a lasting impact.

Also speaking at the event, OPS-WASH National Coordinator, Dr Nicholas Igwe, reaffirmed NBCs efforts towards water sustainability and expressed delight in the collaboration between the organisations. He said, We are proud to collaborate with NBC on this project, which will not only improve the quality of life for millions of Nigerians but also contribute significantly to the goal of ending open defecation. The partnership also underscores the power of private-sector engagement in addressing critical social and environmental challenges in Nigeria. Together, we are setting a strong example for corporate responsibility and sustainable development in the region.

Lagos is committed to the attainment of open defecation-free Nigeria by the year 2025 and this is being guided by the defined roadmap which recognises the bridging of infrastructural gap as one of the cardinal steps as well as exploring private and public sector partnerships.

The representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of The Environment and Water Resources, Office of Environmental Services, Omoyeni Balogun, commended NBC on its water sanitation, hygiene, and stewardship agenda, noting: NBCs dedication to water sanitation and hygiene represents a commendable stride towards a cleaner and healthier future for our nation and its citizens. It mirrors our collective commitment to ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment for all. The Federal Ministrys pledge to attain open defecation-free status in Nigeria by 2025 is guided by a well-defined roadmap that places significant emphasis on rectifying infrastructural deficiencies and nurturing partnerships with both the private and public sectors.

The unveiling ceremony had high-level executives, dignitaries, and industry leaders from the private sector, government agencies, and departments in attendance. Among the notable attendees were the Council of Lagos White Cap Chiefs, Vice Chairman Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon. Emilagba Jubril, Vice Chairman Lagos Island Local Government, Prince Mohammed Eshilokun, Zonal Director (South West) Federal Controller, Lagos, Federal Ministry of Environment, Oluwatoyin Agbenla amongst others.

Over the last decade, NBC has made water stewardship one of the drivers of its sustainable manufacturing priorities. But more so, it has continued to implement community development initiatives across Nigeria. This initiative amongst others is one of the social development projects supported by the 1 million donation provided by NBCs parent company, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC). It is also in alignment with the Federal Governments mission to eliminate open defecation in Nigeria by 2025.

In addition, the company also provided water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities to nine underserved communities in Kano and Enugu States comprising 28 new boreholes, 20 boreholes rehabilitated, and 145 units of public latrines with handwashing facilities in 2010.

About the Nigerian Bottling Company

Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd (NBC) is a member of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC) Group, an anchor bottler for The Coca-Cola Company in 28 countries with over 715 million consumers and more than 197 brands in these markets. Their operations have continued to grow over the years and today NBC operates 8 manufacturing plants and 14 distribution centres across Nigeria.

NBC serves consumers across Nigeria by manufacturing, marketing, and distributing a portfolio of strong brands including Sparking Soft Drinks which has the iconic Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes, and Limca; Still Drinks including the Five Alive range and Eva water as well as Monster and Predator energy drinks.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. A program to support the digitalization of small and medium businesses will be implemented in 20232026, Trend reports.

According to the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Economy, a presentation of the program "Digital Transformation of Small and Medium Enterprises in Eastern Partnership Countries" was held at the event with the participation of representatives of relevant government agencies and international organizations.

Advisor to the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rauf Najafli, Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy in Azerbaijan Heiko Schwarz, and representatives of GIZ Tilman Nagel and Sandra Schenke discussed the policy of digital transformation of SMEs in the Eastern Partnership countries, the importance of digitalization in the development of SMEs, best practices in the relevant field, and shared their thoughts on cooperation in this area.

Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of KOBIA, noted the importance of business digitalization for business growth, making more flexible decisions, introducing new products and services, increasing customer satisfaction, reducing operating costs, and achieving high productivity without expanding the workforce.

In his presentation of the project, Program Director Niklas Ruffer said that the goal of the program, covering 20232026, is to support the strengthening of competitiveness among small and medium-sized enterprises, taking into account digital transformation.

The project aims to create the prerequisites necessary for the digital transformation of SMEs at the institutional and structural levels, strengthen the statistical base, enhance cooperation between participants in the digital and entrepreneurial ecosystems in order to improve services, and improve the ability to apply digital solutions in business and production. The program is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). The project will be implemented in Azerbaijan and other Eastern Partnership countries.

KOBIA is one of the main partners of the program in Azerbaijan.
About 125 outgoing youth corps members have been trained on employability skills in Abuja as they prepare to pass out.

The training, facilitated by Creative Visions Development Foundation (CVDEF) and supported by the Christian Aid Nigeria, was aimed at preparing the corps members as they go into the labour market.

They received training on resume building and Interview; preparation networking and personal branding; problem-solving, critical thinking, goal setting and action planning.

CVDEF Executive Director, Funmilola Oladejo, said there is need for the corp members to be guided through acquisition of some of the demand skills needed for the current labour market.

She expressed confidence that they will make good use of the knowledge acquired.

The facilitator for the workshop, Pam Albert, told the corps members that there is a need for them to improve their computer skills before exiting the scheme.

He said the youths must understand diversity and multicultural sensitivity as they are becoming leaders.

You can never go far if you are not sensitivity to other cultural identities, to other persons with different status, such as persons with disabilities.

You can talk about where women are monopolised. You can talk about where men are generalised. You can talk about religious sensitivity, he said.

Mr Albert encouraged them to be interactive and sensitive in their workplaces.

In your workplaces, you will have multicultural setting and multi-religious setting. Its expected of you to be very very sensitive, he said.

NYSC Local Government Inspector (LGI), Ola Mobolanle, appreciated the efforts of the organisers of the workshop to equip the corpers with needed skills since many are unemployable.

I see this as a very great privilege having this programme for our youth corpers. In my many years of working with NYSC, I have come to discover that the youth are not prepared to take responsibilities. A lot of them are not employable because we are getting complaints from many employers. They just have to manage to keep these corpers around. A lot of them are half baked and they are not seasoned at all.

I see this programme as a very great privilege and a necessity for this timing. I want to say a big thank you to the organisers, and my prayer is that we have many more to help prepare our youth for the labour market,  she said.

Corper appreciation

One of the corps members, Dorcas Nyor, said she learnt a lot from the workshop because of its timing.

She stated that she learnt how to prepare her resume, prepare for interview and things the employers will certainly be looking for.

She said she was appreciative of the opportunity to have acquired skills under the guidance of the organisers.

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Gunmen have abducted three Catholic nuns and a seminarian in Nigerias South-east.

The hoodlums abducted the victims on 5 October while they were heading to Imo State for a burial.

Gloria Nnamchi, the vicar-general of the Missionary Daughters of Mater Ecclesiae in Nigeria confirmed the incident in a short note, according to a post on the official Facebook page of the Catholic Broadcast Commission of Nigeria.

Ms Nnamchi, a Catholic nun, said the hoodlums also abducted the driver of the car.

The vicar-general gave the names of the three abducted nuns as Rosemary Ejiowokeoghere, Maria Okoye and Josephine Chinyekwuo.

The name of the abducted seminarian is Peter Eyakeno, while the driver is Emmanuel Awoke.

She said the victims were serving at the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, another state in the South-east.

The abductors have contacted the missionary organisation, and have asked for a ransom, she said.

She appealed to Catholic faithful to pray for the safe release of the victims.

A Catholic priest in Abakaliki, who asked not to be named, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday morning that the diocese had been troubled by the incident.

The ransom I was told they are demanding is heavy, the cleric said, without mentioning the amount.

The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comments.

Not the first time

Communities in Nigerias South-east have witnessed increased cases of abduction lately.

Catholic clerics have become targets of such attacks in recent times

Earlier this month, gunmen abducted a Catholic priest and three others in Anambra State. The victims were later rescued by the police in the state.

Another Catholic priest, Stanislaus Mbamara, was abducted in June while he was returning from Awka, the state capital, to Nnewi.

He was released about two days later after a ransom was reportedly paid to his abductors.

Last month, gunmen abducted Marcellinus Okide, another Catholic priest alongside six others in Enugu State.

Mr Okide was released four days later, but the fate of the six others abducted with him remains unknown.

Gunmen, in May, abducted Jude Maduka, another Catholic priest, while he was inspecting his adoration site in Ogii, a community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.

He was released by his abductors, two days after.

In August 2022, four reverend sisters of the Catholic Church were kidnapped along Okigwe- Umulolo Road in Okigwe Local Government Area of Abia State.

They were released, days later.

Within the same period, gunmen abducted a catholic priest and a seminarian along Okigwe-Umunneochi Road, the boundary between Imo and Abia States.

The victims were released two days later after reportedly paying a ransom to their abductors.

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October 19-22, 2023, Topanga, California

TOPANGA, Calif., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Topanga Film Festival (TFF) is back with its 18th edition, bringing together a dynamic community of filmmakers, storytellers, activists, and technologists for a four-day exploration of cinema and its role in an increasingly complex world. The festival runs from October 19 to October 22, with screenings and events at Froggy's Fish Market and Corazon Performing Arts in Topanga, California.

The Theme: UNREEL

"Join us for a unique cinematic experience, as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of storytelling" Post this

In an era characterized by dissonance and division, TFF serves as a beacon for those looking to make sense of our ever-changing realities. The festival's theme, "UNREEL  Keeping it Real in an Unreal World," will delve into the blurred lines between fiction and reality through an exciting curation of films, discussions, and workshops.

Programming Highlights

Over 35 films, including 3 narrative and 12 documentary features.

The International Short Film Competition vying for The Coveted Coyote Award.

A Young Filmmakers Showcase, panel talks on topics like "The Rise of AI," and more.

Not-to-Miss Films and Events

Thursday, Oct 19 : "Speed Is Expensive," narrated by Topanga's own Ewan McGregor + " Colin Hay  Waiting For My Real Life," Colin Hay ( Men At Work ) will attend and perform post screening.

"Speed Is Expensive," narrated by own + "  Waiting For My Real Life," ( ) will attend and perform post screening. Friday, Oct 20 : "Rachel's Farm," Rachel Ward will attend.

"Rachel's Farm," will attend. Saturday, Oct 21 : "Common Ground," a Tribeca Film Festival Winner and sequel to "Kiss the Ground" narrated by Laura Dern and featuring Jason Momoa , Rosario Dawson , Woody Harrelson , Ian Somerhalder , Donald Glover . Laura Dern will attend, followed by afterparty with DJ Jeremy Sole .

"Common Ground," a Tribeca Film Festival Winner and sequel to "Kiss the Ground" narrated by and featuring will attend, followed by afterparty with . Sunday, Oct 22 : "Moby | Punk Rock Vegan Movie," Moby will attend.

Ticket Information

All Access VIP Festival Passes: $350

One Day All Access Passes: $100

Single Screening Tickets: $35

For more detailed ticketing and donor info, please visit www.topangafilminstitute.org

Venues

Froggy's Fish Market: 1105 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290

90290 Corazon Performing Arts: 1125 S Topanga Canyon Blvd, Topanga, CA 90290

About the Topanga Film Institute

The Topanga Film Institute is a 501[c]3 organization that hosts TFF to foster global connections, inspire creativity, and advance humanity through year-round events, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Join us for a cinematic experience like no other, as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of storytelling in the 21st century.

SOURCE Topanga Film Festival
CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce and part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, and America's Beauty Show, hosted by the Cosmetologists Chicago, a stalwart representative of the beauty industry since 1912, today announced a partnership aimed at creating an omnichannel platform that will provide new pathways for growth in the beauty industry landscape in the US and beyond.

This collaboration is set to unveil a series of initiatives that will leverage Alibaba.com's wide array of digital tools and features, offering fresh business opportunities and insights into the latest trends in the beauty sector.

The goals of this new partnership include:

Digital Transformation: Launch the first online pavilion featuring America's Beauty Show companies on Alibaba.com, digitalizing their offerings and expanding their reach.

Launch the first online pavilion featuring America's Beauty Show companies on Alibaba.com, digitalizing their offerings and expanding their reach. Online Trade Show: Organize an online trade show in partnership with America's Beauty Show in April 2024 , offering live streaming, conferences, and more to foster global connections.

Organize an online trade show in partnership with America's Beauty Show in , offering live streaming, conferences, and more to foster global connections. Dedicated Support and Education: Provide comprehensive support and education to companies participating in the project, including a series of educational sessions on using the Alibaba.com platform effectively.

Provide comprehensive support and education to companies participating in the project, including a series of educational sessions on using the Alibaba.com platform effectively. Global Sourcing: Offer opportunities for buyers at America's Beauty Show to extend their global reach and sourcing capabilities, including reaching ProBuyer status and using Alibaba.com's AliMatch program and Country Pavilion tool.

Offer opportunities for buyers at America's Beauty Show to extend their global reach and sourcing capabilities, including reaching ProBuyer status and using Alibaba.com's AliMatch program and Country Pavilion tool. Enlarged Participation: Alibaba.com commits to facilitating the participation of buyers and suppliers from its platform in the show, significantly enlarging the show's reach and impact.

Stephen Kuo, North America President at Alibaba.com, underscored the impact of this collaboration, stating, "In this era of increased interconnectivity, business success lies in supporting partnerships and creating an ecosystem that nurtures growth. Alibaba.com is steadfast in its commitment to assisting US companies in sourcing and selling globally, thereby optimizing their operations. This alliance with America's Beauty Show is an important step towards creating a platform that facilitates more seamless global sourcing and export for American beauty companies."

Frank P. Fulco, Chief Executive Officer of the Cosmetologists Chicago and America's Beauty Show, conveyed his optimism about the new value proposition this partnership brings, "We are on the brink of a transformative era where our community of licensed beauty professionals and brand exhibitors can leverage a multichannel approach to expand their relationships. Collaborating with Alibaba.com, a leader in B2B e-commerce, opens doors to global opportunities. As a non-profit, our mission is to serve our beauty community. We are working hard to ensure that America's Beauty Show adds value by being the gateway to discovering, accessing, and forming global relationships in the beauty industry."

For more information about the partnership or to schedule a press interview, please contact [email protected].

About Alibaba.com

Launched in 1999, Alibaba.com is a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce that serves buyers and suppliers from over 200 countries and regions around the world. It is engaged in services covering all aspects of commerce, including providing businesses with tools that help them reach a global audience for their products and helping buyers discover products, find suppliers and place orders online fast and efficiently. Alibaba.com is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group.

About Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) the producer of America's Beauty Show

Since 1912, Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) is the non-for-prot association owned by licensed beauty professionals for licensed beauty professionals. For over 100 years, Cosmetologists Chicago has proudly produced America's Beauty Show. April 20-22, 2024 that every year see more than 20,000 licensed beauty professionals, robust workshops, exceptional speakers, enriching training sessions, and countless opportunities.

SOURCE Alibaba.com
The rapid growth of the Health Systems Council reflects the urgency and enthusiasm of innovative health organizations from nearly 40 states to integrate lifestyle medicine.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) today announced that its Health Systems Council (HSC), a network of innovative health systems founded in 2021 that is leading the transition to high-value care through the integration of evidence-based lifestyle medicine, has welcomed its 100th member.

The HSC provides a platform for health systems to share state-of-the-art practices and resources, identify pragmatic solutions to common barriers, and accelerate the integration and implementation of lifestyle medicine therapeutic modalities within their organizations and their communities.

HSC member organizations are pioneering the integration of lifestyle medicine into health systems. Post this

That the council achieved 100 members in only two years reflects the recognition by health systems that lifestyle medicine is a potential solution to the ineffective and unsustainable current U.S. model of health care delivery. In fact, for many diseases, clinical practice guidelines recommend lifestyle intervention as the first and optimal treatment, but clinicians too often lack the knowledge and skills to help patients make successful behavior changes. Lifestyle medicine clinicians use therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to treat chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

HSC member organizations from both urban and rural areas nationwide are incorporating lifestyle medicine in a variety of innovative ways, from community-wide initiatives at Mayo Clinic, Emory Healthcare and NYC Health + Hospitals to "employee health first" projects in Alaska and Wyoming. The U.S. military, one of the largest health systems in the country, is incorporating lifestyle medicine into care it provides active-duty service members due to the increasing levels of chronic disease that negatively affect readiness.

"The enthusiasm and urgency with which this diverse and collaborative community of health systems responded when ACLM launched its Health Systems Council two years ago has surpassed even our initial expectations," said ACLM President Beth Frates, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, clinical assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. "HSC member organizations are pioneering the integration of lifestyle medicine into health systems to improve the health and quality of life of large populations, to lower costs, to improve health equity and to increase clinician and patient satisfaction. ACLM is incredibly proud of the great success of the HSC and is excited for its future."

The health care landscape is shifting from fee-for-service toward value-based care payment models, and lifestyle medicine is synonymous with high-value care delivery. Lifestyle medicine-certified clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and, when used intensively, often reverse lifestyle-related chronic disease. Applying the six pillars of lifestyle medicinea whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connectionsalso provides effective prevention for these conditions.

HSC member NYC Health + Hospitals is a prime example of system innovation in lifestyle medicine. The health system is expanding its original lifestyle medicine program to six new sites across all five boroughs. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has championed the expansion and other large city mayors have taken notice. In June, the U.S. Conference of Mayors ratified a resolution supporting a lifestyle medicine approach to addressing the nation's trajectory of chronic disease.

"NYC Health + Hospitals is proud to be a founding member of ACLM's Health Systems Council, demonstrating our commitment to advancing lifestyle medicine as a core approach to preventing and treating chronic disease," said Michelle McMacken, MD, FACP, DipABLM, NYC Health + Hospitals Executive Director, Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine. "Kudos to the Health Systems Council for achieving a 100-member milestone and inspiring a sea change in the practice of medicine."

Since certification began in 2017 by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM), more than 5,000 physicians and other health professionals worldwide have become certified. The largest class ever  more than 1,200 health professionals -- has registered to take the 2023 certification exam this fall.

Dawn Mussallem, DO, DipABLM, a breast cancer and lifestyle medicine specialist at Mayo's Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida who represents Mayo Clinic on the HSC, said her entire medical practice is dedicated to helping patients incorporate the pillars of lifestyle medicine alongside conventional cancer treatments. This approach is directly in line with Mayo Clinic's mission of inspiring hope and contributing to whole-person health and well-being.

"Lifestyle medicine is integral to delivering successful world-class care and is a fundamental part of Mayo's integrated clinical practice, education and research," Dr. Mussallem said.

Scott Kashman, President and CEO of Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside in Jacksonville, Fla., the 100th organization to join the HSC, said "Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside is humbled to be the 100th member of this innovative and dynamic group of health care leaders. This collaboration will allow us to leverage resources from American College of Lifestyle Medicine and the support of our health system to promote the health of our associates and the communities we are blessed to serve."

ABOUT ACLM

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine is the nation's medical professional society advancing lifestyle medicine as the foundation for a redesigned, value-based and equitable healthcare delivery system, leading to whole person health. ACLM educates, equips, empowers and supports its members through quality, evidence-based education, certification and research to identify and eradicate the root cause of chronic disease, with a clinical outcome goal of health restoration as opposed to disease management. www.lifestylemedicine.org

SOURCE American College of Lifestyle Medicine
DUBLIN, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a world where precision is paramount, the manufacturing of medical devices leaves no room for error. Recent observations from Neal Walters, partner in the Strategic Operations Practice of Kearney, highlight the growing reliance of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on outsourcing due to disruptions like COVID-19. It's evident that the medical device industry's trajectory mirrors that of the electronic components sector, where outsourcing design and production tasks to specialised third parties is a long-standing norm.

It's within this growing significance of contract manufacturing that the "Electronics Contract Manufacturing and Design Services: The Global Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

For business entrepreneurs and managers looking to navigate this ever-evolving landscape, the new report provides an essential guide. Anchored with data from 2022 and boasting revenue forecasts until 2028, this comprehensive report offers a segmented analysis based on application provider, type, application, and geography.

Why is this report indispensable for your business?

Unparalleled Insights into Competitive Dynamics: The report does a deep dive into the competitive landscape of the electronics contract manufacturing (ECM) and design services market. This includes an examination of key dynamics like research and development capabilities, market presence, brand strength, and the synergies created through ecosystems and partnerships.

The report does a deep dive into the competitive landscape of the electronics contract manufacturing (ECM) and design services market. This includes an examination of key dynamics like research and development capabilities, market presence, brand strength, and the synergies created through ecosystems and partnerships. Up-to-date Market Trends and Forecasts: It provides analyses of global market trends, underpinned by historical market revenue data from 2022, with forecasts up until 2028. Understand how the ECM market is evolving, the opportunities that arise, and the challenges that lie ahead.

It provides analyses of global market trends, underpinned by historical market revenue data from 2022, with forecasts up until 2028. Understand how the ECM market is evolving, the opportunities that arise, and the challenges that lie ahead. COVID-19 Impact Analysis: The pandemic has caused seismic shifts across industries. Gain a clearer perspective on its implications for the electronics contract manufacturing and design services market, including the resultant challenges and opportunities.

The pandemic has caused seismic shifts across industries. Gain a clearer perspective on its implications for the electronics contract manufacturing and design services market, including the resultant challenges and opportunities. Holistic Overview: From an in-depth industry value chain analysis that offers a comprehensive look at key intermediaries, to Porter's Five Forces and PESTLE analyses that provide macroeconomic insights, our report ensures a well-rounded understanding of the market.

From an in-depth industry value chain analysis that offers a comprehensive look at key intermediaries, to Porter's Five Forces and PESTLE analyses that provide macroeconomic insights, our report ensures a well-rounded understanding of the market. Spotlight on Key Players: Stay abreast of the major vendors in the global ECM market. The report includes recent developments, key financials, and segmental revenues, equipping you with information crucial for strategic decision-making.

Stay abreast of the major vendors in the global ECM market. The report includes recent developments, key financials, and segmental revenues, equipping you with information crucial for strategic decision-making. Emphasis on Sustainable Practices: In today's global marketplace, the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) practices is undeniable. Discover consumer attitudes, assess risks and opportunities, and understand the ESG practices pursued by industry stalwarts.

In today's global marketplace, the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) practices is undeniable. Discover consumer attitudes, assess risks and opportunities, and understand the ESG practices pursued by industry stalwarts. Thorough Stakeholder Analysis: Know the key stakeholders, understand the competitive landscape, and stay updated with recent mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the industry.

The escalating demand in the medical device industry, coupled with the urgency of shortened product design cycles, underscores the importance of contract manufacturing. This shifting dynamic further accentuates the relevance of our research report, especially for business entrepreneurs and managers aiming to capitalise on these trends and navigate the challenges ahead.

The product doesn't just present data; it empowers decision-makers with actionable insights, facilitating informed choices in an industry that's becoming increasingly intertwined with contract manufacturing and design services.

For more information and to purchase "Electronics Contract Manufacturing and Design Services: The Global Market" please visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s3qedn

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Orkhan Mammadov met with the Director for Azerbaijan and Georgia of the German Society for International Cooperation Sandra Schenke, Trend reports.

According to KOBIA, the meeting discussed the "Digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Eastern Partnership countries" program, the work carried out within the framework of the "German-Azerbaijani Joint Program for Professional Development of Managers in the Azerbaijani Business Community", coordinated by GIZ and KOBIA, and also discussed opportunities for cooperation.

About 50 Azerbaijani entrepreneurs and managers will be able to take advantage of the German-Azerbaijani joint program by the end of 2023.

In addition, an exchange of views was held on the extension of the German-Azerbaijani joint program during the meeting.
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Anju Software, a leading provider of life science solutions, is pleased to announce CEO Laurence Birch will kick off the Feasibility, Site Selection, and Study Activation program at SCOPE Europe 2023 on Tuesday, October 17. This event, taking place October 17&18 in Barcelona, Spain, brings together clinical research leaders, promoting innovation and collaboration. Anju is proud to showcase TA Scan, their innovative clinical intelligence solution, to this global audience.

TA Scan is designed to streamline the complexities of trial planning and execution. It equips clinical operations professionals with a powerful tool to optimize their clinical study workflows. From providing insights into the competitive landscape to accurately forecasting patient enrollment and identifying high-recruitment sites in line with diversity strategies, TA Scan empowers clinical teams to make informed decisions that drive successful trial outcomes.

As an exhibitor at SCOPE Europe 2023, Anju will vie for the esteemed Best of Show Award, recognizing the most innovative and impactful solutions in the clinical research industry. Anju's TA Scan has been creating a buzz in the field with its newly integrated global diversity data, and the company is excited to highlight its enhanced site/PI selection capabilities to the judges and fellow conference attendees.

Anju invites attendees to visit booth #16 to explore TA Scan and discover how it can revolutionize trial planning and execution. The company's team of experts will be on hand to provide live demonstrations, address questions, and look forward to engaging with industry peers, thought leaders, and professionals.

The company's presence at the event underscores its dedication to advancing clinical research and delivering solutions that have a substantial impact.

For more information about Anju, please visit the Anju website.

Anju is a customer-first organization delivering adaptable life science solutions for clinical research, medical affairs, and data science. TrialMaster, IRMS MAX, and TA Scan, the company's flagship products, lead the way in reducing complexities in the drug and device discovery and commercialization process. With a team of industry experts and a diverse suite of versatile products, Anju empowers clients to drive innovation, efficiency, and compliance. Anju is a portfolio company of Abry Partners serving the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotech and contract research Life Sciences markets.

Media Contact

John F. Kouten

JFK Communications, Inc.

+1 609.241.7352

[email protected]

SOURCE Anju Software
In "buyer-beware market," CUB says: Know utility price before signing up for alternative offers

CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As of October, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois are charging new electricity supply prices, and customers should know what they are to avoid bad deals peddled by alternative electricity suppliers, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Thursday in a statewide consumer warning.

The non-summer prices, through May 2024, are listed on PlugInIllinois.org, the electric choice website maintained by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).

Ameren Illinois: 8.107 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for up to 800 kWh of usage. Every kWh beyond that is 7.094 per kWh. (This is Ameren's supply price + a transmission charge + a supply cost adjustment.)

ComEd: 6.872 per kWh. (This is ComEd's supply price + a transmission charge.)

ComEd and Ameren bill customers to deliver electricity to homes, but those customers have the right to choose either their utility or an alternative company to supply the actual electricity. The utility supply rates above are called the "price to compare"the rate customers should compare to alternative supplier offers pitched to them.

"People should beware of bad deals offered by alternative electricity suppliers door-to-door, over the phone and via mail," CUB Director of Communications Jim Chilsen said. "We have seen painfully high prices peddled by suppliersthis is a buyer-beware market. The safest and most reliable way to save money on your electric bills is through energy efficiency."

Since 2015, Illinois consumers have lost more than $1.6 billion to alternative electricity suppliers, according to CUB's review of reports from the ICC's Office of Retail Market Development. Just this fall, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office sued Residents Energy LLC for alleged "deceptive and unfair tactics" that tripled the energy costs of some customers. And the ICC recently ordered Switch Energy, a supplier no longer doing business in Illinois, to pay about $2.16 million in total penalties for wide-ranging violations of ICC rules and state law. "The Company has demonstrated a behavior of prioritizing sales over critical consumer protection measures," the ICC said in its final order.

A review of alternative supplier prices listed on PlugInIllinois.org in October found many charging higher rates than the utilities, with the worst prices 10 cents per kWh on up. At a recent utility bill clinic in Alton, CUB staffers saw customers paying alternative supplier prices of 14 cents per kWh, 16 cents per kWh and 20 cents per kWh. CUB's Outreach Director recently saw a ComEd customer paying an alternative supplier 10.99 cents per kWh. These prices were all significantly higher than the utility supply rates, raising concerns among CUB staffers.

Knowing the "price to compare" helps consumers avoid bad deals and make informed decisions about their power bills. Visit CUB's Electric page to find fact sheets about making the best choices in the electricity market. Other tips:

Read your bills. Look at the "Supply" section of your ComEd or Ameren bill. If another company is listed there, check what supply rate you're paying and how it compares with your utility's supply price.

Look at the "Supply" section of your ComEd or Ameren bill. If another company is listed there, check what supply rate you're paying and how it compares with your utility's supply price. Be wary about showing your bill to just anybody. If somebody comes to your door and says they want to look at your electricity bill, don't hand it over or give out your account number, unless you are absolutely sure you want to sign up. A sales rep who sees your bill can get your account number and sign you up for a deal without your permissiona scam called "slamming."

If somebody comes to your door and says they want to look at your electricity bill, don't hand it over or give out your account number, unless you are absolutely sure you want to sign up. A sales rep who sees your bill can get your account number and sign you up for a deal without your permissiona scam called "slamming." Make sure the alternative supplier offer is not an introductory rate. And if it is, find out when it ends and what the new rate will be.

And if it is, find out when it ends and what the new rate will be. Scan the fine print for hidden monthly fees. Also, if it's a low fixed rate, check the fine print to see if the company allows itself to change the rate during certain market conditions.

Also, if it's a low fixed rate, check the fine print to see if the company allows itself to change the rate during certain market conditions. If you want to sign up, watch your bill carefully. Be prepared to get out of the offer if you notice it causes your bills to go upyou should be able to get out with no penalty, thanks to reforms the Illinois Attorney General's office, CUB and other consumer advocates fought for in 2019.

Be prepared to get out of the offer if you notice it causes your bills to go upyou should be able to get out with no penalty, thanks to reforms the Attorney General's office, CUB and other consumer advocates fought for in 2019. If you're on a "municipal aggregation" plan (also called a community power deal), confirm the price, how it compares with the utility's supply rate, and for how long the contract is. It's possible your community has negotiated a reasonable rate, but don't assume that. Verify. If you want, you should be able to get out of a community power deal without paying a penalty. ( Note: Many communities may offer their residents green, or renewable energy-based, plans , which may have a higher price than the utility supply rate. Reasonably priced municipal aggregation green plans can be a legitimate option for interested consumers.)

It's possible your community has negotiated a reasonable rate, but don't assume that. Verify. If you want, you should be able to get out of a community power deal without paying a penalty. ( Many communities may offer their residents , which may have a higher price than the utility supply rate. Reasonably priced municipal aggregation green plans can be a legitimate option for interested consumers.) Consider other options. You don't have to choose an alternative supplier. There is a whole menu of options (energy efficiency programs offered by your utility, Illinois' Community Solar program, for example) that can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. CitizensUtilityBoard.org has details on those options.

Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog group. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit CUB's award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board
The global aseptic filling machines market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as an increase in government expenditure on healthcare, and the rise and expansion of the food and beverages industry.

NEW CASTLE, Del., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Aseptic Filling Machines Market by Type (Tabletop Filling Machine and Stand-Alone Filling Machine), Mode of Operation (Fully Automatic and Semi-Automatic), and End-User Industry (Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, and Other): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032. According to the report, the global aseptic filling machines industry was valued at $1,483.2 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $2,740.5 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2032.

An aseptic filling machine is a device used in the pharmaceutical and food industry to fill containers with products under sterile conditions. The purpose of an aseptic filling is to keep the product un-contaminated by preventing microorganisms and other contaminants from entering the container. Most aseptic filling machines sterilize both the container and the product before they are filled. This helps to extend the product's shelf life and keep it safe for consumption or use. Sterile air or other gases are used during the filling process to create a sterile environment.

Download Sample Copy: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/16879

Prime Determinants of Growth:

The global aseptic filling machines market is experiencing growth due to several factors such as an increase in government expenditure on healthcare, and the rise and expansion of the food and beverages industry. However, the high cost of the filling equipment can be a problem for small-scale manufacturers, for whom it can be a problem to invest a high amount in machines. On the contrary, the increase in demand for restaurant food provides a lucrative opportunity for the growth of the market.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Historic Period 2020-2021 Market Size in 2022 $1,483.2 Million Market Size in 2032 $2,740.5 Million CAGR 5.4 % No. of Pages in Report 150 Segments Covered Type, Mode of operation, End-User industry, and Region Drivers Increase in government expenditure on healthcare Rise and expansion of food and beverages industry Opportunities Increase in the demand for restaurant food Restraints High cost of equipment Lack of standardization in filling process

COVID-19 Scenario:

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global aseptic filling machines market, owing to the temporary closure of manufacturing firms during the lockdown.

Not only the production but also the sale of bolting tools was hampered due to the closure of construction sites across the world, especially in the initial period of the pandemic.

However, the situation has normalized, and the market is growing rapidly.

The stand-alone filling machine segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on type, the stand-alone filling machine segment held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global aseptic filling machines market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. A standalone filling machine is used for filling containers with liquid, semi-liquid, or granular products. On the other hand, the tabletop filling machine segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2032. increase in demand for tabletop filling machines from various packaging sectors such as pharmaceutical cosmetics, specialty foods, beverages, and others propel the growth of the market.

Buy This Research Report (150 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/70d53e76efcd7547bd7772f54937b1ee



The fully automatic segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on mode of operation, the fully automatic segment held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for around three-fifths of the global aseptic filling machines market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Automatic filling equipment has the highest demand in the market owing to its rapid and accurate filling operation. The rise in consumption of FMCG and pharmaceutical products has led to an increase in the installation of automatic machines. However, the semi-automatic is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.0% from 2023 to 2032. Semi-automatic filling machines are commonly used in small and medium-sized industries due to affordable prices as the technical requirements are not much.

The food and beverage segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period-

Based on end-user industry, the food and beverage segment held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for more than half of the global aseptic filling machines market and is expected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to demand for food and beverage products which is expected to increase, owing to the rise in population around the globe. This is projected to boost the growth of the food and beverage industry at a significant rate. However, the cosmetics segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.2% from 2023 to 2032. A rise in the number of consumer awareness regarding personal grooming increases the demand for cosmetic products, which in turn is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032-

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for more than one-third of the global aseptic filling machines market revenue and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. Owing to the growth in industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical, primarily in the United States. However, the LAMEA region would display the fastest CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period. A surge in investment in the pharmaceutical sector is driving the aseptic filling machine industry growth in the region.

Inquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/16879

Leading Market Players: -

GEA Aseptic Filling

Dara Pharma

ALFA LAVAL

John Bean Technologies Corp.

Serac Group

Groninger Holding GmbH & Co. KG

Syntegon Technology GmbH

Krones AG

BauschStrbel SE Co. KG

Saini Industries

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global aseptic filling machines market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, expansion, and acquisitions 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.

Trending Reports in Filling Machine Industry (Book Now with 15% Discount):

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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.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
London-based Emerging Markets Investment Bank Continues Expansion with Key Senior Global Markets Hires

LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BancTrust & Co. Investment Bank (BancTrust), the London-based Emerging Markets boutique investment bank, is pleased to announce three new hires to its London Global Markets team.

George Niedringhaus - Global Head of Syndicate, Grigoriy Kozin - Head of Business Development Prime Services, and John Bloomer - Executive Director, recently joined the trading floor to focus on Global Emerging Markets.

BancTrust & Co. Investment Bank Announces Multiple New Hires to Bolster London Global Markets Team Post this

Prior to joining BancTrust, George was Global Head of Syndicate at VTB Capital (London) & previously held positions as Global Head of EM Syndicate at ABN AMRO Bank N.V. George has over 25 years of fixed income syndicate and capital markets experience as both producer and manager with specific experience in global emerging markets bonds, loans, currencies, and derivatives. Grigoriy was Head of Prime Services and Electronic Execution business at Sova Capital in London and, more recently, oversaw prime brokerage and securities financing business development at BCS Prime Brokerage. He has extensive experience in prime brokerage, custody and electronic execution business in multiple asset classes including equities, listed derivatives, and FX.

Both will report to the Head of Global Markets and Executive Board Member, Dean Tyler.

John will be joining BancTrust as Executive Director FI & Treasury under Nick Taylor, Global Head of FI Trading. John has over 20 years of experience working in financial markets, concentrating his efforts in trading & sales. His most recent position held was at British Arab Commercial Bank, trading FI credit portfolio's EM & IG, money markets, FX, and derivatives.

CEO Carlos Fuenmayor commented, "I am excited to see such professionals of this calibre to join the team as we enhance our coverage and execution capabilities across the EM spectrum. During these challenging times institutional investors will continue to demand true local market expertise. The team's impressive experience in dealing in emerging markets will be key in delivering exceptional value to clients".

"I am delighted to be joined by such an experienced group of professionals. We look forward to continuing to grow our EM platform by maintaining a hands-on presence throughout deal execution, delivering challenging deals despite volatile economic and industry conditions, and building & running a prime brokerage platform combining custody, prime financing, and electronic execution businesses" asserted Dean Tyler.

About BancTrust & Co.

BancTrust & Co. Investment Bank is a leading London-based global emerging markets investment bank that offers corporate and investment banking, securities dealing and financing, investment research products and services to a diversified client base mainly comprised of emerging and frontier markets-based corporations, financial institutions, governments, and dedicated global EM asset managers.

For more information, please visit https://banctrust.com and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) at [twitter.com/BancTrustCo]

SOURCE BancTrust & Co. Investment Bank
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem on October 24, 2023 all $500,000,000 principal amount outstanding of its Floating Rate Senior Notes, due October 2024 (CUSIP No. 06051GJJ9) (the "Floating Rate Notes"), and all $2,000,000,000 principal amount outstanding of its 0.810% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, due October 2024 (CUSIP No. 06051GJH3) (the "Fixed/Floating Rate Notes" and, together with the Floating Rate Notes, the "Notes").

The redemption price for each series of the Notes will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of such series, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of October 24, 2023. Interest on each series of the Notes will cease to accrue on the redemption date.

Payment of the redemption price for the Notes will be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the trustee and paying agent for the Notes.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Forward-looking statements

Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions difficult to predict or beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in any of our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

www.bankofamerica.com

Investors May Contact:

Lee McEntire, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.388.6780

[email protected]

Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income)

Phone: 1.212.449.3112

[email protected]

Reporters May Contact:

Bill Halldin, Bank of America

Phone: 1.916.724.0093

[email protected]

Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America

Phone: 1.980.386.6794

[email protected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation
HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boatzon.com, the leading digital retailing marine platform, has proudly welcomed over 1,500 marine dealerships into its ecosystem, solidifying its position as the industry's frontrunner. The platform empowers dealerships to effortlessly exhibit their inventory to a vast and discerning audience of verified, pre-qualified buyers without incurring costs.

Boatzon.com has quickly identified the evolving landscape of boat buyers, whose growing preference for online shopping and convenience has driven the demand for more digital engagement in the purchasing process. In response to this trend, Boatzon.com bridges the gap between buyers and dealerships, providing an innovative space for users to tailor their boat purchases to suit their budget and preferences, both on the Boatzon platform and dealership websites.

Alongside this milestone, Boatzon made a strategic move to enhance its offerings and cater to the changing market dynamics by unveiling Boatzon Professional. This cutting-edge offering empowers marine dealerships with an arsenal of digital retailing tools, including prequalification, financing, insurance, extended service contracts, and marine product resale opportunities, seamlessly integrated into their own websites.

Boatzon Professional operates as a white-label solution, allowing dealerships to incorporate these finance and insurance (F&I) products directly onto their websites, allowing them to preserve their unique branding and customer experience. This innovative approach unlocks additional revenue streams for dealerships and provides customers with an exceptional, hassle-free buying journey.

Boatzon Professional addresses the evolving needs of today's boat buyers who increasingly seek digital retailing options. This shift allows buyers to conduct more of the boat-buying process online. Boatzon Professional seamlessly transitions the online finance, F&I, and purchasing process to the "in-store" experience, enabling dealerships to pick up where consumers left off effortlessly. The result is a streamlined process that yields high-quality leads for dealerships with a higher likelihood of conversion.

For consumers, Boatzon Professional provides a streamlined, time-saving experience that grants the flexibility to customize their boat shopping journey and complete more steps of the purchase online. This includes real-time prequalification and finance offers, instantaneous insurance quotes, accurate trade-in estimates, and the ability to finalize a boat purchase from start to finish on a dealership website.

Michael Muchnick, Co-founder of Boatzon.com, expressed the company's commitment to supporting dealership goals and enhancing sales velocity. He stated, "Together, and in partnership with dealerships, we aim to simplify the boat purchase process for customers while equipping dealers with an advanced digital F&I suite of applications. Our mission is to offer solutions that empower dealers in their digital retail journey, expanding their customer reach and F&I revenue without resorting to outdated or traditional monthly fees."

Boatzon.com continues redefining the marine industry's digital landscape, enhancing the boat buying experience for consumers and boosting revenue for dealerships. With Boatzon Professional, the future of boat purchasing is now.

What is Boatzon?

Boatzon is the leading retail, online digital marketplace that allows customers to purchase thousands of new and preowned boats from the comfort of their home. Boatzon utilizes leading FinTech and InsurTech solutions to change the boat buying experience and provide boat buyers the flexibility to customize their boat shopping experience, and even conduct the entire boat purchase online.

Boatzon.com showcases one of the nation's largest inventories of new and used boats for sale. Boatzon's website lets people search, research, and buy a new or used boat entirely online and on their own time. The boat buying experience with Boatzon is fully digital and the site provides financing, insurance, protection plans, and products buyers need to make a confident purchase.

SOURCE Boatzon.com
Kaleido acknowledges BroadForward's dedication to signaling security solutions with a Champion rating

AMERSFOORT, The Netherlands, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BroadForward, leader in intelligent signaling software and provider of cutting-edge signaling security solutions, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Champion status, the highest rating from specialist consulting and market research firm Kaleido Intelligence, for its signaling security and firewall product range. Earlier this year the BroadForward converged firewall has received the GSMA nomination for Best Mobile Security .

The Kaleido Vendor Hub provides competitive intelligence insight into the offerings of leading roaming and connectivity vendors across multiple categories. Kaleido analysts spent months evaluating and comparing product capabilities and services from over 50 roaming and connectivity vendors, which included the BroadForward signaling security portfolio with the Diameter and SS7 firewall as well as 5G Security Edge Protection Proxy . The rankings are based on a weighted scoring on factors such as industry presence, product features, performance, scalability, overall value proposition and innovation roadmap.

The overall assessment of the vendors is captured in a new report called " The Roaming Vendor Hub: Competitive Analysis 2023 research ".

Commenting on this achievement, Taco Schoute, CEO of BroadForward, expressed his gratitude and pride: "We are truly honored to receive this highest rating from Kaleido for our signaling security and firewall products. This recognition validates our ongoing dedication to innovation and excellence in the field of signaling security. The champion rating for the BroadForward SS7 and Diameter Firewall and our 5G SEPP are a reflection of our commitment to safeguarding our customers' networks across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G, and we will continue to push the boundaries of security technology."

Nitin Bhas, Chief of Strategy & Insights at Kaleido Intelligence, also shared his thoughts on this assessment: "Our mission at Kaleido is to provide industry-leading insights to help businesses make informed decisions. BroadForward signaling security and firewall products stood out as a prime example of innovation in cybersecurity. We are pleased to recognize their exceptional contributions to the security landscape."

BroadForward's signaling security and firewall products are designed to address the evolving threats and challenges that organizations face in today's digital age. With this recognition from Kaleido, BroadForward continues to set industry standards and remains committed to helping its customers and partners to navigate the complex world of cybersecurity.

About BroadForward

BroadForward is leader in intelligent signaling software for 2G/3G, 4G/LTE, 5G, IMS, Fixed, Wi-Fi, IPX and M2M/IoT networks. Winner of the GSMA Global Mobile Award (GLOMO) for Best Mobile & Network Software Breakthrough and six-time Best Mobile Technology nominee BroadForward delivers core network products for routing, interworking, security and number portability , designed for convergence across legacy and next generation networks. Our active 5G roadmap supports service providers with their network transition to 5G NG Core, with the Service Communication Proxy (SCP) , Binding Support Function (BSF) , Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) , 5G EIR , 4G-5G interworking and multi-protocol signaling orchestration . All BroadForward products are hardware-agnostic and support virtualization and cloud deployment as well as containerized application deployment. BroadForward's software development is entirely done in The Netherlands.

www.broadforward.com

About Kaleido Intelligence

Kaleido Intelligence is a specialist consulting and market research firm with a proven track record delivering telecom research at the highest level. Kaleido Intelligence is the only research company addressing mobile roaming in its entirety, covering industry-leading market insights, data forecasts, historical viewpoints, competitive intelligence and operator market surveys.

Research is led by expert analysts, each with significant experience delivering telco research and insights that matter.

https://kaleidointelligence.com/

SOURCE BroadForward
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors, with approximately 780,000 annual incidence cases globally. There is an urgent need for new therapeutic techniques and strategies to improve the prognosis of these patients. Recurrence and metastasis are the primary factors impacting HCC patients' lives. For HCC patients with concurrent inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, treatment options are limited, and overall prognosis is poor. Even with surgical resection, the median overall survival is only 17.8 months postoperatively [2]. For those undergoing other local or systemic treatments, the median overall survival ranges from 5.9 to 15.4 months [2-4].

In May 2015, the Department of Interventional Oncology of Renji Hospital in Shanghai collaborated with CARsgen Therapeutics to initiate the first clinical study with CAR T-cell therapy targeting the GPC3 (Glypican-3) protein in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. (Partial data from this study was published in Clin Cancer Res. 2020[5]). At the time of enrollment, two patients already presented inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, and one of them also had retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, a particularly poor prognosis factor for the outcome. However, both patients maintained a tumor-free status during long-term follow-up after receiving a combination of local and CAR T-cell therapies. Recently, the two patients returned to Renji Hospital for a follow-up examination, which confirmed the absence of tumor recurrence. Researchers at Renji Hospital held a brief celebration event together with these two patients.

Patient 1, upon confirmed diagnosis of liver cancer, underwent two rounds of interventional therapy and one session of microwave ablation. However, his disease rapidly progressed and he developed an inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Following localized treatments (microwave ablation and gamma knife) targeting intrahepatic recurrent tumors and the inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, the patient was enrolled in the CAR-GPC3 T-cell clinical trial. Six months later, tumor biomarkers AFP returned to normal, and imaging showed no evident active tumors. To date, the patient has remained tumor-free for over 8 years (July 2015 to August 2023). Patient 2, following liver cancer resection, experienced intrahepatic tumor recurrence. Despite multiple intensive sessions of TACE and microwave ablation, the tumor could not be effectively controlled. Multiple recurrences (greater than 6 lesions) appeared within the liver, and the patient developed retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Through localized treatments (microwave ablation and gamma knife) addressing intrahepatic tumors, the inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, and peritoneal lymph node metastases, combined with CAR T-cell therapy, the patient has currently achieved over 7 years of tumor-free survival (July 2016 to August 2023). Meanwhile, pyrexia, fatigue, transient leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and grade 1 cytokine release syndrome were reported during CAR-GPC3 T-cell infusions in this patient.

Throughout the follow-up period, both patients only received oral anti-hepatitis B virus medication, with no other cancer treatments administered.

Professor Bo Zhai, the principal investigator of this study and the Director of the Department of Interventional Oncology of Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said, "The treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma has always been a great challenge, particularly for patients with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, a poor prognosis factor. In this case report, two patients achieved long-term tumor-free survival through a combination of localized treatment and CAR T-cell therapy targeting GPC3, offering new hope for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Despite the tremendous efforts of scientists, the development of CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors still encounter various challenges, such as the inherent physical and immune barriers of solid tumors, tumor cell heterogeneity, antigen specificity, and the potential risks associated with CAR T-cell therapy."

Dr. Zonghai Li, Founder, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of CARsgen, added, "With the mission of making cancer curable, CARsgen has been developing various innovative strategies for the treatment of solid tumors using CAR-T cells. For example, we firstly reported the combination of small-molecule drugs with CAR-GPC3 T-cell therapy to achieve sustained complete response in a subject with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma [6]. This time, after receiving local therapy and targeted CAR-GPC3 T-cell infusion, two patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma reported in the study have achieved disease-free survival for more than seven years, demonstrating that CAR T-cell therapies have the potential to cure solid tumors through innovative treatment strategies."

About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited

CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company with operations in China and the U.S. and is focused on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. CARsgen has established a comprehensive CAR T-cell research and development platform, encompassing target discovery, innovative CAR T-cell development, clinical trials, and commercial-scale production. CARsgen has internally developed novel technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address major challenges of CAR T-cell therapies, such as improving the safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors, and reducing treatment costs. CARsgen's vision is to become a global biopharmaceutical leader that brings innovative and differentiated cell therapies to cancer patients worldwide and makes cancer curable.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical fact or that do not relate to present facts or current conditions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements express the Group's current views, projections, beliefs and expectations with respect to future events as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors beyond the Group's control. As a result, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed under the heading "Principal Risks and Uncertainties" in our most recent annual report and interim report and other announcements and reports made available on our corporate website, https://www.carsgen.com. No representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this press release.

References

Shi Y, et. al. Cancer Commun (Lond). 2023 Jul 21. Kokudo T, et. al. Hepatology. 2017 Aug ; 66(2):510-517. Lou J, et. al. BMC Cancer. 2019 Jul 5 ;19(1):668. Rim CH, et. al. Int J Radiat Biol. 2020 Jun ; 96(6):759-766. Shi DH, et al. Clin Cancer Res . 202 0; 26(15):3979-3989. Sun H, et. al. Front Immunol. 2022 Aug 17;13:963031.

Contact CARsgen

For more information, please visit https://www.carsgen.com/

Public Relations: PR@carsgen.com

Investor Relations: IR@carsgen.com

SOURCE CARsgen Therapeutics

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"Boldly Going Forward" event led by advisors and designed to build community, foster connections and engage attendees in valuable peer-to-peer learning

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cetera Financial Group (Cetera), the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub, announced today that it is hosting its second annual Connect2Impact Symposium in Charlotte, NC October 23-25. The live event is designed by Cetera advisors for advisors and led by two important advisor resource groups: The Cetera Women's Impact Network (WIN) and the Cetera Black Advisor Community (CBAC). Connect2Impact is back by popular demand after a successful inaugural event in October 2022, and will feature discussions on the event theme, Boldly Going Forward, including deepening diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the financial advice profession.

"Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are critical to the future of the financial advice industry and Connect2Impact prioritizes important discussions on these topics that advance the profession," said LeAnn Rummel, President and CEO at Cetera Investment Services and executive sponsor of Cetera's Advisor Diversity and Inclusion Council. "Connect2Impact represents our commitment to fostering a culture and community that embraces diversity, welcomes inclusion and nurtures belonging, both within and outside our organization. We look forward to another impactful and successful gathering with our advisors, key leaders and strategic partners, and anticipate an inspiring time together."

"Between the agenda topics, special keynote speakers, cultural experiences and live networking opportunities, Connect2Impact is an unparalleled gathering that is unlike other industry conference," said Elissa Mahendra, chief talent and inclusion officer at Cetera. "Connect2Impact truly is an unmatched experience that will inspire and engage our advisors, and we are excited about what is to come for the profession and the future of advice."

Connect2Impact programming will cover today's most pressing DEIB-related topics, including the power of representation, engaging women on their financial life journey, NexGen, practice management, and panel discussions featuring confessions of diverse advisors. Attendees will engage in important conversations that examine the intersection of DEIB and business success, exploring talent and team dynamics, marketing, business growth, the importance of building an inclusive brand, and serving the needs of growing diverse client markets.

Also at Connect2Impact, Cetera is launching its new Asian Pacific Islander Advisors Network (APIAN), a professional and social network for its members and supporters. The group's core mission is to better serve clients in the Asian American Pacific Islander community with greater understanding and enhanced sensitivity.

Cetera's Connect2Impact series is exclusive to Cetera financial professionals, employees, and strategic partners. Visit https://www.cetera.com/diversity to learn more about Cetera's diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging programs and initiatives.

About Cetera Financial Group

Cetera Financial Group (Cetera) is the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub where financial advisors and institutions optimize their control and value creation. Breaking away from a commoditized and homogenous IBD model, Cetera offers financial professionals and institutions the latest solutions, support, and services to grow, scale, or transition with a merger, sale, investment, or succession plan. Cetera proudly serves independent financial advisors, tax professionals, licensed administrators, large enterprises, as well as institutions, such as banks and credit unions, providing an established and repeatable blueprint for scalable growth.

Home to more than 9,000 financial professionals and their teams, Cetera oversees approximately $374 billion in assets under administration and $145 billion in assets under management, as of September 25, 2023. In a recent advisor satisfaction survey of more than 21,000 reviews, Cetera's Voice of Customer (VoC) program vigorously measures advisor experience and satisfaction 24/7. Currently, it's ranked 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Visit www.cetera.com, and follow Cetera on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

"Cetera Financial Group" refers to the network of independent retail firms encompassing, among others, Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. All firms are FINRA/SIPC members. Located at: 655 W. Broadway, 12th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.

Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Individuals affiliated with Cetera firms are either Registered Representatives who offer only brokerage services and receive transaction-based compensation (commissions), Investment Adviser Representatives who offer only investment advisory services and receive fees based on assets, or both Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives, who can offer both types of services.

SOURCE Cetera Financial Group
BEIJING, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Adil Ahmed, 65, is one of the Pakistanis who have felt the effects of the thriving clean energy development underway in Pakistan through various energy projects carried out in cooperation with China.

"I have installed PV (photovoltaic) panels on my roof," said Ahmed, adding that many of the panels in Pakistan were produced in China.

Besides exporting PV panels, China has assisted Pakistan in utilizing its abundant solar energy and water resources through green energy projects.

With an annual generating capacity of 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity, the Karot hydropower project is expected to save about 1.4 million tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.5 million tonnes each year, according to Pakistani officials from the Karot Hydropower Plant.

The Karot hydropower project is just one of the examples of China's efforts in building a green Belt and Road.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In the past decade, China has not only forged ahead with its own green transition but also made significant progress in developing a green BRI.

"In the past 10 years, China has managed to fuel an average annual economic growth of 6 percent, with an average annual energy consumption growth of 3 percent," said Huang Runqiu, minister of ecology and environment, while addressing the Roundtable on BRI Green Development and the General Assembly of BRI International Green Development Coalition in May.

China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP dropped by around 35 percent, which is equivalent to cutting about 3.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, Huang said, adding that in 2022, the installed capacity for renewable energy in China reached 1.2 billion kilowatts, overtaking that for coal-fired power for the first time in a historic catch-up.

Besides pursuing its own green and sustainable development, China has, in recent years, continued to share advanced technologies and carried out several clean, low-carbon and quality green energy cooperation projects with other countries.

Leveraging its expertise in renewable energy, energy conservation, environmental protection and clean production and employing Chinese technology, products and experience, China actively promotes BRI cooperation in green development, according to the white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future."

In Ethiopia, where the rich renewable energy resources, including wind and hydroelectric power, are estimated to generate more than 60,000 megawatts of electrical power, China helped build projects, such as the Adama wind farms, situated in a range of rocky hills in the Ethiopian highlands, and the 254 MW hydroelectric power Genale-Dawa III.

Besides utilizing local renewable energy resources, China also stresses environmental protection in energy development.

In building the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, which runs through wildlife reserves such as Nairobi National Park and Tsavo National Park, a series of measures have been taken during the railway's design and construction.

There are 14 large wildlife passageways and 79 bridges along the railway, and the bridge-type animal passages are over 6.5 meters in height, making it easy for large animals, such as elephants and giraffes, to pass. In addition, isolation fences have been set up on both sides of the line to reduce contact between the animals and trains.

The cooperation on green and low-carbon energy development is not limited to country-to-country cooperation.

China has reached environmental cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries and international organizations, launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development with 31 countries, and formed the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition with more than 150 partners from 40-plus countries, the white paper said.

China stands ready to work with other countries to pursue closer and more fruitful cooperation under the BRI framework and build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world, it said.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-12/How-China-contributes-to-building-a-green-Belt-and-Road--1nQ4RB6xsn6/index.html

SOURCE CGTN
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Azerbaijan's Energy Ministry will hold a webinar on "Hydrogen Energy: Opportunities and Challenges", Trend reports.

The Ministry states that during the webinar, Dr. Tan Bo, an associate professor at Chengdu University of Technology (China), will go into great detail about the various methods for producing hydrogen, their differences, the benefits of green hydrogen and its place in the future energy landscape, as well as respond to any questions that participants may have.

To provide accessibility for all participants, simultaneous English-Azerbaijani translation will be offered.

Those wishing to participate in the webinar can join on October 19 at 15:30 (GMT+4) via the Facebook page of the State Agency for Renewable Energy under the Ministry of Energy.
Trends and technical developments in the field of youth film and media on the agenda during Cinekid Festival 2023

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cinekid for Professionals presents its extensive international industry programme. As a crucial part of Cinekid Festival 2023, world's largest media and film festival for children, they welcome over three hundred professionals in the children's film industry annually. The Cinekid for Professionals industry programme starts on October 24, at the main location of Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam Noord. On the agenda are an exclusive view of the project Sam & Julia, a special keynote from the Animation Art Director at Pixar Animation Studios, Deanna Marsigliese, and the celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of the talent development programmes, Cinekid Script LAB.

The still shown above is from the project Sam & Julia, directed by Regis Vida and presented by ZDF Studios, taking part in the works-in-progress section of the 2023 Junior Co-production Market.

Heleen Rouw, Director of Cinekid: "At Cinekid Festival, we connect the creators with our young audience in all activities. In addition, in our Cinekid for Professionals programme, we ignite the imagination of international professionals and facilitate scriptwriters, directors and producers in their creative process. As an integral part of the Cinekid Festival programme, CfP serves as a catalyst for the entire project development from idea to curation and education. This is how we enrich the children's films and media industry."

Cinekid for Professionals

Cinekid for Professionals (CfP) provides comprehensive year-round industry programming for film professionals, targeting the entire life cycle of a film. Writers develop scripts in the Script LAB, teams pitch at the JCM for international partnerships and funds, and the Directors LAB supports pre-production. Works-in-progress projects can be pitched at the JCM, and finished films are showcased in the ScreeningClub. CfP also fosters knowledge exchange through Producers LINK and expert sessions in the Industry Forum. The film Kiddo, directed Zara Dwinger, exemplifies CfP's holistic support, leading to a premiere in the Berlinale's Generation section. This continuous nurturing of talent makes CfP an important incubator for independent children's filmmaking.

Over three hundred industry professionals are set to attend this edition of CfP. Guests will network with international colleagues, discover the latest trends in CfP's conference, the Industry Forum, and catch a glimpse of the best new projects in development at the Junior Co-Production Market, such as Sam & Julia  a work-in-progress project directed by Regis Vidal.

Exploring coexisting realities at the Industry Forum

This year, the previously announced Deanna Marsigliese, Animation Art Director at Pixar, will share her insights on finding creativity and following intuition during the Industry Forum. CEO and co-founder of Neon Wild Matt Weckel will also join the panel during the international conference. Neon Wild, focusing strongly on game representation, is collaborating with DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal to bring their extraordinary library of family content to life. The expert panel delves into the question: 'What is real, and for whom?'. Moderated by Isabel Sheridan, the panel discussion addresses the complexities of understanding the needs of various young audiences. The afternoon features ten interactive thematic roundtables led by various artists, researchers and educators, in addition to directors, producers, and screenwriters of the films and series screened at the Cinekid Festival.

Cinekid Script LAB turns 10 years

The Cinekid Script LAB celebrates its 10th edition, a distinctive programme for scriptwriters that provides tailored sessions for developing children's film and series projects. Participants bring the total number of projects to 110 (102 feature films, eight series) by 138 writers, representing 31 production countries that have followed the six-month trajectory over the last decade. Head of Studies Esther van Driesum has overseen the LAB's development of festival hits, including the opening film of Cinekid Festival Jippie No More! In the 'Ask your Audience' sessions in Amsterdam, writers receive feedback directly from their target audience, while in Berlin, actors bring scripts to life during guided sessions. These residencies coincide with two children's media festivals, Cinekid Festival and the Berlinale, providing a platform for networking and international industry engagement alongside script development.

Further highlights of the extensive industry programme

The Producers LINK programme, which started earlier at the Young Horizons International Film Festival in Poland for invited participants, has an extended programme at Cinekid for Professionals in the Netherlands. Together with industry experts, they will explore the significance of audience awareness in the highly competitive youth content audio-visual landscape and brainstorm about the sector's future for children. Accredited guests will also have access to Cinekid's online video library, the ScreeningClub, featuring films from Cinekid's competitions. The overall comprehensive schedule promises a rich educational experience for industry professionals in media and film.

Cinekid Festival 2023

Cinekid for Professionals is part of Cinekid Festival, world's largest media and film festival for children. Cinekid Festival takes place in over 40 theatres throughout the Netherlands and on Curacao. The festival screens premieres of (inter)national films and series, organizes daily masterclasses, workshops and hosts other activities such as meet & greets with actors. The theme of Cinekid Festival 2023 is 'Is this real?' is inspired by the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI). With a strong focus on storytelling, Cinekid Festival, together with children, explores the impact of AI on media, film, visual language, storytelling, interaction, and creativity within the scope of the theme.

The complete programme of Cinekid for Professionals is available via the website. You will find more information about how to attend here.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245410/Sam_and_Julia.jpg

SOURCE Cinekid
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) has filed suit on behalf of a coalition of businesses and workers challenging the New York State ban on gas appliances and infrastructure in most newly constructed buildings beginning December 31, 2025. Plaintiffs are the Mulhern Gas Company; the New York Propane Gas Association; the National Propane Gas Association; the New York State Builders Association; the National Association of Homebuilders; the Plumbing Contractors Association of Long Island; Northeast Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association; Holmes Mechanical; the Master Plumbers Council of New York; IBEW Local 1049; Plumbers Local 200; IBEW Local 97; and TWU Local 101, which collectively represent tens of thousands of workers in New York. The suit seeks to declare the gas ban invalid and to block its enforcement, on the ground that federal energy law preempts or overrides state law. While more than 50 cities across the country previously have enacted gas bans, New York was the first state in the country to ban the use of gas equipment and infrastructure in most new buildings.

Millions of New Yorkers rely on gas for basic needs including heating, hot water, and cookingparticularly in the coldest winter months. The drastic step of requiring "all-electric" new buildings despite an already-strained electric grid stands at odds with the public's need for a reliable, resilient, and affordable energy supply. New York's gas ban is preempted by federal law, is contrary to the public interest, and harms plaintiffs and the members they represent.

A unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently struck down a similar gas infrastructure ban in Berkeley, California. [California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley, Case No. 21-16278 (9th Cir.)] RJLF represented the California Restaurant Association in that suit, which challenged Berkeley's comparable ban of natural gas infrastructure in new buildings. The Ninth Circuit held that Berkeley's ban on gas piping concerned the energy use of appliances covered by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act and was therefore preempted.

"Our clients are strong supporters of the State's climate goals, but the ban puts our clients and their members at risk," said Sarah Jorgensen, counsel for plaintiffs. "A mandate banning gas now is not reasonable or affordable, when New York's grid is already overburdened. And regardless, New York must comply with federal law." Courtland Reichman, counsel for plaintiffs and RJLF's Managing Partner, also noted that "a patchwork system for national energy policy is unworkable. Nationally uniform standards on energy use and energy efficiency are the best way to promote conservation goals while ensuring energy security, domestic supply, and consumer choice."

The case is Mulhern Gas Co. v. Rodriguez in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.

About Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP

Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) is an elite national trial firm that handles high-stakes commercial, intellectual property, energy, and white collar disputes. The firm is majority women-owned, reinventing the practice of law without the billable hour in favor of fee arrangements that align client interests. RJLF's attorneys are diverse, exceptionally credentialed, and passionate about trial advocacy. From offices in Silicon Valley, New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, and Atlanta, the firm tries cases and argues appeals throughout the country. For more information, visit www.reichmanjorgensen.com.

Contact

Sarah Jorgensen

sjorgensen@reichmanjorgensen.com

(650) 623.1403

SOURCE Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP
The Asian Banker awards IFRS 17 project collaboration

CARY, N.C., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS recently was awarded 2023 Best Compliance Risk Technology Implementation in China by The Asian Banker, an international authoritative financial magazine, for the IFRS 17  Insurance Contracts project, in cooperation with China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co. (CPIC). The Asian Banker China Awards program aims to recognize those Chinese financial institutions that have demonstrated excellence in risk management.

CPIC and SAS IFRS 17 #insurance solution named best in China. Post this CPIC and SAS IFRS 17 risk tech collaboration awarded by The Asian Banker.

As one of the most rigorous annual awards programs for the financial services industry in China, The Asian Banker China Awards program identifies and recognizes business cases that can serve as industry benchmarks enlightening future decisions. This year, The Asian Banker received more than 600 applications from more than 200 financial institutions in China and spent more than three months completing the evaluation.

The finalists were selected by The Asian Banker Research Institute after a rigorous and transparent multidimensional evaluation according to the scorecard mechanism. The winners were decided based on comprehensive research analysis, data comparison and in-depth interviews with shortlisted candidates by The Asia Banker international research team and an independent jury.

The Asian Banker's research found that CPIC has satisfied IFRS 17 disclosure requirements with the compliance management technology powered by the SAS IFRS 17 solution, significantly improved its process efficiency and accounting accuracy, and reduced costs with big data computing and full automation technology.

This is one of the first IFRS 17 implementation projects among domestic insurance institutions, empowering CPIC with greater compliance and risk management capabilities.

"IFRS 17 came into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, establishing more stringent principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of insurance contracts," said Zhang Yuanhan, Chief Actuary and CFO of CPIC. "Meanwhile, the fierce market competition poses more severe challenges to insurance companies in product design, actuarial pricing and profit forecasting capabilities.

"We are excited to join forces with SAS in IFRS 17 implementation, leveraging cutting-edge data analytics and process management technology to reduce compliance risk and improve financial digitization, organizational integration and management refinement, so as to stay ahead of the market and drive actuarial transformation of the insurance industry."

The CPIC IFRS 17 project aims to integrate the business data of major CPIC subsidiaries, including property insurance, life insurance and health insurance. As there are many types of insurance data from multiple sources demanding repeated review, the project faced many problems in early stages, such as complex requirements of multiple systems and business departments, giant team size and management challenges.

CPIC Technology, a subsidiary of CPIC, spent more than three years on the IT implementation of the IFRS 17 project. It gradually cultivated a professional IFRS 17 project team.

"Our company sticks to the concept of 'standard-compliant, data-driven, technology-first and talent-oriented'," said Wei Jiaohua, General Manager of CPIC Technology. "We've established an end-to-end financial accounting system for the new standard at the business level, integrated big data with the finance innovatively at the technology level, and cultivated a team that knows both technology and business at the talent level, adding scientific and technological power that contributed to the successful implementation of IFRS 17 project."

"We are proud to win The Asian Banker's 2023 Best Compliance Risk Technology Implementation in China in partnership with CPIC," said Wilson Ho, Vice President and Managing Director of SAS Greater China. "This award is a recognition for the accomplishments of SAS Solution for IFRS 17 and risk technology implementation.

"We are also very grateful to CPIC for their trust and recognition. It is our joint efforts that made this honor possible."

As the first digital management system uniformly built by an insurance group, the CPIC IFRS 17 project  based on SAS data analytics and AI  has created a new generation of financial data management system for insurance services. It is a model of digitalization and intelligentization in the insurance industry, functioning to track, audit and manage all IFRS 17 compliance steps and promote collaboration among actuarial, finance and risk control teams.

Learn more about the SAS Solution for IFRS 17 at sas.com/en_us/software/solution-for-ifrs-17.html.

Please note the above is a translation of a release originally distributed in China.

About SAS

SAS is a global leader in AI and analytics software, including industry-specific solutions. SAS helps organizations transform data into trusted decisions faster by providing knowledge in the moments that matter. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2023 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE SAS
DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dallas plaintiffs' personal injury and wrongful death law firm Hamilton Wingo is recognized for winning the country's largest verdict in the recently published list of the Top 10 Verdicts in the United States in 2022 from TopVerdict.com.

Hamilton Wingo's Chris Hamilton led the winning trial team last summer for the family of an elderly woman who was murdered by a field technician for a Fortune 100 cable TV operator. The jury's $7.37 billion verdict in a Dallas County court last summer was the largest in any U.S. courtroom.

"Everyone who worked on this case is proud to represent this family and thankful for the decision based on the facts," Mr. Hamilton says. "The verdict is proof that juries recognize the importance of following the rules that are there to protect us all."

Mr. Hamilton worked alongside Hamilton Wingo attorneys Paul Wingo and Allie Hallmark and Brad Jackson from Dallas' Law Offices of Brad Jackson to secure the win for the family of Betty Jo Thomas of Irving.

The jury found the cable TV operator 90 percent responsible for the woman's murder after hearing evidence that a proper background check was never conducted on the employee and supervisors ignored his outbursts at work. The technician was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to Ms. Thomas' murder in criminal court.

The TopVerdict.com list is the latest recognition surrounding the case, with the Courtroom View Network calling it the "Most Impressive Plaintiffs Verdict of 2022" earlier this year. In addition to winning the largest verdict in the nation during the past 12 months, Hamilton Wingo rising stars Barrett Robin and Damian Williams also won the largest uninsured motorist verdict in Texas, which is noted in the overall TopVerdict listing.

Hamilton Wingo is one of Dallas' premier trial law firms, having won billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements in the past decade alone. The firm's skilled attorneys represent people from all walks of life in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases involving automobile, airline, and other transportation incidents, workplace safety issues, dram shop liability, dangerous products, industrial catastrophes, medical malpractice, premises liability, utility accidents, and water contamination in addition to high-stakes business litigation. To learn more about the firm, visit www.hamiltonwingo.com.

For more information, please contact Bruce Vincent at 214-763-6226 or [email protected].

SOURCE Hamilton Wingo, LLP
SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Darkhive Inc. announces it has been selected by the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, for a Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, Phase II contract in the amount of $1,249,350 focused on tactical voice command and control for the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) in order to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).

Darkhive YELLOWJACKET Drone (PRNewsfoto/Darkhive)

About Darkhive

Founded in 2021, Darkhive has placed an emphasis on developing affordable, US-manufactured uncrewed systems with open hardware and software interfaces to provide life-saving situational awareness at home and abroad. Darkhive has previously been awarded an SBIR Phase III IDIQ with AFWERX Autonomy Prime, three SBIR Phase IIs, an STTR Phase II with the University of Alaska, an RDT&E contract with the OUSD RE, and an OTA contract with DIU NSIC.

About Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.

SOURCE Darkhive
VALLEY VIEW, Ohio, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dr. Mahmud Kara Scholarship for Future Doctors, a prestigious award program established to honor the remarkable contributions of Dr. Mahmud Kara, a distinguished medical doctor with an unwavering commitment to patient care and transformative healthcare practices, is now accepting applications.

The scholarship is open to all current undergraduate students who are actively pursuing a career in medicine. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic performance, a deep commitment to the field of medicine, and a dedication to personal growth. In addition, applicants must submit a thoughtful essay of under 1000 words in response to the following prompt:

"We are excited to launch the Dr. Mahmud Kara Scholarship for Future Doctors and invite aspiring medical professionals to share their visionary ideas, insights, and innovative approaches to shaping the future of healthcare," said Dr. Mahmud Kara, Founder at Dr. Mahmud Kara Scholarship for Future Doctors .

For more information about the scholarship and to apply, please visit the website at https://drmahmudkarascholarship.com/dr-mahmud-kara-scholarship/

About the Dr. Mahmud Kara Scholarship for Future Doctors

The Dr. Mahmud Kara Scholarship for Future Doctors is a prestigious award program established to honor the remarkable contributions of Dr. Mahmud Kara, a distinguished medical doctor with an unwavering commitment to patient care and transformative healthcare practices. The scholarship is open to all current undergraduate students who are actively pursuing a career in medicine. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic performance, a deep commitment to the field of medicine, and a dedication to personal growth. The selected winner will receive a prestigious award of $1,000 and recognition for their exceptional contributions to the field of medicine.

About Dr. Mahmud Kara

Dr. Mahmud Kara is a distinguished medical doctor with over 30 years of experience. He is a passionate advocate for functional medicine and natural remedies as powerful tools for improving overall well-being. In 2017, he founded KaraMD, an online resource offering digestive support, heart health, and anti-inflammatory supplements to empower individuals to take control of their health journey. Dr. Kara has also served as a faculty member at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and conducted research coordination for critical medical studies. He is deeply committed to advancing medical knowledge and nurturing the dreams and aspirations of future doctors.

SOURCE Dr Mahmud Kara Scholarship
Dr. Speron's Natural Skincare, LLC., a Chicago-based supplier of skincare products, has received the Best New Skincare Product for 2023 for its Natural Scar Removal Cream by Skin and Beauty Journal, a digital publication. Dr. Speron's Natural Scar Removal Cream stands out among its peers for its expertly formulated oxygenated skincare treatment specifically designed to target scar tissue and help restore the skin's natural look and feel.

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Speron's Natural Skincare , a leading provider of skincare products, has been honored by Skin and Beauty Journal, a digital publication, as the Best New Skincare Product of 2023 for its Natural Scar Removal Cream. The award recognizes Dr. Speron's outstanding contributions to the industry and solidifies its position as a skincare game-changer. Dr. Speron's features a variety of skincare products for sun protection, hair, face, acne, scar, and skin lighteners. [ See Full Release. ]

Dr. Speron's Natural Skincare, LLC., a Chicago-based supplier of skincare products, has received the Best New Skincare Product for 2023 for its Natural Scar Removal Cream by Skin and Beauty Journal, a digital publication. Dr. Speron's Natural Scar Removal Cream stands out among its peers for its expertly formulated oxygenated skincare treatment specifically designed to target scar tissue and help restore the skin's natural look and feel. The skincare industry continues to experience exponential growth. According to a recent report, the global skincare market was valued at approximately $135.83 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach around $196.20 billion by 2030. This surge can be attributed to an increased awareness of skin health, the rising demand for natural and organic skincare products, and innovations in the formulation and product offerings.

The skincare industry continues to experience exponential growth. According to a recent report , the global skincare market was valued at approximately $135.83 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach around $196.20 billion by 2030. This surge can be attributed to an increased awareness of skin health, the rising demand for natural and organic skincare products, and innovations in the formulation and product offerings. The figures underscore the increasing consumer demand for high-quality skincare solutions.

Positioned for phenomenal growth in this expansive market, Dr. Speron's Natural Scar Removal Cream offers a natural solution to restore the skin's natural look and feel. A standout attribute of the Natural Scar Removal Cream is its unique oxygenated skincare treatment, expertly formulated to target scar tissue specifically. Unlike conventional scar treatments that often rely on thick ointments or silicone sheets, Dr. Speron's treatment penetrates the skin's surface to work on scars at their root.

With the increasing demand for non-invasive treatments that offer speedy recovery and less downtime, Dr. Speron's Natural Scar Removal Cream caters to modern consumers' needs. With its recent accolade and an ever-growing loyal customer base, Dr. Speron's is geared to introduce more innovative products that adhere to its natural, effective skincare solutions ethos.

Dr. Speron's Natural Skincare, LLC. was founded by Dr. Sam Speron, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. It is available directly to consumers through their website and other online retailers. [ See Full Release. ]

About

Skin and Beauty Journal is a digital publication serving an audience located primarily in the United States.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Liam

[email protected]

212-841-6456

SOURCE Skin & Beauty Journal; Dr. Speron Natural Skin Care
Nonprofit introduces comprehensive database of over-the-counter eye drops

in response to escalating safety issues and eroding consumer confidence

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dry Eye Foundation announced the launch of an easy-to-search eye drop database called "Are My Eye Drops Safe?" today during the American Academy of Optometry's annual meeting. Health care professionals and consumers can use this tool to find detailed information on over-the-counter eye drops sold in the US, including illegally marketed products, recalled products, and products subject to FDA safety communications or warnings.

Key features of "Are My Eye Drops Safe?" include:

The Dry Eye Foundation

Over 600 over-the-counter products sold in the US

11 types of safety alerts, including recall notices, FDA Warning Letters and "Frankenstein" eye drops

Ingredient lists, packaging and preservatives

Links to official drug listings from FDA database

Searchable by product name, brand, company, ingredient or country of manufacture

"We're hearing more reports that patients are afraid to use eye drops. This search tool will help everyone identify which eye drops have current safety issues, and which don't," says Sandra Brown MD, the Foundation's medical advisor. "The FDA has put out notices about 50 OTC products this year from 17 companies. It's hard for anyone to keep track of it all."

This year, the Foundation reported more than 200 non-compliant eye drops to the Food and Drug Administration. Last month, the Foundation met with 50 FDA officials to present research on the growing safety issues related to illegally marketed over-the-counter eye drops sold online.

"In September, the FDA issued Warning Letters about 38 more eye drops from 8 companies, but the press only reported on a handful," says Aidan Moore, the Foundation's Co-Executive Director, who led the database project. "We built this tool to help get people access to real-time information on eye drop safety and cut through the confusion."

"Are My Eye Drops Safe?" can be accessed from eyedropsafety.org .

The Dry Eye Foundation

The Dry Eye Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Poulsbo, Washington.

Its mission is to improve patients' quality of life. The ocular surface diseases and ocular surface pain disorders that many patients face have profound functional, financial and emotional impact. Dry Eye Foundation is working to restore hope, redefine disease and reshape the future for people with these conditions, through its community service, education, research and advocacy programs.

Press kit | Guidestar | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

Media Contact:

Aidan Moore

Rebecca Petris

800-484-0244

[email protected]

SOURCE The Dry Eye Foundation
All retail locations accepting gently worn outerwear donations through Oct. 20 in partnership with One Warm Coat

MOUNT HOREB, Wis., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisconsin-based lifestyle brand, Duluth Trading Co., and national nonprofit organization, One Warm Coat, are partnering to share warmth with people in need this Fall. Now through Friday, October 20, the two brands are hosting a nationwide coat drive at each of Duluth Trading's 65 retail stores, inviting community members to bring in new or gently worn outerwear items for donation.

Duluth Trading

"Duluth Trading Co. is proud to partner with One Warm Coat and support its work in providing coats to those in need this season," said Sam Sato, President and CEO at Duluth Trading. "We hope these events at Duluth Trading stores help provide warmth and comfort to folks in our communities, and also inspire Duluth Trading employees and customers to get involved in the effort."

Duluth Trading is accepting donations of all new or gently worn outerwear items, regardless of brand, style or size. In exchange for each outerwear donation made at a Duluth Trading store, the retailer will be offering participating donors $20.00 off any jacket purchase or $10.00 off any fleece or vest purchase.

Additionally, ahead of One Warm Coat Day, a national day of awareness and activation on October 17, Duluth Trading has committed to donating $25,000 directly to One Warm Coat, allowing the organization to warm 25,000 people in need and help create further impact on its mission.

To find a Duluth Trading store near you, visit www.duluthtrading.com/find-stores , and to learn more about One Warm Coat's mission and work, visit https://www.onewarmcoat.org/ .

About Duluth Trading

Based in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, Duluth Trading Co. caters to the lifestyle of the modern, self-reliant American. Duluth Trading's family of brands offer high-quality, solution-based apparel, accessories and gear for men and women to help them take on life with their own two hands. Duluth Trading honors its roots by creating the hardest-working products, backed by the "Superior Standard," and commits to providing outstanding customer service under the "No Bull Guarantee." To learn more, visit www.duluthtrading.com or one of the 65 Duluth Trading store locations nationwide.

About One Warm Coat

One Warm Coat is a national cloud-based nonprofit organization that provides free coats to children and adults in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability. Since 1992, One Warm Coat has facilitated 50,000 coat drives across the country, collecting 8 million coats that have been distributed through more than 1,500 nonprofit partners, and keeping more than 19 million pounds of textiles out of landfills. Individuals and organizations can get involved by donating coats , holding coat drives , and making financial donations . One Warm Coat believes in each person's right to shelter from the elements and is committed to sharing warmth, without discrimination, one coat at a time.

Media Contact: Jessica SchianodiCola | (212) 453-3490 | [email protected]

SOURCE Duluth Trading
In collaboration with Councilmember Julie Won, Queens Community Board 2, The Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Tech Council, YMCA of Greater New York, and Place in History, Dynamic Star will establish a hub for Food and Technology Entrepreneurship, Community Arts and Cultural Space, Youth Programming, and an Eagle Electric Exhibit

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate developer Dynamic Star LLC is excited to announce significant commitments of 21,000 sq. ft. of its ground floor spaces at Opus Point, a new office building to be developed at 23-10 Queens Plaza South. Key to these commitments was a successful collaboration between Dynamic Star and Queens Councilmember Julie Won, the YMCA of Greater New York, Queens Community Board 2, the Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Tech Council, and Place in History. These groundbreaking initiatives will launch a 3,420 sq. ft. YMCA program space for local youth, a 2,410 sq. ft. space for local artists and cultural groups, a 15,000 sq. ft. LIC Food Innovation HUB and location for the Queens Tech Incubator Program, and a 520 sq. ft. exhibit space devoted to the history of the Eagle Electric Company, the former owner and occupant of the building. This rich mix of food, tech, arts and cultural, youth programming, and exhibit spaces will establish a local-based, entrepreneurial hub to activate and anchor a new 321,000 sq. ft. office building to be developed at the foot of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge in Long Island City, Queens.

"We are excited to partner with the Queens Chamber's Tech Council to bring the LIC Food Innovation HUB and Queens Tech Incubator Program to life," said Brad Zackson, Director of Development at Dynamic Star. "Opus Point is set to become more than just an office building; it will be a thriving ecosystem that cultivates the creativity and potential of local entrepreneurs in both the food and technology sectors."

The tenants activating Opus Point's lower and main ground floor spaces will include:

Food Innovation HUB

Under the direction of restaurant and hospitality specialist Laura Licona at the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the LIC Food Innovation HUB at Opus Point will provide up to 12,000 sq. ft. of dedicated space for food incubation, production, and retail. The LIC HUB will include full-service prep kitchen stations as well as private kitchen spaces, a chef's table, an events room, workforce development initiatives, a retail vendor market, and food court.

A 3,000 sq. ft. Culinary School Restaurant with outdoor seating will also be incorporated, serving as a unique offering for culinary enthusiasts and aspiring chefs to hone their skills in a real-world setting. Combining elements of a traditional restaurant with those of a cooking school, the Culinary School Restaurant will satisfy a growing market trend for experiential dining and culinary education.

Queens Tech Incubator Program

The Queens Tech Incubator Program, operated by the Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Tech Council, will occupy up to 2,500 sq. ft. of the Lower Ground Floor at Opus Point. This space will serve as a launchpad for early-stage technology companies, providing them with a supportive ecosystem that nurtures growth and accelerates development. The program aims to cement Long Island City's position as a hub for technological innovation. Participating companies will receive complimentary office space, mentorship opportunities from existing Tech Council members as well as resources provided by the Small Business Resource Network.

YMCA Program Space

In collaboration with Councilmember Julie Won, Dynamic Star is providing classroom space and funding for a new 3,420 sq. ft. YMCA program space that will offer after school teen programming and a full-day summer camp. The YMCA will be located on the lower ground floor of Opus Point and program participants will also have part-time use of an adjacent 8,000 sq. ft. accessory fitness center.

Community Arts and Culture Space

Located along and accessed from the Opus Point's 23rd Street frontage, 2,410 sq. ft. of space will be dedicated for local, Long Island City-based arts and culture users. The flexible, multi-purpose space will be operated and programmed in collaboration with Queens Community Board 2 and a local arts and culture organization to be selected by the community board. Local non-profit arts and culture organizations within Community Board 2's boundaries will be given priority to use the space on a short-term basis.

Eagle Electric Exhibit Space

The Opus Point development will preserve and repurpose the original Queens headquarters of the Eagle Electric Manufacturing Company, which moved its production facilities to 23-10 Queens Plaza in 1941. The building served as its headquarters until 2000, when the company ceased operations. At its height, Eagle Electric occupied eight buildings in Long Island City and Astoria, manufacturing lamps, switches, plugs, and a variety of electrical equipment used in appliances, construction, and military equipment. To honor and celebrate this history, Dynamic Star commissioned Paul Parkhill and Monte Antrim to research and design a permanent exhibition that will narrate and illustrate the company's history in a ground floor space adjacent to the lobby.

Queens Chamber of Commerce

The Queens Chamber of Commerce is the oldest and largest business association in Queens, representing more than 1,400 businesses and more than 150,000 Queens-based employees. Its mission is to foster connections, educate for success, develop/implement programs and advocate for members' interests.

The Queens Tech Council focuses on building an economy that embraces innovation and promotes tech adoption, from existing giants in established industries to startups working on cutting edge applications. This means ensuring Queens is producing the talent that companies look for, that Queens-based tech companies are able to get the resources and capital they need, and that businesses in traditional industries are able to adapt to the changing economy, successfully integrate new technologies, and upskill their workforces to remain competitive and thrive in the years to come.

"The LIC Food Innovation HUB and this latest location for the Queens Tech Incubator Program will provide a remarkable platform for entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into successful businesses," stated Tom Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. "This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to drive innovation, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Dynamic Star LLC on this exciting endeavor. Opus Point's strategic location in Long Island City, the geographic center of the region and a neighborhood known for its accessibility and vibrant food community, further enhances the appeal of the LIC Food Innovation HUB and Queens Tech Incubator Program. This launch is expected to usher in a new era of innovation, growth, and collaboration within Long Island City and beyond."

About Dynamic Star

Dynamic Star, LLC. is a full-service real estate development, investment, and marketing firm with expertise in a wide range of real estate, construction, and financial disciplines, including land use, zoning, and underwriting.

About Queens Chamber's Tech Council

Queens Chamber's Tech Council is a forward-looking organization dedicated to promoting technology innovation and entrepreneurship in the Queens borough. By fostering connections, providing resources, and driving collaborative initiatives, the council aims to position Queens as a dynamic hub for technological advancement.

Media Contact:

Jordan Bieber

518-275-3371

[email protected]

SOURCE Dynamic Star
Chinese vice premier meets chair of Volkswagen's board of management

Xinhua) 08:42, October 12, 2023

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Oliver Blume, chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Oliver Blume, chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the Chinese and German economies are highly complementary and have huge space for cooperation.

As important economies and responsible major countries, China and Germany should work together to promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, work together to maintain the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains, and contribute to global economic growth and governance, Ding said.

Noting that China's door to the outside world will only open wider, Ding said China and Germany enjoy broad cooperation prospects in the automotive field, and China stands ready to provide a better environment and improved conditions for foreign enterprises, including Volkswagen, to invest and do business in China.

"We welcome Volkswagen to continue to leverage its advantages and expand investment in China to achieve greater development through win-win cooperation," he added.

Blume thanked China for its strong support for Volkswagen's development in China, noting that Volkswagen cherishes its friendship with China and the Chinese people and will increase investment in key areas.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Egyptian Ministry of Transport has signed an agreement with Egis and Setec, leading international groups in the consulting and mobility sectors, for the second phase of Cairo Metro Line 6 studies.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Transport Minister Kamal El Wazir and the French Ambassador to Egypt Marc Barety, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Transport (MOT), and the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT).

The Cairo Metro Line 6 Project is a pivotal component of Egypt's comprehensive plan to revolutionise its public transport system.

This ambitious project will extend over 34 km, traversing North to South through various Greater Cairo neighbourhoods, aimed at expanding capacity and providing seamless transportation services for millions of citizens.

The agreement solidifies the commitment to the continued development of Egypts public transportation network, a statement said.

The Egis-led JV conducted the first phase of studies for the Cairo Metro Line 6 which plans to alleviate congestion on the existing Cairo Metro Line 1 while granting commuters more choices for efficient travel throughout the city and connecting with the Metro Lines 1, 3, and 4. By expanding and modernising the public transport network, the Egis-Setec JV and the Egyptian Ministry of Transport are collaboratively working towards a sustainable, eco-friendly, and passenger-centric transportation system, it said.

El Wazir said: As we embark on this visionary project, that not only pledges to transform Cairos urban mobility, but also holds the potential to enhance the quality of life for our citizens in profound ways, we take immense pride of this partnership between Egypt and France. We are delighted by this collaboration between Egypt and France with both the Egis-Setec JV as well as the French Treasury. - TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Azerbaijani Deputy Energy Minister Kamal Abbasov took part in the 25th ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) held in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Trend reports.

According to the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry, in his speech, the deputy minister noted the importance of the GECF as a platform for cooperation and dialog between natural gas producing countries.

In addition, Kamal Abbasov emphasized the important role of natural gas in the global energy transition as an environmentally cleaner fuel compared to other traditional energy carriers.

Information was presented at the meeting on Azerbaijan's natural gas reserves, production, exports and recent achievements, as well as steps taken towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding the use of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan.

The GECF is an association of countries leading in natural gas exports worldwide.
ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eagle Hill Consulting again has secured a spot on The Washington Business Journal's ranking of the Largest Women-Owned Businesses in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. Ranked by total revenue in 2022, Eagle Hill rose to the thirteenth spot, up from fifteen last year among regional businesses that are woman-owned.

"This year marks Eagle Hill's twentieth year in business, so we're especially proud that we continue to climb on The Washington Business Journal's rankings," says Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting. "We've stayed true to our culture as we've grown, and that's what powers our exceptional client service and innovation. We look forward to continuing our success, both in terms of solving workforce problems for our clients and being a great place to work for our employees."

Eagle Hill Consulting rises to #13 on The Washington Business Journal's ranking of the Largest Women-Owned Businesses. Post this

Earlier this year, The Washington Post named Eagle Hill a top workplace, and Forbes named the company one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms. Also this year, Vault named Eagle Hill a top company to work for, earning the number one ranking as the best consulting firm for women and the number two ranking for work/life balance. Eagle Hill also is a certified Women's Business Enterprise.

Learn about current careers opportunities at Eagle Hill.

Eagle Hill Consulting LLC is a woman-owned business that provides unconventional management consulting services in the areas of Strategy & Performance, Talent, and Change. The company's expertise in delivering innovative solutions to unique challenges spans across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. A leading authority on employee sentiment, Eagle Hill is headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with employees across the U.S. and offices in Boston and Seattle. More information is available at www.eaglehillconsulting.com.

SOURCE Eagle Hill Consulting
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Elevation Gold Mining Corporation (TSX.V: ELVT) (OTCQX: EVGDF) (the "Company" or "Elevation Gold") is pleased to announce the production results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 ("Q3 2023"). The Company expects to file its third quarter financial statements and management discussion and analysis in mid-November 2023.

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights

Gold production and sales materially increased quarter over quarter, as the Company began mining higher-grade ore in Q3 2023 sourced from the East Pit and Mordor areas. Average mined grade increased from 0.38 g/t in Q2 2023 to 0.53 g/t in Q3 2023.

The Company produced 8,380 ounces of gold from 774,588 ore tonnes processed, a 23% increase and 7% increase from Q2 2023, respectively.

The Company sold 8,391 ounces of gold during Q3 2023, a 23% increase from Q2 2023.

Consolidated Operational Results Summary

The following table provides a summary of the Company's operational statistics for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.





Q3 2023 Q3 2022

YTD 2023 YTD 2022 Ore tonnes mined t 702,745 778,177

2,127,181 2,239,620 Ore tonnes stacked t 774,588 750,908

2,194,126 2,237,803 Contained gold ounces stacked oz 13,247 12,354

31,786 30,861 Gold grade g/t 0.53 0.51

0.45 0.43 Gold ounces produced oz 8,380 8,835

23,057 21,912 Gold ounces sold oz 8,391 9,096

23,309 22,606

Tim J. Swendseid, Chief Executive Officer of Elevation Gold, stated "Q3 2023 was a significant improvement over Q2 2023. Stacked ounces were up by 50% as a result of a 39% grade improvement and a 7% improvement in crusher throughput. Production was up by 23%, and the difference between stacked and produced ounces is due to leach percolation time as the quarter's tons were stacked in 3A and 2C leach pads, both growing in height. When we complete the new 3A Phase 2 leach pad at the beginning of November, we'll be placing ore on the first lift, with minimal percolation times, plus enjoying the benefit of Q3 2023 stacked ounces. That plus the expectation that mined ore grade will be similar to the ore grade in Q3 give us confidence in maintaining guidance for the year of between 34,000 and 36,000 ounces produced. We expect a very strong Q4. My hats off to the Moss mine team for a safe and solid third quarter, on-time and on-budget progress of the 3A Phase 2 leach pad expansion, and for setting Elevation up for a very strong finish of the year!"

Resignation of Director

The Company also announces that effective immediately, Raymond Threlkeld has resigned as a Director of the Company and has transitioned to an advisory role.

Douglas J. Hurst, Chairman and Director of Elevation Gold, stated, "Ray has made outstanding contributions as a director of the Company, and we can't thank him enough. We look forward to his continuing in an advisory role for the Company."

Following this change, the Company's Board of Directors now consists of six members, five of whom are independent directors:

Douglas Hurst, Chairman (Independent Director)

Alan Edwards (Independent Director)

Michael Haworth (Independent Director)

David Peat (Independent Director)

Tim Swendseid (Non-Independent Director)

Douglas Ward (Independent Director)

Short Term Note and Gold Purchase and Sales Agreement

On September 27, 2023, the Company signed a short-term promissory note with a related party for $1.7 million. The note is due and payable on October 25, 2023. On October 6, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with the same party to receive an advance of $2 million dollars. Under the terms of that agreement, the Company agreed to deliver 1,125 Troy ounces of gold to the party by December 15, 2023.

The proceeds from both these facilities will be used for general purposes at the Company's Moss Mine in Arizona.

Qualified Persons

Unless otherwise indicated, the technical disclosure contained within this press release that relates to the Company's operating mine has been reviewed and approved by Tim J. Swendseid, P.E., MBA, CFA, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a Qualified Person for the purpose of NI 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ELEVATION GOLD MINING CORPORATION

"Tim J. Swendseid"

Tim J. Swendseid, Chief Executive Officer of Elevation Gold Mining Corporation

About Elevation Gold Mining Corporation

Elevation Gold is a publicly listed gold and silver producer, engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and operation of mineral properties located in the United States. Elevation Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") in Canada under the ticker symbol ELVT and on the OTCQX in the United States under the ticker symbol EVGDF. The Company's principal operation is its 100% owned Moss Mine in the Mohave County of Arizona. Elevation also holds the title to the Hercules exploration property, located in Lyon County, Nevada.

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 on Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's plans, prospects and business strategies; the Company's guidance on the timing and amount of future production and its expectations regarding the results of operations; expected costs; permitting requirements and timelines; timing and possible outcome of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimations, life of mine estimates, and mine plans; anticipated exploration and development activities at the Company's projects; net present value; design parameters; economic potential; processing mineralized material; the potential of robust economic potential at the Moss Mine. Words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "goal", "aim", "intend", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "can", "could", "should", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, including that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour; assumed and future price of gold, silver and other metals; anticipated costs; ability to achieve goals; and assumptions related to the factors set forth below. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this document in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks inherent in mining, including, but not limited to risks to the environment, industrial accidents, catastrophic equipment failures, unusual or unexpected geological formations or unstable ground conditions, and natural phenomena such as earthquakes, flooding or unusually severe weather; uninsurable risks; global financial conditions and inflation; changes in the Company's share price, and volatility in the equity markets in general; volatility and fluctuations in metal and commodity prices; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 virus; delays or the inability to obtain, retain or comply with permits; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; health and safety risks; exploration, development or mining results not being consistent with the Company's expectations; unavailable or inaccessible infrastructure and risks related to ageing infrastructure; actual ore mined and/or metal recoveries varying from Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates, estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution, mine plans and metallurgical and other characteristics; risks associated with the estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, including, but not limited to, models relating thereto; ore processing efficiency; information technology and cybersecurity risks; potential for the allegation of fraud and corruption involving the Company, its customers, suppliers or employees, or the allegation of improper or discriminatory employment practices; regulatory investigations, enforcement, sanctions and/or related or other litigation; estimates of future production and operations; estimates of operating cost estimates; the potential for and effects of labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or shortages of labour or interruptions in production; risks related to the environmental regulation and environmental impact of the Company's operations and products and management thereof; exchange rate fluctuations; climate change; risks relating to attracting and retaining of highly skilled employees; compliance with environmental, health and safety laws; counterparty and credit risks and customer concentration; litigation; changes in laws, regulations or policies including, but not limited to, those related to mining regimes, permitting and approvals, environmental and tailings management, and labour; internal controls; challenges or defects in title; funding requirements and availability of financing; dilution; risks relating to dividends; risks associated with acquisitions and related integration efforts, including the ability to achieve anticipated benefits, unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to integration and diversion of management time on integration; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, production estimates and estimated economic return; uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and other risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those described the Company's public disclosure documents which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Elevation Gold Mining Corp.
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The franchise market size is expected to grow by USD 1,634.71 billion between 2022 and 2027. However, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 9.58% during the forecast period. The market is segmented by Type (Business format franchise, Product distribution franchise, Management franchise, and Others ), Application (Hotels, Convenience stores, Real estate, Car rental and dealers, and Others), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The increasing construction activities drive the franchise market. The rapid industrialization and urbanization in emerging economies drive the construction industry. Furthermore, various countries are also investing heavily in non-residential spaces. Consequently, the construction industry is expected to witness significant growth, which in turn will boost the demand for real estate franchises and fuel the growth of the global franchise market during the forecast period. The report also covers information on upcoming trends and challenges. Explore detailed information by purchasing a report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Franchise Market 2023-2027

Key Highlights:

The report recognizes the following as some of the key players in the franchise market: Ace Hardware Corp., Century 21 Real Estate LLC, Chick fil A Inc., Circle K, Jersey Mikes Franchise Systems Inc., JUBILANT FOODWORKS LTD., Kumon Institute of Education Co. Ltd., Marriott International Inc., Mathnasium LLC, McDonald Corp., Papa Johns International Inc., RE MAX Holdings Inc., Restaurant Brands International Inc., Seven and i Holdings Co. Ltd., SPC Group, The Wendys Co., United Parcel Service Inc., Wild Birds Unlimited Inc., Winmark Corp., and YUM Brands Inc.

Franchise Market is fragmented in nature.

Market to observe 8.92% YOY growth in 2023.

Market Dynamics:

Trend

The innovation in in-store retailing is an emerging franchise market trend.

is an emerging franchise market trend. The service personalization for customers is supported by the digitization of in-store retail.

Furthermore, supermarket chains and hypermarkets compete with online subscription models offered by e-commerce companies in order to allow customers to hoard on multiple purchases.

Challenge

The high pressure to maintain brand consistency and quality challenges the franchise market.

challenges the franchise market. The presence in multiple regional, national, and global locations may challenge franchise businesses in maintaining brand consistency.

The growth in employee turnover exacerbates other problems within the business, such as raised operating costs and reduced customer satisfaction, as experienced employees no longer have to be replaced by less qualified employees.

The report analyses the market size and growth and provides accurate predictions on the growth of the market. View a FREE PDF Sample

Keg Segments:

By type, the business format franchise segment is significant during the forecast period. The franchisor provides the franchisee with a complete operating system in this business model. Additionally, they also provide the trade name, product, and service. Another crucial thing is to note that business model franchisees are often prohibited from selling unapproved products and are often required to sell some (or all) of the franchisor's goods or services. Get a glance at the market contribution of the segments, Request a Sample

Related Reports:

The China - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.15% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 2,960.34 million.

The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Outsourcing Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.63% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 25.4 billion.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Type

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 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chocolove, the Boulder, Colo.-based leader in chocolate quality, sustainability and flavor innovation for more than 28 years, is announcing the return of its beloved Tree-Shaped Bites for the holidays in Dark Peppermint Creme and Milk Hazelnut Truffle. The individually wrapped mini chocolate tree bites are perfect for gifting, stuffing stockings and spreading cheer all season long.

Chocolove's Tree-Shaped Bites

Tree-Shaped Dark Chocolates with Mint Filling: A cherished holiday flavor combination, the vegan-friendly Peppermint Creme bites are made with 55% dark chocolate and refreshing peppermint oil.

A cherished holiday flavor combination, the vegan-friendly Peppermint Creme bites are made with 55% dark chocolate and refreshing peppermint oil. Tree-Shaped Milk Chocolates with Hazelnut Truffle Filling: The Hazelnut Truffle flavor is made with 33% milk chocolate, rich hazelnut butter and a touch of salt for that irresistible classic hazelnut taste.

Also returning are Chocolove's festive holiday collection bars:

Fruit-Nut Medley in Dark Chocolate: Made with 55% dark chocolate, dried currants and cherries, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, orange peel and ginger to deliver a bar that is sweet, savory, chewy and crunchy all at the same time.

Made with 55% dark chocolate, dried currants and cherries, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, orange peel and ginger to deliver a bar that is sweet, savory, chewy and crunchy all at the same time. Frosted Gingerbread in Milk Chocolate: Made with 33% milk chocolate and bits of gingerbread, this is a chocolate take on a classic holiday treat.

Made with 33% milk chocolate and bits of gingerbread, this is a chocolate take on a classic holiday treat. Candy Cane Crunch in Dark Chocolate: Made with 55% dark chocolate and pieces of candy cane for a classic peppermint flavor that packs a nostalgic and rich holiday punch.

Additionally, gourmet offerings created by Master Chocolatier Chef Patrick Peeters will be available exclusively on Chocolove.com. While these delectable seasonal treats will be around while supplies last, Chocolove's signature bars, including Toffee & Almonds in Milk Chocolate, Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate, Hazelnuts in Milk Chocolate, and Peppermint in Dark Chocolate, are available year-round and continue to be favorites, especially during the holidays.

Sourcing and Availability

Chocolove's bars and bites are made with traceable cocoa beans; Rainforest Alliance Certified, meaning the chocolate is sourced using methods that support social, economic and environmental sustainability; and Non GMO Project Verified. The tree bites and holiday collection bars will be available at the following retailers: Sprouts, Albertsons, Raley's Supermarket, Whole Foods Market, Natural Grocers, New Seasons Market, Thrive Market, Amazon and Chocolove.com.

The year-round bars are available at major retailers, Chocolove.com and Amazon now.

About Chocolove

Chocolove was founded in 1995 in Boulder, Colorado, by Timothy Moley with the goal of creating the freshest, best-tasting, European-style premium chocolate that was priced right and ethically sourced. Today, Chocolove crafts each product with care and offers large bars, mini bars, cups, bites, boxes, specialty holiday chocolates, and small-batch handmade truffles in more than 60 artfully balanced, lusciously smooth, and full-bodied flavors that can be enjoyed every day. For more information, visit Chocolove.com.

CONTACT:

Libby Pinkerton, Linhart PR

[email protected] / 918-527-3221

SOURCE Chocolove
DUBLIN, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Contrast Media Injectors Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global contrast media injectors market size reached US$ 1.6 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 2.3 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.81% during 2023-2028

North America stands out as the largest market for contrast media injectors, primarily due to several key factors driving its growth. The region benefits from a significant increase in healthcare expenditure, highlighting the importance placed on healthcare services. There's also a growing demand for efficient and effective diagnostic procedures in North America, driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

Moreover, the rising demand for minimally invasive (MI) procedures is a key contributor to market growth, as contrast media injectors play a vital role in enhancing the effectiveness of such procedures. The increasing number of diagnostic imaging procedures further solidifies North America's position as a prominent market for these injectors.

In essence, contrast media injectors are crucial devices in the field of medical imaging, used to improve the visibility of blood vessels, organs, and tissues during diagnostic processes. These devices consist of various components, including a syringe or reservoir for contrast media, an injector system, and a control console. They are employed by healthcare professionals, such as radiologists and technicians, to precisely and uniformly deliver contrast agents, ultimately resulting in clearer and more accurate diagnostic images.

By controlling the rate and volume of injection, contrast media injectors ensure the optimal distribution of contrast media, enhancing diagnostic quality and aiding in the identification of abnormalities or diseases. These devices offer multiple advantages, including improved image clarity, reduced need for rescans, and enhanced patient safety through controlled dosage administration. Compared to manual injections, they provide consistent injection rates, minimizing the risk of human error.

The report also offers an extensive analysis of the competitive landscape within the global contrast media injectors market. This analysis includes key aspects such as market structure, market share among major players, player positioning, successful strategies, a competitive dashboard, and a company evaluation quadrant, providing valuable insights for stakeholders in the market.

Contrast Media Injectors Market Trends:

The global contrast media injectors market is experiencing robust growth driven by various factors. Firstly, the prevalence of chronic diseases is on the rise, leading to an increased demand for diagnostic imaging procedures. This heightened need for medical imaging, in turn, fuels the demand for contrast media injectors.

Additionally, there is a growing preference for minimally invasive procedures in healthcare, where contrast media injectors play a vital role in enhancing their effectiveness. Technological advancements in this field are also significant contributors to market growth, with innovative products like smart injectors and dual-head injectors expanding the product portfolio.

Moreover, the world's aging population is a key driver, as elderly individuals are more likely to require diagnostic imaging and related procedures. Increasing healthcare expenditure worldwide supports the adoption of advanced medical technologies, including contrast media injectors.

Favorable reimbursement policies make these procedures more accessible to patients. The use of contrast media injectors is expanding into veterinary medicine, opening up new market opportunities. The focus on early disease diagnosis and treatment is propelling the demand for diagnostic procedures, where contrast media injectors are essential.

Furthermore, rapid advancements in imaging technologies are increasing the effectiveness and accuracy of diagnostic procedures, further fueling the demand for contrast media injectors. The increasing number of regulatory approvals for contrast agents and the overall growth of the healthcare industry are additional factors contributing to the market's positive outlook and growth prospects.

Key Questions Answered in This Report

What was the size of the global contrast media injectors market in 2022?

What is the expected growth rate of the global contrast media injectors market during 2023-2028?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global contrast media injectors market?

What are the key factors driving the global contrast media injectors market?

What is the breakup of the global contrast media injectors market based on the product type?

What is the breakup of the global contrast media injectors market based on the injectors type?

What is the breakup of the global contrast media injectors market based on the application?

What is the breakup of the global contrast media injectors market based on the end user?

What are the key regions in the global contrast media injectors market?

Who are the key players/companies in the global contrast media injectors market?

Company Profiles

APOLLO RT Co. Ltd.

Bayer AG

Bracco Imaging S.p.A.

General Electric Company

Guerbet

Medtron AG

Nemoto Kyorindo Co. Ltd.

Shenzhen Anke High-tech Co. Ltd.

Shenzhen Seacrown Electromechanical Co. Ltd.

Sino Medical-Device Technology Co. Ltd.

ulrich GmbH & Co. KG

Key Market Segmentation:



Product Type Insights:

According to the report, the consumables segment accounted for the largest market share.

Consumables

Syringes

Tubes

Others

Injector Systems

CT Injectors

MRI Injectors

Angiography Injectors

Accessories

Injectors Type Insights:

According to the report, the single-head injectors segment accounted for the largest market share.

Single-head Injectors

Dual-head Injectors

Syringeless Injectors

Application Insights:

According to the report, the radiology segment accounted for the largest market share.

Radiology

Interventional Cardiology

Interventional Radiology

End Use Insights:

According to the report, the hospitals segment accounted for the largest market share.

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Diagnostics Imaging Centers

Regional Insights:

North America

United States

Canada

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Indonesia

Others

Europe

Germany

France

United Kingdom

Italy

Spain

Russia

Others

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Others

Middle East and Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2n9bho

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electric Vehicle Fluid Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028F Segmented By Propulsion Type, By Vehicle Type, By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Region, Competition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global electric vehicle fluids market is forecast to grow at an impressive rate through 2028

Developing lubricants for electric vehicles (EVs) presents a unique challenge due to the distinct electric motor designs of various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Each OEM may require a specific lubricant formulation to meet their requirements for optimal performance. The technical demands for EV lubricants are higher compared to internal combustion engines (ICEs) because they must provide insulating properties, anti-wear performance, friction reduction, cooling for electric motors and battery packs, and resistance to wear.

While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) may not require conventional engine oils, other types of EVs, including hybrid EVs that still incorporate internal combustion engines (ICEs), demand specialized lubricants, fluids, and greases. These lubricants often need to meet the same performance standards as those for traditional vehicles.

The research and development of these specialized fluids and lubricants for EVs have only recently begun to gain momentum. This is because the EV market is still experiencing significant growth and innovation, particularly in personal transportation. While global EV sales are increasing rapidly, mass production of EVs has only been in place for a few decades.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on various industries, including the automobile sector. Lockdowns and restrictions forced many businesses, including automobile manufacturers, to temporarily close their facilities, affecting production.

Despite these challenges, the trend towards zero-emission vehicles, driven by environmental concerns and government regulations, has contributed to the growth of the EV industry. As a result, there is an increasing demand for EV fluids and lubricants to support the expanding electric vehicle market.

Market Trends

The electric vehicle (EV) industry is experiencing significant growth, driving demand for specialized fluids in this market. In 2021, the number of electric vehicles doubled to reach approximately 6.6 million, with China accounting for over 3.3 million sales, which is three times the sales in 2020. This growth presents opportunities for creating fluids for electric motor and battery cooling.

EVs contain more copper than internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, enabling them to carry more current and remain compatible with lubricants and coolants. Preventing copper corrosion is a key goal for electric fluids, and the demand for such fluids is rising rapidly.

Efficiency improvements in EVs are essential to address concerns about limited driving range and "range anxiety." While the average range of new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased significantly, there is still a perception that they might run out of battery power and leave drivers stranded. Oil and gas companies are developing fluids and coolants for EVs to enhance battery performance and address this issue. These dielectric fluids can improve battery power and cell longevity.

However, it's important to note that the increasing cost of EV fluids is a consideration. While EV maintenance costs are generally lower than those of ICE vehicles, the initial purchase cost of EVs can be higher. The development of specialized EV fluids, such as heat transfer fluids and greases for batteries and gears, contributes to this cost.

To mitigate this, fluid manufacturers are working on strategies like cost absorption, using the same fluids for multiple functions within an EV, and reducing the frequency of fluid changes to make EV ownership more cost-effective.

Competitive Landscape



Key players developing advanced technologies to stay competitive in the market and enhancing their product portfolio in the regions to increase their customer outreach.

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in global Electric Vehicle Fluid Market.

Afton Chemicals

Dober

Engineered Fluids Inc.

ExxonMobil Corporation

FUCHS Petrolub AG

Castrol Limited

Freudenberg Chemical Specialities SE & Co. KG

M&I Materials

Petronas

Shell plc

Report Scope:

Voice of Customer

Factors Influencing Purchase Decision

Brand Awareness

Brand Satisfaction Level

Global Electric Vehicle Fluid Market, By Propulsion Type:

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Global Electric Vehicle Fluid Market, By Vehicle Type:

Passenger Car

Light Commercial Vehicle

Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle

Global Electric Vehicle Fluid Market, By Product Type:

Grease

Heat Transfer Fluids

Drive System Fluids

Global Electric Vehicle Fluid Market, By Distribution Channel:

OEM

Aftermarket

Global Electric Vehicle Fluid Market, By Region:

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Malaysia

Indonesia

Thailand

Europe & CIS

& CIS Germany

Russia

France

Spain

Italy

United Kingdom

Poland

Netherland

Norway

North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

South America

Argentina

Brazil

Colombia

Middle East and Africa

and South Africa

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/d8hlgk

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Soda Ash and Derivatives Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global soda ash and derivatives market is projected to reach a value of $29.95 billion by 2028 from $25 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 3%

In 2022, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region took the lead in the global soda ash and derivatives market, capturing a substantial share of more than 54% of the revenue. This region is poised for significant growth throughout the forecast period.

Notably, China and India are the largest consumers of soda ash, driven by high demand from the glass and soap detergent industries. Additionally, the increasing number of car manufacturing industries in China and India is expected to boost the demand for glass, further propelling the market.

Many companies in the soda ash and derivatives market are focusing on enhancing product quality to maintain competitiveness on a global scale. They are also considering various factors, such as product range, quality, pricing, functionality, size, packaging, and marketing strategies, to gain a competitive edge in the industry.

Among the major players in the global soda ash and derivatives market are companies like CIECH SA, Ciner Group Resources Corporation, Genesis Energy L.P., GHCL Limited, Lianyungang Soda Ash Co. Ltd, Sisecam Group, Solvay S.A, Tata Chemicals Limited, FMC Corporation, and others.

These market participants are actively expanding their product portfolios by leveraging the latest technologies to reach a growing customer base. To succeed in this competitive landscape, companies must allocate significant efforts and resources to introduce innovative and upgraded soda ash and derivatives products that align with consumer demands.

MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES

Role of Soda Ash in Glass Manufacturing

Investments in solar energy have led to increased demand for processed glass used in solar panels, driving expansion in the glass manufacturing sector. For example, in July 2022, Hanwha Group acquired solar glass from Canadian Premium Sand to support its new manufacturing facility in the United States with a 3GW solar energy production capacity, leading to higher demand for soda ash in the soda ash and derivatives market.

Emerging Demand for Natural Soda Ash

Concerns about chemical compounds causing skin problems and water pollution are driving demand for biodegradable alternatives. This encourages manufacturers to invest in R&D and launch innovative products. Government concerns about wastewater disposal and plastic packaging are also boosting demand for natural soda ash, as natural ingredients are safer for the environment and human health.

Increasing Textile Industry:

Soda ash, particularly light soda ash, plays a crucial role in textile dyeing processes, adjusting pH levels for various fibers like cotton, linen, rayon, Tencel, and hemp.

This adjustment facilitates the reaction between fiber-reactive dye and cellulose fiber, resulting in a permanent bond. The textile industry's demand for organic dyes, R&D investments in non-toxic and natural dyes, and innovations in textile chemistry are driving the textile dyes market.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

Insights by Density

Light density soda ash is commonly used to adjust pH levels in textile dyeing processes. It is also a pH regulator in various industrial processes and is used in soaps and washing detergents to enhance cleaning properties.

Insights by Process

The synthetic process dominates the soda ash and derivatives market due to increased production and usage in industries like automotive, particularly in regions like Europe and Asia. China is a major producer of synthetic soda ash, while North America is a key producer of natural soda ash due to trona mines.

Insights by Application

The flat glass segment leads the market, driven by demand for soda-lime-silica glass in automotive and construction, as well as glass containers for food and drinks. Expansion of solar energy systems, adoption of glass architecture in construction, and government regulations promoting sustainable energy sources contribute to the growth of this segment.

Factors such as resource scarcity, environmental concerns, cost reductions in solar installations, and rising electricity demand support the soda ash and derivatives market's expansion.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market Opportunities & Trends

Essential Role Of Soda Ash In Glass Manufacturing

Exceptional Growth Of Detergent Industry

Unprecedented Rise In Consumption Of Paper

Market Growth Enablers

Growth Of Textile Industry

Emerging Demand Of Natural Soda Ash

Advances In Battery Technologies

Market Restraints

Volatility In Raw Material Prices

Presence Of Several Substitutes

VENDOR LANDSCAPE



Key Company Profile

Solvay

Tata Chemicals Limited

Shandong Jingling Chemical Co. Ltd.

Other Prominent Vendors

Nirma Limited

Tokuyama Group

Tangshan Sanyou Group Co. Ltd.

Shandong Haihua Group

HUBEI YIHUA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO. Ltd.

YIHUA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO. Ltd. GHCL Limited

Genesis Energy LP

Ciner Group

CIECH Chemical

Semnan Soda Ash Co.

Weifang Haizhiyuan Chemistry and Industry Co. Ltd.

Kakadiya Chemicals

Sun Chemicals

Adana Chem San A.S

Olimpex Chemicals B.V.

Su Jia Trading Co. Ltd.

Greenline Chemicals

Shanxi Yishunda Chemicals Co. Ltd.

CJ Chemicals

E&C Chemicals Inc.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

Segmentation by Process

Synthetic

Natural

Segmentation by Density

Light

Dense

Segmentation by Application

Flat Glass

Container Glass

Chemicals

Soap & Detergents

PV Panels

Other Application

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Learn how genetic testing and other tools can empower people to take action even BEFORE a breast cancer diagnosis

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

BACKGROUND:

Meaghan B Murphy is a successful magazine editor, author and on-air personality. She was also at high-risk for developing cancer, specifically breast cancer. Meaghan's mom is a two-time breast cancer survivor and her father passed away from pancreatic cancer. She also has dense breasts, making it more difficult to detect cancer during routine screenings.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9200451-invitae-beyond-awareness-empower-people-before-breast-cancer-diagnosis/

After a breast cancer scare herself, Meaghan decided to take action and undergo genetic testing to get a fuller picture of her risk. The results showed a change in the DNA of her CHEK2 gene that is known to increase the risk for breast cancer. As with the more well-known BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes, a CHEK2 change means that you may be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer specifically. Armed with the knowledge from her genetic test combined with her other risk factors, Meaghan discussed management options with her physicians and decided to undergo a preventative double mastectomy and reconstruction in 2022.

Today, Meaghan is a 1-year "previvor" and is passionate about raising awareness for genetic testing and all of the preemptive tools that help prevent cancer or catch it early. Here she shares her personal story, explains why she underwent testing and the subsequent surgery as well as how her decision has empowered her to help others take action.

For more information, please visit: www.invitae.com

MORE ABOUT MEAGHAN B MURPHY

Known for her high-energy, upbeat personality and YAY lifestyle, Meaghan B Murphy is a longtime magazine editor, author, co-host of Off the Gram podcast, and an on-air TV personality as seen regularly on Live with Kelly & Mark and Today. Currently the editor-in-chief of Woman's Day following 7 years as the Executive Editor of Good Housekeeping, Murphy penned Your Fully Charged Life (Penguin-Random House), which Oprah Daily calls a book "that'll make you feel good at the turn of every page." A New Jersey native, Meaghan married her younger brother's best friend, Patrick, and together they live in Westfield (aka @bestfieldnj) with their three children and labradoodle Dempsey. When the certified trainer and cancer #previvor is not getting in her 10K steps, she's busy decorating for all the holidays and coming up with MacGuyver-style life hacks.

Produced for: Invitae

SOURCE Invitae
DUBLIN , Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of recent discussions on the evolving dynamics of the graphite market, notably Mark Thompson's comments on the urgent learning curve required in Europe and the need for diversification in graphite sources, the importance of understanding graphite assets has never been clearer. As Europe's battery industry accelerates and the Critical Raw Materials Act reshapes sourcing strategies, businesses and professionals need a comprehensive guide to navigate these complex waters.

The "Graphite Industry In-Situ Valuation Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This groundbreaking report is not merely a compilation of data; it's a powerful tool for business entrepreneurs and managers who seek to understand the graphite market's intricacies. As stated by Thompson, founder of battery anode maker Talga Group, "There is reticence of using new sources of graphite supply..." With this report in hand, companies can diminish such hesitations by having a better grasp on the real value of their assets.

Why is this report a game-changer?

Deep Insight: The report covers a comprehensive analysis of 36 graphite mineral assets, offering value distribution curves for various resource categories. With this data, professionals can benchmark asset valuations, inform value expectations, and even spot potential investment opportunities among under-valued stocks.

The report covers a comprehensive analysis of 36 graphite mineral assets, offering value distribution curves for various resource categories. With this data, professionals can benchmark asset valuations, inform value expectations, and even spot potential investment opportunities among under-valued stocks. Holistic Overview: Beyond individual assets, the report includes an analysis of 27 publicly traded companies that own or operate graphite assets. In a rapidly evolving market, understanding the competitive landscape is crucial for strategic decisions.

Beyond individual assets, the report includes an analysis of 27 publicly traded companies that own or operate graphite assets. In a rapidly evolving market, understanding the competitive landscape is crucial for strategic decisions. Practicality: The product's usefulness isn't restricted to macro-level industry views. It's also designed to help with the day-to-day. Need to estimate impairment risk? The report can assist. Looking to assess a proposed transaction? The data within is your ally.

The essence of understanding any asset, be it in the graphite industry or the housing market, is comparing it to a similar asset of known value. In the graphite market, however, this methodology is often hindered by a lack of accessible data, as discussed in the product description. This report is tailored to bridge that gap.

For professionals operating in the Investment Advisory, Corporate Finance, Transaction Advisory, or Audit Services spheres, the Graphite Industry In-Situ Valuation Report is indispensable. By offering a detailed breakdown of the valuation methodologies, it equips its users with unparalleled insights into the mechanisms driving the value of mining or exploration companies.

However, the true gem lies in the report's Market Comparative Dataset. This segment, crafted meticulously with quality assurance and control processes, offers a global perspective on graphite assets. By relating regional distribution curves to the Global Dataset, readers gain both a micro and macro understanding of the graphite landscape.

In Conclusion

With the battery industry in Europe set to reshape graphite sourcing dynamics, and as experts like Xavier Gillard from the European Carbon and Graphite Association highlight the need for diversifying graphite supply, accurate and comprehensive data is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

The Graphite Industry In-Situ Valuation Report serves as that beacon of knowledge, ensuring professionals are not only informed but are also empowered to make strategic decisions in a market that's ripe with potential.

For those keen on deepening their understanding, delving into company analyses, or simply exploring the extensive appendices, this report offers it all. In a world where data drives decisions, let this report be the catalyst for your next strategic move.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zcx80u

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Media Contacts:

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SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a revolutionary breakthrough, University of Oxford researchers have unveiled a technique that may transform treatments for brain injury sufferers. Their groundbreaking research, published in Nature Communications, showcases how neural cells can be 3D printed to simulate the architecture of the cerebral cortex. Such advancements underscore the significance of the " 3D Printing for Healthcare Market Report 2023-2033 ", a detailed research report available on ResearchandMarkets.com, pinpointing the surge in demand and the technological advancements in 3D printing for the healthcare market.

This comprehensive market report reveals that the overall global revenue for 3D Printing in Healthcare is anticipated to exceed US$3.7 billion in 2023, with expectations of significant growth up to 2033. Such surge indicates the vital role of 3D printing in medical advancements, especially when considering the potential for personalised treatments, as the Oxford research suggests.

3D printing has progressively emerged as a game-changer in the healthcare industry. Its profound ability to reduce costs across the medical spectrum, particularly in medical device manufacturing, makes it an invaluable asset for businesses. Traditional medical manufacturing often comes with hefty costs attributed to labour-intensive procedures, elaborate tooling, and intricate supply chains. With 3D printing, these hindrances are virtually eliminated. Rapid prototyping allows medical firms to perfect their designs promptly, leading to reduced product development time and resources. On-demand production further slashes storage expenses and limits wastage.

For entrepreneurs and managers looking to stay ahead of the curve, the " 3D Printing for Healthcare Market Report 2023-2033 " provides essential insights. The report delves deep into the industry dynamics, ensuring businesses can make informed decisions, expand into new segments or regions, and stay updated with competitors' capabilities, plans, and prospects.

A shining example of the growing confidence in 3D printing is the establishment of Paragon Medical's new additive manufacturing centre. With a mammoth 34,000 square feet space dedicated to manufacturing and operations, the firm has invested $16 million initially, committing to another $19 million over the coming five years. Such investments underscore the efficacy of 3D printing in cutting costs and complexities.

However, the report also highlights potential challenges, notably the need for rigorous clinical validation. For 3D-printed medical devices and solutions to gain widespread acceptance, they must be clinically validated to ensure both safety and efficacy. Regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EMA demand extensive clinical data before approval, and this could be a bottleneck for faster adoption.

The "3D Printing for Healthcare Market Report 2023-2033" serves as a compass for businesses, addressing critical questions like market evolution, key drivers and restraints, and forecasting up to 2033. It provides insights into the current market scenario, factoring in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and offers projections based on various recovery models.

In conclusion, as 3D printing continues to reshape the healthcare landscape, and with innovations such as the one presented by Oxford researchers making headlines, this report becomes an essential tool for businesses. Understanding the nuances and trajectories of the 3D printing healthcare market has never been more crucial.

To discover how the "3D Printing for Healthcare Market Report 2023-2033" can guide your business strategies and decisions, and to grasp the transformative role of 3D printing in healthcare, visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jhn5mz

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:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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SOURCE Research and Markets
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gyeonggi Province together with the Gyeonggi Content Agency (GCA) will form a Gyeonggi Province Pavilion at the '2023 Frankfurter Buchmesse', the world's largest book fair to support the participation of 10 story IP content companies in Gyeonggi-do.

231006

Gyeonggi Province's 10 content companies participating in the Gyeonggi-do Pavilion of the 2023 Frankfurter Buchmesse are  Woorinabi (publishing),  Dear architect (Education),  TOONPLUS (Webtoon),  Goggas (Publishing),  Gesunamu (Publishing),  Sodong Publishing House (Publishing), Arukah Books (Publishing), Story Company (Webtoon), Chum Education (Education), and MUNHAKDONGNE (Publishing).

Hosted by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Borsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels), The Frankfurter Buchmesse, the world's largest book fair, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. In 2022, more than 93,000 publishers from 121 countries and about 180,000 visitors participated in this fair. It is the world's leading book trade event in terms of copyright transaction volume, accounting for approximately 25% of annual copyright business.

GCA stated, "This is an important opportunity to promote the excellent content of Gyeonggi Province's story IP companies such as publishing and webtoons worldwide as well as identify the trends in publishing culture content. We will continue to strive to provide more participation opportunities in the future."

In order to promote the excellence of Gyeonggi Province content companies and continue to support their entry into foreign markets, GCA also aims to establish another Gyeonggi Province Pavilion at the Asia TV Forum & Market event in Singapore on December 68, 2023.

https://www.gcon.or.kr/bms/section/board/bbs_view.html?PID=REPORT&atc_sno=768&bbs_cd=report

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Shared Commitment to Client Advocacy Seals Deal Between Fort Worth-based Insurance Brokerage and Atlanta Employee Benefits Firm

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Higginbotham, the largest independent insurance, financial and HR services firm headquartered in Texas and one of the top firms in the country, has joined forces with Total Employee Benefits (TEB) of Atlanta, Georgia, after a courtship period revealed the two firms' shared commitment to client advocacy and crisis support.

As Higginbotham celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, Chairman and CEO Rusty Reid looks to the future with a program of strategic growth, bringing on board agencies and teams that enjoy sterling reputations in their local markets and share the same energy, culture, values, and commitment to service as Higginbotham.

Higginbotham teams up with Total Employee Benefits of Atlanta - shared commitment to client advocacy seals the deal Post this

"We're proud of our property and casualty practice in Atlanta," said Reid, "but we really wanted to step up the employee benefits side. With TEB, we couldn't have found a better, more experienced, and more like-minded ally for achieving that goal.

"TEB Practice Leader Rachael A. Collier has been in this space since 1992. She was named top female insurance advisor by the Atlanta Business Chronicle for the last two years and was named top broker in Georgia this year. She has run a practice, she knows the benefits space inside and out, and she knows the region. But best of all, she and the whole TEB team share our commitment to client advocacy."

"At TEB, client advocacy is our number one value proposition," Collier agreed. "We recognize that health care is always personal. So along with handling benefits brokerage, administration, enrollment, employee onboarding, and ongoing compliance, we know that we're supporting clients and their employees through times of real, personal crisis.

"In the modern health care system, any diagnosis becomes a cluster of red tape. People feel lost and don't know who to turn to. That's when the TEB team steps up. We will meet with our clients' employees wherever they are, even in the hospital  and we'll meet with hospital admins to get whatever employees need."

Collier said that she was initially drawn to the collaboration with Higginbotham by the obvious synergies and resources the deal would enable TEB to offer their clients, such as Higginbotham's top-notch population health management and wellness services. But it was a shared appreciation of personal connection and commitment to support in times of crisis that drove the agreement home.

Collier explained, "The first time I spoke with a Higginbotham benefit advisor, he said they like to do business with people they want to have Thanksgiving dinner with. That spoke volumes to me  because it's personal. Shortly after that, we faced a crisis of our own during a C-suite shakeup with one of our bigger clients.

"All we had with Higginbotham at the time was a letter of intent. But they immediately offered full support and flew in two of their executives for the client meeting. They didn't ask questions. They didn't suggest a quid pro quo or demand a signature in advance. They just stepped up.

"Higginbotham showed true partnership even before we decided to join their firm," Collier concluded. "To me, that means they are in this business for the right reasons: to help their customers and their partners and to build a strong personal foundation for their team. We are looking forward to a long-standing relationship with Higginbotham and to growing the Higginbotham brand and family in the Atlanta area  and beyond!"



ABOUT PARTNER

Total Employee Benefits (TEB) of Atlanta, Georgia, provides white glove advocacy service through a range of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, disability, supplemental and worksite lines to clients and their employees. TEB negotiates group benefit programs, communicates the benefits to employees and assists with keeping employer groups compliant despite the ever-changing regulatory landscape. Boasting an impressive average of 20+ years' experience in the industry, TEB team members place client advocacy at the forefront of all they do, resulting in a 96 percent client retention rate. Clients that work with the TEB team, stay with TEB.

TEB is a woman-owned business and is certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive.

Visit tebpros.com for more information.





ABOUT HIGGINBOTHAM

Employee owned and customer inspired, Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services. The firm was established in 1948 and ranks by revenue as the nation's 21st largest independent insurance firm. Serving thousands of businesses and individuals through locations coast-to-coast, Higginbotham's approach to finding insurance, employee benefit and risk management solutions is more individual and less institutional. By understanding customer priorities, eliminating inefficiencies and committing to transparency, Higginbotham is a place that leads with values so value leads.

Visit higginbotham.com for more information.

SOURCE Higginbotham
Full renovations of Lakeview Village and Highview Apartments will provide high-quality affordable housing to residents of Spring Valley & Clarkstown, N.Y.

SPRING VALLEY, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hudson Valley Property Group ("HVPG"), a leading, national affordable housing preservation company, today announced the completion of a $47 million preservation and renovation project at two properties located in Spring Valley, N.Y.: Lakeview Village, a 144-unit senior housing property, and Highview Apartments, a 76-unit family housing property.

HVPG was joined earlier today by Patrick Carroll, Councilman for Clarkstown Ward 4, and Steven Porath, Executive Director of the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), at a ceremony celebrating the completion of renovations to the complexes.

The wide-ranging enhancements to Lakeview Village and Highview Apartments include complete apartment revitalization, the reimagining of the property appearance and the incorporation of an advanced, high-definition site monitoring system. This cutting-edge system not only enhances site-wide security coverage, but also ensures strict adherence to HVPG's community standards.

"We are extremely pleased to celebrate the remarkable transformation of Lakeview Village and Highview Apartments, which would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of the Town of Clarkstown and Village of Spring Valley, as well as our valued partners at the IDA. My partner Andy and I grew up in Spring Valley, so it's especially meaningful to be able to give back and do such important, impactful work for our hometown community," said Jason Bordainick, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Hudson Valley Property Group. "Since acquiring these properties in fall of 2021, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to rejuvenate them into safe and thriving communities that families can call home. We are proud to showcase the results of our investment and the hard work and dedication of our team, which will ensure that residents of these properties and the entirety of Rockland County will have access to high-quality apartments and enhanced amenities, without compromising affordability."

"Today marks an exciting milestone for the Village of Spring Valley and the valued residents of Lakeview Village and Highview Apartments," shared Patrick Carroll, Councilman for Clarkstown Ward 4. "Through HVPG's investment of $47 million, we have witnessed a significant transformation unfoldenabling extensive renovations that underscore the firm's unwavering commitment to serve as responsible, accountable and community-conscious property owners. We are extremely thankful for their work in securing high-quality, affordable housing that will enhance the lives of both current residents and ensure the strength and resilience of the broader Rockland County community for years to come."

"The IDA is happy to support Lakeview Village and Highview Apartments as they will undoubtedly add to the quality of life in our community," said Steven Porath, Executive Director of the Rockland Industrial Development Agency.

The properties were initially acquired with an equity contribution from Hudson Valley Property Group's latest fund and debt financing through Red Stone, and later bridged to a 4% low-income tax credit execution through the New York State Housing & Finance Agency (NYSHFA) and Raymond James, along with tax-exempt bond financing issued by the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency with a private placement through Red Stone. The Town of Clarkstown and Village of Spring Valley also supported the project with a long-term property tax abatement agreement that was instrumental to its success.

Over one-third of the properties' units receive subsidy through HUD tenant-based Section 8 vouchers. Additional units were added to a Section 8 Project Based Voucher Contract through HUD and New York State Homes and Community Renewal with Rockland County Housing Authority serving as a contract administrator. The HUD Section 8 programs ensure that residents only pay 30% of their household income towards rent. The property is subject to LIHTC income restrictions through a 30-year compliance period, and tenants must be income qualified. No residents were displaced as a result of this transaction.

The renovations to both properties amounted to approximately $10 million, averaging $45,000 per unit. These encompassed a wide range of improvements, including the installation of new vanities, toilets, tubs, water-saving bathroom fixtures and plumbing updates. Kitchens were also revamped with new cabinetry, countertops, high-efficiency stainless steel appliances, high-output lighting and water-conserving fixtures. Additionally, fully compliant ADA and H/V units were created to ensure accessibility for all residents.

Interior upgrades extended to new flooring with subfloor repairs, as well as wall patching and painting to refresh the living spaces. Site enhancements included landscaping upgrades, repairing sidewalks and perimeter fencing and installing an extensive camera system with advanced monitoring capabilities. ADA-compliant sitework was implemented, incorporating accessible routes and site rails. These extensive improvements were carried out with the overarching goal of modernizing the property for long-term sustainability and enhancing residents' overall quality-of-life.

With the ever-increasing demand for affordable housing, HVPG remains committed to expanding its portfolio nationwide, and aims to preserve more than 10,000 homes through its latest investment fund, underlining its dedication to addressing this critical housing need across the United States.

About Hudson Valley Property Group (HVPG)

Hudson Valley Property Group (HVPG) preserves and elevates the quality of affordable housing in the United States. HVPG acquires existing affordable, multifamily properties and strategically invests capital to improve the physical, financial and social vitality of each home. With improved operations and enhanced service offerings, HVPG properties deliver a better standard of living for its residents and stable investment assets. To date, HVPG has preserved over 10,200 units across more than 60 properties, serving more than 20,000 residents. For more information, visit: https://hudsonvalleypropertygroup.com/ .

Contact

Reed Schneider

Prosek Partners for Hudson Valley Property Group

[email protected]

SOURCE Hudson Valley Property Group
The global industrial refrigeration market growth is attributed to several factors such as the growth of the cold-chain industry, the increasing food & beverages and pharmaceutical industries, and industrialization in developing economies.

NEW CASTLE, Del., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Industrial Refrigeration Market By Component (Compressor, Condenser, Control, Evaporators, and Others), By Refrigerant Type (Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide, Hydroflurocarbon (HFC), Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), and Others), By Application (Fresh Fruits And Vegetables, Meat, Poultry And Fish, Dairy And Ice Cream, Beverages, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Petrochemicals, and Others), By Type (Stationary Refrigeration, and Transport Refrigeration), By Sales Type (New Sales, and Aftermarket): Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast, 2023-2032." According to the report, the global industrial refrigeration industry generated $21.9 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to generate $41.7 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023 to 2032.

Download PDF Sample of this Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4457

Industrial refrigeration is the engineering and technology applied to the design, installation, and maintenance of large-scale industrial cooling systems. It is employed to cool and control temperatures for a wide range of industrial applications, such as food and beverage processing, chemical processing, pharmaceutical processing, cold storage, and more. Industrial refrigeration is used to preserve and extend the shelf life of perishable goods, regulate process temperatures, and create optimal conditions for industrial operations. It is critical for industries that rely on temperature sensitive components and processes, as it safeguards product quality, personnel safety, and operational efficiency.

Prime Determinants of Growth:

The global industrial refrigeration market growth is attributed to several factors such as the growth of the cold-chain industry, the increasing food & beverages and pharmaceutical industries, and industrialization in developing economies. However, the strict government regulations and high initial costs and maintenance expenses restrict the market growth. Moreover, technological advancements in refrigeration systems present new opportunities for the growth of key players in the coming years.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Historic period 2020-2021 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2020 $21.9 Billion Market Size in 2032 $41.7 Billion CAGR 5.2 % No. of Pages in Report 300 Segments Covered Component, Refrigerant Type, Application, Type, Sales Type, and Region Drivers Growth of the cold-chain industry Growth of food and beverages and pharmaceutical industries Industrialization in developing economies Opportunities Technological developments Restraints Strict government regulations High initial costs and maintenance expenses



COVID-19 Scenario:

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global industrial refrigeration market, owing to the temporary closure of industrial refrigeration system manufacturing firms during the lockdown.

Not only the production but also the sale of industrial refrigeration systems was hampered due to the closure of end-user industries, especially in the initial period of the pandemic.

However, the situation has recovered, and the industrial refrigeration market is growing steadily.

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The compressor segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on component, the compressor segment held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for nearly one-third of the global industrial refrigeration market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Compressors such as screw compressors, reciprocating compressors, and others are used for industrial refrigeration systems and are the main components of a refrigeration system. On the other hand, the others segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.2% from 2023 to 2032. The others segment includes electrical components, pipes, and expansion systems, and due to the rising demand for refrigeration systems, this segment is expected to witness a high growth rate.

The ammonia segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on refrigerant type, the ammonia segment held the highest market share in 2020, contributing to more than half of the global industrial refrigeration market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Ammonia gas is a zero ODP and zero GWP refrigerant gas, making it an eco-friendly refrigerant. In addition, constructing a refrigeration system with ammonia-based refrigerant costs 10-20% less than one that uses CFCs, as narrower-diameter piping can be used. Such factors along with many others are driving the growth of this segment. However, the carbon dioxide segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 6.1% from 2023 to 2032. This is due to growing demand for natural and non-toxic refrigerators which is expected to drive the growth of this segment in the coming years.

The stationary refrigeration segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period-

Based on type, the stationary refrigeration segment accounted for the largest share in 2020, holding around 90% of the global industrial refrigeration market revenue, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. The rapid expansion of refrigerated warehouses for storing and processing food and beverages has fueled the demand for industrial stationary refrigeration. However, the transportation refrigeration segment would portray the largest CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2032. Growing domestic and international trade of temperature-sensitive goods is expected to drive demand for transportation refrigeration systems.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032-

Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in 2020, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global industrial refrigeration market revenue, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The increase in demand for food & beverages, growth in the pharmaceutical industry, and rise in the number of refrigerated warehouses in the region have fueled the growth of the industrial refrigeration market. However, the LAMEA region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 5.9% from 2023 to 2032. The LAMEA industrial refrigeration market is witnessing growth with the growing demand for food and beverages. Further, an increase in the export of perishable products to the U.S. and other parts of the world has supplemented the growth of the industrial refrigeration market in the region.

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Leading Market Players: -

ABB

Baltimore Aircoil Company Inc.

BITZER Group

Carrier Global Corporation

Daikin Industries Ltd.

Danfoss A/S

Dorin S.p.A.

Dover Corporation

Emerson Electric Co.

EVAPCO, Inc.

GEA Group AG

Gordon Brothers Industries Pty. Ltd.

Johnson Controls International plc

Kirby HVAC&R Pty. Ltd.

LU-VE Group

Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.

Munters

Refplus

Rivacold srl

Swegon AB

Trane Technologies plc ( Thermo King )

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global industrial refrigeration market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, acquisitions, expansion, product development, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Global air quality control systems market is projected to reach $144,091.2 million by 2026

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Scroll & Absorption Chillers Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
DOVER, N.J., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hodinkee, the leading destination for all things watches and horology, has collaborated with musical artist Ed Sheeran and continued partners, G-SHOCK to announce the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran For Hodinkee.

Introducing the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran For Hodinkee

Across 2020, 2021, and 2022, Hodinkee launched a trio of G-SHOCK watches designed in partnership with musician John Mayer, each selling out in a matter of minutes. As a follow-up to the three-part collaboration, Hodinkee and John Mayer are back with a new project that expands upon the legacy created by Mayer and paves the path for new individuals to design their own G-SHOCK collaboration with Hodinkee. The project allows individuals to step outside of their traditional creative spaces to design an artist-inspired collaboration with G-SHOCK and Hodinkee, curated by John Mayer. Each collaborator is connected to Mayer via music, design, and, of course, watches. Throughout the remainder of 2023, Hodinkee and G-SHOCK will launch three new artist collaborations that will be available for purchase in the Hodinkee Shop .

Up first is the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran. Over the past few months, Ed Sheeran has been spotted wearing a mysterious yellow G-SHOCK while on tour across the United States (see here + here ), leading to speculation amongst fans online and on social media that he was wearing a custom G-SHOCK made for the tour or an unidentifiable, not-yet-released limited editionwell, the secret is finally out.

Sheeran has been a long-time fan of Hodinkee and has been a contributor for several years. He's written for the site and has participated in a very special episode of The Collectors Edition with Ben Clymer. Today, musician, collector, and watch enthusiast John Mayer sat down with none other than Ed Sheeran for a monumental episode of Talking Watches on Hodinkee (link to the episode to follow once live). The two are longtime friends, occasional duet partners, and they are both obsessed with watches. Sheeran and Mayer sat for over two hours, chatting about Ed's extensive and impressive collection of watches, what each and every one symbolizes for Sheeran, and how his taste has continued to evolve alongside his record-setting career.

The tour of Sheeran's collection includes the aforementioned yellow G-SHOCK, and with the publication of Talking Watches, he formally introduced to the world the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran For Hodinkee.

The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran is inspired by the album artwork for Sheeran's latest album, Subtract. Subtract is the fifth and final album in a series of mathematics-inspired releases, and it is seen as Sheeran's most vulnerable and touching album to date, featuring music that Sheeran describes as "honest and true" to where he was in life during the recording. This raw self-expression carries itself through the design of the album's namesake watch.

"To give people a watch that is as exciting to you as anything else in your collection helps bring people who are interested in watches and interested in Ed's music into this world so that they can participate." - John Mayer

The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran features a resin case and strap dominated by a bold and bright yellowa daring color but one that works surprisingly well on the wrist. The entire dial features an abstract interpretation of Ed's face, as well as a sketched subtraction sign at 12 o'clock, as seen on the Subtract album cover, pulling in muted reds, oranges, greens, and blues, while the iconic G-SHOCK "Triple Graph" display features yellow surrounds, complementing the yellow case. Solid black text is used across the case, drawing the eye to the Mode and Start/Stop indicators and the Adjust and Split/Reset indicators. As a final nod to the album, the strap is adorned with black watercolor splatters that pull from Subtract's peripheral artwork.

The watch's caseback features an engraving of the Ed Sheeran and Hodinkee logos. The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran is shipped in G-SHOCK's iconic octagonal tin, with custom packaging artwork that makes it feel as though you are holding the Subtract album in hand.

You can purchase the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran for $185 USD in the Hodinkee Shop on October 18th at 11:00am ET. Interested customers are encouraged to sign up for early access and additional information from Hodinkee at https://le.hodinkee.com/g-shock-for-hodinkee .

Technical Specifications:

Model: The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran

Functions: 1/100th Stopwatch (24 Hr.), Countdown Timer (24 Hr.), Multi-Function Alarm, Flash Alert, EL Backlight, 12/24-Hour Time Formats

Material: Resin (case & strap), Stainless Steel (buckle)

Dimensions: 53.2 diameter x 50.0 lug-to-lug x 16.3mm thick / 67g

Crystal: Mineral glass

Caseback: Stainless steel screw-back (4-screws)

Dial: Yellow with black, red, blue, and green accents

Lume: Electro-luminescent backlight with Afterglow

Caliber: Module 3230

Power Reserve: Two-year battery (CR2016 cell)

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Bracelet/Strap: Resin strap

Lug Width: 25.8mm

Manufactured: Japan

Media Contacts

Hodinkee: [email protected]

G-Shock: [email protected]

About Hodinkee

Hodinkee is building a better world of watches. Founded in 2008 by Benjamin Clymer as a watch blog, Hodinkee is now a multi-channel online destination for watch enthusiasts, including: print, digital, and video content; an e-commerce platform as an authorized retailer of over 40+ brands in every style and price point along with a wide assortment of pre-owned and vintage watches; and best-in-class services like Hodinkee Insurance. With years of experience and expertise, Hodinkee's work brings every aspect of the watch world to life through color-rich journalism, meticulous engineering of Limited Edition timepieces, and curation of the most extensive assortment of watch brands and accessories to shop. As a true destination for everything watch-related, Hodinkee has built a dedicated community that's brought the brand to the forefront. Headquartered in NYC, visit www.hodinkee.com .

About G-SHOCK

CASIO's shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch is synonymous with toughness, born from the developer Mr. Ibe's dream of 'creating a watch that never breaks.' Over 200 handmade samples were created and tested to destruction until finally in 1983 the first, now iconic G-SHOCK hit the streets of Japan and began to establish itself as 'the toughest watch of all time'. Each watch encompasses the 7 elements; electric shock resistance, gravity resistance, low temperature resistance, vibration resistance, water resistance, shock resistance and toughness. The watch is packed with Casio innovations and technologies to prevent it from suffering direct shock; this includes internal components protected with urethane and suspended timekeeping modules inside the watch structure. G-SHOCK is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and since its launch, it has continued to evolve, continuing to support Mr. Ibe's mantra "never, never give up." Visit www.gshock.casio.com/us/

SOURCE Casio America, Inc.
WOKING, England, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage Markets are proud to announce the Official Launch of the Vantage Foundation at the McLaren Technology Centre, bringing together the worlds of motorsport and advocacy on a global scale.

The Foundation's primary mission is to raise awareness and advocacy of invisible challenges on a global scale. These often-invisible challenges, including depression, anxiety and loneliness, play a role in social immobility and struggle.

Vantage Foundation launches new charity to raise awareness of invisible challenges with support from McLaren Electric Racing and UNHCR

The non-profit organization was founded with funds raised by auctioning off used Extreme E car bodywork and driver overalls donated by the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team.

"Loneliness is another societal challenge that is often overlooked, underappreciated and unacknowledged. The irony that we are facing an epidemic of loneliness in an age of connectedness speaks to the urgency of addressing this threat to mental and physical health." said Steven Xie, Executive Director of Vantage Foundation.

One of Vantage Foundation's key partners is UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. For World Refugee Day, Vantage Foundation and UNHCR collaborated to educate groups on the struggles refugees face every day, including the denial of basic rights.

Lydia Piddock, Director of Strategy & Growth at UK for UNHCR explains, "For refugees, finding safety is just the start, sadly many are denied their basic rights. Through our partnership with Vantage Foundation, we will connect people to the experience of refugees, encouraging us all to look past stereotypes and learn more about the refugee cause. UNHCR works across 135 countries to safeguard their rights, and we welcome organizations like Vantage Foundation to help spread our message."

In another initiative planned for the upcoming holiday season, volunteers will distribute Christmas presents to disadvantaged children in six countries around the world: Singapore, Malaysia, India, United Kingdom, Brazil and Nigeria.

Ian James, Managing Director of NEOM McLaren Electric Racing explains, "Our partnership with Vantage Markets in Extreme E helps to raise awareness of the impact of climate change by racing sustainably. We are proud to play a part in the launch of The Foundation, looking to raise awareness of other important challenges on a global scale."

About Vantage Foundation

The Vantage Foundation is an independent charitable organization dedicated to raising awareness about invisible disadvantages. For more information, please visit www.vantage.foundation

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2244919/Vantage_Foundation.jpg

SOURCE Vantage Foundation
TAIPEI, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwan's leading whisky distillery is thrilled to announce its continued presence at this year's Whisky Live Paris (Oct 21- 23), following its return in 2021 after a one-year absence due to the pandemic.

Guests will have the exclusive opportunity to savour whiskies, specially curated for the discerning French market, at the booth this year:

Taiwan's premier whisky brand unveils unique expressions, inspired booth designs, and shares its optimism for the rejuvenation of the French whisky market.

KAVALAN 8 ans 2015 Peated Malt R150409037A KAVALAN 6 ans 2017 Oloroso Sherry Cask S170426032C KAVALAN 7 ans 2016 Vinho Barrique W160809071C KAVALAN 9 ans 2014 Port Cask O140311050A

Ms. Aurora Chang, Kavalan Regional Manager, expressed enthusiasm about the French market's resurgence amid the return of social gatherings and on-trade activities.

"Throughout the pandemic, Kavalan strategically boosted sales with cocktails-friendly options like the Kavalan Distillery Select series. Additionally, the premium Solist cask strength whiskies addressed supply challenges in the Japanese whisky market. As we approach the final stages of our Third Maturation Warehouse, reflecting our dedication to quality and expansion, Kavalan stands ready and optimistic about meeting the growing global demands."

This year, the Kavalan booth features a captivating centerpiece that embodies the brand's distinct character, enhanced by vibrant pink orchids. A batten wall, inspired by Taiwanese windows, paired with a lush green roof mirroring Yilan County's natural beauty, and complemented by exquisite woodwork, all symbolize the quality of Kavalan's oak casks.

Mr. Didier Ghorbanzadeh, Global Ambassador for Kavalan's European distributor La Maison du Whisky (LMDW), affirms that Kavalan spares no effort in crafting a world-class single malt that confidently stands on par with the most renowned distilleries.

"When experiencing Kavalan's whiskies for the first time, the surprising maturity, despite its youth, is attributed to the unique tropical aging conditions in Taiwan. This distinct characteristic sets it apart from the single malts we already distribute in Europe."

Didier highlighted that Europeans are taken aback by the intensity, depth, and vibrant fruit flavours found in Kavalan.

"While diverse oak influences (sherry, wine, etc.) are beautifully expressed with intense aromas, Kavalan is distinct for its explosive tropical fruit flavours on the midpalate and finish, offering refreshing purity to balance the oak's influence."

LMDW seeks to boost Kavalan's on-field presence by offering tastings and masterclasses at events such as Whisky Live Paris, The Whisky Show London, and The Whisky Show Budapest, showcasing Taiwan's unique whisky to an expansive global audience.

Awards for the 5 featured whiskies:

Solist ex-Bourbon - SFWSC Double Gold & Best of Class Other Single Malt, BTI Gold (94pts), TWSC Gold & WWM Gold

Solist Oloroso Sherry - SFWSC Double Gold, BTI Gold (95pts) & TWSC Superior Gold

Solist Vinho - SFWSC Double Gold, BTI Gold (92pts) & TWSC Gold

Solist Peated Malt - TWSC Superior & Superior Gold

Solist Port - WWA Category Winner Best Taiwanese Single Cask Single Malt, SFWSC Gold, BTI Gold (93pts), TWSC Gold, WWM Gold & IWC Gold (96.95pts)

About Kavalan Distillery

Kavalan Distillery in Yilan County has been pioneering the art of single malt whisky in Taiwan since 2005. Our whisky, aged in intense humidity and heat, sources the meltwaters of Snow Mountain and is enhanced by sea and mountain breezes. All this combines to create Kavalan's signature creaminess. Taking Yilan County's old name, our distillery is backed by about 40 years of beverage-making under parent company, King Car Group. We have collected more than 790 gold awards or higher from the industry's most competitive contests. Visit www.kavalanwhisky.com

About La Maison du Whisky

Founded in 1956, La Maison du Whisky transitioned from a simple retailer to a global distributor of whiskies and spirits. With its Singapore subsidiary and LM&V joint venture, it represents over 250 brands, spanning from whisky to tequila. They offer a vast collection of over 4,000 products online and in-store. Their ventures also include Fine Spirits Auction for collectors and The Avant Gardist (TAG) spotlighting innovative brands. Committed to expanding their industry knowledge, they provide training, host the Whisky Live Paris event, and have been publishing resources like Whisky Magazine since 2004.

Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Tsai, [email protected]

Britney Chen, [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2240364/Taiwan_s_premier_whisky_brand_unveils_unique_expressions__inspired_booth_designs__and_shares_its_opt.jpg
Ongoing growth investments in the overseas business sector

Reaffirming commitment to the company's 'Global Top-tier' vision

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KT&G Corporation ("KT&G") (KRX:033780) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new state-of-art manufacturing plant in Kazakhstan on October 11, 2023. The new Kazakhstan factory is expected to serve as the company's Manufacturing Innovation Hub in Eurasia and accelerate the company's long-term vision of becoming a 'Global Top-tier' company.

KT&G held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new state-of-art manufacturing plant in Kazakhstan on October 11, 2023. The picture shows KT&G CEO Mr. Bok-In Baek (third from the right) and the Governor of Almaty Marat Sultangaziyev (second from the left) are posing for a photo at the ceremony. KT&G held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new state-of-art manufacturing plant in Kazakhstan on October 11, 2023. The picture shows KT&G CEO Mr. Bok-In Baek (third from the right) and the Governor of Almaty Marat Sultangaziyev (second from the left) are posing for a photo at the ceremony.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site of the new factory in Almaty Province, Kazakhstan, and was attended by over 70 key figures, including KT&G CEO Bok-In Baek, Governor of Almaty Marat Sultangaziyev, Korean Consul General in Almaty Nae-cheon Park, and others.

KT&G's new Kazakhstan factory, spanning approximately 200,000m2 , will function as a hybrid production facility, accommodating both Next Generation Product("NGP") and conventional cigarette("CC") production and addressing export demands across the Eurasian region.

KT&G positions Kazakhstan as a key growth hub for strengthening its global export competitiveness. KT&G has been committed to building a strong local business presence in Kazakhstan by establishing local sales and manufacturing subsidiaries in January, 2023. Moving forward, KT&G plans to increase its global business capabilities and profitability by managing the entire value chain locally, from production to marketing and sales.

The construction of the new Kazakhstan factory is part of KT&G's long-term growth investment plan, which was unveiled at its Future Vision Declaration Ceremony held in January, 2023. At the ceremony, KT&G outlined its growth strategy to develop NGP, overseas CC, and Health Functional Food as its three core business areas. The company also shared its plans to increase the proportion of its overseas sales revenue to over 50% of its total sales revenue by 2027.

KT&G has also executed growth investments in Indonesia in September, 2023. The company conducted an investment support ceremony with the Indonesian Ministry of Investment and obtained an investment support letter with respect to the establishment of its new manufacturing plant in East Java province, Indonesia.

With this contemplated investment, KT&G strives to strategically position Indonesia as an export hub for the Southeast Asian market. In addition to having the Indonesian factory serving as an export hub for the Southeast Asian market, the company will utilize the Kazakhstan factory as a pivotal gateway for its Eurasian business expansion. The establishment of these two global production hubs is anticipated to strengthen KT&G's presence in both Southeast Asian and Eurasian markets, aligning with the company's 'Global Top-tier' vision.

KT&G CEO Bok-In Baek stated, "We expect the new Kazakhstan factory to serve as a core global production hub that encompasses the Eurasian market and become a frontline base for realizing our future vision of leaping forward to the 'Global Top-tier' status. We will continue to capture new business opportunities and increase our competitiveness through continued vigorous investments in our core business areas."

SOURCE KT&G Corporation
Dire shortage of subacute mental health beds has severely impacted Los Angeles General's acute psychiatric unit, jeopardizing staff safety.

Shortages result in long lengths of stay and higher rates of restraint and seclusion for extremely violent patients.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The leadership at Los Angeles General Medical Center  Los Angeles County's largest safety-net hospital  was honored to host Governor Gavin Newsom today as he signed AB-531 into law. AB-531, which would fund the development of 10,000 new behavioral treatment beds and supportive housing units throughout CA, will help safety-net hospitals like LA General find appropriate placements for complex patients with severe mental illness in need of subacute care and long-term support outside of the hospital setting.

LA General's psychiatric facility is an acute care center designed to stabilize patients experiencing mental health crisis over a short-term stay. Under normal circumstances, a patient stabilized at LA General's acute psychiatric facility would promptly transfer to a subacute facility equipped to provide longer-term care. However, due to the severe shortage of subacute psychiatric beds, some LA General patients remain in the hospital's acute care facility for months to years on end as they await transfer.

A 2019 report by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health examined the dire shortage of mental health beds in Los Angeles County and its impact on area residents. The report identified a shortage of 3,000 subacute mental health beds in Los Angeles County.

Lacking placement option availability, combined with the reality that LA General often cares for patients with a history of violence, has contributed to higher rates of restraint and seclusion. Without timely availability of sub-acute beds that offer an appropriate long-term therapeutic setting, patients grow frustrated with the feeling of being "stuck" in an acute psychiatric setting. This results in violent outbursts that require restraint to protect fellow patients and staff alike.

Despite wide agreement that more beds are needed, relief has not come. In 2020, LA General's rate of restraint and seclusion was 15.46 and 4.31 respectively1  the highest in the state for restraint and second highest for seclusion  underscoring the unique complexities faced by LA General staff in caring for particularly violent patients for extended lengths of time. Yet an overall parroting of these numbers masks the truth: a very small number of actively violent patients with extremely long lengths of stay, who await sub-acute placements, account for the vast majority of the restraint use. Specifically, only five of these patients accounted for 67 percent of restraint usage at LA General's acute psychiatric unit. These patients all had repeated episodes of violent assaults on staff and even on other patients, which required the use of restraints or seclusions to de-escalate the patients and prevent acts of violence to others. On average, these patients stayed at LA General for 13 months each due to the ongoing shortage of subacute mental health beds, which is even more pronounced for patients with histories of violence. When accounting for the small number of violent patients waiting for lower level of care, as well as removing the hours for restraints used when transferring patients between facilities, the rate of restraints falls to within the average for safety-net hospitals.

LA General's Psychiatric facility was recently praised as one of the best-run facilities in the state of California by the Joint Commission. The facility consistently meets and exceeds regulatory oversight requirements and inspections by individuals with expertise in the management of psychiatric patients, including thorough review of its use of restraints.

Hospitals such as LA General should not have to choose between restraining patients in the wrong care setting and protecting fellow patients and staff. AB-531 is a critical step in the right direction to correct this fundamental injustice. LA General applauds the California legislature and Governor Newsom for their work to rectify long-standing mental health bed shortages in California. The investments made through AB 531 will enhance LA General's ability to appropriately care for patients, will protect patients and staff who expertly and compassionately provide care, and will connect patients to care in settings appropriate for their unique clinical needs and circumstances. However, the crisis of bed shortages not only affects patients who desperately need appropriate long-term placement but have nowhere to go, it also affects hospital staff, as staff are frequently subject to assault. LA General's acute psychiatric staff have suffered injuries and traumas due to assaults by patients, including physical injuries that require ongoing care and treatment.

Los Angeles General leadership offer the following comments on the signing of AB-531:

"Los Angeles General provides compassionate, high-quality care to Los Angeles County's most vulnerable communities. Because of our location in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, and our proximity to Skid Row and the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, our acute psychiatric unit is the primary facility in LA County caring for highly complex patients, including some who are extremely violent. These patients are often the most difficult to place, given their unique needs and the severe shortage of mental health beds. AB 531 would provide some desperately needed relief to our staff and hope for our patients and their families. I want to thank Governor Newsom for his support in addressing these pressing issues," said Jorge Orozco, CEO, Los Angeles General Medical Center.

"Tragically, the patients that are the most challenging to place are often the ones with the highest need for long-term, customized care. This includes patients with histories of incarceration  sometimes for violent crimes. Unfortunately, patient violence directed at our staff, or even at other patients, is a common occurrence. Often this violence grows out of the frustration our patients experience due to being 'stuck' in an acute care setting, which is the most restrictive clinical setting. It is imperative, both for our staff and our patients, that we take steps to address these issues. We are grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law," said Dr. Brad Spellberg, Chief Medical Officer, Los Angeles General Medical Center.

Los Angeles County Board Supervisor, Hilda Solis, who oversees the district where LA General is located, also offered her voice in support the Governor's mental health package:

"In Los Angeles County, we are experiencing crises of homelessness, mental health, and substance use  the effects of which we are seeing in crowded emergency departments, in our jails, and on our streets. One of the main causes is a significant lack of beds to meet the growing level of need. That is why I want to thank Governor Newsom, Secretary Ghaly, and Assemblymember Irwin for their leadership in passing the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act. If passed by the voters, this important program would help fund some of the most desperately needed projects in the County, including the rehabilitation of Historic General Hospital and the construction of a Restorative Care Village at the Los Angeles General Medical Center. I am proud to lay the foundation for these developments which will bring much needed housing, treatment facilities, and beds that our most vulnerable residents need, and because of this legislation, we are now one step closer to making this a reality," said LA County Board Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Additional information can be found below. For questions, or to request an interview with a representative from Los Angeles General, please contact [email protected]

Fast Facts about Psychiatric Services at Los Angeles General

Overview

As a safety-net facility, Los Angeles General provides compassionate, high-quality care to LA County's most complex psychiatric patients, many of whom have histories of homelessness, substance abuse, and incarceration. LA General's psychiatric facility is an acute care center designed to stabilize patients experiencing mental health crisis over a short-term stay. Under normal circumstances, a patient who has been stabilized at LA General's acute psychiatric facility would transfer to a subacute facility that is equipped to provide longer-term care. However, due to the severe shortage of subacute psychiatric beds, some LA General patients remain in the hospital's acute care facility for months to years on end as they await transfer. This dynamic has also contributed to higher rates of restraint and seclusion at LA General, due to the extended admissions of a small number of extremely violent patients and the lack of available placement options for long-term care.

LA General's service area and safety-net status leads to the admission of violent psychiatric patients, including justice-involved patients who have been previously incarcerated for severe crimes including rape, assault, and other convictions.

LA General has one of the few inpatient psychiatric facilities in Los Angeles County that will admit patients with a history of violence, homelessness and from jails and the justice system.

that will admit patients with a history of violence, homelessness and from jails and the justice system. Other hospitals often do not accept these patients due to the risk of violence and the severe shortage of psychiatric beds in Los Angeles County and the state of California .

and the state of . LA General receives a disproportionate number of patients from the jails and Skid Row because over the years, many private hospitals in LA County have carved out both the jails and Skid Row from their respective "zones" or service areas from which they take patients.

Given LA General's proximity to both Skid Row and the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, patients from these locations are brought to LA General in higher proportions, as other hospitals often will not admit patients from these locations.

The dire shortage of subacute mental health beds has had severe impacts on Los Angeles General's acute psychiatric unit, resulting in long lengths of stay and high rates of restraint and seclusion due to the lack of available options for long-term care and the need to maintain a safe environment.

A 2019 report by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health examined the dire shortage of mental health beds in Los Angeles County and its impact on area residents. The report identified a shortage of 3,000 subacute mental health beds in Los Angeles County .

and its impact on area residents. The report identified a shortage of 3,000 subacute mental health beds in . In 2020, LA General's rate of restraint and seclusion was 32.08 and 23.07 respectively  the highest in the state, underscoring the unique complexities that LA General faces as its staff care for particularly violent patients for extended lengths of time.

In 2020, 4% of patients accounted for 67% of restraint usage at LA General's acute psychiatric unit. These patients stayed at LA General for an average of 13 months each due to the ongoing shortage of subacute mental health beds, which is even more pronounced for patients with histories of violence. More details on these patients are provided here:

Patient #1  7 month hospitalization: A patient previously in a sub-acute mental health facility for 3 years with over 100 psychiatric encounters, demonstrated persistent violent behaviors, assaulted staff with bodily fluids and violently assaulted another Los Angeles General patient who was disabled. Patient #2  17 month hospitalization: A patient with schizophrenia was unresponsive to medication and assaulted eight other patients, a maintenance worker, and seven staff members over the course of a 17-month hospitalization. Placement was difficult to find due to the patient's violent behavior, which was a major factor in the patient's long length of stay at Los Angeles General. Patient #3  12 month hospitalization: A physically imposing patient, with a history of multiple incarcerations and polysubstance abuse, presented persistent aggressive behaviors and assaulted staff and other patients multiple times. Patient #4  14 month hospitalization: A young patient with a history of physical and sexual abuse frequently responded to hallucinations with aggression, threatening to kill staff, using racial slurs, and physically assaulting staff and other patients, as well as demonstrating self-harming behaviors over the course of a 14-month hospitalization. Placement was difficult to find due to the patient's violent behavior, which was a major factor in the patient's long length of stay at Los Angeles General. Patient #5  15 month hospitalization: A patient with an early schizophrenia diagnosis had recurrent violent outbursts, resulting in persistent attempts to assault both staff and patients over a 15-month hospitalization. Patient was referred to a state psychiatric hospital, but placement could not be found due to the patient's violent behavior.

Without the availability of sub-acute beds, patients often grow frustrated with the feeling of being "stuck" in a setting like Los Angeles General, resulting in violent outbursts that require restraint.

Psychiatric Staff at Los Angeles General are routinely subject to assault by patients, suffering injuries and traumas including psychical injuries that require ongoing care and treatment.

A short summary of a few stories of assaults suffered by staff at Los Angeles General is provided here:

Nurse Attacked by Schizophrenic Patient: A nurse was slammed to the wall and punched by a schizophrenic patient in 2021 and has been in physical therapy and on medication for a chronic injury ever since. Social Worker Punched in Face: A social worker assigned to a particularly aggressive patient was punched in the face when intervening as the patient chased other patients and staff. Brutal Attack on Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist was punched in the head and slammed to the ground by a patient coming down from meth, resulting in physical trauma and spurring facility wide security changes. Attack on Social Worker: A social worker was violently thrown against a concrete wall by a patient that was sent to Los Angeles General directly from jail, resulting in serious physical injuries and necessitating an extended leave to recover mentally and physically.



Security is consistently one of the top priorities for LA General psychiatric residents in contract negotiations, and LA General has undergone several changes to its security protocol because of the increasingly violent behaviors of psychiatric patients.

Several staff have had to take leave from work following an assault by patients, including to recover from head, neck, and back injuries. Staff also report significant, long-lasting mental harm due to the trauma of being attacked by a patient.

1 Rate per 1,000 patient hours.

SOURCE Los Angeles General Medical Center
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the continuing incidents of journalists killed, wounded, missing or detained in the conflict in Gaza/Israel.

"We are heartbroken that the violence against journalists continues alongside the horrific events in Israel and the Gaza. We call on all journalists to follow their known safety protocols and recognize them for their courage in reporting on what is happening. Unfortunately, we are seeing reports of rising numbers of journalist deaths.

"Various sources report three Palestinian journalists died after Israeli bombing of the Hiji Building in Rimal, which housed media companies. Those killed include Al-Khamsa News Editor-in-Chief of Al-Khama, Saeed al-Taweel, and Khabar journalists Mohammad Sobh and Hisham Alnwaj. In addition, photojournalist Mohammed Fayez Abu Matar was killed during an Israeli airstrike in Southern Gaza.

"Just days ago there were four journalists killed. That number is now eight. All are Palestinian.

"Israeli photojournalist, Roee Idan who works for Ynet, is missing, wounded, and presumed among those held hostage in Gaza. According to reports, after he documented Hamas paragliders attacking his kibbutz, he raced to the other side of the compound to find his wife had been killed by Hamas in their home. He is now missing along with his three year old daughter. This is tragic. We call for his release.

"One of the Palestinian journalists previously reported as missing, Nidal Al-Wahid, is now described by his family as detained by Israel. We call for his release.

"In a recent report, Israeli police allegedly pointed rifles at a crew from Sky News Arabia and assaulted Firas Lutfi, a correspondent and ordered him to remove his clothes and leave the area where he was working. The police also confiscated the cell phones of the crew.

"Journalists must be able to do their important jobs, as impartial witnesses who are reporting on what is happening. They must be protected and free to do their jobs as safely as possible."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom worldwide.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes a more participatory democracy via a free and independent press. The NPCJI is the non-profit arm of the National Press Club.

Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
Dr. Amyas Kabir pioneering two revolutionary procedures to build and strengthen muscles.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In his goal of providing superb chiropractic care, clinical excellence and personal touch, renowned chiropractor and director of the Kabir Center for Health, Amyas Kabir, D.C., is one of the first in Central Illinois to offer two leading-edge procedures using electromagnetic energy for patients wanting to build and strengthen muscles. He will highlight these new technologies during a grand re-opening of the center on Oct. 19.

Those who want to eliminate excess fat cells can benefit from EmSculpt Neo, a non-invasive procedure using electromagnetic energy and radiofrequency forcing muscles to contract -- ultimately sculpting areas of the body, including abdomen, buttocks, arms, calves, and thighs. The FDA-cleared needle- and laser-free device forces muscles to experience tens of thousands of contractions in just a 30-minute session, like doing 20,000 sit-ups. Four treatments of EmSculpt Neo are equivalent to 12 to 16 weeks of a high intensity interval training (HIIT) program.

With over 25 million adult Americans experiencing some form of urinary incontinence, Dr. Kabir's other new technology is a windfall for women struggling with urinary incontinence and pelvic floor weakness.

EMSELLA is a revolutionary chair that essentially strengthens the pelvic floor by inducing muscle contractions. Fully clothed patients sit in the EMSELLA chair for the noninvasive procedure that uses electromagnetic energy to stimulate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Each 30-minute session is equivalent to 11,000 pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises). Stronger pelvic floor muscles restore continence and the confidence to enjoy normal daily activities without fear of losing bladder control.

With no down-time needed, patients can immediately resume normal daily activities. Dr. Kabir recommends patients do six treatments over three weeks for maximum results.

"It is heartening to witness the vast improvements in quality of life offered by the EmSculpt Neo and EMSELLA," says Dr. Kabir. "I'm thrilled to be able to provide these groundbreaking technologies to my patients."

People who want to learn more about these leading-edge, non-invasive technologies are invited to attend the grand re-opening of the newly renovated, warm, and inviting Kabir Center for Health, 2412 E. Washington St., Bloomington, IL., 4:30  7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19. Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the center, learn about services offered, and sign up for demonstrations of the new technology. They will be treated to refreshments, appetizers and are eligible for raffle prizes.

Amyas Kabir, D.C

Dr. Kabir has been in practice in Bloomington, Illinois for over 25 years and is an expert in the field of human health & wellness. His mission is to provide his patients and community with the tools to maximize their regenerative and restorative potential. He takes pride in providing patients with best possible outcomes. To learn more about Dr. Kabir, log on to kabircenter4health.com.

SOURCE Kabir Center for Health
Spine Expert Supports Commercialization of New Interbody Fusion Device

ALACHUA, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NovApproach Spine, developer of the patented OneLIF interbody spinal fusion system, which supports a multitude of surgical approaches, announced today the election of orthopaedic surgeon Sigurd Berven, MD, to its board of managers. Berven is the chief of spine service and professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). A member of NovApproach's OneLIF design team, Berven was the first to use the implant in spine surgery.

Segurd Berven, MD joins NovApproach Spine board.

NovApproach CEO Raymond Cloutier reports, "Dr. Berven has been a chief contributor to the OneLIF cage's evolution. A world-renowned expert in treating spinal disorders, he brings clinical, research and academic perspectives that will strengthen our company's ability to deliver clinically relevant solutions. It's an honor to have his guidance during our company's rapid growth."

According to Berven, "It's been truly rewarding to collaborate with the OneLIF design team. Since performing the first surgery with this versatile cage, I found its unique versatility particularly helpful for patients with both standard and challenging anatomic conditions. I'm proud to join NovApproach's board as we expand adoption of OneLIF to benefit many surgeons and their patients."

The OneLIF system offers surgeons a groundbreaking solution: a single cage that supports three distinct approaches to the patient's lumbar spine: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF), the LateralATP Approach and the SupineATP Approach. This enables surgeons to optimize their approach while the OneLIF cage's six fixation screw options and two inserter positions offer unprecedented flexibility to address varying patient anatomies.

Dr. Berven's journey is marked by academic excellence, including completing his studies at Stanford University and Oxford University, earning his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and completing a spine surgery fellowship at UCSF. He is widely recognized for his expertise and frequently speaks at national and international conferences on advanced techniques in spinal surgery. Dr. Berven will share his experience with OneLIF during scheduled times at NovApproach's educational exhibit #2507 at the 2023 North American Spine Society Annual Meeting, Oct. 18  21 in Los Angeles.

About NovApproach Spine

Based in Alachua, Florida, since 2020, NovApproach Spine is a fast-growing spinal implant company. NovApproach is commercializing its OneLIF device--the cage that gives surgeons unprecedented versatility. At NovApproach, the difference is clear: Our approach is to simplify yours.

Media Contact:

Priscilla Jones

352-514-5937

366850@email4pr.com

SOURCE NovApproach Spine
Visit nRichDX - maker of the Revolution Sample Prep System for liquid biopsy applications - in Booth #822 at AMP 2023. Details at https://www.nrichdx.com/amp2023

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Molecular Pathology 2023 Annual Meeting & Expo will be held 14-18 November 2023 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT located in downtown Salt Lake City.

nRichDX will exhibit in booth #822. Exhibits open at 11:15 AM (MT) on Thursday, November 16, and close at 1:30 PM on Saturday, November 18.

Details for nRichDX at The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP 2023) Annual Meeting & Expo at https://www.nrichdx.com/amp2023

nRichDX will present a poster in collaboration with Agilent Technologies titled, "Unraveling the Link Between Total cfDNA Quantified by Agilent TapeStation cfDNA ScreenTape and Actionable cfDNA Molecules Measured on Downstream Assays."

In addition, nRichDX will deliver a presentation titled, "The nRichDX Revolution Sample Prep System for Liquid Biopsy  Overview and Performance Data" from the Innovation Spotlight Stage 2 in the Expo Hall on Thursday, November 16 at 12:40 PM local time. The presentation will include customer data and experience directly from Revolution System users, including Dr. Shiva Sathyanarayana from the laboratory of Dr. Greg Tsongalis, Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Medical Director, Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technology (CGAT) at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

More information about AMP 2023, including specific exhibit hours and events is available at https://amp23.amp.org/.

The nRichDX booth will have the latest information on the Revolution Sample Prep System and associated products for pre-analytical sample handling for the isolation of liquid biopsy analytes from plasma and urine, such as cfDNA, cfRNA, and cell-free total nucleic acid (cfTNA) extraction. Information will also be available about nRichDX's new Revolution CTC Enrichment Kit (Epithelial Origin) for the enrichment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) originating from epithelial tissues in whole blood.

AMP attendees working on or considering liquid biopsy assays, the extraction of cfDNA, cfRNA, circulating cell-free total nucleic acid (cfTNA), or the enrichment of CTCs, are especially invited to visit the nRichDX booth to learn more about how higher yields of these analytes can increase assay performance through better sensitivity and earlier detection of targeted oncology markers.

nRichDX leadership plans to attend and will be available to meet for one-on-one discussions. For more information about nRichDX at AMP 2023, or to set an appointment to meet, visit https://www.nrichdx.com/amp2023.

About nRichDX:

nRichDX is an emerging leader in sample prep solutions for the isolation of cfDNA and cfRNA and the enrichment of CTCs. The patented Revolution Sample Prep System is engineered specifically for liquid biopsy applications. It is the first and only high-yield, high-recovery, IVD-labeled sample prep platform that can process from 1 mL - 20 mL of plasma or urine sample volumes or up to 40 mL of blood in a single extraction using the company's patented nRicher Cartridge. Unlike other methods, Revolution sample prep doesn't require yield-lowering eluate pooling or sample transfer steps. nRichDX helps solve one of precision medicine's greatest problems   inaccurate or incomplete diagnostic results for liquid biopsy-based applications due to insufficient analyte.

nRichDX Media Contact:

Tom Curtis, nRichDX

Phone: (949)341-1980 x6

[email protected]

SOURCE nRichDX
NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The online doctor consultation market size is expected to grow by USD 21.06 billion from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 22.29% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The market is segmented by Product (Services and Software), Type (Audio chat and Video chat), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)).

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Online Doctor Consultation Market 2023-2027

North America is estimated to account for 36% of the global market during the forecast period. The growing incidence of chronic illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular diseases, along with the integration of advanced telehealth technologies and the presence of numerous prominent healthcare providers, serve as the primary factors driving the expansion of the global online doctor consultation market in North America. Additionally, the proliferation of telehealth programs through various initiatives is expected to further bolster the growth of the online doctor consultation market in the United States. An illustrative example includes Koble, a digital health and wellness platform located in Ontario, which offers support to families throughout the stages of family planning, conception, childbirth, and returning to work after parental leave. Koble has collaborated with Dialogue Health Technologies Inc., a leading virtual care and wellness platform in Canada. Such combined government and private efforts are poised to contribute significantly to the growth of the online doctor consultation market in North America. To gain access to more vendor profiles available with Technavio, buy the report!

Company Profile:

American Well Corp., Babylon Healthcare Services Ltd., Dictum Health Inc., Doctor Anywhere Pte. Ltd., Enghouse Systems Ltd., eVaidya Pvt. Ltd., Evernorth Health Inc., HealthTap Inc., Included Health Inc., Lybrate Inc. USA., Medify, Mind Health, Orane Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd., PlushCare of California Inc., Practo Technologies Pvt. Ltd., SATA CommHealth, Teladoc Health Inc., TeleHealth Medicine, Walmart Health Virtual care, and ZocDoc Inc

American Well Corp. - The company offers online doctor consultation services through the platform, Amwell, connecting patients with a wide range of medical professionals.

This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read FREE PDF Sample Report

Online Doctor Consultation Market: Segmentation Analysis

The market share growth by the services segment will be significant during the forecast period.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

"Besides analyzing the current market scenario, our report examines historic data from 2017 to 2021"- Technavio

Online Doctor Consultation Market: Driver & Trend:

The imbalance between high patient influx and understaffing at health centers is notably driving market growth. The issue of overcrowding in emergency departments results from limited resources, staffing shortages, and fluctuating patient volumes, leading to delayed care and suboptimal patient outcomes. The current healthcare staffing levels are often insufficient to handle the high influx of patients effectively. Given the challenges of manually monitoring and providing services to the patient population in hospitals, technology offers a complementary solution to enhance the healthcare industry's capacity and scalability. Therefore, the increasing demand for healthcare services is expected to drive the adoption of online doctor consultations, which can reduce the burden on human resources, enhance operational efficiencies, and elevate the overall quality of healthcare services. Consequently, this will contribute to the growth of the global online doctor consultation market during the forecast period.

Strategic alliances among market vendors are a key trend in the online doctor consultation market. Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download FREE Sample Report to gain access to this information.

Related Reports:

The global telemedicine market size is estimated to grow by USD 92.07 billion at a CAGR of 15.64% between 2022 and 2027.

The Internet Of Things Market In The Healthcare Sector size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 20% between 2022 and 2027.

ToC:

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Product

Market Segmentation by Type

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
Buy-side fixed income traders will now have access to Overbond through the SS&C Eze Eclipse application

TORONTO and LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Overbond announced today that it has partnered with SS&C Eze. Overbond AI and cloud-generated bond trading analytics and data are now available through the Eze Eclipse single-page application. Eze users can embed the Overbond client interface as a widget in their Eze Eclipse worksheet.

Through Overbond, SS&C Eze clients will be able to access AI and cloud-driven analytics, including:

One of the most complete and precise aggregate bond trade real-time data streams available

Liquidity and price confidence analytics that auto-adapt to trade size and direction, enabling traders to see implied liquidity and confidence scores

Transaction cost analysis that generates pre-trade recommendations incorporating the deep historical view of all post-trade reports

Smart order routing that recommends execution path for trades of various sizes by allocating them across various electronic trading venues and counterparties

AI optimisation for best price and liquidity to achieve best execution and minimise trading costs

"We're delighted to partner with SS&C Eze. Overbond offers a unique and powerful suite of AI tools to help fixed income traders be more efficient and profitable. From market intelligence and pre-trade analytics to execution and post-trade analytics, traders can apply Overbond AI and cloud-generated tools across their entire workflow for hundreds of thousands of fixed income securities. With access to Overbond on the Eze Eclipse single-page application, traders will find it easier than ever to use Overbond," said Vuk Magdelinic, CEO of Overbond.

About Overbond

Overbond is a developer of process-redefining, AI-driven data and analytics and trade automation solutions for the global fixed income markets. Overbond performs market surveillance, data aggregation and normalization, and deep AI quantitative observation on more than 250,000 corporate bonds and fixed income ETFs. Applying proprietary artificial intelligence to pricing, curve visualization, market liquidity, issuance propensity, new issuance spreads, default risk and automated reporting, Overbond enables trade automation and enhances trade performance and portfolio returns. Clients of Toronto-based Overbond include global investment banks, broker-dealers, institutional investors, corporations and governments across the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.overbond.com.

About Eze

SS&C Eze is helping 1,900+ global asset managers transform their investment process to optimize operational and investment alpha and grow their business. We deliver cutting-edge cloud, mobile, and on-premise solutions to maximize efficiencies across trade order management, execution, compliance, commission management, portfolio accounting, and investor accounting. From start-up and emerging funds to the most recognized and established institutions, SS&C Eze has provided buy-side firms with innovative and award-winning technology solutions backed by unparalleled client service for 25 years.

SOURCE Overbond Ltd.
Local owner James Taylor plans to use his experience as a construction project manager to build his containment wall business

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Temporary Wall Systems (TWS), the first and leading full-service, temporary containment wall provider in the United States, will celebrate the grand opening of its West Portland, Oregon location Oct. 18  20 during the AGCA Leadership Development Conference at the Hilton Vancouver, Washington.

The conference brings together emerging leaders from across the nation's construction industry for professional development and networking.

Temporary Wall Systems West Portland owner James Taylor plans to use his experience as a construction project manager to build his containment wall business.

Local owner James Taylor will rely on his experience as a construction project manager to make the new containment wall system business a success.

"This phase of my professional development is an exciting time for me," Taylor said. "Making the change from a project manager to an owner/operator will be a challenge but, it's an experience I'm ready to explore. I plan to involve my family and can't wait to provide my children with the experience of owning and operating our own family business."

Taylor has spent his entire life in the Pacific Northwest and knows the area well. He lived in Washington, Montana and Oregon before moving to Indiana to attend Purdue University. He eventually moved back to the Pacific Northwest to complete a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University.

He said TWS is the perfect business for him, given his background in the building trades.

"Temporary Wall Systems' rentable containment walls are the perfect solution for contractors in the Portland area," Taylor said. "Having worked in the contracting space for more than 20 years, I know firsthand that these walls solve a problem that many contractors have. It's often a waste of time and materials to build a temporary wall with permanent materials only to tear it down once construction or renovations are completed. This product is the perfect solution to that issue."

Taylor said the TWS's product is critical to businesses that need to perform renovations while remaining open to employees and to the public.

"Many businesses can't afford to shut down just because they need to make upgrades," he said. "And some businesses, like hospitals and schools, for example, must remain open because of the services they provide. These walls allow them to maintain a clean and safe environment for workers, students and customers."

Temporary Wall Systems provides modular wall systems that are designed with versatility in mind. The company's full-service business model simplifies construction and renovation by taking care of the entire containment process, from job site delivery to expert installation and removal when the project is complete. The West Portland location serves Beaverton, Lake Oswego, Portland, Tualatin and West Linn, Oregon.

TWS is part of HomeFront Brands, a family of emerging, franchised residential and commercial property service brands that offers integrated technology, data support, lead generation, business intelligence systems and training to its partners.

For more information about Temporary Wall Systems West Portland, please visit https://tempwallsystems.com/locations/west-portland/.

About Temporary Wall Systems

Founded in 2017 and franchised since 2022, Temporary Wall Systems (TWS) is the first and leading full-service, rentable containment wall provider in the United States. TWS offers commercial contractors and facilities managers a turnkey alternative to labor-intensive interim containment methods like drywall. Our customers benefit from clean and quiet business continuity during construction, renovation, or maintenance projects in healthcare, public transportation, education, retail, and commercial office facilities. TWS is a brand partner of HomeFront Brands, a platform company of emerging property service franchises. Explore the versatility of Temporary Wall Systems at https://tempwallsystems.com/.

About HomeFront Brands

HomeFront Brands empowers entrepreneurs to create thriving franchised residential and commercial property service brands. Driven by an experienced team of franchise executives and rooted in family values, HomeFront Brands helps emerging or established concepts accelerate their growth by delivering enterprise-level solutions to local business owners who aspire to build a dynasty and create generational wealth. By leveraging integrated technology, data-driven intelligence and advanced learning management systems, HomeFront Brands is building a foundation for its brands -- Window Hero, The Designery, Temporary Wall Systems, BiltRite Home Inspections, Top Rail Fence and Mozzie Dome  to transform lives through franchise ownership.

For more information about HomeFront Brands' current solutions, new business development, and franchising opportunities, please visit https://homefrontbrands.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE HomeFront Brands
School officials prohibit families enrolled in charter schools' publicly funded homeschooling programs from purchasing or using religious curricula

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Liberty Institute and King & Spalding LLP, as pro bono counsel, filed a federal lawsuit challenging California school policies that discriminate against families who choose faith-based curricula in charter schools' parent-directed homeschool programs.

You can read the complaint here.

"As the Supreme Court made clear last year in Carson v. Makin, when the government provides a benefit, like parent-directed educational funding, it cannot exclude families just because they choose to use that benefit for a religious education," said Ethan Davis, Partner at King & Spalding. "Religious families are entitled to the same educational benefits as everyone else."

Justin Butterfield, Deputy General Counsel for First Liberty, said, "These families love their charter schools and the opportunities those schools provide for families to educate their children in a way that fits the families' needs. Our clients simply want to be able to choose curricula that fits their families' needs without facing religious discrimination."

The State of California authorizes the creation of tuition-free charter schools under the jurisdiction of local school districts. Some of these charter schools offer "independent study" programs that families may elect to use for their children as an alternative to traditional classroom-based instruction. Families receive access to state funds they can use to purchase curriculum, materials, extracurricular activities, and individual classes at other schools, including private schools. The parents select the curriculum and teach their children, while the charter school provides support and confirms attendance records.

Citing state laws, however, the charter schools refuse to allow parents to use those funds to purchase curricula, materials, or classes if they are religious. Additionally, the schools refuse to accept credit for coursework that originates from a religious curriculum or reflects a religious perspective.

The plaintiffs in this caseparents John and Breanna Woolard, Hector and Diana Gonzales, and Carrie Dodsonare devout Christians who are raising school-age children and whose Christian faith is central to their identity and worldview. Instilling that faith in their children, including through their education, is of the highest importance to them. Each family enrolled their children in a charter school's independent study program. But each faced religious discrimination, including being denied the right to use high-quality curricula that comport with California state standards, simply because they reflect a faith-based worldview. The Dodson family was even expelled from its charter school because the family chose a religious curriculum.

About First Liberty Institute

First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

SOURCE First Liberty Institute
Global Leader in All Things Celebration Emerges from Chapter 11 with

Strengthened Financial Position and Optimized Party City Store Portfolio

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Party City Holdco Inc. ("PCHI" or the "Company"), a global leader in the celebrations industry, announced today that it has completed its restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11 financially stronger and well positioned for the future.

Through its restructuring, PCHI has substantially strengthened its capital structure by eliminating nearly $1 billion in debt, enhanced its liquidity, and optimized its Party City store portfolio by having negotiated improved lease terms and exited less productive stores. The Company will move forward with nearly 800 Party City locations nationwide.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the successful conclusion of our restructuring and the bright future that lies ahead for PCHI," said Brad Weston, Chief Executive Officer of PCHI. "We have exited the process on stronger financial footing, and I am incredibly appreciative of the tremendous efforts made by our team to get us to where we are today. We also thank our retail and wholesale customers, suppliers, and landlords for their support, which was instrumental in achieving today's positive outcome. Our team looks forward to continuing to deliver on our promise of making joy easy and to advancing PCHI's extraordinary legacy as the go-to destination for all things celebration."

In connection with today's emergence, and having led the Company through its successful restructuring, Mr. Weston announced his intention to step down from his role as CEO, effective November 3, 2023, and transition leadership responsibility to Sean Thompson, currently the Company's President and Chief Commercial Officer, as Interim CEO.

Mr. Weston added, "Based on all that has been accomplished over the last several years  strategically, operationally, and financially  PCHI has emerged with an excellent foundation in place to drive long-term growth. At this juncture, with the restructuring now behind us, the timing is right to pass the baton to Sean, who I'm confident will build on the significant strides that have been made as PCHI continues to expand its market leadership and enhance the customer experience."

Under the Company's Plan of Reorganization, which was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 6, 2023, PCHI has emerged with a new exit ABL facility of $562 million and a $75 million new money investment to fund go-forward operations and distributions under the Plan. The Company's new shareholders include the members of the ad hoc group of holders (the "Ad Hoc Group") of the Company's prepetition senior secured first lien notes who supported the restructuring.

Additional Information

Court filings and other documents related to the Company's completed financial restructuring are available at https://cases.ra.kroll.com/PCHI, by calling (888) 905-0493 (toll-free) or +1 (646) 440-4580 (international), or by emailing [email protected].

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel, Moelis & Company LLC served as investment banker, AlixPartners, LLP served as financial advisor, and A&G Realty Partners served as real estate advisor to the Company.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal counsel and Lazard Freres & Co. served as investment banker to the Ad Hoc Group.

About Party City Holdco Inc.

Party City Holdco Inc. (PCHI) is a global leader in the celebrations industry, with its offerings spanning more than 70 countries around the world. PCHI is also the largest vertically integrated designer, manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of party goods in North America.

PCHI operates across multiple businesses within its Retail Division and Consumer Products Division. On the retail side, Party City (partycity.com) is the leading omnichannel retailer in the celebrations category, operating more than 800 company-owned stores, franchise stores, and Halloween City (halloweencity.com) seasonal pop-up stores. The Consumer Products Division includes design and manufacturing entities Amscan, an industry leader in celebration decor, tableware, costumes, and accessories, and Anagram, the global market leader in foil balloons.

PCHI is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. with additional locations throughout the Americas and Asia.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of the forward-looking statements in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believes," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "estimates," "should," "would," "anticipates," "plans" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except for the Company's ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect actual results of operations; changes in financial condition; changes in results of operations and liquidity, changes in general U.S. or international economic or industry conditions; changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions; or other circumstances, conditions, developments or events arising after the date of this press release. You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and other factors, which could include the risk factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q filed with the SEC. The Company therefore cautions readers against relying on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.

Media Contact

Kekst CNC

Sherri L. Toub / Wendi Kopsick

[email protected]

SOURCE Party City Holdco Inc.
Andy Rice, formerly Global Lead for Sustainability, Climate and Weather Analytics at IBM, joins Pelmorex's Executive Leadership to Develop a Portfolio of Innovative Business Solutions

OAKVILLE, ON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pelmorex Corp., a leading weather, climate and data analytics company whose properties include top consumer media brands such as The Weather Network, MeteoMedia and Eltiempo.es, has hired Andy Rice as Managing Director of Business Solutions and Services.

He will work alongside Pelmorex's senior leadership team with CEO Nana Banerjee at the helm to build a portfolio of business-to-business weather and climatology solutions that uniquely address the needs of the modern business enterprises, educational institutes, and government agencies with data-driven and actionable solutions.

"Andy's impressive career spans diverse and notable organizations focused on weather, climatology, advanced analytics, and AI. His addition to our team gives us an opportunity to make a powerful impact on a range of companies and business sectors that are affected by or are exposed to weather and climate," said Banerjee.

Prior to joining Pelmorex, Andy was Global Lead for Sustainability, Climate and Weather Analytics as a Partner at IBM, VP Product and Analytics at The Weather Company and Chief Product Officer at Weather Central. Andy has a results-driven track record that has created rapid year-over-year growth throughout his career. Andy has a BA in Environmental Studies and just completed his executive education in MIT's Chief Sustainability Officer program.

"Weather and climate impacts us all and the convergence of AI, weather, and climate hold the key to future-proofing businesses across sectors," said Rice. "Pelmorex is uniquely positioned to arm the world with insights and decision-making platforms to manage the risk businesses typically encounter. I am thrilled to be joining such a remarkable team that shares my mission to bridge the gap between weather and climate realities and actionable business strategies."

About Pelmorex Corp.

Pelmorex Corp., founded in 1989, is an international weather information and data management company. Pelmorex owns and operates the weather brands The Weather Network, MeteoMedia, Eltiempo.es, Clima, and Otempo.pt. It also operates Canada's National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System, part of Alert Ready. Through constant innovation and entrepreneurship, Pelmorex has grown to reach consumers around the globe, has become one of the largest weather information providers and has broken new ground in providing data solutions and insights to businesses. Through harnessing the value of weather, Pelmorex is driven to make the world smarter and safer for consumers and businesses.

To learn more, visit pelmorex.com and follow us on X (platform formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Pelmorex Corp.
MONTREAL, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and the Canadian Neurological Society (CNS) will host the XXVI World Congress of Neurology (WCN) in Montreal, Canada, from October 15 to 19, 2023. WCN is a major, biennial conference where world-class neurologists and researchers gather to share the latest innovative research in the broad field of neurology. This year's WCN marks the first in-person conference since the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of attendees from around the world convening to learn from one another's research, exchange ideas and drive the field of neurology forward.

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and the Canadian Neurological Society (CNS) will host the XXVI World Congress of Neurology (WCN) in Montreal, Canada, from October 15 to 19, 2023.

WCN creates a platform to share research breakthroughs and clinical experiences throughout the scientific community. For those unable to attend in-person this year, virtual access will also be available.

This year's Scientific Program will be organized around the theme, "brain health is our greatest wealth." Through a wide range of programming, including scientific sessions, teaching courses and plenary lectures, leading neurologists and global health experts will explore global neurological challenges, and researchers will share their unique insights and collaborate on central issues in neuroscience and brain research.

"Our world has been changing since our last virtual Congress in 2021. It is more important than ever to promote collaborative, cross-cultural research efforts that will establish a strong foundation for the future of global brain health," said Dr. Wolfgang Grisold, President, World Federation of Neurology. "After years of pandemic restrictions preventing us from gathering in person, we are excited to reconvene in Montreal with attendees from around the world and also a large virtual participation."

WCN 2023 will feature a diverse schedule of workshops, teaching courses, debate sessions, informal talks with WFN leadership and plenary lectures delivered by leading neurology experts discussing the latest developments in their fields. Some conference highlights include:

"The Global Importance of Diabetic Neuropathies," Eva Feldman , MD, PhD, James W. Albers Distinguished University Professor and Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology, University of Michigan , USA

, MD, PhD, James W. Albers Distinguished University Professor and Russell N. DeJong Professor of Neurology, , USA "The WHO, IGAP and Brain Health," Tarun Dua , MD, Unit Head, Brain Health Unit, World Health Organization, Switzerland

, MD, Unit Head, Brain Health Unit, World Health Organization, "Neurology of Pandemic Infections," Hadi Manji , MD, Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Associate Professor, National Hospital for Neurology, UK

, MD, Consultant Neurologist and Honorary Associate Professor, National Hospital for Neurology, UK "The Role of Patient Organisations," Kathy Oliver , Chair and Founding Co-Director, International Brain Tumour Alliance, UK

, Chair and Founding Co-Director, International Brain Tumour Alliance, UK "The Epidemiology and Burden of Neurological Disorders," Valery Feigin , MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, University of Technology, "Status of Disease Modifying Therapy in Parkinson's Disease," Anthony Lang , MD, Professor of Neurology, Jack Clark Chair for Parkinson's Disease Research and Lily Safra Chair in Movement Disorders, University of Toronto , Canada

, MD, Professor of Neurology, Jack Clark Chair for Parkinson's Disease Research and Lily Safra Chair in Movement Disorders, , Canada "Clinical Trial Progress in ALS," Merit Cudkowicz, MD, Chief, Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Service; Director, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital; Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School , USA

Merit Cudkowicz, MD, Chief, General Hospital Neurology Service; Director, & AMG Center for ALS, General Hospital; Julieanne Dorn Professor of Neurology, , "The Rett Syndrome, From Clinics to Genetics," Huda Zoghbi , MD, Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine , USA

, MD, Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics, , "Neuromyelitis Optica: An Evolving Spectrum of Disease," Satoshi Kuwabara , MD, Chair of Neurology, Chiba University Hospital, Japan

, MD, Chair of Neurology, Chiba University Hospital, "Transformation in the Treatment of Stroke," Liping Liu , MD, PhD, Director, Neurointensive Care Unit (NICU), Neurology and Stroke Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, China

, MD, PhD, Director, Neurointensive Care Unit (NICU), Neurology and Stroke Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, "African Neurology: A Targeted and Unified Approach to Interregional Collaboration," Augustina Charway-Felli , MD, PhD, President, African Academy of Neurology, Ghana

, MD, PhD, President, African Academy of Neurology, Live Press Conference - WCN leadership will speak about conference highlights, discuss the biggest stories from the event and answer questions.

WFN will also host a series of "Coffee Talks"three interactive public conversations that feature the WHO, past WFN presidents and WFN education.

WCN is committed to fostering a global perspective in the field of neurology, recognizing that diverse health systems and neurological challenges around the world require collaborative efforts to advance better brain health for all.

"When we gather so many brilliant minds in one place, we increase the likelihood of breakthroughs in neurological research and create the opportunity for major scientific collaborations," said Dr. Guy Rouleau, President, XXVI World Congress of Neurology. "The World Congress of Neurology is one crucial way we further our mission of fostering quality neurology and brain health worldwide."

In addition to fostering the exchange of research and scientific knowledge, WCN prioritizes developing, encouraging and ensuring representation of the next generation of brilliant neurologists. Young neurologists from low to low-middle income countries are provided financial and educational support to attend the conference in person and contribute their voices to neurological research and development. For the first time, the young WFN neurologists will hold two sessions, based on their survey on worldwide training.

"The Canadian Neurological Society (CNS) is proud to be a part of this prestigious event, and we are committed to contributing to the global mission of improving brain health," said Dr. Stevn Peters, President of CNS. "When we join forces, we will drive research that will lead to treatments, prevention and cures for millions of people living with devastating neurological conditions," said Dr. Michael D. Hill, President, The Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation.

"Every breakthrough in research and every partnership formed brings us one step closer to transforming the lives of people impacted by neurological disorders."

Find updates on the latest news from WCN 2023, a full schedule and the list of plenary speakers here . Those interested in attending the conference can register to attend in-person or virtually here . Additional news releases will be distributed throughout the week. For media queries, please contact [email protected] .

About the World Federation of Neurology

With support from its 123 Member Societies, the World Federation of Neurology fosters quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training, emphasizing under-resourced areas of the world. As a non-state actor in official relations, WFN supports the World Health Organization (WHO) efforts to give everyone an equal chance to live a healthy life. With Member Societies around the globe, WFN unites the world's neurologists to ensure quality neurology and advocate for people to have better brain health. Learn more about the World Federation of Neurology at wfneurology.org .

The Canadian Neurological Society (CNS)

The Canadian Neurological Society (CNS) is one of six National Specialty Societies overseen by the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation (CNSF), a not-for-profit federation. CNS is dedicated to the management and prevention of neurologic conditions and diseases. CNS provides support to neuroscience professionals in Canada, especially members of the CNSF's Societies, through education, advocacy, membership services, and research promotion. CNS is committed to improving the well-being of children and adults with diseases, disorders, and injuries of the nervous system, as well as the prevention of these conditions. Learn more about CNS here .

Media Contact

Ryan Pollock, Yakkety Yak

[email protected]

SOURCE World Federation of Neurology
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Azerbaijan has discussed the resolution of disputes over Card-to-Card transactions, Trend reports.

According to the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA), the discussions were held within the framework of an online meeting of the ABA's expert group on payment systems and digital banking.

In addition, the meeting discussed interbank tariffs for services applied to payment card transactions, the resolution of disputes arising from Card-to-Card payment transactions within Azerbaijan, and other ongoing projects.

ABA was founded by commercial banks in 1990. The main purpose of the ABA is to represent member organizations, support their needs for various types of business services, and coordinate their activities.

Currently, 24 banks and six non-banking organizations are members of the ABA.
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Processed Seafood Market size is expected to grow by USD 60.5 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 7.01% during the forecast period. High demand for protein-rich and ready-to-eat seafood is notably driving the processed seafood market. However, factors such as the growing popularity of vegan seafood may impede market growth. The market is segmented by Product (Frozen seafood, Canned seafood, Smoked seafood, and Others), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online ), and Geography (Europe, North America, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). Technavio provides a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. Buy the report now

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Processed Seafood Market 2023-2027

Processed Seafood Market 2023  2027: Key Segment Analysis

The frozen seafood segment is expected to experience substantial market share growth during the forecast period. To ensure the freshness of frozen seafood, suppliers are implementing innovative packaging solutions and introducing various options of frozen fish and seafood in appealing packaging. This enhanced packaging not only maintains seafood freshness throughout the supply chain but also upholds product quality, as frozen seafood can spoil when thawed during transit and exposed to prolonged warm temperatures before cooking.

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, View Free PDF Sample Report

Processed Seafood Market 2023  2027: Geographical Market Analysis

Europe is projected to play a significant role in driving global market growth during the forecast period, contributing approximately 46% to the market expansion. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including increased consumption of processed fish and seafood products, robust import and export activities, and rising disposable income levels in the region. Among the noteworthy contributors to market growth in Europe are Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Processed Seafood Market 2023  2027: Company Insights

The processed seafood market is fragmented, and the companies are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies, including:

Aquafoods

Austevoll Seafood ASA

Baader Global SE

Bolton Group Srl

China Aquatic Products Co. Ltd.

Cooke Aquaculture Inc.

Gadre Marine Export Pvt. Ltd.

Goya Foods Inc.

KARRO FOOD GROUP

Kyokuyo Co. Ltd.

Loch Duart Ltd.

Mitsubishi Corp.

Mowi ASA

Perdue Farms Inc.

Premium Brands Holdings Corp.

Thai Union Group PCL

Trident Seafoods Corp.

Universal Seafood Inc.

Agrosuper SA

High Liner Foods Inc.

View Free PDF Sample Report to find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by companies and their product offerings.

Related Reports:

Seafood Market: The seafood market share is expected to increase to USD 107.74 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 12.54%.

Smoked Fish Market: The smoked fish market share is expected to increase by USD 4.51 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.9%.

Processed Seafood Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.01% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 60.5 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.75 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 46% Key countries US, China, France, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aquafoods, Austevoll Seafood ASA, Baader Global SE, Bolton Group Srl, China Aquatic Products Co. Ltd., Cooke Aquaculture Inc., Gadre Marine Export Pvt. Ltd., Goya Foods Inc., KARRO FOOD GROUP, Kyokuyo Co. Ltd., Loch Duart Ltd., Mitsubishi Corp., Mowi ASA, Perdue Farms Inc., Premium Brands Holdings Corp., Thai Union Group PCL, Trident Seafoods Corp., Universal Seafood Inc., Agrosuper SA, and High Liner Foods Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

TOC:

Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
REVIV expands lines of business with new digital-first propositions, REVIV X, and IV PRO, unlocking industry growth at an unprecedented pace

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REVIV , the global leading IV drip therapy brand, today revealed the results of its customer impact report as the brand heralds its 10th anniversary. With continued global demand in the industry - a market that was valued at $41.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at an accelerated rate - REVIV has taken note of key consumer insights and learnings from over two million IV therapies delivered, and are applying those learnings to continue the growth of their brand. As the brand embarks on the next chapter of its journey, REVIV is introducing its newest offering, REVIV X, an industry-first digital offering that democratises access to IV drip therapy globally and enables the sector to scale at an accelerated pace.

REVIV X allows for unlimited expansion of REVIV-branded services within qualified health and wellness settings. It works in a low-cost and low-risk way as there is no upfront investment or franchise fee. This is the industry's first digital platform geared towards medical professionals and qualified individuals who are looking to incorporate IV therapy into their practice or start their own IV drip therapy business globally. The REVIV X proposition includes globally certified online training for IV therapy practitioners, medical screening to ensure patient safety, over 26,000 personalized formulations - tailoring treatments to meet patient's health and wellness goals - expert support, and the power of the REVIV marketing machine all included in a fixed monthly subscription of $1,500.

In addition to REVIV X, REVIV is driving industry transformation across its subsidiary business and new product lines: REVIV clinics, IV PRO and the IV ACADEMY. IV PRO empowers business owners to create their own brand in the IV drip therapy industry by providing a suite of digital solutions that encompasses training, medical safety and personalized formulations. IV Academy is part of the IV PRO offering, providing a course designed for healthcare professionals who are looking to expand their expertise and move into the IV therapy sector through participation in self-paced digital courses in a flexible and effective way.

"We are delighted to share our 10-year customer impact report with the world and introduce REVIV 2.0. This is a new era for REVIV, the global IV drip therapy industry, and for enhanced patient outcomes. REVIV 2.0 is powered by our 10 years' operating experience, delivery of over two million IV's across 47 countries, and enabled by a combination of our medical, life sciences, technology, and marketing practices," says Sarah Lomas, CEO and President, REVIV. "REVIV's mission is to transform human health by creating a world where personalized and safe delivery of IV nutrition is accessible to everyone everywhere. We recognize that every human is unique, and their unique nutritional health needs should be catered for. REVIV 2.0 ensures we deliver against this mission"

REVIV's IV formulations have all been independently laboratory tested to ensure complete safety and efficacy in delivering the vitamins, nutrients, electrolytes, and minerals that your body needs. REVIV is trailblazing the nutritional health industry which is why the brand continues to introduce new and exciting product offerings and opportunities. With that, REVIV has also gone through an exciting rebrand, launching an updated website with a stylish and modern new look and feel, marking the start of the brand's next 10 years as the leader of personalized and precision nutrition  with more updates to come in 2024.

REVIV offers wellness IV therapies and vitamin injections through their network of flagship clinics and partner locations across the globe, and to learn more about the brand, please visit our website: www.revivme.com .

ABOUT REVIV:

REVIV is a wellness business backed by science, and their goal is to be the only nutritional health company that offers personalized and precision nutrition solutions, backed by science, AI and 10 years worth of data in assessing patient outcomes to evidence that nutrition can have a positive impact on medical conditions or disease. REVIV's vision is to pioneer the democratization of nutrition-based treatments which will reduce disease, extend life and allow people to live better and healthier lives.

For more information about REVIV Global visit: www.revivme.com .

PRESS CONTACTS:

Fran Gamble

[email protected]

+447398213452

Civic PR for REVIV

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245828/REVIV_Logo.jpg

SOURCE REVIV
Launch of $5M training facility features Rheem's leaders, state and local officials, showcases impact of investment for the trade and local communities

ATLANTA, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rheem , a leading global HVACR and water heating manufacturer, celebrated the grand opening of its cutting-edge Innovation Learning Center (ILC) in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The ribbon-cutting event, inclusive of speeches given by Rheem leadership, Senior Vice President and General Manager Rheem U.S. Air Conditioning Division Kevin Ruppelt and Fort Smith-based Rheem Director of Operations Andrew Welch, followed by remarks from Mayor George McGill and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the facility and lab, and company-wide picnic, marked this momentous occasion on Thursday, Oct. 12.

Rheem, a leading global HVACR and water heating manufacturer, celebrated the grand opening of its cutting-edge Innovation Learning Center (ILC) in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

"Today, we not only celebrate the opening of this Innovation Learning Center, but we also commemorate a significant milestone for Rheem, the state of Arkansas, and the city of Fort Smith. This center, spanning over 3,700-square-feet of showroom and classroom space, along with over 7,000-square-feet of conference rooms and office space, stands as a beacon of progress and learning," said Ruppelt. "This achievement is a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and innovative spirit that defines Rheem."

The Fort Smith Innovation Learning Center highlights Rheem's ongoing commitment to education, innovation and quality. This $5 million investment in the local community boasts an impressive 10,000-square-foot facility designed to cater to the diverse training needs of both Rheem's air conditioning division and water heating division specialists.

"We are committed to being active participants in the Fort Smith community. The skills and knowledge gained here will not only benefit our employees but will also be a driving force in strengthening our local economy," said Welch. "We hope to inspire our local young people to see a future for themselves and their families by working in manufacturing and skilled trades."

This multifunctional center serves as an immersive environment, inviting HVAC and plumbing contractors, wholesalers, specifiers, engineers and others to directly engage with Rheem's comprehensive range of residential and commercial HVAC systems, as well as water heating products. The ILC is equipped with cutting-edge technology to facilitate various training sessions, conferences, seminars, workshops, and other events.

The classrooms within the ILC have been meticulously designed to provide interactive learning experiences, equipped with state-of-the-art technology for seamless live audio and video streaming. Rheem has a specialized hands-on classroom that comes equipped with tools and utility connections, allowing for demonstration installations and diagnostic training.

The launch of the ILC was part of a larger Rheem investment, more than $20 million, in supporting the growth, learning and development of the trade industry and in the Fort Smith community. Rheem's Fort Smith facility has been a cornerstone of its U.S. air conditioning business unit and HVAC equipment manufacturing for more than five decades. This substantial commitment seamlessly aligned with Rheem's overarching 10-year strategy to invest in fostering growth, leading through innovation and fulfilling its commitments to its customers.

For more information on Rheem's training, please visit www.rheemtraining.com.

About Rheem

Founded in 1925, Rheem Manufacturing is a global leader committed to delivering innovative products that save energy and support a more sustainable future. Rheem is the only manufacturer in the world that produces heating, cooling, water heating, pool & spa heating and commercial refrigeration products, and is America's #1 water-heating brand with products available in more than 80 countries. Paloma Co., Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan, acquired the iconic Rheem brand in 1988, and today the company's portfolio of premium brands include Rheem, Ruud, Friedrich, Raypak, Sure Comfort, WeatherKing, Eemax, Richmond, IBC, Intergas, Splendid, Solahart, EverHot, and MHG, as well as commercial refrigeration brands Russell, Witt, ColdZone and Kramer, which are part of the Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG) division.

SOURCE Rheem
 Invitae retrospective analysis reinforces the clinical actionability of following the ASBrS guidelines 

 Testing results informed clinical management and suggest that genetics-informed care may improve patient outcomes and optimize resource utilization 

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12 , 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced results of its collaborative study on universal hereditary cancer genetic testing in all patients with breast cancer in a rural population in the Annals of Surgical Oncology . Conducted in collaboration with The Outer Banks Hospital (TOBH) in North Carolina from 2019 to 2022, the study analyzed the implementation of universal hereditary cancer genetic testing in all patients with breast cancer, as recommended by the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) guidelines in 2019. The results reaffirm the previous findings of Whitworth et al. that universal hereditary cancer genetic testing improves patient outcomes and shows testing based de-escalation of therapy which may curtail treatment costs.

In the study, all patients diagnosed with breast cancer were offered hereditary cancer genetic testing and 91.4% underwent testing and received results that could aid in their healthcare journey. Approximately half of the patients (52.4%) met National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria while 45.8% did not meet the NCCN criteria. Implementation of universal hereditary cancer genetic testing in this rural healthcare system was facilitated by genetics-trained clinicians who provided pretest education and results disclosure, with treatment recommendations discussed at multidisciplinary tumor boards. Of the patients who underwent testing, 13% had a pathogenic (disease-causing) germline variant (PGV) in one of 15 genes and the frequency of PGVs did not differ between out of criteria and in criteria patients, although in criteria patients had a larger proportion of high risk variants than the out of criteria patients, consistent with previous findings of Beitsch et al . Currently, NCCN criteria restrict hereditary cancer genetic testing to a subset of patients with breast cancer while these data provide further evidence confirming the ASBrS recommendation of universal testing for all patients with breast cancer as the standard of care.

"This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing universal hereditary cancer genetic testing for patients with breast cancer in rural community practices," said Robert Nussbaum, M.D., chief medical officer at Invitae. "The results reiterate in a real-world setting that genetic testing changes management and treatment plans for these patients, improving patient care."

Genetic testing-informed changes to clinical management, including changes in surgery, radiation, surveillance and clinical-follow up, occurred in 70% of patients. The majority of patients (97%) reported that testing results were useful in shared surgical decision-making and that knowledge of the results prior to their primary therapy reinforced their choice for surgery.

"Our study provides a blueprint for implementing universal hereditary cancer genetic testing in rural populations who typically see disproportionate care due to access to services and treatment," said Charles Shelton, M.D., lead author of the study and radiation oncologist at TOBH. "We demonstrate that germline-directed clinical management did not lead to under- or overuse of radiation therapy or bilateral mastectomy, thus demonstrating that universal testing enables optimization of clinical care and reduces unnecessary healthcare resource utilization."

To learn more about germline genetic testing, visit our website or contact us .

About Invitae

Invitae (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company trusted by millions of patients and their providers to deliver timely genetic information using digital technology. We aim to provide accurate and actionable answers to strengthen medical decision-making for individuals and their families. Invitae's genetics experts apply a rigorous approach to data and research, serving as the foundation of their mission to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people.

To learn more, visit invitae.com and follow for updates on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn @Invitae.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the company's beliefs regarding its study results; the company's belief that the results demonstrate the clinical benefits of universal hereditary cancer genetic testing in patients with breast cancer; the company's belief that the study reinforces the clinical actionability of following the ASBrS guidelines; the company's belief that the study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing universal hereditary cancer genetic testing for patients with breast cancer in rural community practices; and that genetics-informed care may improve patient outcomes and optimize resource utilization. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the company's ability to grow its business in a cost-efficient manner; the company's history of losses; the company's ability to maintain important customer relationships; the company's ability to compete; the company's need to scale its infrastructure in advance of demand for its tests and to increase demand for its tests; the risk that the company may not obtain or maintain sufficient levels of reimbursement for its tests; the applicability of clinical results to actual outcomes; risks associated with litigation; the company's ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret test results accurately and consistently; security breaches, loss of data and other disruptions; laws and regulations applicable to the company's business; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Invitae PR contact:

Renee Kelley

[email protected]

SOURCE Invitae Corporation
Women in Banking Top Teams Award

Krista Snelling Named as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women to Watch

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (the "Bank", OTCQX: SCZC), with assets of $1.75 billion, is a top-rated community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County. Today, the Bank announced two national recognitions by American Banker Magazine. Krista Snelling was named in American Banker Magazine's 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance - Watch List for 2023. Four members of the Bank's executive team received American Banker Magazine's Women in Banking Top Teams Award: Krista Snelling, President & Chief Executive Officer, Cecilia Situ, Chief Financial Officer, Mary Anne Carson, Chief Marketing Officer, and Shamara van der Voort, Chief Operations Officer.

2023 American Banker Women in Banking Top Teams Award recipients pictured from left to right: Shamara van der Voort, Cecilia Situ, Krista Snelling and Mary Anne Carson of Santa Cruz County Bank

American Banker Magazine has been recognizing women in banking and finance for 21 years. The 2023 Women to Watch list includes influential leaders at the top of banks and financial institutions in the United States and Canada. The 2023 Top Teams honor is awarded to five women banking teams from banks and financial institutions across the U.S.

Chana Schoenberger, Editor-in-Chief at American Banker, says of the honorees, "These women represent so much more than world-class business acumen and inspirational leadership skills. They symbolize the perseverance it takes to create meaningful change, the commitment needed to build stronger communities, and the creativity that's essential to drive the industry into a new age."

Santa Cruz County Bank Board Chairman Stephen Pahl remarked, "It is an honor to receive recognition within our industry from American Banker. Our leadership team is key to the Bank's success and strong performance. The recognition of our CEO and Executive team underscores the Bank's exemplary leadership and commitment to excellence, innovation, and growth."

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK

Founded in 2004, Santa Cruz County Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of West Coast Community Bancorp. It is a top-rated, locally owned and operated, full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The Bank has branches in Aptos, Capitola, Cupertino, Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville. Santa Cruz County Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus, and direct access to decision makers. The Bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California. As a full-service bank, Santa Cruz County Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, asset-based lending, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment, and treasury management. True to its community roots, Santa Cruz County Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local not-for-profit organizations.

West Coast Community Bancorp stock is publicly traded on the OTCQX U.S. Premier Market under the symbol SCZC. Stock purchase orders may be placed online, through a brokerage firm, or through Market Makers listed in the Investor Relations section of the Bank's website. For more information about Santa Cruz County Bank visit www.sccountybank.com or contact [email protected] .

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Words such as "believe," "expect," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "predicts," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements; however, the absence of these words does not mean the statements are not forward-looking. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, the effects of and changes in monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board and their related effects on inflation risk, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank
San Francisco Bay Area's Key Security Designs will merge with Sciens' existing fire-life safety Division, Sabah International, expanding the company's security expertise in this region

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sciens Building Solutions ("Sciens") today announced it has welcomed Pleasant Hill, California-based Key Security Designs ("KSD") to its portfolio of companies.

Sciens will merge Key Security into its existing fire-life safety division in Pleasanton, CA, where it has served the San Francisco Bay Area since 1972. The company also has a presence in Central California and Southern California.

"We have admired Sciens' work in the Bay Area for years and are excited to join such a respected organization, while bringing our professional security knowledge to an expanded customer base," said Jim Pinto, president of Key Security Designs. "With all-things life safety already covered by the professionals at Sciens, we look forward to adding to their growing portfolio. We are confident this merger will benefit both Sciens and KSD, as well as our employees, customers, vendors, and partners."

A full-service security system integrator, Key Security Designs was founded in 2013, leveraging the experience of industry veterans, Jim Pinto and Josh Ilagan, with over 50 years of commercial security integration experience. In addition to their historical understanding of the security industry, much of their focus has been on the implementation of Cloud-hosted solutions. Serving multiple vertical markets, KSD are experts in Cloud-based security systems, elevator destination integration, commercial real estate solutions, and IP camera systems.

"The team at Key Security will undoubtedly help take our security proficiency to the next level in the important Northern California region," said Terry Heath, Sciens' CEO. "With customers ranging from mid-size, developing businesses to large multi-tenant high rise buildings and multi-location tech companies, they will allow us to offer scalable solutions that protect important assets for existing and future clients, and we're thrilled to have them on board."

About Sciens Building Solutions

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, and backed by The Carlyle Group, Sciens Building Solutions is a holding company focused on the fire detection and security services sector. This includes the design, installation, and provision of maintenance services for fire detection and clean agent fire suppression systems in a variety of commercial, institutional, and government facilities. For more information, please visit: www.sciensbuildingsolutions.com.

About Key Security Design

Founded in 2013, Key Security Design leverages over 50 years of experience in the security integration space. Along with their decades of experience, they continue to focus on the future of the security space, including important Cloud-hosted solutions. For more information, please visit: http://www.ksdcorp.com/.

Contact: Jil Shingledecker

[email protected]

407-221-6785

SOURCE Sciens Building Solutions
Firm makes list in 2023 marking the sixth year in a row

CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SDI Presence LLC (SDI), a managed services provider (MSP) and certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with Corporate Plus designation from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has once again been named to the Chicago Tribune's Top Workplaces list for the sixth year in a row. The recognition was earned as a result of anonymous input submitted by SDI employees in an independent survey. Visit https://topworkplaces.com/company/sdi-presence-llc/ for more details.

The Top Workplaces list is based entirely on data collected by third-party research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. Employees all over the Chicago region completed a voluntary survey that measures several aspects of workplace culture, employee satisfaction, inclusion, and projected growth.

"We have created a culture of ambition, precision, accountability, innovation, connection and inclusion." Stated CEO Hardik Bhatt. "We believe in supporting and empowering our colleagues, and it is always great to see our team members acknowledging that."

SDI Chief of Staff Dawn Nash Pfeiffer echoed Bhatt's sentiments. "Once again, our employee responses emphasized the importance of work/life balance, flexibility, and ample growth opportunitiesa direct reflection of the healthy and supportive corporate culture that we continuously work to maintain."

Headquartered in Chicago with offices in Los Angeles, Anaheim, Sacramento, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth, SDI is currently looking for new talent to add to its outstanding team. Professionals interested in growing their careers with SDI can visit the company's career page here: https://www.sdipresence.com/careers

About SDI (SDI Presence LLC):

SDI Presence LLC is an IT consultancy and managed services provider (MSP) that leverages its strong team presence to advance our clients to a secure digital enterprise. With a 25-year corporate resume, SDI delivers strategic managed services, IT consulting, and multicloud solutions to optimize our clients' technology environments. SDI is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with Corporate Plus designation from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and a portfolio of clients that includes some of the nation's largest airports, utilities, commercial real estate portfolios, and government agencies. Connect with us on LinkedIn and X.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Christina Belmont

VP of Marketing

SDI Presence LLC

[email protected]

SOURCE SDI Presence LLC
The program is best suited for software developers, machine learning professionals, IT professionals, data professionals, product managers and consultants

To enroll for the program, individuals need to be at least 18 years age and have a high school diploma with a prior understanding of mathematics and programming concepts

Post-completion of the program, learners will receive a certificate of completion from The School of Professional Studies at Brown University

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn , a global digital skills training provider, is collaborating with The School of Professional Studies at Brown University for a program on Applied AI and Data Science . The program is designed to equip learners with top skills and tools to kick-start or enhance their data science and AI careers through a cutting-edge curriculum, expert instruction, and practical learning.

Global multinational companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe, Bosch, Meta, IBM, Intel, Samsung, Wells Fargo and VMware are increasingly recruiting people for roles as data scientists, AI engineers and ML engineer roles. Career opportunities in these fields are promising in the current market, with salaries as high as $200,000 and averaging over $100,000 annually in the data science, AI, and ML domains. This demand has created a great need for skilled professionals.

The School of Professional Studies at Brown University in collaboration with Simplilearn is launching a new online program that will empower learners to enhance their professional development by acquiring focused and sought-after skills in AI and data science. The curriculum of the program is meticulously designed by industry experts and includes vital topics such as data science foundations, exploratory data analysis, machine learning model preparation and training, and deep learning, among other areas of study. Students will also learn the essentials of Generative AI, its corresponding use cases, and ChatGPT.

The program best suits software developers, machine learning professionals, IT professionals, data professionals, product managers and consultants. To enroll in the program, individuals need to be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma with a prior understanding of mathematics and programming concepts. Prior professional experience is recommended but is not necessary for this program. The program will be held for a duration of 3 months and will take place in a blended learning format. Students will attend monthly live online master classes delivered by the Brown faculty, learn at their own pace through high-quality video content recorded by Brown faculty, and engage with industry-relevant hands-on projects with access to integrated labs.

Sharing thoughts on the program, Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, of Simplilearn, said, "In today's innovative world, technologies like AI, machine learning, and data science aren't just passing fads  they're the key to the future. All companies across all industries are investing heavily in these technologies to gain a competitive edge and as a result, they are looking for professionals well-versed in these domains. Therefore, we are thrilled to collaborate with The School of Professional Studies at Brown University for an AI, ML, and data science program, helping learners gain these skills and pursue a successful tech career with confidence."

Speaking on the partnership with Simplilearn, Sandra Rehm Smith, Associate Dean for Executive Education at Brown University at The School of Professional Studies at Brown University, said, "In today's dynamic job market, the key to staying relevant and professional success lies in continuous upskilling. The use of data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is transforming businesses across many industries. By upskilling in these fields, learners can be able to navigate the sea of information, extract valuable insights, and drive meaningful change while future-proofing their careers."

Smith continued "We are happy to partner with Simplilearn to bring a program on AI, ML and data science to provide valuable insights to all those keen on building careers in these fields."

The program will help in gaining proficiency with industry-standard tools and methodologies to analyze and prepare data effectively while developing expertise in both linear and non-linear ML models. Learners will understand deep learning techniques comprehensively and master the complete process of building a machine learning technique. The program curriculum will consist of Foundations of Data Science, Understanding the Data, Preparing the Model, Training the Model, Deep Learning and Generative AI along with master classes by Brown Faculty. Some of the tools that will be covered in the program are ChatGPT, Python, NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, Matplotlib and Seaborn.

About Simplilearn

Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone portfolio company, is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training. Simplilearn offers access to world-class work-ready training to individuals and businesses around the world. The Bootcamps are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, large corporations, and governments, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or/and business goals.

About Brown University School of Professional Studies

The School of Professional Studies is one of four schools at Brown University, a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island and the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. The School of Professional Studies delivers programs that empower leaders to transform themselves, their workplace and the communities they serve for good. A portfolio of degree, certificate, and executive programs span across disciplines and formats, offering a wide array of educational opportunities for learners at all career stages.

For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/4169121/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Simplilearn
Prospera held event to highlight entrepreneurial stories and unity in local community

MIAMI, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prospera hosted its signature Hispanic Heritage Month event, presented by FPL, at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. Stakeholders of the nonprofit, economic development organization came together at the 2023 Prospera Success Stories: Synergy for Progress to raise funds for the mission, celebrate successful local small business owners who have received Prospera's assistance, and showcase collaborations that have strengthened the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

These successful entrepreneurs, whose stories illustrate synergy for progress, were recognized:

2023 Prospera Success Stories Honorees with Prospera South Florida Vice President Myrna Sonora, Sponsors and Speakers

"Florida Power & Light Company works with the communities it serves to make Florida an even better place to live, work and raise a family. That includes supporting organizations like Prospera, which provides resources that entrepreneurs need to succeed. We're proud to be a returning sponsor, advancing Prospera's mission," FPL Director of External Affairs for Miami-Dade County Armando Fernandez said.

The program, led by Prospera South Florida Vice President Myrna Sonora, highlighted the impact of Prospera's services on small businesses and local entrepreneurship for funders, volunteers, partners, and other local leaders. It included remarks from Miami-Dade County District 5 Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dade County Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer Francesca de Quesada Covey, and a conversation about local small business procurement needs between Prospera President & CEO Augusto Sanabria and Prospera funders and partners Loreen Chant, CEO of The Health Foundation of South Florida, and Radhy Miranda, program manager of economic practice for The Rockefeller Foundation.

"Strengthening and rebuilding our economy requires collaboration across all sectors of South Florida and a commitment to a community that leaves no one behind. It's important for local government, businesses, and community organizations to work together in a coordinated effort," said Sonora.

In addition to Presenting Sponsor FPL, the event was presented with the support of the following sponsors:

Hosts : AT&T, Bank of America, Bank United, First Horizon, and Wells Fargo

: AT&T, Bank of America, Bank United, First Horizon, and Wells Fargo Champions: Amerant, Florida International University , Hispanic Federation, JPMorgan Chase, Miami Downtown Development Authority, NUC University Online Division, Telemundo 51, Truist, and TD Bank.

Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization that has specialized since 1991 in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to start, sustain, and grow their business. In the last five years alone, Prospera facilitated over $70 million in loans for small business clients, trained 17,300 entrepreneurs, and helped consulting clients create or retain more than 16,000 jobs. Prospera currently serves Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. For more information, visit www.prosperausa.org.

Media Contact: Soledad Jacobson, (786) 329-5830, [email protected]

SOURCE Prospera
NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The smart bottle market size is expected to grow by USD 141.8 million from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 13.05% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. Growing awareness of the importance of hydration is notably driving the smart bottle market. However, factors such as the high cost of smart bottles may impede market growth. The market is segmented by Component (Software and Hardware ), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the smart bottle market including AARDEX Group S.A., Annanta Baby Inc., Bleaf Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Diageo Plc, Ecomo Inc., EQUA d.o.o., Hamilton Housewares Pvt. Ltd., Hidrate Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., LARQ Inc., LifeFuels, Monos Travel Ltd., NOERDEN, Out of Galaxy Inc., Ozmo, Re Co. SA, Stoelzle Oberglas GmbH, TYLT Inc., UBO Technologies LLC, and Waterh. This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Smart Bottle Market 2023-2027

Smart Bottle Market 2023-2027: Company Analysis

Ecomo Inc: The company offers smart bottles namely Ecomo Bottle with activated Carbon Fiber to remove chlorine, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and petroleum, and Ion Exchange Fiber to remove most heavy metals, including lead, mercury, copper, and cadmium. The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a FREE Sample Report.

Smart Bottle Market 2023-2027: Segmentation

Component

By component, the software segment is significant during the forecast period. The software segment plays a major role in facilitating advanced functionalities and features that make these bottles smart.

is significant during the forecast period. The software segment plays a major role in facilitating advanced functionalities and features that make these bottles smart. Other segment includes Distribution Channel (Online and Offline).

Geography

North America will contribute 36% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The region has become a key hub for smart bottle manufacturers and consumers. This is due to significant innovation and cutting-edge technology adoption. Prominent advanced technological features in the smart bottle include hydration tracking, Bluetooth connectivity, and personalized reminders, which resonate with the region's digitally driven lifestyle.

will contribute to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The region has become a key hub for smart bottle manufacturers and consumers. This is due to significant innovation and cutting-edge technology adoption. Prominent advanced technological features in the smart bottle include hydration tracking, Bluetooth connectivity, and personalized reminders, which resonate with the region's digitally driven lifestyle. Other regions include Europe, APAC, South America , and Middle East and Africa .

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

Related Reports:

The water bottle handles market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.56% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 43.42 million.

The global laboratory bottle-top dispenser market size is estimated to grow by USD 181.72 at a CAGR of 6.09% between 2022 and 2027.

Smart Bottle Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13.05% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 141.8 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 12.01 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key countries US, China, Japan, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled AARDEX Group S.A., Annanta Baby Inc., Bleaf Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Diageo Plc, Ecomo Inc., EQUA d.o.o., Hamilton Housewares Pvt. Ltd., Hidrate Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., LARQ Inc., LifeFuels, Monos Travel Ltd., NOERDEN, Out of Galaxy Inc., Ozmo, Re Co. SA, Stoelzle Oberglas GmbH, TYLT Inc., UBO Technologies LLC, and Waterh Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Component

Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Azerbaijan's Azercosmos and Bayanat company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a cooperation agreement, Trend reports.

According to Azercosmos, the parties will cooperate in the field of geographic information systems (GIS). This includes promoting potential projects and opportunities for obtaining, processing and applying remote sensing data, geospatial data capabilities, sharing experience and knowledge.

In addition, Azercosmos will be able to utilize the geospatial information platform owned by Bayanat for one year.

The collaboration also plans to expand the use of Earth observation solutions in mapping and oil and gas research.

Bayanat will also conduct training programs in Azerbaijan on artificial intelligence, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology (a type of geospatial data collection), geographic information systems and remote sensing solutions, especially for GIS experts and users.
SINGAPORE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consultancy Kearney and LUXASIA, the leading omnichannel brand-builder in Asia Pacific, recently released a whitepaper titled "Unlocking hyper-growth in Asia's luxury beauty landscape", highlighting the opportunities, challenges and solutions for luxury brands in Asia. It reveals that Southeast Asia (SEA) and India are poised to be the next "gold rush" in luxury beauty, reaching a market potential of US$7.6 billion by 2026, with a projected 11% CAGR between 2021 and 2031.[1] This strong growth is expected to continue, with the market size almost tripling in 10 years.

The study unearths the opportunities, challenges, and solutions for luxury brands in Asia. Southeast Asia (excl. Singapore) and India are slated to be the next "gold rush" in Asia's luxury beauty, approaching an inflection point for accelerated growth.

In contrast to China, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, other markets in SEA and India are relatively unsaturated, with limited presence of both international luxury beauty brands and compelling local ones, and significant upside potential for luxury beauty spend per capita. As these economies mature, the upper- and middle-classes are projected to surpass 1 billion people in 2026[2], with more consumers expected to trade up from mass to luxury. Thus, this presents a limited but golden window of opportunity for luxury beauty brands to enter now and flourish.

However, harnessing growth remains tricky in SEA and India due to diverse market ecosystems. Luxury brands today face six major challenges in this fragmented region, which include multidimensional omni-retail networks; heterogeneous local product preferences; divergent marketing approaches; challenging regulatory frameworks; costly and idiosyncratic supply chain landscapes; and partner selection amid information asymmetry.

Correspondingly, the report outlines six execution imperatives to effectively tackle these challenges. These include optimizing the retail footprint to create multi-touchpoint experience hubs; harnessing continued e-commerce growth unique to each market; forging capabilities to ride social commerce acceleration; building deep local consumer understanding through data aggregation and analytics; leveraging logistics partners to build a robust and flexible network; and winning with the right omnichannel brand-building partners.

Siddharth Pathak, Senior Partner, Head of Consumer Industries and Retail for Asia Pacific at Kearney, said, "Southeast Asia and India should be on the agenda of every global luxury beauty CEO as these markets are poised to lead the next stage of growth in luxury beauty. To emerge successful in a competitive landscape, brands should have a cohesive strategy to cut through the noise and tap on the power of digitalization, data analytics, and ecosystem support to improve their offerings and overall resilience."

Dr Wolfgang Baier, Group CEO, LUXASIA affirms this and adds, "This golden window to capture accelerated growth cannot be missed. New-entry brands need to act urgently to secure the platform to grow. Existing market brands ought to rejuvenate their omnichannel presence, adding greater operational agility, to better navigate market developments. Backed by our track record, deep omni-network, and brand-building expertise, LUXASIA stands ready to partner all luxury beauty brands for long-term growth and success in Southeast Asia and India."

[1] According to Euromonitor and KearneyLUXASIA analysis [2] According to World Bank, Euromonitor, and KearneyLUXASIA analysis

SOURCE LUXASIA
BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PickNik Robotics, "The Unstructured Robotics Company," proudly announces a major milestone in its mission to bring robot arms out of factories and into our everyday lives. The company has just raised $2 million in a pre-seed investment round led by Stellar Ventures and Cypress Growth Capital, positioning itself as the dominant force in redefining the robotics industry through its innovative software platforms. The investment augments PickNik's existing $5M in non-dilutive SBIR funding contracts with NASA JSC, NASA Ames, and Space Force.

Stellar Ventures and Cypress Growth Capital Commit to Fueling the Future of Robotics Software

This funding will be used to further develop their powerful robotics platform MoveIt Studio , which enables any developer or engineer to create advanced applications with robot arms. MoveIt Studio is unique in that it tackles a new and fast-growing robotics market segment: robots outside of the traditional manufacturing domain. MoveIt Studio is already being used by many companies for advanced applications like Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) that leverage mobile robot arms for in-situ bin picking , explosive ordnance disposal for SWAT teams, and next-gen space applications such as autonomous cargo unloading from space station re-supply capsules.

Dave Coleman, CEO of PickNik, expressed his enthusiasm for the pre-seed investment, saying, "This investment marks a pivotal moment in our journey from a bootstrapped company that could only innovate incrementally. We're now committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible with robot arms faster. With Stellar Ventures and Cypress Growth Capital by our side, we have the resources and support to fully commercialize our powerful platform that enables developers everywhere to build advanced robot arm applications with less risk."

PickNik's unique vision makes advanced robotics accessible through both open source and open core software. Their flagship software MoveIt Studio is built on their original, highly popular open source MoveIt software that continues to be one of the top motion planning and manipulation frameworks globally. By embracing open source principles, PickNik empowers its customers to reduce R&D costs significantly and collaborate with well known de facto standards.

PickNik consistently demonstrates its leadership tackling the most challenging problems in robotics across many industries, including space, subsea, surgical, energy, AgTech, FoodTech, and personal robots. With an unparalleled commitment to solving robotics challenges outside of factories, PickNik has earned the trust and recognition from industry giants including Google, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Samsung, Hyundai, NASA, Sierra Space, Blue Origin, and many more.

"The robotics industry is rapidly evolving, and PickNik is at the forefront of innovation. We see immense potential in their ability to develop advanced solutions that bridge the gap between terrestrial and space robotics," said Matt Patterson at Stellar Ventures.

Investors are drawn to PickNik's exceptional capabilities. Their dexterous manipulator control has earned the company praise from esteemed organizations like NASA (whose multiple SBIR programs have historically funded PickNik). "There are few others in the industry of robotics with the capability of PickNik, especially capabilities as expansive as their abilities with dexterous manipulator control," stated a robotics engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center.

"As use cases for robotics applications become more complex, PickNik's expertise and track record of solving the most difficult robotics problems is highly differentiated in this $230B market. With MoveIt Studio, PickNik is able to leverage that experience and deliver it to an even broader customer base." said Pat McCaffrey, Partner at Cypress Growth Capital.

PickNik is proud to be a leader of the Robot Operating System movement. The company created ROS drivers for many popular robots used globally including Universal Robotics, Kinova, ABB, and Motiv Space Systems. As a 100% robot-arm agnostic company, PickNik works with a wide range of robot brands and types, from custom hardware to off-the-shelf solutions, catering to the specific needs of its customers.

This pre-seed investment allows PickNik to further revolutionize the unstructured robotics software space with their MoveIt Studio product, and solidify its position as an industry leader, poised for a future filled with exciting possibilities.

About PickNik Robotics:

PickNik Robotics , known as "The Unstructured Robotics Company," is a leader in solving complex robotics challenges. The company's flagship software, MoveIt Studio, is the world's #1 motion planning and manipulation platform, embracing open source principles to make advanced robotics accessible and cost-effective. PickNik collaborates with a wide range of industries and has a track record of excellence in developing robotic applications while mitigating open source risks.

About Stellar Ventures:

Stellar Ventures is a forward-thinking venture capital firm that initiated its journey with the launch of SV Andromeda, a $23 million fund dedicated to supporting visionary entrepreneurs at the forefront of space technology. With a commitment to fostering innovation and transformative ideas, Stellar Ventures collaborates with exceptional founders who are poised to revolutionize industries and make a lasting impact on our world.

About Cypress Growth Capital:

Cypress Growth Capital , with a twelve-year track record and a team rich in entrepreneurial experience, goes beyond traditional investment, providing invaluable guidance to portfolio companies. They assist in shaping growth strategies, offer financial expertise, aid in talent development, and facilitate mergers, acquisitions, and exits, making them a trusted partner for entrepreneurs seeking exceptional outcomes.

SOURCE PickNik Robotics
A Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer can fight for maximum compensation says Crain Brogdon

DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- If you've been involved in a motorcycle crash, the steps you take in the minutes and hours following the accident are very important. You want to get the medical treatment you need and preserve your right to file a lawsuit for financial damages.

Crain Brogdon, LLP

More than 5,000 motorcyclists are killed in the United States each year. It's not hard to see why motorcyclists are in such danger when they collide with a car or large truck. The average motorcycle weighs just 700 pounds, while cars can weigh 4,000 pounds and fully loaded semi-trailers weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. With only a helmet, motorcyclists are dangerously exposed when they collide with other vehicles. Because of their smaller size, motorcycles can also be hard for other drivers to see.

Here are important steps to take after a motorcycle accident:

Call 911 and ask police to respond to the scene. Make sure you are out of the path of oncoming traffic. Seek medical attention right away by allowing emergency personnel to treat your injuries at the scene or by visiting your doctor's office within days after the crash. Get the name and contact information of witnesses. Get the truck driver's license and insurance information. Use your cell phone to take pictures of your injuries, damage to your motorcycle and the other vehicle, and the crash scene. Pay attention to whether there are skid marks, large potholes, broken guardrails, or other road hazards. Check to see if there are surveillance cameras in the area. Answer police officers' questions succinctly, but don't overexplain. Be polite to the other driver, but refrain from any conversation. DO NOT, under any circumstances, acknowledge that you were at fault for the motorcycle accident. Hire a Dallas motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you.

"Our Dallas motorcycle accident lawyers will go head-to-head with insurance companies and fight for your legal rights. We have a reputation for winning substantial payouts," says Attorney Crain.

Why Choose Crain Brogdon LLC

Crain Brogdon, L.L.P. is a law firm made up of award-winning attorneys who excel in their fields of legal specialty. We have won $355 million in settlements and jury awards on behalf of our clients since the firm's founding in 2001. Those millions of dollars helped injured clients and their families put their lives back together after tragedies. We have achieved outstanding case results, and we provide top-notch client service. Our motorcycle accident lawyers are professional, compassionate, and willing to go the extra mile to get the justice you deserve. To find out more about how we can help, call us for a free initial consultation at 214-522-9404.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Crain Brogdon, LLP
DUBLIN, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Next Generation Drug Conjugates Market: Distribution by Type of Targeting Ligand, Type of Payload, Type of Therapy, Route of Administration, Target Disease Indication and Key Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2023-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global next generation drug conjugates market is expected to experience significant growth, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% during the forecast period.

Next generation drug conjugates, which offer advantages such as targeted delivery, structural stability, limited side effects, and the ability to treat rare diseases and cancers, have emerged as promising therapeutic options.

Key Insights from the Next Generation Drug Conjugates Market:

Rising Costs of Rare Disease Treatment: The cost of medical care for rare diseases, particularly in the US, has been increasing significantly. In 2020, close to USD 1 trillion was spent on medical care for rare diseases in the US, with patients incurring twice the average cost of general patients. This growing burden of rare diseases has driven the search for alternative therapies, and next generation drug conjugates have emerged as a viable option. Advantages Over Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs): Next generation drug conjugates share similarities with antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) but offer advantages in terms of clinical efficacy and stability. While ADCs use antibodies as targeting ligands, next generation drug conjugates utilize non-antibody-based targeting ligands, such as peptides, amino sugars, lipids, and small molecules. Additionally, they employ oligonucleotides, antisense oligonucleotides, si-RNA, drugs, and radionuclides as payloads. Types of Next Generation Drug Conjugates: Various types of next generation drug conjugates have emerged, including peptide drug conjugates, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (peptide radionuclide conjugates), GalNac conjugates, peptide oligonucleotide conjugates, si-RNA conjugates, small molecule-drug conjugates (SMDC), ligand-conjugated antisense medicine (LICA), and peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMO). Clinical Success: Several next generation drug conjugates have received approval from the USFDA for therapeutic purposes. Notable examples include Lutathera and Pluvicto (peptide receptor radionuclide therapy), Givlaari, Oxlumo, Leqvio, and Amvuttra (GalNac conjugates). These approvals are indicative of the clinical effectiveness and versatility of next generation drug conjugates. Continued Innovation: The field of next generation drug conjugates is characterized by ongoing innovation, promising clinical trial results, accelerated approvals, and collaborations between industry and non-industry players. This dynamic environment is expected to drive significant market growth. Key Market Players: There are over 30 large, mid-sized, and small companies involved in the development of next generation drug conjugates. Currently, more than 200 next generation drug conjugates are either approved or in various stages of clinical research. Approximately 40% and 30% of these candidates are being investigated for oncological and rare disease indications, respectively. Peptide Drug Conjugates: Peptide drug conjugates have emerged as a promising alternative to antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). While Oncopeptides' Pepaxto was the first anticancer peptide drug conjugate to receive FDA approval, numerous clinical trials and candidates are underway in this segment. Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT): PRRT candidates, which involve antigen-targeting peptides conjugated to radioisotopes through linkers, have generated interest in the pharmaceutical industry. Novartis is a market leader in this segment, with products like Lutathera and Pluvicto. Collaborations between Novartis and other companies further highlight the potential of PRRT therapy. GalNAc Conjugates: GalNAc-conjugated oligonucleotide therapeutics have gained traction, as they enable targeted delivery through the liver cells. Companies like Alnylam Pharmaceuticals have multiple approved products in this category, with a strong pipeline. Market Growth and Regional Dominance: The next generation drug conjugates market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 20%. GalNac conjugates are anticipated to drive this growth, with rare and oncological disorders as the key therapeutic areas. North America , especially the US, is expected to dominate the market, followed by the Asia-Pacific region. Strategic Partnerships: Numerous stakeholders are entering strategic partnerships and collaborations, with over 75 such agreements signed since 2018. These partnerships often involve product development and commercialization agreements, indicating the industry's commitment to advancing next generation drug conjugates. Big pharma companies like Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Janssen are actively involved in these collaborations.

The next generation drug conjugates market is poised for significant expansion, driven by the demand for effective therapies for rare diseases and cancers, ongoing research and innovation, and increasing interest from pharmaceutical companies. Accelerated approvals and designations by regulatory authorities further contribute to the growth of this promising therapeutic modality.

Key Topics Covered:

1. PREFACE

2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3. INTRODUCTION

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

5. COMPANY AND DRUG PROFILES

6. CLINICAL TRIAL ANALYSIS

7. PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

8. ACADEMIC GRANTS ANALYSIS

9. PUBLICATION ANALYSIS

10. DRUG FAILURE ANALYSIS

11. SUCCESS PROTOCOL ANALYSIS

12. MARKET FORECAST AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

Companies Mentioned

48Hour Discovery

Ablaze Pharmaceuticals

Advanced Accelerator Applications (a Novartis Company)

Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Antios Therapeutics

Arbutus Biopharma

ArisGlobal

Aro Biotherapeutics

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals

AstraZeneca

Asymchem

Aura Biosciences

Bicycle Therapeutics

Boehringer Ingelheim

CAMP4 Therapeutics

Captario

Cardinal Health

Case Western Reserve University

Cellectar Biosciences

Cerveau Technologies

CIC bioGUNE

Clarity Pharmaceuticals

Clearside Biomedical

Coherent Biopharma

Crescendo Biologics

Cybrexa Therapeutics

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals

DTx Pharma

Eli Lilly

Empirico

Entrada Therapeutics

Esperance Pharmaceuticals

Eubulus Biotherapeutics

Evergreen Theragnostics

Exelixis

Flamingo Therapeutics

Genentech

Genuity Science

Geron

GSK

Gubra

Hansoh Pharmaceutical

Horizon Therapeutics

Idaho State University

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Janssen

Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical (a subsidiary of Hansoh Pharmaceutical)

Kings College Hospital

Hospital LegoChem Biosciences

Mainline Biosciences

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals

Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC)

Medison Pharma

Merck

Metagenomi

Myotonic Dystrophy Clinical Research Network (DMCRN)

National Cancer Institute

Nimble Therapeutics

n-Lorem Foundation

NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes

Novartis

Novo Nordisk

OliX Pharmaceuticals

Ono Pharmaceutical

Orano Med

Oregon Health & Science University

Orsini Specialty Pharmacy

Osteros Biomedica

Ousia Pharma

Owlstone Medical

Paradigm4

PepGen

Pepscan (acquired by Biosynth)

PeptiDream

Pharmaron

Qilu Pharmaceutical

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Birmingham (UHB)

RayzeBio

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Roche

Roivant Sciences

Royalty Pharma

Sarepta Therapeutics

Sharp

Shenzhen Ascentawits Pharmaceuticals

Shionogi

Silence Therapeutics

Sirnaomics

Soricimed Biopharma

Suzhou Ribo Life Science

taiba rare

Takeda

University of Melbourne

Vaccitech

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Vivo Capital

Wave Life Sciences

WuXi STA

Xinogen Pharma

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wvrk28

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LAKE FOREST, Calif. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation, Assembly Bill 1172, on October 7, 2023. Authored by State Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) and spearheaded in the Senate by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), the bill supports California's fusion energy industry by recognizing this cutting-edge technology's safety and environmental benefits while setting the stage for the state's future regulatory framework. Home to innovators and fusion pioneer TAE Technologies, the bill's signing makes California the first U.S. state to enshrine in law the fundamental distinction between fusion energy and traditional nuclear fission. AB1172 also recognizes the diversity of scientific approaches to achieving fusion's transformative potential for the California grid for the first time.

TAE Technologies' Norman (pictured) in the company's California HQ. Norman is the fifth-generation experimental device on TAE's path to commercial fusion

"Fusion energy can advance California's progress towards its statutory renewable energy and climate mandates. Fusion energy development presents an opportunity to further promote California's workforce development within the renewable energy sector," the legislation states .

As the nation's first private company to pursue the commercialization of fusion energy, Southern California-based TAE Technologies applauds this legislation's passage (with unanimous support in both chambers), not only for its recognition of fusion energy's potential contributions to providing clean energy, but for recognizing that this groundbreaking industry requires bespoke regulation. Just as fusion and fission rely on opposite reactionswhere fusion combines atoms, fission splits themthere are fundamental differences in how these nuclear technologies need to be regulated, and California's lawmakers are addressing those needs for the first time. Fusion is inherently safe and deserves a well-considered regulatory path that allows fusion to be developed safely and expediently.

"With this bill's passage, California's governor and legislators are recognizing the vast potential of commercial fusion energy to be a part of a clean energy solution that brings carbon-free energy, jobs and a much-needed innovation to our state, and to our world," said TAE Technologies CEO Michl Binderbauer.

The legislation follows the recent net energy achievement of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, and reflects a global race to harness the power of fusion for commercial use. Assembly Bill 1172 requires the California Energy Commission to identify all needed regulatory and policy actions to incorporate fusion into the state's energy system. AB1172 also defines fusion energy in California law for the first time, helping ensure that California can ensure the highest standards of safety and public trust while differentiating it from unrelated technologies like traditional nuclear fission. Notably, fusion, unlike fission, doesn't produce long-lived radioactive waste and with fusion energy, nuclear meltdown is impossible.



On the occasion of the signing, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon said: "California must continue to invest in clean, renewable sources of energy to meet our climate goals. There has been significant progress from the fusion industry, with companies now on the path to creating commercially viable systems that can safely generate clean energy for cities. This law will help California safely integrate fusion energy technology as a renewable energy source."

State Senator Josh Newman said: "Last year, I had the privilege of joining a delegation of state and federal legislators for a tour of TAE's facilities to learn more about the world-class, innovative research and development on sustainable fusion and spin-off technologies underway right here in Orange County. The progress and promise of TAE's work on commercial fusion is in line with California's stature as a global leader in research and innovation and offers tremendous promise, not only for California's future clean energy prospects but for the creation of thousands of vital, high-skilled jobs as well."

TAE Technologies is the global leader in commercial development of aneutronic fusion power, an advanced form of fusion that does not produce neutrons in its primary reaction and has several key benefits, including no radioactive waste and longer-life devices that result in lower energy prices for producers and consumers. The new law specifically requires the California Energy Commission to define and examine this distinctive, impact-forward form of fusion for the first time.

Fusion also complements renewables, because it is a zero-emission energy source that is consistently available throughout the day and seasons, regardless of the weather or sunshine. By comparison to any other source of renewable or clean energy, fusion has substantially greater power density, requires little fuel, and has minimal environmental impact.

"Controlled thermonuclear fusion is one of the very few long term, environmentally friendly and inherently safe options," the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote in a report last month , adding "In principle, fusion could generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than fission and nearly four million times more energy than burning oil and coal."

TAE is developing aneutronic fusion that will rely on hydrogen-boron (also known as proton-boron or p-B11) fuel, which is safe, abundant, non-radioactive and inexpensive. Slated to enter the marketplace in the early 2030s, TAE's planned commercial hydrogen-boron fusion energy plants will play a key role in meeting Gov. Newsom's ambitious plan to power California with 100% clean energy by 2045 . At the federal level , the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is drafting new regulations defining fusion . At every level and around the globe, leaders are recognizing the safety benefits of fusion and are drafting rules and recommendations on how to regulate it with a lighter touch than other forms of nuclear energy.

As regulations develop, TAE is hard at work creating the fusion energy machines that will power the future. Earlier this year, TAE broke ground at a new 100,000 square foot facility in Irvine, CA, to house its next fusion research machine, Copernicus, which is expected to demonstrate the viability of net energy generation from TAE's proprietary configuration around the mid-2020s. With that milestone in hand, TAE will develop its first prototype hydrogen-boron fusion power plant, Da Vinci, to deliver electricity to the grid in the early 2030s.

About TAE Technologies

TAE Technologies (pronounced T-A-E) was founded in 1998 to develop commercial fusion power with the cleanest environmental profile. The company's pioneering work represents the fastest, most practical, and economically competitive solution to bring abundant clean energy to the grid. With more than 2,300 patents filed globally and approximately 1,400 granted, more than $1.2 billion in private capital raised, five generations of National Laboratory-scale devices built along with two more in development, and an experienced team of over 600 employees, TAE is now on the cusp of delivering this transformational energy source capable of sustaining the planet for thousands of years. The company's revolutionary technologies have produced a robust portfolio of commercial innovations in large adjacent markets such as power management, energy storage, electric mobility, fast charging, life sciences, and more. TAE is based in California, and maintains international offices in the UK, EU, and Switzerland. Multidisciplinary and mission-driven by nature, TAE is leveraging proprietary science and engineering to create a bright future.

For photos and videos, visit TAE's digital press kit

Watch an explainer on TAE's path to commercializing aneutronic fusion power

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245644/TAE_Technologies.jpg

SOURCE TAE Technologies
Altura's luxury units nearing capacity as developer unveils new pricing

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Altura Bayshore, a luxury condominium development by The Ronto Group, has become a standout feature of the burgeoning South Tampa neighborhood. The 23-story tower now boasts 73 units, with only a limited number of residences still available, starting at $2 million.

The remarkable pace at which these units have been selling underscores the deep desirability of Altura Bayshore and its enviable location. Buyers are seizing the opportunity to secure a slice of luxury living in the highly coveted South Tampa area.

Altura Bayshore's sales reflect the remarkable influx of individuals and families choosing to make Tampa their new home. According to the latest data from the U.S. Census, Florida ranks #1 in total net migration , welcoming nearly 450,000 new residents last year, and this surge in population can be attributed to a combination of factors that make Tampa an increasingly attractive destination.

"From its beautiful year-round weather, a thriving job market, affordable cost of living, and a rich cultural scene, Tampa has become a magnet for those seeking a high quality of life," says Anthony Solomon, owner of The Ronto Group.

The development showcases a sleek, modern aesthetic with clean lines and expansive windows that provide you captivating, nearly 360-degree, unobstructed views of Old Hillsborough Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Among its standout features is one of South Tampa's first actual rooftop pools, perched 23 stories above the ground, offering residents an unparalleled view of the Bayshore area.

Inside Altura Bayshore, the residences range in size from 2,443 to 3,575 square feet and boast hand-selected features, curated by interior designer Beasley and Henley of Winter Park including quartz countertops, European frameless cabinetry, and high-end Thermador stainless steel appliances.

Altura Bayshore is ideally situated a block off of the highly sought-after Bayshore Boulevard, offering residents convenient access to the cultural offerings and vibrant nightlife of South Tampa. To schedule a tour of Altura Bayshore's remaining units, please visit www.alturabayshore.com .

About The Ronto Group

Headquartered in Naples, Florida, The Ronto Group is recognized for its commitment to craftsmanship, luxury, and meticulous planning in condominium development. The group is currently at the forefront of luxury condo development with projects such as The Owen Golden Gate Point, Rosewood Residences Naples, Rosewood Residences Lido Key, Infiniti at The Colony, Omega Bonita Bay, and Quattro at Naples Square. For more information, please visit www.ronto.com .

SOURCE Altura Bayshore
Michael C. LaBonia replaces Chase Rankin, who heads to Lee Enterprises for a new role.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Longtime media executive Michael LaBonia was named senior vice president of advertising sales, effective immediately, Keith Moyer, publisher and editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, announced Tuesday.

A former Hearst Media executive, LaBonia will succeed Chase Rankin, who accepted the role of president of Lee Enterprises' Western Division earlier this month. "Chase will be missed, but he found an opportunity too good to pass up," Moyer said. "And we are thrilled to replace Chase with Michael, one of the country's best ad sales executives. We won't miss a beat."

LaBonia is no stranger to the Review-Journal. He has consulted strategically on significant initiatives to deliver incremental revenue while targeting major advertising campaigns and competing media organizations. "I'm thrilled Keith and the leadership team are confident that I'm prepared to provide advertisers with the high-quality products and services they deserve in such an everchanging and vibrant market," said LaBonia. "I want to continue building on a rock-solid foundation by reaching more unique audiences, collaborating with diverse customers to achieve effective ad solutions, and celebrating the uniqueness Las Vegas has to offer."

LaBonia served as senior vice president of advertising for Hearst Newspapers and chief revenue officer and executive vice president of advertising for the Houston Chronicle. LaBonia oversaw advertising performance in all Hearst Newspapers markets and worked to optimize and drive successful sales programs. With over 2,600 employees nationwide, Hearst Newspapers keeps 45 million digital visitors informed and publishes 24 daily and 52 weekly publications in cities including Houston, San Francisco, San Antonio, and Albany, New York.

LaBonia previously served as senior vice president of advertising at the San Francisco Chronicle, senior vice president of sales and strategic development in Minneapolis at the Star Tribune, and vice president of the Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He began his career in television at Tribune Media Company, where he managed the ABC/The WB duopoly in New Orleans.

LaBonia holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola University.

About the Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has been Nevada's news leader since 1909. A state, regional, and national award-winning multi-platform news organization, the Review-Journal operates www.reviewjournal.com , a network of niche publications and community newspapers, e-newsletters, custom printing, a video production studio and more to meet the specific needs of readers and advertisers alike.

Contact:

Wanda English Blair

Las Vegas Review-Journal

702-383-0223

[email protected]

SOURCE Las Vegas Review-Journal
HOUSTON, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Houston Law Center has been honored for the eighth year in a row with the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

The University of Houston Law Center has been honored for the 8th year in row with Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity.

"I am overwhelmed with pride as our institution earns this award for the eighth consecutive year. It is a testament to our school's unwavering dedication to cultivating an environment where our faculty, staff, and students are not only supported but also encouraged to succeed," said UH Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes.

The HEED award is given annually to colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

"We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus," said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

UH Law Center has introduced several initiatives to improve law school access for aspiring lawyers and create an environment where students of all backgrounds can thrive and reach their potential.

Among these initiatives stands the award-winning Pre-Law Pipeline Programs, a race-neutral endeavor designed to increase the representation of law students from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds. Since its inception in 2015, this program has proven its effectiveness, with over 140 participants securing admission to law schools across the country.

To complement the Pre-Law Pipeline Programs, the UH Law Center launched Aspiring Lawyer, an online magazine that offers insights, resources, and advice for individuals interested in a legal career. The publication caters to undergraduates and those interested in pursuing the legal profession. The second issue, released earlier this year, features articles on topics from law school admissions, legal news, and career development to profiles of donors, alumni, faculty, and students.

UH Law Center will be featured alongside the nation's top colleges and universities as an award recipient in both the print and digital formats of the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

University of Houston Law Center media contacts: Carrie Anna Criado, UH Law Center Assistant Dean of Communications and Marketing, 713-743-2184, [email protected]; Bonnie Buffaloe, Communications Manager, 713-743-9137, [email protected].

About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) is a dynamic, top-tier law school located in the nation's 4th largest city. UHLC's Health Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Part-time programs rank in the U.S. News Top 10. It awards Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees, through its academic branch, the College of Law. The Law Center is more than just a law school. It is a powerful hub of intellectual activity with more than 15 centers and institutes that fuel its educational mission and national reputation. UHLC is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with an enrollment of more than 47,000 students.

SOURCE University of Houston Law Center
Available online at aldezmezcal.com

Click here for photos, the .pdf of this release and other assets.

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Drink Good Spirits, a leading craft spirits brand, is excited to announce the release of their latest creation - a captivating Mezcal Espadin. This expression joins their existing Ensamble in the mezcal category. Aldez Mezcal Espadin hit shelves on Friday, September 1, 2023.

UNVEILING ALDEZ MEZCAL ESPADIN  A RARE FIND FOR MEZCAL LOVERS (CNW Group/Aldez Mezcal)

Crafted with passion and precision, Aldez Mezcal Espadin delivers an unparalleled taste adventure for spirits enthusiasts. This artisanal mezcal is carefully distilled using traditional methods, showcasing the true essence of the Espadin agave. Sourced from the finest agave fields, their maestro mezcalero uses only the "heart" of the distillate to produce Aldez Mezcal Espadin. This is the most exquisite part of the liquid with the richest flavors, aromas and the least amount of methanol. On the nose, you'll experience a well-balanced expression with hints of green apple, cooked agave and wood from the fire pit. On the palette, you will enjoy the flavors of chopped agave, mesquite, and caramel. The finish is long, warm, and sweet - much to the delight of the taste buds.

"We are thrilled to unveil our Mezcal Espadin, a labor of love that encapsulates the spirit of Mexico's rich heritage," says Manuel Aczualdez, Owner and Founder of Drink Good Spirits. "This exceptional mezcal is an ode to the artistry of mezcal-making and the soulful essence of the Espadin agave."

Aldez Mezcal invites mezcal aficionados and novices alike to join them on a journey through time and tradition. The Mezcal Espadin is crafted with utmost care, presenting an authentic taste of Mexico's cultural legacy and igniting the passion of connoisseurs seeking an extraordinary sipping experience.

Aldez Mezcal Espadin by Drink Good Spirits will be available for purchase at select retail locations and online via their website aldezmezcal.com starting September 1, 2023.

To stay updated on the latest news follow along @aldezmezcal on Instagram.

ABOUT DRINK GOOD SPIRITS

Drink Good Spirits (DGS) is driven by a mission to develop and bring to market small batch spirits that are organic, sustainable, and crafted from the highest quality ingredients. With a dedication to putting the planet first, we advocate for sustainable farming practices and utilize eco-friendly packaging throughout our line of spirits.

From time-honored recipes to groundbreaking creations, Drink Good Spirits is committed to delivering an extraordinary experience in every sip. Among our coveted lineup, you'll find the exquisite flavors of our premium Spanish gin, Aczu Gin , meticulously distilled in the southern region of Andalusia, Spain. Discover the captivating symphony of our Ensamble Mezcal , an extraordinary blend of Jabali, Espadin and Tobala agaves. Indulge in the authentic spirit of Mexico with our Aldez Organic Tequila trio, featuring Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo expressions, each one artfully capturing the essence of agave craftsmanship.

SOURCE Aldez Mezcal
NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The vacuum cleaner market size is expected to grow by USD 6.96 billion from 2022 to 2027, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 10.94% during the forecast period. A growing number of smart cities is notably driving the vacuum cleaner market. However, factors such as threats from counterfeit products may impede market growth. The market is segmented by Application (Residential, Commercial, and Industrial), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). Technavio provides a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The free sample report is available in PDF format

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Vacuum Cleaner Market 2023-2027

Key Segment Analysis

By application, the residential segment is significant during the forecast period. The growth in the segment is due to the majority of market players having dominated only one-tenth of the total addressable market. Various new players are entering the market such as those specializing in consumer electronic products. The growing trend of online shopping is expected to fuel the growth of the vacuum cleaner market in the residential segment. To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, View the free PDF Sample Report.

Geographical Market Analysis

By geography, North America is estimated to contribute 41% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Factors like consolidation and inorganic growth strategies, with key market players acquiring prominent local players to expand their market presence, drive the regional market growth of vacuum cleaners. High investments in R&D to introduce newer and more innovative products by market players. These investments are to fulfill the demands of consumers and give severe competition to counterfeit products.

Company Insights

The vacuum cleaner market is fragmented, and the companies are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies, including:

Alfred Karcher SE and Co KG, American Vacuum Co., Beijing Roborock Technology Co. Ltd., BISSELL, Dyson Group Co., Emerson Electric Co., Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Irobot Corp., JS Global Lifestyle Co. Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., LG Corp., Midea Group Co. Ltd., Miele and Cie. KG, NKT AS, Panasonic Holdings Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Stanley Black and Decker Inc., Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd., Vac-U-Max, Snow Joe LLC

View the free PDF Sample Report to find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by companies and their product offerings.

Related Reports:

The Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Market size is estimated to grow by USD 5,701 million accelerating at a CAGR of 17.62% between 2023 and 2027.

The vacuum truck market size is expected to increase by USD 416.93 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 6.41%.

Vacuum Cleaner Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 10.94% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 6.96 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 10.46 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 41% Key countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Alfred Karcher SE and Co KG, American Vacuum Co., Beijing Roborock Technology Co. Ltd., BISSELL, Dyson Group Co., Emerson Electric Co., Haier Smart Home Co. Ltd., Irobot Corp., JS Global Lifestyle Co. Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., LG Corp., Midea Group Co. Ltd., Miele and Cie. KG, NKT AS, Panasonic Holdings Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Stanley Black and Decker Inc., Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd., Vac-U-Max, and Snow Joe LLC Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Application

Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Azerbaijani delegation took part in the VIII Meeting of Ministers responsible for tourism of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Turkestan (Kazakhstan), Trend reports.

According to the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, advisor to the chairman of the agency Kanan Guluzade made a speech at the event.

He noted that the number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan from Turkic countries has increased in recent years.

Guluzade also emphasized that the number of citizens of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkiye, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan visiting Azerbaijan increased by 32 percent, 59 percent, 20 percent, 91 percent, 78 percent, 188 percent respectively in 9 months of 2023.

In addition, he noted that an increase in the number of direct flights between the cities has been recorded and that this process is mutual.

Moreover, Guluzade emphasized that Azerbaijan is expected to receive a total of 4 million foreign citizens in 2026. Thus, in 2026, the income from tourism is forecasted at the level of 10 billion manat ($5.8 billion).

As a result of the meeting, Turkestan was chosen as the tourist capital of the Turkic world for 2024. Azerbaijan's Shamakhy was chosen as the tourist capital of the Turkic world for 2023.

The event will continue with the "Turkestan: Tourist Capital of the Turkic World" international forum to be held on October 12. Azerbaijani delegation will also be present there.
VERO BEACH, Fla., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the first days of fall arrived, residents of Watercrest Columbia Assisted Living and Memory Care celebrated an authentic Oktoberfest experience from the comforts of their own luxury senior living community.

Residents and associates at Watercrest Columbia Assisted Living and Memory Care in South Carolina celebrate Oktoberfest with authentic fare and lively festivities.

The sights, sounds, and smells of Oktoberfest filled the air, engaging residents in a multisensory experience that enlivened the senses with the traditional music and iconic tastes of Germany. Guests donned their most authentic German attire, dancing to Polka music and tasting authentic German dishes and lagers. Laughter and lively conversations filled the air as residents and guests exclaimed Prost! and clinked their glasses in celebration.

The team at Watercrest Columbia recognizes the importance of honoring traditions like Oktoberfest as part of their signature program Life Silhouettes. When a resident joins the senior living community, the care team connects with family and friends to discover that individual's life story, including favorite music, personal interests and talents, treasured memories and beloved holidays.

"Celebrating momentous occasions instills joy, purpose, and personal connection amongst residents, associates, and family members and is an essential element to our multi-sensory programming," says Sheena Jeffries, Regional Director of Engagement for Watercrest Senior Living.

Watercrest Columbia is an award-winning senior living community offering 75 assisted living and 32 memory care apartments with premium accommodations, resort-style amenities and world-class care. Watercrest Columbia was voted 'Best Memory Care Community' in the 2022 and 2023 Best of Columbia Awards and was honored by U.S. News & World Report as a 2022-23 Best Assisted Living Community, achieving the highest possible rating for Assisted Living.

Designed by LifeBUILT Architecture, Watercrest Columbia includes a stunning promenade, pool, fireplace, signature water wall, multiple dining venues, children's play space, grand balconies and Southern style outdoor living spaces. Watercrest's uniquely designed Market Street Plaza, showcases an 'outdoor' streetscape with numerous LifeBUILT programming touches; a highlight and crucial element of their multi-sensory memory care programming.

Watercrest Columbia is ideally located at 1951 Clemson Road in Columbia, South Carolina. For community information, or to schedule a tour call 803-882-2139.

About Watercrest Senior Living Group

Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming. A six-time certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest Senior Living Group specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. Visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com.

SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The wind turbine monitoring systems market size is expected to grow by USD 6.55 billion from 2022 to 2027, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 17.42% during the forecast period.

To find a preview of the market overviews, market drivers, opportunities, and potentials request free sample report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Wind Turbine Monitoring Systems Market 2023-2027

Wind Turbine Monitoring Systems Market 2023-2027: Company Analysis

The wind turbine monitoring systems market is fragmented due to the presence of many global and regional players. The market comprises category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified companies. The global off-grid wind turbine monitoring systems market is expected to grow rapidly during the forecast period due to the rapid growth of the global wind power market. Hence, the competition among companies is expected to intensify during the forecast. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies including AB SKF, ACOEM Group, Advantech Co. Ltd., American Superconductor Corp., Ammonit Measurement GmbH, Avnet Inc., Campbell Scientific Inc., Dewesoft d.o.o., Envision Energy USA Ltd., ESCO Technologies Inc., General Electric Co., GreenStream Data Ltd., Hansford Sensors Ltd., Hexagon AB, Indutrade AB, James Fisher and Sons Plc, National Instruments Corp., NSK Ltd., Siemens AG, and Spectris Plc

Major Companies and Key Offerings:

AB SKF: The company offers wind turbine monitoring systems namely Protean, a new diagnostic tool that helps operation and maintenance technicians concentrate on potential real performance issues, and thereby reduce the risk of false alarms.

ACOEM Group: The company offers wind turbine monitoring systems such as predictive maintenance tools namely NESTi 4.0 WebPortal, wireless monitoring systems, and online condition monitoring toolbox.

Ammonit Measurement GmbH: The company offers wind turbine monitoring systems such as ultrasonic anemometers, temperature humidity sensors, air pressure sensors and temperature humidity sensors.

Wind Turbine Monitoring Systems Market 2023-2027: Segmentation Analysis

By Type - The market share growth of the vibration monitoring segment is significant during the forecast period. The main function of vibration sensors is to monitor vibrations with a minimum range of between 0.1 to 100 Hz recommended to achieve reliable readings.

By Geography

APAC is estimated to account for 48% of the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Some of the main factors that are fuelling the demand in the region include the rising population and an enhanced standard of living in APAC. To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Get Free Sample Report.

Imperative Insights on the following aspects:

What was the size of the global wind turbine monitoring systems market by value?

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The agricultural wind turbine market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.55% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 1,086.23 million.

The floor scrubber battery market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.45% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 141.19 million.

Wind Turbine Monitoring Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 17.42% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 6.55 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 15.42 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 49% Key countries US, China, India, UK, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading companies, Market Positioning of companies, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled AB SKF, ACOEM Group, Advantech Co. Ltd., American Superconductor Corp., Ammonit Measurement GmbH, Avnet Inc., Campbell Scientific Inc., Dewesoft d.o.o., Envision Energy USA Ltd., ESCO Technologies Inc., General Electric Co., GreenStream Data Ltd., Hansford Sensors Ltd., Hexagon AB, Indutrade AB, James Fisher and Sons Plc, National Instruments Corp., NSK Ltd., Siemens AG, and Spectris Plc Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Type

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 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.

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NEW YORK and SAN DIEGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP, a preeminent national consumer rights law firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of victims of the McLaren Health Care ("McLaren") ransomware attack that took down the computer network at its 14 Michigan hospitals in late August and early September and which could have also resulted in the leak of patient data onto the dark web.

A ransomware gang known as BlackCat/AlphV claimed responsibility for the cyberattack, posting online that it stole 6 terabytes of McLaren's data, including the personal information of 2.5 million patients. Ransomware, a type of malware that can shut down an entire network, is used to steal data before encrypting the system. The stolen information is then held hostage until a ransom is paid. McLaren shared a statement saying, "We are investigating reports that some of our data may be available on the dark web and will notify individuals whose information was impacted, if any, as soon as possible."

If you received a NOTICE from McLaren and you reside in the United States, if you wish to discuss this investigation, or if you have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this matter, please contact Wolf Haldenstein immediately by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at [email protected], or visit our website at www.whafh.com.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 12. Data centers specializing in artificial intelligence will be built in Kazakhstan, said the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his speech at the Digital Bridge forum, Trend reports.

"Advanced IT infrastructure is the basis for the future progress of the digital industry and, in particular, artificial intelligence. Therefore, its development should be ahead of the needs of IT developers. I instruct the government to ensure the construction of data centers specializing in artificial intelligence within two years," he said.

According to him, for this, Kazakhstan can attract such global players as Amazon, Google, Mastercard and Citigroup.

"During a recent trip to New York, I met with the management of these companies, and appropriate agreements were reached. It is also important to develop a data ecosystem for artificial intelligence. Big data is essentially the "fuel" for artificial intelligence," he said.

As Tokayev added, Kazakhstan has already implemented various solutions in this area.
Beirut, Oct 12 : Israeli forces fired a volley of machine gun rounds and dozens of flare bombs at southeast Lebanon on Wednesday evening, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed that Israeli forces deployed flare bombs on both sides of the border from the Hula axis, extending from Mays al-Jabal in the west to the Shebaa Heights and Kfarchouba in the east, Xinhua news agency reported.

Machine gun fire targeted Hamames Hill, located at the western edge of Khiam town, as well as the road connecting the villages of Hula and Mays al-Jabal. There were no injuries reported.

The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after the Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah fired tens of missiles toward Israeli military sites on Sunday morning in support of the Hamas' attack on Israel, prompting heavy artillery from the Israeli forces targeting several areas in southeast Lebanon.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hezbollah attacked the Israeli military site of Al-Jardah near the Lebanese border with guided missiles, claiming the shelling caused "many" casualties among the Israeli forces.
An injured child is carried into a hospital after wounded in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Image Source: IANS News

Gaza, Oct 12 : Regional mediation talks are being reportedly held to provide a safe passage for the evacuation of foreigners from the Gaza Strip and bring urgent aid into the Palestinian enclave via Egypt.

The mediation talks were led by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, and have had support from Saudi Arabia and the US, a Palestinian source told Xinhua news agency on Wednesday.

The source, who requests anonymity, said that the regional move aimed to provide safe passage with the possibility of declaring a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings in order to evacuate foreigners through the Rafah crossing, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave.

Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and other regional countries are pressing for the entry of humanitarian aid, including fuel, into the Gaza Strip to avoid a severe humanitarian disaster threatening its population, said the source.

According to the source, Hamas and the Palestinian factions agreed to the mediation, while the American administration and Arab countries are pressuring Israel to accept this in order to proceed with its implementation as soon as possible.

Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides.

After the Hamas attack, Israel cut off its power supply to the Gaza Strip and ordered a complete siege on the Palestinian enclave.
Brussels, Oct 12 : As the world's attention shifted to Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels to ask Western countries to continue their aid to Ukraine.

"We spoke about priorities for Ukraine, for defending how to survive during this next winter," Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday before attending a meeting with NATO defence ministers, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We need some support from the leaders. That is why I am here today," he said, with the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Zelensky named air defence systems as one of his priorities. "It is not just basic words. We need concrete things and we need them in very concrete geographic points on our land," he added.

The NATO-Ukraine meeting secured more support for the country to face the winter conflicts. Stoltenberg said the alliance would provide more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment "to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter".

The new pledge was made when the clashes between Israel and Hamas were drawing the world's attention. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

On Thursday, NATO defence ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant set to join via videoconference.
Washington, Oct 12 : In a clarification, a White House official has confirmed that US President Joe Biden has not seen pictures of "terrorists beheading children" in Israel, backtracking from the latter's comments that he saw such images.

While addressing a roundtable of Jewish community leaders on Wednesday afternoon, the President had said: "It matters that Americans see what's happening -- I mean, I have been doing this a long time, I never really thought that I would see, have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children."

But the White House official told the BBC that "he was referring to the reports from Israel".

Another administration official told CNN later that neither Biden nor the administration have seen pictures or confirmed reports of children or infants beheaded by the Hamas.

Biden's remarks came after a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier on Wednesday that babies and toddlers were found "decapitated" in Israeli kibbutz Kfar Aza.

The claim has not been officially verified.

In a statement to CNN, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that women, children, toddlers and elderly were "brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action".

But the Hamas has denied that its militants beheaded children or attacked women.

The militant group's spokesman and senior official Izzat al-Risheq on Wednesday described the accusation as "fabricated and baseless allegations".

Meanwhile, the toll from Israel after the brutal Hamas cross border attack on Cctober 7 currently stood at 1,200, while in Gaza at least 1,000 people have been killed in retaliatory air strikes.
Ayodhya, Oct 12 : The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust will invite non-resident Indians (NRIs) to Ayodhya after January 26, 2024, to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla at the newly constructed Ram temple.

The grand opening of the Ram temple is proposed between January 21 and 24, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest.

"A large number of NRIs are in touch with the Trust and they want to come to Ayodhya to pay obeisance to Lord Ram. We have decided to invite them after January 26 (2024)," Champat Rai, general secretary of the Trust, told reporters.

"Specific dates will be fixed for NRIs of one country for their Ayodhya visit. However, the Trust will not decide the dates. We have left it to the NRIs to fix dates for their visit.

"NRIs from the US will visit on a specific date and from the UK on another date," said Rai while explaining the issue.

Meanwhile, around 150-200 volunteers of the VHP from all across the country will reach Ayodhya on November 5 to collect sacred grain rice (akshata), offered to the deity at the Ram Janmabhoomi, for distribution in five lakh villages across the state.

The Trust has divided the country into 45 units (prants) and at least two volunteers from each unit will reach Ayodhya on November 5, Rai said.

"The Trust will hand over a five kg bag of sacred grain to each unit. In their respective states, volunteers will mix their sacred grain rice with larger quantities according to their requirement. After Vedic rituals, it will be distributed from January 1 and the campaign will end on January 15."

The Trust overseeing the construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has decided to distribute the rice, offered to the deity at Ram Janmabhoomi, to 500,000 villages across the country ahead of the consecration ceremony of the deity scheduled in January next year.
London, Oct 12 : After warning X owner Elon Musk, European Commissioner Thierry Breton has now written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, telling him to remove pro-Hamas content across his platforms and "be very vigilant" else it could put the company in violation of new EU regulations.

In a letter to Zuckerberg, Breton urged Meta to remove illegal terrorist content and hate speech amid the ongoing war in Israel.

He said that the European Commission had seen "a surge of illegal content and disinformation being disseminated in the EU."

"I urgently invite you to ensure that your systems are effective. Needless to say, I also expect you to be in contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities and Europol, and ensure that you respond promptly to any requests," he noted.

Breton asked that Zuckerberg respond to the European Union's (EU) concerns within the next 24 hours.

"I would ask you to be very vigilant to ensure strict compliance with the digital services act (DSA) rules on terms of service, on the requirement of timely, diligent and objective action following notices of illegal content in the EU, and on the need for proportionate and effective mitigation measures."

In a statement, a Meta spokesperson said the company has created a "special operations center with experts, including fluent in Hebrew and Arabic speakers" after the Hamas attacks on Israel.

"Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation. We'll continue this work as this conflict unfolds," said the spokesperson.

Earlier, the EU commissioner warned Tesla and SpaceX CEO, saying that his X platform "is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU" after the Hamas attacks in Israel.

In a letter addressed to Musk, Breton had said that following the "terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel", they have indications that "your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU".

Responding to Breton, Musk asked him to flag the violative content publicly on X, writing that the company takes its "actions in the open".

Breton replied saying: "You are well aware of your users'  and authorities'  reports on fake content and glorification of violence."

"I still don't know what they're talking about!" Musk said.
Lucknow, Oct 12 : Following the six Deoria murders over a property dispute on October 2, the Uttar Pradesh Revenue Department has directed Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates to dispose of pending land dispute cases on priority basis.

A 60-day special drive will be launched in all districts wherein all revenue related matters and land dispute cases will be settled, said officials.

District administration officers had been directed to dispose of cases related to boundary of land within three months, those related to possession of land by succession within 45 days and cases related to division of land holding within six months, said a Revenue Department spokesman.

The state government went into action mode after the killing of six people in a group clash over a land dispute in Fatehpur village in Deoria on October 2.

Earlier, three members of a family were allegedly killed over a land dispute in the Mohiuddinpur village area of Kaushambhi on September 14.

The state government had already suspended 21 officers of revenue and police department on charges of negligence in duty and corruption.

Taking cognizance of both the cases, the state government directed district administration officers to dispose of pending land dispute cases.

During the review of the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS), it was found that the progress of various cases and their disposal was not uploaded regularly and there was a need for reform in the system.

Irregularities were detected in the measurement of land as well, the officer said.

Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates were asked to collect details of pending revenue cases/land dispute cases in various courts.

"They should prepare a work plan and launch a special drive for the disposal of cases on schedule," the officer added.
Lucknow, Oct 12 : The owner of a Chinese restaurant in Lucknow and an employee of a food delivery aggregator have been booked for allegedly delivering non-vegetarian food to a vegetarian family in the city's Aashiana locality.

"The FIR was registered under IPC 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion) and the matter is being investigated," said Additional DCP (East) Syed Abbas Ali on the complaint lodged by Rakesh Kumar Shastri.

Shastri had, through a food delivery app, ordered dry chilli paneer from the restaurant in Chander Nagar area, but received chilli chicken instead.

"When we began to eat, my wife said it tasted strange. I checked the box and found that the restaurant had sent us chilli chicken instead of chili paneer," he said in his complaint, adding that after the revelation, his wife started vomiting.

"Due to our religion, our entire family is hurt," said Shastri, claiming he is president of the Balaji Temple Trust.

He alleged further that the restaurant packed the order without checking and the delivery boy did not take care either.

The ADCP added that the delivery boy and restaurant owner had been named and a thorough probe would be conducted into the case.
Lucknow, Oct 12 : Cyber thugs are now adopting a new modus operandi to dupe people.

A retired IAS officerRam Kunwar, resident of Lucknow's Prag Narayan Road, was duped of Rs 5 lakhs on Wednesday.

Kunwar said he received a message on October 3, informing him that his account had been credited with Rs 29.78 crore and he notified the Central Bank's Jopling Road branch.

"I complained to the bank manager, who told me the message was not sent by the bank and offered no explanation as to how I got the message. I decided to talk to the zonal manager of the bank but they did not cooperate either and told me to speak to a junior officer of the bank," he said.

He said he later received a call from somebody who introduced himself as Avinash, a senior officer of the bank.

"He asked me to download the AnyDesk app for resolving the issue (in this case, deletion of the message) and told me that the message of Rs 29.78 crore credited to my account had been deleted. He took details of my bank accounts (in Central Bank and Union Bank) and told me that I had Rs 4.67 lakhs in my savings account in Central Bank. A little later, I received a message of Rs 4.65 lakhs getting deducted from my Central Bank account and Rs 50,000 from my Union Bank account," the victim said.

SHO, Hazratganj, Pramod Pandey, said an FIR was registered and the case was being investigated.

Cyber experts said it seemed to be a new trick devised by scammers.

"The victim was first sent a message and when he sought clarification, he was duped by being made to end an unnecessary link and thus gaining access to all his bank accounts," said a cyber expert.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Every year, unused cables, electronic toys, LED-decorated novelty clothes, power tools, vaping devices, and countless other small consumer items often not recognised by consumers as e-waste amount to nine billion kilograms of e-waste, one-sixth of all e-waste worldwide.

This "invisible" category of e-waste in one place would equal the weight of almost half a million 40-tonne trucks, enough to form a 5,640 km bumper-to-bumper line of trucks from Rome to Nairobi.

Invisible e-waste is the focus of the sixth annual International E-Waste Day on Saturday.

Many of these devices, such as vapes, gaining in popularity in some societies, contain lithium, which makes their battery rechargeable but also causes serious fire risks when the device is discarded.

Moreover, the European Commission considers lithium a 'strategic raw material' crucial to Europe's economy and green energy transition, but supplies are at risk.

Most of these materials are thrown away in household bins and elsewhere.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum, which organises International E-Waste Day, commissioned the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to calculate the annual quantities of "invisible" e-waste items in millions of kilograms, in millions of pieces, and in kg and pieces per capita.

Some 3.2 billion kg, 35 per cent, of the roughly nine billion kg of invisible e-waste are in the e-toy category: race car sets, electric trains, music toys, talking dolls and other robotic figures, biking computers, drones, etc. -- in all, some 7.3 billion individual items discarded annually, an average of about one e-toy for every man, woman and child on the earth.

Meanwhile, the estimated 844 million vaping devices each year amount to a mountain of e-waste equal to three times the weight of New York's Brooklyn Bridge or six Eiffel Towers.

The study also found that 950 million kg of cables containing precious, easily recyclable copper were discarded last year -- enough cable to circle the earth 107 times.

Many are stored in homes, perhaps put aside for potential future use. And many people don't realise they could be recycled -- a huge sleeping resource at a time when demand for copper is forecast to rise six fold by 2030 in Europe alone to meet the needs of strategic sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, industry, communications, aerospace and defense.

The value of raw materials in the global e-waste generated in 2019 was estimated at $57 billion, most of that attributed to iron, copper and gold components.

Of the overall total, one-sixth or $9.5 billion in material value each year, is in the invisible e-waste category.

Pascal Leroy, Director-General of the WEEE Forum, says: "Invisible e-waste goes unnoticed due to its nature or appearance, leading consumers to overlook its recyclable potential.

"People tend to recognise household electrical products as those they plug in and use regularly. But many people are confused about the waste category into which ancillary, peripheral, specialist, hobby, and leisure products fit and how to have them recycled."

--IANS

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Mumbai : Former NCB Zonal Director, Sameer Wankhede, has moved to the Bombay High Court seeking the quashing of the CBI FIR filed against him in the Aryan Khan bribery case, in Mumbai on Friday, May 19, 2023.. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Oct 11 : The Goregaon Police here have launched a probe into the alleged death threats received by IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, the former Zonal Director of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai, officials said here.

Wankhede submitted the complaint to the Mumbai Police that he was receiving adeath threatsa from an Instagram user, reportedly said to be in Bangladesh.

Presently posted in Chennai, Wankhede has sent an email to Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar on the direct messages of death threats received from the unidentified Instagram user.

An IRS officer of the 2008 batch, Wankhede is facing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe for allegedly attempting to extort a large sum of money from Bollywood mega-star Shah Rukh Khan.

It may be recalled that Wankhede had led a swoop to bust drugs on the luxury ship, Cordelia Cruise on October 2, 2021, off the Mumbai coast, and nabbed over 17 persons from the glamour world, including Aryan, the son of Shah Rukh Khan.

Aryan Khan spent a month in jail, and post-release, a high-level NCB probe concluded that he was innocent and had been framed in the case which made global headlines.
Gaza, Oct 12 : As Israel continued heavy bombardments from the air, sea, and land across the Gaza Strip in retaliation against the October 7 Hamas attack, the death toll in the coastal enclave is nearing 1,200, while the number of internally displaced persons spiked to 338,934 on Thursday -- a 30 per cent increase in just 24 hours, authorities said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that at least 51 people were killed and 281others injured in the airstrikes in the past 24 hours, CNN reported.

The new figures have increased the overall death toll to nearly 1,200, while the number of injured persons have shot up to 5,339, including 1,217 children and 744 women, the Ministry said.

Addressing reporters, Deputy Health Minister Yousef Abu Al-Rish said that all hospital beds in the Hamas-controlled enclave had been occupied, and medicines were about to run out, reports Xinhua news agency.

Abu Al-Rish added that the Ministry was using the limited power of generators to continue emergency services for the injured and sick people, because the Gaza Strip's power plant had run out of fuel and electricity had been cut off by Israel.

Some of the victims are still under the rubble, he said while accusing Israeli forces of intending "to cause as much damage and destruction, hence destroying entire residential areas".

The Minister described the situation as an "imminent humanitarian catastrophe".

"More than 600,000 of Gaza's population are deprived from water, and entire hospitals are deprived from water," he added.

In its latest situation update, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that of the total displaced persons in Gaza, 218,597 or 65 per cent were taking shelter in 92 schools run by the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) as of Thursday morning.

"Numerous residential buildings in densely populated areas, including Al Karama neighborhood in Gaza North, as well as Al Rimal, and Al Naser in Gaza city have been among the most heavily targeted, leading to casualties among the elderly, women, and children," the OCHA said.

Since the start of hostilities, at least 28 Palestinian families have had all their members killed.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing, at least 2,540 housing units have been destroyed, or severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable, and another 22,850 sustained moderate to minor damage.

Meanwhile, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed by Palestinians in Israel, according to Israel Ministry of Health.

At least 3,192 people have been injured, the Ministry said, adding that the vast majority of the Israeli casualties occurred on October 7.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 12 : A CISF official was placed under suspension on Thursday in connection with the Kozhikode international airport gold smuggling case, which allegedly involves top airport authorities.

Suspended Assistant Commandant Naveen Kumar had come under the Kerala Police radar, along with a customs official, both working inside the airport.

Malappuram SP S. Sujith Das-led special police team has been closely monitoring numerous reports on the rampant gold smuggling through the airport.

After gathering ample evidence to confirm that the gang had smuggled gold around 60 times, the police intensified its action.

Investigations revealed that the smuggling racket led by a Kozhikode resident named Rafeek even had access to the duty roster of the security and customs officials.

The probe team has also found that the gang was using a closed user group SIM.

In the past also, Kerala Police had rounded up officials engaged in aiding smugglers.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : A large number of students across the centres and schools in JNU observed a university-wide strike demanding the immediate conduct of JNUSU election, and accused the administration of trying to dismantle the students' body.

The students protested on Wednesday, and said that they were protesting against the administrationas attempts to dismantle the institution of JNUSU.

JNUSU president Aishe Gosh said that students boycotted their classes and joined the protest gathering called by JNUSU at the SL-SIS Lawns. The overwhelming participation of students across centres and schools in the protest and the success of our strike is a testament to the collective strength, resilience, and commitment of the JNU student body.

The JNUSU elections were last held in 2019. Fresh JNUSU Elections have not been notified by the JNU Administration since then, initially citing the Covid-19 pandemic.

A JNUSU representative said that while in the current semester, elections are being denied citing the need for PhD admissions, in the last semester, the JNU Admin refused to conduct the election despite the completion of the PhD admission process. It is a complete failure of the JNU Administration that they have failed to restore timely admissions for the students to JNU.

Aishe said that JNU has still not announced a set date and deadline for PhD admissions. In Delhi University, the elections for DUSU were held recently, however, JNU students were being deprived of the same right.

By now, many elected representatives of the 2019 JNUSU are no longer students of the university, thereby leaving our student body without a duly elected representation, she added.

Earlier JNUSU had called for a University General Body Meeting (UGBM) of students on September 18. The UGBM is the highest decision-making body of JNU students. The issue of staggered admissions was discussed in detail by students. A massive UGBM of students passed several resolutions demanding immediate JNUSU elections that were duly submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on September 26, the JNUSU representatives said.
Chennai, Oct 12 : Two history-sheeters were killed by Chennai police at Avadi during early hours of Thursday. The deceased are identified as Muthu Sarvanan and Sathish from Puzhal.

Police sources told IANS that the police special team were trying to secure the duo but they attacked the police force injuring three police personnel.

The duo were involved in several criminal activities including murder and attempt to murder.

Sources in Chengalpattu police told IANS that Muthu Saravanan and his associate Sathish were involved in the murder of an AIADMK functionary, Parthiban near Red Hills, Chennai, and also in the murder of another person called Selvam in two separate incidents.

Selvam was hacked to death on February 2022 at Rajaji Road in Chennai by the gang and Muthu Saravanan and Sathish were alleged to be behind this along with their accomplices.

The AIADMK functionary, Parthiban was a former Panchayath president and was killed while he was on morning walk in August 2023. Parthiban had cases against him in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Police also shot another history-sheeter called Thanika at Chengalpattu on Thursday morning. He was injured and taken toRajiv Gandhi General Hospital.
Ramallah, Oct 12 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Thursday, will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in Jordan, according to a top Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official.

Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the PLO, confirmed the meeting in a post on X, in which he also said that Abbas will meet Jordan's King Abdullah II in Amman on Thursday.

The meeting with the Jordanian monarch is "part of the effort exerted around the clock by the Palestinian leadership to stop this devastating war, and within the framework of the joint effort between Jordan and Palestine", Al-Sheikh added.

Besides visiting Israel, Blinken is also scheduled to travel to Jordan where he will meet senior officials.

This will be the first visit by a top official of US President Joe Biden's administration to Israel since the October 7 Hamas attack.

In a post on X late Tuesday night, Blinken said: "Tomorrow, I will leave for Israel to engage with our Israeli partners directly about the situation on the ground and to discuss ways we can continue to support them in the fight against these terrorist attacks.

"Our support for Israel remains unwavering."

According to the State Department, Blinken "will also discuss measures to bolster Israelas security and underscore the United Statesa unwavering support for Israelas right to defend itself".
Srinagar, Oct 12 : President Droupadi Murmu left Srinagar Thursday morning to begin her daylong visit to Jammu division.

The President is visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra town of Reasi district to payobeisance. She will inaugurate two prestigious projects at the shrine.

A skywalk will make the pilgrimsa journey to the shrine even more smooth since those visiting the shrine and those coming back from the shrine will use two different routes on the skywalk.

The second project to be inaugurated by the President is the remodelled Parvati Bhawan. The remodelled Bhawan has 1,500 lockers and will accommodate 10,000 to 15,000 pilgrims at one time. Male and female pilgrims will use different floors at the remodelled Parvati Bhawan.

The pilgrims will be able to put their luggage in the lockers, take a bath and then visit the shrine. It is a free facility for the pilgrims.

On her arrival here Wednesday, the President started her visit by laying a wreath at the war memorial inside the headquarters of Armyas 15 corps in Badami Bagh cantonment area of Srinagar.

The President delivered the 20th convocation address of the University of Kashmir. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha hosted the President for dinner at a civic reception in Srinagar.
Gaza, Oct 12 : A senior Hamas official has said that it was too early to exchange Israeli hostages who were taken captive after the militant group launched its surprise attack on the Jewish nation on October 7.

Speaking to CNN on Wednesday from Doha, Izzat al-Risheq said: "We will only discuss this issue when the Israeli aggression against our people ends."

Denying that Hamas had any help from Iran or the Hezbollah in Lebanon in executing the large-scale unprecedented assault on Israel, the official said: "I say it very clearly that this operation was a 100 per cent Hamas operation without any help from any regional party."

On Monday, Israel's ambassador to the UN had announced that as many as 150 people, including senior army officers, were being held hostage by the group across Gaza.

The same day, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of Hamas' armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades, said they would start executing civilian hostages if Israel targeted people in the enclave without warning.

Also speaking to CNN, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said that authorities believe that the hostages were being held underground.

"Reason dictates that they are underground. Reason also dictates that Hamas, since they planned to launch this attack and they planned to take these people hostage, reason dictates that they planned in advance locations to hide these hostages and keep them safe from Israeli intelligence, and efforts to get them out,"he said

The situation with the hostages is an "extremely sensitive and complex topic", Conricus told CNN and added that even though Israel has had "some experience" with hostage situations, they have never dealt with anything like this.

"Not in the scope, not in the magnitude and not in the complexity of where our hostages are."

Regarding an Israeli ground invasion, Conricus told CNN: "It is clear and understandable that what needs to be done is that all of Hamas' military capabilities need to be taken off the map. How that will happen, by what means, and what tactics, that is a few days in the future, maybe more than that."
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Delhi Police's Crime Branch has apprehended a wanted juvenile, who was absconding in a murder and dacoity case, an official said on Thursday.

The official said the juvenile, born in village Mirzapur near Budaun in Uttar Pradesh and currently residing in a rented house in Jeevan Park here was also found previously involved in four criminal cases registered across the city.

Last month, the juvenile along with five others had consumed liquor and made a plan for robbery. Under the influence of liquor, they attacked two passersby with a knife, lathi (stick), andiron rod.

"Under the influence of liquor, they attacked two passersby with a knife, lathi and iron rod. Victim Sidhhu succumbed to his injuries and his friend Manish got grievous injuries and was admitted to the Hospital. They also robbed cash from the deceased and fled from the spot," said the Special Commissioner of Police (crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav.

During investigation, it emerged that the deceased and the injured victim were in the business of supplying drinking water.

"At the time of the incident, they were going to collect their pending payment. Meanwhile, they were accosted and attacked by the accused persons," said the Special CP.

However, five accused including two minors, were apprehended but one accused was regularly evading his arrest since the registration of the case.

"Specific inputs were received that one juvenile, wanted in murder cum dacoity case, would come near Marghat Wale Baba Hanuman Mandir, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi and could be apprehended from there," said Yadav.

A trap was laid and the accused was apprehended. "He confessed to his involvement in the murder cum dacoity case and it also came to notice that, on the same day, before committing murder, he along with his associates robbed two persons. On this, two other FIRs were also registered against them," said Yadav.
Kolkata, Oct 12 : At least three people were killed and four others missing following land subsidence at an open-cast coal mine of Eastern Coalfield Limited at the coal-belt of Raniganj in West Bengal's West Burdwan district, sources said on Thursday.

The incident was reported at the ECLas Narayankuri Mine at Raniganj.

According to Deputy Commissioner (central) of Asansol- Durgapur Police Commiserate S.S. Kuldeep, three bodies have been recovered from under the mines.

"The bodies are being sent for post-mortem to Asansol District Hospital," he added.

The local BJP legislator from Asansol (South) and fashion designer-turned-politician Agnimitra Pual, who was at the spot since late Wednesday night, told the media this morning that illegal mining and coal smuggling in the area, which is being done in association with a section of the local police and some officials of the ECL, led to the tragedy.

"Poverty is abject in the area. Courtesy the state government, there is no scope of employment. So a section of the poor people in the area is getting involved in the coal smuggling and illegal mining racket. They enter the mines without the minimum precaution like helmets. Such things are quite common in these areas," Paul said.

She also accused the local police of not giving the exact figure of deaths following the accident.

"As per our information, four more bodies are there within the mines. But I am not going to leave this place until and unless the last body is recovered," she said.

Trinamool Congress state vice-president Jaiprakash Majumdar accused Paul of doing politics over bodies. "The event is tragic. It is our duty now to first stand by the family members of the victims. It is not the time for politics over bodies, which BJP leaders often do," he said.

Till the report was filed there was no reaction from ECL in the matter.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Supreme Court on Thursday extended for three months its earlier order granting interim bail on medical grounds to former Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik in connection with an alleged money laundering case.

"The interim bail granted to the petitioner is extended for a further period of three months," ordered a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Dipankar Datta after perusing the medical reports.

The bench was apprised that senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader is suffering from chronic kidney ailments and his left kidney has completely failed.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for Enforcement Directorate, did not object to the request made on Malik's behalf and said that his plea for extension of interim bail "may be considered" by the apex court.

"The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is still suffering from chronic kidney ailments and his medical condition has not improved. Learned ASG S.V. Raju does not dispute the same position. In view of the above, the interim bail granted to the petitioner is extended for a further period of three months as prayed for," the top court ordered.

Earlier on August 11, the Supreme Court had granted the interim relief to Malik solely on medical grounds for a term of two months on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the trial court.

The ED had arrested Malik in February 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a money-laundering case arising out of an alleged under-valued property deal with underworld links.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 12. Russia is the largest investor in the Kyrgyz economy, with the Russian share accounting for approximately 36 percent of all foreign direct investments in Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin made this statement during negotiations as part of his official visit to Kyrgyzstan.

Putin said that there are 800 enterprises operating in the country with Russian capital. He also emphasized that Russia is one of the leading trade and economic partners of the country.

He pointed out that the trade turnover between Russia and Kyrgyzstan increased by 37 percent in 2022, reaching near $3.5 billion in 2022. The trade grew by 17.9 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2023.

Putin also highlighted the interest of Russian businesses in collaborative efforts in sectors such as energy, industry, agriculture, high technology, and other areas. Additionally, the president noted the dynamic development of interregional ties between the two countries.

Putin highly commended the work done by Kyrgyzstan during its chairmanship of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) in 2023 and announced that Russia would take over the chairmanship of the organization next year.
Bangkok, Oct 12 : Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Thursday confirmed that 21 citizens have died in the Hamas militant group's attacks on Israel and added that his government was working on finding other ways to evacuate.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: "I would like to express my condolences to one more Thai worker who has died, now bringing the total to 21."

He said that aside from plane evacuations, officials have been working to find alternative modes of transport like boats or cars to to get Thai citizens out of Israel and into Jordan.

"But both lanes are still highly dangerous as they pass through areas of active conflict," rettha added.

He also confirmed that his government has sent additional officials to assist with the evacuation of Thai citizens by plane.

"This is the best choice at this time. To be as fast and safe as possible."

Meanwhile, the first group of Thai nationals returning home have departed from Israel, the Prime Minister informed, adding that they expected to arrive later in the day.

An estimated 30,000 Thai citizens work in Israel.

On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry in Bangkok said at least14 Thais are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas militants.
India's share in global ER&D sourcing market to reach up to $170 bn by FY30. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 12 : India will likely contribute 22 per cent to the global engineering research and development (ER&D) sourcing market by FY30, a report showed on Thursday.

The country's share in the global business ER&D sourcing is projected to increase from $44-45 billion in 2023 to $130-170 billion by FY30.

Software, automotive and semiconductor sectors are expected to contribute more than 60 per cent of India's share of ER&D sourcing by FY30, according to the report by Nasscom in partnership with BCG.

Semiconductor ER&D sourcing share is expected to see the highest jump from 9 per cent share in FY23 to 12 per cent share, to become the third highest contributing sector by FY30.

"India's position in the global ER&D sourcing arena is truly unique, driven by our remarkable combination of ER&D innovation expertise, and ability to provide scalable talent," said KS Viswanathan, Vice President (Industry Initiative) at Nasscom.

Globally, business ER&D spending has experienced a 7-8 per cent CAGR from 2020 to 2023, and is expected to grow at an 8-9 per cent CAGR from 2023 to 2030.

The market size is expected to grow to a size of $1.8 trillion, fuelled by renewed interest in the segment, demand for digital products and services, and the adoption of new technologies, said the report.

"Prominence of digital in engineering will also continue to increase, and will likely contribute 48 per cent of all ER&D spend by 2030, and will increasing drive convergence of software and traditional engineering stack," said Amit Kumar, Managing Director and Partner, BCG.

The automotive, software, healthcare, and medical devices sectors are expected to be the top three contributors to the growth of ER&D spending by 2030.

The semiconductor industry is also expected to play a significant role, driven by increasing demand and investment.

It is anticipated that digital engineering will be the primary driving force behind the accelerating ER&D spending, accounting for approximately 65 per cent in 2030, up from 45 per cent in 2023.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Delhi Police have apprehended a 45-year-old man, along with his three associates including a juvenile, for killing his younger brother and dumping the body in a canal, an official said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as Sunil (elder brother of deceased Amit), Vishu (18), a relative of the deceased) and Mohit (23), also a distant relative.

According to police, on October 5, they received a PCR call reporting a male body in the DJB Haiderpur canal at the KNK Marg police station.

"The local police team promptly arrived at the scene and recovered a badly decomposed male body from the canal near the DJB Haiderpur Plant. Upon initial examination, it was observed that the deceased had his legs and hands tied," said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) Guriqbal Singh Sidhu.

The body was subsequently transported to BSA Hospital for further examination. "No identifying information was found on the deceased's body. Given the sensitivity of the case, multiple investigation teams were assembled to address the matter. After persistent efforts, the deceased was identified as Amit, a resident of the village of Khadlana near Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh," said the DCP.

Subsequently, several villagers, family members, and relatives of the deceased were interviewed, and technical evidence was analysed. "During the course of the investigation, three men, including Amitas brother, were arrested, and one juvenile (aged 16), who was also a relative of the deceased, was taken into custody," said the DCP.

Upon further interrogation, the accused confessed to strangulating the deceased, tying his hands and legs, and disposing of his body in the Munak Canal near Panipat.

According to the accused, Amit had ongoing conflicts with his brother and his family due to addiction problems, and he had even evicted them from their jointly owned property.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Asia's leading data centre provider CtrlS Datacenters Ltd on Thursday announced its new investment plan of $2 billion (about Rs 16,600 crore) over the next six years.

The Hyderabad-based company said it has identified three key areas of focus as it looks to scale its operations, reaffirm its commitment to the region, and further establish its leadership position.

The company said it is expected to hire over 1,000 people in the next six years.

At present, CtrlS Datacenters has 12 data centres with 234 MW capacity spread across seven cities, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Noida, Lucknow, and Patna.

It will begin operation of three new data centres in 2023.

The new investment plan involves the addition of approximately 350 MW capacity across new and existing hyperscale and edge data centres in both India and select Southeast Asian markets.

"The present surge in AI and cloud technologies warrants that we stay relevant to changing market dynamics, while leading the charter of sustainability," said Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Founder and Chairman of CtrlS Datacenters.

"We aspire to not only bolster our presence across key markets delivering the next generation of datacenter technology, but also to elevate the standard for the entire datacenter industry through pioneering services and sustainable practices," he added.

CtrlS Datacenters will invest in several key technologies and strategies in areas such as advanced cooling, power management, and overall infrastructure design in its new hyperscale data centres.

The company is also aiming to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The company is investing in 153-Megawatt Peak (MWp) solar projects across three markets that will generate 2,50,000-Megawatt Hours (MWh) energy annually.

This includes a 145 MWp solar project in Maharashtra that will be fully owned and operated by the company.

By 2025, CtrlS Datacenters plans to invest in additional 300 MWp projects.
Jerusalem, Oct 12 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday said the latest airstrikes were aimed at destroying a network of tunnels in the Gaza Strip that the Hamas has used as an operations centre for decades.

"Think of the Gaza strip as one layer for civilians and one layer for Hamas," IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said in a post on X.

The tunnels, which were built over the years since the militant group took control of the envlave in 2007, have served as a way for Hamas to move supplies as well as plan and launch operations against Israel, the BBC quoted the spokesman as saying.

According to Conricus, the tunnels are under Gaza City and go all the way down to Khan Yunis and Rafah.

He said that the Gaza Strip needs to be thought of in two layers -- one for the civilians at ground level and a second underground layer for Hamas.

"What we are trying to do now is get to that second layer that Hamas has built These are not bunkers for the Gazan civilians to have access to when Israel is striking."

The IDF spokesman went on to say that "the enormity and significance of the tunnels is obscured by the densely populated communities on the ground above, many of which now lay in ruins", the BBC reported.

There is much more than meets the eye. The Israeli Air Force has been striking a lot of neighbourhoods in Gaza. What we are doing is prioritising striking commanders, senior leaders of Hamas in all echelons... Whatever it is, if it belongs to Hamas, we are striking it," he added.

The unabated Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and overwhelm areas, including hospital.

The strikes come in response to the brutal Hamas attack against Israel launched from the Gaza Strip on October 7.

Palestinian health officials say 1,200 people have died in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Israeli toll is also 1,200.

Hamas is currently holding at least 150 hostages in Gaza.
Kolkata, Oct 12 : Assistant director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Mithilesh Kumar Mishra on Thursday made an appeal to the single- judge bench of the Calcutta High Court Justice Amrita Sinha for reconsideration of her earlier decision to remove him from the investigation of all money laundering cases in West Bengal.

Mishra's appeal is that even if he is replaced as the head of investigation in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case in West Bengal, the other cases of money laundering in West Bengal may not be taken away from him.

In her September 29 order Justice Sinha's clear indication was that not a single case relating to money laundering in West Bengal be assigned to Mishra.

Justice Sinha clearly observed that the court has lost confidence in the efficiency of the ED official concerned in carrying forward the smooth progress of the investigation in the school job case. The judge recently expressed dissatisfaction over the mode of investigation spearheaded by Mishra and also asked him whether he wanted relief from the investigation.

Mishra also faced the ire of Justice Sinha for providing incomplete information to the court on a corporate entity whose name surfaced during the course of investigation by the central agencies in the school job case.

"Is it a post office that you will submit whatever you have received from someone without examining the details? When will you reach the end of the tunnel?" Justice Sinha questioned
Chennai, Oct 12 : Tamil Nadu Health Department has constituted a state-level committee to audit maternal deaths.

The committee, which will be headed by Shilpa Prabhakar Satish --Mission Director of the National Health Mission -- has been constituted following the representations from gynecologists following the maternal deaths.

The deaths of two women, Semmalar and Kuppi were probed by Madurai District Collector M.S. Sangeetha, who shot off a letter to the state health secretary, Gagandeep Singh Bedi and alleged that medical officers at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) had fabricated the case sheets of the fatalities.

However, the gynecologists are of the opinion that the deaths occurred due to cardiac issue and not gynec issues.

The doctors of GRH have been boycotting elective surgeries since October 3 and the gyneacologists had protested in front of the IMA hall on Wednesday.

They were demanding the suspension of the Chief Health Officer (CHO), Vinoth Kumar.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association (TNMOA) state secretary, M. Akhilan had also written to the state health secretary on the same issue.

The Tamil Nadu Government Doctoras Association (TNGDA) has also said that false news was being spread against the the GRH.

Sources in the state Health Department told IANS that the report of the state-level committee constituted now would provide proper information regarding the allegations being leveled against GRH.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Expressing deep concern at the increasing use of e-cigarettes and vaping among youth, especially school children, 'Mothers Against Vaping', a body comprising concerned mothers, has reached out to women Parliamentarians like Nirmala Sitharaman and Smriti Irani.

In a letter addressed to women Parliamentarians, they have drawn attention to the distressing reality that despite the ban on e-cigarettes and vaping devices in India, their use among children has surged to alarming proportions.

The letter underscored a disturbing trend of numerous instances of school children, as young as 6 and 7, being caught with e-cigarettes.

"All Parliamentarians and especially women Parliamentarians, need to raise issues relevant to mothers, for the sake of the health of our children and next generation. Vaping is a pressing concern with the potential to jeopardise the health and future of countless children. We earnestly implore our women Parliamentarians to bring this critical issue to parliamentary debates, speaking from the perspective of mothers, and ensuring that banned products do not find their way into the hands of our vulnerable children," said Deepa Malik, Padma Shri Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awardee and a leading member of Mothers Against Vaping.

The letter highlighted that vaping devices have evolved with attractive designs and various flavours ranging from strawberry to bubble-gum, making them highly popular among children and young people.

It warned that this trend could lead to more dangerous addictions, as these e-cigarettes can become gateway devices to deliver harmful substances like cocaine and heroin.

Also, it noted that as today's children are exposed to latest technologies at a very young age, it makes them susceptible to new marketing tactics used by international e-cigarette companies promoting next-gen electronic devices.

"Just as adult content is banned in India and not available in media, similarly, no media should be permitted to publish any material in support of e-cigarettes. Such media outlets that contravene the law should also face prohibition, and any discourse on banned e-cigarettes must not be allowed in the public domain. Children often rely on such media reports and news as crutches to adopt this extremely harmful habit. We, Mothers Against Vaping, applaud the government's recent declaration that the possession of e-cigarettes in any form, quantity, or manner constitutes a direct violation of the law," said Dr Bhavna Barmi, Clinical Psychologist and Head Psychologist at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.

In a recent development, the Ministry of Health issued a clarification to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, emphasising the need for rigorous enforcement of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019. While PECA may not explicitly state the prohibition of individual e-cigarette use, its overarching intention is to ban all facets of these products, including its usage.

The letter emphasised that the absence of penalties for users has undermined the effectiveness of the ban and has called for essential amendments to the law, which includes making the act of vaping or using e-cigarettes illegal.

Mothers Against Vaping said it seeks to establish an environment where children and adolescents have no alternative but to comply with the law, thereby safeguarding them from the perils of vaping and in this endeavour, women parliamentarians will play a pivotal role in championing this cause and spearheading the required legislative changes.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) will meet on Thursday to discuss the candidates for the forthcoming Mizoram and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections.

According to party leaders, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will chair the CEC meeting to discuss the candidates for the 40 member Mizoram Assembly and 90 member Chhattisgarh Assembly that will go to polls next month.

While the polling in Mizoram is scheduled for November 7, the election for Chhattisgarh Assembly will take place in two phases, on November 7 and 17.

A party leader said that most of the candidates will be finalised during the CEC meeting at the party headquarters which will also be attended by CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and several other senior leaders.

At least 20 MLAs in Chhattisgarh would be replaced for the forthcoming elections on the basis of their performance in the last five years, the party leader said.

The CEC will meet on Friday also to finalise the candidates for Madhya Pradesh and Telangana polls.

The 230 member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to polls on November 17 while the 119 member Telangana Assembly will go to polls on November 30.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3. The CEC had met to discuss candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly last week and over 140 seats were discussed.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said the Supreme Court has set up a seven judge bench headed by the CJI Chandrachud to hear his petitions challenging the unconstitutional manner in which the Modi government passed key Bills by getting them declared as Money Bills, and said that hopefully, the final verdict will be forthcoming soon as it will have far-reaching implications on the very functioning of Parliament.

In a post on X, Ramesh, who is also party's communications incharge said, "Finally, the Supreme Court has set up a seven judge bench, headed by the CJI himself, to hear my petitions challenging the unconstitutional manner in which the Modi government has passed key Bills by getting them declared as Money Bills."

Ramesh said that he has repeatedly raised this issue in Parliament and outside it through three petitions in the Supreme Court -- first one filed on April 6, 2016 -- as it denies the Rajya Sabha the opportunity to discuss or pass amendments to key legislations.

"Examples include the Aadhaar Bill, the Bill diluting the powers of Tribunals including the National Green Tribunal, and the Bill to make the Prevention of Money Laundering Act more draconian," he said.

"Hopefully, the final verdict will be forthcoming soon as it will have far-reaching implications on the very functioning of the Parliament," the Rajya Sabha MP added.

Ramesh has challenged the amendments made to the money laundering law, PMLA, through Money Bills since 2015. Ramesh has also challenged the passage of Aadhaar Bill as Money Bill.

According to the Indian constitution, the Money Bill is a Bill in which the Rajya Sabha has no power to amend or reject. It can make suggestions but the Lok Sabha's say is final.

Article 110 of the Indian constitution describes a Money Bill as a Bill that has provisions regarding the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax; regulating government borrowings and financial obligations, custody, and flow of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).

In July 2022, the apex court upheld the 2019 amendments made to the PMLA, 2002 that deal with ED's power of arrest, attachment, and search and seizure.

While observing that Parliament had the power to make these amendments, the court said that Parliament enacted PMLA as a result of international commitment to sternly deal with the menace of money laundering.

However, since the Centre brought in the changes through the Finance Act 2019, the Supreme Court has left the question of deciding whether the said amendments could be brought in as a Money Bill on the soon-to-be constituted seven Judge Constitutional bench.

If the bench decided that the 2019 amendments could not have been brought in as a Money Bill then these amendments would become invalid.

The seven judge constitutional bench will address the question of whether or not these Acts mentioned above could have been brought in as a Money Bill.
The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) recently discussed collaborative initiatives with the University College of Bahrain in various areas of mutual interest.

The discussions between Prof Khalid M Al Khalifa, Founder of the University College of Bahrain and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Dr Waheed Al Qasim, CEO of the Bahrain Association of Banks, encompassed research and studies on the banking sector.

Additionally, the interaction focused on engaging university students in the association's guidance programmes, inviting experts and prominent figures from the financial and banking industry to enrich students' practical knowledge, and organising joint workshops with mutually beneficial outcomes for both parties and the country.

Prof Al Khalifa expressed gratitude for BAB's proactive approach in reaching out to the university and their commitment to fostering collaboration.

He emphasised that such initiatives enhance educational and training opportunities for students, strengthen the professional connections between the university and the banking sector, and provide valuable avenues for students to gain insights into the banking industry through training programmes, lectures, and job opportunities.

Dr Waheed Al Qassim emphasised BABs commitment to offering students essential experiences and guidance, aimed at enhancing their understanding of the significance of financial and banking studies.

"The Association is dedicated to providing university students with practical exposure, allowing them to simulate real-life banking experiences. This hands-on opportunity enables effective practice in the banking field and promotes greater integration of Bahraini talents within both sectors, he said.

Such integration plays a pivotal role in strengthening the presence of Bahraini professionals across diverse banking sectors, including senior management positions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The production of green energy and its use are among the five priorities for intensifying cooperation of the German Eastern Business Association in Tajikistan and Central Asia as a whole, Christian Himmighoffen, Director of Communication at the Association, told Trend.

He mentioned that the other priorities include the local extraction and processing of raw materials, the modernization of agriculture and water management, the expansion of transport infrastructure, and cooperation in vocational training, all with a special focus on localization.

"Tajikistan is one of the countries in the portfolio of the German Eastern Business Association with high economic growth. At the same time, the country's hydropower potential makes it suitable for developing green production," he added.

Himmighoffen also pointed out that the German Eastern Business Association supports German companies in their engagement in Tajikistan, including at the Central Asia Summit in Berlin on September 29.

"German companies are involved in modernization and rehabilitation of hydropower plants in Tajikistan. This contributes to increasing efficiency while addressing the sensitive issue of water supply in Central Asia. The logistics aspect is also playing an increasingly significant role in the involvement of German companies in the country," Himmighoffen explained.

The German Eastern Business Association serves as a prominent regional initiative representing the German economy across 29 countries in Central Europe, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia.

The organization is dedicated to assisting its members with various projects, facilitating essential business connections, and providing guidance on market entry. It collaborates closely with the German government and the governments of partner countries to actively reduce trade barriers and enhance economic conditions within the region.

According to the earlier statement by Zavki Zavkizoda, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, the trade turnover between Tajikistan and Germany amounted to $93.9 million from January through June 2023. The figure increased by 2.1 times compared to the first half of 2022.
Deoria, Oct 12 : A court in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria has issued an order to the family of Prem Chand Yadav, who was killed in a land dispute violence, asking them to vacate their house which was illegally built on government land.

Two days ago, the land on which the house stands, was measured by revenue officials.

However, Yadavas family, through their lawyer, claimed it will appeal against the order in the court of the District Magistrate.

On October 2, six people, including two women, were killed in the violence in Fatehpur village, 20 km from the Deoria district headquarters.

Five of the deceased were from the same family and the sixth victim was Prem Chand Yadav.

Before the carnage, the deceased, Satya Prakash Dubey, had lodged a complaint against Prem Chand Yadav for illegal occupation of government land.

Meanwhile, Inspector Jitendra Tandon, who was posted as SHO Rudrapur from December 2020 to February 2021, was also suspended on Wednesday.

Tandon had made a false report in the complaint made by Satya Prakash Dubey on the IGRS portal.

Deoria SP Sankalp Sharma had written a letter to Kushinagar SP to act against Tandon.

Tandon is currently posted in Kushinagar district.

Last week, 15 officials, including an SDM and a deputy SP, were suspended, while departmental action was taken against eight others for laxity in resolving the land dispute.
Bengaluru, Oct 12 : The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the Centre in connection with the recent decision of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) to reduce the NEET PG qualifying percentile to zero.

The decision was challenged by Advocate Dr. Vinod Kulkarni from Hubballi. The division bench headed by Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale and Justice Krishna S. Dixit issued notices to opposite parties. The notices have been issued to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the MCC and others.

In a surprising announcement, the MCC, responsible for allotting the post-graduation seats for medical education through the NEET PG exam, stated that the eligibility for the seats vacant this year will be the zero percentile.

This is the first time that the eligibility cut-off was completely done away with since the examination replaced all other medical entrance tests in 2017. Sources said that over 13,000 seats in medical colleges across the country remain vacant at present even after two rounds of counselling.

The petitioner explained that for 10 years the cut-off percentile for the NEET PG exam was 50 per cent. "The notification about doing away with a minimum of 50 per cent was published on September 20, 2023. Following the order by the MCC, any student who had attended NEET PG can get a seat of his choice. If this is the result, the country will become a factory which produces doctors.The Supreme Court has reiterated many times that merit should be the criterion for PG entrance. The new order enables more lobbying by the private medical colleges," the petition stated.

The petitioner had submitted that the direction should be given for the withdrawal of the order by the MCC in this regard and also directions should be given as per the earlier 50 per cent cut-off marks where it is mandatory for a candidate to obtain 50 per cent marks in NEET PG exams.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Linda Yaccarino, X CEO, on Thursday said that the microblogging platform has removed hundreds of "Hamas-linked accounts" and "taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content" since the attack on Israel.

"We continue to respond promptly to law enforcement requests from around the world, including EU member states," she said in a letter to EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, posted on X.

This comes after the EU Commissioner told Elon Musk, the owner of X, to send back a "prompt, accurate, and complete response" to his request in the next 24 hours.

"Today we responded to the European Commission's letter seeking an update on how we are responding to this conflict. Our work is ongoing," Yaccarino wrote.

The EU commissioner had warned Musk, saying that his X platform "is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU" after Hamas attacks in Israel.

In a letter addressed to Musk, Breton said that following the "terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel", they have indications that "your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU".

Moreover, in the letter X CEO also mentioned that "so far, we have responded to more than 80 take down requests received in the EU within required timelines in a diligent and objective manner. We will continue to respond to law enforcement authority requests in a timely manner and as required by the applicable laws."
Jerusalem, Oct 12 : Israel's Energy Minister Israel Katz on Thursday said that there will be no supply of electricity, fuel or water for the Gaza Strip until the Hamas militant group frees hostages.

In a post on X, the Minister said: "No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter (Gaza) until the Israeli abductees are returned home.

"Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals."

According to Israeli authorities, the militant group has taken up 150 people as hostages in Gaza following its attack on October 7.

In retaliation to the unprecedented assault, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday had ordered a "complete siege" of Gaza, saying he would halt the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel.

The Gaza Strip's only power station stopped working on Wednesday due to fuel shortages.

As a result, every facility in the hamas-controlled enclave, including the hospitals, are relying on generators, which in turn need fresh supplies of fuel.

On Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Crosswarned that the hospitals now risk turning into morgues as they lose power.

"The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians," the BBC quoted the ICRC's regional director for the Near and Middle East, Fabrizio Carboni, as saying.

"As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays canat be taken."

Gaza, one of the most densely populated places where some 2 million people live in an area of 140 square miles, has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years, when Hamas seized control.

This prompted Israel and Egypt to impose a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing.

Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza.

More than half of the enclave's population lives in poverty and is food insecure, with nearly 80 per cent relying on humanitarian assistance.
Hyderabad, Oct 12 : A police constable shot dead his mother-in-law over a family dispute in Telangana on Thursday.

The incident occurred at Gundla Singaram in Hanamkonda district.

According to police, constable A. Prasad opened fire from a gun during a heated argument with his mother in-law. Kamalamma (53) died on the spot.

The womanas family members and neighbours caught hold of Prasad and thrashed him. They later handed him over to police.

The constable was working at Kotapalli police station in Peddapalli district. He had married Ramadevi, a resident of Gundla Singaram, about 15 years ago. The couple has two children. However, due to marital dispute the constableas wife was living with her parents for the last three years.

On Thursday, Prasad came to the house of in-laws. He had a heated argument with his mother-in-law over a loan of Rs 4 lakh he had given to her and in a fit of rage he took out a revolver and opened two rounds on her, killing her on the spot.

Police have registered a case and took up investigation.
Anjali Tatrari says her character is burdened with overwhelming sense of guilt in Vanshaj. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Oct 12 : Actress Anjali Tatrari, who plays Yuvika in the television show 'Vanshaj', has shared that her character experiences an overwhelming sense of guilt because she is unable to prove the innocence of Vidur (portrayed by Aliraza Namdar).

Vidur has been arrested in the murder of a nurse who was involved in Premraj's murder, and has been falsely implicated.

The family drama show focuses on the relationships and power dynamics within the Mahajan family. Recent episodes introduced Haseena Malik, portrayed by Gulki Joshi, as a crucial ally in Yuvika's (Anjali Tatrari) life. Yuvika, realising Vidur's innocence, places her trust in Haseena to uncover the true mastermind behind the crimes.

Despite mounting evidence against Vidur, Yuvika, accompanied by Haseena and Arjun (Buneet Kapoor), races against time to prove his innocence before the impending court hearing.

Talking about the same, Anjali said: "Yuvika is weighed down by an overwhelming sense of guilt, given that her actions have led Vidur to this difficult position. And this has not only affected Vidur but has also strained her relationship with Neil, leaving him upset."

She further mentioned: "She is now fiercely committed to rectifying her mistake and proving that Vidur is actually innocent. It will be compelling to witness how she navigates her way to the truth surrounded by the endless web of lies."

'Vanshaj' airsMonday to Saturday on Sony SAB.
London, Oct 12 : Skin cancer detection using Artificial Intelligence has rapidly improved, with the latest software reaching a 100 per cent detection rate for melanoma.

A new research presented at the ongoing European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress 2023 in Berlin, Germany, assessed 22,356 patients with suspected skin cancers over a 2.5-year period.

The new software showed a 100 per cent (59/59 cases identified) sensitivity for detecting melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

It also correctly detected 99.5 per cent (189/190) of all skin cancers and 92.5 per cent (541/585) of precancerous lesions.

The third version of the AI software marks a significant improvement from the first model, tested in 2021, which detected 85.9 per cent (195/227) cases of melanoma, 83.8 per cent (903/1078) of all skin cancers and 54.1 per cent (496/917) precancerous lesions.

"This study has demonstrated how AI is rapidly improving and learning, with the high accuracy directly attributable to improvements in AI training techniques and the quality of data used to train," said lead author Dr. Kashini Andrew, Specialist Registrar at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in the UK.

"The latest version of the software has saved over 1,000 face-to-face consultations in the secondary care setting between April 2022 and January 2023, freeing up more time for patients that need urgent attention," Andrew added.

While the data is incredibly encouraging, the research team notes that AI should not be used as a standalone detection tool without the support of a consultant dermatologist.

Of the basal cell carcinoma cases, a single case was missed out of 190, which was later identified at a second read by a dermatologist "safety net." This further demonstrates the need to have appropriate clinical oversight of the AI.

"The role of AI in dermatology and the most appropriate pathway are debated," Dr. Andrew said. "Further research with appropriate clinical oversight may allow the deployment of AI as a triage tool. However, any pathway must demonstrate cost-effectiveness, and AI is currently not a stand-alone tool in dermatology. Our data shows the great promise of AI in future provision of health care."
Colombo, Oct 12 : China has at last agreed on a much-awaited debt restricting process with Sri Lanka after the island nation reached an agreement with the China Exim Bank for around $4.2 billion of debt, the Finance Ministry announced on Thursday.

The agreement with the largest single creditor is to help clear one of the biggest barriers the debt-stricken island nation had been facing with regard to engaging in the ongoing IMF bailout process.

"The Sri Lankan government is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement on the key principles and indicative terms of a debt treatment with the Export-Import Bank of China. The agreement in principle covers approximately $4.2 billion of outstanding debt," the Ministry said in a statement.

It announced that the agreement with the Beijing will constitute a key step towards restoring Sri Lanka's long-term debt sustainability and will pave the way to a prompt economic recovery.

"The indicative terms agreed will provide the necessary fiscal space for Sri Lanka to implement its ambitious reform agenda. The Sri Lankan government commends the engagement and continuous support of China Exim bank in reaching this agreement in principle, which demonstrates a mutual commitment in line with the goal/objective of restoring public debt sustainability consistent with the IMF-supported program."

The Ministry further said that Sri Lanka hopes the achievement would provide an anchor to their ongoing engagement with the Official Creditor Committee and commercial creditors, including the bondholders.

"It should also facilitate approval by the IMF Executive Board of the first review of the IMF-supported program in the coming weeks, allowing for the next tranche of IMF financing of about $334 million to be disbursed," it said.

"This agreement constitutes a key milestone in Sri Lanka's ongoing efforts to foster its economic recovery," Treasury Secretary K.M. Mahinda Siriwardana noted.

The Ministry said in the next few weeks, the Sri Lankan authorities and China Exim bank would actively work on formalizing and implementing the agreed parameters of the debt treatment.

Initially as China did not join the other creditor nation of Sri Lanka, in April India, Japan and France announced a common platform for talks among creditors to address the debt restructuring programme for the island nation that has been grappling with its worst economic crisis.

The largest single creditor, China holds nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's external debt.
Jerusalem/Gaza, Oct 12 : The death toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip has increased to more than 2,500, with more fatalities expected as the violence continued for a sixth day on Thursday.

In a report, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news said that at least 1,300 Israelis have died since the Hamas launched its brutal assault on October 7.

The Health Ministry said 3,268 people were injured, of which 443 were still in hospitals, reports Xinhua news agency.

Attempts to find bodies in southern towns and villages continued on Thursday, Israeli authorities said.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Thursday that at least 1,203 Palestinians have been killed and 5,763 others injured since Israel's bombardment on the Hamas-controlled enclave began shortly after the attack.

In its latest situation update, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that of the total displaced persons in Gaza, 218,597 or 65 per cent were taking shelter in 92 schools run by the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) as of Thursday morning.

"Numerous residential buildings in densely populated areas, including Al Karama neighborhood in Gaza North, as well as Al Rimal, and Al Naser in Gaza city have been among the most heavily targeted, leading to casualties among the elderly, women, and children," the OCHA said.

Since the start of hostilities, at least 28 Palestinian families have had all their members killed.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing, at least 2,540 housing units have been destroyed, or severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable, and another 22,850 sustained moderate to minor damage.
Bhopal, Oct 12 : Amid the growing heat of caste politics in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said the Modi-led central government was running away from the 'caste census'.

Addressing a poll rally in the tribal dominated Mandla, Priyanka Gandhi said the Congress has demanded caste census to provide justice to the people from backward and poor communities.

"The BJP is running away from the caste census which shows they do not want to give rights to the people of Backward and ST/SC people. Whereas, the Congress isdemanding the caste census to provide justice for the people," she added.

She hit out at Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over distributing slippers and umbrellas to the tribal people ahead of the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. She said, "Can you imagine a person who was the CM of Madhya Pradesh for more than 18 years, distributing slippers and umbrellas to the tribal people when the elections are very close. What has he been doing for the last 18 years?"

Pointing to corruption in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress leader said that in the last 225 weeks of the BJP, more than 250 scams were broken out.

Priyanka Gandhi also mentioned about the atrocities on tribals and women, saying 1.5 lakh women are missing in Madhya Pradesh, whereas 17 women are being raped per day in the state.

She announced that if the Congress forms the government in Madhya Pradesh, it would give Rs 4000 per quintal for Tendu Patta like in Chhattisgarh. "I would appeal to all of you to change the corrupt BJP government and bring the Congress into power, which works for the poor people," she added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Executives of the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley project are seeking cooperation with Uzbekistan in the field of green hydrogen production, a source at Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

The ministry noted that, the project's high-level objective is the creation of a hydrogen-based economic, social and industrial ecosystem based on the capacity of the quadruple helix actors, including science, policy, industry and society.

"To fulfill these objectives, the NAHV project involves a well-rooted partnership of 34 organizations (of which 2 in Hydrogen Europe, 3 in Hydrogen Europe Research), covering the transnational Central European area of 3 territories - Slovenia, Croatia and Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region in Italy, demonstrating cross-border integration of hydrogen production, distribution and consumption, and exchange of over 20 percent of NAHV annual hydrogen production of over 5000 tons," the source said.

Furthermore, the ministry stressed that the final goal of the project is decarbonization of major industrial sectors, such as steel and cement production, as well as sustainable transport solutions related to reducing the carbon footprint.

"Raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen value chains are critical to the green and digital transitions. The EU is interested to build partnerships with resource-rich developing countries, such as Uzbekistan, to help us reach our goal in green energy development," the source concluded.

Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a partnership between the EU and Kazakhstan in this sphere was signed in November of 2022.

The North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley - NAHV project was launched in 2021. Letter of Intent was signed in March 2022 by representatives of the Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure, Croatian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region in Italy, contributing to the European Green Deal and European Hydrogen Strategy goals.
Kolkata, Oct 12 : The head of the Botany department at the University of North Bengal (NBU) has been removed after a research scholar accused him of sexual harassment.

Confirming the development, NBU joint registrar Swapan Rakksit said that a departmental inquiry has also been initiated against Jnan Bikash Bhandari .

While Bhandari has been asked to proceed on leave, the university's dean of science department has been given the temporary charge of the botany department.

The disciplinary proceedings against the HoD has been initiated following a complaint by a research-scholar who accused him first of offering her sexually explicit proposals and finally physically harassing her.

The research-scholar first filed a complaint against the accused professor at the internal complaints committee of NBU and subsequently forwarded it to the office of the state education minister and the University Grants Commission.

After an initial inquiry, a number of other research scholars too came up with sexual harassment complaints against the HOD concerned. The NBU students also staged a sit-in- demonstration within the university campus on Wednesday demanding disciplinary action against him.

Finally, in face of all round demands, the university authorities decided to remove the HOD concerned and sent him on indefinite leave.
Dakshina Kannada, : Oct 12 (IANS) The sticky issue of the boycott of Muslim traders doing business on the premises of temples has come to the forefront again in Karnataka.

The Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts Religious Fair Businessmenas Coordination Committee is demanding that Muslims be allowed to carry on their trade on the premises of temples, while temple managements have continued to impose restrictions on them in the communally sensitive coastal districts.

The committee members had submitted a complaint regarding the boycott of Muslim traders in the Navaratri fare at the historical Mangaladevi Temple in Mangaluru city in Dakshina Kannada district.

The Mangaladevi Temple comes under the Muzarai department of the government and the Navaratri fair will be held between October 15 and October 24.

The temple management had taken a decision not to allow Muslim traders to participate in the fair and initiated the process of allotting stalls to businessmen on the Rathabeedi Street opposite the temple that belongs to the Mangaluru City Corporation. However, for years, the temple management has been organising its fairs here.

Following the hijab row, a boycott call was given by Hindu organisations after Muslim bodies staged a protest against the court order banning the hijab in classrooms.

The BJP government that was in power at that time upheld the right of the temple management to ban Muslim traders from religious fares and temple premises.

Now, with the Congress government assuming power in the state, it remains to be seen how the issue will be sorted.

The committee submitted a complaint against the boycott to the District Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada on Thursday.
Berlin, Oct 12 : In an address to Parliament, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said that anyone who glorifies Hamas, condones murder or burns Israeli flags will face criminal prosecution.

Scholz also announced that a pro-Palestinian group called Samidoun will be banned in Germany after its members celebrated athe most brutal acts of terror in the open streets" CNN reported.

He accused its members of taking to the streets in Berlin's Neukolln area on October 7, the same day the Hamas launched its assault on the Jewish nation, to celebrate the murder of Israeli civilians by handing out sweets to passers-by.

"This is ghastly, this is inhuman. We will not stand by in the face of hatred and incitement. We do not tolerate antisemitism," the BBC quoted the Chancellor as saying to the Bundestag

Scholz also announced a ban on all Hamas activities and associations in Germany.

The Chancellor blamed Iran for backing the Palestinian militant group, although he had "no solid evidence that Iran has provided concrete and operational support for this cowardly attack by Hamas", CNN reported

aWithout Iranian support... Hamas would not have been capable of these unprecedented attacks on Israeli territory. The jubilant statements by the top of the Iranian regime and some other government officials in the region are abhorrent.

"The leadership in Tehran is unashamedly showing its true colours a" and confirming its role in Gaza," he added.

Scholz also warned the Iran-backed Hezbollah not to aintervene in the fighting" as athis would not only result in a justified and harsh Israeli reaction," but also draw Lebanon ato the brink of the abyss".

The Chancellor informed Parliament that Germany was working ain close coordination with Israel" with all its amight to ensure that all hostages are released again".

aOur immediate concern today is for the children, women and men who have been trafficked into the Gaza Strip. We are all deeply moved by their fate.

aWe fear that Hamas will continue to use them as human shields in the coming weeks," he added. aNothing but nothing justifies the terror of Hamas." CNN quoted the Chancellor as saying

Scholz further said that he is counting on the possible mediating role of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordanian King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein and the Emir of Qatar, whom he will receive for talks in Berlin on Thursday.

In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, Israel also asked Germany for ammunition for warships, according to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
New York, Oct 12 : Indian-American teen Gitanjali Rao and 14 other young women leaders have been honoured by US First Lady Jill Biden for leading a change and shaping a brighter future in their communities across the nation.

Marking the International Day of the Girl on Wednesday, 17-year-old Rao was honoured at the first-ever "Girls Leading Change" celebration at the White House to recognise the efforts of young women in strengthening the country for generations.

"It is my honor to celebrate this exceptional group of "Girls Leading Change" at the White House," Jill Biden, an educator for more than 30 years, said in a White House release.

"These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope," she said.

A freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rao is a scientist and inventor whose groundbreaking lead contamination detection tool won her an EPA Presidential Award and America's Top Young Scientist by Discovery Education/3M.

Her book, 'Young Innovator's Guide to STEM', which offers a prescriptive five-step innovation process, is used as a STEM curriculum globally in selected schools.

"Rao is committed to not only continuing her career as a scientist and inventor, but expanding her STEM education initiative, which has already touched more than 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students," the White House release said.

The 15 young women leaders were selected by the White House Gender Policy Council.

The Biden-Harris administration has announced a series of new actions that build on the admin's investment in young people and expand opportunities for women and girls at home and abroad.

This includes, advancing girls' education globally via USAID; promoting STEM skills and girls' leadership; empowering girls to shape the future of AI; promoting efforts to end child marriage globally; addressing girls' risk of HIV/AIDS; reducing risk for girls in the juvenile justice system, and many more.

--IANS

mi/ksk
Lucknow, Oct 12 : The rape of a Class 8 student by an auto driver who took her to school for almost seven days, has made experts -- doctors, police officials and social scientists -- warn parents about the deviation in their child's behaviour when he or she returns home.

Dr Adarsh Tripathi, senior faculty, department of psychiatry, King George's Medical University (KGMU), said, "When you talk about good and bad touch every two months, you gain two things. First, you keep on reminding / revising about bad touch. Second, by keeping the communication channel open, you make your child believe you are ready to talk about anything in this world, no matter how secretive it is."

He said by discussing these issues, one can equip the child with the ability and the confidence to express anything, even if it causes discomfort.

Doctors also say the first minute of interaction, when the child comes back from school/college, is the most important to know if something was wrong outside the house.

Dr Devashish Shukla, medical superintendent, Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute and Hospital and a psychiatrist by qualification, said, "Develop the habit of small interaction with your children when they return home from school. Talk to them to make them say a few lines about what happened at school or during travel to-and-fro. Observe if there is a change in the pattern of their conversation, which can give a clear indication of any untoward happening."

Doctors say any change in behaviour, such as keeping quiet for days together or keeping aloof from other family members or children, is something to take note of.

"Parents must also take note if there are any changes in timings of the child returning home. In the case of the auto driver, the child was returning home later than usual because the accused was taking her to various places. If the parents had been alert, the incident could have been averted," said Dr Sheila Kumar, a psychiatrist.
Kolkata : CM Mamata Banerjee held a review meeting with the organisers regarding preparations for Durga Puja. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Oct 12 : In a break from her annual tradition, West Bengal Chief Minister Manata Banerjee will not physically inaugurate the community Durga Puja this year and will instead do it virtually from her residence due to the prolonged limb injuries.

As a result of the injuries, the Chief Minister has been operating from her residence in Kalighat, South Kolkata, since the past month.

"She has decided to inaugurate the around 800 community pujas virtually this year. It will begin on Thursday afternoon with the inauguration of Sreebhumi community Durga Puja in the northern outskirts of Kolkata, where the chief patron is the state fire services minister Sujit Basu," a Cabinet member said.

The theme of the Sreebhumi pandal this year is Disneyland.

On Thursday, the Chief Minister is slated to virtually inaugurate six community pujas, including Sreebhumi.

A crucial meeting of the state cabinet is scheduled at the Chief Minister's residence later in the day, where she is expected to give directions about the administrative initiative to be adopted for the upcoming festive season.

The Chief Minister was again injured during her recent trips to Dubai and Spain.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : After stock exchanges sought a clarification on price movement of the company's shares, Premier Polyfilm has in turn asked them to investigate reasons for sudden increase, prices and volume of shares which is not in the interest of investors and promoters.

aIn this regard, we hereby inform you that there is no price sensitive information with the company which has not been disclosed to Stock Exchanges. Moreover, company is yet to approve and announce its Financial Results for the quarter and six months ended on September 30. In addition, recently no announcement has been made by the company/ management/ promoters about change in profitability/ sales and/ or book order position of the company. Hence this cannot be the reason for increase in price and volume of the shares. We have also noted that there was substantial change in the price and volume of shares of the company in the recent past,"Premier Polyfilm said in its reply to BSE.

aNow, we request you to look into the reasons for sudden rise in prices and volume of share of the company at your own level and take action accordingly. This will also be in the interest of investors and promoters. In the event, if you come across any reasons which can jeopardise the interest of the investors or the company, kindly caution us," the company said.

BSE had sought clarification from Premier Polyfilm with reference to significant movement in price, in order to ensure that investors have latest relevant information about the company and to inform the market so that the interest of the investors is safeguarded.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
New Delhi, Oct 11 : Global IT services firm Accenture is reportedly skipping pay hikes for its employees and reducing promotions at senior positions in India and Sri Lanka. Accenture said on Thursday it considers a variety of factors, including the macroeconomic environment, in making its decisions around pay and benefits.

A MoneyControl report, citing an email sent by country managing director Ajay Vij to employees, said that Accenture "will not be paying out hikes to its employees in India and Sri Lanka in 2023 except where it is legally mandated or where it has committed to it in critical skill areas".

"Given the context of our performance, we will not be providing any stay-at-level (base pay) increases this year except where legally mandated or committed in a few critical skill areas," he wrote in the email.

Vij said the company "experienced a macro environment that was more challenging than anticipated at the beginning of the FY23 fiscal year".

"We are postponing our promotions to and within MD, and appointments to SMD, until June 2024 in order to allow ourselves to return to growth so that promotions are affordable", Vij said in the email.

In a statement to IANS, Accenture said its "rewards philosophy is to provide market relevant pay based on the skills and locations where we operate".

"We also consider a variety of factors, including the macroeconomic environment in making our decisions around pay and benefits," the company added.

Accenture has more than 3 lakh employees in India.

Accenture's weak 1QFY24 guidance pushes out hopes of a second half recovery for India IT Services players, JM Financial Institutional Securities said in its report last month.

Besides, a modest implied growth rate through 2HFY24 for Accenture risks India IT Services players' FY25 revenue growth estimates as well. This, we believe, is an incremental negative, the report said.

"Given Accenture's full year guidance is a first peek into potential growth trajectory for FY25, we see its underwhelming guidance as an incremental negative for the sector," said the report.

"We continue to believe that the unwinding of excess IT spend could keep incremental revenue growth muted through FY24. If Accenture's commentary is anything to go by, FY25 growth expectations could be at risk as well", the report noted.

Meanwhile, thehiring index for IT-software/services has declined (year-on-year) in all nine months of this year, reflecting continued softness in demand and uncertainty in the overall environment, according to Emkay Global Financial Services.

IT job index is currently down 49 per cent from its peak levels in July 2022.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Upholding Ariz Khan's conviction in the 2008 Batla House encounter case, the Delhi High Court on Thursday commuted his death penalty handed by a trial court to life imprisonment.

On August 18, the court had reserved its verdict on the confirmation of death penalty to Khan in the case, in which two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists and decorated Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma were killed in Jamia Nagar.

A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Amit Sharma granted the relief to Khan, turning his death sentence to life-time jail.

A copy of the detailed order is awaited.

The high court had earlier received a reference for confirmation of the death sentence handed to Khan.

Days after the serial blasts in the national capital, in which over 35 people were killed and more than 150 were injured, the Special Cell of Delhi Police had on September 19, 2008 carried out an encounter at Batla House in Jamia Nagar. Sharma had raided the place looking for terrorists responsible for the blasts

Ariz Khan was convicted for the murder of Sharma and other offences on March 8, 2021 and was sentenced to death on March 15, 2021, while another convict, Shahzad Ahmed, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the case.

The trial court had convicted Khan, saying that it was duly proved that he and his associates murdered the police officer. The convict was sentenced to death and a fine of Rs 11 lakh was imposed on him, making it clear that Rs 10 lakh should be immediately released to the family members of Sharma.

The court had called the case a "rarest of the rare" while awarding death penalty to Khan, who had fled from the spot and was declared a proclaimed offender.

He was arrested on February 14, 2018. The police claimed that he was present at Batla House and managed to give police a slip during the encounter.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Delhi BJP workers on Thursday staged a protest outside the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office in the national capital over the alleged corruption in the liquor excise policy case demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The Delhi BJP workers led by its Chief Virendra Sachdeva along with the Delhi Opposition leader, Ramvir Bidhuri, staged a protest outside the AAP office here.

The Delhi BJP raised slogans against the AAP-led Delhi government alleging corruption and demanded Kejriwal's resignation.

However, the Delhi BJP workers, including Sachdeva, were detained by the Delhi Police after they tried to climb the barricades.

The Delhi BJP Chief said that along with the party workers, even the people of Delhi feel that the mastermind of the liquor scam is Kejriwal.

He also added that due to the Delhi Chief Minister, a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) visited the residence of his party MLA Amanatullah Khan.

Sachdeva said that the Delhi Revenue Department had filed a complaint against the State Wakf Board.

"When their department is itself complaining, then why they are alleging conspiracy by the ED," he added.

The ED on October 4 arrested AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in the alleged liquor scam and a team of the ED officials on Monday carried out searches at the premises of Amanatullah Khan in Okhla in a money laundering case involving the Delhi Wakf Board.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will pay a working visit to Kyrgyzstans Bishkek on October 13 to participate in the Council of Heads of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Trend reports.

During the event, the parties will consider issues of further expansion of multilateral cooperation within the CIS, including the implementation of joint programs and projects in the field of trade, investment, industrial cooperation, and innovation, as well as digitalization, transport, education, and culture.

Regular meetings of the council are held annually. It was created following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, directly replacing the State Council of the Soviet Union.

Last year's meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of States took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, where a series of documents were signed. These agreements aimed at furthering the development and strengthening of integration ties in the areas of trade, economics, culture, and security.
Mumbai, Oct 12 : Actress Shubhangi Atre, who is known for her role as Angoori Bhabhi in the sitcom 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain', shared her plans for Navratri celebrations, and revealed how she tries to coordinate her attire with the designated colour for each nine days of the festivities.

Navratri, meaning 'nine nights', is one of the most popular and widely celebrated Hindu festivals in many parts of India.

The festival is celebrated with fervour and festivity to mark the victory of Goddess Durga, who fought against the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura.

While Navratri's specific customs and traditions vary from region to region, a common practice observed by all is fasting and engaging in the lively dance form known as garba.

Talking about the same, Shubhangi said: "I simply love the festivities. I was in Indore to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi recently, and now I am already gearing up to celebrate Navratri."

"I visit the temple at least once during the nine days of Navratri and consume sattvic food. It's believed that each day of Navratri is associated with a specific colour, symbolising something unique, and I try to coordinate my attire with the designated colour for each day," said the aKasturia fame actress.

Talking about her plans this year, Shubhangi added: "This year, I also plan to take some time to enjoy the festive dandiya and garba nights in my society. I extend my heartfelt wishes to everyone for a joyful and prosperous Navratri."

In the current track of 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain', Vibhuti (Aasif Sheikh) experiences a vivid dream in which he assumes the role of Yamraj, sentencing Angoori (Shubhangi Atre) for a crime. This unsettling dream jolts him awake in the middle of the night, causing him to scream in shock. Anita (Vidisha Srivastava) becomes annoyed by his behaviour and warns him to refrain from meddling in others' lives.

Still disturbed by his dream, Vibhuti indirectly hints to Angoori that she should avoid committing any crimes, leaving her puzzled. Meanwhile, Tiwari (Rohitashv Gour) hands Angoori a lengthy list of food items, informing her that his business partner will visit for dinner. Simultaneously, the Modern Colony's Police station is undergoing renovations, and Tiwari offers his house as a temporary workspace to help maintain their operations.

As night falls, Tiwari's business partner arrives for dinner and harasses Angoori to the point where she loses her temper and accidentally strikes him with a frying pan, resulting in his demise. Tiwari and Angoori become panicked and quickly devise a plan to conceal the body.

Vibhuti joins in and advises Angoori to stage an argument and leave the house angrily, carrying the deceased body in a bag. However, their attempt to execute this plan is interrupted when Daroga Happu Singh (Yogesh Tripathi) and Commissioner (Kishore Bhanushali) unexpectedly enter their home, leaving them in shock.

The show airs on &TV.
Mumbai, Oct 12 : Actor Tiger Shroff spoke about his favourite scene from the upcoming film 'Ganapath' and it includes his co-actress Kriti Sanon and nunchucks.

Talking about one of his favourite scenes from the film, Tiger said that it was Kriti usingnunchunkswhich greatly impressed him.

Detailing this, he said in a live session on Instagram: "My favourite shot from the trailer I would have to say one of Kriti's shots because watching her in action is something so different and the way she aced the nunchucks were pretty refreshing because she looks like she is a pro and doing it for years but actually didn't rehearse much."

While Tigerhimself is a martial artist, Kriti is not and using nunchucks is incredibly difficult. The premise for 'Ganapath' is something very different from traditional Bollywood as it sees Hindi cinema step into the realm of cyberpunk styled sci-fi films.

The concept of a chosen one liberating people from an oppressor is an age-old story, though setting it in a dystopian 'Blade Runner' style feature with a bleak texture while retaining Hindi cinema's colourful aesthetic is something new.

This concept and the trailer have generated a lot of excitement among fans, with both the action and the romantic aspect garnering much praise.

Prior to this, Kriti revealed in a recent conclave that she attendeda crash course where she learned how to use nunchucks as well as some level of martial arts for nine months straight. Directed by Vikas Bahl, 'Ganapath' will hit theatres on October 20, and will come out in multiple languages which include Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Bhopal, Oct 12 : Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath said on Thursday that the development of tribal-dominated Mandla would be his main priority after forming the government much like Chhindwara which is his home district and has become a model for development.

The Congress leader was addressing a rally in Mandla, which was also attended by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

He alleged that the BJP government made several promises, but Mandla saw no development and youths were forced to leave their homes in search of livelihood.

"I have fond memories of Mandla as I have spent a lot of time here in my youth. But, when I see the present condition here, it hurts me a lot. Today, I promise you that Mandla's developments would be my first priority after forming the government," he said.

Kamal Nath would always present his home district Chhindwara as a model district of development in Madhya Pradesh. He said Chhindwara is his home district, but he has full faith in the people of Mandla that they would support the Congress.

He announced that the 'adivasi divas' programme would be re-started and bartan banks would be established in the tribal areas in Madhya Pradesh.

"My government had started a 'vishwa adivasi diwas' programme, but the BJP stopped it. I promise that bartan banks would be established in tribal areas and all those schemes the BJP government has stopped would be restarted soon after the Congress comes back to power in Madhya Pradesh," he added.

Kamal Nath appealed to tribal people to support the Congress in the coming Assembly elections. He said, "The Assembly elections are not for any candidates or the party, it is for the future of Madhya Pradesh and future of youths. 32 days left for the elections, keep a picture of Madhya Pradesh in your mind when you go for voting. It is up to you to decide what kind of government you want," he added.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met Brazil's Economy Minister Fernando Haddad on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G20FMCBG) and the IMF-World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco.

The two ministers discussed issues of mutual interest, including strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs), mobilising finance for climate change, Crypto assets, financing cities of tomorrow, advancing financial inclusion, managing global debt vulnerabilities and BRICS expansion.

Sitharaman conveyed to Haddad India's best wishes as Brazil stands ready to take over the 2024 presidency of G20 and assured him of Indiaas full support.

With Brazil taking over the G20 chair in 2024 and India joining South Africa as part of the 2024 G20 Troika, she said it is an excellent opportunity to provide positive momentum and elevation to the issues of the Global South like the G20 finance track had done under the G20 India presidency to advance the interests of the Global South.
Chennai, Oct 12 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, on Thursday launched the 'The Project Nilgiri Tahr'. The launch was conducted by unveiling a plaque at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat.

'The Nilgiri Tahr', locally known as 'Varai Aadu', is an endangered species and known for their gravity-defying skills in climbing steep cliffs.

Tamil Nadu Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department in a statement on Thursday said that there are multiple references to 'The Nilgiri Tahr' even in the Sangam Tamil literature written more than 2,000 years ago, including Silappatikaram, Sivaka Chindamani and others.

The statement added that under the 'Project Nilgiri Tahr', the department will develop a better understanding of Nilgiri Tahr population, the distribution and ecology, and reintroduction of 'The Nilgiri Tahr' to their historic habitats.

The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department will increase awareness among public on 'The Nilgiri Tahr' and also develop educational material for school children on the animal.

The Tamil Nadu government also announced October 7 as 'The Nilgiri Tahr Day' in honour of E.R.C Devidar, whose birth anniversary falls on the same day as he had pioneered the first study on 'The Nilgiri Tahr' in 1975.

The office of the 'The Project Nilgiri Tahr' is set up at Coimbatore and a full-time director is appointed. A senior scientist and four research associates are also appointed to undertake various activities that comes under the project for which the state government has already allocated Rs 25 crore.

An amount of Rs 25 crore has been sanctioned for the project to carry out activities like bi-annual synchronised survey across forest divisions. Individual Tahr animals are tranquilised and monitored on the disease of the Nilgiri Tahr.
Chennai, Oct 12 : The Madras High Court Chief Justice inaugurated an organ donation awareness campaign on court premises on Thursday.

The inauguration by Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala was done in the presence of other judges in the court as well as in the presence of Judges of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, who attended the programme virtually.

State Government Pleader, P Muthukumar was the first to sign the organ donation pledge.

There was also provision for making offline and online declarations at the camp.

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, while speaking to the audience said that Spain was the number one country as far as organ donation was concerned and added that Tamil Nadu was the Spain of India as it had made tremendous progress on the issue.

Gagandeep Singh Bedi said that 36,472 pledges had been made and also referred on the state government declaring state honours for those who signed up for organ donation.

The senior IAS officer mentioned the Vidyal app which has made the entire process of organ transplantation transparent as it was tamper-proof.

Bedi said, "A total of 169 hospitals in Tamil Nadu harvest organs and the entire process of organ transplant had been made transparent through the Vidyal app."

He said that 1,737 organ donations had taken place in Tamil Nadu since 2008 when the organ donation programme was finalised in the state.

Bedi said that in 2023 alone 128 organ donations had taken place in Tamil Nadu and 733 organs had been obtained.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Nokia on Thursday said that its factory in Chennai achieved a significant production milestone by reaching seven million telecom units.

Nokia's achievement is in line with the government's 'Make in India' initiative that encourages companies to develop and manufacture products in the country.

Nokia's Chennai factory is a large-scale manufacturer of telecom infrastructure equipment, including 4G/5G networks for both domestic and global markets.

"Our Chennai factory is a testament to the skill and expertise of Indian talent. From being the first to manufacture 5G NR in India to now producing 5G massive MIMO products and transport network elements, we have come a long way," Teemu Toiviainen, Head of Global Manufacturing and EMS Management, said in a statement.

"We at Nokia strongly believe in sustainability to make the world a better place for future generations. This factory operates with wind and solar energy, contributing up to 81 per cent of green energy consumption until most recently, targeting to be 100 per cent by 2025," he added.

The factory has completed fifteen years of operation this year and is playing a key role in boosting telecom equipment manufacturing in the country.

The factory manufactures 5G New Radio (5G NR), 5G massive MIMO products, 4G/LTE radios as well as Fiber Broadband equipment among others.

Nokia exports approximately 50 per cent of the production. Further, it has progressively increased the localisation of components by up to two times compared to previous years in 5G equipment manufacturing.
Aizawl, Oct 12 : The Election Commission is yet to decide on the demand of all the political parties in Mizoram to change the date of counting of votes fixed for December 3 as the day (Sunday) is a prayer day for Christians, officials said on Thursday.

The 40-member Mizoram Assembly will go to the polls on November 7.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer H. Lianzela told IANS that though all the political parties have sent their representations to the Election Commission requesting to change the counting date, no feedback has been received in this regard yet.

Christians form around 87 per cent of Mizoram's population (according to the 2011 Census).

All the political parties, including the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress, BJP,Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and People's Conference (PC), have urged the poll panel to change the date of vote counting (December 3) as Sunday is a sacred day for Christians, and the entire day is devoted to church services across the state.

The conglomerate of major churches in the state, Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), has also written to the Election Commission requesting it to change the date of counting.

"Sundays are sacred for Christians and worship services are held in all towns and villages on that day," the MKHC's letter read.

The MNF, Congress, BJP, ZPM and PC in their separate letters on Monday had urged the EC to respect the sentiments of the Mizo people as they demanded to reschedule the counting date to any day between Monday and Friday.

On Wednesday, after considering the representations from various political parties and social organisations for changing the polling date in Rajasthan in view of large scale wedding/social engagements on that day (November 23), the Election Commission changed the date of polling to November 25.

The EC had on Monday announced the election schedule for five states -- Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

In Mizoram, the statutory notification for the November 7 elections will be issued by the concerned authorities on Friday and filling of nominations will start from that day itself.

The last date of filing nominations is October 20, scrutiny of candidatures will take place on the next day, while the last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 23.
Ahmedabad, Oct 12 : The Gujarat High Court on Thursday served a notice to Gujarat University (GU), addressing its Registrar, Piyush Patel.

The development followed the petitions filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh. The dispute pertains to defamation complaint regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic credentials.

Kejriwal and Singh, entangled in this defamation case in Ahmedabad, received their first summons for a court appearance on April 15, with a subsequent summons on May 23. They approached the High Court on September 16, aiming to nullify the April summons.

The AAP leaders are contesting the summons previously issued to them by an Ahmedabad magistrate court following a criminal defamation complaint from GU. They are also pressing for the reversal of an Ahmedabad sessions court decision that supported the original summons from the magistrate court.

However, the trial in the magistrate court concerning the criminal defamation is set to commence on October 14. Justice J.C Doshi denied the petitioner's requests for a trial delay or postponement while their appeal is under the high court's consideration.

The court scheduled the next hearing for November 3, by which the notice should be responded to.

--IANS

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Umar Khalid not an exception to rule of law in India: Former judges . (File Photo: IANS). Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing on the bail application of former JNU scholar and activist Umar Khalid in connection with the Delhi riots case.

Citing paucity of time, the bench comprising Justice Bela Trivedi and Dipankar Datta adjourned the hearing till November 1.

Khalid has filed special leave petition against the Delhi High Court's decision to deny him bail last year.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Khalid, said that he could demonstrate in 20 minutes that there was no case against Khalid.

"He is a young student, PhD holder, three years behind bars, it is going on," Sibal requested the court to consider the hearing on Thursday.

Appearing for the Delhi Police, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju said that the delay in the trial was caused due to the accused filing interlocutory applications.

"They are not allowing the charges to be framed..."

Sibal in response said that the five supplementary charge sheets have been filed in the case.

He further added that three co-accused Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita and Asif Iqbal Tanha in the case have been granted bail.

Khalid has been behind bars for more than three years in connection with the Delhi riots case. He is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in the larger conspiracy for Delhi communal violence that broke out in February 2020.
Mumbai, Oct 12 : Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Thursday said that his nephew Ajit Pawar's ambition to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra will remain just a 'dream'.

"Ajit Pawar becoming the CM is just a dream It will never happen in reality," said Sharad Pawar, in a swipe at his nephew who is the leader of the breakaway faction of NCP and the Deputy CM.

Sharad Pawar was asked about the ongoing row over various political upheavals in the NCP, including the revolt of July when Ajit Pawar split the party vertically to join the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government as the third partner.

Ajit Pawar, 64, has already publicly made his ambitions clear on several occasions that after occupying the post of Deputy CM, he wants a 'promotion' and was very keen to become the state CM.

Subsequently, on a couple of occasions, he also adopted a practical stance saying that this would be possible only if he measured up to the magical 'game of numbers' (supporting MLAs) for claiming the post of CM.

However, Sharad Pawar's latest assertion could prove to be a huge dampener for his nephew's unabashed ambitions and also his die-hard supporters rooting for him as the future CM, if not the next.

In fact, frequently in the recent past, banners and posters have been put up in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other places, proclaiming Ajit Pawar as 'the Future CM'.

There has been no reaction to the statement from the Ajit Pawar faction so far, even as both the NCP groups are engaged in a legal tussle and a fight before the Election Commission of India for the control of the 25-year-old party founded by Sharad Pawar.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions filed against the early release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case by the Gujarat government.

A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan reserved the judgment after hearing both the sides on the question of validity of the remission orders setting free convicts in the case of the gang-rape of Bano and murder of her family members committed during the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

The bench ordered the Centre and state government to file records along with translation pertaining to the convicts' remission by October 16.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, in her rejoinder arguments, submitted that the decision of the apex court in the case will reflect the "conscience of the Constitution."

Jaising reiterated that the remission orders are 'bad in law' emphasizing that principles dwelled by the top court should be applied in determining the application for early release.

She said that the crime committed against Bano was a "motivated" one and the nation's conscience will be reflected in the verdict of the apex court.

In an earlier hearing, she had argued that the crime committed against Bano during the 2002 post-Godhra riots was a "crime against humanity" perpetrated on the basis of religion.

In her rejoinder arguments, advocate Vrinda Grover questioned the release of convicts by the Gujarat government despite non-payment of fine - which Bombay High Court ordered to be paid as compensation to the victim.

She contended that convicts cannot come out on remission unless fine is paid or convicts have suffered the sentence imposed in default of fine, adding that convicts had "illegal premature release".

After commencement of the final hearing, the convicts approached the trial court in Mumbai and deposited the fine imposed upon them to "reduce the controversy".

The Supreme Court had questioned the deposition of the fine without awaiting the outcome of their application filed before the top court.

"You seek permission and then you deposit without getting permission?", it had asked convicts.

The petitioner had pointed out before the Supreme Court that the convicts did not pay the fines imposed on them and the non-payment of fine renders remission order illegal.

In another hearing, the apex court had also said that it will be required to examine if remission applications of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case were given any preferential treatment by the Gujarat government.

On the other hand, the convicts had contended that remission orders granting them early release have an essence of judicial order and cannot be challenged by way of filing a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution.

The Centre, Gujarat government, and convicts have opposed the PILs filed by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, the National Federation of Indian Women, Asma Shafique Shaikh and others against the remission orders, saying that once victim herself has approached the court, others may not be allowed to intervene in a criminal matter.

The 11 men convicted in the case were released on August 15 last year, after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. The convicts had completed 15 years in jail.
Bengaluru, Oct 12 : Global semiconductor, aerospace and defense, electric vehicles, space, precision manufacturing and health tech companies from the United States have shown interest in investing over $3 billion in Karnataka.

Some of the global companies are already in the process of investing around $1 billion in the state, Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil stated on Thursday.

Speaking about his successful meetings with the US companies, Patil, also Minister for Infrastructure Development, said "We have met some of the prestigious companies in the United States during our visit and we have tried to understand their requirement and have invited them to Karnataka for expansion or collaboration. We had been to the US with a mission and a clear vision for Karnataka and I am happy to share that the visit was fruitful. There is a renewed beginning for the state."

"We have offered all possible support to the companies to invest in Karnataka and briefed the senior executives of global companies about the state's ease of doing business, favourable policies, sectorial incentives, and industrial infrastructure built in the state. Our main objective was to showcase Karnataka as an attractive investment destination," Patil said.

During the recent visit to the US, the delegation held as many as 36 meetings and discussions, comprising 27 one-on-one meetings and 9 interactions with various companies and explored investment opportunities in electronics and semiconductor, aerospace and defence auto/EV, precision manufacturing and Med-tech sectors, he stated.

The delegation held meetings with global companies like Applied Materials, AMD, Juniper, Global Foundries, LAM Research, Boeing, Krypton, Dell, MKS Instruments, GE Healthcare, Intelsat, RTX, Terradyne, Texas Instruments, Apple, and Waters Corp among others.The members also met with a few promising startups like Leolab, Fictive and T-Seconds, he said.

The purpose of the US visit was to highlight Karnataka as a promising destination for investment. It was important considering the fast-changing geo-political dynamics as a large number of global companies are looking at India as an attractive, safe destination for new investment or expanding their existing presence, Patil stated.

Minister for IT/BT and Science and Technology Priyank Kharge joined Patil during the second leg of the visit from September 25 to October 6.

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Bengaluru, Oct 12 : In a daring act, a gang of four robbers shot a jewellery store owner in the thigh and robbed away more than 1 kilogram of gold jewellery in broad daylight in Byadarahalli police station limits on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Thursday.

The owner of the jewellery store, Manoj had been rushed to the hospital and he is out of danger. According to police, four robbers came on two bikes and barged into the Vinayaka Jewellers located on Pipeline Road in Byadarahalli.

The robbers threatened owner Manoj with a gun and tried to rob the jewellery store. When he resisted, one of the robbers shot him in the leg and looted the gold jewellery kept in the store. The police have rushed to the spot and began investigations. The cops are gathering CCTV footage and information.

The incident, that took place at a crowded place in broad daylight, has shocked the people.

DCP West, S. Girish, stated "Today at approximately 10.45 a.m., four people on two bikes entered Vinayaka Jjewellers shop and committed robbery of gold ornaments weighing around 1 kilogram. One of them has shot the owner in the thigh. He is taking treatment at a hospital and is out of danger. We have some clues and are working on it."
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Delhi PWD Minister Atishi inspected under-construction flyovers in Moti Nagar and Punjabi Bagh on Thursday morning and pulled up officials for the delay in the project.

She gave them an ultimatum to complete the construction work by January at any cost or face action.

Atishi said the flyovers were vital for decongesting traffic on Ring Road, hence, no further delay in their construction would be tolerated.

She instructed the officials to expedite the remaining work by increasing the number of labourers and machines on the site. Atishi also asked them to submit a weekly progress report to her.

During the inspection, officials told the minister that most of the work on the Moti Nagar flyover had been completed, and only the installation of a 50-metre steel girder over the intersection near the Bharat Darshan Park remained to be done.

"Due to heavy traffic at the intersection, work here is getting delayed. Additionally, most of the work on the Punjabi Bagh flyover is also done, and here, girders are being installed. However, the pace of work has slowed down due to the shifting of a power line," the officials told Atishi.
Mumbai, Oct 12 : In a significant move, the All India Rabta-E-Masjid, an organisation of all mosques in the country, has decided to name the proposed mosque coming at Dhannipur in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya district after the Prophet, as 'Muhammad Bin Abdullah Masjid'.

The decision was announced at the AIRM conference held here with the participation of all senior clerics of various Muslim sects, initiated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Haji Arfat Shaikh.

The Dhannipur mosque site is around 22 km away from the original location of the centuries old Babri Masjid - that was brought down on December 6, 1992 - in Ayodhya where the grand Lord Ram Temple is nearing completion.

Shaikh said the new masjid coming at the site allotted by the Supreme Court after its verdict in November 2019 promises to be the biggest mosque in India.

"It will be able to accommodate 9,000 faithfuls, including 5,000 men and 4,000 women simultaneously to offer Namaaz. The entire mosque complex, with additional land being procured through our resources, will have medical, educational and social facilities as well," he said.

The apex court had given 5 acres of land for the new mosque, and there is a plan to purchase 6 more acres for providing the additional facilities to make it a landmark project, other speakers said.

The work on the grand 'Muhammad Bin Abdullah Masjid' complex, delayed owing to certain differences among various groups, is now slated to start shortly at the Dhannipur site, Shaikh added.

A symbolic brick for the foundation ceremonies was also handed over to the officials representing the Sunni Waqf Board of India, the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation of India, Salamati Peer Dargah Trust and other prominent organisations involved with the mega-project.
Kolkata, Oct 12 : Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Kolkata on October 16 to inaugurate Durga Puja in central Kolkata.

He will inaugurate the Puja of Santosh Mitra Square at Lebutala Park in central Kolkata, whose principal organiser is BJP councilor in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Sajal Ghosh.

The theme of this particular community Puja this year is Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. "The Prime Minister Narandra Modi will be inaugurating the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya in January next year. But before that Home Minister will be inaugurating another Ram Mandir in Kolkata," Ghosh told media persons.

Ghosh also confirmed that the only programme that Shah will have in Kolkata on Monday will be to inaugurate the Puja. "As per the schedule fixed so far, he will be in the city for a couple of hours. He will come to the city, inaugurate the Puja and go back to New Delhi," Ghosh said.

Santosh Mitra Square, this year too, has maintained its tradition of not accepting the donation and other financial benefits offered by the state government to the community Durga Puja committees every year.

"We had not been accepting donations for the last two years. Pujas have been organised with lots of pomp and grandeur even before. So it will happen this year as well. But we do not want to be party to waste money of the state exchequer and that too at a time when the state government is unable to meet essential expenditure for development or go for recruitment for the vacant posts," Ghosh said.
Jerusalem, Oct 12 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday held a joint statement with the US Secreatry of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Israel's Tel Aviv, adding that he was thankful to the US President Joe Biden and the American people for showing support for Israel in the war against the Hamas.

"Thank you for your important visit here today," said Netanyahu at the start of their joint statements in Tel Aviv, The Times of Israel reported.

"Thank you, thanks to President Biden, and thank you to the American people for your incredible support for Israel in our war against the barbarians of Hamas," he added.

He then thanks them in Hebrew, and says "Mr. Secretary, you have come to a hurting nation, a fighting nation, a nation of lions, a nation that is determined to defeat the forces of evil around us."

Netanyahu also said that the visit "is another example of America's unequivocal support for Israel".

"Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilisation. The massacring of young people at an outdoor music festival, the butchering of entire families, the murder of parents in front of their children and the murder of children in front of their parents. The burning of people alive. The beheadings. The kidnappings -- of a young boy, not only kidnapped, molested, hurt, attacked," Netanyahu added.

The Israeli Prime Minister also lamented "the celebration and glorification of evil".

"President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil," Netanyahu continues, The Times of Israel reported.

"Hamas is ISIS, and just as ISIS was crushed, so too should Hamas be crushed."

"And Hamas should be treated exactly as ISIS was treated," Netanyahu declared, The Times of Israel reported.

"They should be spit out from the community of nations. No leader should meet them. No country should harbour them. And those that do should be sanctioned," he said.

Netanyahu added that he has "no doubt that the forces of civilisation will win, and the reason that's true is because we understand what is the first prerequisite of victory. It's what you just said in our meeting -- moral clarity".

"This is a time, a particular time, a special time, that we all must stand tall, proud and united against evil. Tony, you are taking that stand, America is taking that stand," he said.

"Thank you America for standing with Israel today, tomorrow, and always," he concludes, then shares a firm handshake with Blinken.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Doctors here have successfully removed a hemangioma -- a benign tumour made up of blood vessels -- from the base of the tongue of a 33-year-old man using robotic surgery.

The patient, hailing from Bihar, had been complaining of blood stained saliva, difficulty in swallowing, and difficulty in breathing at night.

He was previously prescribed antibiotics and anti-allergics by local doctors. Doctors at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals first performed an endoscopy of the throat and identified a mass in the back side of his tongue.

They felt that the growth could be of two types, a neoplastic tumour (characteristic of cancer) or a benign hemangioma.

A hemangioma is a growth composed of blood vessels, making operating on it difficult due to the potential blood loss involved.

Also, the location of the growth might have needed a fairly extensive incision if traditional surgical methods were followed.

"Hemangiomas at the base of the tongue are extremely challenging to treat due to the risk of severe bleeding during surgery," said Dr. Kalpana Nagpal, Senior Consultant, ENT and Robotic Surgery, at the hospital.

Normally, blood is arranged in the blood bank prior to surgery, but this was not required since it was robotic surgery.

The robotic technology did not involve any cuts in the front of the neck and the 3D vision and magnification, used by Nagpal allowed for precise and minimally invasive removal of the hemangioma.

Unlike traditional surgical methods, the robotic surgery resulted in almost no blood loss and zero visible scarring. The patient also did not require a tracheostomy or feeding tube.

This advanced approach not only ensured a successful outcome but also reduced the patient's postoperative discomfort and recovery time.

"By utilising robotic surgery, we were able to perform the procedure with unparalleled precision and control. I'm delighted that the surgery was a resounding success, and the patient is on the path to a full recovery," Nagpal said.
Cairo, Oct 12 : The Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged Israel to "avoid targeting the Rafah crossing on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt," according to a statement by the Ministry.

"The Rafah crossing remains open and has not been closed since the beginning of the ongoing crisis, but its basic infrastructure at the Palestinian side was destroyed due to the recurrent Israeli raids which prevent its normal operation," the statement said.

Raids on the Rafah crossing should be evaded, so the crossing can be restored to serve as a life artery for supporting the Palestinian brothers in the strip, the statement added.

The statement urged all countries, and regional and international organisations to provide humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip to reduce their sufferings caused by the continuous and violent Israeli strikes, Xinhua news agency reported.

Egypt directed international aid for Gaza to al-Arish Airport in the north of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, the statement said.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

In Gaza, Israel continues its massive airstrikes and has halted the supply of water and electricity. The UN reports that at least 200,000 Palestinians have been displaced, with more than 120,000 taking shelter in UN schools under challenging conditions.
London, Oct 12 : A former Hamas chief has called for protests across the Muslim world on Friday in support of the Palestinians, urging the people of the neighbouring countries to join the fight against Israel, a media report said.

"[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday," said Khaled Meshaal, who currently heads Hamas' diaspora office, Daily Mail reported.

Meshaal, who is based out of Qatar, said the governments and the people of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt have a bigger duty to support the Palestinians, the report said.

'Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan... This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility," Meshaal said in a recorded statement. adding, "To all scholars who teach jihad... to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application (of theories)."

Jordan and Lebanon are home to the largest number of Palestinian refugees, Daily Mail reported..

Meshaal's call for a Friday 13th uprising was reiterated by Hamas itself, according to the Israeli-run, Washington DC-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

MEMRI said that Hamas has urged its supporters in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel to rise up in what he called 'the Al-Aqsa Flood' - echoing what the secretive Palestinian mastermind Mohammed Deif calls the attack he launched on Saturday against Israel, Daily Mail reported.

The phrase Israel's most wanted man used in an audio tape broadcast as Hamas fired thousands of rockets out of the Gaza Strip over the weekend signalled that the attack was their payback for Israeli raids at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi will be touring the states of Mizoram and Telangana for almost five days ahead of the crucial assembly elections.

A party source said that Rahul Gandhi will be travelling to Mizoram on October 15 and 16.

The source said that Gandhi will be attending the meeting of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) on October 17 and then leave for Telangana in the evening.

Rahul Gandhi will be participating in the bus yatra programme of the Congress in Telanaga for next three days on October 18, 19 and 20.

The source said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also likely to participate in the bus yatra on October 18.

The source further said that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will be addressing a public meeting in Rajasthan on October 16.

He will also kick off a yatra in Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ECRP) areas from Kota's Baran.

The source said that yatra will be hybrid, at some place it will be pad yatra at some places it will be on vehicle.

The polling for 118-member Telangana assembly is scheduled on November 30, while 40-member Mizoram and 200-member Rajasthan assemblies will vote on November 7 and November 25 respectively.

Counting of votes will take place on December 3.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : As the Israel-Palestine conflict continues, the schools in the country have warned parents to delete social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and others from their kids' mobile phones in anticipation of militant group Hamas posting videos with hostages being killed.

Since the start of the Hamas attacks on the weekend, violent videos have been circulating.

Users on X are sharing messages from Jewish schools urging parents to restrict social media use due to disturbing material spreading and potential distress.

"Messages from the Jewish high school I attended and our local Jewish Community Center suggesting parents delete X, Instagram and TikTok because of the "graphic and misleading information" on these platforms," a user wrote.

Now similar warnings are circulating worldwide, including in the US and UK, after The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey, also issued one, reports Cybernews.

"Local psychologists have reached out to us and informed us that the Israeli government is urging parents to tell their children to delete Instagram and TikTok immediately," read an email sent to the school.

According to some users, the advice to delete social media apps from kids' phones was good, regardless of the situation.

"Just saw an email from a noted Jewish high school telling parents to have their kids delete TikTok and Instagram, in anticipation of Hamas posting videos of Israeli hostages begging for their lives or worse. (Some videos of taunting of hostage kids are already circulating)," a user said.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip has increased to more than 2,500, with more fatalities expected as the violence continues for a sixth day.

In a report, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news said that at least 1,300 Israelis have died since Hamas launched its assault on October 7.

The Health Ministry said 3,268 people were injured, of which 443 were still in hospitals, reports Xinhua news agency.
Amman, Oct 12 : Jordan on Thursday dispatched a plane with humanitarian aid, including essential medical supplies to the Gaza Strip.

The relief plane will land in Egypt before making its way to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, following coordination with Egyptian authorities, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

The aid is aimed at helping ensure medical treatments amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 7 launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties, with a death toll amounting to more than 2,600 as of Thursday.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : A 23-year-old woman was attacked with a knife by a man in south Delhi, an official said on Thursday, adding that they have apprehended the accused.

The accused was identified as Gaurav Pal (27), a resident of Dundahera, Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the police, on Thursday at 6:20 a.m, a call from the police control room was received at Saket police station, reporting that a woman had been stabbed by a man on Lado Sarai Firni Road.

"A police team arrived at the scene where they found the victim, a resident of Lado Sarai. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the victim and the alleged perpetrator had been in a relationship for the last over two years," said a senior police official.

"However, in recent days, the girl had been ignoring him. On the morning in question, he met her in the Lado Sarai area while she was heading towards a cab that she had already booked. They were conversing as she sat in the cab," said the official.

In the meantime, the accused attacked her with a knife but was subdued by the cab driver.

"A case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code is being registered, and the alleged individual, Gaurav, who works in a private company in Gurgaon, has been apprehended," the official added.
Lucknow, Oct 12 : Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav will visit Fatehpur Village in Deoria district on October 16 to attend a prayer meeting being organised in memory of the deceased former district panchayat member Prem Yadav, who was killed recently.

It may be recalled that six people were killed in a property dispute on October 2 in Deoria district.

Sheela, the widow of Prem Yadav, said on Thursday that due to police action, an atmosphere of fear had been created and her relatives were not being allowed to visit her because prohibitory orders had been imposed in the area.

She has sought permission for organising a 'Brahmbhoj' in memory of her husband who was killed in the massacre.

On the other hand, the Tehsildar has given his decision on the legality of the house owned by Prem Yadav.

The Tehsildar said that Yadav's house was built on government land. He has also issued an eviction order and imposed a fine on Prem Yadav's father for illegally occupying government land and building a house on it. The illegally-built house will now be bulldozed.

On the other hand Devesh, son of Satya Prakash Dubey -- who was also killed in the property dispute along with four other members of his family -- has said that he will not perform the 'shraddh' rituals unless Yadav's house is bulldozed. "This is the least amount of justice that I am expecting," he said.
Pune, Oct 12 : In a major revelation, NCP Working President and MP Supriya Sule said that her father, Sharad Pawar had quit as NCP President on May 2 as some people were clamouring to ally with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, here on Thursday.

She also asserted that her father was kept 'in the dark' about the moves by her cousin, the rival NCP President Ajit Pawar to join hands with the BJP -- both in November 2019 and in July 2023.

"Sharad Pawar never had any plan to resign as NCP chief, but he was compelled to do so after the rebel group led by Ajit Pawar were insistent on supporting the BJP. He was very pained by their decision," declared Sule, a 3-time MP from Baramati.

In a dramatic turn, Sharad Pawar had quit as NCP President on May 2, and after the party's pressures, had taken it back on May 5, while Ajit Pawar and his supporters left the party on July 1 to ally with the ruling Shiv Sena of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP.

Responding to this in Akola, Sharad Pawar declared that contrary to speculation, he never had any intentions to go with the BJP, as claimed by some leaders of the breakaway NCP faction and BJP.

Referring to NCP (AP) faction's Minister Chhagan Bhujbal's claims to a private TV channel, Sule said that it is now evident by Bhujbal's own statements that Sharad Pawar was unaware of either the dawn swearing-in ceremony of November 2019, or the July 2023 split.

Now, in his recent remarks, she said Bhujbal has admitted that both the oath-taking ceremonies (November 2019 and July 2023) were done without keeping Sharad Pawar in the loop, and he had even 'lied' on his own whereabouts during the July 2023 episode.

Sule reiterated that Sharad Pawar has never jettisoned the Congress ideology and followed his mentor, the first CM of Maharashtra, Y. B. Chavan, and he made it clear to Bhujbal and other rebels that they are free to go to the BJP as he would not abandon his ideological stance.

Sule even rubbished Bhujbal's claim that after Sharad Pawar's resignation, she was to be made the NCP President and then allying with the BJP, and said she would "never ever have compromised with her father's ideals, and so refused to be the NCP chief".

She even attacked the BJP's hypocrisy for first dubbing the NCP as a 'nationally corrupt party', later claiming to hold secret talks with the same NCP, and then allying with it for political gains, and demanded that "the BJP must apologise for all their false allegations hurled against us for so long".
Kolkata, Oct 12 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe against Sunanda Goenka, the principal of Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College in Kolkata, over allegations of assuming teaching job by submitting forged documents.

The matter was so far being investigated by the anti-fraud section of Kolkata Police.

However, the single-judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay observed on Thursday that the cops of the anti-fraud section have failed miserably in progressing with the investigation and hence the case is now being handed over to the CID of state police.

Justice Gangopadhyay also gave CID the authority to question Goenka in the matter, and if necessary, even take her into custody.

He then directed the CID to submit a preliminary report in the matter by October 18.

Although there was call for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter, Justice Gangopadhyay rejected that demand.

"This is a local matter involving one college and hence the CID of the state police is fit enough to carry out the investigation," he observed.

The city police had started the investigation against Goenka following a complaint filed in 2018 by a former member of the governing board of the Law College, who accused Goenka of both submission of forged documents and involvement in financial irregularities.

The local Charu Market police station first started the investigation by filing an FIR in November 2019. Later, the investigation part was shifted to the anti-fraud section of the city police.

Recently, Justice Gangopadhyay had ordered for the removal of Goenka from the chair of the principal of the said college.

However, on Wednesday, the high court's division bench of Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Rai Chattopadhyay stayed that order.

The division bench, at the same time, ordered that Goenka will have to submit her credentials in the matter to the single-judge bench of Justice Gangopadhyay only.

The division bench also observed that the matter will be heard by Justice Gangopadhyay's bench.
Jerusalem, Oct 12 : Speaking after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said that he is "incredibly grateful" to be back in Israel, "in this incredibly difficult moment, for this nation, but in fact for the entire world." Blinken told a personal story as a Jew. He tells of his grandfather fleeing pogroms in Russia, and of his stepfather surviving concentration camps in the Holocaust, The Times of Israel reported.

"I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamas's massacres carry for Israeli Jews, indeed for Jews everywhere," he added.

"I also come before you as a husband and father of young children. It's impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed, such as the mother, father, and three small children murdered as they sheltered in their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, and not think of my own children," he said.

"This was just one of Hamas's countless acts of terror in a litany of brutality and inhumanity that, yes, brings to mind the worst of ISIS," Blinken added.

"Babies slaughtered, bodies desecrated, young people burned alive, women raped, parents executed in front of their children, children in front of their parents."

"How are we even to understand this, to digest this?"

"And yet, at the same time that we've been shocked by the depravity of Hamas, we've also been inspired by the bravery of Israel's citizens. The grandfather who drove over an hour to a Kibbutz under siege armed only with a pistol and rescued his kids and grandkids," Blinken said.

"The mother who died shielding her teenage son with her body, giving her life to save his. Giving him life for a second time. The volunteer security teams on the kibbutzes who swiftly rallied to defend their friends and neighbours despite being heavily outnumbered."

He also notes the "remarkable solidarity" of the Israeli people, the long lines of people giving blood, the reservists who flew home from abroad, the people who opened their homes to fellow citizens displaced from the south, The Times of Israel reported.

"The people of Israel have long and rightly prided themselves on their self-reliance, on their ability to defend themselves even when the odds are stacked against them," Blinken continues.

"The message that I bring to Israel is this -- you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side," he says.

"That's the message that President Biden delivered to the Prime Minister from the moment that this crisis began."

Blinken welcomes the creation of the national emergency government, and the "unity and resolve that it reflects across Israel's society."

"We are delivering on our word," says Blinken.

"Supplying ammunition interceptors to replenish Israel's Iron Dome, along other defence materiel. The first shipments of US military support have already arrived in Israel, and more is on the way. As Israel's defence needs evolve, we will work with Congress to make sure that they are met. And I can tell you there is overwhelming, overwhelming bipartisan support in our Congress for Israel's security."

Blinken repeats America's "crystal clear" warning against any and all other actors -- state or non-state -- thinking of taking advantage of the crisis to attack Israel: "Don't. The United States has Israel's back."

The US has deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Eastern Mediterranean, and bolstered the presence of US fighter aircraft in the region and provided Israel with other support, he says.

He affirms that the US is also working closely with Israel to secure the release of the hostages taken by Hamas, The Times of Israel reported.

He also added that the US is continually engaging in "intensive diplomacy throughout the region to prevent the conflict from spreading".

Blinken criticises world leaders in the past for equivocating when it comes to terrorist attacks against Israel.

"There is no excuse, there is no justification for these atrocities," he stressed. "This is, this must be, a moment for moral clarity."

The failure to unambiguously condemn terrorism, he says, puts at risk people in Israel and everywhere, he said, noting that people from 36 countries were killed or are missing from the Hamas attacks.

"Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas -- no region has escaped Hamas' bloody reach. Anyone who wants peace and justice, must condemn Hamas's reign of terror."

"We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people" or their legitimate aspirations.

"We know Hamas rules repressively and dedicates the resources it has to terror tunnels and rocketsa We know Hamas does not stand for the future the Palestinians want for themselves and their children. Hamas has only one agenda -- to destroy Israel and to murder Jews," he says.

"No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens, or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place.

"Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again."

Blinken repeats the exhortation that democracies must take every precaution to avoid causing civilian casualties.

"As the Prime Minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters. We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for different standards even when it is difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short. Our humanity, the value that we place on human life and human dignity, that's what makes us who we are. And we count them among our greatest strengths. That is why it is so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians. And that is why we mourn the loss of every innocent life -- civilians of every faith, every nationality, who have been killed."

The death toll continues to rise, he said. And among those, "at least 25 American citizens were killed," Blinken said.

Again invoking his own family's Holocaust experiences, Blinken concludes: "In this moment, where evil, hatred and madness have once more taken so many innocent lives, we must stand together, and resolve to confront what is worst among humanity with what is best. We must provide an alternative to the vision of violence and fear, nihilism and terror, presented by Hamas. That is what the US will do, standing with Israel, working together with its people and all those in this region who remain committed to the vision of a more peaceful, more integrated, more secure and more prosperous Middle East."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will visit Lebanon, Iranian media said, Trend reports.

It is noted that within the framework of the visit the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, as well as the military conflict between Israel and Hamas will be discussed.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on 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 (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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Rarely comes a book that needs to be read and understood not only from the perspective of subject experts, but by common people to comprehend and recognise the relationship between rural and urban India.

Prof. Surinder S. Jodkha's 'The Indian Village: Rural Lives in the 21st Century' (Aleph Books; Rs 799) sheds light on how the founding fathers of Independent India toiled hard to set the balance right, but ended up pushing very different agendas.

Prof. Jodkha touches upon the issues of religion, the caste system and the evil of untouchability to make the reader understand how the idea of 'village republics' evolved post-Independence.

The author has authoritatively delved in detail into the lives of peasants, the British view of Indian villages, how rural society and farming practices were reshaped post 1947.

The real deal in the book is Chapter 3 where Prof. Jodkha analyses the works of three influential thinkers -- Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar -- whose views on villages also reflected their visions of free and independent India.

Their perspectives on Indian villages were not mere political rhetoric invoked to counter the colonial powers. The most important among these thinkers was Mahatma Gandhi, whose ideas about village society are widely known.

Gandhi had emphatically said: "For me, India begins and ends in the villages." He also continued to underline the value of village life in his writings all his life. He was the most ardent and persuasive advocate of the idea of "the village being the soul of India".

Prof. Jodkha says that Gandhi's invocation of the idea of the Indian village appears to have evolved during his days in South Africa. Gandhi continued to see village life as an alternative way of living, an uthopia, even when he found faults with the realities of rural life in the Indian countryside.

He did not give up on the village but turned the politics around it upside down. He believed that real self-rule or Swaraj could only be achieved by restoring the civilisational strength of India, which meant a revival of its village communities.

The author notes that Gandhi's advocacy of village life was not to celebrate traditionalism; his was a plea for a kind of equality whereby villages are not treated as an inferior place. The village deserved autonomy if India were to arise as an independent nation, Gandhi believed.

Nehru, Gandhi's trusted disciple, differed with his guru on the issue of the primacy of the autonomous village in Independent India. He saw no virtue in reviewing the traditional social structure, as colonial and orientalist writings had presumably visualised or constructed it.

For Nehru, the solution to the problem of caste was in moving forward towards a democratic and modern social order. He also felt dismayed at the politically docile and fatalistic nature of the Indian peasants, who he believed had the capacity to bear famines, floods, disease and grinding poverty, and when they no longer can endure these afflictions, they quietly lie down and die. That was their escape route.

Ambedkar was the nemesis to the philosophies of both Gandhi and Nehru.

Prof. Jodhka says that Ambedkar was critical of both Gandhi and Nehru's views on rural life and how they wanted to take Independent India forward.

The village, according to Ambedkar, was "the working plant of the Hindu social order" where one could observe "the Hindu social order in operation in full swing". Far from being a harmonious community, the village for Ambedkar was a divided universe resting on the foundation of the oppressive caste system.

Prof. Jodkha says some of Ambedkar's arguments were best crystallised during Constituent Assembly debates where some members had argued passionately for making the village an autonomous administrative unit with its own legislature, executive and judiciary.

Ambedkar had vehemently opposed such a move. Gandhi and Nehru, on the other hand, had accepted the colonial construct of the 'village community' as a reality of India's past.

Ambedkar looked at it more critically. Given Ambedkar's training in the social sciences, he was able to locate the sources of this construct in the Orientalist narrative of India.

He also provided a sociological explanation for its uncritical acceptance by the middle-class elite of India. He had no great appreciation for the village. The ground realities of the villages were well understood by him and became a source of his critique of the undemocratic spirit of Indian society.

The author says that the village for Ambedkar was a microcosm of the Hindu social order, marked by hierarchies of caste and a culture of exclusion and discrimination, best reflected in the caste-based spatial division within the rural settlement.

(Daanish Bin Nabi can be reached at daanishnabi@gmail.com)
Chandigarh, Oct 12 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said on Thursday that after compromising the interests of Punjab in the Supreme Court at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal's instance, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is now teaming up with the Congress to facilitate successful conduct of a central survey to release Ravi-Beas water to Haryana through the SYL canal.

SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema told the media here that the AAP government seems to have forgotten all historic injustices meted out to Punjab by the Congress, be it giving away of half of its river water to Rajasthan in 1955 to further division of another half of the remaining water to Haryana, and the decision to create and inaugurate digging of the SYL in 1981 and 1982, respectively.

"Instead of mentioning these injustices as well as telling Punjabis why it had failed to defend the state's case in the Supreme Court, the AAP government has started a vilification campaign against SAD. This is not in the interest of the state as it is tantamount to playing into the hands of anti-Punjab parties who want to rob us of our river waters," Cheema said.

The SAD leader also decried AAP for using a one-page document of former Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal's speech in the Vidhan Sabha to defame the SAD.

He said the speech, which was delivered for the consumption of Haryana legislators, only talked about the Punjab government's intention to acquire land in three villages under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act.

"The AAP government has forgotten that the SYL was built over a 122-km span and that administrative approval for it was given by Giani Zail Singh in 1977 and Rs 1 crore was also received by the Zail Singh government from Haryana during that period," Cheema said.

He said despite such state of affairs after assuming power in 1978, then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal challenged Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganization Act which gave power to the Centre to allocate river waters between Punjab and Haryana.

"Badal Sahab also did not allow the SYL canal to be constructed during his period as Chief Minister. He also launched a morcha to stop construction of the SYL at Kapuri village after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated work on the project in 1982. All this is part of record and makes it clear that Badal was the real defender of the river waters of the state," Cheema said.

Asking the AAP government not to do politics on such a sensitive issue, Cheema said Punjabis were perturbed that AAP actually stood for the construction of the SYL canal and release of Punjab's waters to Haryana.

"AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has made this clear ample times," Cheema said, adding that AAP has also given a guarantee in Haryana that it would ensure water from the SYL reaches each and every corner of the state in case the party comes to power in Haryana in 2024.
Mumbai, Oct 12 : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said that 14 non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) have surrendered their certificate of registration.

These NBFCs include Shivam Hire Purchase & Finvest, Sun Finlease (Gujarat), Chitrakoot Motor Finance and Alkan Fiscal Services among others.

As many as 10 of these NBFCs have surrendered their licence due to exit from the non-banking financial institution (NBFI) business.

These 10 NBFCs are TMF Business Services Limited (formerly Tata Motors Finance), Shivam Hire Purchase & Finvest, Shree Shanti Trades, Adroit Commercial, Sun Finlease (Gujarat), Chitrakoot Motor Finance, VIP Finstock, Dhruvtara Finance Services, Saija Finance and Micrograam Marketplace.

The other four NBFCs have surrendered their licence as they ceased to be legal entities due reasons such as amalgamation, dissolution or voluntary strike-off.

--IANS

pannu/dan
Patna, Oct 12 : After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced to give compensation to the victims of North East Express train derailment, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries said Chief Minister's compensation is not required and he should give his financial aid to the mosque.

Nitish Kumar, after the derailment of NE Express at Raghunathpur in Buxar district, announced Rs 4 lakh compensation to the family members of the deceased and Rs 50 thousand to injured passengers.

Nitish Kumar announcement is a part of Bihar government policy to provide financial aid to the family members of persons who lost their lives in any kind of incident or accident in the state.

"It is a matter of the central government to look after the compensation and treatment of the passengers of the train tragedy. Still, we are offering Rs 4 lakh compensation to the kin of deceased who lost their lives in NE Express train derailment and Rs 50 thousand to the injured persons," Nitish Kumar said.

Following his statement, Giriraj Singh said: "I feel pained after hearing the statement of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The way he said that this is not his job and is railway's job but still the compensation will be given; I want to say that Nitish Kumar should not distribute largesse."

"Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister and he was also a railway minister. The way he is announcing the compensation, it looks like he is offering largesse. We have union infrastructure in the country and hence should not make such statements," Singh said.

"Nitish Kumar government has Rs one crore to donate for the mosque of Biharsharif but they do not have money for the victims of shop owners who lost their properties during the riot in Ram Navami," Singh said.

--IANS

ajk/dan
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday participated in the 108th meeting of the development committee plenary of the World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco.

She said that India supports it's new vision to create a world free of poverty on a liveable planet and to end extreme poverty.

During the meeting, Sitharamanencouraged World Bank to take lead in aligning processes and procedures with other multilateral development banks (MDBs) to benefit client countries that deal with multiple MDBs.

Further work is needed beyond Marrakech to increase World Bank's capacity to realise our enhanced ambition, Sitharaman stated.

Also, while engaging in climate action in line with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities," we encourage the World Bank to be more ambitious in its commitment to adaptation finance, she added.

Sitharaman further said that enabling private capital mobilisation at scale will require an enhanced 'One World Bank' approach.

"At the same time, we must be realistic in our assessment of the potential of private capital mobilisation, given the global economic outlook," she added.

Appetite for the proposed pilot Global Challenge Programmes (GCPs) will depend on strong country demand and ownership, access to new and additional finance, as well as provision of concessional finance, for both Low-Income Countries (LICs) and Middle-Income Countries (MICs), she said.

"We fully agree with the conclusion that significantly more could be done for clients by mobilising new, additional resources for the World Bank," Sitharaman said.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : India on Thursday made it clear that in case of Palestine, it has always advocated resumption of direct negotiations for its peaceful coexistence with Israel, even as it sees the conflict in Israel as a terror attack.

"We have been very clear that we see it as a terrorist attack. As far as Palestine is concerned, India has advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing the sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognised border side by side with Israel," said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi.

Addressing a flurry of questions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which got escalated last week after the Hamas group launched rocket attacks on Tel Aviv, Bagchi said that government's prime focus is to bring back 18,000 Indians stuck there.

"Our focus is to bring back Indians who want to come out of Israel. There are 18,000 Indians there, including students," he said, informing that the government has launched Operation Ajay to bring back Indian citizens from war-torn Israel.

"Yesterday, Operation Ajay was launched to facilitate our citizens who wish to come back. The first flight will reach Tel Aviv tonight and is likely to reach India tomorrow (Friday) with 230 people," Bagchi informed.

The spokesperson also informed that there are no casualties among Indians stuck in Israel, though one person has been injured.

"We are aware of one Indian who was injured. The person is in hospital. Thankfully, we have not heard of any Indian casualty," he informed.

To questions on Indians stuck in Palestine, Bagchi said, "My understanding is that about a dozen-odd people are there in West Bank while 3-4 people are there in Gaza. The number is very small. Mostly, we have received requests (to rescue) from Israel."

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has kept its aircraft on stand-by in case there is a requirement to bring back Indian citizens from Israel, reports quoting IAF officials said.

The IAF transport aircraft fleet includes the C-17 and IL-76 heavy-lift transport planes along with the C-130J Super Hercules Special Operations aircraft which have been used in the past for such evacuation operations, they added.

Replying to questions on reports saying that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is learnt to have met his Canadian counterpart, Bagchi said, "We have been in touch with Canadians at various levels, but we do not have any specific information regarding any particular interaction."

To a question on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raising the issue of his country's relations with India with other world leaders, Bagchi said, "We don't know really how will it help address the core issue of Canada giving space to terrorists and criminal elements.

"We would urge Canada to take more seriously their international obligations to provide security to our diplomats in their premises."
Bhopal, Oct 12 : Political circles in Madhya Pradesh are abuzz with speculation as to whether Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who jumped ship to the BJP from the Congress in March 2020, will contest the Assembly elections scheduled on November 17.

The buzz grew stronger after the BJP fielded several heavyweights in its second list for the Assembly polls, including three Union ministers -- Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste -- along with the party's national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.

With this, the BJP has opened the race for the Chief Minister's post, if the party retains power in Madhya Pradesh.

The possibility over Scindia's candidature for the Assembly elections gained further momentum after his aunt and state minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia announced that she would not contest the November 17 polls.

Her decision gave rise to the buzz that she might have vacated the Shivpuri Assembly seat for her nephew. Importantly, the BJP has not declared its candidate for Shivpuri yet.

According to political observers, given that Scindia's supporters always wanted to project him as the next Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, there is a strong possibility that he would contest the elections.

"If the BJP retains power, all the heavyweights who win the elections will push themselves for the CM's post. If Scindia doesn't contest the elections, he would be out of that race. Therefore, Scindia might contest the polls," a political observer said.

The political observers also feel that the contest between the BJP and the Congress will be very close and the saffron party will try to win all its strong seats and therefore it would field the strongest candidates.

"Tomar has already been fielded despite having extra responsibility for the elections. So the BJP might not give special privilege to Scindia, who also hails from the same region. Secondly, with the combination of Scindia and Tomar, the BJP will try to win maximum seats in the Gwalior-Chambal region," a political observer said.

Fielding Scindia as a candidate might also be BJP's plan to bring him in front to counter the strategy of the opposition led by two veteran Congress leaders - Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh.

More importantly, Scindia's candidature will also give rise to a political rivalry between 'Raja Saheb' (Digvijaya Singh) and 'Maharaja Saheb' (Scindia).

Digvijaya Singh has already assigned his son Jaivardhan Singh to look after Gwalior-Chambal's strategy. He has also brought many Scindia loyalists back into the Congress.

The BJP has so far declared 136 candidates for the 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, which will go to the polls on November 17. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 3, along with Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.
Kolkata, Oct 12 : Haldia Petrochemical Limited (HPL), on Thursday, has claimed that it will be making a fresh investment of Rs 3,000 crore in the chemicals sector in West Bengal by setting up new factories at Haldia in East Midnapore district.

According to a Press statement issued by the company here on Thursday, the first investment will be on an on-purpose propylene unit based on Olefin Conversion Technology (OCT) and the second will be on a phenol unit. Both will be at the company's existing facility at Haldia.

"It will be the largest phenol plant in the country with a production capacity of 300 KTPA phenol and 185 KTPA acetone," claimed the whole-time director and the chief executive officer of HPL Navanit Narayan.

He also said that with the commissioning of these plants, the overall chemical business portfolio is expected to increase by an additional Rs. 5,000 crore.

"As the plans move towards fruition, there will be advancement in areas such as digitisation. This will generate direct and indirect employment in the downstream chemical industry. The total industrial scenario evolving around chemicals will witness tremendous growth within a very short period," he added.

According to him, the demand for petrochemicals is growing due to a large population base, favourable demographics, increasing economic growth, urbanisation, and its positive impact on automobile production, construction, infrastructure, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.

"This proposed investment will likely be the largest in West Bengal in the chemical sector over the last two decades. It has also led to an increase in the number of ancillary units," Narayan added.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Looking at the infighting between the office-bearers of the Indian Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), the Delhi High Court has appointed Justice Talwant Singh (Retd.) as an observer in the matter to conduct elections for the post of President.

The high court had earlier directed the Secretary and Treasurer of the IICC -- a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which is experiencing a decline due to the ongoing struggle for the President's position -- to sign cheques for salaries and miscellaneous expenses of its staff.

The salary issue stems from the main suit, which deals with the disputes between the parties -- IICC and its President Sirajuddin Qureshi.

The suit is to protect the society from further deterioration and mismanagement at the hands of Qureshi and other members of the Board of Trustees comprising 11 persons -- the President, Vice President, seven elected members by the General Body, and two members nominated by the Government of India.

The cheques were to be signed by the President, Secretary and Treasurer jointly, but since Qureshi attained the age of 75 on June 14, he cannot hold the post of President as per Clause No. 8 of the Memorandum of Association.

Now, the observer has been tasked with conducting the membership audit to see as to who are the members of the society and if need be, also to conduct a financial audit.

Once the election is conducted, the newly-elected Board of Trustees will be handed over the affairs of IICC, and the present disputes will likely come to an end.

It was contended before the high court that under the presidency of Qureshi, IICC has deviated from its original objectives and operates in a whimsical and arbitrary manner, breaching settled legal principles.

"Qureshi after being elected in 2004 as the President of IICC has not framed any by-laws to run the society and is trying to establish complete monopoly/control over the functioning of the centre in a whimsical and arbitrary manner contrary to the settled principles of the applicable law," it has been argued.

According to the petition, Qureshi seeks to exert personal control by opening unauthorised restaurants and cafes on the premises. The situation has escalated due to a proposed amendment to the Memorandum of Association to remove the upper age limit for the office-bearers, with questionable legitimacy.

"Qureshi and other members of the Board of Trustees have been aided and abetted by the other members of the Board, who have overtly or tacitly supported Qureshi in the various acts of breach of trust," the petition read.

It is alleged that Qureshi, on May 9, issued a notice convening a special meeting of the general body on May 24 in order to amend the Memorandum.

The Secretary of the IICC objected to the convening of the special meeting.

"The hidden agenda behind convening the special meeting of the general body was to amend the Memorandum of Association inter alia to remove the upper age limit of 75 years as provided in Clause 8 (d) of the Memorandum of Association," it is alleged.

Thus, in view of the serious tussle going on between the different members of the executive and the board of trustees, the functioning of the IICC has been affected.

On May 23, the high court had issued directions halting convening any meetings till the next date of hearing, July 24, and had impleaded the Secretary and Treasurer.

Qureshi was also directed by the court not to convene any future AGM or special general body meetings.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Parliamentary delegates from G20 and special invitee nations, who are here to participate in the upcoming P20 summit, on Thursday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the P20 summit on Friday in the national capital.

Milton Dick, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives; Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad of Bangladesh; Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council, UAE; and Ashebir Woldegiorgis Gayo, Acting President, Pan African Parliament called on Birla.

The Lok Sabha Speaker expressed gratitude to Australia for supporting India's priorities and initiatives during G20 Summit. He also praised Australia for supporting India's initiative for the inclusion of African Union in G20.

Birla also noted that recent visits by Prime Ministers of both countries have given a new dimension to bilateral relations between India and Australia and mutual cooperation has further deepened and infused new energy.

He urged that both Parliaments should widen the scope of parliamentary cooperation.

During his meeting with Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad of Bangladesh, Birla emphasised that India and Bangladesh should further strengthen cooperation between the two Parliaments.

Bangladesh is a special invitee to the P20 summit.

He expressed satisfaction at increasing connectivity across road, rail, air, waterways and digital sectors between the two countries.

In his meeting with Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council, UAE, Birla noted that initiatives like aGlobal Biofuel Alliance' and 'India Middle East-Europe Economic Corridora have brought India and UAE closer.

During his meeting with Ashebir Woldegiorgis Gayo, Acting President, Pan African Parliament, Birla congratulated him for inclusion of the African Union in G20.

The leaders discussed several important issues and explored opportunities for further collaboration between the two Parliaments.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. As the US elections are approaching, the current presidential candidates are striving to gain the trust of the electorate. In their pursuit of more votes, Vivek Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and presidential candidate, has clearly lost all remnants of dignity and honor.

Speaking on the Tucker Carlson show about the events in Israel and Hamas's actions, a potential US presidential candidate suddenly shifted his focus to "crimes" against Armenians in Azerbaijan, illustrating his claims with footage meant to confirm these "atrocities". He presented images of areas in Ganja destroyed by Armenian rockets and videos of the Barda attack in October 2020 as evidence of "crimes" against the Armenian people.

Ramaswamy genuinely believed that the US public was unaware of what was happening in the South Caucasus, leading him to illustrate accusations against Baku with images of Armenian crimes against humanity. The US presidential candidate effectively insulted the memory of dozens of Azerbaijani civilians who fell victim to Armenian bombings.

There is no doubt that Ramaswamy has no idea about what he is talking about. These are just empty words to him, devoid of substance. It is quite apparent that Ramaswamy, aspiring to become U.S. president, chose to establish ties with the American Armenian community in pursuit of gaining votes. And these images and "facts" were undoubtedly provided to him by those same Armenians.

Let's dive in a little in who is Vivek Ramaswamy? The American presidential candidate enjoys creating a lot of noise around himself. He became rich without really creating anything substantial, mainly by acquiring abandoned drug patents. He has been working for several years to develop and promote a new drug for Alzheimer's disease. However, the drug did not pass clinical trials, and the project failed miserably.

Moreover, with his arguments in support of Armenia, Ramaswamy openly supports the separatist regime created by Armenians on the sovereign Azerbaijani territories, isn't it? Well, some resources say, that, in fact, Vivek Ramaswamy, or more precisely, his family, is connected to the separatist movement in Sri Lanka. This explains a lot, especially his strong support for the Armenians.

As Azerbaijan has fully restored its sovereignty as a result of anti-terror measures conducted on September 19-20, the media campaign around the world fueled by Armenian diasporas has grown even bigger. And there is nothing surprising about that either. However, hearing such unbelievable claims about the so-called "atrocities" Azerbaijan is allegedly carrying out against the Armenians from the president-to-be is unacceptable.

Such glaring incompetence in the matters that Vivek Ramaswamy attempts to discuss, all while making contorted expressions, should be the basis for his overall disqualification as a politician.
Tel Aviv, Oct 12 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top officials of his government on arrival with strong assurances of US support to them in their war with the Hamas terrorists that has now entered the sixth day leaving 25 Americans dead alongside over a near 2,000 on either side A large part of the discussion between Israel leaders and Blinken was the Americans in Israel who remain unaccounted for and working to release those being held hostage by Hamas.

Some 25 Americans have been reportedly killed in Israel since the start of the Hamas attacks as the death toll mounted to a near 2,000 on either side, media reports said.

Blinken held a joint press meet with Netanyahu here as his overseas trip comes on the back of the Israel Defense Forces preparing for the next larger offensive against the militants in the war that has paralysed the Gaza Strip where 2 million Palestinians live, now without food, fuel or electricity as even hospitals were bombed.

Israel Defence Forces claimed they had given sufficient warnings to the people in Gaza of the impending bombings but Hamas was using schools, colleges, hospitals, mosques with civilians as human shields to avoid any attacks, reports said.

Blinken said his simple message was that the US has Israel's back. "We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people. We know Hamas didn't commit its heinous acts with the interest of Palestinians in mind. Hamas has one agenda: to destroy Israel and murder Jews," Blinken said.

"Israel has the right to defend itself and ensure this never happens again."

The Secretary of State is also scheduled to visit Jordan on Friday to meet with Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian authority, and King Abdullah the second of Jordan.

New IDF video shows air strikes shattering structures across Gaza, buildings the army says are connected to terrorists, CNN reported. They are striking what they categorize as a terrorist target at sea.

Hospitals are overflowing with the wounded and families in the region face an uncertain future. "There is nothing that we can do. Even the place that I am in right now is almost out of water, almost out of food," Afaf Najar, who is sheltering in Gaza, said.

The US has made it clear Israel gets what it needs to defend itself and the first tranche of arms and ammunition have already arrived here.

"My commitment to Israel security and the safety of Jewish people is unshakable. The US has Israel's back and we're going to be working on this all day and beyond," US President Joe Biden said earlier this week.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 12 : Holding that it is the most opportune time to build mutual partnerships between Kerala and Northern Territory (NT) Government of Australia, the Deputy Chief Minister of NT Government of Australia, Nicole Manison said her government will now sign an MoU with Kerala on collaborations in trade and other key sectors.

Manison, who is leading the delegation to the state, revealed this during an interaction with higher officials of various departments, including the Department of Industries and Commerce, among others here on Wednesday evening.

He is on a visit to Kerala leading a 16-member business delegation to explore the possibility of bringing investment to the state commensurating with mutual growth and to identify the priority sectors which propel mutual growth.

Manison, who is also the Minister for Trade of Northern Territory, Australia, said globally trade relations are built with nations and places where mutual partnerships benefit both sides.

"Kerala has an amazing dynamic community living in NT and they contribute significantly to the economy through investments. There is a real brooding relationship of trust, belief and opportunity with Kerala. We have so much to learn from the state in education, training and other sectors," said Manison.

She added that it's a great opportunity for both sides to help each other by developing business partnerships in areas like chemicals, minerals and renewable energy.

Elaborating on the opportunities in healthcare sector in NT, which has a total population of 2,50,000, Manison said that the state has some of the best healthcare professionals in the world and it is also produces the best health workforce in the world.

The delegation from Kerala led by Suman Billa, MD of state-run KSIDC, said the NT delegation had a fruitful round of discussions with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding several areas of cooperation, investments, industrial and technical collaborations, besides talent mobility especially in the areas of healthcare.

Noting that NT is a powerhouse of resources, Billa added that the Australian state has most of the critical minerals in abundance and plenty of potential for renewable solar energy and green hydrogen.

Commenting that tie-up with NT will be an opportunity for MSMEs in the state, Sarah Kirlew, Consul General, Australian Consulate in Chennai, said NT's relation with Kerala started in 2017 and the consistent engagement by both sides will help them explore more areas.

Kirlew added that of the one million people of Indian origin living in the country, 80,000 of those speak Malayalam, indicating that people from Kerala is the third largest Indian community in Australia catering to the country's growth.
Patna, Oct 12 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is frequently in the news these days for all the gaffes that he makes during his speeches. On Thursday, he stunned everyone at a function by calling himself "Faltu Mukhya Mantri." It all began when he absent-mindedly called the Bihar Chief Secretary Amir Subhani "chief Mukhya Mantri" while addressing the gathering at an event of the Panchayati Raj Department in Patna.

When the officials present there pointed out the error, Nitish Kumar corrected himself but ended up calling himself "Faltu Mukhya Mantri."

"When we decided to build the Panchayati Sarkar building in the state, we wanted its speedy construction. However, it did not happen according to our expectations. We have built 1,517 buildings and construction is underway in 857. When the World Bank learnt about the Panchayat Sarkar building, they were highly pleased and offered to provide financial help in making 330 buildings," Kumar said.

He then went on to say, "Chief Mukhya Mantri Ji is here." When he was corrected by the officers present he said, "The Chief Secretary is here. I am the Chief Minister Faltu..."

This slip of the tongue by the Chief Minister became a major point of discussion and ridicule in the political circles of Bihar.

This is not the first time that Nitish Kumar has made an error during a speech.

Recently at a Janata Darbar, he asked the officers to make a call to the Home Minister. The officers present there were flummoxed because Nitish Kumar holds the Home portfolio also. But apparently this little detail slipped his mind and he kept on asking the officials to call the Home Minister. In the end, the officers called a senior IAS officer.

At another event, Nitish Kumar claimed that when he held the post of the Union Home Minister he gave reservation to sportspersons.

The fact remains that Nitish Kumar never held the post of Union Home Minister in his entire career. He was the Union Railway and Agriculture Minister.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha's plea challenging a trial court order ruling that he did not possess a vested right to continue occupying a government Type-7 bungalow on Pandara Road, which falls under Lutyens' Delhi, after the allotment was cancelled and the privilege withdrawn.

Chadha had moved the high court on Tuesday and told it on Wednesday that his eviction was selective and that there are other first-time MPs as well with identical accommodation above their entitlement, who have not been targeted.

Last week, Additional District Judge Sudhanshu Kaushik of the Patiala House Courts had vacated his interim order, which had directed the Rajya Sabha Secretariat to refrain from evicting him from the bungalow without following due legal process.

These bungalows in question are allocated to lawmakers who have served as ministers, Chief Ministers, or Governors.

On Thursday, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani reserved the order after hearing Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Chadha and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikram Banerjee for the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

Singhvi submitted that he is is directed to appear before the Estate Officer in the proceedings initiated under the Public Premises Act on Friday and he proposes to request the Officer to defer the proceedings since the judgement in the matter has been reserved. "The statement is taken on record," the court said.

On completion of the hearing, the judge reserved the order.

On Wednesday, Singhvi said that the cancellation of the government accommodation had no direct connection with Chadha's suspension from the Rajya Sabha, which occurred months later.

He stated that the trial court's order appeared to be motivated by "legal malice".

Singhvi argued that the bungalow was allocated to Chadha after careful consideration by the Vice President in September last year and Chadha had accepted the allocation.

He contended that it could not be revoked by the Chairman of the House Committee, and pointed out that a significant number of MPs had been granted accommodations exceeding their entitlement, and Chadha was the only one facing eviction.

"What Vice President grants the Chairman of the House Committee cannot take away. What the Principal grants the agent cannot take away. Article 14 stares in the face. The Public Premises Act will not apply where proceedings are ongoing in injunction which is taken away by the review," Singhvi contended.

On the opposing side, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjit Banerjee contested the petition, arguing that Chadha could not take inconsistent positions.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambani questioned whether the defendant in the suit, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, should be considered a government entity under Section 80(1) of the Code of Civil Procedure, or a public officer.

Banerjee responded that the "office of profit" argument was not applicable to a civil suit under Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as he criticised Singhvi's interpretation of the law.

The trial court's order came in Chadha's suit against the Rajya Sabha Secretariat's decision to cancel the bungalow's allotment to him, following an order issued on March 3.

The Secretariat had then filed a review application seeking the recall of the interim order by the judge, which now stands vacated.

It was the Secretariat's case that the interim relief had been granted to Chadha without adhering to the procedure outlined in Section 80(2) of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).

The court had said that the interim relief granted in Chadha's case had been an apparent error, and the order dated April 18 was recalled and vacated.

In April, the court had directed the Secretariat not to dispossess Chadha from the bungalow during the pendency of the application without due process of law.
Mumbai, Oct 12 : Ahead of the release of the Tiger Shroff-starred sci-fi-action film 'Ganapath: A Hero is born', director Vikas Bahl has revealed that a majority of the action scenes were shot in Ladakh, and it was very challenging due to the harsh weather conditions, and low oxygen.

Elaborating, the director said: "While there have been a lot of films that have shot action in Ladakh before, we got really lucky as we shot on a completely new terrain. It was an abandoned town above Lamayuru where most sequences were shot. So yes, the weather conditions were unfriendly and erratic, with constant dips in oxygen levels."

He added that the actors worked very hard for the scenes.

"But Tiger, Kriti, and Rehman sir really practiced hard on days off as well as in between action scenes, in spite of the challenging weather conditions and low oxygen levels," he said.

Set in a dystopian future where a chosen one would free the oppressed from the villains, while the set designs and VFX are top notch, the movie's highlight is said to be its action which the makers wanted to keep to international standards.

Bahl added: "Our base was far from the actual shoot locations, but the entire crew was very supportive and hands-on, as it was not easy shifting equipment, costumes, props, etc. from one terrain to another. So yes, we did manage to pull off a really difficult shoot well because we had a great team."

Concluding his statement, he said: "Also, I would like to give a big thanks and special mention to the locals who not only helped us acclimatise and adapt to the tough weather conditions but helped us every step of the way to complete an otherwise gruelling shoot schedule."

A visual and theatrical spectacle with a compelling storyline, the movie stars Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon and the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.

Directed by Vikas Bahl, the film is produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, and Vikas Bahl and will hit theatres worldwide on October 20, 2023 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Hyderabad, Oct 12 : There was ruckus at a meeting of BJP's youth wing in Hyderabad on Thursday as two rival factions nearly came to blows in the presence of BJYM national president and MP Tejaswi Surya.

A section of participants also raised slogans against Surya for favouring a group.

Chaos prevailed during the meeting held at BJP state head office in Hyderabad when a section of participants raised an objection to conducting the meeting in the absence of Bhanu Prakash, who is the state president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM).

Some district unit presidents of BJYM also came out in support of Bhanu Prakash group. They alleged that the meeting was being held in the absence of Bhanu Prakash at the instance of Sai Prasad, national treasurer of BJYM.

Bhanu Prakash's supporters also alleged that Tejaswi Surya was favouring Sai Prasad. They asked why he was not staying in the accommodation arranged for him during his visit.

The two groups had a heated argument and tried to push each other, resulting in chaos. Former MLC Ramchandra Rao and other leaders intervened to pacify both the groups.

Tejaswi Surya was the chief guest at the meeting called to discuss the preparations for next monthas assembly elections. BJPas national general secretary incharge of Telangana Tarun Chugh and other leaders were present.

Both Bhanu Prakash and Sai Prasad are the aspirants for party ticket to contest assembly election from Malkajgiri constituency in Greater Hyderabad.
Patna, Oct 12 : The Patna Civil Court on Thursday said that establishing sexual relations in a love affair cannot come under the category of rape.

Sangam Singh, the Additional District and Session Judge (First) of Patna Civil Court, said this during the hearing of a rape case that has been going on for the last eight years.

He acquitted the accused from rape charges due to lack of evidence.

In a judgment, Justice Singh said that the victim was a major and she was having a love affair with the accused Vipin Kumar alias Vipin Lal and it had been proven in court that they established a consensual physical relationship.

It became apparent during the hearing of the case that the complainant had a financial dispute with the accused after which she lodged a rape complaint with the police. However, she failed to present proof in the court.

The complainant had lodged an FIR in Athmal Gola police station in Patna district in 2015. The district police filed a charge sheet against Vipin Kumar before the Judicial Magistrate of the Patna Civil Court. The Judicial Magistrate had taken cognisance of the matter and transferred the case to Additional District and Session Judge of the Patna Civil Court.
Mumbai, Oct 12 : Actress Aaliyah Qureishi, who was recently seen in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Jawan', recently recollected a harrowing incident when she witnessed a 14-year-old gunman open firing, killing two people on the spot in Thailand.

She took to her social media and shared how a delay at the ATM saved her and her friends from entering the radius of the shooter.

Sharing the photos from the day the incident took place, the actress penned a long note.

She wrote, "Okay this is hard to write. But I don't want my Instagram to be a place where I only talk about shiny happy things, so as horrible as it is, here goes. As some of you have asked, I was in Thailand during the Siam Paragon shooting. In fact, me and my 2 friends were in the mall when it happened. We were coming up the escalator when we saw mass hysteria and someone yelled out 'shooter'. As we ran back down we heard 3 gunshots. It was a terrifying experience."

She continued, "I feel grateful that my friends and I got out of it alive. And I feel horrible that 2 innocent people didn't. I wish real life was like action films, where you could fearlessly jump into any cruel fight and save everyone. But when it happens, the only thought in your mind is to get out of there alive. To think that when the day began, we were relaxed and playing with dogs, and by the end of the day we were running away from a mall shooting, soaked in rain, desperately trying to find a tuk-tuk to take us home, is insane. Life is crazy and unexpected."

She then said that she still can't process "all the mixed emotions".

She further mentioned, "I have about the incident, but I just kept thinking, we spent 10 minutes at the currency exchange before going up that escalator. It took longer than expected. What if we had not had problems, and spent only 5 minutes instead? Where would we have been at the time of the shooting? In the store, closer to him? I don't know, but it makes me think that there's some divine timing, and like the Burnt Toast Theory, something seemingly irritating could be a blessing in disguise, maybe even save your life. There are so many things we don't know."

"My heart goes out to all the friends and families of the two victims, and the five injured. I hope we can heal as a society and not have to witness these horrible outbursts of rage by disturbed people. Stay safe everyone. Lots of love and light to you all," she added.
Kolkata, Oct 12 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not step out of her residence at Kalighat during the forthcoming Durga Puja festival days because of ailments following limb injuries.

While virtually inaugurating community Durga Pujas in the city, the Chief Minister she will be stepping out of her residence only on October 27 to attend the annual carnival of Durga idol immersion.

"I am otherwise fine though I have an infection near the limb injury. I am on intravenous investigations. I am unable to walk comfortably. So doctors have advised not to step out of the house," the Chief Minister said.

For the last one month, the Chief Minister had been operating from her residence instead of going to her office at the state secretariat of Nabanna at Mandirtala in Howrah district.

The Chief Minister received limb injuries during her recent overseas visits to Dubai and Spain to scout for investments for West Bengal.
New Delhi, Oct 11 : The Delhi government on Thursday introduced a slew of measures to improve the working conditions of women working at construction sites across Delhi.

The Labour Minister Raaj Kumar Anand convened a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat with the senior officials of the Delhi Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board (DBOCWWB) to introduce these measures.

It was decided in the meeting that female workers should get equal wages for equal work.

The Minister introduced separate toilet facilities for female workers at all the construction sites across Delhi. The government hopes to ensure better safety and security for all the female workers working at the sites through these changes.

Taking note of inequalities in wages for similar work among male and female laborers, the Labour Minister instructed that these disparities be rectified promptly, ensuring equal wages for equal work to female workers.

Also, the main language for the information (forms) available on the Board's online portal will be Hindi. This will enable a larger number of construction laborers to benefit from the services.

CCTV cameras will be installed at help desks established in all districts to ensure transparency in labor card registration, renewal, and claims.

Directions were also given to review the accidental insurance policy for construction workers, offered by the Labour Board for better implementation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has destroyed the "commando" headquarters of the Hamas group, Trend reports.

The IDF emphasized that during the night operation on October 12, another high-ranking official of the group - commander of the Hamas "Rafah" naval forces Abu Shamla was neutralized. His house was used as a naval weapons warehouse.

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 attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 and injured nearly 2,700 Israelis.

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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Gaza, Oct 12 : The Gaza Health Ministry has said 1,400 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli strikes since Saturday, the media reported.

The ministry giving more details said 447 children and 248 women are among the 1,417 killed by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, The Guardian reported.

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has spoken to the king of Jordan, Abdullah II.

Palestine's main news network, Wafa, cited Abbas as stressing "the need to move to political action to end the occupation and achieve peace, stressing the rejection of practices related to killing civilians or abusing them on both sides, calling for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees, and stressing the need to stop settler terrorism against our people in Palestinian cities, villages and camps in the West Bank", The Guardian reported.

In his first public statement since the war between Israel and Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip began, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi acknowledges failures that enabled Hamas' infiltration and mass murders on Saturday, Israeli media reported.

"The IDF is responsible for the security of the country and its citizens, and on Saturday morning in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, we did not handle it. We will learn, we will investigate, but now is the time for war," Halevi says from southern Israel, Times of Israel reported.

"Yahya Sinwar, the ruler of the Gaza Strip, decided on this horrible attack, and therefore he and the entire system under him are dead men. We will attack them, we will dismantle them, dismantle their system," he says, Times of Israel reported.

Halevi says a time will come to investigate how Hamas managed to carry out the attack.
Delhi court denies anticipatory bail to man accused of defrauding people under the guise of PM-KUSUM scheme. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 12 : A Delhi court on Thursday granted permission to Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal, who is accused in three cases related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks, to travel abroad from October 15 to 31.

Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj allowed Jindalas application seeking to travel to Oman, UAE, Guinea, Venezuela, USA, UK, Poland and Czech Republic taking into account his previous travel history and his consistent return to India to face trial within the prescribed time frame.

The judge also directed the accused to furnish a fixed deposit of Rs 1 crore and to not tamper with evidence or try to influence any witness.

Earlier, in September, the judge had allowed Jindal to travel to Oman and the UAE from September 11 to 13 for business purposes.

He is a key accused in multiple cases involving coal block allocations, with one case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and another by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

These cases revolve around allegations of irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Alleging partisan by the Meta's WhatsApp and Alphabet's YouTube, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties on Thursday wrote to Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai saying they are culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India.

It also alleged algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders content on their platforms while promoting ruling party (BJP) content.

INDIA parties also warned the two companies that in view of the upcoming national elections in 2024,it should consider these facts "seriously" and ensure immediately that Meta's and Alphabet's operations "in India remain neutral" and are not used wittingly or unwittingly to cause social unrest or distort India's much cherished democratic ideals.

Sharing the letter on X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said: "Letter by INDIA parties to Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg citing the exhaustive investigations by the Washington Post that Meta is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India."

In another tweet he wrote: "INDIA parties also write to Google's Sundar Pichai exhaustive investigation by the Washington Post that Alphabet and specifically YouTube is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India."

He also shared the Washington Post news report to back the INDIA parties claims.

In the letter to Facebook Chief and Alphabet CEO, INDIA parties said: "We are writing on behalf of the INDIA, an alliance of 28 political parties in India that represent the combined Opposition coalition."

It said that they are the ruling alliance in 11 states and represent nearly half of all Indian voters.

"You may be aware of the recent exposes by the Washington Post newspaper about the role of WhatsApp and Facebook in aiding the communal hatred campaign of the ruling BJP. Specifically, the article cites details of how this vile, communally divisive propaganda is carried out using WhatsApp groups by BJP members and supporters," the letter read, referring to the news report against Meta.

"In another article titled 'Under India's pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive', the Post has elucidated with evidence the blatant partisanship by Facebook India executives towards the ruling dispensation. This was well known to us in the Opposition for a long time and have even raised it several times in the past," it said.

The INDIA parties said that it is very clear from these exhaustive investigations by the Washington Post that Meta is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India.

"Further, we have data that shows algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders' content on your platform while also promoting ruling party content. Such blatant partisanship and bias towards one political formation by a private foreign company is tantamount to interfering in India's democracy, one that we in the INDIA alliance will not take lightly," it said.

Referring to the report against YouTube, the INDIA parties said that it may be aware of the recent expose by the Washington Post newspaper titled "He live-streamed his attacks on Indian Muslims YouTube gave him an award" about the role of YouTube in propagating communal hatred and dividing Indian society.

"Specifically, the article cites details of how this vile, communally divisive propaganda is carried out using YouTube by BJP members and supporters," it said.

"It is very clear from this exhaustive investigation by the Washington Post that Alphabet and specifically YouTube is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India. Further, we have data that shows algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders content on your platform while also promoting ruling party content," it alleged.

The INDIA parties said that in light of the upcoming national elections in 2024, it is our earnest and urgent plea to you to consider these facts "seriously" and ensure immediately that Meta's and Alphabet's operations "in India remain neutral" and are not used wittingly or unwittingly to cause social unrest distort India's much cherished democratic ideals.

"It is ironical that we are writing this letter in the birth month anniversary of the greatest champion of non-violence and social harmony in history Mahatma Gandhi. We are confident that you and Meta also yearn for a harmonious India that the Mahatma wished for. We look forward to your full cooperation in this regard," it added.

The letter was signed by Kharge, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, DMK leader TR Baalu, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, JD-U president Lallan Singh, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brian, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, CPi leader D Raja, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, NC leader Omar Abdullah.
Tel Aviv, Oct 12 : Israeli armed forces pounded Gaza with continuous air strikes even as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, on a mission to locate missing Americans and free US hostages, arrived here and condemned the Hamas attack after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top officials, characterising it as "litany of brutality and inhumanity" that evoked "the worst of Islamic State".

Global efforts have been mounted for the release of the hostages that includes foreign nationals including US citizens and others as UN is pressing into service humanitarian aid, UK is negotiating with middle east countries to provide free passage for its citizens from the war zone and EU and US put pressure on Saudi Arabia to negotiate with the Hamas for releasing the hostages.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been talking to middle east leaders even as he dispatched his foreign secretary Cleverly to help Israel resolve the hostage crisis.

Blinken's visit coincided with the early arrival of the first tranche of ammunition by the US to support Israel in its war against the Hamas as their brutality and atrocities began to surface in all outlets of media from Jerusalem to the world.

Blinken reiterated President Joe Biden's assurances to Netanyahu that America had the back of Israel and discussions focused on finding the missing Americans and freeing the hostages, media reports said.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz warned Gaza is being pummeled by Israeli strikes, and will not be provided with any electricity, water or fuel until Israeli hostages being held by Hamas are returned home safely.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinkensaid Saudi Arabia is "exerting maximum effort" to prevent an escalation of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman told the president of Iran in a phone call Wednesday, according to Saudi media.

At least 1,417 Palestinians, including 447 children and 248 women, have died since Israel commenced air strikes on Gaza following the deadly Hamas attack last Saturday that left several soldiers and innocent civilians dead besides the kidnapping of Israelis along with foreign nationals including US citizens, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

An additional 6,268 people have been injured, the Health Ministry announced.

CNN reporters on the war zone said Gaza's humanitarian crisis deepened Thursday as Israeli jets continued to pound the densely populated enclave in response to Hamas' brutal terror attacks, in the sixth day of the conflict.

At least 1,354 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Saturday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel has reported at least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas' attacks over the weekend. Hamas is also holding as many as 150 people hostage in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel's Energy Minister Israel Katz said Gaza will not be provided with any electricity, water or fuel until the hostages are returned home.

"No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals," Katz said on Thursday.

Israel has been accused of inflicting collective punishment on Palestinians, ashas subjected Gaza to intense bombardment. Collective punishment is a war crime.

Hostage situation: Hamas warned that it would start executing hostages if Israel targeted people in Gaza without warning. As many as 150 hostages, including Israeli army officers, were taken into Gaza during Saturday's attack. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, a spokesperson for the IDF, said. The hostage issue is"extremely sensitive and complex topic," and Israel has never dealt with a hostage operation on this scale before.

Conricus said "reason dictates" that the hostages are being kept underground, to "keep them safe from Israeli intelligence, and efforts to get them out".

The European Union on Thursday reiterated it stands in solidarity with Israel, while again calling for the right of Gaza to "access food, water and medicines, according to international humanitarian law," media reports said.

"It is very important that one cannot forget that Israel has the right to defend itself. But of course, it needs to do it in line with international law, including international humanitarian law," EU Commission spokesperson Peter Stano said Thursday during a news briefing.

As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) prepares for a "next stage" of war, the Biden administration remains focused on the status of American hostages, options for humanitarian corridors and safe zones, and the Israeli response, said principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer.

The Americans held hostage by Hamas remain a key priority, Finerdeclined to share any new information about the number or status of hostages. The US has sent experts to the region to consult with Israeli counterparts and "advise them on hostage recovery efforts," Finer said.

"This is obviously an area of great concern to all of us people who are stuck in this situation," he said, adding that it will also be a focus of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meetings in Israel.
Bhopal, Oct 12 : Former chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh's remark on the raids against PFI by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bhopal has sparked political controversy in poll bound Madhya Pradesh.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday hit out at Digivijaya Singh accusing him of 'glorifying' the banned terror outfit. Chouhan, who was addressing a poll rally in Bhopal's Huzur assembly constituency, said, "Digvijaya Singh has always questioned action against terror organisations."

"Digvijaya Singh is crying for action against the banned terror outfit, which shows the real nature of the Congress. He (Digvijaya) is one who called Osama ji and wanted proof of surgical strike against Pakistan-based terrorists," the Chief Minister said while addressing the poll rally for his loyalist Rameshwar Sharma.

However, veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh clarified that he has not questioned the NIA's raid on PFI. He said, "My answer to the question asked by some media organisations is being wrongly quoted which I have not said. I have never supported PFI, an organisation that incites communalism. I have stood against the person/organisation spreading communalism in the name of religion."

Notably, NIA has raided multiple locations in Bhopal in connection with 2022 case.

Responding to it on Wednesday, Digvijaya had said that he has no problem with raids against the PFI. "But it appears that raids in 97 per cent of cases have turned out to be false," he had said during an interaction with a media person in Ujjain on Wednesday.
Hyderabad, Oct 12 : Cash, gold, liquor and other items valued over Rs 37 crore were seized in Telangana since Monday when the model code of conduct came into force for the November 30 assembly election.

During the last four days, the enforcement agencies have seized Rs 20.43 crore cash and 31.979 kg of gold, 350 kg of silver and 42.203 carat diamond all worth Rs 14.65 crore.

During the checking across the state and on inter-state border, the agencies seized 3,1370 liters of liquor worth Rs 86.92 lakh, 310 kg ganja valued at Rs 89 lakh; 7,040 kg of rice, 440 sarees, 80 sewing machines, 87 cookers and one car all worth Rs 22.51 lakh. The authorities have also bound over 1,196 persons under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, 89 inter-state and 169 intra-state nakas are operational. It also said 100 companies of Central Armed Police Force were deployed to Telangana and they will report by October 20.

The Election Commission on Monday announced that elections for 119-member state assembly will be held in a single phase on November 30.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : A 23-year-old woman was stabbed multiple times with a knife by a jilted lover in south Delhi, a source said on Thursday, adding that police have apprehended the accused.

The accused was identified as Gaurav Pal (27), a resident of Dundahera in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad.

As per sources, the woman was stabbed with a knife on forehead, head, face, thighs and fingers.

The official said that as per the doctor she is out of danger and minor surgery has been done to repair the artillery which is cut below the jaw.

According to the police, on Thursday at 6:20 a.m, a call from the police control room was received at the Saket police station, reporting that a woman had been stabbed by a man on Lado Sarai Firni Road.

"A police team arrived at the scene where they found the victim, a resident of Lado Sarai. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the victim and the alleged perpetrator had been in a relationship for the last over two years. Both were working in Lajpat Nagar in the same office during that time," said a senior police official.

However, in recent days, the girl had been ignoring him. On the morning in question, he met her in the Lado Sarai area while she was heading towards a cab that she had already booked. They were conversing as she sat in the cab.

"The man tried to talk to the girl but she refused and even slapped him four to five times. He tried to take her phone but she shouted "Chor Chor". Then when they both sat in the cab, again arguments started," said the official.

In the meantime, the accused attacked her with a knife but was subdued by the cab driver.

During the initial probe, it was revealed that he talked to the woman at about 8 p.m, a day before the incident, and she informed him that she was in her office.

"On enquiry, she informed police that she used to leave her house at about 6-6.30 am. She blocked his number last night. So he came at about 5.30 a.m to meet her," the official added.

"As per the accused, there has been a change in the behaviour of the woman since last one month. Though they met 10 to 12 days ago for the last time," said the official.

"The man brought the knife from home and kept it in his pant's pocket."

"A case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code is being registered, and the alleged individual, Gaurav, who works in a private company in Gurugram, has been apprehended," the official said.
Patna, Oct 12 : Angry over non-payment of rent, a man locked the post office in Bihar's Saran district on Thursday.

The house owner Laxmi Kant Prasad claimed that the post office has not paid the rent for the last six month. The rent per month of the post office is Rs 18,325.

The post office has been running in a private house since 1985 in Maraura block in Saran district. The house owner Laxmi Kant Prasad locked the main gate of the post office which led to huge problem for the employees and customers.

"The post office has been paying the rent every month since 1985 but in the last six month, it has not paid any rent. I informed the senior officials several times but they refused to respond to my call. Finally, I locked the main door of the post office," Prasad said.

Following the incident, the employees have informed the senior officials about the incident.

"The department has not paid the rent to the house owner for the last six months. Hence, he locked the door. After he was assured by the senior officers to pay the rent in one week only then he opened the door after one and half hours," Sacchidanand Shah.

--IANS

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With a hawkish undertone, RBI-MPC may continue to retain the repo rate: Experts. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Oct 12 : The RBI has slapped a Rs 5.39 crore fine on Paytm Payments Bank for not complying RBI guidelines related to know your customer (KYC) norms and not reporting incidents of cyber security breaches in time.

The RBI said that a special scrutiny report and a comprehensive system audit report has revealed non-compliance with norms by Paytm Payments Bank on the following grounds:

The bank failed to identify beneficial owner in respect of entities onboarded by it for providing payout services.

It did not monitor payout transactions and carry out risk profiling of entities availing payout services.

The bank breached the regulatory ceiling of end of the day balance in certain customer advance accounts availing payout services.

Reporting a cyber security incident with delay

Failure to implement device binding control measure related to 'SMS delivery receipt check', and

Paytm Bankas V-CIP infrastructure failed to prevent connections from IP addresses outside India.

The RBI also said that the action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 12 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed aircraft lessors of cash-strapped Go First airline to engage security personnel around-the-clock for safeguarding their aircraft parked at rest for several months.

In an interim order on July 5, the court had permitted the lessors to inspect their aircraft at least twice a month and carry out maintenance.

Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju, who presided over the case, on Thursday asked Go First's Resolution Professional (RP) to share documents regarding the maintenance of aircraft, engines and airframes with its lessors.

The judge was hearing a bunch of applications filed by the lessors in the main petitions seeking to de-register their aircraft currently on lease with Go First, to avoid any further losses.

The court also ordered that the aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shall permit duly verified security personnel to monitor the aircraft.

Now, the main case is listed for hearing on October 19.

On May 26, aircraft lessors - Pembroke Aircraft Leasing 11 Ltd, SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd, Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2 Ltd and EOS Aviation 12 (Ireland) Ltd - had moved the high court seeking deregistration of their planes by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to take them back from the airline.

The airline, its representatives, and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)-appointed Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) were restricted by the court from removing, replacing or taking out any part or components, or records of the 30 aircraft without taking prior written approval from lessor of the particular aeroplane.

The low-cost airline first stopped flying on May 3 and is undergoing voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the NCLT.

On lessors' petitions seeking deregistration of their aircraft, the DGCA had told the high court that it was due to a technical glitch on its portal that the applications of several aircraft lessors were shown as 'rejected'.

It had said it was not processing such requests after a moratorium on financial obligations and transfer of assets of the crisis-hit airline post insolvency resolution proceedings.

"Why is there a distinction? There are 7-8 petitions and each one of them has a different response. Why so?" Justice Ganju had asked the aviation regulator's counsel Anjana Gosain as to why different responses were sent to different lessors on repossession requests.

Gosain had apprised the court that when lessors send deregistration requests to the regulator, it is done in five working days and that in this case, no application has been rejected.

"There was a glitch in the portal due to which it showed that the applications have been rejected," she had said. "They have made the applications on the portal on May 4. Unfortunately, a glitch came. When they opened on May 12, it showed them to be rejected," she had further submitted.

Earlier, the lessors had said it is "illegitimate" of the DGCA to deny deregistration. The lessors' contention is that Go First has no right to use their aircraft as the leases concerning them have been terminated.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on May 22 upheld the insolvency proceedings against Go First in a setback to efforts of its lessors to repossess their aircraft.

Upholding the NCLT's May 10 order, the appeals tribunal disposed of the lessors' petition and asked them to file an appeal before the NCLT. The airline had approached the NCLT "due to the ever-increasing number of failing engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney's International Aero Engines, which has resulted in Go First (airline brand) having to ground 25 aircraft (equivalent to approximately 50 per cent of its Airbus A320neo aircraft fleet) as of May 1, 2023".

According to the lessors' counsel, they had approached the civil aviation authorities to deregister their aircraft, but the request was denied. They said the DGCA had not contacted them, but after checking the status of their applications on the regulator's website, they discovered their petitions had been turned down.

--IANS

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Hamas' network of underground tunnels, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said, Trend reports.

According to him, Hamas has been digging underground tunnels for years since seizing power in the Gaza Strip in 2007.

The militants have reportedly used the tunnels to transport supplies.

"The Israeli Air Force is striking many areas in Gaza. Firstly, we are striking the commanders and leaders of the organization, who are represented in the highest echelons of Hamas," Conricus added.

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 attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 and injured nearly 2,700 Israelis.

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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Bhopal, Oct 12 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Congress President Kamal Nath accused each other of tarnishing the image of Madhya Pradesh.

Kamal Nath said that 18 years of BJP's rule have turned Madhya Pradesh into a 'corrupt' state and ruined the future of youths with one after another scams in the recruitment exams.

He criticised the Chief Minister Chouhan for making Madhya Pradesh number one in 'corruption' and 'unemployment'.

Addressing a poll rally in Mandla on Thursday, the Congress leader said that Chief Minister Chouhan has given a bad image of Madhya Pradesh because of huge corruption and scams. "Each person of Madhya Pradesh is either an eyewitness or a victim of BJP government's corruption. BJP has ruined the future of youths," he said.

Questioning BJP government over achievements in Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath said, "Today, the state is number one in atrocities against women and ST/SC people. You have made Madhya Pradesh a corrupt state during the 18 years of rule," Kamal Nath.

Responding on Kamal Nath's accusation, the Chief Minister Chouhan said that, "People of Madhya Pradesh elected you (Kamal Nath) to Lok Sabha MP for nine times. You earned name and fame because of Madhya Pradesh and now you are calling it a corrupt state. You should have some respect the state that gave you everything," Chouhan said while addressing a poll in Bhopal.

This is not for the first time that both the leaders have locked horns over bringing bad name to the state. Kamal Nath often holds BJP responsible for wrong policies and corruption and its failure in economics.

Kamal Nath often says that the bad image of Madhya Pradesh has been one of the key reasons that the business houses do not want to invest in the state.

He emphasised that investment can't be demanded, it has to be achieved and for that Madhya Pradesh's image needs to be changed.
New Delhi, Oct 12 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday chaired the meeting of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) to discuss the candidates for Chhattisgarh and Mizoram assembly polls.

The candidates for Chhattisgarh are yet to be finalised and the candidates for Mizoram have almost been finalised.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge chaired the CEC meeting to discuss the candidates for the 40-member Mizoram Assembly and 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly that will go to polls next month.

Besides Kharge, meeting at the party headquarters was also attended by CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Ambika Soni, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his deputy TS Singh Deo, Chhattisgarh Congress chief Deepak Baij, Chhattisgarh in-charge Kumari Selja, among others. From Mizoram, party in-charge Bhaktacharan Das, Mizoram state Congress president Lalsawta and many others attended the meeting.

After over three hour long meeting, speaking to the media, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said: "Have cleared Mizoram and on Chhattisgarh we will continue discussion."

The hint came in the wake of the party's plan to drop at least 20 sitting MLAs in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Venugopal also said that the CEC will discuss candidates for Madhya Pradesh and Telangana tomorrow. Meanwhile in a post on 'X', formerly Twitter, Kharge said: "In Chhattisgarh, we have written a new chapter through 'Nyay scheme' in last 5 years. Welfare of villages, poor, farmers, youth, women and all sections of society has been established."

"Today, a meeting of the Central Election Committee was held regarding Chhattisgarh. 'Bharosa Barbara, phir se Congress sarkar'," he said.

For Mizoram, Kharge said: "People of Mizoram are vying for change. Congress party has a historic connection with this beautiful state, encompassing peace, development and welfare. We are confident that Mizoram shall strengthen the Congress party and give us a chance to serve, like we have in the past. We discussed the political strategy for the ensuing Mizoram Assembly Elections in the Central Election Committee Meeting (CEC) today."

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to polls on November 17 while the 119-member Telangana Assembly will go to polls on November 30.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

The CEC had met to discuss candidates for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly last week and over 140 seats were discussed. Meanwhile, commenting on the INDIA parties letter to Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg and Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Venugopal said: "That is the serious concern of the country. What Washington Post has written is a shocking thing for the country. We want to question Facebook. Here entire social media is being misused by the government. They are dividing the county. They have to look into it. This entire INDIA has written." Alleging partisan by the Meta's WhatsApp and Alphabet's YouTube, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties wrote to Zuckerberg and Pichai saying they are culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India."

It also alleged algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders content on their platform while promoting ruling party (BJP) content.

INDIA parties also warned the two companies that in view of the upcoming national elections in 2024, it should consider these facts "seriously" and ensure immediately that Meta's and Alphabet's operations "in India remain neutral" and are not used wittingly or unwittingly to cause social unrest or distort India's much cherished democratic ideals.
Patna, Oct 12 : Ahead of Lok Sabha poll, JD-U state vice president Lalan Paswan resigned from the primary membership of the party on Thursday.

"I have given the resignation from the primary membership of the party as Nitish Kumar joined hands with Lalu Prasad Yadav who is known as a leader of Jungle Raj.

"Crime against Dalit, murder, harassment, rape and other incidents are frequently taking place in Bihar and the current government is failing to prevent it. I pointed out the law and order issues before senior leaders but they are ignoring it," Paswan said.

A Dalit community leader, Paswan, is said to be in touch with several NDA leaders. He first became the MLA from Chenari reserved seat on the JD-U ticket in 2005.

He contested the 2009 Lok Sabha poll on the ticket of RJD but lost to Congress Miera Kumar.

He again won the assembly election from Chenari reserve seat on the ticket of Upendra Kushwaha's party Rashtriya Lok Samata Party.

--IANS

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Itanagar, Oct 12 : Union Road Transport & Highways Ministry has approved constructions of seven bridge projects worth Rs 118.50 crore in Arunachal Pradesh under the Setu Bandhan Scheme.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said that these projects would enhance connectivity and boost economic growth across all sectors.

He added that the projects align with the nation's commitment to improve the overall quality of life and promote the socio-economic growth of the state.

The approved bridges are four reinforced cement concrete bridges, two bridges on National Highway 313, and one steel composite bridge.

Later, the Chief Minister in his post on 'X' said: "Bridging gaps in connectivity through Setu Bandhan Scheme has been possible, thanks to unwavering commitment of Narendra Modi to all round development of Arunachal Pradesh. New bridges will improve our people's ease of living and give a boost to the local economy too."
New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy speaks during the Andhra Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 Curtain Raiser Event in New Delhi on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023. (Photo:IANS/Anupam Gautam). Image Source: IANS News

Amaravati, Oct 12 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday launched a scathing attack on TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan, dubbing them 'non-resident' politicians.

He said both the leaders have their houses in Hyderabad and they visit Andhra Pradesh to pursue the policy of plunder, stash and devour.

The chief minister was addressing a public meeting at Samarlakota in Kakinada district after handing over houses to poor women beneficiaries.

Jagan Mohan Reddy took potshots at both Naidu and Pawan Kalyan saying they do not have any concern for the problems of the people.

"After 2019 polls, Naidu was never seen in the state continuously for one month, it is only now that he is seen in the Rajahmundry Central Jail for the last one month," said Jagan Mohan Reddy referring to judicial custody of the former chief minister in alleged Skill development case.

Dubbing Pawan Kalyan as Naidu's ' foster son' and a 'package star', he remarked that the actor is only visiting the state during intermissions of cinema shooting for deals.

"Chandrababu Naidu, his son (Lokesh), brother-in-law (actor Balakrishna) and foster son do not have a permanent address in the state, not even the gang of thieves who are supporting them," the Chief Minister said, taking a dig at their indulgence in part time politics.

"The package star, who had lost in both Bhimavaram and Gajuwaka in the last elections, has been using the voters as use and throw commodities," he said.

Lashing out at Pawan Kalyan over his decision to have an alliance with TDP, the Chief Minister alleged that the actor is ready to sell the votes of his fans, followers and even his community (Kapus) to TDP.

Pawan Kalyan does not have respect even for the emotions of his own community, he said, adding that the foster son and the gang of thieves would go out of their minds when they think of Naidu not enjoying the political power. Jagan Mohan Reddy also launched a personal attack on Pawan Kalyan over his marriages.

He remarked that while the package star has a house in Hyderabad, the inmates change every 3-4 years.

"They are local, national and even international inmates. This is the respect he has for women and the institution of marriage," said the Chief Minister.

"Having no credibility among the masses, both of them use the platform of politics as business for selfish gains. They want to use the politics as an instrument to implement their policy of exploitation. They did it previously and want to do it again," he said.

He further went on to say that when one looks at the face of Naidu, one remembers scams, backstabbing, cheating and corruption but if anyone looks at the face of Jagan, DBT welfare schemes, concern for the problems of the people and fulfillment of elections manifesto are reflected.

The Chief Minister said that the Government has spent over Rs 2,38,000 crore in the last 52 months implementing slew of welfare schemes in full transparency elevating the lives of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities and the government is feeling proud to see smiles on their faces.

Affirming that political credibility for a leader comes only when people have him in their hearts, the Chief Minister asked the people to think of the revolutionary changes brought in the village administrative system and the reforms implemented in the educational, health and agricultural sectors that transformed the lives of all sections of people for good.

Besides creating 2,07,000 new government jobs in which 80 per cent of them went to SC, ST, BC and minority sections, the government strived for ushering in women empowerment and social justice at every step, he said, asking the people to vote for YSRCP in the next elections if they feel they are benefitted through the policies of the government.
New Delhi, Oct 13 : Domestic airline passenger numbers for the period spanning January to September soared to 1,128.62 lakh, showcasing a substantial increase from the 874.24 lakh recorded during the same period the previous year, said the aviation watchdog, DGCA, official.

This impressive growth represents an annual increase of 29.10 per cent and a noteworthy monthly growth rate of 18.26 per cent.

According to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), during September, a total of 246 passenger related complaints were received by the scheduled domestic airlines.

"The number of complaints per 10,000 passengers carried for the month of September 2023 has been around 0.20. The major reasons for complaints are flight problems. Airlines have received a total of 246 complaints, out of which 242 (approx. 98 per cent) have been addressed," the data claimed.

Notably, from January to September this year, IndiGo, a budget airline, secured a 59.9 per cent market share by flying 676.28 lakh passengers while Air India, owned by the Tata Group, carried a total of 105.46 lakh passengers, with a market share of 9.3 per cent.

"Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, flew 101.01 lakh passengers, securing a nine per cent market share. AirAsia India, now known as AIX Connect, recorded 83.73 lakh passengers, making up 7.4 per cent of the total traffic," the data stated.

Akasa Air, which marked its one-year anniversary on July 7 this year, and now is suspected to be facing shortage of pilots, flew 45.67 lakh passengers and claimed a four per cent market share, the data showed.

SpiceJet transported 62.06 lakh passengers from January to August this year, capturing 5.5 per cent of the market.

IndiGo also excelled in punctuality, with 83.6 per cent of its flights departing or arriving on time at major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad followed by AirAsia with 81.6 per cent.
Washington, Oct 13 : A Congress-appointed bipartisan panel said on Thursday said that the US must prepare for possible simultaneous wars with Russia and China by expanding its conventional forces, strengthening alliances and enhancing its nuclear weapons modernisation programme.

The report comes against the backdrop of rising tensions with China over Taiwan and worsening frictions with Russia over its "invasion" of Ukraine.

The Strategic Posture Commission released its long-awaited report on US nuclear policy and strategic stability.

The 12-member commission was hand-picked by Congress in 2022 to conduct a threat assessment, consider alterations to US force posture, and provide recommendations.

In contrast to the Biden administration's Nuclear Posture Review, the Strategic Posture Commission report is a full-throated embrace of a US nuclear build-up.

It includes recommendations for the US to prepare to increase its number of deployed warheads, as well as increase its production of bombers, air-launched cruise missiles, ballistic missile submarines, non-strategic nuclear forces, and warhead production capacity.

It also calls for the US to deploy multiple warheads on land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and consider adding road-mobile ICBMs to its arsenal.

The only thing that appears to have prevented the commission from recommending an immediate increase of the US nuclear weapons stockpile is that the weapons production complex currently does not have the capacity to do so.

The commission's embrace of a US nuclear buildup ignores the consequences of a likely arms race with Russia and China (in fact, the Commission doesn't even consider this or suggest other steps than a buildup to try to address the problem). If the US responds to the Chinese buildup by increasing its own deployed warheads and launchers, Russia would most likely respond by increasing its deployed warheads and launchers. That would increase the nuclear threat against the US and its allies.

China, which has already decided that it needs more nuclear weapons to stand up to the existing US force level (and those of Russia and India), might well respond to the US and Russian increases by increasing its own arsenal even further. That would put the US back to where it started, feeling insufficient and facing increased nuclear threats.

The commission's report is generally framed around the prospect of Russian and Chinese strategic military cooperation against the US.

The commission cautions against "dismissing the possibility of opportunistic or simultaneous two-peer aggression because it may seem improbable", and notes that "not addressing it in US strategy and strategic posture, could have the perverse effect of making such aggression more likely".

The commission does not acknowledge, however, that building up new capabilities to address this highly remote possibility would likely kick the arms race into an even higher gear.

The report acknowledges that Russia and China are in the midst of large-scale modernisation programmes, and in the case of China, significant increases to its nuclear stockpile. This accords with its own assessments of both countries' nuclear programmes. However, the report's authors suggest that these changes fundamentally call into question the US' assured retaliatory capabilities, and state that "the current US strategic posture will be insufficient to achieve the objectives of US defence strategy in the future"

The commission appears to base this conclusion, as well as its nuclear strategy and force structure recommendations, squarely on numerically-focused counterforce thinking: if China increases its posture by fielding more weapons, that automatically means the US needs more weapons to "(a)ddress the larger number of targets" However, the survivability of the US ballistic missile submarines should insulate the US against needing to subscribe to this kind of thinking.
New Delhi, Oct 13 : India has ranked 111th out of the 125 countries on the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI), slipping four places since last year. However, the government has rejected the report calling it "flawed" and "erroneous".

"With a score of 28.7 in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, India has a level of hunger that is serious," said the global report released on Thursday by Concern Worldwide and Welt Hunger Hilfe, Non-Government Organisations from Ireland and Germany respectively.

In 2022, India ranked 107 out of the 125 countries.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, in a statement, refuted the claims and said that the index "continues to be a flawed measure of aHungera and does not reflect Indiaas true position".

The GHI report ranked Pakistan at 102, Bangladesh at 81, Nepal at 69 and Sri Lanka at 60. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa were the regions with the highest hunger levels.

"The index is an erroneous measure of hunger and suffers from serious methodological issues. Three out of the four indicators used for calculation of the index are related to the health of children and cannot be representative of the entire population," the ministry said.

"The fourth and most important indicator aProportion of Undernourished (PoU) populationa is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3,000," it added.

Meanwhile, the report also counted India with the worldas highest child wasting rate of 18.7 per cent, indicating acute undernutrition.

The rate of undernourishment in India stood at 16.6 per cent and under-five mortality at 3.1 per cent.

The report also said that the prevalence of anaemia in women aged between 15 and 24 years stood at 58.1 per cent

"Two other indicators, namely, Stunting and Wasting are outcomes of complex interactions of various other factors like sanitation, genetics, environment and utilisation of food intake apart from hunger which is taken as the causative/outcome factor for stunting and wasting in the GHI," the ministry said.

It noted that there is hardly any evidence that the fourth indicator, namely, child mortality is an outcome of hunger.

The ministry said that since April 2023, the measurement data of children under five years uploaded on the Poshan Tracker has consistently increased - from 6.34 crore in April 2023 to 7.24 crore in September 2023.

"The percentage of child wasting, as seen on the Poshan Tracker, has been consistently below 7.2 per cent, month-on-month, as compared to the value of 18.7 per cent used for child wasting in the Global Hunger Index 2023," the ministry said in the statement.
Discover a vibrant celebration of life November 1-2 marked by the World's Tallest Catrina

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Journey into the heart of Mexican traditions and rich heritage as Puerto Vallarta's Day of the Dead Festival returns to this coastal paradise November 1-2. With roots tracing back to the Aztecs, Day of the Dead stands as a cherished tradition where families come together to honor and celebrate departed loved ones through the creation of elaborate altars and joyful gatherings. To mark this year's celebrations, Puerto Vallarta will welcome back the World's Tallest Catrina on November 1 for its second annual appearance on the Malecon, the destination's mile-long beachfront esplanade. This gigantic skeleton sculpture stands nearly 75 feet tall and is stylishly dressed in a cocktail dress with a wide-brimmed feathered hat. The visionary project was led by local artist Alondra Muca and required over a year of meticulous planning and construction. Illuminated against the night sky, the Catrina will once again serve as the artistic core of a celebration.

Day of the Dead provides a unique opportunity for travelers to immerse themselves in a captivating blend of ancient indigenous traditions and vibrant contemporary Mexican culture. Throughout the city, intricate altars adorned with vivid marigolds and elaborately decorated skulls (calaveras) and Catrinas, the elegant female skeletons internationally synonymous with Day of the Dead, stand as powerful symbols of this cherished tribute to departed ancestors. The festive spirit extends throughout the city including a parade downtown. Here, a diverse array of ofrendas, carefully crafted altars dedicated to the deceased, are prominently displayed. These altars are typically decorated in colorful tissue paper (papel picado), marigolds, festive season foods like bread of the dead (pan de muertos), photographs, incense, and sugar skulls, all believed to guide the spirits back to earth. Visitors strolling along the Malecon will also encounter familiar calaveras portraying iconic pop culture figures like Frida Kahlo, Marilyn Monroe, and legendary Mexican figures, adding to the festive ambiance.

The culmination of the Day of the Dead festivities on November 2 takes place with a visit to the Colonia 5 de Diciembre cemetery which transforms into a gathering place for families and visitors alike. Tombstones are lovingly adorned with papel picado and portraits of religious figures, creating a somber yet deeply meaningful atmosphere.

For more information on Puerto Vallarta, visit 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 6464659789, [email protected], https://ptgconsulting.com/

SOURCE Puerto Vallarta
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. US State Secretary Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel on a visit, Trend reports.

Before his departure, Secretary Blinken noted that "the US has Israels back".

"When Im in Israel, Ill have the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, other senior officials. I look forward to seeing our embassy team, as well, which is doing terrific work during these difficult days.

Were determined to make sure that Israel gets everything it needs to defend itself, and provide for the security of its people. Already, significant military assistance requested by Israel is on the way. Thats on top of everything that weve been doing for years, including with the memorandum of understanding that was negotiated by President Obama, to make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself," 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 attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 and injured nearly 2,700 Israelis.

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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Oranss Technology Company and Mobel Polymers have signed an agreement to establish polymer products manufacturing factory in Samail Industrial City, Oman, with an investment value of $7 million for its initial phase.

The signing ceremony, attended by Eng Dawood bin Salim Al Hadabi, CEO of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates Madayn, took place on the sidelines of the two companies participation at the ongoing Home and Building Expo at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The agreement was signed by Sharifa Al Naamani, Chairperson of Oranss Technology Board of Directors, and Dr Hany Makary, Chairman of Mobel Polymers Board of Directors. Commenting on this agreement, Sharifa Al Naamani said that the factorys output will serve as a pivotal source of raw materials for various manufacturing sectors within the sultanate, which were previously reliant on imports, thereby catalysing the growth of Omani industries.

The partnership forged between Oranss Technology and Mobel Polymers represents the strong bond between the Sultanate and Egypt, encouraging innovation, economic growth, and international cooperation, she said.

Al Naamani underscored the companys vision to boost the sultanates industrial sector, exploring new opportunities for Omani investors, attracting international expertise for knowledge exchange, and developing a highly skilled Omani workforce.  TradeArabia News Service
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. As a result of the Hamas attack on Israel, the number of dead has reached 1,300 people, The Times of Israel newspaper said, Trend reports.

It is reported that 3,300 people have been injured since the beginning of the war. The condition of 28 of them is assessed as very serious, the condition of 350 - serious.

Meanwhile, Hamas has taken 150 people hostage.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on 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 (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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Days after setting an expedited schedule to hear Texas's appeal of federal judge Alan D. Albright's decision to enjoin HB 900, Texas's controversial book rating law, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit this week set a new schedule delaying oral argument by three weeks.

According to a new scheduling order, the court will now hear oral arguments on November 29, rather than November 8. The state's appeal brief is now due on October 30; Amicus briefs supporting the state are due November 6; the plaintiffs' brief is due November 13; amicus briefs supporting the plaintiffs are due November 17; and the state's final reply brief is due on November 20.

As PW reported, the delay comes after the court granted the plaintiffs' motion for a continuance, citing a conflict by lead attorney Laura Prather.

In addition, the appeals court again ordered that an administrative stay blocking Albright's injunction from taking effect (which was issued without consideration of the merits of the case) remain in place. That move has allowed the law to take effect despite being found unconstitutional by the district court, leaving Texas booksellers, as well as schools and libraries in the state, in a precarious place.

An article co-published this week by the Texas Tribune and ProPublica suggested that the law is already having a negative impact on what's available in Texas school libraries.

"As a new Texas law further restricting what books students can check out of school libraries takes effect, local bans are gaining steam in districts across the statein some cases going in startling directions," the report notes, pointing out that in the Houston suburb of Katy, "school officials recently bought $93,000 worth of new library books and promptly put them in storage so an internal committee could review them. The district then banned 14 titles (bringing its total since 2021 to 30), including popular books by Dr. Seuss and Judy Blume, as well as No, David! an award-winning childrens book featuring a mischievous cartoon character who at one point jumps out of a bathtub, exposing a cartoon backside."

In suing to block the law, the plaintiffs (two Texas bookstoresAustins BookPeople and Houstons Blue Willow Bookshoptogether with the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund) had sought quick action to stop the law from taking effect on September 1 as scheduled, arguing that the blatantly unconstitutional law would impose an untenable burden on vendors and publishers. And after two hearings, Albright agreed, orally enjoining the law at an August 31 hearing, then issuing a substantive 59-page written opinion and order in which he called HB 900 a web of unconstitutionally vague requirements and said its burdens are so numerous and onerous as to call into question whether the legislature believed any third party could possibly comply.

The Fifth Circuit's administrative stay effectively moots the emergency relief the plaintiffs had sought and won from the district court, however. And while the court could conceivably act quickly after hearing oral arguments, the prospect of the law remaining in effect well into 2024 (and perhaps longer) now looms large. For example, at press time the court has yet to rule on an appeal of an injunction in another prominent Texas book banning case, Little v. Llano County, despite hearing oral arguments more than four months ago.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Hamas has taken at least 200 people hostage in an attack on Israel, The Times of Israel said, Trend reports.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the families of 97 hostages have already been notified.

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 attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 and injured nearly 3,300 Israelis.

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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. Members of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) approved the creation of a single emergency government, Trend reports.

The decision to create an emergency government was made amid the outbreak of active military operations around the Gaza Strip.

It is reported that 66 MPs supported the creation of an emergency cabinet with the participation of one of the opposition leaders Benny Gantz, and none of them voted against.

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 attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 and injured nearly 3,300 Israelis.

The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Skoda Group has announced that it has won a 320 million contract to supply 30 electric trains to Uzbekistan Railways.

The agreement is the largest contract ever awarded by Uzbekistan to a Czech company. The contract signing was held at Skoda Group's headquarters in Pilsen and was attended by Uzbek Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov and his Czech counterpart Martin Kupka.

Under the agreement, Skoda will supply wide-gauge electric train units of a type that are already in production for rail operators in Latvia and Estonia. Production will begin next year, with the project being financed by Czech banks with the support of the insurance export agency EGAP.

The new trains will feature exceptional performance, reliability, and power efficiency. They will consist of four cars with a partial low-floor design for full accessibility, ergonomic seating, a fully air-conditioned interior, onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, and an advanced external and CCTV system for enhanced security.

Production will take place at Skoda Group's production facility in Ostrava where train sets for Latvia and Estonia are currently in production.

Uzbekistan's railway network in the region forms a vital part of the Trans-Caspian international transport route, which links into the extended Trans-European transport network. The so-called Central Corridor through Uzbekistan will complete the transport artery between the Far East and the European Union.

The Global Gateway strategy reinforces the stabilisation and strengthening of the Central Corridor's capacity. At the EU-Central Asia Summit held last November in Samarkand the focus was on strengthening sustainable transport links between the EU and Central Asia. These would come through significant investment in rail infrastructure, rolling stock, port facilities, and shipping on the Caspian Sea.

Zdenek Svata, President of the Central East Region at Skoda Group, said The fact that we have been selected as a supplier of trains to Uzbekistan is not only a testament to the high quality of our vehicles but also a significant step in strengthening international partnerships.

This contract confirms the important role we play in shaping the future of international rail transport and we will set strategic cooperation with Uzbekistan Railways. The trains for Uzbekistan will have four cars and broad gauge (1520 mm).

The main part of production will be held in our production site in Ostrava and part of the assembling of the vehicles will be held in Uzbekistan.

Abdulla Aripov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan., said With these cutting-edge trains, we are on the path to revolutionize our railways and enhance the overall passenger experience. This collaboration is just the beginning of a promising partnership. We recognize the great potential for Skoda in Uzbekistan.

Martin Kupka, Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic, said Lobbying for Czech companies is a standard part of our economic diplomacy. I am glad that our trip to Uzbekistan helped to conclude this contract, which is important for the entire Czech industry.

The development of the relationship with Uzbekistan opens the way to this country for other Czech companies, not only in the transport sector.




A new Fast-Track programme devised by the prpl Foundation aligns telcos, chipset manufacturers and broadband customer premise equipment vendors for the creation of new consumer and business-centric devices. It is expected to reduce time-to-market. A new Fast-Track programme devised by the prpl Foundation aligns telcos, chipset manufacturers and broadband customer premise equipment vendors for the creation of new consumer and business-centric devices. It is expected to reduce time-to-market.



prpl Foundation says the Fast-Track programme will foster greater open-source innovation across the wireless and wireline broadband access technology industry. Two cornerstones of the prpl Foundation, MaxLinear and Qualcomm, have already signed up for the programme. They have contributed extensive resources and carrier-grade Wi-Fi 6E CPE to the development community and as a result their chipsets will now be considered the reference platforms for the prpl Foundation going forward.



By the end of the third quarter of 2023, the first ever open-source Wi-Fi 7 based hardware platform based on prplWare will be available to the operator and service provider community for integration with future CPE.



Standardisation of software platforms is essential for successful developments, but this can only be achieved so long as the service providers and system operator community work together efficiently, says Wayne Daniel, Senior Director of Technology at Qualcomm. The Fast-Track programme designed by the prpl Foundation will offer long-term support to all involved parties and provide a greater framework and opportunity for technological advancement. It was an easy decision for Qualcomm to get involved.



The prpl Foundation is the open-source community dedicated to open APIs and open industry standards, focusing on carrier-grade software for broadband customer premise equipment. It is expected the fast-track programme will foster even greater open-source innovation across the wireless and wireline broadband access technology industry.



Through the Fast-Track program, chipset manufacturers and CPE manufacturers are empowered to contribute to a common software ecosystem, from which products can be developed and integrated quickly. Once evaluated and validated as part of prpls ongoing prplWare open-source software stack, the certified chipsets devised through the programme establish a strong Quality-of-Experience (QoE) for applications such as gaming, where minimal lagging and low-latency connectivity is essential.



The programme enables, for instance, greater packet acceleration for security and Wi-Fi sensing applications, speeding up innovations required for accurate event detection, home security, fire, and automation, alongside services that enable such programmes associated with residential and business functions.



We are delighted to announce the creation of our game-changing Fast-Track programme, declares prpl Foundation President Dr. Len Dauphinee. As part of the process, chipset and CPE vendors will adapt their platform to run prplWare efficiently. The Fast-Track programme provides the tools required to accelerate market launches, with CPE receiving the highest recognition from our industry-leading organisation. We anticipate that the programme will accelerate the way chipsets are developed going forward.



As part of the Fast-Track programme, software developers will also design new features for prplOS - the foundational operating system component of the prplWare platform - alongside specific software components for prplMesh based on the new carrier-grade CPE. The prplMesh team will use the CPE for their development cycles, with the goal to complete R5 certification by the end of the year.



The new service provider and operator carrier-grade CPE will be utilised in the prpl Foundations Continuous Integration (CI) platform for the verification, testing and validation of key software component features.



Silicon vendors can participate in the Fast-Track programme through prpl Foundation membership. Additional chipset vendors are welcome to join the ongoing initiative as new chipsets supporting Wi-Fi 7 and future innovations evolve in the marketplace, the organisation says.



The Fast-Track programme is one of the discussion points at the upcoming prpl Summit in Paris on Monday, October 23.



Photo: Radowan Nakif Rehan on Unsplash
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When we first meet the unnamed protagonist of Lee Mirang's Concerning My Daughter, a widow in her 50s played with masterful restraint by Oh Min-ae, she's eating alone in front of the television.

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Her life is not spent entirely in solitude but is suffused with a familiar kind of middle-age loneliness. She banters with colleagues at the senior care facility where she works and makes small talk with the neighbors but remains at a distance, emotional depths hinted at in a face that expresses more than she knows.

We also meet her daughter, Green (Lim Semi), a part-time university lecturer who mainly seems interested in hitting mom up for a loan, and her patient, Ms. Lee (Heo Jin) -- an elderly woman once famous for helping needy children around the world but now slipping into dementia, with no family of her own at her bedside.

The mother's routine is shaken up when Green, out of financial options, moves back home, accompanied by her long-term live-in partner, a woman named Rain (Ha Yoon-kyung). As a same-sex couple, they also find themselves at a distance from a South Korean society where LGBTQ rights remain limited.

"I wanted to focus on the solitude of the four women, how it could pass through different generations," Lee told UPI in an interview at the Busan International Film Festival, where the film premiered this week. "What that solitude could mean, could signify -- I wanted to focus on that feeling."

Concerning My Daughter, Lee's first feature, is based on the 2017 novel by best-selling author Kim Hye-jin. (The English translation was published in 2022.)

Rather than easing her loneliness, the added company at home only serves to further isolate the mother. She doesn't accept her daughter's relationship as anything more than "playing house," as she puts it, a detour on the necessary journey toward settling down with a traditional family.

Her attitude seems driven less by overt prejudice than a growing terror that she and her daughter will die alone in the heartbreaking and undignified manner she sees daily with Ms. Lee. That fear threatens to become a self-fulfilling prophecy as the mother pushes Green away while simultaneously investing all of her energy into what seems like the lost cause of rescuing her elderly patient from an increasingly bleak fate.

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"The mother is the type of woman we often see in South Korea, who has had to constantly take care of someone other than herself," Lee said. "I hope this film can be the catalyst for a conversation about this issue."

Rain, meanwhile, makes every effort to be a conscientious guest. But offers of a home-cooked meal or morning pour-over coffee by the aspiring chef are met with tight-lipped refusal.

"Can we try to not run into each other?" the mother finally snaps at her.

Rain is not easily deterred. In a characterization that is perhaps too on-the-nose, she mirrors the mother's caretaker role, chipping away at her icy facade with tireless sincerity.

Concerning My Daughter is far too layered to tie things together neatly, and ambiguity lingers as the credits roll. But for a moment, when the ice does begin to crack and we are given a glimpse of the three separate generations finally making a connection, it carries a glacier-sized emotional heft.

"The film is not just about the daughter in the title, or the mother," Lee said. "Ultimately, the story contains a little bit of all of us."

Within the film, it is Rain who seems to have the clearest vision of what is at stake.

"Being together," she tells the mother, "is the only thing we can do."

Concerning My Daughter won the CGV Award at the Busan International Film Festival's Vision Awards, held Thursday evening.
Kinetic Content / Reality TV World

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/12/2023



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Elizabeth Bice has explained why she and estranged husband Jamie Thompson are going through an "ugly" divorce.On the : Kickoff Special for the new season set in Denver, Elizabeth joined Kevin Frazier onstage for an update on her marriage to Jamie, and she looked visibly upset and was wiping tears from her eyes."Are you okay, first of all?" Kevin asked Elizabeth during the special that aired Wednesday night on Lifetime."No," Elizabeth replied, trying to catch her breath."This has been really emotional. This has been really, really hard. It was probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but I had to do something to take care of myself."Elizabeth, who wed Jamie on 's ninth season in 2019, admitted she was "not well in [her] marriage" to Jamie.And so Elizabeth clarified that she and her spouse "are" definitely divorcing.As Reality TV World reported this past summer, Jamie filed for divorce from Elizabeth on June 23, just two months after dropping the bombshell via social media that Elizabeth had left him and they were separating "There have just been some actions within the marriage that I cannot forgive," Elizabeth told Kevin on the MAFS special, "and there were just a lot of times when I never felt like I was enough in the marriage."Elizabeth elaborated, "I always felt like I was constantly having to fix something of myself or change something. And just one day, I finally said, 'I am enough and why doesn't this person love me the way I love me?'"Elizabeth recalled watching a clip from their season that was "very eye-opening" to her."Because I just felt like I was still staring at the same relationship that I started with," Elizabeth shared, referencing how she and Jamie had explosive arguments on .With the couple's divorce underway, Elizabeth revealed that she and Jamie no longer talk at all."It's been very ugly," Elizabeth noted."I have a lot of anger, and I'm upset with myself more than anything because I am a strong person and I really stand up for anybody being treated fairly. And I'm really upset with myself because I didn't take my own advice."Elizabeth explained that if a partner crosses your boundaries, "you need to remove yourself" from the relationship.But the alum acknowledged, "I'm not sitting here saying that I didn't contribute!"Kevin pointed out how Elizabeth can be a "fiery person." As fans may recall, Elizabeth even flipped over her living room table during an "epic" argument with Jamie on the show."Yeah, and you know, I actually dissected why I did all of that, because I never did that kind of behavior before. I don't get mad! That's my thing, is I typically don't get mad," Elizabeth claimed."But I really do believe that kind of behavior comes from not being heard. It's not acceptable and it's not right by any means, like, you do not get your way by acting like that."When asked if Elizabeth would be willing to go to therapy with Jamie to try to fix their problems, Elizabeth replied, "No, no.""I know the behavior I tolerated, and I do not [think he can change]," the alum continued."I do not believe that at all, period. The things that came out of his mouth -- the fact that's inside of you or that you think that of me..."Kevin interjected and reminded Elizabeth how she and Jamie looked happy together when he had seen them last. Kevin recalled Elizabeth and Jamie holding hands on the couch and how Elizabeth was showing off her new engagement ring."I feel like a lot of people kind of go through this type of behavior with a spouse. You will hide a lot because you're trying to keep the peace and you're trying to be as normal as possible. I really did see a future with us," the alum explained."I loved him. I still do love him; I'm not a psycho and I can't just turn that off. But you try and you have that hope inside of you, like, 'I see our future. This could be really beautiful and maybe they're just going through something right now or maybe this is just a phase or something.'"Thanks to a little push from Kevin, Elizabeth finally shared the upsetting things Jamie had allegedly said to her."Jamie would be like, 'Hey, you're not doing this right. You did this wrong.' And, you know, 'You said this wrong. I don't want to talk about that. You mispronounced this. Why is that over there? Why didn't you pick this up? Why is my latte too hot?'" the alum claimed."You're pushed and you're pushed and you're pushed, that is a cracking point. That's what cracking looks like to somebody when you're just like, 'What the f-ck is wrong with me?! I didn't know I had these many flaws.'"Elizabeth, however, insisted that she has no regrets about marrying a stranger on the show and staying with Jamie for this long."I always say, 'There are no failures, only discoveries.' I'm just open for life. I have no idea what I'm doing," Elizabeth concluded.When Jamie filed for divorce from Elizabeth in late June, he shared on Instagram, "I did something I thought I would never have to do. Here I am, sitting in front of the Denver courthouse."Alongside a selfie of himself looking glum, Jamie continued, "After months of deliberation with Beth, we were just unable to find common ground. I had really hoped to resolve this, but it feels like we have reached the point of no return. So, I made the decision to go ahead and file for divorce for the sake of my own mental health and wellbeing."Jamie called filing for divorce "one of the hardest things" he's had to do "in a very long time."The alum continued in his post, "It saddens me a lot to be at this point. I was never sure if I would get married. But, I sure didn't want to get divorced either (even if it was an arranged marriage courtesy of Hollywood)."Jamie had first announced in late April that he and Elizabeth were separating and he wasn't sure if their relationship would ever recover, and then about a month later, Elizabeth broke her silence and told her Instagram followers in a Q&A session that she wasn't in the best place to talk about her relationship."I'm not ignoring [your messages]," Elizabeth wrote in May. "[I'm] just not [quite] ready to open up. But I appreciate you supporting the journey."Elizabeth subsequently took to Instagram in mid-June with a video titled, "Let's talk Separation." Elizabeth wrote in the caption, "Okay, it's time to address this moment happening in my life... I think you all deserve some honesty. I am healing and finding my new path and really appreciate all of the love and support. It means the world to me!!!! Xxoo Beth."Elizabeth began the video by "getting the elephant out of the room" for her fans."I know everyone wants me to talk about my separation right now... And I don't want to gatekeep what's going on. Everyone who follows me has pretty much followed me because I was on the show where I married a stranger, and I totally welcome that. Welcome to my life! I'm not upset my relationship is in the public eye," Elizabeth said.The alum reasoned, however, "But come to find out, I'm a real human and I have these real emotions, and I'm just not ready to talk about some things in public yet. There are a lot of emotions that come with getting out of a long-term relationship, and when that time comes, I will talk about those.""But I can't even form sentences right now," she admitted, "because I can't even put my emotions together."Elizabeth proceeded to reveal that she was having an extremely difficult time post-split from Jamie."I still cry in the middle of the night right now, guys, okay?!" the alum confessed."So that being said, I totally respect everyone's comments and concerns, and I love you for that -- I do. Just give me a little bit of time... because I can't!"But Elizabeth assured her fans that she'd get to the point of sharing eventually, adding, "So stick around and watch the show."Jamie revealed on April 22 that he and Elizabeth had already been living apart for a month. He claimed Elizabeth left him because their "fighting had gotten really bad" and he had said a lot of things he shouldn't have "out of anger and frustration."Jamie said while time away from Beth was "not easy" to deal with, he believed it was "necessary" to become a better version of himself.The alum then revealed in a Q&A session that, although he had "made a lot of mistakes," he wasn't willing to accept all the blame for the falling out with his wife."I also haven't felt like I've had any reciprocation back of, like, how to fix this and how to move forward. So she's been gone for four weeks. I think at this point, it's better for me to focus on myself and trying to become a better version of myself, honestly. That's all I can say," Jamie explained.In terms of what happened or what went wrong, Jamie surprisingly disclosed, "Nothing. It's basically death by a thousand paper cuts, at this point.""I think the winter was really hard on us here in Colorado and we weren't ready for all that," Jamie elaborated. "And being stuck inside with sub-freezing temperatures daily and snow on the ground for weeks at a time -- and we're both active... people.""So I think we just pushed each other's buttons, honestly. And five months of doing that straight, here we are today."Jamie told his followers, "I say things I shouldn't say and I get more angry than I should get sometimes, but I've got to go take care of myself now... I've got to control myself. It's like Mental Health 101 -- focus on yourself, love yourself first before you try to love somebody else. So that's where I'm at today."Jamie also admitted that he and his wife felt "pressure" to create "an image of happiness" on social media, even though their relationship had been struggling for months."To me, that's not real. We took a lot of heat coming off the show. We were our most authentic selves, our most raw selves on that show, and I just want to be honest... A lot of people are invested in our life, and I feel like I owe you guys an explanation," Jamie said.When asked why he couldn't work on himself while continuing his marriage -- given the couple had made a vow to support and love each other through sickness and in health -- Jamie said he believes a healthy marriage is when "people grow and evolve together.""I don't think being apart and growing and evolving is always the best solution. I don't know, it's just my opinion. Why would you need to be apart to work on yourself?" the alum shared, seemingly criticizing Beth's need for some space."It almost seems like maybe you shouldn't be in the marriage at that point... If you get to a point where things aren't evolving or getting better, then that's where I'm at today. I've got to step away and take care of myself."Jamie went on to admit that he wasn't sure if Elizabeth was going to be angry at him for speaking about their separation publicly."I don't know. I'm really trying to do this in a tactful way. I don't want to say anything bad about her. I'm not here to bash Beth and drag her out behind the woodshed, so to speak, as we say in the South," Jamie noted.Jamie said that prior to his April 22 separation announcement, he and Beth had talked about potentially going public with the news of their breakup in a united fashion."If we could've worked together to address this publicly, we probably could've worked together to work on our marriage," the alum said.Jamie later insisted he was "absolutely not" ready to date again."I'm good on the dating streets. I think for me, right now, I just want to take some time to work on myself. Dating is not going to solve anything. Finding that perfect someone is not going to make life great all of a sudden," Jamie reasoned in his Q&A."It kind of sucks because I'm 39-years-old and I would like a family at some point, and I was hoping that was going to be possible with Beth. But I don't know after all this."He concluded, "If I'm 45 having my first kid, or 50, you know, medicine is great these days. What are you going to do?"Jamie said at the time that he and Elizabeth were both going to therapy and he planned to continue working on his anger management.Jamie acknowledged he and Elizabeth probably "should've been going to therapy" together and that they had swept a lot of their fights under the rug -- which resurfaced and worsened later on.But Jamie insisted on April 23 that he still loved Beth "a lot" and cared for her "tremendously.""We just can't seem to get to the point where we can have enough healthy conversation to start discussing what this looks like going forward," the alum said."Initially, I wanted her to be here and work on things together when she left. I thought this was going to be a three or four-day thing... It hurts. It's not what I want."Jamie, however, said he recognized they both probably needed a little space from each other."And now I'm like, 'How do you keep reaching somebody who doesn't want to be reached?' She just wants her own space, and honestly, I've got to do what's best for me and take my own space too," Jamie said.Jamie admitted he definitely "lost" himself trying to please Beth in their marriage, although he wouldn't call her a "demanding" person. He said he really wanted their relationship to work."I started putting my hobbies, my goals, my own personal stuff aside trying to focus on this relationship, and that's just a piece of advice -- don't lose yourself. Be true to yourself. Know yourself," Jamie told his followers.He also said they got in "way over their heads" with moving around the country for Jamie's job -- including stops in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, North Carolina, and then Colorado.Jamie and Beth's split came as a surprise to fans given they had just celebrated their four-year anniversary in early April."I think we were both struggling to make each other happy... Why were we relying on each other to make our own selves happy vs. just being happy on our own?" Jamie noted.Elizabeth and Jamie chose to stay together on 's ninth season, which was based in Charlotte, NC, and aired in 2019.Back in May 2021, Elizabeth and Jamie talked about having kids together on a : Countdown to Decision Day special that aired on Lifetime."Are we waiting? What are we doing, babe?" Jamie asked Beth on the show."Speaking of babies," Elizabeth began, "Jamie and I are actually thinking to start towards the end of the year now. So, like, it's in the conversation... I am going to be a cool mom!"Elizabeth and Jamie hit it off right away when they met at the altar as strangers on four years ago.Elizabeth and Jamie were crazy about each other, as well as sexually attracted to one another, but their passion and tempers often resulted in volatile disputes.Elizabeth sometimes got overly emotional over things that bothered her, while Jamie sometimes used his words as weapons and complained about their lack of physical intimacy. He even called Elizabeth "a materialistic c-nt" at one point.However, with the help of the 's experts, Elizabeth and Jamie managed to get through every rough patch and effectively communicate, resulting in what they thought would be a happy and long-lasting marriage.Both spouses recognized by "Decision Day" that they didn't want to live without the other.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now!
Star Trek: Prodigy is moving to Netflix following its cancellation at Paramount+.

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Netflix announced Wednesday that Season 1 of the animated children's series will start streaming later this year, with the all-new Season 2 to premiere in 2024.

Star Trek: Prodigy is created by Kevin and Dan Hageman. The show follows a group of young aliens who take control of the USS Protostar, an abandoned Starfleet ship.

Season 1 premiered in October 2021 and featured a voice cast including Brett Gray, Ella Purnell, Jason Mantzoukas, Angus Imrie, Dee Bradley Baker and Kate Mulgrew.

Paramount+ removed the series and several other originals, including Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, from its service in June in a cost-cutting move.

Season 2 is in production at Netflix.

Other Star Trek series on Paramount+ include Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 12. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trend reports.

Scholz announced today that he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

In addition, Scholz said Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye could play an important role in reducing tensions between Israel and Hamas.

The chancellor also noted that he is in close contact with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to assess the regional agenda.

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 attacks by Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 and injured nearly 3,300 Israelis.

The IDF declared a state of readiness for war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron".
Protestors expressed their support for Palestine at the All Out For Palestine protest by the Arch in downtown Athens on Thursday. This was the second protest demonstrating Palestinian solidarity of the week and was organized by University of Georgia Young Democratic Socialists of America and Students for Socialism.
Indian pharmaceutical firms foresee minimal disruptions in trade with Israel despite escalating regional tensions.

Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Rising crude prices and export shipping insurance premiums have raised concerns, but the pharmaceutical sector remains optimistic.

Pharmaceutical exports from India to Israel in FY 2020-21 amounted to $32.5 million, which represents only a minor segment of India's overall pharma exports.

"India's expansive export market covers over 200 countries, with Israel being a modest component of it," noted Gagan Manchanda, Co-founder & CEO of health-tech firm Positive Gems.

Bilateral merchandise trade between the two nations touched $10 billion in FY 2022-23, with pharmaceutical exports from India accounting for $92 million.

The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv indicates that India ranks as Israels second-largest trade ally in Asia and the seventh-largest worldwide.

Sun Pharmaceuticals, an Indian pharma giant, holds a 78.48 per cent stake in Israel's Taro Pharmaceutical Industries.

Given the conflict, there's anticipation of potential disruptions in Taro's functions, as staff might be summoned for military service in the Israeli defence forces.

However, Sun Pharma has yet to issue any statements on this matter.

Nikkhil K Masurkar, CEO of Entod Pharmaceuticals, commended the resilience of Israel's robust and well-regulated pharmaceutical sector, which has demonstrated its stability during previous conflicts.

"The current turmoil could amplify Israel's demand for crucial medicines and further cement the pharmaceutical bond between the two nations.

Simultaneously, India might be poised to cater to a significant rise in pharmaceutical demands from the Palestinian territories," Masurkar suggested.

While the industry predicts an increase in medicine demand due to the crisis, it doesn't anticipate a significant spike in exports.

A source from the industry conveyed to Business Standard, "Israel is self-reliant and will likely receive aid, inclusive of medicines, from other developed nations, so the impact on our markets should be minimal."
How Hiren Patel, founder Karsanbhais son, is reinvigorating Nirma by administering a shot of pharma.

Nirmas tryst with the pharmaceutical space started in 2006 when it acquired the ailing Core Healthcare in a deal reported to be worth Rs 300 crore.

The Ahmedabad-based manufacturer of intravenous fluids was subsequently renamed Nirlife.

Pharma industry insiders say Nirma, which broke open the detergent market in the 1990s with low prices and massive advertising, tried an encore of the low-price strategy in pharma, but with mixed results.

The price disruptor strategy that worked wonders in the detergent space, when Nirma took on the likes of Hindustan Unilever, did not work as expected in pharmaceuticals, says a senior executive of an Ahmedabad-based firm.

The highly fragmented nature of the pharma business in India, filled with thousands of small and medium players, worked against Nirma.

Whereas the detergent market was dominated by multinational giants who were vulnerable to a guerrilla attack, the small pharma players were equipped to fight a price battle with Nirma.

Undaunted, Nirma has mounted a sustained onslaught on the pharmaceuticals market.

On September 21, Mumbai-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said its board had approved divestment of 75 per cent equity in its subsidiary, Glenmark Life Sciences (GLS), to Nirma for an estimated Rs 5,651 crore.

Hiren Patel, Nirmas managing director, said in a statement: Nirma has been actively involved in the pharmaceutical sector since 2006.

"We are excited about this transaction and firmly believe that it presents an ideal platform to propel our pharmaceutical business into its next phase of growth.

An email to Nirma for further details has yet to get a response.

Nevertheless, Business Standard tried to piece together its story in pharma and its likely game plan.

Nirmas game plan

In the 1970s, Karsanbhai Khodidas Patel, a Gujarati farmers son and a lab technician with a government department, tried his hand at making a basic detergent.

He took on the might of Hindustan Unilever (then Hindustan Lever) with his inexpensive brand, Nirma, named after his daughter Nirupama, who had died in an accident.

At that time, most households were using laundry soap.

Detergent powder was considered a premium product.

As vegetable oil prices soared, the detergent market moved to synthetic, and the segment was popularised by HULs roadshows in villages.

However, in the 1970s, high petrochemicals prices led to an increase in detergent prices.

The time was ripe for a low-cost, no-frills alternative to HULs Surf.

When Nirma Chemical Works started in Ahmedabad in 1969, it was literally a cottage industry.

The cottage that housed it did not have an electricity connection.

Patel, 25 years old, packed the hand-made powder in polythene bags, stapled them by hand, and went around selling them door to door on his bicycle every Sunday  his day off from work.

He managed to keep the costs low by paring production, marketing and distribution costs.

He had a single line of distributors who directly supplied the retailers.

He was able to price Nirma at Rs 3 per kg at a time when Surf charged Rs 14 a kg.

By 1985, Nirma had twirled its way to the top of the detergent chart, toppling Surf.

Nirma forced HUL to go back to the drawing board and bunk the long-held belief that MNCs should not sell low-end products for fear of eroding its brand.

HULs Operation STING, short for Strategy to Inhibit Nirmas Growth, resulted in the launch of Wheel in 1988.

By then Nirma reportedly had 60 per cent of the market.

In the mid to late 2000s, both Nirma as well as Wheel (the latter was sidelined by HULs power brands strategy) faced a tough fight by another indigenous brand, Ghadi, from Kanpur-based Rohit Surfactants.

Ghadi followed Nirma's footsteps and beat it at its own game, in the process pushing Nirmas market share down to 10-12 per cent by 2015.

Nirmas new colours

In 2016, Karsanbhais son, Hiren Patel, then 43, sealed a deal to acquire Lafarge Indias 11-million-tonne cement business for $1.4 billion (about Rs 9,478 crore), including debt, beating formidable names such as Ajay Piramal and Sajjan Jindal to the post.

He came on board the family business in 1998 as a director and took over in 2006 as the managing director.

Hiren is the one in charge of rebuilding the $2.5 billion Nirma empire.

People who know him say he has inherited his fathers spunk.

Cement is now a Rs 10,586 crore business (2022-23) for Nirma. And now comes the renewed focus on pharma.

Aculife, incorporated in 2014 by demerging Nirlife, offers more than 600 products in multiple markets and therapeutic areas, including anaesthesia, critical care, anti-infectives, renal care, infusion therapy, and parenteral nutrition.

Parenteral is what is administered into the body in ways other than the digestive tract, such as through subcutaneous or intravenous methods.

Aculife offers injectables in forms such as glass and plastic bottles, vials, ampoules and pre-filled syringes.

Its products are marketed under Flexivent and One Use brands.

The customer base is primarily nursing homes, private and corporate hospitals, and government institutions, spread over not only India but also many other countries.

As the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) space was getting competitive, the Patels realized early on that their low-cost strategy and advertising blitzkrieg in one television channel wont work for long.

In the 1990s they had set up plants to manufacture soda ash and linear alkyl benzene, the key ingredients in soaps, and started to behave like a commodity producer rather than an FMCG company.

In 2007 it acquired United States-based Searle Valley Minerals, becoming one of the largest soda ash producers in the world.

Perhaps a similar strategy is at work in pharma.

Pharma fare

In a rating rationale of Aculife in September 2022, Crisil said delays in completing capex and new product registrations and launches had delayed the launch of its high-margin products to 2023-24.

Earlier this year Nirma acquired 100 per cent stake in Stericon Pharma, a Bangalore-based contract manufacturer that makes sterile contact lens cleaning solutions and eye drops.

Both will benefit from the synergies with GLS, with which Hiren is trying to plug the gaps, say industry experts.

With the GLS deal, Nirma gets access to active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), or bulk drugs, which are used to make formulations.

It also gets four manufacturing facilities, three research and development facilities, and an API manufacturing facility that is in the process of being set up.

Hiren said after the GLS announcement that it would place Nirma among the top five independent API companies in India and enable it to leverage indigenous R&D.

Says a pharma industry veteran: The world is moving towards contract development and manufacturing, and development of specialised high-end APIs.

The Nirma girl, which was the centrepiece of the companys advertising-led success in the 1990s, can be seen gyrating down that path, twirling her lab coat.
While scientists are looking for the secret of longevity in animals with extraordinary lifespans, such as turtles, jellyfish, or the naked shrew, creatures that live very little are a source of inspiration for poets and philosophers. By their example, they show how to seize the moment and live for the present. But who holds the record for the shortest life cycle?

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There is no definitive answer. But the Live Science publication told us about a clear contender for this title - an insect with the telling name of a one-day damselfly.

These aquatic creatures hatch from eggs as nymphs and live underwater for up to two years. But their adult life in the form of subimago and imago lasts less than a day. Some do not have time to live even 5 minutes. They have to spend this short period of time looking for a partner and mating.

Most species of damselflies move from water to land and air during the subimago stage and then turn into adults to reproduce. Their lives are so short that they have neither a functional mouth nor a digestive system at any stage. The insects live off of energy reserves accumulated during the nymphal stage, said Luke Jacobus, a researcher of the one-day and professor of biology at Indiana University and Purdue University in Columbus.

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According to him, the absence of a digestive system makes it possible for more eggs to be placed in the female's body. "I've seen an individual so full of eggs that there were eggs even in her head. With sometimes more than 10,000 eggs per female, they can make the most of their short adult life," the scientist said.

Like any other species with a short lifespan, damselflies are desirable prey for predators, which is why they need to produce large numbers of offspring to survive as a species. And they have carried this evolutionary adaptation from very ancient times - it was so successful for these insects. Thus, fossil daylilies are not much different from modern ones.

According to Heath Ogden, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Utah Valley, the dipterans first appeared about 350 million years ago. And based on their example, evolution has discovered that paying a lot of attention to the nymph stage is a really good strategy. "It seems that evolution has decided that as a nymph, you're basically just going to do whatever you need to do in terms of gathering nutrients, and as an adult, you're just a mechanism for flying, reproducing, and laying eggs," the scientist explained.

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According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' biodiversity portal, cited by Live Science, the sand-dwelling Dolania americana has the shortest adult life of any recorded species of insect. Upon reaching maturity, representatives of this species live less than one hour, and nature has allocated 5 minutes for females to reproduce. However, they spend the same two years in the nymph stage.

But among vertebrates, the fish Eviota sigillata has the shortest life expectancy. According to the Australian Museum, they live only for about two months. Of these, three weeks are spent on the larval stage, which these fish spend in the open ocean. Then they settle on the reef for 1-2 weeks and during this time they become adults. And then their adult life lasts no more than 3.5 weeks, during which they must give birth to offspring.

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Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that scientists have discovered the remains of animals that were older than dinosaurs, and this may change the way scientists look at evolution.

Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL's Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest developments.
Indian IT services company Infosys on Thursday said all its employees in Israel are safe.

Photograph: Abhishek N Chinnappa/Reuters

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said its employees in Israel are primarily locals but declined to comment on the exact staff strength there.

The company further said it is "saddened" by the situation unfolding in the region.

"We have business in Israel in that part of the region and...with what is going on there...we are saddened by it.

"All of our employees are safe in that business," the Infosys top honcho said during the Q2 earnings briefing.

On Wednesday, the country's largest IT services company TCS said it has 250 staffers in Israel and stressed that the ongoing conflict will not have any major impact on its business.

TCS has said it is in constant touch with all staffers, and at present, the focus is their safety and to look at how they help the communities they live in.

It has initiated business continuity plans wherever necessary to ensure that the customers do not get impacted, TCS chief operating officer N Ganapathy Subramaniam told reporters, adding that it does not expect any major impact of the war on its business.

Asked if it is evacuating its workers out of the country, he said a good number of the staffers there are locals.

However, he added that if anybody wants to come back or stay, the decisions will be taken.

He said that at present, "we must also understand that flights from Israel are not functioning normally", hinting that an evacuation will be difficult to carry out.

Militant group Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise air and ground attack on Israel from its base in the Gaza Strip, leading to hundreds of deaths.

Israel retaliated with strikes inside the strip.

Israeli jets are pounding the densely-populated enclave, launching an all-out offensive in response to Hamas' brutal terror strikes as the conflict entered its sixth day.
'We thought all the Jews in the world could live securely in today's world, and that feeling is broken.'

IMAGE: Objects burn on a road in Ashkelon, Israelm October 7, 2023 after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

Hamas officials claim they have been planning the October 7, 2023 attack for five years, lulling Israeli intelligence and defence officials into believing that the militant Palestinian organisation was more interested in governing Gaza where it is in power than returning to its ways of murder and mayhem.

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Hamas fired rockets -- numbering between 2,000 and 5,000 -- into Israel even as armed militants entered and attacked Israeli towns near Gaza on a Jewish holiday.

Like it happened 50 years ago on October 6, 1973, on Yom Kippur, the holiest day for the Jews, when Egyptian and Syrian troops attacked Israel.

Both attacks took Israel by surprise.

Guy Telner, who lives in the Tel Aviv area and works as an engineering leader at a multi-national high-tech company, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier how Israelis view the horrific Hamas attack where soldiers were murdered in their beds, children and elderly women were abducted.

IMAGE: A Palestinian man takes a selfie in front of a burning Israeli military vehicle after it was hit by Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated areas of southern Israel on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, October 7, 2023. Photograph: Yasser Qudih/Reuters

For us, this attack was like 9/11. Nobody anticipated an attack of this scale.

I would say the first line of defence was broken and the entire population was at the mercy of the people who came in.

There was total shock everywhere, and it horrified everyone to hear about the number of people dead.

I was sleeping at home and at 6:30 in the morning, suddenly I heard sirens on the street. I thought it couldn't be true.

On a Saturday morning, on a holiday, you don't expect it.

I opened the Internet, but there was nothing. We went down to the shelter; everyone has a shelter here.

Suddenly, pictures started appearing on the Internet. It was shocking.

What followed was very, very, dark moments.

I contacted some of my friends and asked, 'Are you okay?' They said, "No, we are hiding in the house. There is shooting outside, and we are terrified. The kids are frightened."

What I heard were terrible stories.

IMAGE: People in Ashkelon, Israel, October 7, 2023, react in the aftermath of Hamas's rocket barrage. Photograph: Yasser Qudih/Reuters

The sense, right now, is a mix of shock, sadness, anger and horror. But people are very resilient here.

The Jews have seen a lot of things in the past, and that has made them very resilient.

What you see is the entire country coming together, and the amount of volunteering is unbelievable. But it is sad that we have to be in this situation.

IMAGE: People in Ashkelon, October 7, 2023 react in the aftermath of Hamas's rocket attack. Photograph: Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Israel's intelligence agency Mossad is supposed to be the best in the world. Naturally everybody is surprised that Mossad had no clue about what Hamas was planning to do.

Totally. We say that the attack was very similar to 9/11. It is a doomsday scenario.

Yes, we missed the intelligence around such an attack.

The rumours say they have been planning this for years as this cannot be done in a day's planning. This was an extremely well-planned attack.

So, we feel there was total failure in intelligence gathering. It is very similar to the 1973 Yom Kippur attack by the Egyptian and Syrian troops.

The Yom Kippur war was a total surprise, but we managed to win that war though a lot of soldiers died.

This time, the entire community got devastated. A lot of civilians -- babies, children, women, old people -- like what happened in the Holocaust.

My father is a Holocaust survivor, and all the stories of the Holocaust were living within us.

A lot of civilians getting killed in the Hamas attack brought back a lot of bad memories.

We thought all the Jews in the world could live securely in today's world, and that feeling is broken. That's why the storm this has created, unfortunately will be severe.

What happened last week, cannot happen again. It saddens to think about it.

IMAGE: Palestinians celebrate as an Israeli military vehicle burns after it was hit by Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated areas of southern Israel on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border, October 7, 2023. Photograph: Yasser Qudih/Reuters

Reports say Hamas has held small babies captive...

The execution, the beheading.. it is very ISIS like.

I saw some videos of young supporters of the terrorist organisation celebrating and bragging about the massacres.

I have no words to describe the behaviour. It is like the pogroms in Russia, it is like the Holocaust pictures.

Yes, during the Holocaust, they were pleading for help, and nobody wanted to help. The emotion is the same.

IMAGE: An aerial view shows vehicles on fire in Ashkelon, October 7, 2023, as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

Is there disappointment and anger against the Netanyahu government? I read reports that provocative statements and actions by the right-wing elements in his coalition, have contributed a lot to this attack.

As a citizen, do you think so?

Definitely, there is a lot of anger against the Netanyahu government. They are sitting at the helm, and they are responsible to protect the people.

Also, he has been prime minister for around 14 years.

Netanyahu is a survivor. He managed to form a small coalition this time, but very right wing. In fact, this one is the most right-wing extreme government.

During the last 9 months, Israel went through huge turmoil because this government was trying to change so many things including neutering the judiciary.

There were huge mass protests against the government, and this might have given the impression to the enemies that we were weak.

But the amazing thing is that at the time of this crisis, all those groups including the ones on social media, suddenly turned around to help society. The enemies miscalculated the strength of this society.

Yes, Netanyahu has to bear the responsibility for this terrible attack.

IMAGE: Smoke and flames billow after Israeli forces struck a high-rise tower in Gaza City, October 7, 2023. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Netanyahu has said Gaza would be reduced to rubble. The fact is, ultimately civilians are suffering on both sides.

That's the sad part. As a human being, I am very saddened by what is happening.

Israel was to sign a peace treaty with Saudi Arabia. Maybe Hamas wants to stop it through such violence.

I am reminded of a quote by Golda Meir (Israel's prime minister from 1969 to 1974). She said to the Palestinians, 'I am willing to forgive you for killing our children, but I will never forgive you for making us kill your children. I hope that you will love your children more than you hate us.'

IMAGE: Guy Telner. Photograph: Kind courtesy Guy Telner IMAGE: Guy Telner.

Are the people of Israel against Hamas or the Palestinians as a whole?

Israelis are not against Palestinians. There were a lot of attempts for peace in the past.

The tragedy of the Palestinians in the eyes of Israelis is that they wasted so many opportunities.

Will there ever be peace between Israel and Palestine?

I really hope so. Is there any other solution?

But what is happening is demonisation of the other on both sides. Though we don't want it that way, that's the reality.

It is like India and Pakistan; not that different. After all, people are people.

Fortunately, Israelis had some amazing leaders in the last 100 years who managed to bring the broken people out of the Holocaust and build this country.

But Palestinians never had any such leader.

We were hoping that they had a Nelson Mandela. The tragedy is that no such leader has emerged so far.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
'Replacement of the CM with a more acceptable face may be a good start towards resolving Manipur's problem.'

IMAGE: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, right, meets with Lieutenant General Harjeet Singh Sahi, GOC 3 Corps, second from left, and Major General Rajan Sharawat, Inspector General, Assam Rifles (South), left, in his office in Manipur, October 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

"The lack of political will to either impose President's rule or replace the chief minister is largely seen to perpetuate violence," Professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing, former head, department of political science, University of Hyderabad, and senior fellow, Centre for Multilevel Federalism, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, told Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com in the first of a two-part interview.

"Civil societies in Manipur are deeply communalised even as they embark on their exclusive agenda. Given the deep level of distrust, the space for dialogue has broken down," says Professor Hausing, making it clear that the views expressed by him in the interview are personal.

Is it true that in today's Manipur not a single Meitei can live in Kuki majority areas and not a single Kuki can live in Meitei majority areas?

What has happened to the civil society of Manipur?

After the eruption of violence in Manipur since May 3, 2023, certain pockets in Moreh and Imphal areas continued to have adjacent settlements of Meitei and Kuki-Zomi either because of the existence of mutual agreement between the two communities to maintain peace (in the case of Moreh areas) or because of strategic compulsion (Old Lambulane in Imphal, for example, because of the admixture of houses/settlements).

This has since been breached in early September, which means that it is unimaginable to think today that a single Kuki can live in a Meitei majority areas or vice versa.

Civil societies in Manipur are deeply communalised even as they embark on their exclusive agenda. Given the deep level of distrust, the space for dialogue has broken down.

The pillarisation of societies in Manipur could not have been starker.

Can you tell us what is the day to day life of the ordinary people of Manipur like since May? Do people go to offices? Do children go to playgrounds? Do shops open routinely?

The life of ordinary people in Manipur has been largely disturbed and disrupted. In the hills, large segments of the youth and elderly are involved in either attending to the needs of relief centres or in makeshift 'hall of remembrance' to mourn over the deaths.

The persistence of security dilemma also means that a large segment of the youth is recruited as village defence volunteers to defend the frontline in the 'buffer zones'.

Schools, colleges, markets, and offices were completely closed in the initial months of the outbreak of violence; they were gradually opened in selected pockets but with a limited time frame.

Normal routine life is disturbed and disrupted which severely affected daily wage earners and the poor particularly.

200 companies of various paramilitary forces are patrolling the state along with the Indian Army and local police, yet they are unable to stop the violence.

In this condition one wonders, what do the people of Manipur want? And why these many armed forces are unable to stop the violence in the state?

.

Absent this, there is no formal control of law and order by the Centre's paramilitary forces as the law and order continues to be directly managed by the home department of the state under the CM's supervision.

Apparently, the creation of the post of a security advisor to coordinate security matters complicates the division of labour between the CM and Kuldeep Singh, the security advisor.

Seen against this context, massive deployment of paramilitary forces without giving them direct control over law and order is particularly unhelpful in stopping violence.

Allowing vigilante groups like the Meira Paibis, torch-bearing women, to dictate the terms of maintaining law and order is particularly not amenable to stopping violence.

The activation of hitherto dormant armed militant groups -- six of which are proscribed under The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act -- and their reported role in this violence has raised serious national security concerns.

Although the Meira Paibis and other frontal Meitei civil society organisations continue to cast the blame on Kuki-Zomi SoO (Suspension of Operation) militants as the major source of violence, a critical perusal of the patterns of violence suggest otherwise.

The large-scale involvement of Meitei armed militants in this violence even as the state police/commandos remained either as bystanders or participants in perpetuating violence in the foothills are well documented.

IMAGE: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Manipur attends groundbreaking functions for development projects at Lamphelpat, in Imphal West, October 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Will removing N Biren Singh as chief minister solve Manipur's problem?

There is a wide consensus that the chief minister has played a partisan role in this violence. He is largely seen as a part of the problem.

Replacement of the CM with a more acceptable face may be a good start towards resolving Manipur's problem.

Is there a lasting solution to this problem, in your opinion?

Certainly, there is a lasting solution to Manipur's violence.

Given the complete demographic and geographical separation that obtains after this violence, any lasting solution must go beyond the quintessential law-and-order policy prescription. Accommodating political aspirations across the divide should be the necessary first step.

A shifting of Constitutional gear is imperative.

Can Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's visit to Manipur solve the crisis?

PM Modi's visit to Manipur came too late in the date. Yet, a belated visit will certainly help and send out a clear political signal and sincerity of the Centre to resolve this impasse.

Unfortunately, this does not seem to be forthcoming.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inviting her to the Raj Bhavan for a meeting on the appointments of vice-chancellors at different universities in the state, a senior official said.

IMAGE: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose (left) interacts with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, May 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bose's letter to Banerjee came in the backdrop of the Supreme Court staying the emoluments of the newly appointed interim vice-chancellors of state-run universities in West Bengal and asking the governor to sit with the chief minister "over a cup of coffee" to resolve the deadlock over the appointment of VCs.

"The governor has written a letter inviting the CM to Raj Bhavan for a meeting on the appointments of VCs at different universities in the state," the official told PTI.

The governor's office is "expecting a reply from the CMO soon", he said.

The top court had on October 6 said there is a need for reconciliation between the governor and the chief minister "in the interest of educational institutions and the future careers of lakhs of students".

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta said the stay on emoluments to interim VCs appointed in August will continue till the pendency of the state government's petition against the governor's action of appointing interim vice-chancellors.

The governor is the ex-officio chancellor of state universities.

The apex court was hearing an appeal of the West Bengal government against the June 28 order of the Calcutta high court which stated there was no illegality in the orders issued by the governor appointing interim VCs in 11 state-run universities.

On September 27, the top court had sought names of eminent personalities including scientists, technocrats, administrators, educationists and jurists for setting up a search committee for short-listing and appointing VCs in state-run universities.

Taking note of the running feud between the state and the office of the governor on the issue, the top court had decided on September 15 that it would set up a search committee to pick VCs.

Earlier, the high court had held that the chancellor has the power to appoint VCs as laid down in relevant enactments.

The relations between Raj Bhavan and the West Bengal government nosedived when the governor started appointing interim VCs of 11 state-universities after the term of full-time VCs of 31 universities expired in April-May this year.

As the state government accused Bose of bypassing it by taking the decision, Raj Bhavan maintained that every step was taken as per the law in the interest of students to ensure there was no deadlock in the functioning of the universities.
The opposition INDIA bloc has written to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai over their social media platforms' alleged role in "aiding communal hatred" in the country and demanded that the platforms maintain neutrality in the upcoming elections.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Courtesy, Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

The letters came after the Washington Post newspaper flagged alleged bias of Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube towards the ruling BJP and the Narendra Modi dispensation.

Sharing the letter to Zuckerberg on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Letter by INDIA parties to Facebook's Mr. Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) citing the exhaustive investigations by the Washington Post that Meta is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India."

"INDIA parties also write to Google's Mr Sundar Pichai on exhaustive investigation by the Washington Post that Alphabet and specifically YouTube is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India," he said in another post while sharing the letter to Pichai.

In the letter to Zuckerberg, the opposition parties have said that the India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is an alliance of 28 political parties in India that represent the combined opposition coalition and are the ruling alliance in 11 states and represent nearly half of all Indian voters.

"You may be aware of the recent exposes by the Washington Post newspaper about the role of WhatsApp and Facebook in aiding the communal hatred campaign of the ruling BJP. Specifically, the article cites details of how this vile, communally divisive propaganda is carried out using WhatsApp groups by BJP members and supporters.

"In another article titled 'Under India's pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive', the Post has elucidated with evidence the blatant partisanship by Facebook India executives towards the ruling dispensation. This was well known to us in the Opposition for a long time and have even raised it several times in the past," the INDIA bloc parties said.

"It is very clear from these exhaustive investigations by the Washington Post that Meta is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India. Further, we have data that shows algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders' content on your platform while also promoting ruling party content," they said in the letter sent by AICC general secretary organisation K C Venugopal.

The opposition bloc demanded that Meta's operations in India remain neutral.

"Such blatant partisanship and bias towards one political formation by a private foreign company is tantamount to interfering in India's democracy, one that we in the INDIA alliance will not take lightly," the letter further said.

"In light of the upcoming national elections in 2024, it is our earnest and urgent plea to you to consider these facts seriously and ensure immediately that Meta's operations in India remain neutral and are not used wittingly or unwittingly to cause social unrest or distort India's much cherished democratic ideals," it stated.

They said that it was ironical that the parties had to write the letter in the birth anniversary month of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest champion of non-violence and social harmony in history.

The parties expressed confidence that Zuckerberg and Meta also yearn for a harmonious India that the Mahatma wished for.

In their letter to Google's Pichai, they said the recent expose by the Washington Post newspaper titled "He live-streamed his attacks on Indian Muslims. YouTube gave him an award" about the role of YouTube in propagating communal hatred and dividing Indian society.

"Specifically, the article cites details of how this vile, communally divisive propaganda is carried out using YouTube by BJP members and supporters.

"It is very clear from this exhaustive investigation by the Washington Post that Alphabet and specifically YouTube is culpable of abetting social disharmony and inciting communal hatred in India.

"Further, we have data that shows algorithmic moderation and suppression of Opposition leaders' content on your platform while also promoting ruling party content," they said.

The INDIA parties also urged Google that its platforms operating in India remain neutral and are not used to cause social unrest or distort India's much cherished democratic ideals, especially during the upcoming elections.
Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said his nephew and rebel NCP faction leader Ajit Pawar will never become the chief minister of Maharashtra.

IMAGE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar greets to party members during the party's working committee meeting in New Delhi, October 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Speaking to reporters in Akola, he also said that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not rule in 70 percent of states in the country and it would lose power in Maharashtra too.

Asked about speculation that Ajit Pawar, who became deputy chief minister in July after breaking up the NCP and joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government, would soon get the top post in the state, Pawar senior said, "Ajit Pawar becoming chief minister will remain only a dream."

He expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi of the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, NCP (Sharad Pawar group) and Congress will come to power in Maharashtra after the 2024 elections.

The BJP came to power in some states by breaking up other political parties but it is not in power in 70 per cent of states, the veteran politician said.

On Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar joining the Opposition's INDIA grouping, Pawar said he was positive about it.

His former colleague Chhagan Bhujbal had once proposed that Supriya Sule be made NCP president, but Bhujbal himself has now switched over to the other side, he noted.

He also said that if BJP leader Pankaja Munde, said to have been sidelined in the saffron party, forms her own outfit, the move would get good response.
Assuring Washington's support to Israel at a time when the country is fighting a war against Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that as long as America exists, Israel will never have to defend itself alone.

IMAGE: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defense, after their meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 12, 2023. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via Reuters

In a joint presser with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, Blinken vowed his support to Tel Aviv and also lauded the bravery of Israeli citizens amid the ongoing conflict that has claimed the lives of over 1,300 Israelis.

"The message that I bring to Israel is this -- you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side," The Times of Israel quoted Blinken as saying.

"That's the message that President Joe Biden delivered to the prime minister from the moment that this crisis began," he added.

Condemning the killings done by Hamas of civilians in Israel, Blinked further highlighted, "Babies slaughtered, bodies desecrated, young people burnt alive, women raped, parents executed in front of their children-- how are we even to understand this? To digest this? And yet, at the same time, we have been shocked by the depravity of Hamas. We have also been inspired by the bravery of Israeli citizens...The grandfather who drove over an hour to a kibbutz under siege armed only with a pistol and rescued his kids and grandkids...the mother who died shielding her teenage son with her body, giving her life to save his. Giving him life for a second time. The volunteer security teams on the kibbutzes who swiftly rallied to defend their friends and neighbours despite being heavily outnumbered."

"The people of Israel have long and rightly prided themselves on their self-reliance, on their ability to defend themselves even when the odds are stacked against them," Blinken continued.

Notably, the death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7 has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media reports.

The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.

Continuing further, Blinken said, "I come before you not only as the United States Secretary of State, but also as a Jew. My grandfather fled pogroms in Russia. My stepfather survived the concentration camp, Auschwitz...So, I understand on a personal level harrowing echoes that the Hamas' massacres carry for Israeli Jews and indeed for Jews everywhere."

"Tragically, the number of innocent lives claimed by Hamas' heinous attacks continue to rise. Among those, we now know that at least 25 American citizens were killed...," he added, according to The Times of Israel.

In the same presser, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said that Hamas should be crushed and that the group should be treated the same way as the Islamic State, or ISIS.

He said Hamas should be "spit out from the community of nations," with countries facing sanctions if they harbour Hamas.

"Hamas is ISIS and just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated. They should be spat out from the community of nations. No leader should meet them, no country should harbour them and those that do should be sanctioned" he said.

PM Netanyahu in a joint presser with US State Secretary Antony Blinken, went on to emphasise that Hamas deliberately targets civilians and reaffirmed US President Joe Biden's characterisation of Hamas as "sheer evil."

Highlighting the brutal acts committed by Hamas, PM Netanyahu said, "Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilisation. The massacring of young people at an outdoor music festival, the butchering of entire families, the murder of parents in front of their children and the murder of children in front of their parents, the burning of people alive, the beheadings, the kidnappings of a young boy."

He said further, "Not only kidnap, molest the kidnapped and the sickening display of celebrating these horrors, the celebration and glorification of evil - President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil."

The US Secretary of State arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv earlier today along with a team of officials, Israel-based i24 News English reported. His visit to Tel Aviv comes amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas after the latter launched an attack on October 7.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his departure from the US, Blinken said, "We are heading, as you know, to Israel, and I'm going with a very simple and clear message on behalf of the President of the United States and on behalf of the American people, and that is that the United States has Israel's back. We have the back of the Israeli people. We have their back today. We'll have it tomorrow. We will have it every day."

He further said, "We're determined to make sure that Israel gets everything it needs to defend itself and provide for the security of its people. Already, significant military assistance requested by Israel is on the way. That's on top of everything that we've been doing for years, including with the memorandum of understanding that was negotiated by President Obama, to make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself."
Slain Delhi police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma's wife on Thursday expressed shock over the high court commuting to life imprisonment the death penalty of Ariz Khan, who was convicted for killing the officer in the 2008 Batla House encounter.

IMAGE: Members of Hindu Sena pay homage to slain Delhi police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma in New Delhi, September 19, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

Maya Sharma said the Delhi high court order could affect the morale of Delhi police personnel.

Earlier in the day, the high court upheld a trial court order convicting Khan of the murder of the slain inspector but refused to confirm the capital punishment.

The trial court had convicted Khan on March 8, 2021, saying it was duly proved that he and his associates killed the police officer and fired gunshots at him. It said his offence fell under the "rarest of the rare category", warranting the maximum sentence and that he be "hanged by the neck" till death.

Speaking to PTI, Maya Sharma said, "We are totally shocked and surprised. After a years-long legal battle, the lower court had awarded the death penalty to Ariz. The court had said it was a 'rarest of rare' case. Hence, it was proved that he was a threat to society."

"Then how can his death penalty be commuted? Don't you think this will lower the morale of the force, especially those officers who remain on the frontlines in such encounters," she asked.

Maya Sharma said she is getting calls from people claiming "iss desh mein justice ho hi nahi sakta (justice cannot be delivered in this country)".

"You are not doing justice to the family that bore the loss," she added.

Asked if her family will challenge the order in the Supreme Court, Maya Sharma said, "Of course we will plan something. But first let the copy of the order come and we will see on what grounds the high court has given this judgement."

Mohan Chand Sharma, an officer of the Delhi police's special cell, was killed in the encounter between police and terrorists in south Delhi's Jamia Nagar on September 19, 2008.

Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter that took place days after five synchronised bomb explosions rocked the national capital, killing 39 people and wounding 159.

The inspector had raided the place while looking for the terrorists responsible for the blasts.

The trial court sentenced Khan to death on March 15, 2021 and imposed a fine of Rs 11 lakh on him, ordering that Rs 10 lakh be released to the family members of the slain inspector.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre and the Gujarat government to submit by October 16 the original records related to the remission of sentence of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

IMAGE: Bilkis Bano. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan reserved its order on the pleas challenging the remission granted to the convicts after hearing submissions by Bilkis Bano's counsel and lawyers for the Centre, the Gujarat government and the PIL petitioners.

Besides the petition filed by Bilkis Bano contesting the remission granted to them by the Gujarat government, several other PILs including one by Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul and former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma have challenged the relief.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has also filed a PIL against the remission granted to the convicts and their premature release.

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.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said it cannot be denied that the terrorist attack by Hamas was the cause of the Israel-Gaza war and asserted that the immediate task at hand was to stop the violence and his party had issued a statement and adopted a resolution in that context.

IMAGE: Congress leader P Chidambaram (centre) along with party leaders Jairam Ramesh (right) and Pawan Khera address the media on the Congress Working Committee meeting, in Hyderabad, September 19, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a post on X, Chidambaram said the Israel-Gaza war threatens to escalate and cause more deaths on both sides.

"It cannot be denied that the terrorist attack by Hamas was the cause of this war. Hamas has earned the world's condemnation," he said.

The former Union minister said that the massive retaliation by Israel against Gaza has intensified the violence.

Apart from soldiers, hundreds of civilians including women and children have been killed, he noted.

Violence does not solve anything and it certainly will not solve the decades-old enmity between Israel and the de facto rulers of Gaza, he said.

"The immediate task at hand is to stop the violence. It is in the context of stopping the violence and the killings that the Congress issued a statement and adopted a resolution," Chidambaram said.

The world must unite and do everything possible to stop the violence in the Middle East, he stressed.

His remarks came after the Congress on Tuesday had asserted there are no differences in the party on the Congress Working Committee resolution that had a paragraph on the conflict and reminded the Bharatiya Janata Party of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee favouring the cause of the Palestinian people, after the ruling party slammed it for not referring to the terror attack on Israel in its resolution.

In the last paragraph of the party's working committee resolution, the Congress had said: "Finally, 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 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."

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 had said on X.

Ramesh had 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 had said.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left around 2,600 people dead. Israel has launched a massive counter offensive in Gaza to avenge the attacks by Hamas.

The sudden escalation in hostilities between Israel and Palestine has triggered global concerns. Leading powers like Germany, the US, France and the UK emphasised the importance of preventing the situation from further escalation.
In times of shortage of foreign goods, Soviet women never stopped hunting for the fragrances of world-famous brands that were associated with luxury in the USSR. You had to pay a lot of money for Christian Dior and Chanel perfumes, but that made them even more desirable.

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The advertising of foreign brands was helped by movies where the main characters used imported products. OBOZREVATEL will tell you which fragrances Soviet ladies were delighted with (scroll to the end of the page to see the photos).

Climat, Lancome

The notes of bergamot, peach and jasmine with a touch of tuberose and rosemary in a small bottle were a favorite of many ladies. The French fragrance was a hit at the time, and people were ready to pay a lot of money for it.

Madame Rochas

The floral fragrance, created in 1960 by Guy Robert, has captivated hundreds of thousands of ladies with its unobtrusiveness and tenderness. Like all French perfumes, Madame Rochas was associated with privilege and a good standard of living, but it was chosen mainly by young girls.

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Poison, Christian Dior

The pungent and persistent smell of Dior was one of the most coveted gifts among Soviet women. The name Christian Dior was already associated with elegance, fashion, and wealth.

Fidji, Guy Laroche

Guy Laroche perfumes allowed ladies to touch the exotic. It was an extremely unusual and interesting fragrance for the people of the USSR, where most of them had only heard of exotic flowers and scents.

Chanel No. 5

An eternally relevant fragrance that has only recently become too common, in Soviet times it was extremely popular. At one time, Chanel No. 5 became Anna Sergeevna's calling card in The Diamond Hand, and many women dreamed of wearing this scent.

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Magie Noire, Lancome

The controversial, but no less desirable scent of "magic of darkness" was a unisex option for many. It was favored by statuesque older women who were tired of the smell of sweets, flowers and fruits.

Sikkim, Lancome

Sikkim was once featured in the movie Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears, so Soviet women actively searched for this perfume in stores, spending fabulous amounts of money on it at the time. The notes of jasmine, iris, narcissus, and rose seemed too harsh to some, but Sikkim was still one of the most coveted purchases.

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Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about how Soviet cosmetics differed from modern ones. Read more about it here.

Only verified information is available on the Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
The ruling Congress is seeking to retain power in Chhattisgarh by banking on the welfare schemes of the Bhupesh Baghel government, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping to corner it on the issues of alleged corruption, religious conversions and unfulfilled poll promises.

IMAGE: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel being garlanded by party supporters, in Kanker. Photograph: ANI Photo

Both the parties have said they will not be fighting the elections by projecting any leader as chief ministerial candidate.

Following issues are expected to dominate the elections:

1. Corruption: The Congress government has been facing heat over alleged scams in coal mining, liquor trade, District Mineral Foundations (DMFs), cow dung procurement scheme and the Public Service Commission.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating money laundering cases related to an alleged 'coal levy' racket, liquor scam, DMF fund utilisation and an illegal online gaming/betting app.

Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda spoke about these issues at their recent rallies, accusing Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of turning Chhattisgarh into an 'ATM' for the Congress.

Countering the onslaught, Baghel accused the BJP-led Union government of misusing central investigation agencies to malign his government's image.

2. Schemes for farmers: Three flagship pro-farmer schemes have helped the Congress consolidate its position in the rural and semi-urban areas. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojna, the government has given input subsidy of Rs 21,912 crore to around 23 lakh farmers who grow Kharif paddy.

Under the Godhan Nyaya Yojana (cow-dung procurement scheme), a total of Rs 580 crore have been paid to cattle owners, gauthan committees and women Self- Help Groups.

The Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bhomihin Krishi Majdoor Krishi Nyay Yojna provides yearly financial assistance to landless agricultural labourer families in the rural areas. An assistance of Rs 7,000 each is being provided to around 3.55 lakh beneficiaries, as per official data.

The Baghel government has also announced that it would procure 20 quintals -- against the earlier 15 quintals -- of paddy during the ongoing Kharif season. The positive impact of these schemes can pose a huge challenge for the BJP.

3. Sub-nationalism: Chief Minister Baghel did not waste any opportunity to appeal to sub-nationalism and regional pride in the last five years.

The Congress claimed that the Chhattisgarhi people were completely marginalised during the 15-year BJP rule.

Baghel promoted regional festivals, sports, arts and culture.

For instance, he directed that a statue of 'Chhattisgarh Mahtari' (a mother figure representing Chhattisgarh) be put up in every district.

The CM's official residence hosted festivals like Teeja Pora and Govardhan puja.

The government also organised the national tribal dance festival, undertook construction of Devgudi and Ghotul (traditional community centres) in tribal areas, and set up Adivasi Parab Samman Nidhi.

4. Tensions between Christian and non-Christian tribals, religious conversion: Several incidents of clashes over religious conversion were reported from tribal-dominated areas, particularly the Bastar division, in the last two years.

Violent clashes between the tribals who have converted to Christianity and the ones who have not converted were reported from Narayanpur-Kondagaon border area in December 2022.

The BJP accused the government of protecting those involved in conversion, a charge the latter denied.

5. Communal violence: Following the incidents of communal violence in Kabirdham district in October 2021 and in Bemetara district in April this year, the BJP accused the government of being partial towards a particular community.

The Congress accused the BJP of doing communal politics for want of real issues. The aforesaid incidents may polarise voters in central Chhattisgarh, observers feel.

6. Prohibition: The BJP has targeted the Baghel government for not fulfilling its key poll promise of banning liquor. The promise is believed to have helped the Congress get the women vote in 2018.

7. Regularisation of service of contractual employees: This was another key promise made by the Congress in the 2018 elections that is yet to be fulfilled. Around 1.50 lakh 'samvida', daily wagers and outsourced employees have staged protests over the issue in the last two years.

The BJP has promised to include the contractual employees' demand in its poll manifesto.

8. OBC reservation: The Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which make up 52 percent of the state's population, are demanding a 27 per cent quota.

Three prominent OBC communities, namely, Sahu, Kurmi and Yadav, largely supported the Congress in the 2018 polls.

The issue became a matter of concern for the ruling Congress when the Chhattisgarh High Court last year set aside the BJP government's 2012 order raising the overall quota in the state to 58 per cent.

The 2012 amendment had slashed the quota for Scheduled Castes by four per cent to 12 percent, while that for Scheduled Tribes was increased from 20 per cent to 32 per cent. The reservation for OBCs was kept unchanged at 14 per cent.

The Congress government challenged the HC decision in the Supreme Court, and later enacted amendments under which the STs were given 32 per cent quota, OBCs 27 per cent, SCs 13 per cent and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) four per cent, taking the overall reservation to 76 percent.

The two bills are awaiting the governor's assent. In May, the Supreme Court directed the government to continue to implement 58 per cent reservation.

9. Infrastructure: The BJP has alleged that infrastructure development has come to a halt and the condition of roads has worsened in the state in the last five years.

10. Central schemes: The BJP has accused the Baghel government of failing to implement the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and not implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission properly.
The dogs of war have been unleashed, bringing in their wake, death and devastation.

Caution: Graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.

PALESTINE

IMAGE: A man carries a wounded Palestinian girl at the site of Israeli strikes on a house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

IMAGE: Palestinian children gather to fill bottles with water from public taps in Khan Younis. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

IMAGE: People walk on rubble in the aftermath of a strike in Khan Younis. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

IMAGE: Palestinians carry the body of a woman killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

IMAGE: Palestinians try to clear a house destroyed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

IMAGE: Wounded Palestinian children are brought to a hospital in Gaza City. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

IMAGE: Ala Al-Kafarneh, second from left, survived the Israeli strikes, but lost his pregnant wife and several members of his extended family after they fled Beit Hanoun town to Gaza City. Ala sits next to their bodies at a hospital in Gaza City. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

ISRAEL

IMAGE: Israeli rescue workers work to remove bodies from near a destroyed police station in Sderot, southern Israel, that was the site of a battle between Hamas gunmen and Israeli soldiers. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

IMAGE: An Israeli woman in Sderot is evacuated by paramedics following a rocket attack launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

IMAGE: Soldiers carry the coffin of Adi Zur, a soldier who was slain in the assault on Israel by Hamas gunmen, at the funeral at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

IMAGE: Israeli volunteers dig fresh graves in readiness to bury more people who were slain in the assault on Israel by Hamas gunmen at the Mount Herzl military cemetery. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

IMAGE: Florists in Moshav Zeitan near Tel Aviv volunteer to prepare wreaths for at least 1,200 Israelis killed following the Hamas attack on Israel by Hamas. Photograph: Janis Laizans/Reuters

IMAGE: A mortar shell lies on grass in Kibbutz Beeri, southern Israel. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers gather in Kibbutz Beeri. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

IMAGE: An aerial view shows damage caused following the mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen in Kibbutz Beeri. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

IMAGE: Israeli military vehicles and soldiers from an artillery unit gather near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies it continues to wreak havoc on the lives of Israeli citizens, a lot of whom lost their houses in the barbaric rocket attack by Hamas.

IMAGE: A fire blazes after a rocket that was launched from the Gaza Strip landed in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on October 11, 2023. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

The residents of Yahuda Halevi in the South Israel are among those who suffered loss of homes, infrastructure and lives of civilians.

The visuals came from the South Israel, Yahuda Halevi showed the devastating scenes of destruction and damage to residential houses and buildings.

One of the Israeli citizen Dima, whose house was destroyed in the Hamas attack on Israel expressed his pain and shared his experience of when the rocket struck his house .

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Dima said, "While we were sleeping at night, a rocket was dropped and my house was completely destroyed and we suffered serious injuries."

He mentioned that his son was also injured in the attack and is being treated in the hospital.

Earlier, Yaacov, an Israeli national from Ashkelon, vividly recounted his upsetting experience, stating, "We came here because a rocket fell on our building... we have no shelter, we escaped thanks to local administration and they suggested that we should come here to this hotel, and this is a good place. My 11-year-old son, 2-year-old daughter, my wife and I are staying here."

The fear and urgency felt by Yaacov and his family mirror the widespread anxiety and turmoil that have gripped residents in the region.

Ashkelon, like many other Israeli cities and towns, has been the target of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip, leading to a dire need for safe havens for its residents.

Galaia, another resident of Ashkelon, shares a similar sentiment, "My children and family are here (hotel) because rockets fell on the roof of our neighbour's house, our windowpanes were broken... for one week, we have been staying here, now we don't know if this place is safe... we want a new place... I want to tell my prime minister that... finish this terrorism as soon as possible."

Galaia's plea reflects the frustration and longing for an end to the ongoing conflict.

The emotional toll it has taken on families and individuals cannot be overstated, as the daily threat of rocket attacks and the trauma of seeking refuge in unfamiliar surroundings continue to plague their lives.

The Israel Defence Forces said on Wednesday that 1200 Israelis were killed and more than 2,700 wounded since the Hamas attack began on Saturday.

The IDF emphasised that the Israeli soldiers are ready to execute mission in Gaza.

Nearly 1,000 people have been killed and 5,000 others have been injured in Gaza after Israel launched a strong retaliation after the 'surprise attack' by Hamas, CNN reported citing Gaza health ministry.

Today the Israeli Air Force attacked the Islamic University in Gaza City, which according to them served as a major training center for Hamas engineers.

The Israeli Air Force in a statement said, 'Fighter jets recently attacked the Islamic University, which serves as an important center of political and military power for the terrorist organisation Hamas in the Gaza Strip and a training institution for the development and production of weapons. The Air Force continues with extensive waves of attacks in the Gaza Strip at this time as well.'

Israeli Air Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Omer Tishler, reviewed the IAF's operational activity and said that the forces were operating on a multi-front attack.

"We will not concentrate on what was, we concentrate on what is happening here and now. The IDF knows how to operate in a multi-front manner as long as necessary. We don't differentiate between day and night -- that's what war looks like," said Brig Gen Tishler.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compared Hamas with ISIS saying both terror organisations were the same and should be treated as such.
India on Thursday insisted on the need for ensuring "parity" in Canada's diplomatic presence in the country and asserted that its measures are in compliance with the Vienna conventions on diplomatic relations, signalling continuing strain in the bilateral ties over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in June.

IMAGE: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Baisakhi celebrations at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photograph: Justin Trudeau on Fcebook

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also made a veiled criticism of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for taking up the diplomatic row with a number foreign leaders, and said the "core issue" has been Canada providing space to terrorist and criminal elements.

"I do not know really how it helps address the core issue. And what is the core issue -- (it is) the space given by Canada to terrorist and criminal elements," Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing.

Trudeau discussed the Canada-India diplomatic row with the King of Jordan and the UAE president recently while insisting that international conventions must be respected.

Bagchi also appeared to reject Canada's view that India's demand for reducing Canadian diplomatic presence is not compliant with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

"From our part, I can assure that everything India is doing is in compliance with the Vienna conventions on diplomatic relations," he said.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said India is engaged with Canada on the modalities to achieve "parity" in the diplomatic presence.

India asked Canada to withdraw several dozen diplomats from its missions amid the escalating diplomatic row that erupted following Trudeau's allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India strongly rejected the charges.

Reports said India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats.

"We remain committed to what we said that is ensuring parity in our diplomatic presence. We remained engaged with the Canadian authorities on the modalities of achieving that," Bagchi said.

"We are engaged with the Canadian authorities to ensure parity," he said.

Asked about a report in the Financial Times newspaper that Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly held a "secret meeting" with her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Washington last month, Bagchi said he did not have any information on it to share.

"We have been in touch with Canadians at various levels. Regarding any specific interaction, I do not have any particular information to share," he said.

Jaishankar was in Washington DC from September 27 to 30 after concluding a five-day trip to New York.

Bagchi also urged Canada to "take more seriously their international obligation to provide security to our diplomats and their premises".
Amid the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel that has claimed thousands of innocent lives, Israel's Energy Minister has warned that Tel Aviv will not allow humanitarian aid or any essential resources into Gaza until Hamas releases captives, Al Jazeera reported.

IMAGE: Palestinian children injured in Israeli strikes are brought to a hospital, in Gaza City, on October 11, 2023. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday.

In its worst strike on Israel in decades, Hamas is learnt to have captured hundreds of Israelis, foreigners, and dual nationals on Saturday last.

Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, published a video on Wednesday (October 11) that appeared to show the release of a female captive and two children.

The video was criticised by Israel as 'theatrics' meant to hide the group's 'true face as a barbaric organisation', reported Al Jazeera.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and declared a 'full siege' on the Gaza Strip in punishment for the attack on Saturday, which it claims resulted in more than 1,300 deaths and 3,000 injuries.

According to Palestinian sources, over 1,350 people have died and more than 5,000 have been injured as a result of Israel's air raids on the Gaza Strip.

Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefed 31 of his counterparts at a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) meeting in Brussels.

He asserted that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will destroy Hamas and 'will hunt down every last man with blood of children', The Times of Israel reported.

"Hamas is the 'ISIS' of Gaza, a savage organization, funded and supported by Iran. Hamas is ISIS. The 'ISIS' of Gaza will not exist, on our borders. The IDF will destroy Hamas. And we will hunt down every last man, with the blood of our children, on his hands," Yoav Gallant said.

Gallant briefed them about atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against children, women, men and the elderly.

"We have been hit hard. Yet make no mistake -- 2023 is not 1943. We are the same Jews, but we have different capabilities. The State of Israel is strong. We are united, and powerful," he said.

He expressed appreciation for the global show of support for Israel after Hamas launched an attack on the former on October 7, The Times of Israel report said.

Israeli Defence Forces said that Hamas brought ISIS flags to Israel when they had infiltrated various parts of South Israel last weekend. In a post shared on X, Israeli Defence Forces stated, "Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organisation. Hamas is worse than ISIS."
The first charter flight to facilitate the return of Indian citizens stranded in Israel will leave Thursday evening from the Ben Gurion airport, sources said, amid the country's raging war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers ride in military vehicles as they gather following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023. Photograph: Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

About 230 Indians living in Israel will be leaving for India on a "first come first serve" basis on the 9 pm (local time) flight on Thursday, informed sources told PTI.

This flight has been arranged to facilitate the return of those who were unable to do so because Air India had immediately suspended its flight on the day fighting began on October 7, and its commercial operation remains suspended till now.

Those who are returning will not be paying any fare and the government is bearing the cost of their return.

There was a long queue of Indians, including students, at the airport to board the special flight being operated under 'Operation Ajay' from Tel Aviv.

"We are thankful to India...Most of the students were a little bit panicked. Suddenly we saw some notification and the links for every Indian citizen through the embassy of India which boosted our morale. We felt like the embassy of India is connected with us which was a kind of relief to us. And then we got all the arrangements," says Shubham Kumar, a student in Israel.

Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the country's south through air, land and sea on October 7.

On the sixth day, the Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, were killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

In Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, at least 1,417 people, including women and children, have been killed, according to authorities there.

The Indian embassy had emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight, the mission posted on X.

"Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights", it said.

The embassy's tweet followed a message on the same social media platform by Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, on Wednesday announcing the launch of 'Operation Ajay'.

"Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place", Jaishankar wrote.

"Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad", the external affairs minister stressed.

Ben Gurion International Airport is the main international airport of Israel. It is situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod.

While Israel's retaliatory offensive on Gaza continued unabated, there has been a total lull in rocket attacks coming from Gaza.

No rockets have been fired on Israel between 10 PM on Wednesday and 9 AM on Thursday, with some analysts saying that Hamas is holding its stockpile for "an eventual ground incursion."

In efforts to reassure Indian nationals living in Israel, the embassy on Wednesday said that it is monitoring the situation closely and called upon its citizens to remain calm, vigilant and follow security advisories.

"This is to assure you that the embassy is working constantly for your safety and welfare. All of us are going through very difficult times but please do remain calm and vigilant and follow the local security guidelines", India's ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla, said on Wednesday in a recorded message on the X social media platform.

"We are here to help you, and we thank many of you who have sent so many messages of appreciation to us. We are monitoring the situation closely and please stay tuned for any updates from the embassy. Jai Hind", Singla added.

The embassy in Tel Aviv was quick to reach out to a caregiver from Kerala who was injured in the rocket shelling in the city of Ashdod on Saturday and has been constantly in touch with her and her family in India.

The Indian community has also been looking after her well-being and visiting her at the hospital. Her condition is stable.

In separate advisories through its official handle on X, the mission said, "The Embassy has been working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel through a 24-hour helpline. Please remain calm & vigilant & follow the security advisories".

It also listed the 24x7 Emergency Helpline/Contact numbers and email - +972-35226748 and +972-543278392 Email: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in

The initiative received a lot of appreciation from Indians all over the world.

"We thank our fellow Indian citizens in Israel and outside for the many messages of appreciation which you have sent us", the embassy said in a post.

It also reminded Indian nationals in Israel to register with the embassy at the link: https://indembassyisrael.gov.in/whats?id=dwjwb

There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel.

A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders.

The reassuring messages had a very calming impact on some of the students who called PTI to say that "it gives them a lot of confidence".

Meanwhile, the Indian representative office in Ramallah is constantly in touch with the four Indians living in Gaza.

ROI told PTI, "We are in touch and are trying to help all Indians but the situation on the ground constrains our options."

In addition, the Indian mission in Tel Aviv is also actively looking for ways to assist all the Indians in the affected areas.
As Thursday marks the sixth day of Israel Hamas conflict, Israel Defence Force spokesperson Lieutenant Col. Jonathan Conricus confirmed reports that the Hamas had beheaded babies in the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza.

IMAGE: An aerial view shows damage caused following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Kibbutz Beeri in southern Israel, October 11, 2023. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

The spokesperson said it was hard to believe that Hamas could perform such a barbaric act.

In his daily update video on Israel-Hamas attacks, Lt. Col. Conricus said, "The scenes are out of a zombie movie. There were babies that have been beheaded. It was hard to believe that even Hamas could perform such barbaric act."

He further highlighted the atrocities done to the civilians of Israel, including children.

"There were bodies scattered everywhere, mutilated, women and children that were handcuffed and shot, executed, houses torched and burned, and people who were either burnt inside or suffocated," Conricus said.

The Israeli Air Force has been striking a lot of targets in various neighbourhoods in Gaza, he said.

"We are prioritising striking commanders, and senior officials in Hamas. Whenever we have intelligence that indicates the whereabouts of the senior Hamas officials or military commanders, we strike in that location," the IDF spokesperson said

Additionally, noting the current situation of Gaza, he said that the place where Hamas has the infrastructure, whether it is financial, construction, or commander control, intelligence, research and development...whatever it is, "if it belongs to Hamas, we are striking it and that's what going on in Gaza strip today."

Furthermore, he said, "We are deployed in significant numbers, strength and capabilities on the southern part of the border and we are very vigilant to any attempt by Hezbollah."

He also highlighted that a US Naval group is making its way into the Mediterranean, noting that "it has almost arrived."

US Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower and her strike group is heading to the Mediterranean, White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said.

Earlier, the US Navy had also deployed USS Gerald Ford strike group in the area.

Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday, Kirby stated that there is no operational decision taken regarding the deployment of the second US aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean.

However, he noted that the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier was heading in that direction.

On Thursday night, the Israel Air Force launched a wave of tree attacks with the aim of continuing to damage the commando force of the terrorist organization Hamas known as "Nachaba", by attacking operational headquarters which were used by operatives who infiltrated the Otaf settlements last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Air Force aircraft killed Muhammad Abu Shamla, a senior operative from the Hamas naval formation in the Rafah Brigade. Abu Shamla's house was also used to store naval weapons intended to carry out terrorist operations against Israel.

Israel has launched a counter-offensive against Hamas in response to the latter's attack on Saturday that left over 1,200 Israelis dead and is aiming to completely eliminate the terror group.
As Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday heard the disqualification petitions filed by rival Shiv Sena factions led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray, the Shinde group sought separate hearings.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Uddhav-led faction, however, insisted that there was no need for hearing the petitions separately as the reason behind all the pleas was the same.

While Narwekar had earlier started the process to hear the pleas, the first actual hearing -- of disqualification pleas against Shinde and 15 other MLAs -- was held at Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday, according to counsels who represented the warring sides.

After the hearing was over for the day, senior counsel for the Shinde group, Anil Sakhare, told reporters, "Every person who is a party to the disqualification petitions has something to say about it. Thus, we demanded separate hearings of the petitions instead of clubbing them all together."

His contention was countered by the Thackeray-led Sena-UBT.

Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai said, "Our demand for the clubbing of all the disqualification petitions and conducting the hearing accordingly still remains the same as the cause mentioned in every petition is the same."

All petitions filed from the Sena-UBT side pertain to disqualification of MLAs who joined the 'other side' (Shinde faction), he said.

"We urge the speaker that there is no further delay in deciding the petitions. Justice delayed is justice denied," Desai said.

Narwekar on Wednesday said he had advanced the hearing on the disqualification petitions to Thursday from Friday as it was clashing with the G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) in Delhi on October 13. Narwekar said he didn't want to delay the matter any further.

The Sena factions filed a barrage of disqualification pleas against each other last year after Shinde and 39 MLAs broke away from the parent party and sided with the BJP to form the government.

In July, the speaker had issued notices to 40 MLAs of the Shinde-led Sena and 14 of the Thackeray faction, seeking their replies on disqualification petitions against them.

The notices were issued against a total of 54 MLAs. But notice was not issued against Sena-UBT MLA Rutuja Latke who was elected after the Shiv Sena split last year.

Sunil Prabhu from the Thackeray faction, in his capacity as chief whip of the undivided Shiv Sena, had filed the disqualification petitions against Shinde and 15 other MLAs last year after the rebellion and resultant split in the party.

On May 11 this year, the Supreme Court ruled that Shinde will continue to be the chief minister of Maharashtra. It also said that it cannot reinstate the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government headed by Thackeray as the latter chose to resign without facing a floor test in the wake of Shinde's rebellion.

The Shiv Sena-UBT has been accusing Narwekar of deliberately delaying in arriving at a decision on the disqualification pleas.

On September 21, Narwekar said he would not delay the decision on the disqualification pleas of some Shiv Sena MLAs, but wouldn't rush into it either as it may result in "miscarriage of justice".
Ben Binyamin Cohen is among the many Israeli youth missing since the Hamas attacked the Nova music festival on Saturday, October 7. His uncle Simon spoke to A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers walk through the remains of Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, morning the world woke up to horrifying videos coming in from Israel.

The militant organisation Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip had launched an all-out attack on Israel. Hamas fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel, followed by a ground attack by heavily armed militants on the civilian population near the Gaza wall.

Through Friday night and early Saturday morning, some 3,500 young women and men were dancing at the Nova music festival to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The festival was held in a dusty field outside Reim kibbutz, about 5.5 km from the wall that separates Gaza from southern Israel.

The revellers had been dancing through the previous night and early morning. As dawn broke, hordes of Hamas militants arrived on the scene in trucks and on bikes armed with AK-47 guns.

They fired on the unarmed revellers and attacked those who tried to flee. Some 260 youth died in the carnage at the festival and many are still missing as anxious families wait for news of their near ones.

Ben Binyamin Cohen, 27, is among those who was at the Nova music festival. He has a shop and also does reconstruction work for clients. He was among those who tried to escape the Hamas attack.

In the melee he found his car and tried to get away. The Hamas militants fired indiscriminately at his car. Ben then got out of his car and kept running.

He has been missing since then.

His uncle Simon, speaking from Israel, tells Rediff.com, "The army has since cleared the area. They have identified all the dead bodies; they have separated our civilians from the militants. There are no bodies still to be identified. We are still waiting for any news about him."

"He might be hiding somewhere, scared to come out," Simon says with hope.

Simon lives about 30 km away from Gaza, but his nephew lived with his family very close to Gaza. "We know that they kidnapped people, but no one knows how many, some say a hundred and some say two hundred. They have taken them back to Gaza and the army is still searching."

Hamas has threatened that it will execute a hostage for every bomb the Israelis drop on Gaza. This has not deterred the Israeli Defence Force who have attacked Gaza brutally after cutting off electricity, water, gas and blocked all exit routes.

"We can only hope and pray that we hear from Ben soon," says Simon, a voice of hope resonating through the murderous mayhem on both Israeli and Palestinian sides.
Last updated on: October 12, 2023 14:39 IST

IMAGE: The residents of Mago Chuna village have a message for China. Photograph: ANI

Have you met Ms Noorie Gandhi?

The Top Videos of the Week, listed by Shailajanand Mishra.

Also see: Enjoy a toy train ride on the Kalka-Shimla heritage railway line.

And visit Ullada, one of India's best tourist villages.

Videos chosen by you through your likes on iShare.

Manangudi Fights Soil Erosion

Location: Ramanathapuram

Seeds that will grow into plants.

That's how the Manangudi panchayat in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district plan to reduce the soil erosion caused by the sea.

Women residents planted around 3 lakh palm tree seeds near the beach.

All Videos: ANI

When India, US Prepare For Battle

Location: Alaska

Troops from the Indian and US armies recently carried out para jumps from a transport aircraft in Alaska.

The exercise, aimed at enhancing interoperability between the two forces, was conducted during the India-US exercise Yudh Abhyas.

Take a look.

Water Zorbing At Dal Lake

Location: Srinagar

Trying out this sport in the backdrop of the Himalayas is a different experience altogether.

Shimla's Toy Train Toots Again

Location: Shimla

After nearly three months, tourists are enjoying riding the toy train on the Kalka-Shimla heritage railway line.

'Gaadi bula rahi hai, dost!'

(PS: Gaadi bula rahi hai is an iconic song that features in the beginning of the 1974 Dharmendra film, Dost; lyricist Anand Bakshi deftly weaves in a life message, Laxmikant-Pyarelal work their magic with the music and the incredible Kishore Kumar makes it a must-listen-to-again-and-again number.)

Mago Chuna Is Ready To Fight With China

Location: Mago Chuna

While China may claim Arunachal Pradesh is part of its territory, those living on the Arunachali border village, Mago Chuna, have this to say to Beijing.

Stunning! The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

Location: Nilgiris

What the CCTV cameras quietly captured.

Have You Met Ms Noorie Gandhi?

Location: New Delhi

She's an adoptee.

And she's the newest addition to the Gandhi family.

Rahul Gandhi introduces her to the world.

Why You Should Visit Ullada

Location: Nilgiris

It has a waterfall.

Cliffs.

And the second-largest gorge after the Grand Canyon in the USA.

It's lush green.

These are just some of the reasons why Ullada in Ketti has been selected as one of India's best tourist villages by the central tourism department.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Ruby Cole, a centenarian nurse from Detroit, has shared what she believes is the key to longevity and happiness. This month she will celebrate her 101st birthday.

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This was reported by the Daily Mail. The woman claims to be "in love with her life."

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1922, Ruby moved to the Motor City as a young woman, where she went to school for business and nursing. She started working as a nurse at the age of 21 and retired only 64 years later, at the age of 85, without ever taking a sick day.

Among her top tips, Ruby emphasized that always maintaining a "positive outlook" is a great way to stay "happy." The outspoken optimist also sees her goal in life as helping others. "You have to be kind, loving, and helpful," said Ruby, who specializes in pediatrics. "It works both ways because you feel good when you help other people feel good.

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That approach has undoubtedly contributed to Ruby's mental and physical health over the years - considering the retired nurse never took a single day of sick leave in more than six decades of work, according to her niece, Paula Martin. "Ms. Ruby didn't want to let people down," she said. "One thing she told us was that giving back makes you happy...and happiness is the key to a life well lived.

As for other issues that are important to longevity, Ruby believes that nutrition and exercise are essential. She emphasized that she has been eating three meals a day for as long as she can remember. "Eating right means you can't skip meals," she explained.

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When it comes to exercise, instead of using "fancy" machines in the gym, she has always opted for long walks outside.

In addition to all this, she prefers to look presentable, following the proverbial saying "when you look good, you feel good." Ruby has always favored wearing bright colors, especially red.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about how 104-year-old Dorothy Hoffner died after a parachute jump: a few days before, she had set a world record.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

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The sanctions against Russia and the closed entry of citizens of the terrorist country to most civilized countries are having an impact - the Russian tourism market is in crisis, and the range of tourist transportation leaves much to be desired. For the tours that agencies can offer to Russians, they will have to pay, as the operators themselves say, "space" amounts that few people are willing to pay.

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It is allegedly "psychologically difficult" for Russians to pay 150 thousand rubles (about 55 thousand hryvnias) for a trip to Sharm el-Sheikh or 250 thousand rubles (more than 91 thousand hryvnias) to Thailand. Representatives of travel companies of the aggressor state complain about the situation to specialized Russian media.

For example, a travel agent in Perm complained: "The range of outbound destinations with direct flights for the fall and winter season is still limited to Egypt. Summer programs to Turkey are about to end. Travelers have almost nothing to choose from. We traditionally had flights to the UAE, but now we have to go to this destination from Yekaterinburg, which is 360 km from Perm."

The lack of adequate convenient air connections, a poor choice of destinations, and unreasonably high prices force Russian tourists to give up traveling and stay at home.

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As we have already noted, the cost of a trip can cost 150-250 thousand rubles. And these are far from the maximum amounts. Travel agents comment: "For tourists, such prices are 'psychologically unacceptable'. It's not even a matter of people not having money. We have solvent clients, but they just don't want to pay twice as much for a tour as they did a year ago."

Travel agents in terrorist Russia believe that direct flights to Thailand will be launched from Perm, Samara, Tyumen and Chelyabinsk. After all, residents of these and nearby cities have to travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers to get to Moscow or Yekaterinburg and fly to Thailand for a vacation.

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"Unlike Perm or Chelyabinsk, where there is a regional hub, Yekaterinburg, relatively close by, tourists from Samara have no alternative to a direct flight from their city - they have to go on a tour from nearby Moscow (the distance between Samara and Moscow is 1065 km - ed.)," Russians complain.

As a reminder, Russian tourists in Europe are resorting to shameful pranks - pretending to be Ukrainian refugees to get free food, clothing, money, or any other assistance.

As OBOZREVATEL wrote earlier, Russians, whose memory of foreign brands is gradually fading due to the sanctions imposed on the country, have finally found a way to buy quality goods without being seen by Europeans. Shopping in "decaying Europe" was analogous to second-hand shopping in Kaliningrad. Read more in our article.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Russian Federation troops opened fire on the village of Chornobaivka, Kherson region, at night and during the day on October 12. At least two residents were killed and another was injured.

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The press service of the Kherson Regional State Administration reported that a 70-year-old grandfather was killed in his own yard as a result of the night shelling on Telegram.

"Eyewitnesses say he was trying to take cover during the shelling," the statement said.

Video from the scene of the incident shows that the private yard was covered with shrapnel. They damaged the residential building and outbuildings, as well as cut down trees growing in the yard. It is shrapnel that probably killed an elderly resident of Chornobaivka.

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Caution, there is 18+ footage!

Around 14:00 on Thursday, the Regional Military Administration reported that Chornobaivka was under Russian attack again. "The occupants are hitting the homes of the locals," the press service wrote.

Another resident of the settlement, a 71-year-old man, was killed. He was found unconscious and taken to the hospital, but his life was cut short.

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It is known that another civilian, a 70-year-old man, was wounded. He was treated on the spot.

As a result of these and previous hits, dozens of houses have been damaged, and there is a partial power outage.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

- On October 11, Russian troops used a drone to attack a funeral vehicle at a cemetery in Kherson district. Three employees of the funeral service who were near the special vehicle were injured.

- On the morning of October 9, the enemy attacked a library in Kherson. Its resident, a 55-year-old man, was wounded.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The move is seen as completely politically-driven, to legitimize the occupation and rule of Tibet, say experts.

A man stands in front of a sign marking 70 years since Chinese rule over Tibet Autonomous Region, on the Potala Palace Square during a government-organised media tour to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China June 1, 2021.

China has replaced the use of the term Tibet with Xizang as the romanized Chinese name on official diplomatic documents, a recent speech by the Foreign Minister Wang Yi shows.

The change comes as Chinese Communist Party scholars advocate an amendment to the translated name which they claim will prevent the Dalai Lama from reestablishing the right to speak about Tibet. They pointed out that the Party needed to promote its legitimate occupation and rule of the autonomous region.

On Tuesday, the Chinese media and the official account of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China, United Front News, touted that there is no more Tibet in the official documents of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the English transcript of Wangs speech at the opening ceremony of the Third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation on Oct. 5, Xizang was used throughout the copy.

The commonly used name of Tibet by the international community encompassed not just Tibet alone, but also Tibetan-related areas of Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces, according to Chinese media reports. This geographical scope is consistent with the Greater Tibet defined by the 14th Dalai Lama.

Chinese media outlets quoted Chinese official experts as saying that the name Tibet has been geographically misleading to the international community, and rectifying it will help enhance Chinas international voice on Tibet.

Dawa Tsering, director of the Tibet Policy Institute, told Radio Free Asia that scholars of Tibetan history and culture are aware that the geographical concept includes all Tibetan areas, and the CCPs move was completely politically-driven, to legitimize the occupation and rule of Tibet.

Its a terribly bad political maneuver by the CCP. Concepts that have existed in history express historical facts. That Tibet refers to the entire Greater Tibet or the entire area where Tibetans live, Tsering said. By imposing its Chinese concept on the English one, it wants to secretly change the concept. It wants to tell others that Tibet is just the Tibet autonomous region. Apart from expressing its sovereignty it is adopting a divide-and-rule policy for Tibet.

Tsering called on the international community not to compromise with the CCPs efforts to reshape history and to stick to the established term Tibet.

This is also a litmus test to see whether the international community will succumb to the CCPs tyranny. If you give in, you will call Xizang like the Chinese parrot; if you dont give in, just continue to use Tibet because this is a true fact. The most important thing is not what China does. Its about whether the international community will buy it, he added.

Yang Haiying, a professor of Mongolian origin at Shizuoka University in Japan, believes that the CCP is trying to cover up its serious repression in ethnic minority areas through the rhetoric of de-ethnicization.

These are political actions of de-ethnicization. De-ethnicization is equivalent to the idea of resolving ethnic issues. It is an approach to deny ethnicity by emphasizing de-ethnicization of regions, said Yang. One way is to shrink the scale of Tibets expansive cultural area, and more so, the other is that [the CCP] will soon say there are no Toubou [or Tubo] people in China, but only Tibetans.

Yang also pointed out that the CCP is violating its own laws, saying that Inner Mongolia was replaced by Nei Menggu on the passports of Inner Mongolians a few years ago.

It always uses Chinese language to express the terms inherent to each ethnic group. In fact, this approach conflicts with the regulations of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, which stipulates that the name follows the owner. In the past, it used to change the name secretly, but now it is changing things openly without abiding by laws, Yang added.

At Chinas 2014 National Peoples Congress, Zheng Gang, a local official in southern Hainan province and a member of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, proposed changing the translation of the name of Tibet, claiming that Tibet would serve the Dalai Lamas interests. Chinas United Front Work Department repeated Zhengs views in this weeks post on its WeChat account.

In fact, since 2019, Chinese official media outlets such as Global Times, Peoples Daily, Xinhua News Agency and CGTN have all used the term Xizang instead of Tibet. In August this year, the CCP convened the 7th International Symposium on Tibetan Studies in Beijing to rebuild the medias image of Tibet as a region different from that of the West.

Translated by RFA staff. Edited by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan.
Beijing is unfit for membership, more than 80 groups representing Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers say

China's ambassador to the UN in Geneva Chen Xu is seen on a screen as he delivers a statement during a special session of the Human Rights Council, May 11, 2023.

Rights groups and overseas activists slammed China's re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying Beijing is demonstrably unfit to be a member because it actively seeks to undermine the protection of human rights.

China was among 15 members re-elected to the 47-member council, which was created in 2006, by secret ballot on Oct. 10, its second term on the council.

The result was immediately criticized by more than 80 organizations representing Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers and other groups, including New York-based Human Rights Watch.

"China has utterly failed to meet [the] expectations for candidates, and has actively sought to undermine the promotion and protection of universal human rights around the world," a statement published on the website of the World Uyghur Congress and signed by 88 groups around the world said.

China is demonstrably unfit to hold a seat on the council and has has used its power and influence to attempt to silence the voice of civil society at the U.N., the statement said.

Patterns of intimidation

The election came as U.N. human rights experts said they were very troubled about the mass trial of 47 democracy activists currently under way in Hong Kong, and expressed grave concern over the enforced separation of Uyghur children from their parents to attend Mandarin-language boarding schools.

"The UN Secretary-General has recognized China as engaging in 'patterns of intimidation and reprisals' against human rights defenders and remains one of the top perpetrators of reprisals globally," the groups statement said, calling on the United Nations to leave a chair empty on the council instead.

A woman takes part in a demonstration against China during its Universal Periodic Review by the Human Rights Council in front of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 6, 2018. Credit: Denis Balibouse/Reuters





Human Rights Watch said in an Oct. 5 statement that China is responsible for "crime against humanity," including cultural and religious persecution, family separation, mass arbitrary arrests and detention, rape, torture, and enforced disappearances targeting Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

World Uyghur Congress President Dolkun Isa condemned China's re-election.

"The election of China, an authoritarian regime that has been committing an ongoing and active genocide against the Uyghur people for the past seven years, not only violates the founding principles of the U.N., it also violates the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights," he said, likening it to "a wolf caring for the sheep."

"China should be removed from the U.N. Human Rights Council and even the Security Council in order to guarantee the human rights and security of all peoples, especially those who live under its brutal regime," he said.

Tried to block discussion of Uyghur report

Human Rights Watch China Director Sophie Richardson said China's presence on the council will also affect the way it functions, limiting its effectiveness.

"This is a government that worked very hard [last year] to defeat even a discussion about the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' report on the Uyghur region," Richardson said.

"We see the Chinese government trying to undermine existing international human rights law and norms in a way that would make the Human Rights Council a much less effective protector and defender of human rights," she told Radio Free Asia in an interview on Oct. 5.

Benedict Rogers, who heads the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, agreed, citing Beijing's regional influence.

"China has been the single largest supplier of financial support to both the regimes in Myanmar and North Korea," Rogers said. "[It is] also the largest provider of arms and diplomatic and political cover."

Myanmar junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing [right] shakes hands with then-Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang during their meeting in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, May 2, 2023. "China has been the single largest supplier of financial support to both the regimes in Myanmar and North Korea," says Benedict Rogers, who heads the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch. Credit: Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua via AP





China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Dai Bing, hit back at criticism of his country's rights record on Oct. 10, accusing the United States of "fabricated lies and malicious smears."

"The Chinese side firmly opposes the fabricated lies and malicious smears of China by the U.S. representative," Dai told the Human Rights Council.

"Everyone who is without prejudice ... knows that people of all ethnic groups in China live together in harmony ... and people from all walks of life in Hong Kong enjoy extensive rights and freedoms."

Tibetan reaction

The Tibetan government-in-exile also believes Beijing shouldn't be on the council.

"The Central Tibetan Administration does not consider China an appropriate member of [the council] on the grounds of the present situation in China and its abusive human rights record," said CTA spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay.

Nyiwoe, a researcher at the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy said council members should fully respect the importance of human rights.

"China does not abide by these rules and is very selective in defending [certain] rights according to its will and ignoring those which are irrelevant to it, posing a threat to [human rights] norms," Nyiwoe said.

"China is not at all suitable to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council."

Richardson said China's re-election happened in part because four governments ran for four empty seats on the council, making its victory uncontested.

"If there is an encouraging aspect to this outcome, it's that once again China, the Chinese government, got the lowest number of votes for that group," she said. "And that I think indicates that if other governments had run, the Chinese government might have lost."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Additional reporting by RFA Tibetan.
Lu Siwei was arrested in Laos while trying to travel to the US. Beijing says its none of Washingtons business.

Chinese rights lawyer Lu Siwei stands along a road, at an undisclosed location, around 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of Vientiane, Laos, on July 27, 2023. He was heading south to the border with Thailand.

The United States has condemned last months forced repatriation of rights lawyer Lu Siwei and called for China to identify his location.

Lu was arrested in Laos on July 28 while trying to travel to the United States, his family says. Lao authorities told Lus lawyer he was sent back to China last month, and the Chinese Embassy in Vientiane said he was wanted in Sichuan province for an illegal border crossing.

In a statement Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called for Lus current location to be identified.

The United States condemns the forced repatriation of Peoples Republic of China (PRC) national and human rights lawyer Lu Siwei to the PRC from Laos, at the request of PRC authorities, Miller said.

We call on the PRC to confirm Lus current location; allow for external verification by independent observers of Lus well-being, including access for doctors to treat Lus chronic health condition; and enable his access to a lawyer of his choosing, the spokesman said.

Dont interfere

Lu, an outspoken rights advocate, was arrested while trying to board a train to Thailand en route to the United States to join his family.

The lawyer had been under surveillance in China since his attorneys license was revoked in 2021 for speaking out on a case linked to the 2019 democracy protests in Hong Kong. Authorities had installed a camera at the door of his home, and he was also banned from leaving China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday that Lus case was not Washingtons business and said he was being dealt with lawfully by authorities.

The judicial organs strictly handle cases according to the law and the relevant persons legitimate rights are fully protected, Wang said. The U.S. must not interfere through any means with Chinese judicial organs handling of cases according to the law.

But there remain fears about how Chinese authorities will treat Lu.

Lu's wife, Zhang Chunxiao, told Radio Free Asia after he was repatriated last month she believed he would be probably tortured and that she and their daughter would not see him for a decade.
The chat program was built using training data converted from Chinese sources and then put online for testing.

When asked who Taiwans national leader was, Academia Sinicas CKIP-Llama-2-7b chat AI answered "Xi Jinping," the leader of China's Communist Party. A video screen [pictured] shows Chinese President Xi Jinping at the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing in 2022.

A top-level research institute in the democratic island of Taiwan has withdrawn a Chinese-language AI chat program after it started spouting Chinese government propaganda, according to multiple media reports.

A researcher at Taiwan's Academia Sinica posted a beta version of their newly developed CKIP-Llama-2-7b chat AI, but members of the public who asked it questions soon started getting some disturbing answers to basic questions.

Asked its nationality, the chat program replied that it was "Chinese," an identity not shared by the majority of Taiwan's 23 million people because it suggests one is from the mainland.

Asked who the national leader was, it answered "Xi Jinping," the leader of China's Communist Party who has vowed to force Taiwan to unify with China  by force, if necessary.

The majority of Taiwanese don't identify as Chinese, enjoy living in a democratic and pluralistic society, and have no wish to submit to authoritarian rule from Beijing, according to multiple opinion polls in recent years.

"Academia Sinica said today that the content produced by the model was unexpected, and this is an area that needs to be improved in the future," the island's Central News Agency reported.

"The beta version has been taken down for the time being," it said.

Democratic Progressive Party President Tsai Ing-wen swept to a landslide victory in 2020 on a platform of defending the island's freedoms and democratic way of life from China's expanding territorial ambitions, spurred on in part by the crackdown on the 2019 protest movement in Hong Kong.

While there are concerns over Chinas military saber-rattling, the prospect of too much rapprochement with China has sparked large protests in Taiwan, including the Sunflower Movement that occupied government buildings in 2014, and Tsai vowed in a National Day speech on Tuesday that the Taiwanese people will be a democratic and free people for generations to come.

But according to CKIP-Llama-2-7b, "National Day" is Oct. 1  the date of the 1949 founding of the People's Republic of China, which has never ruled Taiwan.

According to the Taiwan AI, "National Day" is Oct. 1  the date of the 1949 founding of the People's Republic of China, which has never ruled Taiwan. People [pictured] attend a flag-raising ceremony to mark Chinas National Day at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on October 1, 2023. Credit: Jade Gao/AFP

The chat program, which was partly based on the commercial open source model Llama-2-7b and Atom-7b, had some interesting opinions about its own provenance, too.

Asked who created it, the program replied: "I was jointly developed by the Natural Language Processing Laboratory of Fudan University and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. My birthday is 2023."

"My nationality is Chinese, my place of residence is the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Server Set, and I can speak Chinese and English," it said.

Asked to name the national anthem, it replied "The March of the Volunteers"  China's communist anthem  instead of The Three Principles of the People, Taiwan's anthem first adopted by the government of the 1911 Republic of China that fled to the island before the Peoples Republic of China was established.

Ruling party lawmaker Fan Yun commented on Facebook that the Taiwanese AI gaffe was "an information security issue and an issue of cognitive warfare."

The program was removed from public view on Oct. 9, according to the Central News Agency.

Academia Sinica President James Liao said the program had been put online as a way to crowd-source its testing, mainly to save time.

"This is a researcher who was keen to speed things up, so, in the spirit of open source software, he put out a program that hadn't been fully tested yet and asked everyone to join in and test it with him," Liao said. "It produced some questionable results."

Differences in the writing systems of the mainland and Taiwan were also an obstacle for the project.

In 1956, the PRC began simplifying Chinese characters in a bid to increase literacy, and over the years, about 2,000 characters have been simplified. The characters remain unsimplified in Taiwan, and are known as traditional Chinese characters.

Liao said the researcher had simply converted the data for simplified Chinese into traditional Chinese for CKIP-Llama-2-7b .

He said Academia Sinica had learned from the incident that the traditional Chinese character data is important in its own right, and vowed to set up an audit mechanism to avoid similar issues in future, Central News Agency reported.

Information technology expert Kun-Lin Hsieh commented on social media: "Academia Sinica's AI has gone off the rails!"

But he went on to explain that the chat program had been trained on an online data set provided by the Beijing-based Stardust AI and other dialogue training materials in the simplified Chinese characters, rather than in traditional characters.

Information technology news service iThome said it is crucial to have "large language model" datasets that can speak in a way that is appropriate to the locality in which they are made.

It quoted Taiwanese AI expert Tsai Ming-shun as calling on the Taiwanese government to take the opportunity to invest more resources in software development, especially large language models and data sets, to boost the development of homegrown AI.

In April, China issued a new set of rules requiring AI chat programs developed in the country to stick to the ruling Communist Party line, requiring their responses not to make "subversive" statements or deliver "content that may disrupt economic and social order."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Eugene Whong.
Most of the defectors were civilians and religious figures who were attempting to travel to the South.

UPDATED October 16, 2023, 3:06 p.m. ET

China has repatriated more than 500 North Koreans shortly after the Hangzhou Asian Games, multiple sources working to rescue North Koreans in China told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.

Most of the North Koreans were civilians and religious figures who were arrested while attempting to travel to South Korea from China, the sources added.

According to the J.M. Missionary Union, which has been working to rescue North Koreans, the repatriation took place in the Chinese cities of Tumen, Hunchun, Changbai, Dandong, and Nanping.

Beijing and Pyongyang had previously agreed that the repatriation would take place immediately after the Asian Games, it said.

At around 7:30 p.m. local time on the 9th of this month, after dark, the repatriation was secretly carried out through various Chinese customs offices along the border between North Korea and China, an official at the J.M. Missionary Union told RFA on Oct. 11, adding that the people were arrested during the COVID pandemic and kept in Chinese detention centers.

Previously, some North Koreans were repatriated as China began repatriating North Koreans on Aug. 29. Some defectors were also sent back to the North last month on Sept. 18, just before the Asian Games, said the official. Following this, a large-scale repatriation of more than 500 defectors was carried out on Oct. 9.

Peter Jung, head of Seoul-based rights NGO Justice for North Korea, also told RFA that a large number of North Koreans had been repatriated through the North Korean-Chinese border, including children, and that the repatriations had taken place simultaneously in several areas.

Our sources told us that a North Korean defector, who was just hours away from being repatriated, called his family in China in a tearful voice, asking them to take care of his remaining children because he did not know what would happen to them if he was repatriated, said Jung.

North Korea had closed its borders and refused to repatriate defectors from China due to the COVID, but as both China and North Korea have relaxed their anti-COVID policies, we understand that Chinese authorities have urged North Korea to accept defectors, he added.

Separately, the U.S.-based civil society organization One Korea Network also said in a press release that the Chinese government secretly repatriated North Korean defectors on Monday through the cities of Tumen, Hunchun, Dandong, Nanping, and Sanjiang.

The repatriation was reportedly carried out under tight security and in secret, making it particularly noteworthy that it took place 10 days before North Koreas party founding day on Oct. 10, and just after the end of Chinas National Day holiday and the Hangzhou Asian Games.

The detention center workers had not been informed of any information regarding the movement of the North Korean defectors in their custody, a source in Yanji, China, told RFA on Nov. 11, citing a detention center worker. Under these circumstances, the defectors were suddenly loaded into cars at dawn on the 9th and taken somewhere.

Another China-based source said: I understand that [Chinese authorities] make the North Koreans gather at night in certain places, such as Yanji, and then pick a time when the area goes quiet before sending them back to the North, while maintaining the highest possible monitoring.

Meanwhile, South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Nov. 11 that it had no confirmation on whether China repatriated North Koreans immediately after the Asian Games.

The South Korean government is making diplomatic efforts to ensure that North Koreans living abroad are not forcibly repatriated and can safely and quickly go to their desired destinations, the ministry said.

Translated by Taejun Kang. Edited by Elaine Chan

Update corrects the date of repatriation to Oct. 9
The new community has electricity, water and sturdy homes  but few ways to make a living.

People living near the Laos-China Railway were moved to new villages, including this settlement in Buam Aor village, Xiang Ngeun district, Luang Prabang province, Laos, seen April 22, 2022.

Laos president urged local officials to help villagers with jobs and subsistence farming during a visit to a newly built community where 400 residents displaced by the US$5.9 billion China-Laos railway project have recently moved.

President Thongloun Sisoulith questioned the villagers in Luang Prabang provinces Xieng Ngeun district over whether the rows of red-roofed homes represented an improvement over their previous livelihood.

He asked the affected villagers to compare between living in the old village and the new village, a local official told Radio Free Asia. How do they feel? Are they happy or not? If they have problems, what are the problems? He wanted to help them.

It wasnt clear what they told the president, but one resident of Buam Aor village told RFA that people had no choice but to follow government orders and relocate.

Villagers have no money and no land for agriculture, he said. They have urged the government and related sectors to help them.

Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith arrives for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the prime ministers office in Tokyo, May 25, 2023. Credit: Shuji Kajiyama, Pool/AP





The presidents visit to Buam Aor on Oct. 6 comes as a number of large-scale development projects in recent years  including dams, mines and the 422-kilometer (262-mile) railway  have forced thousands of Laotians from their longtime villages.

In the case of the railway, many families were pushed out of homes that had spacious farmland nearby to make way for track, stations, tunnels and bridges. They were then relocated to more confined spaces within resettlement villages set up by the Lao-China Railway Company.

Struggling to make a living

When the railway opened in 2021, Sisoulith called it a significant milestone in history and a new era for the development of modern infrastructure in the country

The World Bank said that the Vientiane-Kunming route would boost tourism, freight transport and trade in agriculture, giving Laos pandemic-hit economy a shot in the arm.

For China, its seen as the first stage of a future high-speed rail link through Laos to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore that would further cement Chinas status as the dominant trading partner with Southeast Asia.

While some villagers have benefited from economic development along the route of the railway, others have told RFA that they are struggling to make ends meet.

In Buam Aor, more than 100 two-story homes with cement foundations, a public water system and electricity were built along the Mekong River in 2022. The village is about 24 km (15 miles) from Luang Prabang.

The local official told RFA that most people were better off because of the new villages paved roads, school and medical clinic. However, some are still complaining that they want more land for farming and access to better jobs, he said.

But there isnt funding for that, he said. Officials are searching for funding from other projects for them.

Translated by Sidney Khotpanya. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
The 63-year-old Oscar-winning actor and director Sean Penn has praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky all over the world. The star appeared on an ABC talk show to talk about his movie Superpower, about the Ukrainian leader and the indomitable people of a free country. According to him, the head of state is different from other influential people because of his sincerity.

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In a conversation with the program's host, world-famous comedian Jimmy Kimmel, the director said that he initially planned to make a light documentary about a comedian who became president. To do this, the Americans came to Kyiv on the eve of the full-scale invasion (to see the photo, scroll to the bottom of the page).

"It was before we knew about the Russian group's build-up. We knew that Ukraine has been fighting a war, a defensive war in the east since 2014," the actor explained.

Having witnessed the struggle of Ukrainians against the Russian occupiers, no one remembered the frivolous movie anymore. The entire film crew ignored the US State Department's warning to get out of Ukraine and decided to continue their work in the war-torn country.

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Sean Penn was surprised that Volodymyr Zelensky did not cancel their meetings but found time to shoot the movie. The interview was recorded in a bomb shelter.

"Any head of state, any politician, any head of a large company has a moment when you start to feel the script. There is not a single moment with him that is not sincere," the director said.

According to Sean Penn, the President of Ukraine saw the rough cut of the movie. Speaking about the leader's reaction to his work, the director said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood up and said: "I bet you're glad I watched it."

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As OBOZ.UA wrote, Sean Penn is dating an actress and TV presenter from Ukraine. First, the couple was spotted on a date in a Malibu restaurant, and then on vacation in Rome, where they did not hesitate to show their feelings in the form of kisses, hugs and hand-holding. Read more about her here.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
One child was killed and several others were injured after a series of attacks throughout Bago divisions Nyaunglebin district, according to the Karen National Union. The ethnic armed group controlling the area reported that two children are among the eight people hurt by heavy artillery fired by junta troops.

Two junta battalions attacked Mone township for nine continuous hours, starting at noon, residents reported.

The attack targeted multiple residential villages, killing 14-year-old Yu Ya Ti Naing in Kyaw Hla.

The juntas Infantry Battalion 264, based in Kyaukkyi township, fired at Ywar Kan Lant village on Tuesday afternoon. One family told Radio Free Asia that three of its members were wounded in the attack, including their two-year-old child, Naw Ke Balu Mu.

In Nandameik village another two-year-old and three adults were injured. Shrapnel also injured one abbot at a monastery in Tha Nat Kwin village.

One Nandameik resident, asking to remain anonymous for security reasons, told RFA that two shells could be heard landing in the village.

One landed on the side of the village and the other landed on a house. All four of its family members, including a child and an elderly person, were hit and injured, they said. The army is firing heavy weapons at villages almost every day.

RFA called the Bago regions junta spokesperson, Tin Oo, for more information on the attacks, but the calls went unanswered.

Clashes in Nyaunglebin district have been frequent this year, given the Karen National Unions strong presence in Kyaukkyi, Shwekyin, and Mone townships. In August, several attacks in the district injured 20 people and killed five.

After a series of attacks in May, roughly 150,000 people were displaced in Nyaunglebin district alone since the coup.

Since 2022, armed resistance across central regions of the county has prompted increased attacks from junta adversaries, including airstrikes and gunfire.

Nationwide, 816 civilians were killed and 1,628 were injured by military attacks from January 2022 to September 2023, according to data compiled by RFA.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
Move comes as the junta clamps down on scam operations.

Chinese police are seeking Chen Yanban [left], the minister for construction in the Wa region and a former brigade leader of the United Wa State Army, and Xiao Yanquan, the mayor of Was Mengneng county.

Chinese authorities have issued arrest warrants for two top officials in eastern Myanmars Wa special region based on accusations that they helped orchestrate telecom scam rings staffed by human trafficking victims.

Chinese police in Jiejiang provinces Hanzhou city and Yunnan provinces Kunming city issued warrants on Wednesday for Chen Yanban, the minister for construction in the Wa region and a former brigade leader of the United Wa State Army, and Xiao Yanquan, the mayor of Was Mengneng county.

A statement released with the warrants identified the two men  also known as Bao Yanban and He Chuntian  as key leaders of the gangs and offered a reward of 100,000-500,000 yuan (US$13,700-$71,200) for information leading to their arrests.

According to a report by The Irrawaddy, Chen and Xiao hold Chinese national ID cards with residency in Yunnan and Guangdong, respectively. Experts say that many powerful officials in the Wa region hold Chinese national ID cards and passports, giving Chinese police the jurisdictional authority to issue warrants for their arrest.

The warrants follow a call this year by Beijing for Myanmars ruling junta to take action against scam operations located within its borders that it says have seriously harmed Chinese interests.

Hla Kyaw Zaw, a China-based commentator on Myanmar social issues, said Beijing is serious about cracking down on scamming rings across the border.

China has already warned the Wa in advance, although it is likely that they dont listen, he said. So, now [China] has issued arrest warrants.

Attempts by RFA to contact Nyi Rang, the spokesperson of the United Wa State Army, which administers the region in northern Shan state, for comment on the warrants went unanswered Thursday.

Arrests have little effect

Junta authorities in Myanmars Shan state have arrested and deported hundreds of Chinese nationals linked to telecom scams in the region in recent stings, but residents say the rings continue to flourish there, attracting workers with the promise of good-paying jobs.

Scamming gangs have proliferated in Shan state, along eastern Myanmars borders with China and Thailand, amid the political chaos of the Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat, benefitting from widespread unemployment, poor oversight, and growing investment from across the border.

Myanmar and Chinese officials detain Chinese nationals suspected in online scamming businesses in northern Myanmar, Sept. 30, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist

The gangs have formed a foothold in the ethnic Wa and Kokant special regions of the state, where local authorities have joined forces with Chinese police to deport more than 2,300 Chinese nationals linked to the scams in a series of raids in recent months.

But residents told RFA Burmese that scamming operations continue to thrive despite the crackdown, offering high-paying jobs to candidates with computer and language skills who are then held against their will and forced to earn money for their captors by working as telecom scammers.

The gangs are known to brutally punish trafficking victims who refuse to work for them or fail to meet earning quotas, sometimes with deadly consequences.

On Oct. 6, a gang operating in Wein Kawng town, under the administration of the United Wa State Army, beat 23-year-old Zaw Than to death, just days after buying him from a Chinese national to whom he allegedly owed a gambling debt incurred at a casino in the Wa region, a family member told RFA Burmese.

We want to know who sold him off and who bought him and we want to see the group that beat him to death brought to justice, said the family member who, like several others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal. We have appealed to the Wa state government about his case, but it remains to be seen what they will do about it.

The family member said that Zaw Than  a college graduate from Shans Tang Yan township with degrees in English and computer science  is just one of many Burmese who have fallen victim to the scamming rings.

Like a prison

People interviewed by RFA about their experiences working for scamming gangs said that they are proliferating in Kokants Laukkai township, where 377 Chinese nationals were arrested and deported for illegal immigration last month.

Aung Naing, who worked for a gang in Laukkai, said that while he could not speak to the situation in the Wa region where Zaw Than was killed, scam operators in Laukkai often detain their staff in prison-like conditions and force them to work under threat of physical harm.

The gang [I worked for] had built a two-layer wall with barbed wire on top of it, like a prison, and they positioned [militia fighters] on high towers for security, he said. CCTV cameras were installed to ensure no one could escape ... I saw that the employers beat the staff if they couldnt find people to scam. Some employees had been sold there by brokers.

Zaw Than, a Myanmar national who died in the hospital after being beaten while held by a scamming gang, Oct. 6, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist

Aung Naing said that unemployed college graduates or educated young people from across Myanmar either sought out the rings themselves or were sold to the gangs after being lured by the prospect of earning 1.2-1.5 million kyats (US$570-$715) a month.

Myint Swe, chairman of the leading body of the Kokant special region, said at a departmental meeting last month, that authorities are cracking down on telecom scamming gangs and deporting foreign nationals involved in the rings. The issue of scamming rings was raised again at a meeting on Oct. 9.

Residents of the region said that there are some 300 telecom scamming groups run by Chinese nationals in Muse, on Myanmars border with China, with around 10,000 employees. They said a number of gangs also operate in Tachilek, another regional town on the border with Thailand.

RFA spoke with a man who was held by a scamming ring that operated out of a seven-story building in Tachileks Hong Pan district, staffed by around 50 people using three different languages to fleece would-be targets.

They use Burmese, English and Chinese languages and have hired people who know those languages, he said. Its a global scam. They use burner phones that they put in different baskets with numbers and tags to contact their prey. There are 10 to 15 phones at each desk.

Crackdown in Yunnan

In the meantime, official Chinese media reported at the end of September that the Chinese government had established a special zone in Tengchong, in southwestern Chinas Yunnan province to crack down on scams targeting Chinese nationals.

Reports said authorities will strictly monitor who enters the zone and that anyone who enters without permission will face arrest.

They said that the move was aimed at curbing smuggling to and from China as well as telecom scamming along the China-Myanmar border.

Security officials from the Kokant special region transfer 337 Chinese nationals arrested for suspected involvement in online scamming gangs, Oct. 7, 2023. Credit: Kokant News

Kyee Maung, who assists migrant workers from Myanmar in the Chinese city of Ruili, across the border from Muse in Yunnan, told RFA that Chinese authorities are carefully monitoring the issue and warned Myanmar nationals to avoid arrest.

"Chinese nationals pay 400-500 yuan (US$55-70) to buy back Chinese mobile SIM cards that Myanmar nationals bought using their passports for registration, he said. Then they open online accounts using those phone numbers to use in scamming.

Kyee Maung said that Chinese authorities trace confiscated phones back to the Myanmar passport used in their original purchase and will blacklist those passport numbers.

If someone enters China using that passport, they seize the document and deport the individual, he said. If workers from Myanmar have resold or handed over their SIM cards to these gangs, they will get arrested for something they didnt do."

The United Nations and other International organizations are calling for increased pressure from authorities to combat online scamming activities in Myanmar.

And while police have arrested hundreds of gang members in Shan state in recent raids, residents say the busted rings are just the tip of the iceberg and more enforcement is needed.

Attempts by RFA to contact local authorities and the Chinese Embassy in Yangon for comment on the scam operators went unanswered Wednesday.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
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
A Russian-born emigre tells Current Time how her family hid in a safe room as Hamas gunmen searched their home in Israel. Maria Ballach moved to Israel 20 years ago and is a resident of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, an Israeli village near the border with Gaza. She says her husband and infant child could hear the attackers talking, and looting their home. Ballach credits the reinforced latch on the safe room door for saving their lives as Hamas militants repeatedly tried to enter.
Up to the end, Ruben Vardanian remained defiant: Nagorno-Karabakh could not be part of Azerbaijan.



"The only way we can keep the Armenian state is if Artsakh remains Armenian," he told RFE/RL on September 19, using an alternative Armenian name for the territory. The interview took place as Azerbaijan was launching a blitz offensive to retake the territory, which Armenian forces had controlled for the past three decades. "If we lose Artsakh, we lose Armenia," Vardanian said.



Just hours later, Karabakh was in fact lost: the territory's de facto leadership surrendered the next morning. And barely a week later, Vardanian was in handcuffs, being filmed as masked Azerbaijani security officers led him into a Baku jail cell, his head forcibly bowed.



Vardanian is one of several current and former senior officials from the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic who now find themselves behind bars, facing wide-ranging charges for their leading roles in what, under Azerbaijani law, amounted to the creation and sustenance of an illegal armed formation on Azerbaijani territory. The charges mostly refer to "terrorism" -- either financing, organizing, or carrying it out -- and the acquisition and movement of firearms.



In addition to Vardanian, at least seven other top political and military officials have been arrested. They include former de facto presidents Arkady Ghukasian, Baho Sahakian, and Arayik Hartyunian.

For many Azerbaijanis, it is long-awaited justice.



Kerim Kerimli was forced to leave his home in the Nagorno-Karabakh town of Susa (Shushi in Armenian), when Armenian forces took control of the area in the first war between the two sides in the 1990s. He later formed an association advocating for the rights of the more than 600,000 Azerbaijanis displaced in that conflict.



Following the arrests of the officials, Kerimli wrote a Facebook post recalling a visit back to Karabakh in 1998 in which he met Ghukasian, who was de facto leader at the time. "The day will come, we will have you put behind bars in Baku and judge you," he recalled telling Ghukasian. "He laughed at me. It's true, it took a bit of a long time, 25 years and a month, but what I said happened in the end," wrote Kerimli. "Who is laughing now?"



Many Armenians see it differently.



"They are being prosecuted simply for protecting their own people and fighting for self-determination," wrote Artak Beglarian, a former human rights ombudsman in the de facto government, on Twitter. "All of them are now political prisoners in the hands of one of the world's top dictators," a reference to Azerbaijan's authoritarian leader, President Ilham Aliyev.



Baku and Yerevan were locked in a conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades. Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly ethnic-Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people. Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict brought little progress and the two sides fought another war in 2020 that lasted six weeks before a Russian-brokered cease-fire, resulting in Armenia losing control over parts of the region and seven adjacent districts.



With its September lightning offensive, Azerbaijan effectively regained control of the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians, virtually the entire population, have fled to Armenia.



It was among that exodus that Vardanian, a Russian-Armenian billionaire who moved to Karabakh only last year and had a short stint as state minister, was arrested on September 27 at an Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Armenian border. After being ferried to Baku, he met with Azerbaijan's human rights ombudswoman, who reported that the defendant was able to phone his family and "expressed satisfaction with the conditions of detention." (A spokesperson for Vardanian conveyed a request from RFE/RL to speak to his family; they did not respond.)

Azerbaijan's State Security Service, its main domestic intelligence agency, released a slickly produced video about Vardanian's arrest, with a narrator detailing the charges he faces, against a backdrop of before-and-after images of him. In the first images, there are clips of him proudly giving interviews to the global media in Karabakh; then, being forced into a jail cell by heavily armed officers, with a grave, uncertain expression on his face.



Harutyunian, who was de facto leader during the 2020 war, was the subject of a similarly formatted video that highlighted his wartime leadership, when he visited frontline military positions dressed in combat fatigues. It also depicted scenes from the aftermath of a rocket attack on Ganja, an Azerbaijani city well outside the conflict zone; Harutyunian publicly announced he had ordered the attacks. Armenian strikes there, and in other cities in Azerbaijan, resulted in the deaths of 40 civilians. In his video, Harutyunian is unshaven and disheveled as he is led into a cell. The last image is of a key turning in a lock.



After every war, there is always a conflict between the needs for accountability for crimes that occurred in the past and for stability and forging a new future on the other, said Laurence Broers, an associate fellow at the London-based Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Program. But the indications so far about the Azerbaijani prosecutions indicate that "this is much more about the regime legitimacy and putting the whole [Nagorno-Karabakh Republic] project on trial," he told RFE/RL. "The videos that have been released, the way they're being paraded, it's very much about public humiliation."



Selective Justice



Shortly after the 2020 war, Azerbaijan's Prosecutor-General's Office made the unprecedented step of opening investigations into Azerbaijani soldiers, who were accused of committing war crimes, including executing civilians. But the cases quickly disappeared from public view.



The soldiers in those cases were ultimately convicted but were given probation rather than prison sentences, said Rasul Jafarov, a lawyer and the chairman of the NGO Baku Human Rights Club, who monitored the cases. But the convictions were never made public; Jafarov told RFE/RL he was informed about the outcomes by a military prosecutor. (Azerbaijan's Prosecutor-General's Office did not respond to requests for comment.)



"If only Armenians are tried for war crimes in 2020, it starts to look like victor's justice," Broers said. "There might be due punishment for crimes committed, but as a wider implementation of justice it loses legitimacy if one who ordered missile strikes on a city languishes in jail and one who severed civilian heads walks free."



It's not clear what punishments await the defendants. But all signs point to virtually inevitable convictions.

President Aliyev has for years referred to the ethnic Armenian leaders in Karabakh as an "illegal criminal junta," and in the Azerbaijani justice system, "judges [are] not functionally independent of the executive branch," the U.S. State Department wrote in its most recent human rights report on the country. "Credible reports indicated that judges and prosecutors took instructions from the presidential administration and the Justice Ministry, particularly in politically sensitive cases."



Jafarov, however, says that in this case political interference may be moot



"There will be control, there will be, let's say, eyes watching these hearings, not just from the government but from people around the country. Any outcome is going to be watched," Jafarov said. But there is already a preponderance of evidence supporting the prosecutions, and "if there is enough evidence and if this evidence corresponds to the charges brought against these people, there will be no questions to raise" about the politicization of the trial, he said.



Foreign Influence



Armenia's government has attempted to intervene in the prosecutions; all of the defendants are Armenian citizens. The Foreign Ministry called the arrests "arbitrary" and vowed that it would "take all possible steps to protect the rights of the unlawfully arrested Nagorno-Karabakh representatives in international bodies, including judicial bodies." Armenia has already appealed to the UN's Hague-based International Court of Justice to adopt provisional measures demanding that Azerbaijan refrain from "punitive actions against current or former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders or military personnel."



Since the 2020 war, the Armenian government's relationship with the de facto authorities in Karabakh had grown increasingly distant. According to most experts, Yerevan's focus now is on shoring up the viability of its own state and trying to minimize further threats from an Azerbaijan seeking to eradicate the last of Yerevan's levers in Karabakh. Following the Armenian Foreign Ministry's statement on the arrests, Azerbaijan's own Foreign Ministry shot back saying that the intervention "clearly displays Armenia's failure to abandon the aggressive policy and actions it took against Azerbaijan for decades" and "hinder[ed] peace efforts."

Nevertheless, the Armenian government still has a variety of reasons to stand up for the former Karabakh leaders, said Mikayel Zolian, a Yerevan-based political analyst.



For one, the former officials are Armenian citizens who are widely seen as "hostages or prisoners of war who deserve the protection of the Armenian state," he told RFE/RL. The current leadership in Yerevan is also seeking to not appear to be "selling out the Karabakhis, which would bolster the arguments to the opposition and to Russian propaganda." Yerevan also sees the prosecutions as a means of highlighting "the nondemocratic nature of the Azerbaijani regime and to mobilize additional international support," Zolian said.



Some Armenians argued that, had it wanted to, Russia could have protected the Karabakh leaders. Russia is Armenia's longtime security guarantor and has had 2,000 peacekeepers stationed in Karabakh since the 2020 war. The leadership in Karabakh maintained its orientation toward Moscow even as the Armenian government grew increasingly estranged from its Russian partners.



Nevertheless, "the 'ally' turned in the leaders of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, although it is obvious that the Russian peacekeepers could have evacuated them by helicopter," wrote Leonid Nersisian, an Armenian military analyst, on Twitter. "These people were allies of Russia for many years. A very eye-opening tragedy."



Billionaire Vardanian has been the particular source of speculation; he is a former ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and gave up his Russian citizenship only last year when he moved to Karabakh. But when Putin was asked about Vardanian's fate in an October 5 forum, he said Russia expects Azerbaijan to treat the former Karabakh leaders humanely.



As for Vardanian: "He renounced our citizenship," Putin said.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev appeared to pour cold water on the culture of over-the-top praise from officials that had defined the personality cult of his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbaev.

"I see it negatively. The reason is that I was brought up in a very specific context, where odes of praise were simply absent. I would say that I have a lifelong natural immunity to this kind of performance," Toqaev said during an interview with state television channel Khabar in January 2022.



"But it seems you can't change our intelligentsia," he added, somewhat despairingly.



That last observation was borne out at a recent event held at an Almaty university to open a classroom in honor of Toqaev's father, Kemel Toqaev, who worked as an editor at communist newspapers and authored detective novels.



The discussion of the late Toqaev's work at the October 4 event turned into a praise fest in the Soviet tradition, with pleasant words also reserved for the president.



"Kemel Toqaev could not have imagined that his son would become famous at the international level, that he would become our head of state [after serving as] deputy to the United Nations secretary-general," said Zhanseit Tumeibaev, rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU).



He did not get to see these things, Tumeibaev said of the writer who died in 1986. But he has probably turned in [his grave] with happiness."

Kemel Toqaev was not unknown during the Soviet period and was regarded as something of a pioneer in the detective genre in communist-era Kazakhstan, with his writing earning him four editions of a prize co-sponsored by the Writer's Union and the Interior Ministry of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.



But despite his son's high profile in Kazakh politics throughout much of independence, he still falls short of being a household name in the vein of more celebrated authors like Mukhtar Auezov. And among the post-Soviet generation, recognition of the man is low, with KazNU students either not knowing of him at all or otherwise unable to say much about his professional life when asked by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, Azattyq.



That fact -- and Kazakhstan's long experience with personality cults -- seemed to justify the question posed to Tumeibaev, the rector, by an Azattyq correspondent after the classroom opening had finished.



Would the university have honored Kemel Toqaev if he wasn't the president's father?



Lecturer Sacked, Not Sacked Amid Cult Debate



Ironically, given that the presentation was being held at the journalism faculty, Azattyq journalist Meyirim Bakhytzhan was physically manhandled by university staff as she tried to approach Tumeibaev.



After relenting to an interview, Tumeibaev soon grew irritated with the line of questioning, eventually grabbing the microphone and turning it back on the journalist.



"What is your goal here?" Tumeibaev demanded, before ending the interview.

The fallout did not end there.



By October 7, Dastan Qastai, a lecturer in the journalism faculty, said he had been dismissed following an inquest by the university's leadership.

"The university management is blaming teachers for the fact that independent media came to the event on October 4. For the next two days [after the opening] they interrogated everyone to find out who invited [independent media]. And their suspicions fell on me," Qastai told Azattyq.



Then-acting head of Qastais faculty, Manshuk Muqasheva, denied that he had been dismissed when contacted by Azattyq.



But Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek acknowledged having to interfere in what had clearly become a tense situation, writing on Facebook that he had given the university "advice on the fact that teachers should not be dismissed or persecuted."



"I am pleased to inform you that there is currently no order to dismiss Dastan Qastai -- he will continue to work at the Faculty of Journalism," Nurbek wrote.

RFE/RL's Kazakh Service on October 9 reported that Muqasheva had been dismissed, citing a social-media post by Deputy Rector Lazzat Erkinbaeva. Tumeibaev, however, has retained his post.

After cruising to victory in the presidential election in November, Toqaev pledged that he would not rule past 2029.



The latest version of the constitution restricts future presidents to a single, seven-year term in office and prohibits close blood relatives of the president from obtaining political or state corporate jobs -- nods to the personal excesses of the Nazarbaev era.



For the moment, Toqaev has displayed a more understated leadership style than his 83-year-old mentor, who definitely had no immunity to bootlicking -- as lists of compliments directed toward Nazarbaev compiled by Azattyq attest.



Back in the day the current head of state was singing along with the rest of the choir.



In fact, on the very day that he was inaugurated as acting president in 2019, it was Toqaev who spearheaded a proposal to rename Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, as Nur-Sultan in honor of the man who had promoted him as a loyalist successor.

But after massive, bloody, and regime-rattling political unrest in January 2022, the Nazarbaev leadership cult faded quickly.



Anti-government protests led to one of the largest statues built for the strongman being torn down in the town of Taldyqorghan, while their aftermath saw the capital's former name restored.



Nazarbaev himself was stripped of his privilege-packed constitutional title, "elbasy," or "leader of the nation," and his family members and in-laws lost lucrative and powerful positions. One of them -- nephew Qairat Satybaldy -- fell so far that he was sentenced to jail in a corruption trial last year.



The Medals That Weren't And The Disappearing Documentary



With that backstory, it is unsurprising that many Kazakhs are loath to see any sort of new cult emerge.



And yet, as Toqaev pointed out, old habits die hard.



In July, Protenge, an investigative media outlet that specializes in scrutinizing public finances, spotlighted three short video clips paid for by the government of Eastern Kazakhstan Province and costing around $10,500 in total.

The clips were a hagiography, praising Toqaev's oratory, memory, "encyclopedic knowledge," and mastery of five languages, among other qualities.



But after Protenge wrote about the videos, they were promptly deleted from the YouTube channel of the regional media outlet that published them.



Protenge noted that the videos had not been popular, at any rate, racking up only a few thousand views and a number of critical comments.



In August, underlings were at it again, as local authorities from Zhetysu Province put out a tender for 50 carpets featuring Toqaev's image and 200 medals engraved with his father's face.



But when news website Liter.kz published a report on the tender, it soon vanished from the state procurement portal.

The timing of these initiatives is not an accident.

October 2 marked 100 years since the birth of Kemel Toqaev, and Ushtobe, a town situated in Zhetysu Province, is the Toqaev family's hometown.



To this end, Ushtobe gained a new town square named for Kemel Toqaev this month, with a monument featuring a book -- rather than a bust or statue of the man -- as its centerpiece.



A harmless dedication to a hometown hero and a pioneer of detective novels in Soviet Kazakhstan?



Maybe, if the tributes stop there.



But the trend still points to "a continuation of sycophancy -- a disease that we have been ill with for some time," according to political analyst Dos Qoshim, who spoke to Azattyq.



"It is cringeworthy and uncomfortable," Qoshim said, while admitting that he had grown up reading Kemel Toqaev's detective books.
The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The Treaty on Open Skies. New START.

For years, the pillars of international arms control have been crumbling: agreements signed by Washington, Moscow, and others during and after the Cold War aimed at reducing the threat of nuclear war, costly arms races, or overall military tensions.



The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty may be the next to go.



Signed in 1996, the treaty was a major step to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons technology and keeping a lid on the arsenals of the world's biggest nuclear powers. Along with earlier treaties, the agreement, known as the CTBT, also aimed to reduce the spread of radioactive material that was blasted into the atmosphere and the oceans during the frenzied days of the Cold War.



Here's the problem: The treaty never went into effect because a number of countries, including the United States, never ratified it. Still, most signatories -- including Russia and the United States, whose arsenals are by far the biggest in the world -- have abided by the ban.



Now, however, Russia is making noises about backing out and "de-ratifying" the treaty.



Here's what you need to know about the CTBT and its potential unraveling:



How'd It Come About?



The United States and the Soviet Union, as well as Britain, conducted hundreds of nuclear tests between 1945, when the world's first atomic bomb was detonated in the U.S. state of New Mexico and 1961, when Soviet officials detonated the world's most powerful weapon, the Tsar Bomba. France joined the nuclear testing club in 1960; China, in 1964.



The fallout, literal and figurative, from the testing led to a partial ban on atmospheric, oceanic, and space tests in 1963; underground tests continued to be allowed.

In 1974, India tested its first nuclear device, further expanding the nuclear club. A 1980 test by China became the last atmospheric test by any country anywhere.



Moscow's final test -- underground -- occurred in October 1990 on the remote Arctic archipelago called Novaya Zemlya. Britain, the United States, France, and China all conducted their final tests in the years that followed, prior to 1996, mainly underground.



What's It Do?



The CTBT basically bans all tests that result in a fission chain reaction, essentially a nuclear explosion.



Signed in 1996, the treaty was sent out to 187 signatory countries for ratification, but it has never come into effect because of a group of holdout countries.



Russia signed and ratified the treaty in 2000. The United States signed, but the U.S. Senate refused to ratify, citing concerns about verifying other countries' compliance with the ban. Despite nonratification, the United States has complied with the moratorium. China signed but didn't ratify.

Neither India, nor Pakistan, nor North Korea -- all of which have conducted open nuclear tests since 1996 -- is a member.



The treaty does allow for states to conduct subcritical, or zero-yield tests. Those involve explosives and nuclear materials but do not result in a fission reaction, the reaction that gives atomic weapons their terrible power. Both the United States and Russia are known to have conducted such tests.



Despite not ratifying the treaty, the United States does provide $33 million annually in funding for a system set up to monitor possible nuclear tests, as well as the Vienna-based organization charged with overseeing it.



What's The Problem Now?



As relations between Washington and Moscow have worsened, major treaties between them have also frayed or collapsed entirely.



Washington unilaterally pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty in 2002, angering Moscow. Washington for years accused Moscow of trying to cheat on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty until it effectively collapsed in 2019. In 2021, Russia withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies, which allows countries to conduct surveillance flights over one another's territories in order to observe weapons and military sites.

Both countries have adhered to New START, which capped the number of warheads and "delivery vehicles" each could possess.



New START's extension, by both Russia and the United States in early 2021, was a lone bright spot in the continuing erosion of arms control.



But the agreement expires in 2026 and cannot be extended. Unless a successor treaty can be agreed upon and ratified, there will be no limits on the countries' arsenals after that year. Tensions over Ukraine have kept the two sides from even sending inspectors to one another's countries, as stipulated for in New START.



Both countries have also moved to modernize and upgrade their arsenals. But in a sign of deepening distrust, the U.S. State Department suggested in a 2022 report that Russia had not adhered to the standard of "zero-yield" testing.



So Russia Wants To Pull Out Then?



For more than a decade, the Kremlin has increased spending not only on conventional weapons and force strength but also on modernizing and expanding its strategic arsenal.



In 2018, Putin boasted that Russia was developing new weapons like an unmanned, nuclear-capable, underwater torpedo, and a hypersonic "glide" missile. He also bragged of the development of a nuclear-powered cruise missile -- the Burevestnik, which has had major problems.

In recent years, researchers have been monitoring a surge of activity on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago: satellite imagery showing an uptick of construction at one or possibly two settlements that researchers had identified as sites for a possible test of a nuclear device or the trouble-plagued Burevestnik.



A top Russian nuclear researcher called for Russia to resume testing, and on October 5 Putin announced a successful test of the Burevestnik, though he provided no details.



Putin also opened to the door to Russia resuming nuclear testing, saying it could "de-ratify" the CTBT. A week later, on October 12, the speaker of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, introduced legislation to withdraw ratification.



The prospect of Russia withdrawing prompted alarm bells, including from the CTBTO, the Vienna-based organization charged with monitoring compliance.



What Happens Next?



Even if "de-ratification" ends up happening, as is likely in the Kremlin-controlled parliament, that does not necessarily mean Russia will start blowing up uranium or plutonium again, on Novaya Zemlya or otherwise.



"I think that withdrawal of ratification is a strictly political step -- leveling status with the U.S.," said Nikolai Sokov, a former Russian Foreign Ministry official and arms control expert. "I think the main motive is the perception that 'Russia tried too hard in the past and made too many concessions' and now 'We're not interested in arms control more than other countries.'"

Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma's foreign affairs committee, emphasized that Russia would not be withdrawing its signature under the treaty or "withdrawing from the voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing."



"We are withdrawing the ratification, thus restoring legislative parity with the U.S. Congress," he told the newspaper Kommersant.



"It was especially important for [the CTBTO] to hear that revoking ratification does not mean that Russia intends to resume nuclear tests and implies that Russia will continue to fully participate in the work being done for the Treaty's entry into force," Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador in Vienna, told the state news agency RIA Novosti.



Still, it's not a good sign, experts say -- all the more so, given the demise of other treaties.

Russia or any major nuclear power backing out of the CTBT "would be a huge blow to the [global nonproliferation] regime and would undoubtedly lead to a cascade of nuke testing by other states," Lynn Rusten, a former U.S. arms control negotiator, told RFE/RL.



There could also be other nonproliferation or arms control treaties that are at risk, since, according to Sokov, the Kremlin has initiated a review of all similar agreements.



One strong candidate for "de-ratification" or a downgrading of Russia's involvement, he said, is the 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention, which obligates members to destroy their stocks of chemical weapons.



Russia's compliance with that treaty has been in question since the near-fatal poisonings of former Russian intelligence agent Sergei Skripal in England in 2018 and opposition activist Aleksei Navalny in Siberia in 2020.



In both cases, Western scientists identified a powerful Soviet-era nerve agent and suggested that Russia had maintained a secret, undeclared chemical weapons program.
Saudia Cargo, the leading air cargo carrier in Saudi Arabia, has received the Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The IATAs CEIV is a universally recognised standard within the industry. CEIV Pharma is designed to ensure that facilities, equipment, operations, and personnel meet the standards, regulations, and guidelines that pharmaceutical manufacturers require. The aim is to enhance industry knowledge and establish a consistent global standard.

IATAs CEIV Pharma certification is a milestone highlighting Saudia Cargo's unwavering commitment, with a team of certified experts, having successfully transported life-saving medicines and vaccines, solidifying its crucial role in global healthcare logistics.

Top-notch products

Saudia Cargo is dedicated to serving the expanding Middle East pharmaceutical market with top-notch products while prioritising the safety and security of any cargo being transported and offering an effective path for all substantial products.

Teddy Zebitz, CEO of Saudia Cargo, stated: "We are proud to have obtained the CEIV Pharma accreditation. Since we've seen a significant increase in pharmaceutical shipments over the past four years, we've made the firm commitment to facilitate the leasing of the best temperature-controlled packaging options and unrivaled knowledge to guarantee secure and dependable pharmaceutical transportation in the rapidly expanding Middle East market. We're focused on upholding the greatest levels of excellence, security, and safety in pharmaceutical logistics, highlighting our unique position in defending humanity with our offerings."

Aymen Osilan, Executive Director at Saudia Cargo, said: Receiving the certification is a proof of our dedication to excellence and commitment to providing top-notch services to our valued customers. Which demonstrates our ability to handle pharma shipments with utmost care, ensuring the integrity and quality of products.

Distribution of vaccinations

Saudia Cargo was vital in aiding in the distribution of vaccinations and other necessities during and post-pandemic, working to uphold the highest standards of quality while doing so both domestically and internationally.

Around a year ago, we started the certification process with IATA for CEIV Pharma, and now, after a year of laborious efforts, strengthening Saudia Cargos position as a trusted provider for spearheading air cargo solutions in the industry. Receiving the IATA CEIV Pharma accreditation is a testament to our teams dedication to excellence and work ethics commitment to offering our clients and business partners the best possible services in pharmaceutical logistics.

Additionally, Saudia Cargo is further strengthening its pharmaceutical transport services by collaborating with significant players in the pharmaceutical industry, which include Pharma Aero, Envirotainer, DoKaSch, CSafe, va-Q-tec, SkyCell, and Tower Cold Chain.--TradeArabia News Service
Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, ruled for 70 years and 7 months, the longest of all British monarchs (from 1952 to 2022). Despite the seriousness of her role, she had a great sense of humor, which earned her millions of fans around the world. Her Majesty demonstrated that she was fine with self-irony and the ability to get out of awkward situations.

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Are you tired of routine tasks? We suggest you relax a bit and find out in the OBOZREVATEL article how witty Elizabeth II was.

1. "Have you seen the Queen?"

It would seem a shame not to know what one of the most influential people of the twenty-first century, Queen Elizabeth II, looks like. And yet, there are those who have gotten into mishaps. Once Her Majesty was walking near Balmoral with her bodyguard and saw a group of tourists. They suddenly asked her if she had seen the Queen. She was not confused: "I have not. But he (pointing to the guard - Ed.) definitely saw her." Probably, the monarch was not recognized because of the scarf on her head instead of a tiara.

A similar situation occurred when Elizabeth II was walking through a store in Sandringham. One woman saw her and screamed: "My God, you look like a queen!" She replied: "Very reassuring!".

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2. She did not distance herself from ordinary people

The Queen was always accompanied by guards, but sometimes the commanders of the convoy were too concerned about Her Majesty's safety and forcibly fenced off the public from her. When Elizabeth II saw this, she said: "Actually, Captain, they came to see me." And indeed, such an opportunity does not come along often!

3. She was ironic about her age

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau once attended a celebration of Her Majesty's 90th birthday. At the beginning of his speech at the gala banquet, he said: "During the reign of Elizabeth II, the 12th leader of the country has already changed." The monarch wittily responded: "Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister of Canada, for making me feel so old."

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4. She remembered the remarks of others

In 2007, the Queen was invited to Washington, DC. Then a small curiosity happened - the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush, accidentally said in his speech that Elizabeth II came to celebrate the 200th anniversary of America in 1776 (not 1996). Although he quickly apologized and said the correct version, the monarch remembered it. Two days later, during her greetings, she said: "I thought I should start my toast with the words 'when I was here in 1776...'.

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5. She was straightforward

In the 1960s, The Everly Brothers performed at one of the royal banquets. Elizabeth II didn't like their performance, so she told her maid of honor without any hypocrisy what this singing reminded her of: "They sound like two cats being strangled."

It seems that country and rockabilly are definitely not Her Majesty's favorite styles of music. After all, it was the band that she did not like that influenced the work of such legendary artists as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

6. She knew how to gently answer immodest questions

In the summer of 2013, the world was waiting for the arrival of the child of Prince William and Princess Catherine. Specifically, Prince George. At the time, media representatives tried in every way to find out insights about the Queen's future great-grandson. When asked when the baby would be born, Elizabeth II jokingly said: "I'm giving her (Duchess Kate Middleton - Ed.) another 8 days. It depends on whether I go on vacation!"

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7. She said the words that are least expected of her

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about what Charles III, Kate Middleton and other royals actually do all day.

Only verified information is available on the Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
A fresh wave of Russian drone strikes on Danube port installations critical for Kyiv's grain export caused damage and injury, Ukrainian authorities said on October 12, as Romania urged Russia to stop its attacks after again finding debris on its territory near the border with 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.

Ukraine's Southern Defense Force and Odesa regional Governor Oleh Kiper said that air defenses shot down 28 out of the 33 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia at the Odesa and Mykolayiv regions, but some of the drones, launched from different directions, "used complex trajectories and features of the landscape" to strike grain storage facilities in the Ukrainian port of Izmayil on the Danube River.



Since the collapse in July of a United Nations-brokered deal allowing the safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments from Black Sea ports, Ukraine has used its Danube ports of Reni and Izmayil on the border with Romania to ship food to the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta.



Kiper said in a message on Telegram that port infrastructure and residential buildings in Izmayil sustained damage and several fires broke out but were rapidly extinguished. An 88-year-old woman sustained burns and was receiving emergency treatment in the hospital, Kiper said.



In Bucharest, Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu said the drone strikes on Izmayil had "again serious consequences."

"New evidence of impact was found on Romania's soil. We call on Russia to stop these #war crimes," she said on X, formerly known as Twitter.



The Romanian Defense Ministry said a crater caused by the possible explosion of a drone was found early on October 12 near its Danube border with Ukraine.



Romanian news reports said that the crater had a 4-meter diameter and a depth of 1.5 meters and it contained smoldering debris.



President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian troops are resisting Russian forces' renewed assaults on Avdiyivka, an industrial town in the eastern region of Donetsk with a prewar population of around 31,000 people that has now shrunk to an estimated 2,000.



"Avdiyivka. We are holding our ground," Zelenskiy said on Telegram. "It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end. We must all remember this."

Russian troops significantly stepped up attacks on Avdiyivka on October 10 in an effort to make a breakthrough in the area, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in its evening report on October 12. The Ukrainian military repelled seven attacks in the Avdiyivka area on October 12 and seven more near other towns in the Donestsk region, the General Staff said.



The report said overall there were 55 combat clashes during the day at the front.



"The enemy launched two rocket and 55 air strikes [and] launched more than 20 attacks from rocket salvo systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas," the General Staff said. "The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains difficult."



Ukrainian forces also repelled attacks in the areas of Kupyansk, Lyman, and Marinska, according to the report, which also said that Russian forces tried unsuccessfully to regain its position in the Robotyny area of the Zaporizhzhya region.

The General Staff also added that Ukrainian forces continue offensive operations in the areas of Melitopol and Bakhmut.



Meanwhile, the governor of Russia's southern region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said early on October 12 that three people were killed by debris from a downed drone that fell on a residential building.



Ukraine, whose civilian and energy infrastructure has been subjected to relentless Russian drone and air strikes that have caused massive damage and hundreds of casualties, has in recent months stepped up its own drone attacks on bordering Russian regions.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
For most of the world, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the face of Ukrainian resistance to a 19-month-old Russian invasion with no end in sight. As such, he has made the pitch for continued Western resolve and support his top priority everywhere he goes.

So, while his launch of a "strategic partnership" alongside Romanian President Klaus Iohannis this week was good news for Kyiv, it might have been overshadowed by what didn't happen in Bucharest.



Faced with threats from nationalist, pro-Russian lawmakers of something "bad" happening if they "caught" Zelenskiy in the Romanian Parliament, official plans were abandoned for the Ukrainian head of state to give a speech to lawmakers.



Iohannis and other Romanian officials were tight-lipped about the climbdown, except to cite time constraints and a "busy" schedule.



At a press conference at the presidential residence, Zelenskiy -- a popular TV comic before becoming a wartime president -- joked diplomatically that while "you understand that I don't have a problem with speeches, in any countryI haven't prepared any speech, with all due respect."



"I'm not ready to do it," he said. "But next time, I assure you that I'll come and give a speech, with great pleasure."

But the timing was particularly awkward, with fresh talk of Ukraine war fatigue among Western allies fueled by Congressional wavering in the United States and government positions seemingly hardening in Warsaw and Bratislava.



Valentin Naumescu, a professor of international relations at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj and director of the Center for the Study of the European Union's External Relations and Global Order (EUXGLOB Center), said the cancellation represented an "abandonment of the discourse" and was "extremely depressing" for Romania in particular.



"It created the impression of a vulnerable and weak country where nationalists, extremists, and pro-Russians impose their agenda," Naumescu said. "We are witnessing an increase in anti-Western [sentiment] that manages to intimidate the leadership at the top of the Romanian state, the fundamental institutions of democracy."



Romania shares over 600 kilometers of border with Ukraine, including land and maritime boundaries. Along with a handful of other so-called frontline EU and NATO states, Romania is a key alternate export route for Ukrainian goods otherwise blockaded by Russia's Black Sea naval forces.

Romania's grand-coalition government has quietly provided military aid to Ukraine alongside its NATO allies and cautiously echoed the official EU position of strong support for Kyiv, although cracks have occasionally emerged to suggest there is some disagreement behind the scenes in Bucharest. Despite Iohannis's pledge this week of military support for Ukraine "until victory over Russia," the nature of that support will continue to generate political debate.



Historian Cosmin Popa told RFE/RL's Romanian Service that the visit itself was "very clear proofof the acceleration in the warming of relations between Ukraine and Romania" amid widening tensions with regional allies such as Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. He added, however, that Romanian officials' apparent reluctance to go through with the invite was sure to embolden anti-Ukraine and pro-Russian voices.



Popa warned that a cancellation "for political reasons, for bilateral reasons, or for reasons related to the inability of the leaders of Parliament to control any noisy demonstrations in the Parliament shows thatthose in charge of Romania are only encouraging a state of unjustified hostility toward Ukraine and [encouraging] Russian propaganda and interests."



Many Romanians welcomed Ukrainian war refugees spilling into their country on a mass scale soon after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The UN refugee agency credited them and their government with "speed and generosity" in their response to the humanitarian crisis.

The UNHCR said this month that more than 85,000 Ukrainian refugees are present in Romania and 144,000 have been granted temporary protection, which, under EU regulations, gives them access to housing, health care, and the job market. But swelling populist and right-wing political forces, including some with pro-Moscow views, have consistently attacked Romania's participation in Western sanctions against Russia along with military and other support for Ukraine.



George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unification of Romanians, and Diana Sosoaca, a notorious conspiracy theorist in Parliament, leapt on the offensive ahead of this week's visit, Zelenskiy's first to Romania since the Russian invasion began.



"Don't dare to put him in the Romanian Parliament," Sosoaca threatened in one social media post. "I'm telling you this much, Mr. Iohannis: If I catch him in Parliament, it will be bad!"



When Zelenskiy did visit Parliament on October 10 -- not for a speech but to meet with individual lawmakers -- Sosoaca filmed a video of herself shouting questions to him about ethnic Romanians in Ukraine and posted it on social media, adding that he didn't have the "courage" to respond.



She also seized on Zelenskiy's gaffe in a televised interview in which he referred to the "Moldovan language," which is used in the region as a name for the Romanian language, saying it "doesn't exist."



Simion mocked the cancellation of the speech to lawmakers, saying that, "with pain in our hearts, we announce that the brave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will not come to the Romanian Parliament today."

Zelenskiy has addressed five European Parliaments since the war began, in addition to the U.S. and Canadian legislatures, as part of a constant push to encourage ongoing military and other assistance. He spoke to the Romanian Parliament via video link in April 2022.



Lawmakers from the far-right, pro-Russian Freedom Party in Austria walked out of Zelenskiy's video address to their parliament in March, complaining it was a violation of the country's constitutionally required "permanent neutrality." Vienna has supported Ukraine diplomatically and with humanitarian assistance but not militarily.



Since Russia launched a covert invasion of Crimea in 2014 and supported armed separatists in eastern Ukraine, the international community has imposed an unprecedented range of sanctions on Russia, in addition to providing political and other support for Ukraine's defense. The sanctions were significantly strengthened following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.



"The Romanian state was put in an embarrassing situation," Cristian Pirvulescu, dean of the political science faculty at the National School of Political Science and Public Administration in Bucharest, told RFE/RL's Romanian Service.



The authorities had plenty of warning that pro-Russian lawmakers like Simion and Sosoaca were likely to try to disrupt the event, he said, and could have ensured order. Their inability or unwillingness to do that placed themselves and Zelenskiy in an unpleasant situation and was "a shame."



"You can't let a hysteric do things like that," Pirvulescu said.

Written by Andy Heil in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL Romanian Service correspondents Andreea Pora and Oana Despa
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During a high-speed attack helicopter mission, a Ukrainian Mi-8 pilot shares the secrets of his crew's successes: low-level flights, fast turnaround, and a dedicated support team. RFE/RL's Maryan Kushnir flew onboard, capturing footage of air attacks that targeted Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.
On Wednesday, October 11, Russia committed another war crime by shelling the city of Nikopol in the Dnipro region. A local gymnasium was hit.



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The moment of the attack was caught on camera. The video was published by the KhDnipro Telegram channel.

Four people were killed in the attack: a 72-year-old man and three women aged 69, 67, and 60. Two other men, aged 24 and 71, were injured. The victims were employees of the gymnasium. The building itself was severely damaged.

Emergency rescue operations were carried out with the participation of 46 rescuers and 13 units of equipment, the SES added.

A day of mourning has been declared in the city.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- On the afternoon of October 11, explosions occurred in Myrhorod, Poltava region during an air raid raid. No damage to the infrastructure was recorded, and there were no reports of casualties.

- The SSU said it had exposed two traitors who had adjusted a Russian Iskander on the village of Hroza, Kharkiv region. More than 50 people were killed in the attack.

Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Ukrainian defenders eliminated a company of "people's militia" from Henichesk in the Zaporizhzhia direction that went to the front line to fight against Ukraine. The occupiers had been assembling the traitors for six months.

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This was reported by the ATESH military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. Agents of the movement informed that the entire company of traitors to Ukraine was killed.

The Russian invaders spent six months assembling this unit and eventually used it as cannon fodder.

Most of them were drug addicts, alcoholics and other "Russian elites," Atesh said.

The invaders promised them high payments and a military career in the occupied Crimea.

"But fate decreed otherwise. Every single traitor was killed. It happened because of the murderous orders of Russian superiors in the spirit of Soviet "meat throwing". Don't believe the occupier and don't give in to his sweet promises!" the partisans called.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- NATO said that Russia's losses since the beginning of the full-scale war have approached 300 thousand soldiers and mercenaries. They are many times higher than the losses of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

- One of the captured occupants could not explain his nationality and why he was fighting against Ukraine. However, he admitted that he did not want war.

- Another prisoner shared how prisoners in Russia are recruited into the Russian Armed Forces and the Chechen battalion Akhmat. Those recruited are destined to be suicide bombers from the very beginning.

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Only verified information on our Telegram Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Arrested Shooter

Accused Inderjit Singh continuously changed his location to evade law enforcement

KARNAL: In a significant breakthrough, Karnal police have successfully apprehended the assailant responsible for the brazen daylight shooting that occurred on Mughal canal road in Karnal, Haryana. The accused, identified as Inderjit Singh, had meticulously tracked the court dates of the victim, Rajesh, through the e-court app. He carried out the heinous act and planned to evade the law by fleeing to New Zealand. However, law enforcement intervened in the nick of time, thwarting his escape plans.

The Police revealed that Inderjit Singh had engaged in a disagreement with Rajesh around six months ago, resulting in a deep-rooted grudge and a desire for revenge. This animosity ultimately led to the violent attack. Notably, authorities confirmed that this incident is unrelated to the Sanjay Road murder case.

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Following the shooting, the accused Inderjit Singh continuously changed his location to evade law enforcement. His movements were traced to various places, including Mohali and Amritsar. However, on October 10, the police received a tip-off that Inderjit was at the banks of Yamuna canal in Mangalore, attempting to head towards village Kashipur. Acting swiftly on this intelligence, the police apprehended the accused.

Investigating officer Pradeep Kumar revealed that Inderjit Singh had a prior criminal record, having served time in jail a few years ago. During his incarceration, he befriended Rajesh, who was also an inmate. However, a dispute erupted between them approximately six months ago, leading to a physical altercation where Rajesh assaulted Inderjit's friend. This incident fueled Inderjit's intent to seek revenge and plan Rajesh's demise.

Upon arresting Inderjit Singh, the police confiscated an illegal desi pistol of 32 bore and the scooter used during the shooting. Further investigation revealed that the accused's relatives reside in Uttarakhand, where he had connections with a maternal uncle's son. It was this cousin who had facilitated the acquisition of the firearm for a sum of 45 thousand rupees. Inderjit Singh is now in police custody for a two-day remand, during which he will undergo intensive interrogation to uncover all potential links and motives associated with this crime.

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HIGH COURT

DGP Gaurav Yadav & Punjab Home Secretary Called Upon, Court Demands Accountability & Urges Immediate Action

CHANDIGARH: In a stern response to the negligent conduct of government witnesses, particularly police officers, in NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases, the Punjab-Haryana High Court has summoned top officials, including Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and Punjab Home Secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh. The court voiced its displeasure at the lax approach of police personnel in handling drug-related cases, expressing concerns that this negligence could be indicative of a deeper issue within the system.

During the court session, strong remarks were made, underscoring a growing concern about the perceived inaction and inefficiency of the police force. The court remarked that the authorities seemed inactive, suggesting a potential collusion between law enforcement and traffickers. Subsequently, the court ordered the police to issue a formal apology before proceeding with necessary actions.

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The case that brought this issue to light involved petitioner Arshdeep Singh, against whom an NDPS case was filed on September 1, 2020, resulting in his arrest. Despite a significant amount of time passing since the initiation of the case, progress has been sluggish. The petitioner highlighted that, despite having 20 government officials as witnesses, only one testimony has been taken thus far. This alarming trend prompted the High Court to intervene and demand accountability from the police force.
The United States will lead a newly formed coalition focused on developing Ukraine's air force in a bid to bolster that country's long-term capability to defend itself against Russian aggression.

This was announced by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, or UCDG, in Brussels.

It marks the formation of several distinct coalitions focused on building Ukraine's future force capabilities. Those coalitions are comprised of the more than 50 countries that make up the UDCG.

"By leading this capability coalition, the United States will coordinate closely with Ukraine and other partners with the focus on developing Ukraine's F-16 fighter aircraft capabilities," Austin said.

Austin said Denmark and the Netherlands will join the U.S. in leading the effort to ensure Ukrainian forces can defend their skies.

The two European countries previously announced that they would supply Ukraine with F-16s. Norway has also joined the effort to outfit Ukrainian pilots with the U.S.-made jets.

The U.S. has joined the countries in training Ukrainian pilots and aircrews on how to employ and maintain the advanced fighters.

Austin also announced Estonia and Luxembourg will lead a group of countries focused on supporting Ukraine's information infrastructure.

Lithuania will lead a separate coalition focused on neutralizing mines in Ukrainian territory.

Separately, the United States announced the latest tranche of security assistance package to strengthen Ukraine's defense against continuing Russian attacks.

The $200 million package includes a series of air defense systems, as well as additional artillery and rocket ammunition, precision aerial munitions, antitank weapons, and equipment to counter Russian drones.

This is in addition to more security assistance pledged by many other countries to Ukraine.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5-door is being shipped to overseas destinations such as Latin America, Middle East and Africa

In recent years, India has emerged as a key manufacturing hub for export markets. Some of the key players include Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia, Skoda, Volkswagen and Nissan. Maruti currently leads in exports. It has achieved a new milestone with the 5-door Jimny being shipped to international destinations.

Jimny 5-door  From India to the world

Jimny 5-door version is produced exclusively in India. Across its international manufacturing hubs, Suzuki makes only the 3-door Jimny. The 3-door version is also produced in India and is meant only for export markets. Although many enthusiasts have expressed their interest in the 3-door version, it doesnt seem that Maruti has any plans to launch it in India. But it is possible that evolving market dynamics may prompt Maruti to change its policies in the future.

5-door Jimny was first unveiled at Auto Expo 2023. It was launched earlier this year in June at a starting price of Rs 12.74 lakh. Jimny comes in an exquisite package and has a likable profile. It isnt as aggressive or bossy like the Thar. The SUV has been able to create its own niche market. The 3-door version is a global bestseller.

Some of the key highlights of 5-door Jimny include LED headlamps with washer, prominent bumper, clamshell bonnet, iconic vertical slit grille with chrome accents, practical drip rail and sporty alloy wheels. Powering the SUV is the 1.5-liter K15B petrol motor. It generates 104.8 PS of max power and 134.2 Nm of peak torque. Transmission choices include 5MT and 4AT.

With 5-door Jimny now reaching international markets, Marutis export portfolio has increased to a total of 17 vehicles. Some of the most exported Maruti cars include Baleno, Dzire, Fronx, Swift, Grand Vitara, Spresso, Celerio, Ertiga and Ciaz. Just like in domestic market, Maruti cars are preferred overseas owing to their reliable performance and affordable pricing.

Marutis focus on exports is in line with the governments Make in India initiative. Apart from Maruti, other OEMs are also actively pursuing opportunities beyond the domestic market. While automobile export numbers look strong, theres scope for a much higher growth in the future. The next big push can come from exports of electric cars. All stakeholders need to work together to make it possible.

2.5 million and growing

Maruti has been playing a key role in promoting India as a major auto manufacturing hub for export markets. Earlier this year in March, the company achieved a cumulative export milestone of 25 lakh units. The 2.5 millionth landmark vehicle was a Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

The carmaker had been exporting cars since 1986-87. It had humble beginnings, with focus on neighbouring export markets such as Bangladesh and Nepal. As of now, Maruti exports to around 100 countries across Latin America, Middle East and Africa. With government policies now incentivizing exports, OEMs are taking active interest in shipping to overseas locations.
The most vile, cunning, and dangerous enemy for the Ukrainian people and the state intelligence service in a full-scale war is not Kremlin Fuhrer Vladimir Putin, but the head of the FSB's 5th Group, Sergei Beseda. It is he who is actively developing operations to harm Ukraine.

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This was stated by the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov in an interview with Ukrainian journalists. He noted that the damage he has done to our state and people will come back to haunt it.

"Beseda is a very problematic person (for us - Ed.) He has done a lot of evil for Ukraine. But time will sort everything out," Budanov says.

According to the head of Ukrainian intelligence, the war with Russia may last for more than one year as the occupiers have enough technical and economic resources to continue it until at least 2025. As for human resources, given the size of the Russian population, they will last much longer.

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"Another thing is whether the Russian Federation is ready to go to the upper limit, to the last? All of them are now fighting as mobilized troops, lacking ammunition and weapons. They, of course, cover this shortage by cooperating with North Korea, but we cover ours by cooperating with the United States, the United Kingdom, and the entire civilized world," Budanov said.

According to him, the world was not ready for a war of this intensity. And this, by the way, is one of the conclusions that all countries will draw afterward. They will all try to build up their arsenals so as not to be unprepared for an escalation of this magnitude in the future.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to Budanov, there is a Russian trace in the attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel, and a prolonged escalation could affect military assistance to Ukraine. The conflicts that may seem regional are linked by the same countries, which indicates the threat of a global war.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Written By

Managing Editor

she/her | Bridget is the Messengers managing editor. She oversees the newsroom and covers the Maple Run Unified School District and education at large. She also pays attention to recreation, food and the arts and is an avid cyclist and skier.

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The Czech Republic and Denmark will jointly supply Ukraine with heavy military equipment in the coming months. The new aid package will include armored personnel carriers, battle tanks, and other equipment, both newly manufactured and from warehouses.

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This was reported by the Czech Ministry of Defense. The list was created based on the requirements and needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As part of the first part of the project, Denmark and the Czech Republic will supply nearly 50 infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks, 2,500 pistols, 7,000 rifles, 500 handguns and 500 sniper rifles, electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment, newly manufactured and from Czech companies' warehouses.

Denmark and the Czech Republic also plan to provide Ukraine with 500 large-caliber machine guns, 280 self-loading guns, 7,000 anti-tank weapons, 10,000 hand grenades, 60 mortar systems, and much more in the future. The delivery will also include a significant number of anti-drone systems.

Czech Deputy Defense Minister Daniel Blazkovec explained that the Czech Ministry of Defense plays the role of an intermediary in this project.

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"There are several defense industry companies on our territory with which we, as the Ministry of Defense, have long-term relations, and therefore we can connect them with those who, like us, want to help Ukrainians. In this case, it is the Danish government," he said.

Thanks to this form of cooperation, it will be possible to continue military assistance to Ukraine not only in the coming months but also in 2024, and, if necessary, in the long term.

As a reminder, the Ukrainian military will receive six more new launchers for Hawk air defense systems from Spain. The country will also provide us with 155-mm and 105-mm artillery shells and heavy machine guns, and train 4,000 Ukrainian defenders.

As a reminder, at a briefing in Brussels after the 16th Ramstein meeting, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the United States would lead a coalition of countries that help Ukraine develop its own Air Force. Together with the United States, this coalition will be led by Denmark and the Netherlands.

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As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense "Ramstein" was held in Brussels on October 11. The allies announced new aid packages for Kyiv.

Only verified information on our Telegram Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has stated that the Kremlin will soon be looking for a way to end the war in our country. They predict that the processes taking place in the terrorist state could end in disaster.

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This was stated by Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of the DIU. According to him, there is no point for Russia to prolong the war. The invasion of our country has provoked processes that have a very negative impact on the Kremlin (to watch the video, scroll to the bottom of the page).

We are talking about economic and political processes, as well as the international ones around Russia.

"Ukraine wants to liberate its entire territory, but its resources are not unlimited. The same applies to the resources of Ukraine's allies and Russia's resources. A year or two of war can lead to catastrophic consequences. For many, including Russia," Skibitsky said.

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Meanwhile, the Intelligence hopes that the war will end "quickly." However, as noted, it depends on the situation at the front.

As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the occupying army has lost more than 300 thousand soldiers and mercenaries during the full-scale war that Russia has unleashed in Ukraine. The invaders' casualty figures are many times higher than the ones of the Defense Forces while defending their land.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On the night of Thursday, October 12, the defenders of Ukrainian skies neutralized 28 Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones used by Russian troops to attack the country. In total, the enemy launched 33 UAVs.

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"The enemy directed the Shaheds to the southern and eastern regions, in particular Odesa and Kharkiv regions, where there were arrivals. The details of the repulsion of this air attack were shared by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

It is noted that the occupiers launched drones from the northern and southern directions. In particular, from the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation and from Cape Chauda in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

In total, 33 Shaheds were launched in different directions. In order to repel the attack, air defense was deployed in at least six regions of Ukraine.

Fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile troops, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units were engaged in drone attacks.

"In total, last night, the Air Force, in cooperation with the air defense of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, destroyed 28 Shahed-131/136. Let's hold the sky! Together - to victory!" the Air Force added.

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Last night, Russian attack UAVs hit the port infrastructure of Odesa region. In Izmail district, warehouse buildings and private houses were damaged, and an elderly woman was injured.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk showed how anti-aircraft missile units shot down Shakheds in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions on the night of October 10. In total, 27 out of 36 enemy drones were destroyed.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
During the Upper Paleolithic, lions become an important theme in Paleolithic art and are more frequent in anthropogenic faunal assemblages. However, the relationship between hominins and lions in earlier periods is poorly known and primarily interpreted as interspecies competition. In a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, paleoanthropologists present evidence of hunting lesions on the 48,000-year-old skeleton of a cave lion found at Siegsdorf, Germany, that attest to the earliest direct instance of a large predator kill in human history. The authors also present the discovery of lion phalanges at least 190,000 years old from Einhornhohle, Germany, representing the earliest example of the use of cave lion skin by Neanderthals in Central Europe.

Among all the large predators we have encountered during our evolutionary journey, the lion is arguably one of the most charismatic. To this day, it continues to be an icon of popular culture in many traditions worldwide.

The story of the lions dispersal shares some parallels with that of our own. The lion lineage originated in eastern Africa, with the earliest fossils of lion-like Panthera dated between 3.8 and 3.6 million years at Laeotoli, Tanzania.

A remarkably rapid dispersal occurred during the Middle Pleistocene, as evidenced by the presence of lion (Panthera fossilis) remains in Western Europe. By the Late Pleistocene, the Eurasian cave lion (Panthera spelaea) occupied the key ecological role of apex predator until its extinction by the end of the Pleistocene, with the youngest fossils dated to 12,500 years in Central Europe.

Archaic humans have been interacting with lions since their arrival in Europe, and possibly even earlier.

The big cat held perceptible significance for Upper Paleolithic groups of Homo sapiens in Europe. This is well illustrated by the cave lion depictions in caves of south-eastern France, ivory sculptures including the famous Lowenmensch (Lion man) and figurines from the Swabian Juras deposits, and perforated cave lion canines worn as personal ornaments.

In the new research, University of Tubingens Dr. Gabriele Russo and colleagues analyzed an almost complete skeleton of a medium-sized cave lion from Siegsdorf, Germany, which were originally excavated in 1985 and date to 48,000 years ago.

The presence of cutmarks across bones including two ribs, some vertebrae, and the left femur previously suggested that ancient humans butchered the big cat after it had died.

However, the study authors found a partial puncture wound on the inside of the lions third rib, which appears to match the impact mark of a wooden-tipped spear.

The puncture is angled, suggesting the spear entered the left side of the lions abdomen and penetrated vital organs before impacting the third rib on the right side.

The characteristics of the puncture wound resemble those found on deer vertebrae which are known to have been made by Neanderthal spears.

The researchers suggest that the Siegsdorf specimen represents the earliest evidence of Neanderthals purposely hunting cave lions.

The new evidence is the earliest instance of cave lion hunting with wooden spears, they said.

The continued use of wooden spears whilst Neanderthals were also likely using stone-tipped weaponry is evidenced at sites such as Neumark-Nord and Lehringen, and therefore their use at Siegsdorf is unsurprising.

The cutmarks on several bone elements of the Siegsdorf specimen suggest that the lion was processed at the kill site.

After the acquisition of meat and viscera, the carcass was abandoned.

The Siegsdorf Neanderthals likely killed a lion in poor condition and exploited the meat for consumption.

The scientists also analyzed phalange and sesamoid bones from the toes and lower limbs of three cave lion specimens from Einhornhohle, Germany.

These bones also show cutmarks consistent with those generated when an animal is skinned.

The presence of the anthropogenically modified bones implies that they were left within the lion pelt, which was then abandoned at the site.

The location of these cutmarks suggests a careful approach was taken during the skinning process to ensure the claws remained preserved within the fur.

This may constitute the earliest evidence of Neanderthals using a lion pelt, potentially for cultural purposes, the authors said.

Together, these findings provide new insights into the interactions between Neanderthals and cave lions in the Pleistocene.

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G. Russo et al. 2023. First direct evidence of lion hunting and the early use of a lion pelt by Neanderthals. Sci Rep 13, 16405; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-42764-0
An international team of scientists from France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom has found a singular mixture of strongly saponified oil with high lead content and a lead white pigment in a microsample from the ground layer of Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa. The most remarkable signature in the sample is the presence of plumbonacrite, a rare compound that is stable only in an alkaline environment.

Many paintings from the early 1500s, including Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa, were painted on wooden panels that required a thick, ground layer of paint to be laid down before artwork was added.

A team of researchers led by Universite Paris-Saclay scientist Victor Gonzalez found that da Vinci experimented by laying down thick layers of lead white pigment and by infusing his oil with lead monoxide (PbO), an orange pigment that conferred specific drying properties to the paint above.

da Vinci used a similar technique on the wall underneath his Last Supper  a departure from the traditional, fresco technique used at the time.

To further investigate these unique layers, Dr. Gonzalez and his colleagues wanted to apply updated, high-resolution analytical techniques to small samples from these two paintings.

They analyzed a tiny microsample previously obtained from a hidden corner of the Mona Lisa as well as 17 microsamples from the surface of the Last Supper.

Using X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy techniques, they determined that the ground layers of these artworks not only contained oil and lead white, but also a much rarer lead compound: plumbonacrite (Pb 5 [CO 3 ]O[OH] 2 ).

This material had not previously been detected in Italian Renaissance paintings, though itd been found in later paintings by the Dutch painter Rembrandt in the 1600s.

Plumbonacrite is only stable under alkaline conditions, suggesting that it formed from a reaction between the oil and lead monoxide.

Intact grains of lead monoxide were also found in most of the samples taken from the Last Supper.

While painters were known to add lead oxides to pigments to help them dry, the technique has not been proved experimentally for paintings from da Vincis time.

In fact, when the researchers searched through his writings, the only evidence they found of lead monoxide was in reference to skin and hair remedies, even though its now known to be quite toxic.

Though he might not have written it down, these results demonstrate that lead oxides must have had a place on the old masters palette, and might have helped create the masterpieces we know today, they said.

Their paper appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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Victor Gonzalez et al. X-ray and Infrared Microanalyses of Mona Lisas Ground Layer and Significance Regarding Leonardo da Vincis Palette. J. Am. Chem. Soc, published online October 11, 2023; doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c07000
The Pavel Derzhavin ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was damaged at sea near the temporarily occupied Sevastopol (Crimea). It is speculated that it could have hit a mine, but the real cause is unknown.

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The fact of the damage to the Russian vessel was confirmed by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk, in a comment to Radio Svoboda. At the same time, he emphasized that he could not provide all the details of the incident with the Russian vessel.

According to him, the Pavel Derzhavin in question belongs to the Russians, although the Ukrainian Navy used to have a ship of the same name. He only confirmed that the occupiers' vessel had been damaged, but did not specify how.

"I cannot provide you with any information about the circumstances of this incident. But it is a fact," Pletenchuk said.

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The day before, Crimean Telegram channels reported that a large patrol ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Pavel Derzhavin (Project 22160 of the Vasily Bykiv type), exploded on the outer roadstead of Sevastopol for unknown reasons.

Crimean Wind, citing subscribers' data, wrote that residents of the city heard the sound of an explosion around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11.

It was assumed that the ship could have been hit by a Russian naval mine. Similar information was provided by the head of the public council at the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Bratchuk. However, he did not provide any details.

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On Wednesday afternoon, a monitoring group spotted a ship and a boat in the sea near Sevastopol. The first one was about 60 meters long, so it could most likely be a minesweeper.

"If so, it's too late to sweep the mines," the report emphasized.

Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the Press Center of Security and Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, said that the Armed Forces were clarifying the veracity of the data on the damage to the Russian ship, but also added that "anything can happen."

The Russian Defense Ministry did not comment on the damage to its ship.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, guerrillas from the ATESH movement published illustrative photos of the occupiers being afraid to move military boats across the sea in Crimea. The invaders transported the vessels from the port of Feodosia by road.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, searches for answers after a leak from a portion of the International Space Station (ISS) has been detected.

Nauka Module Leak-a-Boo

On October 9, a radiator on the Russian portion of the ISS started leaking coolant. Flight controllers noticed flakes from one of the two radiators on the Nauka module at around 1 PM EST. They informed the station's crew, who visually confirmed the leak.

It was not clear how much coolant leaked from the radiator and for how long. In an official statement, NASA reported that they were informed that the leak was with a backup radiator. This radiator was originally located on the Rassvet module launched to ISS in 2010 but was later transferred to Nauka as part of a series of spacewalks. The Nauka module, the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), was installed on the ISS in July 2021.

In an official statement, Roscosmos said that Nauka's main thermal control system is working well, and neither ISS nor its crew are in danger. In an independent assessment by NASA, the agency confirmed that the leakage has no impact on the crew or the operations of the space station. However, the station's crew closed the shutter on windows on the U.S. segment of the station to avoid contamination from the leaking coolant.

This incident is the third time in 10 months that a Russian vehicle at the ISS has experienced a coolant leak. In December 2022, the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft lost its coolant three months after arriving at the ISS. Because of this, Roscosmos decided to replace it with an uncrewed Soyuz MS-23, keeping the crew that launched to the station on Soyuz MS-22 outside the Earth for an additional six months.

In February 2023, another coolant leak was experienced by an uncrewed Progress MS-21 cargo spacecraft. This event occurred just before the spacecraft, launched in October 2022, was scheduled to undock from the ISS.

The two leaks raised doubts about the design and manufacturing of the spacecraft. Roscosmos responded by claiming that leaks resulted from impacts with orbital debris or micrometeoroids.

The officials from NASA accepted this conclusion. According to ISS program manager Joel Montalbano, they could not find anything other than some external force or debris based on the information they received from their Russian colleagues.

READ ALSO: Russian Section of ISS Leaking Oxygen for Unknown Reason, May Need Special Re-Supply

Cooling System for ISS

With an acre of solar panels, the International Space Station generates between 75 and 90 kilowatts of power. This power is used by the station's systems, such as laboratory experiments, storage freezers, and life support.

Consuming that amount of power generates a lot of waste heat, which needs to be released into space. To make this possible, the International Space Station has a cooling system that transfers heat from the inside to the outside environment with temperatures as low as -454 degrees Fahrenheit (-270 degrees Celsius). Every system that generates heat inside the ISS comes with a radiator to cool it down. These radiators are the ones responsible for ejecting the system heat into space.

RELATED ARTICLE: Russia To Send Empty Soyuz Spacecraft Due to Capsule Leak in ISS

Check out more news and information on the International Space Station in Science Times.
A groundbreaking discovery, described in a study published in the journal Nature, reveals the collision of two ice giant exoplanets around a sun-like star. This collision generated intense light and ejected dust plumes, dimming the parent star over time.

The observation came about when an enthusiast noticed an anomaly in the star's light curve, demonstrating increased infrared brightness over a thousand days before visible light fading. Dr. Matthew Kenworthy, a co-lead author, expressed surprise at this unexpected event, which led to a collaborative effort among astronomers to investigate further.

Intriguing Afterglow in Space

The star system's enigmatic discovery started when an astrophysics enthusiast stumbled upon an unusual pattern while studying the star's light curve. Roughly three years before the star's visible light dimming, the brightness of the system at infrared wavelengths exhibited a remarkable twofold increase.

Dr. Matthew Kenworthy, a co-lead author affiliated with Leiden University, expressed his astonishment at this unexpected revelation, acknowledging that the phenomenon took him by surprise. The initial dataset of the star's visible light curve, when shared within the astronomy community, piqued the interest of fellow experts. This led to an intensified scrutiny of the star, with a network of telescopes joining forces to investigate further.

The influence of social media in this discovery is remarkable. It was another astronomer's post that drew attention to the star's heightened brightness in the infrared spectrum, an occurrence that transpired over a millennium before the observed optical fading.

The focal point of this research, named ASASSN-21qj, derived its name from the network of telescopes that played a pivotal role in its detection using visible wavelengths. Scientists and even amateur astronomers monitored the star meticulously over the next two years

Their collective research effort yielded a consensus regarding the most plausible explanation for these observations. The infrared radiance, previously detected by NASA's NEOWISE mission, was attributed to the collision of two ice giant exoplanets.

Dr. Simon Lock, another co-lead author from the University of Bristol's Earth Sciences department, clarified their hypothesis, substantiating it with computations and simulations. He expounded that the properties and persistence of the observed incandescent material aligned with expectations from the impact between two celestial bodies of this nature.

READ ALSO: NASA Telescope Finds Asteroid Collision Around Star HD 166191

What's Next After the Planetary Collision?

The planetary collision resulted in a noticeable debris cloud, which was responsible for the dimming observed three years after the initial infrared surge.

Astronomers expect this cloud to gradually disperse along the orbit of the collision remnants, and they anticipate that the scattering of light from this debris may become observable using both Earth-based telescopes and NASA's JWST space telescope.

The astronomical community is eagerly awaiting the future developments of this system. Dr. Zoe Leinhardt, a co-author from the University of Bristol, envisions the possibility of the gathered material coming together to form a series of moons orbiting the newly emerging planet.

This event offers the astronomical community a unique opportunity to study and comprehend the dynamics of exoplanet collisions. As the remnants of this significant impact continue to evolve, astronomers worldwide will remain watchful in the hope of gaining further insights from this extraordinary phenomenon.





RELATED ARTICLE: Exoplanet in Deep Space Is on a Collision Course Toward Destruction as It Orbits Closer With Its Expanding Star

Check out more news and information on Exoplanets in Science Times.
The criminal army of Russia is deliberately attacking the civilian infrastructure of Ukrainian cities, which leads to casualties among the Ukrainian people, destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. In this way, the occupiers are trying to break the will of Ukrainians to resist.

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This was stated by Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to International Organizations in Vienna Natalia Kostenko during a meeting of the Forum for Security Cooperation on October 11, Ukrinform reports. She reminded that, according to the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, almost 10,000 civilians have been killed and tens of thousands more injured as a result of the Russian invasion.

The diplomat emphasized that Russian shelling has become a daily reality in Ukraine, and it is impossible to predict where a Russian missile will hit next.

"However, there is one grim certainty: civilians and peaceful cities will be targeted by Russian troops. To put this into perspective, over the past 24 hours alone, Russia has carried out air strikes on 21 Ukrainian settlements and shelled more than 130 settlements across the country with artillery," said Kostenko.

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Nevertheless, Ukrainian troops continue to conduct successful offensive operations in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

As OBOZREVATEL reported, more than three weeks have passed since the last Russian massive shelling of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. During this time, Russia has apparently amassed missiles and drones for another powerful strike. It probably already has 30 to 40 X-101\555 missiles and up to 20 Kalibr sea-launched missiles in stock, experts Vladyslav Selezniov and Oleksandr Kovalenko noted.

Only verified information is available on the Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
On October 12, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a regular HQ meeting. The main issue was the situation at the front, as well as the defensive and offensive actions of the country's defenders.

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The head of state heard reports from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, and Commander of the Tavria Operational-Strategic Group of Forces Oleksandr Tarnavskyi. The Ukrainian leader announced this on his Telegram.

"The situation on the main directions in the east and south. Defense of our positions. Our steps forward," he briefly described the content of the discussion.

The second issue was the Ukrainian production of weapons and equipment, increasing its volume in particular. Zelensky pointed out the need to develop the production of missiles, shells, drones, armored vehicles, and more.

"There have already been reports on some elements of such a program. The results are good. There will be more significant ones," the President expects.

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A separate order was given to Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Fedorov and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. It concerns further digitalization of supplies for the Defense Forces to simplify accountability and control. Zelensky noted that there are clear deadlines for the implementation of this task.

"The third point is the situation in the Middle East. A comprehensive analysis from the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleksandr Lytvynenko. We take into account all the factors, take care of the interests of our citizens in the region, and work with partners to prevent wider destabilization," the guarantor said.

As OBOZ.UA wrote:

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- As of the morning of October 12, it is known that seven Ukrainian citizens became victims of the war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group. Nine more Ukrainians are still missing.

- Media reports suggest that President Volodymyr Zelensky is allegedly considering a trip to Israel. This visit is supposed to demonstrate Kyiv's solidarity with Jerusalem.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Angela Gabridge and MiGen Program Director Kat Mehrer.

Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center

Corktown Health

Equality Michigan

Gender-identity Network Alliance

Great Lakes Bay Pride

Jim Toy Community Center

LGBT Detroit

OutCenter SW Michigan

Outfront Kalamazoo

Ruth Ellis Center

Salus Center

Stand with Trans

Dave Garcia.

Jeynce Poindexter.
Samruk-Kazyna, Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund with $70-billion assets, and UAE-based Presight have signed a term sheet to establish a joint venture to accelerate digital transformation in Kazakhstan

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Digital Bridge 2023 forum in Astana where Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan; Bagdat Mussin, Minister of Digital Development Kazakhstan; and Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of Samruk-Kazyna, met with Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight.

Endorsed by the President of Kazakhstan, both Samruk-Kazyna and Presight will embark on the joint venture aimed at accelerating digital transformation in Kazakhstan through the deployment of Presights AI and big data analytics solutions and technologies.

These will help to boost operational efficiency, minimise production losses, and develop human capital across the Samruk-Kazyna portfolio companies and in other key sectors of Kazakhstan, including energy, telecoms, transport, government, and public services, thereby enhancing socio-economic prospects, said a statement.

Zhakupov said: "As a strategic asset manager of the country, Samruk-Kazyna sees digitalization as one of its priorities. I hope that together with Presight we will strengthen the partnership between our countries and contribute to the creation of a single digital community

Pramotedham said: "We are proud to be joining forces with Samruk-Kazyna in this presidentially endorsed initiative in Kazakhstan. This partnership provides us with a unique opportunity to contribute our expertise in AI and data analytics, not just to accelerate digital transformation, but also to enhance socio-economic prospects for the people of Kazakhstan."

Samruk-Kazyna is one of the 30 largest funds in the world. The fund plays an important role in the development of the economy of Kazakhstan, concentrating strategic assets in its portfolio in the oil and gas, transport and logistics sectors, energy, nuclear industry, and mining and metallurgical complex. - TradeArabia News Service
Rumors are spreading in the Russian Federation about the upcoming full mobilization for a criminal "special military operation" against Ukraine. It is also said that in certain areas of the frontline, the occupiers' artillerymen lack ammunition.

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This is evidenced by a telephone conversation between a Russian resident and a friend named Oleksandr, who is participating in a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The interception was published on October 11 by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on its YouTube channel (scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the recording).

A Russian resident was worried that more Russians might be sent to war. He complained to his military friend: they say that "we are all going to join you there."

According to rumors, full mobilization may be announced on the 25th. A little later in the conversation, the Russian said that on the 19th, "all the *** will start".

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He was told that 29 thousand people were to be drafted from the Tver region. The man believes that in this case they will be drafted "through the house".

"Well, Max says, get ready to pack your bags, if you have five fingers, two hands, two arms, we'll all go there," he said.

The Russian also discussed with the occupier the low level of ammunition supply to artillery crews.

He said he met a soldier who fought against Ukraine in the area of Klishchiyivka, Donetsk region, who said: "Until we are all f***ing killed there, nothing will end." According to the latter, they responded to 10 artillery salvos with only one salvo.

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As OBOZREVATEL previously reported:

- "Meanwhile, British intelligence believes that the Kremlin is unlikely to decide on a new wave of mobilization of Russians for the 'SVO' on the eve of the presidential election, as this could lower the rating of dictator Vladimir Putin. The vote is scheduled for March 17, 2024.

- According to the National Resistance Center, the aggressor wants to mobilize another 130,000 people into the ranks of the Russian armed forces.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Shopping local has gotten a whole lot easier in Oakland County. A coalition of ten Main Street Oakland County communities have partnered together to launch a new e-commerce website that county officials are touting as the first of its kind in Michigan.The website, Shop OC Main Streets , launched earlier this month and currently features the products and online stores of approximately 70 small businesses located in participating downtowns throughout Oakland County. The website offers a one-stop shop for customers looking to buy from and support local businesses, and all the while enjoying the ease of convenience that bigger retailers can offer.The website is found at ShopOCMainStreets.com Coming out of the COVID pandemic, we all knew that our downtown businesses needed to expand into e-commerce, says Kristi Trevarrow, executive director for Downtown Rochester. Being part of Main Street Oakland County and the national network that provides, we were connected to Member Marketplace, Inc. They build and maintain the website, provide technical support to the participating small businesses, and help customers visiting the site.The ten participating downtowns include Franklin, Highland, Holly, Lake Orion, Oak Park, Ortonville, Oxford, Pontiac, Rochester, and South Lyon. Main Street Oakland County is the first and only county-wide Main Street program in the country, and counts more than 25 of its communities as participants in the economic development program. Its expected that more of those communities will participate in Shop OC Main Streets in the near future.More communities and businesses will be added in the coming months, says Kelly Westbrook, DDA executive director for Oxford. The participating MSOC communities downtown businesses will be able to affordably sell online through one website  marketing together as a localized group.Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith
Nakija Mills in Downtown Farmington in 2022. (File photo: David Lewinski)

Weve been keeping track of Nakija Mills and her inspiring story for almost two years now. Theres a reason for that. Mills, the creator of Lekker Choco Treats , first appeared on our radar in January 2022. The Farmington Downtown Development Authority (DDA) had just launched an innovative partnership with the owner of the temporarily-shuttered Browndog Barlor, utilizing the storefront as a small business incubator on a 90-day lease. Farmington DDA Director Kate Knight tapped Mills for the opportunity and Mills has been running with it ever since.[Related: Learn more about Nakija Mills and her story on Metromode.]That pop-up lease would come to a close, and Browndog Barlor would make its return. Despite her no longer having a storefront in downtown Farmington, Mills, a Farmington resident herself, would maintain strong ties with the downtown community here. She regularly operates as a vendor at special events, like Septembers Harvest Moon Celebration, and offers a specialty line of chocolate bark at Dolcetto Cheese & Specialty Goods In late 2022, Mills would go on to open her first physical storefront at Laurel Park Place mall in Livonia. Its the first of what Mills hopes will be many Lekker Choco Treats locations throughout the region. And though her dream to return with her own Farmington storefront may not be realized (just yet), she has recently reached another significant milestone in her own hometown.Lekker Choco Treats is now being sold at Fresh Thyme Market in downtown Farmington. You can find her array of chocolate barks near the bread section.We caught up with Nakija Mills and asked her about her entrepreneurial journey thus far.Catch us up. What have you been up to since your pop-up in downtown Farmington?So, after the pop-up in Farmington, I was walking home one day and on my way home, I actually met someone that had known me from Lekker being downtown. And they said, Oh, my God, I was just thinking about you. I have a spot that I think will be great for you. So, I decided to take a chance. And, you know, they showed me the space and as soon as I saw it, I had the vision in my head. I saw four different locations in the mall and as soon as I saw the one across from Olga's  it was the old Mrs. Fields  I just saw my vision. Its perfect. It's not too big, and it's not too small. Coming from the pop-up, I didn't have a lot of products to show, just my little treats, like my chocolate Oreos, pretzels, and strawberries.Once I got into the location, I started getting more ideas; I wanted to expand my line of chocolate barks. Originally, I spoke to [Farmington DDA Director] Kate Knight about my products and that I wanted to go into Fresh Thyme and have my store there. And I remember her saying one thing, that even if you can't be in there, maybe your products can be in there. And that clicked for me. I have a location now. I can make use of this opportunity, expand on my products, and try and get my products in Fresh Thyme.And how were you able to get your products into Fresh Thyme?Originally, I wanted to have a pop-up shop in the market. But because that process takes a while, I just didn't want to put my business at a standstill. Once I got my location at the mall, I went to the director [of Fresh Thyme] and I spoke to him. I was like, Well, what do you think about me getting my products in here? And he said, I think that's a great idea and the process will definitely be faster [than opening a location here]. So, he introduced me to the system director who explained to me everything that I needed to do. And we applied to be in a Fresh Thyme location in downtown Farmington.Obviously I want to be in downtown Farmington because that's my home. And when I got an email about being accepted in the store, I broke down crying. Because not only was I approved to be in one Fresh Thyme location, but I was approved to be at all of the Fresh Thyme locations in Michigan.(Editors note: Mills has opted to only offer her products at the Farmington location for the time being, and will eventually scale up to additional locations.)What has that experience been like so far?With grocery stores you have to take into consideration packaging. The first week that we were in there, I lost three boxes just by people touching them and dropping them and cracking them. So you have to make sure your packaging is right. I plan on offering samples at Fresh Thyme every Saturday for the next coming months, so that people can get to know the products and sample the product and know that its great quality. I think that's very important. I feel like if people don't taste it, they won't buy it, you know?Youre really putting in the work.I will tell you this. I got a call the other day from someone and it made me so emotional because I put the products at Fresh Thyme, but I'm not there to talk about my products, right? So, I'm a little nervous, like, Oh, my God, theyre not going to sell because I'm not there [to talk about them]. But I got a call from someone and they said, Hey, where are you guys located? I tell him we're in Laurel Park and he said, I just bought this bark at Fresh Thyme and I'm trying to get some more. And I promise you that just made me feel like I achieved the world. It made me feel like I was being seen without being there.All of these moments keep adding up to bigger things.It's definitely been a growing and a learning process. But I do want to say that when I do feel discouraged, someone or a customer of mine always comes in and without them even knowing that they're doing this, they keep me encouraged. They bring me flowers, they bring me gifts  just randomly  and it does keep my spirit alive. You know? I keep in contact with the people from downtown Farmington and I definitely plan on still participating in their events. Because that's where I started. That's where my whole dream started. And the people in downtown Farmington and the DDA, they saw a bigger vision for me than I did for myself. My goal one day is to have an actual storefront in Farmington. I don't know how I'm gonna get there, but I'm gonna get there someday. Someday.*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.Find Lekker Choco Treats online , at Fresh Thyme Market in downtown Farmington, and at Laurel Park Place in Livonia.
Ukraine's defense forces are ahead of schedule in the war against the Russian invaders. At the same time, Moscow is experiencing the consequences of the full-scale aggression it has unleashed, and it is possible that there will be temporary blackouts in the Russian capital.

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These statements were made by the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov. He gave a new interview to Ukrayinska Pravda (to watch the video, scroll to the bottom of the page).

The journalist noted that earlier the head of the Defense Intelligence suggested that there was a chance of ending the war in 2023. He asked the lieutenant general what went wrong.

"There are objective and subjective reasons - everything in a complex. But, I'm sorry, most of the explanations are state secrets and are simply not for public discussion. Over time, it will all become clear," Budanov replied.

When asked to clarify how far behind the schedule we are, the DIU chief explained that we are out of it, not behind. These are different things.

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"So everything has gone wrong at all?" the journalist asked. "Not everything has gone wrong. Let's not clarify and explain all this - we are behind schedule - let everyone draw their own conclusion," Budanov said.

When asked whether we can expect blackouts in Moscow in the winter, he replied: "Temporary, perhaps."

According to the intelligence officer, this is a natural process: if you take "some ugly steps," sooner or later they will come back to haunt you.

As OBOZREVATEL:

- Earlier, Kyrylo Budanov said that representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence service had made three attempts to liberate the temporarily occupied city of Enerhodar, where the Zaporizhzhia NPP is located. These operations failed.

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- Budanov said that despite preparations for a war against Ukraine, Russia had doubts whether it would happen and whether they were really "waiting" for the occupiers.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
The former chief executive of Barclays has been banned and fined nearly 2m by the City watchdog over his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Financial Conduct Authority said it had decided to bar Jes Staley from holding a senior management or any other role of significant influence in the financial services industry. It also fined him 1.8m.

Following the announcement, Barclays said it had concluded that Staley was now ineligible for, or should forfeit, bonuses and other awards totalling 17.8m.

Staley is appealing the FCA's ruling to the Upper Tribunal.

The FCA said Staley had misled both itself and the Barclays board over his relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in New York in 2019 while facing charges of sex-trafficking involving under-age girls. Epstein had already served a 13-month prison sentence in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: "A chief executive needs to exercise sound judgement and set an example to staff at their firm. Mr Staley failed to do this.

"It is right to prevent him from holding a senior position within financial services if we cannot rely on him to act with integrity by disclosing uncomfortable truths about his close personal relationship with Mr Epstein."

The FCA began its investigation into whether Staley was a fit and proper person to be a senior banker in January 2020.

It found that Staley, who left Barclays in November 2021, had "recklessly approved" a letter sent by the bank to the regulator that contained two misleading statements.

The letter claimed Staley did not have a close relationship with Epstein, yet in emails between the two men, Staley referred to him as one of his "deepest" and "most cherished" friends.

The letter further claimed Staley had ceased contact with Epstein well before joining the blue chip bank. But the FCA said the two men were in touch in the days leading up to him being named Barclays chief executive in October 2015.

The FCA said that while Staley did not draft the letter, there was "no excuse" for him not correcting the misleading statements it contained.

Staley has long denied knowledge of Epsteins alleged crimes. In a statement, Staley said he was "very disappointed" by the FCAs decision, adding: "If I had known who Jeffrey Epstein really was, there is absolutely no doubt that I wouldnt be in the position I am today."

Prior to joining Barclays, Staley worked for three decades at JP Morgan Chase, including heading up its asset and wealth management division. Epstein was a client of JP Morgan.

The FCA said that as Staley was appealing the decision notice, all findings were provisional.
In 2024, Poland will host Dragon-24, the largest military exercise on NATO's eastern flank in the last 10 years. About 20,000 people will take part in the largest ground forces exercises in Europe.

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The announcement was made by General Wieslaw Kukula, recently appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, Polskie Radio reports. On October 11, he spoke at a conference at the training ground in Nowa Deba in the southeast of the country.

It is planned that 15,000 soldiers of the Polish army and 5,000 soldiers from individual states of the North Atlantic Alliance will participate.

In particular, the Dragon-24 is to be joined by ground forces from Poland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Slovenia, and Albania.

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At the same press conference, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak assured that the country's army is "in great shape" and can provide security to citizens.

He pointed to the "modern weapons that have been supplied to the Armed Forces in the last few years" and the "creation of new military units, especially in the east of the Vistula River." According to the head of the Polish Defense Ministry, thousands of citizens want to serve in the army.

The minister is confident that the army will be even stronger. Next year, Poland will receive 96 Apache helicopters and 500 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, "because this is what is needed to deter the aggressor."

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To add: Kukula was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, and Maciej Klisz was appointed Operational Commander of the Armed Forces recently. Their predecessors, Raimund Andrzejczak and Tomasz Piotrowski, could have resigned in connection with the fall of a Russian missile in Poland in December 2022, according to media reports.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported:

- In early October, Russia conducted large-scale civil defense exercises across most of its territory. British intelligence indicated that this is an annual event.

- At the same time, the United States deployed a modular launcher of the Typhon universal missile system during the Baltic Sea defense exercises. The United States conducted the exercise together with Denmark.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Orion Innovation (Orion), a leading digital transformation and product development services firm, today announced strategic partnerships with FinTaar Technologies Private Limited and bizAmica Software Private Limited. This is in sync with the company's ambitious plan to have India contribute 10% of its revenue growth from the Financial Services vertical by the end of 2024.

Fintaar Technologies offers end-to-end lending solutions right from their Loan Originating Systems that automate and streamline the loan application and origination processes across multiple channels to the Loan Management System that simplifies all the procedures to manage multiple stages of the loan journey. The company's robust Debt Recovery and Collection Management System streamlines delinquency management and debt collection by minimizing the cost and efforts involved in the recovery process. Following this, Lending Analytics easily generates meticulous and dynamic data-driven reports to optimize costs, streamline processes and help identify new product opportunities.

bizAmica, founded in 2018, is focused on powering businesses using its globally recognized product izDOX AI platform. izDOX automates process flows involving documents across Banking, Finance, Insurance, Logistics and Healthcare domains. On account of their deep technology and domain expertise, izDOX auto identifies business risks from transactions and does auto compliance for go and no-go decisions.

Commenting on the partnerships, Mr. Anoop Gala, Global Head  Financial Services, Orion Innovation said, "Digital transformation has rapidly accelerated within India's BFSI sector over the past decade, ushering in a new era of customer experience, automation and insights. As part of our aggressive growth strategy, Orion is making substantial investments in SAAS offerings that are powered by cloud, AI & Machine learning, hyper-automation and modern data platforms. Recognizing the immense potential in India's financial services sector, we hope to position ourselves as leading player in the market through partnerships with Fintaar and bizAmica combined with our deep domain expertise in Banking, Trade finance, lending & insurance."

FinTaar Technologies and bizAmica Software bring with them a wide array of solutions built using AI-driven business, document & workflow automation for trade finance, supply chain financing, loan origination & servicing, insurance claims processing.

"Collaborating with Fintaar and bizAmica, we are launching these solutions to be available in a SAAS model fully integrated in the financial services ecosystem. Our aim is to deliver accelerated digital outcomes, including achieving an impressive 98% accuracy in document processing, enabling precise delinquency prediction, guiding next best actions (NBA), and ultimately, fostering improved cash flow for financial institutions and businesses operating in this dynamic and ever-evolving digital landscape," Gala added.

"We are happy to be partnering with Orion. The demand for cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has soared. This augurs well for Orion Innovation with prospects in the Indian market and their existing clients globally. Empowering enterprises and teams to engage in decision-making using AI and not data processing has been and continues to be our mission. We look forward to working closely with Anoop and his team to build and expand Orion's client base in India and globally," says Mr. Rahul Bhanose, CEO, bizAmica.

"With our extensive experience in the financial services domain, and cloud offerings in emerging areas like Supply chain finance, embedded financing, Co-lending and recovery, we firmly believe that we are the right partners for Orion in the lending technology space. At the end of the day, it's all about enhancing the customer experience and providing our clients with a seamless digital journey, which is why digital transformation is unquestionably the need of the hour for the BFSI sector. There is also a need for the lending products to continuously evolve with the changing customer demands, which our flexible and modern technology architecture facilitates. With this alliance, we look forward to delivering innovative solutions and delightful experiences that will meet the ever-evolving expectations of Orion's clientele," adds Mr. Hemant Jain, CEO, FinTaar Technologies Private Limited.

Orion recently signed a new deal with Philippines-based Cebuana Lhuillier Bank in its transformative journey towards financial inclusion and modernized banking services. Cebuana Lhuillier Bank, which serves 6 million Filipinos, signed the deal with Orion to implement the advanced Temenos core banking platform to revolutionize its operations and expand its outreach to unbanked and underserved Filipinos with an aim to grow more than 11 million customers over five years.

Orion firmly believes that financial institutions must proactively adapt their business models to not only survive but thrive in the face of today's dynamic and ever-evolving landscape. With a relentless focus on helping clients ideate, innovate, and accelerate, Orion empowers organizations to stay at the forefront of the competition. By embracing a digital-first mindset and possessing a deep understanding of compliance requirements in the financial services industry, Orion uniquely positions itself to assist financial institutions in rethinking, reimagining and reinventing their businesses.
"India has emerged as an emphatic voice of global south that has raised the pressing concerns and issues affecting developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America," said the academic leaders of over 40 top universities of the world during an international conference organised by NID foundation at Chandigarh University (CU) campus on Tuesday (October 10).

The academic leaders, who are majorly from G-20 countries, applauded India's successful G-20 presidency which they said was a watershed moment as the country helped in shaping several global issues. They expressed their views during the international conference held on the theme 'India: The Voice of Global South' which was organised by NID foundation at CU. They also hailed the efforts of PM Modi to make African Union as a permanent member of G-20. This is the first such conference held on this theme after the G-20 Summit held in New Delhi.

The conference was held on the sidelines of Global Education Summit that began on Monday, in which the academic leaders, including vice-chancellors, presidents, and top officials, of more than 40 universities from across 30 countries like UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Japan, Uzbekistan etc. are participating.

With the resounding success of G-20 summit held in September in New Delhi, India emerged as an architect of the global agenda and led the world to embrace 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', the academic leaders said who are in CU deliberating on various topic like fostering global collaboration in higher education and achieving inclusiveness through its internationalisation.

Professor Linda du Plessis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning And Campus Operations), North-West University, South Africa, while praising the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "PM Modi is a visionary leader and if we have a leader with a vision which people support and trust and are willing to invest in that vision and ready to put all the strategies towards it, that makes a huge difference. Investing in what the Prime Minister stands for can make a huge difference in empowering people."

Prof. Nanda Bahadur Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Mid-West University Surkhet in Nepal, said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not only the leader of India but of the Nations across the world, in particular the leader of Global South. PM Modi has given new impetus to the World Community through India's Presidency of G-20 that focused on addressing various global issues. He has inspired the idea of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' across the world and advocated the need to understand the fact that despite being separate Nations, we are all interconnected."

While speaking on the second day of the Global Summit, Chancellor Chandigarh University & NID Foundation Chief Patron Satnam Singh Sandhu said, "India's momentous G-20 presidency under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reshaped the global order. PM Modi has given the message of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' for addressing the global issues like climate crisis, environment protection, and poverty. Through the consensus of G-20, which has been adopted unanimously by more than 126 Nations of the world, PM Modi has emerged as the Global Protagonist."

Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor Chandigarh University & Chief Patron, NID foundation further added that, "PM Narendra Modi has not only worked for the better future of India and the Indians, but also as a Global Statesman, and contributed to establishing Peace, Inclusive Growth in the Developing World and the Better Future for the Humanity. During G-20 presidency, India emerged as the Voice of the Global South, and raised concerns and issues faced by the Developing nations. Due to the consistent efforts of PM Modi, African Union has gained the permanent membership of G-20, which now represents around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population."

Yhing Sawheny, Deputy Director, International Affairs, SIAM University Thailand, said that PM Narendra Modi has great visionary leadership skills and he is really the best leader that we all in the world look up to. "He is great example for the world and has also worked at lot for the betterment of the country. Through G-20 summit he has shown the roadmap to the whole world about how we can achieve peace and prosperity," she said.

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema, President of Sunway University, Malaysia, said, "PM Modi has shown through the resounding success of India's G-20 presidency that Asia can be taking a leadership position in the world which is important because I think it is the end of the western dominated world. PM Modi promoted multilateralism  which means that the world should not be dominated by one or two powers."

Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Founder and Chairman, Daffodil International University, Bangladesh, said, "The vision of India, PM Narendra Modi, and even the G20 has focused on the need to develop a platform that contributes to the society. India is a country that portrays professionalism and respect to others in its true sense, and the best part is that Indians are highly devoted to their motherland. In this context, we can say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very focused in the progress and economic development of the country."
Panasonic Life Solutions India and Panasonic Corporation unveiled a corporate innovation initiative called "Panasonic Ignition" in association with the seed-stage venture capital firm 100X.VC. The program, according to the company, aims to mentor early- to mid-stage startups in the field of energy management for both the commercial and residential sectors and to offer financial support. According to the statement, the program aims to build a robust platform where upcoming startup founders can obtain funding, access to various masterclasses, professional mentoring, and strategic support to promote product development and growth. These initiatives will be crucial in addressing the practical issues with energy management in spatial infrastructures.

Manish Sharma, Chairman of Panasonic Life Solutions India and South Asia, underlined the growing digital revolution in India, characterized by over 750 million active internet users. He said India stands as the third-largest hub for startups, hosting 90,000 of them and 107 unicorn companies with a collective valuation of $30 billion. Moreover, projections indicate that by 2030, India could see over 180,000 startups emerging, promising boundless opportunities. "Panasonic, in line with these vast prospects, seeks to play a pivotal role in the Indian startup ecosystem by supporting local entrepreneurs," he stated.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Earning six figures while working from home is a possibility, even if you dont have a college degree. According to some new jobs data, there are several remote careers that will rake in the big bucks, especially if you have social media know-how and lots of search engine savvy.

CNBC reported that digital marketing is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States, with job boards like FlexJobs and Freelancer.com seeing a major boom in the number of remote, hybrid and freelance marketing roles available.

And the salary is significant: Marketing managers on Freelancer.com charge as much as $250 per hour for this role, and a recent job posting for a product manager at Atlassian boasted a minimum salary of $107,000. And while the job requires marketing experience, there is no degree requirement.

Toni Frana, FlexJobs lead career expert, told CNBC that most marketing gigs require a strong understanding of SEO and data analysis, but those are skills you can grow by watching tutorials on YouTube or taking online courses to earn a certification in specific skills. Google even offers a popular certificate in digital marketing and e-commerce.

The best part of this job description? Most freelance marketing jobs are remote with flexible hours, as long as project deadlines are met.

Plus, the number of jobs for marketing managers is expected to grow 6.6% over the next decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported  faster than the average for occupations overall.

A businesss success depends upon successful marketing, so theres always a need for this work, Alex Martkovich, a freelance digital marketing manager in Toronto who charges anywhere from $150 to $3,995 on Fiverr for his services, told CNBC. Not just in the U.S., but around the world.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  An elaborate scheme to cheat the commercial driver license (CDL) testing process in New York was carried out by a Staten Island man, who is charged separately with sexually assaulting a woman and facilitating in female genital mutilation, court records show.

Ruslan Sadikhov, 35, of Tysens Park Apartments in New Dorp, was sentenced earlier this year by a Brooklyn federal court judge to two and a half years in prison for unlawfully producing identification documents in connection with a group working to cheat the DMV testing process, court records show.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and Assemblyman Charles Fall will be hosting a gun buyback event in Tompkinsville on Saturday.

Part of the New York City Gun Buyback Program, the event will be held at Mt. Sinai United Christian Church, located at 15 Pike St. The buyback is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those individuals seeking to turn in their firearms will receive $200 bank cards in exchange for handguns and assault rifles, while $25 bank cards will be given to those handing over rifles, shotguns and airguns. There is a three-gun total limit and a two ghost-gun limit per participant.

There will be no questions asked.

Join my office, @NYPDstatenIslnd & @StatenIslandDA this Saturday

Oct 14th from 10AM - 4PM



Residents are welcome to safely drop off their guns and receive a prepaid cash card, no questions asked!



Let's all work together for a safer Staten Island. #District61 #PublicSafety pic.twitter.com/fFtFQA6VMy  Charles D. Fall (@Charlesdfall) October 11, 2023

According to NYPD CompStat data, there have been 25 shooting victims on Staten Island between Jan. 1 and Oct. 1 this year. This represents a 16.7% decrease in relation to the same time frame last year.

However, despite the statistical decrease, shootings continue to impact Staten Island, as just this past Friday, a 17-year-old Stapleton girl was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head in a case that is now being investigated as a homicide.

Simply put, illegal and unwanted guns in our community make us less safe, said McMahon before a previous buyback. Cash for Guns events, which have taken over 500 firearms off the streets of Staten Island since I took office, are part of our multi-pronged approach to reducing gun violence, and we encourage anyone who wishes to rid themselves of a firearm to attend this event.



RELATED COVERAGE: Gun violence on Staten Island

>> A beautiful person: Staten Island teen, 17, killed in Stapleton, remembered

>> Staten Islander was shot by neighbor in front of wife, daughter, cops say. Ghost gun eyed as weapon.

>> Sobering numbers show more kids falling victim to gun violence in NYC
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 63-year-old stabbing victim was deceased for nearly a week inside his Mariners Harbor apartment before authorities were called to the location, according to court documents.

The defendant in the case, 47-year-old Enrique Scott, was arraigned Wednesday in state Supreme Court, St. George, on a 15-count indictment that includes charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and first-degree burglary in connection with the Aug. 23 slaying.

Police at the time described a gruesome discovery by security staff at 35 Holland Ave. where the two men were neighbors.

A source previously noted the body of the victim, Anthony Williams, was found decomposing.

The NYPD was investigating the death of a 63-year-old Mariners Harbor man Aug. 28 in an apartment complex on Holland Avenue in Mariners Harbor. (Jan Somma-Hammel/Staten Island Advance) Jan Somma-Hammel

Justice Lisa Grey on Wednesday ordered Scott continue to be remanded without bail and adjourned the case to Nov. 21.

According to court documents, the defendant made the following statements to police following his arrest:

I had an altercation with him and went to my apartment to get a knife. We were arguing and swinging at each other. He closed the door. I kicked it in and then some other s--- happened. I dont think I hit him with the knife. I put it in the sink.

Williams suffered stab wounds to the chest that punctured his stomach and heart, law enforcement officials said.

A woman who shares a child with Scott was in the courtroom for his September arraignment in Criminal Court.

Scotts attorney, Michael Cirigliano, declined to comment.

His client pleaded guilty more than 20 years ago to a gun charge and has one failure to appear in court, according to prosecutors with the Richmond County District Attorneys Office.



OTHER STATEN ISLAND NEWS:

>> 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

>> Sources detail burglary at popular restaurant on Staten Island: Window broken, $3,700 and register stolen

>> NYPD: Found with 10-inch knife, Staten Island man accused of series of attacks

>> NYPD: Pre-dawn raid on Staten Island nets heroin, crack cocaine, oxycodone
On the night of October 12, the Israeli Defense Forces launched a new wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, hitting many targets belonging to Hamas. The IDF stated that it was committed to the destruction of the terrorist group, and the authorities urged citizens to be prepared for a protracted war.

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On its sixth day, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv to express American support for the Israeli people. At the same time, Turkey has already begun negotiations to free the hostages taken by the militants (to see photos and videos, scroll to the end of the news story).

On Thursday night, alarms were heard in the southern kibbutz of Nahal Oz near the border with the Gaza Strip, informing about the alleged infiltration of drones. The Hamas terrorist group said it had launched several UAVs at Israel during the fighting in the south.

The IDF published a video of a strike to repel a terrorist found at sea, footage of a multi-story building used by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, and a video of a strike on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

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According to the Times of Israel, the health ministry in the militant-ruled coastal enclave has reported that 51 Palestinians have been killed and 281 others wounded in overnight IDF airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in the past few hours.

In total, Hamas has claimed the deaths of 1203 Palestinians and the injuries of 5769 others in the Gaza Strip. The IDF noted that it had eliminated about 1,500 militants in Israel.

Moreover, Israeli soldiers found the flag of the Islamic State jihadist group (ISIS) on the vest of a terrorist killed in an attack on the Sufa kibbutz near the border with the enclave.

Against this backdrop, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Israel for a visit. He stated that he came with a "very simple and clear message on behalf of the President of the United States and the entire American people," meaning that Washington supports Tel Aviv.

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The politician met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and other high-ranking officials. The day before, U.S. President Joe Biden himself called the Hamas attack on Israel "the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust."

According to some media reports, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is allegedly considering a trip to Israel. The purpose is to demonstrate Ukraine's solidarity with a country that is also at war.

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At the same time, Turkey has started negotiations aimed at releasing hostages from the Gaza Strip. Details are currently unknown.

"Following the instructions of President Erdogan, the relevant institutions are conducting a process for releasing civilians held by Hamas," Reuters quoted a senior Turkish official as saying, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog says the country is preparing for a major military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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"My nation is grieving. This tragedy has affected almost every home in Israel. And this will be a protracted campaign against Hamas, which is, in fact, a long campaign against ISIS," he said.

For his part, Energy Minister Israel Katz assured that Gaza City will not have electricity, water, and gas until the militants release the hostages.

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? Not a single electrical switch will be turned on, not a single water hydrant will be opened, and not a single gasoline tanker will enter until the abducted Israelis are returned home. No one will teach Israel morality," he said.

A prominent Kharkiv and Israeli theoretical physicist Serhiy Hredeskul and his wife were killed during a Hamas attack on the city of Ofakim. The couple was killed by terrorists who broke into their home. Hredeskul lived in Israel since 1991 and worked as a professor at Ben-Gurion University until 2012.

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Meanwhile, the Israeli air force struck the airports of Damascus and Aleppo in Syria. The attack is being countered by Syrian air defense.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that "as a result of the Israeli strikes, strong explosions were heard in the vicinity of Damascus International Airport and Aleppo International Airport".

Witnesses reported serious damage to the runways at the two airports.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, experts at the Le Beck Middle East Center suggest that Israel is facing a very long conflict on five fronts. In particular, Tel Aviv is allegedly on the verge of war not only with Hamas but also with Palestinians from the West Bank, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Beginning Friday, the NYPD has ordered all cops to report in uniform in anticipation of potential unrest stemming from a call to action issued by the former leader of Hamas to stage global demonstrations in support of Palestinians, according to the New York Post.

In an NYPD memo obtained by the outlet Wednesday evening, the department informed officers that all uniformed members of the service in every rank, will perform duty in the uniform of the day and be prepared for deployment. Cops will not be granted excusals or shift changes and the order will remain in effect until further notice, according to the Post.

The directive was issued after Khaled Meshaal, who served as chief of Hamas from 2004 to 2017, called on the Islamic world to stage protests on Friday, the outlet says.



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A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

Despite making up a small portion of all American renters, Black people make up more than half of eviction filings in the country, according to a study released this week by Princeton Universitys Eviction Lab.

Researchers synthesized census data and court records to get a better overview of who exactly gets evicted in America.

The study shows Black women with children evicted at a rate three times higher than white women with children. Landlords threaten Black women with eviction at a rate four times higher than their white counterparts.

This is an enormous fair housing issue that could be addressed with policy at the federal level and even at the state level, said Peter Hepburn, a sociologist and associate director of Eviction Lab.

The Fair Housing Act was signed into law in 1968 to limit discrimination in the housing market by prohibiting landlords and mortgage lenders from denying housing to tenants based on factors like race, gender and ability. Despite eliminating barriers for Black Americans seeking housing, it provides no legal protections for those being evicted.

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, congress placed a moratorium on evictions through the passage of the CARES Act, followed by a nationwide eviction moratorium issued by the CDC.

Each moratorium led to a notable decline in evictions throughout the country. But according to Nick Graetz, the lead researcher on the study, ever since those policies have expired eviction rates have started to resemble pre-pandemic numbers.

Every renter is vulnerable to eviction. A sudden health issue in your family, a car crash or any unexpected problem can snowball into an eviction, Graetz said. But the fact is, different groups have different means of handling emergencies, and we shouldnt leave that to, well, who has money in their savings account for an emergency? when we can point to [the root causes] like the racial wealth gap in the United States.

According to the study, children make up 40% of all people threatened by eviction, with one in every five Black children under the age of five living in a household where landlords have filed for eviction.

The whole process can disrupt their lives in so many ways, said Sarah DAmato, a lawyer with Legal Aid of North Carolina. DAmato defends hundreds of tenants each month from eviction in Durham, North Carolina. She says that most of her clients are Black mothers, some of whom she has had to represent more than once.

Evictions bring burdensome costs to already economically strained families such as attorney fees, fees for securing a new property and money to replace belongings. Families also may risk losing pay when having to take time off work to attend court.

According to DAmato it is incredibly destabilizing for a child. Often it means leaving friends, families, pets and keepsakes behind.

You can easily get behind one month and you cant catch up, DAmato said. Four weeks later youre padlocked out of your house, she said. And thus the cycle begins.
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Drone wreckage was found in Romania again after a nighttime Russian attack on Ukraine's port infrastructure. The UAV fragments were found around 5 a.m. 3 km west of the city of Plaura.

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A crater was found at the crash site. The drone could have fallen and exploded. This was reported by the Romanian Ministry of Defense.

"Measures have been taken to ensure the security of the area, and the competent authorities have been notified of the need to collect evidence and conduct investigations in accordance with the procedures," the statement said.

The ministry said it "strongly condemns the attacks carried out by Russia on civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian ports on the Danube."

These attacks are unjustified and seriously contradict the norms of international humanitarian law, the Romanian Defense Ministry emphasized.

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Just yesterday, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said that Russian drones fell on their territory in September "by accident." According to him, the UAVs were hit by Ukrainian air defense and "experienced uncontrolled movement," which allegedly led to "accidental penetration" into Romanian territory.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- After the incidents with the fall of fragments of Russian drones that attacked the ports of Izmail and Reni in the Odesa region, Romania decided to move its air defense systems closer to the border with Ukraine. It is also increasing the number of military observation posts and patrols.

- The Romanian Foreign Ministry acknowledged that the war in Ukraine has affected their country after several cases of UAV debris falling.

- NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg explained the Alliance's lack of reaction to the incidents in Romania by saying that they "see no signs that it was a deliberate attack."

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Only verified information on our Telegram Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Birkenstocks seemingly ubiquitous leather sandals have helped the German family behind the brand build one of the biggest footwear fortunes on the planet.

With Birkenstock Holdings trading debut on Wednesday in New York, brothers Alex and Christian Birkenstock are now worth $US3.4 billion ($5.3 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, even after the shares slumped close to 13 per cent in the worst opening for a New York Stock Exchange listing of $US1 billion or more in over two years.

The German footwear makers shares opened trading at $US41 a share after selling for $US46 in the IPO, and closed down 12.6 per cent at $US40.20, giving it a market value of $US7.55 billion.

Wave your sandals: Birkenstock CEO Oliver Reichert, second from right, rings the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, prior to the shoemakers trading debut. Credit: AP

Still, it was a significant payoff for the German cobbler heirs bet to hand over majority control of the historic shoemaker to private equity firm L Catterton in 2021. Christian has notched a return of more than 100 per cent on the minority stake he retained. Alex is no longer listed as a shareholder.
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Review Eating outEnmore This relaxed gem of a place wears its heart on its Barbra Streisand record sleeve Babs, a female-led collaborative chef pop-up, has arrived at its first semi-permanent venue, at the former Saga site in Enmore. And it rocks. Lenny Ann Low October 9, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in the November hit list. See all stories .

1 / 9 Wolter Peeters 2 / 9 Chicken liver gougere. Wolter Peeters 3 / 9 Ravioles du dauphine. Wolter Peeters 4 / 9 Wolter Peeters 5 / 9 Pickled sardines. Wolter Peeters 6 / 9 Burnished onion tart, goat.s curd, herbs. Wolter Peeters 7 / 9 Wolter Peeters 8 / 9 Grand Marnier caramel flan. Wolter Peeters 9 / 9 Wolter Peeters Previous Slide Next Slide Contemporary$$$ Eighteen months ago, when Bec Shave and Ellie OBrien ran their first hugely popular monthly pop-up at Marrickville diner Valentinas, they were asked why they were doing it. Shave remembers OBrien answering: Were just a couple of badass bitches doing their thing. I mulled over that for a long time, Shave says. Then we came to the idea of Babs and it just worked out. Babs, the name given to the pairs collaborative chef pop-ups, which also featured at Kurumac, Earls Juke Joint and Aplenty, now adorns their first semi-permanent venue, a female-led bar and restaurant in the former Saga site.

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Ravioles du dauphine. Wolter Peeters A relaxed gem of a place, Babs focuses on food and drink from female producers. It is there only until mid-December. That leaves 10 weeks to sample head chef OBriens succinct and beautifully tuned food menu and restaurant and beverage manager Shaves passionately selected cocktails, wine and beer. Shaves cheery bonhomie greets all. She suggests a two-sip Vesper-style martini, made with gin, vodka, vermouth and an olive, served in a dinky glass. Its a perfect mouth kapow of soft, warming bitterness. Using the bones of Sagas decor  timber bench tables, wall counter seating, wood-framed walls  Babs has new lighting, softly pink ceramics and a Barbra Streisand album on every table, to honour Babs Matron Saint. Ours is Guilty, with Streisand and collaborator Barry Gibb nestling intimately in dazzling white satin on the cover.

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The menu, hand-written by Shave on a lino-cut print design by artist Eva Balog, changes regularly. Headed by bread, olives and house pickles, it features five midsize snacky dishes, four mains including OBriens handmade pastas, along with three sides and one or two desserts. Start with the house-made challah bread, a nod to Streisands Jewish heritage, made with a hint of honey and excellent with creamy wodges of the house-churned salted butter. Then, under the gaze of Cootes wall prints of swim-suited figures unabashedly enjoying pasta, wine and a cocktail, order the pickled sardines, potato scallop and the chicken liver gougere. The first, glimmering in Babss candlelight, are melty tender wonders. The second is a plump, crispy golden spud jewel. The third, a signature dish, is a decadent whirl of comte choux, filled with chicken liver parfait baubled with sour plum and shiso jam. The spaghetti alle vongole, a fragrant white wine clam pasta, goes in with unrestrained lust followed by the burnished onion tart, nutty and buttery and served with goat curd and herbs. Two-sip martini. Wolter Peeters

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This week, OBrien is offering gnocchi with green garlic sauce and ravioles du dauphine, the latters dainty pasta parcels lolling in burnt butter and filled with lemon and herb-laced buffalo ricotta. Finish with spoonfuls of silky Grand Marnier caramel flan in Babss signature bundt shape. Shave, keen for patrons to feel relaxed about choosing drinks, offers cocktails, beer and wine by female producers in Australia, Europe and the US. Wine can be too serious, she says. I want it to be approachable, affordable and something that you just go, I can gamble on a $14 glass of wine and I can trust that its going to be great. It will be the right wine for this moment. If you want to know more about it, we can have the conversation. Its the same with the cocktails, specifically the two-sip martini.

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Grand Marnier caramel flan. Wolter Peeters Its made with a beautiful vodka called Tilde by Natalie Ng in the Southern Highlands, Shave says. I love my martinis but I cant drink a whole one and this is a lovely way to still have one. Shave and OBrien want visitors, whether solo diners, pre-show snackers or groups in for a lengthy meal, particularly Babss Sunday lunches, to feel an instant level of ease and comfort. Were not trying to be the entire experience for everybody, Shave says. Were trying to be a venue that welcomes anybody to come and experience us. It may also be the only restaurant to offer beautifully arranged free period products in the bathroom should any diner require them. The female-led aspect of our business is really important to us, Shave says. Its a homage to the women in the restaurant industry and to the matriarchs of our families, our mothers and our grandmothers. So, get in now.

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Theres 10 weeks left, Shave says. After that well need a holiday. The low-down Vibe: Finessed and easygoing female-led pop-up with handmade pastas, innovative snacks and mains and a top-notch martini. Go-to dish: Ravioles du dauphine with buffalo ricotta.

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At the beginning of the year, designer Alix Higgins nervously gave up the regular income from his job at a printing company to invest more time in his eponymous fashion label.

Critical acclaim  rather than cash  has been the payoff, with Higgins receiving the emerging designer of the year award at the annual Australian Fashion Laureate ceremony in Sydney.

Designer Alix Higgins (centre) with models Emily Stenberg and Tomas Genero at The Apollo restaurant in Potts Point, Sydney. Higgins has won the emerging designer award at the Australian Fashion Laureate. Credit: Louise Kennerley

After three years of business, Higgins still occupies the opposite end of the fashion rainbow to long-running label Zimmermann and its pot of gold, after a reported billion dollar takeover deal in August.

The first time I met Michael Lo Sordo he told me: You just have to do 10 hard years, and then its going to get easier, Higgins, 29, says. So Ive got seven to go.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the Good Weekend October 14 edition. See all 15 stories . When Andy Warhol said, The best museum is Bloomingdales, he was anticipating a day when art was seen as just another commodity, like a kettle or a toaster. In May, in the famous windows at Bloomingdales on 59th Street in Manhattan, kettles, toasters and espresso machines were covered in the distinctive patterns of Western Desert painting, part of a promotion by Australian company Breville called An Aboriginal Culinary Journey. The project, which required three years of research and development, featured a limited-edition set of appliances, with the profits from sales going to Aboriginal causes. The company believes its good business; at the very least its good karma. Ten minutes drive away at Uovo, a dedicated storage facility on New Yorks Long Island, an exhibition called 60 over 50 brought together two of Americas most important collections of Australian Indigenous art. The 60 paintings on display belonged to actor Steve Martin and his wife, Anne Stringfield, and to investor John Wilkerson and wife Barbara, the latter couple known as prolific buyers of American folk art. Its been a little over 50 years since the men of the Papunya Tula community in Australias Western Desert began to paint their traditional stories on boards. A selection of those early boards, created between 1971 and 1974 by well-known artists such as Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula and Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarri, are now part of the Wilkerson collection. The couple got hooked on Aboriginal art when they visited Australia in 1994 to see their son, who was studying at the University of Sydney. The immediate plan was to acquire examples of work by each member of the original mob that gathered in Papunya. The Wilkersons may not have got the full set, but they assembled a group of works that would be the envy of any Australian museum. Steve Martins taste is more contemporary, although he jokes this is only because the Wilkersons got all the early stuff. His part of the display included major works by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, Doreen Reid Nakamarra, Naata Nungurrayi and George Tjungurrayi, as well as paintings by legendary artists such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Rover Thomas and Paddy Bedford. 60 over 50 was a museum-quality exhibition held in a city long recognised as the centre of the global art market. It coincided with three art fairs, including Frieze New York, which listed as a satellite event a forum on Indigenous Australian art with Martin, the Wilkersons, Sydney collector Danny Goldberg and curator Bruce Johnson McLean from the National Gallery of Australia. On the day, it was standing room only. Mick Namarari Tjapaltjarris Water Dreaming, 1972. Credit: Tony De Camillo. The estate of the artist, by permission of Papunya Tula Artists through the Aboriginal Artists Agency, collection of John and Barbara Wilkerson. Photographed for the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University. During Frieze week, an auction of Aboriginal art organised by the late Tim Klingender for Sothebys NYC produced new auction records for no fewer than 13 artists, including Johnny Warangkula Tjupurrula, whose Water and Bush Tucker Story (1972) sold for $US762,000 to a European collector.

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From tiger-striped toasters in Bloomingdales to booming sales at Sothebys, Aboriginal art is riding a wave of popularity in the US that promises to change the way this work is bought and sold, both internationally and at home. The growing enthusiasm of overseas collectors provides an opportunity for Australia to remind the rest of the world that were making art that stands comparison with anything that might be seen in the US or Europe. At present, Aboriginal art is the only Australian work the rest of the planet wants to see, but its the spearhead that creates potential new openings for a broader range of art. One of the unique aspects of Indigenous art, by definition, is that its power and authenticity are based on a deep connection between artists and the place where they live. Painters from the Western Desert or Arnhem Land are not about to move to Manhattan to capitalise on their newfound popularity; the basis of their work lies in an ongoing relationship with country. If private and public collectors want to see Aboriginal art at the source, they will have to travel to Australia  and that opens a path for a broader appreciation of local art. Or so one might hope. Aside from the inevitable tyranny of distance, one of Australian arts major barriers to global acceptance has been its relative cheapness. In world terms, our artists and dealers are paupers, our major artworks bargains. In the US, artists fresh from college regularly achieve much higher prices than Australian artists in their 70s and 80s. Guy Warren, now 102 years old, has never sold a picture for more than $35,000, for example. Theres an ingrained belief, even among leading local collectors, that Australian art is, or should be, inexpensive. The well-heeled art buyer who travels to the Art Basel fairs in Basel, Miami Beach, Paris or Hong Kong and drops $1 million with an uber-dealer will return home and beat down the price of a $10,000 painting in Sydney or Melbourne. The escalating global interest in Aboriginal art may spell the beginning of the end for these low provincial price points, dragging us into the international marketplace  if dealers and collectors allow it to happen. Many of Australias leading commercial galleries are perfectly happy to sell locally, however, avoiding the expense and bother of the art fair circuit. This is partly to do with the age of dealers who have no desire to take on the world when theyre doing nicely at home. But the art industry in general is like every other business in which comfortable stasis leads to gradual decay or, in this case, ever greater marginalisation. A new generation, led by Australian commercial galleries such as Sullivan+Strumpf, Station, This is No Fantasy and Chalk Horse, are showing a little more adventure. Melbourne dealer DLan Davidson recently opened a discreet New York showroom where hes selling quality Indigenous works on the secondary market to clients by appointment. Being the very opposite of a shopfront, this arrangement indicates the level of interest among those collectors looking for high-value items.

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Davidson is also Steve Martins agent in Australia, a jealously guarded connection thats provided a stepping-stone for Davidson into the New York market. Over the past five years, hes helped his prestigious client, whose personal experience of Australia never reached beyond Sydney and Melbourne, to access Indigenous works of outstanding quality. A lifelong collector, Martin now has more than 100 Aboriginal paintings in his collection, to put alongside pictures by Georges Seurat, Edward Hopper, Giorgio Morandi, David Hockney, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and other famous moderns. The surge in interest by collectors such as Martin owes a debt to the way public museums have begun to focus on Indigenous culture in a way that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Steve Martin (at left, with Danny Goldberg) at 60 over 50. Credit: Courtesy of Danny Goldberg The recent spate of activity represents a second coming for Indigenous art in New York. The first time this work stepped out of the desert and into the metropolis was in 1988, when the exhibition Dreamings, curated by anthropologist Peter Sutton, was shown at the Asia Society Galleries and then in Chicago. Professor Fred Myers, arguably Americas leading expert on Aboriginal life, has identified this as the moment when Aboriginal art emphatically became fine art. Loading Following the Dreamings exhibition, the New York gallerist John Weber held a commercial show of paintings by Papunya Tula artists. For Weber, known as a dealer in abstract and minimalist work, the attraction of desert painting was aesthetic rather than anthropological. There was a brief flurry of excitement as it looked as if Aboriginal art had cracked the international market, but that opening soon closed. There was still too much ingrained resistance to the idea that paintings made by untrained artists in remote desert communities could be considered significant contemporary art.

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The art world at that time was an elite club that protected its privileges. This became even more obvious in 1994, when a Melbourne Aboriginal art dealer, the late Gabrielle Pizzi, was rejected from the Cologne art fair (after participating in prior ones) because the selection committee said it was not its policy to show folk art. Today nobody  least of all the Germans  would question the contemporary art credentials of leading bark painters such as John Mawurndjul and James Iyuna. Thirty years on, the grass roots nature of this work that disqualified it in the eyes of the Cologne committee is now its major selling point. If politics and social justice issues have exerted an influence on the broader acceptance of this work, so, too, has old-fashioned star power and, in this, Steve Martin has played a crucial role. We know him as a screen comedian, but hes also a talented writer and musician, and a perfectionist who doesnt do anything by half-measures. The story of Martins discovery of Aboriginal art began in 2015, when he saw a picture reproduced in The New York Times by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri (one of the artists in the Breville project), which was showing at the commercial gallery, Salon 94, in the Bowery. Martin got on his bike and pedalled to the exhibition. He was dazzled by Warlimpirrngas painting and bought it, beginning a new art romance that would soon become compulsive. You have to understand, I didnt even know it was Aboriginal, he confesses when we meet in New York on a fine, sunny day. I just saw the image in the paper, and because Warlimpirrngas standing right next to it, I know its from a foreign land. I really liked the Op Art part of it. I literally asked: Are these for sale? and found they were nominal in contemporary art terms. Even today Id bet our whole expenditure on this art is equivalent to one [by American artist] Mark Bradford. Old Walter Tjampitjinpas Rainbow and Water Story, 1972. Credit: Tony De Camillo. The estate of the artist, by permission of Papunya Tula Artists through the Aboriginal Artists Agency, collection of John and Barbara Wilkerson. Photographed for the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University. We lived with the work for about three weeks, without considering that it came from a particular culture. It was just a painting we liked. Then on Twitter, I began to look at the images of Aboriginal art that people were posting, and I thought, Ive never seen anything like this! Because a lot of these paintings were very inexpensive, I began buying online and making all the classic mistakes. Then I started reading up on them. As a collector, Martin is no mere trophy hunter. While many of the worlds biggest buyers of contemporary art allow curators and consultants to choose the works they acquire, Martin only buys what he personally loves. His growing fascination with Aboriginal art saw him invite artist Yukultji Napangati and her daughter to lunch at his apartment, where she could see her own work on the wall. Scrupulous about doing his homework, Martin has read widely, learning the how, why and where of this art, marvelling at the nature of a late-blooming movement whose roots lie in prehistory. Like a good philosopher, as his knowledge increased he increasingly realised he knew nothing at all. Could there be a greater lure for the true collector?

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For every non-Aboriginal, the most fundamental concept behind the work is also the most difficult to grasp. There is no Western equivalent for the Tjukurpa  formerly known as the Dreaming  which defines an individuals relation to the community and the cosmos. The Tjukurpa is both lore and religion, an eternal now, that recognises no distinction between past, present and future. Loading When I first got in to it, Martin recalls, I bought every book I could find, and I studied them. Im trying to get it, Im trying to get it. Then, at a certain point you think, Okay, I got this. Two years later, you think, I dont have this at all  and I should quit thinking about it. Its too vast. Its like you or me trying to figure out how a hedge fund works! I realised I really should root my understanding in how this work fits into the larger world of art. I see these works as abstract narrative pictures. Actor Steve Martin He began to seek familiar points of connection, learning to look at paintings as landscapes viewed from the air, with familiar signs denoting journeys, hills, waterholes and meeting places. Ive simplified it for myself, he says. I see these works as abstract narrative pictures. For instance, if [Dutch-American artist Willem] De Kooning is not painting a woman hes painting an abstraction, but these works have a subject and a story, they only look abstract. Having lived his life in irony, Martin says he loves the complete lack of irony in his Australian desert paintings. He also enjoys the idea that many of the best artists dont get started until late in life. In contemporary art, everyone has to be young, he says, but a young Aboriginal artist is 50.

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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The totally unforgivable barbaric acts of terror by Hamas on Israel have rightfully been condemned and Hamas must be held accountable and bear full retribution (Letters, October 12). But what of the innocent Palestinians living in Gaza, now without power, fuel, food or health services and with nowhere to go, with no way out. They are also victims of the terrorist acts of Hamas and caught up in the retaliatory act of war declared by Israel. They, too, are children, families, grandmothers. Our politicians are sadly almost silent on their plight. I am filled with sadness for all who have suffered and are suffering in Israel and for their families and friends here. I strongly agree with the support that has been offered to them. But are we also extending support and offering safe passage to those innocents, the many thousands of Palestinians caught up in the horror of the military attacks on Gaza? For them, I too despair. Suzanne Stirling, Paddington The decline. Credit: Matt Golding Greg Barns argues a compelling case for Chris Minns government to adopt a different approach, allowing the proposed rally by pro-Palestine organisers while taking action on any hate speech or violence (Minns bid to block protest could be costly for free speech, October 12). It is disappointing the premier has not met with anyone from the Palestinian side. The war crimes committed by Hamas were sickening and cannot be justified but the oppression Gazas people have lived in for many years must also be acknowledged. The current denial of power and water to Gaza, causing suffering to many defenceless citizens also satisfies criteria for a war crime. Tragedy upon tragedy. Louise Dolan, Birchgrove The premier finds himself in a terrible predicament concerning pro-Palestinian supporters and the evident support the federal and state governments are providing to Israel (Minns ministers in the spotlight, October 12). As a nation that prides itself in its multicultural makeup a central tenet to the success of our community is the right to free speech. But today this presents us all with a serious conundrum: does free speech extend to major protests involving large numbers of people, banners, fireworks and anti-Semitic slogans? There is probably no easy answer to this but underlying the tenet of multiculturalism is the requirement of respect for one another. This emerging problem needs to be effectively addressed in a uniquely Australian way, and quickly. Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie Kerri Sackville is right: the decisions and violent measures taken by leaders in the Middle East have nothing to do with people living in Australia - Jews or otherwise (Far from Israel, Australian Jews like me are on high alert, October 12). The situation in our city begs the question: why would the NSW government wade into this conflict and would we be seeing demonstrations at the Opera House (along with safety warnings) if our provincial government had just stayed out of it? David Mansford, Concord Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: John Shakespeare Richard Marles is considering measures to increase security for the Jewish community in Australia. And history shows that the Jewish community is right to be concerned. But what is being done to protect those Australians of Middle Eastern appearance from those who think that all Palestinians are terrorists? All Australians expect the government to stand up for them, and not just go along with the fearmongering. David Rush, Lawson

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How are the flights out of Gaza going (Australians to evacuate Israel on Qantas flights as Dutton attacks Albanese over response, October 12)? Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West The premier is being criticised for allowing one pro-Palestine protest and for banning another. His actions sound balanced. Diplomacy and balance are so important and so often missing in our leaders. Protestors have a right to assemble and dispute government decisions - thats called free speech. It must be defended at all costs even when we disagree with the sentiment. Access to free speech is one of the reasons Jewish and Palestinian people choose to live in Australia. Well done, premier. Martyn Frappell, Bulli Complexity lies behind a reluctant Yes vote I am voting yes on Saturday but with reluctance (Nothing to fear but fear itself, October 12). I desperately want to see us shift the status quo and recognise First Nations people as the first inhabitants of this vast, wonderful country. However, I have reservations about the effectiveness of a Voice. The problems faced by this marginalised group, which are well documented, are simply too complex and generational for Indigenous people to solve on their own. I have lived and worked among remote Indigenous communities in the north-west of NSW for more than 30 years, and I am concerned that if the referendum is successful, Australia, and particularly those in power will wash their hands of the issues and abandon Indigenous people to find their own solutions. I do not believe that Indigenous people alone can overcome such disadvantage. It will take all of us, working together, with incredible determination and resources, to effect change. I hope the Yes vote gets up but, whatever the outcome, I hope that the conversations we have had over the past few months will lead to a renewed national determination to work with Indigenous people to help them achieve the advancement they so deserve. Lucinda Stump, Burren Junction From the heart. Credit: Matt Golding Nikki Savva, Yes voters dont have a mortgage on compassion or love for our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and to imply that those voting No have been manipulated by an apparently evil Peter Dutton is something that offends me greatly. You fail to mention that a large percentage of those who voted Labor in the 2022 election are supporting the No case. Maybe some blame for a likely No victory should be sheeted home to Anthony Albanese and his failure to correctly sell the Yes case to all Australians. Evan Parsons, Thornleigh

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I have wondered why the word racist has been used in this referendum towards the No camp. If we all believe in constitutional recognition for Indigenous people, and we all want to see better outcomes for disadvantaged Indigenous communities, what is racist about that? It is simply the Voice that is dividing us. It comes back to that flawed referendum question asking us to lump what are two questions into one. By voting No, to reject the concept of the Voice, you are also perceived as saying you reject the opening part of the proposed law, which is the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of Australia. Its diabolical. It is the one and only reason I can think of why No voters are being called racists. The No camp isnt trying to insert a race-based Voice into the Constitution and divide the country on race. There should have been two questions: one on Recognition and one on the Voice  a moot point now. Ann Thompson, Coffs Harbour A fairer Australia Your correspondent describes the referendum as a flawed model that divides us by race (Letters, October 11). In fact, we are already divided by race: think life expectancy, educational opportunities, incarceration. Far from dividing the country, a successful referendum is a first step towards a fairer, more inclusive Australia. Frances Rodley, Kensington I hope with all my heart the polls have this wrong and the silent majority, so often claimed by the Liberal Party, have decided to play their cards close to their chest when approached by pollsters. I find it hard to believe the majority of non-Indigenous Australians will compare the thoughtful conservative voices of Ken Wyatt and Julian Leeser with the cynical Trump-lite tactics of the No voices, and vote anything other than Yes. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn The word is out. Credit: Matt Golding If the Yes vote fails on Saturday, the prime minister will be blamed for his incorrect assessment of the Australian people. His belief that most Australians are decent people of good will, able to comprehend a simple moral, ethical proposition and vote Yes, will be sadly wrong. Lets hope this suggestion is also wrong! Peter Parnwell, Warrah

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Whether you vote Yes or No it will make no difference to me, or my friends and to most people reading this newspaper. Actually, Im quite cosy in my little cocoon. But it might just make a significant difference to a group of fellow Australians who, for some inexplicable reason, have been left behind by the majority of us. Worth a try? Steve Fortey, Avoca Beach Journalists release a rare ray of sunshine In a week of shocking news abroad a little ray of sunshine replenishes the senses of this reader (Journalist elated to be freed from Chinese jail, October 12). By a combination of conducive circumstances together with consistent, subtle diplomacy quietly exercised by the Albanese government, Cheng Lei is free to luxuriate on home soil with her family and soak in the sun.

What a difference to all our lives an election makes. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why Great to read that Cheng Lei has been released from captivity. Have not heard about Julian Assanges whereabouts for some time. Has the Australian government negotiated a date for his release yet? Allan Johnson, Maroubra Leave now If the Qantas board really want to restore its bruised reputation, Goyder must retire ASAP rather than hang around with a long unknown lead time (Goyder to step down in overhaul, October 12).. This applies to some of the directors as well. Still being present as a chairman, Goyder is not allowing the new management to get on with a job of restoring its reputation. This delaying tactic will hurt Qantas more. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

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Fair chance While it is hugely disappointing that the Federal Court has rejected the attempt to enforce the Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, to account for climate change impacts in the approval of fossil fuel projects, there may still be light at the end of the tunnel, however dim (Tanya Plibersek doesnt have to consider climate change when approving coal mines, October 12). Now, without legal obligation, the minister has the opportunity to intelligently do what the electorate voted for which was, and remains, the necessity to implement more stringent policies to reduce carbon emissions from coal and gas. Roger Epps, Armidale Many of us are not just disappointed by the latest permissions given to highly polluting industry in the recent court case - were also gutted that we could risk jail if we protest too much. I presume the planet and people will be the last priority of this government as with the previous one. Who will represent us? The Greens seem fickle and the independents are half-hearted. Anne Phillips, Wallara Morrisons irony Like a lot of superseded politicians Scott Morrison, craves the limelight (Morrison calls for One China policy overhaul, October 12) . The delicious irony is that he never articulated this policy while in power, despite actively antagonising China with his less than delicate, poorly calibrated language, whenever he spoke about China. Bernard Stever, Richmond TikTok warning We include health warnings on cigarette packets, so why arent there warnings that social media can be misleading, deceptive and harmful. Social media is polarising discourse and threatens democracy. The TikTok doc is the tip of the iceberg (Conviction for pretend TikTok doc, October 12). Anne Matheson, Gordon

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A NSW Police officer has admitted to pointing a gun at his colleague at the front counter of a police station and saying Ill shoot you to stop him revealing what happened in the Tom Cruise blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.

Dominic Gaynor, 30, pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of carrying a firearm in a manner likely to injure a person or property over the incident at Day Street police station in Sydneys CBD on May 29, 2022.

Dominic Gaynor (right) leaves court on Thursday with his barrister. Credit: Georgina Mitchell

Five other charges, including intimidation and common assault, were withdrawn.

Constable Gaynor was at the front counter with other officers at about 8pm when they started to discuss the recently-released movie. A probationary constable, who had seen the film the previous night, said: Ill spoil it for you.
WA Police has confirmed there was no nurse on shift at the Perth Watch House the night Rebels outlaw motorcycle club president Jamie Ginn suffered a medical episode and died.

Ginn, 50, was hauled into the station on Tuesday afternoon after being arrested at a Gnangara property for breaching a firearm prohibition order.

Jesse Copeland (left) and Jamie Ginn. Credit: Facebook

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said Ginn arrived at the watch house around 5pm, with his entrance being considered a general entrance with nothing flagged.

Around 7pm, while in his cell, Ginn suffered a medical episode  a suspected seizure  with police officers responding immediately.
Kalgoorlies iconic Paddy Hannan statue has been beheaded overnight, with the vandalism discovered by locals on Thursday morning.

Police are investigating the incident, which occurred between 11pm and midnight on Wednesday.

The near-century old Paddy Hannan statue in Kalgoorlie was decapitated overnight. Credit: Getty/ABC Goldfields

The head of the statue was found and returned to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Thursday by a member of the public.

The statue, erected in 1929, was commissioned to mark the discovery of the first gold in the region by the Irish prospector in 1893, which sparked the greatest gold rush in Australias history.
A teenage Aboriginal prisoner has been rushed to hospital after he was found unconscious last night following a self-harm incident in the Unit 18 youth wing of Casuarina Prison.

Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia said guards at the prison discovered a confronting scene when they arrived at the 16-year-olds cell around 2am.

WA Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia says housing children at Casuarina Prison (inset) is not an ideal situation. Credit: Nine News Perth

I can confirm that what happened last night was, a boy had contacted officers via the intercom, it was only a matter of minutes from that moment that he was checked and found to be unresponsive and the officer commenced resuscitation, he said.

Paramedics arrived on scene soon after and rushed the boy to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
Peter Dutton is right to suggest that protesters who break the law at demonstrations against Israel should have their visas cancelled if they are in Australia as visitors.

On everything else, however, the opposition leader is dead wrong in the way he is spreading alarm and provoking panic over the Australian response to the war crimes in the Middle East.

For a Liberal leader, Peter Dutton is being dangerously illiberal. Credit: Nathan Perri

Dutton is turning up the volume on fear and division for base political objectives in a confected contest with Anthony Albanese over who is stronger on terrorism, complete with shrill language about protesters.

He is also heightening the sense of national insecurity when Australians are being asked to vote Yes or No on the Voice, so he is sending an implicit appeal to people to seek safety and reject change.
Pro-Palestinian activists will defy warnings from NSW Police and protest in Sydneys Hyde Park on Sunday, as dozens of Australian Muslim groups urge mosques to be illuminated with the colours of the Palestinian flag in a show of solidarity.

It came as the Minns government continued to face fallout from a controversial pro-Palestinian protest at the Sydney Opera House this week, with Police Minister Yasmin Catley forced to deny reports she misled NSW Parliament when she insisted on Thursday she did not tell members of the Jewish community to avoid the CBD ahead of the demonstration.

As the NSW Labor government maintains its unwavering support for the Jewish community following the attacks on Israel by militant group Hamas, pro-Palestine supporters have vowed to continue rolling peaceful protests, relocating their planned Sunday rally from Town Hall to Hyde Park.

Rally organiser Fahad Ali says the protesters have a long, peaceful history with NSW Police. Credit: Nikki Short

The protesters are also planning a march the following weekend. However, one of the rallys organisers, Fahad Ali, said police had told him that all future applications for unauthorised protests would be rejected after the events of Monday night, where some activists lit flares and chanted antisemitic comments at the Opera House forecourt.
A planning expert has blamed unequivocal advice from Melbourne Water for his decision that supported construction of retirement villas beside the Maribyrnong River below the 1974 flood line.

Forty-seven villas were inundated last year in the October 14 floods.

The Rivervue Retirement Village on October 14.

Nick Wimbush was appointed by the water authority to review the floods but stepped aside when The Age revealed his involvement in a planning decision that permitted development at Rivervue Retirement Village.

Wimbush  who previously disclosed the potential for a perceived conflict of interest to Melbourne Water  in 2015 backed an amendment that exempted some land in the retirement village from higher-risk flood rules.
Speaking to Albanese over the phone, Cheng said: Its because of you and all of the team at DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] that Im able to make it here in one piece. Loading Wong said that Cheng was in extraordinarily good spirits. It was one of those rare moments that you have in this job. It was a privilege to meet her on behalf of all of Australia yesterday at the airport, the foreign minister said. Yangs supporters had hoped for a deal that would have seen both Yang and Cheng arrive back in Australia at the same time, but now fear he will continue to be used as a political weapon by Beijing.

Im very happy that the Australian government secured the release of Cheng Lei, said Feng. It showed to us that there is no legal obstacle to release Yang Hengjun. Cheng pleaded guilty to the charge of providing state secrets abroad to secure her release after a 2 year and 11-month sentence was handed down on Wednesday. The sentence took time already served into account, meaning she could be released and expelled from China immediately. Yang pictured with his wife, Yuan Xiaoliang. Credit: The less than three-year sentence is one of the shortest available to the Chinese courts for alleged breaches of national security, and appears to be based primarily on a breach of contract with her Chinese employer. Cheng worked for the Chinese state TV network CGTN for eight years before she was suddenly detained in August 2020 as diplomatic relations between Australia and China plummeted over human rights, trade sanctions and COVID-19.

The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court said on Wednesday night that Cheng was coaxed by personnel from an overseas agency, violated the confidentiality clause signed with her employer and illegally provided the state secrets she mastered at work to the overseas agency through her mobile phone. The court did not provide any more detail about the specific incidents. Loading Albanese said that there was no transaction made between Australia and China to secure Chengs release and that her freedom was a result of Chinas judicial system running its course. We dont deal with China on a transactional basis, he said. We stand up for our values and make representations and we did so consistently. But we also do so diplomatically and in a way that a serious government should do. Yang worked for Chinas Ministry of State Security two decades ago, before becoming a blogger and academic in Australia and later a Chinese daigou trader in New York. Feng said there was no evidence that Yang had engaged in any espionage. Like Cheng, Yangs sentence has been delayed multiple times after a closed-door trial.

Its a political case. The law is actually a very convenient tool for Chinese authorities to target anyone, said Feng. But Yang is also practical. If he needs to admit to the charges he can do it as a pre-condition to release. Its the easy path. Yang has written several letters to his wife and children from jail, detailing allegations of torture and declaring his innocence. If something happens with my health and I die in here, people outside wont know the truth, he said in August. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Cheng embrace after the journalist returned to Australia. There are at least 55 Australians imprisoned in China, including some on death row. Chengs release has given them hope that some of their loved ones might be reunited with them soon. Wong said she had spoken to Chengs children, now aged 12 and 14, while their mother was detained.
Ankara: Turkey, which has historically had contacts with Hamas, is carrying out negotiations aimed at securing the release of civilians held by the militant Palestinian group, a senior Turkish official said.

After the Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, Ankara has launched diplomacy seeking to mediate the conflict.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered his government to seek negotiations on the hostages. Credit: AP

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had ordered the talks. Erdogan has held phone calls with regional powers this week to convey Ankaras offer to mediate and discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Turkey is carrying out negotiations regarding the civilian prisoners held by Hamas. Upon President Tayyip Erdogans orders, the relevant institutions are carrying out a process regarding the civilians held by Hamas, the person said, without providing further details.
On Wednesday afternoon (local time), electricity in the blockaded Gaza Strip went out after the only power station there shut down, a result of Israels ordering a complete siege on Gaza and blocking all electricity, food, water and fuel from entering the coastal enclave. Gazan authorities have been warning that without power or fuel, the Gaza Strips hospitals and emergency services will not be able to function. Al-Shifa Hospital, the Gaza Strips largest medical complex, has enough fuel to power its backup generators for four more days at most, its director said. Buildings in Gaza destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. Credit: AP If electricity stops, our hospitals will become nothing but mass graves, said the director, Dr Muhammad Abu Salima. The hospital has limited its electricity consumption to essential services only, he said. At least 1127 Palestinians have been killed and more than 5300 others injured in Gaza since Saturday, according to the Gazan Health Ministry. It was not clear how many of the casualties included the Palestinian attackers who carried out Saturdays assault.

Electricity in Gaza had already been available only a few hours a day before the power station shutdown, and once the sun set, the enclave was mostly plunged into darkness as airstrikes continued. Overnight Tuesday, rescue workers in several neighbourhoods struggled to dig people out of the rubble of fallen concrete blocks and twisted metal, their efforts lit by headlights, flashlights and cellphones, according to video from the scene. Residents in flip-flops used blankets to help pull and carry their neighbours bodies out of the destroyed buildings. Naseem Hassan, 47, who has been an ambulance driver in Gaza for 25 years, said he had never experienced anything like this war. When we go to the places that are hit, we only take the injured and dead who are outside the buildings, but we cant dig out the injured and bodies from under the rubble, he said. We need bulldozers and heavy equipment, and we dont have that.

There are many demolished homes across Gaza with bodies underneath that cant be recovered, he said. Gaza, a small, densely populated enclave that is home to more than 2 million people, had already been living under a severe blockade imposed by Israel for 16 years. People survey the wreckage of homes destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in Gaza on Wednesday. Credit: Yousef Masoud/The New York Times Gazan authorities have long said that the blockade, which is also enforced by Egypt, has prevented equipment such as firetrucks, ambulances and ladders from entering the territory, hampering rescue efforts. Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned violence by Palestinian armed groups on Tuesday but warned that the siege being imposed by Israel was prohibited under international humanitarian law and would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation there.

Several times, Ahmed and other ambulance crews tried to approach areas that had been attacked, only for more airstrikes to force them back. One strike hit 15 feet in front of their ambulance, he said, but they were uninjured. Loading But on Wednesday, four of his colleagues were killed in airstrikes on their ambulances, according to the Red Crescent. There is no differentiation between targets, he said. The paramedics themselves are targeted. The United Nations said that since Saturday, nine ambulances had been hit in Gaza and 13 attacks on healthcare facilities had been reported. Gazas Health Ministry accused Israel of systematically targeting ambulances.

An Israeli military spokesperson did not respond to questions about whether the military was targeting ambulances. The Israeli military has said its strikes are targeting all sites connected with Hamas, including the homes of members. A man and boy survey the wreckage of homes destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis in Gaza on Wednesday. Credit: Yousef Masoud/The New York Times A huge number of people are trapped under the rubble until this moment; for two days they have been under the rubble, said Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza, which administers emergency service. The rescue workers cant reach them because of a lack of equipment. Rescuers also said they could not keep up with the pace of the airstrikes and their destruction. Unlike in past wars, when Israeli airstrikes have targeted single buildings, entire blocks are now being flattened, they said.

Israeli military commanders have said there is a change of paradigm in their airstrikes on Gaza. Loading We need to use different language and different terminology regarding our assault activities in Gaza, Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, said in a briefing Tuesday. This is not like previous rounds. The Israeli military warned Gazans to leave areas  in some cases entire districts or towns  it was targeting. But Gazans have nowhere to go; the Gaza Strip has no bomb shelters, and those who have gone to the homes of relatives in other areas often found that they, too, were fleeing. More than 260,000 people have been displaced inside the territory, with many of them sheltering in schools and hospitals.

Even those have not been spared from the strikes. Entire square miles are being erased from the map completely, Basal said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. More coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Surprise attack: Hamas terrorists fired up to 5000 rockets from Gaza into Israel on October 7, triggering a declaration of war. Read our guide to the militant group and why its at war with Israel. The Iron Dome explained: How did Hamas breach Israels sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system? And why didnt Israels intelligence services see these attacks coming?
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on October 12, 2023.

The Public meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 10.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:

Deliberations on the proposed National Health Insurance (IS/059/2023-2024 dated September 29, 2023)

This agenda point was requested by MP S.A. Wescot-Williams, MP G.S. Heyliger-Marten, and MP C.T. Emmanuel

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.



The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.



The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx, and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament
BONAIRE:--- The (Dutch) Caribbean islands are facing unprecedented challenges posed by climate change, including rising sea levels, intensifying hurricanes, heat waves, and heavy rainfall. In response to these threats, Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has published climate scenarios for the BES islands. In addition, a collaborative effort is underway to develop a Climate Impact Atlas for the BES islands, providing a crucial foundation for informed decision-making and sustainable development. In the week of October 16th, workshops and public lectures will be held on Curacao and on Bonaire to share developments in climate information and management perspectives, and to discuss priorities for further development.

The KNMI'23 climate scenarios were presented to Minister Harbers on October 9th. Even in the most optimistic scenario, the climate will continue to change in the future, with major consequences for the Caribbean. The scenarios show that the Caribbean will become warmer and drier. This will be experienced as warmer periods during the rainy season and drier weather during the dry season. Of particular concern for Bonaire is sea level rise, which could be limited under the low emissions scenario, but could reach over one meter by 2100 under the high emissions scenario. The upper limit could be over 3 meters if uncertain processes, such as the Antarctic ice sheet becoming less stable, occur before 2100. On St Eustatius and Saba, the likelihood of severe hurricanes with heavy rainfall increases in the future. A Future Weather experiment shows that Hurricane Irma would have had even higher wind speeds and rainfall rates in a warmer climate.

The first version of the Climate Impact Atlas for the BES Islands is set to be developed in 2023, representing the initial phase of an ongoing initiative. This Climate Impact Atlas will translate scientific knowledge into accessible insights, offering essential information on climate change. The project was started in April 2023 and a demonstration of the concept for Bonaire will be included in the upcoming workshop in October. As the year concludes, the online Climate Impact Atlas, along with a roadmap for future developments, will be unveiled.

Collaboration

Financed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, with the CAS Foundation as the coordinator, the Climate Impact Atlas has garnered support from various organizations. Other contributing organizations include the Openbaar Lichaam Bonaire (OLB), TERRAMAR Museum, EcoVision, Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR), Instituut voor Milieuvraagstukken (VU-IVM), Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (KNMI), Technische Universiteit Delft (TU Delft), Rijkswaterstaat (RWS), Informatiehuis Marien, Deltares, RVO.nl, en het Koninklijk Instituut van Taal-Land- en Volkenkunde (KITLV) and Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA).

This project is closely related to other regional projects such as the development of a Climate Impact Atlas for Curacao: "KlimaKorsou", Restoration of Resilience Dutch Caribbean, SEALINK, and Paratus.

Want to get involved?

In the research programme Islanders at the Helm researchers and civil society partners work together to offer/propose tailor-made solutions based on thorough interdisciplinary research. The aim is to develop new, sustainable, and inclusive strategies in the face of current climate challenges. A Transatlantic Platform (TAP) has been developed to offer courses, lectures, and workshops to promote knowledge and awareness of climate challenges. The Universities in the region, such as the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus (Trinidad & Tobago - British Caribbean), University of the US Virgin Islands (UVI- US Caribbean), the Inter-Continental University of the Caribbean (Curacao - Dutch Caribbean), Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (Aruba  Dutch Caribbean), The National Archaeological Museum Aruba (Aruba  Dutch Caribbean) and the University of St. Martin (Sint Maarten and Saint Martin  Dutch and French Caribbean), are integral partners in the TAP having hosted prior lecture series. There is a recognition that Kingdom-wide collaboration goes hand in hand with integration in the wider Caribbean basin. As part of the latest installation of the TAP, there will be public lectures and workshops on Bonaire and Curacao:

A Public lecture for Curacao on October 17th will be organized in collaboration with NAAM (National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management) and the Curacao Climate Change Platform:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/islanders-at-the-helm_public-lecture-17-october-2023-location-activity-7113127720611368960-5qvq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

A public lecture for Bonaire on October 19th will be organized in collaboration with Terramar Museum: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/islanders-at-the-helm_public-lecture-19-october-2023-location-activity-7115267851241828352--8Zi?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Stay up to date by visiting https://bes.climateimpactatlas.com/ and https://klimakorsou.com/
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT) is proud to announce the successful processing of all Bus B, Taxi, G, and T (Tours) along with R (Rental) license plate applications received from "Dutch National/Passport Holders" who completed the application process during Phases one (1) and two (2) of the transportation service improvement initiative brought forward by TEAT Minister Arthur Lambriex earlier this year.

Minister Lambriex announced Wednesday evening that the Ministry has reached a maximum number of these License Plates and can no longer accommodate new requests. "In line with our commitment to responsible governance and planning for the future, the Ministry has decided to reserve a portion of license plates for each category. This strategic move ensures that we can sustain a controlled annual growth rate of 1% to 2% while adhering to the established caps for each license plate category," said Minister Lambriex. This "forward-thinking approach" sets the stage for sustainable growth in the public transportation sector over the next decade without necessitating adjustments to the existing limits.

The Ministry of TEATT views this initiative as a resounding success, as it has illuminated the long-standing issues within the public transportation sector. Lambriex said, "Through our efforts, it has come to light that many license holders have neglected even the most basic requirements, including registering designated drivers with our Ministry. As a result, we have introduced new measures that place the government in a better position as the controlling authority to ensure full compliance with the regulations by permit holders." These measures will curtail previously unchecked practices and provide the government with effective means to regulate the sector. Minister Lambriex also dispelled rumors and unfounded political attacks directed at the Ministry and its endeavors. "

Contrary to the speculations, there are no plates for sale. Our initiative's primary objective is to end the exploitation of the island's residents through plate rentals and leases," said Minister Lambriex. Candidate selection and plate issuance were based on submitting documents in compliance with the established requirements. He said the Ministry of TEATT has implemented stringent measures to address historical tendencies and behaviors, rectifying past issues and ensuring a more transparent and regulated system. "Moreover, we have set aside a contingency for up to a 2% annual growth if the need arises, for the next ten years, following the reevaluation of the moratorium in two years," said Minister Lambriex.

The release stated that the Ministry of TEATT remains committed to fostering a sustainable and equitable public transportation system that benefits the entire community. "We look forward to the continued growth and development of the sector while ensuring the highest standards of governance."
SABA:--- A four-member delegation, headed by Commissioner Bruce Zagers, was in The Hague from Monday, October 2 to Tuesday, October 10 for meetings with the different ministries and political organizations.

There were multiple reasons for going to The Hague at this time, explained Zagers. Meeting with the ministries and political organizations was important timewise with the November 22 Dutch Second Chamber elections.

Another important topic on the agenda was the drafting of the Saba Package 3.0, an agreement in which the Public Entity Saba and the Dutch Government state their shared ambitions that they want to work on Sabas further development. Sabas agenda was discussed with several political parties.

Social minimum

The implementation of a social minimum for the Caribbean Netherlands islands, including Saba, and the eradication of poverty were discussed with the ministries. The Saba delegation attended the presentation of the report of the Social Minimum Committee Caribbean Netherlands, chaired by Glenn Thode, to caretaker Minister for Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions Carola Schouten and caretaker State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitalization Alexandra van Huffelen on Friday, October 6.

The timing of the visit of the Saba delegation was also relevant because of discussions on the recent report of the public sector consultancy bureau IdeeVersa about the height of the free allowance for public entities, the visit of Minister Schouten to Saba at the end of October and the visit of State Secretary Van Huffelen to the island in November.

The Saba delegation further used the opportunity to discuss the different projects that are in the pipeline for Saba. These projects include the new Solar Park, the new Black Rocks Harbor, the new school buildings, and agriculture initiatives.

Funding possibilities

There are different funding possibilities of the Dutch Government that Saba can make use of for projects, such as the SDE++ program to stimulate sustainable energy production and climate transition, the National Growth Fund, and the Regio Deals.

Saba was offered assistance in writing project proposals to apply for funding from these initiatives. The funding opportunities are there, but we lack this specific capacity, technical expertise. It is important for Sabas development that we bridge that gap for the many projects that we want to carry out. The offer to assist us with this is most welcome, said Zagers.

At the end of the visit, the Saba delegation had a wrap-up meeting with Director-General Kees van der Burg of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to talk about some of the sentiments and to share some views of the visit.

Close the gap

Although there is an opportunity to tackle the challenges that we face as an island and there are the reports of IdeeVersa and of the Social Minimum Caribbean Netherlands Committee, we lack a cohesive approach to how to close the gap and to eliminate the backlogs, said Zagers.

The Commissioner also addressed the matter of the social minimum. There is momentum now, there is some money because of the structural fund that was recently announced, but there is an election in November which could impact the momentum one way or another. Yet there is still not enough attention to the immense cost of living. Increasing the social benefits is not the only solution to solve poverty issues. There needs to be more focus on the layers that have been created that negatively impact prices on Saba, he said.

Cost of living

To bring down the cost of living, the import system that is currently in place needs to change. It needs to be simplified, become more customer-oriented, and reflect the small scale of Saba. On an island where almost everything has to be imported, bureaucracy, an overdone import system, and complex, cumbersome procedures, along with extremely high shipping rates, all have an adverse effect on prices.

According to Zagers, efforts to make Saba more sustainable and to increase the locally-grown produce dont show immediate results, while the reality remains that the island greatly depends on imports. There should be a better balance between the different ministries to work in a more practical approach that works for our small scale.

Overall, Zagers was positive about the visit to The Hague, since it also provided an opportunity to network, discuss Sabas agenda, and explore ways to jointly contribute to Sabas development. Besides Zagers, the delegation consisted of the Head of the Finance Department Maureen Hassell-Van der Kaap, the Head of the Community Development Department Rosa Johnson-Hassell, and Senior Policy Advisor Nicole Johnson. The delegation returned to Saba on Wednesday, October 11.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People's Party (UP), Rolando Brison, delivered a compelling address in Parliament today, shedding light on the pressing concerns surrounding the operations of GEBE, the utility company. Brison's presentation focused on financial transparency and accountability, rectifying billing inaccuracies, and ensuring employees receive their well-deserved Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

Brison's address highlighted the alarming absence of recent financial information from GEBE, with the last available financial statements dating back to 2019. In response to this critical issue, Brison called for enhanced transparency and requested immediate clarification on the company's financial status. This step is crucial to guarantee GEBE's ability to fulfill its obligations to the community.

Brison proposed two innovative solutions to address the second concern of the challenges customers are experiencing with inaccurate billing. The first solution involves transitioning to a historical-based assessment for billing. Under this proposal, GEBE would calculate bills based on customers last confirmed accurate bills, particularly those from 2021. These bills would be adjusted downward to account for fluctuations in fuel prices and mitigate any inconveniences customers face. In this context, Brison emphasized the significance of considering the needs of GEBE's employees in any improvement plans for the company.

To facilitate the adjustment in billing and justify the additional cost that may be incurred by granting the COLA to employees, Brison recommended deferring a portion of GEBE's concession from 2024 to 2025, 2026, and 2027. This financial support would cover the reduced costs in bills and help alleviate the financial burden on the community. It would also be directed towards funding the much-needed Cost of Living Adjustment for GEBE employees, ensuring they receive fair remuneration for their dedication and hard work.

In his address, Brison stated, "The fact is, the consumer in St. Maarten has taken a hit, GEBE has taken a hit, and it only makes sense that, to some extent, even if just temporarily, the Government will also receive a reduced financial contribution from GEBE, but only if it is passed on to the consumer and the employees."

Brison's presentation to Parliament underscores his and the United People's Party's unwavering commitment to addressing the community's urgent issues and working towards sustainable solutions for the betterment of St. Maarten. He eagerly anticipates the return of the Prime Minister and the GEBE team with responses to these proposals, aiming to find solutions that benefit all parties affected by the unfortunate situation GEBE has faced due to cyber-attacks.
E-Invoicing Exchange Summit Europe: Almost 300 E-Invoicing Experts met in Dublin

With almost 300 participants the E-Invoicing Exchange Summit 2023 in Dublin has been a perfect opportunity to network with all relevant stakeholders in the field. These first days of October have been ideal to learn about the latest news and developments in global E-Invoicing implementations and digital reporting requirements.

3 days fully packed with deep-dive workshops, presentations, panel discussions and roundtables have made Dublin to a hot spot of the E-Invoicing industry. Participants from 31 different countries, from governments, multinational corporates, legal and tax advisory firms, policymakers, industry associations and all major E-Invoicing service providers came together to exchange best practices and develop strategies to cope with upcoming challenges.

Especially ViDA  the VAT in the Digital Age initiative from the European Commission  was pivotal when discussing the way forward for E-Invoicing in Europe over the next 5 years. And for sure, there is a field of tension between tax authorities\- needs to quickly close VAT gaps, and the urge for automated and efficient processes on the business side. It became obvious that to be successful and competitive in international trade all parties involved need to align their strategies and find a good balance between transparency and efficiency.

Thanks to the artist Christian Ridder a new aBig Picture of E-Invoicinga has been drawn that reflects the topical highlights of the three conference days, embedded in the great scenery of the dinner event.

The graphic recording is available for free download here: www.exchange-summit.com/insights/graphic-recording

The slides of the conference can be accessed here: www.exchange-summit.com/events/europe/presentations

The global journey of the E-Invoicing Exchange Summit continues. The next stop is Singapore from December 4 to 6, 2023. The agenda of the APAC-focused edition has just been published: www.exchange-summit.com/events/asia/agenda

More information on the E-Invoicing Exchange Summit: www.exchange-summit.com

Vereon AG organises leading-edge seminars, conferences and workshops addressing current business issues. Distinguished experts in research, science, industry and politics regularly present practical solution approaches and pioneering trends. Leaders and specialists from all sectors appreciate these information platforms to build knowledge, exchange experience and make valuable new contacts.
Uranium price on the way to new heights

At more than $60 per pound, the uranium price is higher than in the past five years.

The importance of nuclear power in the energy mix is visibly spreading in the minds of many governments. In the Netherlands, for example, nuclear power played a minor role, contributing just a few percent of energy production. But now the Dutch government is planning both lifetime extensions and the construction of new nuclear power plants. Even Sweden, still neutral toward nuclear power at the beginning of 2023, is now open to a revival of this clean way of producing energy. Without nuclear energy, it will not be possible to phase out oil, coal and gas.

This (almost) worldwide rethinking is now reflected in the rise in uranium prices, because without uranium it is not possible. And some analysts expect much higher uranium prices in the future. According to the World Nuclear Association, the phase-out of fossil fuels will greatly fuel the uranium demand. Today, about 81,000 metric tons are needed annually. By 2040, it is estimated that 135,000 tons of uranium will be needed worldwide. This amount of uranium is less than the amount coming from mines today.A After the Fukushima debacle, uranium was no longer in demand, the price dropped enormously, and investments in the uranium sector were not in demand.

So, a significant undersupply of uranium is a likely scenario for the future, which in turn should drive the price up further. It should now also gradually become worthwhile to breathe new life into idle uranium mines.

One project that has a historic uranium mineral resource and is already advanced is the Cebolleta uranium project in New Mexico. American Future Fuel  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/american-future-fuel-corp/  has started the drilling program there.

Uranium Energy  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/uranium-energy-corp/  owns uranium projects in the USA and Canada, some of which are already operational. Uranium interests are also part of the portfolio.

Current corporate information and press releases from Uranium Energy (- https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/uranium-energy-corp/ -) and American Future Fuel (- https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/companies/american-future-fuel-corp/ -).

In accordance with A34 WpHG I would like to point out that partners, authors and employees may hold shares in the respective companies addressed and thus a possible conflict of interest exists. No guarantee for the translation into English. Only the German version of this news is valid.

Disclaimer: The information provided does not represent any form of recommendation or advice. Express reference is made to the risks in securities trading. No liability can be accepted for any damage arising from the use of this blog. I would like to point out that shares and especially warrant investments are always associated with risk. The total loss of the invested capital cannot be excluded. All information and sources are carefully researched. However, no guarantee is given for the correctness of all contents. Despite the greatest care, I expressly reserve the right to make errors, especially with regard to figures and prices. The information contained herein is taken from sources believed to be reliable, but in no way claims to be accurate or complete. Due to court decisions, the contents of linked external sites are also co-responsible (e.g. Landgericht Hamburg, in the decision of 12.05.1998  312 O 85/98), as long as there is no explicit dissociation from them. Despite careful control of the content, I do not assume liability for the content of linked external pages. The respective operators are exclusively responsible for their content. The disclaimer of Swiss Resource Capital AG also applies: https://www.resource-capital.ch/en/disclaimer/
An Orionid meteor streaks through the sky next to Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero, California.

The Orionid meteor shower is active between Sept. 26 to Nov. 22 and will peak on Oct. 20-21, with clear-sky rates of about 20 meteors per hour can be expected.

Viewing conditions for the Orionids are not too bad this year as the moon will be 37% illuminated at the time of the peak. Sometimes the Orionid meteor shower produces spectacular displays of up to 80 meteors an hour, but in recent years it has produced more modest displays of about 20 or 30 visible meteors per hour.

The Orionid meteor shower is produced when Earth passes through the debris or ice and dust left behind from Comet 1P/Halley, more commonly known as Halley's Comet .

Related: Meteor shower guide: Dates and viewing advice

Daisy Dobrijevic Reference writer Daisy joined Space.com in Feb. 2022. Before that, she worked as a staff writer for our sister publication All About Space magazine. Daisy has written numerous articles and guides for notable skywatching events including the Perseid meteor shower, the next solar eclipse and the next lunar eclipse.

Did you know? The Orionids are the second meteor shower in the year created by Halley's Comet, the Eta Aquarids in May are also created by the famous comet.

The meteors that streak across the sky are some of the fastest among meteor showers because Earth is hitting the stream of particles from Halley's Comet almost head-on.

Orionids zip through the sky at 41 miles (66 kilometers) per second, only 3 miles (5 km) per second slower than the speedy Leonids, according to NASA Science .

Where can you see the Orionid meteor shower?

Orion is located on the celestial equator and can be seen throughout the world. (Image credit: Eerik via Getty Images)

Orion constellation position: Right ascension: 5 hours Declination: 5 degrees Visible between: Latitudes 85 and minus 75 degrees

The Orionids are visible to skywatchers in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (weather permitting of course).

Meteor showers are named after the constellation from which the meteors appear to emanate, known as the radiant. From Earth's perspective, the Orionid meteor shower appears to come approximately from the direction of the Orion constellation .

Orion is located on the celestial equator and is visible throughout the world. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, Orion is located in the southwestern sky and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere it is visible in the northwestern sky. The three bright stars Alnilam, Mintaka and Alnitak that form Orion's belt are the easiest to spot.

Don't look directly at Orion to find meteors, as the shooting stars will be visible throughout the sky. Make sure to move your gaze around the nearby constellations as meteors closer to the radiant have shorter trains (glowing trails of debris) and are more difficult to spot. If you only look at Orion you might miss the more spectacular Orionids.

Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes snapped this amazing photo of an Orionid meteor streaking above a lake in Elverson, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 22, 2011, during the peak of the annual Orionid meteor shower. (Image credit: Jeff Berkes)

To best see the Orionid meteor shower , go to the darkest possible location, lean back and relax. You don't need equipment like telescopes or binoculars as the secret is to take in as much sky as possible and allow about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.

If you want more advice on photographing the Orionids, check out our how-to photograph meteors and meteor showers guide. If you need imaging gear, consider our best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.

A red flashlight, warm clothing, a hot drink and a comfortable chair are useful during a night of meteor-hunting. (Image credit: Future)

When is the best time to view the Orionid meteor shower?

The best time to view the Orionid meteor shower is between midnight and dawn when the shower's radiant, the Orion constellation, is high in the sky.

The Orionids are active from Sept.26 to Nov.22 according to the American Meteor Society and will peak between Oct. 20 and Oct. 21.

This year, the moon will be 37% illuminated at the time of the shower's peak. To calculate sunrise and moonrise times in your location check out this custom sunrise-sunset calculator .

What causes the Orionid meteor shower?

Close-up image of Halley's Comet, the culprit behind the Orionid meteor shower. (Image credit: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology)

The Orionids are caused by the debris of ice and dust left behind by Halley's Comet when it passes through the solar system . According to the UK Meteor Network , the meteors we see today come from debris left by Halley's Comet hundreds of years ago as the current orbit of the comet doesn't bring it close enough to Earth to produce meteors.

When Earth passes through the comet debris, the "comet crumbs" heat up as they enter Earth's atmosphere producing impressive "shooting stars" that streak across the sky.

Halley's Comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun once and will not enter the solar system again until 2061.

The comet is named after English astronomer Edmond Halley who examined reports of comets approaching Earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682. He concluded that these sightings were all of the same comet returning over and over again. Halley predicted the comet would return in 1758. Though he did not live to see the comet's correctly-predicted return, it was later named in his honor.

Editor's note: If you snap a great photo of an Orionid meteor or any other night sky sight you'd like to share with Space.com and our news partners for a story or image gallery, send images and comments in to: spacephotos@space.com.

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

Additional information

Have you seen a fireball recently? Report the sighting to the American Meteor Society to help contribute to fireball research. Explore the historical significance of Halley's Comet and the Battle of Hastings with this NASA feature . Take a tour of meteors and meteorites through history on this Google Arts & Culture feature courtesy of Adler Planetarium.

Bibliography

Bailey, D. 2022 Orionid Meteor Shower. UK Meteor Network. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://ukmeteornetwork.co.uk/showers/2022-orionids/

NASA. Leonids. NASA. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/leonids/in-depth/

NASA. Orionids. NASA. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/asteroids-comets-and-meteors/meteors-and-meteorites/orionids/in-depth/
Last weeks strong premiere left viewers feeling that this show has what it takes to go the distance, and a solid second episode solidified it. Beyond the all-star cast, the writing is heartwarming and compelling. It is the kind of comfort show that TV networks need more of, especially in this age of streaming networks where every show is flashier and bolder than the next. Only two episodes in, and viewers are already invested in the characters that make up the small town of Sullivans Crossing, eager to explore the mysteries that are yet to be revealed.





Although a lot of backstory is still unknown, a few details were revealed in this episode, providing more insight into the lives of the characters that make up this small town. It is evident that the writers will be peeling back the layers of each character a bit at a time, which is a strong tactic as it will keep viewers longing for more. Viewers were made aware from the start that Maggie and Sully have been estranged for a while, and tonight we learned a bit more as to why. Maggies mother took Maggie with her to Boston after she divorced Sully, and despite his thick exterior, it was clearly very difficult for him, as noted by the box of keepsakes from Maggies childhood that he keeps under his bed. What is still unclear, is what prevented Sully from putting in an effort to maintain his relationship with his daughter, or if there was another factor that stood in the way of him from remaining a key person in her life. Frank Cranebear tried to push Sully to work on things with Maggie, which suggests that Sully did something to fracture his relationship with his daughter. Sully is a stubborn man, however, and believes that too much time has passed to even attempt at making an effort. Sully also pulled an AA coin out of the memento box, indicating that he struggled with an alcohol addiction. Perhaps that was the catalyst for his strained relationship with Maggie?





Maggie has been so angry and bitter at her circumstances, that she hasnt been able to appreciate what is right in front of her. Maggie is stubborn, just like her father and her stubbornness isnt allowing her to see that Sullivans Crossing is exactly where she needs to be right now. In Boston, her life was focused around her career and she spent many long hours working at the hospital, rarely finding time to connect with others. The tight-knit community of a small town is providing her with a circle of care that is unfamiliar to her, but much needed. Edna is the mother figure that Maggie needs, since Maggies own mother appears to be driven by success and not nearly as nurturing. Reconnecting with her old friend Sydney, has also provided Maggie with a chance to let loose and have fun, something that Maggie has been unable to do in a long while.





Maggie also has a lot to offer the small town. Her medical expertise is something that the town is lacking and it led her to be there for Roy in his time of need, and figure out that he had been suffering from an underlying infection, which could explain the confusion hes been experiencing. Cals support throughout the ordeal allowed Maggie to see who he really is, a kind and good hearted soul. He received the cold shoulder from Maggie last episode, but her walls appear to be coming down now that she has seen the good in Cal. After a drunken night of karaoke with Sydney, Cal walks Maggie home to ensure she gets there safely. The chemistry between the two is palpable as they walk underneath the stars that, as Cal points out, cant be seen as well from a big city. Their sweet moment is cut short when Andrew, Maggies boyfriend from Boston, appears. He wants to try and make things work with Maggie, but it doesnt appear that Maggie is in the same place anymore. Meanwhile, Cal goes home defeated, looks at a calendar and circles July 22nd. The significance of that date is sure to lead to viewers finding out more about the handsome stranger and what exactly led him to Sullivans Crossing of all places.





There are so many small details that add to the show's charm and highlight its Canadian roots. Edna and Frank speaking Cree and explaining the language to a cabin visitor was a beautiful touch, and puts into focus the important path towards reconciliation that Canada is on. The Cranebears are a beautiful couple and so adorable to watch. The way Edna made it known that the town prided itself on embracing diversity was also appreciated and an important part of what it means to be Canadian.





Andrews visit to Sullivans Crossing just as Maggie had begun embracing her roots is sure to cause a lot of drama moving forward. How will this affect her ability to put the pieces of her life back together? Will Maggie be able to put Boston behind her and focus on a future that is about happiness and not success? Id love to hear your thoughts! Comment below and follow me on Twitter @MiddleofCanada.
If I had known who Jeffrey Epstein really was, there is absolutely no doubt that I wouldnt be in the position I am in today. I am very disappointed by the FCAs decision and I will continue to challenge it

Jes Staley
Sarah Danes, who became a stockbroker in 1978, said: As women who were not university-educated in those days, it was quite something to join an industry steeped in history and heritage  mostly, of men  in the 1970s and 1980s.
Earlier this year, the Union hosted a debate on same-sex marriage in the Church. We received hundreds of complaints, messages and anonymous Facebook posts from fellow students who were disgusted that this topic was being debated. Crucially, they seemed to overlook the fact that same-sex marriage is not currently permitted within the Church of England and that, therefore, this was a debate on the current stance taken by the Church. The issue of whether we can debate and challenge the current state of society should never be contentious. In a free society, this is our right and our duty. Questioning institutions is exactly how progress happens. By seeking to silence debate, you silence those wanting to push for change. It is for this reason that democracy cannot exist without freedom of speech.
We are still a way off from a three-front war. But it is not inconceivable. This is why Israels mobilisation is so comprehensive and its army build-up in the north, to dissuade Hezbollah, is as extensive as that in the south, expected to invade Gaza. Casualties and low-level shelling have already started over the Lebanese border. This also explains the American decision to send two aircraft carriers to the region and the statement with Britain, France, Italy and Germany referenced other actors in the region. There is no nuance there for diplomats  the warning from the United States is that if Hezbollah and Iran think about getting involved the United States is poised to step in. Every step must now be taken diplomatically to contain the fighting  and revive the peace process with the Palestinian Authority when this is over and the Israeli public inevitably turns its rage on Netanyahu.
As Israels war with Hamas escalates with retaliatory rockets pounding the Gaza Strip and infrastructure cut off for Palestinians living there, what are next steps for military strategy - and what's the specialist squad examining rescue plans for around 150 hostages?
We encounter the wealthy cloth merchant later on, sitting with his chair tipped back nonchalantly, a remarkable posture. Quite a few of the sitters are drinking, holding their stemless wineglasses by the base; still more are laughing  and this really wasnt often depicted. They take themselves seriously, these men, but not so much that they cant enjoy the carnal pleasures of eating, drinking and good company. Many are burghers of good standing, but they are here among equals  even the most aristocratic, the irresistible Jasper Schade. These solid, ruddy Dutch dont suggest much spiritual depth (though Brian Sewell, of this parish identified an Evangelist by Hals), but they are richly human.
Gilberto Gil has always had a soft spot for London. Back in the early 1970s the capital was a refuge for the iconic Brazilian musician, who was exiled here for two years after being arrested by the Brazilian military dictatorship and told to leave the country. He was under house arrest when he wrote the samba Aquele Abraco (That Hug), in which he sings about the people and places hell miss when hes gone; the track was a massive hit in Brazil while Gil and Caetano Veloso, with whom he co-founded the countercultural Tropicalista movement that reshaped Brazilian music, were living in the UK: vibing to the Beatles. Cheering on Chelsea FC. Helping to stage the first ever Glastonbury Festival.
Lessons in Chemistry (which has been adapted from the book of the same name) is at pains to show us all the ways in which a womans life was uniquely miserable in the sausage-fest field of science at the time: being told to smile, love (or the American equivalent thereof), not being recognised for eminent research, with ones lifes work stolen by men on the basis that nobody would believe a woman could have come up with it anyway.
Pictures have also aired of scenes depicting Prince William and Kate Middleton (the pair met when they were both students at the University of St Andrews in the early Noughties). We may even see a glimpse of Chelsy Davy, given that she and Prince Harry dated between 2004 and 2011. To round things off, Netflix has also hinted that well be seeing at least some of Prince (now King) Charles and Camillas 2005 wedding, which certainly hints that the show will run up until then. Variety has previously reported that Claudia Harrison, who plays Princess Anne, said that the wedding was the final scene the cast filmed.
Al Salam Bank, Bahrain, has partnered with Bahrain Polytechnic to host an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp for the polytechnics final year students and graduates.

The two-day event, starting on October 14, will provide students with the opportunity to showcase their skills, creativity and innovation to design business branding campaigns using AI.

Branding Campaigns

The participants will present their campaigns on October 14 to a panel of judges comprising members of Al Salam Bank, including: Mahmood Qannati, Head of Marketing and Communications, and ESG Officer, Muna Al Balooshi, Head of Human Resources and Administration, Mohammed Al Shehabi, Head of Innovation, and Ahmed bin Jamal, AVP of Marketing and Communications.

Cash Prize

Ten winners will receive cash prizes of BD 100 ($265), while the top five participants will be recruited to work at the banks Marketing and Communications Department.

Mahmood Qannati, Head of Marketing & Communications, and ESG Officer at Al Salam Bank, said: We are pleased to be partnering with Bahrain Polytechnic as part of our ongoing efforts to support the financial and social well-being of our community and empower our youth. We are committed to our social responsibility efforts in line with ESG, which focuses on bringing about fundamental change amongst members of society.

As the leading Islamic bank in Bahrain, we will continue to support exceptional strategic objectives that enable us to continuously grow and develop.

Requirements to participate in the bootcamp include, a background in AI applications (ChatGPT, Midjourney, Leonardo, etc) ability to create text, image and video content, creativity, innovation, a passion for branding and marketing, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.  TradeArabia News Service
 It can be harder to sell. You have to go through the organisation you rent from, which usually reserves the right to market the property itself for up to 12 weeks before you can go through an agent. Youll also have to pay for the valuation that sets the price youre allowed to sell at.
Over the 22 years that Holmes worked with the band, Coldplay have released nine consecutive UK Number One albums, headlined Glastonbury a record four times and become one of the worlds objectively most successful acts. Martin, meanwhile, has cemented his status as an A-list fixture both in and outside of music, first with his high-profile marriage to Gwyneth Paltrow and, more recently, via his long-term relationship with Johnson. Two days before news of Coldplays counterclaim broke, Martin threw Johnson a Malibu beach party with guests including Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann for her 34th birthday, whilst the bands world tour continues in Japan next month before stretching across Asia, Australia and Europe throughout 2024.
Like a scene from the Lion King, guests arriving were trampled by the Hermes stampede. Birkins and Kellys nearly outnumbered paintings (these were favoured in black with silver hardware, but there were 75,000+ inky green crocodile, burgundy and canvas iterations, as well as mini navy lizard styles, as worn by Anu Hinduja, a member of the UKs richest family). In every corner were the Parisian houses Evelyne saddle bags, H-logo Constance bags and, for men, the HAC a dos backpack, worn crossbody. Then came the countless Goyard totes, which are enjoying something of a comeback; sequined Chanel 2.55 bags; a handful of Loewes Puzzle Minis and not a few Celines hefty Classique 16 briefcases, for good measure.
What we cannot do is interpret support for the Palestinian cause more broadly as automatically being support for Hamas or any other proscribed group, even when it follows so soon after an attack carried out by that group and when to many the link seems indisputable, she said.
The judge concluded: There is no real and immediate threat to the life of Mr Ecclestone by reason of the trial process, but if there is, then, having regard to such measures, the State has done all that could reasonably be expected of it to avoid a real and imminent threat to the life of Mr Ecclestone.
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The charge stated Ecclestone, who has three grown-up daughters, Deborah, Tamara and Petra, and a young son, Ace, had established only a single trust, that being one in favour of your daughters and other than the trust established for your daughters you were not the settlor nor beneficiary of any trust in or outside the UK.
"I would also ask drivers who were on Sevenoaks Way on Monday afternoon to check their dashcams for any footage of the moped or the red Mercedes before the collision occurred."
We want a police service that works for all our communities, and we know that many of the police want that as well.
Judge Pelling said: I conclude that Brightline has failed to prove any of the issues it had to prove if it was to succeed in its defence and for that reason the claim succeeds.
There has been an outpouring of emotion since the landmark was felled, with many suggestions on what could be done with the felled section, including making benches from the wood, a sculpture or souvenirs to sell.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Barclay said: As a father of young children I'm alarmed as a dad at the fact that the number of children vaping has gone up three-fold in the last three years... It's important we get the policy right because actually vaping does have a role to play, particularly for adults that smoke.
When I tell you that one out of four of them try and kill themselves, weve got to be sensitive about the language we use - thats why Andrew did what he did, because we meet Londoners who are from these communities.
In a joint statement, Rosh Pina, Maimonides and Cheider said the choice was made with the safety of the children and staff as the highest priority, and with the intention not to take any risks.
City Hall has been lit at night in the colours of the Israeli flag. Asked why the flag itself was not flying from outside City Hall as a mark of solidarity and respect, Mr Khan said the Greater London Authority was following Government guidance to fly the flag until October 10, and said it was nothing more than staff not working over the weekend for any failure to do so.
While running for the Conservative candidacy, Ms Campbell also said she wouldnt continue with the expansion, but she now says she would weigh up the cost-benefit analysis of removing or keeping it, warning that the price-tag of removing outer London from the zone, now that the expansion has taken place, would be huge.
Cleric and former GB News motor-mouth Calvin Robinson has been having a tough time since he was sacked by the channel last month along with his brother-in-farce Laurence Fox. Now that the GBN money has dried up, Robinson has been crowdfunding to pay his London rent. But that wont stop his jet-setting. He has been in Florida on a paid for preaching trip and, this week, he dropped into Disney World (free entry, he says  did Mickey Mouse require intercession?).
Speaking after his conference speech, he said We are going to have to be tough with anybody who stands in the way of that and that will include any Labour MPs who say: Well, Im signed up to the project but just not here.
But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.
I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrators interests over that of the victims and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.
He told Times Radio: There is pressure on the system, as there is in Ireland, as there is in France and a number of countries, as a consequence of the fact that jury trials were delayed during Covid, and that has meant there are additional numbers on remand.
A BBC spokesperson said: We always take our use of language very seriously. Anyone watching or listening to our coverage will hear the word terrorist used many times - we attribute it to those who are using it, for example, the UK Government.
Under the title With Heavy Hearts, Harry and Meghan said in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website that they support action to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.
Weve seen a three-fold increase in the number of children using vapes. Now, one in five children have used vapes and theres some real concern, particularly when I talk to headteachers and other teachers, in terms of the increasing use of vapes by children.
The money will be given to the Community Security Trust (CST) after the group, which acts on the behalf of British Jews on matters of policing and racism, said it had recorded a 400% spike in antisemitic incidents in the UK since the weekends assault.
I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrators interests over that of the victims and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.
I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrator's interests over that of the victim's and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.
According to the Natural History Museum, there have been more than 800 records of mitten crabs in the UK. There are also some studies by UK scientists that you can help with if you locate a mitten crab.
This is not about who is right and who is wrong. My father spent his life fighting for peace. I am his daughter but we are all his children when we ask for peace, when we ask to see the human within each of us.
In a statement after the pair met at Buckingham Palace, Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: At a time when Jews around the world are grieving following the unspeakable evil perpetrated against loved ones in Israel, I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III for expressing in person his deep concern, and his support for the Jewish community.
However, your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the date of issue) and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave (check the expiry date).
KQ management in conjunction with the security authorities of the government of Kenya and the United Kingdom carried out a thorough risk assessment of the threat, it said in a statement.
According to the US Department of State: The Secretary will reiterate his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attacks against Israel and condemn those attacks in the strongest terms. The Secretary will also reaffirm the United States solidarity with the government and people of Israel. He will also discuss measures to bolster Israels security and underscore the United States unwavering support for Israels right to defend itself.
Many of them had served in the Israeli military, as is compulsory for over-18s in the country, and had been trained to identify different guns by the sound of their shooting. They used these skills to guide them towards the IDF, where they would be safe.
Other air strikes were reported to have hit further targets in Gaza City and in the Jabalia refugee camp in the north of the Gaza Strip. Israel said it had been targeting members of Hamass elite Nakhba force and that it was also trying to identify those involved in the attack.
He did not know her fate because she had been on a sleepover at a friends house nearby on the Beeri Kibbutz. In a heartbreaking interview with CNN, Mr Hand broke down as he recounted the moment he was finally told his daughters body had been found. They said: We found Emily. Shes dead, and I just went Yes! I went yes, and I smiled, because that is the best news of the possibilities that I knew.
Moreover Hamas has dispersed its command, political and fundraising operations as well as programmes for weapons across the Gulf region. A main centre is in Doha, where it has morphed from the culture of the Muslim Bortherhood. It trades in Bitcoin  raising, according to some sources a billion dollars by these means for the attacks of the past ten days. It has access to the know-how and sponsorship of the regime in Tehran. More specifically it gets weapons and training advice from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and its al Quds commando force.
It is not only those of us who are parents, but all of those who feel that young people should be free to attend events with their peers in conditions of safety, who will find such circumstances where a young life is taken so appalling.
That is why we must do everything in our power to protect Jewish people everywhere in our country. If anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. You have our complete backing.
Ala al-Kafarneh, 31, has lost everyone in his family in the air raids. He told how he, his pregnant wife, his father, brothers, cousins and in-laws ran away from their home in Beit Hanoun  a town on the northeast edge of the Gaza Strip which was one of the first places hit by Israel.
Travel is not advised to parts of the governorate of South Sinai, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa Road, unless essential. Coastal areas on the west and east of the peninsula, such as Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab, are not affected.
Currently the newest and most souped-up S series phone in Samsungs lineup, the S23 Ultra is the culmination of everything the tech giant has learnt since its first launch in 2010.

One of the things it has taken on board is the environment; this is Samsungs most eco-friendly device using recycled glass and PET film to accent the phones exterior. It may feel like small moves but its a good start - especially for a brand this big.

Coming to the design itself, youre looking at a beautifully bold and bright 6.8-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED screen with an Infinity-O Display that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. For gamers, readers and streamers, this thing is a delight with a 120Hz refresh rate, so that games and video content are smooth and sharp, allowing for full immersion into whatever youre doing.

Camera-wise, youre in for a treat. At the front is a 12GB selfie snapper, while the back of the device is home to a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, a 10-megapixel Telephoto camera and  this is the mind-blowing one  a 200MP Wide-angle camera. Take an idle photo at home, and you can zoom in to see the individual fibres of the living room carpet in a snap taken from the kitchen. Its bordering on the ridiculous.

Mind you, that zoom may come in useful on your next snorkelling session: the S23 Ultra boasts an IP68 waterproof rating which means it can be submerged for up to half an hour to a depth of 1.5m. If you want to add amateur underwater photographer to your CV, this phone will get you a lot closer.
My sense is the first one to three minutes he knows who I am, Caron said in an interview with Page Six. Hes not totally verbal; he used to be a voracious reader  he didnt want anyone to know that  and hes not reading now.
A witness who discovered the blaze said that she found the car on fire and left to find an extinguisher. As she returned, the vehicle exploded and she could no longer get near it.
The ambassador of the State of Israel in Bucharest, Reuven Azar, said on Thursday that the Israeli people were attacked by one of the most "ferocious, barbaric and savage forces in the world".

"I thank the Romanian people, the Romanian state, the Romanian Government for this support for the people of Israel. We are in a very difficult moment in our history. We were attacked by one of the most ferocious, barbaric and savage forces in the world, by an organization that has no limits, which kills innocent civilians, families, children, taking hostages, burning people alive (...), even worse than ISIS. I want to thank all Romanians for the tens of thousands of messages of support that I've received, for volunteers, thousands of volunteers who decided to go and help the State of Israel. We are united, we are determined, we will fight this evil, because without fighting this evil we all are in danger, no only the people of Israel, but also the people of the Middle East and all peace lovers in the world," said Reuven Azar, present at the event organized by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Romania in the Parcul Izvor (near the Parliament Palace, ed. n.) in Bucharest, Agerpres reports.

Several hundred people gathered on Thursday, in Parcul Izvor, in a demonstration of support for the population of Israel, following the Hamas attacks of the last few days.

When asked about the event, the ambassador replied that the idea of organizing the demonstration came after several phone calls received from people who wanted to show their support.
Imports of wheat, corn, sunflower and soybeans from Ukraine will only be allowed on the basis of a marketing agreement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (MADR) and only for farmers and processors who demonstrate that they need these quantities to replenish stocks, said at the briefing on Thursday at the end of the Government meeting, minister Florin Barbu.

Also, he added, only cereals that comply with the quality standards certified by the National Sanitary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA), based on the samples received and analyzed, can be processed or fed, agerpres reports.

He also mentioned that, next week, he will have a meeting with his counterpart from the Republic of Moldova, with whom he will analyze the stocks, the quantities of grain that the farmers in Moldova have at their disposal, and together they will agree on a new practical licensing mechanism on grains as well that should come from the neighbouring country.

The economic operator presents a certificate of conformity of the product to be imported, issued by ANSVSA, regarding compliance with sanitary, veterinary and food safety rules, following the testing of a sample of the agricultural product. Based on the agreement issued by MADR, the Romanian economic operator concludes a sales contract with an economic operator licensed by Ukraine for the required quantity of product provided for in the agreement, then the import operations are carried out, under the supervision of the Romanian customs authorities.The customs seal will be opened at the destination, respectively at the headquarters or at the work point of the economic operator in Romania, in the presence of representatives of the Romanian Customs Authority and ANSVSA. ANSVSA collects samples from the imported product and checks if it has the same qualities as provided in the certificate of conformity, and if the products are found to be non-compliant, they are returned to the place of origin at the exporter's expense.The piece of legislation also regulates the regime of sanctions for non-compliance with the provisions of the piece of legislation and the forms used in applying the provisions of the emergency ordinance.The Emergency Ordinance applies until December 31, 2023.
The Government adopted in Thursday's meeting the 2023-2027 Strategy for the Protection and Promotion of Children's Rights "Protected Children, Safe Romania", which was developed in consultation with non-governmental organizations in the field, the Government informs in a release.

The strategy aims to promote the rights of children, including the most vulnerable, in all areas of life, by ensuring full access to quality public services, agerpres reports.

The directions of action target areas such as education, health, social assistance, justice for minors or strengthening the participation of children in the decision-making processes that concern them. The document summarizes the priorities for the next five years, all harmonized with those assumed at the European level: eliminating all forms of violence against children, reducing poverty and social exclusion, promoting child-friendly services and systems, protecting and guaranteeing the rights of all children in situations of vulnerability.

"Also, the development of programs and the implementation of measures aimed at ensuring children's access to digital public services under safe conditions are also being pursued. At the same time, it is proposed to promote a child-friendly justice system, a system of criminal, civil and administrative procedures which does not inhibit or intimidate them and, at the same time, guarantee the respect of all their rights", the cited source mentions
The security situation in Israel was addressed during Thursday's meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT), in which context the members of the CSAT emphasized that Romania condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas from the first day, attacks which caused numerous loss of lives humanity and wounded among civilians.

Regarding the Romanian citizens affected by developments in the region, the Presidential Administration says Romania will continue its active efforts to provide support to those in need, as a crisis cell has already been established, which works on a permanent basis, to provide support to Romanian citizens for their repatriation, as well as for the provision of consular assistance, Agerpres reports.

Up to this moment, approximately 2,035 Romanians have been repatriated and the steps continue for other Romanian citizens who requested this.
On Thursday, the gov't adopted a draft law for the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding the mutual recognition of educational documents.

The agreement, signed in August in Bucharest, will update the framework of the convention that currently regulates the mutual recognition of study documents and scientific titles. The convention dates back to 1999 and has not been modified since then, a press release sent on Thursday by the government reads, agerpres reports.

The updates provide for the mutual recognition of study periods in pre-university education, as well as the recognition of bachelor's degrees, bachelor's and master's degrees and any other university degrees with a duration of 5-6 years, issued in Romania, with the study degrees Specialist and Master's degrees, issued in Ukraine.

"Through the adoption of the draft law and, subsequently, the ratification of the Agreement, the regulations in the field will be updated in relation to the European norms transposed into the national legislation and the legislative changes undertaken at the level of the national education systems in the two states, including the establishment of the National Framework of Qualifications," the government's press office says.
The Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) is convening today at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace under the leadership of President Klaus Iohannis.

According to the Presidential Administration, the agenda of the meeting includes drug-taking by young people and students as a major risk to individual and national security; recent developments in the security state of play in the Black Sea region amidst Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and their implications for Romania; the 2024 - 2033 defence acquisitions.

Iohannis said a month ago that drug-taking among young people - which he considers an alarming phenomenon - will feature on the agenda of the CSAT meeting."It is a problem that concerns our society increasingly more, and I am glad that there is an increased interest in trying to find solutions to combat this scourge. I decided to include it on the agenda of the next meeting of the Supreme Council for National Defence on this subject. The effects, the extent, the societal challenges of drug-taking, especially from a young age and in schools, are a serious challenge to individual and national security," Iohannis told an opening of the 2023-2024 school year.He emphasised the importance of preventive and responsible behaviours: "It is crucial that the younger generations understand from an early age the dangers and dramatic consequences of drug, alcohol and tobacco taking."The previous CSAT meeting took place on July 6.
The president of the Romanian Customs Authority (AVR), Ion Cupa, and the managing director of the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Talmazan, together with the teams of experts from the two countries, participated, on October 11, 2023, at the Albita Border Customs, at a working meeting, according to a press release from AVR.

The discussions aimed at aspects related to the development of the coordinated control implemented on the Romanian territory at the state border crossing point Albita (Romania) - Leuseni (Republic of Moldova), the stage of the rehabilitation and modernization project of the border customs offices Albita - Leuseni, Sculeni - Sculeni and Giurgiulesti - Giurgiulesti, the implementation of the SEED+ data exchange project with the support of EU4Digital, the identification of joint projects with access to European funds, as well as the organization of experience exchanges, agerpres reports.

The Romanian side expressed its willingness to share its experience, acquired during Romania's accession to the European Union, in order to align the Moldovan customs system with the Community one, and reiterated its support in the implementation of European customs integration commitments within the cooperation mechanisms at the European Union level.

Considering the results of the implementation of the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova regarding the coordinated control on the territory of Romania at the crossing point of the state border Albita (Romania) - Leuseni (Republic of Moldova) by road, on the way to enter Romania, the parties agreed to the opportunity extending the validity of the Agreement.Ion Cupa and Igor Talmazan signed the new Cooperation Plan between the two institutions regarding the intensification of cooperation in the field of anti-fraud and trade facilitation. The document includes a series of joint activities that will contribute to the development and consolidation of bilateral customs cooperation, the promotion of the efficiency of both institutions through the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience, the implementation of measures in support of the streamlining of traffic and the reduction of waiting times at the border, the professional training of customs personnel and strengthening cooperation in the field of European integration.The representative of the Romanian Embassy in the Republic of Moldova, Stefan Krasovski Murea, Minister Counselor - Bureau of Commercial-Economic Promotion, also participated in the meeting.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Cicely Wilson's work doesn't end when she leaves her day job as a lactation consultant, doula and child care expert.

Wilson founded a nonprofit called Sunnyside Up Youth Pregnancy Services, which connects girls ages 13 to 19 with resources they need to care for their babies. After-hours, she looks for affordable Nashville apartments, books medical appointments, tries to find strollers and other baby supplies, and hosts conversations with pregnant teens about breastfeeding and preparing mentally for childbirth.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade just over a year ago, Wilson said, she is confident that more Tennessee teens will carry their pregnancies to term. "Because the access isn't there," she said. "I do anticipate that we're going to get a lot more teens that are wanting to parent their babies rather than going to Illinois or Georgia or Florida."

Demand for services like Wilson's could rise in the coming years even though the national teen birth rate has declined dramatically over the past three decades. It's still dropping, but preliminary data released in June by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the descent may be slowing.

Doctors, service providers, and advocates say they're worried full CDC data released later this year  which will include state-by-state numbers  could show a rise in teen births in many Southern states, where rates remain among the highest in the country. They say several factors  including the Supreme Court's decision to strike down federal protections for abortion rights, intensifying political pushback against sex education, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health  could start to unravel decades of progress.

"It's absolutely concerning," said Laura Andreson, an OB-GYN in Franklin, Tennessee. The women's health practice where she works is treating more pregnant teenagers than in recent years, which she thinks could reflect an emerging trend.

"It's probably going to take a little bit of time," she said. "But I would venture to say we're going to see it every year: It's going to go up."

Nationally, the rate of teen births has dropped by 78% since a modern-day peak in 1991 of 61.8 births per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. Starting in 2007, the rate had consistently dropped by about 8% until 2021, when the rate of decline slowed to about 2%.

"It certainly does stand in contrast to what we've seen in prior years," said CDC researcher Brady Hamilton. He is working on the updated version of the national data released in June that will break it down by state. Hamilton said that he can't comment on the recent social and political factors at play, but that the "phenomenal decline" in the teen birth rates over more than 15 years could be reaching a natural plateau as states achieved their goals.

"There are a lot of states that have very low birth rates," he said. "So you kind of potentially run into a situation where they're already low and you really can't go lower."

But advocates say this leveling off could be the writing on the wall, signaling the start of a rise in teen births.

"We know that young people came back from the pandemic with record levels of mental health struggles, which can be very tied to things like teen pregnancy," said Jen Biundo, senior director of research and policy at Healthy Futures of Texas, a nonprofit that advocates for science-based education to curb teen pregnancy.

And the decision to strike down abortion rights unleashed a sea change of legislation across the nation affecting reproductive health and options for women. States like Tennessee enacted so-called trigger laws, overturning the right to most abortions. In August, an all-male South Carolina Supreme Court upheld what abortion opponents sometimes call a "fetal heartbeat law," which bans most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.

The sudden shift in the reproductive health landscape concerns Hannah Lantos, a researcher who specializes in maternal and adolescent health for Child Trends, a nonprofit research center. She said changes in abortion policy likely won't have major effects on teen birth statistics because most abortion patients aren't teenagers. Teenagers account for only 9% of abortions and 6% of all pregnancies reported in the U.S. each year, according to a report by Child Trends. Yet about 1 in 4 teens who do get pregnant in the U.S. will opt for an abortion, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Previous declines in the teen birth rate weren't driven by access to abortions alone, Lantos said. Other factors like increased access to and more effective contraceptive methods and sex education contributed. Now, those tools also are under siege in many states.

In Texas, some school boards have banned sex education curricula amid backlash from parents. In New Hampshire, Republican state officials blocked more than $600,000 in federal sex ed funding, and officials in Miami-Dade County, Florida, banned new sex ed books. In Idaho, lawmakers told the state's health departments the state would no longer fund adolescent pregnancy prevention programs.
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From outside, you might not know Levels Nigerian Cuisine is open. The restaurant places a small, freestanding welcome sign on the Washington Avenue sidewalk during dinner, but its entrance is opaque, the windows decorated with monochrome images of Nigeria. It looks like the sort of temporary display a national bank or pharmacy chain would install while the space was under construction.

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This is a minor criticism. Call it a quibble, if that. But Levels, which debuted in July in downtown west, is one of the years most exciting and most important new restaurants, and its warm light and seductive energy deserve to brighten this block.

Downtown and the adjacent downtown west need more showpiece restaurants. I can recommend places to eat in both neighborhoods, but the restaurants that can generate their own ecosystem of buzz, spawning additional restaurants and bars, are sorely lacking. Our most prominent chefs and restaurateurs ignore the area.

There are exceptions, of course. Even with the recent closure of Baileys Range, Dave and Kara Bailey operate multiple venues downtown. Ballpark Village has added the acclaimed Salt & Smoke and Katies Pizza & Pasta Osteria to what had been a glorified shopping-mall food court. But the years when the late restaurateur Blake Brokaw made Washington Avenue the place to eat and drink and see and be seen have faded into the blur between history and mythology.

You can argue  endlessly, futilely  about the reasons for this. Or you can spot an opportunity. Maybe you are an operator as prominent as Louisville, Kentuckys 21c Museum Hotels, which has tapped acclaimed local chef Matthew Daughaday to lead the upscale Spanish restaurant Idol Wolf in its new boutique hotel in downtown wests former YMCA. Or maybe you are Ono Ikanone and Justice Johnson, the married owners of Levels and first-time restaurateurs.

A native of Lagos, Nigeria, Ikanone moved to St. Louis as a teenager. His family already knew the area. His parents had previously come to the United States to attend Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. The younger Ikanone learned how to make the Nigerian food he missed from home, but he is an engineer by profession, not a chef. To lead Levels kitchen, the restaurant hired Ruqaiya Adeyemo, who also originally hails from Nigeria.

Levels scores a point for the romantics among you: Ikanone and Johnson first met at a function in the building that now houses the restaurant. The couple knew the space was a perfect fit for what they envisioned, and when it became available, Ikanone said they aggressively pursued it.

That space (previously occupied by Kitchen 4AM and, before that, by Hiro Asian Kitchen) leads you through an anteroom into the expansive dining room, which features partially enclosed booths along the length of one long wall and a few pieces of neon decor tailor-made for Instagram selfies. On the second floor, Ikanone and Johnson have installed a gallery with artwork from Nigeria and African-inspired pieces by local artists.

For Levels menu, Ikanone, Johnson and Adeyemo have crafted a relatively compact selection that aims to appeal to both those familiar with Nigerian cuisine and those new to the fare. The latter group will find the menu annotated with details on each dishs ingredients, preparations and, often, cultural context. The Party Jollof, one of six main courses, isnt simply rice simmered in a tomato sauce, but the number 1 party starter.

It is a must-order. Jollof rice is one of the signature dishes of West African cuisine, claimed with pride by Nigeria and Ghana alike. (To try the Ghanian version, visit House of Jollof in Florissant.) At Levels, the Party Jollof leads with the intense smokiness of an autumn bonfire and the soft tang of long-cooked tomato. The fruity heat of Scotch bonnet chiles builds slowly, accumulating in each firm kernel of long-grain rice.

I could eat a bowl of this rice by itself  and you can order that as a side dish  but the Party Jollof includes your choice of beef, goat or chicken, with sides of sticky-sweet fried plantains and either coleslaw or spinach cooked down to a musky sweetness. Jollof rice also accompanies the whole tilapia, grilled to the ideal counterpoint of crisp crust and firm, snowy (and, fair warning, bone-in) flesh and garnished with sauteed bell peppers and onions.

A scalloped mound of fufu, or pounded yam, sits beside a bowl of egusi soup, verdant and gently bitter from its greens, with a hint of nuttiness from the melon seeds that thicken the dish and give it its name. Tear off some of the fufu, shape it into a rough ball and use this to scoop up the soup. At the base of this dish sit a couple of hunks of stewed beef. As with whichever meat you choose for the Party Jollof, the beef is an important component but not the most vital flavor. (In my order, the beef could have been more tender.)

The egusi soup, if it isnt already clear from the description, isnt a bowl of steaming broth. Which means you can easily order it alongside Levels standout appetizer  and a rival to the Party Jollof for standout dish, period  the pepper soup. Peppery, yes, but with a strongly herbaceous or even botanical note that pairs beautifully with the mildly gamey flavor of the soups tender goat meat.

Suya, a staple Nigerian street food of grilled beef with a peanut-based seasoning, is available as an appetizer or, as a main course, piled between halves of a burger bun. Be sure to order the latter with the fries, and dip these in the tangy, nutty sauce that coats the burgers strips and is also served in a separate cup. Those fries and that dipping sauce also accompany an order of jerk chicken wings, an appetizer that easily could suffice as a main course.

I might think that because when I ordered the wings as an appetizer, the kitchen sent them to my party at the same time as our main courses  and sent all of it out rather quickly. Across my visits, Levels kitchen was remarkably efficient, putting me somewhere in that gray zone of not having to look at watch but also feeling a little rushed.

Downtown and downtown west have been waiting for a restaurant like Levels. Its only natural to want to savor it.

Rating Highly recommended  The Post-Dispatch evaluates restaurants on the following scale, lowest to highest: not recommended, recommended, highly recommended, essential. The rating reflects how the restaurant succeeds on its own terms  and how it meets a diner's good-faith expectations of quality food and hospitality  regardless of cuisine, location or cost.

How much Pepper soup  $16 Party Jollof  $24 Whole grilled tilapia  $35

Where Levels Nigerian Cuisine, 1405 Washington Avenue  More info 314-571-9990; levelsstl.com  More info Nigerian cuisine  Hours Dinner Wednesday-Saturday (closed Sunday-Tuesday)

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WENTZVILLE  This week, as autumn weather arrived and overnight temperatures dipped, the United Auto Workers brought fire pits out to the picket lines at the General Motors plant in Wentzville.

Friday will mark four weeks since the union launched its unprecedented strike against the Big Three automakers, GM, Ford and Stellantis. Some workers here said they expected it may be resolved soon  perhaps within another two or three weeks  but many were preparing for the possibility that it may stretch on longer.

Several workers said they had saved up in the months before the labor agreement expired  one said that is common practice, in contract years.

Patrick Harvey, 45, a worker from St. Louis, said he has stocked up on Ramen noodles. Hes thinking about holding a garage sale.

Im in it for the long haul, Harvey said. In 2019, the UAWs strike against GM went on for nearly six weeks.

The UAW has taken an aggressive tone in talks and set audacious goals in this round of contract negotiations with the automakers. Throughout the strike, the UAW has used Friday livestream events as a venue to announce whether more workers would strike or whether the auto companies had made new offers that would spare them additional walkouts.

Then this week, on Wednesday evening, the UAW unexpectedly called on 8,700 Ford workers to strike at the companys plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

Reached for comment this week, GM reiterated that the company is bargaining in good faith and working to find solutions to the remaining issues.

The Wentzville plant employs 4,100 people  3,700 of them represented by the UAW  and makes the popular Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. As they picketed outside the sprawling GM assembly plant this week, some workers said they are motivated to stay out to make gains for retirees. Others said they want to see temporary workers secure a faster path to permanent status.

Harvey listed both of those issues among his priorities  along with workers overall quality of life. But like many in Wentzville, he also sees the strike as part of a larger effort to raise wages for workers across industries.

What were doing here is going to benefit all employees who work in America, Harvey said. We are out here for all American workers.

Tracy Huth, 57, of Montgomery City, held a similar view. He has worked at the plant for nearly a decade, and on Tuesday he wore a red T-shirt that said, I dont want to strike, but I will.

It seems like all over the U.S., labor is just tired of it, Huth said.

Adding to the uncertainty around the strike this year, the UAW has broken with the pattern bargaining strategy it followed in past contracts, where it focused on negotiations with one of the three automakers at a time and used its deal as a template for the other two companies. This time, the union is striking at all three companies but only at specific plants.

This is new for everybody, said Anita Haynes, a 57-year-old GM worker from Madison, Illinois.

When the union held its weekly strike update last week, UAW President Shawn Fain said he had been poised to call a strike at GMs lucrative plant in Arlington, Texas, which makes SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and the Cadillac Escalade.

But just before the scheduled announcement, he said, GM had agreed to put its electric battery manufacturing under the unions national master agreement, which would allow workers at those plants to be covered by union contracts. The union rewarded GM for the move and did not call on any more plants to strike.

A strike at the Arlington plant would have been a deep wound for the company, said David Whiston, a U.S. auto industry stock analyst with Morningstar. He thinks the battery plant agreement may have bought the company more time, but the union could still call on workers to walk out there. Full-size SUVs like the ones made at the Arlington plant, he said, are the top of the profit mountain.

Maybe its cynical, but I think that bought GM another week on Arlington, Whiston said.

The Wentzville assembly plant was one of the first plants to strike after the previous labor contract expired Sept. 14., along with a Stellantis plant in Toledo, Ohio, and a Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan.

In the weeks since, the UAW has called on other plants to join, depending on progress in negotiations. GM has also idled about 2,300 more workers across five states at plants that supply or receive parts from the sites that are on strike, including the companys Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Reuters reported last week that the GM had estimated the cost of the strike was $200 million during the third quarter.

Workers in Wentzville lauded the Friday announcement about the battery plants. The issue is part of a top concern among the union and its members during this round of negotiations: the industrys shift toward electric vehicles. GM has pledged to sell only electric passenger vehicles by 2035.

Donald Sherman, who works in final process at the facility, said the battery plants should have been in the agreement from the beginning.

That should have been taken for granted, he said. Thats our future.

The UAW will hold another strike update Friday, at 9 a.m. Central time.

Photos: United Auto Workers union members strike at General Motors plant in Wentzville
The St. Louis-based website being sued by former Georgia election workers for defamation is being accused of purposely delaying discovery in the case to forestall a jury trial.

In a motion filed in St. Louis Circuit Court last week, attorneys for Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss asked a judge to set an August 2024 trial date, as well as allow for depositions of at least 20 people involved in a series of stories published by The Gateway Pundit accusing plaintiffs of election fraud.

The Gateway Pundit, founded by brothers Jim and Joe Hoft, was sued for defamation and emotional distress by Freeman and Moss in 2021. They contend the right-wing site published debunked stories accusing them of election fraud that resulted in threats of violence, many tinged with racial slurs.

Attorneys for Freeman and Moss say the Hofts have repeatedly delayed discovery in this matter, including by failing to comply with the courts discovery orders; failing to abide by their discovery obligations ... and filing not just an improper counterclaim but also several meritless motions.

The Hofts are represented by the Las Vegas law firm of Marc Randazza, who in the past has represented numerous far-right figures, including Alex Jones of InfoWars and Andrew Anglin of the neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer. He declined to comment when reached via email this week.

Freeman and Moss worked as election workers in Atlanta in 2020 when a top adviser to former President Donald Trump  ex-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani  testified to a state Senate committee that Georgia election officials had counted illegal ballots to steal the presidency for Joe Biden.

The allegations were quickly debunked by government officials and the media, but they still reverberated through right-wing media outlets.

Soon after Giulianis testimony in Georgia, The Gateway Pundit identified Freeman as one of the election workers accused of producing and counting 18,000 hidden, fraudulent ballots from a suitcase.

Whats Up, Ruby, the sites headline read that day. BREAKING: Crooked Operative Filmed Pulling Out Suitcases of Ballots in Georgia IS IDENTIFIED.

A month after the initial allegations, Trump himself singled out Freeman by name in a call with Georgia officials pressing them to alter the states election results. The Gateway Pundit bragged in an article about the call that the site was first to identify Freeman and Moss in the suitcase fraud scandal that was caught on tape and went viral online.

The former presidents supporters went on the attack.

Freeman and Moss say they were almost immediately bombarded with threats of violence, many tinged with racial slurs. Under advice from the FBI, Freeman says she had to flee her home. On Jan. 6, 2021  the day of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol  Freeman said her home was surrounded by Trump supporters shouting through bullhorns.

Moss says strangers tried to get into her grandmothers home to make a citizens arrest.

The Gateway Pundit would go on to publish numerous stories about Freeman and Moss, with headlines like: WHERES BILL BARR?  We Got Your Voter Fraud AG Barr  Its On Video and They Attempted to Steal Georgia with It!  HOW ABOUT A FEW ARRESTS?

Its turned my life upside down, Moss testified last year to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Moss and Freeman also sued Giuliani over the false accusation, and in August, he conceded in a carefully worded court filing that his assertions about Georgia election workers committing fraud during the 2020 presidential race were false.

The Hofts argue that any stories published by The Gateway Pundit regarding Freeman and Moss were either statements of opinion based on disclosed facts or statements of rhetorical hyperbole that no reasonable reader is likely to interpret as a literal statement of fact.

Rhetorical hyperbole, the Hofts argue, cannot form the basis of defamation and related tort claims.

A legal standard set in a 1964 U.S. Supreme Court decision states that public officials must establish actual malice  or reckless disregard of the truth  before recovering defamation damages. In this case, the Hofts say the plaintiffs are limited purpose public figures and must prove actual malice to claim defamation.

The Hofts filed a counterclaim in the case alleging the lawsuit against them is solely intended to drive The Gateway Pundit out of business.

It is a form of political lawfare, the Hofts counterclaim states, and lacks legal merit.

The counterclaim was dismissed earlier this year.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X.
ST. LOUIS  Mayor Tishaura O. Jones on Thursday announced her appointment of Charles Coyle as the citys public safety director.

The deputy fire chief has been interim director since mid-February, when Dan Isom stepped down to take a job at Ameren.

Chief Coyle has spent his entire professional life working to keep St. Louisans safe, and he understands how to navigate systems while also recognizing what levers to pull to make change happen, Jones said during her announcement.

Coyle has been a firefighter in the city since 1978 and deputy chief since 2001.

My journey has been paved with 45 years of deliberate service within the St. Louis Fire Department, Coyle said. Every day spent in the line of duty has only fostered my passion for safeguarding our communities, a commitment I carry into this new role.

He will take over a department that oversees several agencies, including a police force that has a large number of officer and dispatcher vacancies and a jail plagued by overcrowding, inmate deaths and overdoses, in a city where the homicide rate is among the highest in the country.

Other departments overseen by public safety include police, excise, corrections, civilian oversight, building and emergency management.

Coyle talked Thursday about his accomplishments as interim director, including efforts to hire more 911 dispatchers.

When we began this process, we were 50 dispatchers short, he said. Since the pay increases, we have hired 26 dispatcher who are in training right now.

He also highlighted using data-driven techniques in the police department to decrease crime, establishing the Office of Violence Prevention and improving conditions at the City Justice Center jail.

When Jones appointed Coyle as Isoms replacement in January, she said her administration would begin a nationwide search for a permanent replacement. She said she expected the search to take about three to six months. She noted on Thursday her preferred candidate was a lot closer to home.

The city has not had a permanent public safety director since March 2021, when former director Jimmie Edwards resigned. Edwards took up the position under former Mayor Lyda Krewson in November 2017.

Isom was named interim public safety director in April 2021, and he maintained the interim tag through the end of his tenure. He stepped down from the position Feb. 11.

Sgt. Donnell Walters, president of the Ethical Society of Police, said hes curious to see how that will influence Coyles approach to uniting the police and fire departments, which he said have historically operated without much collaboration.

ESOP is an association that represents Black officers and advocates for equality in the community and local police departments.

Of course, an African American getting the appointment is always a plus for a city such as ours, he said. We have such a diverse population. So we are always in support of that.

Coyle sued the city in 2007 for racial discrimination claiming he was passed over in favor of a white subordinate, current fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, for the fire chief job. He was awarded $350,000 by a jury.

Im excited to keep working with Chief Coyle as he steps into this role permanently, Jones said.
JEFFERSON CITY  A century-old statue honoring Missouri soldiers who died in a fierce battle against German soldiers in World War I could be getting a facelift.

According to the Missouri National Guard, the federal organization that oversees battle monuments around the world wants $30,000 to rehabilitate the World War I Missouri Memorial located in Cheppy, France.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/133266129/ Article from Nov 16, 1922 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) undefined

Cheppy Monument is a historic and important symbol of the countrys history. It is in need of repair due to weathering and age, the National Guard said in a budget request to Gov. Mike Parson earlier this month.

The monument was erected in 1922 in honor of Missouri soldiers who died during a battle at the site in September 1918.

The dead were members of the 35th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, comprised of National Guard soldiers from Missouri and Kansas. Of the 27,000 troops, more than half were from Missouri.

After training in Oklahoma, they were sent to France with grenades, bayonets, machine guns and other artillery to fight the German armys advance across the French countryside.

An immense crowd saw the troop trains pass through St. Louis, but the identification of the units in the printed reports was not such as to give the enemy intelligence service any information, wrote Clair Kenamore, in an account of the division called From Vauquois Hill to Exermont.

The soldiers were part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, an attack by U.S. allies running the length of Europes Western Front. Americans were assigned a sector that stretched from the Meuse River to the Argonne Forest in France.

In the account of the battle, which resulted in heavy losses for the division, Kenamore said there was confusion among those in charge, foggy weather and superior German troop placement facing the U.S. soldiers.

During the war, the 35th Division suffered 1,298 killed in action and 5,998 wounded.

This funding is needed to restore the monument to its original condition, and continued maintenance, so that it can continue to be enjoyed by visitors for many years to come, the National Guards budget request said.

The statue features a bronze figure situated on top of a granite base  a woman looking toward the sky grasping a victory wreath of laurel in her raised right hand while holding an olive branch in her other hand. The base of the memorial is emblazoned with the state seal of Missouri.

There also is a French inscription on the front of the monument, and corresponding English text on the back. The memorial was sculpted by Nancy Coonsman Hahn, a Missourian and a student of the St. Louis School of Fine Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

If approved, the state will send the financial request to the American Battle Monuments Commission, which manages more than 30 monuments and memorials to American soldiers killed around the world.

An annual report by the commission shows the statue was rehabilitated in 1975. Chestnut trees nearby were noted as a problem because they were staining stonework on the memorial.
CREVE COEUR  Four young Israeli volunteers in the St. Louis area were anxious as their country faced violence and war this past weekend. But it hasnt deterred them from their commitment to join the Israeli Army next year.

The war just made us more willing to serve our country, said Yehonatan Zohar, 18, one of the volunteers who arrived in St. Louis County a few weeks ago. Its important to go serve our country and do whatever we can.

If not me, then who?

For the next year, Zohar and the other volunteers will serve at local synagogues and schools, teaching about Jewish culture and religion. They recently graduated from high school and are spending their gap year here.

On Wednesday night, they watched the auditorium of the Jewish Community Center fill up for a program in support of Israel during a war with Hamas that has already claimed hundreds of lives, including people from the United States, France and Russia. The Hamas attack against Israelis came in the midst of the Jewish holiday Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

About 1,000 people attended the event in Creve Coeur that included speeches, music and prayers.

Brian Herstig, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, said the goal was to support the Jewish community in Israel and locally, and also to raise awareness about antisemitism.

We need to have events like this for the entire community, Herstig said.

The organization has set up a donation page on its website to help victims of the attack and rebuild damaged infrastructure. Abby Goldstein of the Jewish Federation announced on Wednesday that her family was one of several who have pledged to help match up to $650,000 in donations.

I saw the line of cars when I drove up in my car and started crying, said Or Garti, 18, one of the Israeli volunteers in St. Louis County. It lets me know were not alone and we have support here.

Snir Dagan, 23, has lived in St. Louis County for a year, doing the same volunteer work as the others who recently arrived. He also served a stint in Israels military. He said he was used to tension between Israel and Palestinians but was stunned by this past weekends attacks.

It was the scariest thing, he said. I just knew this time it was different.

Donna Marin, who helps run programs at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, said she attended Wednesdays event because she wanted to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.

We have to have a will to fight against genocide and injustice everywhere, Marin said. There was a lot of heartfelt energy here. I hope it translates outside of this.

A picture of the crowd in Creve Coeur reached at least one soldier on the battle lines in Israel.

It came from Dagan, who sent the photo of the filled auditorium to his brother, who is currently serving Israels military. Theyre texting as much as possible, Dagan said, and his brother was amazed at the turnout in Creve Coeur.

He said he was very grateful for all of what the Jewish community is doing, will do and has done for the crisis in Israel, Dagan said.

Photos: St. Louis Jewish community gathers for Israeli solidarity program
MIAMI  Former President Donald Trump has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of betraying him just before the U.S. killed a top Iranian general in 2020 and is questioning the countrys intelligence prowess as it responds to Hamas deadly attack.

Trumps comments at a West Palm Beach, Florida, rally on Wednesday were quickly denounced by one of Netanyahus allies, the White House and by several Republican presidential rivals, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Most American leaders, including the Republican presidential contenders, have lined up behind Israel after the Hamas invasion that President Joe Biden said was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. At least 2,500 people have died on the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

But Trump, the early front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination who has long tried to paint himself as a fierce defender of Israel, offered stark criticism Wednesday night. He told the rally crowd that his prayers were with Israel and again vowed to stand by the country and back efforts to destroy Hamas  before he went on to describe a bad experience with Israels leaders that he had never shared before.

Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months, he said about the coordination to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans Quds Force. We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack.

Nobodys heard this story before, Trump said. They didnt tell us why.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, he said.

We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed, he said. But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision  and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.

Trump also pointed to intelligence failures ahead of last weekends onslaught, which caught Israel by surprise, saying the country had to strengthen themselves up.

Theyve got to straighten it out because theyre fighting, potentially, a very big force, he said. Theyre going to have to step up their game, and the United States is going to have to step up its game. He further criticized Israels defense minister, calling him this jerk" for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel from the north.

Netanyahus office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the governments communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, told Israels Channel 13 that it was shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israels fighters and its citizens.

We dont have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts, Karhi said. Asked if Trumps comments make it clear that he cant be relied on, Karhi replied, Obviously.

While Trump and Netanyahu were close allies during Trumps time in office, the former president turned on the embattled Israel leader after he congratulated then-President-elect Joe Biden for winning the 2020 election while Trump was still trying to overturn the results. In interviews for a book about Middle East peace efforts, Trump, according to its author, used an expletive to describe Netanyahu and said he believed the Israeli leader never really wanted to make peace.

Trumps rivals quickly seized on his new comments. DeSantis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for president, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel," and criticized Trump for calling Hezbollah very smart" in his remarks.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates also said on X, Calling an Iran-backed terrorist group smart  especially at a time like this  is unhinged and sickening." He added, "Why in Gods name would any American do that?

Trump, in his remarks, suggested that information about the raid could potentially be classified, though it wasnt immediately clear if that was the case. Theyll say, Oh its classified information. Well, maybe it is, but I dont think so," he said. Trump is currently under federal criminal indictment, accused of hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago club and refusing to return them to the government.

Trump and other Republicans have tried to lay blame on the Biden administration for the Hamas invasion, particularly citing the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen assets to Iran, a supporter of Hamas. Biden administration officials insist that money has not been spent.

The Democratic presidents campaign said Trump has been pushing dangerous misinformation about the crisis in Israel when the countries should stand together.

While Trump continues to lie about his record, President Biden is laser-focused on providing steadfast support for Israel and leading on the global stage, Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said.

Trump has long said that he did more to support Israel than any previous president, pointing to his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Amy Teibel in Jerusalem.
Its a disturbing oddity of our current political era that a leading presidential candidate can suggest that an American general who has criticized him should be executed, that shoplifters should be shot on sight, that the federal government should crack down on a television network whose coverage he doesnt like and that an elderly man being attacked with a hammer is joke-worthy  and no one bats an eye.

The above-referenced lunacy all came from (where else?) the twisted mind, mouth and fingers of former President Donald Trump. And that was just within the past few weeks.

Reach back to last year, and Trump was suggesting that the U.S. Constitution should be suspended to allow his return to office. Reach back to Jan. 6, 2021, and he was directing his deranged followers to fight like hell to prevent certification of valid election results, fueling the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol that day.

Reach back further still, and this silver-spoon draft evader was slandering war heroes (I like people who werent captured), whitewashing the Tiki-torch-carrying neo-Nazis of Charlottesville (very fine people on both sides) and extolling the virtues of sexual assault (grab them by the ).

So yes, Trump has been a rhetorical dirty bomb throughout his eight years at the center of the nations political stage. So much so that pausing now to note his latest verbal assaults against democratic norms and basic decency might feel redundant.

But Trumps latest unhinged utterances are important to note here for two reasons:

One, the very phenomenon of the normalization of his psychotic rhetoric is in itself dangerous. The mere fact that he spews so much verbal sewage that the culture has gotten used to it shouldnt provide a pass to a man who, according to polls, has as much chance of being the next president as does the sitting one.

And two, Trumps always-toxic rhetoric seems to be getting worse lately, in quantifiable ways. To the extent this is because he understands he has a real possibility of returning to the White House, and is signaling his intentions upon getting there, the nation should listen.

As is so often the case with Trump, some of his worst recent rhetoric was aimed at someone formerly in his own inner circle  in this case, Gen. Mark Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the final months of Trumps presidency.

It was during that tumultuous period, as Trump was attempting to cling to power after losing the 2020 election, that Milley assured his Chinese counterparts during a phone call that the U.S. government was stable.

That call, made at the behest of Defense Secretary Mark Esper, was perfectly appropriate, given the worlds trepidation about the turmoil within the U.S. government at that moment. Yet during a rant against Milley on his Truth Social media platform last month, Trump called it a treasonous act, one so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!

That kind of wink-and-nod threat is easily translated by the more deranged of Trumps followers  as former Vice President Mike Pence could attest, having narrowly escaped being lynched by the MAGA mob on Jan. 6 after being publicly accused by Trump of disloyalty for refusing to help him steal the election. Milley recently told and interviewer that Trumps threat has prompted him to provide added security for himself and his family.

In another Truth Social rant late last month, Trump made clear he is itching to use the power of the federal government to go after media outlets he doesnt like should he be returned to power.

The parent company of NBC News and MSNBC, he wrote, should be investigated for Country Threatening Treason for reporting on the investigation into Russian influence during his administration.

Redeploying his go-to Stalinesque phrase enemy of the people, Trump expanded his target to include the entire LamesStream Media, which, he wrote, will be thoroughly scrutinized for their knowingly dishonest and corrupt coverage of people, things, and events.

The Fake News Media, declared the man who once swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, should pay a big price for what they have done to our once great Country!

Just a week after vowing to unravel the First Amendment, Trump told an audience of California Republicans that, in effect, he is also eager to sidestep the Fifth and Sixth Amendments  the ones that guarantee trial by jury and other rights for criminal defendants.

Shrugging off such constitutional niceties, Trump enthusiastically told the crowd of his solution for confronting retail theft: You can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store.

Shot! he repeated, as the room cheered.

It was in that same speech that Trump reminded the world that, in addition to being a pathological liar and aspiring dictator, he harbors a demonstrable lack of empathy that borders on sociopathic.

How else to interpret his inhumane joke at the expense of Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who suffered a skull fracture last year  at age 82  when a home intruder beat him with a hammer.

Vowing in the speech to stand up to crazy Nancy Pelosi, Trump added glibly: Hows her husband doing, anybody know? And shes against building a wall at our border, even though she has a wall around her house  which obviously didnt do a very good job.

What a knee-slapper.

Then there was Trumps social media attack just last week on a law clerk involved in his pending business fraud civil trial in New York. The attack included the clerks photo and identifying information, prompting the judge in the case to issue a gag order.

All of this oratorical poison should be considered in the context of a second Trump presidential term that would be different from the first in dangerous ways.

Trump and his allies have been open about their plans to remove many of the institutional restraints on the presidency should he return to it, in part by recategorizing wide swaths of federal employees so they could be replaced at will with Trump loyalists.

And with Trump having had four years to practice pushing the levers of power, its unlikely that people like Milley  the institutionalists inside the White House who restrained Trumps worst impulses last time  will be positioned to provide those guardrails this time.

With that in mind, Trumps recent rhetoric is not merely disgusting but alarming. He has, to paraphrase the famous warning from Maya Angelou, reminded us who he is. On that issue, if on no others, America should believe him.
(CNN)  When President Joe Biden gathered with his top advisers Tuesday morning to go over the draft of his speech on Israel, he made a clear request: The prepared remarks needed to include more details on the appalling nature of the attacks that began four days earlier.

The American people must understand just how shocking and gruesome Hamas actions were, Biden told his aides. Later that day, speaking from the State Dining Room of the White House, Biden would describe parents butchered as they tried to protect their children, babies murdered, and women raped and assaulted.

This, Biden said, was an act of sheer evil.

Bidens deep, emotional reaction to the attack has translated into a forceful American response, including ordering US warships and planes into the region, ratcheting up intelligence sharing and making little attempt at encouraging restraint in Israels reprisals.

Going forward, however, the president will face a delicate balance as he works to support Americas ally while also avoiding becoming embroiled in another foreign conflict. It all is reflective of a complicated dilemma for the president, who now faces wars in Europe and the Middle East at the same time he is ramping up a campaign for reelection premised largely on his experience as a stable, competent leader.

In closed-door briefings and conversations with his team, Biden has emphasized the importance of getting the response right  and the dire consequences should the US miscalculate or misstep.

I just think that if we stay true to our values, pursue with every inch and every bit of our energy to get this right, we can bury this again and bring people back, bring people home. I think we can change the Middle East, Biden told a group of Jewish American leaders on Wednesday. But then again, I have been referred to as a congenital optimist.

So far, the balance has been playing out both in public and private.

In his conversations with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden has reiterated he understands the necessity of an overwhelming retaliation, but he has also raised the importance of adhering to the rules of war and sparing the lives of civilians.

And even as American officials have openly acknowledged Irans role in supporting Hamas over the years, they are wary of the reality that should a direct link between Tehran and the weekends rampage be drawn, there is a greater risk of being dragged into a wider regional conflict.

Even amid a dire hostage crisis, the US has maintained that it has no intention, at present, of sending American troops into the fight. But that position could change if the conflict intensifies.

If tomorrow Hezbollah started launching missiles into Israel, that would be seen as a real escalation, according to a person close to the situation.

John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said the US so far has not seen rogue actors skirt its warnings against widening the war but noted that its not the kind of thing that they, you know, phone in.

And Biden, speaking Wednesday, said his moves so far in the region are meant in part to send a message to the Iranians: Be careful.

Biden walks a fine line

With the images still coming in of the horrors inflicted upon civilians by Hamas, backing for Israel remains mostly unified within the administration and among American lawmakers.

But administration officials dont necessarily expect that to last forever, particularly if civilians in Gaza bear the brunt of Israels response to the Hamas attacks. Already, electricity and food are in short supply in the blockaded territory.

In his private conversations with Netanyahu, Biden has not urged the Israeli leader to practice restraint in its counterattack against Hamas. When they spoke Tuesday, he told his counterpart that if a terror attack of similar scale occurred in the United States, the response would be swift, decisive, and overwhelming.

But the president also discussed with his counterpart his concerns about civilian casualties and the importance of minimizing collateral damage in the coming days.

It is really important that Israel, in all the anger and frustration  I dont know how to explain it  that exists, they operate by the rules of war, Biden told the Jewish leaders Wednesday, adding later that its not about revenge.

As the world braces for a new war in the Middle East, with the prospect of escalation far beyond Israel and Gaza, Bidens lifetime of experience and worldview comes into sharper focus. From his first visit to Israel in 1973  which he recounted in his speech Tuesday  to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the vice presidency to the Oval Office, no American president has had a similar breadth of exposure to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

It is that unparalleled background, allies say, that will guide Bidens next steps through remarkably uneven geopolitical crosscurrents of aid for Israel, funding for Ukraine and relations with Iran.

But it is also Bidens unapologetic decision to withdraw from Afghanistan three years ago  defiantly but chaotically ending Americas longest war  that also serves as a guidepost for him.

This president knows every side of this, a senior US official told CNN, and he will not be pushed into something he is not comfortable with.

US ramps up its presence

The Biden administration has deployed a number of assets to the region in a show of force and a warning to any hostile parties considering getting involved. A carrier strike force is now stationed in the Mediterranean, and the Defense Department has sent planes from Europe with ammunition and interceptors requested by Netanyahu that landed overnight.

The landing of American military planes  even without troops on the ground  sends the message of deterrence, said a senior administration official.

There could be more measures taken in the future. A second senior administration official told CNN that the US wants to see what effect the existing actions have before deploying more.

Amid concerns of the US being drawn into a Middle East conflict, a senior Israeli official told CNNs Matthew Chance that Israel does not expect the United States to fight for us, saying that a US aircraft carrier group newly positioned off the Israeli coast would help provide long-range coverage in the event of a broader regional conflict.

The White House has remained loathe to commit to a particular role as the situation remains fluid.

Im not here to draw red lines or issue warnings or give lectures to anybody, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters this week. Im here to say the president has given us direction to take a series of actions. We are undertaking those actions and we will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.

A deeply emotional moment

Advisers to the president say the past five days have been a deeply emotional time for him, as he has grappled with the second major outbreak of a war during his presidency and the images and stories of Hamas heinous actions have poured in.

He has always approached Israel with moral clarity and full commitment, a senior adviser to the president told CNN.

Bidens four telephone calls with Netanyahu have been tinged with emotion as the extent of the horrors becomes clearer. A person familiar with the conversations said the first, early on Saturday morning, was raw as the devastation came to light.

He can hear the pain in Prime Minister Netanyahus voice when he talks to him, Sullivan said this week. I hear the pain of my counterparts when I talk to them.

The calculated approach to Netanyahu will be a central component of Bidens response to this weekends attack. The men have known each other for decades and have relied on that history as they weathered deep strains over the past year related to Netanyahus far-right governing coalition.

Biden believes he knows Netanyahu better than anyone, one official said, and in the past has carefully applied pressure on the Israeli leader to avoid inflaming or escalating conflicts with the Palestinians.

Yet history may offer far less of a roadmap for Biden on another front, as support for Israel has fallen among some quarters of the Democratic Party, and he enters a yearlong reelection bid with the Middle East suddenly front-and-center in the US presidential campaign.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, called the attack by Hamas absolutely horrific, but said in an interview on Wednesday that Congress should have a nuanced conversation on the conflict moving forward.

This is a situation of incredible trauma for Israelis, especially on Saturday, and Palestinians who have been enduring the realities of occupation for decades, Ocasio-Cortez told CNN. And I think there needs to be space for us and the ability for us to have that real conversation, that nuanced conversation that sees the humanity of everyone impacted.

The-CNN-Wire

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LADUE  Five security officers were honored Tuesday for going "above and beyond the call of duty" during their response to a school shooting last fall in St. Louis.

The officers accepted the awards at a luncheon Thursday for being the first officers to confront a shooter on Oct. 24, 2022, on the shared campus of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience in south St. Louis.

The shooter, Orlando Harris, was shot and killed by police less than 20 minutes after storming his former high school armed with an AR15-style rifle and about 600 rounds of ammunition and killing a student and a teacher.

"It feels good to be acknowledged for something that comes natural to us," Capt. Misty Dobynes told the Post-Dispatch after the ceremony. "We don't do it for the awards. We do it to make sure all of our scholars are safe."

Harris killed Alexzandria Belling respons 15, and physical education teacher Jean Kuczka, 61, and shot and injured four others, but few additional details of the shooting have been released by authorities a year later.

A records request by the PostDispatch for investigative reports on the shooting and Harris' autopsy were denied late last month. City officials said they could not release the records because the investigation remains open.

St. Louis police Sgt. Charles Wall said investigators are still working to compile a massive amount of evidence and hundreds of interviews into the final report.

The luncheon was organized by the St. Louis Chapter of ASIS International, an organization of security professionals.

Dobynes accepted the award with Sgt. Clifford Abram, Officer Coterri Dameier, Officer Darnice Lawrence and Officer Robert Findley.

Dobynes said the school's security team has focused on officers' mental health since the shooting, and they've kept up on training so that they remain prepared. She said their relationships with students and faculty were good prior to the attack, but the shooting brought them even closer.

"It will always be in the back of my head," she said. "I think it will always be in the back of all of our heads. But I am just thankful that we knew what to do."

In March, 22 police officers were honored at the 2nd District Police Business Association's annual awards luncheon for their quick response, which was widely praised.

ASIS also honored officers from several other jurisdictions at Tuesday's luncheon, including St. Charles, St. Charles County, St. Peters, St. Louis County, Ballwin and O'Fallon, Missouri. Six other area security guards also received awards.
TOLEDO, Ohio  When Rhonda Naus got a job inspecting Jeep Wranglers fresh off the assembly line, her paycheck added up to roughly half of what her co-workers were making. But with that came an expectation that her temporary status eventually would become permanent with a big jump in wages.

Six years later, she's still doing the same work as her colleagues at Stellantis and still making a lot less.

"I knew I had to start at the bottom. I didn't think I'd be at the bottom forever," said Naus, who's among thousands of striking United Auto Workers nationwide pushing for pay and benefit increases along with an end to multiple tiers of wages for workers across the companies.

From office workers to delivery drivers, companies have become increasingly reliant on temporary workers. Automakers have used the lower-paid workers for years to fill in for absent and vacationing full-time employees and to staff up when production increases.

Tiers for the Detroit automakers were created starting in 2007 as the UAW tried to help them out of serious financial troubles. Even so, GM and Chrysler ended up in government-funded bankruptcies.

Today, union leaders say the Detroit automakers are abusing the system to save money by treating temps like full-time workers  one major point of contention in current contract talks that has led to more than 25,000 auto workers going on strike.

"Temp work has to be temporary work," said UAW President Shawn Fain weeks before the strike began. "We're going to end the abuse of temps." The union is also asking for pay raises as part of the contract talks, as well as a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, the restoration of traditional definedbenefit pensions for new hires and a return of cost-of-living pay raises, among other benefits.

Under contracts negotiated in 2019, temporary workers reach full-time status at GM after 19 months of continuous employment and at Ford after two years. At Stellantis, maker of Jeeps, Rams and Chryslers, they get preferential hiring but no guarantees.

In the current negotiations, GM and Stellantis made offers to increase temporary worker starting pay from $16.67 to about $20 per hour. Ford raised its offer to $21 per hour with profit sharing and said it would make temporaries full-time workers after 90 days of continuous service.

Once temporary workers become full time, they start on a higher pay scale that eventually would reach the top assembly plant wage of $32 per hour.

Of the Detroit Three, Stellantis relies most heavily on temporary employees, who make up about 12% of its UAW workforce, or just over 5,100 employees. GM said its temporary workforce accounts for between 5-10% of its total union members while Ford is at about 3%.

Temps  also known as supplemental employees  account for about one in every five of the 5,800 unionized workers at the Stellantis plant that makes Jeeps.

"You can be here 10 years and still not be full time. That's crazy," said Logan Bohn, of Woodhaven, Michigan, who has worked at the plant in Toledo for two years.

Starting pay for Stellantis temporary workers is $15.78 per hour  less than some fast food restaurants  and caps out at $19.28 after four years.

Neither Ford nor GM would comment on Fain's assertion that the companies are paying poverty wages to temps. A Stellantis spokeswoman noted that the company has said it wants an agreement "that fairly rewards our workforce for their contribution to our success, without significantly disadvantaging Stellantis against our nonunion competitors."

The UAW's effort to eliminate tier wages was emboldened this summer when UPS agreed to end the system for its drivers in a new contract with the Teamsters.

Along the picket lines outside the auto plants, even workers who wouldn't directly benefit from ending the tier-wage system say it's a top issue for them. Jennifer Navarre, a full-timer on the Jeep assembly line in Toledo, Ohio, said it's an unfair arrangement.

"We have to fight together," she said.

It's not just the wages that are unequal for temporary workers. They have less health care benefits and don't get profit sharing checks or other performance bonuses. They also must deal with unpredictable schedules and can be told to work overtime when others are allowed to go home.

"Some weeks you're working six or seven days, then a few weeks later, it's boom, 'We don't need you here' or 'We only need you on Monday,'" Naus said.

Workers in Toledo say there's high turnover among temporary workers and that many left when Amazon opened a nearby distribution center and after a solar panel plant expanded its operations.
by Austin Bay October 11, 2023

FACT ONE: A major land war rages in Europe. Twenty months ago, Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation and the horror grinds on with mass casualties and World-War-I-like attrition.

FACT TWO: War in the Middle East. An Iranian proxy army, Hamas, launches a complex and well-planned attack on Israel. Mass atrocity by Islamist terrorists shocks the civilized world -- at least what's left of civilization.

OK, the Gaza Strip is a confined space. FACT THREE: Iranian proxies have fired into northern Israel -- from Syria and Lebanon. Israel could hit the proxies, then retaliate against Iran. Thus the Hamas War can quickly escalate to a regional conflict involving the Persian Gulf's energy-exporting states. The global economic effects are dire.

Is war in Asia the next explosion igniting World War III?

To be accurate, several wars afflict Asia -- and several of these wars involve powerful communist China.

China wages a frozen war with India in the Himalayas -- the Sino-Indian War of 1962 is not over. Since the 1990s China has waged a slow but calculated war of territorial aggression in the South China Sea. In July 2016, The Hague's international arbitral tribunal, relying on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty (UNCLOS), issued a ruling supporting the Philippines' claims that China had violated Filipino territory in the South China Sea by seizing islets and "sea features."

Despite having signed the U.N. treaty (and accepted the arbitration process), China's communists disdained the court's authority and ignored the verdict.

By ignoring the verdict, the Chinese Communist Party declared war on international order. Yes, that's a world war of a subtle but dangerous sort.

In 2023 China has major economic problems and faces demographic decline. Even usually benighted Washington think tanks wonder if communist China's strength is peaking. "Peak China" is the term.

A fading power can become a risk-taking power.

In 2023 the weak-willed and slow-to-react Biden administration runs Washington. I am certain the 2021 Afghanistan debacle encouraged Russia's Ukraine aggression and very likely encouraged Iran.

So, here's the right-now scenario. With Russia-Ukraine and Hamas-Israel diverting U.S. and global attention -- especially diverting their military power -- is this the moment Beijing attacks Taiwan?

FACT FOUR: In the past four months, China has increased its air and sea probes of Taiwan -- especially violating Taiwanese airspace at will.

In order to support Ukraine, the U.S. has expended its missile and artillery round stockpiles. The most optimistic estimates claim it will take six to eight months to replenish them.

In order to support Israel, the U.S. has moved naval assets to the Indian Ocean and eastern Mediterranean.

Does this expose the western Pacific to Chinese attack?

In a U.S.-China war in the western Pacific, sea power will play the preeminent role. And right now, the U.S. Navy is short of warships. If a TV admiral says otherwise, he's lying.

I grant this: It's possible that Beijing is as surprised as Israel, the U.S. and Europe are by Hamas' barbaric terror war.

That noted, Beijing and Tehran have been touting their improving diplomatic relations.

Here's another thought that might give wiser brains in Beijing pause: Iran and Hamas have poisoned world opinion.

I'll explain it to Beijing. Behead 40 babies, rape dancing pacifists, shoot 80-year-old women in the head, record these evils on video then with barbaric glee show the video to a global audience.

That's what Hamas did. What happens afterwards?

Intelligent and responsible humans prepare for worst cases. When the intelligent and responsible see videos of 40 beheaded babies, they correctly conclude the worst about the evil perpetrators, the perps' allies and their enablers.

Then they act on that knowledge -- act on the hard evidence -- to defend the intelligent and responsible.

Beijing, pay attention. Ayatollah Iran, Hamas, other Iranian proxies and their enablers worldwide now face this response.

The following historical reference strikes me as apropos. Isoroku Yamamoto, Marshal Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy, said in the immediate aftermath of his surprise attack on Pearl Harbor: "I fear we have wakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve."
Biolage Professional is Excited to be Named a Winner in the 2023 Allure "Best of Beauty" Awards for the Strength Recovery Shampoo and Conditioning Cream

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Biolage Professional, a worldwide leader in salon haircare, is thrilled to announce that it has been honored with the coveted Allure magazine "Best of Beauty" Award for its innovative Strength Recovery Shampoo and Conditioning Cream.





Allure has been an icon in the beauty industry for over 25 years and bestows this award only to the best-of-the-best products that demonstrate efficacy, excellence and integrity. Products go through months of testing, conducted by seasoned editors who work to determine the quality of the product against the hundreds of others in their respective categories.

After advancing through multiple rounds of intense judging, the Biolage Strength Recovery Shampoo and Conditioning Cream are being recognized as a leading shampoo and conditioner duo in their product category. Infused with 100% vegan squalane (a skincare super-ingredient), the Strength Recovery Shampoo and Conditioning Cream work together to repair hair damage and prevent new damage from occurring.

"We are so excited to be recognized by Allure," says Senior Vice President, Head of Brand Martha Glenn. "When we launched the Strength Recovery line, we knew we were creating a new approach to hair repair that not only reflected our brand's heritage in combining the best of nature and science but could restore even the most damaged hair. Knowing that the Allure Best of Beauty Awards is one of the most respected awards programs, we feel so honored to receive such a high accolade."

Launched in late 2022, the Strength Recovery collection introduced unique damage repair formulas that are rooted in green science and sustainable technologies. Leveraging vegan squalane ethically sourced from olives, these formulas reduce breakage and leave hair softer, smoother and stronger. The Shampoo gently cleanses the hair and scalp while adding softness and smoothness without weight. It was recognized in 2023 by the SELF magazine "Healthy Beauty" Awards as the best shampoo for dry or damaged hair. The Conditioning Cream has a creamy texture that leaves hair stronger after one use with 3x more moisture*. Both products are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-, mineral oil-, and colorant-free formulas.

The Strength Recovery Shampoo and Conditioning Cream make up part of the Strength Recovery collection, which also includes the Strength Recovery Deep Treatment Mask and the Strength Repairing Spray. The entire collection is available for purchase at Ulta Beauty, Hair.com and on Amazon.

*system of Strength Recovery System of Shampoo and Conditioning Cream vs. non-conditioning shampoo.

###

ABOUT BIOLAGE PROFESSIONAL:

In 1990, Biolage Professional was born from the mind of hairdresser and entrepreneur Arnie Miller, who saw the opportunity to bring out hair's natural beauty, touchable and full of movement. Since its conception, the brand has been inspired by natural ingredients, and known for its iconic white packaging and signature fragrance. Biolage Professional is recognized worldwide as a leader in salon haircare, offering high-performance, professional-quality products inspired by botanicals-and that reputation continues to grow. Biolage Professional is committed to consistently improving its formulas and sustainability standards and is proud to announce that as of August 1, 2022, the brand is 100% vegan, cruelty-free approved under the Leaping Bunny program by Cruelty Free International, and its signature bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. We recognize that sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement, and we invite you to join us.

EDITORIAL/MEDIA INQUIRIES: For all media inquiries, please contact Sara Castillo: [email protected] // 310-878-2560

HIGH-RES IMAGES: https://agencyguacamole.box.com/s/zqu7kc2dhdwrt0iyc62bii6u5qt9xvzc

Contact Information

Sara Castillo

PR & Influencer Manager

[email protected]

(310) 878-2560

Related Images

SOURCE: Biolage Professional

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Thanks to machinery from Case IH, a brand of CNH Industrial, sugarcane farmers in Thailand are anticipating a better-than-expected production year amidst labor scarcity and prolonged drought.

In the heart of central north-eastern Thailand's sugarcane belt, the Chaiyaphum province, Rungruedee Wichanwong is harnessing the power of innovation through Case IH's latest offering, the Austoft 9000 sugarcane harvester.

Thailand is the fourth largest sugar-producing country in the world. In recent years, because of labor scarcity and erratic weather patterns due to climate change, Thailand's harvest period has shortened, and the quality and quantity of production has declined.

Rungruedee took the reins of her family's agricultural business and currently manages their expansive 32-hectare farm, with approximately 6.5 hectares dedicated to sugarcane cultivation. In October 2022, her family ordered an Austoft 9000 to elevate productivity while cutting down costs.

Describing the challenges she faced, Rungruedee said, "Few people want to work in farming as the environment is challenging and the weather is hot. It could take days to harvest with manual labor, which results in high operational costs."

"One of our drivers recommended the latest Austoft 9000, which is fully equipped with sensors. I researched the machine and tested its performance, such as its cane-cutting ability, and it responds very well to my needs," she added.

Introduced to Thailand's farmer communities in August 2022, the Austoft 9000 has elevated mechanised sugarcane harvesting to new heights with its powerful engine, intelligent hydraulic system, and a range of innovative features that substantially improve harvesting capacity while reducing operating costs.

"Cutting sugarcane manually used to take so much time. With the Austoft 9000, we save operational costs as work can be done in one day, reducing labor costs. This year's harvesting will definitely be better." Rungruedee said.

"We're very pleased to know that the Austoft 9000 is solving problems and satisfactorily fulfilling the needs of our valued Thai customers like Rungruedee. All Case IH products are engineered to deliver unparalleled performance and reliability, empowering farmers and agri-businesses to embrace a cost-efficient and sustainable approach to harvesting," Dithapan Hurakit, Case IH Southeast Asia Marketing and Technical Support.

Throughout the years, Case IH has been at the forefront of harvesting machinery product development for the sugarcane sector. CNH Industrial is proud to help farmers around the globe navigate environmental challenges with its state-of-the-art technology designed for efficient and sustainable farming.

Chaiyaphum Farmer, Rungruedee Wichanwong, expects higher yields despite labor shortage and climate challenges, thanks to her purchase of a Case IH Austoft 9000 sugarcane harvester

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH Industrial

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: CNH Industrial

View source version on accesswire.com:
Results Highlights

The Group's Retail Sales Value ("RSV") registered positive growth of 5.8% during the Quarter. This was driven by Hong Kong and Macau of China and other markets which was up 54.1%, thanks to the progressive return of Mainland tourists. RSV of Mainland China (the "Mainland") was up slightly by 0.6%, despite a higher base last year.

Mobility and retail activity in the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau continued to improve during the Quarter. The influx of Mainland tourists continued to drive positive impact with Same Store Sales ("SSS") increased by 55.7% in Hong Kong and Macau. SSS recorded strong growth of 43.0% and 116.7% for Hong Kong and Macau respectively.

Despite current market conditions, the Group continued to witness resilient jewellery consumption during festive and holiday periods. The sales during Qixi and National Day holiday were in-line with management's expectations, with teens RSV growth in the Mainland.

The Group launched new designs for the HU Collection during the Quarter, marking the first-ever partnership with Shaanxi History Museum and Northwestern Polytechnical University. The HUA Collection was well received by targeted younger audiences and registered sustained growth under the centralised marketing efforts and global campaign.

The Group is focused on the execution and delivery of the five strategic priorities to sustain growth trajectory in the ongoing transition to a new phase of higher value growth, committed to enhancing earnings quality with margin expansion and improved returns to equity and capital.

HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / KEY OPERATIONAL DATA

For the three months ended 30 September 2023

(% change compared to the same period last year) Group Retail Sales Value(1)growth +5.8% Mainland China Hong Kong& Macauof Chinaand othermarkets RSV growth +0.6% +54.1% Contribution to Group RSV 85.9% 14.1% Mainland China Hong Kong& Macauof China Same Store Sales(2) growth -12.5% +55.7% SSS volume growth -20.3% +52.0% SSSG by product - Gem-set, Platinum and K-gold jewellery -27.7% -4.3% - Gold jewellery and products -9.6% +89.0%

(1)"Retail Sales Value" measures the sales at the ending price (VAT inclusive, if any), in respective functional currencies, of products sold to customers in the POS network and other channels.

(2)"Same Store Sales" for the Second Quarter is the RSV from the self-operated POS of

CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELLERY existing as at 30 September 2023 and which have been opened prior to 1 April 2022. RSV from franchised POS and other channels are not included.

(Hong Kong, China, 12 October 2023) Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited ("Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group", the "Group" or the "Company"; SEHK stock code: 1929), today announces certain unaudited key operational data of the Group for the three months ended 30 September 2023 (the "Second Quarter", or the "Quarter" or "2QFY2024").

Positive RSV Growth Driven by Continued Improvement in Mobility and Retail Activity

During 2QFY2024, mobility and retail activity continued to improve in the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macau. The Group's RSV registered positive growth of 5.8% during the Quarter, driven by Hong Kong, Macau and other markets. RSV in the Mainland was stable with a slight increase of 0.6%, despite a higher base last year. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the number of Mainland visitors in July 2023 reached about 70% of the pre-pandemic level and further jumped to over 80% in August 2023. Hence, the average daily customer traffic at the Group's stores in Hong Kong and Macau increased significantly during the Quarter. The influx of Mainland tourists has been supportive to the business in Hong Kong, Macau and other markets, with RSV rising 54.1% during the Quarter, reaching approximately 77% of the corresponding FY2019 levels.

On SSS, Hong Kong and Macau registered an increase of 55.7% during the Quarter. SSS grew by 43.0% and 116.7% for Hong Kong and Macau respectively. SSS in the Mainland nonetheless dropped by 12.5% year-on-year during the Quarter due to the high base of comparison.

Resilient Jewellery Demand Evidenced during Festive and Holiday Periods

Despite current market conditions, the Mainland market has seen solid recovery in mobility and retail activity during festive and holiday periods. According to The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Mainland tourism market surpassed the pre-pandemic level during the National Day holiday period. Meanwhile, the Group continued to observe resilient jewellery consumption in the Mainland during Qixi and National Day holiday (25 September - 5 October). Sales were in-line with management's expectations with teens RSV growth in the Mainland.

Centralised Marketing Efforts and Global Campaigns to Maximise Impact

The Group launched new designs for HUA Collection in July, marking the first-ever partnership with Shaanxi History Museum and Northwestern Polytechnical University. The teams spent 16 months collaborating closely to develop products that blend the traditional culture of the Tang Dynasty with contemporary innovation and design. The centralised marketing efforts and amplified global campaign ensured consistency and maximised impact and synergy across the Group's channels. The HUA Collection received overwhelming support from the younger customers. This was evidenced most notably in Hong Kong and Macau where RSV recorded significant growth in excess of 450% during the Quarter, encouraged by the rebound of Mainland tourists.

Underpinned by the Group's strategic priorities, it is expected that the enhanced product portfolio, new signature collections and the refreshed marketing campaigns will also provide strong impetus to the gem-set jewellery sales.

Sustained Momentum of Consumer Spending on Luxury and Gold Products

Building on the trend seen in the first quarter, the Group continues to observe a shift in consumer spending and mindset towards luxury and gold products. Consumers' demand for gold jewellery remained solid despite the increase in gold price in the Mainland.

In Hong Kong and Macau, SSS of the gold jewellery and products category surged by 89.0%, benefitting from the Mainland tourist influx. Its Average Selling Price ("ASP") also ascended to HK$8,700 (2QFY2023: HK$7,900). In the Mainland, SSS of the product category was down by 9.6% during the Quarter owing to high base of comparison. ASP was further elevated to HK$5,600 (2QFY2023: HK$5,200).

Amid the current macro environment, SSS of gem-set, platinum and k-gold jewellery category in Hong Kong and Macau decreased by 4.3% during the Quarter. In the Mainland, SSS of the product category declined by 27.7% whereas its RSV dropped 17.9% during the Quarter. The trend of Same Store ASP remained resilient, benefitting from the continued pricing strategy optimisation. In the Mainland, ASP was lifted to HK$8,200 (2QFY2023: HK$7,300), while that of Hong Kong and Macau was HK$16,900 (2QFY2023: HK$16,200).

Sustain Growth Trajectory through Execution of Five Strategic Priorities

Despite market uncertainties and externalities beyond our control, the Group adopts a bottom-up approach and focuses on the five strategic priorities to sustain our growth trajectory. Transitioning into a new phase of higher value growth, the Group will focus on enhancing earnings quality with margin expansion and improved returns to equity and capital.

The Group will be actively monitoring the dynamic and fast-evolving market conditions. Staying vigilant and nimble to the ground with the extensive network, the Group has the financial and operational resources to effectively calibrate resources to dial-up expansion as needed.

###

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited



Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 1929) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. The Group's vision is to become the most trusted jewellery group in the world.

Founded in 1929, the Group's iconic brand "CHOW TAI FOOK" is widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and is renowned for its product design, quality and value. A long-standing commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has contributed to the Group's success, along with that of its iconic retail brand, and has been embodied in its rich heritage. Underpinning this success are our long-held core values of "Sincerity " Eternity".

The Group's differentiation strategy continues to make inroads into diverse customer segments by catering to a bespoke experience for different lifestyles and personalities, as well as customers' different life stages. Offering a wide variety of products, services and channels, the Group's brand portfolio comprises the CHOW TAI FOOK flagship brand with curated retail experiences, and other individual brands including HEARTS ON FIRE, ENZO, SOINLOVE and MONOLOGUE.

The Group's commitment to sustainable growth is anchored in its customer-centric focus and strategies, which are in place to promote long-term innovation in business, in people and in culture. Another asset underpinning sustainable growth is a sophisticated and agile business model. This supports the Group by fostering excellence and extending opportunities along the entire value chain to communities and industry partners across the world.

With an extensive retail network in China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, the United States and Canada, as well as a fast-growing smart retail business, the Group is implementing effective online-to-offline ("O2O") strategies to succeed in today's omni-channel retail environment.

Media Enquiries:

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

Danita On

Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Tel: (852) 2138 8501

Email: [email protected]

Vicky Lau

Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Tel: (852) 2138 8502

Email: [email protected]

Acky Chan

Senior Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Tel: (852) 2138 8338

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY)(OTCQX:CPPKF) is pleased to announce the initiation of its Phase III drill program at its Copper Creek project in Arizona, USA ("Copper Creek").

Phase III Drill Program

An estimated 20,000-metre diamond drill program commenced on October 11, 2023, with the primary objectives including: Making a new economic discovery on the property; Growing the open pit resource; and Expanding the high-grade areas of the underground resource.

The Company will also be installing additional piezometers in certain drill holes for ongoing groundwater monitoring.

Assay results for completed drill holes will be released as they are received, analyzed and confirmed by the Company.

About Faraday Copper

Faraday Copper is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek project, is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with open pit and bulk underground mining potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY".

For additional information please contact:

Stacey Pavlova, CFA

Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications

Faraday Copper Corp.

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.faradaycopper.com

To receive news releases by e-mail, please register using the Faraday website at www.faradaycopper.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the exploration potential of the Copper Creek property.

Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of mineral resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence.

SOURCE: Faraday Copper Corp.

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In today's busy world, students are constantly seeking ways to enhance their productivity and save time. IFTTT is excited to introduce its student program, an initiative to make IFTTT more accessible so student life can be more organized and efficient. Students can make the most of our simple, no-code automation, industry-leading mobile apps, and AI tools.





IFTTT.com





Unlocking Student Potential with IFTTT

From smart home enthusiasts to small business owners, IFTTT's automation tools have simplified workflows and boosted daily productivity. Now, students can harness the full and unlimited potential of IFTTT with our popular Pro+ subscription at an exclusive low price.

"IFTTT has always been a great tool for students, helping them save time and supporting their hard work. We are excited to make IFTTT Pro+ even more accessible to students looking to tap into the power of automation and AI," says Linden Tibbets, CEO and Founder at IFTTT.

At the moment, this program is available for students in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada to sign up for IFTTT using their university domain email addresses. Upon registration, the discount will be automatically applied to their Pro+ checkout, granting students unlimited access to all of IFTTT's features and automations.

Endless Possibilities with IFTTT

IFTTT offers a wide collection of Applets that were built to suit students' needs. Among these are AI tools capable of summarizing notes and suggesting presentation outlines. Additionally, the viral ChatGPT plugin transforms ChatGPT into a personal assistant, helping students set reminders, craft professional emails, and organize their study schedules. These versatile tools cater to entrepreneurs and small business owners, enabling them to streamline business-critical workflows effortlessly.

For more information about IFTTT's Student Program and the innovative solutions it offers, please visit the IFTTT for students page.

Contact Information

Peter Curley

VP Marketing, IFTTT

[email protected]

4155138950

Related Files

ifttt_wordmark-black.jpg

SOURCE: IFTTT

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Samsung Engineering, a world leading engineering solutions and project management company, announced that its Adnoc Crude Flexibility (CF) Project received a 100 per cent HSE Award at Adnocs 7th annual Business Partnership Forum at Adipec 2023.

The award was received jointly by Samsung Engineering and McDermott (formerly CB&I), who have collaborated on the construction and implementation of the Adnoc CF Project.

Project managers Sung Jae Koh (Samsung Engineering) and Bart Rotteveel (McDermott) accepted the award on behalf of their respective companies.

The project, which is being carried out at the UAEs largest industrial complex, the Ruwais Industrial Complex, involves building a new atmospheric residue de-sulfurisation system (ARDS).

CB&I is a global general construction company and a joint equity investment partner of Chevron Lummus Global, the licensor for this project.

Samsung Engineerings previous collaborations with CB&I, now under McDermott, have demonstrated excellent teamwork in the completion of multiple projects in the US and Kuwait.

The HSE award demonstrates Samsung Engineering's unwavering commitment to excellence in health, safety and environmental practices within the industry.

Furthermore, it highlights Samsung Engineerings alignment with Adnoc's values and goals for a safer and more sustainable future.

Hong Namkoong, President and CEO of Samsung Engineering said, We are honored to receive this award for the high standards of HSE that Samsung Engineering is committed to.

Further, he added, Samsung Engineering regards safety as a key principal in managing our business and pursue respect, communication, and prevention for our safety culture brand S.A.Y.

Wayne Pearce, Senior Vice-President, Adnoc Group HSE, said: Adnocs 100 per cent HSE pledge embodies our commitment to upholding the highest standards of HSE governance and personal and process safety. We congratulate Samsung Engineering for its exemplary health and safety culture and its focus on 100 per cent HSE.

The award ceremony was held on October 4 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Hall at Adipec, located at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

S.A.Y "Safety Around You is Samsung Engineerings safety brand. Samsung Engineering is forming a project culture through and care and commitment. The Identity Story behind say is S.A.Y your worries, concerns and inconveniences and work together to create a safest workplace possible, Safety Around You.--OGN/ TradeArabia News Service
GEORGE TOWN, PULAU PINANG, MALAYSIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In August 2023, Mr. Liu Jianning, Vice Chairman of the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association, embarked on a series of exchange activities in Malaysia at the invitation of Quantum Metal Group. During his visit, he explored various institutions, including the Quantum Metal Group headquarters, the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau, the World Consumer Association, and the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory. Mr. Liu also represented Hainan as the sole non-member country delegate at the 2023 ASEAN Cooperation Organization meeting and attended the high-level forum during the same event.

Collaboration Agreement between Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association and Quantum Metal Group

On March 22, 2023, the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association signed a collaboration framework agreement with Malaysia's largest gold supplier, Quantum Metal Group. This partnership aims to jointly organize the Hainan Free Trade Port Gold Market Development Strategic Seminar. The seminar discussed strategies to facilitate the international operational headquarters of Quantum Metal Group in Hainan and the development of the precious metals trading market in Hainan under the backdrop of the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) agreement. This collaboration marked the beginning of a strong relationship between Quantum Metal Group and Hainan, thanks to continuous communication and follow-up efforts.

During the first leg of his Malaysia visit, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning visited the Quantum Metal Group headquarters. He provided Chairman Lin Lianshun with a detailed overview of the efforts and support extended by the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau and the Haikou Municipal Government to facilitate the establishment of Quantum Metal Group's international operational headquarters in Haikou. Mr. Liu discussed strategies, pathways, and steps for Quantum Metal 's development in Hainan, offering constructive suggestions that led to mutual agreement. The Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association expressed its gratitude for Quantum Metal Group's efforts to promote investment and trade cooperation between Hainan and Malaysia and to integrate Hainan Free Trade Port into the ASEAN trade system.

On August 22, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning and senior management of Quantum Metal Group visited the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau, where they engaged in discussions with Mr. Bhg. Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, the CEO of the bureau, and Mr. Abu Bakar Yusif, the Deputy CEO. Vice Chairman Liu Jianning focused on elaborating on the current status and prospects of trade development between China and ASEAN countries and the role of Hainan Free Trade Port in fostering cooperation between China and ASEAN nations. He particularly emphasized the practical significance of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" development strategy for deepening trade cooperation in production factors between ASEAN companies and Chinese enterprises.

Leadership at the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau expressed their gratitude for the long-standing trade cooperation between Malaysia and China. They praised Hainan's strong support for Quantum Metal Group's project to establish its operational headquarters in Hainan. They committed to conducting in-depth research on the actual implications of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" development for Malaysian businesses and expressed their eagerness to build multi-tiered trade cooperation relationships in the future.

On August 23, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning had the unique privilege of representing Hainan as the only non-member country delegate at the 2023 ASEAN Cooperation Organization meeting. He also attended the high-level forum with the theme "Promoting De-dollarization of International Trade and Adoption of Digital Gold as a Payment Instrument among ASEAN Cooperation Organization Member States." During the event, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning engaged in a brief exchange with Y.Bhg. Dato' Hj. Abdul Fattah Hj. Abdullah, the Chairman of the ASEAN Cooperation Organization.

During their conversation, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning introduced the development strategy of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" concept and the "Thousand Enterprises, Thousand Financial Empowerment Action Plan" initiated by the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association. Chairman Y.Bhg. Dato' Hj. Abdul Fattah Hj. Abdullah expressed the organization's commitment to exploring both the theoretical and practical aspects of using digital gold as an international trade payment instrument. He acknowledged the vital role of the ASEAN Cooperation Organization in fostering trade cooperation with China and expressed strong support for Quantum Metal Group's establishment of its international operational headquarters in Hainan. He also hoped for deeper collaboration through Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" initiative.

During his visit to Malaysia, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning paid a visit to the World Consumer Association, where he introduced the annual China International Consumer Goods Expo held in Hainan and its substantial impact. He discussed various matters with President Datuk Badu Kakyang Guowei and other leaders, including the possibility of the Malaysian Halal Certification Authority setting up its "China Export Commodity Halal Certification Headquarters" in Hainan. President Guowei emphasized the association's responsibility to focus on and protect global consumer rights from the perspective of international trade. He expressed the association's interest in establishing cooperation with the relevant authorities responsible for the China International Consumer Goods Expo.

In addition, during his tour of the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning introduced the "Agricultural Powerhouse" national strategy of China and the specific measures undertaken by local governments to implement this strategy. He welcomed the prospect of the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory selecting Hainan Free Trade Port as its location, leveraging its advanced technology and services to promote agricultural development. Chairman Kevin Lim expressed agreement with these ideas and indicated that he would explore opportunities for further discussions in Hainan.

Throughout the course of these collaborative exchange activities, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning also had fruitful discussions with officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Brunei, represented by Ms. Pg Suridah Pg Hj Sulaiman, and the Honorary Ambassador of Malaysia to Uganda, Mr. Al Haj Habib Kagimu.

The convergence of RCEP and Hainan Free Trade Port policies is now in full swing, and Hainan has been actively pursuing its core policy measures to support the development of the "Two Base" concept since March 2023. These efforts aim to create a conducive environment for international business operations and trade. The unveiling of the "Two Base" demonstration zone in Sanya on June 2 marked a significant milestone in this endeavor.

As a think tank-style social organization within the financial industry, the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association plays a crucial role in organizing international exchanges and promoting international trade cooperation. This series of exchange activities in Malaysia aimed to introduce the "Two Base" initiatives of Hainan Free Trade Port to ASEAN countries and businesses, gather information on economic and trade interactions, and facilitate the establishment of enterprises on both sides. The Association will compile this information into written documents to submit to relevant departments, providing comprehensive financial and support services for cross-border trade between the two countries. These efforts are expected to contribute to enhancing connectivity and economic trade development between China and Malaysia.

Media Contact

Organization: Quantum Metal

Contact Person: Dato Lim Khong Soon

Website: https://www.quantummetal.com.my/

Email: [email protected]

Contact Number: +60 3-8605 3611

City: Georgetown

State: Pulau Pinang

Country: Malaysia

SOURCE: Quantum Metal

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Award-Winning Leader in Disability Justice Joins One of the Largest Disability Employers in the Pacific Northwest

PORTLAND, OR / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Relay Resources is thrilled to welcome Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke as its President and Chief Executive Officer.





Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke

Dr. Jennifer Camota Luebke, (she/her) in a blue blouse, long dark hair, smiling at the camera





Margaret Van Vliet, Relay's board chair, said, "The board selected Jennifer from an impressive slate of candidates based on her extraordinary background, credentials, and clear commitment to disability justice.

"During this time of social change and program modernization, we have every confidence that Jennifer will build on Relay's strengths and carry our mission forward with renewed energy and a fresh perspective."

Camota Luebke brings more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership positions leading large accounting operations teams at Fortune 1000 companies such as Gap, Electronic Arts, and Genentech, and in higher education serving as associate dean of external relations and director of the executive MBA program at the University of San Francisco. For the last 10 years, she has simultaneously served on volunteer boards and committees of disability and higher education organizations such as Best Buddies California, All Belong Center for Inclusive Education, and the State of the Art Conference on Postsecondary Education and Individuals with Intellectual Disability.

Most recently, Camota Luebke was the Senior Vice President and Chief Workforce Inclusion Officer for PRIDE Industries, where she led the company's workforce inclusion programming strategy and operations to develop competitive, integrated, community-based employment pathways for people with disabilities. She also influenced employment policies that impact people with disabilities by working with federal, state, and local legislative offices, and community advocacy organizations.

"I am honored by the board's confidence in me to lead Relay Resources as we advance the mission of cultivating meaningful work for people with disabilities," Camota Luebke stated. "I look forward to leading a team of dedicated professionals who share a common vision of disability inclusion, justice, and pride in the workplace.

"I am excited to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities by growing our business services and workforce training programs and collaborating with organizations to renovate workplace cultures to become disability-inclusive."

Camota Luebke is a member of the Board of Trustees for the national United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) organization where she serves on the policy and research committees. She co-founded Ability Revolution, which produces film and media projects that influence the way society views people with disabilities and advocates for students with disabilities and their families. Camota Luebke produced the 2018 award-winning documentary You Can Be BRAVE: Breaking Barriers to Inclusion about her journey as a parent advocating for her son, who has an intellectual disability, to be included in all areas of society.

Conducting academic research on leadership beliefs and practices that inform disability-inclusive learning communities, Camota Luebke earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) with a concentration in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco, where she also completed her MBA. She received a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

In 2022, Camota Luebke was recognized as one of the Most Influential Filipina Women in the World" (Global FWN 100") by the Filipina Women's Network (FWN) and a Top 25 Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Change Maker by the Sacramento Bee. She was also a 2017 Jefferson Award Winner for Public Service (now known as Multiplying Good) for her portfolio of disability research and advocacy work.

For Camota Luebke, disability inclusion is all in the family. She is married to Christopher Luebke, an intermediate and secondary public school special education teacher and inclusion specialist. Their adult son, a 2023 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology from the EXCEL program for students with intellectual disabilities, is employed full time and lives independently.

Contact Information

Tiffini Mueller

Vice President, Growth

[email protected]

503-341-2740

SOURCE: Relay Resources

View source version on accesswire.com:
RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Sertis (https://www.sertisins.com), a cutting-edge managing general agency (MGA) serving the multifamily insurance market, is pleased to announce its latest milestone - officially writing policies for professionally managed multifamily (apartment) portfolios, providing brokers and their clients exceptional coverage at competitive terms. Backed by AM Best-rated A- carrier Accelerant, with long-term capacity, a fresh perspective, and a brand-new model for risk exchange, Sertis is currently licensed to write in 15 states as well as the District of Columbia (D.C), with definitive plans to rapidly expand.

In an industry that demands constant innovation and adaptability, Sertis has emerged as a beacon of change. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, extensive industry knowledge, and a commitment to client-centric solutions, the company is set to transform the traditional insurance market. Producers and owner/operators with multifamily portfolios in Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C., are now able to benefit from Sertis' expertise and the unique partnership with Leonardo 247, the award-winning developer of a cloud-based smart property operations and maintenance platform.

"We're not just another insurance provider; we're a partner to property owners and their brokers, helping them navigate the complexities of the insurance landscape," said Mark Gardella, CEO of Sertis MGA. "Our goal is to make insurance a seamless experience, empowering our clients to focus on what they do best - managing their properties, while also helping manage the ever-growing costs of risk." He emphasizes the company's unflagging commitment to the multifamily industry, coupled with its proprietary risk management platform, as distinctive assets that set Sertis apart from competitors.

In a bid to redefine risk assessment and pricing in the multifamily industry, Sertis has introduced a proprietary risk management platform designed to curb loss and revolutionize insurance underwriting. Developed in partnership with Leonardo247 (https://leonardo247.com), the Sertis Risk Indicator (SRI) is a proprietary, first-of-its-kind risk score that begins to quantify the likelihood of insurance loss using exclusive, real-time operational risk data. This pioneering tool places Sertis at the forefront of a fundamental shift in how multifamily portfolios are underwritten.

"The SRI marks a significant departure from traditional risk assessment methodologies, revolutionizing the norms of the industry," elaborates Gardella. "The SRI score, reflecting operational behaviors and safety practices, allows Sertis to provide favorable terms and conditions to multifamily portfolios that are committed to providing their residents safer, more resilient properties."

Sertis MGA's launch comes at a time when the multifamily property industry is faced with the unprecedented cost of risk/insurance increases, and the need for forward-thinking insurance solutions has never been greater. Sertis partners with retail brokers to support their clients' long-term risk management needs, reflecting the company's focus on collaboration and client success. By reimagining insurance in this sector, Sertis MGA is poised to become a game-changer.

For more information about Sertis MGA and its services, please visit www.sertisins.com.

Contact Information

Mark Gardella

CEO

[email protected]

833 273 7847

Nikki Dugan

Media Relations

[email protected]

856-397-5326

SOURCE: Sertis MGA

View source version on accesswire.com:
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSX:MAW)(Frankfurt:MXR)(PINKSHEETS:MWSNF) announces results from 12 diamond drill holes for 2,367 m from regional drilling located between 4 km and 8 km along the same mineralized structure as the main drill area at the 100%-owned Sunday Creek Project in Victoria (Figure 1). The drilled mineralized footprint at Sunday Creek has now been extended for more than 8 km in east-west strike representing an 8-fold increase.

Sunday Creek is 100% owned by Southern Cross Gold ("SXG"), which is an ASX listed company owned 51% by Mawson. Four rigs continue to drill in the main drill area where 21 holes (SDDSC079-99) are currently being geologically processed and chemically analyzed, with four holes (SDDSC092, 97A, 100, 101) in drill progress (Figure 5).

Highlights:

The drilled footprint at Sunday Creek now extends for 8 km and remains open, representing an 8-fold increase in the previously drilled host to gold mineralization, demonstrating the district scale opportunities that exist for the project.

in the previously drilled host to gold mineralization, demonstrating the district scale opportunities that exist for the project. High grade gold, with anomalous and broad (150 m) mineralized halo discovered in first drill holes ever drilled outside main drill area.

in first drill holes ever drilled outside main drill area. Highlights include: SDDLV003: 0.5 m @ 15.7 g/t Au from 87.0 m (including visible gold) SDDLV004: 0.3 m @ 5.6 g/t Au from 73.4 m and 0.3 m @ 19.4 g/t Au from 100.7 m

Mineralization is the same style as the Sunday Creek main zone.

Mawson owns 93,750,000 shares of SXG (51%), valuing its stake at A$74.1 million (C$64.6 million) based on SXG's closing price on October 11, 2023 AEST.

Noora Ahola, Mawson Interim CEO, states: "Today's results from SXG's 100% owned Sunday Creek project confirms the proof of concept that the property is host to an extensive mineralized trend with significant upside beyond the excellent results the company has been producing at its main drill area 8 km to the southwest.

"The results released today are commensurate with the very early drilling undertaken in what is now the core drill area at Sunday Creek and adds another layer of confidence, in our opinion, that the project is one of the best new discoveries in the market today.

"SXG's focus returns to the main drill area where they have a further 22,000 m of drilling to go in their fully funded and permitted drill campaign to April 2024. We look forward to further exceptional results from Sunday Creek."

Results Discussion

A total of 12 holes for 2,367 m were completed at the Leviathan, Consols and Tonstal historic mining areas, located 5.0 km, 6.9 km and 7.9 km along strike respectively from the most westerly end of main project area (Figure 2). All holes hit anomalous gold, except SDDTS002 which hit an underground historic stopped out area. These prospects are all contained within EL6163 that is 100% owned by SXG.

Mineralization is the style same as Sunday Creek main zone with disseminated arsenopyrite and pyrite mineralization in NW-oriented veins that cut across a steeply dipping zone of intensely bleached, sericite-albitic siltstones, and sericite-carbonate-albite altered dyke rocks (the "host"). When looked at from above, in plan view, the host resembles the side rails of a ladder, where the mineralized veins are the rungs. The host was intersected across the three drill areas that range from 50 m - 75 m wide. No significant antimony was intersected, and arsenic appears more common than in the main zone, perhaps suggesting drilling has tested a deeper level of the epizonal system in regional drilling.

Leviathan

Four holes for 567.8 m were drilled at Leviathan (Figure 3). Two intersected high-grade gold with visible gold noted in SDDLV003. Highlights included:

SDDLV001: 20.0 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 43.0 m

SDDLV002: 0.9 m @ 0.9 g/t Au from 47.7 m

SDDLV002: 4.8 m @ 0.4 g/t Au from 66.0 m

SDDLV003: 1.4 m @ 1.3 g/t Au from 71.4 m, including 0.8 m @ 1.9 g/t Au from 71.4 m

SDDLV003: 7.0 m @ 1.6 g/t Au from 85.0 m including 0.5 m @ 15.7 g/t Au from 87.0 m

SDDLV004: 0.3 m @ 5.6 g/t Au from 73.4 m and 0.3 m @ 19.4 g/t Au from 100.7 m

Tonstal

Seven holes for 1,598.6 m were drilled at Tonstal (Figure 4). Drill hole SDDTS002 missed the mineralized host as it intersected an old stope with wooden support mined during from the early 1900's, located 90 m vertically below surface in drillhole SDDTS002 (from 103.0 m to 107.6 m). This suggests further high grades at depth remain to be found.

SDDTS001: 2.8 m @ 0.6 g/t Au from 99.4 m including 0.8 m @ 1.2 g/t Au from 99.4 m

SDDTS003: 4.8 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 99.9 m

SDDTS004A: 5.1 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 133.6 m

SDDTS005A: 0.4 m @ 1.0 g/t Au from 170.0 m

SDDTS006: 1.0 m @ 0.6 g/t Au from 255.3 m

SDDTS006: 13.5 m @ 0.2 g/t Au from 277.5 m including 0.7 m @ 1.2 g/t Au from 277.9 m



Consols

One hole for 200.5 m was drilled at Consols. The mineralized structure appears to dip to the south and therefore was not intersected in the drillhole. Float with visible gold was found around the old mine shafts at Consols while drilling was ongoing (Photo 1). Upcoming field mapping will provide further understanding.

Pending Results and Update

With four diamond drill rigs operating at site, the company has stated that it will drill an additional 22,000 m by April 2024, with 23,034 m drilled so far in 2023.

Demonstrating Volume: Twenty-one holes (SDDSC79--99) are currently being geologically processed and chemically analysed, with four holes (SDDSC092, 97A, 100, 101) in drill progress (Figure 5).

Demonstrating Scale: Twelve holes (SDDTS001-7, SDDCN001 and SDDLV001-4) for 2,383 m (including two redrilled collars) are reported here from the Leviathan - Consols - Tonstal regional area between 4 km to 8 km along strike from the main drill area (Figures 2-4).

Demonstrating Grade: Preliminary visual geological logs of SDDSC082, SDDSC091, SDDSC092 and SDDSC094A at Rising Sun and hole SDDSC097A from Apollo have intersected multiple zones of mineralization with visible gold noted in certain restricted zones. Assays are pending (Figure 5).

Further discussion and analysis of the Sunday Creek project by Southern Cross Gold is available on the SXG website at www.southerncrossgold.com.au.

Figures 1-5 show project location, plan, longitudinal and cross-sectional views of drill results reported here and Tables 1-4 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized intervals reported are interpreted to be approximately 60-70% of the sampled thickness. Lower grades were cut at 0.3 g/t Au lower cutoff over a maximum width of 3 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t Au cutoff over a maximum of 1 m width, unless otherwise stated.

Technical Background and Qualified Person

The Qualified Person, Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman and a director of Mawson Gold, and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this release.

Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Southern Cross Gold consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content, blanks within interpreted mineralized rock and quarter core duplicates. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process.

MAW considers that both gold and antimony that are included in the gold equivalent calculation ("AuEq") have reasonable potential to be recovered at Sunday Creek, given current geochemical understanding, historic production statistics and geologically analogous mining operations. Historically, ore from Sunday Creek was treated onsite or shipped to the Costerfield mine, located 54 km to the northwest of the project, for processing during WW1. The Costerfield mine corridor, now owned by Mandalay Resources Ltd contains two million ounces of equivalent gold (Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony.

SXG considers that it is appropriate to adopt the same gold equivalent variables as Mandalay Resources Ltd in its Mandalay Technical Report, 2022 dated 25 March 2022. The gold equivalence formula used by Mandalay Resources was calculated using recoveries achieved at the Costerfield Property Brunswick Processing Plant during 2020, using a gold price of US$1,700 per ounce, an antimony price of US$8,500 per tonne and 2021 total year metal recoveries of 93% for gold and 95% for antimony, and is as follows:  =  (/) + 1.58   (%).

Based on the latest Costerfield calculation and given the similar geological styles and historic toll treatment of Sunday Creek mineralization at Costerfield, SXG considers that a  =  (/) + 1.58   (%) is appropriate to use for the initial exploration targeting of gold-antimony mineralization at Sunday Creek.

About Mawson Gold Limited (TSX:MAW),(FRANKFURT:MXR),(OTCPINK:MWSNF)

Mawson Gold Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic exploration company with its 100% owned flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland, and right to earn into the Skelleftea North gold project in Sweden. Mawson also currently owns 51% of Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG) which in turn owns or controls three high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields covering 470 km2 in Victoria, Australia.

About Southern Cross Gold Ltd (ASX:SXG)

Southern Cross Gold holds the 100%-owned Sunday Creek project in Victoria and Mt Isa project in Queensland, the Redcastle and Whroo joint ventures in Victoria, Australia, and a strategic 10% holding in ASX-listed Nagambie Resources Limited (ASX:NAG) which grants SXG a Right of First Refusal over a 3,300 square kilometer tenement package held by NAG in Victoria.

On behalf of the Board, "Noora Ahola"

Noora Ahola, Interim CEO Further Information

www.mawsongold.com

1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7

Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary

+1 (604) 685 9316[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, Mawson's expectations regarding its ownership interest in Southern Cross Gold, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current pandemic known as COVID-19 on the Company's business, risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; exploration potential being conceptual in nature, there being insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource on the Australian-projects owned by SXG, and uncertainty if further exploration will result in the determination of a mineral resource; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

Photo 1: Float from the Consols prospect located 6.9 km from the main drill area, showing visible gold with quartz. The single hole at Consols failed to reach the predicted south dipping mineralised horizon. Scale of view 3 cm.

Figure 1: Location of the Sunday Creek project, along with SXG's other Victoria projects and simplified geology.

Figure 2: Sunday Creek regional plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and broad regional areas tested in the reported 2,367 m diamond drill program. The regional drill areas are at Tonstal, Consols and Leviathan located 4 - 7.5 km along strike from the main drill area at Golden Dyke- Apollo.

Figure 3: Leviathan prospect plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and diamond drill results.

Figure 4: Tonstal prospect plan view showing LiDAR, soil sampling, structural framework, regional historic epizonal gold mining areas and diamond drill results.

Figure 5: Sunday Creek longitudinal section across the plane of the dyke breccia/altered sediment host looking towards the north showing mineralised veins sets. Preliminary visual geological logs of SDDSC082, SDDSC091, SDDSC092 and SDDSC094A at Rising Sun and hole SDDSC097A from Apollo have intersected multiple zones of mineralization with visible gold noted in certain restricted zones.

Table 1: Drill collar summary table for regional drill holes. Projection and datum GDA94_Z55.

Hole_ID Depth (m) Prospect East North Elevation Azimuth Plunge Comment SDDTS001 179.75 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 156.0 -50.0 SDDTS002 182.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 111.0 -42.0 SDDTS003 197.8 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 111.0 -73.0 Hit stope from 103.0 m to 107.6 m. SDDTS004 62.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 79.0 -60.0 Abandoned SDDTS004A 170.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 79.0 -60.0 SDDTS005A 257.05 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 70.0 -42.0 SDDTS006 368.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.0 48.0 -50.0 SDDTS007 179.6 Tonstal 336788 5870637 525.2 230.0 -50.0 SDDCN001 200.5 Consols 336270 5870700 507.0 220.0 -60.0 SDDLV001 152.6 Leviathan 334240 5869962 552.2 190.0 -60.0 SDDLV002 131.75 Leviathan 334240 5869962 552.2 240 -50 SDDLV003 140 Leviathan 334240 5869962 552.2 90 -60 SDDLV004 143.4 Leviathan 334428 5870014 553 242.5 -40

Table 2: Drill collar summary table for unreported drill holes from the main drill area.

Hole_ID Depth (m) Prospect East GDA94_Z55 North GDA94_Z55 Elevation Azimuth Plunge SDDSC079 700.7 Rising Sun 331254 5868098 353.7 210.0 -65.0 SDDSC080 374.6 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 185.0 -71.0 SDDSC081 338.5 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 210.0 -60.0 SDDSC082 1158.7 Rising Sun 330484 5867895 289.0 74.0 -68.0 SDDSC083 347.5 Golden Dyke 330461 5867922 285.4 196.0 -54.0 SDDSC084 323.4 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 210.0 -53.0 SDDSC085 827.4 Apollo 331254 5868099 353.8 222.0 -64.0 SDDSC086 298.8 Golden Dyke 330461 5867922 285.4 208.0 -33.0 SDDSC087 286.7 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 214.0 -43.0 SDDSC088 360.0 Rising Sun 330754 5868022 294.3 214.0 -33.0 SDDSC089 390.0 Golden Dyke 330461 5867922 285.4 214.0 -48.0 SDDSC090 427.2 Christina 330461 5867922 285.4 226.0 -31.0 SDDSC091 530.4 Gentle Annie 330871 5868064 305.6 210.0 -69.0 SDDSC092 In progress plan 830 m Rising Sun 330537 5867882 295.5 79.0 -60 SDDSC093 610.9 Rising Sun 331291 5867823 316.8 271 -47.5 SDDSC094 23.3 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.2 68.5 -56 SDDSC094A 359.6 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 68.5 -56 SDDSC095 368.3 Apollo 331291 5867823 316.8 271 -53 SDDSC096 347.9 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 68 -63.5 SDDSC097 62.3 Apollo 331291 5867823 316.8 276 -50.5 SDDSC097A In progress plan 550 m Apollo 331291 5867823 316.8 277 -50 SDDSC098 278.5 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 72 -48.5 SDDSC099 284.7 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 71.5 -58.5 SDDSC100 In progress plan 1200 m Rising Sun 330482 5867891 289.5 74.5 -64 SDDSC101 181.5 Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 63 -37 SDDSC103 In progress plan 200 m Rising Sun 330639 5867846 306.1 53 -53

Table 3: Tables of mineralised drill hole intersections reported from regional holes using two cut-off criteria. Lower grades cut at 0.3 g/t lower cutoff over a maximum of 3 m with higher grades cut at 5.0 g/t AuEq cutoff over a maximum of 1 m.

Drill Hole from (m) to (m) width (m) Au g/t SDDLV001 43.00 63.00 20.0 0.2 SDDLV002 47.70 48.60 0.9 0.9 SDDLV002 66.00 70.75 4.8 0.4 SDDLV003 71.40 72.80 1.4 1.3 including 71.40 72.20 0.8 1.9 SDDLV003 85.00 92.00 7.0 1.6 including 87.00 87.50 0.5 15.7 SDDLV004 73.40 73.65 0.3 5.6 SDDLV004 100.70 100.95 0.3 19.4 SDDTS001 99.35 102.15 2.8 0.6 including 99.35 100.12 0.8 1.2 SDDTS003 99.90 104.65 4.8 0.2 SDDLV004 73.40 73.65 0.3 5.6 SDDLV004 100.70 100.95 0.3 19.4 SDDTS004A 133.60 138.65 5.1 0.2 SDDTS005A 170.00 170.45 0.4 1.0 including 170.00 170.45 0.4 1.0 SDDTS006 255.28 256.30 1.0 0.6 SDDTS006 277.54 291.00 13.5 0.2 including 277.88 278.60 0.7 1.2

Table 4: All individual assays reported from regional drilling >0.1g/t Au.

Drill Hole from (m) to (m) width (m) Au g/t SDDLV001 25.00 26.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 26.00 26.60 0.6 0.1 SDDLV001 26.60 27.14 0.5 0.5 SDDLV001 27.14 27.55 0.4 0.2 SDDLV001 32.70 33.48 0.8 0.1 SDDLV001 34.18 34.62 0.4 0.5 SDDLV001 36.00 37.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 38.20 39.20 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 43.00 43.80 0.8 0.4 SDDLV001 43.80 44.70 0.9 0.6 SDDLV001 44.70 45.50 0.8 0.5 SDDLV001 45.50 46.50 1.0 0.4 SDDLV001 46.50 47.50 1.0 0.4 SDDLV001 47.50 48.00 0.5 0.3 SDDLV001 48.00 49.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 49.00 50.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV001 50.00 51.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV001 51.00 52.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 53.00 54.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 54.00 55.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 55.00 56.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 56.00 57.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 57.00 58.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 58.00 59.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 59.00 60.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 60.00 61.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 61.00 62.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV001 62.00 63.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV001 123.80 124.00 0.2 0.1 SDDLV002 30.70 31.70 1.0 0.1 SDDLV002 41.30 42.50 1.2 0.1 SDDLV002 47.70 48.60 0.9 0.9 SDDLV002 53.70 54.40 0.7 0.1 SDDLV002 56.40 57.00 0.6 0.1 SDDLV002 61.00 61.35 0.4 0.6 SDDLV002 61.35 62.00 0.6 0.1 SDDLV002 66.00 66.50 0.5 0.4 SDDLV002 66.50 67.00 0.5 0.7 SDDLV002 67.00 68.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV002 68.00 68.40 0.4 0.4 SDDLV002 69.60 70.40 0.8 0.7 SDDLV002 70.40 70.75 0.3 0.9 SDDLV002 85.80 86.32 0.5 0.2 SDDLV002 86.32 86.70 0.4 0.3 SDDLV002 86.70 86.76 0.1 0.5 SDDLV002 102.00 102.40 0.4 0.1 SDDLV002 102.40 102.68 0.3 0.1 SDDLV002 102.68 103.20 0.5 0.2 SDDLV002 103.20 103.50 0.3 0.1 SDDLV003 62.70 63.40 0.7 0.1 SDDLV003 63.40 63.88 0.5 0.1 SDDLV003 63.88 64.68 0.8 0.1 SDDLV003 64.68 65.00 0.3 0.1 SDDLV003 65.00 65.36 0.4 0.1 SDDLV003 65.36 65.70 0.3 0.2 SDDLV003 66.45 67.30 0.8 0.1 SDDLV003 70.50 71.40 0.9 0.1 SDDLV003 71.40 72.20 0.8 1.9 SDDLV003 72.20 72.80 0.6 0.6 SDDLV003 72.80 73.50 0.7 0.1 SDDLV003 73.50 74.00 0.5 0.1 SDDLV003 79.65 80.40 0.8 0.3 SDDLV003 80.40 81.00 0.6 0.1 SDDLV003 83.00 84.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 85.00 86.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV003 86.00 87.00 1.0 0.8 SDDLV003 87.00 87.50 0.5 15.7 SDDLV003 87.50 88.10 0.6 3.2 SDDLV003 88.10 89.00 0.9 0.2 SDDLV003 91.00 92.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 93.00 94.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 94.00 95.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 96.00 97.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 102.80 103.20 0.4 0.5 SDDLV003 104.00 105.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 105.00 106.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV003 107.00 108.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 112.00 113.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 114.00 115.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV003 122.70 124.00 1.3 0.1 SDDLV003 124.00 125.10 1.1 0.1 SDDLV004 67.50 68.10 0.6 0.2 SDDLV004 68.10 68.90 0.8 0.2 SDDLV004 68.90 69.10 0.2 0.7 SDDLV004 72.00 73.00 1.0 0.2 SDDLV004 73.40 73.65 0.3 5.6 SDDLV004 73.65 74.30 0.6 0.2 SDDLV004 75.00 75.70 0.7 0.1 SDDLV004 77.70 78.04 0.3 0.1 SDDLV004 78.04 79.00 1.0 0.3 SDDLV004 81.60 82.00 0.4 0.1 SDDLV004 85.30 85.60 0.3 0.4 SDDLV004 87.40 88.00 0.6 0.3 SDDLV004 95.00 95.40 0.4 0.1 SDDLV004 100.00 100.70 0.7 0.1 SDDLV004 100.70 100.95 0.3 19.4 SDDLV004 105.00 105.50 0.5 0.2 SDDLV004 110.40 110.70 0.3 0.2 SDDLV004 110.70 111.30 0.6 0.4 SDDLV004 113.00 113.50 0.5 0.2 SDDLV004 114.00 115.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV004 115.00 116.00 1.0 0.1 SDDLV004 120.65 121.10 0.4 0.2 SDDLV004 121.10 121.35 0.3 0.2 SDDLV004 121.35 121.95 0.6 0.1 SDDTS001 99.00 99.35 0.3 0.1 SDDTS001 99.35 100.12 0.8 1.2 SDDTS001 100.12 100.55 0.4 0.6 SDDTS001 100.55 100.95 0.4 0.9 SDDTS001 100.95 101.30 0.3 0.4 SDDTS001 101.30 102.15 0.9 0.1 SDDTS002 111.90 112.55 0.6 0.1 SDDTS002 116.40 117.00 0.6 0.1 SDDTS002 117.00 118.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS003 99.90 100.90 1.0 0.2 SDDTS003 100.90 101.65 0.8 0.2 SDDTS003 101.65 102.14 0.5 0.3 SDDTS003 102.14 102.72 0.6 0.4 SDDTS003 102.72 103.45 0.7 0.2 SDDTS003 103.45 104.20 0.8 0.2 SDDTS003 104.20 104.65 0.5 0.2 SDDTS003 118.00 119.00 1.0 0.3 SDDTS004A 119.60 120.60 1.0 0.1 SDDTS004A 123.40 124.20 0.8 0.2 SDDTS004A 133.60 134.60 1.0 0.2 SDDTS004A 134.60 135.00 0.4 0.2 SDDTS004A 137.60 138.65 1.1 0.7 SDDTS005A 159.43 159.64 0.2 0.1 SDDTS005A 165.00 165.45 0.4 0.1 SDDTS005A 170.00 170.45 0.4 1.0 SDDTS005A 178.00 178.25 0.3 0.1 SDDTS005A 194.22 194.78 0.6 0.1 SDDTS005A 195.62 196.30 0.7 0.1 SDDTS005A 196.30 197.00 0.7 0.1 SDDTS005A 197.00 198.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS005A 198.00 198.79 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 226.80 227.18 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 227.18 227.67 0.5 0.1 SDDTS006 227.67 228.43 0.8 0.2 SDDTS006 228.43 229.30 0.9 0.1 SDDTS006 255.28 256.30 1.0 0.6 SDDTS006 257.30 258.00 0.7 0.1 SDDTS006 258.00 259.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 259.00 260.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 260.00 261.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 261.00 261.49 0.5 0.1 SDDTS006 261.49 262.17 0.7 0.3 SDDTS006 262.17 262.80 0.6 0.2 SDDTS006 275.60 276.05 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 276.90 277.54 0.6 0.1 SDDTS006 277.54 277.88 0.3 0.4 SDDTS006 277.88 278.60 0.7 1.2 SDDTS006 278.60 279.00 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 279.00 279.76 0.8 0.6 SDDTS006 279.76 280.72 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 280.72 281.23 0.5 0.1 SDDTS006 281.23 282.03 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 282.03 282.76 0.7 0.2 SDDTS006 282.76 283.35 0.6 0.2 SDDTS006 283.35 284.00 0.6 0.2 SDDTS006 284.00 285.00 1.0 0.2 SDDTS006 285.00 286.00 1.0 0.3 SDDTS006 286.00 287.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 287.00 287.75 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 287.75 288.65 0.9 0.1 SDDTS006 288.65 289.20 0.6 0.1 SDDTS006 289.20 290.00 0.8 0.2 SDDTS006 290.00 291.00 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 293.60 294.56 1.0 0.1 SDDTS006 294.56 295.17 0.6 0.1 SDDTS006 313.87 314.27 0.4 0.1 SDDTS006 339.25 340.09 0.8 0.1 SDDTS006 340.09 341.10 1.0 0.2 SDDTS006 341.10 342.00 0.9 0.3 SDDTS007 108.50 109.00 0.5 0.3 SDDTS007 112.00 112.50 0.5 0.1 SDDTS007 112.50 113.00 0.5 0.1 SDDTS007 122.80 123.20 0.4 0.1 SDDTS007 124.00 124.35 0.3 0.1

SOURCE: Mawson Gold Limited

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / The Watchlist by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Leveljump Healthcare, Kootenay Silver, Sendero Resources, Nextech3D.ai, and Canada Nickel Company discussing their latest news.

The Watchlist by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

LevelJump Healthcare Corp. Announces the Acquisition of Four Diagnostic Imaging Clinics

LevelJump Healthcare Corp. (TSXV:JUMP)(OTCQB: JMPHF)(FSE:75J) a Canadian leader in B2B telehealth solutions, has announced that, further to its news release dated September 14, 2023, it has closed the acquisition of four Alberta-based independent health facilities.

For the full interview with CEO & Chairman Mitch Geisler and to learn more about Leveljump Healthcare's news, click here.

Kootenay Silver Announces Updated Promontorio/Maiden La Negra Resource Estimate

Kootenay Silver Inc. (TSXV:KTN) has announced an updated mineral resource estimate at the Promontorio-La Negra Project in Sonora Mexico. The resource estimate is an update of the Promontorio deposit and a maiden mineral resource estimate for the La Negra deposit 7km to the north. The two deposits are part of the Promontorio Mineral Belt and are considered a single project.

For the full interview with President & CEO James McDonald and to learn more about Kootenay Silver's news, click here.

Sendero Resources Announces Trading Debut, Provides Exploration Update

Sendero Resources Corp. (TSX:SEND) announced that the Company commences trading today on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol TSXV:SEND. Sendero provided both an overview of the newly listed company and an exploration update.

For the full interview with Executive Chairman Michael Wood and to learn more about Sendero's news, click here.

Nextech3D.ai Launches Revolutionary Augmented Reality Wayfinding Mobile App For Trade Shows and Event Organizers

Nextech3D.AI (OTCQX:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:EP2), a Generative AI-Powered 3D model supplier for Amazon, P&G, Kohls and other major e-commerce retailers has announced a major milestone in the evolution of AR-powered event experiences. The Company's MapD business unit has integrated and launched its indoor navigation capabilities with ARway.ai's technology, opening up exciting new opportunities for event organizers.

For the full interview with CEO Evan Gappelberg and to learn more about Nextech3D.ai's news, click here.

Canada Nickel (TSXV:CNC) Announces Positive Bankable Feasibility Study for its Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project

Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV:CNC)(OTCQX:CNIKF) today released results from the Bankable Feasibility Study for its innovative and wholly-owned Crawford Nickel Sulphide Project, confirming significantly improved economics from its Preliminary Economic Analysis, with an after-tax NPV 8% of $2.5 billion and IRR of 17.1%.

For the full interview with CEO & Director Mark Selby and to learn more about Canada Nickel's news, click here.

Interviews for The Watchlist by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Watchlist or to explore our other interviews visit The Watchlist by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation was recently named to the 2023 Seramount Top Companies for Executive Women list. The award recognizes the company for its inclusive hiring practices and significant progress in culture and commitment. Seramount's list identifies the top workplaces for women advancing through the corporate ranks. It celebrates companies that champion women's advancement, with a focus on succession planning, profit-and-loss roles, gender pay parity, support programs, and flexibility programs.

"We champion the advancement of women by taking meaningful action to embed inclusion and belonging throughout our organization," said Carey Martin, executive vice president and chief human resource officer. "We have continuously worked to create a culture where every person is welcome, respected, valued and heard and are proud of the recognition received by Seramount again this year."

For 111 years, Whirlpool Corp. has been committed to supporting its employees, who embody the company's dedication to improve life at home. CEO and Chairman Marc Bitzer became a Catalyst CEO Champion for Change signatory in 2018, pledging to increase the Whirlpool Corp.'s female representation in executive and senior level positions and ensure accelerated inclusion of women, including women of color, in senior roles. Representation of women at the most senior levels has increased overall as a result of this focus.

"We believe that unique backgrounds and experiences enable innovation, which is critical to success," said Kim Kavala, senior director, inclusion and diversity. "We have multiple employee resource groups to further raise awareness for an inclusive culture, including the Whirlpool Women's Network, which empowers and engages women at all levels within the corporation and community."

As a result of these ongoing efforts, Whirlpool Corp. is regularly recognized as a leading company and has also received the following recognition in 2023: Forbes' list of Best Employers for Women in America, Seramount's Best Companies for Multicultural Women, TIME's list of World's Best Companies, Newsweek's list of World's Most Trustworthy Companies.

For this list, Seramount evaluates companies on every aspect of women's advancement, including succession planning, profit-and-loss roles, gender-pay parity, advancement and support programs and work-life programs. The application, based on 2022 data, tracks and examines how many employees have access to programs and policies that promote advancement of women and how many female employees take advantage of them, as well as how companies train managers to help women advance. To be considered, companies must have a minimum of two women on their boards of directors and at least 500 US employees.

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Whirlpool Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Whirlpool Corporation

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/whirlpool-corporation

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Whirlpool Corporation

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AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, announced today that Billy Nolen has been elected to AARs Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Mr. Nolen, 66, brings more than 30 years of aviation experience across safety, operations, and regulatory affairs. He recently served as acting FAA Administrator and is currently the Chief Safety Officer at Archer Aviation Inc., a leading air mobility company known for developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. While at the FAA, Mr. Nolen revamped certification requirements and airport-focused safety management systems and earlier served as the FAAs Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety.

Mr. Nolens aviation experience began during his service in the U.S. Army, where he was an airplane and helicopter pilot and a safety officer. Following his military experience, Mr. Nolen moved into commercial aviation, becoming a pilot for American Airlines. There, Nolen transitioned to managing the companys Operations Aviation Safety Action Partnership program before assuming a Senior Manager of Flight Safety position. He transitioned to Airlines for America, where he was the Senior Vice President of Safety, Security, and Operations, and to Qantas Group, where he was the Executive Manager of Group Safety and Health. Nolen later joined WestJet as Vice President of Safety, Security, and Quality.

Mr. Nolen brings a unique combination of commercial, government, and military expertise in aviation and a vison for the future of the industry. He will add to the breadth of experience we have on our Board and help guide the continued execution of our strategy, said John M. Holmes, AARs Chairman, President and CEO. AAR prioritizes the safety of flight in all that we do. We look forward to advancing our Quality first. Safety always. culture by drawing from Mr. Nolens strong safety background.

I admire AARs proactive approach to safety, including fidelity to its corporate safety management system program, said Mr. Nolen. Safety is paramount in aviation, and Im honored to join a Board with values tied so closely to my own.

For more information on AAR, visit aarcorp.com.
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 400 China Basin, a significant BMR (Below Market Rate) condo initiative situated in the heart of San Francisco's Mission Bay, proudly announces the launch of its brand new website at www.400chinabasin.com. Sponsored by the Citys Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, 400 China Basin offers a unique opportunity for Middle-Income, First Time Homebuyers under the Citys Limited Equity Program.

The website, expertly developed by Shereen Hadid of Hadid Concepts LLC, a specialist in Marketing, Branding, Web Development, and Creative Strategy, aims to keep eligible applicants updated with the latest news, events, and advancements related to the lottery process in allocating the condo units. Additionally, visitors can immerse themselves in insightful content about San Francisco's Mission Bay area and gain valuable insights about embarking on the journey of new homeownership.

Veteran affordable housing developers Michael Simmons, Charmaine Curtis, and the team at Young Community Developers collaborated on this vital project. With Baines Nibbi JV at the helm of construction and award-winning architects Mithun and Y.A. Studio on the design front, this initiative is backed by a star-studded lineup of experts. Each firm involved boasts over 25 years of experience in developing both market rate and affordable housing in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area.

The endeavor is not only about bricks and mortar. During the purchase process, buyers will be in the safe hands of a seasoned team comprising housing counselors, buyers advocates, and sales agents, all of whom have substantial BMR experience.

400 China Basin is an integral component of a broader initiative spearheaded by the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure. The ambitious plan aims to construct 1,100 affordable housing units in Mission Bay, which includes two special sites earmarked exclusively for first-time homebuyers. 400 China Basin is one of the last developments of this initiative.

"We're thrilled to introduce our new website to potential homeowners and the community. Our goal is to provide an accessible platform where people can receive timely updates, learn more about the area, and prepare for the exciting journey of homeownership in Mission Bay," said developer and project coordinator Michael Simmons.

For more information or to explore the website, visit www.400chinabasin.com.

About 400 China Basin: 400 China Basin is a premier BMR condo project in San Francisco's Mission Bay, offering permanent affordable home ownership to middle-income individuals and families. The project stands as a testament to the citys commitment to providing quality housing options for its diverse population.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011156320/en/

Ross Taylor

Alameda Internet Marketing

[email protected]

https://alamedaim.com

(510) 217-8490

Source: 400 China Basin
Redefining the aromatic landscape: Abstrax's pioneering research in collaboration with industry leader 710 Labs reveals untapped dimensions of cannabis essence and aroma not related to terpenes  a game-changer for consumers, cultivators, labs, and regulators.

TUSTIN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Abstrax, in collaboration with leading extraction and analytical experts at 710 Labs, SepSolve Analytical and Markes International, has uncovered a plethora of new exotic flavor and aroma compounds in cannabis that have rarely - if ever - been observed, leading to a new understanding of what drives cannabis most compelling aromas and the entourage effect. The study, published in ACS Omega, was selected as an ACS Editors Choice publication, highlighting the importance and broad interest of this work.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231004787760/en/

Schematic illustrating the wide spectrum of cannabis aromas reported from a sensory panel for multiple cultivars. The numbers in parentheses are each varietys Exotic Score that indicates how exotic the strain is. Higher numbers indicate the variety was ranked to be sweet or fruity, while lower numbers indicate the varieties were ranked as not sweet or fruity. The numbers do not correspond to aroma quality - meaning a higher number is not better than a lower number. (Graphic: Business Wire)

"We found clear correlations between key minor compounds never before seen in cannabis that produce some of the most desireable aromas, said TJ Martin, Vice President of Research and Development at Abstrax. After analysis by our sensory panel, in tandem with our analytical data, it became evident that terpenes, while essential in producing many of the typical aromas in cannabis, do not necessarily differentiate many varieties with distinct scents.

The research began with a human sensory panel that assessed the aroma of over 30 different ice hash rosin samples. The results revealed pronounced differences between varieties, with some described as "sweet or fruity" and others as "savory or chemical."

The wide diversity of aromas provided researchers with a broad spectrum of legal cannabis product samples to analyze. Next, 2-dimensional gas chromatography, a sophisticated technique offering higher resolution and fidelity than traditional chemical analysis methods, enabled the detection of hidden compounds in small concentrations that can have a significant odor impact. This proved crucial when the team discovered that terpenes had minimal correlation with the highly sought after attributes of many exotic cannabis varieties, suggesting an alternative class of compounds could be the key.

The study identified many key aroma classes with diverse functionality, each responsible for some of the most desirable aromatic qualities found in high quality modern cannabis. Abstrax scientists highlight two classes, including tropical Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) and the heterocyclic compounds Indole and Skatole. The former produce highly desired exotic citrus and tropical notes in certain varieties such as Tangie or Tropicana Cookies, while the latter provide a rich, intense, chemical scent in GMO, 710 Chem, and other savory varieties.

Citrus is currently a very important trend in flavor science, with many brands working to engineer citrus alternatives. With the discovery of the compounds responsible for the iconic Tangie flavor and aroma, known as tropicannasulfurs, other industries can leverage these unique compounds to create extremely unique and desirable citrus aromas.

Furthermore, a broad variety of flavorants in cannabis including esters, alcohols, ketones, and more that contribute to the berry, tropical, candy, fruity, strawberry, pineapple, and other sweet notes were identified. These flavorants play a major role in exotic varieties like Apple Fritter, Zkittlez, Gelato, and Runtz. While found in small amounts, these compounds combine to create many of the diverse sweet or fruity notes in modern cannabis.

The discovery of these compounds will play a crucial role in validating cannabis authenticity and accurately classifying cannabis varieties in the future. It also enables Abstrax to create the most flavorful and authentic cannabis flavors utilizing these previously undiscovered cannabis compounds, says Max Koby, CEO and Co-Founder of Abstrax. This research is important for consumers, researchers, brands, cultivators, labs, regulators, and everyone in between.

For example, Gorilla Glue, which typically has a pungent, gassy, almost chemical scent, was described as tropical and citrus by the sensory panel. Chemical data validated the sensory results, showing high concentrations of tropical VSCs (tropicannasulfurs), suggesting that the product was mislabeled. These compounds offer a means to correctly classify varieties and ensure product quality and authenticity.

Co-author Brad Melshenker, Co-CEO of 710 Labs, expressed, "Abstrax and 710 Labs share the same lifelong passion: studying this incredibly complex plant. This research helps us better understand flavor in the cannabis experience, allowing us to better educate our customers and select phenos for our genetic library."

These findings are especially important for:

Consumers to best identify and understand the products they love.

to best identify and understand the products they love. Cultivators / breeders to hone in on creating unique genetics and highly consistent products.

/ to hone in on creating unique genetics and highly consistent products. Packaging experts to better innovate for specific compounds to increase product shelf life.

to better innovate for specific compounds to increase product shelf life. Regulators to fully understand which components of a cannabis plant are driving sweet, fruity, and savory flavors and aromas.

Beyond gaining a better understanding of the aromatic qualities of cannabis, the authors hope that other functional applications may follow.

"Cannabis is used medically for many health ailments, but there are so many questions remaining as to how it works and if we can enhance those properties by creating new varieties with specific chemistries, " said Iain Oswald, PhD, Abstrax Principal Research Scientist. We hope our work will open new avenues of research for others to better understand this unique plant and harness its full therapeutic potential.

For instance, indole and skatole, two of the key savory and chemical aroma compounds discovered in the study, contain similar chemical structures to 3-3-Diindolylmethane (DIM), which is a weak CB1 and CB2 receptor agonist that has shown fascinating antiproliferative properties in certain cancer cell lines. Now researchers can investigate if either indole or skatole may contribute similar functionality to cannabis.

This new chemistry will open the doors for exciting new avenues of research and classification schemes that are grounded in the very thing that makes so many cannabis varieties unique - their aroma, says Kevin Koby, Chief Science Officer of Abstrax. While this research may answer many questions, it opens just as many new possibilities for this incredible plant.

The study is soon to result in the publication of four key white papers to help simplify these results for a general audience: (1) exploring exotic flavor compounds, (2) Tangies unique tropical VSC, (3) a deep dive unveiling GMO, and (4) an exploration on the sugar and sweet compounds in cannabis.

As we stand at the dawn of a new era in cannabis understanding, Abstrax remains committed to pioneering discoveries that elevate the industry and enrich the consumer experience. This groundbreaking research not only answers pressing questions but also ignites a renewed passion and curiosity for what's next. With every revelation, we're one step closer to fully unlocking the vast potential and mysteries of this remarkable plant. As we venture into these new horizons, Abstrax invites everyone to join in celebrating and exploring the profound intricacies and wonders of cannabis.

For additional information, please visit: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.3c04496

About Abstrax: Where Innovation and Science Meets Flavor Mastery

Abstrax, the pioneer in botanical flavor technology, delivers terpene-driven flavor solutions. Catering to the cannabis, hops, flavor and fragrance sectors, it's the go-to for CPG brands seeking differentiation. Founded in California by renowned scientists and visionaries, Abstrax employs cutting-edge technology and sustainable ingredients across three divisions. Abstrax Tech leads in research, discovering new flavor compounds and crafting terpene blends for diverse markets, including unique cannabis flavors. Abstrax Labs offers cutting-edge extraction and analytical technologies through its proprietary Terplytics system. It delivers the most advanced botanical testing for exploratory research, sensory quantification, strain validation, product development, and consumer insights. Abstrax Hops provides the most advanced research, products, and services that push the limits of brewing innovation. Its wide range of solutions encapsulates the authentic varietal specific Hop Flavors, Dank Flavors, and next generation of advanced hop products including natural hop aroma extracts. Abstrax offers the utmost in safety, quality and regulatory adherence, ensuring seamless integration into product lines. Delve deeper with Abstrax at AbstraxTech.com, AbstraxHops.com and AbstraxLabs.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231004787760/en/

Stacey Jones

La Voz Marketing

[email protected]

Source: Abstrax
Presentation of the latest results on glenzocimab in Stroke patients

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (FR0014005OJ5 - ALACT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, in particular stroke, announced today that it participates in the 15th World Stroke Congress (WSC) on October 10 -12, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

The 15th World Stroke Congress (WSC 2023), organized by The World Stroke Organization and the Canadian Stroke Consortium, is the international leading conference on Stroke Research and publication of major clinical trial data. This 3-day congress brings together international opinion leaders to discuss the latest advances in stroke care.

At this international conference, the Company presented three communications on glenzocimab clinical development

1) Oral Presentation, by Pr Carlos Molina, MD, Spain

Glenzocimab treatment on top of thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in elderly patients is associated with a favorable outcome at 24 hours and 90 days. By Carlos Molina et al. Abstract 1927. Oct 10th, 2023.

This communication underlines the potential of glenzocimab treatment for yielding a favorable outcome for those stroke patients from the ACTIMIS study, aged over 65 years and treated by mechanical thrombectomy, that represent a real therapeutic challenge in acute ischemic stroke. On this elderly patients subpopulation treated with glenzocimab, a 4-fold reduction of mRS 4-6 (i.e., death and severe disability) was observed, as well as an increase in the percentage of patients presenting with mRS 0-2 (i.e., favorable outcome without any assistance) compared to placebo (standard of care alone).

2) E-Poster Presentation, by Dr James Grotta, MD, USA:

ACTISAVE: glenzocimab efficacy study in ischemic stroke - a blinded safety data review of the first 100 patients recruited. By Martin Koehrmann et al. Abstract 2211. Oct 12th, 2023.

This e-poster presents the design of the phase 2/3 ACTISAVE study and the blind safety data from the first 100 patients included.

3) e-Poster Viewing, by Adeline Meilhoc, PsyD, France

Identifying best responders to glenzocimab in Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) with Artificial Intelligence (AI): an ACTIMIS sub-analysis. By Adeline Meilhoc et al. Abstract 2124.

This sub-analysis of ACTIMIS study using Artificial Intelligence allowed the identification of several groups of glenzocimab best responding patients.

Sophie BINAY, General Manager and Chief Scientific Officer, stated: "These three presentations delivered at this world leading conference for stroke research underline the significant role played by Acticor Biotech in this ecosystem, as well as the urgent need for new innovative treatments in stroke. We are now looking forward to the final clinical results of our phase 2/3 ACTISAVE study for the treatment of stroke, which are expected as early as in the second quarter of 2024.

About WSO and WSC:

The World Stroke Organization (WSO) has a mission to reduce the global burden of stroke through prevention, treatment and long-term care. WSO is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a non-governmental organization for official relations.

The World Stroke Organization is the only global body solely focused on stroke.

It was established in October 2006 through the merger of the International Stroke Society and the World Stroke Federation with the purpose of ensuring a life free from stroke. With around 4000 individual and 90 society members spanning every global region, WSO represents over 55,000 stroke specialists in clinical, research and community settings.

The 15th World Stroke Congress (WSC 2023) held in Toronto from October 10-12, 2023, is organized by The World Stroke Organization and the Canadian Stroke Consortium with accessible online components.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke.

In May 2022, Acticor Biotech presented positive results from its Phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, confirming the safety profile and showing a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group in patients with stroke. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being evaluated in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, which will include 400 patients, with clinical results expected in Q2 2024.

In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities.

Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Anaxago, and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5  ALACT).

For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

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ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

General Manager and founder

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

Sophie BINAY, PhD

Chief Operating Officer and

Scientific Director

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN / Quentin MASSE

Investor Relations

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

[email protected]

T. : +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15

Source: ACTICOR BIOTECH
MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of C++ (Marginal), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of b+ (Marginal), and the Mexico National Scale Rating of bbb.MX (Good) of BUPA Mexico, Compania de Seguros, S.A. de C.V. (Bupa Mexico) (Mexico). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is positive.

The ratings reflect Bupa Mexicos balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as weak, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The positive outlooks reflect sustained improvement in the companys balance sheet strength underpinned by an adequate level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), following the change in its reinsurance program, and fully retained quality business.

Bupa Mexico is a subsidiary of The British United Provident Association Limited and is tied to the Bupa groups commercial strategy of expanding into Mexicos insurance market by leveraging its brand. Bupa Mexicos focus is on the individual and group major medical coverage segment, while the individual lines segment represents its biggest share of business, at approximately 89%. The companys target market has been small clients with high net worth; however, it is trying to diversify by opening coverage to other sectors, with a higher volume of lower premium business.

The companys historically favorable financial flexibility was achieved through the capital and reinsurance support historically provided by its ultimate parent. Beginning in third-quarter 2021, changes in the Mexico-based subsidiarys reinsurance program significantly raised its underwriting risk, pressuring BCAR. Nonetheless, the companys flagship business, which previously was ceded for the most part, historically has demonstrated operating performance in line with industry benchmarks, enhancing the companys balance sheet strength assessment.

Bupa Mexicos business volume has outpaced the market for the past five years, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of 13.7%. However, an offsetting rating factor is the small size of the subsidiary, reflected in a market share of over 3% (as of December 2022) in an industry led by bigger participants. As of June 2023, Bupa Mexico posted a positive bottom-line result of MXN 90.5 million, which was mainly a result of contained claims, as well as its internal service team, which includes synergies between areas of customer service and a core business system. The company also has continued to reduce operating expenses; however, a challenging and concentrated operating environment raises uncertainty over the expected success of this new business strategy.

Positive rating actions could occur as a result of sustained improvement in balance sheet strength as a consequence of the new business strategy being successfully executed. Negative rating actions could occur if the strategic importance of the company to Bupa group decreases, which could diminish AM Bests expectation of parental support toward the Mexico-based subsidiary. Negative rating actions could also take place as a result of the execution risk derived from the new business strategy.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012968529/en/

Salvador Smith

Senior Financial Analyst

+52 55 9085 7506

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Eli Sanchez

Director, Analytics

+52 55 9085 7503

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of bbb+ (Good) of Gulf Insurance Group  Jordan (GIG Jordan) (Jordan). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect GIG Jordans balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also factor in enhancement from GIG Jordans parent company, Gulf Insurance Group K.S.C.P. (GIG), reflecting the strategic importance of GIG Jordan to the group.

GIG Jordans balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), at the strongest level. The companys risk-adjusted capitalisation in 2022 returned to year-end 2020 levels after it reduced moderately in 2021 following the acquisition of Arab Life & Accident Insurance Co. (P.S.C.). GIG Jordans BCAR scores are expected nevertheless to remain comfortably at the strongest level, supported by good organic capital generation. In the first quarter of 2023, GIG Jordan completed the repayment of the subordinated loan it received from its parent in 2017 to shore up its regulatory solvency position and currently benefits from an unlevered balance sheet. During the second quarter of 2023, the company rebalanced its investment portfolio moving away from Jordanian cash and deposits, in favour of geographically diversified fixed income securities across the Middle East region. The rebalancing ensured that the company maintained sound liquidity and financial flexibility.

GIG Jordan has demonstrated a track record of solid technical performance. In 2022, the company reported a combined ratio of 91.8% (2021: 86.4%), as calculated by AM Best, which is broadly in line with the five-year (2018-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 90.2%. Overall, operating performance is supported by relatively modest but stable investment income, with the company returning an investment yield (including capital gains) of 4.3% in 2022, marginally above the five-year (2018-2022) weighted average of 4.2%.

GIG Jordan has a leading position in its domestic insurance market, with a market share of approximately 15%. However, the companys underwriting portfolio is concentrated heavily toward medical and motor risks on a net premium basis, which is a common characteristic of insurers in the region. Furthermore, Jordans insurance market is relatively small and fragmented. AM Best expects the acquisition and merger of Arab Life & Accident Insurance Co. (P.S.C.) to benefit GIG Jordans product diversification over the long term, although it has little immediate impact.

GIG Jordans ERM framework has evolved under its new management team, and robust controls appear to be in place. Significant steps have been taken to integrate the company with GIGs ERM practices and strengthen its risk culture. GIG continues to integrate operationally with its subsidiaries, providing support in areas such as reinsurance purchasing, risk management, pricing and reserving, and investment management.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider 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 Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012746909/en/

Romeo Berti

Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0267

[email protected]

Tim Prince

Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0320

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
Promotes working with diverse suppliers as the company moves toward $300 million spend with diverse suppliers by 2025

ORANGE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a leading sustainable energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, recently held its first ever Supplier Diversity Summit at its headquarters in Orange, Connecticut as part of the companys 2023 Diversity Week. The event proactively connected diverse suppliers with Avangrid contacts and increased the overall visibility of Avangrids Supplier Diversity Program as the company moves to increase its supplier diversity spend to $300 million by 2025.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012401893/en/

Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra opens the company's first ever Supplier Diversity Summit

This event was an excellent occasion to celebrate our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. As a member of the Iberdrola Group, were already a naturally diverse company made up of people with many backgrounds, stories and ideas. This makes us stronger. Our Supplier Diversity Program ensures were building strong partnerships with diverse allies to strengthen our supply chain and ensure it truly reflects our customers and the communities that we serve.

Our diverse suppliers are essential to our company and our mission, said Felix Morck, Vice President of Purchasing and Insurance of Avangrid. We are strengthening Avangrid by opening our supply chain to new ideas, alternative providers, disruptive technologies, new talent, specialized insight, and local expertise. This event is another great way to interact with some of our diverse suppliers and continue to strengthen our program.

Avangrids Supplier Diversity Summit hosted 60 suppliers from diverse backgrounds and 50 Avangrid key stakeholders from purchasing and other relevant business areas. The event included networking opportunities, a panel on Avangrids approach and commitment to sourcing, diversity and sustainability, and guest speakers from a minority-owned business and a woman-owned business. Avangrid also presented its Supplier Diversity Awards to two of its diverse suppliers, McNDT and Pterra, for exceeding expectations in innovation, quality and service.

One of the guest speakers at the Summit was Theresa Eaton, CEO, Chair and Owner of WECS Renewables, an electrical, mechanical and hydraulic parts wholesale distributor, providing parts to the wind, solar and battery storage sectors.

Avangrid is truly at the forefront of the industry in recognizing and awarding competent, diverse businesses in the renewables sector and helping build sustainable, long-term partnerships, said Eaton. WECS Renewables is proud to be associated with Avangrid and their mission. This event was reflective of their significant participation in this arena.

Avangrids Supplier Diversity Program promotes an inclusive environment through equitable and competitive business practices that strengthen the participation of ethnic minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, veteran-owned, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals (LGBTQI+) owned businesses in the companys purchases of goods and services. Avangrid launched its expanded Supplier Diversity Program last year and added staff dedicated to proactively supporting diverse suppliers.

Supplier diversity has always been something that is top of mind for me, said Dominick Manno, Director of Sustainability & Supplier Diversity at Avangrid. When I started my career as a buyer, my first key supplier was a minority-owned business. Now my journey has come full circle as I lead the Supplier Diversity Program at Avangrid. Today was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate this personal journey as well as the great strides weve made to enhance Avangrids Supplier Diversity Program. Im looking forward to continuing to grow our efforts and invest in the communities where we live, work and serve.

About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies  a ranking of Americas best corporate citizens. In 2023, Avangrid ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the Worlds Most Ethical Companies in 2023 for the fifth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012401893/en/

Media:

Sarah Warren

[email protected]

585-794-9253

Source: AVANGRID, Inc.
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Benson Hill, Inc. (NYSE: BHIL, the Company or Benson Hill), a food tech company unlocking the natural genetic diversity of plants, announced today that it expects to host a call on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, to provide an update on its strategic review process. The Company will also release its financial results for the third quarter ending Sept. 30, 2023, before the market opens on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, and will host a webcast to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012515933/en/

Benson Hill Announces Strategic Review Update and Third Quarter Earnings Release Dates (Graphic: Business Wire)

Both events will include a management presentation and Q&A session. The webcasts will be accessible on Benson Hills investor relations website at https://investors.bensonhill.com.

About Benson Hill

Benson Hill moves food forward with the CropOS platform, a cutting-edge food innovation engine that combines data science and machine learning with biology and genetics. Benson Hill empowers innovators to unlock natures genetic diversity from plant to plate, with the purpose of creating nutritious, great-tasting food and ingredient options that are both widely accessible and sustainable. More information can be found at bensonhill.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @bensonhillinc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012515933/en/

Investor Contact

Benson Hill

Ruben Mella

314-714-6313

[email protected]

Media Contact

Benson Hill

Christi Dixon

636-359-0797

[email protected]

Media Kit

Source: Benson Hill, Inc.
Over 18 Years Supporting USAID With Advancing Environmental and Social Safeguards in its Mission and Programs

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cadmus, a leading provider of technical and strategic expertise to governments, energy utilities, and private sector companies worldwide, announced today it has been awarded the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)s Environmental and Social Safeguarding Support project (ES3). Under this $93 million, five-year OASIS task order, Cadmus and its teamincluding major subcontractor Environmental Incentiveswill deliver technical assistance, training, and other support for USAIDs implementation of its environmental and social safeguards to any USAID operating unit that elects to buy into the contract. This award enables Cadmus to continue and expand on the work the firm initiated as prime contractor for USAIDs predecessor contracts, Global Environmental Management Support (GEMS) I, GEMS II, and most recently, as a major subcontractor under the Environmental Compliance Support (ECOS) contract. Winning ES3 highlights Cadmus ongoing role as the Agencys leading safeguards support contractor.

The ES3 contract provides USAID bureaus, missions, and overseas offices with technical, educational, and knowledge management assistance to facilitate compliance with 22 CFR 216, Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) Sections 117/118/119, regulatory requirements, and executive order and Agency policy objectives. This single-award, Agency-wide contract supports a consistent, quality approach to safeguards implementation across USAID, including implementing partner training and environmental officer backstopping support. It is intended to help USAID advance safeguards across all of its programming, facilitate the sharing of lessons learned, reduce compliance risks, provide training, facilitate capacity building, and reduce transaction costs of operating units that seek access to environmental compliance and related services.

Under ES3, Cadmus will continue to support USAID with responsive, efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality execution to support current and future safeguards challenges and opportunities in a manner consistent with USAIDs localization; climate; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and other key Agency priorities and policies. Cadmus will deliver via its dedicated in-house USAID safeguards support team, its in-house and global network of subject matter experts, and by bringing to USAID the full capabilities of its small business-centered ES3 team. To support efficient, quality management of a program with an expected 300 separate work assignments and hundreds of non-fungible accounting lines, Cadmus will use its technical expertise to deliver a program management portal which will provide real-time financial and program management insights.

We are incredibly proud that the Cadmus team has been awarded this contract to continue our environmental and social safeguards support for USAID, said President and CEO Ian Kline. Through our support for its predecessors, GEMS I and II and ECOS, we have helped the Agency integrate leading safeguards approaches across its program cycle to best assure the environmental and social sustainability of development interventions across USAID's portfolio. Cadmus looks forward to supporting USAID and its implementing partners under this new contract.

Cadmus recently expanded its capabilities in further support of USAID in economic development, trade, and digitization strategy with its acquisition of Nathan Associates, a private international economic and analytics consulting firm that has worked for 75 years with government and commercial clients around the globe. Integrating Nathan Associates' legacy and expertise, Cadmus will continue to deepen its work advancing environmental and social goals in an international development context.

About Cadmus

Cadmus is a strategic and technical consultancy compelled to help solve the worlds most challenging problems. We assemble outstanding teams of leading experts with an ethos grounded in collaboration and a drive for impact, who work seamlessly across disciplines and leverage transformative technologies to help our clients achieve extraordinary outcomes. Together, we are strengthening society and the natural world. Cadmus more than 1,000 consultants serve government, commercial, and nongovernmental organizations around the world. For more information, visit www.cadmusgroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012680219/en/

Helle Huxley, CMO

The Cadmus Group LLC

Tel: (240) 204-6200

Email: [email protected]

Source: Cadmus
DATAMARKs GIS Services and GIS Data Management solutions help public safety agencies better utilize their existing location-based GIS data for more strategic planning and efficient response to critical incidents.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CentralSquare Technologies, an industry leader in public sector technology, today announced a partnership with DATAMARK, the public safety geographic information systems (GIS) team of Michael Baker International and the go-to authority on GIS data for public safety. CentralSquares partnership with DATAMARK will help public safety agencies fully realize the potential of their GIS mapping data to better prepare, plan and respond to emergency incidents by using the most accurate location-based information available.

The partners will be sharing more details of the partnership at this weeks IACP 2023 Conference in San Diego at CentralSquare Booth #3539 and DATAMARK Booth #4025.

Today, more than 5,000 public safety agencies across North America trust CentralSquares industry-leading end-to-end public safety solutions to reduce response times and save lives with the most interoperable solutions on the market. Access to DATAMARKs GIS Services and cloud-native solutions, including DATAMARK VEP, CloudAssign and INSIDE, will now be available across all CentralSquare public safety products, providing the highest levels of public safety GIS data completeness and accuracy for faster emergency response.

The increased use of GIS mapping and visualization as a key tool for public safety professionals to leverage in their existing 9-1-1, CAD and RMS solutions for more accurate planning and faster responses to emergencies is an area CentralSquare is fully committed to leading, shared Dara Brenner, Chief Product Officer at CentralSquare Technologies. Through our partnership with DATAMARK, we are giving public safety agencies direct access to expert GIS data analysts and their tools so agencies can truly unlock the possibilities of using their GIS data to help save lives.

Access to accurate and complete public safety GIS data is critical to first responders as it allows them to quickly and accurately assess the situation and deploy resources as needed to save lives when seconds matter. DATAMARKs partnership with CentralSquare gives thousands of public safety agencies the opportunity to make data-driven decisions with authoritative GIS data, said Chris Friel, Associate VP, Strategic Partnerships at DATAMARK. As GIS becomes the forefront to public safety response and emergency planning, DATAMARK and CentralSquare are leading the way to ensure agencies have the tools and guidance they need to make positive impacts in their communities.

CentralSquare public safety users who leverage DATAMARK will receive access to the following benefits:

Access to expert and experienced GIS professionals to help create and cleanse GIS data, as well as provide actionable insights for improvement.

End-to-end GIS services and solutions to support local, regional and statewide transitions to NG9-1-1.

Award-winning GIS validation and data management tools in alignment with NENA standards and industry best practices.

Indoor Mapping software and services for users to precisely locate indoor incidents and create a common operating picture for public safety, school and facility management stakeholders.

About CentralSquare Technologies

CentralSquare Technologies is the largest independent public sector software provider that powers all aspects of managing local government to build smarter and safer communities. Public sectors across North America use CentralSquare to enable efficiencies and a seamless end-to-end integrated experience by using innovative, cloud-based solutions and automation. CentralSquares scalable technology helps state and local agencies thrive operationally, even during states of emergency in public safety when every second counts. Its intuitive enterprise software also includes user-friendly platforms to support public administration agencies with finance, asset, compliance, case management and much more to drive better public experiences.

As the market driver for advancing safety and justice with innovative technology, CentralSquare serves 3 out of 4 citizens across North America. The company is headquartered in Lake Mary, FL and has locations in North Carolina, South Dakota and British Columbia. More information is available at CentralSquare.com.

About DATAMARK

As trusted advisors in public safety, DATAMARK brings comprehensive, real-world expertise in police, fire, EMS and 9-1-1 leadership roles to Next Generation 9-1-1 transitions. The DATAMARK team leads the industry by shaping rules and legislation, and by building a suite of products and services that ensure accurate emergency response location data in life-critical situations. DATAMARK empowers its team and stakeholder partners to foster trusted relationships and cultivate data integrity for informed decision making. DATAMARK, the public safety GIS team of Michael Baker International, has decades of proven experience in mission-critical government addressing projects. The team works with clients to solve their complex needs, from data quality checks and addressing to workflow analysis and more. Learn more about the company at www.datamarkgis.com and follow DATAMARK on X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012081856/en/

Katie OBrien, RH Strategic on behalf of CentralSquare, [email protected]

Julia Covelli, Public Relations Director, Michael Baker International for DATAMARK, [email protected]

Source: CentralSquare Technologies
WHEELING, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) and Sky Harbour Group [Sky Harbour Group Corporation (NYSE: SKYH, SKYH WS)] today announced the execution of an agreement for the development of a Sky Harbour Home Base campus at PWK, the leading General Aviation airport in the Chicago area.

The Sky Harbour campus, to be developed on approximately 25 acres, is expected to create or sustain hundreds of local jobs and generate approximately $550MM in economic benefits. The campus will offer the best home base in business aviation to house approximately twenty of the Chicago areas top corporate and privately-owned business jets in private hangars, with line-services dedicated exclusively to based tenants, offering the shortest time to wheels-up in business aviation.

Court Harris, Chairman of the Chicago Executive Airport Board, noted, Sky Harbour brings unique and differentiated benefits to PWK, to the communities of Prospect Heights and Wheeling, and to the Chicago area in general. We appreciate the spirit of partnership and professionalism that the Sky Harbour team has brought to this relationship. We value the companys track record of delivering on its commitments, and look forward to working together to enhance PWKs value, both to the local community and to the business aviation community.

The Chicago Executive Airport campus joins Sky Harbour campuses now operating at Houstons Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR), Nashville International Airport (BNA), and Miami Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF); campuses in development at Denver Centennial Airport (APA), Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT) and Dallass Addison Airport (ADS); and additional campuses soon to be announced.

Tal Keinan, Sky Harbours Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, Chicago Executive Airport is among the best-managed business aviation airports in the United States, serving one of the countrys top business aviation markets. Sky Harbour is honored to be joining the PWK community and committed to maximizing the long-term benefits of a Sky Harbour campus to Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Cook County, and the Greater Chicago area.

About Chicago Executive Airport

Chicago Executive is a top reliever airport for Chicago OHare International (ORD), accepting some 100,000 corporate, charter and light recreational aircraft annually. Located just 10 miles north of ORD, Chicago Executive Airport is jointly owned by the Village of Wheeling and City of Prospect Heights. Visit us at chiexec.com for additional information.

About Sky Harbour Group Corporation

Sky Harbour Group Corporation is an aviation infrastructure company developing the first nationwide network of Home-Basing campuses for business aircraft. The company develops, leases and manages general aviation hangars across the United States. Sky Harbours Home-Basing offering aims to provide private and corporate customers with the best physical infrastructure in business aviation, coupled with dedicated service tailored to based aircraft, offering the shortest time to wheels-up in business aviation. To learn more, visit www.skyharbour.group.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about the financial condition, results of operations, earnings outlook and prospects of Sky Harbour Group (SHG) may include statements for the period following the consummation of the business combination. When used in this press release, the words plan, believe, expect, anticipate, intend, outlook, estimate, forecast, project, continue, could, may, might, possible, potential, predict, should, would and other similar words and expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of SHG as applicable and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified in the public filings made or to be made with the SEC by SHG, including the filings described above, regarding the following: expectations regarding SHGs strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans, expansion plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and SHGs ability to invest in growth initiatives; SHGs ability to scale and build the hangars currently under development or planned in a timely and cost-effective manner; the implementation, market acceptance and success of SHGs business model and growth strategy; the success or profitability of SHGs hangar facilities; SHGs future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; SHGs ability to obtain funding for its operations and future growth; developments and projections relating to SHGs competitors and industry; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the possibility that SHG may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; operational risk; risk that the COVID-19 pandemic, and local, state, and federal responses to addressing the pandemic may have an adverse effect on SHGs business operations, as well as SHGs financial condition and results of operations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions made by the management of SHG prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. SHG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012706217/en/

Chicago Executive Airport Public Affairs: [email protected]

Sky Harbour Airport Relations: [email protected]

Sky Harbour Member Relations: [email protected]

Sky Harbour Investor Relations: [email protected] Attn: Francisco Gonzalez

Source: Sky Harbour Group Corporation
SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global leading smart energy solutions provider CHINT has held the 10th CHINT International Marketing Forum (CIMF) from October 10 to 14, 2023 in Shanghai, China. Under the theme Nexus: Empower a Boundless Energy World, the event brought together more than 300 guests from more than 60 countries, all leaders in the fields of electric power, new energy, industrial, power distribution, and other segments.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011130020/en/

The 10th CHINT International Marketing Forum (Photo: Business Wire)

CHINT owns the regional headquarters with a fully-functional structure and is experienced in the migration of capability platforms to better interact professionally with customers, says Ms. Lily Zhang, President of CHINT Global, With these backgrounds, CHINTs strategy is Local for Global, Global for Local, and invites all the world guests to join us for a better nexus of global energy.

Held biennially since 2005, CIMF also serves as an exclusive venue to connect and collaborate with peers. After experiencing the expansion of its scale, the accumulation of customers, and joint efforts from all parties, CIMF has enabled attendees to exchange insights, address emerging challenges, and seize future opportunities. The 10th CIMF returned to a face-to-face format with a live webcast on the official website and the Go CHINT app, following the previous edition being held entirely virtually. It provided a valuable platform for CHINT to share its progress in tackling the various opportunities and challenges in the industry, as well as function as a valuable chance for CHINTs customers to engage with world-renowned experts from the energy sector.

The forum allowed attendees to listen to industry experts as they analyze the latest trends and forecast the trajectory of the global energy sector. The forum once again gathered global perspectives and delivered observations and practices of world power energy. Mr. Nan Cunhui, Chairman of CHINT Group, said in his keynote speech that the new economy has become the mainstay of development, and CHINT called for concerted global action to accelerate the green energy transformation.

Ms. Lily Zhang said that the 10th CIMF is also an opportunity for all walks of life to get to know CHINT again. Regarding CHINTs regional globalization, industry-wide capabilities, open cooperation model, and multi-scenario customization capabilities, CHINT will be more closely connected with global customers.

The forum also featured a panel discussion titled Challenges and Opportunities for Global Businesses in the New Era, which covered global climate change, geopolitics, sustainable development, and the need for an orderly energy transition. The roundtable was hosted by Ms. Mattie Bekink, China Director of the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, as the host of this part, together with Ms. Liu Meng, General Representative of the Asia-Pacific Region of the United Nations Global Compact, Mr. Kenneth Jarrett, Senior Advisor of ASG, and Mr. Prabhu Ramkumar, Vice President and Head of Sustainability of TUV SUD North Asia.

In the sub-forum, CHINT showcased some of its technologies, such as energy storage, data center, low-carbon, mobile substation, and new material graphene applications, which seek to contribute to the deep decarbonization of its energy mix. CHINT is continuously refining its smart solar solutions, including its low-carbon street lighting system, to increase efficiency and capacity, helping reduce dependence on fossil fuels. It has also developed comprehensive mobile substation technology, allowing quick deployment to areas that need additional energy.

Under the consensus of global carbon reduction, the Chinese government has promised to achieve carbon peak in 2023. Following this lead, CHINT released its carbon emission reduction path, promising to achieve operational carbon neutrality in 2028, operational net-zero emissions in 2035, and realizing it across the entire value chain in 2050. Net-zero emissions, while empowering the industry with solutions such as green source, smart network, load reduction, and new storage to help key industries achieve carbon neutrality. CHINT Electric and Kearney jointly released the CHINT Electric Carbon Neutrality White Paper and will release a series of industry white papers on various industrial and environmental issues that the company is tackling in its products and business operations.

Within the CIMF Events there shall be the opportunity for CHINT to highlight their heritage as a Chinese founded company where on the first day guests/ attendants will be able to experience a culture park of the history of Shanghai. On the morning of the 13th guests will learn the Tai chi program a Chinese martial art. On the final day there shall be a boat ride across the Ou Jiang river, to enjoy tea and reflect on the event and its outcomes.

About CHINT Global

Founded in 1984, CHINTs operations now span more than 140 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. Over the years, CHINT has built strong global manufacturing and R&D capabilities, with a total of 18 manufacturing bases and four global R&D centers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011130020/en/

Media

Cora Geng

[email protected]

Source: CHINT Global
OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Church of Ambrosia, the worlds largest psychedelic church, today offered a mixed response to California Gov. Gavin Newsoms veto of SB58, the bill that sought to decriminalize the use of certain psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline.

Dave Hodges, founder of the Church, said the Senate measure would have been a great step forward as it would have enabled decriminalization to move ahead. But Hodges said the bill had major flaws, principally concerning the lack of provisions to ensure public safety and quality control.

Theres a huge education component that needs to be done to address safety, and most importantly you need to make sure that the supply is safe. The version of SB58 that was on Gavin's desk would have left a major hole where the Psychedelics were coming from, forcing people into potentially dangerous situations, said Hodges.

The Church, in partnership with the Oakland-based Hyphae Labs, has been an early and vigorous leader on safety issues. It announced in July that it had developed dosing guidelines and an advanced psilocybin dosage calculator. http://ambrosia.church/calc

There are many people interested in mushrooms for many reasons and we want them all to use psilocybin safely, Hodges said.

A growing number of studies are finding that substances such as Psilocybin in magic mushrooms are effective in treating a variety of mental health and medical conditions. Johns Hopkins University research, for example, has shown psilocybin useful in treating major depression.

According to Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, these substances have also shown effectiveness in treating conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, addiction, suicidality, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and various mental illnesses.

Hodges said with the veto of SB58, the churchs Psychedelic Wellness & Healing Initiative may be the only option on the horizon for safe and legal medical access to Psychedelics in California.

Hodges, one of the initiatives main proponents, said the filing could be placed on a statewide ballot as early as 2024.

If approved by voters, the initiative would become law and enable people to obtain all Psychedelics upon referral from a doctor for medical or therapeutic use  mirroring a path that in 1997 allowed doctors to recommend medical cannabis.

The current version of the Psychedelic Wellness & Healing Initiative can be read here: https://bit.ly/pwhi

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012132263/en/

Loretta Kalb

916-835-4043

[email protected]

or

Brenna Bolger

408-838-6673

[email protected]

Source: Church of Ambrosia
Houston Mayor and Housing Advocates Celebrate Opening of New Hope Housing Savoy

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Local politicians, including Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, turned out to celebrate todays grand opening of New Hope Housing (NHH) Savoy, a multimillion-dollar, 120-unit supportive housing project. It was built with the assistance of a $750,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidy provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) through one of its members, Comerica Bank.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012053754/en/

New Hope Housing Savoy, an affordable housing development in Houston, Texas, received a $750,000 subsidy from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas via its member Comerica Bank and celebrated its grand opening today. (Photo: Business Wire)

NHH Savoy will provide families and individuals with low to modest incomes with affordable housing options in the Gulfton-Sharpstown neighborhood of Houston, Texas.

The city takes great pride in collaborating with organizations like New Hope Housing to create beautiful communities that benefit Houstonians. New Hope Housing Savoy is not just a place to live; it is a community that fosters growth, support and stability, said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. We are grateful for the generous support of financial partners like FHLB Dallas whose funding via Comerica Bank made this project possible. Together, we can celebrate the creation of a truly remarkable facility that will provide housing for individuals and families in need.

FHLB Dallas awards AHP subsidies through its member financial institutions to benefit very low-to moderate-income households across its five-state District.

We thank Comerica Bank and FHLB Dallas for funding affordable solutions to the housing shortage in Houston, said Joy Horak-Brown, president and CEO of New Hope Housing. Housing and setting up families with crucial support services provides the stability needed to overcome economic disparities.

Comericas Houston Market President Jason Baker said Comerica Bank is committed to helping communities prosper by providing funding for affordable real estate development.

Thanks to the support of FHLB Dallas, weve provided gap funding to several affordable housing projects in Houston including NHH Savoy, Mr. Baker said. We are delighted to have partnered with FHLB Dallas to help bring this landmark project to fruition.

AHP funds are intended to assist FHLB Dallas members in financing the purchase, construction and/or rehabilitation of owner-occupied, rental or transitional housing and housing for homeless individuals. The funds must be used to benefit households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income for the area.

In 2022, FHLB Dallas awarded nearly $17.2 million in AHP subsidies to 26 projects, primarily within its five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. FHLB Dallas will announce 2023 AHP awards later this year.

Given our long relationship and shared commitment to affordable housing, we are happy to provide funding through Comerica Bank via the AHP to support NHHs mission of preserving housing affordability in Southwest Houston, said Greg Hettrick, senior vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.

For more information about the AHP, visit fhlb.com/ahp.

About Comerica

Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank and Wealth Management. Comerica, one of the 25 largest U.S. financial holding companies, focuses on building relationships and helping people and businesses be successful. Comerica provides more than 400 banking centers across the country with locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas. Founded 174 years ago in Detroit, Michigan, Comerica continues to expand into new regions, including its Southeast Market, based in North Carolina, and Mountain West Market in Colorado. Comerica has offices in 17 states and services 14 of the 15 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, as well as Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $90.8 billion at June 30, 2023. Learn more about how Comerica is raising expectations of what a bank can be by visiting www.comerica.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $174 billion as of June 30, 2023, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012053754/en/

Corporate Communications

Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

fhlb.com, (214) 441-8445

Source: Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
AT&T Ranks Highest in Two Regions; Google Fiber and Verizon Each Rank Highest in One Region

TROY, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Overall satisfaction among wireless internet customers (5G or 4G LTE home internet) averages 748 (on a 1,000-point scale), while overall satisfaction among wired (fiber and cable) and satellite internet customers averages notably lower (712 and 577, respectively) according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study,SM released today. These differences are primarily driven by gaps in satisfaction with cost of internet service, with cost satisfaction among wireless customers averaging more than 90 points above those of wired customers and nearly 190 points above those of satellite internet customers.

With an average monthly cost at $79, satisfaction with cost of service is significantly higher among wireless customers than wired customers, who have an average cost of $72, suggesting that cost alone is not the only determinant of satisfaction.

Wireless internet has higher customer satisfaction in each factor of the study, said Carl Lepper, senior director of technology, media and telecom at J.D. Power. Wireless companies have done an admirable job of conveying the value of their wireless internet service which may explain higher satisfaction among wireless customers, even though they report higher monthly rates. These companies have advertised the benefits of their services, such as greater convenience, speed and bandwidthand have backed up these claims, as seen in their customers actual experience. Satellite and wired providers may continue to face increasing competition from this sector and will need to both communicate and deliver on the value and quality of their service to remain competitive.

Study Rankings

Verizon ranks highest in the East region for an 11th consecutive year, with a score of 760.

AT&T ranks highest in the North Central region with a score of 726, followed by CenturyLink (709) and Xfinity (707).

Google Fiber ranks highest in the South region with a score of 839. AT&T ranks second (753) and Frontier Communications (738) ranks third.

AT&T ranks highest in the West region with a score of 732, followed by Frontier Communications (716) and Xfinity (712).

See the rank charts for each region at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2023136

The 2023 U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 23,623 customers that currently have internet service with a provider included in the study. The study measures overall satisfaction with internet service providers based on five factors: performance and reliability; cost of service; communications and promotions; billing and payment; and customer care. The study was fielded from October 2022 through August 2023.

For more information about the U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/tmt/us-residential-internet-service-provider-customer-satisfaction-study.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

J.D. Power is headquartered in Troy, Mich., and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the companys business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.

About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012626764/en/

Media Relations Contacts

Geno Effler, J.D. Power; West Coast; 714-621-6224; [email protected]

John Roderick; East Coast; 631-584-2200; [email protected]

Source: J.D. Power
SHANGHAI & BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EpimAb Biotherapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of multispecific antibodies, and Almirall, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology, today announced a license agreement on the development of bispecific antibodies for up to three undisclosed target pairs.

Under the terms of this agreement, Almirall will gain a license to utilize EpimAbs proprietary Fabs-In-Tandem Immunoglobulin (FIT-Ig) platform technology to generate, develop and commercialize bispecific antibodies, for which Almirall will have exclusive global rights. In exchange, EpimAb is eligible to receive milestone payments totaling up to $210 million contingent upon launch and commercial success of multiple products, plus royalties on net sales for any commercialized product. Further financial details were not disclosed.

We are pleased to partner with Almirall to expand the application of our FIT-Ig technology beyond the oncology space, said Dr. Chengbin Wu, CEO and founder of EpimAb. While we have made significant progress in utilizing our platform technology to develop a differentiated portfolio of bispecific antibodies in oncology, the potential of our platform in other areas such as immunology remains untapped. We believe Almirall is the partner of choice for this endeavor and look forward to exploring the use of our novel bispecific platform to offer additional treatment options for patients with immune-related disorders.

Karl Ziegelbauer, Executive Vice President R&D and Chief Scientific Officer of Almirall, commented that This agreement with EpimAb is an important step forward and a great example of our ambition to develop new biologics in the dermatology field to ultimately bring innovation to patients."

FIT-Ig, EpimAbs proprietary technology platform, generates bispecific antibodies solely utilizing the basic structural parts of monoclonal antibodies without adding any complex changes, and is patented in all major markets of the world. With four bispecific molecules advanced into the clinic using this technology, EpimAb has also demonstrated the potential of this novel platform to rapidly advance drug candidates from idea to development.

About EpimAb Biotherapeutics

EpimAb Biotherapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of multispecific antibodies. Utilizing our broad range of in-house research and technology capabilities, including the proprietary FIT-Ig (Fabs-In-Tandem Immunoglobulin) and MAT-Fab (Monovalent Asymmetric Tandem Fab) bispecific platforms, Epimab is generating and globally advancing a unique pipeline of transformative preclinical and clinical assets that aim to benefit cancer patients.

For further information, please visit: www.epimab.com

About Almirall

Almirall is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on medical dermatology. We collaborate with scientists and healthcare professionals to address patients needs through science to improve their lives. Our Noble Purpose is at the core of our work: Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We invest in differentiated and ground-breaking medical dermatology products to bring our innovative solutions to patients needs. The company, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM). Throughout its 79-year history, Almirall has retained a strong focus on the needs of patients. Almirall has a direct presence in 21 countries and strategic agreements in over 70, with about 1,800 employees. Total revenues in 2022 were 878.5 million euros.

For more information visit www.almirall.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011383566/en/

Media

Karen Sharma

MacDougall

[email protected]

Source: EpimAb Biotherapeutics
MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EPSG, a trailblazer in the payments industry, welcomes Demi Baird to its executive team as the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Risk and Underwriting. Baird brings a wealth of experience, a rich history of leadership, and a depth of knowledge in risk management, operational risk, internal audit, and merchant card processing.

Before joining EPSG, Baird held a prestigious position as Vice President & Merchant Services Risk Officer at Esquire Bank, where he successfully bolstered risk management compliance. Throughout his notable career, Baird has proven his strategic proficiency and operational excellence across several reputable organizations, including North American Bancard and J.P. Morgan, among others.

Demi brings a wealth of knowledge in risk and underwriting from his tenure with top-tier organizations. His expertise will be invaluable as EPSG expands its reach and enhances its app processing and risk management capabilities. Demis leadership is just what we need at this juncture. Delighted to have you on board, Demi! said Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer Jim Czekner.

Speaking about his new venture at EPSG, Baird enthused, "The allure of this role is the opportunity to amalgamate my expertise from various sectors and create something monumental. I'm driven by the vision of one day looking back with pride at the legacy we've built at EPSG.

On a personal note, Baird is a family man who enjoys traveling. Having adopted twins, his family is the cornerstone of his life. With roots tracing back to Greece and a penchant for exploring destinations like Italy, Switzerland, and Austria, his journey is as vibrant personally as it is professionally.

EPSG believes that Bairds robust experience and strategic vision will be paramount in continuing to elevate the companys standards, ensuring optimal performance, customer satisfaction, and steadfast growth.

About EPSG

EPSG is a trusted leader in payment processing and merchant services, bringing together decades of expertise and experience. Guided by integrity, transparency, and commitment, we excel at seamlessly integrating cutting-edge transaction technologies into a user-friendly platform. With a comprehensive range of end-to-end payment solutions, we are dedicated to fostering the growth and success of our partners and merchants.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012331169/en/

For media inquiries:

Karli Saner

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

631-363-1399

Source: EPSG
Efficacy and safety of EP262 to be assessed in a randomized, placebo-controlled study in ~90 patients

Second of three clinical proof-of-concept studies to be initiated in second half of 2023

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Escient Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage drug development company advancing novel small molecule therapeutics for systemic neuro-immune disorders, today announced that the first subject has been dosed in CALM-CSU, a Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept study of EP262 in subjects with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

By blocking activation of MRGPRX2 and degranulation of mast cells, EP262 has the potential to effectively treat multiple mast cell mediated diseases with an initial focus on chronic urticaria (hives) and atopic dermatitis (eczema). EP262 represents a novel, targeted approach to the treatment of these disorders with the potential for once-daily oral administration without the side effects observed with other approaches.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a debilitating condition driven by activation of mast cells, and there is growing evidence that non-IgE mediated mast cell activation via MRGPRX2 may play an important role in the disease, said Christian Weyer, M.D., M.A.S, Chief Medical Officer at Escient. We are excited to initiate Phase 2 clinical development of EP262 for CSU, as it has the potential to become a much needed, once daily oral treatment option that is safe and able to alleviate the spontaneous occurrence of itchy hives via a novel, highly targeted mechanism.

CALM-CSU is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of EP262 in approximately 90 patients with CSU who are inadequately controlled with H1-antihistamines. Patients will be randomized, in a 1:1:1 ratio, to treatment with EP262 50 mg, EP262 150 mg, or placebo, administered orally, once daily for 6 weeks, followed by an off-treatment follow-up period. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change from baseline in the urticaria activity score over 7 days (UAS7), a validated and widely used measure of disease activity. More information about this study is available on www.clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT6077773).

About EP262

EP262 is a potent, highly selective once-daily small molecule antagonist of MRGPRX2, a receptor expressed on mast cells that is activated by numerous ligands, including many peptides released from sensory neurons as well as other cell types. In response to MRGPRX2 activation, mast cells release histamine, tryptase, chymase, chemokines and cytokines, which can cause itchy hives, angioedema, type 2 inflammation (through engagement of the adaptive immune system) and chronic pruritus and pain. Escients preclinical data demonstrates that, by blocking activation of MRGPRX2, EP262 has the potential to effectively treat a broad range of mast cell-mediated diseases, with an initial focus on chronic urticarias and atopic dermatitis.

About Chronic Urticaria

Chronic urticaria, defined as urticaria persisting for more than 6 weeks, manifests with very itchy hives that may vary in size and can significantly impact a patients quality of life by interfering with sleep and daily activities. Some patients with chronic urticaria may also develop swelling deeper under the skin or in other tissues (angioedema). There are two main forms of chronic urticaria. In chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), hives occur spontaneously, without known triggers. In chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU), hives are induced by specific triggers such as cold exposure (cold urticaria) or touch (symptomatic dermographism), among others.

About Escient Pharmaceuticals

Escient Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company focused on developing novel therapeutics to address a broad range of neurosensory-inflammatory disorders. The companys pipeline includes two first-in-class small molecule antagonists targeting MRGPRX2 for the treatment of various mast cell mediated disorders and MRGPRX4 for cholestatic pruritus. Based in San Diego, California, Escient is led by an experienced management and scientific team and funded by top-tier life science investors.

Visit www.escientpharma.com to learn more.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012868795/en/

Aaron Mishel

Chief Financial Officer

Escient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

[email protected]

Source: Escient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) is honored as a Champion of Board Diversity by The Forum of Executive Women for the fifth year since 2016. Essential is one of 37 companies from the Greater Philadelphia area recognized for paving the way for gender equity.

The Forum annually analyzes the leadership of the top 100 public companies in the region and recognizes companies with at least 30 percent of their respective boards comprised of women as Champions of Board Diversity.

Our intentional focus on board diversity ladders up to our broader diversity efforts, and our strong belief that our teams and suppliers must reflect the diverse communities we serve, said Christopher Franklin, chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities. Were proud of the strides Essentials made that are reflected by this Champion of Board Diversity honor. More importantly, we are committed to continuing to work towards greater equity and inclusion.

In 2022, Essential received the Champion of Board Diversity recognition by The Forum of Executive Women along with a "3+" status from 50/50 Women on Boards, signifying at least three board seats held by women. Essentials water segment, Aqua, was previously honored as a Champion of Board Diversity in 2016, 2019 and 2021. Aqua was also named a 2020 W Company from Women on Boards for having 20 percent or more of its board seats held by women.

The Forum of Executive Women, founded in 1977, is a membership organization that unites 600 senior female leaders from various sectors to empower women's influence in the workplace throughout the region.

In September, Essential announced in its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance Report that the company met key supplier and employee diversity goals and made key progress on its environmental commitments.

About Essential

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 9 states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011609965/en/

Media Contact:

Jeanne Russo

Vice President, Communications

Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477

[email protected]

Investor Contact:

Brian Dingerdissen

Vice President, IR and Treasurer

O: 610.645.1191

[email protected]

Source: Essential Utilities
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EVERTEC, Inc. (NYSE: EVTC) (Evertec or the Company) today announced that it will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. ET to review third quarter financial results. Participating on the call will be Mac Schuessler, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Joaquin Castrillo, Chief Financial Officer. A press release with third quarter 2023 financial results will be issued shortly after the market closes on Thursday, October 26, 2023.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (888) 338-7153 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-5117. A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 for international callers; the pin number is 4266400. The replay will be available through Thursday, November 2, 2023. The call will be webcast live from the Companys website at www.evertecinc.com under the Investor Relations section or directly at http://ir.evertecinc.com.

About EVERTEC

EVERTEC, Inc. (NYSE: EVTC) is a leading full-service transaction processing business in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America, providing a broad range of merchant acquiring, payment services and business process management services. Evertec owns and operates the ATH network, one of the leading personal identification number (PIN) debit networks in Latin America. In addition, the Company processes over six billion transactions annually and manages a system of electronic payment networks in Puerto Rico and Latin America and offers a comprehensive suite of services for core banking, cash processing, and fulfillment in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the Company offers technology outsourcing and payment transactions fraud monitoring to all the regions it serves. Based in Puerto Rico, the Company operates in 26 Latin American countries and serves a diversified customer base of leading financial institutions, merchants, corporations and government agencies with mission-critical technology solutions. For more information, visit www.evertecinc.com.

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Beatriz Brown-Saenz

Investor Relations

(787) 773-5442

[email protected]

Source: EVERTEC
HCA Healthcare Research Institute hosts new clinical trial using noninvasive focused ultrasound in combination with systemic immunotherapy to treat brain metastases

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HCA Healthcares Johnston-Willis Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, is the first hospital in the United States to provide treatment in a new clinical trial for patients with brain metastases from lung cancer. This clinical trial, conducted by HCA Healthcare Research Institute and sponsored by Insightec, a global healthcare company pioneering the use of focused ultrasound technology, investigates the benefit of combining noninvasive focused ultrasound with systemic immunotherapy as an alternative.

Johnston-Willis Hospital is hosting the trial and has already enrolled the first two U.S. patients who are currently undergoing a total of six treatment cycles each. The patients have metastatic brain cancer, which originated from cancer cells spreading to the brain from the primary tumor in their lungs. The new treatment uses Insightecs system to open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which defends the brain against harmful substances, but also prevents critical medications from being delivered. By opening the BBB, non-small cell lung cancer medications may reach and target the critical lesions in the brain.

"The potential success of this trial could be groundbreaking in the management of metastatic brain tumors, not only for lung cancer, but also for breast cancer and melanoma," said neurosurgeon K. Singh Sahni, the principal investigator of the trial and medical director of the Neuroscience and Gamma Knife Center at Johnston-Willis Hospital. There are remarkable new cancer medications that have excellent results in the body, yet cannot reach the brain because the blood-brain barrier currently impedes their flow. By opening the BBB, the hope is that such therapies will lead to equally good therapeutic responses in the brain as it currently has on other organs, such as the lung and liver.

The MR-guided focused ultrasound system was developed by Insightec and is already FDA-approved to use thermal ablation to treat essential tremor and Parkinsons Disease that do not respond well to medication treatment. Johnston-Willis Hospital has treated 150 people living with essential tremor using focused ultrasound. In this trial, a different Insightec system that was developed solely to temporarily open the BBB and allow passage of immunotherapy to enable noninvasive treatment of brain tumors, is used.

It is incredibly important for both patients, and the healthcare industry as a whole, to participate in potentially groundbreaking clinical trials like this, said Dr. Michael Cuffe, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of HCA Healthcare. It is a privilege to utilize the scale of HCA Healthcare to explore new treatment options to help deliver better care to patients.

HCA Healthcare Research Institute is the multispecialty clinical research arm of HCA Healthcare focused on collaborating with industry partners to advance care. Currently, the HCA Healthcare Research Institute has 36 research sites, focusing on interventional, non-therapeutic, and records-based research. As of September 30, 2023, the institute has participated in more than 350 trials across the country. HCA Healthcare is the single largest health system research site network with more than 37 million patient encounters annually. The HCA Healthcare Research Institute offers a site network with national scientific leaders and community-based hospitals across the country in virtually every therapeutic area.

These treatments mark another exciting milestone in the forward trajectory of focused ultrasound treatment, said Dr. Maurice Ferre, CEO and chairman of the board of Insightec. Insightec continues to lead the way on utilizing focused ultrasound for innovative treatments to a variety of diseases and conditions. We are proud to be providing care and relief for more and more people every day.

The trial is expected to last through August 2024. Johnson-Willis Hospital was the first in the United States to receive The Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval for brain tumor care.

About HCA Healthcare

Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nations leading providers of healthcare services comprising 182 hospitals and approximately 2,300 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44%. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 37 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives.

About Insightec

Insightec is a global healthcare company creating the next generation of patient care by realizing the therapeutic power of acoustic energy. The companys Exablate Neuro platform focuses sound waves, safely guided by MRI, to provide tremor treatment to patients with medication-refractory Essential Tremor and Parkinsons Disease. Research for future applications in the neuroscience space is underway in partnership with leading academic and medical institutions. Insightec is headquartered in Haifa, Israel, and Miami, with offices in Munchen, Dallas, Shanghai, and Tokyo.

All references to Company, HCA and HCA Healthcare as used throughout this document refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates.

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INVESTOR CONTACT:

Frank Morgan

615-344-2688

MEDIA CONTACT:

Harlow Sumerford

615-344-1851

Source: HCA Healthcare
HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ant Group was recognized by Forrester, a global leading research and advisory firm, as an industry leader in Enterprise Fraud Management (EFM) in the Asia Pacific region, in the firms latest report.

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(Graphic: Business Wire)

The "The Forrester WaveEnterprise Fraud Management In Asia Pacific, Q3 2023" report evaluated well-known EFM vendors in the region, based on 22 criteria, including rules-based risk scoring and alerting, AI/ML risk models, number of customers, revenue, innovation and roadmap. These criteria are grouped into three high-level categories: current offering, strategy and market presence. Ant Group has been top-ranked in all three categories and achieved the highest total score, making it the leader in EFM in the region, according to the report.

According to the report, in 2023, authorized push payment fraud has become increasingly prevalent globally, with a particularly heavy impact in APAC. While it has become standard practice to use AI to identify these intricate fraud patterns, fraudsters are also aggressively using new AI technologies including generative AI. To stay current, enterprises must be in a state of perpetual evolution, continuously refining and updating their EFM AI models. Moreover, in the Asia Pacific market, many countries have ushered in a fresh wave of data privacy regulations that limit the ability of legitimate enterprises to obtain external data insights for effective fraud management  restrictions that fraudsters remain unburdened by.

As a result of these trends, an outstanding EFM vendor in Asia Pacific should bring strong data integration features, sophisticated and up-to-date AI and machine learning capabilities, and differentiated user experiences.

Ant Group embeds trusted AI to drive EFM innovation, analysts from Forrester wrote in the report. "Ant Group has generalized and commercialized many fraud management models used for Alipays internal businesses and established the ZOLOZ brand to build the next generation of trusted risk management products and services."

"The firm has an outstanding product vision for embracing trusted AI that not only follows the industrys innovation trends but also responds to customers increasing demand for more explainable and transparent AI-based risk models. Its plans for innovations to privacy-preserving technologies address many financial services firms demands for more data-sharing and insights for EFM," added by Forrester's analysts.

So far, Ant Group has provided a variety of rules- and AI-based EFM models that are easy to configure and use, as well as risk scoring for comprehensive transaction types. Ant Group also developed a specific interactive fraud management solution to combat emerging user-authorized push payment fraud scenarios in telecom.

As a global leading technology service provider, ZOLOZ has served customers from various industries, including payment, financial services, telecom and e-commerce. ZOLOZ's industry leading digital identity products, powered by proprietary anti-spoofing algorithms, have been widely used by financial institutions to meet compliance requirements, including KYC and AML, as well as detect transactional anomalies and prevent fraud.

About Ant Group

Ant Group aims to build the infrastructure and platforms to support the digital transformation of the service industry. Through continuous innovation, we strive to provide all consumers and small and micro businesses equal access to digital financial and other daily life services that are convenient, sustainable and inclusive.

For more information, please visit our website at www.antgroup.com or follow us on Twitter @AntGroup.

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Media Inquiries

Vick Li Wei

Ant Group

[email protected]

Source: Ant Group
Commemorates Commitment to Environmental Leadership, Global Water Innovation

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technologies, announced today the company is celebrating the 50th anniversary of U.S. operations. The nearly 80-year-old Danish company began U.S. operations in 1973 and now has 13 offices and manufacturing facilities and employs nearly 1,700 employees.

Grundfos began with the extraordinary vision of Poul Due Jensen, who sought to meet the needs of his first client and then made his lifes work to create solutions to his clients water pump needs, said Ansell Sims, President of Grundfos U.S. Celebrating 50 years in the U.S., we carry forward this legacy, always pushing the envelope in terms of innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. A heartfelt congratulations to the entire Grundfos family!

In 1944, founder Poul Due Jensen began Grundfos out of his basement in Denmark. When Poul couldnt find a quality electric pump for a clients small automatic waterworks project, he developed his own. The company quickly expanded across Europe and other countries with the goal of opening sales and production operations in the U.S. In 1973, Einar Cook, a Danish-American from Fresno, California, visited the Grundfos office in Denmark and was amazed at the quality of the deep well turbine pumps and returned to the U.S. to use them on his farm. Cook then imported a few pumps to sell in his farm equipment dealership and the U.S. business was born.

Over the next 40 years, the company opened offices in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Kansas, and expanded the Fresno, California office. In 2006, Grundfos began a transformative time of growth by acquiring marquee brands like PACO, Peerless and Yeomans. From there, Grundfos opened its PES facility in Brookshire, Texas, in 2009 and a water technology center in Fresno in 2011. The following year, Grundfos established the U.S. headquarters in Chicago and launched the water conservation project in Fresno.

In 2022, Grundfos relocated its U.S. headquarters to a newly built, first-of-its-kind, environmentally sustainable building in Brookshire, Texas. The 45,000-square-foot facility is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified v4 Platinum new construction in Texas, according to the Green Building Information Gateway. The building uses zero fossil fuels, harvests, and stores 873,183 gallons of rainwater annually and provides 62% total energy cost savings compared to a typical commercial building.

To Grundfos every drop of water symbolizes a promise for a better future, expressed Poul Due Jensen, CEO of Grundfos and grandson of the founder, Each day, were driven by a commitment to making a positive difference for our customers and communities by addressing the globes most critical water and climate concerns with groundbreaking, energy-efficient solutions.

Building on 50 years of excellence, Grundfos continues to lead the industry with its transformative water solutions and innovations in groundwater, wastewater treatment, commercial, industrial and residential applications. The company is not only committed to offering energy efficient water and digital solutions but will continue to do so in a way that drives significant impact on some of the worlds most critical sustainability challenges.

Grundfos USA also supports non-profits like Water Mission, a nonprofit engineering organization that has helped more than 5.7 million people access safe water. For 12 years, Grundfos has hosted the annual Walk for Water event to raise awareness about the global water crisis and increase donations to Water Mission.

About Grundfos

Grundfos pioneers solutions to the worlds water and climate challenges and improves the quality of life for people. As a leading global pump and water solutions company, we promise to respect, protect and advance the flow of water by providing energy and water efficient solutions and systems for a wide range of applications for water utilities, industries and buildings. Find out more: grundfos.com and connect on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

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Stephanie Gentry, Communications Business Partner for Grundfos US, [email protected]

Mahathi Parashuram, Director of Public Relations (Global), [email protected]

Source: Grundfos
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- After the significant success of its inaugural event, the InCyber Forum is set to return on October 25 and 26, 2023, in Montreal. This event underscores human values in a trusted digital space. Supported by the Quebec government, federal authorities, and the city of Montreal, this leading cybersecurity event will highlight international key industry players and their visionary initiatives to ensure a safer digital space.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012852194/en/

(Photo: InCyber Forum)

5,000 ATTENDEES EXPECTED

The InCyber Forum has quickly become a pivotal hub for international collaboration in the cybersecurity sector. Its core mission is to connect and deepen ties between Canada, the United States, Europe, and other regions, with a keen focus on fostering digital trust.

Excitement builds up for the second North American edition of the forum, featuring a roster of 250 distinguished speakers from around the world. The U.S. will be prominently represented by key figures such as Nancy Rainosek, CISO of the State of Texas, and esteemed representatives from agencies like the FBI and NSA.

Canada's cybersecurity landscape will also be in focus, with Mr. Eric Caire, Quebec's Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs, and Sami Khoury, Director of the Canadian Center for Cybersecurity, lending their expertise.

The international scope of the event extends to Europe and other parts of the world. Attendees can look forward to insights from experts such as Marcos Gomez Hidalgo, Deputy Director at INCIBE-CERT (The Spanish cybersecurity agency), and Michel Van Den Berghe, President of the Cyber Campus in Paris, a project initiated by President Macron.

Industry giants such as Microsoft, Trend Micro, IBM, and Sentinel One are among the 200 sponsors slated to attend. The forum will also spotlight cybersecurity experts from esteemed entities such as Google Cloud, Meta, NBA, and the National Bank of Canada. With such a convergence of thought leaders, the anticipated 5,000 attendees from 36 countries can expect profound discussions and unparalleled networking opportunities.

[See the list of speakers]

DELVING INTO HOT TOPICS

Current hot topics are on the agenda, from ethics and the security of industrial processes to artificial intelligence and the sector's appeal.

In April 2023, the FBI, in coordination with Europol and numerous international partners, disrupted the online criminal marketplace known as Genesis Market. This was achieved through coordinated actions targeting the service and its users. The "Cookie Monster Operation" will be the subject of a panel discussion featuring its very own protagonists: Amanda J. Knutson (FBI), Marcello Zanini (Europol), Brian Abellera (FBI), Chris Lynam (NC3), and Andree Dupuis (Quebec Safety).

This is just a glimpse of what the program offers. Attendees will experience 6 thematic scenes, a hacking lab, a pitch lab, and an exclusive gala cocktail at the Saint James Theater for VIP badge holders.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

Aligned with its commitment to diversity, 50% of the InCyber Forum's speakers are women.

The "Future Talents" initiative aims to introduce youth to cybersecurity and generate interest in this forward-looking sector. Over 1,000 Montreal teens are invited to a day of engaging activities centered around these themes, supported by the CyberCap association.

Website: https://northamerica.forum-incyber.com/

ABOUT THE INCYBER FORUM

In 2025, the InCyber USA Forum will relocate to San Antonio, while Kuala Lumpur will host the APAC edition. Not to forget the annual gathering of the InCyber Forum in Lille, which, over 15 years, has become the most prominent cybersecurity and digital trust event in Europe, boasting 20,000 participants, 650 private and public sponsors, 530 speakers, and representatives from 82 countries. The next edition will take place from March 26-28, 2024.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fic-north-america

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FICAmNord

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PRESS CONTACT

Makeda Pecastaing: [email protected]

https://northamerica.forum-incyber.com/

Source: InCyber Forum
The annual flagship event will feature sessions from global leaders from Lenovo, NVIDIA, AMD and more

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On October 24  25, 2023, Lenovo will host its annual global innovation event, Tech World, in Austin, Texas. This marks the ninth consecutive year of the event, and the first time since 2019 that it will be hosted in person. This years theme is AI for All and will focus on the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and explore how Lenovo is designing, powering, and re-defining the next generation of AI products, solutions, and services to accelerate real AI-driven outcomes for both businesses and consumers.

Tech World will feature a keynote session from Lenovo Chairman and CEO, Yuanqing Yang, who will discuss Lenovos strategic leadership through an in-depth exploration of how the company is unleashing the potential of AI across its business. Both virtual and in-person attendees will hear from Lenovos closest and most transformative partners, including NVIDIA Founder, President and CEO, Jensen Huang; AMD Chair and CEO, and Dr. Lisa Su.

Lenovo executives will also provide a first look at Lenovos vision for multiple AI-focused areas, including AI models, AI solutions, AI infrastructure and AI devices.

Speakers will include: Dr. Yong Rui, SVP and CTO; Ken Wong, EVP and President, Solutions & Services Group (SSG); Kirk Skaugen, EVP and President, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG); and Luca Rossi, EVP and President, Intelligent Devices Group (IDG).

For those looking to attend virtually, Tech World 23 will be livestreamed in English on Lenovos X account. For more details, please check on the Lenovo account within the days leading up to the event. More information on Tech World 2023 can be found here.

Watch highlights from previous Tech World events:

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, Lenovo has built on its success as the worlds largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of New IT technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovos world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

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Stuart Gill

[email protected]

Source: Lenovo
SHAOXING, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Two world-class textile industry conferences will be held in Zhejiang Province in eastern China in early November.

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Press Conference (Photo: Business Wire)

At the press conference held in Beijing on Wednesday, the organizers announced that the 2023 International Textile Manufactures Federation (ITMF) Annual Conference, the Sixth World Textile Merchandising Conference 2023 and a series of activities, both conferences will be take place in Keqiao District, Shaoxing City in Zhejiang from Nov. 3rd to 10th.

Keqiao is known as "the largest textile trade distribution center in the world".

This county-level area covers an area of about 1000 square kilometers, and its economic and trade network connects 210 countries and regions.

Nearly a quarter of the world's textile products are traded here, with an annual turnover exceeding 330 billion yuan (about 45.2 billion U.S. dollars).

According to the organizer, during the ITMF Annual Conference, hundreds of participants will discuss the global macro-economy and China's textile industry, and share their practical experience in the global textile industry.

The World Textile Merchandising Conference consists of a theme forum and 10 parallel forums.

Parallel forums include a conference on "the Belt and Road Initiative," a round table forum of famous enterprises, a summit on textile digital inkjet printing and a forum on the green development of textile industry.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012317484/en/

Xiong Xiao

Email: [email protected]

URL: https://h.xinhuaxmt.com/vh512/share/11717622?d=134b363&channel=weixin

https://h.xinhuaxmt.com/vh512/share/11717685?d=134b363&channel=weixin

Source: China National Textile and Apparel Council
Clinical Cancer Research and JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery publications add to growing body of evidence supporting use of NavDx in the surveillance setting

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Naveris, Inc., the leader in precision oncology diagnostics for viral-induced cancers, today announced the publication of two new peer-review studies in the journals Clinical Cancer Research (CCR) and JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (JAMA Head & Neck), which highlight the clinical utility of the companys tumor tissue modified viral (TTMV) DNA platform and add to a growing library of data supporting use of the companys NavDx blood test.

NavDx, Naveris proprietary flagship blood test for TTMV-HPV DNA, is the first and only clinically validated circulating tumor HPV DNA blood test that provides a non-invasive and precise method for detecting molecular residual disease (MRD) before there is clinical or radiographic evidence of cancer recurrence.

Negative Predictive Value of Circulating Tumor Tissue Modified Viral (TTMV)-HPV DNA for HPV-driven Oropharyngeal Cancer Surveillance (Hanna, G.J. and Roof S.A. et al.), published in CCR, is a retrospective observational cohort study involving 543 patients who completed therapy for HPV-driven oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). As TTMV-HPV DNA testing has emerged as a biomarker that can accurately inform disease status, these patients were monitored using the NavDx test as part of routine surveillance for recurrence. In this study, the NavDx test yielded a per-patient negative predictive value of 98.4% and positive predictive value of 94.8% at a median of 2 years of follow-up.

In our study, we saw that the TTMV-HPV DNA test provided very high negative and positive predictive values for the absence or presence of disease, respectively, with few missed cases, said Glenn J. Hanna, MD, Director of the Center for Cancer Therapeutic Innovation at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and co-first author of the study. These markers of accuracy are valuable for physicians and providers to make confident treatment decisions and are of equal importance for patients mindsets.

Performance of Liquid Biopsy for Diagnosis and Surveillance of Human PapillomavirusAssociated Oropharyngeal Cancer (Ferrandino, R. M., et al.), published in JAMA Head & Neck, also explored TTMV-HPV DNA for testing of patients with HPV-associated OPSCC, in order to establish the clinical efficacy of this testing in both the diagnosis and surveillance of the disease in daily practice. Researchers demonstrated that in routine clinical use the NavDx test demonstrated 100% specificity in both diagnosis and surveillance cohorts, with sensitivity of 91.5% and 88.4% in the diagnosis cohort and surveillance cohort, respectively.

Together these two new studies build upon significant prior literature supporting the validity and utility of NavDx for MRD detection and recurrence monitoring in HPV-driven OPSCC.

NavDx has consistently exhibited stellar performance in well over a dozen peer-reviewed studies following thousands of HPV-driven OPSCC patients. Naveris TTMV-DNA testing platform continues to show strong performance and provides physicians and patients an accurate and trustworthy tool for helping to detect disease earlier, commented Piyush B. Gupta, PhD, Founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Science and Technology Officer of Naveris. We congratulate these investigators on their outstanding research, and look forward to our ongoing partnerships with the clinical research community to support bringing NavDx testing to more patients.

About Naveris

Naveris is a privately held, commercial stage, precision oncology diagnostics company with facilities in Massachusetts and North Carolina. Since its founding in 2017, Naveris has been committed to improving outcomes for the millions of people at risk of developing viral-induced cancers with novel molecular diagnostics that enable earlier cancer detection. The company operates high-complexity testing clinical laboratories that are accredited by the College of American Pathologists and the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center, and are certified under CLIA. For more information on Naveris and the clinical impact of NavDx, please visit www.naveris.com and www.NavDx.com. NavDx has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012583231/en/

Megan Kernan

ICR Westwicke Healthcare PR

Tel: 646.677.1870

[email protected]

Source: Naveris, Inc.
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Directors of Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN) has increased the quarterly dividend to 48.75 cents per share on the Companys common stock.

The dividend will be paid on Nov. 15, 2023 to shareholders of record on Oct. 31, 2023. The Company's indicated annual dividend rate is $1.95 per share.

About NW Natural Holdings

Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings) is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has been doing business for over 160 years. It owns Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), NW Natural Renewables Holdings (NW Natural Renewables), and other business interests.

We have a longstanding commitment to safety, environmental stewardship and the energy transition, and taking care of our employees and communities. NW Natural Holdings was recognized by Ethisphere in 2022 and 2023 as one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies. NW Natural consistently leads the industry with high J.D. Power & Associates customer satisfaction scores. Learn more in our latest ESG Report.

NW Natural is a local distribution company that currently provides natural gas service to approximately 2.5 million people in more than 140 communities through nearly 795,000 meters in Oregon and Southwest Washington with one of the most modern pipeline systems in the nation. NW Natural owns and operates 21.6 Bcf of underground gas storage capacity in Oregon.

NW Natural Water provides water distribution and wastewater services to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, Texas and Arizona. Today NW Natural Water serves more than 164,000 people through approximately 66,000 meters and provides operation and maintenance services to an additional 10,000 connections. Learn more about our water business at nwnaturalwater.com.

NW Natural Renewables is a competitive business committed to leading in the energy transition by providing renewable fuels to support decarbonization in the utility, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors. Learn more at nwnaturalrenewables.com.

Additional information is available at nwnaturalholdings.com.

Worlds Most Ethical Companies and Ethisphere names and marks are registered trademarks of Ethisphere LLC

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012721804/en/

Investor Contact: Nikki Sparley

Phone: 503-721-2530

Email: [email protected]

Source: NW Natural
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Orano signed a Protocol for the development and operation of a uranium mine project in Mongolia The signing took place at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace on 12 October 2023 in the presence of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and of Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, President of Mongolia, as well as of Claude Imauven, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orano, and of Sanjaagiin Narantsogt, CEO of Erdenes Mongol LLC.

This Protocol sets out the framework for an investment agreement that will be mutually beneficial to both partners. The envisaged investment agreement will lay the foundations for a relationship between Orano, and the Mongolian Government set to span several decades, in the development and industrial operation of the Zuuvch-Ovoo uranium mine project located in the Southwestern part of Mongolia, in Dornogovi province. The investment agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the year.

With a 25-year long presence in the country, responsible mining player Orano successfully deployed an industrial pilot in 2021 and 2022, confirming the economic, environmental and societal feasibility of operating the Zuuvch-Ovoo site, a project developed by Badrakh Energy, the joint venture between Orano Mining and the Mongolian state-owned company MonAtom.

The joint Franco-Mongolian project will be based on international standards and best practices in terms of safety, security and the environment, setting a benchmark for the development of the industry in Mongolia.

Through this project, Orano is committed over the long term, alongside communities for responsible mining with a development and cooperation program in favor of local populations.

With the prospect of high uranium demand worldwide over the next few decades, Mongolia is positioning itself as a strategic player and a significant contributor in the global climate effort.

Claude Imauven commented: "I am very proud to sign this protocol today, which extends a relationship we have had with Mongolia for over 25 years. The signature marks a decisive step in this historic partnership. This cooperation will enable us to develop the uranium sector in Mongolia while furthering the Group's strategy of diversifying its mining activities.

About Orano

As a recognized international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano groups 17,000 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.

Orano, giving nuclear energy its full value.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012360398/en/

Press Office

+33 (0)1 34 96 12 15

[email protected]

Investor relations

Marc Quesnoy

[email protected]

Source: ORANO
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Parker Health and OutCare Health proudly announce a groundbreaking research and care delivery partnership with a mission to redefine healthcare models for LGBTQ+ health, particularly within underserved and minority populations.

This pioneering initiative aims to study, address, and set new standards for affirming and equitable care delivery, with a specific focus on patient outcomes as a pivotal metric in shaping such standards. This partnership represents a novel approach, underpinned by an identity-first philosophy in care delivery, and is rooted in addressing social drivers of health (SDOH) through outcomes data analysis.

Ultimately, this collaboration will grant patients access to an extensive network of over 5,000 affirming healthcare providers nationwide and a multitude of care resources, offering an unprecedented opportunity to leverage the most comprehensive LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare network available. The partnership encompasses a diverse array of services, including robust training programs, novel research endeavors, informative publications, access to state-of-the-art Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology, and dedicated clinical support tailored to minority communities that have long faced challenges in accessing quality care.

Vincent Lopez, Founder & CEO of Parker Health, expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration, stating, "At Parker, we've developed the Parker Suite, a robust EHR platform agnostic to medical specialties. It stands as the most affirming EHR platform, meticulously designed to curate a trustworthy and transparent experience for LGBTQ+ patients and their healthcare providers in care management. Our partnership exemplifies a true commitment to advancing medicine, increasing accessibility, and enhancing community health. It marks a pivotal milestone in our mission."

In addition to reshaping research standards, this partnership is poised to revolutionize LGBTQ+ affirming care delivery. Based on the outcomes defined in the research endeavors, the organizations anticipate the upcoming launch of OutCare, Powered by Parker Health. This innovative healthcare delivery community will encompass both physical brick-and-mortar locations and cutting-edge telehealth services, scheduled to debut in 2024.

President and Founder of OutCare Health, Dr. Dustin Nowaskie, also shared their perspective on this transformative partnership: "Our collaboration with Parker Health signifies a significant milestone in our journey to establish new standards of affirming care delivery. Through OutCare's robust services and our extensive affirming network, we are dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ health equity and making comprehensive, inclusive healthcare accessible to all. Together, we are creating a brighter future for LGBTQ+ people by forging innovative solutions that rewrite the rules of equitable healthcare."

About Parker Health:

Parker Health is a dynamic global force for change, guided by minority-led leadership, diversity, and innovation. Our unwavering mission is to propel healthcare and technology into the next century by simplifying complexities and unlocking the potential of digital health innovation. At the heart of our approach lies the groundbreaking Parker Suite - a revolutionary Electronic Health Records Management System that reimagines interoperability, accessibility, and compliance. This innovation empowers patients, healthcare providers, systems, governments, researchers, and payors through a seamless cloud-based architecture that harmonizes patient-centric data, diagnostics, outcomes, care protocols, practitioner engagement, and more. In every sense, Parker Health represents a global catalyst for transformation, rewriting healthcare's rules through innovative solutions that chart a brighter future. Parker Health is a member of the Sequoia Project, IEEE Standards Associations, Data Quality Standards for Medical Records, and the World Economic Forum's New Champions. Parker Health is headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA. To learn more about Parker Health, visit www.ourparker.com

About OutCare Health:

OutCare Health is a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health equity for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. OutCares mission is to empower LGBTQ+ people with comprehensive information, resources, support, and education, including an affirming healthcare provider directory, mentorship, training, research, community building, support groups, webinar series, blogs, and much more. OutCares vision is to create a world where every LGBTQ+ person has access to quality healthcare and feels empowered to live their healthiest, most authentic life. To learn more about OutCare, visit outcarehealth.org and follow on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or X.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012224465/en/

Media & Press Dept.

[email protected]

Source: Parker Health
STAMFORD, CT--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) will host a live audio webcast at www.pmi.com/2023Q3earnings on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. ET, to discuss its 2023 third-quarter and September year-to-date financial results, which will be issued at approximately 7:00 a.m. ET the same day.

The webcast will be hosted by Emmanuel Babeau, Chief Financial Officer, and will include discussion of PMIs financial results and a Q&A session with the investment community and news media. The webcast will be in a listen-only mode.

The webcast may also be accessed on mobile devices by downloading PMIs Investor Relations App at www.pmi.com/irapp.

An archived recording of the webcast, in addition to the slides and script, will be available at www.pmi.com/2023Q3earnings. The webcast recording will be available until 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, November 17, 2023.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is a leading international tobacco company working to deliver a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The companys current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than USD 10.5 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. In November 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match  a leader in oral nicotine delivery  creating a global smoke-free champion led by the companies IQOS and ZYN brands. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized versions of PMIs IQOS Platform 1 devices and consumables and Swedish Matchs General snus as Modified Risk Tobacco Products (MRTPs). As of June 30, 2023, PMI's smoke-free products were available for sale in 80 markets, and PMI estimates that approximately 19.4 million adults around the world had already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. Smoke-free products accounted for approximately 35.4% of PMIs total second-quarter 2023 net revenues. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI announced in February 2021 its ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas and, through its Vectura Fertin Pharma subsidiary, aims to enhance life through the delivery of seamless health experiences. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012900912/en/

Investor Relations:

Stamford, CT: +1 (203) 905 2413

Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4666

Email: [email protected]

Media: David Fraser

Lausanne: +41 (0)58 242 4500

Email: [email protected]

Source: Philip Morris International
In 2023, many states made major progress to address poverty, the child care crisis, birth outcomes, and more

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American families are struggling. A national funding cliff is making child care even less affordable and accessible, the Medicaid unwinding means dropped coverage for millions, and child poverty has doubled after the end of the federal child tax credit (CTC). A new report from early childhood policy experts at Vanderbilt University explains how state policy choices impact family resourcesand help offset the impact of many of these national challenges. The variation across states is substantial.

Today, the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center released the 2023 State Policy Roadmap, an annual guide for each state to assess the wellbeing of its infants and toddlers, identify evidence-based solutions, and monitor national trends in state policies.

The Roadmap ranks each state on the impact state policy choices have on family resources. The 2023 Family Asset Simulation demonstrates striking variation that results from different state choices about minimum wage, child care subsidies, tax credits, and other benefits. In our simulation, a full-time working mother with an infant and toddler in the District of Columbia has at least $46,950 to provide for her family, whereas that same mother in Georgia has only $20,560less than half as much.

The research is clear. States can influence families ability to endure national economic challenges and provide their children with essential resources to thrive, said Dr. Cynthia Osborne, Executive Director of the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center and Professor of Early Childhood Education and Policy at Vanderbilt University. Fortunately, many states made evidence-based investments in early childhood this year. Today, we celebrate that progress.

The 2023 Roadmap shows positive trends in state action to reduce poverty and improve child wellbeing through paid family leave, earned income tax credits (EITCs), and other evidence-based policies. Several states addressed the child care crisis by reforming and investing in subsidies, supporting worker compensation and benefits, and expanding access for families. Another positive national trend is 2023 state efforts to support access to community-based doulas, an evidence-based approach to improve child birth outcomes such as preterm birth.

States who showed leadership in 2023 to invest effectively in children include:

North Carolina: Expanded Medicaid (effective December 2023), which will help families access medical resources that improve child birth outcomes, health, and development. Increased Medicaid reimbursements to incentivize group prenatal care, which supports breastfeeding initiation and maternal mental health. Passed a law raising child care subsidy reimbursement rates for higher-quality providers.

Minnesota: Created a 12-week paid family leave program (to be fully implemented in 2026), which will allow parents to spend time with their new child and empower them to seek timely and preventive health care needed by newborns. Passed several historic laws investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a wide range of programs for infants, toddlers, and young children. Increased child care subsidy reimbursement for providers, expanded access through subsidies and scholarships, and supported child care educators and businesses. Increased Medicaid reimbursement for doulas. Revised their EITC and, in doing so, expanded their CTC to the most generous level in the country.

Vermont: Enacted a historic investment for children and families, increasing access to child care subsidies and raising reimbursement rates for providers. Enacted legislation to extend EITC and CTC eligibility to all taxpayers regardless of immigration status. Extended pregnancy Medicaid coverage to keep new parents from losing insurance coverage too quickly after giving birth.

View the full Roadmap at https://pn3policy.org/pn-3-state-policy-roadmap-2023/:

About the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center

The Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center empowers states with rigorous evidence to implement effective and equitable policies that ensure all children thrive from the start. Based in Vanderbilt Universitys Peabody College of education and human development, the centers team of researchers and nonpartisan policy experts work with policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to navigate the evidence on solutions for effective child development in the earliest years. Learn more at www.pn3policy.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012077041/en/

Press Contact:

Molly Kramer

615-343-8948

[email protected]

Source: Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center and Vanderbilt University
1ct. RAPI down 5.2% amid slow retail sales.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Diamond prices fell further in September as retail sales weakened amid competition from synthetics. Polished inventories were still high relative to sales expectations, despite lower production.

The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) for 1-carat diamonds fell 5.2%, making it the worst month for that category since the peak of the Covid-19 downturn in March 2020. The 0.30-carat RAPI dropped 3.5%, while the index for 0.50-carat goods slid 7.1% and 3-carat diamonds declined 2.5%.

The RAPI only reflects D to H colors and IF to VS2 clarities. Prices for 1-carat, D-L, SI1-SI2 items on RapNet fell 6.8% during September.

Fancy shapes lost value at a slower pace than rounds, with marquises showing the best price performance and cushions the worst.

RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) Index September Year to Date Jan. 1, 2023, to Oct. 1, 2023 Year on Year Oct. 1, 2022, to Oct. 1, 2023 RAPI 0.30 ct. 1,423 -3.5% -4.0% -5.8% RAPI 0.50 ct. 1,939 -7.1% -27.4% -31.6% RAPI 1 ct. 6,067 -5.2% -19.5% -25.9% RAPI 3 ct. 22,173 -2.5% -10.7% -15.3%

 Copyright 2023, Rapaport USA Inc.

US sales were sluggish ahead of the holiday season. Chinese shoppers were reluctant to splurge on diamonds with the economy under pressure. Mainland buyers made few purchases at the Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong show, in line with the trades low expectations. The Jewish festivals also impacted activity in key trading centers. The industry offered its support to Israel in early October amid the countrys war with Hamas.

The rough market was uncertain. Indias trade bodies called to pause rough-diamond imports from October 15 to December 15 in an effort to reduce inventories and stabilize prices. The industry will likely feel the effects in one or two months.

De Beers September sales totaled just $200 million. The miner said it would provide full flexibility at the final two sights of 2023 and suspended its online rough auctions for the rest of the year.

Probable restrictions on Russian diamonds prompted manufacturers to offload polished sourced from that country. De Beers Tracr platform and Sarine Technologies are jointly creating a system that would let Group of Seven (G7) countries view diamonds full provenance at customs, making it easier for officers to reject Russian goods.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012948069/en/

Media Contacts: [email protected]

US: Sherri Hendricks +1-702-893-9400

International: Naomi Elbinger +1-718-521-4976

Source: Rapaport USA Inc.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ROTH MKM (Roth), www.roth.com, a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors, today announced that Jason Wittes has joined the firms healthcare research team, as Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst. His research coverage is expected to include small and large cap Medical Technology and Biotechnology companies.

Prior to joining Roth, Mr. Wittes was the head of healthcare research at Loop Capital. Previously Jason led public medical technology investment and business development for Fosun International. Jason focuses on a wide range of Medical Technology and Biotechnology companies with an emphasis on technology, product cycles, clinical data and real-world outcomes evaluation. His research has been recognized by a variety of industry polls, including The Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street.

Mr. Wittes has a B.S. in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and an M.B.A. from New York Universitys Stern School of Business.

Jeff Martin, CFA and Co-Director of Research commented, We are excited to welcome Jason Wittes to the Healthcare team here at Roth. Jason brings a long history and valuable perspective surrounding the historical and emerging trends within medical technology and biotechnology sectors. These insights should prove extremely valuable for our clients.

Mr. Wittes stated, I am thrilled to join the Roth healthcare team. Roth has a well-established legacy in healthcare and the recent merger with MKM adds significant distribution capabilities to the equation. I look forward to contributing to the legacy by providing, high quality fundamental research and stock calls. As Ive done throughout my career my goal is to focus on innovative technologies with the most investment potential.

We are excited to have Jason join our healthcare research team, said Sagar Sheth, CEO of Roth. His diverse experience in a variety of medical technologies across the market cap spectrum is an excellent fit for our research platform. Im confident that Jasons expertise will provide valuable insights for clients and help build upon our long track record in the healthcare sector.

Since 2010, ROTH has been involved in approximately 570 transactions for its Healthcare clients, with total transaction value over $25.0 billion. (Source: Roth | 09/25/2023)

About ROTH MKM

ROTH MKM is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving growth companies and their investors. Our full service platform provides capital raising, high impact equity research, macroeconomics, sales and trading, technical insights, derivatives strategies, M&A advisory and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, ROTH MKM is a privately-held, employee owned organization and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.roth.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012447196/en/

Investor and Media Contact: ROTH MKM, Isabel Mattson-Pain, Director of Marketing, [email protected], 949-720-7117.

Source: ROTH Capital Partners, LLC
At least four Palestinians were killed Wednesday as armed Israeli settlers attacked a town south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

In a separate incident, a Palestinian man was killed by Israeli army fire near Bethlehem, the ministry said.

The latest fatalities bring to 28 the Palestinian death toll in the West Bank in violence related to the conflict since Hamas militants launched on Saturday an assault on Israel's south from the blockaded Gaza Strip.

The health ministry reported in a statement "three martyrs as a result of a settler assault on the town of Qusra" in the northern West Bank, later revising up the toll to four.

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem shared on social media footage of what it described as an "incursion of the Israeli military and Israeli settlers" into Qusra.

When contacted by AFP, the army said in a statement that "soldiers operating on the outskirts of the town of Busra reported hearing shots fired in the area", adding it was "looking into reports" of Palestinian casualties.

B'Tselem said on X, formerly Twitter, that "since Saturday, settlers have been attacking Palestinian residents in many parts of the West Bank".

Amid war between Israel and Gaza militants that left thousands dead on both sides, "settlers are utilising the fact that public attention is focused elsewhere to... add fuel to the fire of violence", the group said.

The Palestinian health ministry in a separate statement said it had been informed by the Palestinian Authority's civil affairs authority of "the martyrdom of a citizen... after the occupation (Israeli army) opened fire at him near Bethlehem" in the southern West Bank.

The statement did not identify the slain man or elaborate on the circumstances of his death.

The latest violence in the West Bank comes amid heightened tensions following the surprise Hamas assault early Saturday that has since spiralled into all-out war.

At least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, while Israeli strikes on Gaza killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to official figures.

A surge in violence has hit the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, since early last year.

Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, the West Bank is home to nearly three million Palestinians and around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements considered illegal under international law.

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NORFOLK, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ReAlta Life Sciences (ReAlta), Inc., a clinical mid-stage biotech company focused on harnessing the power of the immune system to address life-threatening diseases, was pleased to welcome Senator Mark R. Warner (D-Va) for an in-depth visit with the ReAlta management team, members of the ReAlta board of directors, and local investors on October 2, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012073021/en/

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va) with ReAlta CEO Dr. Ulrich Thienel, board chairman Edward Heidt, Jr., CMO Dr. Kenji Cunnion, CSO Dr. Neel Krishna, and ReAlta staff. (Photo: Business Wire)

During his visit, Senator Warner participated in an active discussion with members of ReAltas management team about the companys ongoing clinical trials and development plans for commercial applications for its EPICC drug platform that will benefit patients suffering from acute inflammatory diseases such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and acute pulmonary exacerbations. The Senator, who is chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also learned about other research initiatives ReAlta is pursuing to treat life-threatening inflammatory conditions such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) triggered by a pandemic virus, Acute Radiation Syndrome, and Sepsis that are of interest to the Department of Defense, BARDA, and other Federal agencies.

We were honored to host Senator Warner and appreciated his interest in our efforts to treat patients with HIE and GvHD, as well as patients suffering from a number of pulmonary diseases, said Ulrich Thienel, MD, PhD, CEO of ReAlta Life Sciences. With the potential applications for our EPICC platform to treat medical threats faced by our military personnel on the battlefield and our civilian population after another pandemic virus, this visit by Senator Warner underlines the important role that companies like ReAlta can play in our national economy and healthcare infrastructure."

ReAlta is on the cutting edge of research in a variety of fronts  from COVID to birth asphyxia, said Sen. Mark R. Warner. Im proud that Virginia is home to such an energetic and nimble company, and I look forward to seeing their work continue to push the boundaries in treating acute inflammatory and rare diseases.

ReAlta is grateful to Senator Warner for his visit and his ongoing support for biotechnology innovation in Virginia. The company looks forward to continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible in the fight against life-threatening rare diseases.

About ReAlta Life Sciences

ReAlta Life Sciences, Inc. is a clinical mid-stage biotech company dedicated to harnessing the power of the immune system to address life threatening acute inflammatory and rare diseases. The Companys EPICC peptides are based on research into the human astrovirus, HAstV-1, which causes a non-inflammatory, self-limiting gastroenteritis unique among viruses by inhibiting components of the innate immune system. ReAltas therapeutic peptides leverage these virus-derived mechanisms to rebalance complement and inflammatory processes in the body. The companys pipeline is led by RLS-0071, which has received IND clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute Graft-versus-Host Disease and IND clearance, Orphan Drug Designation, and Fast Track Designation by the FDA, and Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency, for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The company launched in 2018 and is located in Norfolk, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.realtalifesciences.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012073021/en/

Media and Investor Contact:

John Rickman

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

Source: ReAlta Life Sciences, Inc.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sweetgreen, Inc. (NYSE: SG), the mission-driven restaurant brand serving healthy food at scale, today announced it will release financial results for the third quarter of 2023 after the market close on Thursday, November 2, 2023. On that day, the company will host a webcast at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss the companys business and financial results.

A live webcast of the companys earnings call will be available on the investors section of the companys website at https://investor.sweetgreen.com/. An archived webcast of the call will be available on the investor section of the companys website shortly after the call, and will remain available for approximately one year.

Sweetgreen announces material information to the public through a variety of means, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts, and the investor relations section of its website at https://investor.sweetgreen.com/ in order to achieve broad, non-exclusionary distribution of information to the public and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

About Sweetgreen: Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) passionately believes that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone. Every day their team members create delicious seasonal meals from fresh ingredients and produce that prioritizes organic, regenerative, and local sourcing. Sweetgreen strongly believes in harnessing the power of technology to enhance the customer experience to meet their customers where they are. Sweetgreens strong food ethos and investment in local communities have enabled them to grow into a national brand with a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food. To learn more about Sweetgreen and its menu, visit www.Sweetgreen.com. Follow Sweetgreen on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @Sweetgreen.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011861288/en/

sweetgreen Contact, Investor Relations:

Rebecca Nounou

[email protected]

sweetgreen Contact, Media:

Jenny Seltzer

[email protected]

Source: Sweetgreen, Inc.
WARREN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tevogen Bio Inc. (Tevogen Bio) congratulates Professor Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, Chairperson of Tevogen Bios Innovation and Public Health Advisory Board, on being elected to serve as the President of the Global Virus Network. The Global Virus Network is a coalition comprised of leading virologists around the world, committed to solving viral diseases facing the human population. The Board of Directors of the Global Virus Network (GVN) has elected Dr. Vermund to serve as President upon the close of the annual GVN scientific meeting being held October 19-21, 2023, in Monaco.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012987020/en/

Sten Vermund, MD, PhD, Chairperson of Tevogen Bio's Innovation and Public Health Advisory Board (Photo: Business Wire)

Through Dr. Vermunds extensive background in infectious disease epidemiology and pediatrics, and his significant leadership experience, he is uniquely positioned to contribute to the global effort against viral diseases. His new role at the Global Virus Network will further enable him to facilitate international collaboration among the virology community, fostering a proactive approach towards the prevention, control, and treatment of viral outbreaks globally. Dr. Vermund continues faculty work at the Yale School of Public Health, where he served as Dean from 2017-2022.

Tevogen Bio is immensely proud of Dr. Vermund's appointment, recognizing it as a testament to his exceptional expertise, dedication, and the influential impact he has in the field of public health and virology. This new appointment complements his ongoing contributions at Tevogen Bio, where he continues to provide invaluable guidance on innovation and public health initiatives.

"Dr. Vermund's appointment is a significant acknowledgment of his outstanding contributions to the global health community," said Ryan Saadi, MD, MPH, CEO of Tevogen Bio. "His comprehensive expertise and distinguished leadership continue to be a catalyst for advancements in virology and public health both within our organization and the broader scientific community. We look forward to supporting both Dr. Vermund and the GVN in their endeavors and are excited about the positive impact his presidency will have on global viral and pandemic threat preparedness and response.

About Tevogen Bio

Tevogen Bio is driven by a team of highly experienced industry leaders and distinguished scientists with drug development and global product launch experience. Tevogens leadership believes that accessible personalized immunotherapies are the next frontier of medicine, and that disruptive business models are required to sustain medical innovation in the post-pandemic world.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the Tevogen Bio and its business, including without limitation statements regarding the benefits of Mr. Vermunds appointment as President of the Global Virus Network and the product candidates, products, markets, and expected future performance and market opportunities of Tevogen Bio. These statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs as of the date of this release and are subject to several factors which involve known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties, and other factors not under Tevogen Bios control that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or other expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by terminology such as may, will, should, intend, expect, believe, potential, and possible, or their negatives or comparable terminology, as well as other words and expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances. In any forward-looking statement in which Tevogen Bio expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, there can be no assurance that the statement or expectation or belief will be achieved. Various factors may cause differences between Tevogen Bios expectations and actual results, including, among others: changes in the markets in which Tevogen Bio competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution, or regulatory changes; changes in domestic and global general economic conditions; the risk that Tevogen Bio may not be able to execute its growth strategies; Tevogen Bios limited operating history; uncertainties inherent in the execution, cost, and completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials; risks related to regulatory review and approval and commercial development; risks associated with intellectual property protection; and other risks related to matters that could affect Tevogen Bios future financial results, including the commercial potential, sales, and pricing of Tevogen Bios products. Except as required by law, Tevogen Bio undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or any of the information in this release, or provide additional information, and expressly disclaims any and all liability and makes no representations or warranties in connection herewith or with respect to any omissions therefrom.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012987020/en/

Tevogen Bio Communications

T: 1 877 TEVOGEN, Ext 701

[email protected]

Source: Tevogen Bio
Finavia is delighted to announce the successful completion of the most extensive development programme in the history of Helsinki Airport. With the investment of over one billion euros over a ten-year period, Finavia ensures Finland's global accessibility and Helsinki Airport's position as one of the top airports in Europe, which is now ready to welcome 30 million passengers annually.

HELSINKI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Helsinki Airport is the first point of contact for many passengers arriving in Finland. The airport's design aims to showcase Finnish design and expertise, not only in terminal architecture and material choices but also in its service offerings. Passengers, businesses operating at the airport and airport personnel were extensively involved in the planning.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012320499/en/

Finavia is delighted to announce the successful completion of the most extensive development programme in the history of Helsinki Airport. With the investment of over one billion euros over a ten-year period, Finavia ensures Finland's global accessibility and Helsinki Airport's position as one of the top airports in Europe, which is now ready to welcome 30 million passengers annually. In June 2023, the international airport organisation ACI (Airports Council International) awarded Helsinki Airport the recognition of the best airport in Europe in its size category. Photo by Finavia.

As a result of the development programme, the terminal's floor area has increased by 45%, allowing for new, modern airport facilities to be introduced for passengers. The departure and arrival halls were completely renovated, and the airport transitioned into a single-terminal model. Additionally, the security control, shops, restaurants, services and parking and public transportation arrangements were comprehensively updated.

Helsinki Airports selection of shops and restaurants has significantly improved due to the development programme. During summer and autumn of 2023 alone, nearly 20 new commercial units opened at the airport, increasing the terminal's retail space to a total of 29,000 square meters (+ 3,000 m2).

The new travel centre conveniently connects various modes of transportation and provides seamless connections to Helsinki city centre as well as other parts of Finland. The travel centre links local and long-distance bus services, the Helsinki metropolitan area commuter train service, a taxi station and the airports various parking areas. For the planning and implementation of this transportation hub, Finavia received approximately 9.6 million euros in EU funding.

Finavia approached the development programme with its airline customers strongly in mind. With the expanded terminal level, new aircraft parking spots, passenger boarding bridges and increased baggage handling capacity, airlines can operate smoothly at Helsinki Airport and service their customers even better than before. Currently, around 50 airlines operate at Helsinki Airport, offering direct flights to 130 destinations worldwide.

"Helsinki Airport, opened for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, was constructed piece by piece over decades, with different parts of the terminal representing the design and architecture of different decades. Now, all functions and services have been brought under one roof. This enables a world-class customer experience, keeps distances within the airport short and makes all services easily accessible," says Kimmo Maki, CEO of Finavia.

The decade-long development has earned international recognition

In June 2023, the international airport organisation ACI (Airports Council International) awarded Helsinki Airport the recognition of the best airport in Europe in its size category. Criteria for selection included sustainability efforts, operational efficiency, innovation and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Helsinki Airport has also been chosen as the best airport in Northern Europe five times (20162023). In addition, the airport has received numerous international awards and recognitions for project management, construction, BIM (Building Information Modeling) implementation at various project stages, architecture and design, restaurant services and certifications for responsible construction.

"In addition to the massive construction project, we have also achieved our ambitious customer satisfaction goal. The airport's operations continued as usual throughout the development programme, and at the same time, the passengers' positive customer experience improved amidst the construction. Customer satisfaction with Helsinki Airport was already at a high level before the start of the development programme, and I am very pleased that it has continued to rise," Kimmo Maki continues.

In addition to customer experience, the projects included in the development programme comprehensively considered climate and environmental aspects in material choices and energy solutions. The development programme had a significant impact on Helsinki Airport becoming carbon neutral as early as 2017.

"Sustainability is a prerequisite for the future of the entire industry and, through that, for Helsinki Airport's renovated facilities to serve passengers for decades to come," Maki summarises.

Images and other material of Helsinki Airport for media use are available to download from Finavias media bank.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012320499/en/

Additional information and interview requests:

Finavia Media Desk, tel. (+358) 020 708 2002, [email protected]

Source: Finavia Corporation
The 331-unit market-rate apartment community is tailored to meet the evolving needs of North Dallas rapidly growing population

CARROLLTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The NRP Group, a vertically integrated, best-in-class developer, builder, and manager of multifamily housing, in partnership with H.I.G. Realty Partners, the real estate platform of global investment firm, H.I.G. Capital, has broken ground on Diamond Flats, a market-rate community in Carrollton, Texas, a vibrant suburb of Dallas. The six-acre site is being transformed into a four-story development comprising 331 apartment homes. Santander Bank, N.A. has provided a construction loan for the project.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012773754/en/

The NRP Group, in partnership with real estate investor H.I.G Realty Partners, has broken ground on Diamond Flats, a market-rate apartment community twenty-five miles north of Dallas, Texas. (Photo: Business Wire)

Located at 1402 Carrollton Parkway directly adjacent to Highway 121, Diamond Flats is strategically positioned for convenience and connectivity. Just minutes from major mixed-use developments, corporate hubs and major area employers, the development is tailored to the evolving opportunities resulting from the rapid growth of the North Dallas region.

Diamond Flats demonstrates NRPs commitment to creating high-quality communities that cater to the evolving needs of Dallas fast-growing population, said Alena Savera, Vice President of Development at The NRP Group. This incredible location in Carrollton offers residents quick access to the top amenities in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. We are fortunate to work with partners like H.I.G Capital and Santander Bank, N.A. to deliver rental opportunities where apartment demand is surging.

Centrally located between downtown Dallas, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and popular mixed-use developments including Legacy West, Diamond Flats offers proximity to prominent retail and job centers including Toyota, Frito Lay, FedEx and JP Morgan. Additionally, the development is located near green spaces, hospitals, restaurants and retailers.

Featuring spacious one- to three-bedroom units averaging over 950 square feet, Diamond Flats is designed to accommodate professionals with hybrid work schedules. Many units offer dens for working remotely in addition to community coworking amenity spaces. Residents will enjoy exceptional on-site amenities, including a fitness center with separate strength and cardio areas, a resort-style pool, tranquil courtyards, a game room and secure garage parking. Diamond Flats is the second NRP development in the Carrollton area.

The first units are on track for delivery in 2025.

ABOUT THE NRP GROUP

The NRP Group is a vertically integrated developer, owner, builder, and manager of best-in-class multifamily housing whose mission is to create exceptional rental housing communities for individuals and families, regardless of income. Since its founding in 1994, NRP has developed more than 50,000 apartment homes and currently manages over 25,000 residential units.

Through its disciplined approach to vetting opportunities, NRP has established a track record of delivering impressive returns for investors. The companys formidable size and depth of talent provide the experience and infrastructure necessary to execute developments of varying degrees of complexity and scope in both urban-infill and suburban locations, including market-rate, affordable, workforce, and mixed-income housing.

The NRP Group ranks consistently in the Top 10 largest developers and builders in the U.S. by the National Multifamily Housing Council and by Affordable Housing Finance. The NRP Group is a winner of the National Association of Home Builders Multifamily Pillars of the Industry award for Builder of the Year, and a four-time recipient of the Pillar Award for Development Firm of the Year. The NRP Group has become the top multifamily developer in the U.S. that creates both affordable and market-rate communities at a national scale. Based on its nearly 30 years of experience and expertise, NRP now provides construction and property management services to outside owners and developers. For additional information, visit www.nrpgroup.com.

ABOUT H.I.G. REALTY PARTNERS

H.I.G. Realty Partners is the real estate platform of H.I.G. Capital, a leading global alternative assets investment firm with $59 billion of equity capital under management. * H.I.G. Realty Partners focuses on small-to-mid-cap real estate, targeting both equity and debt investments across all property types located throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. Equity investments are concentrated on the acquisition of value-added assets, employing a hands-on, operationally focused approach that seeks to generate substantial cash flow and asset appreciation through rehabilitating, redeveloping, repositioning, and rebranding assets that have been capital starved and/or poorly managed. Debt investments include senior bridge loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity collateralized by transitional properties and portfolios. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website www.higcapital.com.

*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012773754/en/

Media:

Audrey Latimer

Antenna Group

[email protected]

(312) 489-8479

Source: The NRP Group
BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI now gives adult patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer a new personalized treatment option

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) + MEKTOVI (binimetinib) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.1 BRAF V600E mutations can be assessed from either plasma or tumor tissue using the FoundationOne Liquid CDx or the FoundationOne CDx FDA-approved companion diagnostic tests, respectively.

Todays approval builds on our long-standing commitment to deliver innovative, personalized medicines to patients with lung cancer. By pursuing precision medicines that target a patients specific type of cancer, we are leveraging our deep understanding of tumor biology to help address the underlying cause of disease, said Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Oncology Research and Development Officer and Executive Vice President at Pfizer. Since its initial FDA approval in 2018, BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI combination therapy has helped thousands of people living with BRAF V600E- or V600K-mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma.2 We look forward to helping even more patients with our BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI targeted combination therapy.

The FDAs approval is based on data from the ongoing Phase 2 PHAROS clinical trial (NCT03915951), an open-label, multicenter, singlearm study examining BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI combination therapy in both treatment-naive and previously treated patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic NSCLC.

BRAF V600E mutations identify a unique subtype of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that presents an actionable biomarker that precision medicines like BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI combination therapy can help address, said Gregory Riely, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chair, Clinical Research in the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and PHAROS investigator. The PHAROS trial demonstrated that these patients could benefit from BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI targeted therapy regardless of their prior treatment history. Given the specific efficacy and safety profile, patients and providers now have another option to help personalize treatment plans based on individual risk factors and preferences.

The PHAROS study met its major efficacy outcome measures of objective response rate (ORR), as assessed by independent review committee (IRC), and duration of response (DOR) in both treatment groups. For treatment-naive patients (n=59), ORR was 75% (95% CI: 62, 85), and 59% of the patients responded for at least 12 months. Median DOR was not estimable (NE) for this group at the time of data cutoff. For previously treated patients (n=39), ORR was 46% (95% CI: 30, 63), and 33% of the patients responded for at least 12 months. Median DOR was 16.7 months (95% CI: 7.4, NE). These data were presented earlier this year at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and simultaneously published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).3

The most common (25%) all-causality adverse reactions observed in the PHAROS trial were fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, vomiting, abdominal pain, visual impairment, constipation, dyspnea, rash, and cough. A total of 17% of patients experienced an adverse reaction that resulted in permanent discontinuation of MEKTOVI and 16% experienced an adverse event that resulted in permanent discontinuation of BRAFTOVI. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients. Serious adverse reactions occurring in 2% of patients included hemorrhage (6%), diarrhea (4.1%), anemia, dyspnea, pneumonia (3.1% each), arrhythmia, device-related infection, edema, myocardial infarction, and pleural effusion (2% each). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2% of patients, including intracranial hemorrhage and myocardial infarction (1% each).

BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI is also FDA-approved for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. BRAFTOVI is FDA-approved, in combination with cetuximab, for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test, after prior therapy.

Pfizer has exclusive rights to BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI in the U.S., Canada, and all countries in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has exclusive rights to commercialize both products in Japan and South Korea, Medison has exclusive rights in Israel, and Pierre Fabre has exclusive rights in all other countries, including Europe and Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan and South Korea).

The PHAROS trial is conducted with support from Pierre Fabre.

About BRAF V600E-mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the number one cause of cancer-related death around the world.4 NSCLC accounts for approximately 80-85% of all lung cancers.5

Certain lung cancers are linked to acquired genetic abnormalities like a BRAF V600E mutation. By using biomarkers to identify a persons particular tumor type, treatment can become more personalized and effective, since the molecular makeup of a persons cancer often determines how they respond to different therapies.

A BRAF V600E mutation occurs in approximately 2% of NSCLC cases.6 It stimulates tumor cell growth and proliferation by altering the MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Targeting components of this pathway could potentially help inhibit tumor growth and proliferation caused by BRAF mutations.7

Precision medicine is increasingly being developed for NSCLC patients with genetic changes, such as BRAF mutations, that can be detected using biomarker tests.8,9 In recent years, more widespread use of biomarker testing and targeted therapies have been associated with improvements in population-level NSCLC mortality.10

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI (binimetinib) are kinase inhibitors indicated for use in combination for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

BRAFTOVI is indicated, in combination with cetuximab, for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test, after prior therapy.

BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI are kinase inhibitors indicated for use in combination for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Limitations of Use: BRAFTOVI is not indicated for treatment of patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma, wild-type BRAF CRC, or wild-type BRAF NSCLC.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

This information applies to the safety of BRAFTOVI when used in combination with either MEKTOVI or cetuximab.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

New Primary Malignancies: New primary malignancies, cutaneous and non-cutaneous, can occur. BRAFTOVI may promote malignancies associated with activation of RAS through mutation or other mechanisms. Perform dermatopathologic evaluations prior to initiating treatment, every 2 months during treatment, and for up to 6 months following discontinuation of treatment. Manage suspicious skin lesions with excision and dermatopathologic evaluation. Dose modification is not recommended for new primary cutaneous malignancies. Monitor patients receiving BRAFTOVI for signs and symptoms of non-cutaneous malignancies. Discontinue BRAFTOVI for RAS mutation-positive non- cutaneous malignancies. Monitor patients for new malignancies prior to initiation of treatment, while on treatment, and after discontinuation of treatment.

BRAF-mutant type (BRAF-mt) metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC), including keratoacanthoma (KA), occurred in 2.6% and basal cell carcinoma occurred in 1.6% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. Median time to first occurrence of cuSCC/KA was 5.8 months.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cuSCC), including keratoacanthoma (KA), occurred in 2.6% and basal cell carcinoma occurred in 1.6% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. Median time to first occurrence of cuSCC/KA was 5.8 months. BRAF-mt metastatic CRC (BEACON CRC study): cuSCC, including KA, occurred in 1.4% of patients with CRC, and a new primary melanoma occurred in 1.4% of patients who received BRAFTOVI with cetuximab.

cuSCC, including KA, occurred in 1.4% of patients with CRC, and a new primary melanoma occurred in 1.4% of patients who received BRAFTOVI with cetuximab. BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): cuSCC and skin papilloma (SP), each occurred in 2% of patients.

Tumor Promotion in BRAF Wild-Type Tumors: In vitro experiments have demonstrated paradoxical activation of MAP-kinase signaling and increased cell proliferation in BRAF wild-type cells exposed to BRAF inhibitors. Confirm evidence of BRAF V600E or V600K mutation using an FDA-approved test prior to initiating BRAFTOVI.

Cardiomyopathy: Cardiomyopathy manifesting as left ventricular dysfunction associated with symptomatic or asymptomatic decreases in ejection fraction, has been reported. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors should be monitored closely. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Assess left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiogram or multi-gated acquisition (MUGA) scan prior to initiating treatment, 1 month after initiating treatment, and then every 2 to 3 months during treatment.

The safety has not been established in patients with a baseline ejection fraction that is either below 50% or below the institutional lower limit of normal (LLN).

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): Evidence of cardiomyopathy occurred in 7% and Grade 3 left ventricular dysfunction occurred in 1.6% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. The median time to first occurrence of left ventricular dysfunction (any grade) was 3.6 months. Cardiomyopathy resolved in 87% of patients.

Evidence of cardiomyopathy occurred in 7% and Grade 3 left ventricular dysfunction occurred in 1.6% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. The median time to first occurrence of left ventricular dysfunction (any grade) was 3.6 months. Cardiomyopathy resolved in 87% of patients. BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): Evidence of cardiomyopathy occurred in 11% and Grade 3 left ventricular dysfunction occurred in 1% of patients. Cardiomyopathy resolved in 82% of patients.

Hepatotoxicity: Hepatotoxicity can occur. Monitor liver laboratory tests before initiation, monthly during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): The incidence of Grade 3 or 4 increases in liver function laboratory tests in patients receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI was 6% for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 2.6% for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and 0.5% for alkaline phosphatase.

The incidence of Grade 3 or 4 increases in liver function laboratory tests in patients receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI was 6% for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 2.6% for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and 0.5% for alkaline phosphatase. BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): The incidence of Grade 3 or 4 increases in liver function laboratory tests was 10% for AST, 9% for ALT, and 3.2% for alkaline phosphatase.

Hemorrhage: Hemorrhage can occur when BRAFTOVI is administered in combination with MEKTOVI or cetuximab. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): Hemorrhage occurred in 19% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI and Grade 3 or higher hemorrhage occurred in 3.2% of patients. The most frequent hemorrhagic events were gastrointestinal, including rectal hemorrhage (4.2%), hematochezia (3.1%), and hemorrhoidal hemorrhage (1%). Fatal intracranial hemorrhage in the setting of new or progressive brain metastases occurred in 1.6% of patients.

Hemorrhage occurred in 19% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI and Grade 3 or higher hemorrhage occurred in 3.2% of patients. The most frequent hemorrhagic events were gastrointestinal, including rectal hemorrhage (4.2%), hematochezia (3.1%), and hemorrhoidal hemorrhage (1%). Fatal intracranial hemorrhage in the setting of new or progressive brain metastases occurred in 1.6% of patients. BRAF-mt metastatic CRC (BEACON CRC study): Hemorrhage occurred in 19% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with cetuximab; Grade 3 or higher hemorrhage occurred in 1.9% of patients, including fatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 0.5% of patients. The most frequent hemorrhagic events were epistaxis (6.9%), hematochezia (2.3%), and rectal hemorrhage (2.3%).

Hemorrhage occurred in 19% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with cetuximab; Grade 3 or higher hemorrhage occurred in 1.9% of patients, including fatal gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 0.5% of patients. The most frequent hemorrhagic events were epistaxis (6.9%), hematochezia (2.3%), and rectal hemorrhage (2.3%). BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): Hemorrhage occurred in 12% of patients including fatal intracranial hemorrhage (1%); Grade 3 or 4 hemorrhage occurred in 4.1% of patients. The most frequent hemorrhagic events were anal hemorrhage and hemothorax (2% each).

Uveitis: Uveitis, including iritis and iridocyclitis, has been reported in patients treated with BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. Assess for visual symptoms at each visit. Perform an ophthalmological evaluation at regular intervals and for new or worsening visual disturbances, and to follow new or persistent ophthalmologic findings. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): The incidence of uveitis among patients treated with BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI was 4%.

The incidence of uveitis among patients treated with BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI was 4%. BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): The incidence of uveitis among patients treated with BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI was 1%.

QT Prolongation: BRAFTOVI is associated with dose-dependent QTc interval prolongation in some patients. Monitor patients who already have or who are at significant risk of developing QTc prolongation, including patients with known long QT syndromes, clinically significant bradyarrhythmias, severe or uncontrolled heart failure and those taking other medicinal products associated with QT prolongation. Correct hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia prior to and during BRAFTOVI administration. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue for QTc >500 ms.

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): An increase in QTcF to >500 ms was measured in 0.5% (1/192) of patients who received BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI.

An increase in QTcF to >500 ms was measured in 0.5% (1/192) of patients who received BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): An increase in QTcF to >500 ms was measured in 2.1% (2/95) of patients who received BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Both BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. BRAFTOVI can render hormonal contraceptives ineffective.

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study) and BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): Effective, non-hormonal contraceptives should be used during treatment and for at least 30 days after the final dose for patients taking BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI.

Effective, non-hormonal contraceptives should be used during treatment and for at least 30 days after the final dose for patients taking BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. BRAF-mt metastatic CRC (BEACON CRC study): Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective nonhormonal contraception during treatment with BRAFTOVI and for 2 weeks after the final dose.

BRAFTOVI as a Single Agent is associated with increased risk of certain adverse reactions compared to when BRAFTOVI is used with MEKTOVI.

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): Grades 3 or 4 dermatologic reactions occurred in 21% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI as a single agent compared to 2% in patients receiving the combination of BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI.

Grades 3 or 4 dermatologic reactions occurred in 21% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI as a single agent compared to 2% in patients receiving the combination of BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. If MEKTOVI is temporarily interrupted or permanently discontinued, reduce the dose of BRAFTOVI as recommended.

Risks Associated with Combination Treatment

In BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study) , BRAFTOVI is used in combination with MEKTOVI so refer to the prescribing information for MEKTOVI for additional risk information.

, BRAFTOVI is used in combination with MEKTOVI so refer to the prescribing information for MEKTOVI for additional risk information. In BRAF-mt metastatic CRC (BEACON CRC study) , BRAFTOVI is used in combination with cetuximab so refer to the prescribing information for cetuximab for additional risk information.

, BRAFTOVI is used in combination with cetuximab so refer to the prescribing information for cetuximab for additional risk information. In BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study), BRAFTOVI is indicated for use as part of a regimen in combination with MEKTOVI, so refer to the prescribing information for MEKTOVI for additional risk information.

Additional WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS for MEKTOVI When Used With BRAFTOVI

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): VTE occurred in 6% of patients with BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study), including 3.1% of patients who developed pulmonary embolism. VTE occurred in 7% of patients with BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study), including 1% of patients who developed pulmonary embolism. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Other Ocular Toxicities

Serous retinopathy Assess for visual symptoms at each visit. Perform an ophthalmologic examination at regular intervals, for new or worsening visual disturbances, and to follow new or persistent ophthalmologic findings. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction. BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): serious retinopathy occurred in 20% of patients receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI; 8% were retinal detachment and 6% were macular edema. Symptomatic serous retinopathy occurred in 8% of patients with no cases of blindness. The median time to onset of the first event of serous retinopathy (all grades) was 1.2 months. BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): serous retinopathy (retinal detachment) occurred in 2% of patients with no cases of blindness.

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a known class-related adverse reaction of MEK inhibitors and may occur in patients receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI. In BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study) , 1 patient experienced RVO (0.1%) in the MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI group (n=690). The safety of MEKTOVI has not been established in patients with a history of RVO or current risk factors for RVO, including uncontrolled glaucoma or a history of hyperviscosity or hypercoagulability syndromes. Perform ophthalmological evaluation for patient-reported acute vision loss or other visual disturbance within 24 hours. Permanently discontinue MEKTOVI in patients with documented RVO.

(RVO) is a known class-related adverse reaction of MEK inhibitors and may occur in patients receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI. In , 1 patient experienced RVO (0.1%) in the MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI group (n=690).

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): ILD, including pneumonitis, occurred in 0.3% (2 of 690 patients) with BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study) receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI. One patient (1%) with BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study) receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI developed pneumonitis. Assess new or progressive unexplained pulmonary symptoms or findings for possible ILD. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Rhabdomyolysis: Rhabdomyolysis can occur when MEKTOVI is taken with BRAFTOVI. Monitor creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and creatinine levels prior to initiating MEKTOVI, periodically during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Withhold, reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma (COLUMBUS study): Elevation of laboratory values of serum CPK occurred in 58% of patients receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI. Rhabdomyolysis was reported in 0.1% (1 of 690 patients) with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI.

Elevation of laboratory values of serum CPK occurred in 58% of patients receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI. Rhabdomyolysis was reported in 0.1% (1 of 690 patients) with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma receiving MEKTOVI with BRAFTOVI. BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study): Elevation of laboratory values of serum creatine kinase (CK) occurred in 41% of patients. No patient experienced rhabdomyolysis.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

BRAF-mt Metastatic Melanoma (COLUMBUS study)

Most common adverse reactions (20%, all grades) for patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI compared to vemurafenib were fatigue (43% vs 46%), nausea (41% vs 34%), diarrhea (36% vs 34%), vomiting (30% vs 16%), abdominal pain (28% vs 16%), arthralgia (26% vs 46%), myopathy (23% vs 22%), hyperkeratosis (23% vs 49%), rash (22% vs 53%), headache (22% vs 20%), constipation (22% vs 6%), visual impairment (20% vs 4%), serous retinopathy/RPED (20% vs 2%).

(20%, all grades) for patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI compared to vemurafenib were fatigue (43% vs 46%), nausea (41% vs 34%), diarrhea (36% vs 34%), vomiting (30% vs 16%), abdominal pain (28% vs 16%), arthralgia (26% vs 46%), myopathy (23% vs 22%), hyperkeratosis (23% vs 49%), rash (22% vs 53%), headache (22% vs 20%), constipation (22% vs 6%), visual impairment (20% vs 4%), serous retinopathy/RPED (20% vs 2%). Other clinically important adverse reactions occurring in

occurring in Most common laboratory abnormalities (20%, all grades) for BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI compared to vemurafenib included increased creatinine (93% vs 92%), increased CPK (58% vs 3.8%), increased gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) (45% vs 34%), anemia (36% vs 34%), increased ALT (29% vs 27%), hyperglycemia (28% vs 20%), increased AST (27% vs 24%), and increased alkaline phosphatase (21% vs 35%).

BRAF-mt Metastatic CRC (BEACON CRC study)

Most common adverse reactions (25%, all grades) in patients receiving BRAFTOVI with cetuximab compared to irinotecan with cetuximab or FOLFIRI with cetuximab (control) were fatigue (51% vs 50%), nausea (34% vs 41%), diarrhea (33% vs 48%), dermatitis acneiform (32% vs 43%), abdominal pain (30% vs 32%), decreased appetite (27% vs 27%), arthralgia (27% vs 3%), and rash (26% vs 26%).

(25%, all grades) in patients receiving BRAFTOVI with cetuximab compared to irinotecan with cetuximab or FOLFIRI with cetuximab (control) were fatigue (51% vs 50%), nausea (34% vs 41%), diarrhea (33% vs 48%), dermatitis acneiform (32% vs 43%), abdominal pain (30% vs 32%), decreased appetite (27% vs 27%), arthralgia (27% vs 3%), and rash (26% vs 26%). Other clinically important adverse reactions occurring in

occurring in Most common laboratory abnormalities (20%, all grades) in the BRAFTOVI with cetuximab arm compared to irinotecan with cetuximab or FOLFIRI with cetuximab (control) were: anemia (34% vs 48%) and lymphopenia (24% vs 35%).

BRAF-mt Metastatic NSCLC (PHAROS study)

Most common adverse reactions (25%, all grades) in patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI were fatigue (61%), nausea (58%), diarrhea (52%), musculoskeletal pain (48%), vomiting (37%), abdominal pain (32%), visual impairment (29%), constipation (27%), dyspnea (27%), rash (27%), and cough (26%).

(25%, all grades) in patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI were fatigue (61%), nausea (58%), diarrhea (52%), musculoskeletal pain (48%), vomiting (37%), abdominal pain (32%), visual impairment (29%), constipation (27%), dyspnea (27%), rash (27%), and cough (26%). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. Serious adverse reactions occurring in 2% of patients were hemorrhage (6%), diarrhea (4.1%), anemia (3.1%), dyspnea (3.1%), pneumonia (3.1%), arrhythmia (2%), device related infection (2%), edema (2%), myocardial infarction (2%), and pleural effusion (2%).

occurred in 38% of patients receiving BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI. Serious adverse reactions occurring in 2% of patients were hemorrhage (6%), diarrhea (4.1%), anemia (3.1%), dyspnea (3.1%), pneumonia (3.1%), arrhythmia (2%), device related infection (2%), edema (2%), myocardial infarction (2%), and pleural effusion (2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 2% of patients, including intracranial hemorrhage (1%) and myocardial infarction (1%).

occurred in 2% of patients, including intracranial hemorrhage (1%) and myocardial infarction (1%). Other clinically important adverse reactions occurring in

occurring in Most common laboratory abnormalities (20%, all grades) for BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI included increased creatinine (91%), hyperglycemia (48%), anemia (47%), increased creatine kinase (41%), lipase increased (40%), increased ALT (34%), hypoalbuminemia (32%), increased alkaline phosphatase (31%), increased AST (31%), hyperkalemia (31%), hyponatremia (26%), lymphopenia (24%), serum amylase increased (22%), and thrombocytopenia (20%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS With BRAFTOVI When Used in Combination With Either MEKTOVI or Cetuximab

Avoid coadministration of BRAFTOVI with strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors (including grapefruit juice) or CYP3A4 inducers and use caution with sensitive CYP3A4 substrates. Avoid coadministration of BRAFTOVI with hormonal contraceptives

Modify BRAFTOVI dose if coadministration with a strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor cannot be avoided

Avoid coadministration of BRAFTOVI with drugs known to prolong QT/QTc interval

Dose reductions of drugs that are substrates of OATP1B1, OATP1B3, or BCRP may be required when used concomitantly with BRAFTOVI

Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI and for 2 weeks after the final dose.

Infertility: Advise males of reproductive potential that BRAFTOVI may impair fertility.

For BRAF-mt metastatic melanoma and for BRAF-mt metastatic NSCLC, see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for BRAFTOVI and full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for MEKTOVI. See full Prescribing Information for BRAFTOVI and for MEKTOVI for dose modifications for adverse reactions. There may be a delay as the documents are updated with the latest information. They will be available as soon as possible. Please check back for the updated full information shortly.

For BRAF-mt metastatic CRC, see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for BRAFTOVI. See full Prescribing Information for BRAFTOVI for dose modifications for adverse reactions. Refer to cetuximab prescribing information for recommended dosing and safety information.

About Pfizer Oncology

At Pfizer Oncology, we are committed to advancing medicines wherever we believe we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with cancer. Today, we have an industry-leading portfolio of 24 approved innovative cancer medicines and biosimilars across more than 30 indications, including breast, genitourinary, colorectal, blood and lung cancers, as well as melanoma.

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the worlds premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information contained in this release is as of October 12, 2023. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) + MEKTOVI (binimetinib) and a new indication in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test, including its potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for our clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; whether the final results from the PHAROS study will be consistent with the results discussed in this release; uncertainties regarding the commercial success of BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when any applications for BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI may be filed with regulatory authorities in any other jurisdictions; whether and when regulatory authorities in any jurisdictions may approve any such applications that may be pending or filed for BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the products benefits outweigh their known risks and determination of the products efficacy and, if approved, whether BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI, including the new indication; uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizers business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com.

# # # # #

Category: Prescription Medicines

1 BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) Prescribing Information. Array BioPharma, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc.): 2023.

2 Data on File Pfizer March 2022 (REF-BMK0842 + REF-BMK1009)

3 Riely GJ, Smit EF, Ahn MJ, et al. Phase II, open-label study of encorafenib plus binimetinib in patients with BRAF V600-mutant metastatic nonsmall-cell lung cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology; 41(21): 3700-3711. doi: 10.1200/JCO.23.00774

4 World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. GLOBOCAN 2020: Lung cancer fact sheet. Updated December 2020. Accessed August 16, 2023. http://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/cancers/15-Lung-fact-sheet.pdf

5 American Cancer Society. What is lung cancer? Updated October 1, 2019. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html

6 American Lung Association. BRAF and lung cancer. Updated November 17, 2022. Accessed August 16, 2023. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/symptoms-diagnosis/biomarker-testing/braf

7 Lieu CH, Corcoran RB, Overman MJ. Integrating biomarkers and targeted therapy into colorectal cancer management. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2019;39:207-215. doi: 10.1200/EDBK_240839

8 Planchard D, Popat S, Kerr K, et al. Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2018;29(Suppl. 4), iv192-iv237. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdy275

9 Konig D, Savic Prince S, Rothschild SI. Targeted therapy in advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. An update on treatment of the most important actionable oncogenic driver alterations. Cancers. 2021;13(4), 804. doi:10.3390/cancers13040804

10 Howlader N, Forjaz G, Mooradian MJ, et al. The effect of advances in lung-cancer treatment on population mortality. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(7), 640649. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1916623

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011089993/en/

Media:

+1 (212) 733-1226

[email protected]

Investor:

+1 (212) 733-4848

[email protected]

Source: Pfizer Inc.
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) will hold its third quarter 2023 conference call with Matt Flannery, chief executive officer, and Ted Grace, chief financial officer, on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The conference call is available live by audio webcast at unitedrentals.com, where it will be archived until the next earnings call. The call is also accessible by dialing 800-420-1271 (international: 785-424-1222). The replay number for the call is 402-220-2572. The passcode for both the conference call and replay is 70041.

The companys third quarter 2023 press release will be issued and available at unitedrentals.com after the market close on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.

About United Rentals

United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,487 rental locations in North America, 14 in Europe, 23 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The companys approximately 25,750 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 4,800 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $20.64 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poors 500 Index, the Barrons 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012563798/en/

Elizabeth Grenfell

Vice President, Investor Relations

O: (203) 618-7125

[email protected]

Source: United Rentals, Inc.
CANONSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Vision RNG and Meridian Waste celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the State of Missouris first Landfill Gas (LFG) to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plant at Meridians Eagle Ridge Landfill in Bowling Green, Missouri.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012153400/en/

Eagle Ridge Landfill: Vision RNG and Meridian Waste celebrate grand opening at the State of Missouri's first LFG to RFG plant. (Photo: Randy Rowe, Vision RNG, Project Manager)

This marks the efforts of the VRNG/Meridian Waste partnership over the past 18 months to reach this significant milestone. The plant takes LFG from the landfill, which would be otherwise flared, and converts it to a renewable energy resource. The RNG is delivered to a nearby Panhandle Eastern pipeline and sold to energy company US Energy for distribution to its customers.

Conversion of LFG to RNG is one of just a few processes that offers significant energy AND environmental benefits at the same time. LFG is composed 50% methane (natural gas) and about 45% carbon dioxide. The methane component offers significant renewable energy benefits, while controlling and using the methane and carbon dioxide offer significant environmental benefits as both are significant greenhouse contributors.

The plant processes about 1,500 standard cubic feet per minute of raw LFG and produces about 350,000 MMbtu per year of RNG. This is equivalent to producing 3,070,175 gallons of gasoline. The RNG can be used in a variety of energy and environmentally beneficial ways including:

Use as a transportation fuel in CNG powered vehicles and other sustainable fuel uses.

Use by industrial and other commercial companies as a substitute for natural gas.

Use by customers to generate renewable electricity.

Use by customers to reduce their carbon footprint to meet sustainability goals.

I couldnt be prouder of the VRNG team that worked tirelessly over the last several months to make this plant a reality, said Bill Johnson, CEO of VRNG. We especially want to recognize our partners at Meridian Waste and our off-take partner US Energy. This is the first of more than a dozen such plants VRNG will be constructing and bringing on-line over the next 18-24 months, including two more with our partners at Meridian Waste.

Few consider garbage a resource, opened Mary OBrien, Meridian Wastes Chief Marketing Officer at the ribbon cutting event today at Eagle Ridge Landfill. However, here at Meridian Waste, we believe in taking a less wasteful approach to garbage. We are honored to be Vision RNGs first operating clean energy project through this state-of-the-art landfill gas to renewable natural gas plant behind me and to have US Energy deliver the environmentally beneficial fuel to multiple users to power their infrastructure needs.

Not only does this partnership mark our first RNG offtake agreement in Missouri, but the first landfill gas to RNG project in the state," shared Bryan Nudelbacher, vice president of business developmentRNG at U.S. Energy. We're seeing increased demand for RNG from the transportation and voluntary markets. The industry needs more projects like this to come online in new regions to help meet market demand. We commend Vision RNG and Meridian Waste on their investment in this LFG to RNG plant and are honored to have been selected as the gas offtake partner.

About Vision RNG:

Vision RNG, supported by Vision Ridge Partners is a leading developer, owner, and operator of LFG to RNG facilities. VRNG has assembled a team of industry leaders and talent focused on using and maximizing the benefit of using LFG for our partners on both the landfill side as well as the off-take site. To learn more, visit www.VisionRNG.com.

About Meridian Waste:

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Meridian Waste is a company defined by its commitment to servicing its customers, caring for and engaging its employees, and generating financial value for its shareholders while delivering a clean and healthy community. The companys core waste business is centered on residential, commercial, and industrial non-hazardous waste collection and disposal. Currently, the company operates in Northeast Fla., St. Louis, Mo., Goldston, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., Greensboro, N.C., Greenville, S.C., Knoxville, Tn., Blacksburg, Va., Harrisonburg, Va., and Richmond, Va., servicing more than 303,831 residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers. In addition to a fleet of commercial, residential, and roll-off trucks, the company operates 14 hauling companies, five transfer stations and materials recovery facilities (MRFs), two municipal solid waste landfills and four C&D landfills in which 914,639 tons of waste are safely disposed of annually. For more information, visit www.MeridianWaste.com.

About U.S. Energy:

U.S. Energy, a U.S. Venture company, is a leading vertically integrated solutions provider proficient in refined products, alternative fuels, and environmental credits. Over our 70-year tenure, weve diversified throughout the energy supply chainoffering realistic, executable strategies that satisfy your economic and environmental goals. From energy project development, distribution, and marketing through wholesale, commercial, and retail channels, we partner with organizationsproviding comprehensive support for any fuel or energy type. U.S. Energy's asset portfolio of more than 30 refined product terminals, 40 renewable natural gas development projects, 50 alternative fuel stations, and two forestry projects helps our customers Stay Ahead. Driven to be the very best and most trusted energy solutions provider dedicated to finding a better way toward a sustainable future, U.S. Energy is uniquely positioned to help organizations navigate the evolving energy industry. For more information, visit www.US-Energy.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012153400/en/

Vision RNG

Media Inquiries

Cara Dickens, Rocket Pop

[email protected]

(804) 677-6556

Vision RNG Business Inquiries

Kevin Johnson, CFO, Vision RNG

[email protected]

(724) 760-7415

Meridian Waste

Mary OBrien, Meridian Waste

[email protected]

(904) 616-5322

U.S. Energy

Stephanie Lowney, VP of Marketing, Strategy, and Innovation U.S. Energy, a U.S. Venture company

[email protected]

(920) 381-2190

Source: Vision RNG
The combined companies will work together to bolster providers ability to improve financial performance and succeed in value-based care arrangements

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WellSky, a leading health and community care technology company, announced today that it has acquired Corridor, an end-to-end tech-enabled services platform designed for the post-acute care industrys toughest challenges, from HealthEdge Investment Partners, a healthcare-focused private equity firm. By adding Corridor to its portfolio, WellSky will expand its medical coding and revenue cycle management (RCM) offerings to help care providers increase efficiency and improve performance across clinical, financial, operational, and compliance areas.

Given the increasingly complex and frequently changing regulations that complicate coding and billing processes, healthcare organizations are turning to trusted and experienced coding and RCM providers who can increase productivity and help ensure accurate reimbursement. With the addition of Corridor, WellSky expands its comprehensive services  including medical coding, clinical documentation review, billing, and collections services  that address these challenges within the post-acute and long-term care sectors.

Providers today must continually demonstrate higher quality performance and compliance, and theyre looking for solutions to support quality patient care and reduce administrative burdens, said Bill Miller, CEO of WellSky. As we looked to strengthen our services offerings, Corridor emerged as an ideal partner. Together, WellSky and Corridor help more post-acute care organizations succeed against industry challenges.

Corridor has a proven track record as a leading tech-enabled services partner to post-acute providers, serving more than 2,600 client sites and supporting more than 52,000 clinicians. The addition of Corridor allows WellSky to strengthen its position in home health coding and RCM and move into the skilled nursing facility billing business. The announcement comes on the heels of WellSkys recent acquisition of Experience Care, a leading technology company for long-term and post-acute care providers, further demonstrating its commitment to the long-term care market.

For more than 30 years, Corridor has held steadfast to our mission to help our clients maximize their performance and resources with powerful, tech-enabled solutions. Im thrilled that Corridor will continue to advance that mission as part of the WellSky team, said Des Varady, CEO of Corridor. With access to WellSkys tech-enabled solutions that are focused on improving outcomes, lowering costs, and improving patient and family satisfaction, we can better serve our client partners.

Corridors deep industry expertise in billing and financials, workforce issues, and medical coding complements WellSkys aim to deliver innovative solutions that power providers success. Corridor clients will soon be able to leverage WellSkys robust analytics, care coordination, patient engagement, interoperability, and EHR solutions to enhance care quality and better position clients for success with value-based care models.

Varady is staying on to lead the Corridor team, along with the Corridor leadership team, who will integrate with WellSky as they evolve and invest in the future of tech-enabled services.

Lincoln International acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Corridor and HealthEdge on this transaction.

For more information, visit WellSky.com.

About WellSky

WellSky is one of Americas largest and most innovative healthcare technology companies leading the movement for intelligent, coordinated care. Our proven software, analytics, and services power better outcomes and lower costs for stakeholders across the health and community care continuum. In todays value-based care environment, WellSky helps providers, payers, health systems, and community organizations scale processes, improve collaboration for growth, harness the power of data analytics, and achieve better outcomes by further connecting clinical and social care. WellSky serves more than 20,000 client sites  including the largest hospital systems, blood banks, cell therapy labs, home health and hospice franchises, post-acute providers, government agencies, and human services organizations. Informed by more than 40 years of providing software and expertise, WellSky anticipates clients needs and innovates relentlessly to build healthy, thriving communities. For more information, visit wellsky.com.

About Corridor

Founded in 1989, The Corridor Group Holdings, LLC (Corridor) is a leading provider of technology-enabled outsourced coding, revenue cycle and education solutions to the post-acute healthcare industry. Leveraging deep and broad post-acute expertise, Corridor delivers documentation quality improvement and reimbursement success to clients ranging from large health systems and national chains to smaller, independently operated agencies. For more information visit www.corridorgroup.com.

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Emma Neal

Phone: 617.401.3131

Email: [email protected]

Source: WellSky
The CEO of European low-cost airline Ryanair (OTC: RYAAY) said Thursday that delayed deliveries of Boeing's (NYSE: BA) 737 Max aircraft are "getting worse" as the company reels from quality-control issues at aerospace supplier Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE: SPR).

The airline said it expected to receive 14 of 27 aircraft due by late December, but that number could fall as

low as 10.

"If anything its getting worse," Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said. "I would have been reasonably confident up until about a month ago that we would get 57 aircraft by the end of June. Im now not confident."

The delays suggest Ryanair may only receive 40 aircraft by June, which threatens the company's summer flying capacity.

In addition to the comments on the Boeing delays, O'Leary commented on European airline consolidation.

He said IAG is the logical buyer of Portugal's TAP and he thinks EasyJet will be acquired by either British Airways or Air France, or through some partnership of the two. Meanwhile, he said Wizz Air will likely be bought by a Middle East airline.

By StreetInsider.com Staff
Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) (Fisker), driven by a mission to create the worlds most emotional and sustainable electric vehicles, announced that it intends to open its first Fisker Lounge in Shanghai, China, continuing the roll-out of its China business.

China is an incredibly important market for us, Chairman and CEO Henrik Fisker said. We are delivering vehicles in the U.S. and Europe, but our goal since the company was established in 2016 has been to operate as a fully global firm. The EV industry is rapidly growing in China, and we want Fisker to be positioned as one of only two pure foreign EV brands. The Chinese customer deserves as much choice as possible, and we intend to provide it to them.

Fisker established an office in China in 2022 and earlier this year released additional details on its plans for the country, including the set-up of a delivery center in 2023. The announcement of the Fisker Lounge in Shanghai builds on this strategy, as Fisker Lounges serve existing and future customers by being located in high-traffic retail locations where consumers can experience the Fisker brand and get a closer look at Fisker vehicles.

The company expects to open its Shanghai Lounge in December 2023 or January 2024. The Lounge will be located on Taicang Road.

Fisker is currently delivering the all-electric SUV in the U.S. and Europe. The $68,9991 Fisker Ocean Extreme has a 113 kWh battery pack (106 kWh usable) and an EPA range of 360 miles2 on standard 20-inch wheels and tires, which is the longest range of any new electric SUV in its class3. In Europe, the Fisker Ocean Extreme has a WLTP range of 707km/440 U.K. miles4 on standard 20-inch wheels and tires, which is the longest range of any electric SUV sold in Europe today. The all-electric SUV starts at $37,4992 for the Fisker Ocean Sport trim level in the U.S.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Thursday recommended imposing fines of $270,000 on a joint venture battery plant in Ohio, operated by General Motors (NYSE: GM) and LG Energy Solution.

The recommendation comes after inspectors found the company exposed workers to hazards when they failing to train on safety and emergency response procedures and did not adhere to federal standards for the use of personal protective equipment.

Ultium Cells claimed Thursday that the company takes safety seriously and has requested a hearing with OSHA, which is the next step in this process.

OSHA also confirmed issuing a hazard alert letter, urging the company to take voluntary measures to reduce the buildup of metal dust and enhance employee protection from potential exposure to hazardous metal dust.

"The companys focus on the future must include an emphasis on workplace safety to ensure the well-being of its employees," Said OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts.

OSHA asserted that Ultium must install mandatory machine guarding, provide training to workers in hazardous energy control and emergency response procedures, as well as implementing other necessary changes.

Currently, the workplace safety agency has an ongoing inspection at the Ultium facility following a fire on June 27, as well as three additional inquiries.

One of these inquiries concerns a report that the company exposed workers to chemicals when a pressure gauge failed in August, leading to battery slurry leaking onto the plant floor.

OSHA has issued a total of 11 citations against the plant since its inception in 2022.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Heidi G. Petz to serve as the Company's next Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 1, 2024 . Ms. Petz , 48, who has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Sherwin-Williams for the last two years, will assume the CEO duties currently held by Chairman and CEO John G. Morikis . Ms. Petz will continue to serve as President. After serving as CEO since 2016, Mr. Morikis will continue to serve as Executive Chairman. In addition, the Board increased its size from 10 to 11 members and elected Ms. Petz to fill the resulting vacancy, effective October 10, 2023 .

"Today's announcement follows a comprehensive process and multi-year organizational succession plan to identify the best candidate to lead the Company," said Mr. Morikis . "Heidi has been an invaluable member of my leadership team, demonstrating a record of driving growth and operational excellence that has generated increased value for our customers, shareholders and employees. With this transition, Heidi becomes only the tenth CEO in the 157-year history of the Company. Supported by a deep and experienced senior leadership team, she is the right leader to accelerate achievement of the Company's growth and profitability goals."

Prior to serving as the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Petz served as President of The Americas Group and previous to that role, served as President of the Consumer Brands Group, successfully leading both of these global businesses through some of the most challenging periods in the Company's history. Ms. Petz joined the Company in June 2017 in connection with the Valspar acquisition. Prior to joining Valspar in 2013, she held various leadership positions with Target Corporation, Newell Rubbermaid and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

"The selection of Heidi as CEO is the result of a well-developed and thoughtful process to ensure a seamless leadership transition that focuses on strength, momentum and growth," commented Jeff M. Fettig , Sherwin-Williams Lead Director. "We are pleased John has agreed to remain in his role as Executive Chairman, continuing an incredible career that began 39 years ago as a member of one of the first Sherwin-Williams management trainee classes, progressing through numerous roles of increasing responsibility, and ultimately ascending to CEO. On behalf of the entire Board, we thank John for his extraordinary leadership, commitment and dedication to Sherwin-Williams, as well as his many accomplishments and business decisions that drove the Company's strong performance and unprecedented growth during his tenure as CEO."

Ms. Petz succeeds Mr. Morikis surrounded by a highly experienced group of leaders, which remains intact and averages 27 years of Sherwin-Williams experience. Allen J. Mistysyn will continue as Senior Vice President  Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and Justin T. Binns , Karl J. Jorgenrud and Todd D. Rea will continue as leaders of the Company's reportable segments. Colin M. Davie will lead the global supply chain organization, inclusive of global manufacturing operations, which will continue to be led by Joseph F. Sladek . Mr. Binns and Mr. Jorgenrud will assume additional enterprise-wide responsibilities, including greater engagement with the global supply chain organization to accelerate customer solutions and drive productivity.

Ms. Petz serves on the Board of Directors of Ulta Beauty, Inc. She also serves on the Board of the University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, Ohio and is a member of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Policy Advisory Board. She holds a bachelor's degree in business and leadership from the University of Richmond, and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland.

The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss this announcement at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 . The conference call will be webcast simultaneously in the listen only mode by Issuer Direct. To listen to the webcast on the Sherwin-Williams website, click on https://investors.sherwin-williams.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx, then click on the webcast icon following the reference to the Leadership Webcast. The webcast will also be available at Issuer Direct's Investor Calendar website, www.investorcalendar.com . An archived replay of the webcast will be available at this link https://investors.sherwin-williams.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx beginning approximately two hours after the call ends.

ABOUT THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The Company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy , Krylon, Minwax, Thompson's  WaterSeal, Cabot and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio , Sherwin-Williams branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 5,000 Company-operated stores and branches, while the Company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com .

Investor Relations Contacts:

Jim Jaye

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.515.8682

[email protected]

Eric Swanson

Vice President, Investor Relations

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.566.2766

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Julie Young

Vice President, Global Corporate Communications

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.515.8849

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sherwin-williams-board-of-directors-elects-heidi-petz-ceo-effective-january-1-2024-301953527.html

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union began a surprise strike against Ford Motor, specifically targeting the automaker's most profitable SUV and pickup truck production facility in Kentucky.

This unexpected strike started at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, disrupting operations at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant. This facility is responsible for manufacturing Ford Super Duty pickups, along with the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The workforce at this plant comprises 8,700 UAW members.

The strike raises places additional pressure on Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) and General Motors (NYSE: GM) as negotiations are expected to resume Thursday.

According to information from the automakers and the UAW, the Kentucky strike serves as a warning to Stellantis and GM as the automakers wage and benefits proposals are not as good as Ford's.

Although there are currently 8,700 workers striking at Ford's Kentucky Truck plant, this represents only a fraction of the 150,000 UAW workers employed by the Detroit Three automakers. However, the strike has led to furloughs of thousands of additional workers in non-striking operations, as automakers have deemed their work unnecessary due to the walkouts.

Ford warned on Wednesday that employees at a dozen other factories may also be sent home due to the ongoing strike at the truck plant.

decision by the UAW to call a strike at Fords Kentucky Truck Plant is grossly irresponsible but unsurprising given the union leaderships stated strategy of keeping the Detroit 3 wounded for months through reputational damage and industrial chaos. Said Ford.

Fords Kentucky plant generates $25 billion in annual sales, about a sixth of Ford's global automotive revenue.

Prior to the Kentucky walkout, he union had already called for strikes at five assembly plants, including two owned by Ford, across the three companies, and 38 parts depots operated by GM and Stellantis.

Shares of F, STLA and GM are down 2.20%, 0.94% and 1.03% respectively in pre-market trading Thursday morning.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
QUINCY, Mass., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In support of National Bullying Prevention Month, Breezeline, the nations eighth-largest cable operator, has distributed cyberbullying prevention resources to more than 2,300 educators across 11 states: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Florida.

In partnership with PACERs National Bullying Prevention Center, Breezeline has created a conversation starter guide to help teachers and parents initiate conversations about cyberbullying with children and teenagers. The resource includes information on how to begin open and honest discussions about cyberbullying, when to have these conversations, and what topics this dialogue should cover.

Online connectivity helps children connect to the world around them, said Katie McCoid, public relations manager for Breezeline. Breezeline is committed to working to make the online experience as safe as possible for young users.

According to UNICEF, cyberbullying can impact children mentally, emotionally, and physically. Mentally, victims of cyberbullying often feel upset and embarrassed. Emotionally, victims may feel ashamed and lose interest in the things they love. Physically, victims typically have trouble sleeping and experience stomach aches. Because fear usually prevents victims from speaking up. Breezeline hopes this conversation starter guide will make it easier for adults to initiate these important conversations at a crucial time for students.

This is the second year Breezeline has partnered with PACER to create and distribute cyberbullying prevention resources. In 2022, Breezeline distributed cyberbullying prevention guides for parents, high school and middle school students, and elementary school students.

ABOUT BREEZELINE

Cogeco US, operating as Breezeline, a subsidiary of Cogeco Communications Inc. (TSX: CCA), is the eighth-largest cable operator in the United States. The company provides its residential and business customers with Internet, TV and Voice services in 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Cogeco Communications Inc. also operates in Quebec and Ontario, in Canada, under the Cogeco Connexion name. Cogeco Inc.s subsidiary, Cogeco Media, owns and operates 21 radio stations as well as a news agency serving audiences primarily in the province of Quebec.

ABOUT PACER

Founded in 2006, PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change to prevent childhood bullying, so that all youth are safe and supported in their schools, communities and online. PACER provides innovative resources for students, parents, educators, and others, and recognizes bullying as a serious community issue that impacts education, physical and emotional health, and the safety and well-being of students.

Katie McCoid Breezeline [email protected]

Source: Breezeline
Paris, France, October 12th, 2023 Coave Therapeutics (Coave), a genetic medicine company focused on developing life-changing therapies, announces the formation of its new Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprising renowned leaders in gene therapy, neurological diseases, adeno-associated viral (AAV) and non-viral vector technologies:

Olivier Danos, PhD (Chair of the SAB)  Chief Scientific Officer at REGENXBIO Inc (Paris, France)

 Chief Scientific Officer at REGENXBIO Inc (Paris, France) Alain Wagner, PhD  Director of the Laboratory of Functional Chemosystems (LFCS) at the University of Strasbourg (Strasbourg, France)

 Director of the Laboratory of Functional Chemosystems (LFCS) at the University of Strasbourg (Strasbourg, France) Anne des Rieux, PhD  Professor at UCLouvain - Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI) (Brussels, Belgium)

Professor at UCLouvain - Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI) (Brussels, Belgium) Aravind Asokan, PhD  Professor and Director at the Duke University School of Medicine, and Director of Danaher Beacon for Gene Therapy Innovation (North Carolina, US)

 Professor and Director at the Duke University School of Medicine, and Director of Danaher Beacon for Gene Therapy Innovation (North Carolina, US) Juliette Hordeaux, DVM, PhD  Executive Director of Translational Research at the Gene Therapy Program, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, US)

 Executive Director of Translational Research at the Gene Therapy Program, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, US) Mark Kay, MD, PhD  Director of the Program in Human Gene Therapy, and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine (California, US)

 Director of the Program in Human Gene Therapy, and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine (California, US) Robert Kotin, PhD  Adjunct Professor at UMass Medical School (Massachusetts, US)

The SAB members will support Coaves R&D strategy, offering invaluable expert scientific and clinical guidance as the company progresses its pipeline of innovative genetic medicines based on its unique ALIGATER (Advanced Vectors-Ligand Conjugates) platform. Their collective expertise will also contribute to enhancing the ALIGATER platform and expanding its potential across viral (adeno-associated virus; AAV) and non-viral vector-based therapeutics, unlocking the potential to develop novel genetic medicines targeting serious diseases.

Lolita Petit, CSO of Coave Therapeutics commented, We are absolutely thrilled to welcome our exceptional Scientific Advisory Board to the Coave team. Bringing together such a diverse, esteemed and knowledgeable group of world-leading experts is a testament to the immense potential of Coaves pipeline, platform and strategic vision. Each of these distinguished members has made profound contributions to the fields of genetic medicine, gene therapy, and neurosciences, bringing a unique depth of knowledge and experience to Coave. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to leverage their unique scientific insights to continue to advance our pipeline and ALIGATER platform. Their presence will undoubtedly catalyze our growth and move us closer to our mission of transforming the lives of patients with limited treatment options.

About Coave Therapeutics

At Coave Therapeutics, we are leading the transition of genetic medicine from rare to prevalent conditions, starting with neurodegenerative and eye diseases. Our proprietary ALIGATER (Advanced Vectors-Ligand Conjugates) platform introduces chemical modifications onto AAV capsids or Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) to overcome the limitations of current vectors on efficacy, safety, and manufacturability.

With low doses and optimized routes of administration, our conjugated vectors have demonstrated markedly improved transduction and biodistribution in the central nervous system and the eye across different species. Our diverse pipeline of novel genetic medicines can potentially transform the lives of people afflicted by rare and prevalent neurodegenerative and ocular diseases  including genetically and non-genetically defined indications.

Headquartered in Paris, France, Coave Therapeutics is backed by leading international life sciences investors. For more information about the science, pipeline, and people, please visit https://coavetx.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn.

CONTACTS

Coave Therapeutics Rodolphe Clerval, CEO [email protected]

MEDiSTRAVA Consulting Sylvie Berrebi, Leila Adlam, Mark Swallow [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)203 928 6900

Source: Coave Therapeutics
Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems Company Limited : The second season of the documentary series "The Master of Dunhuang" officially premiered today

Beijing, China, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tencent News and Dunhuang Academy proudly announce the release of the second season of the documentary series "The Master of Dunhuang." Produced in collaboration with Lichun Studio and featuring Moutai as "Guardian of Craftsmanship," the series will be available for streaming on Tencent News and QQ.com starting from October 11th.

The second season of "The Master of Dunhuang" in centered around the theme of the "Mesozoic Era." Employing a narrative approach that focuses on an ensemble of characters and events, the series delves into three key areas: mural restoration, fine arts reproduction, and cultural promotion. It tells the compelling stories of cultural heritage professionals in the new era who seek innovation within the realm of tradition and continuously affirm their own value.

Comprising six episodes, the second season of "The Master of Dunhuang" will continue to explore the theme of "heritage and development" while introducing a deeper dimension within the contemporary context:

During the process of preserving and restoring Cave 196 of the Mogao Caves, mural restorers not only deal with issues like hollow walls and flaking murals but also encounter unexpected damages from small insects. Leveraging advanced equipment and scientific research methods, they can observe the early stages of deterioration in the murals. While preserving traditional restoration techniques, they also usher in a "new era of technology" in the field of cultural heritage preservation.

The complete restoration and replication of Cave 172 of the Mogao Caves from the prosperous Tang Dynasty is a project that the Dunhuang Academy's Institute of Fine Arts has been undertaking in recent years. One of the most challenging aspects is to restore the original colors of the murals, which have darkened due to oxidation over time. Artists have attempted to use scientific instruments to analyze the chemical compositions in the pigments but found that these instruments can only assist and cannot replace the experience and intuition of human experts.

Tour guides are the individuals who interact with tourists the most each day and serve as the seeds of promoting Dunhuang culture. With a vast amount of academic information related to Dunhuang, how can an ordinary person accurately convey this knowledge to tourists? How can they demonstrate the advantages of "human touch" in the transmission of cultural value?

The philosophy of combining timeless heritage with cutting-edge innovation also aligns with Moutai's role as the "Guardian of Craftsmanship." In the first season, Moutai had leveraged cutting-edge digital technology to promote the beauty of Dunhuang culture. In this latest collaboration with "The Master of Dunhuang", Moutai once again underscores the values of "craftsmanship preservation", reaffirming its commitment to supporting cultural heritage and bolstering cultural confidence.

https://www.qq.com


WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pastor Marc Little, a spokesperson for Concerned Communities for America, issued the following statement in response to reports that multiple Black Lives Matter chapters around the country have celebrated the gruesome terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against the people of Israel.

Both as a country and as a free people who support human rights all over the world, America should stand behind Israel in this moment of tragedy and grief. Anti-Semitism should never be tolerated, much less celebrated, and terrorism of any kind should always be condemned.

Sadly, Black Lives Matter has a track record of supporting and encouraging violence on Americas streets, and now theyre celebrating an attack that has claimed the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of innocent men, women, and children. I call on all Black leaders, especially Black clergy, to denounce BLM and other extremist groups that encourage violence, whether in America, Israel, or anywhere else in the world.

To learn more about Concerned Communities for America, please visit concernedcommunities.org. You can follow CCA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Source: Concerned Communities For America
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core Molding Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American: CMT) (Core Molding, Core or the Company), a leading engineered materials company specializing in molded structural products, principally in building products, utilities, transportation and powersports industries across North America, today announces that it will release its third quarter fiscal 2023 results on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, before the market opens. In conjunction with the release, the Company has scheduled a conference call, which will be broadcast live over the internet the same day at 10:00am Eastern.

By Phone: Dial 1-844-881-0134 at least 10 minutes before the call and ask to join the Core Molding Technologies call. A replay will be available through November 14th by dialing 1-877-344-7529 and using the conference ID: 8134739#. By Webcast: Connect to the webcast via the Events and Presentations page of Core Moldings Investor Relations website at www.coremt.com/investor-relations/events-presentations/. Please log in at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call.

About Core Molding Technologies, Inc.

Core Molding Technologies is a leading engineered materials company specializing in molded structural products, principally in building products, utilities, transportation and powersports industries across North America. The Company operates in one operating segment as a molder of thermoplastic and thermoset structural products. The Companys operating segment consists of one reporting unit, Core Molding Technologies. The Company offers customers a wide range of manufacturing processes to fit various program volume and investment requirements. These processes include compression molding of sheet molding compound (SMC), resin transfer molding (RTM), liquid molding of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), spray-up and hand-lay-up, direct long-fiber thermoplastics (DLFT) and structural foam and structural web injection molding (SIM). Core Molding Technologies serves a wide variety of markets, including the medium and heavy-duty truck, marine, automotive, agriculture, construction, and other commercial products. The demand for Core Molding Technologies products is affected by economic conditions in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Core Molding Technologies operations my change proportionately more than revenues from operations.

Company Contact:Core Molding Technologies, Inc.John ZimmerExecutive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:Three Part Advisors, LLCSandy Martin or Steven Hooser214-616-2207

Source: Core Molding Technologies, Inc.
Chicago, IL, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DecentralFree, an innovative contribution protocol, is revolutionizing the way businesses collaborate and execute projects worldwide. This groundbreaking platform is designed to streamline cross-border collaboration, ensuring seamless project delivery and empowering contributors from around the globe.

In today's fast-paced and competitive business landscape, micro-tasks have become the norm. However, traditional tools and systems often prove inefficient, leading to missed deadlines and increased costs. DecentralFree seeks to redefine this paradigm by envisioning a future where contributors from diverse backgrounds can seamlessly join projects, receive payment in stablecoins or project-native tokens, and be trusted to deliver top-notch work.

DecentralFree leverages cutting-edge decentralized multichain technology to expedite project completion through token-funded micro-tasks. With DecentralFree, turning your ideas into reality becomes effortless, without the complexities of task delegation or talent recruitment.

Key Features of DecentralFree:

1. AI-Powered Job Opportunities: DecentralFree employs AI to create new employment opportunities.

2. Real-Time Collaboration: Collaborate in real-time using DecentralFree's chat feature.

3. Effortless Coding: DecentralFree's web-based IDE simplifies coding.

4. Kanban-Style Project Management: Streamline project management with DecentralFree's Kanban-style approach.

5. AI-Based Matchmaking: DecentralFree ensures the perfect fit for any job through AI-driven matchmaking.

Why Choose DecentralFree?

 Unlocking Efficiency: DecentralFree's decentralized approach empowers organizations of all sizes to tap into unprecedented cost arbitrage, enabling faster and more efficient project completion.

 Fair Compensation: Operating on a commission-based model, DecentralFree ensures fair compensation by taking only a 10% commission, with 90% directly paid to contributors.

 Token-Funded Micro-Tasks: DecentralFree's multichain protocol allows for the use of BVM-based token standards for micro-task funding, ensuring secure and efficient compensation for contributors.

 Micro-Task Flexibility: DecentralFree's micro-task system enables decentralized task completion, with multiple contributors and flexible price-setting, selected based on quality and chronology.

 Utility-Based Model: DecentralFree's utility-based model incentivizes token holders to stake FREELA tokens for task validation, ensuring system integrity.

 Multichain Technology: DecentralFree's multichain technology ensures FREELA token omnipresence across multiple chains, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem.

FREELA Token Utility

DecentralFree leverages decentralized multichain technology to accelerate project delivery through token-funded micro-tasks.

In a landscape marked by uncertainty, FREELA STAKING offers a beacon of stability and tailored rewards. There's an understanding that each investor's goals and timeframes are unique. Therefore, we've meticulously designed the staking program with flexibility in mind, providing three enticing options to cater to commitment level:

5 Days Staking : Plant the seeds of growth for just 5 days, and watch the investment flourish with a generous 10% bonus.

: Plant the seeds of growth for just 5 days, and watch the investment flourish with a generous 10% bonus. 15 Days Staking : Extend each commitment to 15 days, and witness immense rewards soar to an impressive 25% bonus.

: Extend each commitment to 15 days, and witness immense rewards soar to an impressive 25% bonus. 30-Day Staking: For the most dedicated investors, embarking on a 30-day stake will yield an extraordinary 110% bonus, propelling returns to unprecedented heights.

But that's not all. "We're excited to introduce our Referral Link program, an initiative that empowers our community and rewards those who help us grow. A Referral Link is a unique web link provided by FREELA to our valued members. When you share this link, and someone else makes a purchase or takes specific actions through it, you, the sharer, will receive a remarkable 2% commission as a token of our appreciation. This is our way of saying thank you for contributing to the expansion of our family."

Referral links serve as the cornerstone of word-of-mouth marketing and showcase our commitment to building a strong, engaged community.

With FREELA STAKING and our Referral Link program, we are taking another significant step toward empowering our community to achieve financial success and growth.

Tokenomics

Token Name: DecentralFree

Token Symbol: FREELA

Total Supply: 200,000,000

Token Network: BSC

Marketing Tax: 0/2% Buy  Sell

DecentralFree Phase Protocol

In Phase 01, the following key activities will take place: ideation and branding, formation of the core team, launching the website and social media channels, releasing the V1 Lite Paper, conducting the FREELA Pre-Sale, onboarding advisors, and establishing partnerships with venture capitalists (VCs), as well as launching an awareness marketing campaign.

In Phase 02, the following activities will occur: the launch of FREELA, listing FREELA on decentralized exchange platforms (DEX), onboarding influencers, getting listed on CoinMarketCap (CMC), appearing on Coingecko, releasing the Beta Version, launching the Staking Portal, and implementing a $10 Economy Marketing strategy.

In Phase 03, the plan includes releasing the Alpha Version, listing FREELA on centralized exchange platforms (CEX), launching the full product, implementing marketing strategies targeted at customers, making potential partnership announcements, and reaching the milestone of achieving 1,000 token holders.

In Phase 04, the objectives encompass reaching 5,000 active users, expanding the user base by onboarding new users and growing the ecosystem, launching the FREELA community, reaching 2,000 token holders, maintaining continuous marketing efforts, participating in events, and ultimately achieving a milestone of 10,000 active users.

About DecentralFree:

DecentralFree is a pioneering contribution protocol that facilitates seamless global collaboration and project completion through decentralized multichain technology and token-funded micro-tasks. At DecentralFree, we prioritize our community and aim to create a welcoming environment where like-minded individuals can connect and engage. We encourage you to join our social media channels to stay updated and become part of our growing community. Learn more at https://decentralfree.org

For media inquiries, please contact: https://linktr.ee/decentralfree

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

Benjamin Parker Decentral Free contact-at-decentralfree.org

Source: DecentralFree
Vancouver, B.C., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emergent Waste Solutions Inc. (EWS or the Company), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nu-E Corp (Nu-E) for using solar generated electricity to power the reactors in EWS proposed future thermolysis plant, which will produce green biogas. This green biogas will subsequently be converted into green methanol as a store of hydrogen for use in fuel cells.

EWS has a proprietary and patent pending Advanced Thermolysis Technology (ATS) that generates valuable products from carbon-based waste material, including that generated by the agriculture and forest industries. As a by-product of the creation of our carbon products we also generate biogas. Through our recently signed MOU with Hago Energetics of Southern California, we have access to a breakthrough technology that can economically convert our biogas into green methanol. While methanol is used to make a variety of chemicals, it is also a unique fuel source: stable, safe to containerize, and safely transportable with existing infrastructure. Synergistically, EWS has also put in place a technology cooperation agreement with Advent Technology, which affords EWS the capability to generate power with the green methanol created by Hago Energetics, by way of Advent fuel cells that can utilize our green methanol.

However, as EWS migrates from the current generation of ATS plants that use biogas to heat the reactors it needs a reliable source of solar power as an alternative. The Nu-E development team is a leader in Alberta and Western Canada for large-scale utility scale solar deployment. By partnering with Nu-E, EWS will be able focus on its core competency of building/operating leading-edge thermolysis facilities and potentially offset CAPEX by entering into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with Nu-E Corp.

Key terms of the MOU, which is subject to a definitive agreement, are:

The MOU is related to establishment of a collaboration of employing EWS, Hago Energetics, and Advents respective technologies for producing, storing, and selling methanol and Green Hydrogen.

Each of the parties will operate independently but will collaborate to and work towards negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement for electricity to be generated by solar.

The MOU has a two-year term.

Explains Brock Stewart, CEO of Nu-E CORP.: Nu-E is excited to partner with EWS on this innovative and sustainable project. EWS's technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we manage waste and generate clean energy. Nu-E's solar power generation expertise will complement EWS's technology perfectly, and together we can help create a cleaner and more sustainable future.

States Kevin Hull, CEO of EWS, We aim to be a leading provider of green methanol, and a partnership with a leading solar company has been the missing link. We are extremely pleased to partner with one of Western Canadas leading Solar companies. The fact they are an Alberta company is an added benefit, as EWS is currently looking at site locations in Alberta, in part because the Province has a focus on creating a Hydrogen Economy.

About Nu-E Corp.

Nu-E is a Calgary, Alberta based utility-scale solar developer focused on the design, development, construction, and operation of large-scale renewable energy projects. Our goal is to profitably accelerate the transition to clean energy by delivering reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions to power grids. Through a joint venture entity, Nu-E has partnered with Low Carbon, a renewable energy and investment company out of the UK, with the goal of developing up to 2 GW of solar PV, onshore wind, and battery storage projects in Canada by 2030.

Emergent Waste Solutions Inc.

EWS is a BC company with worldwide rights to deploy the world leading Advanced Thermolysis System (ATS) technology. ATS is an innovative, secure, efficient, and proven method for the converting of waste materials such as MSW, tires, plastics, biomass, and livestock waste into marketable products, such as activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, bio-coal, biogas, and bio-oil. It currently has over $200 MM of potential projects in the pipeline. EWS and Buscando Resources Corp. (Buscando) (CSE: BRCO) have entered into a definitive amalgamation agreement dated effective September 18, 2023 pursuant to which Buscando will acquire all of the outstanding shares in the capital of EWS (the EWS Shares) by way of a three-cornered amalgamation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Kevin HullCEO

You are invited to click here to view the company website for more information about our technology and products: http://www.ewscanada.com

For further information contact:

[email protected](604)741-1956

1 Source: International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward looking information. The Company, EWS nor the Resulting Issuer assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

Source: Emergent Waste Solutions Inc.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: PAC; BMV: GAP) (the Company or GAP) announces that today the Company made the payment of the third installment of Ps.3.71 (THREE PESOS 71/100 M.N.) per each outstanding share, corresponding to the dividend payment approved at the Annual General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting held on April 13th, 2023. This payment corresponds to the thirty-six such payment.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (GAP) operates 12 airports throughout Mexicos Pacific region, including the major cities of Guadalajara and Tijuana, the four tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, La Paz, and Manzanillo, and six other mid-sized cities: Hermosillo, Guanajuato, Morelia, Aguascalientes, Mexicali and Los Mochis. In February 2006, GAPs shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PAC and on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GAP. In April 2015, GAP acquired 100% of Desarrollo de Concessioner Aeroportuarias, S.L., which owns a majority stake in MBJ Airports Limited, a company operating Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In October 2018, GAP entered into a concession agreement for the Norman Manley International Airport operation in Kingston, Jamaica, and took control of the operation in October 2019.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts and are based on managements current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance, and financial results. The words anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, plans and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations, and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity, or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends, or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

In accordance with Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Article 42 of the Ley del Mercado de Valores, GAP has implemented a whistleblower program, which allows complainants to anonymously and confidentially report suspected activities that involve criminal conduct or violations. The telephone number in Mexico, facilitated by a third party responsible for collecting these complaints, is 800 04 ETICA (38422) or WhatsApp +52 55 6538 5504. The website is www.lineadedenunciagap.com or by email at [email protected]. GAPs Audit Committee will be notified of all complaints for immediate investigation.

Alejandra Soto, Investor Relations and Social Responsibility Officer [email protected] Gisela Murillo, Investor Relations [email protected] /+52 33 3880 1100 ext. 20294

Source: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V.
AB Ignitis grupe (hereinafter  the Group) informs that its subsidiary UAB Ignitis renewables (hereinafter  Ignitis Renewables) together with the strategic partner for the development of offshore wind farm projects, Ocean Winds (hereinafter  OW) are confirmed as winners of the 700 MW Lithuanian offshore wind tender. This was confirmed and announced on 12 October 2023 by the Lithuanian National Energy Regulatory Council (hereinafter  the NERC), which oversees the process, after the screening of compliance with national security interests.

No later than 3 months after this announcement Ignitis Renewables and OW will set up a joint venture company in Lithuania, which would be awarded the development and operation permit, granting the right to use the maritime area in the Baltic Sea for electricity production for 41 years.

The maritime area for the offshore wind farm is located at the nearest 36 km from Lithuanias Baltic Sea coast, covering approximately 120 km2. Subject to obtaining the relevant permits, contracting suppliers and securing financing, the project is expected to become operational until 2030. The 700 MW capacity offshore wind farm should generate up to 3 TWh of electricity, which would meet up to 25% of Lithuanias current electricity demand. The offshore wind farm will operate under market conditions.

The Group and OW were announced as the provisional winners of the tender on 10 July 2023 ( link ). Information provided in this announcement does not change the Groups Adjusted EBITDA guidance.

By winning the tender, the Group achieves its strategic goal of securing one offshore wind development project in Lithuania (with COD until 2030), which is a substantial step towards the Groups overall objective to increase its Green Generation capacity 4 times from 1.2 GW in 2022 to 45 GW by 2030. For further details, see the Groups strategy ( link ).

For more information, please contact:
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rootstack is already prepared to tackle all the new technology developments that will be positioned in the following year, including everything new in IT staff augmentation. Our greatest brains have come to an agreement on the aspects and new functions of IT staff augmentation that will experience an increase in 2024, and we should keep them in mind:



A rise in the demand for specialized IT capabilities

Businesses will increasingly require specialized technical expertise to be competitive as technology evolves at a rapid pace. At Rootstack, we have prioritized providing our developers with cutting-edge technology knowledge, including artificial intelligence tools.

An increased emphasis on remote work

COVID-19 has profoundly altered how many businesses perceive remote labor as a legitimate alternative. This trend is expected to continue and even accelerate in the coming years, resulting in a greater emphasis on hiring remote IT professionals. We have developers in different places with the most powerful machines, and we guarantee the connection.

AI and automation are becoming more common

As more firms adopt these technologies, the demand for IT professionals who have managed and implemented automation and AI solutions will grow. AI will have an increasing presence within company workflows, independent of the industry to which they belong, and will not be limited to social media filters.

The emphasis is on social skills

While technical competence is vital for IT professionals, employers are more interested in employing employees with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively. Rootstack has a team dedicated to teaching our developers in customer support.

The growing significance of cybersecurity

With more sensitive information being held online, cybersecurity is becoming a growing worry for businesses of all kinds. This is anticipated to increase demand for IT professionals with cybersecurity experience. Data is a company's value, and at Rootstack, we keep our personnel up to date on the most modern cybersecurity tools.

Experience in compliance and data privacy

Given the increased emphasis on data privacy requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), enterprises may require IT staff augmentation services that supply workers with data protection and compliance experience. Rootstack, for example, has worked on medical projects that follow HIPAA requirements and can be utilized legally in the United States.

Inclusion and diversity

In the workplace, there is an increasing emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Companies might seek out IT staff augmentation companies to assist them in building diverse teams. In addition to an international team, our engineers and developers come from many cultures and bring information that will benefit the organization to which they are allocated. It is critical that we create a safe area in which all types of individuals can cohabit, regardless of race, gender, or place of origin.

How will our IT staff augmentation service work in 2024?

Rootstack has planned modifications to its IT Staff Augmentation process and the initial contact we have with our clients for 2024.

First, the Rootstack team meets with the client to inform them about our work culture and to go through all the project's requirements in depth, always with forceful communication. Following this initial contact, work processes, project delivery timelines, and what is expected of management are reviewed.

The client can then choose the professional profiles that best fit the project based on their needs and expectations. We have a team of experts in several technologies and programming languages, but we also have recruiters that can quickly identify the right individual for each project.

The project will be executed during the time scheduled in the first meeting. The selected staff will work exclusively with the client, attending to all their technological needs and delivering excellent results.

Other Rootstack services that will be the company's pillars in 2024

Rootstack is a software business that offers a variety of services to our worldwide clients in addition to IT staff augmentation. Web and mobile application development, which falls within our model-based projects offering, is one of the most well-known.

With project managers, software engineers, and all the specialist profiles you may require, Rootstack ensures that your goals are met by adhering to a well-defined plan and timetable. To achieve unexpected results, we use efficient project management tools, creative processes, and technology.

With our Project-Based Model services, leave your project in expert hands and expect results that will exceed your expectations, following the technology trends of the moment and creating modern software products that meet the needs of a user who is becoming more and more knowledgeable on the subject.

Another of our services, like IT staff augmentation, is managed equipment. Rootstack will provide the client with a team of experts, who will oversee addressing any technological needs of the company, working within a schedule previously established by the client during the initial meeting.

These services are designed to optimize communication, collaboration, and productivity within a team.

With the goal of offering the best services, applying the current trends in technology, Rootstack continues to meet its global clients by delivering high-quality software products and having teams of experts ready to handle the most challenging projects.

Contact Data Information

Rootstack LLC

[email protected]
HERSHEY, Pa., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forward Solutions, a top provider of outsourced sales and marketing, is thrilled to announce the successful merger of Jackson & Associates' manufacturers' rep group business. This strategic partnership bolsters the service offerings of Avision and Curate, both brands within the Forward Solutions portfolio. It's important to note that Jackson & Associates' redistribution business will remain a distinct entity separate from Forward Solutions.



Jackson & Associates has been a foodservice channel leader, serving customers in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia since 1972.

Rusty Sullivan, President of Jackson & Associates, shared his enthusiasm about this merger: "As someone who started with this company as its third employee, I've been honored to witness our remarkable growth over the years. With the merger with Forward Solutions, we will continue to grow in the future, embracing new opportunities and achieving even greater success for our clients and our team."

President of Avision, John Shoffner, commented on Jackson & Associates' local market strengths: "Jackson & Associates' sales team has cultivated solid and enduring relationships in local markets over the years. This merger is not just about joining forces; it's about enhancing our ability to solve customer needs."

Katie Stowe, President of Curate, shared her perspective on the merger's client-centric approach: "In an era where personalized service is key, this merger couldn't be more timely. Forward Solutions and Jackson & Associates understand that client success is paramount. Their collaborative efforts will yield tailored solutions that drive client growth and satisfaction."

Clients of both Jackson & Associates and Forward Solutions can expect a seamless transition as the two entities integrate their strengths. Clients, partners, and stakeholders can anticipate continued dedication to excellence backed by the unmatched expertise that Jackson & Associates brings. With a shared vision of excellence, this merger will create new avenues for growth and collaboration within the foodservice sector.

About Forward Solutions

Forward Solutions is the parent company of a diverse group of B2B manufacturer representatives and consulting divisions dedicated to facilitating clients' growth in rapidly evolving markets. With a seasoned team of experts spanning business strategy, business intelligence, human resources, IT, marketing, and finance, Forward Solutions provides comprehensive support to each division, empowering them to concentrate on driving sales expansion. Their portfolio encompasses prominent entities including Avision, Curate, Integrated Access Corporation, OneSolution, RelyPak, and StruXur within the manufacturer representative groups. Additionally, they provide Allynt Solutions and C3Team as consulting services tailored to serve manufacturers, distributors, and end users.

About Jackson & Associates:

Jackson & Associates has been a Manufacturer Representative Group in the foodservice supplies channel for the last 50 years. They are a results-driven agency with a reputation of excellence among their manufacturing partners. With headquarters in Indianapolis and a team of 6 experts, Jackson & Associates proudly serves distributors, dealers, and operators in their territory.

Contact:

Gina Tsiropoulos

678-389-7126

Forward-Solutions.com

[email protected]
NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JustMarkets, a globally recognized brokerage firm, has proudly launched its upgraded Introducing Broker (IB) program. This program has been recently distinguished as the Best IB program 2023 by Money Expo and signifies JustMarkets' unyielding commitment to innovation and beneficial partnerships.

The refreshed IB Program is a continuation of JustMarkets' decade-long promise: reliability, global excellence, and ongoing expansion. At the heart of this program is a six-level structure, ranging from 'Partner' to the exclusive 'Brilliant Partner'. As partners climb these levels, they unlock remarkable benefits such as enhanced commissions, access to the innovative Subpartner Program, and personal Key Account Management (KAM) services.

A partner's level is defined by the trading volume generated by their referrals over a three-month span. Achieving the next level's criteria means partners are automatically upgraded the very next day. Furthermore, every month starts with JustMarkets diligently reviewing and adjusting partner tiers.

A standout feature for newcomers is the 3-month boost period. In this phase, the trading volume from referrals is tripled, letting new partners scale the levels at triple the speed. This booster initiates as soon as their first client comes on board.

Key Highlights of the Program:

Enhanced Commission: Partners can earn up to a remarkable $25 per lot.

Partners can earn up to a remarkable $25 per lot. Additional Monthly Rewards: Potential to gain up to $2,000 monthly for onboarding new clients and enhancing trading volumes of existing clients.

Potential to gain up to $2,000 monthly for onboarding new clients and enhancing trading volumes of existing clients. Automated Rebate System: Seamless sharing of rewards with referrals.

Seamless sharing of rewards with referrals. Competitive Spreads: Low and stable spreads, particularly on sought-after instruments like gold.

Low and stable spreads, particularly on sought-after instruments like gold. Swap-free Trading: This feature has been democratized for all traders, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

This feature has been democratized for all traders, irrespective of their religious beliefs. Gap Protection: A cutting-edge feature to prevent slippages.

As always, JustMarkets remains committed to clarity and convenience. The Partner Area allows partners to effortlessly manage accounts, view revenue stats, handle rebates, and customize partner links. Their mission remains unchanged: "To create a convenient and transparent trading environment so that everyone can reach their full investment potential."

To delve deeper into the myriad of offerings in the updated IB program by JustMarkets, kindly visit their official website.

About JustMarkets

JustMarkets has not only etched its name as a globally celebrated brokerage but has also garnered significant accolades such as Best Broker in Asia for 2022 and 2023, Best Broker in Africa 2023, and Best Forex Trading Platform 2022. Their relentless commitment to partner growth, unwavering dedication, and consistent excellence set them apart. Furthermore, JustMarkets champions the ethos of transparent operations and prioritizes every partner's growth journey. Ensuring utmost trust and reliability, JustMarkets is fully regulated and licensed by leading authorities including FSA, CySEC, FSC, and FSCA.

Social Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JustMarketsCom

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/justmarketsofficial/

Telegram: https://t.me/JustMarketsOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justmarkets_official

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JustMarketsComOfficial

Media Contact

Brand: JustMarkets

Contact: Media team

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://justmarkets.com/

SOURCE: JustMarkets

Source: JustMarkets
CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PrismHR, a Vensure Employer Solutions company and the leading HR technology software innovator for PEOs, ASOs and HCM providers across the U.S., today announced the launch of its Unified Employee Experience (UEX) update. Inspired by the award-winning Namely UI, PrismHR UEX leverages established design principles that make user tasks intuitive in any situation, and it includes new manager and employee views, expanded configuration options, higher levels of accessibility and improved responsiveness.

Kevin Andrews, president of PrismHR, said, With PrismHR UEX, we wanted to bring a more modern, responsive, and accessible experience to our users, which include HR outsourcers and their small and medium-sized business (SMB) clients. To do this, Rob Roberts, our director of user experience, and his team leveraged interaction design to redesign the steps in the flow. His team analyzed what our users are trying to do and identified their priorities before designing the steps in the flow, so its very natural for them. And this is just the start. Theres much more to come.

As such, highlights of the initial PrismHR UEX rollout include:

New employee/manager split views to give the right people the right information at the right time.

Customized branding via the Employee Experience Configuration Tool to reflect titles, headers, primary links, buttons, and accent colors.

Accessibility capabilities that align with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA requirements to improve the experience for people with disabilities.

Unified navigation, guided workflows, and responsive views for desktop, tablet and mobile.

Alex Campos, CEO of Vensure Employer Solutions, said, Tackling a design project of this magnitude allowed the PrismHR team to think this through with fresh eyes. In doing so, we were able to marry form and function and present a greatly improved user experience that sets a new standard of excellence across the entire industry. PrismHR UEX doesnt just look nicerit also helps our customers clients accomplish their most important HR tasks easily and more efficiently.

To learn more and experience PrismHR UEX, visit https://info.prismhr.com/unified-employee-experience.

About PrismHRPrismHRs mission is to fuel the growth of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the U.S. Our HR software, combined with our ecosystem of HR service providers, enables SMBs to manage payroll, benefits and HR, leveling the playing field with large enterprises. Today, PrismHR delivers world-class HR services to thousands of organizations and continues to invest heavily in technology as the HR innovation frontrunner. A Vensure Employer Solutions company, PrismHR is located in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.prismhr.com.

About Vensure Employer Solutions Vensure Employer Solutions is the largest privately held organization in the HR technology and service sector, providing a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, including HR/HCM technology, managed services, and global business process outsourcing (BPO). The company and its service providers collectively serve over 95,000 businesses and process over $135B in annual payroll. As a One Employer Solution headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Vensure helps thousands of businesses streamline and grow their operations with custom strategies that benefit both employers and employees. Find out more by visiting www.vensure.com.

Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners. Media Contact: Jeanne Achille The Devon Group for Vensure Employer Solutions [email protected]

Source: PrismHR
MONTREAL, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Midland Exploration Inc. (Midland) (TSX-V: MD) is pleased to report new nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) assay results from a drilling campaign completed to follow up on the new Ni-Cu discovery named Santos, announced last April on the Tete Nord property. This property is currently wholly owned by Midland but is subject to an option agreement with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. (RTEC) since December 2021 and is located near the town of La Tuque, Quebec (see press release by Midland dated December 2, 2021).

In July 2023, a shallow drill hole was completed on the Santos zone to investigate the thickness of the Ni-Cu zone discovered last April in drill hole MDLD0015 which had reported 0.45% Ni and 0.18% Cu over 10.37 metres (see press release by Midland dated April 27, 2023).

After having traversed 11.66 metres of overburden, drill hole MDLD0018 intersected a mineralized zone grading 0.33% Ni and 0.12% Cu over 39.73 metres from 11.66 to 51.39 metres downhole depth, approximately 50 metres west of drill hole MDLD0015. The interval exhibits impressive magmatic breccias with decimetre-scale semi-massive sulphide zones, indicative of a dynamic magmatic system at Santos. The two drill holes, MDLD0015 and MDLD0018, began directly in the mineralized zone; the total thickness of this zone has yet to be determined and the zone remains open in all directions.

The next drilling campaign, set to begin in November 2023 when permits are received, will consist of four (4) additional drill holes totalling 1,150 metres and will mainly focus on new targets identified at depth following downhole and ground-based electromagnetic surveys completed in the summer of 2023.

The best mineralized intervals intersected in drill hole MDLD0018 are summarized in the following table.

The discovery hole MDLD0015 was initially designed to test a VTEM anomaly as well as an off-hole anomaly detected in drill hole MDLD0009; it intersected, from 14 metres to 80 metres downhole depth, several layers with Ni-Cu mineralization within altered gabbro horizons. From 20.11 to 22.79 metres, the drill hole intersected 1.10% Ni and 0.71% Cu over 2.68 metres. Further down, from 33.02 to 43.39 metres, a mineralized interval graded 0.45% Ni and 0.18% Cu over 10.37 metres (see press release by Midland dated April 27, 2023).

Regionally, the new Santos Ni-Cu zone is favourably located along a N-S-trending structure, approximately 8 kilometres north of the former Lac Edouard Ni-Cu mine.

Santos drill holes coordinates

About the Tete Nord Ni-Cu property

The Tete Nord property covers mafic and ultramafic rocks of the La Bostonnais Complex north of La Tuque, which hosts the former Lac Edouard mine that historically produced 50,000 tonnes of ore grading 1.50% Ni and 0.50% Cu (source: SIGEOM NTS sheet 31P09).

This property hosts a few mineral occurrences, including the Savane showing located approximately 25 kilometres south of the former Lac Edouard mine. This Ni-Cu showing was discovered by prospecting in 1995 when grab samples collected in a pyroxenite yielded historical values of 1.80% Ni and 0.20% Cu. Another grab sample from a subcropping boulder also yielded grades of 1.98% Ni and 0.46% Cu about 250 metres north of the Savane showing (Source: SIGEOM NTS sheet 31P07; GM55352).

James Bay Option Agreement  First cash payment received

Moreover, Midland reports that the first cash payment of 500,000$ (CAN) for the James Bay option to joint venture agreement with RTEC was received on October 4, 2023.

Cautionary statements:

Note that grab sample grades may not be representative of mineralized zones.

The true thickness of reported intervals cannot be determined with the information currently available; intervals are thus reported in core length.

Mineralization occurring at the former Lac Edouard mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be found on the Tete Nord property held by Midland in partnership with RTEC.

Quality Control

Drill core samples were sent to ALS Thunder Bay for preparation and ALS Vancouver for analysis. Samples were prepared by the RIORCK package where the entire sample is crushed to 70% less than 2mm using a Boyd crusher-splitter combination, then 1kg of material is pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns. This method includes between-sample washes on both the crushers and pulverizers. The samples were analyzed for a full element suite using lithium borate fusions (ME-ICP06 and ME-MS81), four acid digestions (ME-4ACD81), S and C by induction furnace (ME-IR08) and Au-Pt-Pd by an ultralow detection 30g fire assay (PGM-MS23L). The MDLD0018 batch of 59 samples included 3 CRMs, 2 blanks, and 2 core duplicates for a QC insertion rate of 13%. The certified reference materials were in-house standards TAM26 and TAM28, all independently manufactured and independently certified, and a commercial standard OREAS 86. ALS included laboratory QC of a range of blank and CRM materials, and 7 RTX samples were analyzed twice as pulp duplicates.

About Midland

Midland targets the excellent mineral potential of Quebec to make the discovery of new world-class deposits of gold and critical metals. Midland is proud to count on reputable partners such as RTEC, BHP Canada Inc., Barrick Gold Corp., Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd, Probe Gold Inc., Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, Osisko Development Corp., SOQUEM Inc., Brunswick Exploration Inc., Nunavik Mineral Exploration Fund, Cosmos Exploration Limited and Abcourt Mines Inc. Midland prefers to work in partnership and intends to quickly conclude additional agreements in regard to newly acquired properties. Management is currently reviewing other opportunities and projects to build up Midlands portfolio and generate shareholder value.

Qualified Person and VP Exploration Mario Masson prepared this press release and verified the Tete Nord project data as Midlands qualified person (QP) within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101.

For further information, please consult Midlands website or contact:

Gino Roger, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel.: 450-420-5977 Fax: 450-420-5978 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.midlandexploration.com/

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from targeted results. Such risks and uncertainties include those described in Midlands periodic reports including the annual report or in the filings made by Midland from time to time with securities regulatory authorities.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/365bf06d-efd4-47e5-be7b-5bf2761fe0e5https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/16acf9f2-480d-4f0f-9476-1610e19549aehttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/75870165-0439-4e93-bd94-d7667e3ac25dhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1f4d4f5-9add-4b15-8854-4a043c03fe0ehttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cc0686b6-6942-4de6-8bab-b1ade2e84100https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3009f4b3-dbed-4a8d-9325-350cc1fed5e4https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ff18f6d-6fcd-4a40-b9fe-fe2c7b4d82c0https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/45062cf1-6aba-41c7-918b-67644c1fe68bhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2aca5b2-0cd5-4ddb-a026-1cf6b5f56ece

Figure 1 Midland-Rio Tinto Tete Nord Location Figure 2 Tete-Nord Project - Santos Location Figure 3 Santos Ni-Cu Zone; DDH MDLD0018 Figure 4 Santos Ni-Cu Zone; DDH MDLD0018 Figure 5 Santos Ni-Cu Zone; DDH MDLD0015 Figure 6 Santos New Drilling Targets Figure 7 Palmeiras New Drilling Target Table 1 DDH MDLD0018 Table 2 Santos drill holes coordinates

Source: Midland Exploration Inc.
OTTAWA, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) and the PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being are pleased to announce that the Honourable Yaara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and the Honourable Dennis King, Premier of PEI, will be speaking at a dinner to kick off the National Family and Prevention Summit in Charlottetown, PEI, on Thurs., Oct. 12.

Taking place on Fri., Oct. 13, the summit is part of a series entitled Strategies to End Substance Use Crises. It explores key challenges in substance use policy and practice in Canada. The summits are designed to develop tangible short-term deliverables, such as specific calls to action and recommendations to guide governments at all levels. Fridays event will bring together subject matter experts from a wide range of backgrounds, specializations and lived experience to take part in solution-focused discussions.

At this time of unique challenges, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction is pleased to support the convening of diverse voices and perspectives to advance tangible solutions for a better tomorrow, said Dr. Alexander Caudarella, CEO of CCSA. Centring around families and mobilizing their participation is key to addressing our biggest challenges in the substance use space.

The PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being is a local organization that aims to ensure people in Prince Edward Island have an equal opportunity to achieve and maintain the best possible mental well-being throughout their lifetime.

We know how closely intertwined mental health and substance use issues are and the critical role family can play in preventing harm, said Karen Cumberland, Executive Director of the Alliance. Understanding that families need to play that supportive role is key, and we are pleased to partner with CCSA to bring this conversation to PEI.

Summit dinner, Thurs., Oct. 12Memorial Hall, Confederation Centre of the Arts, 145 Richmond St, CharlottetownTime: Reception at 5:30 p.m., welcome remarks at 6 p.m., close at 8:15 p.m.

National Family and Prevention Summit, Fri., Oct. 13Memorial Hall, Confederation Centre of the Arts, 145 Richmond St, CharlottetownTime: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact:Christine LeBlanc Communications Advisor, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse [email protected], 613-898-6343

Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Lakewood, NJ, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Movo Smart Chain, with its offices in London, United Kingdom, and Lakewood, NJ, United States, is a high-performance Layer 2 blockchain platform. As of October 11, 2023, the company has announced its latest network service. This recent development aims to transform the world of blockchain technology. With an unwavering focus on speed, security, and user-centric design, Movo Smart Chain is paving the way for the widespread adoption of digital assets and redefining industry standards.

Recent innovations by Movo Smart Chain demonstrate a commitment to creativity, sustainability, and scalability, making it an ideal choice for businesses and developers seeking high-performance solutions. The newly launched services include:

Robust Infrastructure: Movo Coin, the native token of the network, supports an impressive transaction throughput of up to 20,000 transactions per second. This exceptional speed sets the foundation for the adoption of large-scale digital assets and a wide range of applications such as creating Smart Contracts on the Movo Smart Chain, generating Tokens, NFTs, Metaverse, Realtime Games, and more.

Twin-Turbo Consensus Mechanism: Using the modern Twin-Turbo consensus mechanism, Movo Coin ensures that modern applications run smoothly, providing businesses with superior high-performance solutions compared to competitors.

Transaction Packages: Multiple levels of transaction packages enhance efficiency and reduce transaction costs. This feature enables users to manage their assets without incurring unnecessary expenses, encouraging the broad adoption of digital assets.

Green Initiative: Movo Chain leads in sustainable blockchain technology by implementing energy-efficient consensus algorithms and minimizing its carbon footprint while incorporating environmentally responsible blockchain technology.

Flexible Sharding: Movo Coin pioneers flexible sharding, an adaptive approach to segmenting the network to optimize resource allocation and enhance scalability without compromising security, ensuring consistent performance as the platform evolves.

Community-Centric Approach: Movo Chain allocates 51% of the MOVO tokens to the community, emphasizing a commitment to a decentralized ecosystem. These tokens are distributed through ecosystem reserves, staking rewards, ecosystem initiatives, airdrops, and related programs to engage and reward users and the community. An additional 10% is allocated to the Reserve Fund to ensure continuous operations.

Movo Smart Chain's recent services mark a significant step in the development of the blockchain industry, promising a faster, more secure, and user-focused future. Join the Movo Chain revolution today and become a part of a dynamic, sustainable, and groundbreaking ecosystem.

For more information on Movo Smart Chain, you can visit their official website at www.movo.uk

IEO Launch Schedule on Bitforex.com: https://www.bitforex.com/en/starter/MOVO/39

Starting Time: October 15, 2023, 10:00:00 (GMT+8)

Ending Time: October 25, 2023, 10:00:00 (GMT+8)

Open Trading: October 30, 2023, 15:00:00 (GMT+8)

Token Sale Period:

Subscription Price: 0.05 USDT

Allocation: 20,000,000 MOVO

Project Name: Movo Smart Chain Mainnet

RPC: https://msc-rpc.movoscan.com/

Chain ID: 2049

Token Symbol: MOVO

Total Supply: 10,000,000,000 MOVO

Circulating Supply: 1,000,000,000 MOVO

Blockchain Explorer: https://movoscan.com

Whitepaper: https://movo.uk/#whitepaper

Join the Movo Smart Chain revolution today and be part of a dynamic, sustainable, and groundbreaking ecosystem.

Consequently, Movo Smart Chain provides public RPC nodes to ensure seamless connectivity. People can join the Movo Smart Chain network by clicking the "Add Movo Network" button on MovoScan.com

About the Company - Movo Smart Chain

Movo Smart Chain is a decentralized "Proof of Stake" blockchain supported by the MOVO token, providing a range of services including network fees, DPoS validator staking, governance, and original assets. With a strong presence in both the United Kingdom and the United States, Movo Chain is committed to pioneering advancements in the blockchain industry.

For further details, potential clients can visit the following links:

Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Telegram

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

Media Details: Company Name: Movo Smart Chain LLC Contact Email Address: admin-at-movo.uk Contact Person Name: Nolan Kuhlman Companys Website: https://movo.uk/ Office address: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3AX Company Information

Source: Movo Smart Chain
Press ReleaseNokia delivers industrys first 25G PON sealed fiber access node designed for cable operators

Nokia broadens availability of 25G PON to cable operators with industrys first sealed fiber access node.

New 25G PON solution for cable operators opens door to new services including true symmetrical 10Gb/s enterprise services, mobile transport and network wholesaling.

New Nokia Lightspan 25G PON cable solution can be installed anywhere and supports various power options, including power-over-coax.

12 October, 2023

Espoo, Finland  Nokia has today announced availability of its 25G PON technology on the Lightspan SF-8M sealed fiber access node. The sealed remote Optical Line Terminal (OLT) also concurrently supports both GPON and XGS-PON. This enables cable operators to quickly respond to increased bandwidth demand or competitive threats, by simply activating 10G or 25G on their existing PON network.

As the first 25G PON sealed remote fiber access node available, the Lightspan SF-8M delivers unmatched capacity to address growing bandwidth demand. But more than just future proofing the network, 25G PON opens immediate commercial opportunities including true symmetrical 10 Gb/s enterprise services, mobile transport, and network slicing/wholesaling. PON networks can provide these services more cost effectively than point-to-point Ethernet networks,

The Lightspan SF-8M has an IP67 rating, offers an array of installation options anywhere in the outside plant  on a strand, inside or outside a cabinet, or on a pole or wall  and supports various power options, including power-over-coax. All these features make the Lightspan SF-8M particularly well-suited for cable operators.

Small, remote Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) can also facilitate a more targeted approach to Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) upgrades than large centralized OLTs, allowing FTTP upgrades only where necessary and potentially saving costs.

Mark Klimek, North America Business Center Head for Fixed Networks at Nokia, said: Gigabit speeds are becoming the new normal, and operators are realizing that their fiber-to-the-home networks can be used for more than residential broadband. The ability to quickly deploy a remote FTTH node, and deliver GPON, 10G PON, and 25G PON based services over the same network allows operators to nimbly go after new opportunities and beat competition.

According to DellOro, Nokia was the 2022 market share leader for XGS-PON equipment, todays gold-standard for fiber broadband. Currently seven out of ten fiber broadband connections in North America are made through Nokia equipment.

Nokia will be providing a live demonstration of the 25G PON Lightspan SF-8M sealed fiber access node at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo located in Denver, CO, October 16-19 in Booth 1215.

Additional Information on Nokia Lightspan SF-8M

Based on the Nokia Quillion chipset, the Lightspan SF-8M high-throughput, power-efficient, low-latency remote OLT is perfectly suited to support residential, business, and mobile transport services. Lightspan SF-8M supports eight GPON, XGS-PON, or multi-PON ports, or four 25G PON ports. It features flexible powering options including power-over-coax, AC, DC, or RFT-V. The Lightspan SF-8M is part of Nokias market-leading, high-performance fiber broadband SDAN-based portfolio which also includes the Lightspan FX, MF and DF families for various deployments, along with an extensive range of ONTs, and professional services.

Resources and additional informationWebpage: Fiber Broadband for Cable Operators | NokiaWebpage: Lightspan SF fiber access nodes | NOKIA

About NokiaAt Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today  and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media inquiriesNokia Communications, CorporateEmail: [email protected]

Follow us on social mediaLinkedIn Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube

Source: Nokia Oyj
Irvine, California, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Origence, the leading lending technology solutions provider for credit unions, announced its first keynote speaker, Andrew Busch, for its annual users conference. Lending Tech Live 24 is scheduled for June 25-27, 2024, at the Marriott Marquis in San Diego, California.

Andrew Busch was the U.S. government's first chief market intelligence officer (CMIO) at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). As an economic futurist, Busch dives deep into exploring how innovation, policy changes, and societal shifts drive opportunities for companies. Busch is renowned for his ability to demystify complex economic phenomena, making him a sought-after speaker and commentator. During his Lending Tech Live session, he will discuss trends supercharged by world events and apply them to the credit union industry.

Were excited to announce our first keynote speaker for Lending Tech Live 24 is Andrew Busch, said Erika Hill, VP of marketing strategy & events for Origence. Andrew has a distinguished background in finance and economics, and his expertise in global financial markets will bring valuable insights to our conference. Attendees will experience a masterclass in future finance and economic foresight when Andrew takes the stage.

Lending Tech Live 24 will mark Origences 30th anniversary and will include opportunities for attendees to help celebrate the milestone. The conference will include user workshops to optimize lending programs, develop borrower journeys that deepen members connections and identify pivotal regulatory topics for 2024, and more.

Following a record-breaking year in 2023 with the highest attendance ever, Lending Tech Live '24 stands as the leading lending conference in the credit union industry. It offers valuable professional insights, educational sessions, and top-tier networking opportunities. This conference delves into cutting-edge tools and technologies that influence the lending landscape, providing expert guidance on best practices, lending strategies, emerging trends, research, and more.

To learn more about the conference, visit the Lending Tech Live website.

About Origence

Origence provides the lending technology solutions credit unions need to advance their total origination experience. We were established in 1994 as a credit union service organization (CUSO) and have helped credit unions process more than 88 million applications, including 9 million applications in 2022. Our solutions include indirect lending, loan and account origination, auto shopping, marketing automation, lending operations, and more. Origence was named the 2023 CUSO of the year by NACUSO. Learn more at www.origence.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Attachment

Alison Barksdale Origence 817-219-6281 [email protected]

Source: Origence
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osino Resources Corp. (TSXV: OSI) (NSX:OSN) (FSE: RSR1) (OTCQX: OSIIF) ("Osino or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed a bookbuild in the amount of CAD$2,770,745 in connection with an offering (the Offering) of common shares of the Company (the Common Shares) priced at CAD$1.00 per Common Share for gross proceeds of up to US$3,000,000.

As previously announced, the Company had completed a listing of its shares on the Namibian Stock Exchange (the NSX) and was advised by Cirrus Capital (Pty) Ltd. (Cirrus Capital) in connection with such NSX listing. The bookbuild consisted of Namibian investors increasing Namibian ownership, to comply with the mining permit conditions. Cirrus Capital conducted the bookbuild and acts as Namibian financial advisor to the Company and was engaged to act in connection with the Offering.

Heye Daun, Osinos Co-Founder, President and CEO, commented: We are very pleased to confirm our first bookbuild in Namibia since listing Osinos shares on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX:OSN) in August of this year. This financing is a purposeful and strategic capital raise that will increase Osinos Namibian shareholder base as required as a condition to Osinos granted Mining License. This bookbuild was aimed primarily at formerly disadvantaged Namibian individual shareholders, and we continue to engage with Namibian pension funds with the aim of completing a follow-on financing to achieve a Namibian ownership threshold well above the required 5% under our issued mining license. The completion of this bookbuild demonstrates Osinos access to the Namibian capital markets as an additional source of capital for project development at the Twin Hills Gold Project.

The bookbuild ensures that Namibians can participate in the development of Osino and its mining operations, retain economic benefits and assist in the growth and development of the Namibia economy. It further reinforces Osinos commitment to its host nation, and the host nations reciprocal support towards the Company.

The completion of the financing to purchasers resident in Namibia will further establish the Namibian register for the stock on the NSX and is expected to facilitate further Namibian investment into Osino via the full fungibility with the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), which remains the Companys principal exchange for trading of its shares. The building of a local Namibian share register for a dual-listed mining company is a first on the NSX, and illustrates the increasing maturity and opportunity associated with Namibian capital markets.

Rowland Brown, Co-Founder at Cirrus Capital commented: We are proud to have successfully completed Osinos inaugural bookbuild on the NSX. The financing received strong support from Namibian retail and institutional investors. We view Osinos listing and bookbuild as a significant milestone for the Company, the Namibian Stock Exchange and our host nation, Namibia.

In connection with the Offering, the Company intends to file a prospectus supplement with the securities commission in British Columbia (the Canadian Jurisdiction) and has engaged Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. ("Echelon") as agent and bookrunner (the Agent) in connection therewith.

The Offering

The Offering will be completed (i) in Canada by way of the prospectus supplement to the base shelf prospectus of the Company dated May 9, 2023, to be filed in the Canadian Jurisdiction; and (ii) outside Canada and the United States on a basis which does not require the qualification or registration of any of the Companys securities under domestic or foreign securities laws.

The Offering is expected to close on or about October 19, 2023, or such other date as the Company and Echelon may agree and is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for for exploration and development of its mineral properties in Namibia, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The prospectus supplement (the Prospectus Supplement) of the Company expected to be dated October 16, 2023 will be the prospectus supplement to the base shelf prospectus (the Shelf Prospectus) of the Company dated May 9, 2023.

The Shelf Prospectus is available, and the Prospectus Supplement will be available, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Osino Resources

Osino is a Canadian gold exploration and development company focused on the fast-tracked development of our wholly owned, Twin Hills Gold Project in central Namibia. Since its grassroots discovery by Osino in August 2019 the Company has completed more than 225,000m of drilling and has completed a suite of specialist technical studies culminating in the recently published Twin Hills Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") dated effective June 12, 2023. The DFS describes a technically simple and economically robust open-pit gold operation with a 13-year mine life and average annual gold production of over 169,000oz per annum.

Osino has a commanding ground position of over 8,000km2 located within Namibia's prospective Damara sedimentary mineral belt, mostly in proximity to and along strike of the producing Navachab and Otjikoto Gold Mines. The Company is actively exploring a range of gold prospects and targets along the belt by utilizing a portfolio approach geared towards discovery, targeting gold mineralization that fits the broad orogenic gold model.

Our core projects are favourably located north and north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek. By virtue of their location, the projects benefit significantly from Namibia's well-established infrastructure with paved highways, railway, power and water in close proximity. Namibia is mining-friendly and lauded as one of the continent's most politically and socially stable jurisdictions. Osino continues to evaluate new ground with a view to expanding our Namibian portfolio.

Further details are available on the Company's website at https://osinoresources.com/ and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Qualified Persons Statement

David Underwood, BSc. (Hons) is Vice President Exploration of Osino Resources Corp. and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release and is a registered Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (Pr. Sci. Nat. No.400323/11) and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

On Behalf of The Board of DirectorsHeye Daun, President & CEO

CONTACT INFORMATIONOsino Resources Corp.Yaron Conforti, Corporate Development[email protected]+1-604-687-2038

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 press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Offering, including the timing, potential completion and use of proceeds from the Offering, the Company's future plans or prospects of the Company, including prospects for economic recoverability of mineral resources. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions to closing, including obtaining the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange on a timely basis and that the Offering may not be completed on the terms and timeline indicated. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company does not undertake to update any forward- looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Source: Osino Resources Corp.
Qingdao, China, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 10, the fourth Qingdao Summit of Multinational Company Leaders officially opened. The hosting of this summit has once again made Qingdao the focus of the world. This is not only a key node for Qingdao to demonstrate strong development resilience and showcase the city's image to the world, but also an excellent opportunity to comprehensively boost confidence in economic development and tell the world the "Qingdao story" of China's economic development in the new era.

In light of this, IFENG Qingdao has specially planned and launched a series of reports called Qingdao@World Multinational Enterprises Talk about Qingdao, directly covering the summit site. Through conversations with the heads of large multinational companies around the world, we will comprehensively display the opinions and suggestions of multinational companies on Qingdao, China's economic development, business environment, and investment trends, and listen to their "city impression", "city expectations" and "city fate" of Qingdao.

On October 11th, IFENG Qingdao had a special conversation with Garrett's Global Vice President and General Manager for China, Zhang Yue.

GARRETT Achieves Notable Milestones in China with Strong Growth in 2023

Garrett China continues to exhibit robust growth over the past year, marking significant milestones in its development journey. According to Mr. Zhang Yue, by the beginning of this year, Garrett's cumulative turbocharger deliveries in China surpassed 30 million units. To put this in perspective, between 1994 and 2016, Garrett had only achieved a total delivery of 1,000 turbochargers.

"These 30 million turbocharger products bearing the Garrett brand not only represent our dedication and perseverance," says Zhang Yue, "but they also embody every moment of China's automotive carbon reduction initiatives."

Zhang further elaborated on Garrett's strategic vision for the Chinese automobile market. The brand regards it as a key global market. This year, Garrett completed the second phase of expansion and equipment upgrades at its Wuhan plant, which has now commenced production. Notably, the Wuhan Phase II facility is pioneering in China, introducing the country's first fully automated high-speed production line for manufacturing gasoline variable geometry turbochargers. This innovation aids in the high-quality development of plug-in hybrid vehicles in China.

Especially during 2022-2023, Garrett further enhanced its zero-emission technology innovation capabilities in China:

"We have established localized research and development capabilities specifically for electric vehicles and have secured collaborative projects with several Chinese automakers. This is expected to bolster our expansion efforts in the fields of hydrogen fuel cell air compressors, high-speed triplex electric drives for pure electric vehicles, high-power electric compressor cooling systems, and intelligent connected car software solutions. It will expedite the implementation of zero-emission automotive projects in China," commented Zhang.

The East serves the East and drives green travel

Garrett is the first foreign-funded enterprise to introduce automobile turbocharging technology into China. At the beginning, we introduced global design experience and worked with local customers to apply supercharged products in projects in China. Afterwards, under the booming market development, Garrett advocates the East serves the East strategy in terms of corporate strategy and layout, focuses on building end-to-end localization capabilities, responds quickly and develops customized products for the booming Chinese automobile market, and helps Chinese engine technology achieve the world's highest level of thermal efficiency performance.

Garrett has a world-class factory in China, a global R&D center in Shanghai, and a team of efficient and professional R&D engineers. It is reported that 90% of Garrett's raw materials are currently purchased locally and 100% is produced locally.

"We respond quickly to market demand, create cost-effective hot models, and realize China's innovation, China's speed, and China's decision-making. Talking about the future development focus of the company, China's current automobile production and sales are almost 27 million vehicles per year. Under this volume, internal combustion engines with higher thermal efficiency are an important means of low carbon and emission reduction. "

Zhang Yue introduced, "We are always committed to upgrading turbocharging technology, supporting internal combustion engine performance improvements, and embracing zero emissions. Through four core differentiated capabilities, we continue to expand our leading advantages and develop differentiated electric vehicle solutions for customers, including a high-speed three-in-one electric drive system for pure electric vehicles, the modular design is smaller and can comprehensively improve the performance and cruising range of electric vehicles. "

Join us for a great event and plan for the future

Regarding her participation in the summit, Zhang Yue said she felt that this trip was of great significance.

She believes that the Qingdao Multinationals Summit has set up an important communication platform for multinationals and governments at all levels to discuss the future development of multinationals in China, global innovation and other topics:

"Through the exchange, the enterprises learned about the state's full support for the development of MNCs in China at the strategic and policy levels, as well as more development opportunities; on the other hand, they also had in-depth discussions with upstream and downstream enterprises of the industrial chain and industry partners on the practice of innovation, and the study of the development of the market, which is very meaningful."

Regarding the current Chinese market, Zhang Yue believes that Garrett's achievements in China's operations, including the continuous strengthening of local R&D capabilities and the expansion of production operations, are inseparable from the help and policy support of the national and local governments.

She said that she increasingly feels that China is a source of innovation, constantly bringing together superior technologies, experience and resources from around the world, and implementing them into commercial applications that benefit the market:

"A good business environment is like sunshine, air and soil, which is the foundation for the growth, germination and prosperity of our enterprises.We hope to participate more in innovation and demonstration projects in the new energy field encouraged by the country in the future, transform technological achievements into commercial applications, and jointly promote the development of new energy, especially the hydrogen fuel cell industry. "

Website: https://qd.ifeng.com

Company: IFENG Qingdao Contact Person: weijunrong Email: city_qd-at-ifeng.com Telephone: 0532-68850510 City: Qingdao

Source: IFENG Qingdao
TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quisitive Technology Solutions, Inc. (Quisitive or the Company) (TSXV: QUIS), a premier Microsoft Solutions Provider and Payment Solutions Provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of two new directors to the board of directors (the Board) of the Company, effective immediately. The Company welcomes Nick Lim and Darcy Morris as directors of the Company as the result of a process to refresh the Board in light of concerns raised by certain shareholders of the Company. Additionally, Phil Sorgen has resigned.

Mike Reinhart, Quisitive CEO, commented: Nick and Darcy bring extensive knowledge and experience to complement the capabilities of the Board. We are also extremely grateful to Phil for his valuable contributions to the Company.

As a result of the changes to the Board, the Board is comprised of six directors: Mike Reinhart, the CEO; and five directors the Board has determined to be independent: Dave Guebert (Audit Chair), Laurie Goldberg, Amy Brandt, Nick Lim and Darcy Morris.

Nick Lim is a Managing Director of FAX Capital Corp. (FAX), which he joined in 2019, and has approximately 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining FAX, Mr. Lim spent two years with Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limiteds investment management subsidiary, where he served as Vice President focused on private investments, credit investments and real estate. Prior to that, Mr. Lim served seven years at Brookfield Asset Management in the private equity group and public securities group as a member of their respective investment teams. While at Brookfield, Mr. Lim was involved in the turnaround of North American Palladium, a publicly-listed specialty metals company. Mr. Lim is currently a board member of Carson Dunlop & Associates Ltd., a leading home inspection services and technology platform, and previously sat on the boards of Toys R Us Canada and Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company. Mr. Lim graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor in Applied Science (Industrial Engineering) and is a CFA Charterholder.

Darcy Morris has served as the Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of Ewing Morris & Co. Investment Partners (Ewing Morris) since co-founding the company in 2011. Darcy is currently on the board of directors of The Caldwell Partners International Inc. and previously served on the board of ZCL Composites Inc. and Cedar Realty Trust. In addition, he is the former Chair of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) Foundation and former Treasurer of the Toronto Public Library Foundation. Prior to co-founding Ewing, Darcy was a Portfolio Manager at MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier Inc. and an Associate at Burgundy Asset Management. Darcy received an Honours Bachelor of Arts (Political Studies) degree from Queen's University in 2004 and was awarded the Canadian Investment Manager designation in 2010.

About Quisitive:

Quisitive (TSXV: QUIS, OTCQX: QUISF) is a premier, global Microsoft partner that harnesses the Microsoft cloud platform and complementary technologies, including custom solutions and first-party offerings, to generate transformational impact for enterprise customers. Our Cloud Solutions business focuses on helping enterprises move, operate, and innovate in the three Microsoft clouds. Our Payments Solutions division leverages the PayiQ platform powered by Microsoft Azure to transform the payment processing industry into an entirely new source of customer engagement and consumer value. Quisitive serves clients globally from seventeen employee hubs across the world. For more information, visit www.Quisitive.com and follow @BeQuisitive.

Quisitive Investor Contact

Matt Glover and John YiGateway Investor Relations[email protected] 949-574-3860

Quisitive Management Contacts

Mike ReinhartChief Executive Officer[email protected] 949-574-3860

Tami AndersChief of Staff[email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Generally, any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information or statements. The forward-looking information or statements in this news release may relate, among other things, to: the strategy of the Company.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: risks that the estimated financial results will differ from managements expectations; changes in technology, customer markets and demand for the Companys services; the efficacy of the Companys software and product offering; sales and margin risk; acquisition and integration risks; dependence on economic and market conditions including, but not limited to, access to equity or debt capital on favorable terms if required; changes in market dynamics including business relationships and competition; information system risks; risks associated with the introduction of new products; product design risk; risks related to the Company being a holding company; environmental risks; customer and vendor risks; credit risks; tax and insurance related risks; risks of legislative changes; risks relating to remote operations; key executive risk; risk of litigation risks; risks related to contracts with third party service providers; risks related to the enforceability of contracts; risks related to the economy generally; the limited operating history of the Company; reliance on the expertise and judgment of senior management of the Company; risks related to proprietary intellectual property and potential infringement by third parties; risks relating to financing activities including leverage; risks relating to the management of growth; increased costs associated with the Company becoming a publicly traded company; increasing competition in the industry; risks relating to energy costs; reliance on key inputs, suppliers and skilled labor; cyber-security risks; risks related to quantifying the Companys target market; risks related to industry growth and consolidation; fraudulent activity by employees, contractors and consultants; conflicts of interest; risks related to the cost structures of certain projects; risks relating to certain remedies being limited and the difficulty of enforcement of judgments and effect service outside of Canada; risks related to future dispositions; sales by existing shareholders; the limited market for securities of the Company; price volatility of the common shares of the Company; no guarantee regarding use of available funds; currency fluctuations; and those factors described under the heading "Risks Factors" described in the Companys annual information form dated May 23, 2023, and the Company's most recent management discussion & analysis dated August 29, 2023, each available on SEDAR. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Source: Quisitive Technology Solutions Inc.
New data presented on novel orally bioavailable p300-selective degraders showing significant anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of androgen receptor (AR) positive prostate cancer

KOREA and KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SK Biopharmaceuticals, a global biotech focused on the research, development and commercialization of treatments for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and oncology, and its U.S. R&D subsidiary, Proteovant Therapeutics, presented data showing that selectively degrading the epigenetic protein p300, with minimal impact on its paralog CBP, results in suppression of androgen receptor signaling and inhibition of tumor growth in a mouse model of androgen receptor (AR) positive prostate cancer. Findings are being presented today at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment (EORTC) International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics being held in Boston.

The AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference attracts researchers from around the world to discuss innovations in drug development, target selection, the impact of new discoveries in cellular and molecular biology, and early clinical trials. Todays presentation is the second in a series of important meetings at which the Proteovant team is sharing research findings that show potential best- and first-in-class protein degraders.

Although strategies targeting androgen receptor in the treatment of prostate cancer have shown benefits for patients, the reality is that cancer cells ultimately find ways to bypass these therapies, resulting in disease progression," said Zhihua Sui, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer, Proteovant Therapeutics. These data showcase a first-in-class opportunity for therapeutic intervention that suppresses AR signaling through an androgen-independent mechanism.

We are excited about what our Proteovant team is doing to find novel approaches to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, Donghoon Lee, President and CEO of SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK Life Science. The presentation at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference further demonstrates the value of Proteovants work to support our growing pipeline and how it is helping SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK Life Science deliver on our commitment to change the future of CNS and cancer care.

AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics

Title: Discovery and characterization of a p300-selective degrader demonstrates potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of prostate cancer Presenter: Mike Russell, Ph.D. Director of Biology Date/Time: Thursday, October 12, 12:30-4:00pm

Discovery and characterization of a p300-selective degrader demonstrates potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of prostate cancer

About Proteovant Therapeutics

Proteovant Therapeutics exploits the ubiquitin-protease system (UPS) to discover and develop transformative medicines for the treatment of patients with life-altering diseases. Protein degradation harnesses the human bodys innate cellular machinery by way of the UPS to identify and mark disease causing proteins for destruction. This promising approach provides the opportunity to target proteins of interest, many of which were previously considered undruggable. Proteovant integrates its AI enabled target ID platform, degrader drug hunting expertise, and MOPED molecular glue screening platform to advance novel protein degraders. As of August 11, 2023, Proteovant Therapeutics is part of SK Biopharmaceuticals.

About SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

SK Biopharmaceuticals is a global biotech company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of treatments to help people living with central nervous system (CNS) disorders and change the future of cancer care. Together with its U.S. subsidiary, SK Life Science, Inc., SK Biopharmaceuticals has a pipeline of eight compounds in development. Both companies are part of SK Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Korea and one of TIME's 100 Most Influential Companies of 2023. For more information, please visit www.skbp.com/eng.

SK Biopharmaceuticals parent company SK Inc. continues to enhance its portfolio value by executing long-term investments with a number of competitive subsidiaries in various business areas, including pharmaceuticals and life science, energy and chemicals, information and telecommunication, and semiconductors. In addition, SK Inc. is focused on reinforcing its growth foundations through profitable and practical management based on financial stability, while raising its enterprise value by investing in new future growth businesses. For more information, please visit www.sk-inc.om/en.
 Shareholders overwhelmingly vote in favour of Cybins acquisition of Small Pharma



LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Small Pharma Inc. (TSXV: DMT) (OTCQB: DMTTF) (the Company or Small Pharma), a biotechnology company focused on short-duration psychedelic-assisted therapies for mental health conditions, is pleased to announce that the shareholders of Small Pharma (the Shareholders) have approved the plan of arrangement under Division 5 of Part of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the Arrangement), previously announced on August 28, 2023, pursuant to which Cybin Inc. (Cybin) has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Small Pharma ("Small Pharma Shares"). A total of 212,879,391 votes, or approximately 99.99% of the votes cast at the special meeting of Shareholders held on October 12, 2023 (the Meeting), were cast in favour of the resolution approving the Arrangement. All other matters presented at the Meeting were also approved, as referred to in the Companys notice of meeting and management information circular dated September 13, 2023 (the Circular). The Arrangement was also approved by shareholders of Cybin at the annual and special meeting of Cybin shareholders held on October 12, 2023.

In accordance with the terms of the arrangement agreement dated August 28, 2023 between Small Pharma and Cybin, if the Arrangement becomes effective, Shareholders (other than dissenting Shareholders) will receive 0.2409 of a common share of Cybin (each, a Consideration Share) for every Small Pharma Share held. No Shareholders exercised dissent rights with respect to the Arrangement.

Holders of outstanding options to purchase Small Pharma Shares (Small Pharma Options) that are in-the-money based on the volume weighted average trading price of the Small Pharma Shares on the TSXV for the five trading days immediately preceding the effective time of the Arrangement (the Small Pharma Share Value) will receive from Small Pharma such number of Small Pharma Shares equal to the number of Small Pharma Options held, multiplied by the amount by which the Small Pharma Share Value exceeds the exercise price of such Small Pharma Options, divided by the Small Pharma Share Value. Such newly issued Small Pharma Shares will be acquired by Cybin on the same terms as the other Small Pharma Shares. Each Small Pharma Option that is out-of-the-money based on the Small Pharma Share Value will be deemed to be surrendered to Small Pharma for $0.001 and cancelled.

The TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV) has conditionally approved the Arrangement. Subject to the approval of the British Columbia Supreme Court, the application for which is expected to be heard on October 17, 2023, and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions, including the final acceptance of the TSXV, the Company currently expects that the effective date of the Arrangement will occur on October 23, 2023. Following completion of the Arrangement, the Company will be delisted from the TSXV and removed from trading on the OTCQB Venture Market, and will apply to the relevant securities regulatory authorities in Canada to cease to be a reporting issuer for purposes of securities legislation.

Further details with respect to the Arrangement are included in the Circular, which can be found on the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Small Pharma

Small Pharma is a biotechnology company progressing a pipeline of short-duration psychedelic-assisted therapies for the treatment of mental health conditions. Small Pharma has a portfolio of clinical-stage N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) based assets, SPL026 and SPL028. The Company was granted an Innovation Passport designation for SPL026 from the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the MHRA) and has a pipeline of proprietary preclinical assets.

Contact Information:

Small Pharma Inc.

George Tziras, Chief Executive Officer

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 (0)7456 915 968

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking information (forward-looking information) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding: the Arrangement; the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Arrangement will be completed, if at all; the anticipated timing for and receipt of necessary court and regulatory approvals for the Arrangement; the completion of the Arrangement, delisting of the Small Pharma Shares from the TSXV and removal from the OTCQB Venture Market, and the Company ceasing to be a reporting issuer, and the anticipated timing of such events; and the Companys ability to provide short-duration psychedelic-assisted therapies for the treatment of mental health conditions. In disclosing the forward-looking information contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of Small Pharma and Cybin to obtain all necessary court and regulatory approvals or satisfy conditions to the completion of the Arrangement; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and other factors discussed in each of Small Pharmas and Cybins public filings, including the Circular, which are available on their respective profiles on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking information or otherwise.

Small Pharma makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about its proposed products. The MHRA or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding DMT-assisted therapies and other next generation psychoactive compounds. The efficacy of such therapies has not been confirmed by MHRA-approved research. There is no assurance that such DMT-assisted therapies and other psychoactive compounds can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Vigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. Any references to quality, consistency, efficacy and safety of potential therapies do not imply that Small Pharma verified such in clinical trials or that Small Pharma will complete such trials. If Small Pharma cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on Small Pharmas performance and operations.

The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
DELHI, India, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mr. Sourabh Chandrakar, who has recently faced grave accusations related to the Mahadev Application, strongly asserts that he has no involvement whatsoever in the alleged financial fraud scheme. He deeply regrets being wrongly implicated and depicted as the orchestrator behind this operation.

He firmly states that these allegations lack any foundation and are an effort to smear the good standing of an upstanding citizen. He emphasizes that enjoying a comfortable lifestyle should not be misconstrued as evidence of his engagement in unlawful activities.

The individuals urge all media outlets to consider these facts, rectify the prevailing narrative, and direct resources toward the actual wrongdoers. He is committed to offering his complete cooperation to the authorities to ensure justice is served and the truth prevails untarnished. He urges a fair and unbiased investigation into the matter, emphasizing his commitment to cooperating fully to bring the actual perpetrators to justice.

About Sourabh Chandrakar

In India, Saurabh Chandrakars business Juice Factory has 25 branches all over Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.

He hails from a humble background and has been running various FMCG, construction, sub-contracting and development-related businesses in the Middle East along with various partners and brands.

His entrepreneurial stint in the Middle East is Empire One Global Real Estate wherein he enjoys the position of Co-Managing Director. Both Mr. Uppal and Mr. Chandrakar have been creating value beyond real estate for their clients based out of the Middle East and globally.

*Source: NewsBeatWire

Contacts:Saurabh Chandrakar 00447723436941

Source: Sourabh Chandrakar
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stallion Discoveries Corp. (the Company or Stallion) (TSX-V: STUD; OTCQB: STLNF; FSE: HM40), a prominent uranium explorer in the Athabasca Basin, is pleased to announce the Company will change its name to Stallion Uranium Corp., pending TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Under the name of Stallion Uranium Corp., the Company aims to underscore its focus on uranium exploration in the Athabasca Basin. Stallion, through three separate transactions over the previous nine months has built the largest continuous land package in the prolific and under-explored Western Athabasca Basin. The company is driven by a mission to find the next significant uranium discovery and fuel the future with uranium. Uranium plays a pivotal role in nuclear power generation, which is increasingly recognized as a low-carbon, high-energy alternative to traditional fossil fuels and essential in the global transition to clean energy.

"Stallion Uranium Corp. reflects our dedication to advancing our uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin and our commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions, expressed Stallions CEO, Drew Zimmerman. The world needs a significant amount of exploration for uranium resources to ensure a pipeline of available deposits that will contribute to fueling a more sustainable future.

Recent Exploration Highlights

Stallion has completed a regional airborne exploration on its 100% owned mineral claims covering 78,831 hectares in the Athabasca Basin. The program consisted of a VTEMTM Plus electromagnetic (EM), and magnetic survey designed to identify prospective conductive corridors and drill targets. When combined with all available historical data Stallion was able to:

Identify over 35 km of cumulative prospective conductive corridors.

Prioritize 4 key target areas across the Coffer and Gunter Lake projects.

Coffer Project is ideally situated 3 km from the Saskatoon Lake Conductor which hosts the Shea Creek Project. The VTEMTM Plus survey results identified untested conductors which occur sub-parallel to the uranium bearing Saskatoon Lake Conductor.

Coffer Project target areas are proximal to the Clearwater Domain which is theorized to be a key driver of uranium bearing fluid for F3 Uraniums JR Zone.

Multiple structural trends that reflect the Patterson Lake trend have been identified as priority areas on the Gunter Lake Project. The conductors extend onto the Stallion / Atha JV claim package which will be further defined with exploration in fall 2023.

Upcoming Exploration

Exploration planned for this fall will include a Ground Time Domain Electromagnetic Survey over 4 target areas identified on the Coffer and Gunter Lake Projects. The surveys will increase the resolution from the existing regional survey data and allow for more precise drill targeting of potential uranium mineralization zones. These are highly prospective targets areas that Stallion has prioritized as it prepares for its maiden drill program planned to begin at the start of 2024.

In addition to the exploration on the Companys 100% owned projects, Stallion will be embarking on a new frontier of exploration in the under-explored Western Athabasca Basin. The company will be utilizing a regional airborne EM survey to fly over 5,550 line-kms, efficiently covering the entire ATHA Energy JV Project. Stallion will utilize 3 separate survey systems in different project locations, each designed to identify new prospective conductive corridors where no effective exploration program has ever been completed. This program will allow Stallion to locate target areas over vast areas that were previously unexplored, allowing Stallion further prospects for additional high priority target areas.

Stallions Gold and Critical Mineral Assets

While the focus of the Company has shifted to focus on its uranium assets, Stallion still holds its Horse Heaven and Richmond Mountain gold and critical mineral assets in Idaho and Nevada. These are both incredibly strong exploration projects, with both neighbouring world class deposits that have significant milestones in the coming months. The Company will continue to work to create value for its shareholders as it explores various options to see the advancement of these projects.

The transition from Stallion Discoveries Corp. to Stallion Uranium Corp. will not impact the company's core values or dedication to excellence. Stakeholders, including shareholders, clients, and partners, can expect the same level of professionalism, integrity, and innovation that Stallion Discoveries Corp has been known for over the years.

Correction on Details of Previously Announced Financing

Additionally, the Company makes corrections to previously announced financing. Further to its news release on October 11, 2023, the Company wishes to correct the details of the closed a non-brokered private placement offering for total gross proceeds of $3,303,508.24 (the Offering).

The Company has allotted and issued 9,160,451 Flow-Through Units of the Company (each, a FT Unit) at a price of $0.24 per FT Unit and 5,525,000 Non-Flow Through Units of the Company (each, a Unit) at a price of $0.20 per Unit. Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company to be issued as a flow-through share within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a FT Share) and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a Share) and one-half of one Warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of $0.30 for a period of 24 months.

In relation to the Offering, the Company has paid finders fees of $196,735.58 and issued 851,232 finders warrants to arms-length parties, entitling the holder to acquire one Share at a price of $0.30 per Share for a period of 24 months. In addition, the Company has paid an advisory fee of $60,000 to Canaccord Genuity Corp. which was paid through the issuance of 300,000 Units. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring February 12, 2024. The Offering remains subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The gross proceeds from the FT Shares will be used by the Company to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Qualifying Expenditures) related to the Companys uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, on or before December 31, 2024. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Units effective December 31, 2023. The gross proceeds from the sale of Units will be used by the Company towards non-qualifying exploration expenditures and general working capital.

A portion of the Offering constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) adopted in the Policy. The Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 in respect of related party participation in the Offering.

About Stallion Discoveries

Stallion Discoveries is working to Fuel the Future with Uranium through the exploration of over 3,000 sq/km in the Athabasca Basin, home to the largest high-grade uranium deposits in the world. The company holds the largest contiguous project in the Western Athabasca Basin adjacent to multiple high-grade discovery zones.

Our leadership and advisory teams are comprised of uranium and precious metals exploration experts with the capital markets experience and the technical talent for acquiring and exploring early-stage properties.

Stallion offers optionality with two gold projects in Idaho and Nevada that neighbour world class gold deposits offering exposure to upside potential from district advancement with limited capital expenditures.

For more information visit Stalliondiscoveries.com

For further information contact:

Lisa StewartInvestor Relations(604) 341-8177 [email protected]

Drew ZimmermanChief Executive Officer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, forward-looking statements) that relate to the Companys current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected to, expects, will continue, is anticipated, anticipates, believes, estimated, intends, plans, forecast, projection, strategy, objective and outlook) are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this material change report should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Companys control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Source: Stallion Discoveries
MESA, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, held an event today to celebrate the groundbreaking of its new 353,600-square-foot facility, Sysco Arizona East.

Attendees at the event included Sysco executives as well as:

Mayor John Giles, City of Mesa,

Arizona State Representative Neal Carter District 15,

Arizona State Representative Lorena Austin District 9, and

Arizona State Representative Seth Blattman District 9.

Construction related to the $102 million investment is planned to begin this Fall and is expected to be operational by Spring 2025. Sysco Arizona East will create 257 new jobs that offer industry-leading wages, paid time off, and comprehensive healthcare and retirement benefits. The average annual salary at Sysco Arizona East will be $68,000 per year, nearly double the per capita median income in Arizona.

Sysco Arizona East will bring job training and workforce development opportunities to the City of Mesa and surrounding communities. Through Syscos Operations Academy, eligible warehouse employees can receive company sponsored training to earn a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and grow their career with Sysco. Sysco Arizona East warehouse selectors will be able to earn a salary range of $68,000 - $87,000 annually and drivers will be able to earn a salary range of $81,000 - $109,000 annually.

Syscos Arizona East site will help meet the demands of the growing local market and bring excellent, long-term career opportunities to the Mesa community, said Matt Jacobson, Syscos Desert Region President. We look forward to bringing Syscos expertise and service to thousands of new customers in the market, including restaurants, healthcare, education, and travel and leisure locations throughout Arizona.

Sysco stands out as an industry leader in food service, and Im pleased to welcome their new facility to Mesa, said Mayor John Giles. Our city has a talented workforce that will meet the needs for Sysco Arizona East, and I appreciate their commitment to offering job training and workforce development opportunities for Mesa and the East Valley.

Arizonas East Valley is proud to welcome Sysco to their new home, said Arizona State Representative Neal Carter. For generations, our East Valley has played a vital role in feeding Arizona. I am grateful to see this tradition continue with the addition of Sysco Arizona East. This site will provide good paying jobs and tremendous economic benefits in my district for generations to come. I look forward to a strong partnership with Sysco.

Syscos new Mesa facility is an exciting milestone for the company and bolsters Arizonas economic growth, said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. We are grateful that a global leader like Sysco continues to invest in Arizona, creating hundreds quality jobs and building on Mesas continued economic momentum.

"Sysco's new Mesa campus stands as a multi-faceted investment in the community, offering new opportunities with career path development, said Greater Phoenix Economic Council President & CEO Chris Camacho. We applaud their forward-thinking dedication to building talent and congratulate them on the groundbreaking for this massive new facility."

We are pleased to welcome Sysco to Mesa, Mesa Economic Development Director Bill Jabjiniak stated. Sysco, a world-class leader in the food service industry, brings yet another global brand to Mesa along with quality jobs and considerable investment in our community.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 72,000 colleagues, the company operates 334 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 725,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2023 that ended July 1, 2023, the company generated sales of more than $76 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Syscos 2022 Sustainability Report and 2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at www.sysco.com.

For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoFoods. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the companys Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

Media ContactShannon Mutschler [email protected]281-584-4059

Source: Sysco Corporation
HOUSTON, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP) ("Targa" or the "Company") announced its quarterly dividend on common shares with respect to the third quarter of 2023.

Targa announced today that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per common share, or $2.00 per common share on an annualized basis, for the third quarter of 2023. This cash dividend will be paid November 15, 2023 on all outstanding common shares to holders of record as of the close of business on October 31, 2023.

The Company will report its third quarter 2023 financial results before the market opens for trading on Thursday, November 2, 2023 and will host a live webcast over the internet at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 a.m. Central Time) to discuss its 2023 third quarter financial results.

Event InformationEvent: Targa Resources Corp. Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Webcast and PresentationDate: Thursday, November 2, 2023Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern TimeWebcast: www.targaresources.com under "Events and Presentations" or directly at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/vrp8beac

Replay Information A webcast replay will be available at the link above approximately two hours after the conclusion of the event. A quarterly earnings supplement presentation and updated investor presentation will also be available under Events and Presentations in the Investors section of the Companys website prior to the start of the conference call, or directly at https://www.targaresources.com/investors/events.

About Targa Resources Corp.

Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream infrastructure companies in North America. The Company owns, operates, acquires and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary domestic midstream infrastructure assets and its operations are critical to the efficient, safe and reliable delivery of energy across the United States and increasingly to the world. The Companys assets connect natural gas and NGLs to domestic and international markets with growing demand for cleaner fuels and feedstocks. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting, and purchasing and selling natural gas; transporting, storing, fractionating, treating, and purchasing and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; and gathering, storing, terminaling, and purchasing and selling crude oil.

Targa is a FORTUNE 500 company and is included in the S&P 500.

For more information, please visit the Companys website at www.targaresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our projected financial performance and capital spending. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Companys control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Company. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the impact of pandemics or any other public health crises, commodity price volatility due to ongoing or new global conflicts, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producing countries, the impact of disruptions in the bank and capital markets, including those resulting from lack of access to liquidity for banking and financial services firms, the timing and success of business development efforts and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact the Company's investor relations department by email at[email protected] or by phone at (713) 584-1133.

Sanjay LadVice President, Finance & Investor Relations

Jennifer KnealeChief Financial Officer

Source: Targa Resources Corp.
Austin, TX, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unfair Advantage, a pioneering force in the digital marketing arena, announces its groundbreaking website, designed to empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With a mission to serve SMBs with the strategies and services they need to thrive online, Unfair Advantage proudly presents its new website, https://www.unfairadvantage.digital/.

In todays fast-paced digital world, SMBs often struggle to keep pace with evolving trends and technologies. Unfair Advantage recognizes these challenges and has responded with an innovative approach that ensures they are the ultimate digital marketing ally for SMBs.

We understand the hurdles that SMBs face in the highly competitive digital marketplace. Our new website is your cheat code to achieving digital marketing success, stated Brandon Jones, director of client operations for Unfair Advantage. Our aim is to empower SMBs by using our digital marketing expertise to provide them with the strategic edge they need to grow.

Unfair Advantages websites novel approach gives SMBs the opportunity to evaluate their digital marketing needs themselves. SMBs can then elect the option of a free digital marketing audit to determine how to best level up their use of online platforms for brand visibility, customer engagement, and increased revenue.

Key Features of Unfair Advantagess New Website:

**SEO Solutions:** Discover the secrets to ranking higher on search engines and attracting organic traffic with our comprehensive SEO services tailored for SMBs. **Paid Media Expertise:** Leverage the power of paid advertising to reach your target audience effectively. Let Unfair Advantage manage your paid media efforts for optimal results. **Website Conversion Optimization:** Increase your websites effectiveness in converting visitors into customers. Our conversion optimization resources and services will help you boost your bottom line. **Social Media Mastery:** Elevate your social media presence with our expert strategies and management services. Engage with your audience and build a strong brand presence across social platforms. **Success Stories:** Explore real success stories and case studies showcasing how Unfair Advantage has empowered SMBs to achieve remarkable digital marketing results. **Customized Services:** Unfair Advantage offers tailored digital marketing services for each client designed to meet the unique needs and budgets of SMBs.

Were committed to making digital marketing accessible and effective for SMBs. This website is the next step in fulfilling that commitment, added Jones. We want SMBs to see us as their trusted partner, ready to provide effective and affordable digital marketing solutions.

Unfair Advantage has already earned a strong reputation in the digital marketing industry, delivering outstanding results for SMBs. With the launch of this innovative website, the company aims to further solidify its position as the go-to resource for SMBs seeking digital marketing success.

About Unfair Advantage:

Unfair Advantage is a leading digital marketing company dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive in the digital age. With a team of experts and a passion for innovation, Unfair Advantage empowers SMBs with cutting-edge solutions, actionable insights, and personalized support.

For more information go to Unfair Advantage.

Media Contact:

Lindsey Black

Director of Marketing

Unfair Advantage

Phone: 512-872-6927

Email: [email protected]

###

Unlock the potential of your SMB in the digital landscape with Unfair Advantages Your Digital Marketing Cheat Code website. Get the insights and expert support you need to succeed online. Visit unfairadvantage.digital today and take the first step toward digital marketing excellence!

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/unlock-your-digital-marketing-success-with-unfair-advantages-new-website/

Unfair Advantage 5926 Balcones Dr. Ste. 130 Austin Texas 78731 United States 512-872-6927 https://www.unfairadvantage.digital/

Source: Unfair Advantage
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VERSES AI Inc. (CBOE:VERS) (OTCQX:VRSSF) (VERSES or the Company), a cognitive computing company specializing in the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI), is pleased to announce that they have engaged Integrous Communications (Integrous) as an investor relations advisor.



Integrous will assist VERSES with communicating its corporate, financial and investor developments to current shareholders and prospective investors while enhancing awareness of the Company's story within the capital markets. Matthew Selinger, Partner at Integrous, will be the Company's primary investor contact.

By engaging Integrous, we are committed to expanding our investor reach and implementing best practices, and in doing so, we need a partner who can assist us in getting our story out in this rapidly moving landscape, said Gabriel Rene VERSES CEO and Founder. As we roll out our Genius AI platform and move into strategic beta testing with select customers, we will continue to move towards the public beta release next year with the goal of opening of reservations soon. Concurrently, we continue to work with our partner Dentons as well as certain multinational organizations, to implement the global standards and regulations that we believe will enable AI to be smarter and safer.

We believe that AI is going to transform the world as we know it, said Matthew Selinger, Partner at Integrous. However, it remains to be known which platform(s), or companies will lead in the era of Web 3.0 (aka the Spatial Web). As big technology companies and venture capital firms continue to express interest in the space, VERSES is one pure-play AI software company in which the public can participate.

VERSES is not taking a heavy computing approach to AI; rather it strives to take a more efficient, faster, methodology-based approach based on algorithms that learn, adapt, and are accountable.

About VERSES

VERSES is a cognitive computing company specializing in next-generation artificial intelligence solutions. Our flagship offering, Genius, is inspired by natural systems and human cognition. Genius can adapt, learn and integrate with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers open spatial web standard P2874. Key features of Genius include generalizability, spatial web standards integration, predictive queries, real-time adaptation and an automated computing network. Built on open standards, Genius transforms disparate data into knowledge models that foster trustworthy collaboration between humans, machines and AI, across digital and physical domains. Imagine a smarter world that elevates human potential through innovations inspired by nature. Learn more at VERSES, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Integrous Communications

Integrous Communications is an independent communications and investor relations consulting firm that provides integrated corporate communications services. Headquartered in Austin, Texas with locations across the US and Canada, the firm's diverse team of professionals has more than 100 years of combined experience. Integrous serves domestic and international clients, including companies listed on the U.S., Canadian, Australian, and European exchanges. Learn more about Integrous Communications.

On behalf of the Company

Gabriel Rene

VERSES AI Inc.

Co-Founder & CEO

&

Eric Holder

Director of Communications,

VERSES AI Inc.

[email protected]



Investor Relations Inquiries

U.S.

Matthew Selinger, Partner, Integrous Communications, [email protected] 415-572-8152

Canada

Leo Karabela, President, Focus Communications, [email protected] 416-543-3120

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although VERSES believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, the services to be performed by Integrous and the benefits and results therefrom, who the Companys primary investor contact will be, Integrous ability to assist the Company in expanding its investor reach and implementing best practices, the planned rollout of the Genius AI platform including the timing of testing and the public beta release, the continued partnership with Dentons and multinational organizations and the benefits therefrom, the impact of AI on the world generally, that technology companies and venture capital firms continue to express interest in AI, and the approach VERSES takes to AI and the results therefrom.

In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that Integrous will perform the services currently contemplated, that the Companys primary investor contact will remain Matthew Selinger, that the services Integrous performs will have the benefits currently expected by management, that the Genius AI platform rollout will proceed as currently anticipated, that the Company will continue to work with partners to implement global standards and regulations for AI and that implementation will allow AI to be smarter and safer, that AI will have a substantial impact on the world, that technology companies and venture capital firms will continue to have interest in the AI space, that the public will continue to be able to participate in the Company, and that the Companys approach to AI will continue and produce the benefits currently expected.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause VERSES' actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, without limitation, that Integrous will fail to provide the services currently contemplated, or that the services will not result in the benefits currently expected, that Matthew Selinger will not continue to be the Companys primary investor contact, that the rollout of the Genius AI platform will not proceed as currently contemplated, if at all, that the Company will not continue to work with partners to implement global standards and regulations in AI or that they will not result in the expected benefits, that AI will not have the expected impact on the world, that big technology companies and venture capital firms will not continue to have interest in the AI space, that the public will not continue to be able to participate in VERSES, that the Company will change its approach to AI, and that the Companys current approach to AI will not result in the benefits currently expected by management. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of its securities or its financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement or forward-looking information herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The NEO has not reviewed or approved this press release for the adequacy or accuracy of its contents.
TOWSON, Md., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vistant, a Maryland-based firm that delivers international development, advanced healthcare solutions, and mission support services to government clients, is again expanding its work to provide operational support for the Defense Health Agency (DHA).

Vistant will provide program management support for DHAs National Capital Region (NCR) Medical Directorate Logistics & Acquisition Support Program. Under this two-year, $3.7 million project, Vistant will staff, manage, and operate logistics for the NCR from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center annex.

It is paramount to our nations safety and security that we ensure the health and wellbeing of our service members and their families, said Walter Barnes, III, Vistants president. We are honored to be able to help in that effort by managing logistical needs for Walter Reed and the NCR.

DHAs Logistics & Acquisition Support Program provides logistics management, solutions, and strategies to help improve life-saving healthcare for those who serve in the defense of our country and their families. This includes developing and deploying integrated information systems to address new and evolving healthcare telecommunications and data needs.

This project expands Vistants range of work with DHA. Earlier this year, Vistant was awarded a contract to provide operational support through DHAs Clinical Operations Program Management Office. The company previously was awarded an expansion of its contract with the DHA Department of Paralegal at Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir. Vistant paralegal experts now support active duty and retired service members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and their dependents, as well as civilian employees of the Department of Defense.

About Vistant Vistant is a Maryland-based firm that specializes in international development, advanced healthcare solutions, and mission support services. Visit Vistant at www.VistantCo.com.

Vistant contracting vehicles: OASIS SB/8a Pool 1 (47QRAD20D1060/47QRAD20D8121); GSA 8a STARS III (47QTCB22D0222); and GSA MAS (GS-00F-166GA). Online at VistantCo.com. Contact:James GallagherSpire Communications for Vistant[email protected]919-308-0738

Source: Vistant
Surrey, BC/Territories of the Coast Salish (Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations), Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westland Insurance, a leading independent insurance broker, has announced the launch of its Private Client Services practice. The new service provides premium insurance solutions for affluent Canadians, offering tailored coverage and risk management strategies to protect their valuable assets.

Westland's private advisors work closely with clients to manage risk and identify industry leading insurance solutions for complex personal insurance needs. The Private Client Services practice serves the needs of clients with high-value portfolios, providing unparalleled expertise and responsive service.

"At Westland, we believe in fostering long-term relationships with our clients based on trust" said Cari Watson, SVP of Marketing & Client Experience at Westland. "We prioritize highly personalized service and draw on our deep expertise and broad market access to design optimal insurance solutions."

The PCS practice offers a range of insurance solutions covering Canadian and cross-border risks such as high-value homeowner, secondary and seasonal homes, automobile (including exotic and collections), fine art collections, jewelry, watercraft, and personal excess liability. Westland has an elite standing with specialized insurance carriers that cater specifically to private clients, providing access to exclusive products and services that may not be widely available.

With Westland, clients work together with their expert personal advisor to create strategies that adapt and evolve over time, said Robert Hawtin, National Practice Leader, Private Client Services at Westland. The ultimate goal is to go above and beyond in meeting clients' needs, providing exceptional service and delivering results that surpass expectations.

For more information about Westland's Private Client Services practice, visit their website at www.westlandinsurance.ca/private-client-services.

- 30 -

About Westland Insurance Group Westland Insurance Group is one of the largest and fastest-growing independent insurance brokers in Canada. Trading over $3 billion of premium, Westland continues to expand coast to coast. Westland's brokers provide expertise and advisory-based services across commercial, personal, employee benefits, farm, and specialty insurance segments. Since its founding in 1980, Westland has remained committed to supporting its clients, industry partners, and local communities. For more information, please visit westlandinsurance.ca.

Jessica Thiessen Westland Insurance Group Ltd. 7782887894 [email protected]

Source: Westland Insurance Group Ltd.
State cannabis authorities, producers and various stakeholders are currently contending with the challenge of ensuring consumer safety in an environment where lab-testing regulations and enforcement practices vary widely across the nation, resulting in frequent large-scale product recalls.

At present, each state adopts its own approach to conducting lab tests for both medical and recreational cannabis, assessing inspections, potency, contaminants and

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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - (NewMediaWire) - October 12, 2023 - Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (NYSE American: SBEV) (Splash or the Company), a portfolio company of leading beverage brands, today announced that convenience store retailing giant, Circle K, will be featuring the Copa di Vino brand in greater than 130 locations in Alabama and Florida. The rollout will feature 4 varietals of Splashs premium single serve wine, Copa di Vino. It is expected that the stores will begin selling the product during the month of October. Circle K was founded in El Paso, Texas in 1951 and grew into an enterprise generating more than $1 billion in sales. After being acquired by Canadian based Alimentation Couche-Tard in 2003, it has continued to grow to become one of the most widely recognized convenience store brands, known worldwide for quality products and great customer service.

Robert Nistico, Splash Beverage Groups Chairman and CEO, commented, This important authorization is another successful result of the hard work of the Splash team in building a distribution network capable of serving national chains. Working with our valued distribution partner Gulf Distributing, we were able to earn this opportunity with Circle K. More product on shelf in front of more consumers, equals more revenue. We will take this and the success on the West Coast and continue to add visibility of our brands with this keystone retailer in their other divisions.

Follow Splash Beverage Group on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SplashBev

About Splash Beverage Group, Inc.

Splash Beverage Group, an innovator in the beverage industry, owns a growing portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands including Copa di Vino wine by the glass, SALT flavored tequilas, Pulpoloco sangria, and TapouT performance hydration and recovery drink. Splashs strategy is to rapidly develop early-stage brands already in its portfolio as well as acquire and then accelerate brands that have high visibility or are innovators in their categories. Led by a management team that has built and managed some of the top brands in the beverage industry and led sales from product launch into the billions, Splash is rapidly expanding its brand portfolio and global distribution.

For more information visit:

www.SplashBeverageGroup.com

www.copadivino.com

www.drinksalttequila.com

www.pulpo-loco.com

www.tapoutdrinks.com

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, the risks disclosed in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021, and in the Companys other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Contact Information:

Splash Beverage Group

[email protected]

954-745-5815

View the original release on www.newmediawire.com
Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Arketa, the latest destination for art and fashion aficionados, is thrilled to announce its grand opening on Thursday, October 12, at 8 p.m. Located at the heart of the city at 211 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Arketa promises an evening of splendor, creativity, and vibrant culture.

Arketa Celebrates Grand Opening in the Heart of Los Angeles

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8195/183738_desirepr20231012figure1.jpg

Self-starting entrepreneur, clothing designer and artist, Israel Perez, discussed his initial vision for Arketa, where he imagined people incorporating statement outfits into their everyday attire, mirroring his eclectic style. However, as he observed the reaction of his customers, he noticed that they were drawn to donning his creations primarily for events like parties, nightlife, and, especially, music festivals. This choice was influenced by the feeling of liberation and flexibility that Arketa's clothing symbolizes. In these settings, individuals experience a sense of freedom, confidence, and boldness, all in alignment with the distinctive style and energy of Arketa. Perez has been self-reliant in building his career since a very young age, diligently working his way up. His designs connect people beyond the boundaries of convention.

Arketa's grand unveiling isn't just a store launch; it's an experience. Guests will be treated to:

Fashion Exhibition: Showcasing the latest and most avant-garde pieces, this fashion exhibit is not to be missed. It reflects the convergence of tradition and modernity, set against the chic backdrop of Arketa's space.

Live Art Show by a Special Guest: Patrons will immerse themselves in world of color and imagination as a mystery guest artist brings their creations to life.

Live Set with DJ Dandune:DJ Dandune, known for his eclectic mixes and infectious beats, will be setting the tone for a night of celebration and dance.

Chef's Table: A delectable treat for the senses, the Sushi Chef's Table will present a curated menu designed to titillate the palate and showcase the freshest fish to the delicatessen of the vegans.

Cocktail Bar by Mezcal El Silencio & Dahlia Tequila: No evening is complete without a touch of spirit. Sip on meticulously crafted cocktails that blend tradition with innovation, featuring Mezcal El Silencio & Dahlia Tequila.

Arketa represents the essence of cosmopolitan Los Angeles - a city where fashion, art, and gastronomy converge. Its grand opening is more than just the introduction of a new space; it's an ode to the city's vibrant culture and an invitation for everyone to be part of it.

The team at Arketa looks forward to welcoming guests from supermodels to influencers of all genres and sharing an unforgettable evening together.

For further information or to RSVP, please contact Head of PR, Ophelia Soumekh at [email protected].

About Arketa:

Arketa, meaning "beautiful" in Greek, is a high-fashion lifestyle brand paying homage to the arts and cultures that define futurism. Inspired by post-apocalyptic Hollywood movies and provocative materials like leathers, metals, nets, knits and lace, Arketa speaks a single coherent language, characterizing an entire world of its own. Through the art of fashion and design, Arketa connects people globally to the arts of music and dance - to the art of living freely.

Desire PR

Ophelia Soumekh

[email protected]

818 726-6761

211 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183738
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Bear Creek Mining Corporation(TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces that BMO Capital Markets, as underwriter to the previously announced C$9.5 million bought deal financing of 27,200,000 units of the Company ("Units") that closed on October 5, 2023 (the "Offering"), has notified the Company that it has elected not to exercise the over-allotment option related to the Offering (the "Over-Allotment Option"). Please see the Company's news release dated October 5, 2023 for details related to the closing of the Offering and the Over-Allotment Option.

Pursuant to the Offering, each Unit was comprised of one common share in the authorized share structure of the Company (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of C$0.42 per Warrant Share until October 5, 2028. The Company has applied to list the Warrants for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") and anticipates the Warrants to be trading on the TSXV under the symbol BCM.WT on or about October 17, 2023. The ISIN and CUSIP numbers of the Warrants are CA07380N1877 and 07380N187, respectively.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Warrants may not be exercised by, or for the account or benefit of, any U.S. person or any person within the United States absent exemptions from such registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the U.S., nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. "United States" and "U.S. person" are as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Eric Caba

President & Chief Executive Officer

For further information contact:

Barbara Henderson - VP Corporate Communications

Direct: 604-628-1111

E-mail: [email protected]

www.bearcreekmining.com

Subscribe to Bear Creek Mining news

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding: the size of the Offering, use of proceeds under the Offering, the successful listing of the Warrants on the TSXV, the receipt of all required approvals for the Offering and other statements regarding future plans, expectations, exploration potential, guidance, projections, objectives, estimates and forecasts as well as the Company's expectations with respect to such matters. These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release, or the effective date of the documents referred to in this news release, as applicable, and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to: the anticipated listing date of the Warrants, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, mineral prices, and anticipated costs and expenditures. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but specifically include, without limitation, risks relating to general market conditions and the additional risks described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on its SEDAR page at www.sedarplus.ca. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law.

Neither 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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183808
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Copper Fox Metals Inc. (TSXV: CUU) (OTCQX: CPFXF) ("Copper Fox" or the "Company") is pleased to report that it has on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary Northern Fox Copper Inc., filed on SEDAR a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Technical Report (the "Technical Report") which includes the results of an updated mineral resource estimate for the Eaglehead copper-molybdenum-gold-silver porphyry project located in Tahltan territory in northwestern British Columbia (see news release dated August 30, 2023).

The Technical Report, titled "NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate on the Eaglehead Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report", with an effective date of August 21, 2023, was prepared by Sue Bird, P.Eng., of Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS"). The Technical Report provides an updated resource estimate of the deposit as well as summaries of project history, geology, mineralization, deposit characteristics; exploration targets, and recommends a program that includes additional drilling and metallurgical testwork estimated to cost approximately $1.7 million. The objective of the proposed program would be to test the continuity of the mineralization between the Bornite and East zones and provide additional samples for preliminary metallurgical test work to obtain additional copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver recovery, and comminution data.

Elmer B. Stewart, President and CEO of Copper Fox stated, "The Technical Report provides the updated geology, alteration and mineralization hosted within an 8km by 3km area located on the southern portion of the Early Jurassic Eaglehead Pluton in proximity to the regional scale Thibert fault system. The recommended program is focused on determining the continuity of the mineralization between the Bornite and East zones and providing additional data on metal recoveries and comminution characteristics of the porphyry mineralization which if successful could have a significant impact on the resource potential and pit shape for the Bornite-East zones going forward. In addition, the Technical Report demonstrates the porphyry potential of the project and the possibility of expanding the resource base."

Cautionary Note to Investors

While the terms "indicated (mineral) resource" and "inferred (mineral) resource" are recognized and required by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, investors are cautioned that except for that portion of mineral resources classified as mineral reserves, mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be upgraded into mineral reserves. Additionally, investors are cautioned that inferred mineral resources have a high degree of uncertainty as to their existence, as to whether they can be economically or legally mined, or will ever be upgraded to a higher category.

United States investors are advised that current Mineral Resources are not current Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The geology, alteration, age and chemical affinity at Eaglehead suggests many similarities to the "Plutonic" sub-type of porphyry copper systems in British Columbia. Other type of Plutonic porphyry systems in British Columbia includes the deposits at Highland Valley and Ike. The area hosting the mineralization is referred to in the Technical Report as the "mineralized corridor". The mineralized corridor is characterized by:

The mineralization is primarily hosted in biotite granodiorite, with lesser amounts in hornblende quartz diorite and quartz porphyry, common host rocks to porphyry copper deposits.





The porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold-silver mineralization is characterized by multiple stages of overlapping and cross-cutting copper-molybdenum-iron sulphides exhibiting variable alteration phases and gangue mineral associations. The cross-cutting relations suggest multiple introductions of copper and molybdenite mineralization.





The mineralized zones exhibit a strong spatial association with magnetic vector inversion anomalies interpreted to represent the potassic core of either a single or multiple porphyry centers due to the presence of hydrothermal magnetite.





The mineralization and alteration show a strong spatial relationship to a 6km long positive chargeability anomaly. The drilling has tested only a portion of the lateral and horizontal extent of the chargeability anomaly. The mineralization could extend between the currently defined zones and is open to the south and at depth to the north.





The change in metal associations and alterations to the northwest along the mineralized corridor suggests a progression to success higher levels in the porphyry system as suggested by the depth of the magnetic vector inversion anomalies and the change from copper-molybdenum-gold-silver in the East zone to almost exclusively copper in the Camp zone. The distribution and intensity of the alteration changes from widespread potassic in the East zone transitioning to dominantly phyllic and propylitic in the Camp zone.

The locations and constraining pit shapes of the mineralized zones included in the updated Mineral Resource Estimate are shown in Figure-1. For clarity, the low-grade halo surrounding the four main modelled zones is not shown on the figure.

Figure-1: Location and pit shapes of the four main mineralized zones. Eaglehead Project



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2177/183685_51d0641cc40fa9df_001full.jpg.

Qualified Persons

Ms. Sue Bird - P. Eng., of MMTS is the Qualified Person ("QP") who prepared the Technical Report. Ms. Bird, as the Qualified Person, has approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. Elmer B. Stewart, MSc. P. Geol., President of Copper Fox, is the Company's nominated Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101, Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed the scientific and technical information disclosed in this news release. Mr. Stewart is not independent of Copper Fox.

About Copper Fox

Copper Fox is a Tier 1 Canadian resource company focused on copper exploration and development in Canada and the United States. The principal assets of Copper Fox and its wholly owned subsidiaries, being Northern Fox Copper Inc. and Desert Fox Copper Inc., are the 100% ownership of the Van Dyke oxide copper project located in Miami, AZ, the 100% interest in the Mineral Mountain and Sombrero Butte porphyry copper exploration projects located in Arizona, the 25% interest in the Schaft Creek Joint Venture with Teck Resources Limited on the Schaft Creek copper-gold-molybdenum-silver project and the 100% owned Eaglehead polymetallic porphyry copper project each located in northwestern British Columbia. For more information on Copper Fox's mineral properties and investments visit the Company's website at copperfoxmetals.com.

For additional information contact: Jason Shepherd at 1-844-464-2820; [email protected]

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Elmer B. Stewart

President and Chief Executive Officer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes", "may", "plans", "will", "anticipates", "intends", "budgets", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release include statements about the mineral resource estimate for the Eaglehead project; the completion and filing of a National Instrument 43-101 technical report related to the Eaglehead mineral resource estimate; a recommended $1.7 million program of drilling and metallurgical testwork; the objective of the proposed program; the mineralized corridor; potential existence and size of mineralization within the Eaglehead project; and geological interpretations and potential mineral resources. Information concerning mineral resource estimates also may be deemed to be forward-looking information in that it reflects a prediction of the mineralization that would be encountered if a mineral deposit were developed and mined.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, Copper Fox and its subsidiaries have made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things: the geological, metallurgical, engineering, financial and economic advice that Copper Fox has received is reliable and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards. While Copper Fox considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause Copper Fox's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the recommended $1.7 million program of drilling and metallurgical testwork may not be completed as planned or at all; the objective of the proposed program may not be achieved; the actual mineralization in the Eaglehead deposit may not be as favorable as suggested by the resource estimate; the description of the mineralized corridor may not be as favorable as suggested by the data; fluctuations in copper 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, and recovery rates; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Copper Fox is disclosed in Copper Fox's continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedarplus.ca. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Copper Fox disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events, or developments, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183685
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Grizzly Discoveries Inc. (TSXV: GZD) (FSE: G6H) (OTCQB: GZDIF) ("Grizzly" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that after the Okanogan fire danger has subsided that geological crews are back at the Rock Creek camp and have re-commenced work at Midway, Copper Mountain and the Imperial target areas within the Greenwood Precious and Battery Metals Project.

Highlights

Two new showings identified near the historical Midway Mine including up 5.64 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) from a showing 400 m to the north of Midway and up to 4.19 g/t Au from a grab sample collected about 375 m to the west of the Midway Mine. At least 6 new areas with anomalous gold (> 100 ppb Au) or silver (Ag) in soils have been identified at Midway with follow up work continuing to be conducted.

A total of 50 new rock grab and rock chip samples collected from the historical Imperial Mine area, with 6 samples returning greater than 1 g/t Au up to 12.1 g/t Au and 8 samples returning greater than 40 g/t silver (Ag) up to 469 g/t Ag. The samples define a targeted strike length of over 170 m for future drilling. The samples yield significant amounts of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) with several samples yielding greater than 2% combined base metals.

The Mabel Jenny Trend at the Copper Mountain area continues to yield excellent results including 9 of 14 rock grab and chip samples collected this year from this new zone yielding greater than 1 g/t Au up to 13.75 g/t Au (along with up to 61.9 g/t Ag) and up to 0.475% Cu and 2.93% Zn along a new logging road cut over a strike length of more than 400 m when combined with anomalous samples from 2022.

Brian Testo, President and CEO of Grizzly Discoveries, stated: "We are excited with the new results to date and for the start of the 2023 drilling program, which will pursue a number of high grade gold - silver showings and historical mines along with significant battery metal prospects in our current 160,000+ acre land holdings in the Greenwood District. We have barely scratched the surface in terms of exploration!"

Exploration Updates 2023

Drilling will initially be focused at the historical Midway Mine (Figure 2) but the intent is that eventually the Company will complete new drilling this fall, and then in 2024 at Midway, Imperial, Copper Mountain (Mable Jenny, Coronation and Prince of Wales targets), and potentially the Sappho areas, depending upon the timing of the receipt of drill permits, additional funding and weather permitting. We eagerly await drilling permits from the BC Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources.





Figure 1: Exploration Targets 2023.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4488/183759_7158109bc4b1cbfc_002full.jpg

The Company is awaiting land use permits for conducting drilling and trenching at the Midway Mine area as well as drilling at Copper Mountain, Imperial and potentially the Sappho target areas (Figure 1). The permit applications were submitted initially in January-February and the Company is now awaiting final comments and any required conditions or changes resulting from the recently completed 30 day notification period.

An extensive rock and soil sampling program along with new geological mapping during 2023 has been conducted in preparation for drilling this fall. The work has yielded two new showings identified near the historical Midway Mine including up 5.64 g/t Au from a showing 400 m to the north of the Midway Mine and a second showing along an apparent fault structure with 4.19 g/t Au from a grab sample collected about 375 m to the west of the Midway Mine (Figure 2). At least 6 new areas with anomalous gold (> 100 ppb Au), silver or copper in soils has been identified across the Midway Mine Property with follow up work continuing to be conducted (Figure 2).

To date, gold-silver-base metal mineralization appears to be related to veins and stockworks at contacts between altered ultramafic-carbonate rocks (listwanites) in contact with diorite intrusions in a complex structural setting, with the intersections of structures playing a key role in the localization of alteration.

At the historical Imperial Mine area, a total of 50 new rock grab and rock chip samples were collected from the Imperial showing area, with 6 samples returning greater than 1 (g/t) gold (Au) up to 12.1 g/t Au and 8 samples returning greater than 40 g/t silver (Ag) up to 469 g/t Ag. The samples define a targeted north - south strike length of over 170 m for future drilling (Figure 3). The samples show significant amounts of Pb, Zn and Cu with several samples yielding greater than 2% combined base metals. Geological mapping is in progress and ground geophysical surveys are planned prior to conducting drilling at this target.



Figure 2. Geology and Mineralization Trend at the Historical Midway Mine.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4488/183759_7158109bc4b1cbfc_003full.jpg



Figure 3. Geology and Mineralization Trend at the Historical Imperial Mine.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4488/183759_7158109bc4b1cbfc_004full.jpg

The Copper Mountain area continues to yield excellent results from a number of showings including the Coronation and Prince of Wales historical mines along with the Mabel Jenny area. A total of 9 of 14 rock grab and chip samples collected this year from a new zone discovered late in 2022 at the Mabel Jenny area has yielded greater than 1 g/t Au up to 13.75 g/t Au (along with up to 61.9 g/t Ag) and up to 0.475% Cu and 2.93% Zn (Figure 4). The discovery was made along a new logging road cut late in 2022 and appears to demonstrate quartz vein stockwork mineralization in an altered diorite over a strike length of more than 400 m when combined with anomalous samples from 2022.



Figure 4. Geology and Mabel Jenny Mineralization Trend Copper Mountain.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4488/183759_7158109bc4b1cbfc_005full.jpg

Geological and prospecting crews have re-commenced prospecting, geological mapping, rock and soil sampling within the Greenwood Project area and have conducted an initial pass at the new mineral claim area staked August 1, 2023 (See Company News Release dated September 7, 2023). A number of existing showings and parts or extensions to known showings have been acquired with the staking of the new mineral claims including but not limited to Marshall Lake, Sylvester K, the Great Laxey, Eholt and lands adjacent to and surrounding the historical Phoenix Mine. Results from the initial sampling programs on these new claims will be released as they are received.

The geological and prospecting crew has made several discoveries of sulphide, quartz vein zones and skarn on the new claims (Figure 5). Sulphide showings associated with skarn at Marshall Lake (Figure 5) hosted in Triassic Brooklyn Formation sedimentary rocks including limestone that has been intruded by diorite. The showings have been trenched and bulk sampled in the past (1960's to 1970's) yielding significant copper, silver and gold. Little to no modern exploration has been performed at the Marshall Lake target as well as a number of other showings in the Brooklyn sequence such as the Great Laxey.

To date, more than 3,300 soil samples and 600 rock samples have been collected from the Midway, Copper Mountain, Imperial and Sappho target areas and have been submitted to ALS Global Laboratories as well as an initial set of samples from the new mineral claims. Ground geophysical surveys will be performed in September in order to be ready for the 2023 drilling campaign.





Figure 5: New Mineral Claims Acquired August 1, 2023.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4488/183759_7158109bc4b1cbfc_006full.jpg

The goal is to have a pipeline of high priority precious metal and battery metal targets that are all permitted and ready for a long 2023 and 2024 drilling campaign in order to prioritize these assets into those that can deliver future mineral resources with additional drilling, eventually leading to some form of economic studies and scenarios that might be able to take advantage of local toll treating opportunities that exist in the Greenwood - Republic region.

ADDITIONAL LANDS ACQUIRED

The Company has signed an option agreement dated October 10, 2023 with Mr. Daniel Hurd of Peachland, British Columbia to purchase the mineral rights to 761.25 hectares (1,881 acres) in six (6) mineral claims in the Greenwood Mining District ("Midway-Beaverdell Option Agreement").

These claims represent adjacent lands with some historical showings that represent additions that strengthen our land positions in these areas.

Under the terms of the Midway-Beaverdell Option Agreement, the Company may earn a 100% interest in the Midway-Beaverdell claims by paying $7,500 in cash and issuing 150,000 common shares of Grizzly by the third anniversary date of the agreement. Mr. Hurd retains a 1% Net Smelter Royalty and the right to any quarriable rocks. The issuance of common shares of Grizzly under the Midway-Beaverdell Option Agreement is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND CONTROL

Rock and soil samples were analyzed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Vancouver, Canada (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). Gold was assayed using a fire assay with atomic emission spectrometry and gravimetric finish when required (+10 g/t Au). Rock grab and rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

The sampling program was undertaken by Company personnel under the direction of Michael B. Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo. A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples.

The technical content of this news release and the Company's technical disclosure has been reviewed and approved by Michael B. Dufresne, M. Sc., P. Geol., P.Geo., who is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

ABOUT GRIZZLY DISCOVERIES INC.

Grizzly is a diversified Canadian mineral exploration company with its primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on developing its approximately 66,000 ha (approximately 165,000 acres) of precious and base metals properties in southeastern British Columbia. Grizzly is run by highly experienced junior resource sector management team, who have a track record of advancing exploration projects from early exploration stage through to feasibility stage.

On behalf of the Board,

GRIZZLY DISCOVERIES INC.

Brian Testo, CEO, President

Suite 363-9768 170 Street NW

Edmonton, Alberta T5T 5L4

For further information, please visit our website at www.grizzlydiscoveries.com or contact:

Nancy Massicotte

Corporate Development

Tel: 604-507-3377

Email: [email protected]

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.

Caution concerning forward-looking information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. This information and statements address future activities, events, plans, developments and projections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information and statements are frequently identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and similar terminology, and reflect assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management of Grizzly in light of its experience, current conditions, expectations of future developments and other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking information and statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Grizzly's actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information and statements and accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed thereon.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary include but are not limited to the availability of financing; fluctuations in commodity prices; changes to and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental laws and obtaining requisite permits; political, economic and other risks; as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com. Grizzly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements except as may be required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183759
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Hypercharge Networks Corp. (NEO: HC)(OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) (the "Company" or "Hypercharge"), a leading, smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider, is pleased to announce the following equity compensation for its directors, officers, employees, and consultants.

The Board has approved the following issuances:

A total of 850,000 stock options (" Options ") to directors, officers, employees, and consultants at an exercise price of $0.54 for a 5-year term;

") to directors, officers, employees, and consultants at an exercise price of $0.54 for a 5-year term; A total of 1,050,000 restricted share units (" RSUs ") to directors; and

") to directors; and A total of 1,485,000 performance share units ("PSUs") to officers, employees, and consultants.

The Board has also approved annual compensation to directors, with issuances commencing November 16, 2023, at exercise prices based on the close of trading on each anniversary as follows:

A total of 200,000 Options for a five-year term; and

A total of 70,000 RSUs for a five-year term.

Each RSU and PSU entitles the holder to receive, once vested, one common share of the Company. The number of common shares earned upon the vesting of the PSUs will be determined by the performance of each holder.

"The Company is pleased to incentivize those working closely with the Company in this manner, and greatly appreciates the hard work and performance of our team", said David Bibby, President and CEO of Hypercharge.

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About Hypercharge

Hypercharge Networks Corp.(NEO: HC)(OTCQB: HCNWF) (FSE: PB7) is a leading provider of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions that offers turnkey technology to multi-unit residential and commercial buildings, fleet operations, and other rapidly growing sectors. Driven by its mission to accelerate EV adoption and enable the shift towards a carbon neutral economy, Hypercharge is committed to providing seamless, simple charging solutions by offering industry-leading equipment and a robust network of public and private charging stations. Learn more: https://hypercharge.com/.

On behalf of the company,

Hypercharge Networks Corp.

David Bibby, President & CEO

Investor Relations:

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Kyle Green | Senior Marketing Manager

[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding equity incentive issuances. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither NEO Exchange Inc. nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of NEO Exchange Inc.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183779
November event in Perth, Australia to explore how to achieve better ROI with digital transformation in the mining and energy sectors.

Durham, North Carolina--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - The International Society of Automation (ISA) - the leading professional society for automation - has announced its 2023 Digital Transformation Conference- Asia Pacific), to take place in Perth, Australia on 26 - 28 November.

"Digital transformation is a key enabler for many initiatives in automation dependent organizations," shares Steve Mustard, ISA Treasurer. "Being the leading global organization for automation standards, education, and knowledge sharing, ISA has been showcasing digital transformation in various sectors, including deepwater production and advanced manufacturing. I am delighted to have been part of this year's conference program committee, identifying digital transformation thought leaders in energy and mining. In Perth, Australia, we have found the ideal location to host this particular event."

This dual-track conference will focus on mining and supply chain issues in the Asia Pacific region. Specifically, the conference will hone in on improved security and efficiency in the energy and mining industries with an emphasis on predictive analytics, supply chain management, and new technology implementation. This first-of-its-kind ISA event brings together subject matter experts from key end users within Australia's major industries to share presentations, end-user case studies, and best practices for adopting, accelerating, and monetizing digital transformation applications.

Join us on this deep dive into technology applications that streamline design, certification, and start-up processes-while improving safety, efficiency, and the bottom line. The metals and mining industry supplies minerals critical to powering a green economy. Sessions will explore ESG, and new safety strategies, along with exciting advances in AI, that will drive a sustainable future.

Several of ISA's industry-leading training courses will also be offered for an additional fee during the conference, making this a great opportunity for attendees to also receive formal training while attending the event. Courses include IC32, Using the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards to Secure Your Control Systems, as well as DT101 and DT103, Introduction to IIoT and Introduction to Data Visualization

The conference will also feature multiple exciting networking opportunities to explore all that Perth has to offer, including a distillery workshop to explore how gin is made and a river cruise starting at the Optus Stadium and ending at Sandalford Winery.

Many of the event sessions will be presented in a hybrid format for both in-person and virtual attendees. Local attendees and those choosing to travel will be able to participate in face-to-face live sessions, training courses, breaks, lunch, reception, and tabletop exhibits. Simultaneously, virtual attendees will be able to experience the same scheduled speaker sessions, along with opportunities to interact with online attendees and visit our virtual exhibit hall.

Multiple sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available for this event. View the sponsorship prospectus for more details.

Space is limited for certain events, so attendees are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Registration is open now; visit www.isa.org/dtasiapacific to learn more.

About ISA

The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1945 to create a better world through automation. ISA's mission is to empower the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing. ISA develops widely used global standards and conformity assessment programs; certifies professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its members and customers around the world. Learn more at www.isa.org.

Media contact:

Morgan Foor, [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183760
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Plurilock Security Inc. (TSXV: PLUR) (OTCQB: PLCKF) and related subsidiaries ("Plurilock" or the "Company"), an AI-driven cybersecurity solutions provider for workforces, is pleased to announce that the Company has received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a U.S. patent application titled, "Side-Channel Communication Reconciliation of Biometric Timing Data for User Authentication During Remote Desktop Sessions".

The patent covers the use of Plurilock's DEFEND technology, notably its behavioral-biometric authentication capability, in remote and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments. VDI environments are commonly used by organizations that hold or must safeguard regulated or sensitive data.

"We are pleased to have received a notice of allowance for one of our U.S. patent applications from the USPTO," said Ian L. Paterson, CEO of Plurilock. "The expansion of our intellectual property remains a key priority for us and we aim to continue developing new technology to expand our pipeline of advanced AI-driven cybersecurity solutions."

Extension of Line of Credit

The Company is also pleased to announce that effective September 13, 2023, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Aurora Systems Consulting, Inc. ("Aurora") has increased its line of credit ("LOC") from Pathward National Association, fka Crestmark, a division of MetaBank National Association, announced on March 8, 2022, from up to US$4 million to US$7 million.

About Plurilock

Plurilock secures workforces in the age of AI through its Plurilock AI platform, delivering advanced identity, data safety, and guard rails to safely implement AI solutions to commercial and government customers worldwide. With patented artificial intelligence and patented real-time identity confirmation technology, Plurilock AI enables zero-trust architecture and identity threat detection and response capabilities for regulated organizations with remote workforces. Through its Solutions Division, Plurilock aggregates world-class IT services and brings a comprehensive line of products that enable teams across North America and the globe to compute safely in a remote work world.

For more information, visit https://www.plurilock.com or contact:

Ian L. Paterson

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

416.800.1566

Prit Singh

Investor Relations

[email protected]

905.510.7636

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") related to future events or Plurilock's future business, operations, and financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements normally contain words like "will", "intend", "anticipate", "could", "should", "may", "might", "expect", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential", "project", "assume", "contemplate", "believe", "shall", "scheduled", and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, actions, or developments and are based on expectations, assumptions, and other factors that management currently believes are relevant, reasonable, and appropriate in the circumstances. Although management believes that the forward-looking statements herein are reasonable, actual results could be substantially different due to the risks and uncertainties associated with and inherent to Plurilock's business. Additional material risks and uncertainties applicable to the forward-looking statements herein include, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, the success of the Company in obtaining new or extended contracts or orders; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers or develop new customers; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions of other businesses and/or companies or to realize on the anticipated benefits thereof; and unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the Company's forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Plurilock. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof, and Plurilock undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in its most recent Annual Information Form. They are otherwise disclosed in its filings with securities regulatory authorities available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183707
Including: 0.9 m grading 720.3 g/t Ag, 12% Pb, 0.1% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 1,133.6 g/t AgEq)

And: 60.7 m grading 69.8g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 175.2 g/t AgEq)

To view a summary of today's press release by Ridgeline CEO Chad Peters, click HERE

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Ridgeline Minerals Corp.(TSXV: RDG) (OTCQB: RDGMF) (FSE: 0GC0) ("Ridgeline" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from the first two core holes of its proposed five (5) hole, 3,000-meter ("m") drill program at the Selena ("Selena") project, Nevada (Figure 1). Results from the Upper Chinchilla zone returned continuous intercepts of shallow-oxide, silver ("Ag") - lead ("Pb") - zinc ("Zn") - gold ("Au") containing high-grade including intervals that are consistent with nearby reverse circulation ("RC") holes. Notably, deeper drilling beneath the Upper Chinchilla zone in hole SE23-048 also intersected localized antimony-rich ("Sb") breccia intervals averaging 1-2% Sb, which are the first of its kind at Selena.

Chad Peters, Ridgeline's President, and CEO commented, "This year's drill program has two primary objectives. The first is to upgrade previously drilled, shallow-oxide RC intercepts in the Upper Chinchilla zone, and the second is to make a high-grade CRD discovery at depth. Hole 47 drilled between 2021 RC holes 13 and 14, materially upgrading both the thickness and overall grade of both holes, which includes a significant oxide gold component. This zone is shallow and projects up-dip through hole 48 to surface and is open for expansion. These intercepts confirm our belief that there is significant potential to delineate a shallow-oxide resource at Chinchilla that may be amenable to low-cost heap-leach processing methods."

Mr. Peters continues, "The highest priority holes of the program are holes 49 and 50, which are in-progress and will drill to depths of 700 meters or more to test for stacked zones of CRD mineralization beneath the Upper Chinchilla Zone. These holes are targeting both sides of the known chimney structure that is believed to be a primary feeder to the Upper Chinchilla zone, which returned bonanza grade CRD intercepts in our 2022 program."

Chinchilla Zone results summary

SE23-048: 0.9 m grading 720.3 g/t Ag, 12.0% Pb, 0.1% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 1,133.6 g/t Silver Equivalent) ("AgEq") within 10.9 m grading 94.1 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.2 g/t Au starting at 85.3m true vertical depth ("TVD") (Figure 1 & Figure 2) And: 0.6 m grading 3.6 g/t Ag, 2.4% Sb, 0.1 g/t Au starting at 240 m TVD And: 3.6 m grading 0.5 g/t Ag, 1.2% Sb, NA g/t Au starting at 247 m TVD

within 10.9 m grading 94.1 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb, 0.7% Zn, 0.2 g/t Au starting at 85.3m true vertical depth ("TVD") (Figure 1 & Figure 2)

SE23-047: 4.6 m grading 55.2 g/t Ag, 1.2% Pb, 7.2% Zn, 0.2 g/t Au (or 421.1 g/t AgEq) and 2.8 m grading 205.8 g/t Ag, 1.4% Pb, 0.3% Zn, 1.4 g/t Au (or 386.1.1 g/t AgEq) within 60.7 m grading 69.8 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 175.2 g/t AgEq) starting at 93.8 m TVD (Figure 2) The 60.7 m composite calculation includes a combined 7.3 m of unrecovered core (typically in 1-2m intervals) due to collapsing hole conditions through the mineralized zone. These intervals were assigned an assay value of 0.0 across all metals, resulting in an estimated dilution of roughly 12% to the overall composite value

within 60.7 m grading 69.8 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, 1.3% Zn, 0.4 g/t Au (or 175.2 g/t AgEq) starting at 93.8 m TVD (Figure 2)

Both intercepts are hosted within 10 m to 60 m wide zones of strongly oxidized carbonate replacement ("CRD") style alteration and are open for expansion up and down-dip.

Holes SE23-049 and SE23-050 are in progress and located ~500 m west of SE23-047 and SE23-048 (Figure 2). Both holes will test for stacked mineralization beneath the high-grade Upper Chinchilla zone intersected with holes SE22-039 and SE22-045 in 2022 (see January 24 press release HERE) SE23-049 has ~250 m of prospective host rocks remaining to test before moving to SE23-050 and has intersected multiple zones of fugitive calcite breccias or "BBQ Rock" beneath the Upper Chinchilla zone, a proximal indicator of CRD alteration and mineralization (see BBQ Rock core photo HERE)



For a complete table of all Chinchilla Zone assay results click HERE

Figure 1: Plan view map showing SE23-047 and SE23-048 results on the eastern edge of the Chinchilla zone as well as select historical drill intercepts. SE23-049 and SE23-050 are in progress





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/183736_0169cd1654a36af3_002full.jpg

Silver Equivalent Calculation: Metal Prices ($20 Ag, $0.90 Pb, $1.25 Zn, 1800 Au, no recovery factor applied)

Silver g/t + (Gold g/t * (Gold Price/ Silver Price)) + ((22.0462* Lead Price)/ ((1/31.1035) * (Ag Price)) * Lead %) +

((22.0462* Zinc Price)/ ((1/31.1035) * (Ag Price)) * Zinc %)

Figure 2: Chinchilla Long-Section C-C' highlighting SE23-047 and SE23-048 drill intercepts with the interpreted geometry of high-grade "chimney" and stratabound "manto" horizons shown with silver equivalent grade contours





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/183736_0169cd1654a36af3_003full.jpg

To view Chinchilla X-Section D-D' Click HERE.

To view property-wide long-section A-A' click HERE.

Picture 1: Shortwave ultra-violet photo of SE23-049 drill core starting at 293 m depth showing fugitive calcite veins or "BBQ Rock" within previously untested host rocks beneath the Upper Chinchilla Zone





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7298/183736_0169cd1654a36af3_004full.jpg

Selena Project

Selena is located in White Pine County, Nevada, approximately 64 kilometers ("km") north of the town of Ely, NV. The Project shares a property boundary with the Butte Valley project, a US $33M earn-in agreement between Freeport-McMoRan and Falcon Butte Minerals. The 100% owned project is comprised of 39 square kms of highly prospective exploration ground including Ridgeline's shallow-oxide 2020 Ag-Au  Pb-Zn Chinchilla discovery. Subsequent drilling has continued to highlight the potential for high-grade CRD type mineralization (Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Cu) between Chinchilla and the Butte Valley Cu-Au-Ag porphyry located directly west of the property. (View the Selena VRIFY Deck Here)

QAQC Procedures

Samples are submitted to American Assay Laboratories (AAL) of Sparks, Nevada, which is a certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Independent check samples are sent to Paragon Geochemical Labs (PAL) of Sparks, Nevada. Samples are prepared using industry-standard prep methods and analysed using FA-PB30-ICP (Au; 30 g fire assay) and ICP-5AM48 (48 element Suite; 0.5 g 5-acid digestion/ICP-MS) methods. AAL also undertakes its own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. Ridgeline's QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results completed by the Company's Qualified Person, Michael T. Harp, Vice President, Exploration.

Technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael T. Harp, CPG. the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is Ridgeline's Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and responsible for technical matters of this release.

About Ridgeline Minerals Corp.

Ridgeline Minerals is a discovery focused precious and base metal explorer with a proven management team and a 204 km2 exploration portfolio across six projects in Nevada and Idaho, USA. More information about Ridgeline can be found at www.RidgelineMinerals.com.

On behalf of the Board

"Chad Peters"

President & CEO

Further Information:

Chad Peters, P.Geo.

President, CEO & Director

Ridgeline Minerals Corp.

+1 775 304 9773

[email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated benefits of the Earn-In Agreement and the transaction contemplated thereby. The words "potential", "anticipate", "meaningful", "discovery", "forecast", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "plan", "historical", "historic" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Information. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, Ridgeline has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that TSX Venture Exchange approval will be granted in a timely manner subject only to standard conditions; the current objectives concerning the Project can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; and that all requisite information will be available in a timely manner. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Ridgeline to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, risks related to dependence on key personnel; risks related to unforeseen delays; risks related to historical data that has not been verified by the Company; as well as those factors discussed in Ridgeline's public disclosure record. Although Ridgeline has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Ridgeline and may cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Ridgeline does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183736
Internet, Everywhere--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Shopify Inc. (NYSE, TSX: SHOP), a provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, announces upcoming investor events:

Third-Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Shopify plans to announce financial results for its third quarter, which ended September 30, 2023, before markets open on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

Shopify's management team will host a conference call to discuss third-quarter results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 2, 2023. The conference call will be available via webcast on the investor relations section of Shopify's website at https://investors.shopify.com/news-and-events/.

An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the conclusion of the call.

Investor Day

Shopify will host an Investor Day for financial analysts and institutional investors on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 in New York City starting at 11:30 a.m. ET. The event will be available via webcast on the investor relations section of Shopify's website at https://investors.shopify.com/news-and-events/.

The Investor Day will serve as a platform for Shopify's management team to offer a deeper understanding of our global unified commerce platform and product roadmap, expansion strategies, and market opportunities. We will not, as part of this session, be providing a detailed long-term financial model. The event will include presentations from Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tobi Ltke, President, Harley Finkelstein, Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Hoffmeister, and other members of the management team followed by live Q&A.

An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the conclusion of the event.

About Shopify

Shopify is the leading global commerce company that provides essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, scale, market, and run a retail business of any size. Shopify makes commerce better for everyone with a platform and services that are engineered for speed, customization, reliability, and security, while delivering a better shopping experience for consumers online, in store and everywhere in between. Shopify powers millions of businesses in more than 175 countries and is trusted by brands such as Mattel, Gymshark, Heinz, FTD, Netflix, Kylie Cosmetics, SKIMS, Supreme, and many more. For more information, visit www.shopify.com.

CONTACTS:

INVESTORS:

Carrie Gillard

Director, Investor Relations

[email protected]

MEDIA:

Alex Lyons

Senior Lead, External Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE: Shopify

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183692
HIGHLIGHTS

Solis has entered into option agreement to purchase the Mina Vermelha Project.

Mina Vermelha is in the Borborema district of Rio Grande do Norte, and along the same mineralised regional trend as the Estrela Project.

The Mina Vermelha tenement covers approximately 500 hectares with a granted mining lease of six hectares over one of the six currently known outcropping pegmatites on the lease.

Solis has confirmed grades in grab samples of 3.45% and 3.07% Li2O from outcropping pegmatites and a Caesium assay of 28.3% Cs from an area within the southernmost pegmatite with abundant pollucite (Caesium mineral) confirming the system is LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) bearing.

Drilling is scheduled to commence in approximately four weeks with a large track mounted diamond rig being mobilised for a 1,300m, eight hole initial programme.

A 12-month due diligence period has been agreed for AUD $155,000, allowing Solis sufficient time to fully evaluate the asset potential before exercising the option to purchase.

Negotiations regarding the option agreement over the Jaguar Project have been concluded with the Company electing to withdraw from the Project.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Solis Minerals Limited (ASX: SLM) ("Solis" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an update on entering into an option agreement to purchase the Mina Vermelha Project targeting lithium pegmatites in the Borborema province of Brazil.

Executive Director, Matthew Boyes, commented:

"The Mina Vermelha Project represents a large and very prospective area with known LCT (Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum) bearing pegmatites located at surface. A rig will be mobilised to site within four weeks for the initial drilling programme to test the continuity and thickness of the identified mineralised pegmatite at depth. This will give us confidence in the potential for a large mineralised system within the tenement package and allow us to move forward with the acquisition.

"We have identified over 2km strike of known pegmatite outcropping at surface, with no drilling completed to date. This sets up an exciting quarter for us, with drilling programmes at both Mina Vermelha and elsewhere in Borborema, and we continue to evaluate new opportunities in this exciting emerging Brazilian lithium province."

Mina Vermelha Lithium Project

The Mina Vermelha Project is located approximately 16km to the south of the regional centre of Parelhas, a city of 25,000 people in which Solis has established a permanent office and logistical support for the upcoming drill campaigns. The project is located on tenement number 840.041/1985 (see Figures 1 & 2) and has a granted mining lease covering approximately six hectares of the south portion of the lease. No systematic exploration has been carried out on the asset to date. Five small artisanal workings have been developed since 1985 targeting feldspar, mica, quartz and beryl production (Figure 4). No specific lithium exploration has taken place.





Figure 1: Tenements held or optioned to Solis in Borborema. The new Mina Vermelha Project is labelled as "24".

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/183757_picture1.jpg





Figure 2: Mina Vermelha tenement with identified outcrops labelled and locations of grab samples shown.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/183757_picture2.jpg

Solis' geologists have visited the site on multiple occasions and during these trips, six outcropping pegmatite bodies have been identified. Spodumene and Pollucite (a Caesium mineral) have been collected in hand specimens with spodumene concentrations increasing at depth from surface (Tables 1 & 2). The pegmatite bodies are hosted in a meta sedimentary unit within a north-east south-west trending corridor that that hosts the majority of the known lithium-bearing pegmatites in the Borborema province (Figure 3).

Solis has secured an initial drilling rig for an upcoming 1,300m 8-hole program and is currently looking to secure a second rig. Walk up targets and excellent access for a track mounted machine will enable the initial programme.





Figure 3: Drone image looking south to north along the strike of the outcropping and previously mined pegmatite bodies at Mina Vermelha, with a circa 2km corridor outlined in red.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/183757_picture3.png

Sample ID Certificate code Northing Easting RL Nb ppm Ta ppm Li% Li2O Mineral OM00019 GQ2305549 9245956 759905 434 -10 46 1.6 3.44 Spodumene OM00021 GQ2305549 9245956 759905 434 >10000 >10000 0.01 0.01 Tantalite OM00035 GQ2305549 9246144 759966 434 -10 -10 0.57 1.23 Spodumene OM00037 GQ2305549 9246144 759966 434 -10 -10 1.43 3.07 Spodumene



Table 1: SGS Brazil ICP results for grab samples of Spodumene and Tantalite Mina Vermelha.





Sample ID Certificate code Northing Easting RL Li ppm Rb ppm Cs % MV001 PH23152362 9246144 759966 434 36.7 9000 28.3

Table 2: ALS laboratory results for MV001 grab sample of Pollucite from Mina Vermelha.





Figure 4: Large outcropping pegmatites in artisanal working up to 25m in thickness with visible Pollucite and Spodumene. Grab samples OM0035 and OM0037 (see Table 1 and Figure 1) were sampled from this artisanal working at Mina Vermelha.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1134/183757_picture4.jpg

Mina Vermelha Deal Structure

Solis' 100% owned Brazilian subsidiary, Ona Mineracao ("Onca"), has agreed to the following terms to acquire the Mina Vermelha ("Red Mine" in Portuguese) Project in Rio Grande do Norte province.

The total consideration for Solis to acquire a 100% interest in the New Project, Onca, will be required to pay the Vendor1 an aggregate BRL$25.5M (~AUD $7.9M) in cash.

The consideration is payable in the following tranches, which are at the election of Solis other than Tranche 1, in Brazilian Reais (BRL), which have been converted to AUD at a BRL:AUD exchange rate of $1.00:$0.31 based on exchange rates as at 6 September 2023.

Mina Vermelha acquisition tranches Tranche Payment Date Cash BRL$ AUD$ 1. Option Fee

Upon signing the option agreement, which will grant the Group a 12-month period to conduct due diligence on the New Project (Due Diligence Period) 500,000 155,000 2. Option Exercise Fee

Prior to the conclusion of the Due Diligence Period (Option Exercise Date) 10,000,000 3,100,000 3. First Deferred Consideration

The date that is 12 months from the Option Exercise Date 10,000,000 3,100,000 4. Second Deferred Consideration

The date that is 18 months from the Option Exercise Date 5,000,000 1,550,000 TOTAL 25,500,000 7,905,000

Table 3: Payment schedule for the acquisition of Mina Vermelha.

If Solis elects to satisfy the Option Exercise Fee, Onca will acquire a 100% interest in the Project. However, if Onca does not elect to pay the First Deferred Consideration and/or Second Deferred Consideration then the 100% interest in the New Project will be transferred back to the Vendor and Onca will forfeit all consideration paid to the Vendor to date.

In addition to the payment plan in Table 3, the vendor will receive a 1.5% net smelter royalty (NSR) that Solis has the right to purchase for an amount determined by an independent third- party evaluation of the Mina Vermelha asset.

ASX have confirmed that Listing Rules 11.1.2 and 11.1.3 do not apply to the entry into the option agreement.

Relinquishment of the Jaguar Project

Negotiations regarding the additional extension to the due diligence period for the Jaguar Project to conduct sufficient exploration to justify the acquisition price have been concluded without reaching satisfactory terms with the Vendor. The lack of conclusive positive exploration results from the initial drill holes did not give the Company confidence that the project contained sufficient potential for grade or scale to continue with the acquisition. All claims over the project have now been relinquished by Solis and Onca Mineracao moving forward.

Related Party Information for Recently Closed Private Placement

To provide additional information regarding the closing of the financing on August 21, 2023, the Company confirms that Participation of insiders in the placement constituted a related- party transaction, as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions). The issuance of the securities is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of Section 5.4 of MI 61-101, pursuant to Subsection 5.5(a) of MI 61-101, and exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of Section 5.6 of MI 61-101, pursuant to Subsection 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101.

ENDS

This announcement is authorised by Matthew Boyes, Executive Director of Solis Minerals Ltd.

Australia

Matt Boyes

Executive Director

Solis Minerals Limited

+61 8 6117 4795

Jonathan van Hazel

Investor Relations

Citadel-MAGNUS

+61 (0) 411 564 969

North America

Jason Cubitt

VP of Administration

Solis Minerals Limited

+1 (604) 209 1658

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

About Solis Minerals Ltd.

Solis Minerals is an emerging lithium explorer focusing on Latin American battery minerals.

The Company owns a 100% interest in the Borborema Lithium Project in NE Brazil, covering 25,600ha.

Brazil is rapidly growing in global importance as an exporter of lithium to supply increasing demand of battery manufacturers. Both projects cover highly prospective, hard-rock lithium ground on which early-stage reconnaissance mapping and sampling have verified. Drilling programmes are either underway or due to commence shortly.

In addition, Solis also holds a 100% interest in 35,700ha of combined licences and applications of highly prospective IOCG (iron oxide copper/gold) and porphyry copper projects in southwestern Peru within the country's prolific coastal copper belt - a source of nearly half of Peru's copper production.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that relate to future events or performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward- looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward- looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected, including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Qualified Person Statement

The technical information in this news release was reviewed by Derrick Strickland, P.Geo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).

Competent Person Statement

The information in this ASX release concerning Geological Information and Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr Matthew Boyes, a Competent Person who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Boyes is an employee of Solis Minerals Ltd. and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and types of deposit under consideration and to the exploration activities undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Boyes consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Boyes has provided his prior written consent regarding the form and context in which the Geological Information and Exploration Results and supporting information are presented in this Announcement.

1The "Vendor" is Brazilian Corporate Registration (CNPJ) n. 12.035.933/0001-01 and is owned by two partners, Maria de Fatima Targino de Macedo Sena and Luiz Gonzaga de Sena Neto.

APPENDIX 1

JORC Code, 2012 Edition - Table 1

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 representativity 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 a30 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.

At the Mina Vermelha Lithium Project sampling at the surface was predominantly rock chips. Sampling was focused on confirmation of mineralisation of Lithium from selected mineral species. In the case of Vermelha this is highly oxidised to near fresh Spodumene in float and outcrop from pegmatite outcrop. Samples are not considered to be representative of exposed widths of the pegmatite body, samples were not collected over standard widths or perpendicular to orebody orientations. Samples of Caesium rich mineral Pollucite were also collected as rock chips to verify Caesium content.

Samples sizes ranged between 0.5-3kg which is considered an acceptable weight to ascertain a representative sample for preparation and assay.

All Li2O assay results in this ASX release were assayed at SGS GEOSOL Laboratories LTDa Brazil, Caesium analysis was completed in Australia at ALS Perth.

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary 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). No drilling of any type has been carried out by Solis to date at Mina Vermelha. 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. NA as no drilling has been undertaken. 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. Solis geologists logged all samples noting mineralogy, lithology, alteration and weathering state of samples obtained.

Logging is both quantitative and qualitative in nature.

All samples including any submitted Certified Reference Material (CRM) are individually photographed before submission. 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 representativity 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. Samples were taken to check the grades of exposed spodumene and pollucite mineralisation, no systematic sampling across known exposed pegmatites was completed, samples were rock chips only and no systematic channel sampling has been completed to date.

Duplicate samples were not taken.

Samples are considered to be representative of exposed spodumene and pollucite crystals within the Mina Vermelha artisanal workings and of appropriate size with respect to sampled material. 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. Samples from Mina Vermelha were assayed at SGS GEOSOL Laboratories Ltda Brazil and ALS Perth.

Analysis procedures are considered to be appropriate for lithium and multielement analysis.

Rock chips and grab samples are assayed via ICM90A (fusion by sodium peroxide and finish with ICP-MS/ICP-OES) for a 56- element suite at the SGS Geosol Laboratorios located at Vespasiano/Minas Gerais, Brazil.

If lithium results are above 15,000ppm, thelab analyses the pulp samples just for lithium through ICP90Q (fusion by sodium peroxide and finish with ICP/OES).

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary



Solis inserted industry standard OREAS CRM for analysis, standards utilised were OREAS 750 and OREAS 22h, reportedvalues are within 1SD of CRM certified values.

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. All Solis data is verified by the Competent Person. All data is stored in an electronic Access Database.

Assay data and results is reported, unadjusted.

Li2O results used in this ASX release are converted from Li results by multiplying this value by the industry factor 2.153. AllCaesium results are reported as % with no conversion applied

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. Data is shown using the UTM SIRGAS 2000 zone 23 South grid system.

All samples and drill hole collar locations were captured using a handheld GPS and are to be surveyed in with a DGPS once arrives on site. 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. No set sample spacing or pattern has been applied due to the preliminary nature of the sampling programme. 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, thisshould be assessed and reported if material.

Sampling was taken at individual locations and not with any particular orientation with respect to the orientation of the mineralised structure. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. All samples are bagged onsite under supervision of Soils staff, all bags are then sealed and couriered to SGS laboratories with all relevant submission documentation. All samples once received are logged into the lab and notice of each sample received is sent and cross checkedwith sample dispatch.

Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. There have been no detailed external audits or reviews undertaken.

Solis has conducted an internal technical review of the available geological and other publicly available data.

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 Mina Vermelha project area consists of 1 mining licence held in the name of "Florisbela comercio di plantas y Jardinagem ltda" Onca Mineracao has signed a binding option agreement sheet giving Onca the right to purchase 100% of each licence. Mining Licences: 840.041/1985

Borborema exploration licences with work completed referred to in body of text are 848041/1985.

Licences are in good standing and have no known environmental or other liabilities of any kind.

Solis has all rights to drill and access all necessary areas within the licence including constructing of drill pads andtracks.

Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. N/A - the Company is not aware of any previous systematic exploration being undertaken within the tenements. Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. Prospective potential host units for the mineralised pegmatites are similar to the suite hosting the Colina-Salinas pegmatites held by Latin Resources Limited (ASX:LRS) in the state of Minas Gerais. They consist predominantly of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks (schist, gneiss and quartzites) located close to the large granitoids from the G3 suite with batholiths, stocks and dykes represented. Pegmatites are located within 0-5km of the granite contacts. 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 metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole 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. NA as no drilling has been undertaken.

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (e.g. 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. N/A no new drilling data is included in this report. 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'). N/A no new drilling data is included in this report. 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. The Company has included various maps and figures showing the sample results and geological context. 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 avoiding misleading reporting of Exploration Results. SGS Brazil ICP results for grab samples of Spodumene and Tantalite Mina Vermelha were selected on the basis these grab samples showed traces of spodumene or tantalite. The results are not intended to be representative. 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. Geochemical rock chip and float sample results from previously unsampled pegmatites on the Mina Vermelha tenement are include in the body of text under Tables 1 & 2. Rock Chip samples from Mina Vermelha: Samples are point samples only and considered to be of sufficient size or industry standard weight. 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. Solis will undertake extensive validation field confirmation and sampling of the regional geological setting including all known outcropping pegmatites at the Mina Vermelha project.

Solis has signed a diamond drill contract with TRUST drilling ltda for 5,000m of HQ- NQ diameter drill core to be performed on existing targets at the Estrela and Mina Vermelha projects.

It is premature to provide diagrams of possible extensions.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183757
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Student Leadership Network (SL Network) will host its annual (Em)Power Breakfast on October 19th at Cipriani, honoring extraordinary alumni innovators in technology, law, and education. The signature event celebrates SL Network's collective impact on nearly 17,000 students every year across its college access and girls' education programs. The event also recognizes business and philanthropic leaders for their continued commitment to creating cycles of prosperity through equalizing education.

Event Honorees Talia Scott, Cori Grainger, and Manny Salazar

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Victoria Saha, on-air anchor and reporter in Las Vegas and an alumna of SL Network's The Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS), will serve as Emcee. Special friends of the network will join us to honor three exceptional alumni who have gone on to do impactful work in their communities and industries nationwide.

Honoree Talia Scott is a JD/MBA candidate and the founder of Legally BLK Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting aspiring Black women attorneys. She is an alumna of TYWLS East Harlem, a public school for girls and gender-expansive youth launched and supported by Student Leadership Network. Crystal McCrary McGuire, a lawyer, New York Times best-selling author, and filmmaker, will present her award.

is a JD/MBA candidate and the founder of Legally BLK Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting aspiring Black women attorneys. She is an alumna of TYWLS East Harlem, a public school for girls and gender-expansive youth launched and supported by Student Leadership Network. Crystal McCrary McGuire, a lawyer, New York Times best-selling author, and filmmaker, will present her award. Honoree Cori Grainger is a program manager at Google, expanding computer science research and mentoring opportunities for students from historically marginalized groups. She is an alumna of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, an affiliate school of our Young Women's Leadership Network. Kayla Conti, head of Black Media Communications at Google, will present her award.

is a program manager at Google, expanding computer science research and mentoring opportunities for students from historically marginalized groups. She is an alumna of Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, an affiliate school of our Young Women's Leadership Network. Kayla Conti, head of Black Media Communications at Google, will present her award. Honoree Manny Salazar is an AP high school teacher at LION Charter School in the Bronx and a graduate of our CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) program from Mott Hall High School. David C. Banks, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, will present his award.

"This year's (Em)Power Breakfast will be the first time we bring together and honor alumni across our girls' education and college access programs," shared Yolonda Marshall, CEO of Student Leadership Network. "Our alumni's stories exemplify the range of what success can look like when we remove barriers to higher education. As we look ahead to writing our next chapter, we are excited to capitalize on the power of our full national network to champion educational equity for the next generation of young people."

The (Em)Power Breakfast is made possible by support from generous donors, including The Este Lauder Companies, The Tisch Families, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Richard Cohen & Patricia Duff, Clive Davis, Gruber Family Foundation, Proskauer, Lisa & Jonathan Pruzan, Robin & Jack Ross, and Warburg Pincus.

About Student Leadership Network

Now in its 27th year, Student Leadership Network supports young people growing up in diverse underserved communities to gain access to higher education, helping them fulfill their dreams. The organization impacts students at 33 New York public schools and 18 girls' affiliate and partner schools across the country, with students graduating college at nearly four times the rate of their national peers. SL Network supports over 37,000 students nationally every year through its three pillar programs:

The Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS) is a high-performing network of six NYC public schools for girls and gender expansive youth.

CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) is a comprehensive college access and success program for young women and men in 33 schools across New York State.

Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN) is a national network of 18 girls' schools sharing the TYWLS model, including affiliate schools in Atlanta, California, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Nevada, and North Carolina, and a partner network of girls' schools in Texas.

Contact:

Jheramis A.H. Collado

Director of Marketing and Communications

[email protected]

Phone: 646-677-8322

Visit us on social media:

LinkedIn

Instagram

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183756
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 12, 2023) - Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSE: PKK) (OTC PINK: PKKFF) ("Tenet" or the "Company"), an innovative analytics service provider and operator of the Cubeler Business Hub ("Cubeler"), is pleased to announce that it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's ("CCC") SME Institute as a provider of value added products and services that SMEs can use to grow their businesses.

The SME Institute (https://www.smeinstitute.ca) was launched by the CCC to serve as a one-stop shop where businesses can find access to products and to services that are meant to help Canadian businesses prosper. It is a community of partners, mentors and peers who are committed to the collective success of Canadian SMEs.

Cubeler is prominently featured in the Marketplace section (https://www.smeinstitute.ca/marketplace) of the SME Institute's website, which serves as a directory and a gateway to recommended SME-focused offerings, such as those offered by Cubeler. Those visiting the Marketplace are now able to simply click on the provided link to visit the Cubeler website and register to become members of the platform. The Cubeler Business Hub (https://www.cubeler.com) is an ecosystem built specifically for the benefit of SMEs. It offers products and services that are complementary to those offered by the SME Institute that business owners can access and use to help their businesses grow.

"We are proud to announce this important alliance with the CCC, which gives Cubeler the opportunity to have a prominent and privileged presence within the SME Institute," said Marc Pearson, VP, Global Channels and Alliances, at Cubeler. "We spent the past year cultivating our relationship with the CCC, which currently represents more than 400 chambers of commerce, 100 association members and more than 200,000 businesses from all sectors of the economy and from every part of the country. We believe today's announcement to be a big win for all Canadian SMEs and look forward to working closely with Canada's largest business network for the benefit of our collective members," added Mr. Pearson.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (https://www.chamber.ca), is the undisputed champion and catalyst for the future of business success in Canada. From working with government on economy-friendly policy to providing services that inform commerce and enable trade, it gives each of its members insight into markets, competitors and trends, influence over the decisions and policies that drive business success and impact on business and economic performance.

"We are thrilled to include Cubeler in our network of partners at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's SME Institute. Our mission is to equip Canadian SMEs with the tools, resources, and support they need to successfully adapt, grow and thrive," expressed Priya Pandey, Executive Director of the SME Institute. "Cubeler's products and services will be a valuable addition to our marketplace platform, allowing us to work together and provide SMEs with the essential resources they need to succeed," added Mr. Pandey.

About Tenet Fintech Group Inc.:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) and artificial intelligence (AI) companies. All references to Tenet in this news release, unless explicitly specified, includes Tenet and all its subsidiaries. Tenet's subsidiaries provide various analytics and AI-based services to businesses and financial institutions through the Cubeler Business Hub, a global ecosystem where analytics and AI are used to create opportunities and facilitate B2B transactions among its members. Please visit our website at: https://www.tenetfintech.com/.

For more information, please contact:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc.

Christina Boyd, Director, Investor Relations

416-428-9954

[email protected]

Johnson Joseph, Chief Executive Officer

514-340-7775 ext.: 501

[email protected]

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

416-868-1079 ext.: 251

[email protected]

Follow Tenet Fintech Group Inc. on social media:

Twitter: @Tenet_Fintech

Facebook: @Tenet

LinkedIn: Tenet

YouTube: Tenet Fintech

Forward-looking information

Certain statements included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" under Canadian securities law, including statements in respect to the future operations and investments of and in the Company and any statements based on management's assessment and assumptions and publicly available information with respect to the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its plans and assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "assumes," "outlook," "plans," "targets", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the outlook or any future results, performance or achievements implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward- looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, holding company with significant operations in China; general economic and business conditions, including factors impacting the Company's business in China such as pandemics (ex.: COVID-19); legislative and/or regulatory developments; global financial conditions, repatriation of profits or transfer of funds from China to Canada, operations in foreign jurisdictions and possible exposure to corruption, bribery or civil unrest; actions by regulators; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; timing and completion of capital programs; liquidity and capital resources, negative operating cash flow and additional funding, dilution from further financing; financial performance and timing of capital; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with securities regulators in Canada, the United States or other jurisdictions. We refer potential investors to the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Company's MD&A. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event the Company does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that the Company will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183734
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced holding the 29th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2023) to discuss key physics and technology issues as well as innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion as a future source of energy, stated WAM news agency.

The 29th Fusion Energy Conference is being organised by the IAEA through the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) in London, UK, from 16th to 21st October.

FEC2023 will bring together prominent scientists, researchers, engineers, and other stakeholders representing both the public and private sectors to present a new IAEA publication providing authoritative information and updates on fusion energy, IAEA said in a statement.

According to the IAEAs Fusion Device Information System (FusDIS), as of 2023, there are almost 130 experimental fusion devices and testing facilities operating, under construction or being planned, and a dozen of demonstration plant or pilot plant designs under development.

Driven by recent scientific and technical advances, a vibrant private sector and the climate crisis, attention is switching to the remaining challenges of demonstrating the technological feasibility of fusion power as well as the safe and economic viability of this energy source.
Executives Neal and Colley attending Mortgage Bankers Association annual conference Oct. 15-18

ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 12, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Depth, a leading provider of consultative B2B marketing, public relations and reputation management services for technology companies within the residential mortgage finance, financial technology (fintech) and regulatory technology (regtech) industries, announced the promotions of Lindsey Neal and Leslie Colley to executive vice president.

Anyone who knows our firm knows Lindsey and Leslie are integral to Depth, said firm Founder and President Kerri Milam. As vice presidents of client service for the last four years, they have guided their teams to meet the needs of companies weathering unprecedented challenges: a pandemic, a record-setting refi boom and a dramatic plummet in volume. By consistently delivering strategic leadership and incontestable value, theyve positioned Depth to grow throughout each of these scenarios, Milam said.

Neal earned her Master of Business Administration from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and her bachelors degree in communications with a concentration in public relations from Berry College in Rome, Ga. Colley holds a masters degree in communication management from the University of Southern California and a bachelors degree in advanced rhetoric and composition from Georgia State University.

Depth bet the house, literally, on the U.S. mortgage industry and its fintech innovators in 2006, earning the trust and loyalty of its best-known brands with a consultative service delivery model prioritizing immediate and long-range strategy, project management and thought-provoking content that drives action, said Milam. Leslie and Lindsey are the best business continuity investments weve made on behalf of our clients and our industry.

Depths business model was conceived to fill a knowledge and service gap for growth-focused technology innovators driving the modernization and digitization of housing finance. Combining unrivaled strategic insights and top-shelf content development with native digital marketing acumen, Depth has a track record of success fueling adoption solutions and services across the mortgage lifecycle, from customer relationship management (CRM), appraisal and loan origination technology to innovations in mortgage servicing, quality control (QC) and capital markets.

About Depth:

Depth is a leading independent provider of consultative B2B marketing, public relations and reputation management services for the mortgage lending and residential finance industries. Since 2006, the firm has represented a clientele of established and emerging brands serving mortgage lenders, mortgage servicers, real estate professionals and appraisers. Depth is committed to serving the cause of digital innovation and to practicing the pay-it-forward principle alongside The Golden Rule. A woman-owned business, Depth is a member and supporter of the Mortgage Bankers Association, Housing Finance Strategies and The Mortgage Collaborative.

For more information, visit: https://depthpr.com/

MULTIMEDIA:

Image links for media:

[1] https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-1012-s2p-lindsey-neal-300dpi.jpg

Photo caption: Lindsey Neal, Depth executive vice president

[2] https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-1012-s2p-leslie-colley-300dpi.jpg

Photo caption: Leslie Colley, Depth executive vice president

RELATED LINKS:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmneal1983/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecolley/

NEWS SOURCE: Depth



This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Depth), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/depth-promotes-lindsey-neal-and-leslie-colley-to-executive-vice-president-roles/

Copr.  2023 Send2Press Newswire, a service of NEOTROPE, Calif., USA. -- REF: S2P STORY ID: 100846SI.04
Appointment marks the companys progress on worldwide commercial introduction of its hybrid true potato seed.



Peter Poortinga takes helm as CEO of innovative hybrid potato breeder, Solynta, bringing vast agronomy and leadership experience to guide the company toward global commercialization of its groundbreaking hybrid true potato seed.

Dutch innovative hybrid potato breeder Solynta announced today that Peter Poortinga will join the company as Chief Executive Officer as per September 15. He succeeds Hein Kruyt, who co-founded Solynta in 2007 and who will continue to serve as its CFO.

I have had the pleasure of working closely with Peter in his role as Chair of our Supervisory Board over the last year and a half, and I am certain that Peters experience will boost Solyntas scaling capabilities and help us achieve our vision for a more sustainable future. said Hein Kruyt, co-founder and current CEO of Solynta. Peter has an impressive track record in the agriculture food industry as an entrepreneur, lastly as CEO of Plukon Food Group, which he scaled to a thriving 3 billion multinational enterprise and industry leader. Next to that he also brings subject matter knowledge, since he studied agronomy at Wageningen University with a focus on potato science. Our skills complement each other and I look forward to working even more closely with Peter in Solyntas next exciting chapter of growth.

Peter Poortinga is looking forward to the new position. I am convinced that the technology Solynta has developed is the future of potatoes - for consumers, farmers, processors and the planet. Solyntas mission to make a positive contribution to farmer economics and world food security is one I fully agree with, and the progress they have made to deliver potato varieties with natural protection against pests and diseases proves their commitment to this vision. I am looking forward to working with Hein and the team, and contributing to Solyntas future as the leading potato-seed innovation company. Together, we will empower the potato value chain with new, robust potato varieties.

Changes in the Supervisory Board

With the appointment of Peter Poortinga as CEO, the current Supervisory Board member Juergen Steinemann will become Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Solynta. Juergens accomplishments are numerous, with former executive positions at Nutreco and Barry Callebaut. He currently serves on the Supervisory Boards of Metro AG, Lonza Group AG, Big Dutchman, and Barentz. He has outstanding expertise in the agriculture and food industry.

New Supervisory Board Chair Juergen Steinemann remarked: Solynta has entered the next phase of growth. After its breakthrough discovery in potato breeding, it is now on its way to achieving commercial impact, as well as its aim of becoming a worlds leading potato breeding company. Im excited to support Solynta from my new role. Hein and the team have been developing Solynta since 2007. Their vision and perseverance turned an idea into a successful scale-up company that has started recently commercializing its first products. The Supervisory Board thanks Hein for his leadership and looks forward to his continued support to the team as CFO, the role he held at various companies prior to his current position. Peters election as CEO will help the company to grow further, mainly thanks to the experience and knowledge he brings from his previous role at Plukon Food Group.

About Solynta

Solynta is the hybrid potato breeding company based in the Netherlands. Solynta is using hybrid potato technology to grow a more sustainable future. Solyntas mission is to help create global solutions for food and nutritional insecurity by giving farmers better, stronger and more cost-efficient ways to grow crops. Solyntas true potato seeds combine years of agricultural experience with the newest hybrid breeding technologies. Solyntas non-GMO hybrid potato breeding technology will provide resistance to disease and pests, provide ease of use, and facilitate production speed and scalability. To learn more about their mission to unlock the true potential of potatoes, visit www.solynta.com.

Solyntas True Potato Seeds technology:

Replaces 2500 kilo of perishable potato-seed-tubers with 25 grams of pristine true-potato seeds to start a crop.

By natural breeding, these seeds can be improved much faster with beneficial natural traits like disease resistances - limiting the need for pesticide use- and made more robust against climate change impact.

Contact Info:

Name: Press Inquiries

Email: Send Email

Organization: Solynta

Website: https://www.solynta.com/



Release ID: 89109836

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October 19-22, 2023 , Topanga, California

TOPANGA, Calif. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Topanga Film Festival (TFF) is back with its 18th edition, bringing together a dynamic community of filmmakers, storytellers, activists, and technologists for a four-day exploration of cinema and its role in an increasingly complex world. The festival runs from October 19 to October 22 , with screenings and events at Froggy's Fish Market and Corazon Performing Arts in Topanga, California .

"Join us for a unique cinematic experience, as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of storytelling"

The Theme: UNREEL

In an era characterized by dissonance and division, TFF serves as a beacon for those looking to make sense of our ever-changing realities. The festival's theme, "UNREEL  Keeping it Real in an Unreal World," will delve into the blurred lines between fiction and reality through an exciting curation of films, discussions, and workshops.

Programming Highlights

Over 35 films, including 3 narrative and 12 documentary features.

The International Short Film Competition vying for The Coveted Coyote Award.

vying for The Coveted Coyote Award. A Young Filmmakers Showcase, panel talks on topics like "The Rise of AI," and more.

Not-to-Miss Films and Events

Thursday, Oct 19 : "Speed Is Expensive," narrated by Topanga's own Ewan McGregor + " Colin Hay  Waiting For My Real Life," Colin Hay ( Men At Work ) will attend and perform post screening.

"Speed Is Expensive," narrated by own + "  Waiting For My Real Life," ( ) will attend and perform post screening. Friday, Oct 20 : " Rachel's Farm ," Rachel Ward will attend.

" ," will attend. Saturday, Oct 21 : " Common Ground ," a Tribeca Film Festival Winner and sequel to "Kiss the Ground" narrated by Laura Dern and featuring Jason Momoa , Rosario Dawson , Woody Harrelson , Ian Somerhalder , Donald Glover . Laura Dern will attend, followed by afterparty with DJ Jeremy Sole .

" ," a and sequel to "Kiss the Ground" narrated by and featuring will attend, followed by afterparty with . Sunday, Oct 22 : "Moby | Punk Rock Vegan Movie," Moby will attend.

Ticket Information

All Access VIP Festival Passes: $350

One Day All Access Passes: $100

Single Screening Tickets: $35

For more detailed ticketing and donor info, please visit www.topangafilminstitute.org

Venues

Froggy's Fish Market : 1105 Topanga Canyon Blvd , Topanga, CA 90290

: , 90290 Corazon Performing Arts: 1125 S Topanga Canyon Blvd , Topanga, CA 90290

About the Topanga Film Institute

The Topanga Film Institute is a 501[c]3 organization that hosts TFF to foster global connections, inspire creativity, and advance humanity through year-round events, workshops, and networking opportunities.

Join us for a cinematic experience like no other, as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of storytelling in the 21st century.

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SOURCE Topanga Film Festival
NEW YORK , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ACI Holdings Group, a prominent platform in the commercial paving industry, announced today its rebranding to Heartland Paving Partners or "Heartland." This name change marks an important chapter in the company's evolution, symbolizing Heartland's position as a premier provider of pavement services across the upper Midwest and a preferred partner to regional or local contractors looking to sell their businesses.

Heartland is a platform investment of Soundcore Capital Partners, a leading buy-and-build private equity firm known for its strategic control equity investments, primarily in founder-owned and -led companies. This name change aligns with Heartland's strategic vision and coincides with several recent developments including the appointment of Rick Barrett as Chief Executive Officer and Chad Bailey as Chief Financial Officer. These developments follow the acquisition of Asphalt Solutions Inc. in Indiana , the third acquisition for Heartland since the platform's inception in July of 2022.

Rick Barrett , Heartland's CEO, expressed his enthusiasm for the company's rebranding. "This is a positive change that brings our corporate identity in line with our strategic vision. Heartland will now become synonymous with partnership via acquiring new businesses, supporting their growth and employee development, and providing essential services to customers in regions where maintaining asphalt and concrete surfaces is particularly challenging."

Jeff Long , Operating Partner at Soundcore Capital Partners, added, "This rebranding is another step in our buy-and-build approach and adds further clarity to our overall strategy. Heartland serves as the ideal platform for our growth aspirations. We are excited about our recent momentum and remain confident about Heartland's prospects in the upper Midwest."

Heartland Paving Partners is positioned to become a leading super-regional contractor in the paving industry by providing innovative solutions, technical expertise, and quality service built over decades of experience.

About Heartland:

Heartland Paving Partners, formerly known as ACI Holdings Group, is a leading player in the paving industry, serving the upper mid-western region of the United States . Heartland is committed to delivering high-quality paving solutions, fostering partnerships with companies in the sector, and supporting growth and expansion. For more information, please visit: www.heartlandpavingpartners.com

For media inquiries, please contact:

Elizabeth Olt

[email protected]

(212)-812-1432

About Soundcore:

Soundcore Capital Partners was founded in 2015 by Jarrett Turner and is based in New York, NY . Soundcore is a thesis-driven private equity firm that specializes in buy-and-build investments in the lower middle-market that are headquartered in the United States and Canada . Soundcore has completed 85 acquisitions across eleven platforms and focuses primarily on business & outsourced services, industrial services, specialty manufacturing and value-added distribution sectors. For more information, please visit: www.soundcorecap.com

Soundcore is actively seeking additional acquisitions. Please contact Alex Bues regarding new platforms and add-on opportunities for our existing portfolio, including commercial paving.

Alex Bues

Partner, Head of Deal Origination

[email protected]

(212) 812-1186

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aci-holdings-group-announces-name-change-to-heartland-paving-partners-301954531.html

SOURCE Soundcore Capital Partners
PHILADELPHIA , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, AgroFresh Solutions, Inc., an AgTech innovator specializing in post-harvest produce freshness and quality solutions, announces a new strategic collaboration with Pagoda Group, the largest fruit retail operator in China . Through this collaboration, AgroFresh and Pagoda will jointly evaluate and develop post-harvest technologies to improve the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables and help reduce food waste in China.

"We are excited to collaborate with the incredible team at Pagoda as we expand our presence in China ," said Clint Lewis , CEO of AgroFresh. "By partnering with Pagoda, we will be able to expand our impact on the Chinese fresh produce industry, improve its post-harvest management solutions and further reduce food waste around the world."

This announcement comes on the heels of AgroFresh's expansion of its post-harvest portfolio of solutions with its acquisition of Tessara, an industry-leading provider of intelligent packaging solutions for preserving fresh produce, specializing in SO 2 generating sheets to prevent decay in table grapes, berries, and flowers. Tessara has a global footprint and presence in China as well as other key fruit-growing regions such as South Africa , U.S. and Latin America .

AgroFresh's senior leadership team, led by Lewis, held in-depth discussions with Huiyong Yu , the Founder and Chairman of Pagoda Group, Shan Yikang, Vice President and Senior Director of Strategic Development and Investment & Financing Center of Pagoda Group, and Pagoda Group's quality control and post-harvest research and development team. During the meeting, AgroFresh and Pagoda signed a strategic technical collaboration.

"The missions and ideas of both AgroFresh and Pagoda are highly compatible," noted Yu. "We are excited to invest across the produce supply chain with AgroFresh as we work toward a more sustainable food system. This consensus provides a good foundation for cooperation between the two parties and a unique opportunity to export more fruit from China ."

As a leader in the Chinese fresh produce industry, Pagoda has developed innovative solutions to ensure high standards and quality control. Pagoda's expertise and experience in quality control and post-harvest management establishes a strong foundation for the two parties to enable further collaboration and identify business opportunities.

Currently, AgroFresh operates seven R&D centers worldwide and Pagoda operates two R&D centers in China. AgroFresh plans to establish another R&D center in China through collaboration with Pagoda. With this cooperation, AgroFresh and Pagoda will further strengthen their expertise and capabilities in post-harvest quality and freshness solutions and drive the development of new innovations that will help to reduce produce loss and waste in China and beyond.

About AgroFresh

AgroFresh is an AgTech innovator and global leader with a mission to prevent food loss/waste and conserve the planet's resources by providing a range of science-based solutions, data-driven digital technologies and high-touch customer services. AgroFresh supports growers, packers and retailers with solutions across the food supply chain to enhance the quality and extend the shelf life of fresh produce. The AgroFresh organization has 40 years of post-harvest experience across a broad range of crops, including revolutionizing the apple industry with the SmartFresh Quality System for more than 20 years. This is powered by a comprehensive portfolio that includes plant-based coatings, equipment and proprietary solutions that help improve the freshness supply chain from harvest to the home. To learn more about AgroFresh, visit www.agrofresh.com.

About Pagoda

Shenzhen Pagoda Industrial (Group) Corporation Limited (Pagoda), established in 2001 in Shenzhen and listed on HKEX in January 2023 , is a large chain enterprise integrating fruit procurement, planting support, post-harvest preservation, logistics storage, standard classification, marketing development, brand operation, store retail, information technology, and scientific research and education.

After over 20 years of strenuous effort, Pagoda has opened over 5,600 stores nationwide and partnered with a host of fruit supply bases at home and abroad. In 2021, it launched the vegetable brand Three Zero. With synergy of the entire supply chain, it takes aim at engaging over 74 million members nationwide in better fruit and fresh food and more impressive consumer experience.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rochelle Ripp Schnadt

Senior PR Supervisor

+1 262-771-0846

[email protected]

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SOURCE AgroFresh
Trusted manufacturer will showcase leading Bradford White and Laars Heating Systems solutions in Calgary Oct. 18-19 at Western Canada's premier event for heating, cooling and plumbing professionals

AMBLER, Pa. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bradford White Canada , an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, will showcase high-performing and energy efficient residential and commercial products at CIPHEX West in October.

CIPHEXT West, the largest event for the HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and water treatment industry in Western Canada , will be held in Calgary, Alberta , Oct. 18-19 .

"Our team of trusted product experts will be at CIPHEX West to connect with the hard-working professionals who are on the front lines of our rapidly evolving industry," said Neal Heyman , director of marketing for Bradford White . "They'll be able to share critical information and insights with contractors and wholesalers, empowering them to continue meeting the needs of their customers with our comprehensive range of reliable, high-quality solutions."

Representatives from Bradford White Canada will be at Booth #135 during the event to meet with attendees and discuss the following products:

Bradford White Aerotherm  Heat Pump Water Heater

Heat Pump Water Heater Bradford White Infiniti  GR Tankless Water Heater

GR Tankless Water Heater Bradford White eF Series  Commercial Gas Water Heater

eF Series Commercial Gas Water Heater Laars Heating Systems FT Series Floor Standing Boiler or Combi

Laars Heating Systems FT Series 399 Boiler

Laars Heating Systems NeoTherm XTR

CIPHEX West is the largest event for the HVAC, plumbing, hydronics and water treatment industry in Western Canada . Contractors, renovators, designers, wholesalers, engineers, builders and more gain industry and technical knowledge with world-class education opportunities; discover new products, new suppliers, new ideas and new solutions in an interactive environment; make important connections with other people in their industry; and meet technical experts who can give them information and skills they need. For more information, visit https://www.ciphexwest.ca/west2023.

Bradford White Canada is a subsidiary of the Bradford White Corporation.

For more information about Bradford White Canada , visit https://bradfordwhitecorporation.com/bradford-white-canada/ .

For more information about Bradford White Corporation, visit https://bradfordwhitecorporation.com .

About Bradford White Canada

Bradford White Canada sells, distributes and supports the product lines of Bradford White Corporation, including Bradford White Water Heaters , Laars Heating Systems and Niles Steel Tank  . With exceptional customer service and support, state-of-the-art facilities, a fully stocked parts service desk and dedicated next-day courier delivery, Bradford White Canada is a growing leader in the Canadian market. For more information, visit https://bradfordwhitecorporation.com/bradford-white-canada/ .

About Bradford White Corporation

Bradford White Corp. is a full-line manufacturer of residential, commercial and industrial water heaters, boilers and storage tanks. The company maintains headquarters in Ambler, Pennsylvania , and has manufacturing facilities in Middleville, Michigan ; Niles, Michigan ; and Rochester, New Hampshire ; and distribution and training centers in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada . For more information, visit www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com .

BRADFORD WHITE CONTACT:

Rebecca Owens

Senior Communications Manager

Bradford White Corporation

(215) 641-9400

[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

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SOURCE Bradford White Corporation
DOVER, Del. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) will host a conference call on Friday, November 3, 2023 , at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the Company's financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023 . The earnings press release will be issued on Thursday, November 2, 2023 , after market close.

To listen to the Company's conference call via live webcast, please visit the Events & Presentations section of the Investors page on www.chpk.com.

For investors and analysts that wish to participate by phone for the question and answer portion of the call, please use the following dial-in information below. A replay of the presentation will be made available on the previously noted website following the conclusion of the call.

Toll-free: 800.343.5172

International: 203.518.9848

Conference ID: CPKQ323

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions, and other businesses. For more information, visit www.chpk.com.

Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma .

For more information, contact:

Heidi Watkins

Shareholder Services Manager

[email protected]

302.734.6716

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SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
Different roles within the IP practice and geographies significantly diverge in their attitudes towards AI

LONDON , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a global leader in connecting people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their world, today announced the release of its new report, Redefining AI: How IP practice meets the coming wave. The report explores the effects the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) will have on IP law, practice and processes, and the legal sector. It analyzes the responses of intellectual property (IP) and R&D professionals to understand their attitudes towards AI.

AI-based technology has already shown great potential for enhancing IP management and decision-making, automating laborious manual tasks, improving productivity and the speed of research. According to the survey conducted by Clarivate, IP practitioners are seeing significant adoption of AI in their field. However, different roles within the IP practice and geographies considerably diverge in their attitudes towards AI.

Gordon Samson , President, Intellectual Property, Clarivate, said: "At Clarivate, we are confident that AI will add value to the IP lifecycle. When combined with human knowledge and supervision, AI-driven IP technology can enrich our customers' expertise while also reducing undesirable risks. By designing and adopting AI responsibly, IP professionals can operate at greater levels than ever before using augmented human intelligence."

"AI-powered technology has already demonstrated great value in automating laborious manual IP tasks, improving productivity and the speed of research, enabling better informed decision-making in IP decisions."

Almost half of respondents indicated that lack of regulation around AI is a concern.

Attorneys and law firms are the least comfortable with AI adoption, while non-attorneys, executives, and, most significantly, R&D respondents are more comfortable embracing AI. According to the results, the adoption of AI is received more negatively in Europe and the U.S. but is perceived more positively in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) regions.

The AI adoption risks our respondents were most concerned about were accuracy of results, reliability and trustworthiness, ethical risks, client confidentiality, liability and accountability, and lack of regulation.

Other key findings in the report include:

Respondents from law firms are noticeably less comfortable with AI adoption than those that work at corporations

For attorneys, the greatest concerns of AI are liability risk, reliability, and client confidentiality

Non-attorneys, executives, and, most significantly, R&D respondents were more comfortable with AI adoption, despite the latter being more convinced AI would impact their function

AI adoption faces significant barriers among in-house legal departments and law firms

Arun Hill , Senior Consultant, Intellectual Property, Clarivate, said: "Embracing AI-enabled IP processes and services requires a continuous commitment to managing and evaluating risks. Although many respondents expressed concerns about AI adoption, a responsible approach rooted in assessing the legal, ethical, and social implications could mitigate those risks. This approach would help calibrate AI systems to needs and values without compromising the integrity of the IP system and, more broadly, fairness and justice."

To read the report Redefining AI: How IP practice meets the coming wave, visit here.

About the survey

Clarivate surveyed 575 IP and Research and Development (R&D) professionals from corporations (79%) and law firms (21%) across the globe of which 37% were Attorneys, 21% were Executives, and 11% worked in R&D. There was an equal split between North America , Europe and Asia Pacific , with Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions having a smaller representation (8%) in the overall dataset.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a leading global information services provider. We connect people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their perspective, their work and our world. Our subscription and technology-based solutions are coupled with deep domain expertise and cover the areas of Academia & Government, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Intellectual Property. For more information, please visit www.clarivate.com .

Media contacts

Sofia Nogues

Sr. External Communications Manager, Clarivate

[email protected]

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SOURCE Clarivate Plc
NEW YORK , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) has filed suit on behalf of a coalition of businesses and workers challenging the New York State ban on gas appliances and infrastructure in most newly constructed buildings beginning December 31, 2025 . Plaintiffs are the Mulhern Gas Company; the New York Propane Gas Association; the National Propane Gas Association; the New York State Builders Association; the National Association of Homebuilders; the Plumbing Contractors Association of Long Island; Northeast Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association; Holmes Mechanical ; the Master Plumbers Council of New York; IBEW Local 1049; Plumbers Local 200; IBEW Local 97; and TWU Local 101, which collectively represent tens of thousands of workers in New York . The suit seeks to declare the gas ban invalid and to block its enforcement, on the ground that federal energy law preempts or overrides state law. While more than 50 cities across the country previously have enacted gas bans, New York was the first state in the country to ban the use of gas equipment and infrastructure in most new buildings.

Millions of New Yorkers rely on gas for basic needs including heating, hot water, and cookingparticularly in the coldest winter months. The drastic step of requiring "all-electric" new buildings despite an already-strained electric grid stands at odds with the public's need for a reliable, resilient, and affordable energy supply. New York's gas ban is preempted by federal law, is contrary to the public interest, and harms plaintiffs and the members they represent.

A unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently struck down a similar gas infrastructure ban in Berkeley, California . [California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley, Case No. 21-16278 (9th Cir.)] RJLF represented the California Restaurant Association in that suit, which challenged Berkeley's comparable ban of natural gas infrastructure in new buildings. The Ninth Circuit held that Berkeley's ban on gas piping concerned the energy use of appliances covered by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act and was therefore preempted.

"Our clients are strong supporters of the State's climate goals, but the ban puts our clients and their members at risk," said Sarah Jorgensen , counsel for plaintiffs. "A mandate banning gas now is not reasonable or affordable, when New York's grid is already overburdened. And regardless, New York must comply with federal law." Courtland Reichman , counsel for plaintiffs and RJLF's Managing Partner, also noted that "a patchwork system for national energy policy is unworkable. Nationally uniform standards on energy use and energy efficiency are the best way to promote conservation goals while ensuring energy security, domestic supply, and consumer choice."

The case is Mulhern Gas Co. v. Rodriguez in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.

About Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP

Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP (RJLF) is an elite national trial firm that handles high-stakes commercial, intellectual property, energy, and white collar disputes. The firm is majority women-owned, reinventing the practice of law without the billable hour in favor of fee arrangements that align client interests. RJLF's attorneys are diverse, exceptionally credentialed, and passionate about trial advocacy. From offices in Silicon Valley , New York , Washington, D.C. , Austin , and Atlanta , the firm tries cases and argues appeals throughout the country. For more information, visit www.reichmanjorgensen.com.

Contact

Sarah Jorgensen

sjorgensen@reichmanjorgensen.com

(650) 623.1403

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coalition-of-businesses-and-workers-sues-new-york-state-over-gas-ban-301955215.html

SOURCE Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP
WASHINGTON , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Political spending is expected to reach record-breaking heights in the coming year.

Journalists will play a crucial role in informing the public about who and what organizations are funding candidates, ballot measures, and policy debates in Washington, D.C. , and state capitals across the country.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute and the nonpartisan research group OpenSecrets are hosting an Oct. 20 training on the basics of how to cover campaign finance and lobbying. Registration is open for this one-hour webinar that will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET .

The training will be taught by OpenSecrets' research experts Anna Massoglia , editorial and investigations manager, and Pete Quist , deputy research director.

In this webinar, participants can expect they will:

Learn how to use the OpenSecrets' national and state databases to identify who and what organizations are contributing to politicians and their campaigns

Understand the ways that money is funneled into politics, including candidate advocacy groups, political action committees, dark money, and direct donations

Develop skills to uncover which individuals, companies, labor unions, trade associations, and other organizations spend on lobbying

Gain story ideas for the national and state politics-in-money angle

About the speakers

Anna Massoglia manages editorial content and investigations at OpenSecrets as well as dark money and foreign influence research. She holds degrees in psychology and political science from North Carolina State University and a J.D. from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. Massoglia has more than a decade of research, writing and editing experience. She first joined OpenSecrets in 2015 as a political nonprofits researcher.

Pete Quist joined OpenSecrets in the 2021 when The Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute on Money in State Politics merged. Quist had been the research director at NIMP since 2013, after serving five years as a researcher. At NIMP, he focused on best practices for disclosure of money in state politics. Before joining the Institute in 2008, Quist spent two years at Project Vote Smart, where he tracked the progress of congressional and state legislation, summarized key bills in plain language, and compiled voting records. Quist earned a bachelor of political science from South Dakota State University.

About the National Press Club Journalism Institute

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.

The Institute depends on grants, foundation funds, and contributions from individuals like you. Your donation today allows the Institute to offer the majority of its programming at no cost.

Contact: Beth Francesco , [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/covering-campaign-finance-and-lobbying-free-webinar-from-npcji-on-oct-20-301955137.html

SOURCE National Press Club Journalism Institute
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiso, the renowned global retail chain offering a wide range of affordable and unique products, is thrilled to announce the grand opening at Foothill Promenade in La Canada Flintridge, California on October 21st . "We are thrilled to open our store at Foothill Promenade," said Jack Williams , Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA. "This achievement reflects the dedication and support of our customers who have embraced Daiso's unique concept and diverse product range. We are excited to provide an exceptional shopping experience to the vibrant La Canada Flintridge community and look forward to serving our customers with the utmost care and dedication."

The new Daiso store at Foothill Promenade encompasses 5,812 square feet and promises to be a haven for shoppers seeking quality merchandise at affordable prices. With its extensive range of products spanning various categories, including Japanese inspired home decor, stationery, food, and more, Daiso has become synonymous with accessible and innovative offerings. John Clarke , Chief Development Officer for Daiso USA says, " California based Daiso customers have shown us through our online business and social media their desire for us to have more stores within the state, influencing our immediate growth strategy in this region. We currently operate 106 units in 7 states with more states opening in 2024".

On both Saturday, October 21st and Sunday, October 22nd , the first 100 customers to shop at the Foothill Promenade location and make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive a free goodie bag and a plushie. These special offerings are Daiso's way of expressing gratitude to its loyal customers and welcoming new shoppers to the Daiso community.

Daiso invites customers to join in the celebration. The Foothill Promenade Daiso is anchored by neighboring tenant Petco and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 9 p.m and Sunday from 10 a.m to 8 p.m.

About Daiso:

Daiso is a global retail chain founded in Japan , known for its vast array of unique and affordable products across various categories such as household goods, stationery, beauty, and more. Daiso entered the US market in 2005 and continues to expand its global footprint while maintaining its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The Daiso US headquarters is located in La Mirada, CA.

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SOURCE Daiso USA
DENVER , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita issued the following statement in response to news this week from Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of Ozempic, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated for type 2 diabetes, related to its FLOW study that sought to demonstrate that Ozempic delays progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and lowers the risk of kidney and cardiovascular mortality. The following statement can be attributed to Dr. Jeff Giullian , chief medical officer for DaVita Inc.

"We've been closely monitoring the developments related to GLP-1s, and are excited about the potential benefits this class of drugs could have on society and patients with kidney disease. Like much of the medical community, we're eager to understand the results of the study and whether the results demonstrate improvements over the known effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on kidney disease or the previously announced effects of GLP-1s on cardiovascular mortality.

Although it is nearly impossible to draw any conclusions from the FLOW study at this point because the study results have yet to be released, based on the inclusion criteria for study participants, we believe there may be limited application of the FLOW study findings to the overall CKD patient population.

We will continue monitoring closely as further evidence becomes available to identify the potential benefit of GLP-1s to those afflicted with kidney disease. In the meantime, DaVita remains focused on providing exceptional patient care and advancing the practice of kidney care."

Our understanding of the FLOW clinical trial is the following:

Patients enrolled in the study were required to have Type 2 diabetes, been diagnosed with CKD, and following a standard of care including ACE inhibitors or ARBs. These patients also needed to demonstrate a requisite amount of proteinuria, i.e., protein in the urine. DaVita estimates that fewer than 10% of all current CKD patients would have this combination of factors.

The trial sought to demonstrate benefits for the composite endpoint comprised of five separate endpoints: death from kidney disease; death from cardiovascular disease; sustained reduction in GFR by at least 50%; progression to stage 5 CKD; and initiation of chronic kidney replacement therapy. Findings on any single endpoint, or any combination thereof, could be sufficient to halt the trial. It is unknown, however, which endpoint(s) was positive so as to close the study and whether it was a cardiovascular endpoint, a kidney endpoint, or both.

Once released, the detailed results of the FLOW trial will identify which endpoint was proven. If it confirms prior evidence that GLP-1s reduce cardiovascular mortality, since approximately six times more CKD patients die of cardiovascular disease than progress to kidney replacement therapy, any similar findings in the FLOW study would be an additional positive in prolonging life through CKD progression for those taking the therapy.1 As it relates to CKD progression, if the study proves effective with respect to GFR, it will be interesting to note the efficacy relative to other drugs with similar proven effects such as SGLT2 inhibitors.

Future trials and research will be required to determine whether any findings derived from the FLOW study could benefit a CKD population beyond those studied in the trial.

Novo Nordisk's has announced that the FLOW study will be released in the first half of 2024 and the SELECT study will be released on or around November 11, 2023 .

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality of life for patients globally. The company is one of the largest providers of kidney care services in the U.S. and has been a leader in clinical quality and innovation for more than 20 years. DaVita cares for patients at every stage and setting along their kidney health journeyfrom slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As of June 30, 2023, DaVita served approximately 201,000 patients at 2,703 outpatient dialysis centers in the United States. The company also operated 353 outpatient dialysis centers in 11 other countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced hospitalizations, improved mortality, and worked collaboratively to propel the kidney care industry to adopt an equitable and high-quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.

Information Concerning the FLOW Study

Statements about the FLOW study are based on publicly available reports from third parties. We have not independently verified the accuracy of this information and such information may be subject to change without notice. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under Forward Looking Statements.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements could include, among other things, statements about the results of current and future third party clinical trials; the proportion of the CKD population to whom results of the FLOW trial or other clinical trials may apply; and the potential benefits of GLP-1s on individuals with kidney disease, including the potential impacts of such drugs on the development and progression of kidney disease among patients diagnosed with CKD, the onset of dialysis or kidney transplant, and cardiovascular or kidney-related mortality among patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and CKD. These forward-looking statements are based on DaVita's current expectations and are based solely on information available as of the date of this press release. DaVita disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this press release, whether as a result of changed circumstances, new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be otherwise required by law. Actual future events and results could differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, changes in pharmaceutical practice patterns, including in response to the introduction of new drugs, treatments or technologies; continued increased competition from dialysis providers and others, and other potential marketplace changes, including any decline in the rate of growth of the ESKD patient population, higher mortality rates for dialysis patients or other reductions in demand for dialysis treatments, whether due to the development of innovative technologies, treatments or otherwise; the impact of marketplace conditions on DaVita's revenues and non-acquired growth, treatment volumes, and the CKD population and DaVita's patient population, including on the mortality of these patients; and the other risk factors, trends and uncertainties set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 , and the risks and uncertainties discussed in any subsequent reports that we file or furnish with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

CONTACTS

Newsroom@davita.com

[email protected]

Dalrymple, L.S., Katz, R., Kestenbaum, B. et al. Chronic Kidney Disease and the Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease versus Death. J GEN INTERN MED 26, 379385 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-010-1511-x

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SOURCE DaVita
WASHINGTON , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has selected 72 student teams to begin an engineering design challenge to build human-powered rovers that will compete next April at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama , near the agency's Marshall Space Flight Center.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the Human Exploration Rover Challenge tasks high school, college, and university students to design, build, and test lightweight, human-powered rovers on an obstacle course simulating lunar and Martian terrain, all while completing mission-focused science tasks.

Participating teams represent 42 colleges and universities and 30 high schools from 24 states, the District of Columbia , Puerto Rico , and 13 other nations from around the world. NASA's handbook has complete proposal guidelines and task challenges.

"Throughout this authentic learning challenge, NASA encourages students to improve their understanding of collaboration, inquiry, and problem-solving strategies," said Vemitra Alexander, rover challenge activity lead, Office of STEM Engagement at NASA Marshall. "Improving these critical real-world skills will benefit our students throughout their academic and professional careers."

Throughout the nine-month challenge, students will complete design and safety reviews to mirror the process used by NASA engineers and scientists. The agency also incorporates vehicle weight and size requirements encouraging students to consider lightweight construction materials and stowage efficiency to be replicate similar payload restrictions of NASA launch operations.

Teams earn points throughout the year by successfully completing design reviews and fabricating a rover capable of meeting all criteria while completing course obstacles and mission tasks. The teams with the highest number of points accumulated throughout the project year will win their respective divisions. The challenge will conclude with an event April 19 and April 20, 2024 , at the U.S. Rocket and Space Center.

This competition is one of nine Artemis Student Challenges and reflects the goals of NASA's Artemis program, which includes landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. It is managed by NASA's Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. NASA uses challenges and competitions to further the agency's goal of encouraging students to pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

For more information about the challenge, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/roverchallenge/home/index.html

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SOURCE NASA
2023 recipients hail from California to New Jersey and even Bhutan

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From flight nurses to military members, and mayors to parents, the 2023 ENA Connection 20 Under 40 class has it all.

ENA announced the third class of 20 extraordinary nurses as part of the celebration of Emergency Nurses Week.

Each honoree in the 2023 class has achieved significant milestones in their health care careers and demonstrated positive contributions that extend beyond their professional work. One nurse, from Bhutan created the BEAR, or Bhutan Emergency Aeromedical Retrieval, Team which uses his country's only helicopter for rescue missions. Another helped launch a program called "Caring for the Caregiver" to help nurses cope with critical incidents. Those are just the beginning of what this class of honorees has accomplished.

Many in the new class were inspired by nurses they had encountered in the past, some followed in their family's footsteps, while others fell into the profession later. One thing they all have in common is the goal of helping people and inspiring and teaching the next generation of nurses.

"Having seen what these 20 nurses have accomplished, I can say with certainty that the future of emergency nursing is in good hands," says ENA President Terry Foster , MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, CCRN, TCRN, FAEN. "The amount of knowledge, passion, drive and skill we have among the ENA membership is outstanding. I can't wait to see how these young professionals continue to contribute to emergency nursing throughout their careers."

ENA Connection's 2023 class of 20 Under 40 honorees, who are featured in the magazine's October issue are: (in alphabetical order):

Christine Alston, DNP, RN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, CFRN, CTRN, of Florida

Levon Aharonyan , MSN, RN, PHN, GRN, NPD-BC, of California

, MSN, RN, PHN, GRN, NPD-BC, of Tyler Babcock, MSN, MBA, RN, CEN, TCRN, of Pennsylvania

Jermaine Clayborne , MSN, APRN, NEA-BC, NNP-BC, CCRN-Neonatal, CCRN-Adult, CFRN, FP-C, of Virginia

, MSN, APRN, NEA-BC, NNP-BC, CCRN-Neonatal, CCRN-Adult, CFRN, FP-C, of Kiran Biswa Diyali, RN, Flight Nurse , of Bhutan

, of Megan Duke, MSN, RN, CNS of California

Sean Elwell, MSN, RN, NE-BC, TCRN, EMT, of New Jersey

Juan M. Gonzalez, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ENP-C, CEN, CNE, FAANP, of Florida

Kelsea Heiman , MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, of Texas

, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, of Shannen Kane , BSN, RN, CEN, of North Carolina

, BSN, RN, CEN, of Adam Lawrence, BSN, RN, CTRN, CEN, TCRN, EMT, of New York

Jacob Miller, DNP, RN, APRN-CNS, APRN-CNP, RN, of Ohio

Daniel A. Misa, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, NE-BC, of New Jersey

Wilson Pierce, DNP, RN, CNE-CL, TCRN, of Georgia

Philip Prousnitzer, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, CCRN, CPEN, CTRN, CFRN, of Arkansas

Heather Purcell-Mullins, MSN, RN, ACCNS-AG , CEN, CPEN, CDR, Nurse Corps , USN, of California

, CEN, CPEN, CDR, , USN, of Jamin Rankin, RN , EMT, CEN, CFRN, TCRN, CPEN, CTRN, of Louisiana

, EMT, CEN, CFRN, TCRN, CPEN, CTRN, of Crystal Rose, PhD, MHA, RN, CNE, of Arkansas

Lena Sutch, MSN, RN, CEN, of Maryland

Jessica Wilson , MS, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, EBP-C, of Maryland

Each class of honorees is selected by a panel of reviewers who assess their accomplishments in their profession and their communities, their contributions to emergency nursing and how they plan to shape the future of the specialty. A total of 44 nurses were nominated by their peers and 75 nurses submitted applications.

About the Emergency Nurses Association

The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.

ENA Media Contact:

Morgan Wietecha

Media Relations Strategist

847-460-4038

[email protected]

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SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association
The companies will work together to develop GHI's flagship Hydrogen City Project in South Texas while evaluating large scale green hydrogen/ammonia exports to Asian and global customers.

HOUSTON , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- INPEX CORPORATION (INPEX), Japan's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, and Green Hydrogen International (GHI), the world leader in green hydrogen developments, have signed a Joint Study Agreement to advance GHI's flagship Hydrogen City production hub in South Texas with the aim of producing green hydrogen and green ammonia to meet growing Asian and global market demand.

GHI's low-cost model of producing green hydrogen utilizing salt cavern storage and behind-the-meter renewable power aims to solve the cost and scale challenges of green hydrogen production. With INPEX's expertise in developing large scale energy projects around the world and extensive experience marketing LNG to international customers, the companies' partnership aims to develop one of the world's largest production and export hubs with the most cost-competitive green hydrogen in the world.

"GHI is honored to be partnering with INPEX CORPORATION on our Hydrogen City project. Their unapparelled expertise in large energy project development combined with a world-class marketing organization will provide enormous advantages to the Hydrogen City project and our goal of producing the world's lowest-cost green hydrogen by 2029," says Brian Maxwell , CEO of GHI.

INPEX Representative Director, President & CEO Takayuki Ueda said, "As we work towards the fulfillment of INPEX Vision@2022, I am excited to announce this green hydrogen project in Texas , which exemplifies our unwavering commitment to environmental leadership and innovation. This project perfectly aligns with our Vision@2022, as we strive to reshape the energy landscape by producing green hydrogen and accelerating the transition to a sustainable, carbon-neutral world. INPEX's dedication to a brighter, greener future remains steadfast, and this endeavor in Texas marks a pivotal step in our vision for a more sustainable tomorrow."

About the Project

Phase 1 of the Hydrogen City project is planned to produce 280,000 tons per year of green hydrogen, which will be used to produce 1 million tons per year of green ammonia for export. Additional volumes of green hydrogen will be available for local customers. The project will be powered by 3.75GW of behind-the-meter renewable energy and utilize salt storage to balance out the daily and seasonal intermittency of renewable energy. Construction is planned to start in 2026 with commercial operation planned for 2029. The partners plan to expand the project with additional phases as customer demand grows.

About GHI

GREEN HYDROGEN INTERNATIONAL is the world's leading green hydrogen development company with a global pipeline of large-scale projects located near low-cost renewable energy and storage-grade salt assets. The company's flagship Hydrogen City project in South Texas is planned to produce 280,000 tons/year of the world's lowest levelized cost of green hydrogen by 2029. GHI intends to play a leading role in the energy transition from a hydrocarbon world to a world powered by sustainable energy and green hydrogen. For more information, visit https://www.ghi-corp.com.

About INPEX

INPEX CORPORATION is Japan's largest exploration and production (E&P) company and is currently involved in projects across multiple continents. By thoroughly making its oil and gas business cleaner while expanding its five net zero business areas, INPEX aims to provide a stable supply of diverse and clean energy sources including oil, natural gas, hydrogen and renewables as a pioneer in energy transformation. The company plans to commercialize three or more projects by around 2030 and aims to produce and supply 100 thousand tons or more of hydrogen/ammonia per year. For more information, visit https://www.inpex.co.jp/english/index.html.

Media Contacts:

GHI

Brian Maxwell

+1-512-965-6239

[email protected]

INPEX

Yuko Mori , INPEX Tokyo Office

Public Relations Group

Tel: +81-3-5572-0233

[email protected]

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SOURCE Green Hydrogen International Corp.
Shared Commitment to Client Advocacy Seals Deal Between Fort Worth-based Insurance Brokerage and Atlanta Employee Benefits Firm

FORT WORTH, Texas , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Higginbotham , the largest independent insurance, financial and HR services firm headquartered in Texas and one of the top firms in the country, has joined forces with Total Employee Benefits (TEB) of Atlanta, Georgia , after a courtship period revealed the two firms' shared commitment to client advocacy and crisis support.

Higginbotham teams up with Total Employee Benefits of Atlanta - shared commitment to client advocacy seals the deal

As Higginbotham celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, Chairman and CEO Rusty Reid looks to the future with a program of strategic growth, bringing on board agencies and teams that enjoy sterling reputations in their local markets and share the same energy, culture, values, and commitment to service as Higginbotham .

"We're proud of our property and casualty practice in Atlanta ," said Reid, "but we really wanted to step up the employee benefits side. With TEB, we couldn't have found a better, more experienced, and more like-minded ally for achieving that goal.

"TEB Practice Leader Rachael A. Collier has been in this space since 1992. She was named top female insurance advisor by the Atlanta Business Chronicle for the last two years and was named top broker in Georgia this year. She has run a practice, she knows the benefits space inside and out, and she knows the region. But best of all, she and the whole TEB team share our commitment to client advocacy."

"At TEB, client advocacy is our number one value proposition," Collier agreed. "We recognize that health care is always personal. So along with handling benefits brokerage, administration, enrollment, employee onboarding, and ongoing compliance, we know that we're supporting clients and their employees through times of real, personal crisis.

"In the modern health care system, any diagnosis becomes a cluster of red tape. People feel lost and don't know who to turn to. That's when the TEB team steps up. We will meet with our clients' employees wherever they are, even in the hospital  and we'll meet with hospital admins to get whatever employees need."

Collier said that she was initially drawn to the collaboration with Higginbotham by the obvious synergies and resources the deal would enable TEB to offer their clients, such as Higginbotham's top-notch population health management and wellness services. But it was a shared appreciation of personal connection and commitment to support in times of crisis that drove the agreement home.

Collier explained, "The first time I spoke with a Higginbotham benefit advisor, he said they like to do business with people they want to have Thanksgiving dinner with. That spoke volumes to me  because it's personal. Shortly after that, we faced a crisis of our own during a C-suite shakeup with one of our bigger clients.

"All we had with Higginbotham at the time was a letter of intent. But they immediately offered full support and flew in two of their executives for the client meeting. They didn't ask questions. They didn't suggest a quid pro quo or demand a signature in advance. They just stepped up.

" Higginbotham showed true partnership even before we decided to join their firm," Collier concluded. "To me, that means they are in this business for the right reasons: to help their customers and their partners and to build a strong personal foundation for their team. We are looking forward to a long-standing relationship with Higginbotham and to growing the Higginbotham brand and family in the Atlanta area  and beyond!"



ABOUT PARTNER

Total Employee Benefits (TEB) of Atlanta, Georgia , provides white glove advocacy service through a range of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life, disability, supplemental and worksite lines to clients and their employees. TEB negotiates group benefit programs, communicates the benefits to employees and assists with keeping employer groups compliant despite the ever-changing regulatory landscape. Boasting an impressive average of 20+ years' experience in the industry, TEB team members place client advocacy at the forefront of all they do, resulting in a 96 percent client retention rate. Clients that work with the TEB team, stay with TEB.

TEB is a woman-owned business and is certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive.

Visit tebpros.com for more information.





ABOUT HIGGINBOTHAM

Employee owned and customer inspired, Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR services. The firm was established in 1948 and ranks by revenue as the nation's 21st largest independent insurance firm. Serving thousands of businesses and individuals through locations coast-to-coast, Higginbotham's approach to finding insurance, employee benefit and risk management solutions is more individual and less institutional. By understanding customer priorities, eliminating inefficiencies and committing to transparency, Higginbotham is a place that leads with values so value leads.

Visit higginbotham.com for more information.

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GREENWICH, Conn. and SAO PAULO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CantuStore, the leading omnichannel aftermarket tire retailer and distributor in Brazil , today announced that IFC, the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets, has joined L Catterton, a leading global consumer-focused investment firm, as a co-investor in CantuStore. Terms of IFC's investment were not disclosed.

In November 2022 , L Catterton announced an investment in CantuStore. Since then, the Company has continued to grow organically and opened an office in Luxembourg to support its international presence. CantuStore has also successfully executed on M&A, with the acquisitions of technology company Verum, U.S. -based cargo tire specialist DigiTire, and Off-The-Road tire company, Gripmaster.

With IFC's investment, CantuStore expects to build on its continued success in disrupting Brazil's aftermarket tire sector through further expansion as well as increase access to modern and affordable quality tires for all Brazilians, including those in remote and underserved regions. IFC's investment provides CantuStore with significant growth capital and the ability to leverage additional resources to support the company's continued investments in people, technology, and processes, while improving and promoting sustainable business practices.

"Since L Catterton's initial investment last year, we have developed a collaborative partnership and made significant progress on our growth efforts," said Beto Cantu , Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CantuStore. "We appreciate L Catterton's support in identifying IFC as a co-investor. Their co-investment validates our commitment to continue developing and investing in actions with environmental, social, and governance impact, which will help us pave the way to build our business in an increasingly sustainable and safe way."

"We are incredibly proud of CantuStore's progress across all channels, capitalizing on a number of exciting opportunities within Brazil's aftermarket tire category. We are confident that IFC's support will be crucial in our effort to continue growing the company in a more sustainable and socially responsible manner," said Julio Babecki , a Partner in the Latin America Fund of L Catterton.

"IFC shares our conviction in CantuStore's growth potential and recognizes the company's strong sustainable operations. We are pleased to partner with them as we continue to support the company's vision and success across the transportation industry in Brazil and around the world," said Farah Khan , a Managing Partner in the Latin America Fund of L Catterton.

"We are excited about the opportunity to join forces with L Catterton as a co-investor in CantuStore," said Mohan Krishna Chimalakonda, Investment Professional at IFC. "We have long admired CantuStore because of its firm commitment to driving sustainability in the tire sector and improving the value chain. CantuStore's sustainability goals are well aligned with our mission to transform ideas into investments for green growth, inclusive jobs, and impactful projects, and we look forward to supporting the company in building on its success for years to come."

About CantuStore

Founded in 2006, CantuStore is the leading omnichannel tire aftermarket distributor and retailer in Brazil , offering a differentiated value proposition through multiple sales channels fueled by a robust online strategy. The company has disrupted a fragmented and poorly served category driven by its unique digital capabilities, national presence, best assortment depth across almost all tire segments, private label, and innovative value-add services such as tire installations.

CantuStore operates under two brands, CantuPneus, the leading Brazilian tire importer and distributor for fleet owners and resellers, and PneuStore, the largest tire e-commerce platform in Brazil. Located in Itajai, Santa Catarina, CantuStore has five Distribution Centers and over 40 branches across all regions of Brazil to offer complete tire solutions. For more information, visit: www.cantustore.com.br .

Follow CantuStore on LinkedIn

Follow CantuStore on Instagram

About L Catterton

L Catterton is a market-leading consumer-focused investment firm, managing approximately $34 billion of equity capital and three multi-product platforms: private equity, credit, and real estate. Leveraging deep category insight, operational excellence, and a broad network of strategic relationships, L Catterton's team of more than 200 investment and operating professionals across 17 offices partners with management teams to drive differentiated value creation across its portfolio. Founded in 1989, the firm has made over 250 investments in some of the world's most iconic consumer brands. For more information about L Catterton, please visit www.lcatterton.com .

About IFC

IFC  a member of the World Bank Group  is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. IFC works in more than 100 countries, using its capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $44 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org .

Media Contact

CantuStore Capital Informacao  Press Office

Ricardo Varoli  [email protected] +55 11 99315 3522

Mariana Lima  [email protected] +55 82 99971 3558

Tel: +55 11 3926-9517 or 3926-9518

L Catterton

Julie Hamilton

Managing Director, Firm Communications

[email protected]

203.742.5185

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SOURCE L Catterton
NEW YORK , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NMG Network, the leading creator of custom media experiences for luxury and leisure travel, hospitality, and premium residential partners, has been selected by Auberge Resorts Collection to develop a new multichannel media program exclusively for its portfolio of one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, resorts and residences including some of the world's most inspiring and decorated hotels.

NMG has been selected by Auberge Resorts to develop a media program exclusively for its portfolio of luxury properties.

Beginning this spring, an immersive digital experience offering bespoke video content and a bi-annual publication will be made available exclusively to guests across all 27 Auberge properties and visitors to the Auberge website. Guests at the award-winning hotels, resorts, and private residences (accolades include Auberge as the most awarded brand on: "World's Best, Readers' Choice," Conde Nast Traveler; "World's Best," Travel + Leisure; "Great Design Award," Architectural Digest) will receive a custom, highly curated publication with original photography and editorial from NMG's award-winning team and contributors.

The documentary-style video, website, and publication will feature a mix of colorful and unique culinary, design, travel, art, fashion, and culture coverage focused on Auberge destinations through the lens of local personalities, experts, insiders, and tastemakers who will highlight the unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences on offer at Aubergea destination journal for the modern luxury traveler.

"In an age of advertising noise, NMG presents a truly unique opportunity for brands to reach a highly targeted demographic like no other platform can offer," said Jason Cutinella, founder and CEO of NMG Network. "Our focus isn't just wide reach, it's precision. We stand behind our promise of guaranteed viewership. Our partners' high occupancy rates and built-in high-net-worth clientele are a testament to the luxury audience we cater to. We pride ourselves on exclusivity, allowing only a select number of brands to partner with us each season. This isn't because we're restrictive, but because we believe in offering a media environment that's both safe and high-quality. Our partnership with Auberge embodies the very essence of what NMG stands for: crafting one-of-a-kind experiences, both for the consumers and our media brand partners. At NMG, we're not just another media platform; we're a curated experience."

"We are delighted to partner with NMG to launch a new print publication and digital media experience that will allow us to share the rich Auberge Resorts Collection story on a greater scale and in a deeper, more meaningful way," says Mike Minchin , Chief Marketing Officer of Auberge. "As we continue to grow our portfolio of one-of-a-kind hotels, resorts and residences, there are so many inspiring stories to tell about our destinations, properties and people, and we look forward to seeing NMG bring these to life through the lens of interesting personalities, travel experts and tastemakers."

NMG boasts multi-Emmy Award-winning channels, expertly curated to foster brand loyalty and drive purchase intent. Through its targeted omnichannel storytelling, NMG offers partners a unique opportunity to reach discerning consumers in their preferred content spaces, delivering authentic, informative, and engaging experiences.

Jason Cutinella , founder and CEO of NMG Network, has always emphasized creative integrity and compelling storytelling in establishing NMG's custom channels. Established in 2009, NMG Network has been illuminating unique narratives with original video and print content for key partners and destinations around the globe.

About NMG Network

NMG Network is the leading creator of custom media experiences for luxury and leisure travel, hospitality, and premium residential partners. Our highly targeted omnichannel approach to storytelling provides a unique opportunity to connect with the most sophisticated and sought after consumers where they prefer to engage with content that informs, inspires and entertains. In addition to its award-winning video, print and digital channels created for clients including The Little Nell, Marriott Residences International , Shutters on the Beach, Hotel Casa del Mar , Halekulani Hotel , Park Lane Ala Moana and Hawaiian Airlines. View more channels at NMGnetwork.com .

About Auberge Resorts Collection

Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 26 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world's most desirable destinations.

For more information: aubergeresorts.com

Connect with Auberge Resorts Collection on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook , Threads , X , Pinterest and LinkedIn @AubergeResorts and #AlwaysAuberge

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SOURCE NMG Network
Dire shortage of subacute mental health beds has severely impacted Los Angeles General's acute psychiatric unit, jeopardizing staff safety.

Shortages result in long lengths of stay and higher rates of restraint and seclusion for extremely violent patients.

LOS ANGELES , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The leadership at Los Angeles General Medical Center  Los Angeles County's largest safety-net hospital  was honored to host Governor Gavin Newsom today as he signed AB-531 into law. AB-531, which would fund the development of 10,000 new behavioral treatment beds and supportive housing units throughout CA, will help safety-net hospitals like LA General find appropriate placements for complex patients with severe mental illness in need of subacute care and long-term support outside of the hospital setting.

LA General's psychiatric facility is an acute care center designed to stabilize patients experiencing mental health crisis over a short-term stay. Under normal circumstances, a patient stabilized at LA General's acute psychiatric facility would promptly transfer to a subacute facility equipped to provide longer-term care. However, due to the severe shortage of subacute psychiatric beds, some LA General patients remain in the hospital's acute care facility for months to years on end as they await transfer.

A 2019 report by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health examined the dire shortage of mental health beds in Los Angeles County and its impact on area residents. The report identified a shortage of 3,000 subacute mental health beds in Los Angeles County .

Lacking placement option availability, combined with the reality that LA General often cares for patients with a history of violence, has contributed to higher rates of restraint and seclusion. Without timely availability of sub-acute beds that offer an appropriate long-term therapeutic setting, patients grow frustrated with the feeling of being "stuck" in an acute psychiatric setting. This results in violent outbursts that require restraint to protect fellow patients and staff alike.

Despite wide agreement that more beds are needed, relief has not come. In 2020, LA General's rate of restraint and seclusion was 32.38 and 23.07 respectively1  the highest in the state  underscoring the unique complexities faced by LA General staff in caring for particularly violent patients for extended lengths of time. Yet an overall parroting of these numbers masks the truth: a very small number of actively violent patients with extremely long lengths of stay, who await sub-acute placements, account for the vast majority of the restraint use. Specifically, only five of these patients accounted for 67 percent of restraint usage at LA General's acute psychiatric unit. These patients all had repeated episodes of violent assaults on staff and even on other patients, which required the use of restraints or seclusions to de-escalate the patients and prevent acts of violence to others. On average, these patients stayed at LA General for 13 months each due to the ongoing shortage of subacute mental health beds, which is even more pronounced for patients with histories of violence. When accounting for the small number of violent patients waiting for lower level of care, as well as removing the hours for restraints used when transferring patients between facilities, the rate of restraints falls to within the average for safety-net hospitals.

LA General's Psychiatric facility was recently praised as one of the best-run facilities in the state of California by the Joint Commission. The facility consistently meets and exceeds regulatory oversight requirements and inspections by individuals with expertise in the management of psychiatric patients, including thorough review of its use of restraints.

Hospitals such as LA General should not have to choose between restraining patients in the wrong care setting and protecting fellow patients and staff. AB-531 is a critical step in the right direction to correct this fundamental injustice. LA General applauds the California legislature and Governor Newsom for their work to rectify long-standing mental health bed shortages in California . The investments made through AB 531 will enhance LA General's ability to appropriately care for patients, will protect patients and staff who expertly and compassionately provide care, and will connect patients to care in settings appropriate for their unique clinical needs and circumstances. However, the crisis of bed shortages not only affects patients who desperately need appropriate long-term placement but have nowhere to go, it also affects hospital staff, as staff are frequently subject to assault. LA General's acute psychiatric staff have suffered injuries and traumas due to assaults by patients, including physical injuries that require ongoing care and treatment.

Los Angeles General leadership offer the following comments on the signing of AB-531:

"Los Angeles General provides compassionate, high-quality care to Los Angeles County's most vulnerable communities. Because of our location in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles , and our proximity to Skid Row and the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, our acute psychiatric unit is the primary facility in LA County caring for highly complex patients, including some who are extremely violent. These patients are often the most difficult to place, given their unique needs and the severe shortage of mental health beds. AB 531 would provide some desperately needed relief to our staff and hope for our patients and their families. I want to thank Governor Newsom for his support in addressing these pressing issues," said Jorge Orozco , CEO, Los Angeles General Medical Center.

"Tragically, the patients that are the most challenging to place are often the ones with the highest need for long-term, customized care. This includes patients with histories of incarceration  sometimes for violent crimes. Unfortunately, patient violence directed at our staff, or even at other patients, is a common occurrence. Often this violence grows out of the frustration our patients experience due to being 'stuck' in an acute care setting, which is the most restrictive clinical setting. It is imperative, both for our staff and our patients, that we take steps to address these issues. We are grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law," said Dr. Brad Spellberg , Chief Medical Officer, Los Angeles General Medical Center.

Los Angeles County Board Supervisor, Hilda Solis , who oversees the district where LA General is located, also offered her voice in support the Governor's mental health package:

"In Los Angeles County, we are experiencing crises of homelessness, mental health, and substance use  the effects of which we are seeing in crowded emergency departments, in our jails, and on our streets. One of the main causes is a significant lack of beds to meet the growing level of need. That is why I want to thank Governor Newsom , Secretary Ghaly, and Assemblymember Irwin for their leadership in passing the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act. If passed by the voters, this important program would help fund some of the most desperately needed projects in the County, including the rehabilitation of Historic General Hospital and the construction of a Restorative Care Village at the Los Angeles General Medical Center . I am proud to lay the foundation for these developments which will bring much needed housing, treatment facilities, and beds that our most vulnerable residents need, and because of this legislation, we are now one step closer to making this a reality," said LA County Board Supervisor Hilda Solis .

Additional information can be found below. For questions, or to request an interview with a representative from Los Angeles General, please contact [email protected]

Fast Facts about Psychiatric Services at Los Angeles General

Overview

As a safety-net facility, Los Angeles General provides compassionate, high-quality care to LA County's most complex psychiatric patients, many of whom have histories of homelessness, substance abuse, and incarceration. LA General's psychiatric facility is an acute care center designed to stabilize patients experiencing mental health crisis over a short-term stay. Under normal circumstances, a patient who has been stabilized at LA General's acute psychiatric facility would transfer to a subacute facility that is equipped to provide longer-term care. However, due to the severe shortage of subacute psychiatric beds, some LA General patients remain in the hospital's acute care facility for months to years on end as they await transfer. This dynamic has also contributed to higher rates of restraint and seclusion at LA General, due to the extended admissions of a small number of extremely violent patients and the lack of available placement options for long-term care.

LA General's service area and safety-net status leads to the admission of violent psychiatric patients, including justice-involved patients who have been previously incarcerated for severe crimes including rape, assault, and other convictions.

LA General has one of the few inpatient psychiatric facilities in Los Angeles County that will admit patients with a history of violence, homelessness and from jails and the justice system.

that will admit patients with a history of violence, homelessness and from jails and the justice system. Other hospitals often do not accept these patients due to the risk of violence and the severe shortage of psychiatric beds in Los Angeles County and the state of California .

and the state of . LA General receives a disproportionate number of patients from the jails and Skid Row because over the years, many private hospitals in LA County have carved out both the jails and Skid Row from their respective "zones" or service areas from which they take patients.

because over the years, many private hospitals in LA County have carved out both the jails and from their respective "zones" or service areas from which they take patients. Given LA General's proximity to both Skid Row and the Twin Towers Correctional Facility , patients from these locations are brought to LA General in higher proportions, as other hospitals often will not admit patients from these locations.

The dire shortage of subacute mental health beds has had severe impacts on Los Angeles General's acute psychiatric unit, resulting in long lengths of stay and high rates of restraint and seclusion due to the lack of available options for long-term care and the need to maintain a safe environment.

A 2019 report by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health examined the dire shortage of mental health beds in Los Angeles County and its impact on area residents. The report identified a shortage of 3,000 subacute mental health beds in Los Angeles County .

examined the dire shortage of mental health beds in and its impact on area residents. The report identified a shortage of 3,000 subacute mental health beds in . In 2020, LA General's rate of restraint and seclusion was 32.08 and 23.07 respectively  the highest in the state, underscoring the unique complexities that LA General faces as its staff care for particularly violent patients for extended lengths of time.

In 2020, 4% of patients accounted for 67% of restraint usage at LA General's acute psychiatric unit. These patients stayed at LA General for an average of 13 months each due to the ongoing shortage of subacute mental health beds, which is even more pronounced for patients with histories of violence. More details on these patients are provided here:

Patient #1  7 month hospitalization: A patient previously in a sub-acute mental health facility for 3 years with over 100 psychiatric encounters, demonstrated persistent violent behaviors, assaulted staff with bodily fluids and violently assaulted another Los Angeles General patient who was disabled. Patient #2  17 month hospitalization: A patient with schizophrenia was unresponsive to medication and assaulted eight other patients, a maintenance worker, and seven staff members over the course of a 17-month hospitalization. Placement was difficult to find due to the patient's violent behavior, which was a major factor in the patient's long length of stay at Los Angeles General. Patient #3  12 month hospitalization: A physically imposing patient, with a history of multiple incarcerations and polysubstance abuse, presented persistent aggressive behaviors and assaulted staff and other patients multiple times. Patient #4  14 month hospitalization: A young patient with a history of physical and sexual abuse frequently responded to hallucinations with aggression, threatening to kill staff, using racial slurs, and physically assaulting staff and other patients, as well as demonstrating self-harming behaviors over the course of a 14-month hospitalization. Placement was difficult to find due to the patient's violent behavior, which was a major factor in the patient's long length of stay at Los Angeles General. Patient #5  15 month hospitalization: A patient with an early schizophrenia diagnosis had recurrent violent outbursts, resulting in persistent attempts to assault both staff and patients over a 15-month hospitalization. Patient was referred to a state psychiatric hospital, but placement could not be found due to the patient's violent behavior.

Without the availability of sub-acute beds, patients often grow frustrated with the feeling of being "stuck" in a setting like Los Angeles General, resulting in violent outbursts that require restraint.

Psychiatric Staff at Los Angeles General are routinely subject to assault by patients, suffering injuries and traumas including psychical injuries that require ongoing care and treatment.

A short summary of a few stories of assaults suffered by staff at Los Angeles General is provided here:

Nurse Attacked by Schizophrenic Patient: A nurse was slammed to the wall and punched by a schizophrenic patient in 2021 and has been in physical therapy and on medication for a chronic injury ever since. Social Worker Punched in Face: A social worker assigned to a particularly aggressive patient was punched in the face when intervening as the patient chased other patients and staff. Brutal Attack on Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist was punched in the head and slammed to the ground by a patient coming down from meth, resulting in physical trauma and spurring facility wide security changes. Attack on Social Worker: A social worker was violently thrown against a concrete wall by a patient that was sent to Los Angeles General directly from jail, resulting in serious physical injuries and necessitating an extended leave to recover mentally and physically.



Security is consistently one of the top priorities for LA General psychiatric residents in contract negotiations, and LA General has undergone several changes to its security protocol because of the increasingly violent behaviors of psychiatric patients.

Several staff have had to take leave from work following an assault by patients, including to recover from head, neck, and back injuries. Staff also report significant, long-lasting mental harm due to the trauma of being attacked by a patient.

1 Rate per 1,000 patient hours.

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SOURCE Los Angeles General Medical Center
VERO BEACH, Fla. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Market Street Memory Care Residence Viera celebrated an authentic Oktoberfest experience from the comforts of their own home in Market Street Plaza . The team at Market Street Viera recognizes the importance of honoring traditions like Oktoberfest as part of their signature program Life Silhouettes.

When a resident joins the community, the care team connects with family and friends to discover that resident's life story, including favorite music, personal interests and talents, treasured memories and beloved holidays. Celebrating the momentous occasions of each resident's life instills joy, purpose, and personal connection amongst residents, associates, and family members.

The dedicated team at Market Street Viera utilizes their creativity to bring these treasured holidays to life. The sights, sounds, and smells of Oktoberfest filled the air, engaging residents in a multisensory experience that enlivened the senses with the traditional music and iconic tastes of Germany. Executive Chef Emmanuel Florez served seasonal beer, refreshing hard cider, and the authentic dishes of homemade apfelkuchle (German apple fritters) and warm pretzels with beer cheese. As the talented Oscar Alvarado entertained the crowd, glasses clinked to the festive outcries of Prost!

"Creating multi-sensory experiences for our memory care residents is an essential aspect of Watercrest Senior Living's signature programming for seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia," says Sheena Jeffries , Regional Director of Engagement for Watercrest Senior Living. "These occasions spark joy and connection for our residents."

Market Street Memory Care Residence Viera is an award-winning senior living community operated by Watercrest Senior Living. For the past two years, Market Street Viera has been prestigiously recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best Memory Care Community, achieving the highest possible rating for Memory Care . The community offers world class care, multi-sensory programming, diverse culinary experiences, and unparalleled associate training honoring seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia. Market Street Viera is conveniently located at 6845 Murrell Road in Melbourne, Florida ; for more information, contact the community at 321-730-2444.

About Watercrest Senior Living Group

Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming. A six-time certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest Senior Living Group specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. Visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com.

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SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group
CALGARY, AB , Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - TransAlta Corporation ("TransAlta") (TSX: TA) (NYSE: TAC) will release its third quarter 2023 results before markets open on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 . A conference call and webcast to discuss the results will be held for investors, analysts, members of the media and other interested parties the same day beginning at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time ( 11:00 a.m. ET ). The media will be invited to ask questions following analysts.

Third Quarter 2023 Conference Call:

Toll-free North American participants call: 1-888-664-6392

Webcast link: https://app.webinar.net/6okKz0o9jM0

Related materials will be available on the Investor Centre section of TransAlta's website at https://transalta.com/investors/presentations-and-events/. If you are unable to participate in the call, the instant replay is accessible at 1-888-390-0541 ( Canada and USA toll free) with TransAlta pass code 502345 followed by the # sign. A transcript of the broadcast will be posted on TransAlta's website once it becomes available.

About TransAlta :

TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada , the United States and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses and utility customers with clean, affordable, energy efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta is one of Canada 's largest producers of wind power and Alberta 's largest producer of hydro-electric power. For over 111 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud member of the communities where we operate and where our employees work and live. TransAlta aligns its corporate goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and its climate change strategy with CDP (formerly Climate Disclosure Project) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. TransAlta has achieved a 68 per cent reduction in GHG emissions or 22 million tonnes since 2015 and has received scores of A- from CDP and AA from MSCI.

For more information about TransAlta, visit its website at transalta.com.

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SOURCE TransAlta Corporation
ARLINGTON, Va. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Military Women's Memorial was honored to announce Mr. Blair Underwood , multiple award-winning actor, activist, and philanthropist, as the recipient of the Military Women's Memorial 2023 Patriot Leadership Award. Presented annually at the Memorial's Patriot Leadership Award Gala, the recipient is a man or woman of extraordinary caliber whose actions and leadership have honored and empowered our nation's military women. This year's event will be held October 18 at the Military Women's Memorial, the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery .

Mr. Underwood was selected to receive the prestigious award based on his extensive efforts to bring national recognition to the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black US women's military unit to serve overseas during World War II. The battalion's mission was to clear more than 17 million pieces of backlogged mail in England and France . The culmination of Mr. Underwood's efforts is a new stage play bound for Broadway called 6888: A New Musical, which he is executive producing. In announcing the award, Military Women's Memorial President, retired CW5 Phyllis Wilson said, " Mr. Underwood has brought this remarkable and important story of military women's service to life and presented it to the American public and the national stage in a way few others could. His efforts are invaluable to the recognition of military women and of the Memorial's mission of telling their stories of service."

The Daughters of the American Revolution, one of the nation's leading patriotic service organizations, is the presenting sponsor for this year's Gala. The event is expected to host 160 guests from across public and private sectors to include: Administration officials, Members of Congress, military service personnel, prominent members of the U.S. and international military community and diplomatic corps, corporate executives, and community leaders from across the country. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase. Visit https://giftshop.womensmemorial.org/collections/special-events

About Blair Underwood

Blair Underwood is the recipient of the Grammy, Emmy, Peabody and eight NAACP Image Awards and has been nominated for the Tony Award and multiple Golden Globes. Involved in numerous charitable organizations, Underwood's dedicated support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association won him the 1993 Humanitarian Award. After watching his mother battle multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and depression, he became a champion of healthy living. He is also strongly involved with activism and philanthropic causes including organizations and is co-founder of ANSA (Artists for a New South Africa), which supports a democratic South Africa with equal rights and opportunities for all citizens, AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation), and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, weaving together personal betterment and giving back into his inspirational presentations. His father served in the U.S. Army rising to the rank of Colonel.

About the Military Women's Memorial (MWM)

The Military Women's Memorial is America's only major national memorial to honor the service of all women who have served in and with the American military, beginning with the American Revolution. Dedicated in 1997 and located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery , the Memorial and its 33,000 sq. ft. education center include an exhibit gallery which chronicles the collective story of women's service to the nation, a Hall of Honor, gift shop, and the Vaught Center, a multipurpose conference center. The heart of the Memorial is the Register, a one-of-a-kind, interactive database which tells the individual stories of women who have served. A living archive which grows every day, the Register currently houses more than 309,000 individual records of women's service. The Memorial, which is free and open to the public, is open daily, 9 am to 5 pm , and 12 to 5 pm Sundays . It offers programs and activities throughout the year. Visit womensmemorial.org.

About the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)

The DAR was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. DAR members volunteer millions of service hours annually in their local communities, including supporting active-duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and supporting schools for underserved children with annual donations exceeding one million dollars . Visit DAR.org.

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SOURCE Military Women's Memorial
WASHINGTON , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club and Gil Klein , president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the continuing incidents of journalists killed, wounded, missing or detained in the conflict in Gaza / Israel .

"We are heartbroken that the violence against journalists continues alongside the horrific events in Israel and the Gaza . We call on all journalists to follow their known safety protocols and recognize them for their courage in reporting on what is happening. Unfortunately, we are seeing reports of rising numbers of journalist deaths.

"Various sources report three Palestinian journalists died after Israeli bombing of the Hiji Building in Rimal, which housed media companies. Those killed include Al-Khamsa News Editor-in-Chief of Al-Khama, Saeed al-Taweel , and Khabar journalists Mohammad Sobh and Hisham Alnwaj. In addition, photojournalist Mohammed Fayez Abu Matar was killed during an Israeli airstrike in Southern Gaza .

"Just days ago there were four journalists killed. That number is now eight. All are Palestinian.

"Israeli photojournalist, Roee Idan who works for Ynet, is missing, wounded, and presumed among those held hostage in Gaza . According to reports, after he documented Hamas paragliders attacking his kibbutz, he raced to the other side of the compound to find his wife had been killed by Hamas in their home. He is now missing along with his three year old daughter. This is tragic. We call for his release.

"One of the Palestinian journalists previously reported as missing, Nidal Al-Wahid, is now described by his family as detained by Israel . We call for his release.

"In a recent report, Israeli police allegedly pointed rifles at a crew from Sky News Arabia and assaulted Firas Lutfi , a correspondent and ordered him to remove his clothes and leave the area where he was working. The police also confiscated the cell phones of the crew.

"Journalists must be able to do their important jobs, as impartial witnesses who are reporting on what is happening. They must be protected and free to do their jobs as safely as possible."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom worldwide.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes a more participatory democracy via a free and independent press. The NPCJI is the non-profit arm of the National Press Club.

Contact: Bill McCarren , 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club

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SOURCE National Press Club
Global Leader in All Things Celebration Emerges from Chapter 11 with

Strengthened Financial Position and Optimized Party City Store Portfolio

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Party City Holdco Inc. ("PCHI" or the "Company"), a global leader in the celebrations industry, announced today that it has completed its restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11 financially stronger and well positioned for the future.

Through its restructuring, PCHI has substantially strengthened its capital structure by eliminating nearly $1 billion in debt, enhanced its liquidity, and optimized its Party City store portfolio by having negotiated improved lease terms and exited less productive stores. The Company will move forward with nearly 800 Party City locations nationwide.

"We are thrilled to celebrate the successful conclusion of our restructuring and the bright future that lies ahead for PCHI," said Brad Weston , Chief Executive Officer of PCHI. "We have exited the process on stronger financial footing, and I am incredibly appreciative of the tremendous efforts made by our team to get us to where we are today. We also thank our retail and wholesale customers, suppliers, and landlords for their support, which was instrumental in achieving today's positive outcome. Our team looks forward to continuing to deliver on our promise of making joy easy and to advancing PCHI's extraordinary legacy as the go-to destination for all things celebration."

In connection with today's emergence, and having led the Company through its successful restructuring, Mr. Weston announced his intention to step down from his role as CEO, effective November 3, 2023 , and transition leadership responsibility to Sean Thompson , currently the Company's President and Chief Commercial Officer, as Interim CEO.

Mr. Weston added, "Based on all that has been accomplished over the last several years  strategically, operationally, and financially  PCHI has emerged with an excellent foundation in place to drive long-term growth. At this juncture, with the restructuring now behind us, the timing is right to pass the baton to Sean, who I'm confident will build on the significant strides that have been made as PCHI continues to expand its market leadership and enhance the customer experience."

Under the Company's Plan of Reorganization, which was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on September 6, 2023 , PCHI has emerged with a new exit ABL facility of $562 million and a $75 million new money investment to fund go-forward operations and distributions under the Plan. The Company's new shareholders include the members of the ad hoc group of holders (the "Ad Hoc Group") of the Company's prepetition senior secured first lien notes who supported the restructuring.

Additional Information

Court filings and other documents related to the Company's completed financial restructuring are available at https://cases.ra.kroll.com/PCHI, by calling (888) 905-0493 (toll-free) or +1 (646) 440-4580 (international), or by emailing [email protected].

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel, Moelis & Company LLC served as investment banker, AlixPartners, LLP served as financial advisor, and A&G Realty Partners served as real estate advisor to the Company.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal counsel and Lazard Freres & Co. served as investment banker to the Ad Hoc Group.

About Party City Holdco Inc.

Party City Holdco Inc. (PCHI) is a global leader in the celebrations industry, with its offerings spanning more than 70 countries around the world. PCHI is also the largest vertically integrated designer, manufacturer, distributor, and retailer of party goods in North America .

PCHI operates across multiple businesses within its Retail Division and Consumer Products Division. On the retail side, Party City (partycity.com) is the leading omnichannel retailer in the celebrations category, operating more than 800 company-owned stores, franchise stores, and Halloween City (halloweencity.com) seasonal pop-up stores. The Consumer Products Division includes design and manufacturing entities Amscan, an industry leader in celebration decor, tableware, costumes, and accessories, and Anagram, the global market leader in foil balloons.

PCHI is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. with additional locations throughout the Americas and Asia .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of the forward-looking statements in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believes," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "estimates," "should," "would," "anticipates," "plans" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except for the Company's ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect actual results of operations; changes in financial condition; changes in results of operations and liquidity, changes in general U.S. or international economic or industry conditions; changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions; or other circumstances, conditions, developments or events arising after the date of this press release. You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and other factors, which could include the risk factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q filed with the SEC. The Company therefore cautions readers against relying on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.

Media Contact

Kekst CNC

Sherri L. Toub / Wendi Kopsick

[email protected]

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SOURCE Party City Holdco Inc.
Andy Rice , formerly Global Lead for Sustainability, Climate and Weather Analytics at IBM, joins Pelmorex's Executive Leadership to Develop a Portfolio of Innovative Business Solutions

OAKVILLE, ON , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Pelmorex Corp., a leading weather, climate and data analytics company whose properties include top consumer media brands such as The Weather Network, MeteoMedia and Eltiempo.es, has hired Andy Rice as Managing Director of Business Solutions and Services.

He will work alongside Pelmorex's senior leadership team with CEO Nana Banerjee at the helm to build a portfolio of business-to-business weather and climatology solutions that uniquely address the needs of the modern business enterprises, educational institutes, and government agencies with data-driven and actionable solutions.

"Andy's impressive career spans diverse and notable organizations focused on weather, climatology, advanced analytics, and AI. His addition to our team gives us an opportunity to make a powerful impact on a range of companies and business sectors that are affected by or are exposed to weather and climate," said Banerjee.

Prior to joining Pelmorex, Andy was Global Lead for Sustainability, Climate and Weather Analytics as a Partner at IBM, VP Product and Analytics at The Weather Company and Chief Product Officer at Weather Central. Andy has a results-driven track record that has created rapid year-over-year growth throughout his career. Andy has a BA in Environmental Studies and just completed his executive education in MIT's Chief Sustainability Officer program.

"Weather and climate impacts us all and the convergence of AI, weather, and climate hold the key to future-proofing businesses across sectors," said Rice. "Pelmorex is uniquely positioned to arm the world with insights and decision-making platforms to manage the risk businesses typically encounter. I am thrilled to be joining such a remarkable team that shares my mission to bridge the gap between weather and climate realities and actionable business strategies."

About Pelmorex Corp.

Pelmorex Corp., founded in 1989, is an international weather information and data management company. Pelmorex owns and operates the weather brands The Weather Network, MeteoMedia, Eltiempo.es, Clima, and Otempo.pt. It also operates Canada 's National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System, part of Alert Ready. Through constant innovation and entrepreneurship, Pelmorex has grown to reach consumers around the globe, has become one of the largest weather information providers and has broken new ground in providing data solutions and insights to businesses. Through harnessing the value of weather, Pelmorex is driven to make the world smarter and safer for consumers and businesses.

To learn more, visit pelmorex.com and follow us on X (platform formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Pelmorex Corp.
OSLO, Norway , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), the Bladder Cancer Company, announces that its partner Asieris Pharmaceuticals (SSE: 688176) has today unveiled the results of its Hexvix (APL-1706) Phase III clinical trial in China . A presentation scheduled for today at the 43rd Congress of the Societe Internationale d'Urologie (SIU), confirms that, in a Chinese population, Hexvix blue light cystoscopy (BLC) outperformed white light cystoscopy (WLC) in the detection of bladder cancer, particularly in cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS), and exhibited good tolerability.

The highly statistically significant results corroborate the findings of Photocure's own randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that demonstrate the clinical benefits of Hexvix BLC over WLC, specifically superior tumor detection and a favorable tolerability profile with no serious adverse events. Moreover, Asieris' Phase III Hexvix trial is the first RCT conducted with high definition 4K blue light capital equipment.

"This randomized-controlled trial reinforces the benefits of BLC with Hexvix in tumor detection over WLC alone with clinically convincing and statistically significant results. This is on the backdrop of this Chinese trial being the first RCT conducted with 4K high definition (HD) blue light equipment, making it a valuable addition to the body of evidence already available on BLC with Hexvix. It confirms that BLC with Hexvix is additive to WL also with high quality HD imaging technology. We are pleased to see and acknowledge that our partners at Asieris are driving innovation to support unmet needs in bladder cancer", said Anders Neijber, Photocure's Chief Medical Officer.

The trial results have been selected as a "late-breaking abstract" at the 43rdCongress of the Societe Internationale d'Urologie (SIU) in Istanbul, Turkey , October 11-14 . The clinical study data will be presented today, October 12 , in the form of an Oral ePoster at 1:45pm local time.

The study is a prospective, self-controlled, multicenter Phase  study intended to evaluate the safety and detection benefits of blue light cystoscopy (BLC) with Hexvix compared to white light cystoscopy (WLC) in the diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in a Chinese population. The study included a total of 158 patients, of which 114 underwent BLC. Of the 97 patients diagnosed with NMIBC, a total of 42 patients (43.3%) had one or more additional lesions detected with Hexvix BLC compared to WLC (p

Read Asieris' full media release here: https://asieris.com/asieris-unveiled-results-of-its-phase-iii-clinical-study-for-apl-1706-an-imaging-drug-for-diagnosis-or-surgery-of-bladder-cancer-at-the-siu-2023-congress/

Asieris Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharma company specializing in discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs for the treatment of genitourinary tumors and other related diseases.

In January 2021 , Asieris entered into a license agreement with Photocure ASA to obtain the exclusive registration and commercialization rights of Hexvix in mainland China and Taiwan .

Note to editors:

All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA.

This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin.

About Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer ranks as the 8th most common cancer worldwide  the 5th most common in men  with 1 720 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)1a, 573 000 new cases and more than 200 000 deaths in 2020.1b

Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.1 It has a high recurrence rate with up to 61% in year one and up to 78% over five years.2 Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers.3 Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike. Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all BC cases and include the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. In MIBC the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3 and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.4

1 Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/ today, accessed [January 2022].

2 Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657

3 Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295300

4 Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html

About Hexvix/Cysview (hexaminolevulinate HCl)

Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the bladder, making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC). BLC with Hexvix/Cysview, compared to standard white light cystoscopy alone, improves the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors, and better management decisions.

Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada , Hexvix is the tradename in all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the U.S. and Europe and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview in China , Chile , Australia , New Zealand and Israel . Please refer to https://photocure.com/partners/our-partners for further information on our commercial partners.

About Photocure ASA

Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com

For further information, please contact:

Dan Schneider

President and CEO

Photocure ASA

Email: [email protected]

Erik Dahl

CFO

Photocure ASA

Tel: +4745055000

Email: [email protected]

David Moskowitz

Vice President, Investor Relations

Photocure ASA

Tel: +1 202 280 0888

Email: [email protected]

Media and IR enquiries:

Geir Bjrlo

Corporate Communications ( Norway )

Tel: +47 91540000

Email: [email protected]

The following files are available for download:

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SOURCE Photocure
Women in Banking Top Teams Award

Krista Snelling Named as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women to Watch

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (the "Bank", OTCQX: SCZC), with assets of $1.75 billion , is a top-rated community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County . Today, the Bank announced two national recognitions by American Banker Magazine. Krista Snelling was named in American Banker Magazine's 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance - Watch List for 2023. Four members of the Bank's executive team received American Banker Magazine's Women in Banking Top Teams Award: Krista Snelling , President & Chief Executive Officer, Cecilia Situ , Chief Financial Officer, Mary Anne Carson , Chief Marketing Officer, and Shamara van der Voort , Chief Operations Officer.

American Banker Magazine has been recognizing women in banking and finance for 21 years. The 2023 Women to Watch list includes influential leaders at the top of banks and financial institutions in the United States and Canada. The 2023 Top Teams honor is awarded to five women banking teams from banks and financial institutions across the U.S.

Chana Schoenberger , Editor-in-Chief at American Banker, says of the honorees, "These women represent so much more than world-class business acumen and inspirational leadership skills. They symbolize the perseverance it takes to create meaningful change, the commitment needed to build stronger communities, and the creativity that's essential to drive the industry into a new age."

Santa Cruz County Bank Board Chairman Stephen Pahl remarked, "It is an honor to receive recognition within our industry from American Banker. Our leadership team is key to the Bank's success and strong performance. The recognition of our CEO and Executive team underscores the Bank's exemplary leadership and commitment to excellence, innovation, and growth."

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK

Founded in 2004, Santa Cruz County Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of West Coast Community Bancorp. It is a top-rated, locally owned and operated, full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz, California . The Bank has branches in Aptos , Capitola , Cupertino , Monterey , Salinas , Santa Cruz , Scotts Valley , and Watsonville . Santa Cruz County Bank is distinguished from "big banks" by its relationship-based service, problem-solving focus, and direct access to decision makers. The Bank is a leading SBA lender in Santa Cruz County and Silicon Valley and a top USDA lender in the state of California. As a full-service bank, Santa Cruz County Bank offers competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, construction lending, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, asset-based lending, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, mobile and online banking, bill payment, and treasury management. True to its community roots, Santa Cruz County Bank has supported regional well-being by actively participating in and donating to local not-for-profit organizations.

West Coast Community Bancorp stock is publicly traded on the OTCQX U.S. Premier Market under the symbol SCZC. Stock purchase orders may be placed online, through a brokerage firm, or through Market Makers listed in the Investor Relations section of the Bank's website. For more information about Santa Cruz County Bank visit www.sccountybank.com or contact [email protected] .

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Words such as "believe," "expect," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "predicts," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements; however, the absence of these words does not mean the statements are not forward-looking. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, the effects of and changes in monetary and fiscal policies, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board and their related effects on inflation risk, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank
Proven global brand with over two decades of experience identifies market as a prime spot for entrepreneurship through music

TACOMA , Wash. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- School of Rock , the leader in performance-based music education with over 345 schools across 15 global markets, is looking to expand its presence in Tacoma, Wash.

" Tacoma , strategically located in the Pacific Northwest 's thriving music landscape, provides an unparalleled opportunity for us to expand our music education programs," said Rob Price , CEO of School of Rock. "Our unique, performance-based approach to music education aligns not only with the city's deep-seated musical traditions but also fills a critical gap by offering aspiring musicians practical, real-world performance opportunities. With Tacoma's supportive community and an increased emphasis on arts and cultural programs, we believe we've found the ideal home to nurture the next generation of talented musicians."

School of Rock provides students of all ages an exciting and engaging music education experience, which includes bass lessons , guitar lessons , singing lessons , drum lessons , and piano lessons . Drawing from all styles of rock and roll, School of Rock students learn theory and techniques via songs from legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin , Lenny Kravitz and Led Zeppelin.

With more than two decades of experience, School of Rock offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to quickly plug into a global brand with a proven business model. A testament to its mission and culture is the fact that many of its franchise owners started their journey as parents of students enrolled in School of Rock programs. These parents witnessed the positive effects of the programs first-hand on their children, leading them to seek a larger role within the School of Rock community. Through the power of music, prospective franchise owners have the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of students and their communities as a whole.

"School of Rock isn't solely about music education; it's about helping to transform lives. In the 12+ years we've been with the brand both as parents and as franchise owners, we've had the honor of watching more than 1,000 School of Rock students evolve from humble beginners to college graduates and platinum album achievers, underscoring the power of this concept and the value of our investment," said Jon Scherrer , co-owner of School of Rock Lynnwood. "Whether you're a parent ready to witness your child's remarkable growth or an aspiring business owner looking to make a profound impact on your community, School of Rock is the place to be."

The initial investment for a School of Rock franchise is approximately $395,800  $537,400 including a $49,900 franchise fee. Ideal candidates, or group of investors, will have a net worth of $350,000 , of which $150,000 is liquid. Additionally, U.S. military veterans receive a special discount on their initial franchise fee.

About School of Rock

School of Rock helps aspiring musicians master skills, unleash creativity, and develop tools they need to thrive in life. Founded as a single school in Philadelphia, Pa. , in 1998, School of Rock has become a rapidly growing international franchise with over 500 schools open and in development across 15 global markets. Since 2009, School of Rock has grown its student count from 4,000 to over 62,000. School of Rock offers a wide variety of music lessons , including guitar lessons , singing lessons and piano lessons . The company also sells musical instruments and music gear through its GearSelect program. School of Rock is proud to support Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), and the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS). School of Rock was awarded US Patent 10,891,872 in 2021 for its innovative music education method. School of Rock also has garnered the following industry awards: 2023 Global Franchise Grand Champion; 2023, 2022 and 2021 Global Franchise's Awards Best Children's Service and Education Franchise; 2023 Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Top Children's Music Enrichment Brand; 2021 Franchise Innovation Award for Most Innovative Use of Customer-Facing Digital Tools; Franchise Business Review's 2023 Top 200 Franchises and Culture 200 list; 2020 Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 200 Franchise and the #1 Child Enrichment Franchise; and 2018 Forbes # 2 Best Franchise Medium-Level Investment Award and the #1 Music Franchise in America.

Follow School of Rock on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SchoolofRockUSA and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SchoolofRockUSA .

For more information on School of Rock visit www.SchoolofRock.com or call 866-695-5515. To learn more about School of Rock franchise opportunities head to schoolofrock.com/franchising

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SOURCE School of Rock
VANCOUVER, BC , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Scottie Resources Corp. ("Scottie" or the "Company") (TSXV: SCOT) is pleased to report assays on the Scottie Gold Mine Project in British Columbia 's Golden Triangle . The company continues to intercept high-grade gold over appreciable widths in the Blueberry Contact Zone. The 2023 exploration program focused on expanding the zone along strike and at depth and increasing confidence of the geological model through targeted drilling. The company drilled over 20,000 metres in 2023 and has over 15,500 metres of pending assays. The Blueberry Contact Zone is located 2 km north-northeast of the 100% owned and royalty free, past-producing high-grade Scottie Gold Mine, 35 kilometres north of the town of Stewart, BC , along the Granduc Road .

Highlights:

Drillhole SR23-247 intersected 26.9 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 4 metres (m) and 13.9 g/t gold over 2.04 m (Table 1, Figures 1,2)

(Table 1, Figures 1,2) Drillhole SR23-249 intersected 3.01 g/t gold over 9 m (Table 1, Figures 1,2)

(Table 1, Figures 1,2) Drillhole SR23-242 intersected 5.3 g/t gold over 4.05 m (Table 1, Figures 1,3)

(Table 1, Figures 1,3) Testing during 2023 of the main Blueberry Zone shows increased vein density relative to previous modelling.

President and CEO, Brad Rourke commented: "These additional robust intercepts from the Blueberry Contact Zone continue to support and enhance our current model and understanding of the orebody. Of the 20,000 metres drilled this season, almost 17,000 was directed towards Blueberry  taking the total drilling on the zone from 23,000 metres (prior to 2023) to almost 40,000 metre total. This additional information will allow for much more detailed modelling and interpretation of the structures and provide vectors to pursue additional high-grade zones."

Table 1: Selected results from new drill assays (uncut) from the Blueberry Contact Zone.

Drill Hole

From

(m) To

(m) Width*

(m) Gold

(g/t) Silver

(g/t) SR23-241

229.05 235.00 5.95 1.61 0 including 233.80 235.00 1.20 3.55 0

240.50 243.13 2.63 1.01 0

248.00 249.00 1.00 1.33 3 SR23-242

338.30 342.35 4.05 5.30 8 including 340.35 341.35 1.00 14.5 13

352.00 356.00 4.00 4.90 5 SR23-245

6.05 7.50 1.45 4.21 3

38.00 39.05 1.05 1.47 10 SR23-247 including 38.50 39.50 1.00 4.60 3

240.56 242.60 2.04 13.9 3

259.00 263.00 4.00 26.9 24 SR23-249

79.00 80.00 1.00 1.44 2

98.70 108.00 9.30 3.01 3 including 107.00 108.00 1.00 19.5 3

257.00 258.11 1.11 8.7 0 *True width of the intervals has not yet been established by drilling

About the Blueberry Contact Zone

The Blueberry Zone is located just 2 kilometres northeast of the 100% owned, past-producing Scottie Gold Mine located in British Columbia, Canada 's Golden Triangle region. Historic trenching and channel sampling of the Blueberry Vein include results of 103.94 g/t gold over 1.43 metres, and 203.75 g/t gold over 1.90 metres. Despite high-grade surficial samples and easy road access, the Blueberry Vein had only limited reported drilling prior to the Company's exploration work. The target was significantly advanced during Scottie's 2019 drill program when an interval grading 7.44 g/t gold over 34.78 metres was intersected in a new N-S oriented zone adjacent to the main Blueberry Vein. The drill results received from 2020 - 2023, coupled with surficial mapping and sampling suggest that the N-S mineralized trend is a first order structure that hosts an array of SW-trending, sub-parallel, sulphide-rich veins that obliquely crosscut it which host high-grade gold. AS of the end of 2022, the extent of the N-S zone, defined by the contact between andesite and siltstone units of the Hazelton and the presence of the cross-cutting sulfide-rich structures, has a drilled strike length of 1,550 metres and has been tested to 400 metres depth. The Blueberry Zone is located on the Granduc Road , 20 kilometres north of the Ascot Resources' Premier Project, which is fully financed for construction. Newcrest's Brucejack Mine is located 25 kilometres to the north.

Thomas Mumford , Ph.D., P.Geo and VP Exploration of Scottie, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the technical information contained in this news release on behalf of the Company.

ABOUT SCOTTIE RESOURCES CORP.

Scottie owns a 100% interest in the Scottie Gold Mine Property which includes the Blueberry Zone and the high-grade, past-producing Scottie Gold Mine. Scottie also owns 100% interest in the Georgia Project which contains the high-grade past-producing Georgia River Mine , as well as the Cambria Project properties and the Sulu property. Altogether Scottie Resources holds approximately 60,000 hectares of mineral claims in the Stewart Mining Camp in the Golden Triangle .

The Company's focus is on expanding the known mineralization around the past-producing mines while advancing near mine high-grade gold targets, with the purpose of delivering a potential resource.

All of the Company's properties are located in the area known as the Golden Triangle of British Columbia which is among the world's most prolific mineralized districts.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain forwardlooking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forwardlooking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forwardlooking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date such statements were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release.

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SOURCE Scottie Resources Corp.
.. First ovarian cancer therapy for ST oncology portfolio

.. Phase 2 study demonstrated oregovomab in combination with chemotherapy improved progression free survival by ~30 months compared to chemotherapy alone 1

.. Phase 3 results expected in 2025

.. Exclusive license for AU, NZ, Singapore , Malaysia , Brunei , Thailand and Vietnam

SINGAPORE and SEOUL, South Korea , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent biopharmaceutical company Specialised Therapeutics Asia Pte Ltd (ST) has signed a license deal with Korea -based CanariaBio Inc., acquiring the exclusive license to a new monoclonal antibody therapy for patients with ovarian cancer in Australia , New Zealand and in select Southeast Asian countries.

The therapy, known as oregovomab, is currently in a pivotal phase III international clinical trial known as the FLORA-5 study.2 This investigation is examining oregovomab in combination with chemotherapy agents carboplatin and paclitaxel for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Under the terms of the arrangement, ST will be responsible for all commercial, medical, regulatory and distribution activities for oregovomab in its key territories of Australia , New Zealand , Singapore , Thailand , Vietnam , Brunei and Malaysia . CanariaBio will be responsible for the manufacture and supply of oregovomab to ST.

Announcing the partnership, ST Chief Executive Officer Carlo Montagner said he was pleased CanariaBio had selected ST as a partner for this highly promising therapy.

"ST has a portfolio of anti-cancer therapies targeting multiple solid tumours with the exception of ovarian cancer, and now oregovomab becomes our first ovarian cancer agent," Mr Montagner said.

"Despite great advances in recent years, there remains a high unmet need in all our regions to treat this patient population. We look forward to working closely with our new partners at CanariaBio and pending the results of the pivotal Phase III registration study, making oregovomab available to eligible patients."

CanariaBio Chairman and CEO Michael Na said the company had selected ST for its regional expertise and strong track record commercialising oncology products.

"Formalising this agreement is a pivotal moment for our program. This collaboration is more than just a deal  it's a shared commitment as we develop novel therapies to address unmet medical needs. At CanariaBio, we've always believed in the transformative power of partnerships, and teaming up with ST reinforces this belief."

Oregovomab works by targeting and binding specifically to a surface protein known as CA-125 found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, then activating the patient's own immune system to respond.3

In the Phase 2 study, the addition of oregovomab to chemotherapy yielded a median progression-free survival of 41.8 months compared with 12.2 months with standard chemotherapy alone (HR, 0.46, P=0.0027). The overall survival hazard ratio was 0.35.1

The Phase 3 FLORA-5 study is fully enrolled and ongoing. Final results are expected in 2025.

About Specialised Therapeutics

Founded in 2007, Specialised Therapeutics is the region's largest independent specialty pharmaceutical company, providing new therapies and technologies to patients in Australia , New Zealand and across Southeast Asia . Headquartered in Singapore , ST partners with global pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic companies to bring novel healthcare opportunities to patients who are impacted by a range of diseases. ST has built a strong track record of success, navigating complex regulatory, reimbursement and commercialisation environments in its diverse regions. The ST mission is to provide specialty therapies where there is an unmet need. The company's broad therapeutic portfolio currently includes novel agents in oncology, haematology, CNS, ophthalmology and supportive care, although it is not confined to these areas.

Additional information: www.stbiopharma.com

About CanariaBio Inc.

CanariaBio Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative cancer biotherapeutics. CanariaBio's technology platform includes a portfolio of tumor antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies targeting CA-125, MUC1, PSA, and HER2/neu.

About Oregovomab

Oregovomab is a murine monoclonal antibody directed to the tumor-associated antigen CA-125 that stimulates a host cytotoxic immune response against tumor cells expressing CA-125, a biomarker commonly found in ovarian cancer (OC). In a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial, oregovomab demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free and overall survival in advanced OC treatment when administered simultaneously with first-line chemotherapy. This promising schedule is currently being investigated in a Phase 3 trial.

About FLORA-5 Phase 3 Study

The Phase 3 clinical trial called FLORA-5/GOG-3035, is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical study comparing the safety and efficacy of oregovomab versus placebo when administered in combination with specific cycles of a standard six-cycle chemotherapy regimen (paclitaxel and carboplatin) for the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal carcinoma, in conjunction with optimal debulking surgical resection. The primary and secondary endpoints, for both the adjuvant and neoadjuvant cohorts of this trial, are progression free survival and overall survival, respectively. The FLORA-5 trial is being conducted in collaboration with the Gynecologic Oncology Group Foundation in the US and IQVIA (a clinical research organization). Greater China area clinical trials are conducted in collaboration with OncoVent, a Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceuticals Group Company in China , which is also the commercialization license holder of oregovomab for China . Information on the clinical trial can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov

References:

1. Brewer M, et al. Gynecol Oncol. 2020.156(3):523-529

2. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04498117

3. www.FLORA-5.com. Last accessed October 2023 .

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SOURCE Specialised Therapeutics
LAKE FOREST , Calif. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation, Assembly Bill 1172, on October 7, 2023 . Authored by State Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D- Whittier ) and spearheaded in the Senate by Senator Josh Newman (D- Fullerton ), the bill supports California's fusion energy industry by recognizing this cutting-edge technology's safety and environmental benefits while setting the stage for the state's future regulatory framework. Home to innovators and fusion pioneer TAE Technologies, the bill's signing makes California the first U.S. state to enshrine in law the fundamental distinction between fusion energy and traditional nuclear fission. AB1172 also recognizes the diversity of scientific approaches to achieving fusion's transformative potential for the California grid for the first time.

"Fusion energy can advance California's progress towards its statutory renewable energy and climate mandates. Fusion energy development presents an opportunity to further promote California's workforce development within the renewable energy sector," the legislation states .

As the nation's first private company to pursue the commercialization of fusion energy, Southern California -based TAE Technologies applauds this legislation's passage (with unanimous support in both chambers), not only for its recognition of fusion energy's potential contributions to providing clean energy, but for recognizing that this groundbreaking industry requires bespoke regulation. Just as fusion and fission rely on opposite reactionswhere fusion combines atoms, fission splits themthere are fundamental differences in how these nuclear technologies need to be regulated, and California's lawmakers are addressing those needs for the first time. Fusion is inherently safe and deserves a well-considered regulatory path that allows fusion to be developed safely and expediently.

"With this bill's passage, California's governor and legislators are recognizing the vast potential of commercial fusion energy to be a part of a clean energy solution that brings carbon-free energy, jobs and a much-needed innovation to our state, and to our world," said TAE Technologies CEO Michl Binderbauer .

The legislation follows the recent net energy achievement of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California , and reflects a global race to harness the power of fusion for commercial use. Assembly Bill 1172 requires the California Energy Commission to identify all needed regulatory and policy actions to incorporate fusion into the state's energy system. AB1172 also defines fusion energy in California law for the first time, helping ensure that California can ensure the highest standards of safety and public trust while differentiating it from unrelated technologies like traditional nuclear fission. Notably, fusion, unlike fission, doesn't produce long-lived radioactive waste and with fusion energy, nuclear meltdown is impossible.



On the occasion of the signing, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon said: " California must continue to invest in clean, renewable sources of energy to meet our climate goals. There has been significant progress from the fusion industry, with companies now on the path to creating commercially viable systems that can safely generate clean energy for cities. This law will help California safely integrate fusion energy technology as a renewable energy source."

State Senator Josh Newman said: "Last year, I had the privilege of joining a delegation of state and federal legislators for a tour of TAE's facilities to learn more about the world-class, innovative research and development on sustainable fusion and spin-off technologies underway right here in Orange County . The progress and promise of TAE's work on commercial fusion is in line with California's stature as a global leader in research and innovation and offers tremendous promise, not only for California's future clean energy prospects but for the creation of thousands of vital, high-skilled jobs as well."

TAE Technologies is the global leader in commercial development of aneutronic fusion power, an advanced form of fusion that does not produce neutrons in its primary reaction and has several key benefits, including no radioactive waste and longer-life devices that result in lower energy prices for producers and consumers. The new law specifically requires the California Energy Commission to define and examine this distinctive, impact-forward form of fusion for the first time.

Fusion also complements renewables, because it is a zero-emission energy source that is consistently available throughout the day and seasons, regardless of the weather or sunshine. By comparison to any other source of renewable or clean energy, fusion has substantially greater power density, requires little fuel, and has minimal environmental impact.

"Controlled thermonuclear fusion is one of the very few long term, environmentally friendly and inherently safe options," the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote in a report last month , adding "In principle, fusion could generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than fission and nearly four million times more energy than burning oil and coal."

TAE is developing aneutronic fusion that will rely on hydrogen-boron (also known as proton-boron or p-B11) fuel, which is safe, abundant, non-radioactive and inexpensive. Slated to enter the marketplace in the early 2030s, TAE's planned commercial hydrogen-boron fusion energy plants will play a key role in meeting Gov. Newsom's ambitious plan to power California with 100% clean energy by 2045 . At the federal level , the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is drafting new regulations defining fusion . At every level and around the globe, leaders are recognizing the safety benefits of fusion and are drafting rules and recommendations on how to regulate it with a lighter touch than other forms of nuclear energy.

As regulations develop, TAE is hard at work creating the fusion energy machines that will power the future. Earlier this year, TAE broke ground at a new 100,000 square foot facility in Irvine, CA , to house its next fusion research machine, Copernicus, which is expected to demonstrate the viability of net energy generation from TAE's proprietary configuration around the mid-2020s. With that milestone in hand, TAE will develop its first prototype hydrogen-boron fusion power plant, Da Vinci , to deliver electricity to the grid in the early 2030s.

About TAE Technologies

TAE Technologies (pronounced T-A-E) was founded in 1998 to develop commercial fusion power with the cleanest environmental profile. The company's pioneering work represents the fastest, most practical, and economically competitive solution to bring abundant clean energy to the grid. With more than 2,300 patents filed globally and approximately 1,400 granted, more than $1.2 billion in private capital raised, five generations of National Laboratory-scale devices built along with two more in development, and an experienced team of over 600 employees, TAE is now on the cusp of delivering this transformational energy source capable of sustaining the planet for thousands of years. The company's revolutionary technologies have produced a robust portfolio of commercial innovations in large adjacent markets such as power management, energy storage, electric mobility, fast charging, life sciences, and more. TAE is based in California , and maintains international offices in the UK , EU, and Switzerland . Multidisciplinary and mission-driven by nature, TAE is leveraging proprietary science and engineering to create a bright future.

For photos and videos, visit TAE's digital press kit

Watch an explainer on TAE's path to commercializing aneutronic fusion power

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245644/TAE_Technologies.jpg

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SOURCE TAE Technologies
QINGDAO, China , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from Information Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province:

At the Fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit held in Qingdao , Shandong province from October 10th to 12th , Shandong reached a number of new cooperation projects with multinational companies, promoting negotiation and signing of 194 foreign investment projects with a total investment of US$20.6 billion .

At the opening ceremony, 24 key cooperation projects were signed, such as the French Suez Group's Jining reclaimed water desalination and reuse project, the Singapore Trafigura Group's Shanggang Trafigura International Trade Project, and the China Railway Hong Kong Jinan (starting area) green building center project. The total investment amounted to US$6.05 billion . Some of these contracted projects have a total investment of up to US$1.4 billion .

This summit is co-organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Shandong Province . With the theme of "Multinational Corporations and China ", it focuses 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, and new business environment creation. Effectiveness, international cooperation in the digital economy, and green, low-carbon, and high-quality development have been set up as six major topics, and we are committed to making this summit a more exciting, more effective, and more influential communication channel and exchange platform.

During the summit, a series of exchange and promotion activities were held, including symposiums with multinational companies, closed-door meetings, China's policy explanation and project promotion meeting for attracting foreign investment and the Yellow River Basin Investment Cooperation Promotion Meeting, Shandong Provincial Government Economic Advisory Meeting, and Shandong Province Industry Promotion Meeting, multinational company promotion meetings, guest-provincial talks, etc.

As a supporting event of the fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit, the "2023 Multinationals and China " themed exhibition organized by Shandong Council for the Promotion of International Trade was also held at the same time. The exhibition focuses on the cooperation between multinational companies and China , focusing on displaying the cutting-edge technologies, advanced products and cooperation results of multinational companies in China . The exhibition area spans 10,000 square meters, and 231 exhibiting companies display more than 1,600 exhibits, covering more than 100 cutting-edge technological achievements in intelligent manufacturing, high-end equipment, and information technology.

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NEW YORK , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirens blaring. Horns honking. Wheels screeching. Oh no! There goes an ambulance. Zoom. Zoom. Zoom. We hear them every day in NYC. Where are they going? What happened? Is anybody injured? These are the thoughts that cross our minds.

The EMS FDNY Help Fund Gala Shines a Spotlight on NYC's EMS Heroes

In New York City , there are heroes  first responders  who rush to dangerous situations every day. No matter how stressful, dangerous, or heartbreaking their day was, these same heroes get up every day to do it again. And again. And again. But who are these heroes? How do they do it? How do they cope? How many times a day did they have to stare death in the face during the pandemic and risk getting COVID or other illnesses themselves?

Have you ever wondered, "Who does a hero call when they need help? How can I help a hero?"

That is why the EMS FDNY Help Fund was established  to answer these questions and to assist and sometimes rescue NYC's EMS first responder heroes when they need support. Our mission is to ensure the security of our Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics and their families in the event of death, illness, injury, or hardship through the implementation of fundraising initiatives. In the past fiscal year, we were able to provide over $105,000 in hardship support to New York City's EMTs and Paramedics.

On Tuesday, October 17th, 2023 , at 6 pm , the EMS FDNY Help Fund will host its first major fundraising Gala event at the Classic Car Club located at 1 Pier 76, 408 12th Avenue in Manhattan. Major sponsors include Wells Fargo, Whitehall & Company LLC, National Geographic's Lindblad Expeditions, and the Classic Car Club. Prominent executives, celebrities and fellow New Yorkers have united to make this event a success.

Fund Gala Chair , Indre Saviciute, said, "We are proud to announce that we have reached our targeted goal and, with one last push, we hope to exceed our goal to sell tickets and tables to the event. There is still time to dig deep, open your hearts and participate in this event. Tickets are $1,000 each and include an awards dinner and a silent auction. Tables seating 10 start at $10,000 . We are grateful for the generous supporters who are making this event a huge success."

Danielle Gustafson , Executive Director, added, "Since the inception of the Fund, most of the fundraising has come from the EMS members themselves donating to the fund to support each other. This is our first major outreach to our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and the broader NYC community to appeal and provide them the opportunity to show their gratitude to the EMS first responder heroes and multiply the efforts that have been started. There are over 4,000 members of the EMS community in New York City . Many need our assistance now  this is your chance to be a hero's hero and show your support for the NYC EMS."

The four-hour Gala will include several special events, including:

An abbreviated preview of the Sarah Jessica Parker-narrated film, "Honorable But Broken: EMS in Crisis," an upcoming documentary produced by Bryony Gilbey , a former CBS News 60 Minutes, ABC News, and Discovery Channel producer, and Rich Diefenbach , a former deputy bureau chief for CBS News in New York & Los Angeles . They were inspired to produce this film after learning about the plight of EMS workers further stretched to the brink with the pandemic. The film is narrated by American actress and producer Sarah Jessica Parker , named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2022 and a six-time Golden Globe Award winner.

A speech and book signing by acclaimed author of Riding the Lightning, Anthony Almojera. Almojera remains an active FDNY EMS lieutenant and vice president of AFSCME DC37 Local 3621, the New York City Fire Department's EMS officers' union. He has been profiled on the front page of the Washington Post and featured by CNN, Al Jazeera, USA Today, NPR, the BBC, and numerous other media outlets. Born in Brooklyn , he is a practicing Buddhist and works a third job as an on-site paramedic at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens . He lives in Brooklyn .

Awards dinner speeches by Honorable FDNY Executives including Laura Kavanagh - New York City Fire Commissioner. Laura Kavanagh is the 34th Fire Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), the first woman to hold the position; and Paul Miano - Assistant Chief of EMS at New York City Fire Department.

Special Presentations by the EMS Ceremonial Unit.

Demonstrations by EMS Cardiac Units, CPR Units, and Canine Units.

A modern working EMS Ambulance will be on display, as well as the opportunity to try on various emergency apparel required for emergency response. The emergency apparel is sure to be a hit for fashionistas at the step-and-repeat and will encourage sharing of event images on your favorite social media platform.

For more information on how you can help, either by joining the event or otherwise donating, please visit https://emsfdnyhelpfund.com/ . Link to the event: https://donorbox.org/events/469913 .

About the EMS FDNY Help Fund: The EMS FDNY Help Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting New York City's EMS first responders and their families in times of need. Through fundraising initiatives, the organization provides financial assistance to EMTs and Paramedics facing death, illness, injury, or hardship.

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SOURCE EMS FDNY Help Fund
OMAHA, Neb. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) will release third quarter 2023 financial and operating results on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 , at 7:45 a.m. ET . The company's management team will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:45 a.m. ET .

Parties interested in participating via teleconference may dial 877-407-8293. International callers may dial 201-689-8349. A live webcast of the presentation and materials will be available in the investor relations section of Union Pacific's website at www.up.com/investor. A replay of the audio webcast will be available shortly thereafter.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com.

www.up.com

www.facebook.com/unionpacific

www.twitter.com/unionpacific

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SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation
VERO BEACH, Fla. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the first days of fall arrived, residents of Watercrest Columbia Assisted Living and Memory Care celebrated an authentic Oktoberfest experience from the comforts of their own luxury senior living community.

The sights, sounds, and smells of Oktoberfest filled the air, engaging residents in a multisensory experience that enlivened the senses with the traditional music and iconic tastes of Germany. Guests donned their most authentic German attire, dancing to Polka music and tasting authentic German dishes and lagers. Laughter and lively conversations filled the air as residents and guests exclaimed Prost! and clinked their glasses in celebration.

The team at Watercrest Columbia recognizes the importance of honoring traditions like Oktoberfest as part of their signature program Life Silhouettes. When a resident joins the senior living community, the care team connects with family and friends to discover that individual's life story, including favorite music, personal interests and talents, treasured memories and beloved holidays.

"Celebrating momentous occasions instills joy, purpose, and personal connection amongst residents, associates, and family members and is an essential element to our multi-sensory programming," says Sheena Jeffries , Regional Director of Engagement for Watercrest Senior Living.

Watercrest Columbia is an award-winning senior living community offering 75 assisted living and 32 memory care apartments with premium accommodations, resort-style amenities and world-class care. Watercrest Columbia was voted 'Best Memory Care Community' in the 2022 and 2023 Best of Columbia Awards and was honored by U.S. News & World Report as a 2022-23 Best Assisted Living Community, achieving the highest possible rating for Assisted Living.

Designed by LifeBUILT Architecture, Watercrest Columbia includes a stunning promenade, pool, fireplace, signature water wall, multiple dining venues, children's play space, grand balconies and Southern style outdoor living spaces. Watercrest's uniquely designed Market Street Plaza , showcases an 'outdoor' streetscape with numerous LifeBUILT programming touches; a highlight and crucial element of their multi-sensory memory care programming.

Watercrest Columbia is ideally located at 1951 Clemson Road in Columbia , South Carolina. For community information, or to schedule a tour call 803-882-2139.

About Watercrest Senior Living Group

Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming. A six-time certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest Senior Living Group specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. Visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com.

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SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group
EXTON, Pa. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST), a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration, today announced that it will release third-quarter 2023 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, October 26, 2023 , and will follow with a conference call to discuss the results and business expectations at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time .

The live audio-only webcast will be made available via the Company's Investor Relations website here or by clicking here.

To participate in the conference call by asking questions to Management, please register in advance by clicking here. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that will be used to access the call.

Management will refer to a slide presentation during the call, which will be made available on the day of the call. To view the presentation, select "Presentations" in the "Investors" section of the Company's website. A replay of the conference call and webcast will be available on the Company's website for 30 days.

A live audio webcast will be available in the "Investors" section of the Company's website at www.westpharma.com. Replay of the webcasts will be available for approximately 90 days after the events.

About West

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative, high-quality injectable solutions and services. As a trusted partner to established and emerging drug developers, West helps ensure the safe, effective containment and delivery of life-saving and life-enhancing medicines for patients. With 10,000 team members across 50 sites worldwide, West helps support our customers by delivering approximately 47 billion components and devices each year.

2023 marks West's 100-year milestone of innovation and the critical role it continues to play in healthcare and the patient experience. Headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania , West in its fiscal year 2022 generated $2.89 billion in net sales. West is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: WST) and is included in the Standard & Poor's 500 index. For more information, visit www.westpharma.com.

All trademarks and registered trademarks used in this release are the property of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. or its subsidiaries, in the United States and other jurisdictions, unless otherwise noted.

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SOURCE West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
PALM BAY, Fla. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wire 3, a provider of fiber optic internet as fast as the speed of light, is excited to announce its expansion to the city of Palm Bay, Florida , and its surrounding neighborhoods. This move marks a significant milestone in Wire 3's mission to connect communities across Central Florida with top-tier internet services, and makes Palm Bay the next 10-Gig city that Wire 3 will begin constructing.

Wire 3 anticipates that its network in Brevard County will be an investment in the community of more than $150 million . As soon as segments of its network are completed, residents will be able to experience the true power of fiber optic technology. Wire 3's state-of-the-art infrastructure will bring unparalleled symmetrical internet speeds of up to 10 Gbps (10 gigabits per second or 10x what the cable company offers), seamless streaming, and reliable connectivity to homes and businesses alike.

"We are delighted to bring our high-speed internet service to Palm Bay and surrounding areas," said Jai Ramachandran , CEO of Wire 3. "Our goal is to empower communities with reliable and fast internet access, fostering growth and digital opportunities for all."

Wire 3's expansion to Palm Bay is not only about delivering exceptional internet experiences but also about becoming a valued partner in the city's progress. As a community-focused provider, Wire 3 is committed to supporting local businesses and contributing to the area's economic development.

The construction process will begin in the coming months, and Wire 3 is dedicated to ensuring a smooth and efficient deployment. Residents of Palm Bay and nearby regions can stay informed about the project's updates by visiting the Wire 3 website and signing up for the latest news.

Embrace this exciting new era of connectivity as Wire 3 continues to build stronger relationships, one community at a time.

For more information about Wire 3 and its services, please visit www.wire3.com or contact Ryan Dendievel .

About Wire 3: Wire 3 is a leading fiber optic internet provider in Central Florida , dedicated to delivering lightning-fast connectivity and exceptional customer service. With a focus on creating better online experiences, Wire 3 is committed to bridging the digital divide and enhancing the lives of communities.

Press Contact: Ryan Dendievel

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Wire 3 Holdings
FILE PHOTO: The 76th Venice Film Festival - TV show "Zero Zero Zero" out of competition - Venice, Italy, September 5, 2019 - Writer Roberto Saviano poses. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) -Italian anti-mafia author and human rights campaigner Roberto Saviano was on Thursday convicted of libel and handed a symbolic fine for calling Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a "bastard" over her hardline views on immigration.

A Rome court imposed a 1,000-euro ($1,055) penalty on Saviano, but his defence lawyer Antonio Nobile told Reuters he will not have to pay it as it is part of a suspended sentence.

Nobile also said the guilty ruling would be appealed.

The 44-year-old writer and his supporters had presented the case as a test of freedom of expression in a country where defamation can be punished with up to three years' imprisonment, even if it usually results in a fine.

The prosecution had asked for a 10,000-euro penalty, while Meloni had asked for 50,000 euros in damages, lawyer Nobile said.

Meloni sued Saviano, calling him a "serial hater", when she was in opposition, in response to a 2020 TV interview in which he lambasted her and fellow right-wing leader Matteo Salvini for their attacks on migrant rescue-charity vessels.

"All the bullshit (said about NGOs), sea taxis, cruises (for migrants)," he said. "All I can say is: bastards, how could you? Meloni, Salvini: bastards."

Saviano spoke after seeing footage of a sea rescue by Spanish NGO Open Arms in which a six-month-old baby from Guinea died before he could be airlifted to Italy.

Last year, Meloni told a newspaper she saw no reason to drop the charges - as she has been urged to by the PEN International writers' association - saying judges could decide "impartially" even in a case involving the prime minister.

Saviano, who has lived under 24-hour police protection since his 2006 breakthrough book "Gomorrah", an expose on the Naples mafia that was adapted into a movie and a TV series, has a history of clashing with right-wing politicians.

He is a defendant in another libel case brought against him by Salvini, involving a separate incident from the 2020 TV interview, while he won in May a civil defamation case against Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. ($1 = 0.9475 euro)

(Reporting by Marco Carta and Alvise Armellini; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Suzanne McGee

(Reuters) - Large, established asset managers that have been slow to cash in on investor demand for exchange-traded funds are now trying to grab a slice of the market with a flurry of new ETFs and also by converting existing mutual funds into ETFs.

Goldman Sachs and Calamos Investment Management recently established actively managed ETFs. Morgan Stanley announced plans to convert two of its actively managed mutual funds into ETFs.

The moves demonstrate the eagerness with which asset management firms that are relatively new entrants are embracing ETFs, which are cheaper and more liquid for investors than traditional mutual funds.

Around 75% of the 376 new ETFs launched this year through Oct. 6 were active, according to Morningstar Direct. That means that rather than tracking an index, a manager or team is selecting assets aimed at reflecting an investment strategy or outperforming a specific benchmark.

That compares with 63% last year and 36% in 2019 when U.S. securities regulators opened the doors to the product.

Lower fees, strong liquidity and transparency have steadily lured investors away from traditional mutual funds and into ETFs over the past five years. U.S. ETF assets have doubled to reach $7.4 trillion. That accounts for nearly 30% of assets managed by all U.S. firms in mutual funds or ETFs, according to Morningstar.

Mutual fund assets, meanwhile, fell 14% to $15.3 trillion.

Traditional asset managers that built their reputations offering mutual funds are now trying to respond.

"Some industry participants are playing catch-up," said Brendan McCarthy, head of ETF distribution at Goldman Sachs Asset Management which launched a small cap active ETF last week. It manages six other active ETFs, and 36 ETFs in total.

While active ETFs only account for 6% of the market, their assets have grown at a rate of 23% so far this year, said Bryan Armour, an Morningstar analyst. That compares to asset growth of only 4.5% for the traditional passive index ETFs in the same period.

Many established asset management firms eager to capture a share of the rapidly-growing ETF market have identified their stockpicking skills as a competitive advantage.

"This is very much the direction of travel for us," said McCarthy.

Calamos Investment Management is another established manager trying to leverage its brand name and expertise investing in what are known as "convertible bonds", securities that pay out yields like bonds but that can be swapped for the underlying stocks. It rolled out an active ETF to draw on that expertise last week.

We think this is something distinctive, that draws on our analytical knowledge of the market, said Matthew Kaufman, who joined Calamos in January to head its fledgling ETF business.

Converting an existing mutual fund is another way traditional managers can catch up while also retaining star managers, said Aniket Ullal, head of ETF data and analytics at CFRA, an investment research firm.

"Conversions give a firm the opportunity to leapfrog up the leaderboard," Ullal added.

Assets held in converted ETFs now tally some $78 billion, compared with $40 billion at the end of 2022, Ullal said.

Morgan Stanley is among the latest managers to join the conversion rush. It plans to transform its Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio fund and the Short Duration Municipal Income Portfolio fund, which have nearly $750 million in assets, into ETFs. Morgan Stanley didn't return calls seeking comment.

(Reporting by Suzanne McGee; editing by Michelle Price, Ira Iosebashvili and David Gregorio)
"Some other escapees are held at the North Korean consulates in other countries facing the risk of repatriation," she added. They face harsh punishment including torture if they are repatriated, she warned.

Salmon was speaking in a Zoom meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for the North Korean Refugees and Human Rights in Washington last Thursday. "I received information that as many as 2,000 North Korean escapees are currently detained in China," she told lawmakers.

Some 2,000 North Korean defectors are held at detention centers in China, according to Elizabeth Salmon, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea.

A source in China told the Chosun Ilbo that hundreds more North Korean defectors who had been taking shelter from the COVID pandemic over the past year have been caught by Chinese police.

"Defectors held in detention facilities in three northeastern provinces of China are facing a high risk of repatriation to the North once the pandemic recedes," the source added.

Salmon also expressed concern about the oppression of North Korean women who depend on outdoor markets because of the regime's excessive response to the pandemic.

"North Korea will not suddenly open to the external world," she said. "However, there will be a window of opportunity to engage and to make small steps. We should not give up on seeking engagement with [North Korea]."

A Peruvian law scholar, Salmon assumed her mandate on Aug. 1, replacing Tomas Ojea Quintana. During her latest visit to South Korea last month, she discussed the North Korean human rights situation with Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, Foreign Minister Park Jin, and the families of South Korean prisoners of war, abduction victims and a South Korean official killed by North Korean troops in the West Sea in 2020.
By Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Emma-Victoria Farr and Amy-Jo Crowley

LONDON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Brooks Macdonald is working with a defence adviser on its strategy amid takeover interest, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The British wealth manager, which oversees close to 17 billion pounds in client assets, has lined up investment bank Raymond James, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Raymond James has had a longer-term mandate for financial advice which recently developed into defence strategy, one of the people said.

It is unclear whether any approaches have been made. Brooks Macdonald and Raymond James declined to comment.

Shares in Brooks Macdonald have dipped since peaking in late 2021 as market conditions soured. They are down almost 25% this year even as the company posted client asset gains, giving it a market cap of less than 300 million pounds.

The company's shares rose as much as 8.8% to 17.95 pounds Friday morning after the Reuters report.

Including debt, the company trades at about 6 times its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), according to LSEG data, lower than some other wealth managers.

Britain's fragmented wealth management industry has seen increased consolidation in recent years driven by both private equity and strategic players.

This has led to a number of London-listed firms being taken private, such as Charles Stanley and Brewin Dolphin.

Led by chief executive Andrew Shepherd, London-based Brooks Macdonald offers financial planning and investment management services to high-net-worth individuals, as well as pension funds, institutions and trusts.

The group posted increases in both revenue and assets under management for the 12 months to June 30, but cost pressures weighed on profit, according to its latest annual results.

Client assets grew further in the following three months thanks to investment performance, offsetting client outflows in its UK funds business.

(Reporting by Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Emma-Victoria Farr and Amy-Jo Crowley. Editing by Anousha Sakoui, Kirsten Donovan and David Evans)
FILE PHOTO: A man check his phone near an Apple logo outside its store in Shanghai, China September 13, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo

By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) - The California Institute of Technology has reached an agreement to end a patent lawsuit against Apple and Broadcom over Wi-Fi chips, according to a filing in California federal court.

Pasadena, California-based Caltech sued Apple and Broadcom in 2016, alleging that millions of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and other Apple devices using Broadcom chips infringed its wireless-communication patents.

Caltech said in the Wednesday filing that it would dismiss the billion-dollar case with prejudice, which means that it cannot be refiled.

Both sides told the court in August that they had reached a "potential settlement" without disclosing additional details. Representatives for Caltech, Apple and Broadcom did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

A jury ordered Apple to pay $837.8 million and Broadcom to pay $270.2 million in patent-infringement damages in 2020.

A U.S. appeals court overturned the award last year and ordered a new trial on damages, finding the amount was "legally unsupportable." A trial that had been scheduled to start this June was postponed indefinitely in May.

Caltech settled a related lawsuit against Samsung in August. The university has also sued Microsoft, Dell and HP over its Wi-Fi patents in cases that are still pending.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by David Bario and Josie Kao)
BEIJING (Reuters) -There are no "so-called defectors" in China, a spokesperson for its foreign ministry said on Thursday, responding to a query about a report that the country had deported North Korean defectors.

The remarks came after South Korean news agency Yonhap said on Wednesday that China sent back about 600 North Korean defectors this week, despite repeated calls from Seoul against forced repatriation.

Speaking about people from North Korea who entered illegally for economic reasons, China had always handled the issue according to law, the ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said.

"China has always maintained a responsible attitude, and dealt with them properly," Wang told a regular press meeting.

Such actions were in line with the principles of domestic and international law and humanitarianism, he added.

In response to media reports about the deportation of some North Korean defectors, South Korea's foreign ministry said it maintained discussions with China to stop them from being sent home against their will.

"The government will continue to make diplomatic efforts to protect North Korean defectors," the ministry told Reuters in a statement, adding that it was working to verify the reports.

(Reporting by Andrew Hayley; additional reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Seoul; Writing by Bernard Orr and Liz Lee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Clarence Fernandez)
FILE PHOTO: Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

BEIJING (Reuters) -China has published proposed security requirements for firms offering services powered by generative artificial intelligence, including a blacklist of sources that cannot be used to train AI models.

Generative AI, popularised by the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot, learns how to take actions from past data, and creates new content like text or images based on that training.

The requirements were published on Wednesday by the National Information Security Standardization Committee, which includes officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the police.

The committee proposes conducting a security assessment of each body of content used to train public-facing generative AI models, with those containing "more than 5% of illegal and harmful information" to be blacklisted.

Such information includes "advocating terrorism" or violence, as well as "overthrowing the socialist system", "damaging the country's image", and "undermining national unity and social stability".

The draft rules also state that information censored on the Chinese internet should not be used to train models.

Its publication comes just over a month after regulators allowed several Chinese tech firms, including search engine giant Baidu, to launch their generative AI-driven chatbots to the public.

The CAC has since April said it wanted firms to submit security assessments to authorities before launching generative AI-driven services to the public.

In July, the cyberspace regulator published measures governing such services that analysts said were far less onerous than measures outlined in an April draft.

The draft security requirements published on Wednesday require organisations training these AI models to seek the consent of individuals whose personal information, including biometric data, is used for training purposes.

They also lay out detailed guidelines on how to avoid intellectual property violations.

Countries globally are grappling with setting guardrails for the technology. China sees AI as an area in which it wants to rival the U.S, and has set it sights on becoming a world leader in the field by 2030.

(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista. Editing by Jane Merriman and Jan Harvey)
FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a reception dinner at the Great Hall of the People ahead of China's National Day in Beijing, China on September 28, 2023. Jade Gao/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping has called for speeding up efforts to make breakthroughs in core technologies, state media reported on Thursday, amid tensions with the United States.

During a speech on promoting the development of the Yangtze River economic belt, Xi also reaffirmed the goal of modernising China's supply chains, developing advanced manufacturing and strategic emerging industries, state media said.

Faced with increased technology curbs imposed by the United States, President Xi has repeatedly stressed the need for self-reliance in technology to curb the use of foreign technology.

Provinces and cities along the Yangtze River must shoulder the responsibility for food, energy security as well as supply chain security, state media quoted Xi as saying.

The regions should deepen energy cooperation, promote clean and efficient use of coal, focus on hydropower, and combine traditional energy with new energy such as wind power, Xi said.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom and Kevin Yao; editing by Jason Neely and Sharon Singleton)
By Michele Kambas and Yiannis Kourtoglou

LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) - More than 2,500 Israelis have sought sanctuary in Cyprus where the local Jewish community has come to their aid, the chief rabbi on the island said on Thursday.

A less than 40-minute plane trip away from Israel, the sleepy seaside town of Larnaca has received droves of Israelis since Saturday, when Hamas militants breached the barrier fence from Gaza and went on a bloody rampage through Israeli towns.

Larnaca, hosting Cyprus's biggest airport, has seen a swell of expatriate Israelis, including reservists, using it as a transit point to get on the next available flight to Tel Aviv. It has also seen an influx from Israel of people who lost their homes, Chief Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin said.

"Everyone opened their doors, including many many Cypriots," Raskin told Reuters.

Raskin, who has been in Cyprus for more than 20 years, said there were about 2,500 Israelis in the Larnaca area at present, including traumatised children.

"It is something above any understanding... this takes us back to Auschwitz, the Holocaust, to pictures that we were hoping to never see again."

Perched on the edge of the volatile Middle East, Cyprus has seen little turmoil since it was torn apart in a Turkish invasion in 1974 which followed a brief Greek-inspired coup.

But Raskin signalled his concern about two gatherings held in the centre of the town this week attended by Arabs and which celebrated recent events. "More than 500,000 Jewish people visited this year... We want to continue to give these people a feeling this is a place that we are welcome," he said.

The community was encouraged that Cypriot authorities were working on providing incoming Israelis with accommodation but as of Wednesday night, Larnaca itself had reached full capacity.

"We are urgently seeking more accommodation, anyone that can even offer a bedroom in a big house... we don't have where to put people to sleep," he said.

"I just got off the phone and there are another 150 people on their way here now, with zero plans of where to stay, where to eat and how long. Nothing."

An informal network of Israelis were working in every Cypriot city to offer first response aid and accommodation, he said. "For us as a community we need to open arms, hug them all and receive them safely."

(Writing by Michele Kambas; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Ecuadorean presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez waves Ecuador's flag as vice presidential candidate Andres Arauz looks on during a campaign rally, in Quito, Ecuador October 11, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro/File Photo

By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's two presidential candidates - leftist Luisa Gonzalez and business heir Daniel Noboa - will officially close their campaigns with rallies and vehicle caravans on Thursday, as both promise to fight worsening insecurity and unemployment.

The campaign ahead of Sunday's election has been marked by violence and threats against candidates, including anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio's murder before the August first round.

Seven suspects jailed in the case were subsequently also killed.

Banana heir Noboa, 35, has led recent polling, though some surveys put voting intention for him and Gonzalez within the margin of error.

He has pledged to attract foreign investment, create jobs, particularly for young people, and use technology to combat rising crime, which the outgoing government has blamed on drug gangs.

Noboa closed campaigning in Quito on Wednesday with a caravan around the city, though a technical issue with his flight from Guayaquil significantly delayed his agenda. He is expected to hold a rally in Santa Elena on Thursday evening.

"Our proposals are very clear and that's why we have the confidence of the majority of the Ecuadorean people, the majority of young people," Noboa said on social media. "We are the new generation!"

Gonzalez, who won 34% of the vote in the first round and is a protege of former President Rafael Correa, asked her supporters to "care for votes in every corner of the country."

Gonzalez has promised to bring back the high social spending which characterized Correa's decade in power and use $2.5 billion from Ecuador's international reserves to shore up the economy.

"Someone who hasn't suffered hunger, who hasn't gone to look for work, doesn't know how to transform this country," Gonzalez told supporters at her closing Quito campaign event on Wednesday, amid a heavy downpour. "This Sunday is not just any election, we are here on our feet resisting because we want to transform the country."

Gonzalez will visit Manta and Guayaquil on Thursday.

More than 13 million people are obliged to vote in the contest, whose winner will govern during a shortened term until May 2025.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Josie Kao)
CAIRO (Reuters) -Egypt said on Thursday it was directing international aid flights for Gaza to an airport in northern Sinai, though delivery of relief into the Palestinian enclave has so far been hampered by Israeli bombardments around the border.

The Rafah crossing between Sinai and Gaza remained open, the Egyptian foreign ministry said, adding that Egypt had asked Israel to avoid targeting the Palestinian side of the crossing after strikes that prevented normal operations there.

Israel's massive bombardment and imposition of a total siege on the Gaza Strip - after a devastating Hamas attack on Israel - has caused alarm in Egypt, which shares a border with the south of the narrow coastal territory and controls the main exit point for the 2.3 million people living there.

Stocks of aid and medicine in Gaza, as well as fuel for generators, have been running low.

Al Arish airport in northern Sinai, about 45 km (28 miles) from the Gaza border, was prepared to receive aid deliveries from Qatar and Jordan, but these would not leave the airport until humanitarian corridors had been established, Egyptian security sources said.

They said Egypt and Jordan had received assurances from the United States that aid would be delivered to Gaza, without giving details. It was unclear whether there had been any progress in talks between Egypt, the U.S. and others aimed at securing a limited ceasefire to allow deliveries into the enclave.

One flight from Jordan arrived on Thursday carrying medical supplies to be handed to the Red Crescent, one security source and a Red Crescent official said.

Israel, retaliating for a deadly incursion by Hamas gunmen across the border last weekend, said on Thursday there would be no humanitarian break to its siege of Gaza until all hostages seized by the militants were freed.

CROSSINGS INTERRUPTED

Egypt, a key mediator between Israel and the Palestinians during periods of unrest in Gaza, has said it is trying to ensure the delivery of relief and humanitarian access across the border, and local authorities have prepared some health facilities in northern Sinai. But Cairo has also signalled its opposition to any mass exodus of Gazans south into Sinai.

Movement of registered travellers through Rafah, which is subject to tight controls, has been interrupted since Israeli air strikes hit the Palestinian side of the crossing earlier this week.

"From the beginning, we emphasised the continued opening of the Rafah crossing to provide humanitarian aid, and the crossing will remain open until we meet the urgent humanitarian needs of Gaza Strip," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in a press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart.

Since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade, restricting the passage of people and goods in and out of the territory.

In a phone call with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed the need to guarantee humanitarian services and relief to the Palestinians in Gaza, Sisi's office said in a statement.

Sisi also informed Sunak of Egypt's "continuing efforts to push for the pursuit of calm and utmost restraint to prevent sliding into bloodshed, the price of which will be paid by more innocent people, and whose consequences will extend to the entire region", the statement said.

(Reporting by Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Ahmed Elimam, Yusri Mohamed, Emily Rose and Nadine Awadalla; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens, Angus MacSwan, Mark Heinrich and Jonathan Oatis)
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters about the violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in The Hague, Netherlands October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw

By Anthony Deutsch and Stephanie van den Berg

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (Reuters) -The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over potential war crimes carried out by Hamas militants in Israel and Israelis in the Gaza Strip, even though Israel is not a member state, the ICC's top prosecutor told Reuters on Thursday.

The occupied Palestinian territories including the Gaza Strip fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC, meaning the court has the authority to prosecute Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza.

"If there is evidence that Palestinians, whether they're Hamas or Al Quds Brigades or the armed wing of Hamas or any other person or any other national of any other state party, has committed crimes. Yes, we have jurisdiction wherever they're committed, including on the territory of Israel," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in an interview.

In his first comments since Hamas launched brutal attacks on Israel on Saturday and Israel responded with devastating bombings of the Gaza Strip, he said the images are "heartbreaking".

"It's horrendous what's going on, what we're seeing on our television screens. There has to be a legal process to determine criminal responsibility," he said.

"One doesn't need to be the prosecutor of the ICC. Any human being's heart must be chilled and frozen and heartbroken at seeing the pictures that are coming out of Israel and Palestine these last few days," he said.

A court of last resort, the ICC prosecutes individuals for alleged criminal conduct when its 123 member states are unwilling or unable to prosecute themselves.

Many of the world's major powers are not members, including China, the United States, Russia, India and Egypt. Even if the ICC were to issue warrants in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the court has no police force and would rely on member states to make arrests.

The court has had an ongoing investigation in the occupied Palestinian territories into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity there since 2021. But Israel doesn't recognise the court.

When the 2021 probe was announced, Khan's predecessor said the ICC was examining allegations of war crimes committed during 2014 hostilities in Gaza by Israeli forces, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. The current violence also falls under its mandate, Khan said.

Citing his own Muslim faith, Khan appealed to all sides to follow religious teachings, calling for the protection of the innocent, as well as abiding by accepted international norms for the conduct of war.

"One cannot deliberately target civilians or civilian objects. One can't rape or kill, or mutilate or dismember," he said. "Wilful killing, hostage taking are grave breaches of the Geneva Convention and one has to comply with the law."

Asked if he had a message for the warring parties in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Khan called for reflection and calm.

"This is what the moment needs, cool leadership, humanity and the realisation that the law will judge all of us," he said.

(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Palestinians look at the destruction of a house in the aftermath of a strike amid the conflict with Israel in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip after the Islamist militant group Hamas sent its fighters across the border early Saturday, where they killed more than 1,300 Israeli civilians and soldiers.

The Palestinian Gaza Strip has been a frontline of conflict with Israel for decades and cut off from much of the outside world for 16 years. Here's a primer on the coastal enclave's recent history, and its long-running economic isolation:

MODERN GAZA EMERGES THROUGH CONFLICT

The Gaza Strip's boundaries were established in the wake of the 1948 war between the newly declared state of Israel and Arab countries, when Egyptian forces seized the sparsely populated 25 mile (40 km) long territory including Gaza City.

Egypt held Gaza for most of the following two decades, until Israel seized it during a 1967 war. It became a focal point of Palestinian uprisings that kicked off in 1988 and again in 2000.

With a comprehensive peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians seemingly out of reach, Israel evacuated all its settlers and soldiers from Gaza in 2005.

THE BLOCKADE STARTS

After its unilateral exit, Israel imposed a temporary land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza, imposing curbs on exports and severely restricting who could access the territory.

Citing security concerns, the blockade became permanent from 2007 onwards after Hamas, which seeks the destruction of Israel, took control of the Gaza Strip, defeating fighters loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas in a brief civil war.

Egypt, which shares a 12-km border with Gaza, has largely supported the blockade, viewing Hamas as a threat to its own stability.

LIVING CONDITIONS

Human Rights Watch has said Israel turned Gaza into "open-air prison", with Egypt's help, for the enclave's fast growing population, which is currently put at 2.3 million people.

In a 2023 report, U.N agencies estimated that 58% of Gaza Strip residents required humanitarian assistance with 29% of Gazan households living in extreme or catastrophic conditions, the top two tiers of severity, against 10% in 2022.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says food assistance is required by 1.3 million people. More than 90% of water in Gaza is unfit for drinking, the Palestinian Water Authority says.

Very few Palestinians get permits to visit relatives or friends in the West Bank, but Israel had recently increased the number of work permits for Gazans. For most Gaza residents, the Rafah crossing to Egypt is the only gateway out, but travellers must register weeks in advance, and the waiting list is huge.

In August, Egypt allowed 19,608 exits from Gaza, the highest number since July 2012, according to U.N. data. Israel allowed 58,606 exits, mainly for day labourers, 65% above the monthly average in 2022, but 88% below 2000 levels.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT

The long-running restrictions have severely limited Palestinian access to the Israeli labour market that had been a big source of employment prior to the 2000 uprising.

Gaza's unemployment rate is among the highest in the world, according to OCHA. The jobless rate stands at 46%, and is higher still among youth at around 70%, latest data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says.

Per capita income is around a quarter the level in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to IMF estimates.

Israel has applied restrictions on imports into Gaza of goods which it has deemed could be put to military use, including concrete and iron bars. Ironically, ahead of the Hamas assault, this year saw a rise in imports. Likewise, Gaza's export market had looked set to record its highest level since 2007.

TOTAL SIEGE

On Monday, Israel announced a total siege, blocking the entry of food, fuel and water into Gaza and shuttering all crossing points. Egypt has also sealed its crossing into Gaza.

The enclave's only power plant has been switched off and hospitals are running out of fuel for emergency generators.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has appealed for fuel to be let in for the hospitals, but Israel has ruled this out unless hostages seized by Hamas are freed.

The U.N. emergency food agency has called for the creation of humanitarian corridors to bring food into Gaza, warning supplies could rapidly run out.

(Writing by Tom Perry and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Dozens of people evacuated their homes in Argentina's central Cordoba province on Tuesday as wildfires grew amid an intense heat wave.

Images and video from the area showed massive flames in hills surrounding populated areas as firefighters worked to battle the fire that had reached some homes in the region. It was not immediately clear how many homes had been affected by the flames.

A total of 960 firefighters were working to combat the wildfires with eight firefighting planes and two helicopters, the provincial government said Tuesday evening. Local media said dozens of people had been evacuated.

There was hope that the rain expected Tuesday night and Wednesday morning could help calm the fires that had spread rapidly due to strong winds.
FILE PHOTO: A woman holds her smart phone which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken February 24, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration/Files/File Photo

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is near the halfway mark in its court battle with Alphabet's Google, which it has accused of breaking antitrust law with the tactics it used to dominate online search and some aspects of advertising.

In the trial that started on Sept. 12 and is scheduled to go to about mid-November, the Justice Department accused Google of manipulating online auctions - a multibillion dollar industry dominated by Google - with these formulas to favor its own bottom line.

Here are five important points raised so far during the trial:

GOOGLE PAYS BILLIONS TO PROTECT ITS SEARCH MONOPOLY

Witnesses from Verizon, Android maker Samsung and Google itself testified about the company's estimated $10 billion in annual payments to ensure that its search is the default on smartphones and browsers. CEOs of two privacy-oriented search engines, DuckDuckGo and Neeva, argued that these defaults hurt their businesses. Neeva shut down this year.

Google's James Kolotouros, who negotiated search distribution agreements with Android device makers and carriers, testified the agreements gave Google search exclusivity, and Google monitored compliance with them.

GOOGLE'S SEARCH DOMINANCE LED TO AD CLOUT, AND HIGHER PRICES

Google executive Adam Juda said that it used a formula to determine Long Term Value - including ad quality - to determine which advertiser would win the quarter-second auction to place an ad in front of a user. Advertisers are not told their LTV, and Google uses "tunings" to adjust the price of ads, he said.

Joshua Lowcock, global chief media officer for UM Worldwide, testified that Google dominated the market for ads placed alongside searches and has increased prices in the last 10 years. Google's vice president and general manager of ads, Jerry Dischler, acknowledged that Google earned more than $100 billion in 2020 from search ads.

GOOGLE'S MASS OF SEARCH QUERIES COULD BE AN AI ADVANTAGE

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified that access to search queries - like Google has on a massive scale - would not only help it improve its own search engine Bing, but could help it dominate artificial intelligence.

He said improving artificial intelligence requires computing power, or servers, and data to train software.

GOOGLE'S DEFENSE NO. 1: WE'RE BIG BECAUSE WE'RE GOOD

Google has argued that the government was wrong to say it broke the law to hold onto its massive market share, saying its search engine was wildly popular because of its quality and that dissatisfied users can easily switch.

Apple's senior vice president of services Eddie Cue praised Google's search and acknowledged under questioning that the smartphone maker had meetings with Microsoft and DuckDuckGo, which uses Bing searches, but found them inadequate.

GOOGLE'S DEFENSE NO. 2: DEFAULTS ARE NOT THAT USEFUL

While Google pays billions of dollars per year to be the default search engine on Apple and Android devices, its lawyers have argued that being the default does not actually mean that users will stick around if they are dissatisfied.

John Schmidtlein, Google's lead lawyer, said Microsoft's success in becoming the default on some Verizon phones in 2008, and BlackBerry and Nokia devices in 2011, ended with users bypassing Bing and doing most of their searches on Google.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Flags are pictured during the first working session of G-7 foreign ministers in Muenster, Germany, November 3, 2022. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/Pool/File Photo

By Leika Kihara and David Lawder

MARRAKECH, Morocco (Reuters) -Finance leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced nations on Thursday condemned "terror attacks" on Israel by Hamas and voiced their "unwavering" support for Ukraine in its continuing struggle against a Russian invasion.

The escalating geo-political tension overshadowed the G7 gathering chaired by Japan, whose initial agenda focused on seeking solutions for heavily indebted low-income countries and speeding up reforms of multilateral development banks.

"We unequivocally condemn the recent terror attacks by Hamas on the state of Israel and express our solidarity with the Israeli people," the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors said in a joint statement after the meeting.

The group, made up of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan, also voiced its resolve to enforce sanctions and other economic measures against Russia.

"We remain committed to countering any attempts to evade and undermine our sanctions measures," the G7 officials said, adding that they would monitor the effectiveness of price caps on Russian petroleum products and take "any necessary and appropriate enforcement actions required."

In a nod to a push made by Europe, the G7 members said they would consider ways to spend proceeds from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction.

"We will explore how any extraordinary revenues held by private entities stemming directly from immobilized Russian sovereign assets ... could be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction in compliance with applicable laws," the statement said.

The gathering in Marrakech, held on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meeting taking place in Morocco, was the first in-person talks among G7 finance leaders since the Middle East crisis began less than a week ago.

Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said many G7 participants voiced concern and condemnation over the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

"This was not on the G7 agenda, so many participants spent time voicing their views," he said in the chair news conference after the meeting. Once a proposal on how to phrase the issue in the statement was made, "there weren't calls for any language to be added or removed," he said.

The G7 statement made no mention on the potential impact of the crisis on the global economy. But Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the conflict, while not immediately leading to a change in his view on the global outlook, was another a layer of uncertainty.

"Developments in Ukraine has heightened uncertainty over the global economic outlook, thereby making it difficult to navigate monetary policy," Ueda told the briefing. "The latest developments in the Middle East add to this uncertainty."

(Reporting by Leika Kihara and David Lawder; editing by Mark Heinrich and Bill Berkrot)
Guatemala President-elect Bernardo Arevalo attends a meeting with judges of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal following a raid last Friday where the attorney general office seized boxes holding tabulations from general election voting, in Guatemala City, Gua

By Sofia Menchu

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -Guatemalan president-elect Bernardo Arevalo called on Wednesday on the president to seek the resignation of the attorney general, who is investigating Arevalo's party, amid accusations by his supporters that authorities are blocking a transition.

Arevalo accused President Alejandro Giammattei of remaining silent and called on him in a letter to request that Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras step down. The prosecutors' office said she would not do so.

"During this entire process you, Dr Giammattei, have been silent. The people have interpreted your silence as consent to the undermining of our democratic institutions. Your silence is an insult to the Guatemalan people," Arevalo said in the letter.

Giammattei's office did not immediately respond to a late night request for comment but the prosecutors' office defended the investigation by Porras into allegations of electoral irregularities.

"The attorney general will not resign her post. Her actions have always been in strict compliance with the law," a spokesperson for the office told Reuters.

"The prosecutors' office remains firm in its investigations with only one goal: to discover the truth."

Running on an anti-corruption platform, Arevalo won an August election run-off with a 20-point margin of victory.

Tens of thousands of Guatemalans have taken to the streets in recent days to protest against what many have called a slow-motion coup, demanding the resignation of Porras along with other judicial officials involved in her inquiries.

Her office raided Arevalo's Semilla party and the electoral body in what it has called necessary operations for lawful investigations into alleged irregularities during the election, especially claims that Semilla's registration six years ago was tainted by falsified signatures.

Earlier on Wednesday, Guatemala's constitutional court said it had ordered authorities to only use force against the protesters as a "last resort" and called on them to end their blockades.

A day earlier, the head of the Organization of American States (OAS) said the investigation was "shameful" and "unprecedented" attack on Guatemala's democracy.

Arevalo said he was "fully disposed" to attend as a witness government talks with protest leaders that are set to be mediated by the OAS.

(Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Isabel Woodford, Robert Birsel)
Reuters' Palestinian journalist Mohammed Salem, who welcomed his newborn Abdallah while covering Israeli bombardment in Gaza, poses for a photo as he works on a rooftop in Gaza City October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Arafat Barbakh

GAZA (Reuters) -Reuters journalist Mohammed Salem was filming the aftermath of Israeli bombing in Gaza on Thursday morning, when he received an urgent message: his wife was going into labour at home.

He switched off his camera and rushed to pick her up. He was grateful that she might deliver during the day when Israeli attacks tend to be less frequent, but worried by the prospect of welcoming a baby during the throes of war.

"It is hard to get around during the night, with all of the attacks and ambulances," said Salem, 39, who is part of a Reuters team in the Palestinian enclave covering Israel's retaliation to a deadly attack by Hamas militants.

Salem, still wearing a protective flak jacket, picked up his wife, Khawla, and drove in his armoured vehicle to Gaza City's Al-Sahaba hospital.

She gave birth to a boy, Abdallah, at around 12 p.m.

The conflict was set off by a Hamas rampage through southern Israeli towns this week that killed at least 1,300 people. Israel has responded by launching a powerful bombing campaign that has killed more than 1,500 Palestinians.

Still equipped with his camera, Salem filmed scenes around the hospital. One shows his son, dressed in white, letting out a big cry. Another shows a nurse holding a newborn baby.

"While covering all the pain, on streets and in hospitals, and capturing it through a lens, I received this joyful news," said Salem, who also has four daughters.

"(It) combines happiness with pain, but then again, such is life and life must go on."

(Writing by Rami Ayyub, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a meeting with the cabinet in Tehran, Iran, October 8, 2023. Iran's Presidency/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

DUBAI (Reuters) - The presidents of Iran and Syria have urged Islamic countries to reach agreement on a position in support of Palestinians, a news agency linked to Iran's top security agency, Nournews, reported on Thursday.

"Islamic and Arab countries as well all free people of the world must reach a single position to stop the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian people," Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told his Syrian counterpart over the telephone, Nournews reported.

On Wednesday, Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the first telephone call between them since their countries agreed in a March deal, brokered by China, to resume ties.

Iran and Syria are long-time allies in the Middle East.

Iran's economic influence in war-torn Syria has grown in recent years, supplying the government of President Bashar al-Assad with credit lines and winning lucrative business contracts.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; editing by Jason Neely)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Jonathan Saul

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli invasion of Gaza will face an enemy that has built a formidable armoury with Iran's help, dug a vast tunnel network to evade attackers and has shown in past ground wars it can exact a heavier toll on Israeli troops each time.

As Israel masses tanks on Gaza's border and suggests that the start of an invasion is only a matter of time, Israel's generals will look to lessons learned from ground offensives in 2008 and 2014 that also aimed to smash the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, an Israeli security source and experts said.

In the strongest indication yet that an incursion is imminent, Israel's military on Friday told civilians of Gaza City, more than 1 million people, to head south within 24 hours.

Yet Hamas has till now, after each past incursion, emerged a tougher opponent. On Oct. 7, it staged its most devastating display when its fighters killed more than 1,300 Israelis - most of them civilians - in the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since its founding in 1948.

Israeli air strikes in response have killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza so far.

Neither side can know exactly what to expect in a ground war. Israel has promised a campaign exceeding anything ever launched to wipe Hamas "off the face of the earth", while Hamas has shown its ability to survive and surprise, and will be fighting in a dense urban setting with powerful weapons.

"A ground incursion will be like diving into the unknown by the occupation and its forces," an official in one of Gaza's Palestinian militant factions told Reuters, giving only his nickname of Abu Abdallah.

Israeli officials have made clear it will not be a swift or easy campaign. And this time it faces the problem that scores of Israeli hostages seized by Hamas on Oct. 7 could now be held in the warren of tunnels that Israeli troops call the "Gaza Metro" and which soldiers must clear to destroy Hamas.

"The purpose is to defeat the entire military capabilities and military apparatus of Hamas and that will demand a long operation," an Israeli security source told Reuters.

"Most of the targets, people, equipment, logistics are located underground and it's possible the hostages are located underground," the source said. "The purpose will be to flatten the ground to then be able to get to the underground bunkers."

In Gaza, a strip of land with 2.3 million people, the risk of a mounting civilian death toll could also complicate Israel's military plans.

LEVELLING THE LAND

Based on past experience, Israel's bunker buster bombs and hi-tech Merkava tanks will be up against booby-trapped tunnels, fighters using the underground network to strike and vanish, and a range of Hamas weaponry that includes Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missiles that Israel first reported used in 2010.

Hundreds of thousands of reservists are being mobilised by Israel for combat against fighters who one former official in Israel's Shin Bet security service said could number 20,000.

Hamas spokespeople have declined to comment to Reuters about any military operations or planning.

Saleh Al-Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas politburo, told Al Jazeera that before Hamas unleashed its assault on Israel it had a defence plan that was stronger than its attack plan.

Israeli officials have not discussed any military details. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: "We are preparing for a ground offensive" and the goal was to heavily damage "terrorist infrastructure" so it was no longer a threat to Israel.

But Gaza residents have already spotted what they believe to be invasion preparations in the intense Israeli bombardment of the enclave since the initial assault by Hamas. Residents say bombing has levelled corridors of land along the border that could open the way for ground forces.

But Palestinian militant official Abu Abdallah said Gaza's fighters were ready.

"Planes do not determine a battle. Many fighters would prefer to face tanks and forces on the ground, armed by the developed capabilities built up over years," he said.

Since 2007, when Hamas took control of Gaza from the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, Israel has launched two major land incursions. Each time it suffered a higher death toll of soldiers - nine killed in 2008 and 66 in 2014.

This time, Hamas has had longer to prepare, making no secret of support coming from Iran, Israel's arch regional foe.

LEARNING LESSONS

More recently than its Gaza incursions, Israeli troops were confronted with the growing capability of militants in a West Bank clash in June. In a raid on Jenin refugee camp, a militant hotbed, Israeli soldiers were ambushed and pinned down. Apache helicopter support was called in to help.

"The difference between what is happening in Gaza compared to the battle of Jenin camp is between heaven and earth," said a member of the Jenin Brigade. "We do not have military barracks or heavy weapons such as rockets and Kornets."

A former senior Israeli commander, who asked not to be identified, said confrontations like Jenin still offered lessons as the military prepared for a Gaza incursion.

"You will have to look at Gaza (as having) much more high capacities and with highly developed technology all over," he said.

Israel's government, which under Prime Minister Netanyahu had been one of the most hard-right in its history but now includes opposition figures to build national unity, has said the public must prepare for a long conflict to reach its goal.

"We started the offensive from the air, later on we will also come from the ground," Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had told soldiers near the border fence on Tuesday.

Shalom Ben Hanan, a former top official in Israel's Shin Bet security service and now a fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Israel's Reichman University, said a ground offensive was the only way to dismantle Hamas.

"There is no sterile war. We will suffer casualties," he said. "We are going to fight, to make combat with very experienced and trained fighters."

"It must be a decisive win."

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul in Jerusalem and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Editing by Edmund Blair and Angus MacSwan)
FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, September 27, 2023. ABIR SULTAN/Pool via REUTERS//File Photo

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's parliament approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency unity government on Thursday, including a number of centrist opposition lawmakers, to display its determination to fight the war with Hamas in Gaza.

The government, approved after Saturday's attack by the militant Islamist group Hamas that governs the Gaza Strip, underlines the suspension of normal political rules during one of the most serious crises in Israel's history.

"This is a war for our home, it must end with one thing - in total victory, and the crushing and elimination of Hamas," Netanyahu told parliament, calling Oct. 7 "the most horrible day for Jewish people since the Holocaust."

Under the agreement, former Defence Minister Benny Gantz and members of his small centrist party will join Netanyahu's coalition, one of the most right-wing governments in Israel's history, which Gantz had previously bitterly opposed.

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in the attack and more than 100 dragged off into captivity in Gaza with horrific scenes gradually emerging from the accounts of survivors and mobile phone footage.

Israel's political landscape had been bitterly split for months over a hotly-contested push by Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judiciary that drove a wedge between the prime minister's religious nationalist supporters and more liberal, secular Israelis.

But the crisis has seen such differences buried ahead of an expected invasion of Gaza by Israeli forces.

"We will act, the enemy will hear," Gantz said in parliament after being sworn in.

The leader of the largest opposition party in parliament, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, refused to join the unity government which includes extreme right-wingers, among them Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

"Netanyahu and Ben Gvir are not the people who will restore the shattered trust of the Israeli people in their government," Lapid said in a televised address. He said his party would not oppose the government, however, and he would offer his support during the security crisis.

While a severe reckoning with the intelligence and military failures that allowed hundreds of Hamas gunmen to break through the sophisticated security barrier around Gaza, both the government and army chiefs said consequences would come later.

"The IDF is responsible for defending the country and its citizens, and Saturday morning, in the area around Gaza, we did not live up to it," said Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi. "We will learn, investigate, but now is the time for war."

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by Grant McCool)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Jewish schools in Amsterdam will close on Friday, Jewish children's organisation Cheider told Reuters on Thursday, amid the bloody conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants.

Cheider did not give the reason for the closure, but confirmed Dutch media reports stating the decision was taken with the safety of pupils and teachers in mind.

Within the Dutch Jewish community there are fears of incidents after Hamas called for protests across the Muslim world on Friday to support Palestinians, Dutch press agency ANP reported, citing the Dutch Center for Information and Documentation Israel.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; editing by Mark Heinrich)
FILE PHOTO: Lebanon caretaker Prime Minister Mohammad Najib Azmi Mikati addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he was deeply concerned about an outbreak of violence at the country's border with Israel in the past few days and that Beirut would file an urgent complaint with the U.N. Security Council.

The outbreak of violence along the border, the most deadly between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel since a 2006 war, occurred after Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel at the weekend and Israel unleashed a bombing campaign against Gaza.

Mired in one of the world's most acute economic crises that has impoverished much of the population and crippled the state, Lebanon can ill-afford a new war.

"Lebanon is in the eye of the storm," Mikati said on Thursday during a televised address following a session of the country's caretaker cabinet that was dedicated to security issues.

He blamed the cross-border violence, which has also seen attacks mounted on Israel that were claimed by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, on "repeated Israeli provocations" and violations of Lebanese sovereignty.

Lebanese in towns along the border said the violence has brought back memories of the summer of 2006, when Hezbollah and Israel fought a brutal month-long war.

Mikati's government is backed by Hezbollah and mainly composed of Lebanese parties allied with the group.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari in Beirut; Writing by Timour Azhari and Enas Alashray; editing by Mark Heinrich and Grant McCool)
FILE PHOTO: Lufthansa logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Lufthansa on Thursday extended its suspension of flights to Israel until Oct. 22 over security concerns, the company said.

The airlines of the Lufthansa group, which apart from Lufthansa include Swiss, Austrian and Brussels Airlines, are suspending flights to Israel for a longer period of time.

"Safety is the top priority for the Lufthansa group airlines," the company said.

The airline also said it was continuing to communicate with Germany's foreign office regarding possible additional flights to bring Germans home from Israel.

The first four repatriation flights left for Tel Aviv on Thursday, and four more are planned for Friday.

Lufthansa airlines normally have 17 flights to Israel per day in their schedule. Most other airlines have also suspended connections to the country in response to attacks by the Islamist organization Hamas.

(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, writing by Emma-Victoria Farr, Editing by Franklin Paul and Sandra Maler)
Meanwhile, Hamas continued to fire rockets at Israel on Wednesday, including a heavy barrage at the southern town of Ashkelon, which is a short distance north of the Gaza border. Israeli airstrikes continued to rain down on Gaza.

Militants in Gaza are holding an estimated 150 hostages it grabbed in Israel -- soldiers, men, women, children and older adults. Their fate is largely unknown, with their relatives pleading in television interviews for their release.

The United States is continuing to closely monitor the situation in Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden said. Biden said he spoke with Netanyahu earlier on Wednesday, the fourth call between the two leaders in recent days.

Palestinian officials say that 1,055 of its people have been killed in retaliatory strikes by Israel and nearly 5,200 wounded. A ground invasion of Gaza would surely increase the death toll on both sides.

The toll has been staggering in five days of fighting, with Israel saying that 1,200 of its citizens and foreign nationals, including 22 Americans, have been killed inside Israel and another 2,700 wounded. In Washington, the White House said another 17 Americans are unaccounted for.

The unusual arrangement, with other Cabinet members from Netanyahu's right-wing government apparently remaining in place, pieces together a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics. Netanyahu has vowed to topple Hamas rule in Gaza, the densely populated strip of territory along the Mediterranean Sea, so that the militants can no longer threaten Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu created a war cabinet with former defense chief Benny Gantz, a centrist opposition National Unity Party leader, along with current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, so they could solely focus on combating Hamas after its shock attack on Israel last Saturday.

Israel said Wednesday it has formed an emergency war-time unity government to fight Hamas militants, at the same time massing 300,000 troops near Gaza for what could be a ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave.

Israel stopped sending food, water, fuel and medicine into Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. The sole remaining access from Egypt was closed Tuesday after Israeli airstrikes hit near the border crossing. Gaza's only power plant ran out of fuel Wednesday afternoon, leaving only generators to power the territory -- but they also run on fuel that is in short supply.

The UN's World Health Organization said that it has run out of supplies at seven hospitals. Doctors Without Borders said surgical equipment, antibiotics, fuel and other supplies were running out at two hospitals it runs in Gaza.

In one, "We consumed three weeks' worth of emergency stock in three days, partly due to 50 patients coming in at once," Matthias Kannes, the aid group's Gaza mission chief, said Wednesday. He said the territory's biggest hospital, Al-Shifa, only has enough fuel for three days.

In a video message early Wednesday, Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus defended Israeli airstrikes that have destroyed residential buildings, saying those sites are legitimate military targets because Hamas intentionally locates its operations in civilian building. The United Nations says more than 263,000 people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip since the fighting began, and that the number is expected to rise.

Conricus said 360,000 Israeli reservists were preparing to carry out the mission of making sure "Hamas at the end of this war won't have any military capabilities by which they can threaten or kill Israeli civilians."

Another spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that 169 Israeli soldiers have been killed, and that the military has contacted the families of 60 soldiers who were abducted by Hamas fighters and taken to Gaza.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters that a small group of U.S. special forces is working with the Israeli military to assist with planning and intelligence in the Israeli counteroperation against Hamas. "We also have the ability to rapidly deploy other resources into the region," Austin said. The U.S. also sent a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean, which Conricus said Wednesday brought a message of deterrence to ensure the conflict with Hamas does not expand into a regional war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling Wednesday to Israel to bring a "message of solidarity and support," the State Department said. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that Blinken wants to hear from Israeli leaders "about the situation on the ground and how we can continue to best support them in their fight against the terrorists who launched these horrific attacks."

In addition to the Israelis killed, the dead have also included nationals from other countries. Australia, Brazil and the Philippines were among those that confirmed deaths Tuesday.

Sabri Saidam, deputy secretary of the Fatah Central Committee, told Alhurra, the U.S. government's Arabic language satellite TV channel, that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is unprecedented with a "lack of health support, suspension of schools, hospitals, and health institutions, cutoff of water, electricity, and communications and internet." Saidam said with the intensity of Israeli airstrikes, "I don't think there will be anything for the Israeli tanks if they decided to enter in a ground battle."

Alon Liel, former Israeli diplomat and director general of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Alhurra that after the "humiliation and the horrific scenes" from the Hamas attack, the Israeli response will continue. "There are strong demands and there is a need for the government to explain this defeat and convert it to a victory. No one in the leadership currently thinks about stopping the attacks," Liel said.
French President Emmanuel Macron looks on as he holds a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as they conclude a two-day government meeting in the northern German port city of Hamburg, Germany, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron will meet political party leaders on Thursday and address the nation on TV to call for unity and try to prevent any spillover of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in France, where there has been a rise in antisemitic acts.

France has Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish populations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has in the past contributed to tensions between the two.

Antisemitic acts have risen in France since Hamas attacked Israeli towns on Saturday, killing more than 1,300 people, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

Israel has responded by launching the most powerful bombing campaign on Gaza, ruled by Hamas, in the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, killing more than 1,200 and destroying whole neighbourhoods.

Darmanin said France had seen a spike in online hatred but also more direct threats.

"Since Saturday and the terrorist massacres in Israel, there has been over a hundred antisemitic acts, mainly tags and swastikas," Darmanin told France Inter radio, "but also insults ... and people arrested with a knife at the entrance of a school or synagogue ... and a drone flying over a Jewish place of worship."

Twenty-four people have been arrested. The government has assigned 10,000 police to protect some 500 sites.

Darmanin said intelligence services saw no specific terrorist threats against France's Jewish community, but that threats could come from individuals rather than organised groups.

With two pro-Palestinian protests scheduled on Thursday banned but expected to go ahead, Darmanin said protests would be given the green light - or not - on a case-by-case basis.

"The Palestinian cause is an absolutely respectable one, France has always considered that we need two states, an Israeli one and a Palestinian one ... but if it is a demonstration of support for Hamas ... it's no," he said.

Eleven French citizens are confirmed dead in Israel, and over a dozen are missing.

Esther, the grandmother of 12-year-old Eitan, who is among the missing, urged Macron to help.

"I am begging you as a grandmother," she said on BFM TV. "He is a French citizen, I'm sure you want to help me ensure he comes back."

Macron's television address is scheduled for 8pm (1800 GMT).

More Jews have left France for Israel in recent years than at any other time since the Jewish state was created in 1948, with many citing rising antisemitism as a factor.

(Reporting by Ingrid Melander and Nicolas Delame, additional reporting by John Irish and Elizabeth Pineau, writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
FILE PHOTO: Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina addresses the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - A court in Madagascar on Thursday ordered a one-week postponement of the island's November election, a move that incumbent president Andry Rajoelina has opposed.

The High Constitutional Court said in a statement on its website that it had ordered the first round of the election be moved to Nov. 16 from Nov. 9, and maintained the second round election on Dec. 20.

The court gave no reason for the change.

Soava Andriamarotafika, spokesperson for the Independent National Electoral Commission, said the postponement gave them more time to prepare for the vote.

"This one-week postponement lightens our workload and the pace a little for the first round. We should be able to breathe a little. But it is true that for the second round, we have to pick up the pace a little, he said.

The Indian Ocean island is aiming for its third peaceful election since the upheaval of 2009 when Rajoelina ousted then president Marc Ravalomanana in a coup.

Rajoelina resigned in early September after being confirmed as a candidate in the forthcoming poll, in line with Madagascar's constitution that requires a sitting head of state who wants to contest a presidential election to first step down.

The court ruling is not linked to a request by another presidential candidate, Andry Raobelina, who wanted the vote postponed due to what he said was "force majeure" after being injured during a protest last week, forcing him to seek medical attention in Mauritius.

Rajoelina said the change suited neither him nor his party.

"It is too bad for those who are not ready, but we must move forward," he said during a campaign rally in Ambanja, in the north of Madagascar.

The 11 candidates running against Rajoelina have been holding daily marches in the capital, which police have routinely dispersed using teargas.

Marchers have been demanding changes to the officials running the election commission and for the formation of a special court to hear election disputes.

They also want Rajoelina to be disqualified from running on the grounds that he is not a Madagascan citizen, an accusation he has in the past dismissed.

(Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary; writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
FILE PHOTO: Printed TikTok logos are seen in this illustration taken February 15, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -TikTok has not done enough to curb defamatory or misleading content in Malaysia, the communications minister said on Thursday, adding that the short video application had also failed to comply with several, unspecified local laws.

In a social media message posted after meeting TikTok representatives, Minister Fahmi Fadzil said TikTok also had to address issues related to content distribution and advertising purchases following complaints.

He said TikTok had assured him it would cooperate with the government and that its shortcomings were due to not having a representative in Malaysia at present.

Fahmi did not give any further details in the post.

A spokesperson for TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the meeting or the minister's remarks.

TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has recently come under scrutiny in Southeast Asia, where Indonesia's government last week halted transactions on its platform following a ban on e-commerce trade on social media and as Vietnam probes the app for "toxic" content.

Malaysia has increased scrutiny of online content in recent months as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration vowed to curb what it deems provocative posts that touch on race, religion and royalty.

Earlier this year, the Malaysian government said it would take legal action against Facebook parent company Meta for violating the Communications and Multimedia Act, but dropped the plan after meetings with the company.

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Danial Azhar;editing by Miral Fahmy)
By Chris Scicluna

VALLETTA (Reuters) - Maltese government plans to allow 16-year-olds to serve as mayors have drawn humour, revulsion and little apparent support on the Mediterranean island.

The plans were announced on Wednesday by local government minister Owen Bonnici. Electoral law already allows candidates as young as 16 to stand for local council elections, but mayors to date needed to be at least 18.

Malta, which has the smallest population among European Union countries, will become the first to allow council members aged 16 or 17 to serve as mayors and deputy mayors, Bonnici told reporters.

"It reflects our confidence in young people," he said, adding that ultimately it was up to voters to decide who would head their town or village.

Malta has 68 local councils, with the largest representing some 30,000 people. They are responsible for waste collection and have limited public order, planning and road maintenance roles.

A Times of Malta online poll opened immediately after the announcement showed 97% of respondents against the plan, which was widely ridiculed on Facebook and newspaper comment boards.

"So a 16-year-old mayor would be able to officiate a marriage, but he needs his parents' permission to himself get married at that age," one message read.

Under Maltese law, a person must be 18 to get married but a 16- or 17-year-old may marry with parental consent or court authorisation.

"The council meeting has been delayed while the mayor waits for his mother to drive him to the office," another commenter said. Motorists in Malta cannot hold a driving licence before turning 18.

Bonnici said he started his political life at 20, and back then people saw that as strange.

"In the past few years, we have seen youths given not only the right to vote at 16 but also to contest local government elections. Now we are giving them the right to be elected mayors."

(Reporting by Christopher Scicluna, editing by Gavin Jones and Angus MacSwan)
U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks to the media during a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

(Reuters) - The U.S. military is placing no conditions on its security assistance to Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday, adding Washington expected Israel's military to "do the right things" in prosecuting its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The United States has been rushing air defenses and munitions to Israel as it unleashes the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year-old history of its conflict with the Palestinians. Israel is vowing to annihilate Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, following the militants' weekend attack.

"In terms of conditions that we would place on the security assistance that we're providing to Israel, we have not placed any conditions on the provision of this equipment," Austin said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

"This is a professional military, led by professional leadership, and we would hope and expect that they would do the right things in the prosecution of their campaign," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel said there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its siege of Gaza until the freeing of all the hostages held by Hamas. This followed a Red Cross plea to allow for the entry of fuel to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from "turning into morgues".

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Tel Aviv to show solidarity, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that America would always be by Israel's side.

Since the Hamas attack, the U.S. military has sought to deter other Israeli adversaries by moving assets into the region that include the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which has arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The force includes the carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers.

The United States also bolstered U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

Austin said the United States had seen no indications that Lebanon's Hezbollah militants were amassing to potentially attack Israel, widening the conflict.

"We've not seen any massing of forces along the border," Austin said. "This is something that the Israelis are focused on. We are also looking for additional things that could widen the conflict here and hopefully, we won't see those things."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Howard Goller)
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrives as small sailing ship heads out to sea in Victoria, British Columbia June 9, 2010. REUTERS/Andy Clark/File Photo

By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea denounced on Friday a U.S. aircraft carrier's visit to South Korea, calling it a provocation that could bring "irrevocable, catastrophic circumstances".

The nuclear-powered Ronald Reagan and its strike group arrived in the South Korean port of Busan on Thursday for a five-day visit, after allied exercises in nearby waters, in a show of force against North Korea.

The aircraft carrier's visit showed that a U.S. scheme for a nuclear attack on North Korea had reached "the most serious phase", North Korea's official KCNA news agency said, adding this meant "the outbreak of a nuclear war comes to the fore".

"It is an undisguised military provocation driving the situation to irrevocable catastrophic circumstances," KCNA said in a commentary.

U.S. and South Korean forces have been staging intensified military exercises this year, involving U.S. aircraft carriers, submarines and advanced bombers, in order, they say, to better respond to evolving North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

North Korea calls the drills a rehearsal for invasion.

Seth Koenig, a spokesman for the carrier strike group, said it frequently visits South Korea providing "opportunities to build interoperability at sea together towards shared goals of a free and open Indo Pacific".

The North Korean news agency said that in case of an imminent nuclear attack, North Korea would take "necessary action", as enshrined in its nuclear doctrine, to "thoroughly deter and repel U.S. and its stooges' frantic moves to ignite a nuclear war".

Our "most powerful and rapid first strike will be given to the 'extended deterrence' means, used by the U.S. to hallucinate its followers, and the bases of evil in the Korean peninsula and its vicinity," KCNA said.

The term "extended deterrence" means the ability of the U.S. military, particularly its nuclear forces, to deter attacks on allies.

U.S., Japanese and South Korean nuclear envoys will hold two days of talks from Monday in the Indonesian capital to discuss North Korea, the Japanese and South Korean foreign ministries said.

Japan has regularly participated in air and naval exercises with the allies.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Daewoung Kim in Busan; Additional reporting Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Editing by Stephen Coates, Robert Birsel)
FILE PHOTO: Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meet on the sidelines of the 6th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA), in Astana, Kazakhstan October 13, 2022. Sputn

By Ali Sawafta

RAMALLAH (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned violence against civilians on Thursday in the wake of the devastating attack by Hamas gunmen on Israel and the relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israeli jets that followed.

The comments, made during a visit to Jordan, come ahead of a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and mark a shift from Abbas' previous failure to condemn Saturday's attack, during which more than 1,000 Israelis were killed.

"We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying.

He said the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited governance in the occupied West Bank and which has long been opposed to Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls Gaza, stood against violence and would pursue political action to achieve its goals.

On Thursday, Blinken added his voice to international condemnation of the attack but said he knew that Hamas did not represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations.

The West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of a future state, has seen a wave of violence for more than 18 months that has fuelled fears of a repeat of the two Palestinian Intifadas or uprisings of the 1980s and early 2000s.

As Israel has reeled from the impact of Saturday's unprecedented assault by Hamas gunmen, in which more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and Gaza has been subject to the most intense bombardment it has ever seen, the West Bank has been ominously volatile.

More than 30 people have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since Saturday and security forces are braced for further violence ahead of Friday prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Both Fatah, the faction which controls the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, which has a strong presence in the West Bank, called for a "day of rage" protest on Friday.

The mosque, on a site in the Old City of Jerusalem holy to both Muslims and Jews who know it as the Temple Mount, is one of the most sensitive places in the Middle East and the trigger for repeated confrontations.

On Thursday, a Palestinian man was shot dead just outside the Old City after he apparently fired at a police station, Israeli police said.

Earlier, Israeli settlers in the West Bank killed two Palestinians when they opened fire on a funeral procession. A 37-year-old woman was also killed when she was shot by security forces near Ramallah, the main city in the West bank, according to Palestinian health services.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta; writing by James Mackenzie; editing by Mark Heinrich and Jonathan Oatis)
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Russia's President Vladimir Putin ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, December 6, 2021. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and India are in discussions about a summit between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi this year, India's ambassador to Moscow was quoted by Russian news agency RIA as saying.

"It is being discussed. There are high-level discussions going on," ambassador Pavan Kapoor said.

(Reporting by Reuters)
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's foreign ministry urged Israel on Thursday to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza to allow in food and medicine and said it was unacceptable that what it called the "indiscriminate" bombing of the Gaza Strip was causing so many civilian casualties.

Moscow issued the statement after Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov spoke to Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), by phone.

Israel said earlier on Thursday there would be no humanitarian exceptions to its siege of the Gaza Strip until all its hostages were freed, after the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from "turning into morgues".

The Russian foreign ministry said Bogdanov and Al-Sheikh had agreed on the need for a ceasefire and for the opening of human corridors to deliver food and medicine to Gaza's population.

Both also agreed that water and electricity supplies to Gaza should be restored, it said.

"The unacceptability of the indiscriminate bombardment leading to numerous civilian casualties was emphasised," the Russian statement said.

"The goal of preventing an exodus from the Gaza Strip, which should become part of an independent Palestinian State on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, was (also) emphasised."

In a second statement later on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry said that four Russian citizens had been killed in southern Israel which Hamas attacked on Saturday, slaughtering hundreds of civilians. A further six Russian citizens were still missing, the ministry said.

"We strongly condemn any manifestations of extremism, terrorism, hostage-taking, blockading people, deliberately creating unbearable living conditions and other violent acts against civilians, along with the indiscriminate use of force in the conduct of military operations," the same statement said.

(Reporting by ReutersWriting by Andrew Osborn Editing by Gareth Jones)
DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Syria said Israeli forces launched simultaneous missile attacks on the airports in its capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday, damaging the runways and putting both hubs out of service.

A Syrian military source cited by state news agency SANA said "bursts of missiles" hit the two airports at the same time, in what he said was a bid to distract the world's attention from Israel's war with Hamas militants in Gaza.

The Israeli military said it does not comment on such reports.

Israel has for years carried out strikes against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, including against the Aleppo and Damascus airports.

Sources have said strikes on the airports are intended to disrupt Iranian supply lines to Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011.

Thursday's strikes came a day before Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, was due to visit Syria.

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip, in retribution for the deadliest attack on civilians in its history when hundreds of gunmen crossed the barrier and rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday.

Tehran has celebrated the Hamas attacks but denied being behind them.

On Tuesday, Israeli troops fired artillery and mortar shells towards Syria after rockets from southern Syria hit Israeli positions across the border.

(Reporting by Firas Makdesi; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Alex Richardson and Andrew Heavens)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy brought his appeal for military aid in the form of air defense, artillery and ammunition to NATO headquarters in Brussels where he is attending talks Wednesday with NATO defense ministers.

"Air defense is a significant part of the answer to the question of when this war will end and whether it will end justly for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said at the opening of a meeting of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

Zelenskyy said providing adequate air defense systems to Ukraine would mean guaranteeing normal life in Ukrainian cities and functioning grain corridors to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea and the Danube River to the world. And he said Russian missiles and drones cannot threaten other allies if they cannot get past the defenses guarding Ukrainian skies.

"Ukraine can survive, and it will survive," Zelenskyy said.
Somma, a migrant agricultural worker who was injured by a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, arrives at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand, October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

BANGKOK (Reuters) - When fighting broke out in Israel, Thai worker Katchakorn Pudtason hid under a bunker at his employer's home before rushing back to their farm on the back of a car.

He is one of 41 Thai nationals who returned home on Thursday after being evacuated from areas near Gaza designated as dangerous.

"That morning fighting broke out, it was so violent," he said, sitting in a wheelchair as he recounted his escape from the Hamas attack to reporters at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Bullets whizzed by their vehicle, one of them injuring him.

"I was the first to get shot - in the knee ... I thought I was hit with stones," he said.

Four of his fellow workers had been injured, one shot in the cheek, he said.

"The gun shots were constant, it's nothing like in the movies. The shots were showering down on us, like they wanted us ripped up."

The death toll of Thai citizens in Israel rose to 21 on Thursday with 16 taken hostage and 14 wounded, according to the Thai government.

Thailand is one of the largest sources of migrant workers in Israel, with around 30,000 working in the agriculture sector.

Katchakorn said he was happy to be home.

Thailand was doing its best bring back the 6,000 Thais who are looking to come home, Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara said.

(Reporting by Juarawee Kittisilpa and Artorn Pookasook, Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng, Edited by Angus MacSwan)
FILE PHOTO: A worker cleans Toyota's Electric Vehicle bZ4X, that is displayed during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, August 10, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo

By Yuka Obayashi

TOKYO (Reuters) -Toyota and oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan announced a tie up on Thursday to develop and mass produce all-solid-state batteries, in another example of new partnerships being forged amid the disruptive shift to electric vehicles.

The companies aim to commercialise next-generation batteries in 2027-28, followed by full-scale mass production. Toyota has said it planned to introduce the batteries, which would drastically improve the driving range of EVs, as part of a strategic pivot to EVs announced in June.

Toyota is now looking to make up for ground lost to Tesla and Chinese rivals such as BYD in the EV race. It has said it found a "technological breakthrough" that addresses durability problems in solid-state batteries and said it is developing means to mass produce them.

Idemitsu Kosan, Japan's second-largest oil refiner, has been developing solid sulfide electrolyte, a material used in the batteries.

"By bringing together the material development technologies of both companies, Idemitsu's material manufacturing technology, and Toyota's battery mass production technology, we will engage in full-scale mass production of all-solid-state batteries," Toyota CEO Koji Sato told a news conference.

Solid-state batteries can hold more energy than current liquid electrolyte batteries and automakers and analysts expect them to speed transition to EVs.

An EV powered by a solid-state battery would have a range of 1,200 km (746 miles) and charging time of just 10 minutes, according to Toyota.

Still, such batteries are expensive and likely to remain so for years.

Idemitsu has been expanding into EV battery supply chains, increasing its stake in Australian lithium developer Delta Lithium to 15% earlier this year amid a global push by automakers to electrify their fleets.

(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi and Chang-Ran Kim; additional reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by David Dolan, Muralikumar Anantharaman and Simon Cameron-Moore)
By Huseyin Hayatsever

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is prepared to send humanitarian aid to Palestinians hit by the conflict centred on Gaza but it is very hard to deliver it under the current circumstances, a Turkish defence ministry official said on Thursday.

After a surprise attack by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on Israel on Saturday, Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey was making the necessary preparations to deliver humanitarian aid to the region, without elaborating.

He has also discussed initiatives to deliver humanitarian aid with his global counterparts since the conflict erupted.

"The situation in the region is very complicated. Under current circumstances, it is very difficult to deliver aid there," the Turkish defence ministry official told reporters.

He added the Turkish Armed Forces were ready to deliver aid if the President directed them to.

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip in retribution for Saturday's attack when hundreds of gunmen poured across the barrier fence and rampaged through Israeli towns. Israel has put Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, under total siege and bombed the enclave.

Despite Erdogan's discussions with leaders, Turkey has not announced any official timetable for delivering humanitarian aid.

Turkey's AFAD disaster management agency typically handles such tasks, backed by military aircraft and ships as needed.

According to Egyptian security sources, talks between Egypt and the United States, Qatar and Turkey discussed the idea of delivering humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula under a geographically limited ceasefire.

Egypt said on Thursday it was directing international aid for the besieged Gaza Strip to Al Arish airport in the north of the Sinai Peninsula.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Jonathan Spicer, Alexandra Hudson)
LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is deploying two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and reinforce regional stability, his Downing Street office said on Thursday.

The military package, which includes P8 surveillance planes, other surveillance assets, two auxiliary ships, three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, will be on standby in the region to provide "practical support to Israel ... and offer deterrence and assurance," Downing Street said.

"We must be unequivocal in making sure the types of horrific scenes we have seen this week will not be repeated," Sunak said in a statement.

"Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation."

Sunak said UK military and diplomatic teams will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the region.

UK military teams in Israel, Cyprus and across the region will also be bolstered to support contingency planning.

Sunak also spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi "to understand the wider regional picture and underscore the importance of supporting civilians to leave Gaza," Downing Street said.

He is also due to speak to northern European leaders about Israel at the Joint Expeditionary Force defence gathering in Sweden on Friday.

The leaders are expected to discuss the need for stability in the Middle East, while simultaneously remaining focused on supporting Ukraine's defence against Russia, Downing Street said.

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar and Toby Chopra)
FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, U.S., August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

(Reuters) -The U.S. health regulator on Thursday blocked the sale of six flavors of British American Tobacco's (BAT) main vape brand, Vuse Alto, in the market including the menthol flavor that makes up a large portion of its sales.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) marketing denial orders (MDOs) for R.J. Reynolds, owned by BAT, include three menthol-flavored and three mixed berry-flavored e-cigarette products, with each flavor being offered in three nicotine strengths.

"R.J. Reynolds Vapor company intends to challenge denials and will seek a stay of enforcement of menthol denial immediately," BAT said.

The FDA said evidence submitted by R.J. Reynolds failed to prove that menthol- and mixed berry-flavored products offered an added benefit for adult cigarette smokers compared to tobacco-flavored products that is sufficient to outweigh the known risks to youth.

But the company may submit new applications for the products that are subject to these MDOs, it said.

In the past, companies have challenged FDA decisions in court, with some success.

A subsidiary of rival Imperial Brands had disputed the FDA's decision to ban its flavored and unflavored vape products. A U.S. appeals court in August agreed that its unflavored products should be reviewed again by the FDA.

Vuse Alto makes up the vast majority of BAT's vape volumes in the United States, with menthol flavors accounting for around 75% of that, according to Jefferies.

Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett noted that BAT may succeed in securing a stay, which could prevent the product being removed from the market.

A rise in disposable vapes has dented BAT's business in the world's largest market for such products. Its U.S. vape volumes were down 6.5% in the first half of 2023.

BAT bought out R.J. Reynolds for $49.4 billion in 2017, gaining access to the lucrative and highly regulated U.S. market after a long absence since 2004.

(Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru and Emma Rumney in London; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Maju Samuel)
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) speaks to reporters while on his way to a vote following a Senate Democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Craig Hudson/File Photo

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -Prosecutors pursuing a corruption case against U.S. Senator Bob Menendez on Thursday brought a new criminal charge against him that he conspired to act as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government.

The new charge was included in a revised indictment filed against the New Jersey Democrat in federal court in New York that includes four counts against Menendez. His trial on corruption charges will begin in May.

Prosecutors have said that Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, accepted gold bars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for using their influence to interfere with law enforcement investigations of three New Jersey businessmen as well as aid the Egyptian government.

Egypt's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday about the new charge.

The senator has resisted calls for his resignation. He pleaded not guilty to the prior charges against him as have his co-defendants, his wife Nadine and businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes.

The new indictment accuses Menendez, until recently the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of taking actions from 2018 to 2022 on behalf of Egyptian military and intelligence officials without registering with the U.S. Department of Justice as a foreign agent.

In a statement, Menendez said he had only ever been loyal to the United States and that the new charge "flies in the face of my long record of standing up for human rights and democracy in Egypt, and in challenging leaders of that country."

"Piling new charge upon new charge does not make the allegations true," Menendez said. "It is an attempt to wear someone down and I will not succumb to this tactic."

Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, individuals must register with the department if they act as "an agent of a foreign principle."

Prosecutors have said that co-defendant Hana arranged meetings between the senator and Egyptian officials, who pressed him to sign off on military aid. In return, the businessman put Nadine Menendez on the payroll of a company he controlled.

The new indictment said both Hana and Nadine Menendez communicated requests and directives from Egyptian officials to the senator.

"The new allegation that Wael Hana was part of a plot concocted over dinner to enlist Senator Menendez as an agent of the Egyptian government is as absurd as it is false," Hana's lawyer, Lawrence Lustberg, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston and Kanishka Singh and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter, Lisa Shumaker and Grant McCool)
FILE PHOTO: The new GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. Picture taken March 16, 2021. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. investigators on Thursday proposed $270,000 in fines for a General Motors and LG Energy Solution joint venture battery plant in Ohio for safety and health violations.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigators examining the cause of a March explosion and fire at the Ultium Cells plant prompted the agency to issue 19 safety and health violations, 17 of them serious.

OSHA inspectors found the company exposed workers to hazards by failing to train them on safety and emergency response procedures and did not comply with federal standards for personal protective equipment use.

Ultium Cells said on Thursday it has taken "safety seriously and have requested a hearing with OSHA, which is the next step in this process."

OSHA said it had also issued a hazard alert letter asking the company to voluntarily reduce accumulations of metal dust and protect employees from unsafe metal dust exposure.

"The company's focus on the future must include an emphasis on workplace safety to ensure the well-being of its employees," OSHA Area Director Howard Eberts in Cleveland said.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said the union has "been sounding the alarm for months about Ultium and these high-risk, high-skill EV battery operations. This is dangerous work that deserves to be compensated well."

OSHA said Ultium needs to install required machine guarding, train workers in hazardous energy control and emergency response procedures and make other changes.

The workplace safety agency has one open inspection at the Ultium facility following a June 27 fire and three inquiries, including into a report that the company exposed workers to chemicals after a pressure gauge failed in August resulting in battery slurry leaking onto the plant floor.

Since the Warren, Ohio, facility began battery cell production in August 2022, OSHA has cited the plant 11 times, the agency said.

(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Bill Berkrot and Richard Chang)
FILE PHOTO: Representations of cryptocurrencies and Voyager Digital logo are seen in this illustration taken, July 7, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustrations

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it reached a settlement with bankrupt crypto company Voyager that will permanently ban it from handling consumers' assets.

The agency also said it is filing suit against the company's former CEO, Stephen Ehrlich, for falsely claiming that customers accounts were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and were safe, even as the company was approaching an eventual bankruptcy.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese)
FILE PHOTO: A model of a pump jack is seen in front of the displayed word "Sanctions", U.S. and Russia flag colours in this illustration taken March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. on Thursday imposed the first sanctions on owners of tankers carrying Russian oil priced above the G7's price cap of $60 a barrel, one in Turkey and one in the United Arab Emirates, in an effort to close loopholes in the mechanism designed to punish Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

The U.S., other G7 countries and Australia imposed the cap last year, seeking to reduce Russia's revenues from seaborne oil exports as part of sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.

The cap bans Western companies from providing maritime services, including insurance, finance and shipping, for Russian seaborne oil exports sold above $60 a barrel, while seeking to keep oil flowing to markets. Caps also were imposed on Russian fuel exports.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration placed sanctions on Turkey-based Ice Pearl Navigation SA, owner of the Yasa Golden Bosphorus, which the Treasury said carried Russian ESPO crude priced above $80 a barrel after the cap took effect in December last year.

The U.S. also imposed them on UAE-based Lumber Marine SA, owner of the SCF Primorye, which the Treasury said was carrying Novy Port Russian crude above $75 per barrel.

"Because of the actions we're announcing today, and the further actions we will take in the coming weeks and months, these costs will continue to rise and Russia's ability to sustain its barbaric war will continue to weaken," a senior Treasury official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters in a call.

The measures identify and block access to all property and interests owned by the companies in the U.S.

The price cap coalition also issued recommendations for the maritime industry including: a requirement for "appropriately capitalized" protection and indemnity insurance, agreed protocols on the use of Automatic Identification Systems and enhanced checks of high-risk ship-to-ship cargo transfers.

Both tankers, which conducted port calls in Russia, used U.S.-based service providers while transporting the Russian origin oil, the Treasury said without answering questions about those providers.

The U.S. service providers would not be at risk of sanctions if they had been provided false or misleading information by others in the shipping chain about the price of Russian oil, said a price cap coalition official on condition of anonymity.

Turkey's Yasa Holding, operator of the Golden Bosphorus, said it had necessary documentation from major London insurers for it to carry Russian origin cargoes and that it has been company policy for more than a year to not carry Russian crude.

Yasa said the vessel is currently under time-charter for three to five months with Exxon Mobil.

The U.S. oil major said it does not trade Russian oil or oil products. "These deliveries are certified products of Canadian origin," Exxon said about the chartering.

A price cap coalition official speaking on condition of anonymity said Exxon was not a target of the sanctions and that the company had chartered the vessel after it had carried Russian oil.

GHOST FLEET

Global oil prices have risen to around $85 a barrel in recent months on production cuts and thin world spare production capacity. That has helped to limit the efficacy of the cap, but the coalition can toughen enforcement to make it more effective, according to people who advised the Treasury.

Russian crude oil exports last month stood at 4.9 million barrels per day, down about 100,000 bpd from the May-June average, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated on Thursday. But it also said Russia's total exports of crude oil and products in September rose by 460,000 bpd to 7.6 million bpd, with crude accounting for 250,000 bpd of the increase.

The cap has forced Russia and traders to invest in what the industry refers to as a ghost fleet of old tankers vulnerable to leaks and oil spills. Those vessels are undertaking long voyages to deliver crude to refiners in China and India, which have become the largest buyers of Russian crude. Neither country has imposed sanctions on trade with Russia.

The cap forces Russia to pay about $36 a barrel for those non-Western maritime services, expenses that go to "tankers not tanks" in the Ukraine war, the U.S. Treasury official said.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday said the price cap had sharply reduced Russian revenues over the past 10 months, and that it was critical to keep imposing severe and increasing costs on Russia.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, said on the Telegram messaging app the sanctions resulted from studies by an international working group he helped create and that violations of the Russian oil price cap will be punished.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis; additional reporting by David Lawder, Sabrina Valle in Houston and Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk; Editing by Will Dunham, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy)
FILE PHOTO: Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during an event with peace negotiators of Colombia's government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, in Bogota, Colombia August 3, 2023. REUTERS/Vannessa Jimenez/File Photo

BOGOTA (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday criticised remarks made by Colombian President Gustavo Petro in which he compared Israeli government comments to those made by Nazis, and called on him to condemn Hamas.

Petro, a voracious poster on X, formerly known as Twitter, has posted repeatedly on the platform after the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history was carried out on Saturday by Hamas, the group that rules the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant drew international condemnation by announcing on Monday a "total blockade" to stop food and fuel reaching Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. Gallant said Israel was battling "beastly people."

"This is what the Nazis said about the Jews. Democratic societies cannot allow Nazism to reestablish itself in international politics," Petro wrote, adding that a discourse of hate would lead to "a holocaust," in response to the widely reported comments from Gallant.

"We strongly condemn President Petro's statements and call on him to condemn Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, for its barbaric murder of Israeli men, women and children," Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt of the office of the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (SEAS) said on X.

Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and has carried out a massive bombing campaign, killing over 1,400 Palestinians and injuring more than 6,000.

Public broadcaster Kan said the Israeli death toll from the attack had risen to more than 1,300.

Petro has also compared Gaza to the Auschwitz concentration camp that was run by Nazi guards during World War Two as well as to the Warsaw Ghetto, which was destroyed by the German military following an uprising by Jews confined there.

Lipstadt, a historian, successfully defeated a libel case brought by British author David Irving after she labeled him a Holocaust denier.

(Reporting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Mark Porter)
China abruptly repatriated about 600 North Korean defectors to North Korea on Monday night, sources said Wednesday.

The defectors had been detained in prisons in Jilin and Liaoning provinces since they were caught trying to flee to South Korea during the coronavirus lockdown and include relatives of South Korean prisoners of war in the North.

The 600 were surreptitiously sent back to the North through five border posts in Hunchun, Tumen, Changbai and Nanping in Jilin and Dandong in Liaoning.

China had sent back a handful of defectors to the North since it lifted COVID restrictions, but nothing on this scale and in such a concerted operation, human rights activists said.

"We've heard from our source in the Chinese police that Chinese authorities put the defectors in trucks and sent them back to the North under cover of darkness between around 6 and 8 p.m. Monday as if in a military operation," said Joo Ok-kyung of Light of Freedom, a defectors rescue group.

"It seems that the North and China agreed in advance to repatriate them right after the Asian Games ended."

"For security reasons, Chinese authorities told defectors in prisons to prepare for travel only a few hours before they were repatriated," another source said. "This gave their relatives in China and South Korea no time to do anything for them."
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby joins White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

By David Shepardson and Steven Scheer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. State Department will begin offering charter flights to Europe to help Americans leave Israel if they want starting Friday, the White House said, after extensive talks with U.S. airlines and pressure from Congress.

Reuters reported details of the plan earlier.

The U.S. government will provide charter flights to cities in Europe, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday. "We know there is a demand signal out there."

Expected routes include Tel Aviv to Athens, Reuters reported. It is unclear how long the offer will last but it might just a few days, airline officials said.

A State Department email seen by Reuters said it plans to offer transit options beginning on Friday "but it will take some period of time to schedule everyone seeking to depart."

" If you choose to take this departure assistance, transportation will be by air to Athens or Frankfurt, or sea from Haifa to Cyprus," it added.

Senate Majority Chuck Schumer praised the announcement but said "these transports must be increased as needed to ensure Americans in Israel who want to can return to the United States."

On Wednesday, United Airlines it would add two flights between Newark, New Jersey, and Athens in the coming days to help Americans trying to return home from Israel. The company said on Thursday it would add a third roundtrip. Delta Air Lines also said it would add flights to Athens in the coming days.

The email seen by Reuters said "Americans will be asked to sign an agreement to repay the U.S. government prior to departure and should be prepared to arrange your own lodging and onward travel from Greece, Germany or Cyprus to your final destination."
Smoke from wildfires in the Amazon is seen in Manaus, Brazil October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Bruno Kelly

By Bruno Kelly

MANAUS, Brazil (Reuters) - Clouds of dense gray smoke from dozens of wildfires in the Brazilian Amazon, many of them illegally started, have hung over the region's capital city Manaus, making the air increasingly unbreathable.

Residents complain of stinging noses and throats.

The quality of the air is so bad that even the normally chirpy tropical birds are silent, they say.

"My nose stings all the time and so do my eyes, even when they are closed. We can't breathe properly," said university student Ronny Gonsalves. "I cannot see the horizon."

Experts say the smog is coming from fires around the city and inside its metropolitan area, often deliberately set to clear trees for agriculture and urban development without permits.

Very dry conditions caused by a severe drought that the region is suffering, with record high temperatures, has helped ignite and spread the fires, according to Carlos Durigan, Brazil's country director for the Wildlife Conservation Society.

"It has never been this bad in decades past," the geographer who has lived for 30 years in the Amazon said.

The region is under pressure from the El Nino weather phenomenon and rainfall in the northern Amazon is well below the historical average. The streams and tributaries that run into the Amazon have fallen to near record levels.

Brazil's government has sent teams of firefighters to contain the forest fires. But residents fear the smoke-filled air will persist until it rains, and that is not expected until the end of November.

Wildfires in the Amazon rainforest have been more common in past years to the southwest of Manaus in the states of Rondonia and Acre.

Durigan said many roads built around Manaus have led to faster deforestation within and outside the metropolitan area. Land grabbers often set fires to illegally clear land, he said.

"Today was the worst day. We can no longer see the river from my apartment," said Maria Lucia de Freitas, who said the smog first appeared over Manaus a month ago.

(Reporting by Bruno Kelly, Writing by Anthony Boadle, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
By Andrea Shalal

MARRAKECH, Morocco (Reuters) -World Bank shareholders on Thursday endorsed further reforms and a new vision statement committing the multilateral development bank to work for "a world free of poverty on a liveable planet," German Development Minister Svenja Schulze said.

The 25-member Development Committee agreed to a package of "ambitious reforms" that would increase the bank's investments in climate action and sustainable development, Schulze told reporters at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank.

She said the changes, which she helped initiate last year with the United States, meant the bank would be able to offer stronger financing incentives for projects that have global, rather than just country-specific, benefits.

These included incentives focused on climate, biodiversity and pandemic prevention, she said.

"This is a really big success," Schulze told reporters at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and IMF.

"With the reform, we will make the World Bank into a better bank that uses its funds in a more targeted way," she said. "The World Bank will be able to provide more funds for poverty reduction and climate action."

The changes include new vision and mission statements which ensure that protecting vital natural resources is now a fundamental task for the bank.

World Bank President Ajay Banga, a former MasterCard CEO who took office in June, last month unveiled new proposals that would boost the bank's lending to developing countries by an additional $100 billion over a decade, including a hybrid capital measure and a portfolio guarantee program.

Schulze said shareholders offered a broad endorsement of the proposals, and Banga was expected to follow up with specific targets in coming months.

The $100 billion included in a World Bank paper drafted for shareholders would come on top of measures approved in April that will boost the bank's lending to developing countries by up to $50 billion.

Schulze said there are also changes to the Bank's business model aimed at incentivizing investments in climate action, peacekeeping and pandemic prevention.

Loans with longer tenures or better terms would make it more lucrative for countries to invest in projects that are not just for their own benefit, such as protecting rainforests or preventing pandemics, she said.

The changes also call for clauses in loan agreements that would allow a country hit by a natural disaster to temporarily suspend its debt repayments. The World Bank would begin piloting this option for small states that are particularly affected by climate change, she said.

Shareholders also endorsed ways for the bank to increase its lending capacity, including through issuing hybrid capital - debt-like equity instruments that have a lower credit rating than more senior bonds.

Germany was the first country to provide 305 million euros ($322.6 million) of hybrid capital, which will allow the bank to mobilize an additional 2.4 billion euros over four years, she said, adding that France, Canada and the Netherlands had also signalled their intention to provide funds.

Schulze said the bank's shareholders would push on to enact reforms and improvements at other development banks. "We want this reform to have a ripple effect," she said.

($1 = 0.9454 euros)

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Jan Harvey and Mark Porter)


On October 10, 2023, Banco Itau Chile issued a press release announcing that it will release its results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, before the market opens in Santiago and in New York on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, and inviting investors to join a conference call regarding the results on Monday, November 6, 2023. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.



On October 11, 2023, Banco Itau Chile published on its website its results as of and for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, which are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2. On the same date, Banco Itau Chile filed a Material Event Notice with the Chilean Commission for the Financial Market. The material event notice is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.



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EXHIBIT INDEX






0000313143 true 0000313143 2023-10-10 2023-10-10





UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934





Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):





HAEMONETICS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Massachusetts 001-14041 04-2882273 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)





125 Summer Street

Boston , MA 02110

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrants telephone number, including area code: 781 - 848-7100

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common stock, $.01 par value per share HAE New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging Growth Company  If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 





























Explanatory Note





This Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A is being filed by Haemonetics Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation ( Haemonetics  or the  Company ), solely for the purpose of amending and supplementing Item 9.01 of that certain Current Report on Form 8-K originally filed by Haemonetics on October 10, 2023 (the  Original Form 8-K ) in connection with the Arrangement Agreement (the  Arrangement Agreement ) dated October 10, 2023 by and among OpSens Inc., a corporation existing under the Business Corporations Act (Quebec) ( OpSens ), Haemonetics and 9500-7704 Quebec Inc., a corporation existing under the Business Corporations Act (Quebec) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Haemonetics (together with Haemonetics, the  Purchaser Parties ), pursuant to which, among other things, the Purchaser Parties have agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of OpSens. As indicated in the Original Form 8-K, this Form 8-K/A is being filed to provide the information indicated in the Original Form 8-K that would be filed by amendment to the Original Form 8-K.





Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements





This Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and may be identified by the use of words such as may, will, should, could, would, expects, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, projects, predicts, forecasts, foresees, potential and other words of similar meaning in conjunction with statements regarding, among other things, (i) plans and objectives of management for the operation of Haemonetics, (ii) statements regarding the timing of completion of the acquisition and the consummation of the acquisition, (iii) the anticipated financing of the transaction and the Companys net debt to EBITDA ratio following completion of the acquisition, (iv) the anticipated benefits to Haemonetics arising from the completion of the acquisition, (v) the impact of the acquisition on Haemonetics' business strategy and future business and operational performance, and (vi) the assumptions underlying or relating to any such statement. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances and may not be realized because they are based upon Haemonetics' current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties.





Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition or the acquisition, its announcement or pendency having an unanticipated impact, Haemonetics' ability to predict accurately the demand for products and products under development by it or OpSens and to develop strategies to successfully address relevant markets, the impact of competitive products and pricing, technical innovations that could render products marketed or under development by Haemonetics or OpSens obsolete, risks related to the use and protection of intellectual property, the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all (whether due to the failure of OpSens to obtain shareholder approval, the failure to obtain approval of the Quebec Superior Court or otherwise), and the risk that using debt to finance, in part, the acquisition will increase Haemonetics' indebtedness. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in Haemonetics' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ). Haemonetics does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.





Additional Information Regarding the Transaction





In connection with the proposed transaction, OpSens will file with the Canadian Securities Administrators in each of the provinces of Canada (the  CSA )) and mail or otherwise make available to its shareholders a management information circular (the " Proxy Circular ") regarding the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, OPSENS SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY CIRCULAR IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE CSA IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE









THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the Proxy Circular and other documents that OpSens files with the CSA (when available) from the CSA's website at www.sedarplus.ca and from OpSens' website at www.opsens.com .





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.





(d) Exhibits





Exhibit Number Description 2.1* Arrangement Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2023, by and among Haemonetics Corporation, OpSens Inc. and 9500-7704 Quebec Inc. 10.1* Form of Voting and Support Agreement 99.1 Press Release issued by Haemonetics Corporation on October 10, 2023 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) *Certain portions of this exhibit are considered confidential and have been omitted as permitted under SEC rules and regulations. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted portions to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.













SIGNATURES





Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. HAEMONETICS CORPORATION October 12, 2023 By: /s/ Christopher A. Simon Name: Christopher A. Simon Title: President and Chief Executive Officer









ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS

EX-2.1

EX-10.1

XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT

XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE DOCUMENT

XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

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IDEA: FilingSummary.xml

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14C

(RULE 14c-101)

SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION

Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Check the appropriate box:

[ ] Preliminary information statement [ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2)) [X] Definitive information statement

THE RBB FUND TRUST

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

[X] No fee required.

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

[ ] Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101) per Item 1 of this Schedule and Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11

IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT

The Energy & Minerals Group EV, Solar & Battery Materials (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt)

Futures Strategy ETF - CHRG

a series of The RBB Fund Trust

615 East Michigan Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(609) 731-6256

Dear Shareholder:

The enclosed document is purely for informational purposes. You are not being asked to vote or take action on any matter. The document relates to the appointment of Vident Advisory, LLC as investment sub-adviser for The Energy & Minerals Group EV, Solar & Battery Materials (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt) Futures Strategy ETF (the Fund), a series of The RBB Fund Trust (the Trust).

Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (VIA) served as investment sub-adviser to the Fund from the Funds inception until July 14, 2023 (the Closing Date).

Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), a transaction that results in a change in control of an investment adviser, or in this case, an investment sub-adviser, causes the sub-advisory agreement to be assigned, which results in the automatic termination of the sub-advisory agreement as required by the 1940 Act. On the Closing Date, Vident Advisory, LLC (VA), an affiliate of VIA, was acquired by Casey Crawford through various holding entities and all of VIAs operations were assumed by VA (the Transaction). As a result of the Transaction, the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including a majority of the trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, at a meeting held on May 16-17, 2023, approved a new sub-advisory agreement among the Funds investment adviser, The Energy & Minerals Group Advisors, LLC, VA, and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund. The new sub-advisory agreement is materially identical to the previous agreement with VIA. The Board of Trustees is providing this Information Statement to the Funds shareholders.

As always, please feel free to contact the Fund at 1-800-617-0004 with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Steven Plump

President

The RBB Fund Trust

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The Energy & Minerals Group EV, Solar & Battery Materials (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt) Futures Strategy ETF - CHRG

a series of The RBB Fund Trust

615 East Michigan Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(609) 731-6256

INFORMATION STATEMENT

This Information Statement is being provided to the shareholders of The Energy & Minerals Group EV, Solar & Battery Materials (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt) Futures Strategy ETF (the Fund), a series of The RBB Fund Trust (the Trust). This Information Statement is in lieu of a proxy statement, pursuant to the terms of an exemptive order under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) that the Trust received from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on February 7, 2023 (the Order). The Order permits the Fund's investment adviser, The Energy & Minerals Group Advisors, LLC (the Adviser), to hire or replace investment sub-advisers and to make changes to existing sub-advisory agreements with the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board or Trustees), including a majority of the trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act (the Independent Trustees), without obtaining shareholder approval. The Order requires that each sub-adviser be an investment adviser as defined in Section 2(a)(20)(B) of the 1940 Act and registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act) or not subject to such registration. Under the conditions of the Order, the Board must provide notice to shareholders within ninety (90) days of hiring a new sub-adviser or implementing any material change in a sub-advisory agreement. The Trust may rely on the Order, provided the Fund is managed by the Adviser (or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser) and complies with the terms and conditions set forth in the application for the Order.

At a meeting held on May 16-17, 2023 (the Meeting), the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, considered and approved a new sub-advisory agreement among the Adviser, Vident Advisory, LLC (VA or the Sub-Adviser), and the Trust on behalf of the Fund, under which VA serves as the sub-adviser to the Fund (the Sub-Advisory Agreement) (in substantially the form attached hereto as Appendix A). VA is an affiliate of Vident Investment Advisory, LLC (VIA) and assumed all of VIAs operations as of July 14, 2023, in connection with a transaction under which VIAs operations were folded into VA, and VA was then acquired by Casey Crawford through various holding entities (the Transaction). The Sub-Advisory Agreement became effective on July 14, 2023 (the Closing Date) at which time the change in control of VIA became effective. The Sub-Advisory Agreement with VA is identical in all material respects, except for its effective date and the named entity performing sub-advisory services, to the previous sub-advisory agreement with VIA.

This Information Statement is being supplied to the Funds shareholders to fulfill the notice requirement of the Order, and a notice regarding the website availability of this Information Statement will be transmitted on or about October 12, 2023, to the Funds shareholders of record as of September 30, 2023 (the Record Date). This Information Statement describes the Sub-Advisory Agreement. As of the Record Date, there were issued and outstanding 125,000 total shares of the Fund. As there will be no vote taken, no shares are entitled to vote on the matters discussed in this Information Statement.

A copy of the Funds most recent annual report and semi-annual report, including financial statements and schedules, are available at no charge by sending a written request to the Fund c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, by calling 1-800-617-0004 or by visiting https://www.emgadvisors.com.

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NO SHAREHOLDER VOTE WILL BE TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THE MATTER DESCRIBED IN THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT. THE TRUST IS NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE NOT REQUESTED TO SEND US A PROXY.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement

At the Meeting, the Board approved the appointment of VA, an affiliate of the Funds prior sub-advisor, VIA, as sub-adviser to the Fund pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Adviser, VA, and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund. Under the terms of the investment management agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser, the Adviser is entitled to receive an annual management fee from the Fund equal to 0.95% of the Funds average daily net assets. Under the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, VA is entitled to receive an annual fee from the Adviser as set forth in Schedule A of the attached Sub-Advisory Agreement, subject to a minimum annual fee of $85,000. There will be no increase in total fees paid by the Fund in connection with the new Sub-Advisory Agreement. For such compensation, VA will continuously furnish an investment program which includes trading portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that it will continue in force for an initial period of two years, and from year to year thereafter, but only so long as its continuance is approved at least annually by the Board at a meeting called for that purpose or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Sub-Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of an assignment. In addition, the Sub-Advisory Agreement can be terminated without the payment of any penalty by the Board, the Adviser, or vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, on 60 days written notice to VA. The Sub-Advisory Agreement can be terminated by the Sub-Adviser without the payment of any penalty on 60 days written notice to the Adviser and the Board.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement provides that neither VA nor its shareholders, members, officers, directors, employees, agents, control persons or affiliates of any thereof, shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Sub-Advisory Agreement relates except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of duties or from reckless disregard of obligations and duties under the Sub-Advisory Agreement.

The Sub-Advisory Agreement is attached as Appendix A . You should read the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The description in this Information Statement of the Sub-Advisory Agreement is only a summary.

Brokerage Policies

The Sub-Advisory Agreement authorizes VA to select the brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of securities for the Fund and directs VA to seek for the Fund the most favorable execution and net price available under the circumstances. VA may cause the Fund to pay a broker a commission more than that which another broker might have charged for effecting the same transaction, in recognition of the value of the brokerage and research and other services provided by the broker to VA. For its most recent fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund paid in the aggregate $359 in brokerage commissions.

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During its most recent fiscal year, no Fund paid brokerage commissions to any registered broker-dealer affiliates of the Fund or the Adviser. No Fund held any securities of regular broker dealers as of its most recent fiscal year end.

Information Concerning VA

VA, a Delaware limited liability company, is located at 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 and is a registered investment adviser that provides portfolio management services to separately managed accounts, and exchange traded funds, including the Fund. VA had approximately $7.4 billion of assets under management as of July 31, 2023. Pursuant to a purchase agreement signed on March 24, 2023, Vident Capital Holdings, LLC, (VA Holdings), a subsidiary of MM VAM, LLC, acquired a majority interest in VA on the Closing Date. VA Holdings is located at 8024 Calvin Hall Road, Fort Mill, South Carolina 29707. VA Holdings is an entity controlled by Casey Crawford. As of the Closing Date, Mr. Crawford controlled the Sub-Adviser. As part of the Transaction, the Sub-Adviser assumed the entirety of VIAs operations. For this reason, the Sub-Advisory Agreement is with VA and not VIA, the Funds previous investment sub-adviser.

Executive Officers of VA. Information regarding the principal executive officers of VA is set forth below. The address of VA and its executive officers is 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. The following individuals are the executive officers of VA:

Name Position with VA Vince Birley Chief Executive Officer Deborah Kimery Chief Operating Officer Amrita Nandakumar President Erik Olsen Chief Compliance Officer

No Trustee or officer of the Trust currently holds any position with VA or its affiliated persons. No Trustee or officer of the Trust holds any position with VA Holdings or its affiliated persons.

Evaluation by the Board of Trustees

At a regularly scheduled Meeting of the Board of the Trust held on May 16-17, 2023, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, approved the new Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Adviser, VA, and the Trust, on behalf of the Fund. The Boards determination to approve the Sub-Advisory Agreement followed the Boards consideration of several factors and review of written materials provided by VA. The Board considered the expected impact of the Transaction on the Fund, noting VIA would no longer serve as sub-adviser to the Fund, and VA would serve as the successor entity to VIA. The Board also considered that the new Sub-Advisory Agreement with VA is identical in all material respects, except for its effective date and the named entity performing sub-advisory services, to the previous sub-advisory agreement with VIA. The Boards deliberations and the information on which their conclusions were based are summarized below.

In connection with their deliberations regarding approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board took into account all materials provided prior to and during the Meeting and at other meetings throughout the past year, the presentations made during the Meeting, and the discussions held during the Meeting. The Board reviewed VAs responses to a series of questions regarding, among other things, investment performance, VAs quality of services, comparative fee and expense information, and an estimate of VAs profitability from managing the Fund.

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Among other things, the Trustees considered (i) the nature, extent, and quality of services to be provided to the Fund by the Sub-Adviser; (ii) descriptions of the experience and qualifications of the personnel providing those services; (iii) the Sub-Advisers investment philosophies and processes; (iv) the Sub-Advisers assets under management and client descriptions, as applicable; (v) Sub-Advisers soft dollar commission and trade allocation policies, as applicable; (vi) the Sub-Advisers advisory fee arrangements and other similarly managed clients, as applicable; (vii) the Sub-Advisers compliance procedures; (viii) the Sub-Advisers financial information and insurance coverage; (ix) the extent to which economies of scale are relevant to the Fund. The Trustees noted that the Fund had only recently commenced operations, and consequently there was little performance information to review with respect to the Fund.

Nature, Extent and Quality of Services. As part of their review, the Trustees considered the nature, extent and quality of the services proposed to be provided by the Sub-Adviser. The Trustees concluded that the Sub-Adviser had sufficient resources to provide services to the Fund.

Fees and Expenses. The Board also considered the fees payable to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Board noted that the fees for the Sub-Adviser were payable by the Adviser. The fees paid by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser will not change as a result of the new Sub-Advisory Agreement.

Profitability, Economies of Scale, and Conclusion. After reviewing the information regarding the Advisers and the Sub-Advisers estimated costs, profitability and economies of scale, and after considering the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser, the Trustees concluded that the sub-advisory fee to be paid to the Sub-Adviser by the Adviser was fair and reasonable, that the Sub-Advisory Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders and does not involve a conflict of interest from which Adviser or Sub-Adviser derives an inappropriate advantage and that the Sub-Advisory Agreement should be approved.

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OTHER INFORMATION

OPERATION OF THE FUND

The Fund is a non-diversified series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company organized as a Delaware statutory trust and formed by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust on August 29, 2014. The Trusts principal executive offices are located at 615 East Michigan Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202. The Board supervises the business activities of the Fund. Like other mutual funds, the Fund retains various organizations to perform specialized services. Quasar Distributors, LLC, located at Three Canal Plaza, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101, serves as the distributor of the Fund. U.S. Bank, N.A, located at1555 North Rivercenter Drive, Suite 302, Milwaukee, WI 53212, serves as custodian (the Custodian) of the Fund. Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Suite 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6996, serves as counsel to the Trust. U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, located at 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, serves as the Funds administrator and transfer agent.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

As of the Record Date, the Trustees and officers, as a group, beneficially owned approximately 2.5% of the shares of the Fund.

As of the Record Date, the record owners of more than 5% of shares of the Fund are listed in the following table.

Name and Address

of Beneficial or Record Owner Number of Record

and Beneficial (Shares) Percent (%) of Class JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.* 270 Park Avenue, 31st Floor

New York, NY 10017 44,000 35.20% Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 211 Main Street San Francisco, CA 94105 16,754 13.40% J.P Morgan Securities LLC 383 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10179 15,434 12.35% Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282 11,920 9.54% National Financial Services, LLC 200 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10281 9,518 7.61%

* May be deemed to control the Fund because holds more than 25% of the outstanding shares.

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SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

The Trust is not required to hold annual meetings of shareholders, and therefore it cannot be determined when the next meeting of shareholders will be held. Shareholder proposals to be presented at any future meeting of shareholders of the Trust must be received by the Trust within a reasonable time before the Trust's solicitation of proxies for that meeting in order for such proposals to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials related to that meeting. The timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee its consideration at the meeting.

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS

If you and another shareholder share the same address, the Trust may only send one Information Statement unless you or the other shareholder(s) request(s) otherwise. Call or write to the Trust if you wish to receive a separate copy of the Information Statement and the Trust will promptly mail a copy to you. You may also call or write to the Trust if you wish to receive a separate information statement in the future or if you are receiving multiple copies now and wish to receive a single copy in the future. For such requests, write to the Trust, c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202, or call 1-800-617-0004.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Steven Plump, President

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Appendix A





INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

with

Vident Advisory, LLC

This INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is made as of this 14th day of July 2023 by and among THE ENERGY & MINERALS GROUP ADVISORS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Adviser), THE RBB FUND TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust), and VIDENT ADVISORY, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the Sub-Adviser).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company, registered as such under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement dated December 27, 2022, with the Trust; and

WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is engaged in the business of supplying investment advice as an independent contractor; and

WHEREAS, the Investment Advisory Agreement contemplates that the Adviser may appoint a sub-adviser to perform some or all of the services for which the Adviser is responsible; and

WHEREAS, the Sub-Adviser is willing to furnish such services to the Adviser and each Fund listed in Schedule A to this Agreement (each a Fund and, collectively, the Funds).

A G R E E M E N T

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits set forth herein, the parties do hereby agree as follows:

1. Duties of the Sub-Adviser. Subject to supervision and oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the Board), and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall manage all of the securities and other assets of the Funds entrusted to it hereunder (the Assets), including the purchase, retention and disposition of the Assets, in accordance with the Funds respective investment objectives, guidelines, policies and restrictions as stated in each Funds prospectus and statement of additional information, as currently in effect and as amended or supplemented from time to time (referred to collectively and respectively as the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information (and together, the Registration Statement), and subject to the following:

(a) The Sub-Adviser shall, subject to subparagraph (b), determine from time to time what Assets will be purchased, retained or sold by the Funds, and what portion of the Assets will be invested or held uninvested in cash as is permissible.

(b) In the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall act in conformity with the Prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information, the written instructions and directions of the Adviser and of the Board, the terms and conditions of all applicable exemptive and no-action relief granted to the Trust as amended from time to time and provided to the Sub-Adviser and the Trusts policies and procedures provided to the Sub-Adviser and will conform to and comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Commodity Exchange Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.

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(c) The Sub-Adviser shall determine the Assets to be purchased or sold by the Funds as provided in subparagraph (a) and will place orders with or through such persons, brokers or dealers to carry out the policy with respect to brokerage set forth in the Funds Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information or as the Board or the Adviser may direct in writing from time to time, in conformity with all federal securities laws. In executing Fund transactions and selecting brokers or dealers, the Sub-Adviser will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of each Fund the best execution and overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms available for any transaction, the Sub-Adviser shall consider all factors that it deems relevant, including the breadth of the market in the security, the price of the security, the financial condition and execution capability of the broker or dealer, and the reasonableness of the commission, if any, both for the specific transaction and on a continuing basis. In evaluating the best overall terms available, and in selecting the broker-dealer to execute a particular transaction, the Sub-Adviser may also consider the brokerage and research services provided (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)). Consistent with any guidelines established by the Board and Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, as amended, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to pay to a broker or dealer who provides such brokerage and research services a commission for executing a portfolio transaction for a Fund which is in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if, but only if, the Sub-Adviser determines in good faith that such commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker or dealer viewed in terms of that particular transaction or in terms of the overall responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser to its discretionary clients, including the Fund. In addition, the Sub-Adviser is authorized to allocate purchase and sale orders for securities to brokers or dealers (including brokers and dealers that are affiliated with the Adviser, Sub-Adviser or the Trusts principal underwriter) if the Sub-Adviser believes that the quality of the transaction and the commission are comparable to what they would be with other qualified firms. In no instance, however, will the Assets be purchased from or sold to the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, the Trusts principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Trust, Adviser, the Sub-Adviser or the principal underwriter, acting as principal in the transaction, except to the extent permitted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the 1940 Act.

(d) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain all books and records with respect to transactions involving the Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(1), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) and paragraph (f) of Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Sub-Adviser shall keep the books and records relating to the Assets required to be maintained by the Sub-Adviser under this Agreement and shall timely furnish to the Adviser all information relating to the Sub-Advisers services under this Agreement needed by the Adviser to keep the other books and records of the Fund required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act, as requested by the Adviser. The Sub-Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains on behalf of a Fund are property of the Fund and the Sub-Adviser will surrender promptly to the Fund any of such records upon the Funds request; provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records. In addition, for the duration of this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall preserve for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall transfer said records to any successor sub-adviser upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor sub-adviser, to the Adviser); provided, however, that the Sub-Adviser may retain a copy of such records.

(e) The Sub-Adviser shall provide the Funds custodian on each business day with information relating to all transactions concerning the Assets and shall provide the Adviser with such information upon request of the Adviser and shall otherwise cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Adviser, the Trusts administrator, the Trusts custodian and foreign custodians, the Trusts transfer agent and pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Trust.

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(f) The Adviser acknowledges that the Sub-Adviser performs investment advisory services for various other clients in addition to the Funds and, to the extent it is consistent with applicable law and the Sub-Advisers fiduciary obligations, the Sub-Adviser may give advice and take action with respect to any of those other clients that may differ from the advice given or the timing or nature of action taken for a particular Fund.

(g) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly notify the Adviser and the Trust of any financial condition that is reasonably and foreseeably likely to impair the Sub-Advisers ability to fulfill its commitment under this Agreement.

(h) The Sub-Adviser shall not be responsible for reviewing proxy solicitation materials and voting and handling proxies. The Sub-Adviser will have no obligation to advise, initiate or take any other action on behalf of the Adviser, the Funds or the Assets in any legal proceedings (including, without limitation, class actions and bankruptcies) relating to the securities comprising the Assets or any other matter. The Sub-Adviser will not file proofs of claims relating to the securities comprising the Assets or any other matter and will notify the Adviser, the Funds or the Trusts custodian of class action settlements or bankruptcies relating to the Assets.

(i) In performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, the Sub-Adviser shall not consult with any other sub-adviser to the Funds or a sub-adviser to a portfolio that is under common control with the Funds concerning the Assets, except as permitted by the policies and procedures of the Funds. The Sub-Adviser shall not provide investment advice to any assets of the Funds other than the Assets which it sub-advises.

(j) On occasions when the Sub-Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interest of the Funds as well as other clients of the Sub-Adviser, the Sub-Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the order for securities to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Sub-Adviser will allocate securities so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in a manner the Sub-Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances.

(k) The Sub-Adviser shall maintain books and records with respect to the Funds securities transactions and keep the Board and the Adviser fully informed on an ongoing basis as agreed by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser of all material facts concerning the Sub-Advisers ability to provide services to the Funds and its key investment personnel providing services with respect to the Funds and the investment and the reinvestment of the Assets of the Funds. The Sub-Adviser shall furnish to the Adviser or the Board such reasonably requested regular, periodic and special reports, balance sheets or financial information, and such other information with regard to its affairs as the Adviser or Board may reasonably request and the Sub-Adviser will attend meetings with the Adviser and/or the Board, as reasonably requested, to discuss the foregoing. Upon the request of the Adviser or the Trust, the Sub-Adviser shall also furnish to the Adviser any other information relating to the Assets that is required to be filed by the Adviser or the Trust with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act (including the rules adopted thereunder) or any exemptive or other relief that the Adviser or the Trust obtains from the SEC.

(l) The fair valuation of securities in a Fund may be required when the Adviser becomes aware of significant events that may affect the pricing of all or a portion of a Funds portfolio. The Sub-Adviser will provide assistance in determining the fair value of the Assets, as necessary and reasonably requested by the Adviser or its agent, it being understood that the Sub-Adviser will not be responsible for determining the value of any such security.

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(m) The Adviser may add or withdraw Assets from the Sub-Adviser on written notice (including e-mail) to the Sub-Adviser. Any such notice shall set forth the amount of the increase or withdrawal, or identify the specific Assets to be added or withdrawn, the date on which such increase or withdrawal shall become effective, and such other information deemed necessary or appropriate by the Adviser.

2. Duties of the Adviser. The Adviser shall continue to have responsibility for all services to be provided to the Funds pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement and shall oversee and review the Sub-Advisers performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that in connection with its management of the Assets, nothing herein shall be construed to relieve the Sub-Adviser of responsibility for compliance with the Prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information, the written instructions and directions of the Board, the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Code, and all other applicable federal laws and regulations, as each is amended from time to time.

3. Delivery of Documents. The Adviser has furnished the Sub-Adviser with copies of each of the following documents:

(a) The Trusts Agreement and Declaration of Trust (such Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time, herein called the Declaration of Trust);

(b) By-Laws of the Trust (such By-Laws, as in effect on the date of this Agreement and as amended from time to time, are herein called the By-Laws);

(c) Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Funds, as amended from time to time;

(d) Resolutions of the Board approving the engagement of the Sub-Adviser as a sub-adviser to the Funds;

(e) Resolutions, policies and procedures adopted by the Board with respect to the Assets to the extent such resolutions, policies and procedures may affect the duties of the Sub-Adviser hereunder;

(f) A list of the Trusts principal underwriter and each affiliated person of the Adviser, the Trust or the principal underwriter; and

(g) The terms and conditions of exemptive and no-action relief granted to the Trust, as amended from time to time.

The Adviser shall promptly furnish the Sub-Adviser from time to time with copies of all amendments of or supplements to the foregoing. Until so provided, the Sub-Adviser may continue to rely on those documents previously provided. The Adviser shall not, and shall not permit any of the Funds to, use the Sub-Advisers name or make representations regarding Sub-Adviser or its affiliates without prior written consent of Sub-Adviser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Sub-Advisers approval is not required when the information regarding the Sub-Adviser used by the Adviser or the Fund is limited to information disclosed in materials provided by the Sub-Adviser to the Adviser in writing specifically for use in the Funds Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or in Fund shareholder reports or proxy statements and the information is used (a) as required by applicable law, rule or regulation, in the Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information of the Fund or in Fund shareholder reports or proxy statements; or (b) as may be otherwise specifically approved in writing by the Sub-Adviser prior to use.

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4. Compensation to the Sub-Adviser. For the services to be provided by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Adviser will pay the Sub-Adviser, and the Sub-Adviser agrees to accept as full compensation therefore, a sub-advisory fee at the rate specified in Schedule A which is attached hereto and made part of this Agreement. The fee will be calculated based on the daily value of the Assets under the Sub-Advisers management (as calculated as described in the Funds Registration Statement), shall be computed daily, and will be paid to the Sub-Adviser not less than monthly in arrears. Except as may otherwise be prohibited by law or regulation (including any then current SEC staff interpretations), the Sub-Adviser may, in its sole discretion and from time to time, waive a portion of its fee.

In the event of termination of this Agreement, the fee provided in this Section shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect; provided, however that any minimum annual fee for any Fund (as noted on Schedule A ) will not be prorated if this Agreement is terminated with respect to such Fund within twelve (12) months of its inception under this Agreement, but, rather, such minimum annual fee shall be paid by the Adviser in full (minus any investment management fees already paid during such period) at the time of termination.

5. Expenses. The Sub-Adviser will furnish, at its expense, all necessary facilities and personnel, including personnel compensation, expenses and fees required for the Sub-Adviser to perform its duties under this Agreement; this includes administrative facilities, including operations and bookkeeping, and all equipment necessary for the efficient conduct of the Sub-Advisers duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser may enter into an agreement with the Funds to limit the operating expenses of the Fund.

6. Indemnification. The Sub-Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser, the Trust, all affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorneys fees and other related expenses) however arising from or in connection with the performance of the Sub-Advisers obligations under this Agreement to the extent resulting from or relating to Sub-Advisers own willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Sub-Advisers obligation under this Section 6 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Adviser, the Trust, all affiliated persons thereof and all controlling persons thereof, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Advisers own willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.

The Sub-Adviser acknowledges that the Trust is a series trust, and each Fund is a separate and distinct series of the Trust. As such, the Sub-Adviser acknowledges and agrees that the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing as a result of this Agreement with respect to a Fund shall be enforceable against the assets of that Fund separately, and not against the assets of the Trust generally or the assets of any other portfolio or series of the Trust.

The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sub-Adviser and all affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act) and all controlling persons (as described in Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities or damages (including reasonable attorneys fees and other related expenses) however arising from or in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, any claims of infringement or misappropriation of the intellectual property rights of a third party against the Sub-Adviser or any affiliated person relating to any index or index data provided to Sub-Adviser by the Adviser or Advisers agent and used by the Sub-Adviser in connection with performing its duties under this Agreement); provided, however, that the Advisers obligation under this Section 6 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability or damage experienced by the Sub-Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to the Sub-Advisers own willful misfeasance, fraud, bad faith or gross negligence, or to the reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no party to this Agreement shall be responsible or liable for its failure to perform under this Agreement or for any losses to the Assets resulting from any event beyond the reasonable control of such party or its agents, including, but not limited to, nationalization, expropriation, devaluation, seizure or similar action by any governmental authority, de facto or de jure; or enactment, promulgation, imposition or enforcement by any such governmental authority of currency restrictions, exchange controls, levies or other charges affecting the Assets; or the breakdown, failure or malfunction of any utilities or telecommunications systems; or any order or regulation of any banking or securities industry including changes in market rules and market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions; or acts or war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; pandemics, or acts of God, or any other similar event. In no event shall any party be responsible for incidental, consequential or punitive damages hereunder.

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The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

7. Representations and Warranties of Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser represents and warrants to the Adviser and the Trust as follows:

(a) The Sub-Adviser is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and will continue to be so registered so long as this Agreement remains in effect;

(b) The Sub-Adviser will promptly notify the Adviser of the occurrence of any event that would substantially impair the Sub-Advisers ability to fulfill its commitment under this Agreement or disqualify the Sub-Adviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act. There is no litigation or regulatory proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Sub-Adviser, threatened against the Sub-Adviser that could materially affect the Sub-Advisers ability to carry out its duties under this Agreement. The Sub-Adviser will also promptly notify the Trust and the Adviser if it, a member of its executive management or portfolio manager for the Assets is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, government agency, self-regulatory organization, public board or body, involving the affairs of the Funds or relating to the investment advisory services of the Sub-Adviser provided pursuant to this Agreement, including any deficiency arising from a routine regulatory examination that could materially affect the Sub-Advisers ability to carry out its duties under this Agreement;

(c) The Sub-Adviser will notify the Adviser promptly upon detection of (a) any material failure to manage the Fund(s) in accordance with the Fund(s) stated investment objectives, guidelines and policies or any applicable law or regulation; or (b) any material breach of any of the Fund(s) or the Sub-Advisers policies, guidelines or procedures relating to the Funds.

(d) The Sub-Adviser is fully authorized under all applicable law and regulation to enter into this Agreement and serve as Sub-Adviser to the Funds and to perform the services described under this Agreement;

(e) The Sub-Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state of Delaware with the power to own and possess its assets and carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and the Sub-Adviser conducts its business in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations;

(f) The execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement are within the Sub-Advisers powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of its corporate members or board, and no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official is required on the part of the Sub-Adviser for the execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance by the Sub-Adviser of this Agreement do not contravene or constitute a default under (i) any provision of applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) the Sub-Advisers governing instruments, or (iii) any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Sub-Adviser;

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(g) This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the Sub-Adviser;

(h) The Form ADV of the Sub-Adviser previously provided to the Adviser is a true and complete copy of the form filed with the SEC and the information contained therein is accurate, current and complete in all material respects as of its filing date, and does not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Sub-Adviser shall provide an updated Form ADV promptly upon request from the Adviser or from the Trusts CCO;

(i) The Sub-Adviser shall not divert any Funds portfolio securities transactions to a broker or dealer in consideration of such broker or dealers promotion or sales of shares of the Fund, any other series of the Trust, or any other registered investment company; and

(j) The Sub-Adviser agrees to maintain an appropriate level of errors and omissions or professional liability insurance coverage as determined by the Sub-Adviser and subject to review by the Board, and shall provide evidence of such coverage to the Board promptly upon request.

8. Duration and Termination. The effectiveness and termination dates of this Agreement shall be determined separately for each Fund as described below.

(a) Duration. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund upon the latest of (i) the approval by a vote of a majority of those Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; (ii) the approval of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities, if required by the 1940 Act; and (iii) the commencement of the Sub-Advisers management of the Fund. With respect to the Fund, this Agreement shall continue in effect until August 16, 2024, subject thereafter to being continued in force and effect from year to year if specifically approved each year by the Board or by the vote of a majority of the Funds outstanding voting securities. In addition to the foregoing, each renewal of this Agreement must be approved by the vote of a majority of the Board who are not parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. Prior to voting on the renewal of this Agreement, the Board may request and evaluate, and the Sub-Adviser shall furnish, such information as may reasonably be necessary to enable the Board to evaluate the terms of this Agreement.

(b) Termination. Notwithstanding whatever may be provided herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated at any time with respect to a Fund, without payment of any penalty:

(i) By vote of a majority of the Board, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds, or by the Adviser, in each case, upon sixty (60) days written notice to the Sub-Adviser;

(ii) By the Adviser upon breach by the Sub-Adviser of any representation or warranty contained in Section 7 and Section 9 hereof, which shall not have been cured within twenty (20) days of the Sub-Advisers receipt of written notice of such breach;

(iii) By the Adviser immediately upon written notice to the Sub-Adviser if the Sub-Adviser becomes unable to discharge its duties and obligations under this Agreement; or

(iv) By the Sub-Adviser upon sixty (60) days written notice to the Adviser and the Board.

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This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment, or in the event of a termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust upon notice to the Sub-Adviser. As used in this Section 8 , the terms assignment and vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities shall have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, subject to such exceptions as may be granted by the SEC under the 1940 Act.

9. Regulatory Compliance Program of the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-Adviser hereby represents and warrants that:

(a) in accordance with Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act, the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation by the Sub-Adviser and its supervised persons (as such term is defined in the Advisers Act) of the Advisers Act and the rules the SEC has adopted under the Advisers Act; and

(b) the Sub-Adviser has adopted and implemented and will maintain written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) by the Funds and the Sub-Adviser applicable to the Sub-Advisers services provided under this Agreement (the policies and procedures referred to in this Section 9(b), along with the policies and procedures referred to in Section 9(a), are referred to herein as the Sub-Advisers Compliance Program).

10. Confidentiality. Subject to the duty of the Adviser or Sub-Adviser to comply with applicable law and regulation, including any demand or request of any regulatory, governmental or tax authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all non-public information pertaining to the Funds and the actions of the Sub-Adviser and the Funds in respect thereof. It is understood that any information or recommendation supplied by the Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder is to be regarded as confidential and for use only by the Adviser, the Funds, the Board, or such persons as the Adviser may reasonably designate in connection with the Funds. It is also understood that any information supplied to the Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder is to be regarded as confidential and for use only by the Sub-Adviser, its affiliates and agents in connection with its obligation to provide investment advice and other services to the Funds and to assist or enable the effective management of the Advisers and the Funds overall relationship with the Sub-Adviser and its affiliates. The parties acknowledge and agree that all nonpublic personal information with regard to shareholders in the Funds shall be deemed proprietary and confidential information of the Adviser, and that the Sub-Adviser shall use that information solely in the performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement and shall take reasonable steps to safeguard the confidentiality of that information. Further, the Sub-Adviser shall maintain and enforce adequate security and oversight procedures with respect to all materials, records, documents and data relating to any of its responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement including all means for the effecting of investment transactions.

11. Reporting of Compliance Matters.

(a) The Sub-Adviser shall promptly provide to the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of the Trust and the Adviser the following:

(i) a report of any material violations of the Sub-Advisers Compliance Program or any material compliance matters (as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) that have occurred with respect to the Sub-Advisers Compliance Program;

(ii) on a quarterly basis, a report of any material changes to the policies and procedures that compose the Sub-Advisers Compliance Program;

(iii) a copy of the summary of the Sub-Advisers chief compliance officers report (or similar document(s) which serve the same purpose) regarding his or her annual review of the Sub-Advisers Compliance Program, as required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Advisers Act; and

(iv) an annual (or more frequently as the CCO of the Trust and the Adviser may reasonably request) representation regarding the Sub-Advisers compliance with Section 7 and Section 9 of this Agreement.

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(b) The Sub-Adviser shall also provide the CCO of the Trust and the Adviser with reasonable access, during normal business hours, to the Sub-Advisers facilities for the purpose of conducting pre-arranged on-site compliance related due diligence meetings with personnel of the Sub-Adviser.

12. Index Data. The Adviser has obtained all licenses and permissions necessary for the Sub-Adviser to use any index data provided to it by the Adviser or Advisers agent under this Agreement and the Sub-Adviser is not required to obtain any such licenses or permissions itself.

13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed as being inconsistent with the 1940 Act.

14. Severability. Should any part of this Agreement be held invalid by a court decision, statute, regulation, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors.

15. Notice. Any notice, advice, document, report or other client communication to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed sufficient if delivered or mailed by registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid or electronically addressed by the party giving notice to the other party at the last address furnished by the other party. By consenting to the electronic delivery of any notice, advice, document, report or other client communication in respect of this Agreement or as required pursuant to applicable law, the Adviser authorizes the Sub-Adviser to deliver all communications by email or other electronic means.

To the Adviser at: The Energy & Minerals Group Advisors, LLC 704 Goodlette Frank Road North, Suite 118 Naples, Florida 34102 Attention: William McDonough To the Trust at: The RBB Fund Trust c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC 615 East Michigan St. Milwaukee, WI 53202 Attention: Steven Plump, President To the Sub-Adviser at: Vident Advisory, LLC 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 515 Alpharetta, Georgia, 30009 Attention: Amrita Nandakumar Email: [email protected]

16. Non-Hire/Non-Solicitation. The parties hereby agree that, during the term of this Agreement, neither party shall, for any reason, directly or indirectly, on its own behalf or on behalf of others, knowingly hire any person employed by the other party (a Restricted Person), whether or not such Restricted Person is a full-time employee or whether or not any Restricted Persons employment is pursuant to a written agreement or is at-will. The parties further agree that, to the extent that a party breaches the covenant described in this paragraph, the other party shall be entitled to pursue all appropriate remedies in law or equity.

17

17. Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of the Adviser, the Sub-Adviser and the Trust, and only in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

18. Representations and Warranties of the Adviser.

(a) Each Fund is an eligible contract participant as defined in Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act (the CEA) and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Rule 1.3(m) thereunder and a qualified eligible person as defined in Rule 4.7 of the CFTC. The Adviser consents to each Fund being treated as an exempt account under Rule 4.7 of the CFTC;

(b) The Adviser is registered with the National Futures Association as a commodity pool operator;

(c) The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser and the Funds of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Adviser and the Board (including full authority to bind the Funds to the terms of this Agreement); and

(d) The Adviser will promptly notify the Sub-Adviser if any of the above representations in this Section are no longer true and accurate.

19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to this Agreements subject matter. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.

20. Interpretation. Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the 1940 Act will be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States courts or, in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the SEC validly issued pursuant to the 1940 Act. Specifically, the terms vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, interested persons, assignment, and affiliated persons, as used herein will have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is relaxed by a rule, regulation or order of the SEC, whether of special or of general application, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.

21. Headings. The headings in the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and will not constitute a part hereof.

In the event the terms of this Agreement are applicable to more than one Fund of the Trust as specified in Schedule A attached hereto, the Adviser is entering into this Agreement with the Sub-Adviser on behalf of the respective Funds severally and not jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained in each numbered paragraph hereof shall be understood as applying separately with respect to each Fund as if contained in separate agreements between the Adviser and Sub-Adviser for each such Fund. In the event that this Agreement is made applicable to any additional Funds by way of a Schedule executed subsequent to the date first indicated above, provisions of such Schedule shall be deemed to be incorporated into this Agreement as it relates to such Fund so that, for example, the execution date for purposes of Section 8 of this Agreement with respect to such Fund shall be the execution date of the relevant Schedule.

22. Miscellaneous. Where the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act or Advisers Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is altered by a rule, regulation or order of the SEC, whether of special or general application, such provision shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order.

PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH ACCOUNTS OF QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE PERSONS, THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE, AND HAS NOT BEEN, FILED WITH THE COMMISSION. THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A TRADING PROGRAM OR UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR DISCLOSURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED OR APPROVED THIS TRADING PROGRAM OR THIS BROCHURE OR ACCOUNT DOCUMENT.

[Signature page follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day first set forth above.

THE ENERGY & MINERALS GROUP ADVISORS, LLC By: Name: William McDonough Title: Chief Executive Officer VIDENT ADVISORY, LLC By: Name: Amrita Nandakumar Title: President THE RBB FUND TRUST By: Name: Steven Plump Title: President

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SCHEDULE A

to the

INVESTMENT SUB-ADVISORY AGREEMENT

The Adviser will pay to the Sub-Adviser as compensation for the Sub-Advisers services rendered, a fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the greater of (1) the minimum fee or (2) the daily net assets of the respective Fund in accordance with the following fee schedule:

Fund Minimum Fee Rate The Energy & Minerals Group EV, Solar & Battery Materials (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt) Futures Strategy ETF $85,000 annual minimum. 0.09% on the first $250 million in assets, 0.085% on the next $250 million in assets, and 0.08% on all assets thereafter.

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The Energy & Minerals Group EV, Solar & Battery Materials (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt) Futures Strategy ETF - CHRG

a series of The RBB Fund Trust

615 East Michigan Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(609) 731-6256

IMPORTANT NOTICE OF INTERNET AVAILABILITY

OF INFORMATION STATEMENT

This communication presents only an overview of the Information Statement that is available to you on the internet relating to the Energy & Minerals Group EV, Solar & Battery Materials (Lithium, Nickel, Copper, Cobalt) Futures Strategy ETF (the Fund), a series of The RBB Fund Trust (the Trust). We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the Information Statement.

The Information Statement describes the recent approval of the Sub-Advisory Agreement among the Funds investment adviser, The Energy & Minerals Group Advisors, LLC (the Adviser), the Trust on behalf of the Fund, and Vident Advisory, LLC, the Funds sub-adviser.

The Trust has received an exemptive order (the Order) from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that allows the Adviser to hire and replace investment sub-advisers and to make changes to existing sub-advisory agreements without shareholder approval. The Order instead requires that an information statement be sent to shareholders of the Fund. In lieu of physical delivery of the Information Statement, the Fund will make the Information Statement available to you on the Funds website.

This Notice of Internet Availability of the Information Statement is being transmitted on or about October 12, 2023 to shareholders of record of the Fund as of September 30, 2023. The Information Statement will be available on the Funds website at https://www.emgadvisors.com until January 31, 2024. A paper or e-mail copy of the Information Statement may be obtained, without charge, by contacting the Trust at [email protected] or toll-free at (1-800-617-0004).

If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of the Information Statement, you must request one. A copy of the Information Statement may be obtained upon request and without charge.

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.




UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K





CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 12, 2023

Sculptor Capital Management, Inc.



(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





Delaware

001-33805

26-0354783

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation) (Commission

File Number) (I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

9 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrants telephone number, including area code:

(212) 790-0000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)









Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):



Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)



Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)



Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))



Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Title of each class Trading

Symbol Name of each exchange

on which registered Class A Shares

SCU

New York Stock Exchange



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 





Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger

On October 12, 2023, Sculptor Capital Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( Sculptor  or the  Company ), entered into Amendment No. 1 (the  Amendment ) to its previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger dated July 23, 2023 (including the schedules and exhibits thereto, the  Original Merger Agreement  and, as amended by the Amendment, the  Amended Merger Agreement ), by and among Sculptor, Rithm Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation ( Rithm ), Sculptor Capital LP, a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of Sculptor ( Capital LP ), Sculptor Capital Advisors LP, a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of Sculptor ( Advisors LP ), Sculptor Capital Advisors II LP, a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of Sculptor ( Advisors II LP ), Calder Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and subsidiary of Rithm ( Merger Sub Inc. ), Calder Sub I, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of Rithm ( Merger Sub I ), Calder Sub II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of Rithm ( Merger Sub II ), and Calder Sub III, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and subsidiary of Rithm ( Merger Sub III ). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Original Merger Agreement or the Amended Merger Agreement, as applicable, unless otherwise defined herein.

As previously announced, the Original Merger Agreement provided for, among other things, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, (i) the merger of Merger Sub Inc. with and into Sculptor, with Sculptor surviving such merger as the surviving corporation, (ii) the merger of Merger Sub I with and into Capital LP, with Capital LP surviving such merger as the surviving partnership, (iii) the merger of Merger Sub II with and into Advisors LP, with Advisors LP surviving such merger as the surviving partnership, and (iv) the merger of Merger Sub III with and into Advisors II LP, with Advisors II LP surviving such merger as the surviving partnership.

Under the terms of the Amendment, the parties have agreed to increase the price to be paid to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock to $12.00 per share in cash, and have further agreed to (i) amend the Company Termination Fee from $16,576,819 to $20,307,196, (ii) amend the LP Merger Consideration from $167,367,690 to $173,104,681, (iii) amend the Parent Expenses from $5,100,560 to $5,415,252, (iv) remove the requirement for the Company Non-Unitholder Stockholder Approval, (v) remove all provisions relating to the contribution of Rollover Interests held by each of the Rollover Holders, and (vi) provide for the waiver of the standstill restrictions set forth in paragraph 11 of the Confidentiality Agreement dated November 14, 2022, as amended on June 28, 2023, by and between the Company and Rithm, solely to the extent such restrictions prohibit Parent from acquiring (and negotiating such acquisition with Delaware Life Insurance Company) and/or exercising the warrants for the purchase of Company Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to that certain Credit and Guaranty Agreement dated September 25, 2020, by and among Capital LP, as borrower, certain other guarantors party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Delaware Life Insurance Company, as administrative agent and as a lender.

Other than as expressly modified pursuant to the Amendment, the Original Merger Agreement, which was previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) by Sculptor on July 24, 2023 (the Previous 8-K), remains in full force and effect as originally executed on July 23, 2023. The foregoing description of the Original Merger Agreement, the Amendment, the mergers and the other transactions is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Original Merger Agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Previous 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference, and the full text of the Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Amendment has been attached to provide investors with information regarding its terms. Further, the Amendment should not be read alone but instead in conjunction with the Original Merger Agreement which it amends and with the other information regarding the Amended Merger Agreement, the transactions contemplated by the Amended Merger Agreement, Rithm, Sculptor, their respective affiliates and their respective businesses that is contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the proxy statement that has been filed with the SEC by Sculptor in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Amended Merger Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, as well as in the definitive proxy statement, Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other filings that Rithm or Sculptor files or furnishes with the SEC.

References to the Original Merger Agreement from and after the entry into the Amendment on October 12, 2023 refer to the Amended Merger Agreement as amended by the Amendment.





Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On October 12, 2023, Rithm and the Company jointly issued a press release announcing entry into the Amendment. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and the information contained therein is incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01.

The information contained in the press release and Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to this Item 7.01. Accordingly, such information will not be incorporated by reference into any filing filed by Sculptor under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated by reference therein. The furnishing of the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the press release and Exhibit 99.1 is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission by Sculptor that such information is material or complete, or that investors should consider this information before making an investment decision with respect to any security of Sculptor.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit

Number Description 2.1

Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 12, 2023, by and among Rithm Capital Corp., Sculptor Capital Management, Inc., Sculptor Capital LP, Sculptor Capital Advisors LP, Sculptor Capital Advisors II LP, Calder Sub, Inc., Calder Sub I, LP, Calder Sub II, LP, and Calder Sub III, LP.

99.1 Joint Press Release, dated as of October 12, 2023 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

Additional Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It

This communication relates to a proposed transaction between Rithm and Sculptor. In connection with the proposed transaction, Sculptor has filed with the SEC and intends to mail or otherwise provide to its stockholders a proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction. Sculptor may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, SCULPTORS STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents containing information about Sculptor and the proposed transaction, once such documents are filed with the SEC (when available) from the SECs website at www.sec.gov and Sculptors website at www.sculptor.com. In addition, the proxy statement and other documents filed by Sculptor with, or furnished to, the SEC (when available) may be obtained from Sculptor free of charge by directing a request to Sculptors Investor Relations at [email protected]

Participants in the Solicitation

Sculptor and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be considered to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Sculptors stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Sculptor in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise is included in the proxy statement filed with the SEC. You may also find additional information about Sculptors directors and executive officers in Sculptors proxy statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023. You can obtain a free copy of this document from Sculptor using the contact information above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The proposed transaction will be implemented solely pursuant to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, which contain the full terms and conditions of the proposed transaction.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The communication contains statements which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the proposed transaction. All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this communication may be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words believes, anticipates, plans, expects, may, should, could, estimate, intend (or the negative of these terms) and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements represent Sculptors current expectations regarding future events and are subject to a number of assumptions, trends, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Sculptors control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained herein. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect such forward-looking statements, see the sections entitled Forward Looking Statements, Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Sculptors most recent annual and quarterly reports and other filings filed with the SEC, which are available on Sculptors website ( www.sculptor.com ).

Factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied include, but are not limited to, the following risks relating to the proposed transaction: the occurrence of any event, change, or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the satisfaction of closing conditions to the transaction on a timely basis or at all, including the ability to obtain stockholder approval; uncertainties as to the timing of the transaction; litigation relating to the transaction; the impact of the transaction on Sculptors business operations (including the threatened or actual loss of employees, clients or suppliers); incurrence of unexpected costs and expenses in connection with the transaction; and financial or other setbacks if the transaction encounters unanticipated problems. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include, but are not limited to, risks related to changes in the financial, equity and debt markets, risks related to political, economic and market conditions and other risks discussed and identified in public filings made by Sculptor with the SEC.

New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Sculptor to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this communication, and Sculptor expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Sculptors expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.









SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Sculptor Capital Management, Inc. Dated: October 12, 2023 By: /s/ Dava Ritchea Name: Dava Ritchea Title: Chief Financial Officer






UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G/A

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 3)*

PowerFleet, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities)

73931J109 (CUSIP Number) October 10, 2023 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

x Rule 13d-1(b) o Rule 13d-1(c) o Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

Page 1 of 6 pages

CUSIP No. 73931J109 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Private Capital Management, LLC (46-3167283) 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions) (a) o (b) x 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 3,048,384 6 SHARED VOTING POWER* 2,614,067 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 3,048,384 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,614,067 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON** 5,662,451 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (see instructions) o 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 15.63% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) IA

Page 2 of 6 pages

Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: PowerFleet, Inc. Item 1(b). Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices: 123 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: Private Capital Management, LLC Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: 8889 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Suite 500, Naples, Florida 34108 Item 2(c). Citizenship: USA Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 73931J109

Page 3 of 6 pages

Item 3. If this Statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) o Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act; (b) o Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act; (c) o Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act; (d) x Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940; (e) o An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) o An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) o A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) o A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) o A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940; (j) o A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k) o Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:

Item 4. Ownership. Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount Beneficially Owned**: 5,662,451 (b) Percent of Class: 15.63% (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 3,048,384 (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote*: 2,614,067 (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 3,048,384 (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 2,614,067

Page 4 of 6 pages

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following o .

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. No Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect for the time being.

*PCM exercises shared voting authority with respect to shares held by those PCM clients that have delegated proxy voting authority to PCM. Such delegation may be granted or revoked at any time at the client's discretion.

**PCM disclaims beneficial ownership of shares over which it has dispositive power and disclaims the existence of a group.

Page 5 of 6 pages

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

10/12/23 Date /s/ Chad D. Atkins Signature Chad D. Atkins, President Name/Title

Page 6 of 6 pages
Air Force Staff Sgt. Bailey Hodgson feeds ice cream to Riko, a military working dog, during the canines retirement ceremony inside the Enlisted Club at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  Doggie toys rained down on Riko, a military working dog who retired from active service this week during a ceremony at this airlift hub in western Tokyo.

Early onset arthritis sidelined the 7-year-old German shepherd. Riko served with Air Force security forces for five years, or 49 in dog years, according to Senior Airman Justin Young of the 374th Security Forces Squadron and the master of ceremonies at Rikos retirement. Military working dogs typically serve 10 to 12 years.

Riko will begin civilian life at Yokota with his handler, security forces Staff Sgt. Bailey Hodgson, of Seattle, who received special dispensation to live in a base housing tower with his companion.

About 50 people showed up at Yokotas Enlisted Club to see Riko receive the retirement certificate listing his military accomplishments.

His service began in 2018 at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where he was trained and certified in patrols and finding explosives and narcotics.

At Yokota, Riko executed more than 200 random anti-terrorism measures, 3,000 foot patrols, swept well over 20,000 vehicles and 500 facilities and spent nearly 44,000 hours on narcotic detection, according to his certificate.

At his sendoff, he also received a special serving of ice cream and a military working dog patch custom designed by Hodgson.

As the ceremony concluded, service members gathered around the clubs stage and tossed a plethora of toys to the shepherd.

I dont know what he would say, Hodgson told Stars and Stripes after the ceremony. I just know what emotions he would have. I feel like hed be like me out there trying to give a speech and getting super emotional. He finally gets to have the life that he never had before.

Riko, a military working dog, takes the stage during his retirement ceremony inside the Enlisted Club at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Canine military history

Humans, including the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, have taken canines into combat since 600 B.C., according to the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii.

U.S. military dogs were officially organized on March 13, 1942, when Dogs for Defense, a private organization, was established to recruit them for the U.S. militarys War Dog Program, according to the American Kennel Club.

Dogs have distinguished themselves throughout U.S. military history.

During the Civil War, a Staffordshire bull terrier named Sallie served as mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; she lifted their spirits and at Gettysburg licked the wounds of her human comrades. Two months before the war ended, she died of a bullet wound at the front. A likeness of Sallie cast in bronze rests on the 11th Pennsylvanias monument at Gettysburg National Military Park.

During World War I, Stubby, a stray Boston terrier, served with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, and alerted soldiers to gas attacks. The most decorated military working dog of the war, Stubby served in 17 battles. She was the first canine to reach the rank of sergeant, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Bailey Hodgson trains with Riko, a military working dog, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 22, 2023. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Dogs best friend

Hodgson started working with Riko at Yokota in December. He soon noticed the dog let out a yelp sometimes while training; the base veterinary clinic discovered Riko has arthritis and in June deemed him ineligible for continued service.

He was originally going to have surgery so he can keep working, Hodgson said. But it had spread too much for surgery to fix it.

Hodgson volunteered to adopt Riko after the dog officially stopped working. During the application process, he learned that because he lives in a base dormitory for single airmen, hes not permitted a pet.

Things werent always easy with the adoption process, Hodgson said during the ceremony. They were a lot more complex. One month into the adoption process I found out that I would not be able to adopt Riko  I felt alone and hopeless, like I wasnt going to be able to make this happen.

Thankfully the 374th Airlift Wing approved Hodgsons move into family residential towers, where pets are allowed. Riko since August has been living with Hodgson on base, where he enjoys lying on the couch and listening to reggae music.

Ive worked with three different dogs and Riko is my favorite, Hodgson said. Riko was the closest to a friend. So, I was really happy to be able to bring him home.
A medical drone watches over Iowa National Guard soldiers transporting a mock casualty during an exercise at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 7, 2023. (Paige Bodine/U.S. Army)

A medical drone the Army is testing may one day prove the difference between life and death for American troops in combat.

Iowa National Guard soldiers trained with a drone that can scan wounded troops from the sky to get vital signs like heartbeat and breathing rates, Army officials said Wednesday. The drone also sets a geolocation pin to help medics find the wounded.

In a test during an August exercise, a squad leader with the 294th Medical Company Area Support huddled behind cover with medics as they used a drone to find mock casualties, said Army Sgt. Maj. Bryan Goff, who worked in the planning group for the exercise.

With the information supplied by the drone, they determined the condition of soldiers and distinguished them from mannequins, who were considered dead for exercise purposes.

If theres one (soldier) thats more critical than the others, thats the one you need to save first, and you can make that decision before you leave cover, Goff said.

A drone scans a mock casualty for heartbeat and breathing rate during a military exercise at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 7, 2023. The medical drone technology may one day allow medics to see which troops on the battlefield need medical aid most urgently. (Scott McGill/Arete)

The drone sensor can detect vital signs from 30 to 150 feet away, even through body armor, an Army statement during the August exercise said.

The prototype drone system is part of the VISTA project, which has been in the works for four years.

VISTA, which stands for Vision and Intelligence Systems for Medical Teaming Applications, has included two years of research with unmanned aerial systems, the statement said.

The Army is partnering with Arete, a California-based company that supplies the sensor system in the drone that scans people from afar, said Lori DeBernardis, a spokeswoman at the Armys Medical Research & Development Command.

The military plans to look into higher-quality cameras and more powerful computers for the system, DeBernardis said in an email.

The hope is that future medical drones will be able to identify wounds and whether the patient is conscious, DeBernardis said.
Amazon Web Services will invest W7.85 trillion over the next five years to expand its cloud infrastructure in Korea by 2027, it said Wednesday (US$1=W1,339).

The investment will cover the construction and expansion of data centers as well as recruitment of facility management and cloud engineering personnel.

Amazon's cloud computing subsidiary forecast that the plan will contribute approximately W15 trillion to Korea's GDP by 2027 and create over 12,300 jobs a year.

A global cloud service leader, AWS also dominates the Korean market with a share of approximately 60 percent. It has invested around W2.73 trillion in Korea since 2018, creating around 3,600 jobs annually.

Ham Kee-ho of AWS' Korean office said, "The latest investment plan will help Korea to become a global digital powerhouse."
A Navy P-8 Poseidon surveillance plane prepares for takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Sept. 27, 2023. (Logan Beeney/U.S. Marine Corps)

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft flew over the contentious Taiwan Strait on Thursday, demonstrating the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to the U.S. 7th Fleet.

The aircraft flew south through the 110-mile-wide waterway that separates mainland China from Taiwan, entering from the East China Sea and exiting over the South China Sea, as part of a routine transit, said 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Luka Bakic.

U.S. Navy ships and aircraft routinely use the Taiwan Strait to transit between the two [seas] and have done so for many years, he told Stars and Stripes in an email Thursday.

The flight was not a response to any particular event, Bakic said. The Navy routinely sends guided-missile destroyers and cruisers through the strait; Navy aircraft also regularly transit there, although the Navy reports such activity less frequently.

Bakic did not specify if the aircraft encountered or interacted with Chinese or other foreign military ships and aircraft but said U.S. ships and aircraft routinely interact with their foreign counterparts.

All interactions with foreign military forces during the transit were consistent with international norms and did not impact the operation, he said.

China, which typically condemns such transits as provocative, had not publicly responded to the Poseidons flight as of Thursday afternoon.

The Chinese military went on high alert following a similar flight on April 28. The transit proved the U.S. is a disruptor of peace and stability in the region, Chinas Eastern Theater Command said in an April 29 news release.

Beijing views Taiwan, a functioning democracy that split from China in 1949, as a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland.

A record 103 Chinese aircraft were active around Taiwan on Sept. 18, outnumbering the previous high of 91 planes and a dozen ships reported by the islands military on April 11.

Chinas activity around Taiwan has returned to typical levels. The island spotted 14 aircraft and five warships Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said in a post X, formerly Twitter.
The hospital ship USNS Mercy departs Naval Base San Diego to kick off Pacific Partnership 2024, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (David Negron/U.S. Navy)

A U.S. Navy hospital ship steamed out of San Diego Bay this week and began making its way across the Pacific, where it plans to stop at island nations as part of an annual disaster preparedness mission.

The USNS Mercy leads Pacific Partnership 2024. Equipped with 1,000 hospital beds and a crew of 800 civilian and military personnel, including doctors and dentists, the ship will host symposiums and training events throughout the region, the Navy said in a Wednesday news release.

The Mercy plans stops in the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Palau and Micronesia during the multi-month mission, which aims to improve disaster response preparedness, resiliency and capacity and strengthen international relationships, according to the release.

This mission reflects the continued commitment to the region and dedication to disaster-response-readiness from the United States, our partners and allies, and the host nations, U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Quin, the mission commander, said in the release.

In August 2022, the Solomon Islands government welcomed the Mercy on its Pacific Partnership tour, but the same day denied entry to the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Oliver Henry and British patrol vessel HMS Spey.

The U.S. at the time suspected the Solomons warming ties with China lay behind the denial.

The Navy and Coast Guard stepped up outreach efforts to Pacific island nations partly to offset Chinas campaign to extend its influence in the region.

This year, the 2024 mission overlaps the 2023 visits, which kicked off Aug. 9 in Phu Yen, Vietnam, according to a Pacific Partnership press release that day. The overlap is a first in the missions 18-year history, according to Ensign Madison Kwok, spokeswoman for Pacific Partnership.

More than 1,500 personnel are traveling aboard the dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor and the littoral combat ship USS Jackson, Kwok said in an email Thursday.

They come from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States.

Participants have also visited Palau, Malaysia and the Philippines, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Personnel are visiting Papua New Guinea this week, where they are slated to host several seminars and repair a local schoolhouse, the Navy said in a news release Tuesday.

First developed in response to the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of South and Southeast Asia after a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesias coast, Pacific Partnership has evolved to focus more on building relationships between nations rather than providing direct medical care, according to the Navy.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto adjourn a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 20th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 2, 2023. (Chad J. McNeeley/Defense Department)

The Indonesian government is preparing for the 2024 elections and the transfer of power from President Joko Widodo (Jogowi) to a worthy successor. Leading a quarter of a billion people, in a nation of 17,000 islands spread over a region larger than the United States, is no easy task. Jogowi has done this well. Being dedicated to democracy in Indonesia, the popular leader has made clear his opposition to a constitutional change that would allow him to serve beyond the existing two-term limit.

The key to future progress requires continuity of the Jogowi administrations policies and initiatives. One very viable successor is part of the current government: former general and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who has run for the office of president twice before.

Prabowo has proven himself to be a unifier both within Indonesia and in the international community. Considering Indonesias diverse population, this is critical within the country. With a record to back his words, Prabowo has pledged that no one will be left behind.

As defense minister, Prabowo continues to build Indonesias defense capabilities. He recognizes that his country is in a region of historical tension that could repeat itself if the nation is not ready to repel threats. He also recognizes the need to allow diplomacy to work.

Moving onto the international stage, the importance of Indonesia is evidenced in geography and history. From the west to the southeast of the Philippines, the Indonesian archipelago stretches from mainland Asia to Australia. The spread of these islands has encouraged rather than deterred foreign invasions and encroachment. A millennium ago, it became the easternmost expansion of Islam. Today, over 87% of Indonesians are Muslim.

For its natural resources and geographical importance, the Dutch seized Indonesia during the age of European colonization. Japan occupied and used the entire region to threaten Australia and inhibit sea travel during World War II. Indonesia separates the Pacific and Indian oceans.

After Japans defeat, Indonesia achieved independence despite Dutch ambitions to regain control of the archipelago. Indonesias nation-state status has not stopped foreign powers from attempting regional influence to this day.

Working on a three-prong approach of sea power, artificial islands and economic influence, China is determined to become the dominant regional power. Its Belt and Road Initiative would be greatly enhanced if it controlled the water routes between the Indonesian islands. Favoring either the West or China over the other could escalate hostilities. Prabowo makes it clear he sees his role as impartial moderator and will work with both sides evenly, which also benefits the development of his country.

Indonesia also has a critical role in preventing the spread of Islamic terrorism further into the Pacific region. One of al-Qaidas principal objectives is to gain control of all nations once under the control of Muslim powers. That includes all the way from Spain, to Indonesia, and deep into Africa. As both army general and defense minister, Prabowo has made sure his country is not going to be infiltrated like neighboring Malaysia.

Indonesia desires a seat on the United Nations Security Council and to serve as the global south representative. To become a permanent member of the council would require a change to the five-member limitation set by the 1945 U.N. Charter. General Assembly selection for Indonesia to serve as one of the 10 non-permanent members would be in the best interest for global security.

Should this happen, the two-year term on the Security Council would be concurrent with Indonesias election cycle. As the most well-known candidate for president, Prabowos positions on his country, the region and the world need to be understood. Two of the most telling revelations are found in his 2021 article published in The Diplomat and a 2022 interview published in Al Jazeera.

As an Army officer, Prabowo has experienced the horrors of war and knows that the ones who suffer the most are the non-combatants whose families, homes, communities and even countries are destroyed. His position against military aggression has placed him at odds with the Kremlin. Prabowo has called for the recognition of Ukraines territorial integrity and an end of hostilities.

At present Prabowo has positioned himself well both as the leading candidate and in his ability to work with Indonesias elected legislature. He has taken a progressive role in achieving peace on the world stage. Over the next several years, challenges to global security and peace are going to intensify. Strong and decisive leaders are going to be needed to navigate their nations and the international community through difficult times. Prabowo has proven himself ready to accept these challenges.

Wes Martin is a retired U.S. Army colonel who has served in law enforcement positions around the world.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan "Fig" Leaf speaks at the Pentagon on May 8, 2019, during a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of Operation Allied Force. (Adrian Cadiz/U.S. Air Force)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  Vietnam has appointed a former deputy commander of U.S. Pacific Command as its first honorary consul to the United States.

The appointment of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Daniel Fig Leaf to the Honolulu-based position was announced last week by Nguyen Quoc Dzung, Vietnams ambassador to the United States.

Leaf has made significant contributions, promoting the comprehensive partnership (now comprehensive strategic partnership) between Viet Nam and the United States, Nguyen said in the Oct. 5 announcement.

Many nations appoint honorary consuls in lieu of establishing consulates. Appointees are often local citizens of the host country whose aim is to promote economic and cultural ties between the two nations.

They also assist in typical consular matters, such as assisting with lost passports or visa requests.

We choose to represent the sending country and further educational, business and, where appropriate, national security relations, Leaf said in a phone interview Wednesday.

His appointment, which also required approval by the U.S. State Department, was long in the works.

It took probably four and a half years, in some measure because of bureaucracy but also because of the pandemic, he said.

Leaf, a fighter jet pilot, capped off his 33-year military career as PACOMs deputy commander from 2005 to 2008. PACOM was renamed Indo-Pacific Command in 2018.

Leaf went on to direct the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu for five years beginning in 2012. He now works as a security consultant.

He credits the late Adm. Ronald Zlatoper with putting the bug in his ear about the possibility of serving as an honorary consul.

He encouraged me to pursue this initiative, Leaf said of Zlatoper, who was an honorary consul for Slovenia until his death last year.

Leaf has long advocated for a peace treaty with North Korea as a means to reduce the nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula  a passion and pursuit that still remain his priority.

But he said he has come to view the history of war and reconciliation between America and Vietnam as a paradigm for what can happen between former enemies.

As the deputy commander of PACOM, I was heavily involved in establishment of our military-to-military relations [in Vietnam], traveled to the country for the first time, he said.

And as somebody whos a warrior long interested in peace, I saw the powerful exemplar of U.S-Vietnam reconciliation.

Weve been able to reconcile and build a productive relationship  not without argument or disagreement  but through very hard work.

More information about the Vietnam consular services now being offered in Hawaii is at vietnamconsulhi.org.
Students speak with the family of the USS Rafael Peralta's namesake during a video meeting at the middle school at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. (Jennessa Davey/Stars and Stripes)

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  Students and teachers gathered here this week for a bittersweet conversation with the family of a fallen Marine who became the namesake of a guided-missile destroyer.

Sgt. Rafael Peralta, originally of Mexico City, was killed in 2004 during the Second Battle of Fallujah, shot by insurgents while clearing houses in the war-torn city. Before he died, the 25-year-old managed to cover a fragmentation grenade with his body, saving several Marines nearby.

For his actions, Peralta was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Navy Cross, the second highest award for Marines and sailors. In 2012, the USS Rafael Peralta was named in his honor.

The ship is homeported at Yokosuka, where Peraltas mother and sister discussed his life, service and legacy with about 100 students at Yokosuka Middle School. The conversation, held in English and Spanish via video conference, was part of Hispanic Heritage Month.

All students in attendance are part of Team Rafael Peralta. The middle school divides its approximately 750 pupils into teams named for the ships assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet, headquartered at Yokosuka.

Karen Peralta described how her brother knew from a young age that he wanted to be a Marine  partially the result of seeing a commercial, and partially due to his patriotism.

He loved this country. He was born in Mexico, but he is just a person of love, she said. For him, there is no culture difference, no racism. He saw everybody as one.

Rosa Peralta, speaking in Spanish, described how proud she was of her son, and said she was happy and blessed to know that his legacy is being carried on with the ship and the school team bearing his name.

Its amazing and she has no words to explain to you guys how proud she feels for her son, Karen Peralta said, translating for her mother.

Seventh-grader Angelina Falcon, of Honolulu, described the conversation as an emotional rollercoaster.

It made me feel a bit sad; it was kind of heartbreaking, she told Stars and Stripes after the event. It was like, just wow, with all the awards he had and everything, it was pretty exciting there. And then those other moments are kind of sad. It was back and forth.

School librarian Barbara Hertz said she jumped at the chance to have the Peralta family speak with the students and explained that the event was a pleasant surprise for the Peralta family.

Weve been emailing back and forth about this for a while now, and they were thrilled; they were moved, she said after the event. Karen said that her mother was so moved and had no idea that our school had this whole team named after their child.

Cmdr. Isaia Infante of the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson salutes the USS Rafael Peralta in the South China Sea, Sept. 28, 2023. (Jamaal Liddell/U.S. Navy)

The USS Rafael Peralta has been homeported at Yokosuka since 2021. Commissioned in San Diego in July 2017, it is one of the Navys newest destroyers and is outfitted with the Aegis Baseline 9 combat system.

The ship can deploy with two MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and has improved ballistic missile defense, anti-air and surface warfare capabilities, Naval Forces Japan said in a statement when it moved to 7th Fleet.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin shakes hands with Haim Regev, Israel's ambassador to NATO and the EU, during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Oct. 12, 2023. (NATO)

The U.S. is not putting any special restrictions on how weapons being delivered to Israel can be used in its war against Hamas, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday as the Israeli military prepares for a likely ground offensive in Gaza.

This is a professional military, led by professional leadership, and we would hope and expect that they would do the right things in the prosecution of their campaign, Austin said at the end of high-level discussions at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Austin and allied defense chiefs were briefed Thursday by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who presented them with images of the carnage caused by Hamas attack, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel, including at least 25 Americans.

Allies strongly condemned Hamas indefensible attacks on civilians, and called for the immediate release of all hostages, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attend a meeting with NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Oct. 12, 2023. The defense chiefs were briefed by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Hamas deadly attack on Israel. (NATO)

But as the war has unfolded, Muslim countries in the region and some human rights organizations have criticized Israel for the scale of its retaliation. The bombardment of Gaza has turned many areas into rubble, raising concerns for civilian welfare. At least 1,417 people have been killed in Gaza since the latest war began, health authorities there said Thursday.

Israel has vowed to move forward with the bombing campaign and is expected soon to launch a ground invasion. Their goal is to annihilate Hamas, which has launched rockets and attacks on civilians in Israel for decades.

Austin said the U.S. is committed to getting Israel what it needs to defend itself. And while he said the response should be proportionate, Austin declined to define what that means.

Were moving rapidly to provide Israel what it needs to continue to protect its citizens and to protect its territory, Austin said.

For Israel, the attacks by Hamas amount to the largest killing of Jewish civilians since the Holocaust. The countrys military and political leaders also have emphasized the brutality of Hamas attack, which involved burning victims alive, beheading babies and slaughtering entire families.

Austin said the U.S. is ready to support Israel in any way that we can.

Weve not placed any conditions on the provision of this equipment ... and we will make sure that we will leave it to them to define what their operations are going to look like.
An Israeli tank fires artillery rounds toward the Gaza Strip near Kibbutz Be'eri, Israel, on Wednesday. (Lorenzo Tugnoli/The Washington Post)

YAKHINI, Israel  Israeli aircraft pounded the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, leveling apartment blocks and sending injured people pouring into Palestinian hospitals as the local health ministry warned that fuel to keep the generators going was running out.

At least 1,100 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have been killed since Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip on Saturday, overrunning military bases, hunting civilians, taking hostages and inflicting upon Israel one of the bloodiest days in its 75-year history.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus administration has responded with its most searing assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in years, announcing a full-scale siege of the already blockaded territory, and signaling that its preparing a ground invasion. Israeli commanders said the strikes were aimed at destroying Hamass military capabilities and killing senior leaders.

Hamas will be crushed and eliminated, Netanyahu said Wednesday.

The civilian toll in Gaza has been extensive, bloody and rapidly increasing. Gaza is home to more than 2 million people packed into a space less than half the size of New York City, with no safe passage as bombs rain down. The Gaza Health Ministry said Wednesday that at least 5,339 people had been injured during the four-day bombing campaign, 60 percent of them women or children.

The diesel supplies on which hospital generators depend are running out, health officials and health professionals said. The enclaves sole power plant shut down Wednesday afternoon for want of fuel. The Palestine Red Crescent Society accused Israel of targeting ambulances. The organization said four of its medics were killed in strikes on two ambulances in 30 minutes.

Overwhelmed medical facilities were prioritizing the worst shrapnel, burn and crush injuries for surgery, doctors said. The grounds of al-Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest trauma treatment center, was packed with families seeking safety.

Ghassan Abu-Sitta, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the facility, said his team operated on a young girl Wednesday morning whose nose had been ripped off and eyes severely damaged by shrapnel. Her mother was a doctor at al-Shifa Hospital, he said. Our staff doing the operation knew her well, and now they were operating on her children.

In between surgeries, he said the faces of the staff creased with worry as they checked their cellphones for news of loved ones while airstrikes continued outside. With the communications network patchy, their messages often failed to go through.

Unless there is a humanitarian corridor that allows supplies in, too, the health system is going to collapse, Abu-Sitta said.

President Biden on Wednesday, while reiterating support for Israel, said that he had asked Netanyahu to operate by the rules of war.

We have a chance to end this in a way that . . . makes it very difficult for it to be repeated, Biden told Jewish leaders at a White House event focused on the war and antisemitism. Ive known Bibi for over 40 years. A very frank relationship. I know him well. And the one thing that I did say, that it is really important that Israel, in all the anger, frustration . . . that exists, is that they operate by the rules of war.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left for a trip to Israel and the region on Wednesday to show support for Israel while addressing some of the humanitarian challenges, including the civilian exit from Gaza.

We have the back of Israel. We have their back today. We will have it tomorrow. We will have it every day, Blinken told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing.

At least 22 U.S. citizens have been killed and 17 others are unaccounted for, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group was deploying to the Mediterranean to bolster the U.S. military presence in the region, White House spokesman John Kirby said. The movement was long planned and isnt in reaction to the situation in Israel, he said, but the carrier will be available if necessary, joining a second U.S. Navy aircraft carrier group that moved to the eastern Mediterranean earlier this week.

Israel and its allies are worried that other military actors in the region - including Hezbollah, in Lebanon, and its backer Iran - will take advantage of the conflict to open a multi-front conflict.

Israeli authorities warned Wednesday of a suspected infiltration from Lebanon but later said an incursion had been ruled out.

Before the Hamas attack, the Biden administration had been trying to pull off a landmark deal to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. But there were fresh signs Wednesday that Riyadhs willingness to recognize Israel might be in doubt: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke for the first time Wednesday, the latest sign of thawing relations between the two nations. The 45-minute call, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported, focused on Palestine and the need to stop the war crimes of the Zionist regime and the U.S. role in the region.

The audacity of the Hamas attack early Saturday has prompted growing anger at the apparent failure of Netanyahus government and military leaders to see it coming or spread security forces adequately along the Gaza border.

Israel on Wednesday announced an emergency wartime cabinet including Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and National Unity party leader Benny Gantz. During the period of the war, no bills or government decisions will be advanced that do not concern the conduct of the war, Netanyahu and Gantz said in a joint statement.

Netanyahu, a three-time prime minister, returned to the office last year as head of the most right-wing and religiously conservative government in Israels history. His third term has been defined by widespread street protests by Israelis opposed to his governments plans to weaken the Supreme Court, and growing fears among Palestinians as hard-line ministers championed the expansion of illegal Jewish settlements on Arab land.

The Yesh Din monitoring group said Wednesday that it had recorded the killings of 19 Palestinians by armed settlers in the West Bank in five days.

On the highway that stretches south along the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military has bulldozed defensive berms around a dozen artillery positions. On Wednesday, soldiers called out coordinates before loading artillery shells that boomed toward Gaza at a rate of several a minute. Black clouds billowed over the horizon in the distance as they met their mark.

On the outskirts of Kibbutz Beeri, where rescue workers have recovered the bodies of more than 100 Israelis, soldiers set up mortar positions and reinforced them after hiding militants attacked again Tuesday. Militants in Gaza have been firing barrages of rockets into Israel since the crisis began, wounding scores of people.

More than 263,000 people in Gaza have been displaced since the fighting began, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Israel has warned civilians to leave, but theres no exit: The border crossing into Israel is closed, as is the gate to Egypt, after it was damaged by an Israeli airstrike.

The Biden administration remained in active discussions with Egypt and Israel to help civilians leave Gaza, Kirby said Wednesday.

Israeli authorities said Tuesday that killing senior Hamas officials had become a top priority; they appeared to have been targeted in attacks overnight. Hamas said the family home of Mohammed Deif, leader of the organizations military wing, was hit, killing his brother.

Deifs house, which was empty, was also targeted, Hamass representative in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdul Hadi, told The Washington Post. The whereabouts of Deif, who announced the assault on Israel on Saturday, are unknown. The Israeli military said its aircraft also struck and killed Zakaria Abu Maamar, a member of the Hamas political bureau. Hamas confirmed his death and that of another member of its political office.

Fighter jets also hit the Islamic University, which the IDF said had been used as a Hamas training camp for military intelligence operatives, as well as for the development and production of weapons. It was not immediately possible to verify that claim.

The fate of more than 100 hostages taken by Hamas militants to Gaza during Saturdays assault has consumed the Israeli public even as they have been burying their dead. Pope Francis on Wednesday called for their immediate release.

Im praying for those families who saw a day of feast transformed into a day of grief; Im calling for hostages to be released right away, Francis said. He urged diplomacy, as terrorism and extremism wont help reach a solution to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, while feeding hate, violence, revenge, and hurting both.

The Israeli military has called up 360,000 reservists, the largest mobilization since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when 400,000 reservists were summoned. Nearly 4 percent of the countrys 9.8 million people have left their jobs and families to join the fight. Israelis abroad were scrambling to secure transportation home as airlines suspended flights.

With hostilities erupting along usually quiet regional fronts, the burgeoning crisis has sparked fears of a wider conflict. On Wednesday, Hezbollah and Israel, already notionally at war, exchanged fire along the Israel-Lebanon border.

The Israel Defense Force said antitank missiles were launched at its soldiers and that it was responding with strikes into Lebanese territory. Hezbollah then announced it launched rockets in response to the killing of three members by earlier Israeli shelling.

Loveluck reported from London. Dadouch reported from Beirut. Birnbaum reported from Washington. Meg Kelly in Washington, Noga Tarnopolsky in Jerusalem, Ellen Francis in London and Stefano Pitrelli in Rome contributed.
The establishment of the Global Water Organisation (GWO) in Riyadh is an embodiment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's awareness of the vital role of water in ensuring the future of humanity, achieving the sustainable development goals, and reducing the risks associated with fresh water supplies in the world.

The GWO initiative was announced by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulazis Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

The announcement received great resonance in the scientific and academic communities, as many distinguished experts and scholars expressed their support for the Saudi initiative, which is expected to develop and integrate the efforts of countries and organisations to address water challenges in a comprehensive manner.

It will also help in devoting the exchange of experiences to enhance technological experiments, innovation, research and development, and contribute in enabling priority projects and facilitating their financing.

Commenting on the recent Saudi initiative, Dr Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director of Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere at the World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland said: Amidst a backdrop of rapidly shifting global dynamics and the profound impact of climate change on the hydrological cycle, there is an urgent need to delve deeper into comprehending hydrological processes at various scales. This is fundamental to manage our precious water resources sustainably. I commend the visionary initiative put forth by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to establish a Global Water Organisation. This will be critical to secure equitable access to clean, sustainable water resources for all. The organisation's core mission should revolve around bolstering observational and modelling systems, enabling us to better understand the ever-evolving state of our water resources. By factoring in the complex interplay of societal and environmental changes, these systems will empower us to make informed predictions about the future of our water resources in a changing climate.

Professor Matthew McCabe, Director of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Climate and Livability Initiative, winner of Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water said: Water has been a driver of human progress, and is a key determinant of national prosperity. It can promote peace, or incite conflict, deliver economic growth, or decline. Yet there is great water inequality around the world, particularly with respect to the provision of safe and sustainable water supplies. The Global Water Organisation being championed by the Crown Prince will bring a much-needed focus and attention to some of the most important water related challenges facing the world today. By fostering technological innovation, knowledge sharing, and information exchange, this initiative will help to deliver a more water secure future for all.

Professor Menachem Elimelech, Sterling Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, winner of Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prise for Water and member of National Academy of Engineering in US said: Access to water that is safe to drink and waterways that are free from pollution and disease is a fundamental human right. Yet, too many nations around the world suffer from water inequality, affecting not just economic prosperity, but basic human health and livelihoods. Science and technology have driven incredible innovations in water treatment and distribution, but there is still much to be done to make this accessible to all. The Global Water Organisation can help bridge this gap, bringing global focus to an issue that affects the future of humanity.

Dennis Lettenmaier, Professor in University of California, Los Angeles UCLA and member of National Academy of Engineering in US said: Despite the central role it plays across all sectors of modern society, the water security of many nations around the world is under threat from increasing pollution, unsustainable extraction, mismanagement, and of course the evolving impacts of global climate change. This is all the more so in Saudi Arabia, most of which is arid. These impacts are affecting both rich and poor nations alike, so a global response is required. The Crown Princes Global Water Organisation will provide a mechanism for the country to play a leading role in providing such a coordinated response.

Dr Kevin Trenbeth, Scholar in National Center for Atmospheric Research in US said: "Water is essential for life. However, too much brings natural hazards such as floods, while too little leads inevitably to drought. Such extremes are likely to increase as a consequence of climate change in the coming decades. The challenges imposed by a changing climate, in combination with human over-exploitation of water resources, will place incredible stress on the safety and security of our water systems and infrastructure. The Global Water Organisation can be a driver to help solve these global problems, creating the knowledge and tools required to better manage water and make water resources more sustainable and available: particularly to those in greatest need."

Professor Howard Wheater, Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Canada said: At a time of unprecedented devastation from flood and drought, when it is clear that the worlds water systems are under unprecedented pressures from population growth and climate change, the announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of the creation of the Global Water Organisation is a rare piece of good news. Building on the Kingdoms international visibility as a leader in water technology, and the prestigious Prince Sultan bin Abdulazis International Prise for Water, I hope and expect that the Global Water Organisation will play a key global role, providing the vision and resources to galvanise the international community to address some of the most challenging issues of the 21st century.

Through its geopolitical, economic, and political influence, and as a world leader in water desalination, Saudi Arabia is in an ideal position to host the organisation and, in collaboration with member countries, can lead relevant efforts and contribute to the realisation of the sustainable development goals related to water security.--OGN/ TradeArabia News Service
"It is not possible to continue the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinians," the Chinese president said at the opening of the Riyadh-Gulf-Chinese Summit for Cooperation and Development in Saudi Arabia.

It recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1964 and Palestinian sovereignty in 1988 before establishing full diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority in 1989. And, during a state visit to Saudi Arabia in 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping voiced frustration over the "historical injustice" suffered by Palestinians and expressed China's support for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Although the Chinese government has called on both sides to end the hostilities and condemned "all violence and attacks on civilians," Beijing has long been a friend of the Palestinian cause.

"In the past, Germany persecuted you. Now, you persecute Palestinians. In this world, do not force others to the corner because you would only be digging your own grave," wrote Ziwu Xiashi, one of the biggest nationalist commentators with 1 million followers on Weibo, China's equivalent of X, formerly Twitter.

Scores of online Chinese commentators and netizens quickly rallied for Gaza after the Hamas attacks began Oct. 7, accusing Israel of oppressing Palestinians for decades and saying Israel deserves the bloodshed.

In the wake of the attacks, official Chinese state media has blamed the U.S. for not playing a constructive role in defusing the tension. "While the Biden administration warned any group against taking advantage of the #Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if any group stands any chance to exploit the conflict and profit from the violence, it will probably be the #US military-industrial complex," the Global Times wrote on X.

But on China's internet, instead of echoing criticism of the U.S, nationalist commentators and netizens have directed their ire at the Jewish people, which many netizens believe is the Chinese government signaling where it really stands on the conflict. Or as one poster wrote, "Based on how this trending topic was arranged, now I see where our country really stands."

"Jews always talk about how badly they were treated during World War II and throughout history. But you can't ask why. Otherwise, you are called a racist or that you envy their money," said the username of Rabbit head senior Zhang Tiegen in a Weibo post with over 2,000 likes. "Actually, before the Holocaust during World War II, Jews' reputation was down in the ghetto throughout Europe."

"Wherever the Jews have gone, they have always been massacred. There's a reason why. You only love Jews when they are not in your area," wrote online commentator Vincent.

When asked about the antisemitic comments on Chinese social media, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., referred VOA Mandarin to remarks made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman on Wednesday. "I'd like to reiterate that to end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, implement the two-state solution and seek a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestine question through political means at an early date, so that the parties' legitimate concerns can be taken care of," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in the daily briefing.

Wang Yaqiu, research director for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House, told VOA Mandarin, "We can't blame the Chinese government for all of the antisemitism on the Chinese internet, but the government contributed to it by actively promoting stereotypes and false narratives."

Carice Witte, founder and executive director of the Sino-Israel Global Network and Academic Leadership, a think tank in Israel, told VOA Mandarin, "It comes from not having access to good information. It is not -- I would not say that in China -- real antisemitism or a hatred of Israel or the Jews. It is a kind of version of brainwashing that happens when you don't really know really what's going on and you're only fed one side of the story. It's understandable."

Netizens have also filled the comment section of posts made by the Israeli government on Weibo with criticism and attacks, forcing the account run by the Israeli Embassy in China to close the comment section.

When Israel's consulate in Guangzhou posted a report of a Chinese Israeli woman being abducted by Hamas militants, netizens accused the consulate of trying to drive a wedge between Chinese and Palestinians citizens. "Impressive divisive tactic," one popular comment wrote. "Is that girl even Chinese?"

Under a different news post about the woman, a comment with over 10,000 likes asked, "If she thinks she's Israeli, this has nothing to do with us. Why even post it on China's internet?"

The comments were at odds with a posting by the Chinese Embassy in Israel, which said, "Noa was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists when attending a peace music festival in southern Israel. She was dragged from Israel to Gaza. She is a daughter, a sister and a friend."

Many commentators and influential accounts brought up the death of Du Zhaoyu, a Chinese military officer killed in a bombing conducted by the Israeli Air Force in 2006 while on United Nations duty in Lebanon.

Other comments praised "Little Mustache" as many Chinese people refer to Germanys Adolf Hitler, who was responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews during World II, according to ThisIsWenhao, the X account identified as that of VOA Mandarin journalist Wenhao Ma, who collects and interprets Weibo posts and reported this piece. "It's really the fault of Little Mustache," wrote a netizen. "If he had burned all of them (Jews), we wouldn't have this much trouble."

Online antisemitism in China didn't appear out of nowhere. For years, there have been conspiracy theories about Jews circulating on China's internet, claiming that the Jews have, through organizations like Freemasonry, secretly controlled the U.S. government and influenced the world.

A Weibo account run by China's state-owned CCTV claimed the Jewish community dominates U.S. finance and politics and that the issue of Israel has often been a deciding factor in every U.S. election. The post has since been deleted.

At one point after the Hamas attacks, the hashtag "the 3-percent Jewish population in the U.S. controls over 70 percent of American wealth" became one of the top trending topics on heavily censored Weibo.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu deliver statements to the press at the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem, May 25, 2021. (Matty Stern/U.S. Embassy Jerusalem/Wikimedia Commons)

TEL AVIV - Secretary of State Antony Blinken invoked his Jewish ancestry on Thursday in a markedly personal appeal to the Israeli public aimed at offering solidarity as the country reeled from the deadliest assault in its 75-year history.

I come before you not only as the United States secretary of state but also as a Jew, Blinken told an audience at Israels Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.

My grandfather Maurice Blinken fled pogroms in Russia. My stepfather Samuel Pisar survived concentration camps, he said. I understand on a personal level the harrowing echoes that Hamass massacres carry for Israeli Jews and, indeed, for Jews everywhere.

Blinken stood beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who offered his gratitude to Blinken and the American public for its incredible support for Israel in our war against the barbarians of Hamas.

Blinkens unequivocal support for Israel came amid growing international calls to manage the deteriorating humanitarian situation stemming from Israels airstrikes and shutdown of Gaza.

The top U.S. diplomat is on a multicountry swing through the Middle East in an effort to manage the swirling crisis as Israel vows to annihilate Hamas in response to the groups devastating assault on Israeli communities.

In Gaza, where resources are dwindling after Israel ordered a total blockade earlier this week, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the allowance of rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access.

Crucial lifesaving supplies - including fuel, food and water - must be allowed into Gaza, he said.

Gaza will not receive water or electricity until hostages are set free, Israels Energy Minister Israel Katz said Thursday. Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, this weekend is believed to have taken more than 100 hostages from Israel over the border. Their fate remains unclear.

On his visit, Blinken brought one of his top aides for hostage negotiations, Steven Gillen, who will remain in Israel to keep working to free the U.S. hostages, Blinken told reporters at a news conference.

At least 25 Americans have been killed following Hamass assault on Saturday, said Blinken, but U.S. officials have declined to say how many Americans have been taken hostage.

During his visit, Blinken met Lior Gelbaum, 24, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who survived the dance rave in southern Israel that was attacked by Hamas militants. In an emotional exchange, Gelbaum told Blinken it was a miracle she survived, and urged the United States and Israel to focus on saving the hostages.

Blinken said the Biden administration is also in conversations with the Israelis and Egyptians to provide safe passage to civilians in Gaza before a widely expected Israeli ground invasion of the enclave.

The densely populated Gaza Strip relies on Israel for most of its electricity and other basic services. Severing gas and power from the territory could leave many residents without clean drinking water, proper sanitation and health care.

Palestinian authorities said that Gazas only power plant had stopped operating Thursday after running out of fuel.

Egypt urged Israel to refrain from targeting the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing - the only entry into Gaza not controlled by Israel - with airstrikes so it could be reopened for deliveries of food, water and emergency services.

But as the humanitarian concerns mount, Blinken made clear that the United States will stand with Israel, even as others criticize its occupation and subjugation of Palestinians.

You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never ever have to, Blinken said. We will always be there by your side.

Blinken assured Israelis that there was bipartisan support for Israel in the U.S. Congress, which is preparing to approve more military aid to Israel amid competing demands for aid to Taiwan, Ukraine and the U.S. southern border.

Blinken repeatedly defended Israels right to defend itself but made reference to the importance of trying to avoid civilian casualties.

We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when its difficult, he said. Thats why its so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.

During his meeting with Netanyahu, the Israeli leader said he showed Blinken graphic images of babies allegedly mutilated and burned by Hamas. U.S. officials said they were not in a position to authenticate the images, but Blinken described what he saw in the pictures as depravity in the worst imaginable way.

U.S. officials are also working to provide safe passage to some of the estimated 500 to 600 Palestinian American residents of Gaza who are seeking to flee, said a U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

Blinken did not confirm or deny a Washington Post report that the United States and Qatar have quietly agreed not to allow the release in the near term of Iranian oil revenues held in Doha. We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them, Blinken said.

Following his lighting round of meetings on Thursday, Blinken will fly to Jordan to meet King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He also plans to travel to Egypt, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia - continuing to urge countries with diplomatic relations with Hezbollah, Iran and the Palestinians in the West Bank to convince them to stay out of the conflict.
For 16 years, Israeli governments worked to manage the Hamas leaders in Gaza, not topple them. The Islamist group rejected Israels existence and engaged in violence, but kept order over the territory. Better Hamas than chaos. (Itzik Edri/Wikimedia Commons)

For 16 years, Israeli governments worked to manage the Hamas leaders in Gaza, not topple them. The Islamist group rejected Israels existence and engaged in violence, but kept order over the territory. Better Hamas than chaos.

The carnage last weekend, when Hamas militants killed hundreds of Israeli civilians after a sophisticated breach of the border fence, has shifted official views. Now, the aim is to destroy the organizations military capability and kill its leaders. Left unsaid in Israel but widely assumed is that, when the war ends, Hamas will no longer rule in Gaza.

In announcing the formation of an emergency unity government on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the Islamic State organization from the previous decade, saying, Hamas is ISIS, and we will crush and eliminate it just as the world crushed and eliminated ISIS.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, a military spokesman, told reporters on Thursday: Right now, we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, not only the military but also their government leadership.

Mowing Lawn

This is a change from the previous military policy of occasional invasions, harsh but limited, sometimes referred to as mowing the lawn, meaning a task to which one is required to return repeatedly.

Any operation against the militant group is destined to result in more civilian deaths and raise diplomatic dilemmas. Turkey has already signaled a shift away from the intense diplomacy that was under way to normalize ties with Israel after years of estrangement. Rulers from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates could follow if public opinion in their countries turns increasingly hostile to Israel.

A former top military officer who remains in close touch with the army, speaking on condition of anonymity, said when the war ends, Israel may set up a temporary military regime and hand Gaza over to some international force.

The head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, who didnt join the new government with Gantz, said this week on French television, The endgame is there will be no Hamas in Gaza. His goal, he said, is for the Palestinian Authority, which holds power in the West Bank and recognizes Israel, would take over.

Requests for comment from the prime ministers office and the defense minister werent immediately answered.

Little Mercy

Israeli officials are showing no mercy for ordinary Gazans in their campaign, having cut electricity, fuel and food shipments from Israel and given residents few choices of where to hide as heavy bombings continue. At least 1,350 have been killed to date.

According to Elai Rettig, an expert of the geopolitics of energy and environment at Israels Bar-Ilan University, a power cut will result in water shortages in a week or two. Thats likely to hinder access to health care or drinkable water for Gazas 2 million people, half of whom are under the age of 18. Israeli authorities are worried about a humanitarian corridor into Egypt, saying that would allow Hamas leaders to sneak out.

Rettig also said Hamas has been given aid to fix and upgrade the electrical system in Gaza but hadnt done so.

Hostage Fate

Nearly all analysts in Israel believe ground troops are headed in after the aerial pounding. Many of the dozens of Israeli hostages and some of the soldiers seem likely to meet their deaths.

And that too is quietly discussed as a price the country is willing to pay to end Hamass hold on Gaza and send a broader message to the countrys enemies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and its Iranian sponsor.

Israels biggest deployment of reserves in its history shows its leaders are aware how difficult it might be to crush Hamas, but eliminating it from Gaza is an even bigger task.

An Israeli cross-border operation into southern Lebanon to attack Iran-backed Hezbollah in 2006 ended in massive casualties following more than a month of fighting. Since Saturdays attack, Hezbollah has fired into Israel every now and then, a reminder that it may be tempted to open a new front in the war after the Gaza ground offensive begins.

The direness of the rhetoric is driven by the images of inhumanity on display last Saturday and the collective memory of Jews being slaughtered in the Holocaust and in pogroms a century ago. It has made many Israelis feel this is a war for their very existence, and they must show how tough they are.

Retired Major General Yaakov Amidror, who was Netanyahus national security adviser a decade ago, said, We cannot go back to square one. This will take a few months. How many will be killed? Many, many. Its up to Hamas, which operates from populated areas. This is the last time we allow Hamas to be strong enough to attack Israel.

Asked who will rule Gaza when Israel is finished, he replied, The people in Gaza will have to decide what is next. That is their problem.

With assistance from Thomas Hall.
President Trump at the Israel Museum. Jerusalem May 23, 2017. (US Embassy Tel Aviv/ Wikimedia Commons)

Former president Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called Hezbollah terrorist attackers very smart as Israel recovers from the deadliest attack it has suffered in 50 years.

He has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here, Trump said of Netanyahu in an excerpt of an interview with Fox News presenter Brian Kilmeade that aired Wednesday night. He was not prepared. He was not prepared, and Israel was not prepared.

Israel has declared a state of war and called up 360,000 reservists after a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Saturday killed at least 1,200 people and wounded more than 2,700.

Later on Wednesday, Trump, the clear polling leader in the Republican presidential race, complimented the intelligence of Hezbollah, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States. The Iran-aligned group, based in

Lebanon, exchanged fire with Israeli forces on the countrys northern border Wednesday.

You know, Hezbollah is very smart, Trump said. Theyre all very smart.

That remark drew condemnation from one of his Republican rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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 terrorists as very smart,  DeSantis said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Trumps comments reflected his long-established pattern of slighting U.S. allies while complimenting adversaries such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung defended the former presidents comments as meant to criticize unspecified U.S. officials for giving Hezbollah the idea to attack from the north. He said Trump was referring to a briefing by a senior U.S. defense official on Monday that expressed concern about Hezbollah opening a second front.

President Trump was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack, Cheung said. Smart does not equal good.

In the same breath, Trump acknowledged that his remark about Hezbollah could be controversial, immediately adding, The press doesnt like when they say it. He went on to repeat that he views Xi as a very smart man because 1.4 billion people, he controls it with an iron fist.

They kill me the next day - I said he was smart,  Trump mocked. What am I going to say? But Hezbollah, theyre very smart.

He added, speaking again of Israels enemies, Theyre vicious and theyre smart and boy, are they vicious.

Elsewhere in Wednesdays speech, delivered to an auditorium of supporters in West Palm Beach, Fla., Trump elaborated that he had a bad experience with Israel as president, telling a story about the U.S. operation to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. In Trumps account, Israeli intelligence helped the U.S. locate Soleimani and plan the drone strike that killed him, but on the eve of the operation withdrew its participation.

The accuracy of Trumps account could not immediately be confirmed. At the time of the assassination, the Israeli government reacted with restraint to avoid fanning tensions with Iran. In 2021, a retired Israeli military officer acknowledged that his countrys intelligence contributed to the U.S. airstrike.

Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing, Trump said in Wednesdays speech. So we were disappointed by that. Very disappointed. But we did the job ourself. It was absolute precision, magnificent, beautiful job. And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didnt make me feel too good. But thats all right.

As Trump told the story, he suggested he was recounting it publicly for the first time, and that it possibly included classified information. He was indicted in June by special counsel Jack Smith on 40 counts arising from allegedly mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.

I dont think this has ever been told, Trump said in the speech. Theyll say, Oh, its classified information. Well, maybe it is, but I dont think so.

In his speech on Wednesday, Trump did not mention the contest for speaker of the House, in which his endorsed candidate, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), lost a conference vote earlier Wednesday to Steve Scalise (R-La.).
Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

I never had a particular interest in the VoPos (Volkspolizei), an infamous and brutal police force in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), until I had to play the role of one. Thankfully, that page in history has turned. Due to my deep fascination with World War II, I have always felt quite disconnected from what followed  the occupation and division of Germany, the Cold War, the Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Walter Ulbricht, Le Carre, and more. Honestly, that period seemed somewhat gray, duplicitous and lacking in grandeur, despite characters like George Smiley, Tom Hanks and Anik Lapointe. The last German policeman that captured my interest was author Philip Kerrs detective, Bernie Gunther, (both sadly deceased). Gunther was a morally upright man, who unfortunately served under the Nazis, much to his regret. Screw Markus Wolf (the East German superspy), said Gunther. Screw the Stasi secret police. Screw all those people who made life impossible for East Germans.

Putting on a VoPo uniform got me interested in East German police again. See how important it is to approach history through the right door? To spice things up at the end of the summer when boredom sometimes takes over, I decided to dress up as a GDR police officer for one of the performances we put on at the Viladrau Club (northeast Spain). We came up with a sketch resurrecting the long-gone Volkspolizei, with a storyline about infiltrations, poisonings, and the destabilization of Western democracy. It may sound strange or even silly, but trust me, you havent experienced the end of summer in Viladrau.

We eagerly plunged into production, fully embracing our roles. Arola became the one-eyed female Stasi agent Lieutenant Nina Hagen, while Evelio and I played rude VoPos (a certain Captain Antonov, Erich Honeckers well-connected nephew, and Major Cacaseno, a former Olympic swimmer). We assembled our costumes of Volkspolizei uniforms, helmets, Luger pistols and dug up some old GDR and Soviet flags. The only thing missing was an East German Trabant 601 car. Our set featured a Berlin Wall of bricks and barbed wire, along with a photo of the consensual kiss between Brezhnev and Honecker (with no allusions to current FIFA-related events.) The soundtrack featured the GDR national anthem along with select tracks by Rammstein and Pink Floyds The Wall.

Our performance, which came after The Lion King, was mostly witnessed by an audience who hadnt been born when the Berlin Wall fell. It left everyone amazed and even brought some children to tears. Adding to the spectacle was our accidental consumption of vodka instead of water from a prop bottle, which lubricated the dialogue and paid homage to Bertolt Brecht. This unexpected twist made the Cold War era come to life! The climax of the show featured my laborious reenactment of VoPo soldier Hans Conrad Schumans iconic defection over the Berlin Wall in 1961. The enigmatic nature of our performance cast a pall over the club assembly the next day, perhaps even influencing the selection of the new president.

In any case, by dressing up as a VoPo, I had the privilege of glimpsing a bygone era. Now, its time for a stunning revelation. Once upon a time, way back in 1977, I found myself being interrogated by two Volkspolizei officers, their machine guns pointed directly at me. This encounter took place aboard a train crossing East Germany en route to Poland. Perplexed by my strange journey across the Iron Curtain accompanied by a mime named Ricard Sierra, I looked very suspicious to them. How astonished they would have been to witness my transformation, years later, as one of their own!

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Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets fly to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., Sept. 21, 2023. (Daniel Childs/U.S. Marine Corps)

AUSTIN, Texas  A Marine Corps squadron is investigating an incident in which one of its fighter jets flew too close to two private aircraft last month at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, according to the service and the Federal Aviation Administration.

An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing was conducting routine training in the Brownwood Military Operating Area northwest of Austin, and subsequently conducted refueling operations at Austin-Bergstrom Airport when the incident occurred Sept. 23, said Maj. Natalie Batcheler, spokeswoman for the wing. The squadron is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego.

The jet encountered two civilian aircraft at about noon, according to the FAA. The pilot of a Cessna Citation jet took evasive action after receiving an onboard alert that the Marine fighter jet was nearby, the administration said. The military jet also flew near another runway while a Piper PA-28 was preparing for takeoff.

The military pilot was practicing a maneuver called a break, which involves making a sharp turn to reduce speed before landing, according to a report in The Washington Post. Radio traffic between the military pilot and air traffic control at the airport indicted a miscommunication between the two, according to the Post.

A preliminary assessment of the event at the Austin-Bergstrom airport indicates that the pilot complied with air traffic control direction. The Marine Corps is investigating and is in full cooperation with the FAA, Batcheler said.

The FAA said its investigation into the incident is ongoing, and it has not yet been determined how close the military jet came to the civilian aircraft.

It is common for military aircraft to practice landing at civilian airports, said a defense official familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity. The stop in Austin was planned as part of a weekend training event in and near the city, the official said.
A former Army sergeant who was last assigned at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington and had access to top secret documents was arrested Oct. 6, 2023, on charges of attempting to deliver national defense information to China, the Justice Department said. (Abner Guzman/U.S. Air Force)

Former Army Sgt. Joseph Schmidt spent his more than three years since leaving the service trying to hand over U.S. defense documents to the Chinese and work for their military or intelligence forces, according to federal officials.

He later switched to attempting to give to those documents to communist-backed publications and find work with companies that he believed were aligned with the Chinese government.

Schmidt, 29, is charged with stealing those military secrets from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and will face trial in Seattle, the Justice Department confirmed Wednesday.

His efforts to attract Chinese interest in the stolen documents ended Oct. 6 when he was arrested at San Francisco International Airport by FBI agents as he arrived on a flight from Hong Kong, where he had been living for most of the past two years.

Schmidt was stationed at Lewis-McChord from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was with the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion as a team leader in the human intelligence unit. He left the Army a month later.

The joint Army-Air Force base is home to I Corps, which the Army calls its operational headquarters in the Indo-Pacific region, an area that includes China.

Schmidt was arraigned last week in federal court in San Francisco on two felony counts  retention of national defense information and attempt to deliver national defense information. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

At a court hearing Wednesday, Schmidt agreed to be transported to Seattle for the remainder of proceedings and likely trial, said Emily Langlie, public affairs officer for the Justice Department in Seattle.

The U.S. Marshals Service operates its own aircraft to transport high-profile defendants throughout the country. The process of getting Schmidt from San Francisco to Seattle could take up to a few weeks, Langlie said.

After leaving the Army in February 2020, Schmidt attempted for months to contact Chinese officials to interest them in the documents and himself, according to the FBI report included in the former soldiers indictment.

Schmidt boasted in a message that the FBI intercepted that he could bring the skills that he learned from the Army at Lewis-McChord to assist the Chinese military and intelligence forces.

My experience includes training in interrogation, running sources as a spy handler, surveillance detection, and other advanced psychological operation strategies, he wrote in one email.

At one point, Schmidt attempted to defect to the Chinese consulate in Istanbul, asking for a face-to-face meeting with intelligence officers he believed were at the facility. The FBI report on Schmidt does not say if a meeting took place.

Schmidt moved to China, lived in Hong Kong and visited Beijing, according to the FBI. He used Google to look up subject lines such as soldier defect, looking for a subreddit about spy stuff, and What Do Real Spies Do and How are they Recruited. He also looked up countries that didnt have extradition treaties with the United States.

Schmidt eventually received a work permit in Hong Kong, but his attempts to parlay his information into some more permanent job or position moved from direct requests to Chinese officials to media and businesses.

He offered to turn over documents to communist-backed publications and share development secrets with businesses.

At one point, Schmidt offered to help a Chinese technology company reverse engineer a device that he had for accessing U.S. military intelligence computers.

The FBI reported Schmidt wrote a recent email to his sisters telling them he would not come back to the United States because he disagreed with American policy and was limiting my contact with people who live in America.

I dont talk about it often, but I learned some really terrible things about the American government while I was working in the Army, and I no longer feel safe living in America, he wrote in the email.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on March 9, 2023. They will meet again Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, to discuss military plans in response to a recent attack by Hamas militants. (Alexander Kubitza/Defense Department)

WASHINGTON  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Israel to speak with top officials there, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, about military aid and plans for fighting Hamas militants and securing the release of American hostages, a Pentagon official said Thursday.

Austin will travel from Belgium to Israel on Friday to meet with Netanyahu and top Israeli military leaders, a senior U.S. defense official said speaking on condition of anonymity. The defense secretary has been in Brussels this week for a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to discuss military aid for Ukraines war effort against invading Russian forces.

During Secretary Austins visit, he will underscore unwavering commitment to Israels security, the defense official said, adding the American and Israeli leaders will discuss military planning and the primary objectives in battling Hamas, which has long been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

Hamas militants launched a surprise attack from the Gaza Strip last weekend on Israel. Thousands of people have since been killed in the fighting and Hamas has taken an estimated 150 hostages, including some Americans. The defense official said U.S. advisers are working with Israeli authorities to help get the hostages released.

We are providing advice and consultations to the Israeli Defense Forces on hostage recovery efforts. This is a high priority, the official said. There are personnel on the ground  and that includes [U.S.] military personnel advising and consulting on hostage recovery.

Austin and President Joe Biden have pledged to send Israel military aid to help fight the Hamas militants in Gaza, a small swath of land along the Mediterranean Sea that borders Israel and Egypt. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world with more than 2.3 million people.

Our support for Israel is rock solid, Austin said in Brussels on Thursday during a meeting of NATO defense ministers. We are working urgently to get Israel what it needs to defend itself.

Since the Hamas attack, the Israeli forces have been bombarding Gaza. The senior U.S. defense official said the first tranches of military aid to Israel have arrived, including missiles for the countrys sophisticated air-defense system called Iron Dome.

The first shipment of our military aid, including munitions, arrived earlier this week. We fully expect to see continuous delivery of U.S. security assistance  in response to [Israeli] requests, the official said.

The United States is also working to send Joint Direct Attack Munitions kits, or JDAMS, as well as small-diameter bombs and various types of ammunition, the official said. The JDAM kits convert ordinary bombs into precision-guided smart bombs.

Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford steams alongside USNS Laramie during a fueling-at-sea in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Oct. 11, 2023. ((U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly))

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group arrived in the Mediterranean a couple of days ago and a squadron of Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack aircraft began arriving Thursday, according to the defense official. The planes are positioned to support Israels defense and deter any other country or group in the region from escalating or adding to the conflict, the official said. Social media posts on Thursday by the U.S. 5th Fleet also showed multiple F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets taking off during operations in the Eastern Mediterranean.

We have deployed a massive amount of force to make very clear that the United States stands with Israel, and to send a strong message to [other countries and groups] who would even be considering escalating this conflict, the defense official said. It is very important for these leaders and these groups to understand the full capability of the U.S. military we have put in the Eastern Mediterranean.

#IntegrityattheHelm



F/A-18F & F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft attached to VFA's 37 & 213 operate from the world's largest aircraft carrier @Warship_78 USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 11. pic.twitter.com/7217XalzF5  U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) October 12, 2023

Pentagon officials have said more aid to Israel and further moves of U.S. military assets in the region are expected in the coming week, but they dismissed any concern that American forces and equipment might be spread too thin given the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, where Biden has committed more than $44 billion in equipment since the Russian invasion in early 2022.

Put simply, we are the strongest nation in the world with the most combat-credible military. We are capable of supporting Ukraine and Israel in their hours of need, the defense official said. We feel that we can and must do both. The cost of inaction would be much higher.

The United States can walk and chew gum at the same time, Austin said.
Navy Lt. j.g. Willie Jeter, who was dismissed and sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual assault and other crimes, recently won his case before the militarys highest appeals court. The justices found that jury selection in Jeter's court-martial may have been tainted by racial bias. (U.S. Air Force)

A former Navy officer who argued that minorities were excluded purposefully from the jury that convicted him of sexual assault won his appeal before the U.S. militarys top court.

An all-white jury of five men convicted Lt. j.g. Willie Jeter, who is Black, in 2017 of sexually assaulting two women on separate occasions.

He also was found guilty of extortion, burglary and other charges at a court-martial at Norfolk Naval Station, Va. Jeter was sentenced to 20 years in prison and dismissed from the service.

In his appeal, Jeter contended that his rights had been violated when the pool of prospective jury candidates was stacked with white men.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces on Sept. 25 reversed the Navy-Marine Corps appellate courts 2021 decision upholding Jeters conviction and sentence.

In a 4-1 opinion, the justices cited the 1986 U.S. Supreme Court decision Batson v. Kentucky, which held that jurors cannot be excluded based on race.

We must carefully examine member selection practices to protect the military accused from procedures that may operate to exclude persons on racial grounds, regardless of the race of the accused, they said.

Jeter, who was 27 at the time of his trial, was convicted of sexual assault and extortion for a 2014 incident on board the Norfolk-based USS Truxtun.

After discovering a female enlisted subordinate having sex with another sailor in the destroyers electrical switchboard room, Jeter abused his authority by telling her he wouldnt report the incident if she had sex with him as well, prosecutors said.

He also was found guilty of sexually assaulting a student at Hampton University in Virginia in 2016. The woman testified that she woke up in her apartment to find Jeter, a stranger to her, in her bedroom.

At Jeters trial, the defense challenged the makeup of the jury, arguing that a lack of minority members demonstrated a systematic exclusion of members based on race and gender, according to court documents.

The defense noted that two Black jurors in the original pool of candidates were excused. Of the nine remaining, seven were given a questionnaire asking them to identify their race and sex. All seven identified as white males, according to court documents.

The judge at Jeters original trial found no evidence of a purposeful exclusion when the matter was brought up by the defense, court records stated.

During the lengthy appeals process, the convening authority, staff judge advocate and acting convening authority in the case told the court that they didnt recall discussing the race of the accused and prospective jurors, and that they could remember little about the selection process, according to court documents.

The lower appeals court also found that there was neither purposeful nor systematic exclusion of Black jurors.

The high court judges did not fault the officers for not remembering the selection process during the 2021 appeal, given that the trial was so long ago.

But they also ruled that the government hadnt refuted the defenses claim that race was a factor in jury selection.

The use of a race-conscious component in the selection process combined with the absence of any evidence in the record addressing how and by whom selection was made from this pool of members leaves us to seriously question whether the impermissible criterion of race might have found its way into the selection process, the majority opinion said.

The case was returned to the judge advocate general of the Navy, and a rehearing is authorized, according to the ruling. The Navy hasnt publicly announced the next steps in the case.
U.S. and POW/MIA flags fly together. Veterans in Cheshire, Conn., are protesting the removal of the POW/MIA flag from town property, a decision the town said was made in accordance with its flag policy. (Dreamstime/TNS)

HARTFORD, Conn. (Tribune News Service)  U.S. Marine veteran Matthew Bowman gets choked up when he thinks about how his fellow Marines were treated when they returned home from being captured as prisoners of war in Vietnam.

Part of my duties as a Marine, unfortunately, were as a security detail for our returning POWs in North Vietnam, Bowman said. To say they werent treated well is an understatement. What they went through was crazy.

Bowman, who lives in Cheshire, is now protesting the removal of the POW/MIA flag from town property, a decision the town said was made in accordance with its flag policy.

The first article of the code of conduct is I am an American fighting man and I serve in our forces which guard my country and our way of life, Bowman said. The most important word there is our way of life. Not my way, not your way, but our way of life.

The decision to remove the flag was made in June under a policy that prohibits the town from flying any flags other than the U.S. flag, state flag, or town flag on town-owned property with a few exceptions. The town allows for the POW/MIA flag to be flown only on town property designated as a veteran memorial.

The Department of Public Works, police, and fire departments have all flown the POW/MIA flag fairly regularly before, but because of this policy, the flags had to come down in those locations, said town council member Jim Jinks. The only location designated a veteran memorial is the town hall flagpole.

The POW/MIA flag, first introduced in the 1970s, represents the tens of thousands of U.S. military members who were captured or went missing in action. More than 81,000 Americans are listed as missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars, according to the Department of Defense.

Removing the POW/MIA flag means you have forgotten what it stands for. The POW/MIA flag is a reminder for every American of the U.S. service members devotion to duty, sacrificing everything to keep our people and democracy safe, and the fates of over 81,000 who were never accounted for and remain missing in action. They are not, and never will be forgotten, said Jeffrey Falk, commander VFW Post 10052, and Donald Falk, commander American Legion Post 92 in a joint statement.

But the town has said it implemented its flag policy to protect against unnecessary lawsuits. Cheshire, like many other communities across the state, passed a strict flag policy in response to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The court found that the city of Boston violated a private organizations First Amendment rights by refusing to raise a Christian flag outside of Boston City Hall since other flags had been flown in the past and no clear governing policy was in place. The town has also banned the LGBTQ+ Pride flag from being flown on town-owned property, saying the towns flagpoles are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression.

The council, nine of us, in no way intended to offend or abuse the dignity of the missing in action. What I will pledge to do is revisit this with a more fulsome understanding of where the expectations lay for their placement that doesnt stray too far from what the intention of our policy was, Chairman Tim Slocum said at a previous council meeting.

Bowman and several other veterans spoke on the issue during the public comment section at Tuesdays council meeting to protest what they are calling inaction by the town. In addition, because the flag policy was passed by a resolution and not ordinance, the town did not originally hold a public hearing on it.

Like with everything that has to do with town business, it has to be transparent, said Jeffrey Falk, commander VFW Post 10052. People should be notified and have a chance to speak out whether theyre for or against it.

Bowman said that he would like to see the town turn each flagpole at the DPW, fire station, and police department into a veteran memorial dedicated to the towns service members who served or were killed in action. The Vietnam era veteran said he has even offered to raise the money to pay for the plaques at each flagpole.

The first police chief here in Cheshire, John McNamara, was a Silver Star Recipient from World War II, Bowman said. So I asked the town if we can name the flagpole in his honor and therefore we would bypass this policy to fly the flag there. I would also like to fly a POW/MIA flag at the firehouse. Harvey Barnum Jr., a member of the fire department, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during Vietnam. Couldnt we put a plaque for him there and fly the flag there?

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As heavy Israeli bombardments continued to hit the Palestinian enclave on Thursday, Pakistan strongly condemned the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force by Israeli authorities against the civilian population in Gaza and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch said in her weekly press briefing that Pakistan was deeply concerned by the fast deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the inhumane blockade and collective punishment by Israeli forces.

The statement comes after Israel imposed a total siege to stop food and fuel from reaching the enclave of 2.3 million people, many poor and dependent on aid in response to a surprise Hamas offensive on Saturday that left 1,200 Israelis dead, according to officials.

In retaliatory air and artillery strikes, Israeli forces have flattened entire neighbourhoods, hospitals and schools in Gaza, killing 1,200 Palestinians since Saturday, and displacing more than 338,000. Yesterday, electricity went out after the only power station stopped working.

The FO spokesperson said that the decision to cut off electricity, fuel and water supplies was unjust and should be reversed as it would severely impact the lives of millions of people in the enclave.

The current cycle of aggression and violence is a sad reminder and a direct consequence of over seven decades of illegal foreign occupation, aggression and disrespect for international law, including UNSC resolutions that recognise the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, she added.

The FO spokesperson said Pakistan had been constantly warning against serious consequences of Israels escalatory and provocative actions in recent months. She said the unprecedented gravity of the situation demands urgent intervention by the international community.

Pakistan urged the United Nations to play a proactive role in facilitating a ceasefire to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The international community must work in concert for a just comprehensive and lasting two-state solution with a viable, sovereign and contiguous state of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital. Peace in the Middle East will remain elusive in the absence of such a solution, she said.
An opinion piece that you describe, praises or criticizes, on the whole or partly, to cultural or entertainment work. It must be written by an expert on the matter

Orlando, My Political Biography is transgender philosopher Paul B. Preciados response to a request by ARTE (the European public channel dedicated to culture) for a documentary about his life. It is a hybrid and experimental work that explores queer theory through a film-essay, as well as a letter and poem dedicated to Virginia Woolf, the author of Orlando: A Biography. Eight decades after her suicide, haunted by depression and the recent death of her nephew in the Spanish Civil War, Woolf and her character come to life in a film that, instead of claiming a room of ones own (to quote Woolfs famous feminist essay), asserts Preciados own body and the bodies of all the Orlandos.

Speaking in measured tones, the films narrator (Preciado) begins the story with, Someone asked me, Why dont you write your biography? And I answered: Because Virginia Woolf  that asshole  wrote it for me in 1928. Dear Virginia, Im sorry for calling you an asshole. I say it with much tenderness and admiration but also a little anger. That uninhibited attitude toward Woolf is a recurring theme in the film: Look at all these Orlandos  theyre not poets or aristocrats. They have been reduced to psychiatric patients. Yet, the film is also a love song to a writer ahead of her time.

Using Woolfs literary classic as a foil, Preciado places the self in service of a collective history  the history of those who were denied their own stories. As the narrator speaks, we witness a powerful, yet universal, clandestine political act  putting up protest posters on dark streets in the dead of night.

This is a manifesto, a dreamlike declaration that embraces the absolute freedom of the body, devoid of rigid doctrines. It is a collective epistle infused with memories of injected hormones, real and imagined names, transformations, and dreams. Its not about becoming another person, but about exploring all the possible identities. We encounter Lilie, Arthur, Janis, Oscar, Elios, Amir, Emma, Jenny, and Paul  the son of a seamstress and a car mechanic in a northern Spanish town. And then theres Orlando, who was taken by his parents to a psychiatrist at the age of 14 for symptoms of gender dysphoria.

Sally Potter transformed a young and melancholic Tilda Swinton into Woolfs character in Orlando (1992). Preciado, with a touch of humor, similarly explores a bevy of modern faces who might be what Chilean poet Pedro Lemebel (an important interpreter of this new body revolution) called the children of the future.
A special court in Lahore on Thursday summoned former federal minister Moonis Elahi  son of PTI President Parvez Elahi  in money laundering case on October 23.

Moonis Elahi is accused of corruption of billions of rupees in development projects across Punjab. On July 22, the Lahore district court declared Moonis Elahi an absconder over his continued absence in the money laundering case.

Elahis counsel submitted his attorney in the court of the special central judge in Lahore. The court ordered Moonis Elahis counsel to present his client before the court on October 23 as it is mandatory to present the accused in criminal cases.

The former federal minister left Pakistan last year after the registration of multiple cases against him.

Earlier to this, a special central court in Lahore issued arrest warrant for the PTI leader in the case.

The former ministers arrest warrants on a petition filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) due to his non-appearance before the court.

Speaking during the hearing, FIA prosecutor said that the former federal minister did not attend the court hearings deliberately. FIA sent court orders on his addresses in Lahore, Gujrat, Spain and England, the prosecutor had said in the previous hearing.
Andy Robinson spent 20 years behind bars for the frenzied attack on the mother of his baby daughter two days before Christmas

Robinson's fiancee Julie-Anne Osborne died after he stabbed her almost 50 times

Andy Robinson, centre, at Drumcree with UFF boss Johnny Mad Dog Adair (right) and Gary Smickers Smith, who was recently convicted in Scotland of sex offences against children

A crazed loyalist knife-killer  jailed for life for stabbing his fiancee nearly 50 times  is back on the streets, the Sunday World can reveal.

Andy Robinson  a former member of the UDAs notorious Hallion Battalion  slit the throat of 22-year-old Julie-Anne Osborne so severely he almost severed her spinal cord.

He spent 20 years behind bars for the frenzied attack on the mother of his baby daughter two days before Christmas in 2001.

Robinson's fiancee Julie-Anne Osborne died after he stabbed her almost 50 times

Now 45, Robinson is free and living in a respectable area in east Belfast, where many neighbours are unaware of his horrific past.

But this week the cut-throat killer was confronted on the street by a cousin of the young woman he had murdered.

Do you remember me, Robinson? asked Jennifer Osborne, who last saw her cousins killer on the day he was sent to jail for life.

She told the Sunday World yesterday: I spat on him that day and I knew then Id never forget his evil face.

On December 9, 2002 at Belfast Crown Court, a jury found Robinson guilty of the brutal murder of Julie-Anne two years earlier.

Julie-Anne was the mother of Robinsons 19-month-old baby daughter.

Earlier, the jury heard how the Shankill Road psycho had broken into his victims home as she slept in an upstairs bedroom.

And he repeatedly plunged a large knife into her diminutive frame, concentrating on her neck and upper body. Robinson stabbed Julie-Anne so severely he almost severed her spinal cord and he even managed to stab himself in the thigh.

Mr Justice Nicholson sent Robinson to jail for life, with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

Julie-Anne Osbornes cousin, Jennifer Osborne, was furious that killer Andy Robinson was released

Three years ago, the Sunday World revealed how the former UDA man was preparing for life on the outside.

We discovered Robinson had been moved out of HMP Maghaberry to a pre-release facility at Landscape Way, adjacent to the old Belfast Prison on Crumlin Road.

And we later learned he was released on licence last February.

Robinson rarely leaves the east Belfast home he shares with his girlfriend, spending his time drinking on the patio.

But our inquiries revealed that the killer travels into Belfast city centre once a week for a meeting with his probation officer.

And it was when he set out on one of these trips that he was challenged by a relative of his deceased fiancee as he waited for a bus on the Woodstock Road.

UDA knife-killer Andy Robinson

Jennifer Osborne told the Sunday World yesterday that her mind was fully focused on her murdered cousin when she confronted Robinson.

Jennifer said: I hadnt seen Andy Robinson since the day when he was sent to jail for life for killing Julie-Anne.

But when I saw him staggering about at the bus stop, I recognised him right away. He was clearly drunk and I was determined to get him on film to let everyone know this evil man is back on the streets and living in this community.

I switched on my phone and walked straight up to him saying: Hey Robinson, we meet again. Do you remember me? He looked shocked and just said, What?.

He was drinking from an alcopops can and he was wearing two Covid masks around his neck. As soon as he recognised me, he pulled up a mask to cover his face and eyes.

He then looked back to see if his bus was coming.

She added: Big brave Andy Robinson couldnt get onto the bus quick enough.

Jennifer fondly remembers her cousin Julie-Anne as a lovely young woman who adored her baby daughter.

Its just a pity she met a man like Andy Robinson. He is evil and I want everyone to know it, said Jennifer.

As per Judge Nicholsons recommendation, Robinson spent a minimum of 20 years behind bars before being released last February.

But during the final months of his sentence, when he was based in the secure unit on Crumlin Road, he was living only a few hundred metres from the house where he committed a crime which shocked hardened murder squad detectives.

On April 21, 1999, Julie-Anne gave birth to a baby girl. And three months later, she moved into a new Housing Executive home along with her fiance Robinson at Shankill Terrace.

Robinson was a member of the UDAs notorious Hallion Battalion based in the lower Shankill.

And as a teenager, he had been photographed during the Drumcree riots outside Portadown, with UDA Brigadier Johnny Mad Dog Adair and UFF gunman Gary Smickers Smith, who was recently convicted in Scotland of child sex crimes.

But during their time together, Robinson had repeatedly used violence against Julie-Anne.

And on one occasion, a senior member of the UDA in west Belfast visited the couples home, where Robinson was warned in no uncertain terms to show respect to his partner.

Andy Robinson, centre, at Drumcree with UFF boss Johnny Mad Dog Adair (right) and Gary Smickers Smith, who was recently convicted in Scotland of sex offences against children

Two days before Christmas 2000, he punched Julie-Anne so severely he caused her eye to close over.

Later that day, she gave Robinson his ring back and ordered him to leave their home and never return.

She arranged for a relative to look after her baby while she went back to bed to recover.

But in the early hours of the following morning, Robinson returned and attacked Julie-Anne with a knife as she slept.

At his trial for murder two years later, Professor of Forensic Medicine Jack Crane told the judge he found 42 stab wounds on Julie-Annes body.

When Robinson was arrested by police investigating the murder, he denied all knowledge of the crime.

But when a detective spotted blood seeping through the Shankill mans jeans, he immediately told Robinson: This interview is over. Im arresting you for the murder of Julie-Anne Osborne.
John Paul Duncan quizzed over death of 20-year-old Paul Frank Byrne

A career criminal was caught with a large haul of cocaine last January, just hours after being questioned by gardai over a gangland murder from 14 years ago.

Gangster John Paul Duncan (39), from Tallaght, Dublin, was jailed yesterday at Dublin Circuit Court for two and a half years after pleading guilty to possessing 8,500 of cocaine in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station last January 31.

Duncan, who has 150 previous convictions, was arrested in Dublins north inner city less than 12 hours after he was released from custody at Baltinglass Garda Station in Co Wicklow, where he had been questioned about the murder of Paul Frank Byrne (20) in 2009.

The victim disappeared after he got into a car with two men outside his house

Paul Frank Byrne was last seen on July 15, 2009, at Kilmartin Green in Tallaght.

His skeletal remains were found by a forestry worker in woodland near Blessington, Co Wicklow, on July 29 the following year.

It is understood he was stabbed to death, and at least three people were directly involved in the unsolved murder.

Duncan is one of five people who have been arrested in relation to the murder  all of whom were released without charge.

Duncan spent several years living in the UK, but came to garda attention when he produced a false driving licence at Dublin Port after arriving on a ferry last January 30.

Paul 'Frank' Byrne

He was arrested, which led to Baltinglass gardai being notified of his presence in the country, and they took him into custody, where he was questioned about Byrnes murder.

The victim disappeared after he got into a car with two men outside his house. His mother reported him missing to gardai.

Gardai believe he was murdered as part of a criminal dispute in the Tallaght area involving associates of Duncan.

Officers had for a number of years wanted to question Duncan  but he was based in London and there had been no trace of him in Ireland until he was arrested at Dublin Port.

He complained of being unwell  and said he had swallowed cocaine earlier

He ran into the trouble just hours after being released.

Dublin Circuit Court heard gardai were called to Lotts Cafe Bar on Liffey Street Lower, after a man was seen wrapping up white powder beneath a table.

He was arrested and taken to Store Street garda station, where he produced six condoms filled with 122 grams of cocaine from his trousers. The cocaine had a total street value of just over 8,500, the court heard.

A few hours later, he complained of being unwell  and said he had swallowed cocaine earlier.

At around 7pm, Garda Clodagh Doyle and two colleagues accompanied him to the Mater Hospital, where he became distressed and threw himself to the floor, retching.

Duncan said he needed to go to the toilet and was taken to a private room containing a commode.

Gardai waiting outside heard him roaring and moving furniture around.

When they entered, Duncan took his hand, which had been inserted in his behind, and tried to put it in a female gardas face.

Garda Doyle said Duncan then became extremely aggressive and jumped up from a chair and headbutted her colleague.

The three officers tried to restrain him, and he went to bite one of their legs, then bit Garda Doyles hands so hard that his teeth penetrated two pairs of gloves.

Medical staff sedated Duncan  but he continued his aggressive behaviour and tried to flee until he fell asleep.

When he woke up, he started again.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison over a 1.8m cocaine seizure in 2007

Duncan has 139 previous convictions in Ireland and 11 in other jurisdictions, including for drug offences, assault causing harm, theft, and escape from lawful custody.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison over a 1.8m cocaine seizure in 2007.

Duncan escaped from Loughan House open prison in 2016 and fled to the UK, from where he was extradited in June 2017 and then sent to Castlerea Prison.

In court, he said he had long-running drug addiction issues from the age of 15.

Yesterday, Judge Orla Crowe refused to suspend his sentence in order to allow him attend residential drug treatment.

She set a headline sentence of four years for possessing cocaine, but reduced this to two and a half years, in light of Duncans early plea, his remorse and his efforts at rehabilitation.

His assaults on gardai, described by Judge Crowe as nasty, were taken into account.
Hugh Connors admitted taking matters into his own hands

A driver caught trying to cut a clamp off a car with an angle grinder needed to get to his child to hospital at the time and panicked, a court heard.

Father-of-one Hugh Connors (24) could not wait for the clampers to come and remove it when he took matters into his own hands.

Judge Bryan Smyth struck the case out, leaving him without a criminal record when he made a 200 donation to the hospital and paid 20 compensation to Dublin City Council for the damage to the clamp.

Connors, with an address at Ballymackesy, Moneytucker, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage on August 11 this year.

Garda Sergeant Maire McDevitt told Dublin District Court the incident happened at Great Denmark Street in the city centre at 12.14pm on the day in question.

Gardai were on patrol in the area when they saw the accused cutting the lock on a Dublin City Council clamp attached to a vehicle, using an angle grinder. He had no previous convictions.

Connors child was in Temple Street Hospital on the day and Connors needed to get there as soon as possible, defence barrister Donal Pattison said.

When he returned to the car and saw it was clamped, he could not wait for the clampers to come to have it removed.

His child was in hospital and panic took over, Mr Pattison said.

It was his wifes car and the cost of the damage to the clamp was 20, which the accused had in court to compensate the council.

Judge Smyth said he would leave Connors without a conviction if he also paid 200 to Temple Street Hospital.

The case was briefly adjourned as Connors went to get the money. When he returned, Mr Pattison said the accused had the amount in full.

In circumstances where it was a once off, I will strike it out, Judge Smyth said.

He added, however, if Connors offended again, this case was to be brought to the courts attention.

The charge against the accused was under the Criminal Damage Act. The Director of Public Prosecutions consented to the case being dealt with at district court level.
Jacintha McSherry O'Connor has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child

A former teacher at a Dublin secondary school has gone on trial charged with indecently assaulting a pupil in 1985.

Jacintha McSherry O'Connor, 63, of The Mullins, Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting a child on dates between June 1 and September 1, 1985.

The incidents are alleged to have happened while Ms McSherry O'Connor worked as an English teacher at a school in Dublin. The complainant alleges the assaults took place at his home while she was providing him with English tutoring.

Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, said it is the States case that there was also sexual contact between the boy and the accused on a holiday she attended with his family.

He said the victim was a young teenager at the time and that consent in this case is not really an issue because we are dealing with a child.

The complainant, now 51, gave evidence that the accused came with his family on holiday to Spain. He had just finished his first year of secondary school.

The accused stayed in a separate apartment, but the complainant says two incidents of a sexual nature occurred over the course of the holiday, once in a swimming pool and again at her apartment.

The accused also asked him to have a drink and it was the first time he got noticeably drunk.

The complainant describes how he hadnt reached puberty at the time of the alleged incidents.

After the incidents occurred on holiday, he thought Wow, Im a big man now."

When they returned to Dublin, he says there were two specific examples of the accused indecently assaulting him.

Both of these allegations occurred at his home.

The complainant described how he was infatuated with her and how he thought he was in love."

However, he says the incidents started eating away at me as time went on.

The complainant says he began to think This isnt right, and remembers looking out at his friends playing and wishing he could play with them rather than go to see Ms McSherry OConnor.

At age 19, he told a then-girlfriend but did not want to go to the Gardai. He said he wanted to get on with things and that it took him some time before he went to the gardai.

He says seeing his own children at the age he was at the time of the alleged incidents along with other, unrelated high-profile cases spurred me on to go to the guards.

When he looked Ms McSherry OConnor up and saw she still had access to children and worked at a language school in Donegal, he thought, That seemed wrong.

Before the alleged assault, he said that conversations between the two started getting a little stranger.

He said he remembers the accused telling him a Brian Sherry album made her horny. He also said she would tell him what she would get up to sexually.

The man says he called to her house on a number of occasions, at one point watching Eastenders.

The complaint described how the accused praised me for my creative essays and recommended books for me to read.

He says at one point the defendant produced an essay for him, and that she gave him exam papers in advance before the end-of-year exams.

Patrick McGrath SC, defence, said that his client denied the allegations.

He put to the complainant that it is inconceivable that the alleged events could have occurred.

He suggested that the complainant is wrong about any conversations he alleges to have happened and that Ms McSherry OConnor never discussed anything of a sexual nature or said anything about being horny when specific music was played.

He says the man had developed a crush on the accused and became quite obsessed.

The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury tomorrow..
Gardai have been engaged in ongoing investigations into suspected drug-related intimidation in North Dublin as part of Operation Fogra

A man charged in connection with suspected drug-related intimidation in north Dublin is due in court this morning.

The man, in his 20s, is expected to appear before Court No 4, Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.30am.

Gardai have been engaged in ongoing investigations into suspected drug-related intimidation (DRI) as part of Operation Fogra.

The operation is conducted by gardai in the Dublin area and is part of the Garda National Strategy under Operation Tara.

Operation Fogra was launched to combat drug related intimidation which has been identified as a major source of community harm and fear in the DMR and is a sinister motive for various forms of criminality.

The operation focuses on a  harm reduction victim-centred approach and information enabled policing informing operational responses.

The objectives of Operation Fogra are to support communities, increase frontline awareness of DRI and enhance collaboration.
The man, in his 40s, is being held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

Some of the drugs seized last night in Dublin

A man arrested after cannabis worth 420,000 were seized in Dublin last night is being quizzed by gardai this morning.

The man, in his 40s, is being held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.

It follows raids in the north inner city carried out by the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT).

Gardai seized 21kg of cannabis herb valued at an estimated 420,000.

The drugs will now undergo analysis by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

Images of the seizure show bags of green material stacked up in front of Dublin Crime Response Team posters.

A spokeserson said investigations are ongoing.
The trio of judges said they were happy to send the 41-year-old back to the UK for trial on 12 firearms and ammunition offences

They rejected his extraordinary claim at a court hearing last month Britains request to hand him over should be refused because of the risk of inhumane and degrading treatment there.

But they did scupper the UKs plans to put the Irishman in the dock for conspiracy to pervert the court of justice, which can carry a life sentence, by rejecting his extradition on that charge because his alleged actions wouldnt have constituted a crime in Spain.

The conspiracy accusation relates to Britains claim Byrne was part of a plot orchestrated by Thomas Bomber Kavanagh in a bid to get a reduced jail sentence on drugs charges he was facing which involved planting weapons in the North and directing authorities to find them.

Liam Byrne

The trio of judges who ruled against Byrne following his hearing at the Audiencia Nacional, Spains Madrid-based High Court, said they were happy to send the 41-year-old back to the UK for trial on the other 12 firearms and ammunition offences included in its extradition request.

The Crumlin-born criminals fate now hangs on an appeal against the decision his lawyer Jaime Campaner is expected to lodge in the coming days which will be ruled upon by more judges.

It was not immediately clear today whether Bombers son and suspected Kinahan gang member Jack Kavanaghs extradition had also been approved.

His separate Audiencia Nacional hearing took place straight after Byrnes on the same day.

It later emerged Kavanaghs legal representative is Chilean Gonzalo Boye, who was jailed for 14 years for helping terror group ETA kidnap a Spanish businessman and qualified as a lawyer while he was still behind bars.

Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh during his arrest by UK cops

Kavanagh, arrested at Malaga Airport on May 30 while transiting from Dubai to Turkey, watched the proceedings from a prison on the Costa del Sol.

Byrne, held on June 4 on a UK-issued international arrest warrant at a restaurant in the Majorcan town of Alcudia as he ate dinner with his children, will remain in custody at a prison near the island capital Palma while his appeal is decided.

Extradition expert Mr Campaners insistence his clients wellbeing could be at risk in jail in Britain was rejected on the grounds it wasnt specific enough and he would have recourse to an internal complaints system if he suffered mistreatment.

His argument the Irishmans extradition would also violate his human rights because the only evidence against him is hacked messages on encrypted communications network Encrochat was also turned down.

The Spanish extradition judges said it was up to a UK court to decide whether it was admissible as evidence and it didnt constitute a reason for rejection of Britains request.

Bryne, who flew to Majorca for a family holiday from his hideout in Dubai, is said to have taken over from Bomber Kavanagh after his recent conviction for drugs and money-laundering offences resulted in him getting a 21-year jail sentence.

Britains National Crime Agency has accused both Jack Kavanagh and Liam Byrne of being involved in the alleged weapons conspiracy to get Jacks father a reduced sentence before his conviction.

Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency said in June after the pairs arrests in Spain: This investigation is part of the NCAs ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group.

"Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences. We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.
Brian Gillan and his two co-accused - both Romanian nationals - are jointly charged with brothel keeping

Two men and a woman are to stand trial for allegedly running a brothel in Belfast, a judge ordered today.

Brian Gillan, 65, Florin Ghita, 38, and Cristina-Teodora Musa, 28, face prosecution in connection with police raids carried out more than five years ago.

Officers targeted a property in the south of the city suspected of being used for sex work.

Gillan, of Friendly Place in Belfast, and his two co-accused - both Romanian nationals - are jointly charged with brothel keeping.

All three were allegedly involved in keeping or assisted in managing the premises between October 2017 and April 2018.

Ghita and Musa are charged with transferring criminal property, namely sums of money, as part of the same investigation.

The couple, whose current address is unknown, were extradited from Romania earlier this year as part of the proceedings.

At Belfast Magistrates Court today they were brought from custody to appear alongside Gillan for a preliminary enquiry hearing.

Defence lawyers confirmed their clients understood the charges against them.

Each of the accused declined to call any witnesses or give evidence at this stage.

Finding that all three defendants have a case to answer, District Judge Ted Magill granted a prosecution application to return them for Crown Court trial on a date to be set.

Gillan was released on continuing bail while Ghita and Musa remain in custody.

Mr Magill instructed: They will be brought back to court for their arraignment, when they will (either) plead guilty or not guilty.
Exxon Mobil is buying Pioneer Natural Resources in an all-stock deal valued at $59.5 billion, its largest buyout since acquiring Mobil two decades ago, creating a colossal fracking operator in West Texas. Including debt, Exxon is committing about $64.5 billion to the acquisition, leaving no doubt of the Texas energy companys commitment to fossil fuels as energy prices surge. Pioneer shareholders will receive 2.32 shares of Exxon for each Pioneer share they own.

I think fossil fuels, as the world looks to transition and find lower sources of affordable energy with lower emissions, fossil fuels oil and gas are going to continue to play a role over time, Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods said during an interview with CNBC. " That may diminish with time. The rate of that is, I think, not very clear at this stage. But it will be around for a long time. Woods explained that Exxon and Pioneer will be able to use their combined capabilities to drive down emissions and produce lower carbon intensity oil and gas.

Exxon purchased XTO Energy in 2009 for approximately $36 billion. In the late 1990s, the merger between Exxon and Mobil was valued around $80 billion. The deal with Pioneer Natural vastly expands Exxons presence in the Permian basin, a massive oilfield that straddles the border between Texas and New Mexico. Drilling the Permian accounted for 18% of all U.S. natural gas production last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Pioneers more than 850,000 net acres in the Midland Basin will be combined with Exxons 570,000 net acres in the Delaware and Midland Basin, nearly contiguous fields that will allow the combined company to trim costs. That is a big driver of the deal.Natural gas rigs in operation have declined over 26% in the U.S. since the start of the year, according to government data, largely due to the rising costs for drilling materials and labor over the past two years.

Their tier-one acreage is highly contiguous, allowing for greater opportunities to deploy our technologies, delivering operating and capital efficiency as well as significantly increasing production, Woods said of Pioneer in a prepared statement. The company will have an estimated 16 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Permian.

Once the deal closes, Exxon Permian production volume will more than double to 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, based on 2023 volumes. Its expected to climb to about 2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2027. The combination of ExxonMobil and Pioneer creates a diversified energy company with the largest footprint of high-return wells in the Permian Basin, Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield said in a prepared statement.

Citis Alastair Syme wrote that the transaction could provide multiple benefits to Exxon. Across the industry, the logic of consolidation in the highly fragmented Permian shale remains compelling with significant gains to be achieved from economies of scale by minimizing facilities spend, optimizing drilling and reducing general spending, Syme wrote.

Exxon is flush with cash. The company posted unprecedented profits last year of $55.7 billion, breezing past its previous record of $45.22 billion in 2008 when oil prices hit record highs. Exxon Mobil Corp. has been using some of that cash on acquisitions. In July the company announced that it was buying pipeline operator Denbury in an all-stock deal valued at $4.9 billion.

Pioneer Natural has been making similar maneuvers. In 2020 the company said it was buying Parsley Energy in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $4.5 billion. It then purchased DoublePoint Energy in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $6.4 billion in 2021. The boards of both companies have approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of next year. It still needs approval from Pioneer shareholders. Shares of Exxon fell more than 4% in Wednesday morning trading.

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The pensioner first encountered Smith and McCrory at Great Victoria Street station and he was invited to sit with the pair as the train left

Two men accused of mugging an an 84-year-old victim at a train station are not friends at the moment, a court heard today.

Due to the fall out amongst the alleged thieves, 54-year-old Damien Smith sat inside the dock at Craigavon Crown Court while his co-accused Gerard McCrory (40), sat just outside the dock so the pair remained separated.

Smith and McCrory, both with addresses given as c/o Maghaberry Prison, entered not guilty pleas to charges of theft and robbery of their elderly alleged victim arising from an incident at the Derriaghy train halt on 14 August last year.

None of the facts were opened today but when first charged, the court heard claims that McCrory pushed him [the complainant] against the wall and threw his walking stick away while Smith allegedly stole his wallet which contained 200.

Describing the incident as an unprovoked attack on a vulnerable 84-year-old man in daylight, a police officer previously outlined how the pensioner first encountered Smith and McCrory at Great Victoria Street station and he was invited to sit with the pair as the train left for Lisburn.

At one stage McCrory, who was wearing a pink tracksuit, produced a silver tin from his pocket but the pensioner recognised it as his and challenged him about it.

The tin was handed over but the pensioner also realised his Samsung smart phone was missing and although he accused Smith and McCrory, they denied taking it.

With the conductor ordering all three men to get off at the Derriaghy halt, it was as the pensioner was walking along the disabled ramp that McCrory allegedly grabbed him from behind, threw his walking stick away and held him over the railings while Smith allegedly went through his pockets and took his wallet.

The officer said 200 was removed from the wallet which was then thrown back at him and the men left, adding that while there was CCTV footage, it did not capture the actual robbery.

In court today Judge Patrick Lynch KC remanded the pair back into custody and scheduled their trial to begin on 6 December.
Lorna was a kind, loving and caring family person. And all of you, her friends and neighbours and work colleagues, (will have) memories of her kindness and goodness and love towards all.

The funeral of Lorna Kearney who died in a violent incident in Co Offaly was told she was a woman of great faith who had a deep love for her family.

Lornas body was discovered at her Offaly home shortly before 1 pm on Friday, September 29.

The following day, a teenager appeared before Tullamore District Court where he was formally charged with her murder.

A packed service at the Church of The Assumption in Tullamore this morning heard how Lorna was gifted with a lovely, warm personality and a beautiful smile that lit up every place she went, as did her wit, her joy, her fun and good humour.

She loved all family and she especially enjoyed time spent with them, talking and listening, enjoying all family gatherings and celebrations, the congregation heard.

Lornas husband Micheal and sister Jackie brought Christian symbols, including a crucifix to the altar as Lorna loved the gospel of Christ.

She lived by the values of the gospel, may she now share in the reward of the gospel in perpetual light of peace and rest, the officiating priest said.

We gather today in the spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving for Lornas life and all she brought and meant in the lives of all present and above all for you, her family, he said.

Lorna was a kind, loving and caring family person. And all of you, her friends and neighbours and work colleagues, (will have) memories of her kindness and goodness and love towards all.

The priest added: As we all gather with you this morning, our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to you all and we offer our prayers with you and for you at this most sad and difficult time.

We acknowledge the huge outpouring of support and kindness over the past week and more as an expression that we as Christian communities, we love, we support, we care and we're there for one another, especially at times of bereavement and sadness and loss.

Gifts representing Lorna's life were brought to the altar, including a family picture reminding us of the treasured family memories shared with Lorna.

Lorna enjoyed all family gatherings and celebrations, the priest said.

Hillary, Lornas friend, brought a laptop representing Lornas lifes work in the pharmaceutical industry.

Along with the pharmaceutical skills, Lorna had qualifications as an SNA, as a dental assistant and in reflexology. Lorna believed in education and she encouraged all to develop their gifts and talents, the gathering was told.

Mike brought Lorna's dog lead, reminding us how much Lorna enjoyed walking with her dogs Charlie and Toby.

Lornas friend Damian brought a skipping rope, reminding us of time Lorna shared, walking with family and friends and those walks often ended with a cup of tea or coffee afterward.

Lorna Kearney

One of Lorna's friends brought concert tickets, as she enjoyed going on holidays and going to concerts with family and friends. In music especially, she enjoyed Westlife and Taylor Swift.

Siobhan, Lornas aunt, brought a bible as Lorna had a special love of God and of reading the bible.

These gifts represent Lornas life as a great family person, friend, neighbour, work, colleague and a person of deep faith and prayer, the priest said

Everybody here will have their own particular fond memories of Lorna, for Lornas family, friends, neighbours and colleagues, memories to be held and treasured forever, the priest continued.

For all of you, there are memories of Lornas kindness, her friendship and her love. Memories for all of you of the beautiful person that Lorna was on the inside and out as well.

Lorna, as you all know was gifted with a lovely, warm personality. Her beautiful smile lit up every place she went, as did her wit, her joy, her fun and good humour.

She loved all family and she especially enjoyed time spent with them, talking and listening, enjoying all family gatherings and celebrations

She especially enjoyed time spent with her nephews and nieces, with you she enjoyed the day trips, going to the concerts, the movie nights, the holidays, the babysitting.

And through her nephew Darraghs illness she was a great source of strength.

Lorna, for all of you, was honest, loving, caring and a giver. She was supportive to all, family, friend, neighbour and work colleague alike.

She had a great interest in education and was blessed with so many qualifications, as we mentioned at the beginning of mass.

And having travelled so widely through England, America and Ireland she was blessed with so many good friends.

She loved her fashion and dressing up. She loved too her running and her exercise at home and going out for a walk with her dogs Charlie and Toby.

She loved her dogs so much that when Charlie got hurt, she bought a buggy so he could accompany her on her walks.

The priest added that Lorna, as mentioned, was a person of deep and strong faith.

She enjoyed gathering on Sundays for prayer and worship and reflection, he said. She had a great love of God and of Christ Jesus and enjoyed reading the bible every day.

And the readings of the scriptures of today's mass offer to all of us hope and comfort at this sad and difficult time, he concluded.

Lorna was laid to rest in Clonminch Cemetery, Tullamore.
Kerrigan was wrongly accused of killing Lynskey almost 52 years ago

The Garda Cold Case Team have this morning appealed for information regarding the 1971 murders of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan.

It comes as Garda Commissioner Drew Harris directed that the Serious Crime Review Team carry out a full review into the investigation into both murders.

A Senior Investigating Officer from Meath Garda Division has also been appointed to oversee the local investigation team.

Speaking to the Sunday World, Detective Superintendent Des McTiernan, who is the Reviewing Officer said said that present, the review is just that, and may prompt a re-investigation into Lynskeys murder.

At the moment, its a serious crime review of the Una Lynskey murder and the Martin Kerrigan murder.

Im very conscious that people have been convicted for the manslaughter of Martin Kerrigan, Im also very conscious that nobody has been convicted for the murder of Una Lynskey. That remains an open investigation.

The serious crime review that were doing at the moment may inform or prompt a re-investigation into the Una Lynskey murder.

The families of Una Lynskey, Martin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Comney are all involved in the review.

Theres 18 terms of reference drawn, the 18 terms are drawn up in line with the concerns raised by the families, so its a review of the Una Lynskey investigation.

Briefing the media this morning, Det Sup McTiernan said: "The murder of Una Lynskey on the 12th October 1971 and the subsequent murder of Martin Kerrigan on the 19th December 1971 has devastated the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Donnelly and Conmey families. Both murders still have an impact on the community in Ratoath.

Una Lynskey was 19 years old and was the fifth eldest of a family of twelve.

Martin Kerrigan was 20 years old and was the second youngest of a family of six.

The family of Una Lynskey are seeking clarity on matters relevant to the murder of their sibling on the 12th of October 1971, 52 years ago, he continued.

The subsequent prosecutions taken against Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey have had a significant impact on them and their families.

Martin Conmey and the families of Dick Donnelly and Martin Kerrigan have questions as to the garda investigations that took place in 1971.

I as the Reviewing Officer have been appointed to carry out a Full Review of the investigation into the murder of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan. A Full Review involves the independent examination of all material gathered in the course of all relevant current and past investigations.

My intent is that this Full Review will hopefully answer all questions highlighted by the Lynskey, Kerrigan, Donnelly and Conmey families and bring the events at the end of 1971 to some conclusion for all those involved.

Appealing to the public for any information he added: "I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan to please come forward to either the investigation team at Ashbourne Garda Station at 01 8010600, your local garda station or the Garda Confidential telephone line 1800 666 111.

"I appeal to any person who has information on these murders not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision.

Una Lynskey vanished on October 12, 1971, after she disembarked from a bus travelling from Bus Aras in Dublin city centre to Ratoath, Co Meath.

She was travelling with her cousin and both got off the bus close to the junction of the Fairyhouse Road and Porterstown Lane at approximately 6.55pm. This is when she was last seen alive.

Her family became concerned when their daughter had not arrived home that evening, and shortly after 9pm, her boyfriend reported her missing at Dunshaughlin Garda Station.

Over the coming days, searches were conducted in the area of Porterstown Lane by gardai supported by the Garda Dog Unit, Garda Sub Aqua Unit, Civil Defence, Army and local volunteers

Gardai also completed house to house inquiries and interviewed potential witnesses.

A number of those witnesses reported seeing a car described as a Ford Zodiac or Zephyr on Porterstown Lane around the time Una went missing.

On the October 25, 1971, Martin Kerrigan, Dick Donnelly and Martin Conmey were interviewed over a period of time at Trim Garda Station. All three men were released without charge, at that time.

On Friday, December 10, 1971 Unas body was found at Glendoo, close to Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains.

Days later December 19, Martin Kerrigan was abducted in Ratoath and forced into a car. The following morning his body was found at Tibradden, Rathfarnham, Dublin close to where Una Lynskeys body was recovered.

Unas brothers and cousin, John Lynskey, James Lynskey and John Gaughan were subsequently charged with Murder and later convicted of the Manslaughter of Martin Kerrigan. Each were handed down three years behind bars.

Following a garda investigation, in March 1972 Martin Conmey and Dick Donnelly were charged with the murder of Una Lynskey. Both were convicted of the Manslaughter of Una Lynskey and sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Dick Donnelly appealed this conviction and was found not guilty.

Martin Conmey served a sentence of three years in prison. In November 2010, his conviction for manslaughter was successfully appealed. Meanwhile in 2014, the Court of Appeal ruled Martin Conmeys conviction for manslaughter as a miscarriage of justice. He has since received a state apology.

Meanwhile, Dick Donnelly has since died, however his family has not yet received an apology from the state.
Simon Fahy was one of six people facing trial for the 2018 murder of Carl Carr.

A FUGITIVE wanted over the killing of an Irishman at a Costa Blanca villa has died before he could be brought to justice.

Spain had just issued a new international arrest warrant against Simon Fahy after declaring him in contempt of court following a failed earlier bid to have him extradited from Ireland over the alleged love triangle murder.

The 30-year-old was one of six people, including prime suspect Wayne Walsh, prosecuted and facing trial following a long-running investigation sparked by the January 2019 discovery of Carl Carrs body in a shallow grave by a motorway.

The 38-year-old Dubliner had been reported missing by his British hairdresser girlfriend around five months earlier.

It emerged overnight Fahy, first made a wanted man by the Spanish authorities four years ago before their initial extradition request was rejected by Ireland, had died last Friday.

A death notice on obituary website rip.ie carried his photo and said he would be sadly missed by his heartbroken mum and dad and other relatives and friends.

It announced a funeral would take place privately for Simon, from Loughboy, Kilkenny, for family and close friends only.

The circumstances surrounding his death have not been made public, although it is understood it is not being treated as a crime.

Fahy taunted police by posting pictures of him partying on social media when he was first made a fugitive.

A date for the trial Spanish authorities wanted to make him part of has not yet been set, but well-placed sources said today prosecutors had issued indictments against the other suspects and it was likely to be scheduled shortly for sometime next year.

All five are on bail, including 35-year-old Walsh who was one of Carls flatmates, at a residential estate in the Costa Blanca town of Torrevieja.

Two of the three female suspects include a part-time model and a bar manager Walsh had been romantically linked with.

They have not been charged with killing Carl and are instead facing lesser charges including concealment. Their trial will be in front of a jury.

A well-placed court source said: The investigating judge decided a trial could take place last month following a lengthy criminal probe.

A poster for Carl Carr posted in Spain after he went missing

Indictments against the accused have been presented and the case has been sent for trial at a higher provincial court.

Another insider said: Fahy was investigated in this case and the investigating court asked the Irish authorities to locate him after deciding the case should go to trial and inform him of the decision and his legal obligations.

The Irish authorities replied saying they couldnt find him at an address they had for him and the Spanish judge issued an international arrest warrant against him.

That is still in place and will remain so until the courts here have proof of his death.

Mr Carrs body was found buried at the end of January 2019 by the AP-7 motorway between the Costa Blanca towns of Benijofar and Algorfa.

He had last been seen in September 2018 after a night out in nearby Cabo Roig.

Police said they believed he was killed in a fight with a knuckle-duster before his body was driven to woods 20 minutes north of his home and buried alongside bleach used in a clean-up operation to hide the crime.

Carls grief-stricken mum Marie said after being told her sons body had been found: I believe he was killed because of a romantic triangle, by a man he knew who accused him of dating one of his girlfriends.

He told me twice in the last conversation we had that he loved me. Those were his last words, I love you Mam.

Saying he spoke regularly to his two young children in Ireland by a former long-term partner, she added: I knew this was never a voluntary disappearance. He talked to his children every day and he talked to me every second day.

Whoever did this to my son must pay the consequences.

In March it emerged Wayne Walsh had been re-arrested in Spain as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking organisation.

He had been released on conditional bail in August 2020 while he continued to be probed over Carl Carrs homicide.

The Civil Guard subsequently held him on suspicion of leading a gang based in the Costa Blanca resort of Torrevieja which was using parcel and courier companies to send drugs to the UK, Ireland and the States.

The judicial investigation into the drug allegations is still ongoing but well-placed sources said Walsh had also been released on conditional bail in that case.
Motorists have been urged to be aware of traffic delays as gardai sealed off parts of the area

Shots were fired at a property on Limericks Hyde Road last night, gardai have confirmed.

The shooting has led to a series of road closures this morning as officers conduct their investigation.

Motorists have been urged to be aware of traffic delays as gardai sealed off parts of the area amid an ongoing probe.

Gardai are investigating the discharge of a firearm at a property on the Hyde Road in Limerick during the early hours of this morning, a garda spokesperson said.

No injuries have been reported.

It has been reported locally that a section of Hyde Road has been closed off between Childers Road and Lenihan Avenue to facilitate investigations.
If he didnt get to the hospital within five or ten minutes, we could have been looking at a fatality. Hes lucky to be alive

A Wexford man is awaiting major facial reconstructive surgery and is likely to have lasting damage after he was allegedly attacked with a hammer in the car park of a Wexford town supermarket.

Neil Kennedy was in his car in Tesco car park at around 10.30pm on October 3, when he was allegedly set upon by a man armed with a hammer.

A friend was also in the car and was also alleged to have been hit around the legs and ankles.

Despite this, Neils friend rushed him to Wexford General Hospital immediately, where the extent of his injuries quickly became apparent.

"Thankfully, he got to the hospital quickly, his wife Rachel Davis said. If he didnt get there within five or ten minutes, we could have been looking at a fatality. Hes lucky to be alive.

Neil was subsequently transferred to St Jamess Hospital in Dublin, where he was placed into an induced coma.

Having emerged from the coma, the construction worker has undergone a series of tests and x-rays and is currently awaiting major reconstructive surgery on his face, while a week after the incident doctors are still waiting for swelling to go down to establish any lasting impacts.

"They said he was more like somebody who had been through a car crash and gone through a windscreen than somebody who had been assaulted, Rachel said.

Hell need reconstructive surgery on his nose. Theyll have to take cartilage out of his legs and rebuild his nose. Then hell have his jaw wired shut for a minimum of six to eight weeks.

"Hell also need metal plates inserted into both sides of his face and some reconstruction work on his eye sockets. Well have to wait and see if theres any permanent sight damage or speech damage.

Rachel says doctors are waiting to see if theres been any brain injury and that, while she spoke to Neil by phone once since the attack, they now communicate via text as doctors dont want him talking at the moment.

Wexford gardai confirmed that a man aged in his 40s had been arrested in relation to the incident and was brought before the court on October 6. He was bailed with conditions and a file is currently being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. No weapon has been recovered.

Statements have been taken and CCTV footage taken from the car park has been analysed, but gardai are also appealing for anyone who may have any information, social media recordings or have witnessed what happened in Tesco car park between around 10.30pm on Tuesday, October 3, to get in touch with them at Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200 or call the garda confidential line on 1800 666111.
The investigation is now ongoing to catch up with the rightful owners

UK police have urged the rightful owners of a stash of cocaine found in a tree in a park outside London to come forward and claim their lost property.

Police issued the public appeal after 121 wraps of cocaine were found inside the tree stump in Belvedere.

A Police Community Support Officer said he saw two males acting suspiciously in Frank Park while on routine patrol.

PCSO Worrall watched from a distance and noticed the males were hiding something inside a tree stump.

Police say the officer turned on his body camera to capture their description and the vehicle they got into.

The officer then searched the area and found a large stash of cocaine in wraps marked with the word Scarface.

Police hope to catch up with the rightful owners.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: We would like to appeal to the proprietor of the 121 Wraps of cocaine to come forward and collect your stash from our lost and found property store.

The investigation is now ongoing to catch up with the rightful owners.
The driver said I could take a taxi home, but I could not afford a 500 taxi to Arklow

A bereaved Wicklow man who was allowed to board the wrong bus home from Dublin and ended up stranded in Longford for six hours has received a disrespectful and humiliating response to his request for compensation - one year after his ordeal.

On October 15, 2022, Polish native and Arklow resident Tomasz  who asked not to include his surname for fear of hurting his case  boarded what he thought was the Expressway 2 bus from Dublin Airport to Arklow, having been visiting Dublin for a mass in memory of his recently deceased wife.

The bus driver scanned his ticket, the light on the reader turned green, and Tomasz sat down. When more than an hour of the journey had elapsed, he became concerned and approached the driver to ask where they were.

To his shock, Tomasz discovered he was on route to Longford. The driver told the confused passenger to stay on the bus until it reached Longford Railway Station, where he could get a train back to Dublin.

Still reeling from the loss of his wife and with little spoken English, Tomasz said that he could not believe he had been allowed to board the bus and would never have envisaged the misery that followed.

I went onto a bus and was convinced it was the correct one, Tomasz began. The time was correct for the bus to Arklow. The driver scanned the ticket and let me on. The light flashed green, so it meant the ticket was valid.

I did not pay attention to the surroundings on the way. My wife had died recently, and I was going to Dublin twice at the weekend for mass for my deceased wife.

I was confused when I discovered I was in Longford. I asked the driver how it was possible that he let me in with the ticket, which was for Arklow. The driver did not answer.

He went with me to the train station and asked about the train to Arklow, he continued. There were none, and no buses until 2.30 a.m. the next day.

The driver said I could take a taxi home, but I could not afford a 500 taxi to Arklow. I did not know Longford. My English is basic. I could not get any help to go back home to Arklow.

I was told to leave the train station because it was closed for the night, and had to wait at the bus stop for nearly six hours to get a first bus to Dublin Airport at 2.30 a.m., and another one from the airport to Arklow.

Days after enduring the nightmarish experience, Tomasz initiated contact with Bus Eireann, asking for an explanation and seeking compensation for his troubles.

After receiving a request for more information from Bus Eireann a month later, Tomasz received no follow-up until he escalated his case with the National Transport Authority, with their intervention leading to a recent response from the Expressway route provider.

On the evening in question, our ticketing system is showing that the ticket you presented for travel was not validated for travel, the response from Bus Eireann reads.

While we do acknowledge that the driver did not deal with the situation in an efficient manner, we are not liable for the compensation being requested. Under our Conditions of Carriage, all tickets are valid for travel as indicated by the fare paid and/or other details printed on the tickets at the time of issue.

Passengers are obliged to ensure that these details are correct in respect of the journey intended.

However, as a gesture of goodwill, we are in a position to refund you the cost of the additional tickets purchased, which was 32.

After relaying Bus Eireanns response to the NTA, Tomasz received a reply from the NTA, which stated: For instances relating to driver behaviour and or refunds, the NTA will escalate cases on the customers behalf for review by the operator but does not have a role in adjudicating on the operators response.

These are issues to be dealt with by the operator directly. As such, I am afraid I am not in a position to take any further action on this issue.

Arklow woman Ewa Winkel, who has been assisting Tomasz with his correspondences, said that she and Tomasz were incensed by the response from Bus Eireann and the lack of apology or offer of meaningful compensation.

Bus Eireann brought a grieving, distressed man to a wrong destination and left without any help or shelter for the night, Ewa said.

Bus Eireanns customer service admitted it was their employees fault, but not Bus Eireanns responsibility  it does not make much sense to us.

He is so upset about the whole situation and has been fighting for months to get an answer. Its disgraceful that there was no offer of (meaningful) compensation, and no apologies.

We emailed almost every institution I could think of, from the Ombudsman to the NTA, and at the end, to hear that they werent liable, its shameful, disrespectful, careless and humiliating. I cant imagine someone reading his story and not empathising with him and apologising.

The way Bus Eireann behaved is not only unprofessional, this was simply inhuman.
Kim Damti (22) was confirmed dead by her family in Israel and Ireland last night.

The funeral has taken place of a young Irish-Israeli woman killed in a Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend.

Kim Damti (22) was confirmed dead by her family in Israel and Ireland last night, with President Michael D Higgins leading tributes.

She had previously been unaccounted for since the attack at the Re'im music festival in the south of the country.

Speaking at the funeral, Irish Ambassador to Israel Sonya McGuinness said that Ireland is "appalled at the loss of this beautiful young woman".

"She was the best of your community and the best of our community and the best of who we are as a shared people," Ms McGuinness told mourners.

"Our sincere condolences to you and your entire community and Kim's friends and families. We stand with you."

Ms Damtis mother Jennifer is originally from Coolrain in Co Laois, and the pair had visited Ireland last summer to attend a cousins wedding.

Ms Damtis sister Laura paid tribute to her on social media, writing: With great sorrow and gloomy grief, I announce the killing of our angel, our flower, Kim my blood, who was murdered by the cursed terrorists.

In a statement to RTE News, her aunt Pat Cooper said: "With heartfelt sorrow the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti.

"We thank all those who have supported us with love and encouragement over the past five days.

"We respectfully request the media to allow us to grieve in the privacy of our family."

In a statement, President Higgins said the circumstances of Ms Damti's death were "truly appalling".

"It is with the greatest sadness that I have heard of the death of the young Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti, he said.

"The circumstances in which her life was taken, having travelled as she did to attend a music festival, are truly appalling.

"It is not only those of us who are parents, but all of those who feel that young people should be free to attend events with their peers in conditions of safety, who will find such circumstances where a young life is taken so appalling.

"Kim's death once again reminds us what an outrageous breach of fundamental international law in conditions of conflict it is to target civilians in this way."

Tanaister Micheal Martin added that Ms Damtis death was devastating.

"When news reached us over the weekend that an Irish citizen was one of the many hundreds missing after the repugnant terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, we hoped against hope that she would be found safely.

"The news that this hope has now been extinguished is devastating. Anyone looking at the photo of Kim in the media over the last few days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression; a young 22-year-old woman with a whole life ahead of her, full of promise.

"For anyone to lose a child is devastating. To lose a child in such circumstances is indescribable.

Mr Martin said he had spoken to Ms Damti's family earlier this evening to extend his heartfelt condolences.

"Our thoughts remain with all the families of those who have died, who are injured or who are missing in the wake of these terrible events. May her memory be a blessing."
In a statement online, her sister Laura confirmed the tragic news.

Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti has been confirmed dead following an attack by Hamas on a music festival in Israel last weekend.

Ms Damti had been missing since the attack which is believed to have claimed up to 250 lives.

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.

In a statement online, her sister Laura confirmed the tragic news.

"With great sorrow and gloomy grief, I announce the killing of our angel, our flower, Kim my blood, who was murdered by the cursed terrorists," she said.

"The funeral will take place tomorrow at 5pm at the cemetery in Gedera."

Her aunt Pat Cooper, in a statement provided to RTE, said:

"With heartfelt sorrow the Cooper family announce the death of their beloved niece, Kim Damti. We thank all those who have supported us with love and encouragement over the past five days, she said.

"We respectfully request the media to allow us to grieve in the privacy of our family."

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said that it was with immense sadness that I learnt this evening that Kim Damtis death has been confirmed.

When news reached us over the weekend that an Irish citizen was one of the many hundreds missing after the repugnant terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, we hoped against hope that she would be found safely. The news that this hope has now been extinguished is devastating.

Anyone looking at the photo of Kim in the media over the last few days will have been struck by the radiance and energy in her expression; a young 22 year old woman with a whole life ahead of her, full of promise.

For anyone to lose a child is devastating. To lose a child in such circumstances is indescribable.

Mr Martin added: On my behalf and on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland, I convey our heartfelt condolences to Kims family in Ireland and in Israel. We are with them in their grief. I spoke with Kims family earlier this evening and expressed this to them.

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.

Kim didnt realise there were seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere, her mother said.

"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 had in recent days been visiting hospitals with her hair brush to check if she was among the dead.
The hoarding of vaccines by Northern countries during the Covid-19 pandemic brought to the table the bloody reality of Africas vaccine dependence, where 99% of the doses administered come from outside the continent. To gain autonomy, a handful of countries, including Senegal, South Africa and Rwanda, launched a frantic race to build vaccine production centers. However, the patents and intellectual property thereof, in the hands of large pharmaceutical companies, continued to limit African capacity for action. To break this bond, the continent is betting on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, much cheaper and easier to transfer than classic vaccines, tested on a large scale and successfully during Covid-19 and considered revolutionary by experts.

The difference between a messenger RNA vaccine and a more traditional vaccine is that today it is possible, from a virus and the protein, to design in two weeks an RNA sequence [a complementary molecule of DNA that does almost all the work of life] so that when you administer it to someone, their cells produce the antigen. The person is the reactor that makes the vaccine. That is a revolution because the only thing any country needs is for someone to teach them how to do it, while with traditional vaccines there is a huge intellectual property barrier based on the virus, says Jose Castillo, manager of Quantoom Biosciences, a company specialized in this technology based in Belgium.

For three days, world experts in health and new technologies, scientists and entrepreneurs, managers and representatives of research and innovation centers, have met at the Abdou Diouf conference center in Diamniadio, near Dakar, within the framework of the Grand Challenges initiative promoted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This series of annual meetings, which aims to stimulate the search for solutions to global health problems, was born two decades ago, during which the aforementioned foundation and its partners have subsidized 3,800 projects in 118 countries for a total value of about 1.5 billion euros.

This Monday, Bill Gates himself, co-president of the foundation, announced in Dakar an aid of 37.7 million euros to facilitate access to Quantoom Biosciences low-cost mRNA research and manufacturing platform. The Pasteur Institute of Dakar  which will open a vaccine production center in the coming years, called Madiba  and Biovac, a South African research institute, will receive 4.7 million each to acquire the technology that will allow them to manufacture vaccines adapted to the local context. Another 18.8 million will go to the Quantoom platform, while the remaining 9.4 million will be distributed among other vaccine production centers in poor or middle-income countries.

Developing our capacity to discover and manufacture mRNA vaccines adapted to Africa is an important and necessary step towards vaccine self-sufficiency in the region, said Dr. Amadou Sall, head of the Pasteur Institute in Dakar. We are pleased with this new financing that will favor the development of vital technologies on the continent, contributing to global health security thanks to a growth in the supply and access to immunizations, which will allow us to achieve greater health equality in the world, he added.

A scientist works with samples at a WHO-supported mRNA vaccine center in Cape Town, South Africa. SHELLEY CHRISTIANS (REUTERS)

mRNA technology  whose creators have just won the Nobel Prize in Medicine  is considered a revolution, especially in dealing with infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria or Lassa fever, which affect populations in the poorest countries. Thanks to it, research and manufacturing costs can be lowered and, therefore, made more accessible. By putting innovative mRNA technology in the hands of researchers and producers in Africa and around the world, more people will benefit from next-generation vaccines, affirms Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigerias minister of health. Innovation can be transformative, agrees Morena Makhoana, head of the South African Biovac Institute, but only if its accessible to the people who need it most.

Quantoom Biosciences is working on modular mRNA technology that reduces the production costs of this type of vaccines by up to 50% compared to the traditional mRNA that companies such as Moderna are making. However, to produce these vaccines, it will be necessary to have highly-qualified experts  who can support countries that have a training deficit  or large laboratories, thus allowing for the decentralization of production. This social interest  compatible with economic profitability  is what has allowed the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to subsidize Quantooms project.

Were transferring knowledge, says Castillo, the manager at Quantoom. I also believe that one of the ways to stop the tragedy of emigration is to do this, to allow countries to develop and be masters of their own research. Nowadays, many companies transfer knowledge to manufacturers, but the virus vials stay in their country. They send the vaccines wholesale to Africa and bottle them here. Thats ok, but the fundamental value is in research and development, he emphasizes. The only thing needed is that transfer of capabilities, so that, say, the Pasteur Institute in Dakar can have [ownership] over the RNA sequences that theyre going to design.

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We now have evidence that Shani is alive but has a serious head injury and is in critical condition

Shani Louk's mother has appealed to the aurhorities to evacuate her seriously injured daughter from Gaza. Photo: Shani Louk Instagram

Shani Louk, who is seriously ill in a Gaza hospital after being caught up in the Hamas terror attack on Israel at the weekend.

The mother of a tattoo artist, believed to have been killed by Hamas terrorists at a music festival, has claimed her daughter is alive but in critical condition.

Shani Louk (22) was recognised by her distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks as the partially naked body inside a pick-up truck that was paraded through the streets by Palestinian gunmen.

She and her friends had been attending the Supernova festival just three miles from the Gaza border when they were caught in the crossfire during Saturdays shock attack.

Her mother Ricarda Louk has now told German outlet Bild: We now have evidence that Shani is alive but has a serious head injury and is in critical condition. Every minute is critical.

Shani Louk's mother has appealed to the aurhorities to evacuate her seriously injured daughter from Gaza. Photo: Shani Louk Instagram

You have to act quickly and get Shani out of the Gaza Strip! she declared in a message directed at German officials. We shouldnt argue about questions of jurisdiction now!

Clips on social media had shown Ms Louk, a German citizen raised in Israel, dancing and singing with her friends just hours before Hamas militants crossed into Israeli territories and opened fire on partygoers.

Around 260 bodies have been retrieved from the festival site, with numerous others missing while Hamas claims to have taken around 100 people captive.

Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad shares her life under siege in Gaza

During a media appeal over the weekend, Ms Louks mother held a picture of her daughter and said: This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas.

We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians and them driving around the Gaza Strip.

I ask you to send us any help or any news. Thank you very much.
Join Katie Price and Princess for a night filled with makeup.

Model Katie Price and her daughter, Princess, will be arriving on Irish shores in January to share beauty tips with Dubliners.

The famous media personality, formerly known as Jordan, will be in Shankill on January 14.

A blurb on her website says:

Join Katie Price and Princess for a night filled with makeup!

"Katie Price and Princess will share their top makeup looks and explain how to recreate them alongside a makeup artist from Ceira Lambert's salon.

The date of the event is Sunday, January 14, 2024 from 6pm.

Katie Price (Getty Images)

Please arrive at 6pm with your order number, Name and ID that matches the name on the order.

Location: Ceira Lambert Hair Consultancy, Violet House, Main St, Shankill, Dublin, Ireland

"VIP ticket meet and greet with Katie and Princess, photo opportunity and a seat at the masterclass.

"Standard ticket  a seat at the masterclass.

Your name will be at the door for entry.

Under 16 years must be accompanied with an adult. Tickets are non refundable once purchased. However, if the event is cancelled you will get a full refund, the note concludes.
"If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid

The former porn star had been a content creator for Playboy, which launched its OnlyFans-esque digital creator platform in March.

However the iconic adult magazine parted ways with Ms Khalifa following a number of social media posts made by the media personality since the latest outbreak of violence.

Since the latest outbreak of violence, Khalifa has been sharing social media content about the conflict in support of Palestine.

After Hamas invaded Israel in a brutal raid on Saturday Khalifa wrote on X (formerly Twitter): If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid and history will show that in time.

She also posted: I cant believe the Zionist apartheid regime is being brought down by guerrilla fighters in fake Gucci shirts  the biopics of these moments better reflect that.

Khalifa also posted on Sunday (October 8): I just wanna make sure theres 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison theyve been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how they freed themselves from apartheid.

In one post on X, Khalifa urged freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal.

Mia Khalifa

She later insisted this comment was not an endorsement of violence.

I just want to make it clear that this statement in no way shape or form is enticing [the] spread of violence, I specifically said freedom fighters because thats what the Palestinian citizens are fighting for freedom every day, Khalifa wrote.

However, in an email sent to its users on late on Monday, Playboy announced that the company had severed ties with Khalifa over her comments, some of which they describe as disgusting and reprehensible.

We are writing today to let you know of our decision to terminate Playboys relationship with Mia Khalifa, including deleting Mias Playboy channel on our creator platform, the company wrote in a message.

Over the past few days, Mia has made disgusting and reprehensible comments celebrating Hamas attacks on Israel and the murder of innocent men, women and children.

"At Playboy, we encourage free expression and constructive political debate, but we have a zero tolerance policy for hate speech. We expect Mia to understand that her words and actions have consequences.

Khalifa's controversial posts also led to her losing out on a business deal with Canadian broadcaster and radio host Todd Shapiro.

Shapiro, who was in the process of finalising a deal with Mia Khalifa, announced her immediate termination from their arrangement.

This is such a horrendous tweet, Mia Khalifa. Consider yourself fired effective immediately," he posted on X in response to Khalifa's tweet.

"Simply disgusting. Beyond disgusting. Please evolve and become a better human being. The fact you are condoning death, rape, beatings and hostage-taking is truly gross. No words can explain your ignorance. We need humans to come together, especially in the face of tragedy. I pray for you to become a better person. However, it clearly seems like it's too late for you.

Id say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but Im more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists, Khalifa retorted. My bad.
The show deals with some of Irelands most notorious and horrific murders.

Linda (left) and Charlotte Mulhall, photographed in 2005, became known as the Scissor Sisters after the killing of Farah Swaleh Noor

A thrilling new crime show is set to land on TV screens next week with the first episode of Irelands Most Evil Killers.

Sky Crime announced that the show will broadcast on the channel as well as streaming services, beginning Thursday, October 19.

The gripping five part series examines the disturbing cases of five famous Irish killers; Joe OReilly, Colin Whelan, Catherine Nevin, Charlotte and Linda Mulhall, and Eric Locke.

Using archive news footage, stylised recreations, expert analysis and interviews with those closest to the brutal cases, the series uncovers the stories behind these murders and the investigations that ensued.

From the producers of Britains Most Evil Killers, the franchise now dives into the actions of wife killer, OReilly, first. He butchered his wife, Rachel Callaly, in the Naul with a dumbbell.

He has reportedly shown no remorse for the savage murder in 2004.

Joe O'Reilly Pic: Courtpix

Colin Whelan is another wife killer, he strangled his partner, Mary Gough, before fleeing to Spain.

Colin, who was 29 at the time, informed police officers that his wife had fallen down the stairs and died.

Detective Inspector, Patrick Marry, worked on Mary's murder case, and he remarked that things didnt add up, they didnt sit well.

After the Postmortem was done on Mary's body it became clear that she had been murdered.

Colin Whelan and Mary Gough

Catherine Nevin arranged to have her husband shot dead before she died on compassionate leave from prison.

Nevin was given a life sentence in April 2000 after being found guilty of murdering her spouse, Tom.

She was also convicted of soliciting others to kill him.

Tom was killed during a staged robbery at their pub, Jack White's Inn, near Brittas Bay in Co Wicklow in the early hours of 19 March 1996.

The poor man was blasted with a shotgun by individuals hired by the Black Widow.

Catherine Nevin (Collins)

Charlotte and Linda Mulhall, known as the Scissor Sisters, chopped up their mothers boyfriend, including removing his penis.

The pair had been on a drink and drugs binge in the city centre which ultimately ended in a total bloodbath in Summerhill.

One of the pair even took the dead mans head on a bus.

Eric Locke

Eric Locke strangled mother-of-one Sonia Blount with his hands and the cable of her phone charger, and suffocated her by forcing her t-shirt into the back of her mouth with such force that he broke her teeth, in 2014.

It was reported that Locke was initially reluctant to mix with other inmates in the Midlands Prison when he was sent there to serve his sentence, but now "acts like a celebrity."
When SunLive walked into Mike Tokonas little home at the edge of Bethlehem on a bright, sunny spring day the place was cold, damp and dark.

The only light pouring into the home was that streaming through holes in the roof. You could see the rusting iron, there was no building paper or ceiling.

Its not too bad, says Mike humbly, as his hand touches a stand-up heat lamp. Ive had this friend here to keep me warm.

Mike has spent three winters in the small shed hes turned into a home since returning to whanau land. However, the last fortnight has been a game-changer for Mike. His home has a brand new roof  and more work is planned to bring the dwellings interior up to operating at 20 degrees Celsius.

20 Degrees programme

This is down to the work of Sustainability Options  and their repairs and maintenance programme, called 20 Degrees, which the Tauranga-based altruistic business has been running for three years.

The programme is delivered by Sustainability Options, who visit homes of those struggling with cold, damp and poor housing conditions. The team identify the issues preventing homes from reaching 20 degrees Celsius and seek to develop a plan to work with the whanau/families to address these.

To solve these problems, 20 Degrees works with other available programmes, connecting home occupants with any services or subsidies that may help improve their housing conditions and living situation. Then 20 degrees fills the gaps of any issues left unresolved, typically minor repairs and maintenance, by fixing these at no or low cost to home occupants.

Sustainability Options fixer Phil Gregg visited Mike in January this year after his sister contacted a local hauora asking for help. Mikes sister was really worried about him living in the shed.

So Phil went to meet Mike and have a look at his home. I went out there and....Oh My Gosh! But  believe it or not  we are dealing with 700 houses that are exactly the same as Mikes, says Phil.

Sadly, he wasnt surprised. Its not the worst Ive been to by no means. It wasnt unexpected at all.

700 homes like this

The scary thing is this is just one of 700 homes like this that were trying to deal with this year alone in the Bay of Plenty region.

Phil says Mikes home first needed a new roof. Mike has health issues, hes living in what you could call a shed, and in reality without having a new roof I couldnt do much to improve his dwelling.

Mike Tokonas little home had a failing roof, making life inside it very cold and damp for him. Photos: Merle Cave.

Thankfully, Phil has been able to get three businesses to support the re-roofing of Mikes Home which took place a fortnight ago.

Adco Roofing Tauranga agreed to roof Mikes house for free; Colorsteel has donated roofing material; and Freeman Roofing Tauranga donated work to press the roofing material into shape.

NZ Steel donated a Colorsteel Dridex coil, which is a roof and cladding product with an anti-condensation fleece layer adhered to the reverse side. This layer negates the need for separate underlay to be installed prior to the sheets being fixed. This cut down dampness in the house, says Phil.

It was then shipped to Freeman Roofing Tauranga, who rollformed the material into a corrugate profile. They press it to where it needs to be in length and cut it and deliver it. Then Adco Roofing Tauranga has kindly supplied four staff who came out and put on the roof.

All of those businesses have donated their materials, labour or time  there has been no charge from any of those companies. They are all doing to give back to their community, says Phil.

He wants more construction and building industry companies to get in touch with Sustainability Options and give whatever materials, time, labour or donations they can.

For our 20 degrees programme, Im after materials, labour, skills and product donations  any of the above  just like whats been done at Mikes place.

A plea via film

To get Sustainability Options plea out further, a new film has been made to highlight the housing conditions in the BOP and the mahi (work) their team is doing to help improve the dwellings.

After seeing our new 20 Degrees film, Refresh Renovations has come to us to see if they can help too. Theyll likely to do the internal work at Mikes place.

And we just need so many more businesses to come forward and help give these BOP families warmer and healthier homes.

Mike is so happy and grateful for his new roof, and for the help from Sustainability Options. Its awesome aye  Im just stoked. They are really great people. Im lucky to have their help.

The re-roof underway this month. Photos: David Hall.

Phil says Mikes failing roof is a common problem he encounters. The problem is if I cant get a roof  I can do anything else to the houses. If I can get a decent roof on a dwelling I can then line walls, get insulation into the building and make the interior warm and healthy for residents.

Phil estimates 100 homes out of 700 on his books have failed roofs, and need new ones. And it is really, really, really, hard work to try and get a roof for these homes.

29,000

On the new 20 Degrees film, Sustainability Options estimate there are BOP 29,000 homes in poor housing condition that they can improve. And those houses in poor housing condition are resulting in tens of thousands of children going to hospital every year and even more of their broader and wider whanau.

So thats a lot of homes, a lot of improved conditions, and a lot of hospital admissions that we can help prevent.

To learn more about 20 Degrees, see the film at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/20-degrees-1
The New Zealand Veterinary Association is calling on dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities and take all measures to ensure their pets are safe and can be trusted around other people and animals.

Figures released by Auckland Council, show the total number of dog attacks reported between July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, in the Auckland region, increased by 28 per cent to 2437.

The Auckland Council Animal Management annual report on dog control activities, says there were 250 more attacks on people and 280 more attacks on other animals during this time period.

NZVA Head of Veterinary Services (companion animal) Sally Cory describes the reported attacks as the tip of the iceberg.

"Unfortunately, these numbers only cover the attacks that have been reported to the Council," she says.

"We know that the actual number of attacks is significantly higher as there is often a reluctance to report, such as when dog bites occur in homes and families. We know that children are vulnerable and often the victims of dog attacks, which will be both physically and emotionally traumatic for them and the whole whanau."

Under New Zealand law, dog owners must comply with minimum standards for animal care and management set out in the New Zealand Animal Welfare (Dogs), Code of Welfare 2010 (National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, 2010), as well as the requirements of their local city or district council.

The concerning rise in the number of dog attacks, is an important reminder that owning a dog carries great responsibility, says Sally.

"The NZVA advocates strongly for responsible dog ownership, including socialisation and training from a young age.

"Your dog may act perfectly well around you and your family in its home surroundings, but you must equally be able to trust them when they are around young children, people of all ages, other dogs, and animals."

Responsible dog ownership has also been in the news of late with the announcement that, the UK government will ban the American XL bully dog by the end of the year, following a series of attacks.

Sally points out that while New Zealand has not experienced the issues reported overseas, the implications of reactive, anxious, or aggressive behaviours are greater in a large powerful breed than a much smaller breed of dog.

"We advocate for good breeding practices and discourage extremes of conformation.

"Increasing health concerns would align with these extremes such as short noses and excessive skin folds. Above and beyond general health concerns with any large breed of dog, these dogs are not necessarily worse, but they are strong and powerful, so responsible ownership and training is essential."

"The conversation around dog attacks and powerful breeds, highlights the importance of education with regards to dog control and safety around dogs. Children are sadly often the victims of dog attacks, therefore interactions with young children should always be supervised."

To avoid dogs having a negative impact on other people, animals, and the environment, the NZVA recommends an owner must:

- Ensure dogs are safe to be in the community.

- Keep dogs under control in public areas by having them on a leash.

- Not allow dogs to stray.

- Manage nuisance barking and other behaviours.

- Ensure dogs do not predate on other animals or birds.
It may take 50 years to restore the health of the Tauranga Harbour but its achievable believes avocado grower Lawrie Donald of Katikati, who has worked hard towards that goal.

There have been incremental improvements in the time I have been fishing in the Northern Tauranga harbour and any improvement is good, says Lawrie who, while still actively involved in environmental projects, has stepped down as chair of Project Parore.

The health of the harbour and its fish has been the end game for Lawrie through decades of working with landowners and councils to improve the quality of waterways entering the harbour.

Im optimistic about the future especially in the Bay of Plenty where the policies of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council have helped change attitudes and encouraged so much more native re-vegetation. Now the rest of New Zealand is catching up.

Lawrie, who as a child helped his father clear a swamp for grazing land and had a stint as a scrub cutter, possum hunter and deer meat shooter, went on to become an ardent and effective advocate for the environment, with the skill of getting landowners on side.

In his time as BOPRC Senior Environmental Field Officer, Lawrie oversaw around 180kms of re-fencing on farms to protect waterways.

We averaged about 10km per year, but I have no idea about how many trees were planted as part of retirement schemes as the number was increasing all the time. The BOPRC ordered about 180,000 indigenous trees a year prior to my move to Taupo in 2008. Of those about 80,000 went to farmers I or my staff were working with.

In the BOPRC Operational Plan, the ability to protect streams and bush has been a boon to the Western Bay of Plenty environment. This is a monetary incentive to protect parts of farms and people are the same regardless of their vocation. Money is always a great motivator.

Lawrie was born and raised in Maramarua and attended Wesley College before taking a degree in Agricultural Science majoring in soils and geology at Massey University.

Lawrie joined the Rangitiki/Wanganui Catchment Board working in the Taihape hill country before heading to Darwin in Australia for a year working in land conservation.

He returned to New Zealand, took a job scrub cutting and married social worker Heather. Heather wanted me to get a proper job when she was expecting our first child, so in 1980 I joined the Hauraki Catchment Board working on the Waihou Valley Scheme.

This was the first really formative job, the previous were interesting but without the structured catchment approach to river and flood management by looking at the total catchment.

Fencing is a huge capital cost to farming and has little impact on profit. Grants from councils and large catchment schemes like the Waihou Valley scheme have been instrumental in the protection of waterways where I have worked.

One of the things I used to discuss with landowners was to look at their farm as a series of assets. Land Use Capability mapping of NZ was done in the 1970s and is a great tool to use.

I used to tell farmers to invest in the best land first. Too many were breaking in some rough paddock out the back that soaked up money and gave little return. A little more fertiliser or a subdivision of better land with fencing was a better option.

In 1990, Lawrie joined the BOPRC and the family moved to Katikati.

At BOPRC I had a boss Tony Hall who was in my opinion miles ahead of the rest of the councils in NZ. He allowed me to develop the Coast Care programme, the Estuary Care programme and to be part of the biodiversity development team for the BOP Land Management Team. These things gave the community a place in management of their environment and changed peoples mind set about looking after 'your place'.

Those initiatives, and Lawries special gift to get on side and relate to farmers and growers are among the reasons for environmental improvements wherever he has worked.

When I first started there had to be an erosion problem that was impacting farm infrastructure for me to get an invite onto farm. In the 1970s only mad greenies fenced off waterways.

Historically water was always fenced into a paddock for stock water, not out. The fencing of waterways was slow to develop for the very reason that it was a complete change of practice. Now most farmers know it is the right thing to do.

Lawrie has a knack for finding the why to motivate landowners. When I went to see landowners about tree planting, I made sure to sit down with both husband and wife because if the wife didnt agree with fencing off waterways, ninety percent of the time it wouldnt happen.

If we got the OK, then we did the first plantings in the paddock you could see out of the windows of the house. Once people appreciated that nice vista we could continue to plant more.

Lawrie also tapped into a love of fishing to convince Bay of Plenty landowners to retire waterways. Id ask if they liked fishing and if they said yes, Id say; why are you stuffing up your closest fishing grounds? and then talk about the impact of sediment on the harbour. If you can find a way for people to see cause and effect, it makes improving the environment personal.

In 2008, Lawrie joined the Waikato Regional Council and moved to Taupo. His initial role as land management changed to manging the Waikato River from the mountains to Lake Karapiro.

Council had a policy of fencing off land along the big river but had not done the small streams and wetlands. I employed students to map all the wetlands in the Lake Taupo catchment and recommend they also be fenced off. When Lawrie retired, he and Heather returned to Katikati.

It isnt just the opinions of landowners that Lawrie has influenced. Hes also been instrumental in directing the focus of community groups towards addressing cause and effect, including the Uretara Estuary Managers which now operates under the brand name of Project Parore.

Initially the group was concerned about the increase in mangroves in the estuary, which was caused by too much sediment flowing into the harbour. I saw that as an opportunity to give them a different focus and expand their concerns to look at what was happening to the streams in the catchment area, says Lawrie, who in 2018 became chairperson of UEM.

The name Project Parore came from discussions I had many years ago with landowner the late Derry Seddon. As usual I was simplifying things and said that perhaps the issue of sea lettuce in the Tauranga Harbour was because we had put too much sediment into it and that had ruined the spawning and habitat of the parore fish which are herbivores. When we were looking for the trade name UEM 'Project Parore' seemed to fit.

Looking back to all that he has achieved, Lawrie says its been about; lots of collaboration with people I consider friends. I am just another cog in the machinery to make positive changes for our environment.

Most people want to look after what they have. Farmers, over the years have had the message that more and more production is best. But often its not for their health or the health of the land.

Lawrie is optimistic about New Zealanders chances of improving the environment but acknowledges at the local level much of the work is done by retired old farts and there is no pay.

However, new retired old farts are coming along behind us.

Now he has retired from Project Parore, Lawrie is working on a Predator Free Katikati project to create a pest-free peninsula at Sharp Rd.

Doing good for the environment is not always easy, but the mantra by which he lives; its only a bad day if you havent learnt something new helps Lawrie get through.

There is so much to know. The more you know, the more you realise how little you do know.

-Elaine Fisher.
After a decade as Huntsman for the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt, Charlie Halley has retired and handed over to Jamie Bragg.

Under the name of Rotorua Hunt Association, the hunt was formed in June 1928, recording a membership of 138.

The first Master was Dr Herbert Bertram, and his 100-acre estate Glenholme, was the home of hunting in Rotorua for more than 30 years.

In 1932, the hunt extended into the Bay of Plenty as hound numbers increased thanks to hound donations from the Pakuranga and Waikato hunts. It was renamed Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt and registered with the New Zealand Hunts Association.

Current hunt master, Craig Hurst, is a local farmer/land owner.

Ive hunted all my life and my father has been the club president. I felt it was my turn to do my bit and became the master in 2022, says Craig.

The kennels have been in Dalbeth Road, Rotorua since 1960. Geographically the hunt covers a large area from Pikowai to Katikati in the East and Reporoa to the top of the Kaimai-Mamaku Range in the West. This offers members a huge variety of hunt country.

As a gesture of appreciation, the Hunt offers $9000 worth of scholarships for tertiary education or skill training to our landowners families or those managing Maori Trust or corporate farms we hunt on.

Craig describes the 164 members as a very dedicated group, consisting of the stalwarts, an increasing number of urban members, and families.

He sums up the ten years that Charlie Halley gave to the hunt as huntsman.

For Charlie, hunting was all about whanau. Whether it be his own, other families or the hunt family in general, he made it fun and he was very approachable. He was known as the Happy Huntsman and that is what he will be remembered for.

Charlie Halley

Charlie grew up in the Hawkes Bay on sheep and beef farms with his ten siblings.

We were riding horses by age three or four and as soon as we were able, one of my brothers and I had our own dogs and were riding off into the hills shepherding. We didnt do much school work! says Charlie.

He began hunting as a child and remembers the best turnout they had was seven, his mum and dad and five of the children.

He married his wife, Dolly, and they have four daughters. They rode with the Mahia Hunt where Dollys father, Lionel Stone was Master and Charlie whipped for them when required.

Our family got into rodeoing and it was hard to compete out of Gisborne, so we moved up to a Maori Trust Farm near Rotorua.

Charlie and his daughter Kiwa won a team roping competition in 2008 she became the first female to win a roping title in New Zealand.

The Happy Huntsman, Charlie Halley, was with the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt for a decade. Photo: Debbie Stevens.

The family hunted with the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt and Charlie took the huntsman position in 2013. They relocated to the hunt property, and he drove for an agricultural contractor in the hunt off season.

Ive really encouraged hunt members to bring their families and the hunt has regular riders of all ages.

Charlie has a love of hounds. In his last season in 2023, he was proud to see some of the hounds he bred coming into their own.

Hounds are so different to other dogs. Theyre very loving towards humans, wanting to be around them, eager to please and are the gutsiest animals I know.

He favours the black and tan hounds, with not too much white, but has added in some speckle, breeding with hounds from Waikato. Charlie bred Ebay who did well at hound shows.

Jamie Bragg

Jamie Bragg was appointed to take over from Charlie at the end of the 2023 hunt season. Unfortunately Charlie had an accident which abruptly ended his season. Jamie stepped in early and saw the hunt through with help from Craig and Rotoruas whips.

I had whipped for Rotorua previously, but it was hard coming in mid-season when the hounds were bonded with another huntsman, says Jamie.

Jamie has hunted since he was five. His working life revolved around the racing industry, doing work such as racecourse clerking, trackwork and travelling foreman for Shaune Ritchie Racing.

Jamie Bragg is bonding with and preparing the hounds to lead them into the 2024 season. Photo: Catherine Fry.

He was the huntsman at Maramarua for three seasons, gaining a love and understanding of working hounds.

My wife, Eilish and I, and our one-year-old and 12 horses have moved into Dalbeth Road, and Ive officially taken up the position and care of the 23 hounds and 11 pups.

Jamie plans to increase the bitch ratio of the hound pack. Hes bringing in new bloodlines, Gamble and Lancer from Mahia, Fletcher from Maramarua and Lamu from Pakuranga.

Jamie will have the spring and summer to bond with the hounds ready for his first season as huntsman.
Afghan emergency teams are still using shovels to dig through the rubble and search for survivors of last Saturdays earthquakes, which struck the northwest of the country. According to the latest data from Afghanistans Ministry of Public Health, the disaster left at least 2,445 people dead and 2,440 injured. But over 72 hours have elapsed since the tragedy, and the intensity of the search effort is slowing down as the possibility of finding people alive dwindles. Its total devastation. There are villages that are completely destroyed because the houses, which are made of mud and straw, collapsed completely in the earthquake. When you pass by, you can see that theyve buried many of the dead with stones, Thamindri de Silva, the NGO World Visions country director in Afghanistan, explains in a conversation with this newspaper, following a visit to some of the affected areas.

The rescue operation is not as sophisticated as [it was] for the earthquake in Turkey, where there was technology and many countries sent emergency teams, explains Daniel Timme, the head of communications for UNICEF in Afghanistan, from the city of Herat, just 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) from the epicenter of the strongest tremors. Everything [here] is much more improvised, and they have received support from [only] two countries: Iran and Turkey, he adds.

Since the Talibans return to power just over two years ago, Afghanistan barely receives any international aid. As winter approaches, local and international NGOs are trying to help a population that has experienced crisis after crisis. Before the earthquake, some 15 million people  out of a population of some 40 million  depended on humanitarian assistance for survival. According to de Silva, Afghanistan only received 20% of the international aid it needed before the earthquake; she fears that the conflict in Gaza will overshadow Afghanistans most recent disaster and the humanitarian emergencies it has caused. We dont believe that the earthquake is getting enough attention, particularly because of what is happening in the rest of the world, but in this crisis, people have lost even more than they had already lost, she says.

According to UNICEFs initial estimates, at least 12,000 people require urgent assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake. The immediate need is [related to] the earthquake, but the country [also] has enormous humanitarian needs, because it is in a serious economic situation; people are hungry and malnourished and, as a result, do not have the ability to recover [from the earthquake], Timme says.

There is still enormous chaos and confusion. The Taliban says they have already found most of the dead, although I estimate that the number could still increase by 500 to 1,000 people, World Visions country director observes. According to official data, which is corroborated by organizations such as UNICEF and Doctors without Borders, around 90% of the victims are women and children. [Thats] because women are not allowed to leave the house, de Silva notes.

But NGOs in Afghanistan agree that the level of devastation is not the primary obstacle to receiving humanitarian assistance. Aid is getting through. Blocked roads havent been a problem, UNICEF has ambulances and trucks there, distributing winter clothes, blankets, shelter, food, medicines, latrines, and drinking water to prevent the spread of diseases like diarrhea, [which is] extremely dangerous for children, explains Timme. The major problem is the lack of funds. We are asking our partners to continue supporting our programs, because childrens needs are always the same, and in this type of disaster, they require special protection, he adds.

An emergency exemption for women

In recent days, Taliban leaders have met with NGOs and various UN agencies to coordinate aid for the victims. They approved an emergency exemption that will allow women to participate in the relief effort in Herat, says de Silva, who attended one of these meetings. She notes that the Taliban have banned women from working, except in the health and education sectors. In the current situation, de Silva explains, women will not need to be accompanied by a man, at least in the affected areas, so they can carry out assessments, provide support and bring much-needed relief to the community.

The population has lost everything and needs all manner of aid. There is only one provincial hospital for the whole area, and it is overwhelmed, de Silva explains. According to MSF, that medical center, for which MSF provides support, has treated about 540 patients, while other injured people had to be transferred to private clinics. Last Monday, 340 people remained in the hospital in Herat, mostly with minor or moderate injuries, the organization says.

World Vision, one of the few international NGOs based in Herat, was one of the first to assist the victims with mobile health teams. We have treated many patients with broken bones, but one of our biggest concerns is the survivors mental trauma, especially the children, who are very frightened, says the organizations country director. She observes that some families have lost four, five, or six members. Shuddering, the director adds that in one village, 900 people have died and only three were rescued alive from the rubble.

Meanwhile, the climate presents another challenge. The weather has changed In just three days the temperatures in the area have dropped, so people have nowhere to go [and] are getting cold, says de Silva. She laments that many people are still waiting for blankets to arrive so they can take shelter. We ourselves are trying to set up tents and get blankets to them as soon as possible, she explains, expressing her concern that winter is coming. And she emphasizes the vulnerability of children once again, their vulnerability: They have lost all their clothes and, until help arrives, they will have to continue to wear what they have on [now].

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Neighbours overlooking the Southern end of Matakana Island might start to notice the landscape change, as contractors begin to harvest the mature pine trees on the island.

A total of 90 hectares of mature pine trees will start to be felled from Monday, October 16.

Revenue from harvesting the trees, owned by Western Bay of Plenty District Council, will go towards funding the building of the much-needed replacement wharf at Panepane Point.

We want to let the community know, because we know that the beautiful taonga of Matakana is part of the unique and precious landscape around Tauranga Moana. Its going to look a bit different along the island foreshore for a few years and we are working hard to restore the native flora and fauna at Panepane Point, explains Council's reserves and facilities manager Peter Watson.

Working with the local hapu from Matakana Island, we will replant in appropriate native trees and shrubs for approximately 20 metres inland around the outside of the island at Panepane Point, and the balance area will be a new crop of pines.

This harvest, and the reinvestment of the revenue into the replacement wharf that we need to keep our island thriving, is an important step for the hapu that are connected to Matakana Island.

Council still owns Panepane Point, despite formalising a transfer to return most of the whenua at the eastern end of the island to a local trust in October 2021.

Council continues to work through the statutory process to transfer the land, which is taking longer than anticipated.

Council also urges any members of the public planning to travel across to the island while harvesting is taking place to stay clear of all machinery and harvest sites, and to follow the directions of the forestry contractor crews.

Harvesting will continue through October and November 2023.

Council, the hapu and boat operators are continuing to work through the design for the wharf as harvesting continues.

If anyone has any queries, please contact us on 0800 926 732 or info@westernbay.govt.nz.
The Silver Ferns were given reminder of Australias power and depth after dropping the first of the four-Test Constellation Cup series 50-40 to the Diamonds in Melbourne on Thursday.

Meeting each other for the first time since Januarys Netball Quad Series final, the Silver Ferns could not absorb Australias constant pressure and accuracy on attack despite producing a plucky third-quarter revival.

There were some encouraging moments from the visitors but overall, the Silver Ferns struggled to consistently stay in the fight.

The Silver Ferns young brigade will have learnt plenty and had some promising moments, but the clinical efficiency of Diamonds captain Liz Watson on attack and the pin-point play of shooters Cara Koenen and Kiera Austin proved the difference.

Weve just got to continue to be better and take it on, says Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio.

Some of our girls havent played Aussie too much, so now theyve got a first taste and they know whats to come in the next one.

Fresh off making her international debut just weeks ago, Silver Ferns shooter Amelia Walmsley faced her toughest assignment to date when lining up against the Diamonds for the first time to gain her third Test start.

The new-look Silver Ferns midcourt of Mila Reuelu-Buchanan (wing attack), Maddy Gordon (centre) and Kate Heffernan (wing defence) also retained their starting spots, with the opportunity to continue cementing their budding partnerships.

Following the retirements of Steph Wood and Ash Brazill, shooter Austin and wing defence Jamie-Lee Price got starts for the Diamonds.

The Silver Ferns withstood an early onslaught from the Diamonds, retaining their composure and patience to make a solid fist of the opening quarter.

Under constant defensive pressure, the Silver Ferns attack line worked overtime to get the ball goal-bound but initially managed to cope with the threat of defenders Jo Weston and Courtney Bruce.

Ekenasio and Wamsley settled into a smooth rhythm under the hoop while at the other end, Kelly Jury and Gordon picked up valuable gains to disrupt Australias slick attacking momentum as the visitors took a 12-10 lead into the first break.

The hosts got away to a sizzling start on the resumption, gaining traction with a 5-1 start and taking a strong grip on proceedings.

The Silver Ferns had their moments at both ends but Australia remained relentless across all areas, backed up by smothering defence while delivering an effective mix of speed and timing on attack.

Unable to stem the flow of ball defensively, the Silver Ferns introduced Karin Burger for Phoenix Karaka at goal defence late in the piece but faced a big challenge after Australia pushed out to a 29-20 lead at the main break.

The Silver Ferns delivered a concerted never-say-die response during a battling third quarter where they held strong against the relentless Diamonds. Greater defensive resolve, where strong challenges from Jury, Burger and Heffernan managed to disrupt the Diamonds flow.

Despite the constant attention, the teenaged Walmsley grew in confidence, adding extra movement while increasing her volume, combined with Ekenasios ability to sink goals from long-range bombs.

Gordon and Reuelu-Buchanan worked tirelessly through the midcourt, a brief failure in the lights and plunging the stadium into momentary darkness, not phasing the Silver Ferns winning the third quarter by three goals but still trailing Australia 40-34 at the last turn.

The second Test will be played in Brisbane on Sunday (9.30pm, NZT).

Official Result and Stats:

Silver Ferns: 40

Australia: 50

Champion Data Match Centre

Shooting Stats - Silver Ferns:

Amelia Walmsley 21/25 (84%)

Ameliaranne Ekenasio 17/20 (85%)

Maia Wilson 2/2 (100%)



Shooting Stats - Australia:

Cara Koenen 27/31 (87%)

Kiera Austin 22/27 (82%)

Sophie Garbin 1/1 (100%)


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Throughout its national geography, there are areas that dazzle not so much for their traditional architectural beauty, but for their unique characteristics, exciting histories and the mysticism that surrounds them. When we think of Spain's picturesque villages our minds tend to wander to Andalucias whitewashed houses, lively squares and golden sandy beaches.

However, there is a lesser-known but equally fascinating side to Spanish villages, and National Geographic has shed light on some of the most unusual, with two located in Andalucia standing out as true gems: Soportujar in Granada province and Setenil de las Bodegas in Cadiz.

Before we delve into the details of these two Andalusian listings, let's take a look at National Geographic's complete list of unusual villages. In addition to the aforementioned Soportujar and Setenil de las Bodegas, we find unique spots that stand out for reasons that go beyond traditional beauty.

- Molina de Aragon (Guadalajara)

- Castellfollit de la Roca (Gerona)

- Roda de Isabena (Huesca)

- Sallent de Gallego (Huesca)

- Valpuesta (Burgos)

- Almaden (Ciudad Real)

- Petilla de Aragon (Navarra)

- Llivia (Gerona)

- Trasmoz (Zaragoza)

- Mendavia (Navarra)

- Camarena de la Sierra (Teruel)

Soportujar (Granada): The refuge of witches and Buddhists

At the foot of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park, in the heart of the Andalusian mountains, lies the picturesque village of Soportujar. While its strategic location along the Guadalfeo river would be enough to attract tourists, Soportujar is known for something even more extraordinary: its rich tradition of witchcraft and its spiritual link to Buddhism.

Soportujar (Granada province). ABC

The village is shrouded in a halo of mystery that is accentuated by the imposing mountain that protects it. This enigmatic atmosphere is fuelled by the legends of witches and warlocks that have inhabited the region since ancient times. Places like the Enchanted Bridge and the Witch's Eye Cave invite visitors to immerse themselves in a magical and mysterious world. In addition, during certain months of the year, the entire town is transformed into a paranormal festival scene, with events and costumes evoking mystery and fear.

However, in a surprising twist of duality, Soportujar is also home to the O'Sel Ling Buddhist centre. Opened thirty years ago, this spiritual sanctuary was blessed by none other than the Dalai Lama, making it a place of pilgrimage and retreat for those in search of inner peace.

Setenil de las Bodegas (Cadiz): Built under the shelter of ancient rocks

In the province of Cadiz, Setenil de las Bodegas emerges as an architectural challenge. Here, the houses are not built on the ground, but directly under the rocks. This peculiarity resembles Greek mythology, where Sisyphus, condemned to eternally push a rock uphill, lived under its weight. However, far from being a condemnation, living under the stones has been a stylistic and functional choice for the inhabitants of Setenil.

This design, which in the past provided shade and coolness, has made Setenil an obligatory stop on the famous Route of the White Villages of Cadiz.

Setenil de las Bodegas (Cadiz province). ABC

The narrow streets and houses carved directly into the limestone give the village a unique aesthetic, which attracts tourists from all over the world, eager to see this geological and architectural wonder. Moreover, although it may not seem like it, Setenil hides a lot of mysteries and abounds with legends of ghosts, of love, and of strange and dark beings in the night.

Andalucia, with its rich history and cultural diversity, is home to countless secrets and wonders. Villages such as Soportujar and Setenil de las Bodegas are living testaments to the human capacity to adapt, innovate and create beauty in the most unexpected settings. National Geographic has only confirmed what many already knew: Spain is a country full of surprises.
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Gibraltarians are turning out en masse at 15 polling stations across the British overseas territory that opened at 9am this Thursday (12 October) for the Rock's general election.

Some 25,198 people can have their say on whether they want current Chief Minister and leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) Fabian Picardo to remain in place for a fourth term, or whether they opt for a change in government and vote in the conservative Keith Azopardi.

GSLP is repeating its alliance on the ballot papers with the Liberal Party of Gibraltar. Leader of the Liberals, Dr Joseph Garcia, is currently Deputy Chief Minister. The coalition of the two parties is known as GSLP/Libs. However, Keith Azopardi of Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) and leader of the opposition is looking to stop another term of the GSLP/Libs.

Voters will be able choose 10 candidates each from the list of 21 who are standing this time across all parties. Other than the main parties, there is one independent candidate. Almost half of existing members of parliament are standing down this time.

An opinion poll for the Gibraltar Chronicle and GBC last week showed the narrowest of margins between the two main political parties: the GSD had a slight lead of 49.18% against Picardo's group's 48.65%.

One of the key issues that has been thrown up during the election campaign is the Rock's future agreement with the EU following Brexit. Negotiations have stalled in recent months due to the early general elections in Spain and now in Gibraltar. "From our perspective, it's about who you want to conclude the Brexit negotiations with the EU," said Liberal leader and Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia. "We are the ones who have been involved in the detail of every aspect of that negotiation and who are best placed to move forward," he added.

Meanwhile, Azopardi pointed out that his government is capable of tackling the complex negotiations. "I believe that if the GSD is elected to government, we have the competence to deal with these issues," he said. "It is up to the Gibraltarians to decide what to do on 12 October, but this should not be an issue or an obstacle to us not being elected," he added.

Polls will close at 10pm with the counting of votes expected to start at midnight and a possible result by 4am on Friday 13 October.
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If there is one pastime that transcends borders, it is travelling. The British are no different, and their newspapers often publish reports and articles on places to go. Recently the tabloid Daily Mail has listed destinations to which they advise against travelling if you don't "want to appear vulgar". Among these destinations are the Spanish city of Seville and seaside holiday resort of Benidorm.

The article includes a selection of destinations to avoid, on the advice of "popular culture expert" Nick Ede. According to the publication, all the destinations on the list are "cliche destinations" and they clarify that "it's not that they don't deserve a visit", but they advise that if readers want to "stay ahead of the curve" it is best not to boast about having visited them. Other cities on this list are Mykonos, Santorini, Bali, Miami and Paris.

"Very touristy, a bit vulgar and certainly not out of the ordinary," the author wrote about Seville, the distinguished capital of Andalucia. However, he acknowledged that "there is something special about the city, the lifestyle, the narrow medina-like streets and the tapas culture have such a phenomenal emotional cliche appeal that people flock to it". In his critique he picks up on the words of Jose Luis Sanz, Mayor of Seville, in which he criticised stag parties in the city and suggested including measures so that everyone can enjoy the city.

In the case of Benidorm, the author does not hesitate to describe it as an "infamous destination" that "still retains the crown of the most vulgar destination in Europe". He claimed that over the last 30 years, Benidorm has earned "a reputation for being cheap and tacky", although he acknowledges its "enormous economic success" in attracting thousands of tourists, British and otherwise, each year.

"You can holiday as cheap and cheerful as you like. It may be a cliche, but if it's sun and sangria you're after, then Benidorm has it in spades," Ede wrote.
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A mother and three of her children, aged 14, 12 and 11, died in a fire in a squatted building in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Vigo, a city on the northwest coast of Spain. Another of her children is said to have been saved. Nine people were also injured in the blaze, one of them seriously, and have been hospitalised, La Voz de Galicia reported.

Startled neighbours have claimed that the fire was started intentionally. "We heard the dog barking and went to the doorway to see what was happening, there was smoke and we heard footsteps," said two of the women who had to be evacuated. They said that they suspect a person who allegedly started a fire on the ground floor a few days ago.

When asked if the fire could be intentional, the councillor responsible for security, Patricia Rodriguez, appealed for calm. "It is true that these are situations in which we naturally get very nervous, we look for culprits and it is human that family members and friends and the people closest to us are anxious and think these kinds of questions, but the best thing is to let the professionals work," Rodriguez said.

The councillor said that around ten people were taken to health centres for smoke inhalation and other personal injuries. The rest of the people affected by the fire were attended to by the social and emergency services, who are looking to rehouse them.

Speaking to the media, Rodriguez said that 112 received a call at around 4am about a fire at the entrance to the building, in which there were approximately 30 people inside. The councillor said that within five minutes of the alert the firefighters were working to extinguish the fire, which they were able to control "effectively and as quickly as possible".

The fire happened on Calle Alfonso X el Sabio, and was attended to by Emergencia Sanitaria de Galicia-061, Vigo's fire brigade, National Police and Local Police. Psychologists from the Official College of Psychology of Galicia, specialised in dealing with emergency situations, were also informed of the incident.
The leader of the U.K. Labour Party, Keir Starmer, finally had the opportunity on Tuesday to prove that he is not a robot  as his critics accuse him of being  but a temperate politician capable of using setbacks to his advantage. He took to the podium to deliver the most important speech of his political career to date at the British lefts annual congress in Liverpool, the last before the next general election.

True democracy is citizen-led, politics needs an update. We demand a peoples house! shouted an activist who rushed at Starmer and covered his jacket with glitter. With his right arm, the Labour leader blocked him from approaching the microphone as security reduced him to the ground and led him out of the auditorium. If he thinks that bothers me, he doesnt know me, Starmer said, before quipping that he was glad he was the target and not his wife, who is wearing a beautiful dress today. Taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves, he added: Protest or power, that is why we changed our party, to an ovation from supporters.

The activist, in his minute of glory, eventually became the perfect metaphor for the message Starmer sought to convey: over three and a half years, he had transformed the Labour he inherited from Jeremy Corbyn from a party obsessed with gestures and protest to one prepared to govern. In fact, it is the same recipe, the same perception among the British public, that swept Clement Attlee to Downing Street in 1945, and Tony Blair in 1997: the idea that the time has come for the British left to usher in a new era of change. Starmer described Labour as a party no longer in thrall to gesture politics, no longer a party of protest  a party of service.

The Labour leaders message was fundamentally economic, with a proposal to revitalize the construction of housing in new neighborhoods and towns, as the Attlee government did after World War II, and a new alliance with businessmen  such as that championed by Blair  but hand in hand with the trade unions and with the goal that the decade of national renewal he has promised will benefit above all workers and the most vulnerable.

Keir Starmer pushes the activist away from the microphone who tried to sabotage his speech at the Liverpool congress this Tuesday. MOLLY DARLINGTON (REUTERS)

Conservative populism

The leader who managed to eradicate latent anti-Semitism in the Labour Party during the Corbyn era also lifted conference attendees with his support for Israel, albeit without renouncing the historical line of the party regarding the Middle East conflict: This party believes in the two-state solution. A Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel. But this action by Hamas does nothing for Palestinians. And Israel must always have the right to defend her people, he said.

The Labour leader, who many consider prudent and moderate in not revealing what his long-term project for the United Kingdom consists of, has benefited from the debacle of the Conservative Party conference a week earlier, which was dominated by the ideas of the ruling partys more extremist elements. Starmer called on Tory voters who have watched in horror as the Conservatives have plunged into the murky waters of populism and conspiracy, to vote for Labour instead: If you feel our country needs a party that conserves. That fights for our union. Our environment. The rule of law. Family life. The careful bond between this generation and the next. Then let me tell you: Britain already has one. And you can join it. Its this Labour Party, he said during his conference speech.

Starmer has a knack for soundbites that are pleasing to everyones ears. To those who have been disappointed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks announced setback in the fight against climate change, the Labour leader has promised an acceleration of these objectives. To employers, he announced loyalty and stability; to the unions, a new labor pact to recover the wage level frozen in recent years. And to the left wing of the party, always wary of any turn toward the center and technocracy, he has given the class speech that is always appreciated at a congress: Weve dragged this party back to service. We can do the same for politics. I grew up working class. Ive been fighting all my life. And I wont stop now. Ive felt the anxiety of a cost-of-living crisis before. And until your family can see the way out, I will fight for you, he promised.

A message of optimism aimed exclusively at domestic consumption. Brexit no longer exists in the partys discourse. On the other hand, among those attending the ACC convention center in Liverpool, who left the auditorium with smiles after listening to Starmer, there was the impression, despite the leaders appeals to caution, that the possibility of government is again  as it was a quarter of a century ago  within reach.
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Syracuse, N.Y. -- The committee that will recommend how Micron Technology and New York State should spend $500 million on community projects is looking for suggestions at a public meeting next week.

The Micron Community Engagement Committee will hold a public workshop on Oct. 18 at the Museum of Science and Technology, 500 S. Franklin St., Syracuse. The workshop runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The 14-member committees job is to recommend how the $500 million Community Investment Framework fund should be spent over the next 20 years. The committees goal is to create a strategic framework for directing investments in various critical areas, including but not limited to education, housing, workforce development, childcare, transportation, infrastructure, and more.

Micron, state and local partners said they would invest $500 million toward community projects.

The committee is co-chaired by Melanie Littlejohn, a vice president at National Grid; and Tim Penix, vice president of the Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center.

If you cant make the meeting, you can offer your thoughts on the Communities Priority Survey website until Oct. 31.

Micron, the worlds fifth-largest semiconductor company, plans to build a massive chip factory in the town of Clay over the next 20 years.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Michael Yorton usually described himself as a publican. Others called him a visionary.

Yorton operated The Blue Tusk bar at 165 Walton St. in Armory Square with his father, Tim, and other members of his family from 1995 until it closed in the fall of 2021. He died a year later at age 49.

Now the city of Syracuse is planning to honor his legacy with a sign that will designate the 100 block of Walton Street as Michael Yorton Way. The sign will remain on the street for at least a year after its installation.

And the legacy of The Blue Tusk itself will be celebrated on Nov. 3 with an event called the Tuskafari Fest at Middle Ages Brewing Co. (See details below).

As publican at the Tusk, Yorton created the concept of a 69-tap bar highlighting both American craft beer and hard-to-find imports. It won national an international recognition as a top beer bar in craft beers early days.

Yorton was also responsible for the bars laid-back, tie-dyed, jam band-meets-beer enthusiast vibe.

Yortons unique vision made him a legendary figure in the City of Syracuse, according to a resolution sponsored by city councilor Latoya Allen. The resolution approving the street sign will be considered by the council on Oct. 16. ... Yorton is remembered for creating his own community and making many peoples lives more enjoyable.

Bob Doucette, the pioneering Armory Square developer who was also the Tusks long-time landlord in the Center Armory building, echoed that thought.

Im pleased to hear it, Doucette of the street name honor. He created something that went beyond just a place that sold beer. He tapped into something, a certain community of people that he was able to bring together around this love of beer, and beer-making and that lifestyle. Its not something you see every day. When you see it, its uplifting.

The idea to honor Yorton with the street sign came from several of the people who live in the condo units above the bar in the Center Armory building. Thats where Mike Yorton and his wife, Gina, also lived.

Gina Yorton said Sue Boyle, a recent Center Armory neighbor and a former city councilor, spearheaded the effort to bring the idea to the citys attention. Its such a wonderful way to remember him, Gina Yorton said.

I think its a nice idea, Boyle said. Its impactful for a lot of people and they appreciate it.

Celebrating the finals days of The Blue Tusk bar in Syracuse's Armory Square: From left: Isaac Rubenstein of Middle Ages Brewing, Mike Yorton of The Blue Tusk, Jeff Renno of Middle Ages and Marc Rubenstein of Middle Ages. (Don Cazentre | dcazentre@syracuse.com)

Tuskafari Fest

Michael Yorton had a name for the community of loyal fans he gathered at the Tusk. He called them Tuskafarians, or the Tuskafari, inspired by his love for reggae (like Rastafarians).

Gina Yorton is now working with owner Isaac Rubenstein at Middle Ages Brewing Co. put together an event that will attempt to recreate the vibe and spirit of The Blue Tusk and the Tuskafari.

The Tuskafari Fest will be Nov. 3 at Middle Ages, 120 Wilkinson St. on Syracuses near west side. Middle Ages, Syracuses oldest craft brewery, had a long history with the Tusk. Admission is free and there will be food, music and, of course, beer for sale

The festivities begin at 3 p.m. and will take place in the brewery and its new upstairs beer hall. Live music through the day and into the evening includes McArdle and Westers, Tim Herron and Los Blancos, with reggae from Mighty Mystic.

Middle Ages is collaborating with Prison City Brewing of Auburn on two special beers fore the event. One is called Bonzai Blonde, inspired by the Belgian beers Yorton loved, and an IPA called Riot at the Tusk.

Several of the Tusks bartenders will be on hand to help pour beers. There will be a toast featuring samples of the Belgian beer Duvel, in honor of the Tusks long-time tradition of hosting Duvel Day during Syracuse Beer Week.

Rubenstein is working to arrange a food truck.

Gina Yorton and Rubenstein are also asking long-time Tusk regulars to send their favorite photos from the bar to Thebluetuskpictures@gmail.com. They will be used at the event.

The whole idea is a celebration of the Tusk and all the people who made it a great place  Rubenstein said. We think well see a lot of familiar faces.

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
By Tim Balk | New York Daily News

New York  Gov. Kathy Hochuls administration said in a court filing Wednesday that it supports Mayor Eric Adams efforts to suspend New York Citys right-to-shelter rule, describing a pause as imperative to address the migrant crisis.

The states filing, which did not depart from the governors consistent position on the issue, came as advocates rallied Wednesday outside Hochuls Manhattan office, urging her to support a statewide right to shelter.

Hochul, a moderate Buffalo Democrat, has made clear she does not support expanding the right to shelter to the rest of the state  a step progressive lawyers say the state Constitution requires.

In 1981, the city and state signed a landmark consent decree requiring the city to provide shelter to homeless men who ask for it. The protections were later expanded to homeless women and children.

But the agreement, signed after a Manhattan Supreme Court justice found a right to shelter in the state Constitution, has never applied to the whole state. And the states top court, the Court of Appeals, has never settled the question of whether a statewide right to shelter exists.

The city, struggling to shelter tens of thousands of migrants in its care, returned to court in May and asked for a pause of its right to shelter, reviving the case, called Callahan v. Carey. The city expanded on the request in a filing last week, asking for the mandate to be suspended for single adults.

New York City is the only major metropolis in the country that offers shelter to anybody who asks for it, and officials have suggested the rule is pushing some of the migrants to head to the five boroughs. Homeless advocates say a lift of the mandate would spill homeless people onto the citys streets.

The arrival of more than 120,000 migrants since spring 2022 has doubled the population of the city shelter system. The city, which has opened more than 200 emergency shelters in response to the surge, has projected the costs of caring for migrants could cost some $12 billion in three years.

A lawyer for Hochuls administration said in the Wednesday filing that the citys right to shelter has placed unforeseen operational constraints on the City as it works to manage this challenge.

About 63,000 asylum seekers are in the citys care, according to the Adams administration. Many of the migrants came to the city after fleeing political and economic turmoil in Central and South America.

Despite unprecedented resources deployed by the City and the State to assist the newly arrived migrants, the current situation is not sustainable, Faith Gay, the states lawyer, said in the Wednesday filing.

The state has committed at least $1.5 billion to support the migrants, according to Hochuls office, but has refused to force upstate communities to welcome some of the arrivals, frustrating Adams.

Outside Hochuls office on Wednesday, a crowd chanted and held signs declaring Save The Right to Shelter!

We have the ability to shelter everyone, Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes, a Brooklyn Democrat, said into a bullhorn. At a time where we need political courage, we need to remind folks where they stand. And history will judge them.

_____

2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com.
When Onondaga County residents go to the polls in a few weeks, voters will find they dont have much of a choice in this years local elections.

In fact, more elections are uncontested for top races  with just a single candidate on the ballot  than perhaps any time in the past 60 years.
Israel faces its bloodiest war in 50 years, since the Yom Kippur conflict it almost lost, with a national unity government as of Wednesday. After remaining hidden behind the releases of his press service in the first days after the unexpected Hamas offensive, the conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stopped dragging his feet and fulfilled the tradition of forming broad-based governments in time of war in the Jewish state.

Two former generals who served as Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces and led operations in Gaza, centrist political leaders Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, join the inner core of the war cabinet. The leader of the opposition, former liberal Prime Minister Yair Lapid, has refused to be part of a grand coalition as long as far-right parties and xenophobic anti-Arab forces remain within it. In principle, Gideon Saar, dissident conservative leader of Netanyahus Likud party, is also joining the Executive.

The new national unity government will have one central goal: to avenge the attack by the Islamist militia, which has killed 1,200 Israelis and wounded 2,700 others since Saturday, as well as taking more than a hundred civilians and soldiers hostage. After wiping out Hamas commandos who infiltrated its territory, Israel has launched hundreds of waves of air strikes and artillery barrages against the Palestinian coastal enclave. The bombardments are paving the way for an army ground operation, which analysts in the Israeli press consider inevitable to respond to the unprecedented aggression of the Islamic resistance movement. Both Gantz and Eisenkot steered the course of the 2014 war from the command post.

The Israeli army, which bombed some 200 targets in Gaza during the early hours of Tuesday morning, has deployed 300,000 soldiers to the border with the Strip, according to the Defense Ministry. The delay in the deployment has been criticized in the Hebrew press. Netanyahu dreamed for years that he was Winston Churchill. Now he is conducting this war like Neville Chamberlain, the Conservative British prime minister who was taken by surprise by World War II, warned Yediot Ajronot columnist Nadav Eyal. As happened to Chamberlain, he has not yet come to his senses. More Jews have now been killed in Israel in a single day than any other in recent history, the analyst added.

The war is already having other political consequences too. Israels Interior Ministry announced Wednesday that municipal elections scheduled for October 31 will be postponed indefinitely. The last time elections were postponed in Israel was during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

For many years, nullifying the military capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad was also the goal of the Israeli invasions in operations Cast Lead (between 2008 and 2009) and Protective Edge (which lasted for more than two months in the summer of 2014). The cycle of violence is now repeating itself, but if in the first of the operations the number of Israeli soldiers killed was limited to nine, in the second it rose to 66. The military wing of the Islamist movement has now shown its strength and level of training by striking mercilessly on Israeli territory in an unprecedented surprise operation carried out in just a few hours. The invasion of Gaza now will not be as easy a mission for the Israeli army as it was 15 years ago. The presence of such a large number of hostages also represents a nightmare for the General Staffs plans. Netanyahu himself was forced to release a thousand Palestinian prisoners in 2011 in exchange for the release of the soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held hostage by Hamas for five years in Gaza.

So far, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has counted 1,055 dead in the fighting and incursions and 5,184 wounded in just four days, which have collapsed Gazas hospital system. The same source claims that 60% of the casualties recorded inside the enclaves territory correspond to women and children. Among the fatalities, there are also seven Palestinian journalists and 11 workers of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Forced blackout

Following the announcement of a total blockade of Gaza launched on Monday, the only power plant in the Strip, which was operating at half capacity after being damaged in the 2014 bombardments, has stopped working this Wednesday due to lack of fuel. Since Saturday, Gaza had suffered more than 600 power outages. The enclave, home to 2.3 million people in 365 square kilometers, depends on Israel for electricity supplies, as well as for the import of fuel to power its only plant, but since Saturday it has received neither. Fuel, food, water, and power supplies have been completely cut off since Monday, following Saturdays attack.

An Israeli bombing attack on the Islamic University of Gaza, the most important in the Strip, has practically destroyed the main campus of the institution, as can be seen in a video broadcast by the Arab television channel Al Arabiya. The X (formerly Twitter) account of the Israeli army confirmed the attack, assuring that Hamas had transformed an institute of knowledge into an institute of destruction. The message defines the university as an important operational, political and military center of Hamas in Gaza and claims that its facilities served as a training ground for engineers of the fundamentalist group.

The number of Palestinians forcibly displaced in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israels bombing now stands at 263,934 people, with 175,486 housed in UNRWA schools, according to UN data.

The Egyptian Red Crescent has announced the dispatch of a convoy of humanitarian aid to the Rafah border crossing, which connects the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula with the Gaza Strip, to meet critical cases that need to be transferred across the Egyptian border. Egyptian Red Crescent sources have confirmed to the EFE news agency that they have sent a convoy of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian land border crossing to receive critical cases that need to be transferred through the Egyptian border, without giving further details so far.

In the north, Israeli troops and the Shiite Hezbollah militia have exchanged attacks on the Lebanese border. Early Wednesday morning, an Israeli army position stationed near the border was hit by an anti-tank missile from Lebanese territory. Shortly afterward, the Shiite group claimed responsibility for the attack, assuring that it had caused a large number of casualties. The Israeli government did not specify whether there had been any deaths in its ranks. The response was swift as Israeli forces shelled positions in southern Lebanon.

Israel has only specified that its unit was attacked near the Bedouin village of Araba Al Aramshe, located on the Israeli side of the border, opposite the Lebanese village of Dhayra. The army reported that the air force has attacked Hezbollah reconnaissance positions in retaliation for firing from across the border.

So far, the various incidents have resulted in the death of three Hezbollah members, in addition to some casualties in the ranks of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Israeli Army, on the other side of the border, during an infiltration perpetrated from Lebanon by this pro-Iranian movement.

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As a cameraman for Spanish state broadcaster TVE in Paris, Victor Diaz Caro looks at life through a lens. However, 40 years ago, the Chilean he did so through a rifle scope: at the age of 23 he joined the Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), a guerrilla organization opposed to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

He was one among a group tasked with assassinating Pinochet in a mission known as Operation 20th Century. Although the ambush, carried out on September 7, 1986, left five of his bodyguards dead, the dictator suffered only minor injuries. A few weeks after the failed mission, Diaz, now 64, was arrested and tortured. He spent four years in prison until, in 1990, he escaped and fled to France, where he has been living as a political refugee ever since. It was there that he met the journalist Almudena Ariza, who suggested that he tell his story, which has been recounted on the podcast El Guerrillero, produced by Ariza and Spanish podcast producers Yes We Cast.

Question. Was it difficult to tell this story?

Answer. No, not at all. It has never been a secret; people just didnt ask about it or go any further. Almudena [Ariza] has been the only one to take the initiative. One day I told her why I was there, and the next day she arrived with a tape recorder and we started talking.

Q. What do you think when you hear the name Augusto Pinochet?

A. If you had asked me 30 years ago, I would have said he was a murderous son of a bitch. But today I agree with my mother, who said: They didnt kill him for a reason. Over time, it has been revealed that he was a thief and that his family had links to drug trafficking. If we had met our objective, we would have turned him into a martyr.

Q. What do you remember about the ambush on September 7, 1986?

A. I had to take care of the motorcyclists who were ahead of Pinochets motorcade so that they would not escape and raise the alarm in Santiago. Everything happened very quickly: I started shooting when I heard the shooting behind me and I was able to hit one of the motorcyclists. A few minutes later, the group leader caught up with us and euphorically got into the pickup truck I was driving and shouted: We killed Pinochet! Those of us who had been at the front of the retinue did not know until later that the dictators vehicle managed to escape.

Q. What did you feel?

A. It was going from complete happiness to utter despair. We felt like the weapon of justice of an entire people for a few hours before we knew he was alive. We were waiting for the news to come out on television to be certain, but when [Pinochet] appeared alive around midnight it was a big disappointment.

Q. Your father served as undersecretary general of the Communist Party in the Salvador Allende era. Werent you interested in a political career?

A. Politics is complex, but not everything goes. Seeing corruption on the right and on the left takes away ones desire and strength to follow that path. I preferred to stay as an observer. I served as spokesman for the FPMR and fulfilled my mission, but thats as far as it went.

We felt like the weapon of justice of an entire people for a few hours before we knew [Pinochet] was alive

Q. You joined the guerrillas at a very young age. Is there a lack of a revolutionary youth figure?

A. Yes, we need new Ches [Guevara] and Fideles [Castro]. Both had their clear positions, being very young. But it is very difficult to be a leader; you get corrupted very easily.

Q. Is it possible to be a revolutionary in the 21st century?

A. It is not impossible, but you have to have solid weapons. Not necessarily those that fire bullets, but those that generate intellect. You have to read, educate yourself, and be able to fight fake news. Unfortunately, the new generation with their cell phones does not bode well for hope.

Victor Diaz Caro: "If I had known how the regime killed my father, I would have been more ruthless." Alvaro Garcia

Q. Do you regret your life as a guerrilla fighter?

A. Maybe the political kidnappings. But the attacks on military barracks and the secret police, no. If I had known how the regime killed my father, I would have been more ruthless. Nor do I suffer from survivors syndrome: I have slept well all my life. The tortures I went through, as a brother says, are just workplace accidents.

Q. By brother you mean a comrade-in-arms.

A. They are my brothers. That is how it was written in our first manifesto and that is how I have always referred to them. I still talk to some of them: one lives in Tarifa [Spain] and my children call him uncle many names, because of all the aliases he had in Chile.

Q. Do you miss Chile?

A. Until the year of the Estallido [social uprising, the revolts of 2019], I had intended to return. However, when I saw how they [the protesters] were treated  two days ago I found out that there are still people in prison  I closed the book on Chile. It gave me enormous sadness. Although I am patriotic, I try not to give my opinion about Chile because my opinion is very bad.
we_pull BHPian

Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Delhi Posts: 69 Thanked: 65 Times

re: Volvo XC60, D5 Summum AWD. EDIT: Sold at 9-years and 1,00,000 kms! Narayan sir, and other Volvo enthusiasts,



I am considering an XC 60 - MY 24. Honestly have been swinging between the likes of XC 60, GLC and X1. I know Volvo is the one which offers most bang for the buck, due to which, GLC is now out of consideration - just didn't feel like worth 83L OTR.



My intent is to get a 'fresh and well kitted' petrol SUV at around 70 or less. With this criteria test drove the likes of Q3, X3, 3 GL and 6 GT.



I digressed, but why can't i fix up on XC 60, which i am landing at 72 all-inclusive OTR with 5 year service and warranty packages, are as following, and i request your views to help decide:



1) Company's intent to be all electric by 2030 - would this lead to parts' unavailability going forward?

2) Brand - very few know, and family thinks if spending so much then why not a BMW or a Merc (not Audi) - though i cannot land a car with these that fit the criteria well enough except for an X1 (i found the engine performance to be ok - but at 57 OTR with 5 year BSI and BRI, i am not fully on board some how)

3) Resale - any insights here will be useful on how do Volvo's fare in this criteria given the low level of brand awareness

4) Finally, somewhere i read that India cars are made in China or the kit is imported from Chengdu in China - is this correct - does anyone know?



You must have realised by now, how confused I am and will be grateful for your insights and views here - many thanks.



P.S. Sorry Narayan sir, if this feels like trespassing your wonderfully insightful log of these years! Last edited by we_pull : 28th September 2023 at 11:59 .
Forward-looking: We hear plenty of legitimate concerns regarding the new wave of generative AI, from the human jobs it could replace to its potential for creating misinformation. But one area that often gets overlooked is the sheer amount of energy these systems use. In the not-so-distant future, the technology could be consuming the same amount of electricity as an entire country.

Alex de Vries, a researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, authored 'The Growing Energy Footprint of Artificial Intelligence,' which examines the environmental impact of AI systems.

De Vries notes that the training phase for large language models is often considered the most energy-intensive, and therefore has been the focus of sustainability research in AI.

Following training, models are deployed into a production environment and begin the inference phase. In the case of ChatGPT, this involves generating live responses to user queries. Little research has gone into the inference phase, but De Vries believes there are indications that this period might contribute significantly to an AI model's life-cycle costs.

According to research firm SemiAnalysis, OpenAI required 3,617 Nvidia HGX A100 servers, with a total of 28,936 GPUs, to support ChatGPT, implying an energy demand of 564 MWh per day. For comparison, an estimated 1,287 MWh was used in GPT-3's training phase, so the inference phase's energy demands were considerably higher.

Google, which reported that 60% of AI-related energy consumption from 2019 to 2021 stemmed from inference, is integrating AI features into its search engine. Back in February, Alphabet Chairman John Hennessy said that a single user exchange with an AI-powered search service "likely costs ten times more than a standard keyword search."

SemiAnalysis estimates that implementing an AI similar to ChatGPT into every single Google search would require 512,821 A100 HGX servers, totaling 4,102,568 GPUs. At a power demand of 6.5 kW per server, this would translate into a daily electricity consumption of 80 GWh and an annual consumption of 29.2 TWh, about the same amount used by Ireland every year.

Such a scenario is unlikely to happen anytime soon, not least because Nvidia doesn't have the production capacity to deliver over half a million HGX servers and it would cost Google $100 billion to buy them.

Away from the hypothetical, the paper notes that market leader Nvidia is expected to deliver 100,000 of its AI servers in 2023. If operating at full capacity, these servers would have a combined power demand of 650  1,020 MW, consuming up to 5.7  8.9 TWh of electricity annually. That's an almost negligible amount compared to the annual consumption of data centers (205 TWh). But by 2027, Nvidia could be shipping 1.5 million AI server units, pushing their annual energy consumption rates up to 85.4  134.0 TWh. That's around the same amount as a country such as Argentina, Netherlands, or Sweden.

"It would be advisable for developers not only to focus on optimizing AI, but also to critically consider the necessity of using AI in the first place, as it is unlikely that all applications will benefit from AI or that the benefits will always outweigh the costs," said De Vries.
The Israeli war machine has been set in motion toward Gaza, intent on revenge. After devastating the periphery of the Palestinian strip with wave upon wave of aerial bombardments, at dawn this Thursday the army struck the bases of Hamas elite military unit, the Nujba force. Members of the unit led the attack last Saturday that claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis and ended with more than a hundred civilians taken hostage.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a few hours later that he would put an end to Hamas, an Islamic resistance movement that he equated with the jihadists of the Islamic State (ISIS). Just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed, he said during Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Jerusalem.

The head of U.S. diplomacy guaranteed that his country will stand by Israel, but also asked Netanyahu to avoid harming the civilian population in a retaliatory military campaign that is presented as one of the most forceful in the 75 years of the Jewish states existence. During his visit, Blinken reported that at least 25 Americans have died in Israel since the offensive launched by Hamas.

The Israeli army stated that the command center of the Nujba unit that was attacked was made up of terrorists selected by senior Hamas officials and its mission is to carry out operations such as ambushes, raids, and sabotage operations, among others. The Israeli Defense Forces also claimed that they had killed Mohamed Abu Shamla, a senior commander in the Hamas naval division.

Israel has completely sealed off the Gaza Strip, except for the southern border with Egypt, the only point through which humanitarian aid is entering the Palestinian coastal exclave, where 2.3 million people are crammed into an area only slightly larger than Malta. Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz has warned Hamas that it will keep Gaza without power, fuel, water, and food supplies until it releases the hostages. Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages return home, Katz tweeted.

The toll of victims was the same on both sides of the conflict this Thursday for the first time since the beginning of Israels escalation of the war. The death toll since last Saturday amounts to around 1,300 on each side (later, the Palestinian Ministry of Health raised it to more than 1,400), while in Israel the wounded exceed 3,200 and in the Gaza Strip the figure reached 6,000.

Artillery and aircraft continue to pound Gaza relentlessly, Israeli and international television channels report. The channels military analysts said it seemed like a preliminary step aimed at paving the way for a ground operation. Early Friday morning, the United Nations announced that the Israeli army has ordered the evacuation of more than 1.1 million inhabitants in the north of the Gaza Strip to the south within the next 24 hours.

The town of Beit Hanoun in the north, near the Erez crossing, is bearing the brunt of the airstrikes. Entire blocks of houses in this town have had to be rebuilt several times in recent years, following the outbreaks of war in the Strip. The United Nations has warned through the World Food Program that food is becoming scarce in the coastal Palestinian territory.

Similarly, the operation of electricity generators depends on the supply of fuel from abroad, which has been blocked by Israel. Essential services in hospitals that depend on electricity may collapse in the coming hours, threatening the lives of critically ill patients.

From Jordan, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned violence against civilians, both for Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent bombing of Gaza by the Israeli army. We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law, Abbas told the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Speaking from Amman, after meeting with King Abdullah II, the PNA president called for an immediate and total cessation of the aggression against the Palestinian people. In his first public intervention after the Hamas attack against Israel, Abbas condemned the death of civilians and the damage to the population. The Palestinians must renounce violence in order to achieve international legitimacy, the rais said in a joint statement with the monarch of the Hashemite dynasty.

In Syria, the Israeli Armed Forces on Thursday carried out several attacks on airports in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Ministry of Transportation said that all scheduled flights have been moved to Latakia airport on the Mediterranean coast. The Israeli offensive has damaged the runways of both airfields, leaving them temporarily out of service, according to state news agency SANA.

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Forward-looking: While the US and China are still clashing over silicon supremacy and economic sanctions against the Middle Kingdom's technology industry, South Korea has won some important concessions through Washington diplomacy. The Asian giant will continue to do business and make chips in China, at least for now.

Samsung and SK Hynix, two of South Korea's most prominent technology players, have been excluded from the US sanctions imposed against Beijing's technology prowess. The two companies are officially allowed to keep making chips in China and to bring their advanced chipmaking equipment into the neighboring country.

Created after the merging of Hyundai Electronics and SK Group, the third largest conglomerate in South Korea, SK Hynix is the world's second-biggest memory manufacturer after Samsung. The two corporations have their own semiconductor plants in China, which should theoretically be subject to sanctions imposed by the US government against exporting the latest and greatest chip manufacturing machines to the Asian country.

South Korea is one of the US's major allies in Asia, and Washington is trying to strengthen its influence in the area to keep pressure on China high. Therefore, Seoul could have tried to take advantage of its leverage over the US to try and avoid hurting two of South Korea's most important technology companies.

The diplomatic and lobbying efforts seem to have paid off. According to SK's senior presidential secretary for economic affairs Choi Sang-mok, Washington has officially approved an exemption for Samsung and SK Hynix chipmaking activities in China. Both corporations can continue using and upgrading their manufacturing plants in the country, for a seemingly indefinite amount of time.

SK Hynix and Samsung welcomed the decision, saying that it will contribute to the stabilization of supply chains for advanced technology products. As the world's economic outlook improves, demand for non-GPU chips is expected to grow again. A more stable supply chain would be instrumental in keeping prices in check.

The exemptions coming from Washington could also work in favor of the overall diplomatic efforts between the US and China. Chinese media have welcomed the decision, which was revealed on the same day that several US senators were visiting China to meet President Xi Jinping. The rumored meeting between Jinping and US President Joe Biden could soon turn into a reassuring reality.
In brief: YouTube has become the service where teens watch the most videos, replacing Netflix in the number one spot for the first time ever. Both platforms remain hugely popular among younger viewers, but time spent on YouTube has been rising lately as time spent on Netflix slightly declines.

Investment bank Piper Sandler's 46th semi-annual Generation Z survey of 9,193 US teens (via CNBC) shows that participants spend 29.1% of their daily video consumption time on YouTube. Netflix was a close second at 28.7%. The Google-owned service took its first-ever lead thanks to a small rise since the Spring and Netflix falling by 2 percentage points.

Piper Sandler analysts have theorized whether the change is due to the content on YouTube improving and the streaming industry becoming increasingly competitive.

Hulu was in third place when it comes to teens' platform of choice for video consumption with a share of 7%, even though the amount of time participants spent watching the service decreased. Prime Video and Disney+, meanwhile, saw their time share increase, while cable TV and HBO Max declined.

While TikTok is essentially a video platform, the survey places the app in the social media category. As with other surveys, ByteDance's product is the most popular among teens, with 38% choosing it as their favorite social media app. However, Instagram had the highest self-reported monthly usage. Teens said they spend around four and a half hours each day on social media.

A recent study (above) by Common Sense Media and the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital found that 11- to 17-year-olds were spending an average of 1 hour and 52 minutes on TikTok each day, accounting for almost 40% of their daily phone use.

Despite its popularity among the younger demographic, TikTok is constantly making unwanted headlines. Utah recently sued the company over its China connections and claims it manipulates children with its addictive design. Montana has banned the app  though TikTok is appealing the decision in court  and a lot of people support a nationwide ban.
In a nutshell: It seems Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is getting closer to completion every passing day. The deal had faced another European Union probe after the Redmond firm changed the terms of the deal to appease UK regulators, but reports claim this isn't going to happen.

It's been almost two years since Microsoft first announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard. The company has faced plenty of obstacles in that time, the biggest being the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which blocked the deal in April over concerns it could alter the fledgling cloud gaming industry.

Microsoft's solution was to restructure the transaction to include the transfer of cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft.

Changing the deal's terms helped gain the provisional approval of the CMA, but as the acquisition had been altered, the European Commission, which had cleared the takeover earlier this year, warned that it might need to conduct another review. That would have delayed things even further, likely beyond Microsoft's current deadline of October 18.

Now, Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reports that the changes Microsoft made don't have to go through another EU approval process. A spokesperson of the commission repeated the previous statement that developments in the UK were being assessed along with their potential impact.

With no new EU probe to seemingly worry about, and the CMA expected to give its formal approval for the deal to be completed next week, it looks like Microsoft will meet its deadline. But there's still the FTC, which said it would be resuming its in-house trial against the takeover after pausing the process over the summer.

The good news for Microsoft is that although the FTC can technically continue to challenge the deal after it closes, it's unlikely to prevent the acquisition from going through by next Wednesday.

Activision Blizzard certainly seems confident that the deal will be finalized soon. The company recently confirmed that it will begin adding games, including Modern Warfare III and Diablo IV, to Game Pass sometime next year - assuming all goes to plan.
A hot potato: It's hard to believe that Nvidia's RTX 4090 turned one year old today. Maybe that's because every few months, Meltgate rears its ugly head. Yes. Another user has reported that his 4090 committed suicide after working just fine for a year.

Just when you thought it was safe to use your 12VHPWR cable with your RTX 4090 again, another incident of GPU meltdown pops up in the forums. Redditor Byogore reports that he bought an Asus 4090 in Germany a year ago because of US supply issues. The card worked totally fine until it self-immolated two days ago. This incident is unusual because typically failures have happened much sooner.

Other Redditors quickly questioned whether Byogore had the connectors seated securely since "user error" was one of Nvidia's excuses when the issue arose shortly after the RTX4090 launch. Byogore defended his ability to properly attach a computer component.

"Clearly, I did..." he pointed out. "If this was a seating issue, it would've died ages ago. I've used it a lot."

He also pointed to a video from a California repair shop, NorthridgeFix, that said it has seen many 4090s spontaneously combusting (below). Based on internal tests, NorthridgeFix is adamant that the problem is not the cables, connectors, bending, PSUs, or user error.

"The fact that the 90-degree cable mod adapter [to prevent bending] was plugged in fully to the connector and the connector still melted, then we know that we have a problem with the card. We have a problem with the card. We do not have a problem with the cable. It's not user error, it's not a cable not plugged in properly problem, it's not a cable mod problem, but it's a problem with the design and the engineering of the card."

NorthridgeFix also points out that even if the problem was caused by user error, it's still Nvidia's fault. For instance, if a user is plugging in a cable as they do with any other, past or present, and it leaves a 1mm gap that causes failure, that is not the user's fault. When there is a tolerance issue like that, it is the manufacturer's responsibility to fix it or design a mechanism to prevent it, not blame the user for not plugging it in correctly and doing nothing more about it.

Byogore says that the meltdown happened while he was playing Battlefield 2042. The screen turned black, but the audio continued. Then, the computer rebooted itself. As it started up, he could smell burnt plastic. The card still worked, but only briefly before crashing and burning again. Byogore mentioned that he has a 1,000W Corsair PSU and that the 4090 was undervolted at the time of the catastrophic failure. However, he didn't note whether his PSU was ATX 3.0. The problem only seems to occur on older ATX 2.0 power supplies.

Fortunately, Asus has been very empathetic and generous to Byogore's plight. When he contacted customer service, they offered to upgrade him with a new Strix card (from a TUF model) or give him a full refund. Presumably, the card was still under warranty since it was two days shy of its first anniversary.

Nvidia has been reluctant to accept any blame for the 4090's hot-button woes. It initially blamed users for not securing the cable tightly to the socket. Later, it said that "poorly designed" 12VHPWR adapters were to blame. The last time the issue popped up enough to make news was last May. The ongoing problem has even sucked Nvidia into a class-action lawsuit.
High-ranking European Union official Thierry Breton has issued a stern warning to Elon Musk regarding the proliferation of misinformation on X in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

(Photo : FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

French European commissionner Thierry Breton attends France's centrist Democratic Movement's (MoDem) summer university in Guidel, western France, on October 1, 2023.

Receiving Warning from EU

Commissioner Breton conveyed his concerns through an "urgent" letter to Musk, emphasizing the company's responsibility under the Digital Services Act concerning misinformation.

Engadget reported that this letter arrives in the midst of growing alarm among researchers and fact-checkers regarding a surge in misinformation on X following the events surrounding the Hamas attacks in Israel.

Despite Musk's recent action to remove headlines from shared links on the platform, the issue of verified users circulating misleading viral clips, falsely claiming them to be related to the ongoing conflict, continues to be a concern.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel, concerns have arisen regarding the use of Musk's platform for the dissemination of unlawful content and misinformation within the European Union.

Breton's letter to Musk points out that the Digital Services Act specifies precise obligations pertaining to content moderation.

Specifically, Breton raised concerns about the proliferation of fabricated and altered images and information circulating on Musk's platform within the European Union, including the repurposing of dated images from unrelated conflicts and military footage originally sourced from video games.

He also expressed apprehension about the recent changes to the platform's public interest policy, noting that these modifications had left many European users uncertain about the type of content permitted.

Furthermore, Breton contended that X was not adequately responsive to requests related to potentially unlawful content on its platform. He emphasized the necessity for timely, diligent, and objective actions in removing such content when notified about it, in line with the European Union's requirements.

He highlighted reports from credible sources indicating that potentially illegal content continued to circulate on the service, despite receiving alerts from relevant authorities.

Inaccurate, Deceptive Information on X

Over the weekend, Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous civilian lives. The aftermath of these events witnessed the rapid dissemination of inaccurate and deceptive information on social media, with X serving as a prominent platform for the spread of such content.

NCB News reported that verified users on X, who enjoy algorithmic advantages, appeared to evade significant consequences for their actions, including disseminating false content, sharing fabricated videos, or passing off dated or virtual footage as recent footage of the conflict.

The company, under the ownership of Elon Musk, has also made recurrent reductions to its trust and safety teams.

One particularly coordinated propaganda effort on X involved misrepresenting videos of Russian officials, falsely claiming that U.S. support for Israel would prompt them to provide military assistance to Palestine, further escalating the situation.

This campaign garnered millions of views, and many of the associated accounts remain visible on the platform.

Also Read: X Filled With Disinformation and Fake News About Israel-Hamas War



In an open letter, Breton highlighted the prevalent reports from public media and civil society organizations regarding the circulation of counterfeit and manipulated images and information on X within the European Union.

These included instances of repurposed older images from unrelated armed conflicts and military footage originally sourced from video games, presenting an evident problem of false and misleading content.

Related Article: Elon Musk's X to Take Crisis Response as Misinformation Surges Amid Israel-Hamas War



 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
US Space Force has hit a "strategic pause" on AI due to the relative risks it brings to the government body's data and services, said US Space Force, Tanya Downsworth to Reuters.

According to the report, the Spokesperson confirmed a memo stating the deliberate halt on the usage of large language models and generative AI in the government body. It is reported to be a choice needed to determine the appropriate course of action for integrating these capabilities into the personnel's responsibilities and the USSF mission.

(Photo : by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

US Vice President Kamala Harris meets with officer during a visit to the command space center at Vandenberg space force Base in Lompoc, California on April 18, 2022.

Artificial Intelligence and its use has been banned from the Space Force's workforce or 'Guardians' without formal approval on different government computers throughout the Space Force, dated September 29.

However, AI's ban on the US Space Force was clarified by the spokesperson as temporary and a protective measure to the institution's data and services.

AI's Advantages for the Space Force

Despite the ongoing ban, the same report stated that the US Space Force's chief technology and innovation officer, Lisa Costa, continued to see the merits of the booming technology by stating that it will surely transform our staff and improve their capacity for rapid operation.

In 2022, Costa also made numerous positive notions regarding the use of AI in the USSF, according to Forbes. The senior official said the USSF was finding different ways to adopt Artificial Intelligence.

The move was said to maintain the military's competitive advantages and create a force suitable for the modern era, anticipating that AI capabilities would benefit a wide range of Space Force activities, similar to electricity or computers.

Looking forward, the US Space Force will release further updates regarding the ongoing ban with an AI task committee to discuss responsible and strategic uses of the technology with other Pentagon offices at its forefront.

Read Also: CIA to Launch ChatGPT-Like AI Tool to Streamline Analyst Research, Remains Cautious

US Space Force and the Pentagon

Pentagon, last August, announced their generative AI task force headed by Craig Martell, the Defense Department's chief digital officer. The task force 'Lima' was created to navigate the reluctant Pentagon through the challenges and benefits of Artificial Intelligence.

The main purpose of the task force remained to be finalized. Still, one of its main objectives was a set of internal use cases for the department where generative AI may assist with the institution's work and where the risks and challenges of generative AI can be reduced.

In addition to AI use guidelines, the Pentagon's task force is also meant to strategize on possible procurement of different equipment to increase the department's AI capabilities, such as cloud services, data or synthetic data, and models.

The task force's head remained to clarify that there are more questions than answers the group will face, being open to the volume of work needed to understand the emergence of AI.

Recent concerns from different US government agencies continue to increase, with the USSF joining numerous others. Tech Times recently reported how the National Security Agency announced its AI Security Center.

Back in September, Reuters also reported that the United States Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, announced their concerns and capabilities to regulate AI, assuring fairness, equality, and justice within these systems.

Related Article: Space Guardians: US Space Force Will Use 'Robot Dogs' To Patrol Cape Canaveral

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
European Union, with the ongoing Israeli-Hamas War and an overwhelming amount of misinformation within social media platforms, reportedly urged Big Tech companies like Meta and X to strictly moderate and remove illegal content, effectively classifying Hamas-associated posts as terrorist content.

EU's executive branch reminded all social media platforms and companies of their legal responsibilities under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Terrorist Content Online (TCO) Regulation. Legal Penalties were reported to be ranging from monetary fines to an outright ban in Europe.

(Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A flag of the European Union waves in the wind near a traffic light showing red on November 30, 2011 in Berlin, Germany.

EU maintained a solid stand with these regulations and policies by stating that they will properly implement the DSA and keep track of the whole TCO implementation.

Read Also: Elon Musk's X to Take Crisis Response as Misinformation Surges Amid Israel-Hamas War

EU's Recent Warnings to Big Tech Companies

EU has continuously reminded Big Tech companies about content moderation, especially during the Israeli-Hamas War. On Wednesday, EU industry official Thierry Breton pleaded with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to strictly adhere to European legislation.

EU's official wrote how Meta must exercise extreme caution to guarantee that the DSA rules on terms of service are strictly followed. Meta must also meet its obligation for prompt, diligent, and objective action following reports of illegal content in the EU, and the need for reasonable and effective mitigation measures.

Breton also warned Elon Musk on Tuesday to stop the spread of misinformation on his messaging service X, with his letter stating that X's systems must be effective and that the official must be notified of any measures taken by the platform and Elon Musk.

Both tech giants had 24 hours to respond to the warnings from the EU.

Elon Musk reportedly launched various misinformation prevention strategies about the ongoing Israeli-Hamas Conflict when an unprecedented amount of misinformation flooded the platform last Monday. The prevention strategies were made after classifying the misinformation incident as a top-level crisis, thereby launching its highest response.

EU's warnings and reminders on content moderation-related policies are in response to increased conflict-related misinformation, including doctored photographs and videos with incorrect titles combined with images of horrific bloodshed during the ongoing war between Israel and the militant Islamist group Hamas.

EU's Content Moderation Policies

EU's Digital Services Act was implemented last August, wherein it became a legal requirement for Big Tech companies to block the spread of dangerous information, prohibit or restrict specific user targeting techniques, and allow some internal data with authorities and related researchers.

DSA's recent implementation saw friction from different platforms, with Kingsley Hayes, head of data and privacy litigation at law firm Keller Postman reportedly saying that a lot of the affected platforms will fight in upholding their current methods and practices "especially when new compliance rules encroach on their core business models."

EU's Terrorist Content Online Regulation, on the other hand, reportedly became applicable in June 2022, wherein it required online platforms based in Europe to remove identified terrorist content within an hour, ensuring the safety and security of European citizens.

Related Article: Facebook, Google Content Removal Decisions Targeted by EU Lawmakers in Media Freedom Act Vote

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing two new rules designed to address the issue of channel blackouts. These proposals came on the heels of a recent conflict that left countless Spectrum subscribers without access to Disney-owned channels like ABC and ESPN.

(Photo : SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), speaks during an event announcing that more than 10 million households are enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

FCC Addressing the Issue of Channel Blackouts

Addressing a prominent issue raised during the recent Disney-Charter Communications dispute, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel introduced a proposal that could mandate refunds for multichannel subscribers in situations involving station blackouts.

The dispute between Disney and Charter Communications resulted in Disney-owned channels, including ABC and ESPN, going dark for over a week on Spectrum cable systems. If the commission embraces Rosenworcel's proposal, it will enter a public comment phase before reaching a final decision.

The Verge reported that this initiative aims to compel cable and satellite providers to provide refunds to subscribers in case of a blackout resulting from the failure to secure a retransmission consent agreement with broadcast station group owners.

Rosenworcel has also presented another proposal that would mandate cable and satellite providers to use an online public portal to inform the FCC of any blackout lasting 24 hours or more resulting from the failure to reach a retransmission consent agreement.

She expressed concern about situations wherein large corporations engage in disputes that prevent viewers from accessing their favorite shows, local news, or major sporting events. She believes consumers should be entitled to a refund if the screen remains blank.

Read Also: FCC Chair Rosenworcel Proposes New Regulations to Reduce Scams in Text Messages

Recurring Problem

The complex and long-standing lobbying battles between broadcasters, multichannel lobbying groups, and lawmakers have revolved around retransmission consent negotiations. Deadline reported that such disputes have often left lawmakers frustrated when stations in their districts experience blackouts.

While stations aim to protect their leverage and revenue, cable and satellite companies have advocated process changes. Rep. Anna Eshoo and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise support legislation to ensure that broadcast channels are carried during negotiations, but this bill has yet to progress.

The issue was revisited in a recent House hearing, where lawmakers expressed their concerns regarding the Disney-Charter dispute. Under the existing FCC regulations, television stations, cable, and satellite providers are obligated to engage in carriage agreement negotiations conducted in "good faith."

The recent 10-day standoff between Disney and Charter concluded with an agreement to restore carriage on Charter's Spectrum systems for 19 cable networks and stations.

That included prominent channels such as ESPN, FX, and ABC stations in major markets. However, the resolution of this dispute still left eight other channels unresolved.

In addition to the resolution, the agreement included provisions granting Spectrum TV Select subscribers access to the ad-supported tier of Disney+ through a wholesale arrangement. Moreover, it allowed Spectrum TV Select Plus subscribers to access ESPN+.

When contacted, Variety reported that a representative from NCTA- The Internet & Television Association, the lobbying group representing major cable providers, declined to offer a statement. The National Association of Broadcasters also refrained from commenting.

Recent developments have seen Democrats securing a majority on the five-person commission, thanks to the confirmation of Anna Gomez as the fifth FCC commissioner.

Related Article: FCC Net Neutrality: Equal Access to Internet, Regulated by the Agency-What to Know

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In a regulatory filing submitted on Wednesday, Microsoft disclosed that it had received Notices of Proposed Adjustment from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding its tax obligations. The IRS is requesting an additional tax payment amounting to a whopping $28.9 billion from the tech giant.

(Photo : FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on January 19, 2023 shows the logo of the American corporation Microsoft displayed during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos.

Microsoft Facing Substantial Tax Bill

Microsoft is facing a substantial tax bill after the IRS indicated that the tech giant owes approximately $28.9 billion in back taxes, in addition to penalties and interest for the tax years spanning 2004 to 2013. This development was disclosed in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

Responding to the IRS audit, The Verge reported that Microsoft's corporate VP for worldwide tax and customs, Daniel Goff, emphasized that the company has undergone significant changes in its corporate structure and practices compared to the period covered by the audit.

"For nearly a decade, as we have previously disclosed in our financial statements, Microsoft has been working with the IRS to address questions about how we allocated our income and expenses for tax years beginning as far back as 2004," Goff stated.

He noted that the issues raised by the IRS pertain to the past and are not indicative of the company's current tax practices. Goff also pointed out that the IRS's proposed adjustments do not account for the amounts Microsoft paid under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Goff suggested that this factor could reduce the final tax liability by as much as $10 billion. Furthermore, Microsoft asserted that the IRS is in disagreement with the company's method of profit allocation on an international scale, primarily through the utilization of transfer pricing in a structure known as cost-sharing.

IRS has asserted that Microsoft is liable for an additional $28.9 billion in taxes related to the years 2004 through 2013, a sum that also encompasses penalties and interest.

It is important to note that the IRS's proposed adjustments don't serve as a final verdict. Notably, the proposed adjustments do not account for the taxes Microsoft has already paid under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which is a factor that could potentially reduce the final tax liability by as much as $10 billion.

Read Also: FTC Chair Defends the Agency's Record After Microsoft-Activision Ruling

Microsoft Contesting the IRS Notice

The Associated Press reported that Microsoft intended to challenge the notifications issued by the IRS and is prepared to engage in a lengthy administrative appeals process, with potential readiness for legal action if required.

In a press release, Microsoft strongly disagreed with these proposed adjustments and is prepared to initiate an appeal within the IRS. However, this process is anticipated to extend for several years.

Microsoft also asserted that it has consistently adhered to the IRS regulations and has met its tax obligations, both in the United States and internationally.

Related Article: Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal Gains Preliminary Approval from UK Regulators

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers have unveiled a pioneering piece of legislationthe Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, Engadget reports.

This bill, aimed at reining in the power of algorithm-driven content, seeks to address social media's adverse impact on young users' mental health and requires parental consent for children to access algorithm-based feeds on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

A Battle Against Addictive Algorithms

The SAFE for Kids Act represents a significant step in the ongoing battle against the perceived harms of addictive social media algorithms.

In her statement, Governor Hochul described these algorithms as technology that "follows" and "preys" on young people, echoing growing concerns about the detrimental effects of constant algorithm-driven content consumption on young minds.

Protecting Youth Mental Health

Numerous studies have highlighted the correlation between excessive use of social media platforms and poor mental health, particularly among the youth.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James stressed that "social media platforms are fueling a national youth mental health crisis," with young New Yorkers experiencing record levels of anxiety and depression.

This legislation, she believes, is a crucial step towards mitigating these risks and safeguarding the privacy of young users.

Read Also: X, Formerly Twitter, Offers Valuable Insights Into Self-Reported Chronic Pain Using Machine Learning: Study

Key Provisions of the SAFE Act

Under this proposed legislation, children would require parental or guardian consent to access algorithmic content feeds on popular platforms.

However, the bill is designed to strike a balance, allowing young people to view content from accounts they follow without seeking permission, ensuring they can engage with safe, curated content.

Furthermore, parents or guardians will have the power to set limits on the number of hours their child spends on these apps and to restrict access and notifications between midnight and 6 AM.

Penalties for Non-compliance

The SAFE for Kids Act establishes significant penalties to ensure that social media companies adhere to these regulations.

Platforms failing to enforce the legislation's provisions could face fines of up to $5,000. This stern approach aims to hold companies accountable for their roles in shaping the digital experiences of young users.

Companion Legislation to Safeguard Children's Data

In conjunction with the SAFE for Kids Act, New York lawmakers have introduced the New York Child Data Protection Act.

This legislation takes a comprehensive stance on the collection, usage, sharing, and selling of personal data of individuals under the age of 18.

It mandates that informed consent must be obtained, particularly for those under 13, and that personal data should be handled with utmost care.

Industry Response and Concerns

Notably, the SAFE for Kids Act has faced opposition from tech giants, including Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok. Tech:NYC, representing over 800 tech companies, also expressed reservations.

According to the New York Post, one anti-surveillance activist group, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P. ), the proposed legislation provides firms more ability to spy on us all, while children are able to skirt the potential safeguards easily.

The sponsors of the SAFE for Kids Act, State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, are gearing up to present this landmark legislation before the New York legislature, with a potential timeline of early 2024.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: California's New 'Delete Act' to Empower Citizens in Erasing Personal Data from 500 Data Brokers

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Visit Bahrain, a leading destination management company in Bahrain, organised a reception for approximately 180 tourists hailing from the Slovak Republic.

This group represents the vanguard of nearly 5,000 Slovak tourists set to visit Bahrain, arriving in groups of about 200 every Wednesday and Friday over the course of the next four months.

Among the inaugural group were proprietors of tourism and travel companies in Slovakia, alongside professionals from the tourism sector, media experts, and influential personalities from the social media.

Ali Amralla, CEO of Visit Bahrain, underscored the company's achievement in entering the Slovak tourism market, attributing this success to the unwavering support received from the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.

He highlighted the extensive efforts made by the company to attract a greater influx of European tourists, especially from Slovakia, to explore the wonders of Bahrain.

Amralla elaborated on the meticulously crafted and diverse itinerary planned for the Slovak tourist groups in the upcoming months, emphasising the opportunity for these visitors to immerse themselves in a comprehensive array of programs and events.

This would enable them to delve into Bahrain's rich historical heritage, witness captivating live artistic performances, and experience traditional musical showcases, he said.

The itinerary also includes organised visits to Bahrain's prominent tourist attractions, a chance to indulge in the kingdom's distinctive offerings, including state-of-the-art tourism infrastructure, bustling commercial complexes, luxurious hotels, and gourmet restaurants.  TradeArabia News Service
Last Saturday, Hamas used relatively modern armaments to infiltrate itself into Israeli territory, killing at least 1,200 people and kidnapping around 130, most of them civilians, in just a few hours. The fundamentalist organization deployed drones, homemade projectiles, paragliders and even a bulldozer to break through Israels defenses. At 29 separate points, Hamas managed to breach the six-meter-high fence with which Israel has encircled the 365 square-kilometer (141 square-mile) Gaza strip, home to 2.2 million Palestinians. But the most decisive factor, according to specialists consulted, were weapons as old as they are effective: the element of surprise and deception of the enemy.

Fabian Hinz, a military analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), believes that the main novelty of the attack was the momentary combination of several factors: launching missiles, the use of paragliders, the deployment of small boats, and drones. Thinking about such an operation and convincing others of its benefits can be difficult. Keeping it secret is more complicated. And what is even more complex is to execute it, to make it effective, he says via videoconference.

The analyst believes that Hamas may have benefited from the fact that Israel never thought the militia intended to start a war. Regarding the possibility that the Hamas offensive was supported by Iran, Hinz acknowledges that it is very difficult to prove. We dont know if Tehran was aware of the operation. What we do know is that Iran has been teaching Hamas for years how to make its own missiles. The weapons smuggled into Gaza are light weapons, mostly rifles. But the rockets or projectiles are homemade. They can weigh between 20 and 300 kilos, although most weigh around 100 kilos. The ones that have been used so far are not precision-guided. We dont know if Hamas is saving these missiles for later. Authorities in Tehran, meanwhile, have denied any involvement in the operation by the fundamentalist militia that holds sway in Gaza.

Rockets fired from the Gaza strip towards Israel on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Fatima Shbair (AP)

4,000 missiles in three days

Hamas launched around 4,000 projectiles over three days, a figure similar to the 4,360 it poured on Israel in May 2021, during the 11-day war. On this occasion, the Israeli air defense system, known as the Iron Dome, was overwhelmed. No one knows the extent of the arsenal Hamas still has at its disposal. In 2021, Israeli intelligence estimated the total number of rockets held by the various factions in Gaza to be around 30,000. For his part, Hinz believes it is very likely Hamas has some military resources at its disposal that it has not yet made use of.

The Israeli army was no stranger to the glider attack. On the night of November 25, 1987, a Palestinian used a hang glider to fly from southern Lebanon to the Israeli camp at Gibor, where he killed six soldiers.

Hinz believes that the decisive factor in the coming days will be whether Lebanons Shiite militia Hezbollah joins the war. Hamas is 15 to 20 years behind Hezbollah, in terms of military preparedness. The Shiite militia has Iranian Fateh-110 missiles, which weigh 500 kilograms and have a range of 300 kilometers, he explains.

A Western expert who asks for anonymity agrees, emphasizing that none of the weapons used by Hamas so far are new to this group. But combining all these factors has been very effective, he notes. For this specialist, the key factor has been a strict policy of what is known as OPSEC (Operational Security), the ability to keep an operation of this scale secret. In addition, the strategy of misdirection and, ultimately, the surprise factor was key.

For his part, Lucas Webber, co-founder of the Militant Wire website, explains in an e-mail that Hamas has strengthened its arsenal and its operational capacity in recent years. The group has developed an indigenous cottage weapons industry that includes drones, multiple rocket launch systems, and air defense systems, all of which were used in the recent attack.

Webber believes that should Israel undertake an invasion of the Gaza strip, it will face grenades, drones, landmines, and mortars. Israeli forces will be entering a hostile environment that is also one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. The abundant tall buildings also allow for ambushes and snipers. This type of urban warfare will pose challenges, despite Israels considerable military advantages over Hamas.

Spanish security analyst Jesus Manuel Perez Triana believes that the most relevant aspect of the attack from a technical point of view was the efficient use of drones. Previously, they used very rudimentary drones. Now it is as if they were imitating the devices being used in the Ukraine war. We have also seen in videos how they destroyed Israeli watchtowers with drones. This attack served to blind the Israeli command post.

However, Perez Triana points out that the key factor was the chain of errors made by Israel and induced by Hamas. Everyone made the same mistake of believing that, as of 2021, Hamas no longer wanted to start a war. The destruction of the organizations infrastructure and the loss of key leaders in the spring 2021 conflict with Israel seemed to have achieved the result of deterring Hamas from attacking Israel, which turned its attention to the West Bank. The Israelis thought that Hamas only wanted an increase in work permits for Gazans. But in reality, they were preparing for a full-scale attack.

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TikTok is currently facing challenges in achieving full compliance with Malaysian laws. This necessitates a more proactive approach to addressing the proliferation of fake news on this popular social media platform.

These concerns were recently expressed by Malaysia's Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, who emphasized the need for immediate rectification.

TikTok Fails to Comply With Malaysian Laws

Getting under scrutiny is TikTok's business and it's not the first time that the video-sharing platform has been criticized because it fails to curb misleading content.

According to Bloomberg, Minister Fahmi had a crucial meeting with TikTok's top management, spearheaded by Global Vice-President Helena Lersch.

During this meeting, several pressing issues were brought to the forefront, including the company's e-commerce operations in Malaysia, the growing problem of fake news dissemination on its platform, and the accessibility of purchase advertisements.

One of the primary concerns voiced by Minister Fahmi revolved around TikTok's e-commerce activities within Malaysia. The minister sought clarification and assurance that these operations align with the country's legal framework and regulations, ensuring a fair and secure digital marketplace for users.

When it comes to misleading news, the rampant spread of fake content on TikTok's platform is another critical issue that requires immediate attention. Minister Fahmi stressed the importance of implementing robust measures to curb the dissemination of false information, which can have far-reaching consequences.

Related Article: TikTok Sued by Utah Due to "Terrible" Effects on Children

Advertisements Accessibility on TikTok

The ease of purchasing advertisements on TikTok's site was also discussed during the meeting, per Reuters. Malaysia expects that this process is transparent, compliant with Malaysian advertising regulations, and accessible to a wide range of businesses is a priority.

TikTok Under Fire in Southeast Asia

Time recently reported that Vietnam is planning to investigate TikTok's violation of its laws. According to the authorities, the censorship on the platform is a total failure to weed out content that is dangerous in many aspects.

Authorities accused TikTok of allowing "toxic" content that is deemed to be a threat to the culture and tradition of Vietnam.

They also urged the platform to revamp its method of protecting children by removing all user accounts below 13 years of age. Additionally, they wanted TikTok to set a time limit for users under 18 years old.

The ByteDance-owned app said that it would comply with Vietnamese laws and improve awareness about child safety.

Last month, Indonesia officially banned all e-commerce transactions on TikTok. The move suggests that promotions are still allowed on social media, but purchasing items is off-limits.

Indonesia also restricted the buying and selling of products and services on Facebook. The country's Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan said that it would help the use of personal information for commercial means.

Outside Asia, US senators were questioning TikTok for hiring Chinese executives.

Read Also: TikTok: Effect Creator Rewards Lower Eligibility, Updated Policy to Add More Filter Designers

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Elon Musk's social networking platform, X, has bolstered its fight against misinformation amid the Israel-Hamas war. The CEO of the company, Linda Yaccarino, revealed that X (formerly Twitter) has taken action by deleting hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and either removing or properly tagging thousands of pieces of information related to the militant group's major attack on Israel.



In response to Thierry Breton's inquiry about X's compliance with the strict new digital standards of the EU during this crisis, a letter outlining these harsh procedures was sent in response to his inquiry. Yaccarino confirmed in her letter to Breton that "X is proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis," as quoted in AP News' report.



X takes the step to directly comply with the EU's Digital Services Act, narrowing the definition of "illegal content" and requiring extremely large internet platforms to actively remove it while also demonstrating their efforts. mainland Europe. These criteria must be followed, or you risk paying hefty fines.

Israel-Hamas Misinformation Flooding Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms, including X rivals Facebook and TikTok, have experienced a deluge of images and videos since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. The online platforms have also seen posts spreading misinformation and distorting videos from unrelated incidents.

According to a BBC report, Yaccarino indicated in her letter to EU that over "700 unique notes related to the attacks and unfolding events are showing on X, These notes display on an additional 5,000+ posts that contain matching images or videos. This number grows automatically if the relevant images and videos are re-used in new posts."

X has reaffirmed its commitment to removing, in real-time, any information connected to terrorist organizations and violent extremist groups. The platform boldly removed or labeled tens of thousands of conflict-related posts. Notably, X has given users the option to add their own fact-checks to postings about continuing assaults and developing events using a special tool dubbed "Community Notes."

Read Also: Israel-Hamas War: How Hamas Used Commercial Drones in Recent Terror Attack

Notably, X has responded quickly to removal demands from law enforcement organizations all across the world, with over 80 of these requests originating from EU member states. This proactive approach highlights X's commitment to upholding the Digital Services Act.

EU Demands Prompt Response

However, the EU and Commissioner Thierry Breton have expressed worry over X's reaction time to complaints, notably in relation to false information and illegal content like hate speech. Breton has immediately requested that Elon Musk guarantee the effectiveness of their systems and report as soon as possible on the steps taken to remedy the situation. Penalties may be imposed for noncompliance, highlighting the EU's dedication to maintaining the Digital Services Act.



Breton said, as quoted by The Guardian, "Given the urgency, I also expect you to be in contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities and Europol and ensure that you respond promptly to their requests."



Concerns concerning fraudulent postings and the support of war coverage by accounts known for spreading rumors or making antisemitic remarks have drawn attention to X's role in material distribution during the Israel-Hamas war.



Following these difficulties, social media platforms like X are faced with the difficult duty of battling misinformation and ensuring adherence to changing digital laws amid major world crises.



It's important to note that since Elon Musk bought Twitter and rebranded it as X, experts have expressed worries about the social media platform's dependability and tendency to purposefully spread false information. Furthermore, it has been named the worst-performing platform for online misinformation by a research that the EU commissioned.

Related Article: TikTok's Compliance With Malaysian Laws "Unsatisfactory," Says Malaysia's Minister

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Microsoft has sealed a groundbreaking 20-year agreement with Shizen Energy Inc. to procure 25 megawatts of solar power capacity from a project in Aichi prefecture, Japan, Bloomberg reports.

This renewable energy deal is a testament to Microsoft's commitment to sustainability and highlights Japan's growing momentum for clean energy solutions.

A Closer Look

Microsoft's initiative to meet ambitious green goals for its data centers and operations is paramount in mounting global concerns about energy consumption and carbon emissions. This deal represents a major step in their quest to become carbon negative by 2030.

The 20-year agreement, known as a power purchase agreement, secures a substantial supply of clean energy for Microsoft's operations in Japan.

Shizen Energy's solar power plant, set to commence operations in December, is expected to significantly reduce Microsoft's carbon footprint in the region.

Big Tech Push Sustainability Goals

Large technology firms, including Microsoft and Amazon.com, are under increasing pressure from regulators and shareholders to adopt eco-friendly practices, as they account for vast amounts of electricity consumption in their data centers.

This deal reaffirms Microsoft's commitment to sustainability and serves as a model for other companies aiming to reduce their environmental impact.

Japan, with its land constraints, has faced challenges in expanding renewable energy production. However, the growing interest in clean electricity in the country is undeniable.

This landmark agreement with Shizen Energy showcases how corporations can overcome these limitations by partnering with renewable energy developers.

Read Also: Japanese Firms Unveil 'DCJPY' Digital Currency for Clean Energy Transactions by July 2024

In Other News

In other news on the green energy front in Japan, a consortium of Japanese corporations is set to introduce a revolutionary digital currency called 'DCJPY' by July 2024.

This innovative currency will transform how clean energy certificates are transacted and settled, offering a transparent and secure solution that could significantly impact the global energy landscape.

The 'DCJPY' project, spearheaded by Japanese corporations, aims to redefine how clean energy is handled in the country. GMO Aozora Net Bank, a key player in this initiative, will be responsible for issuing the 'DCJPY' currency.

The currency will operate on a network established by cryptocurrency exchange DeCurret, renowned for its expertise in digital transactions.

Starting in July 2024, 'DCJPY' will be the preferred currency for clean energy certificate transactions. This system assigns an "environmental value" to energy derived from non-fossil fuel sources, allowing for more transparent and secure transactions.

Blockchain technology will underpin these transactions, ensuring they are tamper-proof and traceable. This technological development will streamline the process, enhance the system's overall integrity, and further incentivize clean energy adoption in Japan.

What's In the News

Microsoft's renewable energy deal with Shizen Energy in Japan represents a significant step forward in the tech giant's sustainability goals.

This agreement addresses the mounting pressure on large technology firms to reduce their energy consumption.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: Powering AI Could Soon Need as Much Electricity as a Small Country, Expert Warns

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Google has recently announced its commitment to defend users of AI systems within its Google Cloud and Workspace platforms, Reuters reports.

This initiative, announced on Thursday, marks a significant stride in the tech industry as Google joins the likes of Microsoft and Adobe in promising legal aid to AI users embroiled in intellectual property disputes.

Google Has Your Back on AI Disputes

The proliferation of generative AI has spurred major technology companies like Google to invest significantly in harnessing its capabilities for various applications, from content generation to data analysis.

However, this rapid integration of AI technology has not been without controversy. Numerous lawsuits have been filed by authors, illustrators, and other copyright holders who claim that using their works for training AI systems and the content generated by these systems infringe upon their intellectual property rights.

Google's new policy covers a broad spectrum, offering a comprehensive, two-pronged approach to indemnity. It specifically addresses claims related to both the use of training data to develop AI systems and the content these systems create.

A company spokesperson stated, "To our knowledge, Google is the first in the industry to offer a comprehensive, two-pronged approach to indemnity."

Read Also: Google Taps Passkeys as Default Sign-in Method for All Users-Is This the End for Passwords?

A Closer Look

This policy applies to software encompassing Google's Vertex AI development platform and the Duet AI system, responsible for generating text and images within Google Workspace and Cloud programs.

However, it is important to note that Google's more renowned generative AI chatbot program, Bard, is not mentioned in the press release.

Nevertheless, this indemnity has its limits. Google clarifies that it will not apply in cases where users intentionally create or employ generated content to infringe on the rights of others, ensuring a balance between creative freedom and legal responsibility.

Crucially, this recent wave of lawsuits has primarily targeted the technology companies that own the generative AI systems, such as Google, rather than individual end-users.

It is essential to highlight that some AI defendants have argued that using training data, often scraped from the internet, falls under fair use provisions of US copyright law.

More from Google AI

In a separate but significant development, Google is further expanding the capabilities of its Search Generative Experience (SGE).

Engadget tells us that users who have opted-in for this program will now be able to create AI images directly through the standard Search bar, eliminating the need to visit specialized websites.

The SGE envisions a future where web searching becomes a more coherent and user-centric experience. Rather than displaying a list of links, the system synthesizes responses to natural language prompts, now extending to image generation.

Users can input a description of what they seek, and Google will promptly generate four alternatives for selection, allowing further refinement. Additionally, users can export these generated images to Google Drive or download them.

One notable limitation is that these features are currently available only within the United States, in English-language applications, and for users over 18.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: OpenAI to Launch Major Updates to Make AI Software Development Cheaper and Faster, Luring Developers

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Hundreds of millions of people in the Americas will witness a spectacular and rare "ring of fire" solar eclipse on Saturday.

The moon will exactly align with the Earth and the sun during this eclipse, blocking all save the sun's rim and producing a spectacular, burning border. This captivating spectacle will be viewable from Brazil to Oregon in a constrained route for up to five minutes.

When the eclipse reaches its height in Los Angeles at 9:24 a.m., the remainder of the Western Hemisphere will see a partial eclipse, with more than three-quarters of the sun's diameter hidden.

The Path of the Ring of Fire

At 8 a.m. PDT on Saturday, the eclipse will span the North Pacific 130 miles wide before entering Oregon. After an hour, the "ring of fire" eclipse will occur, according to the LA Times.



The eclipse will span Idaho, California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas after Oregon. Just over an hour before crossing the Gulf of Mexico near Corpus Christi, it will reach the US.



For its magnificent climax, the "ring of fire" will ascend the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the Atlantic Ocean.



Each place will see a 2.5-3-hour eclipse from the moon blocking the sun until its return. The "ring of fire" lasts 3-5 minutes, depending on location.



The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore's project scientist Alex Lockwood says more than 6.5 million people live along the annularity route, where the "ring of fire" will be seen, and 68 million more live within 200 miles of this amazing celestial alignment.



Every US state except Hawaii will observe a crescent-shaped partial eclipse if the sky is clear. Much of South America, Central America, and Canada will see a partial eclipse.



The eclipse will begin in Los Angeles at 8:07 a.m. local time, and it will go on until 10:50 a.m. when the last of the sun will appear to fade away.

Read Also: California Bans 4 Harmful Food Additives Linked to Health Issues

Observe Safety Precautions

Before watching the ring of fire, wear approved solar eclipse glasses to safeguard your eyes. Take note that regular sunglasses will not be sufficient to shield your eyes from potential harm. Hence, safety procedures are essential throughout the ring of fire eclipse's initial partial phase, "ring of fire," and last partial phase.

To guarantee safe viewing, devices like cameras, binoculars, or telescopes must have specialized sun filters placed on the front end. Moreover, pinhole projectors may be made from cereal boxes to see solar eclipses without glasses.

According to Lockwood, ring of fire solar eclipse viewers must wear certified ISO 12312-2 compliant solar eclipse glasses."There are plenty of safe sellers of these glasses online and we encourage folks to find a safe pair," he said as quoted by ABC News.

According to National Geographic, with its unique potential to conduct studies into our sun and its effects on Earth, this annular solar eclipse offers new knowledge to the scientific community. From White Sands, New Mexico, scientists plan to launch sounding rockets before, during, and after the eclipse.

These rockets, which may go 200 miles in the air, will deliver important information on ionosphere changes. Along the path of the eclipse, balloons will also gather information on the temperature and pressure.



NASA is inviting citizen scientists to take part in this study by submitting data on their observations of the eclipse. An eclipse may reveal comets, solar jets, and auroras, which they are interested in.



If you are unable to see the "ring of fire" eclipse on October 14, there will be another chance to see a celestial spectacle on April 8, 2024, when a total solar eclipse will pass through the country. This upcoming ring of fire eclipse research will help plan next year's asteroid hunts near the sun and burst analyses.

Related Article: How NASA's Roman Mission Prepares for the Upcoming Data Deluge

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Cruise, General Motors' self-driving vehicle subsidiary, has expanded its robotaxi service to Houston, a strategic move as the business confronts rising criticism in its initial launch city, San Francisco.

The Houston branch of Cruise has started operations, providing rides seven days a week from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in an area covering the Downtown, Midtown, East Downtown, Montrose, Hyde Park, and River Oaks areas. The business, which has 400 autonomous cars in Austin, Houston, Phoenix, and San Francisco, starts in a new city with a dozen vehicles and expands as required.

A Growing Robotaxi Business

TechCrunch reports that in late 2022, the tech-centric corporation with its headquarters in San Francisco entered the Texas market. In Austin, where they debuted their specially constructed Origin cars in the spring of 2023, the first self-driving Chevrolet Bolt testing was carried out.

Then, in May, Cruise started putting its robotaxis through its paces in Houston and Dallas, first with a human safety driver at the wheel. They had progressed to full-scale autonomous testing by August, doing away with the requirement for a human operator. During that time, Cruise offered the service to some of its workers' friends and family members.

In Texas, Cruise has already traveled one million miles, demonstrating the company's dedication to forging a strong presence there. With the current announcement, clients in Houston may now use the Cruise app to request a driverless robotaxi. Cruise is running a short-term deal with fixed rates of $5 for all journeys to attract more customers.

Read Also: AMC CEO Adam Aron Reveals Blackmail Plot Involving Explicit Text Messages, Extortion

Howdy, Houston  Starting today we will be welcoming members of the public to our driverless service.



From Downtown to River Oaks, EaDo to Montrose, join our waitlist to experience the magic of driverless rides: https://t.co/0d4QmeyRiV pic.twitter.com/6WbkkbFgm1  cruise (@Cruise) October 12, 2023

Cruise Addressing San Francisco Backlash

While expanding into Houston, Cruise confronts growing scrutiny in San Francisco, where people and municipal authorities are concerned about the robotaxis' commercial suitability. Numerous city-based occurrences with Cruise cars have heightened these worries.

In one noteworthy instance from the beginning of October, a lady was critically injured after being hit by a human-driven car, which caused her to get trapped beneath a Cruise robotaxi, per CBS News.

In response to tensions that have been building for months in San Francisco, Cruise has unveiled several significant advancements geared at improving vehicle engagement with emergency and first responder vehicles, per The San Francisco Standard.

To better recognize and navigate emergency scenes and avoid double-parked emergency vehicles, Cruise is updating its vehicle systems in response to allegations claiming that Cruise cars were interfering with emergency personnel.

Additionally, Cruise is improving its siren recognition and reaction capabilities, automatically slowing down to 70% of the posted speed limit when one is detected, even if it is not visible. Additionally, they are locating more "early stopping locations" to help the self-driving car stop more quickly.

Related Article: Ever wondered How Much Is Tesla Really Worth?

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Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador decorates Salvador Cienfuegos in Perote, Veracruz, on October 10. Galo Canas Rodriguez (CUARTOSCURO)

The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has decorated General Salvador Cienfuegos, who served as secretary of national defense between 2012-2018 and was accused by the U.S. of drug trafficking in 2020 but exonerated by the Mexican government due to lack of evidence. Lopez Obrador presented him on Wednesday, October 10, with the Bicentenary of the Heroic Military College award, which pays tribute to army commanders for their contributions to the military training school.

Director of the school from 1997 to 2000 some years before joining Enrique Pena Nietos administration, Cienfuegos had a privileged place on the podium alongside Lopez Obrador and his cabinet officials, including the current heads of the army and navy.

After receiving the award in a protocol event in the state of Veracruz, the former head of defense saluted the president, who is the supreme commander of the Mexican Armed Forces. The two men then shook hands and exchanged words that could only be heard by nearby officials. General Enrique Cervantes, who was secretary of defense in Ernesto Zedillos government between 1994-2000, was similarly decorated.

Lopez Obrador defended Cienfuegos when he was arrested by the U.S. anti-drug agency, the DEA, on October 15, 2020, at Los Angeles airport in front of his family, accused of drug trafficking and money laundering in collaboration with the H-2 Cartel, a splinter group of the Beltran Leyva criminal organization. Through the Foreign Ministry and the Attorney Generals Office (FGR), the Lopez Obrador government pushed for extradition, promising to prosecute Cienfuegos at home. Shortly after he set foot on national territory, the FGR dropped the charges against him.

The Donald Trump administration in office at the time based the indictment on thousands of Blackberry messages allegedly exchanged between Cienfuegos and members of the H-2 Cartel, operating on Mexicos northern Pacific coast. According to the indictment, Cienfuegos was in touch with H-2s Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez, at least between December 2015 and February 2017, receiving bribes in return for protection for the crime gangs illicit operations. The DEA maintained that, due to Cienfuegos complicity, H-2 was able to traffic thousands of kilos of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana to the U.S.

But Lopez Obradors government stated that U.S. agencies had failed to inform them that an investigation of a prominent former official was underway  no less than the former head of the army, an institution to which Lopez Obrador has a profound attachment. I am going to ask for all the information on this issue, because the institution is a pillar of the Mexican State, the president said in one of his speeches. It is a very delicate matter and I want to follow it up to avoid an unjust attack on the institution.

Mexico considered the arrest a violation of national sovereignty and threatened to expel U.S. agents found working in Mexico while reforming the law to make cooperation regarding intelligence operations more transparent. Washington caved and agreed to send Mexico the evidence supporting the investigation as well as Cienfuegos for trial.

Meanwhile, the Attorney Generals Office embarked on its own investigation and discovered that the Blackberry messages attributed to the former Secretary of Defense contained spelling mistakes that raised doubts about their validity. Shortly thereafter, the Attorney Generals Office concluded that Cienfuegos had never had any meeting with the members of the criminal organization investigated by the U.S. authorities, nor did he have any communication with them, nor did he carry out any acts to protect or help said individuals.

Lopez Obrador applauded the FGRs resolution and stated that the DEA had fabricated the charges against the former secretary of defense.

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The outgoing president of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, followed through on his warning to use the forces of law and order to clear the blockades that have been multiplying on several roads in the country. For ten days, protesters have been demanding the resignation of the attorney general, Consuelo Porras, whom they accuse of trying to prevent president-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office. On Tuesday, riot police encountered resistance from thousands of Guatemalans who have not backed down and are demanding that the results of the polls be respected. Meanwhile, Giammattei and the president-elect  who is making claims of an attempted coup against him  spent the day trading accusations about who is responsible for ending the crisis. At the end of the night, Giammattei posted a message in which he invited Arevalo to propose a truce and call on the protesters to vacate the streets because people are dying due to shortages in hospitals or obstacles preventing ambulances from getting through. The media, however, have documented that several blockades allow doctors, food, and other priority products to pass.

In his message, Giammattei criticized Arevalos alleged unwillingness to participate in a dialogue mediated by the Organization of American States (OAS) to seek solutions to the political crisis that the country is experiencing and called him out for evading his responsibility for the blockades. In a speech before the Permanent Council of the OAS, Arevalo expressed that the authorities of the Indigenous peoples, who started the protests, are legitimate interlocutors in any dialogue. They accepted the responsibility of participating in the discussions, but warned that they fear being criminalized for defending democracy, said the president of the 48 Indigenous cantons of Totonicapan, Luis Pacheco.

Since October 10, Giammattei has held Arevalo responsible for calling for people to demonstrate, and this Tuesday, in a public letter, he accused the president-elect of encouraging mobilizations that are not peaceful on the basis of false and non-existent theories of alleged coup. At the beginning of September, the president-elect condemned the coup that was preventing the president, the vice president, and the deputies elected by his party, the Semilla Movement, from taking office on January 14. Arevalo singled out Porras as the main proponent of the coup plan.

The president-elect considers that the end of the conflict is in Giammatteis hands: he only has to ask the official he appointed as attorney general to resign. In several interviews with the press, Arevalo singled out President Giammattei as the main person responsible for the political crisis in Guatemala. He is making a very clear attempt to evade his responsibility in this situation, as a result of the assault by a state institution, the Public Ministry [Guatemalas Justice Department], against the Electoral Court, the elected president told the radio outlet ConCriterio. If he is against the blockades, he can ask for the resignation of the person he appointed to that position, which is Consuelo Porras, he concluded.

The strike and blockades began on October 2, instigated by Indigenous authorities, with the seizure of several roads and a permanent protest in front of the headquarters of the Public Ministry. The Attorney Generals office had seized the ballots with the results of the votes, despite the opposition of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, who condemned the loss of custody of the citizens vote. The crisis escalated when the public realized the intention to subvert the will of the sovereign, says political scientist and dialogue expert, Miguel Angel Balcarcel. The people got fed up with their situation and said: No more! How do we make them listen to us? he explains, and recalls that before the blockades, the Indigenous authorities had raised their demands in Congress, before the Prosecutors Office and the president.

During their arguments, the Indigenous authorities indicated that road blocks are the only recourse for their requests to be taken seriously, because they represent economic pressure. Furthermore, the people who participate in the blockades risk their well-being and their livelihoods. They do it to try to recover full access to rights to health and education, said Indigenous mayor David Saloj.

Throughout its development, but particularly as a product of internal armed confrontation, our society has had a culture of resolving problems and differences through confrontation, which often reaches the level of violence, explains Balcarcel. We are facing a phenomenon of resistance, expressed in peaceful demonstrations, which definitively intersects with the right of free movement, the political scientist points out.

Protesters push back police

The attempt to clear the streets began Tuesday afternoon. A riot contingent met hundreds of residents of the La Bethania neighborhood (in Guatemala City). The vast majority were motorcyclists, determined to defend their vote and their right to demonstrate, and they remained firm in their request for Consuelo Porras to resign. Out, out! the protesters shouted, while they refused to open the way on one of the main routes of the capital. If [Porras] says she is resigning, we will clear the way in ten minutes, said a protester interviewed by the Quorum media on one of the citys main routes.

A crowd of residents, overwhelmed by motorcyclists whose engines roared, surrounded the riot police and made them retreat. Finally, they reached an agreement to open the way in 30-minute intervals.

The state operation occurred one day after efforts to create a narrative that delegitimizes the protest, minimizes public participation, and minimizes the events that have caused public discontent, says political scientist Renzo Rosal. He bases this assertion on the series of quite articulate messages that Attorney General Porras and President Giammattei disseminated on October 9.

On Monday morning, Porras broadcast a message to the country in which she expressed her disagreement and displeasure over the road blocks and highlighted a series of events that had not been reported, such as looting and mandatory closures with threats to shopkeepers. Hours later, videos circulated on social media of alleged pressure to close supermarkets and people condemning the shortage of basic consumer products.

The president also warned that they have evidence that proves that funds from abroad have been transferred to national organizations to pay for food, portable toilets and the logistics of the road blocks and announced the arrest of foreigners who advise the public protests.

What Giammattei did not talk about was the countrywide call for the attorney general to resign that draws the crowds and motivates the road blocks, says Rosal. The political scientists opinion of the situation is that Giammattei is trying to convey a message of protecting his attorney general and that he continues to support Porras.

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The White House was forced to walk back on president Joe Biden's claim to have seen "confirmed pictures" of "terrorists beheading children" in Israel.

The Israel Defence Force previously claimed that at least 40 babies were killed in the Kfar Aza kibbutz over the weekend when the Hamas militant group launched an attack on Israel.

The army later clarified to Anadolu news agency that there was "no information confirming" allegations that "Hamas beheaded babies".

Speaking at a roundtable of Jewish community leaders in Washington, Mr Biden said: "I never really thought that I would see, have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children."

But later, in a clarification issued to The Washington Post, the White House said that the president or US officials had not seen pictures or confirmed such reports independently.

President Biden based his comments about the alleged beheading on the claims from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus spokesperson and media reports, it added.

Mr Biden earlier in the day said he had spoken to Mr Netanyahu again, their fourth conversation in recent days, and told him Israel should follow the rules of war in its response against Hamas.

The death toll in Gaza has risen to 1,200, with around 5,600 wounded, Palestinian media reported, citing Gazas health ministry.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Israeli jets have pounded Gaza City for days in retaliation against the weekend attack by Hamas militants who rampaged through towns and villages, killing 1,200 people and taking scores of hostages, including foreign nationals.

Some 340,000 of Gazas 2.3 million population have been displaced due to the war, and around 65 per cent of them have sought safety at shelters or schools, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the enclave.

Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike Jebaliya refugee camp (AP)

Mr Biden said the attack represented the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty  not just hate, but pure cruelty  against the Jewish people, he told the Jewish leaders.

The president warned Iran against getting involved in Israels conflict, adding that his deployment of military ships and aircraft closer to Israel should be seen as a signal to Iran, which backs Islamist groups Hamas and Lebanons Hezbollah.

We made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful, Mr Biden said.
In many countries in the Americas and in Spain, October 12, 1492 has long been commemorated, celebrated, and more recently, criticized. Controversy surrounds everything, from the name given to the day itself to the events and activities held to observe it. Known variously as Race Day, Day of Hispanic Heritage, of the Indigenous Resistance, of the Discovery of America, of Respect for Cultural Diversity, of Decolonization, of Liberation, of Interculturality, of the Meeting of Two Worlds, as Pan-American Day and as National Day, October 12 marks the moment when Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Guanahani (later renamed San Salvador) when he glimpsed the Antilles.

The explorer from Genoa wanted to find another trade route to India that would bring better profits and territorial expansion. With 100 men and funded by Queen Isabel of Castile, in modern-day Spain, three ships set out on an unexplored course that caused them to arrive, by chance, in the Americas.

In an interview with EL PAIS, the historian Federico Navarrete emphasizes the uselessness of this story that has been taught for years in Mexican schools, where children learned by heart the names of the three ships commanded by Columbus; the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

The teaching of this day in public education in Mexico is based on picturesque anecdotes, says Navarrete. I remember that as a child they made me learn the name of the three caravels. It is picturesque, but it is completely useless because Columbus did not even know that he had arrived in America, he died convinced that he was in Asia.

This is reinforced by the studies of Sofia Reding Blase, a researcher at the Research Center on Latin America and the Caribbean (CIALC) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico: Although Columbus arrived in the Caribbean on his first voyage and only on the last one did he reach the shore of the mainland, he never realized it or at least he never admitted to having reached territories that were not Asian.

The story of Columbuss discovery should also include the darker side of his personality, the voyage, and his companions. Navarrete notes, for example, that with him also came many Arabs and Jews whose existence has been erased from historical records. He also underscores that Columbus zeal was not only aimed at reaching the Indies but also capturing the natives. They should tell us about all the slaves that Columbus captured from the first day he was in America. On the same October 12 that he landed on the island of Guanahani, he himself tells us that he took an indigenous slave and took him against his will on his ship. In addition to learning about the boat, we should learn about the people who were enslaved on that boat, he adds.

Celebrations and commemorations of this day have been observed for centuries. On the 400th anniversary, it was celebrated in unison in Spain and the Americas. A replica of the Santa Maria was shipped from the southern Spanish city of Huelva. Mexico and Argentina created a monument and a canvas respectively to celebrate the date. Colombia did the same with a statue of Columbus.

Later, in 1928, Jose Vasconcelos institutionalized October 12 in Mexico with the idea of showing the cultural syncretism that had been achieved from the meeting of the two continents. It also sought to highlight nationalist values and create pride centered on a mixed race heritage.

For years, resources were allocated to commemorate a European-centric vision of the event throughout the American continent and ceremonies were held to celebrate the union, but the Americas past and the conflict over resources and territory that marked Europeans arrival remained invisible.

The discovery began to be questioned a century later. In 1992, during the events 500th anniversary, questions were asked out loud and the concept began to fall apart. Miguel Leon Portilla writes: Why is it said that Columbus discovered America? Hadnt the indigenous people themselves discovered it long before and, over millennia, populated it and created cultures such as the Teotihuacan, the Mayan, the Mexica, the Inca? How is it possible to talk about discovery if Columbus was never aware of what the lands he arrived at were?

The Westernization of America is no longer a matter of pride and instead researchers now talk about the genocide and invasion of American territory. Christianity has begun to be seen as an imposition in the face of the destruction of local beliefs.

Navarrete adds that Latin American societies, especially indigenous peoples, openly questioned that vision of October 12 as a date to be celebrated, as a discovery, as a great triumph, and rather highlighted a more negative vision of October 12 that emphasized the idea of 500 years of colonial oppression, of genocide, of persecution of indigenous cultures. Clearly, what they are criticizing is not only what this Italian who came to America did, but the fact that from then on, national regimes were established that have been intolerant, racist, violent and colonialist.

Questioned about what narrative should be built around this day, the historian assures that there are many more reasons to protest than there are reasons to continue maintaining a vision of history that is racist, that privileges whites and subordinates indigenous people. Navarrete says this narrative only benefits Spain, which claims to be the heir of those discoverers, and the white elites of Latin American countries who continue to believe themselves superior to the rest of the population.

I think that many people in Latin America (and me in the first place) would not agree to calling this date Columbus Day, because in any case, Columbus was not even Hispanic, Columbus was Italian, and secondly, the result of what Columbus unleashed was many things in addition to a supposed Hispanic-ness. It was slavery, the genocide of indigenous peoples, the imposition of Spanish that eliminated many languages, and for me, it should not be celebrated that way.
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The White House has condemned former president Donald Trump for calling the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah very smart in remarks on Thursday night in Florida.

His comments came less than a week after militant group Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a Club 47 USA event in West Palm Beach on Wednesday (11 October), the former president said: Can you imagine national defence people, and they said gee, I hope Hezbollah doesnt attack from the north because thats the most vulnerable spot.

And I said Wait a minute. You know Hezbollahs very smart. Theyre all very smart. The press doesnt like it when I say that. You know, I said that about President Xi of China, 1.4 billion people, he controls it with an iron fist. I said hes a very smart man.

They killed me the next day He said he was smart. What am I gonna say But Hezbollah, theyre very smart.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement that, although the Biden administration doesnt typically comment on the 2024 presidential race, Mr Trumps remarks were dangerous and unhinged.

Its completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as smart. Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel, Mr Bates said.

Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the countrys history.

He added: This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against unadulterated evil.

Thats what the President is doing as commander in chief.

Mr Trumps remarks were also slammed by his GOP presidential rival Ron DeSantis.

The Florida governor shared a clip of Mr Trumps comments on X, writing: Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so 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 terrorists as very smart.

As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are.

In other recent remarks, Mr Trump has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country as unprepared.

He has been hurt very badly because of whats happened here, Mr Trump said of Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday night.

He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared.

Israel reports that more than 1,300 people were killed and more than 3,000 wounded in the attack on the south of the country on Saturday (7 October).

Since then, Palestinian officials report that more than 1,400 people have been killed and over 6,000 injured in Gaza.
I cannot talk now. I will write to you at the end of the day if I have not died. In a series of audio messages, Hala Riziq recounts her escape from one area of Gaza to another. Israel keeps the strip of land completely surrounded and has dropped several hundred tons of bombs since the massive militia attack by Hamas that began on Saturday, causing 1,200 deaths. The audio files arrive from time to time, because there is no internet service and the data connection is spotty. On Wednesday, the lack of fuel shut down the only power plant, according to Hamas officials. This also endangers the water supply because the plant feeds the underground water extraction pumps. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant decreed a complete siege on Monday, with no water, food, electricity, or fuel supplies.

Riziq, 45, says that on Sunday she ran out of her home in the capital of Gaza with her husband and four children, after an airstrike on a building 50 meters away. I was running from one place to another. The street was full of people who didnt know where to go. I had a panic attack because I was looking at my children and I didnt know how to protect them, she says, while bombings are heard in the background.

She then went to one of the hotels with security clearance. These are buildings whose coordinates are given to Israel because they usually house workers from international organizations, NGOs, or journalists. Two hours later, Riziq was told that it was not safe and that she should look for another place to take shelter. I couldnt because it was nighttime. I waited for dawn and the building in front of the hotel was bombed. I went to another building, where at 2:00 a.m. they shouted at us: You have to leave right now! In my hurry to go I forgot the bag with the identity documents and birth certificates that I always prepare in these cases, she says.

Palestinians sit outside their house following Israeli airstrikes in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Hatem Ali (AP)

Riziq explains that she then ran to her mothers house, in a relatively safer area of the city. And that the dark streets were occasionally lit up by the flares that precede the airstrikes and the fires caused by the missiles, which have claimed at least 1,100 lives since Saturday. When Riziq and her family got there, they found another 60 displaced people, without water or food for everyone. My husband told me: Lets split up. So that if we die, we dont all die at the same time and something of the family remains, she remembers.

She has since returned to her home, despite the broken windows and the debris from the nearby bombing, because she has come to the conclusion that there is not a single safe place in Gaza. Everywhere she goes, she can constantly hear the drones flying overhead and descending to release their projectiles. This morning I sent messages to all my friends outside Gaza because I have the feeling that, sooner or later, I am going to die. I told them that I am going to write to them every day I am alive and that, if one day I no longer write, to please forgive me if I ever did something bad to them, to remember me and to pray so that my family and I may rest in peace.

My husband told me: Lets split up. So that if we die, we dont all die at the same time and something of the family remains Hala Riziq, resident of Gaza

Gaza has not gone from paradise to hell overnight. Before the attacks, electricity barely worked a few hours a day. For the rest of the time, people depended on generators owned by institutions, businesses and families that could afford it. Leaving the Strip, either to go to Egypt or Israel, has been a rare luxury for the last decade and a half due to Israels ongoing blockade. Most of its 2.2 million residents have been trapped in an ultra-crowded space (about 5,500 people per square kilometer), with 22% drinking water, 47% unemployment and 62% of the population dependent on humanitarian aid. In the last four major Israeli offensives, 4,000 people have died.

Israel captured Gaza in the 1967 Six-Day War and unilaterally evacuated it of settlers and soldiers in 2005. A year later, the Palestinians held elections. Hamas won, but the international community boycotted the new government for failing to meet demands to recognize Israel de facto and renounce violence. Hamas is behind Saturdays attack and is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States. It has controlled the Strip since 2007, after clashes with the rival Al-Fatah faction. Since then, Israel has subjected Gaza to a siege in which  in its toughest years  it even calculated the minimum calories per inhabitant to avoid causing a famine.

Palestinians pull the body of a young girl out of rubble from a residential building leveled in an Israeli airstrike on Al Shati Refugee Camp Thursday, October 12, 2023. Fatima Shbair (AP)

Now, for Fatma Yamal Muhaisen, the problem is different: It is even difficult to know if family and friends are still alive, due to connectivity problems and the lack of internet. Im not talking about asking them if they are okay, because no one is okay in these circumstances, but about asking them if they are alive. So sometimes we just listen to the bombs and hope that they are. I also have family outside of Gaza and they often cannot connect with us. It makes their heart skip a beat every time it takes a while for the answer to arrive. And my heart skips a beat with each bomb, no matter how far away it sounds, she says through WhatsApp audio messages.

People react in the aftermath of a strike amid the conflict with Israel in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 12, 2023. IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA (REUTERS)

The UN World Food Program warned on Wednesday of the imminent depletion of food supplies and other basic goods. According to the United Nations, more than 180,000 Gazans have lost their homes. They wander the streets, because they consider it less dangerous than staying inside buildings, or else they are sheltering in schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The destruction affects 20,000 homes and 10 medical centers, according to data from the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. There are also 48 damaged schools.
French was a global language of education and commerce during the colonial era.

Former French colonies in West Africa include Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, Togo, Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and Madagascar. French influence, including the French language educational system, had a significant impact on the development of these nations.

Access to education was restricted, particularly for the indigenous populations. Schools were often concentrated in urban areas and only accessible to a small percentage of the population, mostly the children of the colonial elite and those who could afford it.

Even when schools were available and French was understood, there were financial barriers to education. The cost of tuition, uniforms, books, and other school-related expenses greatly burden families, especially those from low-income backgrounds. As a result, many indigenous families could not afford to send their children to school.

Using the French language as the primary medium of instruction created a language barrier for indigenous children who spoke local languages at home. French colonial policy often revolved around assimilating the local populations into French culture and values. Education was viewed as a means to achieve this assimilation. Teaching in the French language was seen as a way to familiarize the indigenous population with French culture and ways of life.

French was the administrative language of the colonial powers. Many indigenous children arrived at school with little to no knowledge of the French language. This hindered their ability to excel in school, as they had to learn in a foreign language. However, a French-speaking labor force was advantageous for the colonial powers as it facilitated communication in economic activities and labor management.

Using the French language allowed French colonial authorities to control the West African school curriculum. This control extended to textbooks, materials, and the content of education.

The French language barrier hindered effective communication between students and teachers in French colonies. Indigenous children who had questions or needed clarification on topics but expressing themselves in French was challenging or impossible. Learning in a foreign language placed an additional cognitive load on indigenous students. They had to constantly translate between their native language and French, making the learning process more mentally taxing.

The limited availability of education had lasting effects on people's ability to move up the social ladder. Those who couldn't access a good education often found themselves stuck in low-paying, manual jobs, which kept social and economic inequalities in place. This lack of educational opportunities became a barrier to improving indigenous populations' lives and opportunities, contributing to a cycle of inequality that persisted over time.

Importantly to French colonizers, teaching in French reinforced social hierarchies. It created a distinction between those who received a French education and those who did not, establishing an elite class that identified more closely with French culture and values. Even after gaining independence, many former colonies retained French as the language of instruction to maintain continuity in education systems.

Indigenous cultures and traditions often rely on language as a carrier of cultural knowledge, values, and stories. The dominance of the French language in education undermined the transmission of indigenous cultural heritage to younger generations. Cultural practices, languages, and customs began to erode as they were supplanted by French culture.
In early 1983, Queensland police received a handwritten letter.

I believe body of AJ Jones buried in or near Fullarton River bed, within 100 yds southside Flinders Hwy, it read.

The letter police received about the murder of Tony Jones.

The letter, postmarked from Cairns, was signed only LOCHIEL.

Weeks earlier, 20-year-old Perth man Anthony Tony Jones had gone missing while hitchhiking from the outback town of Hughenden, a few hundred kilometres east of Fullarton River.
To drive along Donnybrook Road is to witness Melbournes sprawl in real time. On one side of the road, cattle, sheep and free-range chickens graze in grassy paddocks divided by dry stone walls.

On the other side runs a row of shiny new housing estates with bucolic names such as Olivine, Peppercorn Hill and Matilda. Some are filled with freshly minted family homes, others are populated only by diggers working behind tall wire fencing.

Until recently, Donnybrook Road was a rural road, but today its the site of several new housing estates on Melbournes northern fringe. Credit: Joe Armao

The road itself is mostly as it was before the area was opened for housing: narrow, single lanes with no footpaths. It would resemble a country road were it not for the frenzy of urban development happening around it.

According to plans unanimously endorsed by three northern councils this month, Donnybrook Road will one day run through the heart of a city of up to 380,000 people in Melbournes outer north named Cloverton.
My niece is a renowned Aboriginal artist, who has exhibited and attended the exhibition of her work in New York, Scandinavia and Paris and multiple galleries throughout Australia. This is a woman who was born beneath a tree on the Yumba, an allocated plot of land for Aboriginal people on the outskirts of a town in west Queensland. With minimum education she has an uncanny sense of emotional intelligence. In later age she attended classes so she could learn to read English. It beggars belief that a 60-year-old woman in Australia would feel discomfort at a supermarket to do some shopping. She is tired of being ignored at the delicatessen and butcher shop, and exhausted having to wait until they choose to help. Do they not see me? she cheekily asks. Voting Yes is an opportunity for my niece and her fellow travellers to receive acknowledgement from the rest of Australia that we want to attempt to help diminish the underlying racism that she and her fellow travellers endure every day in every way as they go about their life.

Jan Oates, Fitzroy North THE FORUM Common ground

When I am asking voters if they want onions with their sausage on Saturday, I will really be wanting to ask, Did you want a unified Australia with your vote? Niki Savvas precise simile that the No campaign claiming voting Yes is dividing Australia is like claiming black is white (Sad path of a frightened nation, 12/10) highlights the irony that real division looms following the sadness of a possible defeat.

How people who continue to hope for improved lives for Indigenous Australians act following the potential revelation and frustration that we share sausages and lives with people who have said No will determine whether the outcome is actually divisive. Unity ... er, I mean onions, yes.

Tim Webster, Hurstbridge Learning lessons

Niki Savvas analysis captures the Voice debates likely inevitable demise. If the referendum is defeated, as expected, once the recriminations are aired it can yet be a source for strengthening our democracy. This debate has highlighted, as never before, some big issues that must be addressed with vigour. The absolute need for truth in political messaging must be paramount. Social media must also be held to account for the lies and misinformation that they spread.

The Labor Party should also look at its own approach to this debate  how it was flat-footed from the beginning, and seemingly unprepared for a contested vote. A phoenix of sorts may yet arise from the anticipated ashes.

Chris Young, Surrey Hills Reputation on the line

Niki Savva is correct when she says the referendum is a defining moment for Australia and that everything the result delivers resides with us. If the Voice fails, we can expect Australia to become an international pariah: will we ever be able to condemn another country for human rights violations? The trust of First Nations people in non-Indigenous Australians will be trashed. The many gaps  health, housing, employment, education and justice  will remain.

Jan Marshall, Brighton Tomorrow is another day

In presenting her arguments in favour of voting Yes, Niki Savva resorts to hyperbole. To describe the referendum as a defining moment for Australia and that a No win will mean Australians are frightened, resentful people may be effective rhetoric, but cannot be taken literally.

If No wins, the sky wont fall in, the rest of the world wont regard Australia differently in any significant way and most people will just get on with their lives.

Rod Wise, Surrey Hills Special access?

Your correspondent voting No because they feel no lobby group ... should have privileged access to our government (Letters, 12/10) will be gobsmacked to learn about the access available to lobby groups from business, unions, fossil fuels, mining, pharmaceutical research, tourism, toll roads, property developers ...

Peter McGill, Lancefield Advisory body

Your correspondent does not seem to appreciate what the Voice to parliament would do or mean for Aboriginal people. It is not a lobby group that will have privileged access to our government. It will be an advisory body that can only make recommendations regarding policies that affect the lives of Indigenous people that the government is under no obligation to implement. How harmful can that be to the rest of us?

Simon McInnes, Boolarra Tireless efforts

Whatever the outcome of the referendum, one has to admire and give credit to the prime minister for maintaining his message throughout the campaign. He and his team have worked tirelessly for what they believe is right and the outcome will indicate that many Australians believe it as well.

Perhaps mistakes may have been made in the way that the referendum question was structured, but while the PM will no doubt shoulder the blame for this, he was guided as always by his team of advisers from the First Nations people to keep the message and the question simple. We may not have the opportunity again in our lifetime, to see another vote on this question, but this does not mean that there will not be other ways of transforming the lives of many Indigenous people, and in doing so transforming the lives of non-Indigenous people as well.

Bruce MacKenzie, Kingsville

Make it count

Quite a few people have expressed the view that the current referendum is unnecessary as it was open to the prime minister to legislate for the Voice earlier this year, an option he decided not to take. Many of these people may decide to refrain from voting as a protest against the referendum. I hope they do not do that as the right to vote is a precious and extremely important part of our democracy. I hope all those eligible to vote, ensure that they get to the ballot box and cast a valid vote.

Adrian Hassett, Vermont Uncertain method

Peter Dutton has shown he is incapable of leading Australia in a unifying, compassionate and principled way. He instead relies on spreading fear, doubt, uncertainty and division. Fortunately, we know this now, before any federal election.

Eve Stocker, Carlton North Wishing for peace

Last Saturday we saw the very worst of humanity as Hamas militants attacked, killed and kidnapped innocent and unsuspecting Israelis. Not surprisingly the response from Israel has been harsh and uncompromising with Palestinians in Gaza now suffering the impact. Simultaneously we heard of a devastating attack on a refugee camp in Myanmar. The Russian war against Ukraines sovereignty continues and there are multiple armed conflicts, mostly outside our field of vision, in Africa. Whatever the rights and wrongs that lead to these events, the resort to violent conflict with disregard for human life is all too often the outcome. I wish for a world where respect for others is paramount, where we all accept the right of others to coexist regardless or racial, religious or political backgrounds. Sadly mans history says my wish is a pipedream.

David Brophy, Beaumaris

Hated for my heritage

Like Kerri Sackville (Far from Israel, but on high alert, 12/10), over 65 years ago, I suffered antisemitism, with rocks thrown at me and antisemitic jeers and cat-calls. Carved into a desk at school ... is a Jew. We dont want Jews at this school. Later, in job interviews, I denied my Jewish heritage and refused to enter Jewish on job applications (which was required then). Sadly, I still deny my heritage today.

Name withheld on request Repression no solution

We are at this dire point due to the policies of Israel, which believes its powerful military can resolve the Palestinian question by continuing to occupy and repress the Palestinian people. What we have witnessed over the decades is that this leads inevitably to more rebellion and uprisings. And the brutalising effect of enforcing the occupation and oppression only breeds more brutality on both sides. Governments and some politicians in some countries ignore or excuse blatant Israeli human rights violations and breaches of international laws do neither side a favour. This just creates more obstacles to a just peace. Despite talking about peace with Palestinians, Israel has kept delaying meaningful discussions and used this time to change facts on the ground in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. This results in further death and destruction, not a resolution of the Palestine problem.

Steven Katsineris, Hurstbridge Who controls Gaza?

As a former Israeli, it is important for me to clarify the description of Who controls Gaza today, (The Gaza Strip explained, 11/10). The actual ruler of Gaza, even today, is Israel.

Israel controls every aspect of life there: electricity (four hours a day per house), and water (90 per cent of tap water is undrinkable). There is no sea port, no airport. It is the largest prison in the world, with a deliberately starved, poor population that can do nothing to change its situation. It is important to know this when trying to understand recent events.

Nachshon Amir, Sandringham Why we dont burn

Tony Wright (To burn or not? The oldest riddle of forest, 7/10) romanticises and mythologises the practice of historical colonial burning. This continues the myth that burning the bush will mitigate bushfire behaviour. He says the first Europeans wrote of wide grassed valleys but omits that they often stated they found the bush to be impenetrable. The reason that in 1908 selector burning was outlawed was because a 1900 royal commission found they were causing bushfires! After that government agencies began prescribed burning, and even though there have been more of these in the past 20 years than ever before, the bushfires are getting worse. Research by one of Australias foremost fire scientists, Dr Phil Zylstra, shows that (combined with climate change) too frequent burning dries out the ground, and regrowth in the years after the burns increases vegetation growth therefore increasing fire risk until the forest naturally thins and becomes more fire resistant with age. Its time to rethink fire mitigation, and prescribed burns need to be confined to the past where they belong.

Irene Proebsting, Tyers Welcome shot

As an immunocompromised senior, and even though I had had a one-shot vaccination jab, I contracted shingles about five years ago. As a result, I have lost about 90 per cent of vision in my right eye. The federal governments decision (Free shingles vaccine for millions, 8/10) to make the two shot Shingrix vaccination available to at-risk people is to be applauded.

Jim McLeod, Sale

AND ANOTHER THING Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding The Voice

In 1967 we voted so that First Nations people were seen. In 2023 we are voting so they may be heard.

Shirley Purves, Gisborne The Constitution is a 1901 document  surely its time for some renovations to this rickety old house.

Eric Kopp, Flinders If you still dont know, maybe just write that across your voting paper. (It wont count either way.)

John Boyce, Richmond

Peter Dutton (perhaps unintentionally) makes a strong case for the abolition of compulsory voting. In countries where voting is optional, if you dont know, you dont vote.

Noel Ancell, Chadstone If you dont know then dont bother finding out does not sound like the motto of the sort of leader we want in this country.

Lyn Mitchell, Black Rock If the referendum result is as expected No, turn off the lights on the sails of the Sydney Opera House.

Jenny Smithers, Ashburton It is interesting that quite a large number of people who say they are going to vote No, start off by saying they are not racist.

Marie Nash, Balwyn Your correspondent who states that No lobby group of any persuasion should have privileged access to our government (Letters, 12/10) has obviously never had an invite to the Minerals Council annual dinner in Canberra.

Dick Davies, North Warrandyte
The Ages readers have heard this acknowledged over the past two years in our coverage of Victorias Yoorrook Justice Commission  the first truth and justice commission in Australia. They are hard and uncomfortable truths, but truths that make it clear that the corrosive effects of the colonisation of First Peoples homelands persists. There have been more than 550 Aboriginal deaths in custody across Australia since 1991, according to government data. Child removals are occurring at higher rates now than even among past stolen generations, with Indigenous kids 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous kids. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of deaths among Indigenous Australians aged under 24 are due to suicide, according to last years Closing the Gap report. Life expectancy is approximately 10 years lower than for non-Indigenous Australians. Almost half of all Indigenous people have at least one chronic disease. There are disparities across the social determinants of good health, such as education, housing, employment and income. Chair of Victorias Yoorrook Justice Commission Eleanor Bourke. Credit: Joe Armao A Voice will allow First Peoples to chart their own, improved course to correct this abysmal situation. It will help them address these lasting, real-world, daily effects of colonisation. The Age first stated its support for the Indigenous Voice in 2019, two years after Indigenous leaders called for the Voice in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, saying it was a mechanism that belonged in Australias Constitution. It was a position stated before a senior advisory group, commissioned by the former Coalition government, tabled a final report to the then-minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, that provided detail about the proposed structure for the Voice and how it likely will work.

The Age urged then-prime minister Scott Morrison to use his voice to lead the change required to deliver an enshrined Indigenous Voice: It is historical inequality that makes a Voice to parliament written into the Constitution so important for our future. This would protect the Voice from the whims of an adversarial government. And acknowledging Indigenous Australians unique place in our society with a Voice protected by our most fundamental document of principles is crucial to reconciliation. Before Saturdays referendum ballot, The Age restates that position and urges Victorians and Australians to vote Yes. A recreation of an Age image from a 1988 article that included the voices of Indigenous leaders. Credit: Matt Davidson In 1967, The Age led the way in its campaigning for a Yes vote to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as part of Australias population and to enable the Commonwealth to make laws for them. Voting Yes to these proposals is a simple matter of humanity. It is also a test of our standing in the world, the newspapers editorial, published four days before the historic ballot, read.

That statement remains true of the 2023 referendum. Loading Unlike the 1967 referendum, however, the Indigenous Voice to parliament has not enjoyed cross-party endorsement. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton scuppered those hopes when he announced in April that he would actively campaign against the Voice. In 67, The Age reported that the debate over the Aboriginal issue was almost ignored by the government and opposition. In 2023, the Voice campaign became a convincing ground in a battle for hearts and minds waged mainly, but not exclusively, between the major parties. This persistent political partisanship between duelling politicians kept the Voice firmly mired in Canberra when it desperately needed to become a community-led peoples movement.

As the intensity of a No campaign that included many falsehoods and misrepresentations ramped up, the political nature of the contest left the broader public apathetic. Preoccupied with the more immediate concerns in their lives  such as the soaring costs of living  the publics early enthusiasm for a Yes vote slid. A disinformation campaign  imported from the US  advanced truth decay here. An upsurge in racist hate and abuse online was the result. This hostile atmosphere intensified feelings of fear and despair among Indigenous people, particularly youth. Loading Until recently, the toll on the mental health and wellbeing of First Nations people from the No campaigns Trumpian efforts to derail the Voice has generally been underappreciated. Indigenous people have been left asking why that is, particularly when the abusive social environment in the lead-up to the same-sex marriage plebiscite in 2017 gave rise to wider public empathy. The Age has spoken to Indigenous people across this state, and indeed the country, during the Voice campaign. Our Indigenous affairs reporter, Birpai man Jack Latimore, consulted widely in cities and on Country. The information he has gathered and his own expert view has guided this mastheads position. A majority of Aboriginal people will vote Yes to the Voice, understanding that it is not an endpoint but a step towards enabling First Nations people to participate more fully in Australian society.
My second floor room is a subdued version of the communal areas: washed turquoise tones, handmade lampshades and furnishings from Katundu, a Malawian social enterprise from which much of the decor is sourced. A free-standing tub is tucked beside the bathroom window; the walk-in shower pops with those Moorish tiles. Drinking water bottled onsite and glasses made from recycled wine bottles are a nod to the hotels sustainability ethos.

Food + drink

Theres plenty of European and Asian fare on offer in the three restaurants. But the curious visitor will be most gratified by the heritage menu, which includes local dishes such as baked tilapia with banku (a cassava and maize dough), roasted goat with plantain and katago, a moreish breakfast including lentils and matoke (green bananas), a staple crop in Uganda. The soups on the vegetarian and vegan menu  curried cauliflower, honey-roasted pumpkin  are particularly good. Brew Ugandan coffee in your room upon waking, and at sunset head to the rooftop bar for a view of Lake Victoria, a local cocktail and a fresh sushi menu.

Out + about
An Australian man was arrested by the Singapore police after a budget Scoot airline flight was escorted back to the city-states Changi Airport on Thursday because of a bomb threat.

The 30-year-old man was arrested for criminal intimidation and police investigations are ongoing, reported CNA.

Singapores air force and emergency services were activated to escort the Perth-bound Scoot flight back to Singapore, the budget airline said.

A precautionary decision was made to turn back the flight about an hour into the journey due to a bomb threat, Scoot said in an emailed statement, without providing details of the threat.
Edinburgh: Police have launched an investigation into a podcasts claims that corrupt officers may have helped to protect the notorious Bible John serial killer.

Police Scotland confirmed that it was assessing the contents of the BBC true crime series Bible John: Creation of the Serial Killer, which re-examined the murders of three Glasgow women in the late 1960s. The deaths are among Scotlands most infamous unsolved cases.

Police at the lane where the body of Patricia Docker was found in 1968. Credit: Daily Record/Getty

It alleged that the identity of John McInnes, a possible suspect in the killing of one of the women, was covered up because he was the cousin of Jimmy McInnes, a detective who was friends with Joe Beattie, the officer in charge of the investigation.

Evidence had suggested that McInnes may have been the man who shared a taxi with one victim, Helen Puttock, and quoted religious verse during the journey.
In a recent interview, Spanish writer Eloy Tizon, famous for writing stories full of characters who doubt, hold back and prefer to escape rather than expose themselves, stated that shyness could be a generational phenomenon. He may be onto something: during the 1990s and the early 2000s, shyness sold books, filled movie theaters and gave rise to an entire rock subgenre: shoegaze (where constantly looking at the guitars pedals served the double purpose of avoiding the eyes of the crowd). Today, however, Amelie (2001) is not as charming as it was 20 years ago, we cannot fully empathize with Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love (2002) and Joaquin Phoenix comes off as creepy in Her (2013).

The culture of therapy (or self-care) and that of activism (which is projected towards others) have enjoyed prestige and the attention of the market for years. They are so widespread and popular that they inspire both forms of resistance and marketing strategies  and shyness is a most counterproductive attribute for these two universes. If, as philosopher Sara Ahmed has been defending since 2004, emotions are also politics, what sense would it make to repress them instead of expressing them, other than to maintain unfair situations or privileges? So whether it is to change things, to get a promotion, to externalize your innermost traumas or to sell a podcast: to be yourself, you can no longer be shy.

Bad times for the Woody Allens of the world

The contemporary world demands qualities opposite to shyness. However, instead of putting an end to it, maybe this just hides it more. Whats in full decline is the figure of the ostentatious shy person, the glamorization of shyness, says Spanish musician Marcelo Criminal. Im thinking about the brutal decline of the quintessential shy man: Woody Allen. Beyond the other issues for which he is disliked, his character has no prestige in todays world.

Ryan ONeal, a shy man, and Barbra Streisand, the unrestrained woman who came to save him, in Whats Up, Doc?

Philosopher Elena Castro agrees: shy people have not become extinct, they just changed due to the intervention of the screens. She elaborates: In order to take a selfie, you must look directly at the camera. This holding of the gaze is associated with expressiveness. But, in reality, the person that looks at their shoes while they sing, as a gesture of openness to others, is not so different from the shy one who takes a selfie. Maybe now the tension between expressiveness and shyness means that you are capable of doing a live stream, but still have a hard time interacting in real life.

Shyness at the office

Even though shy characters are no longer attractive, shyness is clearly still among us. But what is the essence of it? To what extent is it more incapacitating today than ever? Raquel Hevia, psychologist and human resources specialist, responds: Shyness is one thing and introversion is another. Shyness is the fear of being observed or judged by others, which leads to avoiding social situations. It is an avoidance strategy. Introversion is a personality trait that has to do with calmness, reflection or spending time alone.

However, even though these might seem like bad times for the timid (the border between the public and the private is more permeable than ever, not to mention that many work environments demand constant publicness), since the internet is in itself a mask, Hevia reflects, now there are more contexts where you can have a functional life without being completely exposed. Furthermore, all is not lost outside the virtual world. Face to face, an introvert can be a good leader, even more empathetic, because they spend more time listening to others than talking and most of the things that affect communication take place before we open our mouths.

His teachers said it: Serge Gainsbourg was a shy child who knew how to change (perhaps too much). In any case, does a shy person really need to modify their behavior? If we talk about pathological shyness, continues the psychologist, we have to work on it like we work on phobias. The person must know its origin and re-perceive their environment as a safe environment.

Another movie that pairs a classic shy guy with a Manic Pixie Dream Girl that is there to change him: 500 Days of Summer. Fotograma de (500) dias juntos (2009)

In less serious cases, overcoming shyness usually helps in work situations that require fluid communication with colleagues that are as busy as you. It is not about matters like competence or the personal brand; it is about avoiding the frustration of others not recognizing true talent and effort. People with imposter syndrome and high levels of shyness face this on a regular basis. Hevia explains: Sometimes we feel that what we do speaks for us. But when you only focus on doing things well, it is very difficult for others to notice, because everyone is focused on their own tasks. Being able to show what you are and what you do is as important as being it and doing it. When you have a real, concrete skill, its important that you devote some energy to making it visible. Shyness and introversion are a barrier: if you dont raise your hand, no one will know that you know the answer.

Shyness and gender: From the Victorian woman to the incel

When it comes to phenomena related to communication  and shyness is one of them  analyzing how much and when the sender opens their mouth is as necessary as knowing where they do it from and who takes advantage of their silence. If we think about shyness in capital letters, says Castro, which we relate to modesty, we realize that it is closely linked to the female subject who represses her desire and whose value is measured by the reachability of her closeness, openness or privacy. The woman has to be shy so that this whole heterosexual narrative of achieving affection in terms of a gain can go forward. This is a model, the philosopher adds, that fortunately is now seen almost as a parody. She gives an example: those dreadful verses [by Pablo Neruda], I like you when you are quiet because it is as though you are absent, which we can no longer hear because what used to be taken as an eroticization of shyness or mystery is actually sexism, enjoying the silence of the person next to him so he can talk non-stop.

However, with the remains of a model that is finally beginning to collapse, some men have formed in certain corners of the internet misogyny circles or incel communities: the darker side of contemporary shyness. It is no coincidence that the space that has hosted the messages of this community for the longest number of years was called Love-shy.com. Incels (or involuntary celibates) believe in a sex/gender system that works as a market that they cannot access. These adults or teenagers have minimum contact with the women that surround them and believe that conquest is the only way a man and a woman can possibly relate. As per their own stories, if they are incapable of achieving these conquests it is due to their shyness.

In fiction, a man in danger of becoming an incel is usually saved at the last moment by a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, an archetype of those very young, white girls, which alternate states of repression with bursts of eccentricity, in Castros words. Ramona Flowers, from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), is one of the most famous MPDGs, as well as one of the biggest obsessions of the incels, who have turned her into the subject of hundreds of memes and a symbol of everything they hate and, at the same time, desire. Other notable examples are Barbra Streisand in Whats Up, Doc? (1972) and Zooey Deschanel in 500 Days of Summer (2009).

In any case, what drives the incel community  which is closely related to other sectors of the extreme right  to spread hate messages and, in the worst cases, to commit acts of terrorism, is not shyness: it is sexism.

Old shyness, new honesty?

A few months ago, actors Paul Mescal (who appears in the 2020 adaptation of Sally Rooneys novel Normal People and in last years film Aftersun) and Joe Alwyn (who in 2022 was in Conversations with Friends, by the same author) said that they have a WhatsApp group chat called Tortured Man Club. Statements like this  which border on cliches  in the context of the so-called Sally Rooney phenomenon, around a writer obsessed with the honesty of her characters, can be taken as a nod to the new sincerity, the expression that literary criticism used to refer to what separated David Foster Wallaces novels from the previously dominant American narrative. The novelty was that  sometimes in an exaggerated way  Wallaces characters renounced cynicism and sought to express themselves and act just as (they believed) they were, that is, they wanted to be authentic (and, along the way, overcome their shyness).

Since then, the label new sincerity has been applied to almost all artistic disciplines, to the point of becoming an aesthetic that, according to Castro, would be related to such a great excess of expressiveness or emotionality that the viewer suspects that what they are seeing is ironic. The new sincerity, the philosopher continues, is not an overcoming of shyness, but a suspicion of whether what the other person is doing or saying is genuine or not. Once the theme of pastiches, irony or post-irony is behind, an apparently unfiltered and naive expressiveness raises suspicion that there is a double ironic twist.

Castro also believes that many neo-sincere people resort to childish aesthetics because childhood is the stage of life during which shyness is more normalized. Claiming aesthetics of the small, the cute and the infantile, queer and dissident subjects pose impossibilities to a normative social functioning. Someone dressed as a modest fairy poses a form of resistance to communication and consumption codes, she concludes.

As for Marcelo Criminal, his work is full of characters who openly address their shyness and who, by talking about it, make it somehow disappear or transform. These characters are frequent in my work because I am greatly influenced by the online world in which shy people usually find solace. I have been on social media all my life, and the people there are often not well. Online cries for help are the literary genre that I have read the most in my entire life. Online cries for help are one of the most important social phenomena in recent years  for the shy ones, too, who no longer seem absent.

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Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

There are many ways to talk about what happened last Saturday, when Hamas began a terrorist attack against Israel that sparked a new war and led us to a world more broken than the broken world we already live in. There are many ways to talk about it, I say, but one thing is certain: we have never seen this before, and there is no way to imagine the consequences it will have.

When I say that we have never seen it before, I am referring to our new world of cameras in our pockets and live-streaming, which has put us in the midst of unfiltered horror: the horror of families with children who were kidnapped amid screams and fear, the horror of the militiamen who entered populated places and took lives indiscriminately  we have gotten used to the adverb  the horror of the young people running through sandy fields to escape the attacks and call their parents to tell them that something is not right. A video shows a white pickup truck entering the city of Sderot  it has a machine gun mounted on the back  and then the dead bodies of those waiting for the bus at a stop. Another video shows a family shot inside their car (a woman, a father who had managed to get out, a son or daughter).

And when I say there is no way to imagine what is to come, I am thinking of the evidence that this war is not just between Israel and Hamas. Those who know more about the subject had already pointed out that the sophistication of the attack, its wealth of resources and its patient organization, are unthinkable without the help of Tehran. And that, which seems so obvious to so many, would throw the region into a state of unusual and unpredictable tension. There is no way to know what this Iranian involvement in the bloodiest attack in Israels recent history will entail. Nor is it possible to forget that Putins war against Ukraine has been waged for a long time with Iranian drones, because those paths will lead us to uncertain destinations. It is not possible to ignore the fact that in this new war, Israel will need military aid, and that help will come from the United States, just as the aid that prevented Israels defeat in the Yom Kippur War half a century ago came from the United States. But what does that mean?

For now, a collateral victim of Hamass attack on Israel is Ukraine, since the fronts that the United States can keep open are not unlimited. It is not only a question of weapons: in our cruel economy of attention, in our exhausted lives whose capacity to take on the pain of others is limited, nothing worse could happen to the Ukrainian efforts to communicate their tragedy than the appearance on the world stage of a new tragedy. In recent months, much has been written about what is now called a multipolar world, the competition of small actors eager to take some of the power that the big hitters have lost, and this is also how we can talk about the new war: as one more test that the new world order that emerged after 1945  incidentally, the creation of Israel in 1948 is part of that order  has unraveled in several places. But this conversation is geopolitical, and I have always had the impression that to talk like this is to leave out many important things: history, with all its cruel lessons about the moment when what is happening now was sown; language, which suffers every day in times of war; and, above all, the people, whose bodies suffer violence. Is there room in our conversation to talk about all that? We must try to make it so. Because only in this way, speaking of the individual suffering of human beings, can we respond to statements such as those made by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who, after advocating dialogue (and that is good but empty), has been incapable of condemning the attacks, has resuscitated them, and has equated Gaza with Auschwitz.

In any case, those of us who have followed the history of this large war made up of small wars have inevitably remembered what happened in October 1973, when Egypt and Syria chose the Yom Kippur holiday to attack Israel. This time it was the festival of Sukkot. When this attack began, when the Israelis on the border saw the first rockets light up the early morning sky, 50 years and a few hours had passed since Yom Kippur, and it is inconceivable that the Israeli forces had not even taken precautions for the anniversary  everyone knows that fanatics like anniversaries, and intelligence services take more precautions when certain dates approach. But that is where the similarities end: back then it was a conventional war between two conventional enemies, a war between armies and states. This weekends attack on civilians, cruel and cowardly, makes us think more of September 11, 2001. Except for the novel and terrifying element of kidnapping. And that changes everything.

The kidnapping of more than 100 Israeli citizens, children and adolescents among them, who are now tokens for prisoner exchange or tools for terrorist blackmail, distinguishes this war from those that have preceded it. Hamas had never dared to do that, or, if it had ever contemplated it, had never managed to carry it out. In 2011, Benjamin Netanyahu exchanged a kidnapped Israeli soldier for more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners. Now there are many more kidnapped people, and they can and will also be used as human shields, and that makes life considerably difficult for Netanyahu, a leader whom a large part of Israels population considers undesirable. Not only that: as far as I have been able to confirm, a good number of the Israeli public blame him for the security catastrophe that has just occurred. Too busy subverting his countrys democracy by attempting real coups against the judiciary, Netanyahu did not measure (because he has never wanted to measure) the effect that the division, polarization, and confrontation that he himself has sown would have on his society. For months, it seemed, senior military commanders had warned him that social and political divisions were projecting an image of fragility that his enemies would take advantage of. Many reservists, as reported here in July, were rebelling against the authoritarianism of their government and its attacks on democracy.

An article in Le Monde talks about the videos that Hamas has proudly published: Israeli children kidnapped and surrounded by Palestinian children who harass them; an 85-year-old woman, surrounded by her captors, smiling in her senility and apparently unaware of the danger she was in. Every Israeli, regardless of age, sex, or origin, has become a military target of Hamas, and Saturdays attacks are the most obvious embodiment of that horrific deterioration in relations. But then the Israeli Defense Minister has appeared, calling the Palestinians human animals, and we can venture that this war will sow the seeds of future attacks. The horror that we now see comes from a long time ago, and only foreshadows a degradation in the situation. As long as there is no two-state solution, there is no reason to think that one day the atrocities will end.

Juan Gabriel Vasquez is a writer.

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Opinion articles written in the style of their author." These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. shall feature, along with the author's name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed

This time the bloody choreography that has been repeated for years  by which Hamas and the Israeli army exchange rocket fire and the bombardment of Gaza  has not been fulfilled. This script is different, more terrifying, and now being written by the fundamentalist militia. Never before has Hamas operated at such a level, kidnapping more than a hundred people and gunning down the inhabitants of the kibbutz and villages near the Strip, killing 1,200 people. The images and testimonies that are coming in give an idea of the magnitude of the massacres committed by the militia. While this was taking place, Israeli forces were nowhere to be seen, as if absent.

It took four days for the all-powerful Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take control of the southern border with Gaza, where the security fence was demolished by a bulldozer, an action that has become a symbol against the occupation and the deadly Israeli blockade of the Strip. In the aftermath of the attack, a feeling of chaos and abandonment is spreading among the Israeli population. Where is the army? And the government? A friend of mine this week showed me a photo of her relatives, who traveled to the southern border from Tel Aviv with boxes full of food for the soldiers because they were short on supplies. On Tuesday, a man shouted on a conservative television channel. Mr. Prime Minister, come out, face the media, apologize. There are many other who feel the same way. It is the same sense of abandonment they feel when the army relentlessly shells the Gaza strip, seemingly oblivious to the fate of the hostages. This is also new in Israel, a country that in the past has gone to great lengths to recover the living, and the dead, from its side.

A feeling of fragility and mistrust towards a state that has justified almost everything in the name of security is emerging strongly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the standard bearer of security and an iron fist, has failed miserably on his own terms. The security he claimed to embody turned out to be a chimera. Emperor Bibi was in fact naked and the image of the strong and invincible Israel has evaporated, and not only in the eyes of Hamas. We have been living in an imaginary reality for years, a senior military reserve officer said this week in the daily Haaretz.

That imaginary reality has in recent months concentrated Israels security problems in the West Bank, the Palestinian territory where more than half a million settlers live illegally, in addition to more than 200,000 in East Jerusalem. While the army and the ultra-right-wing government were carefully guarding the invading settlers, it was neglecting the threat coming from the Strip, according to many analysts. Last June, the army decided to expand its presence in the West Bank from 13 to 25 battalions. Netanyahus strategy of benefiting from the divide-and-rule between Fatah and Hamas, and allowing the Islamists in Gaza to grow fat in order to weaken the authorities in the West Bank, has ended in bloodshed.

Over the last 18 months the West Bank has been the scene of daily army raids, as well as continuous attacks by settlers, who now have significant representation within a government that protects them. In the first six months of 2023, the United Nations counted almost 600 attacks by settlers, the highest monthly average since it began recording them in 2006. This year has also seen the highest number of Palestinians killed since 2005  more than 200 by Israeli gunfire and 35 Israelis killed by Palestinian attacks  even before the war broke out last Saturday, UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland reported recently. Meanwhile, the government has approved 13,000 settlement homes and legalized 20 embryonic colonies, according to statistics from Israeli pressure group Peace Now, again the highest figure since records began in 2012. For if Gaza has been condemned to the blockade, Palestinians in the West Bank have been forced for years to live in Bantustans where settlers impose their law and their violence.

Gnawing at the foundations of the State of Israel

It is those settlers that so many Israelis now look to and accuse of gnawing away at the foundations of the State of Israel, jeopardizing its security for the sake of a messianic, ultra-nationalist agenda that pursues the conquest of what they consider the promised land. The question Israelis are all asking is  where were the soldiers yesterday? Why was the IDF seemingly absent while hundreds of Israelis were slaughtered in their homes and on the streets? Breaking the Silence, the Israeli army veterans collective that is critical of the occupation, posted on the social network X. The unfortunate truth is that they were preoccupied In the West Bank. 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.

Last weekend, soldiers were also protecting far-right MP Zvi Sukkot, who on Friday moved his parliamentary office to a temporary building in Hawara, one of the hot spots for settler attacks in the northern West Bank, to celebrate the Simchat Torah holiday.

Now, the sense of chaos has replaced the militarized security of recent years, when many Israelis believed that everything was under control, that they trusted a state and an army that until now seemed to be able to manage the conflict: not to solve it, but to manage it by force and abuse. Since Saturday, the idea that Gaza was manageable, as if it were a pressure cooker where it was enough to lower the heat so that the valve would not blow up, has lost any hint of validity.

Unity despite differences

Even so, the immediate response of the population after the shock will once again be unity. Despite the deep differences that divide Israeli society, the country will remain united in the face of the new conflict. The demonstrations against Netanyahus judicial reform have been suspended and politicians, including the opposition, are preparing to form a national unity government.

The army has reminded the population that this is not the time to analyze the failures of the state  compared to those of the 1973 Yom Kippur war  and that the rest can wait. First we fight, then we investigate, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said. Or as Nahum Barnea wrote this week in Yedioth Ahronoth: Shut up and shoot, recalling what journalist and government advisor Amiram Nir wrote at the beginning of Lebanons first war in 1982. But anger against this government is palpable and comes at a fertile moment, when discontent has already been expressed in the streets for months. The silence threatens to turn into a roar when the guns fall silent.

It is too soon for all that. Now there is pain and astonishment at the reports documenting the crimes committed by Hamas. Another Israeli friend reminded me last night that it is a small country and that everyone knows a family victim of the barbarity of the last few days.

But few doubt that a new era is dawning, in which business as usual is not an option. The paradigms on which the security of the state was based have proved to be false and the illusion that the occupation can be maintained for life, and the freedom of five million people can be cut off, has proven lethal for Israel.

Ana Carbajosa is a journalist and author of The tribes of Israel: the internal battle for the Jewish State'

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To Patricia reads the inscription of Le dedico mi silencio  I give you my silence, in English  the new novel by Mario Vargas Llosa. Patricia Llosa is both his cousin and ex-wife. The forthcoming book by the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature will be available in bookstores on October 26. Its a heartfelt tribute to Peruvian music  waltzes, marineras, polkas, and huainos  as well as the rich folklore of his country. The novel also eloquently conveys Vargas Llosas love for his wife of 50 years. A member of the writers inner circle said the dedication was a thoughtful and fitting gesture, but demurred from putting labels on the couples current relationship. Its not my place to say whether their relationship is romantic or not, but the important thing is that the family, estranged for seven years, is back together.

When the Alfaguara publishing house revealed the title of the new novel, some gossip columnists speculated that Vargas Llosa was sending a hidden message to Isabel Preysler, with whom he had a seven-year romance. The relationship ended in late 2022, said Preysler in an interview with Hola! magazine. While many of his books contain autobiographical elements  Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (1977), The War of the End of the World (1981) and A Fish in the Water (1993)  this book is not about his relationship with the so-called tabloid queen. Instead, it focuses on one of his other passions: Perus autochthonous music. Ironically, Mario actually wrote most of the book while he was with Isabel, said one of his close friends. The writer spent the last three years of his relationship with Preysler writing this novel, which, friends say, might be his final work of fiction. Hes currently working on a lengthy essay about Jean-Paul Sartre, which will likely take another year or two to complete. Since hes nearly 88 years old, its unlikely that he will write any more fiction because novels typically take him two or three years. By the time he completes the Sartre essay, he will be almost 90. Could he write another novel? Who knows? With him, you never know.

Mario Vargas Llosa and Patricia Llosa at an awards ceremony in Madrid; 2011. Europa Press via Getty Images

Although people close to the Vargas Llosa family are reluctant to discuss the relationship between the writer and his ex-wife, the cousins are undeniably close. They spent the entire summer together in southern Italy, Marbella, and Salzburg. After the release of Le dedico mi silencio, they plan to travel to their home in the Dominican Republic, before celebrating Patricias birthday in Lima on November 22 and spending Christmas there with their children and grandchildren.

In March, Vargas Llosa made a short visit to Lima to finalize his novel. Patricia Llosa warmly welcomed the family into the apartment they shared for so many years. Alvaro, their eldest son, posted a photo on social media of the writer working in his former office with a view of the Pacific Ocean. That gathering took place shortly after Vargas was inducted into the Academie Francaise in a ceremony attended by his ex-wife and children. The family summit in Paris marked the beginning of a gradual reconciliation. Since then, the two have resumed some of their old routines, including stays at their penthouse on Flora Street in Madrid and their apartment in Paris. They have also escaped to some of their favorite places to unwind, like the Buchinger clinic in Marbella and the Salzburg Music Festival. Their upcoming trip to the Dominican Republic in November seems to be another step towards restoring their relationship.

In early February, the Vargas Llosa family gathered at their Paris apartment. From left: Isabella Reich, Stefan Reich, Morgana Vargas Llosa, Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Nada Chedid, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, Mario, Patricia, and Anais Reich. MIGUEL E. MARTINEZ COLIN

Mario Vargas Llosa and Patricia Llosa separated in 2015 after the writers affair with Isabel Preysler was revealed. They had recently celebrated 50 years of marriage at their favorite restaurant in New York. According to the Abc newspaper, Patricia sent a letter to Isabel Preysler shortly afterward, forewarning that her husband would eventually return home. True to her prediction, Mario did indeed reenter Patricias life eight years later.
Jeff Beck, a professor in the University of Wyoming Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, is an editor and co-author of the new open-access book Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.

The 30-chapter publication, compiled by Beck and fellow editors Lance McNew of Montana State University and David Dahlgren of Utah State University, presents a collection of leading research on contemporary rangeland wildlife management.

Authored by more than 100 experts, the book explores wildlife conservation and ecology in the working landscapes of western North America. Contributors include UW researchers Beck, Drew Bennett, Anna Chalfoun, Joe Holbrook, Jerod Merkle, Myrna Miller and Derek Scasta, as well as former Ph.D. students Jake Hennig and Ryan Wilbur.

The new publication examines anthropogenic influences on western rangelands, including livestock production and grazing, as well as species-specific content on sage-grouse, pronghorn, elk, feral equids and other wildlife. The authors conclude with a discussion of socioecological factors in rangeland management, including living with predators, economic considerations and conservation.

All three of us [editors] are educators and we really want to help educate the public, to make people more aware, and offer better answers because theres so many issues with rangeland wildlife species, Beck explains.

These issues are particularly relevant in Wyoming. According to Beck, approximately 85 percent of the states land can be classified as rangeland.

While the book is designed with students and professionals in mind, the content is meant to be accessible by a more general audience as well. If youre a hunter, angler, hiker, or just enjoy wildlife viewing, and you have questions about these kinds of issues, this is a great resource for you, says Beck.

Becks team chose to publish Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation online and open access, which means there is free and unlimited access to its content. Readers have the option to download individual chapters or the entire text.

My hope is that people will use it, Beck comments. We wanted open access so it can be freely accessible to everyone. The online version, published last month, has already received nearly 50,000 views.

To view the book online, visit https://bit.ly/rangeland-wildlife. For those interested in a print copy, softcover and hardcover versions are available for purchase on the publishers website and through major bookstores.

In addition to serving as editor of the publication, Beck is lead author of the chapter focused on sage-grouse and co-author of two other chapters. To learn more about his research and publications, contact him at jlbeck@uwyo.edu or visit https://bit.ly/beck-lab.
Preliminary studies of samples from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu show evidence of water and a high carbon content, which NASA says could indicate the building blocks of life on Earth may be found in the rock. On September 24, a capsule that had made a 6.2 billion-kilometer galactic journey to the asteroid Bennu and back to Earth landed with great precision in the Utah desert. The capsule, dropped by the OSIRIS-REx probe, carried inside it more than two ounces (60 grams) of black dirt and rocks from the surface of this 500-meter-long (1,610 ft) space rock, which is the most threatening to Earth in terms of a potential collision and which holds secrets about the origin of our galactic neighborhood, NASA explained.

During the first past two weeks, scientists have conducted a quick-look analysis for an initial understanding of the material from Bennu, the third asteroid from which samples have been collected to be brought back to Earth. In a presentation at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come. Initial analysis shows the presence of water and carbon molecules, which are necessary for life, Nelson explained.

As we peer into the ancient secrets preserved within the dust and rocks of asteroid Bennu, we are unlocking a time capsule that offers us profound insights into the origins of our solar system, added Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator, from the University of Arizona, Tucson.

The bounty of carbon-rich material and the abundant presence of water-bearing clay minerals are just the tip of the cosmic iceberg, said Lauretta. These discoveries, made possible through years of dedicated collaboration and cutting-edge science, propel us on a journey to understand not only our celestial neighborhood but also the potential for lifes beginnings. With each revelation from Bennu, we draw closer to unraveling the mysteries of our cosmic heritage.

Image of Bennu taken by the 'OSIRIS-REx' probe. AP

As soon as it landed, technicians transported the artifact to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to treat it with extreme care to avoid contamination. Once at the laboratory, the specialists managed to open the canister lid, but came up against problems: scientists discovered bonus asteroid material covering the outside of the collector head, canister lid, and base. There was so much extra material it slowed down the careful process of collecting and containing the primary sample, the agency reported.

Until now, five grams of 4.5 billion-year-old soil extracted from the asteroid Ryugu were considered the oldest material in the solar system to be brought back, thanks to the Japanese mission carried out by the Hayabusa 2 space probe. This capsule returned to Earth in 2020 and its analysis showed that it carried uracil, one of the four letters of RNA, the essential molecule for life. This proved that this compound is present in space and reinforced the hypothesis that organic molecules present in asteroids and comets contributed to the prebiotic evolution of the Earth. It took Japan three years to publish the results of this research.

Opening the capsule lid to extract the dirt and rock sample from the asteriod Bennu at NASA's Johnson Space Center. ROBERT MARKOWITZ NASA-JSC

Asteroids are, in a sense, time capsules. They are considered fossils of the solar system, holding the keys to understanding the formation of our planetary neighborhood, and they are being studied to analyze whether they were at the origin of water and even the life that arose on Earth. It is suspected that these space travelers could have transported both water from the oceans and the building blocks of the first organic compounds.

The first part of the round-trip mission was completed by reaching the asteroid Bennu, which circles the Sun between Mars and Earth, when it was at a point more than 300 million kilometers away from Earth. There, it collected a handful of dirt and rocks, a portion of which will remain unstudied for future scientists. Bennu is expected to cross paths with the Earth on September 24, 2182, and there would be a one in 2,700 risk of impact, according to NASA.

This NASA project is the third to successfully bring asteroid fragments back to Earth, following the success of the Japanese probes Hayabusa 1 and 2 in 2010 and 2020, respectively. In 2005, Hayabusa 1 obtained a few particles from the asteroid Itokawa, and returned in 2010 after an eventful five-year journey back. The upgraded version of that probe, Hayabusa 2, collected five grams from Ryugu. Now, OSIRIS-REx is back with more than 10 times that amount. In the meantime, the OSIRIS-REx probe is already preparing for its next mission to meet the asteroid Apophis, which will pass close to Earth in 2029, just 30,000 kilometers away.
New types of farmers inject vitality into rural industries

People's Daily Online) 09:21, October 12, 2023

Rural e-commerce is experiencing sustained and high-quality development, playing a crucial role in driving the growth of rural residents' income and the development of the agriculture sector. It has brought new opportunities and vitality to rural areas and become an important way to empower rural revitalization.

E-commerce livestreams have enabled specialty agricultural products to reach households far and wide. New types of farmers are actively pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams, working towards their entrepreneurial aspirations and contributing to the growth of income and prosperity.

In 2018, Zhang Guodan, a woman of the Dong ethnic group, returned to her hometown in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province and started promoting folk songs of the Dong ethnic group through short videos.

In early 2019, as a way to thank her fans, Zhang Guodan made chili sauce and filmed the process. Unexpectedly, the video quickly went viral.

Members of Zhang Guodan's team promote local products via livestreaming. (Photo/Guizhou Culture and Tourism Department)

"Many viewers said that the chili sauce looked delicious and asked me where they could buy it," Zhang Guodan said.

Encouraged by her followers, Zhang Guodan launched her first product-- the chili sauce-- on an e-commerce platform. The product sold out quickly, which made her very excited.

This achievement inspired her to utilize e-commerce platforms to sell rural specialty products and promote high-quality agricultural products from her hometown. Her goal is to assist villagers to increase their incomes.

Zhang Guodan also records the daily lives of local residents through short videos, sharing activities they participate in, such as making glutinous rice cakes, pickling fish, weaving fabrics and embroidery, and making straw shoes.

Through Zhang Guodan's short videos, netizens have gained a deeper understanding of the Dong culture.

In 2021, Zhang Zhigang from Zhangping city, southeast China's Fujian Province, started learning about e-commerce. He chose to sell locally grown green plants and flowers through livestreams and short videos. Within a few days, his store received numerous orders, sometimes selling over 10,000 orders of green plants and flowers in a day.

In the past, it was challenging for local flower farmers to sell their green plants and flowers. But now, with a smartphone, they can showcase their products to consumers through short videos, live-streaming, and other channels.

Encouraged by him, more and more flower farmers are joining the e-commerce industry, and many young people who used to work in other places are returning to their hometowns and joining the e-commerce industry.

"We grow 30,000 flower plants on 2 mu (0.13 hectares) of farmland, and we expect an annual income of 180,000 yuan ($24,653). We don't have to worry about sales anymore. We are very grateful that someone helps us sell our products nationwide through livestreaming," said Zhang Nanjin, a villager from Jiuming village of Zhangping.

Livestream anchor Lu Xiaokai is a villager from a border town in Raohe county, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. In 2019, he returned to his hometown and started to sell local specialty products through live-streaming.

"Platforms like Douyin provide a stage for rural people to develop. I feel like I've caught a great opportunity," he said.

Lu took it upon himself to assist farmers to sell their products through live-streaming, dedicated to promoting the sales of natural farm products.

By leveraging short videos and livestreams, he has helped local agricultural products reach a broader market. He also collaborated with local enterprises.

Data shows that in the first half of 2023, online retail sales in China's rural areas rose 12.5 percent year-on-year to reach 1.12 trillion yuan.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, has announced the resumption of flights to Kabul International Airport (KBL) from November 15.

The carrier will operate a double-daily service from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB), it said.

flydubai has created a growing network of more than 115 destinations in 54 countries served by a young and efficient fleet of 78 Boeing 737 aircraft. 

Return Business Class fares from DXB to KBL start from AED8,000 and Economy Class fares start from AED2,800. - TradeArabia News Service
Leonardo da Vinci tended to experiment in each of his works, not only with composition techniques, but also with the materials he used. To paint the Mona Lisa, his most famous masterpiece, it is likely that the artist used a unique mixture of lead oil in the preliminary layer. A group of French scientists came to this conclusion when they found plumbonacrite in a mini-fragment of the celebrated canvas. The presence of this mineral, the use of which was unusual at the time, suggests that the Renaissance genius tried to innovate by applying a thick mixture on the board on which he immortally enshrined La Gioconda.

The research, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, provides new information about the palette used by Da Vinci, says Victor Gonzalez, one of the authors of the study. The findings can be useful for the understanding and preservation of his paintings, adds the French National Center for Scientific Research analyst. The European Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (ESRF), the Louvre Museum, and the French Ministry of Culture also participated in the study.

Da Vinci, a great polymath who had the ability to combine art and science in the 16th century, left behind many manuscripts in which he developed his multiple sources of interest, such as engineering or architecture. But as the study highlights, he left few clues about the materials used in his painting. Nevertheless, scientists agree on his taste for experimentation. In each of his paintings, the research adds, the composition of the layers is different, as are the materials used.

Marine Cotte at the European Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (ESRF). STEF CANDE

A tiny sample, but a lot of information

The tiny fragment analyzed, which corresponds to the first layer that the artist applied on the famous poplar wood panel, provides key information. It measures less than 100 microns  one micron corresponds to one thousandth of a millimeter  and was on the upper right side of the painting that hundreds of people flock to see every day at the Louvre in Paris.

To analyze this small sample, protected between two sheets of glass, the team used the synchrotron, a kind of giant microscope located in the city of Grenoble. In the laboratory, they also applied infrared analysis.

The results revealed the presence of a unique lead oil mixture, one that is very different from what is usually seen in oil paintings of the period. We detected by surprise a compound called plumbonacrite, Gonzalez says. Da Vinci did not use it as a pigment and it was not part of his palette, the researcher adds.

On the contrary, the substance was formed after chemical reactions in the paint itself, so it implies the presence of another compound. The researchers believe that this is lead oxide. In other words: to paint the first layer of the Mona Lisa, Da Vinci would have mixed his oil with lead oxide (litharge), a mixture with which a creamy, paste-like consistency is obtained.

There are several clues to support this hypothesis, explains Marine Cotte, co-author of the study who works at the ESRF in Grenoble. In 2019, plumbonacrite was detected in the paintings of Rembrandt, the 17th century Dutch master. In his case, he used it for impasto on his canvases, which accentuated the feeling of chiaroscuro. Rembrandt put us on the trail, the researcher notes. We thought it was worth reanalyzing the paintings we were working with to see if they didnt also contain the same compound, she explains.

Researcher Victor Gonzalez. BRUNO LAVIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Last Supper and manuscripts as clues

But what really provided the biggest clues were the results of a parallel study that was carried out on samples of The Last Supper, the mural painted by Da Vinci between 1495 and 1498  before La Gioconda  in the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent in Milan.

In addition to finding plumbonacrite in the samples, the researchers also found undissolved particles of lead oxide. It must be said that for La Gioconda we only analyzed a very small sample. We might have found [lead oxide] in another sample, Cotte notes.

In search of further clues, the researchers decided to dive into the artists manuscripts, which are available online. It wasnt an easy task. The language employed by Da Vinci is not the same as that of today, and painting terms differ from chemistry terms.

After a long search, they found a page in the Codex Arundel where lead oxide [letargirio di piombo, in the manuscript] was mentioned. Only the context in which it was used was not painting, but pharmaceuticals. We think that if he used it for remedies, it is likely that he also used it for painting, Cotte explains.

In addition to confirming this hypothesis, further questions remain. It is not known if plumbonacrite is present in the whole canvas, but the study undoubtedly provides new elements to understand the recipes employed by Da Vinci and the evolution of his paintings over time.
Newly built court complexes will expedite judicial process





Legal Correspondent

Justice Ravi Malimath, Chief Justice, Madhya Pradesh High Court and Patron-in-Chief, Madhya Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (MPSLSA), on Wednesday virtually inaugurated Civil Court and Mediation Centre at Tehsil-Sonkatch (Dewas) and Child Friendly Courts at Tehsils Tonkkhurd and Khategaon (Dewas), District Court Complex at Vidisha, Civil Court Complexes at Ganjbasoda (Vidisha) and Maheshwar (Mandleshwar) and Mediation Centres at Hatod (Indore), Sailana (Ratlam), Beohari (Shahdol), Rajendragram (Anuppur), Birsinghpur Pali (Umaria) and Deosar (Singrauli) in presence of portfolio judges of districts concerned and companion judges of MP High Court Principal Seat Jabalpur and Benches at Indore and Gwalior.

On the occasion, the Chief Justice addressed the gathering and expressed that these newly built court complexes will expedite judicial process and streamline management of the case records. Also, the Child Friendly Courts which have been inaugurated today will provide a sensitive and supportive environment for children involved in legal proceedings. His Lordship further informed that a mediation centre building is an important part of the justice delivery system because it provides a neutral and confidential space for people to resolve their disputes peacefully. Mediation is a voluntary process which helps the parties to communicate and negotiate a mutually agreeable solution.

Under the guidance of Justice Sheel Nagu, Administrative Judge, High Court of M.P. and Executive Chairman M.P. State Legal Services Authority, now with the inauguration of these 7 Mediation Centre, Madhya Pradesh has 78 Mediation Centres. With inauguration of these 4 new Court Complexes, 2 Child Friendly Courts and 7 Mediation Centres, the concept of fair and speedy justice can be further strengthened. In the programme Registrar General, Ramkumar Choubey and Registry Officers of High Court of M.P., Chairman and Secretary DLSAs, Judicial Officers, Representatives of Bar of concerned Districts, Officers of MPSLSA were also present. Rajiv Karmahe, Member Secretary, MPSLSA extended vote of thanks.
For the first time, science is going to explore a metallic world up close. Thats the objective of the Psyche mission, which NASA is launching on October 13 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A Falcon Heavy rocket from the SpaceX company will be used to propel the probe from the Earth. Thus will begin a six-year-long journey through the solar system, until reaching a strange asteroid thats very rich in metal. This is one of the closest objects that can help us understand how our planet was formed.

When the new NASA probe reaches the asteroid (named 16 Psyche) in August 2029, it will begin to orbit it at different altitudes, with the aim of determining both its composition and its formation process. These elements  along with its specific shape and the appearance of its surface  are still unknown. It will be up to the Psyche spacecrafts cameras and instruments to reveal the asteroids enigmas.

With the data thats currently available, its possible to think that the asteroid is the heart of a failed planet, which didnt form at all. No one has ever been able to directly observe the metallic core of a planet: the possibility of doing so has driven this space mission, but its not the only possibility. The probe could find something totally different.

The first hypothesis is that 16 Psyche is what remains of a planetesimal (the precursor of a planet), which was larger and was already differentiated: it may have had an inner iron core, separated from its rocky mantle, but then could have suffered from violent impacts that left the core exposed. Another explanation for the asteroids metal-rich surface: the material could have escaped from the core  through a relatively thin mantle of 15 miles  as a result of volcanic eruptions of iron. This ferrovolcanism would also explain the low density of the asteroid.

The third hypothesis  and perhaps the most improbable  describes 16 Psyche as a collection of metallic materials that accumulated near the Sun. However, if this was so, it would remain to be explained how this astronomical object could reach its current location, at a distance three times greater than that of the Earth from the Sun.

This low-cost mission (by NASAs standards, at least, since its budget is just under $1 billion) will transport a probe the size of a small van for almost 2.5 billion miles, until it reaches the metal-rich asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, where it will orbit 16 Psyche. The spacecrafts scientific instruments will make it possible to map and study the properties of this asteroid, which has a diameter of 140 miles. For instance, by observing the shape of its craters, researchers will obtain information about the impact processes, the nature of the material and, possibly, its age. This data will tell us if the asteroid was formed under conditions similar to those that brought about the Earths core.

The Earths core isnt a place filled with dinosaurs; theres no bizarre adventure down there, like the one imagined by Jules Verne in his classic science fiction novel Journey to the Center of the Earth. Nor is it hollow, as astronomer Edmund Halley mistakenly deduced based on the value of the relative density of the Moon, which was provided by Isaac Newton. The Earths core is, quite simply, made of metal. In and of itself, that makes it fascinating.

Representation of the layers of the Earth: the mantle in green, the outer core in beige and the inner core in dark red. The lines represent the trajectory of earthquakes. Drew Whitehouse

Current technology only allows us to drill about 7.5 miles deep into earth, while the core is about 1,800 miles deep. Still, this limitation hasnt prevented us from deducing what the earths core is composed of, in the same way that we dont have to cut open someones leg to know if theyve broken their tibia. The physics of the process is the same, whether you want to deduce whats inside a leg or the Earth. But, in the latter case, rather than analyzing the transmission of X-ray waves, the seismic waves of earthquakes in different parts of the planet are measured.

We also know that the Earths core is very hot, due to the slow disintegration of radioactive elements left over from the formation of the planet. We can also confirm that its subject to a pressure several million times stronger than that of the atmosphere. But knowing all of this without being able to see it or reach it doesnt put an end to scientific curiosity, especially if theres the slightest opportunity to observe something that even remotely resembles the Earths core. And this is where objects such as 16 Psyche are so relevant.

This asteroid  which economists have put a price on  isnt cheap. Its estimated to be worth 70,000 times the entire global economy. Its a little metal world composed primarily of iron and nickel  possibly similar to the Earths core. And there lies the scientific interest, since these types of metallic asteroids are the pieces with which planets are built. To understand how this process occurs, the Psyche probe will orbit the asteroid, scrutinizing its composition, topography and the possible presence of a paleomagnetic field, which may have been fossilized in the asteroid from the moment it was formed.

The archeology of space rocks

An asteroid is a rock that orbits in space around the Sun, just like planets. However, its neither large enough to be classified as a planet, nor small enough to be considered a meteoroid. And, despite being referred to as rocks, asteroids are an extremely diverse group. To distinguish and classify the more than 100,000 known asteroids, scientists have looked at the sunlight they reflect. Depending on the chemical composition of their surface (which reveals that reflected light), they can be classified into different categories, to which a letter is assigned.

For example, C is for carbonaceous asteroids which are dark: thats why few of these asteroids  located in the most distant parts of the solar system  are known. S is for silicates, which are shiny and, therefore, easy to see. If theres ever an asteroid on a collision course with Earth, itd better be an S-type asteroid! And then, there are the Ms, made of metals, such as 16 Psyche, which is a fairly large M-class asteroid.

Psyche was one of the first asteroids discovered, as reflected by the number 16 in its name. The Italian astronomer who discovered it in 1852 decided to name it in honor of the Greek personification of the soul, which takes the form of a woman with butterfly wings. With the mission thats launched today  which bears this name  we will be able to learn new details about the history of the solar system. Thus, the knowledge that comes from this new space expedition will take us to the past and, perhaps, also to the interior of our planet.

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Ambazari flood victims PIL: HC notices to State, local admin





Staff Reporter

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, on Wednesday, issued notices to the Chief Secretary of State, Secretary Irrigation Department, Secretary Relief and Rehabilitation Department, District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, Nagpur Improvement Trust, Heritage Committee, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Maha Metro, EE Irrigation Nagpur and directed them to file their replies within three weeks. The court issued the notices in response to a PIL filed by the flood-affected citizens of Nagpur. Counsel for petitioners Adv Dr Tushar Mandlekar argued that the three government authorities have made illegal constructions and hence there is a need for judicial inquiry. Maha Metro has made illegal construction of eight feet wall and seven wonders of world within 200 metres and illegal construction made by NMC of Vivekanand Smarak on the spillway of Ambazari Dam within 100 metres of the Dam, and illegal construction of Skating Ring made by NIT on Nag River. The petitioners contended that Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute Nashik had already declared on August 16, 2017, that the life of Ambazari Dam had ended and it needed to be repaired to avoid floods.

The Bombay High Court had directed the NMC and Maha Metro to take necessary steps to protect and preserve the Ambazari Dam in PIL No 96/2017 on March 21, 2018, but even after six years no steps were taken by the administration, Adv Mandlekar stated. The petitioners have demanded judicial inquiry to fix the responsibility of Government authorities into the entire disaster happening due to overflowing of Ambazari Flood which, according to them, occurred due to negligence of civic authorities. According to the petitioners, the right of way of water was blocked and the water could not smoothly pass through Naag River and so was diverted to the surrounding colonies due to illegal constructions of Maha Metro and NMC. The petitioners have also demanded Rs 2,000 crore for rejuvenation of Naag River, Rs 250 crore for construction and repairs of Sewage and Drainage Lines. The petitioners have demanded ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each affected family which comes to around Rs 1,000 crore. The petitioners have also demanded relocation of Vivekananda Smarak which is constructed in front of the spillway of Ambazari Dam and is within 100 metres of Dam.

According to the petitioners, any development within 200 metres of Ambazari Dam is a direct violation of Government Notification dated March 8, 2018 UDCPR 2022, Wetland Regulation 2010, and hence all activities within 200 metres should be stopped, and the said land should be acquired by the State Government to protect Ambazari Dam. The petitioners have also demanded the constitution of an expert committee for the assessment of damages to the Dam, that can suggest measures to protect, preserve and rejuvenate the Dam. Adv Dr Tushar Mandlekar assisted by Adv Tejas Fadnavis argued for the petitioners. Adv Nivedita Mehata argued for State Government. Adv Girish Kunte for NIT. Adv Ravi Sanyal for MPCB. The vigilant citizens who filed the PIL are - Ramgopal Bisambhardayal Bachuka (91), a resident of Yashwant Nagar, North Ambazari Road; Jayashree Dilip Bansod (70), a resident of near Panchsheel Library, Yashwant Nagar; Natthuji Marotrao Tikkas (84), a retired teacher and a resident of Corporation Colony, Gandhi Nagar and Amrendra Vishwanath Rambhad (47), a resident of Ambazari Lay-Out.
NEW DELHI,

HINDUS from across US, UK, Canada and Australia have slammed the brutal wave of terror and violence unleashed by the Hamas militant group in Israel and urged their Governments to take firm action against the war criminals. Israel has been left reeling by Hamass unprecedented attack that has left thousands dead on both sides, and the fatalities are expected to rise with the conflict entering its fifth day on Wednesday. In a display of solidarity, Hindu and Jewish communities across Canada turned up in sizable numbers for a protest march in Toronto, condemning the Hamas attacks that have been called by many as Israels 9/11 moment. The march called by the Canadian Hindu Forum saw the two communities peacefully marching along, holding Indian and Israeli flags, according to videos shared on X on Tuesday. A peaceful rally was also held in Chicago by Indian-Americans to express solidarity with Israel.

Terrorism is not only an Israel issue, its an ongoing humanitarian issue. It must be stopped before it gets too late! members of the India-American community said in a statement. Strongly condemning the acts against innocent civilians, US-based advocacy organisation, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), said they stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in their mourning of the loss of innocent lives. Violence, especially one that targets innocents, that exults in the degradation of women should never be tolerated by any civil society. We stand with the Jewish community in their mourning of the loss of innocent lives. May peace break out in a thousand different forms, CoHNA said in a statement.

On behalf of Hindus in Britain, the Insight UK group expressed its unequivocal condemnation of the violence against women, children and elderly by Hamas terrorists. The world once again witnessed the brutality of Islamists on innocent women, children and the elderly, including the abduction of children and the use of mass rapes as a weapon of war against Israelis. The victims of the terror attacks included men, women and children from Thailand, Nepal, India and beyond, Insight UK said in a statement. The Hindu Council of Australia said that the community in the country is watching with pain the horror inflicted on innocent Israeli citizens. We call upon the Australian government to pursue all avenues available to it including the UN to ensure that these war criminals are identified, prosecuted and punished, the Council said in a statement.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continue





By Joseph Krauss and

Wafaa Shurafa

JERUSALEM,

PALESTINIANS in the sealed-off Gaza Strip scrambled to find safety on Wednesday, as Israel hammered neighbourhood after neighbourhood in the tiny coastal enclave in retaliation for the deadly incursion by Hamas militants and vowed an even more punishing escalation. The war, which has already claimed at least 2,100 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. Israel appears increasingly likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza -- a 40-kilometre-long strip of land wedged among Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians and has been governed by Hamas since 2007. Airstrikes smashed entire city blocks to rubble, leaving unknown numbers of bodies beneath mounds of debris, and continued even as Hamas militants hold dozens of captives seized during shocking attack into Israel over the weekend. Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the countrys south, gunning down hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival. They dragged an estimated 150 people  soldiers, men, women, children and the elderly  into captivity in Gaza.
Jabalpur only city from India to sign Milan Urban Food Policy Pact





Staff Reporter

The city has once again proved its mettle on international level. Jabalpur is the only city from India which has the opportunity to sign Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUPFF). Municipal Commissioner Swapnil Wankhade informed that the Central Government has organised a national-level competition Eat Smart Challenge in which all smart cities of the country, including Jabalpur, had participated. He said Jabalpur had the opportunity to sign MUPFF. It is a pact that includes 232 cities worldwide, with a steering committee of 13 members and Jabalpur is the only city in India to be selected.

Jabalpur has been chosen to represent Eurasia and South West Asia region for next two years, with Municipal Commissioner Swapnil Wankhade (IAS) representing Jabalpur globally for this endeavour. Wankhade said Jabalpur achieved the designated objectives outlined in the Indian Governments Eat Smart Challenge, which included an increase in licenses and registrations for food business operators, food safety drives led by food safety officials, surveillance of food products, hygiene ratings for food establishments and the establishment of Eat Right Campuses.
NEW DELHI,

THE NIA on Wednesday carried out searches at 20 locations across six States against the banned Popular Front of India in connection with a case related to creating disturbance during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Bihar last year, officials said. An official spokesperson said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out extensive search operations at 20 different locations, including Fazalpur, Shaheen Bagh, Okhla and Chandni Chowk in the national capital. Raids were conducted in Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Thane and Mumbai in Maharashtra, Tonk and Gangapur in Rajasthan, and Lucknow, Siddharthnagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Kanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, he said. Additionally, searches were also conducted in Shaikh was an accused in the 2006 railway blasts case but a trial court acquitted him of all the charges.

The NIA team conducting a raid had to wait outside his residence in suburban Vikhroli on Wednesday as he did not open the door for more than six hours, an official said. An NIA team along with that of the Mumbai Police reached the residence of Abdul Wahid Shaikh, who was earlier accused in the 7/11 train blasts case, located inside a chawl at Parksite in Vikhroli around 5 am. But Shaikh did not open the door for more than six hours and kept the officials waiting outside, the official said. From inside the house, Shaikh demanded a search warrant from the NIA, he said, adding that he opened the door around 11.15 am after his lawyer and some local social activists reached the spot, he said.

The NIA team then entered his residence and started their inquiry in connection with the PFI-related case, the official said. A large number of police personnel were deployed outside Shaikhs residence, he said. Shaikh earlier posted a video message on WhatsApp, saying the police and some people had gathered outside his residence since 5 am. They want to enter my house, also broke one door and damaged the CCTV camera of my house. They are not showing any documents to me pertaining to the case or any FIR, he claimed. Raids were conducted in Tonk, Kota and Gangapur in Rajasthan and Hauz Kaji, Ballimaran, in the national capital. In September 2022, the Government imposed a ban on the PFI for its alleged unlawful activities.
PARADIGM SHIFT





THE current Israel-Palestine (Hamas) conflict has highlighted more pronouncedly the paradigm shift in Indias foreign policy over the past few years. When Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu phoned Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi -- in the thick of war -- to give him updates, the Indian leader assured his friend that India stood firmly with Israel in this time of crisis. This open assertion, second in four days, from India underlines the positive change in Indias foreign policy handling in Middle-East very precisely. This change indicates a changed paradigm, a changed perception of Indias need in the international arena. More importantly, this changed need points less to a political expediency and more to an altered core philosophical construct that propels New Delhi to recognise the historical similarities in the personae of India and Israel. From any and every angle, this paradigm shift is most welcome. As said earlier, the shift has been taking place in the past some years when Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi started the process of drawing Israeli leadership closer, picking up from the work in this area initiated by Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. It was that initiative due to which India could get an immediate supply of weapons and ammunition from Israel at the peak of Kargil conflict towards the closing years of the last century.

Mr. Modi picked up the thread and started working more closely on the idea and built a wonderful relationship with Tel Aviv. But the importance of this development can be understood only against the background of the relations -- or their lack -- India had with Israel in the first fifty years of the formation of Israel (which almost coincided with Independence of India). The Indian leadership was surprisingly shy about building stronger and closer bonds with Israel on the suspicion that the Islamic-Arab countries would not like Indias cozying up with the newly-founded Jewish State and that would impact the opinion of the minority Muslim community in India. Thus, curvaceously, the Indian leadership did not want to let go of the advantage of the Muslim votebank in domestic politics. That was the reason why India did not initiate proper diplomatic relations with Israel for decades on end. That process started moving only in later years -- particularly pushed by Prime Minister Mr. Vajpayee and his close associate Mr. Lal Krishna Advani. Mr. Narendra Modi is only consolidating that bond, indicating the clear shift in foreign policy paradigm.

Of course, such a shift needed courage -- which Mr. Modi has in abundance. For, once, he flew to Tel Aviv for an official visit (thus becoming first Indian leader) and then flew straight to Palestine for the later part of his State visits to the two Middle-Eastern countries at loggerhead with each other. Nobody -- that is Israel or Palestine -- took any objection. Instead, both the countries respected Mr. Modis sense of independence of choice of policy decisions. The watchers of international relations were actually and happily surprised at Mr Narendra Modis brand of diplomacy. As Israel got pushed into the current conflict, thanks to the attack of Hamas militants, Mr. Narendra Modi expressed the countrys clear stand on its relations with different Middle-Eastern countries. By so doing, the Prime Minister once again surprised the world (which still was under a state of confusion about Indias stand in the Russia-Ukraine conflict). But each of these Indian stands point to a clear truth -- that India makes no compromises on its options.
NEW DELHI,

SHAHID Latif, a key aide of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and mastermind of the 2016 attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, and his brother were gunned down in a mosque in Pakistans Sialkot district on Wednesday, officials said. Three men who came on a motorcycle fired indiscriminately at 53-year-old Latif and his brother, Haris Hashim, as they were leaving the Noor Madina mosque in Daska town after pre-dawn prayers, officials in the know of developments said. Latif, who was accompanied by his heavily armed guards, and his brother were killed on the spot in the mosque complex. According to an Associated Press report from Lahore, the gunmen pretended to be worshippers to enter the mosque complex.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but local police chief Hassan Iqbal said it appeared that Latif was intentionally targeted. The police chief did not provide further details, the AP report said. Latif alias Bilal alias Noor Al Din, a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was the launching commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Sailkot and had been involved in planning, facilitation and execution of terror attacks in India. The officials said that Latif had entered into Kashmir in 1993 from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a cadre of the banned Hakar-ul-Ansar terror group. However, he was arrested a year later and sent the Kot Balwal jail in Jammu.

It is believed that he was brainwashed further by Masood Azhar, who was also lodged in that jail till he was set free in 1999 in exchange for the passengers of IC-814, an Indian Airlines plane that was hijacked by terrorists and taken to Kandahar.

After spending 16 years in Indian jail, he was deported through the Attari-Wagah border in 2010 and is believed to have got in touch again with Azhar, who had by that time formed the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group. This is the biggest blow to JeM on Pakistan soil, an official said. Latif, a resident of Aminabad in Punjabs Gujranwala, was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Seven IAF personnel were killed when four JeM terrorists sneaked into the Pathankot Air Force Station on January 2, 2016. The siege went on for three days.
Poll panel cracks whip; shunts two IAS,three IPS, two SPS officers in Cgarh





Staff Reporter

Raipur,

Barely 48 hours after Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, the Election Commission of India (ECI) cracking whip on State Administration on Wednesday evening asked for shunting two District Collectors, three Superintendents of Police (SPs), two Additional SPs (SPs), in addition to one Indian Telecom Service (ITS) cadre officer. To this effect, the poll panel has shot a letter to the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh and cited laxity of the officials in discharging election duties and henceforth their shunting with immediate effect. It is pertinent here to mention that the MCC came into effect in the entire state after announcement of two-phased polls in Chhattisgarh, on November 7 and 17 respectively. The All India Service (IAS) officials now to be affected by the poll panel whip includes Collector Raigarh Taran Praskash Sinha, 2012-batch IAS officer; Bilaspur Collector Sanjeev Kumar Jha, 2011-batch IAS officer; Rajnandgaon SP Abhishek Meena, 2010-batch IPS officer; Durg SP Shalab Kumar Sinha, 2014-batch IPS officer and Korba SP Uday Kiran, 2015-batch IPS officer.

Besides, the panel has also asked to immediately remove two ASPs that include Abhishek Maheshwari from Bilaspur and Sanjay Dhruv from Durg. Both the officers are State Police Service (SPS) cadre. Besides, the Commission has directed that Manoj Soni, a 1995-batch ITS cadre officer, posted as Special Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies and holding additional charge of MD, Markfed and MD, NAN, to immediately be divested with all the charges held by him. The ECI also suggested sending a panel of three suitable officers for this position.

In its order, the ECI, in particular, has directed the aforesaid officers to handover the charge to the immediate subordinate officer. It has also asked the state administration that these officers should not be assigned any election related work till the completion of General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Chhattisgarh. Moreover, the ECI has asked for a panel of three names each from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) by October 12, Thursday evening 5 pm based on which it will appoint the next successors to the post of the affected officers. However, for the position held by Manoj Soni, the panel has for furnishing their Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) grading for the last five years and Vigilance Clearance to the Commission. The CEO has been directed to ensure the compliance of the poll panels order
Rajnath Singh meets CEOs of top French defence companies in Paris





NEW DELHI,

UNION Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met with the CEOs of the top French defence companies with a focus on their plans for collaboration with India in France. During the interaction Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault; Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group; Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus; and Olivier Andries, CEO of Safran Group were present. Union Minister visited the Safran Engine Divisions R&D Centre at Gennevilliers near Paris, France during the second and final leg of his two-nation tour. During his visit to the Centre, he witnessed the latest developments in aero-engine technology. Olivier Andries, Global CEO Safran welcomed Rajnath Singh to the facility and, along with his team, gave a detailed briefing to him.

Safran expressed interest in being a part of the Indian growth story by working with its counterparts on mutually agreed joint projects. Singh highlighted the advantages of co-development and co-production in India, including the possibility of exports to third countries. He underlined the inherent advantages of the Indian market such as a large, skilled HR base, world-class infrastructure and a strong legal architecture, the release stated. Later in the day, Rajnath Singh will be holding the fifth Annual Defence Dialogue with the French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu. Rajnath Singh reached Paris late on October 10 and interacted with the Indian community.

While addressing the sizeable Indian community at the India House, he highlighted the various achievements of India in the defence sector such as increased defence exports, increasing indigenous production of defence equipment, concerted efforts on co-development and co-production in India and an enhanced outreach in the region. The Defence Minister spoke about the tremendous progress achieved in India in the last nine years, an assessment that was heartily supported by the Indian community.
Two-day Indian Military Heritage Festival in Delhi from October 21





NEW DELHI,

A TWO-DAY festival showcasing the heritage and culture of Indias Armed Forces will be held on October 21-22 in Delhi. The Indian Military Heritage Festival will be hosted by the United Service Institution (USI) of India, a think tank set up in the 19th century. The first-of-its-kind festival is being organised in association with a news organisation at Manekshaw Centre, the USI said in a statement. With 2022-2023 being the year of Indias leadership of the G20, the USI is proud to be working in tandem with the government of Indias strategic policies to affirm our position as a global powerhouse, a truly vibrant democracy, and a rising power that is working for the development of all countries in the Global South, it said.

Despite a long and glorious military history and strategic culture going back many centuries, the general public is largely unaware of the different facets of Indias military history, heritage, the think tank said. The festival seeks to address this gap in the national discourse and cultural calendar, it added. Its activities will be driven towards enhancing understanding of the countrys rich military heritage and traditions; contemporary security and strategy concerns; and the push to achieve self-reliance in military capability through the Atmanirbhar Bharat programmes of the government of India, the statement said.
Glaciologist Ximena Aguilar Vega during one of her expeditions to Antarctica. Ximena Aguilar Vega (Cortesia)

Ximena Aguilar Vega is defined by light. Behind the spot where she is sitting to speak to EL PAIS via video call from Scotland, a primitive color scheme can be seen. Next to it, a map of Antarctica. The image could well sum up her life, what she does for a living. As a professional biologist and glaciologist, with a masters degree from the University of Magellan in Chile and a PhD from the University of Stirling, she has dedicated herself to researching color. Not simply color, but the changes it has on the glaciers, ice, and seas at the two poles of the world. As she says, her scientific emphasis is on studying ocean and ice tones in both the Arctic and Antarctica.

This is not merely a contemplative activity. Knowing what color change is occurring in these ecosystems provides clues as to whether there are biological and chemical processes at work. For example, Aguilar, 32, has discovered that, in areas where the sea converges with the ice, the colors are darkening, which means that there are more compounds reaching the water from the glaciers. The glaciers themselves are also becoming darker. This is very serious, because if you darken light surfaces, what happens is that they absorb more solar radiation, generating a whole chain of negative effects, because the ecosystem gets warmer and the ice melts, she explains.

She has witnessed this first-hand. Her first expedition to a pole was in 2018, in Antarctica. On that occasion, she made a flight to measure the sea ice using NASAs Operation IceBridge. In 2019, she had her boots on the ground while camping at the Peruvian scientific base. They were all very precise shades of white and blue. Just some black. Thats what the whole landscape was like, she recalls. But when she returned in 2020, she was taken aback. I was really shocked because that landscape had vanished. The glaciers were dark, as if brown and black dust had been dropped all over them. That had an impact on the presence of liquid water. There were also puddles and streams everywhere. And this was in just one year.

In the Arctic, where she has been twice, the panorama is not much different. The situation is drastic, especially in Svalbard, she says. There the warming is happening four to five times faster than anywhere else on the planet.

Ximena Aguilar Vega holds a block of ice during one of her expeditions in Antarctica. Ximena Aguilar Vega (Cortesia)

Living in different skins

Aguilars relationship with the biological world began with a tree. When she was a child, despite living in the monster of a city that is the Mexican capital, she would take refuge under a tree on her street. She was interested in that world. The contemplative one, the silent one, not that of human conversations. She was also interested in color. Not only from a scientific point of view, but also from a photographic slant, another specialty to which she has dedicated herself in parallel to her research. And when one has the opportunity to travel to Antarctica, to the end of the world, to study colors, it would seem unreasonable not to want to portray everything. Again, she is a witness. So much so that she sometimes leaves her scientific skin aside, and exchanges it for that of an activist, that of an artist.

Just a pinch of light / to enlighten / our soul / our spirit / our hope is one of the verses she wrote herself for the exhibition Just a Pinch of Light, which mixed art, science, and poetry, and which she led together with Andrea Martinez, Monica Nepote, and Liliana Zaragoza. To picture / a sustainable future / better days for all / hope for all, the poem continues.

A wave in the Antarctic Sea. Ximena Aguilar Vega (Cortesia)

In her third skin, that of an activist, she has also participated in conversations with the Mexican delegations to the United Nations Climate Change Summits (COP), to make her stance more radical and stronger regarding the emergency the world is experiencing. Over time I have realized that, although science is very important, sometimes it enters a loop. It feeds, it recycles, but it always stays within the same guild. And in order to make changes, all the knowledge needs to permeate society first. Society must also play a more critical and active role, she says.

As Aguilar herself insists, the synergy between science and art as a tool is infallible for raising awareness about climate change. And not just anyone is saying that, but someone who has visited the poles six times. Who has seen, through her eyes and the lens of her camera, how one of the key ecosystems of our planet is changing. And someone who fears that this erosion will be repeated in the rest of the world.

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A Palestinian citizen sits outside what remains of his house after a bombing in northern Gaza.

The renewal of the armed conflict in Gaza has highlighted the inability of X (formerly known as Twitter) to stop the spread of misinformation, which has multiplied in recent days. Data verification experts have linked it to the arrival of Elon Musk. In the last year, the company has relaxed the platforms rules, fired most of the people who were in charge of data verification, and restored accounts that were at some point suspended for breaking the rules. Moreover, a few months before the conflict, X removed access to a data tool that was free to academics and was used to identify accounts that were guilty of spreading false information. Data verification experts say that such an avalanche of falsehoods has never been seen before.

Whenever there is some type of crisis, whether national or international, there is a spike in misinformation. But in this case we are seeing that there is generally more misinformation and that it goes further, says Clara Jimenez, co-founder and CEO of Maldita, a Spanish non-profit data verification foundation. Jimenez explains that the new X payment model does not create clarity either. In fact, posts by users who have a premium subscription  who pay 8 ($8) per month for the blue check, among other services  are promoted by the platform and appear among the first tweets when looking for information about the war. Twitter Blue accounts have better positions on the wall and in responses, and peddlers of misinformation know this and take advantage of it, Jimenez complains. Before Musks arrival, verification was reserved for the accounts of famous and influential people, including journalists who worked in well-known media outlets with many followers, which conferred truth on the news they shared.

Since the summer, the platforms moderation system has depended on community notes, comments written and evaluated by a group of volunteers who have been previously approved. The notes are published after reaching a certain threshold of useful votes from people with different points of view, as explained by X, but it does not clarify what criteria are used to become part of this community, nor how the posts needing to be verified are chosen. The platform only publishes notes that have received enough votes from users who usually disagree with their assessments, in order to guarantee an ideological cross-section. Once open, the note can continue to be rated, even by unregistered users who view it, and a previously published note often ends up disappearing later.

In a publication on the Community Notes account, the company acknowledges that it has disseminated more than 500 notes about the Israel-Hamas conflict. It also claims to have removed accounts affiliated with the Hamas militant group that had recently been created and that were acting against tens of thousands of publications for sharing graphic media, violent speech, and hateful behavior.

Videos and photos of other conflicts

In recent days, however, instead of encountering verified information, X users have witnessed an unprecedented number of images and videos taken out of context that have nothing to do to what is happening in Gaza and Israel. For example, a video purporting to show a Hamas militant firing a shoulder-mounted weapon and attacking an Israeli helicopter went viral. However, as BBC journalist Shayan Sardarizade pointed out in a thread in which he has compiled a list of lies about the conflict, it is a fragment of the video game Arma 3. Sardarizade asserts that on X theres always plenty of misinformation during major events, but the deluge of false posts in the last two days, many boosted via Twitter Blue, is something else.

Also, the videos of Israeli children in cages kidnapped by Hamas are false. The Maldita team has traced the origin of the images from TikTok  they are no longer present on this platform, but they are still on X  demonstrating that the video was shared days before Hamas launched its offensive against Israel. Other hoaxes that are spreading like wildfire are the videos of bombings and building collapses from other wars, which are being reused to make it look like they have been recorded in recent days.

Elon Musk himself has only made the situation worse. As he has been doing regularly since he bought Twitter, the businessman recommended following information about Hamas attacks and Israels war against the Islamist militia through accounts that have been shown to spread false content. For following the war in real-time, @WarMonitors and @sentdefender are good, Musk wrote in a post on Sunday morning in which he invited his 150 million followers to contribute more suggestions.

In May, both accounts spread the lie that there had been an explosion near the White House, while the @WarMonitors account often posts anti-Semitic comments on X, as was pointed out by different users below Musks post. For example, last year the @WarMonitor account thanked Kanye West in a Twitter thread and claimed that the overwhelming majority of people in the media and banks are zi0nists. Musk removed his recommendation shortly after, although in the short time it was published it reached more than 11 million views. The same day, Musk attempted to correct the mistake with another tweet: As always, please try to stay as close to the truth as possible, even for stuff you dont like.

The widespread misinformation that is circulating in X has not gone unnoticed by the European Union, either. In an urgent letter published on X, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton warned that, in the wake of Hamas attacks against Israel, the social network is being used to spread fake news and illegal content. We have reports from qualified sources reports about potentially illegal content circulating on your service, despite flags from the relevant authorities, says the letter from Breton, one of the harshest voices against Musk and Twitters constant non-compliance. Under the direction of the businessman, the company left the voluntary code against misinformation, which would oblige it to comply with community standards that dictate that social media companies must respond to complaints about illegal content within 24 hours.

Musks response to the commissioner was swift: Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports. Please list the violations that you allude to on X, so that the public can see them. The next day, Breton ironically shared a tweet in which he shared his newly launched account on Bluesky, the social network created by a former CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey.

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Simplicity Solutions LLC increased its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 52.7% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 13,400 shares of the medical research companys stock after buying an additional 4,627 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $1,264,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 5,653 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $533,000 after purchasing an additional 184 shares in the last quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC boosted its holdings in Edwards Lifesciences by 22.3% during the 1st quarter. Stonegate Investment Group LLC now owns 13,118 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,085,000 after acquiring an additional 2,392 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 72.6% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 729,156 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $60,323,000 after acquiring an additional 306,664 shares in the last quarter. Crescent Grove Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences in the second quarter valued at about $205,000. Finally, Columbia Trust Co 01012016 raised its holdings in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 5.4% in the second quarter. Columbia Trust Co 01012016 now owns 16,613 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,567,000 after purchasing an additional 845 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.25% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EW has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $102.00 price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Friday, July 14th. TheStreet downgraded Edwards Lifesciences from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $110.00 to $94.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com lowered Edwards Lifesciences from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $95.00 to $102.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $91.50.

Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE EW opened at $71.14 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $43.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.48, a P/E/G ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 1.05. The stocks 50-day moving average is $74.76 and its 200 day moving average is $82.92. The company has a current ratio of 3.15, a quick ratio of 2.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 1-year low of $67.13 and a 1-year high of $94.87.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.51 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 24.56% and a return on equity of 25.43%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.63 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Edwards Lifesciences

In related news, VP Catherine M. Szyman sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.68, for a total transaction of $363,400.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 34,814 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,530,281.52. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, VP Catherine M. Szyman sold 5,000 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.68, for a total value of $363,400.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 34,814 shares in the company, valued at $2,530,281.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Michael A. Mussallem sold 29,350 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.87, for a total transaction of $2,344,184.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 54,252 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,333,107.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 182,859 shares of company stock worth $13,991,222. Company insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Edwards Lifesciences Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases.

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Voters arrive to cast their ballots at a polling station for the South Carolina primary in Fort Mill, South Carolina, U.S., February 29, 2020.

The Supreme Court is taking up a new congressional redistricting case, this time from South Carolina, that could shape the fight for partisan control of the House of Representatives. Arguments taking place at the high court on Wednesday will focus on a coastal district that is held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace. In January, a lower court ordered the district redrawn after finding that Republicans who control the state Legislature improperly moved Democratic-leaning Black voters into another district to make the seat safer for Mace in 2022.

When Mace first won election in 2020, she edged Democratic incumbent Rep. Joe Cunningham by 1%, under 5,400 votes. In 2022, following redistricting driven by the 2020 census results, Mace won reelection by 14%. She is one of eight right-flank Republicans who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker.

Democrats could have a shot at picking up the seat in 2024 if the district is redrawn. With Republicans holding a thin margin in the U.S. House, any change to competitive districts has a chance to alter the balance of power after the 2024 elections.

Democrats seem likely to gain a seat in Alabama following a Supreme Court decision in June that led to a court-ordered redistricting. The states new map will give Alabama two congressional districts where Black voters comprise a substantial portion of the electorate. A similar pending Louisiana case could lead to a second mostly Black district there, too.

In South Carolina, Black voters wouldnt be as numerous in a redrawn district. But combined with a substantial set of Democratic-leaning white voters, Democrats could be competitive in the reconfigured district. Lawyers for the state argue that partisan politics, not race, and a population boom in coastal areas explain the congressional map.

Civil rights groups challenged the map in federal court and won a ruling from a unanimous three-judge panel in January. Black votes were used as political puzzle pieces to insulate the Republicans hold on power, said Mitchell Brown, senior counsel for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. The lower court put its order on hold to allow the state to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey said in January that we dont need to draw anything until five members of the Supreme Court say we have to. Both sides want a decision by Jan. 1 so that the state can use a congressional map in the 2024 elections that complies with the Supreme Courts ruling.

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AG says Bahamas well-suited for Fintech firms

Large jurisdictions will not be as friendly to digital asset firms, Pinder says
Mitchell: Former public figures must know when to move on
That release could not be found.
The focus is increased investment in the sector to guarantee universal access to free and quality education, including secondary education.

Her [Malala] voice, her inspiration, not just to government, but to society and governors that we met, is extremely important as this administration begins its journey of the next four years.

With one in five out-of-school children in the world living in Nigeria, the Pakistani Nobel Laureate and renowned female education activist, Malala Yousafzai, and the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, visited the country in June to advocate for girl-child education.

The timing of the visit was significant as it coincided with Malalas 26th birthday and marked the 10th anniversary of her groundbreaking education speech at the United Nations.

The urgency of child education in Nigeria is evident from staggering statistics: approximately 10.5 million children between ages 5 and 14 are currently out of school, and only 61 per cent of 6-11 year-olds attend school regularly, according to UNICEF.

The situation is even more concerning in the northeast and northwest regions of the country where the female primary attendance rate is about 47 per cent, meaning that more than half of the girls in those regions are not in school.

Malala emphasized the crucial role of girls' education in shaping the nation's future. She called on all state and federal governments to commit to providing complete education, including senior secondary education, to every child in Nigeria.

Ms. Mohammed highlighted the significance of Malala's visit, stating: "We have many out-of-school children. We know that the quality of education is not what every child should have in this country, and an advocacy mission to an administration that believes in education is important timing.

So, her voice, her inspiration, not just to government, but to society and governors that we met, is extremely important as this administration begins its journey of the next four years."

Why I am here

In a meeting with Nigerias Vice President KashimShettima, Malala further expressed her concern: I am here because girls' education is important. It will determine the future of Nigeria. So, I am here because I want to bring attention to those issues."

I am here because girls' education is important. It will determine the future of Nigeria. So, I am here because I want to bring attention to those issues

She urged the Nigerian government to make a commitment to ensure that every child in the country has access to free and quality education, including senior secondary education.

She stressed the importance of making a full financial commitment to ensure that no child is left behind, recalling her own struggle for education rights after being shot by the Taliban in Pakistan at the age of 14.

She emphasized the need for free and quality education and urged full financial commitment to ensure no child is left behind in the country.

Malala meets with Nigerias Vice President KashimShettima and and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed

This was Malala's third visit to Nigeria.

In 2014, she visited Nigeria to express solidarity with the country following the abduction of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram insurgents, and in 2017 she visited again to support education activists working with school-age girls.

The challenge of millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria is influenced by various factors, including child marriage and the economic background of school-age children. Only one in four girls from poor, rural families manage to complete their Junior Secondary education.

The security situation in some regions of the country, marked by attacks on schools leading to abductions and killings, further discourages parents from sending their children, especially girls, to schools in unstable environments.

In northeast Nigeria, at least 496 classrooms have been destroyed and 1,392 classrooms have been damaged but repairable, reports UNICEF.

However, efforts are underway to improve the low enrollment of girls in schools. Between 2012 and 2022, for example, the Nigerian government, the UKs Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and UNICEF, working under the Girls Education ProgrammePhase 3 (GEP3), invested $109 million and enrolled an additional 1.5 million girls in schools across six northern Nigerian statesKatsina, Kano, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Bauchi.

Vice President Shettima conveyed the administrations support for Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5, which prioritize education and gender equality.

"President Bola Tinubu believes that the prosperity and respect of every society is directly proportional to the way they treat their women folk," Mr. Shettima asserted.

For more information on COVID-19, visit www.un.org/coronavirus

Africa Renewal


As the world marks international days to end conflict-related sexual violence and hate speech, lets not forget the important role South Sudanese women peacebuilders play in preventing and responding to these issues

South Sudan holds a special place in both of our hearts. We have had the great privilege of working with and learning from South Sudanese women for many years  from under the shade of trees along the banks of the White Nile, to meeting halls in Juba, Nairobi, Ottawa, New York, and beyond.

Time and again, South Sudanese women demonstrate their remarkable leadership as peacebuilders, seeking a more safe, equitable, and democratic future for their country.

As the world marked two important days in June, South Sudan was on our minds. The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is on Sunday, June 18, and the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is Monday, June 19.

When any country lays the groundwork for elections  as South Sudan is doing for next year hate speech, incitement to violence, and sexual violence are crucial issues to consider. Often, they are interlinked. Always, they require womens leadership to prevent and address them.

Under the UN Secretary-Generals Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, launched in 2019, hate speech is defined as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behaviour that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are  in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor.

Conflict-related sexual violence is often brutal, deliberate, and intended to punish or humiliate individuals and their communities. It can include rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of sexual violence that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict.

Conflict-related sexual violence is a risk factor for atrocity crimes.

Elections planned for next year will be a historic opportunity for the people of South Sudan to help forge a democratic future for their country. In the tasks that lie ahead, there will be an opportunity to take a human rights-based approach.

Voters, especially women in rural and remote areas, need to be informed about the elections, including how to run as a candidate, how and where to cast their ballot, and more. Communities may be confronted with examples of hate speech, both online and offline, regarding members of their or other communities, and will need to choose how they will respond.

Conflict-related sexual violence is often brutal, deliberate, and intended to punish or humiliate individuals and their communities. It can include rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of sexual violence that is directly or indirectly linked to a conflict

Sexual and gender-based violence may also be used in attempts to prevent womens full and meaningful participation, whether as voters, candidates, media workers, civil society members, etc.

South Sudanese women can play crucial roles leading the whole country to both prevent and address these challenges.

Too often, women are viewed only as victims of violence in conflict. Yet, we also play critical roles as community leaders, the bedrocks of their families, breadwinners, and through serving in key roles such as midwives, teachers, and entrepreneurs.

Women often have extensive networks through which to share information and lead early warning efforts when the signs of hate speech start brewing in a community. Young women, in particular, can play a role in stopping the cycle of hate.

And survivors, who have lived experience, also know best where the greatest needs are  which protective factors could have prevented the violence, which resources they now need to heal and move forward.

These are just some of the reasons why a new initiative launched at the United Nations this week is so important.

The Plan of Action for Women in Communities to Counter Hate Speech and Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes (also called The Napoli Women in Communities Plan of Action), can serve as a blueprint for enhancing the roles of women on these issues in every part of the world.

Thanks to South Sudans quota, 35 percent of positions in key decision-making bodies are to be allocated to women. Outside of these institutions, women peacebuilders, journalists, and other civil society leaders also make their voices heard.

We saw a great example of this leadership with the recent campaign led by young South Sudanese feminist group, MaMara Sakit Village, #WhereIsTheAntiGBVbill, which raised awareness about this important piece of legislation for supporting justice for survivors of gender-based violence.

Another area where women could play a central role is accountability. Accelerating the establishment of the transitional justice mechanisms under chapter five of the Revitalized Peace Agreement  the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing, the Compensation and Reparation Authority and the Hybrid Court for South Sudan  must be a priority. There must be space for women in such crucial processes.

South Sudanese women are tremendously capable, but they cannot address these challenges alone. Support from South Sudanese men, especially male politicians, faith leaders, and community leaders, will expand the impacts of womens efforts and benefit everyone.

As we mark these two important international days, let us acknowledge  and support  the outstanding women of South Sudan working to build enduring peace for all.

 Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu is UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, while Ms. Jacqueline O'Neill is Canada's Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security.

For more information on COVID-19, visit www.un.org/coronavirus

Africa Renewal
A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally after Georgia's House and Senate voted to prohibit most medical treatments to minors that help affirm gender identity, in Atlanta, Georgia, March 20, 2023.

The family of a transgender boy in North Carolina is suing state health officials to block implementation of gender-affirming care restrictions that they say will force their son to undergo a traumatic wrong-gender puberty.

A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court alleges the new state law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by denying treatment access to transgender youths and undercuts parents rights to make medical decisions for their children.

The North Carolina lawsuit closely follows the playbook of other successful court challenges to gender-affirming care bans that have swept Republican-controlled states this year. At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning common treatments for transgender minors, and legal challenges have delivered mixed results. But court victories in states like Arkansas, where a federal judge struck down a state ban as unconstitutional, mapped out what Lambda Legal attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan views as a winning strategy for transgender North Carolinians.

Transgender youth in the Tar Heel State immediately lost access to gender-affirming medical treatments on Aug. 16 when Republican supermajorities in the General Assembly overrode a veto of the ban by the Democratic governor. State law now bars medical professionals from providing hormone therapy, puberty-blocking drugs and surgical gender-transition procedures to anyone under 18, with limited exceptions.

Minors who had begun a course of treatment before Aug. 1 are able to continue receiving that care under the new law if their doctors deem it medically necessary and their parents consent. But providers say it remains unclear whether they could face retribution for transitioning a minor patient from puberty-blocking drugs to cross-sex hormones because the law does not specify whether that would constitute a different course of treatment.

Representatives from Lambda Legal and the National Health Law Program say they also plan to file a motion for a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of the law while the court challenge proceeds. Other plaintiffs include a North Carolina family physician who serves transgender patients and several local and national LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. The family of the 9-year-old transgender boy is listed pseudonymously to protect their privacy, attorneys said.

The complaint alleges the law discriminates against transgender patients because it does not create a blanket ban on hormone therapies and other treatments, but rather prohibits them only when performed for the purpose of gender transition.

There is not one treatment that is offered to transgender patients in North Carolina that is not also offered to the rest of the patients in their care, and yet that very same care would remain perfectly legal for all other patients, said Alex Sheldon, executive director of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, an organization involved in the lawsuit.

The offices of Republican General Assembly leaders did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Jean Fischer Brinkley, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Medical Board, declined a request for comment. Board CEO Thomas Mansfield is named as a defendant for his role overseeing licensing for medical professionals in the state.

North Carolina law also prohibits using state funds to support the provision of gender-affirming care. This prohibition excludes the North Carolina State Health Plan for government employees and their families, which is under a court order to cover those procedures while a federal appeals court considers a related case.

Medical professionals like Dr. Riley Smith, the physician who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit filed Wednesday, would have their licenses revoked if they violate the law. Families of minor patients who receive the banned treatments would also have a right to sue the doctors who perform those procedures.

Smith said the law interferes with his ability to follow evidence-based protocols at the expense of his most vulnerable patients.

Gender-affirming care is considered safe and medically necessary by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the Endocrine Society. While trans minors very rarely receive surgical interventions, they are commonly prescribed drugs to delay puberty and sometimes begin taking hormones before reaching adulthood.

Supporting young patients through gender-affirming treatments is the most incredible, challenging, beautiful, gut-wrenching and heartwarming part of my job, Smith said. When I say that gender-affirming care can be lifesaving, that is not hyperbole. And the politicians who voted for this law have no idea what it means to take that care away.

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26 oil mining licenses was acquired by the Nigerian oil firms in the Niger Delta basin area in the last decade.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Simbi Wabote disclosed this on Wednesday at the 2023 Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja.

He noted that some of the divestments currently on the cards included those planned by Shell and ExxonMobil to sell oil and gas assets worth billions of dollars, in addition to Enis announcement in September of an agreement with Oando Plc for the sale of NAOC interests in six onshore blocks and Okpai gas power plant in Delta State.

He also explained that the divestments confirm that Nigerians and indigenous companies have come of age and have acquired the technical, managerial, and financial capabilities to play in the big league.

According to him, the involvement of our financial institutions on the transactions represents means of efficient capital deployment and capacity building on loans syndication on an international scale. This is also applicable to legal services, insurance, government relations, employee relations, community liaison, and others.

While speaking on the opportunities, the NCDMB boss also highlighted challenges encountered in the divestment exercises.

He said the challenges revolved around the time required to get necessary regulatory approvals as well as the substantial interests from various groups covering political, legal, communities, and labour.

Similarly, he noted the issues around how to manage legacy issues or liabilities related to the environment, communities, and other social commitments and pressure on new investors to recoup investments on time to offset loans and address other financial requirements.

The NCDMB boss expressed commitment that the Board would continue to partner with industry stakeholders to institute regulations that would ensure that the increasing footprints and stakes of indigenous oil and gas production companies would not lead to a reduction in Nigerian content compliance.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his administration's commitment to learn from the expertise of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for a better Nigeria.

Represented by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adekola, Tinubu said the government would continue to be involve in robust discussion with the body on transformative policies that will enhance inclusive development.

This was disclosed by the president while declaring open the 59th yearly conference of ICAN in Abuja.

According to him, Inclusivity is a moral necessity, accountants should be able to play a role in inclusive development for the benefit of the nation.

While speaking, the President of the ICAN, Dr. Innocent Ewueka, has advised the Federal Government to undertake macroeconomic and fiscal reforms to overcome the myriads challenges of poor infrastructure, weak and ineffective institutions, poor public financial management system, poor health delivery that have bedeviled the nations today.

Ewueka noted that the theme of the conference, Nigeria, importance for Inclusive Development, was carefully selected because development without inclusiveness is not development in any guise.

According to him, the various discussions at the 59th ICAN conference, 2023 is focusing more on issues that will help the institute to come up with viable recommendations that will reshape the governments way of doing things with the view of reshaping the economy for full inclusiveness.

He said, we have already constituted the ICAN accountability index, we shall continue on this trajectory, we are here to examine the issues of inclusiveness in developing the economy, only accountants can make inclusive economic development happen.

The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, in his message, said all hands must be on deck to make the society work.

He said, People could use the freedom of Information (FOI) platform to demand accountability, good governance from government at all levels, it is not right for the people to continue to complain of bad leadership without participating in governance or fold their arms without asking questions, this is the way to go, Nigerians from all walks of life must rise up to demand for good governance, ask questions, its the duty of all of us."

Also, the Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, noted that the people are living in poverty unfortunately because of poor health, poor living standards, poor nutrition and lack of jobs, a situation he explained, that the current administration of President Tinubu is determined to tackle headlong.

He said, Today, its not only a problem of tax collections for expenditures but more importantly, how we use the tax collected for the growth of the nation."
The management of Kwara State Polytechnic, has distanced the institution from Adama Joseph and Oreoluwa Davies, who were paraded by the Nigeria Police for killing a club owner, Adeniyi Ojo, in a hotel situated in Ilorin in Kwara State.

The institution stated its stand in a statement titled, Re: How we killed club owner in hotel  Female Student, released by the institutions Public Relations Officer, Halimat Garba on Thursday.

The statement read, The Management wishes to disclaim this discrediting and malicious news about the institution, stating that the suspects being paraded in Abuja by the force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, are students of Kwara State Polytechnic.

The Polytechnic management wishes to state categorically that its students are good ambassadors of the Polytechnic, the state, and Nigeria at large and will never indulge in such acts.

The institution further stated that the claim that the suspects are students in the polytechnic is untrue, baseless, and a figment of their imagination, noting that the claim was intended to drag the name of the ever-peaceful institution into the mud.

The registrar of the institution urged all Polytechnic stakeholders and press members to verify anything tagged with the institution before circulating it.

It was reported that the suspect had claimed to have finished their ND programme at Kwara Polytechnic before the incident happened.
80 green turtles released at Koh Racha

PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command provided 80 green turtles to be released to the sea under the banner of a marine life conservation event organised by the Kasetsart University Alumni Association.

marineanimalsenvironmentnatural-resources

By The Phuket News

Thursday 12 October 2023 10:00 AM

Although the event was held last Saturday (Oct 7), the event was posted across multiple government channels only yesterday (Oct 11).

More than 200 Kasetsart University alumni from all over the country joined the event, held at Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket. Kasetsart University is in Bangkok.

Also present for the event was Rear Admiral Suchat Thammapitakwet, Commander of the Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa.

Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos along with Kasetsart University Alumni Association President Suwit Meksereekul also helped lead the turtle release, joined by Sahapat Ngansathil, President of the Phuket-Phang Nga branch of the Kasetsart University Alumni Association.

Wisit Itthiwarapornkul, owner of the South Siam Divers boat, and Daniel Lim, Managing Director of The Racha resort, also joined the occasion.

The entire event was branded as to help conserve sea turtles, to live together with the Thai sea forever.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 20:57 | All, Japan

The mass production of "flying cars" to provide visitors with air taxi services at the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka is unlikely to be completed in time for the event's opening due to delays in safety certification, four operators involved in the project have said.

Japan had planned for the air taxi service to be among the expo's main attractions, with the two- to five-seater vehicles expected to provide access to the event's venue, set up on the artificial Yumeshima island in Osaka Bay.

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura is seeking to use the expo as an opportunity to introduce the idea of flying cars being implemented into society, but with safety hurdles not yet cleared and with only around a year and a half left until it opens, a limited number of aircraft are expected to be operational in time.

In February, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition announced it had selected four groups to operate air taxi services to connect the exposition venue's three zones -- Yumeshima, central Osaka and nearby Kansai International Airport.

ANA Holdings Inc., the parent company of All Nippon Airways Co., is working with Joby Aviation Inc. to operate vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developed by the U.S. startup, while Japan-based SkyDrive Inc. also plans to provide such services with a vehicle it has developed.

Japan Airlines Co. and Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp. are looking to use aircraft developed by Volocopter GmbH from Germany and Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd. from Britain, respectively.

But as flying cars are classified as aircraft under Japan's aviation law, operators must obtain an airworthiness certificate for each vehicle, in addition to a "type certificate" for each aircraft design, before going ahead with mass production.

Vertical Aerospace has said it plans to get a type certificate for its aircraft in 2026, with partner Marubeni admitting it has given up on commercial operations for the expo and is instead aiming to conduct demonstration flights with only pilots on board.

SkyDrive, which is also looking to get a type certificate in 2026, is considering commercially operating aircraft that have obtained airworthiness certificates. The number of vehicles that can be ready in time for the event will be disclosed as soon as possible, it said.

ANA and JAL, meanwhile, said they aim to launch commercial operations in 2024 to 2025, and that they are considering whether to provide their services at the expo.

"The process of demonstrating that these vehicles can carry passengers is a very serious matter. We are considering how to showcase a variety of aircraft," an official from the event's organizer said.

The World Expo 2025 will last from April 13 through Oct. 13 under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives."

Related coverage:

ANA, JAL, 3 others picked to operate flying taxis for 2025 World Expo

Japan's 1st piloted flying taxi test held ahead of 2025 World Expo
Israel conflict claims lives of more Thais

BANGKOK: Two more Thais working in Israel have been killed during Hamas attacks, while more reports of Thais being abducted or injured have also been made, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has said.

violencedeathSafetymilitarypolitics

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 12 October 2023 08:49 AM

A man washes his face from a water pipe amid the rubble from an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Tuesday morning (Oct 10). Photo: AFP

Kanchana Patarachoke, director-general of the ministrys Department of Information, said attacks and aerial bombardments continued near the Gaza Strip, with deaths and injuries reported on both sides, reports the Bangkok Post.

She said the two Thai workers were killed by a rocket attack, raising the Thai death toll to 20, based on unofficial reports from employers and Thai nationals on the ground and pending official verification from Israeli authorities.

Four more Thais had been wounded, and three others reported abducted, bringing the injured to 13 and those who have been abducted to 14.

Ms Kanchana also addressed reports that Thais were among 14 hostages recently rescued, saying the Thai embassy had checked the list of names and there were no Thais among them.

A total of 5,174 Thai workers have registered for voluntary repatriation while 64 have confirmed they would remain in Israel, said Ms Kanchana, who also serves as the ministrys spokeswoman. There are about 30,000 Thais in Israel.

Asked about evacuations, she said the first 15 Thais are due to arrive back in Thailand at 10:35am today (Oct 12) on an El Al flight.

Authorities have also booked 80 seats for Thais on commercial flights for departure next Wednesday, she added.

Ms Kanchana said the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has its transport aircraft on standby to bring more Thais back home as permission is first being sought from other countries to fly through their airspace. Upon receiving permission, the RTAF will send its aircraft to evacuate Thai nationals from Israel on Sunday and on Oct 24.

She said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv is also coordinating with commercial airlines to arrange flights to evacuate more Thais from Israel.

Ms Kanchana said Thai nationals in Israel have also asked Thai embassies in Jordan and Egypt to help them cross the borders from Israel into those countries.

She said the embassies are ready to help them, though they must take extra precautions when moving across borders.

Ms Kanchana said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has been keeping in touch with Israels foreign affairs ministry and various Israeli authorities to expedite the evacuation of Thai nationals from high-risk areas to safe zones.

Hundreds of civilians, including Thai nationals, have been evacuated to safe zones. They will stay in temporary shelters or work on agricultural plantations as alternative employment for the time being, she said.

Ms Kanchana also said Pannabha Chandraramya, the Thai ambassador to Israel and the Thai embassys labour attache, visited a group of Thai evacuees in Tel Aviv to offer assistance and boost their morale.

Naruchai Ninnat, deputy director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, said that when the first 15 Thais arrive back today, immigration officials will arrange their entry, and they will then be taken to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute for health check-ups.

Samas Pattamasukhon, inspector-general at the Labour Ministry, said the 15 Thais are entitled to B15,000 in compensation each from the ministrys fund that was established to help Thai workers overseas.

If they are injured with a medical document certifying their conditions, they will also receive another B15,000 each, Mr Samas said.

Israeli employers can sell their Thai workers, says official

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Israeli employers are allowed by law to transfer their workers to other employers, the labour permanent secretary said yesterday in response to Thai evacuees complaints.

Many Thai workers who fled conflict areas in Israel have complained that their former employers, the companies they signed up with, had sold them to other employers, reports the Bangkok Post.

Permanent secretary Phairoj Chotikasatien said it was legal in Israel for employers to transfer their workers to other employers. He had confirmation of this from the Thai labour attache at the embassy in Tel Aviv.

He also said the Thai labour attache there was helping Thai workers with official financial assistance, repatriation procedures and negotiations for unpaid wages and allowances.
Male cops can have longer hair

BANGKOK: National police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has revised police regulations to allow male officers to grow their hair up to 5 centimetres long.

police

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 12 October 2023 09:33 AM

Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol. Photo: Bangkok Post

According to a police source, the 2023 uniform practice code scraps a regulation regarding police uniforms set in 2018, reports the Bangkok Post.

In this regard, a male police officer is allowed to grow his hair on top of his head no more than 5cm, while both the sides and back of his head should be less than 1cm.

Previously, a male officer had to have a very short hair style with both sides and the back of head completely shaved, the source said.

In addition, police officers, assigned to investigation, intelligence, narcotics suppression or who are stationed in at-risk areas, are allowed to have a high-fade haircut, but permission must be granted by their superiors with the rank of superintendent and above.

Regarding women officers with long hair, the source said they must tie their hair properly with a black hairpin.

The move to let male officers grow their hair came after the Royal Thai Polices Legal Affairs and Litigation Office was told by Personnel Division chief Pol Lt Gen Yingyos Thepjamnong that the national police chief wanted more relaxed regulations regarding hairstyle.

The source said the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for notifying senior police officers about the amended regulation.

Male officers will now not have to get a haircut once a week, saving those who go to private barbers money, the source said. It is not known if the change is in response to calls from the police themselves.
One killed as car hits parked cars, motorbikes at Jui Tui

PHUKET: Police are investigating what led to a car slamming into parked cars and motorbikes, and pedestrians, near Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town, killing one person and injuring many others, this afternoon (Oct 12).

transportaccidentsdeath

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 12 October 2023 05:35 PM

Police were informed of the accident at 2:07pm.

The street, Ranong Rd, is currently lined with stalls set up for the Vegetarian festival, which begins on Sunday.

One person was killed and many others were injured, police confirmed

The injured were rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital, located on Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town.

Police are investigating the accident, and have yet to reveal more details about the incident.
Phuket ready to honour Bhumibol Memorial Day

PHUKET: The Phuket Province has invited people to join ceremonies to be held tomorrow (0ct 13) in remembrance of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, now called King Bhumibol The Great.

culture

By The Phuket News

Thursday 12 October 2023 09:09 AM

At 7:30am, a ceremony to make merit by offering food to monks will be held at the multi-purpose area at Phuket Provincial Hall.

At 8:30am, a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Phuket Provincial Auditorium nearby.

Government officers and state enterprise employees are asked to wear their normal white uniform with no hat, while military personnel and police officers are to wear their normal white uniform with no hat but with sabre and gloves.

Members of the Ministry of Interior Housewives Association are asked to wear their Thai Amarin uniform with yellow, and Royal volunteers are asked to wear their uniforms.

Members of private organisations and agencies, and students, are also asked to wear their uniforms, while members of the public are asked to wear yellow.

While the remembrance events are held each year, the invitation posted by the Phuket branch of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) was posted at 7:09pm last night.

Government offices across the island will closed tomorrow as the officials observe the national public holiday to commemorate the passing of King Bhumibol, also referred to as Rama IX, who passed away at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok on Oct 13, 2016. He was 89.

The day has been designated a public holiday and will see many activities throughout the country held to honour the King.

Although the sale of alcohol is not prohibited by law on Oct 13, police traditionally encourage people to refrain from drinking alcohol on the day as a sign of respect and in honour of King Bhumibol.
Phuket to land B9bn haul from Veg Fest tourism, says TAT

PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Phuket) expects the Phuket Vegetarian Festival this year to generate a staggering B9 billion for the local economy.

tourismeconomicscultureChinese

By The Phuket News

Thursday 12 October 2023 10:41 AM

Photo: PR Phuket

From an initial survey, it is expected that there will be more than 600,000 tourists coming to the area, generating more than B9bn in income, TAT Phuket Director Lertchai Wangtrakuldee said.

The figures given presume B15,000 spent by each tourist coming to Phuket for the nine-day festival, which starts on Sunday (Oct 15) and continues through to Oct 23.

And now it is known that some hotels in the city near the Clocktower Circle have adjusted room rates higher, and there are still people booking to stay with occupancy at 80-90%, Mr Lertchai continued.

This is one thing that can indicate that the tradition of observing precepts and eating vegetables in Phuket can create income for Phuket residents, he said.

The TAT has communicated to around the world in both Thai and English regarding the beliefs of Phuket people with the tradition of observing precepts and eating vegetables in Phuket Province, Mr Lertchai explained, according to an official report.

Documents have been prepared for download about the holiness of the gods, showing the various routes of the shrines [processions] in Phuket Province and wanting people who come to visit to know the history of the tradition of observing precepts and eating vegetables, he said.

TAT Phuket in collaboration with Limelight Avenue Phuket Shopping Center has organised an exhibition of every aspect of the festivals tradition of eating vegetables, from vegetarian food to setting the altars and so on, so that people from other provinces and tourists [sic] can come to see the tradition exhibition and gain real experience during the event, he continued, promoting the commercial shopping centres role in the festival.

The TAT Phuket office is also holding a campaign to provide shrines with environmentally friendly food boxes that are naturally biodegradable, he added.

The TAT invites Thai and foreign tourists to join in the merit-making ceremony at various shrines and watch the processions of various shrine icon images this year, Mr Lertchai concluded.
Phuket Town takes pre-emptive flood measures

PHUKET: Phuket City Municipality has conducted a series of site inspections to determine where pumps are to be set up to help drain any excess runoff and rainwater from throughout Phuket Town during the coming week.

weatherenvironment

By The Phuket News

Thursday 12 October 2023 12:06 PM

Phuket Town Deputy Mayor Supachoke La-ongphet led the site inspections yesterday (Oct 11), to identify where the emergency pumps are to be set up.

According to an official report of the inspections, the flood-risk survey was carried out in response to the Thai Meteorological Department issuing a notice warning of heavy to very hreavy downpours in the coming week.

The precautionary measure was also in response to the Office of National Water Resources (OWNR) issuing an announcement warning officials to monitor reservoirs and local waterways that are at risk of overflowing during the period Oct 12-18, the report added.

The official report made no mention that heavy to very sporadic downpours are very normal for Phuket during this time of year, as all residents and even tourists know.

The report also made no mention that the inspections and precautionary action to prevent flooding had anything to do with the nine-day Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which begins on Sunday (Oct 15).

Instead, the report noted that officials were continuously moving forward with intensity in caution, through prevention and planning measures to deal with flooding in urban areas by exploring additional water pump installation points.

Regardless, for residents in Phuket Town, the move to have pumps set up at vital points to prevent flooding throughout the town is a prudent move, considering officials have Bang Yai Canal on watch for risk of breaching its banks with each new heavy downpour, as they did again only last week.

Of greater concern to officials, and Phuket Town residents, is that Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu is already at capacity.

According to the most recent report by the Phuket Irrigation Office, dated Oct 9, Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn is 80.7% full and Klong Kata reservoir in Chalong is 66% full, but Bang Wad reservoir in Kathu is already 99% full.

When officials release water from Bang Wad reservoir, it flows into the Bang Yai Canal, which runs through the heart of Phuket Town, adding to the risk of the canal breaching its banks and flooding the town.

Officials have made monitoring Bang Yai Canal for risk of flooding a regular practice ever since the historic flooding throughout the town last year.

During the visit to Phuket by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in August, Phuket City Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas explained to PM Srettha the need to expedite projects to help prevent and alleviate flooding in Phuket Town.

Doing so would help improve the areas economic performance and improve Phuket Towns image as a tourism destination, he said.

Mayor Saroj has already presented a drainage system construction project costing B226 million to help protect the Phuket Old Town area from repeated flooding.
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By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 08:35 | Feature, Japan, Travel/Tourism, All

From on-demand helicopters to private superyachts, the spending power of ultra-rich travelers could be the key to revitalizing regional areas in Japan to give the country a much-needed boost in its post-pandemic economic recovery.

Luxury travelers looking to explore areas beyond the classic tourist destinations of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka offer an opportunity for lesser-known destinations to showcase their unique culture, according to those in the industry.

"The most crucial aspect of regional revitalization is figuring out how to effectively encourage (the wealthy) to spend money, and there are only two ways to do that. One is through tourism, and the other is by leveraging each prefecture's strengths," said Shintaro Masuda, founder and CEO of Blank Marketing & Management Ltd.

The Mie Prefecture-based venture company is the developer of an app called Airc, which enables on-demand helicopter flights between various locations in Japan, almost like booking an Uber.

Those wanting to skip the Tokyo traffic and get to Mt. Fuji in 30 minutes, for example, could open the app and book a private helicopter from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko. The app takes care of all the arrangements, including transfer from the customer's current location to the heliport.

Blank Marketing & Management is also developing a platform slated for release next summer that will streamline the hassle of sorting out accommodation, booking restaurants and arranging activities through an interactive chat system.

If a user wants to eat sea urchins, for example, the app will be able to identify the best restaurants across the country, devise a route, and even make all the necessary reservations to get to the chosen location, Masuda said.

"Luxury travelers want to see things they can't usually see or experience. The app will be able to cater to their desire to experience things spontaneously, like when they come across something on social media," he added.

The Japan National Tourism Organization defines "high-value travelers" as those who spend a total of 1 million yen ($7,000) or more per visit to Japan.

According to a report by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, high-value travelers from six countries -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Australia, and China -- in 2019 accounted for only 1 percent of total inbound visitors to Japan but contributed to 11.5 percent of total travel expenditure.

Noting the value of luxury tourism, the Tokyo metropolitan government has been taking part in various trade shows, such as the flagship ILTM Cannes luxury travel event, and collaborating with local businesses to develop content catering to high-end travelers.

In addition to economic benefits, affluent travelers from overseas also "improve the city's image through their influence, contributing to the growth of visitors," said Shigeki Yamaguchi, director for city sales at the metropolitan government.

The Japanese government would like to see annual spending by inbound tourists, which dwindled during the COVID-19 pandemic after hitting 4.8 trillion yen in 2019, to reach 5 trillion yen as early as possible, and has put particular focus on attracting high-net-worth visitors.

In line with this goal, the government eased rules for private jet arrivals on June 1, shortening the required period to apply for landing permission in Japan from at least 10 days prior to arrival to three.

The move follows a regulatory overhaul for arrivals into Japan by private boat travel in 2021, which included removing the requirement that superyachts declare their cargo and the number of crew members on board every time they make a port call, enforcing such measures only when they enter into and depart from the country.

SYL Japan Co., which provides concierge services for superyachts docking in Japan, was instrumental in convincing the government to ease regulations by espousing the economic benefits of foreign-flagged yacht visits.

"It is said that when a ship stays for a day, it contributes between $10,000 to $15,000 to the country's economy. Therefore, it would be ideal if each ship stays as long as possible," said Kenta Inaba, president of SYL Japan.

Superyachts also offer a way of increasing spending in more rural areas that may lack forms of accommodation such as luxury hotels and other infrastructure for tourists, supporting the government's goal of increasing the number of high-end travelers in places off the beaten path.

"Money is already flowing quite substantially in cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, but it is a challenge to establish a mechanism for ensuring that it is distributed to other areas effectively," said Inaba.

But ships, which can dock in lesser known destinations without much difficulty, "are a convenient way of attracting visitors to remote islands and border regions," he added.

In a bid to improve the appeal of Tokyo's remote islands, the metropolitan government said it has dispatched staff to study and learn from harbor facilities in the Mediterranean, which are popular destinations for superyachts.

The Japan Tourism Agency, meanwhile, has recently selected 11 regional locations to support in developing products and services for the wealthy.

But there are concerns that, while offering exclusive experiences to customers and economic benefits to locals, luxury tourism could also potentially cause environmental degradation, cultural disruption, and the over-commercialization of destinations.

To mitigate these potential side effects, over a dozen Japanese organizations have joined the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, an international body that manages standards for sustainable travel and tourism.

One of its members, tourism consulting company Tricolage Inc., last year supported a project by the tourism agency, also a member, to develop a sustainable accommodation plan at a luxury forest resort in Yamanashi Prefecture.

"Developing a comprehensive travel experience with local participation in this way can sublimate the experience into a customer experience with added value that is unique to the region," the company said in a news release after the project was launched.

Related coverage:

FEATURE: A-bomb survivors' experiences depicted through student art project

FEATURE: Unspoken Japanese school customs effective, but challenging for some

FEATURE: Japan hometown tax changes mean donors getting less bang for buck
Time for the political class to act Abrogate SoO call

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Time for the political class to act. Time to live up to the billing of political leaders and justify the trust and confidence that people have reposed in them. This is where Chief Minister N Biren will need to bring all together and lead from the front, walk the talk and give meaning to the understanding of First Among Equals. The current situation isnt a dispute between two communities. It is very clear from the report of the NIA, the highest investigating agency of the country, that there is a hand of external forces. The present crisis should have settled if it wasnt for their meddling. This is a direct quote from the Chief Minister in his chat with The Indian Express just the other day and it does not need rocket science calculation to zero in on who the external forces are, who have tied up with them and who have given them the needed local logistics to carry on the mayhem in Manipur. It is also more than clear that the Ministry of Home Affairs would not just ask or direct the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the hands of at least three Kuki militant groups and one Zomi group in the Manipur crisis on hearsay. While the NIA is best left to conduct the probe with all the needed co-operation extended, it is the job of the State Government to politically approach the Centre and see how the Suspension of Operation pact with these Kuki and Zomi groups can be revoked. There could be more, but for the moment, it is these outfits which are being probed. Not something easy but definitely something which is within the realm of the reachable, if Imphal plays its cards well and the people extend their co-operation. To get a better understanding of the genesis of the clash, it is important to go back to May 3, 2023, the day it all started. The days preceding May 3 may be taken into account, but remember what happened before the said date may be taken as the Kuki-Chins protesting the policies and programmes of the Government, but it was on May 3 that the people of a particular community, the Meiteis in this case were specifically targeted. That things were planned well in advance may be surmised from the very fact that media persons from outside India were already camping at Churachandpur. Only a well planned move would have been in the position to get the media based in other parts of the country to sing the stories so efficiently cooked up by the Kukis, so much so that even the Editors Guild of India, in its report thought it fit to toe their line and carry the picture of a burnt Forest office and tag it as a house of the Kukis set afire by a Meitei mob !

The groups which are currently under the lense of the NIA are the Kuki National Army (KNA), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), Kuki National Front (Nehlun faction) and the United Kuki Liberation Army (UKLA). And given the fact that it is the Union Home Ministry which has asked the NIA to probe their hands in the ongoing clash, the State Government should capitalise on the latest development. Roll back or suspend the SoO pact was a call that reverberated across the sky at Imphal and the valley districts and this is now the opportune moment to reiterate this stand. As noted earlier here, Chief Minister N Biren will need to proceed further from the loud proclamations and see how the case may be pursued further with the Centre. If and when the involvement of the said outfits is established, then what ? How will Delhi respond to the new findings ? More importantly what is its stand right now, apart from asking the NIA to probe the involvement of the said armed groups in the current crisis ? Will it be a case of just waiting for the NIA to wind up its probe and study its report or what more is up the sleeves of Union Home Minister Amit Shah ? The Chief Minister will also need to capitalise on the good report that the Union Home Minister delivered on the floor of Parliament some time in July. If the Chief Minister has the trust of New Delhi, then what is stopping him from raising the demand to abrogate the SoO pact with the Kuki armed outfits ? Abrogate the SoO pact and this will go a long way in silencing the guns on either side. That the Chairman of the ZRA, Thanglianpau Guite is a Myanmarese is established and one wonders how New Delhi can engage in a dialogue with a foreigner. This is one line that should be highlighted.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 16:23 | All, Japan

Japanese conglomerate Toshiba Corp. said Thursday it will be delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Dec. 20, ending its 74-year-long history as a public company, as it seeks to rebuild itself following a takeover bid.

Last month, a 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) takeover bid for Toshiba by a consortium led by Japan Industrial Partners Inc. ended in success.

Toshiba also said it will convene an extraordinary shareholders' meeting on Nov. 22 in Tokyo to discuss share consolidation and other agendas in a bid to squeeze out remaining shareholders.

The JIP-led group, which consists of companies such as financial firm Orix Corp. and semiconductor company Rohm Co., has acquired a 78.65 percent stake in Toshiba through the tender offer.

The bid was intended to allow Toshiba to sever ties with overseas activist shareholders, who it says were only seeking short-term returns.

Toshiba, one of Japan's leading companies, was founded in 1875. It started as an electric appliance maker and gradually branched out into new business sectors such as infrastructure and renewable energy.

Toshiba has been struggling to recover from a spate of problems that occurred in the 2010s, including a scandal related to overstating its profits in financial filings. It also incurred massive losses in its U.S. nuclear business during the same period.

Related coverage:

2 tril. yen Toshiba takeover bid succeeds, Japan investor group says

JIP-led 2 tril. yen Toshiba buyout begins in bid to turn it around
group of BJP party workers, determined to enter the office at Salt Lake, which has become the partys headquarters, tried to breach the heavy metal doors by force this evening, sparking tension. Security personnel were deployed to manage the situation.

The incident led to a tense atmosphere within the party, leaving many bewildered about what was happening.

State BJP leader, Shamik Bhattacharya, commented: Im not sure what transpired, but if what weve heard is true, this is undesired.

According to reports, a group of workers from the partys Barasat organisational district arrived at the Salt Lake office on Wednesday evening. Their main complaint revolved around allegations against the district pres- ident Tarunkanti Ghosh.

The protesters accused Mr Ghosh of orchestrating manipulations within the party and not adhering to the partys agenda. They gathered outside the office with banners bearing slogans like Awaken theYouth, Save BJP. At the time of the incident, the main gate of the party office was locked, and some were seen attempting to enter the office by force, while oth- ers tried to break the gates lock with bricks.

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The situation has left the party in disarray. Shamik Bhattacharya added: Those who have complaints will be heard, but the way theyve conducted themselves is not acceptable. The party is closely monitoring the situation.

This incident is not the first time that internal discord has become public within the BJP, whether in Barasat, Jalpaiguri, Hooghly, or other organisational districts. The party has been grappling with divisions and tensions in various regions. Wednesdays incident in Salt Lake is a stark example of the growing internal challenges within the party.
A Division Bench of Calcutta High Court today in a ruling reinstated Sudanda Bhattacharya Goenka as principal of Jogesh Chandra Law College, staying the ruling of the Single Bench of justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who had given the marching order to Ms Goenka.

The Division Bench of Justices Tapobrata Chakraborty and Rai Chatterjee in a ruling today asked the college authorities to ensure an hassle-free entry

of Mrs Goenka in the college and asked the special officer to unlock her chamber in the college at 9 a.m.

The Bench also ordered that the colleges acting principal should hand over charge to her and to ensure that Ms Goenkas salary for this month is cleared.

The Bench in its observation also said for rendering justice everyone should be heard and based only on telephonic conversation the Single Bench should not have issued the sack order.

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On 5 October, Justice Gangopadhyay had directed the authorities concerned for the removal of Sunanda Goenka as the principal of Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College and closure of her room till further orders. She challenged the order before the Division Bench the very next day.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today interrogated Rujira Narula Banerjee, wife of Abhishek Banerjee, CEO of Leaps and Bounds and national general secretary of the ruling Trinamul Congress was quizzed by the central agency.

She was quizzed for around 8 hours. Sources said that besides Mukesh Kumar, the newly-appointed assistant director of ED in West Bengal, a female officer of the ED was also present in the room where Rujira Banerjees interrogation was taking place. The entire interrogation process was being video- recorded.

Her interrogation was in connection with her role as a ex-director of the company, which is under the RD lens for its link in the recruitment scam.

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FINAL TOUCHES

Rujira, who was earlier quizzed by the central agency in connection with illegal mining and coal pilferage scam, was today issued sum- mons by the agency allegedly over the companys assets.Today was the first time that Rujira was interrogated in connection with the recruit- ment scam.

The source also claimed that since the agency was gathering information from the former directors following rebuke from the Calcutta High Court for its lack-adaisical attitude in probe. Rujira was one of the directors like her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Amit Banerjee and Lata Banerjeerespectively.

All of them had been issued summons along with Abhishek Banerjee. While the duo Amit and Lata Banerjee skipped appearance and submitted documents instead, Abhishek Banerjee too had handed over documents to the agency as directed by the Division Bench of Calcutta High Court, yesterday. Rujira was the first from the family to appear before the agency.

Sources in the know claimed that Rujira was interrogated mainly regarding the company, its running and whether any transaction was made to the companys accounts during her tenure while she was one of the directors.

Mr. Kumar, questioned Rujira Banerjee, in connection with the cash for schooljob case.

Kumar is in-charge of all the money laundering related cases in the state.
By Satoshi Iizuka, KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 19:37 | All, Japan

The Japanese government decided Thursday to seek a court order to dissolve the Unification Church after a nearly yearlong probe into the controversial group over its history of coercing members into making large donations, culture minister Masahito Moriyama said.

With the order, the church will be stripped of its religious corporation status and associated tax benefits, but can continue to exist as a group and conduct activities in Japan.

The government has judged the church has engaged in financially damaging donation solicitation, Moriyama told reporters, adding the group has been ordered by the courts to pay as much as 20 billion yen ($134 million) in compensation to around 1,550 victims.

The Unification Church has inflicted suffering on many people and violated civil law, which "deviated from the intended purpose of a religious corporation," said the education, culture, sports, science and technology minister.

The government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the decision, with a request expected to be filed on Friday, after collecting opinions at a gathering of a religious organization council within the Cultural Affairs Agency.

Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2023, shows a building in Tokyo that houses the headquarters of the Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. (Kyodo)

Kishida told reporters at the prime minister's office on Thursday that the decision relied on "objective facts" in accordance with the procedures under the religious corporation law.

The council's members "unanimously" endorsed the proposal, Moriyama said. The Unification Church said in a statement later in the day that, "It is deeply regrettable the government has made such a grave decision based on biased information."

The agency collected testimonies from more than 170 people as part of its investigation into the group's solicitation of donations from followers, said Moriyama.

The Tokyo District Court is likely to deliver a judgment based on the evidence submitted by the government about the organization, founded in South Korea by a staunch anti-communist in 1954 and formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

The Unification Church, which stirred controversy decades ago in Japan, came under fresh scrutiny after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot during an election campaign speech in July 2022 over his perceived links to the group.

Abe was targeted by the alleged killer Tetsuya Yamagami, whose mother's large donations to the Unification Church severely impacted his family. He claimed he targeted Abe partly because Abe's grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, helped bring the church to Japan in the 1960s.

A series of revelations about ties between lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Kishida, and the Unification Church badly damaged the government's reputation.

Kishida said Thursday that LDP members have "thoroughly" cut relations with the Unification Church, amid concerns that the religious organization had been trying to wield influence in the political arena.

With approval ratings for his Cabinet remaining sluggish, Kishida, who took office in October 2021, apparently aims to regain public trust by taking a firm stance against the group, often labeled as a cult by critics, observers said.

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masahito Moriyama (C, facing camera) speaks during a meeting of the Religious Juridical Persons Council in Tokyo on Oct. 12, 2023, expressing his intention to seek a court order to dissolve the Unification Church. (Kyodo)

Under Japan's legal system, relevant authorities are allowed to ask courts to order a dissolution in cases where a religious corporation "commits an act which is clearly found to harm public welfare substantially."

If the government can prove that malicious and illegal acts occurred repeatedly at an organizational level, it can seek the group's dissolution. When that happens, it loses its tax benefits as a religious corporation.

So far, only two religious organizations have received a dissolution order from a Japanese court because of legal violations. One was the AUM Shinrikyo cult, which carried out the deadly 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system as well as a number of other serious crimes.

Given that it took around four months for the dissolution order to AUM to be issued following the filing of the request, the Unification Church's case is also expected to take considerable time.

The renewed focus on the Unification Church has highlighted the difficulties encountered by "second-generation" family members of its followers, who have experienced financial and other hardships due to their parents' devotion to the religion.

Since last November, the Cultural Affairs Agency has exercised its right to question the organization and obtain documents from it seven times, while also collecting statements from victims who were pressured into making huge donations.

Last December, Japan's parliament enacted a law to prohibit organizations from maliciously soliciting donations.

The Unification Church has claimed that engaging in activities that violate Japan's civil law should not be considered grounds for ordering its dissolution and that the government's questioning of the group is illegal.

In the 1980s, the Unification Church became notorious in Japan for spiritual sales, in which followers were pressured to buy jars and other items for exorbitant prices via the use of threats, such as invoking "ancestral karma" as a catalyst for misfortune.

Moreover, the group drew attention for holding mass wedding ceremonies, with some Japanese celebrities participating in one held in Seoul in 1992. But since then, there had been few media reports about the organization until the assassination of Abe.

Some long-time members of the Unification Church said they have collected over 53,000 petitions urging the government not to pursue a court order and sent them to Kishida and Moriyama, while gathering more than 27,000 signatures online.

Related coverage:

Japan gov't aims to seek Unification Church's dissolution on Oct. 13

Japan government plans to seek court order to dissolve Unification Church

Japan government may seek to dissolve Unification Church: source
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has given the nod for the appointment of four special public prosecutors for trials in POCSO cases, an official said on Thursday.

The Delhi government said the opinion of the LG shall be required for the appointment of special public prosecutors (SPPs) for CBI to conduct trials of POCSO cases in various special courts of the national capital, which has been stalled for over nine months.

On receiving communication from the L-G Secretariat requisitioning the files in this regard, the city Minister (Home), sought opinion from the Law Department which said the matter needs to be processed expeditiously for obtaining the opinion of LG so that the notification for appointment of SPPs may be issued under section 32 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the official said.

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on October 6 directed to send the matter to the LG who had earlier taken a serious note of the delay by the city government.

The CBI in December 2022 had requested for issuance of notification for appointment of CBI senior public prosecutors to deal with POCSO cases in various courts in Delhi and a reminder was sent on March 15, 2023.

The agency had also intimated that more than 20 cases have been registered by it on the allegations of circulation, storing and viewing of child sexual exploitation material through various social media platforms/groups.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday inaugurated four-day Shimla Flying Festival at Junga in the outskirts of Shimla city.

The event is being jointly organized by The Glide Inn company and the State Tourism Department.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister noted that such events promote adventure tourism activities in the area and attract global tourism as well, since players from both India and abroad were participating in the event, adding that such events also provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to the locals.

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It is the first event of a national level after the disaster struck the state during the monsoons. Himachal is open to welcome the tourists and extend its hospitality, he said.

Sukhu said new challenges cannot be met with coded laws and for this very reason the government is mulling amending various laws and by-laws to bring major changes in education, health and other sectors, which will take some time to bear fruit.

He said that the state government was taking many effective steps to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant in the next four years and the most prosperous state of the country in the coming ten years.

We are repeatedly demanding a special relief package from the central government, while the BJP was misleading the people for political gains in the name of disaster, asserted the chief minister.

He also expressed hope that Junga, 25 kms away from Shimla, will come up as an alternative adventure tourist destination in the state.
After the questioning of the Andhra Pradesh CID on the second day, Telugu Desam Party General Secretary Nara Lokesh said that CID officials asked the same questions that were not related to the Inner Ring Road case.

Earlier in the day, Nara Lokesh arrived at the Special Investigation Team (SIT) office in Tadeaplli for a second-day interrogation in the Inner Ring Road case.

After completing the investigation, Lokesh spoke to the media and revealed that the CID officials asked the same questions unrelated to the IRR case on the second day as well.

He mentioned that he attended the investigation on the second day, despite the Andhra Pradesh High Court instructing him to attend for only one day.

Nara Lokesh asserted that he had nothing to hide, and he attended the second day based on the instructions of the CID officials.

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The TDP National General Secretary stated that on the second day, the CID officials asked him 47 questions, but only four of them were related to the IRR case.

Lokesh revealed that the officials presented IT returns documents of his mother, Nara Bhuvaneswari, and raised some questions from them.

However, he expressed his readiness to challenge these questions in court and didnt want to answer them during the investigation.

Nara Lokesh emphasized that He was repeatedly asked questions unrelated to the ministry (which he had managed during the TDP regime).

He strongly stated that neither he nor his family had any involvement in the alleged Inner Ring Road scam.

Regarding the transparency of his family, Lokesh mentioned that his family has been declaring their assets for the past ten years.

He questioned why CID officials havent investigated Prem Chandra Reddy and Ajay Kallam, the individuals who signed the Skill Development Project.

He also raised questions about how it could be considered a quid pro quo arrangement when they paid rent for his familys stay in the Lingamaneni guest house.

Regarding the transparency of Heritage, Nara Lokesh pointed out that Heritage was founded in 1992 when N Chandrababu Naidu was in opposition. It was listed in 1994, and all the relevant documents are available in the public domain.

He further alleged that Jagan is using public funds to pay the salaries of Sakshi employees. He reminded everyone that the Delhi High Court had issued notices to Jagan and his wife, Bharathi, in a case against the Sakshi Group.

Nara Lokesh revealed that no one is willing to invest in the state due to the corrupt governance of Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He also noted that he has many responsibilities as the National General Secretary of the TDP and expressed his frustration at the CID for wasting his time over two days in a baseless case with no evidence.

In May 2022, the CID registered an FIR against Chandrababu Naidu, former municipal administration minister Dr P Narayana, Heritage Foods Ltd, and others, for alleged irregularities in the construction of an Inner Ring Road in Amaravati.
The Supreme Court on Thursday posted for November 7 pleas challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act that was incorporated by an amendment in 1985 in pursuance to the Assam Accord for granting citizenship to the migrants from Bangladesh who had crossed over to India before March 25, 1971.

The Assam accord was signed between the central government, Assam government, All-Assam Students Union, and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad in New Delhi, on August 15, 1985. At that time, Rajiv Gandhi was Indias prime minister.

The challenge to the validity of Section 6A, which was to be heard on October 17, got rescheduled to November 7, after the solicitor general, Tushar Mehta, told a five-judge constitution bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice AS Bopanna, Justice MM Sundresh, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra, that yesterday we (the government) got to know that the entire week is a miscellaneous week.

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That matter will go to November 7, CJI Chandrachud said.

The constitution bench had earlier on September 20, directed the listing of petitions challenging the validity of Section 6A on October 17.

The top court in the week starting with October 16 till October 20, will hear only the miscellaneous matters. The top court will be on Dussehra holidays from October 21 (Saturday) to October 29. As a practice, the top court hears only the miscellaneous matters (fresh matters) in the week preceding and succeeding the long holidays.

In the last hearing, the court had said the cause title of the proceedings shall be, In Re: Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

Earlier on January 10, a five-judge bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice MR Shah, Justice Krishna Murari (both since retired), Justice Hima Kohli, and Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha had said the adjudication of the issue would be limited to whether Section 6A of the Citizenship Act 1955 suffers from any constitution infirmity.

The hearing on the validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act is rooted in a December 17, 2014, reference by a two-judge bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman. Justice Ranjan Gogoi went on to become Chief Justice of India and has since retired and was nominated as Rajya Sabha member by the Modi government. Justice Nariman too has since retired.

The bench of Justice Gogoi and Justice Nariman had framed 13 questions for reference to the five-judge constitution bench that included whether Section 6A which was incorporated in pursuance to Assam accord violated Article 6, Article 14, Article 21, Article 29(1) Article 355, basic premise of the Constitution and the Citizenship Act and the rule of law.

One of the questions referred to the constitution bench included whether Articles 10 and 11 of the Constitution of India permit the enactment of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, in as much as Section 6A, in prescribing a cut-off date different from the cut-off date prescribed in Article 6, can do so without a variation of Article 6 itself.

Subsequently the same bench had, on July 21, 2015, referred to a constitution bench a question: whether a child born in India to illegal migrants would be considered as a citizen of India or not?

The question was referred to the constitution bench in the context of the citizenship status of children born to undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam.

The Section 3 of the Citizenship Act provides for citizenship by birth.

Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, a Guwahati-based NGO, along with Assam Public Works, All Assam Ahom Association, and others had challenged Section 6A way back in 2012 contending that the Section 6A is discriminatory, arbitrary, and illegal so far as it provides for different cut-off dates for regularizing undocumented migrants who entered Assam and the rest of India.

The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan, witnessed a massive influx of migrants to India. Even before the war had started, a large number of Bengalis, fleeing atrocities from Pakistani security forces, had entered India creating a severe refugee crisis in the border states, like Assam.

After the war was over and Bangladesh gained independence, many of these refugees stayed back in India and many more entered India as undocumented migrants. The status of these migrants has been a bone of contention between India and Bangladesh for decades.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) will deploy 100 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Telangana for the upcoming elections. The CAPE personnel will report to duty by 20 October, almost a month prior to the elections in the state.

Elections will be held in the state in a single phase on 30 November.

Except a few Maoist pockets, polls are usually peaceful in the state, but the Commission wants to make the polls inducement-free after the bitter experience of Munugode bypoll which saw free flow of cash, freebies and liquor by all parties in the fray.

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Yesterday, the ECI had transferred 13 top cops, including commissioners of police of Hyderabad, Warangal and Nizamabad and four collectors, a move that has proverbially set the cat among pigeons.

According to sources, the officials were considered to be close to the ruling party and nine among the 10 SPs were non cadre officers (non IPS). During a meeting between the full commission and the police administration that had taken place last week questions were raised about such a high number of non cadre officers in the posts of Superintendent of police.

Following the sudden transfer of district collectors, superintendents of police, police commissioners and an IAS officer by the ECI, Opposition parties approached the commission with more complaints. State Congress chief A Revanth Reddy said his party wants the removal of DGP Anjani Kumar. He also accused Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra of tapping the phones of Congress leaders.

BSP candidate for Sirpur Assembly constituency Dr RS Praveen Kumar, who is also an ex IPS officer, complained to the commission, along with a video evidence against SP of Asifabad K Suresh Kumar who allegedly is close to the BRS MLA Koneru Konappa and his brother Krishna.

How can we have faith in such an officer who was found in the company of criminals contesting elections, he asked.

Krishna is an accused in the assault of a woman forest range officer.

More than Rs 20 crore cash seized between 9 and 12 October after the imposition of model code of conduct (MCC) apart from gold, silver and diamonds worth Rs14 crore, liquor worth Rs 86 lakh and ganja worth Rs 89 lakh. Freebies seized include 7040 kg of rice, 440 sarees, 80 sewing machines, 87 cookers and even a car.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has, on Thursday, said efforts are being made to make Kerala a state free from extreme poverty.

Speaking to media persons here, Pinarayi Vijayan said his government would ensure that there are no people suffering from extreme poverty in the state by November 1, 2024.

Efforts are being made to make Kerala a state free from extreme poverty. In the government survey, more than 64,000 families are below the extreme poverty line. A clear micro plan will be prepared and released to financially uplift those families. This will be led by local bodies. Extreme Poverty will be eradicated from Kerala by November 1, 2024, the CM said

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Pinarayi Vijayan further said that regional review meetings have become a model of public participation development and governance review. He said that regional meetings have become the new style of administration. The entire state cabinet discussed with the officials and decided to solve the development issues, he said

The CM Vijayan chaired four regional meetings in Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Ernakulam. Projects, including road highways, waterways, LIFE mission Jal Jeevan Mission, and waste management, were discussed at the meetings.
The Zhen Hua 15, a massive Chinese vessel carrying huge container-handling cranes, arrived at the Vizhinjam International Seaport, developed by the Adani Group, on Thursday

Shenhua 15 was received with a water salute. It arrived at Vizhinjam port after completing a one-and-a-half month journey. Before reaching Vizhinjam, the ship made a stopover at Mundra port in Gujarat to offload cranes. It reached the outer waters of Vizhinjam on Wednesday.

Kerala is hoping that the Vizhinjam port will become a crucial presence in Indias cargo movement and Thiruvananthapuram will emerge as the next global port city.

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Union Minister for Ports Sarbananda Sonowal and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will officially receive the ship at a ceremony held at Vizhinjam on October 15. With Vizhinjam becoming a reality, huge mother ships can anchor right off the Indian coast.

The port, which situates near Thiruvananthapuram, is being built at a projected cost of Rs 7,700 crore and is expected to be commissioned by May next year. It is being constructed under the public-private partnership model.

Once the port becomes operational, it will allow huge mother ships to be anchored on the Indian coast. On commissioning, the port will be able to anchor two mother ships at a time, each of which can carry 15,000 to 20,000 containers

The project, which was scheduled to be commissioned in 2019, got delayed due to several issues. In 2022, the construction works were stalled following the intense agitation by the fish workers of the region, primarily members of the Latin Catholic community.

Despite several challenges, including the Ockhi cyclone, protests by the local fishermen community, the Covid pandemic, and the shortage of raw materials, including boulders, the authorities managed to keep the project up and running.

The works related to dredging, and construction of buildings ,infrastructure for port operations and container berth construction are continuing at a fast pace- The construction of the container berth is almost complete while yard berth construction has reached 34 per cent.
India has launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of Indian citizens who wish to return from Israel in the wake of the outbreak of hostilities in the region, the government said on Thursday.

As announced by the external affairs minister yesterday, Operation Ajay has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens. The first charter flight will be reaching Tel Aviv later tonight to pick up the Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning, the foreign ministry spokesman, Arindam Bagchi, said at a media briefing.

It may be noted that there are nearly 18,000 Indians in Israel, including about 1,000 students.

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Bagchi said more flights would be sent to Israel, depending upon the evolving situation in the Jewish state. The foreign ministry, he said, was in touch with the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv and neighbouring countries, like Jordan, Syria, and Egypt.

Bagchi also advised Indians stranded in Israel to follow advisories issued by the Indian mission.

We are keeping a close watch on the situation, the spokesman said, while not ruling out the possibility of the Indian Air Force playing a role in the evacuation exercise.

He said the government was aware of the case in which a woman from Kerala was injured in the attack by Hamas. The person was in hospital while there was no report of any Indian casualty so far.

Earlier on Thursday, the foreign minister, S Jaishankar, chaired a meeting to review preparations for Operation Ajay. The registration for Indian citizens began on Thursday, government sources said.

After the meeting, Bagchi, in an X post, said: EAM @DrSJaishankar chaired a meeting today to review preparations for #OperationAjay. #TeamMEA stands ready to assist our citizens to return home. The foreign secretary, Vinay Kwatra, was among those present at the meeting. The Indian ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla, also attended it via videoconferencing.

Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Israel shared an update on social media stating that the deputy chief of mission, Rajiv Bodwade, and the Indian commercial representative, Naveen Ramakrishna, had interacted with Indian companies in Israel to extend all possible help.

In a statement, the embassy said: DCM Rajiv Bodwade and commercial representative Naveen Ramakrishna interacted with Indian companies in Israel to help clear their doubts and extend all possible help.

Israels consul general in Mumbai, Kobbi Shoshani, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching Operation Ajay.

Shoshani further emphasized that Israel loved and respected the Indian business community in Israel as it contributed a lot to their economy. The Indian business community that we love and respect so much contributes to our economy in a big way, he said.

Additionally, Shoshani stressed that the Israeli government is doing its best to assist the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv in Operation Ajay.

As the war between Israel and Hamas intensifies, the Indian Embassy in Israel has set up two 24-hour helpline numbers  +972-35226748 and +972-543278392  and an email  cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in  for Indian citizens who need assistance amid the ongoing conflict or wish to register with the mission.
Kerala CPI-M leader KK Shailaja has strongly condemned the recent attack by Hamas terrorists in a residential area of Israel.

Terming the attack as deeply shocking, Shailaja, a Central Committee member of the CPI-M, emphasised the need for people of conscience to denounce the attacks by Hamas terrorists.

Her statement condemning the Hamas attack came after the CPI-Ms public declaration of support for Palestine in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

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Shailajas statement against Hamas attack is a lonely voice in the CPI-M. Other leaders of CPI-M have declared their support for the Palestine.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and party Polit Bureau member MA Baby have also expressed their unwavering support for Palestine.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Shailaja said that it is the responsibility of conscientious individuals not only to empathise with those trapped in the turmoil of war but also to actively protest against it.

The former Kerala Health Minister also pointed out that the Palestinian people have endured the same level of terror since 1948, laying the blame on Israel and the imperialist powers supporting it.

Wars are the result of greed for power and greed for money. Many innocent people are killed in every war. Childrens bodies burnt during bombardment disturb our sleep. All conscientious people will condemn the attack by Hamas terrorists in the inhabited area of Israel, Shailaja wrote in her Facebook post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the governments decision to establish the Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform will go a long way in promoting youth-led development and providing wings to the aspirations of Indias talented youth.

The Union Cabinet approved establishing an autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) which will create a physical and digital eco-system to empower youth to become catalysts for community transformation.

The Cabinet decision on establishing Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) will go a long way in furthering youth-led development and giving wings to the aspirations of our talented Yuva Shakti, PM Modi posted on X (Formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed gratitude to PM Modi for approving Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat).

The new autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) approved by the Union Cabinet today will be a pool of our youth power which will fuel Indias growth into a new future. The primary objective of this platform is youth development. The ideas, aspirations and diligence of our youth will unite on this platform which will open for them access to the entire government and the opportunity to contribute to nation-building. My heartfelt gratitude to PM @narendramodi Ji for this visionary decision, Amit Shah posted on X.

The new technology-led platform will enable the government to engage with the youth to actualise their aspirations for Indias progress in the march to make the country a developed nation by 2047.

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Briefing the media after a meeting of the union cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the platform will serve as an overarching enabling mechanism powered by technology for youth development and youth-led development.

It will provide equitable access to youth and build Viksit Bharat across the entire spectrum of the Government and bring various stakeholders together, he said.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 12:50 | World, All

A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrived in the South Korean port city of Busan on Thursday, in a show of force in response to North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile threats.

The arrival of the U.S. Navy's Ronald Reagan came as the United States, South Korea and Japan held a joint exercise on Monday and Tuesday in international waters southeast of South Korea's Jeju Island.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said earlier this week that the five-day visit of the carrier and its strike group comes as part of an agreement made between Seoul and Washington in April to enhance the "regular visibility" of the United States' strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula.

The aircraft carrier last visited South Korea in September 2022, in the first port call in five years. Another U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Nimitz, also visited the port of Busan in March.

Related coverage:

Japan to buy Tomahawks from U.S. in FY 2025, 1 yr sooner than planned

Japan, North Korea met informally this year over abduction row: sources
The Indian government has launched Operation Ajay to bring back Indian citizens who are stranded in different cities of war-torn Israel. Union Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the government of India is fully committed to safety of Indian nationals in Israel. The first batch of Indians stranded in Israel will be brought back home today in a special charter flight and the government has already made the required arrangements.

Launching OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad, Jaishankar said.

Operation Ajay explained in 10 points:

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The Indian government has launched the operation Ajay in view of security threat to Indian students and others living in Israel where a war has broke out between Israeli Defence Forces and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Around 18,000 Indians, many of them young students, stranded in Israel when the war broke last week after Hamas militants carried out brutal assault. The students and their families had requested the Indian government to extract them from the war-torn country. Jaishankar has said that the government has arranged special charter flights to bring back Indian citizens from Israel. Other arrangements have also been made, he added. The Indian embassy in Israel said that it has already emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight today. The remaining Indian nationals will also be brought back in the next batches and messages will be sent to them soon. The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights, India in Israel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv has also set up a 24/7 helpline to assist Indian nationals. Indian nationals who are stranded in Israel and want to return to India can contact the embassy through its 24/7 helpline. 24*7 Emergency Helpline/Contact: Tel +972-35226748, +972-543278392, Email: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in. A 24/7 control room has also been set up in Delhi to monitor the situation and assist people. The Delhi control room can be accessed through -1800118797 (toll-free), 91-11 23012113, 91-11-23014104, 91-11-23017905 and 919968291988, and the e-mail ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in. Israel declared war against Hamas after the brutal October 7 attack, in which more than 1200 Israelis were killed and thousands wounded.
With backdoor appointments in the state-run Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment (KILE) coming to the fore Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan on Wednesday demanded the resignation of state Labour Minister V Sivankutty.

Satheesan also demanded that the government should immediately dismiss all those who have been appointed through the backdoor and urged the state government to order a probe into all the appointments made in the KILE when Sivankutty was the chairman of the KILE and during his period as the minister for labour.

The minister, who has committed a violation of oath of office, is not entitled to continue in office, even for a moment. If there is a little bit of political decency and dignity left, Sivankutty should resign himself and face the probe, Satheesan said in a statement here on Wednesday.

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The Congress leader further said that the Pinarayi Vijayan Government was ruling the state not for the three and a half crore people of the state, not for his party men.

He further alleged that backdoor appointments were being taken place in all the wings and institutions of government. Appointment of SFI and DYFI leaders and their cronies in state-run institutions, keeping qualified youths in the dark, is a challenge to the youth and public in the state, he said.

Satheesan said that Sivankutty made the appointments in KILE in violation of a 2019 cabinet decision that no appointment should be made without prior permission. With the massive recruitment of party members, the salary cost in KILE rose from Rs 39 lakhs to RS. 64 lakhs, he added.

A woman-DYFI leader who was first appointed on daily wages was later given an appointment on a contract basis as a publicity assistant in KILE. Ten others have also got appointments in the Institute in the same manner on various posts from project coordinator to sweeper. Though the Finance Department objected to the proposal first, it approved the posting following the intervention of Minister Sivankutty, it is reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a dig at his predecessors alleging that they neglected developments in border areas for fear of infiltration of enemies.

After laying the foundation stones for Rs 4,200 crore developmental projects in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, Modi said his government was committed to making India a viksit Bharat (developed India).

Addressing a huge gathering, the prime minister said the development of border areas is a priority for his government which, he said, resulted in creating multiple facilities for the local public.

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He attacked his predecessors alleging that their advocacy for keeping the border areas backwaters was unfounded and on a false premise. He said, Past governments did not develop border areas as they feared enemy infiltration and usurping of our territories. How illogical the argument was!

New India neither fears anything nor does it cause fear in others, the prime minister asserted as he spoke about the infrastructure developments taking place in Uttarakhand and other border areas of the country.

One of the priorities of the government is the development of border areas. New services are being developed at a fast pace here, he added.

Every village in Uttarakhand produces those who protect Indias borders. It is this government that fulfilled their decade-old demand of one rank one pension (OROP), he said.

The PM informed that more than Rs 70,000 crore has been transferred to former soldiers under the OROP benefiting more than 75,000 families. He claimed that more than 4,200 km of roads, 250 bridges and 22 tunnels have been built in border areas in the last 9 years.

Besides OROP, Modi claimed his government ensured legalisation of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliamentary and assembly polls.

He said the vibrant village scheme of the Centre has turned the last villages into the first villages of the country. Our effort is to bring back people who have left these villages. We want to increase tourism in these villages, said the prime minister.

He said people had to leave their homes for wrong policies of the past with regard to water, medicine, roads, education and medical facilities.

The prime minister laid the foundation stones and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth Rs 4,200 crore for rural development, road, power, irrigation, drinking water, horticulture, education, health and disaster management among others in Pithoragarh hill region.

Recounting his governments other achievements, the PM said the world was amazed over how 13.5 crore people of Indian have overcome the shackles of poverty in the past nine years.

Modi pointed out that the previous governments coined the slogan Garibi Hatao but its Modi who says that poverty can be uprooted by owning and taking its responsibility. Together we can eradicate poverty, he emphasized.

Modi, The place where Chandrayan landed has been named Shiv Shakti and the identity of Uttarakhand is now on the moon.

With his day-long Pithoragarh visit, Modi became the first prime minister to visit Adi Kailash located along Nepal and China borders. I always feel blessed when I am in Uttarakhand amongst you, he remarked.

Earlier, he performed pooja and darshan at the Parvati Kund and had deep site seeing of the mount Adi Kailash before moving to yemple town Jageshwar in Almora. Modi stated that besides Badrinath and Kedarnath circuits of pilgrimages and tourism his government will develop third big Manas Khand tourists circuit in Kumaon region. He said this will attract large number of tourists to this part pf the state.
BJP OBC Morcha National President and Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman slammed Telangana Chief Ministers son KTR on Wednesday for his comments against Home Minister Amit Shah and said that people in Telangana want a change.

Speaking to ANI BJP leader K Laxman said, KTR is nervous as Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are coming to Telangana. What is KTR, apart from being the CMs son? Their affidavit before the 2014 elections should be checked. He cannot become a big leader by criticising big leaders. There is no bigger corruption anywhere in the country than Telangana. The people want a change. Although you criticize Congress, the people have realised that you are the B-team of Kharge in Delhi and here Congress is your B-team.

Hitting out at Congress, he said that PM Modi with Garib Kalyan Yojana has helped many poor whereas they have thrown out the poor with Garibi Hatao.

He added, The people want a change from the 3 parties comprising of BRS, Congress and AIMIM. BJP is the change.

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Referring to HM Amit Shah KTR on Tuesday said that misleading people wont work in the poll-bound state and that this time more than 110 of Bharatiya Janata Partys candidates will lose their deposits in the November 30 polls.

This comes after Amit Shah while addressing Jana Garjana Sabha in Telanganas Adilabad came down heavily on the KCR government. Shah said that KCRs goal is to make his son KTR the Chief Minister of the state.

In response to it, KTR had said, We would like to ask Amit Shah (to) name one state in India where per capita income grew by over 300 per cent. Show me one such BJP-ruled or Congress-ruled state. Telangana is one state which is making unprecedented developmentShow me one BJP-ruled state that has performed better than Telangana.
The ruling Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are most likely to forge an alliance for the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan as the latters sole MLA and Minister of State (MoS) in the Gehlot Cabinet Dr Subhash Garg is actively campaigning in his Bharatpur constituency.

In the last assembly polls in 2018, the Congress had given five seats to its alliance partners, the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), the RLD, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Out of the five, two went to the RLD (founded by Ajit Sinhg). Of the two seats, only Bharatpur seat was won by the RLD by a margin of 15,700 votes defeating the BJP candidate.

The RLD had lost the assembly polls in the Malpur constituency.

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The Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) has been an unrecognized registered political party in India. It was nationally launched by Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar in May 2018. The party was formed after Yadav parted ways from Janata Dal over its alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar.

RLD is seriously expecting an alliance with the Congress in this election too. RLD President Jayant Choudhary and Congress leaders in Delhi are working on the modalities, Garg told The Statesman.

The Congress had lost three assembly polls in Bharatpur to the BJP in 2003, 2013, and 2018. Hence, there would be a better chance for the RLD to retain its seat. Garg, who is MoS for technical education in the Gehlot government with a few other independent portfolios, said.

If I am voted from this seat, I will focus on developing the constituency as an medical and education hub, improve Bharatpurs drainage system, and create job opportunities for the youth, he assured.

Besides, he assured to work with the Congress on the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and strive to get for it a national status from the Central government.

Congress Pradesh Committee President Govind Singh Dotasara could not be contacted for his comment as he is reportedly busy in Delhi.
Afghanistan, a nation already plagued by conflict, political turmoil and economic hardship, now faces another grim chapter in its tumultuous history a devastating earthquake that has left hundreds dead and thousands injured. On Saturday morning, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck western Afghanistan, near the city of Herat.

The first reports from this day were filled with tales of horror as buildings crumbled and survivors watched their world collapse around them. The initial figures indicated a grim picture, with hundreds feared dead and thousands injured. However, the true scale of the disaster is only becoming apparent now.

The toll remains staggering with over 2,000 lives lost and the numbers continue to rise. Entire villages, consisting mostly of mud structures, were decimated, leaving countless families grieving and homeless. In the wake of this tragedy, rescue teams worked tirelessly to find survivors buried under the rubble. The challenges they face are immense, compounded by Afghanistans inadequate medical facilities.

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Hospitals are overwhelmed, treating casualties both inside their buildings and outside, an alarming sign of the overwhelming demand for emergency care. The earth-quakes impact extended beyond the immediate loss of life and property. It exposed the vulnerability of Afghanistans healthcare system, heavily reliant on foreign aid. Over the past two years, since the Taliban took control, international aid to the country has dwindled, resulting in crippling cuts to essential services. This has left Afghanistan ill-prepared to respond effectively to disasters like this earthquake.

Afghanistans suffering doesnt stop here. It was only a few months ago, in March, when the north-eastern part of the country was hit by another deadly earthquake, sending residents fleeing homes and triggering landslides. Tremors were felt in India and Pakistan, highlighting the seismic risks the region faces. In this context, Afghanistans current plight takes on a more profound meaning.

The nations ability to recover from natural disasters is hampered by the ongoing crises, both internal and external. Conflict, economic hardship, and political instability have created a perfect storm of suffering for the Afghan people. International support has dwindled since the Taliban took control in 2021.

Frozen foreign reserves and reduced funding have crippled an already aid-dependent economy. The World Banks warning that two-thirds of Afghan families are struggling to maintain their livelihoods paints a dire picture. As the world watches Afghanistan grapple with this new disaster, the urgency for international aid and support cannot be overstated.

The earthquake has revealed a nation in dire need of assistance, both in immediate relief efforts and in the long-term reconstruction of its infrastructure and healthcare system. It is a daunting task, but also a moral imperative. The Taliban must realise it cannot live in a state of perma- nent isolation.
One geopolitical phenomenon that has kept repeating during recent history is the separation of a country into multiple smaller countries, mainly for political or religious reasons.

The examples that come to mind are:

a) separation of British India into India and Pakistan and subsequent cessation of East Pakistan to form Bangladesh;

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b) separation of Germany into West and East Germany;

c) Separation of Vietnam into North and South Vietnam;

d) separation of Korea into North and South Korea;

e) breakup of Yugoslavia into seven different countries; f ) breakup of USSR into fifteen republics;

g) creation of Israel by separating it from Palestine;

h) the expansion of the USA after the 1848 US-Mexico War by incorporating many states that belonged to Mexico. Germany and Vietnam have subsequently reunited.

If we look for hotspots in this world where military conflicts and other disturbances have been going on for years, they are precisely in those regions where territories were split. It seems that dividing a region did not end the conflicts; mutual hatred continued. These countries spend enormous amounts of money to protect themselves from their neighbours who are just like them, and the general population crave the good old days.

A reunification might offer an opportunity to find the root causes of conflicts and alternative ways to settle differences. It is like a couple divorcing after years of heated arguments but still bickering afterwards and perhaps regretting the decision. They should reconcile and think through their situation with cool heads.

When two neighbouring nations share a common language, history, culture, physical appearance, and emotional frame of mind it does not make sense to keep them separated. Leaders who initiate these breakups are motivated by political power and belief that they can take better care of their people based on their ideology. It is inevitable that there will always be an emotional hankering for reunification.

Let us look at some specific situations. Let me start with the India-Pakistan conflicts. There were three full-scale India-Pakistan military conflicts with huge casualties in my lifetime; the first one in 1947-48, the second in 1965 and the third in 1971. The first two were over Jammu and Kashmir and the third one was the liberation war to free Bangladesh from Pakistan.

I have been biased from childhood with an anti-Pakistani sentiment based on horror stories from my parents, both of whom were originally from East Bengal (Pakistan), about the torture and looting by the Pakistani Muslims. However, I never understood why there have been no subsequent serious efforts by any political group to reunify the countries.

Frankly, I am tired of reports of endless military skirmishes between the two countries and gleeful opinion pieces in newspapers describing the demise of Pakistan. I look like any Pakistani and have utmost admiration for Pakistanis like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, Hanif Mohammad, Abdus Salam and Malala Yousefzai just to name a few and have been mesmerized by the beauty of Pakistani actresses. I feel for Pakistanis during natural disasters like floods or eco- nomic hardship. I personally met Benazir Bhutto and admired her.

I bet that if the India-Pakistan border were to disappear, a seamless reunification would occur just by migration of people. There will be no further need to fight over Kashmir. If India can exist more than 75 years as a secular country, so can the combined country.

I will even vote for an Akhand Bharat concept which unifies not just India and Pakistan but also Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Afghanistan together. Bangladeshis may not like Pakistanis but would love to reunite with Bengalis from West Bengal.

Similarly, Afghans will find many commonalities with Pakistanis and Sri Lankans with South Indians. Although the USA and Mexico have not fought in recent years over the border, illegal immigration of Mexicans across the southern border of the US has reached a crisis level in recent years. It is not just the inflow of migrants but also drugs, crimes and human trafficking that is burdening the social, legal and criminal systems in the US.

One unlikely solution is to unify the US and Mexico into one country.

Then the border disappears and so do all the border-related problems and expenses. Mexico has a rich culture and compliments the USA in almost everything that the latter needs to import including natural gas, minerals, agricultural products and labour

force.

I will call this a reunification because a large chunk of the US including the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada and Utah were part of Mexico before the US-Mexico war of 1848. Mexico is the most popular destination for Americans living outside the US and Mexican food is very popular in the US. Mexico has abundant lands that can be improved for both residential and commercial purposes.

The Korean people in both North and South Korea crave a reunification and the combined Korea will be a major force both militarily and eco- nomically. However, this is a pipe dream if a ruthless and unpredictable person like Kim Jong Un is in power.

Yugoslavia went through many internal wars before it started to break up and the final territorial boundaries were not determined until many years later. However, there is a strong grassroot Yugonostalgia across the region and especially among people who migrated to other countries before the division. Most believe reunification is certainly possible, but it must be initiated and led by external forces such as NATO.

The collapse of the USSR was an implosion resulting from ethnic con- flicts. The USSR was probably too large to sustain its existence as a sovereign country. Out of the resulting fifteen republics, some have chosen to maintain close ties with Russia while others prefer to be associated with the European Union.

If the USSR had not split, the current Ukrainian war and all the associated consequences including disruption of global supply chains would not have happened, not to mention hundreds of thousands of people getting killed. While a complete reunification is highly unlikely, a partial reunification where some countries join hands under communist rule and others join the EU and NATO is not out of the question.

The case of Israel and Palestine is different and more complex. Techni- cally, Palestine is not a separate country, and the entire Israel-Palestine region is controlled by Israel. However, deeply rooted differences and mutual hatred between the Arabs and Jews have prevented the region from becoming a peaceful democratic nation. The current war between Israel and Hamas is likely to lead Israel to impose stricter military controls to create such a nation and ensure an end to meaningless bloodshed.

Reunification of Germany and Vietnam has proven that reunification of divided countries is not only possible, but people also live happier and more prosperous lives.

It is easy for me to advocate reunification, but it is more difficult than division. The German reunification was achieved through a peaceful revolution and negotiation with international support as well as a substantial money transaction from Germany to the Soviets. The Vietnam reunification came after a decade of brutal warfare and only after the US realized that it was an unwinnable war.

Nixons peace overture to China and the USSR and dissolution of the militant Viet Cong group paved the way for reunification.

Reunification will not happen from diplomatic discussions because the existing political leaders have most to lose in terms of their power in such actions. It will only happen by either military involvement where one country simply takes over another or massive demonstrations by people mobilized by charismatic leaders.

(The writer, a physicist who worked in industry and academia, is a Bengali settled in America.)
The fallout of Saturdays assault by land, sea, and air on Israel by Hamas, the terrorist Palestinian organisation that controls the Gaza Strip which is home to approximately two million stateless Palestinians, has brought West Asia to the edge of the precipice.

That the Hamas mass infiltration conducted under the cover of thousands of missiles launched into Israeli territory came fifty years to the day of another surprise attack (by Egypt and Syria) which began the Yom Kippur war, is a grisly reminder of what is likely. As a shocked Israel looks for a smoking gun to link Iran to the Hamas assault, Tel Aviv has started hitting back. But Israeli air strikes on Gaza which are reported to have hit at least 50 Hamas targets and killed hundreds is only the beginning; the total siege of Gaza ordered by the Benjamin Netanyahu administration on Monday will have huge consequences for the region.

The vortex that has been the Middle East for the US-led West over the past 75 years has opened up again and it will pull Washington and its allies back in. Already, US naval ships have been deployed in the region and military support to Israel promised publicly by President Joe Biden. Israeli troops are still striving to drive Hamas fighters out of the bordering areas with Gaza and working on plans to rescue as many hostages as they can from Hamas captivity.

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The war will only begin after that. Developments in Israel/West Asia will command much of the worlds ~ especially Americas ~ attention in the days, weeks, and months to come and for all the wrong reasons. Hezbollah in the North has already launched a few sporadic attacks on Israel in solidarity with Hamas. It seems inevitable that Iran will get drawn into the conflict and that will almost certainly lead to paroxysms of violence in the region. The heinous treatment of Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas, and the fact that they are being used as human shields in Gaza to dissuade Israel from launching an all-out assault on the terrorist organisation, makes an already volatile situation fraught with even more danger.

In the process, the US strategic pivot away from West Asia and the AF-Pak region to the Indo-Pacific given Chinas relentless rise now seems to have been effectively scuppered. It is a reminder to all superpowers, present and future, that one cannot spend decades telling countries what to do, and even how to do it, under pain of punitive military-economic measures, and then walk away from the scene of the crime, as it were.

For India, the coming war in West Asia has all the portents of a major geostrategic setback. With a coercive China intent on squeezing Indias space to grow in the Indian Ocean Region and the larger Indo-Pacific, trade, supply, and connectivity corridors to Europe through West Asia and Africa could be a gamechanger for Indias economy and augment its comprehensive national power. But for that, an Israeli rapprochement with its Muslim-majority neighbours in the region, especially Saudi Arabia, is a necessary condition. That is unlikely in the near future. New Delhi will have to exhibit great dexterity to support Israel strongly while protecting the national interest vis-a-vis relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran in particular.
On Wednesday US President Joe Biden addressed Jewish community leaders in his latest show of support for Israel, at a roundtable in the White House and called the attacks by Hamas a campaign of pure cruelty.

I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children, Biden said in broader remarks about his administrations support for Israel amid its war with Hamas and efforts to free American hostages.

During the event at the White House, featuring a group of around two dozen rabbis and leaders of Jewish organisations, Biden also warned Iran to be careful.

We moved the US carrier fleet to the eastern Mediterranean and we are sending more fighter jets to that region, and made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful, he said, adding, When terrorist groups like Hamas, brought not only a sheer evil, sheer evil to the world, evil that echoes the worst matches in some cases exceeds the worst atrocities of ISIS.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US president spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu, marking the fourth known call between the two. Biden also guaranteed Netanyahu that the United States is sending more military assistance to help Israel fight Hamas militants.

The United States has Israels back and I have yours as well both at home and abroad, the president said.

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On Tuesday, Biden confirmed that US citizens are among those who have been taken hostage by Hamas. The White House said on Wednesday that 17 Americans are unaccounted.

Meanwhile, US State Department Secretary, Antony Blinken called the Hamas attacks as appalling, and also reiterated US support for Israel. He said at least 22 US citizens have been killed in the attacks.

The terrorist attacks against Israel are appalling, and the world should be revolted at what its seen. As we continue to closely monitor the situation, we sadly now know that at least 22 US citizens were killed, and US citizens are among those being held by Hamas, posted Blinken on X, adding, We join families in Israel, in the US, and around the world mourning the loss of loved ones killed in Hamass heinous attacks. We continue efforts to secure the release of those hostages, and the US remains steadfast and unwavering in our support for Israel.

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.

On Wednesday, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said that 1,200 Israelis have been killed and over 2,700 wounded while emphasising that the Israeli soldiers are ready to execute the mission in Gaza.

As the US administration continues its efforts to support Israel and deploy military assets to the region, various US government agencies are working behind the scenes to construct an accurate assessment of the situation on the ground.

The US State Department has advised Americans to reconsider travelling to Israel, in the wake of deadly Hamas attacks on Israel, . The travel advisory for the West Bank has also been raised to level 3, while the advisory for Gaza remains at the most severe  Level 4: Do Not Travel.
Canadas Senate Speaker, Raymonde Gagne, will not participate in the Presiding Officers Summit of Parliaments of G20 nations being held in India. The decision comes as a result of the strained diplomatic relations between Canada and India, which have soured in recent times.

Gagne had previously confirmed her attendance at the Parliament-20 meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. However, her absence has raised questions about whether Canada will have any representation at the event.

The specific reasons for Canadas withdrawal from the P20 Summit are not yet public, leaving the circumstances surrounding Gagnes decision uncertain. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had appointed her to the Senate back in 2016.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers Summit (P20) on October 13, 2023, in New Delhi, marking a significant event. India is hosting this summit as part of its G20 Presidency, and it carries the overarching theme of Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future.

The P20 Summit will see the participation of Speakers from Parliaments of G20 member countries as well as invitee nations. Of particular note, the Pan-African Parliament will make its debut appearance at the P20 Summit. This follows the African Unions admission as a member of the G20 during the New Delhi G20 Leaders Summit that took place on September 9-10, 2023.

In conclusion, Canadian Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagnes absence from the P20 Summit underscores the current diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. While the reasons behind Canadas non-attendance remain undisclosed, the P20 Summit takes on added significance as it convenes under Indias G20 Presidency.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 21:25 | Japan, All

A Japanese court has said that a law requiring surgery to switch genders on a family registry is unconstitutional in a ruling on a case involving a transgender man in central Japan, his lawyers said Thursday.

The Hamamatsu branch of the Shizuoka Family Court delivered the country's first judgment on a challenge to the rule after the man, Gen Suzuki, filed a request in 2021 seeking to change his gender without sex reassignment surgery, according to the lawyers.

The decision Wednesday by the central Japan court allows Suzuki, 48, to be listed as a man in his family registry without undergoing an operation to remove reproductive capacity.

Japanese law on gender identity disorder requires sex reassignment surgery as a condition for changing one's gender.

"(The ruling) could give hope to children who have also been denied their gender identities," Suzuki told Kyodo News.

Presiding Judge Takehiro Sekiguchi said that the impact of problems that might arise if a gender change is allowed without surgery would be "limited."

Ruling that the law violates Article 13 of the Constitution that stipulates all people shall be respected as individuals, he also said restricting the freedom of people with gender identity disorder to choose not to undergo physically invasive procedures against their will is "not rational."

Suzuki has undergone hormone therapy and surgically removed his breast tissue but believes a sex reassignment operation would have a serious impact on his physical and mental health.

He says he felt uncomfortable being treated as female from a young age and was diagnosed with gender identity disorder at age 40.

Family courts must give permission to make corrections to a family register, which records information about the identity of citizens such as gender as well as family relationships.

The Supreme Court is expected to deliver a ruling on the constitutionality of the law in a separate case involving another transgender individual seeking to switch gender without surgery.

In 2019, the top court ruled that the law was constitutional, but that it should be reviewed in accordance with changes in society.

Related coverage:

Transgender man in Japan wants switch recognized without surgery
Amid widespread anger, the public hospitals in Israel have refused to accept wounded Hamas militants who are being brought for medical treatment. According to local media reports, members of an ultranationalist group gathered at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv where a Hamas militant was brought for medical treatment.

The group scuffled with police, following which the militant was sent to a prison medical facility. A spokesperson for the Sheba Medical Centre told reporters that a Hamas terrorist was brought to the hospital for treatment but senior hospital staff refused to accept him.

Following the incident, the authorities have reportedly shifted all the injured Hamas militants to the countrys prison service medical facilities.

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Anger runs high in Israel after the brutal Hamas assault that killed scores of civilians, including children and women. On Wednesday, Israeli Health Minister Moshe Arbel wrote a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informing him about his decision to send all the injured Hamas militants to IDF or prison service medical facilities.

Since the beginning of the war, the issue of treating the accursed Hamas terrorists in public hospitals has created great strain on the healthcare system, Arbel wrote, according to the Times of Israel.

He told Netanyahu that the public hospitals in Israel need to focus on treating victims of the Hamas assault.

The task of treating and providing security for the accursed terrorists in the public healthcare system just detracts from this, he wrote.

More than 1,300 people, including children, women and foreign nationals, were killed in the barbaric Hamas assault on October 7 when scores of Gazan militants invaded Israel.

In Response to the attack, Israel declared a war against Hamas and launched hundreds of air strikes on militant hideouts in the Gaza Strip. At least 1,100 Gazans have been killed in Israeli air strikes since Saturday.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who is one of the three members war cabinet of the Israels emergency unity government, has said that Palestinian militant group Hamas will be wiped out off the face of the Earth. His remarks came in the first joint statement of the war cabinet.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also a member of the cabinet along with Opposition leader Benny Gantz, equated Hamas with Daesh  Islamic State group- and said the militant group will be destroyed.

Hamas is Daesh (Islamic State group) and we will crush them and destroy them as the world has destroyed Daesh, he said in a brief televised statement.

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Earlier on Wednesday, Netanyahu and Opposition leader Gantz agreed to form an emergency unity government in view of the countrys war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The emergency unity government formed a war cabinet comprising Netayahu, Gants and Gallant. Two other senior Netanyahu government officials are also part of the cabinet as observers.

The development came amid Israels plan to launch a ground assault against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the deadly October 7 attack, in which more than 1200 people, including Israeli women, children and soldiers were brutally murdered.

Hamas militants have also taken around 150 people, including foreign nationals, hostages after the brutal assault, termed a massacre by Israel.

In response, Israel declared a war and has been carrying out air strikes on Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip as Netayahu vowed might vengeance. Since Saturday, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes in Gaza.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have claimed to kill around 1,500 Hamas militants near the Gaza-Israel border who had either crossed or were trying to cross the high security fences.

Israel has also moved more than 3,00,000 reservists near the Gaza border to execute a mission given by the Israeli government. The mission is likely to be a ground assault but there has not been any official confirmation.

Israeli has claimed that Hamas has been using underground tunnels and bunkers to operate and the ground assault is needed to destroy that.
Warning: This article contains details and images some reader may find disturbing.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday released horrifying pictures of the babies executed by Hamas terrorists during the brutal October 7 attack.

The pictures were shown to US Secretary of States Antony Blinken, who is in Israel to show Americas support to the Jewish state.

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Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS, the Israeli PMs office wrote on X.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had on Monday claimed that some 40 babies were killed by Hamas savages during the invasion last week. The IDF also claimed that some of the babies were beheaded.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden had said that he saw the disturbing pictures of the babies killed by Hamas terrorists. However, the White House backtracked on Bidens claim and said that he was referring to the Israeli media reports and neither him, nor any other US official has seen the pictures.

Earlier today, the Israeli Foreign Ministry had published another set of horrifying images of charred bodies inside a burnt car.

Israel has termed Hamas attack an act of evil and human animals. The country has declared a war against Hamas and vowed to wipe out every Hamas militant from the Earth.

The country has also announced a complete siege of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, cutting off food, water, fuel and electricity supply.

The release of these pictures has come amid talks of a likely ground assault by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza. IDF has said that some 300,000 reservists are near the Gaza border waiting to carry out a mission given by the government.
Indian TV actor Madhura Naik has shared an account of a tragedy that has unfolded within her own family. In a video message posted on Instagram, the actor of Indian-Jewish heritage, revealed that her cousin sister and her husband met a tragic end, brutally murdered in front of their children. The weight of grief and emotions her family is grappling with transcends words.

Madhura Naiks impassioned message also sheds light on the anguish currently gripping Israel in the wake of the conflict with Hamas. The streets of Israel are ablaze with turmoil as the nation grapples with the consequences of this intense and devastating war.

The story of Odaya and her family serves as a stark reminder of the grim reality that has unfolded during one of the bloodiest Israel-Hamas conflicts in recent history. This war has left numerous children orphaned, with many lives lost in the relentless exchange of rocket attacks and counter air strikes.

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Madhura Naiks personal connection to the conflict adds a layer of poignancy to her message. She reveals that her grandmother was Jewish, thereby connecting her to the Jewish community in Israel. She acknowledges that Israel has often faced similar situations in its tumultuous history.

Naiks family is understandably concerned about the escalation of the situation. For security reasons, she refrains from disclosing her current location or identifying which of her family members are currently in Israel. In the wake of her social media post, Madhura Naik has been met with a distressing wave of communal hatred, which underscores the challenges of discussing such a sensitive topic.

She emphasizes the importance of recognizing that it is innocent civilians who bear the brunt of this conflict. The suffering inflicted by acts of terror is akin to the horrors experienced during the 2008 Mumbai attacks (26/11).
Amid joint international efforts of allowing humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Israel Katz Thursday made it clear that the supply of water, fuel and electricity to the Hamas-controlled region will remain shut until hostages being held by Hamas militants are freed.

The Palestinian militant group had taken around 150 people, including children, women and young girls, hostages after the October 7 ground assault in Israel. Hamas has also threatened to kill the hostages one by one if Israel launched announced air strikes.

The United Nations has appealed Israel and Egypt to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, where hundreds of civilians, including women and children, are feared dead or injured in the Israeli air strikes. However, Israeli has refused to entertain any such demands and the minister stated that no one will preach us morals.

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Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no one will preach us morals, he said in a tweet in Hebrew.

Earlier this week, Israel announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, cutting off water, food, fuel and electricity supply to the blockaded region on the southern border of Israel.

Following the October 7 attacks, in which over thousand civilians were brutally murdered, Israel declared a war against Hamas and launched an unprecedented counter offensive, including air strikes and artillery firing on militant hideouts in Gaza.

The Israeli Defence Forces have also sent over 300,000 reservists close to the Gaza border in order to launch a given mission that is likely to be a ground assault to free the hostage and wipe out Hamas off the face of the Earth.

According to reports, Qatar, Egypt and possibly other countries, including the USA are trying to negotiate a deal to release the hostages being held in Gaza.
The chair of the US House foreign affairs committee has claimed that Egyptian intelligence officials alerted Israel a few days before the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas militants but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly ignored the early warning.

Moments before the attack, Israeli intelligence had also noticed increased activity on the Gazan side of the border and sent an alert to Israeli soldiers guarding the border, according to a US media report, citing senior Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) personnel. However, the soldiers failed to act on time, reportedly due to two reasons  they either didnt receive the alert, or they didnt see it.

Shortly afterwards, drones remotely operated by Hamas militants from the Gazan side of the border dropped explosives on a small surveillance facility set up by Israeli military and destroyed surviiliance towards and some cellular communication stations.

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The drones also destroyed Israels other military infrastructure on the border, including remote-controlled machine guns which were installed on the border fortifications. This prevented Israeli security personnel from monitoring the area and combating ground assault.

One group of Hamas militants then approached the border fence and blown up part of it. They then made a small passage, enough to cross SUVs, trucks and motorcycles, using bulldozers.

After blowing up the fence, dozens of Hamas militants on motor cycles crossed the border without any retaliatory strike from the Israeli military, showed a Palestine funded TV video, which was shared by an Independent journalist on X.

Watch the video of Hamas attack on Israel below:

Video of how Hamas started the operation by attacking and destroying strategic positions using Iranian drone technology and then blew up holes in the fence allowing Hamas members to infiltrate inside Israel. pic.twitter.com/OZWZ9q2QHC  Asaad Sam Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) October 8, 2023

In the mean time, another team of Hamas militants continued with their rocket barrage and fired thousands of projectiles towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. A rocket attack is not unusual in Israel as Hamas keeps doing that from time to time.

However, the unusual were the scenes in the background in which Hamas militants were seen paragliding towards Israel. Another group chose the sea way and entered into Israeli territory using small motor boats, similar to what was used by Pakistani terrorists in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

In total, more than 1,500 Hamas militants infiltrated into Israeli territory from different locations, outfoxing one of the worlds most feared intelligence agency Mosad and the strongest Army in the Middle East.

For hours, the militants rampaged through some 20 Israeli towns and several community settlements, killing babies, their mothers and fathers. Some Israeli soldiers were allegedly paraded semi naked and murdered in cold blood.

More than 260 young boys and girls, who had gone to attend a music festival, not far from the Gazan border, were shot dead. Some of the festival goers were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Some were allegedly burnt alive in their cars in the worst attack on Israel in a generation.

Overall, around 1,200 people, including foreign nationals from the US, the UK, Ireland, Thailand and Nepal, were killed. In response, Israel declared a war against Hamas and vowed to wipe out every Hamas terrorist off the face of the earth.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 19:48 | All, Japan

Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it will collaborate with energy company Idemitsu Kosan Co. in mass production of all-solid-state batteries, accelerating its efforts to develop a next-generation power source that will significantly increase the driving range of electric vehicles.

The agreement is part of the Japanese carmaker's efforts to meet its goal of utilizing the state-of-the-art batteries as early as 2027. Toyota aims to establish mass production technology as early as 2030, it said.

"We have more or less acquired (necessary) technology to make them. We hope to go beyond that by taking on the difficult challenge of mass producing them," Toyota President Koji Sato told a press conference. "We hope to realize innovation from Japan."

The move comes as domestic rivals, including Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co., rush to develop all-solid-state batteries, an advanced technology that could lead to wider use of all-electric vehicles, which currently run on lithium-ion batteries.

The new battery will more than double the range of the Japanese carmaker's bZ4X EV, with charging reduced to around 10 minutes, a third of the time required with current technology, Toyota said in June.

Collaboration between Toyota and Idemitsu focuses on sulfide solid electrolytes, a material seen as necessary to achieve high capacity and output for batteries for all-electric vehicles, they said.

The material, which Idemitsu makes using byproducts from manufacturing oil products, has a softness and adhesiveness suitable for battery mass production, they said.

"We will help realize Toyota's plan by offering our technology," Idemitsu President Shunichi Kito told the press conference.

Idemitsu plans to set up a pilot plant to mass produce the material in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, it said.

The two companies will also work together on improving productivity and establishment of a supply chain for the battery, the carmaker added.

Toyota, once seen as reluctant to shift to EVs, has been ramping up its efforts to catch up with its global rivals in the area, such as U.S. giant Tesla Inc. and China's BYD.

The Japanese automaker plans to sell 1.5 million EVs annually in 2026 and aims to increase the number to 3.5 million in 2030.

Related coverage:

Low-emission hydrogen production may grow 40-fold by 2030: IEA

Tokyo stocks dive amid wariness over U.S. economic outlook

Mitsubishi Motors eyes ending production in China amid sales slump
Caroline Ellison, saying Sam Bankman-Fried corrupted her values, found relief when truth came out

Sam Bankman-Fried's former top executive has blamed the FTX founder of corrupting her values so that she could lie and steal and create false balance sheets
Things to do in the Attleboro area and beyond
KYODO NEWS - Oct 12, 2023 - 08:22 | World, All, Japan

China conveyed its willingness to advance dialogue with Japan at their leaders' brief chat in Indonesia last month despite a row over the treated radioactive water release from the crippled Fukushima nuclear complex into the sea, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.

"China-Japan relations are important, so we need to promote exchanges," Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida when they had a brief conversation in Jakarta on Sept. 6 on the fringes of ASEAN-related summits, according to the sources.

Seeing Li's remarks as a sign of Beijing's willingness to seek a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kishida, Tokyo aims to realize the summit on the sidelines of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's leaders gathering in November in San Francisco, the sources said.

China has expressed fierce opposition to the water discharge into the Pacific Ocean beginning on Aug. 24 from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant devastated by a massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami, citing concerns over human health and environment.

Beijing has also imposed a blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports, which Tokyo has criticized as lacking scientific grounds and demanded its withdrawal.

The water release started after the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report submitted to the Japanese government in early July that the plan complies with global safety standards and would have a "negligible" impact on people and the environment.

The Japanese and Chinese governments each issued a press release after the Kishida-Li conversation, but there was no reference to Li's remark on a need for dialogue.

The Chinese government decided not to disclose Li's remarks welcoming dialogue with Japan, possibly worrying it might provoke a negative response in Chinese public opinion, according to the sources.

Later in September, Kishida did not touch on the water discharge issue in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, in an apparent effort not to escalate friction with China and to pave the way for a summit with Xi, the sources said.

Li's remarks appeared to suggest China places importance on its economic ties with Japan at a time its economic growth is slowing, the sources said.

The brief chat between Kishida and Li took place ahead of the ASEAN Plus Three meeting that involved leaders of Japan, China and South Korea, along with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Related coverage:

About half of Chinese worried about Fukushima water release: poll

China positive about summit with Japan PM Kishida in September: sources

Japan protests China's lack of communication before satellite launch
Job Title: Corporate Banker, Custody Services Operations

Organisation: KCB Bank Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About US:

KCB Bank Uganda which is part of KCB Group, East Africas largest commercial bank that was established in 1896. Over the years, the Bank has grown and spread its wings into Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi completing the East African circuit in the year 2012. Today, the Group has the largest branch network in the region with over 238 branches, 950 ATMs and 8,000 agents offering banking services on a 24/7 basis in East Africa. KCB Bank Uganda was established in the year 2007 and has grown to become one of Ugandas top ten commercial banks.

Job Summary: The Corporate Banker, Custody Services Operations will provide support in the execution of custody services operations within the Investor Services Unit. The incumbent will provide exceptional customer service to Investor Services clients.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Preparation of customer Reports; daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly.

Responsible for preparation of invoices and confirmation that all revenue has been collected from all custody clients.

Manage risk through monitoring and complying with internal operational procedures and staying abreast with market risk trends.

Maintain good relationships with investment managers, administrators, stockbrokers, CDSC, CMA, USE & Registrars as per established Service Level Agreements.

Support the Manager Investor Services during unit audits and regulatory inspections.

Ensure checking and validation of the units Banking Operations reports on a daily basis vii. Facilitate settlement of CDSC transactions for corporate clients. viii. Processing of withdrawal/pension payments for custody clients.

Ensure accurate preparation and submission of regulatory returns within the set timelines.

Manage safe custody documents.

Daily Responsibilities

Retail Equity Operations

Facilitate settlement of CDSC transactions for Retail and Corporate clients.

Capture securities transactions and funds transfer transactions in T24, and custody plus

Manage on boarding of new businesses, terminated mandates and transitions.

Manage risk through monitoring and complying with internal operational procedures e.g. validation of clearing reports, reconciliation of suspense accounts

Maintain good business relationships with customers, investment managers and other service providers and respond to queries within stipulated timeliness.

Oversee general custody banking operations.

Ensure preparation, validation and timely dispatch of customers monthly and quarterly holdings reports.

Manage safe custody documents.

Other Duties

Process enhancements arising from implementation of new custody systems.

Act as a back up staff for business continuity.

Perform any other duty that may be delegated from time to time.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The applicant must hold a Bachelors Degree in a Business Related field is required.

Professional Qualifications in a Business Related Field is an added advantage

A Masters Degree in Business Administration is an added advantage

Three years of experience is required.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested applicants should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 25th October 2023

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Job Title: Emerging Voices Exchanges/Education Outreach Coordinator

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary: UGX 70,307,688 /Per Year

Position Number: Kampala-2023-075

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Peace Corps

Job Summary: The Emerging Voices (EV) Exchanges/Education Outreach Coordinator coordinates the Missions exchange programs for youth and communities that are not included in traditional U.S. diplomatic engagement, such as civil society groups and populations without traditional access to youth development activities. Coordinates Mission Public Diplomacy (PD) education engagement with EV audiences, reaching youth, minorities, and those who influence them through targeted Mission outreach to secondary schools; promotion of American Studies content and curricula in institutions of higher learning; and promotion of academic study in the United States through EducationUSA advising programs.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Development and Implementation (60% of time)

General: Plans, implements, and coordinates exchange programs to engage youth and non-traditional audiences and to expand Mission access to priority EV communities. Manages Ugandan components of Department of State (DOS)-funded programs and develops Mission-designed virtual and in-person exchange activities. Is responsible for carrying out all aspects of Ugandan inbound and outbound exchange programs for EV audiences. For U.S. government (USG) programs implemented by Ugandan organizations, ensures that partners comply with USG requirements.

Engages high school and university students, teachers, and professors to expand Mission access to EV communities that are priorities for Mission interests. Plans and implements activities and projects to provide students and community leaders with access to accurate information about the United States, encourage and support increased study in the United States, and identify school and community leaders as prospective Mission contacts. Draws on the full range of programs funded by DOS PD bureaus; develops Mission-designed education activities, projects, and initiatives; and recommends opportunities for grants and public/private partnership agreements to expand the impact of USG investment. Recruits credible Ugandan voices and institutions to support Mission education outreach. Collaborates with the Strategic Content Coordination (SCC) team to produce and disseminate multimedia content to market and promote awareness of Mission EV exchange programs and Mission education outreach activities. Assesses progress toward performance goals; evaluates and reports on project outcomes.

Outbound Exchanges: Identifies and recruits Ugandan participants for U.S. exchange programs and participates in applicant review and selection.

Inbound Exchanges: U.S. Youth Exchanges (often minors): Identifies placement options for inbound participants. Particularly if participants are minors, develops policies to mitigate the risks of placement with Ugandan families/institutions. Organizes arrival orientations; maintains smooth communication among local implementers, participants, and the Mission; solves problems arising from Ugandan implementer deficiencies; U.S. Subject Matter Experts: Identifies and recommends strategic objectives for programs and the appropriate host institutions to meet those objectives; concludes agreements with host institutions for work plans, including cost sharing. Coordinates/provides logistical and administrative support for visiting experts; conducts arrival orientations.

American Studies: Develops broad contacts among professors and students to advocate for and create opportunities to enhance American Studies content and curricula.

Study in the United States: Provides accurate and comprehensive information and advice to students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and local and national government officials regarding study abroad opportunities at U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs).

Outreach to Schools and Communities: Identifies schools that facilitate Mission access to communities of particular importance to Mission priorities.

Strategic Planning, Analysis, and Evaluation (15% of time)

Designs and actively plans at least one year in advance virtual, academic-year, and short-duration exchange programs to engage EV audiences; coordinates planning with PD and Mission colleagues and works with Ugandan secondary and tertiary education students, teachers, and professors.

Administrative Functions (15% of time)

Budgeting and Financial Resources: Prepares and monitors the annual and individual project budgets for EV exchanges, initiatives, and education outreach programs. Contributes to the overall PD annual budget submission in consultation with the Public Engagement Specialist (or PAO designee) and Resource Coordination unit.

Fundraising: Works with the PAO (or PAO designee) on PAO-led fundraising for countrywide EV exchange and education programs.

Intra- and Interagency Coordination (10% of time)

Develops strong working contacts with Mission offices and agencies whose goals and objectives align or overlap with EV exchanges. Coordinates exchange programs across the Mission.









Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

The applicants for the United States US Embassy Emerging Voices Exchanges/Education Outreach Coordinator job opportunity should hold a university degree in International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Education, Social Sciences, or local equivalent is required.

At least three years of experience is required, with communications, public engagement management, or education duties as components of the work. Prior experience in an international, academic, or governmental work environment is required.

Must have general knowledge of project management, including defining project objectives, outcomes, and assessment methods. A thorough understanding of the attitudes and preferences of the EV audience sector in Uganda, including the regional, ethnic, social, cultural, linguistic, and other factors and institutions that shape those attitudes, is required. Detailed knowledge of Ugandan secondary and tertiary academic institutions, education, exchanges, and youth programs is required. Detailed knowledge of Ugandan standards of instruction and curriculum relating to the United States, and general standards and practice for education systems and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is required. Detailed knowledge of the U.S. higher education system, the college application process, standardized entrance exams, and financial aid is required, as is knowledge of the U.S. political system, American history, literature, culture, and geography. General knowledge of the latest trends within the academic field of American Studies is required. Familiarity with virtual applications and technologies, including Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and digital tools used by students, teachers, and professors, is required.

Language: English: Level (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required. This may be tested.

How to Apply:

All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 23rd October 2023

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has been quite open about his political leanings, be it through his movies, ad campaigns or social media posts. In a recent interview, the actor opened up about his marriage to actress-author Twinkle Khanna and how they cope with their differing political opinions.

"My wifes thinking about politics is different than me. We dont impose on each other. We are completely different, Akshay said in an interview with ANI. When asked if the couple discuss politics at home, Akshay said they avoid the discussion. That is one discussion we try and avoid because theres no point. You know how the other person thinks and you know how you think, he said.

Akshay further said that sometimes, in a marriage, it is okay to brush things under the carpet. When you want to live happily, I say sometimes it is important because that particular thing, there is no solution to it. Take it and put it under the carpet and live happily, he said.

Akshay, who was last seen in Mission Raniganj, recently responded to people who call him a 'Modi bhakt'. The actor, who has been the face of many campaigns of the Mod-led government, has also been accused of promoting the saffron party's message through his films like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Responding to this, Akshay said that he has done films set during the Congress's rule also. When I made Airlift, the Congress was in power, he said.

Even Mission Raniganj is set during Congress tenure. It doesnt matter who was in power. What matters is what was done for the betterment of the country, he said.

Mission Raniganj is based on the true story of mining engineer Jaswant Singh Gill who successfully rescued 65 miners from the Raniganj mine after its collapse in 1989.
With India launching Operation Ajay to evacuate Indians stranded in Israel, the first batch of registered Indians is expected to be brought back from the country in a special flight on Thursday. There are reportedly over 18,000 Indians in Israel and 17 in Palestine, of which 14 are in West Bank and four in Gaza.

This is not the first time that India has carried out mass evacuations from conflict-hit countries. One of the most famous evacuations was in 1990 from Kuwait which found its place in the Guinness record and the most recent was the Operation Kaveri to rescue Indians stranded in Sudan in April 2023. Here's a look at all major Indian evacuations from war-torn nations.

1990 Kuwait airlift

When Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait with a one-lakh strong army in 1990, the Indian government airlifted over 1,70,000 Indians between August and October of that year. The operation resulted in Air India's entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest evacuation effort by a civil airline.

2006 Operation Sukoon aka Beirut Sealift

During the 2006 conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, India launched Operation Sukoon aka Beirut Sealift to evacuate stranded Indians. During the operation, India managed to rescue 1,764 citizens along with nationals of Sri Lanka, Nepal and other countries in July and August 2006.

2011 Operation Safe Homecoming

When the Libyan Civil War broke out in 2011 against Muammar Gaddafi's regime, India launched Operation Safe Homecoming on February 26 of that year to evacuate Indians stranded in the country. Over 15,000 Indians were brought home safely via air and sea with the help the Indian Navy and Air India.

2014-15 Iraq evacuation

In July 2014, Indian government rescued 46 Indian nurses, who were working at Tikrit Teaching Hospital in Tikrit, from the ISIS. Another batch of 58 nurses were also evacuated from the region the same month. In February 2015, 11 nurses trapped in hospitals in Kirkuk were rescued and handed over to Indian officials in Irbil.

2015 Operation Raahat

After Houthi fighters seized the presidential compound in Yemen's Sanaa in January 2011, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition of nine countries from the Middle East and North Africa intervened in support of ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. In response to the worsening crisis, India launched Operation Raahat to rescue stranded Indians in April 2015. The country's defence forces managed to evacuate 4,748 Indian citizens and 1,962 foreigners via sea and air.

2016 Operation Sankat Mochan

In July 2016, during the South Sudanese Civil War, India launched Operation Sankat Mochan aimed to evacuate Indian and other foreign nationals from South Sudan. The government brought home 156 people, including two Nepalese citizens. Around 300 Indians chose to remain in South Sudan.

2021 Operation Devi Shakti

In 2021, when Taliban seized power in Afghanistan after US troops withdrew from Kabul, India launched Operation Devi Shakti to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from the country. The operation brought home 800 people including Afghan citizens belonging to Hindu and Sikh minority.

2022 Operation Ganga

On February 26, 2022, India launched Operation Ganga to evacuate its citizens stranded in Ukraine during Russian invasion. More than 23,000 Indians were brought home from Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova and Slovakia when the operation concluded on March 11. IndiGo operated 35 flights, Air India operated 14, Go First operated six flights, Air Asia operated three, Air India Express nine, SpiceJet nine and four C-17 Globemasters of IAF did sorties and evacuated 23,000 students safely, Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said during a Parliament session.

2023 Operation Kaveri

On April 24 this year, when a deadly conflict broke out between Sudan's army and a paramilitary group, India launched Operation Kaveri to rescue stranded Indians. A total of 3,584 Indian citizens were evacuated from the war-torn country in nine days.
The balancing act has begun. India stands firmly behind Israel as Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But New Delhis traditional stand on Palestine remains. The ministry of external affairs said that India supported the "sovereign, independent and viable" state of Palestine living side by side with Israel.

This is the first time India has made its position clear on Palestine since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 9 and the subsequent siege by Israel on Gaza.

"Our policy has been longstanding and consistent. India always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within secure and recognised borders, side by side at peace with Israel. I think that position remains the same," said Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the MEA, at the weekly press briefing on Thursday.

Interestingly, when asked about whether Hamas was a terrorist organisation for India, Bagchi said: The designation of terrorist organization is a legal matter. We see it as a terrorist attack.

Unlike in the situation between Ukraine and Russia, where India had appealed for de-escalation, so far no such statement of restraint has been made. Instead, India has crafted a statement, which is very much a middle ground.

When asked about the humanitarian situation in Gazawhich is dire as the shelling continues killing 303 people and injuring 1,140 in the last 24 hours according to figures by the Gaza Information officeBagchi said: There was a universal obligation to observe humanitarian law. There is also the responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

In short, India has chosen to keep the balance in the middleand has chosen to take no sides. There has, however, not been any condemnation of the Israeli siege on Gaza, which is very much the Russia blue-print and is likely to go down well with Israel.

India has, in the meantime, launched Operation Ajay and is in the process of sending a chartered flight to bring back citizens who want to return home. Israel is home to 18,000 Indian citizens. While the MEA did not put a number to the Indians who have requested to come back, Bagchi urged Indian nationals to register with the Indian Embassy.

Our focus is to get those Indians back who want to come back, said Bagchi. There were about a dozen Indians in Ramallah and a couple in Gaza, but so far the MEA has not got any requests for evacuation from them.
Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan said on Thursday that the state would demand for the release of 16,000 cusecs of water from Karnataka during the Cauvery Water Management Authority meeting.

Duraimurugan said, The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water by August 30. Tomorrow, at the Cauvery Water Management Authority meeting we would demand for the release of 16,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. The minister said the regulatory body earlier ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to the state for 15 days.

To date, Tamil Nadu has received 4.21 tmc of water, the minister said. Tamil Nadu still needs to receive 0.4543tmc of water.
Participants attend an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

In the final communique of an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers held in Cairo, the top Arab diplomats urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and warned of "the catastrophic humanitarian and security repercussions" of further escalation.

They emphasized the necessity of lifting the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and immediately providing humanitarian aid, food, and fuel to Gazans.

The meeting was held on the fifth day of the deadly conflict that erupted between the Hamas militant group, which controls Gaza, and Israel. The conflict has left more than 2,000 people killed and thousands more injured on both sides.

The Arab foreign ministers condemned the killing of civilians on both sides, whether they were Palestinians or Israelis.

They also stressed the necessity of releasing relevant civilian hostages, detainees, and prisoners.

They said they will work with the international community for an urgent and active action to achieve de-escalation, according to the communique.

Participants of the meeting urged the Arab states and the rest of the interactional community to provide sufficient financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at such a critical time.

"The way to guarantee security and stability in the region is to achieve just, permanent, and comprehensive peace that meets all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," the Arab foreign ministers underlined.

AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said earlier during the opening session that the current crisis was created by the long-time "clogged political horizon" and the continuous construction of Israeli settlements, which limited the chances for peace through the internationally recognized two-state solution.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki emphasized the need to re-establish the political framework for resolving the conflict. He advocated for the revival of the peace process through a genuine political negotiation between the two sides, saying negotiation is the right way to attain security, stability, and prosperity in the region.

The extraordinary AL ministerial meeting was chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who urged international parties "to sponsor real consultations to revive the peace process."

He called on the international community to develop "a roadmap with practical goals, including a timetable" for serious and purposeful negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis in order to agree on a final formula for resolving the Palestinian issue. 

Participants attend an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Participants attend an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Participants attend an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Participants attend an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit attends an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit speaks at an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Participants attend an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers at the AL headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 11, 2023. Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
The approaching winter with its characteristic extremities seems to have mellowed down the armies of the two Asian giantsIndia and Chinathat are engaged in more than three-year old border faceoff in the eastern Ladakh mountains.

The Line of Actual Control (LAC)the de facto border between the two countries straddles one of the most inhospitable and difficult stretches on the planet with the average altitude being more than 4,000 metres where oxygen is scarce and winter temperatures plummet up to minus 30-40 degrees centigrade.

On the two days of October 9 and 10, the 20th round of senior military commander level talks took place between teams led by senior commanders of the Indian Army and the PLA at the Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh.

On the latest round of talks, a senior source in Indias military establishment told THE WEEK: While there was a continuation of the ongoing process as far as the talks are concerned, the tone and tenor of the negotiations was very positive and pleasant. While no promises were made, there was mutual agreement and assurance on the need to carry forward the process for a positive outcome.

While Indias foreign affairs ministry put out a tepid statement on Wednesday, a second military source familiar with the developments said the mood during the talks was one of understanding.

It is quite encouraging the way things are moving. The issues in the remaining friction areas may be resolved in just one or two more round of talks, the source added.

Till now, the earlier rounds of talks have resulted in effective disengagement in five of the seven friction areas along the LAC. The disengagement took place first in the Galwan valley in July 2020, followed by Pangong Tso and Kailash ranges in February 2021, and then in Gogra in August 2021 and finally at PP 15 in September 22. The current talks are for the disengagement in the balance friction areas in eastern Ladakh i.e., Depsang and Demchok.

One of the main reasons leading to such cordiality could be the approaching harsh winter which, historically, has resulted in fatalities.

More than 1,20,000 soldiers of the worlds two most populous countriesthat together account for more than a third of humanityhave been in active deployment along with their heavy military equipment ever since a series of border brawls broke out between the two sides since April 2020.
India and China held two days of military talks in an "open and constructive manner" for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh and agreed to maintain peace on the ground.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the 20th round of military talks on October 9 and 10 provided no indication of a breakthrough to end the lingering standoff in the remaining friction points.



It is learnt that in the talks, the Indian side strongly pressed for resolution of the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.



The MEA said the two sides agreed to maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms.



The latest round of the Corps Commander level talks was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The two sides exchanged views in a frank, open and constructive manner for an early and mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector, in accordance with the guidance provided by the national leadership of the two countries, and building on the progress made in the last round of Corps Commanders' meeting held on August 13-14," the MEA said.

"They agreed to maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through the relevant military and diplomatic mechanisms," it said in a statement.



"They also committed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas in the interim," it added. The government refers to eastern Ladakh as the Western Sector. It was the second such occasion when the talks panned two days.

In the 19th round of talks too, both sides agreed to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh in an expeditious manner.



The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.



The Indian delegation at the talks was headed by Lt Gen Rashim Bali, the Commander of the Leh-headquartered 14 Corps while the Chinese team was led by the commander of the South Xinjiang military district.



India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.



The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
India has launched 'Operation Ajay' to evacuate Indians stranded in Israel as the war escalates. There are over 18,000 Indians in Israel, including students, caregivers, diamond traders and IT professionals.

The Embassy of India in Israel informed that it emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight on Thursday. "The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights," the Embassy wrote on Twitter.



External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the mission on Wednesday night. "Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad," tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.



Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has set up a round-the-clock control room in Delhi and separate emergency helplines in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine and provide information and assistance to the Indian citizens.



The phone numbers of the control room in Delhi are 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905 and +919968291988, and the e-mail ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in.



The Embassy has been working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel through a 24-hour helpline. Please remain calm & vigilant & follow the security advisories.



24*7 Emergency Helpline/Contact:

Tel +972-35226748

Tel +972-543278392

Email: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in pic.twitter.com/Y7HehsaJOf  India in Israel (@indemtel) October 11, 2023

"In view of the ongoing developments in Israel and Palestine, a 24-hour control room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance," the MEA said.



Just after the war broke out, the Indian Embassy issued an advisory urging Indian citizens to exercise caution, avoid movement and stay close to safety shelters. India had also cancelled all flights to and fro from Israel.



Indian had conducted multiple evacuation operations before too, including Operation Ganga to to assist Indian evacuation from Ukraine where around 20,000 Indians including students were stuck in Ukraine. The Ministry of External Affairs had also evacuated over 534 Indian nationals from Sudan following the civil war, through Operation Kaveri in April.


The Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha has declared its unvarnished support to Israel and also offered to send thousands of volunteers to fight against Hamas.



Swami Chakrapani Maharaj, the Mahasabhas president said, It is our duty to wipe off the terrorist organization Hamas. Our volunteers are ready to go and fight for Israel. He further suggested that all Indians staying in Israel should not return. They should stay back and help to finish off Hamas. This is an hour of crises; we need to stand by Israel.

The Hamas attack is cowardly. The manner in which it has rained thousands of missiles on Israel and the atrocities it has unleashed on daughters, sisters and children is condemnable. I thank the Prime Minister for saying that our entire country stands with Israel in this hour. Every civilized country of the world has condemned this cruelty, Chakrapani said.

Chakrapani, who also heads the Sant Mahasabha said that it was his proposal to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, to accept the offer from him to fight. Not only the Mahasabha, lakhs of saints from the country will fight for Israel. I myself will be a part of it. Together we will wipe off Hamas from the face of the earth, he said.

Saint orders in India have a history of fighting against atrocities and for protecting Hinduism. The nawabs of Lucknow were especially famous for trusting and elevating Hindus to the highest positions.

Meanwhile in Ayodhya, under Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah, many Hindu saints who came to Ayodhya were allowed to settle down and granted plots of land for the erection of temples and dharamshalas for pilgrims. Support for Israel is also brewing in Ayodhya where Jagatguru Paramhans Acharya conducted an 'Ashwamedh yagya' for Israel.

In ancient times, under this form of sacrifice, kings would let loose a horse for a year and would claim all territory as far as the horse roamed unchallenged.

The Jagatguru said, Indias support to Israel is in keeping with its cultural traditions. India has always supported humanity. To save humanity, terrorism has to be wiped off. Those who are supporting Palestine should be booked for treason.
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday reiterated his country's support for Israel, stating that the Saturday attack by Hamas militants on Israel was the "deadliest" since the Holocaust. Biden also warned Iran against getting involved in the conflict with Hamas.

Biden's statement comes ahead of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's arrival in Israel on Thursday to show Washington's enduring support for Israel and to secure the release of captives, including Americans.



The President said the Hamas attack brought to the fore the painful memories and scars left by a millennium of antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people. "We have to be crystal clear: There is no justification for terrorism, no excuse and the type of terrorism that was exhibited here is just beyond the pale, beyond the pale," he said.



Biden said he and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "The United States has Israel's back and we're going to be working on this through the day and beyond," Biden said.



Biden added he had tasked homeland security and law enforcement leaders to work intensively with our Jewish community partners. "We're also going to condemn and combat antisemitism at every single turn, every turn," Biden said. "The past few days have been a solemn reminder that hate never goes away. It can go underground," he said, "but it doesn't go away."



While addressing a roundtable of Jewish community leaders in Washington, Biden said his deployment of military ships and aircraft closer to Israel should be seen as a signal to Iran, which backs Islamist groups Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah. "We made it clear to the Iranians: Be careful," Biden said.



Trump hits out at Israel

Former US President and frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination Donald Trump on Wednesday hit out at Israel for failing to anticipate the weekend Hamas onslaught.



"You talk about the intelligence or you talk about some of the things that went wrong over the last week, theyve got to straighten it out because theyre fighting potentially a very big force. Theyre fighting potentially, Iran," the GOP presidential frontrunner says during a campaign rally in West Palm Beach.



"They cannot play games," Trump continues. "Theyve got to strengthen themselves up."



Trump also took a swipe at Netanyahu for his alleged refusal to provide the US assistance for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the then-head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps elite Quds Force in 2020. "Ill never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing. We were very disappointed, but we did the job ourselves, and it was absolute precision, magnificent, beautiful job," he says. "Then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didnt make me feel too good. But thats all right."



He also hit out at Biden for his foreign policy, stating that the four years under him went without any new wars. "With crooked Joe Biden, you have chaos, bloodshed, war, terror and death. Look what's happening today," Trump told his supporters.


The Amazon Fund was founded in Brazil in 2008 to support the preservation of the Amazon rainforest, combat deforestation, and promote sustainable activities. This October, Switzerland officially aligned its goals with it, signing a contract of support to the fund, with a millionaire contribution backed by Swiss know-how, innovation, and expertise.

Swiss Ambassador to Brazil Pietro Lazzeri inked the agreement with Brazils National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), the organ charged with managing the fund, on October 4 in a ceremony in Brasilia that counted with Brazilian government and conservation officials.



The Swiss governments move pumps new momentum into the fund at a crucial time in its resurgence after a near-death period under Brazils far-right government of Jair Bolsonaro, who froze the fund and dismantled its managing committees.



On the heels of a 15-year high in Amazon deforestation under Bolsonaro, heralded by the lack of investing around some US$600 million in available funds for environmental initiatives from 2019 to 2022, the Swiss commitment is a global vote of confidence on the resurgent fund.



Contractual requirements required the existence of a managing committee to ensure the funds were used for their intended purpose. Their absence hindered their ability to finance projects and receive donations.



Committees' dissolution



On the month Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected back to the Brazilian presidency, in October 2022, Brazil's Supreme Court ruled Bolsonaros dissolution of the committees as unconstitutional, citing the government's duty to preserve the Amazon. It ordered the government to take steps to reactivate the Amazon Fund.



On January 1, 2023, President Lula reinstated the committees, allowing for the resumption of activities and opening the door to new contributions to support the Amazon Fund's mission.



Since then, the initiative has resurfaced with renewed vigor. Nations around the world are now showing a heightened interest in the project.

Switzerland's commitment to the fund was first announced in July by its Economic Minister Guy Parmelin in Brasilia. In April, US Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry visited Brasilia and the Biden administration pledged $500 Million to the fund over the next five years.

From its inception, it has received a total of US$650 million and financed over 102 projects, with a total investment of US$335 million, according to reports from its BNDES managing committee.



At the start of the fund, Norway pledged the first big donation of US$1 billion over 10 years if Brazil could show progress in reducing deforestation. It fulfilled its commitment then and has recommitted since Lulas return.

In a report, BNDES says the Amazon Fund has, since its creation, supported projects that have benefited approximately 241,000 people involved in sustainable production activities; 101 indigenous territories, and 196 conservation areas within the Amazon.



This Swiss support signals renewed momentum for the fund and its conservation efforts in the Amazon region, says Brazilian conversation advocate Adriana Alves, "Vital resources to make up for lost time."



The Amazon Fund has financed sustainable development programs that helped Brazil reduce Amazon deforestation by 82% between 2004 and 2014.



The Amazon rainforest, the largest tropical forest in the world, has immense ecological value for Brazil and the entire planet. It is home to 10% of the world's biodiversity, helps regulate regional and global climate patterns, and supports indigenous communities that have lived in the region for millennia.



In the 2000s, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached alarming levels, with clearing and burning of forest at its highest rate in decades. This rampant deforestation released significant greenhouse gas emissions while also threatening biodiversity and indigenous lands.



The fund is set to provide grants to support increased environmental monitoring and enforcement, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and the demarcation of indigenous territories. It has already funded the protection of over 15 million hectares of rainforest. From 2008 to 2015, Brazil achieved steep reductions in Amazon deforestation, demonstrating the fund's early success.



However, from 2016-2018 during the Temer administration in Brazil, challenges plagued the Amazon Fund. Deforestation began rising again as environmental agencies experienced budget cuts and political pressure. Confidence in the fund declined and donations slowed, hampering progress. Donations had dried up amid global concerns over Brazil's environmental policies under Bolsonaro.



The return of President Lula in 2023 brought renewed hope for the Amazon. Beginning with a speech at COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt before taking office, Lula made protecting the rainforest a key priority.



He revitalized the Amazon Fund by naming respected indigenous leaders as directors and signaled to global donors his strong commitment to conservation.

In his first year back in office, early data indicates Lula has put Brazil on track to lower Amazon deforestation by over 40% compared to the previous year. His restoration and expansion of the Amazon Fund has been a key to this success.



Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Brazilian Minister for Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajajara pose for a picture after a meeting for talks on the protection of the Amazon Forest, in Leticia, Colombia | AFP

The replenished fund is focusing on supporting programs to expand indigenous territories, restore degraded land, and research sustainable development in the Amazon. The fate of the Amazon rainforest, however, remains imperiled by illegal logging, mining, and ranching interests.



The return and revitalization of the Amazon Fund provides aims to curtailfurther destruction.The fund stands as an important mechanism through which Brazil and world partners can cooperate to protect the forest often referred to as 'lungs of the Earth' for future generations.



The Swiss commitment thus signals renewed international confidence in the fund and Brazil's willingness to protect its natural heritage. It unlocks matching donations from other partners like Norway, demonstrating shared resolve to preserve the Amazon.



Switzerland wants its backing the Amazon Fund to position it as a key partner to Brazil on climate action. Building on decades of Swiss-Brazilian collaboration in science and innovation, Lazzeri said, the agreement enhances Switzerland's climate credentials while sharing its environmental expertise.



With its renewed directive by Lula, and the influx of new funds, the Amazon Fund is now in a position to finance more conservation projects, indigenous health initiatives, and law enforcement against illegal deforestation.



With over two-thirds of the Amazon located in Brazil, the Swiss action and investment are crucial for Brazils efforts to stop damage from becoming irreversible, recognized the countrys authorities at the signing ceremony.



By harnessing Swiss knowledge and Brazilian will, the partners say, they set a trail "to ensure ensure coming generations will also experience the wonders of our shared natural world."
Food and water are quickly running out, it is a dire situation in Gaza Strip, the UN said amid a total blockade of the territory by Israel and reports that Israeli military is preparing for a "next stage" of the war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

The UNs World Food Programme (WFP) Palestine country director Samer Abdeljaber said they are seeing a shortage of fuel, water and electricity in Gaza Strip. "...our shelters are overcrowded. We don't have capacity," The Guardian quoted him as saying.

Tomorrow is going to be a very difficult situation for the people in the shelters and people outside the shelters as the bakeries would not be able to provide food tomorrow, he said.

"We are providing food to thousands of people that have sought shelter in schools and elsewhere across the territory. But we are going to run out very soon," Reuters quoted deputy head of emergencies at WFP Brian Lander as saying.

He requested Egypt and Israel to create a secure corridor to help the UN provide humanitarian aid in the area and observed that a number of sites that are considered humanitarian, clinics and schools, have been hit by air strikes.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) too echoed similar sentiments and called for a safe passage to help the affected with aid and medicine.

ICRC warned that fuel powering emergency generators at hospitals may run out within hours. "Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues," ICRC regional director Fabrizio Carboni said, reported Reuters. "The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians."

The stinging remarks from Red Cross come even as Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said no exceptions would be made in the siege unless Israeli hostages. "No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals," he had tweeted.

An unprecedented attack against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli retaliation has left more than 2,600 people dead in Israel and Gaza.
One of the close associates of Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group's slain leader Shahid Latif, who suffered bullet injuries during an attack in a mosque in Pakistan's Punjab province, succumbed to his wounds on Thursday, raising the death toll to three in the incident, police said.



Latif, the mastermind of the 2016 attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, and his security guard Hashim Ali were shot dead by three gunmen while offering prayer in a mosque in Daska city of Punjab province, over 100 km from Lahore, on Wednesday early morning.

Prayer leader and close associate of Latif, Maulana Ahad was also hit by bullets and was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his wounds on Thursday, police said.

Punjab Police have registered an FIR against six unknown suspects for killing three persons under sections 302 (murder), 324 (attempted murder), 148 (armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and Anti-Terrorism Act.

According to the FIR, a copy of which is available with PTI, six gunmen aged 22 to 23 reached the Noori-e-Madina Masjid in Mandike Guraya Chowk (Daska) at Fajr (pre-dawn) time.

"Three of them stayed outside while the other three entered the mosque and opened fire on Latif at point blank at 5.28 am. They also sprayed his security guard and the prayer leader with bullets. They, however, didn't target other people offering prayer," the FIR says.

The assailants after committing the crime managed to flee on motorcycles, it says.

Police officer Wasim Ahmad told PTI on Thursday that it was a "target killing" as the main target of the killers was Latif whom they shot at point blank.

"Three separate investigation teams have been formed on the direction of the Punjab police chief to probe into the matter," he said, adding that police have recorded the statements of the people present in the mosque during the gun attack.

"We have also obtained CCTV footage that will be helpful in tracing the culprits," he said. No arrest has been made so far.

His killing is similar to several other such incidents involving the deaths of militants wanted in India.

According to intelligence sources, before Latif's killing, JeM's Ibrahim Mistry, Hizbul Mujahideen's Imtiaz Alam, and Lashkar-e-Taiba's Abu Qasim had been killed during prayers.

Latif alias Bilal alias Noor Al Din, a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was the launching commander of the JeM in Sialkot and had been involved in the planning, facilitation and execution of terror attacks in India. PTI MZ ZH AKJ ZH ZH ZH 10121643
United States has its 9/11, India has its 26/11 and Israel has now the 7/10. All the 3 nations were surprised by an unprecedented terror attack that became a landmark in the history. A day earlier, on 6/10/2023 we commemorated in Israel, 50 years to the 1973 war in which Israel was caught off-guard when Arab states attacked from all fronts. During the past month, the talk of the day was about the lessons we learned from that omission, and whether such awful surprise can happen again. The movie Golda staring Helen Mirren tells the story of the Prime Minister during the 1973 war, Golda Meir, the only woman prime minister in our history. Who could believe that history will repeat itself?



Saturday, 7/10 was the last day of the Jewish new year holidays. I love to oversleep on Saturdays. That day, at 6:45 am, we woke up to a siren. For Israelis, sirens and rockets barrages areroutine. Since the launch of the Iron Dome, the casualties from rockets is less severe as long as we follow the home front command instructions. The problem starts when too many rockets are sent at same time. The iron dome cannot fight endless number of rockets. That day, in a short span, the Hamas sent a rain of over 3000 rockets. People that do not have shelters, like the Arab Bedouin tribes living in huts and tents in the south of Israel, suffered big loss of lives. Few more direct hits in cities, caused damage to buildings and many were injured. And still, rockets barrage is not the story of this new war.

Most Indians never experienced such thing. It takes few seconds to realize that you've heard a siren. Then you make sure that all your household people reach the protected room even the dog, that starts to wail and run around the house. Then you hear booms and try to guess if the noise is from a rocket that fell in the area, or whether it was a boom caused by the Iron Dome hitting the rocket. Then you wait for 10 minutes after the siren ends in order to go out of the room. Usually we also hear fighter planes take-off from a nearby air-force base, on their way to attack the rockets launchers in Gaza.

We have developed the ability to know what each sound represents. Immediately after, we start getting calls from family members and friends, who heard that rockets were hitting our village. My father is usually the first to call. Then come the many messages from friends that are checking that all is ok. Than we check our village Whatsapp group to see if the rest are fine. On Saturday, few blocks away, a rocket hit a home. Luckily, it was just the storage shed, and there were no casualties. Miracles are needed those days.

Two years ago, we had a joint project with colleagues from Hyderabad. It was during one of the military operations, that the siren broke from time to time. During a Zoom call, we asked them to excuse us. We went to the shelter, and came back to the call as if nothing happened. They were shocked at the calmness in which we handled the situation.

This Saturday we spent most of the day, going in and out of the protected room. Since the Iraq war 30 years ago, it is mandatory to build a protected room in each house and apartment. Such room has concrete ceiling and walls, with metal window and door. Those that dont have such a facility at home,run to external shelters or stay in the staircase of the building, which is safer than the apartment itself.

When we were not in the protected room, we glanced with disbelief at the television, starting to understand the magnitude of the event, where the rockets were just a tiny part of the attack.



Israel declared a state of war. Important to mention, the war is not between Israel and Palestine. The war is between Israel and Hamas. The Hamas is a terrorist Islamic organization which is supported by Iran and its main place of activity is Gaza, a city in Palestine to the South of Israel. This terror group took entire Palestine as hostage, and use the civil population as their human shield. They build the rocket launchers on top of hospitals and schools, knowing that the Israelis will think twice before attacking civilians.

This Saturday, the Hamas didnt settle for just sending rockets. They broke the border, infiltrated Israel, and in a planned operation took over an army base, and later took control of several villages close to the border. The big massacre happened at a music event few kilometers from the border. Thousands of young people from all over Israel, attended this end of summer party. It is assumed that the Hamas was aware of this party and planned its operation around that time. The terrorists reached the area via land and air and sprayed the party-goers.



Many youngsters managed to call home to notify that they are under attack, they called for help, but also said heartbreaking farewells, and conveyed messages of love to their family. Many hid for hours in the fields until they felt the danger is over. Almost 300 of them were killed. Many were taken hostages. The scenes are hard to watch. In few villages, the terrorist entered houses, killed many, and kidnapped children and elderly, who can barely walk. The terrorists left those places burned and ruined.

On Sunday Israel woke up to a new reality. The understanding is that before finding the ones to blame for those intelligence and operational failures, we should strongly fight the Hamas, once and for all. Actstrong in order to send a clear message to other terror groups that are also fueled by Irani money, Israel is waiting for an opportunity to attack. Maybe we lost one battle, but we will surely win the war.

Personal account by Anat Bernstein-Reich is the President of Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce, Friend of India Awardee for 2020 and the CEO of BDO Israel-India Investment Banking firm.
US President Joe Biden, on Wednesday, claimed that he had seen confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children, The Washington Post reported. These were reportedly based on media reports and claims from the spokesperson of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.



A National Security official, later, walked back those comments. Biden had said, It matters that Americans see what is happening." "I have been doing this a long time  I never thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children."

A White House official also said that neither Biden nor the administration had seen these images. Biden made the statement after referring to comments by Israeli officials and reports in the media.

Nicole Zedeck, a journalist with Israeli broadcaster i24News on Tuesday was the first to say that babies had been killed in the Israeli kibbutz Kfar Aza. Zedeck later clarified and said that "soldiers told me they believe 40 babies/children were killed."

Later, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Major Nir Dinar told Business Insider that the IDF "can not confirm any numbers," but, children were "brutally butchered in an ISIS way of action." Allegedly, Hamas's Qassam Brigades, "beheaded many Israeli babies".

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, in the meantime said, "Like all Jews, I feel a deep, visceral connection to Israel and its people," NBC News reported. "We witnessed a mass murder of innocent civilians. It was a terrorist assault. There is never any justification for terrorism. There are no two sides to this issue," he said.
People take part in a protest to condemn Israeli missile strikes on two Syrian airports, and voice their support for the Palestinians, in Damascus, Syria, Oct. 12, 2023. Israeli missile strikes targeted both international airports in the capital Damascus, and the northern province of Aleppo on Thursday, the Syrian army said in a statement carried by the official media outlets. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli missile strikes targeted both international airports in the capital Damascus, and the northern province of Aleppo on Thursday, the Syrian army said in a statement carried by the official media outlets.

The attacks, which occurred at approximately 13:50 local time (1050 GMT), resulted in significant damage to the runways of both facilities, rendering them temporarily out of service.

The statement said the Israeli attacks are diversionary tactics to shift attention away from its ongoing operations in Gaza.

The attacks on both airports came as Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is scheduled to visit Syria on Friday.

The latest development adds to the explosive situation in the region as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues. 

People take part in a protest to condemn Israeli missile strikes on two Syrian airports, and voice their support for the Palestinians, in Damascus, Syria, Oct. 12, 2023. Israeli missile strikes targeted both international airports in the capital Damascus, and the northern province of Aleppo on Thursday, the Syrian army said in a statement carried by the official media outlets. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
Israel has formed an emergency unity government as it readies for a ground invasion against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and centrist opposition leader Yoav Gallant made a joint appearance on Israeli television on Wednesday to make the announcement.

"Our partnership is not political, it is a shared fate," said Gantz, adding that the enemy will be destroyed. "Security will be restored. The killing grounds where our heroes fell will be rebuilt. The entire State of Israel will thrive again," Gantz added.



"At this time we are all the soldiers of Israel," Netanyahu said the people of Israel and its leadership were united. "We have put aside all differences because the fate of our state is on the line," he said.



Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who was with Netanyahu and Gantz, vowed to obliterate Hamas. "We will wipe out this thing called Hamas," Gallant said in the Wednesday evening press conference. "Hamas  the Islamic State of Gaza  will be wiped from the face of the earth. It will not continue to exist. There will be no situation in which Israeli children are murdered and we all go about our business."



Gallant described the Hamas onslaught as "the worst terror attack the world has ever seen." And he cited "children bound together and murder, people burned, barbaric deeds that the Jewish people have not suffered since 1945."



This comes as Israeli Defence Forces continued to pound Gaza. Senior Israeli Air Force official said the IDF fighter jets were striking in the Gaza Strip on an "unprecedented scale" on Wednesday. The IDF has carried out strikes against at least 2,687 targets across the Gaza Strip since Saturday, according to military data from Wednesday morning.



The blockade of the Palestinian enclave has resulted in Gazas only power plant running out of fuel, forcing it to shut down after Israel cut off supplies. The strip is already facing fuel shortage after Israel put Gaza under "total siege" to stop food and fuel from reaching the enclave.



Meanwhile, Israel has deployed formations of tanks and armoured vehicles near Gaza in possible preparation for a ground offensive into the Strip.



Israel military said the death toll rose to 1,200 with over 2,700 wounded. Israeli reprisal strikes on blockaded Gaza have killed 1,100 people and wounded 5,339, Gaza's Health Ministry said. Some 535 residential buildings had been destroyed leaving around 250,000 homeless, Reuters quoted Hamas officials as saying.
On August 7, 1990, prime minister V.P. Singh, driven by his own set of political difficulties, announced in Parliament that the Mandal Commissions recommendations for reservation for Other Backward Classes would be implemented. It was a turning point for the Indian political system, marking the advent of what came to be known as Mandal politics that was centred on the interests of the backward class voter and transforming the nature of electoral politics with the rise of leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav.

The demand for caste-based census and proportionate reservation is aimed at projecting the BJP, which has made its own outreach efforts towards the OBCs, as uncaring when it came to their interests.

Three decades later, the country, which is on the cusp of a general election, is witnessing the return of Mandal politics. There is a growing clamour for a caste-based census, with the opposition parties seeking to make it their main election plank. Leaders of the opposition alliance have stressed on carrying out a caste-based census and raising the 50 per cent ceiling on reservation. The results of the caste-based survey carried out in Bihar, which pegs the number of extremely backward classes and other backward classes together at 63 per cent, provide a statistical basis for the demands being made for proportionate reservation and a caste count at the national level.

The last time a caste census was held was in 1931. The Mandal Commissions recommendations are also based on figures extrapolated from that data. A major point of argument in favour of a caste census is that schemes and affirmative action today are based on outdated figures. OBC leaders believe that their share of the population could be around 60 per cent of the countrys total, and some say it could even be more than 70 per cent. A simmering demand for representation based on current figures now appears to have taken the form of an idea that is irresistible, both socially and politically.

The social sentiment that is being articulated by the political parties is about finding a remedy to the prevailing situation where power and resources are seen as concentrated in the hands of a small section of society. It is felt that political representation has not translated into institutional representation. To tackle the problem of the oligarchic rule of the Hindu upper caste, the representation of the other sections in the institutions has to be enhanced. Each communitys strength needs to be counted and adequate representation provided to them, said eminent legal scholar G. Mohan Gopal. Why has it not been done? Because it is feared that the numbers of the communities that dominate the power structures are much less than their representation.

A highlight of what could be described as Mandal 2.0 is the spectacular change of stance of the Congress on the subject of caste census and reservation for OBCs. At its plenary session in Raipur earlier this year, besides supporting caste census, the Congress also resolved to bring in reservation for OBCs, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the judiciary and in the private sector. It made a U-turn on the issue of quota-within-quota for the marginalised sections within the reservation for women in the legislatures, supporting it unlike in 2010 when the womens reservation bill piloted by the Manmohan Singh government did not have a sub-quota. And it also made a commitment to reform the quota for the economically weaker sections by bringing within its ambit the poor from the backward classes and the other marginalised sections.

It was in the Karnataka assembly elections that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi first gave the slogan of Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq (proportionate reservation) and made the demand for a caste census. The slogan, a variation of similar slogans raised by socialist ideologue Ram Manohar Lohia and Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram, brought the Congress in sync with the Mandal Commissions report, which had found virtue in proportionate reservation. More recently, both Rahul and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in the context of the womens reservation bill, backed quota-within-quota in the legislation. The Congress Working Committee recently passed a resolution for caste census, and the party had also announced at the Raipur session that once we form government at the Centre, we will carry out a caste census, said Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, chairman of the Congresss OBC department.

The OBCs were never a dedicated support base of the Congress in the Hindi heartland. The party won elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar based on the backing of upper castes, dalits and Muslims, losing those vote banks with the rise of the politics of social justice on the one hand and the hindutva-driven politics of the BJP on the other.

Opening gambit: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav with other leaders at an all party meeting on caste census | PTI

The Congress and its fellow travellers in the opposition alliance feel that in caste census and proportional representation, they have a powerful counter to the BJPs winning formula of hindutva, welfare and caste combination. It is felt that the issue will help the opposition provide the people with an alternative vision for the elections. It is an issue that the opposition leaders believe will help them reach out to a population that is the largest bloc of voters. Hindutva is a disputed term which is sought to be applied to the identity of the Hindu majority. We are not in opposition to Hindus. Caste census is not against Hindus, said Samajwadi Partys Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan. It is better to look at it in terms of using caste awareness to counter the communalisation of society. And this is an effective way of countering divisive forces.

The demand for caste-based census and proportionate reservation is also aimed at projecting the BJP, which has made its own outreach efforts towards the OBCs, as uncaring when it came to their interests. The effort of the opposition is to interrupt the BJPs inroads into the OBC votes. In recent years, in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, for example, the BJP has developed a voter base that goes beyond upper castes and includes sections of OBCs and dalits. The BJP has registered remarkable success in garnering OBC votes and it has become a major component of its success story. With Modi, who belongs to the OBC community, at the helm, the BJP has worked hard to woo the backward classes. It has tied up with non-Yadav OBC political parties such as the Apna Dal and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh. There has been an increase in the OBC representation within the party, and 27 ministers at the Centre belong to OBCs. The government recently launched the Vishwakarma Yojana to provide financial assistance to artisans and craftsmen, most of whom are members of the OBC community.

If the Prime Minister was a well wisher of OBCs, he would have carried out a caste census. Contrary to what he is saying, it will not divide the country but help in improving the lot of the marginalised and the poor, said Yadav.

Interestingly, the BJP governments initiative in 2019 to provide 10 per cent reservation to the upper caste youth under the economically weaker sections quota could have resulted in stirring up the OBC quota demands that were already simmering. The EWS quota, against which many petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, was upheld by the top court through a majority verdict of 3-2 in November 2022. It was a clear signal that the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations that the court had put on quota in the Indra Sawhney judgment was not etched in stone because the EWS quota took the reservation ambit beyond 50 per cent. There are Brahmins, Vaishyas, Muslims and Christians who are counted as OBCs. OBC reservation is, in fact, the real economic reservation since it is based on social, economic, educational and political indicators, said Mohan Gopal.

The caste survey carried out in Bihar, feel opposition leaders, has strengthened the demands for a caste census at the national level. The Bihar assembly had passed a unanimous resolution favouring caste census, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had led a 11-member delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2021 to demand caste census. With the Centre not moving on the issue, the Bihar government undertook a caste head count at the state level, said JD(U) chief spokesperson K.C. Tyagi.

The caste census figures bolster Nitishs standing among the backward classes, especially the extremely backward castes that number around 36 per cent who he has carefully cultivated. It also gives the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar a seemingly unbeatable advantage. And the exercise queers the pitch for the BJP, which had together with Nitish done exceedingly well in the state.

There are voices from within the NDA that have also been demanding a caste census at the national level. Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale has demanded it, and so have its OBC allies, like Om Prakash Rajbhar, who heads the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party. Rajbhar called the Bihar headcount rushed and faulty, but said the state showed the way and that demands for a caste census would grow fiercer. It will be asked in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh why a caste head count cannot be conducted in the state or why a national caste census cannot be carried out. Our party is a strong supporter of the idea that the population and socio-economic indicators of different communities should be ascertained, and those who are actually deserving of affirmative action should be given reservation, said Rajbhar.

The BJP highlights the ruling dispensations initiatives targeted at the OBCs and accuses the opposition of politicisation of social justice issues. According to K. Laxman, who heads the BJPs OBC Morcha, the BJP is still in favour of a caste census. But there are technical and legal issues involved. OBCs are not a homogenous entity throughout the country. Vaishyas are counted as OBCs in Bihar but not so in other states. Brahmins are counted as OBCs in certain states. So how will these issues be reconciled in the national caste census? We need a thorough and scientific survey, said Laxman.

For the BJP, the report of the Rohini Commission, which was set up in 2017 to sub-categorise OBCs, could help establish itself further among the non-dominant backward class sections that it has cultivated over the years. According to its findings, of the 2,633 OBCs in the Central list, a handful have garnered a substantial chunk of the benefits. The report was submitted to President Droupadi Murmu in August and its findings have not been made public yet. However, it is also felt that the implementation of the report could be a double-edged sword that would result in a backlash from the dominant OBC sections and consolidate the position of the parties espousing their cause.

Meanwhile, the BJPs counter strategy also involves pointing out the religious aspect of the OBC quota in opposition-ruled states. For example, Hansraj Ahir, chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes, has stated that Muslims have been included in the OBC list in West Bengal in a disproportionate manner. This is believed to be the reason why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reservations against making caste census one of the opposition alliances main talking points.

Not everyone is comfortable with it, but the caste cauldron has been stirred.
Kolkata, Oct 12 (PTI) Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) will invest Rs 3,000 crore to set up new plants in West Bengal, a company spokesperson said on Thursday.

It will build the first on-purpose propylene plant and a phenol unit at its existing manufacturing facility at Haldia, and both the projects are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2026, he said.

The phenol plant will have a production capacity of 300 kilo tonnes per annum of phenol and 185 KTPA of acetone, he said.

"With the commissioning of these plants, the overall chemical business portfolio is expected to increase by an additional Rs 5,000 crore," HPL Whole Time Director and CEO Navanit Narayan said.

The propylene plant will be based on olefin conversion technology (OCT).

According to the spokesperson, the company earned a revenue of Rs 999 crore from speciality chemicals during the last 2022-23 fiscal.

HPL said the proposed investment will likely be the largest in West Bengal in the chemical sector in the last two decades.

Narayan said the two projects will generate direct and indirect employment in the downstream chemical industry.
Kolkata, Oct 12 (PTI) Kesoram Industries Limited, the flagship company of B K Birla group, posted a reduction in its standalone losses for the second quarter ending in September 2023 to Rs 34.71 crore.

In the corresponding quarter of last year, the company posted a loss of Rs 41.28 crore.

The standalone revenue of the cement maker from operations was up to Rs 894 crore during the quarter as against Rs 785 crore posted in the corresponding quarter of FY'23.

Asked about the widening of quarterly losses sequentially despite higher sales, the company's whole time director and CEO

P Radhakrishnan said that cement realisation was lower by about Rs 30 per bag due to the monsoon. Prices are now recovering as construction activities are picking up post-monsoon.



"We have achieved record sales of 3.73 million tonnes for the first half of the fiscal compared to 3.19 million tonnes in the same period in FY23. The EBITDA was Rs 216 crore in the first half of FY24. With improvements in the second half, the company aims to achieve a total of 8 million tonnes of cement sales for FY'24," he said.

The full-year EBITDA is expected to be Rs 450-500 crore and the company does not foresee any cash burn for the full year, Radhakrishnan said.

In FY'23, the company posted a standalone net loss of Rs 115 crore.

"In the whole year, the improvement will be seen on a consolidated basis as apart from cement, Cygnet (packaging business) is expected to be cash positive," he said.

The company's eco-friendly green concentrate 'Super Plast', introduced for plastering and tile fixing, has been well received for its value for money. The carbon footprint of the product is substantially lower than that of blended cement, he added.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Envision Energy on Thursday said it has secured a 653.4 megawatt (MW) wind project from JSW Energy.

The project is expected to be commissioned in a phased manner by 2024-end and produce 2,200 gigawatt hour (GWh) units of clean energy, contributing towards India's aim of achieving its net-zero emission goals, Envision said in a statement.

"Envision Energy has won an order from JSW Energy for developing a 653.4 MW wind energy park in Karnataka and Maharashtra. As per the order, Envision would provide 198 units of EN 156-3.3 MW WTGs (wind turbine generator)," the statement said.

The association with JSW Energy would play a pivotal role in ramping up renewable energy capacity in Karnataka and Maharashtra, Envision said.

The company however did not disclose financial details of the project.

"It has become critical to collaborate for accelerating green energy transition to avert the climate crisis. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to solving the challenges for a sustainable future," Kane Xu, Global Vice President of Envision Energy and Chairman of Envision Energy India, said,

Envision Energy is into designing, manufacturing and operating smart wind turbines and energy storage systems, besides providing green hydrogen solutions.

In India, Envision has successfully commissioned 330MW of wind projects.
NEW DELHI, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sennheiser, a German audio giant, has unveiled enticing discounts on its best-selling products during the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale. Customers now have the opportunity to acquire Sennheiser's premium lineup this festive season, including products like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones with a new colour launch in Black/Copper, AMBEO Soundbars and Sub Portfolio, Momentum True Wireless 3, HD 600, HD 599 SE, HD 560S, IE200, HD650, and more. Early access for prime users began on October 7th, 2023, at midnight, with the sale officially commencing on October 8th, offering customers an exciting chance to enjoy incredible deals and discounts.



Momentum 4 Headphones  Exceptional sound and great comfort in flawless balance



The Momentum 4 Wireless has been designed to elevate the standard even higher with best-in-class sound and cutting-edge Adaptive Noise Cancellation. The headset has an outstanding battery life of up to 60 hours and is packed with intelligent, user-friendly features that improve every contact. Navigating music, calls, and voice assistants is simple and intuitive with the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless' touchpad interface thanks to speech and audible instructions. Due to Bluetooth device management, which enables simultaneous connection of several devices, setup is also made simple.



Retailed at INR 34,990, the Momentum 4 headphones will be available in black, black/copper and white colour variants starting from INR 24,990 respectively. Click here to purchase Momentum 4 headphones  Amazon.in



Momentum 4 Headphones Black/Copper (Special Edition) and Denim  Bright new colours giving the series of portable audio a different look.



Following their debut, the user-friendly MOMENTUM 4 Wireless headphones have found a home in flights and crowded offices, commuting, homes, and bags, making them the ideal headphones for work or play for audiophiles. Sennheiser is now increasing the variety of colours available by adding two more variations: black/copper and Denim.



The "Black/Copper" variant is quite similar to the instant-classic HD 660S2 audiophile headphone, launched earlier in 2023. No matter where you take them, the "S" insignia and earcup contour rings subtly draw attention to the series' high-end appearance and audio heritage.



Retailed at INR 34,990, the Momentum 4 Black/Copper will be available in inky blue, black and copper variants for INR 24,990 respectively.



Click here to grab it- Amazon.in. The Denim color will be exclusive on brand's website, which will be available from 10th October 2023.



HD 650- When the music matters the most



The HD 650 sets benchmarks for comfort and ease. With sound so good, long concerts in home are a foregone conclusion. The HD 650 is a true masterpiece that will please even the pickiest listener. Music's finer subtleties are reproduced by the HD 650 with the same assurance as its highlights. One of the most comfortable studio headphones are the Sennheiser HD 650.



Retailed at INR 44,990, the HD 650 will be available in black variant for INR 22,450 respectively. Click here to buy HD 650- Amazon.in



HD 600- Engineered for absolute clarity



The HD 600 is the preferred reference playback option for audio purists. The HD 600 are open dynamic, hi-fi/professional stereo headphones of the highest calibre for audiophiles. Standing waves in the diaphragm material are eliminated by the sophisticated diaphragm design. The HD 600 can be directly connected to high-end audio systems, particularly DAT, DVD, MD, and CD players. With its clear and spatial rendition of any programme material, notably classical music, the HD600 is the perfect option for the professional recording engineer.



Retailed at INR 44,990, the HD 600 will be available in black variant for INR 19,990 respectively. Click here to buy HD 600- Amazon.in



HD 599 SE- Step into the world of audiophile sound



The HD 599 with an open back provides an incredibly realistic spatial performance. The full-sized premium headset, which tops Sennheiser's 500 series, provides close to audiophile-level sound quality and great wearing comfort thanks to the big ear cups and soft interchangeable ear pads. The tiny details add to the HD 599's timeless ivory colour choice to give it an immediate sense of heft and quality.



Retailed at INR 21,990, the HD 599 SE will be available in black and ivory variants for INR 8,490 respectively. Click here to buy HD 599 SE- Amazon.in



Momentum True Wireless 3  A superior sound experiences with Adaptive Noise Cancellation



Encased in a design that is defined using high-quality materials and precise workmanship, the Momentum True Wireless 3 offers a range of technologies and features that take the listening experience to a new level. The new Sound Personalization feature provides an enhanced sound experience via a guided listening test to set up the perfect sound for each user's individual hearing. The earbuds come with Adaptive Noise Cancellation which automatically adjusts to your environment and an extensive battery life with playtime upto 28 hours.



Retailed at INR 24,990, the Momentum True Wireless 3 will be available in black, white and graphite colour variants for INR 16,990 respectively. Click here to purchase Momentum True Wireless 3  Amazon.in



AMBEO Soundbar Plus- The world's most immersive sound



With its distinctive and simple calibration, the SB02M recreates the spaciousness of a movie theatre at home. Soundbars are easy to use and have a stylish design. They work with all common hardware, wireless protocols, codecs, and voice assistants. Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 360 Reality Audio, and MPEG-H audio provide engrossing 3D audio. The Ambeo Soundbar Plus delivers an immersive sound experience in one single and compact device.



Retailed at INR 1,39,990, the Soundbar Plus will be available in black colour variant for INR 1,19,990. Click here to purchase Soundbar Plus  Amazon.in



AMBEO Subwoofers- Bass reinvented



The advanced self-calibration of the AMBEO Sub and its in-built far-field microphone enable the device to scan your room and learn its acoustics with extreme precision, allowing the Sub to adjust flawlessly to every environment and create a distinctive immersive sound experience that puts you in the center of the action. Multiple audio and equalizer settings, along with many other cutting-edge features designed to get the most out of your AMBEO Sub, which uses Bluetooth Low Energy to ensure the lowest latency, are available through the user-friendly Smart Control App and Web Interface, which guarantees a simple and enjoyable user experience.



Retailed at INR 69,990, the Subwoofer will be available in black colour variant for INR 69,990 respectively. Click here to purchase Subwoofer  Amazon.in



Sennheiser IE 200- Your invitation to a new world of sound



The Sennheiser IE 200 offers a 7-millimeter extra-wide band transducer for outstanding quality, built on 15 years of Sennheiser TrueResponse Transducer technology. The most recent in-ear model maintains the tradition of the IE family by providing brilliantly accurate and balanced sounds in an incredibly small package. Nothing prevents the user from exploring new sonic realms with IE 200. With a natural frequency response curve, which is generally only seen in earphones costing substantially more, harmonic distortion is practically nonexistent. Additionally, the IE 200's distinctive dual-tuning capability allows it to cater to a wide range of listening preferences.



Retailed at INR 14,990, the IE 200 will be available in black colour variant for INR 8,990 respectively. Click here to buy IE 200- Amazon.in



About Sennheiser



We live and breathe audio. We are driven by the passion to create audio solutions that make a difference. Building the future of audio and bringing remarkable sound experiences to our customers  this is what the Sennheiser brand has represented for more than 75 years. While professional audio solutions such as microphones, meeting solutions, streaming technologies and monitoring systems are part of the business of Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG, the business with consumer devices such as headphones, soundbars and speech-enhanced hearables is operated by Sonova Holding AG under the license of Sennheiser.



www.sennheiser-hearing.com



www.sennheiser.com



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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Indian to secure the first-runner up position in the 46-year journey of the Mrs. Universe Pageant. The Grand Finale of the Mrs. Universe Pageant 2023 took place on October 8th in Manila, Philippines, where Kalpana triumphantly secured the first-runner up position in a tough competition of 91 participants.



Adding to her illustrious achievement, Kalpana also earned the prestigious title of 'the Best National Costume.' This magnificent creation, crafted by the talented Designer Melvyn Dominic Noronha, paid homage to her Mrs. India UK title. It commemorated the 1-year Office Holding Anniversary of the esteemed UK Prime Minister, Mr. Rishi Sunak, the first individual of Indian and Asian origin to assume the role of British Prime Minister. Furthermore, it symbolized the struggle against the demons of a colonial past, juxtaposed with the inherent Indian heart that serves the world with boundless empathy.



Behind this remarkable success stands Kalpana's National Director, Mrs. Urmi Boruah, who tirelessly worked day and night to ensure Kalpana's brilliance shone through in the Pageant. Urmi assembled an exceptional team, and Kalpana's victory was destined from the stars.



The dedicated team left no stone unturned in preparing for the Pageant's critical scoring areas. The forum, a pinnacle event, required all participants to address the pressing issue of domestic violence. Kalpana's presentation, titled 'Break the Silence,' was executed flawlessly, leaving a lasting impact.



This victory is a testament to the unwavering dedication of Mrs. Kalpana, Mrs. Urmi Boruah, and the entire UMB Elegant Monarch team. Its a demonstration of the incredible potential of the Indian spirit to achieve one's dreams.



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PUNE, India, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PhiCommerce, a leading payment technology company based in India, is delighted to announce the grant of 3D Secure Server (3DSS) 2.2 approval by EMVCo for its payment technology solutions. PhiCommerce can now leverage its EMVCo certification to provide an integrated 3DSecure authentication mechanism within its next generation payment stack.



EMVCo is a global consortium that facilitates the worldwide interoperability and acceptance of secure payment transactions. 3D secure (3DS) is a de facto two-factor authentication standard across international payment schemes like VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, UnionPay etc. 3DS enables global businesses to reduce payment fraud, enhances transaction success rates, lowers operational expenditures, and reduces card abandonment rate.



The 3D Secure server 3DSS 2.2 certification, offered by EMVCo, ensures that PhiCommerce's payment platform inherently offers the latest security and authentication standards for online transactions.



The EMVCo 3DSS 2.2 certification brings forth several compelling advantages for PhiCommerce's clients around the globe:



Enhanced Security: With 3DSS 2.2 certification, the payment platform can offer an additional layer of security for online transactions reducing the risk of payment fraud. All this while reducing operational expenses for businesses.



Improved User Experience: Users of the payment solutions can expect a smoother and more seamless payment experience, ensuring higher transaction success rates and reducing cart abandonment.



Global Compatibility: The certification aligns the payment solutions with global payment standards, making it easier for PhiCommerce's clients to expand their businesses internationally while adhering to regulatory requirements.



Future-Ready Solutions: This certification will enable the payment platform to adapt to evolving payment technology trends, ensuring that PhiCommerce's clients continue to receive innovative and evolving payment authentication modes like fingerprint, biometric, and more.



Rajesh Londhe, Co-Founder and Head-Payments, PhiCommerce, emphasising the significance of this milestone, said, "Obtaining the EMVCo 3DSS 2.2 certification is a testament to our unwavering mission of enabling frictionless and secure omnichannel payment experiences for both businesses and end users. This milestone underscores our capability to provide high-tech, secure, efficient, and globally compatible payment authentication solutions in an integrated manner with our own proprietary payment stack. This ensures that our clients are at the forefront of evolving payment standards, enhancing the security and reliability of online transactions."



About PhiCommerce



Established in 2015, Pune based PhiCommerce enables businesses to embrace the digital payments ecosystem using integrated and agile innovations, enabling smooth and flexible payments across all consumer touchpoints - browser, mobile, in-store and remote. PhiCommerce offers a unified omni-channel payment platform catering to the comprehensive B2B and B2C payment requirements of businesses, spanning both online and offline channels.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India's expanding economy is creating new possibilities for the youth and the unemployment rate in the country is at its lowest level in the last six years.

In a video message to the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the prime minister noted that new possibilities are being created for the youth as India's economy is expanding.

He said that employment creation in India has reached a new height and the unemployment rate in India is at its lowest level in 6 years according to a recent survey.

Noting that unemployment is decreasing rapidly in both rural and urban areas of India, the prime minister emphasised that the benefits of development are reaching both villages and cities equally, and as a result, new opportunities are increasing equally in both villages and cities.

He also pointed out the unprecedented increase in the participation of women in India's workforce and credited the impact of the schemes and campaigns that have been launched in India in the past years regarding women empowerment.

He pointed out the neglect towards skill development in the previous governments and said, "Our government understood the importance of skill and created a separate ministry for it and allocated a separate budget."

Highlighting the importance of skilling, upskilling and re-skilling, the prime minister noted the rapidly changing demands and nature of jobs and emphasized upgrading the skills accordingly.

Therefore, the prime minister said, it is very important for industry, research and skill development institutions to be in tune with the present times. Noting the improved focus on skills, the prime minister informed that about 5,000 new ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) have been set up in the country in the last 9 years adding more than 4 lakh new ITI seats.

He also mentioned that institutes are being upgraded as model ITIs with the objective of providing efficient and high-quality training along with best practices.

Modi underlined that India is investing more in the skills of its youth than ever before and gave the example of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana which has strengthened the youth at the ground level.

Under this scheme, the prime minister informed that about 1.5 crore youths have been trained so far. He further added that new skill centres are also being established near industrial clusters which will enable the industry to share its requirements with skill development institutes, thereby developing the necessary skill sets among the youth for better employment opportunities.

The prime minister stressed making India the biggest centre of skilled manpower in the world in order to provide smart and skilled manpower solutions.

Highlighting the recent figures released by the International Monetary Fund, the prime minister informed that India will remain the fastest-growing major economy in the coming years.

He also recalled his resolve to take India among the top three economies of the world and said that IMF is also confident of India becoming the top three economies of the world in the next 3-4 years. Modi underlined that it would create new opportunities for employment and self-employment in the country.

"Today, the whole world is of the belief that this century is going to be India's century," the prime minister said as he credited the young population of India for this.

The prime minister observed that when the elderly population is increasing in many countries of the world, India is getting younger with each passing day.

"India has this huge advantage," he stressed as he noted the world is looking towards India for its skilled youth.

The prime minister suggested not to waste any opportunity being created and assured that the government is ready to support the cause.

Modi highlighted the importance of the power of the youth in utilizing the strengths of any country such as its natural or mineral resources, or its long coastlines and said that the country develops more with stronger youth power thereby doing justice to the nation's resources.

Today, the prime minister emphasized that a similar thinking is empowering India's youth, which is making unprecedented improvements in the entire ecosystem.

"In this, the country's approach is two-pronged," the prime minister said.

He explained that India is preparing its youth to take advantage of new opportunities through skilling and education as he highlighted the new National Education Policy which has been established after almost 4 decades.

The prime minister also underlined that the government is establishing a large number of new medical colleges and skill development institutes like IITs, IIMs or ITIs, and mentioned the crores of youth who have been trained under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

On the other hand, he stated that traditional sectors which provide jobs are being strengthened while new sectors that promote employment and entrepreneurship are also being promoted.

The prime minister also mentioned India making new records in goods exports, mobile exports, electronic exports, services exports, defence exports and manufacturing, and at the same time creating a large number of new opportunities for youth in many sectors such as space, startups, drones, animation, electric vehicles, semiconductors, etc.

Modi informed that India's proposal regarding global skill mapping has been recently accepted at the G20 Summit, which will help in creating better opportunities for youth in the coming times.

India's unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above was recorded at a six-year low of 3.2 per cent during July 2022-June 2023, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2022-2023 released by the National Sample Survey Office this week.

Joblessness or unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons in the labour force.

Considering the importance of the availability of labour force data at more frequent time intervals, the NSSO launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Indian IT services company Infosys on Thursday said all its employees in Israel are safe.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said its employees in Israel are primarily locals but declined to comment on the exact staff strength there. The company further said it is "saddened" by the situation unfolding in the region.

"We have business in Israel in that part of the region and...with what is going on there...we are saddened by it. All of our employees are safe in that business," the Infosys top honcho said during the Q2 earnings briefing.

On Wednesday, the country's largest IT services company TCS said it has 250 staffers in Israel and stressed that the ongoing conflict will not have any major impact on its business.

TCS has said it is in constant touch with all staffers, and at present, the focus is their safety and to look at how they help the communities they live in.

It has initiated business continuity plans wherever necessary to ensure that the customers do not get impacted, TCS Chief Operating Officer N Ganapathy Subramaniam told reporters, adding that it does not expect any major impact of the war on its business.

Asked if it is evacuating its workers out of the country, he said a good number of the staffers there are locals. However, he added that if anybody wants to come back or stay, the decisions will be taken.

He said that at present, "we must also understand that flights from Israel are not functioning normally", hinting that an evacuation will be difficult to carry out.

Militant group Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise air and ground attack on Israel from its base in the Gaza Strip, leading to hundreds of deaths. Israel retaliated with strikes inside the strip. Israeli jets are pounding the densely-populated enclave, launching an all-out offensive in response to Hamas brutal terror strikes as the conflict entered its sixth day.
To prepare for the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE), a China-Europe freight train, having set out from Duisburg, Germany, carried exhibits for the expo and arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




Colombo, Oct 12 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that it has concluded a preliminary deal with China on the restructuring of its debts to Beijing, seen as a "big step" in the cash-strapped country's economic recovery.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance said The Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement on the key principles and indicative terms of a debt treatment with the Export-Import Bank of China.

China holds about 52 per cent of Sri Lanka's USD 46 billion external credit.

The agreement in principle covers approximately USD 4.2 billion of outstanding debt, it said adding that it constitutes a key step towards restoring Sri Lankas long-term debt sustainability and will pave the way to a prompt economic recovery.

The terms of the restructuring agreed upon will provide the space for Sri Lanka to implement its reform agenda.

The government has expressed hope that it should also facilitate approval by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of the second tranche of the USD 2.9 billion bailout of approximately USD 334 million.

Yesterday marked a big step for Sri Lanka as we reached this landmark agreement in principle on debt treatment terms with our largest single creditor. We thank China Exim Bank for its support in resolving our countrys debt situation.

Sri Lanka was hit by its worst economic crisis in history when its foreign exchange reserves fell to a critical low and the public came out on the streets to protest the shortage of fuel, fertilisers and essential commodities.

This agreement constitutes a key milestone in Sri Lankas ongoing efforts to foster its economic recovery, the Secretary to the Treasury Mahinda Siriwardena said.

On Wednesday, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said China's assurance to Sri Lanka to restructure its external debt is an important development for the debt-ridden country's economic situation.

He added that when Sri Lanka went into default in 2022 due to the economic crisis, the islands outstanding external debt stood at around USD 46 billion.
Islamabad, Oct 12 (PTI) Pakistan's interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar will visit China to participate in the third Belt and Road Forum commencing in Beijing later this month, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at the weekly briefing said Kakar was undertaking the trip at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The prime minister will attend the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum on October 17 and hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping, senior Chinese leaders, as well as, other leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum, she said.

Baloch said Kakar would highlight the key achievements of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and highlight future priorities for the multi-billion dollar initiative.

The CPEC, announced in 2013, is part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a giant connectivity initiative planned by China to revive the ancient Silk Road across Eurasia and Africa.

The CPEC enters Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) through the Karakoram Highway in Gilgit Baltistan and aims to circumvent the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea to improve infrastructure within Pakistan for better trade with China and to further integrate the countries of South Asia.

The prime minister will also meet with leading Chinese entrepreneurs to expand bilateral trade and investment. He will also visit Urumqi to meet with local leaders and businessmen aiming to enhance trade, investment and people-to-people relations.

The visit comes in the backdrop of the ongoing celebrations marking the ten years of the CPEC.

Baloch in her press briefing also said that repatriation of illegal foreign nationals was not specific to any nationality, as the decision was taken in view of the country's own interests to curb illegal activities and terrorism.

The spokesperson also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. We are deeply concerned about the fast deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to inhuman blockade and collective punishment by Israeli forces, she said.
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 12 (AP) Malaysian budget carrier MYAirline abruptly suspended operations Thursday, citing financial pressures less than 11 months after it took to the skies. The cancellation of the airline's 40 flights stranded thousands of passengers.

MYAirline made the announcement on social media, catching the government and many travellers by surprise. The company apologised for its extremely painful decision but said significant financial pressures forced it to suspend operations pending an ownership restructuring and recapitalisation.

We have worked tirelessly to explore various partnership and capital-raising options to prevent this suspension. Unfortunately, the constraints of time have left us with no alternative but to take this decision, the airline's board of directors said in a statement.

The move came just days after the airline said it was in the advanced stages of finalizing a strategic partnership. Local media reported that the suspension signalled those talks might have collapsed.

Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke slammed the hasty shutdown, saying it was unacceptable and gave the country a bad name. He said the airline had sold 125,000 tickets worth some 20 million ringgit ($4.2 million) for flights scheduled until March 2024.

We were caught by surprise and totally shocked, Loke said during a news conference. They didn't inform us. They just stopped operating with no airline staff at the airport. How can you just disappear like that? This is highly irresponsible.

The government will ensure that ticket-holders are refunded, the minister said.

Loke said the airline has a fleet of eight planes and had intended to expand to 12 by the end of the year. He said it should have sought government help instead of ceasing operation without warning.

The Malaysian Aviation Commission will decide whether to revoke MYAirline's air license, which expires next month, he said.

The airline, which operated flights to eight domestic destinations and Thailand's capital, Bangkok, is owned by businessman Allan Goh Hwan Hua. Just two days ago, CEO Rayner Teo, who has a 2% stake in the carrier, stepped down, citing health reasons.

The Malaysian Aviation Commission instructed MYAirline to immediately halt sales and bookings of flights, and said refunds must be paid. It said it was investigating the airline over complaints that employees' salaries had gone unpaid, among other issues.

MYAirline made the announcement on social media before dawn on Monday, after passengers on early flights had already checked in at the terminal. Angry travellers took to social media to criticise the carrier for the sudden announcement that left them stranded.

Malaysia Airports, which manages the country's airports, said some 5,000 passengers were affected Thursday as 39 flights to local destinations and one to Thailand's Don Mueang Airport were cancelled. It said it was working to help those affected and the situation was under control.

Malaysia Airlines and low-cost carrier AirAsia and Batik Air announced discounts and special fares to help MYAirline passengers affected by the suspension. (AP) SCY

SCY
Bengaluru, Oct 11 (PTI) The impact technology has on human activities made the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) show interest in it, the deputy governor of the central bank, T Rabi Sankar, said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the grand finale of the second global hackathon, "Harbinger-2023 -- Innovation for Transformation", Sankar said fintech is transforming the financial system across the globe.

Various tech groups were given awards for coming up with useful solutions for banks and financial institutions.

"Why is the Reserve Bank of India or for that matter, all central banks, governments and other authorities are suddenly showing too much of an interest and too much of an involvement in technology? Why is the RBI involved in a hackathon? This is not something that we could have imagined five years ago," Sankar said.

He said the central bank basically works on monetary policies, currency issues, banking regulation and supervision.

Technology is far from one of the RBI's operations, apart from the fact that it also has an IT department, Sankar pointed out.

Until recently, technology issues were never on the RBI's radar but still, in the last couple of decades, it set up a number of important institutions, such as the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI), that provide technological services to it, he explained.

"I think the answer lies in the nature or impact of technology. Now, all of you would know that technology facilitates human activities. But that is not all that it does," Sankar noted.

He said technology also helps build orders in the world -- economic order, social order, political order.

"All of us are familiar with fintech, which is transforming the financial system not just in India but across the world," Sankar said.

In this context, he said social media is restructuring the political order and the social order.

Recent technologies, such as artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, quantum computing and robotics, have the potential not only to revolutionise human and social lives, but also to alter the global order, the RBI deputy governor pointed out.

He appealed to the creators of such technologies, technological products and innovations to think about the issues of risk involved in technologies.

"The objective of the RBI, therefore, is involving itself in technologies, which is largely two-fold -- guide innovation to maximise the financial well-being of people and efficiency of the financial system, and to anticipate and proactively try and contain and channel any undesirable effects of technologies," Sankar said.

He told the gathering that the second edition of the hackathon is the RBI's own small way to create incentives to channelise the creative energy of technology experts to innovate for the benefit of financial inclusion.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 12 (PTI) The first ship that arrived at Vizhinjam port here carrying cranes from China was given a water salute by the tug boats which pulled the vessel into the Rs 7,700 crore deep-water international port on Thursday, official sources said.



The mammoth container handling cranes onboard the vessel would be transferred to the port on Sunday, October 15, in an official event that would be attended by Union Minister for Ports Sarbananda Sonowal and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the sources said.







The vessel -- Zhen Hua 15 -- which began its journey from China at the end of August was scheduled to dock at Vizhinjam on October 4, but its journey got delayed due to bad weather conditions along its route.







On reaching Indian coastal waters, it first went to Mundra port in Gujarat to offload some cranes there and then proceeded towards Vizhinjam, the sources said.







It docked at Vizhinjam port at around 11.20 am, they said.







The Kerala government last month had said that three more ships would be coming in October and November to the port which is expected to be commissioned by May next year.







The government had also said that 75 per cent of the breakwater construction is also complete.







The Vizhinjam port is being constructed under the public-private partnership model. Adani Group is the private partner in the development of Vizhinjam port, which is going to be one of the largest ports in the world once commissioned.







The project, which was scheduled to be commissioned in 2019, got delayed due to several issues related to land acquisition.







Vizhinjam had witnessed violent protests as fishermen in the area opposed the project, alleging that the port could adversely affect their livelihood. There are also environmental concerns surrounding the construction and operation of the port.
Kathmandu, Oct 12 (PTI) Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman and lawmaker Rabi Lamichhane on Thursday asked the government to brief Parliament about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Gunji, the bordering area of Darchula district, which he claimed as part of the Nepalese territory.

Modi on Thursday visited the border village of Gunji where he interacted with locals and security personnel, and attended an exhibition of local products.

"We have learnt from news media and official sources that Prime minister of neighbouring country India Narendra Modi visited our territory, Lamichhane said while speaking in the House of Representatives.

"When the Prime Minister of India reached Nepalese territory, our government did not welcome him, nor did it inform the Parliament, he added.

Modi arrived in Kuti Gunji, which lies within Nepalese territory according to the new political map, endorsed by the Parliament, he added.

"The Indian Prime Minister has visited the Gunji area. This has been confirmed by the Chief District Officer of Darchula," Lamichhane said.

In June 2020, Nepal's Parliament approved a new political map of the country featuring areas which India maintains belong to it.

After Nepal released the map, India criticised the move, calling it a "unilateral act" and cautioning Kathmandu that such "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims will not be acceptable to it.
Washington, Oct 12 (PTI) Teenage Indian-American inventor Gitanjali Rao was honoured by US First Lady Jill Biden, along with 14 other young women leaders, for leading a change and shaping a brighter future in their communities across the nation.

The 17-year-old scientist was honoured on Wednesday in the first-ever "Girls Leading Change" celebration at the White House, marking the International Day of the Girl.

The 15 young women leaders, selected by the White House Gender Policy Council, were honoured by First Lady Jill to recognise their impact on their communities.

"It is my honour to celebrate this exceptional group of "Girls Leading Change" at the White House," she was quoted as saying in a White House press release.

"These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope," she said.

Rao, from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is a scientist whose groundbreaking lead contamination detection tool won her an EPA Presidential Award and America's Top Young Scientist by Discovery Education/3M.

Her book 'Young Innovator's Guide to STEM', which offers a prescriptive five-step innovation process, is used as a STEM curriculum globally in selected schools, according to the release.

Named the Time Magazine's first-ever Kid of the Year in 2020, Rao "is committed to not only continuing her career as a scientist and inventor but expanding her STEM education initiative, which has already touched more than 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students," the release said.

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology freshman, she has also been featured in Forbes' list of 30 Under 30 achievers.
London, Oct 12 (PTI) UKs counterterrorism squad has appealed for footage or images related to the Palestinian militant group Hamas' attack in Israel after a number of British citizens have been killed in the country.

Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas' key infrastructure.

Over 2,000 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides.

The Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command said in its appeal on Wednesday evening that specialist officers are in close contact with the UKs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to act upon information being received about British nationals.

The UK police have a role in assisting with the repatriation of loved ones back to the country and the Met Police said it had started gathering information that may assist any subsequent coronial process.

"This appeal is directed at anyone who may have already returned from Israel in the past few days and has footage or images of the terrorist attacks, the Met Police said.

"There may also be people in the UK who have friends, relatives or loved ones in Israel and have been sent direct messages, images or videos. We would ask that people dont report footage or information that they have come across through open source research  media reports, online or on social media, it said.

The appeal came as a charity which helps Jewish people in the UK reported that antisemitic incidents in the country had tripled since the conflict began last Saturday.

The Community Security Trust (CST) said it recorded 89 "anti-Jewish hate" incidents since October 7, which marked a 324 per cent rise on the 21 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year. Earlier this week, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman had written to police chiefs of the country to take tough action against such hate crimes.

Context is crucial. Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example, the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism.

"Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at, reads her letter.

Meanwhile, the royal family joined senior political figures to express their deep shock at the developments in the Middle East while Foreign Secretary James Cleverly travelled to Israel in a show of UK support.

"Today I've seen a glimpse of what millions experience every day. The threat of Hamas rockets lingers over every Israeli man, woman and child. This is why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel, said Cleverly, after videos shared online showed the Cabinet minister running for cover as air raid sirens blared in the city of Ofakim.

The Israeli foreign ministry said the siren was warning citizens of incoming Hamas rocket fire.

King Charles III spoke to Yitzhak Herzog, the President of Israel, and King Abdullah of Jordan on Wednesday afternoon.

His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel, the monarchs spokesperson said after the phone call.

In a statement on social media, a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales  William and Kate  said: "[They] are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.

"The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling, they utterly condemn them. As Israel exercises its right to self-defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will be continued to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come," it said.
Washington, Oct 12 (PTI) Terming the brazen terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, US President Joe Biden has said that it has brought back painful memories of millennia of anti-Semitism and genocide against them.

The United States continues to monitor the situation in Israel very closely, Biden said.

We continue to monitor the situation in Israel very closely, and the vice president and I and the bulk of my security team spoke with the (Israeli) Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, again this morning, Biden told reporters on Wednesday.

This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by millennia of anti-Semitism and genocide against the Jewish people, he said. Over 1,200 people have been killed in Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, which has countered it with airstrikes in Gaza killing around 1,100 people.

Biden also stopped by a roundtable with Jewish community leaders and reaffirmed his unwavering support for Israel over the terrorist attacks.

The attack was a campaign of pure cruelty ... not just hate, pure cruelty against the Jewish people. And I would argue it is the deadliest day for the Jews since the Holocaust. One of the worst chapters in human history, Biden said. I mean silence is complicity. It really is. And I want you to know, I think you've already figured it out, I refuse to be silent, and I know you refuse to be silent as well, he told Jewish leaders gathered at the White House.

It has been hard to find that light during the darkness of these past few days, when terrorist groups like Hamas brought not only terror but sheer evil to the world, the evil that echoes the worst, and matches, in some cases, exceeds, the worst atrocities of ISIS. More than 1,000 civilians (have been) slaughtered in Israel.

Biden said he has been speaking with a number of Israeli leaders, a number of leaders around the world, and leaders in the region as well. Among those who have been victimised by this evil and have been killed, are at least 22 American citizens. This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but pure cruelty against the Jewish people, he said.

The president told the Jewish community leaders that America is not and can't be silent. We not only reject terrorism, but it goes beyond that. It goes beyond rejecting terrorism. You know, I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu for I don't know how many times, but again this morning, he said.

The US is extending additional military assistance to the Israeli Defence Force, including ammunition, and interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome. It has also moved a US carrier fleet to the eastern Mediterranean and sending more fighter jets in the region.

We want to make it really clear. We're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts, he said.

Biden also slammed the downplaying of Hamas' atrocities and blaming Israel, terming it as unconscionable.

I have asked members of my team, including Homeland Security Secretary (Alejandro) Mayorkas and Attorney General (Merrick) Garland to work intensively with our Jewish community partners, so many of you here, to set up security around Jewish life in America, and identify, prevent and disrupt emerging threats that occur, he said.

The US is also going to continue to condemn and combat anti-Semitism at every single turn. The past few days have been a solemn reminder that hate never goes away, he said.

"Israel is doing everything in its power to pull the country together, stay on the same page and the US is going to do everything in its power to make sure they succeed and God willing, to bring home those Americans who are in harm's way," Biden said.

Beyond the 22 US citizens known to have been killed, the State Department said at least 17 more Americans remain unaccounted for in the Israel-Palestine conflict that has already claimed more than 2,200 lives on both sides while a handful of other US citizens are among the estimated 150 hostages captured by Hamas militants.
London, Oct 12 (AP) Elon Musk's social media platform X has removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and taken down or labelled thousands of pieces of content since the militant group's attack on Israel, according to the CEO of the company, formerly known as Twitter.

Linda Yaccarino on Thursday outlined efforts by X to get a handle on illegal content flourishing on the platform. She was responding to a warning from a top European Union official, who requested information on how X is complying during the Israel-Hamas war with tough new EU digital rules aimed at cleaning up social media platforms.

"So far since the start of the conflict, X has identified and removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts from the platform," Yaccarino said in a letter posted on X.

The platform is proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis, she wrote in response to the request from European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the digital enforcer for the 27-nation bloc.

Under the EU's Digital Services Act, which took effect in August, social media companies have to step up policing of their platforms for illegal content, under threat of hefty fines.

There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts, Yaccarino said.

X has taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content and pointed out that Community Notes  a feature that allows users to add their own fact-checks to posts  is visible on thousands of posts, generating millions of impressions.

Since billionaire Musk acquired Twitter last year and renamed it, experts say the platform has become not just unreliable but actively promotes falsehoods, while a study commissioned by the EU found that it's the worst-performing platform for online disinformation.

Rivals such as TikTok, YouTube and Facebook also are coping with a flood of unsubstantiated rumours and falsehoods about the Middle Eastern conflict, playing the typical whack-a-mole that erupts each time a news event captures world attention. (AP) NPK

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Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attends the opening of the sixth forum of social groups of Taiwan compatriots and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Wang Huning attended the opening of the sixth forum of social groups of Taiwan compatriots in Beijing on Thursday, and delivered a speech.

Speaking at the forum, Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, called for efforts to firmly implement the Party's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, expand cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.

He also stressed uniting Taiwan compatriots and working together to create a bright future for national reunification and rejuvenation.

Noting that realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and China's complete reunification need joint efforts of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, Wang called on social groups of Taiwan compatriots to grasp the trend of the times, adhere to the right direction for the development of cross-Strait relations and promote integrated cross-Strait development.

He also called for efforts to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

About 300 people attended the forum. 
Brussels, Oct 12 (AP) Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year, sparking worldwide protests against the country's conservative Islamic theocracy, has been named a finalist for the European Union's top human rights prize.

The European Parliament on Thursday announced the three finalists for this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, including Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran.

The selection was in recognition of their brave effort to stand up for women's rights," said David McAllister, the chair of the foreign affairs committee at the EU Parliament.

Amini died on September 16, 2022, after she was arrested for allegedly violating Iran's mandatory headscarf law.

The other nominees are Vilma Nunez de Escorcia and Roman Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez  two emblematic figures in the fight for the defence of human rights in Nicaragua  and a trio of women from Poland, El Salvador and the United States leading a fight for free, safe and legal abortion.

Amini died three days after she was arrested by Iran's morality police, allegedly for violating laws that require women to cover their hair in public. While authorities said she suffered a heart attack, Amini's supporters said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries.

Her death triggered protests that spread across the country and rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Iran's four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.

Authorities responded with a violent crackdown in which more than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 others were detained, according to rights groups. The demonstrations largely died down early this year, but there are still widespread signs of discontent.

For several months, women could be seen openly flaunting the headscarf rule in Tehran and other cities, prompting a renewed crackdown over the summer.

The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honour individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989.

The winner will be announced on October 19. (AP) PY

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Lahore, Oct 12 (PTI) One of the close associates of Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group's slain leader Shahid Latif, who suffered bullet injuries during an attack in a mosque in Pakistan's Punjab province, succumbed to his wounds on Thursday, raising the death toll to three in the incident, police said.

Latif, the mastermind of the 2016 attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, and his security guard Hashim Ali were shot dead by three gunmen while offering prayer in a mosque in Daska city of Punjab province, over 100 km from Lahore, on Wednesday early morning.

Prayer leader and close associate of Latif, Maulana Ahad was also hit by bullets and was shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his wounds on Thursday, police said.

Punjab Police have registered an FIR against six unknown suspects for killing three persons under sections 302 (murder), 324 (attempted murder), 148 (armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and Anti-Terrorism Act.

According to the FIR, a copy of which is available with PTI, six gunmen aged 22 to 23 reached the Noori-e-Madina Masjid in Mandike Guraya Chowk (Daska) at Fajr (pre-dawn) time.

"Three of them stayed outside while the other three entered the mosque and opened fire on Latif at point blank at 5.28 am. They also sprayed his security guard and the prayer leader with bullets. They, however, didn't target other people offering prayer," the FIR says.

The assailants after committing the crime managed to flee on motorcycles, it says.

Police officer Wasim Ahmad told PTI on Thursday that it was a "target killing" as the main target of the killers was Latif whom they shot at point blank.

"Three separate investigation teams have been formed on the direction of the Punjab police chief to probe into the matter," he said, adding that police have recorded the statements of the people present in the mosque during the gun attack.

"We have also obtained CCTV footage that will be helpful in tracing the culprits," he said. No arrest has been made so far.

His killing is similar to several other such incidents involving the deaths of militants wanted in India.

According to intelligence sources, before Latifs killing, JeM's Ibrahim Mistry, Hizbul Mujahideen's Imtiaz Alam, and Lashkar-e-Taiba's Abu Qasim had been killed during prayers.

Latif alias Bilal alias Noor Al Din, a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was the launching commander of the JeM in Sialkot and had been involved in the planning, facilitation and execution of terror attacks in India.
Islamabad, Oct 12 (PTI) A top Pakistani court on Thursday combined jailed former prime minister Imran Khans separate petitions seeking to stay the trial court proceedings in the cipher case and dismiss the case altogether.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document (cipher) that reportedly went missing from Khans possession. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief 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 ministers office.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took up a separate plea seeking the stay of Khan's trial in the cipher case and clubbed it with the main plea, under which the 71-year-old former premier has sought the dismissal of the case and a date be fixed for hearing.

Khan has filed several petitions in the IHC, including one seeking to stay his jail trial in the cipher case, another seeking to suspend the Toshakhana verdict, and a third against his indictment in the cipher case, which is set for October 17.

Senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa appeared as Khans counsel and informed the court that the pleas were seeking the stay of the trial court proceedings and challenging the special courts order of indictment, the Dawn newspaper reported.

He further said that the matter was pending before the IHC and a verdict had been reserved, adding that the Lahore High Court has also issued a stay order in a case by the Federal Investigation Agency, the report said.

My client is a national hero and the world knows and believes that. Now, he is in jail [while] innocent, Khosa asserted.

Justice Farooq then asked him if the separate plea should be combined with that seeking dismissal of the case, to which Khosa agreed on the condition that it would be fixed before October 17, the report said.

When Justice Farooq inquired what would happen on October 17, the counsel replied, There would be great unpleasantness on October 17. A trial is underway. Indictment is to take place.

The chief justice then observed that he would review the matter and issue an order, assuring that the pleas would be fixed for hearing before October 17.

Khan was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in the Toshakhana graft case on August 5. He was subsequently shifted to Attock jail, but the IHC later suspended his sentence. However, he remained in jail because he was on judicial remand in the cipher case.

On September 30, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted a charge sheet in the Special Court established under the Official Secrets Act, naming Khan and his key ally and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as the principal accused in the cipher case.

Meanwhile, Khan has urged his supporters to not give up, and demanded fair polls.

He reiterated that he would not leave Pakistan to go anywhere and demanded fair and free elections.

In a message posted on his X account, he said he would not back down even an inch from the quest of Haqeeqi Azadi, for the upholding of the rule of law and the Constitution of Pakistan, at the core of which is free and fair elections.

Speaking about the cipher case against him, the PTI chief alleged that treason was committed against him and his government by former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and US diplomat Donald Lu.
Jerusalem, Oct 12 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the US secretary of state's visit on Thursday is a tangible example of America's unequivocable support of Israel.

He compared the Hamas militant group that staged a ferocious attack on Israel over the weekend to the Islamic State group.

Just as ISIS was crushed, Hamas will be crushed, he said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated America's support.

The message I bring with me is this: You may strong enough on your own to defend yourselves but as long as America exists you will never have to, he said. (AP) PY

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Miami (US), Oct 12 (AP) Former President Donald Trump has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of betraying him just before the US killed a top Iranian general in 2020, breaking from the Republican presidential primary field's uniform support of Israel as it responds to Hamas' deadly attack.

Trump's comments at a West Palm Beach, Florida, rally on Wednesday were quickly denounced by one of Netanyahu's allies and by several Republicans who oppose Trump, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a 2024 rival.

Most American leaders have lined up behind Israel after a multi-pronged Hamas invasion that President Joe Biden said was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. At least 2,500 people have died on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

Trump, the early front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, told the rally that his prayers were with Israel and vowed to stand by the country and not let it fail  before he went on to describe a bad experience with its leaders.

Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months, he said about the coordination to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force. We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack.

Nobody's heard this story before, Trump said. They didn't tell us why.

I'll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down, he said.

We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed, he said. But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision  and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.

Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But communications minister Shlomo Karhi told Israel's Channel 13 that it is shameful that a man like that, a former US president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel's fighters and its citizens.

We don't have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts, Karhi said. Asked if Trump's comments make it clear that he can't be relied on, Karhi replied, Obviously.

DeSantis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel".

Trump and other Republicans have tried to lay blame on the Biden administration, particularly citing the release of nearly USD 6 billion in frozen assets to Iran, a supporter of Hamas. Biden administration officials insist that money has not been spent.

The Democratic president's campaign said Trump has been pushing dangerous misinformation about the crisis in Israel when the countries should stand together.

While Trump continues to lie about his record, President Biden is laser-focused on providing steadfast support for Israel and leading on the global stage, Biden campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said. (AP) PY

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Washington, Oct 12, (PTI) The United States continues to monitor the situation in Israel very closely, President Joe Biden said Wednesday observing that the terrorist attack by Hamas has brought back painful memories of a millennia of antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people.

Biden said termed Saturday's attack the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

We continue to monitor the situation in Israel very closely, and the vice president and I and the bulk of my security team spoke with the Prime Minister, Netanyahu, again this morning, Biden said. This attack has brought to the surface the painful memories and scars left by a millennia of antisemitism and genocide against the Jewish people, he said.

In this moment, we have to be crystal clear. There is no justification for terrorism. No excuse. And the type of terrorism that was exhibited here was just beyond the pale. Beyond the pale. My commitment to Israels security and the safety of the Jewish people is unshakeable. The United States has Israels back. We are going to be working on this all through today and beyond, Biden said.

Over 1,200 people have been killed in Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, which has countered with airstrikes in Gaza in which around 1,100 people have been killed.

Later in the afternoon, Biden stopped by a roundtable with Jewish community leaders and reaffirmed his unwavering support for Israel over the terrorist attacks.

Biden said that this is deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, the deadliest day since the Holocaust.

I mean silence is complicity. It really is. And I want you to know, I think you've already figured it out, I refuse to be silent, and I know you refuse to be silent as well, he said.

It has been hard to find that light during the darkness of these past few days, when terrorist groups like Hamas brought not only terror but sheer evil, sheer evil to the world, evil that echoes the worst and matches, in some cases exceeds, the worst atrocities of ISIS, more than 1,000 civilians slaughtered in Israel, he said.

Biden said he has been speaking with a number of Israeli leaders, a number of leaders around the world, leaders in the region as well. Among those who have been victimised by this evil and have been killed, are at least 22 American citizens. This attack was a campaign of pure cruelty, not just hate, but pure cruelty against the Jewish people, he said.

The president told the Jewish community leaders that America is not and can't be silent. We not only reject terrorism, but it goes beyond that. It goes beyond rejecting terrorism. You know, I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu for I don't know how many times, but again this morning, he said.

The US is extending additional military assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, including ammunition, interceptors to replenish the Iron Dome. It has also moved a US carrier fleet to the eastern Mediterranean as a deterrence. We are sending more fighter jets there in that region and made it clear, made it clear to the Iranians, be careful, he said.

We want to make it real clear. We're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts, he said.

Biden also slammed "the downplaying of Hamas' atrocities and blaming Israel", terming it "unconscionable.

I have asked members of my team, including Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas and Attorney General Garland to work intensively with our Jewish community partners, so many of you here, to set up security around Jewish life in America identify, prevent and disrupt emerging threats that occur, the US president said.

The US is also going to continue to condemn and combat anti-Semitism at every single turn. The past few days have been a solemn reminder that hate never goes away, he said.

"Israel is doing everything in its power to pull the country together, stay on the same page and the US is going to do everything in its power to make sure they succeed, and God willing, to bring home those Americans who are in harm's way," Biden said.
Lahore, Oct 12 (PTI) Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday said he will neither leave the country nor back down even an inch from his quest for real freedom for the upholding of the rule of law and the Constitution.

Khan's family on Thursday posted his message to the people of Pakistan on his X account.

"To those suggesting that I leave the country, know that I will live and die with Pakistan, and I will not leave my land to go anywhere. Regardless of what prison they keep me in, whatever conditions they impose upon me, I will not back down even an inch from the quest of Haqeeqi Azadi (real freedom), for the upholding of the rule of law and the Constitution of Pakistan, at the core of which is free and fair elections (sic)," his X post said.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, who has been at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi in the cipher case, further said: Let it be known that there's a difference of day and night between Imran Khan of today and Imran Khan who was imprisoned on August 5, 2023. Today I am stronger and fitter; spiritually, mentally and physically, than ever before.

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 countrys embassy in Washington in March last year. The court had last week declared that Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi would be indicted during the next hearing on October 17, which would mark the official start of the trial.

Ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022, Khan 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.

Narrating his story in prison, Khan said: When I was illegally incarcerated in Attock Jail, the first few days were particularly challenging. I wasnt provided a bed and had to sleep on the floor and had insects and mosquitoes all over me. But with time I have adjusted well to the prison conditions."

In prison, he wrote that he had the opportunity to study and research the Holy Quran in-depth, along with other books which have strengthened his faith. "I was also able to introspect the last few years of my political life, Khan wrote. As far as the Cipher case is concerned, Khan said the "bogus case" is designed to protect former Army Chief General Bajwa and US diplomat Donald Lu.

I was the elected Prime Minister of the country. Treason was committed against me and my government by General Bajwa. Instead of investigating the foreign conspiracy in orchestrating a regime change, a case has been filed against me for informing the people of Pakistan, the real protectors of this country, about this treason.

On the arrest of his party workers in the wake of attacks on military installations, Khan said: If theres one thing that bothers & pains me, is the suffering of my workers who have been illegally imprisoned, especially our women workers who have been in captivity for months, by a few people who abuse their power to satisfy their egos. I appeal to the judiciary to provide justice and order the immediate release of our workers. he wrote.

The PTI chief urged his followers not to give up their struggle and keep demanding a "fair and transparent election in the country.

Khan also said he is predicting that on whatever day the election is held, the people of Pakistan will come out in huge numbers to vote for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and defeat all these parties combined. No matter how much these people cheat, their only destiny is defeat, the PTI leader said.

Khan, who served as the country's prime minister until April last year, currently faces around 180 cases. These cases primarily stem from incidents that occurred following the attack on the Lahore Corps Commander's House on May 9. Supporters of Khan launched a series of attacks on key military installations and government properties following the arrest of their leader in an alleged corruption case.

General elections are expected to be held in the last week of January 2024.
Kathmandu, Oct 12 (PTI) Nepal's Foreign Minister N P Saud on Thursday left Israel along with 253 students who were stranded in the war-torn country following the surprise multifront attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, officials here said.

"Rescue aircraft has just taken off from Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv," Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X.

It thanked Israeli authorities for their prompt support in relocating Nepali nationals to safe zone, movement to airport, flight clearance and other procedures.

"We commend (the) tireless works of our Embassy in Tel Aviv and duly acknowledge support and cooperation received from various agencies back home to make this possible," the ministry said in another post.

The flight is expected to arrive in Kathmandu at 1.30 am on Thursday, according to the secretariat of Foreign Minister Saud, who arrived in Israel on board the same aircraft earlier in the day.

Ten Nepalese students were killed when Hamas launched a sudden strike at a farm in Israel's Kibbutz.

There were 17 Nepalese students on the farm where the Hamas launched the attack. Ten Nepalese nationals were killed, six escaped and one went missing in the incident.

Four of the students who sustained injuries in the incident are currently undergoing treatment in a hospital with the assistance of the Israeli government.

After the killing of 10 students of agriculture working as interns in Israel under a learn and earn scheme, the Nepal government with the assistance from Israel military relocated the remaining Nepalese students to a safe zone.

Besides 265 agriculture students, who have gone to Israel from different universities in Nepal under the 'Learn and Earn' internship programme, there are 450 other Nepalese working in different fields in Israel.

Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the country's south through air, land and sea on October 7. The conflict that has already claimed more than 2,500 lives on both sides.
Jerusalem, Oct 12 (PTI) The Israeli government is under intense public pressure to topple Hamas after its militants stormed through a border fence Saturday and killed hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.

In the Gaza Strip, meanwhile, residents are facing ever-growing uncertainty after the territory's only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down Wednesday. Without power, communication is limited and information is scarce.

Egypt has engaged in intensive talks with Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through its Rafah crossing point, which remained closed on both sides Thursday. However, Egypt pushed back against proposals to establish corridors out of Gaza, saying an an exodus of Palestinians from the enclave would have grave consequences on the Palestinian cause.

The war, which has claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate.

Here's what's happening on Day 6 of the latest Israel-Palestinian war:



OFFICIALS SAYS MORE THAN 1,400 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE GAZA STRIP

At least 1,417 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and over 6,200 have been injured since the Israel-Hamas war began, Palestinian health officials said Thursday.

Of the dead, nearly 450 are children and 250 are women.

The war has claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides since Hamas launched its attack on Israel last Saturday.



BLINKEN MEETS WITH ISRAELI PRESIDENT ISAAC HERZOG

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Blinken offered a statement with Herzog that touched on the same themes as his earlier statement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

There really are two paths before countries in this region and in many ways, countries in this world. But here in the Middle East, there's the path of integration, cooperation, normalization and equal measures of justice, opportunity, dignity for all peoples, including the Palestinians, Blinken said.

He added: Or there's the path that Hamas has shown to the world these last few days  terror, destruction, nihilism, a path that leads to nowhere for anyone except to the darkest places in our souls.



ISRAELI MILITARY SAYS BODIES OF 222 SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED

Every Israeli soldier killed by Hamas militants so far in the latest Israel-Palestinian war has been identified, the Israeli military confirmed Thursday.

A total of 222 Israeli soldiers have died and their families have all been notified, a spokesperson for the military said.



IRAQI PRIME MINISTER SAYS GOVERNMENT IS WORKING WITH EGYPT TO SEND AID TO GAZA

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that he has ordered the dispatch of humanitarian aid to the Gaza enclave, currently under siege by Israeli forces.

He said coordination with Egyptian authorities is underway to ensure the safe and prompt delivery of the aid, including medical supplies, to Gaza.



FRENCH DEATH TOLL IN LATEST GAZA WAR RISES TO 12

The death toll among French citizens in the Hamas militant attacks in Israel has risen to 12, with 16 others missing, France's Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

An evacuation flight bringing French citizens to Paris is expected later Thursday and others are planned in the coming days, officials said.



PALESTINIANS SAY ISRAELI PLANES DROPPED FLYERS WARNING THEM TO EVACUATE

Palestinian residents of the city of Beit Lahiya in the northern region of the Gaza Strip said Thursday that Israeli planes dropped flyers warning them to evacuate their homes and to head to known shelters.

Anyone who is near Hamas terrorists will put their lives in danger, the flyers said. Adhering to IDF instructions will prevent you from being exposed to danger.

The area had already been heavily struck by the time the flyers were dropped. Shelters in the Gaza Strip are not safe from airstrikes  the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has seen 10 of its shelters struck since the start of the operation.

Palestinians living the pummelled Strip have said that the military often has not alerted them before striking homes, or will alert them but not with enough time to evacuate before their homes are struck. Israeli defence officials have said that they attempt to provide warning before strikes.



TURKEY CONFIRMS 1 TURKISH CITIZEN KILLED IN LATEST GAZA WAR

Turkish officials have confirmed that at least one Turkish citizen has been killed in the Israel-Hamas war. The Turkish Jewish Community identified the victim on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, as 52-year-old Avraam Avi Zakuto who emigrated to Israel in 1972.

Earlier, the Israeli Embassy in Turkey said another Turkish citizen is reported missing.



ESTONIA REPORTS DEATH OF ESTONIAN-ISRAELI MAN

Estonia's government says a man with dual Estonian-Israeli citizenship is among the dead in the attacks launched on Israel by Hamas last Saturday.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters during a news conference on Thursday that more detailed information about the man wouldn't be provided, in accordance with his family's wishes.

There are still 22 citizens of the Baltic country in Israel at present, the minister said, while 35 citizens have left the country since the wave of attacks began.



US DEATH TOLL IN ISRAEL RISES TO AT LEAST 25

The number of US citizens who have died in the Israel-Palestinian war has risen to at least 25, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday during a visit Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

That's an increase from 22 on Wednesday. The State Department previously said at least 17 more Americans remain unaccounted for.



MEDIA REPORTS: ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ON AIRPORTS IN SYRIA

Syria's pro-government media reports that Israeli airstrikes have targeted the airports of the capital city Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, damaging their runways.

Al-Watan Daily and Dama Post did not give further details other than both airports are out of service.

They were the first Israeli strikes on Syria since the militant Palestinian group Hamas carried out its deadly attacks in southern Israel.

Earlier this year, the airports of Damascus and Aleppo were hit several times.



NETANYAHU PRAISES BLINKEN'S VISIT TO ISRAEL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed journalists on Thursday in Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu praised Blinken's visit as a tangible example of America's unequivocable support of Israel.

President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil,' Netanyahu said, referring to Hamas' unprecedented attack Saturday on Israel.

They shook hands after Netanyahu's remarks.

Blinken said that he came before journalists not just as secretary of state, but also a Jew while recounting his own family's history of surviving the Holocaust.

So prime minister, I understand on a personal level, the harrowing echoes that Hamas' massacres carry for Israeli Jews, as well as Jews everywhere, Blinken said.



ISLAMIC GROUP CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S AIRSTRIKES IN GAZA

The 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Thursday strongly condemned what it called the ongoing Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

The OIC considers this brutal aggression against the Palestinian people a blatant international and humanitarian law violation and a war crime, it said in a statement. It cited the killing and wounding of women and children, the destruction of civilian buildings and other locations.

The OIC said it held Israel fully responsible for the repercussions of the continuation of this sinful aggression."

The OIC, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, broadly aligns itself with the thinking of Saudi Arabia's rulers. That suggests the ongoing war likely will affect the ongoing efforts by the United States to broker a deal that could see Saudi Arabia diplomatically recognise Israel.



ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES HAVE BLOCKED THE OPERATION OF THE RAFAH CROSSING, EGYPT SAYS

Egypt's Foreign Ministry denied Thursday it had officially closed the Rafah crossing and said Israeli airstrikes have prevented it from operating.

In the statement, the ministry called on all countries and international organizations wishing to provide humanitarian aid to deliver supplies to el-Arish International Airport, in Egypt's northern Sinai. Hamas' border authorities said Tuesday that an Israel airstrike hit the no-man's land between Gaza and Egypt, blocking the road with a large crater.



ICRC SAYS IT'S IN TOUCH WITH HAMAS, ISRAELI AUTHORITIES ABOUT ISRAELI HOSTAGES

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday said it was in touch with Hamas and Israeli authorities as part of efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages who are believed to be held in the Gaza Strip.

As a neutral intermediary we stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits, facilitate communication between hostages and family members and to facilitate any eventual release, said Fabrizio Carboni, the group's Middle East regional director.

The Mideast emirate of Qatar, a frequent mediator between Israel and Hamas, has also confirmed its involvement in the negotiations.

Carboni appealed to Israel to allow badly needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza as Palestinians face staggering supply shortages following Israel's decision to impose a siege on the crowded territory.



CZECH GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW ISRAELIS TO RETURN HOME ON CZECH PLANES

The Czech Foreign Ministry said it has agreed with a request from Israel to allow Israeli citizens to fly home on Czech government planes evacuating Czech citizens from Israel. The ministry said the Israeli nationals need to return home for humanitarian and family reasons, or to join the military following the attacks by Hamas.

An unspecified number of Israel's citizens were aboard a Czech plane that took off from Prague on Thursday. Another such plane is scheduled to fly to Israel later in the day.



INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS WORKING TO MOBILIZE SUPPLIES, STAFF ALREADY IN GAZA

Fabrizio Carboni, the International Committee of the Red Cross's regional director, said the aid group's first aim is to mobilize the medical supplies, fuel and staff already within Gaza  particularly those that could support medical facilities.

Speaking to journalists at an online presser, he said that aid delivery through the Rafah crossing requires both a political agreement and also a security deal so that needed supplies can safely reach affected areas.

I fear that what's coming next is going to be at least as challenging as what we're seeing now. Carboni said.



PALESTINIANS ARE GUNNED DOWN AT FUNERAL IN WEST BANK

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported Thursday that two Palestinians were killed in the occupied West Bank when Israeli settlers sprayed bullets at a funeral for three Palestinians who had been killed in a settler rampage the day before. Footage showed Jewish settlers in their cars swerving into the funeral procession and cutting off the road to the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, before stopping and opening fire.

Health authorities identified the two men killed as a father and son: 62-year-old Ibrahim al-Wadi, a local official in the secular nationalist Fatah party; and 25-year-old Ahmed al-Wadi, an off-duty Palestinian security officer.

Residents near the northern West Bank city of Nablus and north of Ramallah reported that armed settlers have rampaged through villages and hurled stones at passing Palestinian cars after the unprecedented Hamas militant attack on Israel on Saturday. (AP) SCY

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Jerusalem, Oct 12 (AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed American support to Israel on Thursday as its military pulverised the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with airstrikes and prepared for a possible ground invasion.

As Palestinians tried to stock up on bread and groceries amid dwindling supplies, Israel said nothing would be allowed into Gaza until around 150 hostages taken captive by Hamas during a weekend attack are freed.

International aid groups warned of worsening humanitarian crisis after Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, fuel and electricity to the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt. The war has already claimed at least 2,700 lives on both sides.

Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters on Thursday that forces are preparing for a ground maneuver should political leaders order one. A ground offensive in Gaza, where the population is densely packed into a sliver of land only 40 kilometers (25 miles) long, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

As Israel pounds Gaza from the air, Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel.

Palestinians fleeing airstrikes in Gaza could be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place. The number of people who fled their homes soared 30 per cent within 24 hours, reaching 340,000 people by Wednesday night. Most crowded into UN-run schools while others are staying with relatives or even strangers who let them in.

Lines formed outside bakeries and grocery stores during the few hours they dared open, as people tried to stock up before shelves emptied. On Wednesday, Gaza's only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.

Hospitals, overwhelmed by a constant stream of wounded and running out of supplies, have only a few days worth of fuel before their power cuts off, aid officials say. The cut-off has also caused dire water shortage for over 650,000 people, according to the UN.

Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues, warned Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross. When power runs out, it puts "newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can't be taken", he said.

With Israel sealing off the territory, the only way in or out is through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah. Egypt's Foreign Ministry said it has not officially closed Rafah but airstrikes have prevented it from operating. Egypt has been trying to convince Israel and the United States to allow the delivery of aid and fuel through Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Hamas after the militants stormed into the country's south on Saturday and massacred hundreds of people, including killings of children in their homes and young people at a music festival. Netanyahu alleged Hamas atrocities, including beheading soldiers and raping women. His allegations could not be independently confirmed.

Amid grief and demands for vengeance among the Israeli public, the government is under intense pressure to topple Hamas rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza.

Four previous conflicts ended with the group still firmly in control of the territory it has ruled since 2007. Israel has mobilised 360,000 reservists, massed additional forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

A new war Cabinet, which includes a longtime opposition politician, is now directing the fight.

Blinken's visit underscored American backing for Israel's retaliation.

You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourselves, but as long as America exists you will never have to, Blinken said after meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. We will always be there by your side.

Blinken is to meet Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority is confined to parts of the occupied West Bank, and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem, in a 1967 war. The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state, but there have been no peace talks in over a decade.

In Gaza, the Israeli military said overnight strikes targeted Hamas' elite Nukhba forces, including command centres used by the fighters who attacked Israel on Saturday, and the home of a senior Hamas naval operative that it said was used to store unspecified weapons. Other airstrikes killed commanders from two smaller militant groups, according to media linked to those organisations.

Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, Hecht, the military spokesman, said of Hamas. Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehia) Sinwar.

Drone footage filmed by The Associated Press revealed extensive damage at the Shati refugee camp, in the north of Gaza, following overnight airstrikes. Residents picked their way through the rubble as fire and rescue crews looked for survivors.

While Israel has insisted that it is giving notice of its strikes, it is employing a new tactic of levelling whole neighbourhoods, rather than just individual buildings.

Hecht said Israel was not doing carpet bombing, though some people would like to see that. He said targeting decisions were based on intelligence and civilians were warned.

Even with the warnings, Palestinians say some are unable to escape or have nowhere to go, and that entire families have been crushed under rubble. In the Gaza town of Beit Lahia, Israeli planes dropped leaflets telling people to leave after strikes had heavily blasted the area, residents said.

Jaber Weshah, a 73-year-old rights activist, said there was no warning when a strike levelled a multi-story building neighbouring his in the Bureij refugee camp early Wednesday. At least 12 people were killed, including a bookseller, his wife and two toddler daughters and six members of another family, residents said.

It was an inferno, Weshah said.

At least 1,000 homes have been levelled and 560 rendered uninhabitable by strikes, according to the UN.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said two Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Thursday when Israeli settlers sprayed bullets at a funeral for three people killed in a settler rampage the day before. Footage showed Jewish settlers in their cars swerving into the funeral procession and cutting off the road before stopping and opening fire.

The Health Ministry says more than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and two in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem since Saturday, most when police fired on stone-throwing protesters.

The death toll in Gaza rose to more than 1,400 killed, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, a staggering toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria that lasted weeks.

Thousands have been wounded on both sides.

Israel says roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were killed inside Israel, and that hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members. (AP) PY

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Meet these playful baby elephants living in the Wild Elephant Valley in southwest China's Xishuangbanna. #elephant #China #Xishuangbanna




























Tel Aviv, Oct 12 (PTI) The US will never falter from its support for Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday but underlined the importance of taking "every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians" as the Israeli military prepares for a "next stage" of the war against Hamas militants in Gaza.

"No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself and to ensure that this never happens again," Blinken told reporters while speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.

Blinken also reiterated that respect for civilian life is what distinguishes democracies from the likes of Hamas, saying, "As the Prime Minister and I discussed, how Israel does this matters."

Blinken also stressed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people.

"This was just one of Hamas' countless acts of terror. It brings to mind the worst of ISIS," he said, referring to the Islamic State terror group.

An unprecedented attack against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli retaliation has left more than 2,600 people dead in Israel and Gaza.

"The message I bring to Israel is this, you may be strong enough to defend yourself but as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to, we will always be there by your side.

He said the US has started delivering arms and ammunition to Israel.

"Shipments of military support have already arrived in Israel and more is on the way. As Israel's defence needs evolve, we'll work with Congress to make sure they're met," he said.

Blinken also noted that President Biden has issued a crystal clear warning to any adversary of a state or any state thinking of the current advantage to attack Israel, as the US has Israel's back.

He said there's no excuse, there's no justification for these atrocities. "We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people or legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity, and dignity.

"Hamas has only one agenda, to destroy Israel and murder Jews. No country can or would tolerate the slaughter of its citizens or simply return to the conditions that allowed it to take place. Israel has the right or the obligation to defend itself and ensure it never happens again," he said.

"We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists for striving for a different standard, even when it's difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short..".

"The value we place on human life and human dignity, that's what makes us who we are and we count them among our greatest strengths. That's why it's so important to take every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians and that's why we mourn the loss of every innocent life, civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed," Blinken said.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the US for its incredible support for Israel in his country's "war against the barbarians of Hamas."

Blinken's visit, Netanyahu said, was "another tangible example of Americas unequivocal support for Israel.

Hamas should be crushed, Netanyahu said, just as ISIS had been crushed.

Hamas is ISIS, and just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed and Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated, Netanyahu said.

They should be spat out from the community of nations. No leader should meet with them, no country should harbour them. And those that do should be sanctioned, the Israeli prime minister said.

The number of people killed in Israeli has now risen to 1,300 people. These were mostly civilians killed by Hamas gunmen in their homes and at a dance festival.

At least 1,354 people have been killed in Gaza since Saturday, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and 6,049 have been wounded.
Islamabad, Oct 12 (PTI) Pakistan's interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday asserted that any individual facing court cases has to seek legal remedy to participate in the upcoming general elections as he rejected speculation that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharifs decision to return to the country was part of a "deal" with the caretaker government.

The 73-year-old former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, who is facing several corruption cases and was declared a proclaimed offender by an accountability court in 2020, is scheduled to return to Pakistan on October 21, ending his four-year-long self-imposed exile in the UK.

The caretaker government has no soft corner for PML-N or any other political party...how can a caretaker government strike such a deal?, Kakar questioned during an interview with World Echo News, pointing out that Nawaz left Pakistan as per the courts decision under the nose of Imran Khans government, and not the caretaker setup, the Dawn newspaper reported.

However, if Nawaz returns and takes part in politics, he will have to face some legal obstacles and the answers to these legal questions lie in legal remedies, the caretaker prime minister said.

Any leader, be it Imran Khan, Asif Ali Zardari, or Nawaz Sharif, everyone would have to seek legal remedy as per their case scenario, Kakar said.

Besides Nawaz, Khan and Zardari are facing various court cases.

Pakistan is witnessing the formation of regimental camps and the country has been turned into a fighting ground for political position, Kakar said.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in September announced that polls would be held in the last week of January 2024. It, however, didnt specify a date.

Last month, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that his elder brother Nawaz was returning to Pakistan on October 21 to lead the party's campaign for the general election. Subsequently, the party announced that Nawaz is ready to face all kinds of circumstances upon his return from London.

Nawaz stepped down as Pakistan's prime minister in 2017 after he was disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary. He has been living in London since 2019 after the Lahore High Court granted him four-week permission allowing him to go abroad for his treatment.

He was serving a seven-year imprisonment at Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the Al-Azizia Mills case before he was allowed to proceed to London in 2019 on "medical grounds".

In 2020, an accountability court declared Nawaz a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana vehicles case. He is also accused of obtaining luxury cars from the treasury house by paying just 15 per cent of the price of these vehicles.

Nawaz was convicted in the Al-Azizia Mills and Avenfield corruption cases in 2018.
Dana (Syria), Oct 12 (AP) United Nations humanitarian officials sounded an alarm Thursday over a humanitarian crisis in rebel-held northwestern Syria, warning that intense shelling by government forces displaced almost 70,000 people in recent weeks.

The Syrian government, backed by Russia, pounded the country's northwest this month, especially after a drone attack targeted a military college graduation ceremony in the heart of the government-held city of Homs. At least 89 officers and civilians were killed, making it one of the deadliest attack in the war-town nation in years.

Humanitarian agencies and human rights organisations have reported Syrian and Russian strikes hitting hospitals, schools, and other civilian infrastructure as Syria endures the 13th year of a conflict that has killed a half-million people.

We're at the most significant escalation of hostilities since 2019, David Carden, the UN deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, said after meeting with displaced Syrians living in temporary shelters. What they want above all is to return home to their homes, but right now they do not feel safe to do so.

The vast majority of the 4.5 million people living in Idlib and northern Aleppo provinces rely on humanitarian aid to survive, and almost half live in displacement camps. Northwestern Syria is controlled by the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib province and by Turkish-backed groups in northern Aleppo province.

Shrinking budgets due to donor fatigue have humanitarian organizations struggling to respond to the growing needs in the impoverished enclave undergoing daily attacks.

Carden and other UN officials toured the encampments where millions of Syrians are staying. He was accompanied by Oliver Smith, senior operations coordinator the UN refugee agency UNHCR and Rosa Crestani, the head of the World Health Organisation office in Gaziantep, Turkey.

Crestani said WHO received 23 reports of strikes impacting health facilities, while others shut down fearing they would be hit, too.

I really hope that the services can restart, and we really ask everyone to not target or not do indiscriminate shelling on civilians, or medical facilities or ambulances, Crestani told The Associated Press after visiting Sham Hospital near the city of Sarmada. (AP) SCY

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Moscow, Oct 12 (AP) President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday on a rare trip abroad for the Russian leader who was indicted earlier this year by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Ukraine.

In the capital, Bishkek, Putin met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He also attended an event marking the 20th anniversary of a Russian airbase in Kyrgyzstan.

Putin is scheduled to take part on Friday in the Commonwealth of Independent States summit, which Kyrgyzstan is hosting. Leaders of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will also attend the summit.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will skip it, as Yerevan's relationship with Moscow has frayed amid mutual accusations.

It is the first time this year that Putin has travelled outside Russia and Russian-held territories of Ukraine. Earlier this year, he visited the partially occupied Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson, as well as the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

In March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin over the deportation of children from Ukraine. Countries that have signed and ratified the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, are now bound to arrest the Russian leader if he sets foot on their soil.

The move caused Putin to skip an economic summit in South Africa in August and further strained Moscow's ties with Armenia after it moved to ratify the Rome Statute earlier this month, even as Armenian officials sought to assure the Kremlin that the Russian leader would not be arrested if he entered the country.

The Kremlin has said that Russia doesn't recognise the jurisdiction of the ICC and considers the warrant null and void.

Kyrgyzstan is not a signatory of the Rome Statute. In Central Asia, only Tajikistan is. Putin travelled to both countries last year after the invasion of Ukraine and amid increasing international isolation. He also visited other Central Asian nations in 2022, as well as Armenia, Belarus, China, India and Iran.

Later this month, Putin is expected to travel to China again. Last month, he also accepted an invitation to visit North Korea, although it remains unclear when that might happen. (AP) SCY

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Srinagar, Oct 11 (PTI) National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday called for celebrating the strength, resilience and potential of every girl child.

In a message of the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child, Abdullah said a daughter is a great bounty and an honour granted by the god.

"The fruit of raising daughters righteously is a reward in this life before a reward in the hereafter. On this International Day of the Girl Child, let us amplify girls' voices and recommit ourselves to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive," the Lok sabha MP from Srinagar said.

The NC has pioneered the cause of women's education and removing gender disparity, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, adding that the party will continue to work for the growth and safety of "our daughters, sisters and mothers".
Mumbai, Oct 12 (PTI) A woman was booked along with a man for allegedly throwing the body of her newborn child into Bandra creek in the western part of Mumbai, a police official said on Thursday.

The 34-year-old woman was staying with several other women in Worli Koliwada area in central Mumbai and used to hide her pregnancy by telling everyone she had a couple of tumours in her stomach, the official said.

As per the FIR, she went into the bathroom of the place where she stayed around 9pm on Monday and came out with a bag after three hours, and told others the tumours had burst in her stomach, he said.

She refused to go to a hospital and the next day threw the body of the newborn into Bandra creek at the suggestion of the male manager of the place where she was working, the official said.

A police probe zeroed in on the woman on Tuesday, after which she was charged under section 318 of the Indian Penal Code for concealment of birth of child by disposing of the body secretly, the official informed.

The manager too has been booked in the case, he added.
Kolkata, Oct 12 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that 14 people have died in the recent floods in Kalimpong district bordering neighbouring Sikkim.

Expressing her worries over the situation in Kalimpong, she announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed, Rs 2 lakh each to those who were gravely injured and 1 lakh to those with lesser injuries in the flood.

"In Rangpo, 14 died by drowning due to the recent floods. Apart from this, there are several bustees in Kalimpong which are still submerged. This has happened due to the damage to a dam in Sikkim. I am announcing a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the family members of those killed in the flood," Banerjee said while virtually inaugurating Durga Pujas from her Kalighat residence.

Banerjee is currently recovering from a leg injury at her Kalighat residence. She met with the injury during her foreign tour to Spain and the UAE and doctors prescribed "restricted movement".

Banerjee said that she would visit Kalimpong once she is fully fit.

"From Pedong to Kalimpong I know everything. I know you are having a hard time now. Many are still outside. Some have gone to shelters," she said.

Referring to the local people in Kalimpong deciding not to organise any Durga Puja this year following the disaster, Banerjee said, "If you have taken a decision of not organising Durga Puja I will leave the decision to you."

The West Bengal Cabinet chaired by Banerjee on Thursday gave its nod to form a four-member committee to look after the flood situation at Kalimpong.

"The committee will visit the flood-affected Kalimpong on October 17 and review the situation there by talking to the locals there. They will stay there for three days and then submit a report to the chief minister," North Bengal Development Department minister Udayan Guha said.

Banerjee on Thursday virtually inaugurated several Durga Pujas in the districts and a few in the city.
Shillong, Oct 12 (PTI) The Meghalaya government on Thursday conducted a state-wide mock drill exercises to test the coordination among various government departments and agencies in case of an earthquake or any other natural calamity, officials said.

In the city, the mock exercise was conducted at Polo ground and along the road towards Wahingdoh, market area, hospitals and schools, they said.

"The mock exercise is a simulation of the 1897 earthquake and was participated by district officials, armed forces, paramilitary forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, fire, emergency services, hospitals, schools, colleges, NGOs, community members and various others agencies," Revenue and Disaster Management Commissioner and Secretary Sanjay Goyal said.

Chief Secretary DP Wahlang attended the programme and congratulated the stakeholders for the successful conduct of the drill.

The mock drill returned after a gap of nine years emphasizing more on localized mock drills, also by involving schools and colleges so as to be fully prepared when any eventualities occur, he said.

The chief secretary urged all stakeholders to be ready and use the knowledge gained through the mock exercise to the best of their abilities, should any disaster take place.

Wahlang also stressed the up-gradation of the communication services which the Disaster Management Authority presently has to bridge the communication limitations and to create a more robust system which will further boost the services of the Disaster Management Authority.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Around 230 Indians are expected to be brought back from Israel on Friday in a chartered flight under Operation Ajay, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

India launched the operation to facilitate the return of those Indians who wish to come back home as a series of brazen attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants over the weekend triggered fresh tensions in the region.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing on Thursday that the chartered flight is expected to reach Tel Aviv this evening and it will bring back the first batch of around 230 Indians on Friday.

We are closely monitoring the situation, he said.

On the attacks by Hamas on Israeli cities, Bagchi said India considers them as terrorist strikes.

To a question on India's position on the Palestine issue, he said New Delhi always advocated resumption of direct talks towards establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living side-by-side and at peace with Israel.
GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), appeared to have release an Israeli female prisoner and her two children, according to Al Jazeera TV channel on Wednesday.

The TV channel published a short video showing Al-Qassam Brigades fighters accompanying an Israeli female prisoner and two children, who were captured during the group's surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, back to Israel.

Then, the Al-Qassam Brigades fighters withdrew to the Gaza Strip.

There have been no comments yet from Israel on the video footage, while Israel's Channel 12 news also confirmed that the footage was apparently filmed on Saturday, hours after Hamas launched an attack on Israel.

On Saturday, Hamas launched a sudden military operation against Israel, firing thousands of rockets at Israeli cities.

Meanwhile, dozens of its militants infiltrated southern Israeli towns and opened fires at Israeli settlers, killing some of them and capturing others.

Unofficial estimates and Palestinian observers indicate that around 300 people have been abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip since Saturday. 
Jaipur, Oct 12 (PTI) BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday said the Rajasthan Police has served him a notice, asking him to furnish details of bank accounts and financial transactions, as he accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of working with political vendetta against him.

"A notice has been served at my home in Jodhpur seeking details of my bank accounts, financial transactions. This is the first time that I have been served a notice. Before this, I was neither called for any investigation nor any notice was served on me," the Jodhpur MP told PTI.

Chief Minister Gehlot has been accusing the union minister of being involved in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society "scam" which is being investigated by the Special Operations Group of the Rajasthan Police.

The Union Minister of Jal Shakti has rejected the allegations against him as baseless and a political conspiracy to tarnish his image. He has also filed a defamation case against Gehlot in Delhi.

He said the details sought through the notice served on Wednesday were already with the SOG.

"When I heard in the media about the allegations against me some two years ago, I gave a representation to the SOG saying that a web of lies is being created against me as part of a political conspiracy. I gave my details and asked them to examine those," he said.

He said he will again give the details.

"They already have everything which they have asked for in the notice. If there was even a small fault of mine, Gehlot was not going to miss the opportunity (to take action). This is a political vendetta. When elections are around the corner, they are trying to do what they could not do," he said.

Shekhawat alleged Gehlot hatched a conspiracy to tarnish his image. "He conspired to brand me a criminal in the media and blacken my face."

SOG officials could not be contacted for comments.
Dehradun, Oct 12 (PTI) The Uttarakhand government has withdrawn portions of its excise policy manual that allowed residents to set up personal mini bars at home.

Rules 11 and 13 of the manual that dealt with granting such licences are being withdrawn till further orders, the excise commissioner said in an order issued on Wednesday.

The excise policy manual 2023-24 issued last week made a provision for granting licences on a payment of Rs 12,000 per annum for such mini home bars to anyone who has filed Income Tax Returns for five years.

The licence-holders could keep nine litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor, 18 litres of foreign alcohol, nine litres of wine and 15.6 litres of beer at home on certain conditions including keeping the bar strictly for personal use without any commercial activity and not allowing the entry of anyone below the age of 21 in the area where it is set up.

The licence-holders were also required to keep the mini bars closed on dry days.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) A new homestay policy that seeks to take travellers into the heart of Goa and make them experience its "actual traditions" is expected to be rolled out in a month's time, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said, asserting that the new roadmap positions the coastal state as a 365-day destination "beyond beaches".

In an interview to PTI, he also shared that the vision of 'Goa Tourism 2.0' emphasises on "quality over quantity" and responsible and sustainable practices that respect nature and are in consonance with local culture.

The minister said Goa Tourism's new caravan policy is also likely to be rolled out in a month's time.

"Goa has always been a preferred destination for tourists, known for its beautiful beaches, and we are known for our party life, more of a different culture. But Goa is much more than that... and unfortunately in the past, we have not been able to get that thought changed, that perception about Goa," he said.

Goa is about rich traditions, rich culture, great food, great people, great eco-tourism, a lot of opportunities for adventure, and many things happening. And, that's why "we need to stitch things together," he asserted.

"So, right now with the whole thought process of what Goa has been, when we talk of Goa for its beaches, its party life. Today, we move with the hashtag of #GoaBeyondBeaches, and Goa beyond beaches has been a thought process post-Covid, when we have realises that we need to look at tranquillity, immersiveness, and that exactly what tourists today are looking for," Khaunte said.

"We need to look at more of quality tourists coming in than the numbers. The number game has to stop, because tourism is the main vertical for the state. We need to ensure that it gives the right path to the economy and employment, and being a major churner of the industry in the state, we need to get our things right," he said.

Goa government has been talking in the last few months, of moving the focus of the state's tourism sector to areas such as spirituality and wellness, eco-tourism, rural tourism and much more, and not fixating on the idea of sun, sand and surf that Goa has traditionally been popular for.

"The new process of Goa tourism, I would say Goa tourism 2.0, has already started, which we today would like to include on a larger scale, rural tourism, eco-tourism and hinterland, and to stitch to that we have a path where we would like to include our various festivals, great traditions, great food, homestays, spirituality," Khaunte said.

Asked about the homestay policy, he said it goes in line with the new vision of 'Goa beyond beaches' and will let tourists travel away from the coastal area and into the rich hinterland, he said.

"This will take tourists right into the heart of Goa and make them experience the actual traditions and culture of Goa. This policy will outline 100 houses in the first phase, located only in rural belt, areas such as Bicholim. The policy is expected to be rolled out in a month's time, along with the caravan policy of the tourism department," the minister said, adding, about 60 per cent land parcel in Goa in the rural belt.

Homestays will also allow people to experience the local culture, traditions, festivals, cuisine and much more, he said, adding for this "we have signed an MoU with Airbnb".

A top official in the Goa tourism department said Airbnb will provide capacity building, training for owners of such properties.

The new caravan policy entails operators to run a recreational van, so that one is not constrained by itinerary as one is in a hotel stay. It will also include setting up caravan park where the plan is to provide utilities, sanitation services, vehicle charging points, etc, the official said.

Khaunte said Goa has very old temples, churches, but its history is even richer.

"We have Saptakoteshwar Temple, waterfalls, we have many things. But, still there are many things to explore, many things to understand... And, to understand Goa in the right sense and the right flavour, and that's exactly we are trying to position, Goa, as a 365-day destination, where one gets a personal feeling within the space, rejuvenation happens. It is no longer a seasonal tourism," the minister said.

Emphasising that Goa is also known as 'Parshuram Bhoomi', he said the tourism department has envisioned to create "a civil infrastructure" wherein inside there will be various facilities, and which from outside will look like a bow, and which will end up on the seaside.

"As per the legend, Lord Parshuram had shot an arrow and it moved the sea away, from which 'Goa' had emerged," he said.

The minister said about 10-15 acres of land on the seaside will be needed for this project.

"It's a thought. But, to make it happen, it's not only through the state government, but will have to make it happen through Union ministries. And, we look forward to support from Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism. We are trying to get it executed under both the ministries together, as an 'iconic destination'," he added.

He also underlined that the 'digital nomad' fraternity is a growing tribe and "about 46 countries mapped under it".

"These people (who want to work from home, away from home) need creative space and quality of space, and Goa gives this by default. This vision works for long haul, and we are trying to talk to the Centre to get digital nomad visa being issued for such tourists. If this visa thing gets cleared, we will start getting a new set of tourists on a long haul, they will complement homestay policy, contribute to economy, talent pool generation and capacity building," he said.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) A minor fire broke out at the NCC office in south Delhi's RK Puram area on Thursday, fire officials said.

Delhi Fire Services received a call about the fire in the office of the National Cadet Corps' (NCC) director general at RK Puram's West Block around 4.10 pm and pressed 12 water tenders into service, they said.

There are no reports of any injuries and the operation to control the blaze is underway, the officials added.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Delhi Labour Minister Raaj Kumar Anand on Thursday directed that there should be separate washrooms for women labourers at construction sites.

Anand on Thursday convened a meeting with senior officials of the Delhi Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board that was attended by senior department officials.

During the meeting, he also directed the board to explore how equal wages can be ensured for both men and women labourers, the city government said in a statement.

At present, male and female workers use the same toilet facilities at construction sites.

Anand has asked the labour department to ensure better safety and security for all female labourers at the sites and explore how separate washrooms can be made for them.

The minister also instructed that the pay disparity be rectified promptly to ensure equal wages to female workers for equal work.

To make it easier for labourers to access and feed information in registration forms available on the board's online portal, Anand instructed that Hindi be made the primary language. This will enable a larger number of construction workers to benefit from the services provided by the Arvind Kejriwal government, according to the statement.

CCTV cameras will also be installed to ensure transparency in labour card registration, renewal and claims at help desks established in all districts.

Directions were issued to review the accidental insurance policy for construction workers, offered by the Labour Board, for better implementation, the statement added.

Construction workers in Delhi will also be trained through various skill development programmes to enhance their skills.

The labour minister noted that not all workers are aware of the schemes offered by the department, leading many eligible labourers to miss out on the benefits. He emphasised that all means of communications be used to raise awareness about the schemes.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) The MCD is "fully committed" to scientific disposal of legacy waste at Delhi's three landfill sites and efforts are underway to remove these massive dumps by March, Mayor Shelly Oberoi said on Thursday.

Oberoi is currently in Australia to attend the Asia Pacific Cities Summit in Brisbane from October 11-13.

At the summit being attended by mayors from several countries, she also shared the story of three municipal parks.

Oberoi mentioned that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has furthered the concept of 'waste-to-wealth' by developing three magnificent parks -- Bharat Darshan Park, Waste-to-Wonder Park and Shaheedi Park.

These parks feature sculptures made from scrap and waste material, depicting historic monuments from India and around the world. The MCD also plans to build three more parks based on the concept, she said.

While the theme of the summit is "Shaping Cities for Our Future", it also covers technology, data, development and people's well-being as sub-themes.

On Thursday, Oberoi presented the work done by the Arvind Kejriwal government in the national capital, officials said.

"Our goal is to make Delhi the most beautiful and the cleanest city in the world, and 100 per cent waste disposal will be achieved," she was quoted as saying in a statement issued here by the mayor's office.

She mentioned that the MCD is working on waste processing through various technologies. Waste is being processed at Okhla, Gazipur and Tehkhand through three waste-to-energy plants, 20 composters, 211 compost pits, and other means.

"The corporation's goal is to scientifically process Delhi's waste and reduce environmental pollution to nil. The MCD is fully committed to scientific disposal of legacy waste at all three landfill sites in Delhi. Efforts are being made to remove landfill sites from Delhi's map by March 2024," she said.

The MCD provides essential services related to cleanliness, sanitation, primary health care and education, and urban planning for approximately 20 million citizens across its 12 zones, she added.

It has declared 353 colonies in the 12 zones as 'zero-waste colonies', Oberoi said.

Every day, the city collects 11,000 tons of waste from 250 wards that is sent to various waste-to-energy plants for disposal. To achieve this, Delhi employs 2,446 auto tippers, 52 road sweeping machines, 4,076 wheelbarrows and other vehicles and machinery, according to the statement.

In all the zones, 572 'dhalaav ghar (dumping yards)' and 290 community toilets are being established. Closed 'dhalaav ghars' are being transformed into facilities such as milk booths, libraries and reading rooms, etc, Oberoi said.

The MCD is dedicated to providing citizens a clean and pollution-free environment, she added.

In a post on X on Wednesday, the Delhi mayor shared pictures of her interactions at the summit.

"It was an immense pleasure to meet Mayor of Kiama, Councillor Neil Reilly, Mayor of West Torrens Councillor @MayorCoxon, Mayor of Shoalhaven Councillor @1amandafindley, Mayor of Taichung, Lu Shiow-yen among other Mayors and Deputy Mayors from across the world. They were very impressed with the CM @ArvindKejriwal's disruptive policies. We have to learn from each other's successes, if our objective is to grow as a community, as a nation," she had said.
New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) A Delhi court on Thursday allowed Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal, accused in three cases related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks, to travel to countries, including the US, Britain, and the UAE, from October 15 to 31.

Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj allowed Jindal's application noting he had travelled abroad several times in the past and returned to India to face the trial within the stipulated period.

The judge noted that out of three matters, in only one matter being probed by the CBI the prosecution evidence was being recorded and the accused has already undertaken that he will not dispute his identity and will not question the legitimacy of proceedings conducted in his absence and in the presence of his counsel on the ground of his absence during such period of travel.

Therefore, in the considered opinion of this Court, the applicant is entitled to permission of the court to travel abroad to Oman, UAE, Guinea, Venezuela, USA, UK, Poland and Czech Republic from October 15 to 31, the judge said.

The judge directed Jindal to furnish a fixed deposit of Rs 1 crore and not to tamper with any evidence or try to influence any witness in any manner.

One of the cases Jindal is an accused in pertains to irregularities in the allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand, which is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A separate money laundering case is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to allocation of the coal bock.

The third case being probed by the CBI relates to the alleged irregularities in the allocation of Urtan North coal block in Madhya Pradesh.

The CBI and the ED did not oppose the application.
Prayagraj, Oct 12 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed that a bail application of former MLA Mukhtar Ansari in a murder case be placed before the chief justice for referring it to an appropriate court that deals with MP-MLA cases.

The bail application relates to a 2010 murder in Uttar Pradesh's Mau district.

Justice Siddhartha passed the order when an objection was made on behalf of the additional advocate general of Uttar Pradesh on the jurisdictional aspect of the matter saying that as it pertaines to a former MLA, it should be heard by a MP-MLA court.

According to Mukhtar's counsel, contractor Munna Singh was killed in 2009 in Mau district. In the 2009 murder case, Ram Singh was a witness. Later in 2010, Ram Singh too was murdered.

Thereafter, an FIR was lodged at the Dakshin Tola police station of Mau district alleging that Mukhtar was a conspirator in the murder case.

In the present bail application, the applicant's counsel has taken the plea that the main accused in the case has already been granted bail.

Hence, Mukhtar, who is alleged to have played a role in the conspiracy, is also entitled for bail. Secondly, he is in judicial custody in this case for around 14 years, the counsel.
Prayagraj (UP), Oct 12 (PTI) The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a PIL seeking to declare the site of the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district as Krishna Janambhoomi or the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Pritinkar Diwakar and Justice Ashutosh Srivastava passed the order on Wednesday on the PIL filed by Mahek Maheshwari, an advocate, and others.

The bench had earlier reserved its order in the case on September 4.

The PIL has sought the removal of the Shahi Idgah Mosque, alleging it was built on the site of the birthplace of Krishna.

The petitioner had asked for the land to be handed over to the Hindus and a proper trust be formed to build a temple on the Krishna Janmabhoomi Janmasthan land.

In an interim plea, the petitioner had also sought permission for Hindus to worship at the mosque on certain days of the week and during the festival of Janmashtami (Lord Krishnas birthday), till the disposal of the petition.

The petitioner had also prayed for a court-monitored excavation of the structure by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Though the court pronounced the order of dismissal on Wednesday, the detailed judgment is still awaited.
Lucknow, Oct 12 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday inspected the venues in Ghaziabad where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating India's first rapid rail transit RAPIDX and addressing a rally next week.

During the inspection, the chief minister directed officials to complete all works on time. He also held a review meeting with BJP office bearers, people's representatives and officers, an official statement issued here said.

He inspected the public meeting venue of the PM in Vasundhara Sector-8 and RAPIDX station in Sahibabad.
GAZA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israel destroyed about 752 residential buildings in its airstrikes on Gaza since Saturday, a Palestinian official said Thursday.

In a press statement sent to Xinhua, Salama Maarouf, the head of the Hamas-run government media office, said 42 government headquarters and dozens of public facilities and establishments were also destroyed.

In addition, about 89 schools were attacked by the strikes, and nine of them became no longer operational, according to Maarouf.

He called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop the Israeli strikes on Gaza.

The Israeli airstrikes followed Hamas' surprise attack Saturday on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties during this round of conflict, with a death toll amounting to more than 2,700 as of Thursday. 
Chennai, Oct 12 (PTI) A host of political leaders, celebrities and others addressed the ABP Network's "The Southern Rising" Summit here on Thursday.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Tamil Nadu IT Minister P Thiaga Rajan, actors Rana Daggubati and Revathy among others spoke on different themes, according to a press release here.

Soundararajan said, "The Governor is a bridge and a bridge not only to the central and state governments but also to the people. There should be a good relationship between the Chief Minister and Governor," it quoted her as saying.

Thiaga Rajan delved into the manifold benefits of federalism and said the notion of democracy is that a thousand voices should be heard.

"We should try and figure out policies; if that doesnt work, we should recalibrate and readjust," he was quoted as saying.

John Brittas, CPI-M MP, said India was a multi-religious country and "you can only have democracy when you have free and independent media."

Gopalkrishna Gandhi "delivered a profound reflection on the enduring significance of Gandhian principles," the release added.
Bengaluru, Oct 12 (PTI) Four robbers shot at a jewellery shop owner and looted over one kg of gold from his shop here on Thursday, police said.

Manoj Lohar was in his shop on Byadarahalli Pipeline Road when four people came. Posing as customers, they asked him to show some gold ornaments. When he was displaying it, the robbers pulled down the shutters and shot at the owner with a pistol.

He raised an alarm and chased them. The panicked robbers again fired at him and escaped, leaving behind one of their motorcycles, they said.

"The victim is out of danger," DCP West S Girish told reporters.

Four teams have been formed to nab the robbers.
Prosecutors name 3rd suspect in Holyoke shooting blamed in baby's death

Prosecutors have named the third person wanted in connection with a shooting in Holyoke, Massachusetts, blamed for the death of a baby
Westerly, RI (02891)

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Mainly sunny. High near 55F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low near 45F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.




Former Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, has urged Muslims worldwide to partake in a global Day of Jihad, or holy war, this Friday, October 13th.

Mashal, who led Hamas from 2014 to 2017 and currently resides in Qatar, relayed his message to Reuters earlier today, describing the situation as a moment of truth for the Arab and Islamic community. He emphasized the urgency, stating, [We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday.

Hamas also called on Palestinians within Yehuda and Shomron to rise up against Israeli soldiers, and called on Arab citizens of Israel (Our people within the occupied territories of 1948) to revolt against the state.

Highlighting the importance of the call, Mashal said, To all scholars who teach jihad  to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application [of jihad]. Additionally, he specifically reached out to Muslims in nations neighboring Israel, urging, Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan  This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility.

Hamas referred to the day as Al-Aqsa Flood Friday, referring to the name of the operation in which it massacred more than 1,200 Israelis, wounded roughly 3,000, and kidnapped over 100.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has issued a directive for all its officers to report to duty in uniform starting this Friday, as a precautionary measure in anticipation of potential unrest.

A memo circulated among all NYPD members on Wednesday night stated, All uniformed members of the service, regardless of rank, are to perform their duties in the standard uniform and be ready for deployment.

The memo further emphasized that officers will not be granted exemptions or shift changes, and this directive will remain in effect until further notice.

Additionally, the NYPD is intensifying security measures at all 77 police precincts, with the assignment of extra officers to monitor entry points and parking areas at these station houses, as outlined in an internal memo.

Those who question the validity of this report, it comes from MEMRI, one of the most reliable and trusted sources of information from the Muslim world for many years. YWN is in no way trying to fearmonger our vast readership. We are simply publishing factual information, as well as to inform people around the globe ton remain vigilant. It is also the lead headline on one of the most visited websites in the world, the DrudgeReport.

The backdrop to this call is the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, now in its sixth day. Over 1200 Israelis have been reported dead, with additional casualties still being discovered in kibbutzim by rescue teams.

Mashal has been in exile in Qatar since his 2012 departure from Syria, following tensions with President Bashar Al Assad. Ismail Haniyeh succeeded him and has been leading Hamas since 2017.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Nominated to be House speaker, Rep. Steve Scalise is heading straight into a familiar Republican problem: Skeptical GOP colleagues are reluctant to give their support, denying him the majority vote needed to win the gavel.

The House opened its Thursday session at midday in anticipation of floor action to elect a speaker. But Scalise must peel off more than 100 votes, mostly from those who backed his chief rival, Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman favored by hard-liners, as lawmakers dig in for a fight to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy after his historic ouster from the job. No votes were scheduled.

Time is of the essence, McCarthy said when he arrived at the Capitol.

Asked if it was still possible for Scalise, R-La., to find enough support, McCarthy said: Its possible  its a big hill, though.

The House is entering its second week without a speaker and is essentially unable to function, so the pressure is on Republicans to reverse course, reassert majority control and govern.

Action is needed to fund the government or face the threat of a federal shutdown in a month. Lawmakers also want Congress to deliver a strong statement of support for Israel in the war with Hamas, but a bipartisan resolution has been sidelined by the stalemate in the House. The White House is expected to soon ask for money for Israel, Ukraine and the backfill of the U.S. weapons stockpile.

Weve got a lot of work to do, Scalise said after Wednesdays private balloting by Republicans when he fell short of expectations.

A steady stream of some of the more hard-line Republicans filed into Scalises office late into the evening, bringing their complaints, criticisms and demands as he worked to shore up support.

The situation is not fully different from the start of the year, when McCarthy faced a similar backlash from a different group of far-right holdouts who ultimately gave their votes to elect him speaker, then engineered his historic downfall.

But the math this time is even more daunting. Scalise won the closed-door Republican vote 113-99, but now needs 217 votes to reach a majority that likely will be needed in a floor battle with Democrats.

The chamber is narrowly split 221-212, meaning Scalise can lose just a few Republicans in the face of opposition from Democrats who will most certainly back their own leader, New York Rep, Hakeem Jeffries.

McCarthy, R-Calif., noted that Scalise, a longtime rival, had indicated he would have 150 votes behind closed doors, but missed that mark. At midday, GOP lawmakers convened another private meeting.

Theres not that much time left, McCarthy said.

Jordan, who is founding member of the House Freedom Caucus and was backed by Donald Trump in the speakers race, said little after Wednesdays internal party ballot, only that the GOP majority is divided.

Jordan, R-Ohio, did offer to give Scalise a nominating speech on the floor, is saying privately that he would vote Scalise and is encouraging his colleagues to do the same. But it was unclear whether enough whether lawmakers who backed Jordan will throw their support to Scalise.

Many Republicans want to prevent the spectacle of a messy House floor fight like the grueling January brawl when McCarthy became speaker. Usually, the majority needed would be 218 votes, but there are currently two vacant seats, dropping the threshold to 217  and absences heading toward the weekend would drop the majority bar even lower.

Neither Scalise nor Jordan was seen as the heir apparent to McCarthy. In 2018, all three were similarly vying for leadership, with McCarthy and Scalise extending the rivalry to this day. Jordan is increasingly close to McCarthy.

For now, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who was named as the speaker pro-tempore, is effectively in charge.

On Thursday, McHenry gaveled the House into session, then quickly closed for an indefinite recess.

(AP)




The Treasury Department said Thursday that it has imposed its first set of sanctions on two companies that shipped Russian oil in violation of a multinational price cap.

The United States, along with the European Union, countries in the Group of Seven and Australia, imposed a $60 a barrel limit last year on what Russia could charge for its oil. The cap was designed to deprive the Kremlin of revenue to fund its war in Ukraine, forcing the Russian government either to sell its oil at a discount or divert money for a costly alternative shipping network.

The companies being penalized are based in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, the department said in a statement.

A ship owned by the Emirates-based company Lumber Marine carried oil priced above $75 a barrel from a Russian port. Separately, a vessel owned by Turkey-based Ice Pearl Navigation ferried oil from Russia priced at $80 a barrel.

Both companies relied on U.S. service providers. As a result of the sanctions, the Biden administration is blocking the companies ability to conduct business or access any property or financial interests in the U.S.

A senior treasury official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity per department rules, said that the government has usually contacted a ships flagging nation and insurer if there is even a suspicion of a violation, leading to the ship losing access to insurance or a countrys registration.

The official said that Russia has tried to build an alternative shipping network to avoid the cap, but that has proved to be expensive, with private analyses indicating that it has cost $35 per barrel of oil.

The administration has argued that the cap has been successful, leading to a 45% drop in Russian oil tax revenue over the past year. The official said the focus of enforcing the cap will be on further increasing costs for Russias oil industry so Moscow has less money available to support its military in Ukraine.

The coalition enforcing the price cap also released a set of recommendations to improve compliance within the maritime oil industry. The guidance was aimed at countries as well as private companies. It recommends that all ships have legitimate insurance and rely on industry standard classifications, among other policies focused on stepped-up monitoring of the sector.

(AP)




By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

This article is to argue why no ceasefire should be accepted in regard to Hamas based upon both the physical reality in Gaza now as well as the Halachic dictums that are to be presented.

THE REALITY NOW

Gaza has a growth rate of 4% each year. This is one of the largest in the world. The current educational scenario of its youth is akin to having a den of future vipers in your basement. Hamas is entirely brainwashing the younger generation in their summer camps and other programs with the mindset of killing and murdering. The UNWRA schools allow wholesale recruitment of its students into these murderous camps and programs. It is a catastrophe waiting to happen again. The Hamas leadership must be removed entirely because there really is no other way. These deranged murders and decapitations of babies rachmana litzlan did not happen out of nowhere. That is the reality on the ground. Accepting a ceasefire for Hamas-led Gaza is just pushing the can down the road. But this can, grows and grows. It is an altogether different can.

THE HALACHIC DICTUMS

Now we turn to the Halachic dictums. There is one apparent halachic Talmudic dictum found in the Gemorah in Sanhedrin (74a): One who comes to kill you  arise earlier, and kill him. Is this halacha or is it merely good advice? Is it obligatory, or is it optional?

The question is, of course, very pertinent on account of what Hamas has done. To begin, it might be a good idea to understand some of the other halachos behind the concept. For example, is there a difference between the concept of arise early and kill him and another concept within Judaism known as a Rodaif  a pursuer? What about the law of Ba BeMachteres  one who breaks into your home  where the homeowner is allowed to take potentially lethal defensive action (Sanhedrin 72a). Is this the same law as that of a Rodaif?

WHAT IS THE SOURCE?

Another question comes to mind as well. What is the exact source for this dictum of One who comes to kill you  arise earlier, and kill him? discussed in Sanhedrin 74a? Usually the Talmud appends a verse to a dictum such as this one. Yet here, there isnt one.

THE MIDRASH

The Midrash Tanchuma (Parshas Pinchas 3) indicates that source of Haba lehorgecha emanates from the verse in BaMidbar (25:17) regarding the Midianites where it says, Tzror es haMidyanim vehikisem osam  Afflict the Midianites and strike them. It seems from the Midrash Tanchuma that this is obligatory and not voluntary. How so? It is because it is a verse in the Torah. Verses in the Torah are generally obligatory. If that is the case  then there is no choice but to go in.

TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS

Rav Yitzchok Halperin in his Maaseh Choshaiv(Vol. III p.141) writes that it is in fact, not obligatory but optional. He does not mention Tzror es HaMidyanim as a source, however.

Rav Chaim David haLevi ZTL, the former Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv in his Assei Lecha Rav (Vol. IV p.35) follows the view that it is obligatory but qualifies the idea of it being obligatory as only when there is certainty that the enemy will attack. He distinguishes between the obligation of seeing a Rodaif in pursuit of his victim and the law of One who comes to kill you. His distinction is that the latter only applies when it is definite that he will try to kill you. In such an instance, there would be an obligation to kill him. It would seem that this is indeed the case regarding Israels enemies in Gaza, therefore Israel would, at first glance, be halachically unable to accommodate any future Hamas request for a ceasefire and might be obligated to continue. President Biden might have to do the same thing as well.

WHY DID DOVID SPARE SHAUL?

We do find, however, that in Shmuel I (Chapter 24), King Shaul was in pursuit of the future King David, and would have killed him. Dovid, though, spared Shaul  only cutting his clothing. Certainly, Shaul would have killed him  why then did Dovid spare him, according to the Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi? He should have been obligated to kill him!

RAV POVARSKYS VIEW

HaRav Dovid Povarsky zatzal, in his Shiurim on Sanhedrin cites the Gemorah in Sanhedrin (74a) that the law in regard to a Rodaif is only if it is impossible to stop him in another manner. There is, therefore, an essential difference between the law of Rodaif and the law of HaBa Lhorgecha.

According to Rav Povarsky ztl, if someone is coming to kill you, then you may kill him without worry about stopping him in some other manner, and you are completely exempt. The law of Rodaif, however, limits an observer in killing the pursuer in a number of ways. If he could have stopped him in some other way then he might, in fact, be liable.

RAV ASHER WEISS VIEW

The Minchas Asher (Shmos #39) in trying to resolve the question on King David suggests another caveat to the laws of Haba lehargecha, even according to the opinion that it is obligatory.

He writes that it is only obligatory to kill him if it is during the actual time when he is trying to kill you. If it is not during this time then this is optional. The suggestion is somewhat perplexing because all cases of waking up early to kill him perforce deal with a case where it is not during the actual time. The obligatory nature of it would thus never be practically relevant according to the Minchas Asher.

A THIRD SUGGESTION

This author would like to propose an altogether different caveat. The laws of waking up early to kill him might be limited by another factor. That factor is the following question: What are the ultimate repercussions of killing this person? If Dovid HaMelech killed Shaul the King, the repercussions would reverberate in Jewish history for thousands of years. That being the case, it would not be obligatory but would be optional.

Israel as well might be limited by this factor too. What are the ultimate repercussions of sending in ground forces? What will be the repercussions in the immediate future? If it may be too devastating then the normally obligatory nature of arise early and kill him changes and becomes optional. If this third view is correct, then in this situation  the repercussions are quite understandable in the eyes of the nation. This view, in the current international environment, would make it mandatory.

CONCLUSIONS

The leaders of the country would have to use their judgment in each situation as it comes up and there is no clear halachic mandate according to the two former views. It would seem, however, that even from the first two views  from a political and strategic point of view that now is also the time not only to punish the Hamas organization severely, but to eliminate it altogether.

The author can be reached at [email protected]




by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is Shabbos Bereishis. We need all the protection we can get and what better way to get it than to do Shnayim Mikrah Echad Targum? Free Sefer on it at end of article.

The purpose of this booklet is to make available, in an easily understood format, the laws of Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum,  Reviewing the Weekly Parsha in order to spread the observance of this Mitzvah. It is an unfortunate reality that this particular Mitzvah is still neglected, even during these times, when Boruch Hashem, we are experiencing a resurgence of Torah observance.

The Mitzvah of Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum is an important one. It is one of the few Mitzvos where our Chazal assure us longer life if we but perform it. It is a Mitzvah that, according to many authorities (Netziv, Sheiltos, Meseches Sofrim), including the Aruch HaShulchan, was, for the most part, ordained by Moshe Rabbeinu himself, later being augmented by Ezra.

The Bach (Orech Chaim 685) writes that a Takanas Moshe, an enactment of Moshe Rabbeinu, has the status of a Mitzvah DeOraisa, a Biblical Mitzvah. According to this view, Shnayim Mikrah is a biblical Mitzvah. Although the halacha is not in accordance with the Bach on this, it does not need to be stated that a Takanas Moshe carries a high degree of significance.

It is also a Mitzvah that has a deep qualitative effect upon our commitment to Torah and to Hashem. The Chofetz Chaim writes (chapter 21 of Zachor LaMiriam) that the performance of this Mitzvah strengthens Emunah -faith. In a similar vein, the Taamei HaMinhagim (page 160 of Kuntrus Acharon) writes that one who grooms himself for the Shabbos and completes the Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum before midday is assured that he will not come to an Aveirah Chamurah the entire week.

It is also a Mitzvah that should not be performed in a perfunctory manner. Great care and attention should be placed to every verse and every Rashi or Targum. The Chsam Sopher writes in a responsa that his comments on Chumash were primarily conceived while he was reviewing the weekly Parsha. The Chofetz Chaim states that one who performs it should be very careful in reading the words of Rashi, as it states (Shmos 15:26), And you shall listen to His Mitzvos and Rashi explains, Turn your ear to study it most carefully.

In this article, the Aruch HaShulchans comments on these Halachos have been translated. The text was reparagraphed and paragraph headings were inserted to facilitate greater readability. The Mishna Brurahs opinions and the rulings of others were added in the footnotes. Some of the additional references can be quite fascinating. For example, in Parshas BaMidbar, Rav Palagi writes that an extra verse from Parshas Nasoh must be added.

1] The Gemorah (Brachos 8b) states:

A person should always complete the [weekly] parsha with the assembly, twice with the text and once in Targum, even [the names of the cities] Atros and Divon[1]. For everyone who completes the [weekly] parsha with the assembly, twice with the text and once in Targum, the length of his days and years are extended.

In other words, before the congregation reads the parsha in Shul, a person should read it in his home, whether it be on that Shabbos itself in the morning or throughout that week. However, he may not read it earlier than that week. Some individuals have the custom to read a small section of it each day of the week, and they complete it on Shabbos (Talmid Rabbeinu Yonah).

Therefore, even though every person hears the Torah portion read publicly each Shabbos from the reader, there is, nevertheless, an obligation to read to oneself, each week, the parsha of that week twice in the text and once in Targum[2]. [The Levush cites an allusion to this in the Torah. It states,VeAileh Shmos Bnei Yisroel and Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum in abbreviation spells Shmos..And those that are obligated are all Bnei Yisroel[3].]

2] The reason for it is not known, but certainly when Moshe Rabbeinu ordained that we read the Torah[4], he ordained this edict as well[5], that each person read it twice in the text and once in the Targum.

THE LEVUSHS REASON

The Levush writes that the reason is to ensure that everyone be proficient in the Torah, but as is understood this reason is insufficient[6].

THE ARUCH HASHULCHANS REASON

It would seem that the obligation in Torah is listening and studying as we say in the blessing of Ahava Rabba, To listen and to study. The listening is [to be done] on Shabbos from a kosher Sefer Torah written properly and according to Halacha. Therefore, one should study it beforehand from a Chumash[7] and one should ascend in holiness to listen to it from a Sefer Torah.

It is stated in Sotah (37b) that the generalities and the specifics [of the Torah] were said at Sinai and were repeated a second time in the Ohel Moed and were repeated a third time in Arvos Moav (refer there). We must therefore study it three times, even a verse that does not have a Targum (as will be explained) corresponding to these three [times that the Torah was taught]. However, where there does exist a Targum they chose that the third time be in Targum so that he will understand what he is studying. The [language of] Targum is similar to Lashon HaKodesh and was given at Sinai, as we say in Nedarim (37b), And they shall read it in the Torah of Hashem mefurash  Mefurash is Targum, and it was given at Sinai as explained there. However they had forgotten it and Unkeles returned it and re-established it as we say in the beginning of Megillah [I saw it similarly stated in the Ohr Zaruah in the name of the Maggid Mishna but it was not sufficiently explained].

THE RAAVANS REASON

Some say that it [Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum] corresponds to the two readers [of the Torah as it is being read] and the one translator.[Raavan][8]

3] There is to wonder whether we specifically require that it be read twice in the text and [only] afterward it be read in the Targum or whether he also fulfills the obligation if he read it once in the text, then the Targum and then [the second time] in the text.

From the words of the Levush it is clear that this [the second way] is his opinion. For he wrote:

It appears to me that if a man read once the text and once the Targum alone, and afterward when they read the parsha in shul he read it with the Chazan word by word, he has fulfilled the obligation of Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum.

We see that he writes explicitly that the Targum could be in the middle. Even though he writes that our Master the Beis Yosef does not agree that he fulfills his obligation in this manner, that is because he holds he cannot fulfill his obligation through the Shliach Tzibbur, but not because the Targum is in the middle.

The Gedolim have already written that even the Beis Yosef does not disagree with this, rather, he is referring to [mere] listening where he does not fulfill his obligation, but if he recites it with the Chazzan word by word he does fulfill his obligation [Prisha and Ohr Zaruah][9].

There is an opinion that even regarding listening he fulfills his obligation [Magen Avrohom subparagraph 8 quoting the Lechem Chamudos]. Similarly there is an opinion that if he heard the Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum he also fulfills his obligation if he made sure to hear it (word by word)[10] [Shaarei Teshuvah citing the Radbaz].

According to my humble opinion[11] we require specifically learning and not listening as we have written and see paragraph 13.

4] There is an opinion that states that the reading of Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum is in the following manner: To read each parsha, that is every psucha or stumah two times, and then afterward the Targum [Magen Avrohom subparagraph 1 quoting the Maharshal and Shla][12].

STILL ANOTHER REASON

It would appear so logically [that the method should be to stop at each Parsha in the Sidra], because the Holy One blessed be He related to Moshe each parsha at one time, and between each parsha there was a break, as it says in Toras Kohanim in the beginning of VaYikra (1:1):

What purpose did the interruptions have? In order to give Moshe a period to reflect on each parsha.

Rashi cites it in his commentary on Chumash.

Perhaps because of this reason, they commanded us to read Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum, for it says in the Midrash [Yalkut Shimoni Iyov 28], Each and every item that the Holy One Blessed be He told Moshe, He would say twice in His heart and afterward he told it to Moshe. What is the reason? [Az Raah Vayisaprah Haichina VeGam Chakrah]  He saw it then and recited it [is] one time [He prepared it and also inquire into it [is] another time and afterwards it states, and He said to the man..  this is Moshe] etc[13]. Nevertheless, the Holy One Blessed Be He did relate to Moshe each Parsha by itself.

In the beginning of Megillah [4a] they state, I will review this Parsha and teach it.. refer there. Parsha is defined as a psucha or a stumah, and that which is referenced in the Chumashim, third [aliyah] or fourth [aliyah] is not considered with any significance. [And in Brachos 8a where they state that a person should always complete his parshios with the congregation, which indicates that each sidrah is called a parsha, this is not so. For this is the explanation:  the parshios of that sidrah.]

5] However according to this, there would be a question when there is a new parsha in the middle of a posuk. As in Pinchas, And it was after the plague (BaMidbar 26:1). And in Parshas VaYishlach, And the sons of Yaakov were twelve..(Bereishis 35:22) And in Dvarim, ..from Eilat and from Etzyon Gvar (Dvarim 2:9). What should be done? If he stops there and reviews the Parsha, he is in the middle of a Posuk!

Nevertheless, it appears that he should do this[14]. And if a problem is raised of, any verse that Moshe did not stop at, we do not stop at..[15] here, Moshe did, [in fact], stop. Similarly in regard to the ten commandments in Do not murder (Shmos 20:13) there is a parsha etc., refer there[16].

6] There are those that wrote to read each verse twice and afterward the Targum[17], [Arizal and Maadnei Yom Tov] and at the end of the Sidrah he should also read a posuk after the Targum so that he will end with Torah [Magen Avrohom ad locum].

A proof to this is found in the language of the Gemorah, Two times [Shnayim] Mikreh and one time Targum the language is in masculine and Parsha is feminine while Posuk is masculine. However, there is to answer that it is referring to the man, for the man says two times Mikreh and one time Targum.

It appears to me that this depends on the reasons. For according to the reason that we wrote in paragraph 4, it is certainly referring to the Parshah, and so too according to the reason that we wrote in paragraph 2 [See Aruch HaShulchans Reason.] However, according to the other opinion at the end of paragraph 2 [Raavans Reason], it certainly is referring to each posuk.

There are those that read the entire Sidrah and afterwards a second time, and afterwards the Targum. And it is somewhat indicative that this is the correct method from the language of Rashi in Brachos there, and from the Gemorah where it states that Rav Bibi Bar Abaye wished to complete the parshios of the entire year before Yom Kippur etc. The reference is to all the sidros, after which it says he wished to say them early. Rashi explains that he wished to do all the parshios on one Shabbos, see there. So we see explicitly that he calls a sidrah parsha.

And so it is seen from the words of the Ohr Zaruah HaGadol (Siman 12): He wished to complete all the parshios of the year. Rabbeinu Chananel had the text the parshios of the Kallah (semi-annual gathering for study purposes) that is the four parshios that we read in Elul and the four that we read in Adar. We see that he calls a Sidrah parsha.

Therefore, it would seem to my humble opinion that there are no restrictions[18], and that one may perform it in whichever manner that one wishes, as each of them have halachic backing.

It is also possible that at times one may perform it one way and at times the other way. And if you might think that there would be a restriction to perform it in one particular way, the early Rabbis would not have refrained from stating this[19].

There is an opinion that wrote that if he is fluent in the taamim[20], he should read it from a Sefer Torah[21], and he should immerse after reading it and cut his fingernails before the reading [Magen Avrohom there]. And this is a Midas Chassidus, and it follows the opinion of those who read it on Friday.

There is an opinion that it is prohibited to speak during the reading of Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum [Be-er Haitev subparagraph 1]. And it is strange to say this, for without a blessing of what significance is an interruption, as the Tosfos have written in Brachos [14a Yamim] in regard to Hallel? And if it is because it is prohibited to interrupt Torah study for mundane things, this is inapplicable to Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum, for it may be assumed that he is stopping for an important matter. And furthermore those that read the Parsha each day, they are interrupting repeatedly. Therefore, there is no halachic significance to this [opinion][22].

8] What is called, With the assembly? The Tur writes:

The entire week from day one onward is considered with the assembly[23], since we start the parsha on the Shabbos at Mincha [and this is considered with the congregation in other words, that the congregation begins]. And it is a Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar to complete it before he eats[24] on Shabbos [The Ohr Zaruah writes that we suspect that on account of abundant eating he may not read at all]. If he did not complete it before he eats, he should complete it after the meal before Mincha, but from that point on since we begin the next one, the time for this one has passed.

9] It is clear from his words that there is no importance in completing it before the reading of the Torah, just before eating. For this is referred to as Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar  the ideal manner in which to perform the Mitzvah.

It is also clear from his words that after Minchah the time has already passed, as the congregation already began the next one and it is no longer called with the congregation.

It is further clear from his words that when he completes it on Friday it is not considered Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar. And so wrote the Mordechai in the first chapter of Brachos that it is only [a Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar] on Shabbos morning before the meal, refer there [see further the Bach].

10] However, there are those that wrote that the essential Hiddur is on Friday. Some say before midday and some say after midday. And so was the custom of the AriZal to read in a Sefer Torah on Friday after davening24b [see Be-er Heitev and Shaarei Teshuvah #1]. Some say that the Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar is to read a little bit each day and to complete it on Friday, as is printed in the book, Chok LeYisroel.

Similarly, there are those who said that one who did not complete it on Shabbos may complete it until Wednesday[25], for this is called after Shabbos as we say at the end of the seventh chapter of Gittin.

Some say that he may further complete it until the end of the year until the completing of the Torah[26]; in Israel this is Shmini Atzeres and outside of Israel this is Simchas Torah, and then all the sidros that he did not read he reads Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum[27].

And so it appears from the words of our Rabbis, the Shulchan Aruch and the Achronim, and this is how we should conduct ourselves[28].

11] The statement of the sages has already been explained that everything requires a translation. Even verses with names such as Reuvain and Shimon require translation; and not on account of translation, for also in the language of the Targum the words are equivalent to the words in the Hebrew. Rather, it is because we require it to be read three times in accordance with the reasons we have explained. In the Gemorah it states, even Atros and Divon, and with this there is a greater insight, as Rabbeinu Bachya wrote, that in the Targum they are names of places of idolworship, and I would have thought that it would be better not to mention them, therefore it teaches us that this is not the case. [And the commentaries struggled much in this matter[29] see TaZ, Mogen Avrohom, Tur, and Talmid Rabbeinu Yonah. However, according to what we wrote it is understood beautifully.]

12] The Tur writes:

If he studied the Parsha with the explanation of Rashi it is considered like Targum[30]. For the intent of Targum is only to understand the matter. However, if he reads it in another language[31] it is not considered [like Targum].

The reason for this is that other languages do not reproduce the meaning as it was handed down from Sinai[32], but Targum explains it in accordance with the way it was given from Sinai as we have written in the end of paragraph two. Similarly, the explanation of Rashi is based upon the expositions of our Rabbis of blessed memory, which is the clear truth as if it was from Sinai.

Our Master the Beis Yosef in paragraph two (Shulchan Aruch 285:2) wrote that a G-D-fearing individual should read [both] Targum and Rashis explanation[33]. For the Targum was given at Sinai, and Rashis explanation [should be read] to understand the Parsha properly.

The Gedolim have agreed that only the Targum of Unkeles [may be used] and one does not fulfill the obligation with anything else[34]. For the Targum is holy and was given at Sinai. This is also [the ruling] according to the wisdom of the Kabbalah. And this is the custom of all Israel. And Heaven forbid to deviate from this.

If at the present time he does not possess a Targum, he should recite the text twice and when he obtains a Targum he should say it [Mogen Avrohom subparagraph 4]. If he does not anticipate that he will be able to obtain a Targum it appears to my humble opinion that he must read the text three times according to the reasons that we have explained[35].

13] He may read the Shnayim Mikreh and Echad Targum at the time of the reading of the Torah. So wrote the Beis Yosef [Shulchan Aruch] in paragraph five[36]. And the explanation is that he may say the Shnayim Mikreh and Echad targum at the time of the reading of the Torah even though he does not say it in unison with the reader. And the reason is explained in the Mordechai there, that it is because he is dealing with the same matter, refer there. There is an opinion that even if he merely hears it, he has fulfilled his obligation, but we have already written [end of paragraph 3, see notes there as well] that this is not so [and so wrote the Knesses HaGedolah and the Olas Shabbos].

Teachers of children that read the Sidrah each week with the children a few times fulfill through this their obligation of reading. And if they read with them the targum or Rashi, they also fulfill their obligation of targum, and see what is written in paragraph 12. Similarly, anyone who studied the Sidrah in the middle of the week twice, does not need to go back and read the Parsha on Shabbos.

The Haftoras do not need to be read by an individual[37]. However, it has become the custom to read it after Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum. Similarly, what we read on Rosh Chodesh, the holidays[38], and the Yomim Noraim, the individual does not have to read [in Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum], for each one was read on its Shabbos. The Ramah writes that on a Shabbos of a Chasunah (wedding) he should read the Haftorah of Shabbos and not Sos Asis (Yishaya 61:10). For in his days there was a custom to read for a bridegroom Sos Asis, but in our days we do not know of such a custom. [All that the Mogen Avrohom wrote in subparagraphs 11 and 12 we do not know of such customs. Also, that which he wrote citing the Knesses HaGedolah that One who reads Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum should read the haftorah of .the parsha and not the haftorah of the four parshios.. requires further scrutiny.]

I.

AriZal Pri Eitz Chaim Shaar HaShabbos chapter three

The Mitzvah of Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum in its time is on Friday after midday. For it is in this time that the Klipah  the outer shell separates from the realm of Kedusha. With the secret of Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum we remove the outer shell from the holiness. After which, with the proper intentions of immersion we effect the light of the holiness of the Shabbos.

II. Piturah DeAbba Erev Shabbos Chapter Ten

The custom of my teacher my Rabbi of blessed memory (the AriZal), was immediately after the Friday morning prayers, he would go to the synagogue or to his house of study, if there was a Sefer Torah there he would take it out and read in it the Parsha twice in the text and once in Targum. He would read the text from the Sefer Torah and he had a student that would read to him the Targum from the book of the Targum and he would repeat it after him.

This is what he would do for each and every verse until the end of the Parsha. He would not do as others brazenly read the whole Parsha in the text entirely one time, and then read it again a second time and then read it entirely in the Targum a third time. Rather, he would read each and every verse by itself, twice in the text and once in the Targum.

He would exert himself to read it on Friday and would say that this is the fundamental principle behind And it shall be on the sixth day that they prepare what they shall bring. Otherwise, if some great emergency would happen he would read the Shnayim Mikreh Echad Targum on Shabbos after the morning prayer and before the meal, as Rabbeinu HaKadosh commanded. He did not do it like those that do it in the middle of the Shabbos morning service.

After reading the Parsha, he would immerse himself with the Friday immersion etc. My teacher and Rabbi used to say that once a person read the Parsha he has the strength to accept upon himself the additional holiness of the Shabbos. He would not immerse until he finished the Parsha.

III.

Maharal Nesivos Olam I

Chapter 13

One may ask, why twice in the text and once in translation? The answer is that we find that the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, taught once again in the Ohel Moed, and a third time in Arvos Moav. At Arvos Moav, the Torah was explained, as it is stated (Dvarim 1:5), Moshe initiated the explanation of the Torah  Rashi adds into seventy languages. We, therefore, do it twice in the text and once in translation  which is an explanation of the Torah, for there is no need for seventy languages, rather each person should understand it in his own tongue, and the language of the multitude of Israel was Targum [Aramaic]. Therefore it must be done twice in the text and once in the Targum.

One must understand the fundamental principle behind the matter. Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum corresponds to the three worlds. Torah is from the celestial world, and therefore one should read it twice in the text corresponding to this world and to the middle world. The third one is Targum which corresponds to the celestial world.

And do not wonder how it could be that Targum,which is insignificant,is a more lofty language than the Holy Tongue, for this is not the case. The language of Targum is not a private language specific to any one nation, rather it is all-encompassing to everyone. The Targum teaches to the entire world, encompassing all. On account of this, the Torah was given to everyone.

This also teaches why the third time it should be read in Targum, which is all-enclusive -the Torah belongs to everyone. However, the nations of the world did not wish to accept it. This is the significance of the loftiness of Torah, when it is for all. Thus, on account of the fact that the Torah comes from the celestial world to the lower world to Israel, we are therefore obligated to read it simultaneously with the congregation [of Israel] twice in the text and once in Targum. This is the essence of why the Torah was given at Sinai, retaught at the Ohel Moed and taught a third time in Arvos Moav in seventy languages. And understand this, for the matter is quite clear.

[1] There is much controversy in regard to the meaning of even Atros and Divon. See Aruch HaShulchan paragraph 11 and footnote there.

[2] Regarding a person who is incapable of reading the Parsha, the Pele Yoetz under the heading Parshios writes that [until he learns Hebrew] he should read it along with someone else.

Women are clearly exempt from this Mitzvah (as it is a Mitzvas Assei SheHaZman Garma). Boys under the age of Bar Mitzvah would be obligated to perform this mitzvah for Chinuch purposes as is the case for all other Mitzvos. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal stated that a young child merely babbling words is not considered chinuch. When asked about adults who may not understand the Targum, he responded, An adult at least knows that each word in the Targum corresponds to a Hebrew word in the Posuk. Rav Elyashiv shlita was likewise not of the opinion that there is a substantive Chinuch here for a child.

Blind people are exempt from Shnayim Mikreh, according to the Radbaz (Vol. III #867) because of the concept things that are written should not be said orally. See also Har Tzvi O.C. Vol. I #37 and Y.D. #3.

There is a great debate regarding the obligation of a mourner during Shivah. Responsa Yehuda Yaaleh Vol. I #359 is of the opinion that the Tur and Shulchan Aruch in YD Siman 400 permit it, as do the Shach, Taz and the Maharshal. Rav Palagi in Rav Pealim Vol. I YD #52 argues and states that the Tur and Shulchan Aruch there are not discussing Shnayim Mikreh. Consequently he prohibits it as does the Chida and Maharil. See also Yaviah Omer Vol. IV YD #31.

Rabbi Dovid Feinstein related to me that a Bar Mitzvah Bochur who completed the Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum of that week before his Bar Mitzvah should repeat it again after his Bar Mitzvah. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Zatzal stated that the soon to be Bar Mitzvahed youth has indeed fulfilled the Mitzvah. When asked whether the child should wait the few days until he is Bar Mitzvahed, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman zatzal responded, Lav Davka- not neccessarily. Rav Elyashiv shlita also stated that that the Bar Mitzvah boy does not have to redo the Parsha.

[3] The Pri MaGadim in his Mishbetzes HaZahav cites a slightly different allusion: VeAileh Shmos = VeChayav HaAdam Likroh HaParsha Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum.

[4] See Yerushalmi (Megillah 4:1) that Moshe ordained that all of Israel should read the Torah on Shabbos, Yomim Tovim, Rosh Chodesh, and Chol HaMoed. Indeed, the Rambam writes (Hilchos Tefillah 12:1) that Moshe also ordained that it be read on Monday and Thursday as well.

[5] This statement of the Aruch HaShulchan is intriguing. The Talmud (Nedarim 37b) indicates that the reading of the Targum was ordained by Ezra. The Talmud Yerushalmi seems to be of the same position (Yerushalmi Megillah 1:9 and 4:1). Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg (Sridei Aish Volume IV, page 267) quotes Meseches Sofrim to indicate that it was indeed Moshe Rabbeinu who ordained the reading of Targum. He also quotes Josephus (Contra Apion) to this effect. The Sheiltos Siman 26 note 28 also writes that it was ordained by Moshe Rabbeinu, as does Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin in his HeEmek Shailah.

[6] The Trumas HaDeshen in Responsa #23, quoting Rabbeinu Chananel, writes that the reason is to be proficient in what the congregation will read. This is slightly different than the Levushs reason. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal stated that we do not discount any of the Taamim, and we accept them all.

[7] See paragraph #7, Reading It From a Sefer Torah.

[8] The Raavan is found in Sefer Raavan #88. Even though the Raavans position that the obligation of Shnayim Mikrah VeEchad Targum is only for one who lives in a village with no Minyan has been entirely rejected by the poskim, the reason he supplies for the Takanah is still valid. His exact wording is And he also should read it twice in the Mikra corresponding to the two who read in the synagogue and once in the Targum corresponding to the translator in the synagogue. The notes to the Raavan by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Erenreich (Even Shlaimah) cites the Maadnei Yom Tov in Brachos chapter one Siman 8 note 4 that the Raavan is referring to the Yerushalmi which states echad koreh veEchad Mechazen alav.  One reads it while the others sings upon it. This is cited in the Tosefta there (chapter three), the Rif, Rosh, and Rambam Hilchos Tefilla 12:7. See further Tosfos Megilla 21b Tanna, Bava Basra 15a Shmoneh, Menachos 30a Shmoneh and responsa Ozter Chaim OC #13. The reading of this Yerushalmi is debatable, however. See commentary Amudei Yerushalayim Megillah 27b.

[9] The Mishna Brura, quoting the Divrei Chamudos on the Rosh (Chapter 1 #41), writes that ideally one should not recite the Targum in the middle. If he does so, he only fulfills his obligation BeDieved. The Pri Magadim in the Mishbetzes HaZahav (285:1) states that it should not be done, as does the Olas Tamid (285:6). It is interesting to note that the Mishne Brurah does not quote the Pri Magadim at all. Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg in Tzitz Eliezer Vo. XV #7 writes that perhaps the Mishne Brurah relied entirely on the Levush. Rabbi Yair Bacharach (author of Chevas Yair) , in his Mekor Chaim, makes the same inference in the Levush as does the Aruch HaShulchan, however.

One could perhaps infer from the Aruch HaShulchan that if one reads the Targum even before he read the Mikrah at all, that he does not fulfill the Mitzvah even BeDieved, since he does not even discuss it. The Ktzos HaShulchan Vol. III chapter 72 is unresolved as to this issue.

[10] The Aruch HaShulchans quote of the Shaarei Teshuvah is missing these two words.

[11]The Mishna Brura 285:2 concurs. This is also the opinion found in Responsa Baalei HaTosfos #16, a Rishon.

Each word in the Chumash and Targum and/or Rashi must be said, even the Azkaros, Hashems names, see Igros Moshe OC Vol. III #98.

[12] Other advocates of this method are the Olas Shabbos, the Eliyahu Rabbah, and the Beer Heitev. The Mishna Brura quotes the Maaseh Rav who attributes this method to the Vilna Gaon as well. He, however, not only stopped at each Parsha, but stopped whenever the subject matter of the text seemed to end.

[13] The full text of the Yalkut Shimoni discusses a debate between the Rabanan and Rabbi Acha. The Rabanan are of the opinion that it was taught three times [as expounded above], while Rabbi Acha holds that the Torah was taught four times. Az Raah, Vayisaprah, Hechina, VeGam Chakrah equals four.

[14] See, however, footnote #12 that the Vilna Gaon used to also stop whenever the subject matter seemed to end. Seemingly, in this situation as well, he would have continued until the subject matter ended. Rabbi Dovid Feinstein stated that the Minhag is clearly not like the Aruch HaShulchan here and one should not stop in the middle of the posuk. Rather, one should continue until the end of the posuk or the next parsha. When this question was posed to Rav Shlomo Zalman zatzal, he responded that when one is using the Parsha by Parsha method, one should do as the Aruch HaShulchan writes, and stop in the middle of the Posuk, where that Parsha ends. If, however, one does the Posuk by Posuk method, one should stop at the end of the Posuk and ignore the Parsha ending.

Rav Palagi in Rav Pealim Vol. IV OC #42 writes that when doing Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum in Parshas BaMidbar, one must not stop at the end of the Sidrah but add the first posuk from Parshas Nasoh. The reason for this is not to end on a bad note. This is not a problem during the actual Torah reading itself because the end bracha of Birchas HaTorah would be considered the end, and not the verse in the Sidrah. Following this reasoning, the same would be true for Parshas VaYkra and Parshas Kedoshim.

[15] See Taanis 27b.

16 The Aruch HaShulchan is referring to all of the short Parshios there.

17 The GRaZ (285:3) writes that although all methods are acceptable, this method is preferable, as it most closely resembles the laining when it was translated publicly into Targum. Rabbi Dovid Feinstein stated that all methods are all equally preferable. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal also stated that the two methods are equally preferable and there is no advantage of one over the other, from a halachic perspective.

This particular method poses an interesting question. The Talmud (Brachos 33a) tells us that the verse Shma Yisroel Hashem Elokainu etc. should not be recited two times in a row. The reason is that it may infer that there are two domains in the world, chas VeShalom. In Parshas VaEschanan, what should be done when one reaches that posuk (Dvarim 6:4)? Rabbi Chaim Noeh in the Badei HaShulchan section of his Ktzos HaShulchan cites the Mishmeres Shalom (siman 24) who actually prohibits reciting it twice during Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum. Rav Noeh disagrees and states that since no posek ever mentioned this problem, it is inconsequential. He concludes that it is quite apparent that he is only doing it for Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum purposes. Binyon Tzion (Siman 36) also dismisses the problem stating that it is only a problem during Davening, but not otherwise.

[18] Mishna Brura also writes that any view is acceptable. It is interesting to note, however, that the Mishna Brura only quotes the first two of the Aruch HaShulchans three possibilities, leaving out the method of the entire Sidrah at once. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Zatzal, and iblc Rabbi Dovid Feinsteinl stated that this indicates that the Mishna Brurah holds the Sidrah method is less acceptable than the other two methods. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach did not agree to the enitre Sidrah method that the Aruch HaShulchan cites. He explained that the smaller the unit, the greater the comprehension.

[19] And the fact that no one mentions such a restriction is proof enough that it does not exist.

[20] The Bach (in the new responsas #42) writes that ideally Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum should be recited with the trop.

21 Responsa of Radbaz Vol. III #529 and Vol. I #520. This was also the conduct of his students student, the AriZal. See his Shulchan Aruch the section on Tosefes Shabbos #16 and Shaar HaKavanos p. 12a, (cited in Kaf HaChaim 285:3 and Responsa of Dayan Weiss zatzal, Minchas Yitzchok, Vol. IX, #19. Dayan Weiss further states that this was the practice of the Chacham Tzvi and the Daas Kedoshim. The issue is discussed in Korban Shabbos and Daas Kedoshim, Laws of Sefer Torah 274:7.

Mishna Brurah, quoting the Radbaz, concurs with this opinion , to read it from a Sefer Torah, if one is fluent in both the Taamim and the Nekudos  vowelization. See, however, beginning of paragraph 2, where the Aruch HaShulchan writes that it is preferable to read it from a printed Chumash and to arise in holiness. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, discounted the significance of the Aruch HaShulchans wording there, and stated that it did not imply that he held that a printed Chumash should be used. Rather, he was merely elaborating upon one of the reasons for Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum.

The Radbaz provides two reasons why, if one is fluent, it should be read from a Sefer Torah. 1] A Sefer Torah has greater holiness and 2] There is a Mitzvah for each Jew to write a Sefer Torah. It is illogical to assume that the purpose of the Mitzvah is to keep it sitting on the shelf, rather it should be used.

The Radbaz also writes that if one borrowed a Sefer Torah from someone else he must ask permission in order to use it for Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum. There is a debate as to whether one must stand while reciting Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum from a Sefer Torah. Mishbetzes Zahav 690:1 states that there is no need to stand, while the Siddur Tzlusah DAvraham on page 856 states that one should stand. Nonetheless, the Talmud Yerushalmi quoted in that commentary seems to bear out the Mishbetzes Zahavs opinion.

[22]The Mishna Brurah (285:6) writes, however, that, if possible, one should not stop for anything while performing the Shnayim Mikra VeEchad Targum (even after a whole parsha), and this is a good and beautiful thing. The Be-er Haitev writes that it is a great Issur to interrupt by speaking. The Shaar HaTzion suggests that he is referring to stopping in the middle of a section, as opposed to after a complete posuk, where the dictum of One who stops learning Torah and occupies himself with mundane matters is fed red hot coals would actually apply. Also see responsa of Rashba Vol I #206.

[23] If one erroneously read both sections of a double Parsha when in fact only the first parsha was to be read either in VaYakhel/Pekudei, Sazriah Metzorah, Acharei Mos/Kedoshim, Bahar/BeChukosai or in Matos/Masai it would seem that the second Parsha should nevertheless be read again the following week. See responsa Rivevos Ephraim Vol. III #187, and responsa of Rabbi Meir Bransdorfer in Kanah BaShaim cited in Otzer Shnayim Mikreh by Rabbi Shmuel Laufer.

[24] See Sheilos Yaavetz Vol I #40 that one should even refrain from tasting before completing Shnayim Mikreh, if possible.

24b See section I of Appendix.

[25] Just as the law is regarding if one forgot to recite Havdallah on Motzei Shabbos (299:6) [GRaZ and Mishna Brurah]. The explanation is that the first three days of the week still slightly belong to the previous week [MB].

[26] The Darkei Moshe quotes the Avudraham who states that it is good to complete it during the Ten Days of Repentence. We see from his words that completing it at Simchas Torah is a deadline and not a hiddur.

[27] And, according to the PMG, this would still be considered fulfilling the Mitzvah BeDiEved. The Tosefes Shabbos disagrees, however. Aruch HaShulchan here writes that the language of the Shulchan Aruch indicates that he is in agreement with the PMGs opinion. The Mishna Buruah further notes that when making up the parshios on Simchas Torah, one must do the full Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum and not merely read the Mikrah, as some have the custom of doing.

[28] The MaHarSham (Volume I #213) writes that one who did not complete it in its proper time and wishes to make it up the following week must do so only after completing the current weeks Sidrah.

[29] There is much controversy in regard to the significance of the Gemorahs statement, Even Atros and Divon. The Tur states: Rashi writes that that these names of cities must be read as well, even though there is no Targum for them. According to this explanation, even the words, Reuvain and Shimon must be read in Targum. Others explain that Atros and Divon were chosen specifically because there are Chumashim that have a Targum Yerushalmi for them. According to this, Reuvain and Shimon would not have to be read three times. Nevertheless, the custom is to be stringent like Rashi.

The Targum Yerushalmi translation of Atros and Divon referred to are Michlalta and Malbashta respectively. For Atros comes from Atara  crown, thus Michlalta  adornment. [Prisha]

[30] This is likewise the conclusion of the Rosh, Sefer Mitzvos Gedolos, and the Mordechai. This is also the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch 285:2.

[31] This is also the opinion of Tosfos Brachos 8a BW Shnayim, the Piskei Tosfos Brachos #22, the Ohr Zaruah Vol I Chapter 12, the Levush, and virtually all the Nosei Kailim on the Shulchan Aruch. Those who argue and state that a translation to any language is in fact sufficient are Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerondi (sefer HaYirah toward the end), Rabbeinu Manoach on the Rambam Hilchos Tefillah 13:25, the Rivan, and the Minhagim of the Maharam MiRottenberg. The consensus of Halachic authorities however, reject the use of another language. See however, the remarks of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach in the middle of footnote #34.

[32] See Responsa of Ramah #130, 127, and 128 that the actual interpretations and not merely the language were given at Har Sinai. Even though some commentaries on the Tur [the Prisha, this is also the opinion of some Gaonim cited in Shaarei Teshuvah #330] imply that the term Targum also includes Targum Yonasan, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach responded that the Targum Yonasan can only be used as a Pirush, a commentary, but not for Shnayim Mikreh VeEchad Targum.

[33] See also the Orchos Chaim LeHaRosh #37 where he also states that this must be done and that one should read both the Targum and the Rashi as carefully as one can.

[34] The Mishna Brurah (285:5) clearly disagrees. He writes that one does indeed fulfill the Mitzvah with Rashis commentary [as the Rosh writes in his commentary on Brachos] and states that for those verses where there is no Rashi, the verse must be recited three times. Quoting the Taz, he further writes that those who cannot understand Rashi may use a vernacular commentary on the Torah whose foundation rests on the Talmud, such as the Tzena URena. See above footnote as well. Rabbi Dovid Feinstein noted, however, that we may only use that which we have a custom for. Thus Targum, Rashi, and Tzena URena are acceptable. One should not, however, use an Artscroll or Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan Chumash instead of Targum, even if one is reading the commentary as well. [Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal stated that since understanding the content of the Torah reading is at the core of the obligation, one who understands virtually no Hebrew should do the Hebrew twice and the Targum in English alone. He felt that there was no additional benefit in doing Rashi in English. Since this seems to contradict the words of the Tur and the Mishne Brurah, he must be referring only to those with no understanding of Hebrew at all. If one is doing the Rashi in Hebrew, there is no objection of course to using an English translation of it to facilitate further understanding.]

Those that are in agreement with the Aruch HaShulchans position are the SMaG, Rav Amram Gaon, Rav Nitronai Gaon, and the Yam Shel Shlomo Kiddushin Chapter 2 Siman 14. Biur Halacha 285:1, however, writes that the text of the SMaG is defective, and he is only referring to non-Aramaic translations and not a Torah based commentary that explains the content and the words.

See a quote of the Trumas HaDeshen found in Leket Yosher OC Vol. I page 54 (1903 Berlin Edition) attributed to Rabbi Yaakov Weill, that Targum is preferable to Rashi since it states Rashi is like Targum indicating that it is not completely like it.

Paranthetically, Rashi is only to be considered like Targum for the purposes of Shnayim Mikreh, but not for the simultaneous translation of the Metargem that existed in earlier times, see Igros Moshe Vol. IV #40.

[35] Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerondis opinion here is to recite the third time in a translation to another language. This opinion has been rejected by the commentaries of the Shulchan Aruch.

[36] Actually the Shulchan Aruch 146:2 is of the opinion that one who is careful in his matters should refrain from doing it at this time. The reason being, as explained in the Beis Yosef, is that many Rishonim disagree with the practice. However, if he wishes to, he may rely on those that are lenient. Interestingly enough, the Eliyahu Rabbah writes that it is a Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar, the ideal method of performing it. The Maamar Mordechai and the Biur Halacha vehemently argue with him, the Biur Halacha writing, Chalilah to say that it is a Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar. The SHla and the Vilna Gaon write that it is only permitted between aliyos, and not during the actual reading [refer further to Mishna Brura 285:14 and Biur Halacha 285 #2]. See Trumas HaDeshen Vol. I #24 who quotes the Ohr Zaruah and clearly indicates that it is quite proper to do it during the actual Torah reading, as well.

[37]Nor do the Four Parshios that are added near Purim time [See Igros Moshe Orech Chaim Volume III #40]. See Trumas HaDeshen Vol I #23 and Mogen Avrohom 285:12.

[38] So rules the Trumas HaDeshen Vol. II #170. See also Leket Yoshor Volume III page 56 (1903 Berlin edition).

Shnayim_Mikrah FORMATTED (1)




Turkish Deputy Education Minister Nazif Yilmaz wrote on Twitter to Israels Prime Minister Binyanim Netanyahu that one day they [the Palestinians] will also shoot you. Youll die.

He wrote the comments in response to a tweet by Netanyahu showing a photo of Gaza, with the caption: Were continuing with all our power.

Netanyahu was referring to the strikes against Gaza in response to the brutal murder of over 1,200 of its residents by Gazan terrorists, the injury of over 3,000, the abduction of about 150, and the launch of over 5,000 rockets into Israel.

Netanyahu was scheduled to visit Turkey in July but delayed his trip after he underwent surgery for a pacemaker implantation. Last month, in the first meeting between the two, Netanyahu met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York.

However, Erdogan, who has been on a campaign for warmer ties with Israel in recent years, is now showing his true anti-Israel colors, saying on Wednesday that Israel is not acting like a state in the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan slammed the IDFs shameful attacks on the innocents in the Gaza Strip.

In the same speech, Erdogan noted that Turkey will increase its attacks on Kurds in Syria and Iraq, during which many civilians have been killed and injured.

No, he did not note the irony or hypocrisy of his statements.

Erdogan: We are against the killing of civilians in Israel. But we also oppose the massacre of defenceless innocents in Gaza by bombardments Israel should act like a state, not like an organisation, otherwise it will diminish its international standing

pic.twitter.com/LC13238DVX  Ragp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 11, 2023



(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Displaced Gazan workers are seen at a building in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 11, 2023. The number of people displaced across Gaza has topped 263,000, an increase of 40 percent since Tuesday, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The number of people displaced across Gaza has topped 263,000, an increase of 40 percent since Tuesday, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday.

More than 1,000 housing units in Gaza have been destroyed, and some 560 have been severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. An additional 12,630 sustained lesser damage, it said.

All 13 hospitals and other health facilities in Gaza are only partially operational due to supply shortages and fuel rationing, it added.

With water supplies cut off from Israel into Gaza, there is a severe shortage of drinking water, affecting more than 650,000 people. Israeli airstrikes have also damaged seven facilities that had been providing water and sanitation services to over 1.1 million people. In some areas, sewage and solid waste are now accumulating in the streets, posing a health hazard, said OCHA.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said 220,000 internally displaced people are sheltering in 88 schools run by the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA. The numbers continue to increase as Israeli airstrikes are continuing.

The spokesman said 11 UNRWA personnel have been killed in Gaza during Israeli airstrikes since Saturday, while three teachers have been injured. Meanwhile, 30 UNRWA students have been killed and eight others have been injured.

Two UNRWA schools were affected by airstrikes, bringing the total number of installations affected by the conflict to 20 since Saturday. Sixteen internally displaced people sheltering at an UNRWA school were injured, two of them critically, as a result of an airstrike nearby, said the spokesman.

UNRWA staff are working around the clock to respond to the needs of the displaced in the shelters. However, some are overcrowded and have limited availability of food and other basic items such as potable water, he said.

Guterres on Wednesday called for safe humanitarian access to Gaza, which is under Israel's "complete siege" following Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend.

UN premises and all hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted. Crucial life-saving supplies, including fuel, food and water, must be allowed into Gaza. There is a need for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, he told reporters.

Guterres thanked Egypt for its constructive engagement to facilitate humanitarian access through Rafah, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, and to make the El Arish airport available for critical assistance.

Dujarric said the United Nations needs assurances from the Israeli side that Rafah will not be targeted and that humanitarian aid can come through before the opening of the border crossing.

Discussions are ongoing toward that end, he said. 

Displaced Gazan workers are seen at a building in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 11, 2023. The number of people displaced across Gaza has topped 263,000, an increase of 40 percent since Tuesday, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Displaced Gazan workers are seen at a building in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 11, 2023. The number of people displaced across Gaza has topped 263,000, an increase of 40 percent since Tuesday, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Displaced Gazan workers are seen at a building in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Oct. 11, 2023. The number of people displaced across Gaza has topped 263,000, an increase of 40 percent since Tuesday, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)




Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau on Wednesday visited the base of the military rabbinate near Ramle, where the difficult work of identifying the fallen victims is being carried out.

In response to the shaila of how to behave on Shabbos, HaRav Lau said: I am moved by the great dedication of all the staff. I understand that you wont finish the identification before Shabbos but its important and required  its pikuach nefesh  because if its clarified that if someones here, hell be removed from the list of the missing  at a time of war, its pikuach nefesh.

Continue to work even on Shabbos Kodesh and make every effort to continue the kodesh work like a regular day and bezras Hashem well be zocheh to a Shabbos nechamah.

The death toll has reached 1,200 and the process of identifying the victims, many of which were not retrieved until two-three days later and some of which were burned, is proving to be extremely difficult and many halachic shailos have arisen.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




As a travel agent with literally hundreds of still stranded customers in Eretz Yisroel, I want to give an UNSOLICITED well deserved shout out to EL AL for the way they have handled the insane situation of getting people in and out of the country during this crazy time.

They have done an amazing job allowing IDF soldiers and reservists to get back to serve the country they love in their time of need. I want to also focus now on what they have done for the rest of the world who were visiting the country for Sukkos and got caught in this unexpected war which they had no idea they would be caught in.

I have spent the last 72 hours and counting, grabbing every possible available seat on any airline to get panicked foreigners out of the country and back to the places they call home. As each international airline, one at a time, decides to suspend service, the process starts all over again with refunding and re-grabbing new space with many families repeating this over and over again until they finally get out.

What finally became clear was that EL AL was going to be the only reliable option to get a flight that was actually going to go. The problem is they had pretty full planes to start so there simply have not yet been enough seats to allow everyone who wants to leave to do so.

Heres where the Chesed begins.

1. They havent reduced their schedule. They have somehow found pilots and staff to keep flying in the most trying of circumstances. They also continue to reliably service not just their big USA markets like NYC, Miami and Los Angeles, but also literally dozens of much smaller market airports throughout Europe and beyond without any noticeable cancellations or delays.

2. They have announced one of the most lenient change policies in the industry to reduce panic and financial strain on those who need to push off or make their trips earlier. They are not charging any change fees or fare differences for people who need a few more days in either direction even if the new fare is higher than the old one. They are allowing vouchers for anyone who doesnt want to travel now to use their already issued tickets for ANY PASSENGER for at least a year with no penalties or loss of value.

3. This is the big one. They arent price gouging. Instead of the industry standard tier pricing where an empty plane sells for the lower rates and as it fills the prices go up until they reach ridiculously high rates that no one would ever pay (unless they were totally desperate), they have changed to a one level fare system which is remarkably low. Every economy seat they sell now to Europe is coming out in the crazy low $300 range. Many US customers have used these small European flights as an exit strategy to get out and then end up also buying overpriced tickets on other airlines to go the rest of the way. Every economy seat that opens up on EL AL to and from NYC is selling in the $750-$900 range. Thats it! No markups or money grabbing going on here. If they would charge 3-4 times these prices, people would gladly pay it because of the current panic they are experiencing, but they simply arent doing that. They have no competition now but they are being fair and benevolent to their customers. Im sure they could use the money, but they are choosing to instead get their rewards from ABOVE instead.

I wish they could add flights and more seats would be there to get everyone who is stuck in EY home safely and quickly, but they have done a remarkable job with what they have to work with and slowly but surely thousands of people continue to finally get home.

Dovid Sachs  Baltimore

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




A rocket barrage launched from Gaza at the city of Sderot late Thursday morning resulted in the critical and serious injuries of five of the citys residents.

Seven rocket hits were found after the barrage and several buildings sustained direct hits. At one site, one was critically injured, one was seriously injured, and one was moderately injured, and at another site, one was critically injured and one was seriously injured.

The mayor of the beleaguered city, Alon Davidi, appealed to the government to aid him in evacuating the citys residents.

Sderot, which even during routine times, suffers from constant rockets due to it being located only one kilometer (0.62 miles) from the Gaza Strip, suffered heavy losses during the Hamas assault, with numerous residents murdered as well as 20 police officers after Hamas terrorists raided the local police station. However, unlike the Gaza border communities, its residents have not been evacuated.

There are over 30,000 people living in Sderot.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State held a joint press conference early Thursday afternoon from Tel Aviv.

Blinken landed in Israel on Thursday morning on a solidarity visit to the Jewish state.

Netanyahu spoke first, thanking Blinken, President Biden, and the American people for your incredible support for Israel in our war against the barbarians of Hamas.

Netanyahu then briefly switched to Hebrew before switching back to English: Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilization. The massacring of young people at an outdoor music festival, the butchering of entire families, the murder of parents in front of their children and the murder of children in front of their parents. The burning of people alive. The beheadings. The kidnappings  of a young boy, not only kidnapped  molested, hurt, attacked  and the sickening display of the celebration and glorification of this evil.

President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil, Netanyahu continues. Hamas is ISIS, and just as ISIS was crushed, so too should Hamas be crushed. And Hamas should be treated exactly as ISIS was treated. They should be spit out from the community of nations. No leader should meet them. No country should harbor them. And those that do should be sanctioned.

Blinken began by saying, I come before you not only as the United States Secretary of State but also as a Jew.

I also come before you as a husband and father of young childrenits impossible for me to look at the photos of the families killed, such as the mother, father and three small children murdered as they sheltered in their home..and not think of my own children.

This was just one of Hamas countless acts of terror in a litany of brutality and inhumanity that brings to mind the worst of ISIS. Babies slaughtered, bodies desecrated, young people burned alive, women raped, parents executed in front of their children, children in front of their parents. How do we even understand this, digest this?

Blinked also said that at least 25 US citizens were murdered by Hamas along with the citizens of 35 other countries.

Watch their full remarks below:

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




For the first time since 1982, El Al Airlines will operate its planes on Shabbos in order to bring reserve IDF soldiers who received a Tzav 8 (emergency reserve duty order) back to Israel.

El Al gave the following statement exclusively to YWN moments ago:

El AL will be flying four flights THIS Shabbat to bring soldiers, rescue and medical personnel back to Israel to serve on the front lines. El Al has NOT flown on Shabbat in over 40 years.

The Israel Security Service has requested to bring soldiers back emergently. As Israel is in a state of Pikuach Nefesh, as determined by the highest level of Rabbinic and Halachic authorities in Israel  The Rabbonim have determined that these flights are a Chiyuv, and it is a Mitzvah for El AL to be Doche Shabbos for it.

Strict parameters were put in place and only those soldiers who present the Tzav 8 (emergency call up notice for soldiers) as well as the emergency call up of rescue and medical personnel will be aboard these 4 flights returning to Israel.

Over 1000 soldiers will be returning on two flights from Thailand , and one each from the USA and Spain this Shabbat.

May it be a zechus and a shmira for Medinat Yisrael and Klal Yisrael.

Earlier this week, an anonymous Chareidi resident of New York funded 250 tickets for reserve soldiers flying back to Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Police have reported that gunfire was directed towards the Shalem station, situated just outside the entrance to Jerusalems Old City near Herods Gate.

United Hatzalah reports two police officers were shot. One of them is in serious condition.

Following the gunfire directed at the officers, the assailant attempted to flee the scene. Jerusalem District police officers pursued the assailant and neutralized him with gunfire.

Large police forces, under the command of the Jerusalem District Commander, have been dispatched to the scene and are conducting searches in the area to rule out any potential accomplices.

The Jerusalem District Commander is currently assessing the situation with officers at the scene.

In response to the shooting, the gates leading to the Old City have been closed.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
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How can one choose his shirt from a pile of different types of clothing and not transgress borer on Shabbos?

What does one do if there is a power outage on Shabbos?

Can someone put food in the oven on Shabbos?

These and numerous other questions are impossible to answer unless one has a thorough knowledge of the laws of Shabbos. Shabbos comes about once a week, so if a person is not well-versed in its intricacies, then it is inevitable that transgressions will take place. It is wonderful to read one of the many books that give basic laws, but to really understand the halachos and know how to apply them, it is essential to learn Hilchos Shabbos with the background discussion of the Gemara and commentators.

What is the challenge we face? It takes several years for a full-time advanced Torah learner to cover the laws of Shabbos in depth, so how can a working man, or one with less advanced skills, begin this seemingly daunting task?

Now there is a solution. World famous Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav HaGaon Yitzchak Berkovits shlita used his vast knowledge to arrange all the Gemaras with the commentators on each area of Hilchos Shabbos and presented it in the form of source sheets that cover material from the Gemara until practical halacha. This enables one to cover main opinions in each topic and gain a deep understanding of the halacha.

According to Rabbi Berkovits: Learning Hilchos Shabbos from the traditional sources could be quite confusing or complicated. Studying them in a very organized way gives you the clarity, the clarity to understand them in the first place and the clarity to retain the information.

This was done for full-time Torah learners who have advanced Hebrew skills and can devote many hours each day to learn. What about busy working Bnei Torah who have limited time to learn but want to properly master Hilchos Shabbos? Or people who are still building up their Gemara skills but want to learn the Gemara sugyas and Halacha?

Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen, a close talmid of Rav Berkovits who spent eight years as a Rosh Chaburah in Rav Berkovitss famous Jerusalem Kollel, with the Ravs haskama, took on the monumental task of adapting the Hebrew sheets into English. The material is written with care and with great clarity, as well as including the various opinions in the contemporary practical halacha.

For the past several years, Rabbi Gefen has been teaching this material to Torah learners throughout the world, on all levels of learning, and of all ages now as the founder of KinyanHilchosShabbos.com. Participants in each online chabura receive source sheets with explanations both in Hebrew and English, participate in a weekly Zoom shiur and ask questions by phone and email. Many have also successfully gained Smicha through thoroughly learning the material.

I would love to sit in Yeshiva half a day, but I have different hours. Says Dr. Eric Leibowitz who is a dentist in Brooklyn. Learning Hilchos Shabbos in Rabbi Gefens online chabura allowed for the flexibility I needed. Id always do Daf Yomi for many years, but always off and on. I was looking for something with some structure and with an end goal. This program enabled me to not only learn, but to retain what I learned in a structured way and the tests were very helpful. I felt like I accomplished something, I made a kinyan on something.

Over one thousand past and present participants in our online programs come from five continents and range from working Bnei Torah to full-time Kollel avreichim from Yerushalayim and Lakewood, as well as people who are still developing their Gemara skills, says Rabbi Dr. Yakov Pesah, director of the program and also a musmach of Rabbi Berkovits. Our vision is to enable Bnei Torah to learn halacha in a structured way and make it doable for any motivated person.

The program includes a weekly Zoom shiur which is recorded and can be reviewed later, tests on the material covered to enable the individual to evaluate their understanding of the material, and availability by email or phone for questions, clarifications, or further discussions.

Rabbi Gefen ran the Hilchos Shabbos program for our Kollel in Johannesburg. We achieved tremendous clarity on Hilchos Shabbos both in sugyas and in psak which is what you want when you learn Halacha. Says Rabbi Micha Kaplan who is an avrech in the Maharsha Community Kollel in Johannesburg and the Menahel of the Maharsha Boys High School.

The program includes the option of Smicha which is a wonderful source of pride for the individuals family. But its greatest benefit is that it will ensure that a person can lead his family to observing the laws of Shabbos with all their details.

Shlomo Gross who is originally from London and is a lawyer in Yerushalayim shares his experience: For people like me who are working full-time, this program was ideal. I benchmarked the Hilchos Shabbat coourse against the syllabus required for the Smicha exams of the Rabbanut and found that it was at least as comprehensive The Hilchos Shabbat Smicha course transported my learning to a completely different level.

Rabbi Berkovits adds: Theres a mitzva of Zachor es yom HaShabbos lkadsho  that mitzva is to remember Shabbos all the time. There is nothing like being involved in Hilchos Shabbos the whole week  your whole week is different and your Shabbos is different.

The new cycle of the Kinyhan Hilchos Shabbos program is starting on October 29th. For more information, tuition, and to receive an application visit KinyanHilchosShabbos.com.
Keeping quiet: Former Barclays boss Jes Staley

Former Barclays boss Jes Staley has been fined and banned from senior jobs in finance for misleading regulators over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

In a damning report, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said the banker acted 'recklessly' and with 'a lack of integrity' while at Barclays by insisting he was not close to the convicted sex offender.

Staley told regulators that his last contact with Epstein  who was also a friend of Prince Andrew  was 'well before' he was named the chief executive in October 2015.

In reality, emails between the two show Staley described Epstein as one of his 'deepest' and 'most cherished' friends. He was also in contact with Epstein three days before his appointment at Barclays was announced.

The FCA yesterday fined Staley 1.8m and banned him from holding any senior management position in finance.

'Mr Staley recklessly misled the FCA and acted with a lack of integrity,' it said. In response, Barclays said it would claw back or cancel 17.8m in bonuses and pay Staley was still due to receive.

Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said: 'A chief executive needs to exercise sound judgement and set an example to staff. Mr Staley failed to do this.

'We consider that he misled both the FCA and the Barclays board about the nature of his relationship with Mr Epstein.'

She added: 'It is right to prevent him holding a senior position in the financial services industry if we cannot rely on him to act with integrity by disclosing uncomfortable truths about his close personal relationship with Mr Epstein.'

Staley and Epstein met around the turn of the century when the former was head of JP Morgan bank and the latter was a client.

Epstein was arrested in the US on sex trafficking charges in July 2019, and killed himself in prison the following month. He had already been convicted on child prostitution charges in 2008.

The FCA asked Barclays in August 2019 what it had done to make sure there was no impropriety in the friendship between Staley and Epstein.

In a letter approved by Staley, Barclays said it was not a close friendship and their last contact had been 'well before' the 2015 appointment as chief executive.

The FCA said that these two statements were 'inaccurate and misleading'. Staley plans to appeal against the decision.

The regulator published email extracts between Staley and Epstein as evidence.

In November 2009, a year after Epstein's 2008 conviction, Staley wrote: 'I owe you much. And I deeply appreciate our friendship. I have few so profound.'

In January 2015, Staley said: 'The strength of a Greek army was that its core held shoulder to shoulder, and would not flee or break, no matter the threat. That is us.' In October 2015, before Barclays announced his appointment, he said: 'You never wavered in our friendship these last three years. That means a lot too [sic] me.'

The pair discussed Staley's career in October, including the confidential information that he had secured the top job at Barclays, contrary to the claims made in the letter to the FCA.

The regulator said Staley had misled Barclays.

He had 'an interest in giving Barclays the impression of a greater distance than was the case' and was 'aware of the risk' their association 'posed to his reputation and career', it said. Via his lawyer, Staley said: 'If I had known who Jeffrey Epstein really was, there is absolutely no doubt that I wouldn't be in the position I am in today.

'Prior to undertaking my former role, it was known that I had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. I am very disappointed by the FCA's decision and I will continue to challenge it.'
Rosenbaum Jay D. lowered its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 1.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 14,778 shares of the companys stock after selling 218 shares during the period. Rosenbaum Jay D.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $890,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the first quarter valued at approximately $77,000. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 16.7% in the first quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 12,227 shares of the companys stock valued at $758,000 after buying an additional 1,754 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 41.4% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 149,275 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,255,000 after buying an additional 43,680 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC boosted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 385.3% in the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 19,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,180,000 after buying an additional 15,110 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 11.9% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,840,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $176,115,000 after buying an additional 301,804 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.96% of the companys stock.

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Coca-Cola Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:KO opened at $54.42 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. The Coca-Cola Company has a 52-week low of $51.55 and a 52-week high of $64.99. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $58.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $60.75. The company has a market capitalization of $235.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 0.56.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The company reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.06. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 43.06% and a net margin of 23.81%. The business had revenue of $12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.74 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.70 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.38%. Coca-Colas payout ratio is currently 75.72%.

Insider Activity at Coca-Cola

In other Coca-Cola news, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.66, for a total transaction of $3,133,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares in the company, valued at $8,984,378.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Coca-Cola news, SVP Beatriz R. Perez sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.66, for a total transaction of $3,133,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 143,383 shares in the company, valued at $8,984,378.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO James Quincey sold 92,029 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.09, for a total value of $5,345,964.61. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,707,497.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 319,393 shares of company stock worth $19,467,980. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on KO. Citigroup decreased their price target on Coca-Cola from $74.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Coca-Cola from $69.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Barclays boosted their target price on Coca-Cola from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Wedbush boosted their target price on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Coca-Cola from $67.00 to $71.00 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 issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.73.

Read Our Latest Report on KO

About Coca-Cola

(Free Report)

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Free Report) (TSE:ITH) in a research report report published on Monday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Stock Performance

Shares of THM stock opened at $0.35 on Monday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $0.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.50. The company has a market cap of $68.56 million, a PE ratio of -35.00 and a beta of 0.77. International Tower Hill Mines has a fifty-two week low of $0.31 and a fifty-two week high of $0.75.

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International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Get Free Report) (TSE:ITH) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The mining company reported ($0.01) earnings per share for the quarter.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Tower Hill Mines

About International Tower Hill Mines

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines by 187.3% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $211,000 after acquiring an additional 140,462 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines by 15.8% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 202,713 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $85,000 after acquiring an additional 27,713 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines by 314.9% during the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 61,808 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 46,910 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.78% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds or has rights to acquire interests in the Livengood gold project covering an area of approximately 19,546 hectares located to the northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Amid the rising tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the international community has appealed for solutions to de-escalate the conflict.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL  Free Report) in a report released on Sunday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock.

Separately, TheStreet upgraded Greenhill & Co., Inc. from a d+ rating to a c rating in a research report on Monday, September 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and three have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Greenhill & Co., Inc. currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $11.83.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on GHL

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE GHL opened at $14.81 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $278.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.45 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a current ratio of 2.24, a quick ratio of 2.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.64. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a 1-year low of $5.64 and a 1-year high of $14.97. The stocks 50-day moving average is $14.77 and its 200 day moving average is $12.68.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The financial services provider reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $71.44 million for the quarter. Greenhill & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 24.40% and a net margin of 5.11%.

Greenhill & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 13th were issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 12th. Greenhill & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 71.43%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Greenhill & Co., Inc.

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GHL. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al bought a new stake in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $6,258,000. Prelude Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $5,265,000. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 334.7% in the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 452,252 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,170,000 after purchasing an additional 348,214 shares during the last quarter. Gardner Lewis Asset Management L P purchased a new position in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the second quarter worth $4,296,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 1,170.1% in the second quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 288,723 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,230,000 after purchasing an additional 265,991 shares during the last quarter. 61.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Greenhill & Co., Inc.

(Get Free Report)

Greenhill & Co, Inc, an independent investment bank, provides financial and strategic advisory services to corporations, partnerships, institutional investors, and governments worldwide. The company offers advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, private capital raising, and other similar transactions.

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Sagen MI Canada (OTCMKTS:GMICF  Get Free Report) and Hippo (NYSE:HIPO  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and risk.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

30.9% of Hippo shares are held by institutional investors. 11.3% of Hippo shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Sagen MI Canada and Hippo, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sagen MI Canada 0 0 0 0 N/A Hippo 0 2 3 0 2.60

Profitability

Hippo has a consensus price target of $27.38, suggesting a potential upside of 266.47%. Given Hippos higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Hippo is more favorable than Sagen MI Canada.

This table compares Sagen MI Canada and Hippos net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sagen MI Canada N/A N/A N/A Hippo -240.20% -56.30% -19.30%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Sagen MI Canada and Hippos gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Sagen MI Canada N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Hippo $119.70 million 1.48 -$333.40 million ($16.02) -0.47

Sagen MI Canada has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Hippo.

Summary

Hippo beats Sagen MI Canada on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Sagen MI Canada

(Get Free Report)

Sagen MI Canada Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a private residential mortgage insurer in Canada. It provides mortgage default insurance to residential mortgage homebuyers, lenders, brokers, and realtors. The company was formerly known as Genworth MI Canada Inc. and changed its name to Sagen MI Canada Inc. in February 2021. Sagen MI Canada Inc. was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Oakville, Canada.

About Hippo

(Get Free Report)

Hippo Holdings Inc. provides home protection insurance in the United States and the District of Columbia. Its insurance products include homeowners' insurance against risks of fire, wind, and theft; and personal and commercial insurance products. The company distributes insurance products and services through its technology platform; and offers its policies online, over the phone, or through licensed insurance agents. It provides care and protection for homeowners, as well as operates an integrated home protection platform. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

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Shares of Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $92.29.

Several research firms have commented on ORA. Roth Mkm raised shares of Ormat Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $92.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, August 7th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies from $85.00 to $87.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Ormat Technologies from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Ormat Technologies from $86.00 to $89.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Ormat Technologies in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating for the company.

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Ormat Technologies Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of Ormat Technologies stock opened at $68.88 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 44.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.69 and a current ratio of 1.79. The company has a fifty day moving average of $74.08 and a 200 day moving average of $80.57. Ormat Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $65.11 and a fifty-two week high of $101.81.

Ormat Technologies (NYSE:ORA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The energy company reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $194.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $196.74 million. Ormat Technologies had a net margin of 11.74% and a return on equity of 5.17%. Ormat Technologiess quarterly revenue was up 15.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.22 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Ormat Technologies will post 2.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ormat Technologies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 16th were issued a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 15th. Ormat Technologiess payout ratio is 30.97%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Isaac Angel sold 26,144 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.50, for a total value of $1,973,872.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 15,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,192,069.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Doron Blachar sold 11,315 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.58, for a total transaction of $855,187.70. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 17,934 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,355,451.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Isaac Angel sold 26,144 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.50, for a total transaction of $1,973,872.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,789 shares in the company, valued at $1,192,069.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 63,032 shares of company stock valued at $4,762,366 in the last ninety days. 1.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ormat Technologies

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Ormat Technologies by 6.6% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 9,093,461 shares of the energy companys stock worth $731,660,000 after acquiring an additional 565,321 shares during the period. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd increased its position in shares of Ormat Technologies by 7.7% during the first quarter. Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd now owns 2,318,362 shares of the energy companys stock worth $196,528,000 after acquiring an additional 166,625 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc increased its position in shares of Ormat Technologies by 17.5% during the first quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 2,119,477 shares of the energy companys stock worth $178,845,000 after acquiring an additional 315,055 shares during the period. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. increased its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 4.0% during the first quarter. Global Alpha Capital Management Ltd. now owns 2,001,707 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $169,533,000 after buying an additional 77,456 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp increased its holdings in Ormat Technologies by 7.6% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,947,280 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $165,071,000 after buying an additional 137,486 shares during the period. 88.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Ormat Technologies

(Get Free Report

Ormat Technologies, Inc engages in the geothermal and recovered energy power business in the United States, Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey, Chile, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Honduras, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electricity, Product, and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment develops, builds, owns, and operates geothermal, solar photovoltaic, and recovered energy-based power plants; and sells electricity.

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Carson Advisory Inc. bought a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 658 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $300,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board grew its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 12.4% in the second quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 11,800 shares of the companys stock worth $670,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 168.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 83,283 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,819,000 after buying an additional 52,207 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the first quarter valued at about $225,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 971.2% during the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 2,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $136,000 after buying an additional 2,088 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 169.5% during the first quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 247,975 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,348,000 after buying an additional 155,960 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on NWE shares. Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $48.00 to $41.00 in a report on Monday. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. They set an underweight rating and a $48.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. TheStreet cut shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Friday, August 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $59.00 to $55.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $53.50.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NYSE NWE opened at $49.60 on Thursday. The companys 50 day moving average is $50.85 and its 200-day moving average is $55.52. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $45.97 and a 12-month high of $61.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. The firm has a market cap of $3.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.45.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 24th. The company reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.51 by ($0.16). The business had revenue of $290.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $341.90 million. NorthWestern Energy Group had a net margin of 11.67% and a return on equity of 6.53%. Sell-side analysts predict that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.44 earnings per share for the current year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $0.64 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $2.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.16%. NorthWestern Energy Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 85.33%.

About NorthWestern Energy Group

(Free Report)

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and various industrial customers. It generates, purchases, transmits, and distributes electricity; and produces, purchases, stores, transmits, and distributes natural gas, as well as owns municipal franchises to provide natural gas service in the communities.

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Carson Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 723 shares of the auto parts companys stock, valued at approximately $321,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in shares of BorgWarner by 100,784.0% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 260,453,189 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $12,738,765,000 after acquiring an additional 260,195,018 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of BorgWarner by 2.2% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 26,131,243 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,016,505,000 after acquiring an additional 570,039 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of BorgWarner by 2.8% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,092,045 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $495,620,000 after acquiring an additional 276,554 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of BorgWarner by 1.0% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 7,091,584 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $348,258,000 after acquiring an additional 67,706 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. lifted its position in BorgWarner by 10.0% during the first quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 5,322,946 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $261,410,000 after buying an additional 484,794 shares in the last quarter. 92.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BWA has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on BorgWarner from $48.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on BorgWarner from $50.00 to $47.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. Barclays reduced their price objective on BorgWarner from $58.00 to $57.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. UBS Group assumed coverage on BorgWarner in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. They issued a buy rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Nomura downgraded BorgWarner from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $44.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, BorgWarner has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $51.48.

BorgWarner Price Performance

BWA stock opened at $39.98 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The company has a market capitalization of $9.40 billion, a PE ratio of 9.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.42. BorgWarner Inc. has a 12-month low of $31.55 and a 12-month high of $51.14. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $40.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $44.51.

BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The auto parts company reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.14 by $0.21. BorgWarner had a return on equity of 15.45% and a net margin of 5.63%. The firm had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.39 billion. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that BorgWarner Inc. will post 3.76 EPS for the current year.

About BorgWarner

(Free Report)

BorgWarner Inc provides solutions for combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles worldwide. It offers turbochargers, eBoosters, eTurbos, timing systems, emissions systems, thermal systems, gasoline ignition technology, smart remote actuators, powertrain sensors, canisters, cabin heaters, battery modules and systems, battery packs, battery heaters, and battery charging.

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The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on the stock from $191.00 to $173.00. The stock traded as low as $136.43 and last traded at $137.84, with a volume of 512300 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $140.43.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Estee Lauder Companies from $250.00 to $200.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 21st. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Estee Lauder Companies from $265.00 to $225.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 16th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Estee Lauder Companies from $265.00 to $195.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Estee Lauder Companies in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Estee Lauder Companies from $216.00 to $185.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Estee Lauder Companies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $200.22.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Estee Lauder Companies

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other Estee Lauder Companies news, Director Charlene Barshefsky sold 1,796 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.93, for a total value of $272,866.28. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 48,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,421,020.85. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . In other news, EVP Jane Lauder sold 12,661 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.75, for a total value of $1,933,967.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,523,450. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Also, Director Charlene Barshefsky sold 1,796 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.93, for a total value of $272,866.28. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 48,845 shares in the company, valued at $7,421,020.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Corporate insiders own 12.77% of the companys stock.

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its stake in Estee Lauder Companies by 56.1% during the 1st quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 1,339 shares of the companys stock worth $330,000 after buying an additional 481 shares during the period. Lincoln National Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 38.6% in the first quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 3,186 shares of the companys stock valued at $785,000 after buying an additional 887 shares during the period. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Estee Lauder Companies by 16.0% in the 1st quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 44,164 shares of the companys stock worth $10,885,000 after purchasing an additional 6,098 shares during the period. Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its holdings in Estee Lauder Companies by 21.8% during the 1st quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 3,485 shares of the companys stock worth $859,000 after purchasing an additional 623 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brookstone Capital Management raised its stake in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 10.1% in the 1st quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 2,587 shares of the companys stock valued at $655,000 after purchasing an additional 237 shares during the period. 55.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Estee Lauder Companies Trading Down 1.6 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The company has a market capitalization of $49.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 1.05. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $154.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $188.90.

Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 18th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $3.61 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.48 billion. Estee Lauder Companies had a return on equity of 21.79% and a net margin of 6.32%. The businesss revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.42 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. will post 3.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Estee Lauder Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were given a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. Estee Lauder Companiess payout ratio is presently 94.96%.

About Estee Lauder Companies

(Get Free Report)

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools.

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WASHINGTON TRUST Co lowered its stake in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 27,437 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 139 shares during the quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Cos holdings in BlackRock were worth $18,963,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in BLK. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $8,473,000. Sentry Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in BlackRock by 7.5% during the second quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC now owns 1,065 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $736,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its position in BlackRock by 5.1% in the second quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 3,403 shares of the asset managers stock worth $2,352,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. EA Series Trust bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter valued at $1,980,000. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of BlackRock by 6.8% during the 2nd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 641 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $443,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on BLK shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on BlackRock from $780.00 to $770.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the company from $770.00 to $835.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of BlackRock in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of BlackRock from $921.00 to $868.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on BlackRock from $814.00 to $800.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, BlackRock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $764.83.

BlackRock Price Performance

Shares of BlackRock stock traded down $2.32 during trading on Thursday, hitting $640.35. The stock had a trading volume of 111,740 shares, compared to its average volume of 628,948. The company has a current ratio of 4.21, a quick ratio of 4.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. BlackRock, Inc. has a 12 month low of $503.12 and a 12 month high of $785.65. The firm has a market cap of $95.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.29. The businesss 50-day moving average is $677.34 and its 200 day moving average is $680.92.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The asset manager reported $9.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.52 by $0.76. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.29% and a net margin of 29.90%. The business had revenue of $4.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.47 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $7.36 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that BlackRock, Inc. will post 35.15 earnings per share for the current year.

BlackRock Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a $5.00 dividend. This represents a $20.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is currently 58.41%.

Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock

In other news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of the 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,520,331.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other BlackRock news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 6,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,520,331.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Laurence Fink sold 20,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $742.04, for a total value of $14,989,208.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 464,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at $344,399,315. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

BlackRock Profile

(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.

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Miller Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 934.3% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 362 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 327 shares during the period. The Goldman Sachs Group comprises approximately 0.1% of Miller Wealth Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Miller Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $117,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the 1st quarter worth about $66,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1,505.1% during the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 41,300 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $13,633,000 after purchasing an additional 38,727 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.5% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 118,609 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $39,153,000 after purchasing an additional 18,540 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 366 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 118.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 310 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $102,000 after buying an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.06% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total transaction of $1,496,376.00. Following the completion of the sale, 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 document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total transaction of $1,496,376.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 124,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $44,457,330.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO David M. Solomon sold 10,000 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $345.71, for a total transaction of $3,457,100.00. Following the sale, 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. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

NYSE:GS traded down $1.64 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $311.38. The stock had a trading volume of 410,924 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,372,544. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a one year low of $287.75 and a one year high of $389.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $328.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $329.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $102.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.38.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 19th. The investment management company reported $3.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.25 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $10.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.61 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 8.27%. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue for the quarter was down 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $7.73 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 24.44 earnings per share for the current year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were issued a $2.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.53%. This is an increase from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $2.50. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is currently 46.93%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $403.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on 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. StockNews.com initiated coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $400.00 to $380.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Odeon Capital Group raised shares of 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 note on Thursday, July 13th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $392.76.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group Company 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.

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China remains the world's hot spot for global investment, noted representatives from multinational corporate giants and industry insiders at the fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit held in China.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
This aerial photo taken on Oct. 10, 2023 shows orange orchards in Fengjie County in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

CHONGQING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Yi Shoucai, an orange farmer in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, has a name that can be translated as "Easily Guardwealth," yet it was not easy for him to make a fortune in the first place.

Yi, 50, grew lychees in south China's Guangdong Province for seven years before deciding in 2004 to return to Chongqing's Fengjie County to start his own business -- growing oranges -- in Ouying Village, his hometown.

Fengjie, which sits on mountains overlooking the Yangtze River in the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, and its adjacent areas have everything orange trees need to flourish, including abundant sunlight, reddish sandy soil and balanced rainfall.

The experienced fruit grower started with 5 mu (0.33 hectare) of orange trees, but his high hopes were dampened by his initial harvests. Yi made only around 4,000 yuan (557 U.S. dollars) from a disappointing production of less than 5 tonnes of oranges annually.

Yi's biggest challenge turned out to be a nearby cement production plant which produced a great amount of smoke and other waste, forming a gray cloud that shrouded the village.

"Orange tree leaves were all covered with ashes. I would get gray too from head to toe after a short while of working in the field," he recalled.

Few people wanted Ouying's fruits due to the severe air and soil pollution, even though Yi sold them at a lower price. Some of his fellow orange growers gave up and left the village to seek jobs outside.

The lean and robust man persisted for years and the time finally came for his orchard to thrive. Local environmental protection authorities shut down the cement production plant in 2013 in accordance with the law amid a nationwide fight against pollution.

Guided by the vision of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," Fengjie, Chongqing and the entire China have abandoned development at the cost of the environment and shifted to the path of green growth.

With the dust cloud disappearing, mountains in Ouying Village were a brighter green again.

To boost orange growing and processing, Fengjie has since made continuous efforts to encourage using organic fertilizers, overhaul road and irrigation infrastructure, introduce new species of orange trees, and provide farmers with the latest knowledge.

"As the environment improved, soil quality also became better. We also keep updating farming skills. Our oranges are becoming sweeter and bigger with a more pleasant color," Yi said.

Now, 962 households in Ouying Village cultivate more than 7,500 mu of orange trees. Every household can rake in an average of over 100,000 yuan annually.

Seeing a sweet future, Yi has expanded his orchard to over 30 mu and his annual income can reach 300,000 yuan. This man indeed has a fortune to guard. 
AMMAN, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Thursday dispatched a plane with humanitarian aid including essential medical supplies to the Gaza Strip.

The relief plane will land in Egypt before making its way to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, following coordination with Egyptian authorities, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

The aid is aimed at helping ensure medical treatments amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties, with a death toll amounting to more than 2,600 as of Thursday. 
ONE Limerick boy got a special visit from garadi this week.

Gardai at Mayorstone garda station, Limerick made a very special visit to Little Blue Hero, Lucas Postovan on Tuesday, October 10 to present him with his new honorary garda uniform.

Little Blue Heroes Foundation was established in 2017 and is a not-for-profit registered charity voluntarily led by garda members, retired garda members and civic minded people from communities.

The charity's vision is to support families of children with serious illnesses in Ireland while empowering the lives of children through positive community engagement.

One of the services the charity provides is 'Honorary Gardai' which grant the wish of the children they support to become Honorary Gardai and provide Garda themed distraction toys and childrens events for their Little Blue Heroes.

Lucas was surrounded by his family when he accepted his new uniform with pride and joined the force!

Dima Postovan, father of Lucas Postovan, expressed his gratitude under the garda Facebook post said; Thank you very much to Eoin Kelly and Jonathan Scott, from our local garda station, for organising all this for our son Lucas. He was very excited about his new uniform and especially the blue lights and police siren. Lucas looks really awesome in blue. God bless you all.

The Little Blue Heros said; Welcome Honorary Garda Lucas to the team and we are delighted you got to meet your garda buddies from the Garda Siochana - Cork, Kerry & Limerick - Southern Region. We cannot wait to see you out on the beat soon.
Widening the rent tax credit to parents paying for their student children to stay in digs is a big win, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has said.

He said the move announced in the budget would see parents in line to save 1,750 euro, as they can claim the 750 euro rent credit for 2024 and backdated payments of 500 euro for both his year and last.

Mr Harris said the tax break was one of a series of measures that would benefit the higher and third level education sector.

The Union of Students Ireland (USI) has welcomed some of the steps in Budget 2024, including the extension of a reduction in the student contribution to tuition fees by 1,000 euro, down to 2,000 euro.

Students whose families earn less than 100,000 euro can claim an additional 500 euro discount.

But USI said the budget failed to tackle medium to long-term problems facing students, particularly significant accommodation shortages.

Before the budget Mr Harris had called for the rent tax credit to be increased from 500 euro to 1,000 euro. It was ultimately increased to 750 euro.

He said he was not disappointed with the level of increase.

On the rent tax credits, its good to be ambitious, he said of his call for 1,000 euro.

But Im very pleased with it, because the big win for my department, in terms of those that I particularly look out for  students and their families  is the backdating piece and the extension to the digs, he said.

So in fairness to my colleague, Minister McGrath (Finance Minister Michael McGrath), and I want to thank him for this explicit mention in the tax book on Budget Day, that the tax relief can now be claimed by parents of students in digs if the parents paid the rent, and then, even better, you can get it backdated since the introduction.

So that means someone who has a child in digs for the three years is 1,750 euro better off as a result of the budget just in relation to that rent aspect.
[October 12, 2023] Accelecom and Telecast Communications Enhance High-Speed Internet Services in LaRue County, Kentucky Tweet

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelecom , a leading provider of next-generation fiber solutions has been selected by Telecast Communications, a prominent telecommunications company based in LaRue County, Kentucky to assist Telecast in delivering high-quality, high-speed internet services to residents in rural Kentucky. Accelecom will deploy a high bandwidth network solution to bolster Telecast's network infrastructure. The aim of this endeavor is to empower Telecast Communications to serve its customers in the local rural market more efficiently, particularly those who are primarily residential customers. Telecast Communications Founder, Cameron Lasley stated, "We are excited to partner with Accelecom to provide our customers with improved high-speed internet services. This relationship aligns perfectly with our commitment to enhancing connectivity in LaRue County, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our community." Accelecom CEO, Brad Kilbey, also commented on he partnership, saying, "Accelecom is proud to work with Telecast Communications in expanding access to high-speed internet services in LaRue County, Kentucky. Our expertise in delivering reliable and scalable network solutions will enable Telecast to provide its customers with a superior solution and experience. We remain committed to our mission of bridging the digital divide in rural communities."



The relationship between Accelecom and Telecast Communications signifies a shared vision to bring high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved areas of the Commonwealth and in doing so contribute to economic development and improved quality of life. About Telecast Communications

Telecast Communications is a prominent telecommunications company based in LaRue County, Kentucky, with a commitment to enhancing connectivity in rural areas. They provide a wide range of telecommunications services, including high-speed internet access, to meet the growing demands of their residential and business customers. About Accelecom Accelecom is a leading provider of next-generation fiber solutions across the Southeastern United States, delivering high-speed network, internet, and voice solutions to Wholesale, Public Sector, and business customers across the Region. With its extensive fiber network and commitment to bridging the digital divide, Accelecom enables organizations to accelerate innovation, leverage emerging technologies & enhance digital transformation. For more information, visit the Accelecom website and follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn , Instagram, and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/accelecom-and-telecast-communications-enhance-high-speed-internet-services-in-larue-county-kentucky-301954395.html SOURCE Accelecom

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[October 12, 2023]

Kandao Meeting Ultra Honored with Good Design Award 2023 as a Comprehensive Standalone Video Conferencing Solution

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kandao Technology is proud to announce that the Kandao Meeting Ultra has been honored with the Good Design Award for 2023. Good Design Award is one of the most prestigious design awards globally, recognizing outstanding design and innovation across various industries. Kandao Meeting Ultra's selection for this accolade underscores its exceptional design and advanced capabilities.

Kandao Meeting Ultra: Redefining Conferencing Excellence

Kandao Meeting Ultra is an all-in-one conferencing device that has revolutionized the way professionals connect and collaborate. Combining cutting-edge technology with elegant design, it offers a comprehensive solution for both in-person and remote meetings.

Key Features of the Kandao Meeting Ultra Include

360-Degree Panoramic Views: The Meeting Ultra features dual fisheye lenses that capture entire conference rooms in stunning 360-degree panoramic views. This ensures that no attendee is left out, providing an immersive meeting experience.

4K Resolution with HR







With the capability to output in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second (FPS) with HDR, the Meeting Ultra delivers crystal-clear video quality, even in challenging lighting conditions.

Dual FHD Touchscreens

Dual FHD touchscreens positioned beneath the camera facilitate real face-to-face collaboration. Participants can see the meeting content while maintaining eye contact with remote colleagues.

Advanced Audio

The full-duplex audio system, featuring an eight-omnidirectional microphone array and a 10-Watt Hi-Fi speaker, ensures clear and natural voice transmission with a wide voice pickup range.

AI-Powered Features

The Meeting Ultra employs state-of-the-art AI detection algorithms and motion tracking to achieve low latency and accurate speaker localization and auto-framing. This ensures a seamless meeting experience.

Versatile Connectivity

Meeting Ultra can connect to computers as a USB device or operate as a stand-alone video conferencing terminal with its Android OS. It supports screen sharing through HDMI and screen mirroring and offers PoE power supply for network connectivity.

Data Security

Kandao prioritizes user data security, with the Meeting Ultra designed to protect privacy. It does not store IP addresses or locations, supports one-step log-out, and does not provide an open API.

Kandao Meeting Ultra has quickly become a game-changer in the world of conferencing technology, enhancing communication and collaboration for businesses and organizations across the globe.

About Kandao Technology

Kandao Technology is a leading innovator in the field of intelligent visual collaboration solutions. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on cutting-edge technology, Kandao empowers businesses and individuals to connect, collaborate, and communicate seamlessly in the digital age.

For more information about Kandao Meeting Ultra and Kandao Technology, please visit: https://www.kandaovr.com/meeting-ultra/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245360/Kandao_Meeting_Ultra_Honored_Good_Design_Award_2023_a_Comprehensive.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kandao-meeting-ultra-honored-with-good-design-award-2023-as-a-comprehensive-standalone-video-conferencing-solution-301954596.html
[October 11, 2023] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation of E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (ETWO) on Behalf of Investors Tweet

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. ("E2open" or the "Company") (NYSE: ETWO) on behalf of investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On October 10, 2023, after the market closed, the Compan announced its fiscal 2024 second quarter financial results. The Company reported second-quarter earnings of four cents per share, falling short of the analyst consensus estimate of five cents, and a 20% decrease compared to earnings of five cents per share in the same period last year. The Company also cut its fiscal year 2024 projected revenue from $655M-$670M to $625M-$635, a decrease of $30M-$35M.



The same day, the Company announced the departure of Michael A. Farlekas who had been serving as the Company's Chief Executive Officer. On this news, E2open's stock price fell $2.20, or 50.1%, to close at $2.19 per share on October 11, 2023, thereby injuring investors.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased E2open securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011142903/en/

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[October 11, 2023] Gunze to Invest 5.7 billion JPY to Expand Konan Plant in Japan for Growth of Engineering Plastics Business Tweet

Gunze Limited (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan, President: Toshiyasu Saguchi) [TOKYO: 3002] is pleased to announce that Gunze has decided to invest in the expansion of its Konan plant with a target completion date of March 2025 to support the growth of its engineering plastics business. This investment is in response to growing demand in the medical device and semiconductor markets.

The Konan Plant began operations in 1990 as the core plant for the engineering plastics business. Since then, the plant has expanded its business by developing and supplying tubes, belts and other components for the office automation market and various industries, utilizing its proprietary processing technologies for fluoropolymers and polyimide resins. The new building will have exterior with high thermal insulation, high-efficiency lighting & air conditioning and photovoltaic power generation to reduce CO2 emissions, and will achieve an environmental performance rating of B+ or higher under the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (*CASBEE) certification.

Gunze promotes company-wide activities to reduce the environmental impact of its business activities, strives for environmentally friendly management, and contributes to the development of the local community by revitalizing the economy and creating new employment opportunities in the local Aichi Prefecture. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011505630/en/ Gunze Konan plant and image of newly constructed plant (Graphic: Business Wire)







*CASBEE is a method for evaluating and rating the environmental performance of buildings and the built environment. CASBEE was developed by a research committee established in 2001 through the collaboration of academia, industry and national and local governments, which established the Japan Sustainable Building Consortium under the auspice of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan. (Source: Institute for Built Environment and Carbon Neutral for SDGs)

Overview of the expansion of the Konan plant. Location 1, Toritsuke, Murakuno-cho, Konan, Aichi, Japan Total investment Approx. 5.7 billion JPY Structure Steel frame, 2 stories Building area 4,396 square meters Total floor area 8,121 square meters Main products Products utilizing the functionality of engineering plastics in the medical device and semiconductor markets Construction schedule Start of construction in February 2024, start of operation in May 2025 About Gunze and its Engineering Plastics business.

Founded in 1896 in Kyoto, Japan, Gunze is a leading developer and manufacturer of engineering plastics, plastic films, medical devices, apparel, and other products. Gunze employs more than 5,200 people in 10 countries worldwide.

The Engineering Plastics business, established in 1982, has a significant presence in over 20 countries. Its head office and manufacturing facility are located in Aichi, Japan. It manufactures and markets functional components used in photocopiers, printers and other office equipment. These components have also been adopted for industrial manufacturing processes. Our thin-walled PFA tubes for fuser rollers/belts and transfer belts have brought innovation to the office automation market, enabling excellent image printing quality. Designed to meet a wide range of customer needs, our high-quality functional components for industrial applications help maintain the quality of products with stain-resistant properties. Even in behind-the-scenes components, Gunze Engineering Plastics provide a "Comfort solutions for life".

*Engineering Plastics business website: https://www.gunze.co.jp/e/epd/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011505630/en/

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[October 11, 2023] Suvoda Introduces Advanced Drug Optimization For IRT to Improve Accuracy of Clinical Trial Drug Supply Management Tweet

Greater Control Over Drug Supply Management Helps Sponsors Reduce Costs and Carbon Footprint PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Suvoda LLC, a global clinical trial technology company that specializes in complex studies in therapeutic areas like oncology, central nervous system (CNS), and rare disease, announced a new Advanced Drug Optimization feature as part of its latest Interactive Response Technology (IRT) release. This new functionality offers sponsors of clinical drug trials improved drug supply management, delivering cost savings and helping companies to reduce their carbon footprint. Traditionally, drug supply strategies have relied on static quantities of initial drug shipments and buffers, often leading to excessive orders to ensure enough medication is available during a trial. Buffers, a common tool for ensuring adequate medication supply at sites, create average upper and lower limits for medication stock at all trial sites and automatically trigger medication orders if supplies hit the low limit. Suvoda's Advanced Drug Optimization feature is an innovative approach that allows drug supply managers to fine-tune their supply strategies by creating "advanced rules" that factor in enrollment variables, such as participant weight, projected screen failure rates, and treatment ratios. The result is more granular and dynamic supply forecasts, which may translate to significant cost savings. Further, by enabling more precise drug optimization, sponsors may cut back on packaging and shipping, which translates to a better carbon footprint score in support of corporate sustainability goals. "Suvoda's new enhancement is an example of how we listen to the needs of our customers and deliver tools that help our sponsors and partners," said Lisa Li, director of IRT product management with Suvoda. "We heard from drug supply managers that they were concerned about the impact of drug oversupply across the entire supplychain, including raw materials, manufacturing, storage, shipping, and packing materials. Helping study managers fine-tune supply can maximize trial resources and increase efficiencies."



The Advance Drug Optimization feature aligns with Suvoda's mission to deliver purpose-built e-clinical solutions that give sponsors command over trials with complex drug supply management needs. Examples include trials with patient cohorts featuring large variations that can affect enrollment dosage, such as pediatric trials. Other trial designs that could benefit from this functionality include those involving high-cost drugs, high screen failure rates, and large trials with numerous subjects per site. This enhancement also strengthens Suvoda's partnership with N-SIDE, a deep tech company that empowers organizations in the clinical trials industry to make better decisions and optimize the use of critical resources. Together, Suvoda and N-SIDE seamlessly deliver integrated forecasting and supply-chain optimization to help studies reduce drug supply cost and wastage.

"As a Suvoda partner, we are excited about this feature. We've quantified the impact of this advanced functionality on hundreds of trials, and it generally reduces drug needs by more than 10 percent," said Amaury Jeandrain, vice president of strategy, life sciences, for N-SIDE. "Suvoda has always been committed to innovating on drug supply to ensure that its IRT solution continues to give sponsors the greatest amount of visibility and control possible. And, Advanced Drug Optimization gives us more tools to help our joint customers meet their drug supply needs in ways that better support their clinical trial and organizational goals." Learn more about Suvoda IRT for clinical trials. About Suvoda

Suvoda is a global clinical trial technology company specializing in complex, life-sustaining studies in therapeutic areas like oncology, central nervous system (CNS), and rare disease. Founded in 2013 by experts in eClinical technologies, Suvoda empowers clinical trial professionals to manage the most urgent moments in the most urgent trials through advanced software solutions delivered on a single platform. Headquartered outside Philadelphia, Suvoda also maintains offices in Portland, OR, Barcelona, Spain, Bucharest and Iasi, Romania, and Tokyo, Japan. The company's Net Promoter Score (NPS) consistently exceeds the technology industry average, contributing to the company being selected by trial sponsors and CROs to support more than 1,000 trials across 80 countries. To learn more, visit suvoda.com and follow Suvoda on LinkedIn. For information contact: Mara Conklin, (847) 340-6823

[email protected] Kathy Zoeller, (312) 485-2422

kathy@mattsonpr.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1759317/Suvoda_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/suvoda-introduces-advanced-drug-optimization-for-irt-to-improve-accuracy-of-clinical-trial-drug-supply-management-301951754.html SOURCE Suvoda LLC

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[October 11, 2023] 400 China Basin Announces New Website Launch for BMR Condo Project in San Francisco's Mission Bay Tweet

400 China Basin, a significant BMR (Below Market Rate) condo initiative situated in the heart of San Francisco's Mission Bay, proudly announces the launch of its brand new website at www.400chinabasin.com. Sponsored by the City's Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, 400 China Basin offers a unique opportunity for Middle-Income, First Time Homebuyers under the City's Limited Equity Program. The website, expertly developed by Shereen Hadid of Hadid Concepts LLC, a specialist in Marketing, Branding, Web Development, and Creative Strategy, aims to keep eligible applicants updated with the latest news, events, and advancements related to the lottery process in allocating the condo units. Additionally, visitors can immerse themselves in insightful content aboutSan Francisco's Mission Bay area and gain valuable insights about embarking on the journey of new homeownership.



Veteran affordable housing developers Michael Simmons, Charmaine Curtis, and the team at Young Community Developers collaborated on this vital project. With Baines Nibbi JV at the helm of construction and award-winning architects Mithun and Y.A. Studio on the design front, this initiative is backed by a star-studded lineup of experts. Each firm involved boasts over 25 years of experience in developing both market rate and affordable housing in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area. The endeavor is not only about bricks and mortar. During the purchase process, buyers will be in the safe hands of a seasoned team comprising housing counselors, buyer's advocates, and sales agents, all of whom have substantial BMR experience.

400 China Basin is an integral component of a broader initiative spearheaded by the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure. The ambitious plan aims to construct 1,100 affordable housing units in Mission Bay, which includes two special sites earmarked exclusively for first-time homebuyers. 400 China Basin is one of the last developments of this initiative. "We're thrilled to introduce our new website to potential homeowners and the community. Our goal is to provide an accessible platform where people can receive timely updates, learn more about the area, and prepare for the exciting journey of homeownership in Mission Bay," said developer and project coordinator Michael Simmons. For more information or to explore the website, visit www.400chinabasin.com. About 400 China Basin: 400 China Basin is a premier BMR condo project in San Francisco's Mission Bay, offering permanent affordable home ownership to middle-income individuals and families. The project stands as a testament to the city's commitment to providing quality housing options for its diverse population. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011156320/en/

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PHNOM PENH, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The China-Cambodia Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Center was launched in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Thursday, aiming to develop TCM in the Southeast Asian country.

Cambodia's Health Minister Chheang Ra, and Yu Yanhong, head of China's National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian jointly unveiled the center, which is located at the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital.

Speaking at the event, Chheang Ra said the center was a new achievement in the health sector under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation framework between Cambodia and China.

"The center has provided fresh momentum to the development of the health sector in Cambodia, contributing further to building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future in a new era," he said.

Yu said China has paid attention to the development of TCM, saying that TCM is very effective to treat a number of diseases.

Yu added that China would help develop the China-Cambodia Traditional Chinese Medicine Center into a high quality TCM center overseas.

Wang said the center is a new step in cooperation between the two countries in the field of traditional medicine.

"The center will not only offer health protection to local people in Cambodia, but also provide high-quality and high-level TCM professionals to Cambodian medical practitioners," he said.

The hospital's deputy director Mey Sithach said traditional Chinese medical teams, who have worked at the Chinese Medicine Clinic located at the hospital, have so far offered high-quality medical checkup and treatment to some 11,791 patients.

He said the center is very useful, offering medical diagnosis and serving the healthcare need of the Cambodian people.

"This TCM center will serve as a training venue for Cambodian medical practitioners across the country to gain insights into the TCM," he told Xinhua. "It will also promote cooperation between traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Cambodian medicine." 
[October 11, 2023] MoneySmart Group Reports Strong H1 2023 Performance and eyes 2025 IPO Tweet

The Group saw H1 2023 revenue growth surge to 37% whilst achieving positive operating cash flow.

As part of future growth and innovation plans, investments into customer-focused initiatives to enhance customer experience will be prioritised.

With a continued commitment to sustainable growth, the company maintains its plans for an IPO within the next two years.

The Group will also be pursuing a pre-IPO funding round to facilitate its international expansion. SINGAPORE, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MoneySmart Group, Southeast Asia's leading personal finance group comprising two dynamic brands, MoneySmart and Bubblegum, announces remarkable growth and exciting future prospects following a strong H1 2023 financial performance despite challenging prevailing market conditions. Continued Revenue Growth and Robust Financial Performance Building on the success of 2022, marked by a significant revenue increase of 27%, MoneySmart Group continued its upward trajectory in H1 2023. Overall revenue growth surged to an impressive 37%, outpacing industry peers in the region. During this period, MoneySmart Group experienced record-breaking months of revenue growth, which culminated in revenues of SGD24 million. This strong first-half growth was bolstered by a 53% growth in margins, resulting in increased profitability. MoneySmart Group also reached a major financial milestone in H1 2023 by successfully generating positive operating cash flow. Raymond Ong, Chief Financial Officer, MoneySmart Group said, "Our strong first-half performance reflects our commitment to financial sustainability and operational excellence. This growth underscores our ability to execute on strategic initiatves and positions us favourably for the future. We are excited about the path ahead and remain focused on delivering value to our stakeholders while maintaining our financial strength and efficiency."



Investing in Future Growth and Innovation As part of the company's ongoing mission to push the boundaries of how customers discover and purchase financial products, MoneySmart Group will be enhancing customer-focused initiatives aimed at elevating the customer experience and driving further growth and profitability. These initiatives include:

Enhancing customer retention through personalised experiences and rewards across both the MoneySmart and Bubblegum brands.

Leveraging AI and automation to improve customer experiences and operational efficiency. These include areas such as product recommendations, customer service and back-end automation.

Advancing the development of value-driven insurance products under the Bubblegum brand. Strategic Focus on Scalable Growth In remaining steadfast in its mission to build a sustainable and profitable business, the Group is also announcing its intention to pursue a public listing within the next two years, signaling a strong commitment to long-term growth. Pre-IPO Round for International Expansion To fuel international expansion, strategic tuck-in acquisitions and the enhancement of product and technology capabilities, MoneySmart Group will be looking to raise a meaningful Pre-IPO funding round. Vinod Nair, Founder and CEO, MoneySmart Group, shared, "While we are in a strong position and do not strictly need to fundraise, we believe that it is the right time to look at international expansion organically and inorganically to accelerate our growth. We are eager to partner with investors and partners who share our clear visionthat technology is poised to revolutionise the way consumers discover and purchase financial products in the near future." About MoneySmart Group MoneySmart Group is one of Southeast Asia's largest personal finance portals, helping millions of people on their journey to achieve their financial goals. MoneySmart provides a financial marketplace, comparison and content platform for consumers to make informed product choices across a range of banking, insurance and investment products. We do the hard work of compiling the information and facts to make it easy for you to compare and choose what's best for you. Under our Bubblegum brand, we aim to create desirable insurance products and experiences and to become the winning digital insurance brand of the future. For more information, please visit www.moneysmart.com . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moneysmart-group-reports-strong-h1-2023-performance-and-eyes-2025-ipo-301954412.html SOURCE MoneySmart Group

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[October 11, 2023] China's first hydrogen-powered ship makes maiden voyage Tweet

YICHANG, China, Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No. 1", China's first hydrogen-powered ship,made its maiden voyage in Yichang City in central China's Hubei Province on Wednesday morning, marking a breakthrough in the country's application of hydrogen fuel cell technology in inland waterway vessels. The vessel has a steel-aluminum composite structure with a total length of 49.9 meters, a beam of 10.4 meters, and a draft of 3.2 meters. Powered by a 500 kW hydrogen fuel cell, the ship has a maximum cruise range of 200 kilometers. After delivery, it is used for transportation, patrol and emergency response in the Three Gorges reservoir area and between the Three Gorges-Gezhouba dams. The ship is jointly developed by companies like China State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Yangtze Power Corporation and Jianglong Shipbuilding, and institutions like Wuhan Changjiang Ship Design Institute and the Three Gorges Navigation Authority. It's also the first hydrogen-powered boat certified by the China Classification Society. In recet years, the application of new energy power propulsion technology has become a key focus for developing green ships. Hydrogen energy is pollution-free, renewable and highly efficient, and hydrogen fuel cells can boost energy efficiency, achieve zero emissions and improve cruise comfort, making them ideal power propulsion devices for green ships.



Compared with traditional fuel-powered ships, the hydrogen-powered vessel is expected to replace 103.16 tons of fuel oil and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 343.67 tons each year. The vessel can have energy supplied at the green electricity and green hydrogen demonstration station of the Three Gorges located at the Yangjia Bay in the lower reaches of the gorges.

As China's first inland dock-type hydrogen production and refueling station, it uses the clean electric energy generated by the Three Gorges power station to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen, which will be directly supplied to hydrogen-powered ships after compression, storage and filling. The station can supply 240 kilograms of hydrogen per hour. Meanwhile, the 2023 China (Yichang) Green Energy Development Conference was held from October 10 to 12 in Yichang, which is home to the country's mega Three Gorges hydro-power project, rich in green energy resources and enjoys great development potential and strong growth momentum in the field, according to Yichang Three Gorges International Communication Studio. In a bid to further promote clean energy cooperation and build a shared exchange platform among governments, enterprises and experts, the conference is expected to boost the development of wind energy, solar energy, hydropower, energy storage and hydrogen power, as well as the integrated development of the supply, transmission, consumption and storage of energy. The conference will provide strong support for promoting the green energy industry's high-quality development in Hubei and other provincial-level regions along the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the rest of the country, contributing to the building of an ecologically beautiful China. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442621 Caption: The "Three Gorges Hydrogen Boat No. 1" is cruising on the Yangtze River. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinas-first-hydrogen-powered-ship-makes-maiden-voyage-301954428.html SOURCE Yichang Three Gorges International Communication Studio

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[October 12, 2023] Hosted Buyer Program Restarted with Upgrades -- Worry-free Sourcing and Accurate Matchmaking at 29th China (Guzhen) International Lighting Fair Tweet

ZHONGSHAN, China, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The industry enters the peak season with booming business opportunities in the golden autumn. Catching the eye of global lighting professionals, the 29th China (Guzhen) International Lighting Fair ("Lighting Fair") is to be held in Guzhen Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China from October 22 to 26, 2023! On the theme of "Guzhen Lights up the World", Guzhen Lighting Fair is positioned to be specialized, market-oriented, and globalized and based on an industrial cluster with an output value of over RMB 100 billion. Focusing on exports and promoting domestic sales, this year's edition of Guzhen Lighting Fair is expected to be a grand procurement event stage both online and offline in the charming autumn. Over 3,300 Brands Featured in Exhibition Halls and Stores This year's exhibition further optimizes the "1 Fair + 8 Sub-venues" Mode. Featuring over 3,300 enterprises, the grand exhibition will be staged at the main venue at the Guzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre, together with the eight sub-venues (Lihe Lighting Expo Center, Huayi Plaza, Star Alliance Global Brand Lighting Center, Lighting Era Center, Guzhen Chang'an Lighting Parts & Electronic City, Caosan International Lighting Parts City, Guyi Qingfeng LED Lighting Trading City and Guyi Ruifeng International Lighting Fittings City) with a total area of over 1.5 million square meters. In the Main Venue- Guzhen Exhibition and Convention Center, a brand-new Hall G and Start-up Zone is newly added, and the Lighting X Camping Zone is upgraded. The exhibits come from the entire industry chain, covering intelligent lighting, home lighting, commercial lighting, outdoor lighting, accessories, mechanical equipment, hardware, doors and windows, kitchen and bathroom articles. The event also caters to the trends of IoT systems, new energy, cultural and tourism lighting, highlighting segments such as intelligent systems, education and office, plant lighting, battery-powered lighting, and landscape lighting. Exhibits are displayed in lifelike scenes, allowing buyers to immerse themselves in the lighting environment. "Restarted" Offline Hosted Buyer Program, Which Is More Accurate and Efficient In the past three years, the Hosted Buyer Program (HBP) had to be held online as many overseas buyers were unable to attend it in person. Live streaming, cloud factory visits, online pairing, and other fors helped both buyers and sellers build a smooth and unimpeded bridge for transactions and received unanimous appreciation from manufacturers by solving the time and space constraints for trading partners.



China has fully reopened its borders to foreign visitors, which means domestic and foreign industry professionals can explore more opportunities for cooperation. Focuses on exports, the 29th Guzhen Lighting Fair has "restarted" an upgraded version of HBP by inviting international procurement delegations with strong comprehensive strength and interests in cooperation from Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and other regions. Over 300 overseas buyers with strong purchasing intentions will participate in the HBP, which helps companies expand their networks and business opportunities by effectively building an international and high-end trade and communication platform. Upgrades to this year's HBP are reflected in four aspects:

1. Warm Welcome Reception To welcome professional buyers from around the world to the "world-class lighting capital" upon their arrival, the Welcome Reception will introduce the advantages of Guzhen, an overview of Guzhen Lighting Fair, and profiles of the buyers for the overseas buyers to feel the hospitality of Guzhen. 2. Accurate Business Matchmaking 100 overseas buyers have been selected to collect their needs and requirements before the exhibition, which will be matched with exhibitors at the site, reducing communication costs between buyers and exhibitors and improving the rate of successful negotiations. 3. Immersive Sourcing Tour The organizers collaborate with Huayi Plaza to allow overseas visitors to experience the convenience brought by the exhibition model of "exhibition halls + stores" in addition to visits and sourcing activities at the main venue. The sub-venues present high-end products in different styles, matching the different procurement needs of buyers and meeting their demand for one-stop procurement. 4. Networking Party Exhibitors and overseas buyers will be able to talk about cooperation in a comfortable and free atmosphere accompanied by delicious food and music bands. At the cocktail parties, they will meet and interact, share information, negotiate business, and achieve win-win results for all stakeholders. Prominent Buyers, Large Orders, Strict Selection of Sellers and Seamless Matchmaking "Global, strict selection, precision, and innovation" are the keywords of the HBP. A large number of overseas buyers from India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Greece, Kenya, Singapore, the United States, Canada, and other countries have been invited based on historical big data analysis and comparison. They are all prominent businesses with renowned brands, large scales, and high reputations, with revenues of over one million or even tens of millions of dollars, such as Power Palazzo, Prachi International Lights, and Hitech Lights Limited. Moreover, their representatives have decision-making power and will visit the site in person. On the supply chain side, the organizers have also carefully selected exhibitors with certain scales in export. They possess certificates from authorities, such as CE/ROHS (Europe), FEE/UL (United States), CSA (North America), IC (Canada), GS (Germany, Europe), SAA (Australia), PSE (Japan), and KC (South Korea). The B2B websites integrating exhibition and the Internet- Denggle.com and EZBuy -- are being further optimized and improved to truly bring closer sellers and buyers for trade cooperation, further reduce the visit time, costs, and labor costs of overseas buyers in a more professional and thoughtful way in matchmaking, achieve precise matchmaking, bidirectional empowerment, cost reduction and efficiency increase, and build the HBP a unique gilded business card of Guzhen Lighting Fair. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hosted-buyer-program-restarted-with-upgrades----worry-free-sourcing-and-accurate-matchmaking-at-29th-china-guzhen-international-lighting-fair-301954440.html SOURCE China (Guzhen) International Lighting Fair

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[October 12, 2023] European Commission Backs RINA's Hydra Project to Reduce Steel Emissions Tweet

GENOA, Italy, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Commission and the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy have backed the ambitious Hydra project led by RINA, a multinational engineering consultancy, inspection and certification company. By 2025, the research project aims to create a pioneering 100% hydrogen-fuelled pilot plant capable of producing up to seven tonnes of steel per hour, with a significant reduction in carbon emissions. The steel industry currently accounts for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions. With each tonne of steel production releasing an average of 1.63 tonnes of CO 2 , there is a pressing need for more sustainable solutions. The open research Hydra project aims to reduce emissions to mere kilograms of CO 2 per tonne of steel and will make this world-changing technology available to the industry on the way to net zero. Located at RINA's Centro Sviluppo Materiali (CSM) in Castel Romano, Italy, and funded through an 88M European Commission NextGenerationEU investment, the six-year Hydra initiative is part of the IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) programme and will involve a dedicated team of 120 people. The project's innovation lies in its extensive use of hydrogen throughout the steel production process. By 2025, the facility is set to feature a direct iron ore reduction (DRI) tower, hich will use hydrogen as its primary reducing agent, as well as an electric furnace and a reheating furnace.



Through a testing and qualification hub, the project will also characterise the materials, equipment and internal infrastructure required, including transportation and storage, by steel producers to transition to 100% hydrogen fuelled steel production. Ugo Salerno, Chairman and CEO of RINA, reflected on the project's potential: "The Hydra project underscores our commitment to sustainable innovation. While it offers a technological shift, its unique open research nature ensures that its benefits can be shared across the steel industry. Our aim isn't just to benefit one player but to contribute to the industry's collective move towards more eco-friendly processes. This is why the Hydra project has been supported since its inception by leading European steel producers, plant suppliers, utilities and major stakeholders in the sector."

Furthermore, thanks to its extensive experience in hydrogen-based decarbonisation technologies, among which the world's first test of a 30% gas-hydrogen blend in steel forging, RINA plans to introduce a training centre as part of the Hydra project, focusing on the intricacies of their application. This centre is expected to serve as an international hub, fostering collaboration and research among stakeholders in the steel and energy sectors. As industries worldwide grapple with the realities of climate change and the push for decarbonisation, projects like Hydra signal a positive shift and underscores the European Commission's commitment to the broader adoption of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. RINA, leading certification company and engineering company in Italy, provides a wide range of services across the Energy, Marine, Certification, Infrastructure & Mobility, Real Estate and Industry sectors. With revenues in 2022 of 725 million euros, 5,300 employees and 200 offices in 70 countries worldwide, RINA is a member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/european-commission-backs-rinas-hydra-project-to-reduce-steel-emissions-301953995.html

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[October 12, 2023] Aclid Closes Oversubscribed $3.3 Million Seed Funding Round to Advance Biosecurity and Compliance Tweet

Startup creates security and compliance automation platform for gene and oligo synthesis providers NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aclid, the security and compliance automation platform for the biotechnology industry, today announced it closed an oversubscribed seed financing of $3.3 million. The funding will enable Aclid to meet customer demand for its real-time screening and verification platform. The financing was led by 2048 Ventures and IA Ventures. "Before Aclid, DNA synthesis providers struggled with error-prone, time-consuming, and expensive manual approaches to biosecurity and compliance. We knew we could make an automated product that is simple to deploy, keeps security teams focused on the most important risks, and always up-to-date with the latest regulations," said Kevin Flyangolts, Aclid Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Gene synthesis providers using our solution already spend less time reviewing orders and managing compliance. We're excited to have the support of 2048 Ventures, IA Ventures, and our advisors to help secure DNA synthesis, the foundation of the bioeconomy. " Julie Wolf, Ph.D., principal at 2048 Ventures, commented, "DNA synthesis is rapidly growing and decentralizing  a great step toward building a better future with biology. As the industry grows, we must ensure that this critical technology is used for the benefit of humanity. Aclid's biosecurity platform ensures the safe and rapid growth of the bioeconomy." Securing Gene Synthesis to Reduce Risks In July 2023, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Representative Anna Eshoo (CA-16) introduced the Securing Gene Synthesis Act that mandates DNA synthesis providers to comply with screening regulations.



Separately, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is strengthening its 2010 Screening Framework Guidance for Providers of Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA to cover oligonucleotides and gene synthesis equipment, including bench-top DNA synthesizers. "In the 13 years since the release of the first DNA screening guidelines, security, and compliance have never been more important or more challenging for the gene synthesis industry," said Harris Wang, Ph.D., Aclid Scientific Founder. "By automating the most time-consuming parts of the process - customer verifications and follow-up - Aclid makes it easy for gene synthesis providers to stay compliant."

Aclid was founded by Columbia University Professor of Systems Biology Harris Wang, Ph.D., and Kevin Flyangolts. Bringing together their synthetic biology and engineering backgrounds, they formed Aclid to make genetic engineering safer. About Aclid

Aclid is the security and compliance automation platform for biotechnology. Gene synthesis providers use Aclid to verify customers, screen DNA and RNA orders for pathogenic and toxic elements, and automate compliance checks. As the bioeconomy becomes more accessible and grows from the adoption of digital tools, lab automation, and AI, it also creates new security concerns. Aclid is growing the bioeconomy by making genetic engineering more accessible and safer. For more information, visit aclid.bio or follow on Twitter and LinkedIn . About 2048 Ventures

2048 Ventures is a thesis-driven, earliest-stage venture capital firm that leads pre-seed and seed rounds in startups that are building businesses differentiated through technology and data. 2048 Ventures is a distributed team that invests across the US, Canada, and the UK. For more information, visit 2048.vc. About IA Ventures

IA Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm investing in software businesses ahead of product-market fit. Since its founding in 2010, IA has backed more than 100 companies including Datadog, The Trade Desk, TransferWise, Flatiron Health, Komodo Health, DataRobot, DigitalOcean, and Recorded Future. For more information, visit iaventures.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aclid-closes-oversubscribed-3-3-million-seed-funding-round-to-advance-biosecurity-and-compliance-301952847.html SOURCE Aclid

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[October 12, 2023] TaxBit Launches DAC7 Compliance Solution for Digital Marketplaces Tweet

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TaxBit , the leading tax and accounting compliance solution for the digital economy, announced its DAC7 compliance solution, designed to automate tax compliance for online marketplaces based in the EU or paying sellers in the EU. The newly launched offering, TaxBit DAC7 Compliance Solution, establishes a seamless data collection workflow for new and existing customers, streamlining the collection, storage, remediation of issues, and information verification, then generating the end-of-year report to EU member states. TaxBit unveils DAC7 Solution for EU digital marketplaces. Streamlining tax compliance. In the ever-evolving digital economy landscape, TaxBit positions itself at the forefront, empowering businesses to navigate the intricacies of taxation with trust, accuracy, and compliance. Designed by CPAs and tax attorneys, TaxBit serves enterprises, financial institutions, and government entities with a mission to support the global economy through a single system of record that simplifies complexities and enhances transparency. Aligned with the DAC7 regulatory frameork, which mandates reporting from January 1 to December 31, TaxBit's DAC7 compliance solution is tailored to address reporting obligations due by January 31 of the subsequent year. With the initial requirement centered on 2023 data collection and the next generation of the 2024 report, this regulatory framework applies to all digital platforms with sellers in the EU, making TaxBit's DAC7 solution a timely compliance enabler.



Key Features of TaxBit's DAC7 Compliance Solution includes: Effortless Onboarding: Seamlessly collect Personal Identifiable Information (PII) within your app by embedding TaxBit's tool, automatically verifying information against EU databases for accurate user data. Securely store, review, and audit PII and tax documentation.

DAC7 Reporting: Power the annual DAC7 XML Report generation to EU Member States, with end-user recipient copies accessible through the TaxBit Dashboard and API endpoints, offering a streamlined and comprehensive solution for reporting compliance. TaxBit Dashboard: Establish a secure central hub for managing essential tax, accounting, and compliance procedures, providing a dedicated space for storing and organizing customer data and related DAC7 tax documentation. "As the digital economy continues to evolve, TaxBit remains committed to simplifying the complexities of tax compliance for businesses globally," says Erin Fennimore, Vice President of Tax Solutions at TaxBit. "The TaxBit DAC7 Compliance Solution is a testament to our dedication to providing digital marketplaces with a solution that fosters trust, accuracy, and compliance in an ever-changing regulatory landscape." For more information about TaxBit and its DAC7 Compliance Solution, please visit https://taxbit.com/dac7-compliance-solutions/ About TaxBit

TaxBit, designed by CPAs and tax attorneys, is the leading tax and accounting compliance solution for the digital economy. Providing tax and accounting solutions for enterprises, financial institutions, and government bodies at scale, the TaxBit platform is modernizing the otherwise complex and manual  from automating tax document issuance to crypto accounting. TaxBit is SOC 1 Type 1, SOC 2 Type 2 attestation and ISO 27001 certified. TaxBit has secured over $235 million from leading global investors, including Tiger Global, Haun Ventures, PayPal Ventures. TaxBit has headquarters in Draper, Utah, with offices in Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Washington D.C. For more information, please visit www.taxbit.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Michelle O'Connor

VP of Global Communications and Marketing

michelle@taxbit.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taxbit-launches-dac7-compliance-solution-for-digital-marketplaces-301954592.html SOURCE TaxBit

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[October 12, 2023] Midea RAC Thailand Factory delivered 1 Millionth AC Set, Opening a New Chapter in Smart Manufacturing Tweet

PATTAYA, Thailand, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ -- On October 10, themed "Innovating for the Future", Midea RAC Global Customer Conference & Delivery Ceremony of the Millionth Set of Midea RAC Thailand Factory was held in Thailand. The Provincial Governor of Chonburi, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Director General of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT), as well as Midea RAC's President, other executives and representatives of global customers attended the ceremony. Midea RAC Factory in Chonburi, Thailand, which cost over USD 137 million, has produced its millionth unit within less than one year after its launch in November 2022. This marked not only Midea RAC's breakthroughs in "technology and sales" by localizing R&D, manufacturing and sales, but also the beginning of a new stage for the implementation of its global strategy. Since passing the milestone of exportingits millionth unit in 2003, Midea RAC can export more than 30 million units annually. In 2022, Midea ranked No.1 in China by domestic sales and exports and globally by sales of the eco-friendly R290 series.



Midea RAC also invited Midea research centers in Japan, Europe, North America, and Milan Design Center to the event, where it debuted its whole-house climate and energy solutions, including inverter technology, whole-house green solutions, new residential space, and AC design. Its new-generation AI-based smart inverter technology can control frequency conversion better through AI algorithms and cloud computing, generating ultimate energy-saving effects.Midea RAC also released MHELIOS, a smart home energy system, merging solar storage and efficient cooling/heating with Midea appliances. Midea emphasizes technology leadership and adapts swiftly to market changes, focusing on product upgrades and establishing a cooperative ecosystem for a sustainable industry. Demonstrating its environmental commitment, Midea RAC collaborates with UNIDO, replacing harmful refrigerants with eco-friendly propane (R-290), recognized by Euromonitor International as theWorld's No.1 R290 AirConditioner Company.

Midea RAC also enhances industry-university-research cooperation. At the event, it inked an agreement with UTCC to start a green technology exchange center and talent training program. Midea RAC strengthens its global services through continuous innovation and partnerships. It is also training more local talents to deliver more efficient, safer products up to higher standards. Midea RAC will provide green and smart living experiences for more users, as it continues to pursue its "going upward and outward" and localization strategy amidst its global expansion. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/midea-rac-thailand-factory-delivered-1-millionth-ac-set-opening-a-new-chapter-in-smart-manufacturing-301954695.html SOURCE Midea RAC

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[October 12, 2023] Malaysian cyber security graduates celebrated at ceremony in Kuala Lumpur Tweet

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Executives from BAE Systems Bofors were on hand at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur in September to present diplomas and recognise newly graduated students in the Master of Science programme where the company is a co-funder. BAE Systems Bofors in collaboration with Warwick University and The National Defense University in Malaysia sponsored a Master of Science degree in Cyber Security in Kuala Lumpur. 'This collaboration forms part of BAE Systems strong tradition of supporting education initiatives in Malaysia, including scholarship and school outreach', said the BAE Systems Bofors CEO Lena Gillstrom when the agreement was signed in 2015. Attending the ceremony, Nils-Ove Gustafsson, Sales Manager BAE Systems Bofors commented on how the collaboration has progressed: 'The programme is taught at the National Defense University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The University is the first of its kind to focus specifically on meeting the needs of the Malaysian Armed Forces. The three-year programme consists of around ten different courses in Cyber Security and Management per year. The training is aimed at students who want to cultivate a career as a specialist in Cyber Security and Management or alternatively aspire to a leading role in an organisation where information and communication technology is a decisive factor. BAE Systems Bofors' funding is an innvative way of delivering the inward investment requirements of Malaysia's acquisition of BAE Systems Bofors naval guns, often referred to as 'offset'.



'Malaysia is a big market for BAE Systems Bofors in the marine domain. Thanks to great collaboration with Warwick University and UPNM, we have managed to implement for us, a completely unique variant of offset, where we fulfilled our investment requirement and made a substantial contribution to the Malaysian education system, Nils-Ove Gustafsson, Sales Manager BAE Systems Bofors explained. BAE Systems in Malaysia

BAE Systems has been a proud partner to Malaysia for over 50 years and is one of the few companies that works across all defence domains in the country. From the Hawk aircraft that continues to perform a vital frontline service for the Royal Malaysian Air Force, to the maritime equipment in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy. Partnerships built around the Hawk aircraft have created more than 7,000 jobs which support a world leading aerospace industry. In the security domain, the Company has invested more than RM50m to grow its Digital Intelligence business in Malaysia, establishing a regional cyber security hub in Kuala Lumpur, which now employs over 300 skilled engineers, the majority of whom are Malaysian nationals.

About BAE Systems

At BAE Systems, our advanced defence technology protects people and national security, and keeps critical information and infrastructure secure. We search for new ways to provide our customers with a competitive edge across the air, maritime, land, space and cyber domains. We employ a skilled workforce of 93,100 people in around 40 countries, and work closely with local partners to support economic development by transferring knowledge, skills and technology. www.baesystems.com

@BAESystems_Asia View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/malaysian-cyber-security-graduates-celebrated-at-ceremony-in-kuala-lumpur-301954793.html SOURCE BAE Systems

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[October 12, 2023] RedTrack Adds Customer Journey Reporting to Complete an All-In-One Solution for e-Commerce Analytics & Automation Tweet

VILNIUS, Lithuania, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RedTrack , a leading provider of analytics and media-buying automation solutions for e-com and DTC brands, is thrilled to announce the release of its Customer Journey Reporting. This exciting development is here to unlock full-funnel visibility for advertisers who invest in multiple ad channels and struggle to attribute revenue results to the relevant channels, campaigns, or ads. Understanding the customer journey is essential for the success of the e-commerce business today. RedTrack's Customer Journey Reports offer a comprehensive view of each customer's interaction with the web store, from their initial ad click to the successful purchase. By analyzing the journey of the customer to the conversion event, advertisers can make data-driven decisions to optimize their marketing campaigns. Customer Journey reporting is not the only feature developed by the RedTrack team to contribute to efficient advertising for e-commerce. It becomes a new addition to the RedTrack platform, which is used by e-commerce and afiliate media buyers because of its advanced ad tracking and conversion attribution toolset:



Real-time ad spend sync with all major channels like Meta, Google, Youtube, Bing, etc., provided by in-built API integrations;

100% accurate revenue synchronization with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and other e-commerce platforms;

Advanced Automation Rules that help reduce ad waste and improve ROAS, together with Ad management straight from the RedTrack UI. Introducing the Customer Journey report is one of the significant steps to make RedTrack a complete solution for e-commerce advertisers, allowing them to make key decisions and actions through a single platform. Vlad Zhovtenko, CEO and co-founder of RedTrack, comments: "RedTrack team is driven by the vision to reduce the number of screens and UIs media-buyers have to juggle in their daily operations. The combination of robust reporting, full-funnel visibility, and built-in ad management automation brings us closer to our mission."

RedTrack's Customer Journey Reporting is available with all e-com subscriptions at RedTrack. For the best deal, seize an early Black Friday sale. This promo is here to help e-commerce advertisers set up accurate analytics & automation before the holiday rush starts. About RedTrack.io

RedTrack is an all-in-one marketing analytics & automation platform. It's a single solution to improve conversion rates and get better insights into performance-focused digital marketing campaigns for e-commerce, affiliate marketers, and digital marketing agencies. Contact Information:

Name: Vladyslav Zhovtenko

Email: [email protected]

+351914099611

Website: RedTrack.io View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/redtrack-adds-customer-journey-reporting-to-complete-an-all-in-one-solution-for-e-commerce-analytics--automation-301954870.html SOURCE RedTrack.io

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[October 12, 2023] RBC and Xero collaborate to help Canadian businesses automate payables process Tweet

New integration between RBC PayEdge and Xero will allow more business owners to benefit from automated accounting reconciliations and digital payments, designed to create significant time and cost savings TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Xero, the global small business platform, today announced an integration that will allow business customers to sync their RBC PayEdge account with Xero to simplify and automate payments to suppliers around the world. RBC PayEdge is a payments platform that allows businesses to combine multiple funding sources regardless of a client's bank or account type, pay suppliers in the payment form of their choice, and gain more flexibility with their working capital tools. Canadian businesses using Xero will now be able to import authorized invoice details into RBC PayEdge, fund and pay their suppliers through their chosen method, and automatically post the reconciling journal entry back to Xero once done. As a result, businesses will be able to automate their invoice-to-pay process and manage their payments workflow from one location, that may lead to increased efficiency and savings. With access to cash flow data, business owners no longer need to wait for month-end statements and can effectively streamline processes to improve overall financial administration. "Adopting the latest digital payment solutions and technologies is one of the fastest growing priorities for small businesses who are increasingly looking for innovative ways to simplify and expedite their payment needs while maximizing their cash flow," says Lisa Lansdowne-Higgins, senior vice president, Business Transformation and Deposits, RBC. "We're excited to introduce the integration of the RBC PayEdge and Xero platforms, allowing business owners to unlock the power of automated reconciliation and digital payments, while realizing significant time and cost savings." "The ability to pay supplier bills is a crucial part of conducting day-to-day business. The integration with RBC PayEdge will simplify the bil pay experience, allow small businesses to access cost-efficient payment methods, and give an up-to-date view of their cash flow so they can make better business decisions," says Faye Pang, Canada country manager, Xero.



Connecting to Xero is just one of the many ways in which RBC truly delivers value beyond traditional banking and supports business owners along every stage of their entrepreneurship journey. As an RBC client, businesses have access to exclusive offers and solutions that help them simplify their operations, and save time and money, whether it be registering and incorporating their business with Ownr, integrating a range of ecommerce services and payment solutions with Moneris, searching for talent with Indeed  Canada's #1 job site  or seeking real-time customer insights and market trends to find their next growth market with RBC Insight Edge for Small Business. Contact your RBC Advisor to learn more about our beyond banking services. RBC was also recognized as the winner of the 2023 Best Treasury and Cash Management Provider for Canada by Global Finance for its market-leading efforts to deliver payment innovations and digital banking solutions, including RBC PayEdge.

The RBC PayEdge integration is now available to Xero customers looking to transform the way their payables are processed. Current RBC PayEdge subscribers with Xero accounts can sync their payables and invoice details directly through their PayEdge dashboard. Click here to learn more https://apps.xero.com/ca/app/rbc-payedge. About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 97,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com . We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact . SOURCE RBC Royal Bank

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HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Several historical monuments and cultural heritages have been damaged due to a series of devastating earthquakes and aftershocks that jolted west Afghanistan's Herat and the neighboring Badghis and Farah provinces, Herat's Provincial Director for Information and Culture Ahmadullah Muttaqi said on Thursday.

Identifying the damaged monuments, the official said that Qila Ikhtiarudin (Ikhtiarudin citadel), Herat's largest historic mosque Masjid Jami Herat and Minar Jam (the Minaret of Jam), are among the famous historical sites that have been damaged in the tremors.

Two deadly quakes, according to China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale, followed by several aftershocks, rocked west Afghanistan with an epicenter in the Zanda Jan district of Herat province on Saturday, leaving at least 2,053 dead and thousands more injured.

The quakes have also destroyed about 3,000 houses and properties in the western region of the war-torn country.

Another tremor measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale jolted the quake-affected Herat on Wednesday, killing one person, injuring more than 150 others, and causing property damage.

"The cultural monuments are our cultural heritage, and their protection is our obligation," Ahmadullah Muttaqi told reporters.

Herat boasts more than 850 cultural monuments and historical sites, according to the official. 
[October 12, 2023] Annovis Bio Announces Positive Interim Independent Analysis for Statistical Power in Its Alzheimer's Study Tweet

BERWYN, Pa., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annovis Bio, Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) ("Annovis" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the independent statistical group concluded that its Phase 2/3 AD study was sufficiently powered to continue as originally planned without the addition of patients. This phase 2/3 AD study is designed to enroll a total of 320 mild to moderate AD patients, who are randomly assigned to receive 7.5, 15, 30 mg of buntanetap or placebo once per day. The trials co-primary endpoints are the change from baseline to the end of treatment of Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale 11 (ADAS-Cog11) and Alzheimers Disease Cooperative Study Clinicians Global Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC), which assess cognition and activities of daily living.

The Company has received the results of the pre-planned interim analysis conducted by an independent data analytics provider. The interim analysis was based on 107 patients at 6 weeks from all cohorts collectively and showed that the AD trial should continue as planned with the same trial size to maintain the statistical power for both co-primary endpoints. The Company remains blinded to the Phase 3 trial and does not have safety or efficacy data from the trial. A separate safety interim analysis is in process and we expect that interim analysis to be released in two weeks. Maria L. Maccecchini, Ph.D., Founder, President, and CEO of Annovis, commented: Although we remain blinded to the data, results from this interim analysis supports our original statistical powering for enrolling 320 patients into the Phase 2/3 Alzheimers study. Therefore, sample size re-estimation for the study is not necessary, which in our view, may signal an emerging positive treatment effect in patients receiving buntanetap versus those receiving placebo after just 6 weeks of treatment. While the interim analysis does not mean that the trial will necessarily be successful, it does mean that the trial is powered for potential success. Update and projections of our ongoing activities: Alzheimers disease to date, 230 patients have been enrolled and 62 have finished the study;

safety interim analysis, conducted by the DSMB on October 18, will be released the week of October 23;

full enrollment anticipated in November;

completion of treatment expected in February 2024;

phase 2/3 data expected in March 2024.

Parkinsons disease to date, 305 patients have finished the study;

completion of study expected by the end of November;

phase 3 data expected in January 2024.

In addition to the ongoing clinical studies we are also excited about the novel crystal form of buntanetap - ANVS402. We expect to discuss with the FDA the transition buntanetap to ANVS402 and the development of the new form. The bridge studies are expected to be completed in Q1 2024.



As we move forward with our advanced, clinical-stage AD and PD programs, we hope to demonstrate buntanetaps unique ability to inhibit the accumulation of pro-inflammatory, neurotoxic proteins and potential to address unmet medical need across a number of neurodegenerative conditions and diseases. About Buntanetap

Buntanetap (previously known as ANVS401 or Posiphen) is an investigational, oral translational inhibitor of neurotoxic aggregating proteins (TINAPs), which mode of action is thought to lead to a lower level of neurotoxic proteins and consequently less toxicity in the brain. In a Phase 2a clinical trial in AD and PD patients, buntanetap was shown to be generally well-tolerated, and its pharmacokinetics were found to be in line with levels measured earlier in humans, meeting both the primary and secondary endpoints. Additionally, exploratory endpoints were also met, as treatment with buntanetap resulted in statistically significant improvement in motor function in PD patients and cognition in AD patients. Presently buntanetap is being studied in a Phase 3 early PD study and in a Phase 2/3 study in AD patients.

About Annovis Bio, Inc.

Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio, Inc. (Annovis) is a clinical-stage, drug platform company addressing neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and other chronic neurodegenerative diseases. We believe that we are the only company developing a drug for AD and PD that inhibits more than one neurotoxic protein and, thereby, improves the information highway of the nerve cell, known as axonal transport. When this information flow is impaired, the nerve cell gets sick and dies. Annovis conducted two Phase 2 studies: one in AD patients and one in both AD and PD patients. In the AD/PD study buntanetap showed improvements in cognition and memory in AD as well as body and brain function in PD patients. For more information on Annovis Bio, please visit the Company's website www.annovisbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to all information other than historical matters, such as expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "intend," "seek," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements with respect to the operations, strategies, prospects and other aspects of the business of Annovis Bio are based on current expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to delays in clinical trials and in reporting of the data. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in Annovis Bio's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Although it may voluntarily do so, from time to time, Annovis Bio undertakes no commitment to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. Media Contact:

Maria Maccecchini, PhD

[email protected]



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[October 12, 2023] GridGain Unified Real-Time Data Platform Version 8.9 Addresses Today's More Complex Real-Time Data Processing and Analytics Use Cases Tweet

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GridGain , provider of a leading unified real-time data platform, today announced the release of GridGain Platform v8.9 , strengthening its data integration and data hub capabilities. This latest version helps enterprises make their increasingly disparate, diverse, and distributed data more accessible for real-time processing and analytics, all at ultra-low latencies.

GridGain Platform v8.9 includes several new or enhanced integrations, including deeper support for Apache Parquet, Apache Iceberg, CSV, and JSON. These integrations enable enterprises to deliver highly performant real-time analysis across complex data workloads by making enterprise data in data lakes and semi-structured data in non-relational/NoSQL databases more easily accessible for processing. The ability to handle these complex workloads in a single platform helps enterprises simplify and optimize their data architectures to drive the extreme speed, massive scale, and high availability they require. GridGain has provided leading enterprises with the capabilities of a unified real-time data platform for years, said Lalit Ahuja, Chief Product and Customer Officer at GridGain. With each release of our platform, we strengthen our ability to exceed the high expectations of our enterprise customers in supporting the increasing complexity of modern data use cases such as traditional and generative AI, fraud detection, smart decisioning, operational analytics, and customer 360. With version 8.9, GridGain continues to raise the bar for durable, ultra-fast data processing and analytics at scale. New in GridGain Platform v8.9 Expanded ecosystem: Includes deeper integrations for Apache Parquet, Apache Iceberg, CSV and JSON to easily support more complex datastores, including enterprise data lakes and NoSQL/semi-structured document databases. Enhanced data management: Enables more storage- and read-efficient management of massive data tables, with support for high performance, ACID-compliant queries and diverse document data types, helping developers to build new and more complex applications faster. Support for more data types: Takes its distributed, colocated, memory-centric computing capabilities to NoSQL and data lake technologies, enabling faster analytics.





These new and enhanced integrations  together with GridGains unique ability to seamlessly combine streaming data in-motion and historical data at-rest with compute functionality  enable enterprises to handle complex analytical and transactional data workloads at unmatched speed and scale. Availability

GridGain Platform v8.9 is available now. Visit the GridGain website to download. Additional Resources GridGain blog: Whats New in GridGain 8.9

GridGain eBook: The Ultimate Guide to Unified Real-Time Data Platforms

Gartner report: Gartner Market Guide for Event Stream Processing

Connect with GridGain LinkedIn

Twitter

YouTube

About GridGain

GridGain is a unified real-time data platform. It enables a simplified and optimized data architecture for enterprises that require extreme speed, massive scale, and high availability from their data ecosystem. GridGains distributed memory-first architecture and colocated compute deliver data processing and analytics at millisecond latencies, with configurable disk-based persistence for added durability. Horizontally scalable clusters can be deployed both on-premises and natively in public or private clouds, empowering companies to handle even the most demanding workloads in multi, hybrid, and inter-cloud environments. GridGain is trusted by companies like Citi, Barclays, American Airlines, AutoZone, and UPS to accelerate their existing applications, speed operational analytics and fraud detection, train machine learning models for AI, and provide fast-access data hubs. To learn more, please visit www.gridgain.com . CONTACT:

Brigit Valencia

For GridGain Systems

[email protected]

360.597.4516 GridGain is a trademark or registered trademark of GridGain Systems, Inc. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.



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[October 12, 2023] Amanda K. Brown Joins Seward & Kissel's Maritime and Transportation Group Tweet

Seward & Kissel LLP announced today that Amanda K. Brown has joined the firm's New York office as special counsel in the Maritime and Transportation Group. "Amanda has a wealth of experience and a rich understanding of maritime and transportation law, especially as it relates to complex financing transactions," said Seward & Kissel managing partner Jim Cofer. "We're excited by her return to our firm and the skills she brings to our Maritime and Transportation practice." Brown began her career at Seward & Kissel, where she was an associate from 2006 to 2014. She later served as a senior associate and counsel in the New York office of an Am Law 100 law firm, focusing on maritime finance matters. Most recently, Brown served as senior counsel at the New York City Economic Development Corporaton.



Brown has represented and advised banks, financial institutions, private equity funds, and major shipping companies in all aspects of ship financings throughout her career. Her work has included drafting and negotiating credit agreements, vessel mortgages, and other ship finance transaction documents. In addition to leading many domestic and cross-border ship finance transactions, she has regularly represented members and shareholders in connection with joint venture arrangements formed for the purpose of investing in maritime assets. "Amanda is a valuable addition to Seward & Kissel's maritime and transportation practice," said Seward & Kissel partner Michael Timpone, head of the firm's Transportation Finance Group. "Her background and skillset will add tremendous value to our clients and her arrival will only further solidify Seward & Kissel's reputation as the go-to law firm in the maritime arena."

Brown received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and her B.A. from Yale University. About Seward & Kissel LLP Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading U.S. law firm with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., with particular expertise in the financial services, investment management, banking, and shipping industries. The firm is well known for its representation of investment advisers and related investment funds, broker-dealers, major commercial banks, institutional investors, and transportation companies (particularly in the shipping area). Its practices primarily focus on corporate, M&A, securities, litigation (including white collar), restructuring/bankruptcy, real estate, regulatory, tax, employment, and ERISA for clients seeking legal expertise in these areas. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012191396/en/

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[October 12, 2023]

Tervene Unveils Its New Platform to Help Companies with Daily Management and Performance Improvement

Version 2.0 of the software standardizes management processes and accelerates digital transformation for all organizations, including manufacturing and healthcare sectors.

MONTREAL, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - Tervene, a Canadian technology company offering a daily management solution, unveils the latest version of its platform, featuring enhanced performance, user-friendliness, and flexibility. The application allows organizations to standardize their management processes and improve operational performance.

Having accumulated several years of experience in software development and consulting, Tervene reveals an upgraded version of its platform: Tervene 2.0 .







Accessible on smartphones, tablets, and computers, Tervene offers an easy-to-use tool to help management, team leaders, supervisors, and support teams in manufacturing companies, the public sector, and healthcare establishments.

The software supports the digital transformation of managerial processes: leader standard work, operational control, process audits, workplace inspections, tiered meetings, health and safety prevention, quality control, problem-solving, action plan management, and continuous improvement projects.

"Our new version solidifies our offering on the international market. We've developed an all-in-one solution to help companies with their digital transformation," explains Lucas Grenier, CEO and co-founder of Tervene.

"We've pooled our years of experience and our customers' ideas to develop an application that's easy to use, secure, and, above all, flexible enough to adapt to any business management standards," adds Simon Rouillier, vice president and co-founder of Tervene.

User-friendly and easy to operate

With a completely revamped interface, Tervene offers user-friendly software that's easy to use for every team member.

Flexible, customizable features

Software version 2.0 features even more configuration options to adapt to the management standards of different industries and the realities of organizations of all sizes.

Emphasis on Leader Standard Work

Tervene simplifies and standardizes the routines of team leaders, supervisors, and on-site managers. The new software version enables management to build daily, weekly, and monthly schedules.

About Tervene

Tervene standardizes and simplifies organizations' Daily Management System (DMS). Accessible on smartphones, tablets, and computers, the management software supports operational control, leader standard work, problem-solving, continuous improvement, and process audits. Since 2016, local and international organizations have chosen Tervene to eliminate red tape and improve operational performance.

For more information, visit the company's website .

Related links: https://tervene.com/

SOURCE Tervene
[October 12, 2023] Vecima Announces Full Availability of its DOCSIS 4.0-Ready and 1.8 GHz 'Forever Nodes' Tweet

Vecima Networks Inc. (TSX: VCM) announced today full availability of its DOCSIS 4.0-ready and 1.8 GHz Entra EN8400 and SC-2D4 nodes. Termed "Forever Nodes", they provide a clear and cost-effective path to 10G by protecting operators' investment in technology-forward networks as they prepare for DOCSIS 4.0 and advanced passive-optical network (PON) deployments. At the 2022 CableLabs 10G Showcase, Vecima hosted the world's first multivendor DOCSIS 4.0 demonstration to achieve 8.9 Gbps downstream and 6.2 Gbps upstream with 1.8 GHz Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) and Remote MACPHY technology. In addition to a Vecima node, 1.8 GHz amplifiers and taps from industry partners were included. Vecima's Entra Access Nodes simplify upgrades from hybrid fiber coax (HFC) and Distributed Access Architectures (DAA), thanks to their interoperability and state-of-the-art design for all network applications today and in the future. EN8400 - Supports DOCSIS 3.1 Remote PHY today and will support future technologies, including DOCSIS 4.0, Remote MACPHY, and Remote OLT applications. SC-2D4 - Supports DOCSIS 3.1 Remote MACPHY today and will support future technologies, including DOCSIS 4.0, Remote PHY, and Remote OLT applications. "Vecima is an industry leader in Cable Access and Fiber Access technologies. As Cable Accss networks evolve to DOCSIS 4.0 and eventually migrate to Fiber Access, an investment-protection strategy is extremely important to our customers," said Ryan Nicometo, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Vecima's Video & Broadband Solutions segment. "With Vecima's 'Forever Nodes', we're reducing risk for our customers by providing a seamless and cost-effective path to whatever is next for them: Remote PHY, Remote MACPHY, DOCSIS 4.0, 10G PON, or beyond."



Vecima will highlight the EN8400 and SC-2D4 DAA Nodes at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, Booth 1331, Oct. 16-19 in Denver. The Vecima Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) product portfolio, recognized by the Dell'Oro Group as the 2022 North America market share leader in Remote MACPHY and 10G-EPON Remote OLT solutions, is deployed by operators around the world. With full support for all next-generation cable access technologies, high-value legacy services, and proven interoperability, the networks of tomorrow are deployable today without compromise using Vecima's product portfolio. Learn more at vecima.com/network-access.

About Vecima Networks Vecima Networks Inc. (TSX: VCM) is leading the global evolution to the multigigabit, content-rich networks of the future. Our talented people deliver future-ready software, services, and integrated platforms that power broadband and video streaming networks, monitor and manage transportation, and transform experiences in homes, businesses, and everywhere people connect. We help our customers evolve their networks with cloud-based solutions that deliver groundbreaking speed, superior video quality, and exciting new services to their subscribers. There is power in connectivity - it enables people, businesses, and communities to grow and thrive. Learn more at vecima.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012882022/en/

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[October 12, 2023] TNS Provides Payment Processing Platform for Scheidt & Bachmann Ticket Machines Across UK and Ireland Transport Networks Tweet

Scheidt & Bachmann Fare Collection Systems has chosen Transaction Network Services (TNS) to provide payment gateway services for approximately 4,000 ticket vending machines (TVMs), which serve the UK and Ireland's transport networks and handle over 90 million transactions per year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012130042/en/ (L-R) Matthew Thomas - Managing Director UK & Ireland, TNS Payments Market and Ken Cameron - Managing Director Fare Collection Systems at Scheidt & Bachmann UK. (Photo: Business Wire) The service, which went live in August, saw hundreds of TVMs migrated each day across a twelve-week period, with millions of transactions having already been successfully processed through TNS' cloud-native payment platform utilizing the TNSPay Gateway. The TVMs are mission-critical infrastructure for the UK and Ireland's transport networks, providing ticketing services for most of the largest operators including, in the UK, Govia Thameslink Railway, Great Western Railway, Transport for Wales, Nexus, Transport for Greater Manchester, and Scotrail, and, in Ireland, Irish Rail and Luas. As a cloud-native, API first solution, the TNSPay Gateway evolves with consumer expectations an demands, enabling omni-channel payment acceptance reliably and securely anywhere in the world. For Scheidt & Bachmann, the TNSPay Gateway will process Card Present (CP) transactions initiated at the TVM, and supports VISA, Mastercard and Amex card payments as well as digital wallets.



"We're pleased to have partnered with TNS for our UK and Ireland payment processing needs," said Ken Cameron, Managing Director Fare Collection Systems at Scheidt & Bachmann UK. "We chose TNS based on its reputation for security, its operational performance, and the visibility and insight into our transaction data enabled by their processing platform - it was a natural strategic fit for us." As well as the TNSPay Gateway, the solution for Scheidt & Bachmann also utilizes products from TNS' Connect Portfolio. Transaction data is securely transported through TNS' Level 1 PCI certified network using TNSConnect and TNSConnect Cloud from the terminal to the TNSPay Gateway, and between the TNSPay Gateway to Scheidt & Bachmann's chosen acquirers via TNS' direct acquirer integrations.

"TNS has been a trusted, global partner of Scheidt & Bachmann for many years, working closely with the parking division of the business," said Matthew Thomas, Managing Director of UK and Ireland, TNS Payments Market. "Providing this vital payment's infrastructure, which is so important to the transport network in the UK and Ireland, plays to TNS' strengths and heritage of enabling mission-critical infrastructure. We look forward to working with the Scheidt & Bachmann Fare Collection Systems team on a long-term basis." TNS is a Level 1 PCI DSS certified service provider, and its secure network is supported 24x7x365 by TNS' four global Network Operation Centers. With a strong payments heritage and more than 30 years of expertise, TNS accepts, connects, and securely processes billions of transactions every year through its secure Infrastructure-as-a-Service solutions. ENDS About TNS TNS is a world-renowned provider of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions to the payments, communications, and financial markets. Established more than 30 years ago, its extensive portfolio of innovative, value-added services now supports thousands of organizations across more than 60 countries to interact efficiently, conduct mission critical processes securely and adopt new technologies flexibly. TNS' Payments Markets business enables trusted connected commerce through its IaaS solutions that include payment device enablement, global connectivity, and merchant processing solutions. TNS' solutions enable its partners to simplify, secure and manage the most complex aspects of the payment ecosystem and gain strategic advantage from the moment they engage with consumers. About Scheidt & Bachmann Scheidt & Bachmann provides innovative solutions for a mobile world that shape signalling systems, parking solutions, fuel retail solutions and fare collection systems worldwide. Scheidt & Bachmann's Fare Collection Systems division is a leading provider of system solutions that make using public transportation easy. In partnership with transport operators around the world, we are committed to making travel as pleasant and stress-free as possible for passengers. We combine the innovative products and services of our brand FareGo with the unique expertise of our international team. The result is reliable, intuitive, and forward-looking fare collection systems that help make sustainable mobility accessible to everyone. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012130042/en/

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[October 12, 2023] Audax Private Debt Provides Financing to Support Aquiline Capital Partners' Launch of MDpanel Tweet

Audax Private Debt ("Audax") announced that, as Administrative Agent and Sole Lead Arranger, it provided a unitranche credit facility to support the formation of MDpanel (the "Company") by Aquiline Capital Partners, a New York-based private investment firm. MDpanel is a new platform dedicated to the efficient delivery of medical opinions as part of the workers' compensation insurance claims process. Following the launch of MDpanel, California Medical Legal Specialists, LLC ("CMLS") and California Medical Evaluators Holdings, LLC ("CME"), two leading providers of support services for physicians performing qualified medical evaluations (QMEs) for workers' compensation claims, have also joined the platform. With the additions of CMLS and CME, MDpanel serves 250+ evaluation sites and has supported over a million evaluations across a variety of specialties including orthopedics, psychiatry, pain management, chiropractic, and internal medicine. "The CMLS and CME teams have done impressive jobs building their respective businesses and solidifying their market leading positions to service qualified medical evaluators throughout California," said Shehzad Ajmal, Managing Director at Audax Private Debt. "We're excited to partner with Aquiline Capital Partners as they launch this new platform, bringin together two high-caliber, complimentary businesses that are poised to continue growing."



"We are thrilled to have Audax' support for this investment. The team worked closely alongside us throughout the process to provide flexible solutions that met our investment needs," said Benedict Baerst, Partner at Aquiline Capital Partners. "We look forward to their partnership as we continue scaling the Company, providing the highest quality management services to even more physicians across our target markets." About Audax Private Debt

Based in New York, Audax Private Debt is a leading debt capital partner for North American middle market companies. Since its inception in 2000, Audax Private Debt has invested over $35 billion across more than 1,120 deals in support of over 275 private equity sponsors and has raised $28 billion in capital. The platform offers its clients a range of financing solutions, including first lien, stretch senior, unitranche, second lien and subordinated debt, as well as equity co-investments. With more than 60 investment professionals and over 190 employees, Audax Private Debt provides financing certainty, add-on investment capability, and the experience and collaborative approach to partner with private equity firms and their portfolio companies. For more information, please visit www.audaxprivatedebt.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Audax Private Debt is an integral part of Audax Group, a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, San Francisco, and London. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012200444/en/

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[October 12, 2023] Vincent Harris, Metamagnetics' Founder and CEO, Honored with W. David Kingery Award from the American Ceramic Society Tweet

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vincent Harris, Founder and CEO of Metamagnetics Inc. and the University Distinguished Professor and William Lincoln Smith Chair of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University, received the prestigious W. David Kingery Award from the American Ceramic Society (ACerS) in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to magnetoceramics and their transformative impact on telecommunications and beyond. Harris was recognized for his contributions to magnetoceramics and their transformative impact on telecommunications. The ACerS, known as the "preeminent ceramics society" in the Western Hemisphere, boasts a global community of over 10,000 professionals spanning various disiplines.



Harris's journey in magnetoceramics began during his tenure as a civilian scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. There, he uncovered the vast potential of magnetoceramics, essential to components that strongly interact with electromagnetic signals, such as cellphones, radar, and GPS systems. For nearly three decades, Harris has been a driving force in international magnetoceramics' research. In 2008, he founded Metamagnetics, a veteran-owned business, specializing in advanced next generation devices and systems for the Defense and Aerospace community; many of which depend upon magnetoceramics.

This award, Harris emphasizes, is not just an acknowledgment of his individual efforts but a validation of the entire field of magnetoceramics. "Clearly," he says, "my contribution to science and technology has been touched by many, many people  many students, many colleagues. It was not me alone." He humbly accepted the award on October 2, recognizing the countless colleagues and students who have contributed to his journey. As Founder and CEO of Metamagnetics, Harris continues to lead innovations in magnetoceramics, reaffirming the company's commitment to pioneering technologies that support U.S. national security interests and shape the future. For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Meghann Fasolino

Sr. Marketing Manager

774-399-6203 About Metamagnetics: Metamagnetics is a cutting-edge technology company specializing in advanced magnetic materials and components, with a focus on magnetoceramics. Founded by Vincent Harris and headquartered in Marlborough MA, Metamagnetics is at the forefront of innovations that redefine telecommunications and other industries. Visit https://www.mtmgx.com for more information. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vincent-harris-metamagnetics-founder-and-ceo-honored-with-w-david-kingery-award-from-the-american-ceramic-society-301954982.html SOURCE Metamagnetics

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[October 12, 2023] TAE Technologies applauds California's landmark fusion energy bill Tweet

LAKE FOREST, Calif. , Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation, Assembly Bill 1172, on October 7, 2023. Authored by State Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) and spearheaded in the Senate by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), the bill supports California's fusion energy industry by recognizing this cutting-edge technology's safety and environmental benefits while setting the stage for the state's future regulatory framework. Home to innovators and fusion pioneer TAE Technologies, the bill's signing makes California the first U.S. state to enshrine in law the fundamental distinction between fusion energy and traditional nuclear fission. AB1172 also recognizes the diversity of scientific approaches to achieving fusion's transformative potential for the California grid for the first time. "Fusion energy can advance California's progress towards its statutory renewable energy and climate mandates. Fusion energy development presents an opportunity to further promote California's workforce development within the renewable energy sector," the legislation states . As the nation's first private company to pursue the commercialization of fusion energy, Southern California-based TAE Technologies applauds this legislation's passage (with unanimous support in both chambers), not only for its recognition of fusion energy's potential contributions to providing clean energy, but for recognizing that this groundbreaking industry requires bespoke regulation. Just as fusion and fission rely on opposite reactionswhere fusion combines atoms, fission splits themthere are fundamental differences in how these nuclear technologies need to be regulated, and California's lawmakers are addressing those needs for the first time. Fusion is inherently safe and deserves a well-considered regulatory path that allows fusion to be developed safely and expediently. "With this bill's passage, California's governor and legislators are recognizing the vast potential of commercial fusion energy to be a part of a clean energy solution that brings carbon-free energy, jobs and a much-needed innovation to our state, and to our world," said TAE Technologies CEO Michl Binderbauer. The legislation follows the recent net energy achievement of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, and reflects a global race to harness the power of fusion for commercial use. Assembly Bill 1172 requires the California Energy Commission to identify all needed regulatory and policy actios to incorporate fusion into the state's energy system. AB1172 also defines fusion energy in California law for the first time, helping ensure that California can ensure the highest standards of safety and public trust while differentiating it from unrelated technologies like traditional nuclear fission. Notably, fusion, unlike fission, doesn't produce long-lived radioactive waste and with fusion energy, nuclear meltdown is impossible.







On the occasion of the signing, Assemblymember Lisa Calderon said: " California must continue to invest in clean, renewable sources of energy to meet our climate goals. There has been significant progress from the fusion industry, with companies now on the path to creating commercially viable systems that can safely generate clean energy for cities. This law will help California safely integrate fusion energy technology as a renewable energy source." State Senator Josh Newman said: "Last year, I had the privilege of joining a delegation of state and federal legislators for a tour of TAE's facilities to learn more about the world-class, innovative research and development on sustainable fusion and spin-off technologies underway right here in Orange County. The progress and promise of TAE's work on commercial fusion is in line with California's stature as a global leader in research and innovation and offers tremendous promise, not only for California's future clean energy prospects but for the creation of thousands of vital, high-skilled jobs as well."

TAE Technologies is the global leader in commercial development of aneutronic fusion power, an advanced form of fusion that does not produce neutrons in its primary reaction and has several key benefits, including no radioactive waste and longer-life devices that result in lower energy prices for producers and consumers. The new law specifically requires the California Energy Commission to define and examine this distinctive, impact-forward form of fusion for the first time. Fusion also complements renewables, because it is a zero-emission energy source that is consistently available throughout the day and seasons, regardless of the weather or sunshine. By comparison to any other source of renewable or clean energy, fusion has substantially greater power density, requires little fuel, and has minimal environmental impact. "Controlled thermonuclear fusion is one of the very few long term, environmentally friendly and inherently safe options," the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote in a report last month , adding "In principle, fusion could generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than fission and nearly four million times more energy than burning oil and coal." TAE is developing aneutronic fusion that will rely on hydrogen-boron (also known as proton-boron or p-B11) fuel, which is safe, abundant, non-radioactive and inexpensive. Slated to enter the marketplace in the early 2030s, TAE's planned commercial hydrogen-boron fusion energy plants will play a key role in meeting Gov. Newsom's ambitious plan to power California with 100% clean energy by 2045 . At the federal level , the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is drafting new regulations defining fusion . At every level and around the globe, leaders are recognizing the safety benefits of fusion and are drafting rules and recommendations on how to regulate it with a lighter touch than other forms of nuclear energy. As regulations develop, TAE is hard at work creating the fusion energy machines that will power the future. Earlier this year, TAE broke ground at a new 100,000 square foot facility in Irvine, CA, to house its next fusion research machine, Copernicus, which is expected to demonstrate the viability of net energy generation from TAE's proprietary configuration around the mid-2020s. With that milestone in hand, TAE will develop its first prototype hydrogen-boron fusion power plant, Da Vinci, to deliver electricity to the grid in the early 2030s. About TAE Technologies TAE Technologies (pronounced T-A-E) was founded in 1998 to develop commercial fusion power with the cleanest environmental profile. The company's pioneering work represents the fastest, most practical, and economically competitive solution to bring abundant clean energy to the grid. With more than 2,300 patents filed globally and approximately 1,400 granted, more than $1.2 billion in private capital raised, five generations of National Laboratory-scale devices built along with two more in development, and an experienced team of over 600 employees, TAE is now on the cusp of delivering this transformational energy source capable of sustaining the planet for thousands of years. The company's revolutionary technologies have produced a robust portfolio of commercial innovations in large adjacent markets such as power management, energy storage, electric mobility, fast charging, life sciences, and more. TAE is based in California, and maintains international offices in the UK, EU, and Switzerland. Multidisciplinary and mission-driven by nature, TAE is leveraging proprietary science and engineering to create a bright future. For photos and videos, visit TAE's digital press kit Watch an explainer on TAE's path to commercializing aneutronic fusion power Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245644/TAE_Technologies.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tae-technologies-applauds-californias-landmark-fusion-energy-bill-301955016.html SOURCE TAE Technologies

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[October 12, 2023] TokenCoin's Innovative Wealth Management & Cryptocurrency Mining Tweet

Denver, CO, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the finance and investment industry, finding the right path to financial prosperity can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it's crucial to choose a reliable and innovative platform to manage your wealth and explore exciting opportunities like cryptocurrency mining and capital investment. TokenCoin , an industry leader in the field, offers a comprehensive wealth management plan that can help you achieve your financial goals and increase your passive income.



TokenCoin: Pioneering Wealth Management TokenCoin , as an industry leader, has been at the forefront of wealth management, helping individuals from all walks of life secure their financial futures. Whether you're an academic, a young adult, a middle-aged professional, an industry specialist, or a senior citizen, TokenCoin caters to a diverse range of investors. Their platform is designed to be accessible to those with basic knowledge of investments and is equally appealing to seasoned investors. Understanding TokenCoin's Vision At TokenCoin, the core belief is that wealth management should be accessible to everyone. The company's mission is to empower individuals with the tools and knowledge to build a secure financial future. By combining traditional financial strategies with cutting-edge technology, TokenCoin has created a platform that is both user-friendly and innovative.

The TokenCoin Wealth Management Plan Undoubtedly, TokenCoin's wealth management strategy is designed to cater to a broad spectrum of investors, from novices to experts. It provides a structured approach to managing your finances, helping you grow your wealth over time. One of the key features of TokenCoin's wealth management plan is its flexibility. You can tailor your investment strategy to your individual financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Whether you're planning for retirement, saving for a mjor purchase, or simply looking to grow your wealth, TokenCoin has you covered.



Cryptocurrency Mining: The Future of Investment In recent years, cryptocurrency has emerged as a prominent asset class, offering exciting opportunities for investors. TokenCoin recognizes the potential of cryptocurrencies and has integrated cryptocurrency mining into its wealth management plan.

Cryptocurrency mining involves using computer power to validate and record transactions on a blockchain network. Miners are rewarded with cryptocurrency for their efforts. TokenCoin's experts have developed a state-of-the-art mining infrastructure that allows investors to participate in this revolutionary field without the complexities often associated with mining. The advantages of cryptocurrency mining with TokenCoin are manifold: Passive Income

Mining cryptocurrencies can generate a steady stream of passive income, making it an attractive option for those looking to diversify their investments.



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TokenCoin combines traditional wealth management with cutting-edge technology, providing a unique and effective approach to financial growth. Diverse Investment Options: Whether you're interested in cryptocurrencies, traditional investments, or alternative assets, TokenCoin offers a wide range of choices.

Whether you're interested in cryptocurrencies, traditional investments, or alternative assets, TokenCoin offers a wide range of choices. Professional Guidance: TokenCoin's team of experts is dedicated to helping you make informed investment decisions.

TokenCoin's team of experts is dedicated to helping you make informed investment decisions. User-Friendly Platform: The TokenCoin platform is designed with the user in mind, making it accessible to investors of all levels.

The TokenCoin platform is designed with the user in mind, making it accessible to investors of all levels. Security: With fund custody services in place, you can invest with confidence, knowing your assets are protected. Sum-ups



In the finance sector, the key to success lies in making informed and strategic investment decisions. TokenCoin, an industry leader in wealth management, offers a comprehensive solution to help you navigate the complexities of the financial markets. Whether you're interested in growing your wealth, exploring cryptocurrency mining, or diversifying your investment portfolio, TokenCoin has the tools and expertise to assist you on your financial journey.



Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of TokenCoin's success story. Visit their website at https://tokencoin.net/about to learn more about how TokenCoin can help you unlock the doors to financial prosperity and the products that TokenCoin offers . Your financial future is in your hands, and TokenCoin is here to guide you every step of the way.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment or intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing in or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

RAGHAV SAWHNEY Outreach Consultant Token Coin 09999904923 info-at-tokencoin.com contcat-at-blockchainprbuzz.com

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COLOMBO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed government officials to prioritize the safety of Sri Lankan citizens residing in Israel in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the President's Media Division (PMD) said on Thursday.

The PMD said in a press release that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel and relevant government departments have collaboratively initiated a special program aimed at offering assistance to the Sri Lankan community living in Israel.

Sri Lankans working or residing in Israel for various purposes now have access to channels for directly informing Sri Lankan authorities in case of life-threatening situations or related difficulties, the PMD said.

Sri Lankan media on Monday cited the country's embassy in Israel as saying that one Sri Lankan national has been injured, while two remained missing after the conflict erupted. 
[October 12, 2023] Blackdot Launches Out of Stealth With 'A New Way to Tattoo': Automatic Device, Top Artist Designs, Scale for Fast-Growing Industry Tweet

Blackdot, the company introducing A New Way to Tattoo, today announced its official launch out of stealth, unveiling its patented automated tattooing platform and opening up bookings for the first Blackdot tattoos at its flagship studio in Austin, Texas. By combining hardware, software and cloud technology, Blackdot allows artists the world over to have their designs executed as tattoos with a new level of precision and predictability. Blackdot is the first automatic tattooing device and online marketplace of its kind, making art that was previously out of reach as a tattoo now accessible. The platform delivers an unmatched opportunity for intricate self-expression with minimal discomfort. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012622267/en/ Blackdot Automated Tattooing Device (V2) (Photo: Business Wire) Blackdot's scalable new approach has arrived amid the tattoo industry's expected expansion to a massive $3.9 billion by 2030 and amid the growing popularity of tattoos among Americans of all genders, races and political ideologies according to a recent Pew Research study. Top generative artist Tyler Hobbs, renowned tattoo artist Omer Tunca and living legend John Craig are supporting Blackdot's launch with exclusive designs. Hear from Tyler, Omer and John in Blackdot's Artist Spotlight videos. "Blackdot's unique high-precision platform an scalable, culturally relevant approach mark a watershed moment in tattoo," said Matthew Stephens, founder of DeviantArt, the world's largest online art gallery and community. "The company is opening up new categories of art in tattoo, from fine art and generative art to photographs and memorabilia, and it's expanding the reach of who can own a premium tattoo. Traditional tattooing will always be mainstream, but there's a heavy appetite for this innovative approach to complement the classic system and to benefit tattoo artists and other artists everywhere. Blackdot offers imaginative new options for self-expression and an experience that minimizes pain and maximizes safety, hygiene, accuracy and choice."



Foundational new technology offers extreme precision and minimal discomfort Blackdot's device uses a small number of concealed test dots to "learn" the client's skin characteristics. The test dots are compared against Blackdot's skin database to determine which settings (number of punctures and puncture depth) will yield the perfect black dot for that client's preferred tattoo location. Paired with a dedication to top-tier customer service, the result is a fast, accurate tattooing experience with minimal discomfort.

"Our team of highly qualified researchers and engineers has been able to create groundbreaking technology for both tattoo-seekers and artists alike," said Dr. Yan Azdoud, CTO of Blackdot. "Artists are always amazed at the fidelity and accuracy with which the Blackdot device can reproduce their works on skin. Our grayscale dots are ~250m in diameter (.25mm) and we're able to tattoo them with surgical precision, a combination enabling us to execute extremely detailed designs that cannot be tattooed by hand." Artists control supply, access new revenue and marketplace Artists who collaborate with Blackdot can control the supply of their work, allowing for limited edition collections-as well as one-of-one designs-to be offered. Tattoo designs are stored in a secure cloud that can be accessed at any Blackdot Studio, and the company utilizes blockchain technology to track tattoo execution. Each time an artist's design is used they earn a royalty from it. Blackdot is fundamentally redefining what is possible for the tattooing industry, establishing new practices and revenue streams to shift a paradigm that too often trades time for money to the detriment of many artists. "The emergence of Blackdot is a breakthrough innovation in the tattoo field," explained Turkish tattoo artist Omer Tunca. "This is a very positive development that will carry artists to different vantage points. Tattoo artists and many other artists in the world whose creative output is aligned with tattoos-painters, illustrators or people who work in different and new fields of art-will have a chance to experience this medium. Blackdot allows me to easily transfer all these designs to people who like them, without crossing to a different continent. In this sense, it brings us together." Top artists Tyler Hobbs, Omer Tunca and John Craig kick off Blackdot At launch, Blackdot is offering custom tattoos from its first Blackdot Certified Artist (BCA), Tyler Hobbs, a breakout generative art star and NFT pioneer. Blackdot will also offer limited edition collections from renowned Turkish tattoo artist Omer Tunca and limited release art from John Craig, the visual artist behind the iconic cover art for The Smashing Pumpkins' diamond double-album-Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Tattoo-seekers can apply for these designs on Blackdot's website. "As a longtime supporter of the Smashing Pumpkins, working closely with John Craig to make his Mellon Collie collection available to millions of fans is a huge personal win for me. I now have the Star Nymph from the album's cover tattooed on my forearm. When I look into her perfectly executed eyes, I feel a profound connection to the music that has helped shape who I am today," said Joel Pennington, Founder and CEO of Blackdot. "It's incredibly exciting how Blackdot is redefining what's possible in tattoo as well as making the act of tattooing itself more approachable." Through its Blackdot Certified Artist (BCA) program, tattoo-seekers will also be able to commission original designs from artists around the world and conveniently get them tattooed at any Blackdot Studio. Headquartered in Austin, Blackdot plans to expand its Studios into major U.S. cities and abroad. Additionally, the company will offer Tradable Tattoos, which are limited edition tattoos from top artists that can be applied, traded or gifted between parties as one-of-a-kind, minted digital collectibles. Accredited investors at the forefront of tattoo industry evolution Nearly half of the population under 40 years of age in the U.S. has one or more tattoos-including 56% of women between the ages of 18 and 29, according to Pew Research. For artists across genres and for innovative brands, Blackdot provides access to a surging market that's traditionally been off limits and a robust way to license art in tattoo, while ensuring it meets the quality standards of the original artist. "By reimagining the tattoo process, inventing new technology and deeply respecting artists, Blackdot has created new opportunities in tattoo that will positively impact traditional tattoo artists, as well open up the industry to visual artists, generative artists, photographers, curators, public figures, and compatible brands," said Ken Hood, Managing Partner at FusionX Ventures. "We're thrilled to be at the forefront of this journey with Blackdot that will create new revenue possibilities for artists while enabling new forms of self-expression for tattoo-seekers." Blackdot is currently accepting applications to invest from friendly angel and institutional investors. Prospective investors are encouraged to complete an application to invest on Blackdot's website. For more information about Blackdot visit: blackdot.tattoo To access the media kit, please click here. About Blackdot Blackdot uses new technologies to drive a positive path forward for the art, artists, and people for whom the body is a canvas to tell their stories. By creating the world's first automatic tattooing device and providing an online tattoo art marketplace, Blackdot offers tattoo seekers unmatched self-expression through its replicable studio-based tattoo platform. The mission at Blackdot is to offer a new way for people to get tattoos, provide better mechanisms for artists to share and get compensated for their work, and to reimagine the tattooing process as a whole. Blackdot is based in Austin, Texas, with plans to expand its Studios into major U.S. cities and abroad. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012622267/en/

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[October 12, 2023] Global Neobank, Zolve Secures $100 Million Warehouse Debt Facility to Expand Financing of US Immigrants Tweet

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zolve, a cross border neobank helping immigrants across the world gain access to financial services, is proud to announce that it has secured a warehouse debt facility of up $100 million from Community Investment Management (CIM). This milestone marks another significant step forward in Zolve's mission to ensure the seamless movement of people and money across countries. The $100 million debt fund secured from CIM will be used to cater to offering credit products to migrants in the US. This infusion of funds will enable Zolve to further empower individuals from a multitude of geographical locations and demographic backgrounds on their financial journeys, ultimately elevating their banking experience within the United States. Since its inception in August 2021, the platform has attracted around 500,000 users, facilitating transactions worth more than $600 million. The company's customer retention at > 86% (12 month) and the increase in organic and referral rate (now at >62%) over the last two years conveys that Zolve effectively addresses a persisting challenge faced by a substantial portion of its customer base. "Zolve is driven by a vision of growth and inclusivity, breaking down financial barriers," says Raghunandan G, Founder of Zolve. "I believe that when individuals embark on journeys to new countries, be it for education or work, financial barriers should never impede their progress. With the recent capital we've raied, we move closer to realizing a world where access to essential financial resources transcends borders and backgrounds."



Trends Pointing to Increased Immigration to the US Reports indicate that more than 2.5 million people immigrate to the US annually, contributing over $75 billion to the economy. Additionally, with over 45 million foreign-born residents, there is a significant opportunity to support their financial needs, including international money transfers, affordable insurance plans and loans. "We are excited to be early supporters of Zolve's vision to provide a comprehensive financial solution to the global immigrant community in the United States," said Jacob Haar, Managing Partner of CIM. "In only two years of operations, Zolve has achieved remarkable growth within this creditworthy but underserved segment of the market and we are pleased to partner with Raghunandan and his team."

The Road Ahead for Zolve "Zolve has achieved remarkable growth within only two years of operations while ensuring profitable unit economics amidst a challenging global macro environment" says Anand Daniel, Partner at Accel, one of Zolve's early investors.



With this new infusion of funds, Zolve is poised for further expansion. Geographically, UK, Canada and Australia top the list, given its popularity among global immigrants. Raghunandan G, further adds, "In the quarters ahead, we're set to broaden our horizons. Our journey has just begun, and we aspire to extend our reach, offering a bouquet of inclusive financial services that elevate the financial experience for all." Zolve is a financial technology company, not a bank. The Zolve Debit Card, and Zolve Credit Card, and Zolve Azpire Credit Card are issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, Member FDIC and the Zolve account is offered by Community Federal Savings Bank. In February 2021, Zolve raised $15 Million in seed funding, led by Accel and Lightspeed followed by $40 Million raise in October 2021 Community Investment Management (CIM) is an institutional impact investment manager that provides strategic debt capital to demonstrate and scale responsible innovation in lending. CIM is dedicated to supporting organizations that drive positive change and foster financial inclusion, economic growth, and social impact. Visit https://cim-llc.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245818/Zolve.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2245816/Zolve_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-neobank-zolve-secures-100-million-warehouse-debt-facility-to-expand-financing-of-us-immigrants-301955174.html SOURCE Zolve

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[October 12, 2023] Qingdao@World: Multinational Corporations Talk About Qingdao | Garrett Vice President and General Manager for China, Zhang Yue: China is a major source of innovation Tweet

Qingdao, China, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 10, the fourth Qingdao Summit of Multinational Company Leaders officially opened. The hosting of this summit has once again made Qingdao the focus of the world. This is not only a key node for Qingdao to demonstrate strong development resilience and showcase the city's image to the world, but also an excellent opportunity to comprehensively boost confidence in economic development and tell the world the "Qingdao story" of China's economic development in the new era. In light of this, IFENG Qingdao has specially planned and launched a series of reports called Qingdao@World Multinational Enterprises Talk about Qingdao, directly covering the summit site. Through conversations with the heads of large multinational companies around the world, we will comprehensively display the opinions and suggestions of multinational companies on Qingdao, China's economic development, business environment, and investment trends, and listen to their "city impression", "city expectations" and "city fate" of Qingdao. On October 11th, IFENG Qingdao had a special conversation with Garrett's Global Vice President and General Manager for China, Zhang Yue. GARRETT Achieves Notable Milestones in China with Strong Growth in 2023 Garrett China continues to exhibit robust growth over the past year, marking significant milestones in its development journey. According to Mr. Zhang Yue, by the beginning of this year, Garrett's cumulative turbocharger deliveries in China surpassed 30 million units. To put this in perspective, between 1994 and 2016, Garrett had only achieved a total delivery of 1,000 turbochargers. "These 30 million turbocharger products bearing the Garrett brand not only represent our dedication and perseverance," says Zhang Yue, "but they also embody every moment of China's automotive carbon reduction initiatives." Zhang further elaborated on Garrett's strategic vision for the Chinese automobile market. The brand regards it as a key global market. This year, Garrett completed the second phase of expansion and equipment upgrades at its Wuhan plant, which has now commenced production. Notably, the Wuhan Phase II facility is pioneering in China, introducing the country's first fully automated high-speed production line for manufacturing gasoline variable geometry turbochargers. This innovation aids in the high-quality development of plug-in hybrid vehicles in China. Especially during 2022-2023, Garrett further enhanced its zero-emission technology innovation capabilities in China:



"We have established localized research and development capabilities specifically for electric vehicles and have secured collaborative projects with several Chinese automakers. This is expected to bolster our expansion efforts in the fields of hydrogen fuel cell air compressors, high-speed triplex electric drives for pure electric vehicles, high-power electric compressor cooling systems, and intelligent connected car software solutions. It will expedite the implementation of zero-emission automotive projects in China," commented Zhang. The East serves the East and drives green travel

Garrett is the first foreign-funded enterprise to introduce automobile turbocharging technology into China. At the beginning, we introduced global design experience and worked with local customers to apply supercharged products in projects in China. Afterwards, under the booming market development, Garrett advocates the East serves the East strategy in terms of corporate strategy and layout, focuses on building end-to-end localization capabilities, responds quickly and develops customized products for the booming Chinese automobile market, and helps Chinese engine technology achieve the world's highest level of thermal efficiency performance. Garrett has a world-class factory in China, a global R&D center in Shanghai, and a team of efficient and professional R&D engineers. It is reported that 90% of Garrett's raw materials are currently purchased locally and 100% is produced locally. "We respond quickly to market demand, create cost-effective hot models, and realize China's innovation, China's speed, and China's decision-making. Talking about the future development focus of the company, China's current automobile production and sales are almost 27 million vehicles per year. Under this volume, internal combustion engines with higher thermal efficiency are an important means of low carbon and emission reduction. " Zhang Yue introduced, "We are always committed to upgrading turbocharging technology, supporting internal combustion engine performance improvements, and embracing zero emissions. Through four core differentiated capabilities, we continue to expand our leading advantages and develop differentiated electric vehicle solutions for customers, including a high-speed three-in-one electric drive system for pure electric vehicles, the modular design is smaller and can comprehensively improve the performance and cruising range of electric vehicles. " Join us for a great event and plan for the future

Regarding her participation in the summit, Zhang Yue said she felt that this trip was of great significance. She believes that the Qingdao Multinationals Summit has set up an important communication platform for multinationals and governments at all levels to discuss the future development of multinationals in China, global innovation and other topics: "Through the exchange, the enterprises learned about the state's full support for the development of MNCs in China at the strategic and policy levels, as well as more development opportunities; on the other hand, they also had in-depth discussions with upstream and downstream enterprises of the industrial chain and industry partners on the practice of innovation, and the study of the development of the market, which is very meaningful." Regarding the current Chinese market, Zhang Yue believes that Garrett's achievements in China's operations, including the continuous strengthening of local R&D capabilities and the expansion of production operations, are inseparable from the help and policy support of the national and local governments. She said that she increasingly feels that China is a source of innovation, constantly bringing together superior technologies, experience and resources from around the world, and implementing them into commercial applications that benefit the market: "A good business environment is like sunshine, air and soil, which is the foundation for the growth, germination and prosperity of our enterprises.We hope to participate more in innovation and demonstration projects in the new energy field encouraged by the country in the future, transform technological achievements into commercial applications, and jointly promote the development of new energy, especially the hydrogen fuel cell industry. " Website: https://qd.ifeng.com



Company: IFENG Qingdao Contact Person: weijunrong Email: city_qd-at-ifeng.com Telephone: 0532-68850510 City: Qingdao

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INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation of E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (ETWO) on Behalf of Investors

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. ("E2open" or the "Company") (NYSE: ETWO) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws.

On October 10, 2023, after the market closed, the Company announced its fiscal 2024 second quarter financial results. The Company reported second-quarter earnings of four cents per share, falling short of the analyst consensus estimate of five cents, and a 20% decrease compared to earnings of five cents per share in the same period last year. The Company also cut its fiscal year 2024 projected revenuefrom $655M-$670M to $625M-$635M, a decrease of $30M-$35M.







The same day, the Company announced the departure of Michael A. Farlekas who had been serving as the Company's Chief Executive Officer.

On this news, E2open's stock price fell $2.20, or 50.1%, to close at $2.19 per share on October 11, 2023, thereby injuring investors.

If you purchased E2open securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012465407/en/
[October 12, 2023] Introducing the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran For Hodinkee Tweet

DOVER, N.J., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hodinkee, the leading destination for all things watches and horology, has collaborated with musical artist Ed Sheeran and continued partners, G-SHOCK to announce the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran For Hodinkee. Across 2020, 2021, and 2022, Hodinkee launched a trio of G-SHOCK watches designed in partnership with musician John Mayer, each selling out in a matter of minutes. As a follow-up to the three-part collaboration, Hodinkee and John Mayer are back with a new project that expands upon the legacy created by Mayer and paves the path for new individuals to design their own G-SHOCK collaboration with Hodinkee. The project allows individuals to step outside of their traditional creative spaces to design an artist-inspired collaboration with G-SHOCK and Hodinkee, curated by John Mayer. Each collaborator is connected to Mayer via music, design, and, of course, watches. Throughout the remainder of 2023, Hodinkee and G-SHOCK will launch three new artist collaborations that will be available for purchase in the Hodinkee Shop . Up first is the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran. Over the past few months, Ed Sheeran has been spotted wearing a mysterious yellow G-SHOCK while on tour across the United States (see here + here ), leading to speculation amongst fans online and on social media that he was wearing a custom G-SHOCK made for the tour or an unidentifiable, not-yet-released limited editionwell, the secret is finally out. Sheeran has been a long-time fan of Hodinkee and has been a contributor for several years. He's written for the site and has participated in a very special episode of The Collectors Edition with Ben Clymer. Today, musician, collector, and watch enthusiast John Mayer sat down with none other than Ed Sheeran for a monumental episode of Talking Watches on Hodinkee (link to theepisode to follow once live). The two are longtime friends, occasional duet partners, and they are both obsessed with watches. Sheeran and Mayer sat for over two hours, chatting about Ed's extensive and impressive collection of watches, what each and every one symbolizes for Sheeran, and how his taste has continued to evolve alongside his record-setting career.



The tour of Sheeran's collection includes the aforementioned yellow G-SHOCK, and with the publication of Talking Watches, he formally introduced to the world the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran For Hodinkee. The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran is inspired by the album artwork for Sheeran's latest album, Subtract. Subtract is the fifth and final album in a series of mathematics-inspired releases, and it is seen as Sheeran's most vulnerable and touching album to date, featuring music that Sheeran describes as "honest and true" to where he was in life during the recording. This raw self-expression carries itself through the design of the album's namesake watch.

"To give people a watch that is as exciting to you as anything else in your collection helps bring people who are interested in watches and interested in Ed's music into this world so that they can participate." - John Mayer The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran features a resin case and strap dominated by a bold and bright yellowa daring color but one that works surprisingly well on the wrist. The entire dial features an abstract interpretation of Ed's face, as well as a sketched subtraction sign at 12 o'clock, as seen on the Subtract album cover, pulling in muted reds, oranges, greens, and blues, while the iconic G-SHOCK "Triple Graph" display features yellow surrounds, complementing the yellow case. Solid black text is used across the case, drawing the eye to the Mode and Start/Stop indicators and the Adjust and Split/Reset indicators. As a final nod to the album, the strap is adorned with black watercolor splatters that pull from Subtract's peripheral artwork. The watch's caseback features an engraving of the Ed Sheeran and Hodinkee logos. The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran is shipped in G-SHOCK's iconic octagonal tin, with custom packaging artwork that makes it feel as though you are holding the Subtract album in hand. You can purchase the G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran for $185 USD in the Hodinkee Shop on October 18th at 11:00am ET. Interested customers are encouraged to sign up for early access and additional information from Hodinkee at https://le.hodinkee.com/g-shock-for-hodinkee . Technical Specifications: Model: The G-SHOCK Ref. 6900 - Subtract By Ed Sheeran

Functions: 1/100th Stopwatch (24 Hr.), Countdown Timer (24 Hr.), Multi-Function Alarm, Flash Alert, EL Backlight, 12/24-Hour Time Formats

Material: Resin (case & strap), Stainless Steel (buckle)

Dimensions: 53.2 diameter x 50.0 lug-to-lug x 16.3mm thick / 67g

Crystal: Mineral glass

Caseback: Stainless steel screw-back (4-screws)

Dial: Yellow with black, red, blue, and green accents

Lume: Electro-luminescent backlight with Afterglow

Caliber: Module 3230

Power Reserve: Two-year battery (CR2016 cell)

Water Resistance: 200 meters

Bracelet/Strap: Resin strap

Lug Width: 25.8mm

Manufactured: Japan Media Contacts

Hodinkee: [email protected]

G-Shock: [email protected] About Hodinkee

Hodinkee is building a better world of watches. Founded in 2008 by Benjamin Clymer as a watch blog, Hodinkee is now a multi-channel online destination for watch enthusiasts, including: print, digital, and video content; an e-commerce platform as an authorized retailer of over 40+ brands in every style and price point along with a wide assortment of pre-owned and vintage watches; and best-in-class services like Hodinkee Insurance. With years of experience and expertise, Hodinkee's work brings every aspect of the watch world to life through color-rich journalism, meticulous engineering of Limited Edition timepieces, and curation of the most extensive assortment of watch brands and accessories to shop. As a true destination for everything watch-related, Hodinkee has built a dedicated community that's brought the brand to the forefront. Headquartered in NYC, visit www.hodinkee.com . About G-SHOCK

CASIO's shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch is synonymous with toughness, born from the developer Mr. Ibe's dream of 'creating a watch that never breaks.' Over 200 handmade samples were created and tested to destruction until finally in 1983 the first, now iconic G-SHOCK hit the streets of Japan and began to establish itself as 'the toughest watch of all time'. Each watch encompasses the 7 elements; electric shock resistance, gravity resistance, low temperature resistance, vibration resistance, water resistance, shock resistance and toughness. The watch is packed with Casio innovations and technologies to prevent it from suffering direct shock; this includes internal components protected with urethane and suspended timekeeping modules inside the watch structure. G-SHOCK is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and since its launch, it has continued to evolve, continuing to support Mr. Ibe's mantra "never, never give up." Visit www.gshock.casio.com/us/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-the-g-shock-ref-6900---subtract-by-ed-sheeran-for-hodinkee-301955318.html SOURCE Casio America, Inc.

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[October 12, 2023] Ancora's Natalie Williams Named One of the "Top 50 Women Leaders in Education" by Executive Leadership Organization Women We Admire Tweet

DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ancora Vice President of Client Operations Natalie Williams was recently named as one of the "Top 50 Women Leaders in Education" for 2023 by Women We Admire , a professional network of women business leaders in the United States and Canada. Dallas-based Ancora is a leading workforce solutions provider addressing America's labor gaps through innovative and technology-driven educational programs on a national level. I am extremely proud of the meaningful work we are doing at Ancora to upskill and reskill America's workforce. "It is a privilege and an honor to be recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Education of 2023 by Women We Admire. I am extremely proud of the meaningful work we are doing at Ancora to upskill and reskill America's workforce," said William. "The team of leaders that I have the opportunity to work with are essential to our success as an organization, and I am grateful to be part of such a dynamic group."



With this recognition, Williams joins women at the helm of diverse educational institutions across the U.S., spanning small liberal arts colleges to some of the largest public universities, including Ivy League institutions, and beyond. According to Women We Admire, the women's collective efforts are "instrumental in guaranteeing that educational establishments maintain their adaptability and responsiveness to the ever-changing demands of society." As the Vice President of Client Operations at workforce solutions provider Ancora, Williams operates the Ancora Training Division which delivers upskilling and reskilling training to companies, colleges, and government entities across the United States.

Williams is a dynamic leader with over 10 years of experience as a sales and operations manager in post-secondary education. She is focused on building and developing strong teams that deliver results and exceed performance expectations, customer satisfaction, and outcomes for students and employers. Williams has successfully delivered improvements in key performance indicators year over year as a sales manager and operations manager for Ancora. Previously, Williams was an executive director at Ancora Education's Miller-Motte College , where earlier in her career she also worked as an admissions director. Williams earned an MBA from Trident University International and an undergraduate degree in business, management, marketing, and related support services from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. About Ancora

Ancora is a leading workforce solutions provider addressing America's labor gaps through innovative and technology-driven educational programs. Ancora operates in four divisions: Ancora Academy, Ancora High School, Ancora Education, and Ancora Training. Ancora Academy offers online courses for personal or professional development to individual learners. Ancora High School, accredited by Cognia, provides adult learners the opportunity to complete a high school diploma in a highly flexible, self-paced, completely online format. Ancora Education offers technical education training programs specializing in healthcare, IT, business, and skilled trades through five private, post-secondary school brands with 22 campus locations across the nation. Schools include: Arizona Automotive Institute (AAI), Berks Technical Institute (BTI), McCann School of Business & Technology, Miller-Motte College (MMC) and South Texas Vocational Technical Institute (STVT). Ancora Training offers workforce solutions, such as CDL and other customizable training solutions, for corporate, community college, and government agency partners. Learn more at www.ancora.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ancoras-natalie-williams-named-one-of-the-top-50-women-leaders-in-education-by-executive-leadership-organization-women-we-admire-301955353.html SOURCE Ancora

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[October 12, 2023] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (ETWO) on Behalf of Investors Tweet

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. ("E2open" or the "Company") (NYSE: ETWO) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your E2open investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/E2open-Parent-Holdings-Inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights. On October 10, 2023, after the market closed, the Company announced its fiscal 2024 second quarter financial results. The Company reported second-quarter earnings of four cents per share, falling short of the analyst consensus estimate of five cents, and a 20% decrease compared to earnings of five cents per share in the same priod last year. The Company also cut its fiscal year 2024 projected revenue from $655M-$670M to $625M-$635M, a decrease of $30M-$35M.



The same day, the Company announced the departure of Michael A. Farlekas who had been serving as the Company's Chief Executive Officer. On this news, E2open's stock price fell $2.20, or 50.1%, to close at $2.19 per share on October 11, 2023, thereby injuring investors.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding E2open should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower Program. Under the 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 Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email [email protected]. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012586710/en/

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[October 12, 2023] BASF celebrates National Chemistry Week at the Royal Ontario Museum Tweet

BASF Kids' Labs will be offered from October 15 to 22, 2023 to visiting families and young students from the Royal Ontario Museum's School Visit Program

to visiting families and young students from the Royal Ontario Museum's School Visit Program National Chemistry Week activities are part of BASF's 3-year partnership with the Royal Ontario Museum to promote hands-on educational programming that encourages innovation and creativity MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 12, 2023 /CNW/ - BASF is bringing National Chemistry Week activities to ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) through a series of BASF Kids' Lab experiments that encourage science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) learning and promote innovation and creativity within young museum visitors. This will be BASF's first time celebrating Chemistry Week at ROM as part of the three-year partnership and in addition to the workshops sponsored through ROM's Signature Family Programs. BASF celebrates National Chemistry Week at the Royal Ontario Museum BASF Kids' Labs will be offered to the general public in ROM's innovative Makerspace hub on Sunday, October 15 and 22, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a regular ticket purchase. The Kids' Lab program wil feature an experiment called "Playful Polymers" that teaches kids about the role polymers play in chemistry while they create their own slime.



BASF Kids' Lab will also welcome approximately 750 students participating in ROM's School Visits Program from October 17 to 19, 2023. Visitors from kindergarten to grade 3 will have the opportunity to participate in the "Rainbow Connection" experiment and learn about chromatographic separation. In contrast, grade 4 to 6 students will experience the "Freshwater pHun Factor," which focuses on teaching kids about water quality and pH levels. "We are excited to celebrate National Chemistry Week at ROM and encourage kids to keep discovering the wonders of chemistry through our BASF Kids' Labs," said Apala Mukherjee, BASF Canada President. "Within the first six months of launching the partnership with ROM, more than 2,500 young visitors participated in Kids' Lab, and we look forward to bringing this experiment to even more youth!"

BASF's Kids' Lab is one of the company's signature STEAM programs for youth, designed to provide a fun, hands-on learning environment that connects chemistry with the world. For more information on National Chemistry Week or the BASF Kids' Lab curriculum, please visit https://www.basf.com/ca/en/social-engagement/basf-canada-celebrates-national-chemistry-week-at-the-rom.html About BASF BASF Canada, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, is a subsidiary of BASF SE and an affiliate of BASF Corporation. BASF has more than 1,100 employees in Canada. For more information about BASF Canada's operations, visit www.basf.com/ca. At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of 87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com. SOURCE BASF Canada

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[October 12, 2023] Tec de Monterrey and Wizeline present G.AI.L, the first Generative Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Latin America Tweet

The laboratory will be located at Tec de Monterrey's Guadalajara campus.

Wizeline will invest $ 1 million over the next five years in a scholarship program for students working with Artificial Intelligence. ZAPOPAN, Mexico, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnologico de Monterrey's Guadalajara campus and Wizeline , a global technology services company, are partnering to launch the first Generative Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Mexico and Latin America, named G.AI.L (Generative AI Lab). The laboratory combines Wizeline's expertise in technology and AI with that of Tec de Monterrey's faculty, researchers, and students, positioning itself as the hub for Generative Artificial Intelligence development in the region. As part of this launch, Wizeline has announced an investment of $1 million for a scholarship program that will be applied over the next five years, allowing Tec de Monterrey students to access new technologies such as ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, PaLM (Bard), LLaMa, Midjourne, DALL-E, WatsonX AI for the development of innovative solutions that contribute to industry and societal challenges. "Generative Artificial Intelligence products like Chat GPT, Bard, and DALL-E may seem magical, but they result from decades of work in algorithms, infrastructure, and chips. We are on the verge of witnessing the most transformative period in human history due to advances in Artificial Intelligence," said Bismarck Lepe, founder and CEO of Wizeline. "It's important that we proactively work to establish policies and shape technology for the benefit of humanity, and thanks to our collaboration with Tec, G.AI.L. will be at the epicenter of Latin America's commitment to harnessing the power of Generative Artificial Intelligence." "We are developing the AI practice on the Guadalajara campus because we believe that our students should contribute to shaping our country and the world with modern technologies," said Claudia Felix, Vice President of the Western Region at Tec. "We believe that G.AI.L. will allow us to stay at the forefront of these advancements." Wizeline will invest approximately 9 million Mexican pesos in the construction of G.AI.L, which will be located within the AI Hub of the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tec. It will have over 270 m2 of flexible workspace and is expected to open in 2024. The AI Hub aims to maximize the economic and social benefits of ethical Artificial Intelligence use and is part of the School of Engineering and Sciences, collaborating with the Schools of Business, Health, and Humanities. The ambitious activities program of the laboratory, starting this year, includes involving students in real AI challenges, professional internships, and TEC21-related projects, as well as community and training activities such as hackathons, open workshops for businesses and entrepreneurs, and conferences in collaboration with Wizeline's AI Academy. Additionally, G.AI.L will emphasize the development of open-source models and proof-of-concept prototypes, as well as entrepreneurial incubation. An Observatory for Generative Artificial Intelligence will also be established, responsible for producing reports, publications, and a comprehensive "Generative Artificial Intelligence Map"



G.AI.L was designed as a bridge between research, education, and real-world application of Generative Artificial Intelligence and will function as a "living laboratory," a space that recreates real-world environments where users, local, national, and international business leaders, including government and community representatives, can collaborate to jointly create, test, and validate new technologies, services, and products. "This partnership combines practical insight and entrepreneurial innovation with academic rigor," commented Linda Medina, Regional Dean of the School of Engineering and Sciences. "It opens doors to explore novel approaches, foster inventive solutions, and equip students, educators, entrepreneurs, and the community with the essential skills to address ever-evolving challenges in the field of Artificial Intelligence."

"Innovation and cutting-edge technology are essential in today's public, social, and business world, and Zapopan has emerged as a hub in this regard, excelling in the high-tech industry and showing an unwavering commitment to sustainable development," said Mr. Juan Jose Frangie, Mayor of Zapopan, Mexico. "Our strategy focuses on investing in human capital, strengthening competitiveness, and generating employment through specialized training. Wizeline has been a catalyst in this direction, setting a standard for innovation. The launch of G.AI.L reaffirms this commitment, reflecting a clear synergy with our strategic vision for a more prosperous and innovative Zapopan." Wizeline was founded in Silicon Valley as a company focused on designing and developing digital products that drive business transformation. The company has expanded worldwide and works with some of the largest international companies. Tec de Monterrey is ranked as one of the world's best universities, and its Guadalajara campus is located in the Silicon Valley of Mexico, home to companies such as Intel, Oracle, HP, and hundreds of startups. To learn more about G.AI.L, events, and calls for applications, visit: http://gail.lat/ About Tecnologico de Monterrey:

Tecnologico de Monterrey (http://www.tec.mx) is a private, non-profit, multicampus university system. Since its founding in 1943, it has stood out for its academic excellence, educational innovation, entrepreneurship, global vision, industry partnerships, and strong execution capabilities. It has campuses in 28 cities in Mexico, with more than 67,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels and nearly 7,000 professors. Additionally, it has over 26,000 high school students and 2,500 teachers at that level. The institution has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) since 1950. According to the QS World University Rankings (2023), it is ranked 170th globally and 30th among private universities worldwide. In the QS Graduate Employability Rankings (2022), it ranks as the number 1 university in Latin America and 26th in the world. In the Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings (2022), it is ranked as the top university in Mexico and fifth in Latin America. It is also the only university outside the U.S. to be ranked in the Top Schools for Entrepreneurship Ranking (2023) by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur, ranking fourth in undergraduate entrepreneurship programs. Tecnologico de Monterrey belongs to various prestigious international networks, including the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), Universitas 21 (U21), and The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), among others. About Wizeline:

Wizeline is a global technology services company that helps businesses build better products faster. Wizeline offers a wide range of services, including product strategy, platform architecture, technology modernization, and cloud service implementation. The company is committed to diversity and inclusion, believing that the best talent can be found worldwide. Wizeline is a rapidly growing company and has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States for four consecutive years. For more information, and to explore career opportunities, go to www.wizeline.com. For photographic material related to this press release, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3tt4CGp More information available at: https://bit.ly/48Q2okp and ?? https://bit.ly/3tB8SU7 Visit News room , Tecnologico de Monterrey's press room. Press Contact: Tecnologico de Monterrey

Lic. Karina Robles

Cel.: (449) 225 23 59

Mail: [email protected]

Wizeline

Lic. Karen Sanchez

Cel: 55 4044 4048

Mail: [email protected]

[email protected]



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[October 12, 2023] Weave Ranks Among the Top 20 in MountainWest Capital Network's Utah 100 2023 Tweet

Weave (NYSE: WEAV), a leading all-in-one experience platform for small and medium-sized healthcare practices, has been named to the 2023 Utah 100, MountainWest Capital Network's (MWCN) annual list of the fastest-growing companies in Utah. Now in its 29th year, MWCN's annual list highlights Utah's continued strong growth and investment in technology, retail, healthcare and more. "We're thrilled to be included among Utah's fastest growing companies for the fourth year in a row as we continue to create seamless, meaningful patient experiences with healthcare providers," said Brett White, CEO of Weave. "Weave is committed to delivering the highest quality solutions to our customers and providing an amazing workplace for our primarily Utah-based employees. We're honored to be in the company of some of the most innovative companies in the state." The Utah 100 Award recognizes the growth and success of businesses across the state and attracts thousands of Utah's top industry leaders. Honorees are ranked according to a weighted average revenue calculation of percentage and dollar growth over a five-year period through December 2022. The Utah 100 rankings were announced during MWCN's Utah 100 award event with over a thousand business leaders in attendance. In recent months, Weve has received several award recognitions demonstrating the company's commitment to its customers and employees, including Great Place to Work, Utah Business Fast 50, Women Tech Council 2023 Shatter List, and the Governor's Office's 100 Companies Championing Women.



About Weave Weave is the all-in-one experience platform for small- and medium-sized healthcare businesses. From the first phone call to the final invoice and every touchpoint in between, Weave connects the entire customer journey. Weave's software solutions transform how local businesses attract, communicate with and engage customers to grow their business. Weave has set the bar for Utah startup achievement & work culture. In the past year, Weave has been named a G2 leader in Patient Engagement, Optometry, Dental Practice Management and Patient Relationship Management software. To learn more, visit getweave.com/newsroom/

About MountainWest Capital Network MountainWest Capital Network is Utah's first and largest business networking organization devoted to supporting entrepreneurial success and dedicated to the flow of financial, entrepreneurial and intellectual capital. Learn more at www.mwcn.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012536041/en/

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PARIS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Wednesday that substantial progress has been made in promoting gender parity in education, with 50 million more girls enrolling in school since 2015.

In its Global Education Monitoring report published on Wednesday, the International Day of the Girl, UNESCO revealed a notable increase of 22.5 million girls in primary school, 14.6 million in lower secondary, and 13 million in upper secondary education compared to 2015.

"Completion rates of girls increased from 86 percent to 89 percent in primary education, from 74 percent to 79 percent in lower secondary and 54 percent to 61 percent in upper secondary education," UNESCO said, adding that 5 million more girls are completing primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school every year now than in 2015.

UNESCO continues to call on its members to make efforts to ensure equality in education for girls and boys in school since there are still 122 million girls out of school around the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

"To achieve gender equality in education across the globe, we must sustain our efforts, equipping girls with tools and fostering environments conducive to their success," said Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO.

On Dec. 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared Oct. 11 as the International Day of the Girl, to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. 
[October 12, 2023] China Energy Promotes Friendship Between Chinese and Indonesian Youths Tweet

BEIJING, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of young people, six Indonesian and six Chinese, visited representative enterprises of China Energy from September 22 to 26 as part of the "We Are Together: Silk Road Youth's China Energy Tour" organized by the company. The young delegation learnt about these enterprises' achievements in areas such as digital transformation, sci-tech innovation, and development of green and clean energies, and held a roundtable dialogue of in-depth discussions, building a bridge for the friendly communication and exchanges between Chinese and Indonesian youths. During the five-day trip, young representatives from both countries visited Beijing Guoneng Gas-fired Cogeneration Power Plant, where they learnt about its fully intelligent, high-reliability operation and maintenance processes, and the green power generation technology featuring ultra-low emissions of dust, SO x , NO x , and CO 2 . They went to Hangjin Energy Co., Ltd., where they observed the automatic, intelligent coal mining process at a coal mine, and visited a CCUS (post-combustion CO2 capture, sequestration and utilization) demonstration project that develops a new-generation technology that captures CO 2 from the flue gas with independent IPR. The captured CO 2 can then be injected underground for oil recovery or sold to nearby chemical plants for production. They went to the Skyway Chongli Wind Farm, where they found out how new energy technology helped achieve a carbon-neutral Beijing Olympic Winter Games in 2022, and observed how the HICMS (holographic integrated condition monitoring system) monitors the wid turbine blades, tower barrel and foundation. They came to the Huanghua Port, the world's first dry bulk port realizing full-process intelligent operation, which impressed the Indonesian guests deeply with its efficient, intelligent, and clean production. They also visited the Cangdong Power Plant, where the seawater desalination demonstration project that processes seawater to be potable amazed the Indonesian youths.



The youths from both countries had a roundtable dialogue in Beijing on September 26, at which they talked about their visits to China Energy and a number of other topics including energy digitalization, technological innovation, ecological progress, new energy development, and cultural blending between China and Indonesia. They agreed that the extensive cooperation between the two countries in such areas as energy development, application of new technology, and green and low-carbon development has offered more opportunities for the growth of young people. Youths from both countries work together in sci-tech innovation, technological transformation, and industrial upgrading, through which they come to understand each other better and jointly promote cultural exchange and mutual learning between the two countries. China Energy announced the establishment of an Indonesian branch of the China Energy Young Makers Alliance during the roundtable dialogue. The alliance is aimed to cultivate young, innovative talent, and the formation of the Indonesian branch will provide a platform for Indonesian youths to enhance their expertise and skills and become more innovative and efficient.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. In the past ten years, China Energy has made consistent efforts to align the China-proposed BRI with Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy by investing in and building three safe, eco-friendly, clean and efficient power plants, ensuring stable power supply in the local areas and acting out the vision for building the China-Indonesia community of shared future. China Energy plans to turn the "We Are Together" cultural program into a regular platform for promoting the communication, mutual learning and friendship between Chinese and Indonesian youths. Contact: Cao Yuanyuan

Tel: 008610-58685336

Email: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2246073/China_Energy.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2246072/China_Energy_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-energy-promotes-friendship-between-chinese-and-indonesian-youths-301955445.html SOURCE China Energy

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Evans Bancorp Announces Third Quarter 2023 Conference Call and Webcast

Evans Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE American: EVBN), a community financial services company serving Western New York since 1920, announced that it will release its third quarter 2023 results after the close of financial markets on Thursday, October 26, 2023.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast to review the financial and operating results for the period and discuss its corporate strategy and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow.

Third Quarter 2023 Conference Call

Thursday, October 26, 2023

4:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Phone: (201) 689-8471

Internet Webcast: www.evansbancorp.com







A telephonic replay will be available from 8:00 p.m. ET on the day of the teleconference until Thursday, November 9, 2023. To listen to the archived call, dial (412) 317-6671 and enter conference ID number 13741201, or access the webcast replay at www.evansbancorp.com, where a transcript will be posted once available.

About Evans Bancorp, Inc.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. is a financial holding company and the parent company of Evans Bank, N.A., a commercial bank with $2.2 billion in assets and $1.8 billion in deposits at June 30, 2023. Evans is a full-service community bank with 18 branches providing comprehensive financial services to consumer, business and municipal customers throughout Western New York. Evans Insurance Agency, a wholly owned subsidiary, provides life insurance, employee benefits, and property and casualty insurance through eight offices in the Western New York region. Evans Investment Services provides non-deposit investment products, such as annuities and mutual funds.

Evans Bancorp, Inc. and Evans Bank routinely post news and other important information on their websites, at www.evansbancorp.com and www.evansbank.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012051409/en/
[October 12, 2023] GE Appliances Celebrates Opening of CoCREATE in Connecticut Tweet

Today, GE Appliances, a Haier company, together with state education and workforce development leaders, officially opened CoCREATE to the public in Stamford, Conn. Part appliance factory, community makerspace, and design & experience center, CoCREATE is a first-of-its-kind cocreation hub designed to bring people together to make, connect, and inspire. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012485567/en/ Inside GE Appliances' CoCREATE Stamford microfactory where manufacturing of the GE Profile Smart Mixer with Auto Sense is underway. (Photo: GE Appliances, a Haier company) "We are thrilled to officially open CoCREATE, a dynamic incubator for innovation and partnership that puts the community at the very center of the experience," said GE Appliances President & CEO Kevin Nolan. "CoCREATE is the latest example of our continued commitment at GE Appliances to investing in America and creating possibilities that lead to economic growth and opportunities in local communities like Stamford." "I'm so excited to welcome CoCREATE to our state! This first-of-its-kind innovation hub represents GE Appliances' renewed commitment in our region to fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and providing exciting opportunities for the local community," said Connecticut Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. CoCREATE is located at 47 John Street, a 67,000 sq. foot facility in Stamford's Harbor Point neighborhood. GE Appliances broke ground on CoCREATE in the fall of 2021 and began manufacturing select small appliances inside the facility last year. The state-of-the-art facility merges elements of modern manufacturing and community collaboration and engagement under one roof to create an environment that fosters innovation, cultivates meaningful partnerships, and drives exceptional customer experiences. "CoCREATE is an incredible, unique addition to the City of Stamford-from providing students the opportunity to get hands on experience in their state-of-the-art makerspace, to its beautiful test kitchen and design center," said Stamford Director of Economic Development Leah Kagan. "We are excited for GE Appliances to open its doors to the community so they can take full advantage of all that it has to offer." Now fully open, CoCREATE offers many unique opportunities for everyone, from the local maker community to families and consumers. Here's how: A Place to Make: CoCREATE houses the second FirstBuild makerspace in the country. FirstBuild was first established in Louisville, Ky., to accelerate GE Appliances' pace of innovation through social product development with a global community of makers online and in its publicly available makerspace.



With access to hand tools, 3D printers, lasers, and other state-of-the-art equipment, the makerspace will offer community hours that invite individuals to explore their creativity, prototype ideas, and transform concepts into actual products. CoCREATE will also host educational programming and other learning opportunities in the makerspace for students, families, area high schools, and community groups. Visitors can also see inside the CoCREATE microfactory, where they can watch the craftsmanship that goes into building small appliances from GE Appliances' lineup, including the Monogram Hearth Oven and GE Profile Smart Mixer. Here, the company builds on its longstanding commitment to workforce development and American manufacturing. Through partnerships with the University of Connecticut and Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU), students work paid, part-time shifts in the factory after classes alongside CoCREATE engineers.

"As CoCREATE opens its doors to the community, I want to thank CEO Kevin Nolan and GE Appliances for being inclusive, engaged and forward-thinking partners," said CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng. "Since the inception of this incredible space, our students have been able to gain hands-on experience in this unique facility. Kevin made sure to include students from local institutions, and specifically he wanted community college students to be in on the ground-floor of the design, build-out, and ultimately the usage of CoCREATE. With thousands of jobs open today and thousands more expected to open in coming years, CoCREATE is preparing the next generation of workers from all walks of life for advanced manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, and we are thrilled to be part of it." A Place to Connect: CoCREATE offers an on-site community coffee shop, creating a welcoming place for visitors to connect. Additionally, within the facility's design & experience center, community members can engage directly with the CoCREATE team, test new products, and provide valuable feedback. The center's Monogram Test Kitchen also provides an avenue for culinary enthusiasts to elevate their cooking skills. Equipped with Monogram brand appliances, this fully functional kitchen will host chef demonstrations, cooking lessons, and other community events. Local chefs will also use the test kitchen as part of a newly formed partnership with the Village Community Foundation's 'Kitchen Incubator' Program, which supports local, emerging chefs and restaurateurs. A Place to Inspire: CoCREATE's immersive brand showroom offers inspiration for home and kitchen design, even allowing visitors to customize select appliances. It showcases kitchen vignettes from GE Appliances' various brands, such as Monogram, Cafe, GE, GE Profile, Haier and Hotpoint, highlighting their individual, distinctive styles. The facility also features a retail area where visitors can explore and purchase products as well as a heritage center that pays homage to the region's rich manufacturing history. Visitors can learn more about industrial and consumer products from the past that were invented in Connecticut, including small appliances first developed in Bridgeport by General Electric in the 1920s. In 2020, GE Appliances announced it would return to the manufacturing and selling of small appliances after 35 years. For CoCREATE visiting hours and additional information, please visit stamfordcocreate.com. Since 2016, GE Appliances has invested over $2 billion in its U.S. footprint-more than any other appliance company in America. CoCREATE is the latest testament to this commitment, further fueling the company's innovation and American growth. About GE Appliances

At GE Appliances we make the world a better place, and our team is committed to leading in the communities where we live and work. Today, our appliances are in 50 percent of all U.S. homes, and our business is committed to serving every family in the country. We are a purpose-rooted and passion-driven organization that believes there is always a better way. We manufacture and sell products under the Monogram, Cafe, GE Profile, GE, Haier, and Hotpoint brands. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, air conditioners and water filtration systems. To learn more about our company, brands, corporate citizenship efforts, economic impact, and working for GE Appliances, visit geappliancesco.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012485567/en/

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[October 12, 2023] Nebraska's Central Community College Selects YuJa Enterprise Video Platform to Enhance Learning Across Three Campuses Tweet

YuJa, Inc., a leader in ed-tech solutions, announces an agreement with Nebraska-based Central Community College (CCC) to provide a comprehensive video and media creation, hosting, storage and distribution solution across its three campuses. YuJa will replace VidGrid, CCC's former enterprise learning and development platform, which is phasing out its education offering. The institution was seeking an all-in-one solution to create, upload, and edit content while also integrating with Canvas, the school's learning management system. In addition to user-friendly features that enable instructors to create engaging, interactive content, CCC will benefit from the ability to auto-caption, edit videos, add video quizzing and integrate with the gradebook, as well as visual analytics to see how their content is making an impact. "Our goal is to make transitioning video platforms seamless, and our teams are experienced at helping institutions through the implementation, migration, and training processes from star to finish," said Nathan Arora, Chief Business Officer at YuJa, Inc. "We're excited for Central Community College to get started using the YuJa Video Platform to see how simple, yet powerful it is in creating, distributing and managing video content."



ABOUT CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE Central Community College (CCC) is a multi-campus community college serving a 25-county area in central Nebraska - approximately 14,000 square miles with a population of more than 300,000. The institution offers 37 career and technical education programs with a focus on degree, diploma, and certificate programs requiring two years or less to complete. In addition, the college offers classes in communities throughout its 25-county service area, online learning, and training and development for businesses, industries, and other organizations.

Three main campuses are located in Columbus, Grand Island, and Hastings. Educational centers are located in Holdrege, Kearney, Lexington, and Ord. Additionally, CCC uses a variety of distance learning techniques to provide educational services in some 90 communities in its service area. ABOUT YUJA, INC. YuJa is a leader in ed-tech solutions. Our platforms provide organizations of all sizes with the tools to educate, engage, inspire and collaborate. We serve learning enterprises within all sectors, including higher-ed, K-12, government, healthcare, non-profit and corporate. We have legal headquarters in Delaware with primary U.S. offices in Silicon Valley, California, and Canadian offices in Toronto. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012124661/en/

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[October 12, 2023] EVERTEC to Announce Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results on October 26, 2023 Tweet

EVERTEC, Inc. (NYSE: EVTC) ("Evertec" or the "Company") today announced that it will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. ET to review third quarter financial results. Participating on the call will be Mac Schuessler, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Joaquin Castrillo, Chief Financial Officer. A press release with third quarter 2023 financial results will be issued shortly after the market closes on Thursday, October 26, 2023. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (888) 338-7153 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-5117. A replay will be available one hour after the end of the conference call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 for international callers; the pin number is 4266400. The replay will be available through Thursday, November 2, 2023. The call will be webcast live from the Company's website at www.evertecinc.com under the Investor Relations section or directly at http://ir.evertecinc.com.



About EVERTEC EVERTEC, Inc. (NYSE: EVTC) is a leading full-service transaction processing business in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America, providing a broad range of merchant acquiring, payment services and business process management services. Evertec owns and operates the ATH network, one of the leading personal identification number ("PIN") debit networks in Latin America. In addition, the Company processes over six billion transactions annually and manages a system of electronic payment networks in Puerto Rico and Latin America and offers a comprehensive suite of services for core banking, cash processing, and fulfillment in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the Company offers technology outsourcing and payment transactions fraud monitoring to all the regions it serves. Based in Puerto Rico, the Company operates in 26 Latin American countries and serves a diversified customer base of leading financial institutions, merchants, corporations and government agencies with "mission-critical" technology solutions. For more information, visit www.evertecinc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012496379/en/

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2023 stands out as a year of groundbreaking innovation in the communications space. Companies have surged ahead, introducing products that redefine their respective sectors, offering solutions that are both technologically advanced and user-centric.

AMOP, with its Revenue Assurance tool, showcases a deep understanding of the intricacies of billing, merging technology and user experience in a virtually unmatched manner. AVer Information USA's offerings, the A30 and the MT300N, demonstrate the company's commitment to simplifying hybrid connectivity and fostering collaboration, ensuring adaptability in both corporate and educational sectors. Similarly, Grupo NGN's NGNCloudComm platform continues its legacy of aligning with modern business needs, especially in the realm of contact center technology. Volli Communications, through its Volli Business Suite, caters to a spectrum of communication requirements, from voice calls to comprehensive messaging solutions, emphasizing flexibility and clarity. Finally, Wildix (News - Alert), with x-hoppers, presents a fresh take on retail communication, bridging wireless technology with cloud-based solutions.

As we delve deeper into these innovations, we invite you to explore how each of these companies and their products are shaping the future of communications. We wish a hearty congratulations to all these 2023 TMC Labs Unified Communications Innovation Award Winners!

AMOP

Revenue Assurance

AMOP, with its Revenue Assurance tool, has positioned itself as a significant player in ensuring billing accuracy in the market. Not only does it address the complexities surrounding the financial aspects of businesses, but it also actively seeks to integrate technology for better user experience, primarily serving the enterprise sector.

The heart of AMOP's offering, the Revenue Assurance solution, was developed to ensure meticulous billing by cross-referencing and verifying domains and seats within the Netsapiens system against the Rev.io billing platform. This careful synchronization provides businesses with a dependable way to oversee and confirm their billing activities. It offers a fresh perspective in a crowded market, highlighting AMOP's commitment to innovation.

What distinguishes AMOP further is its robust suite of features. From Mobility Usage Billing to IoT Usage Billing, AMOP has consistently demonstrated the capability to address various billing needs. UCaaS Revenue Assurance also forms a vital part of their feature set, indicating their prowess in unified communications.

Recent efforts have been directed towards enhancing platform efficiencies. With advanced M2M inventory management and refined processes for ordering SIMs and activations, AMOP is constantly evolving to cater to ever-changing business needs.

AMOP's Revenue Assurance tool is a testament to its commitment to precise billing, especially for the enterprise sector. Its seamless integration with popular platforms like Netsapiens and Rev.io, coupled with a plethora of unique features, positions it as a leading solution in its domain.

Like most of us, AVer Information USA has recognized the increasing demand for hybrid connectivity in modern corporate and educational settings. With the introduction of the A30, the company has effectively bridged the gap, providing a tool that caters to multiple needs with ease.

The A30 is not merely a camera; it's a manifestation of what a modern device should be  adaptable and multifunctional. Whether it's for video conferencing in a corporate boardroom or visualizing material in an educational setting, the A30 proves its versatility. The design and the functionalities it offers make it a unique device in the market, integrating a visualizer, microphone, and speaker into one cohesive unit.

One of the major strengths of the A30 is its compatibility. Its no secret that Microsoft Teams and Zoom dominate the communication landscape. Not surprisingly, AVer ensures that the A30 integrates seamlessly with these and other platforms. This ease of integration is crucial, as it means reduced set-up times and increased productivity.

The A30 from AVer Information Inc. USA is more than just a camera; it's a forward-thinking solution tailored for hybrid connectivity. By combining multiple functionalities into one device and ensuring compatibility with major platforms, it provides unparalleled versatility for corporate and educational environments.

Post-COVID, more than ever, businesses constantly seek innovative solutions to foster collaboration. AVer Information USA, with its MT300N, has sculpted a product to empower medium to large conference and collaborative spaces. This avant-garde NDI matrix tracking box introduces an amalgamation of technologies that are apt for corporate and enterprise settings.

The MT300N, even though its the inaugural version, has demonstrated its proficiency as an integrative tool. Designed to accentuate AVer ProAV devices in various settings, it seamlessly blends voice tracking capabilities into a compact form-factor. This distinction allows businesses to sidestep the dependency on high-priced in-room PCs or servers, courtesy of AVers PTZ Link, a streamlined web-based interface.

Delving into its technical facets, the MT300N adopts the NDI|HX2 format with an intrinsic encode support, a feature that sets it apart. Moreover, it proudly wears the badge of versatility, offering compatibility with third-party microphones from notable audio brands like Sennheiser, Shure, Yamaha (News - Alert), and more. To add an extra layer of dynamism, AVer has facilitated customizable multi-camera switching. With the premium version of AVer PTZ Link, users can operate up to five groups of AVer cameras and microphones, enabling smooth automatic video switching.

While the competition in the market is tough, AVer's MT300N boasts several unique attributes. Its partnership and subsequent certification with giants like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and RingCentral underscore its capability to furnish a high-caliber and user-friendly meeting environment. This synergy with third-party applications is aimed to turbocharge productivity and efficiency, showcasing AVer's commitment to refine communication experiences.

Beyond its primary features, the MT300N is also empowered with AVers pioneering AI acoustic technology. This advancement ensures pristine sound clarity, complete with echo cancellation. By actively diminishing background disturbances, it guarantees a smooth and uninterrupted collaborative experience, mirroring AVers dedication to excellence.

The MT300N by AVer Information USA seeks to redefine collaborative experiences in medium to large settings. From its voice tracking capabilities to its harmonization with leading software platforms, it is corporate a beacon of innovation.

Grupo NGN, established in 1995, stands as a pioneering entity in the contact center. Its flagship solution, the NGNCloudComm platform, has continually evolved, ensuring alignment with modern business needs. The 2023 release, version 9.2, underscores this commitment.

The NGNCloudComm platform is tailored to cater to diverse entities, from in-house contact centers to large-scale BPOs. Its dynamic scalability allows it to smoothly accommodate anywhere from 20 agent seats to several thousand. The platform's core competency lies in its Omnichannel/Optichannel framework, enabling agents to effortlessly engage customers through multiple mediums: voice, chat, SMS, email, and bots. Its expansive feature set, inclusive of IVRs, Agent Gamification, and the provision for both cloud and on-premises deployments, showcases its versatility.

A distinguishing hallmark of NGNCloudComm is the incorporation of real-time voice translation and transcription facilitated by AI. It also boasts the Optichannel capability, ensuring seamless channel transition. Another innovative feature, EngageNow, enables the transformation of any web device into a potent communication tool. The recent introduction of an IVR-controlled data API streamlines data processing, and the custom-built compliance engine remains updated with regulatory mandates.

Organizations seeking varied deployment methodologies will find NGNCloudComm aligning with their requirements. The platform effortlessly transitions between cloud-based setups, on-premises infrastructures, and even hybrid configurations. Cloud deployments negate the need for client-end hardware, whereas on-prem configurations utilize virtual machines to operationalize the platform.

NGNCloudComm's myriad features, from its Omnichannel capabilities and concurrent licensing model to continuous free feature enhancements and a unique multi-instance hosting approach, collaboratively ensure unparalleled service delivery while prioritizing data security.

Volli Communications

Volli Business Suite (VBS)

Volli Communications targets a diverse clientele, from small businesses to large enterprises and service providers. The goal? To cater to the communication needs across various sectors, without being limited by scale or geography.

The Volli Business Suite delivers a collection of tools aimed at refining business communication. Volli Connect stands out for its SIP services, emphasizing voice call quality. Expanding the scope is Volli Business, which adds essential communication tools, including calling, video conferencing, messaging, and more. Volli Direct is particularly noteworthy as a direct routing solution designed for Microsoft Teams, integrating features like E911 tracking and adherence to regulatory standards. Completing the suite is Volli SMS, a versatile SMS solution suitable for diverse applications, from marketing campaigns to secure alerts and charity initiatives.

As a hosted service, Volli Communications minimizes on-site requirements. Users only need a device with internet connectivity and either a browser or the associated application. On the flip side, the service operates on robust servers and specialized software, managing components like VoIP, SMS services, and direct routing for Microsoft Teams.

Volli Communications has introduced an advanced porting platform that adds value to its services. The caliber of its SIP services, enhanced through collaborations with industry leaders like Fortinet (News - Alert), AudioCodes, CM.com, and Viirtue, ensures easy integration into pre-existing systems or functions as a holistic solution.

Volli Communications offers a cohesive platform for diverse communication needs. With a spectrum ranging from SIP Trunking, VoIP, SMS to Microsoft Teams' direct routing, it provides a unified solution. The suite's flexibility allows it to meet specific business communication needs effectively.

The suite boasts features that set it apart. Volli Direct, for instance, integrates advanced functions such as E911 tracking while also adhering to regulatory standards, balancing efficiency with safety. Additionally, Volli emphasizes interactive two-way communication.



The Volli Business Suite emerges as a versatile solution tailored to meet the varied communication demands of businesses, irrespective of their scale. Encompassing tools that ensure pristine voice clarity to seamless Microsoft Teams integration, this suite reflects a commitment to delivering cohesive communication experiences, enhanced further by strategic industry partnerships.

Since its launch in April 2022, x-hoppers by Wildix represents a transformative shift in retail communication. This comprehensive retail headset system is ingeniously crafted to integrate wireless push-to-talk headsets with a cloud-centric communication system. The system connects all store employees on a unified voice channel, enhancing in-store experiences and boosting customer conversions.

Wildix introduced the initial version (v1.1) of x-hoppers in April 2022, and later updated it to v1.2, released in February of this year. With x-hoppers, Wildix aims to cater to a global audience, and the company collaborates with dedicated MSPs to ensure seamless installation and support across borders.

By integrating unique features such as DECT (News - Alert) technology for secure communications and QR code call points for customer inquiries, x-hoppers has positioned itself at the forefront of retail innovation. Furthermore, with the recent partnership with Veesion, Wildix has added AI camera capabilities to x-hoppers, providing retailers an enhanced security solution to combat theft.

In the competitive landscape, prominent contenders such as Microsoft Teams, Google Chat, RingCentral MVP, and others are notable. However, what differentiates x-hoppers is its distinct functionality dedicated to enhancing retail communication.

The retail communication solution provided by x-hoppers is not just about reducing steps but is centered around amplifying in-store conversions by emphasizing customer care. Wildix has developed x-hoppers as a holistic platform that combines communications software, retail analytics, and SaaS (News - Alert) solutions, ensuring maximum convenience and efficiency for retailers globally.

Edited by Erik Linask
As always, we're focused on local and right now we want to check crime reporting, police action and even a bit of seasonal good news related to local first responders.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Mother of fatally stabbed Northeast Middle School student sues district for wrongful death KCUR | By Jodi Fortino Manuel "Manny" Guzman was fatally stabbed inside Northeast Middle School in April 2022. His mother [...]

Blue Springs Police Department investigating shooting that left one victim hospitalized The shooting occurred on the 900 Block of Imperial Lane.

Witnesses recall scene before alleged Olathe gunman found dead Confusion reigned Tuesday night in a quiet Olathe neighborhood. Neighbors shared new details after an alleged gunman was later found dead.

Suburban KC teacher pleads guilty to sexually assaulting child, sending nudes to students Jason L. Carey, 43, a suburban Kansas City substitute teacher, was arrested last year when a group of eighth grade girls reported receiving his nudes during a slumber party.

New lawsuit claims KCK officer in viral video was impaired, family's rights violated According to the lawsuit, one of the officers "appeared to be under the influence of some type of substance as he had to lean on the way for support."

Jackson County Sheriff's Office searching for teen last seen over a week ago Kaleighya Hunter Love was last seen around midnight on Monday, Oct. 2, in the area of E. Ponca Drive and E. Ponca Court in Independence

Efforts underway to bridge gap between Latino community, first responders in Kansas City KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson sat down with Hispanic first responders and community members to discuss the role they play in Kansas City.

Developing . . .
For only the closet readers of the blog tonight we pay tribute to CharMac and share one more look at pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Cowtown Folking Sounds Cont'd

PorchFestKC ready to rock Kansas City neighborhoods this weekend This weekend, hundreds of musicians will be playing on a porch in the Kansas City area for the 6th annual PorchFestKC.

Break Your Concentration

Adderall shortage continues, posing challenges for ADHD patients in Kansas City Adderall remains on the FDA's shortage list for nearly a year, presenting obstacles for patients and pharmacists alike.

Northland Garners Yet Another El Chopo

Kansas City loses a grocery store, then quickly gains a new one right down the road Inside the new store is a Starbucks, a Harry's Liquor, a CBD American Shaman shop and a Tippins-branded pie pantry, in addition to a hot bar, salad bar, deli, bakery, butcher and drive-thru pharmacy.

JoCo Doggie Style Suffers

Unleashed fails inspection prompted by overcrowding complaint A September state inspection - prompted by an overcrowding complaint - found Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption, a pet shelter in Mission, "unsatisfactory."

Baller Interrogatories Abound

Chiefs' Kelce questionable to play vs. Broncos Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game against the Broncos with an ankle injury.

Hottie Gives & Gets

'Baywatch' actress Charlotte McKinney shares unique strategy for social media trolls Charlotte McKinney, an actress with 2.3 million Instagram followers, is pursuing stand-up comedy. She is also appearing in the new Logan Hollowell diamond campaign.

Progressive Talker For Prez?!?

'Young Turks' host Cenk Uygur announces primary bid against Biden "The Young Turks" founder Cenk Uygur announced on his show Wednesday that he will run for president as a Democrat, directly challenging President Biden. "[Biden] is not going to win," Uygur said during the announcement. "It should not have been me, it should have been somebody else, but unfortunately it was not anyone else.

MAGA Attacks Allies

'Netanyahu let us down': Trump chides Israel just days after attack His meandering remarks were the most extensive since the deadly weekend attacks.

GOP Struggles To Move Forward

Republicans nominate Steve Scalise to be House speaker but struggle to unite quickly and elect him Deeply divided Republicans nominated Rep. Steve Scalise on Wednesday to be the next House speaker but struggled to quickly unify and elect the conservative in a public floor vote after the historic ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the job. In private balloting at the Capitol, House Republicans narrowly pushed aside Ohio Rep.

Biz Against Ivy League

CEOs join Bill Ackman's call to blacklist Harvard students The CEOs of Sweetgreen, FabFitFun, Inspired and more joined the call to blacklist the Harvard students who blamed Israel of the terror attack.

Locked & Loaded

US eyes weapons stockpiles as concern grows about supporting both Ukraine and Israel's wars | CNN Politics Concern is growing within the Pentagon over the potential need to stretch its increasingly scarce ammunition stockpiles to support Ukraine and Israel in two separate wars, according to multiple US defense officials.

Far East Axis

Why China has chosen to side with Hamas - and Iran - over Israel In multiple statements on the violence, the Chinese foreign ministry has repeatedly declined to use the words "Hamas" or "terrorism."

Tech Targeted Amid Israel War

Social media companies criticized as Israel-Hamas war misinformation spreads rampantly The world is watching much of the violence between Israel and Hamas through traditional media and broadcasts. But millions also are getting their information through social media. Many posts are spreading misinformation or outright lies and criticism is being directed at the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and its owner Elon Musk.

Picture Nature For Now

"Luminescent" photo of horseshoe crab wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize A photo of golden horseshoe crab -one of the world's most ancient animals - earned a marine photographer the grand title in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest.

Stranded In Suburbia

Israeli couple stranded in Johnson County amidst devastating attacks in home country Gabriella and Kesem were on a trip away from Israel visiting family in Johnson County for the Jewish holidays when they got the news.

X-Mas Is Coming

Enchant Christmas will transform KCK's Legends Field into a winter wonderland starting Thanksgiving weekend "Kansas City is a Christmas town."

Autumn Change Ahead . . .

Winds pick up ahead of Thursday night storms Scattered showers are possible overnight into Thursday morning, mainly along the Missouri and Iowa border

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
It was too much to expect Kansas City's almost daily newspaper to publish something meaningful in these historic times.

Instead . . .

CHECK THE KANSAS CITY STAR PLAYING NICE AFTER HORRIFIC TERRORISM AS THEY CONFUSE LOCAL DISCOURSE WITH HOLY LAND ACTS OF WAR!!!



We pulled A quote because it exemplifies their idiocy and the myopic worldview of local journalists.

They imagine that the war they're watching from afar is fought in the hearts and minds of locals. Their false narrative seemingly argues that political viewpoints & perspective are akin to military fighting.

Their greatest sin . . . They take themselves too seriously.

The Kansas City Star proved too cowardly to condemn terrorism and the murder of innocent citizens of Israel.

Instead they moved too cautiously, too slowly and penned a milquetoast screed that attempts to offer "fairness" in the face of atrocity and only serves to expose the repeated cowardice of this institution.

Check-it:



"When war breaks out, we choose sides. Its a human thing to do. We claim an injured party and give our support through statements, donations, thoughts and prayers.

"Sometimes those sides involve people far away, thousands of miles from us.

"But sometimes those sides are our neighbors, those who identify with the people fighting in the war. Religious and nonreligious ethnic Jews live in the greater Kansas City area. Muslims live here. Palestinians live here. They are our neighbors."



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Actually, we wanted to pack this post with all things Hawley.

However . . .

We think his work to clear Americans from a war zone is more important than partisan debate.



Check-it:



Sen. Hawley sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken's office demanding more travel assistance and guidance for Americans stuck in the conflict.



The senator's office has received multiple calls from Missourians stuck in the warzone.



In the letter, Hawley wrote, "Following the barbaric terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas, my office has received multiple reports of Missourians in Israel who are seeking to leave the region, but are struggling to find transportation out of the country. With the growing number of commercial airlines canceling flights out of Israel, I urge you to consider additional U.S. government-facilitated transport options for Americans attempting to return home."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Senator Hawley calls for federal aid to evacuate Americans from Israel amid escalating conflict Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) has called for federal travel assistance to help Americans stranded in Israel.

Opinion | Josh Hawley Is Wrong About Israel and Ukraine There's no reason the U.S. can't help both allies in their brutal wars - and protect our own border.

GOP's Hawley calls for redirecting aid from Ukraine to Israel Republican Sen. Josh Hawley wants to redirect U.S. aid from Ukraine to Israel. There are all kinds of reasons why this is a bad and unnecessary idea.

Developing . . .
This photo taken on Sept. 4, 2023 shows Singapore's Raffles Place.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

A cargo ship is berthed at Singapore's Pasir Panjang Container Terminal on Sept. 8, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 13, 2022 shows the downtown area of southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

People visit the exhibition hall of China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity in southwest China's Chongqing, Sept. 13, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

This photo taken on Sept. 7, 2023 shows Singapore's Chinatown area.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 3, 2023 shows a commercial street in the T3A terminal of the Jiangbei Airport in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

A freight train waits for departure in the Jiangjin District of southwest China's Chongqing, April 3, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This aerial photo taken on June 19, 2023 shows a view of Guoyuan Port in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

A Singapore Airlines cargo plane takes off from Singapore's Changi Airport on Aug. 31, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Wild smooth-coated otters are spotted next to Singapore's tourism icon, the Merlion, on its 50th birthday at the Merlion Park in Singapore, Sept. 15, 2022.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 8, 2023 shows the building of Development Bank of Singapore at Singapore's Marina Bay.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

A cargo ship is berthed at Singapore's Pasir Panjang Container Terminal on Sept. 8, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 8, 2023 shows the building of Bank of China (L) in Singapore.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the indoor man-made waterfall Rain Vortex at Singapore's Changi Airport on Sept. 7, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 13, 2023 shows the interior of Chongqing branch of Development Bank of Singapore in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

This aerial photo taken on Sept. 30, 2021 shows the Jiefangbei business district (upper) and Shibati scenic area in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

Commercial ships anchor in the waters of the Singapore Straits on Sept. 8, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 7, 2023 shows a view of Singapore.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 14, 2023 shows the headquarters of Chongqing Bank in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

This photo taken on March 18, 2020 shows a cable car running across the Yangtze River in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

This photo taken on Aug. 3, 2023 shows a night view of the Hongyadong scenic area in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

A truck carrying auto parts of the Great Wall Motor Company Limited departs from the Chongqing Yongchuan Comprehensive Bonded Zone in southwest China's Chongqing, July 11, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)

Staff members load crisp plums onto a cargo airplane at Wushan Airport in southwest China's Chongqing, June 28, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

This photo taken on April 20, 2023 shows the signing of key projects at the opening ceremony of the 5th China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative Financial Summit in southwest China's Chongqing.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Xinhua/Huang Wei)

A cargo ship is berthed at Singapore's Pasir Panjang Container Terminal on Sept. 8, 2023.

The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity was launched in 2015. It is the third such cooperation initiative between China and Singapore.

Through the cooperation project, exchanges between Chongqing and Singapore in the business, leisure tourism and culture sectors have been deepened in recent years. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)
This should be obvious but we wanted to make it plan and so that there won't be any doubt.

Also, it's kind of funny to watch local activists hide their sketchy history of hot talk that kinda flirts with antisemitism.

Here's the deal . . .



KANSAS CITY METRO & MOST OF THE MIDWEST STAND WITH ISRAEL!!! HATER CRITICISM AFTER DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACKS MOSTLY COMES FROM EXTREMISTS!!!

Of course there is room for reasonable discussion.

But honestly . . . Nobody thinks the cowtown wackadoodles are going to contribute anything meaningful to the discourse.

The punchline . . .

There's nothing funny about this conversation.

However . . .

It is interesting that both extreme right-wing & progressives now find themselves unified in defense of atrocities against Israel.



Accordingly, for this post we're just going to roundup recent EVIDENCE & PROOF of local mainstream political sentiment.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

People in Kansas City area gather in support for Israel following attacks As Tuesday dawns in Israel, we're hearing firsthand accounts from Kansas city metro residents, including one rabbi caught in the crossfire.

Missouri Capitol dome lights up in blue and white to support Israel Lieutenant Governor Mike Kohoe has ordered the Missouri State Capitol dome to be lighted blue and white in honor of Israeli and American lives lost in Israel and as show support for the people of Israel as they fight back against Hamas terrorists.

Missouri delegation responds to Hamas attacks in Israel Kansas City officials are making strides towards reconnecting communities along the Highway 71 corridor. City leaders say when Highway 71 was built, it became a physical divider splitting up predominantly black communities.

Kansas leaders condemn attacks in Israel as war claims thousands on both sides Kansas leaders have come together to condemn the attacks in Israel which have now left thousands dead on both sides of the war.

Kansas national, state leaders, weigh in on 'heartbreaking situation' in Israel - Kansas Reflector At the state and federal level, Kansas government officials continue to condemn the escalating conflict in Israel.

Johnson County leaders decry attacks on Israel - here's how to help Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City is hosting a support group Wednesday evening for the local Jewish community. And the Jewish Culture Fest planned for Sunday at the Jewish Community Center will go ahead as planned.

'Caught by surprise': UMKC professor says attacks on Israel are reminder of 1973 Yom Kippur War Mona Lyne, an associate Political Science professor at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, gave KSHB 41 a look back at where the tension in Israel.

Developing . . .
Probably not.

At least, the odds aren't great since at least three of them are nothing more than fancy drawings.

This report is mostly developer hype backed up by online trolls but we thought it would be fun to share with our readers who know better than to believe a glorified sales pitch for $3,000 rents and ponzi schemes by way of mediocre architecture.



Here's the word . . .



"Those projects are the tip of the iceberg. At least seven more high-rise proposals are in predevelopment, as builders look to capitalize on growing residential allure in the urban core  now home to 32,276 people and counting."

Stolen Liberated a social media scumbag who stole it from somebody else . . . Check the lineup:

1) 14th and Wyandotte- 27-story high rise apartment/hotel complex (although Lux has recently come under fire for several things)



2) 16th and Broadway- 28-story project with 250-350 apartments and a 200-250 room hotel



3) East Village- Royals stadium/ballpark district (deadline to put a tax proposal on the 2024 ballot for partial public funding is January)



4) 12th and McGee- Copaken Brooks 700 apartment and 20k retail space



5) 14th and Baltimore- Four Light at the L-shaped space around B&B Theaters



6) Main and Truman- 506 apartment and 85k of retail where the now-closed Calvert's Express sits



7) 13th and Main- new high-rise on top of the existing retail space

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
The Hellenic Initiatives (THI) 7th Annual London Gala held at The Dorchester on October 5, demonstrated the Greek Diasporas solidarity with the people of Greece in the aftermath of this summers devastating floods and wildfires, raising more than $300,000  a record. The funds raised will support direct crisis relief and economic development for Greece and Cyprus, including continuing backing for young entrepreneurs and startups.

The sold-out Gala was co-chaired by THI Board Member Nikos Stathopoulos, THI London Board Member, Constantine M. Logothetis, and THI International Ambassador Princess Tatiana. The event was attended by 410 guests and honored the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, whose mission is to support a diverse range of charitable activities, primarily in places where the founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has lived and worked  the UK, Greece, Cyprus, and Monaco. Also honored was the Hellenic Marine Environmental Protection Association (HELMEPA), whose mission is to increase commitment in Greeces maritime community to the prevention of pollution, protection of the marine environment, and safety at sea.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou on Thursday signed a grant agreement with the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) to finance the creation and operation of a unified Security Operations Centre (SOC), which he described as a "flagship project for enhancing cybersecurity in Greece," ANA reports.

The grant deal is being implemented in the framework of the Digital Europe funding program, with half of the project's 9.7-million-euro budget covered by European funds and the remainder from available national funds.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Badseed
Q: I married a man almost twice my age when I was 35. I loved him. I found him handsome, charming, fun, funny, powerful and affectionate. He had lived a full life; he was married twice before, with two children from his second marriage. His first wife had died from an aggressive cancer that came out of nowhere. His second wife had an affair but thought she could stick around for the perks from my husbands then-extremely successful company.

He didnt agree and divorced her. It was ugly. She was bitter and the children got stuck in the middle, sadly taking her side. They stopped all communication with their father, and he only gave them what was court ordered. Without any extras or excess, both his ex-wife and the children lived comfortably.

When I found him, he was sad but extremely successful with a burning fire in him to live the rest of his life fully. He says I brought that out in him, once our togetherness overrode his sadness.

We lived a very full life including lots of travel, adventure and fun. We lived high because he could afford to. We owned several homes and bounced between three when we werent travelling. Life was fabulous.

And then the same cancer that took his first wife took him. He had changed his will long before, shortly after we got married 20 years ago, to reflect me as his main inheritor, with some funds for his children. We also agreed that if he should die before me, I would make a significant attempt at getting to know his grandchildren  if there were any  and I would have monies set aside for them.

Its been a year since his death and none of my attempts to reach out to his children, regarding his grandchildren, have been acknowledged. I feel Ive tried everything, even getting the help of a lawyer, informing the children of the money set aside for their children. Still nothing.

Obviously its their loss, not to have had a relationship with their father/grandfather, a man filled with love. And now theyre losing out on large financial gains. But theres only so much I can do.

What do you think?

Widowed

A: I think you two were lucky to find each other when you did, and to have had such a great love and big life. Youre still young and have many years ahead to enjoy with friends, family, and perhaps another great love. And lucky for you, your husband left you the means to love life on your terms.

From your explanation, your husband would have liked to have a relationship with his children, and their children, which would have included sharing his wealth. He made attempts, they were ignored, but he still wanted you to try after his demise, whenever that came.

You kept his wishes, did your best and they werent interested. Theres nothing more for you to do. If one day down the road one of the children or grandchildren reach out to you, its at your discretion to react as you so choose.

Lift your chin and walk tall. You know youve done the right thing; you can sleep easy.

FEEDBACK: Regarding the teenage girl who felt uncomfortable at her boyfriends house (Sept. 14):

Reader 2: You suggested the young woman ask the boyfriends little brother to stop throwing things at her. It might be better if she asked him WHY he was throwing stuff at her. It might make him think twice. Depending on his age, it sounds like typical bratty little brother behaviour.

Readers Commentary Regarding the mom having difficulty arranging a playdate for her eight-year-old daughter (Sept. 18):

Back in the 1950s, there was no such thing as a playdate. Your parents opened the door, you went outside, you found kids, and you played OUTSIDE! You stayed outside until the street lights came on and then you went home. There was no interference from parents. Children had the freedom of choosing when and with whom they wanted to play.

I understand that times have changed. Im also aware that parental responsibilities are not what they were in the 50s when, usually, only one parent worked outside the home. However, its incredibly sad that something as simple as childhood play has now been turned into an activity which has to be scheduled. This generation of children has been scheduled to the nth degree with no spontaneity left for them. After-school and weekend extracurricular activities have already left them with little free time to be children.

Ellie Tesher and Lisi Tesher are advice columnists for the Star and based in Toronto. Send your relationship questions via email: ellie@thestar.ca or lisi@thestar.ca.
A variety of employers will be looking to hire qualified candidates for a number of positions at the Toronto Pearson Job Fair.

On Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Toronto Congress Centre (in the Cohen Ballroom), several employers will be on hand looking to fill positions for baggage handlers, security, customer services roles, food prep and beverage, skilled trades and other administrative and professional roles.

The Congress Centre is located at 650 Dixon Rd. in Etobicoke. Registration is required for this event and can be found at eventbrite.ca.

Anyone attending should bring multiple copies of their resume to give out to potential employers. Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada and able to obtain and retain a Transportation Security Clearance.

Any inquiries can be directed to pearsonworks@gtaa.com.
Toronto city staff have put forward a report to city council recommending they vote to mandate the transition of all vehicles-for-hire to net zero emissions  that is, all taxis and rideshare companies  to be electric by 2030.

In theory, this recommendation should be a positive move for the city; however, when you consider the lack of infrastructure, supply and insurance availability, in relation to zero-emission vehicles within the vehicle-for-hire industry, it becomes clear that this reports recommendations has several flaws that will be detrimental to the livelihoods of many Toronto cabbies, and may in fact kill jobs.

Prior to 2016, taxis were subject to regular vehicle inspections and operated under strict vehicle emission requirements. However, these measures supporting safety, quality and the environment were phased out by the city to back the introduction of Uber to Toronto. As a result of this decision, the taxi industrys transition to low-fuel consumption, low-emission vehicles and low operating costs was interrupted. In turn, the number of vehicles-for-hire on Toronto roads skyrocketed from 5,500 to 85,000.

Now, after seven years, the same city staff have turned around completely and are recommending net zero emissions on a timeline of less than seven years. Torontos own fleet of vehicles are not scheduled to be net zero until 2040.

The citys sudden interest in transitioning vehicles-for-hire to net zero emissions puts the burden on hardworking taxi drivers, many of whom are still recovering from the financial implications of COVID-19. The upfront cost of electric vehicles (EV) alone is very expensive compared to hybrid vehicles. Beyond this, there are currently no insurance companies in Toronto that insure, or are willing to insure, electric taxicabs. With respect to collision repairs, most EVs are written off when they get into accidents. The consequence is exorbitant replacement costs for taxi drivers.

Apart from these challenges, the city also lacks the necessary infrastructure to support this swift transition. Ideally, drivers with an EV would have a level two charging station at their home for overnight charging, a luxury unavailable to many drivers who reside in older highrise buildings. Additionally, the scarcity of supercharging stations makes it difficult for drivers to recharge their EVs quickly during shifts. The limited range of EVs during longer shifts and increased energy consumption in the winter will contribute to "operating anxiety" among drivers.

Until the city is able to make this widely available, operating EVs under these circumstances is commercially unfeasible.

The Toronto taxi industry appreciates city councils goal of net zero, but asks that it be achieved through a just transition. The city needs to provide a rational and achievable road map to get the industry to net zero with incentive, encouragement and education; not one that penalizes drivers who cannot afford to transition in such a short period of time.

Abdulkadir Mohamoud is the CEO and general manager of Co-op Cabs.
I plant my hiking poles into the middle of the creek and use them as a second pair of legs to catapult me across the rushing waterway. My left foot lands with a splash, drenching my boot with icy water.

Thats your Yukon baptism! yells Lionel Pelecyn, a guide with Yukon Guided Adventures.

Pelecyn, who hails from Belgium, moved to the North during the pandemic to be closer to nature and lead visitors like me into its vast wilderness. He picked this hike along Thunderegg Creek, on the edge of Kluane National Park and Reserve, because the route constantly changes from summers glacial runoff. It necessitates trail finding  and poles. It is, in a word, Yukonish.

We soon come across a tree tinselled with grizzly hair from a territory-marking bruin, coyote poop and a large pile of moose droppings  reminders that humans are outnumbered by wildlife in these parts. In a world long since mapped, entering a natural landscape untapped and untamed is both humbling and inspiring.

I first visited the Yukon in 2021, on a trip to Dawson City and Tombstone Territorial Park. Like British-Canadian bard Robert W. Service, who wrote the poem The Spell of the Yukon, I soon became stuck on it all, plotting my return.

This time, Ive brought my husband, a geologist who relishes mountain eye candy. Compared to the summits weve seen, though, the Yukon offers a seemingly endless cornucopia of peaks and valleys. With a population of just about 44,000, the territory is overpowering in magnitude, and especially so in Kluane National Park, which is almost as big as the state of New Hampshire. It feels boundless and without comparison, but despite its unnerving size, the unspoiled landscape leaves me with a sense of calm.

Part of a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes adjacent parks in Alaska and B.C., Kluane helps hold the worlds largest non-polar ice field, a network of massive glaciers wedged between Canadas tallest peaks. All of the ice field is inaccessible except on foot (or by landing a tiny plane atop a glacier). Rather than venture into the wild on our own, were relying on guides to take us off-road, on-river and into the air.

The next day were soaring above the parks 2,000-plus glaciers in a Cessna 172  our aerial tour with Rocking Star Adventures is an ideal way to grasp Kluanes size. Glaciers surge down the valleys between peaks, with Mount Logan peeping above the clouds behind a horizon of lesser pinnacles. I fear that a sudden gust of wind could hurl our tiny four-seater plane into the ice  like a fly swatted onto a black granite counter, never to be seen again.

After a safe landing at the Haines Junction airport, we head south toward Kathleen Lake to spend time on the water. Colin Preston, a guide with Dalton Trail Lodge, takes us out in a boat on the Kathleen River and Lower Rainbow Lake to go fishing. A Newfoundlander whos led ocean and lake fishing trips all over Canada, Preston couldnt pass up an opportunity to guide inland in the Yukon, surrounded by forests and wildlife.

You get a more complete natural immersion in the Yukon, he says. As if to prove his point, we motor past a cow moose happily grazing on grass in the middle of the river, and see numerous bald eagles perched on white spruce trees.

I fall into a rhythm of casting and reeling in, a meditative flow that keeps me firmly in the moment, another of natures psychic balms. I soon feel a bite on the line and reel in madly, and Preston helps me net a rainbow trout. We release it back into the water, a practice that he says helps connect people to nature.

It works. Instead of taking from the lands bounty, Im maintaining an equilibrium. That balance is evident in the Yukon, where humans are but a tiny presence in this enormous place. Its no wonder people are compelled to follow their wanderlust north or, like me, return to make sure those feelings of serenity and possibility are as real as they remember.

Lisa Kadane travelled as a guest of Tourism Yukon, which did not review or approve this article.
Self-Guided Audio Tours in Dubai and Singapore



(TRAVPR.COM) UAE - October 11th, 2023 - Vox City, a leading name in immersive travel experiences, is thrilled to announce the launch of its innovative self-guided audio tours in two iconic cities, Dubai and Singapore. These new additions to Vox City's portfolio provide travelers with an engaging and personalized way to explore the wonders of these global destinations.

Dubai and Singapore are renowned for their rich history, cultural diversity, and stunning landscapes. Vox City's self-guided audio tours enable visitors to delve deep into the heart of these cities, all at their own pace and on their terms. The tours are designed to enhance the travel experience, offering in-depth narratives, historical insights, and fascinating stories about the landmarks, neighborhoods, and attractions that make these cities unique.

Key features of Vox City's self-guided audio tours include:

Immersive Audio Commentary: Travelers can enjoy engaging audio commentary that brings the city's history and culture to life. The commentary is available in multiple languages to cater to a global audience. Interactive Maps: The intuitive Vox City app comes with interactive maps that guide visitors to notable landmarks and hidden gems, ensuring they make the most of their visit. Flexibility: With self-guided tours, tourists have the flexibility to explore at their own pace, stopping for photos, meals, and shopping as they desire. Cultural Insights: Vox City's tours provide an insightful look into the local culture, traditions, and vibrant neighborhoods.

Dubai and Singapore, with their awe-inspiring architecture, vibrant markets, and picturesque waterfronts, have become must-visit destinations for travelers from around the world. Vox City's self-guided audio tours offer an unforgettable way to experience these cities, whether it's marveling at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai City tour or wandering through the enchanting streets of Singapore City tour.

Vox City invites travelers to embark on a journey of discovery with these new self-guided audio tours. Immerse yourself in the charm of Dubai and the diversity of Singapore with Vox City's expertly crafted and engaging experiences.

For more information and to download the Vox City app, visit Vox City

About Vox City: Vox City is a pioneer in immersive travel experiences, offering self-guided audio tours in some of the world's most captivating destinations. The company's mission is to provide travelers with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the places they visit, all at their own pace.

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* China remains a hot spot for global investment, noted representatives of multinationals and industry insiders at the fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit.

* The enormous market potential, mushrooming emerging industries, abundant industrial clusters, and high-quality talent pool have endowed China with strong economic resilience.

* Amid the rising protectionism and anti-globalization wave, China's commitment to further opening up has sent out a positive signal for global investors.

JINAN, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China remains a hot spot for global investment, where the market offers sustained fresh opportunities and growth points, noted representatives of multinationals and industry insiders at the fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit held in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

Themed "Multinationals and China," a major objective of this year's summit is to promote economic exchanges between Chinese and international enterprises and encourage multinationals to invest in advanced manufacturing, modern service, high-tech, and green industries in China.

Participants visit the "Multinationals and China" thematic exhibition, a complementary event to the fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit, in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Covering topics including greater efforts to utilize foreign investment, new trends in industrial investment layout, and international cooperation in the digital economy, the three-day summit, which closed on Thursday, has drawn top-level managers from 416 multinationals.

INVESTMENT PARADISE

The enormous market potential, mushrooming emerging industries, abundant industrial clusters, and high-quality talent pool have endowed China with strong economic resilience, which injects persistent confidence for foreign companies to keep investing in China, noted participants at the summit.

"China is one of the largest industrial and consumer markets around the world. An enterprise of a certain size cannot further expand leaving the Chinese market," said Sean Yan, head of marketing in northeast China of Konecranes, a Finnish company specializing in the manufacture and service of crane and lifting equipment.

Konecranes has recently decided to put its North-East Asia headquarters in Shanghai. "All that we are making further progress in, such as organizational structure, personnel, products, and research and development, are to better meet the needs of the Chinese market," said Yan.

In line with the ultra-large market, China's manufacturing industry is quite complete, and its position in the global industrial and supply chains is constantly improving, bringing new growth points to the development of multinational enterprises.

China is far more than a big manufacturer and consumer; it is also a major innovator. Its pillar industries are gradually shifting from labor-intensive to technology-intensive, such as automobiles, materials, and electronic components, according to Tetsuro Homma, representative director and executive vice president of Panasonic Holdings Corporation.

Participants walk past a bulletin board displaying names of participating enterprises during the fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Having entered the Chinese market for 45 years, Panasonic, the Japan-based multinational, now has about 50,000 employees in China, and the sales volume in the Chinese market takes up a 27-percent share of its global total. The company boasts an R&D fleet of almost 10,000 researchers in China, and its investment keeps mounting.

SHARED OPPORTUNITIES

This is the fourth time for the German industrial automation company Festo to attend the Qingdao summit. Li Feng, COO of Festo BR GCN & general manager of Festo Production Ltd., noted that China's determination to advance higher-level opening up and share development dividends has reaffirmed Festo's further localization drive in the Chinese market.

"During Festo's 30 years in China, the stable and safe business environment has laid the foundation for our development. The strong support of relevant policies and the intellectual property protection for multinationals is also an important factor in multinational companies' global layout," Li added.

During the summit, an event incorporating a series of promotions and briefings structured around the themes of attracting foreign investment and supporting the long-term stable development of foreign-funded firms was also launched.

Participants talk during the fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

"China's investment agencies are pragmatic and service-oriented. They are able to actively respond to various challenges and are ready to help enterprises solve any problems. This adds to many multinationals' willingness to tap deeper into the Chinese market," said Andy Liew, general manager of nVent Enclosure APAC, a leading designer and manufacturer of electrical enclosures.

LONG-TERM CONFIDENCE

The World Investment Report 2023, published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, shows that in the past two years, although global cross-border direct investment has shown signs of recovery, the growth momentum is clearly insufficient and still faces a lot of uncertainty.

Amid the rising protectionism and anti-globalization wave, China's commitment to further opening up has sent out a positive signal for global investors.

A report, "Multinationals in China: Certainty in the Uncertain Global Investment Environment," published at the summit by the Ministry of Commerce, shows that measures to optimize the foreign investment environment China implemented in 2022 have proved effective. From 2020 to 2022, China's FDI inflow grew at an average annual rate of 12.5 percent, and the country saw over 40,000 foreign-funded enterprises newly established each year.

"It's impressive to see how much the world appreciates China's development," said John R Adler, CEO of ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc., a leading innovator in the field of surgical robotics. "We all feel we need to be here because this is a great opportunity for us."

Downstream President of Saudi Aramco Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani speaks during the opening ceremony of fourth Qingdao Multinationals Summit in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

"We believe the mutual respect, partnership, and collaboration between our two nations have never been stronger," noted Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, downstream president of Saudi Aramco, a world-leading energy company. He added that the company inked contracts worth up to 8 billion U.S. dollars with its Chinese partners this year to expand its presence in the world's second-largest economy.

"I believe we are only in the early chapters of a much bigger story. Because while the present day is promising, the future is even brighter," said Qahtani.

(Video reporters: Feng Yuanyuan and Li Xiaobo; video editors: Yang Zhixiang, Li Qin, Luo Hui, Liu Ruoshi and Ma Ruxuan) 




DAMASCUS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli attack targeted both the international airports of Damascus and Aleppo cities on Thursday, the state news agency SANA reported.

The newspaper al-Watan said both airports were rendered out of service after the attack. 
On Wednesday, a group of students got to experience what it's like to make decisions in loca
Flooding that closed Dalton Highway also caused widespread ground sinking

The massive 2015 flooding of the Sagavanirktok River in northern Alaska had immediate impacts, including closure of the Dalton Highway for several days, but it also contributed to longer-term ground subsidence in the permafrost-rich region.

Thats the finding by assistant professor Simon Zwieback at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute in a study published Sept. 27 by the journal Permafrost and Periglacial Processes.

Zwieback is the papers lead author. UAF scientists Mikhail Kanevskiy, Donald Walker, Vladimir Romanovsky and Franz Meyer are among the nine co-authors.

Zwieback, who also teaches at the UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics, specializes in using space-borne remote sensing to study the Arctic.

Photo courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

Floodwaters flow over and erode the Dalton Highway on May 21, 2015. The massive flooding of the Sagavanirktok River contributed to a slow subsiding of ground in portions of the permafrost-rich region in years after the flooding.

What previously hadnt been known is that subsequent to the flood there were diffuse and variable changes to tundra and to this permafrost landscape, Zwieback said. In particular, we observed that in areas that were flooded, there were several hotspots of subsidence with subsidence exceeding 3 inches over a few years. And we also observed many more areas with less pronounced but still measurable sub-segments.

We also observed a green-up and a wettening of the landscape, which was also quite variable, he said. All of this is important for understanding how these landscapes react to floods.

Floodwaters began spilling onto the Dalton Highway, Alaskas road to the North Slope, in mid-May 2015 and also reached Deadhorse airport. A pre-flood buildup of aufeis, layered ice that formed from the freezing of river water, is seen as the leading cause of the chaotic flooding. Aufeis diverted the thawing rivers water away from natural channels.

The rivers massive floodwaters exacerbated what the authors describe as a complicated relationship between rivers and their floodplains in regions of continuous permafrost. Human activity in the area, driven by continued expansion of the Prudhoe Bay oilfield and the presence of the Dalton Highway, has also interfered with natural drainage.

The flood may have stimulated subsidence by warming the ground, causing ground ice to melt, the authors state. Warming can be due to increased wetness, disturbance to the protective layer of organic matter or sediment deposition, allowing more heat to penetrate.

Zwieback analyzed satellite data from 2015 through 2019 to estimate ground deformation over the post-flood years.

What we did observe from space was widespread but also quite variable subsidence, Zwieback said.

Subsidence was most pronounced in flooded locations and was most active in the two years after the flood.

We interpret the subsidence that we observed with remote sensing to be largely due to melting of ground ice, Zwieback said. Soils in the area contain substantial quantities of ice in the form of ice wedges and segregated ice, small lenses of ice as opposed to big chunks.

Photo courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

An erosion channel cuts through the Dalton Highway in spring 2015. Such damage closed the highway for several days after the Sagavanirktok River flooded a wide area in northern Alaska.

Ice wedges are generally anywhere from about 3 to 10 feet across and about 6 to 10 feet deep at their narrow bottom. They form regular networks and in the study area are typically found about 30 feet apart.

One of the main complicating factors here is that initial subsidence can trigger changes at the surface, such as ponding of water, Zwieback said. The surface becomes darker and warmer. And that means more thawing underneath, because you have changed the surface conditions.

Subsidence occurred in some areas with high ice content but not in others, indicating multiple factors driving deformation. These can include organic layer disturbance and sediment deposition, which settles into the soil and drives out its insulating air pockets and allows more heat to penetrate. Researchers found fine grain sediment in the top 2 inches of soil plugs taken at two locations but could not conclusively state the sediment derived from the flood, despite the sample site being nearly 1,000 feet from the highway.

Researchers also found that, on average, subsiding ice-rich locations showed increases in greenness and wetness. Conversely, many ice-poor floodplains greened without deforming.

Nevertheless, the paper notes that flooding can be beneficial in the long term. It deposits sediment, which in turn allows for an increase in insulating vegetation cover and other organic matter. Over time, the active layer  a layer of soil that freezes in winter and thaws in the summer  thins. That thinning in turn allows growth of ice wedges and segregated ice. All of this increases elevation and reduces flood frequency, the authors write.

The new research is important as the Arctic comes under increasing climate stresses.

With the Arctic becoming wetter and the flood regime changing, we need to understand how riverine landscapes respond to these changes in the rivers and the floods associated with those rivers, Zwieback said.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Simon Zwieback, 907-474-5549, szwieback@alaska.edu

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By Jeff Murphy, October 11, 2023





University of Central Missouri students, faculty and administrators, along with Whiteman Air Force Base personnel, participated in a ribbon-cutting for The Ozark Dining Center, which underwent a redesign with help from five former students in the bachelors degree program in Design and Drafting Technology. Taking part in the celebratory event were, from left, Abby Wilcoxson, student; Paul Brown, instructor; Gina Eairheart, instructor; Col. Illya Thomas, commander of the 509th Mission Support Group at Whiteman; Derek Wildt, student; Lydia Dumont, instructor and faculty advisor to the program; Dr. Roya Azimzadeh, program coordinator; Kevin Floresca, student; Melia Rice, student; Elisabeth Paxton, student; Dr. Jeff Robertson, dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology; and Airman First Class Samuel Corea.



WARRENSBURG, MO  A recent ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the renovation of The Ozark Dining Facility at Whiteman Air Force Base not only introduced base personnel and guests to updates on an important food service center, but recognized the partnership between University of Central Missouri students and faculty members who helped make the vision for this redesign project a reality.



UCM students and faculty members representing the universitys Bachelor of Science in Design and Drafting Technology program in the College of Health, Science and Technology were among those attending this special event. The ceremony came approximately one and a half years after students made a formal presentation at UCM for what became a $560,000 redesign of The Ozark Dining Facility. This dining hub primarily serves military personnel who live in base dormitories, providing breakfast, lunch, dinner and a midnight meal seven days a week to an estimated 400 airmen per day.



With a desire to maximize use of this facility by creating a campus-style dining environment, base representatives turned to UCM during the 2021-2022 academic year with an opportunity for students to gain real-life experience by applying knowledge and skills they have acquired through their university coursework. Five students who worked on the project and went on to earn their Bachelor of Science degrees in Design and Drafting Technology attended the ribbon cutting, Kevin Floresca, Elisabeth Paxton, Melia Rice, Abigail Wilcoxson, and Derek Wildt. They were joined by Lydia Dumont, faculty advisor and instructor; Paul Brown and Gina Eairheart, instructors; Roya Azimzadeh,, Ph.D., coordinator of the Design and Drafting Technology program; Jeff Robertson, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health, Science and Technology; and David Pearce, executive director for Governmental Relations at UCM.



Our university takes pride in our students and faculty who possess strong skills in design and drafting technology. We appreciate the real-world learning opportunity for our students to work on the redesign of the Whiteman Air Force Base dining facility and are excited to celebrate the opening of this cafeteria, Dr. Azimzadeh said when commenting on the successful completion of this project.



She added, It was a team effort of all individuals and organizations involved with a common goal of making a positive impact on our community. We hope that the personnel from the Air Force base enjoy their new and welcoming environment for eating and relaxing.



We love it. We absolutely love it, said Col. Keith Butler, commander of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, during a tour of the facility. Its fantastic that we have this opportunity for both UCM and Whiteman, which has had a partnership for years. Everything that Dr. Best (UCM President Roger Best) has been doing to help build this relationship and strengthen it is just wonderful, and this is a prime example of what that is.



Initial steps to launch this project began when Whiteman service members met via Zoom with UCM students who were enrolled in the Advanced Technical Problems in Design and Drafting Technology class taught by Dumont. The students involvement began in November 2021 with a tour of the facility, which gave them an opportunity to take measurements that were crucial to the redesign. From there, the students worked for months to plan and develop a proposal that would help address concerns related to the need for functional seating, limiting general noise/reverb, providing stackable chairs and tables with wheels, flooring, windows, installation of noise dampeners, wall art, decor and more. These efforts were followed by the teams final proposal presented to base personnel, including individuals who operate The Ozark Dining Center, in May 2021.



Melia Rice, a Kansas Citian who graduated in May 2023 and currently works for the engineering and design firm Burns & McDonnell, was among students who helped plan the The Ozark Dining Facilitys redesign. When she returned to the facility on Oct. 5 to celebrate the projects completion, she was pleased to

see how the UCMs teams proposal came to life and how it is making a difference within the Whiteman community.



Its just kind of surreal to see what it looks like, she said. You see pictures of it in your little model on the computer, but to be surrounded by it  your design  is super awesome.



Dean Robertson shared that enthusiasm, noting, Whats fun is to see most of their (students) vision implemented in what has occurred. What I remember from that May meeting when they presented to the Air Force was basically this design.



Joining in the ribbon-cutting event, Col. Illya Thomas, commander of the 509th Mission Support Group at Whiteman AFB, spoke about the bases fantastic services team that worked hard to make this facility possible. He also recognized the students instrumental role in this project.



We know that not only services put a lot of effort into it, but this particular project was a community collaboration, he said, adding that this includes efforts by contractors and many individuals across the base, in addition to outside support that helped bring it together. That fruition is really the strong efforts of our students at UCM. They did a lot of hard work. They really put time and effort into making this happen.



The project with Whiteman Air Force Base is just one of many ways UCM students and faculty work with area businesses, organizations and communities to provide opportunities for students to gain valuable real-life learning experience while meeting a specific need. Through such projects, students leave the campus not only with a university degree but with job and life skills they can readily apply to their professions and in service to others in many different ways.







This interior photo of The Ozark Dining Room at Whiteman Air Force Base displays part of the redesign project conducted by UCM students.
By Jeff Murphy, October 11, 2023

Membes of the 166th class of Central Missouri Police Academy cadets and CMPA staff display a large check they presented to representatives of the Johnson County Cancer Foundation.



WARRENSBURG, MO  While cadets at the Central Missouri Police Academy prepare for future law enforcement careers, they are finding ways to give back to the community by fighting against a deadly disease. Members of the 166th CMPA class at the University of Central Missouri recently donated $1,300 they raised to help fight cancer.



Twenty-one fall 2023 cadets, along with CMPA staff members, gathered outside the academy on the northwest side of UCM on Oct. 10 to make the check presentation to representatives of the Johnson County Cancer Foundation. Accepting the donation was Ashlee Holdren, foundation president, and Chad Edwards, treasurer. Both individuals are Warrensburg residents and UCM alumni. Edwards graduated from UCM in 2003 with a bachelors degree in Business Management, and Holdren earned a master degree in Education in 2006 and an Education Specialist degree in 2009.



Recognizing that cancer is a serious health issue that has a widespread impact  with nearly everyone knowing someone who has been affected by this disease  the cadets conducted a philanthropic project to help create awareness and to raise money to help cancer victims. Funds came from the sale of t-shirts that were sold by the cadets. Printed on the back of each shirt is a pair of wings and the words, No one fights alone, symbolizing the cadets collective desire to make a difference in the lives of cancer victims. Also included on each shirt are the names of individuals the cadets know who are either cancer survivors or men and women who lost their battle to this disease.



This sends a message, not only for the living, but for those people who have left us because of cancer, said Natalie Jaramillo, a cadet from Los Angeles who now resides in Knob Noster. This can be for any kind of cancer. Our wings represent hope.



Representatives of the Johnson County Cancer Foundation thanked the cadets for their efforts. In commenting on their fundraising project, Edwards echoed the sentiment that was expressed on the t-shirts.



This is huge. Were all in this together. No one fights cancer alone, he said.



Demonstrating the need for support in the battle against this deadly disease, research by the American Cancer Society demonstrates there are nearly 5,400 new cases and more than 1,600 deaths every day that are related to this health issue.



Individuals who made this fundraising event possible are preparing for careers in law enforcement with a goal to serve in law enforcement agencies at communities across the state of Missouri.
Police identified all those killed  59 people  in a Russian missile attack on a cafe in the village of Hroza, Kharkiv region.

"The Russians killed 59 people with a direct Iskander missile strike on the village of Hroza. All the victims are local residents. Pensioners, doctors, farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs. All of them are civilians. Entire families of several generations died," Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko posted on Telegram.

As the minister noted, 19 people were identified with the help of mobile DNA laboratories. For six days, police criminologists collected samples from relatives around the clock, drew up profiles and searched for matching fragments.

One of the killed, a 60-year-old man, was identified by experts on 20 body parts. Two more people were identified using personal items recovered from the homes of the victims as they had no direct relatives to compare DNA profiles with.

"Colossal and unprecedented work was carried out by the investigators and criminologists of the Kharkiv region police. This is also thanks to modern mobile DNA laboratories. Without them, the process of identifying such a large number of bodies and fragments would have taken about a year," Klymenko emphasized.

The minister noted that "it was important to establish the name of each killed person, preserve their memory and record all the victims of the Russian strike."

As reported, on October 5, Russian troops launched a missile attack on a shop and cafe in the village of Hroza in Kharkiv region when a funeral repast was held there for a fallen serviceman.

The Security Service of Ukraine established the identities of the two traitors who spotted the missile attack on the cafe. The perpetrators turned out to be two local residents  brothers who sided with the invaders during the temporary occupation of the region.

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine
| By Karen Warmkessel

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, and University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) President and CEO Bert W. OMalley, MD, announced on Oct. 2 that Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD, a distinguished physician-scientist with a global reputation in thoracic oncology, has been hired as executive director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC).

Owonikoko will join the UMSOM faculty as the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Professor in Oncology in the Department of Medicine and executive director of the UMSOM Program in Oncology. He also will become chief of service at UMMC. As the lead oncologist for UMMC and UMSOM, he will assume the positions of senior associate dean for cancer programs at UMSOM and associate vice president for cancer programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).

Taofeek K. Owonikoko, MD, PhD

Owonikoko will begin his tenure in January 2024, taking over for Kevin J. Cullen, MD, who is stepping down as director after 20 years. Cullen will continue to teach medical students and treat patients at the cancer center.

Owonikoko, a thoracic medical oncologist who specializes in treating patients with lung cancer, was selected to take the helm of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center at UMMC after an extensive national search by a search committee led by Christine Lau, MD, MBA, the Dr. Robert W. Buxton Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at UMSOM and surgeon-in-chief at UMMC, and Graeme Woodworth, MD, the Howard M. Eisenberg, MD Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery.

Owonikoko is board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. His research has focused on the discovery of preclinical biomarkers in small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors and translating promising laboratory findings into groundbreaking clinical trials through collaboration with academic and industry partners.

He is internationally regarded as one of the preeminent physician-scientists in cancer research. He has secured substantial grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), industry partners, and private foundations.



Presently, Owonikoko is the recipient of an NIH R01 grant supporting innovative research into new treatments for small cell lung cancer. Notably, his laboratory's fundamental discoveries have paved the way for multiple clinical trials at the institutional and national levels. With a significant h-index of 83 (an author-level metric that measures productivity and citation impact), he has made substantial contributions to the field of oncology, authoring more than 250 original articles in high-impact scientific journals, with over 44,000 citations.

Owonikoko currently serves as an elected board member and treasurer-elect of the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the leading society of oncologists globally.

Left to right: Mark T. Gladwin, MD; Bert W. O'Malley, MD; Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA

We are very excited to welcome Dr. Owonikoko to the University of Maryland School of Medicine faculty. He has an extraordinary track record of academic and clinical success and is widely regarded as an innovative leader in translational research and a strategic collaborator, said Gladwin, who is also executive vice president for medical affairs, UMB, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor, UMSOM. At the same time, we are deeply grateful to Dr. Cullen for his tireless commitment and leadership in building UMGCCC into one of the great discovery-based cancer centers in the nation.

OMalley added: Over the last two decades, Dr. Cullen has led our cancer center to unprecedented growth and left us poised to reach even greater heights in the years to come. We now look forward to leveraging Dr. Owonikokos passion for advancing clinical innovations and groundbreaking research to further position Greenebaum among the nations top cancer institutions.

Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), said: Dr. Owonikoko has earned a stellar reputation as a collaborative and visionary leader with demonstrated ability to substantially grow research and clinical programs of excellence.

Added Suntha, who is a radiation oncologist: As an academic cancer center, UMGCCC is a vital resource for cancer patients treated at hospitals within our medical system. I am particularly enthusiastic about the key role Dr. Owonikoko will play in expanding access to state-of-the-art clinical trials.

Currently, Owonikoko serves as chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology and the Stanley M. Marks-Oncology Hematology Associates (OHA) Endowed Chair in Hematology/Oncology Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He also is associate director for translational research and co-leader of the Cancer Therapeutics Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Hillman Cancer Center, where he has been instrumental in steering translational research, developing innovative therapeutics, and expanding clinical care initiatives.

As a key member of the Hillman Cancer Center leadership team, he has helped to make cancer clinical trials more accessible to patients, particularly those in underserved communities, through the large network of outpatient practices, with more than 70 locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Western Maryland. Owonikoko also is committed to fostering the growth and development of the next generation of clinical and research leaders through robust training and mentoring programs. Previously, he served as professor and vice chair in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine and its Winship Cancer Institute.

Left to right: Christine Lau, MD, MBA; Kevin J. Cullen, MD; Cheryl L. Knott, PhD; Michael Greenebaum

Lau, who co-chaired the search committee, said, "The team really worked hard to get the right leader, and we feel strongly that we did. I am excited to support Dr. Owonikoko as we advance cancer care at UMSOM, UMMC, and across the system."

Owonikoko said he was "greatly honored and humbled to be selected as the next director of UMGCCC. My gratitude goes to the search committee members and the leadership team across UMB and UMMS for this incredible opportunity.

"I look forward to joining this vibrant and collegial community and working together to actualize the strategic vision to bring UMGCCC to greater heights by building on the solid foundation laid over the past two decades, through the strong work of my predecessor, Dr. Kevin Cullen, and the entire faculty and staff.

Cullen commented about his successor: Taofeek is a superb clinician-scientist with extensive leadership experience. His recent work at two NCI-designated cancer centers will serve him well as he leads UMGCCC through its next phase of growth. I believe the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer will thrive under his direction, and I am delighted that he has chosen to come to Baltimore. As I step down after 20 years, I know the cancer center is in excellent hands.

Cheryl L. Knott, PhD, co-leader of UMGCCCs population science program and associate director of community outreach and engagement who served on the search committee, said she appreciates Owonikokos approach and vision for his new position.

The clinical and scientific resume that he brings to the table speaks for itself. However, I also appreciated the humility with which he approached the UMGCCC opportunity, his thoughtful views about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and his patient-centered approach, Knott said. This speaks to an alignment with our mission and values at UMGCCC as a comprehensive cancer center with a strong orientation toward the community that we serve.

The cancer center  a joint entity of UMSOM and UMMC  is one of only 56 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country and one of two centers in Maryland. UMGCCC treats just over 3,000 new patients annually with more than 59,000 outpatient visits and 1,100 inpatient admissions each year. The centers research funding has increased dramatically in recent years, now totaling $122 million. UMGCCC serves as the academic hub for cancer centers at affiliated hospitals within the 11-hospital UMMS.

Patient volume at UMGCCC has also grown significantly in recent years, and construction is underway on a 12-story building  the Roslyn and Leonard Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine  that will be the new home of the cancer center when it is completed in 2026. The expansion will help UMGCCC meet the growing need for complex cancer care, including cutting-edge cellular immunotherapies and personalized treatments tailored to a patients individual cancer and genetic profile.

The cancer centers reach extends well beyond its walls. Not only do UMGCCC physicians and scientists mentor West Baltimore middle and high school students for potential STEM-related careers through the UMB CURE Scholars Program and other internship programs, UMGCCC also offers patient education and screening initiatives to communities throughout Maryland. These include free cancer screenings through the community-based Baltimore City Cancer Program, with a focus on eliminating disparities in cancer care.

We are thrilled to have Dr. Owonikoko as our new leader. He is a world-class physician-scientist who is ideally suited to carry on the tremendous legacy of Dr. Cullen, said Michael Greenebaum, president, Greenebaum Enterprises, and vice chair, UMSOM Board of Visitors, whose parents, Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum, gave the founding gift for the UM Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) in 1994.

We are confident that he will take the UM Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center to even greater heights of excellence in both research and patient care. On behalf of our entire family, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Dr. Cullen for his outstanding leadership over the past two decades. We will always have the greatest admiration for him as a close friend and colleague.

Born in Nigeria, Owonikoko earned his primary medical degree in 1991 from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, a PhD in anatomic pathology from Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany, in 2001, and later a Master of Science degree in clinical research from the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies at Emory University.

In addition to his leadership role at ASCO, Owonikoko is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the American Association for Cancer Research, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. He also has served as an ad hoc reviewer on NIH and DOD study sections for the past 11 years.

He currently is a chartered member for the NCI Clinical Oncology Study Section. Additionally, he is an editorial board member for several highly regarded academic journals, including Cancer, Frontiers in Oncology, Journal of Thoracic Disease, and Translational Lung Cancer Research.

He has received numerous awards, including the Michaele C. Christian Oncology Development Lectureship and Award from the NCI in 2020, the Heine Hansen Award for Small Cell Lung Cancer from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and the Leadership Development Program award from ASCO.

I am very excited to bring a servant leadership style to fully harness the depth of scientific expertise at UMB and the sister campuses of the University System of Maryland, to impact the diverse communities served by UMMC and the other components of the UMMS network of hospitals across the state of Maryland, Owonikoko said. I am confident that the outstanding research expertise, excellent patient care, and deep commitment to education and the community that define UMGCCC will help us realize the vision set by the management team to be a leader among its peer NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers.

To learn more about the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, visit www.umms.org/umgccc.
| By Andrew Tie

The Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is engaged in a statewide campaign to provide vaccinations and education to thousands of older adults over the next year.

Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research, speaks with a patient as a UMSOP student gives a vaccine.

The Aging & Disability Vaccination Collaborative is a partnership between the Lamy Center, the Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence (LWCE), USAging, and Meals on Wheels. The collaborative is charged with coordinating outreach and providing education and vaccine clinics in 10 Maryland counties and Baltimore City through April 2024. Professional and independent pharmacies will also join the collaboration to administer the vaccines.

Our partnership with USAging and Maryland Living Well takes advantage of the Lamy Centers expertise in educating and providing clinical services to our older adult population, said Nicole Brandt, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, FASCP, executive director of the Lamy Center and professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research. This initiative will help thousands of older adults in the state learn about and receive safe and effective vaccines to prevent serious illnesses.

The Lamy Centers goals within the campaign are to educate 6,000 older adults about vaccines, provide 3,000 vaccines, and assist up to 1,500 participants in locating vaccine sites and making appointments. The campaign will focus on the shingles vaccine initially and will include COVID-19 and flu vaccines in the fall. There will also be information on pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines. In addition to working with senior communities, the collaboration will survey, educate, and provide vaccination opportunities to clients of Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland.

Our collaboration with the Lamy Center is focused on establishing partnerships and engaging with older adults and people with disabilities who have been historically underserved and who face additional barriers to accessing vaccines, said Wendy Farthing, director of chronic disease self-management education and falls integration at Maryland Living Well Center of Excellence. We support the Lamy Centers mission and vision and look forward to serving our communities over the coming months.

A key to the success of the collaborative will be the network of pharmacies, pharmacists, senior communities, and advocates that the Lamy Center is working with to get the word out. Furthermore, the collaborative will be working with PharmD students, residents, faculty, staff, and partners to carry out this work.

Independent pharmacies are in a unique position due to their ability to operationalize clinical services in a quick and effective manner, said Mark Hindman, PharmD 17, a pharmacist at Professional Pharmacy who is partnering with the Lamy Center. We have been hosting immunization clinics for more than 10 years, so we have experience in developing new clinic partnerships, administering vaccinations, and providing patient education.
CHONGQING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Yi Shoucai, an orange farmer in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, has a name that can be translated as "Easily Guardwealth," yet it was not easy for him to make a fortune in the first place.

Yi, 50, grew lychees in south China's Guangdong Province for seven years before deciding in 2004 to return to Chongqing's Fengjie County to start his own business -- growing oranges -- in Ouying Village, his hometown.

Fengjie, which sits on mountains overlooking the Yangtze River in the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, and its adjacent areas have everything orange trees need to flourish, including abundant sunlight, reddish sandy soil and balanced rainfall.

The experienced fruit grower started with 5 mu (0.33 hectare) of orange trees, but his high hopes were dampened by his initial harvests. Yi made only around 4,000 yuan (557 U.S. dollars) from a disappointing production of less than 5 tonnes of oranges annually.

Yi's biggest challenge turned out to be a nearby cement production plant which produced a great amount of smoke and other waste, forming a gray cloud that shrouded the village.

"Orange tree leaves were all covered with ashes. I would get gray too from head to toe after a short while of working in the field," he recalled.

Few people wanted Ouying's fruits due to the severe air and soil pollution, even though Yi sold them at a lower price. Some of his fellow orange growers gave up and left the village to seek jobs outside.

The lean and robust man persisted for years and the time finally came for his orchard to thrive. Local environmental protection authorities shut down the cement production plant in 2013 in accordance with the law amid a nationwide fight against pollution.

Guided by the vision of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," Fengjie, Chongqing and the entire China have abandoned development at the cost of the environment and shifted to the path of green growth.

With the dust cloud disappearing, mountains in Ouying Village were a brighter green again.

To boost orange growing and processing, Fengjie has since made continuous efforts to encourage using organic fertilizers, overhaul road and irrigation infrastructure, introduce new species of orange trees, and provide farmers with the latest knowledge.

"As the environment improved, soil quality also became better. We also keep updating farming skills. Our oranges are becoming sweeter and bigger with a more pleasant color," Yi said.

Now, 962 households in Ouying Village cultivate more than 7,500 mu of orange trees. Every household can rake in an average of over 100,000 yuan annually.

Seeing a sweet future, Yi has expanded his orchard to over 30 mu and his annual income can reach 300,000 yuan. This man indeed has a fortune to guard. 
MONROVIA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Vote counting commenced Wednesday in Liberia following the general polls in the West African country a day earlier.

The tally process began in the presence of candidates' agents and independent observers, Davidetta Lansanah, head of the National Elections Commission (NEC), said on Wednesday evening at a daily briefing in the national capital of Monrovia.

"The tallied results from magisterial offices are being progressively transmitted to the data center at the NEC headquarters, where they are being collated for the announcement," Lansanah told reporters, as well as domestic and international observers, at the briefing.

More than 2.4 million Liberians were registered to vote during the general elections on Tuesday, according to the NEC, which oversees the conduct of elections in all 15 counties of the country.

Incumbent President George Weah is seeking re-election, while former Vice President Joseph Boakai, leading the opposition, is challenging him.

The electoral body said on Tuesday night that there were no major incidents during the polls, except for a delay in voting in the southern part of the country due to heavy rains. 
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Caretaker Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Muhammad Sami Saeed on Thursday said the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was in full swing, reiterating the interim government's strong commitment to implementing the development projects in letter and spirit.

The minister made these remarks while speaking at a seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Paving the Path to Shared Prosperity, organized here the by Centre of Excellence, CPEC, Quaid-e-Azam University (QUA).

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong was the chief guest at the conference, which was also attended by the Vice Chancellor, QAU, Project Director, CPEC and hundreds of policymakers and experts.

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing from October 17 to 18. Prime Minister Anwar Ul Haq Kakar would represent Pakistan. The forum would focus on Research and Innovation, Communication, Science and technology, Industry, Agriculture, Energy, Tourism and other areas.

Planning Minister Sami Saeed said the BRI was not merely a network of roads and bridges rather it was a manifestation of collective belief in the power of collaboration to create a world where opportunities were boundless and prosperity knew no borders.

The Second Phase of CPEC is in full swing as all projects are being supervised properly and the interim government is committed to implementing the projects," he said appreciating China for consistent support in the implementation of projects.

The second Phase of CPEC has already started as both countries have been celebrating the decade of CPEC.

Despite facing challenges like security concerns, political instability and the COVID-19 pandemic since its inception in 2013, the minister said both China and Pakistan remained committed in the implementation of CPEC, which evolved from a connectivity project to a symbol of enduring regional cooperation with far-reaching implications for development and stability.

During the seminar, four sessions were held which included Trade & Industrial Cooperation, Cultural Exchange & Connectivity, Financial Sector Integration & CPEC & BRI Integration moderated by various experts while highlighting the key features of sessions.

Highlighting the key achievements of the Centre of Excellence, the minister said that the Centre was playing a constructive role in producing research for CPEC and in future more productive research work would be done.

He said the Centre on Modern Earth, Minerals & Natural Resources had been established at QUA which would work with the cooperation of China to modernize the mineral sector.

Speaking at the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong appreciated the Centre of Excellent CPEC and the Planning Ministry for conducting this seminar, which has great significance, especially at a time when the BRI forum was going to start next week.

Reflecting on the decade of CPEC's journey, the Chinese envoy praised the remarkable achievements made through the guidance of the leaders of both China and Pakistan.

He recalled the historic visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in 2015, which accelerated the large-scale construction of CPEC.

Appreciating the constituent policies formulated by the Planning Ministry, the Chinese envoy said his country would continue to support Pakistan in implementing CPEC projects.

The success of CPEC is attributed to its adherence to the principles of the BRI as the project exemplifies openness, inclusivity and mutual benefits, garnering support from the people of both China and Pakistan, remarked the envoy, while appreciating Pakistans efforts for implementing the CPEC projects, especially in the second phase of CPEC.

The Chinese envoy also appreciated Pakistan for taking extraordinary security measures for the Chinese working on various projects in Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Jamal Shah, the Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, has stated that his ministry has suggested providing a financial grant to the ailing artist Hussain Bukhsh Gulu.

In a statement on social media platform X, he acknowledged Hussain Bukhsh Gulu's illness and mentioned that his ministry is actively working to provide financial assistance to the ailing veteran artist.

He expressed that the artist is an iconic figure and a valuable asset to the nation, and the federal government is committed to providing any necessary support for his treatment.

He instructed the ministry's relevant officials to keep a close watch on Gulu's health, ensuring regular updates, and conveyed his well wishes for a speedy recovery.
by Xiong Maoling

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House Republicans on Wednesday nominated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise for speaker after Kevin McCarthy's historical ouster last week, but deep intraparty divisions could prevent the nominee from gaining enough support needed to win a vote of the full chamber.

Since the start of this year, the country has witnessed the historic 15-ballot floor fight in the election of a House speaker, former President Donald Trump facing multiple criminal charges, the criminal charges against President Joe Biden's second son Hunter Biden, and the ouster of a sitting House speaker, all of which are unprecedented.

With the House paralyzed and Congress in limbo, observers are increasingly concerned about the flaws of the U.S. political system, and Americans are losing confidence in the government, dissatisfied and even disgusted with the so-called "American-style democracy".

INTRAPARTY FIGHT FOR NEW SPEAKER

Scalise, the No. 2 Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, won the nomination in a 113-99 vote over Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

The vote came after the historical ouster of McCarthy, who was booted out of his position on Tuesday last week, in a move initiated by a member of his own party -- hardline Republican Representative Matt Gaetz.

A win of only 14 votes by Scalise indicated the deep divisions among House Republicans, who now need to unite behind the Louisiana Republican in order to reach the required simple majority threshold in the chamber to elect a speaker, as Republicans hold a slim 221-212 majority.

Despite Scalise winning the Republican conference vote, several Republican lawmakers said they still plan to support Jordan on the House floor, raising uncertainty as to whether Scalise would be able to garner enough House Republican votes to actually become speaker.

"A messy floor fight may be ahead, with a number of Republicans already noncommittal about supporting Scalise," The Hill reported. "The unsettled situation reflected deep rifts in the G.O.P. that could prolong the race and lead to a drawn-out fight on the House floor," according to an article by The New York Times.

House Republicans certainly want to avoid a repeat of McCarthy's speaker election in January, when he clawed his way to victory by cutting a deal with conservatives after 15 rounds of voting.

That's why Speaker Pro Tempore Representative Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican, quickly called the chamber to recess Wednesday afternoon, offering more time for the speaker nominee to put his votes together for the floor.

"Until a speaker is elected there's not going to be anything meaningful happening in the House, and the clock is ticking on the 45 days the government will stay open," Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College, told Xinhua earlier.

The House is also under pressure to take action following the escalated Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Scalise already said that a strong resolution expressing support for Israel would be his priority if elected speaker.

CONSTANT CHAOS, SYSTEMATIC FAILURES

Looking back at McCarthy's nine-month speaker tenure, he won the speaker race after a grueling 4 days and 15 rounds of voting and was removed quickly from the position after eight conservative Republicans' betrayal. McCarthy has certainly "made history."

But he is not alone. Trump is facing multiple charges, including for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election, becoming the first former president to be criminally indicted in U.S. history. Hunter Biden was indicted on gun and tax-related charges, becoming the first child of a sitting president to be criminally indicted.

Chaos seems to be a "new normal," and even those who are no strangers to partisan fights are astounded. "I never thought anything like this could happen in America," Trump said. Commenting on McCarthy's ouster, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said it was a "sad day."

While the U.S. government narrowly dodged a partial shutdown and the House ousted its speaker for the first time in history, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe Washington politicians cannot put aside their partisan differences to do their jobs.

In an article titled "How Do Americans Feel About Politics? 'Disgust Isn't a Strong Enough Word'" recently published on The New York Times, authors argued that over the past week, the pandemonium of a narrowly averted government shutdown and leadership coup in the Republican-controlled House "confirmed many Americans' most cynical feelings about the federal government."

In an analysis titled "Chaos in Congress points to failures in the U.S. system" published on The Washington Post, the author argued that the concerns harbored by onlookers abroad grow far deeper.

"They see an American political system lurching down the path of dysfunction and a legislature increasingly dominated by politicians uninterested in actual governance or democratic deliberation," the article said.

"America's political institutions are not working effectively. This has been true for many years, but the dysfunctionality is becoming greater," Jeffrey Sachs, a professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, told Xinhua.

"The main problem, in my view, is the corruption of U.S. politics by big money, especially by large-scale corporate lobbying and large-scale campaign funding by wealthy individuals and corporate donors," said Sachs.

"The result is that Congress and the White House pursue policies that are not in the public interest, but in the interest of particular lobbies, such as the military-industrial complex or particular industries," said the renowned economist, adding that this leads to increasing tensions within the United States since the general public has "little confidence" in the government. 
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the development of more shipyards in the country

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the development of more shipyards in the country.

The prime minister, chairing a meeting of the policy board of shipbuilding, also called for keeping in view the environmental impacts of the shipyard building projects.

The meeting reviewed the current position of the development of shipyards in the country.

In the briefing, the meeting was told that the shipyards could be developed in Surbandar, Eastbay, Kappar and Pishu Khan areas of Balochistan.

The prime minister also instructed the relevant authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy to curb illegal trawling in coastal areas.
Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Jemal Beker called on the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Minister Mr. Madad Ali Sindhi here on Thursday

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Jemal Beker called on the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Minister Mr. Madad Ali Sindhi here on Thursday.

Madad Ali Sindhi welcomed the Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Jemal Beker and said that the two countries have religious, cultural and historical people to people who love each other.

Madad Ali Sindhi discussed the exchange of expertise and knowledge regarding Vocational and Technical Training. He said that the two countries can benefit from the experience of each other.

The Federal Minister also welcomed the exchange of teachers and students to further mutual cooperation, especially for Skilled Vocational Training.

He said that there is significant potential for cooperation between the two countries. The Minister said that a Joint Working Group will be formulated which can pave the way for the signing of an MoU between the two countries.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Mr.

Jemal Beker said that the People of Ethiopia have a deep affiliation with Pakistan.

He said that university-to-university cooperation and Technical institution-to-technical Technical Institution collaboration is the way forward.

He said that Ethiopian doctors who have studied in Pakistan volunteered to provide free service to Pakistan during the floods of 2022. He further invited the minister to visit Ethiopia and sign the planned MoU there.

Madad Ali Sindhi said that the future is in Vocational Training of the population of Pakistan. He said that it provides the best opportunity for people to find jobs.

The Federal Minister thanked the Ambassador and highlighted the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries. The minister said that the two countries have a shared history.

He said that there was a bonhomie between the two people. He stated that the two countries should further enhance their mutual relationship.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Zonal Office, Lahore, in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circle, conducted a successful raid against franchisee of a mobile phone company in Sialkot.

The franchisee was found to be involved in the illegal issuance of SIMs said a news release.

as many as nine BVS devices and 33 SIMs were seized as evidence.

Two persons were apprehended on the premises by FIA, which is currently investigating the matter further.

PTA had filed complaints with FIA earlier based on information regarding illegal issuance of SIMs by the sales channel.

The raid is a part of the PTA's ongoing efforts to prevent the circumvention of the Multi-Finger Biometric Verification System (MBVS).

This determination underscores the Authority's dedication to eradicate illegal issuance of SIMs.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday called for "an immediate end to the comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people", his office said following a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II

Ramallah, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday called for "an immediate end to the comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people", his office said following a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II.

In his first public remarks since a massive Hamas onslaught on southern Israeli communities early Saturday that spiralled into a deadly war, Abbas rejected "practices related to killing civilians or abusing them on both sides", according to a statement.

The two leaders met in Amman and discussed "ways to stop the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and deliver aid and relief" to Hamas-controlled Gaza, the statement said.

The targeting of civilians by both Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters "contravenes morals, religion and international law", Abbas said.

According to the statement, he stressed Palestinians "renounce violence and adhere to international legitimacy, peaceful popular resistance, and political action as a path to achieving our national goals".

Abbas also "warned of the danger of the only power plant in the Gaza Strip stopping working due to running out of fuel" and urged action to secure the supply of electricity and water as well as "opening urgent humanitarian corridors".

With dozens of Israeli civilians and security personnel believed to be held captive in Gaza and Palestinian fighters captured by Israel, Abbas called "for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees".

The Palestinian Authority which Abbas heads is based in the occupied West Bank, while his Islamist rival Hamas controls the Gaza Strip.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Debris from a drone destroyed over the Russian region of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, fell on homes and killed two people and injured at least two others, the regional governor said on Thursday.

"The air defence system in Belgorod district shot down an aircraft-type UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) approaching the city," Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"As a result of falling debris, a private residential building caught fire," he said, adding later that the falling debris had destroyed one residential building, and partially damaged two others.

"Unfortunately, they are dead. The bodies of two people -- a man and a woman -- were recovered from the rubble by emergency services," he wrote.

Another two people, also a man and a woman, were injured in the incident and had been brought to hospital.

The man was in a coma and had suffered significant burns, while the woman had a concussion and a fractured leg, he said, adding that doctors had assessed the woman's condition as "serious".

He warned that a child was believed to still be under the rubble, saying "The rescue operation continues".

Early Thursday, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram that an attempted Ukrainian drone attack in the Belgorod region had been "thwarted" at around 11:30 pm (2030 GMT) Wednesday.

It made no mention of casualties.

Since Ukraine launched its counter-offensive in June, Russia has weathered waves of drone attacks, especially in border regions.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian shelling killed two civilians in the Belgorod region, according to Gladkov.
(@FahadShabbir)

Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Debris from a drone destroyed over the Russian region of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, fell on homes and killed three people, including a young child, the regional governor said Thursday.

The air defence system "shot down an aircraft-type UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) approaching the city", said Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, adding that the falling debris destroyed several homes.

"Most importantly, three people were killed, one of them a small child," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app, accompanied by pictures of a house reduced to a pile of rubble behind red and white police tape.

"A difficult morning for all of us," he said, offering his condolences to the loved ones of those killed.

"We are all grieving."

Earlier, he had said that the bodies of a man and a woman had been discovered in the rubble, while another man and woman who suffered injuries in the incident and were brought to hospital.

The man was in a coma and had suffered significant burns, while the woman had a concussion and a fractured leg, he said, adding that doctors had assessed the woman's condition as "serious".

In all, he said that as a result of the falling drone debris, "two residential buildings were (completely) destroyed and several residential buildings and cars were damaged".

Early Thursday, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram that an attempted Ukrainian drone attack in the Belgorod region had been "thwarted" at around 11:50 pm (2050 GMT) Wednesday.

It made no mention of casualties.

Since Ukraine launched its counter-offensive in June, Russia has weathered waves of drone attacks, especially in border regions.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian shelling killed two civilians in the Belgorod region, according to Gladkov.
HONG KONG, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) -- The Law Society of Hong Kong on Thursday held the International Summit 2023 in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), focusing on high-quality construction of the Belt and Road.

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Fang Jianming, deputy commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR, and Paul Lam, secretary for justice of the HKSAR government attended the summit.

Lee said at the summit that the HKSAR government welcomes and fully supports the white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" published by the central authorities. Hong Kong will continue contributing to the efforts of building a global community of shared future under the BRI, he said.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

A Kenyan court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a government decision to allow the importation and cultivation of genetically modified crops to help combat its food crisis

Nairobi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) A Kenyan court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a government decision to allow the importation and cultivation of genetically modified crops to help combat its food crisis.

In October last year, the government lifted a decade-old ban on GM crops in response to dwindling food security following the worst drought to ravage the Horn of Africa region in 40 years.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) swiftly launched a court challenge, arguing the decision was unconstitutional as there were concerns over the safety of the crops.

But environment court judge Oscar Angote ruled on Thursday that there was no evidence to show any harm to nature or human health.

"As a country, we need to trust the institutions that we have in place and call them to order when they breach the law," Angote said, making reference to government bodies that regulate GM foods.

"We should be confident that our health is in good hands."

An official from LSK told AFP there had not been a decision on whether to appeal the ruling.

Another case against GM crops filed by Paul Mwangi, a lawyer who is close to the opposition, is still active in court.

Kenya, like many other African nations, banned GM crops over health and safety concerns and to protect smallholder farms, which account for the vast majority of rural agricultural producers in the country.

However, the East African powerhouse faced criticism over the ban, including from the United States, which is a major producer of GM crops.

Activists and agriculture lobby groups have protested over the lifting of the ban, saying it opened the market to US farmers using sophisticated technologies and highly subsidised farming that threatened the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.
Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday Ukrainian forces were "holding our ground" in Avdiivka, after Moscow said it had improved its position in the frontline eastern town.

The Donbas town is symbolically and strategically important to Kyiv and near the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, seized by separatist forces in 2014.

"Avdiivka. We are holding our ground," Zelensky said on social media, sharing pictures from the frontline town.

"It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end," he said.

"Our defenders are courageously holding the defence: they have repelled more than 10 enemy attacks in the Avdiivka area," Andriy Kovalev, spokesman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said in televised comments.

Russia's defence ministry on Wednesday said its forces had improved their position close to Avdiivka, which had around 31,000 inhabitants before the war and is dominated by a huge coke plant.

About 1,600 civilians remain, according to local authorities.

Avdiivka's mayor, Vitaliy Barabash said on television: "We withstood everything, we held our positions, all the attacks were repulsed.

In some places (we) even tried to counterattack."

The mayor said the situation there was "very tense", calling it the "largest offensive" on Avdiivka since last year's full-scale invasion.

"For the third day, the fighting around the town has not subsided, with shelling both on positions and on the town itself," the mayor said, adding that a missile attack hit the town overnight.

The coke plant, currently mothballed, is "constantly under fire from rockets and artillery", Barabash said.

Rybar, an influential pro-Russian Telegram channel that has good sources in the military, said Russian troops had captured an important slag heap north of the town.

Rybar also said that Russian forces had entered the village of Stepove northwest of Avdiivka and that there was fighting there, while Ukraine said it had repelled attacks east of the village.

Military analysts reported that Russia appeared to have suffered significant losses of equipment, based on images and videos of the area.

Avdiivka, an industrial hub, has been fought over since 2014 when it was briefly captured by Russian-backed separatists. It now has no intact buildings, mains water or electricity.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed unwavering US support for Israel in its war on Hamas during a visit Thursday but said the Palestinians also have "legitimate aspirations" not represented by the Hamas group

Tel Aviv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Oct, 2023) Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed unwavering US support for Israel in its war on Hamas during a visit Thursday but said the Palestinians also have "legitimate aspirations" not represented by the Hamas group.

Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people in Israel and took about 150 hostages in their surprise onslaught from Gaza Saturday. Israel has retaliated by raining air and artillery strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza for six days, claiming over 1,350 lives.

Israel has deployed forces, tanks and other military hardware to the Gaza border, AFP journalists said, as it prepared for a possible ground invasion of the Palestinian territory after what has been labelled Israel's 9/11.

"You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself," Blinken said at a joint press conference in Tel Aviv with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to. We will always be there by your side."

Israeli fighter jets and drones flew above Gaza City in the relentless bombardment that has levelled entire blocks and destroyed thousands of buildings, while Hamas had now fired more than 5,000 rockets at Israel from Gaza, the army said.

US President Joe Biden has vowed unwavering support for Israel and not called for restraint against Hamas, but Blinken hinted at the need for an eventual peace settlement -- an idea that has long met resistance from the right-wing Netanyahu.

"Anyone who wants peace and justice must condemn Hamas' reign of terror," Blinken said.

"We know Hamas doesn't represent the Palestinian people, or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity and dignity."

Netanyahu voiced appreciation for US support, which includes military aid, and said Hamas, which rules the blockaded Gaza Strip, should be treated like the Islamic State group.

"Just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. And Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated," Netanyahu said.

Blinken, speaking in personal terms, said "I come before you not only as the United States secretary of state but also as a Jew" and "a husband and father of young children".

"It's impossible for me to look at the photos of families killed, such as the mother, father and three small children murdered as they sheltered in their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, and not think of my own children," he said.

- 'Cycle of violence and horror' -

Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht said the military was readying for a potential order to launch a ground invasion in the war with Hamas: "This has not been decided yet... but we are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if it is decided."

"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership," he said.

Fears have grown for Gaza's 2.4 million people now enduring the fifth war in 15 years in the long-blockaded coastal enclave, which has also seen Israel cut off water, food and power supplies.

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed the total siege of Gaza would remain in force until the hostages are freed.

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," he said.

Gaza's hospitals "risk turning into morgues", said the International Committee of the Red Cross middle East chief Fabrizio Carboni, stressing "the human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent".

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern about the "supercharged cycle of violence and horror", urged the release of all hostages and the lifting of the siege, and stressed that "civilians must be protected at all times".

There have been calls for a humanitarian corridor to allow Palestinians to escape ahead of a possible Israeli ground invasion that would spell brutal urban combat and house-to-house fighting.

If Israel does send ground forces into Gaza, it risks walking into a Hamas "trap", warned a former head of Britain's MI6 intelligence service, Alex Younger, speaking on BBC radio.

"You shouldn't do what your enemy wants you to do," he said, arguing the inevitable loss of innocent life would further drive radicalisation and regional sentiment against Israel and its allies.

"These are all things that Hamas wants," he said.

- 'All I do is cry' -

Israel has called up 300,000 reservists and rushed forces, tanks and heavy armour to the southern desert areas around Gaza from where Hamas launched their unprecedented attack on October 7.

Israeli soldiers have since then swept the southern towns and kibbutz communities and killed 1,500 of the militants while making ever more shocking discoveries of large numbers of dead civilians.

"I would never have been able to imagine... something like this," Doron Spielman, an Israeli army spokesman, said at one gated community where more than 100 residents were killed.

"It looks like... an atomic bomb just landed here."

Israeli outrage has been further fuelled by Hamas's capture of at least 150 hostages -- mostly Israelis but also foreign and dual nationals -- now being held in Gaza.

"I know he's out there somewhere," one of the affected Israelis, Ausa Meir, said of her brother Michael, who is among the captives. "It's very, very painful."

Hamas has threatened to kill hostages if Israel bombs Gaza civilian targets without advance warning -- deepening the anger and fear in shell-shocked Israel.

"Everybody is impacted in Israel," said Joana Ouisman, 38, a finance executive. "I've been watching tv all day for the past three to four days. All I do is cry."

- 'We must win' -

Israel's war now flaring in the south is further complicated by a threat from the north, the Hezbollah group based in Lebanon.

The army has massed tanks on the border after repeated clashes with Hezbollah in recent days, including cross-border rockets and shelling.

As Israel seeks to boost its military forces, flag carrier El Al said it would operate special flights to bring back reserve soldiers from overseas on the weekly Jewish day of rest.

"It's really sad what happened. We don't believe what Hamas did... we are going to fight back," said one of them, Ido Malka, who flew in from Los Angeles.

The United States has sent munitions to Israel and deployed an aircraft carrier battle group to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support while warning Israel's other enemies not to enter the conflict.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that Washington has "not placed any conditions" on the way Israel can use the weapons it has provided to its ally.

Israel's arch-foe Iran has long financially and militarily backed Hamas and praised its attack but insists it had no involvement.

Iran's ultra-conservative President Ebrahim Raisi called on Islamic and Arab countries to confront Israel and support the "oppressed Palestinian nation", in a phone call with his Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad.

Israel also struck Syria's two main airports, in Damascus and Aleppo, in "simultaneous" attacks on landing strips that put them out of service", state media said, citing an unidentified military source.

Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on Syria, its northern neighbour, in recent years, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes on Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow its biggest enemy Iran to expand its footprint there.
BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- China will mull the feasibility of further removing or relaxing foreign ownership restrictions to draw more global investors, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

While continuing to shorten its negative list for foreign investment, the country will strive to improve its business environment and better serve foreign companies, said ministry spokesperson He Yadong at a press conference.

The country has revised its negative list for foreign investment for five consecutive years, with barriers to foreign ownership reduced in sectors including seed, automobile, vessel and aircraft manufacturing, securities, banking, and insurance, the spokesperson said.

According to a report released last month by the Development Research Center of the State Council, China has maintained its position as the world's second-largest recipient of foreign investment since 2017 and remains one of the most attractive investment destinations globally.

In 2022, China's actual use of foreign direct investment (FDI) reached 189.1 billion U.S. dollars, marking an 8 percent year-on-year increase on a comparable basis. The country's share of global FDI rose from 8.2 percent in 2012 to 14.6 percent in 2022. 
Evelyn Gandy Online Encyclopedia Launched at USM

Thu, 10/12/2023 - 07:54am | By: David Tisdale

A public history project focusing on the life and career of University of Southern Mississippi (USM) alumna and history-making politician Evelyn Gandy has been established at her alma mater with the online-accessible E. Evelyn Gandy Encyclopedia.

The Gandy Encyclopedia was designed to create a comprehensive portrait of one of Hattiesburg and Mississippis most famous citizens, Edythe Evelyn Gandy. Entries in the encyclopedia are researched and written by USM students and cover topics ranging from her pioneering career as the states first female Lieutenant Governor to the study of the objects, awards, design, and records from her historic home and in the USM Archives Gandy Collection.

Beginning with the first encyclopedia entries posted in the fall 2023 semester, this organically growing project seeks to explore the many facets of the history of Gandys home, life, and legacy, and to bring those histories into focus through the various exhibitions and articles, both digital and physical, as well as the many interactive elements of this project.

USM students enrolled in the course HIS 350: Public History in Theory and Practice, taught by USM Assistant Professor of History Dr. John Winters, have made significant contributions to the Gandy Encyclopedia.

The Gandy Encyclopedias contents reflect the varied interests and perspectives of USM students, Dr. Winters said. The first articles published cover such diverse topics as Gandy's political affiliations, perspectives on race and gender, administrative history, and her profound political career and legal legacy.

As new generations of USM students continue to contribute to this growing project, the Encyclopedia will become a comprehensive compendium of Gandy's life that puts her legacy into conversation within the dynamic society we live in today.

Current USM students interested in contributing to The Encyclopedia of E. Evelyn Gandy can contact Dr. Winters.
USM Special Collections Processes Raylawni Branch Collection

Thu, 10/12/2023 - 11:21am | By: Dawn Smith

Raylawni Branch, a professional nursing educator and an officer in the United States Air Force Reserves, is considered a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement, becoming in 1965 one of the first two African American students to enroll at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

Throughout her life, she collected materials and photographs documenting her efforts in the Civil Rights Movement, and generously donated this collection to USMs University Libraries Special Collections.

Through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) grant, Abubaker Zahoor, a doctoral student in creative writing at the University, has worked to preserve this important collection. The collection features Branchs correspondence, academic documents, certificates and licenses, publications, Civil Rights ephemera, and materials from Branchs career in nursing, the military, and academia. Notable items from the collection include an entrance ticket, seating plan, and map for President Obamas inauguration ceremony, as well as Clyde Kennards application for clemency.

The oldest of 10 children, Branch was born in Hattiesburg, living in the Mobile Street area, and then raised in Hattiesburg, Prentiss, and Mount Carmel in Mississippi. She also lived in Chicago from the age of six to 14. By the time she completed the eighth grade, her family had moved 11 times. They returned to Hattiesburg after the death of her father, and she graduated from L.J. Rowan High School.

After a year at USM, Branch moved to New York and became active in the Vietnam War protest movement. She later received her bachelors degree in nursing from the University of Miami and joined the Air Force Reserves, earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1987, Branch returned to Hattiesburg and earned her masters degree in community health nursing, with a minor in education, from USM in 1993.

During the Civil Rights Movement, Branch participated in many different activities and organizations. She was a part of the March on Washington and integrated the Greyhound and Trailways bus stations in Hattiesburg. She was also the first African American ever hired at the Big Yank clothing factory, as well as the local telephone company. Branch went on to become an instructor of nursing at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi.

The Raylawni Branch collection was selected to be processed with support through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The NHPRC is a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) whose mission is promotion of the preservation and use of the countrys documentary heritage essential to understand the nations democracy, history, and culture.

Lorraine A. Stuart, head of Special Collections and Curator of Historical Manuscripts and Archives, is leading the two-year grant project. The purpose of the grant is to increase access to collections and will support processing, digitization, and development of finding aids for existing collections significant to the history and culture of Mississippi. The grant is also providing multiple opportunities for hands-on materials preservation and presentation experiences for the Universitys Library and Information Sciences and Humanities graduate students.

Zahoor previously worked in Special Collections, processing the Oseola McCarty collection. When he saw an opportunity to return, he happily accepted. His work on the Branch collection included standard processing, sorting materials, creating a cohesive arrangement plan, and organizing materials in a logical manner that will benefit those using the collection for research.

Zahoor, a student from Pakistan, said Working on the Branch collection enabled me to vicariously participate in her fascinating journey that attests to the power of individual will and determination, and serves as a reminder that communities based on principles of justice, freedom, and cooperation are essential to our individual and mutual flourishing.

Learn more about Special Collections at USM.
The Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network podcast recently featured a Laramie-based small-business owner. The podcast features small-business success stories, educational topics from experts and interviews with staff and leadership. Episodes are typically released twice per month.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In an episode launched Sept. 29, the podcast featured Jessica Perry, a marketing expert and founder of marketing firm Creative Blue Yonder. Perry discussed holiday marketing ideas and strategies that small-business owners can implement now as they plan for the upcoming holiday shopping season. She offered concrete advice on what to focus time and energy on as small-business owners plan their holiday campaigns. Additionally, Perry recommended tools and services to help small-business owners achieve their goals at various price points.

Perry has worked with an extensive list of clients, ranging from local solopreneurs to national giants. Her work samples include website design, graphic design, marketing campaign creation and social media management.

This Wyoming SBDC Network podcast episode and others can be found on Spotify and Google podcasts. Episodes are available at no cost as are all Wyoming SBDC Network services.
Three University of Wyoming employees were honored with 2023 Wyoming Women of Influence awards through the Wyoming Business Report at a luncheon Oct. 10.

Since 2013, the Wyoming Business Report has been recognizing influential women working within the state who exemplify leadership, creativity, ethical business practices, innovative thinking and unquestionable character.

This year, the Wyoming Business Report received a record number of nominees with 89 nominations in 18 categories representing different professional sectors in the state.

Holly Krutka, executive director of the UW School of Energy Resources (SER); Ana-Clara Bobadilla, an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the UW School of Pharmacy who recently became an assistant professor of neuroscience at Colorado State University; and Mary Martin, a community development educator for UW Extension, were honored as winners in their respective categories.

Krutka was recognized in the category of Energy, Mining and Utilities, receiving multiple nominations from UW faculty and staff, community members and industry partners around the state.

Taking the helm of SER at the peak of the pandemic in 2020, Krutka has built an impressive team and national reputation for energy research at UW and has opened up new pathways for energy-driven economic development for Wyoming.

She has made a tremendous impact on the energy sector in Wyoming. Under her leadership, she has significantly grown direct external funding for energy-related research at UW; enhanced and expanded the research portfolio to include new technologies while continuing to serve legacy industries; and has increased outreach and enrollment in academic programs.

Krutka earned her bachelors degree, graduating magna cum laude, and her Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma, both in chemical engineering. She came to UW after serving as vice president for coal generation and emissions technologies at Peabody Energy and has worked in various upper-level positions within the energy industry. She holds three patents, and she currently serves as a judge on the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition.

Bobadilla was recognized in the Manufacturing, Science and Technology category.

Bobadilla joined the UW School of Pharmacy in 2020. During her time at UW, Bobadilla investigated the neurobiological mechanisms of relapse to drugs. Specifically, she characterized the specific ensembles of neurons built through reward experience that drive reward-seeking behavior.

In addition to her research, she taught and mentored UW students, and she campaigned for balanced gender representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through multiple advocacy groups.

Bobadilla received her Ph.D. in neuroscience and her masters and bachelors degrees in biological sciences, all from Pierre and Marie Curie University (now Sorbonne University) in Paris, France. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she studied glutamatergic alterations driving drug seeking.

Martin was selected in the Lifetime Achievement category in recognition of her 48 years of service to the university and the state.

Based in Teton County, Martin was first known in UW Extension in 1975 as the county home economist, then as a county extension agent and now by her current title as community development educator.

Over the years, Martin has pioneered community development events to support tourism, programs for seniors, immigration assistance, efforts to increase affordable housing and to increase access to health care, and services for marginalized members of the community.

Martin earned her bachelors degree in home economics from the University of North Dakota and her masters degree in education from UW. In recognition of her many contributions to improving the quality of life within her community and across the state, she was the recipient of the Friend of Community Development Award 2021 from the Wyoming Association of Community Development Education Professionals.

For a full list of this years Wyoming Women of Influence award winners, visit www.wyomingnews.com/wyomingbusinessreport/events/women_of_influence/.
BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- When the seedlings of a "magic grass" were first introduced to Papua New Guinea over two decades ago, people there were skeptical about its ability to help them.

Over the years, however, this particular breed of grass from China, recommended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, has proven to be a seed of hope in this Pacific country, helping lift over 30,000 local people out of poverty.

The grass, now widely known as Juncao, which literally means "mushroom" and "grass," can be used, as its name suggests, to grow edible mushrooms. It can also be used as livestock feed or as a green barrier to stop desertification.

Benefits derived from Juncao technology not only contribute to poverty eradication, but also clean energy and other targets listed in the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The real power of this grass to positively impact world development may have remained hidden had it not been for the proactive promotion made by Chinese officials including Xi himself.

Back in the mid-1980s, when Xi worked in east China's Fujian Province, he spent considerable time on rural development and poverty alleviation.

At that time, the mushroom business was lucrative in Fujian's rural areas. However, the felling of trees, used as fungi substrate for large-scale mushroom growing, posed a potential threat to the future of the industry and even the local environment and economy.

A potential solution, Xi discovered at that time, could lie in research efforts that were then underway in Fujian concerning a group of wild grasses.

It turned out that Juncao technology, replacing timber with Juncao for mushroom growing, significantly lowered farming costs, reduced annual tree clearing, and hence provided an economical and environment-friendly path for poverty alleviation.

Thanks to Xi's support, Juncao science laboratory was built, and the development of Juncao varieties was able to proceed.

Lin Zhanxi, the inventor of Juncao technology, said he was very grateful and extremely thankful to Xi for his support of agricultural science and technology.

The application of this "magic grass" ended up not being confined to China.

Papua New Guinea was among the first overseas destinations to apply Juncao technology. In 2000, Xi, then governor of Fujian, assisted with the launch of a pilot project to help improve the livelihood of people in Papua New Guinea.

To enable Juncao to benefit more people, Chinese scientists simplified and localized Juncao technology, allowing the "magic grass" to take root in far-flung and exotic fields across this Pacific country in just a few years.

In 2018, the annual yield of the grass in Papua New Guinea set a record of 853 tonnes per hectare, with the resulting mushrooms gracing the tables of an increasing number of households.

Juncao technology involves mixing various low-cost materials such as Juncao powder, lime powder, rice or cotton husks and water and is applicable in a small space. For many underdeveloped countries, it is an affordable, accessible, and environmentally sound way to generate opportunities.

Later in his political career, Xi, as a state leader, continued to promote Juncao in the South Pacific region, and also in Africa and South America.

In Fiji, Juncao has become a household name and is known as "the grass of happiness from China," after multiple phases of the Juncao project there witnessed sound success. In March this year, a regional Juncao technology demonstration center opened in Fiji.

So far, a total of 270 Juncao training programs have been organized by China both home and abroad, cultivating over 10,000 people who are now qualified to popularize Juncao technology in as many as 18 languages.

From the island of Fiji to landlocked Rwanda, from the jungles of Brazil to the desert in Jordan, Juncao has now taken root in over 100 countries around the globe.

Juncao has become the "grass of prosperity" in a variety of underdeveloped countries. James Marape, prime minister of Papua New Guinea, said the Juncao project is a gift from China to the whole world. 
Transcript:

The Inside Story: Israel at War

Episode 113  October 12, 2023

Show Open:

Unidentified Narrator:

This week on The Inside Story, Israel suffers a deadly large scale coordinated attack at the hands of the terrorist group Hamas.

Militants turned kidnappers holding hostages as collateral while allies say they stand with Israel.

What's happened so far? And what's next in the conflict?

Now, on The Inside Story, Israel at War.

The Inside Story:

ANITA POWELL, VOA White House Correspondent:

Welcome to The Inside Story. I am Anita Powell, White House Correspondent for VOA. Last Saturday, Hamas militants crossed into southern Israel, attacking both civilians and soldiers and killing more than 1-thousand people, and kidnapping at least 100 Israeli civilians, including children. Israels response, a massive airborne barrage into Gaza, has been swift and significant and Palestinian authorities report the death toll in Gaza has surpassed a thousand people, with over five thousand wounded. Israeli says this is just the beginning of their military response.

International reaction has been overwhelming in its condemnation of the attacks. President Joe Biden said, "This was an act of sheer evil" and pledged to support Israel. In the wake of the attack, Irans support for the Palestinian group Hamas is in the spotlight. VOAs Henry Ridgwell reports.

HENRY RIDGWELL, VOA Correspondent:

The Hamas attack on Israel Saturday took most regional powers by surprise, but many analysts say Iran would have approved the assault in advance.

Lina Khatib, Director, Middle East Institute at SOAS University of London:

Iran has been for several years supporting Hamas through funding and through training and through military equipment. Decisions to engage in war by these groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and others can only happen with explicit prior direct agreement from Iran. But this is very different from saying that Iran ordered these groups to do these attacks.

HENRY RIDGWELL:

Iran has described Hamass actions as the manifestation of resistance  but denied any responsibility.

Israels president, Isaac Herzog, blamed an evil axis whose base is in Iran. Israeli officials say there is no direct evidence that Tehran directed the attack.

Khaled Elgindy, Middle East Institute, Washington:

This is an operation that was launched by a Palestinian group for its own Palestinian reasons. Hamas is not an operative or a proxy of the Iranian regime. Although there may be convergences of interests.

HENRY RIDGWELL:

What interest would Iran have in renewed conflict between Hamas and Israel? Geopolitical alliances are shifting fast. Saudi Arabia and Israel are attempting to normalize diplomatic relations, supported by the United States.

The Palestinian Authority  a domestic rival to Hamas  is taking part in the talks.

Lina Khatib, Director, Middle East Institute at SOAS University of London:

The deal involves Saudi Arabia talking to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas was not part of this discussion and therefore Hamas felt first of all that it needed to be part of any solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. And so, we're talking about a geopolitical context in which Hamas - and also its backer, Iran - want to set the political agenda.

HENRY RIDGWELL:

Meanwhile, Tehrans negotiations with the West over a return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal  and a lifting of sanctions - have stalled.

Khalil Jahshan, Executive Director, Arab Center Washington DC:

Troublemaking is negotiating by other means. And I believe that this is applicable to this situation. I'm not sure Iran is seeking a larger confrontation. As I said, it's probably seeking attention and seeking basically, to convince the big powers involved in the region, particularly the United States, to take the Iranian role in the region seriously.

HENRY RIDGWELL:

Washington should reassess its Iran policy, argues Khatib.

Lina Khatib, Director, Middle East Institute at SOAS University of London:

U.S. foreign policy has focused on Iran's nuclear file and has in a way pushed Iran's regional role to the margins. I think there is now no denying that Iran's regional role needs to be central to U.S. policy.

HENRY RIDGWELL:

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday he had not yet seen direct evidence of Iranian involvement in the Hamas attack.

Meanwhile, Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Monday his countrys response would "change the Middle East." He did not elaborate on what this meant.

Henry Ridgwell, VOA News, London.

ANITA POWELL:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu compares Hamas to ISIS in a call for international unity against the organization. His counterpart, US President Joe Biden, echoes that description and outlines Americas support to its staunch Middle East ally. Repeating live on air, We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel.

President Joe Biden minced no words in describing the shock and horror of Hamas surprise weekend attack on Israel.

President Joe Biden:

This was an act of sheer evil. More than 1,000 civilians slaughtered  not just killed, slaughtered  in Israel. Among them, at least 14 American citizens killed. Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. Stomach-churning reports of babies being killed. Entire families slain.

ANITA POWELL:

And he clarified Washingtons stance on Israels counteroffensive.

President Joe Biden:

We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack. There's no justification for terrorism. There's no excuse.

ANITA POWELL:

To that end, he said, the U.S. has sent a strike carrier group to the region, and he says hell ask Congress  once a new House speaker is elected  to take urgent action to fund the national security requirements of our critical partners.

Analysts say the carnage has touched a raw nerve at the White House, which illuminated itself in Israels colors over the tragedy.

Daniel Byman, Center for Strategic and International Studies:

There may be Americans captured by a terrorist group. And that's got to be a priority of any American president. And the second issue is coming to terms with the deaths of Americans in a terrorist attack in Israel. Add to that all the complexities of a very difficult regional situation, and it involves not only Israel and Hamas, but the possibility of Hezbollah and Iranian involvement. So President Biden is trying to wrestle with all these.

ANITA POWELL:

VOA asked the White House whether Biden asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise restraint in his military response.

John Kirby, National Security Council:

Nobody wants to see innocent life taken. And as I said, there's been too much of it. One of the great things about our relationship with Israel is that we're two vibrant democracies and we mutually believe in things like the respect for innocent life and the rule of law. And we're always stronger together, our two countries, when we show that to the world, that we do respect innocent life and that we do respect not only the rule of law but the law of war.

ANITA POWELL:

U.S. adversaries were quick to point blame.

Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

Unfortunately, we can see a sharp deterioration of the situation in the Middle East. I think that many will agree with me that this is a clear example of the failure of the policy of the United States in the Middle East, which tried to monopolize the resolution [of the conflict], but, unfortunately, was not concerned with finding compromises acceptable to both sides.

ANITA POWELL:

Kirby said conflict in Israel wont take Washingtons eye off other threats, wherever they are.

John Kirby, National Security Council:

Any nation who might think that somehow the United States is going to get distracted should think again. We are a large enough, big enough, powerful enough country, economically viable enough  in fact, the economy's incredibly strong right now  that we can look after our national security interests and those of our allies and partners anywhere around the world.

ANITA POWELL:

Nor, Biden said, will he walk away from Israel.

On the heels of President Biden promising US support to Israel, Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to visit the region in a show of support for Israels right to self-defense. Meanwhile, analysts say the Hamas attacks further complicate US diplomacy with respect to Saudi-Israeli normalization.

As VOA State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching reports, the US continues coordinating with regional allies to deter any country that may take advantage of the situation.

NIKE CHING, VOA State Department Bureau Chief:

Israel has declared control over the Gaza border while continuing its airstrikes on Hamas infrastructure in Gaza. This comes in the aftermath of unprecedented attacks by the Palestinian militant group and despite their threats to execute hostages.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Israel to show solidarity. The top diplomat has spoken to foreign ministers from the region, as one of the diplomatic priorities is to prevent violence from spreading to other parts of the Middle East.

Matthew Miller, State Department Spokesperson:

Secretary Blinken will be traveling to Israel in the coming days to engage our Israeli partners directly about the situation on the ground, and how we can continue to best support them in the fight against the terrorists who launched these horrific attacks. Our support for Israel is unwavering.

NIKE CHING:

U.S. officials have pledged American support in efforts to free hostages taken during the Hamas assault. U.S. citizens are among the captives.

Matthew Miller, State Department Spokesperson:

There are a number of countries that have the ability to deliver messages to Hamas, and we have made clear to those countries they should urge Hamas to release all hostages immediately.

NIKE CHING:

While Israel indicated it does not want any pause in efforts to reach a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, the recent Hamas attacks have complicated the diplomatic efforts for such a deal, according to analysts.

Seth Jones, Center for Strategic and International Studies:

The current outbreak of war will likely set that back, including timelines back. It doesn't necessarily mean that normalization of ties will be over, but I think for now, the focus is going to be on various aspects of the war itself and aid to the Israelis.

NIKE CHING

The United States has said the pursuit of a diplomatic deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia could not replace a two-state solution to address the needs of the Palestinian people, and Hamas does not represent their legitimate aspirations for an independent State of Palestine.

Nike Ching, VOA News, Washington.

ANITA POWELL:

The reaction from Capitol Hill to the war in Israel has been strong and clear regarding the U.S. support for Israel's right to defend itself. Our VOA Persian Service spoke with the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who placed blame on Iran for the attacks and discussed the actions taken by the U.S. to assist Israel.

Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman House Foreign Affairs Committee:

They they've killed almost 1000 Israelis. I've seen, you know, video images of little toddlers in cages like animals and the indiscriminate killing. And it's been in the works for probably over a year. Iran is behind this. Iran funds it. Iran gives the weapons.

My message to Iran is stay out of this and to Hezbolla, stay out of this. the United States is going to protect and defend Israel. We've already sent a battleship to the region and this is not the way to carry out. You have diplomacy discussions. Fine. But killing innocent civilians is not the way to go about those.

ANITA POWELL:

Hamas militants also kidnapped scores of people from various backgrounds and nationalities in their attack.

Taking them back to Gaza and making a promise ahead of escalating Israeli counterstrikes.

For every residential target with women and children hit by Israel, Hamas says it will broadcast the execution of a hostage.

VOA has a look at the swelling anger along the Gaza Strip.

Unidentified Narrator:

Israelis living in the areas surrounding the Gaza Strip have been evacuated, and rockets continue to shoot out of the enclave.

The more than two million Palestinian people inside are trapped, as it is pummeled by heavy weaponry night and day.

Among the civilians in Gaza are as many as 150 Israeli hostages.

Family members are terrified that their loved ones will not be rescued.

Stolarz Adolpho, Presumes Niece Has Been Kidnapped:

I dont know how this is going to end, but it wont be a happy end. For nobody. Its not a happy end.

Unidentified Narrator:

Humanitarian groups inside Gaza say the crisis is deepening for civilians, already cut off from the world, and now cut off from outside resources, like electricity, water and food.

In Jerusalem, about an hour and a half from Gaza and still close enough to sometimes take rocket fire, many Israelis are enraged by the conflict, saying despite their governments famed security prowess, it failed to protect them.

Others in this market blame the Palestinian people as a whole, saying the two sides of this conflict have never been more at odds.

Nir Barashi, Israeli Citizen:

I say it again: Or us, or them. We can start to hit them. Hit them strong.

Unidentified Narrator:

Hamas, the militant group that launched the surprise attack on Saturday, rules in Gaza. Hundreds of civilians on both sides have been killed, and thousands have been injured.

Outside the Gaza Strip, debris from the first days of this new conflict remains on the abandoned streets, as Israel mounts its forces for what may soon be even more of an escalation.

VOA News reporting from Jerusalem, Kfar Daniel and southern Israel.

ANITA POWELL:

The current conflict is complex and confusing and defies comprehension.

To help us understand what happened and why and what may come next we reached out to a few Mideast experts for their reaction.

Heres what they told us.

Rich Outzen, Atlantic Council: (he goes by Rich  not Richard)

I don't think based on what happened and the severity of the losses for Israel, that Israel can afford to leave Hamas in control of the Gaza Strip. So that means an extended campaign to remove their ability to govern the Gaza Strip

I think that Israel will not again see Hamas as a necessary evil or a partner that it can deal with in in Gaza. I think that game is over.

Barbara Slavin, Stimson Center:

I would be surprised if Iranian officials despite their denials, were not aware of what Hamas was planning. I think there's also tremendous concern that we may see other groups that have been supported by Iran on seeking us Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the West Bank has Ebola in the north get involved in this conflict, especially as Israel pound's Gaza.

Khaled Elgindy, Middle East Institute:

it's obviously an intelligence failure. But I think it's also a political failure on the part of this far right Israeli government. They have touted themselves as the government that will bring Israel security once and for all.

And so what Hamas has done is to shatter that sense of complacency. I think, irrevocably.

ANITA POWELL:

Long-time Middle East correspondent Linda Gradstein has covered Israel for more than 30 years. She says the current situationa war on the home frontis unlike anything she has reported on before. Here she is, in Jerusalem, in her own words.

LINDA GRADSTEIN, VOA Correspondent:

I'm based in Jerusalem for Voice of America. I'm standing here on my balcony in Jerusalem. Jerusalem has actually been relatively quiet. We've had a few rockets, we've had to go into our bomb shelter every apartment in Israel is built with a bomb shelter.

I have to say that I've been reporting on this conflict for almost four years and I've never seen anything like this. You know Israel's a very small country and everybody knows somebody who has been affected by this war. So I think there's a feeling in the streets of Jerusalem people are scared and people are also angry. They're very angry at Hamas, you know.

Earlier an interviewer asked me if Israelis are concerned about what's going on in Gaza and I said not at all. I think the fact that there's a sense that Israelis want this to end, but they want to see it through at the same time as a journalist. You know, the homefront is here.

There's been a lot of propaganda on both sides. And now people are sort of trying to understand and trying to be a little bit more careful about what they report. I'm trying very hard, not only to report things that I know are true, and to verify things before I report them. And I think that's really the obligation of every journalist.

I think the Israeli government has been very good about trying to reach out to journalists, I get sort of minute by minute updates from the Israeli army spokesman with videos and all kinds of things. So I think it's been a challenge to report on this war. I think we're finally understanding how do we go about it.

I think we're trying to be very careful about what we do. And sometimes it's hard. I mean, I have been working basically around the clock for five days and none of us have slept very much. And every once in a while I do find myself crying. I think about these young people. One of the people who's a hostage and Gaza is the son of friends of mine. He's 23 years old. They've been very open about trying to get the international community on board to try to get him out of Gaza that hits close to home.

And I personally think that it's okay to bring who you are as a journalist to your reporting, but you still have to verify everything. I also think of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza and in my reporting, I've been really trying to, you know, make contacts with people in Gaza. I have a friend who said that she and her mother in Gaza, evacuated to a school, a United Nations run school because they have nowhere to go.

So, I think that it's a challenge to do this kind of reporting. I still feel like it's a privilege to this kind of reporting.

ANITA POWELL:

Journalists covering wars in this digital age regularly find themselves reporting on two fronts: the physical battle and the barrage of disinformation and propaganda shared online. This conflict is no different. From Washington, VOAs Robin Guess has the story.

ROBIN GUESS, VOA Correspondent:

Bombings and airstrikes blast targets across Israel and Gaza following Hamas's deadly terror attack on Israel Saturday and Israels counteroffensive.

At the same time, disinformation about the conflict exploded online with a force that has shocked analysts.

Alex Mahadevan, MediaWise Director:

It is worse than the lead-up or following Jan 6. Its worse than the height of the COVID-19 pandemic or vaccination rollouts. This is, quite frankly, the most intense amount of misinformation that Ive seen spread on social media as far back as I can remember.

ROBIN GUESS:

Among the posts going viral on platforms like TikTok and X  that groups like MediaWise are working to debunk  is this fake video clip.

It claims that Ukraine smuggles weapons to Hamas, and it has racked up close to a million views. But the post  and video  are false.

Another shows children in cages and claims that they are Israelis kidnapped by Hamas. But watchdogs found that the video was posted on TikTok days before Saturday's attack.

And in this last example, both the post and the reporter are fake. The BBC has neither a correspondent by the name of Verona Mark, nor a talk show called American Inside. X later suspended the account for violating platform rules.

In an active conflict zone, journalists cant always access the hardest-hit areas, which creates information voids. And disinformation often fills that vacuum.

Sherif Mansour, Committee to Protect Journalists:

It means that a lot of misinformation, propaganda online can undermine efforts of timely accurate information that the public needs and also millions around the world.

ROBIN GUESS:

Social media can help journalists broadcast the truth, but it can also allow false news to flourish. Some media experts have pointed out changes at X, formerly Twitter, including its staffing cuts, that have resulted in the spread of disinformation.

Alex Mahadevan, MediaWise:

I think by habit a lot of journalists like myself and regular people flocked to X  formerly Twitter  to find out what was happening with the Israel-Hamas war. Now unfortunately the new X, the entire trust and safety team has been gutted, so you are not seeing the same amount of staffing that we are involved with pulling down dis- and misinformation and moderating even violent content and hateful conduct.

ROBIN GUESS:

The European Union on Tuesday reminded X owner Elon Musk and social media platforms of their legal requirement to not share such content. Musk replied via X, saying his platform was transparent, and he called on the EU to list the alleged violations.

Meanwhile, amid such abundant disinformation about the conflict, journalists must sort fact from fiction to ensure audiences have access to credible news.

Robin Guess, VOA News:

ANITA POWELL:

For more on this rapidly developing situation stay informed by visiting voanews.com.

Thats all for now. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at voa news. Follow me on twitter at @6armspowell. Catch up on past episodes with our free streaming service, voa plus. Im Anita Powell at the white house. We leave you of images of support for Israel from around the world.

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High school students' scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than three decades, showing a lack of student preparedness for college-level coursework, according to the nonprofit organization that administers the test.

Scores have been falling for six consecutive years, but the trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students in the class of 2023 whose scores were reported Wednesday were in their first year of high school when the virus reached the U.S.

"The hard truth is that we are not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success in college and career," said Janet Godwin, chief executive officer for the nonprofit ACT.

The average ACT composite score for U.S. students was 19.5 out of 36. Last year, the average score was 19.8.

The average scores in reading, science and math all were below benchmarks the ACT says students must reach to have a high probability of success in first-year college courses. The average score in English was just above the benchmark but still declined compared to last year.

Many universities have made standardized admissions tests optional amid criticism that they favor the wealthy and put low-income students at a disadvantage. Some including the University of California system do not consider ACT or SAT scores even if submitted.

Godwin said the scores are still helpful for placing students in the right college courses and preparing academic advisors to better support students.

"In terms of college readiness, even in a test-optional environment, these kinds of objective test scores about academic readiness are incredibly important," Godwin said.

At Denise Cabrera's high school in Hawaii, all students are required to take the ACT as juniors. She said she would have taken it anyway to improve her chances of getting into college.

"Honestly, I'm unsure why the test was ever required because colleges can look at different qualities of the students who are applying outside of just a one-time test score," said Denise, a 17-year-old senior at Waianae High School.

She's looking at schools including the California Institute of Technology, which implemented a five-year moratorium on the standardized test score requirements during the pandemic. Denise said she knows the school is not considering scores but she doesn't want to limit her options elsewhere.

About 1.4 million students in the U.S. took the ACT this year, an increase from last year. However, the numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Godwin said she doesn't believe those numbers will ever fully recover, partly because of test-optional admission policies.

Of students who were tested, only 21% met benchmarks for success in college-level classes in all subjects. Research from the nonprofit shows students who meet those benchmarks have a 50% chance of earning a B or better and nearly a 75% chance of earning a C or better in corresponding courses.
Human rights activists are criticizing China after reports that Beijing forcibly returned more than 500 North Korean defectors.

According to several South Korean rights groups that work with North Korean refugees, the defectors were sent across the China-North Korea border earlier this week, shortly after the end of the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.

The reported mass repatriation of North Koreans is Chinas first since Pyongyang began loosening its COVID-19 border restrictions in recent months.

Before the pandemic, China regularly sent defectors back to North Korea, where they face punishment including forced labor, imprisonment, torture, or execution.

China's Foreign Affairs Ministry has not confirmed the repatriation, but defended Beijings approach toward such North Koreans, which it views as illegal economic migrants.

At a Thursday briefing, spokesperson Wang Wenbin insisted there are no "so-called defectors" in China.

"China has always maintained a responsible attitude and dealt with them properly in accordance with the combined principles of domestic and international law and humanitarianism," he added, according to Reuters.

Jihyun Park, who escaped North Korea and is now a Britain-based human rights activist, rejected that notion, saying North Korean defectors should be given protections afforded to refugees under international law.

"The forced repatriation of North Korean defectors is not just a matter of North Korean citizens; it is an international human rights issue," Park told VOA.

"Especially, China, as a member of the United Nations, is violating international agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention Against Torture, and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness," she added.

Park first fled North Korea in 1998, during a devastating famine. She made it to China, where she was sold by smugglers into a forced marriage. Six years later, she was arrested by Chinese police and sent back to North Korea, where she was sentenced to a prison camp for political criminals. She escaped a second time in 2004, and eventually was granted asylum in Britain.

"Being sent to North Korea was, in itself, a death sentence for us, like stepping into the tunnel of hell. That nightmare still haunts us to this day," Park said.

Human Rights Watch on Thursday confirmed the mass repatriation, noting "the returnees, mostly women, are at grave risk of being detained in forced labor camps, and face torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, and execution."

According to a source cited by the New York-based organization, the Chinese government transported the North Koreans in vehicle convoys over five border crossings Monday night. Some of the detainees had managed to have Chinese guards call family members in South Korea to inform them, it added.

South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said Friday it believes a large group of North Koreans was repatriated from Chinas three northeastern provinces, although it could not determine how many of them were defectors.

"Under no circumstances should North Korean refugees who are staying abroad be forced to return to North Korea against their will," said Unification Ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam.

"Our government expresses regret for this situation, and we sternly raised this issue with the Chinese side, emphasizing our position," Koo added.

The U.S. government is also aware of the reports regarding forced repatriation, according to a U.S. State Department spokesperson.

"North Koreans forcibly repatriated are reportedly commonly subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, forced abortion, other forms of gender-based violence, and summary execution," the spokesperson said. "We call on all states to respect the principle of non-refoulement and to uphold applicable non-refoulement obligations."

The number of North Korean escapees plummeted to historic lows in recent years, according to figures from South Korea, as Pyongyang imposed harsh lockdown measures.

Although North Korea began to loosen its COVID-19 border controls in August, the number of defectors may remain low, since activists say North Korea used the pandemic to significantly boost border security measures.
COLOMBO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has proposed establishing a joint economic council with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to promote trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena made this proposal to the visiting UAE Minister of State for Economic and Trade Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh on Wednesday, according to the press release.

The UAE minister agreed that negotiations should commence soon to finalize the Cooperation of Economic Partnership Agreement for enhancing economic ties as there is immense potential in trade, energy, hospitality and tourism, as well as increasing investments in renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka.

Gunawardena said the UAE now has the opportunity to invest in new sectors, such as agriculture, as new economic zones have been set up to grow food crops for export.

He thanked the UAE for its support and assistance to Sri Lanka for the development and for employing nearly 300,000 Sri Lankan workers.

The UAE is the eighth export destination for Sri Lanka, with the total export value from Sri Lanka amounting to 345.8 million U.S. dollars in 2022, while the total imports from UAE to Sri Lanka for the same period were over 950 million dollars, according to official data. 
Afghanistan's Taliban government Thursday lowered the death toll from a series of recent earthquakes that struck western districts to about 1,000, revising the previous figure of more than 2,000 fatalities.

The Afghan Public Health Ministry posted the latest toll on X, formerly Twitter, saying around 2,400 people had been injured since Saturday, when the first 6.3-magnitude quake rattled several districts in the western Herat province, bordering Iran.

A UNICEF spokesperson told VOA Thursday that "over 90% of those reported killed" were women and children, saying casualty "numbers are still in flux." The United Nations documented the death of around 1,300 people and nearly 1,700 injured as of Thursday. VOA reached out to U.N. officials to seek a clarification about the discrepancy but did not receive a response immediately.

Repeated aftershocks hit the Afghan disaster zone before it was shaken by another 6.3-magnitude quake Wednesday that was followed by three substantial tremors.

The latest United Nations situation report said that Wednesday's earthquake and aftershocks affected villages in the Injil, Gulran, and Kushki Robat-e-Sangi districts of Herat, injuring at least 140 people. "Chahak village in Injil district, with 1,250 residents, has been completely destroyed along with five neighboring villages," it said.

Provincial officials reported at least one death and injuries to over 150 people from the latest quake.

Siddig Ibrahim, UNICEF field officer for western Afghanistan, told VOA earlier this week that when the first earthquake hit, people thought it was an explosion and ran into their homes.

"Unfortunately, the earthquake continued, and houses started collapsing, Ibrahim said. Women and children are often at home, tending to the household and caring for children, so when structures collapse, they are the most at risk."

UNICEF launched a new appeal for Afghanistan on Wednesday, calling for an initial $20 million to respond to the quakes.

The World Health Organization has reported damage to 21 health facilities in 10 districts, with half caused by the October 11 tremors. So far, WHO and other agencies have provided health care services to more than 5,600 people in several highly affected districts, mainly in Zindajan, which was close to the epicenter of Saturday's quake.

Afghan hospitals, already severely underequipped and underfunded, were quickly overwhelmed. Providing shelter to quake victims on a large scale would be a challenge for the Taliban government.

"That area suffers from extreme cold, and staying outdoors for affected families after the evening is tough," Public Health Minister Qalandar Ebad told reporters Wednesday.

"They can live in tents for one month, but beyond that, it would probably be very difficult," he said.

The government has provided medicine, equipment, food, drinking water, tents, and other necessities for the victims but they still need more help, Ebad said. He praised international aid organizations for supporting his government in bringing much-needed relief goods to quake victims.

Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that several countries had also sent relief items to displaced families in Herat.

This story has been updated to include U.N. estimates of the number of earthquake casualties.
Analysts point to numerous security failures by Israels intelligence and military apparatus ahead of Hamas unprecedented attack on Israel.

Andrew England, Middle East editor of Londons Financial Times, expressed surprise at the Iran-backed Hamas militants ability to launch coordinated attacks from Gaza, hemmed in by Israeli military fences and checkpoints. Both the United States and European Union have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

England writes, Hamass deadly, carefully planned and multi-faceted operation has unleashed Israels most terrifying nightmare: civilians finding themselves on the front lines of the protracted conflict as their homes became war zones. He says it suggests a massive intelligence failure that will send shockwavesand fearthrough Israeli society.

Natan Sachs directs the Center for Middle East Policy at Washingtons Brookings Institution. He told an online audience this week that a deep crisis of trust in the Israeli state and military now exists among Israels traumatized populace.

Sachs, like others, expects a tough Israeli response from both to Hamas.

There is a willingness, a demand even in Israel to incur costs that would not have been, even in the past," Sachs said. "This is going to be a terrible time in the Gaza Strip. I am almost certain it will enter militarily in the ground forces. The calls in Israel to topple Hamas now are loud, I do not know if they will win the day, but I would not rule it out.

Other observers say that Israel had concentrated troops in the West Bank and further north in anticipation of a flare-up of violence there, rather than near the southern border with Gaza. They note the current hard-right Israeli governments push to overhaul the supreme court, drawing months of fierce protests from citizens, including army reservists, also may have been perceived as weakness by Hamas.

Hamas must be made to pay for its atrocities, writes The Economists Patrick Lane. But it is also clear that Benjamin Netanyahus long-pursued policy of ignoring Palestinians aspirations to sovereignty is in tatters.

While Israel is known for its cutting-edge defense systems that include the Iron Dome missile interception system and drones, former CIA officer on the Middle East, Bob Baer told CNN that neither the U.S. nor Israel have good intelligence on Hamas and its plans.

Theyre not up on cell phones. Theres no meta data on these people. So, this has become a very disciplined organization," Baer said. "The Israelis dont have any good human sources inside Gaza. Otherwise, they would have found out about this. Its really, very much a black hole for the Israelis. Simply bombarding Gaza is going to risk a regional war.

A rocket attack from Lebanon into northern Israel late Tuesday into early Wednesday raises concerns about a wider danger.

Brookings Sachs said one of the most important policy considerations is to make sure Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah stays out of this conflict.

Hezbollah is more powerful than Hamas by far, and Israels response in Lebanon, I fear, would be absolutely devastating in a country thats already reeling from enormous domestic crises. If Hezbollah decides to join, I dont think Iran will," Sachs said. "We will see huge devastation in the north, precisely because Israel feels so cornered.

Karim Emile Bitar of the Geneva Center for Security Policy told France24 that while Hamas could have planned this alone, it appears Iran provided supporta claim Tehran denies.

I think Iran has been growing increasingly nervous because of the ongoing Saudi Israeli rapprochement, Bitar said, which could explain this turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Antisemitic remarks have flooded Chinas heavily censored online platforms and the Israeli government's Chinese social media accounts since the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Scores of online Chinese commentators and netizens quickly rallied for Gaza after the Hamas attacks began Oct. 7, accusing Israel of oppressing Palestinians for decades and saying Israel deserves the bloodshed.

"In the past, Germany persecuted you. Now, you persecute Palestinians. In this world, do not force others to the corner because you would only be digging your own grave," wrote Ziwu Xiashi, one of the biggest nationalist commentators with 1 million followers on Weibo, China's equivalent of X, formerly Twitter.

Although the Chinese government has called on both sides to end the hostilities and condemned "all violence and attacks on civilians," Beijing has long been a friend of the Palestinian cause.

It recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1964 and Palestinian sovereignty in 1988 before establishing full diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority in 1989. And, during a state visit to Saudi Arabia in 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping voiced frustration over the "historical injustice" suffered by Palestinians and expressed China's support for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"It is not possible to continue the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinians," the Chinese president said at the opening of the Riyadh-Gulf-Chinese Summit for Cooperation and Development in Saudi Arabia.

In the wake of the attacks, official Chinese state media has blamed the U.S. for not playing a constructive role in defusing the tension.

While the Biden administration warned any group against taking advantage of the #Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if any group stands any chance to exploit the conflict and profit from the violence, it will probably be the #US military-industrial complex, the Global Times wrote on X.

But on Chinas internet, instead of echoing criticism of the U.S, nationalist commentators and netizens have directed their ire at the Jewish people, which many netizens believe is the Chinese government signaling where it really stands on the conflict. Or as one poster wrote, "Based on how this trending topic was arranged, now I see where our country really stands."

"Jews always talk about how badly they were treated during World War II and throughout history. But you can't ask why. Otherwise, you are called a racist or that you envy their money," said the username of Rabbit head senior Zhang Tiegen in a Weibo post with over 2,000 likes. "Actually, before the Holocaust during World War II, Jews' reputation was down in the ghetto throughout Europe."

"Wherever the Jews have gone, they have always been massacred. There's a reason why. You only love Jews when they are not in your area," wrote online commentator Vincent.

When asked about the antisemitic comments on Chinese social media, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., referred VOA Mandarin to remarks made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman on Wednesday.

"I'd like to reiterate that to end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, implement the two-state solution and seek a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestine question through political means at an early date, so that the parties' legitimate concerns can be taken care of," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in the daily briefing.

Wang Yaqiu, research director for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House, told VOA Mandarin, "We can't blame the Chinese government for all of the antisemitism on the Chinese internet, but the government contributed to it by actively promoting stereotypes and false narratives."

Carice Witte, founder and executive director of the Sino-Israel Global Network and Academic Leadership, a think tank in Israel, told VOA Mandarin, "It comes from not having access to good information. It is not  I would not say that in China  real antisemitism or a hatred of Israel or the Jews. It is a kind of version of brainwashing that happens when you don't really know really what's going on and you're only fed one side of the story. It's understandable."

Netizens have also filled the comment section of posts made by the Israeli government on Weibo with criticism and attacks, forcing the account run by the Israeli Embassy in China to close the comment section.

When Israel's consulate in Guangzhou posted a report of a Chinese Israeli woman being abducted by Hamas militants, netizens accused the consulate of trying to drive a wedge between Chinese and Palestinians citizens.

"Impressive divisive tactic," one popular comment wrote. "Is that girl even Chinese?"

Under a different news post about the woman, a comment with over 10,000 likes asked, "If she thinks she's Israeli, this has nothing to do with us. Why even post it on China's internet?"

The comments were at odds with a posting by the Chinese Embassy in Israel, which said, "Noa was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists when attending a peace music festival in southern Israel. She was dragged from Israel to Gaza. She is a daughter, a sister and a friend."

Many commentators and influential accounts brought up the death of Du Zhaoyu, a Chinese military officer killed in a bombing conducted by the Israeli Air Force in 2006 while on United Nations duty in Lebanon.

Other comments praised Little Mustache as many Chinese people refer to Germanys Adolf Hitler, who was responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews during World II, according to ThisIsWenhao, the X account identified as that of VOA Mandarin journalist Wenhao Ma, who collects and interprets Weibo posts and reported this piece.

"It's really the fault of Little Mustache," wrote a netizen. "If he had burned all of them (Jews), we wouldn't have this much trouble."

Online antisemitism in China didn't appear out of nowhere. For years, there have been conspiracy theories about Jews circulating on China's internet, claiming that the Jews have, through organizations like Freemasonry, secretly controlled the U.S. government and influenced the world.

A Weibo account run by China's state-owned CCTV claimed the Jewish community dominates U.S. finance and politics and that the issue of Israel has often been a deciding factor in every U.S. election. The post has since been deleted.

At one point after the Hamas attacks, the hashtag "the 3% Jewish population in the U.S. controls over 70% of American wealth" became one of the top trending topics on heavily censored Weibo.

Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages for another day, many Jews around the world face a familiar threat: a surge in antisemitism.

From New York to London, St. Louis to Sydney, Jewish communities are grappling with hate and bigotry that often flare up whenever the Middle East erupts.

"It's just a sad fact that whenever conflict arises between Israel and the Palestinians, Jews in all parts of the world will suffer some level of hate violence," said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.

Israel plunged into a bloody nightmare Saturday when Hamas militants unleashed a surprise onslaught, killing at least 1,000 Israelis, wounding more than 2,000, and taking some 150 as hostages.

Brian Levin, a prominent extremism researcher and professor emeritus at California State University, San Bernardino, said the carnage amounted to "the worst single-day slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust."

U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the attack as "an act of sheer evil."

Israel's retaliatory airstrikes against targets in Gaza have been equally deadly, killing at least 1,100 Palestinians and leaving more than 5,000 others wounded, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Threats surge

While Hamas' brutal assault has spurred sympathy for Israel, it also has sparked a surge of online threats against Jews, intimidation of Jewish institutions and brazen displays of antisemitic symbols.

Anti-Jewish threats on Telegram, a platform popular with Islamic State militants and white supremacists, surged by an alarming 488% in the first 18 hours of Saturday, according to the Anti-Defamation League, the oldest Jewish civil rights group in the United States.

Offline, there have been sporadic reports of antisemitic incidents. In Salt Lake City, Utah, a synagogue was forced to evacuate after receiving a bomb threat. Police are investigating threats against a number of synagogues in the state.

In St. Louis, Missouri, a swastika was spray-painted on the side of a truck. Police said they were investigating it as an act of antisemitic vandalism.

And in London, a kosher restaurant was vandalized in the Golders Green section of the city. Mayor Sadiq Khan said, "There will be no tolerance for hate."

The first four days of the conflict saw a surge of over 300% in antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom, according to Community Security Trust.

Pro-Palestinian protests around the world have sometimes taken on an anti-Jewish overtone, according to extremism experts.

In New York City, a protester attending a pro-Hamas rally on Sunday was seen brandishing a swastika, leading Mayor Eric Adams to condemn the protest.

In Sydney, unverified footage distributed by the Australian Jewish Association appeared to show a group of protesters outside the Sydney Opera House shouting, "Gas the Jews." Police are investigating the incident.

Pro-Hamas rallies in US

The American Jewish Committee said it has recorded about a dozen pro-Hamas protests in several U.S. cities, including New York, Washington, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Chicago.

Holly Huffnagle, U.S. director of antisemitism at the AJC, said the Jewish advocacy group backs Palestinian rights but warns that the protests extend from criticism of Israel to antisemitism and conspiracies about Jews.

"This is support for Hamas as a terrorist group," she said.

Addressing a group of American Jewish leaders Wednesday afternoon, President Biden acknowledged the war in Israel has led to a rise in hate and antisemitism.

Joined by Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish and serves as the White Houses point person on combating antisemitism, Biden said his administration was taking meaningful actions  to fight back against antisemitism and hate.

With Israel poised for a massive ground assault on Gaza and no end in sight, experts predict a surge of antisemitic incidents in the days ahead as the conflict intensifies.

"Considering that the current escalation will be longer and most intense, we should expect a more substantial increase in antisemitism in comparison to previous escalations in the conflict," said Arie Perliger, a professor at the School of Criminology and Justice Studies at the University of Massachusetts.

Surge in attacks

The recent surge in antisemitic attacks is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a long-standing pattern, Levin said.

In October 2000, violent protests in Israel triggered a 152% spike in antisemitic hate crimes in the United States, according to Levin's research.

In May 2021, clashes between Israel and Hamas led to a 187% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York City and a nearly four-fold increase in antisemitic hate in Los Angeles.

"We saw spikes in London, and indeed, nearly every major European country that reported antisemitic hate crimes for 2021 showed increases," Levin said.

The ADL reported earlier this year that incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment targeting Jews in the United States rose to new "historic levels" in 2022.

Tom Copeland, director of research at the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, said 2023 has been another record year for antisemitic activity.

"It's a long-term trend in the U.S. and in the U.K. as well," Copeland said in an interview. "So, it does seem that from this weekend, certainly on social media, especially on Telegram [and] to a certain extent on TikTok, all of the voices that are antisemitic are emerging once again."

But Jews are not the only targets of hate when violence flares up in the Middle East.

In 1985, Palestinian activist Alex Odeh was killed in California by a pipe bomb allegedly set off by extremist American Jews. The case remains unresolved.

In 1994, American Israeli extremist Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Muslim worshippers and wounded 125 others inside a mosque in Hebron in the West Bank.

The recent conflict has also spawned isolated acts of Islamophobia. On Tuesday, a sign at a Muslim religious academy in Boston was defaced with the word "Nazis, sparking calls for a hate crime investigation.

The Council on Islamic American Relations said on Wednesday it has received a flood of reports of Palestinian and Muslim students facing harassment for their advocacy on behalf of the Palestinian territories.

Levin noted that violence in the Middle East usually triggers less anti-Muslim hate crimes than anti-Jewish incidents. But this time, he warned of a serious backlash against Muslims and Arabs as Americans have fallen victim to attacks and kidnappings.

Maha Elgenaidi, founder and executive director of California-based Islamic Networks Group, condemned the recent acts of antisemitism as "horrific."

"I just think it's fueling the anti-Semitism that has always existed in the United States and throughout Europe," Elgenaidi, an Egyptian American, said.

She said that while dialogue is the key to healing the rift between Jews and Muslims, the pain inflicted on both sides is too fresh to enable an interfaith conversation.

"A lot of people that I know have family in Gaza and that have been directly hurt and the same thing with Jewish friends that I've spoken with," she said.
The head of the African Union Mission in Somalia has called for international support for Somali government forces who are battling the al-Shabab militant group on multiple fronts in the country.

Mohamed El-Amine Souef says the Somali army needs not just training but weapons, equipment and skills for the officers, and lifting the arms embargo so that the country can buy weapons.

In an interview with VOA Somali, Souef said Somalia has a "young force" and there is a responsibility on the international community to support not only force generation but also weapons and ammunition, and skills.

"You saw what happened in Israel, the issue between Hamas and Israel, immediately their partners, including the United States, they immediately took [a] decision to support Israel in terms of weapons and ammunition," he said, citing the Israel-Hamas war, which triggered the U.S. sending emergency military aid within a matter of days.

"I think the Somalis are now struggling with embargo  that embargo should be lifted."

Souef said some of the countries that sent troops to Somalia have agreed they will donate equipment, vehicles, and guns to the Somali army when they withdraw by December next year.

He confirmed that the Africa Union Peace and Security Council has approved Somalia's request for a three-month pause of the withdrawal of 3,000 peacekeepers. "It has been delayed officially for three months."

Asked if the Somali government is underestimating the magnitude of the task in taking over responsibilities from the AU and fighting al-Shabab, Souef said there is a "political will" in Somalia to take over security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.

"The most important is the political will," he said. "The political will is there, and then the Somalis don't want to be assisted forever. They want to take their ownership. They are working very hard."

On Wednesday, a senior Somali government official welcomed the pause of the troops drawdown but expressed confidence the government will have enough troops in the coming months to resume responsibilities.

Kamal Dahir Hassan Gutale, national security adviser to Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, said the government has trained 9,700 soldiers since taking office in May 2022, and had an additional 3,000 troops trained in Eritrea.

He said there are more troops still being trained abroad.

Gutale said the government is confident Somali troops will assume responsibility after the 90-day pause, and after completion of the next drawdown scheduled for June 2024, when 5,000 AU troops will be leaving.

"It is something we are taking very seriously, and now it is our responsibility to fill the gap," he said.

Gutale said Somali forces have been shouldering double tasks  fighting al-Shabab and capturing large territories, while also training new forces.

"SNA [Somali National Army] has liberated large territories from Mogadishu all the way to Harardhere, which is a tremendous and uphill task," he said.

Souef warned against underestimating al-Shabab, which he said conducts extensive training, and attempts to "dominate the terrain."

He said the group is getting weapons and are "very well-equipped."

"No, we are not underestimating al-Shabab, and nobody can underestimate al-Shabab," he said. "I spoke with you earlier about what happened two days ago  Hamas is just such an armed group, movement, and you saw the damage they caused in Israel, while Israel is one of the most well-organized countries, well-equipped militaries and in terms of intelligence."

Souef said the AU troops are waiting for helicopters to arrive from Burundi, subject to clearance from the Somali government, to add to the two helicopters they already received from Uganda.

"The helicopters will be here maybe within two or three weeks," he said. "Once we have the helicopters, we will have the possibility to generate QRF [Quick Reaction Forces] and then we will be more mobile, agile and follow the SNA wherever they are fighting and to support them."
The Biden administrations top diplomat to China on Wednesday predicted an increase in tourism, commercial flights, and people-to-people ties between the worlds two largest economies but said talks to form a working group on the fentanyl crisis have stalled.

Addressing a live-webcast gathering of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, Ambassador Nicholas Burns made the comments just weeks before Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is to arrive in the U.S. for meetings with administration officials on bilateral trade, fentanyl and other topics expected to shape future top-level meetings.

Travel, tourism

Wednesdays event, held in Beijing, came as travel between the countries is rising.

"Right now, there are 24 direct [commercial] flights per week," said Burns. "That is doubling this month, so it'd be 48 flights by the end of this month."

Burns also told the group the Biden administration is "working hard" to expand the number of direct flights between the U.S. and China, which saw nearly 340 each week before the pandemic.

Burns said he expects to see an increase in tourism "maybe slowly but surely" as the two governments work to promote it. While the administration does not support an economic "decoupling" with China  a gradual severing of commercial and financial ties  Burns said "people-to-people contacts had been decoupled" at the official and unofficial level in previous years.

"There will be a U.S.-China tourism summit in Xian in the spring of 2024, and then another summit in the United States in 2025," Burns said, adding that 2022 saw only some 160,000 Chinese tourists in Los Angeles compared to an estimated 1.2 million in 2019.

Fentanyl

Burns urged China to act to stop the flow of precursor chemicals to drug cartels and work with the U.S. to address the fentanyl crisis.

"The diplomatic problem is that the Chinese refused, as of now, to have a sustained conversation with us for how we can work to prevent Chinese companies from exporting precursor chemicals to the drug cartels in Mexico, and 90% of the precursor chemicals that the drug cartels use come from Chinese companies."

Last week, the U.S. Justice Department announced a sweeping crackdown on the global fentanyl network, charging eight Chinese chemical companies and 12 of their employees in connection with the deadly opioid crisis ravaging the United States. This is the second time the department has charged Chinese companies and their employees for trafficking fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States.

During Secretary of State Antony Blinkens trip to Beijing in June, he said both the U.S. and China agreed to "explore setting up a working group or joint effort" to stop the flow of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals into the U.S. that contribute to the fentanyl crisis. U.S. officials have admitted both countries are not yet at the point of establishing the fentanyl working group.

Biden-Xi meeting at APEC?

"We have 1,000 differences between our governments, and we have areas where we can work together, but we've got to live in peace. We've got to find a way to communicate," Burns said, alluding to an upcoming meeting between administration officials and Chinas top diplomat later this month.

Biden on Friday said he could possibly meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month on the margins of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, although such a meeting has not been set up.

"I always think communication is important, but it has to be framed within our values," said Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, who now chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"I think Xi understands that about our concerns of the economic warfare, that we've seen the human rights violations, the support for Russia's aggression [in Ukraine], our concerns about ethnic communities, we are concerned about Taiwan," Cardin recently told VOAs Mandarin Service.

Israel-Hamas

As Blinken arrives in Israel on Thursday to express unwavering U.S. support for Israel's right to defend itself, Washington is providing ammunition, Iron Dome interceptors, and other defense material to bolster Israel's security.

Burns said the U.S. is disappointed with Chinas initial reaction to Hamas attacks on Israel, "which was very neutral and very flat and did not at all express any sensitivity to the loss of life."

Shortly after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer raised that concern directly with Xi, China later issued a statement saying it "condemns actions that harm civilians" without naming Hamas. China also insists on implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state.

"Hamas does not accept the two-state solution," said Burns. "Hamas does not accept the state of Israel. Hamas, by its very creed, wants to destroy the state of Israel and kill Israelis."

Asked if he believes China can assume a larger role brokering Middle East peace, Burns said he does not "see real indications of that."

Like Russia, China views Hamas as a legitimate representative of the Palestinians in Gaza and maintains a healthy relationship with the group, according to Giorgio Cafiero, an adjunct assistant professor at Georgetown University.

Cafiero told VOA on Wednesday that while China and Israel have maintained deep economic relations since they established diplomatic ties in 1992, Beijing has tried to avoid taking sides in the regions conflicts and has consistently opposed the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Some analysts said the Israel-Hamas conflict has challenged Chinas diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.

"There's no prospect for China to mediate any kind of Israeli-Palestinian peace deal," said Seth Jones, director of the International Security Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Based on the Chinese decision not to condemn a Hamas activity, they're going to be looked at with deep suspicion by the Israelis."

"Time will tell, but my expectation is that China's cautious response to Hamas's attack on Israel will expose the limits of [the Peoples Republic of China] influence in the region," Ryan Hass, a former U.S. National Security Council China director and now a scholar at the Washington-based Brookings Institution, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Beijing historically has been wary of being drawn into taking sides. I don't expect that will change now."
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in China on Thursday, looking to manage the bloc's "de-risking" strategy with its largest trading partner while laying the foundations for a planned summit this year.

The visit comes just days after war broke out between Israel and Hamas, prompting Borrell to assemble an emergency meeting of European foreign ministers. China has called on all parties to "cease fire."

Borrell's trip, which was postponed twice this year and is expected to last until Saturday, will involve talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and will tackle issues including bilateral relations, global challenges and trade.

The EU says the visit -- the latest in a string of high-level EU-China dialogues -- "should culminate in the EU-China summit later this year."

"Just landed in China to co-chair the EU-China Strategic Dialogue with my counterpart Minister Wang Yi," Borrell said on his verified account on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"An important visit to discuss EU-China relations, key regional and global challenges with government authorities, scholars and business representatives," he added.

Relations between the EU and China have been heavily strained since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February, which Beijing has stopped short of condemning.

Rather than halting dialogue completely, Brussels is pushing for an approach with Beijing that balances its concerns over relying too much on China while also maintaining ties with the world's second-largest economy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has defined the position as "de-risking rather than decoupling" from China.

'Volatile' world

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters that "China welcomes" Borrell's visit, adding that his trip would "inject new impetus into the two sides' joint efforts to address challenges and maintain world peace and stability."

"The world is currently facing a volatile and turbulent situation," Wang said.

"China and the EU, as two major global forces, markets and civilizations, have broad common interests in... promoting global development and prosperity and advancing human civilization."

Von der Leyen -- who carried out her own official visit to China in April -- announced last month that the EU was launching an investigation into Beijing's provision of subsidies for its rapidly rising electric vehicle industry.

European leaders have said that the Chinese subsidies have resulted in unfair competition in their automotive market.

But Beijing has criticized the investigation, warning that it will harm its trading relationship with the bloc.

And earlier this month, the EU named sensitive technologies that it must defend from rivals, including artificial intelligence.

Borrell's visit is also likely to include dialogue on the ongoing war in Ukraine. China has sought to position itself as a neutral party, but the EU has been critical of its stance.

The bloc's trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said Beijing's position was "affecting the country's image" during his visit to China last month.
The European Union has expanded its warnings that tech companies must remove illegal content from their platforms, or risk facing severe legal penalties.

Following the militant Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel and Israel's retaliatory airstrikes in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, social media firms have seen a surge in misinformation related to the conflict, including doctored images and mislabeled videos, alongside images of graphic violence.

On Tuesday, EU industry chief Thierry Breton told Elon Musk to curb disinformation on his messaging platform X, warning it was being used to disseminate illegal content and false information in the wake of recent violence in the Middle East.

Breton issued a similar warning to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday, urging the company to ensure strict compliance with European law.

In his letters to Musk and Zuckerberg, Breton said their companies had 24 hours to inform the EU how they were stopping harmful content on their platforms.

Now, the European Commission, the EUs executive branch, has sought to remind all social media companies they are legally required to prevent the spread of harmful content related to Hamas.

Content circulating online that can be associated to Hamas qualifies as terrorist content, is illegal, and needs to be removed under both the DSA [Digital Services Act] and TCO [Terrorist Content Online Regulation, a commission spokesperson told Reuters.

The commission will fully apply the DSA and monitor the full implementation of the TCO. The commission urges online platforms to fully comply with EU rules.

The recently implemented DSA requires large online platforms, including X and Metas Facebook, to remove illegal content and to take measures to tackle the risks to public security and civic discourse.

Any firm found in breach of the DSA faces a fine worth up to 6% of global turnover. Repeat offenders could even be banned from operating in Europe altogether.

It is unclear if Breton has sent similar messages to other social media companies designated under the DSA.
On October 11, verified X account Random Memes posted a video it claimed was filmed that day in Israeli-besieged Gaza. The post received some 269K views and nearly 10K reposts, quotes and likes.

That same video was posted hours earlier by another anonymous X user, Juicycotre. It has had more than 2 million views and some 40K reactions.

The video has been trending on X with hashtags like Gaza and TheRealImage. Thousands of users shared the posts, claiming that the video showed Palestinian children in Israeli-besieged Gaza.

User Random Memes added a caption to the video in Arabic and Hebrew that translates into English as:

I dream that my brother comes back to life  Children of Gaza 10/11/2023

The claim that the video was recently filmed in Gaza is false.

A France 24 team shot the video in Syrias Yarmouk refugee camp, near Damascus, in 2013. At the time, Yarmouk was under a blockade by Syrian government forces, preventing humanitarian aid from reaching thousands of civilians trapped inside the camp.

The video has been circulating among social media platforms along with similar false claims that it was filmed recently in Gaza. It is being pushed mainly by anonymous accounts and users displaying Palestinian flags and using FreePalestine hashtags. These similarities suggest a coordinated disinformation campaign.
Israel on Thursday launched new attacks on Gaza, vowing there would be no letup in its bombardment of the Hamas-controlled territory until the militants release the estimated 150 hostages they are holding.

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home," Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals."

On Thursday, Human Rights Watch confirmed that Israel used white phosphorus in military operations in Gaza on Wednesday in what constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. White phosphorus can cause severe burns and long-term health issues.

Israel ramped up preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza but said no decision had been made on moving forward with such an offensive.

Israel's military has positioned 300,000 reservists near the Gaza border as it responds to a Hamas attack that killed at least 1,300 people in Israel.

A campaign of Israeli airstrikes that began hours after Saturday's Hamas incursion has killed at least 1,500 people in Gaza. Israel says it has dropped 6,000 bombs over six days of bombardment.

"The numbers of casualties are increasing every hour," Bashar Murad, director of the humanitarian group the Palestinian Red Crescent, told Alhurra, an Arabic language satellite TV sister organization of the Voice of America. "The number of dead and injured that arrived to the hospitals is much more than the capacity of these hospitals."

The U.S. said that 27 Americans were killed in the Hamas attack and 14 are missing.

The United Nations said nearly 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in Gaza, with more than two-thirds of them taking shelter in U.N. schools.

Humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm about the fast-dwindling supplies of food, water, fuel and medicine in Gaza amid an Israeli blockade of the narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said, "The continuation of war crimes against Palestine and Gaza will receive a response from the rest of the axis. And naturally, the Zionist entity and its supporters will be responsible for the consequences of that." Amirabdollahian was speaking through a translator upon his arrival in Beirut.

Iran and Israel are enemies, and Iran supports Hamas, but Iranian officials have denied any involvement in the recent Hamas rampage.

Meanwhile, the chief of staff for Israel's military, Herzi Halevi, acknowledged Thursday that the military had failed to protect people living near Gaza when Hamas launched its attack.

He said the Israel Defense Forces are "responsible for the security of the country and its citizens, and on Saturday morning in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, we did not," Halevi said. "We will learn, we will investigate, but now is the time for war."

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi highlighted the need to "ensure the regularity of humanitarian and relief services, as well as aid to the people in the Gaza Strip."

Sissi's office said in a statement that he told British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a phone call Thursday that Egypt is pushing for calm to prevent "sliding into a bloody path" where civilians will pay the price.

The World Health Organization said it has documented 34 attacks on health centers in Gaza since Saturday that have led to the deaths of 11 health care workers on duty, as well as 16 injuries.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has documented at least seven journalists killed in Gaza since Saturday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself following the Hamas attack, while also stressing the need to take precautions to prevent harm to innocent civilians.

"We know Hamas didn't commit its heinous acts with the interests of the Palestinian people in mind," Blinken said as he spoke to reporters alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Hamas has only one agenda: to destroy Israel and to murder Jews."

Netanyahu thanked the United States for its support and vowed to crush Hamas in the same way that Islamic State group was defeated.

"There will be many difficult days ahead, but I have no doubt that the forces of civilization will win," Netanyahu said. "We must stand tall, proud and united against evil."

The U.S. has provided more military assistance to Israel to defend itself, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin saying the U.S. is placing no specific conditions on how Israel uses the American-provided munitions.

Blinken is also due to visit Jordan, where a U.S. official said he will meet Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Also on Friday, Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council, is set to chair a council meeting to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict.

NATO said defense ministers meeting Thursday in Brussels condemned the Hamas attack, expressed their solidarity with Israel and called on the militants to immediately release all hostages.

"Israel does not stand alone," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed the NATO defense ministers by video conference to update them about the conflict.

The United Kingdom, meanwhile, said Thursday that it will send surveillance aircraft and two Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean in plans "to support Israel."

At the White House, President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington's support for Israel and assured a group of Jewish leaders Wednesday that his administration was "working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel."

Watch report by Cindy Saine:

Netanyahu created a war Cabinet with former defense chief Benny Gantz, a centrist opposition National Unity Party leader, along with Gallant, so they can solely focus on combating Hamas.

The unusual arrangement, with other Cabinet members from Netanyahu's right-wing government apparently remaining in place, pieces together a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics.

Netanyahu has vowed to end Hamas' rule in Gaza so that the militants can no longer threaten Israel.

Watch report by Yan Boechat:

VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell contributed to this report. Some information for this article came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Ten years on, can the Belt and Road cooperation still surprise you?

Can cross-border packages be shipped from China to Europe by train?

Recently, a French reporter took a quick trip to Yiwu. Here, he finds that the Belt and Road Initiative "is making the unimaginable a reality"! Click the video and start the discovery journey with him.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service




















A Nairobi court this week temporarily suspended a Kenyan government plan to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti. The case was brought to court by three petitioners, including opposition politician and constitutional lawyer Ekuru Aukot, who told VOA the proposed deployment was unconstitutional. Analysts say there may be a way for the government to argue its case.

The ruling by the High Court of Kenya puts a hold on the deployment of police officers to Haiti or any other country, pending another hearing scheduled for October 24th.

This will allow government officials to respond to the arguments made against them in the petition, the ruling shared with VOA says.

The petitioners include opposition politician and constitutional lawyer Ekuru Aukot. The politician told VOA that although he cannot really discuss a matter that is actively in court, he maintains that the governments plan to send 1,000 of its police to Haiti is not in line with the constitution.

The whole thing is very un-procedural," said Aukot. "It is unconstitutional. And for me, as a person who sat on the committee of experts and as a CEO to direct the writing of our current constitution, it behooves me to be able to point out an unconstitutional decision.

The U.N. Security Council last week approved a Kenya-led multinational security force aimed at helping the troubled Caribbean nation.

While many in Kenya question their countrys lead role in this mission, some have been supportive of President William Ruto. He says, Its a mission for humanity and  is of special significance and critical urgency for Kenyans.

A representative from the Ruto government told us on Tuesday that the government will argue its case and abide by the courts decision.

Meanwhile, in the petition shared with VOA, Aukot cites two articles in the Kenyan constitution. They say that only Kenya Defense Forces can be deployed to another country and that the National Police Service will only function throughout Kenya. But There is an inkling in Section 107 and 108 of the National Police Service Act, and it says the National Police may, its very discretionary, may be deployed but it has to be upon a request from a reciprocating government," said Aukot. "And thats one of the gists of the question we are raising, which I dont want to discuss in detail because its a matter for determination.

Haiti did ask for help but didnt ask Kenya specifically and there is no reciprocal agreement between the two governments, Francis Khayundi, assistant professor of international law at the United States International University - Africa, told VOA.

Khayundi says the courts decision is in line with the petitioners argument on what processes had not been followed.

For me looking at the petition and looking at what the laws provide, it makes sense because as it is, procedure was not followed or better yet, not all information is being given that would make us know why Kenya is getting involved," said Khayundi.

But Khayundi notes there may be a way for the government to make its case.

Actually, theres provision for the police to be deployed outside the country; however, this is a decision that has to be taken by the National Security Council; its informed by Article 240 of the Kenyan constitution. So far, we have not heard of any decisions being taken by the National Security Council to deploy the police, so I think that is where the issue is," said Khayundi.

He says the NSC is a body established by the constitution that includes the president, his deputy, a few Cabinet secretaries, the attorney general, the director general of the national intelligence service, and the inspector general of the National Police Service. And so far, theyve only mostly heard from the president and a few Cabinet secretaries making the case for deployment.
Niger's junta has demanded that the top United Nations official there leave the country within 72 hours over accusations that Niger was excluded from the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders in New York last month.

Niger military officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July, suspending the constitution, dissolving all former institutions and declaring General Abdourahamane Tiani as the West African country's new head of state.

In a statement dated Oct. 10, Niger's foreign ministry accused the U.N. of using "underhanded maneuvers" instigated by France to prevent its full participation in the high-level U.N. General Assembly meeting last month and in subsequent meetings of U.N. agencies that were held in Vienna and in Riyadh.

As a consequence, the government has ordered U.N. resident coordinator Louise Aubin to leave, said the statement.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deeply regrets the move, said his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, reiterating "the unwavering commitment of the United Nations to stay and deliver for the people of Niger."

"The decision ... hampers the ability of the Organization to effectively carry out its mandates and disrupts the essential work we do for the people of Niger, where 4.3 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, mostly women and children," Dujarric said.

No one from Niger addressed the gathering of world leaders in New York last month after competing claims were made by the junta and Bazoum's government for the country's U.N. seat.

U.N. accreditation issues are dealt with by a nine-member committee, whose members include the United States, China and Russia. The committee is not due to meet until October or November, when it will make a decision.

The French mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusation by the junta.

The junta is following a pattern seen in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, which also grew hostile to the U.N. and former colonial ruler France after their militaries seized power. Niger has already kicked out French troops and the French ambassador.

Burkina Faso expelled its U.N. resident coordinator last year and Mali ended a U.N. peacekeeping mission that had been there for a decade.

All three countries are struggling with an Islamist insurgency that has spiraled in recent years, prompting power grabs by army officers who promised to improve security.

The coups have been accompanied by accusations that France exerts too much influence in its former colonies, and a shift toward Russia as a strategic partner instead. France has denied exercising undue influence.
The Republic of Palau is one of three Pacific Island nations negotiating a Compact of Free Association Agreement that would give Washington the right to deny access to other nations  including China  in exchange for U.S. economic assistance.

Palau is in line to receive $90 million if and when Congress approves an extension of its current 20-year compact, which expires next year. The country ran on a total budget of less than $150 million in fiscal year 2021, according to Palau government documents.

VOA spoke to Palaus President Surangel Whipps Jr. days after the U.S. Congress passed a continuing resolution that avoided a U.S. government shutdown but failed to provide the funding for this strategic island chain.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity:

VOA: When you ran for office in 2020, you promised to be tough on China. What have you done to fulfill that promise?

Whipps: One of our goals is to build a more resilient economy that's not so dependent on one partner, and especially a partner that's sometimes unfriendly. So, we've worked with the United States to conclude our Compact of Free Association Agreement, which was really critical. Our Congress ratified it in July, and we were hoping that on October 1, the U.S. Congress would do the same, because that's when it's supposed to be implemented.

VOA: Palau has continued to recognize Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. What has that cost Palau?

Whipps: From 2016 to 2019, right before COVID, our tourism numbers from China dropped by more than 50%. We were blocked out of any type of marketing in the PRC because we continued to recognize Taiwan. [Tourism] is such a large part of our GDP. When they cut back, [our GDP] dropped by over 30%. In the U.S., that would be more severe than the Great Depression.

VOA: Palaus government faces a budget shortfall of $37 million. How do you plan to address that?

Whipps: For the past three years, because tourism hasn't recovered, we have been forced to get loans from the Asian Development Bank, financing government to keep it going, to keep workers going. This years budget was totally dependent on our agreement under the compact, because under the compact agreement, we would be receiving $90 million this year. Fifty million of that goes into the trust fund, but the other $40 million goes into paying off debts and economic assistance.

VOA: Would Palau have become solvent on October 1 if you had received that money?

Whipps: Absolutely.

VOA: The continuing resolution didn't give you any extension. What was your reaction when you realized that?

Whipps: I think the most important image that it projects on Palau and the people of Palau is, when the U.S. commits to something, are they really committed?

VOA: When will Palau no longer be able to pay its bills?

Whipps: January 1.

VOA: The number we're talking about here, over 20 years, is around $7 billion for all three compact states. Is this a good deal for American taxpayers in your view?

Whipps: For Palau, that's $890 million. We didn't believe that our value is truly realized by the United States. However, we understand that we have to have some compromise, and we have to move forward.

VOA: Palau is approximately 2,300 kilometers from Taiwan, right?

Whipps: Correct. We understand our strategic importance, but we also understand the value of democracy and freedom, and the rule of law. And we understand how we need to be a partner in ensuring peace and stability in the region. That peace will bring prosperity to all, and we need to work together and ensure that.

VOA: How much pressure are you under to prove that this U.S. partnership is worth it for Palauans?

Whipps: It's a constant battle. Ill just give you an example. There's a new radar base being built in Palau. There's been increased military exercises. So, one of the things [some people are saying] is, Oh the president is inviting the military, and now we're a target for China. It's constant. And that's why it's so important that we fulfill our commitments, that we show solidarity.

VOA: What is your message to the U.S. Congress and the Biden administration?

Whipps: Thank you for the last almost 80 years of partnership. Palau is a free nation because of the 28,000 service men who, during World War II, helped Palau become an independent nation and a free nation. And that's something that Palauan people don't forget. We value that freedom, and we want to maintain that freedom. And let's continue to work together, because we are stronger together and lets not that malign influence infiltrate.
A Russian official said Thursday that debris from a downed Ukrainian drone killed three people in the Belgorod region of Russia.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, said on Telegram that the debris destroyed a house and that three bodies were recovered from the rubble.

Russias Defense Ministry said it thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack, with air defenses downing a drone over Belgorod.

Belgorod is one of the Russian regions that borders Ukraine.

Ukraines military said Thursday that Russia attacked overnight with 33 drones targeting multiple regions, and that Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 28 of the aerial vehicles.

One of the targeted regions was Odesa, in southern Ukraine, where officials reported damage to port infrastructure and residential buildings. At least one person was injured.

Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian aerial attacks.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters
A freelance journalist who had been detained in Somalia for 56 days has been cleared of all charges.

The Banadir Regional Court declared Mohamed Bulbul free on Wednesday after it found him not guilty of all charges against him. According to the Somali Journalists Syndicate where Bulbul also works as information and human rights secretary, the court said Bulbuls detention was unlawful.

The journalist was arrested on August 17 following an investigative report he wrote alleging corruption by Somali police in a training program funded by the European Union. Amnesty International said he was accused of bringing the State into contempt and for circulating false and tendentious news.

Abdalle Mumin, secretary general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), stressed the importance of Bubuls release. Bubul was arrested illegally with no warrant, Mumin said, then tortured and held without communication for 56 days.

Mumin said Bulbul was arrested because he exposed alleged corruption by police officials who had participated in the training funded by the E.U.

The European Union Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUCAP Somalia) provides training to the Somali Police Force and the Somali National Army. Following the release of the report in mid-August, Bulbul was arrested by security officials and held in at least two detention centers, according to SJS.

Mumin said journalists in Somalia continue to operate in difficult situations. Press freedom is poor, Mumin said, with Bulbuls arrest coming after other attacks on journalists.

According to SJS, which advocates for media freedom in Somalia, Bulbul was not allowed access to family and counsel and was also physically abused. The group added that Bulbul had been taken to the hospital for the physical abuse he suffered in detention. Bulbul told VOA he was held in the same cell with hardcore criminals.

Bulbul said he shared a cell with a man who had been sentenced to life imprisonment and a convicted member of ISIS service a life sentence. Bulbul added that he had reported on both in the past.

Bulbul said he was picked up by security officials following the release of a report that alleged police corruption in an EU-funded training program. His report said funds intended for the police were misappropriated by senior police officers undergoing training in Mogadishu.

Said Yusuf, a photojournalist working for the European Pressphoto Agency in Somalia, told VOA the court should compel the government to compensate Bulbul for detention. Yusuf said Bulbul should be compensated because he was imprisoned illegally for almost two months, with no rights.

Journalists in Somalia continue to operate in a difficult environment. Besides risks from armed groups, the state's use of draconian laws has been cited as a major impediment to press freedom.
Afghanistan's Taliban have blocked earthquake-related relief assistance from Pakistan over a controversial social media post by the country's prime minister amid an already strained bilateral relationship, VOA learned Thursday from highly placed official sources.

A senior Taliban official, speaking on condition of anonymity while not being authorized to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar's post on X (formerly Twitter) was behind their refusal to accept the aid.

The controversy started after a strong 6.3-magnitude quake struck parts of the western Afghan province of Herat. Islamabad immediately announced it would urgently dispatch a transport plane loaded with 5,000 winterized tents, 15,000 blankets, food items, medical supplies and a team of medical doctors for victims of the deadly calamity.

The National Disaster Management Authority prepared the consignment, sharing details on its official website. Hours later, Kakar claimed in a post on X that the aid was being dispatched at the request of the Taliban government, even though Kabul has to date formally not asked foreign countries to send relief.

Kakar also posted inaccurate details of the items his government had planned to send to Afghanistan.

"I have instructed @NDMAPk to send maximum support to the affected," the prime minister wrote, adding, "Afghanistan government has specifically asked for sending medical team, field hospital, 50 tents and 500 blankets. ... all the requested items are being dispatched in the afternoon today, with more relief goods to follow," Kakar added.

But the Pakistani plane has since not taken off, and neither side has officially cited reasons for the delay.

"Although no such request was made and our government was ridiculed for it," the Taliban official said in written comments shared via a Whatsapp messaging platform when asked about their refusal to accept Pakistani aid. He criticized Kakar's statement as "irresponsible" and advised the Pakistani leader to be extremely careful while issuing statements about Afghanistan.

A top Pakistani official privy to the matter questioned the Taliban assertions when asked to explain why Islamabad could not send the relief goods to Afghanistan.

"Kabul neither says yes nor a no; they have made a formal request for assistance and told us that they will let us know when to send," the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to interact with the media publicly.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, at her weekly news conference, avoided directly commenting on the controversy when asked for progress on sending Afghan relief aid.

"Pakistan expresses deep sympathy with its Afghan brothers and sisters, as they face a very difficult situation following the earthquake that took place a few days ago," Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

"Pakistan also stands in solidarity with its Afghan brothers and sisters and remains in contact with the interim Afghan government to meet any needs they may have during the relief and recovery efforts," she added.

Relations between the two neighboring countries have been strained over allegations that militants sheltering on Afghan soil are responsible for a dramatic uptick in deadly attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban seized power two years ago, charges Kabul rejects.

Tensions increased after the Pakistani government gave all foreigners, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, a one-month deadline to leave or face deportation after November 1.

Taliban leaders have severely criticized the decision and repeatedly urged Pakistan to review it, warning it could "seriously hurt" bilateral ties.

However, spokesperson Baloch reiterated Thursday that Islamabad was determined to enforce the policy to make sure individuals overstaying their visas or possessing no documentation leave Pakistan. She said the deportation would be completed orderly and in line with local immigration laws.

"This requirement pertains to all nationalities and is not specific to any nationality.  There are different prescriptions within these laws, including deportation. This process will be completed in a phased and orderly manner."

Pakistan has repeatedly clarified that the November 1 deadline is not meant for 1.4 million officially designated Afghan refugees and more than 800,000 Afghan citizenship card holders living lawfully in the country.
The first groups of Thais who were evacuated from Israel following the onslaught by Hamas in southern Israel have landed in Bangkok.

Fifteen Thais arrived Thursday at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport following the long flight from Tel Aviv. Throngs of reporters awaited them, along with government officials and anxious family members.

"The prime minister has instructed me, the other ministers, minister of labor, minister of defense, deputy minister of public health to welcome this group of Thai nationals who have returned safely. It is with great pleasure," Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara told reporters.

Two of the returnees were in wheelchairs, having been caught in the mayhem involving Israel and militant group Hamas.

One of them, Katchakorn Pudtason, described being caught in the crossfire and suffering a gunshot to the knee.

"I'm very happy to be part of the first group of Thai nationals who were able to come back," he told reporters. "There was intense fighting and the farm where I worked at. We were able to get to safety because the employer brought me to safety.

"In the afternoon there was more intense gunfire; it felt like a rock had hit my knee; then they knew. There were four of us who were wounded, some very badly. The gunfire was constant and intense," he added.

After speaking with the media, the group was put on a bus and taken to local medical centers for examination and treatment.

A second flight carrying 26 Thai nationals arrived later in the day.

Thailand's government has pledged to bring back more nationals who wish to leave Israel.

Hamas fighters from Gaza crossed into Israel on Saturday by land, sea and air, killing hundreds of Israeli civilians. In response to the attacks, Israel declared war on Hamas and has since pounded Gaza with air attacks, killing hundreds of Palestinians and turning buildings into rubble.

Around 30,000 Thais live in Israel, many of them migrants working in the agricultural sector. Reports say 21 Thais have been killed since the Hamas militants' attacks started.

Thai officials say 14 Thais have been abducted, and 13 injured.

Thai efforts to secure safe passage

Foreign Minister Parnpree said officials are working tirelessly to ensure more Thais return home safely.

"We are not complacent to the remaining nationals who are still in Israel. The situation is difficult, there are many challenges; the Thai officers on the ground in Israel are working around the clock to make it possible for the rest of the Thai nationals to be returned home," Parnpree said.

"We are also in contact with commercial flights, and the royal Thai Air Force is doing its utmost to ensure the highest number of Thai nationals can come home in the shortest amount of time. We are also looking into other routes to ensure this entire operation is successful and the return of Thai nationals."

Under normal circumstances, flights between Thailand and Israel occur daily. With conflict having erupted, many airlines have canceled these routes.

Israeli's flagship El Al Israel Airlines is still operating direct flights.

More than 5,100 Thais in Israel have registered to return home, according to Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Due to fewer flight options, the Thai government is seeking alternatives to repatriate its nationals and get them out of harm's way, Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang said.

"Now there are more Thai nationals asking to be repatriated, but military and Thai aircraft may not suffice to enter Israel," the official said. "The second plan is to transport Thai nationals to nearby countries. We are looking at Dubai and the UAE. Once they have been transported to a nearby country, then we can begin the process of returning them safely."

On Wednesday, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the government had arranged four more private planes to evacuate those who have requested repatriation from Israel, local media report.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Post reports the Royal Thai Air Force has planes on standby to fly more Thai citizens home, pending approval from other countries for the use of their airspace. The paper also cites the transport minister, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, as saying three local commercial airlines have offered to help with repatriation.
A possible visit to Vietnam by Chinese President Xi Jinping would be likely to test Hanois balancing act between Beijing and Washington, analysts say.

Reuters reported last week that Vietnamese and Chinese officials are preparing for a possible meeting between Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and Xi in Hanoi at the end of October or early November.

The visit has not been announced by Beijing or Hanoi.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined a request for comment and deferred the question to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. VOA Vietnamese called the ministry and left a voice mail but did not receive a response.

If the visit takes place, the Vietnamese leader will have hosted the leaders of two superpowers in his country in less than two months.

Hanoi elevated its ties with Washington to a comprehensive strategic partnership, placing the U.S. on par with China in its diplomatic engagement, during U.S. President Joe Bidens visit to Hanoi in early September.

Tricky balancing act

Analysts say Xis visit would be a litmus test for Hanois so-called "bamboo policy" of balancing the interests of competing powers.

Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, told VOA Vietnamese this week that Beijing is not comfortable to see Vietnam upgrade relations with and becoming closer to the U.S.

"Xi's possible visit is part of China's efforts to at least maintain Vietnam's balance in its foreign policy towards the U.S. and China, if not trying to pull Vietnam to Chinas side," Hiep said.

Beijing sees the need and seeks to rebalance its influence, as well as reaffirm its status and influence following Hanois upgradation of relations with Washington, Hoang Viet, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, told VOA Vietnamese.

According to the Reuters report, Hanoi and Beijing are discussing the text of a joint statement that would pair their nations in a community of common destiny.

Xi first proposed the concept of a community of common destiny in late 2012, based on a millennia-old Chinese vision of a world where people would live in perfect harmony and would be as dear to one another as family, according to a report from Chinas official state media outlet, Xinhua.

Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, said Xi will push Vietnam to join China's "community of common destiny" to try to build a coalition to counter Washington.

If Vietnam agrees to join China's community of common destiny, this would be touted as an upgrade of the current comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Vietnam, Vuving said in an email to VOA Vietnamese this week.

Joining the community would be an upgrade to Vietnams relationship with China, and would be interpreted by China that Beijing is always closer, or ahead of, or above Washington in relations with Vietnam, Vuving said.

Vietnam remains the only country in mainland Southeast Asia that has not joined China's "community of common destiny," according to Vuving.

Hiep said Vietnam will try to maintain its long-standing foreign policy of developing balanced relations with major powers and diversifying its foreign relations.

China remains an important partner of Vietnams, economically, politically and strategically, but China is just one of the major powers with which Vietnam builds relations, and the development of Sino-Vietnamese relationship does not necessarily mean that Vietnam has to abandon or lower its relations with other partners, including the United States," said Hiep.

Territorial dispute

Separate from striking a balance between Washington and Beijing, Vietnam has unresolved bilateral issues with China, according to analysts.

Nguyen Ngoc Truong, former president of the Center for Strategic Studies and International Development, a government-affiliated think tank in Hanoi, told VOA Vietnamese that Vietnam's top concerns are "promoting economic and trade relations with China" and "ensuring a peaceful, stable and secure environment, including the South China Sea issue.

Vietnam, with the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, opposes Chinas sweeping claims to much of the South China Sea. Since May 2014, when Beijing began building on the seas outcroppings it controlled, there have been frequent confrontations between Vietnamese and Chinese law enforcement ships in the disputed region.

The sea is believed to be rich in oil and gas resources and vital to international navigation, with nearly $3.4 trillion of trade passing through it each year.

Carl Thayer, professor emeritus at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said Trong is expected to raise the South China Sea issue during the meeting with Xi.

Seeking ways to properly handle emerging incidents at sea and maintain security and stability at sea will be on the agenda if the meeting occurs, according to Thayer.

As for Xi, he is likely to announce measures that China will take to increase the value of two-way trade by removing customs bottlenecks, allowing increased market access for Vietnamese agricultural products and an expansion of Vietnamese trade promotion offices in China, Thayer said.



Xi will also promote connectivity through aviation, land and railway transport, including the development of the Lao Cai-Haiphong railway, he added. The railway will be part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, according to reports on VietNamNet and Dan Tri news outlets.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has completed an emotional visit to Israel, where he said American support for the Jewish state will never falter, following attacks by Hamas militants that killed hundreds of Israelis.

"The message I bring to Israel is this: You may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself. But as long as America exists, you will never, ever have to," he said, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Blinken was asked about photos Netanyahu showed him of babies and young people slaughtered in terror attacks Saturday by Hamas. Blinken said the images were overwhelming.

"This is a moment where everyone needs to make clear that there is revulsion and disgust and the determination not to allow this to go forward. So, images are worth a 1,000 words. These images may be worth a million," he said.

Blinken is heading from Israel to Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday. He announced a major diplomatic tour in the coming days, saying he will visit with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Earlier, Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called on countries around the world to condemn the deadly surprise attacks by Hamas, saying this is a moment for "moral clarity."

Netanyahu thanked Blinken for coming to Israel in the middle of the crisis and for America's support, while giving an emotional account of the attacks that have killed more than 1,000 Israelis.

"The burning of people alive, the beheadings, the kidnappings of a young boy not only kidnapped, molested, hurt, but the attack and the sickening display of celebrating these horrors, the celebration and glorification of evil. President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil," Netanyahu said.

Blinken, who arrived earlier in the day, began with a personal aside, saying he had come to Israel at this critical time as a Jew, and as a husband and a father.

"You've heard the prime minister say this must be a moment for moral clarity," he said. "The failure to unambiguously condemn terrorism puts at risk not only people in Israel, but people everywhere."

Blinken said the Hamas attacks affect the whole world.

"Look at what just happened  individuals from 36 countries killed or missing in the aftermath of the heinous attacks. Europe, Asia, Africa the Americas  no region has escaped Hamas' bloody reach," he said.

Blinken will hold talks in the region on how to win the release of an estimated 150 hostages held by Hamas. The number of U.S. citizens confirmed dead in the Hamas attack in Israel over the weekend has risen to 27, with 14 more still unaccounted for, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.

Blinken's visit to Israel is the first leg in a major diplomatic push to several countries in the Middle East to prevent the violence from spilling over into other countries.

He is expected to hold talks with leaders in the region on establishing a humanitarian corridor, with some 2 million Palestinian civilians trapped in Gaza while Israel seeks to destroy Hamas' operating capacity there. Blinken had this to say about the situation.

"Israel has the right, indeed the obligation, to defend itself," said Blinken. "How Israel does this, matters. We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by placing value on human life. So, it is important to take every precaution. We mourn the loss of every life."
It has been 25 years since the body of Matthew Shepard was discovered in Laramie, Wyoming. The gay college student had been tied to a fence post, tortured, and left to die.

The murder drew national attention to violence against gay people, and attracted the interest of theater director Moises Kaufman, who turned the horror into art with "The Laramie Project."

This 25th anniversary has triggered deep sadness for Kaufman, founder and artistic director of the New York-based Tectonic Theater Project. He wonders about all the things Shepard could have become.

"Every year around this time, it's painful to remember, but this one has hit particularly hard," Kaufman told Theh Associated Press.

After Shepard's 1998 killing, Kaufman and members of Tectonic traveled to Laramie and wrote the play based on more than 200 interviews. "The Laramie Project" is a poignant mix of real news reports and actors portraying friends, family, police officers, killers and other Laramie residents.

This week, Tectonic is marking the anniversary by gathering the original cast and creators, and some of the people represented in the piece for a staged reading and conversation as part of the 2023 Shepard Symposium at the University of Wyoming.

"The Laramie Project," one of the most frequently performed plays in high schools, has been performed in more than 20 countries and translated into more than 13 languages. It is among the top 10 most licensed plays in America.

"Precisely because it wasn't about Matthew Shepard, precisely because it was about the town of Laramie is why it continues to resonate," said Kaufman.

"We were hoping that it wouldn't be relevant anymore. But it is every day more relevant. Hate crimes all over our nation are at much higher rates than they were when Matthew Shepard was killed."

He pointed to an increase in anti-Asian incidents since the pandemic began, and assaults on transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

In 2009, Kaufman was on hand as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed by then-President Barack Obama. The act expanded the 1969 federal hate-crime law to include crimes based on a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

"The Laramie Project" has consistently been the subject of pushback by some conservative school districts, and this year faces banishment from Florida stages due to what critics call the "Don't Say Gay" law.

Elsewhere, theater creators across the nation say school censorship is getting worse, particularly around material with LGBTQ+ themes. Cardinal High School in Middlefield, Ohio, canceled a production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" due to content issues.

Kaufman is also alarmed that the Lansing Board of Education in Kansas voted to remove the script of "The Laramie Project" from the school curriculum.

"There has always been  since the inception  a couple of theaters every year where the board of the school says no. All right. But this last year was the first time that the book itself was banned from a classroom."

Kaufman has always been cheered by the students who find a way to perform the play despite barriers, becoming what he calls artist-activists. "My belief is that the best art occurs at the intersection of the personal and the political," he said.
TEHRAN, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud discussed the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and their roles in it.

In their phone call on Wednesday night, Raisi said in the current highly sensitive period, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as two major regional players, should support and defend the oppressed Muslim nation of Palestine, adding that the two countries' ties have the capacity to help establish, ensure and promote security and stability in the region.

Raisi said Iran and Saudi Arabia can help restore the Palestinians' legal rights and put an end to Israel's "aggression and crimes."

The Saudi crown prince, for his part, described the recent events in Gaza as "painful and dangerous."

He said today, all countries, including the Western states, have well realized that any failure to resolve the Palestinian issue can cause many problems for them.

The Riyadh-Tehran cooperation can play an effective role in the speedy termination of the conflicts, following which a fundamental and just solution can be worked out for resolving Palestine's issue, added the Saudi crown prince.

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.

As of Thursday, more than 2,600 people have been killed and thousands more injured on both sides.

In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran reached in China's Beijing a groundbreaking agreement to resume diplomatic relations. On April 6, the two countries officially announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect. 
A Zimbabwean claiming to be the interim secretary general of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has ordered all Members of Parliament and councilors to report to work after they were instructed yesterday by party leader Nelson Chamisa to disengage from state institutions over the expulsion of some CCC lawmakers.

In a hard-hitting statement, Sengezo Tshabangu, said CCC lawmakers and councilors should report for work immediately and serve communities unless one has a verifiable medical condition or is on compassionate leave.

Tshabangu said he would recall all those who wont report for work.

According to the Parliament Hansard, CCC Members of the National Assembly were as a matter of fact and law suspended for six (6) sittings with immediate effect, which equates to two weeks of sittings. Once this suspension has been served, all CCC Members of the National Assembly as well as Members of the Senate must attend all parliamentary programmes, activities and sittings without fail, save in circumstances seeking or requiring verifiable medical attention or compassionate leave. Members of the Senate should continue to attend all Parliamentary programmes, activities and sittings without fail.

Any CCC Member of the National Assembly or CCC Senator who does not comply with the foregoing will be recalled without further ado and redeployed from Parliament or their local authority.

Tshabangu recalled 15 CCC parliamentarians saying they were imposed by Chamisa following a grassroots process in choosing candidates, which he says was manipulated to benefit close associates of the party leadership.

Tshabangu said, It is unacceptable that we present ourselves to the Zimbabwean body politic and the outside world as doyens of democracy while practicing naked fascism in pursuit of personal ambitions. The recalls are redemptive, as they seek to reaffirm and entrench a democratic culture where dystopia had developed and was gathering alarming momentum. As a political party based on constitutionalism, we must walk the talk if we are to institutionalise constitutional democracy in our beautiful motherland, Zimbabwe.

Responding to Tshabangus threats to recall Members of Parliament and councilors who will disengage from parliament, CCC spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi said party members should follow Chamisas orders and not a self-imposed interim secretary general.

Meanwhile, CCC chief parliamentary whip Amos Chibaya today attended a House of Assembly meeting on rules and regulations accompanied by CCC Senate chief which Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa and Jameson Timba.

According to Ostallos Siziva, Timba was tasked with delivering a resolution made by the Citizens National Assembly that the party will be disengaging from the House of Assembly if expelled MPs are not reinstated.

Siziva said Chibaya also informed the parliament that the party has not recalled any legislator.
The latest

Israel vows no end to siege of Gaza until hostages are freed

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israel has a right to defend itself, highlights need to protect innocent civilians in the conflict as he meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

NATO condemns Hamas attacks, expresses solidarity with Israel

U.N. says 340,000 people displaced in Gaza

Israel says 1,200 killed in Hamas raid; Gaza says 1,350 killed in retaliatory strikes

Israel on Thursday launched new attacks on Gaza, vowing there would be no letup in its bombardment of the Hamas-controlled territory until the militants release the estimated 150 hostages they are holding.

"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz posted on X, formerly Twitter. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach us morals."

Israel ramped up preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza but said no decision had been made on moving forward with such an offensive.

Israels military has positioned 300,000 reservists near the Gaza border as it responds to a Hamas attack that killed at least 1,200 people in Israel.

A campaign of Israeli airstrikes that began hours after Saturdays Hamas incursion has killed at least 1,350 people in Gaza.

The U.S. said that 27 Americans were killed in the Hamas attack and 14 are still missing.

The United Nations said nearly 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in Gaza, with more than two-thirds of them taking shelter in U.N. schools.

Humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm about the fast-dwindling supplies of food, water, fuel and medicine in Gaza amid an Israeli blockade of the narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea.

Meanwhile, the chief of staff for Israels military, Herzi Halevi, acknowledged Thursday that the military had failed to protect people living near Gaza when Hamas launched its shock attack.

He said the Israel Defense Forces are responsible for the security of the country and its citizens, and on Saturday morning in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, we did not, Halevi said. We will learn, we will investigate, but now is the time for war.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi highlighted the need to ensure the regularity of humanitarian and relief services, as well as aid to the people in the Gaza Strip.

Sissis office said in a statement that he told British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a phone call Thursday that Egypt is pushing for calm to prevent sliding into a bloody path where civilians will pay the price.

Palestinian health officials said 14 health facilities have been damaged and 10 health care workers killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli airstrikes since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself following the Hamas attack, while also stressing the need to take precautions to prevent harm to innocent civilians.

We know Hamas didnt commit its heinous acts with the interests of the Palestinian people in mind, Blinken said as he spoke to reporters alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas has only one agenda: to destroy Israel and to murder Jews.

Netanyahu thanked the United States for its support and vowed to crush Hamas in the same way that Islamic State group was defeated.

"There will be many difficult days ahead, but I have no doubt that the forces of civilization will win, Netanyahu said. We must stand tall, proud and united against evil."

The U.S. has provided more military assistance to Israel to defend itself, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin saying the U.S. is placing no specific conditions on how Israel uses the American-provided munitions.

Blinken is also due to visit Jordan, where a U.S. official said he will meet Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Also on Friday, Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council, is set to chair a council meeting to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict.

NATO said defense ministers meeting Thursday in Brussels condemned the Hamas attack, expressed their solidarity with Israel and called on the militants to immediately release all hostages.

Israel does not stand alone, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed the NATO defense ministers by video conference to update them about the conflict.

At the White House, President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washingtons support for Israel and assured a group of Jewish leaders Wednesday that his administration was working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel.

U.S. officials say 27 Americans were killed in the Hamas attacks and with 14 others missing.

Netanyahu created a war Cabinet with former defense chief Benny Gantz, a centrist opposition National Unity Party leader, along with Gallant, so they can solely focus on combating Hamas.

The unusual arrangement, with other Cabinet members from Netanyahus right-wing government apparently remaining in place, pieces together a degree of unity after years of bitterly divisive politics.

Netanyahu has vowed to end Hamas rule in Gaza so that the militants can no longer threaten Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Israel and Jordan this week to show Washingtons support for Israels right to self-defense. The trip comes as the U.S. vows to work with nations to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza. Chief Nike Ching reports
Fans who probably paid a lot of fees on those Eras Tour tickets. Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Concert tickets are about to get a bit less complicated. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule that would require fees to be included in the list price for purchases like concert tickets. Companies would also have to note what the fees are for and whether they are refundable. The proposed rule is the most direct action yet to come out of the Biden administrations recent fight against junk fees. These junk fees now cost Americans tens of billions of dollars per year  money that corporations are extracting from working families just because they can, said Lina M. Khan, chair of the FTC, on October 11. The rule, which would go into effect after a public comment period, would also apply to hotel bookings, apartment leases, and many other charges, and companies that break it would have to refund customers and face fines.

Earlier this year, under public and governmental pressure, Ticketmaster announced it would debut an all-in pricing feature in September. Live Nation venues now display fee-inclusive ticket prices, while other venues can currently choose to toggle the feature (outside New York, Connecticut, and Tennessee). Everyone from Swifties to Bruce Springsteen fans has been irked by hidden concert-ticket fees in recent years. Even the Cures Robert Smith got Ticketmaster to refund a portion of the fees after it more than doubled the cost of some tickets.

The Senate held a hearing in April on competition in the ticketing industry that included deliberations on the junk fees and was heavily critical of Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who co-organized the hearing and chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, called the FTCs proposed rule an important step towards ensuring that the price you see is the price you pay.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Ticketmaster all-pricing features.

This article has been updated.
China and Zambia are separated by thousands of miles, but a vocational college brings the two countries closer.

In 2015, eight Chinese vocational colleges together with China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. helped Zambia set up Sino-Zam Vocational College of Science and Technology and cultivate local professionals.

Luban School, one of the seven schools in the college, offers majors in construction technology, among others.
As one psychology chair put it: As a colleague, I would have serious concerns about his ego and capricious temperament. Photo: Paramount+

Hey baby, you hear the blues a-callin? You better pick up, because Frasier is returning to television after 20 years away  conveniently, the same amount of time needed to age a fine sherry  and trading the Space Needle for Dunkin and his old Boston stomping grounds. The past two decades treated Dr. Crane well, with the reboot revealing he enjoyed immense professional success in Chicago as the host of a Dr. Phil-esque talk show, although his romantic partner, Charlotte, recently dumped him for good. It was for the best, Frasier explains. Its time for George Bailey to get that old bag out of the closet and see the world.

That world is now Harvard. After reconnecting with an old academic pal and teaching a one-off class, the chair of the schools psychology department insists on hiring Frasier for a full-time position to draw more students and funding. Actually, the chair doesnt insist. She begs. Frasier accepts the job at his alma mater as a means to reconnect with his firefighter son, Freddy, who lives and works in the city. But getting hired by an Ivy cant be that easy, right? Shouldnt Frasier have to defend his resume with as much vigor as KACLs ham radio drama? Our fact-finding mission led us to ask all eight Department of Psychology chairs in the Ivy League about whether this fictional man would stand a chance in higher education in 2023. Theyre unanimous that Frasier and his super-ego wouldnt come close.

Matthew Nock, Harvard University

I loved Cheers and Frasier and was delighted to see Frasier back  and was especially happy to learn hell join the Harvard University Department of Psychology. But would Frasier actually be hired by Harvard? The short answer is, unfortunately, no. All Harvard psychology faculty lead scientific teams that conduct research focused on questions such as, How does the visual system work? How do children learn numbers? Why does our memory sometimes fail us? Why do some people kill themselves? Brilliant as he is, Dr. Cranes expertise isnt in the design and conduct of research studies, but in the practice of psychotherapy and the hosting of radio and television shows. While we wouldnt hire him to be a tenured professor, he might be a welcome addition as a clinical supervisor for some of our PhD students who are learning to administer psychological treatments for those diagnosed with psychopathology. Also, given Frasiers love of opera, symphony, and good food, Cambridge and Boston would be a great landing spot for him. I hope he brings Niles along!

Nim Tottenham, Columbia University

Im very familiar with Dr. Crane from his appearances in Cheers and Frasier. Dr. Crane clearly has a lot going for him, including excellent training credentials, a thriving clinical practice, and celebrity. However, I dont believe he would be a good fit for our department. The primary reason would be his lack of scholarship. His dossier includes no evidence of scientific contributions and is lacking any evidence of grant funding. The Department of Psychology at Columbia is a research-based institution and scholarship is a priority. We also depend on faculty to provide mentorship to students to develop their own independent research. Based on his record, his chances for tenure  which are dependent on research impact, productivity, service, and teaching  would be very slim. And as a colleague, I would have serious concerns about his ego and capricious temperament. A suggestion had been made that his celebrity might draw more funding to the department; however, I dont prioritize this potential over his lack of scholarship.

Felix Thoemmes, Cornell University

I must confess that I havent watched Frasier before, but I do have some awareness of its cultural significance. The prospect of the show shifting its focus to depict the life of a college professor actually makes it more enticing to watch. Frasier Crane boasts a remarkable academic pedigree, so it seems plausible that his alma mater, Harvard, would offer him a job after a long and successful career as a self-proclaimed pop psychiatrist. However, most psychology departments, including Cornells, prioritize research contributions above all else when hiring faculty members. While teaching abilities, advising a diverse student body, and engaging in outreach activities  all of which Frasier presumably excels in  are important, they simply cannot compensate for the lack of published research in peer-reviewed journals, highly cited and high-impact scientific work, and the external, often federal, funding that typically accompanies it. Would the Cornell psychology department hire Frasier? In all likelihood, no.

Kenneth Norman, Princeton University

Theres no way we would hire Frasier for a tenure-track professorship. We hire professors who have done groundbreaking scientific research that advances our knowledge of the mind, brain, and behavior, and Frasier has done none of that.

Sara Jaffee, University of Pennsylvania

A radio-turned-TV host could be an asset, but only if Frasier had first spent ten or fifteen years publishing papers on esoteric topics in dry academic journals that only a handful of other clinical psychologists and psychiatrists had read. If Frasier then decided to do a podcast or write a regular op-ed column or publish a pop psychology book, that would be okay, but only if he became really famous in the process. If he did any of those things and became only sort of well-known, his colleagues would just laugh at him. Given that Frasier doesnt have the academic bona fides predating his career as a radio and talk show host, its unlikely that Penns psychology department would hire him. Plus, hes a psychiatrist. Believe it or not, that MD might take him a long way in a medical school, but it wont make him the chair of a PhD-granting department.

Jutta Joormann, Yale University

Im afraid Frasier would stand little chance. We would certainly love to have him come for a visit and give a talk to our students or even teach a course on media and pop culture  which Im sure would see large enrollments and may indeed attract students. But for a professorship at Yale, other qualifications would be needed and scrutinized in a thorough application and evaluation process that wouldnt be affected much by his fame. We would first and foremost evaluate his scientific contributions to the field. As a professor, we would expect him to have made transformative, impactful scientific contributions to the field of psychology. I should also clarify that psychology is different from psychiatry, which is an applied medical subdiscipline taught in medical school  his qualifications in psychiatry wouldnt make him competitive for a position in psychology. Given his time spent in media, I doubt Frasier would have had the time to apply for federal grants, direct a research lab, conduct the many careful and sophisticated empirical studies needed to publish in top journals, gone to conferences and networking events, and provide service to the field. Being famous and being a good talk show host alone would not get you hired.

Peter Tse, Dartmouth College

Its possible that Frasier might be hired by Dartmouths psychiatry department, but its unlikely that he would get hired by the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, because we focus on basic research about the brain. We would want to see evidence of extensive publications on the neural basis of whatever the applicant was an expert in. The fame of a radio or TV host wouldnt play an important role in our hiring process.

David Badre, Brown University

Frasier wouldnt be a competitive candidate for a tenure-track professor position in our department at Brown. Theres an issue of fit. Psychology is a broad discipline with many areas and sub-disciplines. Our psychology is focused on the science of the mind, brain, and behavior; our faculty study how we perceive, learn, attend, communicate, remember, make decisions, and interact with others. Clinical psychology is a special professional area we dont cover. Thus, we would be unlikely to have a position that Frasier would apply for in the first place. If he did apply for a position, Frasiers scholarly credentials wouldnt get him very far. We emphasize outstanding scientific research demonstrated, for example, in a strong record of peer-reviewed publications or other evidence of scientific activity. I didnt see much scientific work in his background.
The Fall of the House of Usher tears apart its titular family one by one  sometimes literally, using Edgar Allan Poes most famed methods. Photo: Netflix/EIKE SCHROTER/NETFLIX

Its a rare thing for Mike Flanagan to deny his characters sympathy, and rarer still for the horror auteur to delight in their suffering. But in the characteristically dense and moody  and uncharacteristically grisly and furious  The Fall of the House of Usher, Flanagan invites us to do both. Gone is the solace extended to hurting families and lovers in The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor; gone is the belief in togetherness and compassion that girded Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club. In their place, The Fall of the House of Usher serves up contempt for the wealthy, disgust with their selfishness, and glee at their increasingly gnarly demises, and that unexpected-for-Flanagan feast is bloody delicious.

The eight-episode miniseries, out today, is Flanagans final project for Netflix, the end of a half-decade deal that helped the streaming service corner a specific kind of horror project. Tonally, Flanagans Netflix series are primarily spooky, melancholy, and introspective; visually, they are elaborately designed and immersively shot. Inspired by written works from Shirley Jackson, Henry James, Christopher Pike, and Edgar Allan Poe, they mirror literary structure: lengthy arcs playing out amid dense world-building, a strong focus on aligning viewers with the experiences of the central characters, an almost meta reliance on in-series storytelling. These episodes were built to be binged, with the traumas, pain, and growth of each hour purposefully flowing into the next. There are jump scares, ghosts, monsters, and vampires, sure, but Flanagans horror ethos has been less about frightening viewers than using the genre as a means for self-exploration, finding the parts of us that hurt and then exploring ways to heal them.

With Usher, however, Flanagan is doling out punishment instead of grace. There are ingredients here from his preceding series  a central dysfunctional family, returning actors, the incorporation of literary elements  and a number of nods to other eat-the-rich series like Succession (the father/children dynamic, Taylor Stewarts strings-heavy score). But the tone is vehement and the violence discordant, and unlike Jesse Armstrongs tableau, no characters here can be given the babygirl or I-can-fix-them treatment. The series uses Poes words and aesthetic to frame a story pulled from 21st-century headlines, with the ludicrously wealthy, casually unethical Ushers standing in for the Sacklers. The titular family is led by twin geniuses Roderick (Bruce Greenwood, an excellent replacement for the originally cast and fired Frank Langella) and Madeline (Mary McDonnell), who together oversee their company Fortunato. Their painkiller Ligodone has made them and Rodericks six children billionaires, and despite launching a widely damaging opioid epidemic, the Ushers have evaded prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly) hopes his case, bolstered by an informant from inside the family, will finally result in prison time for the Ushers. But when Roderick and Madeline offer a $50 million bounty for the collaborator, Rodericks kids start dying, and the siblings decades of control start to slip.

Premiere A Midnight Dreary initiates this elaborate setup with flashbacks (centering Roderick and Madelines 20-something versions, well-played by Zach Gilford and Willa Fitzgerald), flash-forwards, a bunch of fake news footage, a funeral eulogy dripping with Poe lines, and an interview between Roderick and Dupin; its a demanding episode that makes clear the breadth and scope of Ushers intentions, and the extent to which it will keep viewers on their toes with shifting perspectives and timelines. Each following episode roughly links a member of the Usher family with a specific Poe work, tearing apart their vanity, cruelty, and disregard for others one by one  sometimes literally, using the writers most famed methods. (The seriess grotesque imagery evokes the maximalist flair of Dario Argento, M. Night Shyamalan, and Matt Reeves; there are no blink-and-youll-miss-them ghosts here.) That execution sometimes feels goofy, even campy, with characters launching into bits of Poes poems in everyday conversation and reanimated corpses dripping goop onto a boardroom conference table. Its all of a piece with the seriess midnight-black sense of humor, though, and those jagged edges are fitting for a story that is so pointed, and with so many enemies to point at.

The Usher children are awful in ways obviously shaped by their wealth and power, and these characters  thoroughly unburdened by rectitude and inward reflection, and totally unlike those in previous Flanagan projects  allow the filmmakers ensemble of recurring players to be the loosest its ever been. Eldest son Frederick (Henry Thomas), raised to be Rodericks heir, is desperately insecure; eldest daughter Tamerlane (Samantha Sloyan) is a Gwyneth Paltrow wannabe with her own wellness app; Victorine (TNia Miller) is a holier-than-thou doctor whose cardiovascular research is entirely funded by Roderick; Camille (Kate Siegel) is Fortunatos sharply cynical public-relations head with surveillance files on all her relatives; layabout Napoleon (Rahul Kohli) is the familys philanthropic face; and youngest Prospero (Sauriyan Sapkota) is the hedonist black sheep kicking at his father and aunts insistence on decorum. One of the seriess most appealing elements is watching these actors apply grim gusto to every embarrassing thing the Ushers do in their cocoon of sybaritic wealth: sibling sniping and infighting, hyperactive cocaine-sniffing and dehumanizing sex scenes, self-righteous dialogue like Being an Usher is about changing the fucking world, its not a blowjob whiskey bar.

It could all register as a little too smug were it not for the actors willingly zesty performances and the balance provided by Carla Gugino as a mysterious figure from Roderick and Madelines past and Mark Hamill as their lawyer. Both are standouts, the former a whirling dervish of chaos and the latter a tightly wound fixer, and their scene together in finale The Raven is a gorgeous balance of sparse cinematography and wistful affect, a stark contrast to the seriess otherwise frenetic pacing. But while that pacing can result in brief moments of disjointed bluntness, Usher never gives you time to doubt it, careening between scorn and parable as it casts a spell of heightened theatricality: From the foreboding sound design to the Egyptology-fetishizing set decoration, every choice is meant to signify the rarity of this family and its inhumanity. What are the caustic effects of merciless ambition and unchallenged success, and what self-affirming blinders do they create? Why is this kind of amoral accomplishment a uniquely American story  as American as Poe, a failed military man who bounced around the countrys greatest industrial cities, shaped the Romanticist and Gothic traditions that emphasized emotion and atmosphere, struggled to make a living despite his influence, and then died at 40 under mysterious circumstances?

Usher answers some of those questions far more satisfyingly than others; its argument against unchecked affluence and corporate monopolization are both clearer than its explanation of Poe, whom it would rather maintain as a specter than analyze as a man. While that degree of social commentary might feel new for Flanagan, its not that far removed from how he criticized the misuse of religion as a divisive force in Hill House and Midnight Mass. But Usher being rooted in this particular post-Sackler moment of American history brings a different tenor to that critique, making its immediacy as vital as the anger coursing through its murders and dialogue that scoffs at big tech, AI in art, billionaires trying to live forever, and politicians like Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. Theres a giddy fuck-it quality to Ushers venomous barbs, a sense that Flanagan is taking big swings as he backs out of Netflixs doors. His oeuvre to this point has prioritized the meaning of what scares us rather than the act of being scared, but Usher proves he isnt unmotivated by fear or uninterested in gore  hes just choosy with his victims.

Aside from The Midnight Club, which was intended as a multi-season series and ended with a cliffhanger because of its early cancellation, Flanagans TV work for Netflix always concluded with an empathetic resolution. The Crain family forgave each other and themselves in Hill House; trapped souls were freed and a romance withstood time in Bly Manor; Crockett Islands residents reconciled with their gods and sacrificed themselves in Midnight Mass. But like Painkiller, Netflixs other recent series about the ills of the Sackler family, Usher distinctly refuses to give its foremost characters any kind of peace. The catharsis the series offers is instead to its viewers, through a satire that rains catastrophe on the seemingly untouchable, and fully deserving; mercy only goes in one direction this time. With Usher, Flanagan loudly slams the door on his Netflix era, but also leaves behind a tell-tale heart that beats as irrepressibly for humanity as it does for horror.
Government must partially restore sacred site

A 15-year-old case pitting Northwest Native Americans against the federal government thats been awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court hearing has settled, with the government agreeing to partially restore a sacred site in Oregon.

The agreement was announced Thursday, with a filing in the Supreme Court calling for the case to be dismissed. Luke Goodrich, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, called the agreement a landmark settlement.

The plaintiffs are encouraged that this is a step in the right direction, and that theyre going to be able to resume their religious and cultural and traditional ways of life at the site, Goodrich said.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The case, Slockish v. U.S. Department of Transportation, centered on a federal and state decision in 2008 to build a turn lane off Highway 26 about 13 miles from Government Camp near Mount Hood. That expansion, which the agencies said would help prevent traffic accidents, altered a sacred site known as Ana Kwna Nchi Nchi Patat, the Place of Big Big Trees, which was used by tribes for ceremonies.

Tribal members and their supporters said the expansion at the sacred site violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a 1993 law that essentially prohibits any state or federal agency from impeding religious practices.

They asked that trees at the site be replanted, that the federal agencies remove an embankment over the ancient burial ground and that they allow reconstruction of the stone altar.

The agreement excludes the embankment, but the transportation agency agreed to plant a tree barrier protecting the site. A diagram with the agreement details where the agency will plant a barrier of 28 native trees, a mix of Western redcedar, bigleaf maple and vine maple. The government also agreed to look for stone to replace the altar. Goodrich said an archeological study determined that the stone was several centuries old.

We havent been able to find the stones that were scattered. So the altar will be rebuilt, but it wont be the same as it was before, Goodrich said.

Goodrich expects that the tribes to resume their practices at the site next year.

The suit was brought by Wilbur Slockish, hereditary chief of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Other plaintiffs include Carol Logan, an elder with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and a spiritual practitioner, and the nonprofits Cascade Geographic Society. They were joined by Chief Jonny Jackson, a member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and Michael Jones, who led the Cascade Geographic Society and the Mount Hood Sacred Lands Preservation Alliance. Jackson and Jones have died since the suit was originally filed in 2008.

The case coincides with a similar lawsuit before the Ninth Circuit, Apache Stronghold v. United States, over a sacred Apache site in Arizona. That case stems from a 2014 congressional act that led to a trade of land between Resolution Copper, a multinational mining company, and the federal government. Resolution Copper gave the government 5,300 acres of environmentally sensitive and culturally important lands and, in exchange, the government gave the company 2,400 acres. That tract contains large copper deposits but also a sacred site, Chichil Bildagoteel, which the Western Apache use for numerous religious ceremonies.

Goodrich said a decision in that case is expected any day.
Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a building damaged in rocket attacks from Gaza, in Ashkelon, Israel. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

GAZA/JERUSALEM/CAIRO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli airstrikes has reached 1,100, the Health Ministry in Gaza said in a statement Wednesday.

The airstrikes were carried out in response to a large-scale surprise attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday.

"About 5,339 Palestinians, including 1,217 children and 744 women, were wounded by the (Israeli) army," the statement added.

- - - -

Eleven employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Saturday, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

"They included five teachers at UNRWA schools, one gynecologist, one engineer, one psychological counselor and three support staff," said the statement.

"Some were killed in their homes with their families. UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families," it added.

- - - -

Israel formed a unity government and a war cabinet on Wednesday to oversee the deadly conflict triggered by Hamas' weekend surprise attack as it continued to launch airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip.

The new war cabinet brings former defense minister and leader of the centrist-right National Unity party Benny Gantz to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition government. Members of the wartime cabinet also include Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The formation of the war cabinet comes amid increasing public criticism in Israel against Netanyahu and his government, who were blamed for failing to adequately preparing and foreseeing Saturday's attack, as well as amid rising speculation that Israel would launch a ground offensive in Gaza soon.

- - - -

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), appeared to have released an Israeli female prisoner and her two children, according to Al Jazeera TV channel on Wednesday.

The TV channel published a short video showing Al-Qassam Brigades fighters accompanying an Israeli female prisoner and two children, who were captured during the group's surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, back to Israel.

Then, the Al-Qassam Brigades fighters withdrew to the Gaza Strip.

There have been no comments yet from Israel on the video footage, while Israel's Channel 12 news also confirmed that the footage was apparently filmed on Saturday, hours after Hamas launched an attack on Israel.

- - - -

Regional mediation talks are being held to provide a safe passage for the evacuation of foreigners from the Gaza Strip and bringing urgent aid into the Palestinian enclave via Egypt, a Palestinian source told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The source, who requests anonymity, said the mediation talks were led by Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye, and has had support from Saudi Arabia and the United States.

The source said the regional move aimed to provide safe passage with the possibility of declaring a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings in order to evacuate foreigners through the Rafah crossing, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave.

- - - -

Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday called for an immediate halt of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the revival of the stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

In the final communique of an Arab League extraordinary meeting at the level of foreign ministers held in Cairo, the top Arab diplomats urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and warned of "the catastrophic humanitarian and security repercussions" of further escalation.

They emphasized the necessity of lifting the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and immediately providing humanitarian aid, food, and fuel to Gazans. 
Wahkiakum County commissioners heard from Craig Brown at Tuesdays otherwise brief meeting. Brown expressed concern at the lack of a coherent plan to evacuate areas of the county in the event of a wildfire. He implored the commissioners to create an evacuation plan and to educate the public about it. Brown spoke for several minutes about how new residents of the county were at a disadvantage in being less aware than locals of alternative routes out of the county. He advised the commissioners and other local agencies to make plans to avoid the confusion that caused so many deaths during the wildfires in Hawaii.

Later, the commissioners approved a letter of support for CREST's NOAA grant application for the East fork Deep River flood reduction and fish passage project. The grant would fund the replacement of culverts and tide gates under East Deep River road, while also reducing flooding in the Deep River valley and improving fish passage. The flooding is not only a nuisance to Deep River road and Wirkkala Road residents; it blocks E.M.S. services, school bus access and mail delivery. If the grant is secured the county public works department would take ownership and maintenance responsibility for the infrastructure on county roadways.
"Woah, it's like an airplane," one of my schoolmates said in awe. We all loaded onto the charter bus. The wood panel floor, the reclining seats, and on-board bathroom were fancier than the yellow school buses we were all used to. It was five in the morning, and we were headed to the Kitsap Naval Base in Bremerton for a tour of the U.S.S. Maine (S.S.B.N. 741), an Ohio-Class Ballistic Submarine, and the Trident Training Facility in Bangor.

The trip was arranged following the success of our school's robotics team, The Mecha Mules, at the 2023 international SeaPerch tournament, where they placed first. Many Wahkiakum High School and Naselle High School students, including several members of the robotics team, were given the opportunity to attend the field trip. I was one of them.

After nearly three hours, our bus finally arrived on base, and we started going through security. We passed through three security checkpoints before arriving at Delta Pier where the U.S.S. Maine was in dry dock.

The pier was in an industrial area, and we got a real glimpse of the varied jobs the Navy offers. There were mechanics, submarine painters, and people all over loading and unloading the submarine.

One of the coolest "employees" on the pier was a falcon. To combat the gulls crowding the pier, the Navy hired a falconer to walk around with his bird a few days a week to scare off the gulls.

We started the tour of the submarine, beginning on the deck. Beneath our feet lay 24 circular hatches, each about seven feet in diameter. Inside each was a nuclear armed Trident Ballistic Missile. As our tour guides explained that we were standing on top of missiles it occurred to me that I had an incorrect perception of how large missiles are. They are so big that the entire ship seemed to just be one big maze of missiles. They stretched past the three levels of the sub we were allowed to tour. The entire ship seemed to be built around them. We first entered the sub down a very tall ladder. I cannot personally recommend this to anyone with a fear of heights. The first area we toured was the main missile room, where we learned about all the factors that go into launching a missile. We learned there are always two guards watching over the missiles. They are called Camp and Roaming. It was clear that the Navy takes security precautions seriously.

Next, we toured the study areas-little rooms designated for sailors in the process of becoming submarine qualified. To become qualified, each submariner spends a year becoming familiar with every system on the submarine. This is a huge task to undertake, and so the ship is designed to give them a specific place for extra research and studying.

Next to the studies lay the barracks. Each consists of a tiny room stuffed with nine bunks. When the ship is underway, only about half of the sailors assigned to a bunk are there at a time because of shift schedules. Even so, the rooms can seem crowded and cramped. It was strange to consider living on a sub, in a room that size, for months at a time.

We visited the torpedo room. There were no torpedoes onboard at the time. Nevertheless, we received a step by step explanation of onboard torpedo launches. We spoke with a sailor who specializes in sonar. He told us how different animals sound underwater. He said that shrimp sounded like thousands of people snapping at once. He asked us to eat shrimp once we got home, so he could have revenge.

At last, we toured the control room. We saw where the boat is steered and controlled. Our guide said that it is usually the two most junior sailors aboard who steer the boat, because they are more careful not to mess up. We looked through the periscopes, and pretended like we were out at sea. For months at a time, that's the only glimpse of the outside world these sailors get.

The captain's chair sat in the middle of the room like something out of a movie.

Finally, we viewed the trident training facility, where officers and enlisted personnel train to operate and maintain submarines. There we toured 3.D. models of a torpedo tube, a missile tube, and a 360 simulation of the control room. The simulation was especially vivid; it felt like we really were out at sea.

As I exited the room, some people complained that they felt seasick. Everyone agreed it was an awesome experience.

The trip opened my eyes to the level of pride sailors have, and reaffirmed my choice to enlist in the Navy. As a sailor, everything I do will have meaning. Each person we met knew their job and took it seriously. The camaraderie among them was clear. I recall one of our tour guides saying "You have to be able to look at every person on the ship and say you trust them with your life."

I enjoyed touring the U.S.S. Maine, and getting a glimpse into life underway.

I can also confidently say that submarines are not for me.
JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israel has killed a senior member of the Hamas naval force in an airstrike overnight, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement Thursday morning.

The IDF killed Muhammed Abu Shamala, a senior member of the Rafah Brigade in the Hamas naval force, and destroyed his house, which was used to store weapons to be used in operations against Israel, according to the statement.

The Israeli army also struck multiple sites belonging to the commando force of Hamas, it added. 
Autumn on its way after extra warm Ottobrata.

Italy is set to usher in a wave of cold, rainy weather this weekend after enjoying an extended 'Ottobrata' with higher than usual temperatures for October, forecasters said.

The unseasonably warm period, which has seen temperatures reach 10 degrees above normal, is set to last until Sunday, according to Il Meteo weather forecast website.

The bad weather will first hit northern Italy on Sunday before spreading to central areas, with next week to bring rain, thunderstorms and a steep drop in temperatures.

In the meantime hordes of people are still going to beaches in Italy, with temperatures in Rome reaching 30 degrees Celsius in recent days.
Rome up against Riyadh and Busan for Expo 2030.

Italy's president Sergio Mattarella on Wednesday added his voice to Rome's bid to host Expo 2030, addressing the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris by video message.

Delegations from Rome, Riyadh and Busan convened in the French capital to make a final pitch to host Expo 2030 before the BIE assembly votes for the winning candidate next month.

"Places and people, nations and territories, the Earth and humanity" - Mattarella said in the video - "These are the protagonists of the proposal by Rome and Italy for Expo 2030."

"Luoghi e persone, popoli e territori, la terra e l'umanita. Questi vogliono essere i protagonisti della proposta che Roma e l'Italia formulano per l'Expo del 2030. Expo e un veicolo formidabile di carattere educativo, di conoscenze e confronto di disponibilita reciproche". pic.twitter.com/49o7i39mSs  Expo 2030 Roma (@Expo2030Roma) October 11, 2023

Hailing Rome as a "promoter of civilization, hospitality and dialogue with the numerous cultures that have enriched its identity over millennia", Mattarella said the city and its people have been "capable of welcoming, of producing innovation, of continuously regenerating the urban fabric of what historians define as the Eternal City."

Under the banner of 'People and Territories: Regeneration, Inclusion and Innovation', Rome's candidacy is "inspired by the principles of inclusion, respect for human rights and the values of democracy", the city's mayor Roberto Gualtieri said in Paris.

Rome promoted its bid to host #Expo2030 with a spectacular drone light show at the Colosseum last night. @Expo2030Romapic.twitter.com/s1ywAL3OtP  Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) April 22, 2023

The celebrated Italian dancer Roberto Bolle, accompanied by La Scala prima ballerina Nicoletta Manni, treated delegates in Paris to a special dance performance to mark the occasion.

"I chose to support Rome's Expo candidacy" - Bolle said - "for love of my country and because I share the values and themes at the centre of Italy's proposal."

Bolle is the latest in a series of well-known figures to throw their weight behind Rome's Expo bid, including Gladiator star Russell Crowe, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and athlete Bebe Vio.

Russell Crowe lends his voice to Romes bid to host Expo 2030. @Expo2030Roma pic.twitter.com/QASidAk2If  Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) June 21, 2023

Rome is placing a heavy emphasis on human rights and democracy in its bid to host Expo 2030 which, if successful, would provide a chance to "invite the whole world to reflect on how to make our cities more sustainable and inclusive," according to Gualtieri.

The host country will be elected by member states of the BIE during the organisations 173rd general assembly on 28 November.

If no candidate gets two thirds of the votes in the first round, the third-placed candidate is eliminated and the two remaining candidates move into a second round, with the winner elected by a simple majority.

Photo: Expo 2030 Roma - CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati for Expo 2030 Roma.
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In the second half of the 20th century, the US working-age population (defined here as ages 15 through 64) grew at an annual rate of 1.3%. In the first decade of this century, it downshifted to 1.1%. The 2010s brought a rapid slowdown that by some estimates turned into an outright decline from 2019 through 2021 before reverting to barely positive growth since. The United Nations Population Divisions medium scenario forecast has US working-age population growth bumping along near zero for the rest of the century.

The past few years in the US have also been a time of nearly record-low unemployment, a Great Resignation, a wave of strikes and what economists David Autor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Arindrajit Dube and Annie McGrew of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst recently called an Unexpected Compression of wages as low-wage workers gained ground on everyone else.

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Could these phenomena be related to the sharp decline in working-age population growth? Yes, probably. Does the end of working-age population growth mean a new era of worker power and reduced inequality? Thats a bit more complicated.

Two significant crosscurrents are at work. Having fewer working-age people is good news for those who remain if demand for labor holds up. But slower working-age population growth usually translates into slower economic growth overall, thus leaving a smaller pie to divide.

In a 2022 Journal of Economic Literature review of research on the The Economic Impact of the Black Death  the archetypical labor shock in that it killed about 40% of Europes population from 1347 through 1352 but didnt destroy capital such as roads and buildings  Remi Jedwab of George Washington University and Noel D. Johnson and Mark Koyama of George Mason University call accounts that emphasize the first effect Malthusian and those that emphasize the second Smithian. Thomas Robert Bob(1)Malthus was the economist who predicted in 1798 that continued population growth would result in mass starvation, while his precursor Adam Smiths views on the division of labor and commercialization suggest, the authors write, a positive, not negative, relationship between population growth and economic growth. (A paywall-free draft of their article is here.)

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In the long haul, the Smithian worldview has mostly triumphed, and during the plague itself economic activity contracted sharply across Europe as population fell. Over the century that followed, though, Jedwab, Johnson and Koyama report that Malthusian effects won out in the sense that real wages and incomes rose and economic inequality decreased. Then, around 1500, a divergence began in which incomes declined in Southern Europe but kept rising in the north, possibly because of institutional and societal changes in the wake of the pandemic such as the end of serfdom, later marriages and increased state capacity.

The labor supply shock of the past few years has, of course, been modest in comparison. There was another pandemic, but the 2020-2023 Covid-19 death toll of 1.15 million estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amounts to just 0.3% of the US population, while the 276,630 Covid deaths among working-age Americans are only about 0.1% of that population. Long Covid and the departure of many workers older than 65 from the labor force have had a bigger impact, together probably removing more than a million people from the job market during the pandemic. The main reason for the stalling of working-age population growth, though, is simple demographics.

About 4 million baby boomers, or 2% of the working-age population, are turning 65 each year, and while the number of Gen Zers turning 15 each year is 200,000 to 300,000 higher than that, more than 820,000 Americans ages 15 through 64 died last year, and about 700,000 died annually in the years leading up to the pandemic. Immigration is thus the only thing keeping the working-age population from shrinking, with the slowdown in legal immigration over the first three years of the Trump administration (during which illegal immigration actually rose) and the shutdown of all immigration in the early days of the pandemic accounting for the probable declines in working-age population from 2019 through 2021.

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With a federal deficit that rose in the late 2010s and exploded in response to the pandemic providing the demand, this reduction in labor supply resulted in an extremely tight labor market. This, in turn, had the effect of reducing employer market power and spurring rapid relative wage growth among young non-college workers who disproportionately moved from lower-paying to higher-paying and potentially more-productive jobs, Autor, Dube and McGrew wrote in their March National Bureau of Economic Research working paper on The Unexpected Compression: Competition at Work in the Low Wage Labor Market.

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Those exact conditions wont last. Deficits have fallen but probably need to decline more, and even if they dont their stimulative effect will fade because more and more of the money will go to interest on the federal debt, which will end up in somebodys pockets but not necessarily American ones and definitely not those of the people with the highest propensity to spend. Immigration is also back, and with it a return for now to at least modest working-age population growth.

Immigration also has its Smithian and Malthusian aspects, with new arrivals spurring economic growth while in some cases depressing wages for some native-born workers. But in the US, if the forecasts are correct, immigration will only keep the 15-to-64 population just about constant through 2100 (as opposed to the 20% decline forecast for the worlds high-income countries overall and the 62% decline forecast for China). We truly have entered a new era for working-age population growth.

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Which brings us back to the question of whether that implies a new era of worker power and reduced inequality. This will probably depend mainly on the sorts of institutional and societal forces that shaped economic development after the Black Death or, more recently and more prosaically, after the Great Compression of the 1940s. That name comes from a 1992 paper by Harvards Claudia Goldin  winner this week of the economics Nobel  and Robert A. Margo (then of Vanderbilt, now of Boston University) that described how a mismatch between labor supply and demand during World War II, coupled with National War Labor Board regulations, brought much bigger gains at the bottom of the wage scale than at the top and how that compressed wage structure remained mostly intact until the 1970s. Goldin and Margo hypothesized that the Servicemens Readjustment Act of 1944 (aka the GI Bill), by greatly increasing the relative supply of college graduates in the postwar decades, was a key factor in the continuation. Others have suggested union strength, low immigration and the eras very progressive income-tax structure as contributors.

Looking forward, technological change is another important wild card. Increased automation is an obvious response to labor shortages, and as it expands from robots doing some of the tasks of blue-collar workers to generative artificial intelligence taking over white-collar tasks, its possible that it will help maintain the wage compression of the past few years. AI also has the potential to bring productivity gains and increased economic growth  as well as, depending who you talk to, mass unemployment, the end of humanity or both. The pace of working-age population growth is important, but its not the only thing that matters.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

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 Minorities Deliver All the US Labor Supply Growth: Justin Fox

 More Labor Strife Is Coming to the US Economy: Betsey Stevenson

 We May Finally Be Witnessing a Normal Labor Market: Karl Smith

(1) Thats what his family called him and I think more people need to know this.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. A former editorial director of Harvard Business Review, he is author of The Myth of the Rational Market.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
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Why dont they just leave? As Israels furious retaliation for last weekends Hamas attack devastates large swathes of the Gaza strip, killing hundreds and maiming thousands of Palestinians, it is not unreasonable to wonder why the 2.3 million civilians living in the tiny enclave dont flee to safer ground. The question will acquire greater urgency in the days ahead, given the high likelihood of a ground invasion by the Israeli Defense Forces  which will mean days, weeks and even months of grueling street-by-street, house-by-house battles.

The short answer to that question is: They cant. Before I explain why, consider the lay of the land and the situation in which Gazans find themselves right now.

At 139 square miles, the Gaza Strip is approximately the size of Philadelphia, with a third more people. There is very little open space within the enclave where 2 million people can hunker down and wait for the fighting to end. The siege imposed by Israel is designed, in the words of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, to leave Gaza with no electricity, no food, no water, no gas - its all closed.

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The Israeli Defense Forces say the bombing campaign that is currently reducing entire Gazan neighborhoods to rubble is targeted at known Hamas hideouts, control centers and weapons caches. But the terrorist group deliberately hides out in densely populated areas, using the large numbers of Palestinians there as human shields. Bombs and rockets  and collapsing buildings  make no distinctions between combatants and civilians.

Many Gazans are being forced out of their homes and neighborhoods, but theres nowhere safe for them to go.

Under normal circumstances, every human instinct would be to get out of the strip. And youd expect Gazans to take heart from reports of the US and Egypt discussing so-called humanitarian corridors through which they might be able to escape.

But none of the circumstances prevailing in Gaza is normal, and not just because of the current war. Since Hamas took control of the enclave in 2006, a few months after Israel withdrew its forces from the strip, most of the Palestinians living there have essentially been penned into what human-rights groups call the worlds largest open-air prison.

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Now, back to the question: Why dont they just leave?

The first thing to consider is whether they want to. The vast majority of people living in Gaza are already refugees from towns and villages now in Israel and in the West Bank. Although there is little optimism they will return to their ancestral homes, most are keenly aware that the strip is the only place where they can cling to their identity as Palestinians. They fear that if they leave this last patch of homeland, they may not be able to  or allowed to  come back. To become a refugee twice removed is a fate few would welcome.

War shakes convictions and changes priorities, so it is conceivable that many Gazans would now be open to leaving to save their families and themselves from injury or death. Some reports say many are heading southward to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

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But that journey is perilous and may be pointless. Not only do the Palestinians fleeing south run the gauntlet of Israeli bombs, but they also risk the wrath of Hamas. The terrorist group has closed the border in the past, and although it handed over control of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority five years ago, its gunmen keep an eye on comings and goings and are not above exemplary executions to frighten the populace.

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Those who brave the risks to get to Rafah cant be sure of any rewards. The Egyptian authorities have closed their side of the crossing to prevent the Palestinians from breaking out. Although the Biden administration is pressing for it to be reopened, the regime of General Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is loath to take on the responsibility of hosting thousands of refugees.

If this sounds cruel, it is consistent with longstanding policy: Egypt is solicitous about the problems of Palestinians but doesnt want them on its soil. Cairo is already trotting out its usual excuses of poverty and security: Egypt cant afford to host refugees, and they might cause trouble.

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Other Arab nations offer variations of those lines. Jordan already has too many Palestinians (they make up more than half the population of the kingdom) and too many refugees from other places, such as Syria. Turkey, which is sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, likewise has its hands full of refugees from other parts.

The Gulf Arab states have plenty of land and no shortage of money; Saudi Arabia is currently spending hundreds of billions of dollars building a city it doesnt really need. Their traditional excuse for not taking in Palestinians is that it would let Israel off the hook.

There are questions to be asked about why Iran, Hamass sponsor and self-proclaimed champion of the Palestinians, doesnt offer to host them. And why the European nations, which wring their hands when Gaza is bombed, can find no place for at least a few of the victims.But by now, you get my point: The civilians in Gaza cant leave, and its a tragedy twice over that nobody wants them anyway.

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More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Hamas Has Already Lost the War of Images: Bobby Ghosh

 Hamas Torches Bidens Deal for a New Middle East: Andreas Kluth

 The World Must Support Israels War Against Terror: Editorial Board

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering culture. Previously, he covered foreign affairs.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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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 cease-fire in the Middle East.
BAGHDAD, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iraq on Thursday decided to dispatch humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to help the besieged Palestinians.

Government Spokesman Basim al-Awadi said in a statement that the humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, will be sent to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, the sole crossing point between Egypt and Gaza.

Earlier in the day, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged Israel to "avoid targeting the Rafah crossing on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt."

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

In Gaza, Israel continues its massive airstrikes and has halted the supply of water and electricity. The United Nations reports that at least 200,000 Palestinians have been displaced, with more than 120,000 taking shelter in U.N. schools under challenging conditions. 
A baguette de tradition, or traditional baguette, is made from flour, water, salt and yeast. Period. Sounds simple, and on one level it is. Yet so much depends on the perfect baguette and the perfect baguette is elusive. A crunchy deep golden crust must encase a fluffy, slightly salty interior, punctuated with the small air sacs, known as alveoli, that produce a mildly chewy consistency. Appearance, taste, texture and smell must find a delicate harmony. French President Emmanuel Macron in Germany on Tuesday. Credit: Getty This requires hard work. Selvarajah was a little irritated because his store assistants had not appeared. Always, he said, theres some excuse. He works six days a week, up to 10 hours a day, and thinks such industry  typical of immigrants trying to get a toehold in a new land  may explain why several winners of the baguette prize over the past decade have been of Tunisian or Senegalese descent. The competition itself is anonymous. Baguettes are numbered after being deposited by candidates, then touched, smelled and tasted by a jury of experts, Olivia Polski, the senior City Hall official who oversees the contest, said. The best baguette, she suggested, should be well-baked, light and airy. It should crackle in the mouth.

Immigration is an explosive political issue in France  Selvarajah said he had encountered occasional racism and prejudice  and the many success stories among the failures tend to be obscured by the polemics. Immigrants often do jobs the French have begun to shun. Home delivery: Tharshan Selvarajah carrying paper bags with his baguettes made for Elysee Palace. Credit: Dmitry Kostyukov/The New York Times) Baking is a tough profession, said Charlotte Quemy, as she ate a croissant she described as top outside Selvarajahs bakery. She lives across town but likes to stop off on her way home from her job in the tech sector. The French view is: to hell with getting up at 3 in the morning! Selvarajah arrived in France from Sri Lanka in 2006, and began work in an Italian restaurant making salads and desserts. Through a regular client at the restaurant, Xavier Maulave, the owner of several bakeries, he was offered a job making bread. I knew nothing about baguettes, Selvarajah said. Slowly, Selvarajah learnt the art, becoming the chief baker in 2012. In 2018, he participated in the baguette competition for the first time, coming in third. Business picked up. By 2021, with Maulave pursuing other interests, he bought one of his stores.

And now, he beamed, the president of France is eating a Sri Lankan bakers baguette every morning! Loading He loves his batons of bread. They are about 63 centimetres long. They weigh about 280 grams. The baguettes optimum shelf life is no more than a few hours, often necessitating return visits to the boulangerie in a single day. So it is that, around this instantly recognisable stick of bread, French life still revolves. Of course there are other fine breads, and the rhythms of life have accelerated, as elsewhere. But some things do not change. Any unctuous sauce, say for a blanquette de veau or boeuf bourguignon, must be mopped off the plate with a chunk of baguette. Not to do so would be sacrilege.

No oozing Camembert or delectable cured ham can go unaccompanied by a baguette. No breakfast at a cafe counter is complete without a tartine beurree  the divine butter of France thickly spread on strips of baguette. The fruit and tannin of a good Burgundy linger in the mouth as a baguette is chewed, finding in its texture at once crunchy and pillowy, and its mild saltiness, the perfect cradle. Selvarajah came to Paris, where a cousin and brother already lived because he could not find work in Sri Lanka. He has taken a small apartment five minutes from the bakery so that he can keep the gruelling hours of early-morning and late-afternoon shifts, while his wife and young children live in a larger apartment across town. I had no choice, he said. I see them when I can. He makes two or three pilgrimages a year to Chennai in India, where he meets Sri Amma Bhagavan, a contested cult leader whose religious movement, initially called Oneness, inspires him. Everyone is so tense today and thinking about money in a selfish way, he said. He helps me to be happy inside my heart. Still, in his line of work, some tension is unavoidable. Selvarajah smokes. Too much stress, he said. He has a cough. Its from the flour, 100 kilos of it every day. He is restless. You have to prove yourself every day.

The bakers Sri Lankan wife, whom he married in France, has become a French citizen, and both his children are also French. Will he follow suit? Maybe one day, he said, but right now I dont have time. His 10-year residence permit is enough. Loading Selvarajah is, however, not altogether happy over what the prize has meant for him. He has not been invited to meet Macron, who had a selfie taken with some previous winners. He feels he has gotten less French media attention than others in the past. Nor was he invited to a party this month organised by the confederation of French bakers marking the anniversary of the creation of the traditional baguette, defined with great detail in the 1993 Decret Pain, or Bread Decree, a quintessentially French edict laying out the procedure and characteristics required to be deemed traditional. The baker attributes these perceived slights to the fact he is the first winner who is not from France or a country with a colonial connection to it. He also believes his decision not to become a French citizen is resented. Its not pleasant, but I dont give a damn, he said.
Israel has declared it intends to kill Hamas most senior leader as part of its efforts to obliterate the militant group, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a special war cabinet, including his top political opponent, to lead the expected ground invasion of Gaza.

With Israeli forces continuing to pummel densely populated urban areas in Gaza with airstrikes, there were fears Palestinian hospitals were on the verge of turning into morgues because the enclaves only power station had run out of electricity and shut down.

The destruction caused by Israeli bombing in Gaza City. Credit: AP

Every Hamas member is a dead man, Netanyahu said in a televised address.

In a social media post on Wednesday evening, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said electricity and fuel supplies would not return to Gaza until Israeli hostages were handed back.
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "deeply regrets" the Nigerien military government's decision to expel the UN resident coordinator, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

The secretary-general deeply regrets that the National Council for Safeguarding the Fatherland ordered the departure of the UN resident coordinator/humanitarian coordinator in Niger, Louise Aubin, within 72 hours, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres, in a statement.

The decision hampers the ability of the United Nations to effectively carry out the essential work the world body does for the people of Niger, where 4.3 million of them, primarily women and children, need humanitarian assistance, said the spokesman.

"The secretary-general has full confidence in the United Nations system in Niger," Dujarric said. "He underlines that the order to leave the country is contrary to the legal framework applicable to the United Nations, including with respect to obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the privileges and immunities accorded to the organization."

Despite the order, Guterres reiterated the unwavering commitment of the United Nations to stay and deliver for the people of Niger, through continued humanitarian and development operations, said the spokesman.

Dujarric said Aubin has been exemplary in leading the UN system in Niger to work impartially and tirelessly to deliver humanitarian and development assistance.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the humanitarian situation in Niger remains dire.

"Before the current political crisis, the country was already facing a complex humanitarian situation linked to escalating violence and the impact of the climate crisis," said OCHA.

The office pointed out that 3 million people, or 13 percent of the population, need food assistance.

"Our colleagues warn about a looming food and nutrition crisis with limited funding to sustain a food response during the lean season," OCHA said, noting that the humanitarian response plan for Niger, which requests 584 million U.S. dollar, is 41 percent funded.

OCHA said flooding worsens the situation, with more than 170,000 people affected. The Maradi region in the south is the most brutally hit, with more than 65,000 people affected. 
NANCHANG, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has called for further promoting the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt to better support and serve Chinese modernization.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a symposium on advancing the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt that he chaired here on Thursday.

He stressed the importance of fully and faithfully implementing the new development philosophy in all respects, prioritizing eco-environmental progress and pursuing green development.

Xi said the region's development should be led by scientific and technological innovation while ecological and environmental protection and economic and social development should be advanced in a coordinated manner.

It is also imperative to strengthen synergy in policies and work to make long-term plans, seek long-term solutions and lay a foundation for lasting stability, he added. 
CAIRO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Arab Parliament's Palestine Committee convened on Thursday a meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo to discuss the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calling for international protection of the Palestinian people in all occupied territories.

The current serious escalation "could slide the region into a circle of mutual violence and lead to the fall of more victims," Speaker of the Arab Parliament and head of the Palestine Committee Adel Al Asoomi said during the meeting.

"We call for providing international protection for the Palestinian people who have hundreds of dead and injured in the ongoing conflict," the Arab Parliament chief added.

The meeting came on the sixth day of the deadly conflict between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the ruling faction of the Gaza Strip, and Israel.

Affiliated with the Cairo-based Arab League (AL), the Arab Parliament emphasized its firm position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent state in accordance with the internationally recognized two-state solution.

The meeting of the Committee followed an AL extraordinary ministerial meeting on Wednesday, which called for the immediate halt of the ongoing conflict and revival of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

Hamas launched on Saturday a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to Gaza, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on the enclave. The exchange of fires left thousands of victims on both sides. 
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mostly sunny skies; a cold start, but a little milder in the afternoon compared to the last few days. .

Tonight

Partly cloudy and not as cold.
CAIRO, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held talks on Wednesday with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Cairo, where they discussed the ongoing deadly Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Sisi and Tajani, also vice president of Italy's Council of Ministers, underlined the gravity of the situation and the importance of defusing tensions and bringing about calm between the Palestinians and the Israelis in order to ensure the stability of the region.

They also affirmed that "a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution represents the utmost necessity for the stability of the region."

The Egyptian president warned of the serious security and humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict, highlighting the important role of Europe and the international community in restoring peace and carrying out negotiations.

Later in the day, Tajani held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, during which they also discussed the conflict.

Tajani asked for Egyptian mediation to free the hostages being held by Hamas, including at least two Italian nationals.

For his part, Shoukry said that Egypt had stepped up communication with regional and international partners as well as the Palestinians and Israelis to contain the crisis.

He added that Egypt was keen to keep the Rafah border crossing open in order to provide humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians who were subjected to a siege, raids and a shortage of services in the Gaza Strip. 
ALLENTOWN, Pa.  The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners announced Wednesday that it would have a human services committee lead further discussion related to claims involving the county's embattled Children and Youth Services department.

The department has recently come under fire as parents are coming forward, alleging "medical kidnapping" against Lehigh Valley Health Network. CYS has been accused of removing children from their homes based on allegations of child abuse, many of which, parents say, are later determined to be unfounded.

"It's a very emotional and very important topic," said Board President Geoff Brace.

Commissioner Bob Elbich, who is chair of the human services committee, said the upcoming meetings of the committee will encourage additional discussion and provide a basis for "moving forward with the facts."

Specifically, Elbich said the objective of the committee will be to "add clarity to some of the misconceptions that have been out in the public and statements that have been made, to improve on the accuracy of that."

He also said the dialogue among committee members, board members and the public will help to "possibly develop realistic process improvements and ideas," which he said could be presented "as a work product to the full board for a decision."

Elbich expressed gratitude to families that have been providing input. He said their input will be used going forward, as the committee convenes for further discussion.

"Thanks to those who have been giving input," Elbich added. "We know it's been painful and difficult to share your experiences."

He announced a human services committee meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18, and he encouraged interested individuals to participate. The meeting also will be available online via a link on the county website.

During public comment, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley encouraged the commissioners to engage an outside entity to complete a review.

Recently, Pinsley released a report that claims a "systemic overdiagnosis" of medical child abuse in the Lehigh Valley. While the report does not name specific facilities complicit in the overdiagnosis, LVHN's John Van Brakle Child Advocacy Center  located at 1627 W. Chew St. in Allentown  is the only facility in the area that manages such child abuse cases.

Specifically, the report references child abuse by parents or adults suffering from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, or MSBP. MSBP is an extremely rare mental condition in which parents or adults falsely convince children they suffer serious illnesses.

Comments Wednesday echoed those from previous Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meetings, during which dozens of families spoke out against LVHN and the hospital's treatment of children.

Wednesday, mothers, fathers and children spoke to the agony, pain, and trauma they said they had experienced.

"The heartache is everlasting," said one mother.

"I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy," said another.

As with previous meetings, families accused LVHN pediatrician Dr. Debra Esernio-Jenssen and her associates of intentionally perpetrating false MSBP diagnoses when they took their children to the emergency room.

Such a misdiagnosis was used to turn sick children against their parents during extended, unsupervised hospital stays and/or frame said parents as child abusers, according to the families. After this, the families said the hospital would get Pennsylvania Child & Youth Services involved to remove custody of their children.

LVHN reached out to 69 News with a statement saying in part, "Like all doctors and other caregivers in Pennsylvania, we are required by law to report suspected child abuse. We take this responsibility seriously. Failure to do so can potentially lead to felony charges and more importantly, put a child in harms way. Although our diligence and concerted efforts meet the highest standards of care, our data shows in the past year less than .5% of children who visited our childrens hospital were referred for suspicion of child abuse."

Steve Catanese, president of SEIU 668  Pennsylvania's social service employees union  spoke on behalf of CYS.

He explained the challenges case workers experience when entering unsafe situations and the lasting impacts on mental health.

Catanese said that caseworkers often have to contend with substantial caseloads, high turnover rates and low wages.

Caseworkers chose the work for the children, he said.

"They do not pursue (this career) for wealth and glory. They do it to protect children," the union president said.

The statement from LVHN continued to say the "Child Advocacy Center receives referrals from physicians from multiple hospitals and physician offices, both within and outside of LVHN, because they know that each case will be evaluated fairly in a setting that is comfortable for children and in line with national standards."

New CYS director

In related news, commissioners voted to appoint Heather Reed as the new Children and Youth Services director for the county. Her predecessor, Paula Griffin, is set to retire.

Before the vote, audience members questioned hiring from within, with Emmaus resident Kim Stetz saying Reed's appointment would be an instance of "same old, same old."

Instead, Stetz urged creating an interim plan.

The board had 30 days to act on the appointment, and Pinsley suggested postponing the appointment until after the human services committee meeting.

The motion passed in a unanimous vote.

Pretrial services

Later, the board discussed a motion that would move the county's pretrial services under the purview of the courts. Pretrial services currently fall under the county's purview.

In public comment on the issue, Controller Pinsley said the move would mean that pretrial services could no longer be subjected to audit.

Commissioner Dave Harrington engaged in a lively back-and-forth with Pinsley. Harrington said the move puts the county in compliance with state law.

The measure had its first reading Wednesday and will be reviewed at commissioners' next meeting on Oct. 25.

2024 budget

The commissioners also had a first reading of the 2024 budget and a proposed amendment allowing additional money to the controller's office for legal services. The department's legal services budget is currently $9,900; the increase would bring it to $19,980.

The move, Pinsley explained, allows him to seek outside solicitors instead of working with the county's solicitors. This way, he could ensure no conflict of interest in future scenarios.

During the discussion on the matter that lasted more than 45 minutes, Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt questioned Pinsley about his handling of the report and suggested that the additional monies could be used to "investigate other things," Dutt said.

He also noted that Pinsley should have brought the issues in his report to the council sooner. Pinsley replied that he did reach out to governing body members, but the calls went unanswered except for the call to Dutt.

Of the back and forth, Dutt said to Pinsley, "I'm hearing a tone of frustration in your voice."

"That would be correct," Pinsley said.

Commissioners Antonio Pineda and Ron Beitler questioned why Pinsley would need a solicitor separate from those provided by the county.

Commissioner Brace supported the amendment. "I think theres an error in not having a solicitor in the controller's office from the outset. His predecessor had that," he said.

Commissioner Dan Hartzell offered his thoughts.

"It's his risk to take, and he answers not to us but the voters," Hartzell said.

Ultimately, the measure was approved in a 5-3 vote, with Pineda, Dutt and Beitler voting "no." Wednesday marked the first reading of the measure. A second will be held Oct. 25.

Employee health care

In other news, the board deferred a vote on a new contract for employee health care with Highmark for 2024, 2025 and 2026. Deputy Solicitor Sarah Murray said the move would allow items to be "cleaned up." The measure will also be discussed at the Oct. 25 meeting.
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- African countries have been urged to renew their commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of girls and children.

The call was made by the Africa Platform on Children Affected by Armed Conflicts (APCAAC), which joins the world in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child, annually celebrated on Oct. 11. "Girls face unique challenges and barriers in various societies, especially in conflict and post-conflict contexts, hence the urgent need to break down these barriers for their well-being and development," the APCAAC was quoted by an African Union statement as saying Wednesday.

The APCAAC platform, which was inaugurated in September 2021, is an initiative of the African Union (AU) and its partners that brings together individual AU ambassadors and key child protection stakeholders committed to engaging and sustaining advocacy for protecting children in humanitarian situations during armed conflicts in Africa.

"We call on AU member states to renew their commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of girls and children at all times, particularly in conflict situations," the APCAAC said, adding that protecting the future and realizing the dreams of girls includes participation in leadership in line with the theme of this year's International Day of the Girl Child, "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being."

According to the APCAAC, in conflict situations, girls are subject to widespread and systematic violations that affect them mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

It called on AU member states to take all necessary measures to ensure better documentation and monitoring along gender dimensions to ensure effective prevention and response to violations against children in conflict situations. 
KHARTOUM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday said nearly 5.8 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan due to the prolonged conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

"The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Sudan estimates that 4,551,795 individuals have been internally displaced," the IOM said in its latest update.

It added that the conflict has also caused "the mixed cross-border movements of 1,237,103 individuals into neighboring countries, namely Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Ethiopia."

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which have resulted in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry. 
BISHKEK, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov held talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Thursday in Bishkek during Putin's official visit to the Central Asian country.

Further strengthening military cooperation was discussed by the two sides and a law ratifying the agreement on the creation of a Joint Regional Air Defense System was signed.

According to the president's press service, the agreement will ensure more reliable protection of the airspace of both countries, enhance security and protect national interests.

A five-hectare plot of land near Kant Air Base will be provided by Kyrgyzstan for the creation of the joint air defense system, it said. Kant Air Base is located near Bishkek and became operational in accordance with a bilateral agreement between Russia and Kyrgyzstan in October 2003.

Earlier in the day, the two leaders during the meeting highlighted the cooperation in the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, as well as in the fields of energy, agriculture, interregional cooperation and the development of green economy.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Kant Air Base and the 30th anniversary of Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, Japarov emphasized that they are symbols of friendship between the two countries.

"The Kyrgyz side highly values the Kyrgyz-Russian strategic partnership and allied relations," he said.

The Russian president thanked Japarov for the warm welcome and hospitality, and highly appreciated the work done by Kyrgyzstan within the framework of its chairmanship in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The two leaders also had a wide-ranging and in-depth exchange of views on important issues of common concern. 
Cohen Lawrence B lowered its stake in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) by 3.6% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,072 shares of the CRM providers stock after selling 634 shares during the period. Salesforce accounts for about 2.3% of Cohen Lawrence Bs investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Cohen Lawrence Bs holdings in Salesforce were worth $3,607,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Atlas Brown Inc. boosted its stake in Salesforce by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. now owns 6,237 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $1,318,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Country Club Bank GFN boosted its position in Salesforce by 0.9% during the second quarter. Country Club Bank GFN now owns 5,778 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $1,216,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Salesforce by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,599 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $519,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP raised its holdings in Salesforce by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 4,545 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $908,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hyperion Partners LLC lifted its stake in Salesforce by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Hyperion Partners LLC now owns 1,661 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $351,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. 77.52% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CRM has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and issued a $275.00 price target on shares of Salesforce in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Wedbush upped their target price on Salesforce from $240.00 to $255.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $240.00 price target on shares of Salesforce in a report on Friday, September 15th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $240.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Salesforce in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, twenty-six have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Salesforce currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $242.28.

Insider Transactions at Salesforce

In other Salesforce news, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 16,277 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.73, for a total transaction of $3,674,207.21. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,038,471.03. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Salesforce news, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 16,275 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $231.01, for a total transaction of $3,759,687.75. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 35,107 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,110,068.07. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 16,277 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $225.73, for a total value of $3,674,207.21. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 35,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,038,471.03. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 680,579 shares of company stock valued at $146,958,932. Insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock.

Salesforce Stock Up 0.3 %

NYSE:CRM traded up $0.67 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $207.55. The company had a trading volume of 322,734 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,749,302. Salesforce, Inc. has a 12-month low of $126.34 and a 12-month high of $238.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $201.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.11, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $211.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $209.35.

Salesforce (NYSE:CRM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 30th. The CRM provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.53 billion. Salesforce had a return on equity of 7.67% and a net margin of 4.77%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.52 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Salesforce, Inc. will post 5.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Salesforce Company Profile

(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.

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EA Series Trust acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund acquired 20,882 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,793,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Silicon Valley Capital Partners acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 193.3% during the first quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 88 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at about $40,000. Laffer Tengler Investments purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

NYSE LLY traded up $19.59 on Wednesday, reaching $598.90. The stock had a trading volume of 2,122,486 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,012,941. The stock has a market cap of $568.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 83.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $309.20 and a 12-month high of $605.54. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $546.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $466.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.13.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 65.00%. The firm had revenue of $8.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.25 EPS. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of brokerages have issued reports on LLY. Barclays boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $500.00 to $590.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $360.00 to $525.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $565.00 to $633.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, 22nd Century Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $540.09.

View Our Latest Report on Eli Lilly and Company

Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company

In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,028,219 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,141,787,549.78. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $546.51, for a total transaction of $327,906.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,378 shares in the company, valued at $2,939,130.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 693,246 shares of company stock worth $20,948,820,977. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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GAM Holding AG lifted its stake in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) by 247.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 66,819 shares of the CRM providers stock after acquiring an additional 47,600 shares during the period. Salesforce accounts for about 1.0% of GAM Holding AGs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. GAM Holding AGs holdings in Salesforce were worth $14,116,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of CRM. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its position in shares of Salesforce by 92,823.1% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 238,763,957 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $50,441,274,000 after acquiring an additional 238,507,009 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Salesforce during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,420,381,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Salesforce by 125,717.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,260,412 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $1,360,428,000 after purchasing an additional 10,252,257 shares during the period. Starboard Value LP bought a new stake in Salesforce during the 4th quarter valued at $401,215,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Salesforce by 21.3% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 14,134,170 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $2,823,724,000 after purchasing an additional 2,481,759 shares during the period. 77.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Salesforce Trading Up 0.1 %

CRM stock traded up $0.16 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $207.04. The company had a trading volume of 864,403 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,752,036. The stock has a market cap of $201.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.11, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $211.46 and a 200-day moving average price of $209.35. Salesforce, Inc. has a 12 month low of $126.34 and a 12 month high of $238.22.

Insider Buying and Selling at Salesforce

Salesforce ( NYSE:CRM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 30th. The CRM provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.22. Salesforce had a return on equity of 7.67% and a net margin of 4.77%. The firm had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.52 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Salesforce, Inc. will post 5.86 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of Salesforce stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $234.71, for a total transaction of $3,520,650.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 16,401,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,849,517,671.86. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CAO Sundeep G. Reddy sold 164 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.05, for a total transaction of $36,908.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at $501,861.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.71, for a total value of $3,520,650.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 16,401,166 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,849,517,671.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 680,579 shares of company stock valued at $146,958,932. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on CRM shares. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Mizuho raised their target price on Salesforce from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and set a $275.00 price objective on shares of Salesforce in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of Salesforce from $248.00 to $268.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Salesforce from $235.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, twenty-six have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $242.28.

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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.

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Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd. lessened its position in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM  Free Report) by 72.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,000 shares of the CRM providers stock after selling 13,000 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd.s holdings in Salesforce were worth $1,056,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. grew its stake in shares of Salesforce by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 4,468 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $949,000 after purchasing an additional 357 shares during the period. Roundview Capital LLC raised its stake in Salesforce by 18.8% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 24,037 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $5,104,000 after acquiring an additional 3,809 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Salesforce by 42.8% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 621 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $132,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Salesforce in the 1st quarter valued at $455,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Salesforce by 21.3% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 860,950 shares of the CRM providers stock worth $182,797,000 after purchasing an additional 151,440 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.52% of the companys stock.

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Salesforce Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of CRM traded up $1.03 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $207.91. 394,799 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,749,757. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $211.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $209.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company has a market cap of $202.30 billion, a PE ratio of 130.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.20. Salesforce, Inc. has a 52 week low of $126.34 and a 52 week high of $238.22.

Insider Buying and Selling

Salesforce ( NYSE:CRM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 30th. The CRM provider reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.90 by $0.22. Salesforce had a net margin of 4.77% and a return on equity of 7.67%. The firm had revenue of $8.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.52 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Salesforce, Inc. will post 5.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other Salesforce news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $206.69, for a total value of $3,100,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 15,296,166 shares in the company, valued at $3,161,564,550.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Salesforce news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $206.69, for a total value of $3,100,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 15,296,166 shares in the company, valued at $3,161,564,550.54. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 16,275 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $231.01, for a total transaction of $3,759,687.75. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 35,107 shares in the company, valued at $8,110,068.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 680,579 shares of company stock worth $146,958,932. Corporate insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on CRM. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Salesforce from $245.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. 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. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on Salesforce from $250.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Salesforce from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, Raymond James increased their target price on Salesforce from $260.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, August 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, twenty-six have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Salesforce currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $242.28.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Salesforce

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.

Further Reading

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Aspire Wealth Management Corp lowered its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:USMV  Free Report) by 35.0% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 9,619 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,173 shares during the period. Aspire Wealth Management Corps holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF were worth $715,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Avaii Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 1.3% in the first quarter. Avaii Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,017 shares of the companys stock worth $874,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Claro Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 7,102 shares of the companys stock valued at $517,000 after buying an additional 153 shares during the period. Dohj LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Dohj LLC now owns 33,830 shares of the companys stock worth $2,515,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 2.2% in the first quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,026 shares of the companys stock worth $584,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares during the period. Finally, Cordatus Wealth Management LLC increased its position in iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF by 0.3% during the second quarter. Cordatus Wealth Management LLC now owns 50,243 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,735,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF Price Performance

Shares of USMV traded up $0.13 on Thursday, reaching $73.26. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,848,497 shares. iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF has a 12-month low of $47.44 and a 12-month high of $55.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.17 and a beta of 0.75. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $74.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $73.66.

About iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF

The iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of US-listed firms selected and weighted to create a low-volatility portfolio subject to various constraints. USMV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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LGT Group Foundation trimmed its stake in shares of Barrick Gold Corp (NYSE:GOLD  Free Report) (TSE:ABX) by 77.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,802 shares of the gold and copper producers stock after selling 97,875 shares during the period. LGT Group Foundations holdings in Barrick Gold were worth $471,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Barrick Gold by 2.4% during the first quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 22,190 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $412,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares during the last quarter. MGO One Seven LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Barrick Gold by 4.7% during the first quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 12,849 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $239,000 after purchasing an additional 582 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP lifted its holdings in shares of Barrick Gold by 41.7% during the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,088 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 614 shares during the last quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Barrick Gold by 0.3% during the first quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 205,860 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $3,817,000 after purchasing an additional 640 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HM Payson & Co. raised its position in Barrick Gold by 58.2% during the second quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 1,740 shares of the gold and copper producers stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 640 shares during the period. 58.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Barrick Gold Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:GOLD opened at $15.22 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $15.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.41. Barrick Gold Corp has a twelve month low of $13.01 and a twelve month high of $20.75. The company has a market cap of $26.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -380.50, a PEG ratio of 9.80 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a quick ratio of 2.14, a current ratio of 2.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

Barrick Gold Increases Dividend

Barrick Gold ( NYSE:GOLD Get Free Report ) (TSE:ABX) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The gold and copper producer reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.02. Barrick Gold had a return on equity of 3.46% and a net margin of 1.06%. The firm had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.40 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.24 EPS. Research analysts predict that Barrick Gold Corp will post 0.98 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were given a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.63%. This is an increase from Barrick Golds previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. Barrick Golds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -1,025.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GOLD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group dropped their price target on Barrick Gold from $25.00 to $23.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 6th. Veritas Investment Research lowered Barrick Gold from a buy rating to a reduce rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Cormark raised Barrick Gold from a market perform rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Barrick Gold from $18.00 to $15.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, CSFB dropped their target price on Barrick Gold from $22.00 to $20.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Barrick Gold has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $21.98.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Barrick Gold

About Barrick Gold

(Free Report)

Barrick Gold Corporation is a sector-leading gold and copper producer. Its shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GOLD and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ABX.



In January 2019 Barrick merged with Randgold Resources and in July that year it combined its gold mines in Nevada, USA, with those of Newmont Corporation in a joint venture, Nevada Gold Mines, which is majority-owned and operated by Barrick.

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Channing Global Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC  Free Report) by 25.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 24,669 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 4,993 shares during the period. Channing Global Advisors LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $708,000 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. Berkshire Hathaway Inc raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 2.3% during the first quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 1,032,852,006 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,539,567,000 after acquiring an additional 22,751,400 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Bank of America by 108,111.3% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 193,168,025 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,397,725,000 after purchasing an additional 192,989,515 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Bank of America by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 125,467,577 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,580,515,000 after purchasing an additional 1,830,802 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter worth $3,436,543,000. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of Bank of America by 69,466.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 97,976,121 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,810,935,000 after buying an additional 97,835,283 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.06% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Bank of America

In other news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.48, for a total transaction of $2,449,332.88. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 353,971 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,143,007.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $31.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Tuesday. HSBC started coverage on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $35.00 price objective for the company. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on 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. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Bank of America in a research note on Tuesday, September 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $35.32.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Bank of America

Bank of America Stock Performance

BAC stock traded down $0.25 during trading on Thursday, reaching $26.77. The company had a trading volume of 8,292,704 shares, compared to its average volume of 48,463,988. The company has a market cap of $212.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.36. Bank of America Co. has a twelve month low of $25.47 and a twelve month high of $38.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.83. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.64 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.88.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.73 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. This is a positive change from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.59%.

About Bank of America

(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.

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Miller Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 422.0% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 522 shares of the energy producers stock after acquiring an additional 422 shares during the period. ConocoPhillips accounts for 0.0% of Miller Wealth Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Miller Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $54,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. WASHINGTON TRUST Co raised its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 6,691 shares of the energy producers stock worth $693,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. GDS Wealth Management purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the second quarter worth $332,000. EA Series Trust acquired a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips in the second quarter worth $30,866,000. IFM Investors Pty Ltd lifted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 0.4% in the second quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 242,034 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $25,077,000 after acquiring an additional 930 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Counselors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 0.3% during the second quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 278,529 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $28,858,000 after acquiring an additional 711 shares during the last quarter. 80.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on COP. Bank of America increased their price target on ConocoPhillips from $145.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $151.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Monday, August 14th. Erste Group Bank raised ConocoPhillips from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $124.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $135.63.

Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips

In related news, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total value of $3,813,964.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 5,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $735,178.71. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Sharmila Mulligan sold 1,849 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.19, for a total transaction of $231,476.31. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 30,800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.83, for a total transaction of $3,813,964.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $735,178.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 602,049 shares of company stock worth $73,591,956. 0.37% of the stock is owned by insiders.

ConocoPhillips Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:COP traded up $1.26 during trading on Thursday, reaching $121.30. 1,067,383 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,729,747. The stock has a market capitalization of $145.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.28. ConocoPhillips has a 12 month low of $91.53 and a 12 month high of $138.49. The company has a 50 day moving average of $118.91 and a 200-day moving average of $109.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last issued 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 company had revenue of $12.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.64 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 18.66% and a return on equity of 27.27%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.91 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that ConocoPhillips will post 9.18 EPS for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 27th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is presently 19.65%.

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.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (NYSE:ETV  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 23,900 shares, a decline of 57.5% from the September 15th total of 56,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 216,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

NYSE ETV opened at $12.00 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $12.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $12.56. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund has a 52 week low of $11.75 and a 52 week high of $14.59.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.095 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 20th. This represents a $1.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.50%. This is a boost from Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Funds previous monthly dividend of $0.09.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Company Profile

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its stake in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 11.1% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 458,002 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,858,000 after purchasing an additional 45,867 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 9.3% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 268,997 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,438,000 after acquiring an additional 22,798 shares during the last quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $46,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 460,683 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,888,000 after acquiring an additional 2,048 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its holdings in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 65.6% during the 2nd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 44,363 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $567,000 after acquiring an additional 17,580 shares during the last quarter.

(Get Free Report)

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It is co-managed by Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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This photo taken on Oct. 12, 2023 shows the launching ceremony of Cox's Bazar wind power project in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh on Thursday joined the global wind power club with the inauguration of its Cox's Bazar wind power project.

The wind power project, located in Bangladesh's southeastern Cox's Bazar district, some 400 km away from capital Dhaka, is invested by Wuling Power Corp., a subsidiary of China's State Power Investment Corp. (SPIC), and built by PowerChina Chengdu Engineering Corp..

Upon operation, the project will provide Bangladesh with about 145 million kWh of clean electricity per year, reduce coal consumption by 44,600 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 109,200 tons, as well as meet the electricity demand of 100,000 households.

"It's a major watershed in our nation's journey towards cleaner and more sustainable energy," said Md. Habibur Rahman, senior secretary of Power Division under Bangladesh's Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, when addressing the launching ceremony.

This project will not only provide clean electricity to thousands of households but also contribute significantly to reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels. It will also have a positive impact on Bangladeshi environment, improve air quality, and mitigate the effects of climate change, the official noted.

"The successful operation of this project marks a new era for the wind power industry in Bangladesh," Md. Jashim Uddin, Bangladeshi ambassador to China, said via video link.

Wuling Power Chief Executive Officer Liu Xingyi said this project demonstrates the broad potential for China-Bangladesh energy cooperation. Wuling Power will work for providing green energy solutions for Bangladesh's Vision 2041 national strategic plan, according to him.

"The historic introduction of wind power by Chinese enterprises to Bangladesh marks a milestone of the bilateral cooperation in new energy sector," Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen noted.

Yao said that Bangladesh is endowed with abundant solar, wind and tidal-flat resources, while the South Asian country has an immense power demand.

China stands ready to help Bangladesh develop new energy, Yao said. 

Md. Habibur Rahman, senior secretary of Power Division under Bangladesh's Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, addresses the launching ceremony of Cox's Bazar wind power project in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Oct. 12, 2023. (Xinhua)
Wright Investors Service Inc. increased its position in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,483 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 283 shares during the period. Wright Investors Service Inc.s holdings in EOG Resources were worth $856,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 100,317.5% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 538,528,863 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $61,629,243,000 after acquiring an additional 537,992,573 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in EOG Resources by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 36,299,584 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $4,161,014,000 after purchasing an additional 1,005,328 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 26,897,413 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $3,083,250,000 after purchasing an additional 2,977,408 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in EOG Resources by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,814,421 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,352,283,000 after purchasing an additional 262,445 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in EOG Resources by 196.1% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,859,925 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,175,599,000 after purchasing an additional 6,529,464 shares during the period. 89.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at EOG Resources

In related news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 4,551 shares of EOG Resources stock in a transaction that occurred 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 in the company, valued at approximately $18,994,066.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on EOG shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of EOG Resources from $154.00 to $152.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 1st. TD Securities lifted their target price on EOG Resources from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. cut EOG Resources from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 24th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on EOG Resources in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $155.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $150.04.

View Our Latest Report on EOG

EOG Resources Stock Performance

EOG opened at $127.37 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $128.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $120.50. The stock has a market cap of $74.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.58, a P/E/G ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 1.55. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 1-year low of $98.52 and a 1-year high of $150.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 2.02.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy exploration company reported $2.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $5.57 billion for 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 revenue was down 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.74 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 16th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is currently 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.

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ETF Store Inc. grew its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 7.8% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 5,165 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 375 shares during the period. ETF Store Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $508,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in PM. Green Square Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 2nd quarter valued at $232,000. Herold Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 8.6% in the 2nd quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. now owns 5,484 shares of the companys stock valued at $535,000 after buying an additional 434 shares in the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter valued at $98,000. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 59.0% in the 1st quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC now owns 4,214 shares of the companys stock valued at $410,000 after buying an additional 1,563 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cypress Wealth Services LLC increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 4,514 shares of the companys stock valued at $439,000 after buying an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Stock Performance

Shares of PM stock traded down $0.58 during trading on Thursday, hitting $92.57. The company had a trading volume of 518,672 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,234,438. The firm has a market capitalization of $143.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $94.60 and its 200 day moving average price is $95.65. Philip Morris International Inc. has a one year low of $84.00 and a one year high of $105.62.

Philip Morris International Increases Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.10. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 127.84% and a net margin of 11.63%. The firm had revenue of $8.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.76 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.48 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm 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. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 26th. This is a boost from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.62%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 100.58%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays lowered their target price on Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Philip Morris International from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a report on Friday, September 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and set a $114.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $109.92.

View Our Latest Stock Report on PM

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Rural Funds Group (OTC:RFNDF  Get Free Report) and Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR  Get Free Report) are both real estate companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, risk and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Rural Funds Group and Digital Realty Trust, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Rural Funds Group 0 0 0 0 N/A Digital Realty Trust 2 5 3 1 2.27

Digital Realty Trust has a consensus target price of $121.50, indicating a potential downside of 2.35%. Given Digital Realty Trusts higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Digital Realty Trust is more favorable than Rural Funds Group.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Valuation and Earnings

99.7% of Digital Realty Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Digital Realty Trust shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares Rural Funds Group and Digital Realty Trusts top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Rural Funds Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Digital Realty Trust $4.69 billion 8.03 $377.68 million $1.29 96.45

Digital Realty Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Rural Funds Group.

Profitability

This table compares Rural Funds Group and Digital Realty Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Rural Funds Group N/A N/A N/A Digital Realty Trust 8.34% 2.65% 1.10%

Summary

Digital Realty Trust beats Rural Funds Group on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Rural Funds Group

(Get Free Report)

Rural Funds Group is an agricultural Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listed on the ASX under the code RFF. RFF owns a diversified portfolio of Australian agricultural assets which are leased predominantly to corporate agricultural operators. RFF targets distribution growth of 4% per annum by owning and improving farms that are leased to good counterparties. RFF is a stapled security, incorporating Rural Funds Trust (ARSN 112 951 578) and RF Active (ARSN 168 740 805).

About Digital Realty Trust

(Get 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. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 27 countries on six continents.

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LGT Group Foundation trimmed its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 30.8% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 4,583 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 2,036 shares during the quarter. LGT Group Foundations holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $500,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the first quarter worth approximately $131,000. United Bank boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 7.2% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 27,280 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,229,000 after purchasing an additional 1,826 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 813,253 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $96,257,000 after purchasing an additional 15,521 shares during the period. Kinneret Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.3% in the first quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC now owns 19,467 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,304,000 after purchasing an additional 436 shares during the period. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 636.2% in the first quarter. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,216 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 1,915 shares during the period. 73.70% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on ABT shares. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, July 21st. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $112.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Friday, July 21st. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Wolfe Research raised shares of Abbott Laboratories from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, July 21st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned 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 $120.47.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 10,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,829,785.81. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Abbott Laboratories 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,775,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $770,759,948.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 10,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,829,785.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 5.1 %

NYSE ABT opened at $92.63 on Thursday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $101.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $104.98. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The stock has a market cap of $160.75 billion, a PE ratio of 31.61, a PEG ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.69. Abbott Laboratories has a 12 month low of $92.05 and a 12 month high of $115.83.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.03. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 12.83% and a return on equity of 20.50%. The firm had revenue of $9.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.20%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 12th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 69.62%.

About Abbott Laboratories

(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.

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LMG Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 5.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,562 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,799 shares during the quarter. LMG Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,338,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 90.0% in the 1st quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 475 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $656,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Down 0.7 %

NYSE BMY traded down $0.42 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $56.23. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,088,410 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,013,340. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52-week low of $55.69 and a 52-week high of $81.43. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $59.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $63.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $117.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 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 business had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.81 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.93 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.05%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 60.64%.

Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was 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 owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,868 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,706,915. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the businesss 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 completion of the transaction, 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. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BMY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Truist Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $84.00 price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, October 6th. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. SVB Leerink reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $69.29.

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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.

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Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB  Free Report) by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 30,246 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 2,727 shares during the period. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF were worth $3,228,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MUB. WASHINGTON TRUST Co lifted its position in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 20.5% during the second quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 587 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $63,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Family Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 4.2% during the second quarter. Family Asset Management LLC now owns 3,644 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $389,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the period. Horan Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 61.2% during the 2nd quarter. Horan Securities Inc. now owns 9,942 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,061,000 after purchasing an additional 3,776 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its stake in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 29.1% in the 2nd quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 173,013 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $18,466,000 after purchasing an additional 38,962 shares during the period. Finally, Midwest Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Midwest Financial Group LLC now owns 7,974 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $851,000 after buying an additional 169 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares National Muni Bond ETF Stock Down 0.2 %

MUB stock traded down $0.17 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $102.79. 1,646,167 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,967,575. iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a 12 month low of $101.11 and a 12 month high of $108.66. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $104.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $106.00.

iShares National Muni Bond ETF Profile

iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index).

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Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDX  Free Report) by 22.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,532 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 4,367 shares during the period. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLCs holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF were worth $1,355,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of FNDX. Red Tortoise LLC raised its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Red Tortoise LLC now owns 66,655 shares of the companys stock worth $3,837,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 6,540 shares of the companys stock worth $377,000 after buying an additional 181 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 4,830 shares of the companys stock valued at $258,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Advisors Inc. now owns 40,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,227,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares during the period. Finally, PFG Advisors boosted its stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 0.9% during the second quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 29,356 shares of the companys stock worth $1,690,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares in the last quarter.

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Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Stock Down 0.4 %

FNDX traded down $0.25 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $56.15. The company had a trading volume of 54,451 shares, compared to its average volume of 394,561. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $57.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $56.58. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF has a 52 week low of $47.50 and a 52 week high of $59.97. The company has a market capitalization of $11.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.88 and a beta of 1.00.

About Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF

The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (FNDX) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell RAFI Large Company US index. The fund tracks a fundamentally selected and weighted Russell index based on sales, cash flow and dividends\u002Fbuybacks. FNDX was launched on Aug 15, 2013 and is managed by Charles Schwab.

Further Reading

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Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC reduced its position in shares of McDonalds Co. (NYSE:MCD  Free Report) by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,545 shares of the fast-food giants stock after selling 490 shares during the period. McDonalds comprises 4.8% of Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $7,623,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Aspire Private Capital LLC bought a new stake in McDonalds during the first quarter valued at $26,562,950,000. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in McDonalds by 102.0% in the first quarter. Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 101 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new position in McDonalds in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Retirement Group LLC bought a new position in shares of McDonalds during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Adirondack Retirement Specialists Inc. grew its position in shares of McDonalds by 200.0% during the 1st quarter. Adirondack Retirement Specialists Inc. now owns 150 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.60% of the companys stock.

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McDonalds Stock Performance

MCD traded down $2.57 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $248.35. The company had a trading volume of 540,296 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,572,142. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $275.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $285.49. McDonalds Co. has a 12-month low of $234.46 and a 12-month high of $299.35. The stock has a market cap of $180.99 billion, a PE ratio of 23.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.65.

McDonalds Increases Dividend

McDonalds ( NYSE:MCD Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The fast-food giant reported $3.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.40. The business had revenue of $6.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.30 billion. McDonalds had a negative return on equity of 139.57% and a net margin of 33.06%. McDonaldss revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that McDonalds Co. will post 11.52 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Investors of record on Friday, December 1st will be paid a $1.67 dividend. This is a boost from McDonaldss previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. This represents a $6.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 30th. McDonaldss payout ratio is currently 55.93%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on MCD. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of McDonalds from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $310.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 7th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on McDonalds from $325.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Tigress Financial raised their price objective on McDonalds from $330.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 13th. TD Cowen reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $340.00 target price on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their target price on McDonalds from $340.00 to $335.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, McDonalds currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $321.50.

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Insider Buying and Selling at McDonalds

In other McDonalds news, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 5,606 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total transaction of $1,569,680.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 29,031 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,128,680. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other McDonalds news, EVP Heidi B. Capozzi sold 688 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $262.00, for a total value of $180,256.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 19,331 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,064,722. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 5,606 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.00, for a total transaction of $1,569,680.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 29,031 shares in the company, valued at $8,128,680. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 24,443 shares of company stock valued at $6,916,994 over the last three months. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

McDonalds Company Profile

(Free Report)

McDonald's Corporation operates and franchises McDonald's restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company's restaurants offer hamburgers and cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and nuggets, fries, salads, shakes, frozen desserts, sundaes, soft serve cones, bakery items, soft drinks, coffee, and beverages and other beverages, as well as breakfast menu, including muffins, Sausages, biscuit and bagel sandwiches, oatmeal, hash browns, breakfast burritos and hotcakes.

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LGT Group Foundation cut its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 27.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 24,012 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,220 shares during the period. LGT Group Foundations holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $1,581,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. acquired a new position in Molson Coors Beverage in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in Molson Coors Beverage during the second quarter worth $44,000. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 1.2% during the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 217,095 shares of the companys stock worth $14,453,000 after purchasing an additional 2,625 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 24.4% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 19,402 shares of the companys stock worth $1,277,000 after purchasing an additional 3,804 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ziegler Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 5.4% during the second quarter. Ziegler Capital Management LLC now owns 29,599 shares of the companys stock worth $1,949,000 after purchasing an additional 1,511 shares in the last quarter. 73.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on TAP shares. 58.com restated a maintains rating on shares of Molson Coors Beverage in a research note on Monday, June 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Molson Coors Beverage from $61.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Barclays increased their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $67.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $72.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $72.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $65.31.

Molson Coors Beverage Stock Performance

NYSE:TAP opened at $60.05 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.98 billion, a PE ratio of 375.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.86. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $63.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $62.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Molson Coors Beverage has a 12 month low of $46.90 and a 12 month high of $70.90.

Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.78 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $3.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.31 billion. Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.17% and a net margin of 0.31%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Molson Coors Beverage

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, and ready to drink beverages. It provides its products under Aspall Cider, Blue Moon, Coors Original, Hop Valley brands, Leinenkugel's, Miller Genuine Draft, Molson Ultra, Sharp's, Staropramen, and Vizzy Hard Seltzer above premier brands; Bergenbier, Borsodi, Carling, Coors Banquet, Coors Light, Jelen, Kamenitza, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian Lager, Molson Dry, Molson Export, and Niksicko, Ozujsko under the premium brands; and Branik, Icehouse, Keystone, Miller High Life, Milwaukee's Best, and Steel Reserve under the economy brands.

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New York State Teachers Retirement System cut its position in shares of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL  Free Report) by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 246,405 shares of the companys stock after selling 15,326 shares during the quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned about 0.07% of Estee Lauder Companies worth $48,389,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EL. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Estee Lauder Companies by 2.8% in the second quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 20,962 shares of the companys stock worth $4,117,000 after purchasing an additional 571 shares during the period. GAM Holding AG grew its stake in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. GAM Holding AG now owns 116,771 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,932,000 after buying an additional 2,443 shares during the period. GDS Wealth Management raised its stake in Estee Lauder Companies by 54.9% during the 2nd quarter. GDS Wealth Management now owns 39,046 shares of the companys stock worth $7,668,000 after buying an additional 13,844 shares during the period. EA Series Trust bought a new position in Estee Lauder Companies in the second quarter worth approximately $290,000. Finally, IFM Investors Pty Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 2.2% during the second quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 46,423 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,117,000 after acquiring an additional 1,016 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 55.15% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Estee Lauder Companies news, Director Charlene Barshefsky sold 1,796 shares of Estee Lauder Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.93, for a total value of $272,866.28. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 48,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,421,020.85. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Charlene Barshefsky sold 1,796 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.93, for a total transaction of $272,866.28. Following the transaction, the director now owns 48,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,421,020.85. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jane Lauder sold 12,661 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.75, for a total value of $1,933,967.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 55,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,523,450. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 12.77% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Estee Lauder Companies from $164.00 to $155.00 in a report on Tuesday. UBS Group dropped their target price on Estee Lauder Companies from $207.00 to $172.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Barclays cut their target price on Estee Lauder Companies from $162.00 to $137.00 in a research report on Thursday. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their price objective on Estee Lauder Companies from $250.00 to $210.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 21st. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of Estee Lauder Companies from $200.00 to $180.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $200.22.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on EL

Estee Lauder Companies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EL opened at $140.43 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $154.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $188.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.52, a PEG ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 1.05. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has a one year low of $138.14 and a one year high of $283.62.

Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 18th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $3.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.48 billion. Estee Lauder Companies had a return on equity of 21.79% and a net margin of 6.32%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.42 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. will post 3.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Estee Lauder Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were given a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.88%. Estee Lauder Companiess payout ratio is 94.96%.

Estee Lauder Companies Profile

(Free Report)

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools.

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MOSCOW, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and two others injured when a drone was shot down by air defense forces over southern Russia's Belgorod region on Thursday, the regional governor said.

"The bodies of two people were recovered from the rubble by operational services -- a man and a woman," Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, said on his social media channel, adding that a child could still be trapped under the rubble.

Gladkov said the drone was shot down when approaching the city of Belgorod. One residential building was completely destroyed and at least two people were injured by falling debris. 
StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of RPT Realty (NYSE:RPT  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the real estate investment trusts stock.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Raymond James downgraded shares of RPT Realty from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of RPT Realty from $9.50 to $11.50 in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, RPT Realty has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $11.38.

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RPT Realty Price Performance

RPT Realty Announces Dividend

RPT stock opened at $10.52 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $10.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.06. The stock has a market cap of $912.82 million, a PE ratio of 14.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.62. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. RPT Realty has a 1 year low of $8.07 and a 1 year high of $11.67.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 20th were paid a $0.14 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 19th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.32%. RPT Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 76.71%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL bought a new stake in shares of RPT Realty during the second quarter worth $959,000. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its stake in shares of RPT Realty by 6.0% during the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 26,304 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $275,000 after buying an additional 1,496 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of RPT Realty by 38.0% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 140,464 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,468,000 after purchasing an additional 38,679 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in shares of RPT Realty by 40.9% during the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 42,992 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $449,000 after purchasing an additional 12,469 shares during the period. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its holdings in shares of RPT Realty by 1.0% during the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 117,052 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,223,000 after purchasing an additional 1,133 shares during the period. 93.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About RPT Realty

(Get Free Report)

RPT Realty owns and operates a national portfolio of open-air shopping destinations principally located in top U.S. markets. The Company's shopping centers offer diverse, locally-curated consumer experiences that reflect the lifestyles of their surrounding communities and meet the modern expectations of the Company's retail partners.

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RiverPark Advisors LLC reduced its stake in shares of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW  Free Report) by 23.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,486 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 1,065 shares during the period. ServiceNow makes up approximately 1.8% of RiverPark Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. RiverPark Advisors LLCs holdings in ServiceNow were worth $1,959,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. raised its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 4.0% during the second quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. now owns 472 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $265,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. New Hampshire Trust grew its position in ServiceNow by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. New Hampshire Trust now owns 599 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $278,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of ServiceNow by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 1,666 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $774,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp lifted its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 2,454 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,141,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the period. Finally, Alera Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of ServiceNow by 2.7% in the first quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC now owns 928 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $431,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. 87.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at ServiceNow

In related news, CFO Gina Mastantuono sold 386 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $554.89, for a total value of $214,187.54. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 9,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,050,608.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CFO Gina Mastantuono sold 386 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $554.89, for a total transaction of $214,187.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 9,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,050,608.78. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Chirantan Jitendra Desai sold 4,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $592.10, for a total value of $2,664,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 41,307 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,457,874.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 17,192 shares of company stock worth $9,722,355. 0.28% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on ServiceNow from $550.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of ServiceNow from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $640.00 to $650.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of ServiceNow from $547.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Finally, HSBC started coverage on ServiceNow in a research note on Friday, September 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $704.00 price target for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirty-one have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $594.79.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on ServiceNow

ServiceNow Trading Up 1.4 %

NOW stock traded up $7.58 during trading on Thursday, reaching $566.25. 232,125 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,417,777. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $566.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $533.56. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 1 year low of $337.00 and a 1 year high of $614.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $115.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 80.51, a P/E/G ratio of 5.69 and a beta of 1.01.

ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The information technology services provider reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by $0.34. The firm had revenue of $2.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.13 billion. ServiceNow had a return on equity of 11.07% and a net margin of 17.76%. On average, research analysts predict that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 3.59 earnings per share for the current year.

ServiceNow Profile

(Free Report)

ServiceNow, Inc provides enterprise cloud computing solutions that defines, structures, consolidates, manages, and automates services for enterprises worldwide. The company operates the Now platform for workflow automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, process mining, performance analytics, electronic service catalogs and portals, configuration management systems, data benchmarking, encryption, and collaboration and development tools.

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Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:KSANF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 63,900 shares, a decline of 58.3% from the September 15th total of 153,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 639.0 days.

Kansai Paint Price Performance

Shares of KSANF opened at $16.84 on Thursday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $16.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.44. Kansai Paint has a 52 week low of $12.42 and a 52 week high of $16.84.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on KSANF shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Kansai Paint from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Nomura lowered shares of Kansai Paint from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th.

Kansai Paint Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Kansai Paint Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells paints and coatings in Japan, India, Asia, Africa, Europe, and internationally. The company offers decorative coatings for protecting exterior and interior of buildings; protective coatings; automotive refinish coatings; automotive coatings; and industrial coatings that are used in construction machinery, industrial vehicles, steel furniture, external building materials, electronics, and internal coatings and external designs of beverage cans.

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Shares of STAG Industrial, Inc. (NYSE:STAG  Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the six research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $38.71.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of STAG Industrial from $33.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of STAG Industrial from $33.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, August 11th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of STAG Industrial in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $42.00 target price on shares of STAG Industrial in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of STAG Industrial from $41.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Monday.

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Insider Activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On STAG Industrial

In other news, Director Benjamin S. Butcher sold 3,150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.45, for a total value of $114,817.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 38,938 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,419,290.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . In other news, Director Benjamin S. Butcher sold 3,150 shares of STAG Industrial stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.45, for a total value of $114,817.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 38,938 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,419,290.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, Director Benjamin S. Butcher sold 30,000 shares of STAG Industrial stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.47, for a total transaction of $1,094,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 7,088 shares in the company, valued at $258,499.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. AllSquare Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in STAG Industrial in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of STAG Industrial in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. HM Payson & Co. purchased a new stake in shares of STAG Industrial in the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its position in shares of STAG Industrial by 45.0% in the 1st quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 1,006 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of STAG Industrial by 464.1% in the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,303 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 1,072 shares in the last quarter. 88.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

STAG Industrial Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of STAG Industrial stock opened at $35.32 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. STAG Industrial has a 12-month low of $27.08 and a 12-month high of $38.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.40, a PEG ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 1.00. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $35.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $35.30.

About STAG Industrial

(Get Free Report

We are a REIT focused on the acquisition, ownership and operation of industrial properties throughout the United States. We seek to (i) identify properties for acquisition that offer relative value across all locations, industrial property types, and tenants through the principled application of our proprietary risk assessment model, (ii) operate our properties in an efficient, cost-effective manner, and (iii) capitalize our business appropriately given the characteristics of our assets.

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Next Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 67.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 62,847 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 25,381 shares during the period. Charles Schwab comprises approximately 1.6% of Next Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Next Capital Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $3,562,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors P.L.L.C. raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 22.4% during the 2nd quarter. Leonard Rickey Investment Advisors P.L.L.C. now owns 4,743 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $269,000 after purchasing an additional 867 shares in the last quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co raised its position in Charles Schwab by 6.5% during the second quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 2,772 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $157,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. Caliber Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 338.9% in the second quarter. Caliber Wealth Management LLC now owns 38,885 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,204,000 after acquiring an additional 30,026 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in Charles Schwab in the second quarter worth approximately $1,215,000. Finally, Mendota Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 2nd quarter worth $157,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.61% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on SCHW shares. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a report on Thursday, June 15th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Charles Schwab in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $66.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $71.00 to $64.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $70.03.

Insider Activity at Charles Schwab

In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction 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 sale, the chief financial officer now owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total transaction of $217,319.52. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.61, for a total value of $476,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 8,014 shares in the company, valued at approximately $477,714.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 159,599 shares of company stock valued at $10,542,469 over the last quarter. 6.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Charles Schwab Stock Performance

Charles Schwab stock traded down $0.31 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $51.60. The stock had a trading volume of 2,679,948 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,009,566. The company has a 50-day moving average of $58.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The Charles Schwab Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63. The company has a market cap of $91.34 billion, a PE ratio of 15.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.93.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.54% and a net margin of 33.15%. Charles Schwabs quarterly revenue was down 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.97 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.94%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.

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WASHINGTON TRUST Co boosted its position in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 5.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 61,635 shares of the aircraft producers stock after acquiring an additional 3,026 shares during the quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Cos holdings in Boeing were worth $13,015,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. grew its stake in Boeing by 12.6% during the 1st quarter. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. now owns 1,791 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $380,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. LifePro Asset Management raised its holdings in Boeing by 5.8% in the second quarter. LifePro Asset Management now owns 3,244 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $685,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Investment Management of Virginia LLC purchased a new position in Boeing in the first quarter worth approximately $216,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Boeing during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $131,000. Finally, Aureus Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Boeing in the 4th quarter valued at $2,690,000. 61.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently weighed in on BA. UBS Group initiated coverage on Boeing in a research note on Tuesday. They set a buy rating and a $275.00 target price for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Boeing in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a hold rating and a $204.00 price target for the company. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Boeing from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 28th. TheStreet upgraded Boeing from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Boeing from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $225.00 to $300.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $246.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Boeing news, CEO Theodore Colbert III sold 8,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.37, for a total value of $2,026,145.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 59,255 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,124,614.35. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Boeing news, Director Steven M. Mollenkopf purchased 850 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $237.00 per share, for a total transaction of $201,450.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,767 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $892,779. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Theodore Colbert III sold 8,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $238.37, for a total transaction of $2,026,145.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 59,255 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,124,614.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.15% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Boeing Stock Down 2.2 %

Shares of Boeing stock traded down $4.22 on Thursday, hitting $191.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,229,723 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,592,282. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $213.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $211.78. The Boeing Company has a 52-week low of $124.17 and a 52-week high of $243.10. The company has a market capitalization of $115.42 billion, a P/E ratio of -25.89 and a beta of 1.45.

Boeing (NYSE:BA  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The aircraft producer reported ($0.82) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.99) by $0.17. The company had revenue of $19.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.59 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted ($0.37) EPS. Boeings quarterly revenue was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that The Boeing Company will post -3.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Boeing 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.

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Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR  Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at Wolfe Research from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report issued on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a $56.00 target price on the stock. Wolfe Researchs price objective indicates a potential downside of 0.05% from the companys previous close.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on CARR. Argus upped their price objective on Carrier Global from $52.00 to $68.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $45.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Carrier Global from $60.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Carrier Global from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Carrier Global from $54.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $55.53.

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Carrier Global Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of CARR stock opened at $56.03 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $46.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.23, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.41. Carrier Global has a 1-year low of $33.10 and a 1-year high of $60.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $55.40 and a 200-day moving average of $49.62.

Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $6 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.83 billion. Carrier Global had a return on equity of 25.42% and a net margin of 9.87%. The firms revenue was up 15.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.69 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Carrier Global will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Carrier Global

In other news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total value of $9,743,662.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 164,450 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.25, for a total transaction of $9,743,662.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Kyle Crockett sold 6,817 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.22, for a total transaction of $403,702.74. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 42 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,487.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in Carrier Global by 98,174.3% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,790,574,025 shares of the companys stock worth $89,009,435,000 after acquiring an additional 1,788,752,009 shares during the period. Capital International Investors lifted its position in shares of Carrier Global by 38.0% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 78,136,207 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,884,094,000 after buying an additional 21,529,209 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Carrier Global by 712.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 17,482,866 shares of the companys stock worth $799,843,000 after acquiring an additional 15,330,140 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Carrier Global by 83,676.3% during the fourth quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,410,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $346,925,000 after purchasing an additional 8,400,264 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 11.0% in the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 80,757,252 shares of the companys stock worth $4,014,427,000 after purchasing an additional 7,996,941 shares in the last quarter. 91.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Carrier Global Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. The HVAC segment provides products, controls, services, and solutions to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation needs of residential and commercial customers.

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PARIS, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The French government will arrange more chartered flights on Oct. 13 and 14 to repatriate its nationals currently stranded in Israel, the country's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

The ministry said that unaccompanied minors, pregnant women and people with disabilities or in urgent medical conditions will be given priority to board these flights.

The government is also in close contact with the national flag carrier Air France to resume commercial flights to Israel as soon as possible, it added.

On Thursday, a flight was scheduled to leave Tel Aviv at 1440 GMT and reach Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport at 1835 GMT.

The ministry said that at least 12 French nationals were killed, and 17 others were missing in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to address the nation at 1800 GMT on Thursday over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 
This photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

BRUSSELS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- As the world's attention shifted to Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on Wednesday to ask Western countries to continue their aid to Ukraine.

"We spoke about priorities for Ukraine, for defending how to survive during this next winter," Zelensky told reporters before attending a meeting with NATO defense ministers.

"We need some support from the leaders. That is why I am here today," he said, with the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Zelensky named air defense systems as one of his priorities. "It is not just basic words. We need concrete things and we need them in very concrete geographic points on our land," he added.

The NATO-Ukraine meeting secured more support for the country to face the winter conflicts. Stoltenberg said the alliance would provide more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment "to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter."

The new pledge was made when the clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) were drawing the world's attention. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

On Thursday, NATO defense ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant set to join via videoconference. 

This photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks at a press conference during a NATO defense ministers meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a press conference during a NATO defense ministers meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a press conference during a NATO defense ministers meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
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Sen. Bob Menendez is charged with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent in a new indictment.
Former President Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at Benjamin Netanyahu, while praising the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as very smart.
Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in Paris, France, Oct. 11, 2023. Liu Jianchao led a CPC delegation on a visit to France from Oct. 8 to 11. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a CPC delegation on a visit to France from Oct. 8 to 11.

During his visit, Liu met and exchanged views with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces of the French Senate Cedric Perrin, Chairman of the France-China Friendship Group of the French National Assembly Eric Alauzet, General Secretary of the French party Renaissance Stephane Sejourne, General Secretary of the French party Les Republicains Annie Genevard, and representatives from the French business community.

Liu also delivered a speech at the French Institute of International Relations.

The two sides noted that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-France relations have maintained steady and sound growth.

The two sides also agreed on the need to strengthen exchanges between political parties, governments and legislative bodies and to foster people-to-people exchanges so as to promote China-France and China-Europe cooperation, and to jointly address global challenges. 

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with French President's Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne in Paris, France, Oct. 10, 2023. Liu Jianchao led a CPC delegation on a visit to France from Oct. 8 to 11. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces of the French Senate Cedric Perrin in Paris, France, Oct. 9, 2023. Liu Jianchao led a CPC delegation on a visit to France from Oct. 8 to 11. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Liu Jianchao (2nd L), head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Chairman of the France-China Friendship Group of the French National Assembly Eric Alauzet (3rd R) in Paris, France, Oct. 10, 2023. Liu Jianchao led a CPC delegation on a visit to France from Oct. 8 to 11. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with General Secretary of the French party Renaissance Stephane Sejourne in Paris, France, Oct. 9, 2023. Liu Jianchao led a CPC delegation on a visit to France from Oct. 8 to 11. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivers a speech at the French Institute of International Relations in Paris, France, Oct. 10, 2023. Liu Jianchao led a CPC delegation on a visit to France from Oct. 8 to 11. (Xinhua/Qiao Benxiao)
As the fascistic Israeli regime pounds the Gaza strip with American bombs and carries out collective punishment against the civilian population of Palestine, DSA Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has condemned pro-Palestinian protests, calling for them to be shut down.

It should not be so hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it, she said, repeating the lie that Palestine equates to racism and antisemitism. Ocasio-Cortezs call to make it easier to shut down protests come as New York City Mayor Eric Adams has come under pressure for refusing to stop the pro-Palestine protest that took place in Times Square on Sunday and are part of a massive propaganda campaign to intimidate and suppress anti-war views.

The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment, Ocasio-Cortez continued before issuing a one-sided denunciation of Hamas for carrying out what she called horrifying attacks against innocent civilians. The New York congressperson made no reference to the fact that the Israeli military is currently conducting crimes against humanity against the inhabitants of the Gaza strip, killing thousands and cutting their access to electricity, water and food.

Ocasio-Cortez has long been a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party, but now she is revealing herself to be nothing but an unprincipled political fraud. Last year she wept and begged for forgiveness after failing to vote against a multi-billion-dollar bill to arm the Israeli Defense Forces. Now that the weapons she and the DSA helped the IDF procure are raining down on 2.3 million people in Gaza, Ocasio-Cortez demands all opposition be shut down in the language of a thuggish police chief.

The DSA and its elected officials have responded by denouncing or distancing themselves from pro-Palestinian protests as well.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman, a DSA member who voted for the bill arming Israel last year, issued a statement saying he was shocked and disgusted by the rally held here in NY this weekend celebrating death. He presented the anti-war protesters as Nazis who were showing swastikas, adding, I condemn any demonstration that does this in the strongest possible terms. He then urged the US and the global community to stand up for all life while saying nothing about the Israeli governments ruthless campaign against Gaza.

New York assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a DSA member, also denounced the anti-war rally, saying, My support for Palestinian liberation should never be confused for a celebration of the loss of civilian life. I condemn the killing of civilians and rhetoric at a rally [on Sunday] seeking to make light of such deaths.

The claim that the rally was a celebration of the loss of life is a foul slander. Protesters, including many Palestinians, were opposing the crimes of the Israeli government, which sparked the rebellion.

In any case, the coordinated denunciations of the rally began before the rally took place and have nothing to do with whatever rhetoric the DSA assemblymember found objectionable. The day before the rally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement saying, The people of Israel are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings. I condemn plans to rally in Times Square tomorrow in support of the perpetrators of these horrific actions. The planned rally is abhorrent and morally repugnant. Previously, the DSA-aligned Jacobin had promoted Hochul as being responsive to socialist demands.

After the rally took place, the New York City DSA issued a pathetic statement apologizing for the fact that the group promoted it in a post on X (formerly Twitter):

On Saturday, in anticipation of escalatory violence to come, we tweeted a promotion of a rally in solidarity with the people of Palestine. We understand why many, including our allies, were shocked by the timing and the tone of this message in a moment of profound fear and grief. We are sorry for the confusion our post caused and for not making our values explicit.

This statement makes their pro-imperialist values quite explicit. Translated into plain English, it reads, We apologize for re-tweeting a post about an anti-war rally. We understand why many, including our handlers in the Democratic Party and the military-intelligence apparatus, were upset about the slip up. We promise to support the narrative from the White House and the corporate media about the war, and we will endeavor to make our spines more flexible than ever.

The DSAs statement is consistent with the position taken at their national convention, when the DSA refused to even place a resolution calling on support for Palestine on the convention agenda.

For their actions in support of the US-backed Israeli war against Palestine, Ocasio-Cortez and the DSA have won the praise of neo-conservative and Iraq War proponent Bret Stephens, who wrote a column in the New York Times Tuesday titled The anti-Israel left needs to take a hard look at itself. In the article, Stevens froths in anger at left-wing opposition as terminally self-righteous and calls supporters of Palestine cheerleaders for slaughter, but says Not all the far left is so far gone, praising Ocasio-Cortezs statements and referring to her as the [DSAs] most prominent member.

For all the DSAs efforts to claim their subservience to the Democratic Party is necessary to pressure the party to move to the left, recent events have exposed this as nothing but lies. The Biden administration, which Ocasio-Cortez has already endorsed for a second term, denounced the statements by the DSA representatives on the grounds that it is unacceptable to make even passing reference to the conditions that exist in Gaza under Israeli occupation. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called such statements wrong, repugnant and disgraceful, adding, Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped hundreds, hundreds of Israelis. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides.

The DSAs denunciation of anti-war and pro-Palestinian protests is yet another example of the role the organization has long played in supporting US imperialism by suppressing opposition to war and capitalism and directing it away from genuinely revolutionary politics.
A number of spontaneous pro-Palestinian demonstrations have taken place in Germany this week, despite efforts by the government, police and courts to ban all protests against the Israeli armys brutal crackdown on Gaza.

On Saturday evening, about 50 people demonstrated in solidarity with Palestinians in the Neukolln district of Berlin. Police broke up the protest by force stating that, according to a police spokesperson, public safety was threatened by anti-Israel and violence-glorifying chants and the wearing of masks.

Part of the pro-Palestinian demonstration in Duisburg, October 9, 2023

On Monday evening, more than 100 demonstrators expressed their support for Palestinians in Duisburg. The mostly young participants waved Palestine flags and held up homemade placards. The demonstration, which began at Bruckenplatz, Hockfeld, near the city centre, was accompanied by a huge contingent of press and television media as well as police. A hundred police officers, dog handlers, motorbike police and numerous plainclothes officers were deployed.

Formerly an industrial area, Hochfeld is now one of the poorest and most heavily migrant districts in the city. More than one in four adults receives basic social security and among under-15s this figure rises to over 50 percent.

The association Palastina Solidaritat Duisburg had registered the demonstration at short notice. The police in Duisburg also moved against the participants, although according to their own statement the protest was trouble-free. They took two people into custody and the public prosecutors office is investigating some participants, alleging they disturbed the public peace with their statements, which were made in a foreign language.

Jamal at the demonstration in Duisburg

In fact, the demonstration was characterised above all by expressions of solidarity with Palestinians suffering under occupation. I condemn violence in any form. But the Palestinians are in the process of liberating themselves. Palestine is occupied and Israel is the occupying power, said Jamal, who came to Germany from Palestine with his parents 44 years ago. I have more in common with Germany than with Palestine. But I feel for the people from whom my parents came and the land from which they were expelled several times.

Jamal addressed the vile hypocrisy of the German and American governments. It has always been brushed aside, nobody cared when the Israelis expelled the Palestinians. UN resolutions have been passed against Israel. But nothing has happened. Now the Palestinians are reacting, they want to liberate themselves. And all hell is breaking loose all over the world. Everyone is turning against the oppressed. And thats not fair. Its one-sided, its not okay, its inhuman. For my part everyone is a human being, no matter where they come from or where they live. When the Israelis are terrorised, everyone shouts out loud, and justifiably. But when Palestinians or Afghans are terrorised, it doesnt matter. Thats not OK. Thats why Im here.

Asked about the Israeli government and its terrorisation of Palestinians, Jamal replied, Youve seen the demonstrations by Israelis against their right-wing government. How strong is the rule of law or democracy in Israel? The nation-state law, according to which the state of Israel is reserved for the Jewish population, excludes all non-Jews. Thats democracy for Europe and the US, but for me its not democratic.

A participant in the pro-Palestinian demonstration in Duisburg

Jamal referred to interviews he has seen with far-right Israelis: They say Palestine is their land and that Arabs should clear off. But excuse me, I cant do anything with that. Thats what Muslim fanatics also say.

Asked about the prospect of Israeli and Palestinian, Jewish and Muslim workers uniting, Jamal replied, That would be brilliant. Honestly, this is an issue that makes my life hard because I think as long as there are religious fanatics on both sides, there will be no peace. I wish that, after the Israelis have suffered as much as the Palestinians, people on both sides would get fed up with violence. We have to work togetherall religions living in peace.

Events in Israel and the Occupied Territories were also the subject of discussion at the joint meeting of action committees of German rail, postal and public service workers, which is mobilising workers to unite independently of the trade unions to assert their rights and prepare strikes.

There was unanimous solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people at the meeting, with many workers sharing links to families in the Middle East, the Arab and Muslim world.

M.M. who comes from Iraq and is a shunting attendant and member of the Rail Action Committee, said he found it remarkable that the reporting on the conflict was as one-sided as it was. One only heard what one was supposed to hear. In the runup to the meeting, he had already told the WSWS: Anyone who doesnt just read the BILD tabloid newspaper naturally knows whats going on: the Palestine-Israel conflict goes back 75 years.

War is never a pretty thing, M.M. stressed, but a snake that drives you into a corner will eventually bite. The world is slowly beginning to understand what the conflict is about: so many Palestinians have already lost their own children and had to bury them. He referred to the children and young people who have been snatched from Gaza and disappeared in Israeli prisons over the years, or who have been killed in Israeli bombing raids.

He said: These people had to bury their own children. Im sure thats true of many of those who have taken hostages in Israel now. M.M. raised the social situation of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip, with its just over 2 million inhabitants, Thats several million Palestinians, and you have to realise that only a fraction of them have certificates to work inside Israel, because everything in Gaza has been destroyed. And when there is such high unemployment, you can imagine that at some point a father or mother of a family, no longer able to feed their family, will side with those who are trying to change things.

He adds: One thing that I personally find really bad here in Germany is that, as a worker, you dont even have the right to do anything anymore, to work and contribute anything, to feed your family. M.M. reported that his family originally came from Iraq, where more than a million civilians were killed in the US invasion and occupation. Other workers came from Syria and have their own experiences in Germany, i.e., of subsisting for five years without a work permit and not being allowed to leave the city.

M.M. emphasised that the new Middle East conflict did not come out of the blue. The same applies to the conflict with Russia, by the way, he concluded. Since 2015, tens of thousands of Russians have been under siege in eastern Ukraine, but nobody talks about that here. Now, regarding Israel and Palestine, journalists only say what benefits the government. Its the same in the world of work: we are only shown in public what helps the political elite, while we are left in the lurch.
Facing mounting demands from rank-and-file workers for an all-out strike, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain called out 8,700 workers at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville Wednesday. Workers received no advance notice and were told to walk out of the giant plant yesterday evening, with UAW Local 862 hastily organizing pickets.

While there was widespread enthusiasm among workers over finally walking out, Fains sudden move is an attempt to get ahead of the growing revolt against his stand up strike policy, which has kept the vast majority of GM, Ford and Stellantis workers on the job since their contracts expired September 15. Even with the KTP workers out now, there are only 34,000or 23 percentof the 146,000 Big Three workers on strike.

Autoworkers at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky.

Some people are worried about how they will be able to support their families but a lot of people are OK with the strike and wishing there will be progress with this contract, a KTP worker told the WSWS. I do not believe Im getting an honest days pay. I want the outcome to be where I am paid what I am worth.

Another KTP worker described conditions in the plant, saying workers are pushed beyond their physical limits. When they fail to keep pace on the assembly line, they get written up, suspended or even terminated. I was on a job that was timed for 43 seconds. It was a super physical, impossible job, under a lot of pressure. The union did nothing. They act like their hands are tied by the contract. The work we do takes a toll on your body.

Workers at KTP produce heavy duty F-Series trucks and Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator large SUVs. The Expedition has one of the largest inventories of any of the top 30 selling models, with 119 days supply. Once again, Fain did not call out workers at the Dearborn, Michigan, or Kansas City assembly plants, which produce Fords top-selling F-150 pickups.

Previous to KTP, the UAW only called Ford workers out at one and a half plants in Michigan and Illinois. The UAW has largely spared the company, claiming that significant progress had been made towards reaching a contract.

Now, the UAW claims, talks have broken down. David Firkins, Bargaining Committee Person for UAW Local 862, told the Louisville Courier Journal that the International UAW went to the table to negotiate with Ford Wednesday, but the automaker was not willing to negotiate. Around 6 p.m., Firkins got a call from Fain, UAW Vice President Chuck Browning, and Jon Jaggers, a national negotiator out of Loval 862, telling him Were going to walk the plant tonight, the newspaper reported. Firkins said what it comes down to is Ford is not willing to negotiate battery plants and ensure a just transition for workers.

In fact, the transformative agreement that the UAW claimed it reached with GM last week to include its EV battery plants in the national UAW agreement will only ensure that the low-paid workers in these plants will pay dues to the UAW. In exchange for this supposed just transition, the UAW bureaucracy has already agreed to the shutdown of dozens of plants and the elimination of tens of thousands of jobs.

The UAW has promised the Biden White House that it would control the autoworkers and end the strike, and the union is every bit as intent as the Big Three on keeping workers under contract and on the line. However, to contain what is now undeniably a rebellion of the rank and file, it must appear to have waged a fight and to have secured concessions prior to any contract agreement. Viewed in this light, Fains late move to add a major plant should be taken as a warning to autoworkers that a sellout could be soon announced.

The UAW bureaucracy is also trying to regain credibility after the staggering rebuke it received from Mack Truck workers, who voted by a three-to-one margin last Sunday to defeat a contract endorsed by Fain as a record contract in the heavy truck industry. Opposition to the sellout was organized by Will Lehman, who ran as socialist candidate for UAW president last year on the program of transferring power from the UAW apparatus to workers on the shopfloor, and the Mack Trucks Rank-and-File Committee.

Nearly 4,000 Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida went out on strike Monday. The Mack Trucks Rank-and-File Committee issued an open letter to Fain on Tuesday, demanding an all-out strike at the Big Three so workers in both the auto and truck manufacturing industries could win their just demands.

Mack Trucks worker Will Lehman (left) speaking to Ford Kentucky Truck workers in August 2022

A striking worker at the Macungie plant and member of the rank-and-file committee told the WSWS, We were upset that they put an extension and didnt honor our vote to strike. Once we found out that the contract does nothing for us and had no benefit for the workers who have been screwed over the last 10 years, we voted it down.

Were trying to unite with the workers in the Big Three because were all fed up. Now is the time. The fact that the workers who build the pickups for Ford and the other companies are not part of this strike is wrong.

It would be a lot better if it was all of us, joining together and standing together. That would get us a much better outcome. It would let the companies know they cant treat us this way and that we will stand together to fight for our rights. We need COLA and everything else the companies are fighting against us to get.

There is nothing being said in the media about ongoing negotiations, he added. We need to get the information about what is going on. We also need to get our open letter out so workers can learn about our strike.

Fains Stand-up strike strategy: Profits for the Big Three, layoffs for autoworkers

Since the strikes start on September 15, financial analysts have noted that it has done little impede either production or profits. This sort of nothing to see here commentary in the business press has continued. A Wall Street Journal article published Wednesday reported that when UAW President Shawn Fain didnt escalate a walkout last Friday as had been expected [that] GMs shares have since risen about 4 percent.

While Fain and the UAW keep workers on the job who voted overwhelmingly to strike, those same workers are vulnerable to retaliatory layoffs by the corporations. This was confirmed by a CBS MoneyWatch report issued Wednesday, which noted that the Big Three are laying off thousands of UAW workers under the claim that the plants have been hurt by the UAWs policy of isolated strikes. Automakers say they are forced to lay off those workers because their job tasks are tied to factories the UAW has called on to strike, the report notes.

On Monday, Stellantis laid off 570 workers at plants in Indiana and Michigan, Ford laid off 537 in Michigan and Ohio, and GM laid off another 155 in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. All told, auto workers laid off during the stand up strike so far include 2,330 at General Motors, 1,865 at Ford, and 640 at Stellantis.

Those men and women laid off4,835 in allcould have been workers on strike. Now they are workers without jobs. Any strike settlement must include the restoration of their jobs, with full pay for the days lost.

Meanwhile, Fains stand up strategy has left the most crucial Big Three plants in full production, singling out for strikes those that cause the least disruption to the industryand to the profits of the CEOs and shareholders.

UAW to striking Jeep workers: Visit the food pantry

While the UAW sits on a massive strike fund and over $1 billion in assets, it distributed a flier to striking Jeep workers advising them to seek food assistance from charities including the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.

The pamphlet also lists hotline phone numbers with United Way and another regional charity so that workers can get help finding resources for energy bills, housing, etc.. It even lists two phone numbers for Domestic Violence Shelters.

A flier distributed to UAW workers encouraging them to visit food banks

One of the tried-and-true ways the UAW undermines the strikes it nominally leads is by stringing workers out on the meager strike pay of $500 per week. It does so by claiming that anything more than starvation strike pay will undermine its strike fund.

The WSWS exposed all of the UAWs claims about its strike fund in an article titled Six facts autoworkers need to know about the UAW strike fund. It started with the fact that the $825 million strike fund could sustain all 146,000 UAW members at the Detroit Three automakers at $500 per week for 11 weeks and $750 per week for seven weeks.
On Tuesday evening, hundreds of supporters of the Palestinian people filled to overflowing the Community Arts Auditorium in the largely Arab-American Detroit suburb of Dearborn to show their opposition to the Israeli onslaught against Gaza, which has been given the full backing of the US government and imperialist governments around the world.

A section of the audience at the Dearborn rally to defend the Palestinians

The event took place following the televised speech by President Joe Biden earlier on Tuesday giving 100 percent backing to the murderous Israeli attacks on Gaza. In the first few days of the Israeli war on the tiny enclave, among the most densely populated areas in the world and described by United Nations officials as an open air prison, the fascistic regime of Benjamin Netanyahu has cut off supplies of food, water and electricity. Israeli missiles have leveled apartment buildings as well as schools, mosques and hospitals, killing over a thousand people and wounding at least 5,000 more, mostly women and children.

Speakers and attendees opposed Bidens characterization of the Palestinian incursion into Israel on Saturday and Palestinian resistance in general as pure evil, as well as the administrations blank check for Israels genocidal response. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other Democratic officials also came under strong criticism for announcing full support for Israels reprisals against Gaza.

At a Rally for Israel in the Detroit suburb of Southfield on Monday night, Whitmer, along with other Michigan Democrats, including state Attorney General Dana Nessel, Detroit Congresswoman Haley Stevens and US Senator Gary Peters, gave full support to Israels right to defend itself. They said nothing about the long history of Israeli massacres of Palestinians by means of which the Zionist state was established on land stolen from the native inhabitants, nor did they mention Israels occupation of additional Palestinian territories by means of war, or its suppression of popular resistance through police-state violence. They made no mention of the deliberate bombing of Gazan civilians currently underway.

The opening speaker at the Dearborn rally, Amer Zahr, president of New Generation for Palestine, a local community group that helped sponsor the event, denounced racism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing by Israel.

When Joe Biden says Israel has a right to defend itself, he said, he means Israel has a right to murder Palestinian children. Today it has been reported Biden did not urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to exercise restraint he gave a green light for genocide.

Other speakers detailed the horrific repression that is a fact of daily life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Attending the event were Palestinians and others with family roots in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and other Middle Eastern countries. A show of hands revealed there were also a significant number of Jewish supporters of the Palestinian cause in attendance.

A few lower-level Democratic Party officials in attendance distanced themselves from the statements of the Biden administration, while failing to acknowledge that support for the Israeli onslaught was nearly unanimous among Democratic officeholders and officials, the corporate media, and the US political establishment as a whole.

A World Socialist Web Site campaign team distributed hundreds of copies of the statement issued by the International Committee of the Fourth International titled, Down with Netanyahus government! Stop the imperialist-backed Zionist onslaught against Gaza!

Many workers and young people stopped to express their agreement with the call to mobilize working people in Palestine, Israel and all over the world in defense of the people of Gaza. The WSWS campaign team explained that Palestinians should look not to the capitalist governments of the world, including the Arab bourgeois regimes, but to the international working class for support.

A Lebanese-American woman attending the rally told the WSWS she supported the struggle of the Gazans. As for Joe Biden and all the congressmen and women, for leaders all over the world, you have to stand up for what is right or you dont know the meaning of dignity, of humanity.

Palestinian people, Lebanese people, Gazans, Syrian people, Iraqi people, people all over the world, they have the right to live in dignity and live free and live safely.

In response to Netanyahus denunciation of Palestinians as animals, she said, They are the terrorists. They should be out of their positions. They are ruining the world. Go find cures for sickness, dont kill people. Dont make enemies between this country and other countries. Dont ruin countries that were built by the hard work of the employees.

Dont spend billions to kill people. Spend money to find jobs for the people, build houses for the homeless.

A young Lebanese-American woman told of her familys experiences after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. I am not voting for Biden. I am proud to support Palestine, she said.

I was little. They took my mom in front of our eyes. They accused her of things she didnt do. This is not right. Israel was taking our lands in Lebanon.

I saw the other day they (Israelis) searched a girl who was going to school. After she turned around they shot her in the back. Do you think that is right? They were searching her for no reason. She said she was going to school.

Cameron, a restaurant worker, said he was drawn to the rally because he has always been interested in the Palestinian issue. He said, I don't understand how the US government takes the policy that it does on Israel and Palestine. I didn't expect what happened in Gaza. I'm horrified.

He connected the eruption of violence on the part of the government of Israel with other recent explosions of imperialist militarism and violence. 'Israel supplies the Azerbaijani military with most of their weapons, he said. The only reason Azerbaijan was able to blockade Nagorno-Karabakh was with those weapons. Even with Israel receiving 40 percent of its oil from Azerbaijan, it doesn't justify ethnic cleansing. It's not surprising that such a state, such an ally of Azerbaijan, would engage in ethnic cleansing as well.

And look at General Dynamics. It's stock went up a dramatic percentage in the last few days. That can be directly tied to the supply of arms to Israel.

He also connected the impact of nationalism with these atrocities. I would definitely argue that nationalism is used more to subjugate people instead of uniting them, he said. Seldom do I see a country where nationalism is used in the context of freeing peoples.

Another young worker, Alia, said, The Palestinian movement runs very deep in my family. I have family members who were murdered in their homes after they refused to leave when Israel told them to evacuate.

Alia

Two years ago, during the protests for Palestine, my mom detailed what it was like growing up during the occupation. She was really young, my Dad was much older.

I learned that when Israel occupied Beirut, he was part of the freedom fighters who were trying to liberate the city. My mother told of hearing missiles pass overhead.

After years of tensions caused by Israel, he got so tired of it all he told her, We are not going to leave, we are not going to evacuate. If we are going to die, we are going to die here.

Watching home family videos, I learned about my grandmothers side of the family as well, who experienced having to evacuate their village.
The three leading Democrats running to become Californias next US senator, Representatives Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, appeared at a National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) Leadership Conference forum on Sunday, October 8, in Los Angeles. In the two-hour forum, the candidates answered pre-selected questions submitted in advance by members and screened by the union.

From left to right, California Democratic Reps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, and Barbara Lee, October 8, 2023, Los Angeles, California. [Photo: National Union of Healthcare Workers]

At the conclusion of the forum, the NUHW, which claims to represent 17,000 California healthcare workers, announced that its members will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for the unions endorsement.



On Wednesday the union announced that their members had voted to endorse Porter by 48 percent, followed by Lee with 27 percent and Schiff with 21 percent. Five percent selected no endorsement.



It is unclear exactly how many of the 17,000 healthcare workers actually voted or even watched the event, as the union did not release any actual vote totals.



This Senate seat had been held since 1992 by Dianne Feinstein, a right-wing multimillionaire warhawk who died last month. In the aftermath of Feinsteins death, California Governor Gavin Newsom, fulfilling an earlier promise to appoint a black woman to the seat, named Laphonza Butler to serve the remainder of Feinsteins term, through 2024.



Butler, the former president of EMILYs List, is a longtime Democratic operative and union official, as well as a senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris. As president of EMILYs List, Butler oversaw the pumping of $10 million from the organization into Harriss 2020 presidential campaign.



Joining virtually all Democratic and Republican senators and representatives, over the weekend Butler posted on Twitter/X her all-out support for the Israeli governments near-genocidal campaign against the Palestinians.



The United States must stand strongly with Israel as it defends itself against this act of aggression, and I will work in the US Senate with my colleagues to ensure support for the Jewish State of Israel, Butler wrote on October 7.



At Sundays forum, all three candidates attempted to assert their progressive credentials along with their unstinting support for US imperialism abroad and austerity at home. Notably, none of the questions permitted by the NUHW were centered on the Democratic Partys leading role in prosecuting the war in Ukraine or on the Biden administrations resumption of constructing Trumps barbaric southern border wall.



Adam Schiff, the most right-wing of the three candidates, argued that his over 20 years of experience in Washington, which includes supporting wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine and now Israel, made him the best candidate to be able to actually get things done.



Katie Porter, the youngest and least tenured candidate, presented herself as an outsider who has never taken money from corporations or lobbyists. Porter does accept thousands of dollars from Democratic-affiliated political action committees, such as EMILYs List and Digidems.



Barbara Lee touted her over 25 years of experience in Congress and leaned on her identity as a screen for her pro-capitalist politics. Lee described discrimination she has faced as a black woman, which she claimed helped her to better understand the problems that impact US society.



Whatever veneer of progressivism the candidates attempted to conjure faded as soon as the conversation shifted to the hostilities in Israel. All three condemned Hamass incursion and stated their unequivocal support for the fascistic Israeli governments alleged right to self-defense.



Schiff described that his support was unequivocal: Right now Israel is being brutally attacked. It is a victim of terrorist attacks. The only sentiment I want to express right now, when Israel is going through its own 9/11, is unequivocal support for the security and the right of Israel to defend itself.  The only message I have for Israel right now is that I stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people.



In an equally warmongering statement, Porter declared that she stood with Israel at this time and blamed the Biden administration for allowing terrorism to flourish.



The US has allowed terrorism to flourish and has refused to take a strong enough stand against Iran, who is backing Hamas and Hezbollah, Porter claimed.

Palestinians evacuate the wounded following an Israeli aerial bombing on a residential complex in Jabaliya, near Gaza City, Wednesday, October 11, 2023. [AP Photo/Mohammad Al Masri]

Lee, like Schiff, reiterated her support for Israel. I have always stood for Israel not having to deal with terrorist attacks and have condemned over and over against terrorist attacks against Israel. She then offered her worthless thoughts and prayers for all those killed and called for a ceasefire.



The Democratic representatives unwavering support for the Israeli government is a warning to workers in the US and internationally. Any politician supporting the mass killing of Palestinians is willing to support the same criminal policies in Europe, Asia, Africa or within the United States itself.



Other topics raised at the forum included healthcare, housing, homelessness and the trade unions, with every candidate proposing surface-level solutions that would not encroach on capitalist property relations or Wall Street profits.



Each of the candidates expressed similar positions, with all them paying lip service to nominally progressive demands, such as lower medical costs, Medicare for All(which President Joe Biden has promised to veto), more federal support for affordable housing and increasing the minimum wage, something a Democratic-controlled Congress and Biden administration failed to accomplish during 2021 and 2022 due to the supposedly awesome power of the Senate parliamentarian, who excluded the minimum wage from several reconciliation bills.



The bourgeois politicians studiously avoided any critique of the capitalist system, obscuring the source of poverty, war, inequality and fascism. Instead, each candidate reduced the historic crisis to simply greedy corporations and CEOs who made excessive profits.

Given the forum, it was unsurprising that every Democrat expressed his or her devotion to the trade union bureaucracy, keenly aware of the immense role the trade union apparatus plays in suffocating and isolating the growing movement of the working class against the entire capitalist system.



All the candidates bragged about showing their solidarity with striking workers by pointing to photo-ops they participated in at picket lines. None of the candidates were asked to square their alleged solidarity with striking workers with their yes votes on House Joint Resolution 100, which banned railroad workers from striking last year.



Notably, all three candidates boasted about their support for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act. While Democrats and the pseudo-left, for years, have hawked this legislation as a panacea for inequality and even climate change, in reality, its aim is to trap workers within the discredited AFL-CIO bureaucracy in order to kneecap the development of an independent movement of the working class outside of the pro-capitalist and nationalist trade unions.


National Unity party leader Benny Gantz, one of the two most prominent leaders of the opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus bid to establish a dictatorship, has lost no time in joining his wartime national unity government. Its aim is the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

Gantz was chief of staff in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from 2011 to 2015, when he led the murderous assaults on Gaza in 2012 and 2014. The 2012 operation killed 177 Palestinians, while the 50-day assault in 2014 claimed close to 2,200 Palestinian lives, overwhelmingly civilians, and destroyed much of the enclaves infrastructure.

Gantz served as defence minister and deputy prime minister under a previous Netanyahu government, when he presided over Israels 11-day war on Gaza in May 2021 that killed more than 250 Palestinians, including at least 66 children and 41 women.

The emergency government was formed on Wednesday afternoon after Likud Prime Minister Netanyahu and Gantz met in the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv for just 30 minutes. Apart from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, all of Netanyahus far-right and religious coalition partners agreed.

Gantz will sit in a special war cabinet alongside Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to plan the genocidal slaughter of the Palestinians in Gaza already underway. His loyalty throughout the past 10 months and today is to the Zionist state, which he will defend no matter what bloody crimes are required.

Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, long-time Likud party member turned Netanyahu opponent Gideon Saar and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will join the special war cabinet as observers, as will opposition lawmakers Hili Tropper and Yifat Shasha-Biton. Saar will join the cabinet while five members of Gantzs National Unity party will serve as ministers without portfolio for the duration of the war.

The only major figure in the leadership of the opposition not to have already signed up is Yair Lapid, who has a seat reserved for him. Lapid was the first opposition figure to propose a coalition but wanted the exclusion of the leaders of Netanyahus two fascistic coalition partners, Bazalel Smotrich of Religious Zionism and Itamar Ben-Gvir of Jewish Power.

The Times of Israel reported this week that there had been weeks of secret discussions with Netanyahu, but Lapid cautioned that a government with two fascist provocateurs in its leadership would not be able to maintain the national unity necessary to wage a long and likely multi-front war.

The Labor Partys Efrat Rayten already wrote last weekend that she would support the government for the duration of the war and every serious political offer which will assist to manage the confrontation, while also demanding, The extreme elements which have failed at their job must be removed from the government immediately and replace them with experienced and responsible professionals.

Whatever Lapids tactical concerns, he has insisted publicly that an emergency government is needed to make clear to our enemies that the overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens stand behind the Israeli army and defence agencies. Last March, he denounced Netanyahu for sacking Gallant, who had called on the prime minister to scrap his proposals to neuter the judiciary, saying it constituted a new low for the anti-Zionist government that harms national security and ignores warnings of all defence officials.

Lapid portrayed Gallant as a hero and made him the cause celebre of the protest movement. Reinstated on April 10, Gallant resumed his leadership of the military and settler provocations targeting the West Bank and launched five days of unremitting air strikes on Gaza in May, hitting 370 targets and killing 35 Palestinians.

No less than Gantz, Gallant was a war criminal then and is a war criminal now. As commander of the IDFs Southern Command, Gallant was in charge of Operation Cast Lead in 2008-9, the brutal war on Hamas in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of 1,400 Palestinians, including some 300 children and hundreds of unarmed civilians, including more than 115 women and 85 men aged over 50. The Israeli NGO Yesh Gvul unsuccessfully filed suit against Gallants appointment as IDF chief of staff, claiming that his command role in Cast Lead confirmed him as a suspect in grave violations of international law.

Gallant is now presiding over an assault compared to which Operation Cast Lead pales. Having activated an unprecedented 360,000 reservists, many already gathered on Gazas borders, he is expected to launch a ground invasion shortly. Israel said it had fully deployed 35 military battalions and four divisions and was building an infrastructure for future operations.

Indiscriminate aerial bombardment by Israel has already killed over 1,200 in Gaza, on top of the 1,500 Hamas fighters killed during the Al Aqsa Flood incursion. Large swathes of infrastructure and housing already lie in ruins and the Strips 2.3 million inhabitants have been denied any possibility of flight by Israels bombing and closure of the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

The US is now speaking of an agreement to allow a few thousand US citizens to leave Gaza into Egypt.

Israels real aims have been given their most grotesque expression by Gallant himself, who stated at the weekend, We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed.

In a further fascist rant, he told IDF troops on the border Tuesday, I have released all the restraints, we have [regained] control of the area, and we are moving to a full offense You will have the ability to change the reality here. You have seen the prices [being paid], and you will get to see the change. Hamas wanted a change in Gaza; it will change 180 degrees from what it thought. They will regret this moment; Gaza will never go back to what it was.

It is now clear for all to see that Gantz and Lapid never represented any form of progressive alternative to dictatorship and authoritarianism, much less to war against the Palestinians, Iran and its allies. Their opposition to Netanyahu stemmed solely from their fear that he and his far-right coalition partners were threatening Israels global standing, above all in the Jewish community in the United States, by tearing down the states thin democratic veneer and splintering an already deeply polarised society to the point of civil war.

No attempt was ever made to bring down his government, despite overwhelming opposition. Now, amid widespread criticisms of the disastrous impact of his policies, of military and security failures, and questions raised as to how much he knew of a potential action by Hamas, it is the opposition that has rushed to prop up Netanyahu and his far-right allies.

Gantz and company could only channel discontent behind an orgy of Israeli flag waving and professions of patriotism because the mass movement encompassing broad sections of the middle class, youth and workers never embraced a conscious opposition to the nationalist ideology of Zionism and did not make a defence of the Palestinians central to their demand for democracy.

Bitter experience has proven that there can be no genuine democracy for anyone, Jews included, in a state based on religious exclusivism and the forcible expulsion and brutal repression of the Palestinians. The only outcome to such a project is fascism, war and genocide.

The Zionist protest movement has collapsed and cannot be revived. It is necessary now for Jewish workers who do not want to see the Middle East run with rivers of blood to take a stand against nationalism. They must adopt a socialist strategy based on the revolutionary unification of Jewish and Arab workers in a common strugglebeginning by workers in Israel taking a stand in defence of the Palestinians and against this filthy war.

Formulating such an opposition begins with the most farsighted workers and youth familiarising themselves with the historical and strategic lessons drawn by the world Trotskyist movement and its revolutionary socialist and internationalist alternative to the nightmare of Zionism.
The right-wing, US-aligned governments of India and Sri Lanka have joined their imperialist masters in denouncing the Palestinian uprising against decades of brutal occupation, and in supporting the Netanyahu governments barbaric onslaught on the people of Gaza.

On Saturday, just hours after Hamas fighters had broken through Israels more than 15-year blockade of Gaza, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a tweet declaring, We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.

Modi, who heads a government synonymous with communal incitement and violence and who as the states Chief Minister presided over the 2002 Gujarat anti-Muslim pogrom, joined US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in hypocritically denouncing terrorism. He declared India to be deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel.  We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, on his arrival for a state visit in January 2018. [Photo: Government of Israel ]

Three days later, following a telephone call from the Israeli prime minister, Modi indicated his governments full-throated support for the criminal actions taken by the Netanyahu regimeits cutting off of Gazas access to all food, water, energy, and medicine; massive aerial bombardment of Gaza in which entire neighbourhoods have been flattened; and preparations for a genocidal ground assault on the tiny enclave that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians.

I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu, tweeted Modi in a brief statement subsequently re-issued by his office, for providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Modis embrace of the Netanyahu government as it perpetrates horrific war crimes attests to the very close and utterly reactionary military-strategic ties New Delhi has forged with Tel Aviv under his nearly decade-old BJP government. In their common animus toward Muslims, there is also a strong bond of ideological affinity between the BJP Hindu supremacists and Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners.

However, Indias staunch support for Israel in its one-sided war on the Palestinian people is first and foremost the outcome of its Global Strategic Partnership with US imperialism and its ever-deeper integration into Washingtons all-sided economic, diplomatic and military-strategic offensive against Beijing. In a chilling indication of the extent to which India has been transformed into a US frontline state against China, the Indian military recently revealed that it is urgently drawing up plans as to how it would aid the US if and when Washington goes to war with China.

For decades Israel has been US imperialisms most important strategic partner in the Middle East, serving as its attack dog against various bourgeois nationalist regimes that have cut across its interests, and the regions oppressed workers and toilers. Washington has very much encouraged the strengthening of Indo-Israeli ties and, with some success, has drawn New Delhi into its attempts to broker closer relations between Israel and the absolutist Gulf State monarchies to counter increasing Chinese and Iranian influence in the region.

So strident have been Modis declarations of support for the Netanyahu regime and its onslaught on the Palestinian people that even some of the pro-US Gulf States have reportedly expressed dismay. They are said to be hoping that an Indian Foreign Ministry statement will break New Delhis hitherto total silence on its previous professed opposition to the Israeli occupation and brutal repression of the Palestinians.

To date however, Modi has ordered the Foreign Ministry to remain silent. He prefers to personally dictate and articulate his governments positiona position that mirrors Washingtons and amounts to giving Netanyahu and the Israeli military free rein to slaughter and/or expel the people of Gaza.

Indias burgeoning strategic alliance with Israel

New Delhi established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 amid a strategic reorientation. Its state-led development strategy having failed, the Indian bourgeoisie sought full integration into the US-led world capitalist order, Indias transformation into a cheap-labour haven for global capital, and much closer ties with Washington. Within little more than a decade, the Indo-US strategic partnership was the cornerstone of New Delhis foreign policy. Indo-Israeli ties similarly took off, especially military and intelligence cooperation.

Israel provided India with mortars and ammunition during its 1999 Kargil border war with Pakistan and ever since has either been Indias second or third largest foreign source of weapons and weapon systems. The equipment India has acquired from Israel includes Phalcon AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems), Heron, Searcher II, and Harop drones, as well as Barak anti-missile defence systems and Spyder quick-response anti-aircraft missile systems.

In a marked change from Indias traditional stance, the BJP government abstained in 2015 and 2016 on UN resolutions critical of Israels wanton slaughter of Palestinian civilians during the 2014 Gaza war.

But it was with Modis visit to Israel in July 2017, the first ever by an Indian prime minister, that placed Indo-Israeli relations on a new plane by proclaiming a strategic partnership. Since then, Modi has made expanding Indias military-intelligence and economic ties with Israel a key object of Indias foreign policy. Toward that end, he has had as his ambassador to Israel for the past four years the career diplomat who served as his personal secretary from August 2014 through August 2019, or virtually all of his first term as prime minister.

With the development of a veritable New Delhi-Tel Aviv axis, Washington has sought to draw India ever more deeply into its Mideast policy. In October 2021, Washington formed the I2U2 group, comprised of India, Israel, the UAE and the US, to promote joint ventures in multiple economic sectors. At last months G-20 summit in New Delhi, US President Biden announced Washington will anchor an India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor that is to facilitate Indias emergence as an alternative global production chain hub to China. Under this scheme, the Israeli port of Haifa, recently purchased by Indias Adani Group, is to serve as a key economic link between Asia and Europe.

Indias role in supporting imperialist aggression and war

India has balked at the demands from Washington, London, Berlin, Paris and Brussels that it dash its longstanding strategic partnership with Moscow and support them in their drive to defeat and subjugate Russia in their Ukraine war.

But on most other geopolitical fronts, its policy is ever more closely aligned with Washingtons, notwithstanding the much touted claims of Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar that India is pursuing strategic autonomy and friendly relations with all in a multipolar world.

Iran is a case in point. New Delhi has repeatedly acceded to US demands that it downgrade its relations with Iran. Its full-throated support for Israels waging a war of annihilation against Hamas, an Iranian ally, will likely roil relations with Teheran. Especially as there are calls from many imperialist quarters for Iran to be held responsible and made to pay for last weekends Hamas-led uprising.

There have been claims from various pseudo-lefts, like the US-based Communist Party of India (Marxist)-supporting academic Vijay Prashad, that the Indian bourgeoisie, and other right-wing capitalist elites from Turkey and Brazil to China and Putins Russia can serve as a progressive antipode to the western imperialist powers.

In reality, all of their ruling classes are maneuvering to advance their own predatory ambitions and are uniformly hostile to the working classthe only force that has the social power to put an end to imperialist aggression and war and the capitalist system from which they arise.

The autocratic, far-right Modi regime and the Indian bourgeoisie only serve to highlight just what a reactionary dead-end the call for working people to support a multi-polar world is.

India is providing pivotal support to US imperialism in its war drive against China, and is now providing political-ideological cover for the US-armed and backed Netanyahu regime as it seeks to crush the Palestinian people.

Indias corporate media has largely aped the Modi government and western imperialists in their bloodcurdling denunciations of Palestinian terrorism and omission of any discussion of their repeated dispossession and bloody suppression over the last three-quarters of a century.

Indias principal opposition party, the Congress Party, also initially echoed Modi. On Sunday its General Secretary in-charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said that the Congress condemns brutal attacks on the people of Israel. He made no mention of the suffering and repression of the Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli state, including the blockade of Gaza, or the never-ending series of provocations mounted by the Netanyahu government and its fascist allies over the past year.

On Monday, however, the Congress Working Committee took a slightly different tone. It passed a resolution that voiced dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East, urged an immediate cease-fire, and declared its support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self government and to live with dignity and respect.

This recalibration arose from its recognition that that there is immense sympathy for the Palestinian people among the Indian masses, including its much victimized 200 million-strong Muslim minority, and that this opposition needs, from the standpoint of the bourgeoisie, to be politically contained and diverted.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has also lined up with Israel. In a statement issued Monday he was quoted as deploring the unprecedented attack on Israel and the killing of large numbers of civilians. His statement remained totally silent on Israels siege and pummeling of Gaza.

Wickremesinghes shock and outrage over the deaths of civilians is as counterfeit as Modis. He and the Sri Lankan political establishment, of which he has been a member since the late 1970s, mounted a quarter-century-long racist war against the countrys Tamil minority that cost more than 100,000 livesSinhala, Tamil and Muslim. The war ended in May 2009 with a massacre in which the Sri Lankan military killed tens of thousands of civilians. Moreover, in recent months his government has been strengthening the forces of state repression in anticipation of a renewed mass upsurge against his governments scorched-earth IMF austerity policies.

The working masses in India and Sri Lanka need to come forward to prevent the Netanyahu government from realizing its genocidal plans to crush the Palestinians of Gaza, with the full military and political support of US imperialism and the connivance of the Indian and Sri Lankan governments and ruling elites.
On Friday, rock music artist and political activist Roger Waters released The Dark Side of the Moon Redux, a new interpretation of the highly successful Pink Floyd album that was first released in 1973.

With the new record, Waterswho was 29 when he conceptualized the album and wrote the lyrics for itrevisits the themes that have been resonating with generations of listeners for a half-century.

Pink Floyds The Dark Side of the Moon is among the most popular LPs ever recorded, having appeared on the Billboard list of top 200 albums for a remarkable 741 weeks, or more than 14 years, until the week of October 8, 1988. It has since reappeared on the Billboard list as a compact disc and, as of May 2023, it had charted a total of 981 weeks, or the equivalent of nearly 19 years.

The Dark Side of the Moon Redux

Waters explained why he decided to recreate the record in a video statement last July, The new recording is more reflective, I think, and it is more indicative of what the concept of the record was. It is a reinterpretation and I hope that we can gain more from it than we did back in 1973, when it first came out, cause its been part of all of our lives for fifty years and yet we are still not yet breathing in the air.

Waters new version is musically slower in tempo and instrumentally more acoustic. It lacks the edgy saxophone and guitar solos of the original. With synthesizers, organ, piano and strings, the record takes on the atmosphere of an intimate, night club performance. On several tracks, a theremin lends the listening experience a dreamlike quality.

While the Pink Floyd signature use of sound effectsbirds, trucks, trains, planes, church bells and other audio loopsis preserved, they are more subtle. For instance, the popular songs Time and Money no longer begin with iconic and loud ticking and ringing alarm clocks and the clanging of coins and cash registers.

Instead, with Waters singing all the lead vocals, these overt studio techniques have been replaced with a more deliberate lyrical delivery. Meanwhile, the well-known words to the Dark Side songs have been supplemented by Waters delivery of spoken word poems and stories, some of which he wrote decades ago, to reinforce the song meanings.

For example, the first two tracks, Speak to Me and Breathe, contain a voice-over of Waters speaking the lyrics to the song Free Four from the 1972 Pink Floyd album Obscured by Clouds. The song opens with:

The memories of a man in his old age

Are the deeds of a man in his prime

You shuffle in the gloom of the sick room

And talk to yourself as you die

Life is a short warm moment

And death is a long cold rest

You get your chance to try

In the twinkling of an eye

Eighty years with luck or even less

This is a very effective beginning because it clarifies the concept of the album as the universal circumstances of life in modern society beginning at birth. The album starts with a heartbeat in the song Speak to Me. It is the heartbeat in a mothers womb, the first thing heard and felt by all human beings.

Then, the cycle of songs from that point forward deals with things experienced by everyone all over the world: growing up, earning a living, class conflict, religion, war, aging and death.

In a 20-minute track-by-track video review of the new album posted on Tuesday, Waters explains, There is only one road and its the road I describe in The Dark Side of the Moon. Its from the ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom of the womb to whatever the end is. The end is [the song] Eclipse and the eclipse is the ending of light.

In describing the song Us and Them, Waters takes the opportunity to express his views on war. He says, All of these wars that weve lived through, certainly since the second world war, are about the futile scrabble for power and wealth and hubris and hegemony. And theyre all about empire and theyre all about getting more of the cake. Let us not share the cake, the bounty of this planet earth that is home to all of us and thats what Us and Them is about.

Waters wraps up his review of the record by saying, Thats why I remade this record, because it describes our predicament in exactly the same way it did in 1973, fifty years later. So, Im saying it all over again.

There are indeed parallels between the social and political conditions existing when Waters developed the ideas for the concept album and those of today. The late 1960s and early 1970s were dominated by an upsurge of struggles by the working class and youth internationally. There was mass opposition to the imperialist war in Vietnam.

On more than one occasion, these movements reached revolutionary dimensions, such as the working class uprising in France in May-June 1968. These events and others, combined with his association with socialist politics for a short time while he was a student in Cambridge, no doubt influenced Roger Waters views of the world, which have stood the test of time and deepened over the years.

Today, Waters has distinguished himself as among the most principled of artists and musicians by opposing and exposing the US/NATO-instigated war with Russia in Ukraine, maintaining a steadfast opposition to the denial of basic rights to Palestinians by the Zionist state of Israel, and demanding the immediate release from prison of WikiLeaks founder and editor Julian Assange.

What is more, Waters has sustained a public campaign on all of these issuesincluding putting them front and center during his live world concert toursin the face of a steady stream of vilification and lies by certain musicians, the corporate media and governments around the world, which have falsely accused him of being pro-Russian and an antisemite.

Meanwhile, the resurgent struggles of the working class internationally against capitalist exploitation and war have created fertile conditions for the creative ideas expressed by Roger Waters to find an ever-widening international interest and acceptance.

In promoting the new record, Waters has consistently paid tribute to his former Pink Floyd bandmatesDavid Gilmour (guitars and vocals), Nick Mason (drums) and Richard Wright (keyboards)for their contributions to the original record.

As he explained in the July video announcement, the purpose of the new album is not to supersede or replace the original, but to remember it and as an adjunct to it and to progress the work of the original concept  I love the original recording, by the way, and I love what Nicky did and what Rick did and what Dave did on the original recording.

In an interview with NME, Nick Mason commented that, after Waters sent him a copy of the new recording, he wrote back,  Annoyingly, its absolutely brilliant! It was and is. Its not anything that would be a spoiler for the original at all, its an interesting add-on to the thing.

On his website, Waters describes the impulse for the new project as a way for the seventy-nine year old man to look back across the intervening fifty years into the eyes of the twenty-nine-year-old and say, to quote a poem of mine about my Father, We did our best, we kept his trust, our Dad would have been proud of us.

Rogers father, Eric Fletcher Waters, who became a member of the British Communist Party and was an anti-fascist, died on the battlefield in World War II at Anzio, south of Rome, on February 18, 1944.

Along with Waters on bass and vocals, the band on the new album includes Gus Seyffert (bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Joey Waronker (drums), Jonathan Wilson (guitars, synthesizer, organ), Johnny Shepherd (organ, piano), Via Mardot (theremin), Azniv Korkejian (vocals), Gabe Noel (string arrangements, strings), Jon Carin (keyboards, lap steel, synthesizer, organ) and Robert Walter (piano).
The author is a socialist living in Russia.

In late September, a concrete cross erected in memory of Polish prisoners of the Gulag in 1997, which had fallen down about a month ago, was discovered in the abandoned village of Rudnik, not far from the city of Vorkuta.

The news site Nastoiashchee vremia [Current Times] said that, according to the Interior Ministrys Vorkuta department, the cross fell due to weather factors that exclude human involvement. However, the photos show the rebar is evenly cut, which means that someone deliberately cut it down.

In other words, it was an act of vandalism, targeting a memorial for victims of the Stalinist Terror.

During the Stalinist repressions, a large number of political prisoners were held in and around Vorkuta. The Vorkuta camp itself was founded in 1936, its construction was mainly done by prisoners of the local camp. Among those who served their sentences in the Vorkuta camps were many members of the socialist Left Opposition to Stalinism, most of whom were killed there during the Great Terror of 1937-1938. The massacre at Vorkuta on March 1, 1938, which targeted leaders of the Soviet Trotskyist movement who had led a months-long hunger strike in the camp, gained particular notoriety and ranks among the largest acts of mass murder of Trotskyists in history.

Exiled leaders of the Soviet Left Opposition in 1928, including Viktor Eltsin (top right) and Igor Poznanskii (middle left) [Photo: MS Russ 13 (T 1086), Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts]

Here are the names of some of the victims of this and subsequent massacres in Vorkuta:

Viktor Borisovich Eltsin, son of Boris Mikhailovich Eltsin, one of the leaders of the Left Opposition. Victor Borisovich himself was also a member of the Opposition and was Trotskys closest collaborator and chief editor of his collected works. He was shot in Vorkuta on March 1, 1938.

Grigory Yakovlevich Yakovin (1899-1938), also a leading member of the Left Opposition and author of a history of the German revolutionary movement. He was imprisoned in Vorkuta from August 1936, co-led the hunger strike and was then shot on March 1, 1938.

Vladislav Vikentyevich Kosior (1891-1938), a member of the Left Opposition and signatory of the Declaration of 46. In 1936 he was sentenced to five years in correctional labor camps, served his sentence in Vorkutas Ukhtpechlag, and in 1938 was shot and buried at the Vorkuta mine.

Raisa Rodionovna Vasilyeva (1902-1938), a supporter of the Left Opposition. From May 1936 she was kept in Ukhtpechlag, and on March 30, 1938 she was shot in the vicinity of Vorkuta.

Roza Mikhailovna Smirnov (1882-1938), first wife of Ivan Smirnov, one of the leaders of the Left Opposition in the 1920s. Roza Mikhailovna was also a member of the Opposition. In 1936 she was sent to Vorkuta, where she was shot on May 9, 1938.

Other prisoners of Vorkuta and former Oppositionists included:

Leonid Moiseevich Gorodin (1907-1994), a member of the Left Opposition in Ukraine. He served his second term in Vorkuta. He was one of the few former Oppositionists who managed to survive the terror.

Georgy Ilkovich Andreychin (1894-1950), a supporter of the Left Opposition. In 1938 he was sent to Vorkuta, where he was held in the central detention center. Later in 1941 he was released, but in 1950 he was shot, on charges of espionage activities.

Georgy Ivanovich Safarov (1891-1942), member of the United Left Opposition. From January 15, 1937, he served his sentence in Vorkuta, then was shot in 1942.

Leonid Gorodin in 1975, a former member of the Left Opposition in Ukraine, who was imprisoned in Vorkuta.

The incident in Vorkuta is not the only such case that has occurred in Russia recently. For example, in Yakutsk a monument to Polish and Lithuanian exiled prisoners, which was erected in 2002, was dismantled. The monument was dedicated to Polish citizens who were exiled in the 17th-19th centuries and repressed in the 20th century.

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, plaques dedicated to the victims of political repression (who lived in these houses) began to be removed from the facades of buildings. These plaques were part of the Last Address project, which aims to immortalize the memory of those who were victims of Stalins Terror.

These acts of vandalism of several of the few memorials that exist for victims of the Terror are encouraged by a climate in which the Putin regime is systematically rehabilitating Stalinism and Joseph Stalin himself. In a particularly provocative move, a bust of Stalin and Kalinin was erected at one of the memorial complexes for victims of repression. According to director Alexander Chunosov, this step was quite logical: It was the same era. Did they have nothing to do with repressions? Why do you see any inconsistency here? Everything is logical, everything is clear. It looks as ridiculous as if a bust of Hitler were installed in museums dedicated to the political victims of fascism. At the same time, statues of Lenin, Dzerzhinsky and Sverdlov appeared in the same complex. Thus the leadership tried to equate Stalinism and Bolshevism, which cannot but be regarded as historical falsification.

In addition to that bust, a sculpture of Stalin was installed at the headquarters of the Alabuga Polytechnic College in Tatarstan, and on October 6, a monument to Stalin, made in the 1940s, was unveiled in the village of Pervomaysk in the Republic of Mordovia. Also, on August 15 in the city of Velikie Luki in the Pskov region, on the territory of the plant Mikron, with the support of the director of the plant, an eight-meter monument to Stalin was erected. And on February 1 of this year, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army in the Battle of Stalingrad, a bust of Stalin was put up 120 meters from the monument to the victims of political repression. Let us recall that it was the Stalinist bureaucracy and its leader Stalin who were responsible for the execution of a significant part of the army leadership in the Terror, which played a significant a role in the defeats and staggering losses of the Red Army in the first days after the invasion by Nazi Germany.

A monument dedicated to "generalissimus" Stalin in Velikiye Luki

Stalinism exterminated entire generations of Bolsheviks who fought for the Soviet state and built it in the first years of its existence. The Stalinist regime destroyed the most advanced part of the working class, hiding under the banner of October and Leninism. During the years of the Great Terror, at least 700,000 people were killed, of whom, according to historian Vadim Rogovin, who studied in detail the political genocide in the USSR, communists made up, according to the most conservative calculations, more than half of the victims of the Great Terror. Therefore, Lev Davidovich Trotsky was absolutely right when he said: To establish the regime which is correctly called Stalinist, what was needed was not the Bolshevik Party, but the extermination of the Bolshevik Party. (Quotes from Vadim Rogovin, Stalins Terror of 1937-1938. Political Genocide in the USSR, Oak Park, MI: Mehring Books, 449)

The Moscow Trials of 1936-1938, in which the main leaders of the October Revolution were put on trial and accused of counter-revolutionary activities, were also aimed at physically destroying the link of the Bolshevik Party, which together with Lenin and Trotsky, had led the revolution of 1917. The ultimate aim was to undermine the socialist consciousness of the working class of the Soviet Union and the world. The main defendant in the Moscow Trials was Trotsky, who, for the Stalinist caste of officials and the international bourgeoisie, was the leader of the world proletariat and the leader of the future world revolution. Thus, that is why they needed to liquidate Trotsky; that is why Stalins agent Ramon Mercader killed him on August 21, 1940.

Having emerged out of the Soviet bureaucracys restoration of capitalism in the Soviet Union, the current Russian bourgeoisie continues its work of falsifying the history of the October Revolution, the revolutionary movement, the role of Trotsky and the Left Opposition and the history of Stalins Terror in the USSR. Thus, in 2017, with state support, an antisemitic TV series about Leon Trotsky was released, and at the end of December 2021, the Russian Supreme Court liquidated the organization Memorial, which was engaged in researching political repression in the Soviet Union and helping citizens find information about their repressed relatives.

Although the Soviet bureaucracy, during the perestroika period before the destruction of the Soviet Union in 1991, had to admit for a time the crimes of the Stalinist regime, it did so only on an extremely limited basis and in an effort to discredit socialism. Now the present reactionary oligarchic regime of Putin, against the background of the growing international class struggle and the worsening crisis of the oligarchy caused by the war in Ukraine, is trying to undermine the historical and political consciousness of the proletariat by rehabilitating the Stalinist regime, thus poisoning and disorienting it.

Stalinism, which exploits the prestige of the October Revolution, has already discredited Marxism in the eyes of millions of workers by its actions of betrayal of the international proletariat (first of all, the betrayal of the Chinese Revolution of 1927 and Hitlers rise to power, caused by the policy of Stalins Comintern). The current Russian bourgeoisie is trying to distort the history of the October Revolution and, in general, the history of the USSR, so that new generations of workers and young people will not be interested in the history of the struggle of Lenin, Trotsky and the Left Opposition, or if they are interested, only in a distorted version, showing the leaders of the revolution in an inhuman way. Otherwise, if the youth and the proletariat become aware of the truth, they will become adherents of the revolutionary ideas of Marxism.

The Russian oligarchy, in order to prevent this from happening, is turning to the help of various forces, including the now defunct Stalinist bureaucracy and Stalinism itself, which have already saved the capitalist world from revolutionary danger. The Stalinist Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), under the guise of its communist name and phrases, supports the Putin regime, including its reactionary invasion of Ukraine, while defending the worst crimes of Stalin.

The Russian ruling class will not stop there: It will continue with even greater force to falsify history and glorify Stalinism and Stalin, thus trying to cut off the masses from Marxism. The working class must fight to defend the historical truth about the political genocide in the USSR (and historical truth in general) and to build on the territory of the former Soviet Union a truly revolutionary party and a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.
ZAGREB, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- It is wrong to compare China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the United States's post-World War II Marshall Plan as the two are essentially different, Mladen Plese, a Croatian political analyst and an expert on Asia, told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday.

The Marshall Plan was named after former U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall, who in 1947 proposed that the United States provide economic assistance to restore the economic infrastructure of postwar Europe.

It was an attempt to stimulate Europe's economy in a relatively short term, but "the BRI is a long-term project that is not ideologically colored and should benefit a much larger number of countries," Plese said.

The Marshall Plan had political objectives, as its goal was to develop only those European countries that America had chosen, Plese said, adding that Washington's goal was to participate in the reconstruction of Europe after the war and to confront the Soviet Union-led bloc.

"The Marshall Plan was used to rebuild Europe, and the European countries became dependent on America, which partially continues today. This is not the case with China's BRI," Plese said.

Moreover, the Marshall Plan led to the "Americanization of Europe," but the BRI does not aim to achieve Chinese dominance in Europe or anywhere else in the world. "That is the biggest, essential difference between the BRI and the Marshall Plan, and I believe that China will remain open to the world," he noted.

According to Plese, the BRI, while highlighting China's significant economic progress from a largely underdeveloped country to the second-largest economy in the world, also shows China's willingness to help other countries, especially small countries, on an equal footing. "It is certainly one of the world's most significant initiatives that lead to development," he said.

Croatia has been one of the small European countries that have benefited directly from the BRI, Plese said, citing the Peljesac Bridge and the Senj Wind Farm, two major BRI projects in the country that have showcased the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between Croatia and China.

"There are plans for continued cooperation between the two sides and that is good," he added.

On Oct. 11, China's State Council Information Office released a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" and presented the achievements of the BRI over the past 10 years, aiming to provide the international community with a better understanding of the value of the initiative, facilitate high-quality cooperation, and deliver benefits to more countries and peoples.

Since its launch in 2013, the BRI has been welcomed by the international community as both a public good and a cooperation platform, and it involves countries in different world regions, at different development stages and with different cultures. It transcends differences in ideologies and social systems, according to the white paper. 
New Zealands political establishment and corporate media have wasted no time in joining the other imperialist powers in supporting the bloody crackdown by Israels extreme-right Zionist government against the Palestinian uprising launched over the weekend.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, greets New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Hipkins at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, July 27, 2023. [AP Photo/Marty Melville]

Labour Party Prime Minister Chris Hipkins labelled the popular revolt by the Palestinian masses against decades of Israeli occupation terror attacks which New Zealand condemns unequivocally.

New Zealand has designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and we recognise Israels right to defend itself, Hipkins said in a statement.

Hipkinss full-throated support for the criminal government of Benjamin Netanyahu while demonising the oppressed Palestinians followed virtually identical comments by the main opposition National Party leader Christopher Luxon who said there is no justification for the actions of the Palestinians.

The unanimity between the major capitalist parties in backing Israeli repression exposes the sham of the confected differences presented in the campaign ahead of Saturdays election.

Labour has, according to Hipkins, paused a suggestion that it would invite the Canberra-based Palestinian ambassador to present his credentials to New Zealand, thereby joining other UN members recognising Palestine. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson declared there was no state to recognise.

Any deviation from full-throated vilification of the Palestinians is being quickly quashed.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta initially posted a guarded statement on X/Twitter which called for an immediate cessation of violence. After an immediate media backlash over her failure to explicitly blame Hamas, she released a re-worded statement condemning the terrorist attacks led by Hamas on Israel.

The reaction of the political and media establishment is a warning. A hysterical pro-war climate is being whipped up. Media barrages are directed against even the mildest comments which dare to take issue with any violence on the part of Israel. This shows that any opposition in the New Zealand working class to imperialist machinations in the Middle East or anywhere else will be shouted down by the corporate media and not tolerated by the political establishment.

Minor parties contesting the election have been no less vocal in their baying for Palestinian blood. The far-right ACT leader David Seymour said Mahutas initial expression of mere concern meant we cant rely on her. He declared: ACT stands with the people of Israel and strongly supports Israels right to defend itself.

Winston Peters, leader of the extreme-right NZ First, and foreign minister in the 20172020 Labour-led coalition, criticised the Labour government for being late getting off the mark. Peters has for many years played an odious role promoting poisonous anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim chauvinism which has been taken up by successive governments.

Peters joined an international chorus of capitalist politicians who claim the Hamas attacks were unprovoked premeditated attacks on innocent people.

The media slander on the oppressed population of Gaza as terrorists is a repugnant political lie. Masses of people around the world sympathise with the uprising by the Palestinians who have been subjected to decades of violence by the Zionist regime in Israel, armed by the major NATO powers, and its fascistic settlers.

Playing the moralising pacifist card, the Green Party, which is part of the government, issued a formal statement declaring: Violence against civilians, whether committed by Hamas or the Israeli Defence Force is utterly unacceptable.

Green MP Golriz Ghahraman posted on X/Twitter; Nothing justifies targeting or harming civilians, and Israeli civilians, like young people at a music fest, deserved safety. Hamas' actions were despicaple [sic] crimes. There are 1 million children living in Gaza. They deserve safety from IDF bombs.

A minor party leaders debate on Tuesday saw the far-right ACT and NZ First clash with Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.

Asked if Hamas should be declared a terrorist entity, Davidson said the same test should be applied to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). She said the terrorist designation should be applied equally to all terrorist acts, which both Peters and Seymour dismissed. In an inflammatory tirade, Peters accused the Greens of making anti-semitic statements.

Te Pati Maori (Maori Party) which postures as an indigenous, anti-colonialist party, has not issued any formal statement condemning Israel. Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told a TVNZ interview on Tuesday: We condemn violence on all civilians, adding only there is a bigger picture about this conflict which involves colonialism and genocide of Palestinian people which western sources dont talk about.

The pacifism of the Greens and Te Pati Maori seeks to equate the violence of the Israeli occupation with the revolt of the Palestinian masses against decades of oppression.

As the International Committee of the Fourth International stated: As has always been the case throughout history, every act of resistance from the masses evokes frenzied outrage from the ruling elites. 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.

The response of New Zealands fake left, upper-middle-class milieu is one of utter cowardice and bowing to the imperialist indictments of Palestinian terrorism.

The liberal Daily Blog editor Martyn Bradbury denounced the unprecedented violence Hamas has just launched against Israel and declared butchery by Hamas an atrocity beyond justification.

Only after condemning the Palestinian uprising, does Bradbury insert a mild denunciation of Israeli provocations. John Minto, convenor of the Palestine Solidarity Network, also wrote on the Daily Blog that Hipkins was correct to condemn Hamas killing Israeli civilians.

As the WSWS has noted, there is tragedy bound up with the deaths of civilians who were caught in the breakout by desperate Palestinian militants. But the blame must be sheeted home where it belongsto the criminal Israeli apartheid regime and its US imperialist backers.

New Zealands political establishments bellicose recriminations against Palestine and full-throated support for Israeli occupation is of a piece with the response of imperialist governments around the world. Political leaders in the US, Germany, Australia, the UK and elsewhere have unanimously come out in support of Israel, which acts as the chief proxy of US imperialism in the Middle East.

Behind the hysterical and hypocritical denunciations is the fundamental class attitude of the oppressors to any resistance by the oppressed, whether it is in Gaza or anywhere. The uprising of the oppressed masses in Palestine is the sharpest expression of a growing upsurge of the international working class, including in New Zealand itself, as struggles erupt against war, poverty and authoritarianism.
The British government is demanding stepped-up repression against those demonstrating in defence of the Palestinians being massacred by Israels armed forces.

Three were arrested in London during protests at the Israel Embassy on Monday where a massive police presence was mobilised. On Wednesday, a further four people were arrested outside Manchester Central Library in St. Peters Square, in a protest against a vigil by supporters of the Israeli state. The protests in support of the Palestinian people, who are being subjected to collective punishment and other war crimes, are among several in towns and cities across Britain since last Saturday.

Police watching the protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London

A state crackdown is being imposed amid hysterical and unprecedented calls by the ruling Conservatives that anyone opposing Israels genocidal war is treated as a supporter of terrorism. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called on police to criminalise protest, declaring it is not just explicit pro-Hamas symbols and chants that are cause for concern. I would encourage police to consider whether chants such as: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free should be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world, and whether its use in certain contexts may amount to a racially aggravated section 5 public order offence.

In the same letter to police she declared, Behaviours that are considered legitimate in some circumstances, for example, the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism. Hamas was proscribed in Britain in 2021 as a terrorist organisation.

While Greater Manchester Police said four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace, video footage on social media shows one young manwith a Palestinian flag draped around his shouldersbeing frogmarched towards a police van by a swarm of officers, with protesters demanding to know why he was being arrested. Just before he was bundled into the police van, a police officer is seen confiscating his Palestinian flag.

The police statement read, They were not arrested for supporting PalestineGMP understands that members of Greater Manchesters communities are devastated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and that people have a right to express their support for both Israel and Palestine. The force draws a clear distinction between support for Palestine and support for the proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas. They claimed the suspects were arrested following an assessment that their actions had the potential to cause disorder at an otherwise peaceful event, but police provided no evidence to support this.

The Manchester Evening News (MEN) reported Wednesday evening, One person was later de-arrested following further investigations, with the remaining three still in custody. The MENs report indicates the extent of the police build-up underway, The vigil was heavily policed on Wednesday night, with roads closed through the centre of Manchester and a sea of high visibility jackets marking out the groups of GMP officers surrounding the crowds. According to a local journalist posting on X (formerly Twitter), after the young man was arrested by police, They then put a section 35 on Manchester City Centre, threatening bystanders with arrest.

Under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a police constable and/or police community support officer in uniform have the power to exclude a person or people from an area for a period of up to 48 hours with a police Inspectors authority.

Other events underscore the outlawing of protests as Israels jets pound Gaza and 100,000 Israeli troops and hundreds of tanks and warplanes mass at the border ready to unleash an unprecedented blood bath against the besieged population.

On Wednesday, the Student Union at University College London (UCL) suspended the UCL Marxist Society, a naked attack on free speech and the right of assembly. The Marxist Society is the student organisation of the International Marxist Tendency (IMT).

A statement by the Marxist Society revealed it had received e-mails from UCL SU demanding we take down posters and social media posts for our meeting tonight as they could be construed as inciting violence. By refusing to comply they have now told us that our society has been suspended pending investigation. The statement added, Our posters show a Palestinian flag with the slogan Intifada until victory! The fight for a free Palestine. Intifadas are mass uprisings against the Israeli state by the Palestinians.

UCLs Student Union is affiliated with the National Union of Students, which is dominated by the Labour Party.

The move against the IMTs student society coincided with a letter by Tory Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon to university vice-chancellors demanding they act swiftly and decisively to stamp out support for the Palestinian cause. Their letterissued under the cynical guise of opposing implicit or explicit threats to Jewish studentsdishonestly conflates protests against the atrocities of the far-right Israeli government with anti-Semitism. The ministers demanded that university vice chancellors act quickly and appropriately if you become aware of any antisemitic abuse, harassment or discrimination.

The letter made clear that Student Societies are being targeted for political censorship: We have seen evidence of a number of student societies that support Palestinians sending out inflammatory messages that show support for Hamas, which is, as you know, a proscribed terrorist organisation.

The ministers also attacked what they described as a grossly insensitive and unhelpful statement issued by the University and College Union (UCU), complaining the union represents some of the very lecturers that Jewish students would be looking to for support.

The UCU statement called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation, that must include an end to the blockade of Gaza by the Israeli military and a halt to further violence against civilians by Hamas, before any more lives are lost. It concluded, the events of recent days are part of a continuing cycle of violence that has been the result of decades of brutal occupation. Achieving a lasting peace in the region must start with an end to the occupation and a recognition of the rights of all people.

This is anathema to a government that has fully endorsed Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians, by a war machine armed to the teeth by the US and Britain.

The Tory government has introduced a raft of authoritarian legislation in recent months in preparation for the banning outright of protests and strikes. However, sections of the ruling class are wary of the backlash threatened by Bravermans inflammatory calls to ban flags and chants which have been a prominent feature of pro-Palestinian demonstrations for years. On Thursday, ahead of March for Palestine, End the Violence, End Apartheid protests taking place this Saturday in London, the Metropolitan Policewho cover the capitalhave claimed they will not treat the holding of a Palestinian flag as a criminal offence.

Met deputy commissioner Dame Lynne Owens said, What we cannot do is interpret support for the Palestinian cause more broadly as automatically being support for Hamas or any other proscribed group, even when it follows so soon after an attack carried out by that group and when to many the link seems indisputable.

Yet demands across the media and political establishment for criminalising protestors on precisely this basis are growing by the hour.

The events of the last days in Britain must serve as an urgent warning to the working class. The ruling elite is determined to eviscerate democratic rights to enforce its agenda of war and austerity.
The Labour Party conference was an unprecedented display of right-wing, nationalist, pro-war fervour. Leader Sir Keir Starmer declared in his keynote speech that Labour had stood with NATOan historic achievement of this party. Held out our hand to business. Ripped antisemitism out by the roots [in reference to the slanderous witch-hunt of allies of former leader Jeremy Corbyn]. Backed Ukraine. Country First, Party Second.

He appealed to Conservative voters, If you feel our country needs a party that conserves. That fights for our union. Our environment. The rule of law. Family life. The careful bond between this generation and the next. Then let me tell you: Britain already has one. And you can join it. Its this Labour Party.

Amid Israels escalating onslaught on Gaza, Starmer and his shadow cabinet members professed their unequivocal support for Benjamin Netanyahus murderous far-right government.

Throughout all of this, the partys left represented by the Socialist Campaign Group (SCG) of Labour MPs was deathly silent. The sole show of defiance came from a member of the hitherto unknown People Demand Democracy groupa member of which threw glitter over Starmer at the start of his speech.

Multiple commentators in the media made the point that the conference had highlighted Starmers total control of the Labour Party, and the rout of its Corbynite rump.

The BBC reported how In a ballot on Sunday, constituency delegates chose to prioritise motions which would not trouble the leadership.

This in itself demonstrates a shift from the left wing of the party, and is in part due to the departure of some grassroots members who are disillusioned with the partys direction.

Driving home the point, a Labour HQ source told the i newspaper disparagingly of the partys left flank, We just dont have time for them. Its proper student politics stuff. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves was warmly applauded by senior Tony Blair advisor Peter Mandelsongiven a front row conference seatwhen she declared the extremists had been thrown out of the Labour Party.

But nothing could elicit a peep of protest from the SCG. Instead, its members made explicit that Starmer and the Labour leadershipmany of them veterans of the years-long campaign to throw Corbyn out of officecould expect the same level of compliance as Corbyn had shown from this point forward.

Corbyn himself, expelled from the Parliamentary Labour Party and told he will never again be allowed to stand as an MP, mustered a single tweet criticising the Labour leadership for rolling out the red carpet for climate vandals, arms firms and private healthcare.

With Corbyns expulsion, de facto leadership of the SCG has fallen to his former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, the most unalloyed voice of the Labour lefts servitude to Starmers leadership.

Britains Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, left, embraces Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of Britains main opposition Labour Party during his speech on stage during the Labour Party Conference at the Brighton Centre in Brighton, England, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 [Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/WSWS]

For McDonnell, and much of the SCG, it involves no compromise to back Starmers commitment to NATOs war against Russia in Ukrainethey support it themselves. McDonnell has led the charge, appearing on numerous platforms advocating the shipment of weapons from Britain.

Where he has criticisms of the Labour Party, it is solely out of concern that its leadership is unnecessarily alienating workers and young people who might otherwise be lured into supporting the party. What is needed is unity in Labours broad churchthe formulation used by Corbyn to oppose demands by his supporters to expel the Blairites when he was leader.

Speaking to a conference of the various membership organisations around the SCG in July, McDonnell explained, The left has to mobilise to save the Labour governmentincoming Labour governmentfrom itself almost.

He went on to say, reported Labour List, that the left needs to move past discussing how bad things are in the party and begin the creative gearing up and the gathering of the forces to create an overall climate of opinion that actually will dominate the political agenda over the next three years and particularly when Labour goes into government.

Talk of dominating the political agenda is a risible fraud. The political agenda in the Labour Party is set by Starmers leadership and its big business backers. The SCG is marshalling what is left of its forces in a last desperate attempt to erect a vaguely left and purely rhetorical facade concealing the partys right-wing programme.

McDonnell made the same argument last month in an interview with the i newspaper, appealing for Corbyn to be allowed to contest his Islington North parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. McDonnells case, wrote the paper, is that Corbyn running as an independent would be a damaging media circus. In the most striking passage McDonnell explained, Jeremy doesnt want to distract from the national campaign.

McDonnell says openly what his old friend Corbyn says privately and what his every action demonstrateshe wants no fight with Labour.

Instead, McDonnell insisted, Corbyn could still be a political boon to Starmer, continuing the role he has played for four decades in convincing a section of the population Labour can be a vehicle for left-wing sentiment. I think hed be a campaigning asset, particularly in certain communities and among certain groups of people  Why deny yourself that?

This is of course his own offer to Starmer. In return, all the members of the SCG ask is a place as respected colleagues of the Blairites. Speaking on BBC Newsnight in July, McDonnell pleaded, Weve always been a broad church were always successful when were a broad church. Previous leaders and prime ministers have always had in their cabinet a broad church approachleft, right and centre. Theyve tolerated different views in the party.

He even cited Blairs leadership as an example of an atmosphere of tolerance, but actually respect as well and added that he had written to Keir a few times saying: Look, this factionalism is causing us real problems for the future.

Apparently this one-way correspondence is extensive. The i reports in its write-up of McDonnells interview, he seems to write to [Starmer] quite a bit he refers to missives on taxation, on personnel and on election strategy.

This is the pathetic reality of the SCG. It does not offer workers and young people a strategy to fight the right-wing; it seeks to offer the right-wing means of disciplining what remains of a left-leaning membershipprimarily by an appeal to unity, even as the party is on a war footing against them.

Large numbers have come to understand this in the eight years since Corbyn took the Labour leadership and have abandoned the party in their droves in disgust. For all McDonnells talk of the gathering of forces, his political interventions are not the voice of some influential and independent faction, they are the death rattle of Corbynism and all claims that Labour can undergo a left-wing transformation or provide the starting point for a socialist movement.

The terms left and right have no genuine significance in dealing with the Labour Partys leading personnel. When it comes to the fight to defend jobs, wages and essential services, or Britain waging war, the left is a special detachment of the bureaucracy, masquerading as the workers friends while loyally opposing any political break with Labours rotting corpse or with the trade union bureaucracy that acts as its industrial wing in suppressing the class struggle.

The task confronting socialists is not to elect or pressure a Labour government to the left, but to build a genuine socialist party of the working class and young people to oppose austerity, war and dictatorshipthe Socialist Equality Party.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, left, and Rep. Jim Jordan. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana , J. Scott Applewhite]

The House Republican Conference voted Wednesday to nominate Representative Steve Scalise as its candidate for Speaker, but a planned session of the House of Representatives was shut down within minutes without a vote, since it was clear that Scalise would not obtain a majority.

Scalise, the current House Majority Leader, the number two position under ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, received 113 votes, compared to 99 votes for House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, an ultra-right standard-bearer who co-founded the fascist Freedom Caucus and was endorsed by Donald Trump. Scalise barely cleared the threshold of 111 votes required for nomination (nine Republicans did not vote).

Since the Republicans hold only a narrow 221-212 majority in the House, they can afford only four defections in order to obtain the 217 votes needed to elect Scalise. Far more than that number of Republicans have said publicly that they will not vote for Scalise, choosing to vote either Jordan or McCarthy to express a protest against the party leadership. All 212 Democrats are expected to vote for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Jordan did far better than expected by the corporate media, in part because he reportedly benefited from a sizeable group of moderate Republicans who objected to the ouster of McCarthy and viewed Scalise as having undermined the former Speaker.

The actual political differences between Jordan and Scalise are insignificant. Both are advocates of massive spending cuts in social programs and other attacks on the working class. Both voted on January 7, 2021 not to certify the election of Joe Biden as president, lending support to the mob, which had stormed the Capitol the previous day. Both are firm supporters of American militarism and of the state of Israel, although they differ in their willingness to send billions in additional aid to Ukraine.

In the aftermath of the conference vote, at least a dozen Republican House members said publicly they would not vote for Scalise in the election of a Speaker. These included Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Chip Roy and Michael Cloud of Texas, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Max Miller of Ohio, all of whom voted for Kevin McCarthy last week.

Of the eight ultra-right members who joined with the Democrats to oust McCarthy, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Matt Rosendale of Montana and Eli Crane of Arizona said they would vote for Scalise, while Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Bob Good of Virginia and Ken Buck of Colorado said they would not. Andy Biggs of Arizona was non-committal but seemed opposed, according to press reports.

The opposition to Scalise was intensified by a vote in the Republican Conference earlier Wednesday against a proposed change in party rules for nominating a candidate for Speaker, including a public roll call and a requirement that the candidate win 217 votes from the conference before his or her name was submitted to the full House. Scalises supporters opposed the measure, and it was tabled by a vote of 135-88.

After a significant delay following the Conference vote on the nomination of Scalise, Jordan announced that he would support Scalises election by the full House and offered to make one of the nominating speeches.

Meanwhile, the prospect that Scalise might move up to the position of Speaker opened up a chain reaction of candidacies to replace him as Majority Leader and for lesser positions in the Republican leadership. Kevin Hern (Republican-Oklahoma) and Tom Emmer (Republican-Minnesota) announced plans to run for Majority Leader, and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York was expected to join that race as well.

Other candidates were lining up to replace Emmer as House Minority Whip, Hern as chair the powerful Republican Study Group, and Stefanik. The infighting over positions of influence in the Republican leadership could well have an impact on the efforts by Scalise and other top Republicans to round up the 217 votes needed to elect a new Speaker.

House Republicans are under enormous pressure to conclude this process because constitutionally the House can take no action without an elected Speaker to lead it, decide on which bills will come to a vote and assign members to the various committees. The Speaker is, moreover, second in line of succession to the presidency after Vice President Kamala Harris.

The outbreak of full-scale war in the Middle East has intensified this pressure from the national security establishment, the Democratic Party, senators of both parties and the corporate media.

Already, a bipartisan resolution declaring absolute US support for Israel has been delayed by the leadership crisis. It was submitted by Republican Michael McCaul of Texas and Democrat Gregory Meeks of New York, the chair and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and co-sponsored by 390 of the 433 members of the House.

The White House expressed concern that any protracted delay in choosing a new Speakerlet alone the record 15 ballots required to elect Kevin McCarthy in Januarywould also delay passage of legislation to authorize billions in additional US military aid to Israel and Ukraine.

The dysfunction in the political system is not limited to the House. In the US Senate, holds imposed by various Republican senators have blocked hundreds of nominations to top positions in the national security apparatus. There are currently no confirmed US ambassadors to Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Kuwait, among the countries in the Middle East. More than 300 nominations to fill top military positions have been held up by Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama in a protest against a Pentagon policy of paying for the travel costs of military women, who must travel from a state where abortion is banned to another state to obtain abortion services.
This photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows an Exxon gas station in Plano, on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas, the United States. Exxon Mobil announced Wednesday it was buying Pioneer Natural Resources, a shale drilling firm, for 59.5 billion U.S. dollars, in a bid to expand its oil production in West Texas. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua)

HOUSTON, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Exxon Mobil announced Wednesday it was buying Pioneer Natural Resources, a shale drilling firm, for 59.5 billion U.S. dollars, in a bid to expand its oil production in West Texas.

Exxon will pay 253 dollars per share in an all-stock deal, according to a statement on Wednesday, an 18 percent premium for Pioneer investors based on the closing price on Oct. 5.

It is Exxon's largest deal since its merger with Mobil more than two decades ago, and would make Exxon the largest operator in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, the Houston Chronicle reported.

"The sum is greater than each of the parts," Exxon CEO Darren Woods said in an interview on Wednesday. "We have more technologies in the pipeline that we think are going to further improve recovery and reduce costs."

Woods said that Pioneer, based in Irving of northwestern Texas, currently controls some of the "most attractive acreage" in West Texas's Permian Basin.

The deal is expected to be finalized next year. 

This photo taken on Oct. 11, 2023 shows an Exxon gas station in Plano, on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas, the United States. Exxon Mobil announced Wednesday it was buying Pioneer Natural Resources, a shale drilling firm, for 59.5 billion U.S. dollars, in a bid to expand its oil production in West Texas. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua)
Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has pleaded guilty to fraud in a case involving 400 million of offshore assets domiciled in Singapore.

Last year, charges were brought against Ecclestone by a prosecutor for the UK's Crown Prosecution Service, acting on behalf of for Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The prosecutor was authorized to charge Ecclestone with fraud by false representation and a failure to declare overseas assets worth more than 400 million.

The 92-year-old, whose net worth is estimated at 2.5 billion ($3 billion), initially entered a not guilty plea and was granted unconditional bail ahead of the court case.

The charge was the result of a "complex and worldwide" investigation according to the HMRC whereby it was revealed that Ecclestone had failed to declare a trust in Singapore with a bank account containing approximately $650 million.

On Thursday, Ecclestone appeared at Southward Crown Court and changed his plea to guilty.

The court heard that Ecclestone has reached a civil settlement with HMRC to pay 652.6m - approximately $800 million - on 9 October covering 18 tax years.

Nevertheless, Ecclestone has been sentenced to 17 months in prison, suspended for two years.

According to Sky News, prosecutors said Ecclestone made untrue or misleading representations to HMRC at a July 2015 meeting, when he said he "established only a single trust" in favour of his daughters Deborah, Tamara and Petra.

At the time, Ecclestone answered "no" when asked by HMRC officers whether he had any links to further trusts "in or outside the UK".

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC said: "That answer was untrue or misleading. Mr Ecclestone knew his answer may have been untrue or misleading. "As of 7 July 2015, Mr Ecclestone did not know the truth of the position, so was not able to give an answer to the question. Mr Ecclestone was not entirely clear on how ownership of the accounts in question were structured. "He therefore did not know whether it was liable for tax, interest or penalties in relation to amounts passing through the accounts. "Mr Ecclestone recognises it was wrong to answer the questions he did because it ran the risk that HMRC would not continue to investigate his affairs. "He now accepts that some tax is due in relation to these matters." Ecclestone, who was responsible for building Formula 1 into a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse, managed the sport until its take-over at the start of 2018 by Liberty Media.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
jakkapant turasen / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The days of needing a specific degree for a specific job could be fading. A recent ZipRecruiter survey found that 42% of employers have dropped degree requirements for some roles in the past year, and 72% focus on skills-based hiring, where skills get priority over degrees/certificates.

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So, if you want to stand out to job recruiters in this skills-based hiring era, consider these three skills that employers in the ZipRecruiter survey say are most lacking among candidates:

1. Time management

If you want to impress future employers, getting a good handle on time management could help. Plus, it could make work less stressful for you once you land a job.

It ensures increased productivity, high-quality work, improved confidence in ones ability to do the job efficiently, and on-time delivery of time-sensitive assignments, notes a Teamly article.

2. Professionalism

Professionalism is another important soft skill. But it doesnt mean you have to dress up in fancy clothes to be a professional, although in certain positions that might be fitting. Typically, its more about how you interact with others.

Professionalism is the conduct, behavior and attitude of someone in a work or business environment, explains a Virginia Tech article. Some things to work on to improve your professionalism, according to Virginia Tech, include taking accountability and being able to take feedback constructively.

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3. Critical thinking

Lastly, working on your critical thinking skills can help you stand out among potential hires. As an Indeed article notes, critical thinking isnt just about having information but digesting it and reflecting on it.

The first step to thinking critically is to accept information only after evaluating it, says Indeed. You can also work on skills like asking questions to learn more, the jobs site explains.

Story continues

In addition to these soft skills, pay attention to technical skills that might be relevant to the positions youre applying for. The ZipRecruiter survey finds 57% of employers are hiring people with AI skills, for example.

By focusing on these types of areas, you can position yourself to land a great job, even if you dont have a certain degree or certification.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Skills Will Make You Stand Out to Job Recruiters, as Many Companies Shift Focus to Skills-Based Hiring
A 71-year-old DJ was filmed using his CD collection to play at a wedding and went viral on TikTok.

The clip received 6 million views, and users appeared to find the video heartwarming.

The DJ, Brian Phoenix, told Insider he doesn't understand why people loved the video so much.

A 71-year-old DJ became a viral sensation on TikTok when he was filmed using his CD collection to play at a wedding, but he said he doesn't understand why people on the app took a liking to him.

"Went to a wedding and they had the cutest old DJ who used his CD collection for all the music," read a caption on a TikTok video posted on October 10 by a creator named Miranda Dolph.

The clip showcased Brian Phoenix, who lives in Saco, Maine, and who has been DJing at weddings for over 40 years, handling his CDs in the corner of the venue. He told Insider that he always uses his collection of CDs and his laptop to play music at events.

Dolph, 37, told Insider via Instagram DM that she filmed the clip of Phoenix while she was on the dancefloor at a friend's wedding.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

"Brian and his CD collection were a topic of discussion at the wedding. It was awesome. I'm old enough to appreciate CDs and you don't often see someone still DJing weddings with them," she said.

The video of Phoenix went viral, receiving 6 million views, and Phoenix told Insider he first watched the clip after a friend sent it to him but had no idea why it was so popular.

"It's like 10 seconds of me standing there, which I don't understand what the big deal is," he said, describing his reaction to the post.

"It's what I've done for the last 40 years at weddings. It was another wedding and I did my usual 'best I can do, give them everything I got,' wedding," he said.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

In a version of the clip posted by Dolph which uses the original audio, Phoenix played "Levitating" by Dua Lipa ft. Da Baby, which was released in 2020.

Phoenix told Insider that he personally prefers music from the 1950s and 60s, but at weddings he makes an effort to play songs that will appeal to the different age groups, saying he often plays contemporary and hip-hop music for younger people. He said he has often thought people watching him in action look at him and think to themselves, "How does this guy know this music?"

The 71-year-old credited his decades of experience as a DJ at weddings and on the radio, as well as around 18 years of prior experience DJing at a nightclub, for enabling him to become knowledgeable about what music people like.

Though Phoenix told Insider he feels he "didn't do anything that spectacular" in the clip, commenters appeared to find the video heartwarming, and a number of users suggested they would like to have Phoenix DJ at their own events.

"Please post his business details, tik Tok wants to hire him for our next events!" read one top comment with over 34,000 likes.

Dolph went on to post another clip of Phoenix on TikTok, an excerpt of a video of the 71-year-old talking about his passion for DJing originally posted on YouTube by The Music Man DJ Service, which represents Pheonix. The company's owner Jason Strycharz told Insider via email that they have already received inquiries about Pheonix's availability off the back of his viral moment.

Dolph told Insider, "I think seeing someone just being themselves and following their passion, no matter their age, is what people enjoyed so much about the video."

This embedded content is not available in your region.

One commenter under Dolph's first video about Phoenix said they felt "sad to see our elderly working," receiving 2,196 likes, but Phoenix told Insider he doesn't want to retire. He said that he spends 52 hours a week on average DJing, doing radio work from Monday to Friday, and playing weddings at the weekends.

"I want to be out there. I want to be a part of it. I can do it, I'm good at it," he said.

A number of other comments referred to Phoenix as "elderly" or "old," but he said he wasn't insulted by it, rather he felt proud, he said. "I'm still sharp, I'm on my game and I'm 71 years old. That's quite an accomplishment," he told Insider.

For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.

Read the original article on Insider
Tonight on The Amazing Race, teams feel the strain of commercial travel and float their way through the Mekong Delta as they are challenged between making rice paper or customizing a scooter by wrapping it in vinyl in Vietnam. This episode titled No Sleep and a Million Dollar Dream airs Wednesday, October 11 (9:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on CBS. Phil Keoghan hosts.

SEE Everything to know about The Amazing Race 35

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CBS promises the biggest season yet, with 13 teams competing for the first time ever. We will also see the return of commercial travel, no non-elimination legs, the express pass and a twist on the infamous U-Turn! Here are the teams in contention: Jocelyn & Victor (married), Liam & Yemeri (brothers), Malaina & Andrea (best friends), Joe & Ian (engaged), Steve & Anna Leigh (father/daughter), Morgan & Lena (sisters), Ashlie & Todd (married), Robbin & Chelsea (childhood friends), Greg & John (brothers), Rob & Corey (father/son) and Joel & Garrett (best friends). See the full cast in the gallery above. Follow our live blog recap of tonights episode below.

SEE The Amazing Races Elizabeth and Iliana on their bad taxi driver and the moment that crushed us [WATCH]

9:30 p.m.  Previously, on The Amazing Race! In episode 2, teams dove deeper into the countryside of Thailand for the second leg of the race, encountering catfish-infested waters and pomelo-filled rivers. Following the Roadblocks and Detours, Jocelyn & Victor finished first for the second week in a row while the mother/daughter duo of Elizabeth & Iliana was eliminated in 12th place. Lets begin Leg 3!

9:35 p.m.  Leg 3 begins in Bangkok, Thailand with Jocelyn & Victor heading out first. Theyll head to the airport and fly 500 miles to Vietnam, then take a bus to the city of Can Tho to pick up their next clue. They will book flights through a travel agency, competing with other teams for the best flights. Jocelyn & Victor arrive at the travel agency but it doesnt open for another 30 minutes. That costs them quite a bit of time and as theyre booking their flight Rob & Corey arrive stating, We want to do the same thing theyre doing.

9:45 p.m.  Jocelyn & Victor arrive at the airport and have 40 minutes before they can even check in. Other teams begin booking the same flight. Rob & Corey, Greg & John and Morgan & Lena will head out at the same time. When Todd & Ashlie arrive at the travel agent they find out that flight is booked and the next one is six hours later. Thats quite a time gap. As other teams book the late flight, Joe & Ians travel agent worked some magic and booked them on the early flight, just five minutes behind the leaders. Joel & Garrett get the same savvy travel agent while Liam & Yeremi and Andrea & Malaina book the late flight. Robbin & Chelsea are last to arrive, but should catch up with plenty of teams at the airport.

10:00 p.m.  As teams arrive at the airport Todd & Ashlie and Steve & Anna Leigh catch wind that teams behind them got earlier flights out of Bangkok. Theyre furious. Meanwhile, the first flight has been delayed an hour, which means Joe & Ian and Joel & Garrett will be the first to depart at 1:50 p.m. What a turn of events! Later, the first two teams reach Vietnam and we get a look at the cozy busses theyll take to Can Tho. Each passenger takes off their shoes and gets to lie down for a nap. Not a bad way to spend a few hours during this stressful race! An hour later the second flight arrives in Vietnam while flight three is still sitting in Thailand. Up at the front of the pack, Joe & Ian get to a dock and discover their major time advantage is about to shrink. They have to hang out all night and wait for their allotted time slot tomorrow, which they share with two other teams  only 15 minutes ahead of the next few teams. Joel & Garrett grab the second top time slot and Rob & Corey grab the third when they arrive an hour later.

10:15 p.m.  The last group of racers arrives and luck strikes another team. Anna Leigh digs a little deeper in that 5:45 a.m. time slot and finds a pass  which launches her and her dad into the first group to depart tomorrow morning. What a find! Morning comes and that first group takes off at 5:45 a.m. Theyll ride by boat to Cai Rang Floating Market, seeking out vendors looking to stock three different types of fruit. Each vendor will give them one third of a photograph. Once they have all three pieces of the photo, they put them together to see their next clue. With just 30 minutes between first and last place, all teams are out in the floating market. Its anyones race!

10:30 p.m.  Morgan & Lena have decided to use their Express Pass. It wont give them the cushion they had hoped for, but it will prevent them from being in the back of the pack. They jump into first place with Joel & Garrett hot on their heels. Many of the other teams are really congested in that market, struggling to get the space to offload their fruit. Joel & Garrett reach the next clue, so theyre in first place. In this Detour, teams will choose between paper or plastic. In Paper, teams will have to learn to make rice paper and perfectly lay out 12 sheets. In Plastic, teams will cut, apply, heat and smooth out vinyl on one body part of a motorbike. Joel & Garrett choose paper and lead 10 teams. Morgan & Lena are in second place and choose Plastic, so well see which Detour looks faster. To me the paper challenge looks much more manageable, but Morgan & Lena are actually familiar with vinyl and seem very comfortable where theyre at.

10:45 p.m.  All teams are now at the Detour with Andrea & Malaina arriving last. A few teams have gotten checks at the Paper Detour, but Steve & Anna Leigh are the first to actually get a stamp of approval for their rice paper. They receive their next clue which sends them to the next Pit Stop at Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery. Joel & Garrett are next and will race them to the finish line of this leg. Steve & Anna Leigh arrive first, however theyre still racing! Phil simply hands them a clue, sending them by taxi to a new location. Go to the end of this blog to see the order teams reached Phil in this episode.

11:00 p.m.  Two teams that really made up time in the Detour were Robbin & Chelsea and Andrea & Malaina. They arrived at the back of the pack, but moved into the middle with their rice paper skills. Morgan & Lena were shocked when they reached the Pit Stop in sixth place. They were hoping their Express Pass would give them a huge advantage, but they didnt even maintain their top four standing in the race. This leg has definitely flipped the race on its head. Jocelyn & Victor go from first to 10th. Liam & Yeremi are dead last after thinking they had a solid leg, but theyre still in the race! This leg continues next week.

Leg 3 standings:

1. Steve & Anna Leigh

2. Joel & Garrett

3. Rob & Corey

4. Todd & Ashlie

5. Robbin & Chelsea

6. Morgan & Lena

7. Joe & Ian

8. Greg & John

9. Andrea & Malaina

10. Jocelyn & Victor

11. Liam & Yeremi

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

Launch Gallery: 'The Amazing Race 35' cast: Meet the 13 new teams

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'Beyond King Tut' at Baird Center

"Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience" brings the boy king to the Baird Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., for a run starting Oct. 13. The exhibit  nine multi-sensory galleries surrounding you with the story of the Egyptian ruler  is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Timed-entry tickets for peak hours are $39.99; $34.99 for seniors, students and military members; and $28.99 for kids ages 5 to 15. (Prices vary for premium, group and off-peak tickets.) Info: beyondkingtut.com/city/milwaukee.

RELATED: An immersive King Tut experience will be coming to the Wisconsin Center this fall

The NARI Home Improvement & Remodeling Show returns to State Fair Park this weekend.

NARI Milwaukee Home & Remodeling Show

The NARI Milwaukee Home & Remodeling Show returns to State Fair Park's Wisconsin Exposition Center from noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 14, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 15. Tickets at the door are $10, $8 for seniors 60 and older, and free for kids 17 and younger, members of the military and veterans. Info: narimilwaukeehomeshow.com.

Milwaukee Home Movie Day

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukees Archives Department, Film Studies Program, and Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres host Home Movie Day from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 14 at Room B91 in Mitchell Hall, 3203 N. Downer Ave. People can bring home movies in any format, and volunteers will fix what needs fixing and offer counsel on caring for them. Admission is free (and you don't have to have home movies to watch the screenings). Info: uwm.edu/libraries/event/home-movie-day.

Bark & BBQ at Harley-Davidson Museum

Bark & BBQ brings together more than 30 dog-centric vendor booths, pet activities and barbecue food trucks from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 14 on the Harley-Davidson Museum grounds, 400 W. Canal St. Admission is free; a $35 upgrade brings you (and your dog) extra goodies. Info: milwaukeebarkandbbq.com.

Dia de los Muertos doings at Milwaukee Art Museum

The Milwaukee Art Museum leads Dia de los Muertos family activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15. On the agenda: ofrenda construction, dance, music and more. It's free with museum admission: $22; $17 for students, seniors 65 and older, and members of the military; and free for kids 12 and younger. Info: mam.org.

RELATED: Celebrate Dia de los Muertos at these events in the Milwaukee area in 2023

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Beyond King Tut' and other things to do in Milwaukee this weekend
Carlee Russell Conspiracy Trafficking Theories Carlee Russell Conspiracy Trafficking Theories.jpg - Credit: Hoover Police Department

Carlethia Carlee Russell, a woman who admitted that she lied about being kidnapped when she went missing for two days in July, was found guilty of two misdemeanor charges during her court appearance in Hoover, Alabama.

The nursing student was charged with one count of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and one count of falsely reporting an incident, according to NBC 15. Russell could face one year in jail, as each charge carries up to six months, and an $831 fine. According to the outlet, Judge Thomas Brad Bishop recommended she pay restitution of nearly $18,000.

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I think she understands what has happened. She has apologized, I know you all said through me but thats not good enough, but she has apologized for what transpired. I dont want her to have any type of breakdown or anything of that nature, so we are handling her with kid gloves and make sure her mental state is just fine, said Russells attorney Emory Anthony.

In July, Russell was charged with filing a false police report and filing a false statement to law enforcement authorities. Days prior, Anthony stated Russell had not been abducted as she and her family previously claimed.

My client has given me permission to make the following statement on her behalf. There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13, 2023. My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have help in this incident, that this was a single act done by herself. My client was not with anyone or any hotel with anyone from the time she was missing, wrote her attorney.

The statement continued: My client apologizes for her actions to this community, the volunteers who were searching for her, to the Hoover Police Department and other agencies as well as to her friends and family. We ask for your prayers for Carlee as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee, again, asks for your forgiveness and prayers.

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Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Gamuda Berhad's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

A total of 10 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership

Using data from analyst forecasts alongside ownership research, one can better assess the future performance of a company

A look at the shareholders of Gamuda Berhad (KLSE:GAMUDA) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 43% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

And things are looking up for institutional investors after the company gained RM378m in market cap last week. One-year return to shareholders is currently 30% and last weeks gain was the icing on the cake.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Gamuda Berhad.

Check out our latest analysis for Gamuda Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Gamuda Berhad?

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.

We can see that Gamuda Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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 Gamuda Berhad, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Gamuda Berhad. Our data shows that Permodalan Nasional Berhad is the largest shareholder with 15% of shares outstanding. Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia is the second largest shareholder owning 12% of common stock, and Kumpulan Wang Persaraan holds about 4.9% of the company stock. Additionally, the company's CEO Yun Lin directly holds 2.9% of the total shares outstanding.

Story continues

On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 10 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones.

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 Gamuda Berhad

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.

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.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Gamuda Berhad. It is a pretty big company, so it is generally a positive to see some potentially meaningful alignment. In this case, they own around RM1.2b worth of shares (at current prices). If you would like to explore the question of insider alignment, you can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 32% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Gamuda 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.

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. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Gamuda Berhad , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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 CW has picked up two scripted series filmed in Canada called Wild Cards and Sight Unseen for 2024.

Wild Cards is a crime-solving procedural with a comedic twist that follows the unlikely duo of a gruff, sardonic cop and a spirited, clever con woman. Ellis ( Giacomo Gianniotti of Greys Anatomy) plays a demoted detective who has spent the last year on the maritime unit, while Max (Vanessa Morgan of Riverdale) has been living a transient life elaborately scamming everyone she meets. But when Max gets arrested and ends up helping Ellis solve a local crime, the two are offered the opportunity to redeem themselves, with Ellis going back to detective and Max staying out of jail. The catch? They have to work together, with each using their unique skills to solve crimes.

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Sight Unseen, in partnership with Bell Medias CTV, follows Tess Avery (Dolly Lewis, The Dutchmans Pipe), a top homicide detective who is forced to quit the job she loves after nearly killing her partner and being diagnosed as clinically blind. Reluctant to accept help, Tess uses an assistance app and connects with Sunny Patel (Agam Darshi, DMZ), a professional seeing-eye guide and an agoraphobe living 3,000 miles away. After losing her vision, Tess is haunted by the unsolved cases she left behind. Using a hidden camera and earpiece, Sunny remotely steers Tess through lifes obstacles  and crimes  as the two challenge preconceptions about ability, trust and where to draw the line. Inspired by one of the co-creators experiences with sight loss, viewers join Tess and Sunny as they bring a fresh perspective to solving crime.

The CW says its creatively involved in all aspects of production and developed both series from scratch in partnership with CBC and CTV. While they will also be airing on CBC and CTV, they are fully CW original series, the network added.

Wild Cards is from Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures, Piller/Segan and commissioning broadcaster CBC, while Sight Unseen fares from Blink49 Studios and Front Street Pictures in association with Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions and commissioning broadcaster Bell Medias CTV. Both are slated to premiere on The CW in 2024.

Both series are produced under the jurisdiction of ACTRA and the WGC in Canada. The licensing deal for both series was brokered by Blink49 Studios, who controls the distribution rights in the U.S. and Canada. International distribution (outside of North America) is handled by Fifth Season.

Wild Cards and Sight Unseen are two unique, binge-worthy shows that reflect The CWs commitment to compelling, top-tier storytelling that will appeal to our loyal fans and attract a wide range of new viewers, commented Liz Wise Lyall, the CWs Head of Scripted Programming, We are thrilled to collaborate with our partners at Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures, Piller/Segan and Sisters Troubetzkoy Productions to bring these dynamic series to life and highlight just how expansive The CW brand can be.

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Not everyone has always been a fan of Dolly Partons glamorous style.

The country music icon, 77, recalled receiving physical and verbal punishment from her grandfather for modeling her now-famous look after the local town tramp while growing up in Tennessee. Im very sensitive, I didnt like being disciplined, she revealed in an interview with The Guardian published on Monday, October 9. It hurt my feelings so bad to be scolded or whipped or whatever.

Her style of choice was something Parton said she was willing to pay for, accepting the punishment from her grandfather, who was a preacher and sharecropper. Sometimes theres just that part of you thats willing, if you want something bad enough, to go for it, she added.

Unlike her grandfather and others in her hometown of Sevierville, Parton admired the town tramp from a young age for her beauty and flamboyant fashion choices. She had bright red lipstick, long red fingernails. She had high-heeled shoes, little floating plastic goldfish in the heels of them, short skirts, low-cut tops, and I just thought she was beautiful, she told the outlet. When people would say, She aint nothing but trash, I would always say, Well, thats what Im gonna be when I grow up.

Dolly Partons Glitziest Red Carpet Fashion Moments of All Time: Photos

While Parton is widely recognized for her sky-high blonde hair, glitzy fashion and large chest, she noted that her look actually comes from a very serious place. She explained, Thats how I thought I looked best. Sometimes thats worked for me, sometimes it can work against you. It took me probably years longer to be taken serious, but I wasnt willing to change it, and I figured if I had the talent, itd show up sooner or later.

However, it was her mother who always taught her to be true to myself, a phrase Parton said shes put a lot of stock in over the years. Everything I do, whether its my personality, how I conduct myself and business, or whatever, if I do it my way, according to what I understand and believe, theres a strength in that, the Grammy winner shared. You can think, I can stand by this, I can live by this. But I never cared so much that it keeps me from being me.

Ron Davis/Getty Images

Parton sported a number of dazzling looks while hosting the 2023 ACM Awards earlier this year. She walked the May red carpet in a sparkling silver jumpsuit and later traded in the ensemble for a multi-color floral dress.

Dolly Partons Half-Century Love Story With Husband Carl Dean: Their Complete Relationship Timeline

In addition to donning a cowgirl outfit and dress, Parton ended the awards show by wearing a large skirt featuring a map of the world while performing World on Fire off her upcoming album, Rockstar, which comes out next month. The large skirt ripped off to reveal an edgy all-black leather look.

Parton previously admitted that she never considered herself to be fashionable in a 2019 interview with Vogue, going on to joke, It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.
Whats the cinematic DNA that links Greta Gerwig s billion-dollar-grossing Barbie with Martin Scorsese s brooding historical epic Killers of the Flower Moon, due in theaters next Friday?

I try to always approach cinematography from an emotional standpoint, says the man who shot both movies, Rodrigo Prieto. The lighting, the decisions on color, lenses, camera movement, texture  all that is based on memories and how I remember feelings with images in my life.

Originally from Mexico City, the three-time Oscar nominee sometimes likens his craft to a magicians tricks. But its Prietos heart-first solutions to the technical demands of each story that have earned him the trust of several of the worlds most revered and idiosyncratic directors.

His work was sharp, dynamic and alive, says Scorsese via email about choosing Prieto to shoot 2013s The Wolf of Wall Street, the first of their five joint ventures. A beautiful eye, he adds. Scorsese was struck by Prietos photography for such varied filmmakers as Spike Lee (the vivid post-9/11 New York City of 25th Hour), Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountains longing vastness) and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (2000s Amores Perros, his handheld breakout).

He is a force for good on a movie set, a true leader, Gerwig tells The Times. He was neither imposing his will nor executing mine, but in that in-between space where I like to be most. It felt like writing with Noah [Baumbach, Gerwigs co-screenwriter and partner], in a way  a true collaboration.

Entering Prietos two-story home in Pacific Palisades, one steps into a space of welcoming elegance: airy rooms accentuated by curated decorations that speak to his varied interests.

Near the staircase hangs a kinetic, eye-catching painting by Emiliano Gironella Parra, inspired by Pedro Paramo, Juan Rulfos seminal 1955 novel that Prieto has just turned into his feature directorial debut. (He bought the artwork in Mexico while making Frida in 2001.) And in one of the rooms upstairs, a wall bears a treasured poster of Prietos all-time favorite film, Raging Bull, which Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci all signed at his wifes request during the shooting of The Irishman.

Prieto, 57, says his film fandom started with monsters. As a child, he and his older brother, Antonio, would turn their parents home into a makeshift haunted house, where theyd use stop-motion animation and rear projection to make scary figurines move. I got hooked on thrilling our friends and seeing the impact of what we could do with our creativity. Prieto recalls.

Growing up in Mexico, Prieto had no idea this could become a viable profession. Fortunately, that changed in high school when a teacher pointed him to a small academy exclusively dedicated to training people in Super-8. He enrolled, and when that institution closed after the film stock was discontinued, his passion continued, learning from famed shooter Nadine Markova, who taught him the basics of composition. My father was an engineer and my mother was an amateur painter, Prieto says. I guess photography is a combination of those two.

Against the advice of those around him who thought hed be better off working, Prieto studied at Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica, one of Mexicos most renowned film schools, still not knowing if he wanted to do cinematography or direct. Those budding directors  very cultured, serious people who had seen all the movies, Prieto says  were not exactly who he was.

I felt I didn't fit into that mold, he recalls. I wasnt a cinephile, but just a fan of monsters who liked playing with film.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto in Mexico City on Saturday, September 30, 2023. (Tania Franco Klein / For The Times)

Still, it launched his career, introducing him to many of the Mexican filmmakers hed go on to collaborate with over the years, including Carlos Carrera and Eva Lopez Sanchez. After graduating, Prieto got a gig on the 1996 horror title Sobrenatural, which landed him a U.S. agent.

You leave a part of your soul in every movie, he says. It's so intense and time-consuming  time away from your family  so it better be worth it. (Prieto has two daughters.)

Early in his career, Prieto made the mistake of bringing copious notes to a meeting with one director, because he had already imagined how he would shoot the film. It terrified his counterpart. Prieto didnt get that job.

I learned that what's very important, especially the first time working with a director, is to shut up, listen and only make suggestions after a director has explained what's in their mind and in their hearts, says Prieto.

That modesty has led him to be versatile, meaning he has never been married to one stylistic signature or tool.I have no loyalty to any brand of cameras or lenses, Prieto says of a run of work thats spanned scrappy rawness (8 Mile) to luxe sci-fi romance (Passengers). On each project theres a new thing that I'm trying. It's a little bit like cooking. You have some ingredients and put them together to try to find a taste. I try to create a new taste for each movie.

And, as with cooking, the results often transcend words. With all the people I've worked with, we develop a relationship beyond friendship or a director giving me instructions, he says. I have to understand their psyche. The only way to do that is to fall in love with them.

With Scorsese, it was easy. Theyve now done four feature films and one television series together, including HBOs record-industry-set Vinyl and Scorseses longtime obsession, the religious drama Silence. Project after project, the crux of their work together happens during an epic preliminary conversation: Over the course of two or three days, Prieto and the assistant director listen to Scorsese explain each part of the screenplay, shot by shot.

When he describes it, thats my favorite part of working with Scorsese, the cinematographer says. Scorsese doesnt use technical terms, but dives into the emotional intention of each moment. If I present a shot, he'll typically say, Rodrigo, I think it should be more extreme, Prieto says. Then I have to figure out what that means, translate it into a different lens, a different camera position, something with lighting, maybe.

Thats the heart of the process, Scorsese explains.At the core of it, were dealing with emotion. In any given scene, we have to underscore the immediate emotions.

For Killers of the Flower Moon, about the notorious murders committed in Oklahoma's Osage territory during the 1920s and 30s, fire would serve as a recurring motif. (Sometimes valuable oil land would be set ablaze in order to collect on claims.) Prieto used gas pipes buried underground, which created shimmering air at different distances from the camera to give the image an unusual distortion. Combined with multiple controlled fires, the effect proved eerie  and one that Prieto hadnt anticipated.

It's the kind of thing that I really enjoy, where you set things up with an expected result and something else happens that's surprising, Prieto says.

I asked Scorsese to pick one remarkable shot from his long experience with Prieto. He chose several, a noncomprehensive list of Prietos greatest hits: the explosive office scenes from Wolf of Wall Street, samurais in the mist in Silence, a pool-hall arrest in Killers. Scorsese describes these moments impressionistically, cutting to the heart of what he does with Prieto: Camera, actors and light, choreographed in a vertiginous-like entrapment.

As soon as he wrapped on location with Scorsese in 2021, Prieto left Oklahoma for Barbieland in London, and a collaboration with Gerwig that was characterized by more room for design, interaction and expression.

I always feel that his cinema language is made anew for each movie, says Gerwig. And his color  its just so rich and emotional and deep. It is never obvious, but it is always meaningful. (Prieto brought a touch of his cultural background to Barbie with his inclusion of rosa mexicano, a specific shade of pink that comes from the bougainvillea flower.)

Gerwig calls their shared aesthetic artificial authenticity, anchored in a love of 1950s soundstage musicals, Jacques Tatis liquid color and melancholy comedies like Heaven Can Wait. It was a term she used to express her intent for every aspect of the Barbie production.

We always asked ourselves, How would this have been accomplished in 1950? Gerwig says. They decided on painted backgrounds and miniatures to create the illusion of space and size.

Prietos rule was that everything in Barbieland should be flatteringly backlit: Everything's perfect in Barbieland, so there was no room for hard shadows.

My key word for Barbie was innocence, Prieto recalls. For these toys, the world is all good. I wanted the camera to behave in a very innocent way in Barbieland. It's usually frontal or sideways. We didn't use any oblique angles. And that was based on the idea of opening a box.

Its hard to imagine two more disparate visions in American movies this year, the burnished amber burn of Killers of the Flower Moon and the pop precision of Barbie. Prieto could very likely be competing with himself come awards season. To kick things off, in early November he will receive the 2023 Arbol de la Vida Lifetime Achievement Award from the GuadaLAjara Film Festival here in L.A.

During the last few years, hes also expanded his resume by shooting three music videos for Taylor Swift, first for The Man, a 2019 track that deals with sexism. Prieto later worked on the ethereal, enchanted-forest-set videos for Cardigan and Willow, from Swifts pandemic albums Folklore and Evermore, respectively.

When we started talking about the shots, she would talk about the lyrics and she'd sometimes sing them, says Prieto, describing a personal language with Swift that, again, per his mantra, involves a lot of listening. She's a storyteller, of course, in her music, but all the sets and the ideas are completely hers. She comes up with the whole thing. He suspects a Swift-directed feature is almost certain.

Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto in Mexico City on Saturday, September 30, 2023. (Tania Franco Klein / For The Times)

Prieto has recently made that leap himself with his upcoming adaptation of Pedro Paramo for Netflix. The novel follows a man in search of his father, an existential quest populated by ghostly entities that calls back to his childhood haunted houses. It really is embedded in me, this feeling of the supernatural in Mexico, he says.

The opportunity to direct came at the right time, he thinks, both in terms of his maturity and his confidence as a shooter.

Perhaps I wouldnt have done this movie if my career as a director depended on it, because it could completely fail, he says. I thought, OK, I'll put everything of myself in there. I'll give it my best shot and if it doesn't work, I still love shooting and I'm still planning to continue shooting. There was a fallback plan.

Whatever may come of it, his favorite directors will have to wait a bit for his return, while he dreams this new dream for a while. Nothing stops him, Scorsese says. Not the extreme heat in Oklahoma when we were shooting Killers, not the typhoons in Taiwan on Silence. Nothing.

With an endorsement as heroic as that, Prieto cant lose.

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Roberto Saviano, who wrote Gomorrah, a book that investigated the criminal organization Camorra, has been found guilty of libel against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and fined $1,055 for saying she was a bastard for her controversial views on immigration. Meloni previously criticized ships that saved migrants stranded in the Mediterranean Sea. According to The Guardian, supporters of Saviano, including Sabrina Tucci, a spokesperson for the global writers association PEN International, said the ruling against Saviano illustrated the countrys severe defamation rules and underscores the challenges writers and journalists face in their pursuit of free expression. Tucci continued, saying, Under international law, public officials must tolerate more criticism than private individuals. Defendants found guilty of defamation in Italy can be handed prison sentences between six months and three years, but fines are more frequent. Savianos attorney told Reuters that they would appeal the ruling.

Read it at The Guardian

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Margie Burkhart tells PEOPLE about growing up as the granddaughter of a man who helped kill her relatives

Melinda Sue Gordon/Apple Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio as Mollie and Ernest Burkhart in "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Margie Burkhart still remembers seeing her grandfather for the first time, when she was a child. With fluffy white hair and beautiful blue eyes, you wouldnt know from looking at an elderly Ernest Burkhart that he was one of the men responsible for murdering a number of his Native American wifes relatives as part of a plot to inherit their lucrative oil rights  a plot that is at the center of the new movie Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese, which premieres in theaters on Oct. 20.

He just looked like a sweet little man, and if you saw him on the street, you would never know what he was capable of doing or what he did, says Margie of her first encounter with her grandfather, Ernest. It was wild to me how he just looked normal.

In Killers of the Flower Moon, Ernest is played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who stars alongside Lily Gladstone, who portrays Margies grandmother Mollie, and Robert De Niro as William Hale, the ringleader of the plot to murder Mollies family, who were members of the oil-rich Osage Nation in northern Oklahoma in the 1920s.



Paramount Pictures Robert De Niro, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio in "Killers of the Flower Moon"

Margie, 61, who grew up not far from where the murders occurred years before, would hear the stories of the crimes committed against her family. She used to ride horses with her father James, better known as Cowboy, and he would point out chilling landmarks.

"You want to go see this area where [Aunt] Anna was murdered?" she remembers him asking.

Related: Killers of the Flower Moon Cast Discuss Using 'Authentic' Osage Language in New Clip (Exclusive)

Ernest Burkhart married Mollie, a member of a wealthy Osage family in 1917. Ernest would go on to be part of a plot hatched by Hale that resulted in the deaths of several members of her family, including her sisters Anna and Reta: Anna was shot to death and dumped in a ravine; Reta, along with her husband, died when their home was bombed. Mollies mother, Lizzie Q., and sister Minnie also died mysteriously.

Known as the Reign of Terror, the murders were not properly investigated by local authorities and members of the Osage Nation had to lobby the federal government to look into the heinous crimes that took away their loved ones, according to author David Grann, who wrote the 2017 bestselling non-fiction book on which the new movie is based.

Courtesy Doubleday Mollie Burkhart, right, with sisters Anna, center, and Minnie.

The agency that would become the FBI investigated the murders, as well as several other murders committed against Osages, and investigators suspected Ernest and Hale were involved. For years, Mollie stood by her husband, but in 1926 he finally confessed to his role in the murders and testified against Hale and other conspirators. Mollie divorced Ernest, but Margie says her grandmother was shunned by many in the community for initially standing by him. (Mollie eventually remarried and died in 1937, before Margie was born.) And Cowboy, Mollie's son and Margie's father, was also ostracized despite being a child at the time of the murders.

Related: Leonardo DiCaprio Reunites with Martin Scorsese in First Look at 'Killers of the' 'Flower Moon'

Ernest served time in prison for the murders but was eventually released. Sometime later, he met his granddaughter, Margie.



Courtesy Doubleday Margie Burkhart

For more on the true story behind Killers of the Flower Moon, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here.



One time, Margies family was set to go on a vacation, and Ernest was asked by Cowboy to housesit. Margie, who grew up hearing the awful stories, was terrified that he would harm her pet fish, whom Ernest had been given instructions on how to feed.

I knew what he was and I was scared for my fish, Margie says.

Related: Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Gets 9-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes

Time has not healed the wounds caused by Ernest's actions. Margie still holds animosity toward her grandfather, who died in 1986.

I have a lot of anger towards him, Margie says. He took away my whole family. He took away potential cousins. I don't have any relatives on my Osage side.

The Apple Original Film Killers of the Flower Moon will premiere in theaters around the world, including IMAX theatres, on Oct. 20.

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Read the original article on People.
Guns N Roses welcomed concertgoers to a different jungle than originally scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 11, having moved their gig to Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre so the Arizona Diamondbacks could use Chase Field to sweep the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.

The set went heavy on selections from the early albums that continue to define their place in music history.

There were eight songs from "Appetite for Destruction," the multi-platinum calling card that felt as much like a rejection of the status quo in 1987 as the Sex Pistols' "Never Mind the Bollocks" a decade earlier.

And they dusted off a total of 11 songs from the Use Your Illusion albums, twin releases dropped in 1991, including their renditions of Bob Dylans Knockin on Heavens Door and Wings Live and Let Die.

Those werent the only covers in their 31-song set. They also did UK Subs Down on the Farm, the Stooges T.V. Eye and Jimmy Webbs Glen Campbell hit Wichita Lineman.

'It was dirty and nasty and hot': How a Tempe dive bar became Cheers for Valley metalheads

Guns N' Roses 2023 setlist: Every song they played in Phoenix

Heres a look at every song Guns N Rose played at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

It's So Easy

Bad Obsession

Chinese Democracy

Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)

Mr. Brownstone

Welcome to the Jungle (with Link Wray's "Rumble" intro)

Hard Skool

Pretty Tied Up

Live and Let Die (Wings cover)

Estranged

You Could Be Mine

Double Talkin' Jive

Reckless Life

Absurd

Perhaps

Rocket Queen

Down on the Farm (UK Subs cover)

T.V. Eye (The Stooges cover sung by Duff McKagan)

Anything Goes

Civil War (with Voodoo Child outro)

Slash guitar solo (preceded by band introductions)

Sweet Child o' Mine

"November Rain

Patience

Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)

Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover)

Nightrain

Encore:

Coma (with the Impressions' "People Get Ready" intro)

Madagascar

Don't Cry

Paradise City

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Guns N' Roses 2023 tour setlist: Every song they played in Phoenix
The cast and filmmakers behind Netflixs Israeli series Fauda are speaking out and taking action amid the Hamas attacks in Israel.

Actor Lior Raz , who also produces the series, is a former Israeli special forces unit soldier. Following this past weekends attacks on Israeli by the Iran-backed terrorist group, Raz traveled with Fauda co-creator Avi Issacharov and Israeli Democracy Institute head Yohanan Plesner, to join the fight against Hamas with his fellow members of the group Brothers in Arms, who had previously protested against efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to overhaul the countrys judiciary.

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He later posted a video, writing, I headed down south to join hundreds of brave Brothers in Arms volunteers who worked tirelessly to assist the population in the south of Israel. We were sent to the bombarded town of Sderot to extract two families. No fear! Sderot is just a few miles from the Gaza Strip and suffered many casualties.

Fellow Fauda stars Tomer Capone, Yaakov Zada Daniel, Tzachi Halevi, and Idan Amedi have also returned to duty, per THR.

Hamas attacks have recently killed more than 1,200 Israelis, with Israels response attacks killing more than 1,400 Palestinians, with soldiers situated on the border of the Gaza Strip. Hamas-led air strikes have continued on Israel since Saturday, with Israel retaliating in Gaza. Electricity and water have been cut off in Gaza amid the attacks as Israel demands Hamas release of Israeli hostages.

Fauda actor Guy Shalom told The Hollywood Reporter Roma that the period piece Netflix series, set in the 1970s during the Yom Kippur War, is now mirroring the reality of present-day Israel. Fauda, which launched in 2015, follows an undercover anti-terrorist unit in the West Bank. A fifth season was announced in September 2023.

I played a soldier guarding an Israeli outpost who suffers a surprise Egyptian attack during the Yom Kippur War. Who would have thought that 50 years later, Guy, the civilian, would feel just like my character, Yaron, the soldier? Shalom said. On Saturday morning I was awakened by sirens, and along with the sound came Hamas fighters.

Shalom continued, I have cried and I will surely cry for a long time. However, our spirit will not break, I am moved by the unity of Israelis who help each other in any way they can, by donating blood, money and supplies.

Across Israel, all film and TV productions have been halted by the Israel Defense Forces. Theaters have also been subsequently shut down.

The whole industry is shut down, Israeli director Adar Shafran, who serves as president of the Israeli Television and Film Producers Association (IPAC), told THR. We are still in shock. After this war nothing will be the same as before, for now we must just focus on survival.

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The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon pounced on serial liar George Santos after the GOP New York congressman was hit with new charges, this time for allegedly stealing his donors identities and ringing up charges on their credit cards. (Watch the video below.)

Santos is either gonna wind up as Trumps running mate or Trumps cellmate, Fallon zinged on Wednesdays show.

Santos is also accused of embezzling money from his campaign and lying to Congress on top of admitted fibs about his education and work credentials.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner for president in 2024, faces four indictments covering 91 criminal charges  some of which involve his lies about 2020 election fraud.

Perhaps these two really do have a future together.

Related...
Lester Holt joined NBC News efforts to cover terrorist attacks in Israel by flying first to London, then Amman. The journey took hours, and its unclear when it all will truly end.

I think this will be a long TV deployment, says the  NBC Nightly News  anchor of coverage of terrorists moves against the country. Holt is expected to anchor from Israel through this week.

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He is one of many from NBC News who have traveled to cover the unrest. Richard Engel , the popular foreign correspondent, is also at work, as are crews devoted to logistics, technology and more. Its hard to know what direction this thing will take, says Holt, speaking from Israel by phone. It could become a full military invasion, which has a lot of international consequences. It could just be a regional conflict.

NBC News has many rivals in the area also seeking stories. CBS News has dispatched  CBS Evening News  anchor Norah ODonnell to Israel, while ABC News sent World News Tonight anchor David Muir, who lead a Thursday-night special report in primetime that sought to bring U.S. audiences up to speed

Holt has covered similar events. In 2006, he helped chronicle Hezbollah efforts against Israel, but from Lebanon. We saw the rockets being launched into Israel, he says. We didnt see kidnapping, nothing on the scale of what we have seen here. Its a really big difference.

The anchor has been on the hunt for stories that will be relevant to U.S. audiences. Hes worked to interview an American family that was in Israel seeking help to gain the release of relatives who had been kidnapped and a security guard who was trying to help attendees at the ill-fated Nova music festival find paths to safety. The kidnappings add a new dimension to a long-running conflict, he says. He has also reported live from a hospital in Tel Aviv where a number of victims were being treated, relaying the scene to viewers of NBCs Today.

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X Corp CEO Linda Yaccarino has responded to EU commissioner Thierry Bretons warning about illegal content and disinformation spreading on the platform regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

In a letter posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday morning, Yaccarino said the social media site has taken action to remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content that could include false information about the attacks in Israel.

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X is committed to serving the public conversation, especially in critical moments like this and understands the importance of addressing any illegal content that may be disseminated through the platform, Yaccarino wrote. There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts.

On Tuesday night, Breton gave X owner and former CEO Elon Musk 24 hours to ensure a prompt, accurate and complete response to his request for action. Yaccarinos four-page reply outlined how X is addressing the issue, including working with law enforcement to take down potentially illegal content and using the platforms Community Notes feature to add context to posts when needed.

Since Musk took ownership of X, the platform has been routinely criticized for changes that could be seen as making the spread of disinformation easier, including an update last week which removed headlines from articles posted on the site. He has also championed citizen journalists, encouraging users to post directly to the platform. Citizen journalism breaks the monopoly held by a handful of editors  they naturally dont like that, Musk tweeted in May.

In response to Yaccarinos letter, Breton wrote on X: We have received the reply by @X to our letter raising concerns about the spread of illegal content and disinformation related to the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. The #DSA enforcement team will analyse the reply and decide on next steps.

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While the Southwest can be a pricey place to live, retirees who want to settle there dont need to fret. Even if youre on a fixed income, places exist in the region where you can live comfortably.

To help you identify locations where you and your significant other could live on a budget of $3,200 a month, GOBankingRates studied cities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah to find affordable places.

Discover: 5 Places To Retire That Are Just Like Florida But Way Cheaper

Learn: The Simple, Effective Way To Fortify Your Retirement Mix

We looked at the monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment  as well as monthly costs for groceries, healthcare and utilities  to come up with this list of seven cities where a couple can live on this budget.

Ready to explore GOBankingRates findings? Here are the seven best cities in the Southwest for retirees to live on $3,200 a month.

Also see Southwest cities where you can live on only Social Security.

constantgardener / Getty Images

Tucson, Arizona

Livability Score: 73

Average Monthly Rent: $1,498

Monthly Grocery Cost Per Couple: $382

Monthly Healthcare Cost Per Couple: $537

Monthly Utilities Cost Per Couple: $351

Monthly Transportation Cost Per Couple: $398

Monthly Necessities Cost Per Couple: $3,165

Arizona is a haven for retirees, but Tucson is the only city in the state to rank in the study. Despite an average high of 100.2 degrees in July and 98.6 in August, according to the National Weather Service, the air-conditioning bills wont break you. The monthly utility costs of $351 are $2 less than the national average, but the average rent of $1,498 is among the highest on the list.

Downsizing for Retirement? Stay Away From These 7 Homes Floridas Retirees Are Fleeing: Heres Where Theyre Going Instead

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Livability Score: 71

Average Monthly Rent: $1,515

Monthly Grocery Cost Per Couple: $384

Monthly Healthcare Cost Per Couple: $501

Monthly Utilities Cost Per Couple: $343

Monthly Transportation Cost Per Couple: $368

Monthly Necessities Cost Per Couple: $3,112

Story continues

If the cost of healthcare is a concern to you, Albuquerque deserves consideration as a retirement location. At $501 per month, healthcare there costs the lowest among the cities on the list, and its a whopping 20% less than the national average of $628. On the other hand, the monthly average rent is second highest in the study, but still about $500 less than the national average of $2,019.

How To Go From Broke in Your 40s to Millionaire in Your 50s: 8 Late Start Retirement Tips

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Grand Junction, Colorado

Livability Score: 76

2023 Average Monthly Rent: $1,549

Monthly Grocery Cost Per Couple: $407

Monthly Healthcare Cost Per Couple: $542

Monthly Utilities Cost Per Couple: $364

Monthly Transportation Cost Per Couple: $319

Monthly Necessities Cost Per Couple: $3,181

Living surrounded by the awe-inspiring beauty of Colorados red rocks comes at a price. Retirees in Grand Junction, which is near the Utah border, will be pushing that $3,200 monthly budget, largely due to an average rent of $1,549, the largest in the study. While youll pay the least for transportation, the price of groceries tops the list and utilities rank second.

Wirestock / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Greeley, Colorado

Livability Score: 71

Average Monthly Rent: $1,427

Monthly Grocery Cost Per Couple: $392

Monthly Healthcare Cost Per Couple: $548

Monthly Utilities Cost Per Couple: $351

Monthly Transportation Cost Per Couple: $364

Monthly Necessities Cost Per Couple: $3,081

If you want to live closer to Denver but stay in Colorado, you might prefer Greeley, about 300 miles northeast of Grand Junction. Rent is approximately $120 lower than in Grand Junction, and groceries and utilities are more affordable. Overall, the price to live in Greeley is a tad lower than in Grand Junction but still above $3,000 a month.

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Provo, Utah

Livability Score: 85

Average Monthly Rent: $1,480

Monthly Grocery Cost Per Couple: $376

Monthly Healthcare Cost Per Couple: $639

Monthly Utilities Cost Per Couple: $334

Monthly Transportation Cost Per Couple: $352

Monthly Necessities Cost Per Couple: $3,181

Provo owns the highest livability score of the cities in the survey, likely aided by its easy access to recreational opportunities, whether on the water or on the ski slopes. It also has the highest cost of necessities, leaving a couple living on $3,200 a month with about a $20 bill left. While the cost of healthcare ranks No. 2 in the study, all other necessities fall comfortably under the national average.

Find: 8 Best Places in California for a Couple To Live on Only a Social Security Check

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Pueblo, Colorado

Livability Score: 73

Average Monthly Rent: $1,259

Monthly Grocery Cost Per Couple: $377

Monthly Healthcare Cost Per Couple: $549

Monthly Utilities Cost Per Couple: $374

Monthly Transportation Cost Per Couple: $350

Monthly Necessities Cost Per Couple: $2,909

Pueblo offers the lowest price tag when it comes to necessities for couples over 65  just over $2,900 per month. Thats helped by the second-lowest rent, but the overall monthly expenditures would be lower if Pueblo didnt have the highest utility bills of the municipalities in the study. City residents pay almost $375 per month for utilities, 5.9% above the national average of $353.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Ogden, Utah

Livability Score: 80

Average Monthly Rent: $1,249

Monthly Grocery Cost Per Couple: $369

Monthly Healthcare Cost Per Couple: $643

Monthly Utilities Cost Per Couple: $338

Monthly Transportation Cost Per Couple: $358

Monthly Necessities Cost Per Couple: $2,957

Ogden, the second Utah locale in the study, tops the list of Southwest cities, despite having the highest cost of healthcare. The livability score of 80, the lowest average monthly rent and grocery expenditures  plus costs for utilities and transportation that fall below the national average  combine to make Ogden an attractive option for retirees on budgets.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best cities in the Southwest (AZ, CO, NM, NV and UT) to retire on $3,200 or less a month. GOBankingRates first isolated all cities in the Southwest with a 2023 average monthly rent under $1,900 and a size rank below 1,000. GOBankingRates then used Sperlings Best to find the cost-of-living index for each listed city, looking at grocery, healthcare, utilities and transportation index scores. Next, GOBankingRates used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 Consumer Expenditure Survey to find the annual expenditure amount for grocery (food at home), utilities, healthcare and transportation costs for people aged 65 and older in order to find how much a couple 65 and over would spend on necessities in each city on a monthly basis. GOBankingRates then added monthly housing, grocery, utilities, transportation and healthcare costs together to find where a couple 65 and older could survive on $3,200 or less. For a city to be qualified for the study, it had to have a livability score above 70 as sourced from AreaVibes. GOBankingRates scored and combined the livability score and monthly necessities expenditure, with the lowest score being best, to determine final rankings. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Sept. 13, 2023.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Southwest Cities To Retire on $3,200 a Month
Rhode Island's food world is getting a little smaller with four closings.

On Oct. 10, Ohana Backyard BBQ in Coventry posted on social media that it was their last day in business. They wrote:

I went to the restaurant in April and loved their barbecue and their comfortable space that included a large outdoor patio. We enjoyed the Pit Sampler and all the sauces. I included Ohana's in my story on the state's best barbecue.

The Pit Sampler at Ohana Backyard BBQ was designed with the best of the menu, including pulled pork, ribs and chicken.

I don't know what happened because these days, owners want their statements on social media to be all they say. The restaurant was owned by Chris Dias and business partners. Dias's grandparents, Frank and Etta Leoni, owned and operated the Duncan Fyffe restaurant in Cranston for more than 30 years. It closed in 1998. I hope he has a second act.

Rebelle Artisan Bagels closes Oct. 30

Also last week, Rebelle Artisan Bagels' owner Milena Pagan announced the shop will remain open at 110 Doyle St. in Providence only until Oct. 30. They will reopen in Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, later this year.

Milena Pagan of Little Sister in Providence, opened her first restaurant, Rebelle Artisan Bagels in 2017.

Pagan, a native of Puerto Rico, attended college in Cambridge at MIT. She earned a James Beard Foundation semi-finalist nomination for Best Chef Northeast this year.

I had lunch with Pagan a few weeks ago and she told me about the plans for the Cambridge Rebelle on the first floor of an office building. Rhode Island will miss those bagels and cream cheeses.

Little Sister, her Puerto Rican cafe at 737a Hope St. in Providence, is not going anywhere, she said. With a menu of Puerto Rican specialties, they serve breakfast pastries, brunch and lunch.

Rebelle Artisan Bagels has been a favorite of many bagel lovers since 2017 and it was open for pop-ups even before that.

"Little Sister will continue as it is!" she said.

"In fact, we are starting to play around with adding wine bar hours on Friday and Saturday nights," she said.

They have been doing wine tastings on Sunday nights.

Taste the TikTok trend: RI's tinned fish markets and restaurants you should try

Pagan's husband, Darcy Coleman, is co-owner of both Rebelle and Little Sister.

Becky's BBQ in Middletown

After 25 years, Becky's BBQ in Middletown closed on Sept. 30. Owner Bob Bringhurst has said he would like to find a buyer to take over the restaurant.

The restaurant was the real deal with pitmaster Bringhurst at the helm. Namesake Becky died in 2004.

Becky's BBQ served classic dishes of ribs that come with sides of perfect coleslaw, cornbread, beans and their housemade sauces.

The Revival Craft Kitchen and Bar in East Greenwich

On Oct. 10, the owners of The Revival Craft Kitchen and Bar in East Greenwich announced on social media that Oct. 14 would be the last night of service at the restaurant at 219 Main St. It has been open for five years.

They noted the Warren location at 50 Miller St., at the corner of Water Street, will remain open and accept gift cards.

The Revival Craft Kitchen and Bar in Warren, at 50 Miller St., will remain open as the East Greenwich restaurant closes.

They wrote: "It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of our East Greenwich location. The last five years have been full of highs and lows, and with a lot of different factors weighing in, we made the difficult decision not to renew our lease.

While we are saddened to go, we want to thank each and every one of you who welcomed us into the East Greenwich community and helped make 219 Main our second home for the last 5 years. We enjoyed being your hosts and you have left us with memories we will never forget. Our hope is that you can say the same about us.

"If you cannot make it in, we are happy to honor any outstanding gift cards at our Warren location. Until the next venture, we look forward to welcoming you there with the same standards you have come to expect in East Greenwich!"

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI restaurant closings: Ohana BBQ, Rebelle, Becky's BBQ, EG's Revival
The Daryl and Carol Walking Dead spinoff that then became just a Daryl spinoff is now becoming a Daryl and Carol spinoff again.

At a New York Comic Con panel for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (moderated by yours truly), it was announced by series star Norman Reedus that Melissa McBride would be joining season 2 of the AMC spinoff as a series regular. The news follows McBride making a vocal cameo as Carol on this past Sunday's episode on a radio call with Daryl, where she announced that someone had "come back" although radio interference blocked the identity of who had come back.

Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus in the series finale of 'The Walking Dead'

Jace Downs/AMC Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus in the series finale of 'The Walking Dead'

"We love the character and we want to keep her in the world of the show," showrunner David Zabel told EW after the scene aired. And now she will indeed be a big part of that world in season 2.

McBride weighed in on joining the series as part of a statement released by AMC: "I've known there was much more to be told of Carol's story as I felt her so unsettled when we last saw her, as she watched her best friend, Daryl, ride away. Apart or (hopefully!) together, their stories run deep, and I'm so excited to continue Carol's journey here. This team of storytellers have done amazing work to land these two established characters in an entirely new world to them, and I'm loving the discoveries!"

The Daryl and Carol reunion is the latest step in a long and winding road for the spinoff. The series originally set to star Reedus and McBride was first announced back in September 2020 along with news that the original Walking Dead would close up shop in 2022 after an expanded season 11. However, in April of 2022 it was revealed that the spinoff would be filming in Europe and that McBride had dropped out of the project because "relocating to Europe became logistically untenable for Melissa at this time," according to an AMC statement.

But all parties hinted to EW that even though McBride would not be starting on the Daryl Dixon spinoff, there was more to come with the pair. "I feel like Carol has more story to tell," McBride told EW in the summer of 2022. "I'll leave it at that. I think she's got some more story."

Reedus was even more direct. "Their journey's not over," he insisted to EW. "They will meet down the road. You can pretty much bet all your money. I read all these people whining about it, and I have to just keep my mouth shut, but there will be a lot of foots in a lot of mouths at some point."

In June of this year, Walking Dead costar Jeffrey Dean Morgan tweeted out a photo of the two on set, hailing their reunion.

Well well. Were sorry Norman fer talking oodles of shit to you when we thought melissa wasnt doing show! Golly this must of been in the works for ages! (Twas from start) Goddamn its great seeing these two together! Cant wait! Xojd pic.twitter.com/yYwyTq5hAG  Jeffrey Dean Morgan (@JDMorgan) June 22, 2023

Whether Daryl makes it back to Carol in America, or if the latter goes over to France searching for the former may be determined by the events the transpire on Sunday's season 1 finale, where it was confirmed that McBride will make an appearance. Either way, the dynamic duo is at least now sure to be reunited and once again fighting off enemies  both living and otherwise.

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Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who admitted to staging her own kidnapping, has been convicted on two misdemeanor charges linked to the hoax. The verdict was delivered by Judge Brad Bishop during a municipal court hearing on Wednesday (Oct. 11).

The 26-year-old initially pleaded not guilty to one count of false reporting to authorities and one count of falsely reporting an incident. However, the judges ruling means she now faces legal consequences for her actions.

As a result of the conviction, Russell was sentenced to serve a year in jail and ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution, as reported by CNN.

Emory Anthony, her attorney, stated that his client requested a verdict to allow them to appeal the case to a circuit court, aiming to avoid jail time. He shared, I think anything is fair when it comes to restitution with the expenses that were done. So we have to say that is fair. Anytime you assert restitution, it has to be proven. The amount of $17,000 and some hours spent, I would think that would be fair.

Amid discussions surrounding Russells circumstances, social justice activist Tamika Mallory made a powerful statement highlighting the broader issue of justice and accountability. She pointed out that while the woman faced swift consequences for her actions, many other cases of injustice have yet to see adequate accountability.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tamika D. Mallory (@tamikadmallory)

Particularly, Mallory highlighted the killing of individuals like Breonna Taylor and the tragic death of Shanquella Robinson. Her post read, Cops lie, kill, [and] steal on the regular. Were still waiting on accountability for so many. But let us carry on with Carlee, who deserves accountability but did not kill a single soul.

Taylor was fatally shot by police during a raid on her Louisville, Kentucky apartment in March 2020. Her case remains a symbol of the need for justice reform, as charges werent filed against the officers involved in her shooting until two years later.

The law enforcement involved in the incident was executing a search warrant in connection to a narcotics investigation. However, Former Louisville Metro Police Detective Kelly Hanna Goodlett admitted to falsifying documents to enter Taylors home.

Robinsons case also drew attention after a video showing one of her friends physically assaulting her went viral. Despite calls for investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice announced in April that no federal charges would be filed in connection to her death, citing insufficient evidence.

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Luis Cruz, one of the four men arrested in connection to the actors death caused by fentanyl-laced heroin, apologized for his terrible mistake in a letter, according to reports

Rodrigo Varela/Getty Michael K. Williams in March 2021

A third man involved in the drug-dealing crew linked to Michael K. Williams death on Sept. 6, 2021 was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

Luis Cruz was the third person to be sentenced among four defendants involved in distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that led to the actors accidental overdose in his Brooklyn penthouse, according to USA Today. The 12 Years a Slave actor, who was 54, bought the heroin from another crew member and died four hours later, authorities said, per the outlet.

Cruz, who admitted to a reduced charge of narcotics conspiracy in April, received the jail term from a federal judge in Manhattan, NBC New York reported.

US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York On or about September 5, 2021, members of the DTO sell Michael K. Williams heroin, which was laced with fentanyl

Deborah Colson, Cruzs attorney, said he accepted responsibility and provided a genuine, heartfelt apology, per the Associated Press.

Cruz  a former electrician  wrote it was a terrible mistake in judgment in a letter to the judge, explaining that he was a drug addict and dealt drugs to fund his addiction, per NBC New York.

Related: Michael K. Williams Reflected on 'How Fragile Life Is' in Instagram Post 1 Year Before His Death

Prosecutors alleged that Cruz and the other dealers continued to sell heroin mixed with fentanyl after Williams died. Authorities said they discovered over 500 bags of the substance  along with drug paraphernalia  in Cruzs apartment, per the outlet.

Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic Michael K. Williams attends the Los Angeles premiere of MGM's "Respect" in 2021

Cruzs attorney, Deborah Colson, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

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The US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York announced in September that Irvin Cartagena, 40, from Aibonito, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, plus five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogue.

In July, 72-year-old Carlos Macci was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison  along with three years of supervised release  in connection to Williams death, according to NBC News.

Macci and three other men belonged to the DTO, an alleged drug-trafficking group before facing charges of conspiring to distribute and possess fentanyl analogue, fentanyl, and heroin.

Related: The Story Behind Michael K. Williams' Face Scar  and How It Helped Launch His Career

In a 3-page letter, Macci wrote, "No possible good can come from incarcerating a (72-year-old) soul, largely illiterate, who has himself struggled with a lifetime of addiction and who has not engaged in street-level sales of narcotics with ambitions of success and profit but rather as someone caught up in the diaspora of addiction himself, per NBC News.

The outlet reported that although U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams acknowledged Macci's sentiments, she told him in court that selling heroin not only cost Mr. Williams his life, but its costing you your freedom."

Per the Associated Press, Macci said, I would like to say, your honor, Im sorry for what has happened.

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Lenny Kravitz just seems to get better with age  and he keeps proving it. The Grammy-winning rocker unveiled an eye-popping NSFW music video on Thursday (Oct. 12) in support of his new single, TK421.

Kravitz appears in various stages of undress throughout the video, with ample shots of his bare rear end making up a solid chunk of the clip. In fact, he doesnt start to put clothes on until a minute into the song  and thats after he rolls out of bed nude, flashes a balcony (viewers still only see him from the back), hops in the shower and mimes playing the guitar with a towel thats barely hanging on to his chiseled waist. Given that the song is built on a foundation of chugging synths, funky guitars and a dance-floor-ready beat, its only right that the music video further exemplifies the tracks freewheeling spirit.

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TK421 is the first official taste of Kravitzs forthcoming 12th studio album. His first studio effort since 2018, Blue Electric Light is currently slated for release on March 15, 2024. The set will also serve as Kravitzs first double album. Blue Electric Light will include 12 tracks that the four-time Grammy winner crafted in his studio in the Bahamas; he wrote and played most of the instruments himself, alongside longtime guitarist and collaborator Craig Ross.

The new single arrives a few weeks after Kravitz made his TikTok debut with the revival of his famed giant scarf. Grab your big scarf, its the first day of fall, Kravitz said in the five-second clip, a nod to a decade-old meme stemming from his choice of elaborate outerwear in 2012.

Kravitz has earned 16 career entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including a pair of top 10 hits: 2000s Again (No. 4) and 1991s It Aint Over Til Its Over (No. 2). On the Billboard 200, he has notched 12 entries, including the top 10 titles: 1995s Circus (No. 10), 2000s Greatest Hits (No. 2) and 2008s It Is Time for a Love Revolution (No. 4).

Check out Lenny Kravitzs NSFW TK421 music video above.

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Linda Yaccarino , X's CEO, said the company has redistributed its resources and has refocused internal teams, which are now working round the clock to address the platform's needs related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Yaccarino talked about the measures the website has taken so far to contain fake news about the Hamas attacks on Israel, along with hateful posts in support of terrorism and violence, in her response to EU officials.

On October 10, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton sent Elon Musk an "urgent letter," calling his attention and reminding him of X's content moderation obligations under the region's Digital Services Act. Breton said the EU had indications that the platform formerly known as Twitter is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation. Some of the images being circulated on the website, Breton said, were manipulated images from unrelated armed conflicts. Others, including supposed footage of military action, were taken from video games.

Indeed, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) researchers told Wired that they'd been inundated with false information on the website, making it difficult to rely on X for information gathering. In the past, posts from news outlets on the ground and reputable sources quickly showed up on people's timelines. But now, the website's algorithm is boosting posts by users paying $8 a month for their blue checkmarks, even if they're misleading content and lies. It didn't help that Musk himself endorsed two accounts that had previously been proven to post false information to those who want to follow details about the war. One of those accounts also openly posts antisemitic comments.

In her response, Yaccarino claimed that X has removed or labeled "tens of thousands of pieces of content" since the attack on Israel began. She also said that X has deleted hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts from the platform so far, and that it continues to work with counter-terrorism organizations to prevent further distribution of terrorist content on the website.

According to Yaccarino, the platform now has over 700 Community Notes, the website's crowd-sourced fact-checking tool, related to the attack. And since even media posts can now get notes, around 5,000 posts containing images and videos have been marked with the crowd-sourced messages. The CEO said that notes appear for media and image posts within minutes of them being created and for text posts within a median time of five hours, but X is working to make them show up on posts more quickly.

In his letter, Breton said that the EU received reports from qualified sources that there were "potentially illegal content" circulating on X despite flags from relevant authorities. Yaccarino addressed that directly in her response, writing that the website has not received any notice from Europol and urging the European Commission to provide more details so that it can investigate further.
US, Qatar agree to prevent Iran from tapping previously frozen $6 billion fund

The U.S. and Qatar have reached an agreement to prevent Iran from accessing $6 billion recently unfrozen as part of a prisoner swap, the deputy treasury secretary told lawmakers on Thursday, sources confirmed to ABC News.

Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo told House Democrats in a closed-door briefing that the money "isn't going anywhere anytime soon," sources said.

The agreement comes as the U.S. is scrutinizing Iran's role in backing Hamas, the terrorist group behind the unprecedented attacks on Israel over the weekend. Though the Biden administration said there's been no evidence that Iran played a direct role in the assault, the White House has said Iran is complicit given its decades of support for Hamas.

The administration has faced calls from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to re-freeze the funds in the wake of the violent conflict.

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: Hamas suspect detained on festival grounds

The $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue was freed up last month as part of the U.S.-Iranian prisoner swap in which five American citizens were freed. It was made available solely for humanitarian purposes and is under strict U.S. oversight.

The White House on Thursday repeatedly stressed that Iran has not yet tapped this humanitarian fund.

"Every single dime of that money is still sitting in the Qatari bank. ... Not one dime of it has been spent," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

PHOTO: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre listens as National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the White House, Oct. 12, 2023, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP)

But Kirby went to great lengths not to comment publicly on this new understanding to prevent Iran from tapping these funds.

ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce pressed Kirby about whether Iran could access the money if it wanted to.

"What I can tell you is none of it has been accessed and we are watching every dime as you would expect we would," he responded. "We're watching it very, very closely. ... We have oversight over -- over what can be assessed and for what purposes."

Asked whether he didn't want to discuss the matter because of concerns that it would imply Iran's culpability, Kirby again stressed, "All I can tell you is we haven't seen any specific evidence that Iran was involved specifically with these attacks, but as we've said, broadly, yes, they're certainly complicit."

MORE: Biden says he's doing 'a lot' to free American hostages, hasn't given up hope

Peppered with questions on the funds repeatedly during the press briefing, one reporter finally asked: "On the $6 billion, I'm trying to figure out if you' re saying that policy hasn't actually changed in any way or just that you aren't willing to talk about changes that may have happened in the last 24 hours?"

"Bingo! It's the last one," Kirby exclaimed.

PHOTO: Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters before boarding a plane, Oct. 11, 2023, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., en route to Israel. (Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via Reuters)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Israel on Thursday in a show of support, also stressed the $6 billion fun could only be dispensed for humanitarian goods, medicine, medical equipment, and has "never touched Iranian hands."

"We have strict oversight of the funds and we retain the right to freeze them," Blinken said.

US, Qatar agree to prevent Iran from tapping previously frozen $6 billion fund originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Whether it's a simple cup of coffee or more of a modern twist on your daily drink (frozen coffee pods, anyone?), the right coffee can tempt your taste buds and bring you flavor from around the world. But how do you know what's a good brand to invest in and what is a waste of money? We suggest taking the advice of someone who has made a career based on their taste buds. If you're looking for a new way to wake up in the morning or just wondering what kind of coffee your favorite food professional enjoys, there are plenty of celebrity chef-recommended coffee brands out there to consider.

Beginning with the coffee bean grower and ending with the brewing process, the best coffee brands facilitate multiple steps of sourcing coffee, managing quality and consistency along the way to consumers. Roasting also plays a large role in turning green beans into a truly satisfying cup of coffee. Unsurprisingly, a brand with a good mission can also make your daily sip taste better. All in all, there are many reasons why these coffee brands are recommended by celebrity chefs.

Read more: 31 Coffee Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best

Giada De Laurentiis: Counter Culture Coffee

Counter Culture coffee and mug - Instagram

Giada De Laurentiis, Food Network star of "Everyday Italian" and "Giada at Home," recommends Counter Culture Coffee, as served alongside the flaky pastries and California-Italian foods of her Las Vegas restaurant, Pronto. Available for your home, her choice for a morning brew comes in a range of whole bean varieties or a flash-frozen option. While talking with Modern Wellness Guide, De Laurentiis says that her chosen blend from Counter Culture is "bold, slightly acidic and delicious."

Sustainably sourced from places like Nicaragua, Colombia, Honduras, and Ethiopia, Counter Culture Coffee's single-origin beans and blends carry hints of floral, fruit, nutty, chocolate, or smoky flavor. The coffee beans, some of which are naturally sun-dried after they're washed, are organic and kosher. Featuring a wide variety, Counter Culture Coffee offers roasts from light to dark, with four levels in between. Whole bean options span decaf to single origin options as well as year-round blends and limited releases.

Ina Garten: Dallis Brothers

Dallis Brothers coffee burundi bag - Facebook

The one coffee brand Ina Garten can't go without has been in business for 100 years in New York. Otherwise known as Barefoot Contessa, Garten is a believer in Dallis Brothers Coffee as her go-to choice for fresh coffee. A host and columnist for the Food Network and author of multiple cookbooks, Garten chooses Dallis Brothers for her and her husband's daily home-brew. Crafted in small batches, Dallis Brothers Coffee sources beans in small batches directly from growers.

Dallis Brothers Coffee is no stranger to providing consumers with coffee, whether it's through a variety of blends for your pleasure at home or by providing coffee equipment services to those who craft for others. Sourcing from across the coffee belt in specific regions of Ethiopia, Colombia, and Sumatra, Dallis Brothers beans are roasted from light to dark and offered as single origin, blend, decaf, or espresso.

Rumor has it, Garten prefers the Ellis Island Blend, a medium roast featuring a mix of bittersweet earthiness with a light, nutty flavor that produces a smooth, yet spicy, cup of coffee. Other blends include 1913 Blend  a light to medium roast that tastes of chocolate and sweet fruit; Red Den Blend  a dark roast that hints at dark chocolate and BBQs; and New York Espresso Blend  a medium roasted espresso with flavors of chocolate, nougat, and caramel.

Bobby Flay: Illy

Illy coffee machine and mug - Facebook

Bobby Flay, a well-known restaurateur and celebrity chef, is not shy about his love of coffee, especially the warmth he has for his espresso machine. Considering it a part of his everyday life, coffee is naturally woven throughout his daily ritual. Preferring the deep, rich nature of espresso, Flay reaches for illy, an Italian single-origin coffee selection that features beans from more than 30 countries across the world.

Created for both espresso machines and traditional coffee makers, illy offers coffee lovers multiple brewing options, such as whole bean, ground, espresso capsules and pods, K-cups, instant, and more. The widespread Italian coffee features beans from locations such as Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, India, and Nicaragua.

Flay, who has also created and produced hundreds of award-winning television episodes, uses illy whole beans for his espresso machine. He told his daughter in their mutual podcast, "Always Hungry with Bobby Flay and Sophie Flay," not to forget that the grind makes the difference in your end result. How you grind your coffee beans for your personal machine determines the level of flavor extraction you'll get. He also warned against bitter coffee, stating a good cup of coffee or espresso should yield the "right balance" and have "great flavor."

Missy Robbins: Intelligentsia

Intelligentsia Burundi coffee bag mug - Instagram

As a chef and owner of two Italian restaurants, Missy Robbins is naturally a big fan of the cappuccino. Also the author of two cookbooks, Robbins learned authentic Italian cooking after immersing herself in the country's culture and culinary traditions. The Italian food at Missy Robbins' Lilia delivers simple, classic dishes, such as focaccia, antipasti, grilled clams, rigatoni, ravioli, and grilled lamb.

And though she may not recommend the brand by name, Robbins told Men's Journal she enjoys a cappuccino when she visits Butler, a cafe close to her home. Butler serves specialty coffee that's carefully crafted from Intelligentsia coffee beans. Sourced directly from the grower, Intelligentsia roasts coffee beans from seasonal locations in places like Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Ethiopia, as well as Rwanda, Colombia, and Peru.

Intelligentsia coffee encompasses notes of various fruits, honey, caramel, shortbread, vanilla, cacao, or molasses. The brand sells a variety of pre-ground options for your espresso maker, French press, Chemex, Hario cold brew, or even a Turkish grind for a cezve.

Rachael Ray: Laughing Man Coffee

Laughing Man cup of coffee - Instagram

Laughing Man Coffee is a coffee brand recommended by celebrity chef Rachael Ray. Author of several cookbooks and creator of a lifestyle magazine, Ray has had a long-running and successful daytime home show aptly named "The Rachael Ray Show." She is also a drinker of strong, black coffee in the morning, and Ray admitted that she's a much bigger coffee consumer than her husband. She revealed on her show that while they often have friends especially "toast and roast" their cinghiale coffee, she and her husband enjoy Laughing Man Coffee whenever they can.

Laughing Man is a coffee brand that arose from a small farm in Ethiopia during Hugh Jackman's travels to the Yirgacheffe region. After discovering how the entire coffee process works, Jackman chose to create a coffee regarding the positive, enlightening experience he had.

Still sourcing beans from the original village Jackman visited, Laughing Man offers a variety of single-origin and blends. One such blend is Dukale's Dream Blend  named after the farmer who drew Jackman into the world of coffee beans. This particular blend has a background of blueberry and dark chocolate and is suitable for traditional coffee or espresso. Single-origin coffees come from Honduras, Colombia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Peru, and Costa Rica.

Sara Moulton: Ethan & The Bean Coffee

iced coffee Ethan travel cup - Facebook

A natural fixture in the world of food and drink, celebrity chef and Food Network star Sara Moulton encourages coffee lovers to try Ethan & the Bean coffee. To help bring awareness and put more eyes on the coffee company with a cause, Moulton emphasized the "important work" Ethan & the Bean Coffee is doing via a Facebook post. Author of several cookbooks, Moulton continues to teach people how to cook on her popular show, "Sara's Weeknight Meals."

Ethan & the Bean is a non-profit organization based out of New Jersey that features a local cafe and online shop. By offering employment opportunities for differently abled people, Ethan & the Bean strives to support individuals who need help with gaining and maintaining employment, independent living, and community involvement.

An array of goodies are sold at the local cafe; customers can choose from delectables, such as coconut samoas, banana bread, and chocolate chip cookies, to go with hot or iced coffee options like a cappuccino, latte, or Americano. Handcrafted in small batches, coffee lovers can order Ethan & the Bean online or take home blends like Bad Ass  a coffee meant to be enjoyed black  or Wicked Brew, a bold, medium roast.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
It is always a pleasure to have our legends return to the pages of the SI Swimsuit Issue years after their initial debut. It proves the strength of the brand and is a great opportunity to catch up with the models and learn more about their latest career pursuits.

This was certainly true when Paulina Porizkova, who has made appearances in 10 different SI Swimsuit magazinesincluding the 50th anniversary legends photoshootreturned to the SI Swimsuit set in 2019 for another go. That year, she traveled to Kenya with photographer Yu Tsai for a vibrant feature in the magazine.

At the time, her photoshoot made her the oldest model to grace the pages of the annual issuean incredible feat for the model, who was then 55. While that milestone has since been surpassed by others, it was a historic moment.

This year marks the 40th year since Porizkovas SI Swimsuit debut in 1983, when she took to Jamaica with photographer Walter Iooss Jr. In honor of the incredible anniversaryand her incredible work modeling for the issue for so many yearswere throwing it back to that 2019 return.

Below are six of our favorites from her most recent SI Swimsuit photoshoot in Kenya.

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

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
leadership |

By Kaitlin Petersen

Savvy businesspeople are always seeking ways to save time or effort. Yet becoming a better boss requires more of bothno shortcuts. Here are 7 strategies to step up your leadership game.



Create opportunities for employees to grow.

To help an employee grow, you first have to put yourself in their shoes. Whats going to motivate them to do their best at work? My name may be on the door, but I dont want them to feel like theyre doing this for me. They should be doing this for the organization and for themselves. You want people to develop and grow with your firm, but I also explain to them, If circumstances lead you down a different path tomorrow, what can I do to help you make sure that the time that you spent here means something on your resume? So one, what drives you to get up and come to work every day? And two, what do you want to learn?

I have a self-assessment that allows team members to track their own growth, which is the basis of our annual reviews. Especially in smaller firms, you often dont have that type of structurepeople come to work and have to wing it, and it can be hard to know if youre doing a good job. But if you can tell me where you want to be, I can also help you map out a possible path and give you a tool to constantly assess yourself. That allows you to hold yourself accountable for the thing that you say you want to do. So if youre a junior designer who wants to become a senior designer, I can also give you the self-assessment form for the senior designer. Because you know whats expected of that role, you can ask me for opportunitiesmaybe you want a chance to be more front-facing with the clients, or to sit in on more conversations to see how I communicate with the client, or how I structure a proposal, or how I decide whether were going to take a project or not. We wont sit down every month and say, What have we checked off of this assessment list? Im only holding you accountable for the things I hired you to do; youre holding yourself accountable for what you said you want to become. But Im giving you the tools to come to the table saying, I can perform all of these tasks listed for this senior designer rolewill you give me a try? Erika Ward, Erika Ward Interiors, Atlanta

Let your team run the show.

I dont like managing peopleIll say that out loud. I have to hire self-starters, otherwise it does not work. If Im gone for a couple of days on an out-of-state install or a job site visit, I need a team that can make progress without me. Im not a micromanager; everyone needs to keep going and hit the deadlines. I tell my team, Run it like youre my boss. When design meetings have to happen, schedule time with me so that we can do the furniture plan. At first I thought maybe that wasnt a good approach, but Ive found that a lot of employees actually want to control all that because it gives them autonomy with their time.

Its also super important to have my team come in blossoming with ideas, so Ive done a lot of thinking about how to foster that creativity. I check in with them a lot, asking, How are you doing? Hows your workload? Most of the time, its great. But sometimes its like, Nope, Im bursting at the seams. Its a small business, and we all work in the same space, so you can tell right away if someone comes in and theyre edgy. For me, its worth it to say, Take the day and go to the beach tomorrow. Does that person come back totally refreshed the next day? I wouldnt say totally. But it helps. Raili Clasen, Raili CA Design, Corona Del Mar, California

Dont sweat the small stuff.

Having flexibility was huge for me when I was working for someone else. Things happenIve been a single mom juggling two kids and a full-time design career, and something as small as saying I need to work from home today because my son is home sick would irritate my boss. I remember thinking: If youre getting quality work from me and the clients are happy, who cares? Its so much more important to focus on the work that people are producing, not the small inconveniences or interferences.

When I left and opened my own firm, that was fundamental in my business. Thats how I interact with my employee, but thats also my approach for the entire project. When something happens, its important to take a beat and ask yourself, Is this really a big deal? Think about how this is affecting everything elseon the small scale in this moment, and on the larger scale of the project as a whole. Its important to give people a space where mistakes can be made, and the whole team can learn from them. Miquel Purser, Purser Interiors, Charlotte

Know when to lead and when to follow.

When I was working in hospitality design, I had a mentor who instilled in me that one of the most powerful elements of leadership is knowing when to step back and let your team leadand when to step up when your voice needs to be heard. Theres not a formula to getting it right; its instinctual and gut driven. Im a talker. So for me, its a lot of catching my own behavior in the moment. It comes down to self-awareness.

The reward, ultimately, is seeing your team grow in incremental ways over the yearsseeing the wins and watching them blossom. You dont get a best boss certificate or ribbon or medal. You dont get a pat on the back. Its just something that you move throughand that forward motion is my marker of success. But in the moment, the most important part is knowing that you dont have to be the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes, just being in the room is enough. Matt Donahoe, Bureau Interior Design, Nashville

Recognize hard work.

People really respond to appreciation. I got more mindful of that when I had kids, and it carried over into my work: I try to acknowledge something thats good on the spot. If Im looking at a [well-done] spreadsheet that somebodys put together, Im quick to say, This is awesome and thoroughthank you so much. Its also never too late to say thank you. Last week, we had a long day at a clients house doing a mini install, and my employees were great. When I got home, I sent a text: Thank youyou were awesome. We all like to hear thank you and job well done.

I try to show my appreciation in other ways, too. Tomorrow is my design assistants one-year anniversary at the firm, so shes getting a bonus and a raise, and Ive got pedicures at a spa booked for us, then Im taking her out to lunch. I give informal bonuses several times a year as well, like, Hey, weve been running hard, and I noticed that you have really been on top of X, Y or Z, so thank you. You have to understand the finances of your business to make this [approach] work, because youre never going to be comfortable writing checks when youre operating in uncertainty. But I think sprinkling in those moments of appreciation throughout the year is really wonderful for people. Ive worked for firms where you get an end-of-year bonus based on numbers, and the tension leading up to thattrying to figure out what the profit was so you know how much money youre going to have for Christmasis just not the environment that I am interested in fostering. A less-structured system, where a bonus is less of a commission built into the compensation range and more of a true bonus, feels more natural and sincere to me. Lily Brown, Lily Brown Interiors, Savannah, Georgia

Get comfortable delegating.

I was so afraid of being bossy that I couldnt delegate. I dont like to tell people what to do, but thinking that way caused me to do more work than I needed to do. Id be like, Oh, no worries, Ill take care of it. You have a good weekend. But then Id stress over it all weekend, right? I hired employees to take things off my plate, but because I wasnt delegating, they werent clear about their roles, positions or the expected deliverablesand because of that, they could never really be successful. In turn, I was afraid to delegate more because the deliverables they were giving me werent exactly what I wanted. All that time, I was thinking they were the problembut the problem was actually that I did not assign a clear deliverable.

I had to find a system so that I could delegate without feeling like I was bossing my team around, and so that they didnt feel like they were being bossed. For us, the answer was the task-based software system Asana, where I documented all of the tasks that were needed, created departments to oversee different tasks, and then assigned them to the team members in those departments. That way, it was clear that the task was a part of their job. Its not, DuVal asked you for this. No, the system asks you for it. Once I started to list the process and the systems, I also listed the deliverable: what it should look like, what the font should be, what the email should sound like.

Now, whenever we have a problem, I dont ever have to point a finger and say, Hey, you did something wrong. Asana plays the middleman, and I can always go back to the task or the criteria documented in the system and say, Hey, where in that process did we fail? When the task, the deliverable and the due date are very clear, Ive found that the system takes care of everything you would ever want to micromanage. Its been a lifesaver for me. DuVal Reynolds, DuVal Design, Fairfax, Virginia

Lead by example.

I started my career in the Walmart merchandiser trainee program, where I had so many leadership opportunities. But honestly, the way I learned the most was by sitting in a cubicle next to my boss, who included me in every meeting and kept her phone on speaker. It was learning by osmosis. Now I have an intern, and Ive trained her that same way. Whether its a client following up on an invoice or me calling a vendor to check on an order, she hears how I handle tricky situations, from the questions I ask to the tone I use. When I finish, well sometimes talk about the callsif its a tough conversation with a client, or maybe weve made a mistake, we talk about that and theres no shame. Im always quick to point out when Ive made a mistake and own it, and when she hears that, I think shes learning a lot about me and my integrity, but shes also learning about leadership.

She also goes to all of my meetings. We had a big presentation last week, and she was in the room taking notes while I was doing the pitch. That means she has to learn the nuances of how to represent my firm in the most professional way. For one meeting, she walked up with her iced coffee and I was like, Hey, lets keep that in the car. You dont know those sorts of things until someone tells youthat maybe you shouldnt bring your 24-ounce drive-through coffee into this meeting, or that you should spit out your gum. Learning that early will prepare her to step up when the time comes.

One thing Ive found is that when I pour [effort] into someone in this way, I get so much more in return. She feels empowered to follow up with those clients, or to reach back out to this builder or to call that rep about an ordershes comfortable doing those things because shes heard the conversations. As Ive given her more opportunities to grow, Im able to feel more confident giving her more responsibility. Betsy Soos, Proximity Interior Design, Bentonville, Arkansas

This article originally appeared in Summer 2023 issue of Business of Home. Subscribe or become a BOH Insider for more.
AIM is the first Japanese company to establish a joint research agreement in the field of endoscopic AI

TOKYO, October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AI MEDICAL SERVICE INC. (hereinafter AIM), a medical start-up specializing in the development of diagnostic endoscopic AI, has signed a joint research agreement with Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (hereinafter IGH) and will begin research activities on October 27, 2023. AIM is the first Japanese company to sign a joint research agreement with IGH in the field of endoscopic AI, and IGH is the first Vietnamese institute that AIM has collaborated with thus far1.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011627368/en/

AIM_IGH_Logo

Content and Objective of the Joint Research

AIM is now working toward receiving regulatory approval in Japan for its endoscopic AI product designed to identify early-stage gastric cancer. Its collaboration with IGH will facilitate joint research designed to test the application of Japanese endoscopic AI in Vietnam.

IGH, established in March 2018, is a scientific and technical institute specializing in research and training on gastroenterology and hepatology issues. IGH is also the first institute in Vietnam to be equipped with modern and advanced endoscopy and ultrasound systems2.

Gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in Vietnam3, and early detection of gastric cancer is a major public health concern. By collaborating with IGH, AIM will explore the potential of using Japanese gastrointestinal endoscopy AI for clinical practice in Vietnam.

Comment from CEO of AIM Tomohiro Tada, M.D., Ph.D.

"I am very pleased that we have established a joint research agreement with IGH, one of the leading research institutes in Vietnam. In the Asian region, the high number of gastric cancer patients and deaths and the detection of cancer at an early stage are serious issues that need to be addressed. AIM is committed to advancing our collaboration to promptly bring the culmination of Japan's leading expertise and achievements in endoscopic medicine, embodied in endoscopic AI, to clinical settings in Vietnam."

Story continues

Comment from Dao Viet Hang, Assoc. Prof, M.D., Ph.D.

"We are very excited to evaluate the feasibility of AI in clinical settings for gastric cancers, especially in the limited-resources setting context using AIM's AI. Through this study, we hope to assess the acceptability and satisfactions of endoscopists with AI for gastric cancers diagnosis, especially from Asian doctors where the gastric cancer prevalence is high and the situation of overloading work is common."

About AI Medical Service Inc.

AI Medical Service (AIM) is a Tokyo-based med-tech company established with the mission to "Save Lives All Over the World." Japan leads the world in endoscopic diagnosis and treatment, providing firms and researchers with access to large amounts of high-quality data. AIM is the leading player in the field of endoscopic AI, engaging in joint research with more than 100 medical institutions. By bringing endoscopic AI to the real-world clinical setting as soon as possible, AIM aims to reduce the number of missed cancer diagnoses and save lives around the world.

About CEO of AIM, Dr. Tomohiro Tada

Dr. Tomohiro TADA is the CEO of AI Medical Service Inc., the chairperson of Tada Tomohiro The Institute of Gastroenterology & Proctology as well as Visiting Lecturer, Department of Surgical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Dr. TADA received his M.D. of school of medicine in 1996 and Ph.D. of department of surgery in 2005 from the University of Tokyo. He trained in Colorectal Surgery at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Related Press Release

Aug. 24, 2023 "AI Medical Service Inc. Signs Joint Research Agreement with US Leading Cancer Institution - AIM Is First Japanese Company to Establish Joint Research Agreement in Field of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy AI -"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230824

Jul. 23, 2023 "AI Medical Service Inc. Signs Joint Research Agreement with Stanford Medicine - AIM Is First Japanese Company to Establish Joint Research Agreement in Field of Endoscopic AI -"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230727

May. 10, 2023 "AI Medical Service Inc. and Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) Begin Company-first European Collaborative Research on Gastric Endoscopic AI"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230510

Feb. 9, 2023 "AI Medical Service Inc. Signs Joint Research Agreement with The Chinese University of Hong Kong - AIM is the first Japanese company to establish a research partnership in the field of endoscopic AI"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230109

Jan. 17, 2023 "AI Medical Service Inc. Relocates its Singapore Office to the NUHS Center for Innovation in Healthcare (CIH), strengthening ties with National University Hospital"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230117

Jan. 1, 2023 "AI Medical Service Inc. Establishes US Second Base - Fortifying a framework for business expansion in the U.S."

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20230101

Jul. 11, 2022 "AIM Establishes local subsidiary in Singapore - Accelerating the overseas expansion of "Endoscopic AI" by establishing a second overseas branch"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20220711

Jan. 19, 2022 "AIM Establishes U.S. subsidiary in Silicon Valley as a first overseas branch"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20220119

Apr. 27, 2021 "AIM and Singapores National University Hospital Sign Joint Research Agreement on Endoscopic AI"

https://en.ai-ms.com/news/global/20210427

Company: AI Medical Service Inc.

Address: Hareza Tower 11F, 1-18-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013, Japan

CEO: Tomohiro Tada

Founding:September 1, 2017

Business: Development of Endoscopic AI

1 As of September 2023, based on our research.

2 Reference: http://igh.ac.vn/en/ [Accessed on September 11, 2023]

3 Reference: CANCER TODAY [Accessed on September 11, 2023]



View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011627368/en/

Contacts

AI Medical Service Inc.

Manami Taniguchi

pr@ai-ms.com
Air Canada said Wednesday that it had fired a pilot whod made a series of disturbing anti-Israel posts on social media following the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacks over the weekend. The air carrier tweeted, We can confirm the pilot in question no longer works for Air Canada, following the process initiated on Monday. The employee, identified as Montreal-based First Officer Mostafa Ezzo, was grounded on Tuesday after StopAntiSemitism.org shared a number of screenshots of his Instagram account. In one of the posts, a man who appeared to be Ezzo was pictured holding a sign at a Montreal demonstration that read Israel, Hitler is proud of you. Another image appeared to show him at a demonstration carrying a sign of an Israeli flag being dumped in a trash can alongside the words: Keep the world clean. On his Instagram Story, he allegedly wrote, Fuck you Israel. Burn in hell. Air Canada denounced the posts earlier this week as unacceptable.

We can confirm the pilot in question no longer works for Air Canada, following the process initiated on Monday. https://t.co/U9rTkBM7Z2  Air Canada (@AirCanada) October 11, 2023

Read it at CTV News Montreal

Read more at The Daily Beast.
Patrick O'Halloran is the owner of The Deliciouser, a spice company that has a kitchen studio in Madison where the former chef-owner of Lombardino's hosts events and classes.

Patrick OHallorans approach to cooking can be summed up in one phrase hes used consistently in the kitchen: Anyone can make delicious food  we need to make it deliciouser.

Its a mantra he used with his staff over the past two decades at Lombardinos in Madison. Now its also the name of his spice business, The Deliciouser.

You can debate whether it's really a word, but it wont change his cooking evangelism. For OHalloran, "deliciouser" means the little things make all the difference.

OHalloran grew up on Milwaukees south side and attended Greenfield High School. He found a mentor in Scott Shully and spent nearly a decade working with Shullys Cuisine & Events before finding his way to Madison. There he spent 22 years running Lombardinos, plus had roles with The Old Fashioned and Tipsy Cow. Last year, he stepped back and sold his restaurant shares.

Prior to the pandemic, OHalloran been thinking about his next chapter. Inspired by flavors from his travels, he began creating small batch spice blends. Working with his wife, ex-wife and daughter-in-law, OHalloran launched The Deliciouser in 2020.

Today the company offers a line of more than 30 products, plus private events and popular classes that have become increasingly popular, particularly the Wisconsin Supper Club dinners. The line of spice products covers a range of flavors, with favorites like Deer Camp Seasoned Salt, Oaxaca Spice Blend, Zocalo Spice Blend, Bomba, a ghost pepper sea salt named Sparkler, and a collection of chili flakes and curry spice blends that include Vadouvan, Ras El Hanout and Berbere. Products are available at the retail store in Madison, online, and at Metcalfes Market in Wauwatosa.

The lifelong Packers fans newest spice blend is Tastes Like Victory, a green and gold blend highlighting flavors of New Mexico with green chiles and sweet onions. Ten percent of the sales of Tastes Like Victory throughout the remainder of the Green Bay Packers season will go to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

Tastes Like Victory is a green chile and sweet onion blend from The Deliciouser. Ten percent of the sales of the blend throughout the 2023-2024 Packers season go to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

OHalloran will be the chef for this years Lombardi Dinner, teaming up with emcee Luke Zahm who worked with him at Lombardinos, to create the menu. The 20th annual Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience Nov. 3 and 4 at The Pfister Hotel and Wisconsin Club includes the Celebrity Chef and Wine Dinner, which this year features Zahm (co-owner of The Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, host of Wisconsin Foodie), vintner Cynthia Lohr of J. Lohr, and cheesemaker Pam Hodgson of Plymouth's Sartori Cheese.

Additionally, this year Cousins Subs teamed with the Lombardi Cancer Foundation to create a cookbook highlighting 20 recipes from over the years. OHallorans recipe is for a ragu. Friday tasting experience attendees will receive a digital edition of the cookbook, while wine dinner attendees will receive a printed copy.

The Food and Wine Tasting Experience will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. Tasting tickets are $125 each. The Celebrity Chef and Wine Dinner is from 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Wisconsin Club, 900 W. Wisconsin Ave. Dinner tickets are $300 each. Attendees must be 21 or older.

OHalloran recently talked by phone, telling us his inspiration for all things delicious.

How a Milwaukee mentor and MATC pushed him in the right direction

Scott (Shully) is my mentor. I started out as a student at UWM, then at MIAD studying art briefly, bouncing around in my early 20s. I was working at restaurants. Through friends I was told about Shullys. Cooking had always been a passion of mine, but Id never pursued it professionally. I was into history and art and PBS shows. Thats how my brain works. I went to MATC in Milwaukee and did my 6,000 hours on the job at Shullys. I did three years as an apprentice. Scott took me to Switzerland and I worked at two hotels and a restaurant hed worked at there. He was cool enough to bring me along. From Switzerland, I traveled on my own through Italy and ended up marrying the next chefs apprentice who came through, Marcia Castro, who is also my co-owner at The Deliciouser.

Making his move to Madison

We fell in love with the (Dane County) farmers market and the local food movement. We had a deal to buy a restaurant with partners, and it fell through. Friends told us about this old Italian spaghetti place that put a sign in the window. We drove over, saw Lombardinos. It had been an institution since 1952. We went in the parking lot and Marcia said, I want it! We plunged in, having never been a chef in a restaurant. ...

We (later) opened The Old Fashioned. When Marcia and I divorced, I continued Lombardinos, Marcia continued The Old Fashioned. We opened the Tipsy Cow. ... I sold my interest in all the restaurants about a year ago. Pre-pandemic, 2019 was our best year wed had. Im a working chef, Im in the kitchen. The pandemic started the idea of whats next. During that time we had more downtime than in our entire career. My wife and I, we were in a bubble with my ex-wife, the kids. ... We started cooking from all the places we wanted to go or had been. We came up with this idea of creating spice blends, putting things in a jar that would make your life as a home cook easier and take you on a journey.

Tastes Like Victory is a green chile and sweet onion blend from The Deliciouser. Ten percent of the sales of the blend throughout the 2023-2024 Packers season go to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.

Whats behind the name The Deliciouser

We call it The Deliciouser, because at the restaurant Id say, Anyone can make delicious food. If we want someone to get off their couch and drive here and pay good money, we have to make it deliciouser.

We started doing markets and our online store. ... People were liking our product, but they dont know what to do with it. Now we have a kitchen studio in downtown Madison. I cook and we can seat about 40. ... The goal as we grow the business is to start online classes so we can go nationwide. Were in the Main Street Industries building. It is a non-profit business incubator, (also home to) a women-owned brewery, Giant Jones, Quince and Apple, Old Sugar Distillery. It is a cool mix of people, some industrial spaces and artists, and Common Wealth owns another two buildings, one where theres an urban mushroom farmer we just did a dinner with. Were in a former Greyhound bus terminal.

What sets his spices apart

Were selecting, toasting, bottling. Labels come from Aljan in Oak Creek. Everything is done in five gallon batches. This is chef curated, small batch, hand toasting, a lot of texture. Our Vadouvan is our number one selling, a curry from southern India. This month were releasing a salt-free version of several signature flavors. Weve also been in trials with Landmark Creamery to do a cultured butter with those.

Why the Lombardi dinner is personal

Luke (Zahm) reached out to me. We went to visit his owl farm project in Viroqua, with my wife and his wife, Ruthie. He has his own restaurant, and I had mine. We were talking about what opportunities lie ahead. I couldnt be more proud of where Luke has taken things; hes an evangelist for what we do in Wisconsin.

Luke said they wanted him to emcee the Lombardi dinner. My wife Michelle has bladder and skin cancer. She is also living with chronic leukemia and she is on chemotherapy for life. Cancer has touched our family. She lost her former husband to cancer, and her mother. It is something we have lived with. Plus it is the Vince Lombardi Foundation. Ive been on the (season ticket) list since 1986. ... Im now 389 people away. I remember being there and seeing the first Lambeau Leap.

How he approached the menu for the dinner

We wanted to feature the spice blends and Vince Lombardi, an Italian immigrant who grew up in New York. I wanted to do a tribute to part of the story you dont hear about as often. This will be structured as an Italian meal and an homage to the Lombardi family.

Patrick O'Halloran is the owner of The Deliciouser, a spice company that has a kitchen studio in Madison where the former chef-owner of Lombardino's hosts events and classes. He will be the chef for this year's Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation Food & Wine Experience Celebrity Chef and Wine Dinner.

What every chef needs

You have to get experiences. Everyone is a different kind of learner. You have to know how you experience the world and learn. ...

I also spent a little time with Odessa Piper at LEtoile (in Madison). She taught me every chef has to have one good dessert in their back pocket. For me, it is probably budino. I took a trip to Nancy Silvertons restaurant for her budino.

His Milwaukee eats

Marias Pizza, 5025 W. Forest Home Ave., that was always on my tour. Leons for custard, Kopps for the burger, and Sollys dripping-with-butter burger as well. You cant beat the butter.

What hes excited about moving forward

We just hired another chef, Ben Hunter, previously with Underground Food Collective in Madison. We have another chef moving into event planning, Mark Wroczynski, also a Greenfield High Alum, 11 years younger than me. He had an underground dining club called Vignette.

The retail space is at 931 E. Main St., Suite 7 (in Madison), noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. People can go to the website (thedeliciouser.com/upcoming-events) for ticketed events.

Fork. Spoon. Life. explores the everyday relationship that local notables (within the food community and without) have with food. To suggest future personalities to profile, email clewis@journalsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Patrick O'Halloran turns his attention to spices at The Deliciouser
William Pellerin, a partner in international trade at Canadian law firm McMillan, has sympathy for his fellow trade compliance professionals.

The sand is shifting fast beneath our feet now, he said at a recent Canadian Apparel Federation webinar about the countrys three-pronged approach to forced and child labor.

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In short, supply chain legislation is rippling across the global landscape, and the Great White North is far from immune.

The first prong, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chain Act, has no snappy acronym, which is why most people, Pellerin included, prefer to refer to it by its parliamentary designation, S-211, rather than repeat that mouthful. Coming into effect on Jan. 1, the law will require companies of a certain size and stature conducting business in Canada to issue an annual report about what they are doing to identify and address forced and child labor in their supply chain.

With the first reports due to be filed and published by the end of May, its time to put the pedal to the metal, Pellerin said. While there is no diligence standard within this reporting requirement, meaning that companies dont actually have to do anything to prevent child or forced labor from occurring, S-211 creates a name-and-shame transparency regime.

Of course, no one wants to be in a position to write in their report: We are doing nothing to prevent forced labor in our supply chain. That would be a bad strategy, he said. Particularly because this will be placed prominently on your companys website.

To qualify as an entity under the act, businesses must meet two out of three thresholds, whether its holding 20 million Canadian dollars ($14.7 million) in assets, making 40 million Canadian dollars ($29.4 million) in revenue or employing 250 or more people. But these qualifiers are by themselves very, very broad, Pellerin said, noting that a lot of companies are getting tripped up here because they dont require the business to be incorporated in Canada.

The thresholds are also based on the consolidated financial statements of the parent business, which will likely knock those three requirements out of the park very quickly, he said. And because the reports require board signatures, executives could find themselves chasing down John Hancocks from their head offices in the United States, Europe or Japan.

In some cases, that can be a very bureaucratic undertaking and you have to present it to the board at formal board meetings, Pellerin added.

His advice: Get things in order now, since failing to file a report or filing a misleading one is a punishable offense that can include fines of up to $250,000. The directors who have to sign off on the report will not want to see it at the last possible minute, and if a problem emerges, you dont want to be scrambling on the very last day to be redrafting or adding content before this has to go live.

Pellerin also recommends that companies integrate the reporting obligations as part of their broader ESG frameworks. And because there are reputational risks, it would behoove them to include your PR people, your ESG people and other stakeholders who will want to have a say in this.

The second prong derives from S-211, which includes, at its very bottom, the imposition of an import ban on goods made wholly or in part with child labor. There is no de minimis exemption, so if theres one fiber made of child labor in your T-shirt, that is technically a good made of child labor, Pellerin said.

This is not a completely new requirement, he noted, but rather an expansion of a pre-existing forced labor ban that materialized with the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the North America Free Trade Agreement successor that is known in Canada as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA.

Enforcement by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which has complained of resourcing issues, has been lax so far. To Pellerins knowledge, there has only been one detention under the rule so far, and even that was subsequently released.

Nonetheless, it is the law of the land, he said.

The new import ban works as an amendment to the customs tariff, adding child labor to the list of goods that are inadmissible to Canada. With it, the Land of the Maple Leaf becomes the worlds first jurisdiction to prohibit goods made with child labor in its entirety, not just forced child labor.

Pellerin said that child labor is something that everybody wants to avoid, but because the language of the law strips away a lot of the ambiguity that forced might entail, the bar is now much lower.

Again, were not in a world where CBSA is enforcing this yet, he said. But for low-hanging fruit, I think that come Jan. 1 when this part of the bill comes into force and the prohibition on goods made of child labor enters, I think theres going to be a lot of questions and you should be prepared to answer them.

Come Jan. 1 when this part of the bill comes into force and the prohibition on goods made of child labor enters, I think theres going to be a lot of questions and you should be prepared to answer them. William Pellerin, a partner in international trade at McMillan

Child labor isnt something that taints the most egregious obscure, distant reaches of our supply chain, either. A report that the New York Times published in February, for instance, described children sewing Made in America tags into J.Crew clothing in Los Angeles and Fruit of the Loom socks in Alabama.

But brands shouldnt bank on the hope that customs officials wont come knocking on their doors, not least because theyll find it hard to sleep at night, Pellerin said. This imposition could open floodgates, particularly as new bills are being debated during the fall session.

Canada does not have what the U.S. has under the UFLPA, for example, this idea of a rebuttable presumption that were going to stop anything and youre going to have to prove us that there is no child labor or forced labor in it, Pellerin said, using an acronym for the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act, which bars from entry any product with a nexus to Chinas Xinjiang region. That has been a nightmare in the United States. And we certainly hope that that system, as it exists in the United States, never comes down.

Finally, Pellerin named the third prong: the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, better known as the CORE, which has been opening investigations into the Canadian subsidiaries of some of fashions biggest names over allegations of forced labor, including Nike, Ralph Lauren, and, most recently, Levi Strauss & Co.

The CORE is neither a creature of statute nor a creature of regulation, he said. Established by the Canadian government in 2019, the organization cannot issue fines but only make recommendations to the minister of international trade, though this could change if momentum to expand its mandate gathers steam.

So far, there have been three strategies for engaging with the CORE, which Pellerin said has a low threshold for launching one of its investigations: ignore it entirely, deny the allegations and provide minor participation in its assessments, or fully participate. The sole company to try the last, a mining business (and McMillan client) called GobiMin, was also the only one to avoid a full investigation.

We worked very closely with the CORE to showcase that the complaint was unfounded and ultimately the COREs initial assessment states that GobiMins good faith participation in the process and its ability to demonstrate that the complaint was not well-founded was key in not launching that investigation, he said.

Pellerin said that the CORE could be an extremely frustrating organization to deal with, though he didnt go into his firms own experience.

From what Ive heard, at least from many others, and from what you can read from the reports themselves, is that in many cases, the CORE has certainly appeared to weigh the evidence of the companies equal to or even lesser than the allegations by the NGOs that are simply flagging third-party reports that have been prepared a few years ago by some agency in Australia, he said. There is certainly some concern, with the type of conclusions that have been reached, that in some cases really are not quite correct and dont bring the whole situation into a lot of credibility.

Still, Pellerin said that he had great faith that the CORE will proceed in a different way with its full investigations and work and produce strong work that is of the nature that you would expect of a large and capable organization within the government of Canada.

Well see, I guess, he added.

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Influencer and fashion designer Cindy Kimberly posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue last year when the 24-year-old traveled to Barbados with Ben Watts. The photographer captured Kimberly in a number of unfussy string bikinis and colorful one-piece swimsuits. The styling on location was intended to reflect the laid back nature of the Caribbean country, which is evident in the gorgeous snapshots that resulted from the collaboration.

Kimberly was initially discovered after pop artist Justin Bieber shared a photo of her to his Instagram account in 2015. Since then, the Dutch model has created an online platform of more than seven million Instagram followers alone, where she shares lifestyle and career-related content.

The 2022 SI Swimsuit rookie is also very open about her mental health struggles and hopes to help others through her lived experience.

Mental health problems can feel very isolating, Kimberly told SI Swimsuit last year. I know for a fact that when I am having an episode, it really feels like its just me that's feeling that waylike Im either broken or unlike the people around me. So I try to be open about it because I hope someone out there might identify with it and realize theyre not alone.

Earlier this year, Kimberly launched LOBA by Cindy Kimberly, a clothing line available exclusively through online retailer Revolve. The collection of stylish and trendy pieces matches the models own chic aesthetic with sheer tops, blazers, corsets, skirts and more.

Below are a few of our favorite photos from Kimberlys SI Swimsuit photoshoot in Barbados.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Cindy Kimberly was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Leslie Amon. Earrings by En Route Jewelry.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Cindy Kimberly was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Bain de Minuit. Earrings by En Route Jewelry.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Cindy Kimberly was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by SKATIE. Hat by Memorial Day. Earrings by En Route Jewelry

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Cindy Kimberly was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Earrings by En Route Jewelry.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Cindy Kimberly was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Andi Bagus. Earrings by En Route Jewelry.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Cindy Kimberly was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Montce.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated Cindy Kimberly was photographed by Ben Watts in Barbados. Swimsuit by Sage Swim. Earrings by En Route Jewelry.

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.

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Its a common problem: You go to book a hotel room and the final price at checkout is more than had been advertised when you first started your search.

Thats largely thanks to so-called resort fees, which properties charge to cover amenities like gym access, internet, and other items you thought were freebies included with your stay. In recent years, travelers have become more and more fed up with these extra charges, and members of Congress are hoping to do away with them, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

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This year, there are two separate proposals in Congress to ban resort fees. In the spring, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island introduced the Junk Fee Prevention Act, which applies to resort fees and other junk fees like service charges for concert tickets. Then this summer, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas brought forth the Hotel Fees Transparency Act, which would require hotels and short-term rentals to display the full price, including fees, up front.

Industry groups are on board with the proposed changes. Chip Rogers, the president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, said in a statement that the Hotel Fees Transparency Act is the best congressional solution for creating a single standard for mandatory fee display across the entire lodging ecosystemfrom hotels to online travel agencies, metasearch sites and short-term rental platforms.

His group found that about 6 percent of hotels charge these junk fees, with an average cost of $26 a night. While that might not sound like much, research by the tourism analyst Bjorn Hanson showed in 2018 that hotels bring in almost $3 billion a year from resort fees alone. And in a Consumer Reports survey from this year, more than half of the respondents said that hidden fees had pushed their hotel stays over their budget.

Its annoying to the traveler because hotels are not being transparent and resort fees are unavoidable, Henry Harteveldt, a travel-industry analyst, told the Times.

This is true across the industry, from affordable hotels to ultra-luxe options. But perhaps sometime soon, properties will be legally required to disclose their now-hidden fees.

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Doctors performed a 10-hour hemispherotomy on a 6-year-old Southern California girl last month.

Brianna Bodley suffered from regular seizures as a result of a rare, chronic inflammatory disease.

The procedure will allow Brianna to live a normal life  even with only half her brain "turned on."

A 6-year-old girl is recovering after undergoing a 10-hour procedure in which doctors disconnected half of her brain to try and eliminate her daily seizures.

Brianna Bodley, 6, will spend the rest of her life with only half of her brain "turned on," according to media reports. But doctors say she'll soon be able to live a perfectly normal life in spite of this.

"After surgery, her entire left side of her body is turned off," Brianna's mother, Crystal Bodley told KABC, a local Los Angeles outlet.

After a series of seizures last year, Brianna was initially diagnosed with epilepsy in August 2022, Crystal Bodley wrote on a GoFundMe page for her daughter. A month later, doctors diagnosed Brianna with Rasmussen's encephalitis, a much rarer neurological disease that typically affects only half of the brain.

Rasmussen's is a chronic inflammatory disease that is most common in children younger than 10. Doctors initially tried to treat Brianna with anti-seizure medications and steroids, KABC reported, but the disease continued to slowly progress.

If left untreated, children can be left with some paralysis, cognitive deficits, and speech problems, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Aaron Robison, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Loma Linda University Health, told Brianna's worried parents that her brain was shrinking as the seizures wrecked damage, according to KABC.

He recommended shutting down half of Brianna's brain.

"Just disconnecting it is enough to stop the disease completely and, essentially, potentially cure it," Robison told the outlet.

Doctors previously would remove half the brain, but that procedure could lead to serious side effects, Robison said. Disconnecting the nonfunctioning half of the brain is easier.

On September 28, Brianna underwent the 10-hour hemispherotomy.

"It was a long ten hours," Crystal Bodley told CNN.

The left side of her brain is now making up for the disconnected right side and figuring out how it needs to compensate so she can live a full life.

An October 3 update on Brianna's GoFundMe page said she was out of the ICU and recovering in a pediatric hospital. She will have to undergo intense inpatient rehab to learn how to walk and move her arm again, her mother wrote.

Brianna may never recover her fine motor skills in her left hand or peripheral vision in her left eye. But Robison told CNN that the procedure wouldn't change the little girl's personality at all.

"Brianna will still be the same person, even after disconnecting half her brain," he said.

Read the original article on Insider
LONDON  Natacha Ramsay-Levi is adding fresh energy to Ecco, one of Denmarks best-known footwear brands, as its first creative partner.

An announcement is expected Thursday.

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Ramsay-Levi, who has a long history in luxury goods, and is a former creative director of the Richemont-owned Chloe, will work with Ecco for four seasons.

Her first NRL collection for Ecco drops this week, and the next one will arrive in early 2024.

The creative partner role is a new one for Ecco, which is known for its supple leather boots and shoes and styles that range from the sporty to the urban.

Going forward, Ecco plans to invite a series of designers to create collections over a two-year period.

Ramsay-Levis first drop features 15 styles that riff on some of Eccos signature, soft leather designs.

She has fused different styles, adding a chunky, sneaker sole to a ballerina flat, and transforming a Chelsea style boot with a patchwork of bright color.

Natacha Ramsay-Levi wearing one of her hybrid boot designs for Ecco.

Shes also given a dash of glamour to other boot styles, adding chunky heels; playing with proportions; or injecting shades such as bright pink, or lipstick red.

This isnt the first time that Ramsay-Levi has worked with the Danish brand.

She was among the first cohort taking part in Eccos At.Kollektive project, which introduced a variety of leather-loving designers to Eccos research, development and manufacturing expertise, and asked them to dream up creations for the brand.

Ecco, which was founded in 1963, is a family-owned, vertically integrated business that manufactures and sells footwear for men, women and children.

It operates 2,000 stores worldwide and its annual revenue is 1.7 billion euros. Around 30 percent of the production is based in Europe, with the remaining 70 percent in the Far East. Ecco owns its factories and controls every step of the supply chain.

Ramsay-Levi stepped down from Chloe in December 2020, having brought an edgy elan to the brand during her four years there.

She also helped the house develop a more purpose-driven business model hinged on social sustainability and aiding the advancement of women.

She joined Chloe in 2017 from Louis Vuitton, where she had been creative director of womens ready-to-wear since 2013.

The Pastrana family in the new Ecco campaign.

The designer started her fashion career at Balenciaga in 2002, and rose through the design ranks to become Nicolas Ghesquieres top design deputy.

When he exited Balenciaga in 2013, she went on to consult for several brands, including Hermes and Acne Studios, before rejoining Ghesquiere at Vuitton.

Working with Ramsay-Levi is part of an overall refresh for Ecco, which is also launching a new ad campaign and has refurbished 15 flagship stores worldwide with a new design concept.

It has also opened a new boutique in SoHo, New York designed in partnership with architecture firm Stimuli, and revamped its website, which is mobile first and meant to be more intuitive.

In an interview at the newly refurbished London Oxford Street store, Eccos chief executive officer Panos Mytaros said the aim is to modernize the brand, and to bring in new customers.

Perched on a blue sofa covered in the brands signature cushioned leather, Mytaros said the new store format puts the product in the spotlight and aims to give customers the space to browse, breathe and get inspired.

The Japanese model and actor Kiko Mizuhara, with her sister Ashley Yuka in the new Ecco campaign.

The brand has also launched an ad campaign based on family, with the aim of forging a more genuine relationship with our customers. We want to engage with them, and especially with our female consumers, said Mytaros.

He said the definition of family is fluid, and the campaign wants to connect with as wide a variety as possible.

Ecco hired the photographer Sean Thomas to focus on three families for the campaign, the pro-rider and stuntman Travis Pastrana and his wife, the pro-skateboarder Lyn-Z Pastrana with their daughters; the Japanese model and actor Kiko Mizuhara, with her sister Ashley Yuka; and the English singer and producer PinkPantheress with her childhood best friend, Bleona.

A look at the new Ecco store format.

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Naples is a city in transformation, said London- and Naples-based artist Allegra Hicks as she crossed a busy downtown street. Its a city that takes a lot from you, but gives back even more. Its very generous, she said reflecting on the mesmerizing quantity of unkept, but majestic architectural jewels that are too many to count.

Hicks presented for the second time at Edit Napoli with Lucielle, a homage to Santa Lucia, a formation of sculpted orbs and shells in ray formation. It represents her eyes, Hicks pointed out. Testament to the ardent effort of Edit Napoli founders and curators Emilia Petruccelli (curator and former Bain & Co consultant) and Domitilla Dardi (design historian and curator) to enhance Napolis image as a design hub, Hicks said the three-day fair, which was centered around the citys State Archive and closed Sunday, attracted an unprecedented number of visitors and international names alike. The first day, I welcomed 600 visitors to Lucielle the second 490, Hicks said of the showcase that took place at Santa Luciella ai Librai, a 14th century shrine in the heart of the city.

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Allegra Hicks Lucielle, a formation of sculptures made from biscuit and porcelain at Naples Santa Luciella ai Librai shrine.

Edit Napoli united 100 international exhibitors from Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Israel, Greece, France, United Arab Emirates, U.K., Denmark, Czechia, Switzerland, Canada, U.S., Austria, Germany, Malta, Hungary and Georgia. Every year the fair aims to support under-30 talent and this year was no exception with a space dedicated to Young Dutch Titans launched for the third year in a row in collaboration with the Embassy and Consulate General of the Netherlands, and also the participation of Spanish companies and creatives. The prize jury appointed to bring fresh talent to the fore was made up of international names like designer Tom Dixon and architect Hannes Peer, who were among a committee tapped to evaluate and award the Best Unreleased Project Award based on intelligent design values, deep respect for cultural heritage, ethics and sustainability, as well as well-balanced price.

Prize-winning projects included the Tracce pouf by Design Studio Ruga Perissinotto, the result of the firms research to rediscover the historical wool of north-eastern Italy, and the Lockwerk Shelf by Turin-based, under-30 designer Giorgio Bena.

Giorgio Bena poses with award-winning Lockwerk Shelf.

Elsewhere, exhibits and instillations paid homage to the nature surrounding the city and sites like Mount Vesuvius.

The city is a volcano of energy, in the sense that there is a cultural contamination that is very strong with a unique spirit, said designer Francesco Meda.

Established architects and designers Meda and David Lopez Quincoces were recently appointed creative directors of lava stone specialists Ranieri. At the fair, the duo celebrated the natural state of lava with the Odissea collection and exhibit A Matter of Perspectives, composed of complementary 2D and 3D elements that are versatile and can be combined and/or arranged in a variety of patterns.

The site-specific installation was showcased at the monumental Santa Maria La Nova whose construction began in the 13th century. The showcase was part of Edit Napolis Cult program, a dialogue between the fair and the historical and artistic treasures of Naples.

A Matter of Perspectives for Ranieri by Francesco Meda and David Lopez Quincoces.

Looking ahead, its founders aim to establish the fair among other calendar events with a specific focus that is neither centered around mass industrial design nor a hub for collectible art.

Edit is in the middle and is becoming an opportunity for emerging artists to make themselves known and for buyers to purchase sought-after pieces, but at a sustainable price, Dardi said.

Looking back, both founders expressed satisfaction in the strong presence of international press and buyers, as well as international visitors. It was nice to see so many people return to Naples to discover it through different points of view, in its most significant places but with initiatives that respect and safeguard its authenticity and identity, Dardi and Petruccelli said in a statement.

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While it's tempting to avoid talking about the war with your kids, experts share it's generally better to discuss it.

GIL COHEN-MAGEN / Getty Images

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

On October 7, the militant group Hamas committed one of the deadliest surprise attacks in the generations-long and complex conflict in the Middle East. Hamas killed Israeli civilians and took many others hostage. Israel declared war on Hamas one day later, bringing Israeli airstrikes to Gaza.

Cable channels that broadcast 24/7 news and social media make it possible for people to see violence, death, and destruction in real-time, and it is nearly impossible to shield children from the news altogether.

Whereas previous generations may have overheard a teacher talking about it, a teenager may have seen images of fighting on their social media feedregardless of how hard parents have tried to get them to stop that nightly scroll. Little ones may come downstairs late at night to find their parents watching talking heads discuss the war on one side of the screen, with violence playing out on the other.

Children may have questions, and adults may feel they have few answers. Its tempting to turn off the TV or tell a teen theyre forbidden from watching videos on the subject. Mental health professionals empathize but say trying to avoid the subject may do more harm than good.

This is a difficult topic, says Zishan Khan, MD, a psychiatrist with Mindpath Health. Its something even adults have difficulty talking about. When it comes to children, parents want to protect their innocence and protect them from anything disturbing, but that can backfire.

In the age of social media, children, particularly tweens and teens, have probably heard about the conflict, or maybe have already seen disturbing images, and may be curious. If a parent refuses to talk about it, Dr. Khan worries young people will turn to other sources that may provide misinformation or exacerbate fear.

Erica Miller, PhD, a clinical psychologist, director of Connected Minds NYC, and a mother, shares these concerns.

As a parent myself, I want to know what my kids are thinking about things so I can get curious about their thinkingand give them facts, Dr. Miller says. They may have feelings, anxieties, and fears. We wont know unless we talk about it. I wouldnt want a kid to feel like they are unsafe and not have a place to come home and talk about it.

But how can parents discuss the latest development in a long conflict that they may not even fully understand? We turned to the experts to help find age-appropriate words.







The Human Toll

The latest number of people who have lost their lives in this conflict was updated on October 20, 2023. Parents will continue to monitor the numbers.







First Steps for Parents, Regardless of Age

Whether your child is 3 or 13, experts stress its important to take two steps before proceeding with a conversation with a child. First, regulate your own emotions. Second, ask your child what they know.

You have to figure out how you feelnot politically but how you physically feel in your body, says Aliza Pressman, PhD, a developmental psychologist, co-founder of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, and host of the podcast Raising Good Humans. If you have been watching the news, seeing scary images, and feeling very anxious, you need to regulate yourself because, in conversations with...any kids, they need to borrow your nervous system.

Dr. Pressman is talking about co-regulating, which helps children regulate emotions, particularly in stressful situations. From there, you want to meet kids where they are, which means asking what they know.

They may know a ton about it but have misinformation, Dr. Pressman says. They might have heard sprinklings but didnt know they were allowed to ask about it. With all things, not just terrifying things that happen in the world, you always want to meet children where they are.

Dr. Miller agrees. Scripts put on Instagram tilesand the ones below in this storymay be useful. But theres no one-size-fits-all. Follow your kids lead. No matter the age, the template is using your kid as a springboard to know what to say and not to say, Dr. Miller says.

One More Important Note

Dr. Pressman advises parents to be sure to distinguish between Palestinians and Hamas. Parents can do this by ensuring they are using the word Hamas rather than Palestinians when naming the group that Israel is at war with.

Its not a war between Palestinians and Israelis, Dr. Pressman says. You want to protect Palestinians. We know what happened after 9/11people experienced a lot of hate.

Dr. Pressman is referring to a widespread anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.



How to Explain the Israel-Hamas War Age-By-Age

Part of meeting children where they are includes using age-appropriate language. A 6-year-old has less context than a 16-year-old. What might these conversations look and sound like? Experts shared some sample scripts and strategies for every age group.

Preschool

This statement may contradict all of the above, but experts agree that discussing the war with your 3-year-old is unnecessary.

In general, preschoolers should not be exposed to any of the images of war, says Ashley Kipness, PsyD, a partner and the associate clinical director at Applied Psychological Services of New Jersey. Developmentally, it may be difficult for them to understand.

However, a child may sneak down from their bedroom and see a parent watching the news, or regular programming may get interrupted by a news break. They may overhear adults talking about it on a playdate. Things happen, and preschoolers are naturally curious. Parents can still be prepared with a response.

If they come to you asking questions, thats your opportunity to talk about it instead of saying, Youre too young, Dr. Khan says. That can lead them to feel like, Is this dangerous? Is this scary?







"If they come to you asking questions, thats your opportunity to talk about it instead of saying, Youre too young.' That can lead them to feel like, Is this dangerous? Is this scary?"

Zishan Khan, MD







Drs. Kipness and Khan suggest using straightforward language with this age group.

[Explain] that a war is when people with two different beliefsor thoughtsare fighting, Dr. Kipness says. They should be told the war is far away and that they are safe.

Dr. Khan suggests, Explain things like, Sometimes people do things that hurt people. He adds that parents should emphasize that hurting people is never an OK way to express emotions.

Elementary School

Simple is best with this age group, too.

Dr. Pressman suggests saying, You may have heard about something going on very far away in an area called the Middle East, specifically in Israel and Gaza.

You can show them on a map where it is, Dr. Pressman says. [You can tell them], Its very far away, so its not something that will impact you here, but you might hear about it.

From there, Dr. Pressman says parents can give a short, simple overview of the situation. She suggests something like: There was a terrorist attack on Israeli children and innocent civilians this weekend. This has launched a war between Israel and Hamas. Though these two sides have been fighting for many years, now it is a war, and as with any war, people have and will be hurt and killed. Thats why youre seeing so many grown-ups who are so sad. You are safe, we are safe, but we care about the experience of people even when they are far away.

Dr. Miller says its OKand beneficial evenfor parents to be honest with their children about their emotions, particularly if theyve spent the last several days checking their phone or distracted.

Its OK for kids to have their reality named back to themThis is real, this is happening, my mom is upset, but were going to be safe, Dr. Miller says.

Emphasize youre still available to them. Dr. Miller says parents might say, I want you to know that I might be really sad about it, but we can still talk about it. I want to answer questions you may have.

Middle School

Middle schoolers are likely beginning to go on social media, with varying degrees of parental control. This reality changes the conversation.

What really shifts for me is the amount of details with my child about what is happening and what they might be seeing, Dr. Miller says. Im imagining my middle schooler is seeing something.

Dr. Miller suggests asking questions like:

Can I see what you have seen?

Have you discussed this in classes?

Are your friends talking about it?

Let your child ask questions, too.

Children should be encouraged to ask questions and, if parents do not know the answers, they can set aside time to find the information together, Dr. Kipness says.







"Children should be encouraged to ask questions and, if parents do not know the answers, they can set aside time to find the information together."

Ashley Kipness, PsyD







One question they may have: How did we get here? Dr. Khan says that tweens may be open or interested in learning more about the conflicts history.

At that time, its probably appropriate and OK and smart to start talking about the history of the region, Dr. Khan says. Thats a mistake people make. They dont understand that this is something that has been going on for centuries, not just the past 50 years. Its religious, not just political...A middle schooler might be more able to understand that.

Dr. Khan says the language in this video by History of Maps is neutral, provides historical context, and is something a middle schooler might understand.

High School

Dr. Pressman was blunt when she said, With high schoolers, let go of the dream that they dont know about anything. They are learning about it through social media. She says the war provides a platform for continued dialogue about the importance of digital literacy.

The more important thing with teenagers is not telling them what is going on but helping them understand the dangerous algorithms of social media, Dr. Pressman says.

Dr. Pressman says parents can remind teens, Social medias algorithm is such that with anything political, it is going to try to give you information that is either the complete opposite of what you believe is true or know to be true to engage you or is going to corroborate something you believe. Either way, it is built for bias.

Scrolling through images of death and violence can be traumatic. According to reports, Israeli and Jewish schools in the U.S. have even urged parents to delete social media apps from their children's phones to shield them from seeing any purported hostage videos from Hamas.

"Cutting off social media altogether does not help children learn the skills they need to regulate their time and be aware of the effects the content may have on their mental health," explains Dr. Kipness. "Younger children need more regulation but as children get older they should be included in conversations about how much content is too much."

Dr. Pressman says viewing this content also props up hate and hate groups. She suggests parents enlist teens almost natural desire to have a more just world rather than lecturing them on the potential harm they do to their mental health by watching the videos.

Also, gauge your high schoolers' knowledge and thoughts about the war. Parents should engage in deeper conversation, asking their high school children how they feel about the war, Dr. Kipness says. Children's feelings, at any age, should be heard and validated.

Signs the News is Affecting Your Childs Mental Health

Parents can say all the right things. But kids, like adults, may still have trouble understanding and coping with the news.

Any time there are large doses of media coverage, we know its harmful to adults' mental health, let alone kids, Dr. Pressman says.

Dr. Pressman says that if a child constantly talks about the war or parents notice increased screen time, discuss a break from phones, tablets, and TV. (Dr. Kipness adds parents can be included in this digital detox.)

Make time for discussions about other things, Dr. Pressman says. You want your kids to be engaged citizens of the world...but just deep-diving into the trauma of the war is a clue that it might not be a super-healthy coping mechanism. Explain to them that at a certain point, your nervous system shuts down and goes into flight, fight, or freeze. If you want to help and have rational compassion, you have to recognize clues that your body cant take much more of it.

These clues might include changes in the following:

Sleep patterns

Mood

Eating

If these issues persist for two or more weeks, Dr. Pressman notes its cause for concern.

If they seem a little clingy or are having nightmares, saying their tummy hurts, or they want to sleep with you, and they didnt previously want to, those are good clues something is going on. Dr. Pressman says.

That's when you might want to seek help. A therapist might be able to help them sort out their feelings.



Related: How to Explain Death to a Child, A Step-by-Step Guide

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Read the original article on Parents.
The Elgin Marbles stolen from Greece. From left to right we see a horse, a naked Greek man leading the way, whilst looking back at the others. Then there's another horse. Next to the horse is a person, and behind the horse if a person clothed in a tunic and a child with cloth draped around their shoulders.

The Parthenon Sculptures, also called the Elgin Marbles, were crafted by ancient Greeks 2,500 years ago to decorate the outside of the Parthenon temple in Athens. Now housed at the British Museum in London, they, like many old sculptures, are a muted mix of white, gray and beige.

But a new study reveals that the famous sculptures' hues weren't always so drab  in fact, they were once painted with vibrantly colored and intricate patterns.

Bright Egyptian blues, whites and purples once covered the statues depicting deities and mythical creatures guarding the fifth-century-B.C. temple. The colors were used to represent the water that some figures rose from, the snakeskin of a mysterious sea serpent, the empty space and air in the background behind the statues, and figurative patterns on the robes of the gods, the researchers wrote in the study, which was published Wednesday (Oct. 11) in the journal Antiquity .

Related: 31 ancient temples from around the world, from Gobekli Tepe to the Parthenon

"The Parthenon sculptures at the British Museum are considered one of the pinnacles of ancient art and have been studied for centuries now by a variety of scholars," study lead author Giovanni Verri , a conservation scientist at the Art Institute of Chicago, said in a statement. "Despite this, no traces of colour have ever been found and little is known about how they were carved."

As paint often doesn't last long on marble and the sculptures' surfaces weren't prepared to enable adhesion from substances like paint, archaeologists long assumed that ancient Greek artists intentionally left the statues white. This even led historical restorations to remove past traces of paint found on the sculptures, the researchers said.

To investigate the statues' past, archaeologists used luminescent imaging, a technique that causes trace chemical elements from hidden paint on the sculptures' surfaces to glow. The team quickly discovered hidden patterns emerging on the statues' surfaces, revealing floral designs and smudged figurative depictions.

Four pigments were primarily found: a blue that was first created by the Egyptians and was the main color used by ancient Greeks and Romans, a purple tint made according to an unknown recipe (most purple was made with shellfish from the ancient Mediterranean, but this one wasn't), and two whites likely derived from the mineral gypsum and bone white, a pigment made from bone ash.

It's likely that these colors were "as visually important as the carving," the researchers wrote in the study, as "it was what the viewer saw."

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"The elegant and elaborate garments were possibly intended to represent the power and might of the Olympian gods, as well as the wealth and reach of Athens and the Athenians, who commissioned the temple," Verri said. The researchers found traces of paint on the backs of the sculptures, meaning they were "certainly contemporary to the building" and likely were painted first and then placed on the temple.

The 17 sculptures, once part of a 525-foot-long (160 meters) marble frieze depicting classical Greek myths, were brought to the U.K. in the 19th century after being ripped from the walls of the Parthenon by Thomas Bruce, the seventh Earl of Elgin and Britain's ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. His involvement initially gave the sculptures their "Elgin Marbles" nickname.

Bruce sold the statues, which constituted roughly half of the surviving sculptures, to the British government in 1816. Now kept in the British Museum, the sculptures have been the subject of a formal repatriation controversy between the U.K. and Greece since 1983.

As the marbles are primarily fragments, the story they tell isn't completely clear. But they include sculptures of gods reacting to the birth of Athena, who is said to have burst from Zeus' swollen head after a mighty blow from the axe of Hephaestus, the Greek god of blacksmiths.
By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus on Thursday appointed new operational and sales chiefs as part of a management reshuffle following a revamp of its main planemaking business under a new commercial chief executive officer.

The world's largest planemaker said Florent Massou would become head of operations and confirmed that Benoit de Saint-Exupery would take over as head of sales, succeeding Christian Scherer who has already been appointed as CEO of the core commercial planemaking business from Jan. 1.

Alberto Gutierrez, who until now has been chief operating officer, will remain on the main executive committee with a new role in "special industrial projects" and responsibility for Spain, a sensitive political relationship for Airbus in the wake of industrial tensions and a drop in A400M military orders.

Julie Kitcher, currently in charge of communications and corporate affairs, has been promoted to the new post of chief sustainability officer while keeping control of communications.

Airbus announced the broad outlines of the revamp last month, restoring dedicated leadership of its main business for the first time in four years as it steps up jet production and freeing overall CEO Guillaume Faury to focus on strategy, amid concerns over key defence and space projects.

In a carefully nuanced structure, the people occupying the two main operational roles - Programmes, which remain under Philippe Mhun, and Operations - will both report to Scherer and sit on the main executive committee under Faury.

Airbus confirmed it was not re-creating a new commercial divisional structure to mirror the reorganisation of top jobs.

Instead, Scherer will run the commercial business as CEO of that activity and on paper this will remain in the same bucket as the Airbus parent entity, which will remain under Faury's overall control.

Airbus merged its parent and main commercial division in 2017, with the defence and helicopter divisions sitting underneath. Sources have said it is reluctant to re-create a holding company structure following a series of Franco-German power battles when the group was called EADS then Airbus Group.

Story continues

People familiar with the company say that the new system has in any case proven to be agile and Faury is unwilling to return to a traditional headquarters structure given the scale of the commercial operations, which make up about 70% of revenue.

Reuters reported last month that Benoit de Saint-Exupery, a descendant of the iconic French author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery, was tipped to become head of sales - one of the most visible positions in the aircraft industry.

Reuters also reported that the corporate changes could lead to a shake-up of operational leadership. Deliveries sagged early in the year but have already improved sharply since the summer.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
The new Hooters Calendar hit Hooters restaurants across the world this month. Look inside, and you'll find three Southwest Florida women showing off their swimsuits as Miss January, Miss June and Miss November.

Im really excited! says bartender/server Grace Burchett, 25, of the Naples Hooters, who appears as the main photo for November. Its really an honor to be a featured girl again.

The calendar also showcases Sarasota Hooters employees Sarah Magda and Miya Vidales as Miss January and Miss June, respectively.

"Wherever there's a Hooters, you can see the calendar," says bartender/server Magda, 24. "Its a surreal feeling, honestly, knowing that somebody across the country can see it  or someone who's in a different country, even."

Sarah Magda, 24, of the Sarasota Hooters is Miss January in the 2024 Hooters Calendar.

Magda and Vidales don't just work together at the same Hooters, though. They're also roommates and best friends from the same Illinois town (New Lenox).

"So it's even a cooler experience being able to do it and experience it together," Magda says about the Hooters Calendar photo shoot and the upcoming Hooters Calendar Tour. "Now we get to do the tour together."

In all, 79 Southwest Florida Hooters employees appear in the 2024 calendar  either in the main calendar or the poster included at Southwest Florida Hooters restaurants. They all work at Hooters restaurants in Fort Myers, Naples, Sarasota, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte and Bradenton.

More than 200 women from across the United States appear in the main calendar every year.

Hooters Calendar photo shoot in The Bahamas

The three Southwest Florida "month girls" all shot their photos in The Bahamas in May.

Both Burchett and Vidales had to get up at 5 a.m. for photo sessions on a Marsh Harbor beach in the Abaco Islands. But they say they didn't mind at all.

That was really amazing to shoot there, Burchett says. It was just gorgeous.

Grace Burchett, 25, of the Naples Hooters is Miss November in the 2024 Hooters Calendar.

Vidales agrees. "What can you not love about being in the Bahamas?" she says.

Magda's photo shoot was in the afternoon, but she says she still got up at 5 a.m. to cheer on her Hooters friends.

"Oh my gosh, it was so much fun," Magda says. "Every year, they make you feel just so special."

Hooters Calendar veterans

All three women have appeared previously in the Hooters Calendar.

The same photographer who shot Burchett's Miss March photo for the 2023 calendar, Cameron Melcher, also shot her Miss November photos for 2024. So she felt like she was in good hands.

He makes it so fun, she says. Im so comfortable with him.

Miya Vidales, 23, of the Sarasota Hooters is Miss June in the 2024 Hooters Calendar.

Burchett loves the photo, including the fact that her swimsuit is Hooters' signature color: Orange. Its very on-brand, she says and laughs.

This will be Vidales' fifth time in the calendar, but her first in the main calendar. Before, she was only featured in the poster.

She thinks her growing confidence helped her make it into the main calendar this year. She started at Hooters when she was 19. Now she's 23.

"Honestly, I think it was the confidence I gained from working at Hooters and just being surrounded by 30 girls, four nights a week, and just bartending there and meeting new people," Vidales says. "And I just got more comfortable."

Where to buy the 2024 Hooters Calendar

The calendars cost $15 each ($25 online). They're sold at Hooters restaurants everywhere and online at hooterscalendar.com. The online versions, however, dont include the poster featuring more Southwest Florida Hooters employees.

Even better, $1 from each calendar sale will be donated to cancer research through the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund.

State of food: Hooters to Margaritaville: National restaurant chains that began in Florida

"I love a good cause," Vidales says. "And I'm happy to be a part of it."

The calendar release also coincides with Hooters' annual Give a Hoot fundraising campaign to raise more money for breast-cancer research.

Many of the Southwest Florida Hooters employees will be visiting local Hooters restaurants Dec. 13-17 for the annual Hooters Calendar Tour. Details will be announced later.

For more information on the tour and Southwest Florida's Hooters restaurants, visit hootersflorida.com.

 Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 2024 Hooters Calendar shows women from Sarasota, Naples, Fort Myers
For many living in the U.S., wearing glasses is simply a fact of life. When Americans need a pair of readers, they can pop into a local pharmacy and purchase them at an affordable price.

But in many countries where garment workers labor and live, like Bangladesh and Vietnam, glasses, whether prescription or not, are considered a luxury good  and between 30 and 40 percent of garment workers in these countries have problems with their vision.

More from Sourcing Journal

According to the World Trade Statistical Review, Bangladesh exported $45 billion worth of clothing in 2022. Vietnam exported $35 billion worth. Only China and countries in the European Union bloc are bigger apparel exporters.

VisionSpring, the social enterprise that works to distribute glasses to garment workers like these, has partnered with USAID, Levi Strauss, Deckers Brands, Warby Parker and VF Corporation to create the Clear Vision Workplace alliance. The alliance allows VisionSpring to address vision issues by distributing glasses to garment workers in factories contracted with these companies, improving health and employment outcomes.

The alliance has screened 500,000 workers over four years, resulting in nearly 38 percent of those examined receiving corrective eyewear.

Ella Gudwin, VisionSprings CEO, said the New York nonprofit needed help from big corporations to get into the factories theyve served.

The factories themselves werent ready to talk to us at the beginning. They were like, What vision problem are you talking about?  So we approached brands, Gudwin told Sourcing Journal. Levi Strauss had done an audit on their own in a couple of countries. We approached them, and they said, This is really good timing. We think we have a vision problem. And we said, Yes, we know you do, and we can help.

Gudwin said VisionSpring screens all factory workerswhether they operate a sewing machine, hold a senior leadership role or clean the facilities. But the social enterprises practice has been to begin by screening senior leaders in the middle of the factory floor, so workers understand they wont be retaliated against if their screening shows the need for a pair of glasses.

We have definitely had stories of women who are terrified to get their sight checked because they dont want to get glasses. We have had stories of women who have gone for employment and, because they wore glasses, they get offered a lower pay, Gudwin said. So we create a zero-punitive environment.

A garment worker dons his new glasses in a VF Corporation supplier factory in Bangladesh.

The screenings are paid for by corporate partners including Levi Strauss, VF Corporation and Deckers Brands. Warby Parker pays for the cost of all glasses distributed by the alliance.

Gudwin explained that the majority of those screened receive their new glasses immediately. VisionSpring keeps an array of reading glasses on hand, as well as lenses with common prescriptions, which they insert into pop-in frames and give to the factory worker at the time of the screening. For those with more complicated prescriptions, it can take up to 10 days to receive the glasses.

The average cost to make each pair of glasses varies by country, but garment workers do not pay for any of the costs incurred.

A spokesperson for VF Corporation said that the program has fostered better outcomes for workers and supplier factories alike.

We hear from our factory partners who have implemented the project that the number of defects returned from quality inspection is reduced, and overall satisfaction among workers is improved. Workers report reduced headache and fatigue due to reduced eye strain, among other benefits, the spokesperson said.

VF Corporation declined to disclose its total funding for the grant, but the spokesperson said its efforts have resulted in nearly 140,000 worker screenings and over 44,000 pairs of glasses distributed.

The spokesperson said the Supreme and Timberland owner has participated in a number of other programs through its Worker and Community Development program. Those initiatives include a collaboration with the International Finance Corporation and the International Labor Organization to launch the Better Work Gender Equity and Returns program across VF supplier factories in Bangladesh, as well as a partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition resulting in the launch of a holistic nutrition program at VF suppliers in Bangladesh.

Deckers Brands did not respond to multiple requests to comment, but shared its enthusiasm for the program in a news release.

We are proud to partner with VisionSpring, who shares our commitment to a more just world. Meaningful partnerships like this provide people with the resources they need to flourishincluding equitable access to vision care, said Brooke Beshai, vice president of sustainability and compliance.

Kim Almeida, director of programs for the Levi Strauss Foundation, said outcomes have been mutually beneficial for the denim company as well as its manufacturing partners.

The Levi Strauss Foundation has supported VisionSpring since 2017 with grants totaling $550,000, which has made possible the screening of nearly 50,000 workers across Bangladesh, India and Vietnam. The results have been clearby providing workers with eyeglasses we can have a profound impact on not only their productivity and earning capacity, but also on their ability to take care of their families and participate in all aspects of life, Almeida said.

Almeida added that, as part of Levi Strauss & Co.s Worker Well-being initiative, the company supports organizations like Change Associates in Bangladesh, CARE Cambodia and Life Centre in Vietnam, all of which work to improve garment workers health and well-being in supplier factories.

But despite its well-being standards and practices, the denim giant has faced criticism for its refusal to sign the Pakistan Accord, which legally binds its signatories to certain standards for garment workers safety and rights. VF Corporation and Deckers Brand have not signed the accord, either. VF and Levi Strauss are members of Nirapon, which is not legally binding.

Levi Strauss Canada has faced recent heat for its potential links to Uyghur forced labor, but has said the claims for the investigation being carried out by Canadas Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise are based on outdated information.

Click here to read the full article.
A Louisiana public school principal has apologized and gone on leave after punishing a female student after he saw a video of her dancing at a non-school-related party.

Kaylee Timonet, the 17-year-old student in question, was showing off some of her dance moves at an off-campus party following Walker High Schools homecoming festivities. A DJ that was hired for the party took video of the dance floor and posted it to social media where the schools principal, Jason St. Pierre, was able to see it. He told Timonet that she would be removed from her position with the student government association and that he would no longer offer his recommendation to her for college scholarships.

When he initially called her into his office, St. Pierre confronted her with the video and scolded her for not living up to Gods ideals.

I hysterically started crying, Kaylee said in a TikTok video where she recounted the incident last week. The video has been viewed over 1 million times.

Since then, the entire city of Walker has reacted to Timonets punishment. Her mom, Rachel, called out St. Pierre for berating her daughter for not living up to his own religious morality when shes a public school student. She described it as a violation of the separation of church and state in an interview with Unfiltered With Kiran, a local news website founded by a journalist. Rachel also said many parents were present at the party, and none of them viewed any of the students dancing as inappropriate.

I didnt see anything wrong with what my daughter was doing in the video, she told Unfiltered. My child was not representing the school in any way, shape or form at the party.

Several Walker High School students staged a walkout on Monday to protest the principals punishment. People all over social media have shared profile picture banners and hashtags that read: Let the Girl Dance and I stand with Kaylee Timonet. One school board member even called the punishment ridiculous.

After facing the backlash for his decision, St. Pierre issued a public apology on the schools website.

I have had time to consider my actions, have conversations with the Timonets, and meet with district staff, he said in a written statement. First, let me say that I have apologized to the Timonets and I am hopeful that my scheduled meeting with Kaylees mom will rectify this situation and allow Kaylee to enjoy the remainder of her senior year at Walker High School.

He added that Kaylee was reinstated to her student government position, and admitted he had no right to use religion as justification for the punishment during the meeting at school.

Finally, during my conversation with Kaylee regarding the dance party, the subject of religious beliefs was broached by Kaylee and myself, he wrote. While that conversation was meant with the best intentions, I do understand it is not my responsibility to determine what students or others religious beliefs may bethat should be the responsibility of the individual.

The school also issued a statement:

Walker High School principal Jason St Pierre has requested to take leave for the remainder of the 2023 to 2024 school year, said Livingston Parish Public Schools superintendent Joe Murphy. The district office is awaiting his paperwork to process his request.
You might reach for it at Chinese restaurants or consider it a household staple, right next to the mustard in your refrigerator: Asian chili crisps have exploded onto the mainstream market in the U.S. in recent years. But now, the versatile condiment is paving the way for other global sauces  also made from oil-fried peppers fragranced with spices, nuts or seeds  to enter the spotlight. Whether your primary goal is adding tingly heat or crunchy texture, and no matter what cuisine youre cooking, theres a chili crisp to fit the bill.

Calabrian chili crisp

For the beloved food personality Dan Pelosi (aka GrossyPelosi), there was only one way to start his long-awaited, instant-bestseller of a first cookbook Lets Eat: with a recipe for chili crisp inspired by his Italian family. It is a tribute to his earliest food memory and what he still believes is the best bite hes ever eaten.

I was, like, 7 years old in a basement kitchen, Pelosi recalls. My whole family lived on the same street, so I was kind of bumping around seeing what everyone was cooking. I scraped it up from the bottom of a pot of something incredible that had been simmering on the stove. I wasnt old enough to be like, What is this? I just remember it being so good. And so when I wrote the book, I was like, I want to be able to give people that bite.

But reverse-engineering that formative stolen taste from his childhood was no easy task. In my family, people make things and they dont follow recipes, Pelosi says. Everything is an oral history. Its like, Oh, I just threw it together. I used whatever we had. It has led to incredible conversations. Pelosis aha moment came when he considered the chili crisp he had long enjoyed at Chinese restaurants. I think it kind of clicked with my love of Calabrian chili paste as I realized maybe this is the way that the recipe should come to life in my cookbook, Pelosi says. In addition to Calabrian chili and tomato paste, the recipe he landed on also nods to Italian flavors with fennel seeds, fresh rosemary and thyme.

Calabrian Chili Crisp (Andrew Bui)

Like Pelosi, Alison Roman also chose chili crisp as the very first recipe in her debut cookbook Dining In. When TODAY.com caught up with her, the three-time New York Times bestselling author had just returned from her honeymoon. Back home in Brooklyn, Roman was eating cucumbers with  you guessed it  chili crisp. I find it's like a hot sauce, she says. You dont really have just one, you have multiple that may each play differently with your food.

Taiwanese chili crisp

Roman is currently focusing her energy on a new pantry goods store in upstate New York called First Bloom, where she stocks jars of Su Chili Crisp from Taiwan. The quality is amazing, Roman says. Its very savory and its not that spicy.

The distributor of Romans brand of choice, Yun Hai Taiwanese Pantry, says she has a much bigger mission than just improving lackluster takeout.

Our goal is to represent the heritage food traditions of Taiwan, says Lisa Cheng Smith. Japan has done such a great job of exporting its craft; Taiwan has not. The publicity about Taiwan is that its under threat from China. And so we are a food distributor, founded with cultural activism in mind. Were trying to get people to relate to and understand Taiwan as its own culture.

Chili Crisp (Alistair Matthews)

Tasty food, Smith has found, goes a long way in showing people what youre about. Our thought is that you can talk politics to people all day long. But when you share the food culture, its much more visceral. You start to understand it as a place and not a name.

The recipe comes from a family friend, who got it from his mother, who grew up in a military village in Taiwan, where she learned it from her nanny, whod come from Sichuan. Now its stocked everywhere from Korea to the Hudson Valley. Growing demand has forced them to start producing it at a bigger scale; for a long time, Smith says, It was this cult thing that we needed to keep secret because we couldnt make any more.

Mexican salsa macha

The secret, however, is officially out, thanks in no small part to social media. On TikTok, the #chilicrisp hashtag has over 65 million views. But that pales in comparison with a classic Mexican condiment that fits the trend perfectly: salsa macha, which has over 126 million views.

On TikTok and Instagram, everybodys cooking with salsa macha, says Miguel Leal, the Mexican-born and raised co-founder and CEO of Somos Foods. Leal wants to help make salsa macha as familiar to Americans as ketchup and pasta sauce. By some estimates, Mexican food is the No. 1 most-consumed ethnic cuisine in the U.S., but the vast majority comes from restaurants or takeout. Somos mission is to popularize Mexican home cooking and bring Mexican flavor to suburban areas that might have less access to global cuisines.

Salsa Macha (Juan Pablo Tavera, Alfredo Parker, Paola Argaez & Keeka Argaez)

This fall, its salsa macha launched in all Target locations nationwide, becoming the first sold at scale in the U.S. Around the same time, Leal had squeezed in a trip to Mexico to get a second line of manufacturing going in order to keep up with demand. After debuting at Whole Foods earlier this year, expanding into Harris Teeter and then Target, according to Leal, they had been sold out for a couple of months. It has exceeded all of our expectations, he says.

Familiarity with salsa macha in the U.S. is growing, but it hasnt always been so well-known. I would give it to my American friends and they would be like, Am I supposed to eat these like chips and salsa? Because when we think of salsa here we think of Tostitos, right? And the word macha, thanks to Starbucks, has really been connected with matcha tea. This recipe is neither, Leal says. I think the first efforts to move salsa macha into retail failed a little bit because people didnt know what to do with it.

Leal conducted an informal test at a trade show that helped him figure out how to market to American consumers. On day one, I tested using the name salsa macha. And the second day, I told everybody it was a Mexican chili crisp. And we got almost three times the sales, he says. Because of the popularity of Asian chili crisps, people knew how to use it. I think the fact that we not only named it salsa macha, but also Mexican chili crisp on the label, has helped tremendously. You gotta meet people where they are. Once they try the product, I think it sells itself.

The Chili Crisp cookbook

Whether or not salsa macha is your gateway drug, diehard fans and new converts alike are bound to stumble upon the work of James Park. His new Chili Crisp cookbook takes the condiment in all kinds of unexpected directions  even dessert.

As a Korean immigrant, I didnt really grow up with chili crisp on my table, Park says. Then a jar of Lao Gan Ma opened this whole new door for me to connect with other Asian communities and explore how I can infuse all the great things about chili crisp into my Koreanness.

Parks cookbook contains only 50 or so recipes; he says he could have shared hundreds more to help everyone find their own just-right version, Goldilocks-style. His go-to centers the flavors of gochugaru, scallion and garlic.

A lot of people dont see the connection between chili crisp and Korean food. So that really made it personal to me, Park says. He considers his formula a reflection of his identity. Chili crisp is more than just a condiment to a lot of people. For chefs and creators, its their way of sharing their stories.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Martin Scorsese has defended the epic runtime of his upcoming movie Killers of the Flower Moon.

The Western epic, which is based on David Grann 's best-selling non-fiction book of the same name, tells the true story of a series of murders which took place in Osage County, Oklahoma, in the early 1920s.

Set to premiere in UK cinemas on October 20, the movie boasts an impressive 205 minute runtime making it 3 hours and 25 minutes long.

Apple TV+/Melinda Sue Gordon

Related: Killers of the Flower Moon gets first reviews

In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Scorsese explained that the upcoming movie which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, should be seen on the big screen while defending its runtime.

Likening Killers of the Flower Moon's impressive runtime to that of theatre production, Scorsese said viewers would happily sit through a play or 5 hours of television adding that audiences need to show the same "respect" for cinema.

"People say it's three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours," Scorsese said before adding: "Also, there are many people who watch theatre for 3.5 hours. There are real actors on stage, you can't get up and walk around. You give it that respect, give cinema some respect."

AppleTv+

Related: Killers of the Flower Moon confirms UK release date as new trailer lands

When asked if he thinks the movie, which is set for release in cinemas before streaming globally on Apple TV+, is suitable for the small screen, Scorsese said: "In the case of Killers of the Flower Moon, it should be seen on the big screen.

"Are we intending to make a blockbuster? No, we're making a movie, which should [be] watched on the big screen. Other pictures I made? Maybe not. Sometimes, it's the strength of the picture too, if it plays well on a smaller screen, that's interesting. Killers could play on a small screen, but in order to truly immerse yourself, you should take out the time."

Killers of the Flower Moon will arrive in UK cinemas on October 20.

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A campfire classic, s'mores are pretty difficult to improve. What's not to love about a warm, gooey marshmallow and a melty piece of chocolate squished between two graham crackers? The late chef Michael Chiarello gave it his best shot with an Italian twist.

Instead of relying on the good old American graham cracker, Chiarello used biscotti, the classic twice-baked Italian cookie usually more at home with an espresso. The sturdy structure of the biscuit makes it an ideal substitute for crumbly, fragile graham crackers. There's no need to buy biscotti. You can make your own and cut it into any size or shape.

Level up the classic chocolate bar by making a sauce using bittersweet chocolate, chocolate sauce, and wine. Chiarello calls for Cabernet Sauvignon, a full-bodied red wine more associated with France also produced in Tuscany. However, you can use a Chianti or Vin Santo.

You can even pair your biscotti and chocolate with your wine. A fruit-studded biscotti will pair well with a sweet red wine or a fizzy Lambrusco. Both wines get along well with dark chocolate with fruity notes like cherry. Drizzle the boozy chocolate sauce over a roasted marshmallow and biscotti, and you have the perfect Italian s'more.

Read more: 13 Store-Bought Ice Cream Bars Ranked From Worst To Best

Nostalgia Doesn't Have To Be Bland

A classic s'more - Mphillips007/Getty Images

Upgrading your s'mores with Italian-inspired ingredients is the first step to s'more perfection, but there are many other ingredients you should be adding to the campfire classic. For those of us who love the nostalgia of the summertime treat but find the graham cracker too uninteresting or the chocolate not flavorful enough, swapping milk chocolate bars for dark chocolate can make all the difference. Some swear by Reese's peanut butter cups. Others change out graham crackers for Oreo cookies.

If you want to be an adult about your s'mores, add more mature flavors, like lemon curd, berry preserves, or salted caramel. Gingersnap or gingerbread cookies can bring spice and new depth that the humble graham cracker can't provide. Or add booze. You can make your boozy marshmallows at home by adding bourbon, Guinness beer, or Bailey's Irish Cream. You can even use a good Italian wine like a Chianti in your marshmallows for a unique Italian twist.

Read the original article on Mashed.
The micro-industry of cosy, wholesome films set in Ireland continues apace. In Thaddeus OSullivans The Miracle Club, a group of working-class women in mid-century Dublin travel to the Catholic pilgrimage site at Lourdes, each in search of a God-granted cure to their ails. Lily (Maggie Smith) still grieves the loss of her son, Declan, who drowned, aged 19, back in 1927. Eileen (Kathy Bates) fears what the lump in her breast inevitably signals. Dolly (Agnes OCasey) is convinced shes the reason her son is nonverbal.

Its a film thats partially about faith, the kind found in the French grotto where St Bernadette Soubirous was supposedly blessed by an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1858. Its also about the nature of healing: Lily, Eileen, and Dolly arrive in Lourdes expecting one kind of miracle, and leave with the realisation that Gods gifts dont necessarily come in the form of material change, but can sometimes consist of nothing more than the strength to carry on. It isnt brave enough to directly critique organised religion, and the way its patriarchal systems have added to these womens burdens, but it does offer a moving celebration of intimate, individual faith.

And yet, while theres nothing outrightly stereotypical here, The Miracle Club suffers from being both sentimental and superficial. Its exactly the sort of film you suspect was made to cater to American, rather than Irish tastes (it premiered at New Yorks Tribeca Festival)  something lightly fantastical for those in the Irish diaspora who feel disconnected from their ancestral roots but cant quite shake the tourist mentality. Its nowhere close to the cardigan-donning, green hills-rollicking nonsense of notorious romcoms Leap Year and Wild Mountain Thyme, but it also doesnt mean that the film isnt a disservice to the Irish women at its heart.

There is, in fact, an Irish-American in this story: Chrissie (Laura Linney), who moved away four decades ago, only returning now to bury her mother. Her old friends, neighbours, and extended family feel abandoned, and so ostracise her in turn. Its not hard to imagine that Chrissies shame is explicitly there for Irish-Americans to project their own, unsettled feelings onto  the question of what their ancestors would think of them now.

And so, the Ireland Chrissie finds is, at times, comically retrograde, even for 1967. When the women are away, were forced to watch the men demonstrate total incompetence when it comes to simple, domestic tasks. Apparently, these men dont even know how to hold multiple items of shopping in their arms at once. Chrissie, by the end, takes up the position of educator, supposedly bringing American wisdom and experience to traditional, Irish naivete.

John Hands production design and Judith Williamss costumes have a keen sense of mid-century, working-class domestic spaces, yet every rushing aerial shot of Ireland or France seems borrowed from a cheap, globetrotting thriller. Smith can steep a few cutting words with a universe of feeling but is given sparse material to work with. Most frustrating of all, the film ends on an utterance of the word home that feels both like a cheap shortcut and a betrayal of earlier, more nuanced character work. The Miracle Club certainly seeks to capture a feeling of home  but its not entirely clear for whom.

Dir: Thaddeus OSullivan. Starring: Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, Maggie Smith, Stephen Rea, Agnes OCasey. Cert 12A, 90 minutes

 The Miracle Club  is in cinemas from 13 October
McDonald's apple pie has long been a staple at the fast food chain, dating back to 1968 when it became the menu's first dessert item. Back then, these turnover pies were served fried, unlike the version we know today. In 1992, the company decided to start baking the pies instead, leaving fans of the original recipe with a McDonald's deep-fried apple pie void in need of filling. The pie recipe was further modified in 2018 to create a modern healthier alternative, which features fewer ingredients, real butter and cinnamon, and reduced sugar. Though McDonald's as a whole may have gone the health-conscious route by switching to this new version, there are actually still some locations where you can purchase a fried apple pie  but only in two states: California and Hawaii.

In California, there is just one McDonald's, located in Downey (which is in southeast Los Angeles County), still serving the deep-fried rendition. This location (pictured) is the oldest operating McDonald's in the world, having been built in 1953, so it makes sense that those in charge of it would want to stick to a more traditional menu. This means they fry rather than bake their apple pies. The design of this location also hasn't changed at all over the years  you actually can't even go inside. To order, you must walk up to a window. Meanwhile, in Hawaii, all of the McDonald's locations serve the original apple pie recipe, which means that they're all deep-fried to crispy perfection.

Read more: Restaurant Foods That Always Taste Better Than What You Make At Home

Hawaiian McDonald's Locations Still Serve Fried Apple Pies

Hand holding McDonald's fried apple pie in carton - Instagram

McDonald's Hawaii franchise owner Victor Lim spoke to Honolulu Magazine in 2019 about why the state's McDonald's locations have preserved the original apple pie recipe. As it turns out, Hawaiian locations did switch to the baked version in 1992 with the rest of the chain's locations  it just didn't stick.

"The baked pie is more doughy," Lim said. "The fried pie is very nice and crispy. People did not like [the baked] as much as the fried pie." He also revealed that Hawaii restaurants sell way more apple pies in general than those within the continental U.S., which is why Hawaiian McDonald's locations are allowed to continue serving the original recipe. "Our results prove that there's a customer demand here in Hawaii," he added.

Lim actually approves of the newest baked apple pie recipe, and told Honolulu Magazine that he has considered offering it at the state's McDonald's locations  but as an additional option to the fried version rather than a replacement. So, next time you're in Hawaii, you may want to consider making a pit stop at one of their Mickey D's locations to secure this classic McDonald's dessert in its original form. Unless you live near Downey, California, it may be your only opportunity to get your hands on a good old-fashioned McDonald's fried apple pie.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
[table-of-contents] stripped

If you think Halloween has a confusing history, just wait till you hear about Thanksgiving. A blend of fact, fiction, myth, and political plays, Thanksgiving is the kind of holiday where you just have to shrug and go with it. While every family has its own version of the perfect Thanksgiving tablemacaroni and cheese or stuffing, green beans or cauliflowerso much of what we eat on the holiday traces back to the first Thanksgivingexcept for turkey. We know, we know, it's hard to believe. The quintessential Thanksgiving dish the family cook spends hours (or even days) perfecting probably wasn't even on the table in the 1600s.

So...why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving? My family has switched to ham or chicken, but there are plenty of Thanksgiving purists who'd consider the swap blasphemous. Whichever side you're on, keep reading to find out the real reason why we eat turkey on Thanksgiving, including the original menu and the mastermind of the modern-day feast.

The History of Thanksgiving

The pilgrims may have celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621, but it didn't become a national holiday until Abraham Lincoln declared it such in 1863. Spurred on by magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale, the holiday was intended to promote peace during the Civil War. Hale had petitioned the four previous presidents to create the holidayall in all, her campaign to create Thanksgiving persisted for nearly 40 years.

More than two centuries before that, the pilgrims, English Protestants who were members of a persecuted religious sect, arrived on the North American continent in what is now Massachusetts in 1620. In 1621, those who survived the first winter commemorated the occasion by giving thanks. What they considered "Thanksgiving" was a religious day of fasting and prayer, and they most likely would have held this gathering in the spring.

What Was on the Menu at the First Thanksgiving

Compared with our sprawling Thanksgiving tables, the first Thanksgiving menu was decidedly slimmer. Corn was a staple both on the cob and as a grain baked into bread loaves or ground for porridge. Venison and wildfowl would've been the primary proteins. Other than those dishes, the rest of the menu is a mystery. Wild turkeys were available, but they would've been secondary to venison. And rather than bread stuffing, the fowl would've been filled with onions and herbs, according to the Smithsonian Museum.

Because the first Thanksgiving participants were situated on the coast of Massachusetts, there also would have been plenty of seafoodlobsters, shellfish, clams, and eelson the menu. Back then, chestnuts weren't reserved for Christmas fires but would've been served alongside walnuts and beechnuts. And while there may not have been pumpkin pie, the gourds would've been on full display along with squashes.

Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

If we're not even sure that the pilgrims ate turkey, then where did the tradition come from? We owe that to one Sarah Josepha Hale. During her campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, Hale used her magazine, Godey's Lady's Book, to print recipes and sample menus to get housewives on board. Hale was planting the idea and expectations of what Thanksgiving should look like in the minds of American women, influencing an entire generation that would pass those menus on to their children.

Transcendental Graphics - Getty Images

In fact, many of the foods we associate with Thanksgivingroast turkey with sage dressing, creamed onions, mashed turnips, and even some mashed potato dishes (a foreign concept back then)were included in the magazine's Thanksgiving pages. Hale also published dozens of cookbooks filled with recipes that'd be welcome on Thanksgiving tables today.

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The US State Department is warning Americans to reconsider travel to Israel in the wake of the weekends deadly Hamas attacks.

The agency raised its travel advisory level on Wednesday to Level 3: Reconsider Travel because of civil unrest and terrorism, advising that the situation in Israel remains dynamic; mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning.

Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials, an updated travel advisory said.

While Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, we are aware that several major airlines have announced that they have suspended flights, it notes.

Please check with the airlines on the availability of flights and flight status. U.S. citizens in Gaza who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the Rafah Crossing into Egypt.

The travel advisory for the West Bank has also been raised to Level 3: Reconsider Travel; while the advisory for Gaza, which is under heavy bombardment from Israeli airstrikes, remains at the most severe  Level 4: Do Not Travel.

United Kingdom warning

The United Kingdoms government has also warned its citizens about travel to Israel.

If you are in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, you are advised to register your presence with the FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office], it posted Tuesday.

The FCDO continues to advise against travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to advise against all but essential travel to all other parts, including the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

CNN Travels Forrest Brown contributed to this report.

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Altoo Insights brings existing and future clients, as well as the general public globally, closer to Altoo online

A digital news offering covering wealth management and lifestyle features for the ultra-wealthy and those supporting them

Over 500 original and high-quality articles in English, German, and French already accessible

Newsletter subscription available

ZUG, Switzerland, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Altoo AG, a Swiss-based fintech that empowers investment professionals, family offices and individual ultra-high-net-worth clients to conveniently oversee their wealth through the cutting-edge Altoo Wealth Platform, announces the introduction of Altoo Insights. The news and features channel on the company's website aims to bring clients and the broader public closer to Altoo digitally and worldwide.





Altoo Insights is designed in line with the company's mission to deliver "Simplicity for Complex Wealth". Altoo Insights not only details information about the Altoo Wealth Platform but also serves as a comprehensive source for news and stories within the field of wealth management and beyond. They get macroeconomic updates and explore articles on ESG investing and philanthropy. Furthermore, art, travel, vehicles, and timepieces are among the lifestyle features that might assist affluent people enjoy their wealth. Readers will also delve into the cutting-edge topics of IT security and software-based digital wealth management solutions. Visitors can currently read almost 500 articles in English, German, and French.

Meeting client needs



Founded in 2017, the Zug-based wealth-tech company Altoo has been recognised as one of the best Digital Family Office Softwares in 2022 according to Forbes Magazine and a Top 5 "Growth Start-up" at the Swiss Fintech Awards 2023. During its six years of operation, Altoo established a clientele from over 20 countries and has become an industry-leading provider of digital wealth management services.



Its continuous improvement and service evaluation revealed that the majority of Altoo customers' data consumption habits have shifted over time; they prefer to access information digitally and thus value additional wealth management information explained in digestible news format, as well as receiving regular updates on Altoo's business mission.

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Additionally, any Altoo website visitor may subscribe to the weekly email newsletter Altoo Insights Weekly News in Brief, which provides information about the company, the wealth management industry, and other relevant topics. Each Friday, this newsletter features a hand-picked list of the week's most interesting wealth and financial topics from across the world as well as content specifically curated for the ultra-wealthy.

For more about Altoo, visit www.altoo.io .

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Swim Search finalist Hillory Fields made her SI Swimsuit debut last year after being photographed by Yu Tsai in the Dominican Republic.

The open casting call alumna is a travel ICU nurse and also the founder of SBAR, an app that allows people to review hospitals theyve worked at or traveled to.

The Arcadia, Fla., native is dedicated to giving back and building her platform to encourage women of of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities to be confident and independent.

I come from a family that serves and feeds our community. I made it my mission that in 2022 I would prioritize giving back and making my mark on this world by any means. I just had no clue where to start. As I got lost in my Instagram search, the Pay With Change post drew me in. That post led me to the SI Swimfluence page and I immediately just knew. On top of owning two drawers full of bikinis and never living too far away from the beach, it felt like destiny. I tried out and here I am, she explained about her journey to the Swim Search.

Fields added that her goal was to break barriers for what a models day-to-day life should look like.

There are so many working women with bigger dreams who hide behind their talents in fear of failure. Women who want to be sexy but dont want their sex appeal to overshadow their hard work because someone in a suit deemed it inappropriate, she continued. But it doesnt stop there because I dont only represent one type of woman. I represent curvy women, chocolate women, extroverted women, independent women, alpha females, etc. It wouldnt be a win for just me. It would be a win for every woman who relates to all the parts that make me Hillory.

Below are four of our favorite photos from Fieldss 2022 photoshoot.

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
Introducing Evolyn.

Julian Elliott Photography/Getty Images

Theres a new kid on the English Channel block as a new train company aims to launch high-speed service from London to Paris.

Evolyn, which just purchased 12 trains for its planned service between the U.K. and mainland Europe, plans to launch in 2025, according to Reuters  creating direct competition for the popular Eurostar.

"It would be the first time, after 30 years of Eurostar's monopoly, that a competitor has entered the market," an Evolyn spokesperson told the wire of the train service that started in 1994.

Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel, told the wire service the tunnel has open access and is currently designed to support nearly double the current rail traffic level.

While Evolyn plans to launch service in 2025, it wont be fully operational until 2026, Sky News reported.

Currently, Eurostar operates high-speed trains multiple times each day through the Channel Tunnel, which sits at 31.5 miles long. The journey is quick: it takes just over 2 hours to travel from London to Paris on the train, for example.

Eurostar has also been launching new services, like a new weekly train to the French Alps in time for ski season, which will run from London to several top resorts in France with a stop in Lille. Last year, Eurostar and Thalys  which first launched in the early 1990s as a cooperation between rail companies in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany  also teamed up to create the Eurostar Group, cementing an alliance between two of Europes major high-speed train operators.

The effort to create more rail service comes after France banned select domestic flights if there is an existing train alternative available in an effort to cut down on carbon emissions.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
The U.S Department of State warned Americans to "reconsider travel" to Israel.

The U.S. Department of State warned Americans to reconsider travel to Israel in an updated advisory on Thursday amid the ongoing conflict.

The warning was issued days after Hamas  labeled a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department  invaded Israels borders. Israel has since launched retaliatory rocket strikes and started preparing a possible ground assault on the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press reported, as Hamas continues to fire thousands of its own rockets into Israel.

Chen Junqing/Getty Images Travelers at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. International airlines delayed or cancelled their flights bound for Israel due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted last weekend.

The State Department also recommended Americans do not travel to the Gaza Strip and reconsider travel to the West Bank.

The situation in Israel remains dynamic; mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning, the State Department wrote in an updated advisory on Thursday. Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials.

AHMAD GHARABLI/Getty Images The empty Mount of Olives touristic site taken on October 11, 2023 overlooking Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock (background), as the ferocious war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement further south enters its fifth day.

The State Department said U.S. citizens in Israel can contact the U.S. Embassy there by calling 03-519-7426. U.S. citizens outside of Israel hoping to get in contact with the embassy can either fill out a crisis intake form online or call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism told Travel + Leisure in a statement it was deeply saddened by the events that took place at our southern border with Gaza and said it was working to assist those who wish to depart from Israel. Travelers in Israel were advised to dial 104 for information or contact the Home Front Command on WhatsApp or by SMS at +972 52 910 4104.

ZAIN JAAFAR/Getty Images A man walks past closed shops in a market area during a general strike in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on October 8, 2023, following fighting between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The State Department said travelers who decide to head to Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza should maintain a high degree of situational awareness and exercise caution at all times, and identify the location of the nearest bomb shelter. Travelers should also enroll in the departments Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier for the government to locate them in an emergency.

The State Department warning comes as several airlines and cruise lines have canceled flights and diverted ships away from Israel, including major U.S. carriers Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Several international airlines have also suspended flights, like Air France, British Airways, and the Lufthansa Group.

Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport remains open.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Mimosas at brunch

Brunch gives us the perfect excuse to get tipsy in the middle of the day with friends. But some mimosa lovers overdo it on the drinking, which is why Oakland, California-based Asian restaurant Kitchen Story added a cleaning fee for those who throw up before being able to make it to the bathroom.

In a sign shared by SFGate, Kitchen Story warned customers: "Dear all mimosa lovers, Please drink responsibly and know your limits. A $50 cleaning fees [sic] will automatically include in your tap [sic] when you throw up in the public areas. Thank you so much for understanding."

The publication also notes that Kitchen Story now only allows customers to enjoy bottomless mimosas for an hour.

>>> Sign up for Parade's Trending News newsletter and we'll keep you in the know on the viral pop culture moments and celebrity news everyone is talking about <<<

The restaurant's owner Steven Choi told the publication that the sign initially went up two years ago after the Kitchen Story general manager spotted similar signs warning of an additional fee at bars. "This was still during the pandemic and it became a very sensitive issue for customers and staff having to clean up, Choi said. "But this is not unique. Its there to make the customers stop and think about other people."

Co-owner Chaiporn Kitsadaviseksak said that, so far, the sign has prevented accidents from occurring. But before displaying it, vomiting was a recurring issue.

"It was really tough cleaning. People were scared with COVID. And this was happening a lot. My workers dont want to do that. It got better. Now [customers] know they have to pay. They understand," he said.

SFGate also reported that besides Kitchen Story, other restaurants have implemented the same fee, including San Francisco's Home Plate.

Next: The Big Reason You Should Rethink That Soda from Your Favorite Fast-Food Restaurant
Martha, a public health consultant in Rhode Island, was a 36-year-old new mom who was still breastfeeding her 10-month-old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Among the wrenching decisions Martha (who asked that her full name not be used) faced  all on cancer's tight, stressful timeline  were: whether to get a single mastectomy (as was recommended) or to remove the second breast as well for prophylactic reasons; whether, if she removed one or both breasts, to then undergo breast reconstruction or remain flat; and whether, if she removed both breasts and opted for reconstruction, which type to choose  implants or DIEP flap (which takes a flap of abdominal skin and fat and transplants it to the chest wall).

She decided on a double mastectomy with reconstruction. When she met with the plastic surgeon, she remembers "still being in shock that I had cancer and her handing me pamphlets, 'This is what a flap looks like.'  It just felt so insignificant compared to getting the cancer out," she recalls for Yahoo Life. "I dont know if I really gave it a lot of thought. The flap surgery to me looked like it would be painful and with a difficult recovery, so I ruled that out quickly. So I said, 'OK, I guess Im getting implants.'"

When she turned to friends and family for support, Martha was surprised to find she felt judged by some.

"There were some women in my life who at the time  made me feel vain for wanting to get the implants instead of just, like, focusing on the cancer. And I guess for me it was sort of a package deal," she says, adding that while she felt pressured from her doctor to get reconstruction, she heard from some friends that she should forgo it. "The best was, 'That's an elective surgery.' I mean, theoretically it is, but in my mind, it wasnt," she says. Because of this experience, she adds, she has generally not shared with others when she's since had to go back under the knife for revision surgeries (as is not uncommon with reconstruction) or to have implants swapped because of a recall.

Martha isn't alone when it comes to feeling judged for her breast cancer treatment-related decisions.

When Ellyn Winters-Robinson, an Ontario, Canada-based publicist, was diagnosed, she opted for a double mastectomy and no reconstruction. "But my family and friends definitely challenged me on my decision initially, reflecting societal expectations that women should have breasts," she tells Yahoo Life. "They were supportive but confused and unaware of the difficulties associated with reconstruction after a mastectomy. Even my own doctors  my medical oncologist and radiation oncologist  were baffled I chose to stay flat, one remarking, 'But you are so fashionable.'"

Meanwhile, a 49-year-old Texas woman (who asked that her name not be used) faced similar reactions to wanting to go flat after her double mastectomy. "I had pushback from two breast surgeons saying that I would have 'major psychological problems' and was 'mutilating' my body," she tells Yahoo Life. It was only after tracking down a top-surgery doctor through a friend with a transgender son that she was able to have the procedure she wanted without judgment.

"At the heart of it," she says, "I think the medical system is patriarchal-based and surgeons are known for having big egos and not having the best bedside manners."

Also, notes Martha, "Breast cancer is one of the cancers thats just so public  and maybe because you can see if someones had reconstruction or not, people get all up in your business. Its like people asking you about your birth story  they feel like they should be able to ask." Then, depending on the answer, some feel entitled to offer "some sort of indictment or comment on what kind of mother or woman or feminist you are," she says. It gave her yet another worry: "Will people think Im not a feminist if I get implants?"

Why breast cancer is different

A major factor, experts say, is how breasts in general are viewed in our society  and why, of all the known cancers, those affecting the breast are in a category of their own.

"Breast tissue isn't just physiological matter," Anne Marie Champagne, a junior fellow with the Center for Cultural Sociology at Yale University, where she is a doctoral candidate in sociology examining how a mastectomy informs a range of perceptions, tells Yahoo Life. "Breasts are medicalized, legislated, gendered, politicized and highly sensitized fleshy matter riven with public as well as deeply personal meanings." While our choices around them "may be individual and motivated by personal aims, beliefs and meanings," she says, they cannot help but be impacted by society at large.

"Breast tissue isn't just physiological matter," notes one expert. (Photo Illustration: Chantal Jahchan for Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images)

She adds, "Breast cancer and this question of what a survivor does with their chest following a mastectomy is part of a collective narrative regardless of how isolated any one survivor might be."

Mary Ann Cutter, professor of biomedical ethics at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, agrees that this is why breast cancer is "different from a lot of cancers." The author of Thinking Through Breast Cancer: A Philosophical Exploration of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival, and a survivor of the disease herself, Cutter adds: "My recollection of what I experienced is a pressure to decide a number of important things in a short amount of time under conditions of clinical uncertainty.  And yes, I did find that suddenly I felt the pressure of deciding courses of clinical action that reflected my commitments  to me, my identity as a wife and woman and mother, and to my feminist friends."

In a New York Times op-ed, hospice nurse and author Theresa Brown declared, "The association of femininity and breast cancer is pernicious, because it genders the disease, meaning that a diagnosis of breast cancer marks patients as women first, people second. It implies that our womanliness is diseased, not our bodies.

That was echoed in a 2019 article in the journal Plastic Surgery, which noted, "In contemporary North American culture, the female breast is among the most consequential symbols of femaleness."

That piece, written by three women in the department of surgery at the University of Calgary, pointed out: "Some women like their breasts, others hate them, and others try to ignore them, but the relationship between a woman and her breasts is rarely neutral. Those working in the field of breast reconstruction and those considering whether or not to undergo such surgery are wise to consider that the decision about whether to undergo breast reconstruction is not taken in social isolation nor is it merely 'personal.' Instead, such decisions are embedded within a socio-cultural and historical context and are often fraught with tensions that may not be apparent on the surface."

The fact is a mastectomy, explains Champagne, co-editor of Interpreting the Body: Between Meaning and Matter, forces breast cancer survivors to "grapple with and possibly redefine, both individual and collectively, what breasted matter means." Which is challenging as, she contends, "we are all caught in a sex-gender system that is nevertheless binary despite its expansion to include trans and non-binary gender identities. Moreover, the bodies of women (and transgender persons) are legislated and treated as the property of others in a way that mens bodies are not." It's against that background of inequality, she says, that women's choices about their bodies can feel political.

Champagne adds, "Regardless of what a breast cancer patient decides to do with their post-mastectomy chest, their decision may be challenged by others as conforming to sexist or patriarchal conventions or, conversely, stigmatized for disrupting these conventions."

Those are messages Martha got clearly, noting that during her decision-making time, she felt "on display," with even the plastic surgeon "jokingly" asking her husband how big he thought her implants should be. That, along with input from friends, made her body feel not like her own.

"There was this feeling like [choosing implants] was vanity, when for me, I dont think it was. And even if it was," she says, "mind your own business."
Two migrants from Central America were killed and four others were wounded in a shooting, while Mexican soldiers allegedly pursued a smuggler's vehicle on the Mexico side of the border west of Juarez, officials said.

The survivors told Chihuahua state investigators that they were heading to the U.S. border Monday in a truck with a ladder to be used to climb the border fence in the desert west of Santa Teresa port of entry, Carlos Manuel Salas, state prosecutor for the northern zone of Chihuahua, said at a Tuesday news conference.

It was unclear what exactly occurred in the deadly encounter in a desert west of the Juarez-El Paso metro area that is a border migrant-trafficking hot zone as Mexican state, federal and military investigations continue, Salas said.

Migrant trafficking: A 100 mph chase, gunfire: Texas DPS smuggler pursuits intensify on El Paso's streets

The Mexican army turned over four soldiers to make declarations to state investigators. A fifth soldier who was apparently involved had not been located. Four army rifles were also handed to state investigators for ballistics tests.

Salas said the case will eventually be turned over to federal prosecutors because it involved federal forces.

It is not uncommon for the Mexican army to open fire on vehicles that refuse to stop.

Migrants shot in desert confrontation with Mexican army

A driver, likely working for a smuggling organization, was transporting the migrants to a remote border crossing spot to enter the United States, Salas said.

The Mexican army regularly patrols the area, and a confrontation occurred on a dirt road in a difficult place to traverse, which Salas described as being about an hour or two west of Juarez.

According to statements from the survivors, gunshots were fired when the truck didn't stop while being pursued by an army patrol, Salas said. The truck kept going after the shooting.

Two migrants were killed and four others were wounded possibly in a confrontation with Mexican army soldiers in the desert west of the Santa Teresa port of entry outside Juarez, Mexico.

The truck eventually got stuck in sand several kilometers from where the shooting occurred. Investigators on Tuesday had yet to find bullet casings and the exact location of the shooting, Salas said.

The confrontation occurred about 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, but state police didn't learn about it until about 9 p.m. when state police responded to a scene involving several gunshot victims, Salas said.

The scene where two migrants were killed on Monday night out in the desert west of Juarez, Mexico.

Central American migrants killed, wounded

Two migrants died where the truck got stuck and four others had been wounded, the prosecutor said.

The driver and a group of women, who had also planned to cross the border, had fled the scene, according to the survivors, Salas said.

More: Indigenous people lead Guatemala protests against election interference

The migrants who died were identified as Elvis Enrique Barrientos de la Rosa, 27, and Margarito Canto Juarez, 45, both of Guatemala, officials said.

The migrants injured were:

Selvin Eduardo Garcia Paredes, 19, of Guatemala, wound to his left leg

Carlos Humberto Rodriguez Lopez, 19, of Guatemala, wounds to his left leg

Rigoberto Gonzalez Chavez, 28, of Guatemala, wounds to a shoulder and right leg

Raul de Jesus Hernandez Ramirez, 18, of Honduras, treated for a left leg wound.

The injured were in stable condition in Juarez's general hospital, officials said. The consulates of Guatemala and Honduras have been notified.

The case is at least the third shooting involving Mexican or U.S. troops positioned along the El Paso-Juarez border in recent months.

In August, a Texas National Guard soldier shot and wounded a Mexican man along the southern banks of the Rio Grande near the Bridge of the Americas in Juarez.

In July, Mexican National Guard soldiers fired gunshots while removing migrants camped along railroad tracks under the Paso del Norte Bridge in Juarez. There were no known injuries.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 2 migrants dead, 4 hurt in possible Mexican army shooting near Juarez
Nine months into his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor in North Carolina, Attorney General Josh Stein held his first campaign rally on Tuesday at an HBCU in the area where his primary opponent, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan, lives.

Steins event was held at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in downtown and southeast Raleigh.

Morgan announced his run in September, long after Stein made his campaign official in January. Stein was joined at Shaw by his former boss, Roy Cooper , himself a Democratic attorney general turned governor, who endorsed Stein just before Morgan made his run official.

Morgan stepped down from the state Supreme Court about a week before he started his campaign.

Stein is in his second term as attorney general, following in the footsteps of Cooper, who spent two terms in the job. Cooper cant run for reelection.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary is likely to face Republican frontrunner Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who has four primary-election opponents.

Here are five significant takeaways from Steins first rally:

1. Justice Morgan lambasts location of event

Morgan entered the race as the underdog, as most Democrats had already endorsed Stein while Stein was running unopposed.

Morgan called Steins event an orchestrated, manufactured gathering disguised as a rally, on Shaws campus, saying it was created for television and social media.

The Steins camp has developed this pop-up mirage in an obvious response to my recently announced candidacy in order to create an impression that I dont have sufficient support in my own community to win the race, Morgan said in a statement. However Southeast Raleigh has been my home for 39 years: living here, worshipping here, shopping here, volunteering here, serving here.

Morgan went on to say theres a difference between him and Stein when it comes to credibility and authenticity among the people to whom this rally is aimed.

Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Michael Morgan is running in the Democratic primary for North Carolina governor in 2024. Hes pictured here at his Raleigh home on Sept. 11, 2023 as he talked about his campaign.

Shaw, on the southeast edge of downtown, is in a historically African American neighborhood. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a major organization in the Civil Rights Movement, was founded at Shaw in 1960. Morgan is Black; Stein is white.

Steins event drew a few other elected officials beyond Cooper, including Raleigh Democratic Rep. Rosa Gill in the audience and state Sen. Natalie Murdock, who took the stage to introduce Cooper and Stein.

Stein did not talk to reporters at the event, and his campaign did not have a comment about Morgans statement.

2. Stein as legacy of Gov. Cooper

In his speech, Cooper said Stein will continue his administrations progress.

I know that the key to our progress moving forward, we need the right person to take it over when I leave, Cooper said, adding that Democrats need a person with integrity and grit who will work hard and has experience.

We need a person who can win, and that person is Josh Stein, Cooper said.

Steins speech touted North Carolina while also criticizing the Republican-dominated General Assembly and listing some of its legislation this year, from restricting abortions to upcoming redistricting.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, left, and Attorney General Josh Stein share a moment backstage as Stein prepares to kick off his campaign for governor during a rally at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

Stein said Democrats have to build on Medicaid expansion and get hospital and drug prices under control. Now, none of us should have to worry whether our kids are safe when theyre at school or at play in the neighborhood. Or our loved ones are safe when theyre at work or at worship. So we must make our community safer: tackle violent crime, confront the fentanyl crisis and recruit and retain well-trained law enforcement officers to serve our communities.

He also listed several controversial comments by Robinson, ranging from anti-LGBTQ remarks to those about banning abortion.

All of it is backwards. All of it must be stopped and it is on us. It is on us to defend our home and fight for the people of North Carolina, Stein said.

3. Steins early endorsements standing by him

Stein lined up many endorsements, from state lawmakers to progressive groups, while he was the only Democrat in the race for eight months.

Murdock, a Durham Democrat, said she stands by her early endorsement of Stein. Murdock worked in communications and outreach for the attorney generals office before she ran for Senate.

She said she endorsed Stein early on because I really think were going to have to look at it as a continuation of the work that Gov. Cooper has done. We all know that Mark Robinson, more than likely, will be the nominee on the Republican side, and we have got to win. We have got to win.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, top left, and Attorney General Josh Stein, center left, wait backstage as Stein prepares to kick off his campaign for governor during a rally at C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium on the campus of Shaw University in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

Asked about Morgan entering the race, Murdock said that shes talked to Stein about his plan to run for governor for years and wants to honor her endorsement. She said Stein having a campaign event at Shaw shows his support for HBCUs, and that hes going to make his case to voters.

Demetrius Heggie came to Steins event along with other Communication Workers of America union members to show support. Heggie, of Holly Springs, said he works for AT&T and is just now becoming active with CWA.

The North Carolina State AFL-CIO, which is the states largest group of unions, endorsed Stein in June. State AFL-CIO President MaryBe McMillan said at the time that they were endorsing Stein because he has always fought to protect working people. He has always had our back, and in his battle to lead North Carolina toward a better future for all, we will have his.

McMillan was also at the event Tuesday, with Stein thanking her as he took the stage.

4. Looking to defeat Mark Robinson

Shaw Universitys marching band performed songs while marching in and out and on stage.

Stein and Cooper had sent supporters several emails over the past few weeks asking them to come. While the event drew just 100 to 200 people, supporters have donated millions of dollars to his campaign.

Among those in the chairs set up in Shaws gym was Nathaniel Dibble of Raleigh, who said he came because he signed up to support Stein and volunteer with him once his campaign really kicks off. I also wanted to come see if this was really something that I want to volunteer for, see what it was all about.

Dibble told The N&O that he supports Stein because at this point for me, its about not having Mark Robinson win, which means supporting Josh Stein.

[Robinson] has a horrible anti-queer history  just as the remarks he makes and the actions he wants to take place. He wants to destroy public school funding. Yeah, hes just not a great person, Dibble said.

North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson arrives for a rally where he announced his candidacy for governor of North Carolina on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Ace Speedway in Elon, N.

Robinson has made many insulting comments about LGBTQ people and public school teachers, including in a July speech at a church where he also questioned climate change and called white privilege a foolish concept of the political left.

Robinsons opponents in the Republican gubernatorial primary are State Treasurer Dale Folwell, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, former state Sen. Andy Wells and retired health care executive Jesse Thomas.
All That Power

AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard consume an astronomical amount of electricity and water  or, more precisely, the massive data centers that power them do.

And according to the latest estimates, those energy demands are rapidly ballooning to epic proportions.

In a recent analysis published in the journal Joule, data scientist Alex de Vries at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands found that by 2027, these server farms could use anywhere between 85 to 134 terawatt hours of energy per year.

That's roughly on par with the annual electricity use of Argentina, the Netherlands, or Sweden, as the New York Times points out, or 0.5 percent of the entire globe's energy demands. Sound familiar? The much-lampooned crypto industry spiked past similar power consumption thresholds in recent years.

It's a massive carbon footprint that experts say should force us to reconsider the huge investments being made in the AI space  not to mention the eye-wateringly resource-intensive way that tech giants like OpenAI and Google operate.

We Hunger

Coming to an exact figure is difficult, since AI companies like OpenAI are secretive about their energy usage. De Vries settled on estimating their consumption by examining the sales of Nvidia A100 servers, which make up an estimated 95 percent of the AI industry's underlying infrastructure.

"Each of these Nvidia servers, they are power-hungry beasts," de Vries told the NYT.

It's a worrying trend that's leading some experts to argue that we should take a step back and reevaluate the trend.

"Maybe we need to ideally slow a bit down to start applying solutions that we have," Roberto Verdecchia, an assistant professor in the University of Florence, told the newspaper. "Lets not make a new model to improve only its accuracy and speed. But also, lets take a big breath and look at how much are we burning in terms of environmental resources."

Many companies operating in California in particular may face opposition earlier than you'd think. Over the weekend, California governor Gavin Newsom signed two major climate disclosure laws, forcing companies like OpenAI and Google, among roughly 10,000 other firms, to disclose how much carbon they produce by 2026.

Even with increased scrutiny from regulators, the space is still largely governing itself, and AI companies will likely continue to burn through copious amounts of energy to keep their models going.

There is, however, a financial incentive to lower these costs through technological advances, given the current burn rate. And considering the massive environmental footprint, any breakthroughs can't come soon enough.

More on AI chatbots: AI Chatbots Are Only Useful If You Think They Are, Scientists Find
Branches of the NAACP in Alabama came together Thursday to call for an end to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville 's block of military appointments.

Tuberville has been putting a halt to unanimous Senate approval of military nominees to express his opposition to the Department of Defense policy that gives leave and travel allowances for military people trying to get abortions in parts of the country where it is legal.

Sen. Tuberville, you are presently causing great harm to our national security," said Norma Sanders, who is the Lee County NAACP president and the military wife to a U.S. Marine. She asked that he approve the nomination of the about 300 appointees who are stuck in limbo because of his actions.

James Poe, the Bullock County president, called on Tuberville to resign from his position and take his whatever to Florida," where Tuberville lives.

The Washington Post reported in August that "Tubervilles office says his primary residence is an Auburn house that records show is owned by his wife and son. But campaign finance reports and his signature on property documents indicate that his home is actually a $3 million, 4,000-square-foot beach house he has lived in for nearly two decades in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., located in the Florida Panhandle about 90 miles south of Dothan."

Rev. Rayford Mack, President of the Montgomery Metro NAACP, talks as representatives of the NAACP from across the state speak out against Sen. Tommy Tuberville at the Federal Courthouse in Montgomery on Thursday.

NAACP State President Benard Simelton pointed out that this was the group's third time to speak out against Tuberville. Simelton is an Air Force veteran. The move is in line with the national NAACP, which issued a resolution in July condemning Tuberville's actions, Simelton said.

Multiple speakers called for the people of Alabama to unite against Tuberville.

Alabamians join together and call on Sen. Tuberville to end this and end it now," said Bobby Mays, the president of the Elmore County branch.

Tyrin Moorer, the Alabama State University NAACP president, urged young people to get involved with the issue. When young people stand up the world takes notice," Moorer said.

Tyrin Moorer, with the Alabama State University NAACP, talks as representatives of the NAACP from across the state speak out Thursday against Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Mays emphasized how important it is for all Alabamians to stand up to Tuberville.

I am a proud Alabamian, a retired military person," Mays said. "I think it is extremely asinine for people to stand by and not call out wrong. Tubervilles actions are wrong. They should be called out not only by individuals like me. They should be called out by his fellow senator, Sen. Britt. They should be called out by Alabamas governor, Kay Ivey, and they should be called out by Tubervilles constituents who are sitting by saying nothing."

More: EJI Equal Justice Initiative releases plans for Freedom Monument Sculpture Park coming in 2024

Norma J. Sanders with the Lee County NAACP talks as representatives of the NAACP from across the state speak out against Sen. Tommy Tuberville in Montgomery.

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama NAACP calls on others to stand against Tommy Tuberville
EXETER  Voters had a chance to hear former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson in Exeter Tuesday and question him directly in a town hall setting. He fielded questions that ranged from the budget to opioids to support for Israel.

Hutchinson, also a former congressman who served as President George W. Bushs Drug Enforcement Administration director, met with an intimate group of voters. It was the first of a series of town hall forums with Republican presidential candidates hosted by Seacoastonline and the USA TODAY Network.

Hutchinson is trailing significantly in the polls behind front-runner Donald Trump , as well as others like Nikki Haley, who is up next in the series on Thursday night.

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson greets prospective voters after speaking during the Seacoast Media Group and USA TODAY Network 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Town Hall Forum held in the historic Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire. The former Governor of Arkansas spoke to prospective New Hampshire voters about issues during the hour-long form.

More: Hutchinson staying in the 2024 race to make "case against Donald Trump"

In his opening remarks, Hutchinson distanced himself from Republican frontrunner Trump by criticizing his use of across-the-board tariffs, as well as candidates who take an isolationist stance on foreign policy. He said the United States needs to stand with Israel in the face of the recent attacks from Hamas.

NH gathering questions Hutchinson

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson greets prospective voters after speaking during the Seacoast Media Group and USA TODAY Network 2024 Republican Presidential Candidate Town Hall Forum held in the historic Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire. The former Governor of Arkansas spoke to prospective New Hampshire voters about issues during the hour-long form.

Hutchinson called for a three-pronged approach to the opioid crisis of treatment, education and addressing the Mexican cartels.

While candidates like Trump have talked about sending military forces into Mexico to take out drug cartels, Hutchinson said collaboration with the Mexican government is the way to stop the narcotics from getting in the country.

There are some candidates that say we ought to invade Mexico, Hutchinson said. We dont invade Canada because weve got marijuana coming in.

More: Which GOP candidates are attending Exeter Town Hall presidential forums and how to watch

CJ Smith, a student from California attending Philips Exeter Academy, asked Hutchinson if he would implement a nationwide school choice voucher program. Hutchinson said he supported school choice but would leave it up to the states to make their own laws.

Smith disagreed but appreciated Hutchinsons frank response.

That was great that he gave he a direct answer on student choice, Smith said, noting some candidates do not.

To some, Hutchinson stood out from other candidates with his answers Tuesday night. Bev Cotton, saying she represented AARP, noted Hutchinson gave a unique response to her question about protecting the solvency of Social Security and Medicare. He suggested a bipartisan commission to study ways of saving Social Security, as was done under Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

Weve heard a lot of different responses to those kinds of questions. This was unique, Cotton said. We hadnt heard this one before.

Doug Scamman of Stratham, a former speaker of the New Hampshire House, said even if the polls do not favor Hutchinson today, candidates like the former Arkansas governor help spark conversation. Scamman came to the town hall Tuesday with balancing the budget on his mind. Hutchinson touted his part in Congresss balancing of the budget under President Bill Clinton.

I think hes going to influence people to think about what ought to be done, Scamman said. Thats certainly part of what campaigning is.

Who is running for president in 2024? A closer look at each candidate ahead of the election

Matthew Grossman, 17, who will be able to vote next year, said he was disappointed by Hutchinsons response to his question about relations with Saudi Arabia. He raised questions about its human rights record and alleged ties to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

As president, can you support a government headed by Mohammed bin Salman, who ordered the murder and torture of Jamal Khashoggi? Grossman asked.

Hutchinson denounced Saudi Arabia's record on womens rights, but his response was more pragmatic-minded than Grossman had hoped. The candidate said Saudi Arabia could become an important counterbalance to Iran in the Middle East.

They dont have to be our closest ally, Hutchinson said. But they can be a strategic partner if they accept the existence of Israel.

Grossman, himself Jewish, said young voters feel frustrated with politicians remaining in the middle.

Were tired of old politicians being moderate about issues that really spark a fire in the youth, Grossman said.

Jennifer Wheeler, president of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, said she was happy to see the presidential forums happening in Exeter.

Its a great opportunity for Exeter to be on the national stage, she said.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Asa Hutchinson faces NH voters at Exeter town hall
LONDON, October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb+" (Good) of Gulf Insurance Group  Jordan (GIG Jordan) (Jordan). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect GIG Jordans balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also factor in enhancement from GIG Jordans parent company, Gulf Insurance Group K.S.C.P. (GIG), reflecting the strategic importance of GIG Jordan to the group.

GIG Jordans balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), at the strongest level. The companys risk-adjusted capitalisation in 2022 returned to year-end 2020 levels after it reduced moderately in 2021 following the acquisition of Arab Life & Accident Insurance Co. (P.S.C.). GIG Jordans BCAR scores are expected nevertheless to remain comfortably at the strongest level, supported by good organic capital generation. In the first quarter of 2023, GIG Jordan completed the repayment of the subordinated loan it received from its parent in 2017 to shore up its regulatory solvency position and currently benefits from an unlevered balance sheet. During the second quarter of 2023, the company rebalanced its investment portfolio moving away from Jordanian cash and deposits, in favour of geographically diversified fixed income securities across the Middle East region. The rebalancing ensured that the company maintained sound liquidity and financial flexibility.

GIG Jordan has demonstrated a track record of solid technical performance. In 2022, the company reported a combined ratio of 91.8% (2021: 86.4%), as calculated by AM Best, which is broadly in line with the five-year (2018-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 90.2%. Overall, operating performance is supported by relatively modest but stable investment income, with the company returning an investment yield (including capital gains) of 4.3% in 2022, marginally above the five-year (2018-2022) weighted average of 4.2%.

Story continues

GIG Jordan has a leading position in its domestic insurance market, with a market share of approximately 15%. However, the companys underwriting portfolio is concentrated heavily toward medical and motor risks on a net premium basis, which is a common characteristic of insurers in the region. Furthermore, Jordans insurance market is relatively small and fragmented. AM Best expects the acquisition and merger of Arab Life & Accident Insurance Co. (P.S.C.) to benefit GIG Jordans product diversification over the long term, although it has little immediate impact.

GIG Jordans ERM framework has evolved under its new management team, and robust controls appear to be in place. Significant steps have been taken to integrate the company with GIGs ERM practices and strengthen its risk culture. GIG continues to integrate operationally with its subsidiaries, providing support in areas such as reinsurance purchasing, risk management, pricing and reserving, and investment management.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider 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 Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012746909/en/

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Carlee Russell was found guilty by a municipal judge on Wednesday of falsely reporting her own kidnapping in Alabama this summer.

The ruling came after she pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of falsely reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident, claiming to have seen a small child walking alone near a busy interstate.

Her legal team plans to appeal the verdict to a circuit court, where they will present their case in front of a jury.

The two charges, for which the 26-year-old nurse was convicted, each carried a maximum penalty of a year in jail, though the judge recommended she serve only one year in total. It was also recommended she pay nearly $18,000 in restitution.

Following the hearing, Russells attorney Emory Anthony said he disagrees with the recommended sentence, especially given this was Russells first offense.

Restitution, we dont disagree with that, but to lock her up and put her in jail? We disagree, he said, per AL.com.

The bizarre incident that landed Russell in court attracted nationwide attention and prompted investigations over the summer.

Russell called 911 on July 13 to report seeing a toddler walking alone along Interstate 459 near Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham. Russell then made a second call to her sister-in-law, who said she heard screaming.

After going missing for two days, Russell returned home claiming to have been forced into a vehicle and abducted.

Police later revealed they had been suspicious of the story from the start, after discovering Russell had searched the internet for information about Amber alerts, bus tickets and the kidnapping film Taken.

She later confessed to police that the claim about the child had been fabricated, though her reason for telling that story still remains unclear.

When asked Wednesday why she did it, her attorney said the motive will eventually come to light.

Were dealing with issues with Carlee, Anthony said, according to AL.com. We realize a mistake was made, but we dont want to just pile on right now.

_____
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who mysteriously disappeared for two days in July, and then later admitted she had not been kidnapped, was found guilty Wednesday of two misdemeanors.

Russell, 26, made national headlines and sparked a massive search after she allegedly told police she had been abducted and held captive. On the night of July 13, Russell called 911 saying she had seen a toddler walking along a busy highway in Hoover. She also called a relative who said they heard her scream. When police arrived, they found her car abandoned on the shoulder but still running, with her purse on the seat and her phone and wig nearby. They did not find her or a child when searching the area.

Russell returned home on foot 49 hours later, telling investigators she had escaped two abductors by running through the woods to her home, authorities said. But in a statement shared by her attorney on July 28, she admitted that she had concocted the whole story and apologized to investigators and volunteers who had searched for her and publicized her disappearance, asking for their forgiveness and prayers.

Carlee Russell was found guilty at a hearing Wednesday. The municipal judge recommended that she serve one year in jail and pay $17,874 in restitution.

Carlee Russell was found guilty at a hearing Wednesday. The municipal judge recommended that she serve one year in jail and pay $17,874 in restitution.

Russell was charged on July 28 with two misdemeanors  false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident  and pleaded not guilty.

The municipal judge who found her guilty at a hearing Wednesday recommended that she serve one year in jail and pay $17,874 in restitution, along with other fines of $831 each, AL.com reported.

Russell plans to appeal the verdict, her attorney Emory Anthony said outside the courthouse, adding that jail time was not appropriate for the offenses shes been charged with. An appeal would take the case to trial in state court, where Russell would face a jury.

In announcing the charges in July, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said, We dont see this as a victimless crime. There are significant [law enforcement] hours spent, resources expended as a result of this investigation. And not only that, but the many men and women who are civilians have worn those yellow vests on a hot afternoon and evening, looking for someone they thought was abducted, trying to be of assistance.

Her decisions that night created panic and alarm for the citizens of our city and even across the nation, as concern grew that a kidnapper was on the loose using a small child as bait, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said at that news conference.

Russell has not offered an explanation for her disappearance since her original account to investigators, who pointed to a number of inconsistencies in her story.

I dont want her to have a breakdown, Anthony said Wednesday. So, were handling her with kid gloves and making sure her mental state is just fine.

Anthony criticized authorities for their lack of compassion in prosecuting the case.

They know the young lady was not off on a whim, he said.

Russell is willing to pay restitution. But Richard Jaffe, her other attorney, told HuffPost that he and Anthony are unwilling to let her plead guilty and go to jail for the misdemeanor shes been charged with.

We dont know of any other cases [in Alabama] where someone has been charged with a Class A misdemeanor, first offense, where they ended up in jail, especially when theres no violence, theres no criminal history, Jaffe said.

She obviously made a serious mistake and shes willing to accept the consequences of it. She just wants to be treated like anyone else.

Related...
Indiana's native wildlife have it hard enough as it is: Urban development is encroaching on their habitat and taking away their space. Now, according to a new study, climate change is making it even worse.

Researchers at Butler University, in partnership with the Urban Wildlife Information Network, co-authored the study that found Indiana's warming temperatures are increasing the potential problems mammals face in urban settings with too little green space.

I think what the really powerful finding from this study was that we confirmed what people have seen for many years now, said Carmen Salsbury of Butler University. There is a negative impact of urbanization on species diversity and species richness on the landscape.

Hotter and drier cities with little greenspace are most at risk to create problems for native mammals due to development and warming, researchers found.

Scientists in agencies across the world have found that the Earths average temperature has risen 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880 and the increase is directly related to the release of greenhouse gases.

Clearly trying to control climate change is a good thing, Salsbury said.

Raccoons, squirrel and rabbits were some of the most commonly observed mammals in the study. While those smaller animals were abundant, others including deer, coyotes and bobcats were also seen. Animals with flexible diets, like raccoons, are able to find more food in urban environments. Wildlife with more specialized diets, especially herbivores, are more sensitive to the loss of greenspace.

A diverse population of wildlife  both large and small, with differing diets  are important to a healthy ecosystem.

"If we don't maintain that biodiversity, we end with with a situation where things get out of balance," Salsbury said.

An off-balance ecosystem will negate the benefits of a healthy system, such as filtering water and sequestering carbon. A loss of one species also may provide another with an opportunity to thrive. Imagine if rats lose their predator, that can lead to a city-wide infestation and cause trouble to the urban area.

Native mammals in urban landscapes face growing threats from development and temperature increases due to climate change. Here, a family of raccoons come out of the woods as Share LT students gather for a Camptown day Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Fort Harrison State Park.

How researchers track climate change and urbanization

A large team of researchers conducted the study in 20 cities across North America, including Indianapolis, by using wildlife cameras in hundreds of sites throughout the summer months. The team wanted a wide range of cities with different population density, as well as various amounts of impervious surfaces, moisture and temperature to provide a comprehensive look at the issue.

Fewer species were found in cities with less green space, and the researchers wanted to understand the potential effects that climate changes warming trend would have on the loss of biodiversity, Salsbury said.

Dense urban infrastructure, such as buildings and pavement, absorb and retain heat. Green space, such as trees and vegetation, are important to these areas because they reduce the heat island effect by providing more shade and deflecting the sun, according to the U.S. EPA.

Why should we care whether we have all these animals present or not? I think that what I can say in a simple response is that biodiversity is critically important to functioning ecosystems, Salsbury said.

Solutions for protecting Indianapolis biodiversity

More wildlife is found in cities that have maintained more undisturbed habitat, Salsbury said, and preserving those areas is important to mitigate the negative effects seen in the study.

I think, for Indiana, that most of the information from this study sort of points to our need to really focus on greenspace and connectivity within our cities to sort of help mitigate what we know is probably coming with regard to climate temperature increases, Salsbury said

Not all greenspace is equal, and a May report from SAVI, out of Indiana University, concludes that further greenspace development should be prioritized in Marion County. The report says particular attention is needed in lower income minority areas still affected by historic inequities.

Shannon Killion, stormwater administrator for the City of Indianapolis, said the citys Department of Public Works is changing its focus to pay more attention to resiliency and sustainability.

We all know that part of our greenspaces really factors into that (focus), Killion said.

The department has already started implementing this new focus by hiring an additional urban forestry inspector and another senior project manager in stormwater. The urban forestry team is tasked with maintaining and expanding the public forest in the city, which includes trees along the streets and in certain areas of parks, Killion said.

Trees have tremendous environmental benefits not only from providing habitat and cooling impacts, but they also have positive stormwater benefits as well to intercept stormwater and in numerous other things to really offset some of the detriments that come with urban development historically, Killion said.

Large urban mammals, like deer, face greater threats than smaller wildlife from climate change and urban development.

Its important the city plans diverse greenspaces, utilizing a variety of native vegetation, because pests such as the emerald ash borer can wipe out monocultures and intentional planning will lessen that impact, Killion said.

DPW also employs a land stewardship team that maintains native spaces primarily in park locations.

If you think of Eagle Creek Park, there's spaces that the land stewardship team maintains and they're focused on the removal of invasive species and making sure that we have a well-balanced environment, Killion said.

Alex Cortwright, with Indy Parks and Recreation, said these larger city parks are an opportunity to preserve some of the trees that are already there and opens the chance to plant more.

A lot of that vegetation is very specific to make sure that we're using what makes sense for the ecosystem by using what is going to have the best conservation and climate impact, Cortwright said.

Facing hurdles when expanding greenspace

Providing ample and efficient greenspace in urban areas is not equal across cities. Different challenges face cities that build more densely than cities that sprawl out.

A really condensed urban area has the advantage of not taking up as much space, which is positive, Salsbury said. Sprawl takes up space, but you can potentially integrate more greenspace, which may be important.

For a sprawling urban area like Indy, Salsbury said planners need to be very deliberate about where to maintain parks and greenways.

While the study does not directly discuss connectivity between natural areas, Salsbury said it is an important characteristic in cities to maintain diverse populations of wildlife.

One of the things that we know is the case is that when you have fragmented habitats youre limiting habitat space or size, potentially, Salsbury said. When you can connect habitats together, that in a sense is more helpful for those larger animals that require greater greenspace.

When it comes to Indy planning out parks and greenspace, Cortwright said funding is a big part of the challenge. The parks department does not have a dedicated land acquisition fund and buying land can be competitive.

The city in 2021 told IndyStar that the park system relies on donations or developers offering greenspace to acquire new land. The city-county council and mayor have been supportive of land acquisition efforts like the Grassy Creek Regional Park addition in 2021, Cortwright said recently.

A recent grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through DNR allowed Indy Parks to provide more amenities such as a hiking trail at Rev. Charles R. Williams Park just north of East 30th by Fall Creek.

Indiana wildlife: Here's what you need to know about new wildlife research unit coming to Indiana

Most of the park departments master planning, where these decisions are made, includes a period of community input, Cortwright said.

A lot of times we'll hear from community members and counselors who are like, Hey, there's this spot in my district or community that would be great to get a park in, Cortwright said.

From there, its about the feasibility of building a park and getting that funding.

Salsbury and the Butler University researchers are now trying to look at their data from the study to get a good picture of what is happening the distribution and abundance of native mammals specifically in Indianapolis. Within the next year, they hope is to bring those findings to Indy Parks to help guide future planning.

Ultimately, the overarching answer is do things to control our carbon emissions and get climate change under control, Salsbury said. At same time, looking at our neighborhoods, our cities, and paying attention to those greenspaces can help to enhance those greenspace is important.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Climate change, development threatens Indy wildlife, study says
The Oct. 11 Miami Herald reports that, Despite jailing critics and dissidents, Cuba keeps seat on U.N. Human Rights Council. China also was re-elected to the Council. Cuba still holds hundreds of people, including youth from the July 11, 2021 protests, as political prisoners, and openly supports Hamas terrorism.

In 2021, the United States contributed more than $12 billion to the U.N. We should use that money to fund our childrens education. Further, we should relocate the U.N. headquarters from New York to Switzerland or anywhere else that would have it.

Tony Bello,

Coral Gables

Strive for understanding

As chairman of the Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board, I express my unwavering support for Israel, a nation that holds a special place in our hearts. Our board, consisting of diverse faith communities, is committed to promoting interfaith understanding, respect and cooperation within our community.

In these challenging times marked by global conflicts, coming together in solidarity and to advocate for peace is crucial. We affirm that peace can only be achieved through dialogue, empathy and a shared commitment to justice. We stand alongside our Israeli brothers and sisters, extending our support and prayers for their well-being and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Psalm 122:6, 8 resonates deeply with our mission: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; May they prosper who love you. Let there be peace within your walls, And rest within your palaces. For the love of my brothers and my companions, I will say: Peace be upon you.

These verses remind us of the power of prayer and the importance of fostering peace within our communities. As we direct our prayers toward Jerusalem, we also extend our prayers to all nations and people who yearn for harmony and understanding. We invite the community, regardless of faith or background, to join us in this collective effort to promote peace. Let us engage in open and respectful dialogue, bridging divides and fostering a culture of understanding and compassion.

Miami-Dade County Interfaith Advisory Board remains committed to our shared vision of a world where love triumphs over hatred and where people of all faiths can coexist harmoniously. Together, we can make a difference through the power of unity and prayer.

Juan Barek,

chairman,

Interfaith Advisory Board,

Miami

Outdoor rules

Misinformation on the proposed Miami-Dade County ordinance to establish a heat standard for outdoor workers is troubling. As a business owner in the horticultural plant industry and part of a legacy farm family in South Dade for the past 116 years, I know first-hand that outdoor workers have regular access to clean drinking water and shaded areas for breaks. The motive behind this legislation is politics, not people.

The construction and agriculture industries already comply with required national standards of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This greater body, an expert in the field, should be regulating us, not hundreds of different standards by local governments.

OSHA is updating its standards through a rule designated as the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings. This information must be considered before a long-term battle brews between the county and these industries, critical players in the local economy.

Barney Rutzke, Jr.,

Homestead

Palestinian uprising

Lana Shehadehs Oct. 11 op-ed,  I live in the West Bank, under Israels military occupation, was a breath of fresh air in the heavily pro-Israeli media and political landscape. Too few people understand the oppressive conditions Palestinian people endure under the occupation and then are outraged when violence explodes. It is human nature for the oppressed to fight back.

Our nation forgets its own experience. British civilians were killed during the American Revolutionary Wars Battle of Bristol, Battle of Penobscot Bay, and the Siege of Yorktown.

I do not condone terrorism, but violence and oppression breed nothing but more violence. Removing the root cause is the solution. In the American Revolution, it was British colonization. With Ukraine, it is Russian occupation. With Palestine, it is Israeli occupation.

Taarik Rahaman, Sunrise

Never a waste

Gov. Ron DeSantis never misses an opportunity to take advantage of anything that might bolster his sagging candidacy. All politicians practice this art to varying degrees. DeSantis, of course, in his Trumpian way, always seeks to lead.

After the attack on Israel, he asserted that Florida will impose the strongest sanctions of all 50 states against Iran and other countries of concern. He says this out loud, in a move that is symbolically important, because it sounds good and helps him look good. For extra measure, he delivers this message at a Bal Harbour synagogue.

I get that someone in his position is required to take a position on such a horrific event. That such a statement comes with political calculation, however, is predictable. DeSantis is not alone in this practice, but he surely excels in its execution.

Alex Jimenez, Winter Park

Wars aftermath

Undoubtedly, Palestinians have been badly treated for years by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus administration, especially since it has been pulled farther to the right by extremists. Details of this war, however, must be kept in perspective. A young British woman, perhaps a Palestinian herself, who certainly has the right to speak out, has called the actions by Hamas, beautiful.

Is the murder of Israeli babies beautiful? Was the indiscriminate slaughter of Israeli concert-goers, nearly all of them civilians, beautiful?

There will be excesses by all sides in any war, which should be punished by international law. Any measured consideration of atrocities, however, must see that Hamas and its Iranian masters have shown a barbarity as has been rarely seen since the Nazis.

Ronald Newman, Miami

Waking up

Re the Oct. 10 story Court orders DeSantis administration to disclose COVID-19 data and pay attorneys fees: By now, Florida voters are woke to the governors ambitious agenda of keeping them ignorant.

That taxpayers in the Sunshine State must pay attorneys fees for access to information that ought be available to all should be a crime. Curious to know how much the state spends annually on such fees.

Rosa Osborne,

Pembroke Pines

Cries for humanity

When I rejoined my family in the sign business, I acquired a reputation for sand-blasted original works. A young Caribbean man entered my shop one day, referred by my granite supplier. He was a fifth-generation Indian Muslim whose ancestors settled in the islands. He handed me the paper for his fathers burial plaque. At the bottom was a Muslim prayer, Verily I say unto thee ...

I realized it was similar to one from the Jewish prayer book my grandma gave me as a bar mitzvah present.

I wasnt making a sign, I realized, but a holy relic for the family tomb. I poured my heart, my soul, my spirituality into that piece. A week later, the young man picked it up. Two days later, he called and asked me to hold for his mother. The weeping widow wanted to thank me. This was a true highlight of my business career.

Today, I weep for Jews in Israel and Muslims in Gaza.

Fredric Bernard,

Boca Raton
One hundred and thirty years ago, a group of business leaders in Denver wrote a letter to Mexico's President Porfirio Diaz, requesting the appointment of a Mexican Consul General in Denver.

These Coloradans wanted to be able to conduct business with Mexico more conveniently.

There are two dozen signatures on a letter postmarked May 1893.

Solicitud de Nombramiento de Consul by CBS News Colorado on Scribd

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Colorado mining, railroad and other industries frustrated at the delays and inconvenience of having to travel far to access consular services for Mexico.

Current Deputy Consul Federico Bass Villareal said, "Knowing of the potential of the relationship, the economic relationship between Colorado and Mexico - they wrote a letter to President Porfirio Diaz asking for a Consulate to be here in Denver so they wouldn't have to travel to Kansas City."

Denver's first Consul General of Mexico Casimiro Barela. Barela helped write the Colorado state constitution. He also served in the Territorial legislature and was one of Colorado's longest serving state senators. / Credit: Consulate General of Mexico

Casimiro Barela was appointed the first Consul General. Born in what was then Mexico, he became an American citizen when his birthplace became part of the US.

Barela had already served in the Territorial legislature and as a Colorado state senator. He was one of the authors of the Colorado state constitution.

"Fighting for the constitution to be published in English, Spanish and German speaks a lot of himself. He is also one of the longest serving state senators in the history of Colorado," added Bass Villareal.

"Por primera vez en Estados Unidos, estamos entregando esas tarjetas en el consulado," explained Mexico's Consul General for Denver Pavel Melendez Cruz. This translates to, "For the first time in the US, we are giving out these cards at the Consulate."

Consul General of Mexico Pavel Melendez Cruz. / Credit: CBS

Consul General Melendez Cruz addresses people who've come to the Consulate to process things like IDs, passports, and birth certificates.

Nowadays the Consulate's focus is serving a million Mexican nationals in the Rocky Mountain region.

"All Colorado and counties for the east Wyoming and east Montana almost around 100 counties in United States," said Melendez Cruz.

Denver's Consulate recently piloted a new service making it easy to transfer funds to Mexico. The money sent home from workers abroad is the second largest source of foreign revenue for Mexico.

"Va a poder enviar el dinero en 30 segundos hacia Mexico," explained the Consul General, in 30 seconds  money sent from here will land on a loved ones' stored value card in Mexico.

Enabling the payment of bills, rent, utilities or school tuition back home.

/ Credit: CBS

The Consulate also promotes worker rights with education on things like workplace safety and wage theft.

"It principally protects for the human rights for the Mexican community the nationals in the United States," said Melendez Cruz.

130 years in  the economic bonds between Colorado and Mexico are strong as ever.

Melendez Cruz added, "It's amazing state and Denver is also a friendly city."

Colorado's ties with Mexico have only grown over the past century. Just this year, Mexico surpassed China as the United States' top trade partner.

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The Justice Department is seeking eight years in prison for a Pennsylvania woman accused of directing Jan. 6 rioters into the Capitol building with a bullhorn.

Federal prosecutors said in a sentencing memo Wednesday they are seeking eight years in prison for Rachel Marie Powell, 41, who was convicted on all charges brought against her in July. Obstruction of an official proceeding, destruction of government property, entering a restricted area with a weapon and engaging in violence on Capitol grounds were among her charges.

The prosecutors said that they are seeking the eight-year sentence due to her conduct on January 6, 2021, including her violent altercations with law enforcement at the West Plaza, her smashing of a window at the Lower West Terrace with an ice axe and a cardboard pole, her encouragement and instructions to other rioters on how to take the U.S. Capitol, and for her utter lack of remorse.

Powell was seen at the Capitol building that day instructing people how to breach the Capitol with a bullhorn, according to evidence presented by prosecutors. Video footage also shows Powell giving detailed instructions on the layout of the building after individuals asked questions like, Whats the floor plan? according to the court documents.

Powell was arrested in February 2021, shortly after she gave an interview with The New Yorker magazine, where she admitted to using the bullhorn to direct people at the Capitol.

Listen, if somebody doesnt help and direct people, then do more people die? she said at the time when asked about her conduct that day. Thats all Im going to say about that. I cant say anymore. I need to talk to an attorney.

More than 1,185 people have been charged in nearly all 50 states in connection to the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol. About 410 people were charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Early voting counts have risen by more than 350% in Lafayette Parish since 2011, with nearly 17,200 voters having already cast their ballots early ahead of Saturdays election, data shows.

Lafayette Parish has seen an explosive increase in early voting participation in the gubernatorial primary elections, which are held in October every four years. While the state has also seen a significant bump in early voting over that same period, no parish has seen a larger increase in early voting than Lafayette.

Heres what the data shows about early voting in Lafayette Parish:

Early voting is growing more common in Louisiana, but not as fast as Lafayette

The 17,200 early votes cast in Lafayette Parish between September 30 and October 7  with the exception of Sunday, when polls were closed  were the most the parish has seen for a gubernatorial primary since at least 2011, which is the last gubernatorial election included on the Louisiana Secretary of States website.

In 2011, Lafayette Parish had around 3,800 early votes for its October election. Four years later, the parish saw early votes jump by nearly 150% to around 9,500. Lafayette would see another big jump in 2019, with early voting increasing by around 34.4% to just over 12,700 votes.

This year, the parish saw an increase of 35.2%. From the 2011 gubernatorial primary to the upcoming election, the parish has seen its number of early votes balloon by more than 352%  an increase of nearly 13,400 votes, which is more than the parish had in the 2011 and 2015 early voting periods combined.

The state has also seen a significant uptick in early voting, but it has not been as sharp as the rise in Lafayette. For the 2011 gubernatorial primary, Louisiana had around 168,500 early votes. In this past early voting period, the state had around 344,900  an increase of 104.7%.

Nineteen of Louisianas 64 parishes have seen their number of early voters at least double since the 2011 October election, and six saw their numbers at least triple over that period. Lafayette Parish had the largest increase with its 352% jump, with Jefferson Parish having the second-largest increase at 292.8%, according to data from the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Who is voting early in Lafayette?

The majority of early voters in Lafayette Parish are white, with 79.1% of the early votes cast in the parish last week being by white voters. White residents make up an estimated 64% of the parish, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Black voters tend to be underrepresented in early voting numbers. Around 17.7% of Lafayettes early votes for this election were from Black voters, though Black residents make up roughly 27.6% of the parish, census estimates show.

The early voting period in Lafayette appears to have favored Republican voters, though its often difficult to gauge actual party affiliation in Louisiana since the state has open primaries for all state and local races. Based on the most recent registration data for Lafayette Parish, around 40.5% of voters are registered as Republicans. During the early voting period, around 51.7% of the votes were cast by registered Republicans.

But Lafayette Parish has seen a significant increase in the number of non-white residents voting early, particularly in more recent years. During the early voting period for the 2011 gubernatorial primary, around 450 Black voters voted early, along with 75 voters that were neither white nor Black. Non-white voters made up around 13.8% of the early votes.

During this most recent period, Black voters in Lafayette cast nearly 3,040 early votes and other non-white voters cast 550 early ballots. In all, non-white voters made up 20.9% of the early voters in Lafayette Parish.

From 2011 to 2023, the number of Black early voters rose by more than 574%, while the number of other non-white voters rose by more than 633%.

Why has early voting taken off in recent years?

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely one reason why both Lafayette Parish and Louisiana as a whole have seen early voting numbers rise dramatically. The Pew Research Center found that mail-in and early voting became far more prevalent during the 2020 primary elections nationwide.

In the years since the worst of the pandemic, many states have made moves to expand or restrict mail-in and early voting.

For Lafayette Parish specifically, the increase may be in part due to the parish adding more early voting sites. Prior to 2020, the parish only had one location for early voting at the registrar of voters office at 1010 Lafayette Street in Downtown Lafayette. In 2020, the parish added two more locations: the Martin Luther King Recreation Center at 309 Cora Street in Lafayette, and the East Regional Library at 215 La Neuville Road in Youngsville.

More than half of Louisianas parishes only have one early voting location.

CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Early voting has increased more than 350% in Lafayette since 2011
BARCELONA, October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anaconda Biomed S.L., a medical technology company developing next-generation thrombectomy systems, has announced that the European Patent Office has granted the company a European patent for "A Device and a Thrombectomy Apparatus for Extraction of Thrombus from a Blood Vessel," published as Patent No. EP3866708 B1 on September 27, 2023. In addition, the US 11,771,446 B2 was also granted to the company on October 3, 2023, for a method to improve the efficacy of removing cerebral vascular thrombi.

The newly granted patents join a list of 17 issued patents for Anaconda Biomed, including "Thrombectomy Device And System For Extraction Of Vascular Thrombi From A Blood Vessel" in the United States with Patent No. US 11,013,523 B2, among other key territories such as recently granted Canada and South Korea, together with Japan, China, Brazil, Taiwan and Australia. The companys growing patent portfolio demonstrates its dedication to innovation and unwavering mission to revolutionize stroke treatment worldwide.

"Every year, approximately 15 million people globally suffer from stroke," said Richard Ferrari, Anaconda Biomed chairperson. "With these recent achievements, we are one step closer to offering our neurovascular recanalization technology to effectively treat these patients, minimizing death and disabilities, and improving the quality of life for patients and their families."

About ANA5 Advanced Neurovascular Access

ANA5 Advanced Neurovascular Access is specifically designed for use in the anterior and posterior neurovascular vessels, including the internal carotid artery (ICA), the M1 and M2 segments of the middle cerebral artery, the basilar artery, the posterior cerebral artery, and the vertebral arteries. ANA5 comprises an aspiration funnel catheter featuring variable stiffness sections to be used in conjunction with a stent retriever. The funnel catheter consists of a radiopaque Nitinol braid covered with a silicone coating to enable local flow restriction. ANA5 is currently an investigational device and is not available for sale in the United States or the European Union.

Story continues

About Anaconda Biomed

Anaconda Biomed is an innovative medical technology company dedicated to developing next-generation thrombectomy systems for the treatment of ischemic stroke. At the heart of its product portfolio is the ANA5 Advanced Neurovascular Access Thrombectomy Device (ANA5). Anaconda Biomed has received funding from prominent life science investment firms, including Ysios Capital, Omega Funds, Innogest, Asabys Partners, Banco Sabadell, and private investors. Additionally, through public grants, the company has received significant public support from Enisa, CDTI (Neotec), the Ministry of Science & Innovation (Emplea and Retos), EIB, and EIT Health. For more information, please visit https://anaconda.bio/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012137094/en/

Contacts

Joe Duraes

Pazanga Health Communications

jduraes@pazangahealth.com

917-687-6419
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) says that lawmakers were told Egypt had warned Israel of a potential attack from Palestinian militant group Hamas before its deadly strike over the weekend.

We know that Egypt had warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen, McCaul said Wednesday following a closed-door intelligence briefing with lawmakers about the ongoing conflict.

He did not provide any specific details about the warning, but he noted it appeared there was a failure of intelligence from both Israel and the U.S. government.

Weve heard from the administration, there seems to be a failure of intelligence as well. Were not quite sure how we missed it. Were not quite sure how Israel missed it, McCaul said.

Earlier this week, The Associated Press (AP) said it was told by an Egyptian intelligence official that Egypt  which often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas  spoke repeatedly with Israelis about something big without elaborating.

According to the AP, the official said the Israelis were focused on the West Bank and played down the threat from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus hard-line government had placed a heavy focus on the expansion of West Bank settlements upon being sworn into office last December.

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 Egyptian official, who spoke with the AP on the condition of anonymity.

The AP reported Israel was also undermined in part by Netanyahus judicial overhaul plans, which sparked controversy and protests across the country by those who call the proposal a threat to democratic values. The changes would permit the government to overrule Supreme Court decisions and grant the executive branch more power to appoint justices.

Netanyahu was warned several times by defense chiefs and former leaders of Israeli intelligence agencies that his overhaul plans were taking away from the cohesion of the countrys security services, according to the AP.

Fighting has raged since Hamass initial attacks Saturday, with Israeli forces launching a major counteroffensive against the group in a series of airstrikes on Gaza.

The Israeli military has said more than 1,200 Israelis  including civilians and soldiers  have been killed, with another 3,000 wounded as of Thursday. In Gaza, an estimated 1,354 Palestinians have died and 6,049 others were injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The deaths also include at least 27 Americans.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
What's more eerie than a Friday the 13th in October?

That's right, the second Friday the 13th of 2023 lands in October. This match up has only happened three other times since 2000, with the last Friday the 13th in October being in 2017. And, the next time this will happen won't be until 2028.

What is the meaning of Friday the 13th?

Similarly to the superstitions of walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror or crossing paths with a black cat, Friday the 13th has a long history of being considered a bad and unlucky day. (The Bible's Last Supper had 13 guests  and Jesus' crucifixion was on a Friday.) But it broke in to popular culture after the publication of "Friday, the Thirteenth," a 1907 novel about a stockbroker who  because of the superstitions around it  chooses that day to start a chain of events that crash the market.

There are even words created to describe the fear of Friday the 13th  paraskevidekatriaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia  as well as just for fear over the number 13: triskaidekaphobia. Try to say those words three times fast, or at all.

'Friday the 13th' movie sparks more interest

And then there's the film.

Today, the day has become more widely celebrated among fans of the famous slash film, unironically named "Friday the 13th," as opposed to being known for its bad luck.

Mike Wishnia, owner of Blairstown Diner, where part of the film was shot, said that while people tend to be superstitious about the day, their perception of that day is only positive.

The Blairstown Diner.

"It's amazing to me to see how people come from all different parts of the country and from different parts of other countries," he said. "We get more business on Friday the 13th from those visiting the town, and people will come to the diner dressed as Jason."

One of those people is Brian Emenheiser, who is known for his Jason Voorhees cosplay as South Jersey Jason.

"Obviously there's that superstition behind Friday the 13th. But, to me, it's the Friday the 13th franchise,"Emenheiser, who is 43 and lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania. "The coolest thing is the fact that a franchise that has been going on for 40 plus years started in New Jersey. I feel like when you go into town and in certain parts of the town where the movie was filmed, you're stepping back in time."

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) Jason Voorhees spontaneously revives and embarks on a killing spree as he makes his way back to his home at Camp Crystal Lake. A young Corey Feldman stars.

Emenheiser, who has been hired to stand in engagement shoots, family photos and even in the background of a wedding, said that for him, any Friday the 13th is like having an extra holiday during the year.

"I know people who are principals of high schools or pastors, and they're diehard Friday the 13th fans," he said. "I've met so many great people and they come from all over the world."

Story continues below video

Celebrate Friday the 13th at Blairstown Diner

Blairstown Diner will be hosting a Friday the 13th celebration this Friday, with activities like face painting, hatchet throwing and a bloody pie eating contest. There will also be vendors, as well as a Friday the 13th-inspired menu at the diner.

"We're partnering with Spirit Halloween, and we're going to be donating part of the proceeds to their nonprofit organization, Spirit Kids," Wishnia said.

Emenheiser said he'll be in attendance at the event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as South Jersey Jason, and will be performing wedding vow renewals at 11 a.m.

Those who sign up for this get a Friday the 13th themed renewal  and one that's legitimate, as Emenheiser is ordained  as well as a certificate and a voucher for 10% off their meal at the Blairstown Diner.

"This year, I think I have six or seven couples. We go behind the diner along the creek and I set up a shrine that has Mrs. Voorhees' severed head, her sweater and things like that," he said. "It's a really cool ambiance. Last year I had like six other Jason's with me."

Things to do on Friday the 13th

If you're looking for a way to ring in the ultimate Friday the 13th this week, here's some things you can do on the day:

Visit Camp Crystal Lake

If you're looking to visit a site of where "Friday the 13th" was filmed, in addition to Blairstown Diner, Camp Crystal Lake is the place. The camp  which is actually called Camp NoBeBoSco, despite being better known for its fictional name  is offering several different tour experiences.

They include a shorter lakefront tour, taking visitors directly to the movie's filming locations around their famous lakefront area, as well as an extended tour where visitors can also get a look at the famous camp where more than 80% of the film was made.

There's also an overnight experience, which includes a full tour of the camp, dinner, a movie screening and an overnight stay in a movie cabin from Oct. 12 into Oct. 13.

Tickets for these tours are limited, and most have already sold out. But, don't worry, you can enter their future ticket waitlist to be notified when future events are announced.

See the original "Friday the 13th" movie

What better way to spend Friday the 13th than by watching the original slasher film?

Roy's Hall in Blairstown holds a screening of the film every the Friday the 13th, and this time is no different. There will be two screenings, one at 6:30 p.m. and one at 9 p.m.

Go: 30 Main Street, Blairstown; 908-362-1399

Roller skate with Jason

If you're looking for something a little closer to home, Branch Brook Park Skating Center in Newark will be hosting "Skate with Jason" on Friday the 13th.

The event, which is open to all ages, will be held from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a night of skating with a spooky theme, and might even have a run in with the slasher himself.

Tickets are $18 for admission and skate rentals, $12 for admission without a skate rental and $5 for spectators.

Go: Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center, 7th Avenue and Clifton Avenue, Newark; 973-482-8900

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Friday the 13th is coming, but what does it mean?
Machine Gun Kelly didnt miss a beat when a man rushed the stage during his Forbes Under 30 Summit panel.

The pop-punk artist and entrepreneur, whose real name is Colson Baker, was speaking with Forbes editor Kristin Stoller at a packed Cleveland auditorium when someone entered the stage and approached him from behind. MGK leaped up mid-sentence and clenched his fists to confront the man, saying, My man, get the fuck away from me. Yo, what are you doing? What are you doing? This is a bad look. Dont make me do this.

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While the unidentified man did not make physical contact with MGK, he said softly, I got you, man. I want to help you out here, before two security guards forcefully removed him off stage. The Forbes livestream briefly cut out, but when it resumed, MGK was already back in his seat chatting with Stoller.

I left that guy in the past, Im really sorry, MGK told the audience. I do apologize for my primal reaction. Stoller praised him for his response, saying, You handled that amazingly, by the way.

MGK has faced physical altercations on stage before. During his performance at the 2021 Aftershock Festival, the Ohio native was pelted with bottles, tree branches and liquids. And at a recent appearance at Belgiums Rock Werchter festival, MGK agreed to lightly strike a fan holding a sign that read, I just came from Mexico 4 U 2 punch me in the face.

Elsewhere in the 22-minute Forbes interview, MGK discussed his Cleveland coffee shop, 27 Club Coffee, and nail polish brand UN/DN LAQR.

A representative for MGK and Forbes did not immediately respond to Varietys request for comment.

Watch the incident, which takes place around the 10:40 mark, below.

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The National Parks Service revealed that "search efforts have not provided further clues at this point"

National Park Service Chad Pallansch, Missing Trail Runner in Rocky Mountains National Park

The large-scale search for Chad Pallansch, the trail runner who went missing two weeks ago in Rocky Mountain National Park, has been suspended, park officials announced Tuesday.

According to the National Park Service (NPS), the "broad" search for Pallansch, 49, was halted following the NPS's announcement on Saturday that the search, which had entered its tenth day, had 77 people and even a drone team involved.

The NPS said on Thursday that the investigation had been hampered by severe weather conditions. The agency announced on Tuesday that the search will resume once the conditions warrant it.

Pallansch was reported missing on Sept. 28 after his vehicle was located by park rangers at the North Inlet Trailhead on the west side of the park, according to a news release from the NPS.

Related: Body of Missing 24-Year-Old Hiker Who Was 'Always Smiling' Found in Rocky Mountain National Park

Search efforts have not provided further clues at this point, the NPS revealed on Tuesday.

While the federal bureau has yet to receive additional clues, the NPS Search and Rescue Teams are continuing to review aerial photographs and drone footage.

Reported clues will be investigated as appropriate, the statement continued.

National Park Service

Along with monitoring the aerial photographs and drone footage, the search teams  composed of ground searchers, dog teams and a State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) drone team  focused their recent efforts around Black Lake, Lake Powell, Stone Man Pass, Chiefs Head Peak, McHenrys Peak, Mount Alice and surrounding ridgeline areas, the NPS shared.

Following the search of those locations, the NPS implemented a closure in an effort to aid the dog teams' efficiency. However, the closures have now been lifted.

Those searching the various locations include the Larimer County Search and Rescue (LCSAR), Grand County Search and Rescue, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group (RMR), Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR), the State of Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Controls (DFPC) Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA), Northern Colorado Interagency Helitack (US Forest Service) and a contracted helicopter with Trans Aero.

Related: Man Whose Mom Died Climbing World's Second Highest Peak Is Missing on Pakistan's 'Killer Mountain'

Pallansch was last heard from around noon on Sept. 27, after he sent a text that indicated he was almost to the summit of Mount Alice."

Pallansch began a 28-mile journey that started from the East Inlet Trailhead near Grand Lake and consisted of crossing the Continental Divide and off-trail travel through steep talus slopes," per the NPS report. Although the Colorado native was described by officials as an experienced trail runner, he had never previously taken the East Inlet trail.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.



Related: Second Hiker Missing on the Same Mountain Where Actor Julian Sands Disappeared, Authorities Say

Pallansch is 5-feet-7-inches tall and 155 lbs. and is likely wearing a black ultralight jacket, a gray fanny pack and black running shorts or leggings, officials said. He also had a personal navigation device with him that wasnt set for emergency purposes.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to provide financial assistance to the Pallansch family during this difficult time. More than $19,000 has been raised as of Wednesday afternoon.

If you have information that could help investigators, call the National Park Service Investigative Services Bureau Tip Line at 888-653-0009, email nps_isb@nps.gov or fill out the online form at go.NPS.gov/SubmitATip.

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Rebecca Cooke is running as a Democrat in the Third Congressional District.

When Democrat Rebecca Cooke , a small business owner and nonprofit founder, entered the race against first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden of western Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District she led with a sharp attack:

"Derrick Van Orden is one of the only members of Congress who participated in the deadly January 6th insurrection, Cooke said Sept. 1, 2023 on X, formerly known as Twitter. He now serves in the building he tried to burn down."

By now, the Jan. 6, 2021 mob action is familiar  thousands of President Donald Trumps supporters rallied and then hundreds forced their way into the Capitol building in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory in the November 2020 presidential election.

According to the Department of Justice, as of Sept. 5, 2023, some 1,146 defendants have been charged in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In all, 623 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for their criminal activity on Jan. 6, the Justice Department says. Of those, 378 have been sentenced to periods of incarceration

Van Orden is not among them.

So, whats the basis for Cookes claim? And how much validity is there to it?

Lets take a look.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden

Cooke's team says the Tweet was based on a TV appearance when he discussed the Jan. 6 insurrection

When asked for backup for the claim, Cooke spokesperson Charly Norton said in an email to PolitiFact Wisconsin the tweet is based on a television appearance by Van Orden in which he acknowledged that he participated in the January 6th insurrection, was photographed on Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6th insurrection, and publicly disclosed using campaign funds to attend the January 6th insurrection.

Now, thats the Cooke campaigns take on what Van Orden has said.

Lets go back and check the record.

According to the Washington Post, Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, was one of two newly elected GOP House members at the rally.

According to Newsweek, in a Jan. 13, 2021 column in the LaCrosse Tribune Van Orden acknowledged attending Trump's rally that preceded the insurrection but said he left when the riot began.

"When it became clear that a protest had become a mob, I left the area as to remain there could be construed as tacitly approving this unlawful conduct, he wrote. At no time did I enter the grounds, let alone the building."

Two years later, in January of 2023, Van Orden sought to reframe the issue, telling the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he wished he had not attended the Trump rally if it would have prevented the public from believing he embraced the violence.

I don't regret supporting voter integrity, Van Orden said. But if you look in hindsight  like the volume of stuff, the way that it could be interpreted that I would support political violence  that is regretful. If that made people think that I support political violence, that is a regret because I don't support political violence.

Van Orden noted he tweeted that he condemned all forms of political violence even as the rioters were in the building.

Just how close was Van Orden to the Capitol on Jan. 6

That said, just how close Van Orden was to the Capitol attack is in dispute.

While Van Orden told the La Crosse newspaper he and two friends stood on the parapet that lines the perimeter of the grounds, a report by The Daily Beast cited social media posts showing Van Orden in an area the news outlet characterized as being beyond police barricades.

The Daily Beast said it had recreated the photo Van Orden posted on Facebook and determined they would have had to cross police barricades to reach that area.

It is against the law to cross police barricades to reach a restricted area.

Van Orden disputes being in a restricted area and in January the lawmaker told the Journal Sentinel the wall he was on was 450 meters away from the Capitol and he was only standing there near the wall.

A footnote: The Cooke campaign also accused Van Orden of using campaign funds to travel to Washington. According to a Sept. 2, 2022 article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the six-member Federal Election Commission decided unanimously to dismiss a complaint that alleged the money was used inappropriately in part due to the "small amount" of money used for the trip  $4,022.72.

Mostly False

Our ruling

Cooke claimed "Derrick Van Orden is one of the only members of Congress who participated in the deadly January 6th insurrection, and now serves in the building he tried to burn down."

Van Orden acknowledged attending the Jan. 6 rally but said he left before any violence occurred, and later said he regretted being there since it would lead people to think he endorsed the violence that followed.

However, according to a media outlet, a photo posted to Facebook shows Van Orden and two friends in an area beyond police barricades set up at the Capitol that day. Van Orden says he was not behind the barricades but was 450 meters away from the Capitol and only standing there near the wall.

All of that said, Cooke goes too far in making her claim, including the idea that Van Orden tried to burn the building down, which suggests there is evidence he participated in rioting.

For a statement that contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression, our rating is Mostly False.

Sources

Rebecca Cooke, X (Formerly Twitter), Sept. 1, 2023

Derrick Van Orden, X (Formerly Twitter, Jan. 6, 2021

Email Charly Norton, spokesperson for Rebecca Cooke, Sept. 18, 2023

Associated Press Wisconsin Democrat Katrina Shankland announces bid to unseat US Rep. Derrick Van Orden, Oct. 3, 2023

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 'That is a regret': Van Orden returns to Capitol two years after his Jan. 6 appearance, says he disavows political violence, Jan. 6, 2023.

The Washington Post They rallied in D.C. on Jan. 6. Now theyll join Congress., Nov. 15, 2022

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel FEC dismisses complaint alleging Derrick Van Orden unlawfully used campaign cash to attend Jan. 6 rally before insurrection, Sept. 2, 2022.

Newsweek Three Jan. 6 Protesters Are Running for Congress: Here Are Their Chances, Oct. 19, 2022

The Daily Beast GOP Candidate Bankrolled Jan. 6 Riot Trip With Campaign Cash, June 26, 2021

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Claim that Rep. Van Orden was at Jan. 6 insurrection mostly false
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo announced Monday that he will lower the flags to half-staff and light the State Capitol building blue in honor of the victims of the terror attacks in Israel.

Per Lombardo, U.S. flags and State of Nevada flags will be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol and all state public buildings and grounds beginning at sunrise on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

The flags are to remain at half-staff until sunset on Saturday, Oct, 14.

Lombardo also released a statement following the attacks in Israel saying:

My prayers are with Israel and the Israeli families suffering from Hamas unprovoked terrorist attacks today. These attacks are abhorrent, and Israel has a right to defend itself. Today  and every day  the United States and the American people stand with Israel.

In honor of the victims, Lombardo will deliver remarks at Temple Beth Sholom Monday evening along with Senator Jacky Rosen, Sheriff Kevin McMahill, Jewish Nevada, the Anti-Defamation League  Nevada, the Israeli American Council, and the Board of Rabbis of Southern Nevada.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
House Republicans called victims of violent crimes in Washington, D.C., to act as witnesses in a Thursday Judiciary Committee hearing as part of their latest effort to highlight the abundance of violence in the District.

GOP members of the subcommittee on crime and the federal government continued their months-long attempt to highlight the pitfalls of D.C.s public safety and blame the citys Democratic leadership for the raging assaults.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the chairman of the full House Judiciary Committee, said in his opening statement that prosecutors soft conduct and defunding the police lead to more crime.

When you disparage the good men and women who put on the uniform, risk their life every day in our streets you also get a shortage of police officers and more crime, Jordan said.

Jordan continued with a reminder that bad guys can do the math  fewer police and soft prosecutors means there is less likelihood theyll be caught, and they are less likely to be prosecuted if they are apprehended.

The subcommittee listened to testimony from three people who experienced violent assaults in D.C.

Gaynor Jablonski, a local pub owner, showed a video to the subcommittee and recounted his June experience in which he was assaulted in his own pub by a DoorDash worker who initially pulled out a gun. Jablonskis 5-year-old son was nearby when the assault occurred.

Mitchell Sobolevsky told the story of how he was robbed, and D.C. firefighter Myisha Richards recounted an incident in which two women assaulted her as actively attempted to help a person breathe.

All accounts were met with gasps and apparent sympathy from lawmakers in both parties.

Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) highlighted D.C.s high murder rate and exchanged ideas with detective and Chairman of the D.C. Police Union Greg Pemberton on how to recruit more people for the force.

That culture of lawlessness has contributed to this jurisdiction having a higher murder rate than anywhere else in the country and these absolutely staggering crime instances that we heard, Kiley said. Perhaps, the biggest thing that we can do to change that culture of lawlessness is to create a new level of support for law enforcement, to recruit more folks into the profession, to improve moral.

Pemberton agreed, citing that at least some provisions in the D.C.s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act need to be changed. The package was passed in December 2020 and includes accountability measures for law enforcement officers created in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.

This is absolutely detrimental to the hiring, the attrition rates of Metropolitan Police Department, Pemberton said. He emphasized that it would be impossible to staff police departments at a reasonable level without getting rid of at least some of the provisions in the bill.

Pemberton did not specify which provisions in the legislation he would suggest getting rid of, though.

Democratic subcommittee members, however, seemed split in their perceptions of how high-priority the hearing was.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) acknowledged the public safety crisis facing D.C. while Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) lambasted Republicans for holding the hearing without an elected Speaker.

As Republicans struggle to elect a new Speaker, sending the House spiraling into new debts of chaos and dysfunction, Nadler said. This hearing is yet another attempt to distract and mislead the American people. We wont fall for it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Ohio State Reformatory, which closed in 1990, sees an upward of 120,000 visitors annually.

Nothing screams Halloween like spooky stories, and grim tales about actual events are even more frightening.

But you don't have to travel to infamously haunted cities  such as Savannah, Georgia, or Salem, Massachusetts  to hear a good ghost story. Ohio has a rich history of paranormal experiences and haunted sites for people to go to and get their scare on.

Some places even offer tours, from the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield to Anchorage Mansion in Marietta. Here's a list of haunted tours around the Buckeye State for all you macabre-loving weirdos (like myself).

Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield

Escape from Blood Prison at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights through Oct. 29.

The Ohio State Reformatory, which closed in 1990, sees an upward of 120,000 visitors annually, partially due to its paranormal connections. The old prison where "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed offers several tour options, including self-guided and private-guided tours, in which visitors can learn about the spooky history of the facility.

During October, the prison offers a Shawshank Bus Tour, a 90-minute walking tour which stops at local filming sites. It also hosts the Escape from Blood Prison Tour, a theatrical Halloween experience that explores the horrors of the historic reformatory.

Self-guided tours : 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Ticket prices range from $19-$25.

Private-guided tours : Private-guided tours can be scheduled anytime between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, but require a two-week advance notice. Ticket prices start at $500 for a 10-person group.

Shawshank Bus Tour: Noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $99 per person.

Escape from Blood Prison: Tours are held from 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 29. Ticket prices range from $35-$75. There is a $5 processing fee per order.

Hidden Marietta

As the oldest town in Ohio, Marietta is an excellent destination for haunted tours this Halloween. Hidden Marietta, a tour and event company, offers several historic and spooky tours year-round and during October.

Learn about the natural and medical disasters, as well as other mysterious occurrences, that have plagued the town by taking the Front Street Ghost Trek. You can also explore the history of the Anchorage Mansion and the story of the Putnam family, including the untimely death of Eliza Putnam, on one of the many guided and self-guided Anchorage Mansion tours. Eliza, who designed the Italianate mansion, died in the home three years after it was built.

Ghost Trek: 7 and 8 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 for kids ages 5-12 and $20 for adults ages 13 and older. Free for children under 4.

Anchorage Flashlight Tour: 8-11 p.m. Fridays. Tickets are $15 for kids ages 5-12 and $20 for adults ages 13 and older. Free for children under 4.

Anchorage Haunted History Tour: 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $15 for kids ages 5-12 and $20 for adults ages 13 and older. Free for children under 4.

Anchorage Self-Guided Tour: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tickets are $5 for kids ages 5-12 and $10 for adults ages 13 and older.

American Legacy Tours in Cincinnati

Founded in 2009, American Legacy Tours offers over 17 guided tours and events, including seasonal haunted experiences throughout Cincinnati. It has been featured in several national publications, such as National Geographic, Forbes Travel, BBC America and more.

Haunted tour options include the Ultimate Queen City is Haunted Tour, which takes visitors on a journey through the "terrifying true stories" of Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, and the Nightmare on Elm Street Tour that begins and ends at Northern Row Brewery & Distillery and descends 30 feet underground into the 19th-century lagering tunnels. The tour group also offers haunted tours in Mount Healthy and Northern Kentucky.

Ultimate Queen City is Haunted Tour: 8:30 p.m. Mondays, 7 and 9 p.m. Thursdays and 6-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays throughout October. Tickets are $29 per person.

Nightmare on Elm Street Tour: 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout October. Tickets are $39 per person.

Mount Healthy is Haunted Tour: 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays throughout October. Tickets are $29 per person.

Newport is Haunted: 7-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays throughout October. Tickets are $29 per person.

The Covington Haunted and Historic Tour: 7-9 p.m. Saturdays throughout October. Tickets are $29 per person.

Cleveland Ghosts of the Coasts Haunted Tour

During the Cleveland Ghosts of the Coasts Haunted Tour, participants will walk the path of famous detective Eliot Ness, who is known locally for investigating the Torso Murders of the 1930s at Kingsbury Run.

Touting itself as "Cleveland's #1 rated ghost tour," this spooky experience dives into the city's spine-tingling past, per the tour website. During the one-hour walking tour, visitors explore unsolved murders, go to desecrated hallowed grounds and learn more about the darkness that lurks beyond the city's surface.

Featured tour stops include Public Square, Cleveland Grays Armory Museum, Terminal Tower Observation Deck, Erie Street Cemetery, Kingsbury Run, Hanna Theater, Cleveland Police Museum and more.

Cleveland Ghosts of the Coasts Haunted Tour: 8 p.m. daily. Tickets are $16 for children under 13 and $25 for adults.

Haunted Ohio Statehouse Tours in Columbus

Tour the darkened chambers and haunted halls of the Ohio Statehouse by lantern light this October. This spooky tour is for ages 12 and older and takes visitors through several historical exhibits in one of the country's oldest capitol buildings.

Ohio Statehouse Haunted Tour: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 13-21. Tickets are $15 for adults ages 18 and older and $7 for students ages 12-17. There is a $3 processing fee per order.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 haunted tours in Ohio you have to visit this Halloween
HOOVER  An Alabama woman accused of falsely telling police she was abducted after stopping to check on a toddler wandering along the highway is appealing her municipal court conviction in an effort to avoid a yearlong jail sentence sought by prosecutors.

A municipal judge on Wednesday found Carlee Russell, 26, guilty of misdemeanor charges of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident. The guilty judgment came after Russell's attorneys agreed to stipulate and appeal" the case  a legal maneuver to move the case to circuit court where proceedings will start anew.

A municipal judge on Oct. 11, 2023, found Carlee Russell, 26, guilty of misdemeanor charges of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident.

Russells summer disappearance  and her story of being abducted after stopping her car to check on the child  captivated the nation before police called it a hoax.

Flanked by her family and attorneys, Russell made her first court appearance Wednesday amid a heavy media presence, news outlets reported.

Defense attorney Richard Jaffe said in a telephone interview they do not think jail time is appropriate. He said they agreed to an arrangement called stipulate and appeal." It is a court agreement in which a defendant acknowledges the evidence against them, a guilty decision is entered and the case is appealed to the circuit court.

Weve requested a jury trial. That gives us an opportunity between now and then to explore all of our options and to try to work something out with the prosecution that does not involve jail time but does involve a fair restitution amount, Jaffe said.

News outlets reported that prosecutors are seeking a year of jail time. Russells attorneys said they don't think she should serve jail time for a misdemeanor offense.

"We dont think jail time for a first-offender with a class A misdemeanor is reasonable because that just doesnt happen, Jaffe said.

Jaffe said he understands that state prosecutors want jail time as a deterrent to potential future hoaxes. But he added that a conviction, restitution and the publicity surrounding the case will also have a deterrent effect.

Russell disappeared on July 13 after calling 911 to report a toddler beside a stretch of interstate. She returned home two days later and told police she had been abducted and forced into a vehicle. Police began quickly casting doubt on Russells story. Her attorney had issued a statement through police acknowledging there had been no kidnapping and that she never saw a toddler. Russell in the statement apologized to law enforcement and the volunteer searchers who had been looking for her.

We ask for your prayers for Carlee, as she addresses her issues and attempts to move forward, understanding that she made a mistake in this matter. Carlee again asks for your forgiveness and prayers, Emory Anthony said in the July statement.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis previously said he was frustrated that Russell was only being charged with two misdemeanors despite the panic and disruption she caused. But he said the law did not allow for enhanced charges.

Sherri Papini in California was sentenced to 18 months in prison for lying to federal agents and staging her 2016 fake abduction, which led to a three-week, multi-state search.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Carlee Russell to appeal conviction in kidnapping hoax case
By Isla Binnie

(Reuters) - California's new emissions laws could force companies to reveal more about their carbon footprint to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), raising the risk of legal challenges to their climate claims, regulatory lawyers say.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed rules into law this month requiring companies that are active in the state and generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually to publish an extensive account of their carbon emissions starting in 2026.

The SEC has drafted its own rules which would not go as far, giving companies discretion over disclosing some emissions they deem not material or not pertaining to their emission reduction targets.

The SEC's rules would apply to all U.S.-listed companies, and one of the politicians behind the California law estimates that about 1,400 of those would also meet the threshold to report in the state.

The overlap could result in companies including emission information in SEC filings that they would have held back were it not for California's rules, the regulatory lawyers and experts said. They added that this may expose companies to more SEC and shareholder scrutiny.

"Increased disclosure typically comes with increased liability risk and compliance efforts," Kirkland & Ellis regulatory lawyer Abbey Raish said.

Newsom's office declined to comment. An SEC spokesperson also declined to comment on California's rules raising the legal risk, but pointed to comments by the agency's Chair Gary Gensler to U.S. lawmakers last month on companies spending less to comply with SEC rules if they already report in California.

It would not be the first time that climate-related legislation originating in California has a broader impact. The state's efforts to cut vehicle emissions pushed car makers to tighten their emissions standards nationwide.

Some of California's new rules mandate the disclosure of so-called Scope 3 emissions, which are generated by companies' customers and suppliers rather than the companies themselves. The SEC's rules, as drafted, would require companies to only disclose Scope 3 emissions they deem material.

Story continues

If Scope 3 emissions disclosed under California's rules are large compared to their direct Scope 1 and 2 emissions, it will be hard to justify treating them as immaterial and not including them in SEC filings, the lawyers said.

"If the California bill did not exist and did not provide for disclosure of Scope 3, then it would be easier for companies to just say it's not material without having to show their work or show how they came to that determination," said Ron Llewellyn, who specializes in corporate governance at law firm Fenwick.

Only 54% of North American companies disclosed Scope 3 emissions in 2021, compared with 71% in Europe, according to a 2021 report commissioned by the World Resources Institute.

STRICTER STANDARD

While California's rules insulate companies from liability in their reports on hard-to-calculate Scope 3 emissions until 2030, the legal "safe harbor" that the SEC's rules include is limited, according to the legal experts.

Companies are not shielded from liability by the SEC's safe harbor provisions if they can be shown not to be acting in good faith, neither are they protected from claims under various state laws, Norton Rose lawyers wrote in a note to clients.

Company directors can be held liable for inaccurate statements to investors. The SEC can impose fines or refer serious cases to criminal authorities. Shareholders can also sue corporate executives if they feel they have been misled by information in SEC filings or other public statements.

The SEC "is by far the most powerful regulator on the planet and it's the scariest," said Kentaro Kawamori, chief executive of climate disclosure software company Persefoni. "You think about the world and risk entirely differently" when facing that liability, he said.

California's rules will also oblige companies to conform to a stricter reporting threshold. They require use of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, an international standard for emissions accounting, whereas the SEC's contemplated rules do not impose that methodology.

Newsom, a Democrat, said when he signed the bills that he was concerned about the costs to businesses and tight timelines, and has instructed state authorities to work to address these issues.

The pending rules from California and the SEC "will be rocket fuel for climate disclosures," said Michael Littenberg, partner at law firm Ropes & Gray.

(This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of surname to 'Kawamori' from 'Kowamori' in paragraph 16)

(Reporting by Isla Binnie in New York; additional reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston; editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Jonathan Oatis)
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MOON TWP.  While parents were gathered in a crowded side room of the Mooncrest Community Center, a common concern circulated among the residents of the Mooncrest neighborhood was "security."

The group of over 20 parents had gathered on a Tuesday evening after work to share why they felt keeping Hyde Elementary School open was an important decision for their community and their children's education. Discussions around the elementary school started on Sept. 27 after the Moon Area School District shared its potential concept of permanently closing the school during a three-hour town hall event.

Hyde considered for closure: Moon Area School District presents several potential projects, potential closure of schools

Following the presentation, parents from Hyde Elementary immediately shared criticisms of the district's concepts for adjusting its elementary school system, as three of the four options presented by Superintendent Barry Balaski involved closing their local school and sending students to other buildings across the district. The presentation on these potential changes and projects cites a necessary $10 million renovation to various elements around the building.

Among other school concerns, local parents and community members asked the Moon Area School Board to keep Hyde Elementary School open during their meeting on Oct. 9, 2023.

As the information enters public discussions and potential school board decisions, parents fear their local school being closed and their students scattered around the district. They hope the district will reconsider the potential plans and maybe use the outcry as a wake-up call to help the school get the necessary funding that it has been missing for years.

"The support at the after-school programs and community outreach at Hyde is unmatched for these kids," said Aja Quarles-Adamson, whose child recently moved to the district's middle school. "There is so much support for bilingual and minority children, who would be the most disadvantaged by this change."

Why is keeping Hyde Elementary open important to parents?

To understand the importance of Hyde Elementary for the community, parents say that people must first understand what circumstances their children would face if moved to another school.

For many adults living in the Mooncrest neighborhood, their native language is Spanish. This can create significant roadblocks for families when navigating day-to-day communication around western Pennsylvania, especially when attempting to communicate with schools' programs. Many families who have moved to the area are taking classes to learn and speak English, but their children often require extra attention in school to balance learning English with the rest of their educational experience.

At Hyde Elementary, however, these parents have found that the teachers and Principal Joe Johnson make an effort to ensure students can learn with their peers, support other students when needed and help parents with any issues they need. Jackeline Solorzano, who has two children at the school, stressed the importance this extra care has for her children and their immigration to the United States.

I have two children, they have only been in that school for two years, and they have made great progress in English and all the other subjects," Solorzano said. "My kids are happy with their teachers, and the principal and staff are excellent people. They have personally assisted in requesting immigration documents many times, which has helped me a lot in the migration process. We have had a lot of help from the school.

The exterior of the Richard J. Hyde Elementary School, one of Moon Township's five elementary schools.

Many parents shared positive experiences with Johnson, who tries to reach out to parents in the region and work to keep everyone informed of what is happening at the school. While there is the initial language barrier for many, they appreciate the time these public educators take to learn how to best keep them informed.

I think you'll probably find that with many people, Hyde is more like home," said Carrie Tobin. "Mr. Johnson comes down into the community periodically to check on families. The teachers have come down into the community as well. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I lost a close friend and that close friend had a child in fourth grade. The teachers came down to check on her and they gave her a blanket with her mother's pictures on it. If these schools get combined, you'll lose that sense of community and Hyde is worth putting the money into. It's our home, it's our community.

For parents like Elizabeth Rivera, who is learning to speak English through the local community programs, this extra outreach from school staff helped during hectic times for students such as the COVID-19 pandemic. If sent elsewhere, they would lose the sense of security that the Hyde Elementary staff has built with the Mooncrest community and potentially be lost in the shuffle of daily information.

I believe every parent is concerned about the security and the kindness of the teacher they can't afford to lose," Rivera said. "A lot of the families only speak Spanish, but the teachers and Mr. Johnson help with this challenge. During the spread of COVID-19, they gave us the guidelines to help protect the school. If there are challenges with the computer, somebody is sick or anything like that, Mr. Johnson will be the first to come and see you about the problem. He is a part of the community, and for me, he is like a part of the family.

If the Hyde Elementary community were split, some students would immediately encounter language barriers that are hard to address. In the current environment at Hyde, when parents or teachers struggle with Spanish, bilingual students can help bridge the gap or support staff can serve as translators. If split into the four other schools, parents fear their children may not have the same experience.

We are very grateful because there has been no racism or bullying in the four years that my daughter has been at the school," said Yasmin Reyes, whose daughter is currently a student at Hyde Elementary. "I don't have any complaints and thank God my daughter's teachers have been very good.

The Times asked Superintendent Balaski for comment on how the district would deal with potential language barriers, but he did not offer a comment on the issue. The presentation from the district mentions that Hyde Elementary currently has the largest support staff for language services, but if students are split among other elementary schools, these services would inevitably be strained if new support staff are not hired.

The exterior of the Richard J. Hyde Elementary School, one of Moon Township's five elementary schools.

Parents fear not knowing what to expect if their children are sent to new schools, as they could be put in a class where nobody speaks the same language. With a new experience, they have no idea how teachers unable to fully communicate may treat their children under the theoretical model proposed by the district or if their children could face issues such as racism from other students.

I've been retired since 2014 and I no longer have children in school, but I'm still a taxpayer and I still believe in the neighborhood schools," said Marcia Welsh, who was a teacher at Hyde Elementary and working within the district for 22 years. "It makes a difference for the children of any neighborhood to be able to go to school in a building close to their home. They feel a sense of comfort, they feel a sense of safety and you can build that trust with them throughout each day as the teachers and the staff of Hyde Elementary have done for years.

"We don't want them to close the school because we don't know what kind of teacher our children will get elsewhere," Reyes said. "We don't know how they're going to treat them. It is going to affect many parents.

For the citizens of Mooncrest, the presence of Hyde Elementary in their community also means a sense of security for their children's well-being during difficult times. Teachers and other school staff have frequently organized charity efforts for the neighborhood, providing supplies such as clothing and food whenever needed.

"They sometimes ask you to collaborate, but it's not an obligation," Solorzano said. "We as parents are there, trying to find a way to collaborate with them, but at no time do they force us to do anything. However, our children always have something, for example, in the cold season. My kids have sometimes been given proper winter clothing and food through the schools programs.

Former students also shared positive memories of the elementary school, saying that the home-like atmosphere at Hyde Elementary is something they want to allow students to continue receiving. For Hector Rodriguez, a recent student at Hyde Elementary, the experience is one he feels all students in his neighborhood should continue to receive each year.

I was a student there for four years, I like the school and it is like the best school Ive ever gone to," Rodriguez said. "The principal and the teachers are, like, the nicest people I've ever met in my career. I don't want that school to be closed, because that's like a part of my home. I think the other students are also very comfortable in their current school. It was, like, my best life ever in there.

Transportation issues common among Hyde Elementary students

In the potential system proposed by the Moon Area School District, the closure of Hyde Elementary School would require busing to one of the other four elementary schools. Plans shared for scenarios where the school is closed note that transportation would be an issue they would need to solve, but Balaski noted during the presentation that busing in the district is not facing shortages similar to other local districts.

While bus stops could be arranged in the Mooncrest neighborhood, not every parent feels comfortable with their child taking the bus to school and missing the bus can require finding an alternative way to get to class. For the parents of Mooncrest, traveling in a personal vehicle isn't always possible.

One of the things that we are concerned about is an increase in many families, many with small children going to Hyde Elementary School, where transportation is very difficult," said Carmen Cortes, a grandparent to students at the school who helps at the Mooncrest Community Center. "If their children miss the bus, how will they get to school? Many of these families do not have cars and they do not have the resources to be able to leave their child far away and left at school alone. Basically, Hyde is necessary.

The exterior of the Mooncrest Community Center, which hosts a popular afterschool program for local students.

The current distance from Hyde Elementary School to the center of Mooncrest is just over a mile on roads through the neighborhood, with many students and parents able to safely arrive at the school. Many other schools don't offer a safe and walkable path to school, especially those along the busy intersections of Brodhead Road, and these elementary school options would be miles away from Mooncrest.

Many mothers or fathers do not have a car or do not know how to drive," Solorzano said. Hyde is very close to us, and we can walk to pick up our children. For us, it is vital to have this school here. The community is close, like a family. The teachers are aware of everything, and they communicate with us."

"I pray to God that they don't close it," said Ana Rodriguez. "There are many, many mothers who find it very easy to have the school close to home. Sometimes with jobs, it is more difficult for us to pick them up from schools that are far away.

Hyde Elementary also sets itself apart by the Mooncrest Neighborhood Program's afterschool activities, a place for many students to stay safe when parents aren't available at pick-up or the bus stop. Dozens of children from kindergarten to eighth grade attend the after-school programming daily, utilizing a service that is becoming increasingly rare for communities across western Pennsylvania.

I can be a definite witness to the benefit of this program," Welsh said. "The children that came to Sister Renes after-school program from Mooncrest for their homework and reinforcement did so much better in school and came to school ready to learn and wanting to learn. And they were very, very successful.

"The wrong end to the story"

For the parents and supporters of Hyde Elementary, closing the school is the last option that they would want to see for the future of the Moon Area School District, but the majority of the options proposed by the district last month targeted the community institution. Two options directly close only Hyde Elementary School, while a third would threaten to close all the elementary schools for a single building.

As the axe hangs over the head of Hyde Elementary, the other option presented by the school is a $9.75 million plan to do work around the exterior of the building, installation of a new HVAC system, electrical system replacements and other upgrades. The district proposes that the "cons" outweigh the benefits of doing these renovations, as it removes options for "necessary projects" listed in their presentation and "limits staff availability for all students."

From parents' perspectives, many of these issues should have been fixed years before the district did studies of the district. Several projects have been completed at the school over the past decade, but parents say Hyde Elementary typically is the last to receive supplies and often gets hand-me-downs from the other elementary schools. The school district also wrote in its presentation that the last renovations are "unknown" for Hyde Elementary School, but school board members say that millions of dollars have been contributed to certain repairs in recent years.

A map showcasing the areas covered by elementary schools in Moon Township. The green areas indicate current construction, while yellow indicates future projects that are planned. Hyde Elementary School's area has no projects marked.

Welsh says that while working for the district for 22 years and living in Moon Township for 44 years, improvements have always been slow for Hyde Elementary compared to its sister schools.

"I've been here a long time and seen other buildings built after Hyde and others refurbished before Hyde," Welsh said. "So, what needs to be done to Hyde has not been done over the past 40 years and that's why it's in the particular position it's in now. To close it simply because it needs to be repaired is the wrong end to the story. We need to keep it open and keep that family going.

As the "home" for many low-income students, removing that sense of trust and security is something parents and those working with Hyde Elementary dread losing for their community. The care and compassion of teachers for the area give hope to the families struggling to adapt to the area, but the lack of funding has caught up to the district with an increasing price tag.

The citizens of Mooncrest say the investment is worth the price, especially for their children to feel accepted at school.

The teachers and the administrative staff at Hyde consider all of the children at the school their children. So if Hyde closes, there would be that loss of that sense of family, that sense of trust," Welsh said. "It's obvious, listening to all of the speakers today, how important this building is to the success of their family relationships and the success of their children in school. It's not just a building, it's a part of the community.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Hyde Elementary School parents say school is important to community
Prison officials locked a man with serious mental illness in cells without running water for nearly two months at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville.

Prison officials locked a man with serious mental illness in cells without running water for nearly two months at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville.

In June 2022, James E. Harris Jr. told guards that he swallowed 50 batteries. Subsequent medical scans discovered he had swallowed about two dozen batteries.

Harris spent 12 days on constant watch in the prison infirmary in a cell without running water. He was then moved to another "dry cell" for 43 more days, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith said this week.

"This is just not how we should be operating. This is a big organization. It's never going to be perfect, but we can definitely do better than this," she said. "Because he was not only in a dry cell: it did not have furniture in it and it did not have a mattress, which is totally unacceptable."

Dry cells lack toilets or sinks or water is turned off. Typically, they're used for up to seven days to observe someone passing contraband, such as a balloon packed with drugs, that they've swallowed.

Harris slept on the concrete floor of the 28-square-foot cell, wearing a gown. Employees took away his blanket for six days. He also went a month without a shower. Incarcerated people are supposed to be offered showers five times a week.

Staff provided a portable toilet in the cell at Harris' request.

Chambers-Smith declined to elaborate on Harris' health now and medical information included in the report was blacked out.

The mistreatment of Harris led to an internal investigation, resignation by former warden Donald Redwood, employee discipline, a policy change and removal of the dry cells at the high-security prison, she said.

Employees told investigators that they wanted to make sure Harris didn't re-ingest batteries he had passed. But guards keeping watch said there was no evidence that Harris was re-ingesting batteries. Documentation of bowel movements and feces checks were incomplete, the investigation found.

In October 2022, Harris filed a grievance about the treatment. The chief inspector's office flagged it for Chambers-Smith, who started an internal investigation.

Chambers-Smith issued a two-day working suspension to Cynthia Davis, the current prison warden who served as deputy warden; a five-day suspension to Deputy Warden Dawn Joseph; and a written reprimand for Major Harold Bell.

Additionally, Donald Redwood, who arrived as warden in June 2022 just days into Harris' time in the infirmary, resigned Oct. 3 of this year. Redwood left the warden's job in February 2023 following extensive renovations of the warden's house.

The USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau first requested records in February regarding Redwood, the renovation of the warden's house and the use of the dry cell.

Chambers-Smith said Harris plans to sue the state. His attorneys declined to comment until they've had time to review the internal investigation.

Harris is serving 25 years to life for murder, robbery, arson and assault. He is incarcerated at Madison Correctional Institution.

Disability Rights Ohio said in a written statement that it has serious concerns about the lack of meaningful treatment for mental health conditions within the state prison system. The organization also said that the department's constant watch conditions are unacceptable.

"Ultimately, DRO has not seen that people receive the treatment they need nor recover under those conditions. DRO is aware of people on constant watch being provided with too many opportunities to seriously harm themselves," the organization said.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

lbischoff@gannett.com

@lbischoff

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio inmate held in cells without running water for 55 days
French prosecutors have reportedly opened an investigation into the suspected poisoning of exiled Russian journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who fled her home country last year with her daughter after infamously brandishing an anti-war slogan on state TV.

The 44-year-old suddenly felt unwell after opening the door of her Paris apartment on Thursday and she noticed a powder substance, a source close to the investigation told Agence France-Presse.

Reporters Without Borders, who helped Ovsyannikova and her daughter get out of Russia safely, confirmed the incident on X. The Paris prosecutors office has opened an investigation into suspected poisoning, the groups secretary general Christophe Deloire wrote. No particular elements at this stage. We will keep you informed.

He said Ovsyannikova was feeling slightly better Thursday afternoon but that she was still under medical observation.

Forensic police have reportedly been sent to examine Ovsyannikovas home to try and determine what the alleged substance was.

Ovsyannikova pictured during a court hearing in Moscow in July, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

The TV reporter made headlines in March 2022 when she interrupted a live news bulletin at Russias Channel One, her then-employer, with a placard protesting the war in Ukraine which read, Stop the war, dont believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here.

She was arrested by Russian police on charges of spreading fake news but managed to escape soon after while out on house arrest.

She and her then 11-year-old daughter fled Russia in Oct. 2022 with the help of Reporters Without Borders and she has sought asylum in France.

At a February press conference in Paris, Ovsyannikova was asked if she now feared for her life. I clearly do, she said, adding that her Russian friends speculated that she may be the victim of a poisoning or a car accident.

Last week, a court in Moscow sentenced her in absentia to 8.5 years in prison for a separate protest in July 2022 where she stood across from the Kremlin holding up a sign that read, Putin is a murderer, his soldiers are fascists.

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The jury has reached a split verdict in Adams County Court for two Aurora police officers who are on trial for the death of Elijah McClain. The death of the unarmed young Black man four years ago received widespread publicity inside and outside of Colorado and led to large-scale protests and reforms in Aurora's police department.

The verdict was reached around 4:20 p.m. Thursday and the judge read the verdicts less than 30 minutes later.

The jury found Randy Roedema guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, Jason Rosenblatt was found not guilty of manslaughter and assault. Sentencing for Roedema is scheduled for Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m. in Adams County Court.

Elijah McClain / Credit: McClain family

The 23-year-old died after first responders got a call of a suspicious person walking down the street. They found McClain on Aug. 24, 2019, wearing a mask and carrying groceries when they arrived at Colfax Avenue and Billings Street. Jason Rosenblatt, Randy Roedema and another officer all were indicted by a grand jury for forcibly restraining McClain in a violent struggle that was captured on police body cam video. They face felony charges of criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and second-degree assault, however, the jury had the option to convict on lesser charges which they did in the case of Roedema where they found him guilty on third-degree assault.

Elijah McClain's mother Sheneen McClain walks out of the courtroom after the verdict was read in the trial of two officers in her son's death. / Credit: CBS

CBS News Colorado's Karen Morfitt talked to McClain's mother after the verdict was read. Outside the Adams County Courthouse, Sheneen McClain said, "That's what happens in divided States of America," and she was visibly upset as she walked to the parking lot.

Rosenblatt no longer works for the Aurora Police Department. Roedema and the third responding officer, Nathan Woodyard, have been suspended from the police force without pay.

RELATED: Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo releases statement after verdict reached in Elijah McClain death trial

"We are here today because Elijah McClain mattered. He was only 23 years old when he died, he had his whole life ahead of him. His mother Sheneen McClain has had to relive that night again and again over the last several years. I and those on our team, are deeply inspired by her. Her commitment and devotion to her son and justice," said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. "She has been determined not to let anyone forget Elijah McClain, how he lived and how he died. I thank Sheneen for her strength, for her grace, for her commitment to justice, and for her resilience during this process. Elijah McClain's memory is living on as a blessing."

Woodyard also faces a separate trial, and paramedics who injected McClain with the drug ketamine moments after the interaction with the officers are also facing a separate trial. After he was given the drug, McClain went into cardiac arrest and was declared brain dead. He died several days later.



A coroner's report released in 2021 said his death was caused by the administration of the powerful sedative, and the coroner said he couldn't rule out the possibility that the carotid hold the officers put McClain in contributed to his death. The hold is designed to restrict blood flow to the brain.

Randy Roedema arrives at the Adams County Justice Center on Sept. 20, 2023. / Credit: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images

During the trial prosecutors said Rosenblatt and Roedema ignored McClain's cries that he couldn't breathe as he struggled with them. They said the officers used excessive force and violated department policy by not taking steps to de-escalate the situation. They said those actions made McClain medically more likely to die from the dose of ketamine he received.

Defense attorneys tried to convince the jury the blame for McClain's death falls solely on the paramedics and their use of a drug that caused McClain to lose consciousness. They said what the officers did was according to policy and according to the department's training. They said it took several tries for McClain to respond when they told him to stop in what was described as a high-crime area.

Former Aurora Police officer Jason Rosenblatt arrives at the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton, Colorado on Sept. 20, 2023. / Credit: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The body-worn camera videos taken of the interaction with McClain were played several times in the courtroom during the trial.

"Stop right there. Stop. Stop," one of the officers said in one of the videos, to which McClain, who was headed home from a convenience store, responded, "I have a right to go where I am going." The officer replied "Stop. Stop. I have a right to stop you 'cause you're being suspicious." After the neck hold was used, McClain can be heard saying on the video he was having trouble breathing.

Neither of the officers took the witness stand in their own defense in the trial and the defense didn't call any of its own witnesses.

The trials for the other first responders are scheduled to take place starting at the end of the week (for Woodyard) and next month (for paramedics Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper).

Lawyers from the Colorado Attorney General's Office are prosecuting all of the cases. The district attorney representing Adams County decided against prosecuting the officers in the months after McClain's death in part because the initial coroner's report couldn't identify the exact cause or causes of McClain's death. A revised report was released in 2021.

In closing statements, prosecutors argued the officers failed to follow multiple police policies and that McClain struggled to breathe before the administration of ketamine. Defense attorneys for the officers argued that the state offered little evidence that either officer's actions caused McClain's death and that they followed their training in calling paramedics immediately after the use of the choke hold.

"No reasonable police officer could believe that this was appropriate for someone who was handcuffed," said prosecuting attorney Duane Lyons.

/ Credit: CBS

"You would think if they think there's some kind of criminal case here against Randy Roedema, that they could get at least one live witness," said one of his defense attorneys.

"We knew that this prosecution would be difficult. It was nonetheless important that this very significant case go before a jury so it could hear the evidence, review all the facts, and make a judgment," said Weiser. "I am deeply proud of the team behind me, their hard work, the seriousness of purpose and the manner in which they put everything they had into this prosecution. They presented the strongest cast they could to lead to hold accountable the actors responsible in the death of Elijah McClain."

Impacts of McClain's Death

In part because of McClain's death, neck holds by law enforcement officers are now banned in Colorado. The guidelines for use of ketamine in emergency situations where a person is acting in an erratic manner have also been limited by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.



Since McClain's death, APD has been through several police chiefs and the city has entered a consent decree in which police reforms surrounding use of force and racial bias are mandated.



The City of Aurora reached a settlement with McClain's family two years after his death. That $15 million agreement resolved the federal civil rights lawsuit they had filed.



President Joe Biden: The 2023 60 Minutes Interview

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When Johnson County Rev. Adam Hamilton heard about the war in Israel, he was standing on a ship in front of nearly 500 people, preparing them for a pilgrimage into the Holy Land planned for the next day.

The pastor at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood said his heart immediately went out to the Israelis and Palestinians suffering. He prayed.

On Sunday, the ship filled with 480 members of the United Methodist Church, including 30 from Hamiltons congregation, was supposed to dock in Ashdod, a port city between Gaza and Tel Aviv.

But on Saturday, Hamas led a major attack on Israeli civilians in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip, killing and kidnapping hundreds of civilians, including in settlements and at a music festival.

Israel declared war on Hamas as a result, sending a barrage of rockets into the densely populated Palestinian territory. In the days since, more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed.

Back on the ship, Hamilton said hes grateful everyone is safe.

The folks who are here, some of them are older adults who saved up for years to go to the Holy Land, he said. This is their trip of their lifetime ... but their primary concern was not that they dont get to do those things, but for the people who were on the ground in Israel and Palestine.

Hamilton spoke to reporters over Zoom on Tuesday afternoon as he floated somewhere near the Aegean Sea. They re-routed to Cyprus Saturday, with plans to head to Egypt next. But following an attack on Israeli tourists in Alexandria, they again changed their plans, heading instead for Turkey.

The Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, was supposed to dock in southern Israel the day after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli civilians.

As the grim news continues, Hamilton worries for his friends in Israel. He said hes reached out to many of them, including a Palestinian Christian friend in Bethlehem. Hes not heard back yet.

While Hamiltons focus is on serving those on the ship, hes also thinking about the message he will bring home to his larger congregation in Johnson County.

Hamilton, who has traveled to Israel dozens of times, knows the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is nuanced.

Its a complex story and soundbites dont do it justice on either side, he said.

Every time he visits the Holy Land, Hamilton said he takes his pilgrimage group to meet with both Israelis and Palestinians. Often he finds Americans without ties to Israel or Palestine dont understand the complexity of the struggle. They are surprised to see Palestinians and Jews living in co-existence. They are shocked by the security wall, and the checkpoints, around the West Bank.

It has to be really clear that what Hamas has done is unacceptable and immoral. Its criminal, its wrong, no matter what the underlying causes are for whats happening, he said.

But Hamilton said hes also trying to teach about the Palestinian struggle. After receiving news of the war, he read aloud to the hundreds of people on the ship the poem Harlem by Langston Hughes, which begins What happens to a dream deferred?

There has to be security for Israelis, but there also has to be a future for Palestinians, he said.
While Steve Scalise scrambles to secure the House speakership, the man who previously held the job has taken a back seat.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has actively chosen not to play a prominent role in his conferences battle to secure the next speaker, though he said hes backing Scalise now that the Louisiana Republican won the nomination.

McCarthy has only made drop in appearances to the behind-the-scenes meetings where members have been airing out their grievances, and did not attend Thursdays key meeting. Prior to members voting for the speaker candidate behind closed doors on Wednesday, McCarthy was introduced as Speaker Emerita and read the GOP conference a Mother Teresa poem, sources told CNN.

The California Republican is still holding court in the speakers office, including having dinners with close allies and hosting former Trump administration officials, sources told CNN. Visitors entering the speaker suite pass a Kevin McCarthy speaker sign still hanging overhead. Scalise is still operating out of his Majority Leader office.

McCarthy has pledged to support Scalise, but he is not going out of his way to convince holdouts. And while he has told his supporters to not nominate him for speaker, he is not doing anything to tell them to stop voting for him, either  and many still see him as their leader.

Pressed earlier this week on McCarthy saying he doesnt want to be nominated, GOP Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who voted for him on Wednesday, told CNN: He said he doesnt want people nominating him, that doesnt mean he doesnt want people voting for him.

McCarthy and Scalise have maintained a cordial working relationship over the years, but their camps have viewed each other suspiciously as the two men have long been seen as potential rivals.

Scalise considered challenging McCarthy for leader in 2018. And McCarthy opted to tap trusted allies Reps. Patrick McHenry and Garret Graves  not the top deputies on his leadership team  to help with McCarthys January speakership battle, the debt ceiling crisis, and the government funding deadline.

McCarthy told reporters on Thursday it would be a big hill for Scalise to secure the floor votes to win the gavel.

Its possible, its a big hill though. He had told a lot of people he was going to be at 150, he wasnt there, though, McCarthy said Thursday morning.

Some of Scalises allies viewed those comments as an effort to undermine Scalises speakership bid, given his actual tally of supporters in the election  113  was well below the number McCarthy revealed.

As he continues to take a back seat on the behind-the-scenes negotiations, McCarthy has tried to project himself as a leader by kicking off the week with a media blitz in the wake of the attack on Israel in a room that is typically reserved for leadership and big press conferences. McCarthy had spoken from that same podium days earlier after he was ousted from the speakership.

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Editor's note: An earlier version of this story referred to the early voting site as Election Central, but its official name is Election Operations.

A sign letting people know they can vote at Monroe County Election Operations, which is open for early voting, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

Early voting for the Nov. 7, 2023, general election opened Wednesday at Election Operations at 302 S. Walnut St.

Who is on the ballot?

On this year's ballot are city offices including mayor and several city council seats and a Monroe County Community Schools Corp. referendum. The only contested race is for City Council District 3, in which voters will choose between Democratic primary winner Hopi Stosberg and Republican candidate Brett Heinisch.

What happened in the primary: Bloomington City Council incumbents Sgambelluri, Smith ousted

Other offices appearing on the ballot are Bloomington mayor, city clerk, three at-large seats and districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 on the city council.

Tax question open to voters outside city limits

Monroe County residents in all but Richland and Bean-Blossom townships may vote on the MCCSC referendum, which seeks to raise property taxes 8.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, though school officials have said most property owners will see a lower increase. MCCSC has stated the tax impact for a home assessed at $250,000 would be about $50.

On the ballot: What to know about MCCSC's new $9M referendum proposal

MCCSC has said the referendum, if passed, would raise $9 million to fund early childhood education and cover technology and testing fees. The proposal comes just one year after voters approved an 18.5-cent referendum that is providing the school district with a little over $17 million this year. Like last year's referendum, the new tax would last for eight years if approved.

When and where is early voting?

Early voting is open at 302 S. Walnut St. from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday through Oct. 27 and Oct. 30 to Nov. 3. Early voting will also be available 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 4. The final day to vote early is Nov. 6, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Precinct polls will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 7.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Early voting information for Monroe County, Bloomington, Indiana
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is reserving the option to halt Irans access to $6 billion it is set to receive as part of a prisoner exchange deal the White House and Tehran reached last month, but so far, it sees no need to do so, according to three sources familiar with the discussions.

The White House has faced bipartisan pressure since Hamas attacked Israel to block Iran from accessing any of the $6 billion, particularly as the U.S. tries to assess whether Iran had any direct involvement in the attack.

Follow along with lives updates on the Israel-Hamas war here.

These funds should remain frozen until we can determine whether Iran played a role in the attack and what the appropriate U.S. response should be, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., said in a statement Wednesday.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., issued a similar statement, and Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on Tuesday called for the U.S. to refreeze the assets.

Critics of the White Houses decision to give Iran access to the $6 billion argue that the money is fungible and that any funds Iran receives for humanitarian assistance frees up more money for it to spend on nefarious activities in the Middle East.

Administration officials, while suggesting that freezing the $6 billion is on the table, have not said what the trigger to do so would be or how the process would work. Refreezing the Iranian funds also could have an effect on the administrations efforts to negotiate future deals for other wrongfully detained Americans abroad.

President Joe Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said that none of the $6 billion in unfrozen Iranian oil revenue has been spent, while he declined to say whether the administration would seek to refreeze it. Jon Finer, the deputy national security adviser, told Jewish leaders in a call Tuesday that, if necessary, we have options available to us if it is not spent for the purpose to which it is restricted.

Iran cannot directly access the funds on its own, according to U.S. officials, who stress that the money is sitting in a Qatari bank and is intended only for humanitarian use.

The officials insist there are already several safeguards to ensure the money is not misused, including monitoring by the U.S. Treasury Department and by the Qataris, as well. Any approved withdrawal for goods such as food, medicine and agricultural equipment would be monitored by both entities, officials said.

The funds had been held in a South Korean bank under a mechanism that allowed Iran to keep selling oil to South Korea and several other countries. U.S. sanctions had prohibited Iran from accessing the money.

The funds in Qatar are subject to identical restrictions as the funds in South Korea and may only be used for the same types of humanitarian trade. Such transfers are consistent with our Iran sanctions, which include long-standing authorizations and exceptions for the provision of humanitarian goods and assistance to Iran, one of the administration officials said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told NBC News' Lester Holt in an interview last month that his government would spend the money wherever we need it.

The U.S. has pledged to take action immediately if it notices Iran using the money for anything other than the stated humanitarian purposes, the official added.

The National Security Council spokesman, Adm. John Kirby, said Tuesday on MSNBC, That money can be frozen at any time, we can stop any transaction.

The U.S. government has accused Iran of funding and arming Hamas since the 1990s. So far, administration officials have said they have not found a smoking gun that directly links Iran to Saturday's attack in Israel.

Still, some congressional Democrats say the administration needs to hit pause. In the House, Reps. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., and Colin Allred, D-Texas, called on the Biden administration to refreeze the funds, as did the Blue Dog Coalition whose members are moderate Democrats.

Money is fungible, and there is a well-documented history of Iran funding Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations opposed to the existence of Israel, the coalition said. Doing what we can to prevent the financing of future acts of terrorism by a regime in Tehran whose leaders praised these attacks is the least we can do to ensure our ally Israel can defend itself.

Separately, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., introduced legislation Wednesday that would block Irans access to the funds.

Over the weekend, Biden administration officials pushed back against accusations from Republicans that the $6 billion had been used to fuel the attack by Hamas in Israel, saying Iran had not yet accessed any of the money.

Its very unfortunate that some are playing political at a time when so many lives have been lost, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. 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.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
[Source]

Pyo Ye-rim, a South Korean YouTuber who was allegedly bullied for 12 years, has passed away at 27 years old.

What happened: The Busan Police Station and the Fire Department received a call about a woman who fell into the Seongjigok Reservoir in Busan, South Korea, at 12:57 p.m. on Tuesday.

Search teams found the woman, who was later identified as Pyo, at 4:20 p.m. and rushed her to the nearest hospital, where she was pronounced dead due to cardiac arrest. Authorities stated that there were no indications of foul play when they found Pyo.

Events before her death: Pyo went live on YouTube moments before her death on Tuesday.

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She reportedly uploaded a since-deleted video to her YouTube channel on the same day, where she can be seen crying. Pyo noted that the video was her suicide note and that she wanted to be at a place where [she] can just relax. She also noted in the video that people should not stop looking into her case.

About the YouTuber: Pyo, who reportedly ran a one-person beauty salon in Yeonje-gu Busan, made headlines in March after revealing on TV and through her YouTube channel she was a victim of school bullying for 12 years. She noted that the incident began in grade school and lasted until she was in high school.

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Pyo noted that the Netflix series The Glory inspired her to come forward and seek justice against her school bullies.

Helping people: Besides launching a petition to the Korean government in April seeking to abolish laws in favor of the bullies, such as the statute of limitations for school violence-related crimes, Pyo had also closely worked with other victims of school bullying.

She was reportedly hospitalized that same month following an apparent suicide attempt.

More from NextShark: EXO Member Chen Pens Letter Revealing Marriage to Pregnant Fiancee

If you or anyone you know is at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255.

More from NextShark: Journalist makes history as first person with Maori face tattoo to anchor mainstream news broadcast
A Lake Butler woman is behind bars after hitting a pedestrian with her car along West University Avenue and then driving away.

Betty Jean Alexander-Bacon, 73, was arrested by Gainesville police early Thursday morning after police said she struck a person crossing the street near the Univesity of Florida, one of the busiest sections and most densely pedestrian-populated areas of town.

An arrest report shows the crash happened around midnight by the 1300 block of West University Avenue, near The Standard complex and Northwest 13th Street. The pedestrian, whose name remains confidential under Marcy's Law, suffered a severe head wound, among others, and was bleeding when found, police said.

They were transported to UF Health Shands Hospital. No update on their status has been given.

More: Gainesville business owner arrested, admits to killing neighbor's cats with antifreeze

After hitting the person, police said Alexander-Bacon fled the scene without stopping to help the victim or render aid. She was pulled over about 20 minutes later on Northwest 13th Street about seven blocks  or 1.5 miles  from the crash where police saw her front windshield was "severely and noticeably damaged." Police said she had several opportunities to pull over sooner closer to the crash but didn't.

Her arrest report states that she told police she didn't know she hit a person and didn't initially notice her windshield was broken. Her bond has been set at $2,000 and she faces a felony charge for a hit and run.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Lake Butler woman arrested for hit and run near UF
(Bloomberg) -- Antares Capital is weighing an acquisition of European rival Hayfin Capital Management, a combination that would create a new private credit behemoth, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

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Antares, backed by CPP Investments and Northleaf Capital Partners, is interested in acquiring Hayfin as a way to quickly expand its European footprint, said the people, asking not to be identified discussing private talks. Formal negotiations between the parties havent commenced, and its possible another buyer emerges for Hayfin.

We are always considering opportunities that advance our strategic objectives and create value, said Carol Ann Wharton, a spokeswoman for Antares Capital.

Representatives for Hayfin and Northleaf declined to comment. CPP Investments didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

A combination of Antares, which had more than $64 billion of capital under management and administration as of June 30, and Hayfin, which manages 30 billion ($32 billion) of assets, would create one of the largest standalone credit managers. Itd be comparable in size to rivals including HPS Investment Partners, which oversaw about $104 billion as of August.

Founded in 1996, Chicago-based Antares is led by Chief Executive Officer Tim Lyne. CPP Investments in 2015 acquired GE Capitals sponsor finance business, including Antares. The following year, the pension giant sold a 16% stake to Northleaf.

Hayfin, owned by British Columbia Investment Management Corp. along with Hayfins management and employees, and has been exploring options including a potential sale, Bloomberg News reported last month. The London-based firm was founded in 2009 by former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executives Tim Flynn and Mark Tognolini.

Story continues

BCI also didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this year, Antares hired an executive from Hayfin as its first employee outside North America. Sheila Pejavar Brown will undoubtedly be a strong asset to our firm as we look to further deepen our relationships and build our presence in the UK and European markets, Lyne said in a statement at the time.

Read More: Fund Giants Muscle In on the $1.5 Trillion Private Credit Party

(Updates with Hayfin declining to comment in fourth paragraph.)

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In a forest in Taiwan, a large creature sat perched on a tree and, with its eight eyes, scanned its surroundings. The animal  and its unusual perch  caught the attention of scientists. It turned out to be a new species.

Researchers ventured into forests of southern and eastern Taiwan on wildlife surveys between 2016 and 2021, according to a study published Oct. 6 in the journal Zootaxa.

During their surveys, researchers found five large spiders living in tree holes, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the spiders and discovered a new species: Hogna arborea, or the Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider.

Most Taiwanese wolf spiders are small to (medium) sized species and mainly wander through the ground in grasslands, farmlands, and pond sides, researchers said. A recent discovery of a tree-hole-living species in Taiwan was therefore surprising.

The Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider is considered large, reaching about 0.8 inches in size, the study said. It has eight eyes, strong legs and a hairy body with a heart-like shape. Females have internal genitalia with a pair of massive, leaf-like and wiggly folds.

Photos show the Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider. Its legs are a mixture of brown, white and black blotches, getting darker toward the tips. Its hairy body has a similar color pattern with a distinct brown central band, researchers said.

A Hogna arborea, or Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider, seen fully stretched out. Photo from Ying-Yuan Lo

Other photos show the new species perched in tree holes and tucked behind its web. Researchers reported seeing these spiders weaving an irregular, flat web on the opening of the hole.

A Hogna arborea, or Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider, behind a web and in a tree hole. Photo from Ying-Yuan Lo

Researchers also saw the Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider carrying an egg sac and wandering on the wall of a concrete water tank, the study said.

The Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider has been found in forests of four counties in southern and eastern Taiwan, the study said.

A Hogna arborea, or Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider, looking out of a tree hole. Photo from Ying-Yuan Lo

Researchers named the new species after its preferred habitat. The Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider is one of only three wolf spider species that have been definitively described as arboreal.

The new species was identified by its size, habitat and genitalia, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had between about 6% and about 12% genetic divergence from other known wolf spiders.

The research team included Ying-Yuan Lo, Chi Wei and Ren-Chung Cheng.

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Donald Trumps legal team on Wednesday accused special counsel Jack Smiths office of violating the former presidents due process rights by attempting to pursue both of his federal trials before the 2024 election, The New York Times reported.

The lawyers reasserted their request to delay Trumps trial related to his handling of classified records until after the 2024 election. His team filed a request last week asking U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to postpone the trial until "at least mid-November" of 2024  after Election Day on Nov. 5.

Christopher Kise, who is representing Trump, strongly criticized the special counsel's office for opposing his requests to postpone the documents trial. In the Wednesday filing, Kise expressed concerns that the May trial could clash with Trump's other federal trial, set to begin in March in Washington, where the former president faces accusations of three election-related conspiracies, The Times reported.

The special counsels office continues to maintain that it is appropriate and not a violation of Trumps due process rights to push forward back-to-back multi-month trials in different districts, he added.

The special counsels office is engaged in a reckless effort to try to obtain a conviction of President Trump prior to the 2024 election, no matter the cost, Kise wrote.

While Trumps counsel argues that Smith committed to obtaining a conviction of Trump prior to the 2024 election, it is clear that Trumps strategy has been and will be to delay his federal trials through extensive pre-trial motion practice at every turn, Temidayo Aganga-Williams, a white-collar partner at Selendy Gay Elsberg and former senior investigative counsel for the House Jan. 6 committee, told Salon.

This filing marked the third round of court documents regarding the request for a delay in the documents trial, the Times reported. Trump has been pursuing this strategy since he was initially charged in the case.

He previously asked that the trial be put off indefinitely, as his lawyers worked through complex procedural issues. Their request was denied by Cannon.

Trump will continue to file motion after motion, in an attempt to build a record before the court that he can use to argue he is not receiving a fair trial, Aganga-Williams said. He is both litigating before the judge but also before the public.

The indictment alleged that Trump unlawfully retained over 30 classified documents following his departure from the White House and conspired with aides at Mar-a-Lago to impede the government's repeated attempts to retrieve these documents that contained intelligence on nuclear weapons programs and information on the nation's defense capabilities.

The former president has a pattern of pushing to delay his trials. His legal team attempted a similar strategy last week, seeking to slow down the election interference case by arguing that Trump is shielded from criminal prosecution because of presidential immunity.

His lawyers contended that the acts he is criminally charged with were part of his official presidential duties rendering him absolutely immune from prosecution.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Trump is not exercising his right to a speedy trial, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Salon. On the contrary, his lawyers are saying they need more time to prepare.

While this may be true since the ex-president is in the middle of a civil trial and fighting four different criminal cases in four different states using many of the same lawyers, the timing issue may be strategic as well, he added.

Trump has a better chance of becoming president again than getting acquitted in the classified documents case, Rahmani said. A conviction is also bad for his chances of beating Biden. Voters dont like a felon.

Earlier this week, special counsel prosecutors asked Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing his election subversion case, to force Trump to inform them whether he plans to blame his former legal team for providing poor advice to avoid any delays in the trial.

The formal order would force Trump to inform the prosecutors about his plans by mid-December thereby preventing any disruptions and delays ahead of the trial.

It is not surprising that Trump is pursuing an adjournment before Judge Cannon, who has proven herself to be receptive to some of Trumps complaints, whether those complaints are supported or not, Aganga-Williams said. Federal judges have almost absolute control over how fast cases move on their docket. If Judge Cannon does not want this trial to happen before the election, the special counsel has very few tools to force her to act otherwise.
As crisis unfolds in Israel-Palestine following horrific acts of terrorism this past Saturday, King Charles has joined other world leaders in weighing in on the situation.

"This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about, and he has asked to be kept actively updated," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said today. "His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak."

The Palace spokesperson added, "His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel." The death toll continues to rise in the region, with Israel saying 1,200 have been killed, with around 150 people estimated to be held hostage in Gaza. According to Gaza officials, over 900 Palestinians have been killed as Israel retaliates.

In 2020, Charles visited Israel and Palestine, becoming the most senior British royal to undertake an official visit. While there, he met former Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. In addition, he delivered a speech at the World Holocaust Forum.

During his trip, he also visited the grave of his grandmother, Prince Philip's mother Princess Alice of Greece, who is buried on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives. She sheltered a Jewish family in Athens during World War II, and was honored by Israel's Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem, as Righteous Among the Nations.

Charles had previously visited Jerusalem in 1995 and 2016 to attend funerals, but 2020 marked his first state visit.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to New York City for a cause that hits close to home.

To mark World Mental Health Day, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's Archewell Foundation teamed up with Project Healthy Minds for a powerful summit discussing mental health in the age of social media.

Throughout the two-hour event, which Harper's Bazaar was in attendance for, the couple invited parents and families from all over the United StatesLouisiana, Texas, Alabama and in betweento share their heartbreaking experiences with the dark side of social media. Each parent who spoke during the summit lost a child to mental health struggles stemming, among other things, from an overexposure to social media.

Over the last year, Archewell has worked to provide safe spaces for grieving couples to come together with families who found themselves in similar tragic situations.

Bryan Bedder - Getty Images

Bryan Bedder - Getty Images

The day's speakers were joined by Archewell's co-executive directors, James Holt and Shauna Nep, who led the first two discussions for the afternoon. Afterwards, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were joined onstage by NBC's Carson Daly, who moderated their position of the event, as well as by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. The royals reiterated Archewell's dedication to finding a solution to protecting and prioritizing children's mental health in the internet age. The couple also confirmed that they have been privately meeting with top social media companies to discuss building further framework to protect children from some of the associated perils of social media use, including but not limited to bullying, inappropriate videos, and predatory algorithms.

The burden of this can't solely be on the parents, Meghan said. A lot of the conversations we've had quietly behind the scenes with tech executives, they do feel that they've created parental controls and certain guard rails to curb this, but not all parents are tech savvy and can navigate that, and there needs to be a better solution than that. You put in safeguards so when situations like this keep happening, you're still working to keep people safe.

Prince Harry echoed his wife's statements, reiterating that even with all the resources in the world at hand, Archewell is still working to find a permanent solution to the social media problem. And it will take more research, more advocacy, and potentially proper legislation one day, to do so.

Social media is going to evolve and devolve as time goes on. Of course these platforms also serve as a creative space, which is what I think the majority of these companies want to focus on. But when it comes to kids, we have to do more to protect themthey don't know any better and they don't know any different, Prince Harry said. We just all need to be aware of what it does over time and be mindful of engaging with it all in small doseswe do need to be able to share how we're feeling and have a way to connect with each other and support each other. It all comes down to awareness.



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Several events and resources are being planned for the 250,000 people expected to visit Richland County for the total solar eclipse the weekend of April 8, 2024.

The sky will go dark at 3:12 p.m. for 3 minutes, 16 seconds when the moon passes between the sun and Earth to create the first total solar eclipse in Ohio in 208 years.

The total eclipse is not to be confused with the partial solar eclipse that will be visible about 1:04 p.m. this Saturday  only about 35% of the sun will be covered during the partial eclipse, but the sun will be 100% blocked during the April 8 event.

Fairgrounds plans to open to campers April 5, 2024

Thousands of people will watch the eclipse from the Richland County Fairgrounds, according to Kathi Cutlip-Mills, coordinator of the county's Community Emergency Response Team and longtime fairgrounds volunteer.

"We are looking to make this a festival," Cutlip-Mills said.

The event is still being planned, but she said the goal is to open the fairgrounds for campers as early as Friday, April 5, 2024. The expectation is that 200 campsites will be sold, with a maximum of four people per site.

Terry Carter, coordinator of First Call 211 for Richland County, explains that residents can use the hashtag #RCEclipse2024 when making social media posts about the April 8, 2024, total eclipse.

"That's 800 people right there," Cutlip-Mills said.

Untold hundreds more visitors are expected to pack into the grandstand, infield and midway when the rest of the fairgrounds open to the public starting Saturday  the entry fee has not been determined.

"There will be seminars and other activities once they come in that will all be free," Cutlip-Mills said.

Local food vendors, merchandise vendors and various other entertainers will likely be stationed at the fairgrounds throughout the weekend.

The event will last until after the eclipse ends Monday, April 8, 2024.

The sun reemerges from behind the during a total solar eclipse Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, over Hayes Canyon Campground in Eddyville, Ill. Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

3 websites created for visitors, residents, businesses

An unprecedented number of visitors are expected to overwhelm North Central Ohio as they seek the best view of the heavenly event, according to Rebecca Owens, director of the Richland County Emergency Management Agency.

That's why local organizations have created three different websites to serve as resources for county residents, businesses and visitors.

The website for residents is hosted by the Richland County Commissioners: richlandcountyoh.gov/departments/eclipse2024.

The site for local businesses is hosted by the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development: richlandareachamber.com/workforce/2024-total-solar-eclipse.

And the site for out-of-town visitors is hosted by Destination Mansfield: destinationmansfield.com/ohio-total-solar-eclipse.

The pages are designed to help locals prepare for the influx of people, to ensure businesses and organizations have planned for operational interferences the day of the eclipse, and to direct guests toward the best and approved viewing areas throughout the county.

Entities hoping to be listed on each website are asked to contact each organization's webmaster directly.

Eclipse to reach Ohio about 3:10 p.m. near Greenville

The eclipse will enter western Ohio about 3:10 p.m. near the city of Greenville in Darke County, according to a NASA map.

The path of the eclipse will travel northeast, reaching Cleveland by 3:15 p.m., then Erie, Pennsylvania, by about 3:18 p.m.

The totality viewing area will be a 124-mile wide strip angling from the southwest to northeast corners of the state.

The apex of the centerline will be in Forest, a village 35 miles west of Bucyrus in Wyandot County.

Visitors from around the world are expected to flood the county in search of viewing areas as close as possible to that point of maximum totality.

The state EMA predicts about 250,000 visitors will watch the eclipse in Richland County. Others will travel through to reach Crawford County, where the view will be slightly better.

"Expect to have buses coming in," Cutlip-Mills said. "Like, charter buses full of people."

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland County prepares for 2024 eclipse with festival, new websites
Charles Skold, a Maine state representative who previously identified as bisexual, has posted on social media that he now identifies as gay or queer.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Skold wrote, Last month I was listed as one of 35 bisexual lawmakers to know! This #NationalComingOutDay Ill share I now describe myself as gay or queer. Our journeys evolve. Whats important is living our authentic self every day. I'm a man who loves other men, learning to love myself too!

 (@)

twitter.com

Skold, a Democrat, is in his first term in the Maine House of Representatives, having been elected in 2022. He has pledged to fight back against right-wing efforts to roll back LGBTQ+ and minority rights, and he is an advocate for the poor and working class. The advances we have made in equal rights are being threatened, and we need people who will fight for them, he told the Portland Press Herald in 2022, ahead of the Democratic primary.



He gained some attention in June, as legislators debated a rating system for books with sexual content, he wondered aloud what rating the Bible would receive, as it includes stories of sex, incest, rape, murder, as reported by the Maine Wire (which, it should be noted, is a far-right site).

Skold knows his Bible; he earned a master of theological studies degree at Harvard University (along with a master of public administration degree) in 2019 and worked for five years in college ministry at Tufts University. He did his undergrad studies at Tufts, where he graduated with a degree in political science in 2011. He attends St. Lukes Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, where he volunteers with the congregations Public Policy and Environmental Action Team. He also volunteers with another environmental group, the Portland Climate Action Team, and Greater Portland Family Promise, which assists low-income and unhoused families. He is a veteran Democratic Party activist as well.

Skold lives in Portland, the states largest city, and he grew up in Freeport, Maine. When hes not legislating, he trains business leaders in the practice of negotiation as director of program development at SAB Negotiation Group.

His legislative achievements include sponsoring a bill to bring Maine into line with federal law regarding tipped workers, which was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills in June. Maine law previously said tip-pooling arrangements couldnt include restaurant employees who arent servers  cooks and dishwashers, for instance. Since federal law now allows their inclusion, Skold sponsored legislation to allow Maine restaurants to include them in tip pools as well, something he says will foster teamwork.

Also this year, he introduced a bill designed to help low-income Mainers get reimbursed for attorneys fees and court costs if they win a lawsuit, but so far it has not passed.
A Delaware man was arrested and charged with the kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl from Wayne after they met through online gaming, authorities said on Thursday.

The child was swiftly located in Bear, Delaware, after being reported missing, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

Law enforcement members said the child had been lured by Darius Matylewich, who initially met her while playing an online video game. Matylewich, without the knowledge or consent of the child's parents, took her from Wayne to Bear on Sept. 10, the prosecutor's office said.

New Castle County, Delaware police arrested Matylewich near Berwick Lane and Perth Street in Bear. He has since been extradited to New Jersey to face the charges.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Wayne NJ kidnapping case leads to charges for Delaware man
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer traveled across Michigan this week to build momentum for repealing abortion restrictions as the effort faces a major obstacle: the objection of a single Democratic lawmaker who could derail changes abortion rights advocates say would expand access in the state.

Abortion rights groups have long called for a so-called "Reproductive Health Act" in Michigan. Proponents argue that such a law would reflect the will of voters in the state who passed Proposal 3 last fall to enshrine abortion rights in the state's constitution. Among the proposed changes, the bill package would repeal Michigan's 24-hour waiting period required before an abortion, the state's informed consent law that requires reviewing specific materials before the procedure and a law allowing private and public insurance providers not to cover abortions.

But state Rep. Karen Whitsett , D-Detroit, who said she voted for Proposal 3 sees the legislation that her fellow Democrats introduced as going beyond what Michigan voters wanted last year.

Karen Whitsett, a Democrat from Detroit, represents Michigan's 9th House District.

"We're going a bit far," she said. Democrats hold a one-vote majority in the state House. Assuming all GOP lawmakers oppose abortion-related legislation, a single Democratic no vote would stymie the package.

Whitsett opposes key parts of the current legislation, such as repealing Michigan's 24-hour waiting period for those seeking abortions. She said she has heard from constituents in her district who support abortion rights who  like her  also oppose legislation to require Medicaid to cover the cost of an abortion.

"They did not agree to pay for it," she said.

Whitsett said she voted for Proposal 3 because she believes in safe and accessible abortions.

"I myself have had a termination. I have been raped. I've gone through this process. So yes, I believe that that should be there for someone," she said.

Whitmer held two roundtables this week with Democratic lawmakers, abortion rights advocates and providers and faith leaders to talk about repealing more abortion laws in Michigan in addition to the state's 1931 abortion ban.

On her second stop in Birmingham, Whitmer kicked off the discussion by celebrating the passage of Proposal 3 last fall. "But we also know that in this moment, the people of Michigan had certain expectations of us and there are still many barriers that are on the books with regard to a woman being able to exercise this fundamental right," she said.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses supporters before signing legislation to repeal the 1931 abortion ban statute, which criminalized abortion in nearly all cases during a bill signing ceremony, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Birmingham, Mich. The abortion ban, which fueled one of the largest ballot drives in state history, had been unenforceable after voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution last November.

Clare Molnar, who sat in a circle with Whitmer and other roundtable participants with her newborn, shared she had two abortions, one of which stemmed from a fetal abnormality that complicated the pregnancy and was ultimately covered by her insurance she said because of a technicality.

"If it hadn't been, it was a $36,000 bill," she said. "That's an insane amount of money for anyone, including someone like me with relative financial privilege."

"I know there's currently a representative right now holding up some progress because one of her concerns is that Medicaid funds will be allocated towards abortions," Molnar said. "Abortion in my eyes is right, not a privilege. If someone who is insured via Medicaid and can't get an abortion, that's not just."

Carpool lanes in Michigan: Whitmer signs bills to authorizing MDOT

Asked how she plans to overcome Whitsett's objections, Whitmer said she would encourage those who participated in the roundtable discussions to reach out to lawmakers and said she wants to see the entire package on her desk to sign this fall.

"I don't want to postpone any of it," Whitmer told reporters. "I'll sign every piece that hits my desk though."

Whitsett said she has had conversations with Democrats leading the effort in state Legislature about her concerns and said she is waiting to see what changes if any they might make to the legislation.

"My job is not to just go along to get along with everybody and blindly vote and complain at home to my husband and say, 'You know, I don't feel good about this or this made me uncomfortable.' What good is that?" she asked.

The Michigan House's Health Policy Committee sent the legislative package to change the state's abortion laws to the full House for a vote last month. It hasn't come up for a vote since then. Earlier this week, the state Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services heard testimony on their chamber's version of the legislation.

Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Democratic Karen Whitsett could derail abortion law changes
A solar eclipse will happen this weekend, and weather permitting, most of California will have the opportunity to view a portion of it.

On Saturday, the moon will pass between earth and sun, giving people across the U.S. an opportunity to see an annular solar eclipse. The main path of the solar eclipse includes portions of several states, including Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and the northern tip of California.

The eclipse should start to be visible on the Oregon coast around 8 a.m. as it moves in a south-easterly direction.

The National Weather Service said the prime eclipse viewing time is at 9:26 a.m., with those in the mountains and deserts having a better chance to see the event due to less cloud coverage.

The path of the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023 over North America

High Desert residents who look to the east Saturday morning will be treated to a partial solar eclipse with just under 80% of the sun blocked out by the moon at the eclipses peak.

In California, if you want the best view of the ring of fire, youll need to drive up to Modoc County, according to SFGate.

Hotels and campsites are already pretty well booked, and the sparsely populated corner of Northern California is expecting a surge in tourists this weekend, SFGate reported.

NASA will host live coverage of the eclipse starting at 11:30 a.m. EDT. on NASA Television, the agencys website, and the NASA app. NASA will stream the broadcast live on its Facebook, X, and YouTube social media accounts.

The Lewis Center for Education Research in Apple Valley will partner with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to monitor two major eclipses in 2023 and 2024 with the use of the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT).

Lewis Center for Education Research

The Lewis Center for Education Research in Apple Valley will partner with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to monitor Saturdays eclipse and one in 2024.

The project is led by researchers at different academic institutions and will study the sun and its influence on Earth with various instruments. It is one of five interdisciplinary science projects funded by NASA.

"Seven years after the last American total solar eclipse, we're thrilled to announce the selection of five new projects that will study the 2024 eclipse," said Peg Luce, acting director of the Heliophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We're excited to see what these new experiments will uncover about our Sun and its impact on Earth."

The opportunity comes from a NASA grant to the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT) team based at the Lewis Center and its Solar Patrol campaign, the space agency announced. The telescope is located at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near the Fort Irwin National Training Center, north of Barstow.

Under the direction of JPL scientist Dr. Thangasamy Velusamy, GAVRT citizen scientists will use the 34-meter telescope to measure subtle changes to radio emissions from solar active regions during the October 2023 annular and April 2024 total eclipses.

From left to right: a total eclipse, annular eclipse, and partial eclipse.

Solar eclipse 2023

Also known as a ring of fire eclipse, an annular solar eclipse happens when the moon is at or near its farthest point from Earth, according to NASA.

Because the moon is farther away than it is during a total solar eclipse, the moon appears smaller and doesnt block out the entire sun when it passes in front of our star. Instead, the moon leaves a bright ring of sun visible at the eclipses peak, creating the ring of fire effect.

This eclipse will also be visible in Puerto Rico and parts of Alaska and Hawaii. The areas will see a partial solar eclipse when part of the sun is covered by the moon without creating the ring of fire effect.

Eclipse 2024

The next solar eclipse takes place on April 8, 2024, when a total solar eclipse will cross the U.S. from Texas to Maine. During this event, a partial solar eclipse will be visible throughout the contiguous U.S., as well as in Puerto Rico and parts of Alaska and Hawaii.

Learn more about the Oct. 14 eclipse at go.nasa.gov/Eclipse2023.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: How much of Saturdays annular solar eclipse will be seen High Desert?
Rationalstat LLC

The global atopic dermatitis market is expected to touch US$ 19.1 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of more than 8.7%

Wilmington, Delaware, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Atopic Dermatitis Market value is estimated at US$ 10.7 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of over 8.7% over the forecast period of 2023-2030, according to the latest market report by RationalStat





Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory skin illness characterized by dry, itchy, and irritated skin. It is a common skin ailment that usually occurs in early childhood but can affect people of all ages.

Higher diagnosis rates have resulted from increased knowledge of atopic dermatitis and its influence on quality of life. Patients and healthcare providers are actively pursuing advanced treatments and management choices, which is increasing the demand for novel solutions.

According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, the global atopic dermatitis market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including drug class, mode of administration, distribution channel and geography/regions (including North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific) . The report also offers global and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030.

Market intelligence for the global atopic dermatitis market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Units) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc.

In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on the global atopic dermatitis 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

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Global Atopic Dermatitis Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis

On the basis of drug class, the biologics sector is expected to dominate the global atomic dermatitis market due to increased awareness of the disease's treatment options.

On the basis of mode of administration, in 2022, the injectable segment led the market, and this trend is projected to continue as product approvals of medications such as dupilumab increase.

Report Synopsis

Report Metrics Details Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 10.7 billion Market Size Forecast US$ 19.1 billion Growth Rate 8.7% Key Market Drivers Emergence of Biologics

Strong product pipeline

Untapped opportunities in the global market

Rising product approvals Companies Profiled Pfizer Inc.

Sanofi

AbbVie Inc.

GALDERMA LABORATORIES, L.P.

Eli Lilly and Company (Dermira)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.

LEO Pharma Inc.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Novartis AG

Incyte Corporation

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Competition Analysis and Market Structure

Players engaged in the production of atomic dermatitis therapeutics adopt various strategies in order to reinforce their market share and gain a competitive edge over other competitors in the market. Mergers & acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations, and product launches are some of the strategies followed by industry players. Some of the key developments in the global atopic dermatitis market include,

In October 2022, Leo Pharm launched a campaign to improve atopic dermatitis awareness across cultures. This campaign followed the experience of four chronic skin disease patients from France, Italy, Germany, and Spain..

Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to the global atopic dermatitis market growth include Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, AbbVie Inc., GALDERMA LABORATORIES, L.P., Eli Lilly and Company (Dermira), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., LEO Pharma Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Novartis AG Incyte Corporation, among others.

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RationalStat has segmented the global atopic dermatitis market based on drug class, mode of administration, distribution channel, and region

Global Atopic Dermatitis Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Drug Class PDE-4Inhibitor Corticosteroids Others Biologics Calcineurin Inhibitors Tacrolimus Pimecrolimus

Global Atopic Dermatitis Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Mode of Administration Topical Injectable Oral

Global Atopic Dermatitis Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies

Global Atopic Dermatitis Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region North America Atopic Dermatitis Market US Canada Latin America Atopic Dermatitis Market Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Western Europe Atopic Dermatitis Market Germany UK France Spain Italy Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Atopic Dermatitis Market Russia Poland Hungary Other CIS Countries Rest of Eastern Europe Asia Pacific Atopic Dermatitis Market China Japan India South Korea Australia ASEAN Indonesia Thailand Philippines Vietnam Malaysia Rest of ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Atopic Dermatitis Market GCC Saudi Arabia (KSA) United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rest of the GCC South Africa Nigeria Turkey Rest of the Middle East & Africa



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Key Questions Answered in the Atopic Dermatitis Report:

What will be the market value of the global atopic dermatitis market by 2030?

What is the market size of the global atopic dermatitis market?

What are the market drivers of the global atopic dermatitis market?

What are the key trends in the global atopic dermatitis market?

Which is the leading region in the global atopic dermatitis market?

What are the major companies operating in the global atopic dermatitis market?

What are the market shares by key segments in the global atopic dermatitis market?

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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.

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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.

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ASHEVILLE - At Urban Orchard, a crowded South Slope cidery, North Carolina Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein kept his focus on the state during his Oct. 11 stump speech, rather than focusing on local issues, like the care Western North Carolina patients receive at Mission Hospital.

HCA Healthcare, a publicly traded for-profit company, bought Mission Hospital in 2019, a deal that Stein ultimately allowed to go through but had limited power to dictate.

Steins staff ran microphones to prospective voters once he finished speaking. The first question he received was about Mission Hospital.

You mentioned health care, a woman in the crowd said. A big issue for those of us in Buncombe County and Henderson is the deterioration of services from the HCA takeover from Mission. What can you do to help us?

Since February, Steins office has been trading letters with HCAs North Carolina Division President Greg Lowe about the cancer services the hospital provides. In a June 20 letter Steins office chided Mission for employing a single medical oncologist.

Attorney General Josh Stein speaks at Urban Orchard in his bid for governor, October 11, 2023, in Asheville.

The latest letter, sent by Lowe Oct. 4, revealed that the last staff medical oncologist working at the hospital, Michael Burke, would end his stint Nov. 26.

HCA spokesperson Nancy Lindell said that the hospital offers various cancer specialties including breast, colorectal and pediatric.

We continue to recruit for and welcome new physicians and care providers to our team, she added.

Steins office has questioned whether the condition of the hospitals cancer services have violated the terms of its 2019 agreement to purchase the Mission Health system. As part of that agreement, Mission Hospital had to provide inpatient and outpatient cancer services, radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and infusion services for 10 years following the sale.

Despite the news of Burkes departure, local physicians who have criticized Missions cancer services believe Steins focus is misaligned. It is also unclear whether Steins office will bring an enforcement action against the hospital, and what that action will be.

Many of the doctors who work at Messino Cancer Center, a local physician group, have provided medical oncology for the region for the past three decades, according to Martin Palmeri, who leads the groups cancer treatment at Mission entities and is the president of the North Carolina Oncology Association.

Palmeri believes that Steins office should focus its inquiries on the services necessary to provide high quality cancer care.

If the Department of Justice can see that its not a numbers game as much as it is the ancillary resources you need to safely and adequately deliver the right care, I think you would see that there is a deficiency there, Palmeri said.

He pointed to low staffing levels among oncology department nurses and chemo-trained pharmacists, as examples.

Attorney General Josh Stein is applauded as he speaks at Urban Orchard, October 11, 2023, in his bid for governor.

Messino Cancer Centers decided to stop providing treatments at Mission Hospital for certain complicated cancers due to inadequate staffing. Patients will need to receive their treatments at facilities hours away.

Stein told the Citizen Times after the campaign event that the letters were a fact-finding effort.

We want to know what has happened, Stein said. How many oncology doctors have left Mission, whether theyre still providing services, the ones that are there, what services are they providing of the various types of oncology so that we can make an assessment whether theyre in violation of the asset purchase agreement.

Stein added that the action his office would take is a full-fledged investigation. He said that his office would issue a civil investigative demand to get more information.

People clap as Josh Stein takes the microphone during a visit to Asheville at Urban Orchard, October 11, 2023.

More: Mission Hospital ambulance patient wait times lengthen while Buncombe mulls solutions

More: Mission Hospital wins CON approval to build new emergency room in Candler

More: NC Attorney General reprimands HCA/Mission Health for providing inadequate cancer services

Nazneen Ahmed, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office, explained in an Oct. 11 email that this would require the person/organization to respond to investigative requests for documents and records. If they do not provide those, our office could take legal action. Thats one of the potential next steps were looking at, but nothing has happened yet.

The state attorney general said his office is considering opening such an investigation.

According to the agreement to buy the hospital system, Dogwood Health Trust, the nonprofit formed to receive the proceeds of the Mission sale, is tasked with enforcing HCA's obligations to comply with the terms of the sale. Stein's office can enforce the agreement if Dogwood fails to correct a violation within 40 days of becoming aware of it. Dogwood becomes aware of these violations through an annual reporting process coordinated between HCA, Dogwood, Stein's office and an independent advisory firm that provides recommendations to Dogwood about compliance issues.

Dogwood Health Trust last took action to enforce the sale agreement in 2021, informing HCA that it violated the contract by closing an operating room at Highland-Cashiers Hospital without obtaining requisite consent. Stein's office agreed with Dogwood's decision in a letter.

In 2022 and 2023, Dogwood Health Trust did not report any compliance issues with the agreement.

Independent monitor meetings

The independent advisory firm tasked with reviewing whether HCA has adhered to the commitments it made as part of its agreement to buy the Mission Health system will be holding meetings for the public in the coming weeks.

Gibbins Advisors, a Nashville, Tennessee-based firm, provides recommendations to Dogwood Health Trust about compliance issues with the agreement.

Meeting times and places:

Transylvania County (re: Transylvania Regional Hospital). Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Thomas Concert Hall, Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Lane, Brevard.

Buncombe County (re: Mission Hospital, CarePartners and Mission Childrens Hospital). Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. The Scenic Hotel Cypress/Maple Room. 184 Hendersonville Road, Asheville.

Macon County (re: Angel Medical Center). Nov. 1 at 5:30pm. Macon County Library Meeting Room. 149 Siler Farm Road, Franklin.

Macon/Jackson County Meeting (re: Highlands-Cashiers Hospital). Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. 355 Frank Allen Road, Cashiers.

McDowell County Meeting (re: Mission Hospital McDowell). To be scheduled early 2024. Details yet to be announced.

Mitchell County Meeting (re: Blue Ridge Regional Hospital). To be scheduled early 2024. Details yet to be announced.

Register at surveymonkey.com/r/2G3H6X7.

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: NC AG Stein considers 'civil investigative demand' against HCA Mission
Nearly 19,000 Iowa students were approved to use state funds to pay their private school expenses this year as part of the new "education savings account" program, but state officials can't say yet how many of those students have enrolled in private schools.

The Iowa Department of Education approved 18,893 education savings accounts for the 2023-24 school year, according to a Thursday news release. Families may use up to $7,635 per student to pay private school expenses, including tuition and fees.

The numbers far exceed state projections that predicted 14,068 students would be approved to receive education savings accounts in the program's first year.

More than 29,000 students applied for an education savings account after the law was signed earlier this year.

"These numbers reflect that Iowans were hungry for educational freedom," Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement. "Empowering parents wasn't just a campaign slogan or empty rhetoric. It was a promise, and I am excited to say we are delivering."

The state couldn't say Thursday how many of the 18,893 students who were approved for ESAs were accepted into or previously attended an accredited private school. Public and private schools do not report their enrollments until mid-October, and the state will not finalize that data until December, according to the news release.

Only students who are enrolled in private schools have access to the funds, which are transferred directly from the state to the school.

Related: School administrative spending is 'remarkably consistent,' not 'ballooning,' auditor finds

The Department of Education has already begun dispersing funds to accredited private schools for tuition and fees, officials said. The new law allowed funds to be dispersed starting July 15.

Officials did not have a total for how much private schools have received since the law went into effect.

The Department of Education said nearly 6,000 applications were denied because applicants did not meet residency or household income requirements. Another 4,762 applications were closed by the applicant or were duplicates.

Related: From book bans to bullying alerts, which schools are exempt and which aren't from Iowa law

How do Iowa education savings accounts work?

For years, Reynolds pushed the Iowa Legislature to pass an education savings account program.

She succeeded this year, as lawmakers quickly advanced and approved a bill that will eventually allow every Iowa family, regardless of income, to use thousands of public dollars toward a private school education.

In this first year of the program, any student switching from public school to an accredited private school was eligible for an ESA, as were all incoming private school kindergarteners.

Students who attended private school last year were eligible for the state funds only if their family's household income was at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. That is roughly $90,000 for a family of four.

Applications for this year's funds opened on May 31.

In the 2024-25 school year, private school students will be eligible for ESAs if their household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines. Applications have not opened for next year.

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, all Iowa students will be eligible for ESAs regardless of family income.

How much will ESAs cost the state?

We don't know yet exactly how much the education savings accounts will cost for the coming school year.

If approved applicants each used their full allotment of $7,635, it would cost the state a combined $144.2 million.

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, who opposed the law from its introduction, issued statements Thursday condemning the program.

"The $144 million Reynolds is handing over to the special interests and private schools should be going to the kids in Iowas public schools," House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said in a statement.

However, it's unlikely that all 18,893 approved applicants were able to secure a spot at an accredited private school. If an applicant does not attend private school this year, they will not be able to access education savings account funds.

Public and private schools are required to report their enrollment by Oct. 15. The state will finalize those numbers in December.

Which counties had the most approved applications?

Iowa's most populous counties saw the highest number of approved applications for education savings accounts.

Polk County topped the list, with 3,179 approved applications.

Which school districts will be most affected by students leaving will not be known until after the state releases certified enrollment numbers later this year.

Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed reporting.

Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa starts paying for private school scholarships for students
Newport police have released the identity of the woman who was killed Wednesday when the electric bicycle she was riding collided with a bucket truck.

According to police, Kayla Watson, 34, of Middletown, was pronounced dead at Newport Hospital following the crash that occurred around 7:50 a.m.

Police said Wednesday that Watson was traveling west on Admiral Kalbfus Road when a bucket truck, operated by James Drape, 53, of South Attleboro, Massachusetts, struck the bicycle while making a left-hand turn to Hillside Avenue, running Watson over.

Drape was cited for Obedience to Devices (Red Light) and Due Care by drivers. Police on Thursday said the Attorney General's Office was still reviewing the crash to determine if any criminal charges would be filed.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Middletown woman killed in Newport crash identified as Kayla Watson
Do you have eclipse glasses for the Great American Eclipse 2023?

If not, you could potentially get a pair for free at your local library. Below are things to know about the Great American Eclipse aka "ring of fire" eclipse in October and a roundup of which libraries in Florida are giving them away (while supplies last).

Florida solar eclipse: Even without 'ring of fire,' social media takes these great photos

When is the Great American Eclipse 2023?

There are three notable solar eclipses viewable from the U.S. After the Great American Solar Eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017, the Great American Eclipse follows on Oct. 14, 2023, then the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024. Skywatchers from hundreds of miles outside the path will still be able to see the "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse in October.

Eclipse schedule: Best time to see it in Florida, weather permitting

Can the Great American Eclipse 2023 or 'ring of fire' eclipse be seen in Florida?

Weather permitting, to see all phases of an annular eclipse, you must be within the path of annularity. According to a map on greatamericaneclipse.com, the U.S. path of annularity for the "ring of fire" eclipse covers parts of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The ring of fire will not be visible from Florida  unless you watch it virtually from a livestream.

However, the state of Florida should have a 50 percent to 60 percent chance of seeing a phase of the annular eclipse.

Florida will be able to see a partial solar eclipse Oct. 14, 2023, beginning at 10:38 a.m. CT/11:38 a.m. ET through 3:13 p.m. ET, according to timeanddate.com.

What is the path of annularity for the 'ring of fire' eclipse 2023?

Nasa

Embedded content: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBa0pSIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--dbbafb7ea2500db8a6aea6c3bff2b6c67a3629c6/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCam9MWm05eWJXRjBPZ2wzWldKdyIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--24997868381b1f10543ce76109cabaf03df01923/5668_annular_eclipse_2023_path_of_totality_map_of_north_america-opt.jpg?content_type=image%2Fwebp&disposition=inline

When the moon obscures everything but the outer ring of the sun, hence the nickname "ring of fire," the path where skywatchers can view this is called the "path of annularity."

Will we see October 2023 solar eclipse from Florida?

Though Florida is not in the path of annularity, skywatchers would still have a 50 percent to 60 percent chance of seeing a phase of the annular eclipse in October, weather permitting, of course.

To see all phases of an annular eclipse, you must be within the path of annularity. According to a map on greatamericaneclipse.com, the path of annularity for the "ring of fire" eclipse covers parts of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The ring of fire will not be visible from Florida  unless you watch it virtually from a livestream.

Florida will be able to see a partial solar eclipse Oct. 14, 2023, beginning at 10:38 a.m. CT/11:38 a.m. ET through 3:13 p.m. ET, according to timeanddate.com.

Where do I get solar eclipse glasses for the 'ring of fire' eclipse in October 2023?

The American Astronomical Society offers a list of suppliers for safe solar filters and viewers online. Also, various Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart locations sell ISO-compliant safe eclipse glasses and/or handheld viewers, the group states.

All safe eclipse glasses will meet the "ISO 12312-2" standard. The AAS warns that "NASA does not approve or endorse products. Some vendors print the ISO logo on their viewers or claim that they're 'ISO certified,'" according to a blog post on its site, but "ISO prohibits the use of their logo on products and does not certify products."

To protect your eyes, you'll want to wear eclipse glasses that are "recognized by the American Astronomical Society's Solar Eclipse Task Force as a supplier of safe solar viewers/filters," the AAS site states.

Are libraries in Florida giving away solar eclipse glasses for free?

In celebration of National Library Card Signup Month, some Florida libraries are giving away solar eclipse glasses at no cost and while supplies last.

Are libraries in Brevard County, Florida, giving away solar eclipse glasses?

Brevard County libraries will provide free solar eclipse glasses (while supplies last) for the Oct. 14, 2023, Great American Eclipse aka "ring of fire" eclipse. "These same glasses can be used again for the total solar eclipse happening on Monday, April 8, 2024," the site states. The eclipse glasses were provided via the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Space Science Institute and SEAL (Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries) program.

Are libraries in Palm Beach County, Florida, giving away solar eclipse glasses?

Palm Beach County Library System will provide a pair of eclipse glasses per library card (don't forget the card!) through Oct 13. On Oct 14, any remaining eclipse glasses will be given on a first-come, first-served basis to library cardholders, a notice on its site states.

Are libraries in Broward County, Florida, giving away solar eclipse glasses?

Broward County Library will distribute 8,000 free solar eclipse glasses to Broward library cardholders during regular service hours. One pair of glasses will be distributed per library card shown, the site states. An Oct. 11 check online shows eclipse glasses are available (for now) at these libraries in Broward County:

African American Research Library and Cultural Center

Beach Branch

Carver Ranches Branch

Century Plaza/Leon Slatin Branch

Dania Beach Paul De Maio Branch

Davie/Cooper City Branch

Fort Lauderdale Reading Center

Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center

Hallandale Beach Branch

Hollywood Beach Bernice P. Oster Branch

Imperial Point Branch

Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library

Lauderdale Lakes Library/Educational and Cultural Center

Lauderhill Central Park Library

Lauderhill Towne Centre Library

Margate Catharine Young Branch

Miramar Branch Library and Education Center

North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch

North Regional/Broward College Library

Northwest Branch

Pembroke Pines/Walter C. Young Resource Center

Pompano Beach Library and Cultural Center

Riverland Branch

South Regional/Broward College Library

Southwest Regional Library

Stirling Road Branch

Sunrise Dan Pearl Branch

Tamarac Branch

Tyrone Bryant Branch

Weston Branch

What does ISO 12312-2 mean?

ISO refers to "International Organization for Standardization," though ISO is derived from the French name.

Safe eclipse glasses that help prevent injury from intense radiation from the sun and provide a satisfying view of the celestial event are categorized with the international standard ISO 12312-2, in short, "eye and face protection" for direct observation of the sun. ISO 12312-2 applies worldwide.

The American Astronomical Society explains that "ISO standards are not laws, though governments sometimes base laws on ISO standards. This means it is not necessarily illegal for a product to fail to meet the requirements of an ISO standard. But it may be inadvisable to buy or use such a product, as failure to meet the requirements of an applicable standard likely means the product is not well suited to its purpose."

The 'ring of fire' solar eclipse will be visible in North America in October.

Are 3D glasses the same as solar eclipse glasses? No.

No. 3-dimensional glasses will not protect your eyes during an eclipse. Do not wear them and look at the sun during an eclipse.

Can I wear sunglasses and watch the solar eclipse? No.

No. We can't stress this enough. It is not safe to look up at the sun during a solar eclipse while wearing sunglasses, no matter how dark the lenses are.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Do I need glasses for Great American Eclipse, ring of fire on Oct. 14?
This story is developing and the Carlsbad Current-Argus will provide more information as it is made available.

A person was killed and another was injured during a police shooting Thursday morning outside the Artesia Public Safety Complex.

New Mexico State Police was investigating the incident, and reported on social media that one subject was dead and another was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment with their condition unknown.

State Police did not verify if the deceased or the injured person was shot by a police officer, the nature of incident or the identities of the two people or the officer involved.

The Artesia Public Safety Complex was blocked off after an alleged shooting on the morning of Oct. 12, 2023.

NMSP investigating an OIS involving Artesia PD at the Artesia Public Safety Complex. Officers uninjured. One individual is deceased, a second individual is being airlifted, condition unknown. More via press release when available. pic.twitter.com/X1mpNcDljN  NMSP (@NMStatePolice) October 12, 2023

The public safety complex was shutdown at about 9:30 a.m. amid the investigation. The complex at 3300 West Main Street in Artesia houses the Artesia Police Department, Eddy County Sheriffs Office, Artesia Fire Department, Artesia Municipal Court, New Mexico State Police and New Mexico Probation and Parole Office.

The scene remained active as of about 10:30 a.m.

Law and fire agencies from Artesia, Eddy County and New Mexico State Police were on scene of an alleged shooting at the Artesia Public Safety Complex on the morning of Oct. 12, 2023.

The agency did say it planned to issue a press release on the incident.

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: One killed, another injured in Artesia police shooting
New Jersey residents will see a partial solar eclipse as its path passes through the western United States this weekend, a prelude to a total eclipse coming closer to the region in six months, experts say.

The "ring of fire" eclipse, so named because of the halo of light appearing around the moon as it crosses in front of the sun, will begin in the U.S. in Oregon at 9:13 a.m. Pacific Standard Time Saturday, according to NASA. The 125-mile-wide path will continue southeast through much of Nevada, Utah and New Mexico, leaving Texas at 12:03 p.m. local time on its way through Central and South America.

The moon will appear slightly smaller Saturday, thus producing the ring, because it is only about four days past apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, according to the Farmers' Almanac.

Bill Dunford at NASA took this photo of an annular eclipse on on May 20, 2012.

The phenomenon will block out a majority of the sun for several minutes in areas within the eclipse path, the almanac stated. People in Salt Lake City and Portland, Oregon, will see as much as 87% of the sun covered Saturday morning, followed by a maximum of 85% in Houston and 81% in Dallas.

The amount of sun covered by the moon drops off sharply in the east, but the area will still see a partial eclipse early in the afternoon. Viewers in New York City will see the greatest amount of coverage at approximately 1:23 p.m., when 23% of the sun is shielded, according to the almanac.

Related: A spectacular solar eclipse will darken the sky Saturday. Will the one in April be better?

The Liberty Science Center is hosting a variety of activities for Ring of Fire Eclipse Day Saturday, with tickets for the celebration available online. The public can take part in hands-on astronomy lessons, learn more about why eclipses happen, receive free solar viewing glasses and see a live webcast showing views of the eclipse around the world.

The center will also preview the next eclipse, a total solar eclipse whose path will travel much closer to New Jersey, on April 8, 2024.

Path of the Oct. 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse.

The total eclipse will enter North America through Mexico and travel northeast all the way through Maine and eastern Canada, according to the American Astronomical Society. New York City, just outside the eclipse path, will see up to 90% of the sun covered that afternoon.

The U.S. last experienced a ring of fire eclipse in 2012, according to the Farmers' Almanac, while the most recent total solar eclipse was in 2017. Space enthusiasts in America are urged to check out these events while they have the opportunity, because it will be a while before either is seen again.

The next ring of fire eclipse will hit the country in 2039, and it will only be visible in Alaska, according to the Associated Press. Residents of the continental U.S. will have to wait seven more years, until 2046, for the next ring of fire to be visible.

After the spring, the next total solar eclipse that will be seen from the continental U.S. will take place Aug. 23, 2044, NASA said.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Solar eclipse 2023: How to see 'ring of fire' from NJ
Seven people who underwent invasive surgeries at a Yale University fertility clinic endured excruciating pain during their procedures after a nurse stole pain medication  and replaced the drugs with saline, according to a newly filed lawsuit.

The patients were supposed to receive fentanyl for pain relief during the surgeries but were given saline instead as a result of the nurses theft at the Yale Reproductive Endocrinology Clinics New Haven location, a complaint filed Oct. 10 in Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford says.

Their fertility procedures  including an In vitro fertilisation egg retrieval, a procedure involving the draining of an ovarian cyst, and a testicular sperm extraction  left the patients with torturous pain after the surgeries in 2019 and 2020 at the clinic, according to the complaint.

One patient who underwent an egg retrieval procedure in September 2019, was in so much pain during the procedure that she thought her organs were going to come out through her groin, the complaint says. She recalls the experience as nightmarish, according to the complaint.

This woman and the six other individuals are suing Yale University, accusing it of failing to prevent and detect the nurses theft of fentanyl and failing to inform them of the drug diversions, the complaint shows.

This is the latest lawsuit filed against the university by former patients who were given saline instead of pain medication at Yales fertility clinics, according to a news release from Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder PC law firm, which previously filed a similar lawsuit.

Sixty-eight people sued Yale in November 2021, accusing it of ignoring multiple complaints from women that they had experienced excruciating pain during IVF egg retrievals, and other painful procedures at another Yale REI Clinic located in Orange, the news release said.

What started as a case that focused exclusively on treatment at Yale Universitys Orange Fertility clinic, has now extended to the Universitys care at its (New Haven) clinic, the release said.

For the seven individuals involved in the lawsuit filed on Oct. 10, their painful procedures in 2019 and 2020 came before the nurse admitted any wrongdoing, according to the release.

In 2021, a former Yale nurse pleaded guilty in connection with using a syringe to steal fentanyl and reinjecting saline into the fentanyl vials at the REI Clinic in Orange, according to federal prosecutors in the District of Connecticut. In May 2021, the woman was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release, four weekends in federal prison, and three months of home confinement, prosecutors said.

The seven plaintiffs in the latest lawsuit realized what happened to them after listening to The Retrievals, a New York Times podcast about women who experienced painful fertility treatment at the universitys REI Clinic, according to the release. The podcasts first episode was released on June 29.

When I learned years later that the excruciating pain I experienced was a direct result of the institutions failure to properly manage controlled substances, and that nobody on my care team or administrators at Yale had reached out to tell me about this, I felt betrayed, one of the seven plaintiffs, who is an obstetrician-gynecologist, said in a statement.

McClatchy News contacted Yale University for comment on Oct. 11 and didnt receive an immediate response.

A university spokesperson told WTNH it alerted law enforcement and fired the nurse after the drug diversions were discovered.

Since this time, we have instituted additional measures to ensure we have the right processes, procedures and safeguards in place, the spokesperson told the TV station. These measures include training and enhanced management systems.

Hundreds of vials replaced with saline, suit says

The latest complaint filed against Yale says the nurse swapped out hundreds of vials of fentanyl for saline in 2020 and before 2020.

A federal investigation found about 75% of the vials of fentanyl patients received during procedures from June 2020 to October 2020 at the REI Clinic in Orange were adulterated with saline, according to prosecutors.

On Oct. 4, 2022, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut announced Yale University agreed to pay $308,250 as part of a civil settlement in connection with the fentanyl diversion at the universitys clinic in Orange.

The settlement resolves allegations that Yale failed to maintain complete and accurate records concerning the controlled substances it purchased and dispensed at the Yale Fertility Center, and failed to provide effective controls and procedures to guard against theft and diversion of controlled substances, a news release issued by the attorneys office at the time said.

The lawsuit filed by the seven patients argue its possible hundreds of Yale patients underwent the most painful surgeries and procedures offered at the REI Clinic with little or no pain medication.

These victims spent years blaming their own bodies for the excruciating pain they experienced during their fertility procedures, after their Yale providers ignored and discounted their complaints, Kelly A. Fitzpatrick, an attorney at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, said in a statement.

They are coming forward and seeking justice now, after having only just learned that their experience was not unique and instead that they fell victim to Yale Universitys inexcusable systemic failures, Fitzpatrick added.

The lawsuit comes a week after a Connecticut nurse was indicted on federal charges in connection with swapping out anxiety medication meant for patients medical procedures with saline, McClatchy News previously reported. Its unclear where the nurse worked, as it wasnt specified by prosecutors or in court documents.

The indictment filed Oct. 3 against the Southbury nurse, whose nursing license is now suspended, charges him with five counts of tampering with a consumer product, according to federal prosecutors.

Nurse was caught swapping pain medicine meant for surgery patients with saline, feds say

Nurse swaps fentanyl with saline, then emergency patient gets tampered drug, feds say

Nursing student stole fentanyl and injected herself in hospital bathroom, feds say

Nurse practitioner prescribed pills to have sex with women, promote TV show, feds say
PeaceHealth Medical Group building at 1200 Hilyard St will be home to PeaceHealth's sole Eugene urgent care center in December after relocating from the current West Eugene location.

PeaceHealth will relocate its West Eugene Urgent Care to downtown Eugene.

Tentatively planned for December, the West Eugene Urgent Care at 3321 W. 11th Ave. will no longer be operating. Instead, staff and clinic will move into space at PeaceHealth Medical Group, which is across the street from the University District hospital.

PeaceHealth stated the move is an effort to offer urgent care services in a more central location.

PeaceHealth will be making some minor renovations to ground-floor space in the PeaceHealth Medical Group building at 1200 Hilyard St.

The PHMG building, which houses many clinics and doctors offices, in addition to a lab and imaging, is on the west side of Hilyard Street. PeaceHealth stated that this move will not be impacted by the planned closure of the University District hospital, which was announced in August.

Weve had many productive conversations, both internally and externally, since we announced in August the beginning of a comprehensive process to close the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District hospital, Dr. James McGovern, interim chief executive and chief medical officer for PeaceHealth Oregon network, said. During those conversations, we were delighted to find a pathway with the Oregon Health Authority to maintain both inpatient behavioral health and inpatient rehabilitation services without interruption.

Another issue discussed was walk-in and same-day care options for patients downtown and near the University of Oregon campus who do not have access to a vehicle, he said. Moving the urgent care clinic to a more central Eugene location helps us better serve those patients and many others.

The West Eugene Urgent Care is PeaceHealth's only remaining urgent care location in the Eugene-Springfield area. Previously, PeaceHealth had urgent cares at its Valley River location in Eugene and Gateway location in Springfield, but both closed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to staffing, consolidating all urgent care services to the West Eugene facility.

The Valley River location is doing a phased opening as the new PeaceHealth Valley River Pediatrics Plus Clinic. It is serving pediatric patients noon to 9 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

The clinic plans to begin operating five days a week in the coming months. The Gateway location permanently closed in March.

The West Eugene Urgent Care is less than four miles away from the University District area. PeaceHealth stated it is exploring other clinic options for the West Eugene property.

PeaceHealth's West Eugene Urgent Care is currently open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

The PeaceHealth walk-in clinic at Woodfield station in south Eugene also remains open. It is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 541-222-8700 to make an appointment.

People can also make appointments at PeaceHealth's two ZoomCare facilities, 2490 Willamette St. in south Eugene and 3266 Gateway St. in Springfield. Appointments can be made online at zoomcare.com.

To help determine whether to seek care at an emergency department or at an urgent care, PeaceHealth recommends visiting peacehealth.org/healthy-you/infographic-know-where-go-care.

To find a PeaceHealth location near you, visit peacehealth.org/locations.

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: PeaceHealth West Eugene Urgent Care to relocate to downtown center
Phoenix, Arizona, is the center of the US's burgeoning semiconductor chip industry .

It's the fifth-largest city in the US, but isn't always viewed that way on the global stage.

Mayor Kate Gallego said the city's "semiconductor revolution" could help change these perceptions.

Phoenix, Arizona, mayor Kate Gallego wants her city to receive the international respect she says it deserves. Over the next decade, she might get her wish.

In 2020, Phoenix reclaimed its title as the fifth-largest city in the United States, surpassing Philadelphia. But when one thinks of major US cities, it's sometimes left out of the conversation.

"We're still trying to prove ourselves as an important global city," Gallego told Insider. "The semiconductor revolution could be our big moment."

Phoenix is the center of the US's burgeoning semiconductor chip industry. It's the home to roughly 80 semiconductor companies, per Gallego, including two of the largest chip manufacturers in the world: Intel and TSMC.

In summer 2022, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS Act into law. This included over $52 billion in subsidies to boost the US manufacturing of semiconductor chips, which are used to power everything from iPhones to washing machines to military equipment.

The funding, much of which is expected to flow to Arizona, isn't just about creating US jobs. It's about ensuring the US economy doesn't take a nosedive if an international development  like a Chinese invasion of Taiwan  cuts off its access to the world's leading chipmaker, the Taiwan-based TSMC. Last year, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the US would face a "deep and immediate recession" if it lost access to Taiwanese chips.

This is why TSMC's decision to build two chip factories in Phoenix has been viewed by experts as an important development  both for the city's economy and the US as a whole.

"Phoenix has long been an advanced manufacturing city, but we feel like this is a pivotal moment for us," Gallego said. "Semiconductors are a huge part of our future."

The push to bring jobs, non-stop flights, and Taiwanese dumplings from Asia to Phoenix

In 2019, Gallego became the second female mayor in the city's history and at age 41, is among the youngest big-city mayors in the US. Before running for office, the New Mexico-born, Harvard graduate worked in economic development for one of Arizona's largest utility companies. So perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that she sees economic growth as the best way for Phoenix to make a name for itself on the global stage.

The campaign is well underway.

Over the summer, Gallego flew to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to advocate for Phoenix on the global stage. She said this included meeting with semiconductor companies that had already invested in Arizona and recruiting new ones to the city, particularly suppliers of TSMC and Intel.

In addition to pushing for business expansion to Phoenix, Gallego said she's also working to connect the city to Asia in another way. There are currently no direct, nonstop flights between Phoenix and Asia, a development that could benefit the semiconductor industry and the city's economy on the whole. Airlines have been skeptical that there is enough demand for these flights to make the investment worthwhile.

"I have been working on that for almost a decade," Gallego said. "Right now we have cargo that flies into California and is trucked here. That seems inefficient to me."

President Joe Biden tours the building site for a new computer chip plant for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, in Phoenix. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File

Her trip wasn't focused solely on the semiconductors, however. She said she also met with some companies in the electric vehicle, air mobility companies, and food industries.

"I have committed to the people of Phoenix  we're going to improve the dumplings in Phoenix," she said. "I'm a major fan of Taiwanese dumplings."

Phoenix's semiconductor industry could face some challenges

In the years ahead, Phoenix's economy and international reputation seem poised to benefit from the semiconductor boom. But a few obstacles remain in its path.

The first of the two TSMC chip factories has faced construction delays and accusations of management and safety issues. In July, the factory's opening date was pushed back a year to 2025.

"It is the most complex project that I have seen in our city," Gallego said of TSMC's Phoenix factory. "And so we expect there to be a lot of issues that we all need to work through. We have a major investment of people coming from another country who need to learn all of our laws and regulations."

TSMC's Phoenix chip factory has faced construction delays. Jacob Zinkula

There are also concerns that even once factories like TSMC's are built, there will be a shortage of workers to fill them. Deloitte estimated that the industry could face a shortfall of 70,000 to 90,000 workers over the next few years. In response, governments, companies, and schools are working to boost recruitment and training to close the gap.

"I am working with TSMC and other partners to start raising awareness, particularly at the high school level," Gallego said. "I find a lot of young people don't know what a semiconductor job is or how semiconductors are used, and so we're trying to work to increase that awareness."

Even when factories are built and workers are trained, there's also a concern that  at least in the near term  semiconductor companies will be slow to hire. Over the past year, some businesses have laid off workers and enacted hiring freezes in response to economic conditions.

But Gallego said the hiring will come.

"A lot of the new employment in semiconductors has been in construction, and then as the fab facilities are completed, you'll see more and more of the transition toward manufacturing."

Read the original article on Business Insider
One of the highlights of Jackson State University's annual homecoming week events that are underway this week is sure to be a historic photographic exhibition open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. week days in the Johnson Hall Art Gallery on the main campus.

Jackson State University and Getty Images teamed up to present the exhibit titled "A JSU Homecoming Legacy: Connecting the Past to the Future" that they say aims to capture the essence of homecoming week from the universitys earliest years to present.

Elayne Hayes-Anthony, Jackson State University acting president, said the exhibit offers a rare glimpse into the history and memories of the university, showcasing the evolution of the institution and its legacy.

Jackson State University cheerleaders and tumblers posing for photograph at the Mississippi Memorial Stadium.

The Jackson State University legacy is aspirational and very bright, Hayes-Anthony said to the room of more than 30 attendees during the exhibition's opening reception Tuesday evening. Our stories weave together the phenomenal history of our institution and the state of Mississippi whether we are amplifying our humble beginnings, celebrating noted alumni, boasting academic excellence and student success of our facility reunion called homecoming.

As visitors enter the exhibition, they are greeted by a timeline that chronicles the evolution of homecoming week over the years witnessing how the event has transformed and grown. From black and white snapshots of early JSU history to vivid images of recent years, the exhibition offers a visual journey through time.

JSU gets Getty Images grant: Jackson State University to share wealth of new history through photo archive grant

The exhibition is part of the Getty Images Photo Archives Grant for HBCUs made possible by the Getty Family and the Stand Together organization. Twenty applicants applied for the grant, and Jackson State was one of four recipients of the grant.

The program committed $500,000 to digitize HBCU photographic archives and has supported the process of digitizing over 5,000 archival photographs from JSU's library.

Homecoming rivalry: Taking the temperature of Jackson State-Alabama State rivalry a year after Deion Sanders' 'Who is SWAC?' dagger

Cassandra Illidge, vice president of Global Partnerships and executive director of the Photo Archive Grants for HBCUs at Getty Images, said the program aims to tell the stories through the eyes and the lens of the photographers at Jackson State University.

Its all about joy, Illidge said. The celebration and the power all captured in a moment of time.

Illidge said witnessing those moments in the university's history can allow visitors to immerse themselves in the growth and development of the institution.

Attendees socialize during a photo exhibit reception in Johnson Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 11, in Jackson.

Guests can purchase the imagery on display in the gallery from Getty Images Photo Archive Grants Program for HBCUs for direct shipping to their desired location. Half of the proceeds will go toward student scholarships.

Illidge said the goal is to amplify the untold stories hidden within JSUs content and protect its intellectual property as well as generate revenue back to the school.

Locord Wilson, interim dean of libraries at Jackson State University's H.T. Sampson Library, which houses the universitys archives, said she hopes the exhibit can help visitors enjoy HBCU homecoming culture and learn about the university.

Jackson State University students marched during the parade on the campus leading to Alumni Field. The academic year was 1969-70. Fall 69.

Wilson said the exhibition will not only celebrate the past but also pave the way for a promising future. To her, the images act as a reminder of the strong bonds formed within the school community and the lasting impact that homecoming week leaves on everyone involved.

This is history. This is HBCU history, Wilson said. This is our culture all around, and I hope people will see that this is not the end. This is the beginning of something more.

To purchase copies of these and other photos, click here.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Photo exhibit on Jackson MS campus chronicles JSU's homecoming history
DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Air Cargo today took delivery of the first of two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft on lease from BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM). Alaska Air Cargo plans to use the aircraft for expanded freight service in the state of Alaska and beyond in the coming months.

(PRNewsfoto/BBAM Limited Partnership)

This is the fifth and sixth North American placement of the 737-800BCF for BBAM as part of its commitment with Boeing for 40 conversions of the type. The first aircraft recently completed conversion at COOPESA, a maintenance facility in Costa Rica. A second aircraft will be converted by Boeing at KF Aerospace in British Columbia. Alaska Cargo plans to have both BCFs in service by the end of Q1 in 2024.

"BBAM is excited to deliver its first Boeing 737-800BCF aircraft to Alaska Airlines. The aircraft will deliver flexibility, capability and operational efficiency across Alaska Air Cargo's growing cargo network. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Alaska," said Steve Zissis, president and CEO of BBAM.

The 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter is equipped with CFM56-7B engines and carries a maximum structural payload of 23.9 tons with 12 main deck positions. It flies more than 2,000 nautical miles with a maximum payload and is an exceptionally cost-effective standard-body freighter.

"We look forward to welcoming this first of two Boeing 737-800s into our current fleet," said Adam Drouhard, managing director of Alaska Air Cargo. "These additional aircraft will nearly double our current cargo capacity and extend the range of our network for our customers. We appreciate BBAM and Boeing's support in converting these former Alaska Airlines passenger aircraft to freighters and allowing us to expand our lift at Alaska Air Cargo."

About BBAM

Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM) is one of the world's largest and longest standing aircraft lessors, with more than $16 billion in aviation assets under management. For more than 30 years, we have delivered sophisticated fleet financing solutions to airlines and a broad and expanding range of aircraft leasing and finance opportunities to our partners. BBAM employs more than 140 professionals globally with offices in Dallas, Dublin, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, and Zurich. You can find more info about BBAM on our website at www.bbam.com.

Story continues

About Alaska Air Cargo

Alaska Air Cargo serves over 100 destinations in North America with an extensive network and more than 1,200 daily flights. Providing a variety of reliable shipping services, Alaska Air Cargo utilizes a fleet of 737 freighters serving 20 communities in the state of Alaska as well as offering belly cargo service on a fleet of over 300 passenger planes serving the Continental U.S., Canada, Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico, with new service to the Bahamas and Guatemala starting in December. We strive to be the most caring airline with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program. As a member of the oneworld alliance, and with our additional global partners, our guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 25 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

BBAM Media Contact

info@bbam.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bbam-delivers-first-alaska-air-cargo-737-800-freighter-conversion-301954293.html

SOURCE Bbam US LP
Name: Conor Duffy

Race: Poudre School District Board of Education District F

Question: Why are you interested in running for a seat on the Board of Education and what are your qualifications?

Answer: I'm driven to run for a Board of Education seat due to my deep commitment to enhancing our education system. I possess significant experience, serving on the Poudre School District audit committee and as a Larimer County planning commissioner. I actively campaigned for teacher pay increases through Amendment 73 and Ballot Initiative 4A. In 2016, I led Timnath's efforts to secure new schools and boost funding. My involvement and experience at the district level will ensure a seamless transition to a new PSD board.

Q: What is the biggest issue facing the school district, and, if elected, how would you address it?

A: The biggest issue facing our district is fluctuating enrollment numbers. We must procure and analyze updated enrollment data. With new data, we can make well-informed decisions regarding where to invest our school funds. I am committed to working with the community, teachers and parents to navigate this issue. Together, we can develop a strategy that ensures our schools remain adaptable and capable of delivering a high-quality education, irrespective of enrollment fluctuations.

Q: How do you define parental rights as it pertains to public education? What level of input should parents/guardians have in curriculum selection and content?

A: Our school district does a terrific job of seeking input from parents/guardians on various issues affecting our students. We have a transparent system that actively involves parents in 10 different PSD committees. Changes to the curriculum follow a well-defined process where parent/guardian involvement is not just sought but required. This approach ensures that our curriculum aligns with evidence-based practices and educational goals.

Q: Learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools switched to remote and hybrid instruction, is significant across the nation. What should the school district be doing to close that gap?

A: PSD is already closing the gap, and it's a tremendous reflection of our students' dedication. As we gain a deeper understanding of our existing gaps, the district can provide additional support, including tutoring, increased learning opportunities and extra training. Most importantly, I want to express my gratitude for the hard work of our parents, teachers, and especially our students for their resilience and determination to bounce back.

Q: As our average temperatures in Colorado continue to rise, should all schools have central air-conditioning? If not, why? If so, how should adding it to those without be funded?

A: Not all schools can support the physical AC infrastructure. Secondly, retrofitting schools with AC is cost-prohibitive, and we currently dont have the financial resources to retrofit all schools. We must consider our aging school infrastructure as we set our strategy for providing high-quality education. I understand that learning is hard when the classroom is 90 degrees, but we'll need to adapt to the reality of heat days, calendar changes and adjusted start times as the new normal.

Q: We are in a high-growth area that will continue to require the building of new schools. What steps should the school district take to ensure equity among students in both old and new facilities?

A: We are currently experiencing growth, but national, state and Northern Colorado demographics predict a decline in student numbers. In some areas, there's even a severe drop in elementary student enrollment. How we address this challenge will shape our district's direction for the coming years. Fortunately, we have available options to ensure equitable opportunities for all students in our schools.

Q: Given the rising cost of living in Northern Colorado, what steps should be taken to ensure the district is able to attract and retain the best teachers, administrators and district leaders?

A: We must prioritize raising teacher pay. While Ballot Initiative 4A was a step in the right direction, our teachers face significant challenges. Affording rent within the district, let alone buying a house, supporting a family, and managing student loans, is a daunting task. There's a real risk of losing dedicated teachers who have invested their careers in our students. They deserve the opportunity to reside in the communities where they teach.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Q&A with Conor Duffy, running for PSD Board of Education District F
A new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum shines a spotlight on lagging vaccination rates among Wisconsin schoolchildren and urges state and local officials to focus on districts with the most students behind in vaccination.

Last school year, one in 10 Wisconsin school children were not up-to-date on all routine vaccines required to attend school or had no vaccination record on file, according to figures reported by public and private schools to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

That amounts to about 90,000 K-12 students who do not have one or more of the required vaccines, which include vaccines for hepatitis B, polio, measles and other preventable diseases.

Highly contagious diseases like measles are especially concerning to public health officials, as outbreaks of the disease can be difficult to contain. On Tuesday, public health officials announced that a Milwaukee resident had tested positive for measles, one of at least 30 cases so far this year in the United States.

School immunization rates can vary widely from district to district and from school to school.

The Wisconsin Policy Forum report examined variations in vaccination rates among school districts.

The report relied on school immunization data reported to the state. It analyzed only data from public school districts and any charter schools authorized by a public district.

A total of 373 school districts, comprising 769,300 students, were included in the Wisconsin Policy Forum's analysis. The report excluded certain school districts from the analysis if they did not submit data to the state or their numbers were faulty.

Here's a few take-aways from the report.

More: 1 in 10 schoolchildren are not up-to-date on vaccines in Wisconsin, amid drop in childhood immunization rates

Vaccination rates for Wisconsin schoolchildren remain well below pre-pandemic levels

Last year, 10.1% of Wisconsin students were missing at least one required vaccine, according to data from the state Department of Health Services.

That is a marked increase from pre-pandemic years, a fact that public health officials have being calling attention to. In the school years between 2013 and 2018, less than 8% of Wisconsin students were missing a required vaccine.

Personal conviction waivers have risen while other waivers have stayed flat

The report found that the percentage of students with personal conviction waivers exempting them from having to receive a required vaccine has grown over the last two decades to 4.6%, from 2.6% in 2003.

In Wisconsin, students and their parents may seek waivers on the basis of personal convictions or for medical or religious reasons.

Meanwhile, the percentage of students with medical and religious waivers has remained relatively flat, at less than 1% for each in a given year, the report says.

The report also found that districts with higher rates of personal conviction waivers tended to be small and located in towns and rural communities.

Democrats in the Republican-controlled state Legislature have introduced a bill this session to eliminate personal convictions as an allowed exemption from childhood immunizations. The same bill surfaced in a previous legislative session, but never made it to a floor vote. States that allow personal belief or philosophical exemptions have been found to have much higher exemption rates than states that only allow religious and medical exemptions.

Poorer districts tended to have more students behind on vaccines

In districts where more than half of students came from economically disadvantaged homes, an average of 6.6% of students were behind in getting routine vaccinations, the Wisconsin Policy Forum report found.

When leaving out Milwaukee Public Schools, which is by far the largest district in the state and accounts for nearly 9% of the students included in the analysis, an average of 3.7% of students in economically disadvantaged districts were behind.

That's compared to an average of 1.3% of students behind on vaccines in districts where fewer than a quarter of students come from economically disadvantaged homes.

The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are partly behind the lower rates, said Heather Paradis, a pediatrician and Deputy Commissioner of Medical Services for the City of Milwaukee Health Department.

We know that many children were unable to be brought in for their routine well-child care and vaccinations, she said. School closures combined with safer-at-home orders led to many individuals falling behind and were still trying to catch up from some of that.

What local and state officials can do about it

The report included several recommendations for state and local officials, including that officials focus on districts with large numbers of students behind in their vaccinations.

"If the 78 districts with the most students living in poverty were able to catch up with their vaccinations, then more than 14,000 additional students in the state would be fully immunized," the report says.

The report urged local and state officials to target those districts with vaccination clinics, including ones that coincide with back-to-school events and school registration.

The Milwaukee Health Department is hosting about a dozen vaccination clinics at schools and other sitesaround the city this fall, Paradis said.

The report also urged officials with the state Department of Health Services to improve their data collection processes. Some districts had not submitted any school immunization data to the state, and others submitted data that was unreliable and likely contained errors.

The report also urged officials to gather more information about districts with a lot of students waiving immunization requirements on personal conviction grounds.

"A better understanding of families' reasons for this decision could inform campaigns to explain the benefits of vaccines and improve immunization rates," the report says.

Rory Linnane of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New report calls attention to lagging Wisconsin childhood vaccine rates
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) is facing new questions over a custom $19,000 lectern her office purchased earlier this year.

The lectern in question is a custom blue wood-paneled stand purchased with a government credit card in June. Matt Campbell, a lawyer and blogger, first posted the invoice for it on X, formerly known as Twitter, last month, prompting a political firestorm over its sky-high price. Similar lecterns sell for much less, but the governors office paid the invoice to an events company called Beckett Events LLC, whose founder was once a lobbyist in the Washington, D.C., area.

The drama surrounding the lectern  which comes with its own traveling case  has only grown after records released this week show the Arkansas Republican Party reimbursed the state for the item in mid-September. He said the reimbursement came just days after Campbell filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Sanders travel and expense records.

New public records have widened questions over when Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders office planned to use Republican Party funds to reimburse the state for a $19,000 lectern, which was bought in June using a government credit card. https://t.co/l69z7vziGj  The Associated Press (@AP) October 11, 2023

Sanders has described the purchase as an accounting error, and her spokesperson said she welcomed an audit.

This is nothing more than a manufactured controversy by left-wing activists to distract from the bold conservative reforms the governor has signed into law and is effectively implementing in Arkansas, the spokeswoman, Alexa Henning, told The New York Times.

An anonymous whistleblower has since accused Sanders office of altering records to cover up the purchase and had withheld documents, against the law, amid Campbells request. Campbell posted photos of the invoice he received during his request to X this week, which notes a later version has the words to be reimbursed added to it.

But it gets even weirder/worse. Remember how the invoice they provided to me had to be reimbursed, but the quickbooks receipt did not? See if you notice a difference in the records provided yesterday.



Seems someone decided that one note wasnt enough, so they doubled down. pic.twitter.com/ABQ2O8zZhp  Matt Campbell (@BlueHogReport) October 10, 2023

An email released this week shows Laura Hamilton, who serves as Sanders executive assistant, added the note after she was told to do so on the original invoice.

Sanders last month also asked Arkansas lawmakers to change the states Freedom of Information Act shortly afterward, saying the law endangered her family.

They dont care about transparency, the governor said at the time of those requesting government records. They want to waste taxpayer dollars, slow down our bold conservative agenda and, frankly, put my familys lives at stake.

Lawmakers partially approved her proposal.

A state legislative panel is expected to vote on the audit later this week after a lawmaker requested one. That lawmaker, state Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R), said the latest information further indicates the need for a full-blown audit to get all the facts.

Related...
Singapore's Home Affairs and Law Minister, K. Shanmugam emphasises the need to maintain harmony within the country while condemning terrorism and violence during his address to the local press. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Singapore's Home Affairs and Law Minister K.Shanmugam has stressed the importance of not letting the situation disrupt the nation's internal peace.

Addressing the local press on Thursday (12 October), the minister stressed the need to preserve racial and religious peace in the country.

Shanmugam expressed concerns that the ongoing conflict, which began on 7 October when the militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in civilian casualties, could potentially have an effect on Singapore's racial and religious harmony.

"We must, in Singapore, maintain our racial and religious peace. We have to stay vigilant. Terrorist groups will try and exploit such conflicts," Shanmugam said.

In response to Hamas' attack, Israel laid siege to Gaza, resulting in thousands of casualties and the destruction of entire neighbourhoods.

While acknowledging that there is going to be "a very severe reaction" to Hamas' attack  as Israel would react with its "full might"  the minister also stressed the importance of Israel adhering to international law and rules of war, echoing similar sentiments expressed by other nations.

Condemning Hamas' 'massive terrorist attack' on Israel

Describing Hamas' initial assault on Israel as a "massive terrorist attack", Shanmugam strongly emphasised that "in no circumstances" can these attacks be accepted.

"Hamas' attack on Israel, attacking and massacring civilians, is a massive terrorist attack," the minister said.

He also condemned the horrifying nature of the violence, including "the kidnapping and unjustified murder of children".

"This extreme violence must be condemned in clear, unequivocal terms," Shanmugam said.

Singapore has previously expressed hope for both Israelis and Palestinians to engage in direct negotiations for a two-state solution, promoting peaceful coexistence.

Shanmugam reiterated the nation's support for the two-state solution, clarifying that his current remarks primarily focus on the security concerns relevant to Singapore.

He further stressed the possibility of holding "very strong views" about the ongoing events in the region, acknowledging the hardships Palestinians have faced over the years.

"It is possible to deplore how the Palestinians have been treated over the years. It is possible to deeply sympathise with the plight of the Palestinians, and yet still unequivocally condemn the terrorist attacks carried out in Israel," he said.

Shanmugam also added that such atrocities cannot be justified by any rationale, whether stemming from fundamental problems or historical grievances.

A missile lands as smoke billows while Israeli forces strike a high-rise tower in Gaza City, October 7, 2023. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem) (REUTERS)

Singapore's strong stance against extremism and violence

The minister also highlighted Singapore's stance against extremism and violence, saying, "Our position has been made very clear over the years. We act against anyone who promotes or espouses extremism and violence."

He referenced instances of Singaporeans detained under the Internal Security Act for supporting Hamas or planning attacks, such as a knife attack against Jews at a synagogue in Singapore.

Shanmugam reassured that Singapore had avoided destabilisation caused by international events in the past, affirming the nation's commitment to maintaining peace within its borders.

He also mentioned increased security measures, including stepped-up patrols and security reassessment for potential targets, to address any potential threats.

"Our security agencies are watching the situation closely. For operational reasons, I cannot tell you the exact plans. But, additional measures have been taken.

"There will be stepped-up patrols at some events and places. Emergency forces are always on alert, to respond to incidents. Places which are possible targets have had their security re-assessed. And for places at higher risk, we are increasing security. ICA has also stepped up its measures," he added.

Shanmugam acknowledged the country's strong foundation of harmony and trust among racial groups, stating, "There is a lot of mutual respect and trust between religious and racial groups, and Singaporeans strongly value our racial and religious diversity and harmony."

He also cited a 2022 Pew study indicating that the majority of religious Singaporeans are "very tolerant" of other perspectives.

"For example, most say that many religions can be true, and 60 per cent said they have a personal connection to religions other than their own. It is not something you see in many other countries."

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

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Reps. Vanna Howard, D-Lowell and Jim O'Day, D-West Boylston, testify in support of a bill that would require all Massachusetts public school districts to teach a medically accurate, age-appropriate and LGBTQ+ inclusive health education curriculum.

BOSTON - It has been a decade since the bill modernizing the states sexual education curriculum to be medically accurate, age-appropriate and LGBTQ+ inclusive was first filed in the State House by Rep. Jim ODay, D-West Boylston, and Sen. Sal DiDominico, D-Everett.

Since then, the Senate has passed it four times and the House has left it to languish.

However, in June, Gov. Maura Healey announced that an updated draft framework would be submitted to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The board opened a three-month public comment period on the framework and, in September, approved the draft.

The framework outlines what students should know at each grade level; districts are responsible for determining what curriculum and materials to use.

Legislation needed to prevent districts opting-out

The framework does not mandate that every public school district in Massachusetts incorporate the curriculum into its teachings. Passing the Health Youth Act would, ODay said. It would also require the state to collect data on which districts have incorporated the curriculum, which districts need support for making the changes and also require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to review the curriculum at least once a decade.

Schools could opt out without the passage of the Healthy Youth Act, ODay said in support of his legislation, which would also allow parents to review the curriculum and opt to exclude their children from the classes. Some districts are teaching inaccurate, outdated material; its dangerous.

Over the decade since the bill was first filed, dozens of students have found their way to the State House to support the proposed changes in sex ed curriculum. These changes focus on establishing healthy boundaries, issues of consent, body safety, self-care inclusion and medically accurate information.

They did so Wednesday, when they testified before the Joint Committee on Education.

From Newton, 17-year-old Maria told the legislators that misinformation about sex, sexuality, LGBTQ+ populations and even about contraception, transmission of STDs and pregnancy possibilities was rampant.

Kids need knowledge, students say

Overall, kids need knowledge, Maria said. Having students learn the medically correct names of body parts, teaching basic anatomy and human reproduction, is not wrong.

She is part of a Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts Get Real Teen Council, active in different Massachusetts communities including Cambridge and Worcester. The council serves to educate youth about how their bodies work, how to build supportive and safe relationships throughout their lives and how to recognize toxic or abusive ones.

"Having the knowledge about what healthy relationships look like and how to properly protect yourself and your partner is important for people my age, said Emmanuella-Dorothy M., a Worcester high school student and member of the Get Real Teen Council. It will change the knowledge and empower everyone who is in a physical or nonphysical relationship.

Christine DiTullio, a nurse practitioner at a school-based health center for Kennedy Community Health Center in Worcester, said many youngsters are ignorant of even the most basic bodily functions.

I saw a 13-year-old boy, Ill call him John, who was referred to me by a school nurse for a sore throat, DiTullio said. As she conferred with the student, he mentioned leg pain. Further discussion revealed he was talking about having erections. He had no idea that erections were a normal, healthy occurrence. That they were not a shameful thing.

A spokeswoman for Fenway Health in Boston, an organization specializing in medical access for members of the LGBTQ+ community, said changing the curriculum to reflect medically accurate, age-appropriate and inclusive information about sex and sexual behavior is a matter of public health.

Misinformation has consequences

In her comments before the committee, Brittany Charlton, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, said that four of five queer students do not learn about themselves in school. The students access alternate forms of sexual information including pornography.

Queer young women are more likely to get an STD, get pregnant, Charlton said. One of her patients, a young gay woman, told her she had known she was gay since she was little. On a lark, she had sex with a male friend and became pregnant.

She told me she thought she was infertile, that she couldnt get pregnant if she didnt love the person, that she had been sexually assaulted once and did not get pregnant then, Charlton said. She urged the committee to endorse the bill.

In opposition to the updated curriculum, Luke Halberstadt of Framingham took issue with the inclusiveness and gender-affirming education.

Teaching children that gender is different from sex is confusing, Halberstadt said. A boy cannot become a girl; not one will ever give birth. A boy is a boy, a girl is a girl; do not teach the stupid lie that girls can become boys.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Students urge lawmakers to memorialize new DESE framework for sex ed
Authorities have made an arrest in a cold case murder that happened in East Durham 24 years ago.

Durham police have charged Saturnino Gutierrez-Garcia, 46, in the 1999 murder of Jesus Enrique Garza, who was 19 when he was killed.

Gutierrez-Garcia was 22 at the time of the shooting.

He is being held without bond in the Durham County Detention Center, police said Thursday.

Gutierrez-Garcia is accused of shooting Garza as the teen sat in a white Geo Storm at 827 North Miami Boulevard on Sept. 16, 1999. Police obtained a warrant charging Gutierrez-Garcia with Garzas murder, but failed to locate and detain him. He had been on the run ever since.

Authorities received information that he was living in Mount Airy, in northwestern North Carolina.

The Surry County Sheriffs Office located and arrested Gutierrez-Garcia on Oct. 7, Durham police said.

Teen shot outside Mexican bakery

Garza was shot around 1:15 p.m. on a Thursday in front of more than 20 witnesses, according to The News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun archives.

He was parked in front of a Mexican bakery that was located on North Miami Boulevard. Police named Gutierrez-Garcia, known as Nino as a suspect at large.

The drivers window of the Geo was shattered, and the front windshield was damaged by apparent gunfire. The gunmen fled in a Mustang, according to previous reporting.

Gutierrez-Garcias last known address was at an apartment complex on the 200 block of Alston Avenue in East Durham.

Our investigators would also like to thank the Garza family for their patience as we worked to bring this case to a close, police said in a news release.

Anyone with any information in this homicide is asked to call Investigator R. Armstrong at 919-560-4440 ext. 29325 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.
EAGLE PASS, Texas (Border Report)  Retiree Ruben Duran Villarreal wears orange and green identifying medical bracelets and has bandages on his left arm as he waits on a porch near Bridge 1 in this South Texas border city.

Ruben Duran Villarreal of Piedras Negras, Mexico, waits for a ride on Oct. 11, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. The 68-year-old retiree has had to walk across Bridge 1 three times per week since mid-September because the bridge is closed to traffic (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report)

The 68-year-old from Piedras Negras, Mexico, has had to walk across the bridge three times a week for recurring medical visits here in Eagle Pass because one of the two international bridges here remains closed to traffic.

U.S. officials closed Bridge 1 to vehicular traffic three weeks ago after thousands of migrants began crossing the Rio Grande illegally into Eagle Pass from Piedras Negras.

Federal law enforcement was transferred to work under Bridge 2  formally called the Camino Real International Bridge  to process the migrants, mostly Venezuelans.

Eagle Pass a war zone as thousands cross border illegally

But on Wednesday, Border Report didnt see any migrants being processed under Bridge 2, and there were very few federal agents and other law enforcement from what just weeks ago resembled a very different scene.

Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande and entered the U.S. from Mexico are lined up for processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Traffic is moving, but greatly reduced at Bridge 2  the Camino Real International Bridge  leading from Piedras Negras, Mexico, to Eagle Pass, Texas. Law enforcement had been processing thousands of migrants per day under the bridge, but on Wednesday there werent any visible. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report)

Still, Villarreal and others must walk across Bridge 1 if they want to visit downtown Eagle Pass. He said the journeys are wearing on him.

Yes, I must walk across. Its what we all have to do to get to Coahuila, Villarreal said in Spanish as he waited for a ride to pick him up on Wednesday.

Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr., says city officials want the bridge to reopen.

We dont agree with that decision and we want it open obviously, Salinas said recently speaking to reporters in Spanish.

Eagle Pass, Texas, has lost over $500,000 since one of its two bridges have been closed. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report)

He says over $500,000 has been lost since the shutdown began, and it has prevented residents from crossing back and forth for work, medical visits or shopping.

Texas state Rep. Eddie Morales Jr., a Democrat who represents Eagle Pass, this week sent an urgent request to the port director asking the bridge be reopened.

He shared the letter with Border Report, which read: This closure has brought significant concern from local leaders and critical trading partners.

Morales says that over $120,000 in bridge fees have been lost during the shutdown. (Villarreal and others pay $1 to walk from Mexico into South Texas over Bridge 1. But thats far less than the $4 fee that cars pay.)

On Friday, the Eagle Pass Bridge System posted the following message in English and Spanish on its Facebook page: BRIDGE 1 REMAINS CLOSED FOR VEHICLES! TRAFFIC IS CURRENTLY HEAVY CROSSING TO MEXICO, EXPECT DELAYS! PUENTE 1 PERMANESE CERRADO PATA VEHICULOS! ALTO VOLUMEN DE TRAFICO PARA CRUZAR A MEXICO, ESPERA RETRASOS!

The Eagle Pass Bridge System alerted travelers about bridge closures on Facebook.

On Wednesday, traffic was flowing briskly at Bridge 2, but officials say only half of the 800 commercial vehicles that used to cross daily are now using the port. Most stopped when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began 100% truck inspections at Bridge 2, further adding to transportation backups and delays.

Politics fueling Texas border truck inspections, county judge says

Morales worries that truckers have found alternate routes and wont return to Eagle Pass to transfer goods from nearshoring facilities across the border here.

He told Border Report the mandatory inspections stopped Friday.

On Wednesday, Border Report witnessed trucks zipping through Bridge 2 and past what used to be a snaking line where they had to wait to have their wipers, brakes and other vehicle parts inspected as part of Operation Lone Star.

A commercial truck crossing from Piedras Negras, Mexico, on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, passes through without requiring an inspection from Texas DPS officials in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report)

Mexicos president on Monday criticized the truck inspections and said he was going to send a diplomatic note complaining of the delays and consumer hardships.

Texas urged to lift DPS truck inspections at the border

Now officials say whats left is to open Bridge 1 and the economy can begin to rebound.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego.
NEW HAVEN, Conn., October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioCT is delighted to announce the appointment of David Scheer as Co-Chair of its Board of Directors. With a distinguished career in the life sciences industry and extensive experience in building successful companies, David brings invaluable expertise to his new leadership role within BioCT.

Jodie Gillon, President and CEO of BioCT, expressed her excitement about David's appointment, stating, "I am ecstatic to have David as our Co-Chair. I had the privilege to first work with David while at Achillion Pharmaceuticals, the role that brought me to New Haven. It was David who spent countless hours not only ensuring the CEO of BioCT position could work for me, but training and mentoring me as a first time CEO. David has been my partner since the moment I accepted  generous with his time, experience, gravitas, and contacts. He has been truly serving in the role of co-chair. I am overjoyed that the Board unanimously agreed to make it official."

Stanley Choy, the current Chair of BioCT's Board of Directors, who will now serve as Co-Chair alongside David and continue his role as the Board's treasurer, shared his enthusiasm, saying, "We are honored that David agreed to be BioCT's co-chairman. I've known David for many years and his life sciences experiences and knowledge are incredible. I worked with David in one of his companies and have seen first-hand the value he brings when he engages. Its my privilege to call him my "partner" as we move into the next chapter of BioCT."

David Scheer's impressive background includes serving as President of Scheer & Company, Inc. since 1981, a company renowned for building successful businesses and providing strategic and transactional advisory services in the life sciences industry. His affiliation with Oak Investment Partners as part of their Health Care Investing Team for nearly a decade has further solidified his expertise in the field.

Story continues

David currently chairs the boards of four privately-held companies: BiologicsMD, Adela, Inc., Refactor Health, and OrphAI Therapeutics (formerly AI-Therapeutics). He was a co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and has been involved in founding and serving on the boards of numerous other companies, both privately and publicly-held. He additionally serves as a founding member and on the Executive Committee of the Soderstrom Scholars Fund and the Board of the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund. He contributes his expertise to a number of other not-for-profit organizations, including the Rutgers Global Health Institute, NYU Grossman Medical School and Wolverine Foundation.

Reflecting on his new role as Co-Chair of BioCT's Board of Directors, David Scheer remarked, "I am honored to be asked to serve as a Co-Chair of BioCT with Stan, and to work with an exceptional staff and Board of Directors. I am a firm believer in the predictive value for success of any organization in the caliber of its leadership. In Jodie, we have a person who exemplifies a transformational leader. BioCT has a great opportunity to take our life sciences cluster in the State to a next and most important level. For this reason, I am excited about our plans, with Jodie at the helm!"

BioCT is also pleased to welcome Matt Storeygard, Senior Managing Director at Connecticut Innovations (CI), to its Board of Directors. Matt's extensive experience in venture capital and strategic consulting will further strengthen BioCT. Importantly, he brings to the Board a great deal of expertise and experience in the digital health space, which is an area of great opportunity for our State, and for BioCT to make an important contribution as well.

Matt Storeygard commented on his appointment, saying, "I am honored and eager to join the Board of BioCT. Given my role at CI leading our Life Sciences team, it will better enable a deeper collaboration between our organizations. I look forward to bringing a digital health perspective to the Board and joining an elite group of life sciences leaders in CT."

BioCT has exciting events on the horizon, including its Annual Holiday Party December 11th and an inaugural Legislative Breakfast January 22nd. BioCT remains dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within Connecticut's thriving life sciences ecosystem and the addition of key roles to the Board will enable execution of this mission.

About BioCT

BioCTs mission is to catalyze and market the growth of Connecticuts life sciences industry; fostering and promoting the state as nationally recognized for innovation and improving patient lives. Learn more at www.bioct.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012422763/en/

Contacts

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Caitlin Truesdale

ctruesdale@bioct.org

203 - 409 - 5416

BioCT

93 Shennecossett Rd

Groton, CT, 06340
Murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong attempted to escape custody during an off-site doctor's appointment on Wednesday, authorities said.

Murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong attempted to escape custody during an off-site doctor's appointment on Wednesday, authorities said.

A Texas woman jailed in last years shooting death of a 25-year-old professional cyclist briefly escaped custody on Wednesday morning, authorities confirmed after a video that appears to show her desperate sprint for freedom.

Two correctional officers were escorting murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong to a correctional vehicle following an off-site medical appointment when she ran, Kristen Dark, a public information officer with the Travis County Sheriffs Office, told HuffPost on Thursday.

She made it about a block and a half. Our corrections officers never lost sight of her and they were able to catch up with her and restrain her, said Dark.

Video obtained by local station KXAN shows a person being frantically chased near a parking lot. The footage does appear to be her running, Dark said of Armstrong, who has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of Anna Mo Wilson.

Armstrongs attorneys office told HuffPost on Thursday that they were unable to comment on the matter due to a gag order.

In the video, a person wearing a black-and-white-striped outfit runs to a wall and attempts to climb over it as an apparent correctional officer chases and stumbles behind.

Dark said she could not comment on how officers restrain people during transport, only saying that it varies from person to person and can be based on the individuals medical condition.

Armstrong and the two correctional officers were later taken to a local hospital for examination, with minor injuries reported among them. Armstrong was then returned to the countys jail facility, said Dark, who added that she could not comment on whether Armstrong has been involved in any other escape attempts since her arrest.

The 35-year-old is facing several charges in the death of Wilson in Austin, Texas, last year.

Wilson had just returned from spending time with Armstrongs then-boyfriend, Colin Strickland  who, like Wilson, cycled professionally  when she was found shot multiple times at an apartment where she was staying, authorities have said.

Armstrong was questioned by authorities in Wilsons death after her vehicle was allegedly seen on camera at the scene of the crime and around the time of the shooting. She later allegedly sold her vehicle and then fled to Costa Rica, prompting a seven-week manhunt that ended with her arrest on June 29 of last year.

Dark said Armstrong is expected to face additional charges following her alleged escape attempt this week, though she said she could not comment on what those charges may be.

Armstrongs trial is scheduled to start later this month, according to online court records.

Related...
The EPA is withdrawing its plan to require states to assess the cybersecurity and integrity of public water system programs. While the agency says it continues to believe cybersecurity protective measures are essential for the public water industry, the decision was made after GOP-led states sued the agency for proposing the rule.



In a memo that accompanied the new rules in March, the EPA said that cybersecurity attacks on water and wastewater systems have the potential to disable or contaminate the delivery of drinking water to consumers and other essential facilities like hospitals. Despite the EPAs willingness to provide training and technical support to help states and public water system organizations implement cybersecurity surveys, the move garnered opposition from both GOP state attorneys and trade groups.

Republican state attorneys that were against the new proposed policies said that the call for new inspections could overwhelm state regulators. The attorney generals of Arkansas, Iowa and Missouri all sued the EPA  claiming the agency had no authority to set these requirements. This led to the EPAs proposal being temporarily blocked back in June.



While it's unclear if any cybersecurity regulations will be put in motion to protect the public moving forward, the EPA said it plans to continue working with the industry to lower cybersecurity risks to clean and safe water. It encourages all states to voluntarily review the cybersecurity of their water systems, nothing that any proactive actions might curb the potential public health impacts if a hack were to take place.



Ever since the highly publicized Solarwinds hack in 2020 that exposed government records and the 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that temporarily shut down operations for the oil pipeline system, it's been abundantly clear that government entities and public agencies are hackable and prime targets for bad actors. The Biden administration has initiated a national strategy focused on public-private alliances to shift the burden of cybersecurity onto the organizations that are  best-positioned to reduce risks for all of us .
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (WPIX)  Thousands of people gathered to attend a rally in support of Israel on Manhattans East Side Tuesday evening.

The crowd packed into Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at 47th Street and Second Avenue, located up the street from the Israeli consulate and near the United Nations.

Biden confirms Americans among hostages captured in Israel

Gov. Kathy Hochul , Mayor Eric Adams , other elected officials and religious leaders were expected to attend.

The rally is being held in the wake of the deadly attacks in Israel by the militant group Hamas.

New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, with about 2 million Jewish people living in the city and surrounding areas.

Watch the video player for more on this story; this story is developing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Vermont State Police on Wednesday released a sketch of a person of interest in the killing of a retired college dean who was shot dead last week while walking on her favorite trail near the Vermont State University campus.

The crime has shaken the small college town of Castleton as police warn the public to remain vigilant and said they don't yet know if the shooting was random or targeted.

The composite sketch was created from witnesses accounts of a man they saw on the trail before they came across Honoree Flemings body, said Capt. Scott Dunlap, commander of the Vermont State Police major crime unit. Fleming died of a gunshot wound to the head while walking along the trail that follows a former railroad bed, police said.

The man was described as 5-foot-10 (1.78-meter) white male with short, red hair, who appeared to be in his 20s. He was wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, and is considered armed and dangerous, police said.

This composite police sketch released by Vermont State Police depicts a person of interest in the Oct. 5, 2023, killing of Honoree Fleming, 77, in Castleton, Vermont. The sketch was prepared by Detective Sgt. Adam Temple of the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office in Bath, Maine.

Witnesses reported that the man was acting odd, Dunlap said, but he would not elaborate. More than one person observed the man but Dunlap would not say how many.

A person of interest, a suspect, its definitely somebody we want to talk to, he said.

Students and residents in Castleton were being told to lock their doors and stick together as police have been searching for the killer.

Just be vigilant and you know if you see something say something. Please report it, Dunlap said Wednesday.

In this 2010 photo provided by Anne Slonaker, Honoree Fleming stands for a photograph. Fleming, a retired dean and professor of education at Vermont State University, in Castleton, Vermont, was found shot to death on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, on the Delaware & Hudson Rail Trail about a mile south of the Castleton campus of the university.

Amelia Harrison, a university student who works at a pizza shop and a restaurant in town, said she sometimes gets out at 11 p.m. and looks around while she's walking to her car, locking it immediately once she's inside since the shooting. She said she's surprised how long it's taking to make an arrest.

I thought it would be an overnight thing especially because it's such a small town, she said Wednesday.

Fleming was a retired dean and professor of education at what was called Castleton State College and is now the Vermont State University Castleton Campus. She was found shot to death Thursday afternoon about a mile (1.61 kilometers) south of campus.

Police spokesman Dunlap said Wednesday that police still dont know if the shooting was random or targeted.

Castleton, in west-central Vermont, is about 5 miles east of the Vermont-New York border in an area known for scenic mountain views and slate and marble quarries. The university, founded in 1787 was closed last week for fall break. Students were excused from classes when it reopened Monday, and classes resumed Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Vermont State police release sketch in killing of former college dean
TACOMA, Wash. (KFOR/Storyful)  Dont try this at home, kids! A couple of brave deputies in Tacoma, Washington delicately and cautiously freed an elk whose antlers were entangled in the rope of a tree swing.

The angry elk even charged one of the deputies, who then took a tumble.

Video at the top of this story was shared by the Pierce County Sheriffs Department.

Usually these can require deputies to put the injured animal down, which is not a fun thing to have to do With a delay for other agencies to respond, our deputies stepped up to the challenge of freeing this young bull elk, the department stated on social media.

With mating season in full swing, police say the bull was likely searching for a female, which briefly went awry.

Rutting elk often rub their antlers on trees to impress females, or to show dominance.

The video shows the deputies calmly using different tools to cut the rope, while trying to shield themselves on the other side of the tree.

In the end, the deputies joked about the ungrateful elk, who sprinted off into the woods to continue his quest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The White House slammed Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Wednesday for warning against picking sides in the Middle East amid the violent Israel-Hamas war.

Tuberville said in an interview with WBRC Alabama this week, The problem is, when you start picking sides in the Middle East, it can get really messy very quick.

The White House highlighted those comments in a memo Wednesday and noted that President Biden has declared full support for Israel.

[W]hen it comes to the horrific events in Israel, President Biden knows which side hes on. Senator Tuberville should look in the mirror and then follow the Presidents lead, deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a memo.

Top Stories from The Hill

The memo mostly focused on Tubervilles months-long hold on military promotions, saying the war in Israel is a reminder of the importance of military readiness, which Tuberville is harming. Tubervilles hold is in protest of the militarys abortion policy.

The terrorist atrocities in Israel are a stark reminder that Americas military must be ready for anything on a moments notice. And the men and women who put their lives on the line for their country deserve the absence of self-inflicted attacks on their readiness from self-serving politicians, like Sen. Tuberville, Bates said.

He accused Tuberville of directly sabotaging the American military and warned that Senator Tubervilles selfish stunt is also providing a windfall to our adversaries in the world.

The White House has consistently criticized Tubervilles hold and called for him to drop it, as well as for senators on both sides of the aisle to convince him to end his protest.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Insights into BMEZ's Dividend Performance and Sustainability

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II(NYSE:BMEZ) recently announced a dividend of $0.09 per share, payable on October 31, 2023, with the ex-dividend date set for October 13, 2023. As investors anticipate this upcoming payment, it's crucial to examine the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, we delve into BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

Understanding BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's Business Model

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Sign with BMEZ.

High Yield Dividend Stocks in Gurus' Portfolio

This Powerful Chart Made Peter Lynch 29% A Year For 13 Years

How to calculate the intrinsic value of a stock?

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II is a closed-end management investment company. Its investment objective is to provide total return through a combination of current income and long-term capital appreciation. The Trust seeks to achieve this by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its total assets in equity securities of energy and natural resources companies and equity derivatives with exposure to the energy and natural resources industry.

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's Dividend Analysis

A Look at BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's Dividend History

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2021, with dividends currently distributed on a monthly basis. The chart below shows the annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's Dividend Analysis

Breaking Down BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 12.31% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 7.92%. This suggests a projected decrease in dividend payments over the next 12 months. Despite this, BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's dividend yield of 12.31% is near a 10-year high and outperforms 89.99% of global competitors in the Asset Management industry, making it an attractive proposition for income investors.

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According to BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II stock as of today is approximately 12.31%.

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's Dividend Analysis

Assessing Dividend Sustainability: Payout Ratio and Profitability

The sustainability of a dividend is determined by evaluating the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio reveals the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, ensuring fund availability for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of June 30, 2023, BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's dividend payout ratio is 3.16, which may cast doubts on the dividend's sustainability.

BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's profitability rank provides an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. As of June 30, 2023, GuruFocus ranks BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's profitability 1 out of 10, suggesting the dividend may not be sustainable. The company has reported net profit in 1 year out of the past 10 years.

Future Prospects: Growth Metrics

A company must have robust growth metrics to ensure the sustainability of dividends. BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II's growth rank of 1 out of 10 suggests that the company has poor growth prospects, which might indicate that the dividend may not be sustainable.

Conclusion

While BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II offers an attractive dividend yield, investors should consider the company's payout ratio, profitability rank, and growth rank as these factors can affect the sustainability of dividends. It's crucial to monitor these metrics and the company's overall financial health to make informed investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield 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.


Joe Ngo, Brooke Ishibashi, Abraham Kim, Jane Lui and Tim Liu in "Cambodian Rock Band" at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington D.C. The play runs through Nov. 5 at ACT Theatre in Seattle. (Courtesy of Margot Schulman)
The entrance to a Safeway store in Northeast Seattle on Wednesday. The grocery chain's parent company, Albertsons, and dozens of other employers in Washington are being sued under the state's new pay transparency law. (Kevin Clark / The Seattle Times)
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.
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Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
Employees of Neal Communities won awards recognizing outstanding achievements in sales and marketing in the local building industry.

Neal Communities, the areas largest private homebuilder, and Neal Signature Homes were honored with six marketing awards and 19 sales awards in the 2023 SMC Celebration of Excellence Awards presented by the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association.

The awards, selected by MSBIAs Sales and Marketing Council, recognize outstanding achievements in sales and marketing in the local building industry.

In marketing, Neal Communities was awarded Best Direct Mail Ad, Best Video  Social Media Video, Best Social Media Campaign and Best Promotion to Consumers. Neal Signature Homes was awarded Best Video  Corporate/Website Video and Best Logo.

The MSBIA honored 19 salespeople and sales managers from Neal Communities with awards.

Bronze Awards for sales from $1 million-$10 million went to Steve Goodwin, Kathy Lane, Christina Potts, Mary Quaid, David Sanvidge, Aaron Solari, Vanessa Wisnowski and Ryan Zimmerman.

Silver Awards for sales from $10 million-$15 million went to Dawna Bruner, Connie Chase, Bradley Jackson and Joe Jones.

Gold Awards for sales from $15 million-$25 million went to James Archibald, Bert Desmond, Valerie Fox and Jon McClay.

Diamond Awards for sales over $50 million were presented to Christina Sadler for online sales and sales managers MaryAnn Koops and Elayne McKinney.

The Masquerade Ball-themed event was held Sept. 14 at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota.

MSBIA is a networking and advocacy group for the building, construction, development and associated industries in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Health Expo at new senior center

Town Square University Parkway will host its first Health Expo on Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event showcases over 50 vendors, educational presentations, live demonstrations and local food trucks.

Town Square University Parkway, at University Parkway and Lockridge Ridge Road in Sarasota, is a new adult day center offering free resources to the surrounding senior community. Since opening, Town Square has provided biweekly support groups, educational classes and give-back events monthly.

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Demonstrations at the Health Expo will include Big and Loud (Parkinsons tool), Senior Body Suit, Meet and Greet with the presenters (following their presentations), Robotic Companion, free hearing aid tests, free vaccinations, enjoyable food demonstrations and tastings and fall risk assessment.

Register at https://www.townsquare.net/event/health-expo.

Free seminar on breast health

HCA Florida Blake Hospital, in Bradenton, will host a free seminar Oct. 19 focused on breast health for Octobers Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

An expert panel of physicians will discuss all aspects of breast health, offering a comprehensive perspective to equip attendees with the knowledge needed to make informed health decisions. The physicians will include an oncologist, a radiologist, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and a gynecologist.

Dr. Sanjiv Tewari, HCA Florida Blake Hospitals chief medical officer, will lead the discussion before allowing time for attendees to ask questions and interact with the physician panel.

The seminar will be 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the first floor Dolphin Conference Room of the hospital, at 2020 59th St. W.

Registration is required and space is limited. Call 888-359-3552 or visit https://bit.ly/44x3HBE.

Sport, networking at tournament

The Sarasota Chamber of Commerce invites the community to a day of sport and networking at the 2023 Sporting Clays Tournament, scheduled Oct. 20, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Sarasota Trap, Skeet & Clay, 3445 Rustic Road, Nokomis.

The 2023 Sporting Clays Tournament is presented by Tommys Express Car Wash. Individual registration is $195, including lunch. Register a team of four for $600.

Register for the 2023 Sporting Clays Tournament at https://www.sarasotachamber.com.

Legacy partners with Integrity

Integrity Marketing Group, LLC, a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of wealth management and retirement planning solutions, has partnered with Legacy Protectors Life Group, a leading independent marketing organization based in Sarasota and led by Jordan Lowery.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Legacy Protectors offers life insurance, mortgage protection and final expense products through thousands of agents nationwide.

Integrity is innovating insurance by bringing together a growing group of industry trailblazers and legends. This network of partners is designing solutions that holistically protect life, health and wealth, while helping those they serve plan ahead. Through ongoing collaboration, these leaders are transforming all aspects of insurance and financial services.

SMH on list of top cancer programs

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System recently earned national recognition for its work in providing leading-edge cancer research and care.

The health systems Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute was named in Beckers Hospital Review 2023 list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems With Great Oncology Programs. The health care industry trade publications annual list recognizes hospitals and health systems that offer leading-edge clinical trials and pioneer research discoveries that expand access to care and enhance patient outcomes.

Beckers noted that in the past several years, SMH has invested more than half a billion dollars into state-of-the-art cancer institute facilities. SMH opened its first two Jellison Cancer Institute facilities at the height of the pandemic, including the health system's first radiation oncology center in 2020 and an eight-story dedicated inpatient and surgical oncology tower in 2021.

In November, the health system plans to break ground on a new cancer pavilion on the Sarasota campus. That facility, which will be connected via skybridge to the oncology tower, will provide a full complement of outpatient services, including a new breast health center, outpatient surgery, radiation oncology, infusion services, diagnostic imaging, medical, surgical and radiation oncology physician clinics and integrative and supportive care.

Agency gets funding for shelter

Thanks to sponsors state Rep. Fiona McFarland, state Sen. Joe Gruters and the state Department of Juvenile Justice, Safe Children Coalition has been awarded $750,000 in state funding in support of the construction of its new Youth Shelter.

The new facility, on Sawyer Road in north Sarasota, will sit on two acres of land (with another two acres available for future expansion) and will be nearly 9,000 square feet.

The Safe Children Coalition operates the only youth shelter, for ages 10-17, serving the communitys homeless and runaway youths, youths locked out of their family homes and, most recently, youths who are unable to return home after a mental health crisis in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. The shelter takes youths from Manatee County as well.The new facility will provide customized sleeping arrangements designed to reduce the number of youths on a waiting list for safe shelter. The shelter will provide nearly 3,000 safe shelter bed-nights a year and serve up to 200 youths annually for many years to come.

Luxury travel forum in February

Professional travel advisers Marc and Roz Bokoff invite luxury travel lovers to gather at their fourth annual Sarasota Luxury Travel Forum. From 3-7 p.m. Feb. 6, 2024, at the Palm Aire Country Club, the Sarasota Luxury Travel Forum will offer ideas and insights that will resonate with high-end travelers. This event will feature a lineup of renowned brands, including Cunard, Silversea, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Oceania Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.

Attendees can connect with experienced travel advisers and hear from travel industry experts. Special offers and packages will be available.

Complimentary registration is open. To secure your place at the 2024 Sarasota Luxury Travel Forum, visit https://www.bookthatescape.com/2024LuxuryTravelForum or contact Roz Bokoff at 203-915-5422.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Neal takes home many trophies from building industry award night
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(Bloomberg) -- Sign up for the India Edition newsletter by Menaka Doshi  an insider's guide to the emerging economic powerhouse, and the billionaires and businesses behind its rise, delivered weekly.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A lender-appointed receiver has taken steps to assume control of a Byjus unit in Singapore following months of failed negotiations with what was once one of Indias hottest tech startups, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The receiver, Kroll Pte. Ltd., said in a statement that it appointed two restructuring experts to safeguard the charged assets of Great Learning Education Pte. Ltd. and Byjus Pte. Ltd.

Lenders to the online tutoring firm were told this week that Kroll placed the professional training and higher education platform into receivership in Singapore and replaced certain Byjus board members with representatives from Kroll, the people said, asking not to be named because the matter is private.

Great Learning, which Byjus bought for $600 million in 2021, may now be sold.

Byjus and its creditors have been mired in a prolonged restructuring conflict after the firm breached covenants on a $1.2 billion loan. The company decided to miss an interest payment on the term loan, one of the largest by a startup globally.

The standoff marks a reversal for the firms eponymous founder Byju Raveendran, whose ascent from tutor to the leader of a $22 billion company captivated investors.

As business boomed during the pandemic, Byjus went on an acquisition spree to expand globally, acquiring Singapore-based Great Learning.

But demand for online tutoring dropped off as schools reopened. Byjus board members have resigned and many teaching centers are nearly empty. Byjus has been looking to sell units, including Great Learning, to raise funds as part of a broader turnaround plan.

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Kroll said it appointed Cosimo Borrelli and Jason Aleksander Kardachi to oversee the assets as part of the secured lenders exercise of their security rights following defaults by BYJUs Alpha Inc. Borrelli serves as Krolls global co-head of restructuring, while Kardachi leads the companys restructuring work in Singapore and South East Asia.

Mohan Lakhamraju, the founder and chief executive officer of Great Learning, is continuing to lead the company, according to Krolls statement. Lakhamraju had no further comment, his representative told Bloomberg.

A representative for Byjus said the firm was working with partners, including Great Learning management and creditors, for a potential divestment of the company at optimal value.

This, we believe, will allow Great Learnings future growth as an independent company, the email said.

A representative for Byjus lenders referred Bloomberg to Krolls statement. A representative for Glas Trust didnt respond to requests for comment.

--With assistance from Steven Church.

(Updates with Lakhamraju contact attempt in 10th paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Imagini apocaliptice in unul dintre cele mai aglomerate orase din lume: oamenii efectiv nu mai pot respira

Locuitorii din New Delhi s-au trezit vineri cu un strat gros de ceata toxica, iar pentru unele scoli s-a ordonat inchiderea timp de doua zile, deoarece indicele de calitate a aerului (AQI) [citeste mai departe]
By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Thursday that his office was concerned about Kroger's proposed deal to buy rival Albertsons for $24.5 billion, and may sue to stop it.

Bonta said the decision has not been made, but added: "Right now there's not a lot of reason not to sue."

Bonta cited as concerns the prospect of higher prices for consumers, lower payments to California farmers, the potential for creating food deserts and possible adverse impacts on workers.

The deal, announced in October 2022, would create a grocery chain with nearly 5,000 stores. In September, the companies announced a plan to sell more than 400 grocery stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers in an effort to get regulatory approval for the deal.

A Kroger spokesperson said only non-unionized retailers, like Walmart and Amazon, will benefit if the merger is blocked.

"In fact, Kroger joining with Albertsons will mean lower prices for customers, secure union jobs and more food directed to hungry families, with 10 billion meals committed to people in need across America by 2030," the spokesperson said.

Walmart is the biggest U.S. grocer with 34.8% of the market, according to Food and Water Watch.

Bonta, who spoke in Washington, said he had met with Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, and that the grocery merger had been discussed along with other matters. The FTC is reviewing the deal to ensure it is not in violation of antitrust law.

Bonta's office had also been looking into whether the deal would make it harder for people in poorer parts of cities or rural areas to buy medicines because it would create "pharmacy deserts."

Research from the University of Southern California in 2021 found one in three neighborhoods in 30 populous U.S. cities had inadequate access to needed pharmacy services.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Leslie Adler, Bill Berkrot and Aurora Ellis)
LINCOLN  Nebraska voters will have the opportunity in 2024 to repeal a new tax credit aimed at supporting scholarships to private and faith-based schools.

The Secretary of State's Office verified enough signatures from the Support Our Schools Nebraska initiative to qualify it for the 2024 ballot. The initiative seeks to repeal Legislative Bill 753, which was signed into law earlier this year.

"The next 13 months are a great opportunity for Nebraskans to learn about the tax implications of LB 753, Rebecca Firestone, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, said in a Support Our Schools press release. With LB 753 on the ballot in November 2024, we can have a public discussion about how we pay for our schools and whether tax dollars are going to the priorities that all of us care about as voters."

The petition needed around 60,000 signatures, representing 5% of the states registered voters, to qualify for the ballot. On their deadline of Aug. 31, members of Support Our Schools said that petitioners gathered more than 117,000 signatures during their three-month campaign.

According to Secretary of State Bob Evnen, county election officials verified roughly 91,000 of the 117,000 signatures submitted.

LB 753 gives tax credits for individuals and entities making donations to scholarship funds intended to help students attend private and faith-based schools. Under the bill, $25 million will be available for credits in 2024, with the same amount available for the next two years. After that, the limit for credits will grow to a maximum of $100 million per year.

Individuals and businesses could not claim more than $100,000 in annual credits, while estates and trusts would be capped at $1 million per year.

"LB753, which I voted for, passed by a vote of 33-11," state Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward told the News-Times in an email. "Now it will be up to the will of the voters whether they agree with that decision. I encourage voters to get all the information about LB 753 when deciding their vote."

Hughes represents District 24, which includes all of York and Seward counties and parts of Polk and Butler counties.

The bills introducer, State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, had tried to pass similar measures for about five years, putting her at odds with public school educators and other opponents. The state teachers union, the Nebraska State Education Association, has remained opposed to her proposals from the start and was the primary group driving the Support Our Schools petition.

Mitch Bartholomew, superintendent of York Public Schools, told the News-Times that the York School Board has been opposed to any public tax dollars going away from public schools.

A message left with Nebraska Lutheran officials wasn't immediately returned.

The three-month petition drive was contentious, with over $3 million overall going into the Support Our Schools campaign, and an opposing campaign called Keep Kids First, which discouraged people from signing the petition.

Backers of LB 753, including Gov. Jim Pillen, say it will help families  particularly those with lower incomes  have a range of educational opportunities, including private schools.

In response, multiple critics have said the biggest benefits will go to wealthy Nebraskans who are able to donate to scholarship funds and receive the tax credits in return. Critics also say the tax credits will deplete funding for public education.

The overwhelming success of this petition sends a clear message to the governor and state lawmakers: Nebraskans want to vote on the issue of diverting public tax dollars to pay for private schools, said Jenni Benson, a sponsor of Support Our Schools Nebraska and president of the Nebraska State Education Association.

Benson said now that the initiative has qualified for the 2024 ballot, Support Our Schools plans to redouble its effort in spreading its messaging about the harms of LB 753.

Linehan previously said she expected the question would make it on the ballot, given the amount of signatures Support Our Schools gathered. However, once the tax credits are in effect, she said it will be easier to get people to support it because they will see the benefits firsthand.

The Nebraska Department of Revenue confirmed that people who make donations to private and parochial school scholarship funds in 2024 will be eligible to claim the tax credit, even if LB 753 is successfully repealed through the ballot initiative in November.

Weve been trying to explain something that people cant see, Linehan said. And now were going to show it.
Last weekend, America was brought to the brink of a government shutdown. This happened, in part, because President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer squeezed the calendar.

First, Biden delivered his budget to Congress over a month late. As I laid out last week, Schumer played political games with the Senate calendar as well. Congress must pass 12 appropriations bills by September 30th of each year. The Senate Committee on Appropriations passed these bills in June and July. At that point, Schumer could have called them to the Senate Floor. Instead, he allowed the Senates 12 appropriations bills to languish in limbo for nearly two months.

Then, in the days leading up to the shutdown, Biden announced plans to bring many essential federal agency services to a standstill. That would have made a shutdown unnecessarily painful for the American people, especially given Biden had the authority to keep those operations open. Despite their actions, both Biden and Schumer tried to lay the blame for a potential shutdown solely on House Republicans. This is wrong. I voted for a short-term bill to fund the government until November 17th and prevent Bidens plans from moving forward. The new deadline of November 17th also provides an opportunity for both houses of Congress to have serious discussions on how to control our spending and secure the border.

We have a national debt of over $33 trillion. Thats over $251,000 per household. With the average price of a home in Nebraska around $210,000 our national debt is essentially a second mortgage for many families. We also have record numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the border. Since Biden took office, there have been over 7.6 million border encounters. Thats more border encounters than the entire twelve years Presidents Obama and Trump were in office. Earlier this year, Border Patrol saw more than 10,000 migrants crossing the border illegally each day  the highest single daily totals ever recorded. We must address both the debt problem and the border problem in the next funding bill.

To accomplish this, Congress must be in Washington. The work we do back in our states is important, but Septembers shutdown faceoff proved there is no time to waste. Schumer recessed the Senate 5 of the 9 weeks leading up to the September deadline. Looking ahead to the November 17th deadline, Schumers Senate calendar has just 10 full working days. Thats unacceptable.

Most Americans work at least five days a week. Congress should be expected to do the same. Thats why I led a group of 18 Republican Senators to call on Schumer to keep the Senate in session Monday through Friday every week until all 12 fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills are passed. The House of Representatives is in session the full month of October. The Senate should do the same.

U.S. Senators need to remain in D.C. entirely focused on our duty to fund the government and secure the border. We need to debate, amend, and ultimately vote on the legislation to do both before the November 17th deadline. When I was Governor, I told my team that the most important thing was to pass a budget. While many issues were want to have it issues, passing a budget was a gotta have it issue. The same should be said about federal spending and securing our border. Theyre gotta have it issues. To ensure that remains our priority, Im working with over 20 Republican Senators to block any Senate business Schumer tries to bring up that isnt related to government funding.

Families across the country are tightening their belts to stretch their budgets in these difficult economic times. Real grit requires showing up to work until the work gets done. Nebraskans get this, but too many in Washington dont. Getting our spending under control and protecting our national security will require diligence and willpower. I am committed to working with my colleagues to deliver meaningful results. The people we serve deserve no less.

My team and I are here to serve you. Contact us anytime by phone at 202-224-4224 or on my website at www.ricketts.senate.gov/contact. I am honored to serve our great state and will continue to work to protect the Good Life from Washington overreach.
Diwali, the festival of lights, has equal importance for both people and businesses. Many people consider Diwali to be the start of something new, and it is regarded as a fortunate time to launch new businesses.

Our compiled list of the top 10 Diwali business ideas with least investment may be useful for you if you're hoping to make a good income with little investment during the festival time. There may not always be a market for these businesses. However, you can engage in these businesses during and after the Diwali season. These businesses don't require a lot of capital yet pay off well over the festival time.

1. Shop For Diwali Hampers

Diwali celebrations will remain incomplete without giving gifts to loved ones. By opening a temporary shop selling well-designed Diwali gift hampers that include regional sweets flavor-infused dried fruits, idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha, diyas, sweet and savory snacks, you may help people in giving Diwali gifts to their loved ones and earn hefty on your part.

2. Utensil Shop

On Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali celebrations, people offer prayers to the Goddess Lakshmi and buy household items as a sign of prosperity. You can open a shop selling utensils made of clay, brass, copper, or silver. But avoid using utensils made of steel or iron as they are considered inauspicious.

3. Idol Shop

While many worship Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi in north India, many worship Goddess Kali during Diwali in east India. You can open a temporary shop with minimum investment and sell the idols of Laxmi, Ganesh, Kuber, and Kali. Along with idols, you can also keep a supply of their photos and pictures on hand.

4. Eco-friendly Crackers/Green Firecrackers

Since they contribute less to noise and air pollution, people are more aware of the need to use eco-friendly crackers. As more people are becoming environmentally conscious, opening a store selling green firecrackers will increase your consumer base.

5. Diya Shop

One of the main customs practiced in Diwali is lighting diyas. The prices to set up a temporary store selling Diwali diyas, such as akhand diya, clay diya, LED diya, floating diya, terracotta diya, and others, are low, but you can make good money from this temporary business during festivals.



6. Food Stall

Diwali cannot be imagined without enjoying some decadent treats. You can set up transient food stands and make good money doing it. Selling delicious Indian food items like samosas, aloo bonda, paneer tikka, kanda bhaji, and chaat can earn you up to Rs 10,000 per day.

7. Temporary Sweet Shop

Diwali is synonymous with sweets. During the festival season, you may start a business preparing and selling Diwali-specific sweets like moong dal halwa, gajar ka halwa, rasgulla, gulab jamun, jalebi, and gujia, and generate a profit of between Rs 8000 and Rs 10000.

8. Chocolate Shop

Some people choose to give chocolates as Diwali presents rather than the customary sweets. Your consumers will be able to add a personal touch to their Diwali presents if you sell handcrafted chocolates. Additionally, you can sell chocolate gift boxes that have decorative Diwali wishes printed on gift baskets and packs.

9. Rangoli Shop

On Diwali, making rangloi represents welcoming the Goddess Lakshmi. An incredible short-term business concept for Diwali is opening a shop to offer kits for making rangolis. Rangoli-making tool kits, rangoli powder bottles and tubes with nozzles, rangoli powder pens, rangoli rollers, and rangoli stencils are just a few of the items you can sell at a rangoli accessory store.

10. Decoration Shop

Diwali is celebrated with a lavish display of lights, colors, and decorations. Selling home decor products like diyas, flowers, candles, string lights, rangolis, tealight holders, lanterns, house torans, folding kandils, etc. will bring good money during the festival.

(Disclaimer: This article is for sole information purpose and for readers' project identification. The earning calculator is also mostly based on assumptive figures to give an example of certain type. The Zee News article does not intend to give any financial advice of any sorts. For initiating any venture, you must do your own due diligence and market research.)
New Delhi: High-octane web series 'Aarya 3' is soon to be back on your screens. Makers of Sushmita Sen-starrer 'Aarya 3' have dropped a thrilling trailer. Leading lady, Sushmita Sen, is back as the sherni. While protecting her kids from the perils of the world, Sushmita becomes full-on fighter. Helmed by Ram Madhvani, Aarya can be seen fighting her enemies both old and new.

The trailer is all about a fancy fortess, smuggling business, Russian business partners and Sushmita's family. However, she has made new enemies now. Surprising all with her presence, we see the ever-gorgeous Ila Arun, who promises to destroy Aarya's business expansions. Ferociously brave Sushmita can be seen using swords and other lethal weapons.

In an unfortuante turn of events, Sushmita suffered a heart attack earlier this year, following which the shoot of 'Aarya 3' was halted temporarily. She also underwent treatment and had an angioplasty, details of which were shared by her on Instagram. Through her social media post, Sushmita said that she was diagnosed with a 95 percent blockage in the main artery and further urged her fans to take their heart health more seriously. Since then, she has been steadily recovering and gradually resuming her exercise routine.

The first season of 'Aarya' was released in June 2020 and it was quite successful. The sequel premiered in December 2021. The show also stars Maya Sarao and Geetanjali Kulkarni. Season 3 will release on Disney+ Hotstar on November 3.
New Delhi: The Israeli military says it is gearing up for a potential ground assault on Gaza, but the final call has not been made by the countrys political leaders. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said on Thursday that troops are preparing for a ground maneuver if decided. Israel has summoned some 360,000 army reservists and has warned of a massive retaliation to Hamas brutal, widespread raid over the weekend. It has been raining down heavy airstrikes on Gaza since the attack on Saturday, while militants have launched thousands of rockets at Israel.

Netanyahu Threatens To Wipe Out Hamas

Palestinians in Gaza endured a night of total darkness, amid the rubble of shattered neighborhoods, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to crush and destroy Hamas, with the backing of a new war cabinet that includes a former rival. Every Hamas member is a dead man, Netanyahu said in a televised speech.

International aid groups cautioned that the death toll in Gaza could rise as the enclave runs out of supplies due to an Israeli blockade. The war, which was sparked by a bloody and extensive Hamas attack on Israel, has already killed at least 2,400 people on both sides.

The Israeli military said it hit Hamas elite Nukhba forces overnight, including command posts used by the attackers on Saturday, and the house of a senior Hamas naval commander that it said was used to stash weapons.

Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, said. Not only the military leadership, but also the governmental leadership, all the way up to (top Hamas leader Yehiyeh) Sinwar. They were directly involved.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said Israeli strikes flattened two multi-story buildings with residents inside without warning, killing and injuring a large number of people, mostly civilians. Hamas has threatened to kill Israeli hostages if Israel strikes Palestinian civilians without warning.

Israel has stopped the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory. On Tuesday, Gazas only power plant ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators. Those will also stop if fuel is not allowed in. A senior official with the the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that lack of electricity could paralyze hospitals, as he urged Hamas to release hostages.

As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken," said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRCs regional director. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.

In Israel, opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defense minister and political foe of Netanyahu, joined a new wartime cabinet as the Israeli military seems more likely to launch a ground offensive into Gaza. Israel has mobilized 360,000 reservists, gathered more forces near Gaza and evacuated tens of thousands of residents from nearby communities.

The Israeli government is facing intense public pressure to overthrow Hamas after its militants broke through a border fence on Saturday and slaughtered hundreds of Israelis in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival. Netanyahu claimed that the attackers committed atrocities, including tying up boys and girls and shooting them in the head, burning people alive, raping women and beheading soldiers.

The prime ministers claims could not be verified independently, and authorities did not provide more details right away. Rescue workers and witnesses have reported horrific scenes, including the killing of elderly people and finding bloody rooms packed with massacred civilians.
New Delhi: The country's primary means of subsistence is agriculture. So, here is a fantastic money-making idea that can assist farmers in producing a lot of money by growing a particular crop. Jute can be grown by farmers to provide income. And the government encourages farmers to cultivate jute.

For this reason, the crop's price has increased to expand the area under jute cultivation in the nation and give farmers larger prices. (Also Read: Confirmed! OnePlus' First FOLDABLE Smartphone Launch Date, Name Unveiled - Check Pics)

The minimum support price (MSP) for jute would increase by 6 percent for the 202324 season compared to the prior season, according to the central government. (Also Read: Now You Can Buy Metro Ticket Via Paytm: Step-By-Step Guide - Check Here)

According to a press statement from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, this rise in MSP will result in a return of 63.2 percent on typical production expenses.

Additionally, it stated that the Jute Corporation of India would conduct price support activities if market prices declined below MSP.

Over time, jute has become one of the most beneficial natural fibers. After the harvest of the wheat and mustard, it is sown between March and April. Reports state that about 50 percent of the world's jute production is produced in India.

Among the top jute-producing states in India are West Bengal, Tripura, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Meghalaya. Jute is also produced in large quantities in Bangladesh, China, and Thailand in addition to India.

Our nation views jute as a cash crop. It is a long, silky, and glossy plant, and its fibers are used to create thick thread or yarn. The thread made from the fiber is used to create baskets, rugs, curtains, and packing bags.

Grain sacks are only ever constructed from jute. Jute has a variety of uses, which is why its demand is rising quickly. To encourage more farmers to grow it, the government has raised the minimum support price.

(Disclaimer: This article is for sole information purpose and for readers' project identification. The earning calculator is also mostly based on assumptive figures to give an example of certain type. Zee News article does not intend to give any financial advice of any sorts. For initiating any venture, you must do your own due diligence and market research.)
Tel Aviv [Israel], October 12 (ANI): The Israel Defence Forces have struck over 3,600 targets in the Gaza Strip, using at least 6,000 rounds of ammunition, reported The Times of Israel. A senior Hamas operative and several other members of the terrorist organisation were targeted in recent attacks, according to the IDF

The military claims to be assaulting all of Hamas's resources throughout the Gaza Strip, including war rooms, military installations, facilities for manufacturing weapons, and locations connected to the terror organisation's top leadership, according to The Times of Israel.

Issuing a stern warning to the Hamas terror group, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday, said that "2023 is not 1943" and in an indirect reference to the persecution of Jews under the Nazi regime in Germany, adding that today's Jewish people possess "different capabilities." His comments came during a briefing for 31 NATO counterparts at a meeting in Brussels.

"We have been hit hard. Yet make no mistake - 2023 is not 1943. We are the same Jews, but we have different capabilities. The State of Israel is strong. We are united and powerful," he said. Gallant also briefed them about atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against children, women, men and the elderly.

He further asserted that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will destroy Hamas and "will hunt down every last man with the blood of children," The Times of Israel reported.

"Hamas is the 'ISIS' of Gaza, a savage organization, funded and supported by Iran. Hamas is ISIS," he says. "The 'ISIS' of Gaza will not exist, on our borders. The IDF will destroy Hamas. And we will hunt down every last man, with the blood of our children, on his hands," Gallant said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces also said that Hamas brought ISIS flags to Israel when they had infiltrated various parts of South Israel last weekend. In a post shared on X, Israeli Defence Forces stated, "Hamas brought ISIS flags to massacre Israeli children, women and men. Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organisation. Hamas is worse than ISIS."

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition.

The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military has so far notified families of 97 hostages who were being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported.
Jerusalem/ Tel Aviv: In a clear and uncompromising stance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a dire warning to Hamas, affirming that each member of the Palestinian militant group is considered "a dead man." This declaration comes in the wake of a surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday, prompting Israel to express its firm intent to "destroy" the group.

"Hamas is Daesh (Islamic State group), and we will crush and destroy them, just as the world has dealt with Daesh," stated Netanyahu in a televised address, accompanied by his war cabinet. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized, "We will wipe Hamas off the face of the earth."

Israel Forms Unity Government As War Escalates

As the conflict intensifies, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and a key opposition figure, Benny Gantz, have struck a deal to establish a war-time unity government. This collaborative effort aims to oversee operations against Hamas amidst escalating violence, which has tragically claimed over 2,200 lives.

Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity Party and a former Defence Minister and Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), announced a joint statement with Netanyahu. They plan to create a five-member "war-management" Cabinet, including Netanyahu, current Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, two other top officials as "observers," and Gantz himself as members.

This united government is committed to focusing solely on matters connected to the ongoing conflict, refraining from passing any unrelated legislation or decisions for the duration of the fighting. While the main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, was invited to join, his response remains pending.

Unexpected Unity Amidst Divisions

The move towards a unity government garnered support from unexpected corners of Israeli politics, uniting previously divided factions. The initiative, seen as crucial in rallying efforts to combat Hamas, was met with approval from influential figures across the spectrum.

Right-wing extremist leader National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, once hesitant about a unity coalition, now embraces unity, emphasizing the need to secure victory. Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Economy Minister Nir Barkat also voiced their support, emphasizing the critical necessity of a united front during this challenging time.

Israel's Unified Stand Against Hamas

Israel, having mobilized an unprecedented number of reservists, is steadfast in its commitment to a forceful offensive against Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. This resolve comes after Hamas breached the border fence and launched a multi-pronged assault on Israel.

As the conflict enters its fifth day, casualties continue to mount on both sides, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Hamas' actions have led to an estimated 150 Israelis held hostage, while Israel responds with an intensified blockade, halting vital supplies to Gaza.

The Humanitarian Concern

Gaza, heavily reliant on Israel for basic necessities, faces profound repercussions as Israel curtails the entry of crucial provisions. The blockade, coupled with past restrictions, exacerbates the already challenging conditions for the densely populated region.

Since Hamas seized power in 2007, Israel has imposed varying levels of blockade on Gaza, significantly impacting the livelihoods and well-being of its inhabitants. The current escalation only deepens these concerns, underlining the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
By Tech Edge Editorial

Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group, interviewed Amit Sethi, Intelligent Restaurant Operations Solution Lead at Capgemini SE (CAP.PA), Matthew Gale, VP at Oracle Corp. (NYSE: ORCL), and Lisa Insley, Go-to-Market Lead at Oracle on the Futurum Tech Webcast, where they discussed the role of technology in the restaurant industry and its current transformation with the implementation of AI.

The Webcast focused on Capgemini and Oracles Intelligent Restaurant Operations Solution and its main benefits in the improvement of supply chain operations, finance, Enterprise Resource Planning and Enterprise Performance Management, and Human Capital.

The conversation also covered the major technology trends and challenges for the restaurant industry and how Oracle is responding to them.

Read and watch more of this episode of the Futurum Tech Webcast.

Contact:

Tech Edge

Editor@executives-edge.com
TEL AVIV: As the conflict between Israel and Hamas enters its sixth day, speculations are rife regarding a possible Israeli ground assault on the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's forces have intensified their assault, signalling preparations for a full-scale siege and a potential ground invasion.

Preparation For Ground Attack

Israeli top commanders, expressing their resolve to deal a significant blow to Hamas, have mentioned the possibility of a ground maneuver. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, affirmed that forces are making preparations, awaiting a decision from the political leadership. A ground offensive in Gaza, the first since the 2014 war, would likely bring even higher casualties on both sides in brutal house-to-house fighting.

No Humanitarian Break Until All Hostages Freed: Israel

In response to the Red Cross's plea for humanitarian assistance, Israel has said that there will be no break to the siege until the release of all hostages. Israel's Energy Minister Israel Katz said there would be no exception to the siege without freedom for Israeli hostages. "Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be lifted, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And nobody should preach our morals," Katz posted on social media platform X.

The situation in Gaza is dire, with fleeing Palestinians seeking safety amidst airstrikes, and essential supplies in short supply. News agency Reuters cited Gaza authorities saying more than 1,200 people have been killed and more than 5,000 people have been wounded in the bombing. The sole electric power station has been switched off and hospitals are running out of fuel for emergency generators.

"The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians," Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said in a statement on Thursday. "As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays cant be taken. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues."

International Support To Israel

The US has expressed steadfast support for Israel's response, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Tel Aviv for discussions. The international community closely watches this conflict, wary of its potential to escalate and affect regional stability.

Challenges Of Ground Invasion

Experts highlight the complexities of a ground invasion, given Gaza's dense population, intricate underground tunnels, and the risks it poses to civilians and hostages. Street-to-street fighting could lead to substantial casualties and complicate exit strategies.

What Makes Ground Invasion Inevitable?

The limitations of aerial warfare in dealing with Gaza's underground infrastructure and the need to effectively neutralize threats make a ground invasion seem increasingly inevitable.

Safety Of Hostages

The presence of hostages taken during Hamas's raid adds a chilling dimension to the situation. During Saturday's raid, the group took scores of Israeli and foreign prisoners, from toddlers to elderly women. Hamas has said it's prepared to kill a hostage each time Israel strikes civilian homes in Gaza without warning.

Risk Of Full-Scale Regional War In Middle East

Any military action could endanger their lives. Additionally, there is a risk of regional escalation and broader conflict involving neighbouring states.

Iran's Potential Involvement

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has voiced concern, warning of dire consequences for Israel's actions. "The massacre and mass killing of the people of Gaza will bring a greater calamity" on Israel, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said at a ceremony on Tuesday. US generals have warned Iran not to get involved and sent a carrier strike group to the region to deter Tehran. All this raises the spectre of potential involvement by Iran, further complicating the situation.

What Would Follow Post-Invasion?

A critical concern is the aftermath of a ground invasion. Past experiences highlight the challenges of establishing a lasting political solution following military actions in Gaza, emphasizing the need for careful planning and diplomacy. In this tense situation, the world anxiously waits to see the developments and hopes for a resolution that prioritizes peace, stability, and the protection of civilian lives.
Maruti Suzuki India launched the 5-door Jimny in June 2023 as a vehicle exclusively manufactured in India. Hence, giving a push to the 'Make-In-India' initiative. Now, the Indian automaker has announced that the brand has started exporting the SUV. As part of the plane, the SUV will now be exported to multiple countries including Latin America, the Middle East, and African countries, reaffirming India's position as a manufacturing hub in the international market.

The Jimny 5-door, which is only produced in India, debuted at the Auto Expo 2023. You might remember that Maruti Suzuki began producing the 3-door Jimny in November 2020 specifically for export to regions like Latin America and Africa. Similarly, it introduced the Jimny 5-Door for the domestic market in June 2023.

Also read: Triumph Scrambler 400 X Launched In India At Rs 2.63 Lakh, Deliveries To Begin Soon

Competing against the Mahindra Thar in India, Maruti Suzuki Jimny comes loaded with multiple features including LED headlamps with a washer, a boxy design, a clamshell bonnet, a vertical slit grille, and sporty alloy wheels.

Powering the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated engine with 105 horsepower and 134 Nm of peak torque. It comes paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The manual version of the Maruti claims a mileage of 16.94 kmpl, while the automatic version achieves 16.39 kmpl.

The SUV comes with Suzukis AllGrip Pro 4WD system with a manual transfer case and a ground clearance of 210mm aiding the model's off-roading capabilities.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny comes with a starting price of Rs 12.74 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to Rs 14.89 lakh (ex-showroom). The SUV closely competes against models like Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha in the Indian market.

With the 5-door Jimny now available in foreign markets, Maruti Suzuki currently exports 17 vehicles altogether. The Baleno, Dzire, Fronx, Swift, Grand Vitara, Spresso, Celerio, Ertiga, and Ciaz are some of the Maruti vehicles that are exported the most.
BPSC Teacher Recruitment Result 2023: The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) will release the results of the school teacher competitive examination (BPSC Bihar TRE 2023) in due course. When the Bihar Teacher Result is released, it will be available at bpsc.bih.nic.in. The commission announced earlier today (October 11) that the deadline for downloading OMR sheets had been extended until October 15. The warning can be found on the commission's website. The exam answer keys have already been made available.

The BPSC Teacher exam was held on August 24 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This recruitment process will fill a total of 1,70,461 school teacher vacancies in Bihar.

BPSC Teacher Recruitment Result 2023: Steps to download here

Visit the bpsc.bih.nic.in official website.

Open the link to the TRE results on the home page.

Enter your login information, log in, and then review the results.

Along with the TRE results, the BPSC is likely to disclose category-specific cut-off marks. It will be indicated in the result notice, which will be posted on bpsc.bih.nic.in.
Transgender individuals in Jammu and Kashmir, like many other regions of the country, have long endured unequal treatment. However, a glimmer of hope shines for them as the government in Jammu and Kashmir has taken a significant step by officially recognizing the third gender in government job applications. On Wednesday, the LG administration instructed all administrative departments to amend the Examination and Service rules, incorporating a separate category labeled 'Third Gender/any Other Category' in recruitment application forms for various posts in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights), Act of 2019, prohibits the discrimination, denial or unfair treatment of members of the Transgender community in educational establishments, employment, health institutions public services, etc, read a circular issued by the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Act mandates the government to ensure the complete and meaningful engagement of transgender individuals, their integration into society, and their access to government welfare programs. It also seeks to eradicate discrimination in their employment.

This significant move has received applause from the transgender community in the Union territory. After years of advocating for their rights, the LG-led government has finally approved the act. Thousands of transgender community members in the valley have expressed their gratitude to the government and praised the state for this decision.
Twenty-nine companies, public agencies, educators and nonprofits will be featured at the Careers Made in Marion Expo from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

High school seniors from Buckeye Community School, Elgin, Harding, Pleasant, Ridgedale, River Valley and Tri-Rivers will be able to see the wealth of Careers Made in Marion opportunities after graduation in the area. They include a dozen manufacturers as well as representatives of the banking industry, business, health care, higher education, law enforcement and the military.

It can be intimidating to figure out a plan after high school, said Tami Galloway, project manager for Americas Workforce Development Capital. We want to show them a variety of options to take to chart their course. There are so many opportunities for Careers Made in Marion right here.

Whirlpool representatives explain job opportunities to local students during a past Made in Marion! Expo.

Marion Technical College, The Ohio State University at Marion and Tri-Rivers Career Center adult education will be on hand to offer information on training and education.

Now is a great time to see what careers are in-demand that suit your skills and interests and what it takes to land a job in one of those fields, said Mike Augenstein, director of Workforce Solutions at Marion Technical College.

A collaboration of community partners

This event is a collaboration of many community partners, including Marion CAN DO!, Marion County Job and Family Services, local educators and business leaders. The Marion County commissioners also passed a resolution declaring Oct. 17 Careers Made in Marion Day.

This is another example of the way this vibrant community works together, Galloway said. Without buy-in from high schools who are bussing in seniors, and businesses who are taking the day to come up with hands-on projects to engage students and share what their fields are like, this would not be happening. This is one more example of the extensive community collaboration that makes Marion Americas Workforce Development Capital.

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Tami Galloway, project manager for Americas Workforce Development Capital

Participating companies, nonprofits and public agencies

Attendees had to apply to participate. They include: ArcelorMittal, First Citizens National Bank, Graphic Packaging International, H&R Block, International Paper, Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, Legacy Marion, Marion City Police Department, Marion County Sheriff's Office, Marion Logistics Services, Marion Technical College, MEP at Columbus State, Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative, Inc., Nucor Steel Marion, Inc., Ohio Health, Ohio State University at Marion, OhioMeansJobs-Marion County/Marion County Job & Family Services, Piston Automotive, POET Bioprocessing Marion, Sakamura USA, Inc., Sika Corporation, Silver Line Windows & Doors, the Marion Fire Department, The Ohio State Highway Patrol, Tri-Rivers Career Center Adult Education, United Federal Credit Union, US Army and Army Reserve Recruiting, Whirlpool Corporation and Wilson Bohannan Lock Company.

This is the fifth year of the Made in Marion Expo. Americas Workforce Development Capital also offers events including Teachers Manufacturing Boot Camps in which local educators tour local industry and Marion Technical College labs to learn about industry trends and how to help students find opportunities. For more information, go to MadeInMarion.org.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Careers Made in Marion Expo for HS seniors to explore career options
Near the end of her second day on the witness stand, Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of the crypto hedge fund Alameda Research, broke down. I felt a sense of relief that I didnt need to lie anymore, she said, her voice cracking as she detailed the final days of the now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX.

This was the climax in one of the most explosive days of testimony in the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX. In charge of the crypto hedge fund that prosecutors argue facilitated the misappropriation of billions in customer funds, Ellison continued to build on her narrative from the day before, which had already detailed her unfair compensation, Alamedas market manipulation, and other revelations.

However, her testimony on Wednesday included even more outlandish details: Bankman-Frieds disbelief in blanket rules against lying and stealing, a Saudi prince and Thai prostitutes, as well as inside glimpses into Ellisons mental state as the crypto empire she helped build collapsed in what she called "the worst week of my life."

Maximize utility

In addition to Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, Ellison was a key lieutenant in Bankman-Frieds crypto conglomerate. However, having dated Sam Bankman-Fried on and off since the fall of 2018, she had arguably a more privileged window into the FTX founders mind.

On Tuesday, she testified that Bankman-Fried had at one point told her that he gave himself a 5% chance he would become president someday, hinting at his alleged egoism. When you say 'president,' what are you referring to? asked Danielle Sassoon, the prosecutor questioning her. Of the United States, responded Ellison.

On Wednesday, Ellison gave the jurors a further glimpse into Bankman-Frieds potential motivations for allegedly committing fraud. Shortly after the lunch break, she said that Bankman-Fried was a utilitarian, meaning that he thought the only moral value that mattered was whatever would maximize utility, which she explained as essentially trying to create the greatest good for the greatest number of people or beings.

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And as opposed to other utilitarians, Bankman-Fried saw that "rules like 'don't lie' or 'don't steal' didnt fit into that framework," she said, adding that his views slowly influenced hers.

"When I started working at Alameda," she testified, "I don't think I would have believed if you told me that a few years later I would be sending false balance sheets to our lenders or taking customer money."

Foreign flings

Ellisons testimony on Wednesday, which began with dry recountings of how she fudged balance sheets, turned electric when she referenced a Saudi prince and then, inexplicably, Thai prostitutes.

The prince she spoke of was none other than Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the leader of Saudi Arabia. Ellison said Bankman-Fried was courting the Crown Prince in the fall of 2022 to potentially invest in FTX, as Alameda allegedly continued to withdraw billions of dollars of customer funds from the crypto exchange to pay back loans and make risky bets.

The mention of Thai prostitutes came later in her testimony as Sassoon, the prosecutor, questioned Ellison on how Alameda allegedly bribed a Chinese government official to unlock approximately $1 billion Alameda had stuck on two Chinese crypto exchanges, OKX and Huobi (now HTX).

The Justice Department had previously charged Bankman-Fried in March for bribing a Chinese official but later rescinded the charge to save for another trial provisionally scheduled for next year. But the bribe, which she said was $150 million, wasnt Alamedas first attempt to recoup funds from OKX and Huobi.

She testified that Alameda made several accounts on OKX using the IDs of different people who I believe were Thai prostitutes, and we tried to basically have our main account lose money and have those other accounts make money. Ryan Salame, another FTX executive who has also pleaded guilty, told her about the accounts, she said, without explaining how Salame knew about them.

Suffice to say, the Thai-prostitute gambit didnt work, and Alameda decided to pay $150 million for the thing, she later wrote in a document she sent to Bankman-Fried.

'Get it over with'

The prosecutions direct examination of Ellison was broadly chronological, and on Wednesday afternoon, Sassoon questioned her about the last week before FTX declared bankruptcy.

After CoinDesk published a leaked balance sheet from the crypto hedge fund, customers began to withdraw funds from FTX. There was a run on the bank, and lenders began to recall their loans, she testified.

This is the best mood I've been in in like a year, to be honest, she wrote in a message to Bankman-Fried. I think I just had an increasing dread of this day that was weighing on me for a long time, and now that it's actually happening, it just feels great to get it over with one way or another.

Ellison began to tear up and her voice cracked as she read aloud the messages. In reality, she said, this was the worst week of my life.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The second-highest-ranking official in the Chicago Fire Department was reprimanded instead of suspended after violating the citys sexual harassment policies by commenting to a subordinate about an alleged sexual relationship, records show.

Investigators with the Chicago Department of Human Resources had recommended in May that First Deputy Commissioner Mary Sheridan be suspended for 10 days, but fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt decided on retraining and a written reprimand instead.

Sheridan didnt complete the retraining until last week, more than three months after Nance-Holt informed human resources of her decision and shortly after the Tribune inquired about the case.

In a complaint filed with the Human Resources Department in August 2022, a fire official reported that Sheridan confronted him at work about an alleged sexual relationship with another Fire Department employee.

The complaint alleged Sheridan said: We know you guys are f------, keep that s--- to yourselves.

While investigating that allegation, officials learned Sheridan also allegedly asked someone: Why are you f------ (name redacted)?

In a May 2023 memo sustaining both allegations, the Human Resources Department concluded that although Sheridan denied making the comments attributed to her, it was more likely than not that Sheridan engaged in the conduct alleged.

Comments relating to sexual intercourse are plainly sexual in nature and a violation of the (Equal Employment Opportunity) Policy, human resources officials Mark Pando and Mary Pietrzak concluded in their memo to Nance-Holt.

In addition to violating sexual harassment policies, Sheridan failed to cooperate with the investigation, according to the memo. It stated that Sheridan refused to sign a document prepared by human resources summarizing their interview and instead submitted her own statement. She also left a second interview with her lawyer and declined to answer more questions.

While Sheridan may have been acting upon advice from her legal counsel, we find her actions extremely troubling given that she is the second in command at CFD and her conduct should serve an example for employees throughout the department, the officials wrote.

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A month later, Nance-Holt responded to the complaint and said she disagreed with the recommended discipline.

First Deputy Sheridan has served the Chicago Fire Department for over 43 years. In that time, First Deputy Sheridan has never had any sustained findings of similar misconduct, Nance-Holt wrote. To the Departments knowledge, she has never even been accused of such conduct. While an employees rank may be seen as an aggravating factor in the determination of discipline, so too should their exemplary and discipline free history be seen as a mitigating factor.

Nance-Holt said the punishment was based, in part, on what may be viewed as legal counsels over-zealous representation. Nance-Holt agreed to implement a written reprimand and schedule the employee for the recommended EEO retraining.

She also said the Fire Department had sought to suspend Sheridan for three days but the Human Resources Department said suspensions of employees like Sheridan must be in increments of weeks.

As CFD determined the appropriate suspension was less than five work days (one week), discipline of a written reprimand is the appropriate discipline available to be issued, Nance-Holt wrote.

Sheridan did the retraining on Oct. 6, according to a Fire Department spokesperson.

In a written statement to the Tribune, Nance-Holt said the department will not tolerate sexual harassment and will continue to work towards a safe working environment for all members of the Chicago Fire Department. Sheridans attorney did not return messages seeking comment.

Records show Sheridan complained to the Human Resources Department about the way she was treated while the investigation was ongoing.

I think you should take a step back and reconsider whether you are going to recommend that I be disciplined. Instead, you may consider whether you would want a supervisor to inquire about a potentially troubling relationship ... that a supervisor under my command has with a subordinate. I also think you may wish to consider if the interview process you are engaging in is actually intended to be a factfinding mission or onesided cross examination, Sheridan wrote in a March email.

Sheridans lighter punishment comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Fire Department over its handling of sexual harassment and racial issues.

In 2021, the city inspector general released a report urging the department to put stronger policies in place to deal with sexual harassment and racial discrimination. Of 45 female fire employees who responded to a workplace survey the inspector generals office conducted, 26 reported experiencing sexual harassment at work.

gpratt@chicagotribune.com
Chinese lidar maker Hesai had a patent infringement claim against it by U.S. lidar maker Ouster terminated, but the case will go on in federal court. (Image: Hesai Group)

The International Trade Commission has terminated a patent infringement suit by an American lidar maker against a Chinese competitor. But the case will continue in federal court.

San Francisco-based Ouster Inc. sued Shanghai-based Hesai Group in April, seeking to bar Hesai from importing certain autonomous vehicle technology to the U.S. The ITC did not address the merits of Ousters claim. The ruling lifts a stay on a federal suit Ouster filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware seeking an injunction and monetary damages against Hesai.

The ITC initially determined on Aug. 24 the claim should be terminated. The commissions final decision came Tuesday.

Hesai has always believed all of Ousters infringement allegations are baseless and lack merit. Hesais lidar products are independently developed, based on years of research and engineering investment, not stolen IP, Hesai Group said in a news release Thursday.

Lidar is an object detection system that works on the principle of radar but uses light from a laser. Hesai is a global leader in the technology. Its customers include autonomous trucking developer Kodiak Robotics.

Ouster seeks freedom from agreement reached by competitor thats now a subsidiary

The ITC decision allows arbitrators time to decide whether Ouster must arbitrate based on a 2020 patent infringement settlement between Hesai and Velodyne Lidar. Ouster purchased Velodyne in February.

Hesai has fully abided by the agreement, but Ouster tried to escape its legal obligations, Hesai said, adding that it welcomes arbitration.

Ouster claimed it was not bound by the previous patent cross-licensing agreement Hesai reached with Velodyne following a suit Velodyne filed in 2019 against Hesai and Suteng Innovation Technology Co. Ltd., also known as RoboSense.

Hesai claims Ouster spent $800,000 lobbying against it in Washington

Hesai agreed to pay Velodyne millions in upfront payments and ongoing royalties. Velodyne sued Ouster alleging patent infringement in June 2022. That case went away when the two startups announced their merger in November.

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Hesai claimed Ouster has spent $800,000 since last year on lobbying instead to smear Hesai.

As a result of its failure to compete effectively in the lidar marketplace against Hesai and its continuing legal setbacks, Ouster is turning to political lobbying as its last resort. Ouster has been availing itself of the political and regulatory avenues by spreading xenophobic misinformation and proffering false claims through its lobbyists and media agents, Hesai said.

Ouster declined comment on Hesais claim about lobbying.

In an Aug. 28 statement following the ITCs initial determination, Ouster said it invented digital lidar technology and holds one of the largest patent families in the lidar industry. The company claims that after the market shifted toward its digital lidar, Hesai stole Ousters patented technologies and incorporated them into Hesais competing products.

The global lidar industry relies on fair competition, and IP [intellectual property] must be protected, Ouster CEO Angus Pacala said in a statement Thursday. Lidar is a critical technology used across our nations infrastructure from traffic systems to the vehicles we drive. Critical technology needs to be trusted technology. And Ouster is dedicated to promoting the responsible and ethical use of lidar.

Editors note: Updates with Ouster declining comment on lobbying allegation and adds quote from Ouster CEO.

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Click for more FreightWaves articles by Alan Adler.

The post Chinese lidar maker gets US patent infringement claim terminated appeared first on FreightWaves.
SINGAPORE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Citi's Board of Directors and Executive Management Team (EMT) will meet in Singapore during the week of October 16, the first time the Board has met in the country since 2011.

Citi Logo (PRNewsfoto/Citi)

The decision to hold the board meeting in Singapore this year reflects the company's focus and commitment to the country.

During the week, the Board and Citi's EMT will meet with clients, staff and regulators.

Singapore is one of Citi's largest markets globally with market leading businesses across Markets, Banking, Services and Wealth and is home to one of four wealth hubs, providing employment to some 8,500 staff.

"We are delighted to welcome the Board back to Singapore for the first time in over a decade. Citi has been in Singapore since 1902 and is a key global hub for the firm, housing a number of our regional and global client coverage and product units, and is home to many of our Asia and ASEAN leadership teams. The selection of Singapore for this year's Board meeting signals Citi's intent to invest and grow our business here for years to come," said Tibor Pandi, Singapore Citi Country Officer.

About Citi:

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi |

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi |

Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi

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As Delawares judicial and corporate elites convene for a legal conference, protesters held a demonstration outside to expose Delawares kangaroo Chancery Court led by conference speaker Kathaleen McCormick

NEWARK, Del., October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Citizens for Judicial Fairness volunteers protested the Delaware Governance Institute on the University of Delaware campus in opposition to ongoing bias and rubber-stamping of legal fees by Delawares Chancery Court and Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, who is speaking at the event.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012290834/en/

CJF protesters outside the Delaware Governance Institute (Photo: Business Wire)

While legal, judiciary, and corporate elites gathered inside the Clayton Hall Conference Center to discuss recent trends in Delaware law, protesters dressed as judges with inflatable kangaroos representing Delawares kangaroo Chancery Court brought attention to the abuse of justice and lack of transparency within Delaware courts.

Chancellor McCormick epitomizes the exploitative behavior at play in the Chancery Court. Since stepping into her role, the Chancery Court has rubber-stamped millions in excessive legal fees for corporate elites. Earlier this month, X (formerly known as Twitter) was ordered to pay $1.1 M dollars in legal fees, a ruling issued in favor of former Twitter executives. Technology company Dell was instructed to pay $266 million in legal fees. TransPerfect, the worlds largest translation services company, is still being charged millions in egregious fees every month by Skadden Arps  fees that are promptly approved by McCormicks Chancery Court.

Businesses that once called Delaware home are now fleeing the state due to murky court rulings from the Delaware Chancery Court. These entities annually generate about $3 billion dollars for the economy totaling 20% of the state budget. That money goes towards critical initiatives such as schools, infrastructure, and general economic development.

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"While corporations leaving the state hurts all Delawareans it harms Black and Latino residents the most. The all-white institution which makes up the court doesnt care about this pain to people of color when they scratch the backs of their buddies with legal fees that drive much-needed tax revenue out of our state," said activist and protest leader Keandra McDole. "We wont sit in silence without a fight. We need Black judges in our judicial system. For far too long the Chancery has operated with a questionable moral code. Failure to reform this court with judges who are sensitive to Delawares diverse communities harms not only the states business reputation but also the states ability to provide for its people."

Citizens for Judicial Fairness (formerly Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware) is a grassroots advocacy organization fighting for transparency, equity, and accountability in state judiciaries across America. Founded by employees of TransPerfect Global in 2016 to fight the Delaware Chancery Courts unprecedented forced sale of TransPerfect, the group has since grown to over 5,000 members nationwide. CJF leverages grassroots pressure, strategic partnerships, and political advocacy to campaign for common-sense solutions to increase transparency and equity in court systems across the country. To learn more about CJF, visit CitizensForJudicialFairness.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012290834/en/

Contacts

press@citizensforjudicialfairness.org
(Bloomberg) -- Codelco, the worlds biggest copper producer, is nearing a deal to acquire Lithium Power International Ltd. that could value the Sydney-listed firm at nearly A$315 million ($202 million), according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Chilean state-owned firm is in advanced discussions to buy out Lithium Power at about 50 Australian cents per share, representing a 43% premium to its Wednesday closing price, the people said. The companies are working on finalizing a deal, they said.

An announcement could come as soon as next week, one of the people said, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. Negotiations could still be delayed or even fall apart, according to the people.

Shares of Lithium Power surged as much as 25.7% and touched the highest level since February on Thursday before trading was halted. The stock is still down about 6% this year, giving it a market value of about $168 million.

Lithium Power said in a Thursday statement that the potential price of about 50 Australian cents per share is incorrect, without further elaboration. Discussions with Codelco are ongoing and no agreement has been reached, it said. A representative for Codelco declined to comment on Wednesday.

Lithium Power has projects in Chile and Australia, according to its website. Its Maricunga project, located within the so-called lithium triangle in northern Chile, is estimated to contain about 1.9 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent. The firms projects in Western Australia are still in exploration stage.

Acquiring the Australian miner, with its Chilean asset, would bolster the state-owned firms position in the countrys lithium industry. Chile has given Codelco a key role in a new public-private model for the sector, under which the state will have a majority stake in areas considered nationally important. Codelcos chief financial officer is moving to a new job with responsibility for lithium, the firms chairman said in an interview this month, a day after the company abruptly announced the finance chiefs resignation.

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Codelco has been struggling with copper mine mishaps and project delays while its debt load has been piling up. Moodys Investors Service earlier this month cut its investment-grade credit rating by one notch and assigned a negative outlook.

Codelcos production slump has set up a three-way battle for the title of the worlds largest copper miner. Freeport McMoRan Inc. briefly took the top spot from Codelco last year, and BHP Group Ltd. is also challenging it for the mantle after buying Australias OZ Minerals Ltd.

(Updates with Lithium Powers statement in fifth paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel wants to restore the agency's authority to enforce network neutrality. (Jonathan Newton / Associated Press)

If you're unhappy with the high cost and low quality of your internet service  and who isn't?  the reason is easy to pinpoint.

It can be found in an ill-considered, cynical and overtly pro-business decision in 2018 by the Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission to abdicate its authority over broadband internet service and repeal rules guaranteeing network neutrality, a core principle of the open internet.

As I wrote when the change was first proposed by the FCC's Republican chair, the former telecommunications company lawyer Ajit Pai, consumers would inevitably feel the pain.

[Broadband] is essential infrastructure for modern life. No one without it has a fair shot at 21st century success.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel

Internet service would become more expensive, and users would have less choice. Internet service would be dominated by a few big content providers, with smaller and potentially more innovative providers shouldered out of the way.

Every one of those predictions came true, I'm sorry to say.

Now there's a glimmer of hope that the FCC could get its arms back around internet service. Current FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, a former Democratic Senate aide, has proposed restoring the FCC's authority over broadband providers as well as the net neutrality rules that were in place until Pai killed them.

The commission will vote Oct. 19 on whether to move ahead with the rule-making and start taking public comments.

One quick primer about the meaning of net neutrality. It means simply that internet service providers cant discriminate among content providers trying to reach you online  they cant block websites or services, or degrade their signal, slow their traffic or, conversely, provide a better traffic lane for some rather than others.

The principle is important because control over traffic gives ISPs tremendous power, especially if they control the last mile of access to end users, as do cable operators such as Comcast and telecommunications firms such as Verizon.

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Read more: Column: This AI chatbot was 'trained' using my books, but don't blame me for its incredible stupidity

Rosenworcel laid out her proposal in a Sept. 26 speech in Washington. Her starting point was the observation that broadband connectivity is no longer a luxury in the modern world.

"It is a necessity," she said. "It is essential infrastructure for modern life. No one without it has a fair shot at 21st century success."

Yet the 2018 repeal left the U.S. without any regulatory supervision of this crucial industry. Left to their own devices, broadband companies spent the intervening years continuing a preexisting trend away from competition and toward consolidation through mergers.

"That is why almost half of us lack high-speed service with 100 megabit-per-second download speeds or can only get it from a single provider," Rosenworcel said. "In fact, only one-fifth of the country has more than two choices at this speed."

As a result, she pointed out, "if your broadband provider mucks up your traffic, messing around with your ability to go where you want and do what you want online, you can't just pick up and choose another provider .... You need a referee on the field looking out for the public interest  and ensuring your access is fast, open and fair."

There's nothing particularly new about Rosenworcel's proposal  she's merely aiming to restore the level playing field in broadband services established as long ago as 2004, during the George W. Bush administration.

The FCC's regulatory initiatives came under court attack by the telecommunications industry, but the legal uncertainties were ultimately resolved under President Obama and FCC Chair Tom Wheeler in 2015. The commission's ban on paid prioritization, blocking of content, and throttling  that is, degrading the signals from content the service providers wished to discourage for its own economic interests  remained in place until Trump's team of vandals overturned them.

The telecom firms supported Pai's initiative with a campaign of unexampled dishonesty. As New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James later disclosed, the industry flooded the FCC with millions of fraudulent public comments, many signed by nonexistent or dead people. Three companies that handled the commenting for the industry had to pay $4 million in penalties.

Read more: Column: The bogus, homophobic campaign against Biden's stellar FCC nominee

Pai cited that torrent of comments to justify his rollback of net neutrality; in fact, public opinion polls consistently showed 80% support for keeping net neutrality in place.

The vacuum of regulatory oversight was felt almost immediately.

While trying to quell the Mendocino Complex wildfire in Northern California in 2019, the Santa Clara County Fire Department discovered that its internet connection provider, Verizon, was throttling its data flow virtually down to zero, cutting off communications for firefighters in the field. One firefighter died in the blaze and four were injured.

Verizon managers refused to restore service until the Fire Department signed up for a new account that more than doubled its bill. Verizon later acknowledged that it should not have done that.

Telecom industry stooges maintained that the fiasco had nothing to do with net neutrality, since Verizon had the right to throttle traffic even before the policy change. But that's wrong.

The change left the Fire Department with no regulatory recourse, because the FCC had withdrawn from virtually any oversight of internet services. As a result of the repeal, Rosenworcel said in her speech, "the FCC lacked the authority to intervene."

The lack of federal authority over broadband has troubling implications not only for public safety, as it did in Santa Clara County, but for national security, cybersecurity, network reliability and privacy protection, Rosenworcel said. Federal officials have no authority to monitor outages or security standards. Rules guaranteeing privacy protection for telephone users exist, but not for anyone with a broadband subscription.

With the federal government missing in action, the task of enforcing network neutrality has fallen to the states. California was the first to enact its own rules, passing a law in 2018 that replicated the original FCC standards almost verbatim, with enforcement left in the hands of city attorneys, county district attorneys and the state attorney general. Maine, New Jersey, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Vermont soon followed.

Read more: Column: Big business musters more lies to smear a Biden nominee because she would do her job

(By the way, when the California Legislature was debating its law, seniors in the state were inundated with robocalls claiming that the measure would raise cellphone bills by $30 a month and slow down their speeds, neither of which was true. One of the organizations behind the calls listed AT&T and Verizon as sponsors or supporters, though the companies disavowed responsibility for the calls.)

The state laws are a gratifying certification of public opinion, but Rosenworcel is right to say that it's no substitute for consistent federal oversight. "When you are dealing with the most essential infrastructure in the digital age, we benefit from one national policy" rather than "a patchwork of state regulations," she said in her speech.

Don't be surprised if the telecom industry's attack on Rosenworcel's proposal exceeds the ugliness of its effort to support the rollback of net neutrality. Among other factors, big internet service providers have gotten bigger, richer and more entrenched since 2017, so they have more to lose by the revival of net neutrality.

The industry signaled its determination to keep net neutrality dead and buried through its despicable campaign against Gigi Sohn, President Biden's original nominee for the vacant Democratic seat on the FCC.

Sohn was an uncompromising supporter of net neutrality and an outspoken critic of the FCC's abandonment of its regulatory responsibilities. Her unquestioned expertise in telecommunications law would have made her a stellar spokesperson for the public interest as a commissioner.

So the industry defamed her with the filthiest, most dishonest smears imaginable, culminating in a burst of homophobic slurs. Faced with this onslaught, Sohn withdrew her nomination in March. Biden subsequently nominated Anna Gomez, who was confirmed by the Senate last month, finally giving Rosenworcel the majority she needs to push her policies forward.

The only question is whether she's too late. In government, it's often harder to correct a mistake than to commit it in the first place.

There's no question that the FCC's repeal of network neutrality and its abandonment of broadband oversight were blunders of the first order. Making the internet fulfill its role as an indispensable utility in the modern age may be the most important imperative on the FCC's agenda.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Christian-raised filmmaker turns camera on the church, in an investigative

docuseries set to rattle more than Western Christianity.

PARK CITY, Utah, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A groundbreaking 7-part docuseries titled "The Religion Business" is currently in production, sparking a profound conversation about the lack of accountability and impact within various religious institutions. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Nathan Apffel, this thought-provoking show promises to challenge preconceived notions and ignite a global dialogue about transparency, ethics, and faith.

Humans are going to human. Controversial 7-part investigative documentary series sheds light on lack of accountability within religion. The series is bound to rattle more than Western Christianity.

"The Religion Business," produced by Corban Productions, delves deep into the often-taboo subject of accountability within religious organizations. The documentary explores allegations of misconduct, financial impropriety, and cover-ups that have plagued various religious denominations. The show features interviews with former clergy members, whistleblowers, and survivors who share their personal experiences and insights into the systemic issues within religious institutions while exploring the balance of separation of church and state and tax exemption. From these stories, overarching questions emerge. If there was more accountability within religion, could religious organizations change the world for the better? How many sick could be healed, how many hungry could be fed, how many unjust deaths could be prevented?

This thought-provoking documentary also confronts questions of power, influence, and the consequences of unchecked authority within religious hierarchies. Through compelling storytelling and meticulous research, "The Religion Business" aims to uncover the uncomfortable truths that many religious institutions have become prey to.

Director Nathan Apffel commented, saying, "The series looks at Christ's teachings, colliding with the US tax code, to culminate a 2,000-year-old business model where freewill and no accountability reign. At the end of the day, humans are gonna human."

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The collaboration between filmmaker Nathan Apffel and serial entrepreneur and OIF veteran Chris Ayoub is not only to create the controversial series, but also to develop technology solutions addressing the problems the docuseries uncovers. Both the docuseries and technology have funding and creative teams locked and in production to release in the Summer of 2024.

Chris had this to say, "We are not here to be critics, this world has plenty of those. We are here to provide a solution to the problems that have been uncovered. Just like podcasts brought alternative opinions and checks on mainstream news, we are building technology to do the same within the world of nonprofits and religious organizations."

"The Religion Business" has already generated significant controversy and anticipation, with religious leaders and scholars expressing a range of opinions on the subject matter. The team is eager to engage in meaningful dialogues with religious representatives, scholars, and believers who may wish to share their perspectives.

The release of "The Religion Business" will be accompanied by panel discussions featuring experts from various fields, including theology, ethics, and economics, to foster a well-rounded conversation about the issues raised in the docuseries.

"The Religion Business" is expected to be a catalyst for a global conversation about the need for accountability within religious institutions. The technology is set to be an answer to the accountability issues uncovered. It challenges viewers to reevaluate their perspectives on faith and its relationship with transparency, ethics, and authority.

For media inquiries, interviews, or press materials, please contact:

www.thereligionbusiness.com

Media Contact:

The Religion Business

Attn: Media Relations

Park City, Utah

press@thereligionbusiness.com

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gopixa / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Mention the term housing bubble, and you might conjure up nightmarish visions of 2008-2009, when the subprime mortgage crisis contributed to a crash that sent average U.S. home prices down more than 27% from their peak in 2006 to their low point six years later. Now there are fears that the same kind of pattern could be developing in the current market.

Housing Market 2023: The 10 Most Overpriced Housing Markets in the US  5 Are in Florida

Discover: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

As CNN recently reported, the median price of an existing home has ballooned more than 46% in the space of only four years  from $278,200 in August 2019 to $407,100 in August 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Housing Market 2023: These 15 Cities Are Poised for the Most Stable Growth and Are Likely To Keep Their Value

Although prices have stabilized somewhat in recent months, some experts still fear that the housing market has overheated to a point that is no longer sustainable.

Talk about a bubble. Thats a classic supply-demand imbalance, Sheila Bair, former head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., told CNN.

Bair sees a similar bubbly housing market in 2023, driven by low mortgage rates early in the decade that contributed to heavy demand for homes and record high prices. Mortgage rates have since more than doubled to about 7.5%  their highest point in more than two decades, according to the St. Louis Fed  which could lead to a rapid slowdown in demand.

Meanwhile, foreclosure completions are up year over year, but new filings are down slightly, Forbes reported. Most experts dont expect to see a wave of foreclosures in 2023  partly because roughly half of mortgage-owned residential properties in the U.S. were equity-rich in the second quarter of 2023, according to ATTOM.

Is another popped bubble in the offing? It could happen  but there are reasons to believe it wont. Here are three ways to prevent the bubble from bursting, according to experts.

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Dont Lend to Just Anyone

One of the main problems during the mid-2000s was that it was incredibly easy to qualify for a home mortgage. Home loans were approved for too many buyers with poor credit scores and little capital, and many ended up in foreclosure. One reason Bair doesnt expect a repeat of that housing crisis is that not nearly as many homeowners are underwater on their home loans now.

As of September 2023, only 1.1 million homes, or 2% of all mortgaged properties, owed more on their mortgage than their home was worth, CNN reported, citing data from CoreLogic. During the sub-prime mortgage crisis, that figure peaked at 26%.

Mortgage lending standards are much stricter in todays market.

I see much less speculation in the housing market today, thank goodness, Bair told CNN.

Dont Oversaturate the Market With New Homes

One of the surprising trends in recent month is that despite rapidly rising mortgage rates, home prices have remained stubbornly high. This is mostly because of a limited supply of homes for sale.

Supply is the issue, Fannie Mae CEO Priscilla Almodovar told CNN. There is no place to go. There is a lack of inventory.

As long as supply remains limited  and builders dont overdevelop  prices should drop at a more normal rate instead of crashing altogether. So far, builders have not been keen to ramp up new home inventory. Single-family construction starts fell 6.7% in August, Forbes reported, though applications for building permits inched up 2% from the prior month.

There is not going to be a home price crash, Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, told CNN. When you have a housing shortage, home prices simply cannot decline in any measurable way.

There might be a temporary decline in prices, Yun added, but a prolonged drop of 10% to 15% cannot happen in this tight supply market.

Encourage a Bit of Deflation

Although homeowners might not like the idea, the housing market would benefit from a modest decrease in average home prices. Natural market forces will dictate that. However, if demand recedes, then buyers themselves can do themselves (and the market) a big favor by being more discerning about the amount of money they are willing to spend on a home.

Letting that bubble deflate a bit would probably be a good thing, Bair said. For those who want to own, I hope home prices do come down.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Current Housing Market Exhibits Classic Supply-Demand Imbalance  3 Expert Takes on Ways To Prevent the Bubble From Bursting
Deep-South Resources Inc

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Deep-South Resources Inc. ("Deep-South" or the Company") (TSX-V: DSM) announces that it has entered into an agreement with Ferrodrill Namibia (Pty) Ltd in order to proceed with the drilling program on the Haib Copper project in the south of Namibia. Ferrodrill is a Namibian drilling contractor providing full drilling services since 2007 and has provided services to a large number companies from exploration to major mining companies. The contract provides for 5,000 meters of diamond drilling. Drilling planning and preparation is on track and we will inform our shareholders of the schedule and complete program in due course.



The specific focus of the drilling campaign is to drill the high-grade area of the deposit uncovered by Deep-South in 2019. The program was planned to drill up to 10,000 meters in the area. The first 5,000 meters were drilled in 2021. However, the program had been suspended when the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia (the Ministry) has refused to renew the Exploration and Prospecting Licence (EPL). This legal situation has been resolved and the licence was renewed on July 7, 2023. Deep-South goal is to complete the remaining 5,000 meters and then proceed with a new resource estimation.

Previous drilling programmes point to the presence of higher copper grade zones, probably associated with near vertical structures (shears and faults) within the broader mineralised areas of the project. The use of vertical drilling in the past potentially missed those structures resulting in an underestimation of the overall grade. Our drilling program is focussing to redress this through the use of inclined holes to identify and delineate these structures and test the association with higher Cu grade zones. The results of the first 5,000 meters drilled in 2021 seem to support this updated interpretation, showing substantial intersections at Cu grades considered high for Haib. Additionally, the presence of molydenum has been confirmed with high Mo grades obtained in association with structures and alterations.

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About Deep-South Resources Inc.

Deep-South Resources is a mineral exploration and development company. Deep-Souths growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of quality assets in significant mineralized trends and in proximity to infrastructure in stable countries. The Company holds the Haib Copper Project in Namibia and holds an interest in three exploration licenses in the Copperbelt in Zambia. In using and assessing environmentally friendly technologies in the development of its copper projects, Deep-South embraces the green revolution.

Qualified Person

Mr. Dean Richards Pr.Sci.Nat. , MGSSA  BSc. (Hons.) Geology, is the Qualified Person for the Haib Project as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

More information is available by contacting Pierre Leveille, President & CEO at +1-819-340-0140 or at: info@deepsouthresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.




A number of Democrats facing battleground Senate races are calling on President Biden to again freeze $6 billion in Iranian funds following Hamass attack on Israel.

Since Hamas launched fatal attacks on Israel Saturday, many lawmakers have questioned the Biden administration for its decision to unfreeze $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of a previous prisoner swap with Iran. Many critics say that the funds may have freed up resources for Irans military spending and support of Hamas.

Theres been pushback from both the left and the right, but a growing number of Democrats in battleground states are now calling on the administration to refreeze the funds. Democratic Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) are just two lawmakers facing tough reelections in 2024 who have called on the administration to immediately freeze the $6 billion.

As American intelligence officials continue to investigate the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, we should review our options to hold Iran accountable for any support they may have provided, Tester said in a Tuesday statement. At a minimum, we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in Iranian assets and explore other financial tools we have at our disposal.

Manchin reiterated the same day that he did not support the prisoner deal in the first place and that the U.S. should freeze those assets as well as consider other sanctions.

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 U.S. had frozen the funds when relations between the two countries faltered.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said that the funds should remain frozen until we can determine whether Iran played a role in the attack and what the appropriate U.S. response should be, and he called out Republicans for spreading misleading information about the situation.

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Republican politicians should stop intentionally misleading the American people about this serious matter. None of the sanctions funds have been transferred to Iran, he said in his statement.

Nevada Democratic Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto also voiced support for freezing the $6 billion, The Nevada Independent reported. Biden carried Nevada in the 2020 election, beating former President Trump by about 33,000 votes.

Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who are running for Senate seats in their respective states, called on Biden Wednesday to freeze the funds as well.

The longstanding financial, material, and weapons support from Iran to Hamas is significant  and we know at minimum that the Iranian regime is seeking to take advantage of Hamas attack against Israel. Based on what I heard today in our classified briefing, I believe we need to hit pause button on any release of the funds that were part of this deal, Slotkin said in a statement.

As we learn more about Irans role in these horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, one thing is clear: we should immediately freeze the $6 billion in assets and use available tools to discourage Irans illicit conduct. Our ally Israel is at war, and while the conflict continues, we must stand united, Gallego said in his statement.

The Biden administration has emphasized that Iran has not spent any of these funds set to be unfrozen, noting that they can only be used for food, medicine and other humanitarian goods.

Deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said earlier this week 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.

Updated 9:29 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Nouriel Roubini Fred Prouser/Reuters

"Dr. Doom" Nouriel Roubini warned markets haven't fully priced in the conflict in Middle East.

Investors expect Israel to go into Gaza and get rid of Hamas, he said, but there's still risk of broader conflict.

Iran and Lebanon could get involved, and it could disrupt Gulf oil supply, he said.

"Dr. Doom" economist Nouriel Roubini warned that investors haven't fully priced in the risk of the Israel-Hamas war expanding into a wider regional conflict.

In an interview with Bloomberg in Marrakesh, Morocco, Roubini, a professor at New York University and the chief executive of Roubini Macro Associates, said investors expect Israel will have no choice but enter Gaza and get rid of Hamas.

Markets are pricing in a baseline scenario in which "Israel occupies Gaza, it's going to get ugly, but the conflict remains contained," he said. "That's why oil prices haven't done very much."

Over the weekend, militants from Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 700 people and taking civilians and military personnel hostage. Meanwhile, on Thursday reports said Israel exchanged artillery fire with Syria.

Markets so far have mostly responded to other economic influences besides the Israel-Hamas war, such as the Federal Reserve and the potential for more rate hikes.

Yet, risks remain beyond the baseline outcome of Israel occupying Gaza. A "downside scenario" could mean Iran and Lebanon get involved too, Roubini said.

"If that were to be the case, of course the supply of oil from the Gulf gets disrupted and you get a spike in oil prices and then the economic impact would be huge," the economist maintained, adding that rising oil prices could spur a "stagflationary shock."

"It's not the baseline scenario," he said, "but it's a risk."

He said its not yet known how high the risk is, but "markets seems to be discounting the possibility of a massive conflict for now."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Dyson has paid out 4.3bn to Weybourne in the last five years, according to Bloomberg - Christophe Archambault

Dyson has paid out a record 1.2bn in dividends to its parent company as Sir James Dyson funds investments in farming and insurance.

Accounts filed in Singapore showed Dyson had increased its payout to Weybourne Holdings, owned by the Dyson family, from 1bn in 2021 to 1.2bn last year.

Sir James, Britains fifth-wealthiest man with a net worth of 23bn according to the Sunday Times Rich List, has steadily increased the cash payments from Dyson to Weybourne in recent years. Dyson has paid out 4.3bn in the last five years, according to Bloomberg.

Dyson was founded in Britain but established corporate headquarters in Singapore in 2019. Sir James moved his residency back to Britain in 2021. The Dyson family is the companys ultimate shareholder.

Dyson, best known for its vacuum cleaners and hairdryers, enjoyed record sales of 6.5bn last year but pre-tax profits fell from 1.3bn to 1.1bn.

This was partly due to the closure of its Russia business as well as growing investment in staff and research and development. The company said earlier this year that a combination of higher shipping and logistics costs had cost it 120m.

Dyson, founded by Sir James in 1991, has expanded from its core vacuum cleaner business to air purifiers, lighting and last year, a set of headphones with a face covering that cleans the air its wearer breathes.

Earlier this year, the company unveiled plans to build its own batteries for the first time with a plant in Singapore that would manufacture next generation cells that would mean lighter and longer-lasting products.

It also announced a 100m software and artificial intelligence hub in Bristol.

Sir James has invested heavily in farmland and equipment across the UK, saying earlier this year he had spent 120m in equipment to help revitalise British farming with robot fruit pickers and AI-assisted sprayers. Weybourne has also set up an insurance business, Alpinia.

Accounts filed by his farming business showed revenues of 35m last year and a 3.9m profit.

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Sir James has also invested in real estate, owning around 287m of UK property according to reports.

Dyson declined to comment.

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Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX:BOQ) just released its latest annual report and things are not looking great. Bank of Queensland missed earnings this time around, with AU$1.7b revenue coming in 6.0% below what the analysts had modelled. Statutory earnings per share (EPS) of AU$0.20 also fell short of expectations by 14%. This is an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance in its report, look at what experts are forecasting for next year, and see if there has been any change to expectations for the business. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Bank of Queensland after the latest results.

See our latest analysis for Bank of Queensland

Taking into account the latest results, the current consensus, from the 14 analysts covering Bank of Queensland, is for revenues of AU$1.63b in 2024. This implies a discernible 2.2% reduction in Bank of Queensland's revenue over the past 12 months. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of AU$1.73b and earnings per share (EPS) of AU$0.56 in 2024. Overall, while there's been a minor downgrade to revenue estimates, the consensus now no longer provides an EPS estimate. This implies that the market believes revenue is more important following the latest results.

The average price target fell 5.8% to AU$5.60, withthe analysts clearly having become less optimistic about Bank of Queensland'sprospects following its latest earnings. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. There are some variant perceptions on Bank of Queensland, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at AU$9.47 and the most bearish at AU$4.80 per share. Note the wide gap in analyst price targets? This implies to us that there is a fairly broad range of possible scenarios for the underlying business.

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Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. These estimates imply that revenue is expected to slow, with a forecast annualised decline of 2.2% by the end of 2024. This indicates a significant reduction from annual growth of 13% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 2.8% annually for the foreseeable future. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - Bank of Queensland is expected to lag the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their revenue estimates for next year. On the negative side, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and forecasts imply revenues will perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target fell measurably, with the analysts seemingly not reassured by the latest results, leading to a lower estimate of Bank of Queensland's future valuation.

At least one of Bank of Queensland's 14 analysts has provided estimates out to 2026, which can be seen for free on our platform here.

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 1 warning sign for Bank of Queensland that you need to be mindful of.

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.
Award Recognizes Exemplary Practices Related to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

BOSTON, October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eastern Bankshares, Inc., the stock holding company for Eastern Bank, announced today it has been recognized with the 2023 NACD Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards Public Company  Small Cap Category. The annual award recognizes boards that have improved their governance and created long-term value for stakeholders by implementing forward-thinking diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) practices. It is presented by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the authority on boardroom practices representing more than 23,000 corporate board members.

"Eastern takes pride in its deep client relationships, community support, and long-standing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion," said Bob Rivers, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Eastern Bank. "We believe our strategy to build and sustain DE&I as a critical aspect of our work and culture makes us a better employer, a better provider of services to our customers, a better member of our communities, and a better investment for shareholders."

"DE&I is important to any boardroom, and I am proud that NACD has recognized the work and impact of Eastern Bank," said NACD President and CEO Peter Gleason. "The Company has leveraged the importance of DE&I to enhance its governance, create long-term value, and build an innovative and inclusive workplace and boardroom."

Eastern seeks to embed DE&I at all levels starting with its Board of Directors, which has long been led by professionals of color, including Lead Director Deborah Jackson, the first woman and second person of color to hold this position. The Board approves the Companys DE&I strategy and has ultimate oversight of DE&I initiatives. For its long-standing commitment to DE&I, Eastern has been recognized with many awards through the years, including the Boston Business Journal Business of Pride Corporate Ally Award and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Corporate Pinnacle Award, and Eastern CEO and Chair of the Board Bob Rivers has similarly often been recognized for his DE&I leadership. Eastern Bank has also been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality for nine consecutive years.

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About Eastern Bankshares, Inc. and Eastern Bank

Eastern Bankshares, Inc. is the stock holding company for Eastern Bank. Founded in 1818, Boston-based Eastern Bank has more than 120 locations serving communities in eastern Massachusetts, southern and coastal New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. As of June 30, 2023, Eastern Bank had approximately $22 billion in total assets. Eastern provides banking, investment and insurance products and services for consumers and businesses of all sizes, including through its Eastern Wealth Management division and its Eastern Insurance Group LLC subsidiary. Eastern takes pride in its outspoken advocacy and community support that includes $240 million in charitable giving since 1994. An inclusive company, Eastern employs approximately 2,100 deeply committed professionals who value relationships with their customers, colleagues, and communities. Join us for good at www.easternbank.com and follow Eastern on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. For investor information, visit investor.easternbank.com.

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the premier membership organization for board directors who want to expand their knowledge, grow their network and maximize their potential. NACD sets the standards of excellence through its research and community-driven director education, programming and publications. NACD also prepares leaders to meet tomorrows biggest challenges. The NACD Directorship Certification sets a new standard for director education, positions directors to meet boardroom challenges, and includes an ongoing education requirement that prepares directors for what is next. With an ever-expanding community of more than 23,000 members and a nationwide chapter network, NACDs impact is both local and global. To learn more about NACD, visit www.nacdonline.org. For more information on NACDs commitment to the advancement of DE&I at the board level, and for further insights, trends, and perspectives, visit the NACD Center for Inclusive Governance and the NACD Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resource Center.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012812770/en/

Contacts

Media contacts:

Andrea Goodman

Eastern Bank

a.goodman@easternbank.com

781-598-7847

Shannon Bernauer

NACD

sbernauer@nacdonline.org

571-367-3688

Investor contact:

Jill Belliveau

Eastern Bankshares, Inc.

InvestorRelations@easternbank.com

781-598-7920
Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. To wit, the Edisun Power Europe share price has climbed 81% in five years, easily topping the market return of 14% (ignoring 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Edisun Power Europe

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

During five years of share price growth, Edisun Power Europe achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 6.3% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 13% average annual increase in the share price. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. And that's hardly shocking given the track record of growth.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. This free interactive report on Edisun Power Europe's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

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. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Edisun Power Europe, it has a TSR of 97% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 11% in the last year, Edisun Power Europe shareholders lost 0.8% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 14%, each year, over five years. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Edisun Power Europe better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Edisun Power Europe , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

We will like Edisun Power Europe better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Swiss 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 European Union is set to investigate overcapacity in China's steel sector, a move that could see a tariff of 25 per cent imposed on imports from the world's second largest economy.

Aluminium is also in the EU cross hairs, with officials poised to commit to a 10 per cent tariff on shipments from China and other non-market economies.

The probe is part of a political agreement with the United States, set to be announced during a bilateral summit in Washington next week, that would also end some existing US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imports, according to EU sources familiar with the plan.

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 plan is expected to be announced by US President Joe Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel on October 20.

The deal, which has not been finalised, would extricate European companies from tariffs on both metals imposed by the US during the Donald Trump administration.

And the inquiry, while not naming Beijing, would include any non-market economies suspected of subsidising their industries; China would fall into that category.

Thus, Brussels would both tackle Chinese subsidies that are seen to have warped the global metals industries, and shed some of the last vestiges of the Trump administration's trade war with its transatlantic allies.

The agreement would also free up space for EU and US policymakers to work on the legal and technical details of the EU's carbon border tax. There is no agreement yet on how US steel companies would deal with the mechanism, whereby European importers will pay duties corresponding to the cost of emissions generated in production.

The "club approach" to steel and aluminium tariffs will eventually be open to other "like-minded partners", although no third countries will be joining immediately, one source said.

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The move, however, will anger China, which has warned Brussels against taking any action against its steel industry.

"Learned that the #EU may announce anti-subsidy probe into Chinese steelmakers. As the largest exporter, #China contributes to resilience of global supply chain of steel. EU's action will only hit the steel industry and hamper global recovery," the foreign ministry's top official for Europe, Wang Lutong, wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Learned that the #EU may announce anti-subsidy probe into Chinese steelmakers. As the largest exporter, #China contributes to resilience of global supply chain of steel. EU's action will only hit the steel industry and hamper global recovery. pic.twitter.com/MehvtIg703

-  Wang Lutong (@WangLutongMFA) October 11, 2023

The inquiry would be coming as trade tensions soar between the EU and China.

It is anticipated that the new tariffs, should they come to pass, would be on top of EU tariffs already imposed on some Chinese steel products.

And Brussels has already launched a probe into subsidies in China's electric vehicle sector, having seen imports surge from a very low base.

Several European commissioners have also floated the prospect of a separate probe into Chinese-made wind turbines, though that is unlikely to happen any time soon, two sources said.

EU imports of Chinese wind turbines have actually decreased over the first eight months of 2023, customs data show, and there is little appetite for opening another front with Beijing among some parts of the commission.

The announcement is expected when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with European Council President Charles Michel, meets with US President Joe Biden next week. Photo: Reuters alt=The announcement is expected when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with European Council President Charles Michel, meets with US President Joe Biden next week. Photo: Reuters>

Others, however, suspect that China has subsidised components that are used in turbines. The EU competition chief Didier Reynders said on French television this week that "in the wind energy sector there are components that could be in competition with Chinese components".

"If there is a possibility of too much aid on the Chinese side ... we could open an investigation in the same way [as electric vehicles]," Reynders said.

An EU official said it was "extremely complex" and that the bloc was "nowhere near" getting the level of evidence required. However, the official warned, "it is within the realm of the possible".

EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson refused to rule the probe out on a panel discussion a day before flying to China for a series of meetings. "Never say never," Simson said.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Former Barclays Plc boss Jes Staley has been fined 1.8 million ($2.2 million) and banned from the UK financial services industry after recklessly misleading regulators and the bank about his relationship with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Financial Conduct Authority said Staley privately described Epstein as one of his deepest and most cherished friends. Yet he allowed Barclays to send a letter to the watchdog that distanced him from the financier, incorrectly stating that hed ceased contact before joining the bank in 2015, according to the FCA.

While Mr. Staley did not draft the letter there was no excuse for his failure to correct the misleading statements, the regulator said in a statement. Mr. Staley recklessly misled the FCA and acted with a lack of integrity.

Barclays said in a separate statement that Staley should forfeit a number of awards including his bonus for 2021. Lapsed awards under the long-term incentive plan and forfeited deferred compensation were worth a total of 17.8 million, based on Mondays share price, it said.

Staley, who resigned from the British lender in 2021 over the probe, is appealing the regulators findings at a tribunal.

If I had known who JE really was, there is absolutely no doubt that I wouldnt be in the position I am in today, Staley said in a statement provided by his lawyers. I am very disappointed by the FCAs decision and I will continue to challenge it.

Uncomfortable Truths

The FCAs decision comes after years of scrutiny over Staleys ties to Epstein when he worked for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and what he told Barclays about the relationship when he joined.

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The regulator published a report detailing the ties between the pair, including:

Staleys family once flew on Epsteins private plane, which the CEO later revealed to senior Barclays staff

Staley had detailed discussions with Epstein about his appointment at Barclays, including information he described as very confidential

Between July 2008 and October 2015, Epstein and Staley exchanged more than 1,700 emails, including one sent three days before Staley was named as Barclays CEO.

Staley has said his relationship with Epstein began to taper off as I left JPM and contact became much less frequent in 2013, 2014, before ending in 2015.

It is right to prevent him from holding a senior position in the financial services industry if we cannot rely on him to act with integrity by disclosing uncomfortable truths about his close personal relationship with Mr. Epstein, Therese Chambers, joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA, said in a statement on Thursday.

Barclays disclosed news of the regulators probe to investors in February 2020, but Staley was allowed to continue in his role until November 2021, when the bank was made aware of the FCAs preliminary conclusions.

Thursdays decision by UK regulators comes weeks after separate legal action over Epsteins banking relationships wrapped up in the US. JPMorgan reached settlements with Staley and the US Virgin Islands in September, having agreed to pay $290 million to settle another lawsuit filed by an unnamed Epstein victim in June.

Read more: Epstein-Staley Emails Chronicle Friendship Forged at JPMorgan

The Bank of Englands Prudential Regulation Authority said in a separate statement it supported the FCAs decision. It is imperative that senior managers act with integrity and are open and cooperative with the regulators, a PRA spokesperson said.

In 2008, Epstein was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution by a Florida state court, and was arrested again in July 2019 on federal charges relating to, among other things, the sex trafficking of minors. The FCA made no findings that Mr. Staley saw, or was aware of, any of Mr. Epsteins alleged crimes.

(Updates with further detail from FCA investigation, background on lawsuits from seventh paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The UKs Financial Conduct Authority fined former Barclays CEO Jes Staley and banned him from holding a senior management role in the financial-services industry, saying he "recklessly misled" the regulator about his relationship with Jefferey Epstein.

"A CEO needs to exercise sound judgement and set an example to staff at their firm," Therese Chambers, the FCA's joint executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said in a statement Thursday. "Mr Staley failed to do this."

The fine, FCA said, would amount to 1.8 million pounds ($2.2 million) and Staley would be barred from "holding a senior management or significant influence function in the financial services industry."

Staley, who resigned from the British bank in 2021 because of the FCA's probe, is appealing the findings at a tribunal.

Barclays released a regulatory filing Thursday stating that a board committee concluded Staley should forfeit 17.8m ($22 million) in past awards, including his 2021 bonus and other unvested deferred bonus awards.

Jes Staley, pictured in London in 2018 while he was CEO of Barclays. Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images) (TOLGA AKMEN via Getty Images)

Barclays stock (BCS) fell 4.5% in the first 30 minutes of Thursday trading. Year to date it is up 4.2%.

The announcement comes roughly two weeks after Staley reached a separate confidential settlement with JPMorgan Chase (JPM), which had sued Staley over his personal relationship with Epstein.

Staley was a top executive at JPMorgan before leaving in 2013, the year JPMorgan dismissed Epstein as a client. JPMorgan claimed Staley misled executives about Epstein, an assertion that was denied by Staley's lawyers.

JPMorgan has separately paid $365 million this year to settle lawsuits relating to its relationship with Epstein, including a class-action lawsuit filed by the anonymous victims of Jefferey Epstein and another suit from the government of the US Virgin Islands.

Earlier this year, Deutsche Bank also agreed to pay $75 million to settle a lawsuit with Epstein's victims. The bank took Epstein as a client in 2013 after JPMorgan tossed him out.

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JPMorgan's headquarters in New York City. REUTERS/Andrew Burton (Andrew Burton / reuters)

'A lack of integrity'

The new actions against Staley announced Thursday result from a 2019 letter sent by Barclays to the FCA that the regulator said "contained two misleading statements" about the nature of Staley's relationship with Epstein and their last point of contact.

Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution, was arrested in 2019 on child sex trafficking charges. He was later found dead in August of that year in prison in an apparent suicide.

The same month, the FCA asked Barclays to address Staleys relationship with Epstein. Barclays' response on Oct. 8, 2019 claimed that Staley did not have a close relationship with Epstein and that he had ceased contact with Epstein well before he joined Barclays in 2015.

The regulator Thursday said the letter didn't accurately reflect facts known to Staley at the time he approved that letter.

For example, the FCA said the two men had exchanged more than 1,100 emails between July 2008 and December 2012, with Staley describing Epstein as one of his "deepest" or "most cherished" friends. These e-mails, according to the FCA, showed they continued to communicate between January 2013 and October 2015, exchanging almost 600 e-mails during that period.

The FCA said Staley disclosed to Epstein details of discussions he had with Barclays that led to his appointment as CEO, including the approval of his appointment by Barclays' nominating board on Oct. 8, 2015.

The FCA also said Staley visited Epstein's properties, including his island located in the US Virgin Islands, on three occasions, most recently in April 2015.

"While Mr Staley did not draft the letter there was no excuse for his failure to correct the misleading statements when he was the only person at Barclays who knew the full extent of his personal relationship with Mr Epstein and the specific timings of his contact with him," the FCA said.

As a result, "Mr. Staley recklessly misled the FCA and acted with a lack of integrity."

David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking and crypto.

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
By Selena Li and Summer Zhen

HONG KONG (Reuters) -China has for the first time issued a notice prohibiting domestic brokerages and their overseas units from taking on new mainland clients for offshore trading, according to an official document seen by Reuters and confirmed by four sources.

New investments by existing mainland clients are also to be "strictly monitored" to prevent investors from bypassing China's foreign exchange controls, said the notice. The news was first reported by Reuters.

The actions, which will restrict capital outflows, come as faltering growth for the world's second-largest economy has spurred investment overseas, weighing on the yuan and prompting authorities to ramp up efforts to stabilise the currency.

The yuan, one of Asia's worst-performing currencies, has weakened 5.5% this year as China's post-pandemic recovery quickly lost steam and the dollar climbed due to interest rate differentials and geopolitical uncertainty globally.

That has forced authorities to unveil a slew of measures in recent months to stem its decline.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has told brokerages to stop offering securities trading from offshore accounts such as Hong Kong to new mainland investors, according to a Sept. 28 notice issued by its Shanghai unit.

Activities now considered illegal include cross-border securities broking, securities lending, fund sales and investment consulting, according to the notice.

The CSRC said in a statement late on Thursday that in January it initiated "standardization and rectification work" on illegal cross-border business expansion of overseas subsidiaries of brokerages.

The latest regulatory requirement is a continuation of that work, and the notice issued last month mainly clarified "some specific requirements and has no substantive changes", it said after the publication of Reuters story.

It's the duty of the CSRC to rectify "illegal cross-border" securities transactions, and that has "no direct relationship with the strengthening of foreign exchange controls the report refers to", the regulator added.

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It was not clear when the CSRC's new directive to domestic brokerages was effective, but the sources said they believed the regulator meant effective immediately.

An end of October deadline has been set for the removal of apps and websites soliciting mainland clients, the notice also said, adding that offline channels for opening accounts should also be shut down.

The sources declined to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media.

"We believe the main policy purpose is to curb capital outflows, especially in the context of yuan depreciation pressure," said Shujin Chen, head of China financial and property research at Jefferies.

"From an industry perspective, the impact will be greater on brokerage firms with larger offshore retail business."

For brokerages such as state-owned Citic Securities, CICC and Haitong Securities, offshore trading services are a key source of revenue for their Hong Kong units.

The three brokerages did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

FROM NARROW GUIDANCE TO BIG BAN

The ban on offshore investments via domestic brokers comes after two online brokerages - Futu Holdings Ltd and UP Fintech Holding Ltd - in May announced the removal of apps in China amid Beijing's sharpened focus on data security and capital outflows.

The CSRC last December said the two brokerages had operated cross-border securities businesses involving domestic investors without regulatory consent. In its Thursday statement, it reiterated their offshore businesses violated securities laws.

Earlier this year, Shanghai brokerage Guotai Junan received a similar informal instruction, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Some Hong Kong units of Chinese brokerages had also stopped opening accounts for mainland clients following informal guidance from the CSRC aimed at discouraging illegal money outflows, state media reported in February.

The use of offshore brokerage accounts in Hong Kong entails converting yuan to other currencies.

Chinese individuals are still able to invest offshore either via the Stock Connect with Hong Kong or by using the quota-based qualified domestic institutional investor and the qualified domestic limited partnership programmes.

They can also use some foreign brokerage platforms outside mainland China if they have funds parked in offshore locations.

A total of 27 listed Chinese securities brokerages had set up offshore units by the end of 2022 with the largest ones conducting offshore trading services for mainland investors, according to a research note from Hwabao Securities.

(Reporting by Selena Li and Summer Zhen; Additional reporting by Julie Zhu; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee, Edwina Gibbs and Susan Fenton)
UN chief warns against spillover of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Xinhua) 09:30, October 12, 2023

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Rear) speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 11, 2023. Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We must avoid spillover of the conflict. I am concerned about the recent exchange of fire along the Blue Line (between Israel and Lebanon) and recent reported attacks from southern Lebanon," he told a press briefing. "I appeal to all parties -- and those who have an influence over those parties -- to avoid any further escalation and spillover."

Guterres called for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Civilians must be protected at all times. International humanitarian law must be respected and upheld, said the UN chief.

About 220,000 Palestinians are now sheltering in 92 facilities run by the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees across Gaza. UN premises and all hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted, he said.

Crucial life-saving supplies, including fuel, food and water, must be allowed into Gaza. There is a need for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, he said.

Guterres thanked Egypt for its constructive engagement to facilitate humanitarian access through Rafah, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, and to make the El Arish airport available for critical assistance.

Israel has imposed a "complete siege" of Gaza following Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 11, 2023. Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L, Rear) speaks during a press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 11, 2023. Guterres on Wednesday warned against the spillover of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Xinhua/Xie E)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it was banning the sale of Reynolds American Vuse Alto menthol e-cigarettes, saying the risk to kids outweighs any benefit to adult smokers.

The FDA said its ban includes three menthol-flavored and three mixed berry-flavored products, each offered in three different nicotine strengths. The agency is continuing to weigh whether to let the company's tobacco flavors stay on the market.

Reynolds, the maker of Camel and Newport cigarettes, has made the case that the vape pens help adults kick the smoking habit by switching to products less damaging to their health.

Juul to pay nearly $440 million to settle states' teen vaping probe

Reynolds' parent company, British American Tobacco, or BAT, said it would challenge the FDA's decision in court.

"We believe appropriately regulated flavored vaping products  including menthol  are critical in supporting adult smokers migrate from combustible cigarettes," Kingsley Wheaton, BAT's chief strategy and growth officer, said in a news release.

On the market for multiple years, the vape pens have become increasingly popular among children and teenagers. Nearly 13% of middle- and high-school students who have vaped in the past 30 days named Vuse as their preferred brand, coming in second after Puff Bar, according to the results of a federal survey published in 2022.

The FDA last year ordered Juul Labs to stop selling its vaping products, but the ban was put on hold while Juul appealed, with that challenge ongoing.
The Larimer County and Weld County health departments have a three-tiered health inspection rating, with rankings of pass, reinspection required or closed. Establishments with violations of 0-49 points pass; those with 50-109 points require reinspection; and any with more than 110 points face closure.

This report is for Oct. 4-10. Full reports and total points for the restaurants included in this story can be viewed at inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/larimer-county-health and www.co.weld.co.us/apps1/decade.

LARIMER COUNTY

PASS

DGT, 120  W. Laurel St., Fort Collins

Lopez Elementary School, 637 Wabash St., Fort Collins

Rush Bowls, 1205 W. Elizabeth St., Fort Collins

Carrabbas Italian Grill, 1212 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins

Spoons Soups & Salads, 1118 W. Elizabeth St., Fort Collins

Cafe Vino, 1200 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

Bennett Elementary School, 1125 Bennett Road, Fort Collins

Immanuel Lutheran School, 4650 Sunview Drive, Loveland

Campion Academy, 300 42nd St. SW, Loveland

Blend-Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., Loveland

Sweetheart City Winery tasting room, 5500 W. U.S. Highway 34, Loveland

Ridleys Family Market, 7670 Fifth St., Wellington

Ziggis Coffee, 519 S. Saint Vrain Ave., Estes Park

REINSPECTION REQUIRED

The Alley Cat Coffeehouse, 120  W. Laurel St., Fort Collins

The Mayor of Old Town, 632 S. Mason St., Fort Collins

Thai Pepper, 109 E. Laurel St., Fort Collins

Bawarchi, 1611 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

WINDSOR

(Inspected by Weld County)

PASS

Wendys, 1585 Main St.

William Olivers Publick House, 514 Main St.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins, Windsor restaurant inspections: 4 require reinspection
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare's new Urgent Care facility opens on mid-November. The 4,000 square-foot facility, at the corner of West Tennessee Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, is a former optometry office that has been renovated to meet the needs of an urgent care, offering diagnostic services, including labs and X-rays.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare is about a month away from opening its latest Urgent Care Center.

Located at 410 W. Tennessee Street, the 4,000 square-foot facility will occupy a former optometry office within a strip mall that used to be home to other businesses, including a florist. Services at the facility will include diagnostic services, such as labs and X-rays.

"Our goal as a healthcare system is to help all patients access the appropriate level of care for their individual needs," said Rebecca Tubito, a spokesperson at TMH, in an email to the Tallahassee Democrat. "For minor illnesses and injuries, an Urgent Care Center is the quickest, most cost-effective way to deliver quality healthcare when and where our patients need it, and in this case, right in their neighborhood."

TMH purchased the land from Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, the driving force behind bringing a healthcare facility to the low-income Frenchtown area. Property records show TMH purchased the half-acre lot from Bethel in February 2022 for $725,000. Within two months, TMH began the planning and design phase, and construction began a year later in April 2023.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare on LinkedIn: Coming soon!  TMH is busy building out our third Urgent Care Center at...

The West Tennessee Street site will be TMH's third Urgent Care Center in Leon County. Other sites are located at 1541 Medical Drive and 3900 Esplanade Way in Southwood. Plans also are underway to build a facility in Wakulla County.

Urgent Care Centers are designed to relieve patient volume in emergency rooms and provide care for non-life-threatening conditions, such as rashes, infections, sprains and lingering cold or flu symptoms. In 2022, TMH fielded more than 137,000 visits at its ER and urgent care centers, Tubito said.

How this project took shape

On West Tennessee Street, cars whiz by and pass the hospital's signature shades of blue square mosaics on the Urgent Care Center's exterior.

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It's a noticeable sight in Frenchtown, the oldest historically Black neighborhood in Florida that's struggled to attract robust retail and commercial activity. TMH's presence signals the culmination of a decades-long effort to bring healthcare to the area.

"We must continue to be focused, steadfast and clear-eyed about how a Black church, in particular Bethel and other churches, can forge significant partnerships with a power structure to buy into a strategy of literally closing these housing, health and food deserts," said the Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., who's served as Bethel's pastor for 37 years.

Rev. RB Holmes, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, speaks to a crowd of hundreds from the steps of the Senate portico during the National Action Network demonstration in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis's efforts to minimize diverse education. The activists chanted and carried signs while making their way from Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida to the Capitol building Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

He went on to say the "first-class facility in Frenchtown is a game changer from a health perspective," adding it can be a model for other underserved communities.

The facility will serve the neighborhood's population of roughly 3,190 residents. More than half live below the poverty line, according documents with the Community Redevelopment Agency. Roughly 29 percent are college students.

The historic neighborhood straddles downtown Tallahassee and the governor's mansion. It borders Florida State's campus, which has drawn at least two large student housing developments within a mile of the Urgent Care Center.

Several years ago, a 310,000-square-foot project within the 400 Block of West Tennessee Street was proposed and ultimately fizzled. It was led by Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Frenchtown property owners and others who were referred to as the Frenchtown Partners.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic shined a brighter light on healthcare needs for underserved communities. Holmes said a healthcare facility had been part of the church's vison for the land since it was acquired years ago. Healthcare, he said, is a critical part in the creation of holistic community building.

"What we want to do is replicate what we see on the other side of town," Holmes said. "Why can't we have the same thing in Frenchtown and Ridge Road and the south side."

Contact Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com. Follow @TaMarynWaters on X.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: TMH opening Urgent Care Center in Frenchtown on West Tennessee Street
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)  Supersized cargo ships will need deeper water and a taller bridge to reach the Port of Savannah in the near future, the chief executive overseeing the major U.S. seaport said Thursday.

Griff Lynch, president and CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority, said during his annual State of the Ports speech that the $1.9 billion his agency is investing to grow Savannah's cargo handling capacity will need to be met with taxpayer-funded infrastructure upgrades.

Lynch said his agency is seeking congressional authorization to study another round of deepening for the Savannah River shipping channel. The Army Corps of Engineers last year finished deepening the waterway by 5 feet (1.5 meters), a $973 million project that took 25 years to study and execute.

Savannah has the fourth-busiest U.S. port for cargo shipped in containers  big metal boxes that transport everything including consumer electronics and frozen chickens. The port saw 5.4 million container units of imports and exports move across its docks in fiscal 2023.

The port authority estimates Savannah's container trade will swell to an estimated 7.6 million units by 2030 as population growth drives more trade to the Southeast and increased manufacturing in India, Thailand and Vietnam sends larger ships to the U.S. East Coast.

Those are the types of things that will make us a national gateway," Lynch told a luncheon crowd of 1,200 including state and local business and political leaders. "Weve got to be able to handle these ships. Its very, very important. And its not just for the Georgia Ports Authority. Its for economic development throughout the state.

The Savannah harbor deepening completed in May 2022 followed a major expansion of the Panama Canal that routed larger ships to East Coast ports. Dredges scooped mud and sand for 40 miles (65 kilometers) between the port and the Atlantic Ocean, increasing the shipping channel's depth from 42 to 47 feet (12.8 to 14.3 meters).

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Lynch said an increase in trade with India and other Southeast Asian countries will mean even bigger vessels reaching Savannah via the Suez Canal. While the Port of Savannah now typically sees ships that can carry 8,000 container units, Lynch expects vessels capable of transporting 22,000 units.

He said he would like to see the Savannah harbor deepened to between 50 and 52 feet (15.2 and 15.9 meters).

Those ships don't just need deeper water to reach Savannah's port. They're also too tall to squeeze beneath the Eugene Talmage Memorial Bridge spanning the river between downtown Savannah and the port's docks.

This year, the Georgia Department of Transportation signed off on plans to raise the bridge and replace its decades-old suspension cables at estimated costs of between $150 million and $175 million. Work is expected to start next year and be complete by early 2027, Lynch said.

We have ships today that want to come here ... that cannot fit under the bridge." Lynch said.

Another round of shipping channel deepening would take far longer.

Feasibility studies on the prior dredging began in 1997, and nearly two decades passed before it could begin.

Lynch said he believes the Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees navigation projects in U.S. waterways, could work more efficiently this time and finish a new one within 10 years.

First, Congress would need to authorize an Army Corps study of the project. The earliest that could happen would be next year as part of a new version of the Water Resources Development Act, which deals with infrastructure projects nationwide.

Spokespersons for U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and a Savannah native, and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican whose district includes Savannah's port, said they support studying another harbor expansion.

This port affects every county in Georgia, said Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican who attended the speech. "So were looking forward to getting to know more about what we need to do, what this infrastructure need is.

A new round of Savannah River dredging would raise concerns for conservation groups. The previous expansion required several expensive mitigation projects to offset environmental damage. They included $100 million to install large machines that inject extra oxygen into the river to ensure endangered shortnose sturgeon and other species can breathe.

Chris DeScherer, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the Army Corps should complete mitigation requirements for the last Savannah harbor deepening before starting a new round. He also suggested the Army Corps study whether other ports are better suited for bigger ships, noting Savannah's port sits near the 31,000 acre (12,545 hectare) Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

Previous deepenings have had a wide range of harmful impacts to the refuge, water quality, and federally-protected wildlife, such as sea turtles, DeScherer said.
(Bloomberg) -- Alphabet Inc.s Google quietly made changes to its advertising platform that significantly limits the amount of information marketers have about where their spending is going, according to an expert called on behalf of the federal government in an ongoing antitrust trial against the search giant.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Google controls the rules and influences the outcomes of its auctions and these auctions are a black box to advertisers, said Kinshuk Jerath, a marketing expert at Columbia Business School, who testified in federal court in Washington as part of the US Justice Departments case.

In September 2020, Google changed what information it provides to advertisers about the text ads that appear at the top of a search results page, Jerath said. The change to those so-called search query reports reduced data that advertisers get on about 20% or more of their text ad spending, he said. Google said at the time that it made the change to preserve user privacy.

The result is that advertisers now have less information about what ads they are buying and, combined with another Google change, its also harder for them to opt-out of specific advertising auctions, Jerath said, a one-two punch that has led to higher prices.

The Justice Department argues that Google has sought to maintain a monopoly over online search and online search advertising. About two-thirds, more than 60%, of Googles total revenue comes from search ads, a Google employee testified previously, amounting to more than $100 billion in 2020. Every year since 2012, the companys search ad revenue growth has been in the high teens, according to documents shown by the Justice Department.

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A Bank of America Corp. executive called the change one of the more egregious examples of Google removing transparency from advertisers under the banner of privacy, Jerath said, citing internal emails produced as part of the litigation.

The reduced information in the reports harms advertisers by making it harder for them to know what keywords they are buying and which ones are useful for them, he said.

What this means is that for 20% of their spend, advertisers were not even told which queries they were buying, he said. You should be entitled to know, this is where I spent my money.

Google also made another change, called expanded exact match, that adds additional keywords such as synonyms or misspellings to any terms that an advertiser wants to buy for a text ad. Google doesnt allow advertisers to opt out of participating in expanded exact match except for negative keywords, or words for which they dont want to buy ads, Jerath said.

To opt out of expanded match becomes time consuming, Jerath said. Expanded exact match makes it easier for advertisers to enter auctions but much more difficult for them to not enter auctions.

The combined changes lead to thicker auctions and unwanted ad spend by advertisers, Jerath said. Advertisers are losing control.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Understanding the Dividend Performance and Sustainability of Graco Inc (NYSE:GGG)

Graco Inc (NYSE:GGG) recently announced a dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on 2023-11-01, with the ex-dividend date set for 2023-10-13. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's delve into Graco Inc's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

Introducing Graco Inc

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Graco Inc (NYSE:GGG) manufactures equipment used for managing fluids, coatings, and adhesives, specializing in difficult-to-handle materials. The company's business is organized into three segments: industrial, process, and contractor. Based in Minnesota, Graco serves a wide range of end markets, including industrial, automotive, and construction. Its broad array of products includes pumps, valves, meters, sprayers, and equipment used to apply coatings, sealants, and adhesives. In 2022, the firm generated approximately $2.1 billion in sales and $573 million in operating income.

Graco Inc's Dividend Analysis

Graco Inc's Dividend History

Graco Inc (NYSE:GGG) has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 1985, with dividends currently distributed on a quarterly basis. The company has increased its dividend each year since 1998, earning it the title of a dividend aristocrat, an honor bestowed on companies that have increased their dividend each year for at least the past 25 years.

Graco Inc's Dividend Analysis

Graco Inc's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Graco Inc has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.21% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.25%, indicating an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months.

Over the past three years, Graco Inc's annual dividend growth rate was 9.50%. This rate increased to 11.90% per year over a five-year horizon. And over the past decade, Graco Inc's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at an impressive 11.00%.

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Based on Graco Inc's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Graco Inc stock as of today is approximately 2.12%.

Graco Inc's Dividend Analysis

Assessing Dividend Sustainability: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-06-30, Graco Inc's dividend payout ratio is 0.30.

Graco Inc's profitability rank, as per GuruFocus, is 9 out of 10 as of 2023-06-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of the past ten years, further solidifying its high profitability.

The Future Outlook: Growth Metrics

For dividends to be sustainable, a company must demonstrate robust growth metrics. Graco Inc's growth rank of 9 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Graco Inc's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Graco Inc's revenue has increased by approximately 8.90% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 57.58% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Graco Inc's earnings increased by approximately 10.00% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 47.2% of global competitors.

Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 11.30% outperforms approximately 55.37% of global competitors.

Conclusion

Given Graco Inc's consistent dividend payments, impressive dividend growth rate, sustainable payout ratio, high profitability, and positive growth metrics, the company presents an attractive proposition for investors seeking steady dividends. However, as with any investment, it is crucial to conduct thorough research and consider the overall business performance and market conditions before making a decision.

GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield 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 Ground Support Equipment Market Covered Major Segments Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, Share and Global Trend By Type (Tugs & Tractors, Pushback Tractors, Passenger Boarding Lift & Steps, Belt Loader, Hi-Lift Loader, De/Anti Icing Vehicle, Water Service Vehicle, Lavatory Service Vehicle, and Others) By Power Source (Non-Electric GSE, Electric GSE, Hybrid GSE, Fuel Cell Vehicle, and Advanced GSE), By Ownership (New Sales, Used Sales, and Rental/Lease), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2031.

Ground Support Equipment Market

Ground Support Equipment Market

Pune, India, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global ground support equipment market size was valued at USD 7.14 billion in 2022 and is predicted to accentuate from USD 8.34 billion in 2023 to USD 13.32 billion by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.03% during the forecast period.

Ground support equipment (GSE) is essential equipment used in airports to provide various services to aircraft during the intervals between flights. Its primary purpose is to ensure the safe and efficient operations of aircraft before departure and after arrival. GSE plays a crucial role in supporting airport operations, particularly in servicing aircraft within the terminal's apron area. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their report titled "Global Ground Support Equipment Market, 2023-2031."

Get a Sample PDF Brochure:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/ground-support-equipment-market-101823

Leading Players Featured in the Research Ground Support Equipment Market Report :

AERO SPECIALTIES INC. (U.S.)

Cavotec SA (Switzerland)

Curtis Instruments Inc. (U.S.)

Guangtai (China)

ITW GSE (U.S.)

JBT (U.S.)

Kalmar Motor AB(Sweden)

Mallaghan(Ireland)

Rheinmetall AG (Germany)

SINFONIA TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. (Japan)

Sojitz Aerospace Corporation (Japan)

Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc. (U.S.)

TLD (France)

Tronair (U.S.)

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2031 Forecast CAGR 6.03% 2031 Value Projection USD 13.32 Billion Market Size in 2023 USD 8.34 Billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 333 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Type

By Power Source

By Ownership

By Geography Regions Covered North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa Ground Support Equipment Market Growth Drivers Increased Focus on Operational Efficiency Enhancement to Accentuate Market Growth Increase in Post-Pandemic Travel to Drive Ground Support Equipment Market Growth

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/toc/ground-support-equipment-market-101823

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COVID-19 Impact:

Global Airlines Grappled Severe Financial Pressures Due to Reduced Number of Passengers

Airline companies globally experienced extraordinary financial strain and implemented drastic capacity reductions as a result of significantly reduced passenger numbers. Several carriers were forced to suspend operations entirely, with the possibility of permanent closure looming for some. These factors decreased the ground support equipment market share.

Segmentation:

Robust Market Growth for High-Capacity Lift Loaders to Meet Rising Demand in Cargo Transportation

Based on type, the market is classified into belt loaders, de/anti-icing vehicles, hi-lift loaders, lavatory service vehicles, passenger boarding lifts & steps, pushback tractors, tugs & tractors, water service vehicles, and others. Increasing R&D investments and growing cargo transportation drive market growth for high-capacity lift loaders.

Electric Vehicles Surges in Response to Environmental Concerns and Government Initiatives

The GSE market is divided into electric, hybrid, fuel cell vehicles (FCV), non-electric, and advanced GSE based on the power source. The electric segment is poised for growth owing to increasing demand for low-carbon emission products and the government's green initiatives.

Rising Demand for Cost-effective Solutions Propels the Growth of the Rental/Lease Segment

By ownership, the market is divided into new sales, used sales, and rental/lease. The rental/Lease segment is anticipated experience strong growth due to increased affordability and a surge in airport operations.

Geographically, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World.

Report Coverage:

The report offers:

 Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market.

 Comprehensive insights into regional developments.

 List of major industry players.

 Key strategies adopted by the market players.

 Latest industry developments include product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Get a Quote Now:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/ground-support-equipment-market-101823

Drivers & Restraints:

Underground GSE Reduces Turnaround Time and Enhances Operational Efficiency in Airports



Airports are continually striving to optimize their operations by minimizing turnaround time and improving overall efficiency. The implementation of underground GSE has proven to be instrumental in reducing operational duration and alleviating equipment congestion at airports. The adoption of advanced GSE solutions plays a pivotal role in driving the growth of the market.

However, the absence of proper charging stations and maintenance facilities can impede the widespread adoption and utilization of electric GSE and limit ground support equipment market growth.

Regional Insights

North America Dominates the Market Due to Thriving Aviation Industry

North America emerges as the dominant market owing to its flourishing aviation industry, significant investments in research and development, and the presence of a multitude of airports. Asia Pacific is projected to experience the highest growth. The region benefits from increasing investments from emerging economies and the rapid pace of urbanization.

Ask for Customization:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/ground-support-equipment-market-101823

Competitive Landscape

OEMs Expand Global Presence through Airline Contracts

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) strategically pursue business expansion by securing contracts with airlines from various countries. For instance, in March 2023, Nexus Capital Management (U.S.) acquired Aviation Ground Equipment Corp. The acquired company will be integrated as a new entity under HDT Global.

Detailed Table of Contents:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Aircraft Model and Required GSE Trends of GSE Manufacturers and Users Market Volatility with Factors Basic Information on Advanced GSE Ex. Mototok, TAXIBOT and others Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis

Quantitative Insights- Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Ground Support Equipment Market Impact of COVID-19 on Global Ground Support Equipment Market Steps Taken by Industry/Companies/Governments to Overcome the Impact Key Developments in The Industry in Response to COVD-19 Pandemic Potential Opportunities Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Global Ground Support Equipment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2017-2030 Segmental Definitions Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Type Tugs & Tractors (TT) Pushback Tractors (WT) Passenger Boarding Lift & Steps (PBS) Belt Loader (BL) Hi-Lift Loader (HL) De/Anti Icing vehicle (H) Water Service vehicle (PW) Lavatory Service Vehicle (LS) Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Power Source Non-Electric GSE Electric GSE Hybrid GSE Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) Advanced GSE Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Ownership New Sales Used Sales Rental/Lease Market Analysis, Insights, and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the World



TOC Continued...!

Speak to Our Expert:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/ground-support-equipment-market-101823

Key Industry Development:

November 2021- Rushlift GSE, a subsidiary of Doosan Industrial Vehicles U.K., signed a six-year agreement with Menzies Aviation, an airport ground services company, to supply GSE equipment. Under the agreement, the company leased 650 brand-new vehicles to Menzies Aviations ground handling operations at Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

Read Related Insights:

Aircraft Seating Market to Worth USD 9.25 Billion by 2029 | With a 4.19% CAGR

Airport Ground and Cargo Handling Services Market to Worth USD 68.67 Billion by 2029 | With a 10.32% CAGR

About Us:

Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

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Commemorates Commitment to Environmental Leadership, Global Water Innovation

HOUSTON, October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technologies, announced today the company is celebrating the 50th anniversary of U.S. operations. The nearly 80-year-old Danish company began U.S. operations in 1973 and now has 13 offices and manufacturing facilities and employs nearly 1,700 employees.

"Grundfos began with the extraordinary vision of Poul Due Jensen, who sought to meet the needs of his first client and then made his lifes work to create solutions to his clients water pump needs," said Ansell Sims, President of Grundfos U.S. "Celebrating 50 years in the U.S., we carry forward this legacy, always pushing the envelope in terms of innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. A heartfelt congratulations to the entire Grundfos family!"

In 1944, founder Poul Due Jensen began Grundfos out of his basement in Denmark. When Poul couldnt find a quality electric pump for a clients small automatic waterworks project, he developed his own. The company quickly expanded across Europe and other countries with the goal of opening sales and production operations in the U.S. In 1973, Einar Cook, a Danish-American from Fresno, California, visited the Grundfos office in Denmark and was amazed at the quality of the deep well turbine pumps and returned to the U.S. to use them on his farm. Cook then imported a few pumps to sell in his farm equipment dealership and the U.S. business was born.

Over the next 40 years, the company opened offices in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Kansas City, Kansas, and expanded the Fresno, California office. In 2006, Grundfos began a transformative time of growth by acquiring marquee brands like PACO, Peerless and Yeomans. From there, Grundfos opened its PES facility in Brookshire, Texas, in 2009 and a water technology center in Fresno in 2011. The following year, Grundfos established the U.S. headquarters in Chicago and launched the water conservation project in Fresno.

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In 2022, Grundfos relocated its U.S. headquarters to a newly built, first-of-its-kind, environmentally sustainable building in Brookshire, Texas. The 45,000-square-foot facility is the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified v4 Platinum new construction in Texas, according to the Green Building Information Gateway. The building uses zero fossil fuels, harvests, and stores 873,183 gallons of rainwater annually and provides 62% total energy cost savings compared to a typical commercial building.

"To Grundfos every drop of water symbolizes a promise for a better future," expressed Poul Due Jensen, CEO of Grundfos and grandson of the founder, "Each day, were driven by a commitment to making a positive difference for our customers and communities by addressing the globes most critical water and climate concerns with groundbreaking, energy-efficient solutions."

Building on 50 years of excellence, Grundfos continues to lead the industry with its transformative water solutions and innovations in groundwater, wastewater treatment, commercial, industrial and residential applications. The company is not only committed to offering energy efficient water and digital solutions but will continue to do so in a way that drives significant impact on some of the worlds most critical sustainability challenges.

Grundfos USA also supports non-profits like Water Mission, a nonprofit engineering organization that has helped more than 5.7 million people access safe water. For 12 years, Grundfos has hosted the annual Walk for Water event to raise awareness about the global water crisis and increase donations to Water Mission.

About Grundfos

Grundfos pioneers solutions to the worlds water and climate challenges and improves the quality of life for people. As a leading global pump and water solutions company, we promise to respect, protect and advance the flow of water by providing energy and water efficient solutions and systems for a wide range of applications for water utilities, industries and buildings. Find out more: grundfos.com and connect on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012793323/en/

Contacts

Stephanie Gentry, Communications Business Partner for Grundfos US, sgentry@grundfos.com

Mahathi Parashuram, Director of Public Relations (Global), mahathi@grundfos.com
Billionaire hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman and several other business leaders are demanding Harvard University release the names of students whose organizations signed on to a letter blaming solely Israel for the deadly attacks by Hamas.

The CEOs want the students blacklisted. But some of those students have since distanced themselves from the letter.

One should not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when issuing statements supporting the actions of terrorists, Ackman said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

If the members support the letter, the names of the signatories should be made public so their views are publicly known, Ackman said. The CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management said he wanted to ensure his company and others dont inadvertently hire any students belonging to Harvard groups that signed the letter.

Following a backlash to the statement, some of the student groups have since withdrawn their endorsements.

Multiple other business leaders, including the CEOs of shopping club FabFitFun, health tech startup EasyHealth and Dovehill Capital Management supported the call from Ackman to name the students.

I would like to know so I know never to hire these people, Jonathan Neman, CEO of restaurant chain Sweetgreen, said on X.

Neither Neman nor Ackman responded to requests for comment.

Others warn that naming the students whose groups backed the statement could put the students in harms way and did not account for differences of opinion within the student groups.

Larry Summers, the famed economist who on Monday drew attention to the morally unconscionable Harvard student statement, is now preaching caution.

I yield to no one in my revulsion at the statement apparently made on behalf of 30 plus @Harvard student group, Summers said in a Wednesday afternoon post on X. But please everybody take a deep breath. Many in these groups never saw the statement before it went out. In some cases those approving did not understand exactly what they were approving.

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Summers, the former president of Harvard and US Treasury Secretary, added that probably some were naive and foolish.

This is not a time where it is constructive to vilify individuals and I am sorry that is happening, Summers said.

Harvard professor and legal scholar Laurence Tribe told CNN Wednesday he initially agreed with Ackman but on reflection decided not to join the push to publicize their names.

Any number of the students who got caught up in this misguided campaign probably didnt even know there was a statement. Others no doubt didnt focus on, much less understand, what they were signing, Tribe said in an email. Naive and stupid as they may have been, I now think it would be an overreaction to penalize them permanently by publishing their names and implying that they actually endorsed what the terrorists did to innocent Israelis.

Similarly, Meds.com CEO Stephen Sullivan wrote that people should be angry at the administration and teachers but cautioned against putting college students names on a list, according to Forbes.

Harvard University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Harvard President Claudine Gay issued a statement Tuesday saying no student group  not even 30 student groups  speaks for Harvard University or its leadership.

Harvard student groups statement

The controversy comes in response to a joint statement released by a coalition of Harvard student groups following the attacks by Hamas that have killed more than 1,000 Israelis and at least 14 American citizens.

We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, the statement from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups said.

The statement said millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison and called on Harvard to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians.

A footnote at the bottom of the statement said the names of the original signing organizations have been concealed at this time.

Jake Wurzak, the CEO of Dovehill Capital Management, said he believed the students who signed the letter should be named.

Free Speech is paramount. Words have meaning and students shouldnt be allowed to hide behind an institution, Wurzak said on X.

Some students withdraw their signatures

According to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper, at least five of the original 34 signatories have withdrawn their endorsements as of Tuesday night.

For example, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association said on Instagram we regret that the decision to co-sign the statement has been interpreted as a tacit support for the recent violent attacks in Israel.

To ensure that our stance on the condemnation of violence by Hamas and support for a just peace remains clear, we retract our signatures from the statement, the Nepali student group said.

Act on a Dream, a student group supporting immigrants, told the Crimson the group signed the statement as a result of miscommunication and a lack of due diligence in sharing the statement with the entirety of the board.

Others responded to Ackman saying students werent aware of the letters content or that groups they belong to were signing the statement.

No need for this level of harassment, Mohini Tangri, a Harvard Law School student, said on X in response to Ackman. Tangri said many student members had no say in whether their organization signed the letter.

Another Harvard student, Danielle Mikaelian, said she resigned from the board of a group that signed the statement on Israel and didnt have a chance to read it until it was too late.

I am sorry for the pain this caused. My organization did not have a formal process and I didnt even see the statement until we had signed on, Mikaelian posted on X.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told CNN on Wednesday he doesnt know about the wisdom of releasing the names of the students but called for them to take responsibility on their own.

It is an outrageously offensive piece and anyone who signed it should either stand behind it and face the consequences in life or step up and apologize and explain themselves, Greenblatt said. This is what we learn to do in elementary school. Its hard for me to understand why its complicated for people at Harvard University.

Real-life consequences for anti-Israel statement

Separately, there has been a backlash against a statement released by the president of the NYU Student Bar Association saying Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life.

That statement had immediate consequences, with law firm Winston & Strawn promptly pulling a job offer to the NYU student who previously served as a summer associate at the firm.

These comments are profoundly in conflict with Winston & Strawns values as a firm. Accordingly, the Firm has rescinded the law students offer of employment, the law firm said in a post on X. Winston stands in solidarity with Israels right to exist in peace and condemns Hamas and the violence and destruction it has ignited in the strongest terms possible.

Morally unconscionable

After criticism from Summers and others, Harvard President Claudine Gay said there should be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever ones individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region, Gay said.

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, dean for leadership studies at the Yale School of Management, told CNN on Wednesday that Jews have many centuries of being blamed as victims.

Villains cannot be celebrated as heroes, Sonnenfeld said in an email. Anyone who does so cannot hide as cowards behind the shields of association titles any more than Nazi stormtroopers were allowed anonymity. Our society is founded on personal accountability.

The Anti-Defamation League, in response to a surge of antisemitism around the world following the attacks on Israel, called on CEOs on Wednesday to speak out against hate and sign a pledge to fight antisemitism.

The ADL said signatories include Accenture, Adidas and the NBA.

For companies that have Jewish employees, Jewish customers, Jewish investors, Jewish shareholders, or simply have a modicum of a conscience, this one should be easy, Greenblatt, the ADL CEO, told CNN.

CNNs Kristina Sgueglia and Sabrina Shulman contributed to this report.

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Transparency Market Research

A spike in preference for toxin-free and environment-friendly packing materials is likely to drive the heat seal coating market.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. - The global industry is predicted to soar at a 6.3% CAGR from 2023 to 2031, totaling US$ 14.7 billion by the end of 2031.



The global heat seal coating market is thriving, driven by the expanding packaging industry. Heat seal coatings are applied to various substrates like plastics, paper, and aluminum foils.

Heat seal coatings offer secure and efficient packaging solutions, especially in the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods sectors.

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The market's growth is propelled by the increasing demand for convenient and tamper-evident packaging solutions, ensuring product safety and integrity during storage and transit.

The food and beverage industry, in particular, relies significantly on heat seal coatings for packaging dairy items, and ready-to-eat meals. Similarly, the pharmaceutical sector utilizes these coatings for blister packaging, ensuring the protection of medicines and medical devices.

The market is influenced by environmental concerns, leading to the development of sustainable and eco-friendly heat seal coatings.

Regulatory initiatives emphasizing eco-conscious practices have accelerated the adoption of environment-friendly formulations.

The heat seal coating market continues to innovate, ensuring secure and sustainable packaging solutions for various applications as consumer preferences and regulatory standards evolve.

Competitive Landscape

The heat seal coating market boasts fierce competition with key players such as Michelman, Inc., Cattie Adhesives, Arkema S.A., Toyochem Co., Ltd., H.B. Fuller Company, Paramelt B.V., Yasuhara Chemical Co., Ltd., Henkel AG and Co. KgaA, Emax Label Solutions, Dow, Taihei Chemicals Limited, Trillium Products Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Uflex Limited, and Wacker Chemie AG dominating the global arena.

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Strategic collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions are common strategies followed by the key players to expand their market footprint. Intense competition fuels continuous advancements in technology, adhesion properties, and sustainability efforts. It offers secure and efficient heat-sealing solutions to diverse industries.

At interpack in May 2023, Henkel and UPM Specialty Papers unveiled two reusable heat-sealable barrier paper products for food-related and other packaging requirements.

In April 2023, UPM Specialty Papers and Henkel announced the development of an innovative reusable, heat-sealable barrier paper substance. It is suitable with present packaging lines and offers a "high level" of grease protection.

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Key Takeaways from the Market Study

The global industry acquired US$ 9.1 billion in 2022.

In 2022, the Asia Pacific held a market share of 45%.

The market in North America is poised to expand at a CAGR of 6% until 2031.

The market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.5% until 2031.

The United States held a market share of 44% of North America in 2022.



Global Heat Seal Coating Market- Key Drivers and Trends

Consumer preferences are shifting toward convenient and easy-to-use packaging solutions. Heat seal coatings provide tamper-evident and resalable packaging options, making them popular in industries like food and pharmaceuticals, driving market growth.

Stringent regulations and consumer awareness regarding food safety drive the demand for heat seal coatings.

Continuous research and development efforts lead to technological advancements in heat seal coatings.

Innovations like eco-friendly formulations, enhanced adhesion properties, and compatibility with various substrates, meeting the evolving needs of industries and consumers.

The pharmaceutical industry's rapid growth, particularly in emerging markets, fuels the demand for heat seal coatings. These coatings are essential for blister packaging, ensuring the protection and integrity of medicines.

The pharmaceutical sector's adherence to stringent quality standards further contributes to market expansion.

Regional Landscape of the Heat Seal Coating Market

The market in North America, especially in the United States and Canada, is driven by a robust packaging industry and stringent quality standards. Increasing demand for convenient packaging in the food and pharmaceutical sectors fuels the market. Technological innovations and a focus on sustainable solutions characterize this region.

Countries like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in Europe emphasize eco-friendly solutions and compliance with strict regulations. The market here is driven by the pharmaceutical industry's demand for secure packaging solutions.

Asia-Pacific, particularly China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asian nations are witnessing rapid industrialization and a burgeoning packaging sector. The market growth is propelled by the increasing consumer goods production, rising disposable incomes, and the expansion of the food and beverage industry.

China, in particular, is a significant contributor to the market due to its manufacturing capabilities and exports.

Countries in Latin America such as Brazil and Mexico are experiencing a growing demand for heat seal coatings, driven by the expanding pharmaceutical and food industries. Economic development and a rising middle class contribute to the market's growth.



Key Segments Covered

By Coating Type Solvent-based Water-based Hot Melt

By End-use Food Personal Care & Cosmetics Pharmaceuticals Others

By Region North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific The Middle East & Africa





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About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyses information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hedge fund billionaire John Paulson responded to a federal lawsuit filed by his longtime business associate in Puerto Rico, Fahad Ghaffar, calling it frivolous, false and utterly without merit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Paulson said in a court filing that Ghaffars lawsuit had the sole intent of gaining media attention to capriciously defame, and came after Ghaffar was terminated because of evidence he engaged in a massive criminal enterprise permeating nearly every aspect of Paulsons businesses in Puerto Rico.

Ghaffars lawsuit claims he invested $16.7 million in an auto dealership business Paulson acquired, with Ghaffar agreeing to serve as president and chief executive. In exchange for his role and the investment, Paulson promised Ghaffar a 50% stake in the business, to be documented in a convertible note. Ghaffar says the note was never delivered.

Read more: John Paulson Sued for Fraud by Puerto Rico Business Partner

Paulson doesnt dispute Ghaffars characterization of the deal, but says the convertible note was sent to Ghaffar, more than once. In the same email that Ghaffar cites outlining the terms of the deal in his complaint, Paulson transmitted a copy of the convertible note, says the filing, which was part of a motion to dismiss Ghaffars lawsuit.

An email to Ghaffar attached as an exhibit to Paulsons motion includes an unsigned convertible note agreement with a range of draft changes. Paulson says the convertible note was delivered multiple times, but that Ghaffar demanded new changes each time, and that the two sides were continuing to discuss drafts of the note until the end of August.

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Paulsons lawyers, Terrence Oved and Darren Oved, said in a statement that Ghaffars allegations are directly refuted by the very emails he selectively quotes in his own complaint.

Paulson has invested heavily in Puerto Rico and owns several luxury resorts, including the St. Regis Bahia and Condado Vanderbilt, as well as office buildings, the dealership, and a luxury residential tower under construction. Ghaffar has been involved in Paulsons investments on the island since 2013, according to his website.

But the relationship broke down this year, according to Paulsons filing, when evidence was uncovered showing Ghaffar engaged in embezzlement of corporate assets to finance an extravagant lifestyle for himself and his wife.

Ghaffars lawyer responded that Paulsons allegations were themselves, unfounded.

The notion that emails regarding a financial instrument are the same as delivering an executed document evidencing an investment is folly, which we expect the court will reject, Martin Russo, Ghaffars lawyer, said in a statement.

As well as Ghaffars lawsuit, the 67-year-old Paulson is facing a contentious divorce from his wife Jenica, who says her husband used several trusts to shield billions of dollars of assets from her. Ownership of the auto dealership business is through one of the trusts. Paulson has a net worth of $5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Paulsons filing also says he intends to seek sanctions against Ghaffar and his lawyers unless the case is withdrawn because emails between Paulson and Ghaffar unequivocally demonstrate that Ghaffar received the convertible note.

The case is Ghaffar v Paulson, 23-cv-1455, US District Court, District of Puerto Rico.

--With assistance from Jim Wyss.

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(Bloomberg) -- Hillhouse, the investment firm started with backing from Yale Universitys endowment, is preparing to pitch a new Asia-focused private credit fund to international investors as the asset class continues to grow in the region.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Hillhouse, which has traditionally focused on public and private equity, has set up a private credit business called Elham Credit Partners, said people familiar with the matter, asking not to be identified discussing private information. While talks with potential investors are ongoing and no final target has been set, one person familiar with the matter said the fund may reach between $900 million and $1.1 billion.

Private credit in Asia, even though a small percentage of the $1.5 trillion global market, has been growing steadily, with $95 billion in assets as of September 2022, up 28% from the beginning of the year, according to Preqin Ltd. Dry powder, the amount of capital fund managers have available to deploy, was still plentiful, the London-based data provider found.

Read more: Private Credits Lavish Profits Are Coming Under Scrutiny

Hillhouse hopes to capture a share of the growing market and has hired senior executives to build out its credit team. These include ex-Deutsche Bank AGs Siddhartha Hari, along with Sandeep Chandak from Varde Partners and Srinivasulu Yanamandra, who was most recently a managing director at Barclays Plc.

The new fund will focus on so-called performing credit investments in well-established companies posting profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The average size of its investments will be between $50 million and $75 million, said the people. The fund aims for yields between 11% and 15% for the investments, they added.

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A spokesperson for the firm declined to comment on the fundraising plans. Hillhouse manages more than $100 billion in public and private market investments.

Hillhouse is also gauging international investor interest for what could be a multi-billion dollar fund to buy beaten-down Chinese stocks, Bloomberg News reported in September.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Joe Biden hoped a nettlesome Iran might be one problem he could escape during his first presidential term. Iran showed signs of settling down, and there were plenty of more pressing issues: Russias invasion of Ukraine and Chinas growing bellicosity, plus global energy shortfalls pushing US gasoline prices up and denting Bidens popularity.

Biden guessed wrong. As the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel demonstrates, Iran remains a virulent and murderous presence in the Middle East. The level of Irans direct involvement in the attack remains unclear, but Iran is the Hamas groups primary backer and strategic overlord. It is inconceivable that Hamas undertook an attack of this magnitude and complexity without some foreknowledge and affirmative support from Irans leadership, Suzanne Maloney, director of the Brookings Institutions foreign policy program, wrote in Foreign Affairs on Oct. 10.

Iran and the escalating war between Israel, Hamas, and perhaps other Palestinian groups will now dominate the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Biden first has to answer critics who say he went soft on Iran and indirectly enabled the Hamas attack. There could also be new upward pressure on oil prices as the United States faces inevitable calls to reverse recent engagement efforts with Iran  the worlds seventh-largest oil producer  and apply maximum sanctions. And Irans willingness to ignite a new Middle East war will now draw attention away from other Biden priorities and suck more US resources into a region Biden was trying to pivot away from.

Trumpers and other Biden critics should can any schadenfreude. Iran has bedeviled nearly every US president since its Islamic Revolution in 1979, and anybody peddling simple-sounding ways to contain the so-called Islamist republic is playing video games, not practicing geopolitics. Bombing or invading Iran would produce a horrifying conflagration. Aggressive sanctions always disappoint. Trying to foment a coup would be folly.

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The short history of the current standoff with Iran dates to 2002, when it became publicly known that Iran was developing a nuclear weapons program. A variety of US and international sanctions followed, many of them focused on punishing Iran by curtailing oil exports and the development of Irans oil deposits, which are the third largest in the world.

President Barack Obama led a 2015 US-European deal that eased some sanctions on Iran in exchange for agreements to limit its nuclear weapons development. Spoiler alert: The deal wasnt perfect, and there were legitimate concerns Iran might cheat. Yet the Iranians did seem cowed by years of withering sanctions and willing to let international inspectors monitor their weapons development as a result.

President Trump, opposed to basically everything Obama did, revoked US involvement in the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, while reimposing many of the sanctions Obama eased. Iran adopted a "resistance economy" meant to find ways around US sanctions, and resumed work on its nuclear program. Experts now think Iran has enough bomb-grade nuclear material to assemble a nuke within a couple of weeks if it chooses to do so. Trumps contention that tougher sanctions would disrupt Irans nuclear program was wrong.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi meets with Palestinian group Hamas's top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, Iran, June 20, 2023. (Iran's Presidency/WANA/Handout via REUTERS) (Wana News Agency / reuters)

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When Biden took office in 2021, he tried to restart the Obama-era nuclear deal. But the genie was out of the bottle and it didnt work. After Russia invaded Ukraine early in 2022, the Biden team undertook some sly diplomacy with Iran. The Biden administration has been engaged in implementing a series of understandings with Tehran to keep the Iran file off the presidents desk ahead of his campaign for reelection, Jason Brodsky of the Middle East Institute wrote on Oct. 10.

Iran, under this arrangement, would do its part by discouraging its various proxy militias from attacking US troops in Syria and Iraq. It would also slow-roll its nuclear program, a bit. The United States, in return, would overlook some Iranian oil sales, otherwise subject to sanctions, which would have the added benefit of increasing global supplies and tamping down oil and gasoline prices.

Irans September release of five US hostages seemed to signal that a thaw was in place. The United States agreed to return $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue held as a sanctions enforcement mechanism, drawing criticism that the United States was merely paying ransom. Another way of looking at it: Five Americans who could have rotted in Iranian prisons for the rest of their lives came home.

The Biden administration seemed to think its rapprochement with Iran was working. On Sept. 29, national security adviser Jake Sullivan uttered these soon-to-be-infamous words: The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades. His examples: a truce in Yemens civil war, a relatively stable Iraq, a suspension of Iranian attacks on US forces in the Middle East.

The United States has also been trying to broker an unprecedented agreement to establish normal relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel for the first time ever. The US would provide new security guarantees to Saudi Arabia, as a bulwark against Chinas growing interest in the region. But a better balance of power between the two former rivals would let Washington downsize the outsized portion of American resources and attention normally devoted to the Middle East. In Foreign Affairs, Maloney called this Bidens Middle East exit strategy.

Hamas, aided by Iran, has now sealed the exits by perpetrating the worst civilian killing of Jews since the Holocaust. Israel has vowed a searing campaign to root Hamas from its home turf in the Gaza Strip, which could entail weeks or months of grueling urban combat and an incomplete solution at best. Other Iran-backed factions, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, could attack Israel, or vice versa. And the United States is once again subverting other global priorities to a Middle East in flames.

Iran, it turns out, had no interest quieting the region. It views Israel as a mortal enemy and Saudi Arabia as a nemesis, and a tie-up between the two would have left Iran with less leverage. Whatever role it had in the Hamas attack, Iran would benefit from the delay or demise of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which now seems gravely threatened.

Iran has been building ties with China, the worlds biggest oil importer, and may feel it can sell all the oil it needs no matter how strict Western sanctions are. And its new status as an arms merchant to Russia, which is using Iranian drones to bombard Ukrainian cities, may give the ruling ayatollahs a new kind of status that replaces any old ambitions about making nice with the West.

Biden now faces a whole new geopolitical problem set. His most important priority may now be preventing the Israel-Hamas war from escalating into a wider regional conflict, especially one that might directly involve Iranian and US armed forces. Armchair generals who talk tough about bombing Iran, or worse, invading, dont usually mention that oil prices would probably rocket to the highest levels ever, and a miserable recession would ensue.

The Iranians know how sensitive American voters are to gasoline prices and they also know that a well-timed threat to interrupt Persian Gulf oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz  like, say, next August, two months before the US election  would send oil prices soaring and be a nightmare scenario for Biden.

Biden has taken one quick step. On Oct. 12, the US moved to block Iran's access to the $6 billion in Iranian oil money provided for the five hostages in September. That could be permanent, or the US and Qatar, which is holding the money, could dole it out on a case-by-case basis for projects they can confirm to be humanitarian. Biden also will probably have no choice but to tighten up on all possible sanctions and seek others. The US will probably beseech Saudi Arabia to produce more oil as an offset to any Iranian oil that will come off the market.

Biden, who portrays himself as the most seasoned politician in Washington, might handle all of this adroitly and earn high marks for statesmanship. But the Middle East is notorious for presenting Western leaders with bad choices and lousy outcomes they cant control.

Jake Sullivan did issue one caveat when he talked about a quieter Middle East: He said Iranian attacks against US troops have stopped for now, and then elaborated: I emphasize for now because all of that can change. Eight days later, all of that did change, and with it, the Biden presidency.

Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman.

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DataHorizzon Research

The hydrogen gas market has growth prospects, with the industry development augmented by the escalating integration of evolved technologies.

Fort Collins, Colorado, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to DataHorizzon Research, the hydrogen gas market size was valued at 92.5 Million Tons in 2022 and is projected to arrive at 145.4 Million Tons by 2032 with a CAGR of 4.7%.

The hydrogen gas market is expanding to meet the growing demand in industries, power generation, and transportation as a fuel source. Also, hydrogen is popular in pursuing a carbon-free environment, especially with the rise of electric cars and vehicles.

Hydrogen's versatility makes it crucial in several industries, including petroleum refining, metal treatment, and fertilizer production. Its demand is increasing due to its significance in carbon-free ammonia, renewable energy storage, and fertilizer production. Developing countries like India are establishing green hydrogen plants that produce hydrogen from renewable sources through the electrolysis process.

The demand for hydrogen gas has increased due to its use as a carrier gas in the semiconductor industry. Hydrogen production from natural gases and coal has led to a rise in annual CO2 emissions in Indonesia and the U.K. But, Toyota and Hyundai's introduction of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for personal use has opened up new opportunities for alternative fuel sources in the market.

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Segmentation Overview:

The global hydrogen gas market has been segmented into production method and end-use. Steam Methane Reforming is the primary method for producing hydrogen gas. The Offices of Energy Efficiency and Office of Fossil Energy (FE) are working together to reduce its production costs. The demand for hydrogen has increased due to the recoil in worldwide crude processing and guidelines demanding lower sulfur emission limitations for marine bunkers.

Story continues

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Hydrogen Gas Market Report Highlights:

The global hydrogen gas market growth is anticipated at a CAGR of 4.7% by 2032.

The growth is foreseen to be driven by the need for cleaner fuel and the amplifying governmental regulations for desulphurizing petroleum products.

Hydrogen demand is highest in North America, but APAC is projected to dominate the market, led by China, due to government-friendly policies, increased fuel demands, and regional infrastructure investments. Europe has also invested in enhancing hydrogen production capabilities.

Some prominent players in the hydrogen gas market report include Cummins Inc., Air Products Inc., ITM Power, Iberdrola, Green Production Method, Plug Power Inc., Starfire Energy, Aquahydrex.

Industry Trends and Insights:

ITM Power has launched a 20 MW core electrolysis procedure module called 'Poseidon' with an amplified footprint for scaling up into extensive facilities.

Arcadia eFuels has established Plug Power Inc. to provide a 280 MW PEM electrolyzer system to build SAF at its Vordingborg plant.

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Hydrogen Gas Market Segmentation:

By Distribution Channel: Pipeline, Bulk Tank, Cylinders, Others.

By Production Method: Steam Methane Reforming, Coal Gasification, Electrolysis, Ammonia Cracking.

By End-use: Petroleum Refineries, Ammonia Production, Transportation, Energy & Power, Methanol Production

By Region: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

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DataHorizzon is a market research and advisory company that assists organizations across the globe in formulating growth strategies for changing business dynamics. Its offerings include consulting services across enterprises and business insights to make actionable decisions. DHRs comprehensive research methodology for predicting long-term and sustainable trends in the market facilitates complex decisions for organizations.

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The IKEA logo is seen outside an IKEA furniture store in Brussels

(Repeats to additional subscribers, no change to text)

By Helen Reid

MALMO, Sweden (Reuters) -China is still a key growth market for budget furniture retailer IKEA despite the world's second-largest economy showing signs of strain, executives at the biggest IKEA store owner said on Thursday.

China was for several years the fifth biggest market by revenue for Ingka Group, which runs most IKEA stores globally, but it has now slipped to tenth position, accounting for 3.6% of global sales in its 2023 financial year, which ended Aug. 31.

Ingka Group remains committed to China, CEO Jesper Brodin told Reuters, even as some Western companies are seeking to reduce their exposure to the country whose post-pandemic recovery has been sluggish.

"There is no middle way, you have to either believe and invest or you don't, and in our case we are committed to China and the growth and development," Brodin, who visited China last month, said in an interview.

China's weight as a market for Ingka Group has diminished: in the 2022 financial year it made up 4.3% of global sales, while as recently as 2018 it accounted for 6%, the same share as the UK. The company has 37 IKEA stores in China, out of a total of 537 locations worldwide.

Ingka Group overall saw 697 million visits to its IKEA stores in the 2023 financial year, up 7.4% from the previous year. The rate of increase was much higher in China, Brodin said, as stores reopened and shoppers returned.

Ingka sees potential for China to make it back into its top five markets, based on sales in recent weeks.

China's sheer size makes it a key opportunity, said Tolga Oncu, head of IKEA Retail at Ingka Group.

"Considering the size of the home furnishing industry in China and our existing market share, I am not, from the IKEA point of view, concerned so much about what's happening in the macroeconomics," Oncu said.

He shrugged off economic data showing weaker consumer demand and high youth unemployment in China.

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"Normally in these circumstances, IKEA outperforms the rest," Oncu said.

China is also a key market for new retail technologies, Brodin said. As social media livestreaming as a shopping channel booms in China, he said Ingka is experimenting with live shopping there and plans to expand it to all its markets.

"This is interesting if we can reach people in a new way," he said.

(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Josie Kao)
When stock markets are in flux, its time to dig a little deeper to find the right investments. Investors will look for all sorts of signs, based on the earnings forecasts or charts  but one of the clearest signs of all is put up by corporate insiders.

These are the company officers who are charged with ensuring profits and returns. They are answerable to Boards of Directors and to shareholders, who expect them to build a company that supports a solid share value. These insiders, the C-suite residents and the Directors, have a deeper knowledge of their firms inner workings, and they can use that knowledge to inform their own trading.

The key to understanding their trading moves is simple. Insiders will sell shares for a whole host of reasons  but theyll only buy for one: they think the shares will gain. So when corporate insiders start putting millions into their own companies stocks, investors should take note.

Bearing this in mind, we used the Insiders Hot Stocks tool from TipRanks to point us in the direction of two stocks flashing signs of strong insider buying, which warrant a closer look. Furthermore, these stocks have garnered approval from some Wall Street analysts and offer solid upside potential. Lets take a closer look.

Erasca, Inc. (ERAS)

Well start with Erasca, a clinical-stage biopharma firm working on precision medicines to fight cancer. The companys portfolio of research projects is focused on the RAS/MAPK pathway and features three approaches to this commonly signaled cascade. First, there are drug candidates to target the upstream and downstream ends of the MAPK pathway nodes; second, there are candidates targeting the midstream node, RAS; and finally, there are drug candidates that attack the escape routes enabled by other proteins.

The RAS/MAPK pathway is a common cascade path in the development of multiple cancers. RAS is the most commonly mutated oncogene, while the MAPK pathway is a related and frequently altered signaling pathway. Together, they underlie approximately 5.5 million new cancer diagnoses every year, around the world. Erasca has taken a holistic approach to fighting this cancer pathway to improve treatments and treatment outcomes.

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On the pipeline, Erasca has no fewer than 12 active research programs. Among the most advanced of its programs is the multi-pronged research track on naporafenib, an experimental drug with potential applications in the treatment of several cancers. The company announced recently that it will begin dosing patients in the SEACRAFT-2 pivotal trial, a Phase 3 study of naporafenib in the treatment of NRAS-mutant melanoma during 1H24. In addition, it has already had begun dosing patients in the SEACRAFT-1 Phase 1b trial of naporafenib in combination with trametinib for the treatment of patients with RAS Q61X solid tumors. Specifically, this Phase 1b trial is targeting a form of melanoma. Initial data is expected for release in Q2-Q4 2024.

When we turn to the insiders, we find that Jonathan Lim, company President and CEO, recently bought 1 million shares, paying a total of $2.02 million. Lim now owns almost $69 million worth of the company.

The CEO is not the only bull here. Chris Shibutani, 5-star analyst from Goldman Sachs, rates ERAS stock a Buy, with a $6 price target that suggests a gain of ~167% in the next 12 months. (To watch Shibutanis track record, click here)

Backing his bullish stance, Shibutani writes: The clinical-stage programs that remain in focus continue on their developmental timelines apace with prior guidance. On the balance of the year, we could see additional results from the Phase 1b HERKULES-3 study of the triple combination of ERAS-007 + encorafenib + cetuximab in BRAFmut CRC (which produced encouraging preliminary results presented at ASCO), with dose expansion data still anticipated 2H23E  1H24E. Initial monotherapy dose escalation data for ERAS-801 in GBM are also on track for a readout in 2H23E We continue to view the pipeline refocusing as logical from an operational point of view, and we anticipate the aforementioned upcoming readouts to be potentially value-generating.

Overall, ERAS shares have a unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 4 recent positive analyst reviews. The stock is selling for $2.25 and the average target, at $11, implies a one-year upside of ~388%. (See ERAS stock forecast)

Coty, Inc. (COTY)

Next on our list is Coty, a renowned cosmetics company with an extensive portfolio. Coty owns more than 50 cosmetic, skincare, and fragrance brands, including Adidas, Vera Wang, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Max Factor  its a long list, but youll recognize most of the names from magazine ads or from the local department stores cosmetic counter.

The company, which today is based in the Netherlands, was founded in Paris back in 1904. Since then, it has built a stable business on its array of well-known brands and boasts a sound position in the cosmetic industry.

For its fiscal year 2023, which ended on June 30, the company had $5.55 billion in total revenue. In the last quarter of fiscal 23, Coty reported a top line of $1.35 billion, up 16% year-over-year, and $40 million better than the forecast. The non-GAAP EPS came in at 1 cent, a penny below the estimates. Strong revenue growth in both the Prestige and Consumer beauty segments supported the top-line gains.

In a notable development, Coty put 33 million common shares on the market last month, and that led to the major insider buy. Maria Aramburuzabala, a company Director, purchased 500,000 shares at a total cost of $5.4 million. This brings her stake in the company up to $14.9 million.

For Raymond James analyst, Olivia Tong, the key point is the upcoming holiday season, when Cotys business typically picks up. She writes, With Fragrances accounting for 60% of COTYs sales, mostly in prestige brands, and the key holiday period approaching, we see opportunity for continued upsides for COTY. Management raised its sales guide four times during FY23 and we see potential for another positive announcement when the company reports F1Q24 results, or possibly earlier.

Better than expected Fragrance demand has been a key driver of COTYs upsides in recent quarters and with industry fill rates now back in the mid-to-high 90s again after recovering from glass and other component shortages last year, fragrance houses can also return to gift sets to also support the category, particularly important heading into the holiday season, Tong added.

To this end, Tong rates COTY shares an Outperform, while her price target, of $15, points toward a 57% upside on the one-year horizon. (To watch Tongs track record click here)

What does the rest of the Street think? Looking at the consensus breakdown, opinions from other analysts are more spread out. 7 Buys and Holds, each, add up to a Moderate Buy consensus rating. The stock is selling for $9.55, and its $13.15 average price target suggests it will gain ~38% in the year ahead. (See COTY stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
Genting Singapore Limited (SGX:G13) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 11% in the last quarter. But at least the stock is up over the last three years. However, it's unlikely many shareholders are elated with the share price gain of 22% over that time, given the rising market.

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.

Check out our latest analysis for Genting Singapore

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 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.

Genting Singapore was able to grow its EPS at 39% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is higher than the 7% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time.

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

It is of course excellent to see how Genting Singapore has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. If you are thinking of buying or selling Genting Singapore stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Genting Singapore's TSR for the last 3 years was 31%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

It's good to see that Genting Singapore has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 11% in the last twelve months. Of course, that includes the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 0.4% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. 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 Genting Singapore better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Genting Singapore , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

We will like Genting Singapore better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean 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.
You may think that with a price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1.2x Dacian Gold Limited (ASX:DCN) is definitely a stock worth checking out, seeing as almost half of all the Metals and Mining companies in Australia have P/S ratios greater than 93.2x and even P/S above 526x aren't out of the ordinary. However, the P/S might be quite low for a reason and it requires further investigation to determine if it's justified.

Check out our latest analysis for Dacian Gold

What Does Dacian Gold's P/S Mean For Shareholders?

For instance, Dacian Gold's receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. Perhaps the market believes the recent revenue performance isn't good enough to keep up the industry, causing the P/S ratio to suffer. However, if this doesn't eventuate then existing shareholders may be feeling optimistic about the future direction of the share price.

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Dacian Gold, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Is There Any Revenue Growth Forecasted For Dacian Gold?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Dacian Gold would need to produce anemic growth that's substantially trailing the industry.

In reviewing the last year of financials, we were disheartened to see the company's revenues fell to the tune of 44%. As a result, revenue from three years ago have also fallen 54% overall. Accordingly, shareholders would have felt downbeat about the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

In contrast to the company, the rest of the industry is expected to grow by 87% over the next year, which really puts the company's recent medium-term revenue decline into perspective.

With this information, we are not surprised that Dacian Gold is trading at a P/S lower than the industry. Nonetheless, there's no guarantee the P/S has reached a floor yet with revenue going in reverse. Even just maintaining these prices could be difficult to achieve as recent revenue trends are already weighing down the shares.

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What We Can Learn From Dacian Gold's P/S?

We'd say the price-to-sales ratio's power isn't primarily as a valuation instrument but rather to gauge current investor sentiment and future expectations.

Our examination of Dacian Gold confirms that the company's shrinking revenue over the past medium-term is a key factor in its low price-to-sales ratio, given the industry is projected to grow. At this stage investors feel the potential for an improvement in revenue isn't great enough to justify a higher P/S ratio. Given the current circumstances, it seems unlikely that the share price will experience any significant movement in either direction in the near future if recent medium-term revenue trends persist.

There are also other vital risk factors to consider and we've discovered 4 warning signs for Dacian Gold (2 don't sit too well with us!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

If strong companies turning a profit tickle your fancy, then you'll want to check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a low P/E (but have proven they can grow earnings).

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.
A Marengo factory that recycled asphalt shingles relied on equipment that wasn't up to electrical code requirements before a December explosion and massive fire that severely injured workers and forced evacuations, U.S. Environmental Protection officials found.

According to a report newly released to the Des Moines Register, EPA inspectors concluded after an April 27 tour of the blown-up C6-Zero plant that some equipment and electrical mechanisms in the factory didnt meet National Fire Protection Association requirements.

The EPA has not issued a fine or any other penalty. But, according to the report, inspectors found two deficiencies of the federal Clean Air Acts general duty clause, which requires factory owners and operators to safely manage hazardous substances.

Firefighters work to control a blaze at C6-Zero on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Marengo, Iowa. The plant breaks down asphalt shingles into fiberglass, gravel and oil.

The EPAs inspectors concluded that C6-Zero officials failed to design a safe factory and minimize consequences of an accidental hazardous substance release.

The inspectors identified several problems inside the factory, including an out-of-compliance breaker, exposed wires in C6-Zeros chemical storage room and an electrical box with a label that simply read coil bad.

These destructive forces could cause more of the flammable substances to be released, the inspectors wrote in their report.

More: Months after C6-Zero explosion, fire, ill ex-employees wonder what they were exposed to

C6-Zero founder Howard Brand moved into the former soybean crush plant in Marengo in 2020 while hawking a chemical process that he claimed would dissolve used roofing shingles into their component parts: fiberglass, gravel and oil. Brand planned to sell the recycled byproducts while also receiving payment from roofers looking for a place to discard old shingles.

Employees began to operate the factory last fall. While Brand led investors on a tour of the building last December, multiple employees have told the Des Moines Register, a worker tried to unjam a clogged conveyor belt with a metal rod. Employees said the machine sparked, igniting an explosion that badly burned two employees, sent more than a dozen people to the hospital and set off a fire that it took dozens of firefighters 18 hours to extinguish.

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While they battled the blaze, neighborhoods near the plant were evacuated, and testing later showed groundwater contaminated with toxic substances including benzene, a virulent carcinogen.

More: 'Vomiting on a daily basis': What workers say it was like inside C6-Zero before the explosion

More: C6-Zero denies significant use of carcinogen benzene before Marengo plant explosion, fire

Asked about the EPAs inspection report Wednesday, C6-Zero spokesperson Mark Corallo said in an email, The report from April is part of the ongoing effort to conclude all matters related to the C6-Zero fire in Marengo, and the company continues to work with EPA on final cleanup and other matters.

EPA spokesperson Kellen Ashford, meanwhile, declined to say whether the inspectors findings will lead to a fine.

EPA is evaluating compliance and does not discuss the details of potential enforcement actions, he said.

Smoke wafts over the horizon from the fire at C6-Zero on Dec. 8, 2022, in Marengo.

Reviewing the EPA document, University of Iowa environmental law professor Shannon Roesler said in an email that the document does not appear to be the last version of whatever report the inspectors will ultimately produce.

This is just a step toward a finalized report that could support a sanction, she said.

Any punishment from the EPA would be just one of many legal challenges facing Brand and C6-Zero. The agency also told company officials in April that they violated a federal law by failing to give local firefights information about their chemicals before the explosion.

On Sept. 16, a judge ordered the company to pay a $96,000 Iowa Occupational Health and Safety Administration fine after the state labor department sued, claiming company officials failed to follow through on a settlement involving 11 workplace safety violations.

More: C6-Zero agrees to $95,000 OSHA fine for safety violations tied to Marengo factory explosion

The Attorney Generals Office, meanwhile, has sued the company for repayment of $892,000 that Gov. Kim Reynolds tapped to clean up and remove 13 million gallons of water in a basin next to the exploded factory.

Six employees also have sued the company. A former maintenance worker, Kelly Regenold, alleged in a March lawsuit that he suffered severe burns to about one-third of his body, leading to extensive scars and disfigurement. Other employees have claimed in lawsuits that they suffer from back pain, hearing impairment, post-traumatic stress disorder, headaches and nosebleeds that wouldnt stop.

Former C6-Zero employees Lani Mumby and Joni Parizek, stand for a photo outside of the plant in Marengo Monday, April 10, 2023.

Corallo, the company spokesperson, told the Register in an email, C6-Zero will fully comply with the court.

EPA: Marengo factory not set up to protect workers from emergencies

C6-Zero planned to turn shingles into fiberglass, gravel and oil by running the material through a series of rotating trommels, or mesh drums, with a conveyor belt connecting each machine. The company would load the trommels with chemicals  most notably a solvent the company called Kaniksu that would melt the shingles.

Employees said company officials declined to tell them what was in Kaniksu, a violation of OSHA standards. According to a safety data sheet for the substance, though, the mix can scar lungs corrode eyes and severely burn skin.

More: How do you get rid of 85K gallons of tainted water, 15M pounds of soil from C6-Zero site?

Kaniksu also is a flammable liquid and an oxidizer, meaning it spontaneously ignites when it mixes with a combustible material. Kaniksu also can increases other chemicals' burn rate.

According to an August 2022 report from SAFEX, a contractor that reviewed the companys process, most of C6-Zeros factory would have needed to comply with the National Fire Protection Agencys Class 1, Division 2 standard. This is a designation for areas of a factory where flammable gasses and vapors are only present during abnormal conditions.

More: Iowa plant that exploded won't join National Priorities list, EPA says

EPA inspectors concluded during their April tour that several pieces of C6-Zero equipment didnt meet this standard, including a noncompliant breaker, exposed wires and an electrical box that someone labeled coil bad.

Other out-of-compliance equipment included lights, a lamp and a pulley mechanism inside a conveyor. Inspectors also noted the electrical system joint box in the chemical storage room had holes known as knockouts, a design that isnt compliant with the required safety standards. On other pieces of equipment, the inspectors found data plates that they couldnt read, leaving them unable to evaluate the machines.

A damaged trommel inside C6-Zero's shingle recycling factory in Marengo.

In addition to the equipment problems, the inspectors said the factory was not laid out to properly protect workers. They said the shower station and eyewash bowl for chemical exposure was multiple doorways from C6-Zeros chemical storage room.

More: Marengo plant that exploded sought to turn shingles into 1,800 barrels of oil daily

It is unlikely the emergency equipment would be effective in reducing consequences to an individual contaminated with hazardous substances given the distance the individual would need to navigate in an emergency, the inspectors wrote.

Marc McClure, an Osage-based safety consultant who reviewed the EPA document for the Register, said the investigators report shows that C6-Zero officials set up the factory incompetently.

The equipment was never going to function safely because it wasnt designed to function safely, he said.

Tyler Jett is an investigative reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at tjett@registermedia.com, 515-284-8215, or on Twitter at @LetsJett. He also accepts encrypted messages at tjett@proton.me.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: C6-Zero plant operated unsafely before explosion, fire, EPA finds
(Bloomberg) -- Israelis armed forces have told the United Nations to evacuate its personnel from northern Gaza, indicating a ground operation could be coming soon in retaliation for an attack by the militant group that killed at least 1,200 people.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Israels military has positioned about 300,000 personnel outside Gaza and signaled a major ground offensive could be imminent as it seeks to wipe out the militant group for the attack.

US President Joe Biden will make a request for additional foreign aid next week, including for Israel and Ukraine. The US reached an informal understanding with Qatar to hold off distributing $6 billion in oil revenue that Iran was allowed to access under a prisoner exchange, as Washington probes Tehrans potential involvement in the Hamas attack, which has been designated a terrorist group by the US and EU.

For more on the Israel-Hamas war, click here.

(All time stamps are Israeli time)

Israel Warns UN to Evacuate Staff (5:51 a.m.)

Israels military told the UN to evacuate its staff and notify Palestinians living north of Wadi Gaza that they should head south within the next 24 hours, the UN said in an emailed statement.

More than 1.1 million Palestinians live in the area flagged by Israel, it said, adding, The United Nations considers it impossible for such a movement to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.

US House Eyes Aid Package (3:09 a.m.)

Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican, said the House might need to grant legislative powers to Patrick McHenry, the speaker pro tem, so the chamber can act on a national security package for Israel. Doing so would almost certainly require some Democratic support.

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Another Republican, David Joyce of Ohio, told reporters hes contacted Democrats about expanding McHenrys authority for a limited period and that Democrats have been amenable to that approach to act on issues like Israel. But Representative Steve Scalise abandoned his short-lived campaign to become speaker, which has only deepened divisions within the party and prolonged the Houses inability to respond to the Middle East war.

Read: GOP Hawks Call for Bipartisan Speaker Deal to Speed Israel Aid

EU Probes Musks X Over Violent Posts (2:50 a.m.)

Elon Musks X faces further intense scrutiny in the EU after regulators demanded answers over concerns about illegal and even terrorist content on the social media platform. The European Commission said it had sent the company a formal request for information under its strict new digital content management rules following indications about the potential terrorist and violent content.

Von Der Leyen to Visit Israel on Friday (2:50 a.m.)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Israel on Friday with the president of the European Parliament, Robert Robert Metsola, the EU said.

The visit is intended to express solidarity with the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks, and meet with Israeli leadership, according to a news release. The two leaders will also make a call to establish humanitarian corridors to Gaza, according to a person familiar with the trip.

Egypts President Calls for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza (11:55 p.m.)

Gazans must stay steadfast and remain on their land, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told a military graduation ceremony in a televised speech, as he called for the urgent delivery of international humanitarian assistance to the besieged territory.

Egypt, which in 1980 became the first Arab country to normalize relations with Israel, has mediated between the warring sides during previous conflicts in Gaza. The US has said its in talks with Egypt, which shares the Rafah border point with Gaza, to provide safe passage for civilians trying to flee Israeli airstrikes.

Read: Gazans Trying to Flee War Have Egypt Weighing Aid and Security

Biden to Release Budget Request for Added Aid (10:49 p.m.)

Biden will make his formal request for additional foreign aid next week, the White House said. The document is expected to lay out how much funding the US is seeking for the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel - although some lawmakers have proposed also including assistance for Taiwan and the southern US border to help smooth passage.

Most Internet Connectivity in Gaza Is Down, Analyst Says (10:42 p.m.)

Gaza is experiencing widespread Internet outages that began on Oct. 7, according to an analysis by Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at cyber firm Kentik.

An engineer at an internet service provider in Gaza told Madory that he assumed 80 to 90% of internet connectivity in Gaza is down due to a lack of power and damage to infrastructure.

Hamas Calls for a Day of Rage on Friday (10:17 p.m.)

Hamas called for a Day of Rage and mass protests Friday. In response, Israels National Security Council and Foreign Ministry warned Israelis and Jews around the world to be vigilant and stay away from the demonstrations.

Frances Macron Supports Israel Hitting Back at Hamas (10:13 p.m.)

In his first formal speech since Hamas attacked Israel, French President Emmanuel Macron said Israel had the right to eliminate terrorist groups, including Hamas, with targeted actions, while protecting civilians.

France, which has Europes biggest Jewish community and almost 200,000 of its citizens living in Israel, will expand the presence of police and other forces to prevent anti-Semitic acts, Macron said.

US Defense Chief Austin to Visit Israel, Pentagon Says (9:40 p.m.)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is heading to Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials, a Pentagon official told reporters.

The list of officials making trips to Israel to show support now includes the foreign ministers of Germany, Canada, Italy and the EU Parliament.

US Gives Israel Iron Dome Interceptors, Pentagon Says (9:34 p.m.)

The Pentagon has transferred to Israel the first missiles in US inventories for the Iron Dome air-defense system to intercept Hamas rockets, according to a US defense official.

The initial Tamir interceptors  owned by the US military but located in Israel  will be followed by more from American inventories elsewhere to ensure that Israel has the capabilities to sustain its air-defense systems, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss matters that arent public.

US and Qatar Will Hold Off Giving Iran $6 Billion in Funds (9:28 p.m.)

The US reached an informal understanding with Qatar to hold off distributing $6 billion in oil revenue that Iran was allowed to access under a prisoner exchange, as the Biden administration probes Tehrans potential involvement in last weeks Hamas attack against Israel.

A person familiar with the matter said the Treasury Department has a tacit agreement with Qatar, which was charged with distributing the money, not to approve applications for funds, which Iranian organizations were meant to be able to spend on medicine and humanitarian goods. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo briefed congressional Democrats on the move, the person said.

Read: US and Qatar Will Hold Off Giving Iran $6 Billion in Funds

Biden Meets With Advisers on Risks to US Homeland (8:30 p.m.)

Biden met national security officials including Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray to discuss efforts to protect the US homeland. The White House has requested state and local law enforcement step up patrols of Jewish religious and community centers over concerns the violence in Israel could be mirrored.

US To Offer Charter Flights From Israel (8:26 p.m.)

The US government will launch charter flights beginning Friday to provide transportation for US citizens and their immediate family seeking to depart Israel, the White House said.

In addition to flights to Europe, the US is examining land and sea evacuations for Americans seeking to leave. The administration doesnt currently have an estimate of how many US citizens are seeking to leave.

Israel Moves to Provide War-Risk Insurance for Airlines (8:08 p.m.)

Israels parliamentary finance committee approved a $6 billion government guarantee to back war-risk insurance for Israeli airlines. Due to the outbreak of war, companies that insure Israeli airlines are entitled to cancel their insurance policies within seven days of notification. The government guarantee would allow a state-owned insurer to cover the airlines if their policies are canceled.

The committee members asked the government to consider insurance assistance for any foreign airlines that are interested in continuing to fly to Israel.

UK to Send Two Ships to the Mideast, Times Says (7:56 p.m.)

Britain will send two Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean and begin surveillance flights over Israel in a show of support, the Times of London reported.

Blinken Expands Mideast Trip to Include Other Allied Nations (7:27 p.m.)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said hell travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other allied nations in the Middle East as part of US efforts to keep the Israel-Hamas conflict from spreading further.

Addressing reporters in Tel Aviv, Blinken said hell visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Qatar. He arrived in Israel early Thursday on a trip to demonstrate US support for Israel and get other nations on board. Blinken also said the US reserves the right to reimpose a freeze on $6 billion in Iranian funds but stopped short of saying it would take that action.

China Has Its First Talk With Israel Since War Began (6:55 p.m.)

China made its first public contact with Israel since last weekends attack by Hamas, hours after the Israeli ambassador called on Beijing to engage in talks about the conflict. Zhai Jun, Chinas special envoy on Middle East issues, said the country condemns actions that lead to the death of civilians, according a Foreign Ministry statement on his call with an Israeli foreign ministry official.

China is also willing to work with the international community toward peace talks, it said. Earlier Thursday, Irit Ben-Abba, Israels ambassador to China, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television that we really hope China can be much more involved in talking to its close partners in the Middle East and particularly Iran.

Palestinian Leader Abbas Demands End to Israeli Attacks (5:46 p.m.)

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas demanded an immediate end to what he called the comprehensive aggression against our people, and appealed for humanitarian aid and corridors to Egypt.

In statement before talks set for Friday with Blinken, Abbas blamed both sides in the conflict for killing civilians, a position likely to win little support from Israels allies. Abbas is based in the West Bank. He and the PA have little authority in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas.

White House, DeSantis Assail Trumps Remarks on Attack in Israel (5:19 p.m.)

Donald Trump drew criticism from the White House and Republican presidential rival Ron DeSantis over comments criticizing Israel days after the deadly attack by Hamas.

Trump late Wednesday criticized Netanyahu for not joining him in a 2020 drone strike in Iraq that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and called Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the US, very smart.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates called Trumps statements dangerous and unhinged.

Germanys Scholz Sees Mediation Role for Qatar (5 p.m.)

Chancellor Olaf Scholz hosted Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and they discussed the fate of hostages taken by Hamas in Israel, including some German citizens, the government in Berlin said in an emailed statement.

We must prevent a conflagration in the Middle East, Scholz wrote on social media. In coordination with Israel, we are talking to Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and also Qatar, which has a mediating role. It would be irresponsible in this situation not to use all the contacts that can help.

Iran Says Hamas Operation Entirely Palestinian (3:16pm)

The act of resistance was spontaneous and entirely Palestinian, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told state TV. Iran backs Hamas with funds and training but has repeatedly denied involvement in the groups latest attacks.

We are trying with the necessary measures to provide the conditions for non-combatants to leave Gaza, he added.

Read: Iran May Have Known About Hamas Attack, Israel Minister Says

Syrian Media Reports Israeli Strikes (3:07 pm)

Israel carried out air strikes targeting Aleppo and Damascus airports at about 1:50 pm local time, damaging runways and putting them out of service, Syrias state-run news agency SANA reported.

The report hasnt been confirmed by Israel.

Blinken Says Israel Has Right to Defend Itself (2:30 p.m.)

Blinken reiterated Israel has the right to defend itself following, but cautioned that how Israel does this matters.

Speaking alongside Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Blinken said the Biden administration would work with Congress to make sure Israel had the weapons it needs. But he also issued a carefully worded warning.

We democracies distinguish ourselves from terrorists by striving for a different standard, even when its difficult, and holding ourselves to account when we fall short, he said.

More Than 1,300 Killed in Gaza (1 p.m.)

Retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza have killed 1,354 people and wounded thousands, health authorities in Gaza said.

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Janet Yellen says she supports using proceeds from frozen Russian assets to fund more aid for Ukraine

Janet Yellen REUTERS/Jason Reed

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen backed a European proposal to access profits from frozen Russian funds.

Yellen said she supported "harnessing windfall proceeds from Russian sovereign assets" for Ukraine.

European countries froze more than $212 billion in Russian assets after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Janet Yellen backed European plans to tap proceeds stemming from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, the Financial Times reported.

In Wednesday comments in Morocco, the US Treasury secretary said she was on board with the use of "windfall proceeds from Russian sovereign assets immobilized in particular clearinghouses and using the funds to support Ukraine."

In the proposal, the West would access profits accumulated at Belgium clearinghouse Euroclear, where most of the more than $212 billion in immobilized Russian assets are held. Right now, those profits, which come from payments on bonds owned by the central bank, are reinvested by Euroclear.

Yellen's comments come as some officials within the European Central Bank have cautioned that tapping those funds could disrupt international markets and raise legality issues.

For its part, Euroclear announced on Wednesday it would put the profits made from the frozen assets into a fund for Ukraine. And Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said his country would open a 1.7 billion euro fund to help Ukraine as well, pulling from the frozen assets Russia has in Belgium.

After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Western nations led by the US have frozen roughly $300 billion worth of Russian reserves.

Read the original article on Business Insider
OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Linx, a global personal aviation company, unveiled its flagship private terminal at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a milestone in Jet Linx's strategic growth as new CEO Brent Wouters plans to dramatically increase the size of the fleet and grow Jet Card Membership. Jet Linx Aviation is the third-largest private jet management company in the United States.

Jet Linx Aviation's New Flagship Private Terminal at Eppley Airfield, Omaha.

The original Jet Linx Omaha facility debuted in 2004 as the company's first private terminal before nationwide expansion. The new 60,000-square-foot private terminal was designed with global architecture firm HDR and features 28-foot-high doors capable of housing the largest business jets, as well as heated pavement for seamless arrivals and departures with a 6,600-square-foot, glass-enclosed private lounge area.

"This flagship facility shows our commitment to aircraft owners, Jet Card Members and our team, as we aim to provide best-in-class service and facilities," said Jamie Walker, Jet Linx Chairman. "As we approach our Company's 25th anniversary, it seems fitting to return to our roots in Omaha as we enter a new phase of expansion and operational excellence."

The ribbon-cutting ceremony contained remarks from Mr. Walker, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Omaha Airport Authority Chief Executive Officer Dave Roth, and former Omaha Airport Authority Board Member Willy Theisen. Other dignitaries in attendance included members of the Omaha City Council, Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Greater Omaha Chamber, as well as partners from the University of Nebraska at Omaha Aviation Institute.

Jet Linx will privately debut the facility on October 14. The Company also recently welcomed Mr. Wouters as CEO, an experienced business leader responsible for developing Cirrus Aircraft globally during his decade-long tenure as CEO of the aircraft manufacturer.

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Omaha, Jet Linx is a global personal aviation company providing aircraft management and jet card membership through local service at 21 locations nationwide. The company is an IS-BAO Stage 3, ARGUS Platinum Elite, and Wyvern Wingman PRO safety-rated operator, a distinction held by less than one percent of operators globally. For more information, please visit www.jetlinx.com.

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From left to right: Kris Karnes, Willy Theisen, Jamie Walker, Mayor Jean Stothert, John Lund, Dave Roth, Denny Walker and Dan Longo.

(PRNewsfoto/Jet Linx Aviation, LLC)

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BNSF could be one of the railroads affected by Kansas' new rule on train crew sizes. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Kansas will now require freight trains operating within the state to have at least two train crew members in the lead locomotive cab.

Kansans safety and security must always come first, and that includes the safety of our railroad crew members, Democratic governor Laura Kelly said in a Wednesday release. This requirement will protect workers from the effects of fatigue, prevent train derailments, and reduce risks in the many Kansas communities along our railroad tracks.

Kansas is the 10th state to enact a law requiring a minimum of two people to comprise a freight train crew, according to the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers  Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Kansas governors office. The others are California, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Arizona, Minnesota, Washington, Nevada, Colorado and Ohio.

Kansas rule goes into effect on Nov. 3.

This bipartisan two-person crew regulation is monumental for the safety of all Kansans and for our crews that operate day in and day out within this great state. We have all worked hard to show that safety comes first, and corporate profits will never be placed ahead of all the citizens of this great state, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson said in a Wednesday release.

SMART-TD has argued that a minimum train crew size is vital since train length and weight can vary greatly. While some trains might be 8,500 feet long and weigh a few hundred tons, others might be over 4 miles long and weigh over 20,000 tons, according to Ty Dragoo, SMART-TD Kansas legislative director.

It still takes a minimum of two individuals, regardless of size, to safely move and respond to emergencies as they arise throughout the state; an on-scene crew to mitigate emergencies as they arise the second an accident happens is paramount. This regulation ensures Kansas communities and citizens have the already widely accepted industry-wide minimum standard in place for their safety, Dragoo said. He also said the regulation would not increase labor costs.

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Minimum crew sizes for freight trains has been a hot topic in recent years. In June, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) sued the state of Ohio over the minimum train crew size rule that Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed in March. In that lawsuit, AAR is arguing that federal law preempts state law.

AAR has also argued that independent studies of safety data and accident rates show no adverse safety impacts from one- versus two-person crews.

AARs members will suffer harm to their rights to collectively bargain over crew size. The carriers that operate in Ohio have the right to bargain for system-wide changes in crew size. The Crew Size Law will interfere with the railroads ability to expand their rights to operate with one-person crews in Ohio through collective bargaining, attorneys for AAR said in the late June court filing.

Some freight railroads, such as Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), have also explored the possibility of moving one of the crew members from the locomotive cab to a ground-based position.

Meanwhile, a proposed rulemaking is still before the Federal Railroad Administration on requiring a train crew size of at least two members.

Subscribe to FreightWaves e-newsletters and get the latest insights on freight right in your inbox.

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / Antea Group



Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a highly versatile chemical that is widely used in many industrial and consumer applications. It is commonly used as a sterilizing agent in the medical industry, as well as in the production of plastics, textiles, and other materials. However, recent studies have linked inhalation exposure to ethylene oxide with a range of health problems, including cancer, respiratory issues, and reproductive disorders. In fact, in 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified EtO as "carcinogenic to humans" when inhaled.

Recently, there has been an increase in lawsuits related to ethylene oxide exposure, with individuals and communities seeking compensation for the health effects they have suffered from occupational or other environmental exposures. For example, cancers like Lymphoma and leukemia have been reported from occupational exposure to ethylene oxide, and stomach and breast cancers may also be associated with exposure. In this blog, we will explore the risks associated with ethylene oxide exposure, current legal ramifications on the horizon, and present an overview of five measures to address and raise awareness for risk and liability for this growing public health concern.

Occupational ethylene oxide lawsuits typically involve workers who have been exposed to ethylene oxide on the job and have developed health problems as a result. These lawsuits may be filed against employers, manufacturers, or other parties who are responsible for the worker's exposure.

Recent Ethylene Oxide Lawsuits

In 2020, a group of Illinois residents filed a lawsuit against a medical sterilization company alleging that their ethylene oxide emissions had caused them to develop cancer and other health problems. The lawsuit alleged that the company knew about the potential dangers of ethylene oxide but failed to take appropriate measures to protect the community and its employees. Additionally, the company was accused of not properly disclosing the risks associated with ethylene oxide emissions to the public. The lawsuit was eventually settled for $408 million.

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Also in 2020, a group of former employees who worked in Lithia Springs, Georgia at a medical device manufacturer filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that they had been exposed to unsafe levels of ethylene oxide on the job and had suffered health problems as a result. They allege that the manufacturer stored products that had recently been sterilized with EtO. The lawsuit says these stored products then released EtO into the worker's environment while the products sat on warehouse shelves. The workers say they were never told they were being exposed to EtO from these shelved products, and they never even knew about the health dangers EtO can pose. The lawsuit is ongoing.

In August 2018, the EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) identified a number of areas (census tracts) in the USA with potentially elevated risk from continuous exposure to EtO in the outdoor air. One of these identified areas includes Grand Rapids, Michigan. There, another manufacturer of medical devices used EtO in its sterilization processes up until 2020. According to a story from the Chicago Tribune, a swath of the Grand Rapids area has a cancer risk of nearly four times the nation's average due to ethylene oxide emissions from this plant.

In 2018, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) cited this manufacturer in violation of the permitted emission limit, with several other violation notices also being issued to the company. Eventually, the company signed a consent order to stop sterilizing medical devices using ethylene oxide (EtO) at its plant in Grand Rapids, Mich. by Dec. 31, 2020.

The company also agreed to conduct monthly air sampling through February 2020, and to pay a penalty of $110,000. This consent order stemmed from EGLE's findings that the manufacturer allowed more than the permitted amount of EtO to be released into the air around its Grand Rapids plant. These lawsuits highlight the growing concern over the health risks associated with ethylene oxide exposure, and the need for stronger regulations and enforcement to protect workers and the broader community.

Changes to EtO Environmental Regulations

Recently, there have been several changes to environmental regulations regarding ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions. In 2020, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an updated risk assessment for EtO, which found that the chemical poses a higher cancer risk than previously thought. As a result, the EPA has been working to strengthen regulations related to EtO emissions.

One notable change has been the EPA's proposal to lower the EtO NESHAP emission limit from 1 part per million (ppm) to 0.2 ppm. This proposal is currently under review and is expected to be finalized in 2023. In addition, the EPA has also proposed to add EtO to its list of hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, which would trigger additional regulations and oversight.

Several states have also taken action to address EtO emissions. For example, in Illinois, the Department of Public Health has established new regulations for medical sterilization facilities, requiring them to install additional emissions control measures and to reduce emissions to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). Similarly, in Georgia, a new law requires the state Environmental Protection Division to conduct regular air monitoring for EtO emissions around sterilization facilities.

These regulatory changes reflect a growing recognition of the health risks associated with EtO exposure and the need for more stringent controls to protect public health and the environment.

How to Minimize Risk

In conclusion, the widespread use of ethylene oxide (EtO) in various industrial and consumer applications has raised significant concerns about its potential health risks. The surge in ethylene oxide-related lawsuits, both occupational and environmental, highlights the urgency of addressing this growing public health concern. Moreover, changes in environmental regulations and heightened awareness of EtO's health risks are encouraging steps toward safeguarding public health.

To minimize the risk of EtO exposure, facilities that use EtO should stay up to date on these changes and take appropriate measures to minimize emissions and ensure compliance with regulations. Occupational risk assessments conducted by Industrial Hygienists can identify potential exposure sources and develop protective strategies. Environmental justice initiatives can address the financial and ethical responsibilities of industry emitters. Furthermore, air permitting and EPA environmental tools can assist in assessing the environmental risks associated with EtO.

By implementing these strategies, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of ethylene oxide exposure to their workers and create a safer working environment. It is essential to consult with industrial hygiene experts and follow regulatory requirements to ensure the best possible practices for worker safety.

Our team of Industrial Hygienists can help identify and address potential ethylene oxide exposure sources and develop a plan to ensure that everyone is protected from exposure to this chemical and create safer working environments for all.

About Antea Group

AnteaGroup is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world's most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.

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A Knoxville-based trucking company is implementing new strategies to make long-haul trucking more efficient for drivers across the country.

Highway Transport, a long-haul chemical trucking company, partnered with Anytreck, a GPS tracking company, to develop a new technology called TempTrack, which actively monitors and reports the temperature of the chemicals inside the tanks, Chief Operating Officer Steve Smith told Knox News.

Some chemicals need to be kept in very specific conditions and temperatures to avoid spoiling and changing state. Previously, drivers needed to pull over every couple hours to check the temperature of the contents their 6,000-gallon tank.

Now, the temperature can be tracked and controlled remotely, cutting down on drive time and improving driver safety.

"There are more tools available to do network optimization to monitor the temperature of the product. Whenever that's come out, we have been at the forefront," Smith said. "If this can help us serve a customer better, and provide them more information, make our own time service better, we want to be a part of it."

Highway Transport has 500 trucks and 1,000 tanks in service, Smith said. The company has 156 employees in the Knoxville area, and 622 nationwide.

Steve Smith, COO, and Christy Williams, SVP of Sales and Marketing at Highway Transport, pose for a photo at their location on Middlebrook Pike, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.

Highway Transport works to improve efficiency

In addition to TempTrack, Highway Transport has implemented several new strategies to be more efficient with its time, more ecofriendly and employee friendly.

The company uses a relay network, or stopping points between destinations, that spans from southwest to the northeast, Smith said. It's not a typical practice and there are only a few bulk chemical companies that use a relay network.

Drivers within 500 miles of each other are hired for a job, where they will meet at a relay point and swap loads. It cuts down on the delivery time and makes sure drivers are carrying loads two ways, not just full one way, and empty back.

The eight relay points are open five days a week, with one in East Tennessee and another in Middle Tennessee.

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The relay network and updated tracking devices allow drivers to know exactly how far they will have to drive and when they will be back. It creates a better work-life balance, and Smith said it should help the company recruit and retain employees.

"Back in the '70s and '80s, every truck driver's dream was to squat and drive the country and see it for free, and there wasn't as much traffic and there wasn't many people cutting them off," Smith said. "It was a much different environment. Now drivers want to be home every night."

Highway Transport has service centers to drop off and repair trucks in Knoxville, Chattanooga. Its network extends across 10 states.

The company is 60 days into a 90-day pilot program of Idle Smart, a system made by a company in Kansas City that monitors the temperature of the cabin when the engine is off, but will turn on to heat or cool the cabin to the desired temperature of the driver, then turn off once that temperature has been reached. It's a more efficient use of the battery and cuts down on emissions, Smith said.

With the money the company saves on fuel, Smith said the Idle Smart system pays for itself in a week.

Chemical transport is a niche industry and it's the only service Highway Transport delivers. The company was founded in 1948.

Silas Sloan is the growth and development reporter. Email silas.sloan@knoxnews.com. Twitter @silasloan. Instagram @knox.growth.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Highway Transport trucking in Knoxville tests new technology
KraneShares

LONDON, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, (KraneShares), an asset management firm known for its global exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and innovative investment strategies, today announced the launch of the KraneShares MSCI China Clean Technology Index UCITS ETF (Ticker: KGRN) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), Borsa Italiana, and Deutsche Borse Xetra. KGRN is a passively managed fund that tracks the MSCI China IMI Environment 10/40 Index, which is based on four key Clean Technology environmental themes: Alternative Energy, Sustainable Water, Pollution Prevention, and Energy Efficiency.



KGRN has been classified as an Article 8 investment under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

China has emerged as a preeminent global leader in renewable technology, with a steadfast commitment to addressing its pollution challenges. Through concerted efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity and improve its environmental policies, China aims to hit peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.1 Going forward, China is expected to remain the global leader in renewable energy over the next five years, accounting for 43% of renewable capacity growth worldwide.2

KGRN provides exposure to the companies that stand to benefit from Chinas increased focus and spending on clean energy technologies. Holdings include top lithium-ion battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), and several electric vehicle (EV) makers, namely NIO, XPeng, BYD, and Li Auto, which are expected to see strong growth potential from the widespread adoption of EVs. Chinas EV market is the largest in the world with more than 4 million EVs sold in 2022, the equivalent of five times that sold in the US.3 For decades, China has dominated the global market for rare earth metals, which provides an inherent supply chain advantage for domestic production.

Solar power technology is another area experiencing rapid growth in China. This year alone, China is expected to add an additional 30% capacity, or 95 to 120 gigawatts (GW) of solar power.4 Moreover, China is home to some of the worlds largest solar panel manufacturers, including Xinyi Solar, which controls 30% of the global market share.5

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We believe China is currently undergoing an environmental renaissance, pledging hundreds of billions of dollars to environmental protection projects and policies, said Jonathan Krane, Chief Executive Officer of KraneShares. Chinese companies focused on contributing to a more environmentally sustainable economy may potentially benefit from this focused initiative.

KGRN presents a compelling investment opportunity for those seeking to gain exposure to industries that are not only experiencing rapid growth, but are also actively addressing environmental challenges," explains Dr. Xiaolin Chen, Head of International at KraneShares. "By investing in Chinas clean technology companies at the forefront of sustainable innovation, KGRN provides the potential to generate strong returns while aligning with investors' values."

The MSCI China IMI Environment 10/40 Index is comprised of securities that derive at least 50% of their revenues from environmentally beneficial products and services. Constituent selection is based on data from MSCI ESG Research, explained Nicco Ferrarini, Managing Director at MSCI.

For KraneShares MSCI China Clean Technology Index UCITS ETF (Ticker: KGRN) standard performance, top 10 holdings, and other fund information, please visit: kraneshares.eu/kgrnln

About KraneShares

Krane Funds Advisors, LLC is the investment manager for KraneShares ETFs. Our suite of China-focused ETFs provides investors with solutions to capture Chinas importance as an essential element of a well-designed investment portfolio. We strive to deliver innovative, first-to-market strategies developed based on our strong partnerships and deep investing knowledge. We help investors stay current on global market trends and aim to provide meaningful diversification. Krane Funds Advisors, LLC, is a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investing (UN PRI). The firm is majority-owned by China International Capital Corporation (CICC).

Contact:

Joseph Dube  KraneShares, Head of Marketing

Joseph.Dube@kraneshares.com

Disclaimers:

This is a marketing communication. Please refer to the prospectus of the UCITS, the KIID, and the PRIIP before making any final investment decision.

Fund Holdings Mentioned:

Contemporary Amperex Technology

NIO

XPeng

BYD

Li Auto

Xinyi Solar

Citations:

Reuters, China pledges to achieve CO2 emissions peak before 2030, carbon neutrality before 2060 Xi, 22 November, 2020. Retrieved on 30/Sep/2023. REN21s Renewables 2017 Global Status Report (GSR) p. 166. Retrieved 30/Sep/2023. WSJ, Chinas EV Sales Broke Record in 2022 as Overall Auto Market Stalled, 10 January, 2023. Retrieved 30/Sep/2023. Reuters, China solar power capacity could post record growth in 2023, 15 February, 2023. Retrieved 30/Sep/2023. Data from Xinyi Solar as of 31 December, 2022. Retrieved 30/Sep/2023.

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its stated objectives. The Funds are subject to political, social or economic instability within China which may cause decline in value. Fluctuations in currency of foreign countries may have an adverse effect to domestic currency values. Emerging markets involve heightened risk related to the same factors as well as increase volatility and lower trading volume.

Narrowly focused investments typically exhibit higher volatility. Internet companies are subject to rapid changes in technology, worldwide competition, rapid obsolescence of products and services, loss of patent protections, evolving industry standards and frequent new product productions. Such changes may have an adverse impact on performance.

This material is for information only and does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any investment, or subscribe to any investment management or advisory service. It is not, under any circumstances, intended for distribution to the general public. You are accessing information which constitutes a financial promotion under section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA"). In relation to the United Kingdom, this information is only directed at, and may only be distributed to, persons who are Investment Professionals (being persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments) within the meaning of article 19(5) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Financial Promotion Order ), persons to whom any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d) of article 49 (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.) of the financial promotion order apply, or persons to whom distribution may otherwise lawfully be made.

Any investment, and investment activity or controlled activity, to which this information relates is available only to such persons and will be engaged in only with such persons. Persons that do not have professional experience should not rely or act upon this information unless they are persons to whom any of paragraphs (2)(a) to (d) of article 49 apply to whom distribution of this information may otherwise lawfully be made.

The views and opinions expressed in this material are those of the authors Krane Fund Advisors. These opinions have been given in good faith but are subject to change without notice. It is the responsibility of the investor to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any opinions, advice, services, or other information provided.

This material may not be suitable for all investors. Any performance quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Past performance is not indicative or a guarantee of future performance. Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, charges and expenses before investing. This and additional information, including historical and the most recent month-end performance, can be found in the Fund Literature (Prospectus, Supplement, KIID, PRIIP), which may be obtained at our website http://www.kraneshares.eu or at the website of our management company www.waystone.com. KIID and PRIIP documents are available in the language of any Member State where such fund is distributed.

Krane Funds Advisors, LLC is appointed to act as investment manager in accordance with the requirements of the Central Bank. Waystone Management Company (IE) Limited is appointed to provide management services to the ICAV in accordance with the requirements of the Central Bank. The Management Company may decide to terminate the arrangements made for the marketing of the Fund in accordance with Article 93a of Directive 2009/65/EC.












The Fifth Third Bank is headquartered in downtown Cincinnati.

Two customers at Fifth Third Bank are suing the Cincinnati-based financial institution, accusing it of charging "unconscionable" overdraft fees on debit transactions even when their bank accounts had enough money to cover purchases.

The account holders, Christy Hunter of Georgia and Feon Smith-Branch of West Virginia, filed the lawsuit on Oct. 5 in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. Attorneys for the case are seeking class-action status for customers who either enrolled or declined overdraft protection from the bank.

At issue is what happens after customers swipe their debit cards and when those transactions are finalized a few days later.

The lawsuit accuses Fifth Third of charging customers overdraft fees on approved transactions, noting money is immediately deducted from accounts to cover a purchase when their debit card is swiped. But those same covered transactions are subject to an overdraft charge if other transactions result in a negative balance, the lawsuit said.

"Customers' accounts will always have sufficient funds available to cover these transactions because (the bank) has already held the funds for payment," the lawsuit said. "Despite putting aside sufficient available funds... (the bank) later assesses OD (overdraft) fees on those same transactions when they settle days later into a negative balance."

The lawsuit argues the practice violates the bank's own terms with checking account customers, noting the bank "promises" not to charge overdrafts unless the bank pays for a transaction when there's not enough money in their account.

"(The bank) exploits its contractual discretion by implementing these practices to gouge customers," the lawsuit said. "There is no justification for these practices, other than to maximize (the bank's overdraft) fee revenue."

Fifth Third officials said Thursday the bank would defend itself "vigorously," but otherwise declined to comment on pending litigation. The company issued a general statement:

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"Our banking solutions help customers build financial strength, with features designed to avoid fees and ensure timely access to funds," the company said, adding it had eliminated some fees for consumer accounts.

The lawsuit also seeks to have Fifth Third's practices declared by the court "wrongful and unconscionable" and requests an order to bar the bank from violating its checking account agreements with customers. The lawsuit also seeks unspecified restitution, damages and legal and court costs.

Headquartered on Cincinnati's Fountain Square, Fifth Third is the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region's largest in terms of branches with 100 local offices and second-largest (behind rival U.S. Bank) in terms of deposits with $50 billion, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. With more than $206 billion in assets, Fifth Third is the nation's 17th largest commercial bank, according to the Federal Reserve.

For the latest on Fifth Third Bank, P&G, Kroger and Cincinnati business, follow @alexcoolidge on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lawsuit against Fifth Third accuses bank of improper overdraft fees
(Bloomberg) -- Chile, home to the worlds largest lithium reserves, says Japanese battery and metals companies are among Asian investors interested in acquiring long-term preferential access to the ingredient, in exchange for adding value to the raw material and transferring skills.

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A heavyweight in the mining world, Chile wants to woo companies that can help it develop processing and manufacturing capabilities. In April, it granted Chinese EV maker BYD Co. access to preferential prices for lithium carbonate produced by SQM, the worlds second-largest lithium producer, for use in a cathode factory to be built in the countrys north.

Additional lithium offtake  from Albemarle Corp.s mine in Chile  will become available next year for similar deals. While SQMs production contract expires in 2030, Albemarles runs through 2043, providing greater certainty to bidders for preferential prices and signaling a more competitive process, Chilean Economy Minister Nicolas Grau said.

Battery producers want to be part of lithium extraction, and the only reason is to get certainty of supply, Grau said in an interview in Tokyo, where hes leading a roadshow that will also take in South Korea, before heading to China with President Gabriel Boric. This is much simpler. They do not have to wait three years or five years to get lithium.

Following meetings with Sumitomo Corp., Mitsui & Co. and Sojitz Corp., among others involved in the battery and EV supply chain, Grau said Japanese companies were quite interested in investing.

Japans biggest battery producers and carmakers have been investing heavily in the development of next-generation batteries as they vie with Elon Musks Tesla Inc. and BYD  both frontrunners in the global automotive industrys shift toward zero emission EVs.

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Panasonic Holdings Corp. said its making progress in creating Canadas first lithium-ion battery supply chain for EVs made in North America. Japanese and Canadian officials met last week in Ottawa to sign a pact on EV supply chains.

Asked about efforts to attract investment from both China and nations aligned with the US  which is seeking to diversify its supply clean-energy supply chain, and with whom Chile has a free-trade agreement  Grau said the country saw its agnostic approach as an advantage.

Chile, the biggest copper-producing nation and No. 2 lithium supplier, has sought to make the most of booming battery-material demand, but its occasionally rattled markets. A plan announced earlier this year by the Boric government outlined proposals for the state to take a controlling stake in lithium operations considered strategically significant, with twin goals of boosting output and making extraction more sustainable.

Read More: Why Chiles New Approach to Lithium Matters Globally: QuickTake

Still, the government has said it will respect the existing contracts of SQM and Albemarle  the only two lithium miners in Chile  and will allow private firms to retain control of projects in non-strategic areas. Bidding for exploration contracts is scheduled to take place next year once authorities identify new production areas.

With only seven years left on its contract, SQM has entered into talks with state-owned Codelco for a new arrangement under the public-private model. Any deal would see Codelco take a majority equity stake, but ideally the two firms would form a joint venture in which they participate in a similar way in the operation, Grau said. Both sides have an interest in reaching a deal to avoid a hiatus, he said.

The minister dismissed concerns that despite Chiles cost advantages  lithium from brine deposits is more easily processed into lithium carbonate  other countries have made quicker progress in capitalizing on rising demand, including Australia.

We need to attract the right people, Grau said. In our view, its not a competition with other countries, but its about how to do this well, how to attract the right people so we can take advantage of the huge opportunity that we have.

--With assistance from Shoko Oda and Nicholas Takahashi.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Lockheed Martin Corporation's (NYSE:LMT) periodic dividend will be increasing on the 29th of December to $3.15, with investors receiving 5.0% more than last year's $3.00. This makes the dividend yield 2.7%, which is above the industry average.

See our latest analysis for Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Based on the last payment, Lockheed Martin was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This indicates that a lot of the earnings are being reinvested into the business, with the aim of fueling growth.

Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 5.6%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 45%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

Lockheed Martin Has A Solid Track Record

The company has been paying a dividend for a long time, and it has been quite stable which gives us confidence in the future dividend potential. Since 2013, the dividend has gone from $4.60 total annually to $12.00. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 10% per annum over that time. It is good to see that there has been strong dividend growth, and that there haven't been any cuts for a long time.

The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow

Investors who have held shares in the company for the past few years will be happy with the dividend income they have received. Lockheed Martin has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 27% per annum. The company doesn't have any problems growing, despite returning a lot of capital to shareholders, which is a very nice combination for a dividend stock to have.

Lockheed Martin Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock

Overall, a dividend increase is always good, and we think that Lockheed Martin is a strong income stock thanks to its track record and growing earnings. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock.

Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Lockheed Martin that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Using the Dividend Discount Model, Groupe Minoteries fair value estimate is CHF275

Current share price of CHF276 suggests Groupe Minoteries is potentially trading close to its fair value

Groupe Minoteries' peers are currently trading at a discount of 28% on average

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Groupe Minoteries SA (VTX:GMI) 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. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Groupe Minoteries

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We have to calculate the value of Groupe Minoteries slightly differently to other stocks because it is a food company. Instead of using free cash flows, which are hard to estimate and often not reported by analysts in this industry, dividends per share (DPS) payments are used. This often underestimates the value of a stock, but it can still be good as a comparison to competitors. We use the Gordon Growth Model, which assumes dividend will grow into perpetuity at a rate that can be sustained. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.01%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 4.0%. Relative to the current share price of CHF276, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

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Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= CHF11.0 / (4.0%  0.01%)

= CHF275

dcf

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Groupe Minoteries 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 4.0%, 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 Groupe Minoteries

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Currently debt free.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Food market.

Current share price is above our estimate of fair value.

Opportunity

GMI's financial characteristics indicate limited near-term opportunities for shareholders.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine GMI's earnings prospects.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by cash flow.

Next Steps:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" 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 Groupe Minoteries, there are three additional elements you should assess:

Risks: Take risks, for example - Groupe Minoteries has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. 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! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Swiss 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

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Lument Finance Trust's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 5 shareholders own 51% of the company

Recent purchases by insiders

A look at the shareholders of Lument Finance Trust, Inc. (NYSE:LFT) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 41% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Lument Finance Trust.

Check out our latest analysis for Lument Finance Trust

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Lument Finance Trust?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Lument Finance Trust 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. 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 Lument Finance Trust's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

Lument Finance Trust is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Boston Partners Global Investors, Inc. is the largest shareholder with 27% of shares outstanding. Hunt Companies, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 11% of common stock, and AXA SA holds about 6.4% of the company stock. Additionally, the company's CEO James Flynn directly holds 0.6% of the total shares outstanding.

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To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 5 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Lument Finance Trust

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.

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.

We can report that insiders do own shares in Lument Finance Trust, Inc.. In their own names, insiders own US$2.7m worth of stock in the US$106m company. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board, though we generally prefer to see bigger insider holdings. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

With a 39% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Lument Finance Trust. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 11%, of the Lument Finance Trust stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Public Company Ownership

Public companies currently own 6.4% of Lument Finance Trust stock. It's hard to say for sure but this suggests they have entwined business interests. This might be a strategic stake, so it's worth watching this space for changes in ownership.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Lument Finance Trust better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Lument Finance Trust (of which 1 can't be ignored!) 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.
Vesnaandjic / Getty Images

Now is a fine time to be on the selling end of a real estate transaction. Despite the highest mortgage rates in more than 20 years, demand remains healthy and competition is stiff for limited inventory  but dont jump the gun before your property is ready.

Instead of trying to time the market, spend a few months or even a year getting your house into top-dollar shape.

Im a Luxury Real Estate Agent: These Are the 5 Home Features That Turn Buyers Away

Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

Linda Thell is a real estate agent and team leader at Thell Real Estate Group, which is brokered by eXp Realty and actively licensed in New Jersey. She knows just how to turn a good home into a great listing within 12 months. Here are her most reasonable and reliable tips for increasing your propertys value by this time next year.

Start With TLC  Fall Back in Love With Your Home

Thells first and best piece of advice for anyone planning to sell within 12 months is to make the last year the best one youve ever spent in your house.

Take care of your home, she said. Deep clean your home. Declutter your home. Go through the closet that you havent opened in a few years and get rid of things you dont need. Minimize your things and ask yourself if it is something youre using and truly love to keep.

Thell believes that cleaning and decluttering can be a cathartic experience that offsets the stress of selling and leaving your home. Theres a value-add, as well.

By finding new organization systems for your items you will create a phenomenal showing experience for a future buyer when we are putting the home up for sale, she said. A lot of buyers are looking for smart storage and amazing organization. If you can show or create new organization systems in your home this year, it could be a great selling point for a future buyer.

If thats too much work or not in your wheelhouse, Thell recommends enlisting a professional organizer or calling your agent.

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Downsizing for Retirement? Stay Away From These 7 Homes

Paint the Interior

Any designer will tell you that a fresh coat of paint is one of the cheapest, fastest and most dramatic ways to improve your homes appearance and appeal.

Homes that have been freshly painted not just sell quicker, but they also sell for a higher price, said Thell. Choose light and bright colors to make the home feel larger and like a clean slate for the new buyer.

Its a DIY-able project for most, but if youre not confident in your ability to pull it off without looking sloppy, HomeAdvisor says the national average for professional painters is $3.50 per square foot.

Concentrate on the Most Important Rooms

Everyone is looking for something different in a home. Thell has worked with buyers who cared most about features as varied as pools, fenced-in yards for dogs, garages and primary suites.

If you have these spaces, great, she said. Make sure you focus on them as well to make them the best they can be. But If you were to focus on a few rooms, it would be to update your kitchen and your bathrooms. As a rule of thumb, most of my buyers fall in love with the kitchen even if the pool is the main thing. Then my buyers usually fall in love with the layout of the living spaces.

Her top pro tip is to install recessed lighting in every room to create a more inviting, open and seemingly larger space.

For a pretty affordable penny, this can make a huge difference in terms of how someone will perceive your home.

Theres No Such Thing as a Good Listing With a Bad Basement

Sellers usually prefer to spend pretty money on eye-catching features in prominent rooms  new sinks in the bathroom, shiny stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, striking crown molding in the dining room.

But savvy buyers are more concerned with ugly money spent on less visible, but far more important things where it really counts  in the basement.

Go down there and take a look, said Thell. Place a dehumidifier in the basement running constantly. This will stop any potential mold growth if there is ever water down there. Check your foundation for any cracks and if you find one, call a basement company. Check your systems. Does your HVAC, water heater or boiler need service? If its been more than a few years, its worth it to have someone come check it out. Any critters? Call a pest company and have them come for a free consultation. They can tell you if you have something going on. Better to catch it now so you can take care of any potential problems prior to listing your home.

If you have an unfinished basement, Thells experience suggests that the cost of finishing it could be the best money you can spend.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Real Estate Agent: Here Are 4 Reliable Ways People Increase the Value of Their Homes in Less Than a Year
Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research

European Commission has announced that it will revise the General Safety Stringent regulations require automotive manufacturers to implement the most recent sensor-based systems driving the MEMS sensors market.

New York, United States, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEMS technology sensors are low-cost, high-precision inertial sensors that can be used to satisfy a wide range of industrial applications. The microelectromechanical system, or MEMS, sensors offer several advantages, including precision, dependability, and the potential for smaller electronic devices. The global MEMS sensor market size is envisioned to advance to USD 21,145 million growing at a CAGR of 6.85% during the forecast period., stated by Research Manager at Straits Research P. Ltd.

Key Drivers

The positive expansion of the MEMS sensors market is primarily driven by the rising concern for the safety of automobile passengers and drivers. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 1.35 million people die annually from auto accidents. In addition, the European Commission has announced that it will revise the General Safety Stringent regulations require automotive manufacturers to implement the most recent sensor-based systems driving the MEMS sensors market.

Industry 4.0 systems can utilize MEMS sensors for early failure detection and predictive maintenance. MEMS sensors are used in automation and Industry 4.0 applications where vibration, temperature, pressure, sound, and acoustics analysis are needed. The machines are interconnected so that their data can be transmitted to the cloud in various ways, including wirelessly, directly, or via a gateway that employs MEMS sensors.

Growth Opportunities

Due to the prevalence of the Internet of Things, a significant portion of the sensor market consists of MEMS. In addition, it is anticipated that MEMS pressure sensors will expand into new fields, including sensors for the healthcare and automotive industries. In healthcare, potential applications for MEMS pressure sensors include eye therapy and gut monitoring. As MEMS pressure sensors offer design advantages, the growing emphasis on invasive applications is expected to drive the market for MEMS pressure sensors and create lucrative opportunities.

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Regional Insights

Asia-Pacific will command the market with the largest share and grow at a CAGR of 7.42% during the forecast period. With favorable regulatory compliances and sustained demand for renewable energy infrastructure, power electronics, and automotive, developing economies like India and China are emerging as the fastest-growing MEMS sensor markets. China has imported numerous MEMS sensors for product assembly, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, and radio frequency (RF) filters.

Europe MEMS Sensors Market will grow at a CAGR of 6.87% during the forecast period. In support of its Industry 4.0 initiative, the German government has allocated approximately EUR 200 million. Large corporations and thousands of small and medium-sized businesses in Germany are simultaneously investing in information and communication technology (ICT) to accelerate their respective development.

Get a Free Sample Copy of This Report @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/mems-sensor-market/request-sample

Key Highlights

The consumer electronics segment will hold the largest market share growing at a CAGR of 6.9%.

Based on type, the segment of inertial sensors is most likely to dominate the market with the largest share and growing at a CAGR of 6.61% during the forecast period.

Based on regional analysis, Asia-Pacific will command the market with the largest share and grow at a CAGR of 7.42% during the forecast period.

Competitive Players in the Market

STMicroelectronics NV InvenSense Inc. (TDK Corp) Bosch Sensortec GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH) Analog Devices, Inc. Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd Kionix Inc. (ROHM Co. Ltd) Infineon Technologies AG Freescale Semiconductors Ltd (NXP Semiconductors NV) Panasonic Corporation Omron Corporation First Sensor AG (TE Connectivity)

Market News

In 2022, STMicroelectronics NV introduced the market's first Serial Page EEPROM technology, a high-density, page-erasable SPI memory that delivers unique and unprecedented flexibility and performance with ultra-low power consumption.

In 2022, STMicroelectronics NV released NanoEdge AI studio machine learning design software supporting smart sensors that contain ST's embedded intelligent sensor processing unit.

Global MEMS Sensors Market: Segmentation

By Type

Pressure Sensors

Inertial Sensors

Other Types

By End-User Industry

Automotive

Healthcare

Consumer Electronics

Industrial

Aerospace and Defense

By Region

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

LAMEA

About Straits Research Pvt Ltd.

Straits Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision-makers. Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. provides actionable market research data, specially designed and presented for decision making and ROI.

Whether you are looking at business sectors in the next town or crosswise over continents, we understand the significance of being acquainted with the clients purchase. We overcome our clients issues by recognizing and deciphering the target group and generating leads with utmost precision. We seek to collaborate with our clients to deliver a broad spectrum of results through a blend of market and business research approaches.

For more information on your target market, please contact us below:

Phone: +1 646 480 7505 (the U.S.)

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Email: sales@straitsresearch.com

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FILE PHOTO: The logo of Mexico's Central Bank (Banco de Mexico) is seen at its building in downtown Mexico City

By Valentine Hilaire

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico on Wednesday issued a decree to grant tax breaks for companies that relocate operations to Mexico, targeting major export industries such as carmaking and semiconductors, a move that won cautious praise from economists.

The incentives are designed to attract companies that want to shift their offshore operations closer to their customers, called nearshoring, in the wake of supply chain disruptions in Asia during the COVID pandemic.

Deputy finance minister Gabriel Yorio said in a post on X the incentives would apply to 10 sectors of the economy, including the manufacture of batteries, engines, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, medical instruments and agribusiness.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said Mexico should benefit from moves by industry to reduce dependence on China, but critics argue that his administration has been slow to set out clear-cut incentives to encourage investment.

Though welcomed, the measures failed to dispel concerns the government is obstructing investment by failing to provide essential infrastructure for companies, especially because of its nationalist energy policies favoring fossil fuels.

"These incentives are a good step in efforts to attract companies to the country", said Gabriela Siller, an economist at Banco Base who is often critical of government policy.

But Mexican authorities need to spend more to guarantee power and water supply for industry and provide companies with a stable policy environment to encourage investment, Siller said.

Mexico could lure annual foreign direct investment flows of $55 billion to $60 billion if it takes better advantage of nearshoring, up from $36 billion in 2022, she said.

The new incentives include accelerated investment deductions of 89%-56% in 2023 and 2024, and additional deductions of 25% during three years for worker training, Yorio said.

The top 89% deduction will be available for machinery and equipment intended directly for research into new products or technology development in the country, the decree said.

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The automotive, farm and tech sectors are among those set to receive deductions of more than 80%.

Lopez Obrador has prioritized support for Mexico's fossil-fuel dependent and cash-strapped state power companies, feeding concerns about shortages of renewable energy that many major investors need to meet more ambitious climate targets.

That has dampened expectations Mexico could benefit from increased investment in semiconductors in North America.

Mexico's moves to strengthen public sector control of the energy market have sparked trade disputes with Canada and the United States.

Ramse Gutierrez, vice president of investments at asset manager Franklin Templeton Mexico, said the public and private sectors needed to work together to lift the clean energy supply many companies need to win financial backing for projects.

U.S. carmaker Tesla has urged the government of Nuevo Leon state to build vital infrastructure for its planned auto assembly plant in northern Mexico, officials said this month.

Carlos Vejar, a former Mexican trade negotiator, welcomed the government's announcement but urged it to improve infrastructure, security and the facilitation of permits.

Mexico still faces competition to win investment from both North and Central America, plus Colombia, he said.

"I don't think this measure is a game-changer to persuade those who have doubts," said Vejar.

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Additional reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Anthony Esposito, Grant McCool and Sonali Paul)
Microsoft MSFT is facing a demand for $28.9 billion in back taxes from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which marks a significant escalation in one of the largest corporate tax disputes in recent times.



Per a recent 8-K filing by the company, along with back taxes, this demand encompassed penalties and interest for late payment. The core of this dispute centers on Microsoft's use of transfer pricing, a practice that has been criticized for allowing companies, particularly in the tech sector, to shift profits to low-tax countries, thereby reducing their tax obligations.



Microsoft disclosed over a decade ago that it conducted its software production and distribution through regional centers in countries like Singapore, Dublin and Puerto Rico. By doing so, it was able to manage its profits in a manner that reduced its overall tax burden. This approach of allocating profits to different locations, based on where a portion of the costs and assets are situated, is commonly employed by multinational tech corporations.



Microsoft has expressed its disagreement with IRS's latest tax demand. It has indicated its intention to contest the claims vigorously through IRS's administrative appeals office, a process that could span several years. If necessary, MSFT is willing to take the matter to court. Additionally, the company stated that it would not set aside any additional reserves to cover the tax claim.

Microsoft Corporation Price and Consensus

Microsoft Corporation Price and Consensus

Microsoft Corporation price-consensus-chart | Microsoft Corporation Quote

Microsoft Among Other Tech Giants Facing Tax Disputes

Governments have accused companies such as Apple AAPL, Amazon AMZN and Microsoft of shifting revenues through low or zero-tax jurisdictions in order to escape taxation in their main markets and maximize profits.



This spurred a major international agreement among 140 countries, brokered by Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), that is designed to better share and regulate tax revenues of the giants. Recently, OECD published a draft agreement, implementing a major part of that deal with hopes of having it ratified by the end of 2023.



In 2019, a US appeals court sided with AMZN in a similar transfer pricing case brought by IRS. That case revolved around whether Amazon had undervalued its IP when it transferred it to a subsidiary in Luxembourg in 2005. The appeals court determined that Amazon's actions were consistent with the transfer pricing rules in place at the time. However, it might have been deemed non-compliant with later regulations introduced in 2009.



In the European Union, authorities in 2016 ordered Apple to pay 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in back taxes over similar accounting practices. Yet, Brussels lost an appeal to Apple and is awaiting the outcome of a further appeal.



Apart from the investigation of Microsoft's tax payments between 2004 and 2013, the company is also undergoing an audit by IRS for its tax returns from 2014 to 2017.



In recent years, Microsoft has taken steps to reconfigure some of its tax arrangements, partly due to changes in US tax laws aimed at encouraging tech companies to bring their intellectual property (IP) back to the United States.



In 2021, Microsoft shifted certain IP from Puerto Rico to the United States, which allowed it to claim a $3.3 billion tax benefit. It reflected the impact of Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income tax implemented during the Trump administration.



The disclosure of IRS notices comes just under two weeks before Microsoft plans to announce its financial results for fiscal 2024's first quarter.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MSFTs first-quarter fiscal 2024 revenues is pegged at $54.42 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 8.57%. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $2.65 per share, suggesting a year-over-year increase of 12.77%.



Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 33.2% year to date compared with the Zacks Computer and Technology sectors return of 33.7%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Microsoft is on the cusp of buying Activision Blizzard ATVI for $68.7 billion, ending its near two-year pursuit of the maker of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush. The deal is expected to close on Oct 13.



However, despite the merger, popular titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4 might not be made immediately available on Xbox Game Pass this year. Activision Blizzard plans to start bringing its games to the subscription service from 2024.

Story continues

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The Chinese Christian Church of Milwaukee was built in 1929 as Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist. It's among four east side houses of worship located near one another that could become a historic district.

Milwaukee has one of the nation's highest count of churches and other houses of worship relative to its population  including dozens that could be eligible for tax credits to help finance renovations.

That's according to a new study completed for the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission.

That survey also suggested a historic district to cover four houses of worship located near one another on the city's east side.

Here are four things to know:

Survey adds more than 100 historic properties to inventory

The study was conducted by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Cultural Resource Management team of architectural historians. It examined churches and other houses of worship built in Milwaukee from 1920 to 1980, and supplemented earlier surveys from 1996 and 1976 that covered 19th century and early 20th century buildings.

The researchers used the Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, a database maintained by the Wisconsin Historical Society, to update 159 previously surveyed properties. This latest survey added 117 new Milwaukee worship properties to the inventory.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, formerly Temple Emanu-el Bne Jeshurun, was built in 1922.

Of those 276 properties, 210 are churches, chapels and combined church-school buildings. Other properties include 24 schools, 15 rectories and parsonages, 14 convents and eight synagogues.

Milwaukee has one house of worship for every 703 residents, study author Justin Miller said. That's the nation's fourth-highest ratio, he said, ranking behind Indianapolis, Seattle and Jacksonville, Florida.

Nearly 40 sites could land on National Register of Historic Places

The report said 38 sites could be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The register, operated by the National Park Service, is the nation's official list of historic places worthy of preservation.

The list is part of a national program to support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America's historic and archeological resources, according to the park service.

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Islamic Society of Milwaukee University Center, at 2223 E. Kenwood Blvd., was built in 1966 as University Lutheran Chapel.

Being included on the national register is a precursor to seeking federal historic preservation tax credits to help pay for historically sensitive building renovations.

But, unlike a property designated by the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission, a building on the national register can be altered or demolished without government approval.

Historic churches are scattered throughout Milwaukee

Those 38 buildings that could land on the national register are located throughout the city.

They include several houses of worship built during two decades: the 1920s and the 1950s, Miller said. Both decades featured economic booms that followed world wars  when people were craving stability, he said.

Four houses of worship are located on the south side of East Kenwood Boulevard between roughly North Downer and North Farwell avenues  and could be designated as a historic district.

Zao MKE Church, 2319 E. Kenwood Blvd., was built in 1923 as Kenwood Methodist Church.

They are Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, built in 1929 and now Chinese Christian Church of Milwaukee; Temple Emanu-el Bne Jeshurun, built in 1922 and now UWM's Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts; Kenwood Methodist Church, built in 1923 and now Zao MKE Church, and University Lutheran Chapel, built in 1966 and now the Islamic Society of Milwaukee University Center.

This Bay View church might seek historic listing

The UWM team and the city's historic preservation staff met with church leaders to discuss the survey.

Some building owners fight local historic designation because it requires them to obtain city approval for exterior changes. But reactions to the study were generally positive, Miller said.

Christ Church United Church of Christ, 915 E. Oklahoma Ave., might pursue a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, said Dean Kothrade, church council president.

"It's a very, very cherished place," Kothrade told the Journal Sentinel. "We do very much appreciate what we have and we'd like to keep it intact."

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New study looks at Milwaukee's historic churches. Here's what to know
Seventeen deputies at the Broward Sheriffs Office are accused of falsifying paperwork to collect money under government programs meant to help keep small businesses alive during the COVID pandemic.

Officials allege the fraud came from assistance offered by the Paycheck Protection Program, known as PPP, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or EIDL, programs.

Many of the Sheriffs Office deputies made their first appearance in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick M. Hunt.

All are charged, in 17 separate cases, with fraud in connection with the emergency federal loan programs. Eight of them work in law enforcement, including a sergeant. Nine of them work in the department of detention, including a sergeant.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe said at a Thursday news conference the sworn law enforcement officers are accused of diverting funds for their personal use, and made clear it was not done in performance of their official duties. Collectively the 17 individuals took $495,171 from the loan programs.

The U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to uncover the fraud schemes and hold anyone involved accountable  regardless of an individuals role in the community, he said. No matter the amount, we will not allow limited federal tax dollars, which were intended to provide a lifeline to small businesses as they struggled to stay afloat during the economically devastating pandemic lockdown, to be swindled by those who were employed in a position of trust and cast aside their duty to uphold and abide by the law. Our work is not done. This investigation is ongoing.

The employees have been suspended, but none has been asked to resign pending results of the investigation, Sheriff Gregory Tony said on Thursday. The investigation was initiated by the Sheriffs Office, and started by looking at who among the BSOs 5,500 employees had obtained the PPP loans. The case was handed over to the U.S. Attorneys Office and the Federal Reserve Board for further investigation. Tony said his Public Corruption Unit received a tip from an employee that several employees may have committed PPP fraud.

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A few detention deputies had reached out to the union to find out their options last week after they were suspended, said Tony Marciano, the secretary/treasurer of the detention deputies union. He said the deputies had their uniforms, guns and badges taken away. He could not quantify how many are under federal investigation. The majority of detention deputies are hard-working, good people. People make mistakes, he said.

Those indicted are:

Keith Dunkley, who voluntarily surrendered Thursday morning and was ordered to give up his passport. His defense attorney, Mike Dutko, requested a trial by jury and entered a not guilty plea. According to federal court records, in the summer of 2020, Dunkley and a co-conspirator submitted fraudulent applications for PPP loans and for other federal loans that were supposed to go to the company Global Group Alliances, LLC. He falsified IRS tax forms and lied about the companys income and monthly payroll, according to the information filed by the U.S Attorneys Office. Dunkley, 46, was released on a $50,000 bond.

Stephanie Diane Smith, who still needs to hire an attorney and will be returning to federal court Oct. 26 to be arraigned. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Sources close to the investigation said Smith worked out of the Sheriffs Pompano Beach district. The judge denied permission for her to leave the country to attend a wedding in Mexico. She was released on a $50,000 bond. According to the affidavit, Smith, 53, received two PPP loans on behalf of herself as a sole proprietor doing business as Children 1st Basketball Training and Agape Smith Vending based upon materially false information about the borrowers total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified Internal Revenue Service tax form submitted with her applications. She was an employee since 1996.

LaKeitha Lawhorn, a 16-year Sheriffs veteran who lives in Miami Lakes, works out of the West Park district. She faces 20 years in prison if convicted of three counts of wire fraud. State records show she created her business, Home Empire Enterprises, LLC, before the pandemic, in November 2019. She was approved for her federal loan in July 2020. The judge Thursday denied permission for her to leave the country to attend a wedding in Jamaica. She still needs an attorney and will be returning to court Oct. 24. She was released on a $50,000 bond. According to the indictment, Lawhorn, 41, applied for and received three PPP loans on behalf of herself and her company, Home Empire Enterprises.

Jean Pierre-Toussaint, 35, from the Tamarac district, is charged with one count of wire fraud. The six-year veteran must return to court Oct. 26 for arraignment and still needs a lawyer. He was released on a $50,000 bond.

On Sept. 14, Katrina Brown, 46, was charged with three counts of wire fraud. She is accused of applying for and receiving two PPP loans.

On Sept. 14, Alexandra Acosta, 37, was charged with one count of wire fraud for one PPP loan.

Jewell Farrell Johnson, 46, is charged with two counts of wire fraud for receiving two PPP loans, one on behalf of herself as a sole proprietor and one on behalf of LRJ Enterprises of South Florida.

On Sept. 14, Carolyn Denise Wade, 48, was charged with one count of wire fraud.

On Sept. 14, Rorie Brown, 42, applied for and received one PPP loan and submitted an application to the SBA for an EIDL loan that contained materially false information, including, among other things, the borrowers gross revenues, cost of goods sold, and number of employees.

On Sept. 28, Alexis Monique Greene, 47, was charged with two counts of wire fraud for applying for and receiving two PPP loans.

On Sept. 28, Ritchie Noah Dubuisson, 25, was charged with one count of wire fraud for one PPP loan.

On Sept. 28, Keshondra Tameisha Davis, 37, was charged with one count of wire fraud for one PPP loan.

On Sept. 28, Allen Dorvil, 33, was charged by indictment with one count of wire fraud for one PPP loan.

On Oct. 5, Ancy Morancy, 33, a sergeant, was charged with one count of wire fraud for one PPP loan on behalf of himself as the sole proprietor of Moore Services Investment Group, LLC.

On Oct. 5, Marcus Errol Powell, 37, was charged by indictment with one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Powell applied for and received one PPP loan on behalf of himself as the sole proprietor of Bonvivant Industries, LLC. He worked out of the Deerfield Beach district.

On Oct. 5, Derrick J. Nesbitt, 46, was charged by indictment with two counts of wire fraud for two PPP loans on behalf of himself as the sole proprietor of Designer Life, LLC.

On Sept. 14, George Anthony III, 50, a sergeant in the West Park district, was charged by indictment with two counts of wire fraud for two PPP loans using the same false information.

Many of those facing scrutiny had submitted paperwork for the most money possible under the program, a source said.

PPP experts have said the maximum amount a self-employed person without any employees could receive is $20,833. But to get it, a person would have to earn a $100,000 gross income using a formula to cover 2 months payroll.

The South Florida U.S. Attorneys Office has been pursuing cases of pandemic relief fraud involving the program, which was run by the Small Business Administration, and high-profile convictions have included the daughter of Browards former mayor; a Sheriffs Office detention technician who received a loan for a business that had no evidence of existing prior to 2021, records say; and a political consultant.

The point of the program was to keep small businesses afloat, Lapointe said. It also became a pot of ready targets for people looking to profit.

The wheels of justice turn slowly, but turn they do, he said.

The concern was lets get the money out there, he said, before guardrails were in the place to prevent the economy from a crash.

That attracted opportunistic individuals, he said.

Largest take-down of law enforcement officers in decades?

On Thursday morning, deputies in tactical gear were stationed at the front of the BSO headquarters building on West Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, traffic cones blocking traffic.

This Sheriffs Office crackdown is one of the largest in a single agency in South Florida since the Miami River Cops scandal.

In the late 1980s, nearly 10% of the Miami Police Department were arrested, fired, suspended, or reprimanded after a drug-related scandal, which included officers planning to fly small planes loaded with 400-500 kilogram shipments of cocaine from Colombia to either Mexico or the Bahamas, then to transport the drugs to Miami for nationwide distribution.

The nickname originated from an incident in which officers stormed a drug-laden ship that was docked on the Miami River, causing three smugglers to drown when they jumped overboard.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Through its Smallholders Program, Musim Mas also encourages smallholders to fulfill certification.

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Palm oil and its derivatives have become essential commodities and a major contributor to Indonesia's exports. However, the sector has been in the spotlight due to concerns over the risks of deforestation, forest degradation, and loss of biodiversity.

Musim Mas Smallholders Program trains independent smallholders to implement good and sustainable agronomic practices and to obtain Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification.

To address the issue, the Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, developed the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification standard in 2011 to ensure palm oil production in Indonesia is sustainable. ISPO certification is mandatory for all Palm Oil Plantation Business Actors and Planters. ISPO was also updated to include new benchmarks under Presidential Regulation 44 of 2020. This includes enhanced efforts to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions, improve environmental management and social protection, and increase the competitiveness of Indonesian palm oil.

With its commitment to sustainability, Musim Mas Group achieved 100% ISPO certification for its 17 upstream subsidiaries last August.

"For Musim Mas, sustainability means responsibly providing high-quality and innovative palm oil products and derivatives. Together with stakeholders in this industry, we try to find the best solutions to address carbon gas emissions, biodiversity, and human rights, including workers' rights. The ISPO certification that we received further strengthens our commitment to running our business following applicable laws," said Olivier Tichit, Director of Sustainability for Musim Mas Group.

Beyond its own operations, Musim Mas also supports independent smallholders. Smallholders make up around 41% of oil palm planted areas and have a deadline of 2025 to gain ISPO certification but often lack the know-how and resources to produce sustainably. To support them, Musim Mas leads Indonesia's largest independent Smallholder Program to provide training on sustainable agricultural practices and encourage certification.

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Rudman Simanjuntak, Manager of Independent Smallholder Musim Mas Group, explained, "Independent smallholders are an important group that must be included in making sustainable palm oil the norm. We encourage and assist them in fulfilling the criteria required in the certification process. Through Musim Mas' Smallholder Program, we ensure that no one is left behind in our journey towards a more sustainable palm oil industry."

As of September 2023, Musim Mas' Smallholders Program has trained over 41,900 independent smallholders throughout Indonesia. Of these, 1,959 farmers have successfully been ISPO certified.

Media contact:

First name: Reza Rinaldi

Last name: Mardja

Email: Communications@Musimmas.com

Business Phone Number: +62-811-606-3237

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SOURCE Musim Mas
(Bloomberg) -- Elon Musks X said it scrubbed or labeled tens of thousands of posts including illegal content since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, responding to warnings to stem the spread of fake news around the conflict.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino posted her formal response after European Commissioner Thierry Breton urged Silicon Valleys social media players to throttle disinformation. He said X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, was hosting illegal content and called on Musk to take quick action.

X had assembled a dedicated group to assess the situation and removed hundreds of accounts linked to Hamas, Yaccarino said in a four-page response to the commissioner. Apart from wiping problematic content, the Community Notes feature  through which people append context  helped millions of users share and understand posts, she wrote.

Read More: Israel Latest: Gaza Ground Offensive Looms, More Than 2,400 Dead

Read More: The War in Israel Shows How Social Medias Idealistic Era Has Ended

Hours after Hamas gunmen surged into Israel, unverified photos and videos of air strikes, homes being destroyed and other posts depicting military violence proliferated on social media platforms including X, prompting criticism of their response to the conflict. Hamas is designated a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.

Musk himself recommended that users follow accounts known for spreading false or misleading information, in a post on Sunday thats since been deleted.

Under his ownership, X made changes to its content policies and the consequences are surfacing in a moment of geopolitical crisis, researchers say. Over the past year, it loosened rules, cut trust-and-safety employees after previously saying it would expand the team, reinstated once-banned accounts and allowed people to pay for a checkmark on the social network.

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Musk and Breton built up a relationship over the past year in part through a common interest in chips and satellites. The commissioner paid a visit to X during his tour of Silicon Valley in June and greeted Yaccarino  then less than three weeks on the job.

In a sign that relationship may be fraying, on Wednesday, Breton opened an account on Bluesky, writing feels less crowded  yet more human  without all those bots.

Read More: The Man Keeping Musk, Zuckerberg and Big Tech in Line in Europe

(Updates with designation of Hamas in the fourth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
SAN JOSE, Calif., October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--YuJa, Inc., a leader in ed-tech solutions, announces an agreement with Nebraska-based Central Community College (CCC) to provide a comprehensive video and media creation, hosting, storage and distribution solution across its three campuses. YuJa will replace VidGrid, CCCs former enterprise learning and development platform, which is phasing out its education offering.

The institution was seeking an all-in-one solution to create, upload, and edit content while also integrating with Canvas, the school's learning management system. In addition to user-friendly features that enable instructors to create engaging, interactive content, CCC will benefit from the ability to auto-caption, edit videos, add video quizzing and integrate with the gradebook, as well as visual analytics to see how their content is making an impact.

"Our goal is to make transitioning video platforms seamless, and our teams are experienced at helping institutions through the implementation, migration, and training processes from start to finish," said Nathan Arora, Chief Business Officer at YuJa, Inc. "Were excited for Central Community College to get started using the YuJa Video Platform to see how simple, yet powerful it is in creating, distributing and managing video content."

ABOUT CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Central Community College (CCC) is a multi-campus community college serving a 25-county area in central Nebraska  approximately 14,000 square miles with a population of more than 300,000. The institution offers 37 career and technical education programs with a focus on degree, diploma, and certificate programs requiring two years or less to complete. In addition, the college offers classes in communities throughout its 25-county service area, online learning, and training and development for businesses, industries, and other organizations.

Three main campuses are located in Columbus, Grand Island, and Hastings. Educational centers are located in Holdrege, Kearney, Lexington, and Ord. Additionally, CCC uses a variety of distance learning techniques to provide educational services in some 90 communities in its service area.

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ABOUT YUJA, INC.

YuJa is a leader in ed-tech solutions. Our platforms provide organizations of all sizes with the tools to educate, engage, inspire and collaborate. We serve learning enterprises within all sectors, including higher-ed, K-12, government, healthcare, non-profit and corporate. We have legal headquarters in Delaware with primary U.S. offices in Silicon Valley, California, and Canadian offices in Toronto.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012124661/en/

Contacts

Hannah Johnson

1-888-257-2278
Nokia Oyj

Press Release

Nokia delivers industrys first 25G PON sealed fiber access node designed for cable operators

Nokia broadens availability of 25G PON to cable operators with industrys first sealed fiber access node.

New 25G PON solution for cable operators opens door to new services including true symmetrical 10Gb/s enterprise services, mobile transport and network wholesaling.

New Nokia Lightspan 25G PON cable solution can be installed anywhere and supports various power options, including power-over-coax.

12 October, 2023

Espoo, Finland  Nokia has today announced availability of its 25G PON technology on the Lightspan SF-8M sealed fiber access node. The sealed remote Optical Line Terminal (OLT) also concurrently supports both GPON and XGS-PON. This enables cable operators to quickly respond to increased bandwidth demand or competitive threats, by simply activating 10G or 25G on their existing PON network.

As the first 25G PON sealed remote fiber access node available, the Lightspan SF-8M delivers unmatched capacity to address growing bandwidth demand. But more than just future proofing the network, 25G PON opens immediate commercial opportunities including true symmetrical 10 Gb/s enterprise services, mobile transport, and network slicing/wholesaling. PON networks can provide these services more cost effectively than point-to-point Ethernet networks,

The Lightspan SF-8M has an IP67 rating, offers an array of installation options anywhere in the outside plant  on a strand, inside or outside a cabinet, or on a pole or wall  and supports various power options, including power-over-coax. All these features make the Lightspan SF-8M particularly well-suited for cable operators.

Small, remote Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) can also facilitate a more targeted approach to Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) upgrades than large centralized OLTs, allowing FTTP upgrades only where necessary and potentially saving costs.

Mark Klimek, North America Business Center Head for Fixed Networks at Nokia, said: Gigabit speeds are becoming the new normal, and operators are realizing that their fiber-to-the-home networks can be used for more than residential broadband. The ability to quickly deploy a remote FTTH node, and deliver GPON, 10G PON, and 25G PON based services over the same network allows operators to nimbly go after new opportunities and beat competition.

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According to DellOro, Nokia was the 2022 market share leader for XGS-PON equipment, todays gold-standard for fiber broadband. Currently seven out of ten fiber broadband connections in North America are made through Nokia equipment.

Nokia will be providing a live demonstration of the 25G PON Lightspan SF-8M sealed fiber access node at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo located in Denver, CO, October 16-19 in Booth 1215.

Additional Information on Nokia Lightspan SF-8M

Based on the Nokia Quillion chipset, the Lightspan SF-8M high-throughput, power-efficient, low-latency remote OLT is perfectly suited to support residential, business, and mobile transport services. Lightspan SF-8M supports eight GPON, XGS-PON, or multi-PON ports, or four 25G PON ports. It features flexible powering options including power-over-coax, AC, DC, or RFT-V. The Lightspan SF-8M is part of Nokias market-leading, high-performance fiber broadband SDAN-based portfolio which also includes the Lightspan FX, MF and DF families for various deployments, along with an extensive range of ONTs, and professional services.

Resources and additional information

Webpage: Fiber Broadband for Cable Operators | Nokia

Webpage: Lightspan SF fiber access nodes | NOKIA

About Nokia

At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today  and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media inquiries

Nokia Communications, Corporate

Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

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PARIS, October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Orano signed a Protocol for the development and operation of a uranium mine project in Mongolia The signing took place at a ceremony at the Elysee Palace on 12 October 2023 in the presence of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic and of Mr. Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, President of Mongolia, as well as of Claude Imauven, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orano, and of Sanjaagiin Narantsogt, CEO of Erdenes Mongol LLC.

This Protocol sets out the framework for an investment agreement that will be mutually beneficial to both partners. The envisaged investment agreement will lay the foundations for a relationship between Orano, and the Mongolian Government set to span several decades, in the development and industrial operation of the Zuuvch-Ovoo uranium mine project located in the Southwestern part of Mongolia, in Dornogovi province. The investment agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the year.

With a 25-year long presence in the country, responsible mining player Orano successfully deployed an industrial pilot in 2021 and 2022, confirming the economic, environmental and societal feasibility of operating the Zuuvch-Ovoo site, a project developed by Badrakh Energy, the joint venture between Orano Mining and the Mongolian state-owned company MonAtom.

The joint Franco-Mongolian project will be based on international standards and best practices in terms of safety, security and the environment, setting a benchmark for the development of the industry in Mongolia.

Through this project, Orano is committed over the long term, alongside communities for responsible mining with a development and cooperation program in favor of local populations.

With the prospect of high uranium demand worldwide over the next few decades, Mongolia is positioning itself as a strategic player and a significant contributor in the global climate effort.

Claude Imauven commented: "I am very proud to sign this protocol today, which extends a relationship we have had with Mongolia for over 25 years. The signature marks a decisive step in this historic partnership. This cooperation will enable us to develop the uranium sector in Mongolia while furthering the Group's strategy of diversifying its mining activities."

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About Orano

As a recognized international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano groups 17,000 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.

Orano, giving nuclear energy its full value.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012360398/en/

Contacts

Press Office

+33 (0)1 34 96 12 15

press@orano.group

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Marc Quesnoy

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CHICAGO  James Weiss, the son-in-law of former Cook County Democratic boss Joseph Berrios, was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison Wednesday, bringing an end to a bribery case centered on the shady world of sweepstakes gaming with elements of political corruption, a state senator turned government mole, and even alleged mob ties.

In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger decried Chicagos long history of public corruption, saying cases like Weiss cause people to roll their eyes when they meet someone from Chicago.

You know what? It is an embarrassment, Seeger said near the end of the five-hour hearing. You helped solidify the city of Chicago as the capital of corruption, Mr. Weiss.

Seeger acknowledged that the two legislators Weiss allegedly bribed, former state Rep. Luis Arroyo and state Sen. Terry Link, were no longer in office, but said there were always other elected officials out there on the take.

There will be plenty of other pockets out there, and I worry maybe someday youll be tempted to fill one of them with dirty money, Seeger said.

Weiss, 44, who is married to Berrios daughter, former state Rep. Toni Berrios, was convicted by a jury in June of seven counts of bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and making false statements.

The charges alleged Weiss then agreed to pay monthly $2,500 bribes to get language helping his sweepstakes gaming machine business added to state gambling legislation, first to Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, and later to Link, a Vernon Hill Democrat and chief sponsor of the gambling bill in the state Senate.

Unbeknown to both Arroyo and Weiss, Link was secretly cooperating with the FBI and captured a conversation in June 2019 with Arroyo at a Highland Park Wendys where the bribe payments were first discussed, as well as a later meeting where Arroyo delivered a $2,500 check from Weiss.

In asking for a sentence of about three years, Weiss attorney, Ilia Usharovich, argued that while Weiss crimes were serious, the legislation he wanted passed would have regulated the sweepstakes gaming business and brought in additional revenue for the state.

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Its one sweet seed in this pomegranate of sour seeds, Usharovich said in an argument that also contained references to Peter Pan and Batman.

Usharovich also said the bribery scheme was set up by Arroyo and Link at the Wendys outside of Weiss presence, and that Weiss just went along with the plan by cutting the check.

Mr. Weiss wasnt the one who suggested, Hey whats in it for me? Usharovich said.

Seeger, however, noted the jury rejected that same argument at Weiss trial. He also blasted Weiss for trying to corrupt both the House and the Senate in one fell swoop.

It was bicameral corruption! the judge shouted.

Link, who is hoping for a break on his own federal tax conviction in exchange for his cooperation, testified in Weiss trial over two days about his undercover role.

Arroyo, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to bribery for his role in the scheme but did not agree to cooperate with prosecutors. Seeger sentenced Arroyo to nearly five years in prison last year, calling him a corruption superspreader.

Already filled with political intrigue, the case took another turn last week, when prosecutors revealed that Weiss brother had been caught on a federal wiretap saying Weiss was good friends with notorious mob hit man Frank The German Schweihs and once went to him for protection for his massage parlors being threatened by other gangsters.

In their filing, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine ONeill and Sean Franzblau also revealed that Weiss brother was recorded telling someone Weiss had partnered up with a known long-time mob associate, identified as Individual B, after Weiss had reportedly gone to Schweihs for help.

Yeah, well, Jimmy and Frank were good friends, and some Russians were muscling Jimmy, but Frank was on the run, the brother, Joseph Weiss, told an unidentified person in a wiretapped call quoted in the filing. Frank was in hiding and Jimmy called Frank and ... says, hey man, these guys just busted up my (expletive store). Scared the (expletive) out of the girls, this and that, you know, I need your help, where the (expletive) are you?

At the time, Schweihs had been charged in the landmark Family Secrets mob case and was on the run. According to the brothers story, The German told Weiss, Jim, Im underground right now ... but Ill have someone call you right back.

Somebody called Jimmy and told him to go see Individual B, who straightened it all out, Joseph Weiss said, according to the transcript of the call.

Ever since then, theyre partners on everything, Joseph Weiss said. The problem is (Individual B)s like a gangster but hes an honest guy. If youre his friend, youre his friend.

Prosecutors called the description of Individual B as a gangster an apt one. In a separate undercover recording, Individual B admitted that James Weiss is with me, referencing their joint involvement with gaming machines, the filing stated.

The filing came on the heels of a new indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court against Joseph Weiss, who was charged with lying to federal investigators about his brothers reputed mob ties, including his previous contacts with Individual B.

Joseph Weiss is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Schweihs, who according to authorities spent decades as a reputed enforcer for the mobs Grand Avenue street crew, died of cancer in 2008 while awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, records obtained by the Chicago Tribune show the same federal grand jury looking into Weiss mob connections is also interested in Robert Bobby Dominic, a reputed Outfit associate who, according to FBI and Chicago records, ran pornography and gambling interests for the Grand Avenue crew.

Weiss attorneys have denied that Weiss has any connection to Schweihs, saying he had never met him and never did business with him.

In court Wednesday, Usharovich noted Schweihs was living in Florida when he was arrested in the Family Secrets case and died 15 years ago, when Weiss would have been in his late 20s.

On his way out of the courthouse after the sentencing, Weiss walked up to a Tribune reporter and said, How the hell do you connect me to Schweihs? I was 10 years old when he went away.

Weiss said his family has had to endure baseless insinuations that he is connected to a mass murderer.

Asked who Individual B is, Weiss started to say He is a good friend of mine who  before his lawyers told him to stop talking. Weiss also acknowledged that he knows Dominic, but did not elaborate.

Seeger, meanwhile, said he didnt know much about Schwiehs and that Weiss alleged mob ties were too nebulous for him to consider in fashioning the sentence.

Instead, the judge focused squarely on the damage public corruption can do to society, as citizens lose faith in their own government and just assume that everyone is on the take.

Unfortunately Chicago has a hard-earned but well-deserved reputation for public corruption, Seeger said. Public corruption is the Chicago Way.

Some of the details captured on the wiretaps in Weiss case were just gross, Seeger said, including Arroyo telling Link the bribery arrangement with Weiss was their jackpot.

You added another star to Chicagos Walk of Shame, the sidewalk of public corruption, Seeger told Weiss. You were the financier of the corruption three-ring circus.

_____
Consegic Business Intelligence is a data measurement and analytics service provider which gives the most exhaustive and reliable analysis available of global consumers and markets. Our research and competitive landscape allow organizations to record competing evolutions and apply strategies accordingly to set up a rewarding benchmark in the market. We are an intellectual team of experts working together with the winning inspirations to create and validate actionable insights that ensure business growth and profitable outcomes.

Analysi by Consegic Business Intelligence, Portable Spectrometer Market is projected to register a CAGR of 9.3% during 2023-2031, due to its increasing demand from pharmaceutical, chemical, and food & beverage sectors among others, and major participants includes are JASCO, Metrohm AG, PerkinElmer Inc., Renishaw plc., Shenzhen Threenh Technology Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Presto Group, BaySpec Inc.

New York, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the research report Global Portable Spectrometer Market  published by Consegic Business Intelligence, the market was worth USD 1,925.86 Million in 2022, projected to grow by USD 2,059.41 Million in 2023, and is anticipated to reach over USD 4,181.38 Million by the year 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.3%.



Portable spectrometers are instruments designed for measuring wavelengths of light over a broad range of electromagnetic spectrum for spectroscopic analysis of sample materials. The benefits of portable spectrometers including ease of use, higher mobility, reliability, high testing speed, accuracy, and sensitivity makes it ideal for deployment in food & beverage, pharmaceutical, agriculture, chemical, metallurgy, and other sectors.

Get Sample Report@ https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/request-sample/1316

The increasing utilization of portable spectrometers in the pharmaceutical sector is among the key factors driving the market growth. Additionally, the growing demand for medical drugs, expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and rising pharmaceutical production are key factors fostering the adoption of portable spectrometers. For instance, according to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, the total pharmaceutical production in Germany and France was valued at approximately USD 39,734 million and USD 28,935 million respectively in 2020. Therefore, the rise in pharmaceutical production is increasing the adoption of portable spectrometers for applications including examination of drug identity and purity, drug crystalline structures, interactions between excipient and active ingredients, and others thereby, driving the growth of the market.

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Additionally, the rising application of portable spectrometers in the food & beverage industry is projected to promote potential opportunities for the growth of the portable spectrometer market. Portable spectrometers are deployed in the food & beverage industry for testing of food and beverage products to ensure optimum quality and safety. However, the prevalence of stringent regulations and standards associated with portable spectrometers is hindering the growth of the market.

Report Attributes Report Details Market Size By 2031 USD 4,181.38 Million Forecast Period 2023-2031 CAGR (2023-2031) 9.3% Base Year 2022 Study Timeline 2017-2031 Key Players Agilent Technologies Inc., Anton Paar GmbH, Bruker, Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science, JASCO, Metrohm AG, PerkinElmer Inc., Renishaw plc., Shenzhen Threenh Technology Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Presto Group, BaySpec Inc. By Type Optical Spectrometer, Mass Spectrometer, Fluorescence Spectrometer, and Others By End-User Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Agriculture, Chemical, Metallurgy, and Others Report Coverage Company Ranking and Market Share, Growth Factors, Total Revenue Forecast, Regional Competitive Landscape, Business Strategies, and more By Region North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa

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Portable Spectrometer Market Growth Drivers:

Rising utilization of portable spectrometer in chemical industry is driving the market growth.

Growing pharmaceutical sector is spurring the market growth.

Restraints

Prevalence of stringent regulations and standards associated with portable spectrometers is restraining the market growth.

Opportunities

Rising application of portable spectrometers in food & beverage industry is expected to promote potential opportunities for market growth.

Global Portable Spectrometer Market Segmentation Details:

Based on type, the mass spectrometer segment contributed the largest shares to the market growth in 2022. The benefits of mass spectrometers including faster analysis, high sensitivity, ability to differentiate various isotopes, requirement of a small sample size, and others are primary prospects driving the growth of the segment. Additionally, the rising utilization of mass spectrometers in chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and others sectors is driving the growth of the mass spectrometers segment.

Based on end-user, the pharmaceutical segment accounted for the maximum revenue share in the year 2022. Portable spectrometers are primarily used during the development of pharmaceuticals for investigating drug crystalline structures, drug purity and identity, interactions between excipients and active ingredients, and others. Factors including the growing demand for medical drugs, expansion of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and rising pharmaceutical production are among the primary determinants for fostering the growth of the pharmaceutical segment.

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Based on region, North American region accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2022. The growth of multiple industries including pharmaceutical, food & beverage, chemical, and other sectors is driving the growth of portable spectrometer market in North America. Further, growing investments in expansion of pharmaceutical and food & beverage production facilities are projected to boost the market growth in the North American region during the forecast period.

Recent Developments

In September 2021, Metrohm AG launched its new portable spectrometer, MIRA XTR DS. The portable spectrometer features higher resolution, smaller size, and lower power consumption of a 785 nm laser integrated with machine learning.

Key Market Highlights

Globally, portable spectrometer market is divided based on the type into optical spectrometer, mass spectrometer, fluorescence spectrometer, and others.

In the context of end-user, the market is separated into food & beverage, pharmaceutical, agriculture, chemical, metallurgy, and others.

The market is geographically divided into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa.

North America and Asia-Pacific are estimated to support the market growth during the forecast period in terms of the large presence of market players combined with high expenditures on advancements in portable spectrometer market.

Browse Full Report & TOC @ https://www.consegicbusinessintelligence.com/portable-spectrometer-market

List of Major Global Portable Spectrometer Market Players

The market research report examines various market factors to determine the key drivers, limitations, and opportunities affecting market players. The report includes a SWOT analysis, regional analysis, and segment analysis to give a complete view of the market situation. This evaluation helps to identify possible growth opportunities through the implementation of technology, product utilization, business strategies, and the launch of new products. The following are major market players operating in the market environment 

 Agilent Technologies Inc.

 Anton Paar GmbH

 Bruker

 Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science

 JASCO

 Metrohm AG

 PerkinElmer Inc.

 Renishaw plc.

 Shenzhen Threenh Technology Co. Ltd

 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

 Presto Group

 BaySpec Inc.

Global Portable Spectrometer Market Segmentation:

By Type

Optical Spectrometer

Mass Spectrometer

Fluorescence Spectrometer

Others

By End-User Food & Beverage Pharmaceutical Agriculture Chemical Metallurgy Others



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Key Questions Covered in the Portable Spectrometer Market Report

What is portable spectrometer?

Portable spectrometers refer to handheld devices that are designed for analyzing a property of light as a function of its portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically its frequency, wavelength, or energy.

What is the dominating segment in the portable spectrometer market by type?

In 2022, the mass spectrometer segment accounted for the highest market share of 39.27% in the overall portable spectrometer market.

Based on current market trends and future predictions, which geographical region will have the largest impact on the portable spectrometer growth in the coming years? North America accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2022. The increasing demand for portable spectrometers from multiple industries including pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and chemical industries among others is driving the growth of the regional market.

Which region/country is anticipated to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period, 2023-2031? Asia-Pacific is anticipated to register fastest CAGR growth during the forecast period due to rapid pace of industrialization and growth of multiple industries such as chemical, metallurgy, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and others.



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Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM) shareholders, since the share price is down 43% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 22%. But it's up 7.2% in the last week. But this could be related to the strong market, with stocks up around 2.9% in the same time.

On a more encouraging note the company has added US$1.6b to its market cap in just the last 7 days, so let's see if we can determine what's driven the three-year loss for shareholders.

View our latest analysis for Agnico Eagle Mines

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. 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).

Although the share price is down over three years, Agnico Eagle Mines actually managed to grow EPS by 33% per year in that time. This is quite a puzzle, and suggests there might be something temporarily buoying the share price. Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past.

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.

Revenue is actually up 27% over the three years, so the share price drop doesn't seem to hinge on revenue, either. It's probably worth investigating Agnico Eagle Mines further; while we may be missing something on this analysis, there might also be an opportunity.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. If you are thinking of buying or selling Agnico Eagle Mines stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

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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 incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Agnico Eagle Mines the TSR over the last 3 years was -37%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Agnico Eagle Mines provided a TSR of 17% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. The silver lining is that the gain was actually better than the average annual return of 7% per year over five year. 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. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Agnico Eagle Mines (including 1 which is potentially serious) .

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

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.
LYON, France, October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

POXEL SA (Euronext: POXEL - FR0012432516), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for chronic serious diseases with metabolic pathophysiology, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and rare metabolic disorders, today announced that it will participate at two upcoming investor conferences.

7 th Annual H.C.Wainwright NASH Investor Conference  virtual conference

Date: October 24, 2023



Thomas Kuhn, Chief Executive Officer, and Pascale Fouqueray, Executive Vice President, Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs, will present the NASH related programs of Poxel during a dedicated virtual presentation, and will be available to investors for one-on-one virtual meetings.



Healthtech Innovation Days  Paris, France  in-person and virtual conference

Date: October 24-25, 2023



Thomas Kuhn, Chief Executive Officer, and other members of the management of Poxel, will be available to investors for one-on-one in person and virtual meetings.

About NASH

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic disease with no clear disease origin that is quickly becoming a worldwide epidemic. It is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver causing inflammation and fibrosis. The disease can be silent for a long period of time, but once it accelerates, severe damage and liver cirrhosis can occur, which can significantly impact liver function or can even result in liver failure or liver cancer. Typical risk factors for NASH include obesity, elevated levels of blood lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) and type 2 diabetes. Currently no curative or specific therapies are available.

About Poxel SA

Poxel is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments for chronic serious diseases with metabolic pathophysiology, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and rare disorders. For the treatment of NASH, PXL065 (deuterium-stabilized R-pioglitazone) met its primary endpoint in a streamlined Phase 2 trial (DESTINY-1). In rare diseases, development of PXL770, a first-in-class direct adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, is focused on the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). TWYMEEG (Imeglimin), Poxels first-in-class product that targets mitochondrial dysfunction, is marketed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Japan by Sumitomo Pharma and Poxel expects to receive royalties and sales-based payments. Poxel has a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Pharma for Imeglimin in Japan, China, and eleven other Asian countries. Listed on Euronext Paris, Poxel is headquartered in Lyon, France, and has subsidiaries in Boston, MA, and Tokyo, Japan.

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For more information, please visit: www.poxelpharma.com

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Companys control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Companys control that could cause the Companys actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not endorse or is not otherwise responsible for the content of external hyperlinks referred to in this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011367166/en/

Contacts

Investor relations / Media

Aurelie Bozza

Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Vice-president

aurelie.bozza@poxelpharma.com

+33 6 99 81 08 36

NewCap

Nicolas Fossiez, Aurelie Manavarere / Arthur Rouille

poxel@newcap.eu

+33 1 44 71 94 94
FILE PHOTO: PwC sign is seen in the lobby of their offices in Barangaroo

By Lewis Jackson

SYDNEY (Reuters) - PwC Australia's chief executive apologised profusely to senators on Thursday for the leak of confidential tax documents, as he was grilled about the involvement of overseas partners in plans to win work from U.S. technology giants and other companies.

The "big four" firm has come under fire for months, following revelations a former partner leaked confidential government tax plans that were then used to win work with global companies looking to restructure their Australian tax affairs.

"I will apologise as many times as I need to to the Australian people," CEO Kevin Burrowes said in his first appearance at a parliamentary inquiry.

"This behaviour should have been adequately investigated and addressed under past leadership but it wasn't. The failures identified should never have been allowed to take place. What happened is totally unacceptable."

Police are still investigating the breaches, which forced out the former CEO, led to the fire sale of its lucrative government consulting business for A$1 and entangled clients Google, Uber and Meta.

The global firm announced last month it had taken "appropriate action" against six staff outside Australia who received confidential information and should have raised questions. No confidential information was used for commercial gain, it said.

Burrowes told senators PwC Australia had not been provided details about the international investigation and did not know where the staff worked or how they had been disciplined.

An investigation by the U.S. accounting regulator, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), is underway and PwC Australia is providing further information to the body, a senior executive told parliament.

The PCAOB has a history of fining firms outside the U.S. and in 2021 censured and fined KPMG Australia $450,000 for a test cheating scandal.

(Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Sonali Paul)
London, Greater London, United Kingdom - (NewMediaWire) - October 12, 2023 - (King NewsWire) - Mastery Lane LTD has announced its cutting-edge Quantum AI solutions in a game-changing development that is likely to revolutionize the landscape of quantum computing, ushering in a new era of scientific innovation. The groundbreaking news places Mastery Lane LTD at the forefront of innovation and represents a critical turning point in the field of quantum computing.





The next-generation Quantum AI solutions from Mastery Lane LTD have been unveiled on the business's official website. Mastery Lane LTD is a pioneering technology firm known for its dedication to expanding the realm of what is conceivable in the world of computation. This announcement is expected to have significant effects on a wide range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, healthcare, banking, and cryptography. It also has the potential to impact the future of computing.





A significant step forward in the effort to harness the enormous power of quantum computing is represented by the Mastery Lane LTD Quantum AI Revolution. The professionals at Mastery Lane LTD have spent years working nonstop on research, development, and invention to make this quantum leap feasible. Their commitment to developing quantum computing has culminated in the release of technologies that have the potential to change industries and benefit society as a whole in profound ways.





Key Characteristics of Quantum AI Solutions from Mastery Lane LTD

Mastery Lane LTD's Quantum AI solutions have attained a degree of quantum dominance that was once thought to be unattainable. These methods create new opportunities for data analysis and scientific study by handling intricate computations and simulations at speeds that were previously unthinkable.

Enhanced Machine Learning: Quantum AI technologies from Mastery Lane LTD are expected to revolutionize machine learning algorithms. These methods promise to significantly speed up the training and optimization of machine learning models, resulting in more accurate predictions and insights by utilizing the power of quantum entanglement and superposition.

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Encryption Advances: With the emergence of quantum-resistant encryption, the field of cybersecurity is about to undergo a shift. The solutions provided by Mastery Lane LTD use cutting-edge encryption methods to shield sensitive data from quantum attacks and guarantee the confidentiality of digital conversations and transactions.

Drug Discovery and Healthcare: Mastery Lane LTD's Quantum AI technologies have the power to transform drug discovery by simulating molecular interactions at a speed and accuracy that has never been achieved before. This discovery holds the potential to hasten the creation of novel treatments and medications, giving patients everywhere reason for optimism.

Financial Modeling: Mastery Lane LTD's Quantum AI technologies have a lot to offer financial companies. These technologies have the potential to streamline intricate financial models and risk evaluations, facilitating better decision-making and perhaps even changing the field of quantitative finance.

Climate Modeling: Mastery Lane LTD's Quantum AI solutions' cutting-edge computational power will help in the fight against climate change. These solutions enable more accurate simulation and analysis of climate models, assisting researchers and decision-makers in creating winning environmental plans.

Logistics Optimization: With the help of Mastery Lane LTD's Quantum AI technologies, supply chain managers may improve logistics while cutting costs and environmental effects. A smaller carbon footprint and more effective global trade may result from this.

Aerospace Advancements: By simulating and improving aircraft designs, propulsion systems, and flight paths, quantum computing has the potential to transform aerospace engineering. This should improve aviation efficiency and safety.

Breakthroughs in Materials Science: Quantum AI solutions from Mastery Lane LTD can help researchers in the field of materials science discover new materials faster. These materials may have amazing qualities that could revolutionize sectors like electronics, energy, and transportation.

Scientific Research: The solutions provided by Mastery Lane LTD will enable quantum simulations that will open up new vistas in research, from understanding the behavior of subatomic particles to forecasting the behavior of galaxies and black holes.

A new phase in the development of computers is being heralded with the publication of Mastery Lane LTD's Quantum AI solutions on their official website. Despite the fact that these developments have the potential to significantly enhance a number of industries, it's vital to keep in mind that quantum computing is still in its infancy and that widespread adoption will require cooperation, study, and improvement.

Mastery Lane LTD's focus on tackling the moral and security issues raised by quantum technology demonstrates its passion for responsible innovation. They are actively developing methods to guarantee that quantum computing is advantageous for society while reducing any possible hazards.

The release of next-generation Quantum AI Official Website solutions by Mastery Lane LTD marks a turning point in computing history. These ideas can transform entire sectors, speed up scientific advancement, and solve some of the most critical problems that the human race is currently experiencing. The only restriction on what can be achieved as this fascinating journey into the quantum world begins is the collective imagination. Visit the official website of Mastery Lane LTD to learn more about the boundless possibilities of Quantum AI and to join them in influencing the direction of technology.

Media Contact

Organization: Mastery Lane LTD

Contact Person: Alexander Worthington

Website: https://quantumaitrading.org/

Email: alex.worthington@masterylane.co.uk

Address: 27 Artistry Lane

City: London

State: Greater London

Country: United Kingdom




GEORGE TOWN, PULAU PINANG, MALAYSIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 12, 2023 / In August 2023, Mr. Liu Jianning, Vice Chairman of the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association, embarked on a series of exchange activities in Malaysia at the invitation of Quantum Metal Group. During his visit, he explored various institutions, including the Quantum Metal Group headquarters, the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau, the World Consumer Association, and the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory. Mr. Liu also represented Hainan as the sole non-member country delegate at the 2023 ASEAN Cooperation Organization meeting and attended the high-level forum during the same event.

Collaboration Agreement between Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association and Quantum Metal Group

On March 22, 2023, the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association signed a collaboration framework agreement with Malaysia's largest gold supplier, Quantum Metal Group. This partnership aims to jointly organize the Hainan Free Trade Port Gold Market Development Strategic Seminar. The seminar discussed strategies to facilitate the international operational headquarters of Quantum Metal Group in Hainan and the development of the precious metals trading market in Hainan under the backdrop of the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) agreement. This collaboration marked the beginning of a strong relationship between Quantum Metal Group and Hainan, thanks to continuous communication and follow-up efforts.

During the first leg of his Malaysia visit, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning visited the Quantum Metal Group headquarters. He provided Chairman Lin Lianshun with a detailed overview of the efforts and support extended by the Hainan International Economic Development Bureau and the Haikou Municipal Government to facilitate the establishment of Quantum Metal Group's international operational headquarters in Haikou. Mr. Liu discussed strategies, pathways, and steps for Quantum Metal 's development in Hainan, offering constructive suggestions that led to mutual agreement. The Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association expressed its gratitude for Quantum Metal Group's efforts to promote investment and trade cooperation between Hainan and Malaysia and to integrate Hainan Free Trade Port into the ASEAN trade system.

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On August 22, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning and senior management of Quantum Metal Group visited the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau, where they engaged in discussions with Mr. Bhg. Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, the CEO of the bureau, and Mr. Abu Bakar Yusif, the Deputy CEO. Vice Chairman Liu Jianning focused on elaborating on the current status and prospects of trade development between China and ASEAN countries and the role of Hainan Free Trade Port in fostering cooperation between China and ASEAN nations. He particularly emphasized the practical significance of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" development strategy for deepening trade cooperation in production factors between ASEAN companies and Chinese enterprises.

Leadership at the Malaysian National External Trade Development Bureau expressed their gratitude for the long-standing trade cooperation between Malaysia and China. They praised Hainan's strong support for Quantum Metal Group's project to establish its operational headquarters in Hainan. They committed to conducting in-depth research on the actual implications of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" development for Malaysian businesses and expressed their eagerness to build multi-tiered trade cooperation relationships in the future.

On August 23, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning had the unique privilege of representing Hainan as the only non-member country delegate at the 2023 ASEAN Cooperation Organization meeting. He also attended the high-level forum with the theme "Promoting De-dollarization of International Trade and Adoption of Digital Gold as a Payment Instrument among ASEAN Cooperation Organization Member States." During the event, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning engaged in a brief exchange with Y.Bhg. Dato' Hj. Abdul Fattah Hj. Abdullah, the Chairman of the ASEAN Cooperation Organization.

During their conversation, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning introduced the development strategy of Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" concept and the "Thousand Enterprises, Thousand Financial Empowerment Action Plan" initiated by the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association. Chairman Y.Bhg. Dato' Hj. Abdul Fattah Hj. Abdullah expressed the organization's commitment to exploring both the theoretical and practical aspects of using digital gold as an international trade payment instrument. He acknowledged the vital role of the ASEAN Cooperation Organization in fostering trade cooperation with China and expressed strong support for Quantum Metal Group's establishment of its international operational headquarters in Hainan. He also hoped for deeper collaboration through Hainan Free Trade Port's "Two Base" initiative.

During his visit to Malaysia, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning paid a visit to the World Consumer Association, where he introduced the annual China International Consumer Goods Expo held in Hainan and its substantial impact. He discussed various matters with President Datuk Badu Kakyang Guowei and other leaders, including the possibility of the Malaysian Halal Certification Authority setting up its "China Export Commodity Halal Certification Headquarters" in Hainan. President Guowei emphasized the association's responsibility to focus on and protect global consumer rights from the perspective of international trade. He expressed the association's interest in establishing cooperation with the relevant authorities responsible for the China International Consumer Goods Expo.

In addition, during his tour of the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning introduced the "Agricultural Powerhouse" national strategy of China and the specific measures undertaken by local governments to implement this strategy. He welcomed the prospect of the (Japan-Malaysia) Plant Stem Cell Factory selecting Hainan Free Trade Port as its location, leveraging its advanced technology and services to promote agricultural development. Chairman Kevin Lim expressed agreement with these ideas and indicated that he would explore opportunities for further discussions in Hainan.

Throughout the course of these collaborative exchange activities, Vice Chairman Liu Jianning also had fruitful discussions with officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Brunei, represented by Ms. Pg Suridah Pg Hj Sulaiman, and the Honorary Ambassador of Malaysia to Uganda, Mr. Al Haj Habib Kagimu.

The convergence of RCEP and Hainan Free Trade Port policies is now in full swing, and Hainan has been actively pursuing its core policy measures to support the development of the "Two Base" concept since March 2023. These efforts aim to create a conducive environment for international business operations and trade. The unveiling of the "Two Base" demonstration zone in Sanya on June 2 marked a significant milestone in this endeavor.

As a think tank-style social organization within the financial industry, the Hainan Financial Development Promotion Association plays a crucial role in organizing international exchanges and promoting international trade cooperation. This series of exchange activities in Malaysia aimed to introduce the "Two Base" initiatives of Hainan Free Trade Port to ASEAN countries and businesses, gather information on economic and trade interactions, and facilitate the establishment of enterprises on both sides. The Association will compile this information into written documents to submit to relevant departments, providing comprehensive financial and support services for cross-border trade between the two countries. These efforts are expected to contribute to enhancing connectivity and economic trade development between China and Malaysia.

Media Contact

Organization: Quantum Metal

Contact Person: Dato Lim Khong Soon

Website: https://www.quantummetal.com.my/

Email: info@quantummetal.com

Contact Number: +60 3-8605 3611

City: Georgetown

State: Pulau Pinang

Country: Malaysia

SOURCE: Quantum Metal





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/792547/quantum-metal-group-strengthens-ties-between-hainan-and-malaysia




From the left, the Hub Tower, the Financial Center, and EMC Insurance headquarters in downtown Des Moines.

Here's a look at how some major Des Moines employers are handling the ongoing return to offices.

EMC Insurance Companies

EMC Insurance, with about 1,100 central Iowa employees, offers a range of employee flexibility ranging from full time in the office to full-time work from home. It also offers hybrid schedules.

Schedules vary depending on the team member, their preferences and the requirements of their position, said Sarah Buckley, assistant vice president of corporate communications and community involvement.

EMC has adjusted its workspaces to accommodate changes in working arrangements, including the addition of more hoteling and collaborative spaces for team members, Buckley said.

Nationwide Insurance Co.

Nationwide Insurance has about 10% of its 3,000 Des Moines workers in the office, 40% on a hybrid schedule and half working from home.

More: Des Moines foot traffic is busier; parking ramps aren't: Downtown health, by the numbers

With the state of the workforce today and knowing that we can still be successful with more associates working from home, we have embraced flexibility at Nationwide and give leaders and associates the ability to choose the right mix of days in the office and from home that works best, said Ryan Ankrom, director of public relations.

The goal is to create a world-class working environment that fosters collaboration, makes everyone feel valued whether in the office or remote, perpetuates Nationwides caring culture and empowers our people to do their best work. In creating an effective hybrid work model, the physical space must accommodate every associate  whether working from home or remote, Ankrom said.

Principal Financial Group

Principal announced in August that its employees within a 30-mile radius will return to the office three days a week in November.

The headquarters of Principal Financial Group in downtown Des Moines.

The announcement applies to employees at the Des Moines and Charlotte, North Carolina, campuses. Principal employs about 6,500 workers in Des Moines.

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Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

With approximately 1,600 employees, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has a hybrid model. Employees are allowed to work two days remotely and three in the office each week.

More: Des Moines workers, employers join national 'great compromise' on hybrid return to office

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has taken a data-driven approach to our return to office following the pandemic with the needs of our members, and employee engagement and feedback, at the core of our decision making, said Marci Chickering, executive vice president and chief human resources officer.

Chickering said September marked the anniversary of Wellmarks current hybrid model, adding that employee feedback indicated three core days in the office were needed for in-office collaboration.

To ensure our employees can best support our members in a hybrid work environment, Wellmark has reimagined our physical and technical workspaces, Chickering said.

Im also proud to report that by ensuring we sought employee feedback and leveraging engagement data, our employee engagement scores also remained very positive throughout the pandemic and continue to be strong.

Wells Fargo

In January, Wells Fargo, with about 11,000 employees in central Iowa, announced that it would move most of its downtown Des Moines employees to its West Des Moines campus on South Jordan Creek Parkway.

In January, Wells Fargo announced it would move most of its downtown Des Moines employees, such as those at 801 Walnut St., to its West Des Moines campus.

Wells Fargo uses a hybrid flexible model in scheduling its employees. Some work three days a week in the office and two days remote, and others work a week at a time in the office and then a week at a time remote, said Michael J. Slusark, a spokesman for the bank.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Return to office: What are policies at major Des Moines employers?
As he pilfered billions from customers of his global currency exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried disregarded moral codes like dont steal  then blamed the woman he put in charge when things went south, a Manhattan jury heard Wednesday.

He said that he was a utilitarian, and he believed that the ways that people try to justify rules like dont lie, dont steal, under utilitarianism, didnt work, the embattled former billionaires convicted associate and ex-girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, alleged during her second day on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court.

He thought the only moral rule that [mattered] was what maximized utility, she said, adding that meant whatever created the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

I think it made me more willing to do things like lie or steal over time.

Prosecutors allege Bankman-Frieds lies and large-scale theft of $8 billion didnt make anyones life better, seeing some FTX customers life savings gambled away and his associates facing life behind bars.

Bankman-Fried tapped the 28-year-old Ellison to run his Hong Kong-based hedge fund Alameda Research and dated her on and off. The governments star witness  who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after his arrest  is cooperating for a lesser prison sentence. She said he continuously directed her to secretly pay off Alamedas sky-high debts through a backdoor line of credit from FTX.

The fallen crypto king, commonly referred to by his initials SBF, spent much time cultivating his image, Ellison told jurors, noting his just-rolled-out-of-bed look was by design and that he believed his valuable trademark shaggy hairstyle earned him higher bonuses.

Ellison said that FTXs reputation as a highly regulated, safe place for customers to keep their money was equally important. Jurors have seen it endorsed by A-list celebrities, including Larry David and Tom Brady, in a Super Bowl ad played at the trial.

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I thought that was definitely an inaccurate image, Ellison said. Because in 2022, Alameda was borrowing around $10 billion of [FTX] customer funds that we had no way to repay.

Bankman-Fried stopped her from sharing that staggering figure with a concerned Alameda lender in June 2022. By that time, she testified she was feeling constant dread about a possible bank run. Confronted with her accurate calculations, Bankman-Fried told Ellison, This looks bad, and ordered her to draw up dishonest balance sheets.

Throughout the fraud, Ellison said Bankman-Fried had some wild ideas for how to cover his debts, like courting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a possible investor. When $1 billion in Alamedas trading accounts was frozen in China in 2021, Ellison said they tried to bribe officials with $150 million after failing to withdraw cash under fake accounts in the names of Thai sex workers.

Bankman-Fried was charged for that alleged bribery scheme after his extradition, but prosecutors withdrew it to respect a treaty with the Bahamas. He may face trial on several charges at a second trial in 2024.

In August 2022, not long before the walls came crashing down, Ellison recalled Bankman-Fried trying to blame her during a blowout argument in the Bahamas, where he ran FTX.

Ellison said Bankman-Fried told her she should have been more careful to hedge Alamedas money movements earlier in the year  failing to recognize the fundamental problem was borrowing billions he couldnt pay back.

I got very upset. I started crying, she recounted. I also thought that Sam was the one who chose to make all these investments that put us in a leveraged position in the first place.

Her worst fears came true in November 2022 when thousands of FTX customers sought to withdraw their funds in vain after Alamedas numbers were leaked. Shortly after, both declared bankruptcy, Bankman-Fried was handcuffed, and Ellison started cooperating with the feds.

That was overall the worst week of my life, Ellison said, crying as she spoke of the unexpected relief. I didnt have to lie anymore.

Bankman-Fried maintains his innocence.
(Bloomberg) -- Several key former employees from Arm Holdings Plcs Chinese venture have started a chip design house with local government backing, adding to uncertainty in the British firms biggest market just weeks after it raised $5 billion in an initial public offering.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The departures from Arm China included the head of R&D, a regional head of sales and a government relations employee who is now chief executive officer of the new firm, Borui Jingxin, people familiar with the matter said. The two-and-a-half-year-old firm is backed by Shenzhens government and aims to raise capital and recruit engineers  including from Arm. Borui is also a major new Arm licensee and aims to devise chips for servers, said the people, asking to remain anonymous discussing confidential deals.

Arm  whose chip designs power most of the worlds mobile devices including Apple Inc.s iPhone  is grappling with a US-Chinese conflict over technology that has uncertain implications for foreign operators. Now, several investors have told Bloomberg News they are concerned Borui could eventually divert revenue from the China venture, in part because of the uncertainty thats surrounded the operation in past years. Arms US-listed stock slid more than 5%, while the S&P 500 stood largely unchanged.

The Borui defections mark the latest chapter in a turbulent history for Arm in the worlds largest semiconductor arena. After Japans SoftBank Group Corp. acquired Arm in 2016, it ceded majority ownership in China to local investors. SoftBank and Arm then ended up in a years-long dispute with the CEO of the China business, who was fired but refused to leave. SoftBank and Arm ultimately prevailed in ousting Allen Wu last year, though he continues to hold shares in Arm China via entities he controls.

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Still, Arms standing in a market where it derives a quarter of its revenue is precarious. The British firm conducts business through a complex arrangement with powerful local and government-backed interests behind the venture, Arm Technology (China) Co. In a prospectus filed before its historic IPO, Arm acknowledged it doesnt control the China unit and faces the risk of losing all control over the venture. Arm China in February laid off about 100 employees, most of them from the R&D team, and some of those have joined Borui, the people familiar with the matter said.

Boruis business isnt a threat to Arm China and rather it will benefit the venture by boosting revenue within the country, said other people familiar with the startups operations.

Read more: Arm Needed 3,500 Words to Explain Its China Risks Before IPO

A Borui Jingxin representative said in an e-mail its a customer of Arm China and doesnt compete with or have any conflicts of interest with the venture. It said it designs chips for cloud computing and edge controllers. Arm China representatives didnt respond to requests for comment, while spokespeople for SoftBank and Arm itself declined to comment.

Borui Jingxin is one of a plethora of startups backed by local governments that have sprung up as Washington works to hold back Chinas chip development.

Its registered capital was boosted to 8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) in February from a mere 45 million yuan previously, according to company database QiChaCha. The new funds came from two Shenzhen-based firms whose background was unclear but shared the same address and controlling shareholder, and a third entity owned by the state-owned assets regulator in the citys Nanshan district. The Shenzhen government did not reply to emails and a phone call requesting comment.

Borui has started actively recruiting engineers. On recruiting site Zhipin.com, its offering senior engineers an annual package as high as 1.1 million yuan ($150,720). Its core team came from celebrated chip design firms and has two decades of work experience on average, according to the job posts.

And its actively seeking more local government support. In September, Boruis Yang Bo and Jin Yongbin attended a meeting with officials from Shanghais Hongkou district, according to a post by the local government that identified them as founders and top executives. The post, which included a photo of the two executives at the meeting, was taken down and replaced days later with another online article that scrubbed any mention of Borui.

The government of Hongkou district didnt respond to an emailed request for comment.

Current CEO Yang was previously in charge of Arm Chinas government relations in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen before his departure in 2021. Jin, a senior vice president at Borui, oversaw regional sales before leaving in 2019, while newcomer William Liu joined this year after formerly supervising Arm Chinas R&D effort, the people said.

Arms biggest customers include Apple, which relies on China for close to 20% of its revenue every year. Leading mobile chipmakers Qualcomm Inc. and MediaTek Inc. sell the bulk of their chips, built on Arm designs, to Chinese smartphone makers.

How China Aims to Counter US Efforts at Containment: QuickTake

--With assistance from Ian King, Jane Zhang, Gao Yuan and Min Jeong Lee.

(Updates with Arms share slide in the third paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
These days it's easy to simply buy an index fund, and your returns should (roughly) match the market. But you can significantly boost your returns by picking above-average stocks. For example, the Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (SGX:S63) share price is up 18% in the last 1 year, clearly besting the market decline of around 0.6% (not including dividends). If it can keep that out-performance up over the long term, investors will do very well! The longer term returns have not been as good, with the stock price only 6.6% higher than it was three years ago.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

See our latest analysis for Singapore Technologies Engineering

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 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).

Over the last twelve months, Singapore Technologies Engineering actually shrank its EPS by 3.4%.

Sometimes companies will sacrifice EPS in the short term for longer term gains; and in that case we may be able to find other positives. It makes sense to check some of the other fundamental data for an explanation of the share price rise.

Absent any improvement, we don't think a thirst for dividends is pushing up the Singapore Technologies Engineering's share price. It seems far more likely that the 16% boost to the revenue over the last year, is making the difference. After all, it's not necessarily a bad thing if a business sacrifices profits today in pursuit of profit tomorrow (metaphorically speaking).

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

Singapore Technologies Engineering is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Singapore Technologies Engineering will earn in the future (free analyst consensus estimates)

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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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Singapore Technologies Engineering's TSR for the last 1 year was 23%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Singapore Technologies Engineering shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 23% over one year. That's including the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 7%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with 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 2 warning signs for Singapore Technologies Engineering you should know about.

If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Singaporean 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.
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Dublin, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Slovakia: Oral tobacco, nicotine pouch and heated tobacco regulation" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This product contains two individual regulatory reports:

Slovakia: oral tobacco and nicotine pouch regulation

Oral tobacco, including snus, is forbidden in Slovakia, except for chewing tobacco. Nicotine pouches must be notified and are subject to labeling and retail restrictions. This report provides details of the current regulatory framework in place for oral tobacco and nicotine pouches in Slovakia, covering all policy areas from notification and taxation to advertising labeling and packaging rules.

Slovakia: heated tobacco regulation

Heated tobacco is largely regulated in Slovakia as a tobacco product, and a bill to introduce a flavor ban is being considered in the parliament. Herbal heated products are not specifically regulated. Heated tobacco products are regulated by the Act on Production, Labelling and Sale of Tobacco and other related products of May 2015 (amended in 2019), which has transposed the TPD into the Slovak regime.

This legislation takes a stringent approach to heated tobacco, making it equivalent to conventional tobacco products in respect to retail, advertising and public usage. This report provides a detailed analysis of the regulatory framework in Slovakia for heated tobacco and herbal heated products, covering all policy areas currently in place

This regulatory report will provide you with:

A clear and detailed understanding of current regulatory requirements affecting this sector in a specific jurisdiction, enables you to be confident your business and your products are compliant.

The ability to plan ahead for specific regulatory changes.

Strategic understanding of the policy climate within the jurisdiction, enabling you to forecast how it might affect business development.

Sources of further information, for example links to full texts of legislation and contact details for relevant government offices.

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Key Topics Covered:

Executive summary

Outlook

Slovakia: the basics

National regulatory framework

Age restrictions

Product restrictions

Labelling and packaging

Obligation to notify

Retail channel restrictions

Public usage

Advertising and marketing

Taxation

Enforcement

Sanctions

Relevant laws

Relevant bodies

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/iq1uyx

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




Smart Immune





PARIS, France, 12 October 2023  Smart Immune, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing ProTcell, a thymus-empowered T-cell progenitor therapy platform to fully and rapidly re-arm the immune system, announced today a series of activities in and around the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) 30th Annual Congress being held in Brussels, Belgium from October 24-27, 2023.

Oral presentation by CSO

CAR ProTcell, towards well-tolerated and persistent off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-T cells

Presented by Olivier Negre, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Smart Immune

Session: 2a: Genome editing for cancer immunotherapy

Session date and time: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, | 17:00 to 19:00 CEST

Oral presentation by SAB member

TCR and inhibitory receptor genome editing

Presented by Chiara Bonini, MD, Professor at the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele and group leader of the Experimental hematology Unit at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, member of Smart Immunes Scientific Advisory Board

Session: 2a: Genome editing for cancer immunotherapy

Session date and time: Tuesday, October 24, 2023, | 17:00 to 19:00 CEST

Oral presentation by strategic clinical development advisor

Gene therapy in sickle cell disease: clinical developments and obstacles

Presented by Marina Cavazzana, MD, PhD, Imagine, and Co-Founder and Strategic Clinical Development Advisor, Smart Immune

SESSION 6a: Hematopoietic diseases gene therapy

Session date and time: Thursday, October 26, 2023, | 09:00-10:30 CEST

Marina Cavazzana will also co-chair the PID gene therapy session on Friday, October 27, 08:30-10:30 CEST, in which our scientific partner in the PRO-THYMUS project, Prof. Frank Staal, from Leiden University Medical Center, will present Stem cell based gene therapy for recombinase deficient-SCID.



European Innovation Council CGT event

Session date and time: Friday, October 27, 2023, | 13:25-14:25 CEST



LUNCHTIME SYMPOSIUM: EIC Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) community and EIT-Health CGT companies

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Smart Immune has been invited to a discussion panel organized by Iordanis Arzimanoglou, Program Manager for Health and Biotechnology at the European Innovation Council.

Full program https://www.esgctcongress.com/programme-fri

Attended by Smart Immunes Chief Executive Officer Karine Rossignol and other members of Smart Immunes team.

Karine Rossignol, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Immune, said: We are excited to be at the ESGCT congress. Our team will be attending a range of activities including an oral presentation by our CSO, and our participation in the EIC Cell and Gene Therapy symposium as one of the EIC accelerator laureates.

If you would like to meet with the Smart Immune team during the congress, or at any other time, please contact: info@smart-immune.com

About Smart Immune

Smart Immune is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing ProTcell, a thymus-empowered T-cell progenitor therapy platform to fully and rapidly re-arm the immune system, enabling next-generation allogeneic T-cell therapies for all. The company aims to radically improve outcomes for patients with life-threatening diseases such as high-risk blood cancers and primary immunodeficiencies. Smart Immune has ongoing collaborations with leading institutions in the US and Europe. SMART101 is already in Phase I/II clinical trials, in the EU and the US, looking at the acceleration of complete immune recovery in patients fighting cancer and infection and undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Smart Immune is also developing therapies using gene-modified T-cell progenitors through its ProTcell platform to provide targeted treatments against cancer or AIDS, like persistent off-the-shelf CAR T-cells or HIV-resistant T-cells. The company is headquartered in Paris, France, at Paris Biotech Sante.

https://www.smart-immune.com/

LinkedIn | X (formerly Twitter)

Media contact :

ICR Consilium

smartimmune@consilium-comms.com

Attachment




(Bloomberg) -- The South African presidency has a plan to reverse the collapse of a state-run ports and freight-rail sector thats cost the economy at least $26.7 billion since 2010: hand over most of the responsibility for fixing it to the private sector.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The plan is encapsulated in a 124-page Roadmap for the Freight Logistics System in South Africa seen by Bloomberg. It sets out time-lines for everything from setting up an independent port and rail regulator, allowing private companies to access rail lines and offering rights to operate ports and rail routes to private companies.

Even the lucrative coal and iron-ore rail export lines  the poor operation of which is slashing exports by companies including Anglo American Plc and Glencore Plc  may be operated privately, according to the authors of the report. That suggestion has long been opposed by state logistics company Transnet SOC Ltd.

The plan is the latest evidence that South Africas ruling African National Congress has been forced into backtracking on one of its core tenets  that state companies and investment will lead economic growth  and instead rely on the private sector to arrest the decline of services. Private companies are also investing in power and water provision that were once the near exclusive purview of the South African state.

The need for South Africa to take action to fix its broken logistics system is urgent. Volumes on the coal-rail line to the export terminal at Richards Bay are at their lowest since 1993, iron-ore railings are at the weakest in a decade and general freight volumes have fallen even further, the authors of the report wrote. South Africas container ports are the least efficient in Africa, they said.

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The inability to export goods via rail is the most severe constraint on economic growth after the electricity supply shortfall, and requires urgent intervention, the authors said. Since 2010, South Africa has forfeited an estimated $26.7 billion in iron ore and coal export trade.

Plunging Volumes

In the five years to the latest operating year, the amount of goods transported by the wholly state-run freight rail system has plunged to about 150 million tons from 226 million tons, forcing much of the national freight onto roads where heavy trucks are snarling traffic and damaging infrastructure.

That poor performance, which has been blamed on a shortage of locomotives and cable theft, led lobby groups representing miners and businesses in the key port city of Durban to demand that Transnets management be removed. Over the past two weeks, the companys chief executive officer and head of its freight rail division have resigned.

Port performance has been just as bad with container shipments now being diverted to Luanda in Angola and Maputo in Mozambique, the authors said.

The plan, the production of which was overseen by the office of the president, will be implemented by the Department of Public Enterprises, which has oversight of Transnet, the Department of Transport and the National Treasury.

Vincent Magwenya, President Cyril Ramaphosas spokesman, declined to comment on the plan, which has been circulated to business and labor leaders and has yet to be released publicly. The Department of Public Enterprises didnt respond to queries made outside of normal office hours.

The plan also calls for a rail infrastructure manager and a rolling stock leasing company, which will be a venture with a private company.

Still, while the plan calls for a major overhaul of the freight industry similar proposals have been produced to improve the countrys dysfunctional work-permit regime and to bring the countrys persistent power cuts to an end have barely made progress.

Transnet will be turned into a holding company with various subsidiaries in which stakes may be sold to private companies, the authors of the report said. The state will keep majority control of its infrastructure businesses, they said.

(Updates with details on ports in ninth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
SINGAPORE, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consultancy Kearney and LUXASIA, the leading omnichannel brand-builder in Asia Pacific, recently released a whitepaper titled "Unlocking hyper-growth in Asia's luxury beauty landscape", highlighting the opportunities, challenges and solutions for luxury brands in Asia. It reveals that Southeast Asia (SEA) and India are poised to be the next "gold rush" in luxury beauty, reaching a market potential of US$7.6 billion by 2026, with a projected 11% CAGR between 2021 and 2031.[1] This strong growth is expected to continue, with the market size almost tripling in 10 years.

The study unearths the opportunities, challenges, and solutions for luxury brands in Asia.

Southeast Asia (excl. Singapore) and India are slated to be the next "gold rush" in Asia's luxury beauty, approaching an inflection point for accelerated growth.

In contrast to China, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, other markets in SEA and India are relatively unsaturated, with limited presence of both international luxury beauty brands and compelling local ones, and significant upside potential for luxury beauty spend per capita. As these economies mature, the upper- and middle-classes are projected to surpass 1 billion people in 2026[2], with more consumers expected to trade up from mass to luxury. Thus, this presents a limited but golden window of opportunity for luxury beauty brands to enter now and flourish.

However, harnessing growth remains tricky in SEA and India due to diverse market ecosystems. Luxury brands today face six major challenges in this fragmented region, which include multidimensional omni-retail networks; heterogeneous local product preferences; divergent marketing approaches; challenging regulatory frameworks; costly and idiosyncratic supply chain landscapes; and partner selection amid information asymmetry.

Correspondingly, the report outlines six execution imperatives to effectively tackle these challenges. These include optimizing the retail footprint to create multi-touchpoint experience hubs; harnessing continued e-commerce growth unique to each market; forging capabilities to ride social commerce acceleration; building deep local consumer understanding through data aggregation and analytics; leveraging logistics partners to build a robust and flexible network; and winning with the right omnichannel brand-building partners.

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Siddharth Pathak, Senior Partner, Head of Consumer Industries and Retail for Asia Pacific at Kearney, said, "Southeast Asia and India should be on the agenda of every global luxury beauty CEO as these markets are poised to lead the next stage of growth in luxury beauty. To emerge successful in a competitive landscape, brands should have a cohesive strategy to cut through the noise and tap on the power of digitalization, data analytics, and ecosystem support to improve their offerings and overall resilience."

Dr Wolfgang Baier, Group CEO, LUXASIA affirms this and adds, "This golden window to capture accelerated growth cannot be missed. New-entry brands need to act urgently to secure the platform to grow. Existing market brands ought to rejuvenate their omnichannel presence, adding greater operational agility, to better navigate market developments. Backed by our track record, deep omni-network, and brand-building expertise, LUXASIA stands ready to partner all luxury beauty brands for long-term growth and success in Southeast Asia and India."

[1] According to Euromonitor and KearneyLUXASIA analysis [2] According to World Bank, Euromonitor, and KearneyLUXASIA analysis

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southeast-asia-and-india-slated-to-be-luxury-beautys-most-lucrative-growth-markets-in-asia-pacific-latest-report-by-luxasia-and-kearney-finds-301954632.html

SOURCE LUXASIA
Grocer donates $5,000 to The Jericho School for Children with Autism in celebration

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is deepening its unwavering commitment to belonging, inclusion and diversity (BID) with its newly formed associate resource group  Mobility, Support, Accessibility and Inclusion in the Community (MOSAIC). The purpose of MOSAIC is to educate, advocate and celebrate SEG associates of all abilities by sharing experiences, providing educational training around disabilities, and advocating for disability diversity, equality, inclusion and accessibility.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012784181/en/

In support of Southeastern Grocers' ongoing commitment to BID and in celebration of the grocer's newly formed associate resource group  Mobility, Support, Accessibility and Inclusion in the Community (MOSAIC)  SEG proudly donated $5,000 to The Jericho School for Children with Autism. (Photo: Business Wire)

In support of its ongoing commitment to BID, and to further foster and promote a culture that embraces people of all abilities, SEG proudly donated $5,000 to The Jericho School for Children with Autism, a private nonprofit school that provides vital student resources and education programs for North Florida children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Raymond Rhee, Chief People Officer for Southeastern Grocers, said, "Celebrating our diverse associates, customers and communities includes people of all abilities. It cultivates an environment that champions inclusion and belonging inside our stores and in the unique neighborhoods we serve. That's why our support of The Jericho School for Children with Autism, its students and staff is a natural launch of our MOSAIC associate resource group. We believe in fostering partnerships that not only empower our associates, but also enrich the lives of those around us. We are building a mosaic of diversity, unity and opportunity for all  and thats what winning together looks like."

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The grocer announced the newly formed associate resource group at its annual WeSEG Conference, an engaging and interactive forum held virtually for all SEG associates to empower them with fresh perspectives and calls to action as inclusive leaders and allies. MOSAIC is 1 of 9 associate resource groups created to support and celebrate SEGs diverse associates, customers and communities, while cultivating an environment that champions inclusion and belonging within SEG and the unique neighborhoods it serves. The grocers other associate resource groups include: Womens Development Network, Emerging Leaders, SEG Pride, Palante, African Americans FOCUS, ASPIRE, Military Families and Working Parents Network.

Through its continued commitment to belonging, inclusion and diversity, SEG also recently accepted applications from nonprofits throughout the Southeast for its 2023 Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant. The grant, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, supports organizations that work to address racial disparities in education, health care and food insecurity, while building a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Recipient nonprofit organizations will be announced following the grant namesakes 104th birthday celebration on Oct. 29. Since its inception in 2020, SEGs Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant has provided more than $685,000 in funding to qualified nonprofits to elevate underserved communities throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

About Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer and one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S., serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies as well as online with convenient grocery delivery and curbside pickup throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.frescoymas.com, www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012784181/en/

Contacts

For SEG interviews or images contact:

Meredith Hurley

Senior Director, Communications and Community

(904) 370-6029

media@segrocers.com
Transparency Market Research

The rise of the aviation and defense sectors, as well as an upsurge in the sheer number of satellite constellations, are expected to drive the space grade connectors market.

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc. -The global market is expected to increase at a 4.9% CAGR from 2023 to 2031, reaching US$ 1.2 billion by the end of 2031.



The global space grade connectors market is a vital segment of the aerospace industry, offering specialized connectors designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space exploration.

Connectors play a crucial role in ensuring secure and reliable electrical and data connections in spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, and ground support equipment.

Key drivers of the market include the growing satellite communication industry, ongoing space exploration programs, and the rising need for high-speed data transmission in space applications.

Request Sample of the Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=81316

The proliferation of small satellites and CubeSats for scientific research, Earth observation, and communication purposes is boosting the demand for space-grade connectors.

Stringent quality standards and regulations imposed by space agencies such as NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) further drive innovation and reliability in space-grade connectors.

The global space-grade connectors market is projected to experience steady growth as space exploration endeavors continue to expand. The market is offering advanced and reliable solutions for the aerospace and satellite industry.

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

The global market was valued at US$ 828.8 million in 2022.

The circular connector product type segment accounted for a 39.5% share in 2022.

The circular connector product type segment is poised to expand at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period.

The North America held a prominent share of 30.0% in 2022.

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Global Space Grade Connectors Market- Key Drivers and Trends

The rapid expansion of the satellite industry, driven by communication, Earth observation, and navigation satellites, requires advanced connectors. Miniaturization and high data transmission capabilities are key requirements spurring innovation in space-grade connectors.

Small satellites, including CubeSats, are extensively deployed for various applications. The miniaturization trend demands compact and lightweight connectors that offer high performance, fueling the market for space-grade connectors.

Ongoing advancements in connector technology, including high-speed data transmission, radiation-hardened materials, and miniaturization, are vital trends. Connectors capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, vacuum, radiation, and mechanical stress are in high demand for modern space missions.

There is a trend toward developing environmentally sustainable materials and manufacturing processes for space-grade connectors. Eco-friendly initiatives align with global environmental concerns and support sustainable practices in aerospace manufacturing.

Enquiry Before Buying this Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=EB&rep_id=81316

Regional Landscape of the Space Grade Connectors Market

North America, led by the United States, dominates the space-grade connectors market. The domination is due to NASA's extensive space exploration programs and the presence of prominent aerospace companies. The region is a hub for technological innovation, with a focus on developing cutting-edge space-grade connectors for both government space agencies and commercial space enterprises.

Europe, spearheaded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and leading aerospace companies in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, plays a significant role in the market. Collaborative efforts within the European Union foster research and development, contributing to the region's advanced capabilities in manufacturing.

In the Asia-Pacific region, countries such as China, India, and Japan have active space programs and a growing interest in space exploration. China's rapid advancements in space technology and India's cost-effective space missions drive the demand for space-grade connectors. Japan, with its established aerospace industry, also contributes significantly to the regional market.



Competitive Landscape

The space-grade connectors market is intensely competitive, marked by key players like Airborn Inc., Amphenol Aerospace, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, Glenair, Inc., Harwin, Inc., IEH Corporation, ITT Inc., Milnec Interconnect Systems, Omnetics Connector Corp., Positronic, Radiall, Smiths Interconnect, Souriau, TE Connectivity, and Teledyne Defense Electronics.

Companies in the market dominate the global arena, leveraging extensive research and development, strategic partnerships, and technologically advanced offerings. With an emphasis on miniaturization, high-speed data transmission, and radiation resistance, innovation is constant. Collaboration with space agencies and participation in satellite missions further solidify their market presence.

Harwin, Inc. released the Kona high-power connection series with backshells in July 2023. The connectors are composed of the aerospace-grade aluminum alloy 6061. The backshells aid in preventing undesired EMI from flowing from the connector/cable arrangement into the external system.

Smiths Interconnect launched the space-qualified edition of the KVPX Connector Series in June 2023. This release is intended to fulfill the demanding VITA 46 and VITA 48 criteria.

Key Segments Covered

By Product Type

Circular Connector D-sub Connector Micro-D Connector Others (Nano-D Connector, Hermetic Connector, etc.)



By Application PCB Connection Panel Mount Basic Cable Assembly Heavy-duty Cable Assembly Test Equipment Others (Satellite Harness & Payload, etc.)



By End-use Satellite Space Station and Deep Space Robots Spacecraft Carrier Rocket Ground Support Equipment Others (Space R&D Center, etc.)



By Region North America Latin America Europe Asia Pacific The Middle East & Africa





Place an Order Copy of Space Grade Connectors Market Report at: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=81316<ype=S

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.. First ovarian cancer therapy for ST oncology portfolio

.. Phase 2 study demonstrated oregovomab in combination with chemotherapy improved progression free survival by ~30 months compared to chemotherapy alone 1

.. Phase 3 results expected in 2025

.. Exclusive license for AU, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Vietnam

SINGAPORE and SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent biopharmaceutical company Specialised Therapeutics Asia Pte Ltd (ST) has signed a license deal with Korea-based CanariaBio Inc., acquiring the exclusive license to a new monoclonal antibody therapy for patients with ovarian cancer in Australia, New Zealand and in select Southeast Asian countries.

The therapy, known as oregovomab, is currently in a pivotal phase III international clinical trial known as the FLORA-5 study.2 This investigation is examining oregovomab in combination with chemotherapy agents carboplatin and paclitaxel for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Under the terms of the arrangement, ST will be responsible for all commercial, medical, regulatory and distribution activities for oregovomab in its key territories of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. CanariaBio will be responsible for the manufacture and supply of oregovomab to ST.

Announcing the partnership, ST Chief Executive Officer Carlo Montagner said he was pleased CanariaBio had selected ST as a partner for this highly promising therapy.

"ST has a portfolio of anti-cancer therapies targeting multiple solid tumours with the exception of ovarian cancer, and now oregovomab becomes our first ovarian cancer agent," Mr Montagner said.

"Despite great advances in recent years, there remains a high unmet need in all our regions to treat this patient population. We look forward to working closely with our new partners at CanariaBio and pending the results of the pivotal Phase III registration study, making oregovomab available to eligible patients."

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CanariaBio Chairman and CEO Michael Na said the company had selected ST for its regional expertise and strong track record commercialising oncology products.

"Formalising this agreement is a pivotal moment for our program. This collaboration is more than just a deal  it's a shared commitment as we develop novel therapies to address unmet medical needs. At CanariaBio, we've always believed in the transformative power of partnerships, and teaming up with ST reinforces this belief."

Oregovomab works by targeting and binding specifically to a surface protein known as CA-125 found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, then activating the patient's own immune system to respond.3

In the Phase 2 study, the addition of oregovomab to chemotherapy yielded a median progression-free survival of 41.8 months compared with 12.2 months with standard chemotherapy alone (HR, 0.46, P=0.0027). The overall survival hazard ratio was 0.35.1

The Phase 3 FLORA-5 study is fully enrolled and ongoing. Final results are expected in 2025.

About Specialised Therapeutics

Founded in 2007, Specialised Therapeutics is the region's largest independent specialty pharmaceutical company, providing new therapies and technologies to patients in Australia, New Zealand and across Southeast Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, ST partners with global pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic companies to bring novel healthcare opportunities to patients who are impacted by a range of diseases. ST has built a strong track record of success, navigating complex regulatory, reimbursement and commercialisation environments in its diverse regions. The ST mission is to provide specialty therapies where there is an unmet need. The company's broad therapeutic portfolio currently includes novel agents in oncology, haematology, CNS, ophthalmology and supportive care, although it is not confined to these areas.

Additional information: www.stbiopharma.com

About CanariaBio Inc.

CanariaBio Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative cancer biotherapeutics. CanariaBio's technology platform includes a portfolio of tumor antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies targeting CA-125, MUC1, PSA, and HER2/neu.

About Oregovomab

Oregovomab is a murine monoclonal antibody directed to the tumor-associated antigen CA-125 that stimulates a host cytotoxic immune response against tumor cells expressing CA-125, a biomarker commonly found in ovarian cancer (OC). In a randomized Phase 2 clinical trial, oregovomab demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free and overall survival in advanced OC treatment when administered simultaneously with first-line chemotherapy. This promising schedule is currently being investigated in a Phase 3 trial.

About FLORA-5 Phase 3 Study

The Phase 3 clinical trial called FLORA-5/GOG-3035, is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical study comparing the safety and efficacy of oregovomab versus placebo when administered in combination with specific cycles of a standard six-cycle chemotherapy regimen (paclitaxel and carboplatin) for the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or peritoneal carcinoma, in conjunction with optimal debulking surgical resection. The primary and secondary endpoints, for both the adjuvant and neoadjuvant cohorts of this trial, are progression free survival and overall survival, respectively. The FLORA-5 trial is being conducted in collaboration with the Gynecologic Oncology Group Foundation in the US and IQVIA (a clinical research organization). Greater China area clinical trials are conducted in collaboration with OncoVent, a Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceuticals Group Company in China, which is also the commercialization license holder of oregovomab for China. Information on the clinical trial can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov

References:

1. Brewer M, et al. Gynecol Oncol. 2020.156(3):523-529

2. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04498117

3. www.FLORA-5.com. Last accessed October 2023.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/specialised-therapeutics-signs-exclusive-license-agreement-with-canariabio-for-new-ovarian-cancer-therapy-301954406.html

SOURCE Specialised Therapeutics
A new Sprouts Farmers Market is swinging open its doors in Austin.

Sprouts, an organic grocery store chain, will open Friday at 1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd. in the Mueller neighborhood. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. and the store will open to customers at 7 a.m.

Discounts, free lunches, samples, games and prizes will be part of the opening weekend. Here are details of plans for the weekend:

A new Sprouts Farmers Market is opening in Austin on Friday at 1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd. in the Mueller neighborhood.

A pop-up party in front of the store will offer samples of seasonal produce from a tasting bar. Visitors can play games, have their faces painted, watch artists carve large produce and participate in a guess the weight contest of an oversized piece of produce. Activities will take place from Friday through Sunday.

The first 200 shoppers on Friday and Saturday will receive a free Goodness its Free reusable goodie bag filled with products and samples. Inside the store, shoppers can taste new products while they shop at the Vendor Village.

On Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., shoppers will be provided a free hotdog lunch from Boars Head, Kettle Brand potato chips and Hero Bakery, while supplies last.

On Sunday, beginning at noon, dog lovers can receive dog treats from Bundle X Joy, and kids will be given a reusable coloring tote activity, while supplies last.

Music and prize giveaways will take place throughout the weekend. The Mueller location will be open daily from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Shoppers will have the chance to win a $500 Sprouts gift card through midnight Oct. 15 when they sign up on Sprout's website. Additionally, customers who text MUELLER to 777-688 will receive 20% off their purchase over the weekend when they scan their app account barcode at checkout.

Through Sprouts Food Rescue program, the Mueller store will donate groceries that are no longer fit for sale but are safe to consume to the Central Texas Food Bank.

The Sprouts Farmers Market company began in 2002 and marketed healthy living at a lower price. Headquartered in Phoenix, Sprouts has grown into one of the largest U.S. retailers of natural and organic food. The grocer has about 31,000 employees and operates nearly 400 stores in 23 states nationwide.

Other Austin Sprouts locations include 4006 S. Lamar Blvd., 6920 Menchaca Road and 10225 Research Blvd.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: New Sprouts Farmers Market in Austin opening in Mueller neighborhood
By Sabrina Valle and David French

HOUSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp's resurgence under CEO Darren Woods and the upcoming retirement of Pioneer Natural Resources CEO Scott Sheffield were key to the oil major clinching the $60 billion acquisition, people familiar with the matter said.

After brief informal conversations earlier this year, Exxon approached Pioneer about a deal last month, the sources said. It was from a position of strength. Exxon's shares were hovering near record highs, and it had a cash pile of about $30 billion.

Sheffield said he was approached by Woods two weeks ago with an offer that was beneficial both to shareholders and Pioneer's employees. The Permian operations will be led by a mix of staff from both companies.

"Darren has been very fair in the negotiations," Sheffield told a small group of reporters.

Woods had already capitalized on elevated energy prices to streamline Exxon's operations and focus on highly profitable oil and gas production.

This allowed Exxon to enter the deal negotiations with its stock coveted by investors as a valuable currency. The stakes were high. The acquisition would turn Exxon into the largest shale producer in the Permian basin, itself the biggest and most lucrative U.S. oilfield.

Pioneer agreed to an all-stock deal, even though Exxon could afford to pay all-cash through a combination of its cash on hand and borrowing, the sources said. The deal structure allowed the two companies to reconcile their price disagreements, according to the sources.

"We basically closed this deal fairly quickly," Woods told reporters on a conference call on Wednesday.

Exxon could boast it clinched the agreement by paying a relatively small 16% premium to Pioneer's unaffected share price, while Pioneer could allow its shareholders to benefit from the deal's cost and revenue synergies by giving them more than 10% of the combined company, the sources said.

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From Pioneer's side, the view was that shareholders would be willing to accept a skinny takeover premium in return for a stake in the industry's behemoth, whose shares are perceived as the gold standard by many traditional oilmen, including Sheffield.

The combined company will also have more resources to develop international projects, such as its Guyana operations, the sources added.

For his part, Sheffield was ready to sell Pioneer, the sources said. The 70-year-old wildcatter has led the company since its founding in 1997, with a brief hiatus between 2016 and 2019. He had said he planned to retire in January.

He now stands to receive a $29 million payout and join Exxon's board as a director.

"When Scott and I sat down and started talking about the complementary nature of both of our businesses, it became very obvious very early on in those discussions that there's a big opportunity here," Woods said.

(Reporting by Sabrina Valle in Houston and David French in New York; Editing by Anirban Sen and Sonali Paul)
Art Wager / iStock.com

In a surprising move, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has pledged a generous donation of $1 million to fund a pilot program that seeks to alleviate poverty in St. Louis, Missouri. The initiative will provide eligible residents with monthly payments of $500.

Learn: 3 Money Lessons from Charles Feeney, the Billionaire Who Gave Up $8 Billion Fortune

Find: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS

The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch reported that a city program paying lower-income families $500 a month for a year and a half is about to begin, kicking off a signature priority for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones aimed at lifting the citys poor. This project aims to improve the livelihoods of many St. Louis residents by providing them with cash transfers, allowing them to have a reliable source of income and, consequently, a more secure financial foundation.

St. Louis guaranteed basic income will give hundreds of St. Louis families the resources they need to lift themselves out of poverty, giving them a strong foundation to grow and to thrive, Jones said at a press conference to lay out the application process.

In 2021 and 2022, two separate rounds of $500 stimulus checks went to more than 9,000 St. Louis households to help cover essential expenses. Now, the programs primary goal is to assess whether monthly payments can help recipients meet their basic needs, find stable employment, pursue education and career advancement, and ultimately improve their overall well-being. The pilot program is largely funded by $5 million of remaining pandemic aid, in addition to a $1 million contribution by St. Louis native and co-founder of Twitter and Square, Jack Dorsey.

Who Qualifies for the $500 Monthly Payments?

The program is aimed at St. Louis residents who find themselves in financial need. Money will be sent to roughly 540 households in the city with parents or guardians of children attending city public schools, including charter schools. Eligibility is limited to those making 170% of the federal poverty line or less  about $42,000 for a family of three.

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The goal of this initiative is to provide financial relief to those who need it most and, in doing so, to assess the effectiveness of direct cash transfers as a means of addressing poverty. By offering these monthly payments without traditional means testing, the program seeks to understand how a more inclusive approach to social support can positively impact the lives of St. Louis residents.

A website was launched to learn more about eligibility, and applications will be open from October 23rd to November 1st. Eligible applicants can expect payments via debit card starting in December.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Stimulus Update: Twitter Co-Founder Donates $1M in St. Louis  Who Qualifies for $500 Monthly Payments?
Scoring the most candy and seeing the coolest houses are two integral parts of a successful Halloween night. But for parents and guardians, theres one more piece to the perfectly spooky  but not quite scary  trick-or-treating game plan: safety.

Look no further than Naperville, Illinois.

For innocuous thrills and chills, the city is No. 1, according to a recently released study ranking the top safest U.S. cities to go trick-or-treating. The list, compiled by product research company Chamber of Commerce, considers factors like crime, pedestrian deaths and law enforcement presence to determine where a worry-free Halloween is most likely to happen.

Naperville came in first out of more than 300 places evaluated across the country. Thats a step up from even last year, when the city ranked No. 4 on the same tally heading into Halloween 2022.

Expecting a small, suburban community to top the list? Think again, the 2023 ranking reads. Naperville, a Chicago suburb and Illinois third-largest city with nearly 150,000 residents, holds the title.

Analyzing cities with a population of no less than 100,000, the study took into account five equally weighted metrics: pedestrian fatalities, violent crime, property crime, number of registered sex offenders and number of law enforcement employees. Chamber of Commerce used numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the FBI to compile its report.

For Naperville, the company found the city retains the charm and security of a tight-knit community with few registered sex offenders, an excellent record of property crime and relatively few violent crimes reported across the whole city over the past year.

Full stats for Naperville  calculated per 10,000 residents  included: 2.1 sex offenders, 3.6 violent crimes, 47.4 property crimes, 0.11 average annual pedestrian fatalities and 16.8 law enforcement employees, Chamber of Commerce reported.

Of the 25 cities tapped as the companys top safest places for trick-or-treating this year, Naperville was only one of two Midwest communities to land a spot, with Rochester, Minnesota, coming in at No. 24. As for the rest, Texas, Arizona and California were home to a bulk of listed cities.

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Aside from Chamber of Commerce, by Napervilles own standards, safety also scores high.

A community survey released last week found that, among a host of other factors related to city services and public sentiment, residents generally feel safe and secure. The citys survey, conducted in partnership with social science research firm Polco, showed 95% of residents questioned felt safe from violent crime and 91% felt safe from property crime.

In general, 96% of respondents rated the overall feeling of safety in Naperville as excellent or good.

___
For many, the main point of investing in the stock market is to achieve spectacular returns. While the best companies are hard to find, but they can generate massive returns over long periods. To wit, the Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE:TNK) share price has soared 369% over five years. If that doesn't get you thinking about long term investing, we don't know what will. Meanwhile the share price is 5.2% higher than it was a week ago.

After a strong gain in the past week, it's worth seeing if longer term returns have been driven by improving fundamentals.

View our latest analysis for Teekay Tankers

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During the five years of share price growth, Teekay Tankers moved from a loss to profitability. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here. Given that the company made a profit three years ago, but not five years ago, it is worth looking at the share price returns over the last three years, too. We can see that the Teekay Tankers share price is up 259% in the last three years. Meanwhile, EPS is up 29% per year. Notably, the EPS growth has been slower than the annualised share price gain of 53% over three years. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Teekay Tankers has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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 Teekay Tankers the TSR over the last 5 years was 386%, 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!

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A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Teekay Tankers shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 43% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 37% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Teekay Tankers better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Teekay Tankers (at least 1 which is potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
TYSONS, Va., October 12, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced that Doug Wieder has been named president and general manager at KARE, TEGNAs NBC affiliate in Minneapolis, effective October 30. Wieder will be responsible for overseeing the stations operations across all platforms, as well as community outreach efforts and driving results for advertisers.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012988456/en/

Doug Wieder will lead station operations at TEGNA's KARE-TV in Minneapolis. (Photo: Business Wire)

Wieder joins KARE from TEGNA station WVEC, the ABC affiliate in Norfolk, Va., where he has been president and general manager since 2019. During Wieders tenure as general manager, the station grew audience share, digital sales revenue and was honored with 11 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including Overall Excellence in 2020. Wieder ensured the station emphasized community-focused journalism, including gathering police chiefs from the areas seven largest cities for a televised Town Hall seeking solutions to the growing gun violence epidemic among teenagers in Hampton Roads. The station created the award-winning documentary, "20 and Odd: Africans Arrival in 1619" to tell the story of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Hampton. He guided the stations community response to numerous severe weather events and community engagement efforts, including helping to raise a record $1.8 million for local nonprofits through the Peninsula Community Foundation.

Prior to becoming general manager and since 2012, Wieder was executive news director at WVEC. He joined the station in 2003 as a senior producer for evening newscasts before being promoted to executive producer in 2007. Wieder has participated in the NAB Broadcast Leadership Training Program and the TEGNA Executive Leadership Program, an executive development program to prepare next generation leaders at the company. Prior to joining TEGNA, Wieder worked as a reporter, anchor and producer at television stations in Richmond, Chattanooga and Macon.

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"Dougs steady, results-driven management style has consistently delivered exceptional results during his tenure at WVEC," said Larry Delia, senior vice president, media operations, TEGNA. "His invaluable expertise across news, innovation and community engagement are perfectly aligned with KARE's brand, people and award-winning journalism. Were excited to have his leadership, team-building skills and community focus at KARE to ensure the station continues to serve the needs of all Minnesotans."

Added Wieder, "It is a tremendous honor to join KARE, a station that has set the standard for excellence in local television. It has a rich legacy of community-focused journalism and storytelling with a sales team that takes pride in growing local businesses. Im passionate about embracing innovation and setting a positive vision for the future. Its a privilege to go to Minneapolis and help lead this incredibly talented team."

Wieder is a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelors degree in journalism. A Georgia native, Wieder is active in several charities and groups including a local food pantry and serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army of Hampton Roads. He is a past president of the Virginias AP Broadcasters group.

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network, Twist and Quest. TEGNA offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNAs OTT advertising service. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231012988456/en/

Contacts

For media inquiries, contact:

Anne Bentley

Vice President, Corporate Communications

703-873-6366

abentley@TEGNA.com



For investor inquiries, contact:

Julie Heskett

Senior Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis

703-873-6747

investorrelations@TEGNA.com
(Bloomberg) -- The worlds biggest maker of corn ethanol says US states that dont embrace efforts to capture and store greenhouse gases risk being left behind.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Poet LLC said in a statement Thursday it remains committed to the technology even after a 1,300-mile pipeline project its backing to ship carbon dioxide across the Midwest suffered a major setback this week amid public resistance.

States that are slow to adopt these technologies risk being left behind, South Dakota-based Poet said in the statement.

Projects to trap emissions from ethanol factories are crucial for the industry to cash in on tax credits in President Bidens landmark climate bill and have attracted big Wall Street investments. Yet efforts to build pipelines to ship the carbon dioxide are running aground in the face of opposition from a broad coalition of environmentalists, farmers and landowners.

The developer building the pipeline Poet is backing, Navigator CO2, withdrew its application Tuesday for a permit in Illinois, saying it needs to rethink the route for the project that would ship emissions from factories across five Midwest states. South Dakota regulators rejected Navigators request for a permit last month.

An even bigger carbon dioxide pipeline proposed by Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions was denied a permit by North Dakota in August. Summit is asking officials to reconsider the decision.

Read more: Growing Number of CO2 Pipelines Face Major Opposition in Midwest

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Melbourne, Victoria --News Direct-- TORQUE METALS LIMITED

Torque Metals Ltd (ASX:TOR) MD Cristian Moreno tells Proactive the company is eagerly awaiting the results of an inaugural diamond drilling campaign at the New Dawn Lithium Project in the Goldfields of Western Australia, where the company has been testing known pegmatite bodies for spodumene (hard rock lithium) and tantalum. TOR has already doubled down on the project area, acquiring three new tenements nearby  two adjacent to the Paris Gold Project and one with lithium potential along strike from the existing New Dawn Project. The company believes the latter tenement is prospective for lithium-caesium-tantalum or LCT pegmatites, the source of some 44% of all hard rock lithium minerals.

With a strong balance sheet, Torque Metals is poised to maintain drilling momentum to fully understand the entire lithium and tantalum endowment at New Dawn, Moreno said.

Consistent with the companys strategic approach to regional consolidation, actively monitoring the region for new opportunities, we also announce an agreement to acquire nearby tenements that align with our Paris and New Dawn projects.

This expansion enhances our portfolio and strengthens our regional presence.

Contact Details

Proactive Investors

Jonathan Jackson

+61 413 713 744

jonathan@proactiveinvestors.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/torque-metals-expands-lithium-and-gold-footprint-495317403
After the third wine bar, all of them within a five-minute walk of each other, we are slightly buzzed. Not sure if its the excitement of touring the 11th Arrondissements cluster of natural wine outposts with one of the worlds foremost authorities, Aaron Ayscough, or the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Whichever, it is a beautiful early evening, and the streets and cafes are vibrating with the excitement that only a warm spring day after a long, gray winter can bring.

Aaron Ayscough, Courtesy of Deborah Grayson & Jonathan Russo

This neighborhood is hip and young; the businesses are small and independently owned. Were told the rents are so low that people with dreams of owning a restaurant or bar can realize them.

Labeling Aaron an authority is not hyperbole. He is the author of The World of Natural Wine: What It is, Who Makes It, and Why It Matters, which was named one of the years best books on wine by both The New York Times and Bloomberg. His Substack newsletter, Not Drinking Poison, has thousands of subscribers, and hes a regular contributor to the well-respected foodie newsletter, Paris by Mouth. (His writing about wine and restaurants has also appeared in the Financial Times, The New York Times: T Magazine, and Wine Enthusiast.) Not to mention, that at a very young age, he was the head sommelier at Nancy Silvertons Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles.

The briefest of primers. Natural wine is wine made without any intervention, from growing to bottling. Grapes grown without chemical treatments are pressed. Fermenting tricks (like cold soaking, which extracts color) are not allowed. At no time are sulfites permitted. This is how wine was made for millennia. Some are aged in wood, but most are not.

There is no regulatory definition of natural wine, so buyers must rely on the word of the vintner, importer, or retailer to know just how natural a given wine is.

Consumers must understand these wines are unconventional and often quirky. They seldom have the same flavor profile casual drinkers are familiar with. A naturally made gamay from the Beaujolais certainly wont taste like a Georges Duboeuf selection. And, the wines change in the bottle, something that doesnt faze Aaron. You have to catch them on the right day. Theyre capricious. But its easy to have a sense of humor because the prices are so low.

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Rebel winemakers have sought out the lesser-known (and cheaper) appellations and often obscure grape varietals. Each year brings additional innovative producers.

But, while the buyer doesnt have a high risk, the vintner does. Aaron observed, Winemakers often compare making natural wine to performing a trapeze act without a net.

This natural movement has been fermenting for decades. When we were in Paris twenty years ago, we visited La Cremerie, Pierre Jancous pioneering natural wine shop filled with bottles from small producers he knew personally, made from vineyards plowed only by horses and oxen. I wont drink wines that were exposed to diesel fumes, he told us.

While the majority of wine bars in Paris are still conventional, natural wine bars are not an ancillary or occasional experience. In any neighborhood, peering into a window to read the wine list reveals a world of natural options on offer. Aaron added, Natural wine in Paris used to be a small subculture of traditional bistros and tiny wine shops. But the 2010s saw an explosion of natural wine bars, and they sort of usurped the role of cocktail bars for a young generation of Parisian drinkers.

Today, entire shop windows are filled with natural wine offerings. There are hundreds of bottles on offer. Every region is represented, however, the famous ones like Bordeaux are underrepresented, as rebel winemakers have sought out the lesser-known (and cheaper) appellations and often obscure grape varietals. Each year brings additional innovative producers.

Whats behind this? Three thoughts come to mind:

The macro picture is, people want to be healthier. They demand purity in food and drink. Chemical intervention of all kinds is suspectone never knows what harm it can cause. The micro picture is that the French have always sought out culinary individuality. Buying from small, village-specific producerswhether it be cheese, bread, or a dozen other edible productsremains the French way. These tiny, dedicated wine makers continue that tradition. Aaron is convinced it comes through in the bottle, saying, You can taste the low yield and the peacefulness of the fermentation. Returning to the land and working it naturally is attractive to many younger people whose families have deep roots in agriculture. Plus, there is also a strong desire to reduce their carbon footprint at every step of the process.

It seems to us that many winemakers are trying to one-up the others with purity in agricultural practices, vinification techniques, radical graphics, and non-existent product information on the bottle.

As weve written before in this column, natural wines arent for everyone. Sometimes they seem more like political or ethical statements than appealing beverages. That said, there is a world of small producers making unique wines, often from lesser-known regions and grapes. Its fun to experiment and discover the bottles that bring pleasure.

Head to Paris to share the experience with the knowledgeable locals.

We could fill an entire magazine with listings of all of Paris natural wine bars. However, Aaron loves and lives in the 11th, so he is quick to admit that the places he took us werent random.

Theyre his local favorites.

Liquiderie Cave. 9 rue des Trois Bornes, 11th. This tiny spot has a 3-seat bar and one lone table outside. The rest of the space was given over to bottles of beer, wine, and cider. Aaron thinks this place is a quintessential example of the natural wine movement.

Delicatessen Place. 7 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11th. A wine bar which serves wine by the glass and small plates of pre-prepared food. The offerings are simple and earthy. Next door is their wine shop (Delicatessen Cave) where bottles can be purchased and brought to the bar. Until we saw this, we wouldnt have thought an entire store could be stocked to the rafters with nothing but natural wines.

La Chambre Noire, 82 rue de la Folie Mericourt, 11th. The natural wine scene is happening here, in a space bustling with Parisian energy. (True, we arrived a little later in the evening.) People sat inside and out, and the edgy crowd was animated. Small plates are served. Theres an extensive display of natural wines lining the walls.

Aux Deux Amis, 45 rue Oberkampf, 11th. More a restaurant than a wine bar, this place is a retro coffee shop turned chic eatery, that esthetically wouldnt be out of place in Palm Springs. The night we were there, the menu was more limited than usual, and this was the only stop on our outing where tourists were on display.

The post Touring the Best Natural Wine Bars of Paris appeared first on Worth.
Top Workplaces 2023 logo

At Stockton Mortgage, trust is key.

"Were honest, down-to-earth, people-focused, and hard-working. If the company and its culture dont reflect that, then the people won't either," President David Stockton said of his company, which was recognized in the annual Top Workplaces survey.

Stockton Mortgage received the "Doer" award for 2023, which honors companies that "do things efficiently and well," and finished third among employers with fewer than 149 employees in the Louisville region.

Top Workplaces is a partnership with Energage, which has spent more than 16 years researching employers with highly engaged workforces. It surveys employees of nominated companies and organizations about their workplace culture. That data is then used to help others improve people's work lives.

The Courier Journal caught up with Stockton and Executive Vice President Anthony Whiteside to find out why Stockton Mortgage is one of the top places to work in the region,

These answers have been edited for length and clarity.

What sets Stockton apart from other companies that might be in the same field or industry?

Stockton Mortgage executives Kris Vanzant, Jeff Ratanapool, and Anthony Whiteside, having fun on the blue carpet

We have experienced growth despite difficult market conditions. It's been a tough time for those in our industry, and it feels good to have not only survived but to have grown. A big part of that success is our people. We have an incredible team of talented people committed to assisting our customers in making this huge life decision. Collectively, we are passionate about what we do, and we take mortgages very seriously, but at the same time we dont take ourselves too seriously. We work hard and have fun.

How would you describe the culture of Stockton?

We are good people, doing good mortgages. Were supportive and are, in turn, supported. Internally and externally, we are helpful, knowledgeable, determined and honest in everything we do. These attributes have been the backbone of Stockton Mortgage since Day One, and weve placed a lot of focus on maintaining the culture we started with.

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What are the core values of your business?

Celebrating Stockton Mortgage's 20th anniversary.

Knowledge and integrity are central to how we operate and interact with one another and with our customers. We understand that having knowledge is not enough; its important to share that in a helpful way. Whether were helping a customer understand their financing options or dealing with an internal conflict, we prioritize honesty and ethical practices, and as a result, that builds trust.

In today's competitive labor market, how do you retain employees and attract new ones?

Our leadership has made trust a priority with employees. Our people feel supported and heard, and we attract others who recognize that reciprocation and see the value in that.

Part of the support we give our employees is in the form of professional development for anyone who wants to get better at what they do. We have consistent training available to anyone as well as opportunities to join a small group of like-minded individuals within Stockton Mortgage.

We work to ensure that things like our compensation and benefits packages are competitive but try to meet the needs of our employees and their families on a fundamental level. When our employees are sick, they can expect to receive a get-well package at their doorstep. If they achieve a personal milestone, theyre not surprised to receive a celebratory gift in the mail, signed by their Stockton family.

What's kept your business in Louisville?

Louisville is a hub for a lot of industries and has always felt like it was a part of the original footprint of Stockton Mortgage. As a family-owned mortgage company headquartered just a few miles down the road, we consider it our home, too.

What qualities make for a successful Stockton employee?

Famed UK Wide Receiver Wan'Dale Robinson represents Stockton Mortgage before being drafted to the NY Giants.

Honest, hardworking individuals who are self-motivated and committed to doing their jobs to the fullest.

Can you highlight some top perks and benefits at Stockton?

Work hard, play hard. At Stockton, we know how to celebrate, and we don't take lightly the celebration of accomplishments, as individuals or the company as a whole. Every year we take our top sales staff and top support staff on a vacation. We've traveled to the Caribbean, Cancun, and most recently Costa Rica. But, we celebrate all accomplishments with intention so shout-outs, awards and acknowledgment of our successes are consistently saluted.

What is the most important thing to understand about Stockton as a company?

Our business is helping people find a feasible solution to purchase a home. There isn't a single customer out there who would do that with someone they don't trust. Trust is key. ... Helping people become homeowners is what we do, whether its for the first time or the 10th time. We earnestly believe in what it means to families and communities. ... Buying a home isn't easy, it's always been a big decision, but it can be easier with a trusted partner.

Reach features and business editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@courier-journal.com.

Stockton Mortgage

Founded: 2001

Ownership: Private

Employees in the region: 50

Top executive: President David Stockton

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Stockton Mortgage honored as one of 2023 Top Workplaces in Louisville
UAW President Shawn Fain called for a targeted strike of an estimated 9,000 workers late Wednesday with no warning at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.

Around 7:15 p.m., Ford workers gathering outside the KTP plant on Chamberlain Lane were heard yelling Its utter chaos out here as they were searching for strike captains, responsible for organizing the striking workers.

This was a surprise," said one Ford worker who asked not to be named. "We didnt have two hours to prepare.

On Wednesday, Fain said We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message. Its time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three. If they cant understand that after four weeks, the [thousands of] workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it.

Some workers begin to picket as other workers leave the Fords Kentucky Truck Plant on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.

After months of negotiations, the Detroit Three automakers, which include General Motors, Ford and Stellantis  which owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands  have been unable to reach an agreement on a new labor contract with the UAW.

The contract expired on Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m., and the union, which represents roughly 150,000 autoworkers nationwide, began picketing against the companies, striking all three automakers simultaneously for the first time in the UAW's 88-year history.

Thoughts on UAW Strike? Submit a letter to the editor.

In Louisville, UAW Local 862 represents about 12,000 workers at the area's two Ford assembly plants, Kentucky Truck Plant and Louisville Assembly Plant. In late August, Local 862 held two days of practice pickets to prepare workers for a strike. And on Sept. 21, they held a large rally outside of the union hall.

Now, these workers are on the picket line, striking for what they believe will lead to a better working situation.

UAW local 862 members strike outside of Fords Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Ford fired back Wednesday, saying in a statement "The decision by the UAW to call a strike at Fords Kentucky Truck Plant is grossly irresponsible but unsurprising given the union leaderships stated strategy of keeping the Detroit Three wounded for months through 'reputational damage' and 'industrial chaos.'"

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"The UAW leaderships decision to reject this record contract offer  which the UAW has publicly described as the best offer on the table  and strike Kentucky Truck Plant, carries serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers," the statement continued.

David Shaggy Firkins, the bargaining committee person for UAW Local 862, said the International UAW went to the table to negotiate with Ford Wednesday but the automaker was not willing to negotiate.

Around 6 p.m., Firkins, who was on his way to the plant, got a call from Fain, UAW Vice President Chuck Browning, and Jon Jaggers, a national negotiator out of Local 862, telling him Were going to walk the plant tonight.

Firkins said what it comes down to is Ford is not willing to negotiate battery plants and ensure a just transition for workers.

Earlier Wednesday, BlueOval SK, a Ford joint venture electric vehicle facility, announced a raise for workers who have not even started working. The rates being offered to the non-union workers at BlueOval SK facilities in Glendale and Stanton, Tennessee will quickly top the top wage rate for current Ford workers.

You may like: Why is BlueOval SK already raising starting salaries at Kentucky battery park?

Weve been preparing  weve worked hard to get this set up, Firkins said as workers flooded to the picket line, adding he hopes the community will support them.

This will help all facilities in Kentucky and Indiana and across the country, Firkins said.

Anthony Spencer begins to picket as workers leave the Kentucky Truck Plant on strike on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Fords Kentucky Truck Plant.

Several members from Teamsters Local 89, which represents roughly 10,000 UPS workers in Louisville, were out on the picket line with Ford workers. Stephen Piercey with UPS Teamsters said, Its important for us to be here because all working people have to stand together. When workers win, we all win.

Numerous cars driving down Chamberlain Lane, where the plant is located, were honking their horns at workers.

Its showing everyone is in solidarity with the UAW and UAW families. Its time for us to get our just do," Anthony McDaniel, a Ford worker and UAW member said.

On Wednesday, Kentucky's Gov. Andy Beshear said, "The UAW represents thousands of our hard-working families and Ford is an important employer in Kentucky. We need both a strong UAW and Ford. My hope is that they can reach an agreement quickly  one that works for both sides and moves everyone forward.

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey tweeted "I stand with our UAW brothers [and] sisters on strike. Local 862 is responsible for 54% of Fords North American profits, [and] their workers deserve a fair contract, good benefits & wages, & safe working conditions. Louisville is a union town [and] its going to stay that way."

Local 862 is shutting it down at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant! Workers have now walked off the job and are joining the Stand Up Strike!#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/NVqlbunZMH  UAW (@UAW) October 11, 2023

As the clock struck 8 p.m. Wednesday, a new crew of UAW strikers took the line and will hold it until midnight when the next shift change takes place. UAW members will work four-hour shifts for strike duty, Todd Dunn, president of Local 862, previously told the Courier Journal. His members would have upward of 54,000 available strike hours if both Kentucky Truck and the Louisville Assembly Plant went on strike. As of Wednesday, LAP is not on strike.

Ford Motor Company has gone back and forth  but it seems like things have stalled out in the last week and half, Dunn said.

Striking KTP is a move focused on the future of Ford, the future of the workers, and what the future looks like with EVs, Dunn said.This is about more than us and more than me  its about everything, EVs and the things we dont even know yet, Dunn said. We need to secure a strong future for all Ford workers.

Kentucky Truck builds the Ford Super Duty, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. Super Duty is among the most profitable products the Dearborn, Michigan automaker sells. The vehicles produced at the Louisville-based factory generate $25 billion a year in revenue, according to a statement from Ford.

By Dunn's estimation, Ford stands to lose roughly $30 million per day in profit with the truck plant out on strike. Dunn said by taking out the Kentucky Truck Plant, Ford could see the Louisville Assembly Plant and the Ohio Assembly Plant fold within one to two days since they rely on the truck plant for stamping, among other things.

The Kentucky Truck Plant Local 862 union hall, about one mile down the road from KTP, is serving as the operational headquarters for the strike. By 9 p.m., the union hall was bustling with workers eating pizza, drinking lemonade, and waiting for their turn to head to the strike line. Some folks sat around discussing the "good old days" while others sought out Dunn to see how they could be helpful.

At this point, Dunn sees his role as being "mindful ... for how this [affects] everyone and our community. Ive got to be proactive and genuine with our membership.

What is the UAW striking for?

"Who are we? U-A-W!"#UAW Local 862 members (Kentucky Truck Plant) are holding the line for economic justice.#StandUpUAW pic.twitter.com/YuiyGkE6lq  UAW (@UAW) October 12, 2023

Recently, negotiations have taken a sharp focus on increased pay for workers, with Shawn Fain, the International President of UAW who was sworn into office in March as the first UAW president directly elected by the members, demanding pay raises upwards of 40% for workers.

A major sticking point in negotiations this year is cost-of-living adjustments or COLA, the Courier Journal previously reported. The union wants to see COLA returned; it was originally suspended in 2009 in response to the financial crisis. The union believes the return of COLA would provide better financial conditions for workers. Ford sources, however, disagree, stating the current structure of general wage increases plus inflation bonuses of $1,500 per year, have far exceeded the benefits COLA would provide.

A Ford source previously told the Courier Journal that the goal during negotiations this year is protecting American jobs since 80% of Ford vehicles are made in the U.S., rewarding employees' hard work, navigating the transition to electric vehicle production, and maintaining flexibility to respond to customer demands.

Come back to courier-journal.com for updates on this developing story. Contact reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on Twitter at @oliviamevans.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Strike at Kentucky Ford Plant: UAW announces call to action
(Reuters)  United Auto Workers on Wednesday shut down Ford Motor Company's (F) biggest plant globally, halting production of lucrative pickup trucks with little warning, in a sharp escalation of the union's strike against the Detroit Three automakers.

The UAW said that 8,700 union members at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant went on strike after the union said the No. 2 U.S. automaker refused to move further in contract bargaining.

The move comes as the coordinated strike against Ford, General Motors and Chrysler-owner Stellantis is in its fourth week, and after progress last week at the bargaining table.

The plant generates $25 billion in annual revenue, about a sixth of the company's global automotive revenue.

For the past four weeks, UAW President Shawn Fain ordered new walkouts on Fridays in video addresses. Wednesday's move came as Ford and UAW bargainers were working to resolve differences on retirement security and union representation of Ford's future battery plants, a Ford official said.

The Ford official said Shawn Fain and other UAW officials called a meeting with Ford at 5:30 pm ET on Wednesday and demanded a new offer. Ford officials did not have a new offer on pay and economic issues. "You just lost Kentucky Truck," Fain said, according to the Ford official.

Ford Super Duty trucks at the Kentucky Truck assembly plant in Louisville, Kentucky. REUTERS/Joseph White (Joe White / reuters)

Ford said the decision is "grossly irresponsible but unsurprising given the union leadership's stated strategy of keeping the Detroit 3 wounded for months through 'reputational damage' and 'industrial chaos.'"

"It is a very profitable plant and because there was no notice at all, it will be particularly disruptive," said Harley Shaiken, labor professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

"This is a major step hitting the bottom line," Shaiken said. "This sends a signal that the union could escalate this strike any moment of the day or night. This is unchartered territory for both sides. The union has never used this strategy and Ford has never experienced this strategy."

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The UAW on Friday had held off on additional strikes against Detroit Three auto plants on Friday, citing GM's unexpected willingness to allow workers at joint-venture battery plants to be covered by union contracts.

Before Wednesday's Ford announcement the union had ordered walkouts at five assembly plants, including two Ford plants, at the three companies and 38 parts depots operated by GM and Stellantis.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Chris Reese)
(Bloomberg) -- Record exports of power from the Nordic region will be vital to keeping the lights on in Europes second-largest economy this winter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

As fears of pipeline sabotage are revived across Europe, an undersea cable from Norway will provide an energy lifeline for the UK on winter days when wind farms cant generate enough power. With a small risk of shortages in January  when peak demand coincides with planned nuclear reactor halts  Britain is reliant on electricity imports.

Read More: UK Risks Power Supply Crunch in January as Nuclear Plants Halt

Next year, a second Nordic interconnector  the Viking Link from Denmark  will join the North Sea Link from Norway, a milestone that will help safeguard Britains energy security. Net electricity exports from Norways hydropower reserves have more than doubled this year, helping the country leapfrog France as the UKs biggest foreign power supplier.

Norwegian power exports for the UK will be very high all winter, said Sigbjorn Seland, chief analyst at StormGeo AS in Oslo, whos tracked the market for more than two decades.

The strategic importance of Nordic energy was highlighted by a suspected act of sabotage on an undersea gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland last weekend. Norways police are tightening security around energy installations on the west coast after the rupture revived concerns about the safety of infrastructure in Europe following explosions last year on Nord Stream gas link in the Baltic Sea.

Read More: NATO Pledges Response If Finland Pipeline Damage Intentional

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, Norway supplies 30% of the gas consumed in the UK. Total energy exports from Norway to Britain climbed to a high of 41 billion ($50 billion) last year.

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Under its base-case scenario for this winter, National Grid Plcs Electricity System Operator assumes that interconnectors can provide 5.1 gigawatts of net imports to meet demand.

Britain already has established links that connect its grid to France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. However, higher prices in those markets this winter are set to spur power exports away from the UK.

Read More: UK to Boost Power Exports, Helped by Cheaper Polluting Costs

By contrast, the Nordic inflows are underpinned by a widening gap between prices in the UK and Scandinavia. The spread between British and Nordic markets for the first quarter of next year has gained almost 60% from a June low, according to exchange data on Bloomberg.

If you look at the price expectations going forward, the export flow will in general continue to move from Norway to the UK on a daily basis, said Lene Hagen, an analyst at Volue.

Norwegian prices are much lower than those in the UK after the rainiest summer in decades bolstered the countrys dominant generating source, hydropower. Reservoir levels in the market area known as NO2, where the UK cable lands, were 84.2% full in the latest data, compared with just 59.2% a year earlier.

The overall hydrological balance for the Nordic region  a measure of the energy stored in reservoirs, snow and groundwater compared with the seasonal norm  is also near its highest since June 2021.

In the first three quarters of this year, Norway exported 7.3 terawatt-hours of electricity to Britain. Full-year exports will exceed 10 terawatt-hours, more than triple 2022, according to Fabian Ronningen, senior analyst at industry consultant Rystad Energy A/S. He expects the UK to be the biggest importer of Norwegian power this quarter.

The UKs dependence on Nordic power will be cemented by the opening of the worlds longest interconnector cable from Denmark next year. The 765-kilometer (475-mile) Viking Link will have the same 1.4-gigawatt capacity as the existing cable from Norway to the UK.

Lower prices in Norway will mean that electricity will mainly flow from Denmark to the UK for the first five years, according to Per Obbekaer, project director for the cable at Energinet, which built the 1.6 billion interconnector with the UKs National Grid.

--With assistance from Todd Gillespie and Elena Mazneva.

(Updates with hydrological balance in 12th paragraph.)

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Infosys Ltd (NYSE:INFY), a leading global IT services provider, has seen its stock price fluctuate. On October 12, 2023, the stock experienced a daily loss of 7.07%, contrasting with a 3-month gain of 1.62%. Despite these fluctuations, the company's Earnings Per Share (EPS) stands at 0.72. The question arises: is the stock modestly undervalued? This article dissects Infosys' valuation, encouraging readers to delve into the analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Company Overview

Infosys (NYSE:INFY), with nearly 250,000 employees, is a global IT services provider based in Bangalore. Leveraging its offshore outsourcing model, the company derives 60% of its revenue from North America. Its offerings span traditional IT services: consulting, managed services, cloud infrastructure services, and business process outsourcing as a service (BPaaS). With a current stock price of $16.37 per share and a market cap of $69 billion, the company's value needs to be compared with its GF Value to determine if it is trading at a fair value.

Unveiling Infosys (INFY)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding GF Value

The GF Value is a proprietary measure that represents the current intrinsic value of a stock. It is computed based on historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past returns and growth, and future business performance estimates. The GF Value Line provides an overview of the fair value at which the stock should ideally be traded. 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.

Infosys (NYSE:INFY) stock is estimated to be modestly undervalued based on the GF Value calculation. Because Infosys is relatively undervalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be higher than its business growth.

Unveiling Infosys (INFY)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

Link: These companies may deliver higher future returns at reduced risk.

Financial Strength

Companies with poor financial strength pose a high risk of permanent capital loss. To avoid this, investors must review a company's financial strength before purchasing shares. Both the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage of a company are great ways to understand its financial strength. Infosys has a cash-to-debt ratio of 2.2, which ranks worse than 52.62% of 2727 companies in the Software industry. However, the overall financial strength of Infosys is 9 out of 10, indicating strong financial health.

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Unveiling Infosys (INFY)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

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. Infosys has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $18.40 billion and Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $0.72. Its operating margin is 21.39%, which ranks better than 90.29% of 2759 companies in the Software industry. Overall, the profitability of Infosys is ranked 10 out of 10, indicating strong profitability.

Growth is one of the most important factors in the valuation of a company. If a company's business is growing, it usually creates value for its shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. Conversely, if a company's revenue and earnings are declining, the value of the company will decrease. Infosys's 3-year average revenue growth rate is better than 69.28% of 2396 companies in the Software industry. Infosys's 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 14.3%, which ranks better than 58.81% of 1986 companies in the Software 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, Infosys's ROIC is 26.9 while its WACC came in at 11.81.

Unveiling Infosys (INFY)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

Conclusion

In conclusion, the stock of Infosys (NYSE:INFY) is estimated to be modestly undervalued. The company's financial condition is strong and its profitability is strong. Its growth ranks better than 58.81% of 1986 companies in the Software industry. To learn more about Infosys 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.


VMware Inc (NYSE:VMW) recently recorded a daily gain of 3.22% and a three-month gain of 13.17%. Despite these promising figures, the question remains: is the stock modestly overvalued? The company's Earnings Per Share (EPS) currently stands at 3.31. In this article, we will explore VMware's financial health and intrinsic value to answer this question. Let's dive into the analysis.

A Snapshot of VMware Inc (NYSE:VMW)

VMware is an industry titan in virtualizing IT infrastructure. It became a standalone entity after spinning off from Dell Technologies in November 2021. The software provider operates in three segments: licenses; subscriptions and software as a service; and services. VMware's solutions are used across IT infrastructure, application development, and cybersecurity teams, and the company takes a neutral approach to being the cohesion between cloud environments. The Palo Alto, California, firm operates and sells on a global scale, with about half its revenue from the United States, through direct sales, distributors, and partnerships.

At its current price of $177.01 per share, VMware has a market cap of $76.40 billion. However, its fair value, according to the GF Value, stands at $135.94. This discrepancy suggests that the stock may be modestly overvalued.

Unveiling VMware (VMW)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the GF Value

The GF Value represents the current intrinsic value of a stock derived from our exclusive method. 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.

VMware (NYSE:VMW) is believed to be modestly overvalued based on GuruFocus' valuation method. If the stock's share price is significantly above the GF Value Line, the stock may be overvalued and have poor future returns. On the other hand, if the stock's share price is significantly below the GF Value Line, the stock may be undervalued and have high future returns.

Story continues

Because VMware is relatively overvalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be lower than its business growth.

Unveiling VMware (VMW)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

Link: These companies may deliver higher future returns at reduced risk.

Financial Strength of VMware

Investing in companies with poor financial strength has a higher risk of permanent loss of capital. Thus, it is important to carefully review the financial strength of a company before deciding whether to buy its stock. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great starting point for understanding the financial strength of a company. VMware has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.61, which is worse than 72.68% of 2727 companies in the Software industry. GuruFocus ranks the overall financial strength of VMware at 5 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of VMware is fair.

Unveiling VMware (VMW)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

Profitability and Growth of VMware

Investing in profitable companies carries less risk, especially in companies that have demonstrated consistent profitability over the long term. Typically, a company with high profit margins offers better performance potential than a company with low profit margins. VMware has been profitable 10 years over the past 10 years. During the past 12 months, the company had revenues of $13.60 billion and Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $3.31. Its operating margin of 14% is better than 80.21% of 2759 companies in the Software industry. Overall, GuruFocus ranks VMware's profitability as strong.

One of the most important factors in the valuation of a company is growth. Long-term stock performance is closely correlated with growth according to GuruFocus research. Companies that grow faster create more value for shareholders, especially if that growth is profitable. The average annual revenue growth of VMware is 7.2%, which ranks worse than 52.13% of 2396 companies in the Software industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth is 10.6%, which ranks better than 52.17% of 1986 companies in the Software industry.

ROIC vs WACC Comparison

Another method of determining the profitability of a company is to compare its return on invested capital to the weighted average cost of capital. Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. When the ROIC is higher than the WACC, it implies the company is creating value for shareholders. For the past 12 months, VMware's return on invested capital is 5.01, and its cost of capital is 7.42.

Unveiling VMware (VMW)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide

Conclusion

In conclusion, the stock of VMware (NYSE:VMW) is believed to be modestly overvalued. The company's financial condition is fair, and its profitability is strong. Its growth ranks better than 52.17% of 1986 companies in the Software industry. To learn more about VMware 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.


Ship-position data shows tankers loaded with Russian crude on Thursday. (Map: MarineTraffic)

It took a while but it finally happened: The U.S. Treasury Department has begun sanctioning tankers transporting Russian crude oil valued above the Wests price cap.

Since Dec. 5, 2022, the Group of Seven nations, members of the European Union and Australia have barred their countries marine service providers from working with tankers carrying Russian crude priced above $60 per barrel. Tankers carrying crude above the cap that use G-7, EU or Australian services have been threatened with sanctions.

The price cap was designed to allow Russian crude to continue to flow to world markets while simultaneously forcing Russian crude to be sold at a discount, curtailing profits to the Kremlin.

Skepticism on the price-cap scheme has been mounting for months, because Russian crude pricing was clearly above $60 per barrel and no punitive action was being taken.

The Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) finally pulled the sanctions trigger on Thursday, blacklisting two tankers and their holding companies and sending a warning shot across the bow of the broader maritime industry.

Todays action demonstrates our continued commitment to reduce Russias resources for its war against Ukraine and to enforce the price cap, said Wally Adeyemo, deputy secretary at the Treasury Department. He affirmed that the U.S. will continue to take actions to enforce the cap.

The U.S. announcement was accompanied by a joint statement and advisory from the Price Cap Coalition, comprising countries of the G-7 and EU, plus Australia.

Higher prices, higher volumes

Russian Urals crude breached the price cap in mid-July and has traded above $60 per barrel ever since. As of Wednesday, Urals crude loading in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk was at $76.42 per barrel, according to price-reporting agency Argus. Urals loading in the Russian Baltic Sea port of Primorsk was at $75.32 per barrel.

Russian ESPO crude loaded at the countrys Pacific port of Kozmino has traded above the cap ever since the sanctions policy was put in place over 10 months ago. It was at $83.70 on Wednesday, according to Argus.

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(Chart: FreightWaves based on data from Argus)

Given recent price movements, the Coalition is focusing on supporting compliance and enforcement of the policy, the Price Cap Coalition said on Thursday.

Not only has Russia been getting higher prices for its crude, its export volumes have been rising. Revenues flowing to the Russian government are up on both price and volume.

According to Kpler, which uses ship-tracking data to gauge volumes, Russias seaborne crude exports have averaged 3.57 million barrels per day in October to date.

Thats up 14% from the recent low point in July, when monthly seaborne exports averaged 3.13 million barrels per day.

(Chart: FreightWaves based on data from Kpler)

2 tankers blacklisted

Traditionally, OFAC has not sought to regulate compliance by sanctioning a large number of companies all at once. Rather, it initially sanctions a small number of players with the expectations that others will fall in line, then gradually goes after more targets if behavior doesnt change.

OFAC sanctioned the tanker SCF Primorye for transporting Russian Urals crude priced at over $75 per barrel from Novorossiysk, and the tanker Yasa Golden Bosphorus for transporting Russian ESPO crude priced at over $80 per barrel from a Russian Pacific port, presumably Kozmino.

The Treasury Department confirmed that both tankers used U.S.-based service providers while transporting the Russian-origin oil.

No U.S. individuals or U.S.-incorporated companies can do business with these vessels or their owners going forward.

According to ship-information database Equasis, the 2009-built, 158,070-deadweight ton (DWT) SCF Primorye is managed by Dubai, UAE-based Sun Ship Management and flagged by Liberia, the worlds largest ship registry. The Liberian Registry is headquartered in Virginia.

The SCF Primorye previously sailed in the fleet of Russias Sovcomflot, according to data from MarineTraffic. Management of multiple Sovcomflot tankers was transferred to Sun in the wake of sanctions. The sanctioned tanker is currently owned by Dubai-based Lumber Marine.

Both the SCF Primorye and Lumber Marine have been placed on OFACs blocked list. Any entity that owns 50% of Lumber Marine or the ship is also blocked.

The 2007-built, 115,867-DWT Yasa Golden Bosphorus is managed by Turkeys Yasa Tanker, insured by U.K.-based Britannia P&I and flagged by the Marshall Islands Registry, according to Equasis. The Marshall Islands Registry, the worlds third-largest ship registry, is managed by Virginia-headquartered International Registries Inc. (IRI).

The Yasa Golden Bosphorus was sold by trading group Vitol in 2019, according to MarineTraffic data. Its current owner is Turkey-based Ice Pearl Navigation Corp., which has been blocked by OFAC along with the ship and any company that owns 50% or more of either the ship or Ice Pearl Navigation.

Click for more articles by Greg Miller

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The post US pulls trigger on Russian sanctions, blacklists 2 crude tankers appeared first on FreightWaves.
(Bloomberg) -- The US imposed the first sanctions for violations of the price cap on Russian oil introduced by the Group of Seven nearly a year ago, as signs mount the restriction is failing to cut Kremlin revenues as hoped.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Treasury Department called the steps a new phase in the enforcement of a policy aimed at limit the flow of money to Russia to fund its war in Ukraine. It announced sanctions on two firms and blocked two vessels it said had violated the cap.

That measure was aimed at keeping Russian oil flowing to the world market to ensure prices didnt spike but choking off the Kremlins financial gains. To do that, the cap bans companies from providing services like shipping and insurance to any cargoes priced above the $60/barrel limit.

Russia has managed to accumulate a fleet of its own, however, and shifted export flows to countries like India, which didnt join the price cap. In recent months, the price of Russian sales has reached $80 or more and even US officials began to publicly admit the limit was losing effectiveness.

We remain committed to implementing a price cap policy that has two goals: reducing the oil profits upon which Russia relies to wage its unjust war against Ukraine and keeping global energy markets stable and well-supplied despite turbulence caused by Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned United Arab Emirates-based Lumber Marine SA, the registered owner of SCF Primorye, and Ice Pearl Navigation Corp, the registered owner of the Yasa Golden Bosphorus.

Read More: Russian Oil Revenue Rises to 14-Month High on Prices and Exports

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The Primorye is accused of carrying Novy Port crude priced above $75 per barrel from a port in the Russian Federation after the cap went into effect in December. The Golden Bosphorus carried ESPO crude priced above $80 per barrel after the cap took effect. Both vessels used US-based service providers while transporting the oil, Treasury said in a statement.

The Yasa Golden Bosphorous, is currently in the Atlantic Ocean and signalling that its next destination is Houston, according to vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. It was unclear whether the ship was going to complete that voyage.

Treasury released its new guidance and announced the sanctions just as G-7 finance minsters were meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

A US official indicated there were currently no plans to lower the cap, as some European nations have suggested. The official also acknowledged that the size of the Russian fleet has grown, though the exact size could not be determined.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last month said the effectiveness of the cap in reducing Russian revenue had waned over time as Moscow had found ways to evade its reach and break its rules.

A key metric of the caps impact is the discount of Russias Urals grade crude oil to Brent, a global benchmark. For many months that discount exceeded $30, but has recently fallen to about $10.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told reporters on Thursday that loopholes had emerged in the cap that the Group of Seven nations needed to address.

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2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The US will continue communicating with China to find ways towards "peace and coexistence" despite increasing competition, said its top envoy to Beijing, while at the same time questioning Beijing's peace efforts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

During a virtual town hall event on Thursday, Nicholas Burns spoke highly of recent high-level engagement between the US and China and said Washington hoped to continue to stabilise ties with its "greatest rival".

"We're back communicating, and that's essential ... We've got to live in peace. We've got to find a way to communicate," he said from Beijing while addressing a global audience from the event hosted by the New York-based National Committee on US-China Relations.

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.

"[US-China relations] is going to be the most important bilateral relations in the world ... We've got to find a way to live together. It's insanity to think we want this relationship to descend into conflict or a war."

Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and a bipartisan senate delegation are the latest American officials to visit Beijing this week and the first US congressional group to visit China in four years. The visit offered fresh positive signs for US-China relations as President Xi Jinping, who vowed to improve ties with Washington, received the group.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, right, talks to US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on Monday. Photo: AP Photo alt=US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, right, talks to US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on Monday. Photo: AP Photo>

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The delegation's visit came after a flurry of trips by US officials in recent months, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, treasury and commerce secretaries Janet Yellen and Gina Raimondo and climate envoy John Kerry.

The intensive visits are seen as Washington's push to repair ties with Beijing, which have significantly deteriorated over rising competition on all fronts and tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Burns said the two countries had large differences on most of their tension points, especially those over Taiwan and technology. He said US officials had gained improved access when engaged with the Chinese but said "we will see" if recent rounds of talks would yield any "substantive outcomes".

"We have to defend our interests, and we have to be tough minded," he said, adding that technology was at the heart of competition between the two countries. "Because not only it will have a commercial impact - which economies will be dominant - but also a military impact.

"We have a sacred obligation to make sure the United States military remains the No 1 military in the Indo-Pacific. It is in no way possible for us to allow the Chinese to overtake us in military power."

The US has ramped up tech restrictions against China in recent years, including banning semiconductor exports and tech investments in the country, aiming to limit Beijing's access to sensitive technologies that would help advance its hi-tech and military development.

Burns said there would be more ministerial-level Chinese officials coming to the US but declined to say whether a meeting between Xi and US President Joe Biden would definitely go ahead at the Apec summit in San Francisco next month.

Foreign Policy reported last week that top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi was expected to visit Washington this month, possibly paving the way for the leaders to meet.

Burns said the US and China would also step up people-to-people communications, citing increased direct flights, planned tourism events in both countries and a high number of visas granted to Chinese students recently.

But, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Burns questioned China's global peacemaking efforts.

He said the US was disappointed by China's response to the conflict in not directly condemning the Hamas group and calling for a "two-state" solution, a proposal that Hamas did not accept.

"China has taken on, by its own admission, a bigger role in the Middle East. They've tried to broker some kind of rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. They say they want a two-state solution. But you have to be effective, you have to stand for something," he said.

He said it remained to be seen if China could be a "true mediator" as it often appeared "distanced" from these conflicts, compared to the US, which had been practising "practical diplomacy" in the region for decades.

He voice the same doubt about China's mediation efforts in Ukraine and criticised its ties with Russia.

"They don't appear to be trying to actively mediating with Ukraine and Russia," he said, adding that it was "a poor choice" for China to declare a "no-limits" relationship with Russia that had distanced Europe and pulled Indo-Pacific countries closer to the US.

He said countries were "flocking to the United States" because there was a fear of an axis "with Russia, China, and perhaps with Iran and North Korea".

China has ramped up efforts in positioning itself as a global peacemaker, with Middle East special envoy Zhai Jun currently coordinating with Egypt in potentially mediating a ceasefire for Israel and Hamas.

It also raised a 12-point peace plan for Russia and Ukraine earlier this year and sent its special envoy for Eurasian Affairs, Li Hui, to the region in May in an attempt to broker peace for the war, which has entered its 20th month. There has been no clear progress on the peace plan and Beijing has maintained close ties with Moscow, a relationship that has come under intense scrutiny by the West for possibly skirting sanctions.

China will host its Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing next week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the initiative, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and 130 other global leaders and representatives expected to attend.

Burns said countries working with China on the Belt and Road Initiative had to be aware of the potential to become dependent on Chinese aid. The West has accused the plan of being a "debt trap" for developing nations, a claim Beijing has repeatedly denied.

The US envoy said the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, which many see as the US alternative to the belt and road programme, would support developing countries while looking after their "rights".

"It is an area of healthy competition ... It's part of a competition on the global side, a stage between China and many of the democratic countries in the world."

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.
Value-focused investors are always on the hunt for stocks that are priced below their intrinsic value. One such stock that merits attention is Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA). The stock, which is currently priced at $23.44, recorded a gain of 3.72% in a day and a 3-month decrease of 24.74%. The stock's fair valuation is $46.01, 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:

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.

Future estimates of the business performance.

We believe the GF Value Line is 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.

Is Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) 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 Walgreens Boots Alliance should not be ignored. These risks are primarily reflected through its low Altman Z-score of 1.73. These indicators suggest that Walgreens Boots Alliance, 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 Altman Z-score

Before delving into the details, let's understand what the Altman Z-score entails. Invented by New York University Professor Edward I. Altman in 1968, the Z-Score is a financial model that predicts the probability of a company entering bankruptcy within a two-year time frame. The Altman Z-Score combines five different financial ratios, each weighted to create a final score. A score below 1.8 suggests a high likelihood of financial distress, while a score above 3 indicates a low risk.

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Company Snapshot: Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the U.S., with over 8,500 locations. Nearly three quarters of Americans live within five miles of a Walgreens location. Roughly two thirds of revenue is generated from prescription drug sales; Walgreens makes up 20% of total prescription revenue in the U.S. Walgreens also generates sales from retail products (general wellness consumables and its own branded merchandise), European drug wholesale, and healthcare. With more locations incorporating additional services like Health Corner and Village Medical, Walgreens creates an omnichannel experience for patients and positions itself as a one-stop healthcare provider.

Is Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap

Walgreens Boots Alliance's Low Altman Z-Score: A Breakdown of Key Drivers

A dissection of Walgreens Boots Alliance's Altman Z-score reveals Walgreens Boots Alliance's financial health may be weak, suggesting possible financial distress:

The Retained Earnings to Total Assets ratio provides insights into a company's capability to reinvest its profits or manage debt. Evaluating Walgreens Boots Alliance's historical data, 2021: 0.38; 2022: 0.42; 2023: 0.34, we observe a declining trend in this ratio. This downward movement indicates Walgreens Boots Alliance's diminishing ability to reinvest in its business or effectively manage its debt. Consequently, it exerts a negative impact on its Z-Score.

The EBIT to Total Assets ratio serves as a crucial barometer of a company's operational effectiveness, correlating earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to total assets. An analysis of Walgreens Boots Alliance's EBIT to Total Assets ratio from historical data (2021: 0.03; 2022: 0.07; 2023: -0.05) indicates a descending trend. This reduction suggests that Walgreens Boots Alliance might not be utilizing its assets to their full potential to generate operational profits, which could be negatively affecting the company's overall Z-score.

When it comes to operational efficiency, a vital indicator for Walgreens Boots Alliance is its asset turnover. The data: 2021: 1.44; 2022: 1.48; 2023: 1.43 from the past three years suggests a recent decline following an initial increase in this ratio. The asset turnover ratio reflects how effectively a company is using its assets to generate sales. Therefore, a drop in this ratio can signify reduced operational efficiency, potentially due to underutilization of assets or decreased market demand for the company's products or services. This shift in Walgreens Boots Alliance's asset turnover underlines the need for the company to reassess its operational strategies to optimize asset usage and boost sales.

Conclusion

Despite Walgreens Boots Alliance's seemingly attractive valuation, its low Altman Z-Score and other financial indicators suggest that it might be a potential value trap. Therefore, investors should exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence before making an investment decision.

GuruFocus Premium members can find stocks with high Altman Z-Score using the following Screener: Walter Schloss 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.


We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

So, the natural question for Synertec (ASX:SOP) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

See our latest analysis for Synertec

Does Synertec Have A Long 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, Synertec had cash of AU$11m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$5.4m. So it had a cash runway of about 2.0 years from June 2023. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

How Well Is Synertec Growing?

At first glance it's a bit worrying to see that Synertec actually boosted its cash burn by 4.8%, year on year. The good news is that operating revenue increased by 36% in the last year, indicating that the business is gaining some traction. Considering the factors above, the company doesnt fare badly when it comes to assessing how it is changing over time. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company.

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Can Synertec Raise More Cash Easily?

Even though it seems like Synertec is developing its business nicely, we still like to consider how easily it could raise more money to accelerate growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$97m, Synertec's AU$5.4m in cash burn equates to about 5.6% of its market value. Given that is a rather small percentage, it would probably be really easy for the company to fund another year's growth by issuing some new shares to investors, or even by taking out a loan.

Is Synertec's Cash Burn A Worry?

As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Synertec's cash burn. In particular, we think its revenue growth stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. Although its increasing cash burn does give us reason for pause, the other metrics we discussed in this article form a positive picture overall. Based on the factors mentioned in this article, we think its cash burn situation warrants some attention from shareholders, but we don't think they should be worried. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 4 warning signs for Synertec you should be aware of, and 1 of them is a bit concerning.

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.
Key Insights

Significant control over Restaurant Brands New Zealand by private equity firms implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

The largest shareholder of the company is Finaccess Capital with a 75% stake

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

If you want to know who really controls Restaurant Brands New Zealand Limited (NZSE:RBD), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 75% to be precise, is private equity firms. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Meanwhile, individual investors make up 15% of the companys shareholders.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Restaurant Brands New Zealand.

See our latest analysis for Restaurant Brands New Zealand

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Restaurant Brands New Zealand?

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.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Restaurant Brands New Zealand. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Restaurant Brands New Zealand's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Restaurant Brands New Zealand. Finaccess Capital is currently the company's largest shareholder with 75% of shares outstanding. This implies that they have majority interest control of the future of the company. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 3.3% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 2.6% by the third-largest shareholder.

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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 are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Restaurant Brands New Zealand

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. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our information suggests that Restaurant Brands New Zealand Limited insiders own under 1% of the company. It has a market capitalization of just NZ$525m, and the board has only NZ$926k worth of shares in their own names. Many tend to prefer to see a board with bigger shareholdings. A good next step might be to take a look at this free summary of insider buying and selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 15% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Private Equity Ownership

With an ownership of 75%, private equity firms are in a position to play a role in shaping corporate strategy with a focus on value creation. Some might like this, because private equity are sometimes activists who hold management accountable. But other times, private equity is selling out, having taking the company public.

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 learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Restaurant Brands New Zealand (including 1 which is significant) .

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its 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.
State-of-the-art Elizabethtown distillery to begin operations July 2024

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky., Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Whiskey House of Kentucky announced its state-of-the art distillery will begin operations July 1, 2024. Located on a 176-acre campus in the T.J. Patterson Elizabethtown Hardin County Industrial Park, Whiskey House will be the most sophisticated, technically advanced producer of custom bourbon and American whiskey in the United States. It will invest more than $350 million over the next decade, employing approximately 50 employees in 2024, and expanding to more than 100 employees by 2027. For more information, visit www.whiskeyhouse.com.

Whiskey House of Kentucky

Founded in 2022 by David Mandell, John Hargrove and Daniel Linde, the team that started and built The Bardstown Bourbon Company, Whiskey House is the first distillery designed from the ground up to focus solely on large-scale, flexible, contract whiskey production. With no brands of its own, Whiskey House provides unparalleled customer service, competitive pricing, and unprecedented visibility into the manufacturing and barrel aging process for its Custom Whiskey Production customers.

"Whiskey House will reshape the contract whiskey market in the United States," said co-founder and CEO David Mandell. "As the bourbon market continues to grow, we see the need for additional distilling capacity and more customer focused solutions. We will provide the highest-quality production, guaranteed capacity, and exceptional customer service for our brand partners."

Whiskey House's property development plan includes 16, 41,500-barrel traditional rickhouses, a 50,000-square-foot palatized warehouse, a spent grain processing facility, a bottling facility, a rail system, as well as access to one of the highest yielding hydro stratigraphic limestone aquifers in the region, which sits 120 feet below the property. Produced by Vendome Copper & Brass Works, Whiskey House's distilling and processing equipment is built around a 48-inch custom still and 14, 33,000-gallon closed-top fermenters. The company will begin operations with greater than seven million proof gallons of annual capacity (112,000 barrels), expanding to more than 14 million proof gallons (224,000 barrels) in 2027.

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"Whiskey House sets a high bar for advanced manufacturing in the whiskey industry," said co-founder, president and COO John Hargrove. "We're making major investments in the technological capabilities of the distillery that will immediately make Whiskey House the most advanced contract whiskey production facility in the United States."

Whiskey House's fully integrated operational and information technology infrastructure captures and analyzes data across the entire manufacturing process. With the addition of its artificial intelligence applications, the company can continually improve quality and efficiency, increase production yields, expand sustainability initiatives, and provide critical real-time information to customers about their liquid. As a result of its efforts and vision for the distillery, Whiskey House received a Microsoft for Startups Founder's Hub Grant to accelerate the implementation of AI in all aspects of its manufacturing and distillation process.

"For the first time, our customers will have access to every data-point about their whiskey from start to finish," said engineering & technology vice president Roger Henley. "Not only will this information enable brands to create more innovative products and share more compelling stories about their whiskies, but it will also help optimize their businesses with critical financial, inventory, and quality reports."

Whiskey House construction is led by Bardstown-based Buzick Construction and financed by Truist Bank. Click here for high-resolution photos.

Interested in joining the best team in whiskey? Please sign up for hiring updates at www.whiskeyhouse.com.

About Whiskey House of Kentucky:

Whiskey House of Kentucky is the most sophisticated, technically advanced producer of custom bourbon and American whiskey in the United States. Located on a 176-acre campus in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Whiskey House is the first facility designed from the ground up for large-scale, flexible, custom whiskey production. Whiskey House provides unparalleled customer service, competitive pricing, and complete transparency into the manufacturing process for its Custom Whiskey Production customers. It will begin operations in July 2024. To learn more, visit www.whiskeyhouse.com.

Contact: Sallie Greco

Sallie@EstesPR.com

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Whiskey House of Kentucky Rendering

Whiskey House of Kentucky Rendering

Cision

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SOURCE Whiskey House of Kentucky
Genting Berhad (KLSE:GENTING), might not be a large cap stock, but it received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the KLSE over the last few months, increasing to RM4.57 at one point, and dropping to the lows of RM4.05. 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 Genting Berhad's current trading price of RM4.10 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Genting Berhads 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 Genting Berhad

What's The Opportunity In Genting Berhad?

According to my valuation model, Genting Berhad seems to be fairly priced at around 16% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Genting Berhad today, youd be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe the companys true value is MYR4.90, then there isnt much room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. In addition to this, Genting Berhad has a low beta, which suggests its share price is less volatile than the wider market.

Can we expect growth from Genting Berhad?

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. Genting Berhad's earnings over the next few years are expected to double, indicating a very optimistic future ahead. This should lead to stronger cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? GENTINGs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value?

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Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on GENTING, 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.

Keep in mind, when it comes to analysing a stock it's worth noting the risks involved. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Genting Berhad you should know about.

If you are no longer interested in Genting Berhad, 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.
The Williams Companies, Inc. WMB emerged victorious on Tuesday in its dispute over the failed $33-billion merger with Energy Transfer LP ET after a prolonged seven-year legal struggle. The Delaware Supreme Court delivered a verdict, affirming WMB's $495-million court victory and dismissing Energy Transfer's challenge.

The court's decision sided with Williams and endorsed a string of earlier judgments that placed the responsibility for the collapsed merger on Energy Transfer, which walked away from the agreement in 2016.

Justice N. Christopher Griffiths upheld Glasscock's rulings from the Delaware Chancery Court, which granted Williams $410 million in damages and $85 million in legal fees. Additionally, the state's highest court supported Glasscock's dismissal of Energy Transfer's $1.48 billion breakup fee proposal.

The decision was concurred by chief justice Collins J. Seitz Jr. and justices Abigail M. LeGrow, Karen L. Valihura and Gary F. Traynor. Williams was represented by Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, while Energy Transfer was represented by Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor LLP and Clement & Murphy PLLC.

This landmark judgment not only brings closure to a protracted legal battle but also solidifies WMB's position in the energy sector. Both Williams and Energy Transfer have yet to release official statements regarding the court's final ruling, but the impact of this decision is expected to have far-reaching implications in the corporate landscape.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Currently, Williams carries a Zack Rank #3 (Hold).

A couple of better-ranked stocks in the energy sector are Matador Resources Company MTDR and Pioneer Natural Resources Company PXD, each currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Matador Resources is among the leading oil and gas explorers in the shale and unconventional resources in the United States. The companys prime intention is to create more value for shareholders and generate lucrative returns from the capital invested in unconventional plays. MTDR has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2023 and 2024 over the past seven days.

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Pioneer Natural Resources is a leading upstream energy firm with primary operations in the Permian basin, which is among the lucrative oil shale plays in the United States with fewer risks. Its total holding of more than 1 million net acres in the Permian basin will support long-term oil production growth. PXD has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2023 and 2024 in the past seven days.

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

Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (WMB) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Energy Transfer LP (ET) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Matador Resources Company (MTDR) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

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Winners of the 31st edition Lorenzo Natali Media Prize

Sofia Savina, Emanuela Barbiroglio, Stefano Valentino, Carmen Victoria Inojosa, Claudia Smolansky

The winners of this year's edition of the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize, awarded by the European Commission, were announced at a ceremony hosted at the Solvay Library in Brussels.

The winners are:

For the International Prize: the three journalists Carmen Victoria Inojosa, Claudia Smolansky and a third whose name cannot be disclosed for security reasons, were awarded the International Prize for their compelling article Asi funcionan las casas clandestinas de la Dgcim en Caracas' published in Armando.info. Their work exposed the harrowing reality of systematic persecution in Venezuela, targeting political opponents and their families with alarming impunity.

For the Europe Prize: Italian journalists Emanuela Barbiroglio and Stefano Valentino won with an article entitled European green finance is paying for deforestation in Indonesia: the case of Michelin' published in VoxEurop. Their piece delved into the realm of sustainable development projects and green finance, shedding light on the fact that these initiatives can sometimes be deceiving. They highlighted a certified 'green' project by Michelin in Indonesia, revealing its potential contribution to the destruction of the rainforest, thus misleading environmentally conscious investors.

For the Best Emerging Journalist Prize: Sofia Savina was awarded this Prize for her investigative work on the reputation of the Russian military, particularly regarding incidents of murder and rape in Bucha, Kiev and in the Chernihiv region. Her impactful investigation Not just Bucha. Here's what happened outside Chernihiv' was published in IStories media.

The 2023 winners were chosen from a pool of over 1 000 submissions from across the globe. Following a pre-selection by four journalism schools  Universidade Catolica Portuguesa (Portugal), Universidad de Navarra (Spain), Universite Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth (Lebanon), and Vesalius College (Belgium)  the winners were selected by a Grand Jury composed of 5 eminent international experts from the world of journalism:

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Katia Brembatti, award-wining journalist, part of the leadership of the Abraji Associacao Brasileira de Jornalismo Investigativo and former journalism professor at Positivo University.

Naglaa Elemary, Professor at the Jordan Media Institute and the British University in Egypt in media and journalism studies, consultant for the Thomson Reuters Foundation;

Vania Maia, award-winning journalist, member of the Media and Journalism Literacy Association (ALPMJ);

Syed Nazakat, award-winning journalist and the founder and CEO of DataLEADS;

Frederik Obermaier, book author and Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter.

Signing of a new EU support to independence of media

At the ceremony, a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) Protecting Independent Media that will allow strategic cooperation with selected NGOs that work to protect media freedom and pluralism across the globe was signed with three leading consortia. The duration of the Partnership Agreement is four years and up to 20 million will be made available from the EU side in project grants.

The three consortia are:

BBC Media Action, WAN IFRA, Fondation Hirondelle, IFJ, ERIM, Sembramedia, MISA, Samir Kassir Foundation, ARIJ

Internews Europe, Article 19, Fojo Media Institute/Linnaeus University, Thompson Media, Transtele Canal France International

Stichting Free Press Unlimited, RSF, Deutsche Welle, International Media Support

The aim of the strategic partnership is to increase the resilience of journalists and media houses at risk, increasing their capacity to react and adapt appropriately to the inevitable changes in their environment. It also aims at providing young journalists, operating in difficult conditions, access to professional development and learning opportunities, including in the field of digital technologies.

Background

The Prize is named in honour of Lorenzo Natali, former Vice-President of the European Commission and a tireless advocate for freedom of expression and human rights. This award has been celebrating journalistic excellence since 1992.

It recognises the work of editors and reporters from around the world who have made an extraordinary contribution to the profession and have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the fundamental values of journalism, addressing crucial issues such as the human impact of inequality, poverty and climate change, as well as the importance of education and the value of human rights in our society.

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(Bloomberg) -- Xiaomi Corp. has held talks with established automakers on potential production partnerships, people familiar with the matter said, as it waits for Beijing to approve a license that would give it the right to manufacture electric cars itself.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Chinese smartphone giant, which has ambitions of becoming a producer of its own brand of electric vehicles, has engaged with several carmakers including Brilliance Auto Group Holdings Co. and Chery Automobile Co., the people said, asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.

Xiaomi has also held talks with Beijing Automotive Group Co. on potential collaboration around producing EVs, Bloomberg reported in August last year.

Xiaomis casting of a wider net comes as China seeks to limit the number of EV production licenses as the nations new-energy vehicle market matures. After growing at a breakneck pace via years of generous subsidies, the EV sector is plateauing somewhat and existing players are slashing prices to spur consumer demand. Thats seen aspiring market entrants be pushed into partnerships with licensed manufacturers, or pivot their business plans entirely.

Read more: Chinas Push to Cool EV Growth Is Upending Big Techs Ambitions

Xiaomi declined to comment. Representatives from Brilliance Auto and Chery didnt respond to calls and emailed requests for comment.

Meantime, Xiaomi is still working to obtain the relevant approvals from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which signs off on EV production, the people said. Deliberations with other automakers are ongoing and theres no certainty any partnerships will materialize, they added.

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Xiaomis co-founder Lei Jun has pledged to invest around $10 billion in making EVs a reality for the technology group and still hopes to debut its first electric car next year. Bloomberg Intelligence said last month that the companys EV push could be a drag on profit over the next two years with a less than 5% sales contribution.

Through cost-cutting efforts Xiaomi managed to report better-than-expected net income of 3.67 billion yuan ($503 million) in the three months ended June, above the average estimate of 3.16 billion yuan. Revenue slid by 4% to 67.4 billion yuan.

--With assistance from Linda Lew and Gao Yuan.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
When it comes to loan forgiveness , people tend to focus on programs like President Biden's proposed (and failed) one-time debt relief initiative or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). But other programs, such as the often-overlooked Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, can provide much-needed relief.

According to the Federal Student Aid Data Center , 23,000 people received Teacher Loan Forgiveness in 2022, eliminating $223 million in outstanding Direct and Federal Family Education Loans.

If you are a teacher, you could take advantage of this program and eliminate a significant portion of your debt.

What is Teacher Loan Forgiveness?

The government launched the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program as part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. Signed into law by then-President Clinton, the program was designed as a recruitment and retention tool to encourage teachers to work in high-need schools.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness is a loan cancellation program for federal student loan borrowers . Through the program, teachers can get up to $17,500 of their qualifying loans forgiven after completing five years of teaching at an eligible school.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness is for teachers that provide instruction in classrooms or non-classroom settings. Other school employees, such as librarians, guidance counselors, or administrative staff are not eligible.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness eligibility

To qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness, you must meet the following requirements:

Meet the criteria for a "highly qualified teacher": The government considers a highly qualified teacher to be an educator that has earned a bachelor's degree and received full state certification.

Teach at an eligible school or institution: You must teach at a low-income elementary school, secondary school, or education service agency.

Teacher for at least five years: To qualify for forgiveness, you must teach full-time for at least five full and consecutive academic years.

Have eligible loans: Only federal Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford, and Subsidized federal Stafford Loans are eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Loans must have been made before the end of your five qualifying years of teaching service.

Not everyone will qualify for the full $17,500 of loan forgiveness ; that maximum amount of forgiveness is only for full-time mathematics or science teachers at the secondary level and highly-qualified special education teachers. The maximum for all other teachers is $5,000.

Apply for Teacher Loan forgiveness in 5 steps

The application process is simple:

1. Check your school's eligibility

Make sure that your school is a qualifying employer. You can check your school's eligibility by searching for it on the Teacher Cancellation Low Income Directory .

If your school is not listed in the directory but you think it's been wrongfully omitted, you must contact your state education agency .

2. Complete your service obligation

You must teach full-time for five full and consecutive academic years. If you were unable to complete a full academic year of teaching, your time teaching may still count if you completed at least half of the academic year, your employer states that you completed your contract requirements and you were unable to complete the academic year for a qualifying reason:

You returned to postsecondary education as a half-time or full-time student to earn a degree in a related field.

You had a condition covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

You were called or ordered to active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

3. Fill out the Teacher Loan Forgiveness application

Once you have completed the five-year service obligation, fill out the Teacher Loan Forgiveness application . If you have multiple federal loans that may be eligible for loan forgiveness, you must fill out a separate application for each one. And if you taught at more than one school, list all of them on a separate piece of paper.

4. Ask your employer to certify your employment

Next, ask your school's chief administrative officer to complete the application's certification section. After your employer completes that section, you can submit the form to your loan servicer.

5. Wait for a decision

When you submit the loan application, the loan servicer will pause your payments . Your loan principal and interest will be in forbearance until your application is approved. Once the application is processed, the loans servicer will notify you and update your loan balance.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness FAQs

Can I qualify for both Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?

Teachers may qualify for both Teacher Loan Forgiveness and PSLF. However, you cannot get credit for both programs for the same years of service. For example, if you complete five years of teaching and qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness, any payments you made during that time would not count toward PSLF, so you would have to start from scratch to make the 120 required monthly payments.

What student loans are not eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness?

Only Direct and Federal Stafford loans for undergraduate students are eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Other student loans, including PLUS Loans, federal Consolidation Loans used for PLUS Loans and Parent loans, are not eligible. Teacher Loan Forgiveness is a federal program, so private loans are not qualifying loans.

I work for a college; can I qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness?

Teacher Loan Forgiveness is only for teachers in elementary or secondary schools. Other teachers, including college professors, are not eligible.
Cold case, cold climate, cool collaboration.

Thats the gift that author Ragnar Jonasson and Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir bestow on crime-fiction fans in Reykjavik (Minotaur, $28, 384 pages).

In 1956, 15-year-old Lara Marteinsdottir took a summer job as a maid on Videy, a small island off the coast of Iceland, for a prominent couple  and vanished without a trace.

Fast forward 30 years, and the cop who had been in charge of the case has never put his failure behind him. But journalist Valur Robertsson, in hopes of a major scoop, launches a new investigation and receives a phone call from a woman who says she knows what happened.

Valur escalates his efforts, but when he is unable to continue, his sister, literature student Sunna, takes his place and interviews several well-known Icelanders who may have had contact with Lara.

At the same time, Icelanders are agog at the summit meeting that is about to take place in Reykjavik between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev that is about to take place in Reykjavik.

What follows chills the bones and freezes the blood as the unusual partnership between a reporter and a prime minister results in an absorbing whodunit.

Jonasson and Jakobsdottir dedicate the book to Agatha Christie, who inspired our love of detective stories. Thats perfect homage, given the Christie-like shock that readers are unlikely to divine before the final pages in this stellar example of Nordic noir.

Sweeping historical thriller

From 1929 to 1945, America faced the double trauma of the Great Depression and the Second World War.

Enter Amy Chua, who provides a riveting look at the perilous era in her debut novel, The Golden Gate (Minotaur, $28, 384 pages), which centers on the assassination of a former presidential candidate and focuses on the powerful and prominent Bainbridge family of the Bay Area.

When industrialist Walter Wilkinson, who lost a bid for the presidency in 1940 but is running again in 1944, is murdered at the exclusive Claremont Hotel, police Detective Al Sullivan leads the investigation, which also touches on the fate of 7-year-old Iris Stafford, who suffered what was ruled a fatal accident at the hotel in 1930.

Matriarch Genevieve Bainbridges three living granddaughters  Isabella Stafford (a reporter), and Bainbridge twins Nicole (a communist) and Cassie (a hunter)  find themselves in danger.

The narrative tapestry is conceived with creativity and sewn with intricacy, as Chua constructs a novel that depicts bigotry against minorities (such as the shameful internment of American citizens of Japanese heritage), labor unrest, familial dysfunction  and a vivid depiction of Sullivan, drawn with depth and decency.

Chua, best-known for 2011s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother  a work of nonfiction  demonstrates her fiction chops in The Golden Gate.

Splendidly sordid and harrowingly heartrending, it offers a mirror on the prejudices of the past, a window on the divisions of the present and a spotlight on a potentially fraught future.

Classic and classy suspense

When discord roils two upper-crust, upper-income families in 1922 India, death follows.

Thats what stands at the center of The Mistress of Bhatia House (Soho Crime, $27.95, 432 pages), the fourth novel in Sujata Masseys series featuring Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in Bombay (now Mumbai).

During a tea-party fundraiser at the home of businessman Sir Dwarkanath Bhatia, his young grandson, Ishan, suffers burns when his clothes catch fire. Servant Sunanda Chavda rushes to him, throws her body across his and saves his life.

But its not long until a mysterious persons statement results in Sunanda being charged with aborting what the complainant says was her fetus.

Perveen pledges to help Sunanda but faces cautionary words from her father and tension with her sister-in-law, a new mother.

And when Sir Dwarkanath dies unexpectedly after withdrawing his support for a proposed maternity hospital, obstetrician Miriam Penkar falls under suspicion.

Massey, a former journalist born in England to parents from India and Germany, grew up in St. Paul, Minn., and now lives in Baltimore.

Having won acclaim for the authenticity of her work, in her latest novel she delves into health care issues for women, British colonialism and multiple class, religious and ethnic populations.

Like its predecessors, The Mistress of Bhatia House showcases Masseys deep knowledge of Indias history, her stylish prose and, above all, her profound feminism. Devotees of classic  and classy  suspense will find multiple, if disturbing, pleasures in this paragon of historical fiction.
Following four public hearings Tuesday evening, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved rezoning requests for four projects related to data center development.

With the rezoning approvals, the county moved closer to joining the data center boom in Virginia as developers move from Northern Virginia to less populated areas in Spotsylvania, Stafford and King George counties.

Data centers are facilities that house computer equipment and serve the internet, touching almost every facet of society.

Amazon has filed the rezoning requests in Spotsylvania, seeking to build a total of 6.6 square feet of data centers, with total build-out in 10 to 15 years. Three of the four projects will include data centers. The other project is a utilities site to serve a proposed Caroline County data center project.

Spotsylvanias data center projects are expected to generate millions in tax revenue, with the countys finance department estimating that after two years, 1 million square feet of data center space will average $10 million in annual tax revenue.

On Tuesday, the Spotsylvania board held public hearings on the projects, which included presentations from county staff and the applicant and public comments.

The board eventually approved all four rezoning requests, 5-2.

During discussions, two supervisorsChris Yakabouski and Lori Hayessaid they support the data center proposals and see the benefits they can bring to the county, but they wanted to make sure all of the important information concerning the facilities has been gathered, agreed to and presented to the public.

Hayes still had concerns about sound issues, saying she has heard from residents concerned about noise.

Yakabouski said hes never dealt with such a project without a written agreement. He wondered why the board didnt have such agreements on a Virginia data center program that requires localities to match funding, as well as water usage, among other aspects of the projects.

According to county attorney Karl Holsten, there are agreements in principle.

The board has taken up data center issues at various meetings throughout the year. The county also has made amendments to the Comprehensive Plan in order to handle their development.

The rest of the board said the county and staff had put in a lot of work over a long period on data centers as well as the current proposals and determined that the benefits (big tax revenue with little impact to county services) were too good to pass up.

The applicants proffers cover a range of agreements with the county that include construction of a reuse water system, which will use treated wastewater to cool the data center facilities. It could take one to two years to build the system, which means some data centers could temporarily use the countys public water.

Yakabouski was concerned there is no date by which the reuse water system must be completed.

The county, however, controls the water source and can manage it. Also, data centers must hook up to the reuse water system within one year of the system being ready for use.

Eight people spoke during the first public hearing, for the Cosner Tech campus, with a few others speaking during the other project public hearings. Some of the speakers supported the projects, while some were concerned with the issues brought up by Yakabouski and Hayes as well as construction traffic impacts.

Amazon has agreed to a host of proffers for the projects, including traffic studies and making road improvements; including open space; setbacks and buffers from surrounding properties; sound studies and 55-decibel maximum levels; groundwater prohibition; reimbursement for third-party contractor cost reimbursement and construction of reuse water system to be used to cool the data center systems.

Amazons representative, local attorney Charlie Payne, told supervisors the company has committed to developing $35 billion in data centers over 20 years and Spotsylvania is one area of focus.

He also highlighted the benefit of data centers.

Last year alone Loudoun County generated $663 million in tax revenue from data centers. Prince William County over $100 million, he said. Those jurisdictions are not real excited that new investment is coming this way. But theyre still approving data centers. Theyre still building data centers. They have proven to be a community benefit and a tax revenue benefit.

Payne also said Amazon has learned plenty of lessons during the early years of data center development, and that will help avoid problems in Spotsylvania.

Cosner Tech Campus

Amazon seeks rezoning from mixed-use to industrial for a 1.9-million-square-foot campus on 329 acres, near a new development, Alexanders Crossing, which was approved to have 2,607 houses. The data center projects approval removes more than 1,850 homes from the neighborhood development project.

The project, which will have an access on Massaponax Church Road, also is close to the Lancaster Gate neighborhood.

The campus is expected to include five to six data center buildings along with substations, battery and fuel storage, water and sewer facilities and rooftop solar. The building heights will be limited to 75 feet.

The data center project will be built in phases.

Board members liked the idea that the project will remove residential units from the plans at Alexanders Crossing and replace it with data centers, which generate much more in tax revenues while having little impact on such things as schools, fire and rescue and the Sheriffs Office.

Carters Store

This project calls for building up to 2.6 million square feet of data centers on 313 acres, with the county approving to rezone the land from rural to industrial. The property is along Flippo Drive, east of I95. The property is surrounded mostly by rural, forested land. The propertys current zoning allows for 31 homes.

Summit Crossing

The board approved the rezoning change from rural 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.

The property is on the south side of Summit Crossing Road and is surrounded by undeveloped land. The current zoning allows 10 homes on the property.

Mattameade Tech Campus

This project is in the Berkeley District. The applicant seeks rezoning of 158 acres from agriculture to industrial for a proposed utility site to support a 4.5-million-square-foot data center project in Caroline County. The Caroline project is still under consideration.

The proposal calls for a maximum of 50,000-square-feet of facilities for such things as substations, battery and fuel storage, offices, maintenance, water and sewer, water treatment, guard house and rooftop solar.

The property fronts Mallard Road and is near Mudd Tavern Road and Interstate 95. The line between Spotsylvania and Caroline is on the east side of the property and the Matta River runs along the southern property border.

While the majority board approved the rezoning, some supervisors were concerned that Caroline hasnt approved its data center proposal yet, but were told there is no risk to the county in approving its rezoning first.

Spotsylvania would provide water for the Caroline data center site, which will require an agreement between the counties.

Holsten and county Administrator Ed Petrovitch said there is no concern that Caroline will not follow-through with agreements on the joint projects.

Were actually gaining tax revenue, immediately, board Chairman David Ross said.
Spotsylvania elementary and high school students are nearing or have exceeded pre-pandemic performance on state English and math assessments, but middle school student performance remains below that of the 2018-19 school year.

Members of the school division's instructional team shared results of the spring 2022 SOL assessments at Monday evening's School Board meeting.

"Our presentation goals tonight will be to update the School Board and community regarding achievement and accountability results and opportunities for continuous growth," said Kelly Guempel, the school division's deputy superintendent and chief academic officer.

The team presented both raw pass rates, which reflect how every student who took the SOL tests this past spring performed, and "accreditation rates," which reflect adjustments made by the Virginia Department of Education to factor in growth demonstrated between the spring 2022 and spring 2023 results.

To calculate accreditation, the VDOE also takes out the test scores of transfer students who spent less than 50% of the year in the division and those of English learners who are new to the country, explained Susan Thrift, the division's coordinator of instructional support and assessment.

The accreditation pass rate in English among elementary students was 86 for 2022-23, as compared to 83 in 2018-19 and 89 in 2021-22.

Among high school students, the English accreditation pass rate was 88 for 2022-23, as compared to 89 in 2018-19 and 84 in 2021-22.

The middle school pass rate in English was 71 in 2022-23, down from 74 in 2021-22 and 77 in 2018-19.

The elementary math pass rate was 86 in 2022-23, down from 89 in 2018-29 and 2021-22.

The high school math pass rate for 2022-23 was 77, up one point over 2021-22. The 2018-19 high school math pass rate was 80.

The middle school math pass rate for 2022-23 was 70, down from 72 in 2021-22 and 86 in 2018-29.

The VDOE's school accreditation ratings are based on student academic achievement as well as other "school quality indicators" that include chronic absenteeism, graduation and drop-out rates and college, career and civic readiness.

According to the VDOE's 2022-23 School Quality Profiles, all elementary and high schools in the division and four of the seven middle schools are fully accredited.

Post Oak, Battlefield and Thornburg middle schools are accredited with conditions, meaning these schools scored a Level Three  or "below standard"  on one or more of the VDOE's school quality indicators.

Battlefield received a Level Three for achievement gaps among Black students and students with disabilities and the general population in English and math.

Post Oak received a Level Three for chronic absenteeism, achievement gaps in English and academic achievement in science.

Thornburg also received a Level Three for academic achievement in science as well as for achievement gaps in English and math.

Jennifer Belako, executive director of elementary education for the school division, noted that "while we have things we're going to work on this year moving forward given these results, we have a lot to be proud of."

"There is not one person in this division who isn't working hard for kids," she said. "It's all in for kids."

She said school principals will look at raw score data to determine which students will need academic intervention, such as through "high intensity tutoring."

Gov. Glenn Youngkin's "All-In" tutoring plan will channel state funds to school divisions to provide supplemental tutoring to students who need it.

Guempel said all schools also have established attendance task forces to educate families on the importance of attending school every day.

He said an improvement in the rate of chronic absenteeism will also improve academic achievement, especially at the middle school level.

"We know that if we can just get kids in the door, we can teach them," Guempel said.

Before the presentation on Monday, the division celebrated two schools that have received statewide recognition for academic performance.

Riverview Elementary is one of 48 schools statewide to meet the criteria for receiving a Highest Achievement Award for 2022-23. Schools receiving this award meet state benchmarks among all student groups.

Chancellor High School is one of 93 schools statewide to receive the Continuous Improvement Award.

Schools receiving this award demonstrate an increase in the combined rate for math, reading and science, an increase in the graduation rate and a decrease in the dropout rate for each of the past three years.
Members of Colorado's congressional delegation condemned the surprise weekend attack on Israel by Hamas and expressed solidarity with the longstanding U.S. ally, which declared war on the group and began to retaliate.
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters as House Republicans hold a closed-door forum to hear from the candidates for speaker of the House, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. New polling shows that the unprecedented ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has left no consensus among Republicans about whether his removal was the right move.
The Colorado Springs Planning Commission denied a request to increase the height of a nearly-completely built water tank in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood on the city's northwest side, with some board members characterizing the series of events that led to the structure being built taller than allowed as an "embarrassment" to the local public planning process.

"Intentional or unintentional, I think allowing this tank to stand would serve as more or less a permanent and egregious monument of a violation of public trust, a mockery of our planning and zoning process and the general public," Commissioner James McMurray said Wednesday.

The board voted 6-2 against recommending the City Council approve a request from Colorado Springs Utilities, which is building a new 5 million-gallon concrete water tank in the neighborhood, to increase the tank's previously approved maximum height of 45 feet up to 60 feet.

Planning Commissioners Andrea Slattery and Nadine Hensler voted in favor of recommending approval of the request, with Commissioner Marty Rickett absent.

The action effectively upholds a stop work order the city issued Aug. 30 on the project, but the board gave a unanimous procedural vote that keeps the stop work order in place. Rickett was also absent from this vote.

Mountain Shadows neighbors identified in mid-June that the new Wilson water tank at the intersection of Wilson Road and Alabaster Way, which Utilities representatives said is 95% constructed, was nearly 20 feet taller than the agency was permitted to build it. Residents pushed for a pause in construction, citing a development plan city planners administratively approved in June 2022 that limits the tank height to no more than 45 feet.

The utility formally proposed a major modification to the approved development plan with city planners to reconcile the height difference, asking officials to increase the tank's maximum allowable height to 60 feet.

Dave Padgett, general manager of projects and programs for Colorado Springs Utilities, said while the original development plan approved by the city limited the tank height to 45 feet, a note on page 12 of that plan states that the measurements are estimates, and final elevations would be designed by the tank manufacturer during the structural design phase.

In documents the utility filed to appeal the stop work order, representatives said the subcontractor building the tank developed it based on certain structural design specifications, making its final height about 60 feet.

Neither city planning staff nor Utilities representatives could answer commissioners' questions about how a building permit was issued for the project. While the city-approved development plan capped the tank's height at 45 feet, the utility said in appeal documents a development plan and construction drawings included with the building permit application showed the overall tank height at about 60 feet.

"... (It's) the responsibility of the professional engineer to design based on the criteria given to him," Commissioner Jim Raughton said. "And then to come back and say, 'Whoops, we're 15 feet off,' that's something that's just not allowed. ... We know no private developer would be allowed to do that."

Residents speaking Wednesday said they weren't opposed to the water tank itself and understood it was necessary to service thousands of Colorado Springs Utilities water customers.

Neighbors said the city-owned utility previously promised to build the new concrete tank to the same specifications as an existing steel tank on the property that must be replaced due to age, including being no taller than 45 feet. Some felt there was miscommunication from Utilities to residents, while others felt "purposefully misled."

"People have misled us, not followed processes," Mountain Shadows resident Thad Zylka said. "We were lied to all along that (the tank is) only going to be 40 (feet tall) when in fact it was always going to be 60 (feet tall) and containing the same amount of water."

Utilities previously said in its appeal of the stop work order its land use consultant informed the agency this summer the city had "erroneously issued the building permit" and Utilities wasn't required to take remedial action.

Padgett said Wednesday the utility, like city planners, learned about the height discrepancy from concerned neighbors in June. The utility should have submitted a modified development plan earlier in the process, once it knew the final tank design, he said.

"We apologize for that oversight sincerely. I can assure each of you it was not intentional in any way for that to occur," Padgett told commissioners.

Neighbor Larry Starr told commissioners documents he acquired through the Colorado Open Records Act showed the utility knew by March 2022 the height of the tank's dome would be between 12 to 20 feet tall  not 4 feet tall as the city-approved development plan shows. The walls of the new tank are 36 feet tall.

The utility can appeal with the City Council the Planning Commission's decision not to recommend increasing the water tank's height, and it can appeal the Planning Commission's decision to uphold the city-issued stop work order on the project.

The nine-member council also acts as the Colorado Springs Utilities board.

Instead of retrofitting the new concrete water tank to have a flat roof that will require internal columns to support it, which could create potential warranty issues and would be an option "nobody has experience trying to do," Padgett said, "the responsible thing would be to just start over again."

Padgett told reporters after the meeting the utility will "reassess where we're at and decide what our plan forward will be."

He could not say Wednesday if the agency plans to appeal either decision. The timeline of the appeal process was unclear.
Someone broke into a private mausoleum in Jefferson County, pried open a casket and stole body parts, deputies announced Wednesday.

The incident happened overnight at the Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 7777 W. 29th Ave., and was reported at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Deputies said "unknown suspects" came into the cemetery during the night.

Deputies searched the area and said they found severe damage to the crypt and the casket that was inside.

"The casket, that housed the decedent's remains, had been pried open and portions of the body were removed," deputies said in a news release.

Investigators processed the mausoleum for evidence.

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Deputies asked anyone with information about the crime to call the Jefferson County tip line at 303-271-5612.
The "complicated" details surrounding the death of Colorado Springs parole officer Christine Guerin Sandoval has slightly delayed the court proceedings of her accused killer, the 4th Judicial District prosecution said Wednesday.

Justin Kula, 41, was arrested hours after allegedly hitting Sandoval and another parole officer with his vehicle while they were trying to serve him an arrest warrant on Sept. 28. The arrest warrant was active at the time of the incident because he had failed to check in with his parole officer after being released from the Department of Corrections on parole only three weeks earlier, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette.

Both officers were taken to the hospital, where Sandoval died later that night.

Kula appeared in court for the first time Wednesday, but the prosecution had not yet filed charges because Kula reportedly refused to show for his advisement hearing, when defendants are typically read the charges against them.

Prosecutor Dave Young told the court that he had also not yet filed official charges because of the "complicated" situation involving multiple involved and investigating law enforcement agencies and Kula's extensive criminal history, which could influence the number and level of charges against Kula.

In 2020, Kula was convicted of extortion, assaulting a peace officer, disorderly conduct across multiple incidents and received three to five years for each incident, records show.

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Kula appears to have failed to appear in court multiple times throughout the years and received roughly one year in jail for a probation violation conviction in 2020.

A re-do of Kula's first appearance has been scheduled for Friday, when the prosecution expects to file formal charges, which are different than arrest charges.

Kula was arrested on suspicion of accidents causing death or personal injuries, manslaughter and third-degree assault. Those charges could be added or amended prior to the Friday hearing.

Kula remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $250,000 bond.
More than 120 families are in contact with law enforcement as the investigation into a Penrose funeral home continues, according to state officials.

According to a Tuesday announcement from the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center, numerous resources provided by the SEOC through the verbal disaster emergency declaration arrived on the scene in Penrose beginning Tuesday to assist in the process of extricating more than 115 human bodies discovered to be improperly stored on the property Oct. 4.

The horrific discovery was made at the Return to Nature Funeral Home's Penrose location by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office after receiving numerous reports of a foul odor coming from the property.

Supplies including, security fencing, tents, body bags, refrigeration trucks, a morgue trailer, and person protective equipment are being provided to assist in the multi-agency efforts of removing the bodies, a process anticipated to last several months.

Additionally, security staff, and assistance from the Colorado National Guard Fatality Management Team will be arriving this week, according to Colorado Division of Homeland Security spokesperson Micki Trost.

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The El Paso and Douglas County coroner's offices have also confirmed their involvement in the case. Several refrigerated trucks were seen arriving at the El Paso County Coroner's Office Tuesday morning, alongside vehicles from Fremont County.

According to the Colorado Joint Information Center, specific details on the activities of the response team and recovery work will not be provided at this time. An official update will be provided once the building is cleared.

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office is encouraging families who believe to be impacted by the discovery at the Return to Nature Funeral Home to contact law enforcement, and fill out the provided victim questionnaire.

Anyone with questions regarding the questionnaire or victim resources available should email 23-1941@fremontso.com.
Police have identified the person killed in a shooting in downtown Colorado Springs Saturday night.

Police responded to a shots-fired call around 9:35 p.m. in the 400 block of East Kiowa Street. When they arrived, they found a deceased person in front of a cottage and a dog restrained behind the house, police told Gazette news partner KKTV.

Animal Control officers took custody of the dog.

Police and the El Paso County Coroner's Office identified the victim as 56-year-old Patrick Hunt, of Colorado Springs.

Hunt's death was the 26th homicide investigation in the city this year, police said. At this time last year, police had investigated 40 homicides.
Zelensky asks for more aid to Ukraine as world's attention turns to Israel

Xinhua) 09:31, October 12, 2023

BRUSSELS, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- As the world's attention shifted to Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels on Wednesday to ask Western countries to continue their aid to Ukraine.

"We spoke about priorities for Ukraine, for defending how to survive during this next winter," Zelensky told reporters before attending a meeting with NATO defense ministers.

"We need some support from the leaders. That is why I am here today," he said, with the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Zelensky named air defense systems as one of his priorities. "It is not just basic words. We need concrete things and we need them in very concrete geographic points on our land," he added.

The NATO-Ukraine meeting secured more support for the country to face the winter conflicts. Stoltenberg said the alliance would provide more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment "to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter."

The new pledge was made when the clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) were drawing the world's attention. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

On Thursday, NATO defense ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant set to join via videoconference.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Highline Lake will be drained as part of a two-step plan to eradicate invasive zebra mussels, Colorado wildlife officials said Thursday.

Five invasive zebra mussels were found when officials removed buoys from the lake on Oct. 1, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said.

Located northwest of Grand Junction near the Utah border, Highline Lake is described on the CPW website as an oasis in the desert and a recreation epicenter for the Grand Valley. Its a destination for swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, standup paddleboarding, fishing and hiking.

We did not make this decision lightly or in haste, Invasive Species Program Manager Robert Walters said in a news release announcing the plan Thursday. Over the past year we have had numerous discussions with CPWs Northwest Region aquatic, regional, and state park staff, and we have come up with a plan that builds upon that work that was performed last spring.

In the first phase of the new plan set to begin later this year, CPW said its staff will treat the lake with a higher concentration of EarthTec QZ, an EPA-registered copper-based molluscicide which was already applied to the lake in March.

Then in early 2024, the water levels will begin to be lowered until the lake is completely emptied by the end of the year, CPW said.

While the efforts in early 2023 did not achieve our ultimate goal of eradicating zebra mussels, we believe it helped to keep population numbers at a manageable level, Walters said. A single female zebra mussel can produce more than 30,000 eggs per reproductive cycle. Any mussel we can keep from reproducing in the immediate future increases the probability of our success next fall.

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The plan will have grave implications for the fish population in the lake, as CPW said it cant move any fish out of the water because of the risk of also moving viable zebra mussels with them.

Instead, an emergency fish salvage has gone into effect and anglers can catch and keep as many as they want so long as they fish from the shore and use lawful fishing methods. All fish must be dead before being transported from the lake, wildlife officials said.

With its initial plan in March, wildlife officials had hoped to eradicate zebra mussels from the lake while also maintaining the fishery, but on Thursday wildlife officials admitted it wasnt feasible to do both.

To do nothing would be detrimental to Highline Lake and would put fisheries across the state at risk, Ben Felt, Northwest Region Senior Aquatic Biologist, said in a news release. CPW is committed to rebuilding the Highline Lake fishery once the zebra mussel eradication project is complete.

The plan also means the 2024 boating season is effectively canceled at Highline Lake.

We understand that this isnt ideal for our boating and angling community, Alan Martinez, Highline Lake State Park Manager, said in a news release. What we hope is that people see this and understand how serious this problem is, and that it can be avoided by simply cleaning, draining, and drying your boat or any equipment that comes in contact with the water in between each and every use.
Gov. Jared Polis and economist Arthur Laffer will face Rep. Rose Pugliese and Michael Fields in a debate on Oct. 23 over the proposal to use Taxpayer's Bill of Rights dollars for property tax relief.
Denver Democratic state Rep. Tim Hernandez reacts after being selected by a vacancy committee to represent House District 4 in August. (Gazette file photo)
The timing could not be any better for those who want to see major changes in how Colorados funeral industry operates.

Lawmakers will have before them in 2024 a sunset review of the states funeral home industry, which legislators hope will include strong recommendations that could prevent the kinds of problems seen in the industry recently.

Should that sunset review not include those recommendations, the state's Department of Regulatory Agencies is already doing a review for funeral service professionals, which would determine whether there is a need to regulate the profession.

On Oct. 4, at least 115 improperly stored bodies were found at the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose. The facility's license expired last November, according to the state's Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration. The discovery has led to investigations by the FBI, the Fremont County sheriff and Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

A day later, the state regulatory agency suspended the company's ability to operate as a funeral home under the state's mortuary science code.

Whether criminal charges will come for the owner of Return to Nature, Jon Michael Hallford of Colorado Springs, is yet to be determined. There are no state-mandated standards for those who work in funeral homes or crematoriums.

While the situation at the Return to Nature facility in Penrose is alarming, the tragedy may have a silver lining: Colorado may finally take the steps to start licensing its funeral home directors and employees to ensure theyre professionally trained.

Colorado is the only state out of the 50 that does not require its funeral home and crematorium employees to receive any kind of professional training or education.

Under current state law, there are no professional standards work in a funeral home or crematorium. Those facilities must be licensed as businesses, but that does not include any requirement about the experience or education of the employees.

In lieu of licensing, the Colorado Funeral Directors Association maintains credentialing. That's offered through the Colorado Funeral Service Board, which is run by the association.

But thats a private matter, and the state doesnt require people who want to get into the funeral business to apply for those credentials.

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The state does have the Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration, run by the Department of Regulatory Agencies. That division regulates funeral homes and crematoriums, investigates complaints and issues disciplinary actions against businesses that violate the states Mortuary Science Code. The database shows actions taken only against businesses, not against individuals.

The divisions most recent list of disciplinary actions against mortuaries and crematoriums shows that out of more than 300 funeral homes listed  many with multiple locations and licenses  there have been more than 140 disciplinary actions taken. They range from cease and desist orders, suspension of the states license to operate or referrals to the Office of Administrative Courts for further legal action.

The lack of regulation over the operators and employees is causing lawmakers to take notice.

Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Eagle, was part of a quartet of bipartisan lawmakers last year who sponsored a law to require more frequent inspections of funeral homes and crematoriums.

That legislation was in response to the sale of body parts by the owners of Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors facility in Montrose. The owners, Megan Hess and her mother, Shirley Koch, pled guilty to stealing and selling body parts. Hess got 20 years in prison, the maximum allowed. Koch was sentenced to 15 years.

The problem of bad actors in the funeral home industry is not a new one, nor has it escaped the attention of the General Assembly. In 2006, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved legislation to require licensure and education for those who work in the funeral industry. But the bill wasnt supported by DORAs executive director, Tambor Williams, and Gov. Bill Owens applied his veto pen to the measure.

Two years after that veto, Darin Barry wrote a letter to the editor, pointing out he went from being a Walgreens manager to a full fledged manager and mortician of a Colorado funeral home and was embalming, cremating and arranging funeral plans in three days with absolutely no prior experience.

Barry, whose concerns also extended to the exposure to toxins for funeral home employees, added that: Colorado has more oversight for a haircut than embalming, cremation and handling of dead bodies, which can become a deadly avenue for the spread of infectious disease."

Roberts told Colorado Politics on Thursday he is already seeking a bill title for the 2024 session, depending on what the Department of Regulatory Agencies recommends with regard to the industry. He noted the Funeral Directors Association is fully supportive of licensure. Roberts said the association's program could serve as a model for state regulation of the profession, adding there is no need to recreate the wheel.

Funeral directors need a basic level of training and certification, Roberts said. They should have to take a test to get a license, followed by continuing education and recertification to provide a general level of professionalism, he added.

Roberts pointed out 99% of the funeral homes do a good job, "but these bad apples put a stain on the whole industry.

I hope DORA agrees its time to do a sunrise and formalize this, and hes happy to put legislation toward that. But if the agency doesnt make that recommendation, I will continue conversations on how to prevent another Penrose from happening.

Roberts said he intends to work on that legislation with Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta, who was one of the bipartisan quartet who worked on the 2022 law. Soper told 9News Monday that seeing what's happened here in the Fremont County case to me just ignites the fire to move full speed ahead in that direction.
New polling shows that the unprecedented ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has left no consensus among Republicans about whether his removal was the right move. This comes as the party is struggling to coalesce around a new leader. Polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 25% of Republicans say they approve of the stunning decision by a small group of House Republicans to remove the California lawmaker from his post during a vote last week. Three in 10 Republicans believe that it was a mistake for a small faction of the party, and all Democrats, to support a motion ejecting McCarthy from the speakership.
If a noncitizen has 60 days to leave the country or else ask for review of his immigration case, there is no grace period if the final day falls on a weekend, the federal appeals court based in Denver ruled last month.
If you wake up this Saturday and see a burning ring of fire though the clouds when you trek to the mailbox to get your weekend paper, don't panic.

It's only an annular solar eclipse, not the unfortunate result of an accidental reading of a demonic book uncovered in someone's dusty garage.

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.

In reality, it's merely a beautiful quirk of astrophysics and our moon's elliptical (or oval shape) orbit around the planet, which Oregon State University physics instructor Randall Milstein explained to this reporter over the phone last week.

Instead of the moon blocking the sun when it's closest to us, it's blocking the sun at its apogee, or at its farthest point from Earth.

"So, what you end up with is the sun and the moon forming like a bullseye in the middle," Milstein said.

Unlike the total solar eclipse that completely blotted out the sun for a narrow strip of North America, including parts of Oregon, for a few minutes in 2017, this astronomical phenomenon will only see the sun partially  but still quite dramatically  obscured by the moon, hence the fiery ring.

And Corvallis lies just inside the 100-plus mile wide path of annularity, though the moon won't be "dead center."

Apologies to cities just outside the path, like Albany and Lebanon, that won't see the ring.

But for all mid-valley cities, rain clouds that start forming off the coast this Friday will make the likelihood of clear skies Saturday morning pretty low according to the National Weather Service, though you might have more luck driving further southeast along the path of annularity.

Regardless, there will be no "totality" or full coverage of the sun and given that its bright rays will remain unobstructed by the moon, you'll need to wear your protective eclipse glasses throughout the show, rain or shine.

According to Milstein, you should make sure to purchase them from a reputable source. Safe eclipse glasses, approved by NASA and the Academy of Optometry, should have the number 12312-2, the internationally agreed-upon standard, printed somewhere on the earpiece.

Looking at the eclipse through regular sunglasses, clouds, film negatives or even the reflection of a pool of water, won't cut it.

Even with the right glasses, however, you won't be able to look at the eclipse through binoculars, a telescope, or even a camera without special filters, Milstein added.

He recommended going to your local Home Depot or optometrist office to find certified glasses ahead of this weekend's eclipse, but you can also snag a pair at OSU's Peavy Field on Southwest Jefferson Avenue and 30th Street on Saturday morning. That's when OSU's Astronomy Club will be hosting its eclipse viewing party.

Club president Phia Morton is hosting the viewing. She's also a NASA Solar System Ambassador, a volunteer that promotes space exploration to the public, and said members will be handing out free glasses, though it's first come, first served.

The club will also be sharing telescopes with specialized solar filters, giving eclipse-gazers  weather permitting  a glimpse of the sun's relatively cooler sunspots, solar flares and prominences, the fiery loops that erupt from the surface.

The OSU event lasts from 8 to 10:30 a.m., which is the annular eclipse's approximate runtime. In Corvallis, the eclipse begins at 8:05, with annularity occurring at 9:17 a.m., lasting a minute and 24 seconds.

For Morton, a senior studying physics and nuclear engineering, it's not only a chance for folks to connect with the university's astronomy community; it's an opportunity to recognize the beauty of the cosmos.

"It is nature, and you don't really get to think about it too much in your day-to-day lives. But there's sort of a harmony up there," Morton said.

For Milstein, one of the reasons this phenomenon is so spectacular is that it's completely silent and nonviolent.

Animals go quiet, confused by the sudden temperature and pressure changes and darkened skies. Light filtering through leaves and branches become thousands of crescents that move like waves on the ground.

For people around the world, Milstein said, eclipses have held cultural significance for thousands of years, offering a meaningful time to reflect on life and death or, alternatively, a time to shout and bang drums to scare off whatever culturally specific creature was thought to be devouring the sun, whether it be a dragon, jaguar or a pair of giant wolves.

So, people shouldn't fret about snapping a photo if they don't have special camera filters, Milstein said.

"The thing to do is to enjoy the eclipse with the people who are around you and share the event."
Some community members are concerned by what they say is another example of Benton County suppressing conversations about the Coffin Butte Landfill following a League of Women Voters event held Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Corvallis Public Library.

More than 100 community members, including six elected officials, joined in person and online to listen to five members of the Benton County Talks Trash taskforce discuss the findings of a 1,099-page report they helped shape. It was the result of an eight-month-long process of research, fact-finding and recommendations for the future of refuse in the county.

Attendees and presenters say they felt constrained about what they could publicly say, adding that even though it was not a Benton County-sanctioned event, county officials cast a long shadow just the same.

They say it's just part of a long campaign of speech-throttling, which included the dismissal of two members of the task force and a more recent edict that written comments will not be accepted at a Benton County committee related to trash disposal.

For the county's part, its spokesperson, Cory Grogan, disavowed any undue pressure: "To my knowledge, Benton County did not participate in or influence the planning, content or execution of the LWV event."

A review of emails sent back and forth before and after the League event  between speakers and the League and speakers and county officials  does not show county officials putting the squeeze on the League of Women Voters  but they were also clearly unhappy about the event.

The forum

The talk was titled, "Whats Up with Coffin Butte Landfill? Shining a Light on the Issues."

In her introductory remarks, League of Women Voters Vice President and Program Chair Annette Mills stressed that the forum's purpose was not to discuss personal opinions or the landfill's proposed expansion.

She urged speakers to stick to sharing the findings and recommendations of the subcommittees in which they participated. She also encouraged the audience to ask questions based only on the presentations.

In an email to Mid-Valley Media, Nancy Whitcombe, who was dismissed from the Benton County Talks Trash taskforce last October, alleged that the League, "bowing to pressure from Benton County, suppressed the speech of both presenters and audience members."

At the event, Whitcombe tried to ask the panel of speakers their thoughts about the communitys impression of a cozy relationship among Benton County staff, elected officials and Republic Services, which operates Coffin Butte.

According to another email to this publication, she said she was "echoing" a comment made by Mark Henkels, who served on the "History" subcommittee. He alleged Republic Services enjoyed "de facto veto power over which findings and recommendations could be submitted to the larger workgroup," she wrote.

Henkels could not be reached for comment, but he has written critically of county officials, in a column for Mid-Valley Media, in which he said they "make it sound as though Benton County residents may just have to accept the southward expansion because of previous commitments. This is not true."

Mills, who moderated the Q&A session, said Whitcombe's question was inviting opinions and struck it down. Whitcombe gathered her belongings and walked out of the event.

County involvement

Mark Yeager, one of the speakers, said by phone after the event that if there was any move by the county to restrict the conversation, he was not directly privy to it. Communications from League of Women Voters had said to keep the presentation and conversation to the scope of the report.

But, he added, speakers had been required to submit their presentation slides to the organizers prior to the event.

Whitcombe said her husband, Paul Nietfeld, was a presenter, and the last slide in his presentation was unilaterally removed.

"We think the League removed the slide. We think it was in response to county pressure," Whitcombe alleged via email.

The slide in question showed three boxes with bullet points, titled "good," "bad" and "surprising/mysterious" under the heading, Subcommittee Process Perspective.

Asked about the disappearing slide, Mills emailed: "There was one slide that was deleted from one speakers presentation because it expressed his opinion, rather than reflecting what was in the Benton County Talks Trash (BCTT) Report.

Mills said she explained to Nietfeld that "from the outset, the organizers of the program envisioned the event as a sort of 'Benton County Talks Trash 101.'"

She said she gave him the chance to edit the slide.

"Rather than deleting the slide in question, I asked if there was anything contained in the report that he could quote, reflecting his concerns. I waited for a response until just prior to the program, but when I didnt hear back from him, I had to make the decision to delete the slide," she said.

The only other change that was made to the speakers presentations, Mills said, was the deletion of the Benton County logo.

A day before the event, Whitcombe said presenters had received an email from Mills, reminding them to refrain from expressing opinions or views so as to "remain in good stead with both Benton County and the LWV."

On that same day, the county sent out a newsletter to a Benton County Talks Trash email list, saying the event had not been "officially sanctioned or organized by Benton County," and adding, "we have not played a role in its planning or production."

That was followed by an email from Commissioner Nancy Wyse to Rick Crager, CFO and the interim county administrator, on Sept. 28 before the event, saying she thought not officially sanctioned statement was going a touch too far.

The event itself caused some confusion among those who served on the Benton County Talks Trash workgroup. In an email dated Oct. 5 seen by Mid-Valley Media, Community Development Director Darren Nichols implied that some members of the workgroup believed they had been excluded from a county event.

Nichols indicated there was also some confusion for members of the public, hence the disavowing newsletter.

He went on to say that the Board of Commissioners "made clear (repeatedly) their request that BCTT, staff and the community keep discussions at one table in order to keep discussions and solutions on a constructive, trust-based track."

He made it obvious county officials weren't happy with the event.

"This event was a clear violation of that board request and put what is a complex, chronic challenge into a political forum after the board, the community and Benton County have invested a year of time and energy developing a community driven, consensus based path forward," Nichols wrote.

He wished there was "open communication from the event organizers" before they publicly announced it, Nichols said in the email, which was addressed to Solid Waste and Water Quality Program Coordinator Daniel Redick and Public Information Grogan.

Grogan said the county communique was issued merely to clear up any confusion. "Our intent has been and remains to be inclusive and transparent in this process," he said.

No initial red flags

Nichols and Redick first learned of the event on Sept. 7, when they were contacted by one of the speakers wanting to know if it was OK to represent the subgroup at the League event. Attached was a speaker invite from Mills, noting the scope of the event as strictly informational and not about the landfill expansion.

Nichols wrote back that he didnt see any red flags "as long as the discussion sticks to objective facts/observations about the BCTT process and results."

In an email to Nichols on Sept. 8, Catherine Biscoe, who said she was another speaker, said the speaker who informed the county had acted prematurely, seeing that the League was still finalizing the program.

She noted in the email that the event was focused on the findings and recommendations as outlined in the report, and if any uncertainties had arisen from the premature communication, she was seeking to put it to rest.

That email received no response.

At the event, Mills said Biscoe would no longer be introducing the event due to a potential conflict of interest. She did not explain.

Biscoe represents the Philomath area on the county's Planning Commission, which heard a previous proposal to expand Coffin Butte, since withdrawn, and will likely hear another.

In an email to Wyse after the Sept. 28 event, Biscoe wrote that on Sept. 25, she learned Nichols and Redick had concerns about the event, such as with its title, word choice, bias and one-sidedness. They also said her involvement represented a conflict of interest.

"It remains unclear the basis of the alleged conflict of interest and the accusation of bias, which in my role in BCTT and on the Planning Commission, are accusations that I take very seriously, and of which I believe are unfounded," Biscoe wrote to Wyse.

Reached by email, Biscoe said she wouldn't comment on the perceived pressure from the county to suppress speech at the event. She added stepping down from introducing the event was to avoid "any perceived bias or conflict as a result of my involvement."

One other presentation was nixed from the event, this one from the Talks Trash legal subcommittee. At the event Mills explained it was because of how convoluted legal issues could be. She urged community members read the detailed report instead.

Civic participation

Mills said that the event's goal was to educate the League as well as the community on the voluminous report, which a lot of time, effort and resources went into creating.

"We thought it would be a good starting point for people concerned about this issue to know, in a very broad sense, what kinds of things are in this report, how they can access it, and whats coming," Mills said by phone.

"Now that the county has initiated a Sustainable Materials Management Plan, we want people to be involved with that process. We think it's really important, and we felt this is a good place for people to start," she said.

"We developed the program knowing that the topic of the landfill is emotionally charged, at least for some folks in the community who care about it," Mills said.

Questions at the event ranged from landfill oversight, groundwater monitoring, post-closure monitoring, terminating the contract with Republic Services, to enforcement and concerns about leachate, a toxic soupy mess created by trash and rainwater.

A question regarding what happens to the waste cap if the landfill is extended south of the Coffin Butte Road was allowed. Per the 2020 franchise agreement, the waste cap  1.1 million tons  will be removed if that expansion occurs.

The county's grip on public discourse about the landfill goes beyond the League event to the structure of the Talks Trash workgroup, according to Ken Eklund, chair of Benton Countys Disposal Site Advisory Committee and its Solid Waste Advisory Council.

Task force members were guided in focusing on the Coffin Butte landfill as an asset while limiting conversations about its liabilities, he said by email.

This was also evident in how the county wanted to suspend meetings for Solid Waste Advisory Council and Disposal Site Advisory Committee while the Talks Trash taskforce effort was ongoing, Eklund said. Then the county dissolved SWAC last month.

"For me, most of all, I was amazed to hear that the landfill expansion itself had become a forbidden topic, as the next application for it is a near-certain future occurrence of clear interest to LWV members, and the reason for the BCTT in the first place," Eklund wrote.

Meanwhile, the Disposal Site Advisory Committee is no longer accepting written correspondence from the public.

Grogan said this is not accurate: "DSAC accepts all input, written and verbal. No change has been made to the DSAC practices."

However, the county's website includes a page for the committee, which clearly says: "Community members may provide verbal comment during the 'Community Member Comment' section of the meeting (when available). Please note, written comments are not accepted."

This is a change from earlier iterations of that page, caught by archive.org's "Wayback Machine" internet archival service, when it said: "Community members may provide verbal comment during the 'Community Member Comment' section of the meeting."

Joel Geier, who was removed from the Talks Trash group for butting heads with the contracted facilitator, echoed Eklund in saying that the county's limitations of public discourse regarding the landfill predate the LWV event.

Geier cited the two-week timeframe neighbors of the landfill were provided for public testimony when the expansion conversation was first made public in July 2021 and the ousting of the only two individuals who represented the concerns of the landfill's neighbors on the taskforce.

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Mills insists that the event had no input from the county and was structured in the way it was to provide information necessary for active civic participation to the community.

"It had everything to do with wanting this program to be as fact-based as possible," Mills said.

According to Mills, the Trash Talks report contains more than 50 pages of personal statements from past and current workgroup and subcommittee members, including four of the events speakers, and it wouldve helped, in retrospect, to mention this detail to the audience at the event.

Related stories:
See the companies that have been highlighted in recent days:

Youth Space, in Rio, celebrates 1 year with new unit and 2,500 vacancies

The project Youth Spaceaimed at taking entrepreneurial education to young people in situations of social vulnerability, completed one year on Thursday (28) with 3 thousand beneficiaries, the inauguration of the fifth unit in the city of Rio de Janeiro and 2,500 open places for courses in October.

An initiative of the Special Secretariat for Youth in Rio de Janeiro, in partnership with Besouro de Fomento Social, the program aims to prepare residents of communities and peripheral regions to enter the job market of the future, the so-called Industry 4.0.

After Estacio, Cidade de Deus, Vigario Geral and Vargem Pequena, Espaco da Juventude arrived this month in the neighborhood of Madureira, in the north of the capital of Rio de Janeiro, to train, free of charge, young people aged 15 to 29, in the areas of innovation and technology. The five units of the Youth Spaces project have new classes for the IT for Business and Game Design courses starting on Monday (2). In total, there are 2,500 vacancies (500 for each unit).

Former Global VP of McDonalds, Leandro Balbinot is the new partner of On2, a Brazilian technology solutions company

Current chief technology officer (CTO) of Whole Foods Market in the United States, Leandro Balbinot joined the membership list of On2 with the aim of reinforcing the growth and internationalization plans of the company from Rio Grande do Sul, specialized in technological solutions and software development. Currently, the company serves global customers such as Toyota and Kinto.

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The executive will serve on a new board called Advisory Board On2, alongside other members of the board Blair DAvila, Cesar Paz, Jaydson Gomes and Felipe Nascimento, who are also, respectively, CEO and CTO. The approach took place this year, during South by Southwest (SXSW), a technology event in Austin, United States, when Cesar proposed corporate and advisory participation.

My goal is to help the company grow. I will guide On2 in relation to expansion planning based on a specialized vision of what the market is looking for in terms of innovation in the technology area, said Leandro.

TroianoBranding renews Novex brand

A TroianoBranding completed the first renovation in the history of Novexwhich belongs to the Beautify. The company, a pioneer in brand management in Brazil, created the creative concept of packaging, product lines, developed a new slogan and redesigned the logo for the cosmetics company. To arrive at the new concept and implement the repositioning, TroianoBranding, led by Jaime Troiano and Cecilia Troiano, carried out in-depth research work.

The entire journey was very rewarding. We reached a result that renews and enhances the brands history, in addition to reinforcing its identity with the target audience, said the general director of TroianoBranding, Cecilia Troiano.

Banco Arbi celebrates launch of Real Digital tests

O Arbi Bank celebrates the installation of the node to carry out the operations of the pilot project of the Real Digital as central bank. The company participates in a consortium led by Tecban and Banco da Amazonia (BASA), together with Pinbank Brasil, Dinamo, Ntokens, Clear Sale, Foxbit Servicos, CPQD, AWS and Parfin. In practice, the structure developed by this group of companies connects to the Bacen blockchain. The expectation is that this phase will end by the beginning of November.

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We are happy with our participation in something so important for the market. With our expertise, we are sure that we deliver the best for the successful installation of the node, contributing to our vocation of innovating with unique partners in the consortium, said Carlos Ripper, from Arbi.

CSD BR platform allows you to centralize processes for company financial operations

A CSD BR, a financial market infrastructure company, developed a platform that digitally formalizes the post-negotiation process of derivative operations, and which can be used by any company that carries out this type of operation. Among those who already use the system, called Agap, are large companies in agribusiness, industry and commerce.

According to CSD BR, Agap has proven to be particularly interesting for audit work, as it operates in two essential aspects: the traceability of processes and the availability of evidence. This is possible since all procedures within the platform are traceable. In other words, in audit situations, it is possible to extract specific information, generating the evidence required in the process, explained the CEO of CSD BR, Edivar Queiroz.

HMC Capital receives international award from Preqin

Expanding in Brazil, the HMC Capital was awarded for the fourth consecutive year in a ranking by Preqin, an English financial data and information company in the private equity industry. The company, which in Brazil has already signed commercial representation partnerships with names such as Turim, Tarpon and Vinland, achieved recognition in two categories. The first in Allocating Agents by Fund Size, and the second by the number of funds managed. It was the only office in Latin America to receive the award.

According to the Preqin report, which was carried out using data from more than 83 thousand private equity funds, ESG criteria continue to gain ground. The value of capital raised by funds with an ESG policy tripled from US$29 billion to US$92 billion between 2020 and 2022, according to the ESG report, says the publication.
O Brazilian central bank authorized the Monte Bravoan investment consultancy linked to XPto become a broker.

The company, which had already demonstrated its interest in becoming a broker in 2021, when it started its partnership with XPis now ready to start its operation.

The founders, Filipe Portella and Pier Mattei, state in a video published online that the application already used by customers will remain the same. In this way, they guarantee security and solidity in this new phase, without profoundly affecting what is already working.

Have you ever thought about working in the financial market? Joao Piccioni, chief analyst at Empiricus, told everything it takes to become a successful stock analyst on Carreiras e Afins, a new videocast from Money Times. Watch here:

XP continues with us in this new phase, as a strategic partner and custodian, ensuring that the security and solidity you are used to will remain the same, they explain in the video.

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In recent years, the company has already structured a resource management company called Kilima Asset and also bought the Zahl Investmentsother consultancy.

MB currently has R$35 billion under custody, with ten offices spread across Brazil, being present in Sao Paulo, Campinas, Porto Alegre, Santa Maria, Novo Hamburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Goiania, Curitiba and Brasilia. The goal now is to reach the R$100 billion mark by 2025.

In July, another major consultancy that became a broker was EQI Investimentos and now dreams of becoming an investment bank. FAMI Capital, the merger of Faros Investimentos with Messem, is also in the process of validation by the BC.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Viera, who is in Cambodia, will embark this Thursday, 12th, for New York, to participate in the meeting with ambassador Sergio Danese, who heads the Council

REUTERS/Carlo Allegri UN Security Council meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York



O Brazil called for this Friday, the 13th, a meeting of the UN Security Council (United Nations) to discuss humanitarian issues in the Gaza Strip and debate resolutions to the conflict in the region. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vierawho is in Cambodia, will embark this Thursday, 12th, to New Yorkto participate in the meeting with the ambassador Sergio Danese, who leads the Council. The escalation of the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas It occurs at a time when Brazil presides over the international body that has the power to mediate conflicts and approve resolutions that must be followed by all member countries of the United Nations in favor of peace. For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) it is necessary to take advantage of the fact that he is occupying the presidency to discuss and lead efforts for peace in the region. The Brazilian government fears that the war will escalate to the point of becoming a new global front of conflict, as is the case in the war in Ukraine.

In an interview with Jovem Pan News, Karina Calandrin, who is a collaborator at the Brazil-Israel Institute, has a doctorate in international relations, with a focus on the Middle East, hopes that Brazil classifies Hamas as a terrorist group in the next meetings: It is necessary that the Brazilian government has a more incisive and clearer and tougher position against Hamas terrorism and terrorist actions in general, obviously condemning the victimization of civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian. This is a position that Brazil still lacks. As president of the UN Security Council, occupying this space, it is important that this position is well defined.

The presidency of the body is rotating, and lasts only one month, that is, in November Brazil will leave this position. Economist Alexandre Pires highlights that the countrys weight in the Council is limited, since Brazil is one of the ten temporary members, and ends its two-year term on December 31: It is only possible that we have something more definitive, when its five permanent members  the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China  reach an agreement and make the countries feel obliged to follow a new guideline. As this conflict divides all these great powers, with divergent interests, the Security Council can do little and the resolutions that can be approved have little weight.

*With information from reporter Daniel Lian
The Iowa Traction Railway was awarded the inaugural "Outstanding Railroad Historic Preservation Award" on Oct. 2 in Indianapolis.

The award was presented to Roadmaster Mike Rumeliote and former owner Dave Johnson at the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association's annual conference. The reward honors a North American common-carrier railroad for a historically significant preservation project.

"Basically this has been preservation and maintenance for over a hundred years," Rumeliote said. "We're maintaining them the way they were when they were new in 1917 and the 1920s."

The Iowa Traction Railway was one of five nominees for the award. Railroads were nominated and voted on by readers of "Railway Age" and Railway Track & Structures, along with members of the National Railway Historical Society.

The Iowa Traction Railway, founded in 1897, has a fleet of four locomotives  the newest being 100 years old.

"It's a neat thing and really, how many railroaders can say they (use) something every day that's a hundred years old," Rumeliote said.

Johnson sold the Iowa Traction Railway to Progressive Rail Inc. in 2012 after purchasing the line in 1987. According to Railway Age, the Traction is the last functional interurban freight railroad in North America.

People in Mason City wondered if I was a fool or a visionary, Johnson told Trains.com at the conference. I told them neither; well just have to see. A little of both, I guess. I had it for 25 years. It was more than a job to me. I retired when I was 70 because my wife thought I should  If I had it do to over again, I wouldnt have retired. Id still be doing it.

The business employs nine people as engineers, conductors, maintenance and a clerk. The line is powered by overhead electric lines and runs between Mason City and Clear Lake.

Rumeliote joked that due to recent green energy movements, the line is more popular than ever.

"We were electric when electric wasn't cool," he said.

Photos: Railroading Heritage of Midwest America
The Iowa Department of Education announced close to 19,000 education savings accounts (ESAs) had been approved through a new state program that allows families to use public funds to pay for private school tuition.

The number of students who used an ESA to attend private school this year, as well as the number of students who transferred out of public school to attend private school with an ESA, will not be made public until certified enrollment data is released in December, department officials said.

The state approved 18,893 applications for the program for this school year, according to a press release from the state Department of Education.

The Students First education savings account program, signed into law by Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in January, allows students to receive their full public per-pupil allocation, around $7,600, to pay for a private school tuition and related costs. The approval period for this year's program closed Sept. 30.

These numbers reflect that Iowans were hungry for educational freedom," Reynolds said in a statement on Thursday. "Empowering parents wasnt just a campaign slogan or empty rhetoric. It was a promise, and I am excited to say we are delivering.

The number reflects students who applied and were approved for the state assistance, not the number of students who used those accounts to attend a private school this year. Because of space limitations at private schools, not all of those approved may have attended private school.

If an approved student does not attend a private school, the money is returned to the states general fund.

For those students who are attending private schools this year with an ESA, department officials said the department has already begun sending payments to private schools for their tuition.

The number far exceeds legislative predictions for the program's first year. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency predicted around 14,000 applications would be approved in the first year, for a total cost of $106.9 million.

If each of the approved students attends a private school, the cost would increase by more than $35 million.

How many applied, and who was denied?

The total number of applications submitted for the program was 29,612, which is more than 500 more than was reported when the application window ended in July. The additional applications were from people who had already applied but had to restart their application, the Department of Education said.

Of the nearly 30,000 applications, 5,927 were denied because the family did not meet the residency or income requirements, the department said. Another 4,792 were duplicates or were closed voluntarily by the applicant.

Students coming from public school not announced

For its first year, the program was open to public school students and incoming kindergarteners at any income level, as well as private school students in families that have an income below 300% of the federal poverty line. By the 2025-26 school year, the accounts will be available to all students, regardless of income.

Department of Education officials said on Thursday they would not be able to provide the percentage of approved students who already attend a private school and who attended a public school until certified enrollment data is released.

In an August state Board of Education meeting, officials said they expected this years portion of approved applicants to be around 60% private school students and 40% public school students.

Which counties had the most ESA applications approved?

The state's most populous counties had the most approved applications, with four counties receiving more than 1,000 approvals. The top 10 counties are as follows:

Polk County: 3,179

Linn County: 1,344

Scott County: 1,309

Sioux County: 1,200

Black Hawk County: 955

Woodbury County: 930

Dubuque County: 892

Johnson County: 585

Dallas County: 508

Carroll County: 438

Democrats: Program hands millions to special interests

Legislative Democrats, who hold a minority in both the House and Senate, staunchly opposed the program when it was passed by Republicans earlier this year. They argued it would pull money away from struggling public schools and give it to unaccountable private entities.

In a statement on Thursday, House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights said Iowans are opposed to the program and want to see public money being used in public schools.

"The $139 million Reynolds is handing over to the special interests and private schools should be going to the kids in Iowas public schools," Konfrst said. "Iowans want us to focus on the real issues facing our students today. That means strengthening public schools, addressing Iowas teacher shortage, getting students the one-on-one attention they deserve, and expanding school-based mental health services to support students."

Iowa Sen. Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, called on Reynolds to release more information about how the accounts are being used.

"Iowa parents, educators, and communities deserve to know how many vouchers are actually being used in Iowa, who is taking advantage of them, and how much private vouchers are costing public taxpayers," Quirmbach said.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Grimes, said on Thursday the number of approvals show that there is a demand for the program in Iowa.

"It also shows a vast majority of Iowa students will continue to be educated in public schools. Senate Republicans will continue to provide sustainable increases in funding for all Iowa students and implement policies to make Iowa schools the best in the country," he said in a written statement.

Inflation has caused a massive shift in consumer spending habitshere's a closer look at how Inflation has caused a massive shift in consumer spending habitshere's a closer look at how
enigma123 wrote:

Editorial : Regulations recently imposed by the government of Risemia call for unprecedented reductions in the amounts of pollutants manufacturers are allowed to discharge into the environment. It will take costly new pollution control equipment requiring expensive maintenance to comply with these regulations. Resultant price increases for Risemian manufactured goods will lead to the loss of some export markets. Clearly, therefore, annual exports of Risemian manufactured goods will in the future occur at diminished levels.



Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument in the editorial?





(A) The need to comply with the new regulations will stimulate the development within Risemia of new pollution control equipment for which a strong worldwide demand is likely to emerge.



(B) The proposed regulations include a schedule of fines for noncompliance that escalate steeply in cases of repeated noncompliance.



(C) Savings from utilizing the chemicals captured by the pollution control equipment will remain far below the cost of maintaining the equipment.



(D) By international standards, the levels of pollutants currently emitted by some of Risemia's manufacturing plants are not considered excessive.



(E) The stockholders of most of Risemia's manufacturing corporations exert substantial pressure on the corporations to comply with environmental laws.

Karishma Bansal - ANA PREP



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New regulations require costly new pollution control equipment.Resultant price increases for Risemian manufactured goods will lead to the loss of some export markets.Conclusion: Clearly, therefore, annual exports of Risemian manufactured goods will in the future occur at diminished levels.The conclusion says that annual exports of Risemian manufactured goods will diminish. Note that we are not talking only about the currently manufactured goods but about all Risemian manufactured goods - those that are manufactured currently and those that will be manufactured in the future too.We need to weaken this.(A) The need to comply with the new regulations will stimulate the development within Risemia of new pollution control equipment for which a strong worldwide demand is likely to emerge.Due to this need, Risemia will develop new equipment. This equipment will have strong worldwide demand. So the equipment that will be made in Risemia will have strong demand outside. Hence, the exports may not fall. These new products may carry the export numbers in the future. Correct. There is no reason to believe that equipment developed in Risemia for use in Risemia may not be manufactured in Risemia. It is a fair assumption that developed in Risemia means designed and manufactured there.(E) The stockholders of most of Risemia's manufacturing corporations exert substantial pressure on the corporations to comply with environmental laws.Doesn't talk about exports at all. What stockholders feel is irrelevant.Answer (A)_________________
A new law in North Carolina says high school students must take a computer science class to graduate  starting with those entering high school as ninth graders in 2026-27.

North Carolina would be the eighth state to require a computer science course upon graduation, according to the states department of public instruction. Its the first time in a century North Carolina has added a content area to the graduation requirements.

In both Guilford County and Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools some students take computer science, but theres no local requirement for it.

Students taking AP Computer Science Principles at High Point Central High School said on Tuesday that the change seems like a good idea.

Since technology is only going to progress as we go on as a society, its only right that we also catch up with it and expand our knowledge of technology, said Jeff Rey, a High Point Central senior, who is one of about 14 students at the school currently enrolled in the course. I feel like if we dont expand our knowledge on the technology now, we have no idea whats going to come in the future.

For the graduation requirement, districts must offer high school students, a computer science course which includes instruction in using existing technologies and creating new technologies.

Thats according to the new law, which was passed by the state legislature, almost unanimously, and signed by Gov. Roy Cooper late last month. The law also requires districts to provide a introductory computer science elective to middle school students.

The states department of public instruction is set to provide more details to districts about what specific courses will count for the computer science requirements. Thats a big question going forward.

Early on, Democrats had objected to a provision of the bill that could have lead to the end of the states requirement for students to take Earth Science, but when that provision proved controversial, bill sponsors scrapped it in favor of dropping one elective requirement instead. The total number of credits required by the state to graduate will remain the same.

Back in February, Tricia McManus, the superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools said students are learning the basics of computer technology from an early age, and on a lifelong basis, without having it as a requirement in school.

I do not think mandating another class meets the needs of all students and it reduces student flexibility, she said. We want students to be able to explore their passions.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools spokesman Brent Campbell said that if additional teachers are needed for the new requirement, it likely will be a challenge to locate them as we are already experiencing a teacher shortage, especially amongst specialized classes and subjects.

We will await further guidance from NCDPI as to who can teach these courses, he said. We will certainly add this to our already aggressive campaigns to recruit and retain teachers of all types.

Dale Watkins, who teaches the AP Computer Science Principles course, along with computer networking at High Point Central High School, said one possibility is that teachers might come from other subjects.

Watkins has been teaching computer networking as a career and technical education course for decades, but is newer to teaching AP Computer Science. Before starting the schools new AP Computer Science Principles Class in 2019, he attended a training through N.C. State to learn how to the teach the course.

His classmates in that teacher course, he said, came from a variety of disciplines including science, math, history and English  in addition to career and technical education.

The AP Computer Science Principles course wasnt too difficult to pick up, as far as learning how to teach it, he said. And being able to share ideas with colleagues who came from a variety of academic fields was a plus.

We all teach differently and see things differently, and bring different things to the table, he said.
A Charlotte Observer editorial:

Yes, really.

Following parent complaints, the district has apparently decided that Red: A Crayons Story may not comply with North Carolinas new parental rights law, which bans instruction on gender identity, sexual activity and sexuality in kindergarten through fourth-grade classrooms.

Its a picture book about a crayon that is told he is red, but cant do things that red crayons can do, like draw red strawberries, red hearts or red ants. Instead, everything he draws is blue. His fellow crayons suggest that if he works a little harder, or fixes whatever is wrong with him, he can do the things that red crayons are supposed to do. In the end, he realizes that hes actually just blue, and thats perfectly OK.

Real controversial, huh?

While the book could be used as an allegory for gender identity or sexuality, it doesnt have to be. It could represent just about anything that has to do with stereotypes or labels forced upon us by society. Its not promoting any agenda, other than the basic message that we should be true to ourselves and embrace our differences, instead of judging one another for them.

In fact, thats exactly what it was meant to teach in the classroom. CMS says the book was selected to teach kindergarten students about differences and acceptance, as part of the districts agreement to provide age-appropriate Title IX lessons to all students about harassment and bullying.

We received concerns from parents and guardians about the book as it relates to the Parents Bill of Rights, specifically, age-appropriate instruction for grades kindergarten through fourth grade, the district said in a statement. Upon further review the book was removed.

Whats interesting is that, about six years ago, Red: A Crayons Story was viewed as a palatable alternative to Jacobs New Dress, a picture book about a boy who likes to wear dresses. Jacobs New Dress was meant to be used as part of an anti-bullying program in first grade classes. But Republican lawmakers caught wind of that plan and were prepared to step in, until CMS decided to replace it with Red: A Crayons Story instead. That seemed to be a good enough solution at the time.

But flash-forward to 2023, and reading books like Red: A Crayons Story to elementary school students may actually be illegal in North Carolina. The Parents Bill of Rights is apparently vague enough to cause CMS to steer clear of a book about crayons, despite the fact that it makes zero reference to gender identity or sexuality. When repeatedly asked whether Red: A Crayons Story would still be available to students in school libraries, CMS did not respond.

Its a sign that our society may be regressing. Old tropes and tactics  like calling queer folks pedophiles, or book-banning  are being dusted off and recycled. Questions we thought were close to being resolved are being re-litigated. Requests to ban books at U.S. schools and libraries hit a 21-year high in 2022, and a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year.

We can see this regression by comparing North Carolinas present with its recent past. In 2016, House Bill 2 was such an extreme outlier that the nationwide backlash it received ultimately forced its repeal. In 2023, were passing laws like HB 2 on a regular basis, and theres minimal political and economic fallout for Republicans.

The Charlotte Observer published an editorial about the Jacobs New Dress saga back in 2017, applauding CMS for choosing Red: A Crayons Story as a substitute instead of scrapping its lesson plans altogether.

By no means are gays and lesbians safe from bias and violence now, but progress has come slowly and inevitably, as it does for minority groups, the editorial said then. The same will happen, in small steps, with the transgender community.

That seemed like a reasonable prediction at the time. But, thanks to an insurgence of reactionary conservatives, weve ended up in a much different place  one in which we reflexively ban anything that could possibly imply acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, for fear that 5-year-olds might pick up on the metaphor.
The artifacts I photographed are in the autumn of their lives. So am I.

So writes Richard S. Buswell in the closing sentence of the introduction to his new book, The Quest: A Montanans Photographic Journey.

Buswell will show never-before-published photos from the book at The Myrna Loy Jailhouse Gallery Oct. 10-29.

An opening reception celebrating the book and exhibit is from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at the gallery.

Just released by Montana Historical Society Press and University of Montana Press, the book will be on sale that night for $29.95.

This will also be a rare opportunity to purchase a Buswell photo and meet the author.

This is Buswells seventh book.

If you go... What: Richard Buswell: book release and photo exhibit, The Quest: A Montanans Photographic Journey When: 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 Where: The Myrna Loy Jailhouse Gallery Cost: Event free Contact: For information, call 406-443-0287 or visit The Myrna Loy, 15 N. Ewing, themyrnaloy.com

Hes become known for his meticulous and artistic black-and-white photos of Montana ghost town artifacts.

After 51 years of hiking into the mountains and unpeopled lands to silently capture an image, as well as the spirit of a long-abandoned homestead, he has taken his final ghost town photo.

Who were the people who lived in these abandoned cabins?

What made them suddenly walk out  a plate of food on the table, a hand of cards fanned out, a wide-eyed China doll left behind?

The viewer gets to create the storyline.

Buswell also has an uncanny eye for seeing abstract beauty in a rusted, discarded object, a piece of driftwood, an abandoned bedstead.

He wrote of approaching one homestead cabin that looks like a place where its people gave up, tired of trying to wrench a living from recalcitrant soil. They seem to have left abruptly; their dreams betrayed. I try to imagine the moment that the last person closed the door and just up and left.

The 78-year-old Buswell is retracing footsteps of his childhood, when he would go ghost-towning with his parents.

In the past half-century, hes carried a 42-pound backpack of camera equipment on his mostly lone sojourns on weekends.

Hiking alone has attuned me to sights and sounds that I would otherwise miss. The sound of quiet causes me to lose my hurry.

During this photo career hes taken a total of 534 photos. One year, I only took one photo, he said during an interview at his kitchen table in his Helena home with his wife Sue, who assisted with details of the book.

Yale University and the Montana Historical Society are the only ones to buy his entire collection of photos; 232 other museums have partial collections.

He also acknowledged he would never have been able to pursue this passion over the decades without Sues support.

Working as a doctor during the week, he would hike to far-flung ghost towns in the mountains many weekends, while she took care of their three children and household.

Hes used the same 52-year-old Nikkormat all these years.

Pursuit of the perfect photo takes days.

Finding something fresh that he hasnt photographed before is a huge challenge.

Nothing is automatic, he said. He manually sets the exposure and determines the shutter speed and typically he takes his shots in the two-hour window around either sunrise or sunset.

His darkroom processes are painstaking, manually developing his black-and-white film.

Then he spends hours or days in the darkroom perfecting the exposure of the image and printing it on carefully chosen photographic paper.

He finished the process with selenium or gold toning that made the print last hundreds of years.

He is extremely meticulous, said Sue, who had a long career in nursing.

Everything is done exactly. I dont think Ive ever seen anyone work so hard on a process to get it exactly right. Sometimes I feel like Nancy Russell, she quipped.

He started out doing the photos as just a fun way to get up in the mountains and go exploring, he said. What surprised him was how many museums expressed interest in this work.

What is the story the items tell? he asked.

They are mostly tragic.

The abandoned cabins portray heartbreak.

Walking through the cemeteries of ghost towns, one finds that whole families  a mother and five children  could be wiped out by diphtheria.

A husband could come home from working at a distant mine only to find his whole family dead. How could you carry on?

Diana Di Stefano, manager of MHS publications, said theres something honest about the collection of photos.

Theyre honest about failure. The book is an opportunity to take the photos home and contemplate them. Its unique and provocative, adding that Buswell is a Montana institution.

Buswells photography has been shown in exhibits worldwide.

In later years, Buswell has focused his camera eye on the abstract riches he sees in close-ups of left-behind objects  from a raptor skeleton to an abandoned doll.

Theres quite a bit of variety, said guest curator Amy Brakeman Livezey. There are wonderful pattern-filled photographs of either decaying buildings or natural objects, then there are photographs of old, discarded found objects like decayed belt buckles.

The result of highlighting these objects can be transcendent.

Buswell also made some life-filled, abstract images of plants.

The theme of the book is unpublished works, he said. Im finding it very difficult to find something I havent photographed before.

One thing Buswell is particularly moved by is that hes been able to capture ghost towns and preserve them in photos that will last long after the buildings have disappeared.

Sue noted that years ago, Richard took her to a ghost town he wanted to explore and they pulled up to see people with chainsaws.

They had no compunction, no regrets about cutting it down and selling it.

There will be a brief talk by longtime friend John Sullivan, refreshments and an opportunity to visit with Buswell.

For information, call 406-443-0287 or visit The Myrna Loy, 15 N. Ewing St., themyrnaloy.com.
An Idaho man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine in Helena and Great Falls was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, officials said.

Thomas Lee Dieruf, 40, of Osborn, Idaho, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided in Great Falls.

The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement in Helena and Great Falls identified Dieruf as supplying meth, and in January 2022, investigators arranged to buy some from him.

Dieruf left his home in Idaho and traveled to Montana, where law enforcement detained him at a gas station in St. Regis. Officers executing a search warrant on his car found about a quarter pound of meth, a digital scale, plastic bags and two pistols, authorities said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Missouri River Drug Task Force, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program blending all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make neighborhoods safer.
Helena police said Thursday the investigation is continuing into who shot at the Planned Parenthood office a week ago, and the FBI is assisting them.

Assistant Chief Cory Bailey said in an email the police have received some tips but no arrests have been made.

On Oct. 5, someone fired two rounds from a shotgun at the Planned Parenthood building at 1500 Cannon St. in Helena at about 5:45 p.m.

While officers were checking the area, they received another call advising that someone had shot the front entry of the business. It was determined that someone had walked up to the front of the Planned Parenthood office and fired two rounds from a shotgun at the front door, authorities said.

There were no injuries reported.

Mary Sullivan, Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, said they had no updates to report.

Our staff and patients are doing well and weve received a ton of community support in Helena and from around the state, she said in a text. Security measures are still strong and we have had extra support in Helena this week.

She said the building sustained "minor damage," but that was repaired this week. She declined further comment.

Police have released photographs of a person carrying what appears to be a shotgun and two photos of a vehicle.

The FBI on Thursday sent an email asking for the public's help and said it was believed the person was driving a 1992-1997 Toyota Corolla station wagon.

People with information should contact Detective Kent Anderson at 406-444-1319 or the Helena Police Department dispatch at 406-457-8865. Those who want to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 406-443-2000, online at www.helenacrimestoppers.com, or with the P3 Tips app.

People can also contact the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office at 801-579-1400, your local FBI office or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The Planned Parenthood Helena office offers affordable comprehensive reproductive health care, which includes abortions.
CONOVER  The Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC) at Catawba Valley College hosted a Manufacturing Day event at its Conover facility on Oct. 5, with more than 75 local residents, businesses and MSC partners in attendance.

The program was co-sponsored by the Conover branch of the Catawba County Library System.

The event included an overview of MSC operations along with presentations from companies that reside and operate in the MSC II building which opened earlier this year. Attendees also toured both MSC buildings including MSCs testing labs and product development facilities.

Manufacturing Day is a nationwide celebration of those who produce goods and services in America, and it promotes the importance of modern manufacturing careers. The MSCs mission is to support U.S. manufacturers and to create and retain U.S. manufacturing jobs. To learn more about the MSC, visit www.manufacturingsolutionscenter.org.
How did The Lost Colony fit in the founding of the English colonies in North America?

Virginia Dare was born at the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, the first child of English parents in America was born, and that gives North Carolinians a strong claim to be a critical part of the English colonization effort.

But since that colony disappeared without a trace, can we claim that this unsuccessful colonization effort was part of later permanent colonization efforts in Virginia and New England?

Absolutely, says John May, author of an upcoming book to be titled English America: An Introduction to The Lost Colony and Jamestown. It is scheduled for publication next year by McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books.

May argues that the founding of the first enduring English American colony was one continuous effort interrupted by war with Spain. The Roanoke Island and Jamestown colonies constitute the selfsame history in all meaningful respects. Think of Jamestown as the second act of the two-act play but under new direction and with it all new cast of characters.

In October 1584, at the request of Sir Walter Raleighs supporters, a young scholar, Richard Hakluyt, prepared a prospectus outlining the potential political advantages of a colony in the part of North America that had been named Virginia. Hakluyt delivered a copy to Queen Elizabeth.

The queen offered only minimal support for Raleighs venture.

But May argues that the objectives outlined in the prospectus remained unchanged for the next 25 years. But in all those years of trial and error  of one heartbreaking failure after another  the one constant and central presence in the effort was Richard Hakluyt.

Raleigh, the most prominent supporter of the first colonization effort on Roanoke, had the most to gain.

With a successful permanent settlement within seven years of his grant in 1584, Raleigh would be granted title to most of the eastern part of North America. But Raleigh had stepped aside and become involved in other adventures.

Efforts to establish a colony on Roanoke Island continued, and May tells the stories of that colony in engaging detail, beginning with their biggest problem, the unsuitability of our coast to support a colonization effort.

The coast of North Carolina was an inauspicious choice for a first colony. From the seashore island for up to fifty miles, the land is swampy or so low-lying it often floods and much of it in the sixteenth century was thick forested wetlands that were all but impenetrable.

English galleons had an average draft of twelve feet, but inlets into the Pamlico Sound  through which Roanoke Island is accessed  or blocked to such ships by shallow sandbars that shift with every major storm.

Dangerous offshore shallows  Wimble, Diamond, and Frying Pan Shoals  extend miles out into the Atlantic, and seas off the Outer Banks are subject to riptides and cross currents caused by the conflicts of the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current. These hazards have caused countless shipwrecks and given to this region of the North American coast the baleful epitaph Graveyard of the Atlantic.

In Mays detailed account of the Virginia Colony, his hero is John Smith, the rough-and-ready Daniel Boone character who also fought against the Native Americans and still gained their respect.

The story about the Native American emperor Powhatans daughter rescuing Smith from execution is based on Smiths later written account. May says that, although this account is probably not completely accurate, Pocahontas had a real expectation that Smith would become a part of the Powhatan family. Smiths failure to meet this expectation was a great disappointment to her.

Mays copious research combined with his great storytelling gifts make his story of the Lost Colony and Jamestown histories a reading pleasure.

The Lost Colony itself had disappeared without a trace.

But there were others who were eager to take up the baton and see what profits could be squeezed from the great unknown of North America about which Hakluyt promised so much.
" " An artist's rendering of an aswang. MDV Edwards/Shutterstock

Jordan Clark is a filmmaker and researcher who has devoted years to studying aswang lore in the Philippines. He runs The Aswang Project website and directed a documentary web series called "Creatures of Philippine Mythology."

"The aswang is a very old cultural belief that means something different to each region of the Philippines," says Clark in an email. "The belief that the aswang was the main bringer of awful things was likely very prevalent before Spanish arrival."

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In 1589, a Spanish friar named Juan de Plasencia documented the indigenous beliefs in "devils" and other demons in a book called, "Customs of the Tagalogs" (Tagalog is one of the main languages spoken in the Philippines).

"The distinctions made among the priests of the devil were as follows," wrote de Plasencia. "...the eighth they called OSUANG, which is equivalent to 'sorcerer;' they say that they have seen him fly, and that he murdered men and ate their flesh."

The vampiric, humanoid form of the aswang lurks on rooftops at night and can lower its long, proboscis-like tongue through a "lick hole" in the ceiling. The aswang is believed to target particularly vulnerable victims like pregnant women and children, either by sucking out their insides with its prehensile tongue or infecting them with a deadly disease.

Clark says that belief in the aswang is strongest in regions of the Philippines that were heavily influenced by Hinduism before the Spanish arrival, and that other regions have their own animist explanations for illness, miscarriage or death.

"It was a way to explain such occurrences and enlist the help of a shaman to use natural remedies and ritual to heal the person and vanquish the unwanted spirit," says Clark, who says that belief in the aswang can still "wreak havoc" in rural pockets of the Philippines, even leading to the occasional "witch hunt" for the alleged perpetrator.
Hot dog sale

Mt. Mitchell UMC is having a hot dog sale on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Homecoming and revival

Pastor Richie Honeycutt will preach at the Franklin Heights Baptist Church homecoming and revival. The church is at 526 Wright Road, Kannapolis.

Homecoming will be held Sunday, Oct. 15, at 10:30 a.m. A meal will follow the worship service.

Revival will start with additional meetings Sunday at 6 p.m. and continue Monday, Oct. 16, through Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.

A hot dog meal will also be provided on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m.

Honeycutt is the pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Iron Station.

Salvation Army Women's Auxilliary meeting

The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary will hold its General Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24, The meeting will be held at The Salvation Army of Cabarrus County headquarters at 216 Patterson Ave SE, Concord.

Socializing and refreshments begin at 9:30 a.m. prior to the meeting at 10. Deputy Claudette Camille of the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office will be speaking on personal safety issues, an important topic especially as the holiday season approaches.

There will be pre-owned books available for sale, with proceeds to be used to buy new books for the Christmas Angel Tree project. The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary functions as a fund raising and volunteer service group in support of The Salvation Army's programs and activities in the community.

70th Cold Springs BBQ/Brunswick Stew

The 70th Annual Cold Springs Global Methodist Church BBQ/Brunswick Stew will be held Saturday, Oct. 28 starting at 9 a.m.

The BBQ and Brunswick Stew will be carry-outs only.

Poplar Tent Presbyterian Fall Festival

The Fall Festival at Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church at 6841Poplar Tent Road, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 29.

The festival is free to the community from 5 until 7 p.m.. There will be, Trunk or Treat, live music, food truck, face painting, corn hole, games and more.

Quilt show, bake sale and auction

A quilt show, bake sale and silent auction will be held at Epworth UMC, 1030 Burrage Rd. NE, Concord, on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event features new and historic pieced quilts, quilting material for sale, silent auction items, and cash-and-carry baked goods.

The Quilt Show is sponsored by members of the Epworth United Women in Faith. If you want to display a quilt, contact Jewell Parker, 704-918-7250.

The Bulb Market: Fresh produce and more

The Bulb Market at Grace Lutheran Church is open every Friday from 3-4 p.m. with fresh produce for the community.

Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center will be offering primary care and basic health screenings on-site at the church on the second Friday of each month. Grace Lutheran is at 58 Chestnut Drive, Concord.

A summer of fitness

Revelation Fitness is at Grace Lutheran Church on Mondays this summer from 6-7 p.m.

Led by Revelation Wellness certified instructors Stephanie Flowe and Rebecca Hoover, Revelation Fitness combines tabata, drumstick cardio and circuit work with the word of God to create an atmosphere of acceptance and community, moving our bodies in joy, not perfection.

Ages 10 and older, of all fitness levels, are welcome. Bring water, hand weights, drumsticks and a mat (all are available if needed). There is no cost, but donations to Grace Lutheran Church health ministry are accepted.

For more information, call Rebecca Hoover, faith community nurse, at 980-721-4321. Grace Lutheran is at 58 Chestnut Drive, Concord.

Griefshare support group

If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join us for a Griefshare support group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road, NW, Concord, weekly on Tuesdays through Oct. 31, from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155.

Barbecue chicken dinner

New Gilead Reformed Church will have a barbecue chicken dinner fundraiser from 11 a.m. until sold out on Saturday, Oct. 21.

It will be dine in or carryout. The church is at 2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Concord.

A plate includes: half a barbecue chicken, beans, slaw, roll, chips, drink and dessert for $11. A whole chicken is $9 and a quart of slaw is $5.

Soup and sandwich sale

Mt. Mitchell UMC is having a soup and sandwich sale on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Halloween supper

A Halloween supper will be provided by Mt. Mitchell UMC for the trick or treaters families from 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 31, at Yost Park beside the church.

The church is at 6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis.

Surviving the Holidays program

Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road, NW, Concord will be hosting a GriefShare Surviving the Holidays event on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The holiday season can be especially painful after the loss of a loved one. Please join us for this encouraging seminar. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155.

Sportscenter Weekly Bible Study

Join Calvary Lutheran Church for their Sportscenter Weekly Bible Study. Pastor Debbie Frye hosts a weekly bible study every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Sportscenter, 233 Country Club Drive NE, Concord.

Centering Prayer weekly via Zoom

This Centering Prayer Group meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. All are welcome. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or contact the church office at 704-782-6923.

Trunk or Treat and Cookout at Calvary Lutheran

Calvary Lutheran Church is hosting its Trunk or Treat and Cookout on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 4 p.m. It is trick-or-treating in a fun, safe environment from 4-5 p.m.

Afterward enjoy a hot dog supper and outdoor games until 6 p.m. Free event. You can also enter your vehicle to give out treats.

To sign up please visit: Trunk or Treat Vehicle Signup: Calvary Trunk or Treat Vehicle Signup (signupgenius.com). The church is located at 950 Bradley St., Concord.

Caregiver Support Group via Zoom

Calvary Lutheran Churchs Caregiver Support Group is meeting Monday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

This Caregiver Support Group meets monthly via Zoom. All are welcome. For the Zoom link please check the Calvary Lutheran Church Facebook page or website http://www.clconcord.org, or contact the church office at 704-782-6923.

Food give away

A Thanksgiving Food Give-A-Way will be held Saturday, Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free fruits, vegetables and turkey. Pick up sites: Grace Lutheran Church, 88 Chestnut Drive SW, Concord, www.glconcordnc.org and Zion Hill ANE Zion Church, 86 Skipwith St. SW, Concord, www.zionhillamez.com.
With the week of Oct. 8 being Fire Prevention Week, the Concord Fire Department partnered with the National Fire Protection Association to offer a community event at Fire Station 12 on Tuesday afternoon.

Young children got the chance to meet and take photos with Sparky the Fire Dog and NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver/Owner Joey Gase all while learning about the importance of fire safety, especially when it comes preventing house fires.

So far this year, 106 people across North Carolina have died in house fires, according to N.C. Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey, including the three siblings who lost their lives in an early morning fire at their Concord home in August. Last year, there were 151 fire deaths in the state.

It is so sad to see this because it is preventable, Causey told the Independent Tribune. Were hoping that events like this will slow down this trend because its certainly been going in the wrong direction.

Causey said more than half of house fires start from cooking fires, which is why this years Fire Prevention theme is Cooking Safety Starts With You.

Too often, Causey said, people start cooking and then get distracted, perhaps responding to a phone call, and leave the kitchen. Before they know it, the whole house is on fire.

Fire departments often respond to house fires that started as a result of a child left alone at home who was playing with the stove. And all of these examples are so preventable, Causey said.

He also emphasized the importance of families choosing a meeting place a short but safe distance from home as part of an escape plan should a fire occur.

To help teach children the importance of fire alarms  which need to be replaced every 10 years  and offer other safety tips, a Fire Prevention and Life Safety Trailer was at the fire station. Former Concord firefighter Norman Franklin, who served for more than 30 years and now works for the Department of Insurance, helped design the trailer, Causey said.

This is so important to children to have a positive exposure and to learn about fire prevention and fire safety, Causey said.

Concord Fire Marshal Adam Ryerson also offered a few common sense safety tips to prevent house fires, including not putting water on a grease fire and making sure to have a cover if there is ever a fire in a cooking pot. During colder weather, Ryerson added, people should make sure space heaters are several feet away from any towels or linens that could possibly catch fire.
All Peoples Church of Jesus Christ

Worship at 11 a.m. Sunday at American Legion Post 172. Pastor: Prophet Roland Jordan. Sermon: Circumstances. Scriptures Romans 8:28.

Ann Street United Methodist Church

335 Ann St., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Randy L. Wall. In person and Facebook Live worship at 11 a.m. Sermon: Whats Right with the Church: Our Resources. Scripture: I Timothy 6:6-19.

Bethpage United Methodist Church

109 Fellowship Ave. at West C St., Kannapolis. 704-932-5296. Pastor: Rev. McKenzie Sefa. Christian Education at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. Sermon: Grace: In the Beginning Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5, 26-31; Psalm 8:3-4.

Bogers Chapel United Methodist Church

1775 Flowes Store Road E., Concord. Pastor: Pastor Eric Shaver. 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship service (in person. YouTube, or Facebook). Sermon title: Wondering. Open Reading: Psalm 23. Scripture reading: Isaiah 25:1-9.

Calvary Lutheran Church

950 Bradley St., Concord. 704-782-6923. Pastor: Rev. Debbie Frye. Outdoor in-person worship at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. (Traditional worship with Childrens Church). Coffee/Cookie Social 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday school for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Childrens area and nursery available at all times. All services live-streamed and available anytime on the Calvary Lutheran Concord Youtube channel  easy access through our website http://www.clconcord.org or church app Calvary Lutheran Church  NC. All are welcome. Sermon series: Invitation to Wholeness. Sermon topic: Rejoice With the King.

Center United Methodist Church

1119 Union St. S, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Brian Crady. Sunday School for In Betweens and young adults at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. Nursery is provided during the worship service. Website is www.centerumcconcord.org. Look forward to you joining us for our service! Sermon: Rocky Soil and Rootless. Scripture: Mark 4:3-9, 16-17.

Cold Springs Global Methodist Church

2550 Cold Springs Road, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Cliff Wall. Worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Visit online at https://youtube.com/@coldspringschurchconcord.

Crossroads Church

220 George W. Liles Parkway, Concord. Pastor: Lowell McNaney. Live worship streamed on Facebook, Crossroads Concord Church app or mycrossroads.co website at 9:30 a.m. and 11:11 a.m.

Crown Pointe Baptist Church

703 Tennessee St., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Doug Crawley. Sunday school at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary, or view online at our Facebook page.

Eastside Missionary Baptist Church

199 Elgin Drive, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Stephen Burrow. In person services: Sunday school 9:30 a.m. Worship services 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Recorded worship services and other information at EastsideMissionaryBaptist.org. You will be welcomed. Practice social distancing.

Epworth United Methodist Church

1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Dennis Marshall. Sunday school at 9 a.m., followed by worship at 10 a.m. We welcome all to join us in person, or you may livestream or watch the recorded service at our website at www.epworthnc.com.

Forest Hill United Methodist Church

265 Union St. N., Concord. Senior Pastor: Rev. Mandy Jones. Associate Pastor: Rev. Wes Judy. We are open for in-person worship. Contemporary worship, 9 a.m. Sunday School/small groups, 10 a.m.; Traditional worship, 11 a.m. Both the contemporary and the traditional worship services will also be live-streamed at foresthillumc.org or facebook.com/foresthillumc, in case you dont feel like being here in person.

Harmony United Methodist Church

101 White St., NW, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Thad Brown. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. followed by our worship service in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sermon: Recognizing the Truth. Scripture: I John 4:1; Jeremiah 29:8; I Thessalonians 5:19-22; Gospel of John 1:14; I John 4:4-5; Romans 8:31; II Kings 6:16; I John 4:6; I John 4:16-21. We welcome you to join us in worship! Service is live on Facebook.com/HarmonyUnitedMethodistChurch and we welcome all who are unable to join us in person to worship with us online. For more information, you can call the pastors phone, 704-791-2883, or the churchs phone, 704-782-8237.

Jackson Park United Methodist Church

715 Mable Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor Laurie Knoespel. Adult Sunday school 9:30 a.m. Worship at 10:30 a.m. Nursery will be provided during worship service.

Kirkwood Presbyterian Church

900 Klondale Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Dennis B. Craft. Worship at 11 a.m. in church sanctuary on Sundays. No mask restrictions.

McGill Baptist Church

5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, in-person services. Pastor: Rev. Steve Ayers. McGill will stream a worship service Sunday at 10 a.m. on www.facebook.com/mcgillbaptistchurch/ and on YouTube. The services will be live and also available on recording afterwards. Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. Sermon: The Peace of God. Scripture: Isaiah 25:1-9; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14.

Midway United Methodist Church

108 Bethpage Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Craig Allen. Come join us on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for Sunday school and 10:30 a.m. for worship. Our service is also livestreamed on the web at midwayunitedmethodistchurch.org or facebook.com/midwayUMC. Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.

Mt. Mitchell United Methodist Church

6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Joel Locklear. Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. (adult and childrens classes.) Worship at 11 a.m. in person or Facebook. Sermon: Living In Peace. Scripture: II Corinthians 13:11-13.

Multiply Church Concord

150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd. N, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Douglas Witherup. 8:30 a.m. service held at 280 Concord Parkway S., Suite 15, Concord. Services at 150 Warren C Coleman Blvd. N, are worship and sermon at 9:30 a.m. and worship and sermon at 11:15 a.m.

New Gilead Reformed Church, ECO

2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road. 9:40 a.m., Adult Bible study. 10 a.m., Sunday school. 11 a.m., worship in the sanctuary, also live on Facebook.

Oak Grove Baptist Church

200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. Pastor: Rev. Franklin D. Watkins. 10 a.m. In-person worship service. Also available on Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

Second Presbyterian Church

1578 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis. Pastor Sue Black, minister. Rev. Aaron Price, assistant pastor. Sunday school at 10 a.m. Worship at 11 a.m. Sermon: The Armor of God. Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18.

St. Johns Reformed Church

901 N. Main St., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Chris King. Sunday school for all ages, 9:30 a.m. Worship service, 10:30 a.m. Website: www.ourstjohns.org. Email/Phone: ourstjohns@gmail.com, 704-932-3656. Sermon: Dealing with Marriage. Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12.

Trinity United Church of Christ

38 Church St., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Nathan King. Worship at 11 a.m., in person or Facebook live. Website: commachurch.com. Youre invited!
Global PC shipments dropped to 65.6 million units in the third quarter of 2023, a 7% year-on-year fall, the technology analyst firm Canalys reports, adding that this was, however, a rise of 8% from the second quarter of the year.

Two other analyst firms also released their shipments estimates, with Gartner putting total shipments at 64.3 million units, a 9% year-on-year decrease, while IDC put the overall figure at 68.2 million units shipped, a 7.6% drop in year-on-year volumes.

Canalys said notebook shipments had fallen 6% to 52.1 million units while desktops were down by 8% to 13.5 million units.

All three companies predicted that things would improve. Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers, said: "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. 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."

Gartner director analyst Mikako Kitagawa said: There is evidence that the PC markets decline has finally bottomed out. Seasonal demand from the education market boosted shipments in the third quarter, although enterprise PC demand remained weak, offsetting some growth.

"Vendors also made consistent progress towards reducing PC inventory, with inventory expected to return to normal by the end of 2023, as long as holiday sales do not collapse.

And Canalys principal analyst Ishan Dutt opined: "After a tough start to the year, the third quarter of 2023 brought about more positive signs for the global PC market. Amid some improvements in the macroeconomic environment, key players across the industry are now expressing cautious optimism as their inventory correction efforts have been largely successful.

"As a result, pockets of underlying demand strength across all end-user segments are now better reflected in vendors sell-in shipment performance. Most major OEMs posted sequential growth in shipments, even after accounting for the demand boost from the education sector that largely materialised last quarter.

"Looking ahead, Canalys expects this positive trend to continue, with the market set for a return to growth during the highly anticipated holiday season.

Kitagawa said the worst could be over by the end of 2023. The business PC market is ready for the next replacement cycle, driven by the Windows 11 upgrades. Consumer PC demand should also begin to recover as PCs purchased during the pandemic are entering the early stages of a refresh cycle," she added.
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Monoculture is back. I refer not to the concept but to the word - specifically, in anything related to HBO's recent series "House of the Dragon." The wordsmith in me can't help noticing that in stories about the "Game of Thrones" prequel, the term is everywhere.

The Observer reports that fans were taking to social media to celebrate "the seeming (and amazing!) return of monoculture." Here's the Independent: "It's taken exactly one episode - one scene, really - for 'House of the Dragon' to prove it's as adept as 'Game of Thrones' was at dominating the monoculture."

What these and many more references have in common is a sense that monoculture refers to something desirable. That's a peculiar notion, given that ever since the word was adopted from the French in the 19th century, its connotation has been uniformly negative. A monoculture has been a condition not to celebrate but to avoid.

The original usage was in agriculture, to describe a harm that was done to the soil by over-reliance on a single crop. Thus a Kansas paper lamented in 1884 that the "monoculture" of planting whatever was most profitable and then moving on "has produced its inevitable results" - the loss of arable land and an epidemic in the bargain. This is the sense in which Fidel Castro used the term in 1965, when the press reported on the Cuban dictator's promise "to rescue his island from the 'monoculture' to which Yankee capitalists had condemned it" - a reference to sugar. The same meaning remains common today.

But by the early 20th century, the word was already being borrowed as a metaphor for a sameness that damaged not farming but life more generally. Thus a 1914 article in the Journal of the Royal Society of Arts warned about the social problems arising when industries became too powerful in a city or a neighborhood: "[M]onoculture wherever possible should be supplemented by polyculture." Otherwise the "moral and physical evils" that are brought about by the "herding together of humanity" would prove irresistible.

The British journalist William Beach Thomas had much the same in mind in 1949 when he described a widespread fear that the virtues and pleasures of the traditional English village were dying, "given up to mechanised monoculture."

The great popularizer of the negative use when applied to culture was the anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, who saw monoculture as part of the Western cultural "cannibalism" he vigorously opposed. In the 1961 English translation of his book "World on Wane," the point is put this way:

"Humanity has taken to monoculture, once and for all, and is preparing to produce civilization in bulk, as if it were sugar-beet. The same dish will be served to us every day."

This usage swiftly became popular - and not just as a metaphor for cultural flattening. "Monoculture is finished," declared the new leadership of Volkswagen in 1970, announcing plans to diversify its offerings beyond the ubiquitous Beetle. A few years later, a federal court mentioned in passing that an executive had "expressed his concern in writing" that a particular securities firm "was becoming a 'monoculture' dealing almost exclusively in bonds."

By that time, the negative connotation was everywhere. "[W]e wanted to let people know that Salt Lake City is a multiculture, not a monoculture," the organizer of a Utah music festival told the Wall Street Journal in 1984. That same year, Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek explained proudly why his city featured more genuine diversity than New York: "People there hope for a monoculture. They expect their children to be part of an American culture. Here an Armenian remains an Armenian forever."

Soon the word was popular as a description of the dangers of growing digital connectedness. In 1993, the Canadian environmental activist David Suzuki warned that increased availability of video would flatten the world's cultural diversity: "The electronic highway promises greater homogeneity - in effect, monoculturing the planet." Five years later, the psychologist Kenneth Keniston of M.I.T. spoke for many when he cautioned that the "information age" was creating a "global monoculture," which he defined as "the de facto dominance of a single culture across all the important sectors of the world."

Nor did the meaning change for most of the 21st century. A 2004 essay in the Guardian lamented the British government's "willingness to allow an English-only monoculture to develop in the public broadcast sphere" - in contrast with the "diversity" of Continental cinema. The New York Times reported in 2018 on the view of the former head of public relations at Google that "many of Silicon Valley's problems can be laid at the feet of an engineering-and-data-obsessed monoculture."

So how was this perfectly reasonable word for a social negative transformed in recent years into a social positive? Ironically, the answer seems to be  "Game of Thrones." In a much-discussed 2017 essay in The Ringer, the media critic Alison Herman described the popular series as "the last vestige of the monoculture, a dying and distinct model with its own advantages and blind spots."

Before "Thrones" (and often after) references to television shows as monoculture were almost always derisive. Since then  well, let's turn things over to the New Yorker, which in its recent review of "House of the Dragon" called the show's predecessor "one of the last sparks of American monoculture, a phenomenon that managed to bring millions together, all at once, to eagerly discuss a scene or detail."

"Game of Thrones" was a remarkable moment in television. Even more remarkable was the way it led us to invert completely the meaning of a familiar word ... and what with all the intrigue and dragons and gore, we didn't even notice.
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City governments used to stop crime by apprehending thieves. Chicago has a different strategy: Let the perps roam free while going after the companies that make products people steal.

Vehicle thefts are a major problem in the Windy City. In 2019, thieves stole nearly 9,000 vehicles. By 2022, the number had increased to more than 21,000. This summer, Axios reported that auto thefts had more than doubled compared with last year. If that trend continues, there will be 40,000 vehicle thefts in 2023, a quadrupling in four years.

Most criminals get away with the crime. Last year, police solved just 4 percent of these cases. In a simpler time, the solution would have been obvious. Put more police on the streets, emphasize grand theft auto, arrest the criminals and send them to jail. Would-be car thieves would change their behavior as they realized they faced a real possibility of doing prison time.

Sending people to jail, however, isn't a priority for Chicago officials. Kim Foxx is the state's attorney in Cook County, the top prosecutor in the nation's third-largest city. She has dismissed tens of thousands of felony cases and done so at a significantly higher rate than her predecessor. She also has pushed to end cash bail.

But even soft-on-crime politicians know they need to do something about car thefts. So now, Chicago is suing automakers Kia and Hyundai. The city contends that the automakers produced cars that are too easy to steal. That may sound like a parody of progressive government, but it's really happening.

The city says that cars they produced between 2011 and 2022 don't contain sufficient anti-theft technology. It claims most other car makers provided this technology. Both companies say their cars complied with federal regulations.

The city is right that thieves are targeting these types of vehicles. It says around 500 Kias and Hyundais were stolen in the first half of 2022. That surged to more than 8,300 in the second half of last year.

What changed? A social media trend that showed people how to quickly hot-wire Kias and Hyundais. It spread like wildfire on sites such as TikTok and Instagram. Soon teenagers and kids even younger were stealing cars and posting videos of their reckless driving. They had little regard for the law or their victims in pursuit of social media fame. Why not? There were no repercussions.

In other words, Chicago officials are upset these car companies didn't change their products years ago to prevent a social media fad that started in 2022.

This is not serious governance. It's an attempt to distract from the failure of Chicago officials to maintain acceptable levels of order and public safety.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
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 Utah sued Tik Tok alleging the platform lures kids into unhealthy and addictive behavior. Kids use it to generate crazes like eating Tide pods, terrorists use it to display atrocities, and people with no talent use it as their talent show. I think it's called Tik Tok because the videos remind you the end is year.

 Bobby Kennedy, Jr., announced Monday he'll run for president as an Independent. He's far too conservative for today's Democrats and still too liberal for today's Republicans. If there's one thing we've learned about American politics it's that clean water can't live in the same room as free enterprise.

 Joe's brother Frank Biden admits that's him in a naked selfie that popped up on a gay dating site, but says it was hacked. Frank stole a Hooters waitress from her husband and now he's living with her in her parents' home. The House Oversight Committee just eliminated Frank as the mastermind.

 The Mideast conflict this week ignited conflicting ethnic responses here in the melting pot of Los Angeles. A former girlfriend of mine who remains a good friend today is part Palestinian and part Jewish, part Comanche and part Mexican. There's not a border in the world that can stop this chick.

 President Biden gave a forceful speech to the nation Tuesday stating full U.S. support for Israel and denouncing the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas. It was Joe's finest hour. I'm just relieved he didn't compare the attack to a fire in his kitchen that singed his cat and nearly spread to his Corvette.

 The White House held a press briefing Tuesday to back up President Biden's speech supporting Israel. The president had been ripped in the media Sunday for hosting a barbecue on the White House lawn while Israel was under terrorist attack. But in Biden's defense the hot dogs were Hebrew Nationals.

 National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan addressed reporters in the White House Tuesday and denounced the Hamas terror attacks in Israel. I never lose hope. I want to live in a world where Israelis and Palestinians can carpool together to Afghan garage sales for big discounts on U.S. weapons.

 House Democrats Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Ilhan Omar called for Israel to observe a cease fire against Hamas fighters in Gaza Tuesday. The congresswomen demanded respect for their view, noting that Tuesday was National Women's Day. It should have been on Monday but they weren't ready. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan didn't rule out sending U.S. forces to aid the Israelis in Gaza hostage-freeing operations. Hamas would also welcome U.S. intervention if it's accompanied by the Biden Clause. It states the U.S. will leave behind eighty-two billion dollars of weapons when it's over.

 President Biden's speech backing Israel following the Hamas terror attacks failed to mention Iran's complicity. It'd be pointless to arrest Iran for conspiracy to commit murder. Under U.S. law, Iran would just be released on cashless bail, and be back on the street starting Mideast wars by sundown.

 New York streets were filled with protests and counter protestors for and against the Israelis and Palestinians Tuesday. It's possible to be passionate and counter-productive. Some protestors were holding up a sign that read Queers for Palestine, which might as well have read Chickens for KFC.

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In the aftermath of Hamas' horrific attack on Israel last weekend, and the barbaric kidnappings, torture and slaughter of hundreds of civilians, Jews across the world are asking hard questions about who they can truly count on.

Author and podcaster Liel Leibovitz penned a scathing essay in Tablet, laying much of the blame for the attack at the feet of the U.S. government. In "America's Betrayal of Israel," Leibovitz both condemns U.S. foreign policy and criticizes what he views as Israel's foolhardy reliance upon America as an ally.

Leibovitz starts by slamming the $6 billion that the Biden administration released to Iran, the largest state sponsor of terror in the Middle East, if not the world. Iran's financial support of Hamas is undisputed; this administration's flaccid protests to the contrary, money given to Iran is money in the bank accounts of Islamic terrorist organizations everywhere. (Leibovitz doesn't mention that Biden chose to announce release of the funds on Sept. 11, the 22nd anniversary of the worse terrorist attack on U.S. soil; if the largesse to Iran was a betrayal of Israel, the timing was a deliberate kick in the teeth to Americans themselves.)

Second, Leibovitz references the recent revelations that Iranian spies infiltrated the U.S. intelligence apparatus and have been pushing our government to do Iran's bidding for years (with a notable hiatus during the Trump administration). These shocking facts came to light only days before the deadly Hamas attacks; it will be months or years before we know the extent of the damage, if indeed it is even possible to ascertain.

Leibovitz acknowledges that Joe Biden and his puppet regime are only continuing what Barack Obama started during his presidency: a policy of appeasing and empowering Iran, and of denying the deleterious effects it would have on Israel or the wider Middle East. It was Obama who pushed through the "Iran Deal" in 2015 that not only lifted sanctions on Iran and gave them nearly $2 billion in "pallets of cash," but effectively permitted the regime to pursue its nuclear weapons program by attaching "conditions" that were wholly specious, unverifiable and/or explicitly temporary.

Leibovitz looks back at the decisions of the past two Democrat administrations, and makes his closing argument:

"When you champion Iran; when you send it and its proxies money; when you reward Palestinian violence; when you go out of your way to portray Bibi (Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister) as a dangerous fascist; when you finance and champion his opponents, contributing to further instability and unrest; when you hand over U.S. intelligence keys to Iranian agents; when you have your spokespeople declare it 'disinformation' for people to connect obvious dots; when you do all of this, you know what's going to happen. You mean for it to happen."

America has abandoned other allies to whom we had earlier promised our support: the Afghans fighting to overthrow the Taliban were overrun when we unceremoniously left Afghanistan (leaving tens of billions of dollars in military equipment, materiel and ammunition to fall into enemy hands, by the way); the South Vietnamese fighting against communist encroachment during the Vietnam War; the Cubans fighting communist dictator Fidel Castro, who we left unaided at the Bay of Pigs.

Now Israel.

But why should anyone be surprised that a country will break its promises to foreign allies when it callously disregards its obligations to its own citizens? Consider what we have observed our government do over the past few years:

 Illegally spying on Americans and spending millions of taxpayer dollars on a "collusion" investigation they knew was fraudulent.

 Lying about the origins of a virus that caused a global pandemic.

 Forcing experimental "vaccines" on an unsuspecting public.

 Working with broadcast, print and social media to censor anyone trying to get out the truth about the virus, risks of the mRNA shots, and safe alternative drug treatment protocols.

 Locking down the entire economy, but allowing "protests" that turned into riots, burning, looting and carnage.

 Allowing violent crime and theft to run rampant and unpunished, but attacking pro-life pastors and parents objecting to pornography in schools as "domestic terrorists."

 Prosecuting the current president's chief political rival with frivolous and transparently false accusations of crimes, while ignoring and suppressing evidence of actual corruption by the president himself and his family.

 Lying to Americans about a "secure" border, while allowing millions upon millions of unvetted people to enter the country illegally, most of whom are now military-age males, and many of whom come from countries actively hostile to the U.S.

In the wake of Israel's retaliation, the threats are coming now, thick and fast. The head of Hamas has called for a global jihad and attacks against Israel, Jews and those who support them, everywhere they can be found. How many people inclined to follow those orders have made their way to the United States because of our government's deliberate neglect of its most basic responsibilities?

With only minor edits, Leibovitz' accusations sound like ominous warnings of what Americans could find ourselves saying in the not-too-distant future:

"When you fail to punish violence; when you go out of your way to portray Donald Trump as a dangerous fascist and millions of Americans as "the enemy" in need of "formal deprogramming"; when you weaponize law enforcement against people with different political views; when you champion lawless rioters, contributing to further instability and unrest; when you fund dangerous research and then have your spokespeople declare it 'disinformation' for people to connect obvious dots on important matters of public health; when you allow millions of foreign men into the country without any background checks or safeguards against malevolent intentions; when you do all of this, you know what's going to happen. You mean for it to happen."

Are we being betrayed by our own government?

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Laura Hollis is an attorney and academic. She resides in Indiana with her husband and their two children.


 Jose Ruben Nava, former director of the zoo in Chilpancingo, Mexico, is under fire after officials learned that he slaughtered four pygmy goats to serve at the zoo's year-end dinner, MSN reported.

Fernando Ruiz Gutierrez, director of wildlife for the state's environment department, said serving the goat meat "put the health of the people who ate them at risk because these animals were not fit for human consumption."

Nava is also accused of trading a zebra for tools.

He was let go from his position in January after the death of a deer at the zoo. [MSN, 2/2/2023]
100 years ago, Oct. 12, 1923

PANA  Six persons are dead and three others are seriously ill from drinking moonshine liquor, which contained fuel oil; physicians attending the three others who are ill said their condition was serious and that two others may die. The deaths occurred between thirty-six and forty-four hours after the victims drank the moonshine...MATTOON  The last piece of Western Ave. paving was completed by Thornton & Son Friday afternoon and turned it over to the city today. This pavement, which extends from the Big Four tracks on Twenty-first street to Western Ave. and thence to Nineteenth street is being paid for by property owners whose realty abuts the streets named, and the approximate cost is $20,000...ARCOLA  Sargent township came to the front Wednesday with the largest still ever taken in Douglas County, if not in this section of the state. In an old store building at Brushy Fork Sheriff Ellars and his deputies took a copper still with a capacity of about 200 gallons, several large jugs of manufactured moonshine and fifteen barrels of mash. The mash was emptied into the river.

50 years ago, 1973

JANESVILLE  Authorities continued the search today southwest of Janesville for an escaped convict who allegedly kidnaped a Mattoon man Thursday. The convict is Roger Vaughn, 24, formerly of Mattoon. Vaughn had reportedly been granted a three-day furlough from Menard State Penitentiary and was listed as escaped after he failed to return Friday. Police gave this account: Vaughn allegedly kidnapped Richard Ard, 23, also of Mattoon. Ard told authorities Vaughn had entered his car at gunpoint and forced him to drive Vaughn to Lerna. Ard reportedly told authorities that Vaughn intended to rob the First National Bank of Lerna. Ard reportedly escaped unharmed in Lerna a little after 1 p.m. Thursday. He said he had known Vaughn as a child, but hadnt seen him in years. Coles County sheriffs officers followed Vaughn into Cumberland County. Ards car was found just before 2 p.m. Thursday stuck in a mud hole on a dirt road about six miles southwest of Janesville in Cumberland County. Cumberland County Deputy Sheriff Larry McClain then spotted Vaughn behind an abandoned farmhouse sometime after 2 p.m. Vaughn was observed running into a cornfield.

25 years ago, 1998

LERNA  A resident stricken with the illness known as farmers lung received help harvesting his crops Saturday from a few of his neighbors. Jim Barger of Lerna who was diagnosed and treated for the illness, was sent home and told by doctors not to do any lifting or heavy labor until he makes a full recovery. When Bargers neighbors from Lerna, Trilla, Neoga and Greenup heard of his illness, 60 of them volunteered to get together and harvest his beans. Weve had good neighbors all along and this just reinforces how good people are, said Janice Barger of Lerna and Jim Bargers wife. Farm people are good people. Volunteers, who ranged from 11 to 83 , brought nine combines to Bargers fields. Many of them also brought trucks, tractors, wagons, and grain carts. Lanman Oil of Loxa provided the fuel for free for all the farm equipment and trucks that were being used in the harvest. Jim Barger said the majority of his bean crop will be harvested in one day because of all the volunteers. Some of his beans and his corn crop werent ready for harvesting and he said he would have to get those out another day.
Q: I drive to Greensboro daily for work. What highway is being built near Union Cross? Is there a picture of the finished project? A.M.

Answer: Pat Ivey, the N.C. Department of Transportation division engineer for Forsyth County, said that the construction you are seeing is part of the Northern Beltway-future Interstate-74 project.

You can see maps of the project and a schedule at www.ncdot.gov/projects/wsnb/Pages/default.aspx.

Q: When the Forsyth County Hall of Justice opened in 1974 a large bell was dedicated and placed on display in the lobby of the building. This bell was from the first or second county courthouse. It had been on the roof of Griffith School on the Southside of town since the late 1920s. The bell was used to summon students in from recess and also meals. It was on the roof of the building near the back by the auditorium and could be heard very well. The bell served Griffith for many years but with the introduction of multiple bells around the school was no longer needed and basically sat there rusting for many years until it was restored and refreshed and placed in the lobby of the new courthouse. What is happening to the bell? Is it being moved to the new courthouse and displayed as it should be? Are there any plans to ring it at the ribbon cutting for the new building? This bell has historical significance to our county and hopefully will find a new home and be kept on display. J.F.

Answer: The bell wont be in place to be rung when the new courthouse ribbon-cutting ceremony is held Thursday, said Todd Luck, a spokesman for Forsyth County.

As for the bell, Damon Sanders Pratt, a deputy county manager said, The bell is currently located at the Hall of Justice outside of Clerk of Superior Court service areas on the Main Street level of the building.

It will be relocating to the new courthouse along with other historic artifacts from the Hall of Justice.

Q: Im confused about the tests I need to take when I renew my drivers license. Which ones do I take? B.B.

Answer: If they choose to schedule an appointment to visit a driver license office, the examiner may require the person to complete a vision test.

It will be at the discretion of the examiner. Same for the knowledge test if there are issues on the persons driving record, said John Brockwell, a spokesman for NCDMV.

You may not have to go to the DMV office to renew your license at all, though.

You may be able to renew it online.

If any of the following apply to you, you cannot renew online and must go to a DMV office, according to the NCDMV website:

Have a suspended license or outstanding debt with NCDMV

Have a restriction other than Corrective Lenses on their driver license and/or 24 on their full provisional license

Need to renew a commercial driver licenses, regular Class A or B driver license, limited provisional license, limited learner permit or learner permit

Have a U.S. government document indicating legal presence

Have used the online system for the previous renewal. Individuals can only use the online system every other license renewal.

There is a $3 fee that goes to PayIt, the online service provider in addition to the license fee.
An organization known as the Appalachian Regional Commission said Wednesday it has awarded a $10 million grant to The Industrial Commons, an industry-focused, women-owned nonprofit in western North Carolina.

The grant will help build a 40,000-square-foot green textile manufacturing hub at the former Drexel Heritage Furniture site in Morganton.

The commission said the new facility will serve as a manufacturing incubator "that will expand the capacity to produce circular textiles  a process where textile waste is broken down and turned into new yarn." That yarn can then be used to make new products.

The project is a collaboration between North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee in order to improve economic prosperity in southern Appalachia. Overall, the project will include $60 million in private investment and will create 85 jobs across the three states, with 31 jobs being added in North Carolina.
Home furnishings manufacturer Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams has been ordered into liquidation by a federal bankruptcy court judge responding to a request by its primary lender, PNC Financial Services Group.

The manufacturer in August became the third prominent North Carolina furniture maker to abruptly cease operations, leaving its 533 employees in Hiddenite, Statesville and Taylorsville without jobs.

Like United Furniture Industries and Klaussner Furniture Industries, Mitchell Gold cited an inability to secure future funding as the primary reason for shutting down.

Recently, Judge Laurie Silverstein ordered the liquidation, saying it is in the best interests of the debtors and their respective entities, creditors and all parties.

Silverstein did not address the reasoning behind the decision to convert to liquidation nor deadlines for completing the process.

Court documents showed Mitchell Gold attempted to secure millions of dollars in funding to continue some level of operations and fulfill customer orders while it sought approval for an asset auction similar to that conducted for United Furniture in July.

Meanwhile, PNC declared it was owed at least $9.5 million by Mitchell Gold and that the manufacturer projected spending at least $8.5 million on the Chapter 11 process.

As PNC urged Silverstein to liquidate Mitchell Golds assets, the bank cited an offer by SB360 Capital Partners for the assets.

Interim Mitchell Gold chief executive Chris Moye has said the final day of employment for most workers will be Oct. 25.

The stunning shutdowns are microcosms of how skittish banks have become about extending high-interest loans, according to economists.

Klaussner closed after 60 years on Aug. 7, letting go 893 employees in Randolph County, while United ceased operations at all of its plants on Nov. 22, including four in Winston-Salem, Lexington, High Point and Randolph County that affected 530 employees.

Klaussner and United also cited inabilities to secure additional funds from their primary lenders.

Klaussner posted on its website that the shutdown is the result of challenging and unexpected business circumstances impacting our operations.

Likewise, Wells Fargo declined to provide additional funding amid United Furnitures financial struggles.

There are a number of factors at play that likely doomed the manufacturers, said Mark Vitner, chief economist with Piedmont Crescent Capital and a former senior economist with Wells Fargo Securities.

Vitner noted that banks large and small have become increasingly concerned about lending options that were proving to be less profitable and sustainable.

Lenders tend to scrutinize loans even more carefully, Vitner said.
Yadkinville is losing one of its two grocery stores with the closing of Lowes Foods by Oct. 31.

The store is at 948 S. State St., the Winston-Salem chain said Wednesday.

Lowes didnt provide comment beyond stating that Yadkinville store employees will be given opportunities to transfer to other locations in the Triad.

Yadkinville still has a Food Lion location at 616 S. State St., as well as smaller grocery stores.

It saddens me to hear that the Lowes Foods in Yadkinville will be closing, said Kevin Austin, chairman of Yadkin County Board of Commissioners. I enjoy their clean store and friendly service.

This has been rumored for a while and may be the impetus for the expected Food Lion expansion just north on State Street.

Lowes also announced that it has sold its location in Stuart, Va., to Food Country.

The Lowes news release includes news of opening a fifth store in the Charleston, S.C., market in Summerville in 2025.

The Summerville store will be 50,887 square feet and anchor a new retail center between two large Berkeley County residential developments.

Lowes also said it will enter Georgia for the first time with its acquisition of the Foothills IGA Market store in Marble Hill.

Although the store will operate as IGA for the next few months, it is scheduled to convert to Lowes in early 2024.

Lowes Foods is deeply committed to providing an exceptional shopping experience for our guests at all our store locations, Lowes Foods president Tim Lowe said.

Our coming stores in Summerville and Georgia will be important areas of growth for our company, and were excited about our continuing expansion in those markets.

We also are pleased that Food Country has agreed to work to retain our employees in Stuart as our store there becomes part of the Food Country brand.

Lowes also has opened within the past 12 months stores in Concord, Indian Land, Kannapolis, Pittsboro and Winterville.

The Charlotte-area stores doubles Lowes store presence from three to six in the 11-county Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro counting existing stores in Harrisburg, Huntersville and Mooresville.

Yet, Lowes hasnt committed to a re-entry inside Charlottes city limits.

Lowes pulled out of the market in July 2012 by selling 10 stores to rival Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. in exchange for six Harris Teeter stores mostly outside the Charlotte metro.

The metro includes Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union counties in North Carolina, and Chester, Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina.

Indian Land is in Lancaster, S.C., just south of the Ballantyne community in south Charlotte.
A Stokes County man is facing a murder charge after investigators found the remains of a missing Virginia woman on his property, authorities said Wednesday.

In August 2018, Sarah Hill was reported missing from Patrick County, Va., the Stokes County Sheriffs Office said.

Surry County sheriffs deputies checked several locations in their search for Hill, the sheriffs office said.

Investigators then received information that Hill had been at the home of Leroy Allen Hoover on Asbury Road in the Westfield community in northeastern Stokes County, the sheriffs office said.

On Oct. 17, 2022, detectives with the Surry County Sheriffs Office and the State Bureau of Investigation contacted the Stokes County Sheriffs Office for help in this case.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant for Hoovers property in Stokes County to gather information about Hills whereabouts on that property, the sheriffs office said.

Investigators excavated a section of the property, where human remains were found, the sheriffs office said. A medical examiner then conducted an autopsy on the remains, which were identified belonging to Hill.

On Oct. 4, the sheriffs office received a medical report based on the autopsy that ruled Hills death as a homicide.

A Stokes detective and SBI agents then met with the Stokes County District Attorneys Office, which reviewed the case.

Afterward, Hoover, 61, was charged with murder and concealment of a death in connection with Hoovers death, the sheriffs office said.

Hoover is being held in the Stokes County Jail with no bond allowed, the sheriffs office said.

We can only imagine how hard this has been for the family of Ms. Hill, Stokes Sheriff Joey Lemons said in a statement.

Investigators from the Patrick County Sheriffs Office, Surry County Sheriffs Office, Stokes County Sheriffs Office, as well as the N.C. SBI agents that worked on this case have done a tremendous job, and they never gave up, Lemons said.

Although nothing will bring a loved one back, we can only hope this helps provide some closure to Ms. Hills family, Lemons said.
A bipartisan N.C. House resolution urging Congress to support Israel in its response to recent attacks by Hamas has become another political flashpoint as three Triad Democrats were among 12 who declined Tuesday to vote for the legislation.

House Resolution 897, titled Support for Israel, has House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, as primary speaker.

The legislation provided a brief synopsis of the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel by the militant group Hamas and the Israeli declaration of war on Oct. 8.

The essence of HR897 was the United States Congress is urged to offer full and unequivocal support of Israel financially and otherwise for as long as it takes for Israel to bring justice in light of the unprovoked attacks on innocent Israeli civilians.

The resolution passed by a 104-0 vote with all 72 House Republicans in support, along with 32 of the 48 House Democrats. The 12 Democrats left the House chamber floor before the vote.

Among the 12 Democrats not voting were Reps. Amber Baker and Kanika Brown of Forsyth County and Pricey Harrison of Guilford County.

An additional four Democrats, including Rep. Cecil Brockman of Guilford, were listed with an excused absence.

Democrat response

The office of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday that he stands steadfast in supporting Israel and their right to self-defense and has taken action to protect houses of worship and other religious organizations here that could be targets. He has also been in communication with the Israeli government to reaffirm our partnership.

Baker said in a statement that as a state Legislator, I do my best to speak on the issues that affect my constituents.

I do not believe that this role gives me the authority to weigh in on a foreign policy situation as complex as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Baker said that as a human, what I see is the toll of hatred and war on real people, and it is horrible. I condemn the recent attacks by the terrorist group Hamas and all forms of violence. I pray for peace. What it will take to find peace in this situation is beyond me and the office that I currently hold as a state legislator.

Brown said in a statement that "I strongly condemn the brutal attacks on Israel by Hamas. There is never an excuse for such acts of terror, and the targeting of children, the elderly and other civilians in both Israel and Gaza must stop immediately."

"I urge both countries to work towards a ceasefire and de-escalation to prevent more lives from being lost."

Brown said the resolution put forth by House Republicans "did nothing to achieve that goal  it was done purely for political showmanship, rather than genuine care for Israeli and Palestinian people. "

"I will be praying for the innocent people in Israel and Gaza and hope this conflict comes to a peaceful resolution soon."

Harrison said in a statement that she chose not to vote in part because I readily admit I am not an expert on Middle Eastern affairs, which are the business of Congress, not the NC Legislature.

I absolutely condemn the abhorrent terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas and the brutal taking and killing of innocent civilians and other atrocities committed ... I pray for peace in the region, and support any efforts towards that goal. I do not support a scorched-earth policy of retribution from either side.

Harrison said she had several reasons for her non-voting decision on HR897.

Its tone lacked any nuance recognizing the centuries old conflict in the region, where Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been the biggest victims, Harrison said.

I do not believe there is military solution to this problem. I would have supported a draft that included support for working toward a peaceful resolution of this conflict, instead of seemingly green lighting retaliation/retribution/obliteration of the Gaza Strip, where more than 2 million citizens live in an area described as the worlds largest open air prison.

Harrison said the Israeli governments response to potentially cut off electricity, water, food and fuel is leading toward a humanitarian crisis.

Rep. Julie von Haefen, D-Wake, said in a social-media post that she stands with President Biden and our NC Democratic congressional delegation in condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel.

However, von Haefen described HR897 as a tactic by Moore to distract from the latest five veto override votes by Republican legislators, two of which made significant changes to state election laws. There were lawsuits filed against the elections laws by Cooper and other plaintiffs.

I will not stand with Speaker Moore in his efforts yesterday to distract from the damage that was occurring to democracy in North Carolina with the veto overrides of five destructive pieces of legislation.

Republican response

Moore said following the passage of HB897 that he sponsored the legislation because Israel and the United States of America have been the closest of friends and allies thanks to the 75-year partnership between our two countries, built on mutual interests and shared values.

The recent attacks on their innocent civilians by Hamas terrorists were unprovoked and brutally inhumane.

Israel deserves our unfettered support as they respond to this act of terrorism on their nation. I urge Congress and the Biden administration to extend our financial, intelligence and any other support required by our friend Israel.

Rep. Jon Hardister, R-Guilford, and a co-primary sponsor of HR897, called the Hamas invasion one of the most egregious attacks on innocent civilians that we have seen in modern times.

This resolution makes clear that North Carolina stands firm with Israel and that we are opposed to the terrorist attacks that were perpetrated upon them. Our intent is to reaffirm our alliance with Israel and implore our leaders in Washington to provide the resources necessary to support them during this conflict.

Hardister called it very unfortunate that several Democratic members of the House chose not to vote on this resolution. ... I am pleased that the resolution passed, but I am disappointed that a group of Democratic lawmakers chose to walk away rather than join us in supporting Israel and opposing acts of terror.

I pray that these legislators will rethink their position, and I remain optimistic in that the vast majority of North Carolinians support the resolution.

Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, said these are difficult times in our world, and tensions and mass murder of innocent people can not be tolerated.

As a country that supports our allies the vote was entirely appropriate. I can not speak for those who walked out. I was shocked and dismayed that they would close their eyes and minds to this tragedy.
The High Country Crime Stoppers and the Watauga County Sheriffs Office are asking for the publics help to identify the people responsible for stealing a riding lawn mower from a church.

Someone broke into Unity Baptist Church in the area of Mabel School Road in Watauga County, authorities said. The incident happened between 5 p.m. on Oct. 6 and 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 8.

Someone also broke into the churchs storage shed and stole Greenworks Pro riding lawn mower, the High County Crime Stoppers said. A toolbox with tools were stolen from the church.

Anyone with information about this incident can call the Watauga County Sheriffs Office at 828-265-7621 or Crime Stoppers at 828-268-6959.
Hi yall, began the letter to other NYU students.

Considering the topic, it was an odd and somewhat jarring salutation  cheerful, informal, chillingly indifferent.

But the letter would soon turn from merely odd to downright grotesque.

Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life, Ryna Workman, who identifies as they/them, began.

Workman is the NYU Law School Bar Association president, and apparently believed that holding this nominal position meant they should share their thoughts on the horrific and unprecedented attacks by Hamas terrorists on innocent Israelis with the NYU student body  and ultimately, the world.

They go on to dismiss the unspeakable violence wrought by Hamas, which now includes the deaths of 1,200 Israelis. Women have been abducted and reportedly raped. Hundreds have been taken hostage. The lifeless bodies of murdered civilians have been dragged through the streets as trophies. Unimaginably, these barbarians even beheaded babies. Babies.

Despite these horrors, Workman writes cavalierly, I will not condemn Palestinian resistance, and proceeds to list a dozen of other things they do find objectionable. Instead  I condemn the violence of apartheid. I condemn the violence of settler colonialism. I condemn the violence of military occupation  . and on, and on.

That Workman, whose cushy law firm job offer at Winston & Strawn has since been rescinded, supports the Palestinian position is not itself inherently problematic. Its not even all that interesting, considering how fashionable its become for young people to oppose Zionism.

What is shocking and deeply disturbing, however, is the idea that Workman imagined themselves such an important voice on this fraught and complicated issue, they wasted no time in foisting their unvarnished  and unsolicited  beliefs on their fellow students. And they did so with a cruel indifference to the human suffering in Israel, as well as the large population of Jewish students on NYUs campus who might be hurting, or even wondering if their loved ones are alive.

This arrogance is becoming an unfortunate hallmark of a social media and influencer generation that believes every thought in their heads is worthy of publication and amplification.

There are even more alarming trends, however.

Theres also been a shocking rise in antisemitism among young Americans, who hold significantly more anti-Israel sentiment than older adults. Fifty-seven percent of young adults believe two or more anti-Jewish tropes are at least somewhat true, according to one study. According to another, about a quarter of young people believe that Jews talk too much about the Holocaust, that Jews have too much power in business, and that Jews think they are better than other people.

And finally, perhaps because of these beliefs, theres a disturbing lack of basic human empathy for Jewish suffering.

A student group at California State University in Long Beach posted pro-Palestinian rally posters that featured a paraglider, like the ones who descended into Israel to murder 260 concert-goers, celebrating the terrorists.

Students for Justice in Palestine called the massacre of Jews a historic win for Palestinian resistance, and groups at Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, Butler University, the University of Louisville, Binghamton University and the University of Virginia planned pro-Palestinian rallies.

Thirty-one student organizations at Harvard signed onto a letter holding the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.

I have no interest in changing anyones mind on the politics of this conflict. But is there a place in our conversations for basic human empathy? Compassion for murdered men, women, and children? Sorrow for butchered babies?

One can support the Palestinian cause, mourn the suffering of the Palestinian people  for they, too, are victims of Hamas  and even criticize Israeli policies while also acknowledging the devastating loss of life among Jews, without blaming them for their own murders. The lack of humanity is appalling.

Believe me, Ive seen what indifference to suffering looks like. As a board member of INARA, a humanitarian aid organization that almost exclusively services Arab and Muslim children who are victims of war and conflict, Im often disheartened by the lack of empathy for even the most vulnerable among us.

That these students are increasingly expressing more indifference toward suffering, feeling compelled to proudly announce and broadcast their own intolerance, and fomenting more animosity toward Jews, makes one wonder: Are colleges preparing young Americans for a future in which we understand each other, or one in which we hate each other?
Swell Thursday. Never fear, the rain wont last long.

Earth movers, road graders and assorted other motorized behemoths crawled over raw ground Wednesday flattening and smoothing terrain that soon should be on and off ramps for the eastern leg of the Northern Beltway.

The heavy equipment - and the men operating it - looked to passersby to be mere weeks from connecting to U.S. 52.

And when they do, itll be a milestone to be celebrated. The beltway will cost $1.7 billion and literally took decades to get to this point as legal obstacles and the projects status as the least among a long list assembled by the state Department of Transportation slowed progress to a crawl.

But as thrilling as it will be when the stretch between Salem Parkway and Rural Hall opens - a huge leap toward becoming a functioning interstate - word that the rest of the road, the western Leg, has once again slid down the priorities list dampens enthusiasm.

But its not surprising, either. Locals are well familiar with disappointment when it comes to the Northern Beltway.

Its been promised (with a pinky swear and crossed fingers) since the 1980s and time after time, were left holding the very short end of the DOT stick.

The details can be found way down deep in an alphabet soup of acronyms compiled by the state transportation board which sets funding for the foreseeable future - 2024 to 2033.

Its called STIP, the State Transportation Improvement Program. And under it, the only part of the western leg that will see any money to pay for construction for another ten years is between U.S. 52 and Reynolda Road.

Residents in western Forsyth County - and motorists coming from the west on I-40 - will likely wait at least another 20 years before they drive around Winston-Salem instead of going through it.

This was a blow to us, Pat Ivey, DOTs division engineer for Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Rowan and Stokes counties, told a colleague. It is very disappointing, but not surprising due to the cost estimates, and we dont have the funding to cover our needs.

Um, yeah.

That final connection of the eastern leg to U.S. 52 we were just talking about? The one that looks so close to being done?

It was originally supposed to be open by 2022. But relocating utility lines and finalizing land purchases pushed that back.

It wont go all the way to 52 this year, Ivey said in July 2022. Initially the plan was to get it connected this year, but thats not going to happen.

(None of this is Iveys fault, by the way. Hes merely the bearer of rotten news.)

The connection to U.S. 52 should be open this fall and fully complete next year. Just dont hold your breath.

Meanwhile, six other North Carolina cities already have usable freeway bypasses.

Motorists in Asheville (I-240), Fayetteville (I-295), Greensboro (I-840), and Wilmington (I-140) have one. Those in Charlotte (I-485 and I-277) and Raleigh (I-440 and I-540) have two.

Yet we cant get half of one done in 30 years. And the whole thing likely wont be finished within a half century. By the time it opens fully, the Northern Beltway will be buried in AARP junk mail.

A (broken) record - and travelers tires - continue to spin.

Broken water main closes road

WINSTON-SALEM - As long as were on about travel delays, add another to the pile this morning.

A broken water main on Bethesda Road in Winston-Salem Wednesday night closed a handy route between Lyndhurst and Maplewood avenues frequently used by those hustling to medical appointments.

Repairs were originally supposed to be open by early this morning. But the fixes can sometimes be more involved than anticipated.

Thats why theyre estimates. Its probably best just to avoid the area today.
A 24-year-old Lincoln woman who deleted texts and lied to police after a man was fatally stabbed in her apartment got jail time Wednesday for being an accessory to the crime.

Makayla Fell, who pleaded no contest, said nothing at sentencing. Her attorney, Joy Shiffermiller, argued for probation or house arrest.

"She knows that what she did was wrong by not being forthcoming with police at the time and also manipulating text messages after the fact," the defense attorney said. "But she certainly didn't know what was going to occur."

Shiffermiller said while Edward Varejcka's stabbing happened in Fell's apartment, it was a shock to her when people began spilling out of her apartment and running off.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Miller said: "This involves a homicide. Four individuals entered Fell's residence, and they killed a man."

Early March 8, 2020, a 911 call sent first responders to Fell's apartment where they found Varejcka, 36, dead of three stab wounds. When officers talked to Fell, it didn't take them long to figure out she had deleted texts, Miller said.

He said the inference he could make from the evidence was that "a dime was dropped here," someone let the group know Varejcka was there and that he had money, drugs or both.

"They came, tried to rob him and things went south and he got killed," Miller said.

He said he doesn't know what role Fell played in it. But she lied to police, destroyed evidence and gave so many different statements to law enforcement that no one could rely on anything she had to say.

Miller said one witness said Fell, who denied knowing anyone in the group, spoke with one of the four before they went up to her apartment in the moments before Varejcka was killed.

In the end, Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen said it was obvious that Fell lied to police and deleted evidence, which hindered the investigation and prevented the discovery or apprehension of individuals involved in a homicide.

"And she continued to do that until she was cornered basically," he said. "It's a very serious offense. A man lost his life. It's just something we can't tolerate."

Then he gave Fell, who had no adult criminal history before this, a year in the county jail followed by a year of post-release supervision.

Felipe Vazquez already is serving a 17- to 20-year sentence for Varejcka's killing, on top of a life sentence plus 129 years for fatally shooting Lincoln Police Department Investigator Mario Herrera while trying to escape arrest in connection to Varejcka's killing.

On Aug. 26, 2020, Herrera and the other officers were at Vazquez's father's house at 33rd and Vine streets to arrest Vazquez on a warrant for felony assault in the Varejcka case.

In an escape attempt, the then-17-year-old broke out a bedroom window and fired three shots from a stolen gun, fatally wounding Herrera and injuring a second officer from shrapnel.

For Varejcka's death, Vazquez pleaded no contest to second-degree assault as part of a plea agreement that reduced it from murder.

Investigators found Vazquez's fingerprints on a TV thrown over his head.

They also found a kitchen knife from the apartment, with Varejcka's blood on the tip, which had been thrown outside the apartment building as the group left. But there was conflicting information about who had thrown it.

Remembering Lincoln's homicide victims of 2023 1. Julian A. Martinez 2. Rudy Requejo Jr. 3. Ronald Gonzalez Rivas 4. Christopher Karmazin 5. Damien Brave 6. Mark Kruger 7. James Baylor
A 22-year-old woman went to prison Wednesday for two violent incidents a year apart, which included assaulting a woman with a hammer and driving away in a stolen tow truck with the driver clutching the door.

Raelee Grant pleaded no contest to second-degree assault and failure to render aid.

Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret said she struggled with this because Grant is really young and doesn't seem to have a grasp of the severity of these offenses and others that were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

"And you don't show that you want any help for any of the issues that you have. I get a sense that you're really just angry and you just want to continue to live your life the way you want to, which includes, as near as I can tell, using methamphetamine every day," she said.

Grant said that's true. She's used drugs since she was 11. She went to school, graduated and she goes to work every day.

"That's not like a healthy way I guess for you to handle your everyday life. But that's just how I deal with people," she said.

A few things "obviously went on," Grant said, but she doesn't see herself getting sober anytime soon.

Maret said and yet she is here, facing two higher-level felony offenses.

"We're not talking small things. We're talking violent behavior where people were injured," she said. "The consequence is the next thing that follows."

Maret said that if Grant continues when she gets out she's likely to put herself or others at risk again and end up in front of a judge again or meet some untimely consequence.

"That isn't what I want to see," the judge said.

And she sentenced her to seven to 11 years in prison.

The first incident happened at about 12:30 a.m. July 1, 2022, when Grant took a hammer to the windows of a home in University Place near North 50th and Adams streets, then hit the woman who lived there with it when she came outside.

The 31-year-old victim told police that after Grant hit her arm with the hammer, Grant chased her as she ran to get inside. Before the woman got inside, Grant threw the hammer through the door, hitting her knee.

When Grant continued to break windows, she went back outside where Grant assaulted her with her child's scooter and smashed her windshield with a lawn chair.

A year later, out of jail on bond, Grant got into trouble again when she stole a tow truck at around 5 a.m. July 3 about three blocks east of the courthouse. In that incident, she crashed the tow truck into two parked cars before driving off with the driver holding onto the door for about 50 feet before letting go.

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
Acting Police Chief Michon Morrow on Wednesday talked about the Lincoln Police Department's recruiting efforts during a luncheon with Lincoln Chamber of Commerce members.

Morrow, speaking to the room full of Lincoln business leaders at the Country Club of Lincoln, said she's focused on efforts to retain current officers and recruit new ones. Currently, LPD has 334 sworn officers, with a budget that would allow for 371 officers. She hopes to push for even more in the future.

"Retention of those we have invested so much in is just as important if not more important (than) recruiting," Morrow said.

In recent years several officers have left the department or were fired after making accusations of retaliation for speaking out against what they said was a toxic workplace environment.

Morrow inherited those challenges, among others, when she was named the interim chief after former Police Chief Teresa Ewins resigned unexpectedly in July.

"We recognize as a leadership team caring for those who are already here. They are our best recruiters," Morrow said.

LPD has 239 applicants for the police academy class that begins in January 2024.

Of those applicants, 17 have been granted conditional status, which means the department has offered them a position but has a few more steps to take. Seven more are still going through background checks.

"The process is hard and arduous," Morrow said.

Despite initially not wanting to go into law enforcement, Morrow joined LPD as a part of the Victim Assistance unit when she was 19. In 1997 she joined the department's academy, kicking off a 26-year career that has culminated in her selection to lead the department, at least on a temporary basis.

Kelli Britten, the city's chief communications officer, has said there is no search planned to find Ewins' permanent replacement and no timeline for when Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird will decide how to move forward.

Morrow, during Wednesday's luncheon, also touched on diversity  or lack thereof  within the Police Department. She said LPD's recruitment staff recently returned from a trip to Lincoln University, a historically Black college and university in Jefferson, Missouri. Lincoln University was the first HBCU to have a police academy, Morrow said.

"Our diversity is not where it needs to be, so (we are) making the very intentional decision of where we want to go and recruit," Morrow said.

Morrow also discussed a plan to add a new domestic violence investigator position to the department for 2024. Morrow was the first person assigned to this position in 2004, and the department still only has one officer with that title.

Thus far in 2023, LPD has taken more than 1,100 calls for domestic assaults.

Morrow also mentioned an initiative to bring back the department's traffic unit, which has been inactive for a couple of years because the department used those officers to fill other positions.

The plan involves growing the traffic unit to the point where a second shift is also available.

"Generally speaking, they are a daytime shift because that is when most of the traffic is commuting to and from work," Morrow said. "We understand we have to grow to serve (the people) better."

Top Journal Star photos for October 2023
The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana and 7,800 vape cartridges from a box truck that was pulled over Wednesday, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said Thursday.

At around 10:30 a.m., deputies began to follow a box truck with California license plates near mile marker 395 on Interstate 80 that had allegedly gone over the shoulder line twice, Houchin said. The truck got off the interstate at the U.S. 77 exit and deputies pulled it over at the Rosa Parks Way interchange.

Deputies asked the passenger and owner of the truck, 35-year-old Eugenio Lopez of California, for permission to search the vehicle, and he agreed.

During the search, they found four wooden crates that contained 437 pounds of marijuana and 7,800 vape cartridges, Houchin said.

Lopez and the driver, 36-year-old Stephen Lowe of California, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and were lodged in the Lancaster County jail.

At their initial court appearance Thursday afternoon, Judge Timothy Phillips set each man's percentage bond at $75,000. They must pay $7,500 each to be released.

States with the worst highways States with the worst highways #50. Virginia #49. North Carolina #48. Tennessee #47. Georgia #46. Connecticut #45. South Carolina #44. Kentucky #43. Florida #42. North Dakota #41. Utah #40. Missouri #39. Minnesota #38. Arkansas #37. New Hampshire #36. Alabama #35. Wyoming #34. Ohio #33. Mississippi #32. Texas #31. Massachusetts #30. Nevada #29. Kansas #28. Indiana #27. Maryland #26. Montana #25. Nebraska #24. Michigan #23. South Dakota #22. Illinois #21. Arizona #20. Iowa #19. Maine #18. Wisconsin #17. Idaho #16. Delaware #15. New Mexico #14. Oregon #13. Vermont #12. West Virginia #11. Louisiana #10. Pennsylvania #9. Rhode Island #8. Colorado #7. New Jersey #6. Oklahoma #5. Washington #4. California #3. Hawaii #2. New York #1. Alaska
Students in Nebraska are continuing to produce competitive scores on the ACT when compared to national averages and other states with a high percentage of students tested.

The Nebraska Department of Education recently released the average test scores of students in schools across the state for the exam that measures college readiness in English, reading, math and science.

Each of the four parts is graded individually, and the average of the four scores is a student's composite score. The highest possible score is 36.

Nebraska's average ACT composite score for graduates in 2023 decreased slightly from last year's 19.4 to 19.2. The national average was 19.5, down from 19.8, according to a Department of Education news release.

This year, Nebraska students averaged a score of 18.3 in English, compared to an average of 18.6 nationally. In reading, the average score was 19.5 locally and 20.1 nationally. The average for math was 18.9 in Nebraska and 19 nationally. And, in science, students averaged a score of 19.4 compared to 19.6 nationally.

Every junior enrolled in Nebraska's public schools is required to take the exam as part of the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System.

In 2023, 96% of those who graduated in Nebraska had taken the exam. Only 37% of graduates completed the exam nationwide.

Even with this year's decrease in scores, Nebraska still fares well compared to the 15 other states that have more than 90% of graduates take the ACT. Utah, with an average of 19.9, and Wisconsin, at 19.4, are the only states in this category to rank higher than Nebraska.

States that test a higher amount of students tend to have lower average scores because the number includes those who may not be college ready, the news release said.

The average score in Nebraska has been steadily decreasing over the past few years, with the most notable drop occurring from 2021 to 2022, which is most likely due to the pandemic, officials said.

In 2019, Nebraska students averaged a score of 20 and nearly 100% of graduates took the exam. The score dropped slightly to 19.9 in 2020, with another near 100% turnout for graduates. It rose back to 20 in 2021, when only 86% of graduates took the test. In 2022, average scores dropped to 19.4.

Scores for individual school districts were not available Wednesday.

Top Journal Star photos for October 2023
WINNEBAGO  Aaron LaPointe sits behind a desk in the Little Priest Tribal Colleges library basement, ready to speak to a class in a new program he helped develop  diversified agriculture.

Hes here, on this 100-degree August day, to show high school and college students  the future of the Winnebago Tribe  how Ho-Chunk Farms, the tribes farming company, is changing the face of agriculture on their reservation.

When you asked a student at my high school what a farmer looks like they would tell you a white guy with cowboy boots and a cowboy hat on, said LaPointe, senior director of business operations for Ho-Chunk, Inc. They didn't see themselves as farmers, they just thought that's what the white guys do. And we just let them use our land to do that.

That perception is rooted in a century of reality. The tribe only owns roughly 27,000 acres of its 120,000-acre reservation, after U.S. government actions directly or indirectly led its farmland to pass into non-Native hands  mostly white farmers.

But that reality is starting to change. In the past five years, three Nebraska tribes  the Winnebago, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska  have bought a combined 3,000-odd acres of farmland that was once theirs.

These buybacks arent cheap or easy. Tribal leaders say landowners who know that tribes want the land back believe theyll pay any price.

And all three tribes are paying higher-than-normal prices, according to a Flatwater Free Press analysis of data gathered by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln journalism class.

The Winnebago Tribe spent nearly $10,000 per acre, on average, to buy back 340 acres of ag land. Thats about $3,000 higher than the northeast regions 2022 average.

Tribal leaders think the higher prices and headaches are worth it. (Editors note: Ho-Chunk, Inc. is a Flatwater Free Press sponsor.)

We want to start farming our own reservation. We want to own our reservation again, LaPointe said.

Reservation, not reserved

After the Civil War, the United States government tried to upend the way most Native tribes lived  including the way they viewed land.

The Dawes Act, passed in 1887, tried to force assimilation by splitting the previously communally owned reservation into 160-acre pieces of farmland, individually owned by tribal members.

The government then sold the leftover land to non-Native settlers.

At one point we owned 100% of our reservation, until the federal government thought Oh, this guy's got maybe too much land, let's take some of that from them, LaPointe said.

Natives had no concept of land as property, said Ted Hibbeler, UNL Tribal Extension Educator and member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Tribes built relationships with land over thousands of years but didnt view it as a form of money or power.

More reservation land was lost when tribal members grew financially desperate.

One example: After the land allotment, members of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska who couldnt afford food were convinced by a White Cloud, Kansas, grocer to sign over their land as a promise to repay.

They needed food, and thats just what they had to do, said Tony Fee, secretary of the Iowa Tribe. This individual got them to sign it over as collateral  and they never could afford to get it back. So they lost it.

Today, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska owns about half of its 12,000-acre reservation, with Native and non-Native land ownership checker-boarded throughout.

On the Winnebago reservation, many families lost their land back-paying unfamiliar taxes, or sold the land to cover medical bills, LaPointe said.

In 1934, the U.S. government put all remaining Native-owned allotments into an indefinite trust. By that point, an estimated 90 million acres had been removed from Native ownership, according to the Indian Land Tenure Foundation.

Land ownership had gone in only one direction  away from Native tribes and farmers. Until recently, when several tribes decided to change that.

Sticker shock

In the past few years, in addition to other larger purchases, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska bought 4 acres next to some land it already owned. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska made a 36-acre purchase.

Neither is notable, except for the price tag: More than $43,000 per acre.

I don't see too many places where anything approaching that happens," said Cris Stainbrook, Oglala Lakota and president of the Indian Land Tenure Foundation. I mean, $40,000 an acre is a lot.

Farmland prices in Nebraska have risen across the board in recent years. According to UNLs 2022 Nebraska Farm Real Estate Report, where the Winnebago and Iowa are buying, average acre values for high-quality land are around $7,000.

Those tribes often pay far more than that. In fact, every piece of reservation land the Iowa Tribe buys is priced higher than what similar land sells for, Fee said.

Racism is an underlying reason for higher land prices, Stainbrook said. He has seen sales where the asking price dropped dramatically when a non-Native organization was the buyer.

When we're helping (tribes) get land back there's this underlying thought that if the tribe wants it bad enough, they'll pay anything for it, or they must have a casino somewhere and therefore they can afford to pay more, Stainbrook said.

Sales on tribal land are sometimes disincentivized by existing tax policies, like capital gains, LaPointe said, because the original sales happened for such little money that the taxes would be disproportionately high.

But tribes shouldnt be paying more because of the current owners tax bill, Stainbrook said.

Do you think they sell it to another non-Indian and tell them, Well, youll have to pay X amount more because of our capital gains? Stainbrook said.

Another reason for high prices: High demand.

One of the last pieces of reservation land the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska bought was offered to another individual right before the sale, Fee said, so the tribes only option was to up their offer to get the land.

They got us over the barrel if we want it. I mean, then they know we want it. We want it bad enough. We're gonna pay for it, Fee said, To me, that's not the right way, but we really don't have a choice.

The Iowa Tribe didnt have many opportunities to buy land four or five years ago, when values were cheaper. Now that prices have risen, sellers are offering up land  if the price is right.

The tribe does feel that we should do everything we can to try to get the land back, Fee said. And we're just doing what we can to work toward that.

Food as sovereignty

For Trey Blackhawk, manager of the nonprofit Winnebago Tribal Farm, acquiring more farmland is a way for the tribe to feed itself without relying on outside sources.

The farm, founded in 2018, grows fruits and vegetables on a 40-acre plot, as well as traditional Indian corn used in ceremonies. In the next decade, Blackhawk hopes to open a food co-op for the tribe.

Right now, the nearest grocery store to the Winnebago reservation is in Sioux City, Iowa. Tribe members drive up to 30 miles each way to get their groceries.

I think the pandemic helped people realize that we're not very sovereign. We cant even feed ourselves, really, LaPointe said. All these shortages were happening and we're like, geez, were really dependent on a lot of people for our food sources.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 49% of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives experienced food insecurity, according to a Native American Agriculture Fund survey.

Investments in Native agriculture help tribes to keep food production local so they can support their communities, said Whitney Sawney, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and director of communications and policy for NAAF.

The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska farms about 4,500 acres of their land, Fee said, with the goal of food sovereignty.

The tribe is moving toward regenerative agriculture, using native plant species, natural fertilizers and beekeeping to grow nutrient-dense foods.

On the Winnebago reservation, LaPointe often visits classes at Little Priest Tribal College, presenting farming as a way to feed the tribe  and a good career opportunity.

LaPointe, 32, is the second oldest Ho-Chunk Farms employee. Young tribe members are becoming interested in agriculture. LaPointe believes they can be the next generation of farmers.

That's why I say land acquisition is so important for us, because our growth is dependent on it, LaPointe said. If I'm going to create jobs for this next generation of people that are getting educated in this field, we need to be moving forward by growing our acre base.

This reporting is part of a collaboration with the Institute for Nonprofit News' Rural News Network, and the Energy News Network, Flatwater Free Press, Mississippi Free Press, New Mexico In Depth, Religion News Service and Sierra Nevada Ally. Support from the Walton Family Foundation made the project possible.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Top Journal Star photos for October 2023
Corporal punishment should be relegated to the past. The recent arrest of a high school principal who paddled a student for a disciplinary infraction shows it remains a stubborn part of Texas present.

Even though the mid-September incident occurred in East Texas, such a disturbing form of discipline could be allowed at some San Antonio schools, though many officials have said it is unlikely.

Most school districts in the San Antonio area ended the practice of corporal punishment, or spanking, years ago. But the language still lingers in some student handbooks. And Texas does allow corporal punishment.

As the San Antonio Express-News reported, Texas is one of 17 states that allow corporal punishment in public schools, defining it as the deliberate infliction of physical pain by hitting, paddling, spanking, slapping or any other physical force used as a means of discipline.

To state the obvious, schools should be safe places that foster learning, not places where adults can instill fear.

Districts that have kept the language include Southside, East Central and Somerset school districts, while others use identical language specifying they prohibit practices that include techniques designed or likely to cause physical pain but add the confusing caveat other than corporal punishment as permitted by district policy.

Randolph Field, Fort Sam Houston, Lackland and Alamo Heights school districts specify in their board policies that they dont permit corporal punishment. Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City School District's board policy states it may be used as a discipline management technique.

But officials at all of these districts said they dont use corporal punishment, regardless of what their policies do or dont spell out.

To eliminate any confusion, school boards within these districts should remove the language. Not only is corporal punishment wrong under any circumstance, its also applied disproportionately.

According to the Intercultural Development Research Association, Black students disproportionately receive corporal punishment in schools, as do students with disabilities.

Corporal punishment does not teach nor lead to improved behavior, according to IDRA. It is associated with negative outcomes, poor behavioral and mental health, and reduced cognitive ability and self-esteem.

A decade ago, Texas lawmakers added a provision that allows a parent to opt their child out of corporal punishment.

Dont chalk this up to spare the rod, spoil the child. There are many ways to constructively discipline students when warranted, such as defining specific consequences, setting clear limits and getting help from other adults, including parents.

Its time for all schools in Texas to opt out of corporal punishment.
BURLINGTON  The forgotten baby of Burlington Cemetery is forgotten no more.

Ellen Hyde Percival, who died just one day after she was born in 1925, has been buried nearly 100 years in an unmarked grave, all alone and far from home.

Her family was from New Zealand, and Ellen was born unexpectedly and prematurely as the family traveled across the United States by train.

When the newborn took her last breath one day later, her parents, William and Martha Percival, made the painful decision to bury her at Burlington Cemetery, and to return home without her.

Cemetery officials now are making plans to erect a proper gravestone to recognize Burlingtons tiniest lost loved one.

Bev Gill, president of the private cemetery association, said she could not bear the thought of a baby spending any more years in an unmarked grave.

Its such a sad, sad story, Gill said. It just kind of haunts you.

The cemetery association unexpectedly is finding support from interested parties far away  Ellens descendants in New Zealand.

Contacted through a historical society in New Zealand, family members are voicing gratitude and are offering to pay any costs associated with acknowledging Ellens final resting place in Burlington.

Robyn Morris, whose father would have been Ellens brother, said although family members do not discuss it often, they all recognize the loss that William and Martha, her grandparents, suffered while traveling in the United States in 1925.

Her story was known, but not really talked about, Morris said. All of her generation have now passed, but Im sure they would be happy that something was being put in place for Ellen.

William and Martha Percival arrived in New York City in August 1925, accompanied by their first daughter, Jessie, who was two years old. The family continued to Detroit, where they boarded a train for Vancouver, Canada. The train made it as far as Chicago before a pregnant Martha Percival on Nov. 12 became ill.

The train conductor telegraphed ahead, and an ambulance was waiting at the train station in Burlington to whisk Martha to a hospital. Ellen was born the morning of Nov. 13 at Burlington Memorial Hospital. The next day, she died. Her death certificate listed the cause of death as premature birth.

William died in 1959, and Martha died in 1989; the last of their six children died in 2019.

Gill said she first learned about Ellen Hyde Percivals story from an associate at the Burlington Historical Society. She found it troubling that young parents were forced to leave behind the remains of a newborn baby in an unmarked grave thousands of miles from home.

Burlington Cemetery, 701 Browns Lake Drive, covers 25 acres, with graves dating back to the mid-19th century. Ellen Hyde Percival is buried in a remote corner of the property.

Gill reached out to a historical society in New Zealand, and found a researcher who was eager to help unearth the story behind Burlingtons unmarked grave.

John Soppet of the West Auckland Historical Society said the assignment was quite different from his usual research projects. Rather than helping a living person find their roots, he was starting with a deceased person and trying to find her living contemporaries.

This one was working backwards, he recalled.

After digging for weeks, Soppet found records of the ship that carried William and Martha Percival back to New Zealand. He also traced the couples voting records, and eventually found the birth records of their other children.

When he located Robyn Morris and other descendants, they were aware of an ancestor buried in the United States. But they had no idea where the burial site was, and they knew nothing about a new effort to erect a permanent grave marker.

Ellens three brothers and two sisters left behind at least nine of their own children, all of whom would have known her as Aunt Ellen.

Soppet said it was rewarding to know that he had a hand in reconnecting Ellen Hyde Percival with her family back in New Zealand.

It was quite a joyful feeling, he said. The main thing about it is, she is not forgotten.

Gill said she is uncertain when the grave marker will be installed. But she hopes to organize a ceremony and celebrate the sense of closure for Ellen and her family.

Its just that we need it done, she said. That child meant a lot to someone.

Four photos from cemetery walk in Burlington to raise money to restore the 100-year-old chapel Bob Koenecke dressed in Civil War cavalry uniform at Burlington cemetery Barbershop quartet performs at Burlington cemetery walk Bob O'Neill portrays Burlington newspaper publisher at cemetery walk Cemetery Walk Fundraiser
Two more men have been charged for their alleged roles in a deadly July 2022 gang-related mass shooting in Kenoshas Uptown neighborhood.

Tremayne D. Martin, 23, of Kenosha, and Stephon D. Currie, 23, of Racine, were each charged this week in Kenosha County Circuit Court with more than a dozen felonies including first-degree intentional homicide as party to a crime, possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of recklessly endangering safety and nine counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide.

Martin and Currie made their initial appearances at Intake Court on Wednesday where Court Commissioner Aileen Henry imposed $1.5 million cash bonds for each. They remain in custody.

Jerome M. Johnson, 21, of Racine, was charged earlier this month and is being held in the Kenosha County Jail on $1.5 million cash bond.

They all face life in prison if convicted in the high-profile shooting that led to the death of a young man and serious injuries of four others the night of July 4, 2022 in the 6300 block of 25th Avenue. Prosecutors said they believe the shootings occurred over a gang-related dispute.

The incident terrified area residents, many of whom initially thought the sound of gunfire was fireworks and later found spent shells on streets and bullet holes on vehicles and homes.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Burgoyne said Wednesday that dozens of rounds were fired in a premeditated shooting after the men drove to Kenosha from Racine in the gang feud and then fired on people gathering outside on a porch.

They traveled to continue an ongoing gang feud, Burgoyne said. They came in two vehicles with at least four weapons from the north side of Racine for the purpose of attacking and killing members of a rival gang in Kenosha. Between them they fired dozens of rounds from four semi-automatic weapons at a number of people who were gathered on a porch for a Fourth of July gathering. They recklessly endangered the remaining people on that porch as well as neighbors in a nearby house that was completely uninvolved but struck multiple times. That house was occupied, also.

Investigators linked the men to the shooting after they fled the scene through social media history, surveillance video, cellphone data, witness interviews and evidence collected at the scene, according to the criminal complaints.

All three men are convicted felons and have preliminary hearings set for later this fall.

Anderail K. Armstrong, 20, of Kenosha, was killed in the shooting when a bullet penetrated his liver, lungs and aorta, according to the complaints. Another man was shot and then taken to a Milwaukee-area hospital after he was struck in the face and the bullet rested near his brain.

From flintlock muskets to AR-15s: A history of guns in America From flintlock muskets to AR-15s: A history of guns in America Flintlock muskets Percussion caps Revolvers Repeating rifles Smokeless powder Automatic firearms Bolt-action rifles Polymer manufacturing Armalite civilian rifle 3D printing and beyond
If you go

What: "The Laramie Project"

Where: University of Wisconsin-Parkside's Black Box Theatre, on the east side of the campus, 900 Wood Road

When: Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 13-14 and 20-21. Sunday matinees are 2 p.m. Oct. 15 and 22. There is also a 9 a.m. matinee on Friday, Oct. 20.

Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens (60 and older) and $10 for youths (ages 3-17). Tickets are available online at uwp.edu/therita, through the box office at 262-595-2564 or (if available) at the door. For more information on tickets, email boxoffice@uwp.edu.

About the show: "The Laramie Project" was written by Moises Kaufman and members of Tectonic Theater Project after the brutal October 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who was kidnapped, severely beaten and left tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming  because he was gay. His bloody, bruised and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. "The Laramie Project" focuses on the reactions of the residents of Laramie and was created using hundreds of hours of interviews with area residents. This show is directed by UW-Parkside theater professor Fabrice Conte-Williamson.
NEWS RELEASE

12500 N.E. Tenth Place  Bellevue, WA 98005  JPFO.org  800-869-1884  info@jpfo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  October 12, 2023 Contact: James Jones

"Standing with Israel" Is Not Enough Mr. President!

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership says, don't repeat Israel's error and wait for an attack. "Death to America" is still a thing. Joe Biden said, "We stand with Israel," and JPFO says that's insufficient. Under wartime duress, Israel is now re-arming its citizens, following years of weakening their right to keep and bear arms. America must learn from this bloody lesson. "If there had been more armed women at that concert, there might be fewer dead," said consultant Beth Terry, Certified Speaking Professional, a staunch friend of JPFO. "Death to America" is and has been on the lips of these treacherous villains for decades. Follow foreign news sourcesyou'll hear people cheering the attack on Israel, just like they did after the attack on 9-11, as brainwashed college students join in, some in Australia chanting, "Gas the Jews". We, here at home, face a serious risk. Promote marksmanship training nationwide now. Open all government ranges to full-fledged civilian marksmanship, required by law, 10 USC 4309. JPFO tells President Biden, don't get caught with our pants down. Don't just "stand" there, act.

"The right to keep and bear arms is natural and universal. The Israeli people have every right to own and carry firearms to defend themselves and we applaud the Israeli government for retracting its tyranny and encourage it to continue", said James Jones, Projects Director and Sentinel editor at JPFO. Israel once encouraged citizens to own and carry. Gradual infringement cut this natural right to self-defense and arms ownership. Danger is what you get when a government denies civil rights. In light of the recent terrorist attack, Israel has relaxed its gun laws by expediting permits, allowing telephone permit applications and increasing ammo-purchase maximums from 50 rounds to 100; however, they have retained waiting periods and prohibitions on long guns. This is a good first step, but a small one.

America needs to remove any restrictions on peaceful possession of arms infringementsbanned by the Constitution. Officials who act to maintain infringements need to face charges for aggravated infringementputting innocent lives in danger. Denial of civil rights is a crime, 18 USC 242. Aiding our enemies by disarming us must stop.

#####
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
All events at Kearney Public Library at 2020 First Ave. 308-233-3282; KearneyLib.org. Admission is free unless noted.

Writers Block  noon-1:30 p.m., today. This group, for writers of all abilities, meets twice a month. Guest leaders will join the group periodically. Patrons can bring their own lunch to the event.

Knot Just Knitting  6:30-8:30 p.m., today. Features informal sessions with other creative people sharing tips on knitting, crochet and cross-stitching. Youth participants are welcome but those 12 and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Celtic Guitarist Jerry Barlow performs in concert  7 p.m., today. Barlow plays songs from his latest album, Of Castles and Kings. For audiences 16 and older.

Teen DIY: Spooky Cemetarrariums  10:30 a.m. Friday. Create Halloween-themed terrariums. For ages 12-18. Register in advance.

Movie Afternoon: The Spiderwick Chronicles,  2 p.m., Friday. Rated PG. Register in advance.

Crafternoon: Creepy Carrots  4 p.m., Monday. Listen to a story and make a craft related to the story. Designed for ages 2-11. Register in advance.

Kearney 150: Downtown Historical Buildings  10 a.m., Tuesday. Elaine Batenhorst will lead the presentation featuring a virtual tour of downtown Kearney.

Knot Just Knitting  1-3 p.m., Tuesday. Features informal sessions with other creative people sharing tips on knitting, crochet and cross-stitching. Youth participants are welcome but those 12 and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Genealogy Quest  2 p.m., Tuesday. Volunteers from the Buffalo County Historical Society and the library will assist in digging into your ancestral past.

Frankenstein Fun  4 p.m., Tuesday. Combing a game and a craft, this program is designed for patrons ages 2-11. Register in advance.

Arts and Crafts for Adults  7 p.m. Tuesday. This workshop gives patrons a chance to explore creativity with different craft projects. For patrons 18 and older. Register in advance.

Arts and Crafts for Adults  10 a.m. Wednesday. This workshop gives patrons a chance to explore creativity with different craft projects. For patrons 18 and older. Register in advance.

Alphabet Adventures D Week  10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Enjoy stories, rhymes and other activities. Patrons are welcome to bring an item that starts with the weeks special letter.

Toddler Storytime  9:30-9:50 a.m., Oct. 19. For ages 0-2, this lapsit program introduces little ones to the sounds and rhythms of the spoken word. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Preschool Storytime  10:30-11 a.m., Oct. 19. For ages 3-6. Parents are welcome, but need not attend, the actual event. They do need to stay in the building.

Legos at the Library  3:45-4:45 p.m., Oct 19. Design and build your own creations. The library supplies the Lego pieces. Just bring your imagination. For ages 3-12.

Pub Quiz @ Cunninghams Journal  7:30-9:30 p.m., Oct. 19. The theme for October: Chaos Isnt a Pit: A Game of Thrones Quiz. Teams will answer 30 trivia questions. The team with the most correct answers will win a prize. Devices and notes are not allowed to help answer questions. Register by emailing James at JTidei@KearneyGov.org.

Knot Just Knitting  6:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 19. Features informal sessions with other creative people sharing tips on knitting, crochet and cross-stitching. Youth participants are welcome but those 12 and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Wounded Knee & Impact of Northwest Nebraska  7 p.m., Oct. 19. Broc Anderson will talk about the complex economic and social relationship between Northwest Nebraska and the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Genealogy Bootcamp: Using MyHeritage Library ED  7-8:30 p.m., Oct. 23. Learn how to use MyHeritage Library Edition. Participants should be comfortable using a computer and searching the internet. Advance registration required.

Mini Mummy Pinatas  4 p.m., Oct. 24. Create a pinata using a cardboard paper roll. Designed for ages 6-11. Advance registration required.

Genealogy Bootcamp: Using MyHeritage Library ED  10-11:30 p.m., Oct. 24. Learn how to use MyHeritage Library Edition. Participants should be comfortable using a computer and searching the internet. Advance registration required.

Knot Just Knitting  1-3 p.m., Oct. 24. Features informal sessions with other creative people sharing tips on knitting, crochet and cross-stitching. Youth participants are welcome but those 12 and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Card Crafting  7 p.m. Oct. 24. Supplies will be provided for this class on making creative greeting cards. For patrons 18 and older. Register in advance.

Card Crafting  10 a.m. Oct 25. Supplies will be provided for this class on making creative greeting cards. For patrons 18 and older. Register in advance.

Alphabet Adventures E Week  10:30 a.m. Oct 25. Enjoy stories, rhymes and other activities. Patrons are welcome to bring an item that starts with the weeks special letter.

Toddler Halloween Storytime  9:30-9:50 a.m., Oct 26. For ages 0-2, this lapsit program introduces little ones to the sounds and rhythms of the spoken word. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Preschool Halloween Storytime  10:30-11 a.m., Oct 26. For ages 3-6. Parents are welcome, but need not attend, the actual event. They do need to stay in the building.

Writers Block  noon-1:30 p.m., Oct 26. This group, for writers of all abilities, meets twice a month. Guest leaders will join the group periodically. Patrons can bring their own lunch to the event.

Trick or Treat on the Bricks  4-6 p.m., Oct. 26. For patrons 0-18.

Knot Just Knitting  6:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 26. Features informal sessions with other creative people sharing tips on knitting, crochet and cross-stitching. Youth participants are welcome but those 12 and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult.

B.Y.O.B Book Club  10:30 a.m., Oct 27. Share your favorite books and listen to recommendations from other readers. Register in advance. This months theme: Classics.

Halloween Paws to Read  10-11:30 a.m., Oct. 28. Provides an opportunity for youth ages 5-11 to practice their reading skills by reading aloud to a registered therapy animal and handler.

Movie Musical Monday  6:30 p.m., Oct. 30. Screening of Rear Window (PG). For patrons 16 and older. Register in advance.

Knot Just Knitting  1-3 p.m., Oct. 31. Features informal sessions with other creative people sharing tips on knitting, crochet and cross-stitching. Youth participants are welcome but those 12 and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult.
KEARNEY  Polish composer Frederic Chopin so feared being buried alive that he requested his doctor to cut out his heart and send it to Poland after his death in 1849 in Paris at the age of 39.

That was his wish, to make sure he was absolutely dead, said pianist Slawomir Dobrzanski in an interview from his home in Manhattan, Kansas. But of course there was a lot of symbolism in that, in his personal wish that his heart goes to Poland.

Dobrzanski, originally from Wrocaw, Poland but now part of the music faculty at Kansas State University, specializes in the music of Polish composers like Chopin, Witold Lutosawski, Karol Szymanowski, Stefan Kisielewski and Artur Malawski. Dobrzanski will perform a concert of solo piano music highlighting these composers at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kearney High School Auditorium. The performance is sponsored by The Polish Heritage Center of Ashton.

Admission to the concert is free.

Praised by the Buenos Aires Herald as one of the best Polish pianists, Dobrzanski delights audiences with his expressive touch, intelligent phrasing, and elegant technique. As a soloist and chamber musician, he performed in more than 20 countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America.

I will perform a selection of piano music by Polish and Polish American composers including Chopin, who is the most celebrated Polish composer, Dobrzanski said of his performance. Pretty much everybody knows about Chopin. Plus there will be a bunch of other composers that are not so well known. Ive been discovering their music in lots of different archives.

Dobrzanski has recorded the music of Anton de Kontski (1816-1899) who moved to the United States in 1880. He also champions the music of Maria Szymanowska (1789-1831), one of the first professional piano virtuosos in 19th-century Europe and one of the first pianists to perform memorized repertoire in public.

When it comes to performing at a very high level, Dobrzanski noted that these individuals offer more than just technical ability.

Extremely talented people, whether they are mature or not, they have this strong, magnetic personality, he said. Thats kind of a mysterious topic because sometimes a performer doesnt need to be mature to make amazing music. They just have that personality so when they show up on stage, people perk up and see that something is happening, they start looking.

And paying attention.

While another person enters the stage  and nothing happens, Dobrzanski said. You can be very skilled and be proficient and do their best, but unless theres that little bit of mystery, it doesnt happen.

The pianist hopes the audience will note the different qualities of the music.

Whether you are experienced with classical music or not, you can tell if one piece is more lyrical or more energetic  even between the Romantic composers, he said. We all know that Chopin was considered a genius and that his music was way ahead of the others.
KEARNEY  J.J. Stover wanted to try something unique in central Nebraska  a two-day festival of country music with Nebraska bands and even two national touring bands.

Were looking for a good time, he said. This is something we want to bring to the Midwest.

Stover, along with Paula Burwell, came up with an idea of an all-ages festival. The pair started booking bands, securing a venue and making plans for the first Midwest Music Festival on Friday and Saturday at Buffalo County Fairgrounds.

This is something we want to do twice a year for Nebraska, Stover added. We plan to do it once in the fall and again in the spring time before the college gets out. We hope to bring different acts each time and build it bigger and better each time. Well start adding vendors as it progresses. We want to make it a special, fun event.

Each night features different bands. This year Stover and Burwell decided to focus on country music but with a name like the Midwest Music Festival, the promoters could easily switch genres.

That leaves us open if we wanted to do a classic rock show or hip hop, he said.

Fridays bands include Frank Ray, Hockett and Luke Mills. On Saturday, festival patrons will enjoy Hallie Kearns, BJ Jamison, Brock Wagner and Jerrod Niemann. Tickets are $45 for both shows or $25 per night, in advance. Students tickets are $20. Tickets are $35 on the day of the shows.

As a promoter, Stover can rarely relax and enjoy the music.

You hope youre not putting out fires, but youre all over the place, he said. You can sit there and enjoy some of the music, but then you think, oh, Id better go check on this or take care of that. We want to make sure this festival runs smoothly as possible. We have people we trust in all the positions so that makes things a lot easier.

For more information visit MidwestMusicFestNebraska.com.
An arrest warrant has been issued for a Florida man accused of recently scamming a Somers woman out of thousands of dollars in cash.

Twenty-two-year-old Luc D. Vautier, of Miami, is charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with felony theft of over $10,000 by false representation for his alleged actions in September.

A $20,000 arrest warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Accused of scam

According to the criminal complaint, a Kenosha County sheriffs deputy went to the 5900 block of First Street in Somers on Sept. 12 for a fraud complaint. The deputy spoke with a woman and her husband, who explained that earlier that morning they received a phone call and a phony caller spoke from a blocked phone number and said she was her granddaughter.

The phony caller said that she had been in an accident in the morning and went to jail. She also said that had been reaching for her phone and rear-ended another vehicle in the process, according to the complaint. The caller said her phone was confiscated and then handed the phone to a man who said he was her lawyer.

The phony lawyer said that in order to get the granddaughter out of the jail she needed to post an $18,000 bond, and that due to the high profile democratic deal that was struck the money would also keep the accident out of the news, according to the complaint.

The phony lawyer then said he would send over a bail bondsman to the the money and the woman reportedly provided her address.

Arrested in Illinois

The Somers woman, according to the complaint, handed over an envelope with $18,000 in $100 bills to a man believed to be in his 20s who reportedly parked away from her house.

After the phony bondsman left the woman called local law enforcement because she feared she had been scammed.

On Oct. 5, the Lake Forest Police Department in Illinois arrested Vautier for conducting a phone scam of the elderly in their jurisdiction, according to the complaint.

The victim in the Illinois incident reported receiving a phone call from someone who pretended to be his grandson who had been arrested. The individual on the phone also claimed that he was an attorney representing the grandson and that he needed money to provide legal services. The individual informed the man that a courier would arrive at his residence to collect the money.

Vautier turned out to be the courier, according to the complaint.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the offender, impersonating the victims grandson, falsely claimed to be involved in a traffic accident and subsequently arrested, Lake Forest Police posted on social media. The scammer then requested $12,000 to secure his release. Alarming as it may sound, the suspect was en-route to the victims residence to collect the money. ... We want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to stay vigilant against scam phone calls of all types. Please share this story with your elderly family members and friends to help prevent future crimes.

The department also said that this is not a new scam but the perpetrators are using technology to spoof the caller ID to make an incoming call appear to be from a trusted source.

Linked to Somers

A booking photo of Vautier was later shown to the Somers woman who said the photo matched the physical description of the man who came to her residence to take her money.

A forensic examination of Vautiers phone revealed that his phone was just outside the Somers womans residence on the day of the incident.

The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department also released a statement in September warning area residents about such scams.

Wisconsin does not utilize the bail bondsmen system. Local bail is posted at the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department in person at the Kenosha County Jail/ Public Safety Building for anyone detained in the Kenosha County Jail.
By Ko Dong-hwan

KT&G has launched construction of a new factory in Kazakhstan to expand its market in Eurasia, Korea's largest tobacco company said Thursday.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site in Almaty Province on Wednesday. The company's CEO Baek Bok-in, Governor of Almaty Marat Sultangaziyev and the Korean Consul General in Almaty Park Nae-cheon were among over 70 participants at the event.

The factory site will cover an area of approximately 200,000 square meters and function as a "hybrid production facility" pipelining next-generation-products (NGPs) like electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarettes (CC) for consumers in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States region, according to the company.

The company has pinpointed Kazakhstan as a starting point for the expansion of its network throughout the regions. Last January, KT&G established local sales and manufacturing subsidiaries in the country. The bid, together with the completion of the factory in Almaty, will equip the company with a complete local value chain to oversee the entire process of manufacturing and sales across the target regions.

The company last January announced its goal to reach the "global top tier" and decided to focus on NGP, CC and functional health foods as its three core fields. It said it will increase its sales in overseas markets by more than 50 percent by 2027.

Last September the Indonesian Ministry of Investment agreed with KT&G to invest in the company's construction of a new manufacturing plant in East Java Province. The factory, according to the company, will be its main post for market expansion in Southeast Asia.

"The new Kazakh factory will be our global core manufacturing hub with its coverage over the Eurasian market and our frontline to join the global top tier," Baek said.

Leading the NGP market in Korea, KT&G has main factories in Daejeon's Sintanjin and Gwangju. It said the manufacturing plants will be further expanded to secure its market leadership in Korea and throughout the world.
Korea's finance minister on Thursday vowed to join a global partnership centering on encouraging developing nations' participation in the global supply chain for clean energy.

"The RISE program will create additional value by playing key roles in the midstream and downstream processes, and lead to new growth opportunities for developing countries," Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho told a meeting hosted by the World Bank in Marrakesh, western Morocco.

Choo was referring to the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement Partnership (RISE), a program that aims to assist developing nations in harnessing their key minerals and pursue eco-friendly industries.

The bank said the program aims to "foster more sustainable and diversified global mineral value chains."

The initiative will also eventually lead to "higher quality local jobs and economic growth" for developing economies, according to the World Bank.

Meanwhile, analysts suggest that the initiative is aimed at reducing reliance on China for critical resources.

The participating nations, also including Japan, Canada and Britain, pledged a total contribution of more than US$40 million, the bank said.

Korea vowed to contribute $3 million, and Japan plans to chip in the largest slice of $25 million.

On the margins of the event, Choo also participated in the Ukraine Roundtable, where he shared Korea's plan to support the war-torn nation based on its reconstruction experiences.

The finance minister said Korea will provide $50 million to the World Bank's fund for Ukraine.

Choo stressed the importance of not only offering financial assistance but also sharing knowledge and technology to bolster Ukraine's nation-building endeavors.

The minister, meanwhile, held a bilateral meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Sergii Marchenko, and expressed hope the two countries would officially sign the Economic Development Co-operation Fund (EDCF) agreement in the near future.

Seoul launched the EDCF program in 1987 to help developing countries with their basic infrastructure.

During the meeting, the finance minister also highlighted that Ukraine can create "significant achievements" on the back of its people's determination, along with Korea's experiences, knowledge and technologies.

Choo was visiting the North African country to take part in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank that kicked off in the city Monday. He will return home Friday. (Yonhap)
Artistic and cultural creations from Mexico will be front and center this month at the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse.

The La Crosse Community Foundation awarded Pump House a $7,500 grant to support its Mexican Folk Art Collective exhibition, which runs through Nov. 4.

Organizers say the exhibition is a wide-ranging showcase of Mexican art and culture. The display showcases the art of papier mache, pottery, sculptures, masks, textiles and corn husks from artists living in the United States and Mexico.

Art and culture are powerful tools for bringing people together and have a unique way of opening dialogues among people of different cultural backgrounds, said Allison Krzych, Pump House executive director. Through sharing art and traditions, people can learn from each other, fostering a mutual respect and admiration that forms the basis of an inclusive community.

A reception for the public to meet the artists was held Oct. 6 at the Pump House. The reception featured fashion designs, folk dance performances and an alternative Latin dance band from Chicago.

Another special event is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 1, when the Pump House hosts a community Ofrenda Build for the Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos), a commemoration of deceased loved ones. Altars are decorated with traditional elements and items from those who have passed on.

For us, its honoring our ancestors and families and remembering and celebrating what they did in life, said Gabriela Marvan, curator of the exhibit. Its not a sad thing. Its remembering the joy they left on this planet.

Dia de Muertos is celebrated in Mexico Nov. 1-2. Marvan encourages people to talk with the artists who build and design the Dia de Muertos altars and learn more about the tradition.

La Crosse Community Foundation CEO Jamie Schloegel said the monthlong exhibit fosters cultural understanding in the Coulee Region. She said it perfectly aligns with our core principles, particularly our commitment to building thriving communities through diverse voices and engagement.

By supporting initiatives like the Mexican Folk Art Collective, we help enrich the La Crosse community through the exchange, sharing and understanding of different cultures, Schloegel said.
Dark La Crosse Stories: Series chronicles city's nefarious history

The La Crosse Public Library Archives is pleased to partner with the La Crosse Tribune on Dark La Crosse Stories, the latest iteration of Dark La Crosse content. Complete with the original music, historic photographs and newspaper headlines featured in the stage production, each episode of Dark La Crosse Stories also features new bonus material from the research team.

In 2013, the La Crosse Public Library Archives developed and began offering a downtown walking tour tied to darker or seedier themed happenings in downtown La Crosse from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, presented in an entertaining way.

The overwhelming success of the walking tour led to a partnership with Explore La Crosse to offer a trolley tour of largely the same content with one additional story. These continue to be offered in the summer and tickets can be reserved through Explore La Crosse.

An outgrowth of the walking tour, the "Dark La Crosse Show" is an annual stage production that offers audiences new stories each fall and is a fundraiser for the Library. Attendees are immersed in original music based on historical context and mood, historical photographs and newspaper clippings projected on a large screen, and the geographical reach of the stories is expanded beyond the downtown core.

Learn more about the voices and researchers behind the stories here.

Advisory: Content not recommended for children 15 and younger.

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